Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Cultural fair highlights link to tech innovations 08:11, May 23, 2025 By Li Bingcun ( China Daily With its first artificial intelligence pavilion and a record number of international exhibitors, China's largest cultural fair opened on Thursday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, showcasing the immense potential of using technology to invigorate, empower, and promote culture. The 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, which runs through Monday, features over 120,000 cultural products from more than 6,000 exhibitors, and is expected to attract around 35,000 visitors from 110 countries and regions. The fair has also set records in terms of the number of participating countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, international exhibitors, and international professionals attending the event. The core exhibition area of the fair, which presents outstanding cultural and creative products from across China, has been expanded to 3,000 square meters. A separate AI pavilion displays the latest tech products, including robots, drones, smart glasses and smart headphones. The Liaoning province pavilion has garnered extra attention with its humanoid robots portraying famous Chinese poets Li Bai and Du Fu. The showstopper robots one waving a brush and the other sipping wine interacted with visitors, recited lines from the two poets' famous works, and even shared how they felt about attending the grand fair. Liu Shihua, brand manager of EX ROBOT based in Dalian, Liaoning, said the company has modeled dozens of robots after renowned historical figures, including Confucius, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. It plans to promote the use of these robots in providing introductory services at tourist attractions, as well as in educational settings focused on culture, history, and science, with the aim of further leveraging technological prowess to boost cultural promotion, Liu added. Look AI, a Shenzhen-based tech startup that has developed an online platform to help global clothing designers better integrate with AI technologies, is among those attending the fair for the first time. Based on simple sketches created by designers, the platform can help generate high-quality visual representations of clothing displays, while users can select different types of fabric to adjust the final effect. The startup, which was established less than a year ago, has accumulated 100,000 users from 180 countries for its online platform. Chen Xiao, marketing manager of Look AI, said its services have been tailored for the younger generation's personalized clothing needs, adding that Shenzhen's rich resources in fashion brands and apparel manufacturing have helped advance the company's development. In the long run, Look AI hopes to evolve its marquee product into a comprehensive platform that links customers, designers, and manufacturers, in order to allow ordinary people to design their ideal clothes. Shree Gopal Shrestha, who runs a thangka-making company in Nepal, said he has visited China frequently to attend promotion exhibitions, mostly held in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing. Shrestha expressed his desire to explore various technological approaches at the fair to promote the exquisite paintings. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) BusinessWire India Gurugram (Haryana) [India], May 23: On May 23rd, 2025, the Global Risk Management Institute (GRMI) of Gurugram and Rome Business School (RBS), Italy, announced the signing of a strategic partnership aimed at elevating research, innovation, and academic excellence. This collaboration marks a significant step toward building a more dynamic, resilient, and globally integrated higher education ecosystem, aligning with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP emphasizes the importance of international collaboration, innovation, and interconnectedness to develop a high-quality, globally competitive education system that benefits students, faculty, and society at large. The partnership introduces several key initiatives designed to foster mutual growth and open new avenues for academic and professional development. Among these, the collaboration will offer joint and dual certification programs that provide Indian students enrolled in GRMI's Post Graduate Diploma in Risk Management (PGDRM) with international exposure and recognition. Specifically, aspiring risk management professionals will have access to an International Masters and dual certification, with specialization options in vital fields such as Finance, Supply Chain Management, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, and Innovation. Notably, these programs will be accredited by the International University of Valencia (VIU) in Spain, adding significant value and credibility for the participants. Beyond certification programs, the partnership aims to facilitate active knowledge exchange and joint research initiatives. This includes the promotion of collaborative research projects between faculty members of both institutions, creating opportunities for innovative scholarship and shared expertise. Faculty exchange programs are also envisioned, providing educators with valuable international experience and perspectives, which will, in turn, enrich the learning environment for students. Furthermore, the collaboration emphasizes encouraging global mobility. Student and faculty exchange programs will be established to foster cross-cultural understanding, facilitate international exposure, and promote academic diversity. These initiatives will prepare students to thrive in a globalized workforce and help faculty stay abreast of international best practices. Capacity building and skill development will remain a core focus of this alliance. Both institutions will share insights, expertise, and best practices to strengthen educational infrastructure, enhance curriculum design, and prepare students more effectively for the demands of the global economy. This partnership particularly benefits GRMI's PGDRM program by providing enhanced learning opportunities through RBS's international master's and dual certification offerings. It signifies a new chapter of cooperation between the two institutions, centered on mutual growth and expanding opportunities for students and faculty alike. Overall, this collaboration exemplifies how strategic international alliances can catalyze academic excellence and research. It also aligns with the NEP's vision to develop India's higher education institutions as globally recognized centers of learning. Through these joint efforts, both institutions aspire to create a robust platform for global education, advancing India's standing in the international academic community and ensuring future-ready graduates equipped to excel in an interconnected world. About Global Risk Management Institute, Gurugram GRMI is a pioneer in the domain of risk management education in India and is committed to creating an improved ecosystem for risk-intelligent & sustainability-aware professionals. GRMI, an initiative by Mr. Subhashis (Founder & Dean), Prof. Madhu Vij (President) and Mr. Jayant Palan (Co-Founder & Director), delivers a first-of-its-kind, fulltime one-year classroom program - Post Graduate Diploma in Risk Management ('PGDRM') based out of its campus in Gurugram, India. One of the significant milestones of GRMI's PGDRM program has been 97% placement of its ~300 alumni enrolled so far in reputed consulting organizations like E&Y, PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, Grant Thornton, and large global and Indian corporations like Accenture, Pepsi Co., Tata Communications, Fortis Healthcare, and others. GRMI's is an authorized Industry Implementation partner under the Management & Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills Council (MEPSC). MEPSC operates under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The programme delivered by GRMI is approved under the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and its curriculum is reviewed in alignment with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), which is a competency-based framework developed by the Government of India. The skill sets delivered by GRMI align to the aim of the "Skill India Mission" which is to spread skilful education and are also categorized as "Future Skills", an initiative supported by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. About Rome Business School, Italy RBS is a private institution offering MBA and Master's programs, both on-campus and online, as well as executive education. It has a global presence with students from over 160 countries. RBS's International Online MBA ranks the top 3 in Italy, 63rd in the world, and 23rd in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and is the top 3 Business School in Italy according to international rankings (QS World University Ranking). (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. It will use lift irrigation and tunnels to connect the regions in three phases. According to a release, a detailed financing plan has been proposed, building on earlier discussions with the Finance Ministry. The Chief Minister said the project would benefit millions in drought-hit areas and serve as a model for river-linking across India. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected by June 2025.In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote, "Had a productive meeting with Union Finance Minister @nsitharaman Ji in Delhi today. We discussed the crucial Polavaram-Banakacherla project aimed at taking Godavari waters to the drought-hit regions of Andhra Pradesh. Powered by Centre-State collaboration, this river-linking initiative will ensure water access and long-term development for our people." Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu also met with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil to discuss and submit a proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, aiming to enhance water resource management and infrastructure development in the region. The Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme is a massive project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh Government at an estimated cost of Rs 80,112 crore. The plan involves diverting 200 TMC of water from the Godavari River at Polavaram to Rayalaseema through the Bollapalli reservoir and Banakacherla head regulator. The proposal seeks to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers. Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu will also meet with Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology, to discuss research, innovation, and industrial science collaborations. He will also meet with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Friday again sought to pressurise Apple on its decision to increase production of its iPhone in India. Trump said that Apple will have to pay a 25 per cent import tariffs if its mobile handsets sold in US are not produced in the boundaries of the country. In a social media post on his Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote, "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter," he further added in the post. Earlier on May 15, while speaking in Doha, Trump said that he had spoken with the Apple CEO Tim Cook and asked him to limit Apple's expansion in India. Recently, Apple took some steps to expand its iPhone production in India, setting up assembly plants operating in the country. Two of these plants are located in Tamil Nadu, and one is in Karnataka. For these plants Apple has signed contract with manufacturers, such as Foxconn and Tata Group to set up production units. In the last fiscal year, Apple produced USD 22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months through March 2025, which is a huge 60 per cent jump from the prior year. Apple manufactured approximately 40-45 million iPhones in India in 2024, accounting for 18-20 per cent of its global output. Of this, about 15 million were exported to the US, 13 million to other international markets, and about 12 million were sold in the Indian market. In January 2025, Apple achieved an 11th consecutive quarterly revenue record in India, with iPhone sales estimated at USD 10 billion in 2024. India stands as the Apple's fourth-largest market globally in 2024, after the US, China, and Japan. As reported last month, driven by the escalating trade tensions and high reciprocal tariffs announced by both China and US against each other, in a strategic move Apple decided to transition all production of iPhones destined for the US market to India from China. (ANI) Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri chaired the meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in Haryana's Manesar on Friday, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said in a release. While chairing the Consultative Committee meeting, the Union Minister highlighted India's remarkable progress in energy affordability, access, and infrastructure development. He underscored the government's proactive measures in stabilising fuel prices, expanding LPG coverage, and boosting refining and distribution capacity across the country. Puri reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to inclusive and consumer-focused energy policies. During the meeting, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Suresh Gopi also attended and witnessed robust participation from 27 Members of Parliament. The MPs shared insightful suggestions and feedback on key issues, including fuel affordability, LPG access, regional infrastructure disparities, and energy resilience. The Minister Hardeep Singh Puri elaborated on how under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India was able to successfully navigate geopolitical adversities to ensure affordability and availability of energy for citizens without any shortage. He noted that when fuel prices were skyrocketing worldwide, India was the only country where prices came down. Notably, the Government reduced excise duties twice--on 4 Nov 2021 and 22 May 2022--slashing petrol by Rs 13/litre and diesel by Rs 16/litre. A recent hike in April 2025 was absorbed by Oil Marketing Companies, protecting consumers from an additional burden. Highlighting LPG reforms, the Minister detailed the transformational impact of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Since its inception, LPG coverage has soared from 55 per cent in 2014 to nearly universal access today. LPG consumption rose significantly, with daily deliveries exceeding 56 lakh cylinders. Over 25,000 LPG distributors now operate across the country, 86 per cent in rural areas, ensuring deep last-mile reach. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri informed that LPG prices in India are among the lowest globally. Despite a steep 58 per cent increase in international LPG prices, PMUY consumers now pay only Rs 553 for a 14.2 kg cylinder. Oil companies incurred a loss of Rs 40,000 crore last year to keep LPG prices affordable. A cylinder costing approximately Rs 1,058 is being provided to PMUY beneficiaries at just Rs 553. For regular consumers, the price is Rs 853. As a result, the per-day cooking cost comes to around Rs 6.8 for PMUY households and Rs 14.7 for non-PMUY users. Union Minister Puri informed that LPG prices in India are among the lowest globally. Despite a steep 58% increase in international LPG prices, PMUY consumers now pay Rs 553 for a 14.2 kg cylinder--39% less than the Rs 903 they paid in July 2023. Oil companies have incurred Rs 40,000 crore loss last year in order to keep LPG prices low. Cylinder of approximately Rs 1058 cost is being sold at Rs 553 to Ujjwala consumers. For regular consumers, the price is Rs 853. The per-day cooking cost is now around Rs 6.8 for PMUY households and Rs 14.7 for non-PMUY users. (ANI) Social media has been abuzz with updates regarding Shah Rukh Khan's action-packed film 'King' with his daughter Suhana Khan. While an official announcement regarding the film's ensemble cast has not yet been made, ace actor Saurabh Shukla hinted on Friday that he would be part of Siddharth Anand's directorial. Taking to Instagram Story, Saurabh Shukla shared a picture of a welcome hamper featuring a white mug with King written on it. In his caption, he expressed his excitement about collaborating with Shah Rukh after many years. "With @iamsrk after years & the little princess for the first time. #Actinglife," Saurabh Shukla captioned. As soon as he posted the picture, fans chimed in the comment section and wished him luck for the shoot. However, Saurabh Shukla, who previously worked with SRK in 'Baadshah', remained tight-lipped when ANI contacted him to get details about his role in the film. 'King' was supposed to be directed by Sujoy Ghosh earlier. However, Siddharth Anand, who directed SRK in 'Pathaan', later took over as the director. A few months ago, at an event in Dubai, SRK opened up about King, saying, "I'm not just shooting it here, I'm shooting it in Mumbai now when I go back in a couple of months. My director, who is Sidharth Anand, is very strict. He made Pathaan. So he is very strict. He said, 'Don't tell people about the film, what you are doing in it.' So I can't tell you but I can assure you it will entertain you, you will have fun. I've used many titles...Now we have run out of titles...Now Shah Rukh Khan as Shah Rukh Khan in King. That was a bit of a show-off." The film went on floors in Mumbai recently. Reportedly, Abhishek Bachchan has a key role in 'King'. (ANI) Renowned lyricist and screenwriter Manoj Muntashir talked about Operation Sindoor and its significance. He also shared his views on multi-party delegations visiting international capitals to brief the global community about its significance and reaffirmed India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism. Speaking to the media, he said, "Questions were raised on Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, so today if questions are being raised on Operation Sindoor, I am not surprised. For the first time, I have seen the entire nation come under the national flag. The armed forces gave a befitting reply to the terrorist attack. When will we celebrate it, or will we keep on raising questions?... We should celebrate the valour of the armed forces...Ceasefire does not mean that the Operation Sindoor has stopped...If Pakistan does not give up its cowardice, then Operation Sindoor may end only after the destruction of Pakistan.." He spoke about multi-party delegation that aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore. "if there was no all-party delegation and there was a delegation of one party, then the question was inevitable...So I am laughing at the fact that when everyone was sent after consulting all the parties and we selected some delegates who will keep our side on the international forum, I am not able to find any issue.. Why does anyone complain," he added. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI) Actor Anushka Sharma spotted cheering for her husband and star batter Virat Kohli's IPL team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow. Dressed in a violet dress, Anushka looked engrossed entirely in the match. RCB is currently at second place with eight wins, three losses and a no result. They have 17 points in total. If they win this match, they will displace Gujarat Titans (18 points) and move to the top of the table. RCB has already moved to playoffs, their fifth qualification in last six years to final four stage and aim for their maiden title. With seven fifties and over 500 runs, Virat Kohli has been side's top run-getter while the team awaits arrival of their lead wicket-taker, Josh Hazlewood (18 wickets) who is recovering from shoulder niggle. SRH is at the eighth spot with four wins, seven losses and a no result, giving them nine points. A win would not help them as they have been eliminated from the playoffs race. Speaking of the ongoing match, SRH finished their innings on 231/6, and Ishan Kishan was the top scorer for Hyderabad, scoring 94* in just 48 balls.RCB will have to chase 232 in their second innings when they come out to bat. In bowling, Romario Shepherd (2/14) was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, and Bhuvneshwar, Ngidi, Suyash, and Krunal picked wickets for each. Brief score: SRH 231/6 (Ishan Kishan 94*, Abhishek Sharma 34; Romario Shepherd (2/14). vs RCB. (ANI) This time, not only did desi celebrities walk the iconic red carpet wearing creations of designers such as Gaurav Gupta and Manish Malhotra, but international personalities also attended the gala in outfits designed by Indian designers. American actress Taraji P. Henson attended the 78th Cannes Festival in Gaurav Gupta's Moonstone celestial saree gown. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ-x_rzu-qJ/?hl=en&img_index=1 As per a post on Gaurav Gupta's Instagram, the "silhouette is sculpted in moonstone ivory with sheer architectural drapes, a dramatic high slit, and a sculptural palla; envisioned as a celestial extension of the body. Tonal sequins shimmer like stardust, capturing both light and movement." Taraji donned this stunning attire for her hosting appearance at the prestigious amfAR Gala. Hands down, Gaurav Gupta's best-designed outfit for Cannes 2025 has to be a black velvet bodycon gown created for actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The body-fitted gown was hand-embroidered in shades of silver, gold, charcoal, and black. To add to its dramatic effect, the actress completed her look with a Banarasi brocade cape, handwoven in Varanasi. The cape stood out not just for its rich texture but also because it was inscribed with a Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ_vy1epfjS/?hl=en&img_index=1 The verse read, "Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana. Ma karmafalhetubhurma te Sangostvakarmani (You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but never to the fruits of your actions. Do not consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty)." For her day 1 appearance, Aishwarya opted for an ivory saree designed by Manish Malhotra. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness that a Government Medical College in Auraiya would be named after Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. The UP chief minister slammed the previous Samajwadi Party state government for renaming a degree college in Auraiya. "There was a degree college in Auraiya named after Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. The Samajwadi Party government had changed the name of that degree college. Today, I am happy to announce that in the same Auraiya, we will name the Government Medical College after Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar", CM Yogi said. Earlier, CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the National Seminar-2025 on 'Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development' on Thursday. The CM stated that achieving the country's goal of net zero by 2070 could not be fulfilled solely by the government but required the collective efforts of everyone. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the world that India will achieve the target of net zero by 2070. But the task of achieving this target is not just at the government level but through the collective efforts of all of us... Today, a national seminar has also been organised here regarding this program, after which the vision is how we can create harmony with nature and ensure sustainable development..." Yogi said addressing the people. Meanwhile, earlier today, the CM directed officials of concerned districts to carry out relief work promptly in view of storms, rain, and hailstorms, as per a release. The CM has stated that officials should visit the affected areas, conduct surveys, and closely monitor the relief efforts. In cases of loss of human or animal life due to lightning, storms, or rain-related disasters, relief funds should be immediately distributed to the affected families. Proper medical treatment should be provided to the injured. Instructions have also been sent to officials to assess crop damage through surveys and send reports to the government so that further action can be taken. He further directed that in case of waterlogging, proper arrangements for drainage should be made on a priority basis. (ANI) Kerala Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader V.D. Satheesan has criticised the involvement of senior RSS leader Gurumurthy in a lecture series at Raj Bhavan, on Operation Sindoor on Thursday. LoP Satheesan criticised what he claimed the politicisation of the event, stating that senior RSS leader Gurumurthy's speech was political and critical of previous central governments, particularly Congress governments. Addressing reporters, LoP Satheesan said, "Under the leadership of Kerala Governor, they are conducting a series of lectures at the Raj Bhavan regarding #OperationSindoor. But on the last day, senior RSS leader Gurumurthy attended the meeting and criticised earlier central governments, Congress governments. It was a political speech." While Satheesan said that they (Congress) has no objection to the Raj Bhavan conducting lecture series on Operation Sindoor, he remarked that the event should bring defence and foreign affairs experts rather than RSS leaders. "We don't have any objection to Raj Bhavan conducting a series of lectures regarding Operation Sindoor. The problem is that they have to bring defence experts as well as foreign affairs experts, not the RSS leaders. To make such a lecture at the premises of the Raj Bhavan, making a political speech - there is an impropriety. We condemn that.", Satheesan said. The Kerala LoP described the incident as unfortunate and requested, "It is very unfortunate that under the leadership of the Governor there was such a meeting. We request the State Government that they should also inform the Governor raising a protest..." Earlier in the day, a high-level all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde held meetings with UAE leadership on the significance of Operation Sindoor and reaffirmed India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism. UAE is the first stop of the broader four-nation diplomatic outreach by the all-party delegation. "The delegations held meetings with UAE leadership and media to brief on the significance of Operation Sindoor and reaffirm India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism," Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, said in a press release. The delegation met Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence.Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan conveyed his deep condolences for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The delegation highlighted the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's efforts to cause social disharmony in India"India and UAE will tackle terrorism together. The UAE will always stand by India," the UAE Minister said. The all-party delegation comprises MPs Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohmd Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar Mishra, BJP leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy.The delegation held substantive discussions with Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of Federal National Council and other senior Emirati parliamentarians. The delegation underscored the precise, measured, and non-escalatory nature of Operation Sindoor against the barbaric terrorist attack on the tourists in Kashmir on April 22. The UAE was among the first countries to issue a statement categorically condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack. UAE leaders, President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally conveyed their condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over phone calls. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his "small war" statement over the Operation Sindoor. He called Kharge's statement "laughable" and asked the Congress president if destroying 20 per cent of Pakistan's defence infrastructure is a "small war" or destroying their 11 airbases a "small war". "Unfortunately, Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge calling it a small war is laughable. Is it a small war to destroy 9 terrorist camps? Is it a small war to destroy 11 military bases of the Pakistan Army? Is it a small war to destroy 20% of Pakistan's Defence infrastructure? Let Kharge answer?", Bandi Sanjay Kumar said. Bandi Sanjay Kumar further hit out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and stated that he doesn't have any fans in India but in Pakistan. The Union Minister said that Rahul Gandhi asked how many Rafale jets were lost during Operation Sindoor, which is why he is trending in Pakistan. He further alleged that the Telangana government had given shelter to the Rohingyas and stated that they are living in Hyderabad without any passport or permission. "Rahul Gandhi is asking How many Rafale jets we lost? Rahul Gandhi doesnt have fans in this country; he has fans in Pakistan, that's why Rahul Gandhi is trending in Pakistan. When the country is in a war situation, all the parties need to unite. Rohingyas are being sent back to other states, but in Telangana, Thousands of Rohingyas without passports and permission have made Hyderabad their home and are staying here. Rohingyas need to be sent back to their country, demands the BJP", he added. Terming Operation Sindoor a "small war", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday attacked the government over its response to the US claims about mediation between India and Pakistan and said "it has not providing clarity to the people of the country regarding US President Trump's statements." Speaking at the Samarpana Sankalpa Samavesh rally in Karnataka's Vijayanagara, Kharge alleged that intelligence agencies had prior information about a possible attack in the region and questioned why tourists were not informed. "26 people were killed in Kashmir because the Modi government didn't provide security to tourists. Modi did not go to Kashmir because the intelligence agencies asked him not to. Why didn't you (central government) inform the tourists not to go there (Pahalgam)? If they had, 26 lives could have been saved, and this small war (Operation Sindoor) would not have happened," he said. (ANI) Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday led the Hindu Ekta Yatra in Karimnagar district of Telangana. The Yatra began from Vaishya Bhavan and proceeded through key junctions of Karimnagar. It also featured cultural and artistic performances and highlighted the courage of the Indian Army in the context of the Pahalgam incident. Kumar praised the Indian Armed Forces' efforts on Operation Sindoor. He also condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remark of referring to Operation Sindoor as a "small war". He said that the Kharge is attempting to undermine the Indian Army's efforts by labelling the conflict with Pakistan as a "small war". While addressing the crowd at rally, Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said, "When Al-Qaeda attacked the Twin Towers in America and killed 6,000 people, even a superpower like the U.S. couldn't act for 10 years. Only after 10 years did they catch and kill Osama Bin Laden. But in just 15 days after the Pahalgam incident, the army that wiped out the terrorists--that is my Indian Army. Our Prime Minister is Modi... now tell me, who is greater?" He further added, "Is it a 'small war' to go deep into Pakistan and destroy 9 terrorist camps? Is it a 'small war' to destroy 11 military bases of the Pakistan Army? Is it a 'small war' to destroy 20 per cent of Pakistan's military infrastructure? Is it a 'small war' if Pakistan gets scared... and comes begging for a ceasefire? Let Kharge answer--what is a 'small war'?" Kumar also criticised Rahul Gandhi for "demanding a count of how many Rafale jets were destroyed in the war". "It's said that Rahul Gandhi has more fans in Pakistan than in India," Kumar said, adding, "The fact that he is trending on Pakistani social media is proof of that." Earlier, in his first public rally after the success of Operation Sindoor, PM Modi highlighted the Indian Armed Forces bravery during the operation. The PM also reiterated his 2019 promise, saying, "Saugandh mujhe iss Desh ki mitti ki, mein desh nahi mitne dunga, mein desh nahi Jhukne dunga." Addressing a public rally in Rajasthan's Bikaner, PM Modi said, "When I came after the airstrikes, I said, Saugandh mujhe iss Desh ki mitti ki, mein desh nahi mitne dunga, mein desh nahi Jhukne dunga. Those who came to erase the Sindoor our our women, we have demolished them." PM Modi in his first public rally after Operation Sindoor recalled his visit to Rajasthan after Balakot airstrikes: "This brave land of Rajasthan teaches us that nothing is greater than the country and its citizens. On April 22nd, terrorists destroyed the vermilion from the foreheads of our sisters by asking about their religion. Those bullets were fired in Pahalgam, but those bullets pierced the hearts of 140 crore countrymen. After this, every citizen of the country united and resolved that they would wipe out the terrorists. We will punish them more than they can imagine." (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila has criticised the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led Andhra Pradesh government for allegedly making decisions to "privatise" the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). The APCC Chief said that Congress condemned the decision of the Centre, asserting that the party would "fight to the death" if it came to saving the Visakha steel. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, YS Sharmila said, "Yesterday, on behalf of the Congress party, I, the party President of Andhra Pradesh, was there at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant for an indefinite strike because 2000 employees of the plant were terminated without a cause or reason. Most of the 2000 people who were terminated from the plant are people who happened to have given their land for the construction of the plant." The APCC Chief claimed that the BJP "deliberately" wants the plant to run into losses in order to privatise it. "If the project stands today, it is because many people like them donated land to the Vishakhapatnam Steel. Today, the BJP deliberately wants Visakhapatnam Steel to run into losses so that they can privatise it and give it to people like Adani. The Congress party is against this. Yesterday, we were there, demanding that all 2000 people be reinstated. Today, we held a press meeting in Vijayawada to question the state government as to why they are extending support for this move by the central government," YS Sharmila said. "In 2021, the BJP announced that they are willing to privatise Visakha Steel, they have not gone back on that. In a recent statement, the Centre government clarified that the decision remains. The Congress party seriously condemns this and stands against it, and we will fight to the death, if it comes to that, for saving the Visakha steel," she said. Sharmila on Wednesday sat on a hunger strike in support of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) workers. She alleged that around 2,000 contract workers were dismissed without proper procedure or justification. She further claimed that until 2014, the VSP was a profitable enterprise, generating Rs 1,000 crore in profit, but it now faces a debt of Rs 28,000 crore. Speaking to reporters, the Congress leader said, "Andhra Pradesh Congress is here in Visakhapatnam Steel. We are going on an indefinite hunger strike because the management of VSP has terminated 2000 employees without any cause or proper procedure. The reason behind this is to kill this plant... Until 2014, this plant yielded a profit of Rs 1000 crores, but now, it stands on a debt of Rs 28000 crores..." (ANI) A 50-year-old marriage broker was stabbed to death, and his two sons were critically injured in a late-night attack in Valachil under Mangaluru Rural Police limits on Thursday. The accused, a relative of the deceased, has been arrested. According to the police, the deceased, identified as Suleman (50), a resident of Vamanjoor, had arranged the marriage of the accused, Mustafa (30), with a woman named Shaheenaz eight months ago. However, the marriage turned sour, and Shaheenaz returned to her parents' home two months ago, sparking tensions between Mustafa and Suleman. According to police, Mustafa allegedly made an abusive call to Suleman on Wednesday night. In response, Suleman, accompanied by his sons Riyab and Siyab, went to Mustafa's house in Valachil to resolve the matter. While the sons waited outside, Suleman spoke to Mustafa briefly before returning, indicating the discussion had failed. As they prepared to leave, Mustafa suddenly rushed out, shouting threats, and stabbed Suleman in the neck, killing him on the spot. He then attacked both sons, stabbing Siyab in the chest and Riyab in the forearm before fleeing, said the police. Locals rushed the injured to the nearby hospital around 11:00 PM, where Suleman was declared dead on arrival. His sons are undergoing treatment for serious injuries. Mangaluru Rural Police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including culpable homicide, attempt to murder, and assault. Mustafa was later arrested, and further investigations are underway. (ANI) Encounter between Security forces and terrorists in Singhpora area of Chatroo continued for the second day in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar. One jawan lost his life in the line of duty during the ongoing operation, as per Army officials. In an official statement on X, White Knight Corps said, "During the ongoing operation, fierce gunfight is continuing. One of our Brave hearts sustained grievous injuries in the exchange of fire and has succumbed despite best medical efforts. Operation is in progress. "The encounter began in the early hours after security forces established contact with terrorists in the Chhatru area. The Jammu and Kashmir Police also confirmed the exchange of fire in the area. "Exchange of fire started between Security Forces and terrorists in the Singhpora area of Chhatru in Kishtwar," the Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a brief statement. Earlier, Army officials confirmed that additional troops have been deployed to the region to support the ongoing counter-terrorism operation, which aims to neutralise the hiding militants. Security forces have cordoned off the area and intensified search operations, with reinforcements ensuring that containment protocols are maintained. Further details on the number of terrorists involved and the current status of the operation are awaited. Earlier on May 16, VK Birdi, Inspector General of Police for Kashmir Zone, said that six terrorists were neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir under two separate operations in Kelar, Shopian and Tral conducted by the Indian Army in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). "In the wake of heightened terror activities in Kashmir Valley, all the security forces deployed here reviewed their strategies. Following this review, there was an intensified focus on operations. On the basis of this intensified focus and coordination, we conducted two successful operations in the last 48 hours during which we had significant achievement. These two operations were conducted in the Kelar in Shopian and Tral areas, which resulted in the neutralisation of a total of six terrorists. We are committed to finish the terror ecosystem in Kashmir Valley," the IGP Kashmir said. Following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed, the Indian forces have intensified their operation against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI) The 5th State Level Shirui Lily Festival is currently being celebrated in Shirui village of Ukhrul district in Manipur, drawing public participation and official presence. The festival, now in its third day on Friday, witnessed the attendance of Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, along with several MLAs. On Wednesday, the Manipur Governor, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, inaugurated the 5th edition of the Shirui Lily Festival 2025 at Shirui Village in Ukhrul district. During the ceremony, Governor Bhalla expressed his happiness and said, "I am very happy that I have come here; it's truly worth visiting this place. I am also glad that we are organising the Shirui Festival after a gap of two years. Seeing the enthusiasm and participation among the community is very encouraging. It's a very good thing for the region and the state." The festival celebrates the rare Shirui Lily (Lilium mackliniae), found only in the Shirui Hills. The Governor described it as "a living symbol of Manipur's ecological wealth and natural heritage." He added, "The state flower, Shirui Lily, is not just a pride for this Ukhrul region but for the entire state and the country." Highlighting the importance of eco-tourism, Governor Bhalla said, "This is an important eco-tourism attraction that we can promote well. Of course, we need to improve infrastructure, but with a focused government approach, I am hopeful that in the coming years, this place will become a key destination on India's tourism map--and even globally." Marking the 75th anniversary of the Shirui Lily's discovery, the festival aims to promote sustainable tourism and environmental awareness. It brings together locals, indigenous tribes, and visitors from across India and abroad to experience the vibrant culture of the Tangkhul Nagas through traditional dance, music, handloom and handicraft exhibitions, and local cuisine. The delicate Shirui Lily blooms only in the unique microclimate of the Shirui Hills and cannot be grown elsewhere, making this region its only sanctuary. The Governor reminded all, "For this year, our message is to bring peace back to the state. The theme is celebrating peace and harmony in diversity." The Shirui Lily Festival 2025 stands as a vibrant celebration of nature, culture, and community, inspiring all to protect and preserve the unique heritage it represents. The event continues to foster unity and environmental awareness, promising a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.(ANI) In a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu honoured the bravery and supreme sacrifice of Captain Deepak Singh, a brave son of Uttarakhand, by conferring the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. According to defence officials, Captain Deepak Singh was killed in action during the ongoing operation in Assar, Doda, in August 2024. He was from the 48 Rashtriya Rifles. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid heartfelt tributes to Captain Deepak Singh, expressing their deep condolences to his family. CM Dhami emphasised the heroism of Captain Singh and the significant impact of his ultimate sacrifice on the nation's spirit and the people of Uttarakhand. "In August 2024, during an encounter with terrorists, despite being injured, he showed unmatched courage and attained martyrdom while protecting the nation till his last breath. The military land of Uttarakhand is proud of this brave son", said Dhami, taking to his Twitter(X). President Droupadi Murmu conferred six Kirti Chakras, including four posthumous, and 33 Shaurya Chakras, including seven posthumous, to the personnel of the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and State/Union Territory Police during Phase-I of Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi on Thursday, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence. The Gallantry awards were given to the personnel for displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery and total disregard to personal safety in the line of duty, as per the ministry. The bravery, which has been awarded, was displayed during various operations related to counter-terror/counter-insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. "Dreaded terrorists were neutralised & apprehended during these operations, and arms & ammunition were recovered," it added. The Indian Navy officers led anti-piracy operations, resulting in the surrender of pirates and the rescue of hostages, while also demonstrating bravery during fire-fighting operations on a burning oil tanker, the statement added. The statement added that the awardees from the Indian Air Force showed utmost courage in life-threatening circumstances during the rescue of aircraft while manoeuvring away from civilian areas to avoid any loss of life/property. The gallant act of CRPF officers was performed in various operations in areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism. Maoist insurgents were apprehended and weapons recovered, it added. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy for questioning Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. Dubey referenced a 1991 Indo-Pak military transparency pact signed during a Congress-backed government to highlight what he called Congress's longstanding alignment with a "Pakistani vote bank." In a post on X, Dubey claimed that the 1991 pact involved India and Pakistan agreeing to share information about military movements, suggesting that the Congress party had once supported security transparency with Pakistan. https://x.com/nishikant_dubey/status/1925721372304519379 He wrote, "Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government made an agreement that India and Pakistan would exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason? Further adding to his criticism, Dubey said, "Congress is hand in glove with the Pakistani vote bank, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar ji?". Speaking to ANI, Dubey said, " "...We consider Pakistan a terrorist nation since 1947, we are fighting with them over the issue of Kashmir for 78 years and our part of Kashmir has been occupied by Pakistan. Even after that, you (Congress) have been giving concessions to Pakistan. Be it the Nehru-Liaquat Pact in 1950, Indus Water Treaty, the Simla Agreement of 1975. We don't talk about how the defence system of a nation functions in the Parliament also..." He added, "But in 1991, when you were extending support to the Chandra Shekhar-led government and in 1994, when there was a government of P. V. Narasimha Rao, then it (agreement) was implemented and you wrote where the army, navy will be deployed and how the air force would function...Do all these things not amount to treason? Congress cheated the nation just for the sake of vote bank politics...India should start a case of Treason and an FIR should be registered against those who made this agreement and the Congress party..." However, the Congress has rubbished this allegation saying, "This person needs to know that in late February 1991, Indian National Congress had withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar govt. Elections to the 10th Loksabha had already been announced." This exchange follows Rahul Gandhi's renewed criticism earlier this week of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. The Congress leader questioned the minister's silence on the number of Indian Air Force aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor, insisting that the nation "deserves the truth." Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. It targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. In response, Pakistan shelled border areas and carried out drone attacks, prompting India to conduct airstrikes on 11 Pakistani airbases. Both countries agreed to cease hostilities on May 10. (ANI) In a unique initiative to alleviate stress and promote well-being among police personnel, a Laughter Yoga Session was organised at the Police Commissionerate in Jaipur. The event, facilitated by the Ashram organisation, aimed to foster personnel's mental and physical fitness. The visuals from the event showed that police personnel participated in the event and enjoyed the laughter therapy session in the commissionerate. Yogesh Dadhich, ACP (Traffic & Administration), highlighted the importance of such initiatives, stating, "Police personnel lead highly stressful lives due to the demanding nature of our work. The constant tension in our operations, day and night, prompted the Commissioner of Police and senior officials to explore ways to reduce stress. Today, we organised an event at the traffic police lines and various stations, inviting select personnel to participate. The Ashram organisation facilitated this program, and the feedback from our constables and head constables has been overwhelmingly positive." He further added that such events are helpful for overall healthy well-being and that he planned to conduct such programs in the future. "We are happy to have conducted this event and plan to hold more such programs to promote bonding, mental and physical fitness, and effective performance among our personnel," he said. Pooja Sharma, Secretary of the Laughter Club, emphasised the broader impact of the initiative, saying, "The police administration shoulders the immense responsibility of public safety. Our organisation aims to conduct activities that help police personnel stay healthy and joyful. The public often perceives the police as serious, so we strive to showcase the smiling faces of our jawans, especially women in the force. Our goal is to promote health and happiness through laughter. For years, our Laughter Club has worked to bring laughter back into people's busy lives, and we are committed to continuing this mission." The event marks a significant step toward prioritising the mental and emotional well-being of police personnel. (ANI) An Intermittent firing is underway between security forces and Naxals in the Kistaram area of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, Police said on Friday. As per the police, the gunfight is underway since Thursday. A search operation is being conducted by the security forces at the site of the encounter and nearby areas. Further details are awaited. Earlier on Wednesday, 27 Naxals were killed in the joint operation of the security forces in the Abujmarh forests of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. The Inspector General (IG) of Bastar Range in Chhattisgarh, P Sundarraj, on Thursday said CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju, who was killed in an encounter, had an active role in the planning of many Naxalite attacks on security forces and people's representatives, and termed his killing a great achievement in the anti-Naxal operation. Basavaraju was among the 27 Naxals killed in the joint operation of the security forces in the Abujmarh forests of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. AK-47 rifles, SLR-INSAS carbines, and other arms and ammunition in heavy numbers were recovered. One DRG jawan was martyred and several others were injured in the operation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that this is the first time in three decades of India's battle against Naxalism that a General Secretary-ranked leader has been neutralised by the security forces. Noting that Basavaraju was the backbone of the Naxal movement, Amit Shah said that 54 Naxalites have been arrested and that 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh after the completion of Operation Black Forest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the efforts of India's security forces after 27 Maoists, including top CPI-Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, were killed in a major operation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, "Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for our people." (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin arrived at the Chennai International Airport on Friday as he prepared to leave for New Delhi. Stalin is set to participate in the tenth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, which will be held in the national capital on May 24. On Wednesday, CM Satlin said he would attend NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting on May 24 and demand "fair financial rights" for his State. The Chief Minister also asked why All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was pained by this, adding that he will keep on fighting to get a fair financial share from the Centre for the State. "I am going to Delhi on the 24th to express to the NITI Aayog for fair financial rights for Tamil Nadu at the meeting!" Stalin said in a post on X in Tamil. "Why does this pain the Leader of the Opposition, Palaniswami, who has kept his habit of keeping his feet under the table?" he added. Saying that he will always carry the flag of freedom, the Chief Minister said, "I will always carry the flag of freedom! I will not crawl away! Even today, I have filed a case in the Supreme Court for the rights of Tamil Nadu. I will stand firm on my policy! I will fight to get funds for Tamil Nadu." Meanwhile, Members of the Tamil Nadu River and Tank Irrigation Farmers Association staged a protest near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, Chennai, demanding immediate government action on crop damage compensation, agricultural budget implementation, and policy reforms. The protesters, including farmers and their family members, raised slogans, urging Chief Minister MK Stalin to provide relief for crops such as maize, banana and small onions that were severely damaged due to recent heavy rains. They also pressed for the implementation of schemes announced in the agricultural budget, loan waivers for distressed farmers, and a rollback of the proposed installation of digital electricity meters. (ANI) TMC National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee visited the Memorial of Freedom Fighter Rash Behari Bose in Tokyo on Friday. The TMC leader paid homage by offering a floral tribute to the legendary fighter. Rash Behari Bose founded the Indian independence league and was a key organiser of the Ghadar Mutiny. He played a part in the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate the then Indian Viceroy Lord Hardinge in 1912 and later fled to Japan. He was also involved with the Indian National Army. Taking to X, Banerjee also requested that the Indian Embassy address the memorial's "neglected" and "dilapidated" condition, reflecting a diplomatic effort to preserve cultural heritage. "Felt a deep sense of pride and goosebumps while paying my respects and offering floral tributes to this great son of Bengal. India remains eternally grateful for his indomitable spirit and pivotal role in our freedom struggle. It was disheartening to see his memorial in such a neglected and dilapidated state. I have requested our Ambassador @AmbSibiGeorge and @IndianEmbTokyo to take up the matter with the concerned authorities and ensure that this remarkable hero receives the honor he truly deserves," he posted on X. The delegation is on a five-nation visit for Operation Sindoor global outreach. The delegation, led by Jha, includes Ambassador Mohan Kumar, BJP MP Dr Hemang Joshi, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP Brij Lal, and BJP MP Pradan Baruah. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. The list includes Members of Parliament from multi-party groups, which have been divided into seven groups of 8-9 members. A leader has been assigned to each group and will lead the delegation at the global level. India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22. India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POJK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday stated that he had been a victim of the raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), accusing the probe agency of being a "weapon" of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a press conference, Raut spoke on the Supreme Court rapping ED over the TASMAC raids in Tamil Nadu. "What is new here? I am a victim too (of ED). I have been through that, there are several others like me...ED is a weapon of BJP, of PM Modi, of HM Amit Shah. As long as there is ED, there is Modi-Shah and BJP..." Raut said. Speaking on Rahul Gandhi's question to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Raut said that there was nothing wrong, asserting that that people of the country believed that Pakistan could not be trusted. "What is wrong with the question Rahul Gandhi has asked? Every citizen of the country has this question in their mind. It is not just the BJP's supporters who have this question. The 1.4 billion people of the country will always believe this: that you cannot trust Pakistan. That is the first point. The second point is, what benefit do we have from Trump? Trump has only harmed us. Our ongoing efforts were focused on fighting terrorism; it was not about grabbing land like Israel," Raut said. He further stated that Rahul Gandhi's question was the same that the people have in their minds. "To eliminate terrorism, we started a fight with Pakistan, but Trump stopped it. Trump caused harm to us. If Rahul Gandhi has asked this question, then it is the question in the minds of the people. The third question he asked is also true. Our blood boils; our veins carry the blood of patriotism. When the sindoor (vermilion) of 26 women was wiped out, our blood boils," he further added. Raut also questioned the language the government used and the revenge taken by the country against Pakistan. "I have seen that Pakistan's Prime Minister has said that they have taken revenge for the defeat of 1971. This is the kind of language they are using. What kind of revenge have you taken? What courage does it take to use such language? In 1971, when Pakistan had to accept defeat during Indira Gandhi's time, their language was not like this. In 1965, under the leadership of Lal Bahadur Shastri, we made Pakistan bite the dust, yet their language was not like this then. But during Prime Minister Modi's tenure, Sharif is saying that they have taken revenge for 1971. The government should be ashamed," Raut said. (ANI) Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh said that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Saturday to meet the families of victims killed in recent shelling by Pakistan. In a post on X on Friday, Ramesh said, "Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri@RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow, May 24th, to meet the families bereaved during the shelling by Pakistan very recently." "Earlier he had visited Srinagar on April 25th to meet with those injured during the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and many other stakeholders. He had also met with the LG and the CM then," he said on X. https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1925771108503994493 Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had visited the victims of the shelling in both Poonch and Rajouri, stressing that the proper rehabilitation of affected families is his top priority. According to an official statement from Raj Bhavan, the closest kin of the victims will be offered government jobs, and assistance will be provided to the families from the Central government. "The proper rehabilitation of affected families is my top priority. The J&K administration, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, is committed to ensuring proper rehabilitation, enhanced border infrastructure, and security for the residents of border areas. We are significantly expanding our efforts to construct individual and community bunkers across Jammu and Kashmir under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE)," said the Lieutenant Governor. Apart from Poonch, Rajouri district has also been affected. Locals have suffered damage to their homes and lost their sources of livelihood due to the shelling. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of those killed. Lieutenant Governor Sinha has held several meetings with civil administration officials, police, and local residents to assess the situation. He added that a rehabilitation package for the victims will soon be approved by the Central government. (ANI) Karnataka's large and medium Industries Minister MB Patil on Friday stated that the locals of Karnataka were extremely unhappy with the appointment of actress Tamannah Bhatia as an ambassador of the KSDL products. Addressing a press conference, Patil said that the matter was not of language, but of earning global and national reputation through work. "I am a person who has a lot of respect for Kannada identity. This is trade, business... and should be promoted to the world and across India," Patil told the media. He further stated that Bhatia had been chosen as the brad ambassador because she had 2.8 crore followers and was the only suitable option, as Rashmika Mandanna had signed elsewhere, while actresses Pooja Hegde and Kiara Advani were not possible and Deepika Padukone would not fit in the budget of KSDL. Patil further stated that there should be respect for Kannada artists, and people should understand that this was not a tender work done. On May 22, actor Tammannah Bhatia was roped in as a brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). The Karnataka government's decision, however, sparked criticism from some quarters, with many questioning why a Kannada actor was not chosen to represent the iconic state-run brand. Following the backlash, Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil stated that "the decision was made considering the actress's wide appeal, strong digital presence, and her ability to connect with the younger generation." "Our target is to reach Rs5,000 crore in sales by 2030, and in this context, a strong marketing strategy becomes vital. This appointment was made based on recommendations from marketing experts," he highlighted. "Other leading celebrities such as Deepika Padukone, Rashmika Mandanna, Pooja Hegde, and Kiara Advani were also considered. However, after evaluating factors like ongoing brand endorsements, availability, and associated costs, Tamannaah was selected for her strong pan-India appeal, reasonable engagement terms, and remarkable digital reach with over 28 million followers," Patil said. Meanwhile, on the acting front, Tamannaah will be seen sharing screen space with Sidharth Malhotra in folk thriller 'VVAN,' which is set to be released in theatres on May 15, 2026.As per the makers, VVAN is set in the deep forests of Central India and is described as a mix of ancient legends, hidden temples, and adventure. It has been shot in real forest locations. (ANI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday slammed the Centre, accusing it of denying the State its rightful entitlement in the tax devolution. The Chief Minister said that if the tax share had been allocated fairly, Kerala would have received an additional Rs2,282 crore in 2022-23 and Rs2,071 crore in 2023-24, respectively. "In the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, Kerala's share in the total own tax revenue generated by all Indian states was 3.7%. However, the tax devolution Kerala received from the Union government during the same period was only 1.53% and 1.13%, respectively. Based on Kerala's population share, the rightful entitlement should have been 2.7%," Vijayan said at a public event to mark his government's fourth anniversary. "If the tax share had been allocated fairly, Kerala would have received an additional Rs2,282 crore in 2022-23 and Rs2,071 crore in 2023-24. This is not an extra demand -- it is Kerala's rightful share," he added. The Chief Minister said that his government presented this "injustice" before the 16th Finance Commission and made efforts to bring together other states to raise a collective voice. "But the discriminatory attitude of the Union Government continues. Even in the 2024-25 financial year, the Centre has restricted state borrowings by Rs3,300 crore under the pretext of guarantee limits," he added. "It is not just a denial -- false propaganda is being spread to justify this bias, portraying Kerala's financial management as poor. This is far from the truth. We've made consistent progress. Kerala's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has risen from Rs5.6 lakh crore in 2018 to Rs13.11 lakh crore today. In 2016, per capita income was Rs1.48 lakh; now it is significantly higher. These figures reflect our economic growth and resilience," he added. The Chief Minister said that despite deliberate roadblocks and financial restrictions from the Centre, Kerala has successfully implemented major projects. " We have enhanced our domestic revenue and continued to push development initiatives forward," he said. "Another important point is expenditure. The share of total government expenditure borne by the state governments is increasing. For the current financial year, the state's contribution is estimated to be around 70%. While the Centre's burden is decreasing, the responsibilities of states like Kerala are growing," he added. He said that Kerala has consistently shown improvement in many economic sectors. "We have managed to keep going. That is the strength of our economic policy. Whether it's in infrastructure, IT, or public welfare, Kerala has consistently shown improvement. Kerala was home to the country's first IT park with 640 companies. Although others advanced faster in recent years, our government, since coming to power in 2016, has worked to regain leadership in this domain, and we are seeing results," he said. He said that Kerala has progressed significantly since 2016, when he assumed office as the Chief Minister. "The LDF has now completed nine continuous years in office -- a rare achievement. When we compare the situation in 2016 to now, it's clear that Kerala has progressed significantly," he said. "During this time, we have achieved results we can be proud of. In 2016, we released a manifesto after carefully studying Kerala's condition. Except for a few items, nearly all promises have been fulfilled. We released a progress report, and the people have endorsed it. Today, on completing the fourth year, we will present the latest progress report," he added. The Chief Minister said this was a unique moment for Kerala. "In a democratic nation like ours -- and across the world -- no other government has presented a report card of achievements in such a transparent manner," he said. "Despite this, there is a persistent wave of negative propaganda claiming that Kerala is in economic ruins and no projects are progressing -- that we are a state adrift. Such falsehoods are being systematically spread. However, these narratives do not reflect reality," he added. The Chief Minister said that the data from the Reserve Bank of India showed Kerala's debt-to-GSDP ratio has actually improved. "In 2022-23, the gap between the state's debt and its internal revenue was 35.3%, and in 2023-24, it further dropped to 34.2%. This shows better financial management. In contrast, in 2023-24, Bihar's ratio was 39.3%, Punjab's in 2023-24 was 47.6%, and West Bengal's was 38.3%. The central government itself has a ratio of 56%," he said. "Kerala's relatively low and improving ratio proves we are managing our finances wisely. These are not empty claims -- they are backed by credible data from RBI," he added. (ANI) Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Friday hit back at BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over his reference of a 1991 Indo-Pak military transparency pact to target Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, stating that the latter "repeatedly displays his stupidity." Speaking to ANI, Shrinate pointed out that the Congress withdrew its support from the former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar's government in March 1991 while the agreement was signed in April. "First of all, Nishikant Dubey repeatedly displays his stupidity. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi withdrew support from the Chandrashekhar government on 6 March 1991. First of all, this is probably an agreement signed in April 1991. This agreement is for peacetime. It is about ensuring that there is no misunderstanding between the armies of the two countries during peacetime," she said. "When we have taken action now, there was a terrorist attack on us, we have retaliated aggressively... So first of all, Nishikant Dubey and the BJP are accepting that EAM Jaishankar informed, and what Rahul Gandhi was saying was the truth. Jaishankar informed Pakistan, and the BJP itself is confirming it... The agreement he is referring to is a peace-time agreement. Jaishankar ji had informed that there would be a war-like situation," Supriya Shrinate said. Congress leader Pawan Khera also defended Rahul Gandhi's recent criticism of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Khera dismissed the allegation, stating, 'This person needs to know that in late February 1991, the Indian National Congress had already withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar government, and elections to the 10th Lok Sabha had been announced.'" The row began after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took to X to accuse Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy. Citing a 1991 agreement signed under a Congress-backed government, Dubey claimed it obligated India and Pakistan to exchange information about military deployments and attacks. He wrote, "Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government agreed that India and Pakistan would exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason? Further adding to his criticism, Dubey said, "Congress is hand in glove with the Pakistani vote bank, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar ji?". This exchange follows Rahul Gandhi's renewed criticism earlier this week of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. The Congress leader questioned the minister's silence on the number of Indian Air Force aircraft lost during Operation Sindoor, insisting that the nation "deserves the truth." Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. It targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists. In response, Pakistan shelled border areas and carried out drone attacks, prompting India to conduct airstrikes on 11 Pakistani airbases. Both countries agreed to cease hostilities on May 10. (ANI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the mysterious death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) engineer Vimal Negi, following a petition filed by his wife. The court's decision came after growing concerns over the integrity of the state police investigation and allegations of foul play. Vimal Negi, a senior engineer with HPPCL, had gone missing on March 10, and his body was recovered on March 18 under suspicious circumstances. The post-mortem report indicated that he had died around five days prior to the recovery of his body. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state police, failed to provide any clarity about his whereabouts between March 10 and 14, raising serious questions about the credibility of the investigation. Advocate R.K. Bawa, representing the Negi family, expressed satisfaction with the High Court's decision, saying: "From the very first day, the family had been saying that we were not satisfied with the investigation. The court has now transferred the matter to the CBI. Even the Director General of Police of the state expressed dissatisfaction with the SIT's investigation in court. We raised concerns that the probe was neither transparent nor fair. The investigation officer did not submit crucial materials to the court. Even the report of the Additional Chief Secretary, which highlighted misconduct by certain officials and included names, was never placed in the public domain," Rawa said. The court observed that the SIT investigation appeared biased and incomplete. It questioned why no investigation had been conducted into the five-day gap in Negi's disappearance and also noted irregularities in the treatment of suspects and witnesses. The report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary, Omkar Sharma, on April 8, also corroborated several concerns raised by the family, but a copy of the report was never provided to them. Rajender Negi, the maternal uncle of Vimal Negi and a retired Army captain, also welcomed the court's move. "We are happy with the High Court's decision. This will ensure a proper and fair investigation. We never trusted the SIT or the state government. The DGP himself had expressed dissatisfaction with the probe. What was being termed a suicide is not suicide. It's a murder orchestrated by officials of HPPCL. The post-mortem report said he drowned, but the truth is, he was drowned, this was a planned murder. The accused were never questioned, while our family was harassed and our financial and health records were scrutinized. We have complete faith in the judiciary and the CBI to deliver justice," he said. Surinder Negi, Vimal Negi's brother, echoed these sentiments, expressing deep frustration over the police investigation and hope that the CBI would uncover the truth. "We never had faith in the government or the SIT. From day one, we demanded a CBI investigation. We believe this is not a case of suicide but murder. They tried to suppress a lot of evidence. The DGP and SP were contradicting each other publicly. Instead of investigating the accused, they investigated us. They even looked into our property records. But the Managing Director and Director of Personnel were not even questioned. We believe justice will now be served," Surinder Negi said. Following Vimal Negi's disappearance, the then Director of HPPCL Deshraj, the Managing Director, and the Director of Personnel were named in an FIR by Shimla Police after protests by the family and HPPCL employees. However, due to continued dissatisfaction with the police investigation, the Himachal Pradesh government formed a committee earlier under Additional Chief Secretary Omkar Sharma to investigate the matter and report within 15 days. Despite this, no substantial progress was made, and even when the accused applied for bail in the Supreme Court, the state government reportedly failed to represent itself. The High Court took note of these omissions, highlighting the lack of seriousness in the investigation. With the case now handed over to the CBI, the Negi family, supported by widespread public sentiment and demands for justice, hopes that a transparent and impartial investigation will finally uncover the truth behind Vimal Negi's death. (ANI) The district administration of Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain carried out a demolition drive to remove illegal encroachments in Begum Bagh locality in the city amid tight security on Friday. The locality is situated near Mahakal temple and around hundreds of people belonging to a minority community gathered over there to protest the action of the district administration. Following which Shahar Qazi reached the spot, had discussion with officials and later explained to the people that proceedings were being done according to the direction of the court. Thereafter, people moved back from the spot and the district administration began the proceedings. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nitesh Bhargav told ANI, "Begum Bagh locality is adjacent to Mahakal temple and two houses built here were identified by UDA (Ujjain Development Authority) as encroachment. We are present at the spot for the safety and security so that no nuisance or unpleasant situation arises. Around 150 police personnel are deployed here at the spot." Meanwhile, Ujjain Development Authority (UDA) CEO, Sandeep Soni explained that the authority had leased land and shops of people in Begum Bagh locality. When a survey was conducted in the area, it was found that people did not renew the lease, they also made the area residential. After that, a total of 28 properties were identified but some took stay from the court. After the stay was lifted from the court, two properties were vacated and its possession was being taken. Soni told ANI, "The action which is underway today is part of the Ujjain Development Authority's plan. Around one and half years ago, Ujjain Development Authority identified 28-30 properties which violated the lease conditions and the duration of lease also expired in 2014-15. After that the lease was cancelled, all the lands came under the control of authority. Those who still have possession are actually illegal." "Also, there was a stay from the Court in the matter. Two days ago, the court lifted the stay. Following which, now the municipal corporation, police and district administration have talked to the people and they are removing the belongings from the spot. After being vacated, the Ujjain Development Authority will take possession of it and will begin the removal action. This is the Begum Bagh locality and comes under UDA," he added. (ANI) Union Minister HD Kumarswamy on Friday mocked the Karnataka government over the recent raids by the Enforcement Directorate on the educational institutions linked to G Parameshwara and stated that state Home Minister is facing problems due to his Congress friends only. Addressing the media, Kumaraswamy stated that Congress ministers and leaders are unnecessarily attacking the Central government over ED's action. "Why is our Karnataka HM in trouble? He is facing these problems due to Congress friends only. Unnecessarily Congress ministers and leaders are attacking the Central Government," he said. "In the last two days, in Karnataka Enforcement Directorate raided Karnataka's present Home Minister's institutions and several places. In this issue, several Congress ministers are attacking the Central Govt, that the Centre is misusing the power of ED and IT that they wanted to trouble... Some ministers and powerful leaders in Karnataka...But who is responsible for this development? In the Congress cabinet itself one powerful minister has given the information to the concerned authorities that one woman bringing some gold from Dubai," Kumaraswamy said. Earlier, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi responding to the media questions regarding the raids by ED, alleged that the information prompting the ED's action came from within the Congress party itself. "A group of Congress members gave information to ED for action against Home Minister G Parameshwara. Accordingly, ED is doing its duty," said Union Minister Joshi. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also knows who the Congress members are who gave information to ED for action against the Home Minister. They are creating drama even though they know everything. Parameshwara is a decent politician. We have respect for him," Joshi said. On Thursday, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara asserted that he is "prepared to cooperate" with whatever the outcome of the probe. "Yesterday, ED officers visited our institutions--Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Siddhartha Medical College at Tumkur, Siddhartha Medical College at Begur and Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education. I instructed my staff to cooperate with them and give whatever information they asked for...They questioned our accounts section. The search is still going on," G Parameshwara said. "Being a person who believes in the law of the country, whatever comes out of the verification or search, I am prepared to cooperate," he said. (ANI) The Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight 6E 2142, which was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, was denied entry into Pakistani airspace which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence. According to the crew's statement to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot's request was dismissed by the Lahore Air Traffic Control. "On 21.05.2025, Indigo A321 Neo aircraft VT-IMD operated flight 6E-2142 (Delhi -Srinagar). While cruising at FL360, aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. As per the crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route; however, it was not approved," the DGCA said. "Later crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused too," it added. The DGCA said that the crew initially attempted to return, but as they were close to the thunderstorm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather. "Subsequently, they encountered a hailstorm and severe turbulence. Crew chose to continue at same heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar. While in thunderstorm cloud, warnings of Angle of Attack fault, Alternate Law protection lost, backup Speed scale unreliable were triggered," DGCA said. It said that due to updraft and down draft encountered by the aircraft, the Autopilot tripped and the aircraft's speed had wide variations. "As a result, Maximum Operating Speed/Maximum operating Mach (VMO/MMO) warnings and repeated stall warnings were triggered. During this period the aircraft rate of descent reached 8500 fpm crew flew the aircraft manually till they exit the hailstorm," DGCA said. "After carrying out all check list actions (ECAM actions), crew declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested for RADAR vectors and made a safe landing with Auto Thrust operating normally. There was no injury to any of the passenger on-board the flight. Post flight walk around revealed damage to the Nose radome. The matter is under investigation by the DGCA," it added. Earlier, IndiGo Airlines had a issued a statement after the incident, saying, "IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. The airport team attended to the customers after arrival of the aircraft, prioritizing their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance" On Wednesday, rain and hailstorms lashed parts of the national capital. many domestic and international flights to Delhi airport were put on halt or diverted due to inclement weather conditions. (ANI) Deputy Commissioner of Police Nidhan Valsan on Friday spoke on the detention drive of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and stated that a total of 831 people had been kept on the suspicious list for verification. He further stated that a total of 121 Bangladeshi immigrants had been detained, and added that five people had been interrogated by the Special Investigation Team. "Since the drive has been started against Bangladeshis living in India illegally, 831 people have been kept on the suspicious list for verification...In the last week, a team of police officials detained 121 Bangladeshi Illegal immigrants...Orders for getting them deported have also been given...The SIT interrogated five people who arranged for them to stay here...The SIT has been constituted to take action against those who were supporting them..." the DCP told ANI. On May 17, the Delhi Police deported 21 illegal Bangladeshi nationals and arrested five others, including three transgender individuals who were recently apprehended in the Mahendra Park area for residing illegally and engaging in begging and other unlawful activities, officials said on. DCP North West Delhi Bhisham Singh said, "Our team has been working on illegal immigrants for a long time. Under this campaign, we have deported 21 illegal Bangladeshis. 2 cases have been registered, and we have also arrested 5 Bangladeshis. Now, we have caught 3 transgender Bangladeshis. Their main job is to beg at traffic signals and they do many illegal activities." "They do not have any criminal background in India. They crossed the border and came to Bangladesh by train. One of the illegal Bangladeshis was in touch with an Indian through Facebook. They had a live-in relationship after she came to India. The other two also stayed in the same area. The Foreigners Cell of North West District Police apprehended three Bangladeshi women residing illegally in the Mahendra Park area of Delhi. The operation was the result of sustained surveillance and precise technical analysis. Acting on a credible input, officials tracked a Facebook reel posted by one of the suspects, which featured a local ice cream cart and inadvertently revealed nearby buildings. Using this clue, the police painstakingly searched nearly 50 lanes to locate the exact spot seen in the video. A trap was laid in the early hours of May 15, leading to the arrest of the prime suspect, who was posing as a transgender person and known locally as Deepa. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Friday that Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi will visit Poonch tomorrow. He also mentioned that leaders from the TMC party visited Rajouri today. "Yes, he will visit Poonch. He will meet the people there and express his sympathies. I am thankful to the TMC for initiating it. Five of their members came here and visited by road. They visited Poonch, and they are now in Rajouri. Then will visit Jammu. It is good that they came here and are listening to the people. And we feel that some people are standing with us in such difficult times," he said. Jammu and Kashmir CM further emphasised the responsibility of elected representatives to engage with the public and address their concerns, stating that his government is committed to listening to the people and working on their issues. "It is the duty of an elected government or representatives elected by the people to reach out to people as much as possible, hear their issues and grievances, and try to resolve them. We never said that all issues would be resolved at once. But we have definitely said that we will hear everyone as much as possible and try to work on it. I am doing exactly the same," he said. Earlier today, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Saturday to meet the families of victims killed in recent shelling by Pakistan. In a post on X on Friday, Ramesh said, "Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri@RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow, May 24th, to meet the families bereaved during the shelling by Pakistan very recently." Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts have been affected during the recent conflict with Pakistan. The Pakistani side had indulged in unprovoked firing across the border due to which locals suffered damage to their homes and lost their sources of livelihood. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of those killed. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on Friday to discuss and submit a proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, aiming to enhance water resource management and infrastructure development in the region. According to a release, the project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. The Chief Minister said the project supports national missions like Jal Jeevan, Blue Revolution, and Make in India. He also highlighted Andhra Pradesh's rightful access to surplus water as a downstream state after bifurcation. He assured that the detailed project report (DPR) would be submitted soon and requested timely approvals to move the project forward. The Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme is a massive project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh Government at an estimated cost of Rs 80,112 crore. The plan involves diverting 200 TMC of water from the Godavari river at Polavaram to Rayalaseema through the Bollapalli reservoir and Banakacherla head regulator. The proposal seeks to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers. Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu will also meet with Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology, to discuss research, innovation, and industrial science collaborations. He will also meet with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today. At around 4 pm today, CM Naidu will participate in a key review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the Implementation of New Criminal Laws across States. Then, at around 9 pm, he will meet Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to deliberate on digital infrastructure and AP's role in the future tech economy. On May 24, the Andhra CM will attend the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, which is scheduled for 9:00 - 9:30 AM at the Convention Centre, Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. In this high-level policy forum, he will articulate Andhra Pradesh's reform-oriented governance model, highlight key development initiatives, and seek strategic cooperation from the Centre and States to advance inclusive and sustainable growth. (ANI) Workers of Pro Kannada organisations staged protest in Bengaluru demanding the removal of actress Tamannah Bhatia as the brand ambassador from Karnataka Soaps and detergents limited (KSDL). The actress has been offered an amount of Rs 6.2 crore to work the brand. Meanwhile, Karnataka Large and medium Industries Minister MB Patil stated that the locals of Karnataka were extremely unhappy with the appointment of actress Tamannah Bhatia as an ambassador of the KSDL products. Addressing a press conference, Patil said that the matter was not of language, but of earning global and national reputation through work. "I am a person who has a lot of respect for Kannada identity. This is trade, business... and should be promoted to the world and across India," Patil told the media. He further stated that Bhatia had been chosen as the brad ambassador because she had 2.8 crore followers and was the only suitable option, as Rashmika Mandanna had signed elsewhere, while actresses Pooja Hegde and Kiara Advani were not possible and Deepika Padukone would not fit in the budget of KSDL. On May 22, actor Tammannah Bhatia was roped in as a brand ambassador for Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). The Karnataka government's decision, however, sparked criticism from some quarters, with many questioning why a Kannada actor was not chosen to represent the iconic state-run brand. Following the backlash, Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil stated that "the decision was made considering the actress's wide appeal, strong digital presence, and her ability to connect with the younger generation." "Our target is to reach Rs5,000 crore in sales by 2030, and in this context, a strong marketing strategy becomes vital. This appointment was made based on recommendations from marketing experts," he highlighted. Patil further stated that there should be respect for Kannada artists, and people should understand that this was not a tender work done. Meanwhile, on the acting front, Tamannaah will be seen sharing screen space with Sidharth Malhotra in folk thriller 'VVAN,' which is set to be released in theatres on May 15, 2026. As per the makers, VVAN is set in the deep forests of Central India and is described as a mix of ancient legends, hidden temples, and adventure. It has been shot in real forest locations. (ANI) India will leave no effort to bring Pakistan onto the grey list, according to government sources. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, has been informed about India's intentions. Government sources said that India will send a detailed dossier to the FATF, outlining evidence and concerns regarding the involvement of certain entities and individuals in terror financing and money laundering activities. The dossier will highlight India's findings and demand strict scrutiny and action by the FATF under international protocols. Sources said that India's intervention at the FATF will have a serious impact. Indian officials will participate in the upcoming meeting scheduled for June and raise this issue with the FATF. The FATF Plenary had removed Pakistan from the Grey List in October 2022, albeit with the reminder that Pakistan would continue to work with the Asia Pacific Group (APG) to further improve its Anti-Money Laundering/Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system. The last time the FATF had placed Pakistan on its Grey List was in June 2018, when it found several strategic deficiencies concerning the AML and CFT recommendations. Pakistan was told to implement an action plan, which included demonstrating effective action against United Nations-designated terror outfits, individuals, and their associates in terms of financial sanctions, asset seizures, investigation, prosecution, and convictions. However, owing to its failure to implement all the action points fully, Pakistan was again retained on the Grey List on October 21, 2021. The FATF Plenary noted that Pakistan had completed 26 of the 27 action items in its 2018 plan. The one remaining issue was about continuing to demonstrate that terror financing investigations and prosecutions targeted senior functionaries and commanders of UN-designated terror outfits. Pakistan was put on the Grey List for the first time in 2008, then removed in 2009, and again it was brought under increased monitoring from 2012 to 2015. Greylisting by the FATF is said to limit a country's access to international loans. (ANI) As part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration, the Delhi Police have detained 121 Bangladeshi nationals from Outer North Delhi for residing in the country without valid documentation. DCP Outer North Nidhin Valsan said, a wider drive targeting undocumented foreign nationals across the capital. the individuals were part of a larger list of 831 suspected illegal residents. "Many have already been verified. Last week we detained 121 individuals. They were handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) after verification. Following document checks, their illegal stay was confirmed and deportation orders have been issued, "The majority of the detainees were living in slum clusters. Background checks are also being conducted to rule out any criminal links. "Verification is ongoing for the remaining individuals. We have dispatched teams to West Bengal, as many of those detained have roots or connections there," DCP Valsan added. He further stated that five people had been interrogated by the Special Investigation Team. "Since the drive has been started against Bangladeshis living in India illegally, 831 people have been kept on the suspicious list for verification...In the last week, a team of police officials detained 121 Bangladeshi Illegal immigrants...Orders for getting them deported have also been given...The SIT interrogated five people who arranged for them to stay here...The SIT has been constituted to take action against those who were supporting them..." the DCP told ANI. In connection with the case, an FIR has been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (336/2, 336/3, 342, and 61/2) and Sections 14 and 14C of the Foreigners Act, 1946. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter further. Authorities have also identified five individuals suspected of facilitating accommodation for the illegal residents. "They have been interrogated and issued notices. Investigations into their call records and other details are ongoing," He added. The Outer North district is among several areas in Delhi where such enforcement operations are being actively conducted. "Our teams are working daily to identify and verify undocumented residents, and appropriate legal action is being taken accordingly. This is a city-wide effort and it continues. (ANI) According to the release, the operation, led by Additional SP Ramesh, involved 12 C60 commando teams, comprising around 300 personnel, and a CRPF unit. The operation was initiated on Thursday at noon from Kawande and Nelgunda, moving towards the Indravati riverbank near the recently opened Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kawande, despite heavy rainfall in the area. On Friday morning, while laying a cordon and searching the riverbank, Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the C60 commandos, prompting effective retaliation. The heavy exchange of fire lasted nearly two hours. A subsequent area search led to the recovery of four Maoist bodies, one automatic Self Loading Rifle, two .303 rifles, and a Bharmar. Additionally, walkie-talkies, camping materials, and Naxal literature were seized from the spot. Anti-Naxal operations and area searches are ongoing to locate remaining Maoists. Earlier on May 21, in a major blow to the Maoist insurgency, security forces in Chhattisgarh killed 27 Naxals, including CPI-Maoist General Secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, during a massive joint operation in the Abujmarh forests of Narayanpur district. The Inspector General (IG) of Bastar Range in Chhattisgarh, P Sundarraj, on Wednesday said that the joint operation that killed 27 naxals, including CPI-M General Secretary Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, was carried out by District Reserve Guard (DRG) teams from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon. Sundarraj further added that the encounter took place in the Abujmarh area, a known Naxal stronghold, following intelligence inputs about the presence of senior Maoist leaders. He said that AK-47 rifles, SLR-INSAS carbines, and other arms and ammunition in heavy numbers were recovered. One DRG jawan was martyred and several others were injured in the operation, which also led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition. (ANI) Criticising the BJP-led NDA government, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that India's foreign policy has collapsed. In a post on X, Gandhi raised three questions to the central government. "Will JJ explain, Why India has been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to "mediate" between India & Pakistan?" the LoP said. Reposting a video of S Jaishankar's interview with a media outlet, he said, "India's foreign policy has collapsed," he added. Earlier, Gandhi questioned External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, accusing him of being silent on how many aircraft the Indian Air Force lost during Operation Sindoor and said that the nation "deserves the truth". "EAM Jaishankar's silence isn't just telling -- it's damning. So I'll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn't a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth," Rahul Gandhi posted on X. The Lok Sabha LoP's outburst has been met with sharp criticism by the BJP with party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accusing him of weakening the morale of the forces. "When Operation Sindoor is going on, Rahul Gandhi is giving careless statements. He is asking how many IAF jets are down. On May 11, during a press briefing, Air Marshal Bharti said, 'We are in a combat scenario, it is not prudent for us to answer that question'... Rahul Gandhi seems to be busy in conversations with Pakistan on how to weaken Indian and the morale of the forces... Today, a senior leader of Pakistan, Mariam Nawaz, gave a statement that on the night of May 6 and 7, and on May 9, Pakistan had to face a huge loss because of India's action... At such a time, what is LoP and 'Nishan E Pakistan' Rahul Gandhi saying," he said. "You can ask any question in an all-party meeting of the MEA briefing. Your questions can be answered... But such activities by Rahul Gandhi are not innocent. This cannot be neglected by calling it Rahul Gandhi's childlike, for which he is known... When it is about the nation, every statement holds weight, and will be exposed if it causes harm to the country... Why has Rahul Gandhi started hating 140 crore Indians while hating PM Modi," he added. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead. As part of the operation, Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Following the strikes, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling and attempted drone attacks. In response, India launched coordinated airstrikes that damaged key military infrastructure across 11 Pakistani airbases. On May 10, both sides announced an understanding on the cessation of hostilities. (ANI) According to a release, Chief Minister Naidu, during the meeting, outlined a comprehensive plan encompassing industrial infrastructure, research collaborations, and strategic installations across key locations in Andhra Pradesh. The proposals include developing integrated defence facilities, revitalising critical manufacturing units, supporting indigenous aviation programs, establishing testing and training centres, and creating thematic defence hubs to promote regional specialisation. CM Chandrababu Naidu underlined Andhra Pradesh's readiness, with its strong infrastructure base, skilled workforce, and proactive policy environment, to advance 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' through self-reliant defence production and innovation. Naidu also met with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil today to discuss and submit a proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, which aims to enhance water resource management and infrastructure development in the region. The project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. The Chief Minister said the project supports national missions like Jal Jeevan, Blue Revolution, and Make in India. He also highlighted Andhra Pradesh's rightful access to surplus water as a downstream state after bifurcation. He assured that the detailed project report (DPR) would be submitted soon and requested timely approvals to move the project forward. The Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme is a massive project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh Government at an estimated cost of Rs 80,112 crore. The plan involves diverting 200 TMC of water from the Godavari River at Polavaram to Rayalaseema through the Bollapalli reservoir and Banakacherla head regulator. The proposal seeks to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers. Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu will also meet with Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology, to discuss research, innovation, and industrial science collaborations. He will also meet with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today. At around 4 pm today, CM Naidu will participate in a key review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on implementing the New Criminal Laws across States. Then, at around 9 pm, he will meet Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to deliberate on digital infrastructure and AP's role in the future tech economy. (ANI) In a significant tribute to the ancient Tamil king, King Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar, Union Minister L. Murugan announced that a commemorative postage stamp bearing the king's image will be released next year in Tiruchirappalli. The announcement was made during the 1,350th birth anniversary celebrations of the king, marking a major milestone in the recognition of his legacy. The celebrations saw prominent dignitaries paying their respects to the king, including Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Minister L. Murugan, and Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, who garlanded the statue of Mutharaiyar at the Government Memorial Complex near the Tiruchirappalli Central Bus Stand. AMMK General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran also paid his respects earlier in the day. Speaking to the media, Minister L. Murugan highlighted the king's valiant rule and his impressive military record. "King Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar was a valiant ruler who wore the vaagai malar (flower of victory) even before heading to battle and triumphed in 16 major wars," he said. "His legacy is a symbol of Tamil pride." The minister also announced that efforts are underway to preserve historical inscriptions and documents related to the king's rule at the memorial. The release of the postage stamp is a testament to the king's enduring legacy and contribution to Tamil history. Earlier in the day, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran also paid his respects by garlanding the statue before departing. The commemorative postage stamp is expected to be released in Tiruchirappalli next year and will serve as a tribute to the king's memory. The announcement has been welcomed by the people of Tamil Nadu, who see it as a recognition of their rich cultural heritage. The celebrations demonstrate the significance of King Perarasar Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar's legacy and the impact he had on the region. The release of the postage stamp will be a fitting tribute to his memory and a celebration of Tamil pride. The event highlights the importance of preserving historical records and promoting cultural heritage. The government's efforts to preserve historical inscriptions and documents related to the king's rule will help to promote a greater understanding of Tamil history and culture(ANI). To raise awareness about environmental conservation, authorities celebrated International Biodiversity Day at Tagore Hall in Srinagar on Friday with a gathering of students, forest officials, and nature enthusiasts. The event, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Biodiversity Council, aimed to educate people, particularly the youth, about the importance of biodiversity, healthy forests, green mountains, meadows, and water bodies. Experts highlighted how climate change and global warming are drastically altering the environment, creating daily challenges for people. Eminent speakers, including forest department officials, academicians, biologists, botanists, columnists, and wildlife experts, delivered lectures on the urgent need for robust biodiversity to safeguard future generations. A large number of students from various schools and colleges attended the event. The participants demanded that the government should organise monthly progress in educational institutions to further educate the youth about environmental conservation. "I believe that biodiversity should not be celebrated only on a single day. It should be a priority every day. We must always strive to protect our environment and maintain a healthy ecosystem," Alam Syed, a student told ANI. "If we look at the ozone layer, for example, pollution levels were much lower in the past, and the ozone layer was in better condition. Now, however, due to increased pollution, we are experiencing extreme heat waves as a result of ozone layer depletion. Our ecosystem is deteriorating more and more. "That is why I believe that whatever initiatives we are taking now--no matter how small--should be implemented in our daily lives. Whether in schools, colleges, or on campuses, we should spread more awareness about biodiversity and environmental conservation," he added. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court on Friday reserved order on cognisance of the Supplementary charge sheet filed against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Land for Job Money laundering case. Recently, ED filed a Prosecution sanction to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav. The President has granted approval through the Union Home Ministry to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav. Special judge Vishal Gogne reserved an order for cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet for June 3. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain, alongwith Snehal, appeared for ED. Advocate Akhilesh Singh Rawat appeared for Lalu Prasad Yadav. After the filing of the Prosecution sanction, an application was made on May 14 to place the sanction on record. On August 6, 2024 the Enforcement Directorate had filed the Ist supplementary charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, former deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav and other accused in land for job scam case. The sanction for Prosecution was awaited since then. Therefore the Cognizance was not taken of the supplementary charge sheet filed against Lalu Prasad Yadav. The supplementary charge sheet has names of Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Late Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, Late Kishun Dev Rai and Sanjay Rai. Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and Hema, alongwith other accused, had already been charge-sheeted by the ED in this case. They were charged without arrest. On February 28, 2024, the court granted regular bail to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav and Hridyanand Chaudhary. On January 27, the court issued a summons to former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary, and other accused. Amit Katyal was arrested by the ED during the investigation. Two firms, namely A K Infosystem and A B Export, have also been accused in this case. ED had submitted that In 2006-07 A K infosystem was formed by Amit Katyal and its business was IT data analysis. No real business was done. Instead, several land parcels were bought by the company. One land parcel pertains to the main predicate offence that is land for job. This company was transferred in the name of Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav in 2014 for the consideration of Rs one lakh, the ED submitted. The Enforcement Directorate on January 9, 2024, filed a Prosecution Complaint (Charge sheet) in the land for job scam money laundering case. ED submitted that A B Export was supposed to be in the business of export. It was incorporated in 1996. In 2007, Rs. five crore came through five companies and a property in New Friends colony was purchased. In this case seven land parcels are involved. Out of these Rabri, Hema Yadav, Misa Bharti got land parcels, which they later sold out. ED's Special Public Prosecutor had apprised the court that the Yadav family members are beneficiaries of the proceeds of the crime. Katyal is said to be a close aide of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Delhi High Court had refused to quash Enforcement Directorate (ED) proceedings against Amit Katyal, who is accused of engaging in transactions with the family members of the former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. According to the ED in the month of March, based on the specific intelligence inputs, searches were conducted at 24 locations at various places in Delhi NCR, Patna, Mumbai and Ranchi in the Railways Land for Job Scam, which resulted in recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs 1 crore, foreign currency including USD 1900, 540 gms gold bullion and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery (worth Rs 1.25 Crores approximately), several other incriminating documents including various property documents, sale deeds etc held in the names of family members and benamidaars indicating illegal accretion of huge land bank and electronic devices. Searches resulted in the detection of Proceeds of Crime amounting to Rs 600 crore, approximately at this point in time, which is in the form of Rs 350 crore worth of immovable properties and Rs 250 crore worth of transactions routed through various benamidaars, ED stated. The ED PMLA investigation conducted so far has revealed that several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were illegally acquired by the family of the then Rail Mantri, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in lieu of jobs provided in the Railways. The current market value of these land parcels is more than Rs 200 Crore. In this regard, several benamidars, shell entities, and beneficial owners for these lands have been identified. Further, investigation under PMLA revealed that the property situated at New Friends Colony, Delhi (independent four storied bungalow, registered in the name of M/s A B Exports Private Limited, a company owned and controlled by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and family) was shown to have been acquired at a value of mere Rs 4 Lakh, the present market value of which is approximately Rs 150 Crore. It is suspected that a huge amount of cash/proceeds of crime has been infused in purchasing this property, and a few Mumbai-based entities, dealing in the gems and jewellery sector, were used to channel ill-got proceeds of crime in this regard. The property has been, on paper, declared as the office of M/s A B Exports Private Limited and M/s AK Infosystems Pvt ltd, it is being exclusively used as residential premises by Tejasvi Prasad Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. During the searches, Tejasvi Prasad Yadav was found to be staying at this house and using it as his residential property. ED investigation has found that four parcels of land acquired by the family of Lalu Yadav in just Rs 7.5 lakh from poor Group-D applicants were sold to Syed Abu Dojana, Ex-RJD MLA, by Mrs. Rabri Devi with huge gains at Rs 3.5 crore in a collusive deal. ED investigation further revealed that a major portion of the amount thus received was transferred to Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's account. Investigations revealed that in a similar fashion, lands were taken from several poor parents and candidates in lieu of Group D jobs in the Railways. It has been revealed during the investigation that in many railway zones, more than 50% of recruited candidates were from Lalu Yadav's constituencies, stated the ED. (ANI) Anakapalli District Police on Friday said they have successfully dismantled a sophisticated international cyber fraud network operating out of Achyutapuram in Andhra Pradesh, following a detailed report submitted by the Village Revenue Officer and comprehensive intelligence inputs. The operation, led by the Superintendent of Police, uncovered a large-scale scam primarily aimed at US nationals, who were deceived through conmen who posed as Amazon customer support representatives. The police conducted simultaneous raids across three major locations in Achyutapuram, resulting in the arrest of 33 persons who were directly involved in the scam. These accused are currently being presented for judicial remand. During the raids, authorities seized a large number of computer systems, networking devices, and digital infrastructure critical to the operation. Additionally, cash amounting to Rs 3 lakh was recovered, alongside multiple vehicles and other amenities used to run the centres as both residences and training hubs. Investigations revealed that some individuals present during the raids were new recruits undergoing training in sophisticated scam tactics. Speaking to mediapersons, police said, "The cybercrime syndicate operated through a clear hierarchy. The so-called 'dialers' initiated spoofed VOIP calls to unsuspecting US citizens, pretending to be from Amazon's fraud alert team. "Bankers" impersonated officials from US banks or the Federal Trade Commission to extract sensitive personal and financial data from victims." Police further said, "Following this "closures convinced victims to purchase gift cards and share redemption codes, which were then laundered by "managers' using online platforms, cryptocurrencies, and dark web exchanges. The operation was supported by an HR and administrative wing that recruited and trained staff, predominantly from states including Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Gujarat, in call scripts and impersonation techniques." The salary structure within this criminal setup varied according to roles, with dialers earning Rs 20,000 per month, bankers getting Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000, closures Rs 50,000, and managers receiving Rs 75,000 monthly. Each closure agent reportedly handled multiple victims daily, leading to large-scale financial frauds estimated to run into crores every month. The key accused who were arrested have been identified as Punit Goswami from Maharashtra and Avihant Daga from Rajasthan. Police investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the syndicate's top-level organisers and masterminds behind the operation. The gravity of the crime is significant due to its international dimension, targeting US nationals and causing diplomatic embarrassment while tarnishing India's global reputation. The network exploited advanced call centre technologies, psychological manipulation, and complex digital laundering channels. Victims have been defrauded of thousands of dollars each, culminating in massive cumulative financial losses. The operation's use of VOIP masking, identity theft, spoofed communication, and international money laundering has further complicated the case, with evidence pointing to an extensive network having national and international reach. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed at Achyutapuram Police Station. Charges invoked include large-scale electronic cheating, participation in an organized crime syndicate, abetment of organized crime, identity theft, impersonation through electronic means, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and shared criminal intent. The Anakapalli District Police, with assistance from cyber forensic experts and other law enforcement agencies, continue their investigation to trace the entire syndicate structure. Authorities said they are focused on uncovering the digital and financial trail, identifying higher-level operators and exploring possible international connections to fully dismantle this cybercrime syndicate. (ANI) A 26-year-old man who went missing four days ago from Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal was found dead in neighbouring district Sehore on Friday, a police official said. According to police, Lalu alias Ajay Yadav (26), a resident of Purani Sabri Nagar in the city, left his home without informing his family at around 8 pm on May 19. Following this, a missing complaint was registered at Kamla Nagar police station in the city on May 21. Assistant Commissioner of Police Chandrashekhar Pandey of TT Nagar informed ANI that a body said to be of the missing individual has been discovered in Sehore district, which comes under the Bilkisganj police station limits. "A missing complaint was registered at Kamla Nagar police about a person named Lalu alias Ajay Yadav, and taking immediate action on the matter, the Kamla Nagar police began the search for the missing person. Now, we have received information that a body has been under the jurisdiction of the Bilkisganj police station (Sehore district). It is said that the body is of the missing person, whose complaint was registered at Kamla Nagar police station. Further action will be taken after receiving case details from Bilkisganj police station," said ACP Pandey Meanwhile, upon receiving the information about the incident, family members of the deceased reached Kamla Nagar police station and staged a protest, demanding action against the accused. Speaking on the protest, the ACP Pandey said, "The family has lost its child, so it is natural that they have some feelings, but the police are doing their job and investigating the matter thoroughly to nab the accused." Further probe into the matter is underway, he added. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea of a man accused in a case related to the transfer of secret information pertaining to the Indian Army to Pakistan. A case was lodged under sections of the Official Secrets Act by the Crime Branch of the Delhi police in 2021. "The offence in question in the present case is not merely one against a particular individual, institution, or group, but is an offence against the very integrity, sovereignty, and security of Bharat," the Delhi High Court said in its judgment. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail plea of Mohsin Khan considering the security of country and Indians involved in this case. "Considering that the offence in question involves the security of the entire nation and Indians, and the applicant herein was part of a syndicate, who were working against the security of the country, this Court does not find it a fit case to grant bail to the present applicant," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said while rejecting the bail plea on May 22. Justice Sharma said, "It must be remembered that the nation rests peacefully because its armed forces remain vigilant. It is in their unconditional duty and commitment that the citizenry finds assurance of safety and continuity of the constitutional order. When individuals, driven by financial inducement or otherwise, seek to breach this trust by serving as conduits to foreign agencies, it amounts to an act not only of grave criminality but of betrayal to the nation." The ramifications of such offences are far-reaching - they endanger the lives of countless individuals, compromise military preparedness, and threaten the sovereignty of the State; therefore, do not pass the test of conditions for the grant of bail and by no stretch of the imagination, though argued by the learned counsel for the applicant be termed as not grave, not being murder or dacoity, the high court said. Delhi police had registered an FIR after receiving secret information regarding the involvement of certain individuals based in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, who had been carrying out anti-national activities and had been engaged in espionage for Pakistan. It had further come to the notice of the authorities that these individuals had also been visiting the Pakistan High Commission at Chanakyapuri, Delhi. On July 11, 2021, secret intelligence had been received indicating that one Habib would provide secret/classified documents related to the Indian Army to Pakistan through some persons based in Delhi, at Pokhran. Acting upon the said input, the investigating team proceeded to Pokhran, Rajasthan, and on 12.07.2021, accused Habibur Rehman, residing at Pokhran, Rajasthan, was apprehended at Diatra, Bikaner Highway, Rajasthan. At the time of his apprehension, he was found in possession of highly secret/classified documents pertaining to the Indian Army, for which he had failed to provide any satisfactory explanation. The authenticity of the seized documents has been confirmed and verified by the Army Headquarters, Sena Bhawan, Delhi. Habibur Rahman used to pass on the secret information to the Pak High Commission Official Rana Muhammad Qasim Zia through Mohsin Khan and also received payment through him. He was also transferring payment to the other accused. While rejecting the bail plea, the bench noted that counsel for the applicant was also unable to offer any satisfactory explanation or justification as to how and why the accused Mohsin Khan was in regular contact with Habibur Rehman, Rana Muhammad Qasim Zia, Paramjeet Kumar, and various money forwarding agents. The court said no cogent argument was advanced to clarify the applicant's role in facilitating the transfer of funds to the accounts of Habibur Rehman and Paramjeet Kumar through these agents. The high court said that Such acts, where sensitive and classified information concerning the Indian Armed Forces is allegedly transmitted to foreign handlers, strike at the heart of national security and cannot be treated with leniency. These are not conventional crimes - they are crimes that compromise the trust reposed in individuals who are either part of or have access to our military establishments, the High Court pointed out. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its judgment on the plea filed by Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, challenging the aviation regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety's (BCAS) decision to revoke its security clearance, citing "national security" concerns. Justice Sachin Datta reserved the order after hearing extensive arguments from both sides. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that he would submit written arguments by the following day. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Celebi, contended that Rule 12 of the Aircraft Rules, 2013, is legally binding unless specifically overturned by Parliament. He argued that security-related regulations must be strictly followed, leaving no room for arbitrary government decisions. Rohatgi emphasised that officials must adhere to due process, including holding a proper hearing, providing written reasons, and ensuring reasonable grounds for action--none of which were followed in this case. He further asserted that the power to issue directions is distinct from the power to cancel or revoke security clearance, making the government's decision unlawful. Highlighting the consequences, he stated that the revocation of security clearance has led to the cancellation of Celebi's contracts with airport operators nationwide. He noted that operators are simply complying with directives from Delhi, leaving Celebi with no recourse. He stressed that the clearance was the foundation of their agreements with DIAL, MIAL, Adani, and others, and without it, their business is unravelling. On Thursday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, argued that the government's plenary superintendence powers extend to national and airport security. He described the case as a 'sui generis' matter, requiring careful judicial scrutiny due to potential security threats across multiple airports. Mehta underscored the importance of aviation security laws in preventing incidents like explosions at airports or onboard aircraft. He explained Celebi's role in airport ground handling, which grants access to sensitive flight and VIP data, making security clearance crucial. Defending the revocation, Mehta stated that intelligence inputs raised concerns over Celebi's operations, particularly in passenger and cargo handling. He argued that certain security-related decisions cannot always be fully disclosed, as revealing classified information could compromise national interests. On Wednesday, Rohatgi emphasised that Celebi has operated in India for 17 years, employing over 10,000 personnel across various airports. He argued that the abrupt revocation of the company's security clearance--initially granted in 2022 for a five-year term--was done without prior notice or a hearing, violating procedural fairness. Rohatgi suggested that the Turkish shareholding in Celebi may have influenced the government's decision, but maintained that Celebi's workforce consists solely of Indian nationals and has no political affiliations with Turkey. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu recently assured measures to protect affected employees and maintain stability in airport operations. The ministry reaffirmed that the revocation was necessary to safeguard national security while ensuring uninterrupted airport functioning. (ANI) A leopard aged between one and one-and-a-half years old that fell into a well in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on Friday afternoon was safely rescued, a forest official said. The leopard fell into the well, situated in Datoda village in the district, at around 1 pm. Upon receiving the information about the matter, a team of the Forest Department immediately reached the spot and recused the leopard with the help of a cage. Ralamandal FRO (Forest Range Officer), Yogesh Yadav, said that a team of Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary rescued the leopard and immediately took the leopard to Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalay (Indore Zoo) for medical examination. "Today at around 1:10 pm, the rescue team of Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary received information that a leopard fell into a well in Datoda village, which is only 12 km away from the sanctuary. Following which, the team reached the location and rescued the leopard. The Leopard is between one and one-and-a half years old and gender is not determined as medical examination is yet to done. A cage was tied with rope and released into the well carefully. The Leopard entered into the cage and then it was lifted. Thereafter, we immediately brough it to Kamla Nehru Prani Sangrahalay (Indore Zoo) for medical examination," FRO Yadav told ANI. Prima facie, it came to light that the leopard got into the well while chasing some animals like a dog or another animal. In the preliminary examination, no injury marks were found, and it seems completely healthy. Nonetheless, further action will be taken based on the instructions of the veterinary doctors, he added. (ANI) In view of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in various parts of the country, the Haryana Health Department is closely monitoring the situation and is taking all necessary steps to ensure public safety and preparedness, an offcial statement said. Haryana currently has four active COVID-19 cases -- two in Gurugram and two in Faridabad, with no international travel history. All four cases (two male and two female patients) are mild in nature and are currently under home quarantine. There has been no requirement for hospitalisation, and all patients are under regular medical supervision, the statement added. Notably, all four individuals were previously vaccinated against COVID-19, which has helped keep symptoms minimal. A person from Gurugram district who was earlier detected with the virus has already recovered. Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao said, "There is no need to panic. This variant is mild and manageable, and we are following all advisories issued by the Government of India from time to time. Citizens are advised to remain calm and continue following COVID-appropriate behaviour." The minister said to ensure readiness, civil surgeons across the state have been directed to maintain logistics and treatment facilities. She said the Haryana Government continues to prioritise the health and safety of its citizens. While COVID-19 is now considered another type of viral infection, basic precautions such as hand hygiene, wearing masks in crowded areas and avoiding unnecessary gatherings are still encouraged, the statement said. (ANI) The proposal outlines the development of two state-supported Space Cities--one near the ISRO SHAR spaceport and another near Lepakshi--to serve as integrated hubs for satellite production, launch vehicle development, and industry collaboration. The Chief Minister also apprised the Union Minister of the appointment of Dr S Somanath, former ISRO Chairman, as the Honorary Adviser on Space Technology to the Government of Andhra Pradesh. His guidance will steer the state's efforts in building a globally competitive space ecosystem. "With a strategic location, industrial strength, and future-ready infrastructure, Andhra Pradesh is fully committed to advancing India's space sector," said Naidu. "We seek the Centre's recognition and partnership in this transformative journey," he added. The meeting marks a significant step in forging a strong Centre-State partnership to advance India's leadership in the global space economy. Meanwhile, Naidu also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at South Block on Friday, and presented a strategic vision to position the State as a national hub for defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation. According to a release, Chief Minister Naidu, during the meeting, outlined a comprehensive plan encompassing industrial infrastructure, research collaborations, and strategic installations across key locations in Andhra Pradesh. The proposals include developing integrated defence facilities, revitalising critical manufacturing units, supporting indigenous aviation programs, establishing testing and training centres, and creating thematic defence hubs to promote regional specialisation. CM Chandrababu Naidu underlined Andhra Pradesh's readiness, with its strong infrastructure base, skilled workforce, and proactive policy environment, to advance 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' through self-reliant defence production and innovation. Naidu also met with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil today to discuss and submit a proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, which aims to enhance water resource management and infrastructure development in the region. The project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. (ANI) Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh on Friday slammed Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Lok Sabha for accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising India's prestige In Operation Sindoor, adding that this is high time to stand with nation rather speaking against PM Narendra Modi. In an interview with ANI, the Deputy Chairman said "There cannot be a more sad and shocking and completely ignorant statement made by Opposition leader in Lok Sabha. This is the time when we all should stand together with the nation. When the 1971 war took place with Pakistan it was widely publicised that Atal Bihari Vajpayee called Indira Gandhi Durga. Despite fact that Atal did not say so and so many documents available but he did not protest at that time." Harivansh hit out at the previous Congress-led government for allegedly not taking any action against bomb blasts which took place in Delhi and Mumbai during the 1990s and 2004-2014. He claimed that former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon's book also had details about the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, which took place with the coordination of Pakistan. "You must have heard the name of Shivshankar Menon former Foreign Secretary and National Security Advisor, he has written a book that in 1993, a bomb blast took place with the coordination of Pakistan in Mumbai. 257 people were killed, more than 700 were injured. No action taken. bomb blasts took place at various places during 2004 -2014 in the whole country including Mumbai and Delhi Several people died but again no action taken against perpetrators," Harivansh claimed "Menon had written that we were in favour of immediate action. He has also written why action was not taken. He has clearly written how under pressure we did not take action. Whose government was there then and where was the tongue that is being raised today?" he added. He further hit out at the Congress for questioning the armed forces and not believing their statements. "These people today even not ready to believe our DGMO who is in contact with Pakistan. Pakistan wants ceasefire because our missile destroyed their Air Force bases with our indigenous technology," he said it. Earlier, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia criticised Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft during the ongoing Operation Sindoor, calling his statements careless and damaging to the morale of the armed forces. Rahul Gandhi, on May 22, hit out at PM Modi and posed a series of questions about terrorism, Pakistan's statement, and US President Donald Trump's claims of mediation between India and Pakistan. In a post targeting the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi posted, "Modiji, stop giving hollow speeches. Just tell me, why did you believe Pakistan's statement on terrorism? Why did you sacrifice India's interests by bowing to Trump? Why does your blood boil only in front of cameras? You have compromised the honour of India!" (ANI) The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested one suspect from Seelampur in Delhi, allegedly involved in anti-national activities and having contact with Pakistani operatives, including officials connected to the Pakistani government and military. The accused has been identified as Mohammad Harun. Md Sahid, brother of the accused Harun, said, "Two people came to Harun's house in civilian uniform, but he wasn't home. They met me and said that they were from the passport office, and those who came from Pakistan are being called back, made to sign, and then sent back after questioning. Then Harun went with them, and when he didn't return, we called him, the phone rang several times, and then it was switched off. When we went to the police station, they said they didn't know anything and sent him to Noida. Then he was presented at the Lucknow in court yesterday. By the time we arrived, it was too late, and we couldn't meet him." He further said that he used to go to Pakistan as he had married there. "He went to Pakistan last time on April 5 and returned back on 25th. During Covid, Harun used to help people in the locality," he added. Rukaiya Begum, mother of Harun, said, "I have been living here since I was 12 years old. Harun never said anything to suggest there was something going on. I wasn't there when they took him away. He got married a second time in Pakistan, which is why he used to go there once a year. He must have gotten to know Mujammil through visa-related work. That man has trapped my son. If this has been going on for three months, then why didn't you stop him from crossing the border? You could have caught him if he were doing something wrong." Shabana, wife of Md. Harun said, "My husband is innocent. He had a second marriage in Pakistan and used to go there to meet her. He also worked on visa-related matters, and the visa always came after a full inquiry. He hasn't done anything wrong, he is a heart patient. I want to meet him once; they arrested him and didn't even allow us to meet him." Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) received intelligence that Tufail, son of Maqsood Alam, a resident of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was associated with a WhatsApp group created by Pakistan-backed anti-national organisations aimed at harming India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity, said an official statement. Tufail is a resident of Doshipura, Jaitpura, District in Varanasi. It was also reported that the individual was sharing important internal security-related information with Pakistani phone numbers. According to the release, upon developing this intelligence, the ATS field unit in Varanasi confirmed that the accused, Tufail, was in contact with multiple individuals in Pakistan. Tufail was sharing videos of Maulana Shad Rizvi, a leader of the terrorist organisation Tehreek-e-Labbaik in Pakistan, on WhatsApp groups. He was also sharing messages calling for "Ghazwa-e-Hind," avenging the Babri Masjid incident, and implementing Sharia law in India. Tufail had shared images and information related to several key Indian locations, including Rajghat, Namoghat, Gyanvapi, the railway station, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, and Nizamuddin Auliya, with Pakistani numbers. He also circulated the link to these Pakistan-run groups among many other people in Varanasi. Tufail was reportedly in contact with over 600 Pakistani numbers. He was also in contact via Facebook with a woman named Nafeesa, a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, whose husband is reportedly in the Pakistani army. On May 22, 2025, Tufail was arrested from Adampur, Varanasi under FIR No. 05/25, Sections 148/152 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) at ATS Police Station, Lucknow. The accused will be presented before the Court as per legal procedure for further judicial action. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Minister Jagat Negi on Friday said the state government had taken all the necessary steps in handling the death case of HPCCL engineer Vimal Negi before the probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Jagat Negi, Revenue and Horticulture Minister in the Himachal Pradesh government and MLA from Kinnaur, responded to the court's decision and said, "I haven't read the order yet. Only after understanding the points raised by the High Court for handing over the case to the CBI will I be able to respond fully." "The state government had taken every necessary step from day one. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted, and a departmental inquiry was initiated. All efforts were made," he said. Negi criticised the opposition for politicising the issue and said, "The opposition started making noise from the first day--even before the FIR was registered. This is not the first case where the opposition has attempted to create such a narrative," he added. Citing past incidents, he drew a parallel with the infamous Gudia gang rape and murder case in Kotkhai. "Remember the Gudia case in Kotkhai? The opposition created a lot of noise back then, too. However, there were no concrete results even after the CBI investigated that case. Did the CBI deliver justice to Gudia? This is basically a tactic by the opposition to seize the opportunity because they have no real issues," said Negi. Addressing allegations that the family of Vimal Negi had to demand a CBI inquiry to get justice, Negi clarified that multiple investigations were already underway. The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of HPCCL engineer Vimal Negi, following a petition filed by his wife. The court's decision came after growing concerns over the integrity of the state police investigation and allegations of foul play. Vimal Negi, a senior engineer with HPPCL, had gone missing on March 10, and his body was recovered on March 18 under suspicious circumstances. The post-mortem report indicated that he had died around five days prior to the recovery of his body. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state police, failed to provide any clarity about his whereabouts between March 10 and 14, raising serious questions about the credibility of the investigation. Advocate RK Bawa, representing the Negi family, expressed satisfaction with the High Court's decision. Following Vimal Negi's disappearance, the then Director of HPPCL, Deshraj, the Managing Director, and the Director of Personnel were named in an FIR by Shimla Police after protests by the family and HPPCL employees. However, due to continued dissatisfaction with the police investigation, the Himachal Pradesh government formed a committee earlier under Additional Chief Secretary Omkar Sharma to investigate the matter and report within 15 days. Despite this, no substantial progress was made, and even when the accused applied for bail in the Supreme Court, the state government reportedly failed to represent itself. The High Court took note of these omissions, highlighting the lack of seriousness in the investigation. With the case now handed over to the CBI, the Negi family, supported by widespread public sentiment and demands for justice, hopes that a transparent and impartial investigation will finally uncover the truth behind Vimal Negi's death. (ANI) The Tis Hazari Court in Delhi has granted regular bail to a man accused in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case, after he surrendered. He is alleged to be a member of an organised crime syndicate allegedly run by Salman Tyagi. He is accused of extortion and the purchase of property at a low price by threatening the owners. An FIR was registered in 2019 at Police Station Hari Nagar by the Delhi Police. He surrendered six years after the registration of the FIR. Special Judge (MCOCA) Shivali Sharma granted bail to Subhash Kumar alias Khadda on the subject to various conditions, including furnishing of the bond of Rs 5000 and one surety bond in the like amount. Special judge Shivali Sharma said, "I am of the opinion that it is a fit case to grant the benefit of bail to accused Subhash Kumar alias Khadda pending trial. However, the bail has to be conditional considering the nature of allegations against him and to ensure that he does not indulge in any kind of criminal offence in future." "The apprehension of the prosecution that accused may threaten the public witnesses is found to be without any basis as the accused is roaming free since the registration of FIR till his surrender before the court on 13.05.2025 and no complaint in this regard has been brought to the notice of the Court by the IO," said the court rejecting the apprehension. The court also noted that there have been no complaints against the applicant/accused that he had tried to interfere in the investigation or threaten the witnesses during this period. After surrender on May 13, 2025, accused was taken into custody by the police and 7 days' remand was also taken. After remand he was produced before the court. During arguments on bail, advocate Deepak Sharma, counsel for the accused, submitted that there is practically no evidence on record to show that the provisions of the MCOC Act are attracted against Subhash Kumar alias Khadda. Thus, he is entitled to the benefit of regular bail pending trial. It was also submitted that since the entire investigation related to him has already been completed, his custody is not required for the purposes of investigation, and the IO has failed to point out any reason for sending him behind bars. The bail was also sought on the medical condition of the accused Subhash Kumar, who is stated to be a heart patient and had also suffered a paralytic attack in past. On the other hand, the public Prosecutor opposed the bail plea and submitted that the allegations against the accused are serious in nature. It was further submitted that the Offences Under sections 3 and 4 of the MCOC Act are alleged against him. He is specifically named in the sanction under Section 23(1) MCOC Act obtained prior to registration of the present FIR, along with 22 other alleged persons, out of which 21 have already been charge-sheeted, and investigation qua the remaining is in progress. He is involved in an extortion case with the kingpin. The public prosecutor also alleged that the accused has made a lot of illicit money using the crime syndicate by extorting money from the financers, property dealers, bookies and businessman by threatening them. He has invested the ill-gotten money in reconstruction and renovation of his ancestral property and purchasing new properties. Various public persons have been examined by the IO during the investigation, who have categorically stated about the manner in which the accused, along with his associates, used to threaten various persons to transfer their property to them at a low price. (ANI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday hailed the killing of naxal leader Basava Raju and the successful elimination of 27 Naxals during an encounter in the forest area of Abujhmad in Narayanpur on 21st May and called the operation as the state's most significant success in fighting Naxalism. Speaking to ANI, CM Sai said, "Our jawans are continuously fighting naxalism and being successful in their operations. This operation that took place in the Abujmarh area of Narayanpur has been the biggest one so far. Our jawans have been extremely successful. Our jawans neutralised the General Secretary of Maoists, Basava Raju, and it is a big blow to the Naxals." The operation, led by security forces including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), resulted in the killing of naxal leader Basava Raju and the successful elimination of 27 Naxals during an encounter on Wednesday. The Chief Minister interacted with the jawans who participated in the mission and flagged off new motorcycles provided to DRG personnel to aid in future anti-Naxal campaigns in the region. "Naxalism has broken its back, and now the resolve of the Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable Home Minister is to eliminate Naxalism from the entire country by the 30th of March 2026. That path is getting closer," he said. One of the jawans told ANI that the terrain in the Abujhmad region was extremely challenging, with steep hills, dense forests, and rivers making movement difficult. Despite these obstacles, the forces achieved what he called a landmark victory. "Some women were playing a great role in DRG. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with male jawans in rain and sunshine. I mean, they are more hardworking than we are," Jawans told ANI. "There was a wave of happiness among the jawans. They were able to feel what they had achieved. They didn't need any more motivation. They were already fully driven," Jawans stated. Earlier in the day, CM Sai also paid tribute to CoBRA battalion's Mehul Solanki, who lost his life during the encounter on 21st May in Narayanpur. He laid a wreath and offered condolences to Solanki's family, acknowledging their ultimate sacrifice for the nation. CM Sai and Deputy Vijay Sharma, who is also the state's Home Minister, lend their shoulder to the mortal remains of CoBRA battalion personnel. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that this is the first time in three decades of India's battle against Naxalism that the security forces have neutralised a General Secretary-ranked leader. Noting that Basavaraju was the backbone of the Naxal movement, Home Minister Shah said that 54 Naxalites have been arrested and that 84 Naxalites have surrendered in Chhattisgarh after the completion of Operation Black Forest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the efforts of India's security forces after 27 Maoists, including top CPI-Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju, were killed in a major operation in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, "Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for our people." (ANI) BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since April 23 and was later repatriated to India on May 14, arrived in Kolkata on Friday. Purnam Kumar Shaw said, "It's all your blessings that I am back in my country." Purnam Kumar Shaw was part of the BSF's 'Kisan Guard' and was deployed to protect Indian farmers posted in Punjab's Firozpur when he crossed the border inadvertently on April 23. Earlier, the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari met with the family members of BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw. Adhikari had said, "I am very happy that he is back safely. I have met his family. Our armed forces are safe under the leadership of PM Modi. This is what Jawan Purnam Shaw's wife and his father have also said. There are several protocols after which he will be back home. His mother has sugar, but now she is steady." He further said that Constable Purnam Shaw's wife stated that every member of the Armed Forces are safe under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed happiness over the safe return of BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw. She said that the Trinamool Congress government had made efforts for his safe return. Mamata Banerjee told reporters that they had been in touch with Purnam Shaw's wife Rajani Shaw throughout and spoke to her four-five times. "Consistent efforts were made from our end. Our DGP was in continuous touch with his BSF counterpart. I told Rajani Shaw, the day before yesterday, that her husband was healthy and doing well. However, the modalities of his release operation would take some time. He was released. I am happy. His family is happy. The entire country is happy," she said. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday defended the state government's decision to rename Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South, saying that the power to rename any district lies with the state. He also clarified that the decision was made after consulting the local population. Refuting the allegations, Siddaramaiah said, "The state government has the power to rename Ramanagara as Bangalore South District." He added that the opinion of the people in the area was sought before finalising the decision. Speaking to reporters at the helipad in KR Nagar, Siddaramaiah responded to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy's criticism that renaming Ramanagara district as Bangalore South distorts the district's history. "The decision was taken after seeking the opinion of the people there," he added. Taking a dig at Kumaraswamy, the Chief Minister also questioned, "Did he not think about the history of the district while creating Ramanagara district?" Replying to reporters' questions regarding the Supreme Court's observation that the Enforcement Directorate is overstepping its bounds, he said that the ED and IT do not object to investigating or detecting black money transactions. However, ED and IT raids should not be carried out with political malice. "The ED raid on the educational institution of current Home Minister G Parameshwara is politically motivated," he added. He also said that it would be known only after examining the verdict regarding which case the Supreme Court had made such an observation. Addressing concerns over rising rape cases in the state, the Chief Minister said strict action would be taken. However, he asserted that crime cases have decreased over the past year. "Compared to the BJP period, the number of crimes has decreased during our government's tenure," Siddaramaiah said. He assured the public that the government would continue working to reduce crime significantly. With Covid-19 cases rising in Singapore and Hong Kong, Siddaramaiah urged the central government to take immediate preventive measures. "The central government is not taking any action to conduct COVID-19 tests on those arriving from abroad," he said. "There is a possibility of an increase in COVID-19 cases here too. The Centre should take quick decisions to take alert measures in this regard." Commenting on the chargesheet filed against Deputy Chief Minister and former MP DK Suresh for donating to the Young India organisation, Siddaramaiah defended the act. "It is not wrong to donate to any organisation," he stated, suggesting that the allegations were unwarranted. On Thursday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the Ramanagara district would be renamed 'Bengaluru South' for all administrative purposes. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday admitted that he had donated Rs 25 lakh to the National Herald, which he said was a newspaper run by his party. "I donated Rs 25 lakh to the National Herald. It is a newspaper run by our party. My brother and I have given money to the publication. We have also given donations from our trust. We have given our hard-earned money; there is nothing to conceal," Shivakumar told reporters. The National Herald newspaper remains under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to an ongoing investigation by the central investigative agency. The investigation involves top Congress leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Shivakumar's reaction comes after his brother DK Suresh and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy were named in the chargesheet filed by ED in connection with the National Herald case. Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) on Friday, alleged that Telangana has become an "ATM for Scamgress" (Congress), with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy implicated in corrupt practices. Taking to X, sharing screenshots of newspaper reports related to National Herald case, he wrote, "Telangana has become an ATM for Scamgress and it's been now corroborated by agencies As the ED charge sheets Telangana "Bag Man" in National Herald case, he is trying his best to distract the people's attention from his corrupt practices The million dollar question is whether the NDA Govt will act this time or pardon Revant Reddy as they've done in the case of Amrut Scam, RR Tax and Civil supplies scam" On Wednesday, the ED presented its opening arguments before Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court regarding the cognisance of its complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald. In the opening submissions, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju submitted that an offence of money laundering is made out in this case. He also submitted that there were proceeds of crime. It was also submitted that there was continuing criminal activity for the generation of proceeds of crime, which constitutes the offence of money laundering. After hearing the opening submitted by ASG S V Raju and Special Counsel for ED Zoheb Hosain, the Special Judge listed the matter for remaining arguments from July 2 to July 8. Special judge Vishal Gogne listed the matter for day-to-day hearing on the point of cognisance of ED's Prosecution complaint against Gandhi and other accused persons. The court listed the matter in July after hearing the submissions of defence counsel, who urged a hearing in July and gave voluminous documents totalling 5,000 pages. (ANI) The Karnataka BJP will hold a massive protest in Kalaburagi on Saturday, May 24, demanding the removal of State Minister Priyank Kharge from the cabinet, BJP leader Rajkumar Patil said on Friday. Patil accused Kharge of misusing his official position to settle personal political scores, particularly targeting the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanswamy. He alleged that BJP leaders, including Narayanswamy, were deliberately harassed during a peaceful Satyagraha protest in Chittapur, and claimed Congress-backed individuals attacked Narayanswamy's car and attempted to assault him. Urging Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take immediate action, Patil said, "CM has to take strict action... all those police officers have to be suspended, and those who messed up the Darna Dutt Satyagraha there. He did the work of attacking him here, taking a case under hooligan law and arresting all those people inside." He also criticised the Congress-led state government for failing to act on multiple complaints filed against Priyank Kharge. The BJP demanded that those involved in the attack be booked under the Gunda Act and arrested without delay. Patil accused the Congress leadership of shielding Kharge and enabling illegal activities in Kalaburagi. "Only those who are there with the Congress and their support have been done. Some Congress is working here, and some under the constitution, nothing works here; the entire illegal activity is going on here," he said. He further alleged that even ministers and common citizens were afraid to speak out due to Kharge's influence. "Some ministers are scared to come here, people are afraid that Priyanka Karge has kept some people under control. Those people come and do such things as Dharna Satyagraha," he added. "Until Priyank resigns or is removed from the community, Siddaramaiah ji will not do the job of removing him...We will continue protesting," said Patil. "Unless Siddaramaiah acts and removes Priyank, we will not back down," he added. (ANI) After Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent speech, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh hit back, saying that the whole world knows how the glory of the Indian army is buzzing in the streets and homes of Pakistan. Chugh lauded the Indian Army's recent counter-terror operations carried out under Operation Sindoor. "The whole world knows Rahul ji. Today, the glory of the Indian army is buzzing in the streets of Pakistan and in the homes of Pakistan. Those who set out to erase the 'sindoor' of unarmed innocents, our brave Forces razed them to the ground. Those who used to shed the blood of India are being made to pay for it... The account is being taken...Those who were proud of their weapons, we have razed them to the ground, and they have become part of the rubble," Chugh told ANI. Highlighting India's growing strength and resolve under PM Modi's leadership, the BJP leader stated that the "new India" knows how to show its 'Rudra' form, penetrate hundreds of kilometres, and destroy terror bases. He exhorted that "this is new India; this is Narendra Modi's India." Chugh stated, "This is New India, which knows how to show its 'Rudra' form and knows how to penetrate hundreds of kilometres and destroy terror bases. This is new India...This is Narendra Modi's India... This is the new India. This operation, sindoor, is not just an approach; this is the spirit of the whole of India, which our army has shown today. And 140 crore citizens of India are proud of the valour and bravery of their army." Earlier on Thursday, Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and posed a series of questions about terrorism, Pakistan's statement, and US President Donald Trump's claims of mediation between India and Pakistan. In a post targeting the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi posted, "Modiji, stop giving hollow speeches. Just tell me, why did you believe Pakistan's statement on terrorism? Why did you sacrifice India's interests by bowing to Trump? Why does your blood boil only in front of cameras? You have compromised the honour of India!" Earlier, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his public rally in Rajasthan on Thursday and said that instead of delivering "grand-sounding but hollow film-style" dialogues to the public, he should answer the questions being raised at him. The senior Congress leader reiterated the questions in connection with the Pahalgam terrorist attack and posted on his social media handle on X. Jairam Ramesh posted, "Instead of throwing out grand-sounding but hollow filmi dialogues in public rallies as he has done in Bikaner today, the Prime Minister should answer serious questions that are being asked of him." "Why are the brutal killers of Pahalgam still free--according to some reports, they had been responsible for three earlier terror attacks in Poonch, Gagangir, and Gulmarg over the past 18 months. Why have you not chaired any all-party meeting and taken the opposition parties into confidence?" he said. Adding further, he questioned, "Why have you not called a special session of Parliament to reiterate the unanimously passed resolution of Feb 22, 1994 and update it, given the deep China-Pakistan nexus evident during Operation Sindoor? Why have you stubbornly remained silent on the repeated claims being made by President Trump and US Secretary of State Rubio on the US role over the past two weeks, especially?" Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his first public rally in Rajasthan after Operation Sindoor on Thursday. He highlighted the Indian Armed Forces' bravery during the operation and reiterated his 2019 promise, saying, "Saugandh mujhe iss desh ki mitti ki, mein desh nahi mitne dunga, mein desh nahi jhukne dunga." India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, including a Nepali national. Precision strikes were launched on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. Since then, the two countries have reached an understanding of stopping military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin met with Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Friday. In a post on X, he shared, "There's a special warmth in every meeting with Madam Sonia Gandhi and dear brother Rahul Gandhi at their Delhi residence. It never feels like a visit; it truly feels like being with family." CM MK Stalin arrived in Delhi on Friday. The Chief Minister will participate in the 10th meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on May 24th. DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, "This is a regular meeting of the NITI Aayog, which involves all the CMs. Last time, he (MK Stalin) did not attend because he had boycotted the meeting due to certain activities of the BJP. He has gone there to ask for funds for Tamil Nadu, including education." Earlier on Wednesday, CM Stalin said he would attend NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting on May 24 and demand "fair financial rights" for his State. The Chief Minister also asked why All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was pained by this, adding that he will keep on fighting to get a fair financial share from the Centre for the State. "I am going to Delhi on the 24th to express to the NITI Aayog for fair financial rights for Tamil Nadu at the meeting!" Stalin said in a post on X in Tamil. "Why does this pain the Leader of the Opposition, Palaniswami, who has kept his habit of keeping his feet under the table?" he added. Saying that he will always carry the flag of freedom, the Chief Minister said, "I will always carry the flag of freedom! I will not crawl away! Even today, I have filed a case in the Supreme Court for the rights of Tamil Nadu. I will stand firm on my policy! I will fight to get funds for Tamil Nadu." Meanwhile, Members of the Tamil Nadu River and Tank Irrigation Farmers Association staged a protest near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, Chennai, demanding immediate government action on crop damage compensation, agricultural budget implementation, and policy reforms. (ANI) . Three workers lost their lives after river water entered an illegal coal mine in the Bariatu Khawa area of Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district. The incident occurred around 6:30 am on Thursday morning, when officials noticed the workers were missing. According to authorities, water from the Khawa River breached into an illegal mining pit, trapping the workers inside. The mine is believed to have been dug unlawfully, without any safety precautions, which ultimately led to the flooding. Circle Officer (CO) Ram Ratan Barnwal said, "We received information late in the evening that 3 workers were swept away in the Khawa river. When we reached around 6:30 am yesterday morning, we saw that they were missing. We saw a pit here and felt that illegal mining must have been going on here earlier... We have brought a machine here and are pumping out water..." A search operation was launched immediately and is still underway. Meanwhile, in a similar incident in Tamil Nadu, five workers lost their lives and one was seriously injured following a rockslide at a stone quarry operated by Mega Blue Metal in Mallakottai near S S Kottai in Sivaganga district. The tragedy occurred on Tuesday morning at the privately operated quarry when a sudden rockslide struck, burying several workers. The deceased have been identified as Muruganandham, Arumugam, Ganesan, Andichamy, and Harshit, a worker from Odisha. Speaking on the incident, the Sivaganga District Superintendent of Police said, "So far, we have found four bodies, and one injured person has been admitted to a private hospital in Madurai for treatment."Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. In an official statement, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office said, "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased. He also announced financial aid of Rs. 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured worker from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund." The Chief Minister further directed authorities to ensure the injured worker, identified as Michael, receives top-quality medical attention." Additionally, the Chief Minister has ordered that Michael, who was injured in the accident and is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital, be given the best possible medical care," said the CMO statement. (ANI) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that the Northeast region has emerged as India's gateway to Southeast Asia, adding that geographical isolation is an old concept and that they are at the forefront of development. He made the remarks while speaking at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit held in Delhi. "The North East is now the gateway to Southeast Asian countries. India's Act East policy begins from the North East. Geographical isolation is an old concept; we are at the forefront of the development," Rijiju said during the summit. Rijiju said the Act East policy, which focuses on strengthening economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asian countries, begins from the Northeast. He emphasised that the region was now central to India's growth and international outreach. He also said that the northeastern region has become very progressive and advanced because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. "The government of India has focused on the Northeast, from infrastructure to the farm sector to tourism and hydropower, and in every sphere," he added. Rijiju also said, "The northeastern region is becoming a major economic hub of our country, and all sectors are rising, so people from industries and all backgrounds are participating. I'm very happy that the Northeastern region is no longer lagging behind in any sphere. Rather, it is progressing very fast. It doesn't matter now." The two-day maiden 'Rising Northeast: The Investors' Summit 2025' is being held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital to showcase the investment and trade potential of the Northeast Region on May 23 and 24, said a release. Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, on Friday highlighted the transformative progress of the North Eastern states over the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Rising North East Investors Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the minister emphasised the government's commitment to the region's development. Scindia announced that gross budgetary support for the north-eastern region has seen a dramatic rise, from a mere 10 per cent to enabling an investment of nearly Rs 6.75 lakh crore in the last ten years. This significant allocation, he noted, has been a game changer in redefining the growth trajectory of the region, turning it into a land of opportunity. He said, "It is our very own Prime Minister who, over the past ten years, has increased the gross budgetary support from 10 per cent to enable an investment of nearly Rs 6.75 lakh crore in the North Eastern region".The summit, aimed at attracting both global and domestic investors, sought to spotlight the immense economic potential of the North East. The minister remarked that the region of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, has for thousands of years been a cradle of India's ancient culture and commercial vibrancy."There was a time when these eight states served as South Asia's global trading hubs, making a significant contribution in connecting the East to the West through both land and water routes," he stated. Furthermore, Scindia said that in the seventy years following India's independence, the region had remained neglected and in the shadows."In the past ten years, the destiny and story of this entire region have transformed. And the architect of that transformation stands before us today in the form of our esteemed Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji," he said, praising PM Modi as the architect of this transformation. Recounting past infrastructure gaps, the minister shared that N-E region once had only nine airports, and two states lacked any airports at all. Under PM Modi's leadership, the number of airports in N-E has risen to seventeen, giving the region a new thrust in connectivity and economic integration. Organised by the Ministry of DoNER in partnership with FICCI and Invest India, The Rising North East Investors Summit, which PM Modi inaugurated, is a two-day event taking place on 23rd and 24th May at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit aims to highlight the North East region as a land of opportunity and attract both global and domestic investment. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday permitted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led Delhi government to withdraw all seven petitions filed by the erstwhile Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government against the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre. A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih allowed the government to withdraw the cases after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Delhi government, sought to withdraw the pleas. Bhati said the Delhi government had filed an application seeking the withdrawal of seven cases pending in the apex court, which challenged the authority of the LG in several committees, including solid waste management, Yamuna cleaning and against the validity of Acts and ordinances. The cases that the Delhi government sought to withdraw were related to an Additional plea reasserting that the LG is constitutionally required to act on the aid and advice of the GNCTD's council of ministers and another seeking directives regarding the appointment of the chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). The Delhi government has also decided to drop its challenge to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and LG orders relating to the release of payments to government-appointed lawyers and the process for appointing advocates-on-record and other legal representatives in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court. Another plea that the Delhi government has sought to withdraw was the AAP government's plea challenging the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) (Amendment) Act, 2023, which created an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi. Another case that sought to be withdrawn was against a decision of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which asked the LG to head a high-level committee constituted to deal with issues concerning the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River. The apex court had stayed the order in July 2023. It further sought to withdraw the plea where the AAP government had alleged the non-release of sanctioned funds for the Delhi Jal Board for the financial year 2023-2025 by the Finance Department of GNCTD. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi on Friday to discuss the implementation of the three new criminal laws in the state. Following the meeting, CM Naidu wrote in a post on X, "Participated in a review meeting chaired by the Hon'ble Union Home Minister & Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, in Delhi today to discuss the implementation of the three new criminal laws." https://x.com/ncbn/status/1925904746608500892 Naidu is on a two-day visit to Delhi, holding a series of meetings with Union Ministers to seek the Centre's support for the timely execution of several ongoing and proposed projects in Andhra Pradesh. He is also scheduled to attend the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on May 24, which has drawn multiple Chief Ministers to the national capital. Earlier in the day, Naidu met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and submitted a proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project. In a separate meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he presented a strategic vision to position the State as a national hub for defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation. The Chief Minister also discussed the Polavaram-Banakacherla project with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. "We discussed the crucial Polavaram-Banakacherla project aimed at taking Godavari waters to the drought-hit regions of Andhra Pradesh. Powered by Centre-State collaboration, this river-linking initiative will ensure water access and long-term development for our people," Naidu said in another post on X. In a meeting with Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Naidu sought the Centre's support to position Andhra Pradesh as a national space manufacturing and innovation hub. "With our proximity to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), industrial readiness, and the guidance of Dr. S. Somanath as our Honorary Adviser, Andhra Pradesh is uniquely placed to boost India's space ambitions. We aim for world-class Space Cities, FDI in advanced technologies, and seamless public-private collaboration. AP is ready to power India's next leap in space," Naidu said in a post on X. Naidu also met Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi and sought rooftop solar capacity allocation for Andhra Pradesh under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The three new criminal laws--Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam--were conceptualised with the vision of the Prime Minister to replace colonial-era laws that persisted post-independence and to reform the judicial system by shifting the focus from punishment to justice. (ANI) After India extended the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting its airspace for Pakistani aircraft and airlines till June 23, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Friday that the government has "maintained the status quo" on the matter. Naidu said the government has simply maintained the existing status. "The NOTAM has been extended. We have maintained the status quo..." he told reporters. This comes amid heightened security considerations and recent incidents involving Pakistani airspace. Separately, on the revocation of security clearance to Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services, the Civil Aviation Minister assured that airport operations across the country remain unaffected. "For the time being, on grounds of national security, we've removed the Turkish players from ground handling services, cargo services...we are not seeing any problem in the operations. We are going to take guidance from the security agencies in this regard..." he said. Celebi was responsible for handling about 70 per cent of ground operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, including passenger handling, load control, cargo services, postal services, warehouse management, and bridge operations. It also operated at multiple airports across India. Earlier in the day, India announced the extension of the ban on closure of its airspace for Pakistani aircraft till June 23. India has extended NOTAM for Pakistan flights for one month, which will be in effect till June 23, 2025. The Ministry stated, "Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated/owned or leased by Pakistani airlines/operators, including military flights." Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that IndiGo's Delhi-Srinagar flight (6E 2142), which was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, was denied entry into Pakistani airspace, which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence. According to the crew's statement to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot's request was dismissed by the Lahore Air Traffic Control. "On 21.05.2025, Indigo A321 Neo aircraft VT-IMD operated flight 6E-2142 (Delhi -Srinagar). While cruising at FL360, aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. As per the crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route; however, it was not approved," the DGCA said." Later, the crew contacted Lahore to enter their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too," it added. (ANI) In a meeting held at the Union Minister's office at Nirman Bhawan here, CM Sarma urged Nadda to expedite the ongoing groundwork for the Brownfield Ammonia Urea Complex in Namrup. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a new Brownfield Ammonia Urea Plant in Namrup, costing Rs 10,601.40 crore. The project, proposed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to boost domestic urea production. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, to augment the medical education facilities in the State and to set up new nursing colleges. CM Sarma also urged Nadda to ensure maximum benefits to those availing AB-PMJAY facilities. The Union Minister gave a patient hearing and assured the Chief Minister that he would extend all possible help and support from his Ministries to the Government of Assam. Taking to X , the Chief Minister posted, "Grateful to Hon'ble Union Minister Adarniya @JPNadda Ji for his valuable time today. We sought his assistance in expediting ongoing ground work for the Brownfield Ammonia Urea Complex in Namrup; augmenting medical education facilities in the state and setting up of new nursing colleges and ensuring maximum benefit is accrued to those availing AB-PMJAY facilities." (ANI) National Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, who is leading an all-party delegation to put forward India's policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism, said on Friday that they are going to "give a message of peace and friendship." The Sule-led group was briefed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri earlier today ahead of their visit to various countries. "We are going to give a message of peace and friendship. It was a very good briefing, and when we come back, we will talk in detail about it. Our group leaves tomorrow for South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Doha (Qatar)," Sule told reporters after the briefing. "India is against terrorism and has zero tolerance towards it. Indian government has fought against terrorism before, and will continue its fight against terrorism with strength, and we are going together as Indians to other countries," she told reporters. Earlier today, multiple delegations were briefed by the Foreign Secretary before going to various countries. Certain delegations have already met with representatives of various countries. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, who is leading one of the delegations, held a press conference in the United Arab Emirates, calling for international solidarity in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. DMK MP Kanimozhi-led delegation met with former Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Fradkov and discussed current global issues, with a particular emphasis on the threats posed by terrorism. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. The operation targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI) In a major joint operation led by the Defence Estates Office (DEO), Delhi Circle, nearly two acres of defence land in the Mehram Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment, near Terminal 1D of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, were cleared of encroachments, officials said on Friday. This is the second large-scale action in the area in recent weeks. According to an official release, the operation involved removing long-standing unauthorised parking zones, impounding a significant number of vehicles, and clearing illegal slums and animal shelters occupying prime defence land. The action was carried out with the support of the Delhi Cantonment Board, the Local Military Authorities and the Delhi Police. "This initiative aims to free prime defence land from unlawful occupation and utilise it in the national interest," the release said. A similar large-scale action was taken last week to remove illegal parking and unauthorised occupations from 1 acre of defence land in the same locality. Today, two acres of land near Terminal 1D in Mehram Nagar, which had been illegally occupied for several years, were reclaimed. The current estimated value of this defence land is close to 100 crore. The government now intends to use such freed land for defence and military purposes. It is important to highlight that Delhi, being the national capital, has a constant demand for land from the government and defence organisations. Hence, today's action is considered highly significant in the ongoing efforts to clear illegal encroachments. Defence Estates Officer, Delhi Circle, Varun Kalia, stated that safeguarding defence land is not just about preserving a territory but about upholding national security. Encroachments on Defence land are silent threats to National Security, and strict actions will continue against all encroachers. The reclaimed land will be used in the national interest. It is worth mentioning that Ministry of Defence is the largest land owning govt body with nearly 17.5 lakh acres of land spread across the country. Safeguarding these lands paves way for strategic and operational readiness of forces. (ANI) India on Friday hosted a Virtual Capacity Building Session on Digital Transformation in BRICS, organised by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through the National Communications Academy, Technology (NCA-T) in Ghaziabad, according to an official release from the Ministry of Communication. Convened under the BRICS ICT Working Group, the event brought together digital thought leaders from across the BRICS nations to explore shared challenges, best practices, and chart a path forward for robust ICT cooperation among the group countries. The session was inaugurated by Daniel Cavalcanti, BRICS Chair, and Atul Sinha, Director General of NCA-T, India. Cavalcanti commended India for hosting the session and highlighted the event's role in advancing cooperation, focusing on mobile security, cyber resilience, digital infrastructure, and digital twin. Atul Sinha emphasized on capacity building through collaboration, co-creating scalable, secure technologies, and fostering partnerships to empower citizens across BRICS nations. There were four thematic sessions addressing pressing challenges and opportunities in the digital domain. During the event, in session 1, India showcased its flagship Sanchar Saathi initiative aimed at protecting mobile users from fraud, enhancing transparency, and ensuring equitable access to mobile services. The session underscored the importance of citizen-centric regulatory frameworks that foster trust and inclusivity in digital communications. In the session 2, India and Brazil led presentations on their national approaches to cyber resilience. The discussion emphasised preparedness, rapid response, and cross-border cooperation to counter cyber threats. Session 3 focused on building secure, inclusive, and interoperable platforms. India presented AADHAAR as a foundational DPI that has revolutionised public service delivery through identity-based digital inclusion. China also shared insights on its digital infrastructure journey. The session highlighted DPI as a transformative tool for governance efficiency and service outreach. In the session 4, India introduced its ambitious Sangam Digital Twin initiative, aimed at using AI-native, federated platforms to enable scenario-based infrastructure planning and real-time governance solutions. China also shared its experiences with Digital Twin technology. The discussion showcased the use of predictive simulations and data-driven governance as game-changers for public infrastructure management. In the closing remarks, Avinash Agarwal, Deputy Director General, International Relations Division, DoT, India and the BRICS Chair, Daniel Cavalcanti, reaffirmed the commitment of BRICS nations to mutual learning and collaborative digital development. The sessions provided a robust platform for sharing national success stories, identifying scalable solutions, and laying the groundwork for future digital cooperation. The outcomes are expected to bolster strategic alliances and foster resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital societies across BRICS. (ANI) India will host the 3rd Session of the Third Pole Climate Forum (TPCF3) from June 3 to 5 in New Delhi. The forum, organised by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and other regional partners, was part of efforts under the Third Pole Regional Climate Centre Network (TPRCC). The forum aims to bring international and regional climate experts together to strengthen collaboration and scientific research focused on the Himalayas-Hindu Kush region, also known as the Third Pole. In a post on X, IMD stated, "The Himalayas-Hindu Kush region, known as the Third Pole, holds the largest reserve of frozen water after Antarctica & the Arctic, is vital to global climate and weather systems, feeding Asia's major rivers and sustaining over a billion people. The Third Pole Regional Climate Centre (TPRCC) is a @WMO initiated network of regional climate centers dedicated to monitoring, forecasting, and providing climate services for the Himalayas-Hindu Kush region." This region, which held the largest frozen water reserves after Antarctica and the Arctic, played a crucial role in the global climate system. It also fed Asia's major rivers and supported the livelihoods of over a billion people, making it one of the most climate-sensitive areas on Earth. The TPRCC, a WMO-initiated network, was established to monitor, forecast, and provide climate services for the Himalayas-Hindu Kush region. India led the South Node of the network through the IMD. The post further reads, "From 3-5 June 2025, India Meteorological Department will host the 3rd Session of the Third Pole Climate Forum (#TPCF3) in New Delhi, bringing together @WMO, India Meteorological Department, and regional partners. This meeting, under the Third Pole Regional Climate Centre Network (TPRCC), will enhance knowledge sharing, foster scientific collaboration & advance technologies to better understand Third Pole climate systems." https://x.com/Indiametdept/status/1925892303257849914 The meeting will discuss long-range forecasting, data services, and climate monitoring systems. The goal was to build regional resilience and improve early warning systems in the face of rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and unpredictable monsoon patterns. (ANI) The state government officers presented to the Commission in the presence of the Chief Minister and submitted an additional memorandum on behalf of the State. The Chief Minister strongly pleaded for an increase in the allocation of funds to the State. He also advocated that the hill states of the country with geographical challenges should get their due. The state asked for a green bonus for the ecological and environmental services being rendered by the State to the nation by preserving its ecosystem. Chief Minister Sukhu said that the state has suffered losses due to the reduction in goods and services tax and urged duly compensation for the loss in GST. He said that the Revenue Deficit Grant for Himachal Pradesh should be increased and not tapered. Dr Panagariya gave assurance that the Commission would consider the submissions of the State. Principal Advisor to Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Secretary to CM Rakesh Kanwar and a senior state government officer accompanied the Chief Minister. Earlier on Thursday, in a significant move towards solving several key issues of Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held a meeting with the Union Minister of Power, Manohar Lal Khattar. According to the officials, the Chief Minister strongly advocated for the release of arrears due from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and stressed the need to appoint a permanent member from Himachal Pradesh to the BBMB board. The Chief Minister also urged for an increase in the State's free power share in hydro power projects operated by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), particularly those, where the cost has already been recovered. (ANI) During the meeting, the Chief Minister appreciated the Union Government's initiatives, especially the launch of the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), which is pivotal to realising India's vision of becoming a global hub for electronics production. He highlighted Andhra Pradesh's readiness to complement this vision through robust policies like the Semiconductor Display Fab Policy and the Electronics Manufacturing Policy, which offer fiscal incentives and plug-and-play infrastructure to investors. With four Electronics Manufacturing Clusters underway, a skilled workforce, multi-modal logistics, and industry-friendly governance, Andhra Pradesh stands as a key destination to absorb global supply chain shifts from China and ensure India's self-reliance in electronics. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the state's commitment to working closely with the Centre to make India a global electronics powerhouse. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi on Friday to discuss the implementation of the three new criminal laws in the state. Earlier in the day, Naidu met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and submitted a proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project. In a separate meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he presented a strategic vision to position the State as a national hub for defence manufacturing and aerospace innovation. The Chief Minister also discussed the Polavaram-Banakacherla project with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. In a meeting with Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Naidu sought the Centre's support to position Andhra Pradesh as a national space manufacturing and innovation hub. Naidu also met Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi and sought rooftop solar capacity allocation for Andhra Pradesh under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. (ANI) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday led the closing ceremony of the state government's fourth anniversary celebrations, using the platform to showcase the Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s achievements and issue a strong criticism of the Central government's alleged neglect during Kerala's crises. Speaking at a public event, CM Vijayan said the LDF was entering its tenth year in office and that Kerala had made "significant progress across all sectors" since 2016. "After completing nine years in office, the LDF government is entering its tenth year. Anyone comparing Kerala's situation in 2016 with the present can clearly see the significant progress the state has achieved across all sectors. Anniversary celebration programmes have been held across the state for the past month. Programmes were completed in all 14 districts, and today marks the concluding ceremony of this grand event," he said. Calling the evening's roadshow a symbol of popular support, the CM said, "Today's evening roadshow stands as clear evidence of how the people of Kerala have ultimately embraced the state's transformation and progress. It reflects the public's recognition and support for the changes brought about in Kerala." He underlined the strides made in education, pointing to Kerala's top ranking in the NITI Aayog index, and highlighted a major investment drive. "Kerala has consistently ranked first in the education sector in the NITI Aayog index not by coincidence, but as a result of focused investment and reform. We have spent nearly Rs5,000 crore to transform the education landscape. Classrooms have become smart classrooms, and schools have been upgraded to hi-tech facilities. Where once we lost 5 lakh students, now over 10 lakh new students have enrolled. This turnaround is the success of the Public Education Protection Campaign." Vijayan also targeted the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), accusing them of mismanagement before 2016. "Imagine if the UDF had continued in power after 2016 instead of the LDF would this transformation have happened? In 2016, they were prepared to shut down 1,000 schools. Instead of gaining students, Kerala would have lost several more lakhs, and the public education system would have collapsed," he said. The CM discussed health sector improvements in detail, claiming that the LDF government had rescued the system from decay. "Kerala once stood tall with its health infrastructure, especially post-1987, when the government initiated primary health centres in rural areas. But by 2016, the sector severely declined the lack of doctors, nurses, essential medicines, and even basic facilities. The LDF saw this as a key challenge and launched 'Arogya Keralam' under the mission mode." He added that the pandemic response proved the system's strength: "During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala's well-established healthcare infrastructure proved its strength. Just as the health sector rose to the challenge, other core sectors in the state have also witnessed significant development." On infrastructure, Vijayan said his government resolved the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) impasse by investing heavily in land acquisition. "In 2016, the National Highways Authority had effectively exited the state due to a lack of progress. The UDF government failed to resolve the impasse. When the LDF returned to power, we re-engaged with the NHAI. The state took the bold step of spending Rs5,600 crore to acquire and hand over the land, something unprecedented in the country." He hit back at critics who used monsoon-related issues to attack the government, saying, "It's laughable to see these groups, who once did nothing, now speaking in unison to undermine progress. A project long considered impossible has become a reality because of the LDF government's intervention." The CM launched a blistering attack on the Centre, accusing the BJP government of political discrimination during natural disasters, especially the 2018 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. "Any other state might have collapsed under such compounding crises. At such a critical juncture, the Indian Constitution clearly mandates that the central government must extend support to states in distress. But Kerala received no such assistance." He recalled how the Centre allegedly blocked foreign aid for Kerala, "We expected help. Instead, when other countries came forward to aid us, the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused permission to accept international aid." Vijayan called this "unprecedented" and added, "No other state has faced such discriminatory treatment during a calamity. BJP's resentment toward the people of Kerala is well-known. What's worse is that the Congress-led UDF, instead of standing with Kerala, chose to align with the Centre." He also criticised the UDF's stance on a voluntary salary contribution scheme for flood rehabilitation, "We appealed to government employees to contribute a few days' salary as a loan. They responded positively. But the UDF opposed even that they went to court against it. It shows their mindset." "Not even UDF's MPs raised their voice for Kerala in Parliament during this time. These are the painful truths we had to endure, not just the disasters themselves, but the betrayals that followed," Vijayan concluded. (ANI) Sasmit Patra, BJD MP and part of the all-party delegation to the UAE, on Friday, emphasised the longstanding relationship with the Gulf country and said that this visit will only strengthen the resolve to work together to crush terrorism significantly. Speaking to ANI, Sasmit Patra said, "UAE and India have a common ethos of peace, brotherhood and nonviolence. Apart from that, we have excellent bilateral relations between India and the UAE, not only in trade and commerce, but also in that about 4.3 million Indians are presently in the UAE. That accounts for almost 40 per cent of the total population, which is the largest expat population." "That only shows that India and UAE are committed to a strong relationship, a longstanding relationship, and this visit is only going to strengthen our resolve more to work together to ensure that this terrorism and this vice of terrorism is crushed and crushed significantly and decisively," he further added. MP Patra further expressed satisfaction over the successful meetings held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, highlighting India's stance against terrorism. Dr Patra stated that the message of strength and resoluteness in exposing Pakistan's terrorist activities was effectively communicated to the UAE authorities. "We found extremely positive, encouraging and extremely optimistic statements and feedback from the UAE authorities, UAE leadership...UAE, after the Phalgam terrorist attack, immediately issued a statement condemning it in the strongest of measures and rest assured that UAE and India are close, we stand together." MP Patra added. MP Patra informed that the delegation will now proceed to West Africa. MP Patra, who is part of the Group 4 delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, highlighted how the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemned the attack in its April 25 resolution despite Pakistan's attempts to obstruct. While addressing a press conference on Friday, Patra said, "We shared the incriminating evidence that clearly shows the connection between Pakistan and the terrorists. Since Lashkar-e-Taiba has come under the radar of the UNSC, they formed a proxy with the name of The Resistance Front (TRF). TRF took responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. When countries like the UAE took a stand and condemned this attack and supported India, that is when the world changed its stand." Stressing the significance of Operation Sindoor as a targeted response, Patra praised the UAE for standing firmly with India. He also said that India and the UAE share a common ethos and that an attack on India means an attack on the UAE. He added, "Pakistan tried to cover up the act. UNSC brought out a resolution on April 25 condemning this attack. Pakistan tried all that it could to avoid the name of TRF from being written on the draft of that resolution. Why so? When Operation Sindoor was launched, all we did was target nine terror camps and their headquarters, three out of which were already mentioned as terror sites by the UNSC monitoring committee. Is it hidden from the world that a wanted terrorist was seen at the funeral of the terrorists killed in our operation? Is it hidden that the coffins of those terrorists were wrapped in the national flag and that top military brass is in attendance? What was the need for Pakistan to come after our civilians and air bases? Pahalgam was the first attack. Operation Sindoor was a response to that. India and the UAE share a common ethos. An attack on India means an attack on UAE." The all-party delegation seeks to project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms. The team is working to convey India's clear message of zero tolerance for terrorism to the world. (ANI) The contraband was discovered inside a Tata Winger (registration MN-06B-1350) travelling from Senapati in Manipur towards Dimapur. During routine checking, passengers were asked to disembark and open their luggage. A passenger, identified as Dharam Singh from Ludhiana, Punjab, sought permission to relieve himself. Taking advantage of the situation, he attempted to flee towards the nearby hills but was swiftly pursued and apprehended by CRPF jawans after a 500-meter chase. Upon being brought back, Singh was made to open his black-colored Safari trolley and an olive-green bag. The search revealed two packets of suspected opium wrapped in black polythene, two 'Khaini' containers filled with the substance, one smaller packet also containing suspected opium, and cash worth Rs 56,500. The entire recovery process, including the weighing of the substance, was conducted in the presence of a magistrate from Sechu Zubza. The total weight of the seized material was confirmed at 14.312 kilograms. Dharam Singh and the recovered items have been handed over to the Police Station Zubza for further legal action under relevant narcotics laws. (ANI) In a landmark development for Tripura's economic landscape, the state has attracted a staggering Rs 15,646 crore in investments at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 held in New Delhi, a press release from Tripura CMO said. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced the achievement, describing it as a significant step towards the state's accelerated growth and transformation. Manik Saha highlighted the state's potential and said, "The summit's interactions were vibrant and promising. Investors showed keen interest in Tripura, particularly in emerging sectors such as technology, 5G, and artificial intelligence (AI)." He noted that the Tripura Investors Pavilion was a hub of activity, drawing enthusiastic responses from industry leaders and business stakeholders. The summit facilitated 33 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), attracted investments worth Rs 15,646 crores through this flagship event. "Through these MoUs, we have secured Rs 15,646 crore in investments. This is not just a number--it reflects a deep belief in Tripura's future," said the Chief Minister. Dr. Saha appealed to the business community by reaffirming his government's commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment: "Let us unlock new opportunities and drive inclusive growth together. Tripura is open for partnerships, and we are fully committed to supporting investors every step of the way." Earlier, the Tripura CM announced that the state government is developing dedicated infrastructure to support AI and 5G development. This session was titled "IT for Ashtalakshmi: Beyond the Bits and Bytes, Into AI and 5G." He also announced that the Government of Tripura has allocated land for data centres, including one for Airtel in Agartala. This hub will serve the entire eastern and northeastern region of India. "As Ashtalakshmi, these eight states--the easterners--are gifted with natural beauty and abundant resources. They truly represent Goddess Lakshmi, embodying multifaceted blessings of wealth, knowledge, strength, and prosperity. Today, I am honoured to speak about the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence and 5G in the northeastern region, including my state, Tripura. As we gather at the North East Investment Summit, I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region for organising this important event," he said. (ANI) Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be coming to Gujarat on a two-day visit from May 26. PM Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation of projects worth Rs 82,500 crore. Sanghvi asserted that PM Modi will participate in the program dedicated to the Urban Development Year at Gandhinagar's Mahatma Mandir. The Gujarat minister stated that the people of the state are "excited" about his visit. "Prime Minister Modi Ji is arriving on the 26th May for a two-day visit to Gujarat. The inauguration and foundation laying ceremony for projects worth more than Rs 82,500 crore will be held... The Prime Minister will participate in the program organised for the Urban Development Year at the Gandhinagar Mahatma Mandir. The people of Gujarat are very excited about the visit of the Prime Minister, and the people are excited to welcome him", Harsh Sanghvi told reporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate 33 development projects worth Rs 53,414 crore in Bhuj, where he will visit on the first day of his visit on May 26, an official release said. Among these projects, the PM will also e-inaugurate the development works under the 'Mata na Madh Master Plan' at Ashapura Dham, a revered spiritual centre for lakhs of devotees across Gujarat. PM Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Gujarat on May 26 and 27. On the first day, May 26, he will visit Kachchh and attend a ceremonial event in Bhuj. The state government and the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board implemented a master plan worth Rs 32.71 crore for the renovation and redevelopment of the entire Ashapura Dham complex located in Lakhpat taluka of Kachchh district, which is now completed. As part of this plan, enhanced facilities for devotees have been developed within the 'Mata na Madh' - Ashapura Mata Temple premises. (ANI) Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma termed Pakistan as a "terrorist" nation and stated that the world knows the truth and we just have to "reiterate" it. Rekha Sharma is part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. The delegation will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria to showcase India's continued fight against terrorism. "The world knows the truth, we just have to reiterate it; the lies that Pakistan is telling the world and the narrative it is setting, we have to prove them wrong and put the truth in front. Pakistan is a terrorist nation", Rekha Sharma told ANI. The Rajya Sabha MP said that terrorist attacks in the whole world are being carried out by Pakistan or the terrorist groups that it backs. She added that Pakistan has been attacking India since its formation, especially in Kashmir, through its "terror" cells. "Not only in India, but in many countries of the world, attacks have been carried out by Pakistan or their terrorist groups... Pakistan has been attacking India, especially in Kashmir, through its terror cells since its formation; these are terrorists sponsored by their government. We have to put all these truths in front of the world ", Rekha Sharma added. Earlier on Friday, multiple delegations were briefed by the Foreign Secretary before going to various countries. Certain delegations have already met with representatives of various countries. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, who is leading one of the delegations, held a press conference in the United Arab Emirates, calling for international solidarity in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. DMK MP Kanimozhi-led delegation met with former Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Fradkov and discussed current global issues, with a particular emphasis on the threats posed by terrorism. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. The operation targeted terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI) Several people from various walks of life gathered outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where two Israeli embassy staff members were fatally shot. They expressed grief on the killing and called the attacks violent and senseless. While speaking to ANI, Debby Greenberg, a Jewish person from Virginia, said, "I was horrified and stunned when I saw the news in the middle of the night... I can't believe it has come to US. We live in a different world since October 7 (2023)". Mariah Charnock, a social worker who works with an NGO told ANI, "Waking up and seeing the news that two young Jewish people were killed so violently and senselessly, I was so angry and sad... It just breaks my heart knowing that two young lives are gone when they were trying to do good in the world". People gathered in large numbers at the solemn occasion to pay tributes to the Israeli diplomats. They waved flags of Israel and upheld posters which said, "Christians and Jews united against hate". Two staff members from the Embassy of Israel were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The suspect, whom DC police identified as 30-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, pretended to be a bystander after the shooting, CNN reported, citing an eyewitness. According to CNN, when police arrived, the man turned himself in and shouted "Free, Free Palestine" while being handcuffed. He is currently in custody, according to authorities. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the man "implied that he committed the offense." Authorities are investigating possible motives, including terrorism and antisemitism, although the full context behind his actions remains under review. A solemn atmosphere surrounded the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, workplace of the attacked couple. The embassy flag flied at half-staff. The building remains secured with heightened police surveillance maintaining a perimeter. Flowers were also placed in memory of the two Jewish individuals who were killed in Wednesday's attack. Condemnation over the attack have been pouring in from all quarters of the American society. On the attack, US Vice President JD Vance said that "Antisemitic violence has no place in the United States". (ANI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed strong condemnation of the cold-blooded murder of two Israeli diplomats in the US. In his remarks delivered via a video message shared on X, the Israeli PM said, "Last night in Washington something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young beautiful couple - Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were planning to start a new and happy life together. Well, that tragically did not happen. Yaron and Sarah weren't the victims of a random crime. The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone - he wanted to kill Jews." He debunked the claims of food aid not reaching Gaza with facts and figures. In a significant announcement, the Israeli PM said, "As for the hostages, we'll do every effort to secure them. I'm ready for a temporary ceasefire to get more out but we demand, and you should demand, that all of our hostages be released and released immediately. And so should every civilized country demand this." "Since October 7th, Israel has sent 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza. That's right. 92,000 aid trucks. That includes 1.8 million tons of aid. 1.8 million tons of aid - more than enough food to feed everyone in Gaza. Yet as we had let the aid come in, Hamas stole it. They took a huge chunk for themselves. The rest they sold at exorbitant prices to the Palestinian population.And then they used the money they stole to recruit new terrorists to continue their war against Israel. Our goal from the start was to get food to Palestinian civilians, not to Palestinian terrorists," the Israeli PM said. He thanked US President Donald Trump and the American people for their support to Israel. "I especially want to thank President Trump and the American people for their forthright stand with Israel and with the Jewish people. Together we stand. Together we'll triumph and will see the victory of civilization over barbarism". https://x.com/netanyahu/status/1925650699414646909 Condemnation has been pouring in on the killing of the Israeli diplomats. Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance, expressed grief on the attack. He wrote on X, "My heart breaks for Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were murdered last night at the Capital Jewish Museum. Antisemitic violence has no place in the United States. We're praying for their families and all of our friends at the Israeli Embassy, where the two victims worked." https://x.com/JDVance/status/1925532419987329056 Former US President Joe Biden also offered condolences on the horrific attack. He said, "Jill and I are horrified and saddened by the deadly shooting outside of the Capital Jewish Museum last night that claimed the lives of two young people, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Antisemitic violence and hate have no place in our communities. We are praying for Yaron and Sarah's families and loved ones." https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1925614348279718122 Earlier on May 22, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar delivered a statement to the media following their killing. He said, "The attack is the direct consequence of the virulent and toxic anti-semitic rhetoric against Israel and Jewish communities around the world that has been going on since October 7." He added, "Following the murder of our personnel, we will lower the flag to half-mast today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all Israeli missions around the world." He further underscored, "Terrorism haunts us everywhere, but we will not surrender to it. " In his remarks, the Israeli Foreign Minister also announced, "This is an appropriate opportunity to announce the conference against antisemitism that we will hold here in Jerusalem in the middle of next week, within the framework of the Israeli presidency of IHRA. The conference will be attended by foreign ministers and other ministers of IHRA member states, envoys to combat antisemitism, and representatives of Jewish communities from these countries." Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy were fatally shot near the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., in what officials are investigating as an anti-Semitic attack. The incident took place around 9:15 p.m. local time outside the Capital Jewish Museum, near an FBI office building on F Street. According to law enforcement sources, the two embassy staff were shot as they exited an event at the museum. An embassy spokesperson confirmed to CNN that the Israeli ambassador was not present at the scene when the shooting occurred. (ANI) The leaders from India's all-party delegation to Russia expressed their firm commitment to representing India's stance on fighting terrorism and hailed Russia's support. Samajwadi Party leader Rajeev Rai spoke to ANI and said, "Russia is our historical friend, standing by side in every situation... Pakistan poses a threat not only to India but to the whole world because there is no such terrorist incident in the world where the strings don't lead to Pakistan". Calling Russia a special friend of India, Rai said that the delegation has come with evidence. He added, "It is important for everyone to isolate Pakistan." While speaking to ANI, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "We all know that Russia has been a strategic partner, and we've always worked together on diplomatic issues... The heads of our states have always worked together when it comes to important issues, whether it's of global importance or which is of interest to India and Russia. So it becomes very important at this point to reach out to Russia when we have been facing terror attacks time and again, and we've lost 26 lives in India." She shared that MPs from across the country and from different parties have been sent to represent India's stand against terrorism and explain our position to the world. She shared that her delegation will meet people from politics, think tanks, and opinion makers so as to explain the Indian stand. Sharing the engagements which will take place, Kanimozhi said that meetings with the Chair of the State Duma Committee, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia amongst others will take place. She added, "Later in the day we'll be also meeting think tanks, people from the media in Russia and explaining what has happened in India and how we have to come together to fight terrorism". India has sent an all-party delegation to highlight the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's efforts to cause social disharmony in India. The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi arrived in Moscow ahead of India's global outreach program on Operation Sindoor. The delegation was received by India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar. On arrival at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, the members of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Rajeev Rai, Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Prem Chand Gupta, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, were welcomed by Ambassador of India to Russia, Vinay Kumar, according to the statement by the Indian Embassy in Moscow. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI) India's Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, reaffirmed India's actions against terrorism and told the diplomats and representatives from several countries during the global outreach about the new normal in place against terrorism. The event saw Ambassadors and diplomats of several countries in attendance. These included Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Micronesia, Singapore, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Colombia, Brazil and Australia amongst others. Ambassador Sibi George brought to attention the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack which took place on April 22 and claimed the lives of 26 people. "26 innocent tourists were attacked and killed", said India's Ambassador to Japan. He highlighted that business and tourism were flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir, and children were going to schools and universities. "Jammu and Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places in India and peace had returned there. We had conducted elections a few years back and a government was there elected by the people, so things were getting normal. That is when the enemy decided to attack. So cross border terrorism, terrorists from our neighbouring country Pakistan came and attacked these innocent tourists", he said. Ambassador Sibi George said, "The government of India immediately understood what happened and we gave time to Pakistan to take action against the terrorists who committed this crime. Nothing happened. So on May 7, India decided to attack, punish the terrorists who have committed this gruesome crime and we attacked 9 terror sites in PoK and Pakistan, punishing terrorists". Speaking during Operation Sindoor's global outreach event, Ambassador Sibi George said, "The operation that India undertook, we called it Operation Sindoor... destroyed 9 terror headquarters in Pakistan, has set a new parameter, a new normal." He brought to attention important takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech after the Operation. Ambassador Sibi George said, "I will just mention the three points on that which honourable Prime Minister in his speech mentioned... First, if there is a terror attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge. Second, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail. Third, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism and the terrorists." He brought to attention the visuals of a terrorist being given state funeral in Pakistan and underscored, "The new normal is very clear- zero tolerance to terrorism". He delivered the remarks during the all-party delegation's breakfast interaction with diplomats. An All-Party Parliamentary delegation from India, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, Member of Parliament, is visiting Japan from May 22 to 24, 2025. On Thursday, the delegation met Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The delegation also met Yoshihide Suga, former Prime Minister of Japan and current Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party and Chairman of the Japan-India Association, as well as Takashi Endo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security. Both leaders affirmed Japan's continued support for India's efforts against terrorism, the official statement added. The Indian delegation also held an interaction with leading Japanese think tanks, briefing participants on India's zero tolerance policy on terrorism. Participants expressed strong support for India's counterterrorism stance during the discussions. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. (ANI) India on Wednesday welcomed the signing of a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. In a press statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India described the agreement as a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. "We welcome the signing of the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024, and marks the culmination of the process of decolonisation of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order," the statement said. India has consistently supported Mauritius's legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago, reiterating its position on decolonisation, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The statement added, "India has consistently supported Mauritius's legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on decolonisation, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations. As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region." Earlier in March, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reaffirmed India's support for Mauritius on the Chagos sovereignty issue, stating, "We have supported Mauritius in its stance on its sovereignty over Chagos. And this is obviously in keeping with our longstanding position with regard to decolonisation and support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of our other countries. And its only fitting for us to articulate this support for partners such as Mauritius." Misri emphasised that India had made substantial contributions to Mauritius's maritime safety and security, and highlighted ongoing technical and development cooperation. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's previous visit to Mauritius, several agreements were signed on enhancing maritime security, technical cooperation, ocean observation, and capacity building. India has provided vessels and assistance for maritime surveillance, and supports a range of projects from infrastructure to education, health, and the blue economy. "These facilities have also been assisting Mauritius in its maritime surveillance and patrolling of its vast Exclusive Economic Zone and in safeguarding the assets of its blue economy ecosystem from traditional and non-traditional maritime challenges," Misri said. India reaffirmed its commitment to deepening its partnership with Mauritius and contributing to the peace and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region, in line with international law and support for decolonisation. (ANI) The White House has expressed strongest condemnation on the killing of two Israeli diplomats in Washington DC. During a press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "President Trump is saddened and outraged over the brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staff here in Washington, D.C. last night. Yaron Leshinsky and Sarah Milgram were a beautiful young couple. In fact, we learned that Yaron was planning to propose to Sarah next week in Jerusalem. " She added, "Yaron's father, Daniel, spoke about the young couple's devotion for one another this morning. He said, "they were in love, one for the other. The embassy told us they were like a star couple at the embassy. I never expected something like this. He had his whole life before him." Leavitt underscored, "These words, especially every parent knows, are heart wrenching. The evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society. I spoke to the attorney general this morning. The Department of Justice will be prosecuting the perpetrator responsible for this to the fullest extent of the law. Hatred has no place in the United States of America under President Donald Trump. Everyone here at the White House is praying for the victims' friends and families during this unimaginable time." Earlier, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Thursday (US local time) that the threat level has been elevated nationwide for all Americans. Speaking to reporters at the Capital Jewish Museum where the shooting took place, she confirmed enhanced security measures implemented the previous evening. "US Marshals are coordinating closely to protect our embassy and ambassador while this investigation remains active," she stated, urging all citizens to stay alert regardless of their background. Separately, Karoline Leavitt detailed existing administration anti-antisemitism efforts during her briefing, highlighting the president's executive order establishing the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and related student visa enforcement measures. This follows after two staff members from the Embassy of Israel were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The suspect, whom DC police identified as 30-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, pretended to be a bystander after the shooting, CNN reported, citing an eyewitness. According to CNN, when police arrived, the man turned himself in and shouted "Free, Free Palestine" while being handcuffed. He is currently in custody, according to authorities. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the man "implied that he committed the offense." Authorities are investigating possible motives, including terrorism and antisemitism, although the full context behind his actions remains under review. (ANI) India's Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated its position on illegal immigrants, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, "People who are staying in India illegally or foreigners who are staying in India illegally, whether they happen to be Bangladeshi nationals or any other national, they will be dealt with as per law. We have a large number of Bangladeshi nationals here who are required to be deported." "We have asked the Bangladeshi side to verify their nationality. We have a pending list of over 2360 cases of people who are required to be deported...We urge the Bangladeshi side to expedite the verification process..." he continued. This follows ongoing enforcement efforts by Delhi Police targeting undocumented immigrants. Earlier, on May 17, authorities deported 21 Bangladeshi nationals and arrested five others, including three transgender individuals, for residing illegally in Delhi and engaging in begging and other unlawful activities. DCP North West Delhi Bhisham Singh said, "Our team has been working on illegal immigrants for a long time. Under this campaign, we have deported 21 illegal Bangladeshis. 2 cases have been registered, and we have also arrested 5 Bangladeshis. Now, we have caught 3 transgender Bangladeshis. Their main job is to beg at traffic signals and they do many illegal activities." Singh further explained, "They do not have any criminal background in India. They crossed the border and came to Bangladesh by train. One of the illegal Bangladeshis was in touch with an Indian through Facebook. They had a live-in relationship after she came to India. The other two also stayed in the same area." The Foreigners Cell of North West District Police, through surveillance and technical analysis, apprehended three Bangladeshi women living illegally in Mahendra Park. A Facebook reel posted by a suspect helped police locate their address after searching nearly 50 lanes. Singh said, "She confessed to developing a romantic relationship via Facebook with an Indian man, who later facilitated her illegal entry into India through the West Bengal border. The duo then moved to Delhi and started living together in a rented accommodation." All three women admitted to crossing the border illegally and living under false identities while in relationships with Indian partners. They have been sent to the FRRO for deportation proceedings, and further investigations are underway to trace anyone who may have assisted them. (ANI) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, who is leading an Indian parliamentary delegation to Russia, Greece, Latvia, Slovenia and Spain under Operation Sindoor, said the government has sent MPs from various parties to different countries to present India's position on terrorism and explain the decision to engage with Russia in the context of repeated terror attacks. Kanimozhi said it is important to reach out to Russia at a time when India has been facing terror attacks repeatedly. The leaders from India's all-party delegation also expressed their commitment to representing India's stance on countering terrorism and noted Russia's continued support. Speaking to ANI, Kanimozhi said, "Russia has been a strategic partner and we have always worked together on diplomatic issues, trade...it becomes very important at this point to reach out to Russia when we have been facing terror attacks time and again. We lost 26 lives in India, so the Government of India and the PM decided that MPs from across the country, from different parties, would be sent to represent the Indian stand against terrorism and explain our position to the world. So, as a part of these delegations that are being sent, one delegation has been sent to Russia..." She further added, "We will be meeting Andre Denison, First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs. We will be meeting Leonid Slutsky, the Chair of the State Duma Committee, along with the other members. We will be meeting Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister. We will also meet with the Director of the Russian Institute for Statistical Studies, the former PM of Russia (Mikhail Yefimovich) Fradkov...We will also be meeting Think Tanks and people from the Russian media. We will explain what has happened in India and how we have to come together to fight terrorism" Kanimozhi's visit spans several countries, including Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain, highlighting Operation Sindoor and India's unwavering fight against terrorism. Similarly, Samajwadi Party leader Rajeev Rai said, "Russia is our historical friend, standing by side in every situation... Pakistan poses a threat not only to India but to the whole world because there is no such terrorist incident in the world where the strings don't lead to Pakistan". Describing Russia as a close ally of India, Rai said that the delegation has come with evidence. He added, "It is important for everyone to isolate Pakistan." India has sent an all-party delegation to highlight the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's efforts to cause social disharmony in India. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI) The Trump administration on Thursday barred Harvard University from enrolling international students, CNN reported. The decision comes after Harvard University refused to agree to the administration's policy demands. In a statement, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated, "Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status." US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directed her department to end Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, over the university's refusal to turn over the conduct records of foreign students requested by the DHS in April. The administration's decision could affect more than a quarter of Harvard's heavily international student body, who have been worried by the announcement. Professors have warned that a mass exodus of foreign students threatens to restrain the institution's academic prowess even as it fights against the Trump administration for its ideological autonomy, according to CNN report. On Thursday, the White House said, "Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right." It accused Harvard leadership of turning "their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators." In a statement to CNN, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, "They have repeatedly failed to take action to address the widespread problems negatively impacting American students and now they must face the consequences of their actions." Harvard and the Trump administration have been engaged in a conflict for months as the administration demands the university make changes to the programming of the institution, hiring and administration to remove on-campus antisemitism and remove what it termed "racist 'diversity, equity and inclusion' practices." The administration has targeted foreign students and employees, it believes were part of the contentious campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. However, the university leadership said that many of the requests, including an "audit" of the "viewpoint" of its students and staff, go far beyond the role of the federal government and may breach the constitutional rights of Harvard. Harvard is among dozens of US universities facing similar demands from the Trump administration. However, it has not refused to agree to the demands and has defended academic independence. The university condemned the SEVP revocation, calling it "unlawful" and said in a statement that it is "fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University - and this nation - immeasurably." Harvard University spokesperson Jason Newton said, "We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission." According to the university, it has 9,970 people in its international academic population, and data shows 6,793 international students comprise 27.2 per cent of its enrollment in the 2024-25 academic year. Harvard has made some changes in its policy to comply with the Trump administration's requests, including changing the name of its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to Community and Campus Life. In a letter to Harvard on Thursday, Kristi Noem accused the university of "perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes-pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist "diversity, equity and inclusion' practices." The Trump administration has imposed several retaliatory measures against Harvard, including freezing USD 2.2 billion in federal funds - a move the university is fighting in court. The Internal Revenue Service is also planning to rescind Harvard's tax-exempt status, CNN reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The Trump administration seems to use Harvard as an example, as it threatens similar punishment to other institutions if they do not agree to their demands. While speaking to Fox News, Noem said, "This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together." (ANI) BJP MP Dr. Hemang Joshi, part of the all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, stated on Friday that the delegation's mission is to unite the global community in India's fight against terrorism and to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the world stage. Dr. Joshi said about their visit to Japan, "From India, the all-party delegation has come here with a mission. The mission is to unite the world in India's fight against terrorism and to expose the terror sponsored by Pakistan, in front of the world. Yesterday was our first day in Japan, and it was very fruitful. We held productive discussions with Japan's former Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and prominent think tanks. I am pleased to note that they unequivocally support India's operations against terrorism, condemning terrorism in all its forms and endorsing our zero-tolerance policy." He added, "This morning, we hosted a breakfast meeting with diplomats from over 21 countries, including representatives from Mexico, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. Their response was positive, and they expressed solidarity with India's efforts to combat terrorism." On Thursday, Sanjay Jha appealed to all world leaders to side with India against Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism. Jha, while talking to ANI, said that the delegation is there to raise awareness of Operation Sindoor. "Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism. One must differentiate between terrorists and the terrorist sponsor, which is the state that promotes them, funds them, and gives them training. This is known, but we must make it clear that after the Pahalgam terror attack, India's stance is to wipe off the terror sponsors. Now people from all over the world should gather to eliminate this source from which terrorists are located," he said. Prior to this, Indian Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, briefed the All-Party delegation, where he noted that after the dastardly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Japan was the first country to respond. The Indian Embassy in Tokyo stated that India's unwavering stand against cross-border terrorism, as seen in Operation Sindoor, will be highlighted in all engagements. In a separate key meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Takehiro Funakoshi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan, for the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister Dialogue in Tokyo. Their discussions covered advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and conveying India's message on zero tolerance for terror. Misri also met Hiroyuki Namazu, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister, Government of Japan. They exchanged views on India-Japan cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region & other issues of common interest. (ANI) Highlighting India's fight against cross-border terrorism, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Friday asserted that the all-party delegation are visiting different countries in the world to apprise the global community about Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Jha was interacting with Ambassadors and diplomats of Brazil, Australia, Colombia, Greece and South Korea in Japan's Tokyo. The Janata Dal (United) MP, who is leading one of the seven all-party delegations, stressed that India today is a victim of terrorism, and it could be any other country in the future. Pointing out Islamabad's involvement in cross-border terrorism, he further mentioned that Pakistan funds terrorists, trains them and sends them to India. "We are going to different countries to apprise the world that today it is India and tomorrow it could be you also. So don't be a fence-sitter. Fight against terrorism is for everyone. We are representing our people; we are going all over the world to apprise about the cross-border terrorism of Pakistan. It is state-sponsored terrorism. They finance it, they fund it, they train them and they send them to India and to other parts of the world also," Jha Said. "Every terrorist activity in the world has some or other link in Pakistan, so this time our Prime Minister has also said it is a new normal. Enough is enough...if anything happens to our citizens, we will hit back; we will retaliate," he added. In a reference to his home state Bihar's connection with Buddhism, Jha said, "I come from the state of Bihar, where Buddhism is born. Buddhism is for 'Ahimsa' - for peace." An All-Party Parliamentary delegation from India, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha is on a visit to Japan from May 22 to 24. On Thursday, the delegation met Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The delegation also met Yoshihide Suga, former Prime Minister of Japan and current Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party and Chairman of the Japan-India Association, as well as Takashi Endo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security. Both leaders affirmed Japan's continued support for India's efforts against terrorism, the official statement added. The Indian delegation also held an interaction with leading Japanese think tanks, briefing participants on India's zero tolerance policy on terrorism. Participants expressed strong support for India's counterterrorism stance during the discussions. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. (ANI) Several people from various walks of life gathered outside the White House to pay tribute to Israeli Embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim who were shot dead outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. People held a vigil outside the White House, organised by a friend of the victims. The people gathered there prayed for the deceased. They expressed concern over the safety of Jews in the US. People gathered in large numbers at the solemn occasion to pay tributes to the Israeli diplomats. They waved flags of Israel and the US. Speaking to ANI, Lisa Kagel, who was there to pay tribute to the couple, said that the Jewish community is sad and angry about how the young couple was killed in the US. Kagel mentioned that she is constantly chased as she wears a Magen David and yellow hostage ribbon. She said, "I heard about it almost immediately last night when it happened. I'm pretty connected to the embassy and the people at the embassy, and my first reaction was, oh no, do I know them? Initially, we heard that there was one person dead in multiple casualties, and then we learned as the night unfolded that this young couple was murdered in cold blood while leaving an event that was actually to discuss additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, and then we learned more over the hours that they were both peace activists, who worked for unity amongst Arabs and Israelis." When asked about the sentiment among the Jewish community regarding the incident, she responded, "Its gone back and forth all day long. Initially, it was just absolute gut-wrenching sadness, then anger because this has been going on in DC and in all the cities across America and the West for 20 months and I personally, I spent a lot of time on Capitol Hill and I'm chased constantly because I wear a magendavid and because I wear a yellow hostage ribbon and because I show my Judaism proudly. So, you know, the community, I'm very connected to the Jewish and Israeli community here and we've just gone through so many different emotions throughout the day. Obviously, it's mostly just absolute sadness that these two young lives were taken so so early and senselessly." She also expressed concern over the safety of Jews in the US. When asked whether she is concerned over safety of Jews in the US, Kagel said, "Absolutely. I have been for a very long time, even before October 7th. I've been calling it out for over a decade in this area in my children's schools locally, am I more concerned now? Absolutely, because what are we seeing all over the internet after last night? We're seeing people calling to kill the Zionists on the internet blatantly, kill the Jews." Another Israeli-American woman, Sigal, called the incident "pure anti-semitism" and said that it hurts each member of the community. She stated that the Jewish community did not imagine that the world would not support the victims. She stated that Jewish community is feeling afraid in the US. Sigal said, "I've been living in this community for about 20 years. We have some personal contact with the people who are deceased, but this is not about that. It's not about being a Zionist or Jewish or being affiliated with the government or not. This is pure anti-Semitism and it hurts each and every member of the community. We are one people. What we endure since October 7, we never imagine what will come after. We never imagined that the whole world going to not support the victims and come after us." Sigal said that the incident that took place on Wednesday was not the first time that the Jewish community has been attacked. She said that the couple was killed just because they were Jewish. She mentioned that they are not speaking Hebrew when they travel in a cab and have taken off their necklaces with the Magen David. When asked whether there were concerns amongst the Jewish community as the young couple was shot dead, she responded, "Although we saw it coming because for a year and a half we've been screaming, we've been saying about the rising anti-semitism. We saw the acts. We go in and we're standing in front of the Qatar embassy. We are going to the Israeli embassy supporting Israeli embassy when they're being ambushed by encapement of the poor Hamas. We were there to support them. And we saw the acts, we hear the voices, the words, the threatened. Although all that what happened yesterday is another level, Washington DC, although it's not the first time and we had other attacks on Jewish communities. But on the name of freeing some people to kill two innocents who got nothing to do being Israelis, nobody asks them if they are Israelis. They are the pure evil executed just because they are Jewish and this is what we are all thinking now." "I'm thinking about my family. I'm thinking about my boys in college because I see what's happening in college. I'm thinking about my brothers and sisters here. We are afraid to go around. We don't want to be afraid. We want to be strong and resilient, and to say yes, we are not going to stop. But the reality is that when we go to Uber, we stop speaking Hebrew, that's our reality. The reality is that we take off all our necklaces with Magen David with the star of David, that is our reality. When we sit in a restaurant, we are wondering if we are being watched by others. When we go to a quiet, peaceful protest. When we walk to our car, we see who is following us to see our driving licence plate. Yes, we are afraid. I have a mezuzah on my door, I'm ashamed to say that in one second I was thinking, should I still leave it there and I'm ashamed to say it and I did not, but yes, we are afraid. I'm not afraid to say we are afraid. Why? because we need protection because what America came to, this is outrageous and all the nice words that all the government people say and the mayor of DC. We saw it coming. We were screaming for a year and a half and the feds and the DC Police Department and the mayor of DC and everybody around Maryland and around Virginia, no this is not our job to deal with. Yes, we are afraid," she added. She said that people gathered there were praying for unity. She stated, "When we gather together as Jewish people and we always value life, morality and life and peace. So, we have a lot of prayers. talk about that. We also have prayers, and this is what we've been singing about unity. So, as a people we unite in strength, not in war, in love, not in hate. So, we sing songs of God, make us strong, unite. God, please help us overcome our grief and give peace for the deceased. This is the songs of usually praise for God, for help and comfort and unity among our people." She mentioned that she did not know the couple personally. However, she came here to pay tribute to them. When asked whether she knew the couple personally, she responded, "I did not know them personally. I saw them a few times because I had some business with the embassy, I'm not an employee of the embassy, but we are all one community and when somebody hurts one of us, it hurts all of us. So it's even if I was not connected somehow with the embassy, it doesn't matter. I would still be here." Reza Farnud, Iranian-American, who paid tribute to the couple said that Israel and Iran both have been surrounded by terrorists. He urged US President Donald Trump not to negotiate with terrorists. He said, "Although it was two very young innocent Jewish were killed, but humanity has been attacked. And we all have to get together regardless of Jewish or non-Jewish, and we have to fight back. We have to stand together, stop this criminals." When asked about the sentiment amongst the Jewish community, he said, "Well, same as Israel has been surrounded by terrorists. The country Iran has also been captured and hostaged by terrorists for the past 46 years and we all shared the same issues and problems and we need to stop this. We are asking President Trump if he can, if we will, pay attention to this and make sure no negotiation with terrorists. Playing with fire or catching fire is not going to work." Two staff members from the Embassy of Israel were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.The suspect, whom DC police identified as 30-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, pretended to be a bystander after the shooting, CNN reported, citing an eyewitness. According to CNN, when police arrived, the man turned himself in and shouted "Free, Free Palestine" while being handcuffed. He is currently in custody, according to authorities. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the man "implied that he committed the offense." Authorities are investigating possible motives, including terrorism and antisemitism, although the full context behind his actions remains under review. A solemn atmosphere surrounded the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, workplace of the attacked couple. Israel's national flag at the embassy flew at half-staff. The building remains secured with heightened police surveillance, maintaining a perimeter. (ANI) BJP MP Brij Lal expressed happiness that the people of Japan have supported India's fight against terrorism and called the meetings with Japanese officials "good." He said that India has been suffering due to terrorism for nearly four decades and did not react till 2016. Brij Lal, who is part of the JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha-led delegation, which is on a visit to Japan and other East Asian nations, mentioned how India has retaliated against terrorists after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office. He recalled the airstrikes conducted in Balakot and the surgical strike carried out in 2016. He stated that the world appreciates India's stance against terrorism and knows that India is a peaceful nation. He asserted that India will destroy terrorist bases and their sponsors if it is attacked. On all-party delegation's meeting Japanese Foreign Minister and think tanks, he said, "The meeting was very good. We were happy that the people of Japan have supported India's fight against terrorism. India has been suffering for nearly four decades and you must remember, we did not react till 2016. I was serving as Additional Director General in the UP when the 2008 26/11 occured, where 170 people were killed. Among them were, two IPS officers, Hemant Karkare IGN, Ashok Kamte DIG. It went on for three days, Kasab was caught and nine were killed, total evidence." "After that, when PM Modi came in 2014, we launched a surgical strike in 2016 when they attacked us. We were thinking that Pakistan would understand now. In 2019, they again carried out attacks and we conducted an airstrike in Balakot. After 2019, we were thinking that Pakistan might understand. In the April 22 attack, they killed people after asking about their religion. A lady asked them to kill her too, her husband was killed, so they said go and give a message to the Prime Minister. After that, we carried out a precise attack and by carrying out precise attack, we did not kill civilians, we only destroyed their terrorist infrastructure. After that we know that Pakistan would retaliate. They attacked, and after that, we destroyed their bases. We are telling this to the entire world; the world is understanding that we did not escalate... Today, the entire world is understanding... They are appreciating our stand and that we are a peaceful country, but if we are attacked, then this is the new India, Modi's India, and we will destroy the terrorist bases and their sponsors if we are attacked," he added. An All-Party Parliamentary delegation from India, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, Member of Parliament, is on a visit to Japan from May 22 to 24. On Thursday, the delegation met Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The delegation also met former Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga and current Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party and Chairman of the Japan-India Association, as well as Takashi Endo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security. Both leaders affirmed Japan's continued support for India's efforts against terrorism, the official statement added. The Indian delegation also held an interaction with leading Japanese think tanks, briefing participants on India's zero tolerance policy on terrorism. Participants expressed strong support for India's counterterrorism stance during the discussions. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. (ANI) India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI) An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with the Acting Chairperson of the Research Committee on Counter-terrorism of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan's former Minister of Justice Yasuhiro Hanashi on Friday. In their meeting, the MPs highlighted India's "unified and determined stance" against terrorism in all its forms. The Indian Embassy in Japan said that the two nations reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. "All-Party Delegation from India met Mr. Yasuhiro Hanashi, Acting Chairperson of the Research Committee on Counter-terrorism of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Former Minister of Justice. India's unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms was highlighted. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism," the Indian Embassy in Japan posted on X. https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925788904096985272 All-party delegation also met Japan's former Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Director General of the International Bureau, LDP, Shinako Tsuchiya, at LDP Headquarters in Tokyo. India's Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, attended the meeting. Earlier, the all-party delegation met the Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo and reaffirmed India's "unwavering national resolve" against terrorism. "Proactive engagement by the All-Party Delegation from India with the Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo at @IndianEmbTokyo reaffirms India's unwavering national resolve against terrorism. United in voice, firm in action," the Indian Embassy in Japan stated in a post on X. https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925721681022144718 Yesterday, an All-Party Parliamentary Delegation from India attended the Inaugural Session of Raisina Tokyo 2025. Speakers at the session reiterated Japan's support for India's fight against terrorism. In a post on X, Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "All Party Parliamentary Delegation from India attended the Inaugural Session of Raisina Tokyo 2025, joining leaders and experts from India, Japan, and across the Indo-Pacific region. Speakers at the Session reiterated Japan's support for India's fight against terrorism." https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925551753535398217 An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, Member of Parliament, is visiting Japan from May 22 to 24. The delegation includes Ambassador Mohan Kumar, BJP MP Hemang Joshi, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP Brij Lal, and BJP MP Pradan Baruah. Yesterday, met Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. The delegation also met former Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga and current Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party and Chairman of the Japan-India Association, as well as Takashi Endo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security. Both leaders affirmed Japan's continued support for India's efforts against terrorism, the official statement added. The Indian delegation also held an interaction with leading Japanese think tanks, briefing participants on India's zero tolerance policy on terrorism. Participants expressed strong support for India's counterterrorism stance during the discussions. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. In a separate key meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Takehiro Funakoshi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan, for the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister Dialogue in Tokyo yesterday. Their discussions covered advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and conveying India's message on zero tolerance for terror.Misri also met Hiroyuki Namazu, Senior Deputy Foreign Minister, Government of Japan. They exchanged views on India-Japan cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region & other issues of common interest. (ANI) The fifth round of "indirect" negotiations are set to be held between Iran and the United States on Friday in Rome, according to the Iranian foreign ministry. The talks, being facilitated by Oman are aimed at reviving stalled diplomacy over Iran limiting its nuclear program in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions imposed by US on the Islamic Republic. Washington maintains that Iran's uranium enrichment programme could lead to developing nuclear bombs, while Tehran has consistently denied the claim, insisting that its nuclear programme is meant for civilian purposes. Ahead of the talks, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said no enrichment would mean "we do NOT have a deal." "Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science: Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide..." Speaking to the national Iranian television on May 22 night, Araqchi stressed that Iran will not back down from its nuclear rights. He emphasised that his country has the right to develop its peaceful nuclear technology. "We will not retreat from our rights. Our nuclear program--including enrichment--must continue. However, we are ready to adopt confidence-building and transparency measures and accept broader monitoring, because we are confident in the peaceful nature of our program," he said as per state media IRNA. CNN had in its report on May 20 quoted US officials alleging that the Israeli regime was preparing an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi according to the country's state media IRNA warned that any Israeli adventurism targeting Iran's nuclear sites would be met with a decisive response, as has been the case in the past. Araqchi said he has formally notified the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran will take special measures to defend its people, interests, and nuclear facilities, with details to be disclosed to the UN and IAEA at a later date. Araqchi conveyed these remarks in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN Security Council President Evangelos C Sekeris, and IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi on Thursday. In a post on X, Iranian foreign minister wrote, "Threats from the rogue Israeli regime are nothing new. But the recent leak citing US officials as divulging Israeli plans for an unlawful attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities is alarming and warrants immediate and serious condemnation from the UN Security Council and the IAEA." Araqchi also emphasized that Israel's nuclear program presents a serious threat to global security, urging the international community to exert pressure on the Israeli regime to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and commit to disarmament agreements. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Thursday discussed his plans with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a nuclear deal with Iran ahead of today's talks in Rome between US and Iranian officials. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing that the leaders talked "about a potential deal with Iran, which the president believes is moving along in the right direction." Trump also expressed his condolences to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu about the murder of two Israeli diplomats in Washington DC on Wednesday during the discussion, the White House Secretary said. Trump's special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Policy Planning Director Michael Anton will be present in Rome for the fifth round of talks between the US and Iran. Iran and the United States have held four rounds of nuclear talks since April 12- three in Muscat and one in Rome. In its report published on May 20, CNN had reported that US has obtained new intelligence suggesting that Israel is making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. "US Officials caution it's not clear that Israeli leaders have made a final decision, and that in fact, there is deep disagreement within the US government about the likelihood that Israel will ultimately act. Whether and how Israel strikes will likely depend on what it thinks of the US negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program," the US media outlet reported. It said citing an unnamed source familiar with US intelligence in the issue. "But the chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility has gone up significantly in recent months,"adding that "And the prospect of a Trump-negotiated US-Iran deal that doesn't remove all of Iran's uranium makes the chance of a strike more likely." CNN reported that Trump has publicly threatened military action against Iran if his administration's efforts to negotiate a new nuclear deal to limit or eliminate Tehran's nuclear program fail. In a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in mid-March, Trump set a 60-day deadline for those efforts to succeed, according to a source familiar with the communication. Khamenei, on Tuesday said that he does not expect negotiations with the United States over Tehran's nuclear program to "reach a conclusion," calling the US demand that Iran not enrich uranium a "big mistake." Iran insists it has a right to enrich under the United Nations' Treaty on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and says it will not relinquish that right under any circumstances. US special envoy to West Asia Witkoff had on Sunday said that the Trump administration's "red line" in nuclear talks with Iran was that Tehran cannot maintain any ability to enrich uranium. "We have one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability," Witkoff told ABC's "This Week." "Everything begins... with a deal that does not include enrichment... because enrichment enables weaponization. And we will not allow a bomb to get here," he added. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi posted on his X account: "If the US is interested in ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, a deal is within reach, and we are ready for a serious conversation to achieve a solution that will forever ensure that outcome. Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without a deal." In July 2015 the Iran nuclear agreement- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and several world powers including the United States, which capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord. Since then Iran has Iran started exceeding agreed-upon limits to its stockpile of low-enriched uranium in 2019, and began enriching uranium to higher concentrations up to 60 per cent purity which is very close to the weapons grade level. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday congratulated Richard Marles on his reappointment as Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh stated that he looked forward to continuing India's close cooperation with Australia to strengthen bilateral defence ties further. "Heartiest congratulations to my friend @RichardMarlesMP on his reappointment as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence for Australia. Looking forward to continuing our close cooperation to further strengthen bilateral defence ties under India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Singh posted on X. https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1925803353071607837 Richard Marles' reappointment as Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently secured victory in the elections. Senior ministers, including Defence Minister Richard Marles, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Education Minister Jason Clare, continue to hold their portfolios. Albanese has unveiled his ministers for the second term and named former communications minister Michelle Rowland as attorney-general after Mark Dreyfus was removed from the front bench due to factional negotiations, ABC News reported. West Australian and Muslim MP Anne Aly will be promoted to cabinet, after fellow Muslim MP Ed Husic was sidelined along with Dreyfus last week, ABC News reported. Albanese is the first Prime Minister in Australia in more than two decades to secure back-to-back election victories, the first since John Howard, Al Jazeera reported. On May 6, Anthony Albanese thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating him on his election win and said that he looked forward to working with him in the coming years to build a prosperous future for the two nations. He emphasised the strong ties between India and Australia. Albanese's statement came in response to a post shared by PM Modi on X. Albanese stated, "Thank you for the call Prime Minister @narendramodi and for your warm congratulations. The relationship between Australia and India has never been stronger. I look forward to working with you over the coming years to build a prosperous future for our region." PM Modi said he congratulated Albanese on his re-election. Both leaders agreed to work together to advance the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). "Spoke with my friend @AlboMP to personally congratulate him on his party's historic victory. We agreed to work together with renewed vigour to advance the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and explore new areas of cooperation," PM Modi posted on X. PM Modi invited Albanese to visit India, including for the Annual Summit and the QUAD Summit, which will be hosted in India later in the year. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, "The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between the two countries. They noted that in its five years, the CSP has seen robust cooperation developing across a diverse range of sectors. They stressed on the role played by the vibrant Indian origin diaspora in cementing bilateral ties." PM Modi and Albanese exchanged views on regional and global matters of mutual interest. They reiterated their commitment to working together to promoting a free, open, stable, rules-based, prosperous Indo-Pacific. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch. (ANI) An all-party parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi met First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, Andrey Denisov and other senators in Moscow on Friday. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Russia stated, "Together in the fight against terrorism ! All-Party Delegation led by Hon'ble MP @KanimozhiDMK in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation with First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs H.E. Mr. Andrey Denisov and other Senators." https://x.com/IndEmbMoscow/status/1925827298265121011 Earlier in the day, India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, briefed the all-party parliamentary delegation, on various aspects of India-Russia ties. The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi arrived in Moscow on Friday. The delegation was received by India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar. The delegation's visit spans several countries, including Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain, highlighting Operation Sindoor and India's unwavering fight against terrorism. The delegation led by Kanimozhi includes SP MP Rajeev Rai, NC MP Mian Altaf Ahmad, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowkta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri and NCP MP Jawed Ashraf. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. Earlier, Kanimozhi said the government has sent MPs from various parties to different countries to present India's position on terrorism and explain the decision to engage with Russia in the context of repeated terror attacks. She called it important to reach out to Russia at a time when India has been facing terror attacks repeatedly. Speaking to ANI, Kanimozhi said, "Russia has been a strategic partner and we have always worked together on diplomatic issues, trade...it becomes very important at this point to reach out to Russia when we have been facing terror attacks time and again. We lost 26 lives in India, so the Government of India and the PM decided that MPs from across the country, from different parties, would be sent to represent the Indian stand against terrorism and explain our position to the world." After completing the Russian visit the delegation will travel to Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain. (ANI) Expressing solidarity with the people of India on the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, Director General of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy Nikolay Mladenov on Thursday asserted that terror is unacceptable in whatever form it takes and vowed to stand against it. Speaking to ANI, Mladenov said, "We were all absolutely shocked at the terrible terrorist attack & everyone in the UAE condemns it and expresses our full solidarity with the families, people of India, government in this difficult time" "We very strongly believe that terror is unacceptable in whatever form it takes and in whatever ideological and religious basis may claim to have. We all have a responsibility to stand against it. We all hope that we will work together, as we discussed today in the meeting, to make sure that narratives of extremism are not allowed to flourish," he added. The high-level all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde met with Nikolay Mladenov, Director General of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy on Friday. The all-party delegation led by Shinde comprises MPs Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohmd Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar Mishra, BJP leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. Earlier, the high-level all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde participated in an interaction event with the Indian community in the UAE, where the members spoke about the 'New India' and the 'new normal' which has emerged after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor launched in response. During the interaction event, BJD MP Sasmit Patra shared that Operation Sindoor highlighted India's response towards terrorism. He said, "We will ensure more than 100 terrorists die for what you're doing. This is the new India." Speaking about the all-party delegations going across the world to convey India's message, Sasmit Patra said, "This is the new India where we will not allow political differences - various political parties are sitting together but we're speaking one language, one voice, one thought and one idea - India." He added that India is going around the world to take the message across. He said that India is showcasing the truth and "...we are going to speak it face to face across the table... within the last 30 days, so much has happened. I'm pretty sure in the next 300 days, more things will happen. I can assure you of that." Addressing the gathering, BJP leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia said, "Modiji is talking about the new normal that talks will not take place if attacks are happening on India... Blood and water will not flow together." The delegation is in its first leg of the foreign nation visit as part of the Operation Sindoor global outreach programme. (ANI) Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, condemned Pakistan's ongoing campaign of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, reporting two additional cases in May 2025. Paank highlighted the alarming trend of civilians being abducted by state forces. According to Paank, Pakistani security forces forcibly detained and disappeared shopkeeper Chakar Gulab, a resident of Baloch Ward, Gwadar. Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown, and his family has received no communication regarding his status. In a separate incident on May 21 this year, Muhib Ullah, a driver from Sair Kolowa in Awaran district, was apprehended at a from Turbat, Kech. He has also not been seen or heard from since. "On May 12,2025, Chakar Gulab, son of Gulab Baloch, resident of Baloch Ward, Gwadar, and a shopkeeper by profession, was forcibly detained and disappeared by Pakistani security forces from his hometown. On May 21,2025, Muhib Ullah, son of Muhammad Ali, a resident of the Sair Kolowa area in Awaran district, was forcibly detained and disappeared from Turbat Kech district, #Balochistan. He is a driver by profession," Paank posted on X. https://x.com/paank_bnm/status/1925579779807293743 These two abductions form part of a broader and disturbing pattern in Balochistan, where, according to Paank, enforced disappearances have spiked in areas such as Gwadar, Kech, and Awaran. Human rights organisations documented over 90 such cases in May 2025 alone, many allegedly carried out by the Frontier Corps and other Pakistani security agencies. On Wednesday, the residents of Balochistan's Nushki carried out a rally in response to a call from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), staging a significant protest against increasing state violence. The demonstrators marched through the streets, voicing strong opposition to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the unlawful detention of BYC leaders. In a post on X, BYC stated, "On BYC's call, People Protested Against State Brutality, Extrajudicial Killings, Enforced Disappearances and Unlawful Detention of BYC Leaders. Yesterday, the people of Nushki answered the Baloch Yakjehti Committee's BYC call. In large numbers, they took to the streets, raising their voices against extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the unlawful detention of BYC leadership." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1925428233149042867 The protest followed a recent incident on March 16, when Pakistani security forces reportedly abducted 11 people, including three minors, near SBK University in Nushki. The BYC confirmed the identities of those taken and raised alarm over the incident, viewing it as part of an ongoing campaign of state repression. (ANI) All-party parliamentary delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Friday held a meeting with Japan's former Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Shinako Tsuchiya, Director General of the International Bureau, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). During the meeting, Members of Parliament reiterated India's strong resolve to fight every form of terrorism. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "Fruitful interaction between All-Party Delegation from India with H.E. Mr. Minoru Kihara, Former Defence Minister of Japan, and Ms. Shinako Tsuchiya, Director General of the International Bureau, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). India's strong resolve to fight every form of terrorism was reiterated." https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925809499375370404 Earlier in the day, all-party parliamentary delegation met with the Acting Chairperson of the Research Committee on Counter-terrorism of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan's former Minister of Justice Yasuhiro Hanashi. In their meeting, the MPs highlighted India's "unified and determined stance" against terrorism in all its forms. "All-Party Delegation from India met Mr. Yasuhiro Hanashi, Acting Chairperson of the Research Committee on Counter-terrorism of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Former Minister of Justice. India's unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms was highlighted. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism," the Indian Embassy in Japan posted on X. https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925788904096985272 The all-party delegation met the Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo and reaffirmed India's "unwavering national resolve" against terrorism. "Proactive engagement by the All-Party Delegation from India with the Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo at @IndianEmbTokyo reaffirms India's unwavering national resolve against terrorism. United in voice, firm in action," the Indian Embassy in Japan stated in a post on X. https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925721681022144718 On Thursday, an all-party delegation attended the Inaugural Session of Raisina Tokyo 2025. Speakers at the session reiterated Japan's support for India's fight against terrorism. In a post on X, Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "All Party Parliamentary Delegation from India attended the Inaugural Session of Raisina Tokyo 2025, joining leaders and experts from India, Japan, and across the Indo-Pacific region. Speakers at the Session reiterated Japan's support for India's fight against terrorism." https://x.com/IndianEmbTokyo/status/1925551753535398217 An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, includes Ambassador Mohan Kumar, BJP MP Hemang Joshi, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP Brij Lal, and BJP MP Pradan Baruah. The delegation met Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Thursday. The Indian MPs also met former Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga and current Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party and Chairman of the Japan-India Association, as well as Takashi Endo, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security. Both leaders affirmed Japan's continued support for India's efforts against terrorism, the official statement added. The Indian delegation also held an interaction with leading Japanese think tanks, briefing participants on India's zero tolerance policy on terrorism. Participants expressed strong support for India's counterterrorism stance during the discussions. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. (ANI) The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) launched a Month-long Panchen Lama Awareness Program aimed at educating the Tibetan community and fostering international solidarity on the 30th anniversary of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's forced disappearance, as reported by the CTA. To mark the 36th birthday of Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, also known as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) initiated a month-long awareness initiative. This campaign commenced on April 25, coinciding with his birthday, and concluded on May 17, 2025, signifying three decades since his enforced disappearance by Chinese authorities at the age of six. The program encompassed various events, public activities, and international advocacy efforts to enhance global awareness regarding this enduring issue, urging the Chinese government to release verifiable information about the Panchen Lama's current status and well-being. Although Chinese authorities have consistently asserted that he is living a "normal life," they persist in denying independent access for verification, according to CTA. In the European Parliament, seven Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from four different political factions raised urgent inquiries directed at the European Union's High Representative, highlighting the gravity of the situation, as indicated in the CTA report. In Germany, Michael Brand, a Member of Parliament and Chair of the Bundestag's Tibet Group, condemned the Panchen Lama's abduction forcefully, labelling it as "a crime out of fear." Likewise, in Italy, Senator Andrea De Priamo, President of the Italian Tibet Interparliamentary Group, criticised the substitution of the legitimate Panchen Lama with a government-appointed figure. Swiss Parliamentarians from the Swiss Parliamentary Group for Tibet have urged the Swiss Government (Federal Council) to pressure China to releaseGedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family, as highlighted in the CTA report. Support also emerged from Taiwan, where Tian Chiu-Chin of the National Human Rights Commission and the Taiwan Parliament Group for Tibet collectively condemned the ongoing repression in Tibet and reaffirmed their dedication to the Tibetan cause. The month-long Panchen Lama Awareness Program has effectively re-energised global attention towards the continued enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama. It has also underscored the steadfast international commitment to truth and justice in the face of persistent human rights abuses. The Central Tibetan Administration reiterated its plea for the international community to pressure the Chinese government to provide credible proof of the Panchen Lama's well-being and his immediate release. (ANI) Non-U.S. WTO members criticize Trumps tariffs, call for enhanced multilateral trading system Xinhua) 08:13, May 23, 2025 GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have spoken out against the U.S. tariffs in Geneva, calling for collective efforts to strengthen the multilateral trading system. On Wednesday, the EU delegation launched an agenda on the fragmentation of global trade caused by tariffs at a meeting of the General Council, the WTO's highest-level decision-making body. The delegation asserted that all WTO members are severely affected by the U.S. tariffs and some non-transparent U.S. policies, which are "generating enormous uncertainty in the system and economic costs across the globe, reinforcing the fragmentation of global trade." The EU delegation said the U.S. approach of addressing macroeconomic imbalances within its territory through microeconomic trade tools like tariffs is the wrong solution. On the same day, Singapore and Switzerland initiated another agenda on behalf of dozens of WTO members to discuss how to support the rules-based multilateral trading system. They said in a statement that since its establishment in 1995, the WTO has played an important role in providing a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory, and open global trading system. They called for strengthened solidarity and cooperation, bold and collective action, and profound WTO reforms to effectively respond to the challenges facing global trade. China stated that the U.S. "reciprocal tariffs" have severely undermined the multilateral trading system, impacted the global economy, and harmed the interests of developing countries. China called for actions to effectively address the impact of unilateralism and protectionism through upholding and strengthening the WTO's core values and fundamental principles. Meanwhile, WTO members should work together to advance the restructuring of global trade, rebuild disrupted industrial and supply chains through openness and cooperation, and reduce trade barriers in a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, China stated. China supports enhancing transparency in trade policies and advancing WTO reform, stressing that any bilateral arrangements must comply with WTO rules and principles and not undermine the interests of other members. During the Wednesday meeting, about ten representatives, including those from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan and Brazil, voiced criticism of the U.S. tariff measures on behalf of over 100 WTO members. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on the United States to engage in constructive dialogue with the parties concerned. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Friday and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes. Jaishankar said he looked forward to working with the German government to elevate and expand the Strategic Partnership between the two nations. He appreciated Germany's solidarity as India counters terrorism. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Honored to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz today in Berlin. Conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi. Look forward to working with his Government to elevate and expand our Strategic Partnership. Appreciate Germany's solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1925839055603802516 Earlier, Jaishankar held a meeting with Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to Merz, Gunter Sautter. The two leaders exchanged perspectives on major global issues, including combatting terrorism. "Good conversation with Foreign & Security Policy Advisor to @bundeskanzler, Dr. Gunter Sautter today. Exchanged perspectives on major global issues, including combatting terrorism. Our deepening partnership is an important factor of stability in an uncertain world. We will also work together to strengthen resilience and trust," Jaishankar posted on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1925837709278347759 He also met Germany's Minister of Economy and Energy, Katherina Reiche, in Berlin and discussed ways to enhance talent linkages, industry partnership and joint collaboration between the two nations to build more resilient supply chains. "Pleased to meet Minister of Economy & Energy Katherina Reiche this morning in Berlin. Discussed ways to enhance our talent linkages, industry partnership and joint collaboration to build more resilient supply chains," Jaishankar stated in a post on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1925839610418024831 On Thursday, EAM Jaishankar interacted with members of the German Parliament. The EAM held discussions on wide-ranging topics, including India's firm commitment to combatting terrorism in all forms and manifestations. Sharing the details in a post on X, EAM appreciated the support of the members of the Parliament for the growth of India-Germany ties. In a post on X, he wrote, "A good interaction with members of German Bundestag this evening in Berlin. Appreciate their strong support for continued growth of India-Germany relations. Also discussed with them India's firm commitment of combatting terrorism in all forms and manifestations." Jaishankar also chaired the regional conference of Ambassadors in Europe, where he discussed Operation Sindoor and India's message of zero tolerance for terrorism.EAM said that they also discussed on various aspects of further deepening engagements with Europe. In a post on X, he stated, "Chaired the regional conference of our Ambassadors in Europe today in Berlin. We discussed #OpSindoor and our message of zero tolerance for terrorism. Also deliberated on various aspects of more deeply engaging Europe at a time of change." India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across eight airbases in Pakistan. On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed for cessation of hostilities. (ANI) National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is expected to visit Russia next week, according to sources. The development comes as a seven-party Indian parliamentary delegation is visiting several nations to garner global support against terrorism. The outreach follows the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, with counterterrorism cooperation emerging as a central theme in all diplomatic engagements. Last year, on the sidelines of the BRICS National Security Advisers' meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, Doval met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and exchanged a handshake. In a statement released on Telegram, the Russian Embassy in India had said that during his meeting with NSA Doval, President Putin praised the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia and emphasised the crucial role of security issues in bilateral relations. "During the conversation, Vladimir Putin noted the successful development of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia and stressed the importance of security issues in bilateral relations, thanking the Indian side for maintaining dialogue in this area," the statement said. During the visit, Doval also had a bilateral meeting with Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting in St Petersburg. In the statement released on Telegram, the Russian Embassy in India called New Delhi one of Moscow's like minded partners in the world. During the meeting, attention was particularly paid to the multi-level trust-based political dialogue between Russia and India. "New Delhi is one of Moscow's main like-minded partners in the world arena, whose friendship has confidently stood the test of time. Our countries are jointly grappling with the challenges of the 21st century, -- underscored Sergey Shoigu. At the meeting, a wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed," the Russian Embassy in India said in a statement shared on Telegram. "Particular attention was paid to the multi-level trust-based political dialogue between Russia and India built on regular contacts between the leaders. The Secretary of Russia's Security Council separately noted the significance of the bilateral summit held in July," it added. Both sides reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and discussed important issues of mutual interest. (ANI) The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it will continue its efforts to prevent advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology from reaching China, dismissing requests from Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang to relax chip export limitations to the country, Taipei Times reported on Friday. "We have great respect for Jensen," stated Sriram Krishnan, a senior policy adviser for AI at the White House, during a Bloomberg Television interview. "There remains bipartisan and widespread concern about the potential implications of these GPUs once they are physically in China," Krishnan said. Though the Trump administration still perceives a security threat from expanding AI chip exports to China, Krishnan acknowledged that he aligns with Huang's perspective that restrictions on a broader array of US trading partners should be reassessed. According to the Taipei Times report, the Trump administration is reversing. It intends to replace an AI diffusion regulation established by former President Joe Biden, which, as Krishnan indicated, resulted in "GPU haves and GPU have-nots." "When it pertains to the rest of the world, we aim for an American AI ecosystem that starts from the GPUs and extends to the models and everything built upon that," Krishnan remarked. "On this point, Jensen and I share common ground," he added. Krishnan's comments followed Huang's strongest public criticism yet regarding the increasing US export restrictions aimed at China, Taipei Times reported. At the Computex industry conference in Taipei, Huang condemned the measures as a "failure" and called for the US to reduce barriers to chip sales in China, warning that American companies might lose their market share to competitors like Huawei Technologies Co. Huang indicated that China would represent a USD 50 billion opportunity in the coming year, as cited by the Taipei Times report. (ANI) The high-level all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde visited the BAPS Hindu temple near the Abu Mureikha area in Abu Dhabi on Friday. After their visit, Shrikant Shinde described it as a 'divine' experience, calling it a "reflection of (Aastha) faith and (Asmita) identity" in Abu Dhabi. The all-party delegation comprises MPs Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohmd Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar Mishra, BJP leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. The MPs could be seen clicking pictures in the temple premises and watching audio and visual displays. The temple has been built with intricate carvings and designs. Speaking to ANI after the temple visit, Shrikant Shinde said, "The only word that truly captures the experience is divine. Witnessing its grandeur in the heart of the Abu Dhabi desert fills me with deep respect for all those who contributed to making this temple." "I sincerely thank the BAPS organisation for their tireless efforts in bringing such magnificent temples to life. Today, we witness a reflection of (Aastha) faith and (Asmita) identity in Abu Dhabi. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late Sushma Swaraj ji for their pivotal roles in making this vision possible," said Shinde. The mandir symbolises interfaith harmony, representing the UAE's and India's good relations to foster understanding, acceptance, and unity among people of different religious backgrounds. The mandir carvings incorporate stories from the Ramayana, Shiva Purana, Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, and the lives of Hindu figures, as well as stories from Arabian, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Native American, and other civilisations. Earlier in the day, the delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde participated in an interaction event with the Indian community in the UAE, where the members shared the 'New India' and the 'new normal' which has emerged after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor launched in response. During the interaction event, BJD MP Sasmit Patra shared that Operation Sindoor highlighted India's response towards terrorism. He said, "We will ensure more than 100 terrorists die for what you're doing. This is the new India." Earlier in the day, the delegation met Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence. Al Nahyan conveyed his deep condolences for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The delegation highlighted the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's efforts to cause social disharmony in India. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI) Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China, along with Senator Marsha Blackburn, addressed a letter to the leaders of Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt Hotels expressing significant concerns over the companies' use of the phrase "Taiwan, China" in their websites and marketing materials, as highlighted in a statement from The Select Committee on Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP). The legislators contend that this type of labelling goes against established United States policy and falsely validates the Chinese Communist Party's assertions regarding Taiwan. "The current practice, with implicit reference to Taiwan being a part of China, stands in stark contrast to the position of the United States government to the detriment of Taiwan, a thriving democracy and one of America's top trading partners," said Chairman Moolenaar and Senator Blackburn, the SCCCP had said in a statement on Wednesday. The letter mentions a joint statement issued by the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and State in October 2024 that recommended Fortune 500 companies to denote Taiwan as "Taiwan," following the United States policy maintained by both Republican and Democratic administrations, as emphasised in the SCCCP release. "Using terminology such as 'Taiwan, China,' gives false credence to the PRC's position of authority and sovereignty over Taiwan and implies that Taiwan is the property of the PRC," the letter continues. "Not only does this directly contradict US policy, but it also undermines Taiwan's democratic system," as cited by SCCCP in the statement. Moolenaar and Blackburn are urging hotel chains to reevaluate their stance and ensure Taiwan is accurately represented on their international platforms. "We urge Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt to review this practice and ensure that your companies' language on both United States and Taiwan-hosted websites properly reflects long-standing United States policy," the letter concluded, according to the SCCCP statement. (ANI) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar emphasised India's determination to combat terrorism by sending a "strong and united message." His remarks follow the visit of an all-party parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi to Moscow, where they held high-level discussions with Russian lawmakers, including Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs. Sharing a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "#TeamIndia sends a strong and united message on combatting terrorism." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1925855119305769102 In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Russia stated, "Together in the fight against terrorism! All-Party Delegation led by Hon'ble MP @KanimozhiDMK in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation with First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs H.E. Mr. Andrey Denisov and other Senators." Earlier in the day, India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, briefed the all-party parliamentary delegation on various aspects of India-Russia ties. The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi arrived in Moscow on Friday. The delegation was received by India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar. The delegation's visit spans several countries, including Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain, highlighting Operation Sindoor and India's unwavering fight against terrorism. The delegation led by Kanimozhi includes SP MP Rajeev Rai, NC MP Mian Altaf Ahmad, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowkta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri and NCP MP Jawed Ashraf. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. Earlier, Kanimozhi said the government has sent MPs from various parties to different countries to present India's position on terrorism and explain the decision to engage with Russia in the context of repeated terror attacks. She called it important to reach out to Russia at a time when India has been facing terror attacks repeatedly. Speaking to ANI, Kanimozhi said, "Russia has been a strategic partner, and we have always worked together on diplomatic issues and trade. It becomes very important at this point to reach out to Russia, when we have been facing terror attacks time and again. We lost 26 lives in India, so the Government of India and the PM decided that MPs from across the country, from different parties, would be sent to represent the Indian stand against terrorism and explain our position to the world." After completing the Russian visit, the delegation will travel to Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain. (ANI) US President Donald Trump has proposed a sweeping 50 per cent tariff on all imports from the European Union, effective June 1. Trump accused the EU of taking advantage of the United States through what he described as "powerful trade barriers." Sharing a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on trade, has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, VAT taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the US of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable. Our discussions with them are going nowhere." He added, "Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter." Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed US President Donald Trump's announcement to pause reciprocal tariffs for dozens of countries, calling it a necessary move to help stabilise the global economy amid intensifying trade tensions between the United States and China. "I welcome President Trump's announcement to pause reciprocal tariffs. It's an important step towards stabilising the global economy," von der Leyen posted on X on April 10. "Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function. Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers. That's why I've consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States," she added. Von der Leyen had also reaffirmed the EU's long-standing commitment to maintaining open, fair trade. "The European Union remains committed to constructive negotiations with the United States, with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade," she wrote. "At the same time, Europe continues to focus on diversifying its trade partnerships, engaging with countries that account for 87 per cent of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas," she added. (ANI) Renowned artist, poet, and diplomat Abhay K organised an art exhibition, Shunyata/Emptiness, on May 22 at the Russian House in New Delhi, offering a powerful visual meditation on the Buddhist concept of Shunyata - the emptiness or absence of inherent existence. The exhibition was inaugurated with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony by the Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov and the Venezuelan Ambassador, symbolising the beginning of this cultural celebration. Diplomat and Author Abhay K explained, "Shunyata is a Buddhist philosophy which was given by Nagarjuna, the great philosopher, who said that form is emptiness, and emptiness itself is form. It's a Buddhist philosophy which inspired the foundation, which laid down the philosophical foundation of Nalanda Mahavihara itself, which we know popularly as Nalanda University." "So this is a philosophy which can guide mankind from ignorance to enlightenment, and this is why I have tried to depict this philosophy through these paintings. And what happens in these paintings that you have form, which comes in different, you know, you can see a Buddha there, for example. You can see maybe a sun or Hanuman here. But you know, all these paintings are in the form of a circle. So this circle, you know, represents Shunyata or Shunyata, which is circular. And all the paintings have the circles, which shows permanence, but all the forms show impermanence, in the sense they are changing. So that's why we as human beings, we must understand this reality of impermanence," he added. While speaking at the event, Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador to India, said, "We are very much delighted at the Russian Embassy and at the Russian House to host the exhibition by Ambassador Abhay Kumar, who I have known for many years, who is a dear friend and is a very versatile and remarkable personality, a diplomat, a painter, a poet, a researcher. We're very happy that we host this exhibition. It's called Shunyata, which is emptiness, but as Ambassador said in his introduction, it is not about emptiness, it is about connectivity, about the transition that all of us pass through our lives." The event drew an impressive gathering of diplomats, cultural figures, and art enthusiasts, who came together to celebrate Abhay K's exploration of the profound philosophical concept of emptiness, rooted deeply in both Indian and Buddhist traditions. Maria, a visitor, shared her thoughts, "This exhibition unites art and philosophical concepts, so I like this exhibition, and especially there is some painting that reminds me Raising Sun. I don't know if it reminds everyone this, because I think in this exhibition every person can see some different content, different things, because this art is abstract, so they can notice, they can imagine something according to their own experience, to their own mentality and imagination probably. So this exhibition, it makes you think and trying to understand something about this Shunyata." Inspired by the Heart Sutra's idea that form and emptiness are one, Abhay K's exhibition uses minimalist art to explore life's impermanence. The use of the circle as a recurring motif connects both the ancient philosophy and the changing nature of reality, offering a silent meditation through visual form. Gajendra Solanki, another visitor, said, "This is an art exhibition titled Shunyata. Shunyata refers to a state where matter does not exist - emptiness in any form. Capturing that feeling and concept on canvas is a significant achievement. Abhay K is a highly creative individual - whether it's literature, our culture, or historical subjects like his remarkable book on Nalanda, he consistently engages in creative work. In this exhibition, he has expressed the theme of Shunyata on canvas in unique ways, which is truly commendable." Blending Eastern and Western philosophies, the exhibition invites viewers to move beyond seeing - to truly feel the art's silent depth and shifting presence. Shunyata | Emptiness is more than an exhibit; it is a lasting experience of beauty in change, leaving visitors with a sense of connection, reflection, and wonder. (ANI) Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) activist Fazal ur Rehman Afridi has vehemently criticised the recent drone strike conducted by the Pakistan Army in Hurmuz, North Waziristan, which resulted in the deaths of four young children and their mother. In an interview with ANI, the activist claimed that the areas populated by Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are being utilised as a "laboratory" by the Pakistani military to test various weapons, notably drones. Afridi disclosed that there have been more than 32 drone strikes in North and South Waziristan and Tank districts over the past few years. "This is not the first instance where the Pakistani army has assaulted innocent Pashtun civilians, particularly women and children," he stated, noting that the latest victims were children aged from five to eight. Dismissing the military's assertion that the strike targeted militants, the activist accused the Pakistani state of having relocated over 55,000 Taliban leaders and their families into Pashtun regions through a formal arrangement. "Now they label them as terrorists and use this as justification for conducting assaults. It's a proxy conflict. The Taliban are merely pawns of the Pakistan Army," he asserted, suggesting that the true aim behind the strikes is to seize the resource-rich lands of the Pashtuns. He also connected the drone attacks to the events following India's recent counter-terror operation. "Immediately after Operation Sindoor by India, the Pakistan army resumed attacks on Pashtun civilians. Innocent children and elderly individuals lost their lives," he said. Voicing complete support for India's Operation Sindoor that targets terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the activist mentioned that Pashtuns collectively welcomed such an initiative. "We were relieved that our regions were not affected, and we understand that the terror strongholds are in Punjab. We wish the operation had continued longer to dismantle the rogue Pakistani army," he added. He concluded with optimism that future operations would ultimately relieve Pashtuns of their enduring military oppression. At least four children of the same family were killed and five people injured in a suspected drone strike in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (ANI) Baloch leader Mehran Marri has accused Pakistan of unlawfully occupying Balochistan since 1948, transforming the region into a heavily militarised zone where the rights of the local population are systematically violated. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Marri drew comparisons with global conflicts to highlight what he described as the West's selective concern for human rights. "While the world rallies behind Ukraine and Palestine, Balochistan remains ignored," he said. Marri claimed that Balochistan was a sovereign entity before being forcibly annexed by Pakistan on March 28, 1948, just nine months after its independence. He argued that the international community has continued to overlook Balochistan's plight due to geopolitical considerations. "Pakistan is not a democracy. It's a military-operated enterprise, with generals controlling everything from real estate to food industries," he alleged. He further criticised what is known in Pakistan as the "establishment" - a nexus of the military, parliament, and judiciary - as working collectively to stifle dissent. "Pakistan is not a typical country. It resembles an open-air prison," Marri said, adding that civil liberties in Balochistan are virtually non-existent. Marri condemned the widespread use of enforced disappearances and media censorship in Balochistan, describing them as deliberate tactics used to instil fear and silence dissent. He noted that such practices have persisted since the rule of former President Pervez Musharraf and remain central to the military's strategy of control. Regarding economic marginalisation, Marri described it as "an added insult to injury." He highlighted the irony of Balochistan's immense natural resources being exploited while the local population remains impoverished. "People in Gwadar go to bed hungry while luxury hotels rise around them," he said. Marri also criticised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as another mechanism for resource extraction, though he expressed hope that China may eventually reassess its involvement. Commenting on India's recent Operation Sindoor against terrorist networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Marri voiced strong support. He called the Operation "monumental and long overdue," urging India to pursue it as a long-term campaign against terrorism, similar to the United States' post-9/11 strategy. "Once Operation Sindoor achieves its objectives, we hope Balochistan's liberation will be part of the outcome," he concluded. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that terrorism remains one of the foremost collective challenges faced by the Global South, alongside climate change, poverty, and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with Danish newspaper Politiken, the Minister stated, "Of the major collective challenges today, I would place terrorism at the top--alongside climate change, growing poverty, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South." The term "Global South" broadly refers to developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Speaking about the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar said, "It wasn't a conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. It was a terrorist attack." On April 22, at least 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen, were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. In response, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. Jaishankar offered a two-fold response to India's continued crude oil imports from Russia amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying, "Let me split the answer in two. One is about borders, and the other about energy." Referring to historical context, the EAM said, "Our borders have been violated by Pakistan in Kashmir ever since our independence in 1947. And what have we seen in the eight decades since then? That large, democratic Europe, to use your own term, has stood side by side with military dictatorships in the region. No one has supported the military regime - and undermined democracy in Pakistan in so many ways - as much as the West." He emphasised that India respects sovereignty and internationally recognised borders, adding, "But my worldview and my view of Europe are shaped by my own experiences. You talk about the inviolability of borders - well, why don't we start with the inviolability of my borders? That's where my world begins. But we've always been told that we had to solve that ourselves." On the Russian energy issue, Jaishankar pointed out that Europe, despite its outrage and sanctions, still imports energy from Russia. At the same time, Europe is driving up energy prices for all developing countries, including India. "Wealthy Europe turned to the Middle East because it had a problem with Russia and offered inflated prices to get oil redirected to Europe. So what happened was that many countries - not just us - could no longer afford it. The major oil companies didn't even respond to purchase offers because they were too busy selling to Europe," he said. "What was the rest of the world supposed to do? Say 'okay', we'll just do without energy because Europeans need it more than us?" he asked. He added that matters aren't made easier by the fact that major oil-producing countries like Iran and Venezuela are also subject to Western sanctions. "We are societies where income levels are 1/120 of Europe's. For us, energy is a matter of life and death. Just as Europe has every right to make its own choices, you should respect our right to do the same. Let us find our own solutions," he said. Speaking on the emerging new world order, Jaishankar said, "To call it a new world order is probably a bit premature, because things are still in flux. But the outlines are beginning to take clearer shape." "There are still strong imprints from the previous, or old, order. So it's not that a new world order has completely displaced the old one. But we are seeing a gradual rebalancing. It began with the economy, and it continues culturally and through new partnerships between countries. This is an evolution we are witnessing. What should global norms be? Who gets to decide?" He underlined that the world is becoming less Western, more diverse, more global, and significantly more Asian. "Countries, just like societies, need norms, rules, and platforms where they can meet and cooperate. If you ask me what I do on a daily basis, it's about finding common ground between countries. If you look at the 20-30 largest economies in the world, they have overall become less Western, more diverse, more global, and significantly more Asian," he said. Highlighting the 2008 global financial crisis, Jaishankar stated, "The global financial crisis in 2008 was a turning point because it showed that the West couldn't handle it alone. So the former G7 and G8 countries became the G20 during that period." "Our institutions are lagging behind global realities. When they were founded, the UN had 50 members. How can the same institutions function now with nearly 200 members? Large parts of the world feel they are not part of the decision-making process in the central international organisations," he said. The EAM added, "The UN doesn't really work, because it's anachronistic - because a few countries block the majority's desire for change. But then countries will simply find other ways to cooperate. It's becoming less and less relevant. But politics is like water. It finds a new balance." "As I see the emerging world order, we're heading towards a much more multipolar world. And a world where the importance of the alliances that were part of the previous world order is diminishing. I'm not saying the alliances will disappear, because I don't believe that. But in Asia, it's more about cooperation on shared interests rather than entering treaties or writing down rules," he added. Jaishankar is on an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany from May 19 to 24. Earlier in the day, he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes. (ANI) The Chairman of the House Select Committee on China, John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), together with US Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), has called on the Departments of Commerce and Defense to investigate Autel Energy, a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) charging company that they allege has connections to both the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). This request was made in a release from the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP). In a letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the lawmakers underscored the need for a national security review to ensure the protection of American consumer data and energy infrastructure from threats posed by foreign adversaries, according to the SCCCP release. "Autel Energy manufactures electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Autel Intelligent Transportation Corp. the same parent company to Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics, which the US government recently added to the Department of Commerce's Entity List and the Chinese military companies list," said Moolenaar and Blackburn. "We are concerned that Autel Energy's products pose many of the same risks to US economic and national security as those manufactured by Autel Robotics and its parent company, both of which are openly affiliated with the CCP and People's Liberation Army," as quoted by SCCCP's release. Autel has taken steps to hide its Chinese ownership by using a different name in the US, opening a new assembly facility, and promoting its products as eligible for federal EV infrastructure funding. According to the SCCCP release, this strategy mirrors tactics used by its sister company, which falsely marketed a "Made in USA" drone that used prohibited Chinese technology. The lawmakers have urged a review of whether Autel Energy should be included on national security watch lists, citing its ability to collect driver data and access essential infrastructure. They also expressed gratitude for the Department's leadership and stressed the importance of proactive action to protect Americans against the growing technological threats from adversarial regimes, as outlined in the SCCCP release. (ANI) Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, who is leading a high-level all-party Indian delegation to the UAE, delivered a strong message regarding India's firm stance against terrorism. Shinde emphasised that while India has always initiated dialogue, including gestures like the Lahore Declaration and Prime Ministerial visits to Pakistan, the response has often come in the form of terrorist attacks. While addressing a press conference, Shinde said, "India is the one nation that has initiated dialogues time and again. There are many examples where our Prime Ministers visited Pakistan... After the Lahore Declaration, happened the Kargil war. So every time we initiated a discussion, we initiated a dialogue, but the answer given to us was the terrorist attack. I think their only motive is to destabilise India, which is progressing economically, where everyone is going ahead. I think it is very much important to understand that in the geopolitical region, in the Indian subcontinent, India is only one nation that is stable, that is going ahead." He highlighted India's growing global profile, noting that it is the world's fifth-largest economy and will soon become the third, after the United States and China. He urged the international community to stand with India in its policy of zero tolerance for terrorism. He added, "We are the fifth largest economy. We will be the third largest economy very soon after the US and China... We always reply with restraint. Every time there is a terrorist attack, we initiate a dialogue. This time also, the ceasefire happened on the request of Pakistan. There was no third-party interest or third-party intervention. So we are here, telling the entire world. Our message to the entire world is zero tolerance against terrorism. The entire world, the other nations, should stand firmly with India..." Earlier in the day, the delegation led by Shrikant Eknath Shinde participated in an interaction event with the Indian community in the UAE, where the members shared the 'New India' and the 'new normal' which has emerged after the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor launched in response. During the interaction event, BJD MP Sasmit Patra shared that Operation Sindoor highlighted India's response towards terrorism. He said, "We will ensure more than 100 terrorists die for what you're doing. This is the new India." Earlier in the day, the delegation met Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence. Al Nahyan conveyed his deep condolences for the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The delegation highlighted the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's efforts to cause social disharmony in India. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. India had launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India launched precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Indian Armed Forces responded effectively to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries have reached an understanding to stop military action following a call made by Pakistan's DGMO to his Indian counterpart. (ANI) Emphasising India's global outreach against terrorism, BJD MP Sasmit Patra said that India shared the evidence showing the connection between Pakistan and the terrorists. Citing the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Patra detailed how Pakistan-backed groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba have formed proxies such as The Resistance Front (TRF). Patra, who is a part of the Group 4 delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, highlighted how the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), despite Pakistan's attempts to obstruct, condemned the attack in its April 25 resolution. While addressing a press conference on Friday, Patra said, "We shared the incriminating evidence that clearly shows the connection between Pakistan and the terrorists. Since Lashkar-e-Taiba has come under the radar of the UNSC, they formed a proxy with the name of The Resistance Front (TRF). TRF took responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. When countries like the UAE took a stand and condemned this attack and supported India, that is when the world changed its stand." Stressing the significance of Operation Sindoor as a targeted response, Patra praised the UAE for standing firmly with India. He also said that India and the UAE share a common ethos and an attack on India means an attack on the UAE. He added, "Pakistan tried to cover up the act. UNSC brought out a resolution on April 25 condemning this attack. Pakistan tried all that it could to avoid the name of TRF from being written on the draft of that resolution. Why so? When Operation Sindoor was launched, all we did was target nine terror camps and their headquarters, three out of which were already mentioned as terror sites by the UNSC monitoring committee. Is it hidden from the world that a wanted terrorist was seen at the funeral of the terrorists killed in our operation? Is it hidden that the coffins of those terrorists were wrapped in the national flag and that top military brass is in attendance? What was the need for Pakistan to come after our civilians and air bases? Pahalgam was the first attack. Operation Sindoor was a response to that. India and the UAE share a common ethos. An attack on India means an attack on UAE." Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde, who is leading a high-level all-party Indian delegation to the UAE, delivered a strong message regarding India's firm stance against terrorism. Shinde emphasised that while India has always initiated dialogue, including gestures like the Lahore Declaration and Prime Ministerial visits to Pakistan, the response has often come in the form of terrorist attacks. While addressing a press conference, Shinde said, "India is the one nation that has initiated dialogues time and again. There are many examples where our Prime Ministers visited Pakistan... After the Lahore Declaration, happened the Kargil war. So every time we initiated a discussion, we initiated a dialogue, but the answer given to us was the terrorist attack. I think their only motive is to destabilise India, which is progressing economically, where everyone is going ahead. I think it is very much important to understand that in the geopolitical region, in the Indian subcontinent, India is only one nation that is stable, that is going ahead." (ANI) Former Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Fradkov on Friday held a "fruitful" interaction with an all-party parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi. The discussions focused on current global issues, with a particular emphasis on the threats posed by terrorism. The delegation led by Kanimozhi includes SP MP Rajeev Rai, NC MP Mian Altaf Ahmad, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowkta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri and NCP MP Jawed Ashraf. Sharing a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Russia said, "Former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Mikhail Fradkov, who heads the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS) has a fruitful interaction with the Hon'ble MPs @KanimozhiDMK, @RajeevRai, @CaptBrijesh, @guptapc50, @DrAshokKMittal and ambassador @ambmanjeevpuri. They discussed the current global situation, particularly the threats posed by terrorism." https://x.com/IndEmbMoscow/status/1925919968505319427 DMK MP Kanimozhi, who is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to Russia, said on Friday that the delegation had conveyed India's "unequivocal" and "unconditional" resolve to defeat all forms of terrorism to Russian lawmakers, while emphasising the country's uncompromising stance and national determination to eradicate it. The delegation met Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, and other committee members during their visit to the Russian Parliament. In a post on X, Kanizmohi said, "Our All-Party Parliamentary Delegation conveyed to HE Leonid Slutsky, Chair of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, and other honourable Members of the State Duma, India's unequivocal and unconditional resolve to defeat all forms of terrorism, emphasising our uncompromising stance and national determination to eradicate it." Apart from Russia, the delegation's visit spans several countries, including Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain, highlighting Operation Sindoor and India's unwavering fight against terrorism. Earlier in the day, India's Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, briefed the all-party parliamentary delegation on various aspects of India-Russia ties. The all-party delegation projects India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will convey to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism. After completing the Russian visit, the delegation will travel to Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain. (ANI) E T Mohammed Basheer, a Lok Sabha leader from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and a member of India's all-party global outreach delegation, highlighted the strong support India has received from the UAE in its campaign against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Basheer addressed a press conference about the delegation's visit to Dubai, emphasising the impact of the UAE's response and India's commitment to international cooperation and peace. "The response from all the places we have visited is very inspiring. We really appreciate the wholehearted cooperation from this great country. India has always maintained a peaceful co-existence. Relations between India and the UAE are very encouraging and normal. This is the first country which called us (after the Pahalgam attack) and expressed their wholehearted support." He said, "We are fortunate to be born in the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. This crooked method of Pakistan should have an end. As pointed out by many of our leaders, they have been up to these cruel deeds - we're all aware. India has warned them several times not to do these kind of things." "After Pahalgam, we warned them of a response so strong that it would be unimaginable for them. We waited for some time after that. Despite everything, Pakistan broke decency and still, India still maintained poise and kept its response well-articulated. We maintained certain decorum. There should be a joint worldwide movement to fight against terrorism," he said. On Thursday, an all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde met UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi as part of India's global outreach against terrorism post Operation Sindoor. During the meeting, the Indian delegation highlighted the ongoing perpetration of cross-border terrorism and raised concerns about Pakistan's efforts to cause social disharmony in India. The all-party delegation seeks to project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms. The team is working to convey India's clear message of zero tolerance for terrorism to the world. Following the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, conducting precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir (PoJK). The Indian Armed Forces also responded to further Pakistani aggression by targeting airbases. The military escalation led to an understanding to halt further action after a direct call between Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations and his Indian counterpart. (ANI) Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, leading a high-level all-party delegation, reiterated India's 'zero-tolerance' stance on terrorism and said that the country is one that retaliates with restraint. The MP said that if required, India will take stern actions against terrorism and said that the message saying "terror and trade and water and blood cannot flow together" stands apt for times like these. Addressing the press, Shrikant Shinde said, "Our message is very clear that we won't tolerate terrorism, and if times demand, we will take even stricter steps against terrorism. Terror and trade cannot go together, water and blood cannot flow together - this is an apt message. It is only when Pakistan stops terrorism that we can initiate talks. We are the country that retaliates with restraint." Shinde also expressed gratitude to the UAE for a firm stand on terrorism and said, "We thank the UAE. The UAE stood with us with all firmness. They have supported us. They have told us a few things that we cannot share in public forums--the kind of hatred they have against terrorists and terrorism. We will continue our fight against terrorism." Earlier in the day, Shinde condemned the brutal attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, describing it as a "clear-cut message to humanity" to unite and fight terrorism. He called for international solidarity in the aftermath of the attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. He urged everybody to unite against terrorism and said nations like the US, UK, and others that have also been victims of terror to come together. "This is the time for all the nations to unite and fight the battle against terrorism. This terrorism is not only restricted to India, but the UAE has also suffered. The US has also suffered. London has also suffered. There is not a single nation that has not suffered the brunt of terrorism. This is the message we are carrying and giving it to the whole world to unite and fight against terrorism," he said. He also added, "In the days to come, if some mean acts are committed by Pakistan, our country and the armed forces will give a firm response, the way we did in Operation Sindoor. From tomorrow onwards, we will be in different African countries, where we will continue our efforts against terrorism." Shinde delivered a strong message regarding India's firm stance against terrorism and emphasised that while India has always initiated dialogue, including gestures like the Lahore Declaration and Prime Ministerial visits to Pakistan, the response has often come in the form of terrorist attacks. He highlighted India's growing global profile, noting that it is the world's fifth-largest economy and will soon become the third, after the United States and China. He urged the international community to stand with India in its policy of zero tolerance for terrorism. (ANI) Chongqing [China], May 23 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, attend the launch of the China (Chongqing) - UAE Conference on Promotion of Trade and Investment. The event saw participation from a UAE delegation representing various government and economic entities. During the event, Sheikh Ammar toured the UAE pavilions in the accompanying exhibition and witnessed the signing of 10 strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Government of Ajman and Chongqing Municipality. Leading the list was an MoU to establish a sister-city relationship between Ajman and Chongqing, alongside agreements in industrial investment, free zone development, logistics connectivity, clean energy, and education--all reflecting a shared commitment to expanding bilateral partnerships and advancing sustainable growth. These MoUs represent a pivotal step in supporting the implementation of Ajman Vision 2030, which aims to establish a balanced and integrated development model. Dignitaries in attendance were Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Department of Tourism Development; Sheikh Rashid bin Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of Ajman Club; Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to the People's Republic of China; Senior officials from Ajman Government, and business leaders and investors from both sides. The conference included presentations on investment opportunities across various Emirates. In his keynote address, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi emphasised that the UAE's wise leadership, under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has laid the foundations for a balanced foreign policy based on openness and international cooperation. The UAE-China partnership, he noted, is a model of mutual understanding and joint action. He highlighted that the MoUs signed reflect the vision of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, to enusre the Emirate's prosperity and quality of life, making it one of the world's most attractive destinations for living and investment. Sheikh Abdulaziz emphasised that the Crown Prince's leadership of the delegation underscores Ajman's deep commitment to expanding international cooperation and forging strong partnerships with China, building on their long-standing bilateral ties. He noted that the UAE-China strategic partnership spans decades, advancing into key sectors such as clean energy, education, tourism, and future technologies. Regarding the MoU between Ajman and Chongqing, Sheikh Abdulaziz stated that it aims to establish a sister-city relationship and foster strategic partnerships, supporting Ajman Vision 2030, which aspires to a diversified, competitive economy and sustainable development built on innovation, a robust private sector, and improved quality of life for future generations. Sheikh Abdulaziz also announced the launch of the Ajman Economic Report 2025, developed in collaboration with the Oxford Business Group. The report highlights the Emirate's economic growth drivers and its path toward a diversified and sustainable economy aligned with Ajman Vision 2030. The report showcases key sectors such as industry, technology, tourism, and financial services, addressing efforts in digital transformation and balancing cultural identity with economic development. It underscores Ajman's growing stature on the global investment map and provides a comprehensive analysis of its economic landscape and available investment opportunities. Sheikh Abdulaziz welcomed Chinese companies and investors to explore the UAE's exceptional opportunities and join a thriving development journey that embodies the UAE-China partnership spirit. He noted that the two countries share aligned visions for sustainable development, innovation, and a future-forward approach. The conference, he said, offers a vital platform for direct engagement between business communities and highlights new initiatives to deepen economic ties. He concluded by thanking the UAE Embassy in Beijing and organising entities for their efforts in fostering bilateral cooperation and supporting initiatives that contribute to a brighter, more prosperous future for both nations. For his part, the UAE Ambassador to China confirmed that the conference reflects the depth of the two countries' economic relations. He noted that non-oil trade exceeded US$ 90 billion in 2024, with mutual aspirations to reach US$ 200 billion by 2030. Ding Xiangdong, Deputy Mayor of the Chongqing Municipal, commended the level of bilateral relations and stressed the importance of the conference in deepening cooperation. He emphasised Chongqing's strategic economic role in Western China and its significance in the Belt and Road Initiative, seeking to enhance global partnerships in advanced industry, smart transport, energy, and cultural exchange. He affirmed the municipality's commitment to providing a welcoming environment for UAE businesses and boosting institutional and economic collaboration. The conference witnessed active participation from KEZAD Group, Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ); Abu Dhabi Investment Office; Dubai Chambers; Ajman Free Zone Authority; Ajman Chamber of Commerce; and several CEOs and investors. Key MoUs signed between the Government of Ajman and Chongqing Municipality included collaborations between the two following entities: Ajman's Department of Economic Development and Chongqing's Economy, Trade, and IT Commissions; Ajman's Department of Tourism Development and Chongqing's Culture and Tourism Committee; Ajman's Ports and Customs Department and Chongqing's Ports and Logistics Office; Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)- Chongqing; and Ajman Free Zone and the Liangjiang New Area Free Trade Zone. For academic cooperation, Ajman University signed MoUs with Chongqing University, and Southwest University. City University Ajman also signed an MoU with Southwest University, fostering academic and research collaboration and student exchange. The conference aligns with the UAE's efforts to enhance international cooperation, anticipate the future of the global economy, and solidify the country's position as a global hub for trade and investment through sustainable economic partnerships with friendly nations. (ANI/WAM) The all-party delegation led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi held a press conference in Moscow where they brought to attention the menace of terrorism being spread by Pakistan and how it is not only plaguing India but the world at large. While speaking to the audience, India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar, said that the main purpose of the delegation is to interact with several quarters from the Russian society such as parliamentarians and think tanks to "share India's perspective on completely zero tolerance for terrorism, which, is a menace not only for India but for the global community as a whole." During the press conference, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "We've got the opportunity of meeting think tank to explain our stand and also explain about what has happened in India and what we are faced with". She highlighted that the presence of the Indian delegation in Russia is very important because "Russia has always been a very important and strategic partner... So we feel that it is very important to reach out to Russia to explain our position and also to seek the support of Russia at this very crucial moment where we've lost 26 innocent lives in the attack." She shared the details of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack to the audience and said that it is not the first time Pakistan has attacked Indian civilians and military bases. She highlighted that despite India extending the olive branch to Pakistan for arriving at peace, "We have not been able to achieve that because of Pakistan's stand on protecting these terrorists". She noted that these terrorists have been globally recognised by the United Nations and despite that "we see that our neighbours have chosen to protect them. We've seen incidents all over the world where these terrorists come from Pakistan, attack and then are able to go back and seek asylum in Pakistan and they feel very protected there. So we've come to Russia with the message from the people of India, not just the government of India, that we hope and we expect the world today to support us in our fight against terrorism, against terror attacks against the innocent people of this world. Today the world has to come together to stop this." During the press conference, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta said, "Terrorism is not only a problem for India. The whole world is suffering. Everybody has to come together to stop this production of terrorist activities which is happening from Pakistan. Pakistan is creating this problem. It's state sponsored. If you see wherever in the world any terrorist activity has taken place- directly or indirectly, some reference for Pakistan comes. So this is a very serious problem." The delegation led by Kanimozhi includes SP MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowkta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal, and former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri. Apart from Russia, the delegation's visit spans several countries, including Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain, highlighting Operation Sindoor and India's unwavering fight against terrorism. (ANI) US President Donald Trump reiterated his stance of pushing manufacturers to produce devices in the United States. He made the remarks on Friday (US local time), while signing several key executive orders, including one on ushering in nuclear energy. While speaking to the media about the issue of having iPhones manufactured in the US, Trump said, "It would be more, it would also be Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair. So anybody that makes that product". He said that if the plants are based in the US, there would be no tariffs. "When they build their plant here, there's no tariff. So they're building plants here but I had an understanding with him (Tim Cook) that he wouldn't be doing this. He said he's going to India to build plants. I said, that's okay to go to India, but you're not going to sell into here without tariffs. And that's the way it is." Trump said as most of the work is computerised, he had faith that the prices wouldn't shoot up for the American consumers. He said, "A lot of it's so computerized now. These plants are amazing if you look at them, but they can do that. Apple's coming in with 500 billion dollars. So are the chip companies coming in. The biggest 500 billion, 200 billion, 250 billion dollars they're spending. But we're talking about the iPhone now. And you know, the iPhone, if they're to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States. They're able to do that." Earlier on Friday, Trump said that Apple will have to pay a 25 per cent import tariffs if its mobile handsets sold in US are not produced in the boundaries of the country. In a social media post on his Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote, "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter," he further added in the post. Speaking about his administration's decision to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, Trump said, "Billions of dollars have been paid to Harvard. How ridiculous is that?... And they have USD 52 billion as an endowment... Harvard's going to have to change its ways." Earlier on Thursday, the White House said, "Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right." It accused Harvard leadership of turning "their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators." Harvard and the Trump administration have been engaged in a conflict for months as the administration demands the university make changes to the programming of the institution, hiring and administration to remove on-campus antisemitism and remove what it termed "racist 'diversity, equity and inclusion' practices." The administration has targeted foreign students and employees, whom it believes were part of the contentious campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. During the signing of executive orders, the White House in a statement noted that the US President took a series of executive actions to "unleash nuclear energy in the U.S. as part of the administration's effort to secure the energy future of America and unleash American energy dominance". The White House also noted in another statement that US President Trump also signed an executive order implementing Gold Standard Science to rebuild public trust in the national science enterprise. (ANI) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Wakayama, May 23 (News On Japan) - All four giant pandas at Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture will be returned to China on June 28th, the park announced. The pandasRauhin, born in 2000, and her three daughters Yuihin, Saihin, and Fuhinwill be sent back as the breeding and loan agreement with China nears its end this August. The decision to return the pandas had already been made in light of the contracts expiration, but the specific date of departure had drawn considerable attention. In preparation for the return, the four pandas will be displayed behind glass starting on May 26th to undergo the required quarantine process. A farewell ceremony is scheduled at Adventure World on June 27th, one day before their return. Once the four pandas leave, only two giant pandas will remain in Japanthose housed at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. The return of the four giant pandas from Adventure World in Wakayama Prefecture marks the end of a decades-long chapter in Japan's cultural and diplomatic relationship with China. Rauhin, the oldest among them, was born in 2000 and became the first panda to be successfully bred and born at the facility, ushering in a new era of domestic panda conservation. Over the years, Rauhin gave birth to multiple cubs, several of which have already been returned to China in accordance with the terms of Japan's panda loan agreements. Her daughtersYuihin, Saihin, and Fuhinare all products of this breeding program, symbolizing both scientific achievement and the growing popularity of pandas as ambassadors of goodwill between the two countries. The decision to return these four pandas is tied directly to the expiration of the long-term breeding loan contract between Adventure World and the Chinese government, which formally ends this August. Under the terms of the agreement, pandas born abroad remain the property of China and must eventually be returned for breeding and conservation purposes. These arrangements are part of China's broader panda diplomacy strategy, which dates back to the 1970s when China began loaning pandas to other countries as a symbol of friendship and soft power. In recent decades, the strategy has shifted from one of gifting pandas to long-term loans that emphasize cooperative research and conservation goals. For Japan, hosting pandas has played an important role in strengthening bilateral ties while also drawing millions of visitors to zoos and conservation parks. In recent years, Chinese authorities have become more insistent on the timely return of pandas born overseas, especially as global demand for pandas increases and China's conservation efforts become more centralized. Although Adventure World had hoped to retain some of the pandas longer, the terms of the agreement and the expiration timeline left little room for negotiation. Additionally, with each return, China is able to reintroduce genetically valuable individuals into its breeding pool, which is seen as essential for maintaining genetic diversity among the relatively small global panda population. Source: KTV NEWS OSAKA, May 23 (News On Japan) - A 22-year-old man known for repeatedly posting nuisance videos on TikTok, was arrested by Osaka police on suspicion of confining a female gas station employee in a car on May 19th in Hirano Ward after he and an accomplice allegedly lured her into the vehicle under false pretenses as part of another stunt. According to investigators, the pair approached the woman under the pretense of not knowing how to open the cars fuel cap. Once she was inside the vehicle, they began filming and invited her to "join the TikTok office," implying it was part of a content stunt. The woman was kept in the car for about two minutes, during which the incident was recorded. Tick Toker Sho Ueno had already been fined in February for a similar incident, in which he interfered with a parking enforcement officer during work hours to produce a TikTok video. At the time, he admitted to police that the act was "to increase video views." Despite continuing to post videos believed to be aimed at boosting his viewership numbers, Ueno has denied parts of the latest allegation, telling police he "did not intend to confine" the woman. Source: MBS OSAKA, May 23 (News On Japan) - A gang leader arrested in connection with the theft of 172 Rolex watches valued at approximately 280 million yen has been released without indictment, Osaka prosecutors announced. The individual, a 50-year-old executive of the Yamaguchi-gumi, a designated organized crime group, had been taken into custody by Osaka prefectural police over a major robbery that occurred in May last year in Osakas Chuo Ward. The incident involved the theft of luxury Rolex timepieces from a delivery vehicle. Investigators had suspected the gang figure of orchestrating the crime, but did not disclose whether he admitted to the allegations. The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office stated that the decision not to indict was based on a review of the evidence. According to sources close to the investigation, the case was dropped on grounds of "insufficient suspicion." 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Never let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants can be in the parade. Even if I was the guy with the broom, Id have 10 elephants. Youve got to love a parade, and if you or your kids or your grandkids havent already done so, this is the year to be part of the walking party cal Morocco has established itself as a major automotive manufacturing hub, with French newspaper Le Dauphine libere describing the North African country as the new Eldorado for automakers. The automotive sector has become a pillar of Moroccos economy and its leading export industry. Renault leads French investment in Morocco, operating the worlds largest Renault factory in Tangier. Spanning 300 hectares, the facility employs 7,000 workers assembling various models, including the Dacia SanderoEuropes best-selling car. The company operates another production site in Casablanca manufacturing the Dacia Sandero 3, producing over 69,000 units for European markets. French-Italian-American group Stellantis has also established operations in Morocco, relocating production to a factory in Kenitra. The facility produces the Fiat 500, Peugeot 208, and Citroen Ami, with plans to manufacture at least 400,000 vehicles by 2027. Chinese tire manufacturer Sentury Tyres has established operations in Morocco, capitalizing on local component manufacturing to reduce production costs as the country positions itself for the growing electric vehicle market by 2030. In 2023, Moroccan factories produced approximately 470,000 vehicles destined for Europe, surpassing Chinas export volume to the continent according to Team France Export. Europe represents Moroccos primary market, with 80% of new vehicle exports crossing the Mediterranean. Moroccos automotive industry success stems from competitive labor costs, strategic location near European markets, and government initiatives attracting foreign investment in the sector. Cooperation between Morocco and the UN mission in the Sahara, MINURSO, was reviewed at a meeting held Thursday between Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, FAR Inspector General and Commander of the Southern Zone, and Major General Fakhrul Ahsan, Force Commander of the UN Mission in the Kingdoms Southern Provinces. The meeting, held at the South Zone General Staff Headquarters in Agadir, provided an opportunity for the two sides to discuss the missions activities, the Royal Armed Forces General Staff said in a statement. Lieutenant General Berrid and Major General Fakhrul Ahsan, who was accompanied by Colonel Alexander Kask, Chief of Staff of the UN Mission Force, hailed their cooperation as exceptional, and underlined their coordination in the operational, security, demining and logistical support fields, the statement said. The Morocco-proposed Autonomy Initiative constitutes the political and institutional foundation of the ongoing development dynamics in the Moroccan Sahara. The remarks were made by Moroccos Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, before the seminar of the UN Committee of 24 for the Pacific, held in Dili, Timor Leste from May 21 to 23. In his address, Hilale affirmed that this initiative, presented by Morocco in 2007 to resolve the regional dispute once and for all, guarantees the Saharan populations the democratic management of their local affairs, while respecting their culture, identity, and aspirations. It is this framework of autonomy that allows their full involvement in economic, social, and environmental projects, and their active participation in the regional and continental momentum currently experienced by the Sahara, he explained, noting that autonomy is not only a political solution; it is also the lever that ensures that this development directly benefits the populations concerned. The ambassador further indicated that the Moroccan Sahara is continuing its dynamic economic and social development within the framework of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015, with a budget of over $10 billion and whose projects have reached a 90% completion level. This development momentum is not only a local achievement. The Moroccan Sahara is morphing into a genuine economic, logistical, and diplomatic hub, serving not only the Kingdom, but also Africa as a whole, he explained. This is a concrete illustration of Moroccos deep conviction that regional development, when firmly anchored in a national and continental vision, can become a catalyst for an entire region, he said, adding that for Morocco, integrated development is not an end in itself. It constitutes a strategic foundation for the implementation of major Royal initiatives for Africa, particularly the Moroccan Initiative for Access to the Atlantic. Hilale noted that thanks to this managed development, the Moroccan Sahara is now becoming the physical and economic connection point between African countries and the rest of the world. This is not just about building a logistics corridor. It is about constructing a new African and international architecture of solidarity, co-development, and collective security. Concretely, this involves providing landlocked countries with secure, rapid, and cost-effective access to global markets through modern port infrastructure such as the future Atlantic Port of Dakhla, establishing economic and industrial zones that will enable the development of Sahelian agricultural, mining, and energy resources, and developing interconnected transport and energy networks, facilitated by the infrastructure already operational in the southern provinces, he told the members of the C24. He further emphasized that this model has another merit: it illustrates the Royal vision of concrete and respectful South-South cooperation, which places Africa at the center of its priorities, adding that the Moroccan Sahara thus becomes the platform for the deployment of this development diplomacy focused on partnership, stability, and shared progress. These strategic actions, fully supported by many African and European States, are proof that Morocco is not proposing ideas, but proven solutions, in a territory transformed by investment, good governance, and political will, insisted Hilale, recalling that several foreign delegations regularly conduct economic prospecting visits to support the development of the southern provinces for the benefit of local populations. He concluded that this international momentum now represents an undeniable reality and a clear message to both the UN and the other parties, who are called upon today more than ever to assume their responsibilities to end this artificial dispute and abandon an outdated stance that is out of step with the evolution of the issue at the political, diplomatic, and on-the-ground levels. Morocco and Slovakia have discussed at a meeting in Rabat Thursday ways of strengthening their cooperation in the defense industry. The meeting gathered Moroccos Minister in charge of the National Defense Administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, and Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Robert Kalinak, who was accompanied by a high-level military delegation and senior officials from companies specialized in the defense industry, the National Defense Administration said in a press release. During the meeting, Loudyi emphasized that the defense industry sector in Morocco is one of the strategic fields benefiting from the Kings solicitude, and recalled that the Kingdom offers an appealing investment climate through a range of incentives for joint collaboration projects in the defense industry. The Slovak Defense Minister, on his part, stressed that this visit is part of reinforcing and diversifying bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and aims to explore investment opportunities in the defense industry, given Moroccos favorable business climate and strategic position enabling Slovak companies access to the African market. the two officials voiced their shared ambition and determination to further bolster military cooperation, notably in the field of the defense industry, the press release said. This meeting was an opportunity to showcase various South-South and regional cooperation initiatives launched under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, making Morocco a dynamic player of stability, progress, and peace for the Eurafrican region. A strategic conference held in Rabat Thursday focused on the maritime strategic challenges of Atlantic Africa. The event comes months after King Mohammed VI launched the Atlantic Initiative in November 2023, outlining an ambitious geopolitical project at the intersection of sovereignty, development, and regional integration. The conference, organized by the Policy Center for the New South under the theme Atlantic Africa: Integration Ambition & Operationalization Process, represents more than an academic colloquiumit marks a decisive milestone in redefining African relations with their Atlantic coastline. Moroccos Atlantic Initiative aims to be distinctly African while engaging with contemporary global dynamics. Mehdi Benomar, Head of International Relations at the Policy Center for the New South, emphasized that Atlantic Africa faces an urgent need for integration. Geopolitical instability, external shocks, and security vulnerabilities require coordinated responses rooted in African realities. This need for integration is not a luxury, he stated, its a condition for political and economic survival for West and Central Africa. The initiative extends beyond security concerns to encompass development challenges through a security-development nexus approach. The sea is viewed not merely as a logistical corridor but as a strategic actor capable of generating wealth through offshore resources and energy corridors. Jamal Machrouh, Senior Fellow at PCNS, expanded this systemic vision by highlighting the Initiatives dual dynamics. The first involves structuring a geopolitical space specific to Atlantic African states to pool interests, harmonize strategies, and speak with one voice internationally. The second aims to provide sustainable sea access to landlocked countries, particularly Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. For Machrouh, this dual initiative reflects a desire to transform geography into a lever for emancipation. Unlocking landlocked status involves more than logistics or infrastructureit requires mental and political reconfiguration, connecting countries to the sea, commercial networks, prosperity, and stability. The conference underscores a simple yet strong conviction: Africas future depends on its coasts and its capacity to envision its seas as bridges rather than borders. The United Nations announced Thursday, May 22 that it has allotted $10 million to South Sudan, to provide over 270,000 people with life-saving humanitarian aid. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) aid will be used to support communities in six high-risk counties, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In a statement released in South Sudans capital, Juba, the OCHA stated families in these areas are in dire need of immediate humanitarian support that has been severely impacted by overlapping crises. The OCHA had projected that between April and July, 7.7 million people will experience severe acute food insecurity. It stated that the highest level of food insecurity is anticipated to affect roughly 63,000 people. According to UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan Anita Kiki Gbeho, this much-needed and timely CERF funding will help mitigate acute vulnerabilities and protection risks through coordinated interventions led by United Nations agencies and their partners in South Sudan. Since the conflict in Upper Nile State escalated in March, the OCHA reported that over 130,000 people have been displaced, with thousands of them reportedly crossing into Ethiopia. It stated that the country is still experiencing its worst cholera outbreak on record, with 60,530 cases and 1,247 fatalities reported nationwide as of May 18, and that the current rainy season is predicted to cause significant flooding in areas that have already been impacted in prior years. Moroccos National Office of Electricity and Potable Water (ONEE) has secured 300 million in financing from European institutions to modernize the countrys electrical infrastructure, marking a significant step in the kingdoms renewable energy transition. The funding package combines 170 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB), 130 million from Germanys KfW development bank, and support from the European Union. This investment will modernize and extend Moroccos national transmission network across 731 kilometers, increasing grid capacity by 1,850 Mega Volt Amperes. The announcement came during a high-level visit to the Jbel Lahdid wind farm in Essaouira province, a 270 MW facility that exemplifies Moroccos renewable energy ambitions. Commissioned in October 2024, this wind farm can power 1.2 million residents annually and represents the fourth project in Moroccos integrated 1,000 MW wind energy program. ONEEs broader strategy involves a massive 220-billion-dirham investment plan through 2030, with 177 billion dedicated to the electricity sector. The goal is ambitious: achieve 56% renewable energy capacity by 2027 while developing 12.5 GW of additional renewable capacity. The initiative demonstrates the strength of Morocco-EU cooperation through the Green Partnership framework established in 2022. This partnership emphasizes sustainable production and consumption patterns while supporting Moroccos renewable energy reforms. EIB Vice President Ioannis Tsakiris emphasized that this funding strengthens the critical link between green energy production and transmission infrastructure. The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 390,000 tons of CO2 equivalent annually by 2030, while improving supply security and regional economic growth. Amid escalating global instability and a shifting geopolitical landscape, foreign ministers from the European Union and African Union (AU) met in Brussels this week to reaffirm their commitment to peace, security, and economic partnership. Marking the 25th anniversary of formal EU-AU dialogue, ministers agreed to bolster cooperation in areas like migration, digital infrastructure, critical raw materials, and conflict resolution. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas emphasized shared interests but acknowledged challenges such as disinformation campaigns particularly from Russia and growing instability in regions like the Sahel and Sudan. But beyond the ceremonial pledges, a deeper debate is unfolding: can Europe redefine its relationship with Africa in a world no longer shaped by old hierarchies? Some critics also argue that Europes approach remains paternalistic. Africa does not need patrons; it needs strategic partners, writes Carlos Lopes, member of the AUs reform team and High Representative for Partnerships with Europe, warning that EU trade agreements often reinforce Africas dependence on low-value exports. While the EU touts initiatives like the Global Gateway, its investments continue to favor extractive industries and migration control over long-term development. The AU, now a G20 member and architect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), seeks to assert more agency. Angolan minister Tete Antonio insisted that Africas raw materials be processed locally, not exported cheaply. As Brussels drafts a new Sahel strategy and eyes deeper ties, the message from African leaders is clear: real partnership means respecting Africas priorities, institutions, and capacity for self-determination not just offering aid, but co-investing in the continents future. U.S. strategic bomber B-52 has integrated Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s fighter jets in support of African Lion military exercise 2025, said The B-52 bomber is a long-range subsonic jet. It can carry up to 32,000 kg of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 14,200 km without aerial refueling. More than 10,000 troops from 50 nations converged for African Lion 2025 (AL25), the largest joint annual military exercise on the African continent. From May 1223, U.S. and Moroccan Air Forces led an array of tactical operations, from lifesaving medical evacuations to complex air-to-air refueling missions, showcasing the strength of multinational cooperation and strategic readiness. At Kenitra Air Base, U.S. and Moroccan medical teams sharpened their aeromedical evacuation capabilities during an intensive week-long training. Crews executed two live fly missions and two static scenarios aboard a Moroccan C-130H Hercules, preparing to stabilize and transport patients under operational stress. Aeromedical evacuation is a vital capability for joint forces because it delivers rapid, life-saving care while preserving combat power, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Helmer, flight nurse, 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, New York Air National Guard. The training also included combat offloading events and joint aircraft inspections, which not only enhanced clinical proficiency but also strengthened trust between partner forces. This training enhances interoperability by aligning procedures, building shared medical standards, and improving how we communicate and operate as a unified medical team, Helmer added. In Marrakesh, the U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotankers conducted air-to-air refueling familiarization flights with Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 pilots. More than 35 Moroccan pilots executed multiple dry contact refueling passes, maneuvers that simulate mid-air-refueling without the fuel transfer, to build muscle memory and mission readiness. Air-to-air refueling is a complex maneuver, and to conduct it safely and effectively requires precision and coordination, said U.S. Air Force Col. Dennis Bird, director of operations, Ohio National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters. This training strengthens their capability and deepens our cooperation and interoperability with the Moroccans. The multi-domain nature of African Lion 2025, encompassing land, air, maritime, space, and cyberspace operations, reflects the evolving challenges faced by global coalitions. U.S. Air Force KC-135s delivered crucial airlift support and airdrop missions, while Moroccan-led medevac exercises provided New York and New Jersey Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units the chance to simulate patient movement in high-stress, combat-like scenarios. Working with our Moroccan partners during African Lion has been a great opportunity to build real-world readiness, said Maj. Kelly Machado, USAFE-AFAFRICA African Lion lead planner. Whether its practicing air-to-air refuelling or training for aeromedical evacuation, this exercise helped us learn from each other and stay ready for whatever comes next. As African Lion 2025 concludes, the shared experiences, lessons learned, and bonds formed between U.S. and Moroccan forces serve as a testament to the power of partnership. An apparently grounded Unicameral cattle-brand bill advanced to a final vote Wednesday evening after three western Nebraska senators agreed on a package of incremental changes. Lawmakers agreed 37-0 to yet another rewrite of Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibachs Legislative Bill 646 before giving it second-round approval on a voice vote. The measure, which as introduced in January would have exempted western and central Nebraska registered feedlots from brand inspections, now would halve their annual registration fees from their current $1 per head of their one-time capacity to 50 cents per head. LB 646 would let the Nebraska Brand Committee charge up to $1.50 per head for its regular cattle-brand inspections or inspections done by electronic means. Maximum fees for both now are $1.10 per head. Brand inspectors also could collect a surcharge of up to $20 per inspection site for travel expenses under an Ibach floor amendment that senators adopted 36-0. Inspectors previously were allowed to charge for mileage. The latest rewrite, offered by Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, also retains a brand-inspection exemption for dairy cattle shipped to or from qualified dairies. Lawmakers agreed to it during first-round floor debate April 2. This was a compromise that no ones completely happy with, Jacobson said Thursday. But its a step forward and addresses a lot of the issues that were brought up. Most importantly, in the end, we protected the integrity of the brand because we didnt change any of the statutes on the books today on brand inspection. Jacobson, Ibach and Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman hastily met Wednesday to work out the LB 646 rewrite after Speaker John Arch of La Vista unexpectedly scheduled Ibachs 2025 priority bill for renewed debate. All three western senators represent chunks of Sandhills or Panhandle ranch country. But LB 646s initial April debate pitted Storer, a rural Cherry County rancher defending the need for physical cattle brands, against Ibach, a rural Dawson County farmer and cow-calf operator whose first bill draft reflected registered feedlots desire to be freed of the 150-year-old system and its burdens of proving cattle ownership. Eastern Nebraska cattle growers and feedlots are excused from mandatory brand inspections. The states brand inspection area, established in 1941, currently covers 52 western and central counties and part of Knox County. Senators gave Ibachs earlier rewrite of LB 646 26-2 initial approval. But the District 44 senator said afterward she wouldnt push for further action unless the states various cattle industry sectors could reach some agreement. Jacobson didnt vote on the bills first-round advancement, but he said ranchers in Lincoln County and his four Sandhills counties to its north were opposed to undercutting the brand system. Ibach said Thursday that the three main items in Jacobsons amendment emerged from an April roundtable hosted by Gov. Jim Pillen. It included representatives of the Brand Committee, Nebraska Farm Bureau, the Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska State Dairy Association. The three western lawmakers also attended that session, as did Sens. Brad Hansen of Blair and Barry DeKay of Niobrara, Ibach said. We discussed not only the bill but how do we protect the integrity of the cattle industry when we dont have brand inspection in eastern Nebraska but this (brand system) is something the brand inspection area wants to keep, the District 44 lawmaker said. Like Jacobson, Storer said the main virtue of the LB 646 compromise was that Nebraskas physical brand-based proof of ownership continues for now. In the bill that Sen. Ibach was proposing up to that point, they would have weakened the inspection system, the District 43 senator said. It was always my No. 1 priority to preserve that. But the three western senators agreed that LB 646, which faces one more floor vote before going to Pillen, wont solve the long-running dispute between cattle growers and feedlots over the best means of proving valid ownership. A 2020 effort to find consensus fell apart between two meetings held that fall in North Platte. The Legislature passed a bill in 2021 retaining the traditional physical brand system but saying non-visual identifiers could be used to prove ownership. Two Unicameral interim studies one led by DeKay and the other by the Agriculture Committee will continue the search for improvements this summer and fall, Ibach and Storer said. But the struggle will probably never be settled, Storer said. The original bill is what (the feedlots) wanted. They wanted to be exempted, and that is not acceptable. We will continue to fight to make sure that does not happen. Ibach said she took heart from the lack of floor opposition to Wednesdays compromise. I think that sends a sign to everyone that we need to pay attention to the system and identify ways that we can modernize and make it more effective for all cattle producers. they didn't think to check beforehand? and they were almost certainly going to paint his accusers as liars too, right? Reply Thread Link The studio negotiated the exclusivity, music rights, etc. from the Jackson Estate to make the movie, but the Jackson Estate had apparently forgotten about the clause in its settlement with the Chandler family, and it wasn't until the film was basically done that it was rediscovered, which deep-sixed the whole structure of the film. Reply Parent Thread Link Not only check but like...WHY would you bookend the film with this??? Idiots. Lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Delay it longer, like forever would be fine. Reply Thread Link Fuck Michael Jackson and his supporters. Hope this film is never released. Reply Thread Link "(it will portray a naive Jackson as innocent and being targeted for money)." Listen I grew up loving MJ like most people but this is some grade-A !! Reply Thread Link It's definitely grade A once you hear how he operated behind the scenes. Dude was not wet behind the ears, he could actually be pretty ruthless in business Reply Parent Thread Link Hope everyone involved with this get painfully violent diarrhea for the rest of their lives Reply Thread Link Who asked for this? I genuinely can't imagine a sizable market for a Michael Jackson movie in 2026, especially a puff piece like this one. Reply Thread Link The stage musical is a big success, I unfortunately think this would likely have a sizable audience. People just love the tunes. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah this morning on the radio they were holding contests to win tickets for the broadway show. Reply Parent Thread Link this is the one time i'll say a movie deserves to get the batgirl treatment and be buried for a tax write-off Edited at 2025-05-23 01:14 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link can't believe people still think he's innocent man who hung out with lil boys because he was robbed of his childhood. Ridiculous. Reply Thread Link The older I get, the more insane that entire argument becomes to me. It was already insane when the trial was happening, and that was when I was a child. Now that Im a fully grown adult, I dont have the words to express my complete and utter disgust at how many Goddamn passes adults gave that predator because what, fame and talent mean all sins are forgiven? If youre gonna stan a predator, at least have the shame to only listen using headphones and keep that shit away from me. Reply Parent Thread Link Which is crazy logic when you look at all the past and present child stars whether they had it rough or not growing up in the industry a good majority did not turned out to be pedos. Like what's really Michael's excuse? He's not the first nor last person to experience that. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah plenty of people had rough or less than idyllic childhoods, and Im not saying that Michael didnt have it tough growing up, but as an adult he always seemed so weirdly stuck on how he was robbed of some universal picture perfect idea of childhood which mostly only existed in his head Reply Parent Thread Link I think the kernel of truth that's been warped into a way to deny/excuse his shit is that a lot of his behaviour in some way or another did tie back to his childhood. Of course plenty of people have rough childhoods without becoming predatory pieces of shit, but for whatever reason for him the way he processed his experience was so dysfunctional it led to an extreme fetishization of childhood. One so extreme that it extended into his sexual behaviour /armchairpsychologist /degreefromONTDU Edited at 2025-05-23 09:14 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Everyone involved in this movie can choke and that includes Colman Domingo. Reply Thread Link https://people.com/colman-domingo-says-upcoming-michael-biopic-will-humanize-michael-jackson-8693155 grossssss i didnt know he was involved!! hate that Reply Parent Thread Link Oh no, how terrible. Reply Thread Link Of course they'd try to milk this for two parts. Of course they would. Soulless fuckers. Reply Thread Link oh Reply Thread Link SCOOP: ABC News' presidentand Disney CEO Bob Igermade clear to hosts of The View in recent weeks they want them to tone down their political rhetoric. It comes at a time when media companies have tried to find ways to avoid Trumps regulatory wrath. https://t.co/300nvlq2ai Corbin Bolies (@CorbinBolies) May 22, 2025 -Disney and ABC News heads reportedly called on the hosts of The View to dial down their constant critiques of the current president.-Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Ana Navarro and Sara Haines allegedly baffled at the request and have no desire to change their tune. Austria's act JJ won this years Eurovision Song Contest. Israel's Yuval Raphael came second thanks to the public vote. JJ has now called for Israel to be excluded from next year's competition. "It is very disappointing to see that Israel continues to participate in the contest. I would like next year's Eurovision to take place in Vienna without Israel." "But the ball is in the court" of the organiser, the European Broadcasting Union, he added. "We, the artists, can only express our views on the subject." JJ also called for "greater transparency" regarding the public vote, after Israel was propelled into second place. "This year, everything happened in a very strange way." Austria's public broadcaster ORF has distanced itself from JJ's remarks. Source & Source 1 BILLION?? Reply Thread Link Scam of the century. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like that's got to be exaggeration/spin. I can see it going for over the 405 they paid, but to more than double in price? On what basis? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Her artistry is not worth 600M-1B. I know shes big popularity-wise but artistically be fr. Reply Thread Link Is the artistry in the room with us? Reply Parent Thread Link It's never entered the room. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Artistry would very much like to be excluded from this narrative. Reply Parent Thread Link You could argue that her popularity is worth that much Reply Parent Thread Link Why would she do that. She still got a Taylor Version to release to milk the whole thing til the end Reply Thread Link Exactly. Shes made so much more $$ on the TV versions. Why would she spent this much money to own the older masters that shes already replaced with TVs Reply Parent Thread Link She's a worker's rights phenom. No way would she be fine with those capitalists owning the product of her labour. Reply Parent Thread Link surely her team is thinking their way around this cos imagine the risk of other billionaires buying and owning it possibly for eternity Reply Parent Thread Link Lol yall never getting Reputation TV now. Taylor R.R. Swift Edited at 2025-05-23 09:55 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link honestly though after 1989 its a blessing Reply Parent Thread Link Justice for Style Reply Parent Thread Link If Scooby is really encouraging it she'd say no just to spite him (I would too). She only has 2 TV albums to release now, why spend a billion to get the originals when she could make money off the new ones? Reply Thread Link Just release Reputation TV so I can have one small thing to look forward to in this hellscape. Reply Thread Link tbh I would just like a regular vinyl version thats not a picture disc or like $300 for a fugly-ass neon hunter orange Reply Parent Thread Link Twitter swifties said its gonna be announced this upcoming week at the AMAs Reply Parent Thread Link tbf theyve been saying its going to get announced at XYZ event for like the last 2 years Reply Parent Thread Link The whole point of her re-recordings was to devalue the originals, so it would be hilarious if she had to pay a billion for them. Reply Thread Link Funny thing is I think most of her fans still preferred the original production cause a few of them here didnt like the changes of the re-releases Reply Parent Thread Expand Link as a former swiftie, the re-releases were completely devoid of any real creativity. there's no soul to them. i do like a lot of the Vault songs, but never feel the need to listen to most of them again. i deeply dislike how many songs aaron dessner has been allowed to re-do because his production in NO way fits anything except folkmore and evermore but we're supposed to keep creaming ourselves every time his name is mentioned on production I guess! Reply Parent Thread Link I got angry @ Style TV. Its one of my fav TS songs and that TV was NOT it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Speaking as someone who does enjoy some of Taylor's music, a lot of the re-recordings feel hollow and almost soulless compared to the original. It's a shame. I get that she's no longer the same person she was when she wrote and recorded those records, but rather than try to engage with the material in a new and updated way or try to put herself back in the shoes of her former self (that acting thing she's apparently into these days) she just kind of phoned it in like they were covers for a high school talent show. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I never listen to the re-records. Reply Parent Thread Link She butchered 1989 and Im sure she did the same with reputation Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The sad truth is she will make bank regardless. If she does buy back the masters shell probably start allowing more of her music to be used in movies, tv, and commercials just to make the money back. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The morality that her cult has bought into that its UNJUST and WRONG for them to listen to the original recordings is insane. I read a comment saying it was immoral. Girl has her billions from you already. Its okay to listen to the better version. Reply Thread Link i read immoral as immortal and i started twisting my mustache thinking of all the times ive listened to reputation... i'm going to be alive forever!!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link And she makes money of the originals anyway lol. Reply Parent Thread Link Swift could be looking at a price tag between $600 million and $1 billion to buy back her original recordings. This is hilarious and infuriating to me. To have to pay inflated rates on your own masters to another soulless VC, due to an uptick in popularity since 2019/2020 and hugely successful tour that they probably attended. Reply Thread Link True, but honestly she is THE capitalist queen. I won't feel bad for her if this time she has to face the other side of the coin. Reply Parent Thread Link I needed this reminder, haha. Reply Parent Thread Link Honestly I prefer the original versions, the Taylor Versions I've heard just feel so lifeless. Reply Thread Link Definitely. The new All Too Well was the only upgrade. Reply Parent Thread Link Agree but I also still cape for the original. But both are good tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I will always go to bat for 10-minute All Too Well. Reply Parent Thread Link The new This Love is amazing. The original felt poorly mixed and she sounded terrible on half of it. Reply Parent Thread Link i actually disagree with this. you can hear the emotions in the og but the new one sounds lifeless and idc for the 10 minute version Reply Parent Thread Link I think some are okay, most are bad. You're right in that they are lifeless though, I think 1989 TV was especially a rushed cash grab Reply Parent Thread Link the max martin produced tracks are the worst offenders on these re-recordings, they all sound like cheap karaoke covers and i say this as a stan! Reply Parent Thread Link I only liked Girl At Home, it was the only one that deliberately sounded different to the original and I liked the new style. The rest were bad, especially the drums in Holy Ground, it sounded like someone clanging on pots and pans. People in the Taylor fandom severely underestimate Nathan Chapman her former producer imo. Hes far better than Jack and I think the main reason the re-records suck wasnt because of Taylors voice because I think she did try to make it sound the same but due to the production and the fact it wasnt Nathan producing Edited at 2025-05-24 05:07 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link hahaha Reply Thread Link hahahaha she doesn't need them anymore Reply Thread Link Lmao no way she would pay $600 million (let alone a BILLION dollars scooter is off his rocker) for her old masters when she can make bank off re-recordings. She would only buy her masters now at a price that would make her feel vindicated considering she is even less inclined to buy them than she was pre-2021 when she had no basis for how well her re-recording project would be received or sell. Edited at 2025-05-23 10:20 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link - Today, however, Brent futures struggle to break through the $65 per barrel threshold and London still fleeces upstream companies with a punitive 78% windfall tax, with the most recent tax hike happening already after the Labour government - Exactly three years ago, the UK government pioneered the oil windfall tax, arguing that if oil prices can be as high as $135 per barrel, oil companies producing oil in the UK North Sea should share part of their windfall profits. - Keeping oil prices below $60 per barrel for a protracted period of time could trigger an unexpected peak in US shale supply, just a time when first-tier acreage in the Permian basin is becoming increasingly scarce. - OPEC+ is seeking to regain market share lost to shale producers over the past years, with the US now accounting for 22% of global oil production, compared to just 15% ten years ago, while Russia and Saudi Arabia both shrank to 10%. - WTI is currently trading around $60 per barrel, which is lower than the $61-62 per barrel breakeven cost for a new well in the Permian basin, an almost exclusive source of US crude supply increments. - As OPEC+ members are expected to gather for their monthly ministerial meeting on June 1, another expedited production hike of 411,000 b/d is on the table, in line with Saudi Arabias stated intent to slash voluntary output cuts. Can OPEC+ Reclaim Lost Market Share from Shale? - As OPEC+ members are expected to gather for their monthly ministerial meeting on June 1, another expedited production hike of 411,000 b/d is on the table, in line with Saudi Arabias stated intent to slash voluntary output cuts. - WTI is currently trading around $60 per barrel, which is lower than the $61-62 per barrel breakeven cost for a new well in the Permian basin, an almost exclusive source of US crude supply increments. - OPEC+ is seeking to regain market share lost to shale producers over the past years, with the US now accounting for 22% of global oil production, compared to just 15% ten years ago, while Russia and Saudi Arabia both shrank to 10%. - Keeping oil prices below $60 per barrel for a protracted period of time could trigger an unexpected peak in US shale supply, just a time when first-tier acreage in the Permian basin is becoming increasingly scarce. Why Is Britain Still Taxing Its Dying Oil Industry? - Exactly three years ago, the UK government pioneered the oil windfall tax, arguing that if oil prices can be as high as $135 per barrel, oil companies producing oil in the UK North Sea should share part of their windfall profits. - Today, however, Brent futures struggle to break through the $65 per barrel threshold and London still fleeces upstream companies with a punitive 78% windfall tax, with the most recent tax hike happening already after the Labour government took office in July 2024. - Oil production fell to a mere 595,000 b/d last year in the UK North Sea, a little more than a quarter of what Norway produces and a 48-year low, as ExxonMobil, Apache and Chevron have all divested their British assets in 2023-2024. - Whilst the Starmer government is considering a tax revamp to halt the devastating collapse in UK oil output, it also reiterated its campaign pledge to stop all oil and gas exploration in line with its 2050 net-zero target. US Data Centre Power Craze Might Be Overblown - Energy demand coming from data centres has arguably become the most bullish factor for future gas demand in the United States, kickstarting power demand in the country after two decades of stagnation. - Server farms are expected to triple as a share of US grid utilization to 12% by 2030, although some might reconsider their ambitious growth targets after Microsoft admitted to slowing down some of its data centre buildouts in April. - The AI demand boom might also run into supply chain problems GE Vernova recently stated that its gas turbines will be sold out through 2028 by this summer, whilst Hitachi said that the wait time for new transformers now reaches four years. - Whilst ERCOT, PJM, and MISO predict some 140 GW of data server capacity needed by 2030, utilities and grid operators have a history of overestimating peak demands (for 17 years in a row now) and power demand growth rates (by roughly 12%). India Reverts to Its Love of Discounted Russian Oil - Indias imports of Russian oil have rebounded to 1.9 million b/d in April and are on track to surpass 2 million b/d in May, potentially the third highest volume imported ever, as Indian refiners pushed aside their sanctions concerns. - Tanker sanctions on Russias shadow fleet imposed by the Biden administration derailed the Russia-to-India trade flow, with February imports falling 15% month-over-month; although, since Donald Trump took office, every month has seen an increase in flows. - Indias publicly traded refiners refused to accept OFAC-sanctioned tankers in their ports, prompting the Russian sellers of crude to recalibrate their delivery vessels and use sanctioned ones on other routes. - Concurrent to higher Russian imports, Indian refiners are also pledging to boost their intake of light US barrels, creating a double whammy for traditional suppliers of India the countries of the Middle East. Brussels and London Agree to Link Up Their Carbon Markets - The United Kingdom signed a comprehensive agreement with the European Union, a chink in the two sides armour ever since Britain voted for Brexit, paving the way for more alignment in UK-EU electricity and carbon markets. - Immediately after news came out of the UK and the EU linking their emission trading systems, British carbon prices soared as they have been historically lower than the European ETS. - Whilst the linking of British and EU carbon prices would substantially enlarge the trading pool of the two contracts, it would result in a short-term loss for UK industry as the 2023-2024 spread between the two (22 per mtCO 2 ) would shrink to a bare minimum. - The UK carbon markets maintain some scepticism regarding the EU linkage, with some reports suggesting the process could take up to 10 years and that the main reason London decided to commit to it was to avoid the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from 2026 onwards. Surprise Exit of Rio Tinto Boss Highlights the Mining Industrys Dilemma - In a surprise move that caught the mining industry by surprise, Rio Tinto's chief executive announced his exit from the company after a four-year stint that saw him grapple with the Australian giants reputational issues. - US investment firm JPMorgan believes Rio Tinto shares could be worth as much as 95% of their current price, were the company to diversify away from its historical reliance on iron ore. - Whilst BHP has been investing mostly in copper, Rio Tinto under Stausholm followed a lithium-first strategy - buying Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion and launching two multi-billion projects in Chile. - As lithium prices remain depressed, Rios lithium pivot might take years, if not decades, to fully pay off, as even 10 years from now on it is expected to account for a mere 7% of group EBITDA, potentially inviting the next CEO for a recalibration of the companys course. Congos Cobalt Ban Angers Chinese Miners - Congo, the worlds largest source of cobalt, has instituted a four-month export ban on the transition metal in February, seeking to counteract a decline in prices that saw cobalt touch a 9-year low of $22,000 per metric tonne this year. - Cobalt producers operating in the country, however, are increasingly discontent with the African countrys policy, with Chinas CMOC Group, the largest cobalt miner globally, calling on the DRC to lift the export ban as soon as possible. - Whilst cobalt did recover to $31,500 per metric tonne currently, Congo is keeping its options open as the export ban deadline runs out on June 22, whilst Chinas pipeline inventory of the metal is running out. - With China still dominating the mining landscape in tropical Africa, the Trump Administration has been making inroads into Congo with the DRC-Rwanda peace negotiations stipulating a minerals deal that would allow the US Development Finance Corp to launch new investments in the country. Kazakhstan is likely to top its oil production plan this year, due to the expansion of the Chevron-led Tengiz field, Kazakhstans Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov said on Friday, in yet another snub at OPEC+ quotas. Earlier this year, Kazakhstans energy ministry said that the country plans to produce a total of 96.2 million tons of crude oil and condensate in 2025, or about 2 million barrels per day (bpd), which would be 9.7% higher compared to 2024. Now Kazakhstan will likely top the production plans for the year, Minister Akkenzhenov was quoted as saying by Russian news agency TASS. Earlier this year, the start-up of oil production at an expansion project at Tengiz, the largest oilfield in Kazakhstan operated by a Chevron-led consortium, added 260,000 bpd to output. Due to the increased production at the giant Tengiz field, we will probably finish the year higher than the planned production level, Akkenzhenov was quoted as saying. Kazakhstans overproduction has been a major headache for OPEC+ producers, many of which have been sticking to their quotas, especially the leader, Saudi Arabia. Kazakhstan, a non-OPEC producer part of the OPEC+ pact, is seeing its oil production rise by 2% in May. Under the OPEC+ agreement, Kazakhstans crude oil production quota is below 1.5 million bpd. The deal doesnt cover condensate production and has no limits on it. Kazakhstan has been consistently overproducing above its OPEC+ limit and is one of the biggest overproducers alongside Iraq and Russia. Kazakhstan has promised to compensate by shaving 1.3 million barrels from cumulative output by 2026. But with Western oil majors firmly in control of Kazakhstans biggest fields, that promise is more theoretical than enforceable. Earlier this month, Chevrons chief executive, Mike Wirth, told analysts at the supermajors Q1 earnings call that On OPEC plus in Kazakhstan, you know, really were not discussions of that. We dont engage in discussions about OPEC or OPEC plus. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Layered on top of the bearish inventory data was news that OPEC+ is weighing a potential 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) production increase in July. While no formal agreement has been announced, market participants are treating the planreported by Bloomberg and confirmed by several delegatesas The stock increase came despite higher exports, as imports surged to a six-week high while gasoline and distillate demand declined. According to LSEGs Emril Jamil, the data suggests more U.S. crude may be redirected to export markets, particularly in Europe and Asia, in response to waning domestic demand. The weekly decline was cemented by a bearish U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report showing a surprise 1.3 million barrel build in domestic crude inventories, bringing stockpiles to 443.2 million barrels. Market expectations had leaned toward a draw of similar size, and the divergence caught traders off guard. Crude oil futures are in a position to finish lower this week as a series of bearish developments weighed on trader sentiment, with supply-side risks overshadowing geopolitical tensions. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures finished Thursday at $60.72, down 2.02% from last weeks close, as renewed concerns over rising inventories, softer Chinese demand, and potential OPEC+ output increases kept a lid on any meaningful recovery. Crude oil futures are in a position to finish lower this week as a series of bearish developments weighed on trader sentiment, with supply-side risks overshadowing geopolitical tensions. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures finished Thursday at $60.72, down 2.02% from last weeks close, as renewed concerns over rising inventories, softer Chinese demand, and potential OPEC+ output increases kept a lid on any meaningful recovery. Surprise U.S. Inventory Build Undermines Demand Optimism The weekly decline was cemented by a bearish U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report showing a surprise 1.3 million barrel build in domestic crude inventories, bringing stockpiles to 443.2 million barrels. Market expectations had leaned toward a draw of similar size, and the divergence caught traders off guard. The stock increase came despite higher exports, as imports surged to a six-week high while gasoline and distillate demand declined. According to LSEGs Emril Jamil, the data suggests more U.S. crude may be redirected to export markets, particularly in Europe and Asia, in response to waning domestic demand. OPEC+ Eyes July Output Hike, Market Braces for Supply Shock Layered on top of the bearish inventory data was news that OPEC+ is weighing a potential 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) production increase in July. While no formal agreement has been announced, market participants are treating the planreported by Bloomberg and confirmed by several delegatesas a likely outcome from the upcoming June 1 meeting. The move would add to scheduled increases already planned for May and June, amplifying fears that supply growth could outpace tepid demand. Saudi Arabia is expected to contribute the bulk of the additional volume, signaling a broader pivot within the cartel toward protecting market share rather than defending price. China Demand Concerns Add to Bearish Pressure Earlier in the week, oil prices were pressured by ongoing weakness in Chinese economic indicators. Industrial output and retail sales for April missed expectations, reinforcing concerns about the demand outlook from the worlds largest crude importer. Even though the U.S. and China agreed to a temporary 90-day tariff truce, the uptick in Chinese activity highlighted by some banks has not been enough to offset the bearish tone. Crude surpluses in China, driven by resilient imports and soft refinery runs, continue to build. April saw a surplus of nearly 1.9 million bpd, with refiners stockpiling discounted Iranian and Russian barrels. Geopolitical Risk Offers Limited Support Geopolitical concerns provided brief support mid-week after reports surfaced that Israel could be preparing a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The potential for regional disruption, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, raised alarms among traders. However, this bullish catalyst faded as the week progressed, with the market choosing to focus instead on tangible supply increases and demand weaknesses. While the Iran-Israel tension remains unresolved, traders appear hesitant to fully price in a major disruption without further escalation. Weekly Light Crude Oil Futures Trend Indicator Analysis The main trend is down according to the weekly swing chart. A trade through $64.40 will change the main trend to up. A trade through $54.01 will signal a resumption of the downtrend. The long-term range is $51.98 to $84.43. Its 50% level is $68.21. 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 $67.77. The two form a resistance cluster. The short-term range is $71.17 to $54.01. Its pivot at $62.59 is resistance. This week, traders showed respect for this level, first breaking out to $64.19 before falling back below it into Thursdays close. The minor range is $64.40 to $54.83. Its pivot is $59.20. The market is currently on the strong side of this level but it needs to hold above it to maintain the current momentum. Trader reaction to $59.20 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 30 is likely to be determined by trader reaction to $59.20. Bullish Scenario A sustained move over $59.20 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 $62.59 again. This is the last potential resistance before the main top at $64.40 and the trigger point for a change in trend and an upside breakout. Bearish Scenario A sustained move under $62.59 will indicate the presence of sellers, but taking out 59.20 with conviction could trigger an acceleration to the downside, with major targets coming in at $54.83 to $54.01. Next Week's Oil Prices Forecast: Bearish Bias Persists Looking ahead, the crude oil market faces significant headwinds. The potential for an OPEC+ production hike, elevated U.S. inventories, and persistent demand doubtsparticularly from Chinaset the stage for continued price pressure. Unless the June 1 OPEC+ meeting defies expectations or geopolitical events materially disrupt supply, the fundamentals skew bearish. With supply growth now outpacing demand signals, traders should brace for the possibility of WTI testing deeper downside levels next week. The near-term oil prices forecast remains bearish, and barring a surprise tightening catalyst, the path of least resistance is lower. Technically, a pivot at $62.59 is controlling the upside, and a pivot at $59.20 guides the downside. A sustained move over $62.59 will put the resistance cluster at $67.77 to $68.21 on the radar, while a failure at $59.20 could lead to a near-term test of $54.83 to $54.01. It all depends on the catalyst and the trading volume. By moving to brand Qatar a pariah state, Israel is not necessarily trying to convince Washington or Brussels to formally adopt the label. The real goal is subtler and more tactical. The act of raising the designationwhether through legislative proposals, public statements, or intelligence leakscreates political friction. It makes Qatar a more controversial partner Qatar sits in a uniquely precarious position. It hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East (Al Udeid), maintains direct access to Iranian leadership, and has built a brand around quiet but effective mediationfrom the Taliban to hostage exchanges in Gaza. This trifecta makes Doha indispensable to American diplomacy and simultaneously intolerable to Israeli hardliners. For years, Qatar has functioned as the Gulf's diplomatic utility player. Now, that centrality has made it a threat. Israels recent push to label Qatar a terrorist-supporting state is not just a reaction to Dohas relationship with Hamasits a calculated maneuver designed to derail any diplomatic opening between the United States and Iran. At the surface, the effort seems rooted in frustration over Qatars long-standing financial and political ties to Hamas, whose leadership has operated freely from five-star hotels in Doha. But, if you look closer, the timing and target of this campaign reveal a more strategic objective: to collapse the only functioning backchannel between Washington and Tehran before it can gain traction. Israels recent push to label Qatar a terrorist-supporting state is not just a reaction to Dohas relationship with Hamasits a calculated maneuver designed to derail any diplomatic opening between the United States and Iran. At the surface, the effort seems rooted in frustration over Qatars long-standing financial and political ties to Hamas, whose leadership has operated freely from five-star hotels in Doha. But, if you look closer, the timing and target of this campaign reveal a more strategic objective: to collapse the only functioning backchannel between Washington and Tehran before it can gain traction. Qatar sits in a uniquely precarious position. It hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East (Al Udeid), maintains direct access to Iranian leadership, and has built a brand around quiet but effective mediationfrom the Taliban to hostage exchanges in Gaza. This trifecta makes Doha indispensable to American diplomacy and simultaneously intolerable to Israeli hardliners. For years, Qatar has functioned as the Gulf's diplomatic utility player. Now, that centrality has made it a threat. By moving to brand Qatar a pariah state, Israel is not necessarily trying to convince Washington or Brussels to formally adopt the label. The real goal is subtler and more tactical. The act of raising the designationwhether through legislative proposals, public statements, or intelligence leakscreates political friction. It makes Qatar a more controversial partner for U.S. officials and raises the domestic cost of engaging in Qatari-brokered diplomacy with Iran. In short, its a soft veto: an indirect way of spoiling the U.S. administrations ability to move forward with nuclear talks, especially as quiet channels with Tehran show signs of reopening. This campaign also plays well domestically in Israel, where public sentiment increasingly favors a hardline posture and where political leaders benefit from appearing tough on both Iran and its enablers. It appeals to allies in Congress, particularly those skeptical of any Iran diplomacy and eager to box in the White House before concessions can be made. But this maneuver carries broader implications. If Qatars status is undermined enough to limit its role in mediation, the consequences ripple outward quickly. Nuclear negotiations with Iran stall, perhaps indefinitely. Hostage talks in Gaza collapse, or at minimum, lose their most reliable facilitator. And with rising tensions across the Gulf, markets will start baking in a risk premium. Any sign that diplomacy is off the table and hard power is moving forward triggers oil volatility, especially near flashpoints like the Strait of Hormuz. For Washington, the strategic dilemma is stark. It needs Qatarfor Iran, for Gaza, for Gulf security. But it also needs to manage its most important regional ally. Israels campaign isnt designed to force the Biden or Trump administration into a corner overnight. Its meant to poison the well slowly, to make any re-engagement with Iran politically radioactive by tainting the only pathway that exists to Tehran. In the end, this isnt really about Qatar. Its about stopping a deal before the architecture to make one can be rebuilt. The logic is familiar: when you cant block the policy, discredit the processand when diplomacy starts to flicker back to life, take out the intermediaries. Qatar is just the most vulnerable pressure point. And Israel knows exactly where to press. After two years of booming activity, the merger and acquisition space in the U.S. has slowed down significantly. Buyer are turning their attention from quantity to quality and focusing on extracting as much value from deals they made previously. Also, theyre running out of targets. After two booming years, it was really only a matter of time before this happened. The megadeals of 2023 and 2024 were the highlight of that period, which followed the 2022 profit windfall the industry enjoyed amid the war escalation in Ukraine. Yet megadeals are, by definition, a very limited number. Most deals in 2023 and 2024 were smaller ones, with the trend essentially being vertically integrated majors swallowing smaller independents to boost their footprint in the shale patch faster and easier as reports of a shrinking pool of untapped resources began to come in. Then came the oil price slump this year as President Trump took office and started imposing tariffs on U.S. trade partners to punish them for what he and his administration saw as years of taking advantage of the worlds largest economy. The tariff offensive sparked worry across industries, and oil and gas were no exception. Indeed, oil and gas companies that had been extra generous in the last two years suddenly had to become frugal. We're in a period right now where there's so much noise and volatility that not a lot gets done, Reuters quoted the CEO of Diamondback Energy as saying recently. Anything that we would look at would have to be extremely cheap, and I just don't think we're there yet today. All this is happening after a rather strong start to the year. As Enverus reported last month, the first quarter of 2025 was pretty solid in oil and gas mergers and acquisitions. However, the firms analysts noted that this was about to change as high-quality targets ran out, and sellers were well aware of that and, as a result, unwilling to sell at a discount. Buyers, on the other hand, were running out of money for premium deals. Upstream deal markets are heading into the most challenging conditions we have seen since the first half of 2020. High asset prices and limited opportunities are colliding with weakening crude, Enverus principal analyst Andrew Dittmar summed it up at the time. Now, he has predicted that the industry may see a pickup in M&A activity towards the end of the year if the tariff offensive ends with deals and what pretty much everyone sees as a looming recession risk abates. Of course, it wouldnt hurt if prices rebounded a bit more strongly. These things are bound to happen sooner or later as drillers reduce activity, too. With WTI at around $60 per barrel, production is about to go from growth to plateau, as ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance said this week. Should the U.S. benchmark fall in the $50s, production will start decliningbar yet another technological breakthrough that would make oil economical at those price levels. The circumstances right now, in other words, do not support a strong M&A appetite. This will come back as prices rise following the supply squeeze from lower drilling and worry about demand prospects subsides. Both of these will happen, sooner or later, as they have happened before, during pretty much every cycle in the energy industry. Until then, oil majors will be focusing on extracting the best possible value from the deals they made during the boom years, or, as Exxons chief executive put it recently, One plus one has to equal three. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Trump's threat to place a 50% tariff on the EU has renewed demand concerns in oil markets, with both Brent and WTI set to finish the week lower. Friday, May 23rd, 2025 What seemed to be a much-needed rangebound trading week with ICE Brent hovering around $64-65 per barrel without any distinct trend developing was changed by President Trumps 50% tariff threat on Europe, triggering a new wave of macroeconomic concerns. Should US-EU tensions persist, next weeks OPEC+ meeting (and expected 411,000 b/d unwinding into July) could see Brent break below $60 per barrel again. OPEC+ Mulls Another Huge Production Hike. Intent on weeding out high-cost producers from global markets and regain lost market share, OPEC+ is considering another 411,000 b/d production hike for July as its members meet on June 1, potentially unwinding 2.2 million b/d of voluntary cuts by October. US Policy on Venezuela Turns Very Confusing. Whilst US special envoy Richard Grenell announced a 60-day extension of Chevrons (NYSE:CVX) operating license in Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio refuted that claim and claimed the sanctions waiver will expire as scheduled on May 27. P66 Becomes a Corporate Battleground. In one of the hottest boardroom fights of 2025, activist investor Elliott Investment Management won two seats on the executive board of US refining giant Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX), sending P66s stock value down by 6% after the news broke out. Wary of OPEC+ Market Flooding, Crude Storage Booms. US crude oil storage demand has risen to levels not seen since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to storage broker Tank Tiger, with market players expecting contango to hit soon as OPEC+ unwinds its 2.2 million b/d production cut. BYD Pushes for Teslas European Share. Chinese EV carmaker BYD (SHE:002594) has reportedly sold more electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time on record, registering 7,231 units compared to the US companys 7,165 units, a sea change given that BYD only started sales across the EU in 2023. Russian Oil Firms Move into Rare Earths. Rosneft (MCX:ROSN), Russias largest oil producer, has acquired the countrys largest rare earth deposit Tomtor, believed to contain more than 11 million tonnes of open pit ore at 14.5% total rare earth oxides, signalling a diversification move into mining. Nuclear Is About to Have Its Trump Moment. US nuclear stocks have rallied this week on the back of media speculating about US President Trump signing an executive order aimed at kickstarting the domestic nuclear energy industry, streamlining construction of new plants, and boosting uranium supply chains. Iraq Revolts Against US-Kurdish Oil Deals. Iraqs Oil Ministry denounced deals between smaller US oil companies and the semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government as unconstitutional, after upstream firms HKN Energy and WesternZagros pledged to invest a combined $110 billion in Kurdish oil fields. Brazil Eyes Amazon Delta for Next Oil Boom. Having received approval this week for its environmental impact assessment in the Foz do Amazonas basin, Brazils state oil firm Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) is now readying a drillship to spud its first wildcat in the oil-prolific untapped area. Rio Tinto Thrown into Disarray After CEO Departure. Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) fell 3% this week after the mining giants CEO, Jakob Stausholm, announced his departure from the company after taking over in early 2021, an unexpected move after he pivoted the company towards a more climate-neutral strategy. US Resists European Pressure to Lower Oil Price Cap. The US Treasury doesnt support the proposal of the European Union to revise the oil price cap on Russian crude from $60 per barrel to $50 per barrel, arguing that lower outright prices are already hurting the Russian budget enough. Egypt Needs A Lot of Gas, Right Now. According to market reports, the government of Egypt is in negotiations to buy 40-60 cargoes of LNG (worth some $2-3 billion at current prices) amid a worsening electricity outlook as decreasing domestic gas production bodes ill for peak summer demand. Pemex Embarks on Job-Cutting Spree. Mexicos national oil company, Pemex, plans to cut 3,000 jobs after its Q1 2025 results saw a $2 billion quarterly loss and total debt soared past $101 billion, seeking to save $550 million in lower labour costs and streamline operations with just nine management areas. Indian Ocean: The U.S. has just secured the future of its military base in Diego Garciaarguably the single most important Western outpost in the Indian Oceanby backing a UK-Mauritius sovereignty deal that hands nominal control of the Chagos Archipelago to Port Louis while locking in a 99-year lease for the U.S.-UK base. Strategically, its a masterstroke cloaked in diplomacy: Washington and London preserve full operational control while neutralizing a longstanding UN decolonization challenge and sidestepping any legal threat to basing rights. For Beijing, which has deepened political and financial ties with Mauritius, this is a blunt reminder that the Indo-Pacific chessboard isnt just about ports and trade lanesits about who controls the insurance policy when the shooting starts. The new legal framework also ensures no third-party military access to the archipelago, effectively insulating the Diego Garcia hub from Chinese encroachment. For the U.S. Navy, this means uninterrupted power projection from the Persian Gulf to Southeast Asia. Politics, Geopolitics and Conflict Indian Ocean: The U.S. has just secured the future of its military base in Diego Garciaarguably the single most important Western outpost in the Indian Oceanby backing a UK-Mauritius sovereignty deal that hands nominal control of the Chagos Archipelago to Port Louis while locking in a 99-year lease for the U.S.-UK base. Strategically, its a masterstroke cloaked in diplomacy: Washington and London preserve full operational control while neutralizing a longstanding UN decolonization challenge and sidestepping any legal threat to basing rights. For Beijing, which has deepened political and financial ties with Mauritius, this is a blunt reminder that the Indo-Pacific chessboard isnt just about ports and trade lanesits about who controls the insurance policy when the shooting starts. The new legal framework also ensures no third-party military access to the archipelago, effectively insulating the Diego Garcia hub from Chinese encroachment. For the U.S. Navy, this means uninterrupted power projection from the Persian Gulf to Southeast Asia. North Korea: Pyongyangs recent naval modernization efforts suffered a significant setback when its latest 5,000-ton destroyer capsized during a launch ceremony in Chongjin attended by Kim Jong Un. Rushed timelines, inadequate shipbuilding capabilities, and limited technical expertise likely led to what can only be described as a leadership disaster for Kim Jong Un, as it exposes the fragility of North Korea's defense-industrial complex. Things are not necessarily well on the alliance front, either, with Pyongyang recently pivoting towards Russia and cracks appearing in the China-North Korea alliance, particularly with indications that China does not trust Kim Jong-Un militarily. Observers will be watching for two things now from Pyongyang: for the domestic audience, Kim will have to execute someone for what he has already described as a criminal disaster; and for the international audience, his next move will have to be much bigger to claw his way back up to the top half of the geopolitical threat barometer. Libya: Tripolis recent clashes in the aftermath of the killing of militia boss Abdel Ghani al-Kikli continue to destabilize internal security just as the eastern-controlled House of Representatives (HoR) consolidates support to oust interim PM Dbeibah in a clear bid to wrestle control over oil production and exports (which they already have) in addition to the central bank, which controls the oil revenues. During an official session on May 20, the HoR announced a decision to appoint a new Prime Minister. The candidacy submission period closed on May 21. As of now, the HoR has not publicly disclosed the full list of candidates for Prime Minister. However, reports indicate that the HoR has summoned several candidates to present their programs and work plans in an upcoming session scheduled for next Monday. Russia: Rosneft just took full control of Russias largest rare earth deposit, Tomtor, by acquiring its operator, Vostok Engineering. This is a strategic pivot by Putin, who had already scolded prior developers for delays. The deposit, buried deep in Yakutia, holds over 150 million tonnes of ore rich in monazite, niobium, and scandium, which are critical for defense, EVs, and semiconductors. But the play isnt without risk. Rosnefts oilfield DNA doesnt translate neatly to rare earth mining, and the logistical lift in remote Siberia will test execution. But if it does work, Russia moves closer to its goal of becoming one of the Top 5 global REE suppliers by 2030 with a 12% market share. Discovery & Development Turkey just announced a 75 billion-cubic-meter natural gas discovery in the Black Sea, with Turkish officials estimating its value at some $30 billion. There will be plenty of geopolitical capital with this, as well, vis-a-vis Turkeys relations with Russia and Iran. This find could give Turkey more leverage. TotalEnergies is preparing to restart its $20 billion LNG project in Mozambique, which had been halted due to security concerns. With improved security and renewed financial backing, construction is expected to resume by mid-2025, aiming to tap into Mozambique's vast offshore gas reserves. Aker BP (30%) and partners Equinor, Harbour Energy, and ORLEN hit oil in the E prospect just 6 km from the FPSO Skarv using Saipems Scarabeo 8 rig. The main find in the Garn Formation holds 37 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent, while a smaller Cretaceous zone added 12 million barrels. Though both wells are now plugged, the Garn discovery is being considered for a Skarv tie-back. The find comes as Norway expands its APA 2025 acreage, adding 76 new blocks across the Barents and Norwegian Seas. Melbana Energy has struck lighter, higher-quality oil in Cubas Alameda-2 wellan upgrade from the islands usual heavy crude. The Australian firm plans to export the oil by the end of June, with over 15,000 barrels already stored and a buyer in the wings. While Cuban state media hails the discovery as a win for energy self-sufficiency, but the oil wont stay in Cuba. With blackouts still hammering the island, the export move is raising eyebrows over who actually benefits. Pantheon Resources (AIM: PANR) called its latest Megrez-1 flow tests on Alaskas North Slope undeniably disappointing, despite confirming oil-wet zones in the Upper Schrader Bluff and Lower Prince Creek formations. While hydrocarbons are present, the company says the system likely needs full-scale infrastructure and long-term testing to gauge commercial viability. This setback casts doubt over the standalone potential of Megrez-1, part of Pantheons broader Ahpun project. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions A substantial drop in the spot market price for Emirati crude has triggered a demand surge from Asia, Reuters reported today, citing data for a record trade of 10 million barrels of Murban crude on an S&P Global Platts market-of-close basis this month. Asian markets have been oversupplied with light grades for most of this cycle, driven by outages at Japanese refiners, increased UAE availability this cycle following the accelerated OPEC+ unwind, and planned maintenance at Saudi Arabia's Petro Rabigh refinery, Energy Aspects analyst Richard Jones told Reuters. Yet demand for Murban has done well as its premium on the spot market has dropped to the lowest in six months. The grade represents some 66% of Adnocs total oil production and has a lead role in price setting in the Middle East. According to Reuters, Murban affects the pricing of 14 million barrels of oil exports to Asia daily. The Emirati oil major expects production of the grade to top 1.7 million barrels daily in June, July and August, which means more downward pressure on its price and likely drive stronger demand from Asian buyers. One unnamed Reuters source said output of the key grade could top 2 million barrels daily in July. Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that a couple of Chinese independent refiners had bought two Murban cargos in a sign of a shift from Iranian crude to alternatives amid the U.S. sanction squeeze on one of Chinas top discount oil suppliers. The price of the Emirati crude was $5 above the ICE Brent contract for August, the report noted. 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. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com While the federal government of Iraq welcomes cooperation with U.S. energy firms, Baghdad noted on Friday that direct deals with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region violate the Iraqi constitution and need to go through the federal authorities with federal approval. Earlier this week, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq formalized two major energy agreements with U.S. firms HKN Energy and WesternZagros in Washington, D.C. These agreements lay a robust foundation for the strategic development of the Topkhana energy block in Garmianan asset with significant commercial potential. This initiative is designed to strengthen energy security while generating attractive returns for stakeholders and driving economic growth throughout the region, KRG said. The combined Topkhana-Kurdamir block holds an estimated 5 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas and 900 million barrels of recoverable crude oil, Kurdistan says. The U.S. State Department welcomed the deals, saying that These types of partnerships will strengthen gas production in Iraq and benefit both of our peoples. The agreements are valued at a combined $110 billion, despite a legal showdown with the federal government of Iraq over control of the countrys oil exports. The recent signing of these substantial energy agreements between the KRG and American companies raises questions about the legal and political implications, given the ongoing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over oil control. However, Iraqs Oil Ministry on Friday said that the deals should go through the federal government. The Ministry has no objection or reservation regarding engagement with these companies, provided that such engagement is not conducted directly with the Kurdistan Regional Government in isolation from the Federal Government and its official channels, as this would constitute a violation of the Iraqi Constitution and the applicable law, the Iraqi oil ministrys statement said on Friday. The oil ministrys statement is a clear message directed at US companies, alerting them to respect Iraqs valid laws, an official at the oil ministry told Middle East Online on Friday. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. President Donald Trump has taken to social media to criticize once again the UKs energy policy to pursue renewables and tax North Sea oil and gas operators more. Referring to the UK, President Trump posted on Truth Social, I strongly recommend to them, however, that in order to get their Energy Costs down, they stop with the costly and unsightly windmills, and incentivize modernized drilling in the North Sea, where large amounts of oil lay waiting to be taken. A century of drilling left, with Aberdeen as the hub. The old fashioned tax system disincentivizes drilling, rather than the opposite. U.K.s Energy Costs would go WAY DOWN, and fast! President Trump wrote on Friday on the social media platform. This isnt the first time President Trump has criticized the energy policy of the United Kingdom. Early this year, ahead of his inauguration, Trump weighed in on the UKs energy policy to hike the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas operators and become a clean energy superpower by boosting offshore wind development. Trump called for opening up the UK North Sea to oil and gas and getting rid of windmills in response to an announcement by Texas-based Apache that it would cease oil and gas production in the region due to the uneconomical windfall tax. The U.K. is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of Windmills! President-elect Trump posted in early January on Truth Social. The post contained an attached article about Apaches recent announcement that it would exit the UK North Sea. In recent weeks, the UKs clean energy targets came under scrutiny after SSE, a major energy company and renewable projects developer in the UK, said it is reducing spending on renewables in its five-year plan to 2027 by $2 billion (1.5 billion) in a changing macro environment. The warning from SSE came weeks after Orsted, the worlds biggest offshore wind project developer, announced it had decided to discontinue the development of the Hornsea 4 offshore wind project in the UK in its current form, due to adverse macroeconomic developments, continued supply chain challenges, and increased execution, market and operational risks. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The top U.S. energy officials will host on June 2 an event with officials from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to tout the $44-billion Alaska LNG project for which the United States is seeking Asian investors, sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters on Friday. State firm Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) seeks to advance the Alaska LNG project, designed to deliver North Slope natural gas to Alaskans and export LNG to U.S. allies across the Pacific. U.S. officials toured Asia earlier this year in search of potential Asian investors in the LNG project. The LNG export facility is strongly supported by the Trump Administration, which has been also pressing Japan and South Korea to buy more LNG as a way to reduce Americas trade deficit with its Asian allies. U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will host the June 2 event in Alaska. However, the visit is unlikely to result in major investment deals for the Alaska LNG project, as it is not clear yet how senior the Asian officials will be, according to Reuterss sources. In March, Taiwans state-held oil and gas company CPC Corporation signed a letter of intent to invest in Alaska LNG and buy LNG from the project as part of a move to bolster its gas supply and energy security. Despite the commitments to invest in the U.S., including in Alaska LNG, Taiwan was slapped with a now-halted 32% tariff. Taiwan wasnt spared from one of the highest now-suspended tariffs despite being the only early committed investor in the huge Alaska LNG project, while Japan and South Korea are hesitating. Taiwan is so far the only Asian country to have committed investments and backing to the Alaska LNG project despite the state of Alaska and the Trump Administrations weeks-long courting of investors from north Asia, such as Japan and South Korea. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The U.S. Administration wants the EU to make unilateral cuts to its tariffs on American goods and abolish a proposed digital tax for trade negotiations to advance, sources briefed on the U.S. trade negotiators latest stance have told the Financial Times. The U.S. hit the EU with a 20% reciprocal tariff in early April, but the Trump Administration later backtracked on the so-called reciprocal tariffs following a major market rout triggered by fears of recession. The United States has now left a baseline 10% tariff on all countries by July 8 as it is engaging in negotiations to secure trade deals. The U.S., however, kept the 25% tariff on EU steel, aluminum, and car parts. Washington is also threatening additional tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. The U.S. is set to communicate to the EUs trade negotiators on Friday that the bloc should make unilateral concessions and cut tariffs on U.S. goods, instead of seeking mutual cuts to the tariffs, according to FTs sources. The Trump Administration is also unhappy that the EUs proposal for negotiations did not include abolishing the proposed digital tax. Early last month, the EU proposed mutual zero tariffs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in early April that Europe is ready to negotiate with the US. We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods. Because we're always ready for a good deal. But were also prepared to respond with countermeasures. And protect ourselves against indirect effects through trade diversion, von der Leyen added. U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed the zero-for-zero tariffs offer and told reporters in the White House who asked if the EU offer was sufficient to back down on tariffs on the EU, No, it's not. The U.S. has made one trade deal with the UK since backing off tariffs temporarily to start negotiations. A failure in the U.S.-EU trade talks wouldnt be good for the economies of either party and could dampen the prospects of oil demand growth. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Western countries, along with nations like Brazil and India, are exploring alternative sources and domestic production of rare earths to reduce reliance on China. Confusion and delays in export licensing and processing are hindering the flow of rare earth materials, impacting various industries, including electric vehicle production. Via Metal Miner With the United States and China ratcheting down the tariff war (for 90 days at least), many expected that the export of rare earths and permanent magnets would soon return to pre-trade war conditions, as MetalMiners weekly newsletter weighed in on in the past. However, that does not seem to be happening on the ground. Now, alarm bells are going off as market insiders anticipate a major shortage in global rare earth supplies. China Allow Some Export of Rare Earths There is a bit of positive news: China has granted a few export licenses to some companies, including those that supply to European customers. According to a Reuters report, this includes a rare earth magnet producer that supplies automaker Volkswagen. Quoting unnamed sources, the report stated that export permits had been issued to a total of four magnet producers, the first since China curbed shipments back in April of this year. Hopeful analysts see this as a sign that the critical materials will eventually start to flow at a more global level. But even though Beijing may have started approving some exports of rare earths, the actual implementation on the ground continues to delay the processing of these critical minerals. This caused some alarm among manufacturers in auto, defense and other industries that require these critical elements, including those in the U.S. Export of Seven Minerals Remains Paused Amid Tariff Truce A CNBC report said China temporarily paused export restrictions for 90 days following the trade truce, targeting a total of 28 American companies. China first imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements and magnets necessary for electric vehicles, wind turbines and fighter jets in the first week of April. This came in retaliation for the tariff package imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. When the 90-day tariff truce was announced, many anticipated that the supply situation related to rare earths would ease as well. However, reports on the ground indicate otherwise. China is reportedly carrying on with its export restrictions on seven rare earths, most of which are key to the U.S.s defense and energy sectors. The list includes Samarium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Lutetium, Scandium and Yttrium. One supply chain expert told MetalMiner that while the temporary tariff changes took place on May 14, the full impact of the higher tariffs remains uncertain. He noted that even with the U.S. and China negotiating, trade flows wont rebound quickly due to widespread order cancellations and shifts in trade routes. His advice: import-export companies should closely track developments throughout the 90-day window, which ends in mid-August. Global EV Companies Starting to Worry A report in the Financial Times quoted Wolfgang Niedermark, executive board member of the Federation of German Industries, as saying the window to limit major damage to European production in industries that require rare earths is fast ending. This is despite the fact that Beijings commerce ministry recently approved some licenses for exports to Europe after weeks of delay. Meanwhile, other European experts say the pace needs to pick up. The same report also speaks to concerns U.S. manufacturers such as Tesla and Lockheed Martin have raised in recent investor briefings regarding the supply situation. China Blames Export Slowdown on Endorsements Adding to the slow progress is confusion about whether the Chinese have started approving all rare earth mineral and magnet exports to the U.S. following the tariff war ceasefire. China continues to insist that rare earth and magnet importers give assurances that the magnets will only be used in EVs and not for military purposes. They claim endorsements from governments are delaying the export process, affecting not only manufacturers in the U.S. but also in other countries around the world, like India, a major EV driver. According to one report, EV manufacturers in particular are facing a potential shortage of rare earth magnets due to Chinas new export restrictions, which include neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are very important for EV motors, power steering systems, and braking mechanisms. Unreliable Entity List Under Scrutiny Meanwhile, CNBC reports that in addition to China temporarily deleting 28 U.S. companies from its export control list for dual-use items, granting a 90-day reprieve, it also lifted 17 firms off its unreliable entity list for a similar period. Under the Unreliable Entity List regulations, domestic companies can apply to do business with the listed entities. A report quoting a Chinese Commerce Department spokesperson said these applications will be reviewed by the Unreliable Entity List Working Mechanism, and approvals will be granted if they meet the necessary legal requirements. But on the same day, Chinas Commerce Ministry emphasized the countrys renewed crackdown on rare earth smuggling, calling for tighter government control over the strategic minerals, citing national security. Many of the 28 U.S. firms are linked to the defense sector. The first 16 were added to the export control list on April 4, shortly after then-President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods. The CNBC report states that 12 more were added on April 9, a date coinciding with Trumps pause on tariffs for all nations except China. Companies exporting dual-use goods from China have to get the green signal from Chinas Commerce Ministry even today. Meanwhile, firms on the unreliable entity list remain banned from trade or new investments in China. India Contemplates Desperate Measures So desperate is the global supply situation in India that some automakers are actually contemplating buying entire electric motor assemblies from Chinese suppliers at the cost of redesigning vehicles to accommodate standard motor sizes. Car makers there have already started discussions with the government to explore alternative sources. However, this process will take time. Western Countries Look Beyond China Because of Chinas stranglehold on rare earths, the U.S. and other countries like Brazil are speeding up efforts to mine and refine rare metals. Nobody likes a monopoly, yet China dominates the rare earth industry, mining 70% of global supply and processing 90% of it. Canadian company Aclara Resources is currently developing a rare earth mine in Brazil and plans to build a processing plant in the U.S. The company already has a buyer on board: VAC, a German firm constructing a magnet factory in South Carolina with Pentagon funding. It is important to note that Brazil has the worlds second-largest rare earth reserves. The U.S. and Europe are also working to reduce reliance on China, with the European Union aiming to process 40% of its critical raw materials domestically. Still, all of these efforts will take at least five years to come to fruition. By Sohrab Darabshaw More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A seminarian from the Archdiocese of Omaha said he felt a deep, spiritual connection to 2,000 years of Catholic teaching while attending the inaugural Mass of the first American pope in St. Peters Square. "The transition for really anything is always difficult, but it's reassuring to know the Catholic Church has been going through (these transitions) for almost 2,000 years," said Ethan Menning, who has been spending a semester studying in Rome. "What was so interesting to me is how right when Pope Leo gets elected, he's already saying things that had been said by Pope Francis, said by the last (Pope) Leo, Leo XIII. "He was saying things that St. Augustine said as his spiritual father as a Augustinian friar. Obviously, he's preaching the (same) Gospel and ... speaking the words that Christ did. Even though it's like a very wild time in Rome, Leo, himself, is like the calming, stabilizing presence." Archbishop Michael McGovern said Leo is a great role model for seminarians from the Omaha Archdiocese. The pope's words and actions, he said, will help them in their quest to serve people and speak about faith. "Our seminarians in Rome have been most fortunate to have a unique experience of the church during their seminary training," McGovern said. "They will see the beginning of Pope Leo XIVs ministry to the church around the world. I hope this will give them and their classmates a great experience of the unity of the church as we support Pope Leo in bringing a spirit of compassion to our world today." Menning, 22, is one of three children of Jason and Ann Menning of Gretna. He attended St. Patrick Catholic Church and graduated from Gretna High in 2022. He is a junior at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Every seminarian there can spend a semester in Rome during either their junior or senior year, he said. When he arrived in Rome in February, Menning had no inkling of the history that would unfold. The first seismic event he attended was the funeral Mass for Pope Francis, also in St. Peter's Square. "I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to be here. I mean who knew that Pope Francis was going to pass away this semester," Menning said. "That was obviously, like, very, very emotional because all Catholics, no matter what, have this connection, spiritual connection to Pope Francis. He feels like a father to everyone." Cardinal from Omaha expects Pope Leo XIV to resonate with Americans Pope Leo XIV, historys first American pope, said Sunday in an inaugural Mass in St. Peters Square that he hopes the Catholic Church becomes a symbol of peace in a troubled world. During Pope Leo's inaugural Mass, Menning, wrapped in an American flag, was spotted in the crowd by an Associated Press photographer. Menning said he brought the flag with him to Rome as a touchstone of his heritage. It garnered quite a bit of attention. "The Vatican police, they kind of quickly get everyone into their seats, but after that ... then I could walk around a little bit and I knew I was gonna get (attention). I knew it would catch people's eye, but it was to show them like, yeah, being an American is an awesome thing, and it's like a privilege, and I'm just really happy that we have an American pope." Many people at the Mass cheered him, Menning said, and a group of high school students from Georgia "all freaked out" when he greeted them in English. Leo's homily that day was in Italian. Outside of ordering an espresso, Menning said he struggles with the language. But he said the new pope's humility translated to everyone in attendance. "It takes a deep level of humility (to lead the Church) because ultimately the pope is representing millions and millions (of people) ... bringing Christ to them. That can only happen for the whole world if he almost steps out of the way to let Christ fill in that space." The continuity of the Catholic Church, Menning said, was evident at Francis' funeral and Leo's first Mass. A pope's role as shepherd of the flock never changes from the time of St. Peter, the first pope, to the present. "Peter had humbled himself (before Christ), then he gets the office of being head of the church and what's that mean but to be the shepherd of everyone," he said. "That ties into what (Leo) is talking about. 'OK, the Lord chose me,' and he's just humble about the whole thing because his whole ministry is about service." As President Donald Trump makes incremental progress toward the mass deportations hes promised, advocates from business, labor, agriculture, faith and community groups rallied in Omaha in support of immigrants and refugees and the important role they play in Nebraskas economy. Stoking fear about immigrants ... and mass-deporting people whose labor makes our country prosper is not only a betrayal of our values, its a recipe for economic disaster, said Sue Martin, president of the Nebraska State AFL-CIO, who was among about 200 people who rallied at a plaza in the South Omaha business district on 24th Street. The rally came days after a Monday ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that allows the Trump administration to strip protection from deportation from hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have been living in the United States legally. Itzel Lopez, CEO of the Latino Economic Development Council and a South Omaha business owner, said in an interview that Trumps actions have created fear that can be felt right in the business district. She said she has neighbors who are Venezuelan who arrived here through a legal asylum process. News like Mondays court decision serves as a constant reminder that even those that thought they were here through that legal process are now in fear of deportation, she said. Because these programs are being ended abruptly. Lopez herself is one of 3,000 Nebraskans living here legally under the Obama-era DACA program, which protects immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Its another program Trump has spoken out against whose future status is uncertain. Since Trump took office in January, there have been no large-scale immigration raids in Nebraska. Anne Wurth, an Omaha attorney with the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said the only apparent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the state have fit with what the administration has said were its initial priorities: deporting undocumented immigrants who defied orders to leave or who have been arrested on criminal charges. Large-scale enforcement is not something that weve seen in Nebraska, Wurth said, but it is something that we are prepared for if that does happen. Indeed, broader actions may be coming. The Supreme Courts ruling Monday allowed the Trump administration to revoke the Temporary Protected Status of some 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants, a move that paves the way for their deportation. TPS allows foreign nationals to live in the United States legally for a period of time if their home country is affected by extraordinary circumstances such as armed conflict. Those in the United States under the program apply for the status and can get permits to work under it. The TPS program has existed for decades, and then-President Joe Biden extended TPS protection to Venezuelans in 2021. What happens now to the thousands of Venezuelans affected by the order remains unclear. The administration has not signaled what it plans to do next, but Wurth said there are no doubt immigrants in Nebraska who could be impacted. Many of the actions pushed by Trump and his administration are in direct opposition to what many Nebraskans want, said Denise Bowyer of Omaha Together One Community, a 30-year-old Omaha community organization that organized the rally. She said moves like the effort to strip Venezuelans of legal status would mean a mass reduction of workers in key industries that rely on an immigrant and refugee workforce. Many of the speakers at Thursdays rally are part of a broader state coalition of 70 agricultural, business and immigrant advocacy groups formed in September. Speakers said the prosperity of all Nebraskans depends on immigration and refugee resettlement, which help to provide the workers to fuel the states economy and the families that can help communities thrive. Not only would deporting immigrant workers be bad for the economy, it would further drive up prices for everyone, Martin said. Advocates said whats needed now isnt mass deportations but systematic change to federal immigration law that will ensure the state has the workers it needs to grow. Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, said the chamber hears from businesses every day that are struggling to fill job openings. The urgency is crystal clear, he said. These open jobs cut across multiple different sectors, from health care to manufacturing to construction to agriculture and beyond, and our employers are simply looking for skilled and motivated individuals. Yet we all know the remedy to this problem. John Hansen, longtime president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said he thinks theres a reason the nation has yet to see mass deportations: They wont be easy to pull off. I think the intention is fairly clear, he said in an interview. The logistics are problematic. But I take them at their word. I think they are serious about rounding up folks. He said thats why its important for Nebraskans to stand up on the issue before that happens, a theme of many of the rally speakers Thursday. We are growing the food, building the homes, running big and small businesses, caring for families and keeping Nebraska moving forward, said Lina Traslavina Stover, executive director of the Heartland Workers Center, a South Omaha advocacy organization. We are your neighbors, co-workers and community leaders. This moment calls for high-stakes allyship not quiet support, but real action. A split 4-4 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court revealed Thursday morning leaves intact an earlier ruling by Oklahoma's highest court that a proposed religious charter school is unconstitutional. Oklahoma Catholic leaders and the state board that initially offered them sanctioning appealed after a proposal to expand Catholic religious teachings to rural areas through St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School was halted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court before the scheme ever got off the ground. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who successfully challenged the constitutionality of requiring taxpayers to fund a religious school, celebrated the final decision on the matter by SCOTUS. "I am proud to have fought against this potential cancer in our state, and I will continue upholding the law, protecting our Christian values and defending religious liberty," Drummond posted on social media. The case hinged on Oklahoma Catholic leaders insistence that charter schools, which are defined in state and federal law as public schools, are actually private schools and that denying them equal access to government funding to operate one would violate their right to free exercise of religion. Many of the founders and top advocates of charter schools across the nation opposed the idea, arguing in friend-of-the-court briefs that the idea for St. Isidore posed a threat to all charter school funding, and the original concept behind them as a public school alternative to school district-operated, traditional public schools. "The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court," was the result of the appeal by St. Isidore and the Statewide Charter School Board to the U.S. Supreme Court announced Thursday morning. Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused from the matter, opening the possibility of the 4-4 tie by the remaining justices. Thursdays announcement by the Supreme Court gave no indication which justices voted for or against the St. Isidore charter school proposal, but Chief Justice John Roberts was widely considered to hold the deciding vote which in this case, was most likely a vote alongside Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor. As reported by the Tulsa World from oral arguments in late April, Chief Justice Roberts only questions of the day centered on the state of Oklahomas role in St. Isidore as a charter school, including the role government plays in charter schools curriculum. St. Isidores proponents had said publicly that the application for state sanctioning and funding was developed in concert with a religious liberty clinic at the University of Notre Dame Law School, where Barrett, a conservative bloc member, once taught. She also has past ties to the conservative Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, whose lawyers are handling the Statewide Virtual Charter School Boards half of the appeal to the Supreme Court. From 2011 to 2017, Barrett was paid to teach at a summer program for Christian law students that was facilitated by ADF. Reactions to SCOTUS opinion Drummond, who pushed back against the position of Gov. Kevin Stitt and Stitt's previous appointed AG John O'Connor on the St. Isidore proposal from his earliest days in elected office in early 2023, continued to explain himself while celebrating Thursday morning's news out of SCOTUS. "The Supreme Court's decision represents a resounding victory for religious liberty and for the foundational principles that have guided our nation since its founding. This ruling ensures that Oklahoma taxpayers will not be forced to fund radical Islamic schools, while protecting the religious rights of families to choose any school they wish for their children," said the full press statement from Drummond, who has already announced his candidacy for governor in 2026. I have always maintained that we must faithfully uphold the Constitution, even when it requires us to make difficult decisions. I will continue upholding the law, protecting our Christian values, and defending religious libertyregardless of how difficult the battle may be. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools was among 76 organizations from within the charter school movement including charter school authorizers or sponsors, school leaders and parents that submitted court briefs in favor of the Oklahoma Supreme Courts 2024 decision that a religious charter school would be unconstitutional. "Todays decision from the Supreme Court leaves the lower Courts ruling in place and sends an important message: public charter schools are just that, public. This case may not be the last time the Court takes up the question of religious charter schools, but todays outcome offers clarity for families and educators," said the group's President and CEO Starlee Coleman. "Charter schools were launched to offer more public-school options. Families choose public charter schools because they provide innovative, student-centered learning environments tailored to students unique needs and because they are accountable to families and taxpayers. Thats what makes them special, and thats what were here to protect. With this legal clarity, we can move forward with renewed focus on expanding access to high-quality public charter schools for every family nationwide." American Civil Liberties Union also filed a Supreme Court amicus brief, arguing that the Oklahoma Supreme Court correctly ruled that charter schools are public schools and, as such, must abide by state and federal constitutional protections. Requiring states to allow religious public schools would dismantle religious freedom and public education as we know it, said Cecillia Wang, national legal director of the ACLU. Today, a core American constitutional value remains in place: Public schools must remain secular and welcome all students, regardless of faith. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, whose lawyers have been working for a group of Oklahoma taxpayers that filed the first legal challenge to the St. Isidore charter school proposal in district court, hailed Thursday's outcome as a "safeguard" to public education and the separation of church and state "Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and serve all students," said AU President and CEO Rachel Laser. "St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which planned to discriminate against students, families, and staff and indoctrinate students into one religion, cannot operate as a public charter school. A religious public school would be an abject violation of religious freedom. We will continue our efforts to protect inclusive public education. We call on this nation to recommit to church-state separation before this safeguard of democracy and freedom is further attacked. The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee, the lead plaintiff in that original, district court lawsuit, also reacted Thursday. The group is a statewide, grassroots network of parents and educators that advocates for non-partisan solutions to improve and protect public education. Today, were celebrating a huge victory for students, taxpayers, religious people, and democracy," said OKPLAC Chairwoman Misty Bradley. "The Supreme Courts decision upholds the Oklahoma Supreme Courts ruling that taxpayer funding of a religious public school is unconstitutional. The parents of OKPLAC were proud to be the original plaintiff in this case and we are thrilled with this long-awaited outcome. State Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, assistant leader of the Oklahoma House Democrats, said: Today, our U.S. Constitution held strong. In Oklahoma, we have had a front row seat to the effort to embed religious instruction into our public schools. Today, we are reassured that religious teaching, no matter the denomination or belief, remains in the rightful hands of parents and guardians, and not on the shoulders of Oklahoma taxpayers. Andrea Eger's reporting on St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School LINCOLN Nebraska lawmakers did not accept a slate of line-item vetoes Gov. Jim Pillen issued on the states upcoming budget Thursday, claiming the governor missed his veto deadline. Pillen approved the states next two-year budget, but vetoed several items that would have decreased funding for the Nebraska Supreme Court, public health departments, fire marshals and a lake project in western Nebraska. Pillens letter announcing the vetoes was made public at 11:24 p.m. Wednesday night, after the Legislature had adjourned. Speaker of the Legislature John Arch said because the Legislature did not receive the returned bills with his line-item vetoes until Thursday morning, that went past the five-day deadline for gubernatorial vetoes outlined in the Nebraska Constitution. As such, we dont believe we can accept these vetoes, Arch said. I have directed the clerk to return the bills to the governor with a message outlining the facts. The current budget plan proposes a 0.9% increase to state expenses equating to about $11.1 billion in general fund spending over the next biennium, which starts on July 1, 2025 and goes through June 30, 2027. It also closes a projected deficit that at one point was as high as $432 million, and will leave about $2.6 million leftover by the end of the cycle. Budget bills are the only legislation that Pillen has the power to line-item veto. But with any legislation, the governor has five days (not including Sunday) to file his vetoes back to the Nebraska Legislature. Because the budget bills passed on May 15, that made Wednesday the deadline. In a statement from Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple, the governor took action on the budget bills around 1 p.m. Wednesday and the bills with his vetoes were received by the clerks office the same evening. Strimple said Pillen followed the proper legal steps to use his veto authority by surrendering physical possession of the bills within the five-day deadline. The timely transmittal of line-item veto items to the Legislature and the Secretary of States office yesterday was not only consistent with past procedural practice for such actions, but also with the express and specific logistical requests of those offices, Strimples statement read. Pillen sought to veto four items in the budget proposal. First, he vetoed a proposed increase to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which would reduce the high courts budget nearly $12 million over the next two years. Every branch of government must contribute to balancing our state budget, Pillen said in his veto letter. Pillen argued that spending by the state supreme court has increased 36% in the last five years, and claimed the courts administrative leadership has not taken the necessary steps to reduce spending. Second, Pillen vetoed more than $500,000 in increases to the State Fire Marshals salary and health insurance premiums. He claimed the agency already has sufficient funding to support these increases. Third, Pillen vetoed $1 million going toward public health departments, which were already slated to be cut $3.5 million. The veto would restore Pillens initial recommendation to cut the departments budgets $4.5 million overall. He argued the cuts are needed to restore local budgets to pre-pandemic levels. Finally, Pillen vetoed an $18 million cash fund reappropriation for recreational upgrades to Lake McConaughy. He noted the scope of the project has changed multiple times, and continues to evolve, and argued that its worthy of further discussion about other potential mechanisms to fund it. Most of Pillens vetoes would mark a reversal of hard-fought battles on the floor and in committee. For example, lawmakers narrowly voted 26-17 on the floor to restore $3 million to the state supreme courts budget. Court officials told lawmakers that the $3 million cut would force them to reduce or eliminate several programs, including multiple county-level problem-solving courts and services for juveniles on probation. State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, who proposed the change, argued these programs reduce recidivism rates and ultimately will save Nebraska money in the long run. He pointed out that incarcerating one person costs about $41,000 per year, while it only costs about $4,400 to have the same person participate in a problem-solving court. We are not saving the state money, Holdcroft said of the reduction. We are making the problem worse and paying more for it down the line. Several lawmakers speculated that the specific items Pillen vetoed were revenge for the failure of Legislative Bill 170 earlier this week, which would have increased sales taxes on tobacco and vaping products to bolster property tax relief. Pillen devoted an entire section at the top of his veto letter to talk about how disappointed he was in the outcome. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said the veto of the Lake McConaughy funds seemed targeted at Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, who voted against LB 170, because the lake is within his district. Cavanaugh herself was a vocal advocate of restoring public health department funding, and she also voted against the bill. Strommen said he was disappointed by Pillens vetoes, but declined to say he felt targeted by them. I dont know why he did what he did, Strommen said. The only option Pillen has to challenge the Legislatures decision is to file a lawsuit, but its unclear whether thats an option he will pursue. Strimples statement said the Legislatures decision leaves them at an impasse with the Governors Office, and said Pillen will consult with the Attorney Generals Office on the next steps to effectuate the law. Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk said this was probably the best outcome for everyone involved, including the governor. He said most other lawmakers he talked to Thursday disapproved of at least one of Pillens vetoes, but trying to override them would have led to a heated floor debate. Were going to keep the peace, and were all going to go home, Dover said. By National Federation of Independent Business May 22, 2025 The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nations leading small business advocacy organization, has released two new digital tools to help small business owners, policymakers, and the public in Oregon understand the significant economic impact of the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction and whats at stake if Congress fails to make it permanent. The new tools include an interactive map that allows users to explore how extending the Small Business Deduction would power job creation and GDP growth in every congressional district across Oregon. NFIB also launched a tax calculator to provide small business owners in Oregon with personalized estimates of how much more they could owe in federal income taxes in 2026 if the deduction expires. View the interactive map here and the calculator here. These new tools give small business owners and elected leaders in Oregon real data about the economic stakes, said Anthony Smith, state director for NFIB in Oregon. If Congress fails to act, millions of small businesses across the countryincluding right here in Oregonwill face a massive tax hike. That means fewer jobs, less investment, and slower growth for our communities. We urge Congress to make the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent. We also applaud the United States House of Representatives passing the One Big Beautiful Act this morning. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is one of the most pro-small business pieces of legislation in recent history, and Congress has a historic opportunity to provide over 33 million small business owners with permanent tax relief. According to NFIBs interactive map, if the deduction is extended, Oregon could see an increase of 35,294 jobs and $2 billion in GDP over the next decade. The district-level data allow lawmakers and local leaders to understand exactly how small businesses in their communities stand to gain when the tax deduction is made permanent or lose if it is not. The tax calculator helps individual small business owners project their potential tax increase if the deduction is not extended. For example, an Oregon small business owner with a personal income of $75,000 and qualified business income of $150,000 could see a tax increase of more than $13,000, depending on their full financial profile. To explore the tools and learn more about how NFIB is working to protect Oregons small businesses, visit: www.SmallBusinessDeduction.com Keep up with the latest Oregon small-business news at www.nfib.com or on X at @NFIB_OR By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that measure 119 approved by voters last November requiring Oregon cannabis retailers and processors to contract with a bona fide labor organizationTeamsters or UFCW 555to create certain labor agreements is unconstitutional. For the record, the Taxpayers Association of Oregon was the ONLY organization to provide an opposition statement to Measure 119 in the Statewide Voters Pamphlet at the time. TAO does not believe government should censor business owners from communicating to their employees on union matters. Two Portland cannabis businesses filed a lawsuit in February, contending that Ballot Measure 119, also known as the United for Cannabis Workers Act, violates their First Amendment rights by requiring them to contract with labor organizations and remain neutral in communicating with employees about labor issues and bargaining rights. They also said the measure violates the National Labor Relations Act and would harm their businesses. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Australian ice-breaker RSV Nuyina, cruising around Antarctica. Credit: Pete Harmsen/Australian Antarctic Division A little-known ocean current surrounds Antarctica, shielding it from warm water farther north. But our new research published in Geophysical Research Letters shows Antarctica's melting ice is disrupting this current, putting the continent's last line of defense at risk. We found meltwater from Antarctica is speeding up the current, known as the Antarctic Slope Current. And it's set to become even faster by mid-century. A faster current could be more unstable. This means eddies of warm water could eat away at Antarctica's ice, posing a major concern for the stability of Earth's climate system. Faster ice-melt means faster sea-level rise. Humanity must act now to preserve this natural phenomenon that helps Antarctica's ice shelves remain intact. Melting of Antarctic ice has global consequences Antarctica is melting as the world warms. This causes sea levels to rise. Even just a few centimeters of sea-level rise can double the chance of flooding in vulnerable coastal regions. Previous research has shown meltwater is also slowing the global network of deep ocean currents. These currents transport water, heat and nutrients around the planet, so a global slow-down has huge ramifications. It's therefore crucial to reduce further loss of Antarctic ice, to stabilize our global climate system. The Antarctic Slope Current moves ocean water westward over the continental slope, close to the coast. It acts as a barrier, preventing warm waters from farther north from reaching the ice. In this way, the current provides an important line of defense keeping warmer water at bay. It doesn't stop Antarctica from melting, because warming air temperatures still cause this. But it slows the process. However, our research shows this defense is under threat. What we did We wanted to find out how the Antarctic Slope Current will respond to changes in wind, heat, and meltwater as the climate changes. We did this using high-resolution ocean-sea ice models. The meltwater makes the ocean around Antarctica less salty. This makes the waters closer to the coast less dense, changing the structure of the Antarctic Slope Current and speeding it up. The models predicted a 14% increase in the speed of the current over the past 25 years and a 49% increase over the next 25 years. But meltwater from Antarctic ice has another effect too. We found the added water also slows down the movement of dense, salty coastal water in "waterfalls" running off the Antarctic coast that feeds into the global overturning current network. When these waterfalls of dense water slow down, warmer waters are able to flow closer to the Antarctic continent. Together, these changes compound and cause the Antarctic Slope Current to speed up even more. A complex story It might be assumed the changes we modeled would be a good thing for Antarctica. That's because the stronger the Antarctic Slope Current, the stronger the barrier between Antarctica and the warm waters to the north. But there's more to the story. When ocean currents flow faster, they become more turbulentgenerating vigorous eddies or whirlpools. You can see this effect if you rapidly run your hand through a bathtub of water. Watch for the dynamic, circular whirlpools in your hand's wake. Ocean eddies are also becoming more vigorous under climate change. Around Antarctica, whirlpools or eddies can move large amounts of warm water towards the poles. This can make melting worse. So although a stronger current might be expected to act as a better shield for Antarctica, the extra eddies in its wake can have the opposing effect. These eddies can amplify the transport of heat towards Antarctica, increasing melting. Why this matters No matter how uncertain Antarctica's future may be, one thing is clear: this frozen frontier is crucial to the stability of our global climate. The Antarctic Slope Current was once a steadfast guardian of the icy continent. But now the current is being transformed by the very ice it protects. Humanity must act fast to preserve the current, by cutting carbon emissions. When it comes to Antarctica, this action isn't optionalit's the only way to hold the line. More information: Ellie Q. Y. Ong et al, Transient Antarctic Slope Current Response to Climate Change Including Meltwater, Geophysical Research Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024GL113983 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Anti-environmentalism is gaining ground. Attacks on the net zero goal and hostility to conservation measures and anti-pollution targets are becoming more common. And, as recent election results have shown, these tactics are reshaping politics in Britain and across the West. Anti-environmentalism is a rejection of both environmental initiatives and activism. But despite its sudden rise and bold rhetoric, it is built on shaky foundations. The messages it offers are often contradictory and row against the tide of everyday experience. Take the US president, Donald Trump. He dismantled many environmental protections in his last term of office, and is now removing those that are leftincluding support for research that even mentions the word climate. Yet he told a rally in Wisconsin in 2024: "I'm an environmentalist. I want clean air and clean water. Really clean water. Really clean air." Some of the contradictions of anti-environmentalism reflect its departure from traditional conservatism. Although routinely identified as "conservative," the populist anti-green politics of Republicans in the US and Reform in the UK, along with the AfD in Germany and National Rally in France, represent a radical challenge to the ideals of continuity and conservation that were once at the heart of conservatism. The Conservative Environment Network is an organization which pitches itself as an "independent forum for conservatives in the UK and around the world who support net zero, nature restoration and resource security." Much of this network's work involves reminding people that important environmental protections, from America's national parks to controls on pollution and climate change in Britain and elsewhere, were introduced by conservatives. But few on the right appear to be listening. A populist tide is washing this conservative tradition away, despite the fact that support for environmental protection remains very popular. Polling indicates that 80% of people in the UK worry about climate change. Public backing for the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency is also overwhelming, including among Republican voters. In part, this support reflects the fact that environmental damage is an everyday reality: unpredictable weather, the collapse of animal and insect populations, and a range of other challenges are not just on the TV, they are outside the window. In my research for a forthcoming book on environmental nostalgia across the world, I keep bumping into an irony. In Western nations, voices from the right say they want their country back, yet appear hostile to environmental policies that would protect their country and ensure its survival. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. There are many reasons for this disconnect, including resentment against initiatives that require lifestyle and livelihood changes. However, the enmity and disengagement is more complicated than a simple rejection of nature. Many peopleincluding Trump himselfclaim they are environmentalists even when the evidence suggests otherwise. The signs and symbols of environmental care are knitted into every aspect of our commercial and cultural life: if wildlife could sue for copyright, there would be a lot of rich bears. I argue that a distinction can be made between what I call "cold" and "hot" forms of environmentalism. The former values and mourns the loss of nature, but as a spectacle to be observeda set of appealing images of flora and faunawhile the latter feels implicated and anxious. The former position allows people to claim they love nature yet be indifferent or even hostile to initiatives to save it. However, the line between cold and hot, or between anti- and pro-environmentalist, is neither fixed nor hard. Another quality of anti-environmentalism is that its beliefs are changeable, even quixotic. Climate change is an example. Reform's leaders have long flirted with climate change denial. "Climate change has happened for millions of years," explained former Reform UK leader Richard Tice in 2024, adding that "the idea that you can stop the power of the sun or volcanoes is simply ludicrous." Tice has not changed his views but later the same year, the party's new leader, Nigel Farage, told the BBC that he was "not arguing the science." Like other populist parties, Reform adopts a mobile position on the environment, moving between denying that climate change is happening or that humans are causing it, and the very different contention that anthropogenic climate change is real but that environmental targets are unreachable and unfair, given that other nations (China is often mentioned) supposedly do so little. A post-western paradox Researchers are only just starting to think about anti-environmentalism. One key analysis is environmental politics researcher John Hultgren's The Smoke and the Spoils: Anti-Environmentalism and Class Struggle in the United States. This new book explains how Republicans managed to convince working-class voters that there is "zero-sum dichotomy between jobs and environmental protection, workers and environmentalists." This kind of binary has also been found by contributors to The Handbook of Anti-Environmentalism, who identify and critique the stereotyping of environmentalism as middle-class and elite in several Western countries. Yet the geographical focus of these pioneering works misses yet another of the paradoxes of anti-environmentalism: that although its rhetoric often accuses China and other non-Western countries of doing little, there has been a significant environmental turn in both policy and public attitudes beyond Europe and the US. Environmentalism is becoming post-Western. This is partly because the realities of environmental damage are so stark across much of Asia and Africa. Extreme temperatures and unpredictable brainfall are leading to food insecurity and community displacement. Environmentalism in the African Sahel and South Asia might better be called "survivalism." And despite its continuing reliance on fossil fuels, China's state-led vision of a transition to a conservationist and decarbonized "ecological civilization" is positioning it as a global environmental leader. Stereotypes of environmentalism being primarily a Western concern are crumbling. Because of this, along with the many contradictions that beset it, the rise of anti-environmentalism appears not only complex, but curious and unsustainable. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Kristin Brunk A new study led by Cornell Lab of Ornithology researchers at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics shows that monitoring and managing select bird species can provide benefits for other species within specific regions. The research, published in the journal Conservation Biology, analyzed more than 892,000 hours of bird sounds recorded across California's Sierra Nevada to test a long-standing conservation strategymonitoring and protecting a few surrogate species can provide information and protection for the community as a whole, what scientists call the umbrella species concept. "We've long assumed that by monitoring one or a handful of species, we can gain insights about what's happening with many other species that use similar habitats," said lead author Kristin Brunk, a postdoctoral fellow at the Cornell Lab's K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics who is now at the University of Oslo in Norway. "But this assumption has rarely been tested at the large scales where it's often applied." Brunk and her colleagues used advanced recording devices and artificial intelligence to study the co-occurrence of six surrogate species, including the California spotted owl and black-backed woodpecker, along with 63 other bird species across 25,000 square kilometers of forestan area the size of Vermont. These six surrogate species were chosen because each is thought to represent a unique set of conditions that also support other species that rely on similar habitat features. For example, the presence of the California spotted owl is often thought to indicate mature forests, an increasingly rare habitat type that other species such as golden-crowned kinglet, hermit warbler, and hermit thrush also rely on. The umbrella species idea suggests that protecting habitat for the spotted owl should also benefit other mature forest species. The Yang Center's SwiftOne recording devices captured bird sounds day and night at 1,651 locations in the Sierra Nevada, while machine learning software called BirdNETalso developed at the Yang Centerhelped identify species from hundreds of thousands of hours of recordings. "We're entering a new era of conservation science," said co-author Connor Wood, research faculty at the Yang Center. "These tools allow us to collect and analyze data at scales that were impossible just a few years ago." The team found that 95% of the other forest birds they studied showed positive associations with at least one of the six surrogate species. This suggests that managing forests to promote the habitat characteristics needed by these six birds could help preserve habitat for many other species as well. "We were really excited to see these results develop, because it's one of the first real tests of the umbrella species concept," said Wood. "It's something you learn about in introductory conservation biology classes, but until now no one has really had the data needed to actually test the theory." "With this dataset, we were able to study not only how effective the surrogate species were, but also how their effectiveness changed over the large latitudinal gradient of the Sierra Nevada," said Brunk. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Being able to test the effectiveness of surrogate species over larger areas, the researchers said, is a key output from their research. They found that the effectiveness of the surrogate species changed depending on latitude. A bird species strongly associated with a surrogate species in the northern Sierra Nevada might show no relationship, or even a negative one, in the southern portion of the range. "This finding has important implications for conservation," Brunk explained. "It tells us we need to be careful about assuming what works in one area will work everywhere else. The habitat needs of a species are often not stationary. They change across the species' range, and we have to think about that when we choose surrogate species to monitor. Surrogate species strategies should be assessed at the same scale at which they will be applied." The researchers stressed that selecting the right surrogate species is also important. "A good surrogate species should be enough of a specialist that it's clearly associated with some set of conditions to provide a conservation umbrella for other species," said Wood. The study comes at a crucial time for forest managers faced with mounting threats from climate change, severe wildfires, and limited resources. The research team hopes their findings will help forest managers make more informed decisions by understanding which species serve as reliable indicators of forest healthand where these relationships hold truemanagers can better target their conservation efforts. More information: Kristin M. Brunk et al, Assessing spatial variability and efficacy of surrogate species at an ecosystem scale, Conservation Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/cobi.70058 Journal information: Conservation Biology 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: A combine harvest in Lincolnshire, eastern England, as Britain suffers its driest spring in over a century. Parts of northern Europe have seen their worst drought in decades in recent weeks, with farmers from Scotland to the Netherlands fearing the dry spell will dent harvests if it continues. Water shortages can stunt the growth of crops such as wheat, corn, rapeseed and barley, Nicolas Guilpart, a lecturer in agronomy at the Agro Paris Tech research institute, told AFP. Countries including France, Belgium, Britain and Germany have seen much lower levels of rainfall than usual in some areas this spring, leaving the soil parched and dusty. The unusually dry weather has already delayed the life cycle of crops that would normally have sprouted by now. Luke Abblitt, a farmer in eastern England, said he was "praying for the rain" as Britain suffers its driest spring in well over a century. The weather is going from "one extreme to the other," he told AFP. "We're having a lot of rain in the wintertime, not so much rain in the spring or summertime," he said. "We need to adapt our cultivation methods, look at different varieties, different cropping possibly to combat these adverse weather conditions." According to the Environment Agency, levels in Britain's reservoirs have fallen to "exceptionally low." Some farmers have begun irrigating their crops earlier than usual, the National Farmers' Union said, calling for investments to improve water storage and collection systems. Water levels have fallen in the Rhine near Cologne, Germany -- the country recorded its lowest rainful in the first months of the year since 1931. High sun levels In the Netherlands, it has not been this dry since records began in 1906, while in neighboring Belgium you have to go back 130 years to find a season this parched. "We've never seen anything like this, in early spring," said Pascal Mormal, of Belgium's royal weather institute (IRM). Germany's environment minister warned in April of a high risk of forest fires and poor harvests due to a "worrying" lack of rain. From February 1 to April 13, Germany saw 40 liters of rainfall per square meter, its lowest level since records began in 1931, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). And in early May, the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) warned that the previous three months had been exceptionally dry, with just 63 millimeters of rainfall. Since 1874, there have only been seven times when less rain fell during the period from February to April, it said. Denmark has also seen above-average temperatures for the time of year. The country's drought index, which runs on a scale of one to 10, has been above nine since May 15, the first time this has happened so early in the year since the index was established in 2005. The Federation of Swedish Farmers said it was "too early to say what the impact on farming will be this summer" but advised farmers to go over their water planning. A nearly dry pond near Oud-Heverlee in Belgium. Irrigation In France, groundwater levels remain satisfactory but plants need surface water to growand that means rain. Northern France has been on drought alert since Monday after seeing the same rainfall between February and early May as it would normally see in a month. Strong northeast winds have also dried out the soil, with farmers increasingly turning to irrigation. Between March and May, the village of Beuvry-la-Foret saw only one-eighth the amount of rainfall compared to the same period last year. Chicory farmer Sebastien De Coninck told AFP that until five years ago, "irrigation was not even considered in the north"but these days it can as much as double crop production. Irrigation can help compensate for low rainfall, agronomist Guilpart said, but "you need the resources to do it." Water for irrigation is primarily obtained from surface water such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs or from groundwater using wells and aquifers. In France, air temperatures have also been warmer than usual, meaning plants need more water from the soil. The dry spell in northern Europe contrasts with southern Europe, including Spain and Portugal, where rainfall has been up to twice the usual amount for the time of year. 2025 AFP 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: New international research from Tulane University is the first study to demonstrate global-scale patterns in how El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences mangrove growth and degradation. Credit: Daniel Friess, Tulane University A new international study led by researchers at Tulane University shows that the El Nino and La Nina climate patterns affect nearly half of the world's mangrove forests, underscoring the vulnerability of these vital coastal ecosystems to climatic shifts. Mangroves are shrubs or trees that grow in dense thickets mainly in coastal saline or brackish water. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, is based on nearly two decades of satellite data from 2001 to 2020 and is the first study to demonstrate global-scale patterns in how El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences mangrove growth and degradation. Previously, impacts had only been documented at individual sites, such as a dramatic die-off in northern Australia in 2015 when more than 40 million mangrove trees perished along a 1,200-mile stretch of coastline. "We wanted to know whether these events were isolated or part of a broader pattern," said lead author Zhen Zhang, a postdoctoral scholar at Tulane School of Science and Engineering. "Our findings confirm that ENSO has large-scale, recurring effects on mangrove ecosystems around the world." El Nino is a climate pattern of Pacific Ocean temperature and wind shifts that affect global weather. El Nino brings warm waters to the eastern Pacific; La Nina brings cool waters there. These changes disrupt rainfall, storms, and temperatures worldwidecausing floods, droughts, and shifts in hurricane activity. New study shows the "seesaw" effect of El Nino and La Nina causes floods, droughts and shifts in hurricane activity, stressing mangrove forests worldwide. Credit: Daniel Friess, Tulane University El Nino is known for triggering coral bleaching, droughts, wildfires, and now, researchers have confirmed it also plays a major role in mangrove health. The study identified a striking "seesaw" effect: During El Nino events, mangroves in the Western Pacific experience widespread degradation, while those in the Eastern Pacific see increased growth. The opposite occurs during La Nina events, with growth in the west and decline in the east. Researchers pinpointed sea level changes as the key driver behind these patterns. For example, El Nino often causes sea levels to drop temporarily in the Western Pacific, increasing soil salinity and leading to mangrove dieback. The research team, including collaborators from Xiamen University and the National University of Singapore, used satellite-derived Leaf Area Index data, which measures plant productivity based on leaf density, alongside oceanic and climate datasets to assess mangrove health over time. New study shows the "seesaw" effect of El Nino and La Nina causes floods, droughts and shifts in hurricane activity, stressing mangrove forests worldwide. Credit: Daniel Friess, Tulane University Tulane Earth and Environmental Sciences professor Daniel Friess, a co-author of the study, said mangrove forests provide essential services to hundreds of millions of people worldwide, including storm protection, carbon storage and fisheries support. But their existence depends on a narrow set of environmental conditions, making them particularly sensitive to climate variations like El Nino. "Mangroves are one of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, yet they exist in a delicate balance with their environment," Friess said. "A better understanding of how this unique habitat is influenced by changing environmental conditions will help us conserve and restore them, while supporting the coastal communities that rely on them." More information: Study shows how El Nino and La Nina climate swings threaten mangroves worldwide, Nature Geoscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-025-01701-8 Journal information: Nature Geoscience 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: Synthesis of the influence of the different scenarios on the abundance of individual planktonic groups. Credit: Limnology and Oceanography (2025). DOI: 10.1002/lno.70042 Temperatures around the world continue to riseand the North Sea is no exception. Yet, in addition to this gradual warming, increasingly frequent and intense heat events also have consequences for marine organisms. Researchers at the Marine Station Helgoland, a research facility of the Alfred Wegener Institute, have quantified the frequency and intensity of these heat waves along with their repercussions for plankton. The researchers found that gradual warming causes significant shifts in the species spectrum. When heat waves are added, however, these alterations are amplified. The results have been published in three publications, the most recent in Limnology and Oceanography. An earlier study was published in the same journal and another appeared in the Journal of Animal Ecology. From rising sea levels and new introductions of species to a temperature increase of 1.9C since 1962, there is clear evidence that the North Sea is changing more rapidly at present than it has for millennia. Yet, given that climate change takes place over long timescalesfrom a human perspective, at leastthese changes can seem slow and gradual, perhaps not so serious, because many organisms might adapt gradually. "This puzzle, however, misses a key piece," says Dr. Cedric Meunier. "And that's marine heat waves." Meunier researches the ecology of shelf sea systems at the Marine Station Helgoland (BAH), which became part of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in 1998. In collaboration with researchers from various disciplines, Meunier has focused on marine heat waves and their potential impact on plankton. During these periods of intense heat, water temperatures rise suddenlyusually as a result of a preceding atmospheric heat waveand remain well above average temperatures for several days. Given their abruptness and intensity, researchers aimed to determine how these heat waves impact organisms. They have analyzed historical measurement data, examined the frequency and intensity of heat waves over recent decades through to the present day, and conducted an experiment looking at the future of the North Sea ecosystem. The 2024 papers focus on the past and the present. The third paper completes the cycle by focusing on the future impact of these heat waves. The researchers' historical analysis was made possible by Helgoland Roads, one of the world's longest and most detailed ecological time series. Thanks to the tireless efforts of numerous researchers, the Helgoland Roads time series seamlessly documents the North Sea pelagic ecosystem since 1962. In their analysis of temperature data, ecologist Dr. Luis Gimenez and his colleagues identified that marine heat waves have occurred more frequently in the German Bight over recent decades, through to the present dayand last longer, too. These heat waves are more common in late summer, when average temperatures in the annual cycle are at their highest. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. A second study showed that heat waves have already exerted a significant impact on organisms. "We have identified substantial changes in medium-sized zooplankton, including copepods, as a result of temporary temperature increases," explains Margot Deschamps, another BAH researcher. "Some groups were decimated after a heat wave, at least temporarily, while others appeared to benefit and proliferate." In the third research article, the team investigate future potential changes. They relied on one of the world's most advanced mesocosm facilities at the AWI Wadden Sea Station on Sylt. Each of the 30 cylindrical tanks (mesocosms) is 85 centimeters tall, 170 centimeters wide and holds about 1,800 liters of sea water. By making targeted adjustments to the water's temperature, pH value and nutrient content, researchers are able to simulate the conditions in the world of tomorrow. As such, the mesocosms act as time machines, transporting the plankton within them into the future. In this experiment, the research team exposed plankton from the North Sea to both current conditions and the conditions projected by RCP 8.5a "business as usual" scenario defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In this scenario, the global community's CO 2 emissions would continue to rise to over 100 gigatons by 2100, which could lead to a global temperature increase of 4C to 5C. Current conditions and "business as usual" RCP 8.5 conditions were simulated both without and with five-days-long heat waves which warmed the water by 2C above average. "The results indicate that climate change may cause shifts at many levels within the plankton community, which are further amplified or modified by heat waves," explains Meunier. "Certain bacterial groups benefit from these environmental changes, including some bacteria from the genus Vibrio, which are potentially dangerous to humans. "While the total biomass of phytoplankton remains constant in the RCP 8.5 scenario, the composition of species shifts in favor of smaller species. The additional impact of heat waves particularly benefits coccolithophores, which feature a calcium carbonate shell, and phytoflagellates. Even stronger shifts occur in zooplankton communities. "We observe a reduction in total biomass under warmer conditions, especially regarding medium-sized mesozooplankton. Additional heat waves have a particularly negative impact on Noctiluca scintillans, a species known for its bioluminescence." Taken as a whole, the three research papers emphatically demonstrate the vast changes in species communities of North Sea plankton resulting from continued global temperature increases. However, focusing solely on average temperatures is not sufficient for ecological forecasts. This is because short-term events, such as heat waves, can modify, and potentially further amplify these effects. "With this in mind, it is important to keep an eye not only on long-term climate trends but also on short-term events, like heat waves," says Cedric Meunier. "Marine heat waves impact organisms at the basis of the food web. This could have consequences for higher levels, such as fish." 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: Time-resolved cryo-EM captures Lis1s effect on dyneins conformational landscape during ATP hydrolysis. Credit: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41594-025-01558-w Our cells rely on microscopic highways and specialized protein vehicles to move everythingfrom positioning organelles to carting protein instructions to disposing of cellular garbage. These highways (called microtubules) and vehicles (called motor proteins) are indispensable to cellular function and survival. The dysfunction of motor proteins and their associated proteins can lead to severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. For example, the dysfunction of Lis1, a partner protein to the motor protein dynein, can lead to the rare fatal birth defect lissencephaly, or "smooth brain," for which there is no cure. But therapeutics that target and restore dynein or Lis1 function could change those dismal outcomesand developing those therapeutics depends on thoroughly understanding how dynein and Lis1 interact. New research from the Salk Institute and UC San Diego captured short movies of Lis1 "turning on" dynein. The movies allowed the team to catalog 16 shapes that the two proteins take as they interact, some of which have never been seen before. These insights will be foundational for designing future therapeutics that restore dynein and Lis1 function, since they shine a light on precise locations where drugs could interact with the proteins. The findings were published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology on May 23, 2025. "I've always been interested in motor proteins, but dynein is especially fascinating to me because it's the only motor protein that can move toward the cell's center," says co-corresponding author Agnieszka Kendrick, assistant professor at Salk. "The impressive tools we have today in the lab made it possible for us to create a movie of dynein and Lis1 interacting in real time. Having this detailed view of their stepwise partnership will help us find ways to restore their activity in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases." Background: Unlocking dynein Dynein is made up of two identical halves that each contain 1) a "stalk" that attaches to the microtubule, 2) a "tail" that attaches to whatever is being hauled by the protein, and 3) a "motor" that powers its travel. The physical movement of dynein looks a bit like walkingas the motor uses up cellular fuel called ATP, the stalks take turns detaching, swinging forward, and reattaching to the microtubule below. Since dynein is a one-way ticket toward the valuable genetic vault that is the nucleus, its activity is tightly regulated. When it's not carting anything, dynein detaches entirely from the microtubule highways and floats freely in a locked-up state, called "Phi." Over the last few years, Kendrick and colleagues have been hard at work piecing together how dynein becomes "unlocked." So far, their studies have revealed that Lis1 acts as a key, wedging itself into dynein's structure and unlocking it into an open shape called "Chi." However, these insights were based on still images of dynein and Lis1, taken sporadically across various stages of their interaction. While there was a lot to learn from these freeze frames, a deeper understanding of how the two proteins interact could only come from watching them in action. Key discoveries: How Lis1 and dynein interact "Our approach to imaging dynein and Lis1 is more comprehensive than any previous study on this protein," says co-corresponding author Andres Leschziner, professor at UC San Diego. "By capturing movies rather than pictures, we confirmed 16 detailed, 3D shapes that dynein takes as it interacts with Lis1several of which are entirely unique to our study." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The team used a yeast model to capture dynein and Lis1, sinceunlike human cellsyeast cells can survive when dynein and Lis1 levels are altered. And because dynein's structure is functionally the same in both human and yeast cells, what we learn about yeast dynein can still be applied to human dynein. Using this yeast model, the researchers isolated dynein and Lis1 and decreased the temperature dramatically to slow down dynein activity. They then captured a high-definition 3D movie of dynein interacting with Lis1 that could represent the timeline between dynein's Phi (locked) and Chi (unlocked) states using time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Cryo-EM uses beams of electrons to construct a 3D image of a molecule with down-to-the-atom detail. Previous studies have used cryo-EM and other imaging methods to construct images of dynein in its locked and unlocked states. The time-resolved component, however, is new. Instead of capturing a single structure at a single time point, time-resolved capture identifies different structures over time to create a movie. This allowed Salk and UC San Diego scientists to track sub-second changes in dynein's structure, explaining the step-by-step process it takes to transition from locked to unlocked states. Lis1 (pink) attaches its first and second protein heads to one of dyneins motor and stalk subunits (blue). Credit: Salk Institute The new video shows that the first step to activating dynein involves Lis1 attaching to dynein's motor subunit. Like dynein, Lis1 is also made up of two identical halves. In this first interaction, one half of Lis1 attaches to dynein, in turn relieving dynein of its locked state and turning its motor on by altering its shape to facilitate more rapid, efficient utilization of ATPnature's energy molecule. Turning on this ATP-fueled engine is key to initiating dynein's ability to travel on the cell's microtubule highways. Then, the second half of Lis1 attaches itself to dyneinthis time on the stalk. This second Lis1 interaction completes the activation and solidifies dynein's Chi state. It also further increases dynein's motor activity, revving it up for action. Looking ahead: repairing Lis1 and dynein dysfunction in developmental and neurological disorders "These findings certainly take us closer than we've ever been to understanding why Lis1 dysfunction has such a devastating effect on dynein activity, and how that contributes to developmental and neurological disorders down the line," says Kendrick. The new high-resolution, 3D structural insight into dynein and Lis1 could pave the way for treating their dysfunction in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Future studies can explore how different mutations to Lis1 affect its interactions with dynein, and how this contributes to lissencephaly and other rare genetic disorders. Ultimately, the more that's known about the physical structures of these two proteins, the easier it will be to create drugs that "fit" into those structures and restore their activity. Other authors include Kendrick Nguyen, Eva Karasmanis, and Rommie Amaro of UC San Diego; Samara Reck-Peterson of UC San Diego and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and Wen Ma of the University of Vermont. More information: Agnieszka A. Kendrick et al, Multiple steps of dynein activation by Lis1 visualized by cryo-EM, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41594-025-01558-w Journal information: Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 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: AI-generated image Hold out your hands, palms up, and move them so they are on top of each other. With a little experimentationand perhaps a few rather flamboyant gesturesyou'll find that no matter what you do, your hands will not perfectly align. Congratulations, you've just demonstrated chirality. Chiral objects are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. Chirality is not simply a feature of limbs; it is a trait shared by the molecular building blocks of lifefrom DNA to sugars to proteins. It dictates how molecules and, in turn, cells, operate and engage with each other and their environments. For example, chirality influences the way immune cells recognize molecules (i.e., antigens) on the surfaces of microbes, like a key fitting into a lock. "Every time you have any spatial interactions between things that are not completely squishy, the orientation of the binding partners is crucial for them to interact with each other," explained Kate Adamala, Ph.D., an associate professor of genetics, cell biology and development at the University of Minnesota. "It would be difficult to imagine evolution of any effective biological binding if there wasn't this pre-agreed [upon] system of chirality." Each biological molecule generally exists in a single configuration. However, scientists are increasingly able to generate mirror versions of those molecules in the lab, some of which have practical purposes. For instance, whereas natural-chiral molecules are subject to speedy degradation by cellular enzymes, their mirrors are not, prompting researchers to explore how to use these mirror molecules (e.g., peptides) as therapeutics that last longer in the body. Such innovation paves the way for a new possibility: mirror organisms, comprised entirely of molecules with the opposite configuration to life as we know itand bacteria represent a key first target. Generating mirror bacteria is not currently possible and wouldn't be for at least a decade, if not longer, according to Adamala and her co-authors of an extensive technical report assessing the feasibility and potential risks of building mirror bacteria. Instead, the scientists ultimately conclude that mirror bacteria are best left in the realm of possibility. Making mirror microbes Experimentally flip-flopping the chirality of a bacterial cell feels a little like a niche prank. Why do such a thing at all? The answer leads to another question most people have pondered at one point or another: what is life? While mirror bacteria would look like their naturally chiral brethren, in many ways they'd be completely alien. They could help determine if the tree of life once sprouted branches of opposite chirality. "This is a deep 'what if' question," said Vaughn Cooper, Ph.D., ASM President-Elect and a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of Pittsburgh. "Does the bias that we have on Earth exist because of some sort of intrinsic benefit to that combination of molecules, or is it just a frozen accident?" There are other motivations for mirror cells as well. Extant life forms only recognize the natural conformation of molecules on bacteriathe mirror versions would be invisible to them. Predators that normally attack bacteria, like phages or nematodes, would no longer be able to see and destroy their targets. The sleuth-like nature of mirror bacteria could be useful in, for example, industrial fermentation, where phage contamination can be a costly setback. Mirror cells would also fly under the radar of immune cells and could serve as (or deliver) therapeutics in the body without causing unwanted reactions. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The risks of mirror life Yet, it is for these same reasons that mirror bacteria pose a problem. "A self-replicating organism built from mirror componentsone that's capable of sustaining itself and multiplying in the wildwould likely be invisible to many of the processes nature has evolved that keep a species in check," said John Glass, Ph.D., Director of the La Jolla Campus at the J. Craig Venter Institute. He, along with Adamala, Cooper and 3 dozen other scientists working in the U.S., China, Singapore, Japan and Europe, co-authored the technical report and accompanying Science article arguing against generating mirror life. The immune systems of people, animals, plants and insects recognize molecules with specific orientations. If those molecules were reflected, as they would be on mirror bacteria, immune recognition would be impaired and basic immune defenses could fail. It is known from existing immunodeficiencies that a muted immune response can be deadly. "Just having a few chinks in your armor of being able to recognize microbes is enough to make even benign bacteria pathogens, because there's just no host control of those populations," Cooper noted. With such universally blunted immunity, mirror bacteria could trigger widespread infections. Since most antibiotics (which are already iffy at combating existing bacteria) wouldn't be effective against mirror bacteria, we'd need to develop brand new drugs, and there's no guarantee they'd work. Moreover, it is improbable such antibiotics could be made quickly and at the scale needed to combat a potential outbreak in humans alone, not to mention impossible to design drugs to protect all the diverse life forms potentially impacted by mirror bacteria. Mapping a way forward The fact that it is not currently possible to make mirror organisms creates an opportunity for preventive, rather than reactive, action. "Before we start losing sleep, it's important to note that the risks from mirror bacteria are not imminent," said Jonathan Jones FRS, report co-author and a group leader at the Sainsbury Laboratory in the U.K. The goal of recent publications and upcoming events and initiatives (e.g., the Mirror Biology Dialogues Fund is supporting several international meetings throughout 2025 and the ASM Microbe 2025 Science and Society Lecture, which spotlights emerging scientific breakthroughs and their broader implications, will focus on the benefits and risks of mirror life) is to spark discussion across research, industry, government and non-governmental sectors. Questions like "what research activities are the most risky and how do we monitor them?" are on the table. Mirror biomolecules are not inherently problematicbut technologies that facilitate self-replication, a key trait of bacteria, could be. Weiwen Zhang, Ph.D., Baiyang Chair Professor of Tianjin University in China, noted that coming together to discuss the risks now can prevent technologies from reaching that point. Indeed, at the recent Asilomar conference on the future of biotechnology, there was broad agreement among the scientists in attendance about the need to develop regulations for mirror life research, and that the risks of creating mirror bacteria outweigh the benefits. Moving forward, Adamala emphasized the continued need for cross-disciplinary communication. As 1 of 4 principal investigators on the only funded grant on mirror cells, she and her colleagues are now co-authors on the report advising against the very work they were once pursuing. It was after sitting down with ecologists, immunologists and researchers to discuss mirror bacteria that the team grasped the potential risks. Adamala highlighted that these discussions, and the report and activities that emerged from them, can and should inspire similar reflective, community-driven discussions in other research areas, too. Cooper agreed. "This represents an outstanding example of how much can be done when a group of scientists work together." 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: Two individuals of Traskasaura sandrae hunt the ammonite Pachydiscus in the northern Pacific during the Late Cretaceous. Traskasaura sandrae, named today in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology, was declared the Provincial Fossil of British Columbia in 2023. Credit: Robert O. Clark A group of fossils of elasmosaurssome of the most famous in North Americahave just been formally identified as belonging to a "very odd" new genus of the sea monster, unlike any previously known. Long-necked and measuring in at 12 meters, Traskasaura sandraeas it is officially named today in this new studypossessed heavy, sharp, robust teeth, ideal for crushing. Findings, published in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology, highlight Traskasaura as having a strange mix of primitive and derived traits unlike any other elasmosaur. Its unique suite of adaptations enabled this plesiosaur to hunt prey from above. The findings suggest that the fierce marine reptile was perhaps one of the first plesiosaur taxa to do so. The 85-million-year-old fossils are not new to science, though, far from it. The first (now known to be) Traskasaura fossil was discovered from Late Cretaceous rocks in 1988 along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island. Since then, additional fossils have been recovered: an isolated right humerus and a well-preserved juvenile skeleton comprising thorax, girdles and limbs. All in all, three animals are part of the collection detailed in the new paper, all from the Haslam Formation of Vancouver Island. Museum display of Traskasaura. Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center First described in 2002, the fossils recently became famous, having been adopted by the Province of British Columbia and declared as the official fossil emblem of British Columbia (the Provincial Fossil of British Columbia). They are currently on public display at The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center, Courtenay, British Columbia. The designation as the Provincial Fossil of British Columbia followed a five-year appreciation effort by paleontology enthusiasts and a province-wide public poll in 2018, in which the elasmosaur received 48% of the vote. "Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia," explains lead author Professor F. Robin O'Keefe from Marshall University, in West Virginia, U.S.. "However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it was declared BC's provincial fossil in 2023. Our new research ... finally solves this mystery. "The scientific confusion concerning this taxon is understandable. It has a very odd mix of primitive and derived traits. The shoulder, in particular, is unlike any other plesiosaur I have ever seen, and I have seen a few." Dig site with volunteers from the community 1991. Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center. Professor O'Keefe, who is an expert on marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs, adds, "With the naming of Traskasaura sandrae, the Pacific Northwest finally has a Mesozoic reptile to call its own. Fittingly, a region known for its rich marine life today was host to strange and wonderful marine reptiles in the Age of Dinosaurs." "The fossil record is full of surprises. It is always gratifying to discover something unexpected. When I first saw the fossils and realized they represented a new taxon, I thought it might be related to other plesiosaurs from the Antarctic. My Chilean colleague Rodrigo Otero thought differently, and he was right; Traskasaura is a strange, convergently evolved, fascinating beast." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. In the initial 2002 description of the fossils, experts were reluctant to erect a new genus based solely on the adult skeleton of the elasmosaur discovered. Juvenile elasmosaur discovered 2020. Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center. Relatively few characters were "unambiguous" on this particular skeleton. However, a new "excellently preserved" partial skeleton enabled this latest international team of scientists from Canada, Chile, and the United States to shed much new light on the morphology of the Puntledge River elasmosaurand eventually identify it as a new genus and species. They have named Traskasaura in honor of Courtenay, BC, based Michael and Heather Trask, who discovered the original holotype specimen along the banks of the Puntledge river in 1988, and the Greek word sauros, lizard. The species name sandrae honors Sandra Lee O'Keefe (nee Markey)and, like Elizabeth Nicholls (one of the team who identified the fossils in 2002)who was "a valiant warrior in the fight against breast cancer." "In loving memory," the team of authors write. Bones in situ unprepared. Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center. Initial discovery Nov.12 1988. Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Center. Traskasaura clearly had a very long neckat least 36 well-preserved cervical vertebrae indicate at least 50 bones in the neck, and probably more. And while not huge amounts are known about Traskasaura's behavior, the "fascinating and long list of autapomorphic characters" of the bones indicate strong capabilities for downward swimming. Professor O'Keefe believes the combination of its unusual features relates to its hunting style, where it would use this capability for downward swimming to dive upon its prey from above. This prey was likely the abundant ammonites known from the region. These would have been a "good candidate due to Traskasaura's robust teeth, ideal, possibly, for crushing ammonite shells," Professor O'Keefe explains. Summarizing their findings, the team says their hypothesis that the three individuals describe do not belong to the same taxon "does deserve consideration." However, all three individuals show diagnostic features of the new taxon, and therefore probably represent a single species. More information: A name for the Provincial Fossil of British Columbia: a strange new elasmosaur taxon from the Santonian of Vancouver Island, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology (2025). DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2025.2489938 Journal information: Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 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: Graphical abstract. Credit: Analytical Chemistry (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c00821 Hypochlorite (ClO-) is widely used for sterilization, disinfection, and bleaching due to its strong oxidative properties. However, prolonged exposure to ClO- can pose health risks, and excessive discharge can lead to environmental pollution. Calcium hypochlorite, which is used to produce potassium or sodium perchlorate for improvised explosives, underscores the urgency for rapid and sensitive identification of ClO- in public health and environmental monitoring. Current sensing methods for ClO- face several challenges, including low molar absorption coefficients, narrow Stokes shifts, and poor sensitivity, which limit their effectiveness in complex environments. Chemodosimeters, which detect analytes through irreversible chemical reactions, are gaining popularity because of their selectivity, high sensitivity, rapid response, and simple design. Molecules with a D--A structure are particularly promising, as they can enhance optical sensing signals by modifying their conjugation or electronic properties, thus improving visualization in the detection of ClO-. To tackle the ClO- sensing issue, a research team led by Prof. Dou Xincun from the Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a strategy for a triple-standard hypochlorite quantitative array, enabled by precise modulation of the Stokes shift in D--A chemodosimeters. Their findings, published in Analytical Chemistry, highlight the importance of tuning the electron-releasing capability of the D--A chemodosimeters to enhance the reactivity of the recognition site, improve Stokes shifts, and increase the response speed and sensitivity towards the target analyte. In this study, the researchers synthesized a series of D--A fluorescent chemodosimeters (PA-TCF, DPA-TCF, TPA-TCF) based on the ClaisenSchmidt coupling reaction. They utilized 2-(3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethylfuran-2(5H)-ylidene) malononitrile (TCF) as the electron-withdrawing group, precisely modulating the electron-releasing strength (PA > DPA > TPA) to generate an unsaturated double bond as the ClO- recognition site. It was found that as the electron-releasing capability decreased, the fluorescence intensity of the chemodosimeters diminished due to electron delocalization and stacking within the conjugated system. The electrophilicity of the recognition site increased by 1.449 kcal/mol, resulting in a change in the sensing mode from fluorescence quenching to ratiometric fluorescence and eventually to fluorescence enhancement. The Stokes shift of the chemodosimeter was improved to 201 nm, enhancing the resolution of optical signal changes visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, all three D--A fluorescent chemodosimeters demonstrated superior sensing performance for ClO-, including low limits of detection (LOD) at 37.0, 5.1, and 1.0 nM, rapid response times of less than five seconds, and excellent selectivity in the presence of 16 different interferents. Additionally, considering the varying performance of the chemodosimeters, the researchers developed a portable triple-standard quantitative array detection platform to validate the practical applicability of the chemodosimeter modulation strategy, enabling rapid, on-site, and quantitative detection of ClO- in solution, with error rates ranging from 9.5% to 13.75%. This innovative design and regulation strategy for chemodosimeters is expected to provide new solutions for enhancing sensitivity and rapid identification of oxidants, as well as advanced methodologies for detecting trace hazards. More information: Mubalake Rehemaitijiang et al, Triple-Standard Hypochlorite Quantitative Array Enabled by Precise Stokes Shift Modulation in D--A Chemodosimeters, Analytical Chemistry (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c00821 Journal information: Analytical Chemistry 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: A conception of primordial black holes in the very early universe. The accretion disks are to make the black holes visible; they would likely not form in the actual baby universe. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Via https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14524#media_group_374082 Besides particles like sterile neutrinos, axions and weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), a leading candidate for the cold dark matter of the universe are primordial black holesblack holes created from extremely dense conglomerations of subatomic particles in the first seconds after the Big Bang. Primordial black holes (PBHs) are classically stable, but as shown by Stephen Hawking in 1975, they can evaporate via quantum effects, radiating nearly like a blackbody. Thus, they have a lifetime; it's proportional to the cube of their initial mass. As it's been 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang, only PBHs with an initial mass of a trillion kilograms or more should have survived to today. However, it has been suggested that the lifetime of a black hole might be considerably longer than Hawking's prediction due to the memory burden effect, where the load of information carried by a black hole stabilizes it against evaporation. Thus, PBHs previously thought to have evaporated by now could still be present as cold, dark matter, lighter than about 10 million kilograms. A research team from Japan has now proposed detecting the hypothetical PBH dark matter by studying the gravitational waves induced by the primordial curvature perturbations that produced the PBHs. Their work is published in Physical Review D. "This research is the first in the world to propose that evidence of PBHs being dark matter will be confirmed by future gravitational wave observations," said Kazunori Kohri of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Tokyo and affiliated with several other physics research organizations in the country. Despite a large number (by now) of experimental searches, physicists have yet to see signs of dark matter in particle accelerators, in underground and under ice detectors and via exploring space, directly or indirectly. "If this situation continues, the nightmare scenario of dark matter, namely the scenario with only gravitationally interacting dark matter, will become important," write Kohri and his co-authors. Macroscopic dark matter might be the answer, such as the PBH scenario if the PBHs have survived to today. Hawking's conclusion that black holes radiate means they will eventually evaporate completely and cease to exist. But Hawking's calculation assumed a semiclassical black hole during its entire lifetime, ignoring the quantum back reaction of the created particles on the evaporating black hole. The full treatment reveals a memory burden effect, discovered by Georgian theoretical physicist Gia Dvali in 2018. Viewing a black hole as a condensate of gravitons, the presumed carriers of the gravitational force, micro quantum states are responsible for the entropy of the black hole. "Memory" refers to the information stored in the black hole; this stored information stabilizes the black hole, making it more resistant to decay. A state of the black hole becomes stabilized by the burden of its own memory. The effect becomes important when a black hole has lost about half its initial mass. The induced gravitational wave strength (vertical axis) versus the spectra frequency (horizontal axes), for various PBH initial masses from 1 gram to 10 billion grams. The left versus right figures relate to two different choices for the dimensionless power spectra of the primordial curvature perturbations. Credit: American Physical Society "If we believe in the Memory Burden Effect, which is a hot topic in the field of quantum gravity," said Kohri, "we can build a theory with extremely little uncertainty." It's not yet completely clear what happens to a black hole when the memory burden becomes significantpossibly the Hawking evaporation is suppressed, or perhaps the black hole decays into some lumps and gravitational waves. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Kohri and his co-authors focused on the first possibility. Dvali and his collaborators argued that the Hawking emission rate is suppressed by some integer power of the black hole's entropy. Black holes have a huge amount of entropy; a Schwarzschild black hole with a mass of the sun has an entropy of 1077 in units of Boltzmann's constant. By comparison, the sun's entropy is 1058. So the lifetime of a black hole is greatly extended. Cosmological constraints put lower and upper limits on the PBHs at play: Kohri and colleagues thus focus on PBHs with an initial mass greater than 100 kg up to 10 million kg. One popular PBH production mechanism is the gravitational collapse of early cosmological patches with extremely enhanced spacetime curvature perturbations. Significant amounts of gravitational waves are also induced in this radiation-dominated era of the universe, with a typical frequency in a one-to-one correspondence with the PBH's initial mass. Studying the observational properties of these gravitational waves in the present universe, extensive calculations resulted in the spectra of gravitational waves as would exist today as a function of frequency, and also the expected signal-to-noise ratio for one-year of observations with proposed future gravitational wave observatories. Their calculations of the expected induced gravitational wave spectra reveal that sufficiently heavy memory-burdened PBH dark matter could be observable today because they induce relatively low-frequency gravitational waves. Future observatories are being designed with this goal in mind, such as the space-based LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), DECIGO (Deci-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) in Japan, the Big Bang Observatory (BBO) proposed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to replace LISA when it's run its course, and others. Kohri and his colleagues produced graphs of the expected spectra in terms of the waves' frequency and extend their equations to predict the signal-to-noise ratios that would be seen in the actual observations. The researchers also present criteria by which gravitational wave astronomers could confirm or exclude the scenario of the memory-burdened PBH dark matter. Still, nonlinear dynamics of the memory-burdened PBH dark matter will determine the detailed form of the gravitational waves. The peak frequency of the induced waves can be as high as 30 megahertz, 3,000 times higher than the 10 kilohertz peak the two LIGOs in the US can detect. However, the calculations show there is an infrared trail in the spectra that implies lower peak frequencies. These could be detected by the proposed Cosmic Explorer, a third-generation ground-based gravitational wave observatory that would have the same L-shaped design as LIGO but with interferometer arms that are 40 km long instead of LIGO's 4 km. Written for you by our author David Appell, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Schematic of the experimental setup, showing the flux ladder geometry, where each plaquette of a ladder is threaded by a homogeneous magnetic flux of pi/2. In the Mott-Meissner phase, one expects chiral particle currents flowing along the legs of the ladders (middle ladder, blue arrows). Credit: Alexander Impertro (LMU / MPQ Garching) When exposed to periodic driving, which is the time-dependent manipulation of a system's parameters, quantum systems can exhibit interesting new phases of matter that are not present in time-independent (i.e., static) conditions. Among other things, periodic driving can be useful for the engineering of synthetic gauge fields, artificial constructs that mimic the behavior of electromagnetic fields and can be leveraged to study topological many-body physics using neutral atom quantum simulators. Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics and Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST) recently realized a strongly interacting phase of matter in large-scale bosonic flux ladders, known as the Mott-Meissner phase, using a neutral atom quantum simulator. Their paper, published in Nature Physics, could open new exciting possibilities for the in-depth study of topological quantum matter. "Our work was inspired by a long-standing effort across the field of neutral atom quantum simulation to study strongly interacting phases of matter in the presence of magnetic fields," Alexander Impertro, first author of the paper, told Phys.org. "The interplay of these two ingredients can create a variety of quantum many-body phases with exotic properties. "While their microscopic mechanisms are typically well understood, the emergent many-body properties are elusive and hard to probe in conventional solids, with a notable example being the (fractional) quantum Hall effect. Unfortunately, it turned out that the Floquet engineering technique, which is one of the primary methods for obtaining an effective magnetic field for neutral atoms, generally causes strong heating in interacting quantum systems." The heating processes prompted by Floquet engineering techniques are known to rapidly destroy fragile quantum states. As a result, most previous experiments probing exotic quantum many-body phases only focused on non-interacting or weakly interacting systems, while strongly-correlated ones remained limited to only two particles. The first objective of the recent study by Impertro and his colleagues was to leverage the capabilities of a new experimental quantum simulation platform they developed to realize quantum many-body states with artificial magnetic fields and strong interactions producing little heating. In addition, they hoped to simulate larger systems that reached well beyond the two-particle systems realized in previous experiments. In their experiments, the researchers utilized optical superlattices, a short-spacing vertical lattice and a so-called Feshbach resonance that provides an important tuning knob. In addition, they employed a recently developed technique for the precise measurement of particle currents. "Using the optical superlattices, we partitioned a two-dimensional optical lattice into an independent array of ladder systems, in which we realize the experimental studies," explained Impertro. "Additionally, the double-wells that form the rungs of the ladders are also the basis for the Floquet engineering technique that we use to create an artificial magnetic field. "Intuitively, the technique modifies the motion of particles in the lattice using additional laser beams, which in turn imprint the effect of a magnetic field onto the atoms to mimic a Lorentz force or Hall deflection." Experimentally measured phase diagram (data points and solid line), which shows a significant difference to a comparable system without interactions (dashed lines). Credit: Alexander Impertro (LMU / MPQ Garching) Finally, Impertro and his colleagues leveraged the Feshbach resonance in cesium. This property of cesium allowed them to tune the interaction strength between atoms over a wide range, which is important both for preparing the desired strongly interacting quantum states with low heating and to probe the response of the quantum states to a changing interaction strength. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "The central challenges we encountered when preparing the states were to find suitable parameter regimes where the heating rate due to the periodic modulation (Floquet engineering) is minimal, which is particularly challenging for large many-body systems, and to find preparation paths that allow us to adiabatically transform an easy-to-prepare initial state into the quantum state of interest, without creating excitations," said Impertro. "Lastly, a central quantity that characterizes the ground states of flux ladders, such as the Mott-Meissner phase, are persistent particle currents." Notably, quantum gas microscopes like the one employed by Impertro and his colleagues can typically only measure local densities and fail to measure currents. To enable the measurement of currents, the team employed a current detection technique that they developed as part of their earlier studies, adapting it for the purpose of their experiment. "For the first time, we were able to prepare low-temperature states in Floquet engineered quantum systems with a large number of particles and microscopically study their properties," said Impertro. "We also demonstrated the measurement of particle currents with full spatial resolution across large systems, which constitutes an entirely new way to probe these physics using quantum gas microscopy. "This constitutes a key step towards studying fractional quantum Hall phases in synthetic quantum systems, which is a longstanding goal in various communities, ranging from superconducting qubits to photonics, neutral atoms and Rydberg atom arrays." Impertro and his colleagues hope that their recent efforts will inform future theoretical and experimental studies focusing on topological many-body physics. In the future, the methods they devised could help to realize other complex quantum phases that have so far proved difficult to engineer experimentally. "On the one hand, we show that it is now indeed feasible to experimentally realize interacting systems with an artificial magnetic field and reach significant system sizes," said Impertro. "This offers a new playground for quantum simulation of many-body systems in- and out-of-equilibrium in regimes that are extremely difficult to access with classical numerical techniques. On the other hand, a comparison with numerical simulations allowed us to extract an estimate of the effective temperature of the prepared states." The new methods introduced by Impertro and his colleagues could soon enable the validation of theoretical models of strongly interacting quantum many-body systems, while also potentially contributing to the future advancement of quantum technologies. In their next studies, the researchers plan to further explore the rich phase diagram of interacting flux ladders beyond the Mott-Meissner phase, for instance by probing vortex or symmetry-broken states. "In these future studies, it will be central to reduce the experimentally accessible temperature scales further, as many of these phases are even more fragile," added Impertro. "Additionally, a long-term goal is to extend the ladder geometry to full-2D systems, where exotic physics such as anyons in fractional quantum Hall states can be studied." Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadelli, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Two of the skeletons excavated by Mortimer Wheeler in the 1930s, dating from the 1st century AD. Both these individuals exhibit bladed weapon injuries, while one has a spear head lodged in his spine, previously interpreted (wrongly) as a Roman ballista bolt. Credit: Martin Smith A new study by archaeologists at Bournemouth University has revealed that bodies recovered from a "war-cemetery," previously attributed to the Roman Conquest of Britain at Maiden Castle Iron Age hillfort in Dorset, did not die in a single dramatic event. The work is published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology. A re-analysis of the burials, including a new program of radiocarbon dating, has revealed that, rather than dying in a single, catastrophic event, individuals fell over periods of lethal violence spanning multiple generations, spread across the late first century BC to the early first century AD. This is suggestive of episodic periods of bloodshed, possibly the result of localized turmoil, executions or dynastic infighting during the decades leading up to the Roman Conquest of Britain. BU's Dr. Martin Smith, associate professor in forensic and biological anthropology, who analyzed the bodies, said, "The find of dozens of human skeletons displaying lethal weapon injuries was never in doubt, however, by undertaking a systematic program of radiocarbon dating, we have been able to establish that these individuals died over a period of decades, rather than a single terrible event." The 'war-cemetery' of Maiden Castle Iron Age hillfort in Dorset is one of Britain's most famous archaeological discoveries. Discovered in 1936, many of the skeletons unearthed had clear evidence of trauma to the head and upper body, which dig director at the time, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, suggested, were "the marks of battle," caused during a furious but ultimately futile defense of the hillfort against an all-conquering Roman legion. Wheeler's colorful account of an attack on the native hillfort and the massacre of its defenders by invading Romans, was accepted as fact, becoming an iconic event in popular narratives of Britain's "Island Story." Aerial view of Maiden Castle, Dorset, the largest Iron Age hillfort in Britain. Credit: Jo and Sue Crane Principal academic in prehistoric and Roman archaeology at BU, and the study's dig director, Dr. Miles Russell said, "Since the 1930s, the story of Britons fighting Romans at one of the largest hillforts in the country has become a fixture in historical literature. "With the Second World War fast approaching, no one was really prepared to question the results. The tale of innocent men and women of the local Durotriges tribe being slaughtered by Rome is powerful and poignant. It features in countless articles, books and TV documentaries. It has become a defining moment in British history, marking the sudden and violent end of the Iron Age." Dr. Russell added, "The trouble is it doesn't appear to have actually happened. Unfortunately, the archaeological evidence now points to it being untrue. This was a case of Britons killing Britons, the dead being buried in a long-abandoned fortification. The Roman army committed many atrocities, but this does not appear to be one of them." The study has also raised further questions as to what may still lie undiscovered at Maiden Castle. BU's visiting fellow, Paul Cheetham, said, "Here we interpret this as either a number of distinct cultures living and dying together, or we can understand this as burial rights that were determined by complex social rules or hierarchical divisions within this Iron Age society. While Wheeler's excavation was excellent, he was only able to investigate a fraction of the site. It is likely that a larger number of burials remain undiscovered around the immense ramparts." The work at Maiden Castle also brings into question how other archaeological cemeteries across the UK have been interpreted. Cheetham said, "The intermingling of differing cultural burial practices contemporaneously shows that simplistic approaches to interpreting archaeological cemeteries must now be questioned." More information: Martin Smith et al, Fraught with high tragedy: A contextual and chronological reconsideration of the Maiden Castle Iron Age 'war cemetery' (England), Oxford Journal of Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/ojoa.12324 Journal information: Oxford Journal of Archaeology 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: Sentinel-2A satellite image of the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Credit European Space Agency As sea levels climb and weather grows more extreme, coastal regions everywhere are facing a creeping threat: salt. Salinization of freshwater and soils adversely affects 500 million people around the world, especially in low-lying river deltas. A new study led by researchers at the University of Portsmouth, in partnership with Dhaka University and Curtin University, sheds light on how rising oceans are pushing saltwater into freshwater rivers and underground water sources in the world's largest river mouththe Bengal Delta in Bangladesh. Drawing on nearly two decades of data from more than 50 monitoring stations in coastal Bangladesh, the team tracked a consistent rise in salt levels in rivers and estuaries, particularly since the mid-2000s. The western parts of the delta, already more prone to tidal influence, showed the fastest increases in salinity. The data suggests that the combination of sea-level rise, reduced freshwater flow, and increasingly frequent storm surges are all contributing to the inland movement and retention of saltwater. Since about 2007, many parts of the delta have experienced stepwise increases in salinity, often linked to powerful storms like Cyclone Sidr. These changes can devastate crops, erode food security, and force communities to move. While the analysis focused primarily on environmental data, it underscores how salinity intrusion is increasingly a threat to livelihoods, public health, and regional stability. The study, published in Ecological Indicators, uses one of the most detailed and long-running salinity datasets in any delta system worldwide. It applied advanced statistical methods to distinguish long-term trends from short-term weather or seasonal changes. The researchers introduced a new conceptual model called the Offshore Controlled Estuarine and Aquifer Nexus (OCEAN) framework, that highlights how offshore features like steep underwater slopes and restricted tidal flows can trap salt in low-lying coastal zones. Dr. Mohammad Hoque from the University of Portsmouth's School of the Environment and Life Sciences: said, "What we're seeing in the Bengal Delta is not just a local crisis, it's a signal of what's coming for low-lying coastal areas around the world. "Salinity is rising faster and reaching farther inland than many people realize, and it's happening quietly with major consequences for water security, agriculture, and livelihoods. This study helps us understand the mechanics behind it, and underscores the urgency for coordinated, global action." The findings also show the limits of relying only on land-based solutions. Human interventions like embankments, riverbed alterations, and upstream dams have often made things worse by restricting freshwater flows. Meanwhile, offshore dynamicssuch as sediment build-up and ocean current shiftsplay a larger role than previously appreciated. Addressing the problem, therefore, requires integrated approaches that connect rivers, oceans, and climate systems. Coastal regions in California, including Los Angeles County and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, are combating saltwater intrusion through innovative measures. In LA, freshwater is injected into aquifers to create hydraulic barriers against seawater. However, population growth and groundwater extraction continue to challenge these efforts. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "While the focus is on Bangladesh, the study's implications are global," said Dr. Sean Feist, former Ph.D. researcher at the University of Portsmouth and now Scientific Officer at Test Valley Borough Council. "Coastal regions from the Mekong Delta in Vietnam to Louisiana's wetlands in the United States face similar pressures. As sea levels continue to rise, the risk of agricultural land turning salty, drinking water becoming undrinkable, and shallow groundwater becoming permanently brackish grows ever more serious." The paper recommends that similar long-term investigations into changing salinity levels be conducted in other vulnerable coastal regions around the world, particularly in low-lying deltas facing rising seas, reduced river flows, and increasing storm activity. Short-term datasets can often misrepresent the scale or pace of salinization, while extended records offer a clearer picture of how saltwater intrusion evolves over time. Dr. Ashraf Dewan from Curtin University said, "Ultimately, this study highlights that the creeping salinization of deltas is a slow-moving but deeply disruptive force. Without urgent investment in salt-tolerant agriculture, better water storage, and strategic planning across entire river basins, the disruptive impacts of salinity are likely to intensify. "The Bengal Delta is on the frontline of climate change, but it is not alone. The patterns observed here are emerging in many of the world's great coastal regions. What happens next depends on how quickly we respond." More information: Sean E. Feist et al, Sea-level rise drives changes in salinisation patterns in low-lying Bangladesh, Ecological Indicators (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113543 Journal information: Ecological Indicators 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: CC0 Public Domain A biologist at the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences advises consumers to think twice when deciding which chocolate bar they want to eat. That's because a heavy metal often found in chocolate might not just affect their health, but also the health of their future children. "You're getting a little bit more than a kiss in your Hershey's," said Delia Shelton, referring to a Consumer Reports investigation that found concerning levels of the heavy metals cadmium and lead in many brands of chocolate. Shelton, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, studies cadmium toxicity in zebrafisha species that is 74% genetically similar to humans. Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, is found in many foods that humans consume, including rice, tortillas, and shellfish. Excessive levels of cadmium intake can lead to adverse effects on the heart and other serious health problems. Cadmium also has a half-life of 10 to 30 years, meaning that it takes decades for the body to entirely expel the toxin once consumed. Based on this fact, Shelton hypothesized that the effects of cadmium exposure could be passed from one generation of zebrafish to their offspring and grandoffspring. To test this hypothesis, Shelton collaborated with Amanda Oehlert, an assistant professor in the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science's Department of Marine Geosciences. Using equipment from the Oehlert Biogeochemistry Lab and from Shelton's lab, the Environmental Psychology Innovation Center, Shelton studied how zebrafish react to cadmium. Her hypothesis proved correct for zebrafish, which indicates that the same could be true in humans. "What we see is that cadmium does have these multi-generational effects," she explained. This finding has important implications for understanding the environmental determinants influencing human health. That includes the health of people in Miami-Dade County affected by the "Old Smokey" Trash Incinerator, which spewed high levels of cadmium into West Coconut Grove for 45 years. The Environmental Justice Clinic at the School of Law is involved in seeking medical monitoring for residents exposed to the incinerator's toxic ash and pollution, and Shelton's findings about the multi-generational impacts of cadmium exposure in zebra fish could have implications for this effort. 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: Irish ornithologist Sean Ronayne says 'wildlife sound is such a great engaging tool to connect people to nature itself' On a mission to record all of Ireland's bird species, many of which are dying out, Irishman Sean Ronayne calls his unique audio archive a tool to both raise alarm and bring hope. According to conservation bodies, some 63% of Ireland's birds are currently either red or amber-listed, meaning they are at severe or moderate extinction risk. "Birds are in trouble in Ireland like they are across the world, the loss of wildlifesonically and physicallyis devastating to me," said the 37-year-old. "But I focus on hope and beauty, which is essential," the ornithologist told AFP at his home near Cobh (pronounced "Cove") in County Cork. More than four years into his recording project he has sampled 201 different Irish bird species, stocking over 12,000 audio clips from around the country, Ronayne told AFP. Just two remain to be documented: the great skua, and red-breasted merganser. "If people realize just how spectacular wildlife is, there's no way they would let it disappear, attitudes would change," Ronayne said. Sound: 'an engaging tool' Ireland may be famed for its green fields, but Ronayne paints a bleak picture"realistic" he saysof a degraded landscape and a bird population decimated by vanishing habitats. Ronayne places a recording monitor among the vegetation at Ballycotton beach, southern Ireland, to record birds songs, but paints a bleak picture of vanishing habitats. Most of Ireland comprises intensively farmed fields bounded by trimmed hedgerows, drained and mined peatlands, overgrazed uplands, and minimal native woodland, he told AFP. Non-native conifer plantationsapproximately 9% of Ireland's 11% forest coverare also a biodiversity villain, described by Ronayne as "a species-poor industrial cash-crop". "I try to show people the beauty of what we're erasing and what we must stand up and fight for," said the wildlife expert. Last year he published an award-winning book, released two albums, and made an acclaimed documentary film. His talk tour is currently selling out venues around Ireland. "Wildlife sound is such a great engaging tool to connect people to nature itself and get them acquainted with everything that's on their doorstep," Ronayne told AFP. "If you know your neighbor you're more likely to help them in times of need," he said. At the shows Ronayne, who was diagnosed with a form of autism as an adult, presents the story of his life and how nature is woven through it. He also plays audio of warbles, tweets, trills, screeches and chirps, and mystery sounds, inviting the audience to guess the origin. Some clips show birds mimicking other animals like dogs, people and other bird species. Irish ornithologist Sean Ronayne is on a mission to record all of Ireland's bird songs, and says his unique audio archive can both raise alarm and bring hope. "Some species in my collection can mimic 30 to 40 other species in their song," he said. Laughter is common at his talks, but also tears and grief as listeners learn of Ireland's endangered birdlife. 'Sonic diversity' Ronayne regularly holds "dawn chorus" walks, bringing small groups into silent forests far from road noise to experience the birdlife waking up. A gradually building cacophony of sound, the dawn chorus is "a reflection of the health of a given environment", he told AFP in an old woodland near his home while waiting for sunrise. "The more sonically diverse it is, the healthier the habitat is," he said. After unpacking his audio recorder, parabolic microphone and tripod, he quickly identified the melodies of song thrushes, robins, blackbirds, goldcrests and others as they greeted the day. "Chiffchaff! Did you hear that?! There's a gray wagtail!" he exclaimed, head twitching toward each sound in the lifting gloom. Ronayne also hides recorders for weeks and even months in remote untouched places where birds congregate. Each entry on Ronayne's archive includes data on behavior, calls and the protected status of each bird - many red or amber. On Ballycotton beach near Cobh, migrating birds swirled overhead before settling on an adjacent lagoon. Ronayne carefully placed a waterproof recorderable to run for up two weeksin grass by the shore. "They have to fly right over here to there," he said pointing upwards at their route. "After I collect it I'll be able to monitor the birds, capture their calls, and tell environmental stories from the audio," he said. Back home, he scrolled on a computer showing thousands of archived sonogram clipsvisual representations of soundof birdsong audio. Each entry included data on the behavior, calls and protected status of each bird: many either red or amber. "First we must realize how wonderful nature is, then how fragile it is, and how much we have kicked it down," Ronayne told AFP. "When we as a society fall back in love with nature, and respect it as we once did, beautiful things will happen." 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Salar de Uyuni is a vast salt pan in Bolivia. Credit: Avner Vengosh / Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment Much of the world's lithium occurs in salty waters with fundamentally different chemistry than other naturally saline waters like the ocean, according to a study published on May 23 in Science Advances. The finding has implications for lithium mining technologies and wastewater assessment and management. Lithium is a critical mineral in the renewable energy sector. About 40% of global lithium production comes from large salt pans, called salars, in the central Andes Mountains in South America and the Tibetan Plateau in Asia. In these arid, high-altitude regions, lithium exists below surface salt deposits, dissolved in extremely saline water called brine. "We discovered that the pH of brines in these regions is almost entirely driven by boron, unlike seawater and other common saline waters. This is a totally different geochemical landscape, like studying an extraterrestrial planet," said Avner Vengosh, distinguished professor of environmental quality and Chair of the Division of Earth and Climate Sciences at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, who oversaw the research. A solution's pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline it is. In most natural waters, chemical reactions involving a molecule called carbonate primarily govern a solution's ability to control changes in pHa measure known as alkalinity. But the Duke team uncovered a dramatically different scenario at the Salar de Uyuni, a giant salt pan situated on a Bolivian plateau, where the world's largest known lithium brine deposit exists underground. The researchers analyzed the pH and chemistry of brines and salts associated with a pilot mining operation at the Salar de Uyuni. Mining lithium from salt pans traditionally involves pumping natural brine from underground into a series of shallow, above-ground ponds. Liquid evaporates from successive ponds, leaving behind increasingly concentrated brine containing lithium and boron, plus undesirable salts. Lithium is eventually extracted at a processing facility. The team found that pH levels in natural brine samples from the salar hovered around neutral. By contrast, brine samples from evaporation ponds were highly acidic. Computer modeling showed that high concentrations of boron were the primary drivers of pH in both cases. The researchers took brine samples from evaporation ponds like this one, located at the Salar de Uyuni in Boliva. Credit: Avner Vengosh / Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment Specifically, the natural brines contain high levels of boron in different formsincluding the molecule boric acid and compounds called borateswhose relative distribution controls pH. Evaporation in the ponds increases the overall concentration of boron and triggers the breakdown of boric acid, generating hydrogen ions that reduce the pH. "Through a chain of geochemical reactions, the carbonate alkalinity is diminished in the brine from the Salar de Uyuni, while boron alkalinity becomes predominant," said lead author Gordon Williams, a Ph.D. student in the Vengosh Lab. "The integration of the chemical analysis with geochemical modeling helped us to quantify the different molecular structures of boron that contribute to alkalinity in these lithium brines," added Paz Nativ, a postdoctoral researcher in the Vengosh Lab. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. To corroborate their findings, the team gathered data on more than 300 analyses of lithium-rich brine from various salt pans, including in Chile, Argentina and Boliviacollectively known as the Lithium Triangleand the Tibetan Plateau. Modeling showed that boron exerted the most influence on alkalinity, and therefore pH, in most of those brines as well. "In addition to the new data we generated, we compiled a geochemical database of lithium brines from around the world and consistently found that boron is often the predominant component in brine alkalinity and controls brine pH, reinforcing the results from the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia," Williams explained. The research is the first to demonstrate the role of boron in controlling the chemical changes that occur during lithium brine evaporation in salt pans, according to the researchers. The findings could inform future lithium mining technologies as operators explore ways to more efficiently extract lithium and safely manage wastewater, they added. More information: The role of boron in controlling the pH of lithium brines, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw3268 Journal information: Science Advances TCM in spotlight at WHA side event 08:15, May 23, 2025 By Zheng Wanyin ( Chinadaily.com.cn Yu Yanhong, commissioner of China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, speaks at a side event on traditional medicine of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday. (Zheng Wanyin/China Daily) China, together with Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles, co-hosted an event on traditional medicine on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly, marking the first time that member states of the World Health Organization have organized a side event on this topic at the assembly. The event drew more than 100 participants, including senior health officials, WHO representatives, and leading experts and scholars, to explore the integration of traditional medicine into national health systems to advance universal health coverage and achieve sustainable development goals. Yu Yanhong, commissioner of China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said in her keynote speech that China's healthcare system is characterized by the integration of Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, an approach that represents one of its key strengths. To promote TCM, China has developed appropriate regulatory mechanisms, including a law adopted in 2016 to give TCM a bigger role in the medical system while ensuring its regulated development, she said. The TCM industry has also been embracing modern medical technologies to innovate on its theories and practices, while formulating its own strategy for management, health services delivery and practitioner training, she added. According to Yu, TCM hospitals have been established in nearly all provinces, cities and counties across the country, and more than 90 percent of general hospitals also have TCM departments. TCM institutions in China currently handle approximately 1.69 billion outpatient visits per year. Looking ahead, Yu encouraged countries to develop traditional medicine systems suited to their national contexts, and she called for deeper international exchanges and cooperation in jointly advancing the WHO global traditional medicine strategy. More than 100 participants, including senior health officials, WHO representatives, and leading experts and scholars, attend a side event on traditional medicine of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday. (Zheng Wanyin/China Daily) The WHO recognizes the diversity of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, or TCIM, practices around the world, as well as their contribution to the well-being of people and to universal health coverage. The latest version of the WHO traditional medicine strategy (2025-34) will be reviewed at the WHA this year. Rudi Eggers, director of integrated health services at the WHO, said at the event that the newest draft strategy presents four objectives: strengthen the evidence base for TCIM; support the provision of safe and effective TCIM through appropriate regulatory mechanisms; integrate safe and effective TCIM into health systems; and optimize the cross-sector value of TCIM and empower communities. Furthermore, China, alongside France, the Netherlands, Qatar, Switzerland and Chile, also co-hosted a side event on mental health on Tuesday. The event brought together more than 140 participants, including senior government officials, leading scholars and representatives of the WHO, UNICEF and the World Economic Forum. Jiao Yahui, head of the Bureau of Medical Administration at China's National Health Commission, said the approach to mental health has shifted from treating existing illnesses to focusing more on prevention, and from treating mental disorders to promoting overall mental well-being. China is committed to contributing its efforts to building a world where everyone has access to mental health services, Jiao said. Jerome Salomon, assistant director-general of the WHO, said that although mental health services around the world remain underfunded, with major gaps in access and quality, progress has been made in breaking down the stigma associated with mental health conditions, as well as in designing relevant services, policies and programs to ensure inclusion of those affected, among other aspects. He urged continued engagement and commitment from countries, noting that the upcoming UN high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases and mental health in September will be a critical moment for laying the foundation for years to come. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Local mayors have one message to those planning to spend Memorial Day weekend at the shore: Dont come if you dont want to behave. The warning comes following years of chaos on boardwalks across the Jersey Shore that resulted in numerous arrests and overwhelmed multiple police departments. But departments in Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Wildwood are geared up to handle anything that might be thrown their way as the communities are expected to be packed with visitors. Our police departments will be fully staffed with every available full-time and seasonal officer, and we will have zero tolerance for any disturbance or violation of the law, Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian and Sea Isle City Mayor Len Desiderio said in a joint statement. Memorial Day weekend 2024 began to unravel May 24, when several teenagers were detained and later released following a fight on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Investigators determined two female juveniles were fighting and a group surrounded the scuffle. But the issues didnt stop there. A 15-year-old boy was stabbed on the Boardwalk the following night after a group of youths engaged in a mutual fight. One juvenile from Pleasantville was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and possession of a weapon as a result. Throughout the weekend, police reported 1,306 curbside warnings in which officers addressed relatively minor infractions including alcohol, cannabis and curfew violations. There were 23 more serious station house adjustments, which are not criminal charges but mean the juvenile is taken to the police station and released to a parent or guardian with an obligation to perform a later community service. Ocean City has enacted several changes in recent years to combat violence, including banning backpacks on the Boardwalk after 8 p.m. and implementing a citywide curfew of 11 p.m. for juveniles. Wildwood says no to summertime 5K races In a unanimous vote, the Wildwood governing body restricted 5K runs and walks to the offseason. Gillian and Desiderio are also warning parents to pay attention to what their children are doing during the weekend. We also want to make it clear to parents that everybody will be held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent possible, the mayors statement read. Please be aware of what your unsupervised teens may be walking into and help them stay out of trouble. A little farther south, Wildwood Commissioner Steve Mikulski said the city is prepared for the holiday weekend and beyond. Were all ready to go, said Mikulski, who also heads up the citys public safety department. Similar to Ocean City, Wildwood dealt with several issues last year that led to a state of an emergency being declared and a shutdown of its Boardwalk the morning of Memorial Day. The city lifted the emergency five hours later. City officials said police received an irrepressible number of calls for service on Saturday of that weekend, most of them related to the high volume of young adults and teens in the city. Officials said the volume of calls was so high, police were unable to respond to certain calls for a time and issued requests for mutual aid from other agencies in Cape May County. Police Chief Joseph Murphy has said the scene last year reminded him of the H2oi pop-up car rally that left two people dead in 2022. No one died in the 2024 incidents. Wildwood police shut down planned 'pop-up' party as city seeks to prevent summer chaos Wildwood police are warning rental property owners to be vigilant this weekend as a group known to cause property damage was promoting a "pop-up" party in the area. Wildwood officials have also headed off more than one attempt to organize large gatherings online. Im sure they havent changed in a year, Mikulski said. We have a lot of rules and regulations that are in place. If the kids dont want to abide by the rules, well call the parents. Those rules include a 10 p.m. curfew for people 18 and younger that will be enforced on the Boardwalk nightly, and a backpack ban. Other safety enhancements include the installation of protective bollards on the Boardwalk, increased surveillance and police presence, enhanced social media monitoring, and updated rental property regulations to limit occupancy and deter large gatherings. Listen, this isnt a suggestion its the law, Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. said last month. Were not playing games when it comes to the safety of our boardwalk and the families who come here to enjoy themselves. You break the rules, you deal with the consequences. Plain and simple. The city has also increased the number of full-time police officers, from 38 to 42, with two more future officers now in the police academy. Were trying to build the force, put more boots on the ground, Mikulski said. The state Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness is ready to assist municipalities if issues arise. Crime is down in Atlantic City So why are some still on edge? Atlantic City crime is down 11% in early 2024, with major drops in violent, property, and drug-related offenses, but residents and tourists remain divided on the citys safety and image. Beginning Memorial Day weekend and through the summer, the agency will coordinate with businesses, law enforcement and local officials, maintain a list of large gatherings, develop security plans for venues, deploy detectives to events and boardwalks, train beach staff to identify suspicious activity and issue grants for target-hardening equipment, the agency said in a news release. The measures are part of the agencys See Something, Say Something campaign. TRENTON New Jersey is taking a new look at nuclear power to help meet its increasing need for electricity as prices soar and offshore wind struggles. A state Senate committee advanced a bill Thursday that would authorize the state Board of Public Utilities to approve the location of small modular reactors and allow their operators to store spent nuclear fuel on site. And like an earlier law passed by the Legislature involving offshore wind projects, this bill would strip local and county governments of any say in where a small nuclear reactor could be placed. But the measure restricts those potential sites to just two: Lacey Township in Ocean County, at the site of the former Oyster Creek nuclear plant, and Lower Alloways Creek Township in Salem County, where the states three operating nuclear reactors are located. Our citizens will not stand for us not having a reliable source of electricity, said Sen. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex. We have to take action. Nuclear doesnt generate methane, he said. There is nuclear waste you have to deal with, but its not a planet-warming technology. The bill, S4423, is one of five pro-nuclear measures making their way through the Legislature as New Jersey braces for electric rates to increase by 20% in June. It defines a small modular reactor as one that can generate no more than 300 megawatts; is capable of being constructed and operated either alone or in combination with one or more similar reactors, and is required to be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Labor, environment groups propose way forward for green energy projects in New Jersey Greater use of solar and wind energy and electric vehicles, modernizing the electrical grid, and training workers to do these jobs can help New Jersey meet its energy needs, a coalition of labor and environmental groups said Wednesday. The former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, which shut down in 2018, generated 636 megawatts. A similar measure, A4215, would authorize the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to incentivize the construction and operation of small, modular nuclear reactors. Bill A4858 would grant tax credits to build and operate a nuclear energy facility, A5013 would direct the BPU to solicit bids for small nuclear reactors, and A5555 would appropriate $100 million from the societal benefits revenue charge from customers power bills to build a new nuclear power plant. Earlier this month, the state said it is seeking input on the possibility of expanding nuclear power in New Jersey. New Jersey is committed to addressing the regional cost crisis, Gov. Phil Murphy said. As part of my Administrations all-of-the-above energy strategy, we continue to explore ways to bring online new sources of electricity generation, and improve and expand our nuclear fleet to grow the supply of resources as the U.S. faces increasing demand. New Jersey has three active nuclear power reactors, Salem 1 and 2 and Hope Creek, all in Salem County. The three reactors generate 40% of the states electricity and 85% of its emission-free generation. The bills come as New Jerseys energy market appears poised to pivot away from a strong emphasis on phasing out fossil fuel use in favor of offshore wind. A combination of economics and political opposition, including a move by President Donald Trump to try to kill the wind power industry in the U.S., has left the nascent industry reeling in New Jersey. New Jersey to study potential of wave energy generation, with future of wind power uncertain With offshore wind power nearly dead in the water, New Jersey wants to study the power-generation potential of ocean waves in an effort that could center on the Steel Pier. But Trump on Monday dropped his opposition to a wind project off the coasts of New York and New Jersey, possibly in return for New York state approving more fossil fuel energy projects. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association supports building new nuclear reactors small and large and supports many of the pending nuclear-related bills. I really dont see how anyone who believes that climate change is a serious problem can be opposed to nuclear power, said Ray Cantor, an official with the group. We are pleased to see Governor Murphy, who largely ignored the role of nuclear power in his energy master plan, now looking into the feasibility of further deploying this technology. Only by exploring all technologies and leaving nothing off the table, will we be able to ensure a continuous, reliable, and affordable energy supply, he said. And soaring electricity prices seems to have pushed Democratic lawmakers toward more of an all-of-the-above approach to energy generation in the state. Electric rates are due to increase by 20% next month. Eric Ford, president of the New Jersey Energy Coalition, which advocates for the nuclear industry among other power producers, asked that the state not limit the location of potential small reactors to just two municipalities. He said the U.S. Energy Department has calculated that over 100 sites nationwide could host such reactors. Doug OMalley, director of Environment New Jersey, said small, modular reactors are costly, take many years to build and produce two to three times more waste than large-scale nuclear power plants. There is a lot of concern on costs as well as environmental impacts, he said. Having to store spent fuel on site is inherently unsafe; it is the Achilles heel of the nuclear industry. New Jersey taking a new look at nuclear power as electric rates soar and voters grumble With electricity rates set to climb by 20% next month, New Jersey is taking a new look at nuclear power. And Dave Pringle of the Empower NJ environmental coalition said small nuclear reactors will take too long to plan and build. We all want cheap, clean, reliable electricity faster, he said. Unfortunately, this bill aint it. Nukes is not the way to go. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and Attorney General Marty Jackley were both recently at the U.S. border with Mexico, and both announced they're authorizing state agencies to work with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Jackley's office said Wednesday the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation will work with ICE, "with an emphasis on violent criminals and drug dealers." Rhoden said Wednesday the South Dakota Highway Patrol will "assist in the identification and apprehension of illegal aliens who may pose a risk to public safety in South Dakota. I look forward to your speedy endorsement of this request in hopes of moving forward to keep South Dakotans and all Americans safe. Both moves require working agreements with the federal government under Section 287(g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The program authorizes ICE to delegate "specified immigration officer functions" to state and local law enforcement officers, operating under the agencys direction and oversight, according to ICE's website. Given our state agencys current relationship with ICE, this partnership will enable us to better serve and meet the needs of South Dakota, Rhoden said through his office. Rhoden succeeded Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as governor. Asked what the agreement will mean in practice what the patrol's role would be in working with ICE, including if the patrol will target undocumented immigrants with criminal records only or if it'll work to apprehend people for undocumented status Rhoden spokeswoman Josie Harms told the Journal, "South Dakota Highway Patrol would assist and support ICEs actions to keep America safe, so those decisions would be up to ICE." Robert Perry, cabinet secretary with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, said of the current operating procedure, without an official agreement in place, "When SDHP Troopers encountered an individual who may have been an undocumented immigrant, they contacted ICE and followed their guidance regarding any further action." "Without 287(g) authority, SDHP had limited jurisdiction to conduct immigration-related investigations. The SDHP has consistently supported ICE enforcement efforts, just as it has with any other state, local, county, or federal agency," Perry said in a statement provided to the Journal. The Attorney General's Office said Friday, May 23 DCI agents will work with ICE to enforce federal immigration law on violent criminals and illegal drug dealers in South Dakota. Per a release from Jackley's office, DCI has requested implementation in the Task Force Model, which is part of the 287(g) Program. DCI will establish a Task Force Program headquartered in Pierre. Federal authorities would initially train DCI agents from Eastern and Western South Dakota to serve as 287(g) Task Force officers. "To be clear, I am restricting the use of this federal authority to violent criminals and drug dealers," Jackley said through his office on Friday. The ACLU of South Dakota lamented the announcements by Rhoden and Jackley, with Executive Director Libby Skarin saying, "The federal government has indicated that mass deportations are a priority for the current administration. However, what the federal government wants is not whats best for South Dakota. "South Dakota officials should know they have a choice about using state and local resources on a flawed, inhumane and arbitrary immigration agenda," Skarin said in a statement provided to the Journal. "Compliance with ICE will not improve public safety or protect our state." Deportations, encounters and drugs The Trump Administration's stated goal is to hit 1 million deportations this year. On April 28, Border Czar Tom Homan said there had been 139,000 deportations since Trump's inauguration. But, per reporting by USA Today, ICE listed the total at 57,000 deportations as of that date. The Department of Homeland Security told USA Today the difference is made up by deportations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and "internal data." An ICE dashboard updated in January 2025 listed 66,886 deportations for fiscal year 2025. The federal budget fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, encounters at the southern border have plummeted since Trump took office in mid-January. CBP reports there were 29,105 encounters between U.S. Border Patrol and undocumented immigrants in January, followed by 8,345, 7,184 and 8,383 in February through April, respectively. During the final months of Joe Biden's presidency, there were 56,520 encounters in October, 46,615 encounters in November and 47,324 encounters in December. These totals do not include encounters with the Office of Field Operations, which CBP says handles inadmissibles which largely includes people who come to ports of entry seeking lawful admission but are turned away. Most of us can agree that the federal government needs to do much better on immigration policy and identify real solutions that are orderly, humane and fair," Skarin said. "This agreement handed down from Pierre turns state law enforcement into an extension of the federal government and puts officers and their communities at risk while depleting much needed resources. Instead of imposing the federal government's wishes upon every community in South Dakota, we encourage local control and support the right of local law enforcement to put the needs of their communities first by declining to participate in unnecessary, voluntary immigration enforcement." Discussing the move to have DCI work with ICE, Jackley said through his office, "Fentanyl and other illegal drugs brought into this country by cartels and illegal immigrants continue to be a major problem in South Dakota." According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, so far this fiscal year -- October through April agents have seized 309,000 pounds of drugs at the southern border with Mexico, a number on pace to top the 573,000 pounds seized in fiscal year 2024. The 2025 total includes 7,700 pounds of fentanyl. Marijuana is No. 1, at 102,000 pounds. Marijuana and methamphetamine topped the list in 2024 at 175,000 and 174,000 pounds, respectively, contributing to a total of 573,000 pounds. Agents seized 549,000 pounds of drugs in 2023 and 656,000 pounds in 2022. In South Dakota, there were 6,751 drug offenses reported in 2024, compared to 6,315 in 2023, according to the Attorney General's most recent annual report. "Our federal authorities cannot do it alone. That is why I authorized DCI to become involved in helping ICE with these efforts," Jackley said. According to a study from the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, from 2010-2023, native-born Americans were incarcerated at a higher rate than illegal immigrants and legal immigrants for every year studied. In 2023, there were 1,221 native-born Americans incarcerated per 100,000 residents, while the number was 613 per 100,000 for legal immigrants. The centrist Migration Policy Institute, "Some research suggests that unauthorized immigrants are less likely to commit crimes because they are aware of a 'constant threat of deportation' and have more to lose than other groups if they violate the law." The ICE field office in Rapid City covers 18 West River counties and falls under the command of the St. Paul, Minnesota field office. ICE agents arrested eight undocumented immigrants during a "worksite enforcement criminal investigation" in the East River town of Madison on May 13, according to the agency. "The ACLU opposes 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration law enforcement with great harm," Skarin said. "We've seen around the country that this has led to racial profiling, civil rights abuses and diverts needed resources from state and local law enforcement." NDN Collective, a Rapid City-based nonprofit that works with the Indigenous community, recently touched on ICE in its periodic "Know your rights" alerts. It noted ICE agents cannot enter a person's home without a warrant, encouraging people to, "not open the door if the agent shows you a warrant signed by someone who is not a judge" or if the warrant is unsigned. The organization's alert said, "Do not open the door if the agent says they just want to talk. Do not open the door if the agent shows up and has a signed warrant from a judge, but the person listed does not live at your address." The tips for a vehicle stop are similar. NDN encouraged people to post about ICE activity on social media. Trip to the southern border Rhoden and Jackley, a pair of West River-raised public officials who are rumored, likely even, to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race, were at the southern border this week. Jackley was at the Mexican border in Arizona on Wednesday, May 21 on a trip with 11 other Attorneys General organized by the Republican Attorneys General Association. According to his office, the group visited the gap in the border wall at the Cocopah Reservation, a site "marked by abandoned ladders used to illegally enter into the United States, a recently constructed border wall and the Colorado River." The group also held a roundtable discussion with local authorities to "discuss the increased cost and the impact illegal immigrants have had on their communities." The Attorneys General are the chief law enforcement officers of our States and need to be involved in this discussion, Jackley said. Our streets are plagued with methamphetamine and fentanyl that have been poured into our country by the cartels through the southern border. Rhoden's trip on Tuesday, May 20 included a visit to the South Dakota National Guard, where the 109th Engineer Battalion is currently deployed. My goal as Governor is to keep our state strong, safe, and free, and I want the same for our country. The 109th Engineer Battalion is working with the Trump Administration, Secretary Noem, and Border Patrol to keep our nation safe, and I was honored to see them in action at the southern border," he said about the visit to Eagle Pass, Texas. As governor, Noem deployed the Guard to southern California in October 2024, Harms, the governor's spokeswoman, noted. She said they were moved to Eagle Pass during the spring by the Trump Administration. "Because they are under federal deployment, there is no cost to the state," Harms said. According to Rhoden's office, the Texas Department of Public Safety gave Rhoden an airboat tour of the Rio Grande River. In 2023 under the Biden Administration, Rhoden's office noted the area garnered national attention when as many as 4,000 undocumented immigrants crossed the border at Shelby Park daily around December of that year, according to the Migration Policy Institute. CBP data shows 51,701 encounters in that region, the Del Rio Sector, in December 2023. Texas DPS also provided a helicopter tour of the border, including the border wall that was constructed near Eagle Pass. A previous South Dakota National Guard deployment assisted with the construction of that wall. The biggest eye opener was just how vast the challenge of securing the border is. The Trump Administration, Texas DPS, and our National Guard are accomplishing the incredible feat of keeping our nation safe, Rhoden said. Rhoden ended the day with a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol briefing at the Del Rio Sector, which outlined actions to stop drugs, human trafficking, and other illicit activities from crossing our border. The pedestrian bridge to Texas Beach, a vital cornerstone of the infrastructure connecting the James River Park System, remains a high-traffic access point for local river-goers despite multiple attempts by the city to close it to the public because it has been deemed severely structurally unsafe and in danger of collapse. On Sept. 1, 2022, the 75-yard-long bridge, constructed between 1970 and 1971, was inspected by the engineering firm Timmons Group, and found to be structurally unsafe for public use, per Richmonds Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF). It lies at the end of a short, steep path just off a parking lot in the back of the Riverview section of the Maymont neighborhood. The bridge is the only access point over the Kanawha Canal and privately owned CSX railroad tracks to more than a mile of popular trail, beaches and rocks along the rivers north bank, a section of the JRPS enjoyed by thousands every summer. But the city now says there is no chance of safe and legal access to Texas Beach this summer, and the process for evaluating repairs on the bridge will take at least another year. The crown jewel Conducted as part of a routine inspection of bridges maintained by PRCF, the report revealed severe structural damage that could potentially result in a bridge collapse. The city announced the closure on the morning of Friday, Sept. 2. But roughly eight months later, river-goers continue to use the bridge in droves, or illegally cross the tracks as an alternative. Per PRCF, Texas Beach is not closed. But it is officially only accessible by watercraft because the pedestrian bridge is closed. Dennis Bussey, 77 and the organizer of the James River Hikers for the past 12 years, has led more than 2,000 meetups for hikes and community projects in the James River Park System. For Bussey, closing the bridge meant cutting off public access to the very best part of Richmond. The crown jewel of Richmond, Virginia is the James River, and the crown jewel of the James River is the James River Park System, said Bussey, who has led various improvement efforts to the Texas Beach area over the years, such as constructing walkways, erecting a historic sign at the remnants of Foushees Mill and initiating the Texas Beach murals project in conjunction with VCUarts. And the crown jewel of the James River Park (System) is Texas Beach. So they have taken the super plum on the top of the cake in Richmond, Virginia, and theyve taken it away from the public. It is the best part of the best part of Richmond. Its such a special place. Critical and immediate priority At least three times since the original closure, a metal door with the words bridge closed no access to Texas Beach has been shut over the entrance to the bridge in an effort to deter river-goers from using it. But each time, the lock is eventually broken open and the door retracted. At times that the door barred entry, hikers simply climbed through a hole in the chain-link fence which surrounds the bridge. In December, Tyler Layne of CBS 6, through a Freedom of Information Act request, obtained the structure inspection report done by Timmons Group. The report came back with significant redactions, as PRCF cited exemptions that allow critical infrastructure information to be withheld. But it did list damage to the bottom of the bridges concrete deck and to the chain link fencing that surrounds the pathway, deterioration of the timber handrails, and deformations to the chords of the trusses. There are holes in the concrete steps winding up and down the tower on the river-side end, and a couple have fallen out of place. The report concluded that the city needed to either rehabilitate the bridge or replace it. Sections on the report redacted in part or entirely include the condition ratings of certain aspects, description of the structure, special requirements, work done, and overall condition and recommendations, including one of critical and immediate priority. Commentary on the state of individual elements of the structure has been heavily redacted in many areas of the report. Tamara Jenkins, a public information officer for Richmonds Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, said on April 14 that the city still has no estimate on the total cost of or a viable timetable for the bridge to be repaired or replaced. But Jenkins did share a FAQ sheet released by PRCF, which notes that $2 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act were in November designated to address the bridge. After The Richmond Times-Dispatch reached out inquiring as to the status of the repairs, a line was added to an updated version of the FAQ sheet that alludes to a rough timetable for at least establishing what the process for repairs will look like. A process is underway with structural engineers to find the best solution for repairing and re-opening access to Texas Beach, the updated sheet states. This process will likely at least take a year from the summer of 2023. Once we have a timeline established for the repair we will post it publicly so everyone can follow along with this complex and important project. Jenkins also confirmed that the door reading bridge closed no access to Texas Beach has indeed been the citys attempt to close the bridge in the interest of public safety. She emphasized that river-goers should not under any circumstances use the bridge or cross the tracks. When asked about the viability of a temporary access point while the bridge is in limbo, Jenkins pointed to the FAQ sheet. Unfortunately, there are no temporary access points sanctioned by the City or by CSX to access this portion of the riverfront at this time, the sheet reads. We know this is frustrating, but we invite you to enjoy all of the other open and accessible areas of the James River Park System while we work to ensure the safety of our citizens and re-establish access to Texas Beach over the coming year. Alternative spots for river-goers to enjoy include Pony Pasture, Reedy Creek and 42nd Street, Ancarrows Landing, the Wetlands, Great Shiplock Park or Belle Isle. Josh Stutz, executive director of Friends of the James River Park System, said in an April 28 email that pedestrian bridges in the JRPS akin to the one at Texas Beach are vital pieces of infrastructure. Stutz added that no one wants to see the bridge closed less than we do, and if the engineers said it should be closed for safety and repaired I think we should all take that seriously. Crossing the bridge does pose a safety risk and we wish people would stop cutting the locks and vandalizing the signs. They are putting other people who might (not) know the area is closed for safety at risk when they do that, Stutz said. It is nearly impossible to effectively close a trail in Richmond, and without enforcement, people are going to break the rules to do whatever they want. It is the same reason we have to pick up dozens of bags of litter in the park every week. There isnt a consistent culture of respectful park use, and until there is we will continue to see people break rules and disrespect our shared spaces. A sanctuary for a lot of people Meanwhile, as the weather warms and more locals seek a hike along the water or a sunny beach to relax or swim, many Richmonders are continuing to use the bridge to enter Texas Beach. Aside from the door, which as of May 1 was wide open, there is one sign on a porta-potty in the Texas Beach parking lot informing river-goers that the bridge is closed. No other signage indicating safety risks of any kind existed as of May 1, and some river-goers continue to use the bridge in total ignorance of any safety risks. Dillon Butler was at Texas Beach in late April, and said he walks down there to enjoy nature almost every day, calling the area a sanctuary. He heard that the locks on the door to the bridge had been popped recently, but in the meantime had seen many people crossing the train tracks instead. He said he often worries about the structural integrity of the bridge, and wishes the area had safe access points. I know its a sanctuary for a lot of people that like to read, come to play music, meditate, I just go down there and think, he said. Id be scared that more access points would mean more people, more traffic, and then it wouldnt be what it is. But theyve got to fix this. On a sunny day in April, hundreds of river-goers flocked to the myriad beaches that dot the extended shore spanning from Texas Beach to Pumphouse Park, where the trail ends around the CSX A-Line Bridge, a popular symbol of Richmond employed in many a local mural or design, like in the logo of Belle Isle Moonshine. On high-traffic summer days like the Fourth of July, that number of river-goers entering the area, either by crossing the bridge or the train tracks, has in years past been in the thousands. Joshua Carbunck walks down to Texas Beach regularly in warm-weather months. But he visited the area in late-April for just the third time this year, and said he had no idea the bridge was closed and had not seen the signs or door. But when told of the structural evaluation, he shrugged and said: I feel like people are going to find a way. Jan Uecker and Kate Bassett took their German shepherd down to Texas Beach on Saturday, Sept. 17 of last year, a couple weeks after the bridge was closed. They had to access the river up by Pumphouse, an entry point turned to by many when the bridge was first sealed at the end of summer 2022. There is no access point at Pumphouse that does not involve crossing the CSX railroad tracks, and Jenkins said PRCF has no plans to build one similar to the pedestrian bridge at Texas Beach. So the pathway that begins with the bridge has no outlet, unless river-goers take a return trip over the bridge or cross the tracks illegally. Stutz said FOJRP would love if there was another way for people to get across the canal and railroad tracks safely, and it is something he could see in the distant future of the JRPS. It is not uncommon to see people, even families with children and/or dogs, jump off the tracks that run parallel to the North Bank Trail in an effort to avoid oncoming trains. Uecker said he had for a couple years been expecting the bridge to be closed because it looks to him like it is falling apart. It was kind of scary, he said. So Im not surprised that its closed, but I really hope it doesnt take too long to fix. Added Bassett: I feel like theres going to be some pressure (to get the bridge fixed) because it is so very popular and it gives people from the city easy access to nature, so were hoping that will be a priority. Bussey has done his utmost to abide by city policy and stay off the bridge and tracks since September. Over the years, he has been all over the JRPS, from the Buttermilk Trail to Belle Isle, from Pumphouse Park to Great Shiplock Park. But to him, nothing compares to Texas Beach. So without safe access to it, Richmonds crown jewel is incomplete. Youre right down there on the river, its beautiful, and it was pretty easily accessible, he said. All of a sudden, one day, they closed the bridge. I thought, Oh my God, this is going to be a big, big loss. And it has been a big, big loss. It was heartbreaking. Thats the best part of the James River. Stutz urged patience with the city while they work out a solution to this complex engineering issue. We have the benefit of having some really great park professionals on our side, who also want to see that area re-opened, he said. The fact is, there is no magic wand, even with $2 million in ARPA funds dedicated to the project, that will get this done quickly and safely. Virginias six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor addressed issues ranging from education to transgender rights during a Thursday night debate in Prince William County, the last time all the candidates will appear together in public ahead of the June 17 primary. Although the candidates shared common ground on many progressive priorities, the biggest point of contention was a proposal to allow a casino in Fairfax Countys Tysons Corner one of the few issues that revealed a real divide among the field. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican nominee John Reid in the November general election. Virginias lieutenant governor presides over the Senate and is first in line to succeed the governor. Victor Salgado, a federal prosecutor and law professor, came out of the gate criticizing Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, and Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, for their votes this year on legislation that would have added Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to develop a casino. The measure ultimately failed. Unfortunately, we have Sen. Hashmi, Sen. Rouse, who are financing their campaigns with big casino money, with skill gaming money, and its no surprise, of course, that they would vote to bring none other than Steve Wynn, Donald Trumps good friend, into Northern Virginia to build a casino that nobody asked for, and that Tysons and that Northern Virginians dont want, Salgado said. Its important that we reform our campaign finance laws, because they did this knowing that we would have to carry Northern Virginia, and they jeopardize our electoral prospects just so that they can service their patrons in the casino industry. Integrity, folks, matters all of the time, not just some of the time. During this years General Assembly session, Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, hoped Virginia would legalize electronic skill games in stores, restaurants and truck stops, but the House and governor opposed the idea. Gov. Glenn Youngkin and many House Democrats say the next step should be creation of a Virginia Gaming Commission to consolidate all forms of legal gaming in the state. Rouses campaign has received more than $100,000 from skill game operators and related entities, including $47,500 from VA Operators for Skill, $37,500 from Virginia Skill Game PAC and $30,000 from Republic Amusements, according to his campaign finance reports. Hashmi received $2,000 last year from the Virginia Skill Game PAC. She also received a $15,000 donation through her state Senate campaign account from Christopher Guthrie, the chief financial officer and executive vice president of Comstock Holdings a prominent player in the casino push and $10,000 from the company itself. Rouse is a strong supporter of skill games and introduced legislation last year that sought to legalize them. Hashmi has not taken a firm stance on skill games in her campaigning or legislatively. Salgado did not mention Levar Stoney, the former mayor of Richmond, who in the first quarter of this year received $25,000 from Pace-O-Matic, an operator of electronic skill games that has pushed for their legalization in Virginia. Stoney, who fought for a casino in Richmond that city voters rejected in referendums in 2021 and 2023, said he does not support a casino in Tysons Corner because its not what residents want. Am I open to a casino in Northern Virginia? Yes. But is this the site? No, Stoney said. Hashmi said that when she considers legislation in the state Senate, she does so through the eyes of working families. I will support a legislation that provides good union jobs, that enables an economy to grow robustly and expand our middle class, an opportunity for families to live in areas where normally the cost of living would be prohibitive, an opportunity for working families to let their children go to excellent schools in areas that they would otherwise not be able to, she said. Rouse served on the Virginia Beach City Council from 2019 through 2022, before he was first elected to the Senate in January 2023. He said Thursday that its important to understand the entirety of the issue regarding casinos and skill games and noted that when he served in local government, he didnt like Richmond telling him what to do. I supported legislation giving the localities the option to decide to put on a referendum to decide whether or not they will want a casino, Rouse said. The other part of that is also supporting our workers, supporting our labor unions, making sure they have good, high-paying jobs, so they can take care of their families, so they can make sure that Virginias economy becomes No. 1. Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef is strongly against a Tysons casino and is also against skill games. I am 100% opposed to slot machines in your local 7-Eleven, video poker machines in the restaurants in your neighborhoods, Lateef said. They are designed to make children addicted and to be predatory among those who are the most vulnerable. These are not the ideas we need to generate our Virginia economy. Alex Bastani, a longtime labor leader, is against a casino at Tysons Corner, but not against casinos in general; he said it depends on each communitys needs. On skill gaming, he said it should come down to local authority. Im not a fan of gambling. However, I believe that the skill game rules should be up to localities, Bastani said. One of the reasons weve lost power in this country is because of the condescending attitude of the economic elite. Its not my position as a Northern Virginian to tell someone in Lynchburg that they shouldnt have skill gaming at their local 7-Eleven. New security strategy reduces homicides ranking PDC with one of the lowest rates in Mexico Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Mayor Estefania Mercado says intentional homicides in Playa del Carmen have decreased by 36.7 percent. She says the decrease is compared to the number of homicides recorded at beginning of the previous administration, ranking it as one of the lowest murder rate municipalities in the country. According to Mercado, 68 homicides were recorded from October 1, 2021 to May 17, 2022. During that same period under the new administration, 43 cases have been recorded from October 1, 2024 to May 17, 2025, she said. This result reflects the positive impact of a security policy with historic investment, police intelligence and a permanent presence in the region, said Mercado. Furthermore, from May 1 to 19, 2025, Playa del Carmen ranked among the municipalities with the lowest rate of intentional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the country, with a rate of 0.76, she explained in a press conference Thursday. We are demonstrating that when investment is made with honesty and vision, security is truly built. Today, Playa del Carmen is safer because there is a clear strategy, institutional coordination and a commitment to the well-being of families, said Mercado. The mayor reiterated that she will continue working 24/7 for the peace and tranquility of the people of Playa del Carmen, strengthening the Municipal Police, investing in intelligence, and prioritizing social outreach. Taxi worker arrested for assaulting tourist trying to board Uber at Cancun International Cancun, Q.R. A taxi worker has been taken into custody for assaulting a tourist at the Cancun International Airport. On Friday, authorities said Eder Alexis N was arrested for trying to stop a woman from boarding an Uber at terminal 3 of the airport. According to preliminary investigations, the suspect works for a private taxi company at Terminal 3 of the airport. His job is to ensure that taxis do not enter the area and do not pick up passengers, ensuring that only they can provide service to tourists, the State Attorney General (FGE) reported in a statement Friday. His arrest was made following the publication of a video on social media showing the suspect assaulting the woman who he tried to prevent from boarding an Uber vehicle. Two women were videoed at the back of the Uber vehicle. One of the women put her suitcase in the back hatch of the vehicle when she was approached and intercepted by the taxi worker. In their statement, the FGE said Eder Alexis N is also facing drug charges. According to them, Eder Alexis N was arrested for his alleged involvement in the assault of a foreign tourist at the Cancun International Airport, as well as for drug trafficking offenses. At the time of his arrest, Eder Alexis N had among his belongings doses of green, dried grass similar to marijuana as well as small bags containing a substance similar to the drug known as crystal. As the movie that marked Jafar Panahis return to the Cannes Film Festival after a 14-year travel ban by the Iranian government, It Was Just an Accident was a major contender for the festivals highest honor, the Palme dOr, before the jury ever laid eyes on it. Simply setting foot in the Lumiere Theatre on Tuesday earned Panahi a lengthy standing ovationa big change considering that the last time one of his movies premiered at a major festival he was sitting in jail. But as astonishing as Panahis mere presence on the Croisette was, the movie itself is even more so. Borrowing a premise from the Chilean playwright Ariel Dorfmans Death and the Maiden, It Was Just an Accident, which was acquired by Neon on Thursday for a U.S. release, begins when Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi), a middle-aged husband and father of a young daughter, hits a dog on a dark road while driving home late at night. He makes it to the nearest garage, where a mechanic makes a minor adjustment and sends the family on their way. But as Eghbal walks back to his car, the mechanics co-worker Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) hears a familiar sound, one that has haunted him for years: the unmistakable squeak of Eghbals prosthetic leg. Years ago, Vahid was thrown in prison and tortured for taking part in a political protest, and although he never saw his tormentors face, hed know that squeak anywhereor so he thinks. Vahid follows Eghbal, who he knows only as Peg Leg, home, and the next morning, he knocks him out and drags him out to the desert, where he plans to bury him alive. But Eghbals anguished cries of protest sow doubt in his captors mind, just enough to make him mull the consequences of being mistaken. So Vahid knocks him out once more and proceeds to drag his unconscious body all over town, presenting it to an ever-growing group of people who are bound together by one grim fact: They were all victims of the same torturer. Where Dorfmans play is a dramatic pressure-cooker, Panahis story plays out as a bleak, absurdist farce, even before one of the victims asks another if they remember seeing Waiting for Godot. At one point, Vahids van breaks down, and Panahi films the group, one of whom is a bride still in her wedding dress, pushing it through thick downtown traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Iranian government banned Panahi from making films for nearly 15 years, he never stopped, even though that meant working in secret and, in one famous case, smuggling the sardonically titled This Is Not a Film to Cannes on a flash drive. (Sadly, the too-good-to-be-true story that the drive was hidden inside a cake has turned out to be just that.) The international pressure generated by Panahis 2023 hunger strikeseven months after being imprisoned for pressing for the release of jailed filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof (The Seed of the Sacred Fig)led to the early lifting of the filmmaking ban, and although his movies are still subject to government censorship, theres a sense in It Was Just an Accident of him returning to the outside world, an experience that isnt as uniformly jubilant as it might seem. Advertisement Advertisement In his last movie, No Bears, Panahi played himself, a criminalized artist furtively making movies on the border between Turkey and Iran, a boundary he longingly stares over but does not dare to cross, only directing via remote livestream. And although he does not appear in It Was Just an Accidentthe first time since the ban, and in nearly 20 years, that he has stayed entirely behind the camerayou can feel the pull of returning to a normal life, along with the knowledge of how impossible that will always be. Peg Legs victims are in the midst of mundane tasks when Vahid catches up with them, Eghbals unconscious body wedged into a wooden box in the back of his van. But as they run their fingers over his limbs, trying to discern if theyre the same ones they clung to as they begged for mercy, the trauma of their imprisonment comes rushing back to them, as does the question of what, now, to do about it. Some want to put the past behind them, some to extract vengeance, and their arguments veer from moral debate to petty bickering and back again. If Panahi hasnt put himself in this movie, its because hes all of the characters and not just one, giving voice to his rage, and to the warning that letting it consume him would be a prison of its own. And he knows that lashing out at the agents of state repression doesnt strike those who are most responsible for it. The movies victims frequently repeat the conviction that theyd never forget the sound of their torturers voice, his smell, the feel of his artificial leg. But the memories arent as definitive as they thought theyd be, or perhaps they just look different in the daylight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Cannes Is Rolling Out the Red Carpet for One of This Centurys Most Controversial Figures Read More Although Panahi greeted Cannes applause with stoicism, his eyes invisible behind dark glasses, Panahi has every reason to be furious, and theres a vein of red-hot anger running through the film. But he places himself, and us, at a distance from it. For much of the movie, we dont know if the characters anguish, justified though it is, is being directed at the right target. And although we eventually do find out the truth, the moment comes at the end of a staggering single-take confrontation, played out in the blood-red glow of Vahids taillights, and were so shattered its hard to know what comes next, or what wed want to. It Was Just an Accident sits at or near the top of most Cannes observers predictions for the Palme, and even in a strong year, it stands above everything else I saw at the festival. Its a movie of righteous fury and bleak comedy, a howl of anguish that ends in a sputtering laugh. Either way, it takes your breath away. One of the questions surrounding the Diddy trial from the very beginning has been whether musician Kid Cudi would testify. The hip-hop artist and actor, whose government name is Scott Mescudi, was mentioned in star witness Cassie Venturas testimony and her original 2023 civil suit; she claimed that when they briefly dated, Sean Combs became so irate that he orchestrated Mescudis car to be blown up. With arson being one of the main criminal acts the prosecution is accusing Combs of engaging in with other peopleand thus the part that is essential to proving the alleged criminal-enterprise portion of the chargesit seemed plausible that the artist might be called to testify. And on Thursday he took the stand. Mescudi walked in, wearing light-wash blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt underneath a black leather bicycle jacket, accessorized with a dangly twinkling cross earring, seeming calm and collected. He soon began to detail the rise and fall of his short-lived relationship with Ventura in 2011. According to Mescudi, Ventura began confiding in him around Thanksgiving 2010 that she was having problems with Combs and detailing the physical abuse she had suffered in their relationship. When Mescudi and Ventura began dating, he was under the impression from those conversations that she had broken up with Combs. So, after Ventura called him in December 2011, very stressed, nervous, and scared, explaining that Combs had found out about their relationship, Mescudi was confused. Ventura purportedly told him she had given Combs his address and was worried that Combs might show up to Mescudis Los Angeles home. After dropping off Ventura at the Sunset Marquis hotel to be safe away from Combs, Mescudi learned from Capricorn Clark, a former employee of Combs, that Combs was in his home. According to Mescudi, Clark told him that Combs had made her get in the car to go there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mescudi called Combs, asking, Motherfucker, are you in my house? to which Combs allegedly responded, I just want to talk to you and Im over here, waiting for you. Upon arriving at his home, Mescudi testified, he noticed that in addition to his security cameras allegedly being repositioned, holiday gifts he had bought for family members had been opened, and his dog (which he usually let roam throughout the house) was locked in a bathroom, behaving very jittery and kind of on edge all the time. But Mescudi didnt find anyone in the home. He filed a report with law enforcement, assuming there had been a break-in. Then, Mescudi called Combs again, asking where he was, because he wanted to confront him. Mescudi testified that Combs sounded calm during both phone calls. At that time, they didnt meet up. Advertisement After turning down Combs further requests to talk over the following daysyou broke into my house, you messed with my dog, I dont want to talk to you, Mescudi reportedly respondedhe went on one final trip to visit Venturas family. Shortly thereafter, in January 2012, his relationship with Ventura ended because, as he testified, the drama was just getting out of hand and he kinda wanted to just give it some space for her safety as well as his. Still, that same month, Mescudi was alerted by his dog-sitter that his car, a Porsche 911 convertible parked in his driveway, was on fire. Mescudi had a friend take photos, which the prosecution submitted as evidence to the court. The images reveal a large hole in the cars roof where, Mescudi thinks, it was cut open for the insertion of a Molotov cocktail. The inside of the drivers door showed significant smoke damage, and the drivers side seat appeared significantly singed. Mescudi himself allegedly saw the bottle from the purported Molotov cocktail on the ground near the vehicle and testified that once law enforcement arrived, officers told him it had likely been placed in the drivers seat. According to the entertainer, the car was unable to be repaired after the incident. Mescudi firmly believes that the damage was intentional and perpetrated by Combs. Mescudis declaration of his feeling about what happened to the cara visceral What the fuck?won a laugh from the courtroom and an objection from the defense. Advertisement Advertisement A day or two later, Mescudi testified, he went to Soho House, a members-only club in Los Angeles, for a meeting he had asked to have with Combs because everything was getting out of hand. On the stand, Mescudi recalled, in a deadpan tone that received more laughs from the courtroom, that when he entered the room at Soho, he found Combs in there alone, facing a wall of windows and looking out with his hands behind his back, like a Marvel supervillain. Mescudi described Combs demeanor once again as very calm, behavior he found very off-putting. They allegedly discussed how Mescudis relationship with Ventura had come about, before she herself showed up. (According to Mescudi, this was the last time he would see her.) They ended the meeting with a handshake, which is when Mescudi purportedly asked Combs, What are we gonna do about my car? to which Combs allegedly responded, I dont know what youre talking about. After the meeting, Mescudi said, he experienced no further break-ins or torched cars; he even received a general apology from Combs years later at a party, though without any admission of culpability for the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the trial began, there was much hand-wringing over what Mescudi would be allowed to testify about: Could he give blatant statements about whether he believed or knew that Combs had been behind the arson? No, he could not. The prosecution got around this by asking Mescudi of his personal understanding of Combs statement that he didnt know about the scorched car. To that, Mescudi asserted that he believed that he was lying. On cross, the defense showed that Mescudi never got any follow-up on potential DNA present at the scene of the arson, even though DNA was collected. Additionally, Mescudi testified that he had no knowledge or information about anyone affiliated with Combs who had been near the scene of the crime at the time, that he believes he left his front door unlocked before the first break-in, that there was no severe damage to his home beyond the gifts and canine foul play, and that he heard no mention or threat of any firearms. (Though, the prosecution was quick to correct, Mescudi didnt know either way if Combs or his affiliates had firearms.) It was clear that there was no physical proof that Combs was involved in setting Mescudis car on fireso the prosecution will certainly be relying on the jury to infer from Venturas and Mescudis testimony that Combs was behind the event. However, neither testimony made mention of any other names that could have plausibly carried out this alleged hit on Mescudis car to point toward coordinated racketeering charges. Mescudi testified as one of five witnesses to end the second week of the high-profile trial. The other testimonies came from George Kaplan, a former personal assistant of Diddys; Mylah Morales, a celebrity makeup artist who was close with Ventura; Frederic Zemmour, general manager at LErmitage hotel, in Beverly Hills; and Joshua Croft, a computer forensic agent and special agent for Homeland Security Investigations. Court proceedings will resume Tuesday, with testimony from Capricorn Clark. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The news that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer was a stunning disclosure. First, because of its obvious tragedythe Bidens have achieved much but suffered more, and their patriarchs having such a serious illness is devastating. But second, because of its timing: The diagnosis comes just as Biden is being hammered in the press thanks to several new books on his presidency and his disastrous (and aborted) 2024 campaign. In different ways, these books make a similar case, arguing that Biden was not as cognitively sharp as his staffers led the public to believe, and that by running for reelection despite his obvious frailty and advanced age, he cost Democrats the election and the publics trust. Now the cancer announcement raises new questions, chief among them When was this diagnosis actually made? The splashiest of the Biden books is Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Despite its ubiquity, it is not the only one: Also making headlines are 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, by reporters Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf; Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes; and Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History, by Chris Whipple. The Tapper and Thompson volume, though, particularly indicts Bidens aides and family members for engaging in an intentional cover-up of the former presidents waning cognitive skills. Advertisement It also relays a briefbut compellingtale about Beau Bidens cancer battle. Doctors discovered a brain tumor after Beau collapsed during a family vacation in summer 2013, and he was diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma. Beau, then the attorney general of Delaware, was secretly flown across the country for various treatments. But the public was told only that he had had a small lesion removed from his brain. Beau himself told a reporter in November 2013 that he had a clean bill of healtheven though his diagnosis was terminal. A doctor said the same to the press in February 2014. During this time, Joe Biden would fly to be with Beau, fudging the truth of his whereabouts to reporters. Beau died in May 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care is usually a private matter. But when the person whose health is at issue is a sitting public officialand especially when theyre the president of the United Statesits more complicated than that. What the public does with the information doesnt help: Predictably, internet doctors who got their degrees from the University of Googles acclaimed WebMD School of Medicine are opining on the improbability of Joe Bidens diagnostic timeline. The last known time Biden was screened for prostate cancer was in 2014. Why, many are asking, was he not screened again? Or was he screened again but the results were concealed? With cancer this advanced, mustnt he have had it while in office? What does that then say about either the quality of his health care or what might have been hidden from the public? Advertisement Biden spokesman Chris Meagher says there was no cover-upthat the former presidents diagnosis came last week. The problem for Bidens team is that the conversation around Bidens diagnosis goes beyond the standard palace intrigue that characterizes so much political gossip. A cover-up feels plausible because we already know that the Bidens and those around them did act deceitfully, even if they did so with the best intentions. Biden really was a good president. He still is the only Democrat to beat Trump. The 2024 election really was a crucial one, and the stakes really were high, and those around the then president really did seem to believe that he was the only person who could save America from our current descent into authoritarianism. By all accounts, Biden was lucid much of the time and was largely capable of doing the job of the presidentthough occasionally he needed the help of aides. And he was periodically confused. And he had bad days and bad times of day. This debatehow impaired is too impaired?is familiar to anyone who has ever had to talk to an aging relative about continuing to drive, or moving into supported living, or accepting more help at home. But this was fundamentally different. Bidens aides werent debating taking away his keys. They were trying to put him back in the White House to lead the country for four more years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That those internal debates were kept from the public and even from many of the higher-ups in the Democratic Party really has caused the public to lose trust in Democrats. Ambitious Democratic politicians seem to have clocked this, and theyre on a national mea culpa tour. Or, really, a they-a culpa tour: Even those who defended Bidens health during the election are now telling the press that the party screwed up and should apologize. Theyre right about the screwup. But theyre missing the bigger picture. As the when-did-he-know theorizing about Bidens diagnosis shows, Americans simply dont trust that theyre getting the truth from Democrats. But heres the thing: They also arent getting the truth from Republicans. And so what we need in this moment is less an intra-Democratic navel-gazing than a systemwide update. Advertisement Related From Slate Honestly, I Am So Sick of Hearing Democrats Apologize for Their Joe Biden Mistake Read More Early on in the Tapper and Thompson book, they tell the story of Rep. Kay Granger, the first Republican woman elected to the House from Texas, who in July 2024 cast her last vote in Congress at 81-years-old and was then secretly placed in an assisted-living facility for patients with dementia, the authors write. She (or her family) continued to collect her congressional paycheck; her constituents were not officially informed, and members of Congress who knew about it kept quiet. Sens. Strom Thurmond and Dianne Feinstein experienced cognitive decline toward the end of their tenures (Thurmond for roughly a decade). Various presidents have hidden illnesses while in office. As the Cuban Missile Crisis unfolded, Kennedy was taking many drugs to manage his various ailments, Tapper and Thompson write. We still dont know when Ronald Reagans Alzheimers truly began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can interpret this in one of two ways: This is either a norm in Washington that will continue or a pervasive and bipartisan problem that needs fixing. Democrats should go with Option Bespecially now that we have a notoriously dishonest man in office who is pushing 80, already displays what appears to be his own physical and cognitive decline, and is surrounded by diehard lackeys willing to shamelessly lie for him (not to mention his long history of exaggerating his own claims to health). Advertisement Of course Democrats need to reckon with what happened in 2024. But one of the lessons should be that presidentsall presidents, not just Democratic onesmust be open with the American people about their health. Given where weve landed, the only way to do that is by mandating transparency. That means health examinations by highly qualified and apolitical doctors or, as oncologist Ezekiel Emanuel recently suggested in the New York Times, a panel of doctors, not personal physicians who make unbelievable claims or, in Trumps case, allow the patient to dictate the letter about their own health. Remember when Trumps personal physician wrote in 2015, If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency? Or when Ronny Jackson, then Trumps doctor and now a MAGA member of Congress, said he had incredible genes and not only was fit for his first term but could carry out a second? This is the kind of thing we expect from ridiculous dictators. We shouldnt accept them from the American president. Advertisement Our political institutions are in crisis. A big part of that crisis is because Trump is dismantling so many of them. But the crisis in trust can be laid at Democrats feet too. The solution isnt simply for Democrats to agonize and apologize. Its to make a series of real, permanent changes that apply across the board, to all presidents (and perhaps some rules that apply to members of Congress as well), regardless of party affiliation or personal preference. Bidens diagnosis is heartbreaking. The skeptical response to it is alsoand is itself a diagnosis of the publics cynicism. MAGA Republicans are invested in fueling that cynicism. Democrats must meet the moment by being the party to advocate that safeguards be put in place so that similar mistakes wont happen in the futureand to emphasize that, for all the conservative criticism of Bidens caginess about his health, Republicans are allowing Trump to engage in the same behavior and, again, to potentially deceive an American public that deserves, at a bare minimum, the most basic of health information about the worlds most powerful men. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. In The Big Short, the Adam McKaydirected film based on the Michael Lewis book, hedge fund manager Mark Baum (Steve Carell) and his associates team up with Deutsche Bank executive Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling) to short the housing market prior to the subprime crisis. Halfway through the movie, Carell and Gosling have this exchange: Jared Vennett: Didnt I say when we made this deal that the ratings agencies, the banks, and the SEC were clueless? Didnt I say that? Now their foots on fire, their steak is done, and youre surprised? Mark Baum: Thats not stupidity. Thats fraud. Jared Vennett: Tell me the difference between stupid and illegal, and Ill have my wifes brother arrested. The scene is played for laughs, but it feels uncomfortably real now. Two years ago, we saw a string of banking failures tied to crypto sending shockwaves through the financial system, exposing just how much risk banks had pooled to cater to the industry. While the worst was narrowly averted, the same conditions that sparked that crisis are not only still with us, theyve metastasized. Thanks to an influx of deregulation and unprecedented political influence, crypto is once again primed to take down the banking system. This time, though, the crash could be even biggerand we might not be able to bail ourselves out again. Advertisement A tremor of this future financial earthquake occurred in March 2023. In the span of five days, three U.S. banks collapsed: Silvergate, Silicon Valley, and Signature. A fourth, First Republic, failed in May. All told, they held more than $400 billion in assets. As the contagion spread, several other banks (PacWest and Western Alliance Bank) teetered on the edge of insolvency. In the end, disaster was averted as the Fed stepped in to guarantee all depositors their money back, and the story soon disappeared from the headlines. But new research points out that the banks exposure to cryptocurrency and the wild bets placed on it by venture capital firms were central to their collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March of this year, Steven Kelly and Jonathan Rose published a working paper for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In it, they argue, The 2023 crisis was a crisis of a certain bank business model. Silvergate, SVB, Signature, and First Republic failed; Pacific Western Bank (PacWest) and Western Alliance Bank narrowly escaped failure. These six most-affected banks built their business models around the crypto and venture capital (VC) sectors. Advertisement The previous year, the cryptocurrency industry was decimated as the prices of various coins plunged. Investors raced to withdraw their money but were surprised to find it was no longer there. The headliner grabber was Sam Bankman-Fried and the implosion of his exchange, FTX, but scores of other crypto companies went belly up. Fraud and nefarious activity were often to blame. Hundreds of crypto criminals were arrested, and companies like the exchange Binance paid billions of dollars in fines for their illicit behavior. But the damage was far from over. By the time I testified to the Senate Banking Committee in December 2022, the potential spillover effects of cryptos collapse on the banking sector were clear, at least to me. Asked by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto about how to regulate the notoriously shady industry, I was blunt: If we allow crypto to infect our banking system, we will be back here. Not in a good way. Advertisement Advertisement I didnt know it at the time, but it was already too late. After FTX went down in November, Silvergate Bank lost about half its deposits in a few days. No bank can survive that kind of outflow. As Kelly and Rose point out, the banking sector in 2022 was (rightfully) skeptical of servicing crypto companies. That forced those businesses to park their cash (i.e., uninsured deposits) in the few banks willing to service them: Silvergate, Silicon Valley, and Signature. So when those crypto customers began demanding their real money back, the crypto firms needed to pull the dough from the banks. The result was a classic bank run. Advertisement By guaranteeing their money, the Fed likely did the right thing to contain the growing crisis, but neither the crypto companies nor their investors suffered consequences. In fact, by retaining their cash, companies like the behemoth exchange Coinbase and venture capital firm a16z were soon able to use that moolah to influence politicians and regulators at a scale even Sam Bankman-Fried couldnt have imagined. Advertisement Crypto PACs threw a reported $135 million into congressional races in the 2024 cycle, resulting in the election of dozens of pro-crypto legislators. One spent $40 million on Republican Bernie Moreno, who defeated incumbent Sherrod Brown. (Brown had been chair of the Banking Committee to which I testified.) Another dropped $10 million attacking Katie Porter, running for Senate in California, in the Democratic primary. Her opponent, Adam Schiff, was elected instead. A source tied to that super PAC told the New Yorker that the purpose of the spend was to warn anyone running for office that, if you are anti-crypto, the industry will come after you. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Democrats Just Handed Trumpand the Crypto Industrya Massive Win Read More To make matters worse, Trumps lackeys have rolled back safeguards put in place under the previous administration. This notably includes his Department of Justice disbanding Joe Bidens cryptocurrency task force to prosecute crooks in the industry, and the FDIC rescinding a rule requiring banks to notify the Fed before engaging in cryptogreenlighting more high-risk exposure of the kind that tanked Silvergate and Signature. Advertisement Legislation on crypto is moving forward after stalling on the Hill, in yet another example that Democrats only have so much of a spine. It makes a grim kind of sense: The crypto industry gave truckloads of money to both Ds and Rs; it expects a return on its investment. So imagine this scenario: Its a year from now, maybe two. Crypto-friendly legislation is now law, opening the floodgates for all manner of bank exposure to crypto. Next, the economic recession people have been forecasting for years actually happens. Trumps erratic economic policies and his embrace of tariffs have boosted the chances of one to as high as 70 percent on prediction markets just last month, although theyve since come down. Historically speaking, though, recessions are unavoidable. Advertisement Advertisement News of a downturn then leads to a sizable drop in the markets. As investors rush to shed themselves of risky assets, crypto, perhaps the riskiest asset imaginable, is dumped with ferocity. Soon, theres a run on the banks, except its not like in 2023, its far bigger. Instead of only a handful of banks, dozens or maybe even hundreds are affected, including some of the largest in the country. And quelle surprise, we are all obligated to bail the banks out (again) or face global financial armageddon. Voila! Subprime 2.0 has manifested, and cryptos the culprit. Weve learned nothing. Were in a sequel, but its not to The Big Short. Were in one of the more unwelcome additions to a storied cinematic masterpiece: Dumb and Dumber To. New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin visited Fair Winds Farm, where he met with members of the Standardbred community on Monday, May 19 to hear concerns regarding a proposed cut to the states annual appropriation for horse racing purses in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Gov. Phil Murphys budget proposal for 2026 includes a $10 million USD appropriation for purses, a reduction from the $20 million USD provided in previous years. The appropriation was first introduced in 2019 as part of a five-year, $100 million USD allocation that has been renewed in subsequent years with the vital support of Speaker Coughlin. This past September, Gov. Murphy signed a bill to extend the $20 million USD funding for purses through fiscal year 2029, but he noted the state Constitution only allows the governor and legislators to budget revenues and expenditures strictly on an annual basis. Consequently, the appropriations that this bill purports to require through State fiscal year 2029 are not binding and serve only as a strong expression of intent to provide funding in future fiscal years, said the governor at the time in a statement. An economic impact study last year, completed with assistance from the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ), showed horse racing generated $75 million USD annually in tax revenue for New Jersey. Speaker Coughlins visit to Fair Winds Farm, which included a lunch reception and fundraiser, was hosted by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and the states Standardbred industrys political action committee TrotPAC. Among those joining Speaker Coughlin for Mondays event were SBOANJ President Mark Ford as well as fellow officers Mark Mullen, Linda Toscano and Al Ochsner. The group also included SBOANJ directors Dan Baer, Stephen Dey III, Mike Gulotta, Julie Meirs, Julie Miller and Chris Ryder. Other industry representatives included John Campbell, Gunjan Patel and Nadia Tarnawa from the Hambletonian Society, Jason Settlemoir from The Meadowlands and Karyn Malinowski from the Rutgers Equine Science Center. We are grateful for Speaker Coughlins time and continued interest in our industry, said Ford. We had productive discussions with the Speaker, with a number of people coming out to talk with him about the impact of the appropriations over the years. There is no question the funding has strengthened our industry and fostered growth, whether it be in breeding or racing, while also provide value to the state. At the conclusion of the visit, Speaker Coughlin took a trip to Fair Winds nearby yearling farm to catch up with his Andy Miller Stable-bred namesake, trotter Speaker Craig, and watch the horse with other yearlings in the field. Fair Winds Farms Heather Zitone and Julie Miller provided Speaker Coughlin with additional insight about how young horses are raised. A Democrat representing the 19th Legislative District in Middlesex County, Speaker Coughlin has served in the State Assembly since 2010. Speaker Coughlins responsibilities include scheduling meetings and determining which bills will be considered within the Assembly. (SBOANJ; photo of Craig Coughlin watching his namesake and other yearlings in the field with Heather Zitone and Julie Miller) Im Out, despite being the first to the top, still was able to later work out driver Tim Tetricks preferred second-over journey, winning in 1:55.3 over sloppy going in the $19,444 featured conditioned trot at Harrahs Philadelphia Thursday, May 22. There were six lead changes in the race and the Father Patrick-Bundle Of Energy gelding Im Out was the first and sixth leader. There were three successors to his leadership position before the half and Tetrick came back out with the second choice on the backstretch, only to get cover from pocket-pulling favourite Soar Higher. Im Out rode the cover as the chalk gained a small advantage on the turn, tipped wide for the drive, then out-footed home the horse on his bumper, 35-1 shot Archimedes, with Soar Higher lasting for third. Scott Di Domenico trains the winner of two straight for Triple D Stables Inc. and Joseph Faraldo, a winner in amateur driver action at Pocono this past Sunday. In the $18,750 trotting event for horses just below the feature, the oncoming Muscle Hill-Looking For Zelda gelding Hillookin went two seconds faster, taking a new mark with his 1:53.3 triumph. Trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer let his horse work his way to the lead as the field went under the wire the first time, then maintained control for the remaining circuit of the oval, with Modigliani S edging Herecomesdajudge for the deuce behind the winner, owned by Purple Haze Stables. The fast-class diamond-gaiters contested a $15,278 event, in which the Trixton-Glow gelding Last Glow moved at the quarter to get the lead at the half; from there, the favourite stayed in command as close second choice On Higher Ground grinded but could not reach the winner. Jack Parker Jr. drives and trains the 1:54.2 winner for owner Charles Groce II. Fastest of all diagonal-gaiters on the Trottin Thursday program was the veteran Eurobond, a son of Love You-True Diva who made the lead at the quarter and held sway through the wire in 1:53.1 over the off going. Andrew McCarthy drove the winner of more than $842,000 for trainer Per Engblom and Morrison Racing Stables. David Miller had four victories on the day to top the drivers colony. Todd McCarthy came home first three times, while brother Andrew McCarthy and Tim Tetrick both had a pair of successes. Tetricks two wins put the four-time defending Philly sulk champion on top of the 2025 standings. The morning line has been announced for the three $100,000 Invitationals highlighting the Super Sunday card at Harrahs Philadelphia in three days time and neither defending champion entering was installed in the favourites role. U.S. Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh, in her first start of the year, was named second choice in the Betsy Ross Pace behind Aardie B Miki N, five-for-five in the U.S., all in the tough Matchmaker Series. Two-time Joseph Auger Memorial Pace defending champion Ruthless Hanover drew post eight and is perhaps because of that rated as an outsider; the chalk is Mossdale Ben N, a male Aardie B Miki N in that he had four wins and two seconds in the Borgata Series, both at Yonkers Raceway; both won their finals. Sir Pinocchio, who was the New York Sire Stakes champion and earned more than $876,000 last year, was named a slight favourite for the Maxie Lee Memorial Trot. The three Invitationals will be joined by Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action, with two-year-old U.S. divisional champion Louprint, two-for-two this year, the headliner among 10 divisions of sophomores between the Sire Stakes and Stallion Series. Free Philly program pages for Fridays 12:25 p.m. card and Super Sundays 12:40 p.m., 16-race presentation will be available at phha.org. (PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia) The Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association (ASBA) would like to inform participants of changes to the Atlantic Sires Stakes schedule for two and three-year-old pacing colt and filly divisions. ASBA announced on Friday, May 23 that an Atlantic Sires Stakes leg for the two and three-year-old pacing colts and fillies will be removed from the schedule this racing season at Nova Scotia tracks due to decreased funding from the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA). This has required ASBA to reduce the stakes from five legs to four legs for all pacing colt and filly divisions and will result in only two legs being raced in Nova Scotia instead of three legs as in previous years. ASBA stated that the decrease in funding was communicated after the ASBA Annual General Meeting, and regrettably after exhausting all avenues to keep the third leg in Nova Scotia, the difficult decision was made to eliminate it for this stakes season. Moving forward, ASBA stated that it will continue discussions with NSHRIA and look at opportunities for next year's stakes season. ASBA indicated that its priority is to keep the integrity of the stakes and make decisions based on the best interest of breeders, stallion owners, participants and members of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program. The legs that will be eliminated from the schedule are as follows: July 4 - Truro Raceway -Two-year-old pacing fillies Sept. 20 - Northside Downs - Three-year-old pacing colts and fillies Sept. 28 - Inverness Raceway - Two-year-old pacing colts (With files from ASBA) At the age of 95, Tom Porchak finally encountered something he couldn't fix. The longtime harness racing industry participant passed away in hospital after a battle with cancer on Saturday, May 17. Born on November 28, 1929, Tom Porchak was raised south of Ingersoll, Ont. in the hamlet of Verschoyle, one of 12 children raised by Charles and Mary Porchak. He was the last surviving member of his generation. Tom plied his trade in a number of construction and factory settings pipelines, textiles, heavy machinery to name a few before becoming a foreman at the Kelsey Hayes brake plant in Woodstock, Ont. It was in Woodstock where Tom would eventually settle, marrying Mary Lendvay in 1954 and starting a family in 1955. Tom and Mary had three boys Roger, Jamie and Jeff, all born and raised in Woodstock before the family of five moved to a farm just north of Woodstock in 1977. That farm would eventually become known as Jayport Farm, raising Standardbred horses for six decades. With the help of his family, Tom managed a modest breeding operation and it was safe to say that he punched above his weight class. He raised, sold and raced many notable horses across Ontario over the years. The first major success for Porchak came in 1985 when Jayport Worthy Vic garnered divisional honours in Canada as the Canadian Trotting Association's Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year, winning the precursor to the modern-day O'Brien Award. Other campaigners of note included stakes winners Jayport Raider, Jayport Express and Jayport Sweetheart. In 2003, under the advice of his son and pedigree researcher Roger, Tom purchased broodmare prospect Kash Echo, in foal to Dream Vacation, at the Harrisburg Mixed Sale. Her 2004 foal, Jayportcashforlife, provided Tom with his first Grand Circuit stakes victory by virtue of her 2006 Champlain Stakes score at Mohawk Racetrack. Later that year, Jayportcashforlife's full sister, Susies Magic, captured the Breeders Crown at Mohawk in what would have seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime score for a Standardbred breeder. Lightning actually struck twice for Porchak as he ventured back into pacers in late 2018 with a broodmare purchase. Seeing Beachy Girl listed for sale online, Porchak purchased the stakes-winning daughter of Real Desire. In 2019, the Mach Three-sired son of Beachy Girl, Century Farroh, was named Canada's Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year and in 2020 he repeated as a divisional champion while also garnering Canadian Horse of the Year honours. Just 24 hours after Tom's passing, on Sunday, May 18, Jayport Cash scored a 30-1 upset in his Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division at Flamboro Downs for his maiden-breaking win. According to trainer Josh McKibbin, Cash's barn nickname is 'Tom' and it's hard not to think there was some divine intervention in that half-length victory. While also owning a number of broodmares over the years, Tom was also a shareholder in many of Canada's top stallions including Hall of Famers Balanced Image, Kadabra, Angus Hall, Muscle Mass and McWicked. During his days as an industry participant, Tom was never one to mince words or keep his opinions to himself. Tom enjoyed success with trainers the likes of Tom Strauss, Wayne Langille, Bill Borth, Pat Hunt and Brent Belore, and each of those horsemen could surely share a time where Tom's bark was worse than his bite. The same could be said for staff at Standardbred Canada, who endured a colourful earful or two over the years both before and after his son Jeff was part of the organization. Roger and Jeff joked that they can now take damage control off their lists of responsibilities. As the old adage goes, the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. Tom loved being outside and being on the farm, and in his later years he would enjoy watching his broodmares and foals from his sunroom, while also enjoying watching harness racing on HPItv, spotting songbirds and listening to country music. He also enjoyed working on his own cars and farm equipment when able, often using his depression-era ingenuity to his advantage. Predeceased by his wife Mary, and siblings Wanda, John, Peter, Walter, Carl, Rosie, Henry, Ed, Joe, Pauline and Stanley, Tom is survived by sons Roger (Jan), James and Jeff (Amber) and grand-children Aynsley, Colton, Ava and Lauryn, as well as special friend Iola MacKenzie, who has been a stalwart in Tom's life for the past 20 years. The family would like to offer special thanks to and acknowledge Drs. Wendling and Bauman from the London Health Sciences Centre, as well as Rob, Tammy & Jenna McNiven at Twinbrook Farm for all their efforts and expertise in Tom's later years. Cremation has taken place, and as per Tom's wishes there will be no public service. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Tom Porchak. On Friday, May 23, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced that it has issued a 10-year suspension and $40,000 penalty to Standardbred trainer Jeffrey Gillis following an investigation by its Equine Drug Unit. The AGCO has been actively investigating potential violations of Ontarios horse racing anti-doping rules stemming from an international criminal investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI investigation resulted in 27 trainers, veterinarians, and others being charged in the United States with offenses relating to the systematic shipment and administration of illegal performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to racehorses competing across multiple jurisdictions. The AGCO has taken this regulatory action pursuant to the following Rules of Standardbred Racing: 3.09.01, 6.04, 6.05, 6.20, 6.27, 6.46.01, 6.49. Records recently obtained by the AGCO include evidence that Gillis purchased illegal PEDs including a substance held out to be an illegal, blood-boosting synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) from Seth Fishman. Fishman was a U.S.-based veterinarian who was among the 27 individuals charged by U.S. federal prosecutors for his role in the manufacture and distribution of PEDs designed specifically to evade equine anti-doping controls. The AGCOs Rules of Racing explicitly state that no individual will possess or attempt to possess banned, non-therapeutic substances or medications. The AGCO has quickly moved to issue this ruling in order to protect the integrity of the sport and to safeguard horse welfare. The AGCOs Equine Drug Unit is staffed through a partnership between the AGCO and the Ontario Provincial Police Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. The unit routinely collaborates with local, national and international authorities to detect the use of illegal, and performance-enhancing drugs in Ontario. A licensed horse racing participant issued a Ruling under the Rules of Racing has the right to appeal the AGCOs action to the Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP), an independent adjudicative body mandated to hear appeals of the Registrars decisions made under the Rules of Racing. The AGCO will not tolerate doping in Ontarios horse racing industry," noted Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of the AGCO. "This case underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the sport and the welfare of horses. Any attempt to cheat the system and use performance-enhancing drugs is a serious breach of trust and the AGCO will hold offenders accountable. (with files from AGCO) With state plans for a 110-slip Lake McConaughy marina scrapped, Ogallala and Keith County leaders will push for improving three vital Lake Mac access roads using some of its funds. Providing flexibility for such a pivot was the subject of a public hearing Wednesday on Legislative Bill 480, which would remove earmarks from the 2022 STAR WARS law that once envisioned big, mostly water-related tourism projects at four Nebraska sites. The Natural Resources Committee advanced the bill 7-0 Friday to the full Legislature. Gov. Jim Pillens two-year budget plan recommended calling off the $30 million marina near Kingsley Dams south end after Nebraska Game and Parks Commission leaders decided it couldnt work as state leaders hoped. With the governor also asking state senators to redirect other funds from the $200 million STAR WARS pot, a Monday meeting in Ogallala discussed how Lake Mac and its thousands of summer visitors might yet benefit. Attendees asked state Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, a member of the Legislatures Appropriations Committee, to press for upgrades to Lakeview, Lakeview West and Burma roads on McConaughys south side.These three roads are important for safety and accessibility, and they were all part of the original plan, said Keith County Commissioner Joan Ervin of rural Brule. If the STAR WARS funds remaining $85.1 million can be stretched far enough, she and Strommen added, Game and Parks leaders also hope to add low-water access ramps at various sites between Arthur Bay and Lemoyne on the lakes north side. Were trying to ensure we can keep back as much money as possible for those (STAR WARS) projects, including Lake McConaughy, said Strommen, whose District 47 includes Keith County. The Legislature appointed the former Sidney vice mayor to both its budget-writing committee and to the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resources Sustainability committee the source of the acronym matching the classic science fiction movie series. Originally chaired by then-Speaker Mike Hilgers, now attorney general, the special committee in 2022 offered an expansive vision highlighted by a new 3,600-acre lake between Omaha and Lincoln. It also included Lake McConaughy improvements such as the marina, access road and highway upgrades and a welcome sign near Ogallala. The Legislatures 2022 plan also included a 500-slip marina on the Nebraska side of Lewis & Clark Lake on the Missouri River and a replacement for a conference center at nearby Niobrara State Park, as well as other smaller eastern Nebraska water projects. Designs for a slightly smaller, 420-slip Lewis & Clark Lake marina are nearly ready to go to bid, Game and Parks Deputy Director Jim Swenson told the Natural Resources Committee at Wednesdays hearing on LB 480. But that would be the only major STAR WARS project assuming senators keep it to be completed more or less as planned. Engineers in October ruled out the plans crown-jewel lake west of Gretna, saying it could impact water wells serving Lincoln. Continued study of three alternative sites would be abandoned under Pillens budget. Instead of a new Niobrara State Park conference center and lodge, Swenson said, Game and Parks now is aiming to build a less expensive visitor center. He also discussed the reasons his agency decided to give up on a Lake Mac marina after reaching the 30% design mark over two years of study. Designers looked at several locations before studying a site at Divers Bay, two bays west of the lakes southeasternmost Spillway Bay near Kingsley Lodge. But Lake Mac is the only inland reservoir in the United States, we learned, that carries a twelve-and-a-half-foot-high wave under windy conditions, he said. So we were very limited in where we could put this project on the landscape with the 65-foot water fluctuation that occurs, he added. With only 110 boat slips, we had to change direction and it wasnt feasible for us. Kingsley Dams federal license caps the lakes elevation much of the year at 3,265 feet. A four-year drought early in the millennium dropped the lake to 3,197.6 feet in 2004, an all-time low since the dams 1941 completion, though levels recovered in later years. A storm on May 1, 1972, tormented Kingsley with waves whipped up by daylong, consistent winds topping 60 mph. About 500 feet of the dams wave wall washed away then, requiring months of repairs using hundreds of trainloads of replacement rock. The need for $100 million to $200 million in upcoming repairs to the dam face after decades of subsequent wave action also worked against the marina, said Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould, a Natural Resources Committee member who sits with Strommen on the STAR WARS committee. Officials with Kingsleys owner, the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District, have said Lake Mac will have to be lowered to about 3,220 feet when work begins. It just didnt make economic sense when they have to focus on the dam, Raybould said at the hearing. Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara, LB 480s sponsor, said he hopes to persuade the governor and Unicameral leaders to keep $20 million for road and boat-ramp work at Lake Mac and a combined identical amount to complete the Lewis & Clark marina and build the Niobrara State Park visitor center. Ervin, the Keith County Board vice chairwoman, said Thursday that the states vision of a McConaughy marina couldnt overcome the challenges posed by the lakes main agricultural purpose. I dont know that anyone who had a business plan could have said it was sustainable or could support itself without a tremendous amount of tax dollars to keep it there, she said. Id like a private entrepreneur to show me, Would you do this? Ogallala and Keith County leaders were feeling whiplash Thursday after Gov. Jim Pillens apparently unsuccessful try to strip away the states remaining STAR WARS funds for Lake McConaughy improvements. The governor late Wednesday announced a line-item veto of $18 million left for the lake from Nebraskas next two-year budget, which already had reclaimed funds for a state-funded marina that wont be built. But the Legislature rejected that move and three other line-item vetoes Thursday, saying Pillen delivered them to the wrong State Capitol office and thus missed the deadline set in the Nebraska Constitution. Governors have five days, not counting Sundays, to return line-item vetoes to senators after they pass budget bills. The 2025-26 budgets May 15 passage gave Pillen until Wednesday. Eastern Nebraska news outlets reported that Pillen sent his vetoes instead to the Secretary of States Office the right destination when senators arent in session and the Legislature didnt receive them until Thursday. Keith County Commissioner Joan Ervin, vice chairwoman of the County Board, was among those in Lake Macs home county trying to sort it all out. I think were all going, Can we hang on? Ervin, the County Boards vice chairwoman, said Friday. We won, but what is the governor going to do to hold us up? Next steps in the dispute, including whether Pillen will seek to take it to Nebraskas courts, remained cloudy Friday on the brink of the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. State senators wont reconvene until Tuesday. Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney, whose District 47 includes Keith County, for the moment was welcoming the unexpected turn of events. To be honest with you, Im just happy for everybody in Keith County that they worked out the way they did because now theyll get to utilize those funds, Strommen said Friday. Lake McConaughy is the No. 1 outdoor tourist attraction in the state. Why wouldnt we want to build that up and bring more people to Nebraska? Strommen, a first-year lawmaker, sits on both the budget-writing Appropriations Committee and the special Unicameral committee that proposed major investments in existing and hoped-for Nebraska water projects and tourist attractions in 2022. Much of the $200 million lawmakers set aside then has been reallocated, in part because its dream for a new 3,600-acre lake between Omaha and Lincoln was judged impractical and scrapped. A proposed 110-slip marina near Lake Macs southeast end met a similar fate early this year. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission leaders concluded its water levels vary too much from McConaughys annual irrigation drawdowns for the marina to work. Encouraged by Keith County and Ogallala leaders, Strommen pivoted and asked his colleagues to preserve STAR WARS funds to improve Lakeview, Lakeview West and Burma roads on Lake Macs south side. Game and Parks leaders also want to add low-water ramps at various spots on McConaughys north side between Arthur Bay and Lemoyne, Strommen and Ervin told The Telegraph Feb. 20. But Pillens line-item veto message sought to cancel the budget bills $18 million reappropriation for Lake Mac while saying $37 million in improvements would stay on track at Lewis and Clark Lake in northeast Nebraska. The scope of STAR WARS-backed McConaughy work has continued to change over the years and deserves further discussion about how the upcoming infusion of local casino-driven revenue can support these proposed road improvements, Pillen wrote lawmakers. Construction is proceeding on the Lake Mac Casino Resort at Ogallalas Interstate 80 interchange after the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission agreed last July to transfer an existing Hastings horse-racing license to the Keith County seat. Organizers have said they hope to hold their first quarter horse races around Labor Day. A temporary casino would open later this year under a 2020 constitutional amendments requirement that horse tracks at racinos must be active before casinos can be licensed. Under that amendment, Ogallala and Keith County will split 25% of the resorts casino tax revenue. The state will get 70%, but the amendment specifies that its share must go to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund, one of two direct discounts on Nebraska property owners tax bills. Ervin said Keith County and Ogallala leaders already had a plan, based on the STAR WARS funding, to carry out the road improvement projects south of Lake Mac. Its far enough advanced that local property owners may have to step in if the state funds dont arrive, she said. We were working well with Game and Parks, Central (Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District), the (Twin Platte NRD to get this, Ervin said. Weve got our engineering going. Were moving forward. It has to be done no matter what, she added, referring to the improvements to the three county roads. Without the STAR WARS funds, it would have had to be bonded work and Keith County people would have paid significantly. Before Pillens line-item veto attempt, Ervin said, she didnt know whether the road projects would be done before years end. But it may go forward pretty quick now, she added. When asked whether the weeks developments brought added urgency to the Lake Mac projects, Strommen noted that the STAR WARS funds for that purpose have sat idle for three years. The quicker we can utilize the money, the better it will be for Ogallala and Keith County, he said. The passage of a new law aimed at reforming practices of industry intermediaries called pharmacy benefit managers is a step in the right direction toward easing financial pressures on Nebraska pharmacies, backers of the measure said Wednesday. Gov. Jim Pillen signed Legislative Bill 198 into law Tuesday. It takes effect Jan. 1. The measure, according to State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Omaha, its sponsor, is intended to prohibit practices by PBMs that are hurting not only pharmacies but also health plan sponsors and participants. The final package included portions of another measure sought by hospitals in the state, which also cited concerns in working with the groups. Its a great start, but theres more to be done, Sorrentino said Wednesday. One of the biggest accomplishments behind the measure, he said, may not be the language of the new law itself but the fact that lawmakers and parties on various sides of the issue met multiple times to hammer out a compromise. PBM and insurance officials initially expressed concern that the bill as originally drafted would cost Nebraska residents and companies money. Pharmacists also welcomed the law as a step in the right direction. Dave Randolph, owner of Daves Pharmacy in Alliance and Hemingford, Nebraska, told lawmakers the state faces a crisis in the closure of pharmacies, particularly rural ones. In Nebraska, according to the Nebraska Board of Pharmacy, some 69 community pharmacies roughly 14% have closed since 2020. That includes 14 in 2024. Going back to 2018, the state has seen a total of 137 pharmacy closures. As of August 2023, some 20 Nebraska counties had no pharmacy and 60 counties had between one and five. Its an exciting step for us, Randolph said in a telephone interview Wednesday, pausing to give a client advice about taking a medication. But weve got more work yet to do. Haley Pertzborn, CEO of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association, noted that the measure advanced through the full Legislature without opposition, thanks to the collaboration that went into the process. Senators, she said, also understand that patients are losing access to pharmacy services. Not only do pharmacy closures leave patients without convenient access to medications, vaccinations and health care advice, Randolph and others have said, they increase the pace and the pressure on staff at remaining locations, adding to wait times, causing medication shortages and potentially adding to the risk of error. Nor are closures just a rural matter. Pharmacies also have closed, or reduced their hours, in Omaha and Lincoln. While pharmacies face a number of pressures, Randolph and others have said they are increasingly being squeezed by declining reimbursements for the medications they dispense. A key player, they say, are PBMs, which negotiate prices with drugmakers, determine which drugs are covered by health plans, arrange rebates from drugmakers and set payments that pharmacies receive when selling covered drugs. The measure prohibits PBMs from steering patients to pharmacies directly or indirectly owned by PBMs and from paying pharmacies in a patients insurance network less than they pay PBM-affiliated ones. It also phases out spread pricing. Under that model, a PBM keeps a portion of the amount or spread between what a health plan pays it and what the PBM reimburses the pharmacy for a patients prescription. In addition, the law allows pharmacies to decline to fill prescriptions for which they would be paid less than it cost them to buy the drugs, known as the right to refuse. Pertzborn said that provision wont save pharmacies from receiving underwater claims. If a patient is ill, they wont deny care. But it will allow them to be more transparent with patients than they can under current contracts. Sorrentino noted that the measure would apply not just to private insurers but also to Nebraska Medicaid, which could have a big impact on the states drug spending under that program. Randolph said enforcement of the law also will be key. While a growing number of states have PBM regulations on their books, not all enforce them. In Nebraska, Sorrentino said, oversight will fall to the Nebraska Department of Insurance. An interim study will delve further into the complexities of the issue this summer. Pertzborn said the pharmacists association plans to work with Nebraska Medicaid to make sure the managed care organizations that administer benefits are in the loop. The measure also addresses some PBM practices that hospital officials say are affecting them and their patients, even delaying care. Among those are whats known as white bagging, which involves a specialty pharmacy shipping a medication directly to a health care facility. Amanda Pekny, pharmacy supervisor with St. Marys Hospital in Nebraska City, said the practice has delayed care in cases where the hospital hasnt received a medication in a timely manner. Shes also used the hospitals supply in such cases, but that risks not being reimbursed for expensive drugs. Medication also has been wasted when patients stop the treatment and it cant be returned. If hospitals, on the other hand, can buy such medications from their wholesalers, she said, they know when it will arrive and how its been handled. If we could just directly get the medication from where we want to get it from, she said, I think thats important. Nearly 11 years after it was authorized, Longviews signature park now has a new name. Or at least a slightly different one. The Longview City Council officially renamed R.A. Long Park on Thursday night to R.A. Long Memorial Park, finalizing an ordinance that councilmembers authorized in the summer of 2014. According to City Manager Jennifer Wills, who previously served as the citys parks director, the council approved the name change on Aug. 28, 2014, but the finalization got lost in the shuffle. It was brought in front of council in 2014, and they directed our city attorney at the time to create an ordinance and bring it back, Wills said. And somehow we missed that step. Why so long? The name change was approved in a 5-2 vote, according to meeting minutes included in the meetings agenda packet. The current city council was tasked with completing the renaming process at the Thursday May 22 meeting by formalizing the name change and references to the park in city code. At the meeting in 2014, the council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance changing the name, and tasked Parks and Recreation staff to revise policies to accommodate a potential increase in memorial activity, according to a city summary. The effort was spearheaded by longtime Longview resident and history buff Bill Kasch, who checked with the city on the status of the effort on April 22, according to Wills and an email earlier this week from city spokesperson Angela Abel. Wills said the park renaming effort was happening about the same time he worked with the city to install war memorial monuments at the park and drawing Memorial Day celebrations to the park. The first Memorial Day celebration at the newly renamed park will be at 11 a.m. Monday. As we go into Memorial Day I thought this was fitting to be able to bring that back and celebrate the work that Bill did to be able to get this going, Wills said. Look at that, were fixing problems from 11 years ago, Mayor Spencer Boudreau said. Kasch, now nearing 90 years old, addressed the council focused more on the names on the memorial of locals who gave their lives, as well as the people who helped track those names down so they could be honored. A lot of them were just high school kids, Kasch said of the service personnel who died. He brought a framed article from The Daily News about the war memorial from May 2017, and remembers how people were crying when it was dedicated. This is very important to me, Kasch said, holding the gold, framed article recounting the dedication. It was quite a ceremony. Records show that Kasch gathered letters of support for the change from such organizations as the Cowlitz Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion Post 15, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Longview 23 Club. Kaschs cover letter said that the name change would create more interest and civic pride and help revitalize our park. He wrote: Memorial refers to remembering a person or event and will give our park more depth and meaning. We believe now is the opportune time. Rare microcosm of American history Kasch and community supporters highlighted the rare microcosm of American history inside the park with monuments inside the 5.5-acre park that include a genuine piece of Plymouth Rock and remembrances highlighting the regions role helping form Washington territory in 1852 and R.A. Longs hand creating the Planned City. Most citizens arent aware that R.A. Long Park is a rare microcosm of American history, with markers of 1620 Plymouth Rock, Daughters of the 1776 American Revolution, Oregon Trail 1848, Monticello Convention pioneers 1852, R.A. Long bust dedicated in 1942 and the Cowlitz Valley VFW Veterans Memorial, Kasch wrote. Kaschs letter states that with the name change, he and proponents dont want a cemetery. Renaming will be like dusting off these old monuments and breathing new life into them, Kasch wrote at the time. We believe trying to revive Longviews very rare history is extremely important, especially for our children. ... We are not just another city with just another park. Elevating the park is core to transforming Longview into something more, Kasch wrote. We are not just another city with just another park, he said. More than a name change Wills, the city manager and the citys former parks director, told the council that next steps will be for the city to update the name on its website and on the parks Google and other search listings. She added that memorial parks draw people to the area. One of the things with name changes, when you change something to a memorial park, people go to towns and actually look up memorial parks, Wills said, adding that it is particularly common for the family members of people who served. It is an opportunity for people to actually be drawn to that place. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Amazon says it has suspended plans for a massive data center in Becker, Minnesota, an announcement that comes after state lawmakers and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said they will reduce tax breaks for these projects. The Seattle-based tech giant said in a statement that it moved ahead with the project initially based on how quickly it thought it could obtain permits and utility agreements, but believes those timelines are now "more uncertain." "As a result, due to the uncertainty, we are redirecting more of our resources to focus on other projects that can provide capacity to our customers more quickly," the statement says. Amazon's project would be an Xcel customer, possibly its biggest. The project would likely cost billions to build, resulting in many construction jobs. Xcel's president in Minnesota, Ryan Long, said in an interview Thursday that "due to confidentiality" he couldn't comment on Amazon suspending the project. Long said he'd follow up after looking into "what exactly our obligations are." Becker city administrator Greg Lerud said Amazon had informed the city it was suspending work in Minnesota. "We are certainly disappointed in their decision not to proceed at this time, and hope the company reconsiders their decision as they continue to evaluate future development sites," Lerud said. The decision comes as state lawmakers are negotiating a package of legislation to govern the influx of these large-scale data centers in Minnesota. Last week, leaders at the Capitol said they agreed to eliminate a sales tax exemption on electricity for data centers. They will keep exemptions for computers, servers, software, cooling and energy equipment. Together the exemptions have been worth about $100 million a year for data center companies, though they could grow explosively. Minnesota electric utilities expect the industry to multiply nearly 40-fold. The electricity exemption makes up a small portion of the value of the tax breaks currently but would grow since the data centers use so much energy. Walz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some DFLers argue that wealthy companies like Amazon don't need the tax breaks and that it amounts to corporate welfare. They pushed to limit the tax incentives at the Legislature this year. House GOP leaders also agreed to the roll back as part of the larger budget deal. Sen. Andrew Mathews, a Republican from Princeton who represents the Becker area, said Walz had "rolled out the red carpet for Amazon early in session" and promised to get the project done, but that he and some DFLers in the Legislature then did "nothing but try to stonewall and prolong" the regulatory process. "It's just going to put an astronomical tax hit on these hyperscalers in Minnesota that are going to consume a lot of energy and get taxed at an extremely high rate," Mathews said. "The growth of data centers are definitely coming. They just appear to be going to all of our neighboring states, except Minnesota, because the Democrats are trying to drive them out of the state." There are small data centers in Minnesota, but none of the scale companies like Amazon have proposed. Facebook's parent company is building a data center in Rosemount, and developers have proposed at least 10 others. The Amazon project would have been the largest of the projects for which developers have disclosed public estimates of energy use. Lawmakers are still debating other issues, such as whether to extend the sales tax breaks that are set to expire in 2042, implement tougher rules to limit energy and water use, or impose new transparency requirements on data center companies. In February, Minnesota utility regulators said Amazon must prove it needed 250 backup diesel generators at the Becker site. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted 4-0 to reject the tech giant's request for an exemption from a "Certificate of Need." It was a first-of-its-kind test of how the state will regulate this wave of giant server farms. Amazon argued the law did not apply to its emergency generators because they would supply only the data center and not the larger grid. At the time, Becker officials said Amazon had suspended site-preparation work ahead of the ruling and told the city that a permit process could delay the project by two years and limit the size of the data center. After the ruling, Amazon would not say if the decision had affected their plans in Becker. The company sought to overturn the ruling at the Legislature by easing some requirements for proving a need for backup power. That legislation has drawn support from Republicans and some Democrats, who hope the project will bring jobs and other economic benefits to the state, but opposition from a segment of DFLers who fear Amazon was trying to circumvent state rules and that its generators would pollute. The PUC declined to comment. Amazon hasn't ruled out revisiting the project. It plans to keep 348 acres of land it purchased in Becker that it purchased for $73.5 million in 2024. Xcel had sold the land shortly before to a third party for $7.7 million. The transaction drew criticism from consumer advocates who thought Xcel could have gotten a better return for its ratepayers. Xcel said it would rethink its land sale contracts as a result. Amazon's decision is a blow to Becker, which is losing tax revenue and jobs as Xcel's Sherco coal plant closes in phases by 2030. This is the second large data center to pull out of the city. In 2022, Google abandoned a plan for a $600 million project at the Sherco site. 2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Trevor Buju Bailey, Assistant Commissioner of Police, pictured speaking at last Saturday press conference, said he was encouraged by the immediate response from the public in reaching out to the police with related information to the Belmont tragedy. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said it is shocked, just like most citizens, by the manner in which three people were killed in Belmont on Friday, 16th May, 2025. The shooting started around 8:30 p.m. and when the smoke cleared, business woman Lesline Davis and two of her customers, Joel Browne and Demeon Cumberbatch, were found dead inside of her shop. Reports are that two masked gunmen committed the crime and made good their escape. One day later, Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for crime fighting, Trevor "Buju Bailey, while speaking at a press conference, described the killings as "shocking, not only to us as law enforcement, but to the entire country of St. Vincent and Grenadines. where masked men entered the shop and, indiscriminately ... fired upon all of the occupants who were in the shop, resulted in three deaths, two injuries. He urged the public to continue to cooperate to ensure the killings do not go unsolved and that the police was encouraged by the fact that up to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, police had received about 60 phone calls in relation to the Belmont incident. "Let us investigate this matter together in a partnership Every victim of this crime deserves justice, and the justice should be swift and uncompromising, aided and abetted by the entire country of St. Vincent in bringing the perpetrators to justice, said the senior cop. "The police force will dispense its resources to the full extent to provide the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines the security that as far as we can give and we will go even the extra mile, well put in the extra hours to ensure citizens security, promised Bailey. "We have a serious issue with regards to firearm offences in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and while the police have made some dents through arrest and seizure, there are still too many firearms in the wrong hands, the senior cop declared. "I appeal to the general consciousness of St. Vincent and the Grenadines that it is before all of us eyes what these illegal firearms are doing to our society, to our communities, Bailey pleaded. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioners of Police Frankie Joseph said the police understand the "shock and the fear that the killings have caused in the country. We want to assure the public that this matter is being treated with the utmost urgency and seriousness. Despite the police assurances the public is still frustrated by their efforts. Many people took to social media to express their opinions, noting that they have seen the cycle over and over again. "We always here they are investigating but if you check the record, the majority of murders remain unsolved, said one Facebook user at the time of the police press conference. Citizens are also calling on the Ministry of National Security to speak on the recent spike in murders here and the situation as it relates to crime generally. In what many residents and the nation as a whole claimed was the worst and most brutal crime to have ever happened in the community of Belmont, three people were brutally gunned down inside a shop in the East St. George community, while two others were shot and taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital . The three killed included an elderly businesswoman and two of her male customers. The shooting took place sometime around 8:30 p.m. on Friday 16th, May. The business woman, Lesline Davis, was shot dead while standing behind the Lotto machine at her business place, which is located below the Belmont Government School. Joel Browne and Demeon Cumberbatch, both residents of Belmont, were the other two fatalities. Among the injured were a 7-year-old nephew of Ms. Davis and an adult male. Up to press time, the child remained in the hospital. The adult male was treated and discharged and reports were that he was taken back to the scene of the crime by the police, to assist in their investigations. Many residents looked on curiously from behind the police caution tape, dumbfounded by the tragedy that took place in the relatively peaceful community, puzzled by the manner in which the three were killed, and speculated about the motive. Some speculated that the assailants might have come intending to commit a robbery but unconfirmed reports indicated that nothing was removed from the shop no cash nor items. The deceased "Miss Davis is a good woman, who been running her business for years. Besides the shop she runs she does also traffic ground provision. Many of the farmers going feel it now, even them guys in Green Hill, she does buy them ginger. "I know they robbed her couple times before, but to kill her in such wicked manner is just sad. I never imagine this country will come like this, where they killing old people and shooting children. It could have easily been five people dead dey, said an elderly female from the neighboring community of Fairbaine Pasture who requested anonymity. Other people on the scene who knew the two deceased men also expressed shock at their death, particularly for Joel Browne, who was described as "cool and a vehicle enthusiast. The relatives of Demeon Cumberbatch were also at the location, including his brother who was overcome with shock. Member of Parliament for the area Camillo Gonsalves, and Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar visited the scene of the shooting, as well as Carly John, the husband of opposition senator Shevern John. He was said to be a close associate of Ms. Davis. Possible connections Police at a press conference the following day hinted that robbery might not be the motive for the shooting. "While we are not ruling out the possibility of anything, on the face of it, it doesnt look like it, said the Deputy Commissioners of Police Frankie Joseph when asked at the press conference on Saturday, if robbery was a motive in the killings. The death of Davis was the second shooting death of a businessperson in the country. On Tuesday, May 16, businessman Stephen King of Green Hill was shot dead while sitting in his verandah. Police said they identified similarities in both shootings. "We looked at the killing in Green Hill. We looked at the killing last night in Belmont, and preliminarily, we have seen some similarities, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Trevor "Buju Bailey. He continued, "We are seeing things that are of interest to us, and as I said, we will pursue them to the very end. But were seeing some similarities. We have been able to connect some dots. Two days before the Belmont triple murder on Wednesday 14, Ronaldo Haynes, 21, of Glen, died in the hospital after being chopped multiple times during an altercation, allegedly over plumrose. The homicide count now stands at 15, seven months before 2025 comes to an end. Cross-section of the participants in the Developments in Digital Cities & Challenges in Cyber Security in the Caribbean Forum. On May 6, 2025, Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines co-hosted the Developments in Digital Cities & Challenges in Cyber Security in the Caribbean Forum, bringing together regional and international experts to explore critical issues at the intersection of urban digital transformation and cybersecurity. Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador H.E. Fiona Huei-Chun Fan, R.O.C. (Taiwan); Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs (SVG), and Christopher Benjamin, Assistant Commissioner of the RSVGPF. The ceremony also featured Benarva Browne, Minister of Urban Development, and senior representatives from SVGs Ministry of National Security and Education. Over a hundred participants attended. The forum featured a keynote address by Mr. Jiunn-Shiow Lin, Director General of the Administration for Digital Industries, R.O.C. (Taiwan). He shared Taiwans PPP (Public-Private-People) Model for the development strategies and cases of smart cities in Taiwan, including fields of food, healthcare, living, and transportation. The central government builds a positive environment for industries to deliver solutions for local governments to address local needs, encouraging the formation of smart city industry in Taiwan. Ambassador Fan highlighted the strategic importance of digital city development. Taiwans government is steadfastly committed to strengthening five key industrial sectors: semiconductors, artificial intelligence, next-generation communications, security, and defense. These sectors are integral to digital transformation, and our national policies support comprehensive strategies ranging from cloud infrastructure and 5G communications technology to cutting-edge AI applications. Yet, with rapid technological advancement comes increased security risk and ethical challenges, which is why Taiwan places a strong emphasis on robust information security alongside innovation. This is the core of todays discussion. Major St. Clair Leacock as he spoke on Boom 106.9 Fm during which he raised a number of telling points about the crime situation in SVG. Opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown Major St, Clair Leacock, has issued an early warning to the population. His warning, "Its likely to get worse before it gets better, came as he addressed, among other issues, the crime situation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, during a radio appearance on Boom 106.9 FM yesterday morning. Leacock, the NDP Shadow Minister for National Security, a portfolio assigned Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, admitted that like all Vincentians he was shocked, horrified, and dismayed by the recent uptick in murders, and by the general crime situation in SVG. The veteran MP was even more forthcoming, one caller to the editor of this publication said "frightening, when he disclosed, "I have correspondence on my phone, very recent correspondence within the last 48 hours, of scenes in St Vincent where criminal activity is taking place, and that, "that matter has been brought to the attention of the Prime Ministers office and to law enforcement. He went further to say that there has been two schools of thought with respect to how to deal with this mater, one being, Lets leave it so we can have a sting operation, and the other Let us bring that to an end. What was even more discomforting was Leacocks claim that there was no need to inform the police since they were already aware of the situation. In his words, "Theyre in the loop and the officers are in the loop. If that is so, we are in a bad place. So Im saying we have to address this matter. Turning to the recent killings five in the space of a week the MP suggested that this was not something with which the public can deal with easily. "We cant afford to lose our business people this way. We cant afford to have innocent bystanders lose their lives in this way, and we cant turn our backs on those who have taken leave of their senses and have no regard for life and limb and senselessly visit people at their home, their workplace, and their business places and just shoot without due regard and dont care about the outcomes. This bore witness to the call for law enforcement to be equipped with the appropriate resources to address the situation effectively, Leacock said. Further to the recent killings, the MP told his listening audience, "I heard the police high command said there seems to be a pattern between what happened in Green Hill, where (Stephen) King lost his life, and Belmont, where Lesline (Davis) lost her life. He suggested that we can prove that to be one way or the other by doing forensics ballistics and other things. Towards tackling the crime situation, Leacock expressed his support for a model in which the approach to law and order and national security is closely integrated with the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Homeland Affairs, portfolios that could well be part of the NDP ministerial set up should they assume office after the next general election. He cautioned, though, that if economic, social circumstances in St Vincent are not right, and thats the home affairs situation, then it provides feeders to the crime situation. The opposition NDP has repeatedly called on the government to embrace a non-partisan approach to tacking the crime situation that has worsened in recent years. To date, the government has refused to entertain any overture by the opposition in this regard. Trinidad and Tobago: Woman stabbed in head A 66-year-old woman is warded in a serious condition after she was stabbed in her head in Port of Spain. The incident took place at about 7pm on Friday along Charlotte Street. The victim told police that upon reaching the vicinity of Queen Street, a man mashed her foot. She informed the man that he had injured her and sought an apology. The man got agitated and allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the woman in her head. The suspect then fled the scene on foot. Persons in the area notified the police and paramedics and the injured woman was conveyed to the Port of Spain General Hospital. (Source: T&T Newsday) Antigua: Woman returns home after three decades missing A remarkable story of perseverance and hope unfolded Tuesday morning at VC Bird International Airport as 56-year-old Denise Odelia Charles stepped onto Antiguan soil for the first time in over three decades. Charles, who had been missing since late 1992, arrived on a private jet chartered by the Venezuelan government shortly after 10 am, ending a 32-year, 5-month absence that had left her family in a state of painful uncertainty. Among those welcoming her were her brother Terrence Charles and nephew Tishorn Watson, who had travelled to Venezuela to accompany her on the final leg of her journey home. Prime Minister Gaston Browne was personally present for the historic homecoming having assisted the family in getting their loved one home. Details surrounding Charles three-decade stay in Venezuela remain limited. Sources close to the family indicate she is expected to share her extraordinary story in the coming weeks once she has had time to readjust and reconnect with loved ones. (Source: LOOP News) Jamaica: Nurse assaulted in road rage incident Jamaicans are outraged over a disturbing video that captured a shocking incident of a reported road rage, during which a businessman brandished a handgun and physically assaulted a female nurse, including stepping on her head while she screamed helplessly on the ground. The heinous attack, which occurred on Tuesday, May 13, has sparked widespread condemnation, with many persons calling for severe punishment for the attacker who, although in police custody, has so far not been charged in relation to the incident. The man, businessman Robert Bell, age listed as 65 years, was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault at common law, possessing a firearm with intent to commit a first schedule offence, and possession of a firearm with intent to cause injuries. He was denied bail when he made his first appearance in the Gun Court on May 18. A procession of Spiritual Baptists, the majority adorned in various designs of white ankle length garments, began at Peace Memorial Hall and culminated at Victoria Park. Hundreds of Spiritual Baptists converged in Kingstown last Wednesday 21st May, 2025, for a Thanksgiving Service in commemoration of the inaugural Spiritual Baptist (Freedom) Day, a public holiday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Under the Theme: "Weeping may endure for the night; JOY cometh in the morning! Spiritual Baptists, decked in their traditional head ties and long gown, mainly white, decorated the streets of Kingstown, singing and dancing with support from the police band. The pilgrims made their way to Victoria Park for the Freedom Celebration Service. Among those in attendance were Spiritual Baptists from Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada, USA and Canada. Inside the venue, the worshipers celebrated their very own day with unadulterated joy. They chanted, danced and sang without fear or favour. There was also a sermon from Canon Brian Turtin in which he emphasized the importance of the traditional man-woman relationships. "If you are a dog and you have to bring in a dog. You cant be as a male dog having as a companion, another male dog .... I have to have something in me to deposit into a woman. "I have children with my wife... when I planted in my wife. She had to give me what I dont have and before I know it, she was carrying something that I was carrying in a different form. But, in order for it to be transformed into the form that God wants, she had to collect it from me. Another man cant collect it from me, said Turtin, to the ringing of a bell and loud cheers from an attentive gathering at Victoria Park. His Eminence Most Revd Melford Pompey, Archbishop, in his address, told the gathering that hours leading up to the event he was feeling very weak, but because of his prayers and trust in God he overcame his pain. Pompey said that the Spiritual Baptists were looked down on in the past. "But today, we are attracting doctors and lawyers. We are attracting politicians, we are attracting nurses, we are attracting civil servants, we are attracting everyone. What is left for us to do is to keep our heads up high, the Archbishop urged. A number of government officials also addressed the celebration service, including Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Tourism and Culture Minister Carlos James, and Minister of National Reconciliation Curtis King. Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown St. Clair Leacock spoke on behalf of the Opposition Leader. Dr. Godwin Friday. Prime Minister Gonsalves said the persecution suffered by Spiritual Baptists for more than fifty years under the colonial government warranted the righting of a historic wrong and a celebration of the Spiritual Baptist Faith. The colonial government on October 1, 1912, outlawed the Spiritual Baptist religion through the Shakerism Prohibition Ordinance. This made it illegal for members to practice their faith, and they suffered years of persecution. The law was repealed on March 22, 1965 by the E. T. Joshua-led Legislative Council, which passed Ordinance Number 7 of 1965 to remove the 1912 legal ban. May 21, 1951, has always been observed by members of the Spiritual Baptist Faith as their Liberation Day, following the victory in a court case in which they were represented by former Premier/Prime Minister Hon. Robert Milton Cato. In August 2024, the St Vincents Parliament passed legislation to recognise May 21 as a public holiday, designating it Spiritual Baptist Day. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the second country in the world to commemorate this holiday in honour of the Spiritual Baptists, the other being Trinidad and Tobago. The banner that adorned the lead vehicles in the caravans. The week of activities leading up to Spiritual Baptist Day, May 21, got underway on May 18 with a caravan and service at the Kingstown market. Spiritual Baptists journeyed from the Leeward and Windward ends of the country to be part of a celebration to showcase the way their ancestors worshipped. Bishop Winston Daniel of the local Spiritual Baptist movement told THE VINCENTIAN that the caravans also served to create an awareness among members of the public about the week of activities to commemorate the struggles of the Spiritual Baptists. "So, the service in the market was really a part to showcase the way that our parents, and grandparents, how they used to worship in those days, Bishop Daniel explained. For example, the hymns that were sung during the service were sung in the church for decades. "In almost every Baptist Church you go, whether they are having prayers or a service, you will hear those songs sung, he said. But although it is well known among those who attended church through the years, it was not only recently that the words to these hymns were recorded in a book. During the days when members of the church were being persecuted by the English colonialists, members of the Spiritual Baptist church did not use a hymn book, Daniel explained. "But before we could have seen the words, we just adapted it from our parents, our grandparents and we just keep singing it and our children come and the same thing, Bishop Daniel told THE VINCENTIAN. Even the way the hymns were sung today, Bishop Daniel said, that is how it was done back in the old days. "Thats what we were we were portraying at the market, he said. The road to freedom for the Spiritual Baptist movement started some 74 years ago, and according to Bishop Daniel, this was highlighted during the service. He mentioned the famous case in the court in Mesopotamia some 74 years ago involving some Spiritual Baptists. "And we understand that Spiritual Baptists walked with their bibles, their bell candles and stuff like that and when the case was presented, we understand that the magistrate listened to the Spiritual Baptists and at the end said that they were free to worship the way they chose, Bishop Daniel related. The other activities surrounding Spiritual Baptist day celebrated on May 21 included a procession around Kingstown and service on the day. According to Bishop Daniel, a large overseas contingent was expected to arrive for the event which was to be followed by a social on May 22. They are expected back at the market today, May 23 for an open-air service, with the week of activities concluding with a trip to Bequia. 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. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). How one Moldovan town achieved a COVID vaccination rate more than twice the national average. From Ziarul de Garda. While the vaccination campaign has been progressing at a slow pace throughout Moldova, the latest Ministry of Health data shows that about 70% of the inhabitants are vaccinated in Stauceni, a suburb of Chisinau. This figure compares to the vaccination rate in many large cities in the European Union. ZdG reporters asked decision makers and ordinary people in Stauceni to explain the formula of this success. Moldova started its immunization process against COVID-19 in March 2021, and so far the country is at the bottom of Europes vaccination rankings, at just over 30% of the population. Most people understand that we have to get vaccinated, because if we dont, were at risk Look at whats being done around the globe. I talked it over with my wife, daughter, and son and decided to get vaccinated two doses, and we are waiting now for the third one, the booster, maybe they will call me, says Nicolae, the first resident of Stauceni we meet in the street. He is sure that vaccination is necessary because the pandemic has affected the entire world. But he confirms that the decision to get vaccinated was influenced by those around him: Everyone convinced me: TV, radio, the family doctor and relatives. And I think its thanks to the mayor that we are the most vaccinated in the country, he explains. Another passerby, Elena, says that concern for her own health and those around her motivated her to get vaccinated. First of all, to keep ourselves and the people around us healthy. In Stauceni we are the most immunized because most people who live here understand that we have to get vaccinated, because if we dont get the vaccine, we are in danger, she says. Other locals in the town of 9,000 admit that although they dont fully agree with vaccination, they got the shot so that they can travel to other countries. Thats what you need as a travel ticket, otherwise you cant go anywhere. And I think that in Stauceni there are so many vaccinated people because the people who live here are very aware of that. And there are many like me, who need this travel pass, Vitalie confesses. We wanted to visit our children abroad, thats why we got vaccinated, otherwise we wouldnt have done it, another Stauceni resident admitted. People here are used to getting information only from credible, truthful sources, and they ignore all kinds of manipulation or fake news We asked Stauceni Mayor Alexandru Vornicu about the significant vaccination rate in the community he manages. First of all, the mayors office has communicated the need to get vaccinated through all possible sources of information, in a clear and strong way, and using arguments. Together with our colleagues from the health center, they have been constantly phoning all the people in the phone book and encouraging them to get vaccinated, Vornicu says. Alexandru Vornicu As for the difficulties encountered with the information campaign, the mayor confirms that people were not receptive to it from the beginning. There were difficulties, because there is obviously a certain category of people who are not supportive of the need for vaccination. There are people who consider vaccination to be unacceptable, he says. I believe that the geographical location of Stauceni is also a factor that contributed to this vaccination rate, because we are a suburb of Chisinau. The quality of people is an important consideration. The people who live here are used to getting information only from credible, truthful sources and moreover they ignore all kinds of manipulations or fake news, Vornicu explains. Ludmila Pavlov, head of the Stauceni Health Center, reveals the peculiarities of the local vaccination drive: The vaccination campaign was, from the start, a bit difficult. And we had to put in a lot of work in coming up with the most convincing arguments. Gradually, our population also became aware of the need to do it. And, on the other hand, we have a very good population, very informed, of high quality, the specialist says. Ludmila Pavlov The health center fought against misinformation and reluctance to be vaccinated, Pavlov says. We managed to convince people by talking with them, we talked with some people multiple times. Doctors also went to seminars and training sessions to learn about the benefits and advantages of vaccination. There are people who still have their own opinions about what is happening, but a large part of them also changed [their opinions], she says. We have been an experimental area for an information war I think one of the most important factors that mattered in the vaccination campaigns was trust, first of all in local authorities and in doctors. And we built a stronger foundation for trust in Stauceni. People were trusting, they encouraged each other, they were open and friendly [towards others] in the community, and this can be a positive example, says Ala Tocarciuc, a public health expert. Tocarciuc highlights the idea that peoples reluctance to get vaccinated is largely due to mass misinformation: It is my opinion that we have been a kind of experimental area for an information war. The subject of vaccination has been among the instruments of this war, and many people have fallen victim to this misinformation. And because of this, there is opposition to vaccination and there is resistance, she continues. Ala Tocarciuc The public health expert stresses the importance of vaccination in the context of the emergence of the new strains of COVID-19: First of all, we should communicate openly and say that we are still far from being out of the pandemic. We have new strains coming in and spreading very quickly. As such, vaccination is one of the methods or one of the weapons that will help us protect ourselves. Written by Otilia Meica and Olga Bulat for the Moldovan news outlet ZdG. Photos and video by Igor Ionescu. Translated by Ioana Caloianu. This years Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) results have revealed a concerning learning gap among primary school students, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath has said. Speaking at a recognition ceremony for the top five performers in the 2025 SEA yesterday at the ministrys head office in Port of Spain, Dowlath said the data will be analysed for better performance moving forward. Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words, old men, to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative words readily suit the clique. At first, angrily thinking about the subject of todays column, I was focusing on Caribbean men in leadership positions who have been sleazy lechers, foisting themselves on hapless females and males with impunity. A Tucson fraternity board member has been sentenced to five years in prison in a fraud case, state prosecutors say. Michael Woolbright was convicted of five counts of fraud and one count of theft in the theft of more than $500,000 from the Delta Chi Alumni Board, which holds title to a University of Arizona fraternity chapter house, the state Attorney General's Office said in a news release. Woolbright's prison term will be followed by 30 years on probation. He also was ordered to pay $520,000 in restitution. Prosecutors say Woolbright controlled the boards bank account, edged out the boards accountant without telling other board members. He then wrote unauthorized checks to himself and his businesses totaling over $500,000, the release said. The University of Arizona will consolidate all of its cultural and resource centers into a single multicultural center, in the wake of Trump administration orders against DEI, but will retain the different physical spaces of each of the current seven centers. Patricia Prelock, the UAs new provost who started her role Monday, confirmed in a communication with a university administrator the plan to centralize all seven of the centers into one multicultural center. She also said in that communication that UA will retain the counselors and programs from each of the centers and evaluate how the new structure is working in the coming months. UA spokesperson Mitch Zak declined to comment and said Prelock was unavailable to talk with the Arizona Daily Star. An individual who used to work as a senior coordinator with the cultural centers at the UA who asked that their name not be used due to fear of retaliation said the plan to dismantle the centers and centralize them will be conveyed to cultural center staffers in a meeting next week. All current directors of the cultural centers, except the directors of Native American Student Affairs and the Disability Cultural Center, received a meeting invitation for May 27 from Jenna Hatcher, the universitys vice provost and chief inclusion officer. The seven current centers, commonly referred to as CRCs, are Native American Student Affairs, Asian Pacific American Student Affairs, African American Student Affairs, the Guerrero Student Center, LGBTQ Student Affairs, the Women & Gender Resource Center, and the Disability Cultural Center. They have more than 80 staffers who serve 28,000 students. Some of the cultural centers were established in the 1980s and 1990s. The meeting was initially set to happen Thursday, but was moved to the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend, several sources related to the CRCs told the Star. The former senior coordinator also said Prelock has been meeting with UA administrators about the plan in the months leading up to her start on May 19 as senior vice president of academic affairs and provost. UA administrators were waiting for students to graduate and leave campus before revealing the official plan, the source said. Prelock worked with UA President Suresh Garimella before at the University of Vermont, where he was previously president and she was his provost. He joined the UA last October. President Donald Trump issued executive orders after his inauguration Jan. 20 telling universities they must end diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) activities under threat of losing federal funding. Arizonas Republican-controlled Legislature has also threatened universities with the loss of state funding if DEIA activities, which they call illegal discrimination, arent ended. In response, Garimella has said the UA will take inventory of its DEIA-related jobs, programs and activities; has taken down the UAs Office of Diversity and Inclusion website; and removed the words diversity and inclusion from the universitys widely-used land acknowledgement statement. Earlier in March, a UA DEIA Collective said former Interim Provost Ron Marx had told them a cultural centers centralization plan was being submitted to Garimella, which the collective said could lead to mass layoffs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional staff. At the time, the plan was not expected to include the Native American Student Affairs center because Indigenous students are legally a protected political identity, the collective had said. Julio Cammarota, a UA College of Education liaison to the cultural and resource centers, had told the Star in March that the idea was to protect the services the centers offered but restructure them so there arent seven individual centers. The DEIA collective a coalition of full-time, undergraduate and graduate DEIA staff from UAs main campus sent a letter then to the Arizona Board of Regents, Garimella, Marx and Laura Todd Johnson, senior vice president for legal affairs and general counsel. It asked them to respond by April 1 on whether they were committed to retaining the cultural centers. The collectives statement said UA was choosing to act on DEIA despite ongoing lawsuits and preliminary injunctions against the Trump administrations orders. UAs preemptive compliance would have devastating effects on DEIA workers at all levels of the UA, it said. While Garimella didnt respond to the collectives public letter, he sent a letter April 1 to Arizona Sen. President Warren Petersen, detailing the ways the UA is complying with state and federal DEIA orders. On Thursday, the former coordinator with the UAs CRCs said cultural centers at universities are important. The only way certain students feel comfortable in college is to have social and emotional support on top of academic support, they said. The way the University of Arizona is responding to this is so interesting because, number one, its not a law, right? Its an executive order, said the source. Number two, they actually havent connected to students. What theyre doing is classic, waiting until students leave so they dont have to respond to students, that they can create some insulation away from protests and demonstration. PHOENIX Several groups and individuals are going to court to strike down several abortion restrictions, asking a judge to rule that the laws are now unconstitutional after Arizona voters approved Proposition 139. The lawsuit filed Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court asks Judge Randall Warner to declare unenforceable a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can terminate a pregnancy. Challengers include the Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of two doctors and their staffs who provide abortion care. They also want a judge to overturn a separate prohibition on the use of telemedicine in abortion cases. That law includes a ban on the mailing of abortion pills to patients. And they want to void a law that says doctors cannot perform an abortion if they have reason to believe that the patient is seeking it due to a fetal genetic defect. The 58-page lawsuit includes a litany of reasons why the challengers believe the restrictions are not necessary to protect the health of women. But the real teeth in the litigation is the new constitutional provision voters approved in November declaring that every individual has a fundamental right to abortion. And that voter-approved language specifically says that the state cannot deny, restrict or interfere with that right prior to fetal viability generally considered between 22 and 24 week absent a compelling state interest that is achieved by the least restrictive means. Whats in each of the challenged restrictions, the attorney argue, is now beyond the power of the state to enact and enforce. Less clear is who if anyone will defend the laws. The lawsuit names the state as defendant. And that normally would require Attorney General Kris Mayes to go to court to argue that the statutes, having been enacted by the Legislature, are entitled to a presumption of being valid. Even before Proposition 139 was adopted, however, Mayes questioned the legality of multiple abortion restrictions. And she specifically refused to defend the states 15-week abortion ban when it was challenged after the initiative was approved. The new complaint is being reviewed, Mayes press aide Richie Taylor said Thursday. But Taylor said his boss is mindful ... that Arizona law needs to align with the constitutional provisions that voters enacted last year. House Speaker Steve Montenego said his staff is reviewing the lawsuit. But House Republicans wont back down from defending Arizonas pro-life laws, which reflect the values of millions of Arizonans and deserve to be upheld, he said. There was no immediate response from Senate President Warren Petersen. One law at issue that has the broadest effect is the waiting period. That law says women wanting an abortion must first go to an abortion provider at least 24 hours ahead of time to undergo a mandatory ultrasound regardless of medical necessity or the persons individual circumstances as well as blood tests. Doctors in that first visit also are supposed to provide certain what the challengers call stigmatizing and irrelevant information to the patient, like the probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the fetus, the fact that medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal, childbirth and neonatal care, and that the father of the unborn child is financially liable for support, even if he has offered to pay for the abortion. And then theres the delay. In effect, these requirements force patients seeking abortion care to make multiple trips to their healthcare provider to obtain an abortion, regardless of that patients distance from the provider, reasons for seeking an abortion, medical circumstances, how certain they are, or how advanced their pregnancy is, the lawsuit states. That means taking time from work or school, doubling the time and expense of transportation and even potentially the need for a hotel and arranging for child care. The ban on telemedicine for abortion care presents related issues about delay. It starts with that requirement for an in-person visit to a doctor 24 hours ahead of any medical procedure and then the abortion being performed in person. But the key is that mandate that abortions be performed by a doctor and in person. The lawsuit says thats unnecessary. Arizona has long used telemedicine to expand healthcare, the lawsuit says, complete with a network established three decades ago designed to allow doctors to diagnose, consult and treat patients from remote locations. But abortion is not among the practices where telemedicine is allowed. Challengers said the record in other states makes it clear that doctors can safely prescribe abortion pills to women whom they have only met electronically. They argue there is no reason for the restriction. In case of an in-person medication abortion, the patient typically takes the first pill at the clinic and then goes home or elsewhere to take the second pill, with a follow-up visit within two weeks. In a telemedicine setting, the doctor consults with the patient electronically, reviews the patients eligibility for care, and then prescribes the necessary medications. The patient then would then have the prescription sent from a mail-order pharmacy, take the first pill where convenient with the second one within 48 hours. The patient also gets a toll-free number to call with questions and schedules a follow-up telemedicine appointment. According to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists clinical standards for medication abortion, clinicians can safely and effectively provide medication abortion to eligible patients without an ultrasound examination or in-person testing, challengers said. Also challenged is a 2021 law that makes it a felony, with a one-year prison term, for a health care provider to terminate a pregnancy if a woman is seeking the procedure solely because of a fetal genetic defect. It includes everything from requiring doctors to sign an affidavit saying they have no knowledge that the pregnancy is being terminated because of the defect, along with filing reports with the state health department. Backers said they were trying to prevent abortion children with things like Down syndrome, suggesting that they need to step in to prevent eugenics. But the attorneys say it cannot survive constitutional scrutiny. To avoid the severe criminal, professional and civil penalties under the reason ban scheme, plaintiff physicians have no choice but to turn away a patient who reveals that they are or may be seeking abortion care wholly or in part for a prohibited reason, the lawsuit said. What it also does, according to challengers, is chills the willingness of patients to share information with their abortion providers out of fear that such information could prevent them from getting care. The bottom line to all this, according to the attorneys, is that all the challenged restrictions run afoul of Prop. 139 and its fundamental right to abortion. The lawyers acknowledge that the initiative that now has been adopted does allow state regulation, but only under limited circumstances. First, it has to be enacted for the limited purpose of improving or maintaining the health of the person seeking abortion care. Second, it must not infringe on that individuals autonomous decision making. The challenged law cannot satisfy both prongs, the lawyers are telling the court. They also say the laws at issue deprive patients `of their fundamental right to abortion under the Arizona Constitution, causing them to suffer significant constitutional physical, psychological, and other harms. Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights said the lawsuit to strike down the statutes is simply carrying out the will of the voters when they approved Prop 139 on a 3-2 margin. The public and the constitution are aligned, she said in a prepared statement. Now its time for the laws to catch up. And Dr. William Richardson, one of the plaintiffs, specifically criticized the ban on telemedicine, saying it puts ideology over science and politics over patient health. Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Reporter Follow Jimmie Tramel 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 Actor Neal McDonough is living on Tulsa time, times two. McDonough finished work Tuesday on the set of the series Tulsa King, then jumped on the phone to talk about the just-released film The Last Rodeo, which is set in Tulsa and was shot in the area. McDonough was a season two addition to Tulsa King, which is being filmed in Georgia. He remained on board for season three as Cal Thresher, a not-so-nice adversary for Sylvester Stallones character, Dwight The General Manfredi. Often referred to as steely-eyed, McDonough has the look and the chops to bring bad guys to life. Hes got a resume loaded with villainous roles. In The Last Rodeo, you finally get to root for him. McDonough plays a long-in-the-tooth former bull riding champion who comes out of retirement for a noble reason. McDonough said its an amazing blessing for him to have had a career that has lasted this long. He then provided background about why he has been an antagonist for leading men instead of being the leading man. Years ago, happily married to wife Ruve, he decided he was never going to do an intimate scene with another woman on camera. He said Ruve wouldnt have had a problem with it. But why put her through it? he said. Leading men tend to wind up in intimate scenes. That left another option. I had to play the villain forever, McDonough said. And my goal was to be the best villain of all time, and I think I kind of got pretty close to it. McDonough admittedly had a good time being bad. But now, thanks to Angel (Studios) and thanks to the faith that they have in me and the investors had in me to pull this one off, I really get to finally play me, whom I havent played in such a long time, he said, mentioning that its his first time to go that route since perhaps the Band of Brothers miniseries in 2001 and when he was Wyatt Cain in the 2007 Tin Man miniseries. Getting to play myself, said McDonough, is the most enjoyable thing there is for me, where I get to, as a method actor, kind of tap into what is painful for me in my life, what is happy for me in my life, and what is blessed for me in my life and I get to play (the role) with all those things as a character. So it was awesome. Origin story The Last Rodeo revolves around Joe Wainwright (McDonough), a widowed former bull riding champion who risks his health, if not his life, to save his grandson. Facing his own painful past, the ex-champ enlists the help of an estranged friend (played by Mykelti Williamson) to enter a high-stakes bull-riding competition as the oldest contestant ever. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter (played by Sarah Jones) and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family. On this film, McDonough is a rider and writer. He is listed as a co-writer alongside frequent collaborator Derek Presley and Jon Avnet, who directed the the film. Asked for the story behind the story, McDonough said he gets melancholy and sad whenever hes away from his wife and children. He recalled driving one day when a gut punch of a thought arrived: What would happen to me if something happened to Ruve? I pulled over to the side of the road, he said. And this other thought came into my head that I know came from God, and it was write a film about riding a bull where you have to go back and save your grandson because hes dying of the same brain tumor that killed your wife. McDonough called his wife and told her about the idea. He spent the next two hours on the side of the road, dictating into his phone what he thought the story should be. I sent it off to my writing partner, and the next morning he called me, McDonough said. He goes, This is incredible. This is such a departure from what weve been writing, because we write kind of more Lee Marvin-y type of tough guy stuff. And a week later we had a draft, and it was a week later where they helped find all the financing for the project, and were off to the races. Bull by the horns The urge to craft a film about a bull rider, of all things, was a bolt from the blue. Ive been riding horses since I was a little boy. Thats different, he said. But riding bulls, and the whole bull world, just never came into my brain, ever. Ive seen it on TV. And of course everyone knows what PBR is. But it never dawned on me to write a movie about bull riding. That was a gift from above. Asked if the role was physically demanding, McDonough said he trained like crazy, getting on mechanical bulls and doing lots of horse riding in addition to getting into the best physical shape that I could possibly get into. Continuing, he said: I keep saying 40 years ago or 30 years ago or whatever, Clint Eastwood would have loved to make this film. So I wanted to get in shape like Clint. I wanted to be simple like Clint and John Wayne, and really just infuse me into this character more than Ive ever infused myself into any character, and to deal with loss like Ive dealt with, to deal with cancer, like Ive dealt with personally and with family and through other things. It was something that was just a big undertaking for me and Ruve (a producer on the film), and Im so happy that we did it. McDonoughs introduction to the bull riding world led to him wanting to become more involved. He and his wife now are part owners of the Austin Gamblers bull riding team. Oklahoma experience McDonough called Tulsa an amazing city that I love so, so much. He credited a Tulsa friend, Steve Mitchell, for helping with everything on this film in Oklahoma. He said the character Agisa Williams (played by Irene Bedard) was written to be Cherokee as a tip of our hat to the great state of Oklahoma. It was just incredible, McDonough said of the Oklahoma experience. But to film out in Owasso and in the hills up there, all the people were just so kind and gracious to us, and the crews were so amazing, and everyone was in it to win it. Everyone knew they were doing a film that was going to give glory to God. And I think Oklahoma just happened to be the perfect spot to do that because we had so many like-minded people like Ruve and I on set. Steve Mitchell said it early on. Trust me, the people here are going to love what youre doing, and youre going to love the people. And, boy, was he right. Help from friends Christopher McDonald, best known as Shooter McGavin in the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore, and Williamson, whose resume includes Forrest Gump, are among McDonoughs best friends. Both have significant roles in The Last Rodeo. Producer Kip Konwiser said Williamson and McDonald were the only people wanted for their roles. The roles were written for them. Konwiser said Avnet (McDonoughs favorite director of all time) fought hard and successfully for Jones to play McDonoughs daughter. Konwiser said Jones absolutely crushes it in the role of Sally. Avnet also fought hard for a PBR champ, Daylon Swearingen, to be in the cast. McDonoughs wife, in flashback sequences, plays his wife in The Last Rodeo. To have my actual, real wife be in the film, and be my first screen kiss of all time, and I finally get to do it, and I do it with my wife, Ruve, that was the cherry on top. Im the luckiest dude I know because of it. Wrapping up Closing the interview, McDonough suggested you should like The Last Rodeo if you like films that talk about faith and family and fractured families and problems that exist in every family. We all have problems, he said, adding that he has five kids and there are always things great and otherwise going on within his family. So thats what we we talk about. We talk about overcoming problems in your family, but doing it through faith and believing that (God) has your back. Were not always there for him, but God is always there for us. And thats really the motivation behind this film the love story between me and my wife, who has passed away, and what happens thereafter, and dealing with grief and dealing with death and dealing with cancer. These are issues that we all have to deal with. And when you get to write a film about that and make a film about that, I think it just speaks to everyone. But if thats the type of film you love and you love the action of PBR, then you (may want to) go support it. Enough with all the dark, crazy stuff. Lets make films the whole family can go to and spend a couple hours in a movie theater and get away from life and then really think about what life is truly about. And thats what The Last Rodeo is. Trading black hat for white hat Neal McDonough has brought life to many bad guy characters in television and movies. He wears the white hat as Joe Wainwright in The Last Rodeo, a film with shooting locations in Owasso, Tulsa, Skiatook and Collinsville. Producer Kip Konwiser said this about McDonoughs career and McDonough's flip from bad guy to good guy for this film: A really skilled villain in movies plays as authentically as the hero. The villain thinks that their agenda is totally correct, and they dont understand why isnt everybody getting in line with what I want to do here? So the technique of selling the antagonists agenda is in some ways harder for an actor to achieve, kind of like Ginger Rogers doing everything Fred Astaire does, backwards. And so Neals acting chops, pound for pound, I believe, are the best of our generation. Neal is extraordinary. The silent, quiet, private moments that play out across Neals face, the way that he listens and absorbs the others in the scene, the nuances that he plays to keep everything relaxed and comfortable (those) are all skills that he has honed playing these roles where traditionally, youd think that hes just a bad guy, but as a bad guy, hes also a good guy in his own mind, and this role gives him the chance to legitimately be the good guy in his own mind and in front of the audience. As a result, you get to see all these nuanced layers come from another perspective. Hes the protagonist, hes funny, hes charming, hes handsome and rugged in his handsomeness. Hes completely humble about it and eschews any other female accompaniment. Hes completely dedicated to his wife, even in post mortem, which is all true to Neal. So this is Neal McDonough. That is the Neal McDonough that walks the Earth. Thats Joe Wainwright, and thats a really powerful opportunity for his fans and a discovery for people who recognize him as everybody does, as Oh, I love that guy. Oh, whoa. Wait a minute. Theres a whole other perspective to this guy. This is as effective an actor as Clint Eastwood or Paul Newman in their heyday. They have much of the same kind of look and grizzle to that authenticity. Thats who he is, and thats who he is to Angel (Studios). As Clint is to Warner Bros., Neal is to Angel. <&rule> 90 truckloads of UN aid delivered to Gazans, breaking 11-week blockade Xinhua) 08:27, May 23, 2025 Palestinians react after an Israeli airstrike in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) OCHA said Israeli authorities must facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys, including from southern Gaza to the north, so that all supplies can reach people in need wherever they are across the Gaza Strip. UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The first aid in 11 weeks delivered to Gazans includes nutrition supplies, flour, medicines and other critical goods, UN humanitarians said Thursday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said about 90 trucks loaded at the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem checkpoint headed for multiple destinations, carrying the supplies to Gazans facing the threat of famine. OCHA said nearly 20 truckloads, carrying about 500 pallets of nutrition supplies, were safely offloaded in UNICEF's warehouse in Deir al Balah. The material delivered includes ready-to-use therapeutic food and lipid-based nutritional supplements. The life-saving supplies are being unpacked and repackaged into smaller loads to dozens of distribution points. A man holds an injured girl for help after an Israeli airstrike in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) A handful of bakeries in southern and central Gaza, supported by the World Food Programme, have resumed bread production, the office said. These bakeries are now operational, distributing bread through community kitchens. However, after nearly 80 days of a total blockade of humanitarian assistance, families still face a high risk of famine, and far more aid is needed across all of Gaza, it said. OCHA stressed that the shipment is limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the scale and scope of the needs of Gaza's 2.1 million people. Other supplies as basic as fresh food, hygiene items, water purification agents, and fuel to power hospitals have not been let in for over 80 days. A man holds an injured child for help after an Israeli airstrike in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said it is important for commercial trucking to resume to supply markets with fresh fruits and vegetables. He said the latest analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification committee concluded that people across Gaza are at risk of famine, with nearly 500,000 people teetering on the edge of starvation. The spokesman said humanitarian workers in Gaza going to and from the Kerem Shalom crossing have to travel through an Israeli-militarized area. "This means that our teams need to wait, often for hours, for military activities to pause for their safety for a green light to be given by the Israeli authorities to proceed," he told a regular briefing. "We also need to ensure the use of secure routes from Kerem Shalom onward into Gaza, as we did last (Wednesday) night and hope to do again today (Thursday)." The spokesman also reminded reporters that military operations continue across the Gaza Strip, with reports of strikes, shelling and fresh ground incursions. A displaced boy stands by a tent among the rubble of a destroyed building in the seaport area of western Gaza City, on May 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) "In recent days, our colleagues on the ground report that attacks have struck tents and buildings where people are sheltering, causing scores of casualties," he said. OCHA said Israeli authorities must facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys, including from southern Gaza to the north, so that all supplies can reach people in need wherever they are across the Gaza Strip. The office said Al Awda Hospital of North Gaza caught fire on Thursday, reportedly after being attacked. Through coordination with Israeli authorities, OCHA facilitated access for Palestinian Civil Defense to the area, where they spent hours fighting the fire. According to initial reports, the medicine warehouse was heavily damaged. OCHA also said water wells in some areas of Gaza are shutting down as they remain out of reach or lack fuel. It said Israeli authorities continue to deny attempts to retrieve fuel from areas where coordination is required. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY A bill to tighten financial control over the troubled Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has advanced at the Capitol. Passage of House Bill 2785 into law would establish new budget review and reporting requirements for the states Office of Management and Enterprise Services in state oversight of the mental health agency. The measure would direct the OMES to: Conduct a budget review before releasing the agencys monthly appropriations disbursement. Review encumbrances for any multiyear purchase orders or contracts. Prohibit the processing of payments for non-budgeted expenditures. Submit a budget status report to the governor and Legislature. Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen reported earlier this year that the department wouldnt have enough money to finish the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. For much of the legislative session, lawmakers have tried and largely failed to get to the bottom of why the budget they were asked to appropriate for the agency last year would fall short. They have met repeatedly with Friesen and other executives at the department as well as with other state and outside experts but have struggled even to pinpoint exactly how much of a supplemental appropriation the department would need. The latest estimate has been around $30 million. Uncertainties at the agency have stirred concerns at contracted private providers of mental health services that they wont be compensated for some of the care theyve provided for uninsured Oklahomans. Some contractors have said theyve cut their own budgets, including by reducing staff sizes. Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, who has attended special hearings on Mental Health Department finances and who advocated Thursday for passage of HB 2785, said tighter budgetary controls are warranted, especially to ensure uninterrupted delivery of critical mental health and substance abuse treatment services. If this Legislature has mandated that the agency take care of certain people, and then we dont want to pay the providers after weve mandated that, then thats a problem, he said. We have an agency thats struggling, and the Legislature is going to take some control back and make sure that the people that we serve are being served correctly and responsibly and that the people that are providing those services are being compensated properly the way we have mandated that to be. The measure passed the Senate on 43-0 vote. Private prison purchase The Senate passed a separate measure Thursday, House Bill 2780, to facilitate the states purchase of a private prison in Lawton for $312 million. The GEO Group, which has owned the medium-security prison for much of its 27-year history, sent notice last summer that it planned to end its arrangement with the state after failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension. The company, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, had been paid about $48 million annually in recent years but wanted an additional $3 million. Gov. Kevin Stitt turned down that proposal, a decision supported by the Department of Corrections. According to reports, negotiations with GEO grew more contentious in the aftermath of violence that left two inmates at the prison dead and others injured a year ago. Other homicides and violence have been reported throughout the private prisons history. Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, who advocated for the bill on the Senate floor, said he wasnt sure when the purchase will be finalized. The plan will be for security officers and others employed by GEO to transition to state employment. The DOC has indicated that its overall operational costs will be less than what the state paid to GEO. Sen. Spencer Kern, R-Duncan, raised concern that the transition of the prison to state ownership might result in the loss of $500,000 in property tax revenue paid to Comanche County annually. Gollihare said options for the state would be limited if the prison, which houses around 2,300 inmates, is not purchased. According to the brief from the executive branch, one of the options would be to try to take the 2,300 prisoners and redistribute them throughout our system. Another option would be to house some of the inmates out of state. Another option would be to remodel some of the prisons that we have closed in the last 20 years and try to bring them up to standard, he said. The bill was passed by the Senate on a 36-8 vote. WHERE YOUR STORY LIVES: Tulsa Spotlight On 60 Minutes this Sunday, Sean Diddy Combs former former executive assistant speaks out, plus how Chinese money has been buying plenty of friendship in the South Pacific (I swear this has been covered by 60 Mins before). Facing the Music Dishonest. Violent. Horrible. A promiscuous swinger who lied to, and cheated on, multiple partners. Incredibly, thats how Sean Diddy Combs own lawyers describe the billionaire music mogul, who is facing serious sex trafficking charges in a New York court. The defence tactic seems to be to try to convince a jury that while Combs might be extremely unlikeable, it doesnt mean hes guilty of criminal offences that could see him locked up for the rest of his life. Its clearly a risky strategy, especially as more and more accusers come forward with information. One of them is Phil Pines, Diddys former executive assistant, who in an exclusive interview with Nines Christine Ahern, reveals startling allegations about the rappers vile behaviour. Reporter: Christine Ahern Producer: Sammi Taylor Power Plays In the increasingly less-than-delicate dance for dominance in our region, theres no denying China boasts superior force compared with our military. Its an advantage the Peoples Liberation Army love to show off, like they did earlier this year when Chinese warships provocatively sailed a lap of Australia. But while Beijings sticks are impressive, their carrots are also proving to be effective weapons, particularly when it comes to influencing our near neighbours. From Tonga, Amelia Adams reports how Chinese money has been buying plenty of friendship in the South Pacific. Adams also speaks with Australias Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, to gauge the next steps Canberra is taking as China moves closer and closer to our shores. Reporter: Amelia Adams Producer: Serge Negus 8:10pm Sunday on Nine. Denham Hitchcock returns to 7News Spotlight this Sunday, joining Michael Usher and Mylee Hogan in a story on Australian Love Mules -women lured into the crime of smuggling drugs across international borders. One case includes Donna Nelson, recently profiled on Australian Story, sentenced to six years in prison in Japan. It starts with a message. A charming stranger. A promise of love. And it ends in a foreign prison cell. This Sunday at 8.00pm on Seven and 7plus, 7NEWS Spotlight exposes the heartbreaking crime wave targeting some of Australias most vulnerable women looking for love, who are being manipulated into smuggling drugs across international borders. In a global investigation spanning Brazil, Japan and Hong Kong, 7NEWS Spotlights team of reporters Michael Usher, Mylee Hogan and Denham Hitchcock expose the cruel deception behind the so-called Love Mules, women like Veronica Watson and Donna Nelson who were lured into romance scams so convincing they risked everything. Grandmother of nine Veronica was arrested in December, with 1.5 kilograms of cocaine in her luggage, leaving Sao Paulo Airport. Shes always maintained she was scammed by a man posing as a love interest. I trusted him, Veronica said through tears. He said he loved me. I thought we were going to get married. Donnas story is just as devastating. A mother of five and former federal political candidate, she believed she was flying to Japan to meet her fiance. Instead, she was arrested with two kilograms of methamphetamine in her suitcase and sentenced to six years in a Japanese prison. These women arent just criminals. Theyre victims of a sophisticated and deeply manipulative scam, one that plays out over years, with thousands of messages, video calls, and even detailed wedding plans. In this exclusive investigation, 7NEWS Spotlight tracks down the scammers behind the heartbreak. Going undercover, Denham Hitchcock follows the trail of the man known only as Kelly through the backstreets of Hong Kong, uncovering the bars he frequents and speaking to those whove seen him. Denham Hitchcock said: These online relationships were real, in both cases they went on for two and a half years. Messages and video calls. This is a new type of scam, insidious, evil and cruel. Were not just telling these womens stories; were attempting to track down the people who destroyed their lives and show how it can happen to anyone. 8.00pm Sunday on Seven. Complaints that ABC News reduced the swearing-in of the new federal government at Government House to a postage stamp window offer some insight into how news directors are forced to make Live broadcast decisions. ABC Ombudsman received 27 complaints that the broadcast on May 13 from Canberra was upstaged by a vote for the leadership of the Liberal Party at the same time. Some argued this reflected an anti-government bias. ABC News responded, On 13 May 2025 we covered two big political stories happening simultaneously. We actually covered both, at the same time, with some of our best political journalists explaining the significance of the events. The Liberal Party Leadership was the breaking news story of the morning, which is why it was given prominence. We had already given significant coverage over many days of the election win and the PMs decisions about the make-up of his cabinet. While viewers may have liked to see all of the swearing-in ceremony, it was important that we brought the news about the Liberal Party leadership live. We understood some viewers would prefer to watch the swearing-in ceremony, which is why we kept it, as much as possible, in the box on screen. Unfortunately, with two events happening at the same time, we need to make decisions about what takes priority. We understand that doesnt suit all viewers. Last Saturday ABC News also screened the Papal Inauguration in another postage stamp window during a news bulletin. ABC Ombudsman cleared the broadcaster of editorial standards for impartiality for the May 13 complaints. Its a public broadcaster clash next Tuesday when Mark Coles Smith is featured in the SBS episode Who Do You Think You Are? at 7:30pm. In the episode he solves a maternal family mystery, and travels to Poland and Germany where he makes a shocking discovery about his great grandfather. That will go up against the final episode of The Kimberley at 8pm on ABC, narrated by Mark Coles Smith. Only in Straya. HA NOI Only 11 per cent of Vietnamese enterprises and organisations are adequately prepared to respond to cybersecurity incidents, according to data released by the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA). While this marks an improvement from just 5 per cent in 2024, the overall level of readiness remains critically low, experts said. The statistics, based on a recent report from Cisco, reveal significant gaps in cybersecurity infrastructure across the country. More than half of surveyed organisations (52.89 per cent) still lack sufficient technological tools to handle cyber incidents, while 56.16 per cent do not have dedicated cybersecurity personnel. These deficiencies remain a serious concern, especially as digital transformation accelerates and cyber threats become more complex and damaging. In 2024, Viet Nam recorded more than 659,000 cybersecurity incidents, affecting around 46.15 per cent of public and private institutions. Despite the rising volume and severity of attacks, most businesses still lack the capability, processes or preparedness to respond effectively. Recent attacks have further exposed the vulnerabilities of critical sectors. In November 2023, a ransomware attack encrypted an entire system within the energy sector. Throughout 2024, similar attacks targetted the securities firm VnDirect, resulting in system-wide encryption, VNPOST, which had 12 servers compromised and a hospital in Ha Noi, where nine servers were locked down. More recently, in April 2025, hackers stole data from three major State-run media agencies. A local bank also suffered a serious breach, with attackers transferring over VN100 billion (approximately US$3.9 million) to accounts under their control. Deputy Director of the National Cybersecurity Centre under the Ministry of Public Security, Lieutenant Colonel, Tran Trung Hieu, noted that poor reporting habits and a lack of preparedness had hampered response efforts in many of these cases. We found that affected organisations often delayed reporting incidents, failed to maintain system logs or had disabled monitoring tools. This makes it difficult to trace the attack and contain the damage, he said. He added that many businesses lacked essential contingency plans, such as data back-ups or system isolation protocols, leading to passive and reactive responses during crises. Co-ordination between internal teams is also often fragmented, while leaders frequently underestimate the true impact of such breaches. Experts stressed the importance of treating cybersecurity as a strategic issue rather than an afterthought. There is no system too small to be attacked. If its connected to the Internet, it can become a gateway for a major breach, said a representative from CMC Corporation, referencing an attack on their own systems that caused a ten-hour disruption in April 2025. Head of the Technology Research Committee at NCA Vu Ngoc Son said that business leaders must play an active role in enhancing cybersecurity preparedness. Cybersecurity is not something you can deal with after a breach. It must be planned early, integrated into your risk management strategy and supported from the top down, he said. He added that building an effective defence requires a combination of technologies, well-defined response procedures and regular drills, along with collaboration between businesses and cybersecurity experts. The NCA also highlighted that the weakest link in most organisations remains human error. Many cybersecurity breaches stem from low levels of awareness and basic mistakes. Experts recommend that training and awareness-raising programmes should be conducted regularly to equip staff with essential cybersecurity knowledge and skills. Beyond human training, organisations are encouraged to invest in integrated cybersecurity solutions that combine AI-powered monitoring, threat intelligence platforms and real-time analytics. These tools can help detect and respond to attacks early, before they cause widespread disruption. Experts also advised organisations to establish clear incident response plans, define team responsibilities and maintain updated contact channels with relevant authorities. Preparedness includes having communication lines ready to notify law enforcement or cybersecurity experts immediately when an incident occurs, Son said. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, experts warn that Viet Nams public and private sectors must act swiftly to close the readiness gap. Effective cybersecurity will be essential not only for protecting digital infrastructure but also for safeguarding the long-term development of the countrys digital economy. VNS WASHINGTON D.C Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, as part of his four-day working visit to the US to promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation and review progress in negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement between the two countries. At their meeting, the two officials agreed that Viet Nam and the US have highly complementary economies with great potential for cooperation. Dien stated that Viet Nam has a strong and stable demand for US products, equipment, and services, especially in hi-tech and energy sectors. He affirmed Viet Nams commitment to fostering a transparent and healthy trade environment, noting that Viet Nam stands ready to boost coordination with the US side in combating trade fraud, origin fraud, and illegal transshipment. With its goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045, Viet Nam considers the US one of its key strategic partners and seeks to advance economic and trade relations in a balanced, sustainable, and win-win manner, the Vietnamese minister said. He called on the US side to work with Viet Nam to resolve existing economic and trade issues, soon recognise Vietnam's market economy status, and remove the country from export control lists (D1, D3) that limit access to high-tech products. Dien emphasised that these steps will deliver practical benefits to both nations and help improve the trade balance in a fair, harmonious, and sustainable direction. For his part, Lutnick praised Viet Nam's efforts and goodwill in negotiating a bilateral reciprocal trade agreement and welcomed the two countries strengthened cooperation in hi-tech sectors and industries with high-added value. He said Viet Nam is an important and attractive market for US firms, expressing his hope that Viet Nam will continue to facilitate the USs investment projects, contributing to expanding two-way trade, particularly by increasing imports of US goods. The two sides agreed to continue promoting technical dialogues and maintaining high-level exchanges to achieve substantive progress in their negotiations, towards establishing a stable and long-term economic and trade cooperation framework. During his trip, Dien on Wednesday had meetings with Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, and Senator Steve Daines, a member of the Senate Committees on Finance and Foreign Relations. The minister emphasised Viet Nams commitment to promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation in a harmonious and sustainable manner that brings tangible benefits to people and businesses of the two nations. He affirmed that the Southeast Asian nation always creates the best possible conditions for US companies to invest and do business effectively in Viet Nam and hopes the US side to consider Viet Nam a priority trade partner, especially as the two countries have officially upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Regarding the bilateral trade negotiation process, Dien stated that Viet Nam is ready to closely cooperate with the US towards a trade agreement based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, balanced interests, and conformity with international commitments and each countrys level of development. He also called on the senators to support and help advance this process. The US senators highly evaluated the Vietnamese markets growth potential, particularly in terms of industry, energy, high technology, and digital economy. They noted that many US businesses are closely monitoring Viet Nams policies and investment environment and seeking ways to expand their business operations and establish long-term investments in this strategic market within the Asia-Pacific region. The two sides hoped that the Viet Nam US comprehensive cooperation will be further strengthened and further developed, especially as the global economy undergoes strong supply chain restructuring and expands into dynamic and stable markets like Viet Nam. VNS QUANG NGAI Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR), which operates the Dung Quat oil refinery in central Quang Ngai Province, has successfully produced special-purpose fuels for military use, contributing to Viet Nams national defence efforts. Since 2012, BSR has cooperated with the Ministry of National Defence to develop fuel types such as Jet A-1K for jet aircraft and DO L-62 for military ships and submarines. These fuels meet international standards and have been approved for use in military equipment after passing various technical tests and trials. This was an important strategic move, as most fuels for defence equipment had previously been imported from abroad. To date, BSR has supplied more than 222,500 cubic metres of Jet A-1K and DO L-62 to the military. These fuels are used for routine training, maintenance, and combat readiness activities. Military personnel have confirmed the quality and reliability of the fuels, stating that they meet all technical requirements and help maintain stable operation in harsh conditions. For instance, submarine 186 a Nang has used DO L-62 made at Dung Quat Refinery for over three years and has worked smoothly. This local fuel can fully replace imported types. Jet A-1K, used in fighter jets, has also passed real flight tests, showing it is safe and reliable. Aside from making fuel, BSR also helped create national rules and standards for military fuels, building a strong base for this work in Viet Nam. BSR is now one of only two companies outside the Russian Federation authorised to produce these fuels according to Russian military standards. BSR and the Ministry of National Defence have worked more closely in recent years. Between 2020 and 2022, they built the 85 Fuel Depot, which can store 45,000 cubic metres of fuel. This helps supply fuel for military needs and improves Viet Nams emergency response. In 2022 and 2023, BSR earned over VN902 billion (US$35 million) and nearly VN2.1 trillion, respectively, from special-purpose fuels. Still, company leaders say the project is not just about money it also supports national defence. In recent years, engineers at Dung Quat Refinery have worked hard to research and create special fuels for national defence. This shows BSRs growth in technology, ability to make new products and strong commitment to serving the country, said Chairman of BSRs Board of Directors Bui Ngoc Duong. Looking ahead, BSR and the military plan to expand their cooperation further. In addition to maintaining the supply of Jet A-1K and DO L-62 fuel, they aim to develop new products including defence-grade lubricants. Both sides also continue to coordinate on facility maintenance, safety drills and emergency response planning to protect strategic assets like Dung Quat Refinery and the 85 Fuel Depot. Major General Nguyen Van Luc, director of the Department of Petroleum under the Ministry of National Defence, praised BSRs role: The use of domestically produced special-purpose fuels for trial runs in military equipment is an important breakthrough. BSRs products not only meet technical standards but also ensure absolute safety." In the future, the department and BSR plan to assess long-term storage capabilities and include these fuels in the national reserve. BIZHUB/VNS HA NOI Viet Nams stock market saw a muted performance on May 23 as liquidity declined and the benchmark index fluctuated within a narrow range, with investors showing renewed caution following a solid upward streak in previous weeks. At the end of the session, the VN-Index edged up by 0.62 points to close at 1,313.46. Trading volume reached nearly 718 million shares, equivalent to more than VN16.89 trillion (US$651.5 million) in value. On the HOSE, 162 stocks advanced, 150 declined and 54 closed flat. Meanwhile, the HNX-Index dropped 0.47 points to 216.32, with over 58.3 million shares traded for a total value of VN1.17 trillion. The northern bourse recorded 72 gainers, 86 losers and 59 unchanged. The VN30 basket showed strong divergence, with 15 gainers, 12 losers and 3 flat stocks. Large-cap stocks contributing positively included GAS (+3.28%), VRE (+1.18%), ACB (+1.17%) and VHM (+1.03%). On the contrary, stocks such as BCM, VCB, BID, CTG, PLX, HPG, MSN and TCB exerted downward pressure, preventing the market from breaking through. Securities and oil & gas stocks continued to fall into the red, weighing on overall sentiment. Foreign investors returned to net selling on HOSE with a total value of over VN141 billion, led by FPT (VN126.22 billion), MSN (VN108.22 billion), MWG (VN88.57 billion) and HCM (VN66.1 billion). On the HNX, they also net sold more than VN44 billion, focusing on PVS (VN19.03 billion) and NTP (VN10.51 billion). Analysts at Saigon-Hanoi Securities JSC (SHS) commented: In the short term, the VN-Index remains in an upward trend but is facing correction pressure around its previous peak the highest level reached in March 2025. Selling pressure intensified towards the end of the week, while demand at higher price levels showed signs of weakening. This movement aligns with earlier forecasts and reflects investor caution after a strong rebound, primarily led by VN30 and Vingroup-related stocks. In the short term, the index may retreat to the support zone around 1,300 points. Investors should maintain a balanced portfolio, prioritising stocks with solid fundamentals and leading positions in strategic sectors of the economy. New disbursements should be selective and tied to the real growth potential of businesses, SHS advised. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Friday signed an urgent directive, requesting serious measures to address the growing threats of landslides, flash floods, and scattered flooding in northern Viet Nam. The PM's directive, dispatched to the ministries of national defence, public security, agriculture and environment, industry and trade, construction, as well as chairpersons of the peoples committees of cities and provinces like Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Ha Noi, Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau, ien Bien, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, urged immediate action to protect lives and minimise property losses for both people and the State. Though the peak rainy season is still weeks away, northern Viet Nam has already faced destructive weather in early May. Thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning, and torrential rains have triggered landslides and floods, with provinces like Lai Chau, Bac Kan, and Quang Ninh being hit. The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned that moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms are set to lash the northeast and Red River Delta on May 2324, with the northwest expecting 40-70 mm of rain, and some areas facing a deluge exceeding 150 mm. These conditions heighten the risk of flash floods, landslides, and urban waterlogging. Chairpersons of the above municipal and provincial Peoples Committees must direct relevant agencies and units to closely monitor the situation and promptly adopt effective response measures, ensuring uninterrupted disaster management, even amid ongoing administrative restructuring. The Minister of Agriculture and Environment must ensure timely updates of risks to ministries, local authorities, and the public to facilitate swift and coordinated action. Other specific tasks were also assigned to ministers, mass media, and the Government Office to support the response. VNS MOSCOW As part of Viet Nam Week in St. Petersburg (May 19-23), a Vietnamese Language and Culture Festival has been held at High School No. 488 in the citys Vyborg district, Russia. The event, co-organised by the St. Petersburg authorities, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, and the Tradition and Friendship Foundation, saw the participation of Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairman Le Minh Hoan, Ambassador ang Minh Khoi, and Russian local officials. High School Principal Natalia Osennova highlighted the schools commitment to promoting friendship with Viet Nam, echoing city leaders' priorities. She described the festival as a vivid opportunity for students and locals to explore Vietnamese history, culture, and cuisine. NA Vice Chairman Hoan expressed his thanks for the warm welcome, noting the emotional resonance of familiar Vietnamese songs while abroad. He called the students the future bridge for fostering Viet NamRussia ties. The event also marked the celebration of Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day among overseas Vietnamese. According to Foundation Director Nguyen Quoc Hung, the festival represents a new step in cultural and linguistic exchange between Vietnamese and Russian youth. The day concluded with a flower offering at the Ho Chi Minh monument, commemorating the 135th birth anniversary of the beloved Vietnamese leader. The monument stands near the intersection of Ho Chi Minh Street and Enlightenment Avenue, at a square officially named Ho Chi Minh Square in March, symbolising the enduring friendship between the two nations. VNA HA NOI Vietnam Furniture Association has introduced Trend 26+, the first trend publication of Viet Nams furniture industry for the period 2026-30. The biennial magazine, published by the Vietnam Furniture Association, is considered a pioneering publication that shapes architectural interior trends. The publication is compiled by leading domestic and international interior architecture experts under the professional sponsorship of the Vietnam Interior Design Association and the Vietnam Association of Architects. Architect Le Truong, Chairman of the Vietnam Furniture Association, said: Trends are not something that is born naturally. Trends are the result of a process of observation, selection and intentional creation. "With design, trends are not just something new they must reflect the identity, social needs and spirit of the times. The formation of Vietnamese design trends requires a connection between expertise, creativity and cultural context. The birth of such a project promises to become an effective support tool for subjects in the design industry. With 552 pages and a limited edition of 5,000 copies, the publication introduces 31 prominent trends that are forecast to lead the industry in the period 202630. Trend 26+ focuses on three major trend groups, reflecting profound changes in design thinking and consumer behaviour: Sustainability & Greening; Personalisation & Humanisation; and Technology integration. Architect Hoang Thuc Hao added: "Vietnamese interior architecture is developing strongly, but there is no in-depth document to forecast and lead long-term trends. "Trend 26+ not only marks the birth of a reliable, in-depth project for professionals, but also attracts public attention, updates trends and develops domestic creativity, contributing to building a dynamic and unique Vietnamese interior industry." Not just a professional publication, Trend 26+ is also a bridge of dialogue between Viet Nam and the world to share the value of indigenous architectural culture in the flow of global trends. From the data from the World Global Style Network and in-depth perspectives of 45 experts, Trend 26+ provides an understanding of global issues, key goals, and general shifts in lifestyle, thereby forecasting interior trends in the world and especially in Viet Nam in the period 2026-30. The publication is expected to be officially launched on June 6, 2025. VNS Last year, there were 8,286 workplace accidents nationwide 675 of them fatal killing 727 people and causing losses of VN42.5 trillion (US$1.6 billion). Ho Thi Kim Ngan, deputy head of Policy and Labour Relations Department of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, spoke with the Voice of Vietnam about plans to enhance workplace safety this year, during the month of action on occupational safety and hygiene. Statistics show that last year, about 8,286 cases of workplace accidents occurred across the country, an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2023. What is the cause of this? Analysis and investigations show many reasons for workplace accidents. One of the main reasons is that, although workplace safety procedures have been issued, implementation is still subjective, and there is no systematic and complete inspection, supervision or compliance. There are many cases of shortcuts and omissions in the process. Awareness of workplace safety is not yet as high as it should be for both businesses and workers. Only when workplace safety becomes a priority for both employers and employees will workplace accidents be minimised. In fact, many businesses in recent years have applied advanced technology to increase safety in the production process. How do you assess these efforts? Reducing accidents at work not only requires dissemination of information, but also investment from businesses. Initially, investing in workplace safety and hygiene may cost a lot. However, the effects are very helpful for businesses and workers, limiting risks, especially for workers. Accidents in the workplace not only cause suffering for employees, but also create burdens for their families and businesses. In recent years, many firms have invested in high-tech production lines and occupational safety. However, this has only happened in large enterprises. Investment in workplace safety in small and medium-sized businesses is still quite limited. In addition, gathering data, reporting on and investigating workplace accidents also needs to be digitised to manage incidents better. Currently, we still do not have complete statistics for workplace accidents nationwide. In the context of global economic integration, how do workplace safety and hygiene give an advantage to businesses in the global supply chain? When Viet Nam joins international trade agreements, three issues of concern are administration, environment and occupational safety and hygiene in production processes. Currently, many Asian countries are considering applying laws to inspect supply chains. This means they want to ensure imported goods comply with regulations on environment, administration and safety and hygiene. Occupational safety and hygiene have therefore become a major focus for export businesses over the past few years. To export their goods, companies have to comply not only with Vietnamese regulations but also international standards. In an increasingly competitive environment, Vietnamese enterprises should quickly meet international standards to give themselves an edge. Workplace accidents can cause big losses for workers. The State has offered several policies supporting employees. Are there any shortcomings that can be solved to better ensure these benefits? The fund for workplace accidents and illnesses has been around for years, providing financial assistance for many employees who were in accidents or were exposed to risks at work. However, feedback from localities has shown that some people who were in accidents at work still have difficulties completing procedures and documents, especially those who work at night and those who do not have enough evidence to prove that what happened was an occupational accident. There are still many people who have not yet received benefits from policies on workplace accidents and illnesses. Additionally, some of the compensation rates in occupational accident and disease policies are based on minimum salary rates, so benefits can be much lower than what is required to make up for workers' reduced working capacity and meet their health recovery needs. In my opinion, workplace accident policies should provide assistance for workers returning to the labour market. We can learn from places like South Korea, where a wide variety of contributors are expected to create funds for occupational accidents and diseases. For example, lottery companies must also contribute to the workplace accident fund for the fund to develop further. Their policies and benefits not only focus on subsidies, but also on rehabilitation after workplace accidents and illness to help employees return to the labour market as soon as possible. In addition, part of these funds can be used to install automatic working environment monitoring stations to help reduce costs for businesses. Evaluation of environmental impacts and working conditions should not only be done by enterprises, but also by State authorities in order to ensure accuracy and benefits for workers, in comparison with current regulations. What activities does the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour have lined up for the month of action on occupational safety and hygiene, as well as to care for the lives of workers? This years month of action on occupational safety and hygiene is aimed at enhancing the evaluation and identification of risks and implementing measures for workplace safety and hygiene. The Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour actively promotes and takes action to reduce workplace accidents and occupational diseases in line with this year's theme. Looking back at 2024, many accidents happened due to the neglect of both employers and employees. So controlling risks and proposing measures to minimise accidents are a top priority for relevant ministries and sectors. The confederation has organised a series of events this month to deliver the message in support of workplace safety, calling on businesses and employees to participate with an aim of mobilising social resources to take care of workers. It has also organised a creativity festival, responding to the Partys Resolution 57 on enhancing innovation and scientific development as a key task to promote economic development. The confederation also has programmes to strengthen inspection and supervision to prevent risks in enterprises and increase initiative for both employees and employers. VNS HA NOI Malaysian Ambassador to Viet Nam Dato' Tan Yang Thai has anticipated that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs official visit to Malaysia and attendance at the 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur from May 24-28 will deliver fruits and further solidify political trust between leaders. Talking with Vietnam News Agency reporters in Hanoi, the diplomat said this will be PM Chinhs maiden visit to Malaysia in his current role. It takes place at a moment when regional cooperation is more critical than ever, and when Malaysia and Vietnam have elevated bilateral relationship to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will provide a direct platform for reviewing the implementation of key bilateral initiatives under current partnership framework, including those in trade and investment, the Halal industry, and oil and gas; for exploring new frameworks in green economy and clean energy; and for enhancing people-to-people exchange, he said. As for PM Chinhs attendance at the ASEAN Summit, the diplomat said it is a strong signal of Viet Nam's commitment to the shared objective of building an ASEAN that is united, forward-looking, and central to regional peace. According to the diplomat, the 46th ASEAN Summit comes at a defining juncture as ASEAN is navigating an era of deep transitions strategic competition, supply chain reconfiguration, climate change, and digital transformation. In such a context, Malaysias ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 aims to re-anchor the blocs relevance through a threefold mission: unity, resilience, and global leadership. The Summit will be a platform to consolidate support around the ASEAN Community Post-2025 Vision, a blueprint that aspires to make ASEAN more integrated, responsive, and globally proactive. In doing so, he said Malaysia is committed to preserving ASEAN centrality and neutrality in an increasingly multipolar world, ensuring that ASEAN economic agenda is inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready; and strengthening external partnerships while keeping ASEAN in the drivers seat. Viet Nams role in this journey is, without question, indispensable. Viet Nam has long been regarded as pivotal to ASEANs cohesion. Viet Nams commitment to regional peace, non-alignment, and inclusive development resonates strongly with Malaysias priorities for ASEAN 2025, he added. The ambassador expressed Malaysias wish to work closely with PM Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation to strengthen ASEAN unity, enhance economic resilience and promote ASEANs voice globally. Malaysia looks to Viet Nam as a partner in shaping ASEANs outreach to the world, as well as contributing to constructive dialogue with external partners such as China, the US, the EU, and beyond. Viet Nams strateallygic importance and proactive approach make it an indispensable in ensuring the success of Malaysias Chairmanship and the enduring relevance of ASEAN, the diplomat added. VNS HAVANA Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has declared an official mourning period from 6am on May 24 to 0:00am on May 25 (local time) in commemoration of former Vietnamese State President Tran uc Luong. The Cuban President praised the late former leader's outstanding contributions to Viet Nam's oi moi (Renewal) process and to the special, trustworthy fraternal bonds between the people, Parties and governments of the two nations. During the official mourning period, Cuba's national flags will be flown at half-mast at public buildings and military facilities across the country. Earlier, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is also First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, extended his deepest condolences to the Party, State and people of Viet Nam. He described former State President Luong as a distinguished leader who contributed greatly the Viet Nam - Cuba friendship. On social media platform X, he expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the former State President, highlighting his significant role in strengthening the brotherhood and traditional cooperation between the two countries. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also extended condolences to the Vietnamese leaders, people, and the family of the deceased, reaffirming the deep solidarity between the two peoples. VNA/VNS MEXICO CITY It is time for Viet Nam and Mexico to consider lifting their bilateral relations to a new height to create a new framework and space for development, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Van Hai said at a ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (May 19, 1975 2025). Speaking at the event organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico on May 22, Hai said that the Vietnamese people always remember Mexico as one of the countries that provided aid for Viet Nam to support its national reconstruction after the war. At the end of 1975, Mexico sent aid worth US$1 million to Viet Nam, he elaborated. Since that important milestone, the Viet Nam-Mexico relationship has kept flourishing on the basis of political trust, friendship, sincere cooperation, mutual respect and achieved practical results in many fields. In terms of politics and diplomacy, the two countries have maintained regular and effective dialogue through cooperation mechanisms such as the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level, the Joint Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation. They have coordinated and supported each other at international organisations, as well as international and regional multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Bilateral trade has grown impressively in recent years, especially after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took effect. With an average annual increase of up to 10-15 per cent, the bilateral trade turnover in 2024 reached more than $15 billion, up 27.5 per cent compared to 2023. Mexico is currently Viet Nam's second largest trading partner in Latin America, while Viet Nam is Mexico's second largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). According to the ambassador, the outstanding achievements in bilateral cooperation will be a solid foundation for the bilateral relationship to take off in the coming time. Meanwhile, Director General for Asia-Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Fernando Gonzalez-Saiffe said that as one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam right after its national reunification, Mexico sent a strong message that it supported the right to self-determination and national independence of the Vietnamese people. Based on that good foundation, Saiffe said, the Viet Nam - Mexico friendship has been continuously strengthened and nurtured over the past half century. It has become an exemplary international relationship in many aspects. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also affirmed at a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in November 2024 that Mexico wants to strengthen relations with the heroic Vietnamese people, he stressed. Meanwhile, Pedro Vazquez Gonzalez, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, affirmed that when Viet Nam stepped out from a fierce war that lasted more than two decades, Mexico's establishment of diplomatic relations with Viet Nam has become a symbol of friendship between the two peoples who share progressive ideals, laying the foundation for the sustainable friendship and cooperation over the past 50 years. For the Labour Party (PT) - one of the political parties in the ruling coalition in Mexico of which Gonzalez is a member, the Communist Party of Viet Nam is not only an ally, but also a symbol of resilience and dignity in a turbulent world, as well as a source of inspiration for peace-loving peoples around the world. Also at the event, guests enjoyed Vietnamese traditional art performances and Vietnamese typical dishes, and contemplated a photo exhibition about Viet Nam and its people. VNA/VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam will pay an official visit to Malaysia and attend the 46th ASEAN Summit and related events there from May 24-28. The visit is made at the invitation of Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his wife. VNS KUALA LUMPUR Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to Malaysia from May 24-28 will bolster bilateral ties and reinforce solidarity among ASEAN nations as Malaysia holds 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia inh Ngoc Linh. Talking with Vietnam News Agency reporters based in Kuala Lumpur, Linh said the visit will affirm Vietnams consistent foreign policy of valuing friendly neighborliness and comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia. It comes at a time when bilateral ties are flourishing across politics, diplomacy, national defence-security, economy, tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange. Leaders of both nations have maintained frequent contact through phone calls, bilateral visits, and regular meetings on the sidelines of major global and regional forums, he said. According to the ambassador, PM Chinh is scheduled to hold talks and meetings with Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim and other high-ranking leaders. They will share views on their respective national developments and engage in in-depth discussions on strategic visions to advance bilateral relations. Priority areas include reinforcing political trust, expanding collaboration in national defence-security, economy, trade, investment, labour, tourism, and people-to-people exchange while exploring such emerging fields as green economy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, innovation, and sci-tech. On global and regional issues of shared interest, both sides will agree on major directions to strengthen coordination at global and regional forums, especially within ASEAN, contributing to enhancing ASEAN unity and upholding the blocs central role. The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia considers preparations for PM Chinh and his spouse's official visit and attendance at the 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings a top political priority of 2025, Linh said, adding that the embassy is working closely with relevant agencies to ensure a well-coordinated and successful visit. Linh expressed hope that the visit will yield an action plan to realise their comprehensive strategic partnership and push forward essential cooperation agreements that will establish effective collaboration mechanisms. The visit is seen as an opportunity to leverage existing platforms such as the Viet NamMalaysia Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and the Joint Trade Committee. A shared vision is to unlock partnership potential and harness mutual strengths that could shape a peaceful and favourable environment for national development and a new era of growth for both nations, he said. Economic, trade, and investment ties remain a cornerstone of the Viet Nam-Malaysia relationship. Within ASEAN, Malaysia is now Viet Nams second largest trade partner and third largest investor. In 2024, two-way trade hit US$14.2 billion, up 20 per cent from 2023, moving closer to the target of $18 billion, Linh noted. In his view, both nations possess complementary strategic advantages that, if effectively capitalised upon, could open greater opportunities for businesses to access each others markets. This is especially true in emerging sectors with untapped potential, such as Halal industry, green economy, innovation, sci-tech, digital transformation, and green energy. VNS GIA LAI - Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai held a respect-paying, memorial and reburial ceremony on Friday at uc Co District martyrs cemetery for the remains of 23 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia during the war. The remains were recovered during the 20242025 dry season by Team K52 under the provincial Military Command, with support from Cambodian authorities and residents in Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, and Preah Vihear provinces. Since 2021, 1,512 sets of remains have been repatriated. At the ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich highlighted the sacrifices made by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in helping Cambodia escape the genocidal Pol Pot regime, symbolising the enduring solidarity between the two nations. Meanwhile, Yong Kim Hien, Deputy Governor of Preah Vihear, expressed deep gratitude and reaffirmed the wish for lasting friendship between the two countries. Following the memorial ceremony, the remains were reburied at uc Co District's martyr cemetery. VNA/VNS HCM CITY More than 800 cybersecurity leaders, experts, and innovators gathered at the 7th Vietnam Security Summit 2025 that opened in HCM City on Friday. The annual event themed Cybersecurity: Building Resilience & Trust in an Ever-Changing World featured conferences addressing the most critical challenges and emerging trends in digital security. Industry leaders and professionals explored key topics such as data protection, cloud security, AI-driven risks, and IT infrastructure resilience, providing actionable strategies for a more secure digital future. An exhibition held alongside the summit brought together more than 50 Vietnamese and global enterprises, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and cybersecurity solutions in the battle against next-gen cyber challenges such as AI security, infrastructure security, data security, ics security, cloud security, identity & access management, and OT & IoT security. Vu Ngoc Son, head of the Research, Consulting, Technology Development, and the International Cooperation Department at the National Cybersecurity Association, said Viet Nam is among the countries at high risk of cyberattacks. Statistics from the National Cybersecurity Association showed that there were more than 659,000 cyberattacks in 2024. Around 46 per cent of agencies and businesses in Viet Nam have experienced at least one cyberattack, he said. Currently, about 56 per cent of State agencies and businesses do not have enough IT and information security staff. Viet Nam is forecast to lack 700,000 cybersecurity professionals in the next three years, he said. The personnel shortage has resulted in an increase in the number and severity of cyberattacks, slow and ineffective incident response, and difficulties for businesses and State agencies in digital operations. He emphasised that cybersecurity plays a vital role in digital transformation, and human resources is the cornerstone of cybersecurity. Therefore, it requires a joint effort among the government, educational institutions, and enterprises to solve the personnel shortage. VNS HA NOI _ The Viet Nam-Germany Friendship Association marked its 40th founding anniversary in Ha Noi on Friday, reaffirming its role in fostering bilateral ties through cultural, educational, and innovation exchange. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, also President of the Association, highlighted its contributions to people-to-people diplomacy. Over four decades, the association has built strong links with German counterparts and organised a wide range of exchange activities that support mutual understanding and cooperation. The association currently operates a nationwide network of 34 member branches and continues to expand its engagement in emerging areas such as digital transformation, innovation, climate response, and youth exchanges. German Ambassador to Viet Nam Helga Mararete Barth praised the friendship between the two nations since 1975, citing deepening political ties and strong economic relations with two-way trade nearing EUR20billion. The ambassador emphasised the vital role of people-to-people connection, particularly among the 200,000 Vietnamese living in Germany, and growing interest among Vietnamese youth in the German language and career opportunities. Both sides committed to strengthening collaboration in areas of shared interest, with continued support from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations. _ VNS KUALA LUMPUR The government will study the proposal to raise the retirement age to 65 before presenting it to the Cabinet, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. However, the Prime Minister said the matter has not been raised or discussed in Cabinet meetings. Let the ministry study the implications first, he said, adding that the proposal involves various factors such as financial cost and the creation of new job opportunities. The idea deserves attention and consideration but let the relevant agencies discuss it first, he said after launching Hadiah Bahasa Public Bank Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) 2025 yesterday. Recently, Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said called on the government to consider raising the retirement age to 65, noting that many individuals at 60 remain healthy and productive. She pointed out that judges retire at 65, with some Asean countries setting the limit at 70. In Malaysia, the mandatory retirement age for civil servants is currently 60, which is also the minimum retirement age for private sector employees under the Minimum Retirement Age Act 2012. When asked about the possible extension of the tenures of three senior judges, including Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Anwar replied briefly: Were looking at it. On Tuesday, Tengku Maimun said she, along with Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, were still awaiting a decision on whether their tenures would be extended. Meanwhile, Anwar said Malaysians must not forget the importance of the national language, even as the country advances in development and technology. He said a developed nation should not only focus on its economy but also value its national language, arts and culture. It would be a grave mistake if the Madani government pursued development without giving due importance to the national language. While we work hard to strengthen the countrys finances, we must not overlook a crucial element of nation-building, and having a strong command of our language and appreciating great works of knowledge, he said. Anwar also reminded the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry of the importance of the national language, even as some advocate placing greater emphasis on foreign languages in education. The well-known Hadiah Bahasa award has returned after 27 years, following a request from the Prime Minister last year. Now organised by DBP and Public Bank, the award aims to encourage students and professionals to produce quality work in Bahasa Melayu. First introduced in 1984 and last held in 1998, the award was established with support from Anwar, who was then patron of the Linguistic Society of Malaysia. THE STAR/ANN JAKARTA Property developers have proposed a rent-to-own scheme as a way to ease homeownership access for workers in the informal sector. Junaidi Abdillah, chairman of the All-Indonesia Association of Housing and Settlement Developers (Apersi), said the scheme could address the persistent issue of informal workers who were often underserved by banks. Thus, they stood little chance to access mortgages, due to fluctuation in their income. Its complicated for banks to assess non-fixed income earners, like bakso [meatball] sellers, vegetable sellers or street hawkers, Junaidi told a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission V, which oversees infrastructure, transportation and the development of disadvantaged regions. Its very difficult for them to access financing. Only a small percentage manage to get it, mostly through BTN, he added, referring to state-owned mortgage lender Bank Tabungan Negara. Junaidi suggested the provision of a rent-to-own scheme as an option for informal workers who might not fit the conventional creditworthiness criteria, especially the Financial Information Service System (SLIK) of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) that banks commonly used. If [rent payments] go well for several years, you can own the house. So we dont assess [eligibility based on salary], making this rent-to-own scheme compatible for people who are underserved by banks, he said. At the same meeting, chairman Muhamad Syawali of the National Housing Developers and Marketers Association (Asprumnas) said banks credit scoring system had hampered access to home financing, even for formal workers who earned a fixed monthly income. According to Syawali, many formal workers, especially those who earned less than Rp 6 million (US$365) per month, were unable to obtain financing for subsidised housing. For example, he continued, the minimum wage in East Java was Rp 2.4 million per month but under the standard bank scoring model, only 30 percent of this amount could be put toward mortgage payments. This meant that people who earned around Rp 2 million would only qualify for a monthly mortgage of between Rp 800,000 and Rp 900,000. However, even the minimum [mortgage payment] for subsidized housing is Rp 1.05 million. [The numbers] dont add up, said Syawali. He also pointed to problems in several regions where regulations, such as exemptions from the land and property transfer duty (BPHTB) for low-income homebuyers, were not enforced. Last November, Home Minister Tito Karnavian, Public Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar Ara Sirait and Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo signed a joint ministerial decree aimed at helping low-income individuals own homes and included waivers for the BPHTB and the building approval (PBG) fee, both of which are normally paid to regional administrations when purchasing a house. In April this year, the government issued another regulation, which increased the previous maximum income cap of Rp 8 million per month regardless of marital status, in a bid to boost homeownership by expanding the subsidized housing program to people in higher income brackets, including the middle class. Unmarried individuals in Greater Jakarta who earn up to Rp 12 million per month, as well as married individuals with a monthly income of up to Rp 14 million, are now eligible for government housing programmes. THE JAKARTA POST/ANN BANGKOK The Government of Thailand has assured a sufficient supply of masks, COVID-19 rapid test kits and hand sanitisers while warning vendors against price gouging and hoarding amid growing concerns about the outbreak. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukool Pruksanusak said on Friday that COVID-19 prevention items such as face masks, Antigent Test Kit (ATK), and hand sanitisers remain available on the market at affordable prices. The Ministry of Commerce, through the Department of Internal Trade, has closely monitored supply levels by working with over 20 producers, importers, and major retailers, he stated. The government found stock levels to be sufficient, with many vendors continuing to run discount promotions. According to the deputy spokesman, domestic mask production is operating at 5060 per cent capacity, with the potential to scale up if needed. Key raw materials remain in adequate supply. Anukool affirmed that there are enough kits on the market. He encouraged consumers to compare prices across wholesalers, department stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and online platforms, as prices vary based on brand, type, and quality. He urged people to be vigilant, maintain good hygiene, eat cooked food and follow COVID-19 prevention measures. VNS During an official visit from May 19-22, Israeli Minister of Labour Yoav Ben Tzur met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Central executives in Hanoi, cementing the historic partnership. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receiving Israeli Minister of Labour Yoav Ben Tzur on May 21. Source: VNA Central was one of only four international contractors, selected from a competitive pool of 34 global bidders, approved to rebuild critical infrastructure and housing in Israel. The milestone underscores Centrals world-class technical capabilities and positions Vietnam as a rising player in high-stakes international construction projects Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang receiving Israeli Minister of Labour Yoav Ben Tzur. Source: dantri.com.vn The delegation visited a Central project at the 6-star Fairmont Hanoi Hotel During a site visit to the 6-star Fairmont Hanoi Hotel and the high-end Vinhomes Ocean Park 2 residential complex, both being developed by Central, Minister Tzur praised the safety of the construction site, the skill of the workers, and the quality of the materials, calling the work atmosphere 'vibrant'. "This highlights Centrals position in Vietnams construction market and showcases its strategic global development vision. I believe Central is ready to expand internationally, starting with Israel," said Tzur. The minister and the delegation visit Vinhomes Ocean Park 2 Israel Uzan, director general of the Israeli Ministry of Labour, also highly appreciated the execution speed, adherence to deadlines, construction quality, and safety commitment. "The value Central brings to Vietnams construction sector will surely be welcomed in international markets, such as Israel," said Uzan. Beyond projects, the high-level meeting laid the foundation for a long-term cooperation deal, deploying skilled Vietnamese engineers and workers to Israel. This initiative will create development opportunities for Vietnamese workers while meeting Israels need for high-quality workers. With a young, disciplined, and technically skilled workforce, Vietnam is expected to become a labour source supporting Israels long-term development. Minister Tzur works at Centrals office To set up a foundation for a long-term relationship, Centrals leadership team, in close coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel, have conducted extensive field surveys in Israel. These visits focused on assessing living conditions, housing, and working environments for the Vietnamese workforce. The goal is not only to provide optimal support, but also to create a safe, professional environment where Vietnamese talent can thrive. This dedicated preparation underscores Centrals deep commitment to safeguarding workers' rights and enhancing the quality of life, while also reflecting the companys global vision and sense of responsibility on the international stage. Centrals selection by the Israeli government is more than recognition of a companys capability, its testament to the stature of Vietnamese enterprises in fields demanding world-class standards and competence. Israeli free trade pact to build on existing ties A bilateral free deal between Vietnam and Israel, slated for ratification early this year, is expected to provide new trade and investment opportunities for the two nations currently seeking to expand their agricultural development cooperation. Israeli textile firm to increase investment in Binh Dinh Israeli textile firm Delta Galil Industries will increase its investment from $64.6 million to $100 million to scale up its textile and garment project in the central province of Binh Dinh. Despite the numerous advantages of using AI in auditing and consulting, such systems remain prone to errors and must be used properly, according to experts at a Ho Chi Minh City seminar on May 23. Experts gather in the "Redifining finance in Vietnam with AI: from global trends to local innovation and the IFC vision" held in Ho Chi Minh City The seminar on redefining finance in Vietnam with AI, organised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in collaboration with British Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (BritCham) and British consulate-general in Ho Chi Minh City, brought together global thinking and local insights, exploring how finance in Vietnam can be digital, inclusive, and connected to the wider world. Ren Varma, head of ACCA for Mainland Southeast Asia, highlighted how AI is rapidly reshaping finance across the world, from algorithmic risk modelling to intelligent reporting and real-time decision-making. As Vietnam progresses towards its vision of becoming an international financial centre, the responsible and strategic integration of AI will be essential. This means not just adopting new technology, but building an ecosystem of capable, ethical, and forward-thinking professionals, said Varma. ACCA, with its globally recognised qualification, commitment to ethics, and continued investment in future-ready skills, believes that professional accountants will remain indispensable in the AI-shaped world, as they ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, uphold trust, and ensure that innovation serves the public interest. AI brings immense opportunity, but only when paired with sound judgment, transparency, and governance. The responsible and strategic integration of AI is crucial for Vietnam's finance industry to thrive, Varma added. Will Lawrenson, British deputy consul general and head of Trade and Investment for Ho Chi Minh City, said that the UK and Vietnam already boast many activities on collaboration in AI and finance. The UK sees Vietnam as a key partner in Southeast Asia for AI and digital transformation, as evidenced by their growing cooperation in various sectors, including healthcare, fintech, and cybersecurity, said Lawrenson. Especially, during the UK Southeast Asia Tech Week in March, more than 500 delegates and 12 top AI firms from the UK visited Ho Chi Minh City to explore partnerships in areas such as transparency, facial recognition, and financial digitalisation. The UK government has also partnered with Boston Consulting Group on a trade finance initiative, supported by Vietnamese and British banks and the State Bank of Vietnam, to address the $90 billion trade finance gap in Vietnam through the development of a trade finance registry, a digital platform powered by AI, he said. Luong Ngoc Binh, senior consultant in AI and Banking Data at FPT IS, FPT Corporation, emphasised that AI is already shaping the present and is being widely applied in the finance and banking sectors. AI applications such as risk management, anti-money laundering, product/service personalisation, and decision support are enabling financial institutions to optimise operations, enhance customer experiences, and improve business decision-making, Binh noted. Meanwhile, during the panel discussion at the seminar, other experts including Ross Macallister, managing partner and head of Consulting at KPMG in Vietnam, Tyler McElhaney, country head of Apex Group, and Kenneth Atkinson, board member of BritCham Vietnam, highlighted both the challenges and opportunities in building an international financial centre in Vietnam. The experts stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy that includes policy frameworks, regulatory clarity, and investments in infrastructure, technology, and human capital for Vietnam to successfully establish a competitive financial hub. While digital technologies, AI, and other advanced innovations are seen as essential enablers, risks such as cybersecurity, data protection, and risk governance must also be addressed. Developing a skilled workforce, particularly in technology and data analytics, was also identified as a critical priority. Mike Suffield, director of Policy and Insights at ACCA Global Mike Suffield, director of Policy and Insights at ACCA Global AI is seen as a significant opportunity for the development of businesses and the finance/accounting profession. It will lead to changes in roles, eliminating some routine tasks but creating new strategic and analytical roles. AI is a tool that needs to work in conjunction with people, leveraging their skills and expertise. It is essential that AI is used in an ethical and responsible manner, with a focus on innovation and proper understanding of the technology. While AI may eliminate some routine jobs, it is expected to open up new and exciting opportunities in the accounting profession. The challenge is to use AI effectively, which requires understanding the technology and building relevant skills. Regarding the potential and risks of using AI in business, AI presents great opportunities to drive innovation and improve efficiency in businesses. The quality and reliability of the data used by AI systems is crucial, as AI relies on the data it is provided. However, proper management and understanding of AI systems are necessary to mitigate risks and maximise the benefits. For small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that may have limited resources to invest in AI, I recommended that there are still ways to leverage the technology to improve efficiency and productivity. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing among SMEs can be beneficial in understanding and implementing AI effectively. Organisations like ours can facilitate this collaboration and provide guidance to help them navigate the challenges of AI implementation. SAV and ACCA join forces to elevate banking workforce As Vietnam integrates further with the global financial system, an internationally qualified workforce has become a pivotal need for the banking sector to maintain competitiveness and long-term sustainability. ACCA expert weighs in on Vietnam's proposed Budget Law reforms The draft amendment to the State Budget Law currently under parliamentary discussion promises to streamline budget allocation and settlement processes. Mike Suffield, director of Policy and Insights, ACCA spoke to VIRs Vy Vy to give his view. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) implemented a 4.8 per cent increase in the average retail electricity price from May 10, raising the tariff to over 8.8 US cents per kWh. This marks the fourth electricity price hike since 2023. The escalation in power costs is impacting all energy-intensive sectors, particularly steel, cement, and consumer goods manufacturing. The cement industry, known for its high electricity consumption, is experiencing mounting pressure on production costs, product pricing, and overall business efficiency. Cement groups are deploying waste heat recovery systems to meet part of their electricity demands, photo Le Toan Since early 2025, cement prices have been adjusted upwards three times, with each increase amounting to an additional $2 per tonne. Industry insiders said further adjustments are likely as firms seek to offset soaring input costs. Ha Quang Hien, office chief at Vietnam Cement Industry Corporation (Vicem), noted that electricity price increases had been anticipated in the companys 2025 business plan. Its certain that production units within Vicem will implement some level of price adjustment. While its too early to specify the extent, we aim to strike a balance that ensures both competitiveness and cost recovery, he told VIR. Hien also highlighted the dual challenges facing the cement industry: oversupply and sluggish demand. Domestic consumption remains flat, and exports continue to decline in both volume and value. These unfavourable market conditions have severely undermined business efficiency, he added. Amid rising input costs, including electricity, enterprises are streamlining operations and reviewing every stage of their production processes to enhance cost efficiency. Measures include reducing consumption, increasing the use of natural lighting, and investing in renewable energy solutions. Vissai Cement Group, for example, has fully deployed waste heat recovery power systems across all its plants. These systems now meet around 30 per cent of the groups total electricity demand, helping to mitigate the impact of rising power prices. However, the industry is also grappling with serious consumption challenges. Bulk cement continues to be sold at a loss, with producers forced to maintain sales simply to preserve cash flow and absorb depreciation and financial expenses. Exports remain in a prolonged slump, with a marginal 1 per cent on-year decline recorded in the first four months of 2025. A representative of a cement enterprise based in the northern province of Ha Nam revealed that fierce competition in the domestic market has pushed selling prices for bulk cement into negative territory, ranging from 40-160 US cents per tonne below cost. We have no choice but to accept losses to ensure cash flow, maintain production volume, and meet financial obligations, he said. In other major export sectors such as textiles and footwear, each generating tens of billions of US dollars annually, the 4.8 per cent hike in power tariffs poses a significant challenge. Many companies are being forced to restructure production towards maximum cost savings. With export orders under threat from rising tariffs, subdued consumer demand in key markets, and stagnant prices, electricity cost hikes are eroding profit margins and undermining competitiveness. Nguyen Tien Thoa, former head of the Price Management Department at the Ministry of Finance, warned that the impact of electricity price increases is both direct and indirect. Higher power tariffs are likely to trigger price increases in a range of consumer goods and services, potentially adding up to 0.34 percentage points to the consumer price index. This warrants strict monitoring and coordinated policy responses, he explained. Thoa also stressed the need for a transparent roadmap for electricity pricing, alongside deeper reforms in Vietnams competitive electricity market and tighter financial oversight of state utility EVN. Without these structural reforms, households and businesses will continue to bear the brunt of price hikes without any clear accountability from the supplier side, he said. According to EVN, the latest price increase reflects the rising cost structure of electricity generation. In 2025, hydropower, typically the lowest-cost source, will contribute just 25 per cent of total electricity supply. The remaining 75 per cent must be met by more expensive sources, including coal, gas, oil, and renewables. To ensure system reliability, Vietnam has had to mobilise high-cost sources such as oil-fired thermal power, liquefied natural gas, and imported coal-fired generation. At the same time, exchange rate volatility, particularly a stronger US dollar, has significantly increased the cost of electricity generation, which accounts for around 83 per cent of the total power production cost. Electricity prices must reflect production costs for green transition Nguyen Xuan Thanh, a lecturer at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management in Vietnam, has suggested that for a successful green transition, Vietnam must accurately adjust electricity prices to mirror the costs of renewable energy production. During a panel discussion, Lucas Ignatius Loh Jen Yuh, CEO of NamLong Group, said, "Nam Long started as a construction company 30 years ago and then ventured into the real estate industry, developing real estate with vision in combination with provincial planning." Urban areas in Long An, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City have been developed by Nam Long under the integrated urban area model. Meanwhile, commercial property and community amenities are indispensable when developing urban areas. "Integrated urban area development requires our close supervision during the implementation of current projects, including the development of retail, office, and hospitality real estate segments. In particular, we will cooperate with other partners to develop complete projects," said Yuh. Yuh further added that Nam Long is closely following the suburbanisation trend of residents in major urban areas to develop satellite urban areas surrounding Ho Chi Minh City. "Nam Long's strategic vision is still commercial real estate projects. However, there will be few new projects in the pipeline due to the rapid rate of urbanisation, reaching 70 per cent in urban areas. As a result, Nam Long is embracing changes with strategic orientation to generate new revenue streams in the long term," he declared. In addition, Nam Long will expand its investment portfolio to build a supporting ecosystem for urban areas when the company starts to enter the next stage of development. However, he pointed out some barriers to Vietnams real estate market, such as technical infrastructure. For example, it takes much time to travel through a short route in major cities. Therefore, it is very difficult to develop the market from the downtown to outskirts areas following the suburbanisation trend. "We cannot live in an urban area adjacent to the city, but it takes three to four hours to travel to work in the downtown every day, despite the distance of only about 50km. In my opinion, transportation infrastructure is the biggest limitation of Vietnams real estate market," added Yuh. Under the governments urban consolidation plans, localities are evolving into megacities, multicentre hubs, and revitalised suburban areas, with suburbs poised to become more appealing than traditional downtown cores. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, with its population exceeding 10 million, faces mounting congestion on key transit routes, highlighting the urgency of these spatial reforms. In the same vein, Paul Tonkes, deputy director of Indochina Kajima, said, "The market operates on two tiers Tier-1 in major cities and Tier-2 in neighbouring provinces. In Tier-1, transport networks are tightly integrated with urban centres and industrial zones, and services are more concentrated. Yet despite this advantage, Tier-1s infrastructure remains outdated. Chronic underinvestment and worsening congestion are now stifling its potential." "The Tier-2 market industrial zones are developing strongly," Tonkes said. "However, the infrastructure is also too cramped. Meanwhile, Vietnam is emerging as a significant player in the global supply chain, but could face problems as it takes too much time to transport goods from factories to seaports. The distance is not too far, but the main cause is logistical bottlenecks," Tonkes added. During the workshop, Andrew Bruce, owner and manager of NAI Harcourts North Shore (New Zealand), said, "In the New Zealand market, there will be land ownership, which enables people to build houses and secure a sizeable amount of capital from banks. However, in Vietnam, investors have to lease land while it is difficult to borrow capital." Alex Waddey, president and CEO of NAI Global, said, "Land lease is currently a barrier that makes it difficult for investors to access capital." Providing the perspective of a Chinese investor, Bjarne Bauer, managing partner of NAI Sofia Group Shanghai, said, "Land-lease contracts come with numerous fees, while outright land purchases are far simpler. For office and retail investments, leases offer little advantage, which is why theyre less attractive to us." Vietnam's regulations, though they demand careful attention and patience for project approvals, are continually improving. This evolution shows the country's dedication to sustainable, well-planned urban growth, making the real estate investment landscape clearer and more dependable for the long term. Tam Nguyen, principal of NAI Vietnam, set an encouraging tone and reiterated his firms strong commitment to supporting foreign investors through the evolving Vietnamese market. Vietnam continues to show great promise. International firms that strategise meticulously and embrace long-term visions are exceptionally well-positioned for success here, he affirmed. With its extensive global network and deep local expertise, NAI Vietnam is playing a key role in connecting forward-thinking international investors with new opportunities, further reinforcing Vietnams reputation as a leading destination for sustainable and long-term real estate growth. Nam Long Group pioneering sustainable leadership Nam Long Group was honoured as a pioneering real estate developer at the prestigious Dot Property Vietnam Awards 2024 held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 26. Indochina Kajima commences Parc Hanoi project Indochina Kajima, a joint-venture between Indochina Capital and Kajima Corporation, commenced construction of Parc Hanoi, a Grade A office building in the West West Lake Urban Area in Hanoi on December 11. Bangkok - The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) of Thailand has launched a key initiative, the One Tambon One Digital Smart Living (OTOD Smart Living) project, aiming to usher in a new era of digital transformation for the countrys rural communities and agricultural sector. At a press conference on May 21, Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President and CEO of DEPA, announced the project as an evolution of the existing "One Tambon One Digital" (OTOD) programme, which has been in operation since 2023. The 2025 iteration focuses specifically on smart city development, leveraging technology to elevate the daily lives of villagers and foster more resilient communities. The programme seeks to enhance digital literacy, improve living standards, and unlock substantial economic benefits across the country. The OTOD Smart Living project is structured into two main categories of support: Smart Living and Smart Living Plus. Smart Living is a one-year initiative supporting 40 communities situated within the provinces designated as smart city promotion zones. These communities will benefit from the integration of five core technologies: smart agricultural tractors, solar-powered CCTV cameras, smart solar lighting, agricultural drones, and smart agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Smart Living Plus is a more advanced one-year programme targeting five communities already located within established smart cities. These selected communities will receive support for six technologies, including all the five from the Smart Living category, plus a dedicated agricultural carbon platform. Nuttapon emphasised that the OTOD Smart Living project marks a crucial step in extending smart city development into rural Thailand. DEPA projects that the initiative will improve the digital knowledge and skills of at least 2,700 individuals across 900 households nationwide. This significant human capital development is anticipated to create an economic impact of no less than 170 million THB (5.19 million USD). He highlighted DEPA's recognition of agriculture's vital role in the national economy, with over 50% of the Thai population, or more than 30 million people, involved in the sector. However, he noted that this demographic often faces myriad challenges, including droughts, floods, high production costs, and volatile produce prices. Crucially, many communities and farmers have historically lacked appropriate digital support, hindering their access to essential technological knowledge. The OTOD project, in its expanded form, aims squarely at resolving these pressing issues for farmers and communities throughout Thailand. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairing the conference At a conference on public investment in Hanoi on May 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested authorities at all levels to do what it takes to achieve this goal, disbursing the equivalent of close to VND830 trillion ($33.2 billion). "The performance of authorities in disbursing public investment will be an important basis for assessing task completion and evaluating officials. If not completed, they must be sanctioned," he said. As of April 30, the total disbursement nationwide was estimated at VND128.5 trillion ($5 billion), reaching just over 15.5 per cent of the target, a lower percentage than for the same period in last year (16.6 per cent), but more than VND18 trillion ($720 million) in actual monetary value. "Leaders of authorities at all levels must uphold their responsibility, closely direct and actively organise implementation, and regularly review and remove complexities in projects," the PM said. "It is necessary to build a database to monitor and evaluate public investment, especially data on land, environment, and contractor evaluation." The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Ministry of Construction will provide guidance so the provincial and city committees can focus on removing problems and ensuring the supply of construction materials. Relevant ministries must urgently provide guidance on standards, technical regulations and unit prices, which have to be completed before June 15. Ministries and agencies must urgently amend, supplement, and issue legal regulations and guidelines on decentralisation in the management and implementation of public projects in localities when changing administrative boundaries and organising two-level local governments, without any interruption. Chinh emphasised the need for greater efficiency in investment preparation, particularly for the medium-term public investment plan in the upcoming term. The plan, comprising fewer than 3,000 projects, must avoid dispersion and ensure focused execution. Regarding official development assistance, he asked the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to promptly propose amendments to relevant decrees and laws before submission. Furthermore, the MoF will amend the Bidding Law, while agencies and localities must enhance oversight to select qualified and reputable contractors. To accelerate infrastructure development, the PM called for stronger decentralisation of transport projects to localities. Authorities must strictly adhere to directives from higher leadership and promptly report any implementation challenges. "It is necessary to utilise public-private partnerships in implementing projects. Particularly, the expansion of operational expressways should be assigned to qualified and financially capable firms with sufficient reputation and capacity," said Chinh. The Ministry of Construction will preside over and coordinate with authorities at all levels to carefully prepare the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies of 80 works and projects nationwide to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Independence Day on September 2. Units, agencies, and individuals who have achieved their targets will be nominated for rewards on this occasion. The government anticipates completing 3,000km of expressways and 1,000km of coastal roads by the end of this year. Additionally, Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport is set to be inaugurated, while construction will commence on the railway line from Lao Cai to Haiphong. "Projects must ensure smooth progress, remain within budget, uphold safety standards, ensure technical quality, and adhere to environmental regulations, with particular emphasis on eliminating corruption and misconduct," Chinh added. Ho Chi Minh City firms call for infrastructure development and public investment Promoting infrastructure and public investment, while reducing administrative procedures, were some of the solutions made by businesses during a meeting with Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc on March 6. Localities roll up sleeves to spur investment progress The government will continue using public investment as one of the largest drivers of economic growth this year. Palo Alto Networks, one of the worlds top AI cybersecurity companies, hosted the 'Ignite on Tour Vietnam 2025' event in Hanoi on May 22, focusing on the transformative role of AI in Vietnams cybersecurity landscape. The event brought industry leaders and cybersecurity professionals together to explore how Palo Alto Networks is revolutionising digital defence to ensure stronger protection against AI-driven attacks. "AI is redefining the competitive landscape for businesses across the region, unlocking innovation at unprecedented speed. However, it is also transforming the threat landscape, enabling faster, more sophisticated, and more targeted cyberattacks," said Simon Green, President, Asia-Pacific and Japan, Palo Alto Networks. "To stay ahead, organisations must make a shift towards smarter, AI-driven platforms that can anticipate and neutralise threats in real time. This pivot is essential to keep pace with the constantly evolving threat landscape." Simon Green, President, Asia-Pacific and Japan, Palo Alto Networks According to the 2025 Unit 42 Global Incident Response Report by Palo Alto Networks, 86 per cent of 500 major cyber incidents last year caused operational downtime, reputational damage, or financial loss, with 70 per cent involving three or more attack surfaces, including endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. Green revealed over 659,000 cyber incidents were reported in Vietnam in 2024 alone, with nearly half of organisations experiencing at least one cyberattack. Alarmingly, 14.6 per cent of these organisations faced ransomware attacks, highlighting the escalating sophistication of cyber threats. As Vietnamese firms increasingly adopt multi-cloud strategies, securing complex attack surfaces has become more urgent. "Vietnams rapid digitalisation, especially in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and manufacturing, is creating exciting new growth opportunities, but it also presents a broader attack surface for cyber threats," said Hoang Quang Huy, country manager, Vietnam, Palo Alto Networks. Hoang Quang Huy, country manager, Vietnam, Palo Alto Networks "Many Vietnamese organisations are still in the early stages of their digital transformation and require strong, intelligent security foundations. At Palo Alto Networks, were committed to supporting Vietnams digital economy with AI-powered cybersecurity that is both proactive and adaptive. Our 'Precision AI' technology reflects this commitment by delivering autonomous, predictive security that enhances threat detection, prevention, and response to help build a safer digital future," he added. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang held a meeting with Palo Alto Networks on May 21, where Minister Thang spoke of how the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is currently operating numerous large-scale, nationwide digital applications, many of which are classified at Level 4, the second-highest level on a five-tier national information security scale. Looking ahead to the 2025-2030 period, the MoF plans to tackle major digital transformation challenges across the financial sector. These efforts will follow a unified architectural framework, encompassing digital infrastructure, digital applications, and digital data, all underpinned by strong cybersecurity. "The MoF comprises a wide array of departments and affiliated units, each with significant demand for digital technology solutions. This presents an excellent opportunity for the Ministry and Palo Alto Networks to deepen cooperation through specific projects that serve our shared interests. Importantly, cybersecurity products and services for the ministry are not only crucial to internal operations but also to public service delivery for citizens and enterprises nationwide," said Minister Thang. In response, Green reaffirmed Palo Alto Networks commitment to bringing the most advanced and up-to-date cybersecurity solutions to the Vietnamese market, particularly to the MoF, via ETC Technology Systems Corporation. He also expressed a strong desire to contribute to balanced trade relations between Vietnam and the US. "Drawing on our experience working with countries such as Japan and Australia, Palo Alto Networks is fully capable of providing the Ministry of Finance with the most effective solutions to build secure and resilient systems for tax, customs, treasury, and statistics agencies," Green said. AI-led startups gain traction in Vietnam AI companies and startups are accelerating their market expansion in Vietnam by leveraging disruptive technology and fostering new growth initiatives. WISCONSIN DELLS Summer 2025 brings several new additions to the Wisconsin Dells area, including a new restaurant and event venue in a relocated historic house. The Dawn Manor Restaurant, Bar, and Speakeasy, located at 413 South Burritt Ave. in Lake Delton, celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday. It features three levels of dining areas and bars named after house builder Abraham Vanderpoel, current owner Steve Uphoff and architect Frank Lloyd Wright, among others. We wanted to get it open to catch that whole (tourism) season, general manager Bill Wilson said. The project is one of three Uphoff is opening in Wisconsin Dells in 2025 and 2026. At Dawn Manor, artwork from the original house, which stood on a property along Highway A in Lake Delton, is hung throughout the reconstructed house, along with information about the artwork. We tried to make it like a museum where all the pieces that were still in the house would be preserved and people would walk through it and feel like they were there in the 1800s, Uphoff said. Dawn Manor was a house originally built in 1855 by Vanderpoel. After purchasing the house itself in 2017, Uphoff ordered the preservation of 94 pallets of sandstone, woodwork, stained glass and other architecture from the mid-1800s and re-installed the vintage components on a new frame to build the current restaurant and event venue. It took eight years to get us here, so Im really happy we got it built and it turned out as well as it did, Uphoff said. Its a gift to the community. The building is an exact replica of what it was in 1855. Dawn Manor is open daily from 4 to 9 p.m. and will begin lunch hours on Thursday. The basement bar, Uphoffs Rotunda, is open from 3:30 to 10 p.m. daily, with a 3:30 to 6 p.m. happy hour from Sunday through Thursday. Reservations for dining and group and party are available on the restaurant website. We give this to you as a dedication to the people we love and the community we grew up with, Uphoff said during a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday. Dinner menu items include a beef and bacon meatloaf dish, Amish chicken, pork with apple and fennel compote, lobster macaroni and cheese, a large chicken pot pie, salmon, walleye, shrimp pasta, and a two-thirds pound Swiss cheese burger. More food and drink menus are on the Dawn Manor menu site. Uphoff and his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Stephanie Grayson, and numerous Wisconsin Dells area businesspeople attended the grand opening. The Uphoffs, along with some others, were dressed in 1800s-themed clothing during the grand opening, including one man, Ryan Maddux, who impersonated 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Shrimp, lobster sandwiches, prime rib, and craft cocktails were served in different areas of the three-level restaurant. Two descendants of Abraham Vanderpoel, David Lee and Justin Vanderpoel, his great-great-great and great-great-great-great grandsons, traveled from their homes in Texas to pay homage to their ancestors relocated and revamped home. David Lee Vanderpoels grandfather moved from Wisconsin to Texas in 1903 for farming, and he said he did not have much knowledge of his familys history in Wisconsin prior to then. Its beautiful, Vanderpoel said. Since I learned that Dawn Manor existed, I wanted to come back and see it. This was our first chance to see it. Justin Draper, who owned the former High Rock Cafe in Wisconsin Dells, and Jayson Pettit, the owner of Js Bar and Grill in Reedsburg, lead the two kitchens at Dawn Manor. High Rock Cafe closed in April 2024. Dining rooms and bars in the restaurant are also named after the Raab family, which owned the house for more than 70 years before Uphoff purchased it, and the year 1855. A gift shop, Sundries Shoppe, with T-shirts, hats, and coffee mugs, among other souvenirs, is located at the entrance. Its exciting to provide something new and wonderful to the area and fantastic that we were able to preserve a little bit of our history in Dawn Manor and have some of the original bricks and pieces throughout, Jill Diehl, the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau President/CEO, said. Dawn Manor joins several new additions to the Dells area this year. Treetop Villas Next door to Dawn Manor, Uphoff has built the Treetop Villas, a series of five cabins neighboring that overlook Mirror Lake. They are available for reservations for a minimum of two nights and guests can receive delivery service from Dawn Manor, as well as VIP reservations at the new throwback venue. Treetop Villas, historic restaurant set to open in Wisconsin Dells in time for summer The villas at Mirror Lake will include four "treehouse" cabins, with spiral staircases wrapped around white pine trees, and bedrooms cantilevered over cliffs. Uphoff is also constructing Dellshire Resort in Wisconsin Dells along Wisconsin Dells Parkway just south of its intersection with Broadway. The resort is slated to open in April. Meanwhile, the land surrounding the original Dawn Manor was sold to Kalahari Resorts owner Todd Nelson in 2017 and he is developing the Kalahari Adventure Collection, a luxury lodging and rental complex featuring treehouse-style cabins, lake cabins and the existing Lake Delton Waterfront Villas. Daylenes Supper Club, named after Nelsons mother, will overlook Lake Delton. The entire collection is slated for completion in 2026. Wisconsin Dells Mountain Coaster The Wisconsin Dells Mountain Coaster, a 4,000-foot-long winding coaster that travels through a wooded area along Highway A in Lake Delton, is opening Saturday and will be open year-round, weather permitting. The coaster carries riders up a 1,500-foot gradual incline before sending them down a winding path in which they can control the cars speed. Riders can ride individually or with one small child between 38 inches (3-foot-2 inches) and 56 inches (4-foot-8 inches). Eight to 10 cars can ride the coaster at once. Admission is $18 per ride for adults and children age 13 and older. Children 12 and younger are $13. Three-packs of tickets are available for $40 for adults and $30 for children, and the tickets can be redeemed any time up to a year after purchase. Wisconsin Dells Mountain Coaster, located at 111 County Road A in the village, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Daves Hot Chicken Daves Hot Chicken opened in Lake Delton in February and brings its spicy tenders and slider sandwiches to the tourist area. People can choose to have no spice levels, or can sign a waiver to eat the Reaper flavor. The hot chicken joint is located at 1300 Great Wolf Drive, Suite 108, next door to Jersey Mikes Subs, which opened in 2023. Daves Hot Chicken is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. B-Lux Bar and Grill B-Lux Bar and Grill, a burger restaurant that also has 16 different shakes 12 non-alcoholic and four alcoholic owned by the Ajvazi family, opened a second Dells area location at 1000 Wisconsin Dells Parkway South in Lake Delton in March. The Ajvazis also own Pizza Pub and Lake House Grill and Bar in the village. B-Luxs first location, which is still open, is at 1481 Wisconsin Dells Parkway, across the parking lot from Pizza Pub. Both B-Lux locations are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Pals Brewing Company Pals Brewing Company opened during the fall of 2024 and is located at 710 Trout Road in Wisconsin Dells. The brewpub features 12 tap beers, 10 burgers and 16 different pizza variants, along with appetizers, different sandwiches and salads. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Delivery hours are the same. Wrexham.com has invited local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home you can find them all here. May 8th saw the commemoration of VE in Wrexham and celebrations in other parts of our community. I was privileged to attend the service at St Giles, the parade through the city centre and then the wreath laying at the war memorial on Bodhyfryd. These events showed the best of our city and reflected the incredible sacrifice of the wartime generation so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. It has also been fantastic to see new facilities opening in Wrexham. In Gwersyllt, the Parc Community Hub has been officially opened, with the pavilion dedicated to club stalwart Ron Pearson. I have seen for myself the flexible space for groups and classes that the Hub offers, and it is a real addition to the area. I send my congratulations to all those who were involved in raising the funding and the construction of such a superb facility. I welcome the news that Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) have been extended to North Wales including Wrexham. There is no time limit on them, and they cover physical, controlling, or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and stalking. DAPOs build on existing police powers, providing stronger protection for victims: perpetrators must adhere to strict exclusion zones, wear GPS tags and attend substance misuse or mental health interventions. Discussion of DAPOs formed part of my recent visit to DASU a charity who work tirelessly to support anyone who has experienced domestic abuse in our community. As a White Ribbon ambassador, I know the importance of prevention before harmful attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls can take hold. But this is an ongoing campaign which is why DASUs work, which deals with the impact of those attitudes and behaviours, is so vital in our community. In Parliament, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill returned to the House of Commons for the Report Stage which allows MPs to consider the amendments put forward. These debates will continue on Friday 13th June. Many constituents have contacted my office with their views and experiences. Thank you very much to those who have, I will continue to engage, listen and consider these as we move forward to the next stage. Along with other MPs I co-signed a letter from Labour for Palestine and the Middle East urging the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine; this was a Labour manifesto commitment but now the situation in Gaza and the West Bank means this is necessary in the immediate future. As I have said previously, there must be an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the allowance of aid into Gaza and the return of the remaining hostages and work towards a two-state solution for lasting peace. The UK Government has echoed my condemnation of the actions and words of the Israeli government with a commitment to further action if they do not comply. I am still keen to hear from constituents about their views on the UK Governments proposed welfare reform, I have extended my survey until the end of the month so that I can capture as many views as possible. It is available via my website: Welfare Green Paper your views Andrew Ranger MP | Wrexham Network North Wales project to examine if Rossett, Marford, Johnstown and Cefn Mawr need stations New train stations could be created to serve communities across Wrexham, if the demand is there, as part of the new Network North Wales vision. The detail emerged following the a announcement on Thursday (22, May) of the wider plan for the region, which includes metro style train services on the North Wales mainline, the Marches line (Chester to Wrexham) and a new, direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Back in 2016 then First Minister Carwyn Jones was in town launching a new North Wales Metro plan (article here), where the people of Wrexham were also told a summit would be held within 100 days of the forthcoming Senedd election to kick it off. Yesterday Wrexham.com spoke with Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates at the inaugural Transport for Wales summit following the launch of Network North Wales. We pointed out that nine years later, a summit was finally happening. We also asked if the Metro was going to happen or if is just a pipe dream. Ken Skates MS replied: It is underway. A lot of work among components of the Metro that was outlined back in 2016 has been done, in terms of the rail franchise agreement that was agreed, weve seen service improvements. Weve seen a huge number of brand trains introduced, 87% of them on the North Wales main line are brand new. 100% of them are brand new on the Wrexham Bidston line, or now the Wrexham-Liverpool line. So a lot of work is being done in terms of delivering the fleet, in delivering improved stations. What were doing is going beyond that and talking about frequency improvements and further service improvements across the patch, and better integration with bus services. Also, as I outlined in my speech, improvements to stations, particularly those stations on the Wrexham Liverpool line. Wrexham Gateway Lots of images of what the Wrexham Gateway could look like have been released, we asked what Wrexham General would look like. The impressions are correct, they are very accurate, said Ken Skates MS. What well see is a new bus interchange at the station. Well see parking facilities that could potentially double as major events space, a new office complex as well, and thats where Transport for Wales will likely have their offices. That then connects in with the new Kop end and the plaza thats going to be constructed. The whole area will provide for a better event space, lifestyle improvements as well. So more restaurants, more bars, and also, crucially, more opportunities for work space as well. As readers will recall one Wrexham Gateway detail that has surfaced in recent weeks is the prospect for a footbridge from the station side to Crispin Lane. Wrexham councillors were told that whislt there is a desire for that, no funding has yet been found. We asked if that was something the Cabinet Secretary wanted as part of the final project delivery. Ken Skates MS said: I met with key stakeholders and key partners in the Gateway programme recently, and we did discuss that and the desirability of being able to eat and drink on one side of the railway line and then get safely over to a match. I recommended that Gateway partnership engage with Ambition North Wales to make sure that its an integral part of the regional transport plan, because its going to be the regional transport plan that then informs decisions over funding of projects. From next year, were going to be devolving the decision making and the funding to the CJC, the Corporate Joint Committee for North Wales, for them to determine where they spend money. So if its in the regional transport plan, then it could be financed through the devolution of transport grants. Future transport plans With a range of stakeholders, groups, boards and the like we asked who would have ultimate responsibility and accountability for coordinating all of the newly announced North Wales Network project. It is a really good point. Its the Network North Wales board itself. So I chair the board, but it brings together Transport for Wales and Network Rail in the way that well see Great British Railways operating in the future, said Ken Skates MS. Within that board, we have the key individuals who are in charge of the franchising exercise for bus services, we have got the people who are in charge of rail infrastructure, and weve got the people who are responsible for rail services, plus representatives of both UK Government and the Welsh Government, and crucially, local authorities as well so that board will be ultimately responsible. In a keynote speech kicking off the two-day summit, Ken Skates MS said the new vision should outlast any single Minister, Government or economic and political circumstances. With an election approaching in a year we asked if this was putting an obligation on future governments whoever they may be, or was a potential political trap being set. You would never deliver a big infrastructure project if you constrained yourself to a budget and an electoral cycle. We would never have delivered the South Wales Metro if had tried to cram that work into just four or five years. Its simply impossible to do. With major transport projects you have to span several electoral cycles and also spending rounds as well. But, weve started with a vision, were delivering right now on that vision, to get it fully completed as weve outlined, will take time, but it will need the commitment of future governments. But, I think the proposals are compelling and very much needed. I would hope that regardless of the composition of future governments and the ministers in charge, they would embrace this and make sure that its completed in full. There were times when we were delivering the South Wales Metro, particularly during COVID, where we could have actually pulled the plug on it, but it is such a vital piece of work for the South Wales valleys in terms of driving growth and enabling people to get into work that we felt that we had to pursue this project right to the end, and its going to be the same with Network North Wales. Pointing to the Burns review recommendations that included a note on how substantial changes to Chester station were needed to enable North Wales rail changes. We asked if it was bizarre for Welsh Government to be improving English infrastructure or if that was being taken care of elsewhere. It is the Wales and Borders region, and we are incredibly dependent on Chester station and the capacity there. At the moment the capacity issues prevent us from reaching the level of ambition that we really do want to deliver on, explained Ken Skates ms. Chester Station, upgrades to the Wrexham Liverpool line and upgrades to the Noth Wales main line are all agreed priorities for the Welsh Rail Board. Thats combination of officials from UK government and from Welsh Government. So, weve agreed that that they are the priority projects. We now await the outcome from the Comprehensive Spending Review, but the UK Government has acknowledged for the first time that we have historically been underfunded on rail. So, in a few weeks time well know the details of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and weve got agreement from DFT and the Wales Office that our priorities in that pipeline need to be delivered. Investment Zone Bus services are also a focus, with the announcement noting a new bus network specifically designed to link communities with industrial estates in the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone. The Investment Zones are relatively new things, but as Wrexham Industrial Estate is long standing, as are the transport issues, we asked why it has taken until 2025 to sort it out. Funding constraints. Investment Zone status provides investment zone revenue, and that enables us to then be able to address a long standing problem, said Ken Skates MS. The second problem is the way that the bus network operates at the moment, and thats why were bringing in franchising to be able to better link communities with employment centres. So there are two key features that will enable this to happen:. Another nugget in the announcement was a plan to examine options to re-open stations and build new stations to serve employment growth areas. We asked what that would look like and if any local ones came to mind. The cabinet secretary said: We are not going to be confined to those that went out of use. There may be cases where there are communities that are not served by a station and they should be served by a station. If we look at the line close to us today, you can identify Rossett, Marford, Johnstown, Cefn Mawr, these are all places that once had stations or need stations. So we need to examine it very closely, it will be dependent on demand and need. This is enabled by electrification. Electrification doesnt necessarily mean overhead cable in a traditional sense. It can mean using electric trains, and weve shown with the South Wales metro just how innovative you can be and utilise the technology thats available today safely and reliably. (Top pic: Ken Skates MS taking questions at the summit event held at Wrexham University) Senedd passes bill to tidy up Welsh law The Senedd signed off on plans to strengthen the foundations of the Welsh Parliament and its ability to make laws for the people of Wales. Senedd members voted unanimously, 51-0, in favour of the legislation bill which will form an important part of the infrastructure underpinning Welsh law. Julie James, who is counsel general, the Welsh Governments chief legal adviser, said: This is not a bill that will capture the headlines; indeed, it is unlikely to receive any attention at all. Ms James acknowledged that the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Bill, to give it its full title, may not be the talk of Swansea market. Leading a debate ahead of the key vote on May 20, she said: The technical, administrative nature of this bill may make it uninteresting to most but that does not mean its unimportant. Tidy For the first time, the bill will establish a Kings Printer for Wales to oversee publication of legislation an office initially established in England, Scotland and Ireland in the 1500s. Ms James told the Senedd: The bill brings about parity with Scotland and Northern Ireland in some respects, and in others it goes further. We alone will have accurately set out the process for published legislation electronically in the modern era. And for the first time a duty is imposed on the Kings Printer to publish legislation in up-to-date form. In other words, reflecting legislation in the form that it has been amended. Under the bill, Welsh statutory instruments that is secondary legislation under an Act would also be formally recognised for the first time. Ms James explained the bill will streamline Senedd processes for scrutinising subordinate legislation and tidy up the statute book by removing outdated provisions. Thrilling The Labour politician stressed: Legislation like this forms part of an infrastructure that people only really notice when something goes wrong. People notice when it isnt there. Paul Davies, for the Conservatives, described the bill as a legislative tidying-up exercise, emphasising the importance of improving the accessibility of Welsh law. The Tory told the Senedd: As the counsel general said, it might not sound like the most thrilling piece of legislation but it is a very important piece of legislation nonetheless. Plaid Cymrus Adam Price said: We, as a party, have been arguing for some time on the need to improve the quality, status and accessibility of Welsh law, and this bill represents a significant step forward in terms of those objectives. Ms James welcomed cross-party support and collaboration on the bill which, barring an unexpected legal challenge, will receive royal assent in the months ahead. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter UPDATE - MAY 23: The Washoe County Sheriffs Office has arrested a suspect in connection with the April 29 theft at the Nevada Humane Society. On May 19, deputies took James Longo into custody for petit larceny and an active Failure to Appear warrant issued by the Reno Municipal Court. Longo was identified as the man seen in surveillance footage during the theft, which occurred around 3:15 p.m. at the Humane Society's location off Longley Lane. The arrest follows a May 14 press release requesting the publics help identifying the suspects. According to investigators, numerous tips submitted through Secret Witness led to contact with Longo and his eventual arrest. The Sheriff's Office extended thanks to the community for its support, saying public engagement played a key role in the case. The total amount stolen was estimated at $300. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Washoe County Sheriffs Office Patrol Division non-emergency line at (775) 785-9276 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or secretwitness.com. ORIGINAL STORY - MAY 15: The Washoe County Sheriffs Office is asking for help finding a pair of suspects involved in a theft at the Nevada Humane Society. It happened on April 29 at around 3:15 p.m. at the Humane Society's location off Longley Lane, according to a press release. A white man and woman were seen in surveillance footage stealing from the premises. The total amount stolen is estimated to be $300. The Sheriff's Office Patrol Division is investigating leads and reviewing evidence, and is asking for the public's help identifying the suspects. Secret Witness is offering a $250 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects involved in the case. Anyone with information about the suspects or who may have been in the area when the theft happened is urged to contact the Washoe County Sheriffs Office Patrol Division non-emergency line at (775) 785-9276 or Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900 or secretwitness.com. The Bureau of Land Management is beginning a public comment period as it develops a herd management area plan for the Silver King Herd Management Area in Nevada. The Silver King Herd Management Area Plan will outline objectives for managing health for wild horses on healthy rangelands, said Caliente Assistant Field Manager Cameron Boyce. The 30-day public review period will run from May 23 to June 23. The BLM has prepared an evaluation report that identifies key issues to guide development of the proposed plan. The report is available for review on the BLM national NEPA Register. The BLM expects to complete the planning process and adopt a final plan for the Silver King Herd Management Area within about a year, depending on funding and other priorities. Written comments are preferred by email at BLM_NV_EYDO_SilverKingHMA_MgmtEvaluation2025@blm.gov. Comments can also be mailed or delivered to the BLM Caliente Field Office, 1400 Front Street, Caliente, NV 89008, Attn: Tyler Reese. For questions or more information, contact Tyler Reese, Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, at 775-726-8137 or treese@blm.gov. The Nevada Women's Fund saluted 75 Women of Achievement at the downtown Reno ballroom on Thursday. In front of a crowd of 1,400 people, the Nevada Women's Fund recognized dozens of women at its 33rd annual luncheon. From business leaders and caregivers to non-profit professionals and volunteers - the Nevada women's CEO says it's important to honor the determination, passion, and dedication of women - who are making meaningfully contributions to their workplaces, families, and communities. "I think there's a ripple effect. I think women are the centerpiece of the family and the community and their contributions are really impactful in our community, so lifting them up creates a ripple effect that uplifts the whole community," says Jen Eastwood, Nevada Women's Fund board member. Two members of our 2 News Nevada team were also celebrated - morning anchor, Faith Justis and assistant controller, Dixie Arellano. Pediatric surgeon, Dr. Frieda Hulka was inducted into the Hall of Fame. (You can watch our Someone 2 Know segment on her below - reported by Faith.) Since launching in 1983, Nevada Women's Fund has awarded nearly $10 million in education scholarships to Northern Nevada women and grant funding to organizations that support women and children. Resouro Files Updated NI43-101 Technical Report for Tiros Toronto, May 23, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. ( ASX:RAU ) ( CVE:RSM ) ( 8TX:FRA ) ( RSGOF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to advise that the Company has filed on SEDAR an updated technical report (Updated Technical Report) for the Company's Tiros Rare Earths and Titanium Project in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The updated Technical Report was prepared in accordance with National Instrument - 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, on behalf of the Company by Atticus Geoscience. The filing of the Updated Technical Report follows the Company's announcement to the ASX of its updated JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (refer ASX announcement of 9 April, 2025 titled "Tiros Measured and Indicated Resource increased by 37% to 1.4 billion tonnes at 12% TiO2 and 4,000 ppm TREO"). The Updated Technical Report, which includes the relevant Competent Persons Statement information and contains no new material information that is not contained in the JORC Report, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.resouro.com About Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. Resouro Strategic Metals Inc. (ASX:RAU) (CVE:RSM) (OTCMKTS:RSGOF) (FRA:8TX) is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery and advancement of economic mineral projects in Brazil, including the rare earth elements and titanium Tiros Project and the Novo Mundo and Santa Angela gold projects. The Tiros Project, located in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, is an exploration project focused on rare earth elements and titanium covering an area of approximately 450 km2. The Tiros Project comprises 17 exploration permits, and one exploration permit application held by the Company's Brazilian subsidiary; and 6 exploration permits and one exploration permit application that have been validly assigned to the Company's Brazilian subsidiary and are awaiting ANM approval. The Company holds, via its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary, a 90% interest in the Tiros Project and the remaining 10% interest in the Tiros Project is held by RBM Consultoria Mineral Eireli (RBM), an unrelated third-party vendor. The Novo Mundo Project is located in the Alta Floresta Gold Province close to the northern border of the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil. Within the licensed area is the small town of Novo Mundo, which is 30km west from the larger town of Guaranta do Norte. It comprises three exploration permits. The Company also has another interest in an exploration permit, being the Santa Angela Project, which is not considered material to the Company's operations. Interests in the Novo Mundo Project and Santa Angela Project are held via the Company's wholly owned subsidiary. Related Companies "Fadnavis Pushed for My InductionEven in December": Chhagan Bhujbal Reveals BJP's Internal Tug-of-War 2 Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has stirred political chatter with his revelation that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was keen on inducting him into the cabinet during its first expansion in December 2024. Bhujbal, who was finally sworn in on May 20 this year, confirmed that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were supportive of his induction at the time, but it didnt materialize then due to internal dynamics. Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Bhujbal (77), a veteran OBC face in Maharashtra politics, said his return to the Mahayuti 2.0 governmentafter being sidelined post the BJP-led coalitions landslide 2024 Assembly victorywas backed strongly by Fadnavis. Its true. Even during the first cabinet expansion, Fadnavis saheb had insisted on including me. PM Modi and Amit Shah also tried, but it didnt happen then, Bhujbal said. The NCP stalwart dismissed speculations about BJP control over his appointment, clarifying, Im not a BJP minister, Im an NCP minister. The NCP decides who becomes a minister, the CM only gives suggestions. His remarks come amid reported internal resistance within the NCP over his re-entry into the cabinet, especially with ongoing tensions over the OBC versus Maratha quota debate. Bhujbal, known for his firm opposition to including Marathas under the OBC reservation bracket, also reacted to activist Manoj Jaranges announcement of a fresh protest in August. Without elaborating, he simply said, We are also ready. Asked about who would be appointed guardian minister of Nashikhis strongholdBhujbal refrained from comment, signaling he wasnt looking to escalate turf battles within the coalition. A multiple-term MLA from Yeola in Nashik district, Bhujbals cabinet role reasserts his political relevance in Maharashtras shifting alliance equations. The renovation of the Von Braun Centers Mark C. Smith Concert Hall is a little more expensive than city leaders originally thought. The Huntsville City Council approved a $446,000 change order for the back of the house renovations on Thursday night. The change order pushed the total cost of the renovations to almost $16.5 million. According to documents, the increase in the cost is due unforeseen conditions. Among the issues mentioned in the documents include sewer line corrections, plumbing and kitchen roof drains. They had a change in scope that was due to sewer and electrical changes that were unexpected in the construction when they were working on this, City Finance Director Penny Smith said. District 4 City Councilman Bill Kling asked if the funding for the change order would come out of the city liquor and lodging tax instead of the city having to appropriate it. It does, actually, Smith responded. The city manages the debt for the Von Braun Civic Center. This is part of the debt issuance that was actually taken up in February. It will be pulled into that debt. Theyve had some savings in some other places within that larger debt we pulled, about $30 million for various constructions across the VBC renovations. The council approved upgrades to the concert hall last year to attract bigger theater performances. The upgrades included building an extension to the back of the concert hall and enlarging the VBC kitchen, according to the contract agreement between the city and Turner Construction Company. The extension was needed, city officials said, because certain productions had significant props that could not go in the concert hall without the upgrades. The project also includes expanding the green room to make room for more actors, musicians and performers, as well as upgrades to the Playhouse and the Saturn Ballroom. Other council action A 47-year-old man has been convicted in a 2022 shooting at a Birmingham motorcycle club that killed a well-known musician and injured two women. Ernando Daron Dorsey was initially charged with murder in the Feb. 26, 2022, killing of 38-year-old Navari Deon Jones. He was also charged with two counts of attempted murder for the wound of the two women. A Jefferson County jury Thursday convicted Dorsey of provocation manslaughter, a Class B felony, and one count of first-degree assault. A sentencing date has not yet been announced. The trial was held before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Streety. Deputy District Attorney Blake Owens prosecuted the case. Dorsey was represented by attorneys Emory Anthony and Moses Stone. Navari Deon Jones, 38, was killed Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, when gunfire erupted inside a Birmingham motorcycle club. (Contributed) The shooting happened at Tru-Riders Motorcycle Club. Birmingham police responded just before 1 a.m. that Saturday to a report of someone shot at the motorcycle club on Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard. Officers arrived on the scene and found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to UAB Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. During the same time, police said, a Birmingham officer was at police headquarters when the officer heard a car crash in the 1700 block of First Avenue North. The officer went to investigate and found Jones suffering from a gunshot wound. His vehicle had struck two other parked vehicles. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced Jones dead on the scene. Navari Deon Jones, 38, was killed Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, when gunfire erupted inside a Birmingham motorcycle club. (Contributed) Friends said Jones was trying to get to the hospital when he wrecked. Police learned a second woman showed up at UAB Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Authorities said an altercation took place inside of the motorcycle club before shots were fired. Navari Deon Jones, 38, was killed Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, when gunfire erupted inside a Birmingham motorcycle club. (Contributed) Jones was a father of six and a well-known drummer. A member of the Sin City motorcycle club, Jones played drums for the band Ampliphied Noiz and had an endorsement deal with Soultone Cymbals out of Los Angeles. Dorsey, who was out on bond pending trial, was booked in the Jefferson County Jail after the jurys guilty verdict. Carlos Terrill ONeal Wilkerson, 35, of Monroeville, has been charged with extortion after North Carolina deputies say he impersonated a member of the Burke County Sheriffs Office. The office said in a recent release it received a report on Dec. 12, 2024, in which the caller falsely identified himself as Sheriff Banks Hinceman. The caller reportedly stated the victim had missed jury duty and threatened arrest unless a payment of $6,000 was made. Acting under duress, the victim paid the money. The case was later assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division to further investigate. Wilkerson was identified as a suspect and was charged with: Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretenses Felony Extortion Misdemeanor Impersonation of a Law Enforcement Officer Wilkerson was located and arrested in Monroeville, Alabama, on May 11, according to the release. He was extradited 10 days later to Burke County, where he was issued a secured bond of $50,000. Hinceman told North Carolina residents in the release that the Burke County Sheriffs Office, like all law enforcement agencies, will never demand payment over the phone. Anyone receiving such a call was urged to hang up immediately and report it to the local authorities. A Birmingham man was arrested Thursday and charged with driving under the influence after striking a school resource officer with his vehicle. On Thursday at 1:35 p.m., Shelby County 911 Dispatch was notified of a pedestrian struck in the car rider line at Mt Laurel Elementary School, according to a recent release from the county sheriff. The pedestrian was the on-duty school resource officer, who was assisting with the car-rider line. Medics were immediately dispatched from Cahaba Valley Fire and transported the deputy to a local hospital for evaluation. The deputy has since been released from the hospital, according to the release. Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego requested Hoover Police Department investigate the accident. Police later reported the driver of the vehicle, 43-year-old Douglas Frederick Sweet II of Birmingham, was arrested for driving under the influence. Sweet was taken to the Shelby County Jail and has since posted a $1,000 bond. The Catch, which opened in February 2025 after operators of the Burro Azul decided to rebrand, is at 300 W. Beach Blvd. in Gulf Shores Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Alabama Poutine? Yes, please. Just because were at the beach doesnt mean we cant salute our neighbors far to the north. For those not in the know, poutine is a Canadian dish. Its kind of surprising that it isnt commonplace in the Deep South, because it falls squarely into the category of, What can we put gravy on next? In this case, a pile of French fries and cheese curds. For whatever reason the scarcity of cheese curds, perhaps it remains a rarity and I was surprised to see any version of it on the menu at a brand-new Gulf Shores eatery, The Catch. Let alone a version that offered up crispy fries smothered in our signature crawfish gravy. Alabama Poutine at The Catch in Gulf Shores: Fries covered in a creamy crawfish sauce. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Maybe that sounds more like something that should be called Louisiana Poutine, but why quibble? It made for a tasty appetizer, and a pretty one, at least before I got my hands on it. Thats fitting, because you wouldnt want to eat anything ugly or bland-looking at a place like this. While The Catch is new, it occupies a familiar and prominent space in Gulf Shores. Its the result of a rebranding of the former Burro Azul on West Beach Boulevard. Burro Azul did offer fish and shrimp tacos and such, but General Manager Kristin Cochran explained that the operators bowed to customers wishes for more seafood. Everybody asks for it, she said. That is certainly understandable. The restaurant is a very beachy-feeling place: Its bright, airy, open, and directly across from public parking for West Gulf Place beach access, meaning you can see Gulf waters and plenty of strolling vacationers from where you sit. Its elevated, like many of the areas beach homes and condos, a reminder that the water doesnt always stay over yonder. The Catch is directly across from a public beach access point in Gulf Shores. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com After some freshening up of the site and development of the new menu in the off-season, The Catch opened at the end of February. Cochran said the staff has continued to adjust the cuisine based on customer feedback and kitchen creativity. Its all really happening day by day, she said. We wanted something initially with really good seafood but also like a good vibe, Cochran said. A place where you can sit, the view is always pretty, the beach air is coming in and out, someplace you can come straight from the beach in your bathing suit if you want to have a drink. At night you can dress up for dinner, but we try to make it just very a chill place but with good food. I think we have some of the best seafood boils on the island, and that is something not everybody does, she said. We sell a lot of crab boils, seafood boils. We have a shrimp boil, a lobster boil. And we have a special sauce we make that goes on our boil and with the broth we boil it in. We use wild-caught Gulf shrimp. We hand-batter everything here, so nothings frozen in batter. Another specialty is The Catchs Crawfish Creole Cream Sauce, which Cochran said is made in-house. You can get it on a range of entrees, including the blackened Creole Snapper Delight ($25), the Classic Fish & Grits with blackened grouper ($25), the Southern Shrimp & Grits ($22) and the Bayou Crawfish Pasta ($25). Lets be clear, they dont just put that stuff on everything. Entrees include grilled salmon, seafood platters, chicken tenders and Island Coconut Shrimp with pineapple pico ($22); several salads; and a selection of po-boys, seafood sandwiches and burgers. An example of the seafood boils offered by The Catch in Gulf Shores. (Courtesy of The Catch) Courtesy of The Catch The boils that Cochran mentioned start with the Gulf Shrimp Boil ($35) with a pound of Gulf shrimp plus Conecuh sausage and fixings, finished in Old Bay garlic butter. You can get a boil built around a pound of snow crab legs for $36, or the Grand Gulf Seafood Boil with crab legs, shrimp, mussels and Conecuh for $40. The flagship is the Spiny Lobster Boil ($45). On my first visit, because I cant resist a stunt, I went with the Surf & Turf Burger ($20, with fries). Its a fully dressed double-decker cheeseburger layered with grilled shrimp. And because that might not sound rich enough, its then drizzled with -- yes! -- that Creole crawfish cream sauce. It is a thing to behold. And when you bite into it, theres a lot going on: The shrimp are big, fat and flavorful enough that they arent overwhelmed by all the beef. The crawfish sauce doesnt exactly bind it all together: Its more like a third partner in the dance. If you turned a Mardi Gras float into a burger, this would be it. The Surf & Turf Burger at The Catch in Gulf Shores is stacked with beef and grilled shrimp. And because that might not be rich enough for you, it's also topped in the venue's signature Creole crawfish cream sauce. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com All in all, the successor to the Burro Azul seems to be poised to enjoy a good summer season. Certainly, itll be hard for visitors to say theres not enough seafood on the menu. The Catch, which is affiliated with the Hangout Hospitality Group, recently shut down so its kitchen could provide catering services to the inaugural Sand in My Boots Festival. The restaurant reopened on Thursday, May 22. Now that Memorial Day weekend and the official start of the summer season are here, things should be back on full boil. The Catch is at 300 W. Beach Blvd in Gulf Shores. For more information, visit thecatch.com. At a time when more people are facing hunger, a major food bank in Birmingham says it lost out on about 2.6 million meals as a result of cuts by the federal government. The federal government in March slashed nearly $1 billion of funding for food banks nationwide, and ended a program that sourced fresh food directly from local farmers. At some point were going to run out of money for the year, said Nicole Williams, the CEO of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. Its devastating every day to know there are children going to bed hungry. Williams said some shelves at her warehouse sat empty when the United States Department of Agriculture temporarily stopped sending her organization food after the cuts. And without partnerships with local farmers, she is still struggling to keep up with the demand for produce. To make up for the losses, shes already spent over a third of her annual budget so people across the 12 counties she serves - stretching from Winston in the northwest to Clay in the east - can still get meals. And more cuts could be on the way. Alabama food banks are ringing the alarm bells about what additional federal spending cuts could mean for people already at risk of going hungry in the state and the economy. Since 2019, Alabama food banks have gone from distributing 61 million pounds of food to 90 million pounds in 2024, according to Feeding Alabama, and the group said demand for help continues to grow. We all know that demand went up during COVID but the problem is it never went back down, said Laura Lester, CEO of Feeding Alabama, which operates a network of food banks throughout the state. For different reasons, people are continuing to struggle with the hardships of the economy and we know things are probably going to get worse. Congress is now considering a tax bill that would cut $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food benefits to families with low incomes. That bill passed the House Wednesday night. Every time there is even the smallest change to SNAP, we see a massive increase in demand at our pantries, Lester said. For every meal provided by an Alabama food bank, SNAP provides nine, according to Feeding Alabama. If $230 billion are cut from the SNAP program, there is no back up plan, said Lester. The pantries that are already bending under the strain have no capacity left to meet such a massive increase in need. According to Feeding Alabama, if Congress decreases their share of SNAP funding in Alabama by just 10%, the state would need to spend nearly $200 million to make up the difference. Williams and Lester both say the ramifications of the cuts extend far beyond the 740,000 Alabamians enrolled in SNAP and the over 800,000 people who experience food insecurity. Alabama was one of 40 states to participate in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which allowed local farmers to sell dairy, meat and produce to food banks and schools. Amy Belcher, communications director for the Alabama Department of Agriculture, told the Montgomery Advertiser that with the program being cut, about 80 farmers lost $16 million in USDA funding. When COVID brought long lines of people into food banks, the federal government stepped up and provided organizations with more food and more money to meet the need. Williams food purchasing budget grew to $6 million, whereas now its a quarter of that amount. She still gets most of her food - about 53% - by reclaiming food from grocery stores and Dollar Generals. USDA commodities account for 28% of her food while community donations only made up 1% of the nearly 25 million pounds the Central Alabama food bank distributed last year. But she doesnt have the resources to make up for any further cuts. And amid all of the uncertainty, she knows one thing is true. Were going to feed less people this year, she said. Mark Parnell, Birmingham Water Works deputy general manager and general counsel, presents before the newly seated regional board. Joseph D. Bryant The Birmingham Water Works Board gave a contract worth more than $3 million to its longtime lawyer just before it ceased to exist. Just one day before Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law kicking them out of office, the old board unanimously approved a series of contracts for senior water works employees. The board, which has since been replaced by a regional authority, approved employment contracts for the four current assistant general managers and an executive assistant in addition to creating a new full-time position for attorney Mark Parnell. The five-year contract makes Parnell the utilitys deputy general manager and general counsel, a post that pays him a base of $660,000 a year. By comparison, the utilitys head administrator, General Manager Mac Underwood, receives an annual salary of $446,118. Now officially part of the utilitys staff, Parnell is eligible for benefits including raises, six weeks per year of vacation pay and immediate participation in the systems pension plan. Parnell defended his salary. My involvement in almost every major decision at the BWWB since 1988 allows me unique insight and historical knowledge that are valuable to the system as it goes through this period of transition, he told AL.com. While I understand I am well compensated, its less than I previously earned in legal fees from the BWWB while serving as outside counsel and less than my earning potential if I remained in private practice. Employment contracts were approved May 6 after more than an hour in a closed-door executive session. According to Parnells contract, his base compensation shall not be reduced so long as he remains employed by the board. Parnell, as an employee of the water works, will collect about as much as he earned as a contractor when factoring in his benefits. Parnell and his firm, Parnell and Thompson, were paid $728,358 during the last fiscal year. The water works spent $1.7 million in total legal fees last year to several attorneys and firms. Parnell said those legal fees would eventually be reduced now that he is on the water works staff. For years there have been those that have wanted the BWWB to have a general counsel, he said. This arrangement allows for that to occur and should ultimately result in a reduction in the water systems overall legal fees. The board for years has been scrutinized and criticized for spending millions for outside lawyers, including longtime politically connected firms. Parnells contract, approved at the last official meeting of the old water board before the law took effect, also considers the impact of new leadership taking office. The agreement includes what some would call a golden parachute provision, as it requires a supermajority of the five new board members to vote in order to terminate Parnell. And even then, the contract says they would have to pay him the full amount left in his contract due in 30 days. At the least, the board must pay Parnell a minimum of two-years worth of his contract to end his employment, regardless of the amount left on the agreement. That amounts to more than $1.3 million. The contract also says the terms remain valid regardless of a new board or the utilitys configuration. Parnells agreement was signed by then-chairwoman Tereshia Huffman. No outside attorney was involved in drafting or negotiating the contract. Instead, Parnell said the board unanimously authorized Huffman to negotiate and execute the agreement. He said his contract followed the same format as the agreements for the other senior leaders, where the board determined the terms and benefits. Also, the Board had two directors that were attorneys. Given all of this, they did not feel that they needed the advice of another law firm, he said. No board member who voted for Parnells contract currently sits on the water works board. Huffman and other former board members in a recent AL.com editorial defended their last-minute employment decisions, including hiring Parnell. Outgoing board members said the actions were made to ensure stability as the system changed board leadership when the new law took effect. We authorized employment contracts for our executive team not out of politics, but out of duty, the statement read. This action was never about usit was about safeguarding the future for our employees and customers. Parnells agreement also says that if the new board goes to court to challenge the contract, they must pay Parnells legal fees. How in the world is that looking out for our ratepayers, said State Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, one of the lawmakers who sponsored the law to oust the old water board. Roberts said these contracts are an example of the kind of spending that made him want to replace the board. He said he was concerned about infrastructure needs while the board was spending ratepayer money on lawyers, lobbyists, and marketing firms. Whose best interest was that? Roberts asked. Jeffrey Brumlow, a new board member from Shelby County, said the board is still in the evaluation phase as they learn the system, its operation, and challenges. Everything will be evaluated, he said. Weve got to look at everything top to bottom, he told AL.com. We cant come in like a wrecking ball. We have to figure out where things are before we start making major changes. Brumlow said the groups first work session earlier this week provided a detailed primer on the utility. Just seeing the capital needs, the current indebtedness, its a lot to take in at one time, he said. Board member Jarvis Patton, one of two Birmingham appointees, said he is reviewing all the contracts. Theres one contract in particular that stands out above all the rest, he said without elaborating. Patton noted the natural political tension of the new seven-member group configuration, but said that does not necessarily mean it would result in dramatic confrontations on every issue. There can be compromises made, and if we live in the true spirit of what were about, then there will be more compromises than fights, he said. Fighting doesnt determine whos right, only whos left. While some current board members demurred regarding specifics, a longtime water works critic offered a more colorful critique. Shame on this former board for continuing to put ratepayers last, said Paul DeMarco, a former state legislator who sponsored previous legislation regarding the water works. The amount of self-dealing and taking care of individuals and taking care of managers is absolutely obscene. Parnell received another unusual and lucrative benefit with immediate participation in the agencys retirement plan. Vestment means that Parnell, a new employee, is automatically eligible for retirement benefits on his first day rather than the usual waiting period for all other employees. The utility also contributes cash to this retirement plan. Parnell is also entitled to longevity pay bonuses based on 18 years of contract work for the water works, even though he was not an official employee there. Parnell is also allowed to engage in other employment or contractual activities outside those of the board. He told AL.com that he would not maintain his private practice. Im in the process of transitioning away from my full-time practice, he said. Just like any other employee at the BWWB, my employment contract with the BWWB allows me to continue limited outside work if it doesnt conflict with my current duties. For better or for worse, Birmingham lawyer Johnathan Austin, said Parnells contract appears solid with its many provisions in his favor. To me it appears Mr. Parnell has received the first NIL contact from a public utility in the United States, said Austin, who is also a former Birmingham City Council member and president. You look at the value of the contract, and on its face, it appears as if the reason they hired him instead of continuing him on as a contracted law firm is because of his name, image and likeness. He had a name, they knew him, and at least the previous board liked him. Legal fees notwithstanding, the new water board could seek to challenge the contract under the legal doctrine of public policy, which disfavors public servants entering into contracts without considering the best interest of customers. Entering into such a high-dollar employment contract with its current lawyer without seeking a separate lawyers counsel on the merits of the deal could raise questions over whether the board met its fiduciary duty to customers. Likewise, the lack of an independent attorney for the water works to objectively negotiate Parnells contract could raise legal public policy questions. In addition to salaries and expenses, Parnell and assistant general managers are also given vehicle allowances. Parnell could receive up to $1,000 a month for his vehicle allowance. However, paying vehicle allowances for senior officials goes against recommendations made in an internal audit report more than a decade ago. In a 2014 commissioned report, Michael Mason of Forensic CPAs suggested scrapping the utilitys stipend policy and replacing it with mileage reimbursements. Mason flagged the practice as excessive. Instead, Mason suggested using expense reports for actual miles driven for official use. The 2025 standard mileage rate set by the IRS is 70 cents per business mile driven. Mason was commissioned by a previous board before Huffmans term as a member or chair. Masons recommendations at the time were part of more than 200 findings dealing with weaknesses and deficiencies in internal controls, operational controls, information systems, risk management practices, internal audit and payroll. Masons report offered a frank analysis of the Water Works after a year-long review. Its results were met with disdain by several board members and leaders at the time. Happy Hour Hangout, a registered non-profit charitable organization, was investigated by Birmingham Police for illegal alcohol sales. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com) ggarrison@al.com A registered tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization in Ensley that says its mission is to mentor youth has been caught selling alcohol without a license, Birmingham police say. The Happy Hour Hangout, a registered 501c3 non-profit corporation at 2417 Avenue C in Ensley, was the subject of a recent Birmingham City Council public safety committee meeting. Youre operating out of the confinement of what you say your mission statement is, said City Council member LaTonya Tate, chair of the public safety committee. You stated to this body that you have your 501c3 as a safe haven to mentor youth (and) give out food donations. Tate questioned that mission. Whats being presented to us here today shows no indication that you guys are doing that, she said. Instead, Birmingham Police Sgt. Kenneth Knight told the committee that an undercover police officer purchased a bottle of beer on Feb. 18, despite the business not having a license to sell alcohol. The police then executed a search warrant and seized 12 bottles of liquor and about 300 bottles of beer, Knight said. The committee scheduled a public hearing before the full council on June 10. Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was the keynote speaker during an Alabama Federation of Republican Women event on Friday, July 23, 2021, at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). A conservative political groups plan to welcome a Georgia politician to Huntsville next month has quickly drawn a promise of protests. Moms for Libertys Madison County chapter says its second annual fundraiser dinner to be held June 28 at The Brewers Cooperative at Stovehouse in Huntsville will feature an appearance by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Join us for an evening with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene as she shares her efforts to reclaim our country, the event flyer reads. Tickets are $60, according to a post on the groups Facebook page, and must be purchased by June 20. Emily Jones, chair of the Madison chapter, said tickets are open to the public for purchase, but the event is not an open forum. The evening, will include remarks from designated speakers, recognition of peoples efforts in the past year, and then the keynote address from MTG, she said in an emailed statement. Due to prior issues at MTGs events, we will have law enforcement present to address outbursts if required -- though were hoping to avoid that of course. First elected to the House of Representatives in 2021, Greene represents northwest Georgias 14th Congressional District. It is the most right-leaning district in that state, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index. Only 10 representatives joined fewer bipartisan bills than Greene in 2024, according to GovTrack. A close ally of President Donald Trump, she has faced criticism from members of both parties for apparently endorsing violence against political opponents and for spreading health misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic. Reaction online from opponents of the political right was swift. A post to the Huntsville subreddit on Wednesday titled, Brewers CoOp has certainly lost my business for hosting such an event has drawn over 500 upvotes and 300 comments as of Friday morning. North Alabamians affiliated with the 50501 movement a grassroots, nationwide series of protests against Trumps agenda and allies are organizing a counter demonstration during Greenes appearance, according to social media posts and a pol-rev.com calendar event. Greene has drawn the ire of LGBTQ advocates over her support of anti-transgender initiatives, including a bill this session that would criminalize gender-affirming health care for minors. Moms for Liberty, a conservative political group with two chapters in Alabama, has made headlines over challenges to public library books it deems sexually explicit primarily those with LGBTQ or transgender themes. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the national group as an antigovernment organization that engages in anti-student inclusion activities. The Madison chapter has clashed with the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library over the latters methods of acquiring and reconsidering books. The Mobile library system recently refused to move two books challenged by the Baldwin County chapter. Sherri Papini of Redding leaves the federal courthouse accompanied by her attorney, William Portanova, right, after her arraignment in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) AP Sherri Papini is walking back claims her kidnapping was a hoax in a new documentary series, saying instead that she was abducted by her ex-boyfriend and that she later lied about it out of fear. Havent you ever lied? she asks. Have you ever lied in your history of existence? And then has that lie been blown up and broadcast around the world? Papini posits the thought in a new four-part docuseries Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, set to premiere on Investigation Discovery on May 26 and streaming on Max. The mother of two, now 42 years old and divorced, seemingly vanished on Nov. 2, 2016 while jogging along the Oregon Trail near her home in Redding, Calif. Her disappearance sparked a weeks-long search that concluded on Thanksgiving Day that year, when a passing motorist spotted Papini alongside the highway partially bound, injured and with a brand on her shoulder. Papini later told investigators she was captured by two Hispanic women at gunpoint and tortured during her weeks away. In reality, police said Papini was actually staying with her ex, James Reyes, nearly 600 miles away in Southern Californias Orange County. In a clip of the upcoming series obtained by People, Papini said she concocted her story in an effort to cover up the affair shed been having with Reyes, out of concern for what her then-husband would do if he found out. She added that she was abducted by Reyes when he learned she intended to end their tryst. I dont remember if I got into the car, she said. I remember waking up briefly in the back of the vehicle and not being able to even keep my eyes open. And then the next time I woke up was when he was getting me out of the vehicle to go inside, and it was dark. He had one hand underneath my arm trying to help me walk. Papini was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after admitting that she lied to investigators and that her kidnapping was a hoax. She was also ordered to pay more than $300,000 in restitution for losses incurred by the California Victim Compensation Board, the Social Security Administration, the Shasta County Sheriffs Office and the FBI. After serving 11 months, Papini was released from prison in August 2023. _______ 2025 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Breakthrough Birmingham is a non-profit education organization that focuses on addressing educational inequities and preparing students for college and careers. Courtesy, Birmingham Times/Breakthrough Courtesy Birmingham Times/Breakthrough Makenzy Howard, a 16-year-old Ramsay High School student, credits Breakthrough Birmingham with introducing her to a new world. Breakthrough has helped me become a better person mentally and physically by either giving me a mentor or just having one-on-one experiences, Howard said. I also feel like Breakthrough has helped me mature more because I used to be shy and didnt know how to communicate and express myself, but throughout the years I have opened up a lot and changed. Howard has been with Breakthrough since 2022 and counts among her favorite memories a tour of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The experience was so fun, and our teaching fellows made us feel comfortable in the college environment, she said. Breakthrough Birmingham is a non-profit education organization that focuses on addressing educational inequities and preparing students for college and careers. Since 2013 the organization has allowed not only students like Howard, but young teachers, to achieve post-secondary success while empowering aspiring leaders to become the next generation of educators and advocates. Its a free school-year program for middle schoolers (6th-8th grade) including field trips, clubs, and tutoring; plus an Explore U program for high schoolers (9th-12th grade) offering similar resources. We work with underrepresented students from Birmingham City Schools and Talladega [City Schools] to close summer learning loss gaps and bridge summer learning experiences into the school year, said Caroline Kendrick, communications associate. In addition, undergraduate students from around the country get an opportunity to serve as teachers and mentors to the students as well. Jourdan Elliott knows firsthand the impact that Breakthrough can have on the students and teachers. Elliott currently serves as the recruitment coordinator for Breakthrough, a role she started in 2023. Before that she served as a teacher fellow with the organization in the summer of 2022. For about nine weeks, I was able to build bonds with a diverse group of people when it came to our [students], it came to our families, it came to our teaching fellows and our staff, she said. For example, the group had college students who were nursing majors who taught for a summer, not because they wanted to teach but because they knew what they could do for the community. Earlier this year, Breakthrough was selected as one of eight community partners by Outschool.org that supported distributing $500 scholarships to 76 local Breakthrough students for technology, sports, music, and more. Undergraduate students from around the country get an opportunity to serve as teachers and mentors to the students as well. Courtesy Birmingham Times/ Breakthrough Mariohn Michel, executive director with Breakthrough Birmingham for the past seven years, said her focus is, to make sure that were building the vision for what is possible for our organization and the communities that they serve. With 15 on staff, Michel said that she and her team are building an army of folks who are focused on what the best version of Alabama looks like. Originally from Miami, Florida, Michel made her way to Eutaw, Alabama in 2011, working with Teach for America Alabama before moving to New York City. Michel said she spent four years teaching there before returning to Alabama. Michel graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a B.S. in Secondary Social Studies Education. She currently serves on the Teach for America Alabama Alumni Board. The best part of her job is hearing the testimonies of parents who experience growth with their children through Breakthrough, Michel said. Last year, I was at an event as a guest, and I didnt realize that one of our parents was there. I was talking to someone next to me and I felt a tap on my shoulder. It turned out it was a parent of one of our students. She was gushing because her kid normally the shy, reserved kid is now getting so many friends, his confidence was growing, and he was just thriving so much. Its stories like that, how were watching kids really blossom into their full selves. Another parent pleased with Breakthrough is Sadelia Hayward, whose 8th-grade son Gavin Hayward will graduate Phillips Academy on May 27 and head to Ramsay High School in August. What stood out to me about Breakthrough Birmingham was the intentional focus on the scholars academic growth, leadership development, and the support system the team offers to both the students and parents, Hayward said. I appreciated that the program didnt just focus on the theory inside the classrooms but focused on the whole child, their potential and their future. She added, Gavin has grown not only academically but socially and emotionally as well. He has become more confident, curious, and motivated about learning new things I would say this: that Breakthrough Birmingham is more than a program, its a community that will walk with you and your child every step of the way. Its a space where your child will be challenged, celebrated, and seen. If you want to invest in your childs future, this is the place to start. For more visit Breakthrough Birmingham. The Jefferson County Criminal Courthouse, where the Amnesty Week event was hosted, allowing eligible residents to have their failure to appear warrants recalled and court fees dismissed. In a series of stories, AL.com will continue to explore big ideas for transforming Birmingham. It was when his public defenders showed him that he was more than just another case to them, that Brandon Baez turned his life around. Just five years ago Baez was making yet another appearance in drug court when it hit him: I realized ... that people up there actually did care about me and wanted to see me succeed, Baez said. Since then, Baez, now 38, has beat his addiction, become a homeowner, started a business and a nonprofit and devoted his life to building something positive in the community for those who struggle with what he once did. Thats the kind of difference the Jefferson County Public Defenders Office wants to make, said Adam Danneman, who has led the team of court-appointed lawyers since 2019. Baez said hes been in and out of the public defenders Office since he was 17-years-old. Despite losing his friends, family, money and home to his struggle with drug addiction, Baez said, his public defender was always patient and supportive, encouraging him to participate in drug treatment court. Because of the drug court, and because of the people in the public defenders office, I am now free. I am finally free from the drugs and alcohol and that sick way of thinking that I had for so many years. And its all because they actually made me feel like they cared about me, Baez told AL.com. It changed my life entirely. Public defenders ensure that anyone in need, regardless of financial status, has access to legal representation. Over the years, the Jefferson County Public Defenders Office has helped clients, like Baez, overcome financial barriers and break cycles of crime. The defenders office is part of a network of investigators, social workers and advocates who provide clients in need with resources including crisis intervention, therapy and addiction recovery, among other support services. Danneman, Jefferson Countys current public defender, said that aside from free legal representation, public defenders also get their clients other kinds of help they need. We have a job to do, and it is to represent our clients legal rights. But a lot of times, youd be surprised how often representing somebodys legal rights coincides with putting them in a position to better their lives, Danneman said. Its nice to have multiple services under one roof where we can try to help people be in a position where they dont need our help anymore. What you should know about the public defenders office The Jefferson County Public Defenders Office opened under the Alabama Department of Finance in 2013 to provide residents with dependable legal representation. Before then, people facing financial hardships were still appointed counsel by local judges, but the lawyers experience levels were often inconsistent. Meanwhile, on the other side of the case, the prosecutors at the District Attorneys Office were generally more experienced and skilled. Were not collecting fees from our clients, and were not asking the court to charge them fees for our representation, Danneman said. People shouldnt get less representation because they have less money in their account. Another reason the Jefferson County courts switched to the public defender system, was as a statewide effort to save taxpayer money by controlling the spiraling cost of providing lawyers for criminal defendants unable to afford counsel. In Jefferson Countys Birmingham division, the state spent $6.8 million on indigent defense in 2002, which rose to $12.5 million in 2011, according to reports. In 2018, the state spent $4.8 million for public defense in Jefferson County, according to the Department of Finance. The lawyers are paid through the Fair Trial Tax Fund and the State General Fund. In 2011, Birmingham division court officials included a five-member Indigent Defense Advisory Board. Today, 42 lawyers work for the Jefferson County Public Defenders Office, taking on cases ranging from traffic tickets to capital murder. With the uptick in homicides, Danneman said his office handled about 78% of the cases in Jefferson County in 2024, totaling about 6,000 new cases. Finances often get in the way of paying tickets and attending court. To combat that, the public defenders office hosts an annual Amnesty Week event with the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office. Residents with active failure to appear warrants for traffic cases, misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies get their warrants recalled, court dates reset and outstanding court costs and fines waived. Since 2023, the offices have helped to clear over 7,400 arrest warrants for traffic offenses for over 4,300 residents. We care about the quality of representation and making sure its consistently excellent, Danneman said. The goal is to have people that are dedicated to a mission provide excellent defense to somebody in the same way as somebody who can afford a very good lawyer. Recovery is possible Danneman said the public defenders office isnt just about providing legal counsel, its about giving people in need a second chance. Like Brandon Baez, many defendants also struggle with drug addiction. Recovery is not linear and often involves relapses. The last time Baez went to drug court, at age 33, he said the stories his lawyers shared about their own struggles with addiction and recovery really hit him. A couple of them shared their stories with me, the struggles that they had dealt with, Baez said. There are a few of them that are in recovery themselves so they have fought the same battles that I fought and came out the other end of it. One lawyer encouraged Baez to participate in a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program. Them taking the time and sharing their stories with me and saying, I struggled with all these same problems. This is how I got better. There is hope on the other end of this. You can do it. That was what I needed. Participating in the drug treatment court program not only cleared his criminal record, it helped Baez to recover. By giving you all those resources and opportunities, the support that you needThats life changing, Baez said. In 2022, a year after getting sober, Baez founded Spartan Property Management, a small local real estate business. He also founded Active Recovery Outreach, which started as a Facebook group encouraging people in recovery to participate in fun community activities, including paintballing, bowling and pickleball. Baez has also hosted local fundraisers with the Jefferson County Drug Treatment Court and the Arthur and Eva Brown Foundation for family-friendly events that, he said, help bring the community together. Were trying to teach people that just because you get sober doesnt mean that the fun ends. Thats when the fun begins. You get to do everything you ever dreamed of. Theres nothing holding you back anymore, Baez said. Recovery is possible. Mayor Tommy Battle speaks at the State of the City earlier this year. (City of Huntsville photo) It could take up to five years before Huntsville will fully benefit economically from U.S. Space Command should the headquarters be moved here, according to city officials. Should the headquarters be moved to the Rocket City as members of Alabamas congressional delegation expect, the city is prepared, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and City Urban and Economic Director Shane Davis told the City Council on Thursday night. If you remember when we were in the competition for it, it was set up as a six year project, Battle said in response to question from District 4 City Councilman Bill Kling. I think now were looking at a four-year project. It does have a ramp up period. Kling had asked Davis if the announcement could give the city an economic boost at a time when city departments have been asked to trim 1% of their budgets due to sales tax revenue coming in lower than projected so far this fiscal year. No one at city hall has a crystal ball, Davis said. Thats not a decision we get to make. Certainly, we put our best foot forward in the RFP (request for proposal) response about our communitys readiness for Space Command. Weve been ready for five years. Should Huntsville be selected, Davis told Kling, I dont think youll see an immediate influx because that is a combative command. So, youre not going to move pieces of that, and there is preparation on Redstone Arsenal to actually relocate, Davis said. So, I think it would be three, four or five years when youll see that influx and impact on the economy. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, said earlier this month that a relocation of Space Command could mean 1,700 direct jobs and an additional 3,000 spinoff jobs in north Alabama. Kling said members of the congressional delegation told Huntsville city leaders during the Huntsville-Madison County Chambers trip to Washington D.C. recently that they expected an announcement by the end of this month. Strong and U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt said they expected an announcement soon after the Senate confirmed President Donald Trumps nominee as Air Force secretary. Should the announcement come, Davis said, that type of news does create consumer confidence of what the future looks like in our community. I would imagine if we did have such an announcement, the bond rating agencies would look fondly at the city of Huntsville for the future, Kling added. A construction worker in south Alabama says he was forcibly detained Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who claimed his proof of U.S. citizenship was fake. A video posted to X by BreakThrough News shows the agents grabbing Leonardo Garcia Venegas, 25, at the Foley construction site he works. It is not clear where the construction is located and efforts to find contact information for Venegas were not successful. Efforts to reach ICE representatives for comment were not immediately successful. The Department of Homeland Security told NBC News that he interfered with an arrest during a targeted worksite operation. Hes a citizen! What youre doing is illegal! ICE raided an Alabama construction site and violently dragged a U.S. citizen from his workplace. He was detained, then released hours later. pic.twitter.com/mbiYDyGLEZ BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) May 23, 2025 Hes not even doing nothing wrong! says the man recording. What the f***. Hes a citizen, bro. Hes a f***ing citizen! The video also shows an agent holding down another worker. Venegas told Telemundo that when he returned to the construction site after being released hours later, ICE had detained several other workers. This included his 34-year-old brother, who is allegedly in the country illegally, according to The Latin Times. But Venegas says he was born in Florida. He told Telemundo when he tried to record the incident, the agents knocked his phone out of his hand. When he told the agents to review his citizenship documents, Venegas says they didnt believe him. They took out my wallet, took out my ID, he said in an interview with the outlet. And they told me it was fake. Said it wasnt valid and that it was fake. My ID. They handcuffed me and they handcuffed me really tight. Venegas would not be the first citizen mistakenly deported as ICE officers work to fulfill President Donald Trumps promise to enact the biggest deportation effort in American history. In April, ICE refused to release a Georgia man detained during a traffic stop even after his birth certificate was presented to a judge, The Latin Times reports. Its sad that having the color of our skin has become a crime, a deserved crime to treat us as if we were true criminals, Venegas cousin told Telemundo this week. There is no public data on the number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the state since Trump took office, but Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery has been outspoken in his interest in tackling illegal immigration and assisting ICEs efforts. His office declined a previous request for comment from AL.com. Nicole Wadsworth is a candidate for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Nicole Wadsworth campaign Nicole Wadsworth, a commercial real estate developer in north Alabama and wife of a state representative, has announced she is running for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. Wadsworth becomes the third announced candidate for lieutenant governor in next years Republican primary. Secretary of State Wes Allen and Opelika pastor Dean Odle had previously announced. There is no incumbent. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is term-limited and announced this week he has decided not to run for governor and will return to the private sector. Wadsworth announced her campaign Thursday in Montgomery. Wadsworth is from Huntsville. In a news release, Wadsworth stressed her experience and credentials as an economic developer and said she had been to every county in Alabama at least 25 times. Every Alabamian deserves the opportunity to have a good job without having to leave the place they call home, Wadsworth said. We must strengthen workforce development so every Alabamian from the high school student to the veteran has a clear path to a good paying job. Wadsworth said her priorities include business recruitment and retention, statewide infrastructure improvements, the expansion of telehealth in rural areas, a quality and skilled workforce, defending the unborn, promoting public safety, and fostering a business climate that cuts red tape for job creators and positions Alabama for growth. We must ensure that every community has a seat of the table. That means working together businesses, educators, law enforcement, local leaders, and citizens to build an Alabama that works for us all, Wadsworth said. Wadsworths husband is Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, a lawyer who is vice chair of the Alabama House Judiciary Committee. They have a college-age son and daughter. The primary is May 19, 2026. Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, listens to a debate in the Alabama House of Representatives on April 11, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Alabama Reflector An Alabama lawmaker plans to bring back a bill next year that would prohibit all discussions of gender identity and sexuality during instructional time in public schools. HB 244 got approval from the House on April 18 and from the Senate Education Policy Committee on May 1. Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, chair of that committee, told Butler after the bill was approved that it is unlikely the Senate will pass it because of the timing and said it needed to be in his committee earlier in the year to have a chance of passage; at the time, there were four days left in the session. A Democratic filibuster launched in protest of the Houses handling of local bills on the last day of the session doomed Butlers bill and many others. Butler said he was offended by Chesteens comment that he should have filed the bill sooner but said both men remedied that after the committee meeting. A message seeking comment from Chesteen was left Thursday afternoon. More from Alabama Reflector Butler filed the bill in February, but it did not go before the House Education Policy Committee until April 3, when the committee held a public hearing. The committee did not approve it until the following week. Butler said he asked Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, chair of the committee, for it to be put on the agenda many times earlier in the session. I repeatedly asked for it, and I was assured it was coming, it was coming, it was coming, he said. The chair had other things she said she was dealing with, and I think they waited to deal with several controversial bills at one time. A message seeking comment from Collins was left Thursday afternoon. Butler said next year he plans to have a companion bill in the Senate to improve the bills chances of passage, so we can move on both at the same time, and whoever gets there first wins, he said. Butler said Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, was handling the bill in the Senate and plans to ask him to sponsor the Senate version next year. Kelley said in an interview that he and Butler will be meeting soon about companion bills for next session soon. There may be some changes to it, a little bit here, a little bit there, Kelley said. Were planning on bringing that back next year. The law currently prohibits such discussions in K-5. Butlers bill would expand it to pre-K-12, which he said would bring it inline with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January. Critics of the bill said at the April 3 public hearing that the legislation is unconstitutional and unnecessary. A spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a consistent critic of the legislation, said in an interview Thursday she was relieved that the bill did not pass but she still had concerns for the legislation next year. Im hoping that it stays dead, and Im hoping that we dont see a new extension, a revival of it, Makhayla DesRosiers, state community organizer for the Alabama SPLC office, said. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community spoke against the bill throughout the legislative process, all with similar concerns: what defines instructional time. DesRosiers said the lack of a definition opens the door for a complete prohibition of discussion. If I do extracurricular activities, is it also instructional time? If Im learning something outside of my regular school hours, is that instructional time? she asked. Who gets to define instructional time? Butler has repeatedly said discussions of gender identity and sexuality are only prohibited when a teacher is teaching, but that is not explicit in the legislation. People keep saying the student cant do this or that. No, they carry their First Amendment rights with them into the school, and they absolutely can talk to the teacher, the principal, the nurse, the counselor, about whatever they want to talk about, he said. Butler said the bill next year would be the original bill that was filed in February. A House amendment this spring removed a part of the bill that would have prohibited teachers from referring to students by their preferred gender if it conflicts with their assigned sex at birth. He said that is because another bill would have done the same thing. HB 246, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, would give public educators legal immunity and students immunity from discipline for using a persons legal name and pronouns aligned with their reproductive organs, instead of the name and gender with which they identify. It did not receive final passage either. DesRosier said that while the people speaking out against the legislation may be small in number, legislation like this is not reflective of the state. Just because there is a majority of folks that are proposing and voting on these bills at the State House, that is not reflective of the communities they are elected to represent, DesRosier said. As long as bigotry and hate and human rights violations are proposed and passed, there are always going to be folks that are resisting that. Landmark legislation that would rewrite the tax code and levy steep cuts to programs providing health care and food stamps to the poor passed the House early Thursday, a development that was celebrated by President Trump despite the bill facing an uncertain future among Senate Republicans. The measure, titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would boost funding for border security and the Defense Department, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, provide a new tax deduction to seniors and renew the 2017 tax cuts passed during the first Trump administration. To pay for those new funding commitments, the bill proposes eliminating green energy tax benefits passed under President Biden, as well as an estimated $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Even still, the bill would add so much money to the debt that Congress may be forced to execute cuts across the board, including hundreds of billions to Medicare, in a process known as sequestration, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The House vote fell along party lines. By opposing the bill, the Trump administration said that Democrats were supporting the largest tax increase on middle-class Americans in decades, a reference to the upcoming expiration of Trumps 2017 tax cuts at the end of the year. Democrats, on the other hand, have accused Republicans of voting for the deepest cuts to health care in modern times. By creating new barriers to Medicaid coverage through the introduction of work hour requirements, as well as increasing premiums under the Affordable Care Act, the CBO and other nonpartisan organizations estimate up to 14 million Americans could lose their insurance coverage. Those drastic changes to the health care landscape have given pause to several Republican senators. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has said she is very wary of cutting Medicaid. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said he cant support substantial cuts to Medicaid benefits. And after the vote on Thursday, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said that material changes should be expected to the House bill. We need to go back through that bill with a fine-tooth comb and make it better, Marshall said in an interview with Newsmax. I think theres opportunities in Medicaid to make that bill better, to make sure that we strengthen it, that we preserve it for those who need it most. Any Senate rollback of cuts to the Medicaid program could face resistance from the House Freedom Caucus during the reconciliation process. Members of that group, which proclaims a commitment to fiscal conservatism, have called for even deeper cuts to the Medicaid program. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, voted present early Thursday morning, preserving negotiating leverage as the bill makes its way across Capitol Hill. I voted to move the bill along in the process for the president, Harris wrote on social media. There is still a lot of work to be done in deficit reduction and ending waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicaid program. The vote came hours after Trump met with GOP holdouts at the White House. As late as Wednesday afternoon, before meeting with the president, several of those lawmakers were casting doubt on the prospects of the bills passage this week, ahead of a Memorial Day deadline set by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was dismissive of the Freedom Caucus on Thursday, telling CNN that the cuts they are pushing for would barely make a dent in the national debt. You had your chance, Graham said to the caucus. Some of these cuts are not real. Were talking about over a decade you know, if you do $1.5 trillion, thats like a percent and a half. So lets dont get high on our horse here that weve somehow made some major advancement of reducing spending, because we didnt. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota also mocked the caucus, calling it rich for its members to lecture Senate Republicans on fiscal conservatism, and end up with not that conservative a bill. The CBO estimates the House legislation would result in a $3.8-trillion increase to the deficit. If passed, the new work requirements to Medicaid would kick in at the end of 2026, right after the midterm elections. Green energy tax credits would phase out for any project that is not already under construction 60 days after the law comes into force. The cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, will increase to $40,000 from $10,000, phasing out for individuals and households making more than $500,000. And while the president campaigned on a promise to eliminate taxes on Social Security, a parliamentary rule precluded Republicans from including a full cut. Instead, the bill proposes an enhanced tax deduction for senior citizens of up to $4,000. On Truth Social, the presidents social media platform, Trump wrote that the bill is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country! There is no time to waste, he added. Johnson, the speaker, has set a goal of sending the bill to the presidents desk by Independence Day. Trumps press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the presidents team was suiting up for negotiations with the Senate now that the bill has passed the House. We will see how it goes, she said. The One Big Beautiful Bill is named the One Big Beautiful Bill for a reason, because it is a one big beautiful bill that encompasses just about everything this president could want for the American public. It delivers on so many of his core campaign promises. So surely we want to see those campaign promises signed into law, Leavitt said. Hes expecting them to get busy on this bill and send it to his desk as soon as possible. The two House Republicans who voted against the bill, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, should face primary challenges for their defiance of the presidents directive, Leavitt added. Whats the alternative, I would ask those members of Congress. Did they want to see a tax hike? Did they want to see our country go bankrupt? Thats the alternative by them trying to vote no, she said. The president believes that the Republican Party needs to be unified. _____ 2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington, after attending a crypto dinner at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC. (AP Photo/John McDonnell) AP Only four U.S. presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), Jimmy Carter (2002) and Barack Obama (2009). UK oddsmakers have made President Donald Trump the favorite to win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, while offshore sportsbooks list him as the second choice. Ninety-seven percent of all bets on Oddschecker, the UKs biggest betting aggregator, were placed on Trump in the first 24 hours the betting market went live last week. Trump remains the slight +650 favorite to win the prestigious prize, which will be announced Oct. 10, over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres, who are tied for the 7-1 second choice on Oddschecker. Since going live across Oddschecker on (May 14), Donald Trump to win the Nobel Peace Prize has been one of our most wagered bets, Oddschecker spokesperson Leon Blackman said. Bettors are quickly grabbing the (+650) odds available, as we expect these odds to drop if this support for the president persists. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, is the 9-1 fourth favorite on Oddschecker and odds-on -200 favorite at BetOnline, where Trump is the +450 second choice. Trumps odds were as low as 3-1 in early March, but around that time we kept seeing steady money come in on Navalnaya, BetOnline.ag sportsbook manager Adam Burns said. She had 10-1 odds then, but now is a scratch favorite with all the wagers coming on her. Assange, Guterres and broadcaster and biologist David Attenborough are tied for the 10-1 third pick at BetOnline. Bovada, an offshore sportsbook that isnt regulated in the U.S., lists Trump as the 5-1 second choice behind Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the 3-1 favorite. The Nobel Committee announced that there have been 338 candidates nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize: 244 individuals and 94 organizations. But it does not confirm the names of nominees to the media or to the candidates. California Congressman Darrell Issa nominated Trump for the award this year, and New York Congresswoman Claudia Tenney nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last year, mostly for his efforts to normalize relations between Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates through the Abraham Accords, which were signed in 2020. Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years, Tenney said. The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination. Betting on the Nobel Peace Prize isnt permitted at U.S. sportsbooks. ______ 2025 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. English News A sweet road to prosperity: how China and Chile built a cherry pipeline to the world Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 20 Mai 2025 Behind this burgeoning trade lies a deeper story of infrastructure-led development. Projects like Route 5 reflect China's growing engagement with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, where roads, bridges, schools, ports, and power plants are not only improving trade flows but also fueling broader economic progress. By Chen Yiming, People's Daily Under the cloudless skies of Chile's Maule Region, rows of grapevines and fruit trees stretch across the valley floor. About 20 minutes from the Talca-Chillan section of Chile's highway Route 5 lies the Rodriguez family orchard in the Chilean Central Valley -- a quintessential Chilean family farm. "Welcome!" greeted Pablo Rodriguez, the farm's general manager, clad in jeans and a straw hat. "Our land once produced corn and tomatoes," he explained. "In 2012, we shifted to higher-value crops like cherries, grapes, and watermelons. In 2014, we began exporting cherries to China. Today, all the cherries we grow go to China. So does much of our wine." During the harvest season, the orchard buzzes with activity, employing up to 500 seasonal workers. "It feels like a festival," Rodriguez said with pride. Yet behind the celebration lies a meticulously timed operation. "We move cherries from tree to cold storage within three hours to keep them fresh for Chinese consumers," he noted. The cherries must arrive at the port precisely at the final moment before the vessel departs. Ensuring such timely delivery requires a fast, highly efficient logistics system. For producers like Rodriguez, the transformation of Route 5 has been a game changer. "Since Chinese companies upgraded the highway, our cherries reach China faster and safer. Everyone here says our Chinese friends built us a sweet road to prosperity." Route 5 is the main artery connecting Chile's northern and southern regions. The section, a 195-kilometer stretch of the route, traverses Maule, the country's primary cherry-producing region, earning it the nickname "Cherry Highway." As part of the Pan-American highway, it is one of Chile's busiest corridors. Route 5 is invested, constructed and operated by China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited (CRCCI), which acquired the concession in 2021. Since then, the company has implemented a comprehensive upgrades and smart management system, including the widening of 30 kilometers of road, construction of 54 kilometers of bypass, and installation of 13 electronic toll collection systems. In 2022, the project introduced radio frequency identification technology for automated toll deductions in Chile. The following year, the Chillan-Collipulli section -- the southern extension of the Talca-Chillan section -- was launched, encompassing the renovation of 166 kilometers of existing roadway and the construction of 6.6 kilometers of new branch lines, for a total of 172.6 kilometers. Once completed, the project will alleviate congestion in southern urban centers, strengthen north-south transportation links, and stimulate growth across regional industries. Ivan Marambio, president of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, noted that the Talca-Chillan section links farmers, logistics providers, ports, and global markets, calling it a vital artery for Chilean produce to reach Asia. The upgrades have significantly shortened delivery time, boosted export profits for farmers, and generated employment across the region, he added. Juan Alvarez, a truck driver shuttling between Talca and Collipulli, said, "Thanks to CRCCI's automated toll system, the traffic has eased. Now, a round trip takes just over two hours. I can make two round trips a day, and my income has grown accordingly." Besides, improved infrastructure has catalyzed growth in delivery services, e-commerce, and regional supply chains -- further lifting local livelihoods. Fernando Reyes Matta, director of the Center for Latin American Studies on China at Chile's Andres Bello University, highlighted that Chile, the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with China, has seen a dramatic rise in agricultural exports to China in recent years. Chilean cherries, she said, have become a "winter staple" on Chinese tables. Behind this burgeoning trade lies a deeper story of infrastructure-led development. Projects like Route 5 reflect China's growing engagement with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, where roads, bridges, schools, ports, and power plants are not only improving trade flows but also fueling broader economic progress. Like the sun-drenched orchards at the foot of the Andes, the fruits of China-LAC cooperation continue to ripen -- a promising harvest of shared prosperity for years to come. 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 In China's lighter capital, a glow of resilience amid global uncertainty Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 17 Mai 2025 With a blend of innovation, market diversification, and domestic market expansion, Shaodong's lighter industry is establishing new strategic positions within global supply chains. This transformation is driving the sector toward higher-quality development and laying the groundwork for a more resilient future. By Wang Ke, Yan Ke, People's Daily In central China's Hunan province, the city of Shaodong, known as China's "lighter capital," hums with precision and automation. Here, more than 15 billion lighters roll off the production lines each year -- roughly 70 percent of the global supply. As the international landscape grows increasingly unpredictable, this manufacturing hub is adapting with a mix of agility, innovation, and diversification. Inside the production workshop of Hunan Dongyi Electric Co., Ltd., robotic arms move in synchronized motion across six automated lines, assembling lighter components at remarkable speed. The company ships more than a million lighters each day to buyers around the world. "Our order books are full through October," said Bai Jiabao, deputy general manager of Dongyi Electric. The company exports more than 99 percent of its products, and in 2023, it recorded nearly $300 million in overseas sales -- a 5 percent year-on-year increase. That momentum has continued into the first quarter of this year. Facing mounting global uncertainty, Shaodong's lighter manufacturers are hedging risk by expanding into new markets. "Our clients are from more than 100 countries and regions," Bai said. "That diversity gives us a buffer and strong resilience." He noted that emerging markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia have seen increasing demand in recent years. "No country can stop the momentum of globalization," said Lyu Shenghua, chairman of Huanxing Lighter Manufacturing Co., Ltd., another company based in Shaodong, which exports to over 80 countries and regions and maintains a network of hundreds of stable buyers. According to Lyu, Shaodong's lighter companies have actively pursued new markets, achieving remarkable results and maintaining robust growth. Bai recently returned from the 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair. "Buyer turnout exceeded previous sessions," he said. "We're very optimistic." According to statistics, in the first quarter of this year, Shaoyang exported 480 million yuan ($66.32 million) worth of lighters and related parts to Belt and Road partner countries, up 48.5 percent year on year. Exports to the least developed countries also climbed by 13.3 percent, reaching 60 million yuan. Inside Huanxing's product showroom, eight major series and more than 200 types of lighters line the shelves. Among them, a new model of torch lighter has emerged as a breakout success. "This torch lighter has become one of our fastest-growing products," Lyu explained. In 2023, after conducting extensive market research in its key export destinations, the company identified a surge in demand for outdoor torch lighters, driven by the global boom in camping and recreational activities. Huanxing swiftly ramped up R&D investment and increased manpower toward the design of a lighter tailored for these trends. "We offered a few samples to a select group of long-term clients for testing. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and orders quickly followed," said Lyu. The product soon gained traction at major international trade fairs, becoming one of the company's standout products. Last year, this single innovation delivered double-digit growth in the company's total sales. "Innovation is our driving force. If a product is good enough, it will find its market," Lyu said. Mid- to high-end models, he noted, now make up a growing share of the company's exports. Dongyi Electric has taken a similar approach. Since 2016, the company has allocated 20 million yuan annually to R&D. After four years, it achieved full automation across every stage of production -- significantly cutting costs and improving product quality. "A workshop that once needed 200 workers now requires only 40," Bai said. "And production capacity has increased ninefold." Shaodong's success in scaling up innovation owes much to its robust and highly localized supply chain. The city is home to 114 lighter-related manufacturers, including over 80 suppliers. This creates a tightly-knit industrial cluster. More than 200 types of lighter components can be sourced locally -- all within a 20-kilometer radius. As the global trade environment grows more complex, Shaodong companies are also looking inward. Many are developing integrated sales strategies to tap into China's vast domestic market. "Our domestic business now accounts for about 70 percent of total sales," said Liu Hanjiang, general manager of Hunan Haopai Electric Co., Ltd., which specializes in mid-end lighters priced between two and five yuan. The company releases four to five new models each year and produced over 100 million lighters last year. With a blend of innovation, market diversification, and domestic market expansion, Shaodong's lighter industry is establishing new strategic positions within global supply chains. This transformation is driving the sector toward higher-quality development and laying the groundwork for a more resilient future. 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) Disgraced former FBI Director, James Comey, mysteriously found seashells on his beach walk listing the numbers, 8647, which to any half-aware person means, Assassinate President Trump. Comey posted on Instagram, Cool shell formation on my beach walk and then after push back, he removed it and posted an imbecilic excuse stating, I didnt realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down. What a deranged idiot! Its time to wear the Trump hats again stating, Trump was right about everything, concerning firing Comey during President Trumps first term. Trump calls Comey, a bad cop. Bad cop? President Trump nails another nickname. Comeys the one who decided not to prosecute Hillary Clinton, who while serving as secretary of state, used an easily hacked private email server at home while communicating top secret information. After over 30,000 emails were subpoenaed by a grand jury, Hillary illegally and unethically deleted them, but Comeys conclusion was, Our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case [against Clinton.] Bad cop? Comey was involved with Crossfire Hurricane pushing numerous illegal and unethical attacks to derail President Trumps first term, including the now defunct Russiagate. Bad cop? Comey unethically broke protocol, sending agents to derail General Flynn from serving as National Security Advisor while Trumps first term was getting started. This forced Flynn to sell his home to pay legal fees in a case the DOJ dropped years later. Concerning Flynn, Comey stated the protocol he followed was not standard and he probably wouldnt have done or maybe gotten away with in a more organized organization. Gotten away with? (Illegal?) Bad cop? Yes! And how about, Deranged political hack! Now information is emerging showing Comey buried FBI documents, with Flynn expressing to Comey, These people are busted Youre going to jail. So, using seashells, who did Comey activate intentionally, or unintentionally, with his 8647 post? Talking to hundreds of top Democratic donors, July 8, 2024, Biden stated, Were done talking about the debate, its time to put Trump in a bullseye. Five days later a lone wolf assassin shot Trump in the ear, killed a father, and injured others. September 10, 2024, among 21 other false claims, Kamala stated if Trump were president, President Vladimir Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe. Five days later another lone wolf assassin with serious and strange ties to Ukraine was caught preparing to kill Trump. Comeys post is not funny, nor was it his wifes fault. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, says, Comey should be put behind bars for issuing a call to assassinate [President Donald Trump.] Is Comey just expressing his First Amendment rights? What about the Wichita, Kansas man who in May 2024 sent a Facebook message to a Wichita television station stating that he was going to kill then-President Joe Biden? Obviously, the man needed mental help, but he got 21 months in jail. What about the Pennsylvania man who in May of 2024 posted a video online threatening to kill then-President Biden and his cabinet? This man was charged with three felony counts and one count of interstate threats and is now facing 20 years in prison. What about the California man who was sentenced to two years in prison in June of 2024 for threatening to kill President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris? What about the Florida man who in July of 2024 was found posting threats on X that he wanted to kill then-President Biden? The Secret Service arrested the man, finding him to be a danger to the community. What about the York County, Pennsylvania man who in May of 2025 was sentenced to 24 months in jail for posting threats on the internet against President Biden? All these were arrested and are either serving time in prison or are in jail awaiting trial. These men were not leaders of a law organization, had no following, nor had loyal agents serving them. None had taken an oath before God to serve their country, including their president, but Comey had it all. Yet, Comey threatened President Trump. To whom much is given, much is required, Mr. Comey. Perhaps these other men, like Comey, should have stated they didnt know saying, assassinate the president, could be considered a bad thing. Gabbard stated Comey and his people, [N]eed to be held to account according to the law The rule of law says people like him who issue direct threats against the POTUS, essentially issuing a call to assassinate him, must be held accountable under the law. [snip] Im very concerned for the presidents life; weve already seen assassination attempts. [snip] James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this. Gabbard also said that Comey has a lot of influence and there are people who take [him] very seriously. White House Cabinet Secretary, Taylor Budowich, While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as a hit on the sitting President of the United States a message etched in the sand. This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously. Jason Chaffetz, host on Hannity, said, I was the chairman of the oversight committee when James Comey came before us and lectured us on the idea of intent. He was so arrogant about his approach on intent. Fox News Legal Analyst Gregg Jarrett stated, The legal standard is did he know that his public message could be understood as a threat of harm to the president, particularly in the context of two assassination attempts. In other words, did he mean it as a true threat? If so, yes he could be prosecuted, because the courts have said that a true threat is not protected as political speech under the First Amendment. Look, Comey knew exactly what he was doing. [snip] When he was finally forced to testify in the House, he said, I dont know, or I dont recall 226 times. So, his standard backup defense, is always when he gets caught, a sudden case of amnesia or terminal stupidity. He is not stupid. Hes conniving. Hes scheming. Hes unscrupulous. Hes vain-glorious. Hes a truly despicable person. Hes lying about what he did in this case. Notably, according to Fox News, For years, Comeys whole social media feed has been: Here I am at the beach, thinking about Trump, here I am in the forest, thinking about Trump, now I am by the lake, and I am thinking about Trump. Is Comey a danger to the community? Coincidentally, on Monday May 19, Comey was in New York signing his new book, just being released. Obviously, Comey needed publicity for his book. Comey has put the life of the president of the United States at risk, peddling a ludicrous excuse for what appears to be a crime, for his own personal gain, and No, I wont be buying his book. Image from X. In most democracies, a legislative speaker in power for more than three decades would be an anomaly, if not a scandal. In Lebanon, Nabih Berris uninterrupted rule over parliament since 1992 is treated as political furnitureimposing, immovable, and ultimately untouchable. Now aged 87, Berri is more than a political survivor; he is a symbol of the entrenched, unaccountable elite that has overseen Lebanons descent into economic ruin, institutional collapse, and international irrelevance. A lawyer by training and a warlord by origin, Berri rose to prominence during Lebanons civil war as head of the Shiite Amal Movement (Amal). Though originally a rival to Hezbollah, Berri long ago cemented an alliance with the Iran-backed group, together forming Lebanons dominant Shiite bloc. If Hezbollah is the muscle, Amal is the mechanismthe party that manages the state from within, ensuring that key ministries and public contracts remain within loyalist hands. Today, the two Shiite factions divide influence over Lebanons state and society. Amal dominates the state bureaucracy; Hezbollah holds the weapons. Berri (left) meeting with Irans foreign minister in 2017 by Tasnim News Agency. CC BY 4.0. Though Amal claims to be secular and nationalist, Berris politics are anything but. For decades, he has cultivated a base in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, where loyalty is rewarded with public sector jobs and government contracts. It is within this nexus of state control and political patronage that Berri and his family have prospered. This patronage machine extends beyond politics. His wife, Randa Berri, has long been accused of exploiting public institutions for personal gain, notably within education and health programs. Activists have alleged that she exerts undue control over NGOs and international aid projects in the south, where Amals networks are strongest. Critics accuse her of turning public institutionsespecially those related to education and social programsinto fiefdoms of personal enrichment. Oversight is nonexistent; transparency, irrelevant. The Berri familys alleged involvement in skimming public funds and monopolizing local development projects has been a common theme in Lebanons media and protest slogans. Transparency, needless to say, is not a family value. More quietly, Berris extended family has also thrived under his shadow. Ayman Zakaria Jomaa, a telecommunications entrepreneur married to Berris daughter, Maysaa, is emblematic of Lebanons oligarchic elite: politically connected, economically mobile, and remarkably insulated from accountability. This year, Jomaa and his brother Imad Jomaathe latter allegedly involved in several questionable business deals in Iraq, according to an Iraqi government sourcewere part of the Lebanese delegation to the SelectUSA 2025 Investment Summit in the United States. Before traveling to the summit, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut hosted the delegation, publicly honoring them as part of its push to boost American investment ties. For many Lebanese watching from a collapsing economy, the optics were enraging. Here were relatives of one of the most powerfuland reviledpolitical figures in the country, receiving diplomatic courtesies from Washington while Lebanons own state institutions remain gutted by the corruption their families helped institutionalize. But behind the scenes, that tolerance may be fraying. According to a U.S. government source, officials in Washington increasingly view Berris unwavering alliance with Hezbollah as a serious impediment to Lebanons recovery. With frustration mounting, the Trump administration is now considering targeted sanctionsnot only against Berri himself, but also against his family members and closest associates, whose entrenchment in public institutions and business networks is seen as central to the countrys entrenched dysfunction. The irony is hard to miss. While Berri has consistently resisted U.S.-backed reforms, obstructed IMF negotiations, and aligned himself with Iran and Hezbollah, his inner circle can still gain access to American prestige events and soft diplomatic platforms. For critics, its another example of Western double standards in the region: condemning corruption on paper while empowering its beneficiaries in practice. Though Berri presents himself as a centrist brokerbetween Christians and Muslims, Sunnis and Shiites, East and Westhis record tells a different story. He has consistently resisted any American-led initiative in Lebanon, from political reform to military aid conditioning. In fact, his loyalty has long tilted toward Tehran. During times of regional tension, Berri has reliably aligned himself with Irans strategic calculus, echoing Hezbollahs rhetoric and shielding its political interests. He has rarely, if ever, condemned Hezbollahs unilateral wars or its defiance of state authority. When Israel and Hezbollah traded fire in 2024, Berri played the role of mediator only after the fighting pausedcareful never to criticize his partners recklessness. Domestically, Berris reign has brought paralysis. Parliament under his leadership has become a mausoleum, convened only when his interests or those of his allies are at stake. Key reforms demanded by international lenderssuch as restructuring the banking sector or curbing clientelismhave been shelved, watered down, or sabotaged. He has used procedural games and informal consensus rules to block votes, bury legislation, and kill off investigations. His role in preventing the election of a new president between 2022 and 2024 was emblematic: Berri simply refused to call voting sessions until he could dictate the outcome. For all his maneuvering, Berri commands little legitimacy outside his shrinking base. Among Lebanese youth, especially those who led the 2019 uprising, he is reviled. All of them means all of them, the protesters chanted, but Berri was often singled out with special venom. The streets of Beirut have long been defaced with graffiti reading Berri = Thief. And yet, he endures. Part of the reason is the system itself. Lebanons sectarian power-sharing arrangement grants the speakership exclusively to a Shiite, and Amal, by historical inertia and brute force, has monopolized that role. But part of the reason is also international. Western and Arab diplomats, reluctant to provoke Hezbollah, have often tolerated Berri as the acceptable Shiiteforgetting, or ignoring, that his power depends on preserving the very dysfunction they hope to overcome. Though Berri styles himself as a political balancerbridging sectarian divides and mediating during criseshis legacy is largely one of obstruction. Parliament under his leadership has served as a graveyard for reform. Key financial accountability measures have been buried. Presidential elections were stalled for years. Investigations into the Beirut port explosion and banking sector fraud were sabotaged with his quiet blessing. Still, Berri remains indispensable to the system he helped engineer. Sectarian politics insulate him; international actors, fearing a vacuum, treat him as a necessary evil. But inside Lebanon, the patience is gone. Protesters chant his name with venom. His familys wealth and visibility are symbols of elite impunity. That a Berri in-law and his politically connected brother can walk into U.S. investment summits while ordinary Lebanese face blackouts, food insecurity, and blocked bank accounts, is not merely offensiveit is clarifying. Lebanons crisis is not accidental. It is the product of elite capture and international indulgence. Lebanon is now a failed state in everything but name. Its currency has collapsed. Its institutions are hollow. Its elites are richer than ever. And its speaker of parliamentunchanged for 33 yearssits at the very heart of the wreckage. For all the talk of reform, Berri is a reminder that Lebanons problem is not just bad policies. It is a political class that has mastered survival while the country beneath them dies. Nabih Berri will remain speaker not just of Lebanons parliament, but of its long, slow death. Until figures like Nabih Berri and the networks they anchor are confrontedrather than celebratedthere can be no real path forward for Lebanon. John Smith is a law enforcement professional with decades of experience in risk, sanctions, and compliance. There are no solutions, there are only tradeoffs, says the venerable Thomas Sowell, but you try to get the best tradeoffs you can get, and thats all you can hope for. Reasonably understood, Trumps tariff agenda has always represented a tradeoff for Americans. Despite an awful lot of misunderstanding of how tariffs function in both theory and practice that has proliferated in recent months, tariffs are not a solution that will magically increase wages for American workers or reshore American manufacturing without considerable costs, and most certainly, the tariffs were never going to be paid by the nations who hope to find buyers of their product in America. Tariffs are indeed taxes upon the American people, despite some recent and confusing efforts to pretend that they are not. As the Founders knew well, tariffs are a form of government revenue that is borne by taxpayers. When more money is taken by the government, there is a cost that is paid by someone. It seems silly to even have to say it, but when a foreign product reaches an American port, there is no American tax collector demanding payment from China or wherever. The cost of the tariff is paid by the American manufacturer or distributor who purchased the product from overseas. The government extracts that revenue from the purchaser of the imported good, not from the seller. The additional cost that is incurred by the manufacturer or distributor does not disappear. It appears as an additional cost in manufacturing and distribution of the product reaching consumers. The natural response to this, for any individual or corporation, is to pass these additional costs onward to consumers of the product. That is why tariffs are considered consumption taxes, much like a sales tax or an excise tax. Now, none of this is to say that tariffs are always bad policy. In fact, the Founders believed indirect taxation, like tariffs, to be preferential to direct or confiscatory taxation, which few among them would have ever imagined would exist in the nation that they created. This is because tariffs create a natural effect of increasing costs of the goods consumed by Americans, restraining the federal government in its insatiable lust for power and revenue. In other words, for the federal government to continue collecting revenue, imports would need to be affordable enough for Americans to purchase them, which gives the government an incentive to keep these taxes at a reasonable level. Today, we have the worst of both worlds. We have a confiscatory income tax which is among the most progressive on planet Earth, such that the top 10% of income earners (read: producers) in the American economy pay more than 70% of all income taxes confiscated by the federal government. Beyond that, the president has bypassed Congress to enact a tax policy which is arguably regressive in nature, given that expansive tariffs invariably lead to cost increases for poorer Americans who tend to buy a lot of imported stuff from Walmart and such. Trumps response to the first problem has been to suggest that the top 10% of income earners, who earn about $150,000 or more, are apparently not shouldering enough of the insatiable federal government appetite for money. And rather than paying just more than 70% of the income tax burden, he has argued that the top 10% of income earners should pay all of the income tax burden for the entire country. That this policy proposition is so extreme and socialistic that it wouldnt have the slightest prayer of being passed into law may be comforting, but a Republican presidents signifying his support for such an anti-liberty and uniquely discriminatory policy should be disturbing. In regard to potential price increases that may result from his tariff policy (and, again, price increases are the natural result of increasing tariffs in a free market), Trumps response was arguably worse. If Walmart decides to raise prices because of the government-imposed increased importation costs on the products sold, Trump had the following to say: Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China, they should, as is said, EAT THE TARIFFS, and not charge the valued customers ANYTHING. Ill be watching, and so will your customers!!! Is this where we are, as conservatives? Telling companies that they earned way too much last year, and therefore should eat the cost of newly introduced government taxation? What is the result of the thinly-veiled threat at the end of this Truth Social post? How is this different than Joe Biden telling Kroger that the real reason why the price of groceries is high is because Kroger makes too much money? What is Walmart supposed to do? Walmart isnt arbitrarily raising prices to gouge customers or something. If they were not actually incurring the costs prompting them to raise prices, then their competitors would be able to gain market share by not raising their own prices. As Pradheep J. Shanker of National Review points out on X, Walmart is increasing prices because prices are increasing across the board. And its useless to argue against that point. Trump admits in his post that there is a cost to his tariffs, and that this cost should be eaten by Walmart. This isnt fun to observe any of this, I assure you. But in a way, Trump has crossed the Rubicon with this rhetoric, at least for me. Im reminded of Hatton W. Sumners, a Democrat from Texas, who became disillusioned with FDRs unconstitutional ambition to pack the Supreme Court with six new judges of his choosing in 1937. Boys, he said to his fellow congressmen, heres where I cash in my chips. That seems to capture my feeling upon hearing all the extreme leftist rhetoric from the president that I voted for in the past three elections. While I will remain ever hopeful for course correction, and while there are many successes to celebrate with the new Trump administration, most notably with his administrations excellent border enforcement and foreign policy decisions, the cost-cutting by DOGE, and the utter decimation of DEI discrimination in the government and the culture, there is simply no way to support these unquestionably leftward pivots when it comes to economic policy. Often, my honest criticism of Trump among friends has been met with questions about what the right solution would be. But thats the wrong question. To end as we began, there are no solutions, only tradeoffs. And the best tradeoff we can get seems incredibly obvious. Its what drove much of the success of the Trump economy in 2017-2020, after all. Since significant spending cuts seem out of the question, all that Trump and his Republican Congress should do is cut federal regulations and taxes -- and particularly the business income tax (often called the corporate tax rate as a means of propaganda). If you lower the cost of doing business in America, businesses will flock and investment will flow to produce and distribute goods in the United States, nearest to the most prosperous market of consumers in the entire world. None of this is rocket science, and how Trump seems to be getting it so epically wrong is a tragic missed opportunity to truly make America great again. Image: Internet Archive, via Wikimedia Commons/Picryl // public domain So now we learn not only that Joe Biden has Stage Five prostate cancer, but that starting in February 2021, the POC/LGBTQ committee that was operating Biden like a Muppet concealed, then downplayed the risk of heart disease from the COVID vaccines. Its funny how we find out all this dirt, within 48 hours after the committees announcement about Joes cancer. Because hes got a few months to live, hes now officially the Fall Guy. Everything bad can be blamed on him, if it cant be blamed on Trump. All the Muppeteer committee members can pretend theyre innocent and resume their White House and Cabinet posts on January 20, 2029 if the Democrat party Deep State (DPDS) steals another presidential election. From Daily Wire: According to the report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, officials knew as early as February 2021 that the vaccines were associated with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the thin sac surrounding the heart). Still, they waited to warn the public until June as they pushed the vaccine on Americans. The report concludes that U.S. health officials knew about the risks of myocarditis, downplayed the health concern, and deliberately delayed informing the public about the risk. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), who chairs the committee and will lead a hearing on it later this afternoon, told The Daily Wire that Biden officials delayed reporting the side effects because they were concerned about vaccine hesitancy. But in being concerned about that, they violated the inviolable principle of informed consent, Johnson said. Here is the full subcommittee report. This report never would have been prepared if Democrats had kept control of the Senate last fall. The Subcommittee on Investigations would have been launching new bogus investigations into Team Trump instead. Spearheaded by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the official diktat of the DPDS was that the vaccines were safe and effective. They knew better. The Israelis had started distributing Pfizer vaccines several weeks before we did. So they knew that vaccinated patients were getting myocarditis with alarming frequency, months before we did. They were warning Joes Muppeteer committee, but that committee wasnt passing on this warning to the American people. This is another one of Faucis many crimes against humanity, the most evil being his funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, using our tax dollars. Thats how COVID was unleashed upon the world, causing the deaths of 2 million people worldwide, including a million Americans. Very few government figures in recent history Hitler, Stalin, Chairman Mao and Pol Pot, for example have killed more of their own countries people. I was almost one of them. I spent a month in the hospital, including 72 hours comatose on a ventilator. Then I had to learn how to walk again, because Id spent so much time on my back in bed. This was very difficult at my age. Millions of Americans, and millions more around the world, suffered terribly from this disease without dying. Thank you, Dr. Fauci. Your blanket pre-emptive pardon by the Muppeteer committees Autopen evidently shields you from civil liability as well. How convenient. PRO TIP: Check the increased numbers of excess deaths and excess disabilities in the past four years. Insurance companies keep careful track of such things. There was a slow, gradual increase until 2020. Then both started going up sharply, through the roof and into orbit. And the graphs didnt level off very much after the pandemic was officially declared over by Joe Biden himself, so that he could cancel Trumps Title 42 public health order and let in millions of illegal aliens even faster. What did we start doing differently in March 2021 that would cause all these deaths and disabilities after the pandemic was officially over? Joes Muppeteer committee was pushing the vaccine like a bulldozer, and concealing the devastating side-effects. Correlation is not causation, but as we now know, COVID vaccines cause myocarditis and other debilitating and fatal diseases. These diseases cause heart attacks, which are often fatal. Even if the patient survives, the result is a massive scar on the heart muscle, which reduces blood flow. The disease survives, however, and can cause subsequent heart attacks. The cumulative effect of surviving multiple heart attacks, or even one, is a weakening and crippling of the patient due to reduction of oxygen flowing to the muscles. Eventually, one of these heart attacks will probably kill the patient. Sadly, thats the prognosis for patients with these heart diseases. If the patient is 12, or 25, or 46, or even 100, crippling him like this is aggravated battery. Many states call these specific circumstances medical battery. And if the patient dies, its called wrongful death. Crippling thousands of patients like this along with the excess deaths is Dr. Faucis crime against humanity. But hes got a blanket pardon. Thanks, Autopen operator, whoever you are. Why did the Muppeteer committee decide to conceal and legally immunize all of this? Well, a lot of Democrats and RINOs in Washington, D.C. have been bought and paid for by Big Pharma. So Big Pharma now has total immunity from product liability, for almost anything COVID-related. Mask and vaccine mandates? The Democrats also seem to like totalitarianism when theyre the ones in power. Their party is controlled by a tiny elite, many of whom are over 70 and a few in key positions who are over 80 (Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Bernie Sanders, for example). A study very early in the pandemic by an Italian hospital Europe was hit early and hard by the virus, like New York had revealed that the average age of a COVID fatality was 85. So senior citizens who got annual check-ups (such as Biden, Pelosi, Sanders, Chuck Schumer, and dozens of other Democrat congressmen) got dire warnings from their doctors. Also, their party elites wanted to be able to get their hair done at their favorite salons (Pelosi) and dine in fancy French restaurants (Gavin Newsom) without wearing a mask. Several of the DPDS elites had been caught flaunting their own mask mandates Pelosi and Newsom were just two of them and they didnt want their rules for thee but not for me, peasants hypocrisy to be exposed anymore by Fox News. So they wanted to bulldoze us into herd immunity as fast as possible and declare the pandemic over. Personally, I had to pass up a job offer for 50% more than my current salary because the new employer was insisting that I get vaccinated. I provided a medical exemption. Enforcing the mask and vaccine mandate with an iron fist, the employer said, Take the vaccine or well find someone else. Of course, it was a downtown Chicago law firm very left-wing, and heavy on all the DPDS dogma. I was willing to navigate it for all that money, but I drew the line at risking my life. Id already been working for a similar firm for years, navigating left-wing dogma in an office right across LaSalle Street, and I still work there. But their solution was to have everyone work from home. Imagine that. So far, in addition to my temporarily crippling case of COVID, Big Pharma and its DPDS minions (such as Dr. Fauci) have cost me over $150,000 in lost wages. And as we know, the cumulative economic damage worldwide was in the trillions. Over 100,000 small businesses in America closed their doors forever, including several of my favorite small-town restaurants. But both Big Pharma and all its DPDS minions have absolute immunity, or (in the case of government minions who werent pardoned by the Autopen) qualified immunity. Since they were following Faucis protocols, they qualify for immunity. Fauci himself has absolute immunity from his pardon. The way things stand right now, none of them will pay one dime in damages, or spend one minute wearing handcuffs. See how this works? Here in Chicago, we have a proverb: In the Democrat party, one hand washes the other. Jim Davis is an I.T. specialist and paralegal, with degrees in political science and statistical analysis, the underpinning of all science. His work has appeared in Newsmax and Daily Caller. You can find him as RealProfessor219 on Rumble. Image: Triggermouse via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Judge James C. Ho of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has given voice to what many of us have seen developing over the recent past with the present make-up of the Supreme Court a not-so-subtle dislike of President Trump, to put it mildly, and an inexplicable tendency to bend over backwards to give members of designated terrorist groups such as Tren de Aragua the benefit of every conceivable doubt. The case of AARP v. Trump dealt with one of the many attempts to secure via forum-shopping that which the far left could never achieve at the ballot box: the hindrance or outright frustration of President Trumps promise to the American people that he would rid the country of the dangerous and cruelly malignant criminal gangs invited in by the treasonous Biden-Harris-Mayorkas administration of lawlessness. Very briefly stated, AARP, one of the terrorists so favored by the left (not the organization that lobbies for old codgers like me), represented by the ACLU, went to a federal district court on April 17, demanding that the court issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the president and his agencies from deporting them under the Alien Enemies Act, which the court denied. Later that night, at 12:34 A.M., the terrorists went to the court, alleging that they had been told they would be removed tonight or tomorrow, and demanded an emergency TRO. At that time, the judge informed the terrorists and their lawyers that he would give the government twenty-four hours to respond to their emergency application, a most reasonable period of time that any judge, federal or state, I ever appeared before would have granted under similar circumstances. About twelve hours later, apparently deciding that the judge, a highly respected district judge, was not moving fast enough for them, they informed the court (who was during this time presiding over a very complex criminal trial and almost certainly had other concerns on its mind than the urgent needs of terrorists and the ACLU) that they would file an appeal if he did not act within 42 minutes. Yes, you read that right: These most arrogant lawyers actually gave a federal district judge an ultimatum, demanding that he act within literally a few minutes. Here I must interject a personal note based on my experience of appearing before many federal district judges. Although I am many years away from my times in the courtroom, I can truthfully say I never even thought of giving a federal judge anything even coming close to an ultimatum of any kind, nor have I ever heard of a lawyer with enough hubris to do so. For our purposes in discussing this most unusual opinion by Judge Ho, it is important to outline the importance of these timelines and the differing interpretations placed on them, first by the Court of Appeal when it first heard the case and then the Supreme Courts diametrically opposite treatment. The Court of Appeal, considering the question whether the District Court had effectively denied injunctive relief, thereby giving the court jurisdiction to hear the case, said, in the words of one of its judges, that 42 minutes is quite plainly an unreasonable deadline, as a result of which the Court of Appeal held that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal. The Supreme Court, however, demonstrating a deep concern for the rights of members of the Tren de Aragua gang, held that because of the judges inaction for the period 12:42 A.M. on April 18 to 1:30 P.M. that day, they could and did find that the judge had effectively denied the application, giving them and the Court of Appeal jurisdiction to hear the case. With that perhaps overly weedy detailed background, a brief examination of Judge Hos concurrence illustrates the unusual directness of his language directed at, and not at all subtly, the seven justices in the majority as well as his approving comments of Justice Alitos dissenting opinion. It is quite difficult to pick out a few highlights from such an historically significant opinion, but in just seven pages, Judge Ho says out loud what more and more Americans are beginning to believe sadly about our system of justice. For example: As an inferior court, were duty-bound to follow Supreme Court rulings whether we agree with them or not. We dont have to like it. But we have to do it. So I concur in our order today expediting our consideration of this matter, as directed by the Supreme Court. But I write to state my sincere concerns about how the district judge as well as the President and other officials have been treated in this case. I worry that the disrespect they have been shown will not inspire continued respect for the judiciary, without which we cannot long function. He then explains why the Supreme Court acted unreasonably in starting the clock under which the District Court was expected to act at 12:42 A.M., using language rarely seen in any opinion by an inferior court about favored litigants and whether Lady Justice is still blindfolded (emphasis mine): But starting the clock at 12:34 a.m. not only ignores the courts express instructions respecting the Governments right to respond. It also ignores the fact that the Court is starting the clock at 12:34 a.m. We seem to have forgotten that this is a district court not a Dennys. This is the first time Ive ever heard anyone suggest that district judges have a duty to check their dockets at all hours of the night, just in case a party decides to file a motion. [snip] If this is not to become the norm, then we should admit that this is special treatment being afforded to certain favored litigants like members of Tren de Aragua and we should stop pretending that Lady Justice is blindfolded. As significant as these discussions are, the last astonishingly direct section is, from a legally historical standpoint, by far the most striking. It makes statements not, to my knowledge, seen before in any judicial opinion about the apparent disdain with which the current president is held by some, if not most, members of this Supreme Court: One former President tried to shame members of the Supreme Court during a State of the Union address by disparaging a recent ruling. That same President also suggested that it would be illegitimate for the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional while a case challenging his signature legislative achievement was pending before the Court. Another former President was disbarred from practicing law before the Supreme Court. ... Yet I doubt that any court would deny any of those Presidents the right to express their views in any pending case to which they are a party, before issuing any ruling. Our current President deserves the same respect. This opinion by a judge of the second highest court in the land draws out in stark relief the concerns so many are beginning to feel about the members of our current Supreme Court. As one prominent legal expert put it, regarding the presumption of regularity extended to all previous presidents, when judges can decide the President no longer receives that presumption, we have seen a judicial coup. As one who spent most of his life dedicated to, and practicing, our Rule of Law, it pains me to say that we are approaching a perilous time in our history, when so many of our citizens are actively wondering, like Judge Ho, whether we are witnessing a judicial coup. I harbor little doubt that we are already there. Image via Picryl. In the wake of the monstrous targeted murder of two young Israeli embassy employees by an activist yelling 'free Palestine,' the shocking effect of Oct. 7 was repeated again in the U.S. Which is to say, it was terrorism, violence by fanatics with explicitly political aims. The sadism of the act could only be the work of a desensitized fanatic: BREAKING: The newly released charges against Elias Rodriguez reveal the brutality of the attack. As Sarah tried to crawl away after being shot, he followed and shot her again, this time in the back, ensuring she died. At least 21 rounds were fired. This was an execution. pic.twitter.com/5QpNpoTEhS Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) May 22, 2025 It's the logical culmination of the constant drumbeat coming from the left that Israelis are Nazis. It's the effect of the hate-filled antisemitic protests which have engulfed the more prestigious universities. And it's the leftist act of accusing others of what one is doing oneself. Now we are seeing murders of Israelis, on U.S. soil. And it's not just the murders which are so bad. It's the effects of these murders. Jewish people everywhere are going to have to keep looking over their shoulders for more of these proliferating terrorists even in this country. Will they have to monitor their surroundings if they go to synagogue? They probably will, anyone would. That's an attack on the right to worship. Will they have to look over their shoulders if they visit a Jewish museum? Obviously, the terrorist wanted to erase Jewish history from memory, which is why he picked that location. That, too, is the act of an antisemite with tyrannical ambitions. And as a terrorist, his aim was to exact maximum outrage -- he reportedly picked out an attractive young couple about to be engaged, presumably because it would outrage the public even more than a random Jew-hate-motivated murder. Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26. Victims of domestic terror and antisemitism. We will never forget them! pic.twitter.com/NR8qMu0RZN Leo Terrell (@LeoTerrellDOJ) May 23, 2025 So not surprisingly, the accused freak has a long history of leftwingery: It is not just antisemitism. It is anti-Americanism and a danger to us all. https://t.co/XaNsMwlmTG Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) May 22, 2025 He also has his cheerleaders on the left, much in the same grotesque way that Luigi Mangione, whose acts he reportedly idolized, did: BREAKING: The Bronx "Anti-War" Coalition just called Elias Rodriguezs execution of two innocent people in D.C. the highest expression of anti-Zionism. This group leads the pro-Palestinian rallies in NYC. Dont ever try to tell me this movement isnt fundamentally violent. pic.twitter.com/D7zzkHQHNx Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) May 22, 2025 This string of tweets is especially insightful. I am an Open Source Intelligence analyst and will share some findings for Elias A Rodriguez, 31 (Feb 1994) from Chicago, who is the suspect of the murders of the Israeli in DC. pic.twitter.com/qSmTnggRaf Travis Hawley (@talk2trav) May 22, 2025 The bottom line is that a act like this puts the entire society in danger, creating a terrible 'new normal' affecting every non-terrorist in the country. If the U.S. doesn't hit hard against this freak and make an example of him, his acts will become just another day in the U.S., a no-longer safe country. The real-world implications of the student chat, "Globalize the Intifada." @WSJopinion piece: https://t.co/XwBmeQMG8x Juan Forero (@WSJForero) May 23, 2025 The Justice Department has vowed to prosecute this monster to the fullest extent of the law, and Justice Department official Judge Jeanne Pirro said the death penalty is not off the table. That's the only way to treat a case like this, make the consequences so awful no one would ever want to attempt such an act again. And given the incredible damage to the social fabric this act really is, it seems necessary. These killings must be punished to the max. Image: Screen shot from X According to Grok, roughly 27% of Harvards student bodyor around 6,800 studentsconsists of people from overseas. Given that they pay full fare (no federal student loans, grants, or scholarships for them), that works out to around $400 million in tuition revenue annually (6,800 x $57,000). Grok also estimates that, of those 6,800 foreign students, roughly 15% come from China. You can see, then, how important those foreign students are to Harvard. And thats why it was such a devastating blow when, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote to Harvard this afternoon informing it that, because it refused to abide by its Civil Rights obligations, despite two warnings, the United States government was revoking its privilege (not its right, but its privilege) to host foreign students and workers: Wow. This DHS letter from Kristi Noem to Harvard is pretty extraordinary. Not only does it prohibit Harvard from enrolling foreign students moving forward, any currently enrolled foreigners will have to transfer to other universities to maintain their status: "This pic.twitter.com/NuXqY6idsd Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 22, 2025 Heres the letters text, in case you cant get the attachment to open: I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked. As I explained to you in my April letter, it is a privilege to enroll foreign students, and it is also a privilege to employ aliens on campus. All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program regulations, to maintain this privilege. As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, you have lost this privilege. The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year. This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status. This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvards failure to comply with simple reporting requirements. On April 16, 2025, I requested records pertaining to nonimmigrant students enrolled at Harvard University, including information regarding misconduct and other offenses that would render foreign students inadmissible or removable. On April 30, 2025, Harvards counsel provided information that he represented as responsive to my request. It was not. As a courtesy that Harvard was not legally entitled to, the Acting DHS General Counsel responded on my behalf and afforded Harvard another opportunity to comply. Harvard again provided an insufficient response. Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump Administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses. If Harvard would like the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year, you must provide all of the information requested below within 72 hours. Please be advised that providing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent information may subject you to criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001. Other criminal and civil sanctions may also apply. I expect full and complete responses to the following requests: 1. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 2. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding dangerous or violent activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 3. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding threats to other students or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 4. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 5. Any and all disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 6. Any and all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years. In brief, Harvard had two opportunities to comply with requests for information proving that it was complying with the law regarding foreign students and regarding preventing antisemitic attacks on its campuses (many of which have proven to have been tied to foreign students). Over a month ago, DHS informed Harvard that failing to comply would put at risk its ability to host foreign students. Harvard refused to comply with its reporting obligations and paid the price. Im very sorry for the foreign students, who are having their plans upended. Thats not easy, and Im sure that for many of them, its a deeply disappointing interruption to their dreamskind of like the interruption that occurred when America went insane over COVID. In other words, sometimes young peoples dreams are interrupted because larger events or principles take precedence over them. Because leftists were on board with COVIDs ability to remove Trump from the White House, they didnt complain about any of those dashed dreams. The one good thing for those students is that it is very likely that they're not missing out on anything of real value. And at least for American students, the reality is that most jobs do not have a compelling reason for requiring degrees in the first place. Indeed, the emphasis on credentialism is bad for innovation and opportunity. In this case, though, the principle is one offensive to leftists; namely, is that Harvard doesnt get to make the rules for itself. It must operate under color of the lawand the law says that it cannot create a hostile environment for students based upon their race and/or religion, and that it cannot protect foreign students who have violated the terms of their visas by breaking general American laws or laws applicable specifically to foreign students. What Noem did is the right thing to do. The big question now is how long itll be before Harvard finds a politicized judge who will say and do anything to thwart the Trump agenda. At a certain point, President Trump must have a reckoning with the unelected federal judges who are straying far beyond their constitutional cases and controversies purview to take control of the entire federal government. Harvard campus by Pixabay. We now know the Democrat party covered up its concern about Joe Bidens mental state prior to the 2024 presidential election in hopes of maintaining political power. That should cause us to wonderin light of the recent surprise announcement that he is suffering from Stage 4 cancer which has metastasized to the bonewhat it knew about this physical condition and when it knew it. While we are still trying to piece this all together, there is an indication party leaders may well have formulated a Plan A prior to the 2024 presidential election that had to be scrapped after Bidens mental issues took center stage, quickly opting to replace it with Plan B. Months before Bidens withdrawal from the race, just about every supporter refused to accept the fact that the president was proving to be a major embarrassment due to an obvious cognitive decline. However, the leaders of his party felt all they needed to do was counter-attack Republican criticism of him, fostering an air that negative claims about the presidents acuity was simply political propaganda. Their Plan A was to maintain this atmosphere long enough to get him over the hump of the presidential election. Obviously, paramount to Plan As full success was Biden winning the election, thus positioning the party to implement the follow-on step based on what it recognized about Bidens mental decline and may well have known about his physical health. Watching Democrats defend Bidens mental downward spiral was like watching the 1989 movie comedy Weekend at Bernies. Party leaders took on the movie role of the two young insurance corporation employees who arrived at the home of their boss, Bernie, for a vacation, only to find him dead, and then chose to lug him around to give the appearance that he was still alive. However, after Bidens disastrous one and only debate with Donald Trump, it became clear he had as much mental sharpness as did Bernie. As this was demonstrated on a national stage making his mental acuity an issue of debate, party leaders realized that Plan As successturning on an election victorywas in grave danger and had to be aborted, replaced by a hastily designed Plan B. Plan B necessitated Biden voluntarily withdrawing from the campaign and promoting Vice President Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate. Both Barack Obama and then Nancy Pelosi apparently had to threaten Biden with taking action under the 25th Amendment to remove him from office when he initially balked at withdrawing from the election, which he eventually did. But now, after Harriss defeat, the issue of Bidens health has been raised. As we know, it is highly impossible for one to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as advanced as Bidens is without having raised health concerns much earlier. Thus, someone had to have had knowledge about it. If summed up, we could probably say that most medical experts would agree that prostate cancer iseasy to find because simple blood test or prostate exam will give you near 100% accurate results. Biden had received a physical exam prior to the 2024 presidential election. The examining physician had made it absolutely clear Biden was physically capable of serving a second term. He confidently wrote that the president was fit as a fiddle and completely fit for the presidencyno issues, nothing to see. This declaration left absolutely no room for doubt. Therefore, since it does take several years for the cancer to metastasize, medical experts have no explanation as to how it could have done so without being detected, absent an act of medical malpractice. But Bidens receipt of a clean bill of health may well have been an absolute necessity in order to exercise the rest of Plan A. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the follow-on step in Plan A, after a successful Biden re-election, was then for a surprise announcement to be made of the prostate diagnosis, thus giving him justification to step down to address it. This obviously would then have allowed the rest of Plan A to be implemented as a re-elected Vice President Harris assumed the office of president. Shortly after Bidens withdrawal, polls had indicated Harris was among the least popular vice presidents in modern history. It is doubtful party leaders saw her as a real catalyst in powering Democrats to a presidential victory. As we also now know, polls showing a Harris lead against Trump were misleading. As the timing of Bidens surprise prostate diagnosis is now questioned, his supporters protest how dare you attack an old man with cancer? Former White House presidential physician and now Rep. Ronny Johnson (R-Texas) says it is Unbelievable this was missed, but the truth is, his physician was more concerned about assisting with the political cover up than providing world class medical care. Democrat party popularity has tumbled in the days since the 2024 presidential election. A March 2025 NBC poll revealed that just 27% of registered voters had a positive view of the party (only 7% said it was a very positive view)the lowest rating the network has recorded since 1990. Undoubtedly contributing to this drop is the publics recognition of the deceit the party exercised in hiding concerns about Bidens mental acuity. How much further will its favorability tumble once the public fully understands the deceit the party also exercised in hiding the news of a likely Biden prostate death sentence? Image: YouTube video screen grab. This essay has been edited since publication. If you like American Thinkers content, please consider subscribing here for an ad-free experience and access to an exclusive, weekly newsletter offering insight from the editorial staff. Once again, we see that there arent too many degrees of separation between deranged political (accused) killers and congressional Democrats. I wonder if that says anything about the modern party? Nah, theyre all just coincidences! Againand againand again. Recall that Luigi Mangiones grandfather was reportedly a friend of the Pelosi family and now, we learn that Elias Rodriguezs dad is a close acquaintance of Chuy Garcia, a very socialist activist lawmaker from the suburbs of Chicago with an affection for Saul Alinskyin 2015, the Chicago Reader detailed Garcias very close friendship with Lola Navarro, a disciple of Alinsky, and revealed that he had also been friends with Rudy Lozano, another Machiavellian left-wing activist of the day. Politico also ran an article praising Garcia, noting that he belongs to the reform-minded activist wing of the Democrat party. Anyway, heres the story, from an article at the New York Post today: Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the Presidents Joint Speech to Congress, but we dont know his family, Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) said Thursday night. In March, he [Garcia] hailed Rodriguez as an outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans services and the rights of unionized federal employees. And, Papa Rodriguez is definitely anti-Trump: Ive been with the VA for three years, and the reason why Im in Washington, DC, is because Im concerned about what Donald Trump Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to the VA system. Now, Garcia is certainly no friend of the Israeli people. On March 31st of this year, Garcia sponsored legislation introduced by Pramila Jayapal and Squad member Rashida Tlaib, blocking the sales of weapons to Israelthe proposal included four Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, with Garcia signing on to all four. Furthermore, the Chicago Sun-Times referred to Garcia as belong to one of the most pro-Palestinian factions in Congress. Reminder: Elias Rodriguez was heard shouting free Palestine as he unloaded his gun into Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Is there possibly a connection here? Between Garcias political ideology and the murder of the young Israeli diplomats? We know the Democrat party as it is today, and its adherents, are thoroughly terroristicthey purposefully imported known violent criminals, did away with border security entirely to usher in millions of new third world dependents, sought to jail and assassinate their political oppositionbut would they actually go so low as to encourage, either expressly or tacitly, the murder of innocent people? I plead the Fifth. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Many pro-Israel people I know, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are deeply worried about Trumps current Middle East positions. Hes marginalizing Israel in negotiations with Saudi Arabia, accepting on the governments behalf a luxury plane from double-dealing Qatar, and handing money to the goons in Syria. At the same time, hes seemingly freezing out Israel, to the great consternation of Israel and its supporters. So, what gives? Having read Charles Lipsons superb analysis of the problems in dealing with an almost nuclear Iran, and how Biden created this monster, I suspect that what gives may be Trump trying an out-of-the-box approach to isolating Iran long enough for his economic policies and sanctions to bankrupt the mullahs. Image created using AI. Lipsons essay, which is behind a paywall but to which you can get one-time access, asks What to do about Iran? I urge you to read it, but the ten-cent summary is as follows: Iran desperately wants to have nuclear weapons, and is dedicating itself to obtaining them. Iran routinely cheats on agreements. If Iran goes nuclear, it will annihilate Israel and pose an existential threat to Europe. Israel knows that, if Iran goes nuclear, it will bomb Israel. Israel also knows that if it unilaterally attacks Iran, it will strain relations with America and spark a war between Israel and Iran. Israel lacks the military capacity to deliver bunker-buster bombs. Only the U.S. can do that. Trump knows that if the U.S. allies with Israel to attack Irans nuclear facilities, it may detonate a huge war that violates Trumps promises (and firm goal) of keeping America out of wars, while activating every Iranian terrorist sleeper cell at home and abroad. Lipson also points out that none of this would have happened were it not for Biden (or, more accurately, his handlers). During his four years in office, Trump had almost brought the mullahs to their knees financially. Biden put Iran back in the money by failing to enforce the sanctions. Upon returning to office, Trump immediately reinstated sanctions, but these are measures that take time to take effect. He has also enacted energy policies that have led to a decline in the price of oil. This has been wonderful domestically because it offsets rising prices from his tariff initiatives, but it also undercuts the mullahs chief source of financing. As before, given enough time, Trump will bankrupt the mullahs. The problem is that Trump doesnt have time. Itll take years to affect the mullahs finances, while the mullahs are weeks away from building the bomb. So, what is Trump to do? Its entirely possible that Trump is doing everything he can to isolate the mullahs within the Middle East itself. Qatar has always been Iran-friendly, but Trump will make it America-friendly. Saudi Arabia fears Iran, but Hamass deliberate use of the October 7 attack to halt normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia means that its at risk of falling into Irans camp. Trump needs to bring Saudi Arabiawhose ruler Biden grossly insultedback into the American fold, even if that means temporarily ditching normalization with Israel. And finally, Syria has long been an Iranian satellite. Trump is trying to make it an American satellite. Looked at from this perspective, Trump isnt trying to destroy Israel. Hes hoping to destroy Israels most serious existential enemy by depriving Iran of regional allies long enough for his sanctions against Iran, combined with low oil prices, to destroy the mullahs. Indeed, if these countries fall into the American camp, it makes it easier for Trump and/or Israel to destroy Irans facilities on Kharg Island, through it processes and exports almost all of its crude oil. If attaining this geopolitical realignment in the Middle East means cold-shouldering Israel in the short term...well, Trump will do what hes got to do. In this existential card game, Trump (thanks to Biden) comes in with the worlds worst hand. But typically for Trump, he is doing what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he does best: Creating leverage where none existed before. Alternatively, if my interpretation is wrong, Trumps cold shoulder to Israel is deeply troubling. It would mean that Trump is abandoning a long-time ally to annihilation, and using his domestic war against antisemitism as cover. Yes, it would be an American First policy, but it would also be profoundly morally evil. So, I really hope Im correct in how Im reading this situation. Who knew that we'd be talking so much about an autopen? Nevertheless we are, because that autopen was doing a lot more than signing the president's name on routine letters. The "autopen" in the closet is suddenly the latest Biden scandal, as John Kass wrote: And the question the nation keeps asking: Who in the Democratic government knew of Bidens growing senility and covered it up? Besides the corrupt left wing corporate media, of course. Who used the White House autopen to allow some 15 million illegal migrants into the country? And who used that autopen to pardon the corrupt Biden Family Inc. and enablers? Whoever held that pen held the presidency. Who gave the order to use the Biden autopen? Was it Biden who had sold his honor and the White House to China? And just who held that autopen? We need answers immediately. Yes, I want some answers. That autopen became the presidency, and who knows who turned on the switch? Once upon a time, we had Mrs. Edith Wilson, who carried the documents to her husband President Woodrow Wilson, who was recovering from a stroke. He apparently signed and handed off the signed work to the assistants. Some call her "the first female president" because VP Thomas Marshall was unwilling to assert his constitutional prerogatives. Today, we have the autopen and a lot of speculation as to who controlled it. It was certainly a busy machine to say the least. To be fair to the autopen, the blame lies elsewhere and that's what Congress needs to find out. So let's pass the budget and start the inquiries. I need to know and you do too. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Image: Library of Congress Leftists never apologize or account for their old lies; they just create new narratives and move on without any shame or remorse. Some like Grok may argue that both sides prevaricate, but there is a marked difference between the anti-liberty left and the pro-freedom right. For the most part, the left dominates and controls the culture and the media, and thus, leftists can get away with falsehoods because their media comrades are in on the fraud. This is hardly the case for the freedom community; we are under 24/7 scrutiny, and anything we say is carefully examined and fact-checked for accuracy. Were the media even close to being balanced, the left would have long ago abandoned its lies, but for now, leftists know they have free rein, so honesty just isnt in them. This brings us to their latest cover-up: the convenient revelation of Joe Bidens obvious decline and diagnosis that was likely known for years. Apart from the fact that theyre trying to exploit this as a convenient way to avoid scrutiny of the Biden presidency, were also expected to pretend this cover-up was no big deal, that the lies created to get Biden re-elected with his obvious debilitated condition were nothing of concern. But, as always, if they are willing to lie about something of this magnitude, what else are they willing to lie about? The nations socialist media spent only a few minutes on a scandal that is right in their bailiwick, because if they hadnt carried the water for the left in covering up the obvious Biden decline, the entire edifice would have fallen apart of its own weight. The Federalist summarized the whole sordid situation with this story: Bidens Late Cancer Diagnosis Exposes Democrats And The Media As Legitimate National Security Risks. Until Democrats start naming names and apologizing for their reckless, craven conduct as it relates to Joe Biden, I dont want to hear another word about Pete Hegseths Signal chats. It was fine timing to get news over the weekend that the former president, a well established dotard, has an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer that has reached his bones. Theres a strong likelihood that Biden was diagnosed with some stage of the disease before he was even elected president, and he almost certainly had it while in office. Yet the public knew nothing until Sunday. Prayers up for Biden, but this is an appalling scandal. And it comes just as the dying news media are finally acknowledging that, yeah, Bidens brain was rapidly browning over as he sat in the Oval Office, where he was losing track of space and time as the commander of the United States military, the point person for nuclear war. Naturally, the usual suspects feigned ignorance at Bidens long observed decline, such as the head of the brain trust that is The View. Remember: We were told for years that Biden was sharp as a tack and that we shouldnt believe our lying eyes about his obvious infirmities. The people on the inside knew that it was far worse than we could see. And they not only covered it up, but tried to gaslight us that the evidence in front of our faces was cheap fakes. If leftists were willing to blatantly lie to our faces on something this obvious, what else are they willing to lie about? We started this essay with the refrain that leftists never apologize or account for their old lies; they just create new narratives and move on without any shame or remorse. This could easily be applied to any other scandal, cover-up, or lie from the left that has come along. Those who know anything about leftism know its built upon force and falsehood, because although the collectivist ideology sounds good in a sound bite or on a bumper sticker, it has never worked in its 400 years of failure. Its a colossal scam that has to be forced on people with lies that its never been tried before or that leftists have only good intentions for an equitable society. Anti-liberty leftists sell their socialistic snake oil with all manner of good-sounding lies; its the only way they can sucker people in. It is only after they are in power (and have conveniently confiscated all the guns) that force is applied, and by then its usually too late to stop them. The left depends on lies, so creating new falsehoods while quietly forgetting the old is just the modus operandi. That means that leftists should never, ever be trusted. D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, former director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a longtime contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack. Image via Raw Pixel. After a bloodthirsty socialist murdered Israeli Embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim on Wednesday night, conservative commentator Scott Jennings acerbically noted, If Biden or Harris were president wed be getting a scolding right now for this epidemic of Islamophobia. His comment struck me as a bullseye worth repeating. In this culture war that divides our nation (and Western civilization more generally), those on the political left excuse monsters and vilify victims. The shooter wrote a damning manifesto that expresses his solidarity with Hamas and his belief that Israelis have forfeited their humanity. He also shouted, Free Palestine when being arrested. It took no time at all for President Trump to condemn the political assassinations as obvious acts of antisemitism. Yet The New York Times is confused as to what might have motivated the Jew-hating terrorist. As the brain of the Democrat partys central nervous system, the NYT reveals just how mentally handicapped the loony left is. Almost a decade ago, the late, great Norm Macdonald excoriated the left for its moral imbecility when he joked, What terrifies me is if ISIS were to detonate a nuclear device and kill 50 million Americans. Imagine the backlash against peaceful Muslims! It was a darkly funny observation to anyone not plugged into the corporate news medias matrix because Islamic apologists in the press had been performing a similar routine for years. After every incident of Islamic terrorism post-9/11, the propaganda press skipped over the atrocity and instead hyperventilated about how it might affect the Islamic community. Every act of Islamic barbarism was framed in the most sympathetic light, whereas any condemnation from a non-Muslim was derided as prejudice. In the years since Macdonald lampooned the Fourth Estate for its moral dyslexia, journalisms sense of right and wrong has gotten only more contorted. Sure enough, CNN was back at it within hours of Wednesdays political assassination. Concerned about the possibility that sane Americans might see the connection between the Jew-hate on college campuses and the Jew-hate that inspired the execution of a young couple working for the Israeli Embassy, CNN prodded a witness to the terrorist attack a recent graduate of Columbia University, no less to distinguish the actions of campus protesters from the actions of the gunman. He soundly rejected CNNs rhetorical defense of Islamic supremacy: At Columbia University they call for intifada constantly. Theyre not quiet. Theyre loud. You can hear it. They make recordings of themselves. So whats the difference? At Columbia and many other universities, Islamic supremacists call for the elimination of Jews. When someone goes out into the world to eliminate Jews, he answers the calls of likeminded leftists everywhere. But the psychotic reprobates at CNN insist that those who incite terrorism have no interest in encouraging terrorism. Channeling Norm Macdonald, CNN instead begs viewers to think about how the actual slaughter of Jews might affect the reputations of anti-Israel zealots who simply call for the slaughter of Jews. As should be quite clear to anybody with two active brain cells, the political left sees violence as a perfectly legitimate form of political expression. When abortion on demand enthusiasts burn down churches, leftists blame Christians for their own loss. When Black Lives Matter looters burn down small businesses, leftists blame systemic racism or capitalism. When Democrats set Teslas on fire, leftists blame Elon Musk and his DOGE cuts. When Hamas decapitates babies, rapes women, and tortures prisoners, leftists blame Israel. When an assassin shoots a health care executive in the back of the head, leftists blame rising health care costs (and ignore Obamacares role in mandating worse care at higher prices). When mentally unwell gender-benders threaten or hurt others, leftists blame anti-trans bigotry. Together, Antifa and BLM caused more property damage during the summer of 2020 than any criminal group in U.S. history. Along with months of looting stores and burning down neighborhoods, the largely unpunished domestic terrorists left a trail of bodies that included numerous law enforcement officers. Yet to this day, the leftist-controlled corporate news media pretend the lefts destructive, murderous rampage in 2020 was mostly peaceful and entirely focused on love. You just cant despise the mainstream news industry enough. Before 2020s domestic insurrection, a longtime Democrat party stalwart attempted to assassinate an entire softball team of Republican lawmakers an act that would have drastically changed the makeup of the House and Senate in 2017 and altered American history forever. After listening to the propaganda press push Hillary Clintons Russia collusion hoax for months and after watching former FBI director James Comey and former CIA director John Brennan insinuate in every public hearing that Vladimir Putin controls President Trump, the Democrat shooter no doubt believed that his actions were justified. The FBI must have agreed, since it took the countrys pre-eminent law enforcement organization eight years to deem the mass assassination attempt an act of politically motivated terrorism. How much does the political left enjoy violence? So much that it looks the other way when terrible deeds are done to advance its aims. Leftists laughed off two assassination attempts on President Trump. Now Democrat politicians and journalists justify the ongoing genocide in South Africa because the victims are white. The political left has reached the event horizon of evils black hole. They are lost forever. Be careful and protect your family. Image via Pixnio. This is a time of major shifts in the United Kingdoms relationship with the rest of the world. Following recent trade deals with the United States and India, significant changes are also taking shape in U.K.-E.U. relations. In particular, the Common Understanding signed in London last Monday by British prime minister Keir Starmer, European Council president Antonio Costa, and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has sparked intense debate. The shift, coming just nine years after the Brexit referendum, is a significant development on multiple fronts. The agreement, described as a wide-ranging reset, covers security, defense spending, energy trade, pharmaceuticals, fishing, food exports, and crucially immigration and mobility, particularly for students. While largely a statement of intent, leaders on both sides of the Channel have emphasized its importance. Starmer called it the dawn of a new era in U.K.-E.U. relations and a win-win deal, while von der Leyen stated, We are turning the page and opening a new chapter. Many of the issues addressed will require further negotiation, including the regulation of student and skilled worker visas. Although restrictions are likely to slacken, the benefits may apply only to E.U. citizens. This marks yet another pivot in the U.K.s immigration policy one that initially made legal migration harder, not illegal immigration. Under the May 12 announcement, prospective students and workers faced stricter language requirements, while skilled job applicants needed a university degree. Starmer justified these measures with familiar rhetoric: taking back control of our borders and ending the failed experiment of open borders. Critics argued that the move was a thinly veiled attempt to counter the rising popularity of Nigel Farages populist Reform U.K., which dominated this months local elections, securing control of 10 out of 23 councils and winning 677 of 1,600 contested seats. The governments declining approval following cuts to elderly benefits, tax hikes, and scandals over political donations likely fueled the crackdown. Starmers lofty rhetoric suggested a heavy reliance on emotional appeal. Nations depend on rules, fair rules, he said. Sometimes they are written down, often they are not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other. In a diverse nation, like ours, and I celebrate that, he added, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together. Nigel Farage blasted the plan, telling Sky News, Starmer is in serious, serious trouble. He lacks sincerity entirely. Hes obsessed with power not what to do with it. Even within Starmers own Labor Party, dissent emerged. Sarah Owen, M.P. for Luton North, argued, The best way to prevent the UK from becoming an island of strangers is to invest in thriving communities not pit people against each other. The business sector also raised alarms, warning that the restrictions could stifle economic growth, worsen the U.K.s skills crisis, and exacerbate labor shortages in key industries unless paired with an overhaul of vocational training. The British Chambers of Commerce and Confederation of British Industry (CBI) echoed these concerns, noting that student visa limits could cripple university finances. International students contribute 9.8 billion annually in tuition fees alone (per HESA, 2021/22), with their total economic impact exceeding 41.9 billion (Universities UK, 2023). Their spending on housing, transport, and services fuels local economies, making higher education a pillar of Britains global economic standing. It must also be said that everything about London contradicts the prime ministers rhetoric: the kindness and willingness to help foreign visitors people who spontaneously stop to help you find your way, Tube staff who anticipate your questions before you even ask, and countless other signs of open-minded hospitality. I say this from firsthand experience, having recently returned after years away. Starmer likely conflated different types of immigration and their related challenges. Or, as Farage suggests, its just intellectual dishonesty. Here in Europe, we know all too well the damage caused by uncontrolled, chaotic migration with waves of drifters, lacking skills or purpose, camping out in our historic city centers, in parking garages, under bridges, and in train stations. But Starmers measures disproportionately and needlessly targeted a different kind of immigrant: the very people who helped make London a capital of the world, surpassing Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam, perhaps even outshining the Big Apple itself. Its a magnetism that gets under your skin and never lets go. Did the government have a last-minute change of heart, or was this softening always part of the plan? Only time will tell. But as Shakespeare wrote, alls well that ends well. Or at least it seems that way for now. Samuel Robert Piccoli is a blogger and the author of several books, among them Being Conservative from A to Z (2014) and Blessed Are the Free in Spirit (2021). He lives in the Venice area. Image: Keir Starmer. Credit: Number 10 via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. At the end of last year, DNI Director Tulsi Gabbard reported on Fox News that in 2024, she had been targeted by the Quiet Skies program: In August this year [2024], the 43-year-old claimed that the U.S. government placed her on a secret terror watchlist on July 23. In an interview with Fox News, Gabbard said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) added her to the Quiet Skies Program watchlist without explanation. I was subjected by very in-depth screening when I travel. By in-depth I mean 30 to 45 minutes of going through that screening every time I would go to the airport to fly, Gabbard said in the interview. The deepest pain and harm and stress that has been caused by all of this is that forever going forward I will always be looking over my shoulder wondering if and how my government is surveilling me. Previously, the Boston Globe in 2018 revealed the existence of the Quiet Skies program, ostensibly designed to have air marshals track suspicious passengers (including American citizens) and observe their behavior in airports and in flight. A checklist for air marshals to observe passengers listed in the Globes report includes, but is not limited to, the following. The category is called, abnormally aware of surroundings and this author listed some of passenger behaviors in this way, with some added commentary: Reversing or changing directions and/or stopping while in transit through the airport Attempting to change appearance by changing clothes, shaving etc. while in the airport or on the plane (I have shaved after long flights or before meetings routinely) Observing the boarding gate area from afar Boarded last Using the reflection in storefront windows to identify surveillance (well, I window shop in the airport so maybe the air marshal thinks I am looking for them). As you can see, many of these indicators can also be completely normal behaviors. Yet, an Inspector Generals report released in 2019 exposed the program as a failure, with the fiasco explained like this: TSA did not properly plan, implement, and manage the Quiet Skies program to meet the program's mission of mitigating the threat to commercial aviation posed by higher risk passengers. Specifically, TSA did not: develop performance goals and measures to demonstrate program effectiveness, or always adhere to its own Quiet Skies guidance. This occurred because TSA lacked sufficient oversight to ensure the Quiet Skies program operated as intended. For example, TSA did not have a centralized office or entity to ensure the various TSA offices properly managed Quiet Skies passenger data. Without sufficient metrics, analysis, and controls, TSA cannot be assured the Quiet Skies program enhances aviation security through FAMS as intended. Some undercover air marshals (although not all of them) defended the program as a way to stop terrorism: My mission every day is to work the flight that I am assigned and make sure it goes up wheels up to wheels down without incident, the air marshal, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NBC News. And that doesn't just start on the aircraft that starts in the airport from observing my surroundings, understanding what's normal, attempt to pick out any abnormalities and then nullify them as they present themselves, the air marshal, who has been on the job for eight years, said. Prior to the release of the Inspector Generals report, the TSA Administrator testified to the programs results (or lack thereof) at a Congressional hearing: TSA Administrator David Pekoske on Capitol Hill on Wednesday acknowledged that air marshals operating under the program have made no arrests or foiled any known plots. Last month, the Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General announced it would investigate the program. I am confident that it has reduced risk for nearly seven years and I would note that we are fortunate to have the air marshal capability supporting this program, Pekoske told lawmakers Wednesday. There is, I assure you, strong oversight of this program from the department, Pekoske said. He said much of the program involves security-sensitive information, and that the intelligence that supports it is classified. In spite of Pekoskes assurances, the IG (as cited earlier) found oversight seriously lacking. Given the ineffectiveness of this program, lack of results, and invasion of Americans privacy, can anyone tell me why this program should continue? Image: Free image, Pixabay license. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal entitled, Clean Energy Is Under Attack Even Where Its Booming, the author, Jennifer Hiller, bemoans the loss of tax credits for clean-electricity generation which are set to vanish under a plan proposed last week by congressional Republicans. She quotes Jason Grumet, a lobbyist with American Clean Power as saying, The practical effect is an abrupt repeal of these incentives that translates into significant tax hikes that are going to freeze investment. When I hear Jason confess that without tax breaks all investment in wind and solar would come to a screeching halt, I am reminded of something that conservative economist Milton Friedman said about the infant industry argument. The argument postulates that newly established and favored industries need temporary protection and incentives (like tax breaks) to allow them to mature and become competitive with established firms. Friedman criticized the infant industry argument by observing that the so-called infants never seem to grow up. One might ask Mr. Grumet the same question. When will the sheltered renewables industry be able to stand on its own. Here we are twenty years into the experiment, and we are still treating the renewables industry like it is a child. Figuratively speaking, isnt it time for the industry to move out of its parents basement? Supporters of the renewables industry ignore the fact that tax incentives lead to a distortion of the market and hinder long-term economic growth by preventing resources from flowing to their most productive uses. As Friedman argued, only in free markets where businesses compete without artificial protection is there efficient allocation of resources. As I have stated in previous articles, generating electricity with a combination of solar, wind, and gas is an inefficient way to allocate capital. Capacity factors, which are measures of asset utilization, are much lower for solar, wind and gas combined than with gas only. A combined generation scheme only becomes competitive when the price of gas rises to four times its current price. In her WSJ article, Hiller does not give an adequate explanation as to why an industry that is as robust as she claims would need tax incentives. Does she assume that the industry is entitled to them because of a social good that it provides? That is an easier approach for her to take than claiming that the economics of renewable generation is sound. I am amused by her newfound concern for electricity supply to meet the growing demands of data centers for AI and new manufacturing that is making its way back to the shores of America. She has spent the last two decades taking an orgiastic delight in the premature retirement of thermal power plants and now she is worried about whether the lights stay on. I think not. Jennifer makes the shrewd observation that about three dozen Republican members of Congress have pledged support of IRA provisions in recent weeks because most clean-energy projects are in Republican states. She is pointing out a real problem. It is because of these spineless creatures that Trump can not put a dagger in the heart of this beast once and for all. Image generated by AI. When you hear NVIDIA, you probably think of powerful graphics cards and cutting-edge AI chips. And youd be right most of the time. But at Computex 2025, NVIDIA showcased something truly captivating that points to the next frontier of artificial intelligence: humanoid robotics. This glimpse into a future where physical AI is about to change everything was worthy of being in our awards. NVIDIA made a big splash by unveiling its Isaac GR00T N1.5. This isnt just another robot like the ones we have seen previously. Its the companys latest step in creating a foundational model that allows humanoid robots to learn reasoning and complex skills. As NVIDIAs CEO, Jensen Huang, passionately stated, Physical AI and robotics will bring about the next industrial revolution. He emphasized that NVIDIA is providing the essential building blocks for every stage of robotics development, from the AI brains to simulated training environments and powerful supercomputers. NVIDIA GR00T N1.5, the potential brain of the humanoid robots of the future Whats really exciting is that other major robotics companies, including familiar names like Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics, alongside many others, are adopting NVIDIAs Isaac platform. This widespread adoption suggests a unified push towards more intelligent and capable robots. NVIDIA also showcased some incredibly clever tools designed to make training robots much faster and more cost-efficient. Imagine GR00T-Dreams Blueprint: you can show a robot a picture of a task, like stacking boxes, and the tool generates a video of the robot performing it. From that, the robot learns the key actions needed to perform the task in the real world. Its almost like the robot dreams its new way of understanding. Then theres GR00T-Mimic. This tool allows a robot to watch a human perform a task a few times. Through advanced simulation software, it can then generate thousands of training examples from those few observations, almost like downloading a skill directly into the robots brain, reminiscent of scenes from The Matrix. These innovations are huge for industrial applications. After all, they allow robots to be quickly trained or even retrained on the fly for new tasks, dramatically boosting efficiency and flexibility. NVIDIAs push into humanoid robotics at Computex 2025 clearly demonstrates their vision for a future where intelligent machines play an even bigger role in our physical world. Earlier this month, Coinbase, Americas largest crypto exchange, revealed that it was the target of a recent cyber attack. Now, the tech firm has revealed that the attack impacted more than 69,000 of its users. Coinbase confirmed the number of affected users in the latest data breach in a filing with Maines attorney general on Wednesday. Coinbase has revealed more information about the recent data breach In data breach notifications filed with the Office of Maines AG, Coinbase said that cybercriminals stole customer and corporate data, which affected 69,461 individuals. The crypto firm said, A small number of individuals, performing services for Coinbase at our overseas retail support locations, improperly accessed customer information. Coinbase fired these individuals after discovering the data breach. Furthermore, in the notice, Coinbase mentioned that it discovered the latest data breach on May 11, after it took place in late December last year. The company has also shared a data breach notification letter, which it is sending out to impacted customers. Notably, the company already said that it will voluntarily reimburse customers who mistakenly sent funds to the cyber attackers as a direct result of the latest data breach, following a review to confirm the facts. Threat actors stole valuable customer information In the data breach, the threat actors were able to steal the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of thousands of Coinbase customers. They also stole masked security numbers, masked bank account numbers, some identifiers, ID images, account balances, transaction history, and limited internal documents. However, the hackers didnt compromise any login credentials, 2FA codes, private keys, or user funds directly. Notably, the cyber attackers demanded a ransom of $20 million to delete the customer data, but Coinbase refused to pay it. Instead, the company doubled down on it by offering a bounty of the same amount for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The data breach could cost the firm somewhere between $180 million and $200 million. Coinbase has advised its customers to turn on withdrawal allow-listing, enable strong 2FA, hang up on imposters, and lock their account if they feel something is suspicious. The company is already working with law enforcement to find the threat actors of the data breach. Soldiers practice bayonet fighting skills China Military Online) 08:34, May 23, 2025 Soldiers assigned to an air force unit under the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command practice bayonet fighting skills in pairs on May 8 to hone their vigilance, defense, and emergency response capabilities. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Zhu Yunlong) Soldiers assigned to an air force unit under the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command practice bayonet fighting skills in pairs on May 8 to hone their vigilance, defense, and emergency response capabilities. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Zhu Yunlong) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Apple baked some AI into iOS. Google just rebuilt the oven. At Google I/O this week, the search giant announced a ton of new AI features. In fact, it spent about two hours talking about many different AI features across its entire portfolio of products. From search, to development to Android and everything in between. And it really showed just how far behind Apple is. Last year at WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence. This is their suite of AI services and features that began rolling out last fall. However, many of the more interesting features have yet to be available, even as a beta. In fact, Apple recently announced that its much-anticipated upgrade to Siri was delayed by a year. A year. Thats insane. And its also the issue with demoing services and features well before they are ready. A lesson that Apple has apparently learned the hard way now. Slow and Steady Google was admittedly a bit late to the AI war. Despite having been using AI for many years, and demoing it quite a bit, every chance they got. But when ChatGPT debuted, Google was behind and had to scramble to get Bard out the door. Now it has renamed that chatbot to Gemini, and it is on pace, if not ahead of ChatGPT in a lot of areas. At Google I/O 2025, the company announced Gemini 2.5 Flash, as well as a number of other features like generative AI video. Upgrading from Veo 2 to Veo 3. It also introduced Flow, which is a video editor for generative AI video. Among many other things. Its really hard to keep track of everything that Google announced at I/O. Meanwhile, Apple is struggling to release small AI features. As we learned last week from the Bloomberg piece, a big issue for Apple has been its privacy stance. Because Apple prides itself on not collecting its users data like Google and almost every other company does, it makes it much harder for them to train their AI, as they can only use data that they are able to license, which isnt a whole lot of data. Typically, Apple is able to sit back and let other companies try and fail with new technologies before they jump in. But that might not be possible with AI. Every day, AI is getting better and better. Hell, were just two years removed from that awful Will Smith eating Spaghetti video, and now it looks almost real. Meanwhile, Apple struggles to just do notification summaries well. Why Apple is struggling in AI In addition to Apples privacy stance, another reason why Apple is struggling in AI so much is, their executives didnt believe in AI until 2023. Thats nearly a decade after Google started investing and working on AI. It wasnt until Craig Federighi from Apple used ChatGPT to make an application that a light bulb went off for him, telling him how great AI would be in Apples products. Then he ordered Apples software engineers to put as many AI features into iOS 18 as possible. Which was definitely the wrong approach. This approach left Apple with multiple AI features, and none of them working really well. Instead, Apple should have worked on Siri first, and improved that, before moving onto other AI features. Apple also learned that not all AI can be done on-device. Which is another issue that hits at their privacy philosophy. So instead of simply doing things in the cloud, Apple went ahead and built the Privacy Compute. This essentially creates a bubble for your privacy data, so that Apple is still not technically collecting it. While its cool and all, it doesnt really matter when your AI features barely work. Of course, we cant forget the fact that Apple poached Googles head of AI over eight years ago. Which has resulted in almost nothing for Apple in the AI race. Which also likely means that hell be headed out the door pretty soon. Google didnt just kill Apple in AI, its also taking the fight to XR While everyone else was focusing on AI, Apple was focusing on XR, and in 2023, it announced Vision Pro. This was a $3,499 virtual reality headset that then launched in early 2024. It didnt sell that well, as expected given its hefty price tag. But even those who bought the headset have said that it barely gets used these days. It almost seems like Apple has forgotten about Vision Pro and is now focused on AI entirely. But Google hasnt forgotten about XR. In fact, last year it announced Android XR. A new platform was being developed with Samsung for Extended Reality devices. It announced Project Moohan with Samsung, which is a new Android XR headset (and looks a lot like Vision Pro). Its set to go on sale later this year. On top of that, Google also formally announced its own pair of XR Glasses at Google I/O this week and let attendees try them on. Android XR not only has virtual and augmented reality included, but it is also running on Gemini. Giving you immersive visuals and ambient intelligence. Now, Apple is not only going to fall behind in AI but also in XR. Googles AI lead might be permanent Google has a huge advantage over other AI companies, and that is Google Search. Since everyone in the world uses Google Search to find things on the web, it allows Google to have a ton of data that it can feed its AI. Which is also a problem. You see, by using all of this data that Googles search engine has crawled and indexed, its able to provide to users in Gemini or Google Searchs AI Mode, which also takes traffic away from those websites that made that content and data. This is going to be a real problem for Google, in fact it actually already is. As Google is decimating publishers like yours truly, so that it can win in AI. If Google puts publishers out of business by no longer sending them traffic, this also means that Google will no longer have this data to feed to its AI. Making publishers a necessary evil for Google, something theyve said behind closed doors already. Googles open ecosystem allows its AI features to run great across all of its products. From Gmail, to Google Docs, to Android and everything in between. Something that Apple is opposed to, for privacy reasons. And that could be Apples letdown. While Apple does make some great hardware, its clear that AI is not their forte. So how can Apple comeback? Well, the only way I can see Apple making a comeback now is if they buy an AI company (or two). While they are partnering with OpenAI for ChatGPT with Siri, I doubt that they would buy OpenAI. Considering Microsoft has already invested a ton of monay into OpenAI and uses ChatGPT for Microsoft CoPilot. But they could buy something like Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI. Does Apple have a chance? In 2025? No. In the next 5 years? Possibly. A couple of years ago, Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard, which is one of the largest video game publishers in the world. Microsoft is no slouch either, being one of the biggest tech companies in the world as well. So, as you can expect, the deal was placed under a microscope. However, it looks like the FTC has decided to back off and is dropping its case against Microsofts Activision Blizzard deal. FTC drops its case According to the FTC filing, the government agency says, The Commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation in this case. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the Complaint in this matter be, and it hereby is, dismissed by the Commission. This means that Microsoft no longer needs to worry about the Activision Blizzard deal being blocked by the FTC, at least as far as the US is concerned. Microsoft has also released its own statement. Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith said, Todays decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, DC. We are grateful to the FTC for todays announcement. Microsoft faced some roadblocks when it tried to acquire Activision Blizzard in an eye-watering $68.7 billion deal. However, it prevailed. In 2023, it successfully beat the FTCs request for an injunction against the deal. Microsofts rival in the console space, Sony, also opposed the deal. The deal also faced scrutiny in the UK by the countrys regulators. However, it later gave the deal a greenlight. Who is Activision Blizzard? If you have been playing video games long enough, Activision and Blizzard are two companies youre familiar with. Activision is the publisher behind major triple-A titles such as Call of Duty. Blizzard, on the other hand, is best known for its Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft series. Both companies originally existed as separate entities. However, in 2008, both companies merged to form a new entityActivision Blizzard. Microsoft then later announced plans to acquire the company in 2022 in a deal worth $68.7 billion. Samsung faced some pretty big delays with its latest software offerings under the One UI name. However, the company is not letting that slow it down. According to a new report, Samsung is already working on One UI 8 Watch, and it could come with an antioxidant index feature. We are only a few months away from Samsungs latest Unpacked event, and we have a solid idea of what the company is going to talk about. Obviously, its going to introduce its latest foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Along with that, we expect the company to announce the Galaxy Z Flip FE. However, smartwatch enthusiasts will be more excited about the Galaxy Watch 8 series. These will be the companys latest smartwatches, and we dont know too much about what theyll bring to the table. What we do know is that Samsung plans to load One UI 8 Watch onto them. One UI 8 Watch could have an antioxidant index feature As with any early information, you will want to take this with a grain of salt. This was discovered via an APK deep dive performed by Android Authority. So, Samsung has not officially announced this. However, the company does have a dedicated page explaining the antioxidant index in Samsung Health. According to the deep dive, you will have to actually take your smartwatch off to use the sensor. Once you do that, you will press the pad of your thumb in the center of the sensor on the back of the watch. This means that you wont be able to track the scanning process on the smartwatchs display, but you will be able to use the Samsung Health app on your phone. Thats pretty simple and straightforward, but were not sure how many people will find it convenient to physically take off their smartwatch to get a reading. This shows that we may be reaching the limit of what sort of sensors we can load onto smartwatches. Usually, smartwatches can comfortably sit on your wrist while taking measurements. However, it seems were getting to the point where companies are starting to reach their limits. In any case, being able to monitor your antioxidant index might be a selling point of One UI 8. Its just important to note that the readings you get from your smartwatch may not be 100% accurate. It is always best to consult a doctor for the best results. Weeks ago, Samsung had started mass producing its upcoming foldable smartphones. Now were hearing that the company is getting ready to ship the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE to stores. So the company is making final preparations for sales to kick off. Samsungs new foldable are right around the corner, theyre shipping to stores soon This information comes from Max Jambor, a well-known tipster. He also shared the weight of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE model. That foldable will allegedly weigh 187 grams. Neither of the three phones will be shipping with a charger. It is also worth noting that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE will have the exact same weight as the Galaxy Z Flip 6. In fact, that handset is expected to resemble the Galaxy Z Flip 6 quite a bit. The Galaxy Z Flip 7, on the other hand, will have a larger cover display, not a folder-type one. Based on the latest information, the Exynos 2500 will fuel the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Weve seen a lot of back and forth regarding its processor, in all honesty. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy was mentioned, but the latest info claims Samsungs chip will be used. Weve exclusively revealed designs of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 & Flip 7 In case youre wondering what the Galaxy Z Flip 7 or Galaxy Z Fold 7 look like, weve revealed their designs exclusively. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 will have a brand new cover display, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be thinner and lighter, it would seem. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, unlike the Galaxy Z Flip 7, will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. That much is more or less set in stone at this point in time. That will be the case in all markets. When can we expect these to launch? Well, a July launch is expected. All three devices are tipped to arrive in early July, during an event in New York. The companys first tri-fold smartphone is also tipped to launch there, but it could arrive later in the year. Xiaomi has just announced a mobile processor that has been hyped up recently, the Xring O1. Xiaomi actually says that the Xring O1 mobile chip rivals Apples offering, but it costs less. So, lets see what were getting here, shall we? During an event in China, the Xiaomi Xring O1 chip was announced, along with some new hardware. The Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphone and Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra tablet were also presented, and both include this new chip. Well focus on the processor itself, though, as those two devices are China-only at the moment. Xiaomi says that its new chip challenges Apples, while it costs less Xiaomis CEO, Lei Jun, said that the Xring O1 chip beats Apples A18 Pro processor on several technical metrics. That includes the ability to run games while producing less heat than the Apple A18 Pro. CNBC did reach out to Xiaomi for a comment. Lei Jun clarified that Apple is still number one, while adding that the Xiaomi Xring O1 is more of an indicator of great effort on Xiaomis end, rather than a way to pressure Apple. Xiaomi will spend $27.7 billion on research and development over a span of 5 years Lei Jun also added that Xiaomi will spend 200 billion yuan on research and development in the next five years, starting from 2026. Hes also expecting a 30% revenue growth in 2025. Lets get back to the chip itself. This is a 3nm processor, just like Apples A18 Pro and Qualcomms Snapdragon 8 Elite. It is a 10-core processor which comes with dual Cortex-X925 cores clocked at 3.9GHz, four Cortex A725 cores at 3.4GHz, two extra Cortex A725 cores clocked at 1.9GHz, and two Cortex A520 cores set at 1.8GHz. A 16-core Immortalis-G925 GPU is also included, as is a 6-core NPU. That NPU delivers 44 TOPS of AI computing power. Xiaomi also noted that the Xring O1 (inside the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra) achieves 27.5% faster video exports, 51.3% quicker image exports, and 119.3 FPS in MOBA games. A 49% smoother multitasking was also mentioned. Were just not sure to what the company is comparing this to, though. The Xiaomi Surge S1 was the companys first mobile processor, it arrived in 2017 If a Xiaomi chip sounds familiar, thats because this is not the first processor the company announced. Xiaomi introduced the Surge S1 processor back in 2017. That processor was aimed at a budget category of products, unlike the Xring O1. This is clearly aimed at high-end offerings. This is an interesting turn of events for Xiaomi, of course. Around 40% of the companys phones currently use Qualcomms and MediaTeks chips, so it remains to be seen what will happen down the road. Xiaomi will likely use Xring O1 in quite a few more products moving forward, so that percentage of third-party chips is expected to drop. Were wondering what will the Xring O1 will perform in real-life. Its a shame Xiaomi did not release more comparison tests with the competition, at least not yet. Dont expected to see the Xiaomi Xring O1 in the US Do not expect to see this processor in the US, however. Xiaomi is not selling its smartphones and tablets in the States, and this chip is currently limited to the companys products. Chances are that it will stay that way, too. To our knowledge, Xiaomi also doesnt have plans to make major launches in the US, for a number of reasons. The company was in hot water in the past, as it was inspired by Apple on a number of occasions, which raised some eyebrows. The US is also very sensitive to Chinese tech these days, and in the middle of a trade war, so that certainly doesnt help. Were glad that there is more competition in the chip market, however. The more the merrier, as that will push other companies to do an even better job. Qualcomm and MediaTek have been doing an outstanding job lately, and the Apple A18 Pro is also a great offering. Google is expected to announce its Tensor chip, manufactured by TSMC later this year, so there will be plenty of competition out there. A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said police officers would remain in the area to reassure the public. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA Armed police have been called to a hospital in Glasgow after a man entered the building carrying a crossbow. Police were alerted to the incident in the atrium of Queen Elizabeth university hospital at about 6.30am on Friday. Specialist firearms officers were among those dispatched to the scene, but police confirmed the weapon had not been fired and there were no injuries. A 29-year-old man had been arrested. The atrium of the hospital was closed for a short time and traffic was temporarily diverted around the hospital, but a spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said there was no disruption to services. The hospital is now open as normal. Police said inquiries were continuing. Insp Alyssa Fullelove-McCann said: Im aware this incident will be concerning but Id like to provide reassurance that it is being treated as isolated and there is no ongoing risk to the public. Officers will remain in the area while inquiries are carried out and anyone with concerns or information can speak to them, or call 101. A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: We can confirm we supported police with an incident in the atrium of the QEUH this morning. The atrium was closed for a short time while this was dealt with, and traffic around the hospital was temporarily diverted. There was no disruption to any of our services and the hospital is now open as normal. We would like to thank our security teams for their handling of this incident before officers arrived. Under the Crossbows Act 1987, it is legal to buy a crossbow in England, Scotland and Wales, and owners are not required to register the weapon or hold a licence. Similar legislation covers Northern Ireland. However, it is illegal for under-18s to own or buy one, for under-21s to shoot one (unless under the supervision of someone older), for owners to rent or lend one to anyone else, or to shoot one in a public space, or in any private place without permission. Proposals designed to tighten the law around crossbow sales were put forward by the government last month. The Home Office minister, Diana Johnson, said amendments tabled to the crime and policing bill aim to strengthen age verification controls on both the online sale and delivery of the weapon. Brazilian photographer and environmentalist Sebastiao Salgado, known for his award-winning images of nature and humanity, has died at the age of 81. Instituto Terra, which was founded by him and his wife, confirmed the information on Friday, but did not provide more details on the circumstances of Salgados death or where it took place. The French Academy of Fine Arts, of which Salgado was a member, also confirmed his death. The photographer had suffered from various health problems for many years after contracting malaria in the 1990s. Sebastiao was more than one of the best photographers of our time, Instituto Terra said in a statement. His lens revealed the world and its contradictions; his life, (brought) the power of transformative action. We will continue to honour his legacy, cultivating the land, the justice and the beauty that he so deeply believed could be restored, it added. One of Brazils most famous artists, Salgados life and work were portrayed in the documentary film The Salt Of The Earth (2014), co-directed by Wim Wenders and his son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. He received a number of awards, and was elected an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States in 1992 and to the French Academy of Fine Arts in 2016. Born in the city of Aimores, in the countryside of the Minas Gerais state in Brazil, Salgado moved to France in 1969 as Brazil endured a military dictatorship. He started to fully dedicate his time to photography in 1973, years after his economics degree. His style is marked by black-and-white imagery, rich tonality, and emotionally-charged scenarios. Impoverished communities were among his main interests. Among his main works are the recent series Amazonia; Workers which shows manual labour around the world; and Exodus (also known as Migrations or Sahel), which documents people in transit, including refugees and slum residents. Salgado and his wife, Lelia Wanick Salgado, founded Amazonas Images, an agency that exclusively handles his work. He is also survived by his sons Juliano and Rodrigo. Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, which published several works of Salgado over the last decades, said he recently cancelled a meeting with journalists in the French city of Reims due to health problems. He was scheduled to attend an exhibition with works by his son Rodrigo on Saturday, the daily reported. An Iraqi-born barber has been jailed for four years for sending propaganda videos from the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State to a WhatsApp group. Mohammed Hamad, 30, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, to two counts of disseminating terrorist publications from the so-called Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh. At his sentencing hearing on Friday, David Earl, prosecuting, said Hamad had come to the UK illegally from Iraqi Kurdistan in 2016. He told authorities his life would be in danger and he would be arrested if he returned to his home country, the court heard. Hamad said he had been a student of preacher Mulla Shwan, who he said used to teach him the Koran but had recently joined Daesh. He told interviewers: Because I was his student, police called me to attend a meeting so Ive run away for my life. The court heard in June 2022, a WhatsApp group was set up, including Hamad, with the introductory message: Swearing by the almighty Allah, we have given a pledge of allegiance to almighty Allah that we will come to you under the flag of the Islamic State caliphate in whatever hole you are in this world. Otherwise we will, by Allah, separate your head from your body. Hamad shared a pro-Islamic State mindset with others in the group, the court heard. One video shared by another user showed a shackled soldier on fire with the caption: It contains roasting. It is very tasty. The court heard Hamad sent two videos in the group. Mr Earl said the first, sent on December 9 2022, showed someone who claimed to be a student of Mulla Shwan, who appeared in numerous IS videos before he was killed, alongside other IS fighters, in 2015. The video referred soldiers of the so-called Islamic State and to brothers being skilled in IED, meaning improvised explosive devices, Mr Earl said. A second video was sent by Hamad on January 18 and showed three prisoners being beheaded in the street. In a speech before the beheading, the man in the video said he was acting in revenge for an attack on Muslim people and promised: We will slaughter you one by one. Mr Earl said: The videos were sent intending them to be a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. When Hamad, who had a Kurdish Sorani interpreter in the dock, was arrested at his home in Wavertree, Liverpool, in March last year, he told officers: I lost my phone a long time ago. I want a solicitor. Kate ORaghallaigh, defending, said: The court has seen evidence which is entirely consistent with this man being, in his real life, consistently a hard-working local barber in Liverpool who is not religious, not devout, leads a typical western lifestyle, attends nightclubs and so forth. Judge Neil Flewitt KC asked: Doesnt it rather beg the question, which is the real life? Photographs of Hamad at social events, including his own wedding, were submitted to the court along with a letter from his wife, who sat in the public gallery. Sentencing, Judge Flewitt said: It is said that you live a characteristic western lifestyle, with many gay and lesbian friends, respecting everyone equally. On that basis, it is submitted that these offences represent an aberration in your life and undermine any suggestion that you are a committed ideologue. I have some difficulty with that submission because another interpretation of that material is that it demonstrates the hypocrisy of a person who is willing publicly to embrace a western lifestyle while privately supporting a terrorist organisation whose objective is to destroy it. The judge also made Hamad subject to notification provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 for 10 years. Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Sir Keir Starmer of emboldening Hamas, after the British Prime Minister joined the leaders of France and Canada in calling for a halt to Israels military offensive and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid. Earlier this week, Sir Keir, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney condemned the Israeli governments egregious actions in Gaza, warning the UK and allies will take concrete actions unless Mr Netanyahu changes course. In a post on X on Thursday evening, the Israeli prime minister said Hamas wants to destroy the Jewish state and annihilate the Jewish people. He said: I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice. Because by issuing their demand replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power. Mr Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not advancing peace, but emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. Last night in Washington something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young beautiful couple Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were pic.twitter.com/FFdMwlacJ9 Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) May 22, 2025 The Israeli leaders comments came in a video statement after two Israeli embassy staff were killed in Washington DC. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard defended the UKs stance, saying the killings are a terrible example of the antisemitic hate that, sadly, we are seeing rise in the world, but that the UK is also making the strong case for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for aid to be delivered. I dont recognise what prime minister Netanyahu has said about that awful event in the States, he told Sky News. We condemn the killing of diplomats thoroughly. We want to see a proper investigation as we would do in all things to secure justice for those people who have been murdered in the States. But we also, at the same time, should not remove ourselves from the need to secure a lasting peace in Gaza a lasting peace is good for Israel. The Israeli embassy staff, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the 31-year-old suspect approached. Israels foreign minister identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The attack has sent shockwaves around the world and prompted Israeli missions to beef up security. Elias Rodriguez, 31, told police after his arrest, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, federal authorities said on Thursday, as they announced criminal charges. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum in Washington (Embassy of Israel in the US/AP) Sir Keir has described the shooting as antisemitic. He said: I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. Downing Street said the Prime Minister stands in solidarity with the Jewish community here in the UK, adding the Government has offered its full support to the Israeli embassy in London. The Prime Ministers official spokesman added: As you know, we continue to provide around 18 million a year in funding for protective security measures for Jewish community sites in the UK. The Governments approach towards Israels actions in Gaza will not change as a result of the killings, the spokesman indicated, but he said this does not take away at all from the fact that antisemitism is an evil that must be stamped out wherever it appears. On Tuesday, the Government suspended trade deal talks with Israel, sanctioned West Bank settlers and summoned the countrys ambassador, while Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Israels actions as monstrous. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested she thought the Government had gone too far by suspending trade talks with Israel. Speaking to reporters during a visit to East Yorkshire, Mrs Badenoch said: What Im really worried about is the additional actions which Keir Starmer had taken, breaking off trade talks. I dont think that was necessary. That is going to be to the detriment of the UK. Israel supplies us with medicines, with defence equipment. So to just scrap all that because of trying to trying to send a message, I dont think that was the right way to send that message. Bertice Pompe, left, and Bernadette Dugass fear the Mauritius government will not do right by them. Photograph: Lucy North/PA Two women who brought an 11th-hour legal challenge to try to stop the UK transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius have accused the government of betrayal. British Chagossians Bertrice Pompe, 54, and Bernadette Dugasse, 68, who were both born on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia, vowed to keep fighting to try to realise their dream of returning to their place of birth. They obtained a high court injunction in the early hours of Thursday morning preventing the UK government from signing the deal with Mauritius. But later that day, another judge discharged the injunction and the agreement to hand over Britains last African colony was sealed. While much of the fallout has focused on the cost to the UK of leasing back Diego Garcia, which is home to a UK-US airbase, and perceived security threats from Mauritiuss relationship with China, many Chagossians feel sidelined. Chief among their concerns is that Diego Garcia is exempted from the right of return for Chagossians contained in the deal and that the Mauritius government will not do right by them. Dugasse, who was two-and-a-half when her family was forced to move to Seychelles, said on Friday that she was heartbroken. I dont know how to put it because the night before we won, and in the morning we lost Ive been betrayed by the British government, she said. I will have to keep on fighting the British government till they accept for me to settle there [on Diego Garcia]. Do I know if Ill be able to be around to keep on fighting? Im getting older and older and Im losing my strength so I dont think I can make it for very long. The presence of the military base was the reason the UK severed the Chagos Islands renaming it the British Indian Ocean Territory from the rest of Mauritius, when it granted the latter independence in 1968. The British forcibly displaced up to 2,000 people in what has been described as a crime against humanity and one of the most shameful episodes of postwar colonialism. Related: UK signs 3.4bn deal to cede sovereignty over Chagos Islands to Mauritius An internal Foreign Office memo notoriously belittled Chagossians as a few Tarzans and Man Fridays and Pompe, just six months old when her family was expelled, referred to this as she explained how the UKs current actions were exacerbating its past transgressions. She said: Weve been ignored, weve been invisible, we dont exist. They dont even mention us. When they expelled us, everything was hidden [as if] there were no human beings on the island, just some Man Fridays. And theyre not saying it [now], theyre not pronouncing the [same] words, but by their actions theyre doing the same thing. Were being scammed over and over again. Given their historic treatment by the British, it might seem strange that the legal challenge sought to keep the islands under British control, but the women explained that it was intended as a temporary arrangement. Dugasse said it would be for the time being, until we are able to manage our island by ourselves. She elaborated, likening the deal to going out of the frying pan, into the fire, and added: Like my grandparents used to say: Better the devil you know than the devil you dont know. Of the Chagossians in Mauritius, many of whom support the deal, she said: They forgot that in the past they were campaigning against the Mauritian government for dumping them in rough houses, dirty places. Pompe and Dugasse pledged to continue the fight by urging MPs to vote against the deal in parliament and also through the courts. Im still feeling hopeful, said Pompe. [Thursday] was a little bit of a disappointment, but after that weve had so much support, especially from other Chagossian groups. Im going to keep working with my lawyers, and were going to bring another case. So its not over until the fat lady sings and thats me. The government made no reference to the Chagossians in its press release on Thursday. It described the agreement as a legal necessity, given international court rulings which said it should return the islands to Mauritius, and said it had secured the future of the strategically critical Diego Garcia base. A coroner noted failure by mental health services to manage the risk to a deaf TikTok star, who died after ingesting a poisonous substance she ordered online. Imogen Nunn, 25, died in Brighton, East Sussex, on New Years Day 2023, having struggled with her mental health since she was 13. Ms Nunn, who was born deaf, raised awareness of hearing and mental health issues on her social media accounts, which attracted more than 780,000 followers. On Friday, the inquest at West Sussex Coroners Court in Horsham, heard that proper safeguarding measures were not put in place after Ms Nunn told a nurse she had bought chemicals for use in suicide. Senior coroner Penelope Schofield said: There was a failure by the mental health services to manage her risk by failing to review her care plan following a suicide attempt in October 2022. Failing to put in place safeguarding measures following being advised that Immy had accessed the pro-suicide website and disclosed that she had purchased chemicals to use in suicide, and failing to have a face-to-face appointment with Immy on December 30 2022 to assess her risk. The coroner also underlined a backdrop of systemic challenges with the number of British Sign Language interpreters across various UK industries and has indicated she will be writing to multiple government departments. The coroner said: This is on a background of systemic, longstanding and well-documented challenges in the provision of mental health for deaf patients, with particular emphasis on the national shortage of BSL interpreters and the difficulty this presents for patients to be able to communicate their distress when their mental health is deteriorating or they are in crisis. An expert from the National Register of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) earlier told the inquest that failing to provide proper translation for deaf people could amount to a breach of human rights. In light of this, Ms Schofield found an arguable breach of Article Two, and has commissioned a second prevention of future deaths report. Immys death underscores these systemic challenges, she added. The court previously heard Ms Nunn ordered a lethal chemical substance online on November 14, which was delivered to her home address on November 21. She had contacted her support worker at the deaf adult community team on November 23 and told them she had bought something online that she planned to take to end her life. While the police were contacted, and they visited Ms Nunns address, no long-term changes were made to her care plan, the inquest heard. Three days before Ms Nunns death, on December 29 2022, Ms Nunn received a check-in visit at her home from care professionals, after sending a text message saying she had had an increase in suicidal thoughts. She had also sent a message to her therapist saying I want to be admitted to hospital I cant keep myself safe, the same day. No BSL interpreter was taken to the meeting as there was not sufficient time to arrange one. The inquest into Ms Nunns death had to be adjourned for two months because there were no BSL interpreters available to translate for two deaf witnesses in March. The coroner also noted discrepancies in the note keeping from Ms Nunns care co-ordinator Ray McCullagh. Ms Schofield said: There were issues around the lack of record keeping from nurse McCullagh. I am not going to address each of the occasions where it appears there has been a discrepancy The discrepancies showed a failure in care, but did not undermine the therapeutic relationship in Ms Nunns case, the inquest heard. Ms Schofield has proposed to write to the cabinet office, the Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Care about the systemic issues underlined by the inquest. The coroner thanked Ms Nunns family for the dignity they showed throughout the process. Hopefully some good will come out of this and people will listen and changes can be put into place, she said. Remembering her daughter, Louise Nunn said: Immy was our rainbow she would make you feel so special whenever she was around and her heart was filled only with love. Pennsylvania Democrat Summer Lee is pushing for slavery reparations - Tom Williams/2025 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Even for a party as troubled as the Democrats, the decision by a group of lawmakers to introduce a congressional resolution demanding reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans is particularly hairbrained. Its not that African Americans, like myself, do not deserve formal recognition for the centuries of labour our ancestors were forced to contribute to building this nation. But reparations? Its the wrong solution from the wrong party at the wrong time. The specific legislation on the table is not new. Officially known as the Reparations Now resolution, the bill was first introduced back in 2023 by former Representative Cori Bush then a leading member of the Democrats ultra-progressive Squad, whose best-known figure is New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Last August, Bush was defeated in an unusually-costly Democrat primary race dominated by her aggressive criticism of Israel and its war with Hamas in Gaza. This time, the reparations push is being led by Pennsylvania Democrat Summer Lee, another vocal Israel-critic and Squad member. Black folks are owed more than thoughts and prayers. Were owed repair, were owed restitution and were owed justice, said Lee at a press conference announcing the bill. Bush, who also attended the event, added: For over 400 years America has been cashing checks written in black blood. Reparations Now calls upon the federal government to allocate trillions of dollars $14 trillion in Bushs original version for reparations atoning for slavery, as well as for the legacies of Jim Crow, housing discrimination and the effects of Americas decades-long war on drugs. With African American household wealth still roughly one-sixth that of their white counterparts, according to data from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, few could deny that there is a problem. But Reparations Now is not the plan to address it. Beyond the logistics of such a scheme funding, eligibility, disbursements is the timing behind the ideas resuscitation. Lee has made clear that she is picking up where Bush left off as a direct response to the Trump White Houses assaults on race-based preference programmes such as DEI. Such thinking was also behind the reintroduction of a similar bill HR 40 by Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker in February. HR 40 would establish a federal commission to examine the long-term effects of slavery and explore possible reparations programmes. Pressley was even more biting in her critique of the president and the necessity of reparations now than her fellow Squad-members, branding Trumps second term a moment of anti-Blackness on steroids. While it might make for easy headlines, tying reparations directly to the return of Trump makes no sense. For one thing, the relative poverty of African Americans is nothing to do with the current president: black Americans have been poor under both Republican and Democratic administrations. In fact, many African American leaders, such as Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, believe that Democratic efforts to eradicate poverty among black communities through handouts most notably President Lyndon B Johnsons 1960s-era Great Society campaign have done more harm than good. What was hard to survive, said Scott during his short-lived run for the presidency back in 2023, was Johnsons Great Society, where they decided to put money where they decided to take the black father out of the household to get a check in the mail. And you can now measure that in unemployment and crime and devastation. Although Scott was skewered by progressives such as 1619 Project author Nikole Hannah-Jones, data from Pew reveals that Scott is likely to be speaking for a not-insignificant proportion of African Americans. Roughly 20 per cent do not support a reparations push, with higher-educated and higher-earning black Americans leading such opposition. Overall, 70 per cent of Americans believe reparations schemes are a bad idea. It isnt particularly difficult to see why. In California, reparations commissions at both the state level and in the city of San Francisco spent years and millions on research and task forces but have yet to take any concrete actions. And this in a state that never had slavery. A San Francisco plan was particularly ambitious, floating a $5 million payment to every eligible black resident a process that the Hoover Institution said would cost every local non-black family $600,000. Unsurprisingly, the scheme has been stalled by budgetary constraints. Although such figures have yet to be considered on a national level, the price tag for bills like Lees Reparations Now would be difficult to stomach even for most Democrats and face almost certain legal opposition from Republicans. A modest reparations scheme in Evanston, Illinois, for instance, was sued last year by the conservative group Judicial Watch, which claims that it is unconstitutional because applicants must qualify by race. The programme which launched in 2022 provides $25,000 in housing grants to direct descendants of black residents harmed by historic housing discrimination. Rather than focus on reparations schemes that spend decades in development but inevitably go nowhere, Democrats would be better served and better serve their constituents fixing their party and focusing on efforts that are actually likely to improve the plight of black Americans. But that would involve confronting some hard facts and making some difficult decisions. Like with their support for preferred pronouns or Pride flags, its far easier to embrace virtue-signalling and anti-Trump bluster. The Democrats thrive on distraction and reparations fit this mold perfectly. David Christopher Kaufman is a New York Post columnist Michele Bennett in her flooded home in Croki near Taree. Everythings pretty well gone. Photograph: Dean Sewell/ Oculi/The Guardian For the second time in just four years, Michele Bennett has lost pretty much everything. The 50-year-old returned home on Friday to find most of her belongings destroyed after a record-breaking flood engulfed her house in Croki, a tiny community north of Taree, earlier in the week. All the beds are gone, she says. I opened the fridge to get a can of soft drink out and there was two foot of water in the veggie crisper. Related: NSW floods 2025 map: these flood maps show the full extent of record-breaking rainfall Its [still] two inches of water right through the house. The washing machine everythings pretty well gone. Bennett and her partner, Mario Agus, sheltered with their 96-year-old neighbour, whose house is on higher ground, as a coastal trough inundated the New South Wales mid-north coast and Hunter regions. Five people have died. Another 50,000 are isolated. In Taree, the Manning River rose to an unprecedented 6.5 metres, surpassing the previous record set in 1929 by half a metre. By Friday, the rain had cleared and locals were taking stock of the damage. In central Taree, people wheeled shopping trolleys full of debris down Pulteney Street, dragged soaked mattresses out of buildings and filled skip bins with mountains of rubbish. Croki, right on the Manning River between Taree and the coast, was also badly affected. Many residents, still recovering from serious flooding in 2021, couldnt afford rising premiums and were uninsured for flood damage this time around, Bennett says. She and Agus are among them; faced with a $30,000 premium, they had to opt out. Well just have to start saving and buying the essentials as we need them [and] just sort of start again, basically, Bennett says. Everyone in the community has been a bit flat but at the same time, youve got to look at the good in life. We are all safe, we are dry, and we all have each other. This morning, there was a beautiful rainbow. Im not sure if Mother Nature was playing tricks with us or not, but it was fantastic. Its destruction and debris everywhere Bennett says the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have been really good. One dropped off a gas bottle for someone who was out, another came round with a Webster pack for her elderly neighbour. Out on the flood plain, Ian Crisp said he and his nephew were trying to help feed 250 head of cattle on a massive dairy farm that had been just destroyed. Some farmers were forced to leave their cows behind to drown. Its dead cattle and destruction and debris everywhere, Crisp says. Like, high waters high water, but what it does to peoples livelihoods is the devastating part of it. Crisp, an oyster farmer, and another oyster farming family from the area rescued dozens of people and their pets earlier in the week. In terrible weather, they steered their oyster punts down the submerged streets using Google Maps to work out where the roads would have been. We rescued some older people who were just absolutely in shock. They had no idea where they were going to go and what was going to happen to them, Crisp says. We were helping these people get in boats and with their dogs and their medication and an overnight bag and all that sort of stuff. Crisp is critical of the SES, the volunteer organisation which is the lead agency in responding to floods. The other oyster farmers rescued many people from Dumaresq Island including a family of six that was stranded. He claims SES volunteers on the ground told the oyster farmers they werent allowed to put the family of six in their boat until they got permission from command. The SES strongly disputes this claim. The NSW SES does not require flood rescue crews to seek approval before allowing community members into boats, a spokesperson for the agency says. In a lot of cases, members responding to incidents have encountered others needing rescue along the way and have picked them up. The floods have reignited long-running tensions between the SES and the firefighters union, who have pushed for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) to take over as the lead agency for all disaster responses. For years we have campaigned for the lead combat agency for large-scale emergency events of this nature to be allocated only to professional agencies with trained operators ready to respond, the Fire Brigade Employees Union wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. In the same post, the FBEU claimed its members were being left to sit on their hands while SES members struggle to turn out with adequate crewing. The FBEU declined to comment further when contacted by Guardian Australia. FRNSW also declined to comment. One Taree resident, Val Schaefer, believes some of the response could have been better coordinated. Her partner, who is a retained firefighter with FRNSW, had to assist in evacuating aged-care residents from the Bushland Care units with rubber rafts at 3am on Wednesday. They talk about pre-deploying assets? We couldnt get our heads around why they didnt pre-evacuate the aged-care residents, she says. Professional outfit doing extraordinary job A NSW SES spokesperson said it commenced a coordinated response on 14 May and has been working closely alongside all partner agencies, including FRNSW, since then. They rejected any suggestion that the SES could not cope with the number of calls. At no time during this recent flooding event has the NSW SES exceeded its capacity for call taking, they said. The NSW SES has answered over 12,000 calls since the start of this event, with the average speed of answer being sixty-two seconds. The SES says it has more than 11,400 volunteers and the number is growing. Since the beginning of this flooding event, the NSW SES and partner agencies have responded to nearly 7,000 incidents, including over 700 flood rescues, a spokesperson said. The emergency services minister, Jihad Dib, says there are always things that can be improved and reflected upon, but he had confidence in the SES remaining the lead agency for this kind of disaster. This is a professional outfit that is doing an extraordinary job, he told Guardian Australia. Its a longstanding and known fact that the FBEU would think paid firefighters should be replacing volunteers. They think they could do what the volunteers could do, and I dont know that the capacity is there. Dib said the government had invested quite heavily in flood rescue capability and worked hard to improve the way different emergency services coordinate their responses to disasters, following the catastrophic northern rivers floods of 2022. I want a situation where all of our emergency services respect one another. Im seeing it on the ground, he says. In the worst of times we see the best of people. Im seeing that. Schaefer says seeing her beloved Taree underwater made her just want to cry. People have been cooking meals for one another and offering each other hay and rescuing cows that have washed up on the beach, she says. Theres so much kindness in our community, she says. But theyre also sad. From left to right: Rosmira Campos, Baby Begum and Mubarak Ibrahim. Photograph: Thaslima Begum/The Guardian In 2024, the number of internally displaced people around the world reached 83.4m, the highest figure ever recorded. Men, women, children, whole families and generations have been forced to flee their homes within their country as a result of conflict, violence, or natural disasters. Internal displacement rarely makes the headlines, but for those living it, the suffering can last for years, says Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, commenting on the latest figures from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Here, three people tell us what it has meant to be forced from their homes. Baby Begum, Bangladesh Bangladesh is one of the worlds most climate-vulnerable countries. The number of internally displaced people due to natural disasters has risen for four consecutive years and reached 2.4 million in 2024, according to the IDMC report. Baby Begum is 40 and has two disabled sons. She was first displaced by the catastrophic floods of 2022. *** Every year, before the monsoon season begins, I get this anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. It starts with the first drops of rain and steadily gets worse. I grew up in Sunamganj, in north-east Bangladesh, where the monsoon season brings heavy rainfall for months at a time; about 80% of Bangladeshs yearly rainfall occurs from June to October, and by the end of it, almost a third of our country is underwater. I know water is essential for survival but it also has the power to destroy everything in its path. I have learned this first-hand. In June 2022, catastrophic flash floods the worst Bangladesh had seen in a century inundated much of my home town, killing people in its wake, washing away my village and leaving thousands of people displaced. My family was among them and in the course of just a few days, we lost everything; our home, our crops and cattle, and our entire life savings. I was at work when the flood water started rising and by the time I got home, my village was empty. The rescue boats that arrived to carry people to emergency shelters had already left and my family was stuck. My husband, Shafiq, had been watching our sons, Yunus and Bablu, who are both disabled and autistic. They were terrified. It took only a few hours for our house to be under water. We scrambled on to the roof and cried out desperately for help as the water continued to rise. I was convinced we would all drown. Although I can swim, my boys cant and so we decided, if we had to die, we would die together. Luckily, a fisherman with a boat rescued us at the last minute. We were taken to an emergency shelter but from there, things only got worse. We thought it would be temporary but we were stuck there with hundreds of other families, all squeezed together in a crowded, unsanitary space. We had to queue for hours just to use the washroom and my boys would end up wetting themselves. It was a complete nightmare. With our home destroyed, we were forced to leave. We went from one shelter to another and then, in 2023, we moved into a ramshackle hut in an overcrowded slum in nearby Sylhet, where we hoped we would find work. I got a job as a housemaid and Shafiq became a rickshaw driver. But a few months later, he fell off his bike and seriously injured his back, leaving him unable to work. I became the sole breadwinner of my family, earning only 5,000 taka [30] a month. In my village, we knew everyone and there were always people who we could rely on for help we have lost all of that The past few years have been really difficult. After losing everything to the floods, we have had to start again from scratch. We had once saved enough to send our sons to a special school but now that dream feels impossible. We only have enough to get by and even that is a daily struggle. In 2024, the floods returned. Our home, made from rusted tin sheets, was partly destroyed and I cant afford to get the roof fixed so even during slight rainfall, it becomes damp and muddy. The air is unbearable. We all feel suffocated. My children get sick often and I cant afford medication. I constantly feel like I have failed them. I tell them this situation is only temporary but in reality, I dont think things will ever get better for us. We didnt just lose our home, but our close ties with our family and neighbours. The floods have washed away all our hopes and dreams. In my village, we knew everyone and there were always people around who we could rely on for help. My sons felt safe and secure. They had friends. But now we have lost all of that and it feels like we are never getting it back. As told to Thaslima Begum Mubarak Ibrahim, Sudan In 2024, Sudan hosted 11.6 million internally displaced people, the most ever recorded in a single country, as fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Mubarak Ibrahim is 50 and has five children. He and his family were forced to flee his village, which is Zaghawa, an African ethnic group repeatedly targeted by the RSF. *** We had no choice but to leave. They were bombing us 24 hours a day with all kinds of heavy weapons. Then, three weeks ago, the RSF attacked our village, Saloma, in North Darfur. They burned down houses, shot civilians in the street. Most of those they killed were children, women or old men. I have five children: two girls and three boys aged between three and 13. I needed to get them out. At night, while the village was under attack, we managed to escape and headed west. It was difficult and very dangerous. One of my daughters, who is 11, was shot in the hand by a stray bullet. We left everything behind in Saloma, where I had lived for decades. Although now officially displaced, the truth is that I had spent my entire life in a camp for displaced people: Saloma lies close to the original site of the Zamzam camp, built in 2004 to house huge numbers of people displaced by the war in Darfur. Over time, its numbers increased to an estimated 700,000, becoming Sudans largest displacement camp. As it grew, Zamzam engulfed my village, which is now actually in the heart of it. After we escaped from Saloma, we walked for about 30km [18 miles] to the small town of Tawila. Even there we are not feeling safe, especially the children and women because they fear the militia will attack them. Yet it is better than before, although we have nothing. People are sleeping under trees or outdoors in valleys. Some have headed into the Jebel Marra hills. There is no food and we are also very short of water. We have no source of water and we have entered the summer season. Temperatures are already very high. Although now officially displaced, the truth is that I had spent my entire life in a camp for displaced people Some people who fled the RSF attack on Zamzam died of thirst on the way to Tawila. It was mainly old women who died after running out of water on journeys of up to 50km on foot. There is also no medicine. It has been very difficult trying to help my daughter after she was shot. Only traditional medicine is available. We have to use local materials to treat her. No outside organisation can reach us there is no access. Already the situation is critical. Also, my mother is 75 years old and very sick. I am scared she could die because she has high blood pressure and other illnesses. Every day more people are arriving from Zamzam or El Fasher, where it is very unsafe. Still the people keep on arriving in Tawila, coming from different directions, using longer routes. Daily, the numbers of Darfurs displaced continues to grow. As told to Mark Townsend Rosmira Campos, Colombia Colombia has one of the worlds most severe internal displacement crises, with nearly 7 milliondriven by decades of conflict and violence. By mid-2024, nearly 7 million people had been displaced within the country, with the government recognising them as eligible for aid and reparations. Continued clashes between non-state armed groups affected about 183,400 people in the first half of 2024 alone. Rosmira is 30, widowed and has four young children. They were forced out of their village by clashes between the military and armed paramilitary groups. *** I am a leader and spokesperson for the Embera-Katio Indigenous people in the Choco region, where I come from. I have been living in Bogota for several years now because my home has become a war zone, and we cannot return until the government guarantees our safety. The ELN [National Liberation Army, Colombias largest paramilitary group], armed men with machine guns, are clashing with the military there, and we are caught in the crossfire. Its a red zone. At times, armed groups these men in green uniforms with guns threaten or clash with us over territory. They attempt to recruit our children and encroach on our land for mining, so we have to protect ourselves with the Indigenous guard. We just want to live in peace. When I was 15, they took me once and raped me. I was out gathering food. It was horrible. Now, 150 families live here in the tents we put up in the Parque Nacional, one of Bogotas most-loved parks. I dont want to be here. I dont like it. Its cold and wet, and we are always ill. But we cant go home as its too dangerous. Its really tough getting by. I have four children aged between two and 11 years. My husband died two years ago during the pandemic. I make artisanal goods such as bracelets, necklaces and clothing, and sell them on the street. But its not every day people want to buy them. So sometimes we have to go hungry. There is no other work for us. My region is incredibly green and mountainous, with waterfalls and clear, pristine rivers flowing through it. There are no roads. I still have cousins, aunties and uncles living there. My parents are dead. At home, we used to rely on the plantains, cassava and corn we grew on the land. There were many animals, such as birds and monkeys, but they have been absent since the conflict began. The army has been fumigating the area with chemicals since 2015 to prevent the armed men from growing coca crops, and it seems to have devastated the entire natural environment. Now, we cannot cultivate crops; the land yields very little. Local people dont want us here, and they can sometimes be aggressive. It makes me sad Since 2019, I have lived in Bogota in five different places. I have been taking Spanish classes with a teacher at a college, so I can now understand a little. We have mostly lived in camps we have set up in parks, but the conditions were poor, so we had to move on. About 400 of us returned to live in this park again on Monday to protest and urge the government to take action. They never fulfil their promises. Some of us want the government to help us in returning home, while others seek support to move to a different place. Local people dont want us here, and they can sometimes be aggressive. It makes me sad; they ought to show us some respect. We dont want to be here either but we have no choice. As told to Luke Taylor Peter Dunn was suspended by CBS in 2021 A CBS executive who was sacked after the network accused him of calling an anchor too gay, has won a pay out of nearly 10 million. Peter Dunn was suspended by CBS in 2021 amid allegations the television executive had made racist, sexist and homophobic remarks at work. However, an appeals panel has found that the former executive was fired before an investigation into his conduct was complete, thereby breaching his terms of termination. The networks actions have destroyed Mr Dunns life and kept him from getting any other jobs as a result, his lawyers said. This was never about Peters conduct it was to appease the woke mob, his lawyer, Larry Hutcher, told The New York Post. It was like the Red Scare, and it was very shortsighted and unfair. It is the latest blow to the network after it was accused of political bias in the lead up to the election. Dunn accused of racist comments Mr Dunn was placed on leave in 2021 after an article in the Los Angeles Times accused him of fostering a hostile work environment. One former employee claimed the executive, who had worked at the network for 20 years, had made racist, sexist, homophobic and discriminatory comments, including calling an anchor too gay. Another said he had called a black presenter at a Philadelphia affiliate a jive guy. Before finishing its investigation, CBS fired Mr Dunn, writing in his termination letter that he would continue to be paid as though your termination is without cause, and it could alter the termination terms once the investigation ended, according to court filings. But when the investigation was finalised four months later, the network changed his termination to for cause denoting serious misconduct that justifies dismissal thereby stripping him of millions in payouts owed in equity and back pay. The proper and prudent response would have been to suspend him, continue to pay him, wait for the investigation to be completed, and then fire him, Mr Dunns lawyer said. When the case moved to arbitration last year, a panel of retired judges ruled that CBS had to determine at the time of Mr Dunns sacking if it was for cause or without cause. The employment contract did not allow for a new and nebulous third option a judge wrote last year. CBS strongly disagrees with appeal win After CBS appealed the decision, a second arbitration board ruled in Mr Dunns favour last week, ordering the network to pay him $7 million plus interest, equating to a total of $9.78 million. This case was always about Peter Dunn trying to restore his otherwise impeccable reputation that he spent over 20 years at CBS developing, Mr Hutcher said. We are grateful that the original arbitrator and that the appeals panel agreed with Mr Dunn that he had been wrongfully terminated, and that we look forward to the award being confirmed in [court] so that we can enforce this judgment. A CBS spokesman told The Post that a procedural issue led to the arbitration ruling in his favour, and that it strongly disagrees with the decision. Four years ago, we removed Peter Dunn as head of the CBS Television Stations for reasons that have been well documented and reported publicly, the spokesman said. This decision was not based on the substance of the allegations against Mr Dunn. CBS has been rocked by a series of resignations in recent months after Donald Trump sued the news outlet amid claims it doctored an interview with Kamala Harris to make her appear more coherent. Wendy McMahon, the CBS president, resigned this week, following hot on the heels of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, who left amid claims of encroachment on journalistic independence. The departures have fuelled speculation that the networks corporate parent will soon settle its lawsuit with Mr Trump. Benjamin Netanyahu speaking in Jerusalem hit out at Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney - Ronen Zvulun/Shutterstock Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of slander after saying the leaders of Britain, France and Canada had sided with Hamas. The Israeli prime minister launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney on Thursday, hours after a gunman shot dead two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC. The three leaders had earlier this week called for a pathway to a two-state solution and threatened to take concrete actions if Israel did not stop its new offensive in Gaza and lift restrictions on aid entering the war-torn strip. By issuing their demand replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power, Mr Netanyahu said. And they give them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state, he added. In response, Jean-Noel Barrot, Frances foreign minister, said it was absurd and slanderous to accuse supporters of a two-state solution of encouraging anti-Semitism or Hamas. He said France, which like Britain and Canada designates Hamas as a terrorist organisation, was unwaveringly committed to Israels security. Jean-Noel Barrot said France was committed to Israels security - TERESA SUAREZ The two-state solution is a long-proposed resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict that would see the creation of two separate nations on the territory of former Mandatory Palestine. It is the official position of the UK and has been backed by Israel in the past, although Palestinian statehood was rejected by the Israeli parliament in 2024. A French government spokesman said they did not accept Mr Netanyahus accusations, and added: We need to de-escalate this rising tension between our two states and work to find lasting peace solutions, for Israel and for Palestine. Asked about the Israeli leaders remarks, Luke Pollard, the armed forces minister, said Britain stood with Israel in its right to self-defence, but that self-defence must be conducted within the bounds of international humanitarian law. At this moment, we stand fast against terrorism, but we also want to make sure that the aid is getting into Gaza, he added. Despite the European leaders threats, Israel pressed on with its renewed offensive on Thursday, continuing into Friday. A man draped in the Israeli flag gestures following a shooting that left two people dead in Washington - Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty The Israeli air force said on Friday morning it struck more than 75 targets across Gaza during the preceding 24 hours. These included strikes on terror operatives, rocket launchers, weapons depots and terrorist infrastructure, it said. The Israel Defense Forces said ground troops had killed several terrorists and destroyed Hamas sites across the enclave. Gazas health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, said at least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes over the past day. Ten of these were in the southern city of Khan Younis, four in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to the Nasser, Al-Aqsa and Al-Ahli hospitals where the bodies were brought. Israeli officials said on Friday they let in more than 100 lorries carrying aid including flour, food, medical equipment and drugs through the Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern edge of the enclave. However, UN agencies said the amount was woefully insufficient compared with around 600 lorries a day that were entering the strip during a recent ceasefire. In the US, police have beefed up security at schools and religious buildings across Washington in response to Wednesdays gun attack on Israels diplomatic staff. Elias Rodriguez, the 31-year-old from Chicago accused of the attack, is said to have shouted Free Palestine as he was taken away by police for allegedly killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky who were shot dead in Washington - AFP via Getty According to an FBI affidavit, Mr Rodriguez was captured on security cameras shortly after 9pm on Wednesday walking past the two victims, before turning round and shooting at them while their backs were turned. When they collapsed to the ground, he is said to have leant over them and continued to fire. Scotland Yard has urged Londons Jewish community to remain vigilant in the aftermath of the shooting. Gloucester services received five-star ratings in several categories such as shops, food and drink, facilities, cleanliness, convenience and accessibility, and outside space. Photograph: Mark Dyball/Alamy There are less than 80 miles between them, but the gulf in quality is massive, according to a Which? survey that ranked Gloucester services top of the stops, and Bridgwater bottom. For many people motorway service stations are a place to take a break, grab a snack and use the toilet, but the rankings from the consumer recommendation group, which surveyed users of nearly 100 service stations across Great Britain, highlight the best and worst. The gulf in standards is vast, with some described as perfect to break up your journey while others look and feel filthy and smell of stale urine. The rankings place Gloucester higher than 89 competitors, awarding it five-star ratings in several categories such as shops, food and drink, facilities, cleanliness, convenience and accessibility, and outside space. The M5 service station, which earned an overall rating of 85%, is owned by Westmorland Family, which also owns Tebay services in Cumbria and Cairn Lodge in Lanarkshire, which finished second and fourth respectively. They are joined in the top five by Rugby services, owned by Moto, in third and Extras Leeds Skelton Lake in fifth. Motos Rugby branch is one of 37 stations the company owns that are spread across the list, including nine in the bottom 10. Motos Bridgwater station in Somerset ranked last, with a customer score of 23% and one-star ratings across all categories. Only slightly above is Leeming Ba in North Yorkshire, also ranked one star across the board and with a score of 26%. The rankings were compiled by more than 4,000 Which? members based on their experiences during a combined 9,000 visits to service stations across Great Britain. Ken McMeikan, the chief executive of Moto Hospitality, said the survey results used a smaller pool of respondents than a previous study that ranked Moto stations highly, and that the company was investing heavily in improving the facilities of its branches, where cleanliness was mentioned by numerous respondents as an issue. The most recent independent Transport Focus study, conducted in the summer of 2023, surveyed a significantly larger group than the Which? panel, he said. Moto achieved an average customer satisfaction score of 94% across our motorway service areas. This feedback highlights the positive impact of our ongoing efforts. We are committed to reviewing the specific issues raised by the Which? panel and will continue to strive for enhancements across all sites. Our goal is to ensure that we always meet the high standards and expectations that our customers deserve. Kim Kardashian told a Paris court that the crime was the most terrifying experience of her life - Aurelien Morissard/AP Eight people, mostly pensioners, have been found guilty of crimes connected to the gunpoint robbery of 7.5 million worth of jewellery from Kim Kardashian, the billionaire American socialite. The 44-year-old reality television star was tied up and held at gunpoint in a five-hour ordeal at a hotel in October 2016 during Paris Fashion Week by a gang dubbed the grandpa robbers. They dumped Kardashian in her hotel bathroom and made off by bicycle and on foot with the jewels, including a 3.7 million ring from her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. The group of nine men and one woman, with an average age of 70, were accused of armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association. Eight of the accused were convicted while two of the defendants, both considered informants who allegedly passed on Kardashians movements to the robbers, were acquitted. Credit: Reuters Due to time already served in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will go to prison. David De Pas, the chief judge, told the defendants: The sentences are quite lenient; I understand that you understand that you have caused harm. The state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone. It would have been unjust to take you to prison this evening. Kardashian, in a statement following the guilty verdicts, said: The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While Ill never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system. Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, and co-defendant Harminy Ait Khedache arrive at court - Bertrand Guay/AFP Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, known as Old Omar and who is completely blind and deaf, had admitted to tying up Kardashian but denied being the mastermind of the plot. In a statement read out on his behalf by his lawyer to the packed courtroom, he begged for forgiveness. I ask for forgiveness. I cant find the words. I am very sorry, it read. I offer a thousand apologies, he scribbled on a piece of paper during the proceedings. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five of which were suspended, and fined 5,000. Anne-Dominique Merville, the prosecutor general, had demanded that Khedache, who has multiple convictions for drug-running and robbery, should spend the next 10 years in prison. She said he was now of a certain age and showed no risk of reoffending but should pay for his crimes. Yunice Abbas, centre, leaves court - Teresa Suarez/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock His son, Harminy Ait Khedache, who was the getaway driver but maintained he had no idea that a robbery was taking place, was sentenced to five years in prison, four of which were suspended. Yunice Abbas, who admitted his participation and wrote a book in 2021 called I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, which recounted his role in the plot, was sentenced to seven years in prison, five of which were suspended. Didier Dubreucq, nicknamed Blue Eyes, gives evidence - BENOIT PEYRUCQ/AFP Didier Dubreucq, nicknamed Didier Blue Eyes, who was identified as one of the two criminals who entered Kardashians bedroom and stole her jewellery, was sentenced to seven years in prison, five of which were suspended. Marc-Alexandre Boyer, the youngest of the group, now aged 35, was suspected of having kept lookout in the hotel lobby with Abbas. Marc Boyer, his father, accused only of possessing a weapon, was fined 5,000. Christiane Glotin, 80, who acted as the criminal secretary, was given a four-year suspended sentence. Francois Delaporte, accused of providing and possessing false documents, was handed a three-year suspended prison sentence. Grenfell Tower survivors and the bereaved can be heard calling for justice while one person claims victims were treated like scroungers who didnt deserve anything in a trailer for a new Netflix documentary about the disaster. Grenfell: Uncovered, which launches on June 20, will aim to share the voices of those impacted by the fire as it examines the chain of events which led to the incident that left 72 people dead in 2017, when the blaze spread via combustible cladding on the west London tower blocks exterior. In a trailer for the documentary, one woman can be heard saying: We just want justice, why did this have to happen? Why? A man adds: We raised concerns with the council. We were labelled scroungers, we didnt deserve anything, so just shut up. Elsewhere a voiceover can be heard describing the disaster as a huge corporate scandal, while former Conservative prime minister Theresa May remarks that sadly companies were able to find a way around the regulations. Clips of the tower block ablaze are shown in the trailer while one survivor explains she was told to stay inside while the fire was taking hold despite the fact it was getting closer, before saying she later dashed for the stairwell. Directed by Olaide Sadiq, who worked as a producer on Netflixs The Final: Attack On Wembley documentary, and produced by Rogan Productions, the documentary will also feature contributions from firefighters, politicians and industry experts. The documentary Grenfell: Uncovered streams on Netflix on June 20 (Netflix/PA) Earlier this month, the Government announced the buildings demolition could begin in September, with the decision to remove the tower met with criticism from some of the bereaved and survivors, who felt their views had not been considered. The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area of the tower, with recommendations including a sacred space designed to be a peaceful place for remembering and reflecting. In February, it was revealed seven firms, including cladding and insulation companies, criticised in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry final report could be banned from trading, as the Government pledged to bring change in the wake of the fatal fire. 23 May 2025 at 11:07 am The Oceangate submersible "Titan". (Oceangate) (American Photo Archive) Chilling new footage has revealed that the wife of the Oceangate CEO heard the moment the Titan submersible imploded, killing him and the four other people on board. Stockton Rush's wife Wendy was watching the submersible's progress from a support ship on 18 June, 2023, when she heard a noise, prompting her to ask: "What was that bang?" - not realising it was the sound of the sub imploding. The newly-released footage from the US Coast Guard comes as two major platforms announced documentaries into the disaster, which happened during a mission to visit the wreck of the Titanic. The submersible disappeared after entering the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, prompting a large-scale operation and garnering global attention. But it was later discovered that it had imploded, resulting in the loss of all five crew members aboard. Netflix has announced a documentary on the sub implosion, titled TITAN: The Oceangate Disaster, while the footage from the support ship has been released to the BBC as part of a documentary titled Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster. The five victims of the OceanGate Titan submersible disaster. (Yahoo News UK) The five men who died were British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son, Suleman, 19; British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, 58; French deep-sea diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and OceanGate founder Stockton Rush, 61. Yahoo News UK takes a look at the timeline of events during the disaster and in the years afterwards: June 2023 16 June, 2023: The expedition, costing 197,00 ($250,000) per passenger, departs from St John's, Newfoundland, Canada. 17 June, 2023: Harding announces on Facebook that due to severe weather conditions, this expedition is likely to be the only manned mission to the Titanic in 2023. They plan to attempt a dive the following day if the weather is favourable. 18 June, 2023: Communication with the submersible is lost one hour and 45 minutes after its descent, and it fails to return to the surface. 19 June, 2023: US and Canadian ships and aircraft conduct search operations. Commercial vessels are also requested to assist. The US Coast Guard is leading search efforts and Rear Admiral John W Mauger estimates there is 70 to 96 hours left to find the sub before it runs out of air. 20 June, 2023: The family of businessman Shahzada Dawood confirm he is aboard with his 19-year-old son Suleman. They ask for prayers for their safety. Canadian aircraft detect sounds in the area of the submersible. 22 June, 2023: Rough deadline for when the air in the submersible is set to run out. Debris from the Titan submersible is found near the Titanic wreckage. The US Coast Guard reports that the submersible's pressure chamber imploded, and there are no survivors. 24 and 25 June, 2023 The US and Canadian federal governments announce their investigations of the incident. 28 June, 2023 Wreckage from Titan is brought to St. John's. OceanGate founder Stockton Rush, right, was killed in the tragedy. (OceanGate) (OceanGate) A view of the Titanic bow from the Oceangate submersible (OceanGate) (American Photo Archive) July 2023 OceanGate announces it is ceasing operations on 2 July. The New Yorker magazine reveals David Lochridge, OceanGate's former director of marine operations, was sacked after he raised concerns about the safety of the submersible. It reported that, in an email in January 2018 to deep sea exploration specialist Rob McCallum, Lochridge wrote: I would consider myself pretty ballsy when it comes to doing things that are dangerous, but that sub is an accident waiting to happen. Watch: Titanic submersible: Friend of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush says he created a 'mousetrap for billionaires' "Theres no way on Earth you could have paid me to dive the thing. Referring to Rush, Lochridge wrote: I dont want to be seen as a tattle tale but Im so worried he kills himself and others in the quest to boost his ego. It also emerged that Rush once dismissed a loud bang heard from the Titan submersible. October 2023 It was revealed on 4 October that all debris had been removed and transferred from the ocean floor. The Coast Guard says: The recovered evidence was successfully transferred to a US port for cataloguing and analysis. Additional presumed human remains were carefully recovered from within Titans debris and transported for analysis by US medical professionals. The Oceangate submersible "Titan". (Oceangate) (American Photo Archive) November 2023 The US Coast Guard announces a review of the evidence was carried out on 8 November. May 2024 The Coast Guard says the investigation is in its fact-finding stage in a major update. A spokesperson adds: The Titan Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) remains in the fact-finding phase of the investigation and is collecting all relevant evidence and information. A projected completion date is not available. The latter part of the fact-finding phase will include a public hearing, and the MBI will provide at least 60 days notice ahead of the public hearing. A US Coast Guard ship arrives in the harbor of St. John's, Newfoundland, 28 June. (AP) (Paul Daly, Associated Press) June 2024 The Coast Guard reveals on 14 June that the investigation will take longer than expected due to "the need to contract two salvage missions to secure vital evidence and the extensive forensic testing required". Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation Chair Jason Neubauer said in a statement: "The investigation into the implosion of the Titan submersible is a complex and ongoing effort. "We are working closely with our domestic and international partners to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident." The report was meant to be released within a year of the disaster. September 2024 The US Coast Guard hears testimony from people close to the Titan submersible as part of investigations into what led to the tragedy and what could prevent future similar disasters. May 2025 Footage from the US Coast Guard shows Wendy Rush inadvertently witnesses the bang as the submersible imploded, a noise described as sounding like a door slamming. It comes as part of a BBC documentary into the disaster. Netflix also releases a trailer for its own documentary into the incident in June 2023. Read more Hawthorn MP John Pesutto is facing bankruptcy and disqualification from parliament if he cannot pay court ordered costs to fellow Liberal Moira Deeming by 30 May. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian In May last year, a select group of business leaders and philanthropists gathered in a Melbourne boardroom for an intimate dinner with a singular focus: saving the then Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto. Organised by a party elder, this wasnt your usual fundraiser. Money raised bypassed the party and went straight to Pesuttos legal fund, ahead of a high-profile defamation trial brought by Moira Deeming, the Liberal MP he had pushed to expel from the party room. The evening, according to sources there, was successful. Pesutto was in good spirts and persuasive, winning over even some from the partys hard right. There have been several of these events in recent months, with Pesutto making small talk over sandwich lunches in corporate offices and dinners in private homes. I have to be candid, Pesutto says, speaking from a corner of the Glenferrie hotel this week, nursing a lemon squash. Its not an easy thing and its not a pleasant thing to have to ask for support. As a parliamentarian, we all have to fundraise for our campaigns. Asking for financial support, thats an entirely different thing. While Pesutto downplays the significance of these events, held from time to time, his supporters say theyre part of an ambitious but achievable plan to save his career. But their flurry of calls to some of Melbournes most powerful people this week and Pesuttos full-media press driven by the urgency of a 30 May deadline has inflamed tensions within an already deeply divided party. Lets see how much you can raise Alarm bells rang in Melbournes donor class when the trial began in September. Just hours before one court appearance, Pesuttos backers desperately called around for cash. They said the party wouldnt cover Pesuttos costs and he was in serious trouble. It got worse. Pesutto went on to lose the case, with the federal court finding in December that he had repeatedly defamed Deeming by falsely implying she sympathised with neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Shortly after, he lost the leadership. Last week, Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3m in Deemings legal costs. The bill is on top of $300,000 in damages, $15,000 in interest and his own lawyers bill. He now faces the real prospect of bankruptcy an outcome that would disqualify him from parliament and trigger a costly byelection in his seat of Hawthorn, which many Liberals fear theyll lose. Last Friday, Pesuttos well-connected backers went into overdrive. Former staffers, lobbyists, lawyers and party elders, including former Victorian premiers Jeff Kennett and Ted Baillieu, have been glued to their phones since. Their task is to convince donors that Pesutto doesnt deserve this, and more importantly, in their view, that the future of the Liberal party is at stake. They fear the party could be decimated if it doesnt protect moderate leaders. They have deliberately sought to appear informal theres no WhatsApp group, no in-person meetings. Instructions are given over the phone. Some are mindful of the partys internal divisions and the well-financed defamation action that brought them all together. But so far, its been a hard sell. Some donors question why Pesutto fought the case without securing funding, and resent being asked to cough up now. His detractors claim he was given several opportunities to settle, but declined, including at one point for as little as $70,000 and an apology. In the Hawthorn pub, Pesutto says this is not the case, before pausing to take a call from a potential donor. His phone repeatedly interrupts him mid-sentence. I did everything I possibly could to settle this matter, he says, citing numerous offers and two mediation hearings. Deeming, however, disputes Pesuttos account. He would not have been ordered to pay my costs on an indemnity basis if that were true, she tells Guardian Australia. Some donors dont want to pay until Pesuttos team proves they can cover the whole $2.3m. Many recently donated to the federal Liberals, and are chastened by a bruising federal election. Related: Push to save John Pesutto from bankruptcy after $2.3m Moira Deeming defamation costs order Some people are saying, Lets see how much money you can raise before we give you our money, said one source running the campaign. Thats why we have a strategy to give people confidence. Enter the GoFundMe strategy. Last Friday, JPs closest friends and supporters launched the fundraising page to prevent the worst-case scenario. It has a $500,000 target and has raised about $150,000 so far. According to supporters, they dont expect to raise enough money to cover Pesuttos entire bill. The fund was designed, in part, to build momentum and prove to donors that support for him exists beyond the confines of the Herald Sun and Sky After Dark, which have at times criticised his conduct. The publicly listed donors tell their own story. According to Pesuttos allies, theyre the kind of moderate voices the party has lost and only he can bring back. Among them are Rob Baillieu, son of former premier Ted and now an independent Boroondara councillor who contributed $500 despite having ditched the party and volunteered for the teal MP for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, in her successful 2022 and 2025 campaigns. One-time Liberal Oliver Yates, the former head of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, who ran as an independent against the then Liberal treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, in 2019, also donated $500. Even the founder of Climate 200, Simon Holmes a Court, chipped in $500 to support the former leader of a party he has actively campaigned against. Some supporters see another benefit: because the GoFundMe page is managed by a friend of Pesuttos, the Hawthorn MP could declare it as a gift from a single person. This would allow him to avoid naming individual contributors many of whom have anonymously donated sums as large as $10,000. Anthony Whealy KC, chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, calls this concerning. The public and media are entitled to know when and where money is coming from, he says. Whealy argues gifts which are uncapped and only need to be disclosed every six months without revealing the amount should be subject to the same rules as political donations, which are capped at $4,850 over four years and must be disclosed within 21 days if over $1,210. There is an obvious risk to public trust and integrity when large sums of money are received in this way, he says. But Pesutto says he has followed the rules, taking advice from parliaments clerk and the Victorian Electoral Commission. Can you blame us for being furious? Early this week, Pesutto launched a media blitz. After remaining silent for months, almost every outlet that wanted an interview got one including an appearance on ABCs Q+A on Monday. His backers say this was all about ensuring the language used by those soliciting donations was matched by Pesutto himself. But these interviews were held on the eve of the state budget, infuriating Liberals close to the new leader, Brad Battin, who say he wasnt informed. Theres a certain irony in the fact he criticised Moira for not being a team player before her expulsion only to abandon the team himself on the eve of the budget, one Liberal MP said. Another Liberal MP said: Budget week has been hijacked by wall-to-wall coverage of JP. Can you blame us for being furious? Related: Victorias Liberal leader is counting the days to the election. But will brand Brad pass the pub test? Pesuttos supporters say he was approached by the ABC during the federal campaign and raised it with Battin, only to be told not to appear until after the election. They say he didnt need further approval. They also argue Battin could be doing more to support Pesutto, although those close to the new leader say he is in a difficult position, noting the federal courts judgment and the fact Deeming has returned to the party room. A spokesperson for Battin says conversations between him and his colleagues on this matter will remain confidential. Both Pesuttos supporters and rivals acknowledge this messy affair could be avoided if the Liberal party and its associated entity, the Cormack Foundation, would foot the bill for their former leader. The state partys multimillion-dollar investment vehicle is not allowed to provide financial assistance to individuals. But several Liberal sources argue it should urgently amend its constitution to support Pesutto. They are still hopeful. Part of Pesuttos pitch is that by helping to bail him out, the Cormack Foundation would avoid a risky byelection which could cost the party between $500,000 to $1m. If we can close the gap to what they would spend on an election, why not spend it now and be guaranteed the seat isnt lost? an ally said. Related: Deal with the womens issue or enjoy oblivion: conservative women on whether they can still call the Liberal party home Other Liberal party sources worry a bailout by the Cormack Foundation could set a precedent that is financially unsustainable. What does it say about the party? Three years ago, sitting in the same Hawthorn pub, Pesutto outlined a bold vision for changing the Liberal party as he was fighting to win back the seat he lost live on TV in 2018. He spoke of broad-based values and creating a more inclusive, climate-conscious party. What would come to pass was starkly different. While Pesutto recalls some early successes in his two-year tenure as opposition leader, including an improvement in the polls, the reality is he has since been relegated to the backbench where he faces the prospect of financial ruin and a political career prematurely ended by a costly fight with one of his own MPs. Does he regret the stoush with Deeming? Of course, Pesutto says. It took me a while to get to that point, but as I look back now, its something I could have handled differently. I was early on in the leadership. His supporters, still glued to their phones, are determined to stave off bankruptcy. They remain hopeful that deals will be done at the final hour, saving their friend. What does it say about the party if someone like John cant be saved? asks one key backer. Palestinians prepare to leave Mughayyir al-Deir. Photograph: Quique Kierszenbaum/The Guardian Violent Israeli settlers including two under UK sanctions have forced about 150 Palestinians to leave their village in the occupied West Bank, through a five-day intimidation campaign carried out under the watch of the Israeli police and army. On Sunday morning, settlers established an illegal outpost, consisting of a basic shelter and a sheep pen, 100 metres from a Palestinian home in Mughayyir al-Deir, east of Ramallah. By Friday, dozens of villagers had already moved their flocks away, packed up their belongings and were dismantling the wooden and metal frames of their houses. Settlers stalked between Palestinian men who worked fast and largely in silence, grappling with the grim reality of leaving the place where most were born and grew up. A child cried as he was driven away on a truck loaded with the familys red sofas. Related: Violent Israeli settlers under UK sanctions join illegal West Bank outpost We are all leaving, said one villager, who asked not to be named. Settlers threw stones at some trucks as they left, and celebrated on social media. Elisha Yered, an unofficial spokesperson for the extremist group Hilltop Youth, wrote: This is what redemption looks like! This is a relatively large outpost that contained about 150 people from the enemy population, but it was broken. Yered is subject to sanctions from the UK and the EU, which said he was part of a group of armed settlers involved in an attack in 2023 that led to the death of a 19-year-old Palestinian, Qusai Jammal Mitan. Two other settlers under UK sanctions, Neria Ben Pazi and Zohar Sabah, spent time at the illegal outpost this week, and Ben Pazi also worked on building a fence around Palestinian land. Other Bedouin came to help villagers pack up and leave, including some who understood their fear and pain intimately because violent Israeli settlers had also driven them off the land. The tactics used by the settlers this week were not new. The nearby hills are dotted with the ruins of abandoned villages, at least one, Wadi as-Seeq, also targeted by the UK-sanctioned Ben Pazi. Settlers had never before built an outpost so close to Palestinian homes and the speed and intensity of the campaign in Mughayyir al-Deir was a sign of their growing confidence, activists said. Police patrolled through the village on Friday and Israeli soldiers stood nearby. None intervened, although a stop work order had been issued for the illegal outpost after it was thrown up, and several settlers who spent time at it were also known to Israeli authorities for extreme violence. A previous Israeli commander for the central region, Maj Gen Yehuda Fuchs, tried in 2023 to bar Ben Pazi from the West Bank over violent attacks on Palestinians. The only other official Israeli visitor during the week was a far-right member of the Knesset, Zvi Sukkot, who came to back the settlers. Last week, Sukkot said in a TV debate that Israel can kill 100 Gazans in one night during a war and nobody in the world cares. One Palestinian family filed a petition with Israels supreme court on Thursday demanding an injunction and urgent hearing into why the military, police and local authorities did not act to prevent the forced evictions and protect Palestinians. A spokesperson for the Israeli military said troops operated to ensure the security of the state of Israel and Judea and Samaria [Israels name for the occupied West Bank], and the government directs how the military should enforce orders about illegal construction. The military would respond to the legal petition in court, the spokesperson said. A hearing is scheduled for next week, although by the time judges hear it the village will be empty. For many of the families forced out, their move on Friday was a second displacement at the hands of Israelis, as their parents and grandparents had been forced from land near the Israeli city of Beer Sheva when the state was formed in 1948. Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Sir Keir Starmer for using the phrase island of strangers in a major immigration announcement. The former Labour leader, now an independent MP after he lost the party whip, publicly challenged the Prime Ministers language on Friday. Speaking at the Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, Mr Corbyn said: Lets hear no more of this nonsense spoken by some about this being a country of strangers. Lets hear no more of the repetition of what the wretched Enoch Powell said when I was a young person in the 1960s. Our community, our strength, our joy, our lives, our hope is our diversity, is our different backgrounds. He added: Thats what makes London a very special place. Sir Keir, Mr Corbyns successor as Labour leader, suggested the UK risked becoming an island of strangers if efforts to tackle migration and integration were not stepped up. Critics compared the language with that of the Conservative politician Enoch Powell, who in an inflammatory address in 1968 known as the rivers of blood speech, claimed that white British people would become strangers in their own country in the future. Elsewhere in his speech on the stage, Mr Corbyn called for an end to all British arms sales to Israel, and urged those attending the festival to join anti-war rallies. He said: This country, Britain, has supplied weapons and parts for the F-35 jets that are used to bomb Gaza. So when we have the demonstrations in support of the Palestine people please be there, raise your voice. It matters by giving inspiration to those people going through the most ghastly times of their lives. In what appeared to be a further broadside at his former colleagues in the Labour Government, Mr Corbyn suggested ministers should hike taxes on the very rich. You cant achieve equality and justice if you extol the virtues of billionaires and do nothing about taking money off them to pay for the decent services for the many, he said. Elsewhere at the festival, Irish rap trio Kneecap performed just days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The Wide Awake Festival is one of several taking place in Brockwell Park over the next few weeks. Some local residents are unhappy with the damage the events cause to the park, and the large area of the green open space they take up over the course of a month. They successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals, in a challenge which claimed the authority had bypassed the full planning process. The High Court ruled the council had acted irrationally, but the events have continued despite this, after Lambeth received fresh a planning application. Jurors in the Gerry Adams libel action against the BBC are not being asking to pass verdict on Irish history, a judge has said. Delivering his instructions to the jury members on Friday, Judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens told them they were not being asked to make a decision as journalists, but as ordinary members of the public. In his charge to the jurors in Dublin High Court, the judge made clear they were not tasked with making a historical judgment on Mr Adams role in the peace process. No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history, he added. Judge Alexander Owens outside the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Former Sinn Finn leader Mr Adams alleges a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. In the programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gives the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter is ongoing. Mr Adams claims he was subject to a grievous smear while the BBC has described the legal action as a cynical attempt to launder his reputation. The high-profile republican is seeking damages of at least 200,000 euro (168,000) from the BBC. However, the British public service broadcaster has argued it would be a cruel joke to award the former Sinn Fein president any damages. On Thursday, Declan Doyle SC, for Mr Adams, said damages awarded to his client should be very substantial indeed. In his closing statement, Mr Doyle said the widespread circulation of a national broadcaster of an allegation of a cold-blooded cynical murder could not be a defamation of anything other than very serious or exceptional. The BBC has stood by the programme and has argued it was entitled to put forward matters raised in the documentary, which it says were of public importance and done in good faith. The corporation has argued the meaning of the programme and article was not that Mr Adams had sanctioned and approved the killing, and that the claim had to be taken in context of the whole report. BBC Spotlight journalist Jennifer OLeary (PA). In his closing statement, Paul Gallagher SC, representing the BBC, said the claim made by Martin was presented as an allegation and was immediately followed by Mr Adams denial, the claim of responsibility by the Real IRA and the state of the Garda investigation. Mr Gallagher also argued that the reputation of Mr Adams is important for the case, contending that it was universally held that he had a reputation of being in the IRA and on its Army Council. Mr Adams denies ever being in the IRA. On Friday, Justice Owens outlined the key issues in the case for the jurors. On the issue of whether Mr Adams has a bad reputation, the judge said the onus of proof was on the BBC to make that case. He then referred to the evidence of a witness called by the BBC former attorney general and Irish government minister Michael McDowell. Earlier this week, Mr McDowell told the court that Mr Adams was reputed to have become a member of the Army Council of the IRA. The judge said Mr McDowells view and Mr Adams view on the former Sinn Fein leaders role in the peace process are poles apart. But if you come to assess damages in the trial, youre not concerned with that, or to make a historical judgment on that, you do what the evidence tells you about Mr Adams public reputation, about the reputation he enjoyed in 2006 and now, in relation to those matters, he added. He said an historical analysis and theory about the peace process was irrelevant. No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history, he added. The judge later emphasised to the jurors they were not being asked to adopt the mindset of a journalist or judge when making their decision. Youre asked, of course, to make the decision, not as journalists, but as ordinary members of the public, using your common sense, he added. On the issue of Mr Adams reputation, the judge told the jurors it was them who had to assess the Sinn Fein leaders standing in the public mind. So really what youre asked, in my view, is his public reputation a man who approved murders, of a man who approved of murders by others, of a man who was involved in directing terrorism, or is his public reputation of a man who persuaded others to stop and devise the process of discussion and compromise which led to permanent cessation of violence in Northern Ireland? he asked. Or is it a bit of both? Or is it predominantly one or predominantly the other, or totally one or totally the other? Those are really the matters which are for you to decide. The judge also spoke to the jurors about the potential level of damages they could award if they decide Mr Adams was defamed ranging from one cent to hundreds of thousands of euro. He urged them to adopt that question with a sense of proportion and fairness. You dont want to be what I would describe as an over-generous judge or a mean judge, he said. Mr Justice Owens then proceeded to begin summarising the evidence that was heard in the case. That exercise will continue when the court proceedings resume again on Tuesday. Rap trio Kneecap are set to headline a festival on Friday, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language, have a headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night. It comes after they held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He said: I need to thank my lawyer hes here tonight as well. Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh arrives at the 100 Club for the rap trios surprise gig (James Manning/PA Wire) On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authoritys decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was irrational. Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to confirm that the event has been cancelled and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said that no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the events organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: 14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesnt have a jury. Whats the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. Officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, police said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. Kneecap are due to perform at Wide Awake on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. They also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. At least 17 people have been left injured following a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station on Friday evening, police have said. A 39-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the incident, which took place on platforms 13 and 14 of the busy railway hub. Authorities initially reported eight casualties, but later clarified that three people are in critical condition, three are seriously injured, and six others suffered minor wounds. Some of the victims were treated on board trains, according to German newspaper BILD. Officers cordoned off the area around the station and rail traffic was suspended. There is currently a major police operation in #Hamburg on #Hauptbahnhof! Hamburg police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. We are investigating the background and will provide further information here shortly. Dozens of police officers and paramedics were seen at the scene. One victim was photographed being taken away on a stretcher. The motive behind the attack, which occurred just after 6pm local time in front of a train waiting at the station, is not yet known, although officials believe the suspect acted alone. Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as shocking and said that his thoughts are with the victims and their families. He offered local mayor Peter Tschentscher the support of the federal government. Up to 450,000 travellers pass through Hamburg's Central Station every day, making one of the most frequented passenger railway stations in Germany. The attack comes just days after a separate knife incident in the Netherlands, where two people were killed and two police officers injured. Emergency services were called to a property in Hoofddorp, near Amsterdams Schiphol Airport, on Wednesday morning. One police vehicle at the scene was reportedly spattered with blood. Liverpools pursuit of Florian Wirtz has taken a significant step forward after the club approached Bayer Leverkusen, the PA news agency understands. The club have held an interest in the 22-year-old playmaker for some time and his anticipated exit from the deposed Bundesliga champions was expected to spark a scramble for his signature. At your service! pic.twitter.com/n7gr1I21oW Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 21, 2025 Manchester City and Bayern Munich were also said to be in the running for one of the major stars in Germany but it was reported the Premier League club cooled their interest due to the rising cost of the deal, while Leverkusen are reluctant to sell to one of their domestic rivals. Liverpool now appear to have moved to the front of the queue for the 125million-rated forward after opening talks with the German club. That has undoubtedly been helped by the fact they had already been in contact with Leverkusen regarding Jeremie Frimpong, triggering the right-sided utility players 30m release clause and holding a medical this week. Lucy Connolly lost her appeal The case of a mother jailed for a social media post about the Southport attacks has been raised with the White House. Lucy Connolly, a former childminder and the wife of a Conservative councillor, was jailed for 31 months in October after pleading guilty to a charge of inciting racial hatred. Three Court of Appeal judges threw out the 42-year-olds application on Tuesday morning, meaning she will not be released before August. In an extraordinary step, her arrest has now been raised with Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, The Telegraph understands. It is the latest case to be raised with officials in Washington, who are increasingly concerned about freedom of expression in Britain. Lucys case hs now been raised with Marco Rubio - John McDonnell/Getty Images Charlie Kirk, a Maga influencer and ally of Donald Trump said Lucy Connollys case proved free speech in the UK was dead. He told the Oxford Union on Tuesday: As of today, Lucy Connolly is going to jail for two-and-a-half years in this country for a social media post that she apologised for and deleted That is not a free speech battle at all. You should be allowed to say outrageous things. You should be allowed to say contrarian things. Free speech is a birthright that you gave us, and you guys decided not to codify it and now its poof! it is basically gone. Speaking to GB News, Mr Kirk said he would raise Connollys case with the Trump administration, adding: Im going to bring this up to Marco Rubio [the US secretary of state]. Im going to send him a text. The case has now been brought to the attention of Mr Rubio, the Telegraph can confirm. Last July, hours after Axel Rudakubana went on a knife rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, murdering three little girls, Connolly went on social media platform X to express her outrage. She posted: Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f---ing hotels full of the b------s for all I care, while youre at it, take the treacherous government politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these [Southport] families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it. Connolly deleted the post less than four hours later by which point it had been viewed 310,000 times. She was arrested on Aug 6 following widespread riots across the country over the stabbing attack. Sir Keir Starmer, thrown on the defensive - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images Police officers who searched her devices found other posts she had written. In one message, she joked that she would play the mental health card if arrested. Connolly, who has no previous convictions, also sent another tweet commenting on a sword attack, which read: I bet my house it was one of these boat invaders. The Court of Appeal judges said they did not accept that the original 31-month sentence was manifestly excessive. The judges also said they did not accept that Connolly had entered her guilty plea without fully understanding what it entailed. Michael Shellenberger, an American author and CBR chair of politics, censorship and free speech at Austin University, said the case was a barbarity. We still think of the Brits as also caring a lot about free speech, he said. But it still comes as a shock to see these kinds of barbarities practiced by the people that we tend to think of as the most civilised on Earth. The intervention comes as Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has been forced to defend Britains record of free speech which has become a point of tension with Trump administration officials. During a firebrand speech at the Munich security conference, JD Vance, the vice-president claimed free speech in Britain and across Europe was in retreat. In a highly unusual step earlier this year, the US state department issued a statement saying it was concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom in relation to the case of an anti-abortion campaigner. It said it was monitoring the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt, who was prosecuted for holding a sign near a Bournemouth abortion clinic reading: Here to talk if you want. US president Donald Trumps threatened 50% tariff on all EU imports would cause extreme disruption to the global economy, Irelands premier has warned. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the move by Mr Trump had come as a surprise, noting that the EU was engaging in good faith with the United States to agree a deal on trade. In April, President Trump announced a 20% tariff on EU goods being sold into the US. He later reduced that to 10% until July 8 to allow for time for talks with Brussels on a potential agreement. On Friday, Mr Trump claimed the talks were going nowhere and said he was recommending that the 50% tariff rate comes into effect on June 1. The president also announced he would be imposing a 25% tariff on all Apple iPhones manufactured outside the US. He warned that tariffs were also coming for other foreign manufactured smartphones. Shares fell in the US, EU and UK following Mr Trumps latest threats on tariffs. Mr Martin warned of the consequences if such levels of tariffs were imposed. This is a surprise, because there was a pause until early July, he told RTE. Everybody in the European Union is acting in good faith and wants a negotiated settlement with the United States. The trading relationship between the European Union and the United States is the most dynamic and largest in the world, so tariffs of that height or scale would be extremely disruptive and would create even wider disruption across the global economy. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris said Ireland and the wider EU shared the same position in wanting a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. Tariffs are bad for Ireland, the EU & the US. They hurt consumers, businesses & jobs. We need calm and measured dialogue with the US. Negotiation is the only path forward. My full statement: https://t.co/yCE9F3H4gD pic.twitter.com/dHXtOTC3DO Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 23, 2025 Tariffs are a bad idea, said the Tanaiste. Theyre bad for Ireland, the EU, and the US. They push up prices for consumers and businesses. We have built a relationship of prosperity, jobs and investment based on working together and trading together. Negotiations remain the main focus for both the EU and Ireland and our deep and enduring relationship with the United States merits a more sustained and substantive engagement in the period ahead in a bid to bring about a negotiated settlement. I continue to keep in close contact with the European Commission, with colleagues across the EU and with industry as we continue to seek to navigate the current challenges. A negotiated solution remains very clearly the goal and the preferred outcome. Ministers have delayed a flagship plan aimed at driving down child poverty until the autumn. The child poverty strategy, originally due to be published this spring, was expected to include a recommendation to scrap the two-child benefit cap. But the plan has now been pushed back until the autumn, the PA news agency understands, in order to align it with the next budget. Worries about the cost of the project and its political benefit are said to be key concerns for figures at the heart of the Government, according to the Guardian newspaper which first reported the story. The two-child benefit cap was introduced when the Conservatives were in power, and restricts parents from claiming certain benefits for more than two of their children. Its critics say scrapping the cap would be the most effective way of reducing child poverty across the UK. According to the Guardian, experts have warned some 100 children are pulled into poverty every day by the limit, meaning up to 20,000 could be impacted by a six-month delay. Some within Government are concerned that delaying any action on the cap beyond the autumn will mean the impact of scrapping it would not be felt before the next general election, the newspaper said. Labour backbenchers have been urging ministers to scrap the cap over recent months, amid a brewing rebellion against wider welfare reforms. When asked about whether the Government is considering scrapping the cap, the Prime Ministers official spokesman has not ruled it out, but insisted there is no single silver bullet to tackling child poverty. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he said the strategy would be published later this year, but emphasised the Government was taking a comprehensive approach to child poverty, including rolling out free breakfast clubs, increasing the number of affordable homes, and making moves to drive down household bills. Lord John Bird, an anti-poverty campaigner and founder of the Big Issue, criticised news of the delay and said the Government had just kicked the issue of child poverty into the long grass. He added: The impact of their inaction will be grave. It is shameful that child poverty is forecast to not fall, but rise significantly, to 31.5% of children under this Labour government. We need action now, not in six months or a years time. I will relentlessly pursue my intervention of adding child poverty targets to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill with the vigour that the 4.3 million children living in poverty in our country deserve. Meanwhile, Dan Paskins, executive director of policy, advocacy and campaigns at Save the Children UK, said: Every month that goes by while Keir Starmer does not scrap the cruel two-child limit means thousands of children are plunged into poverty. We would like to see assurance from Number 10 that this delay means their child poverty strategy contains bold ideas backed with the finance starting with scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap. Elsewhere, Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at the Trussell Trust, suggested delaying the strategy could benefit the people it is designed to help. Writing on social media site X, she said better a delayed child poverty strategy with measures to really protect children from hunger and hardship than one hitting the deadline but falling short on substance. The Commons justice committee said Karen Kneller provided it with problematic evidence. Photograph: Shelter The miscarriage of justice watchdog for England, Wales and Northern Ireland has continually failed to learn from its mistakes and its chief executive should follow the organisations chair out the door, MPs have said. In a damning report on the leadership of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the House of Commons justice committee said Karen Kneller had provided it with unpersuasive evidence and her position was no longer tenable. It said that the chief executive should follow in the footsteps of Helen Pitcher, who quit in January after an independent panel concluded she was no longer fit to be chair after the CCRCs failings over Andrew Malkinson. The justice committees report, published on Friday, said the CCRCs delay in publishing Chris Henley KCs review into the handling of the Malkinson miscarriage of justice case and attempts to minimise the damage to its reputation represented a spectacular failure of leadership. It accused Kneller of giving problematic evidence to the committee as to the reasons for the delay and failing to acknowledge attempts by the CCRC to water down Henleys findings. The committee chair, Labours Andy Slaughter, said: The committee cannot perform our scrutiny function if witnesses provide incomplete or partial responses to our questions. The information provided since the session establishes that Karen Kneller omitted important information that would have provided a more accurate account of how the CCRC handled the Henley report. As a result of our concerns regarding the performance of the CCRC and the unpersuasive evidence Karen Kneller provided to the committee, we no longer feel that it is tenable for her to continue as chief executive of the CCRC. The committee also deemed justifications given by Kneller for her attendance at expensive training courses in France using public money to be unsatisfactory. The CCRC had deteriorated significantly and required root and branch reform, the report found. Criticisms included the current lack of a chair, for which it said the Ministry of Justice bore some responsibility; the CCRCs struggle to secure a sufficient number of commissioners; and the move to fully remote working, which is out of step with the rest of the public sector and seems unsuited to the nature of their work. The committee said that while Henleys review focused on one case, it had significant implications for the CCRCs overall approach to its casework. The mistakes made in relation to Andrew Malkinsons application should have been taken as evidence of systemic problems within the CCRC. Slaughter said: For an organisation that is designed to identify failures within the criminal justice system, the CCRCs leadership has shown a remarkable inability to learn from its own mistakes. The report comes 10 days after Peter Sullivan had his wrongful murder conviction quashed after 38 years in prison. The Labour peer and former justice secretary Charlie Falconer said that while it was true that when Sullivan first applied to the CCRC in 2008 forensic testing techniques were not sufficiently advanced to exonerate him, it should have proactively reviewed his case and more than 1,500 others when a more accurate test became available in 2013. Falconer said the CCRC was generally regarded as useless. A CCRC spokesperson said it noted the committees recommendations, adding: We look forward to an announcement on the appointment of an interim chair and to working with them in an organisation deeply committed to finding, investigating and referring potential miscarriages of justice. Netanyahu said the actions of the three leaders were not advancing peace but emboldening Hamas to continue fighting for ever. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Benjamin Netanyahu was accused of slander and pursuing a war without end after he claimed the leaders of France, Canada and the UK were stoking antisemitism and siding with Hamas by demanding he end the two-month blockade of food and aid into Gaza. In what has become an extraordinary standoff with some of Israels closest allies, Netanyahu appeared to deliberately raise the stakes on Thursday night by accusing his western critics of abandoning Israel in a war for its very existence. Israels foreign minister, Gideon Saar, also sought to link the killing of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington to the recent criticism mounted by European leaders. He did not identify the countries, but the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, this week described some of Israels recent actions as extremist and abominable. Related: Israeli attacks kill at least 16 people in Gaza as aid agencies warn of famine Netanyahus language was seen by his own government as a warranted riposte to a joint statement issued on Monday by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, calling on Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza that has already claimed 3,000 lives since it restarted in March. In a post on X on Thursday evening, the Israeli prime minister said Hamas wanted to destroy the Jewish state and annihilate the Jewish people. I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others, Netanyahu said. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice. Netanyahu said the actions of those leaders were not advancing peace but emboldening Hamas to continue fighting for ever. He went on to blame a recent claim by the UNs humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, that thousands of babies would die imminently in Gaza if Israel did not immediately let in aid for the attack in Washington. A few days ago, a top UN official said that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see many international institutions are complicit in spreading this lie, he said. The press repeats it. The mob believed it. And a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington. UN officials had to retract Fletchers claim of deaths within 48 hours by saying he was referring to a UN technical report on food insecurity classification that said 14,100 severe cases of acute malnutrition could occur among children aged six to 59 months between April 2025 and March 2026. The reports timeframe is one year and not two days, as mentioned by Fletcher. In France, the foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, described Netanyahus allegations of antisemitism as defamatory. Accusing of encouraging antisemitism or [supporting] Hamas whoever defends the two-state solution is absurd and slanderous, Barrot said in a statement posted on X. Barrot has also said that France supports Hamas being disarmed and permanently excluded from the political future of Gaza. Britains armed forces minister, Luke Pollard, said: I condemn fully the murders of the Israeli diplomats in the United States, as has the prime minister very publicly. But were also absolutely clear that the best way to bring peace to the Middle East is with an immediate ceasefire being restored in Gaza with Hamas releasing the hostages without any further delay, and with massive amounts of aid getting to the Palestinian people in Gaza food, water and medical supplies being delivered without delay. Germany, the country most loyal to Israel for historical reasons, said the amount of aid entering Gaza was too little too late. Germany voted against the EUs plan to review its trade agreement with Israel to see if it is compliant with the EUs human rights obligations. Ministers in Arab states recognise Netanyahu is trying to shore up his political position by mounting attacks on the west, but warned he was causing irreparable damage to Israels global reputation and pursuing a dysfunctional war with no clear objectives. They said the US by contrast had embarrassed Netanyahu by showing direct diplomacy could produce the release of hostages. Israel says the block on aid is designed to isolate Hamas and permanently end its rule in Gaza. It says Hamas will not make concessions on its demand that Israel accept a permanent ceasefire. The United Arab Emirates, the Arab country with the closest relations with Israel, was in direct negotiation with Israel trying to ensure that 100 trucks cross the border into Gaza with aid to be distributed by UN agencies such as the World Food Programme. In what is seen as a test of Netanyahus bona fides, the UAE wants the trucks to be allowed to cross the border on Saturday even though this is the Jewish Sabbath. The UAE believes it is acting with the effective support of Donald Trump, who told leaders in the Gulf on his visit there that more aid must be allowed in for starving Palestinians. The UAE does not think the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the aid distribution mechanism being promoted by Israel as an alternative to the UN, will be ready to distribute aid for at least a month by which time many will have starved. A total of 119 aid trucks have entered Gaza since international pressure built on Netanyahu to allow aid into the territory. Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, said on Friday that Palestinians in Gaza are enduring what may be the cruelest phase of this cruel conflict. He said only a teaspoon of aid had entered Gaza when a flood of assistance is required, adding that 16,000 pallets of aid, enough to fill 9,000 trucks, were ready to enter the strip and accused Israel of imposing unnecessary obstacles to the distribution of aid. He said four-fifths of the territory had been made a no-go zone for the people of Gaza by being declared a military zone by the Israel Defense Forces. An umbrella network of Palestinian aid groups said that so far only 119 aid trucks had entered Gaza since Israel eased its blockade on Monday. But distribution has been hampered by looting by groups of men, some of them armed, near the city of Khan Younis, the network said. They stole food meant for children and families suffering from severe hunger, the network said in a statement, which also condemned Israeli airstrikes on security teams protecting the trucks. A Hamas official said six members of a security team tasked with guarding the shipments were killed. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The aid groups network said the amount of aid coming into Gaza was still inadequate and only included a narrow range of supplies. It said Israels agreement to allow trucks to enter the war-shattered territory was a deceptive manoeuvre to avoid international pressure calling for the lifting of the blockade. Justin Grimshaw claims he did not realise he could not sell the items - Spalding Guardian / Lincs Online / SWNS An antiques dealer has been caught selling ivory, endangered taxidermy animals and a tiger tooth. Justin Grimshaw, 71, was charged with 12 offences relating to the sale of items at Pendragon Antiques in the market town of Spalding, Lincolnshire. Police raided the shop in May last year and seized items including a taxidermy pine marten, endangered sawfish and an ivory sphinx figure. The antiques dealer admitted to offences relating to sales between 2019 and 2024 at Boston magistrates court this week. He was sentenced to four months in jail, suspended for 12 months and was told he only avoided prison because of his age and health issues. Grimshaw was also fined 500 and was ordered to pay costs and a surcharge of 239. Wildlife crime officers said they hoped the conviction would underscore the gravity of the illegal trade in endangered species in the UK and act as a strong deterrent. Lincolnshire Polices Rural Crime Action Team were tipped off last year about the sale of the illegal goods at the town centre store. A presentation trowel which has an ivory handle being sold for 850 - Lincolnshire Police/SWNS As well as the endangered stuffed animals, officers found an ivory picture frame, an ivory sphinx figure and an ivory and silver presentation trowel. Officers also visited his home address in Pinchbeck looking for a tiger tooth which had been seen on body worn video in a glass display cabinet. The tooth was found and seized and further research revealed three sawfish rostrums on sale online between June 2019 and January 2024. A tigers tooth which was being sold for 40 - Lincolnshire Police/SWNS Grimshaw was charged with offences contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulation 2018 and the Ivory Act 2018. He had claimed in a police interview that he did not realise he could not sell the items and did not realise they were protected by various pieces of legislation. A sawfish rostrum - Lincolnshire Police/SWNS Detective Constable Aaron Flint, the forces wildlife crime officer, said after the case: The illegal and unregulated trade in endangered species in the UK has a devastating impact on wildlife populations around the world. Iconic species continue to be illegally killed every day, making it vital that those fuelling this appalling trade are held accountable. I hope this message underscores the gravity of these crimes and serves as a strong deterrent to anyone considering involvement in such unlawful activity. Lincolnshire Police take this type of offending very seriously and anyone found committing this type of crime will be dealt with robustly. US President Donald Trump announcing the Golden Dome missile defence shield in the Oval Office - Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS In todays episode, Roland Oliphant explores Donald Trumps bold new vision for a space-based missile defence system - a futuristic project dubbed the Golden Dome. Announced in the Oval Office with his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Mr Trump claims the system will protect the US from missile attacks launched from anywhere on Earth - or even from space. Featuring cutting-edge technologies deployed across land, sea, and orbit, the Golden Dome is billed as the most advanced missile shield ever imagined. But is it real science or just science fiction? What would it cost - and would it actually work? To help us unpack the reality behind the rhetoric, Roland speaks to Julia Cournoyer from Chatham Houses International Security Programme. Plus, Venetia Rainey goes to Swedens Gotland island to see the British and American armies conduct the first ever simultaneous live fire drill with HIMARS and MLRS. She asks, is Donald Trumps hostile attitude towards European security affecting military cooperation on the ground? Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. The new test requires as little as 1ml of blood from a newborn for mitochondrial diseases, whereas current techniques involve a muscle biopsy. Photograph: UK Stock Images Ltd/Alamy A new blood-based test that could help speed up diagnoses for children born with rare genetic disorders has been developed by researchers in an effort to provide answers and treatments sooner. Rare genetic disorders include a host of conditions, from cystic fibrosis to diseases relating to the mitochondria the powerhouses of our cells. However, getting a diagnosis can be arduous. In most cases people suspected of a rare disease undergo genomic testing, which revolutionised their diagnosis, but typically only leads to a diagnosis about 50% of the time, said Dr David Stroud, the co-author of the study from the University of Melbourne. Those that dont receive a diagnosis from genomic testing often undergo a long diagnostic odyssey of months to years where they undergo myriad other tests in an effort to interpret which of the many genetic changes detected in genomic testing are causing the disease, he added. Some of these tests are very invasive, needing for example muscle biopsies, which in children requires general aesthetic, which has its own risks. Writing in the journal Genome Medicine, Stroud and colleagues report how they sought to supplement genetic testing with another approach: examining the myriad proteins found within certain types of blood cells taken from a patient, and comparing them against those found in healthy people. Since genes are the instructions to make proteins, we then use this information to understand which of the thousands of changes in many different genes detected in a patient are leading to a damaged protein and which are benign, said Stroud. The team say the approach means the effects of many different genetic mutations can be analysed at once and yield results in as little as three days. Among other results the researchers found the new approach outperformed current gold-standard tests for mitochondrial diseases that are used alongside genetic testing, and enabled the diagnosis of diseases where genomic testing alone had been unable to do so. Genomics is the frontline test and it can solve the diagnosis in about 30-50% of patients suspected of a rare disease. We think a single proteomic test can increase that diagnostic yield to 50-70% of suspected patients, said Prof David Thorburn, another author of the research from the University of Melbourne. While the study focuses on using the test for mitochondrial diseases, Stroud said it was already applicable to about half of the 7,000 known rare diseases, although more work was needed to demonstrate this. Stroud added that for mitochondrial diseases as little as 1ml of blood from a newborn was required for the procedure, whereas current techniques involved a muscle biopsy. Furthermore, while a mitochondria-focused version of the test has a similar cost to current techniques, it is not specific to one kind of rare disease. That not only makes it more cost-effective but, as Stroud noted, it also means patients could avoid having to take other unnecessary tests. This has obvious benefits to both the patient and healthcare system, he said. A diagnosis not only sheds light on the disease, and in some cases possible treatments. It also helps parents who are considering having further children by raising the possibility of pre-natal genetic testing. Michal Minczuk, a professor of mitochondrial genetics, at the University of Cambridge, and who was not involved in the study, welcomed the research. Overall, the paper marks a very significant step forward in diagnostic practices by introducing a robust, rapid, and minimally invasive method for confirming and characterising genetic disorders, he said. This could greatly enhance patient care by expanding the tools available for clinicians and researchers in genomic medicine. Robert Pitceathly, a professor of clinical neurology and mitochondrial medicine at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, agreed. The next step is broader validation and integrating this technology into NHS diagnostic services to improve patient outcomes, he said. Cambridge University is considering a shake-up of the current assessment system so some students can resit exams - Michael Foley / Alamy Stock Photo The University of Cambridge is set to introduce exam resits for the first time. Cambridges education committee has called for a shake-up of the current assessment system for students affected by illness or grave cause when sitting their exams. The proposals will see final-year students able to resit papers if more than a quarter of their exams are disrupted, or allow them to take a spoken assessment instead in some circumstances. It comes despite a recent report by Cambridges exam taskforce warning that resits would damage the universitys reputation, even for students facing exceptional circumstances. An internal consultation involving 23 Cambridge colleges and 42 departments last year found that 60 per cent were opposed to introducing resits. Respondents warned that some students would exploit the option for their own gain and said the phenomenon would grow at Cambridge, following evidence of an increase in resits at other universities that have introduced them. But internal council papers published on Wednesday show Cambridge is now seriously considering introducing resits for the first time, with a vote on the proposed changes set to take place next month. Pressure from watchdog The university hopes to introduce reassessment opportunities for students who can prove that illness caused them to miss or seriously underperform in more than 25 per cent of their final-year exams, the documents said. Individual departments would be able to decide the type of reassessment for each student and could take the form of an oral exam called a viva, a portfolio of essays, or a traditional exam resit. Those who flunked less than a quarter of their final exams would have those papers disregarded entirely from their overall mark if they can prove it was because of illness or grave cause, through a GP note or similar. Cambridge students will have seven days after the exam in question to apply for extenuating circumstances under the proposed changes, which if passed will come into effect at the start of the next academic year. Currently, Cambridge students who miss more than 25 per cent of their final exams because of exceptional circumstances are declared to have deserved honours. This means they do not receive an overall grade and are instead handed a note regarding their illness or mitigating circumstance, which student campaigners have said can be difficult to explain to employers. Resits are also typically only allowed for Cambridge students studying for a professional qualification, such as veterinary science or medicine. Founded in 1209, Cambridge is one of just a few UK universities not to offer resits as standard practice and has faced significant pressure from the students complaints watchdog to roll them out. Egalitarian dogmatism The Office of the Independent Adjudicator said in a 2023 report that Cambridge should consider offering resits as one of the first options availablenot the last. It prompted the university to launch an internal consultation on introducing reassessment options last year, which rejected the proposals. Respondents cited concerns around staff burden and quality of assessment. Cambridge insisted the latest proposals would not harm the quality of its degrees, with the universitys general board saying the amendments will enable [it] to provide remedies that maintain standards. It comes after the Russell Group university announced earlier this year it will review whether to scrap tripos rankings, which were introduced in 1748 rate students exam results against their peers. The controversial move follows the findings of a recent Cambridge taskforce report, which claimed the university has a culture of overwork that harms student well-being. The universitys pro-vice chancellor for education said the suite of measures would help reduce self-imposed competitive pressure among students while maintaining Cambridges academic integrity. However, academics accused Cambridge of bowing to egalitarian dogmatism which they said would damage standards. Douglas Hedley, professor of the philosophy of religion at Clare College, said they were part of systemic attack on our world-renowned university culture. The mental health justification is a mask for a pernicious and dangerous agenda. It will cause more distress for students if their degrees are delegitimised by such egalitarian dogmatism, he said. David Abulafia, emeritus professor of history at Gonville and Caius College, added: If competitiveness is seen as dangerous, one might as well bid goodbye to universities such as Cambridge, which should be seeking to identify outstanding excellence and to prepare people for life in a highly competitive world. Meanwhile, student groups welcomed the latest move to consider introducing resits for some pupils. Sarah Anderson, the student unions undergraduate president, said the proposed changes would ensure that almost all students can leave Cambridge with a degree that truly reflects their hard work. The ability to resit exams is standard at universities across the UK, and we have long lagged behind, she said. These changes are especially important for disabled students, who live in fear that a flare-up at the wrong time could prevent them from receiving a grade that reflects their true ability. A spokesperson for Cambridge University said: The university was asked to consider the option of providing exam resits by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. Any resits would only be offered to students suffering a serious issue such as family bereavement or illness. As these matters are still being discussed with internal stakeholders we will not be commenting further until that process is complete. A female Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito feeding on human blood. Photograph: Jim Gathany/Centers for Disease Control/EPA Climate change could make the UK vulnerable to insect-transmitted tropical diseases that were previously only found in hot countries, scientists have warned, urging ministers to redouble efforts to contain their spread abroad. Leading mosquito experts said the governments cuts to international aid would lead to a collapse in crucial surveillance, control and treatment programmes in endemic countries, leading to more deaths. This week, the UK Health Security Agency announced the discovery of West Nile virus in UK mosquitoes for the first time. The agency said it had found no evidence of transmission to humans and the risk to the British public was low. West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and, like dengue fever, chikungunya and zika, used to be confined to hotter regions of the world. But global heating has expanded the geographical spread of West Nile virus and other tropical diseases into cooler areas, including parts of northern and western Europe. In 2024, there were more than 1,400 cases of locally acquired West Nile virus and several hundred cases of dengue, mostly in France and Italy. According to Dr Robert Jones, assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, in the most extreme scenarios with temperatures rising by 4 to 5 degrees above pre-industrial levels there is expected to be a fivefold increase in dengue and chikungunya outbreaks by the 2060s in Europe. We are unlikely to see a dramatic surge in tropical diseases, said Jones. However, climate change is making the UK more hospitable to the insects that that transmit some pathogens that cause tropical diseases. Projected increases to UK temperatures in the coming years will increase the risks of West Nile virus outbreaks, potentially with epidemics appearing by the second half of the century. Related: Dengue fever deaths surge in Caribbean and Americas due to climate crisis For tropical diseases to become established in the UK, those infected with the virus would have to be bitten by the appropriate mosquitoes, which then pass it on to other people. For now, the UK does not yet have the right mosquitoes in sufficient numbers, said Prof Tom Solomon, the director of the National Institute for Health and Care Researchs health protection research unit on emerging infections and of the Pandemic Institute. At the moment, Aedes mosquitoes such as the Asian tiger mosquito are the main vectors of dengue fever and zika, whilst for West Nile, Culex species are important. These mosquitoes have been detected in the UK, but are not yet fully established in sufficient numbers to cause large outbreaks. But as the UK gets hotter, local mosquito populations are changing, which, long-term, could result in local transmission of tropical diseases, especially in southern England. For now, there is no need for the NHS to embark on mass vaccinations for yellow fever or to prescribe anti-malarial drugs. And the public does not yet need to routinely use insect repellent in Britain during summer. Related: GM mosquitoes: inside the lab breeding six-legged agents in the war on malaria A better defence against mosquito-borne disease would be to tackle it internationally, scientists say. Heather Ferguson, professor of infectious disease ecology at the University of Glasgow, who leads the Mosquito Scotland project, says the absolute number one priority for the UK government if it wants to protect UK citizens long-term is to invest in measures to control these diseases in the tropical countries where they cause the overwhelming burden of illness and death. She added: We should never lose sight of the fact that one child under five dies of malaria approximately every minute, with approximately 600,000 deaths and over 100 million cases in 2023 alone. As we learned from the pandemic, infectious diseases have no borders and can spread quickly when the conditions are right. The governments cuts to foreign aid will lead to a collapse in crucial surveillance, control and treatment programmes in endemic countries, causing more deaths from tropical disease. The best way to defend ourselves is to not only maintain, but strengthen investment into the global elimination efforts that will ultimately keep all of us safe from tropical disease. Solomon said: Controlling mosquito-borne diseases overseas is also an important element of protecting the UK. If they are controlled overseas, there is less chance of them spreading to the UK. Long-term policies that address net zero challenges globally are arguably the best protection against such diseases, said Prof James Wood, the infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge and the co-director of Cambridge Infectious Diseases. A FCDO spokesperson said: Global health security is essential for our national security and the UK is a leading donor in the fight against mosquito-borne tropical diseases. We play a major role in the global malaria response, and we are the third largest donor to the global fund. This week we adopted a new pandemic agreement, which will improve the way countries around the world work together to detect and combat global health threats. As the minister for international development, Baroness Chapman, has said, global health will be a priority for the UKs international development. Diseases cross borders so our diplomacy must too. An image Joe Biden posted with his wife, Jill, and their cat, Willow, after revealing his prostate cancer diagnosis - Joe Biden via X/Reuters The final chapter of Joe Bidens five-decade political career has been mired in questions about his clearly ailing health, and who knew what when. Now, a new puzzle has emerged: why was the president of the United States one of the most medically scrutinised people on earth not tested for prostate cancer once in over a decade? Was it, as his team insists, a routine omission for a man of his age, or was it something more calculated? What we do know is that Bidens cancer was reportedly detected so late that it is now aggressive. According to medical specialists, the cells have a disordered appearance with a Gleason score (which analyses how likely they are to advance) of nine out of 10. It is also classed as stage four because the cancer has metastasised from his prostate to his bones. At this point, it can only be controlled, not cured. That it is serious is beyond doubt, but what is more complicated is the question of how this happened. On one side, we have Bidens aides, who told The New York Times that doctors stopped analysing his PSA (prostate-specific antigens) in 2014 in line with US guidelines, which suggest that men over 70 do not need routine testing. This is because an elevated PSA is so common that testing can lead to unnecessary treatment, which often causes more damage that it solves. Still, presidents are subject to more rigorous and more personalised medical care than the rest of us, and Donald Trump (despite having no evidence) has suggested that this was a cover-up. Trump, who is 78 to Bidens 82, is still being tested for prostate cancer and has released his (relatively low) PSA results numerous times. Barack Obama and George W Bush both regularly published their PSA scores while in office. There are a number of flaws in Bidens argument namely that 71 seems young for a man in high public office to stop all testing. We do not recommend routine screening for men after age 75 or in men with life expectancy of less than 10 years because the benefits of detecting a prostate cancer and treating it for curative intent are not realised in that short time period, says Behfar Ehdaie, a urologic specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. However, patients are still seen regularly and questions are asked about prostate health after age 75. Urological surgeon Declan Cahill, who is based at the London Bridge Hospital, believes 70 or even 75 is an increasingly arbitrary age, as men are living longer than ever. I would have thought it was particularly inappropriate not to test a man as medicalised as Biden, who would also have had a life expectancy beyond the mean he is lean, he doesnt smoke, he is fit and was very well taken care of. Theres never any point in not knowing knowledge is everything, so long as it is responsibly managed. A senior surgeon weighs in, adding, To take a blood test from a man over 50 and not do a PSA is practically an assault. It is the most male-specific health-related blood test you can do. If you get an abnormal result, then you do a scan (I imagine the White House has an MRI scanner) and then after that you do a biopsy. It is not as if we throw drugs at anyone with a high PSA, but I simply cannot envision a world where nobody at the White House ever ticked yes to a PSA test for him. This then raises the question of whether they deliberately failed to screen him particularly in light of new tests now available that are far more accurate than the PSA. Dr Bartu Ahiska, the senior director at Oxford BioDynamics, explains that one of the problems with the PSA is that it is not accurate enough to distinguish between prostate cancer and other benign prostate conditions. Their Epi-Switch PSE blood test cuts false positives from about 75 per cent to under 10 per cent, and has been available in the US and UK for two years. Then there is the fact that new forms of treatment are far less invasive than they once were, with some carrying almost no side effects negating the argument that it is not worth testing for. If it is localised, prostate cancer is curable with a number of approaches which yes include surgery and radiotherapy, but there is also an emerging technique called focal therapy, says Dr Rakesh Heer, the chair of urology at Imperial College London. High frequency ultrasounds or cryotherapy, or irreversible electroporation, destroy the cancer but leave the prostate intact, so avoid the side effects which include incontinence and erectile dysfunction. This only works in cases that are caught early. Hormone treatment is usually the first line of defence for anyone diagnosed with slightly more advanced prostate cancer. Notably, one of the side effects can be cognitive decline. Androgen deprivation therapy, or ADT, blocks production of testosterone and this causes a number of side effects, says Cahill. Cognitive decline is one it is not usually that common to be glaringly obvious, but a lot of relatives will notice that the man in questions short term memory is really failing or that he has become really forgetful. Bidens history of covering up health problems means that this most recent revelation has led to a media storm in the US. Many Democrats blame Trumps 2024 victory on Bidens lack of transparency around his health, his clear cognitive decline during the second half of his presidency and his late withdrawal from the 2024 election. This news also comes the same week that Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, written by authors and journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, is released. The book alleges that, Bidens physical deterioration most apparent in his halting walk had become so severe that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldnt do so until after the election. Given Bidens age, [his physician Kevin OConnor] also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery, the book adds. According to Tapper and Thompson, aides tried to ensure he never walked long distances and used handrails when climbing stairs. Bidens former physician, Kevin OConnor, is alleged to have said that Biden may need a wheelchair if he suffered another bad fall - Shutterstock At the time, the press were repeatedly told that his altered gait was because of a fracture he suffered in 2020 and the fact he failed to wear his prescribed surgical boot. His mental decline was arguably more disturbing. According to Tapper and Thompson, Biden failed to recognise George Clooney at a California fundraiser last June, reportedly saying, Thank you for being there, to the film star. Not long after, Clooney wrote an opinion piece suggesting he withdraw his candidacy. This interaction was not made public. A spokesperson for Biden says, evidence of ageing is not evidence of mental incapacity, arguing that he had been a very effective President. However, Thompson and Tapper allege that, as well as taking far too long to come forward with his health problems and thereby possibly costing the Democrats the election, Biden hid information about the cancer diagnosis of his late son, Beau Biden, who was an elected official at the time. The authors argue that this demonstrates the Bidens capacity for denial and the lengths they would go to avoid transparency about health issues. A senior Republican source agrees, saying: It was clear to anyone who was watching the President that he had declined cognitively and physically. The White House and the media condemned concerns about his health as political attacks, so it would not be surprising if they also lied about more serious health issues he had. Hazel Stewart (centre) during the murder trial in 2011 - Paul Faith/PA Wire Double murderer Hazel Stewart may have been suffering from mental illness when she killed her policeman husband and the wife of her ex-lover, a court heard on Friday, Stewart is serving a minimum of 18 years behind bars for the killing of Constable Trevor Buchanan, 32, and Lesley Howell, 31, the wife of her ex-lover Colin Howell. Both were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, Co Londonderry, in May 1991. Police originally believed they had died in a suicide pact after discovering that their partners were having an extramarital affair. Instead, they had been drugged and murdered and their bodies arranged to make it look as though they had taken their own lives. Nearly two decades passed before dentist Howell, 65, confessed to both killings and went on to implicate Stewart at her trial in 2011. She is making a fresh bid to have her sentence reduced by arguing that she was suffering from PTSD at the time of the murders. Constable Trevor Buchanan was 32 when he was murdered by his wife and her lover - Police Service of Northern Ireland/PA Wire Representing Stewart, Brendan KC said: This application was created by the discovery of fresh evidence. He said a series of reports from a psychiatrist in 2024 had said Stewart was suffering from two forms of mental health, depression and PTSD, at the time of the murders. Mr Kelly said coupled with coercive behaviour from Howell, these were factors that should have been taken into account during her sentencing. The barrister said the new evidence was cogent and admissible. He said her mental illness had been caused after she had an abortion in 1990, adding that her condition simply wasnt identified or recognised at the time of her trial. Pointing out that the diagnosis had been made only last year, Mr Kelly said it was difficult to see how we could have moved more quickly. The barrister said the application to give leave for appeal should be granted, the new evidence submitted to the court and the psychiatrist called as a witness. Lesley Howell was the wife of Colin Howell, who, along with Stewart, was found guilty of her murder - PA The Court of Appeal in Belfast also heard submissions that Stewart, 62, a former Sunday school teacher, was being coercively controlled by Howell at the time of the killings in 1991. However, a barrister for the Public Prosecution Service said that more than 30 years after the murders, Stewart had finally found a doctor who will say something sympathetic. Representing the Public Prosecution Service, Philip Henry KC said Stewarts barrister was trying to create an exceptional scenario. He said the appeal judges were being invited to feel so uncomfortable about the new medical evidence that a sense of injustice is provoked. Mr Henry said the psychiatrist was first instructed in 2023 and was initially given some, but not all, of the relevant medical material. He added that after the new psychiatric report, the court was nowhere near the point where it could allow an appeal over the sentence to proceed. Mr Kelly denied that Stewarts legal team had been shopping for a psychiatrist. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said the court would rule on the application next month. A convicted Nigerian drug dealer avoided deportation after a Home Office blunder. Government officials wrongly accepted that Olajiire Obafemi Shoyombo had been in Britain for most of his life when trying to argue for his deportation. However, they had calculated it based on the length of time the crack cocaine and heroin dealer had been in the country, rather than the time that he had been lawfully resident. Because of this error, Shoyombo was able to argue that he had spent most of his life in the UK, since he arrived at the age of three in 2005, rather than the time he had been lawfully resident, which was nine years less. This enabled his lawyers to claim that he was entitled to the private life exception which allows immigrants to stay in the UK if they have been legally here for most of their lives and would face significant obstacles to returning to their home country. His initial appeal was backed by the lower tier tribunal but has since been referred back to them by an upper court to be reheard after the Home Office explained their error. The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example uncovered by The Telegraph where illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have been able to remain in the UK or halt their deportations on human rights grounds. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, announced plans last week to curb judges powers to block deportations with new legally enforced common sense rules to clarify how judges interpret human rights laws and strengthen the public interest test. Shoyombo first arrived in the UK on a family visit visa when he was three years old in May 2005. His family then stayed in the UK illegally when their visa expired that October and his mother did not apply for further leave to remain until September 2012. Yvette Cooper has announced new legal framework that will end ad-hoc decision-making by immigration courts - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Her application, which included Shoyombo as a dependent, was initially denied but it was granted in June 2014 after an appeal. From then until the end of 2022, the criminal was deemed lawfully resident. In March 2023, he was convicted of two offences at Nottingham Crown Court for the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and sentenced to 40 months in a youth prison. He was served with a deportation order in June 2023 which he appealed on human rights grounds. His claim was rejected by the Home Office but, crucially, in their written decision they accepted he had been lawfully resident in the UK for most of his life. However, this assertion was calculated based on his entire length of stay in the country, not just the time when he had leave to remain. The Nigerian criminal appealed against the decision to reject his claim at a First-tier Immigration Tribunal and was successful on the basis of the private life exception. Now, the Home Office has appealed against the first-tier decision on the basis that the conclusion that the private life exception applied was an error of law. Before the Upper-tier Tribunal they made an application to withdraw their concession that Shoyombo had been lawfully resident for most of his life. They argued that he had, instead, been legally in the UK for six years and eight months of his nearly 18-year stay and this did not qualify as most of his life. Upper Tribunal Judge Vinesh Mandalia calculated that the criminal had been lawfully resident for nine years, factoring in time for his leave to remain applications to be processed, but this was still not enough to count as most of the Nigerians life. He allowed the Home Office appeal and has sent the decision back to the First-tier Tribunal where Shoyombo will need to prove there are compelling circumstances for him to remain in the UK. An Islamic State propaganda photo - Alamy/Alamy An Islamic State supporter came to Britain as an illegal migrant and then shared propaganda videos from the terror group on WhatsApp, a court heard. Mohammed Hamad, 30, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to two counts of disseminating terrorist publications from Islamic State. At a sentencing hearing on Friday, David Earl, prosecuting, said Hamad had come to the UK illegally from Iraqi Kurdistan in 2016. He told the authorities his life would be in danger and he would be arrested if he returned to his home country, the court heard. Hamad said he had been a student of preacher Mulla Shwan, who he said used to teach him the Koran but had recently joined Islamic State. He told interviewers: Because I was his student police called me to attend a meeting, so Ive run away for my life. Hamad was the fourth man from the pro-Islamic State WhatsApp group to be sentenced. Also in the group was Roshman Saaed, 30, who was jailed for 12 years after he was found guilty following a trial in Birmingham last year of six counts of dissemination of a terrorist publication three of which were shared to the same messaging group and one count of entering into a terrorist funding arrangement. Tshko Mohamad, 33, from West Bromwich, was jailed for seven years after he was convicted of entering into a terrorist funding arrangement and Omar Ahmadi, 24, from Sheffield, was jailed for five years and seven months after pleading guilty to the same offence. Pro-Islamic State mindset The court heard that, in June 2022, the WhatsApp group including Hamad was set up with the introductory message: Swearing by the almighty Allah, we have given a pledge of allegiance to almighty Allah that we will come to you under the flag of the Islamic State caliphate in whatever hole you are in this world. Otherwise we will, by Allah, separate your head from your body. Hamad shared a pro-Islamic State mindset with others in the group, the court heard. One video shared by another user showed a shackled soldier on fire, with the caption: It contains roasting. It is very tasty. The court heard Hamad sent two videos in the group. Mr Earl said the first, sent on Dec 9 2022, showed someone who claimed to be a student of Mulla Shwan who appeared in numerous IS videos before he was killed alongside other IS fighters, in 2015. The video referred to soldiers of Islamic State and to brothers being skilled in IED, meaning improvised explosive devices, said Mr Earl. A second video was sent by Hamad on Jan 18 and showed three prisoners being beheaded in the street. In a speech before the beheading, the man in the video said he was acting in revenge for an attack on Muslim people and promised: We will slaughter you one by one. Mr Earl said: The videos were sent intending them to be a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. Which is the real life? When Hamad, who had a Kurdish Sorani interpreter in the dock, was arrested at his home in Wavertree, Liverpool, in March last year, he told officers: I lost my phone a long time ago. I want a solicitor. Kate ORaghallaigh, defending, said: The court has seen evidence which is entirely consistent with this man being, in his real life, consistently a hard-working local barber in Liverpool who is not religious, not devout, leads a typical Western lifestyle, attends nightclubs and so forth. Judge Neil Flewitt KC asked: Doesnt it rather beg the question, which is the real life? Photographs of Hamad at social events including his wedding were submitted to the court, along with a letter from his wife, who sat in the public gallery. Sentencing, Judge Flewitt said: It is said that you live a characteristic Western lifestyle, with many gay and lesbian friends, respecting everyone equally. On that basis, it is submitted that these offences represent an aberration in your life and undermine any suggestion that you are a committed ideologue. I have some difficulty with that submission, because another interpretation of that material is that it demonstrates the hypocrisy of a person who is willing publicly to embrace a Western lifestyle while privately supporting a terrorist organisation whose objective is to destroy it. The judge also made Hamad subject to notification provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 for 10 years. A Jewish protester was arrested by the Metropolitan Police after he briefly held a placard satirising a Hezbollah terrorist leader, The Telegraph can reveal. The British man, who has asked to remain anonymous for his safety, was detained and charged last September over a cartoon that showed Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese terror chief, with a pager and the words beep, beep, beep. The placard satirised a targeted Israeli attack, dubbed Operation Grim Beeper, in which explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies killed 42 people, mostly Hezbollah terrorists. Nasrallah survived, but was killed in an air strike a week later. During questioning, police repeatedly asked the man who was part of a counter-demonstration against a pro-Palestinian march if he believed the image would offend clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel activists. Hezbollah is a terror group, which is proscribed in the UK. The decision by police to allow pro-Palestinian demonstrators to march through London since the Oct 7 massacre, including in areas with high Jewish populations and near synagogues, has been highly contentious. The mans case is the latest in a string of heavy-handed police responses to lawful expression. Last year, The Telegraph reported how columnist Allison Pearson was questioned at home by two officers over an X post following pro-Palestinian protests. The Telegraph also uncovered the case of Julian Foulkes, a retired special constable, who was wrongly cautioned by Kent Police for warning about the threat of anti-Semitism in Britain. The counter-protester pointed out to investigating officers that the sign was political satire The latest case prompted condemnation from senior MPs and peers on both sides of the House. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said it was an example of two-tier policing in action. He told The Telegraph: In recent times, the police have failed to act when confronted with protesters calling for jihad and intifada in London. Yet this man was apparently arrested because he might have offended supporters of a banned terrorist organisation. This is two-tier policing in action. The law is rightly clear that supporting banned terrorist groups, inciting violence, inciting racial hatred or harassing people is illegal. Beyond that, free speech applies to everyone. The police sometimes turn a blind eye when applying the law might be difficult, yet over-police at other times. The law should be applied equally to all, robustly and without fear or favour. That is not what happened here. It comes just a day after Sir Nick Clegg also weighed in on the issue, telling an audience at the Charleston Literary Festival in Sussex that police had become too censorious of online speech. The man in the latest case held the placard for less than three minutes during the demonstration in Swiss Cottage, north-west London, on Sept 20. The area, near the home of Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador, has been targeted almost weekly by pro-Palestinian activists since the October 7 massacre. On Sept 20, a pro-Palestine demonstrator was filmed in the area shouting I love the 7th of October and I like any organisation that starts with H. He was arrested under terrorism legislation, but was not charged. The Jewish man was part of a counter-demonstration organised by Stop the Hate UK, a multi-faith group. He was arrested a week later when he returned to the same location for another demonstration on Sept 27. Before detaining him overnight at Islington police station, officers searched his home in a failed attempt to find the placard, which the man had already explained was not his. Two police vans and six officers turned up at our house to search for offensive material, which was quite invasive. It was a horrible experience, he said. They put me in the lounge and asked my partner to go with them around the house. They werent very pleasant to her and even went through her knicker drawer. It was totally ridiculous. Following his arrest, in police interview footage obtained by The Telegraph, an officer can be seen repeatedly asking the counter-protester: Do you think that showing this image to persons protesting who are clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel that by doing so would stir up racial hatred further than it is already? Both the counter-protester and his lawyer, Carl Woolf, specialist criminal solicitor advocate at Woolf Law LLP, were completely shocked at this question. In the footage, Mr Woolf replied: Are you saying that there were pro-Hezbollah people there? Because it is a proscribed terrorist organisation. The officer answered I am aware of that, but continued the line of questioning. The counter-protester denied intending to incite racial hatred or insult or distress supporters of the proscribed Lebanese terror group, telling the investigating officer the sign was political satire. He was released at 6.30am and later charged under the Public Order Act for causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by words or writing. On May 10 eight months after his ordeal began the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case, saying there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. In an exclusive interview, the man described the ordeal as distressing for him and his family. The Met Police are still completely out of their depth when it comes to policing the anti-Israel hate marches weve seen on our streets week in, week out since the October 7 attacks, he said. It beggars belief that police could think that this placard may be offensive to supporters of Hezbollah. If there are Hezbollah supporters at these marches, then why werent charges brought against them for terrorist offences, rather than me being charged for holding a sign that can only be construed as political satire? I didnt realise how relieved I was until I heard I wasnt going to court. Officer misspoke, says Met On Friday, with regard to the repeated references in the interview to the counter-protester having offended supporters of a proscribed terrorist organisation, the Met Police said the officer clearly misspoke when she described those in the protest as pro-Hezbollah instead of pro-Palestinian. A spokesman added that the man was charged following a careful consideration of the evidence and that the force would attempt to learn lessons from the episode. The spokesman said: We will reflect on the CPS decision not to proceed with the case, applying any learning to future investigations. The case is likely to fuel criticism of police for failing to confront anti-Semitic hate and heighten concerns over the safety of British Jews. It comes two days after a gunman shot dead two Israeli embassy staff near Washington DCs Jewish museum. The suspect told police I did it for Gaza and shouted free Palestine as he handed himself in. The attack prompted Scotland Yard to urge Londons Jewish community to remain vigilant. In an extraordinary move on Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir Starmer and other world leaders of siding with Hamas, claiming they were on the wrong side of humanity. In a televised statement addressing the shootings at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, the Israeli prime minister, said that by condemning the war in Gaza the leaders were supporting mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers. Amichai Chikli, the Israeli diaspora affairs minister, accused Sir Keir, the French president Emmanuel Macron and the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney of having emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines. This cowardice has a price and that price is paid in Jewish blood, he said. On Friday, peers with expertise in countering political violence raised alarm at the Mets conduct and called for an investigation. Lord Walney, the Governments former extremism tsar, told The Telegraph: We all understand the police have a difficult job preventing protests escalating into disorder, but the idea that officers intervened on the side of supporters of a proscribed terrorist organisation is grotesque. The cross-bench peer, whose advisory role was axed by Sir Keir in February after he called for some climate activists and pro-Palestine groups to be banned, said that the disturbing incident should be investigated and that there should be a full apology from the Met if the protesters claims are upheld. He added: Its an implausible explanation from the police that this officer simply misspoke. She was reading from a list of pre-prepared questions. They should just own their mistake and use this opportunity to ensure lessons are learnt. Arrest beggars belief Lord Austin, a non-affiliated peer who was investigated by police for calling Hamas Islamists on social media, told The Telegraph: It beggars belief that someone would be arrested, put in the cells and then charged for holding this sign because it might upset supporters of Islamist terrorists and a proscribed organisation, rather than take action against the terror supporters. There is clearly a systemic problem when it comes to dealing with the hate marches and, instead of telling us they disagree with individual decisions, ministers need to get a grip and sort it out. A Met Police spokesman said: We take support for proscribed organisations very seriously. Since October 2023, we have made 28 arrests under the Terrorism Act for offences at protests including wearing clothing or displaying symbols that indicated support for such groups, including Hezbollah. This is in addition to the hundreds of arrests made for other offences. The pro-Palestinian demonstrator filmed shouting I love the 7th of October on Sept 20 was arrested by the Met under terrorism legislation. He was not charged, despite Scotland Yard twice submitting a file of evidence to the CPS, the second time after appealing against a decision not to pursue the case. A Met spokesman told The Telegraph that discussions with the CPS regarding the case were continuing, adding that we will ensure all available avenues to challenge the decision not to bring charges are pursued. After the CPS became aware of The Telegraphs imminent publication of the story, it issued a statement to say it was urgently reviewing its decision-making in the case of the pro-Palestinian protester. Police chiefs have warned Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, that letting criminals out of prison earlier must not mean they are out of control - Danny Lawson/2025 PA Media Up to 43,000 criminals are set to avoid prison each year under Government plans to combat jail overcrowding, an analysis of official figures by The Telegraph reveals. The criminals, including burglars, shoplifters and knife offenders, will instead face community sentences under the plans to scrap most jail terms of under 12 months. The law change, recommended by an independent review headed by David Gauke, the former Tory justice secretary, will order courts to only jail offenders for less than a year in exceptional circumstances, including domestic abuse, stalking and breaching orders linked to violence against women and girls. The analysis also reveals that up to 1,500 killers, rapists and other serious sexual and violent offenders will be eligible for early release each year under the shake-up, which is designed to free up nearly 10,000 prison spaces. The criminals, whose offences include manslaughter, attempted murder, rape, wounding with intent to cause GBH and sexual assault, will be eligible for early release half way through their sentences of four or more years, rather than two thirds, if they behave well and engage with rehabilitation schemes. Up to a further 28,600 offenders on standard determinate sentences will be eligible for release as little as a third of the way through their sentences, depending on behaviour. The offences include violence against the person, sex offences, robbery, theft, drug possession, fraud and possession of weapons, for which the criminals would currently only be allowed out after serving 40 per cent of their sentence. If they fail to behave, they would face up to 50 per cent of their sentence in jail. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: Sir Keir Starmers decision is a gift to hardened criminals who will now be free to cause carnage on our streets. This is certain to cause a crime wave and the complete breakdown of law and order. The only people benefiting from this Labour Government are criminals and illegal migrants. Instead of offering huge sentence discounts to killers and rapists, Starmer should free up space in our prisons by deporting the 10,800 foreign offenders clogging up our jails. But he wont, as hes wedded to broken human rights laws and previously campaigned to keep foreign criminals in the UK. Robert Jenrick described the plans as a gift to hardened criminals - HOC/UNPIXS He made the comments as police chiefs have demanded ministers exempt high-risk violent and sexual offenders from their early prison release scheme to protect the public from out of control criminals. They have also warned there will be a surge in reoffending by freed prisoners unless Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, provides the extra cash for probation officers to supervise the thousands more criminals set to be released early. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has written to Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, warning that letting criminals out of prison earlier must not mean the offenders are out of control. The analysis, based on the number of offenders jailed last year, showed that up to nearly 11,000 shoplifters could avoid jail, as well as more than 3,000 convicted of assaulting emergency workers and a further 3,000 imprisoned for common assault and battery. It could also include as many as 2,300 burglars of non-domestic dwellings and nearly 400 house burglars. The figures also suggest 2,300 convicted of knife crime and more than 1,000 sent down for actual bodily harm assaults could escape jail. Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett, who leads on criminal justice for the NPCC, said there must be adequate funds in the forthcoming spending review to invest in probation officers and technology, to ensure freed criminals were effectively supervised in the community to reduce reoffending. It is crucial for public safety that high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, and those who pose a threat to national security, are exempt from early prison release, she said. Robust prison sentences for these crimes must remain in place as a strong deterrent and means of keeping the public safe. It is also crucial that victims of domestic abuse are protected, and that perpetrators understand that there will be harsh consequences for breaching orders. Ms Mahmood told MPs she had secured an extra 700 million for the probation service in the spending review, as well as deploying tens of thousands more electronic tags to place high-risk offenders under effective house arrest with curfews at night and during the day alongside tighter exclusions, which they must not leave. Alana Armstrong suffered fatal injuries as a result of a collision in Derbyshire - Family Handout A mother-of-one died after allegedly being rammed off an e-bike by a 4x4 vehicle, a murder trial has heard. Alana Armstrong, 25, died in Pleasley, Derbyshire, after Keaton Muldoon allegedly tried five times to knock her and her boyfriend off the bicycle. Muldoon, 23, who the court heard is a drug dealer, is charged with the murder of Ms Armstrong and causing grievous bodily harm to 22-year-old Jordan Newton-Kay. He denies both charges. A jury at Derby Crown Court was told that Muldoon had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The defendant, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, appeared in the dock on Friday wearing a navy suit, white shirt and burgundy tie, in front of a full press bench and public gallery. Pursued and chased Opening the case for the prosecution, Sally Howes KC said: We begin shortly after 8pm on Tuesday Nov 26 last year. Emergency services ambulance and police attended the scene of a road traffic collision in a narrow, dark country road located in rural Derbyshire called Batley Lane. Upon arrival, paramedics found two people, a young man and a young woman, lying in the road together with a small electric motorcycle. The court heard that Ms Armstrongs boyfriend, Mr Newton-Kay, later told police that he, Alana, and another motorcycle rider on a separate bike all of whom had smoked cannabis that evening had been pursued and chased by what he thought was a large, dark, old-style Land Rover or Range Rover. Mr Newton-Kay said he saw Ms Armstrong, from Tibshelf, roll over the whole car as the vehicle came over him when the vehicles bumper hit the bikes back wheel, the jury heard. Ms Howes said: The catastrophic injuries sustained by Alana Armstrong as a result of this collision were not survivable and she was declared dead at the scene. Amputated leg The court heard that Mr Newton-Kay suffered a horrific injury to his right lower leg, which meant it had to be amputated. Ms Howes said that the vehicle, a Land Rover Discovery, had been parked up in darkness in a field before Mr Newton-Kay saw it and decided to take a closer look, together with the other motorcyclist. She said they noticed two figures inside, before the vehicle, driven by Muldoon, spun round and came straight at them. Ms Howes said that after a fifth attempt to hit the e-bike, Mr Newton-Kay remembers being under the car. She told the jury that Mr Newton-Kay said the defendant just ploughed us and left us for dead, did not even touch the brakes. The jury heard that Muldoon initially told police he did not drive the 4x4 vehicle that evening and that his uncle had it, but later admitted he had driven the vehicle but said that the crash had been an accident. Fear of being robbed Ms Howes said: The defendant later indicated to the prosecution that he was the driver of the Land Rover Discovery ... but that the collision was an accident and he further states that he was driving in a state of panic in fear of being robbed by the two people on the motorcycles. She told the jury that the defendant contacted a man within an hour of the collision asking if he wanted to buy the Land Rover, and an agreement was made to swap vehicles. The prosecution alleges that the collision was a deliberate, targeted running down using a highly powerful vehicle to run the small e-bike off the road. Ms Howes added: Its the Crowns case that at the time of the impact, the defendant must have intended to at least cause serious harm to his victims. The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues. Khamenei and Trump On Friday afternoon, a convoy departed from a villa in the leafy, if somewhat dull, Rome neighbourhood of Camilluccia. Inside one of the vehicles was US president Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was said to be dashing for a flight having just spent two and a half hours behind the pebble-dashed walls of the Omani embassy compound, attempting to hammer out a new nuclear deal with Iran. Their hosts from the Middle Eastern Sultanate will have provided all the usual necessities of a board meeting: bottled water, tea and coffee, and non-letterheaded paper. And the early signs appeared positive, with Omani officials saying the discussions had made some but not conclusive progress. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement, foreign minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said after the talks wrapped up shortly after 5pm. The common goal, put simply, is preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, a regional arms race, and a major war if not all three. The time to achieve it, however, is rapidly dwindling. Everything appears to hang on a single statistic. Iran wants to be able to enrich uranium to at least 3.67 per cent purity, the level needed in order to run civilian nuclear reactors, and which was allowed under a previous nuclear deal with Washington. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and six other world powers China, France, Germany, Russia, the US and the UK was a compromise. It allowed Iran to pursue nuclear power in exchange for strict limits on the amount and purity of the uranium it could enrich, and an invasive inspections regime to make sure it didnt cheat. Those restrictions were aimed at preventing Tehran from building a bomb. But critics said they were never watertight and Trump ditched the JCPOA during his first stint in the White House. He is now pursuing a new agreement, with the maximalist demand that Iran should not be able to enrich any uranium, to any level (which the Islamic republic has rejected for decades). The gap between zero and 3.67 could be the difference between success and failure, peace and war. The Omanis are very good at keeping things under wraps Fridays meeting marked the fifth round of indirect talks between American and Iranian diplomats since Trump wrote to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei giving Iran 60 days to agree to a new nuclear deal, or face military action. That deadline is thought to have already expired. The Omani Embassy in Rome is the venue for nuclear talks between Iran and the United States - Baris Seckin/Anadolu/Getty Rome is a logistical compromise. Most of the talks have taken place in Oman itself. Specifically in the personal home of Badr bin Hamad, the Sultanates Oxford-educated foreign minister. The mansion, a short drive from the airport in the sun-baked, dusty capital of Muscat, conveniently has separate wings, one furnished in Western style and the other in the Middle Eastern manner. Fittingly, the Americans were installed in the former, the Iranians in the latter. In theory, the indirect talks were meant to see the two sides led by Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi respectively remain in hermetically sealed rooms while Badr bin Hamad personally shuttled written messages from one end of his house to the other. In practice, says Arash Azizi, an American-Iranian academic who has spoken to members of the Iranian delegation, they have increasingly been speaking face to face. I have good information that they do actually sit on the same desk and talk. There are just also other people at the table, right? They can call that indirect, just because there is also someone else there. On the first day they didnt have a session together in the same room, but Witkoff and Aragchi did shake hands outside. On other days, they have been in the same room. When they write things, they write them on paper without a letterhead, and they give it to the Omani foreign minister, and he gives it back and forth. Thats the sort of mechanics. No one really knows the details of what is being said, or how much time the delegations are speaking face to face or relying on intermediaries, and that is deliberate. The opacity gives both sides the latitude to do the business of diplomacy without worrying about public and political backlash at home. The beauty of Oman doing this is that the two sides can come out, and the Iranian foreign minister can say, I had a five-minute chat with Witkoff. You know, upon leaving the meeting, you know, we bumped into each other and had a five-minute sort of courtesy meeting. And then, the Americans can say Iran and US had a 45-minute direct conversation, and no one can prove it one way or another, says Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at Crisis Group. The Omanis are very good at keeping things under wraps. Indeed, so trusted are the Omanis that further talks between the two sides will take place at a date and venue decided by the Sultanate, a source said to be close to the Iranian negotiating team told Reuters on Friday. The challenges Iran has been running a nuclear enrichment programme for more than two decades, and Western countries have been trying to stop it building a bomb for just as long. Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran accepted limits on the amount of uranium it could enrich in exchange for sanctions relief. But since Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018, it has developed more advanced centrifuges and begun stockpiling uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity one short technical step from the 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade material. Donald Trump signed a document reinstating sanctions against Iran after announcing the US withdrawal from the JCPOA deal in 2018 - Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty According to the last report by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, Iran had 274.8kg (605.8lb) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent as of February 8. Thats up from the 182.3kg it was said to have when the previous report was published in November, itself a rise on the 164.7kg recorded in August. Thats about six and a half bombs worth. The IAEA, the UNs nuclear watchdog, estimates that 42kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one weapon once it has been further enriched to 90 per cent. In other words, Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than it has ever been. So the pressure is now on to find a replacement for the JCPOA before Trump and possibly his Israeli allies decide they have no choice but to remove the threat by force. The deal Trump has appointed Witkoff, a genial lawyer-turned-real-estate-developer and long-standing personal friend, to lead the American delegations to Muscat and Rome. The 68-year-old has been described by associates in the real-estate world as a polite and non-adversarial negotiator. But he should not be mistaken for being a pushover. Witkoff is not above leaning on his bosss more volatile reputation to get things done, and in January he did just that to strong-arm Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, into a ceasefire in Gaza (albeit a short-lived one). Across the table is Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister. A 62-year-old career diplomat, Araghchi has a reputation as a tough negotiator. He also knows the file: he headed the Iranian delegation under Javad Zarif, the then Iranian foreign minister, who negotiated the previous nuclear deal in 2015. He is very serious, very smart, and a graduate, incidentally, of the University of Kent, says Sir Simon Gass, the former British diplomat who headed the UK delegation in those talks. He speaks excellent English, as you would think. He can certainly be tough, but hes also got a sense of humour. I enjoyed dealing with him. I think you would be unwise to argue after these negotiations that any of you become friends, because thats not the point of the thing, but I certainly liked him. I felt that he was as straight as a very tough negotiator can be. Araghchi, experienced though he is, has only limited authority. Back in Tehran, the man who holds Irans nuclear file is Ali Shamkhani, a former IRGC admiral and adviser to the Supreme Leader, Khamenei. Shamkhani does not appear to have attended any of the meetings in Muscat and Rome, but he has issued several public interventions that have been taken as articulations of Tehrans position. Witkoffs team will have to bear all of this in mind as the talks proceed. The Iranians are sophisticated negotiators. They have a good command of English and a deep knowledge of the nuclear subject, says Gass. They quite often could turn dramatic. You know, if things werent going well, there could well be a good deal of, sort of, throwing up of hands and raised voices, and that sort of thing. But they are very good negotiators. But whatever goes on during the discussions, ultimately, the final decisions are made by Khamenei himself. They [the negotiators] inevitably get a mandate, which comes from the Supreme Leader. But they dont always know exactly what it is that the Supreme Leader wants, and he might not have decided until he sees the full agreement and has weighed up the politics in Iran, says Gass. Enrichment At least for a period, the successive rounds of talks appeared to be productive. On May 11, the US and Iran held their fourth round of discussions in Badr bin Hamads house in Muscat. The negotiations lasted more than three hours, and appeared to bear fruit. The Iranian foreign ministry said they had been difficult but useful in better understanding the US position. A senior US official briefed American papers that the sides agreed to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements. We even began to get a sense of what was being agreed. Majid Takht Ravanchi, a deputy foreign minister of Iran, said Tehran would accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment for a limited period of time. Three days later, Shamkhani said in a rare interview with NBC that Iran was prepared to give up its entire 60-per-cent stockpile, agree to only enrich uranium to lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow inspections to check its compliance in exchange for sanctions relief. And in Doha last week, Trump himself appeared to suggest there had been substantial progress. I think were getting close to maybe doing a deal, he said, adding that Iran had sort of agreed to the terms put forward by Washington. The Iranians, too, were happy with the progress of the talks, says Azizi. Credit: Reuters Then, it all fell apart. The next round of talks, meant to take place last weekend, was postponed. Araghchi returned to Tehran to host an annual diplomatic summit. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi featured in an Iranian newspaper ahead of the fifth round of talks with the US - Abedin Taherkenareh/Shutterstock Khamenei then poured cold water on the whole enterprise, remarking at an event in the Iranian capital that we dont think it will lead to any outcome. And on Monday this week, the Americans leaked an intelligence assessment suggesting Israel was readying for military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities. Enrichment The trigger seems to have been the Americans introducing a new condition: that whatever happens, Iran cannot continue to enrich its own uranium at any level. This, Witkoff told ABC, was the USs one very, very clear red line, We cannot allow even 1 per cent of an enrichment capability, he said. On negotiations with Iran for a new nuclear deal, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff tells @JonKarl that uranium enrichment is the Trump administration's "one very, very clear red line." "We cannot have that. Because enrichment enables weaponization." https://t.co/eXpYGKlkRR pic.twitter.com/WmauqQuAEV This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 18, 2025 It was this excessive and outrageous demand, as the Iranians saw it, that prompted Khameneis remark about talks being useless. Ravanchi told Irans Nour News an outlet owned, incidentally, by Shamkhani that regarding zero enrichment, we said from the beginning that if this is their [the Americans] position, it is natural that the work will not actually get anywhere. This is not just an act. Iran has been consistent on its right to enrich for more than two decades. On the Iranian side, theres been a wall-to-wall consensus on this, says Azizi. Khamenei, the opposition, everybody has given speeches saying we cannot give up the right to enrichment. Even some of the regimes opposition frankly say Iran shouldnt give up the right to enrichment. For veterans of the Iranian nuclear issue, this is a case of extreme deja vu. Thats always at the heart of the issue for various reasons, says Gass. This was precisely the main point of the JCPOA. For a long time, the Americans in those negotiations were saying no enrichment at all, just as theyre saying now. That wasnt where they ended up, though. In the JCPOA, they agreed, in the end, to a very low level of enrichment. That was what unlocked the door: agreement that there could be a little bit of enrichment, but then you need very robust assurance mechanisms to guarantee that that is being verified and that the rules are being followed. So its tricky, its technically complex. You cant negotiate that very quickly. In 2015, the sides eventually agreed Iran could only enrich uranium up to 3.67 per cent purity, and was only allowed to possess 300kg of this low-enriched uranium at any one time. Why are the Americans resorting to the same opening demand they tried more than a decade ago? Netanyahu has publicly insisted that any deal should be Libyan style, which would mean Iran allowing Western powers to demolish the entirety of its nuclear infrastructure. Some hawks in Washington are pushing the same message: that Iran is more economically and militarily vulnerable than it has been at any point in recent history, and that it can now be forced to accept something it previously resisted. Iranian MPs burning a US flag in the parliament in Tehran in 2018 after Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the accord - HO/AFP/Getty Others, however, are not impressed. Zero enrichment has a 22-year unblemished track record of failure, says Vaez. In fact, I would say zero enrichment is the mother of Irans nuclear programme, because when in the mid-2000s the US rejected an arrangement that the Europeans had with Iran, which allowed Iran to have a very limited nuclear programme, it resulted in Iran escalating its nuclear programme to industrial scale. When Trump withdrew from Irans nuclear deal in 2018, that resulted in Iran ratcheting up its nuclear programme and now basically becoming a threshold nuclear weapon state. Every time insistence on the perfect has resulted in the US losing the opportunity to get the good enough. Vaez, and everyone else outside of Trumps inner circle, is in the dark about Washingtons ultimate intention. The question I do not have an answer to is whether this is his opening salvo or it is a red line for the US. If its an opening salvo, then as soon as you get over the maximum demand, theres so many technical solutions that would allow both sides to get most of what they want. But if it is a real red line for the US, then these negotiations will collapse very soon, he says. I still think that Trump has learnt from the experience in the first term that maximalist demands are not going to work with Iran, and he really doesnt want war. But we will find out soon enough. Timeline to war If the talks do fall apart, the likelihood of an Israeli or joint US-Israeli strike on Iran rises significantly. But war is unlikely to break out straight away. First, there is likely to be a ratcheting up of diplomatic pressure. The first landmark could be the release of the next IAEA report on Irans nuclear programme, which could be out by the end of this week. It is unlikely to contain much new information beyond an update on the size of Irans stockpile and a repetition of long-standing concerns about transparency, access and unexplained traces of nuclear material. Britain, France and Germany, the remaining Western members of the JCPOA, may then decide to snap-back the sanctions that the 2015 deal suspended, on the grounds of Iranian non-compliance. That process would probably be complete some time in July or August, and would have to be done before Russia, an Iranian ally, assumes the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in October, says Vaez. The option to snap-back sanctions in the JCPOA also expires in October, putting pressure on the Europeans to use it or lose it. Iran has threatened that if that happens, it would basically withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. If Iran indeed delivers on the threat of withdrawing from the NPT and kicking out the UN inspectors, thats when there will be justification for military action, says Vaez. I think its even in Israels interest, or in the hawks in Washingtons interest, to see snap-back happen before they launch a strike. Because once you do snap-back, basically Iran has returned to a pariah status under international law, because it would once again be categorised as a threat to international peace and security and then obviously a strike on its nuclear programme will become much more justified. In other words, war, if it happens, will most probably break out in autumn. Potential for strikes The US intelligence assessment leaked to CNN this week suggested Israels plans for strikes on Iran have been rapidly accelerated, suggesting Netanyahu is preparing to launch a unilateral attack if talks fall apart or produce a deal that does not end all enrichment. In a strictly military sense, that is entirely plausible. The Israeli military has been planning and training for strikes on Irans nuclear programme for two decades. The success of such an operation is another question. Conventional wisdom says Israel would need help from the US to deliver the kind of crushing blow that could permanently extinguish Irans nuclear programme. 1704 Nuclear facilities in Iran But more important is the political consideration. Could Netanyahu risk publicly undermining Trump? Definitely not, is the assessment of Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel and Senior Fellow at the INSS think tank in Tel Aviv. Hes afraid of Trump in a way that he never was of Biden, because he knew that Biden was a true friend. It came from his insides, and he could put a little bit of pressure on Israel, but he would never turn against it. You dont know that with Trump; hes mercurial, and so hes much more concerned and careful with how he plays it, says Freilich. If you look at why Israel hasnt attacked the Iranian nuclear programme at any point in the last 30 years, despite the so-called Begin doctrine, which says that Israel will prevent any hostile country in the region from achieving a nuclear weapon by all means, I think one of the two primary reasons was the US, he adds. If Trump is opposed to it today, then I dont think Israel can go ahead. The reported Israeli war plans, Freilich says, look very much like the kind of leak American administrations traditionally engineer when they are afraid Israel is going to do something obstructive. In other words, Trump would rather have a deal than a war. And I think, by the way, that much of the Israeli defence establishment, unlike at the political level, would be quite happy if they can reach a deal, says Freilich. Most people in defence have come to the conclusion that the JCPOA was the best of the bad options that were available to us. It wont be a similar deal in terms of content, because it has to be different, but a new agreement that will again significantly postpone the nuclear programme, is again the best of the bad options. There are plenty of people in Tehran equally desperate for a deal, says Azizi. And he argues there are plenty of creative solutions to the enrichment issues. Centrifuges can be limited in size and quantity, Irans stockpile could be exported to a third country such as Russia, the limit of 3.67 enrichment could be reimposed and so on. My take is that these are basically negotiation tactics on both sides. Theyre drawing a very hard line in the sand, and theyre going to bluff each other and test each other, Azizi says. They could find a technical solution if there is political will in the capitals. The chance of anything being agreed and finalised in the next few weeks is vanishingly small, however. This is just going to be very difficult, says Gass. First, simply because what the United States is likely to want is probably a long way from what Iran can offer. Second, because both sides have political pressures on them to achieve particular results. And third, because actually, as the JCPOA showed, once you really get into these subjects, they are very technically complicated. You need a lot of experts to sit down and work out issues which have to be recorded in minute detail, because there is zero trust between the United States and Iran, or indeed Iran and the Europeans. And therefore everything needs to be codified, because otherwise your concern is that when you actually try to put the agreement into effect, you will find that there are gaps which lead to doubts and opportunities for people to cut corners. It took around three years of painstaking and highly detailed and technical diplomacy to get the JCPOA over the line in 2015. Today, things are much more complicated. Iran has already produced enriched uranium, and possesses extensive and advanced centrifuges capable of delivering more. Because the permanent IAEA mission on the ground has faced restrictions since the JCPOA collapsed, there is also a knowledge gap concerning the extent of Irans nuclear infrastructure. It always reminds me of the Ginger Rogers line about Fred Astaire, she had to do everything he had to do, but backwards and in high heels, says Gass. And thats how I look at these negotiations. The JCPOA was extremely hard, but if you cant actually talk to each other, I would think thats harder still. The Old Time Sailors have played at Glastonbury Just two years ago, the Old Time Sailors were riding high on a wave of renewed interest in sea shanties. A TikTok-fuelled renaissance of folk music, banjos and foot-stomping saw the West Country sea shanty band play at Glastonbury Festival for the first time, with the 20-piece group set to return there next month. However, the group has become the subject of bizarre online speculation following the arrest of six men in the wake of a collision between a van and lorry in Devon on Monday. Now its leader has told The Telegraph that allegations of modern slavery being faced by the Old Time Sailors are fake and that no one is a slave and everyone is ok. The musician said that he and the group had begun legal action against individuals they believed were behind the hate campaign. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that it had arrested several of the occupants of the van as being potential victims of exploitation offences as part of their response to the incident. Officers then carried out a search at an address in the West Devon parish of Gulworthy, which they said led to the identification of further potential victims. Six men were arrested on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences and later bailed while inquiries continue. Makes no sense at all Several online media outlets went on to report that the van belonged to the band, with one major publication describing Captain Nicholas Moffat, the band leader, as being on the run from police. However, when contacted by The Telegraph on Friday evening, the musician denied the allegations and said that as far as he knew none of his band members had been arrested. No one is on the run...why would anyone do that? he said. Makes no sense at all. However, The Sun reported that musicians working for the band were being kept in a farmhouse in east Devon and earning little or no money. The band was due to perform at a festival at Powderham, near Exeter, on Sunday but was taken off the line-up earlier this week, according to Cornwall Live. A pub in the Cornish village of Lanlivery appeared to poll regulars and ticket holders on Facebook as to whether it should go ahead with hosting the band next month, before confirming that it would because it believed in innocent until proven guilty and not a knee-jerk reaction. Scandalous accusations On Wednesday, a post on the Old Time Sailors Facebook page said: As many of you will now be aware there has been some recent scandalous accusations, speculation and fabrications about Old Time Sailors. We are aware of a number of articles currently online, and categorically state that none of what is being said is the actual truth. It is what might sadly get acknowledged these days as an online hate campaign. The post said the group was a collective of musicians who tour as a family, adding: Yes its true, we live and travel collectively. WE SHARE our costs and overheads. We just have a love of music and performing. The poster then claimed that, following the departure of a group member, the band received a very threatening email indicating what could be made to happen if it did not do certain things. BUT we didnt respond, and then suddenly it happened, the post continued. Accusations, lies, horror stories and ruinous allegations. We dont believe in social media trials When contacted directly by The Telegraph and asked whether the band denied any modern day slavery offences, Moffat said: All denied. Its all fake. No one is a slave and everyone is ok. We have begun criminal lawsuits against the persons behind this hate campaign. We dont believe in social media trials we only believe in a democratic system of innocent until proven guilty, with fact-checking and hard evidence. Sgt Tom Ottley, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: As part of our response to the initial incident, we identified several of the occupants of the van as being potential victims of exploitation offences. They are receiving specialist support and being safeguarded at this time. Shortly after, officers carried out a search at an address in the Gulworthy area, which led to the identification of further potential victims. As part of this investigation, we have arrested six males on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences. They are currently in police custody assisting us with our inquiries. The Coopers hawk took up its position when the crossings sound signal began. Photograph: Rory Merry/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock It is a tactic worthy of Tom Cruises Ethan Hunt: wait until a beeping pedestrian crossing indicates a traffic queue has formed then use the line of cars as cover to reach your target. But this isnt a scene from Mission: Impossible its the behaviour of a young hawk. The discovery is not the first time birds have been found to make use of an urban environment. Crows, for example, are known to drop foods such as walnuts on to roads for cars to crush them open. However, the researcher behind a new study says it is the most advanced case so far of raptors making use of traffic patterns. When I figured out what was going on, I was really impressed. I didnt expect that, said Vladimir Dinets, a zoologist at the University of Tennessee and author of the study. On the other hand, every time I study some animal species it proves smarter than I expect. Dinets made the discovery during the school run in West Orange, New Jersey, when he spotted a young Coopers hawk emerge from a tree near a road junction. The bird flew close to the pavement behind a queue of traffic that had stopped at a red light before crossing the road and taking a dive near one of the houses. After seeing the behaviour for a second time, Dinets realised the hawk was pouncing on a flock of birds that had gathered in front of a house where a family often ate dinner outdoors. Writing in the journal Frontiers in Ethology, Dinets describes how he then carried out 12 hours of observations from his car over 18 days during the winter of 2021-22. These were made on weekday mornings and only when the flock was present and there was no rain or snow the day before weather that would prevent the residents of the house from eating alfresco. Dinets recorded six attempted attacks by the same hawk, identifiable by its plumage, and on one occasion saw it fly away with a house sparrow in its grip. He found the hawk only emerged from the tree when a long queue of traffic had built up, offering sufficient cover for its approach something that depended on the pedestrian crossing being activated. Dinets also noticed the bird took up its position in the tree when the crossings sound signal began, suggesting the hawk used the sound as an indication that a longer traffic queue was to form and that it was time to prepare for attack. This behaviour required having a mental map of the area and understanding the connection between the sound signals and the change in traffic pattern a remarkable intellectual feat for a young bird that likely had just moved into the city, Dinets writes, noting Coopers hawks tend to be winter visitors to urban areas. Related: California town investigates mystery of exploding bird deaths The following winter he twice saw an adult hawk, possibly the same bird, hunting in the same way. But the following summer the sound signals stopped working and the residents that ate alfresco moved out of their house. No hawks were ever observed at the intersection after that, he wrote. Dinets added that while it is known social birds such as crows and parrots can be very clever, intelligence in more solitary species is more difficult for humans to recognise and so probably underestimated. Cities are extremely dangerous places for wild animals, he added. Anything that can survive here must have some special abilities and deserves our respect. In 2014, only 33.8% of 317 local authorities in England had a vape shop, rising to 97.2% in 2024. Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer The number of vape shops on high streets across England has increased by almost 1,200% over the past decade, while deprived areas have up to 25 times as many bookmakers and pawnbrokers as affluent ones, according to research. In 2014, only 33.8% of 317 local authorities in England had a vape shop, rising to 97.2% in 2024. Similarly, in 2014 less than 1% of local authorities in England had 10 or more vape shops, rising to 28% in 2024. The study, conducted by researchers at Health Equity North, looked at Ordnance Survey data to track how amenities had changed between 2014 and 2024. The amenities were divided into those seen as health promoting, such as pharmacies, libraries and supermarkets, and health reducing such as vape shops, bookmakers, takeaways and alcohol-only outlets. They found a stark decline in healthier amenities, with unhealthy alternatives taking their place. Takeaway shops were up by almost a quarter (24%) across England, while the number of banks and building societies decreased by 40%, and supermarkets by 10%. The report found there were stark regional divides across England regarding high-street amenities, with twice as many vape shops in the north of England. The number of takeaways in the north of England rose by a third (31%), compared with a rise of 18% in the south. There were three times as many vape shops in deprived areas compared with the least deprived ones. Deprived areas also had 25 times more pawnbrokers and more than three times as many bookmakers. Dr Eman Zied Abozied, research associate at Newcastle University Population Sciences Institute, said the study showed that high streets were becoming less healthy and welcoming places to visit. The disappearance of amenities such as supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and public toilets particularly affects groups such as women, children and the elderly, she said. But what were seeing impacts all of us. The deterioration of our high streets makes our centres feel less safe, less inviting, and ultimately makes us feel more disconnected as communities. She added: It is important that we act now to reverse this decline. If we involve local communities in making decisions about their high streets, we can make our high streets and towns more accessible and healthy for everyone. Prof Clare Bambra, an academic co-director at Health Equity North and professor of public health at Newcastle University, said: Over the last decade, our high streets have been hit by a devastating succession of shocks from the impact of austerity to the Covid-19 pandemic. Theyve also been hollowed out by changing spending habits, and the rising cost of living. This trend has disproportionately affected the most deprived places in our country. The northern high street now has fewer places to go to buy essentials, as well as fewer supermarkets, public toilets and other amenities and resources. The north has twice as many vape shops as the south, as well as more takeaway outlets and bookmakers. You should be able to walk down a high street, and feel the uniqueness, culture and identity of that community. Through innovative design, better public transport, and measures that promote people over cars, we can rethink these spaces so they become go-tos rather than ghost towns. A government spokesperson said: For years high streets have been starved of investment despite their potential to thrive, but we are taking decisive action to turn the tide through our Plan for Change. Councils and local leaders have powers to tackle persistently vacant properties in city, town and village centres by putting the leases up for auction to help restrict the types of businesses that fill those lots. We are driving regeneration and growth with 1.5billion through the Plan for Neighbourhoods to boost high streets, and were bringing empty shops back to life through our high street rental auctions. Local authorities with the most vape shops per 10,000 people in 2024 in England City of London, London: 4.6 Blackburn with Darwen, north-west: 1.7 Preston, north-west: 1.6 Blackpool, north-west: 1.2 Bolton, north-west: 1.2 Lincoln, East Midlands: 1.2 Thanet, south-east: 1.2 Chesterfield, East Midlands: 1.1 Hyndburn, north-west: 1.1 Derbyshire Dales, East Midlands: 1 Anthony Albanese says extreme weather events such as the mid-north coast floods are becoming more frequent and intense as a fifth body has been found in the disaster-hit region. You are not alone, was the message from the prime minister on Friday, as he travelled up to Maitland from Canberra to better grasp the scale of the massive flooding and the required emergency response. Tragically, were seeing more extreme weather events. Theyre occurring more frequently, and theyre more intense, Albanese said. A large area from the north coast of New South Wales down to the Victorian border had been affected, with the regions between Kempsey and the Central Coast most heavily affected. While the heavy rain was expected to clear the state by Friday evening, strong and damaging wind gusts are forecast to strike from Monday, said Angus Hines, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology. The land is very wet, extremely saturated after this weeks rainfall when you get strong winds on to soggy soil that is when trees can come down. There is a potential for tree damage, tree falls, power outages, damages to houses, properties and cars. default Albanese and the NSW premier, Chris Minns, had hoped to travel to Taree but poor conditions stopped them accessing the flood-hit area. Speaking from the State Emergency Service emergency operations centre in Maitland, they said disaster assistance would be extended to a further three local government areas Armidale, Muswellbrook and Walcha taking the total number of council areas eligible for assistance to 19. Personal hardship assistance grants of $180 per individual or $900 per family will be available, along with $1m community recovery grants for affected local councils. This assistance is separate to the disaster recovery allowance announced for the local government areas of Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Mid Coast and Dungog, which Albanese said would be available from 2pm on Monday. Tragically, we are getting very experienced at dealing with these challenges, he said. The National Emergency Management Agency had activated a crisis coordination unit in Canberra and that was working in conjunction with people on the ground in affected communities, he added. An Australian defence force helicopter had been involved in more than a dozen rescues. More ADF personnel would be deployed if required, the prime minister said. As climate change drives more frequent and extreme weather events, Albanese acknowledged insurance of homes represents a real challenge. The government was in contact with the Insurance Council of Australia, Albanese said. We need to acknowledge that whilst Australia has always had extreme weather events, the science told us that those events would be more frequent and would be more intense, and that is placing pressure on the system. Related: NSW floods: three dead, one missing as state faces worse flooding than many have seen in their lifetimes It is a challenge that we need to deal with and be conscious of, and we certainly are, and thats why were were engaged directly, not just with the insurance council, the peak [body], but also individual insurance companies. Extreme weather researchers at ClimaMeter found climate change had contributed to wetter conditions off the NSW coast, amplifying the amount of rain. They found meteorological conditions were up to 15% wetter (up to 3mm of extra rain a day) compared to years between 1950-86. While climate projections for rainfall are more complex and less certain than other events like heatwaves, global heating is increasing the amount of moisture the air can hold, which could lead to heavier rainfall. Impossible, desperate situations The NSW State Emergency Service said there had been 736 flood rescues, including 177 in the past 24 hours, and there were 39 emergency warnings in place. Minns paid tribute to volunteers who had put themselves in harms way to rescue a complete stranger and said the coming days and weeks would bring scores of stories of locals being plucked out of impossible, desperate situations. We mourn the people that have passed, he said. But I do think its important to say without the SES, without the volunteers, we would have had hundreds of deaths. Were in deep, deep gratitude to those people who volunteered their time or work for emergency services. The death toll in the flood disaster rose to five after a mans body was found in a car in flood waters near Coffs Harbour on Friday morning, and the body believed to be that of a man in his 80s was found on a Cooplacurripa property, about 50km north-west of Taree on Friday afternoon. Police who arrived on a NSW RFS helicopter searched the property and found a body in a burnt-out vehicle inside the shed. The trough that has battered the region was moving southwards on Friday. The weather bureau said rain had eased on the mid-north coast but several flood warnings were still in place and conditions were dangerous. At 3pm, a severe weather warning was current for the NSW coast from Wollongong to the Victorian border, including the south coast and parts of Illawarra, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains districts. Throughout this warning area, we could see a further 60 to 120mm of rain today, Hines said. Risk of flooding remained as rivers had not yet subsided. Heavy rainfall was concentrated over the Central Coast, Sydney and south coast areas on Friday morning, with between 60mm and 100mm falling in the Sydney metro region and 179mm at North Richmond. There were 16 evacuation centres open, including at Dungog, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Kempsey, Bellingen and Port Macquarie. Emergency services personnel from Victoria travelled to NSW on Thursday night to assist. Related: NSW floods: these maps show the full extent of record-breaking rainfall The federal government activated a disaster recovery allowance for people who live or work in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, MidCoast and Dungog local government areas, available from 2pm on Monday. Ukrainian prisoners of war celebrate their release following a major captive swap with Russia - UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE Russia has handed over hundreds of shaven-headed Ukrainian captives as part of the largest prisoner swap of the war so far. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, shared photos of dozens of men draped in Ukrainian flags as they were returned to Ukraines lines on Friday. He said 390 people were returned in the first stage of the 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner swap between Kyiv and Moscow, expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to everyone who is helping and working 24/7 to bring Ukrainian men and women back home, he wrote on X. It is very important to return everyone who remains in captivity. We are verifying every surname, every detail about each person. We will continue our diplomatic efforts to make such steps possible. The exchange was agreed last week during the first direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia for three years. Russias foreign minister said after the first swap that Moscow would send a peace settlement once the full exchange is complete. Sergei Lavrov said: As soon as the exchange of prisoners of war is completed, we will be ready to hand over to the Ukrainian side the draft document that the Russian side is currently finalising. The first group of prisoners crossed the Belarusian border in the afternoon. The soldiers could be seen disembarking from coaches, waving at the camera as they smiled and embraced fellow soldiers. A Ukrainian prisoner is welcomed back to the country after being released from captivity in Russia - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters Most of those exchanged will be military personnel, but it has been reported that some civilians are also due to be freed. The releases are being staggered owing to the number of people involved. Ukraine is hoping to secure the release of some of the defenders of the Azovstal metal plant in Mariupol, which fell to Russian forces in May 2022 after a brutal three-month battle for the city. Donald Trump was the first to announce the swap, writing on social media: A major prisoner swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big??? Some of the Ukranian prisoners of war released on Friday, with more expected to be freed on Saturday and Sunday - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters The US president said he hoped further peace talks would take place between the two sides after a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin on Monday. Mr Trump suggested the Vatican could host the next round of talks after Pope Leo XIV signalled that he was ready to help end the conflict. Mr Lavrov played down the idea of negotiations in the city state. It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to discuss, on Catholic ground, issues related to eliminating root causes [of the conflict], he said, accusing Kyiv of destroying the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has historic ties to Moscow. For the Vatican itself it would not be very comfortable to, in these circumstances, host delegations from Orthodox countries. Men were draped in Ukrainian flags as they were returned to Ukrainian lines on Friday - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters The previous largest swap took place in April and involved the exchange of more than 500 prisoners. There have been more than 60 exchanges since the 2022 invasion, and the releases are one of the few areas where both sides have found common ground. Near the hospital in the Chernihiv region, dozens of people, mostly women, stood in line along a street holding up photographs of men as they waited for the POWs to arrive. Many said they had relatives who were missing in action and that they had come to find out any news they could from those who had just been released. Its very difficult, said Oksana Astapenko, carrying her daughter Anhelina on her shoulders and tearing up as she spoke. Were still hoping. We dont know if hes in captivity or not hes just missing. Were hoping for positive news that hes there. Fridays exchange was the only concrete outcome of the face-to-face negotiations in Istanbul, which ended without any substantial progress on a lasting ceasefire. The Kremlin continues to reject calls for an immediate ceasefire and demands that any peace talks address the root causes of the war. It describes these as a mix of historical grievances, increased Western interference in Ukraine and Kyivs alleged discrimination towards the countrys ethnic Russian minority. Russia has demanded official recognition of its control over the Crimean peninsula and four regions of mainland Ukraine, as well as commitment that the country never join Nato, as its terms for agreeing to a lasting truce. Meanwhile, Russia claimed on Friday to have captured a settlement called Rakivka in Ukraines north-eastern Kharkiv region. The governor of Ukraines Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said Russia had struck port infrastructure there with two missiles on Friday afternoon, killing one person and wounding eight. Murder accused Richard Satchwell was shamelessly brazen and the narrative he gave about how his wife died was implausible and had more holes than than a block of Swiss cheese, the jury at his trial has been told. Satchwell was accused of displaying conniving actions, full of guile, and embarked on a web of deceit after he buried Tina Satchwell under the stairs of their home in Co Cork. Satchwell, of Grattan Street in Youghal, is accused of murdering his wife between March 19 and 20 2017. The 58-year-old, who is originally from Leicester, England, denies the charge at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Mrs Satchwells remains were found under the stairs in the living room of their Co Cork home in October 2023, six years after Satchwell reported her missing. In her closing speech to the jury, Geradine Small SC, said that Satchwell was shamelessly brazen to the very end, even as he knew gardai were thoroughly searching his home in 2023. Satchwell was given pictures of under the stairs and when asked what he kept there, he said bit and pieces. She said that he maintained the position that his wife had left him to the bitter end. Richard Satchwells lawyers Brendan Grehan, left, and Eddie Burke outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) Ms Small said the jury would be forgiven for thinking that after Mrs Satchwells body was found, that there would be a road to Damascus moment. However, she said that the defendant then embarked upon another narrative, another web of deceit. I suggest to you this narrative has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese, it is laden with discrepancies, she told the jury of seven women and five men. Your are being asked to accept this, its totally implausible this narrative, obviously self-serving. Richard Satchwell, centre, is accused of murdering his wife and burying her body in the home they shared (Brian Lawless/PA) She told the jury his narrative of the morning Mrs Satchwell died was that she had a chisel and attacked him. For some reason, Richard Satchwell loses his footing and on this account he falls back and he is lying on the ground on his back, supposedly, and he says Tina is on top of him, with a chisel in her right hand, trying to stab him but she never manages, Ms Small said. This eight stone lady and 6ft man, who is a considerably heavier man. She is still stabbing at him. He for some reason grabs her clothing and then describes having this belt. Ms Small said Satchwell claimed he held her off him because he was terrified. The jury was told that Satchwell offered no detail of what happened in the moments when she died. Ms Small said the account was totally implausible. She said: It is farcical. But that is what Richard Satchwell is telling the guards. She said that Satchwell was not able to tell investigating gardai how many times his wife tried to stab at him, how the belt was positioned back to front, or how the belt was at his wifes neck. On Friday afternoon, the jury heard the closing speech from defence barrister Brendan Grehan SC, who told them that Satchwell was guilty of lying. Richard Satchwell is guilty, there is no doubt about it, but what exactly of? He is certainly guilty of causing his wifes death, he says in a struggle where she is attacking him with a chisel, and he is guilty of burying her under the stairs of their home, he said. All of those things, yes, yes, yes. He is guilty of lying. He lied to her family, cousins, the doctor, the practice nurse, to many different gardai from Youghal to Fermoy, he lied to the media, on the local airwaves, and the national airwaves, he lied on television and lied to the people of Ireland. He lied to you and he lied to me. That does not make him a murderer, the fact that he lied. That alone cannot make him a murderer. Mr Grehan said that once someone starts a lie, it can be very difficult to stop, and the domino effect is to tell another lie to cover the previous one. He said that once Satchwell told lies, he could not stop and kept on lying. But, he said, there is not a scintilla of evidence of Satchwell ever laying a hand on his wife. He said that Satchwell loved his wife and despite the occasional Jekyll and Hyde flash of temper where she would hit him suddenly, he loved her and was prepared to put up with it. He said that while the violence described is a small amount, it is significant in setting the scene where Tina suddenly turned violent, claiming this is what happened on the morning of March 20 2017. Mr Grehan also claimed that gardai glossed over the biggest elephant in the room, and that is the failure of An Garda Siochana in the course of the case. He told the jury that he accepts Satchwell was the author of the greatest contributor in the delay of the case, but said there is more than enough blame to go around. It shouldnt simply be left behind or ignored or swept under the carpet. It did influence how the investigation was dealt with, he added. He said that Satchwell should not be punished in the delay of finding her body. He said that Satchwell was besotted, obsessed and worshipped his wife, and that he spent her life devoted to her. This was reflected in their rituals, including him preparing her a nightly bath with two towels laid out, rubbing baby oil over her body, rubbing her feet, and removing her nail varnish from her finger and toe nails. Mr Grehan said that Satchwell knew things that most men would not know about their wives, not just their shoe size or clothes but of her sizes of various underwear. The jury was told that Satchwell was far from a criminal mastermind as he was someone who left a trail of breadcrumbs that would rival something from a nursery tale. He told the jury that the prosecution would like them to focus on the aftermath of the murder, including the cover-up and the lies because they cannot make a case of intent to murder or cause serious harm. Mr Grehan said there are three possible verdicts available to the jury. They could find Satchwell guilty of murder, or there was an obligation to acquit him if they accepted he believed he was under serious threat from his wife and that he acted reasonable. He added that if they found he used more force than was necessary but no more than he thought was necessary, then the appropriate verdict was manslaughter. Mr Grehan told the jury that they are not here to give a certificate of good character to Satchwell, but to determine if the prosecution had proved their case beyond all reasonable doubt. He urged them to give full consideration to Satchwell and come to a just verdict in the case. The judge will begin to summarise the evidence and outline the law to the jury on Monday. Baroness Morgan of Ely urged the Prime Minister to reinstate the winter fuel allowance to all but the richest pensioners - Andy Buchanan/Getty Images The Labour First Minister of Wales has called on Sir Keir Starmer to go further in his U-turn on the winter fuel allowance. The Baroness Morgan of Ely said all but the richest pensioners should have the benefit restored after it was taken away from more than 10 million people last summer. It comes after a Labour revolt over the policy, as well as separate warnings from more than 100 MPs that they cannot currently back Sir Keirs planned welfare cuts. The winter fuel payment was restricted to those already in receipt of pension credit when Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, took power last July. But the Prime Minister confirmed this week he has ordered changes so that more pensioners will be able to claim the payments in the near future. In an interview with the BBCs Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast, Baroness Morgan said: We dont know where the thresholds going to come in yet but I really welcome the fact that UK Labour has listened, thats really important. Its listened to people on the streets, but also Ive had the chance to speak directly to the Prime Minister to say that this needs to be changed. And I really, really welcome the fact that that listening has led to change, so thats great. Weve got to just be careful about where the threshold is. Baroness Morgan insisted the majority of pensioners should once again be in receipt of the winter fuel allowance. Im not sure that millionaires should be getting winter fuel allowance, so lets just make sure that they dont get it, she said. But people below that, I think thats where the conversations got to be. The rise of Reform The winter fuel cuts were blamed for Labours disastrous performance in the local elections this month as Reform UK made significant gains at the partys expense. Downing Street denied that the elections or Reforms rise motivated Sir Keirs recent U-turn, pointing instead to the cost of living pressures facing the public. But Labour rebels have seized on the reversal to demand that other welfare reforms are watered down. More than 100 MPs have written to the Governments Chief Whip to say they cannot support almost 5 billion of proposed cuts to disability benefits in their current form. Some backbenchers have also demanded changes to the two-child benefit cap while Gordon Brown, the former Labour prime minister, indicated his support for lifting it this week. Her call comes as a YouGov poll published on Friday showed that only 7 per cent of Britons support Sir Keir keeping the winter fuel policy as it is now. The survey of 4,582 adults found one in three (33 per cent) want a return to the previous system where the winter fuel allowance was given to all pensioners regardless of wealth. Forty-four per cent called for Sir Keir to keep means testing the policy but to loosen the eligibility limit so that more pensioners can receive it. Highing restrictions on care services Baroness Morgan also attacked Sir Keirs immigration policy and warned it would negatively affect her nation. Asked whether Sir Keirs policies or rhetoric would damage Wales, she replied: I think both, actually. I dont think Id use that language. Im very keen on making sure that people feel comfortable in a cohesive community and that they feel welcome. We like to label ourselves a nation of sanctuary in Wales, when people arrive that we embrace them, we make them part of our communities and we make them feel welcome. Baroness Morgan said that around half of the doctors and dentists in her region were not Welsh-born, adding: We do need these people. The care services are something Im particularly concerned about. Because actually even things like getting people to work in the pubs and things in our tourism sector, its a challenge. Sir Keirs plans to further reduce net migration include a ban on recruiting care workers from abroad. Foreign skilled workers will be required to be graduates, while higher language requirements will also be introduced. In the wake of Sir Keirs trade agreement with the European Union, Baroness Morgan said she accepted the result of the Brexit vote but more could be done to strengthen ties with Brussels. She insisted she would be comfortable with rejoining the single market or customs union, both of which have been repeatedly ruled out by the Westminster Government. Our brave justices should have known better when they temporarily blocked Donald Trump from proceeding with deportations - SECOM/via REUTERS President Donald Trump shocked and awed three cartels when he invoked the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the removal of alleged Tren de Aragua criminals: the narco-human traffickers, the deep state, and sadly the Supreme Court of the United States. In temporarily blocking the president from proceeding with deportations under the Act, our brave justices should have known better. Not merely because the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua murders children, seizes property, and terrorises communities in (primarily) Democrat-run jurisdictions. But because the justices, and the judges on the inferior federal courts, are supposed to interpret laws according to their plain, historically-grounded meaning. If words mean something, but the justices surrender to a politicised redefinition, then America ceases to be a nation of laws. Apparently, thats a hard task for Supreme Court justices educated at Harvard Law School and Yale Law School. After decades of intellectual exertion, the late Justice Antonin Scalia might well have thought he had won the fundamental argument for constitutional originalism: that words must mean now what they meant at the time of any given laws enactment. But many judges dont like that. They want words to mean what their elite friends say they mean. Thats perhaps understandable for a Harvard-educated institutionalist like Chief Justice John Roberts, who seems to think that the opinions of the Harvard faculty lounge still ought to govern America. Few others have any excuse sorry, excuse. Chief Justice John Roberts - Manuel Balce Ceneta/Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Our justices and judges have one job: to understand words. Sure, it can be a difficult job. But they know how to do it well enough. As Justice Elena Kagan once famously said: Were all textualists now. To understand the meaning and modern application of words written before yesterday, judges are trained to look back at text, history, and tradition. But history is hard. And the Supreme Court doesnt necessarily have a grand tradition of understanding it particularly well. If it did, then the justices wouldnt have put off on process grounds ruling on the presidents invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. They wouldnt be setting up a waiting-forever game while barbarian cartels terrorise American citizens. They wouldnt be letting more children get murdered by turning our nation of laws into an unsovereign territory of Waiting for Godot. When the Alien Enemies Act was passed in 1798, America was a young country looking back at a Europe ruled by kingdoms. Just south of those European kingdoms, on the other side of the Mediterranean, were the Barbary states. The Barbary states werent legitimate nation-states. They were failed, amoral, slave-trading, kleptocratic, human- and drug-trafficking states. They only existed because many Europeans were too lazy to attend to their own defence. After the Declaration of Independence of 1776, the British Empire was naturally disinclined to protect American merchant vessels. And Americans, in turn, were disinclined to just let their ships get destroyed and their people enslaved by pirates. So, we did something about it. We took it to them. As the US Marine Corps official hymn famously goes, we took it to the shores of Tripoli during the First Barbary War, which took place just a few years after the Alien Enemies Act was passed. And thats exactly what America is also doing right now. The more things change, the more they stay the same. When the Iran-backed Houthis try to disrupt international trade in the Red Sea, the US bombs them. In Yemen, Trump was doing more or less what Thomas Jefferson did two-plus centuries ago. But what would the early-republic American presidents have done if the Barbary pirates had set up shop on American soil? Just let them have their way in Boston or Philadelphia? No; they probably would have raised a militia to kill them all. Or, if it was easier, they would have arranged for them to quickly and efficiently get out of our country post-haste. They would have made use of the provisions of the Alien Enemies Act. Would Chief Justice John Marshall have effectively taken the side of these hypothetical Barbarian corsair occupiers by saying, Dear Mr President, not sure if you can deport these rapists, plunderers, and pillagers; did you check all your paperwork boxes regarding these illegal enemy aliens? To ask such a rhetorical question is to answer it. The very notion that the Supreme Court might have had any place at all in the debate would have struck everyone alive as absurd. The American president at the time of the passage of the Alien Enemies Act was John Adams. Around the time, American citizens were being attacked and enslaved by Barbarian pirates. And that, mutatis mutandis, is whats happening now, too. Venezuela is a failed communist state. And confirmed Tren de Argua gangbangers are effectively Venezuelan, barbarian corsair pirates. The only difference is that theyve set up shop in the American homeland. John Marshall would be appalled by John Roberts, who has taken and twisted the precedents of the Supreme Court to such a radical degree that he has essentially concluded: A constitutional republic? Well, maybe it can be invaded by barbarians. Maybe our women can get raped by them, our apartment buildings plundered. Were trying to figure it out! Unfortunately for the integrity of the United States Constitution, Harvard Law School has not been sending its best. But some federal judges, we must assume, are still good people. To a Harvard-trained mind, Roberts and his colleagues are defending the Constitution as they fiddle around trying to figure out whether words mean what they say, while President Trump is the dangerous radical. To anyone who understands text, history, and tradition, though, the president has exercised the precise opposite of power-hungry arrogation: extreme restraint. Josh Hammer is Newsweek senior editor-at-large, host of The Josh Hammer Show, senior counsel for the Article III Project, and author of the new book, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West (Radius Book Group) Police officers stand guard at the Terrorism Confinement Center prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in April. Photograph: Jose Cabezas/Reuters Donald Trumps administration is attempting to dismiss criminal charges against a top MS-13 leader in order to deport him to El Salvador, according to newly unsealed court records igniting accusations from critics and the defendants legal team that the US president is trying to do a favor for his Salvadorian counterpart, who struck a deal with the gang in 2019. According to justice department records, the MS-13 figure in question, Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, has intimate knowledge of that secretive pact, which before eventually falling apart involved Salvadoran president Nayib Bukeles government ceding money and territory to the gang, who in return promised to reduce violence from its side and provide Bukeles party with electoral support. Attempts by the Trump administration to expel Arevalo-Chavez are part of its own deal with Bukele to allow for the US to incarcerate immigrants in a maximum security Salvadoran prison. CNN reported in April that Bukeles government had specifically asked for nine top MS-13 leaders to be brought back to El Salvador from the US. Critics of Trump who are defending Arevalo-Chavezs rights see the move to deport him as a way to prevent him from testifying in a US court, or becoming a federal government cooperator, to limit disclosures about Bukeles past ties to the gang as much as possible. Arevalo-Chavez is a member of the Ranfla Nacional, which is considered to be a directors board of sorts for the MS-13 gang. Federal charges pending against him in New York include racketeering, terrorism and conspiring to commit narco-terrorism. A filing from the US justice department dated 1 April but not unsealed until Thursday said federal prosecutors want to dismiss charges against Arevalo-Chavez for sensitive and important foreign policy considerations. Prosecutors added that geopolitical and national security concerns of the United States and said permitting the prosecution of the defendant to proceed in the first instance in El Salvador was also a factor. Arevalo-Chavez is still in the US, with his attorneys requesting more information about the reasons behind the dismissal of charges and the intended deportation. The judge ruled in April to not relocate him anywhere, preventing his being placed into the custody of the USs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), which would lead to his deportation. The geopolitical and national security concerns appear to be an effort by the government to support a deal with El Salvador to assist Bukele in suppressing the truth about a secret negotiation he had with MS-13 leaders in return for our government using El Salvador prisons, Arevalo-Chavezs attorneys said in a separate filing also unsealed on Thursday. That filing in particular mentioned the notorious Cecot prison built to house alleged gang members. The US attorneys office for New Yorks eastern federal district, where Arevalo-Chavez is being prosecuted, declined to comment Friday when asked by the Guardian. Arevalo-Chavezs attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In mid-March, the US justice department quietly dismissed charges against another top Ranfla Nacional member and expelled him to El Salvador to be detained at Cecot, an acronym whose full name in Spanish means the terrorism confinement center. That other Ranfla leader, Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, was facing similar charges in New York and also reportedly had insight about the deal Bukele previously struck with the gang. This is collusion between two governments, the US and El Salvador, to cover up a gang pact by dropping charges on known gangsters in order to disappear them before they can testify, said political science professor Michael Ahn Paarlberg at Virginia Commonwealth University. Its a criminal conspiracy between the Trump and Bukele administrations. The irony is both of them claim to be tough on crime. According to a justice department indictment, in 2019, the MS-13 leadership forged a pact with top Bukele administration officials. El Faro, a Salvadoran news organization, first reported on secretive meetings during which Bukele officials would enter prisons in El Salvador to negotiate directly with the Ranfla leaders. As part of the deal, MS-13 would receive certain money- and land-related concessions while agreeing to reduce the amount of violence they inflicted in El Salvador. Additionally, some top MS-13 leaders were released from prison and the gang promised to leverage its networks to support Bukeles political party in the 2021 legislative elections, according to prosecutors. The pact purportedly collapsed in 2022, leading Bukele to engage in a massive offensive against gangs in the country. Critics say that so-called state of exception crackdown led to a trampling of due process and human rights in the Central American nation while also allowing Bukele to further consolidate power there. For years, Bukele has attempted to suppress any evidence of his ties to MS-13 by either attempting to recapture Ranfla leaders or by ignoring US extradition requests. Related: Does Nayib Bukeles campaign against democracy give a blueprint for Trump? US federal law enforcement agencies have long pursued MS-13s criminal networks. In 2020 and in 2022, two separate federal indictments in New York charging 27 leaders of the gang were handed up and unsealed. In 2021, the US treasury department sanctioned two top Bukele officials for their alleged corruption, saying they engaged in covert negotiations between government officials and the criminal organization in order to secure the secret pact with MS-13. The treasury department also alleged that Bukeles administration in 2020 provided financial incentives to MS-13 to reduce gang violence in exchange for political support. Arevalo-Chavez, one of the co-defendants in the 2022 indictment, had participated in negotiations with the government of El Salvador on behalf of MS-13, said the justice department, then controlled by Joe Bidens presidential administration. Arevalo-Chavez left El Salvador and went to Mexico, where he helped run the gangs operations there. The Mexican government arrested Arevalo-Chavez in February 2023 and quickly transferred him to the US, where the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took custody. He is in custody in a federal detention facility while his case proceeds. Relations between El Salvador and the US have improved since Trump took office. In 2021, tensions between Biden officials and the Bukele government flared when, despite an international arrest warrant and extradition request, Salvadoran officials quietly released Ranfla Nacional leader Elmer Canales-Rivera from prison. US prosecutors alleged in a 2023 letter that he was personally escorted out of prison by a high-level Bukele official, given a firearm and driven to the Guatemalan border for his escape. The Bukele administration then attempted to recapture Canales-Rivera. According to reporting from El Faro, Bukeles government discussed a plan to pay a Mexican cartel to find Canales-Rivera and return him to El Salvador. The Mexican government found him first, arrested him, and expelled him to the US in November 2023. Eight Ranfla Nacional leaders remained in US custody after Lopez-Larios one was expelled in March. Two of them pleaded guilty earlier this year. Donald Trump made his suggestion in a post on Truth Social on Friday - Alex Brandon/AP Donald Trump has attacked Sir Keir Starmers net zero drive and called for more drilling in the North Sea. The US president said he strongly recommended the UK shift its focus away from renewables and back to fossil fuels. He said Britain should stop with the costly and unsightly windmills and instead prioritise modern drilling. Energy costs would then go way down, and fast, Mr Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social website on Friday. The comments represent a direct challenge to the approach being pursued by the Prime Minister and Ed Miliband, the Energy and Net Zero Secretary. Donald Trumps Truth Social post Sir Keir has committed to achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2050 and has placed a shift to clean energy at the heart of his premiership. Labour pledged in its general election manifesto to make Britain a clean energy superpower and to get to zero-carbon electricity by 2030. The Prime Minister has said that oil and gas from the North Sea will be used during the transition to using more renewables. But Labour has vowed not to issue any new licences to explore new fields. Sir Keir commented on the issue of energy bills on Friday after Mr Trump made his remarks but the Prime Minister appeared to be referring to an announcement from Ofgem rather than the US presidents intervention. Ofgem announced on Friday morning that household energy bills will fall by 7 per cent from July. Sir Keir posted on X: Energy bills coming down is welcome news, saving money for working families and businesses. We are going further and faster to tackle the cost of living crisis and put more money back in your pocket. Through our Plan for Change, we will deliver secure, home-grown energy to bring bills down for good. Trump is right Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social website: Our negotiated deal with the United Kingdom is working out well for all. I strongly recommend to them, however, that in order to get their Energy Costs down, they stop with the costly and unsightly windmills, and incentivise modernised drilling in the North Sea, where large amounts of oil lay waiting to be taken. A century of drilling left, with Aberdeen as the hub. The old fashioned tax system disincentivises [sic] drilling, rather than the opposite. UKs energy costs would go WAY DOWN, and fast! Mr Trump has long advocated for increased US drilling for oil and gas to bring down domestic energy bills. He used the phrase drill, baby, drill repeatedly during his 2024 presidential campaign to describe the approach he intended to take. Later on Friday, the new US ambassador to the UK met Sir Keir to convey the priorities of the Trump administration, a US embassy spokesperson said. A spokesman for the US embassy said: Ambassador Stephens visited No 10 today for a meeting with Prime Minister Starmer. This is the second meeting between Ambassador Stephens and PM Starmer since undertaking the role as US Ambassador. Todays visit provided an opportunity to convey the priorities of the Trump administration, which includes maximising the US-UK partnership to advance our shared interests, such as the recently announced trade deal and our defence and security alliance, which promotes stability and prosperity worldwide. The ambassador declined to answer questions from reporters as he entered No 10 about whether abandoning wind farms and pursuing North Sea oil drilling would be part of future trade talks. The presidents comments will reignite the debate over the Governments net zero approach. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, told The Telegraph: Trump is 100 per cent right. Lower energy costs have powered the American economy whilst we de-industrialise. I will be visiting Aberdeen very soon to meet what is left of the industry. Asked about Mr Trumps remarks, Lord Glasman, a Labour peer, agreed: Hes right. Graham Stringer, a Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, called on Sir Keir to change course after Mr Trumps intervention. Mr Stringer said: When significant figures from the President of the United States to the ex-head of MI6 suggest our net zero policies are irrational and expensive, then its time to take a serious look at these policies. They have damaged jobs and have done nothing to help the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Sir Richard Dearlove, who served as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service from 1999 until 2004, said on Friday that Mr Milibands completely mad net zero drive will put British national security at risk. Meanwhile, Andrew Bowie, the shadow energy secretary, urged Mr Miliband to drop his mad eco crusade as he responded to Mr Trumps intervention. The senior Tory posted on X: The Conservatives have been calling for Ed Miliband to reverse his mad eco crusade, lift the ban on licenses and turn back on the taps. If he does not he is putting Britains energy security, jobs and the economy of the North East of Scotland at risk. He must reverse course. Mr Trumps intervention comes just under a month after Sir Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister, warned Sir Keirs net zero approach was doomed to fail. Sir Tony said people were being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when their impact on global emissions was minimal. The comments prompted fury in 10 Downing Street and Sir Tony later insisted that Sir Keirs approach was the right one. Net zero and the move to green energy has emerged as one of the key dividing lines in British politics. Labour is firmly committed to hitting the 2050 target but both the Tories and Reform have demanded a rethink. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, said earlier this year that reaching the target was impossible and it could not be achieved without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us. Reform has pledged to scrap net zero and to remove renewable energy subsidies. Mr Trumps criticism of Sir Keirs approach on net zero comes a matter of weeks after the US and UK agreed a trade deal to reduce the impact of the presidents tariffs on British exports. The US-UK pact was the first international deal agreed by Mr Trump in the wake of his Liberation Day tariffs. The Prime Minister said the deal proved the strength of the US-UK relationship and showed Britain was at the front of the queue when it comes to dealing with the Trump White House. Mr Trumps attack on Sir Keirs energy approach will reignite scrutiny of the relationship. The US president has a keen interest in Scotland and Aberdeen specifically. He is the owner of Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen which is located just to the north of the city. He also owns Trump Turnberry, another golf course, which is located in South Ayrshire. South African President Ramaphosa Meets With President Donald Trump in Washington and is confronted with supposed evidence of white genocide. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI/Shutterstock The evidence of supposed mass killings of white South Africans presented by Donald Trump in a tense White House meeting on Wednesday were in some cases images from the Democratic Republic of Congo, while footage shown during the meeting was falsely portrayed as depicting burial sites. These are all white farmers that are being buried, said Trump, holding up a print-out of an article accompanied by a picture during the contentious Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The picture accompanying the article was in fact a screengrab of a video published by Reuters on 3 February and subsequently verified by the news agencys fact check team, showing humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from Reuters footage shot after deadly battles with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Related: Sinister Trump dims the lights for another White House ambush The White House did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. At another point in the meeting, Trump ambushed Ramaphosa by playing a video that he claimed proved genocide is being committed against white people in South Africa. Within it was footage that Trump claimed showed the graves of more than a thousand white farmers, marked by white crosses. The footage taken at a highway connecting the small towns of Newcastle and Normandein in South Africa in fact showed a memorial site, and not graves. Rob Hoatson, who set up the memorial to capture public attention, told the BBC it was not a burial site. It was a memorial. It was not a permanent memorial that was erected. It was a temporary memorial, he said. The memorial was setup in the aftermath of a murder of two Afrikaner farmers in the local community. The video played by Trump on Wednesday contained several falsehoods and inaccuracies, but was intended to back the presidents offer of refuge to persecuted white farmers, which has angered the South African government which disputes the allegations. The White House claimed it showed evidence of genocide of white farmers in South Africa. This conspiracy theory, which has circulated among the far-right for years, is based on false claims. The video prominently featured Julius Malema, a firebrand politician known for his radical rhetoric. He was seen in several clips wearing the red beret of his populist, Marxist-inspired Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party and chanting calls to cut the throat of whiteness as well as a controversial anti-apartheid song Kill the Boer, kill the farmer. Trump falsely said he was a government official, insinuating his inflammatory slogans reflected an official policy against South Africas white minority. Malema is an opposition politician who gained prominence advocating radical reforms including land redistribution and nationalising key economic sectors. The party only came fourth in last years elections, with 9.5% of the vote. During the Oval Office meeting, Ramaphosa and his delegation distanced themselves from Malemas rhetoric. Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen, a member of the centre-right Democratic Alliance, told Trump he joined Ramaphosas multiparty coalition precisely to keep these people out of power. Ramaphosa visited Washington this week to try to mend ties with the United States after persistent criticism from Trump in recent months over South Africas land laws, foreign policy, and alleged bad treatment of its white minority, which South Africa denies. With Reuters and Agence France-Presse A shopper walks a dog by an Apple store at the Westfield UTC shopping center on 1 May in San Diego, California. Photograph: Kevin Carter/Getty Images Here we go again. Donald Trump has unleashed a spate of tariff storms over the past four months. Each has left businesses, in the US and across the world, clearing up the damage and struggling to see what happens next. The US president conjured up two fresh hurricanes on Friday, threatening the EU, his countrys largest collective trading partner, and Apple, one of his countrys largest companies, with sweeping duties. In Brussels and Cupertino, officials and executives are braced. And Trumps previous trade attacks, as fierce as they are fleeting, indicate how this is likely to unfold. Be it Canada and Mexico, China or even the liberation day economic assault on dozens of countries, each branch of the Trump administrations aggressive tariff strategy has so far followed a strikingly similar pattern. Think of it as a four-act play. Related: Which Trump tariffs are active, which are paused and whats next? It opens with a threat. This typically takes place at an unusual hour, on Truth Social, the presidents fringe social network, and prompts immediate warnings from countries and companies affected. Then comes the imposition. Trump ignores the warnings, enforces the tariffs, claims they will raise billions, and sends out his closest allies and officials to defiantly explain why this is a strategic masterstroke, despite widespread concern. Then the panic. Stock markets wobble. Businesses balk. Consumers grow anxious. The administration starts to waver, trailing exemptions and hinting at light at the end of the tunnel, even as Trump plays down the impact of his actions. And then, the backtrack. This is also often revealed on Truth Social, before Trump again sends out his closest allies and officials to defiantly explain why this, too, is a strategic masterstroke. This final stage is almost always presented as a bold negotiating breakthrough like a total reset with China, or a supposed influx of countries seeking trade deals with the US regardless of the facts. Every performance is unique, of course. The cast rotates. Youre never quite sure how long each act will last. But so far, time and again, the script has followed the same arc. The EU will draw up plans to retaliate. Trump will be urged to reconsider. At first, he will publicly dismiss such calls. And then How many times can you sit through the same show? On Wall Street, some investors appear to be wondering just how seriously they should be taking Trump on tariffs. On Friday, the US president threatened to impose a 25% duty on Apples iPhone which generates half its business, and dominates the US smartphone market unless the tech giant shifts manufacturing to the US, which analysts have dismissed as a fairy tale that even if possible would increase the cost of an iPhone to $3,500. Should Trump make good on this threat, penalize one of his countrys most successful companies, and hold the line until Apple starts making iPhones on home soil, the impact would be severe. But shares in the firm declined less than 3%. The White House has layered an extraordinary level of uncertainty across the global economy. But already, a sense of inevitability is starting to set in, too. Donald Trump silences his mobile phone, which rang twice as he was speaking to reporters, in the Oval Office of the White House on 23 May 2025. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones if they are not made in the United States, as he stepped up the pressure on Apple to build its signature product in the country. The president wiped approximately $70bn (52bn) off the companys shares with a post on the Truth Social platform that said iPhones sold inside the US must be made within the countrys borders. Trump said in the post: I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Related: Trump says he is hitting EU with 50% tariff as trade talks are going nowhere Apple shares fell 2.6% on Trumps comments, pushing the companys valuation just below $3tn. Apple wont be alone. In remarks to reporters at the White House on Friday afternoon, Trump said that he would also impose a 25% tariff on Samsung and any other phone manufacturer that makes phones outside of the US, or, he said, it would not be fair. When they build their plant here, theres no tariffs. So theyre going to be building plants here, Trump said. Trump alarmed Apple investors last month with a series of escalating tariff announcements on goods from China, where the majority of iPhones are assembled, which ratcheted up to total 145%. A couple of days later, however, the administration announced an exemption for smartphones and computers. Soon afterwards, it was reported that Apple was planning to switch assembly of all iPhones for the US market to India in an attempt to swerve the impact of Trumps trade war with China. Cook, Apples chief executive, said in an earnings call this month that the majority of iPhones sold in the US for the June quarter would have India as their country of origin. The company is secretive about details of its production processes but analysts estimate that about 90% of its smartphones are assembled in China. The US is Apples biggest iPhone market, where it sells more than 60m of the handsets annually. Trump rebuked the tech company and its chief executive this month over the switch. I had a little problem with Tim Cook, he said, adding: I said to Tim weve treated you really good, weve put up with all the plants that youve built in China for years, now you got to build [for] us. Were not interested in you building in India, India can take care of themselves we want you to build here. Analysts have warned that moving US-bound iPhone production to the States would be prohibitively expensive, owing to the lack of facilities and flexible workforce that Apple has access to in China. Wedbush Securities, a financial services firm, said last month that an iPhone made in the US would be more three times more expensive than now at $3,500. A member of Irish rap trio Kneecap said the terror charge he faces is an attempt to silence us as the group appeared on stage for a gig they claimed was nearly pulled. Liam O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, spoke to thousands of people in Brockwell Park, south London, as the group headlined the Wide Awake Festival on Friday. Earlier in the day they released a new song, just two days after O hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig in November last year. The group have been outspoken on the war in Gaza and before they emerged on stage a screen displayed the message Free Palestine, which was met with cheers from the crowd. Performing alongside his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, O hAnnaidh said he believed the prosecution was designed to silence us and prevent them playing Glastonbury Festival this summer. He said: We are being made an example of, the Israeli lobbyists are trying to prove to other artists that if you speak out, were going to hit you where it hurts most. Theyre trying to cancel gigs, they trying to cancel my freedom of travel. And the fact that Im speaking to this amount of people, and I assume the majority of you will agree, shows that were on the right side of history. He also told the crowd at Brockwell Park in south London: I went for an interview with the counter-terror police and within days they came to a verdict that they were going to charge me, never has it been that quick. And the reason it was that quick was because Glastonbury is just around the corner, theyre trying to silence us. One of the group said: Thank you very much. They tried to stop this gig. And one was heard saying: Honestly lads, you have no idea how close we were to being pulled off this gig. One of the trio thanked their fans for supporting them. Earlier, the group posted on Instagram to thank the 25,000 legends due to attend the event. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh arrives at the 100 Club for the rap trios surprise gig (PA) The trio have had gigs cancelled after footage emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. But they also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police. O hAnnaidh, 27, was then charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. On Friday night, one member was heard telling the crowd: If anybodys about on June 18 were all going to gather outside the Westminster court to show support. One of the trio was also heard saying: Anybody whos free on June 18 get a big bag of ket and well go on the steps of Westminster. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. A number of other politicians have made the same demand. Last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after former business secretary Mrs Badenoch tried to refuse them a 14,250 funding award when she was a minister. The new song, The Recap, opens with a sample of a news report about the counter-terrorism police investigation into the group, and mocks Mrs Badenochs attempts to block their arts funding, and the Conservative Partys election loss. The song also features DJ Mozey. On Thursday, the band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful about what he said, adding that he wanted to thank his lawyer. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. The attack happened during the evening rush hour at Hamburg Central train station A woman has been arrested after 18 people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg on Friday. A German police spokesman confirmed that officers had arrested a 39-year-old woman in connection with the attack, which happened at Hamburg Central station, and are not seeking other suspects. Footage posted on social media showed a caucasian woman, wearing a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, being arrested and led away from the scene by police. According to Hamburgs fire brigade, three people sustained life-threatening injuries and three others were seriously hurt. Six suffered minor injuries. The attack happened during evening rush hour, at around 6.05pm local time, in between platforms 13 and 14 at the railway station. German media reported that bloodstains could be seen on the ground and that some victims were given medical treatment on trains. Photographs showed one man being treated on the platform, while another showed a man being taken away on a stretcher. Traffic at the station had been suspended on Friday evening, with a cordon set up around the scene of the attack. Credit: Facebook/Kenny Eireland The motivation behind the attack is currently unclear. Germany suffered a series of knife and car-ramming terror attacks in the run-up to the February federal elections. In March, two people were killed after a man with mental illness crashed his car into a crowd of people in the western city of Mannheim. Several others were injured. The previous month, in Munich, a rejected Afghan asylum seeker had driven his car into a trade union demonstration in central Munich the day before the annual Munich Security Conference. Germany also suffered a serious knife attack in January in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, where an Afghan asylum seeker stabbed a two-year-old to death in a park. In December, a Saudi man drove his car at crowds at a Christmas market in the central city of Magdeburg, having driven through a gap in the security barriers. Six people were killed and nearly 300 injured. Last August, in the western German city of Solingen, a Syrian asylum seeker stabbed three people to death and injured eight others during a festival celebrating diversity. While the nationality of the suspect in Hamburg was not immediately clear, tensions have risen in Germany over the surge in attacks committed by foreigners. The far-Right, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party secured an unprecedented 20 per cent of the vote after Februarys federal elections, making it the de facto opposition in parliament. Leeds Trinity University has been fined more than 100,000 by Englands higher education regulator for failing to effectively address risks associated with its franchised courses. An investigation by the Office for Students (OfS) identified serious failures in the arrangements the university had in place to oversee its subcontractual partnerships more commonly known as franchised providers. The penalty of 115,000 comes after the watchdog previously warned it would intervene when the use of franchised providers external organisations that operate in partnership with registered universities to deliver courses on their behalf placed the interests of students or taxpayers at risk. The investigation into the franchised provision at Leeds Trinity University (LTU) between October 2022 and February 2024 found the universitys oversight arrangements were not adequate to ensure risks at partners relating to admissions practices and academic misconduct were identified. There was an overarching risk that LTU was unable to properly ensure quality at its franchised partnerships, or respond to concerns when they were raised with the university, the regulator concluded. There had been rapid growth in the number of students taught through these partnerships from 3,600 students in 2020/21 to 9,400 students in 2022/23. The OfS said LTU accepted it breached the watchdogs regulatory requirements relating to management and governance, and has agreed to pay the monetary penalty of 115,000. The regulator reduced the penalty by 30% in recognition that LTUs co-operation with our investigation has been positive and constructive, and it also reflected early settlement, and that the university proactively undertook its own inquiries into the concerns raised and took steps to address them. As part of the settlement, LTU will be subject to additional regulatory requirements including restrictions on recruitment to its franchised courses The watchdogs investigation concluded that LTU did not properly consider the impact of a decision it took to pilot lowering English language requirements for students who applied to study at its franchised partners between September 2023 and May 2024. It did not ensure arrangements were in place to enable these students to succeed, the report said. The OfS said the resources the university had in place to monitor academic assessment of students at its franchised providers were insufficient. It added: This meant that key risks, including an increased risk of student academic misconduct, were not appropriately escalated to the universitys governing body. Philippa Pickford, director of regulation at the OfS, said: As we have repeatedly set out, subcontractual arrangements need to be carefully managed to ensure students receive a high quality education and can finish their studies with a credible qualification. In this case, inadequate oversight of Leeds Trinity Universitys partnership arrangements increased the likelihood that the university would not be able to effectively manage any risks relating to quality, academic misconduct and student support. LTUs oversight arrangements were not adequate to ensure that potential risks at partners relating to admissions practices, academic assessments, and academic misconduct were identified. The rapid expansion of courses delivered through subcontractual partnerships further increased risks for students and taxpayers. She added: All universities offering courses through delivery partners should look carefully at our actions in this case. Universities retain responsibility for the quality of students education and the credibility of their qualifications under these arrangements. They must be certain that they are monitoring these courses effectively, and that their oversight of delivery partners ensures students receive the support they need to succeed in their studies and receive a qualification which will benefit them in the future. Professor Charles Egbu, vice-chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, said: Improving student outcomes remains at the heart of Leeds Trinity Universitys mission, and we are unwavering in our long-held commitment to widening participation and increasing access to higher education. We fully accept the conclusions of this investigation, and we recognise that the rapid growth in our subcontractual partnerships created pressures that our systems and oversight processes were not fully equipped to manage at the time. We welcome the OfSs acknowledgement of the proactive steps we have taken and the significant progress that Leeds Trinity has made to strengthen the oversight of our subcontractual arrangements. This was a key factor in their decision to lower the financial penalty, and the improvements we have made should give partners and students confidence about the high quality of our courses. A Department for Education spokesperson said: We are committed to taking robust action against organisations that misuse public money and damage the reputation of our world-class universities, which is why we recently put forward comprehensive reform plans to protect students and safeguard taxpayers money. It is right that where OfS investigations find abuse of the student finance system, there are serious consequences to maintain the credibility of our universities and push forward our drive for growth through our Plan for Change. In January, the Government announced that providers delivering franchised higher education courses in England faced tighter controls in a bid to crack down on rogue operators who misuse public money. Franchised providers with at least 300 students will be required to register with the OfS to access student loan funding under the plans. The intervention came after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned last year that a lack of Government oversight of franchised higher education providers had left the student loan system open to fraud. Yulia Navalnayas husband was killed in a Russian prison in February 2024 - LUKAS BARTH/AFP The widow of Alexei Navalny, the late Russian opposition leader, has said Western politicians are being naive for thinking they can negotiate with Vladimir Putin. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys, Wales, Yulia Navalnaya said Western leaders were wrong to think the Russian leader would abide by the same norms as democratic countries when it came to diplomatic talks. The 48-year-old accused Donald Trump, the US president, of giving Putin more power by negotiating directly with him over the future of Ukraine. The US president spent two hours on the phone with Putin on Monday, in a call Mr Trump described as excellent. Credit: Reuters Ms Navalnaya made the comments in an interview with Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor, who asked if world leaders were right to feel powerless over Putins grip on the country. She replied: Im not sure about that. I dont want to sound rude, but Western politicians are being a little bit naive because they think that they are having negotiations with Putin, that they can have diplomatic relations, that there are rules, which every democratic country has. But its not. Putins not living in a democratic country. He has no rules, she continued. And thats the problem. Its not about they dont understand him or theyre doing the wrong steps. They are just trying to be politicians, normal politicians, which are chosen in normal democratic elections. Ms Navalnaya met with Joe Biden, Mr Trumps predecessor, in February 2024, days after her husband was killed in a Russian prison. Reflecting on their meeting, the mother of two said she felt grateful to have met the former president and said her familys situation touched him a lot. Asked how she felt seeing Mr Bidens successor supposedly echo Kremlin talking points, she said: Trump, you can like him or not, but hes elected president of a big country. He participated in real elections. He won these elections. And all his negotiations with Putin gives Putin, whos really a tyrant, more power. She added: During the last few years, nobody had been meeting with him. He was just sitting, he was scared to go anywhere because there is war, because he could be arrested somewhere. Now all these negotiations give him again more power. A wildfire warning sign in Dural, New South Wales. Similar signs are to be erected in the Peak District and south Pennines. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA Wildfire warning signs normally seen in the parched Australian outback have been installed on English moorland for the first time. In a stark illustration of the worsening impact of the climate emergency, signs have been put up in the Peak District and south Pennines, where there have been more than 30 moorland fires since March. It is part of efforts by rangers and volunteers to prevent discarded cigarettes, campfires and barbecues from sparking more fires during the prolonged warm and dry weather. Matt Scott-Campbell, of the Moors for the Future Partnership, said the aim was to inform the public about the growing risk of wildfires. These signs are normally used in countries that have lived with the risk of wildfire for generations. But now we are seeing the effects of climate change this might be the beginning of us as a society really coming to terms with the fact that we need to modify our behaviours when were accessing wild places. Related: Country diary: A wildfire has killed off (nearly) everything wild | Eben Muse He said the area between Sheffield and Manchester was facing a triple challenge of a warming climate, increasing visitor numbers and a budget reduction of about 50% in the past decade. We really want to encourage people to come and experience these amazing habitats, these ultra-high-value peatland ecosystems. But we need to be accessing them and enjoying them responsibly in ways that dont create fires, Scott-Campbell said. For the past 20 years specialist teams have been working on the moors to try to manage and preserve the nature-rich peatland, blocking erosion gullies to increase water retention and cutting back heather to create a more diverse habitat. An initial inspection of the land after the recent spate of fires found that those areas that had been restored and protected had survived with less damage. Scott-Campbell said: Damaging fire events like those of recent weeks only increase the urgency with which we must act to restore and protect degraded blanket bog habitats in the face of a changing climate. Phil Mulligan, the chief executive of the Peak District national park, said healthy and restored uplands were already playing a vital role in efforts to tackle the climate emergency and he urged all visitors to be vigilant about fire risks. I cannot stress enough the need for care, responsibility and vigilance when visiting the countryside of our national parks, he said. None of us want to play witness to the very picture-postcard views we cherish being lost to fire. A teenage girl in Washington, D.C., died after accidentally shooting herself while recording a video for social media, police said. The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD) announced the 14-year-old girl's death, which occurred around 5:09 p.m. on May 21. After receiving reports of a shooting, MPD officers responded to the girl's residence in northeast Washington, D.C., according to the department. When officers arrived at the apartment, they found the girl inside suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. Although lifesaving measures were performed, the girl succumbed to her injuries, the department added. This is a devastating reminder of the dangers of weapons getting into the hands of young people in our city, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the decedent, Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith said in a statement. Firearms are not toys or props and they must be properly secured in a place where they can only be accessed by lawful gun owners. More news: Human remains found by hunter belong to missing Utah woman who disappeared in 2023 Was an adult in the home during the shooting? Police said their preliminary investigation indicates that the unidentified teen was handling a gun while recording her social media video when the firearm went off and struck her in the upper body. According to the department, multiple people, including at least one adult, were inside the apartment when the shooting happened. The gun used in the incident has been recovered, police said. How common are unintentional child gun deaths? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiles data on unintentional child gun deaths. The most recent data released on the issue is from 2023. Data from that year shows that 143 people ages 19 and younger died from unintentional injury from a firearm. A 2023 study done by the CDC found that roughly three-quarters of unintentional child gun deaths between 2003 and 2021 involved a firearm that was stored loaded and unlocked. Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Teen girl accidentally shoots self, dies recording social media video Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell Drinking enough water each day is important for overall health, from your brain to your skin and beyond. Whether youre struggling to meet your needs through water alone or are just looking to up your intake, these recipes can help you reach your goals. They feature hydrating ingredients like tomatoes, watermelon, beans, tuna and brown rice that can contribute several ounces of H2O to your day. Youll want to try options like our High-Protein Pasta Salad or our Baked Feta & Veggie Soup for a refreshing meal to end your day on a hydrated note. Save to MyRecipes Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. High-Protein Pasta Salad Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Crunchy cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and red onions are all mixed together in a heart-healthy vinaigrette for a dish that is as delicious as it is eye-catching. Chickpea pasta, whole chickpeas and fresh mozzarella pearls add to the dishs protein. View Recipe Baked Feta & Veggie Soup Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell This veggie soup is a creamy, flavorful dish that highlights the best seasonal produce. Fresh peas have a sweet and vibrant flavor, and the baked feta melts into the soup, creating a rich, tangy contrast to the fresh vegetables. View Recipe Avocado Tuna Salad Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This sandwich takes classic tuna salad and adds a creamy twist with ripe avocado for a fresh, buttery flavor and texture. Its the ideal upgrade to your usual tuna salad, and its sure to become your new favorite lunchtime sandwich for work or home. View Recipe Creamy Pesto Beans Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong These creamy pesto beans are pulled together in just 30 minutes. The sauce clings to tender white beans, and whatever is left is perfect for sopping up with a warm, crusty baguette. For a heartier meal, serve the beans over whole-grain pasta, letting the sauce coat every bite. View Recipe Strawberry Caprese Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This caprese salad is a fruity twist on the classic Italian dish, with juicy, ripe strawberries standing in for tomatoes. The sweet-tart flavor of strawberries pairs beautifully with fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. View Recipe Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley These lettuce wraps are filled with a tasty tuna salad, which provides plenty of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These wraps are packed with chopped apple, onion and celery to provide a welcome crunch. View Recipe Grilled Zucchini & Halloumi Pitas Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This grilled halloumi pita is loaded with tender-crisp zucchini, fresh tomatoes and smoky halloumi cheese. You can prepare this sandwich inside using a grill pan, or outside using a gas grill. View Recipe Creamy Lemon-Dill Chicken & Rice Casserole Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong This creamy lemon-dill chicken and rice casserole is pure comfort in a bowl, bursting with the bright, fresh flavors of lemon and dill. Tender chicken and brown rice make it a satisfying, cozy dish everyone will love. View Recipe Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette Ali Redmond Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado create a delicious contrast in this easy salad. Tossed with a zesty lemon-shallot vinaigrette, this salad is bright, tangy and perfectly balanced. View Recipe Arroz con Habichuelas Guisadas Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali Arroz con Habichuelas Guisadas is a classic Puerto Rican dish celebrated for its rich, comforting flavors. The beans are stewed in an aromatic broth that gets its flavor from recaito and herbs like culantro and cilantro. Served over tender white rice, its a hearty and warming meal. View Recipe Roasted Potato Tzatziki Bowls Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley Crispy, golden roasted potatoes are the centerpiece of these tasty bowls, accompanied by a tangy, herb-packed tzatziki sauce at the base. Loaded with fresh veggies like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and red onion with a side of chickpeas, these bowls deliver big on flavor and nutrition. View Recipe Crunchy Chopped Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This chickpea-cabbage salad features carrots and cucumbers, giving it a quartet of ingredients that all begin with the letter C! This chopped salad is loaded with fiber and prebiotic chickpeas, promoting a healthy gut. View Recipe Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Bowls Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer These hearty bowls featuring sweet potatoes, poblano peppers and red onion are bursting with bold flavors. Add a tangy scoop of guacamole, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and more of your favorite toppings and youll have a vibrant, satisfying dinner for your regular rotation. View Recipe Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst This cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner. We love the grassy flavor of dill, but another fresh herb like oregano, parsley or chives will work well in its place. Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl Ali Redmond Tender pieces of salmon get a sweet and crispy coating thanks to sweet and savory teriyaki glaze in this salmon rice bowl. We love crunchy cucumber and creamy avocado as toppings, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like best for your own spin on this easy meal. View Recipe High-Protein Greek Salad Omelet Wrap Sara Haas Would you rather have a salad or a wrap for dinner? Wait, why not both! This protein-packed meal features Greek salad tucked into an egg-white wrap. It also makes for a delicious breakfast. View Recipe Chicken & Cucumber Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce We love the crunch from sliced cucumber and jicama in these savory chicken lettuce wraps. Serve with the simple peanut sauce for an easy dinner recipe that will impress kids and adults alike. View Recipe Baked Tomato & Feta Rice Robby Lozano Juicy roasted tomatoes and creamy melted feta are the stars in this flavorful casserole. Made in just one baking dish, this hearty dinner is the perfect choice for weeknights when you want minimal cleanup. View Recipe Gochujang-Glazed Tempeh & Brown Rice Bowls If you're a tempeh skeptic, you've probably never had the firm soy-based slabs slathered with a sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce. We give this easy BBQ tempeh combo a punch of umami with tamari and add a little heat courtesy of gochujang. It's easy to put your own spin on this recipe; see Variations (below) for some riffs. View Recipe Buffalo Cauliflower Grain Bowl Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower This Buffalo cauliflower grain bowl is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Buffalo wings, packing plenty of gut-healthy fiber and plant-based protein. It features a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables on a bed of precooked brown rice to keep prep speedy. Feel free to swap out the rice for another whole grain. View Recipe Loaded Cucumber & Avocado Sandwich Jacob Fox This loaded cucumber-and-avocado sandwich is filled with creamy avocado and crispy cucumbers. Ricotta cheese mixed with extra-sharp Cheddar adds flavor while sliced red peppers offer a splash of color. View Recipe Chopped Power Salad with Chicken Jason Donnelly Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in, so the greens absorb every bit of flavor. View Recipe Chickpea Salad Sandwich Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It's got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwichdill, lemon and a bit of garlicbut with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch. View Recipe Cucumber Caprese Sandwich Brie Passano We added cucumber and greens to the tomato to make this refreshing cucumber caprese sandwich flavored with pesto, fresh mozzarella and a sweet balsamic glaze. View Recipe Watermelon & Goat Cheese Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Jason Donnelly In this watermelon and goat cheese salad, the contrasting flavors and textures of crisp, sweet melon and creamy, tangy goat cheese are magical partners. Top with sliced grilled chicken to make it a meal. View Recipe Read the original article on EATINGWELL The mother of a deceased 3-year-old boy is suing a Missouri day care after the employees allegedly left her suffocated son lying on the ground of the facility "for hours," according to the wrongful death lawsuit. The petition for wrongful death, which USA TODAY obtained and reviewed, was filed May 19 in St. Francois County Circuit Court by Tara Williams, the mother of Conrad Ashcraft. Williams alleges negligence from Poppy's Playhouse, a day care in Park Hills, and its employees after Conrad suffered a fatal injury at the facility on May 16. Williams' lawsuit alleges the injury is a direct result of a day care employee applying weight and pressure to Conrad's chest "in an effort to force him to sleep." The mother accuses Poppy's Playhouse of not properly training its employees and failing to recognize that her son was suffocating or had suffocated. In addition to paying for Conrad's funeral or memorial, Williams is requesting other monetary damages and a judgment of over $25,000. 'Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones' St. Francois County Sheriff Jeffrey S. Crites said in a news release on May 23 that his office is continuing its investigation into Conrad's death, and that detectives are working to "uncover all relevant details surrounding the case to ensure justice is served." "During this extremely difficult time our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic event," Crites said. Family members who spoke with KMOV said Conrad was autistic and nonverbal. He was the absolute sweetest and beautiful nonverbal autistic 3-year-old, Lacey Hardy, Conrad's aunt, told the St. Louis, Missouri-based TV station. He was a son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin to several people who loved him so very much. Poppy's Playhouse owner previously worked for county prosecutor's office The St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said in a news release on May 23 that it previously employed the owner of Poppy's Playhouse. Due to this, the prosecutor's office decided to "take no role in the investigation" being conducted by the St. Francois County Sheriff's Office. Missouri Secretary of State business records show the day care is owned by Spring Gray, who resigned on May 20 after serving as Ward 2 City Councilwoman for the City of Park Hills. "Her decision follows recent developments involving her privately owned business," the city said in a Facebook post on May 21. "While the City is not involved in the investigation, we recognize the public concern and value transparency in this process. Her resignation helps ensure the investigation proceeds without conflict." St. Francois County officials said they worked with the Jefferson County Prosecutor Trisha Stefanski to appoint an independent special prosecuting attorney to prosecute the case. "Any involvement by the Prosecutor's Office would appear improper and could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation and pursuit of justice for this child and his family," the St. Francois County Prosecutor's Office said. USA TODAY contacted Spring Gray on May 23 but has not received a response. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mother sues after child's death at Missouri day care Seven people have now been arrested for allegedly helping inmates who broke out of a New Orleans jail last week, as the search for the five outstanding escapees and any other alleged accomplices continues, authorities said. Two arrests occurred on Friday, as the number of people alleged to have assisted the 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center grows. Among them, 23-year-old Trevon Williams, an inmate at the jail, was arrested after the Louisiana Attorney General's office said its agents "obtained sufficient evidence" that he assisted in his fellow inmates' escape in the early hours of May 16. According to an arrest warrant, Williams -- wearing a distinctive black orthopedic boot on his right foot -- was seen on surveillance camera entering a cell involved in the escape at approximately 12:35 a.m. on May 16 and remaining there for nearly 30 minutes -- the same time window during which the inmates made their escape. He is also seen "comingling" with two of the escaped inmates moments before they entered the cell and ultimately escaped, according to the warrant. Investigators believe Williams supplied a blanket and shirt to aid the escapees in climbing over the facility's razor wire-topped fencing, according to the warrant. BREAKING: Inmate arrested in connection to our investigation into escape at Orleans Justice Center As I promised when we initiated our investigation, we will hold absolutely everyone who contributed any role to the prison break in New Orleans accountable. While Trevon Williams pic.twitter.com/yFz4myC8Cm Attorney General Liz Murrill (@AGLizMurrill) May 23, 2025 When questioned on Thursday, Williams told investigators he could not remember why he entered the cell or what happened inside during that time, according to the warrant. Williams has been rebooked on 10 counts of principal to simple escape, the attorney general's office said. He had initially been booked into the facility in January on weapons charges, jail records show. "As I promised when we initiated our investigation, we will hold absolutely everyone who contributed any role to the prison break in New Orleans accountable," Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement. "While Trevon Williams was already incarcerated, we will be filing additional charges related to the escape. We will continue our investigation and follow all of the facts to ensure we get accountability." MORE: Alleged victim of prison escapee speaks to ABC News: 'This guy could come back...and shoot me' A second man arrested on Friday is accused of helping two of the inmates after their escape, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Emmitt Weber, 28, was taken into custody after police executed a "high-risk warrant" at a home in New Orleans, police said. After questioning, Weber was arrested and has been charged with accessory after the fact of simple escape, police said. A jail employee accused of helping the inmates break out and four women who allegedly helped some of them once freed have also been previously arrested in connection with the jailbreak. Casey Smith, 30, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly assisting two of the 10 inmates who escaped from the jail, according to the New Orleans Police Department. "Through investigation, members of the NOPD's Special Operations Division Tactical II team obtained information linking Smith to allegedly aiding at least two of the reported escapees as they were transported to multiple locations in the hours following their escape," the New Orleans Police Department said in a press release on Friday announcing the arrest. PHOTO: The booking photo for Casey Smith. (Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office) Smith allegedly admitted to aiding in the escapees' transport along with 32-year-old Cortnie Harris, who was arrested on Wednesday, police said. Smith has been booked for accessory after the fact to simple escape. In addition to Harris, state police announced on Wednesday that 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste was arrested and charged with felony counts of being accessories after the fact. They were both booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center, officials said. On Thursday, a Slidell woman was taken into custody for allegedly helping a fugitive who is still at large following the jailbreak, Louisiana State Police said. MORE: 2 people arrested for assisting fugitives wanted in New Orleans mass jailbreak Connie Weeden, 59, was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on Thursday. She faces a felony charge of accessory after the fact for allegedly assisting Jermaine Donald, one of the five escapees still on the run, police said. "Weeden was in contact via phone both before and after the escape," Louisiana State Police officials said in a statement. "Investigators determined that after the escape, she provided Donald with cash through a cell phone app." Donald remains at large, along with four others who broke out of the Orleans Justice Center on May 16. Authorities have recaptured five of the original 10 inmates who escaped. PHOTO: A screen grab taken from a handout CCTV video shows inmates running through the loading dock at the Orleans Parish Justice Center, in New Orleans, May 16, 2025. (Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office via Reuters) Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Justice Center, was arrested and booked into jail Tuesday morning, according to Murrill. Williams allegedly shut off the water to a toilet to help clear the way for the inmates to escape, sources said. The prisoners, including three who are charged with second-degree murder and remain on the run, were able to crawl out through a hole after ripping the toilet off its hinges. Williams's lawyer has denied he intended to help in the inmates' escape and said a deputy asked him to shut the water off due to a clogged fixture. "Did he admit he turned the water off? Yes, absolutely, and we're not denying that. Did he confess to conspiring to aid violent criminals to escape the jail, climb a wall, run across the interstate and terrorize the city? Absolutely not," lawyer Michael Kennedy told ABC News. PHOTO: The cell at Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans where inmates apparently escaped from. (Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office) Law enforcement officials warned that helping fugitives will carry serious consequences. "Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable," said state police. "Harboring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated." Under Louisiana law, a conviction for accessory after the fact carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both. Amid an ongoing investigation into the escape of inmates, the Orleans Parish District Attorney issued subpoenas on Thursday to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and other sheriff's office staff members. The order demanded access to emails, text messages and internal messages from or to Hutson and other sheriff's office staff and contractors, including those to Williams. Four other jail employees have been suspended in this investigation. 7th person arrested for allegedly assisting escaped New Orleans inmates originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Honea Path Police Department Facebook Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley were charged with Unlawful Conduct Toward a Child and Ill Treatment of Animals, as well as violations of town ordinances. Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley were arrested on Monday, May 19, after police allegedly found their South Carolina home "infested with numerous animals" Chief Christopher Miller said the parents had "no emotion" when their 8-month-old infant was taken away amid the police investigation, per Fox Carolina Among the discoveries in the home were at least 47 animals and a "decomposing goat carcass in the bathtub" A couple in South Carolina has been arrested after police allegedly discovered their baby was being raised among over 40 unkept animals and waste, including a decomposing goat. On Monday, May 19, police responded to concerns from the Department of Social Services that parents Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley had their 8-month-old infant living in an unsafe environment, according to a Honea Path Police Department news release shared on Facebook. The infant was then placed with a relative after police uncovered severe unsafe and unsanitary conditions" in the home. Officers found the residence infested with numerous animals, including raccoons, rabbits, dogs, cats, chickens and deceased animals, per the news release. Animal feces and waste are throughout the residence. Google Maps The home of Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley in South Carolina. Police added, In my 30-plus years of service, I have never encountered such a horrific situation involving unsanitary conditions and such a large number of animals. The police didnt disclose how many dead animals were found inside the home, but said a rotting goat was located in the bathtub. They contacted Dr. Kim Sanders from PAWS for assistance due to the alarming situation. The child is OK. The child was in pretty good condition for the unsanitary conditions of the house, Chief Christopher Miller said, per WJCL. Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley were charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and ill treatment of animals, and violations of town ordinances. Miller told Fox Carolina that the parents didnt demonstrate any emotion when they were arrested. Sitting there calm and really no emotion. No facial expressions, Miller said, according to Fox Carolina. You would think that theyd be a little upset that someone was taking their eight-month-old baby, that the police were there and discovered the horrific conditions of this house. You would think that they would have to know that they were in trouble. Renard and Foley were both given $10,000 surety bonds, according to the outlet. Foley posted bond on Tuesday. Sanders revealed that at least 47 animals were found amid the police investigation. Among them were dogs kept in crates for long periods and maggots crawling in the food bowls, per WJCL. "Just the amount of feces and ammonia, it was very, very difficult to breathe," Sanders said, per the outlet. "When we were there, there were no bowls for water. It was just absolutely disgusting and just really depressing for my staff and myself. It's just hard to see animals in that kind of condition. It's rewarding to be able to take them out of there, but at the same time, they were definitely suffering, she added. The animals are now recovering at Anderson County PAWS and if they arent signed over to the organizations care, Sanders believes there could be legal proceedings in the future. PEOPLE has reached out to the Honea Police Department and Anderson County PAWS for updates on the situation. Read the original article on People By Philip Blenkinsop, David Lawder and Stephanie van den Berg BRUSSELS/BANFF, Canada/THE HAGUE (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to ratchet up his trade war again, pushing for a 50% tariff on European Union goods starting June 1 and warning Apple he may slap a 25% levy on all imported iPhones bought by U.S. consumers. The twin threats, delivered via social media, roiled global markets after weeks of de-escalation had provided some reprieve in the tariff battle. Major U.S. stock indexes and European shares fell and the dollar weakened, while the price of gold, a safe-haven for investors, rose. U.S. Treasury yields fell on fears about tariffs' effect on economic growth. Trump's broadside against the EU was prompted by the White House's belief that negotiations with the bloc are not progressing fast enough. His saber-rattling also marked a return to Washington's stop-and-start trade war that has shaken markets, businesses and consumers and raised fears of a global economic downturn. And the president's attack on Apple is his latest attempt to pressure a specific company to move production to the United States, following automakers, pharmaceutical companies and chipmakers. The United States, however, does not mass-produce smartphones - even as U.S. consumers buy more than 60 million phones annually - and moving production would likely increase the cost of iPhones by hundreds of dollars. Later on Friday, Trump told reporters inside the Oval Office that his proposed tariff on Apple would also apply to "Samsung and anybody that makes that product," apparently referring to smartphones. He said he expected the new phone levy to be in place by the end of June. Trump reiterated his complaint that the European Union treated the U.S. badly and restricted the U.S. from selling cars into the EU. "And I just said, 'It's time that we play the game the way I know how to play the game.'" "I'm not looking for a deal," Trump said when asked whether he expected a deal before June 1. "We've set the deal it's at 50%. But again, there's no tariff if they build their plant here." EU trade Chief Maros Sefcovic said the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, was fully committed to securing a deal that worked for both sides, following a Friday phone call with U.S. counterpart Jamieson Greer and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He added that EU-U.S. trade "must be guided by mutual respect, not threats." Speaking to reporters in The Hague, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof backed the EU's strategy in trade talks and said the EU was likely to see this latest announcement as part of the negotiations. "We have seen before that tariffs can go up and down in talks with the U.S.," he said. The White House paused most of the punishing tariffs Trump announced in early April against nearly every country in the world after investors furiously sold off U.S. assets including government bonds and the U.S. dollar. Trump left in place a 10% baseline tax on most imports, and later reduced his massive 145% tax on Chinese goods to 30%. A 50% levy on EU imports could raise consumer prices on everything from German cars to Italian olive oil. The EU's total exports to the United States last year totaled about 500 billion euros ($566 billion), led by Germany (161 billion euros), Ireland (72 billion euros) and Italy (65 billion euros). Pharmaceuticals, cars and auto parts, chemicals and aircraft were among the largest exports, according to EU data. DISPUTES OVER TARIFFS The White House has been in trade negotiations with numerous countries, but progress has been unsteady. Finance leaders from the Group of Seven industrialized democracies tried to downplay disputes over the tariffs earlier in the week at a forum in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. "The EU is one of Trump's least favorite regions, and he does not seem to have good relations with its leaders, which increases the chance of a prolonged trade war between the two," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB. Talks with Japan appeared less fraught. After meeting separately with Lutnick and Greer on Friday, Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said the two sides discussed expanding trade, non-tariff barriers and economic security issues. He described their talks as franker and more in-depth than before. Speaking to reporters, Akazawa said that while it would be great if an agreement could be reached when Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba meet at the Group of Seven summit next month in Canada, he would not rush just to secure a deal. "Our country has national interests that must be protected, so it is not sufficient simply to forge an agreement quickly," Akazawa said. "As a negotiator, I can tell you that in negotiations the party stuck to a deadline usually loses." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would not comment on other potential trade deals, but said on Fox News that there would be more announced as the end of the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs approaches in July. Apple declined to comment on Trump's threat, which would reverse exclusions he granted on smartphones and other electronics imported largely from China in a break for Big Tech firms that sell consumer goods. Apple shares fell 3% after Trump said in an early Truth Social post that he told company CEO Tim Cook "long ago" that "I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else." Cook and Trump met on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. Apple is speeding up plans to make most iPhones sold in the United States at factories in India by the end of 2026 to navigate potentially higher tariffs in China. But the odds on moving production to the U.S. are slimmer. In February, Apple said it will spend $500 billion over four years in nine American states, but that investment was not intended to bring iPhone manufacturing to the U.S. "It is hard to imagine that Apple can be fully compliant with this request from the president in the next 3-5 years," D.A. Davidson & Co analyst Gil Luria said. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels, Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and David Lawder in Banff, Canada; Additional reporting by Nathan Layne, Reinhard Becker, Brendan O'Brien, Doina Chiacu, Maggie Fick, Karen Freifeld, Josephine Mason, Siddarth S and Jaspreet Singh; Writing by Joseph Ax and David Gaffen; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar, Anil D'Silva, Nick Zieminski and Leslie Adler) Barry Keoghan was a child when his mother died due to a heroin addiction The Saltburn star, 32, revealed "curiosity" led him to also become an addict "Ive got scars here to literally prove it," Keoghan said in a new interview, per Hollywood Authentic Barry Keoghan is opening up about his struggles with sobriety. While speaking with Hollywood Authentic about his upbringing for an article published on May 1, the Saltburn star, 32, recalled that when he was 12 years old, his mother died due to heroin addiction. He said that despite this, and the birth of his son Brando, 2, he was drawn to drugs. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Barry Keoghan at the world premiere of Lionsgate's 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' "Im not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict, Keoghan said, per the outlet. "You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on, and learn to work with it. He added, My father passed away as a result of similar and I lost my mum to it. Ive lost two uncles and a cousin to drugs. That should be enough to go, OK, if I dabble here, Im f---ed. But your curiosity is a powerful thing. 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. Phillip Faraone/VF24/Getty Barry Keoghan at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills Keoghan told Hollywood Authentic that he's felt an "enormous amount of pressure" since being on the scene in Hollywood. Ive got scars here to literally prove it, he said, per the outlet. Theyre a result of using. Im at peace now, and responsible for everything that I do. Im accepting. Im present. Im content. Im a father. Im getting to just see that haze that was once there its just a bit sharper now, and colorful. The Hurry Up Tomorrow actor recalled having to be kept away from his mother amid her struggles with heroin. "I remember being kids here and hearing my mum scream through the letterbox, asking for us, while shes battling addiction, while shes looking for money to score, he told Hollywood Authentic. And we were just told to stay in bed. We werent to go down and hug her.' " The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Barry Keoghan/Instagram Barry Keoghan and son Brando The reflection comes after Keoghan previously told GQ that when he's feeling isolated, he thinks back to his mother. "My mother, always. Shes many years passed now, but I always think about her anyway," he said. "Its always just in and around achievements that its really prominentcause youd like to celebrate that wit er, yknow? He recalled that his mother wasnt as present in his life before she died, adding she was battlin a lot of stuff." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Back in January, Keoghan revealed in a video for the United Kingdoms Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office that becoming a father helped him to understand the challenges his mother faced. Speaking about childrens social care, Keoghan, who spent some time in foster care as a child, said, As Ive got older and Ive had my own son, I realized that it was such hard work for her and, you know, her and my father. And luckily there was a good care system there, which is massively important. Read the original article on People Brandon Barre/Fontainebleau Las Vegas Panoramic view's of Las Vegas from the lounge at Poodle Room in the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Poodle Room is a members-only club at the top of 67-story Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The social space features striking, poodle-inspired decor, as well as a bar with stunning views of the Vegas Strip, a patio, lounge areas, a cigar room, a private bar, and a 12-seat omakase restaurant. The invite-only club is accessible to guests staying in the resorts Fleur de Lis suites, as well as those invited by a Poodle Room member and guests dining at 12-seat omakase restaurant Ito. One of Travel + Leisures Las Vegas reporters recently told me that the best view of Sin City is at a members-only bar called Poodle Room on the top floor of the Fontainebleau hotel. Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the second outpost from the hospitality brand known for its ever-popular Miami Beach resort, was named one of the best new hotels of 2024 on T+Ls annual It List. Housed in the tallest occupiable building in the state of Nevada, according to a Fontainebleau spokesperson, the bar crowning the tower also has a 12-seat omakase restaurant, Ito. The members-only club, 67 stories up, made New Yorker headlines at the beginning of 2024during its preview phasewhen A-listers like Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Cher, and as the article put it, more than one Kardashian showed up to have a drink with Josephine, the bars headlining poodle. Brandon Barre/Fontainebleau Las Vegas The Poodle Room entrance. The idea of a sky-high bar, often bought out by celebrity clientele, with poodles everywhere lived rent-free in my mind until, finally, I succumbed to curiosity and made plans to see it. There are three ways to get in: you have to be invited by a member, have a coveted reservation at Ito, or stay in the Fontainebleaus $1,500-a-night Fleur de Lis suites, which include butler service and lavish digs with multiple bedrooms and a living room that feels roughly the size of Nantucket. In my Fleur de Lis suite, I found a bathroom that could certainly rival Caligulasor really any Roman emperors. And just as I turned on the fountain that would fill the marble Jacuzzi tub beside the in-suite sauna, I saw it: An invitation to the newly opened Poodle Room, extended to the guests of the hotels highest-rolling rooms. At 11 p.m. that night, I made it home from the wedding that brought me to Las Vegas, swapped my lehenga for a black dress and bright-red Carel heels, and rode the Fontainebleau elevator to the 89th floor. (Often, hotels leave floors unaccounted formany forego a 13th floor out of pure superstitionwhich is how the Poodle Room is 67 stories up but on the 89th floor.) The mirrored entry is ripe for Instagram moments, but there are no phones allowed up here; No photos, no videos, and yes, its strictly enforced. I told the host I was a Fleur de Lis guest, was granted entrance to the decked-out bar, and nearly walked into a full-sized illuminated poodle statue. On her hind legs with her head held high, she was taller than I was and posing haughtily in front of floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing the Vegas strip. The welcoming committee. I was transfixed. Not so much by the view, though it was impressive, as by the poodle statues, sconces, and patterned lamp shades that might have been left over from a 60s haunt the Rat Pack frequented. The napkin under my gin martini had a poodle in the bottom right corner, and when the dessert cart came, it was done up with petit-fours and truffles arranged on what looked to be wax paper with sketches of purple poodles. Brandon Barre/Fontainebleau Las Vegas The main bar and lounge at Poodle Room. Poodle Room oozes luxury, but it isnt quiet. And in the U.S. capital of unabashed opulence, the deeply maximalist club fits right in. The navy blue walls meld with the glowing white orb the poodle sconces and statues emit, creating an ambiance that has you ordering a third martini for the first time in years. (On a related note, three martinis in was when I visited the womens restroom, and came face-to-face with a taxidermied poodle sitting on a toilet in one of the stalls.) Were not in the soft launch phase anymore. Poodle Room is in full swing, with a vibey cluster of hanging lights over the bar and a small patio where I found a member smoking next to a hanging portrait of a crowned poodle labeled La Reine in gold script. There is a cigar room, inviting lounge areas, and the sultry Forneau private bar, clad in floor-to-ceiling red and an impressive art collection. Finally, the 12-seat omakase restaurant Ito has a separate Japanese whiskey bar and serves rare fish that make daily flights from Japan to be dolled up by acclaimed chefs Masa Ito and Kevin Kim. The restaurant, which may be headed for the Las Vegas Michelin-star list, is open to members and non-members, and might be your best way into Poodle Room. To book your Ito reservation, visit fontainebleaulasvegas.com/ito, or to book a stay at the Fleur de Lis suites, from $1,500 a night, visit fontainebleaulasvegas.com/fleur-de-lis. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Candice Walker / Getty Images The Family Recipe Box Every family has The One. That legendary recipe. The one that shows up at every gathering, passed down through generations and known by heart. At some point, it becomes more than just foodits a plateful of memories, a bowlful of love, a recipe for connection. In our Family Recipe Box series, we celebrate a different Allrecipes Allstar each month by sharing the story behind their treasured family dishalong with everything you need to bring it to your table, too. Because recipes this meaningful deserve to be passed on. And at Allrecipes, when youre here, youre family. Name: Candice Walker Location: Portland, Oregon Family recipe: Tahdig When it became a family tradition: Sometime during the 1800s (It's been in our family for too many generations to count, says Candice.) For as long as Allrecipes Allstar Candice Walker can remember, every family gathering and celebration has been accented by the scent of saffron and the crackle of tahdig being scooped onto plates. Tahdig is the delightful, crunchy rice at the bottom of the pot; often enhanced with saffron, and sometimes layered with potatoes or bread, Walker says. Its a dish I learned to make from my mom and grandmother. But despite extensive experience making it, the Jewish-Iranian recipe developer and photographer says, there's always that hold-your-breath moment when you're nervous it won't come out as you flip the pot to turn the rice onto a platter. Since there is much less of the crispy part than rice itself, Walker remembers how special she felt when her older cousins, aunts, and uncles made sure there was a piece of treasured tahdig left for her at family gatherings. Its a recipe rooted deeply in our Persian culture, where we share food as a way to show love, she says. As much as tahdig means to Walker, there were several years when she tried to hide from the recipeand anything related to her Persian roots: I grew up feeling ashamed about my culture, she says. As a kid, I was always embarrassed when pals would come over for dinner. This all changed in middle school, when my friend Chloe ended up really loving the food my mom would share. "The way my friends devoured the food made me feel so much love and joy, and grounded me in a new level of confidence serving Persian food." Allrecipes Allstar Candice Walker Over the last decade, Walker has grown more comfortable welcoming friends to her table for a spread of Persian specialties, including her familys signature tahdig recipe, which she shares below. During a dinner party in late 2024, this tahdig was a smash hit that left her pals raving and reaching for seconds. The way they devoured the food made me feel so much love and joy, and grounded me in a new level of confidence serving Persian food, she says. When you try this at home, Walker recommends using a slick nonstick pan or pot to ensure the tahdig releases. Also, be careful not to rush the process. Properly rinsing the rice and cooking the rice slowly are two key steps to allow the craveable crust to form. How to Make Candice's Family Tahdig Recipe Serves 6 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes Ingredients 3 cups basmati rice 1 pinch saffron 3 tablespoons kosher salt 6 tablespoons neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola oil) Directions Pour rice into a fine mesh sieve, and wash 3 to 6 times under cold running water until the water runs clear. Fill a large bowl with cold water and soak rice. In the meantime, prepare your saffron: Grind saffron using a mortar and pestle, then steep it in 2 tablespoons hot water, or put a few cubes of ice on it. Set aside. Fill a pot two-thirds full with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add 3 tablespoons kosher salt. Drain rice in a fine mesh sieve and add to the boiling water. Cook like pasta until al dente, stirring often, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain rice and gently rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Taste, and season with more salt if desired. If it's too salty, rinse again with cold water. Warm a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons oil and half the steeped saffron. Stir to combine. Top with drained rice, and shape into a pyramid. Make 6 deep holes in the rice using the back of a wooden spoon or spatula, then cover skillet with a lid. Cook until the lid gets foggy, about 5 minutes. At that point, add remaining 3 tablespoons oil around the edges and over the rice. Add 2 tablespoons water to the top of the rice. Cover with a lid wrapped in a kitchen towel and lower heat to medium-low. Steam until the rice near the surface of the pan appears golden and crispy, 45 to 60 minutes. Transfer excess rice from the top of the pot (the part that is domed) to a bowl, then use a fork to fluff the rice and mix in the rest of the saffron water. Slip on oven mitts, and carefully flip tahdig onto a serving dish. Enjoy tahdig in scoops, alongside extra saffron rice. Read the original article on ALLRECIPES A Washington man considered to be an experienced hiker has died near the end of a 24-mile, rim-to-rim hike at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, officials confirmed. Dennis Smith, 74, was found dead around 4:45 p.m. on May 15 after rangers received a report of an unresponsive hiker about half a mile below the North Kaibab Trail, according to the National Park Service. First responders and bystanders attempted to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Coconino County Medical Examiners Office is investigating the cause of death. The Olympia resident was known as an avid hiker attempting to make his way from the South Rim to the North Rim, the park service said in a May 19 news release. The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon on Feb. 22, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Smith was a former family practice doctor who served in the Navy for a brief stint and later became an orthopedic surgeon, according to FOX News. In 1994, he reportedly started a private practice known as Olympia Orthopedic Associates. Tom Helpenstell, a doctor who worked with Smith for over three decades, said the two would run long distances across the Grand Canyon, FOX News reported. "He's super active, super fit," Helpenstell told the outlet. "This was not even a run, this was a hike. I don't want to downplay it. Grand Canyon's a big day, for sure, but this was completely out of the blue." Park Service warns hikers about extreme heat Every year the National Park Service warns Grand Canyon hikers and backpackers to prepare for extreme heat, especially in the inner canyon, where temperatures could surpass 110 degrees. Last June, a 69-year-old man from Austin, Texas fatally collapsed on a Grand Canyon trail as temperatures in the area surpassed 90 degrees, the park service said. Officials said he was found semiconscious on the River Trail on June 30 but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Just a few weeks earlier, a 41-year-old man was found dead near the bottom of the Grand Canyon, where he spent the night. Bystanders and park service personnel found his body on the Bright Angel Trail on June 16 but were unable to resuscitate him. "Hikers and backpackers attempting rigorous distances, such as rim to rim, through the inner canyon are encouraged to be self-reliant to prevent emergency situations for themselves and responders," the park service warns. Rim-to-rim hike a popular challenge For many hikers, a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon is a bucket list experience. At roughly 24 miles, it can be a challenging day for even the youngest and the fittest. Among the many people who've conquered the rim-to-rim hike are a number of adventurers in their golden years. In January 2024, A 92-year-old Spaniard named Alfredo Aliaga became the oldest known person to complete the feat. It took Aliaga 21 hours over two days to conquer the hike. Contributing: Amanda Lee Myers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Out of the blue': Washington man found dead during Grand Canyon hike A motorcyclist and vehicles drive past the site of suicide bombing at a highway on the outskirts of the city of Khuzdar, in southwestern Pakistan, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ISLAMABAD (AP) The death toll from a school bus bombing in southwestern Pakistan rose to eight on Friday after three more critically wounded children died, according to the countrys military, which blamed rival India for allegedly supporting rebels behind the attack. The victims included two soldiers who were aboard the bus when it was attacked Wednesday in Khuzdar, a city in Balochistan province, where a separatist insurgency has raged for decades. A total of 53 people, including 39 children, were wounded in the attack. The children were going to their Army Public School when the bombing happened. Military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said that several of the wounded children remain critical. He said an initial investigation suggested the bombing was carried out by insurgents from the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, which was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2019, on India's instructions. Sharif said Pakistan had evidence that India is orchestrating terrorists attacks inside Pakistan" and the international community should take its notice. India has not responded to the allegation and Pakistan has presented no proof to back up its claim. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high after the two sides earlier this month engaged in a four-day border conflict before agreeing to a cease-fire. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Elsa Hosk brought a dose of fashion history to the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. On Wednesday, the model and Helsa fashion founder attended the The History Of Sound screening and walked the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in a black bodycon gown by Mugler, from the fashion houses Fall/Winter 1995-1996 collection. The long-sleeve, transparent, optical dress was originally worn by Claudia Schiffer on the runway with the gowns matching velvet reversible coat. VCG - Getty Images Victor Virgile - Getty Images Honoring Schiffers full runway look, Hosk styled the historic dress in the exact same way, with an adornment of layered choker pearls and a blush flower that sat on the side of her classic updo. The model wore the black-and-blush reversible coat like a boa around her wrist, with the train of the coat following behind her. Lyvans Boolaky - Getty Images The body-clinging black dress was vastly different from the bridal white look Hosk wore in Cannes the day before. Samir Hussein - Getty Images Gisela Schober - Getty Images For the premiere of Rebecca Zlotowskis Vie Privee (A Private Life), the model walked the red carpet at Palais des Festivals in a custom creation by Anastasia Zadorina . The romantic Grace Kelly-inspired gown had a structured strapless top and bodice made of delicately draped fabric, with a flowing feather-trimmed skirt. The model accessorized the glamorous look with diamond drop earrings and a matching necklace. Hosk is not the only one who has taken to homage- or inspiration-dressing at this years film festival. Bella Hadid also paid tribute to a piece of Cannes fashion history when she donned an archival silver chainmail wrap dress by John Galliano during her spin around the French Riviera. The piecewhich featured matching floral embellishments, ruffled hems, and a leg-baring asymmetrical skirtwas previously worn by Milla Jovovich to the Cannes Film Festival in 1997, as she promoted The Fifth Element. You Might Also Like Khadijah Horton/Getty "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Not sure about you, but nervous energy comes at me like a bat out of hell. And, of course, its always at the literal worst moments. Big job interview? My heart races like its at the Olympics. Stressful meeting with a boss? My skin gets all flushed and hot. If youve been there, then you know that all these pesky physical symptoms only make you feel even more out of control. But what if I told you there could be a secret weapon found in the most unlikely of places? That place would be beta blockers. Okay, okay, if youre thinking, Arent beta blockers for, like, my dad? Youre not wrong. Beta blockers are a type of medication used to treat heart conditions and cardiovascular diseases, like congestive heart failure, heart attacks, coronary artery disease (aka when a bunch of gunk builds up in an artery and blocks regular blood flow to the heart), to name a few. But in some instances, doctors can prescribe them for migraines, certain shakes and tremors, and off-label for situational anxiety. For those of you with regulated nervous systems (how does it feel to be Gods favorite?), situational anxiety is when you feel anxious before an event, like performing in a play or giving a speech, says Scott Breitinger, MD, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic. Some people are able to work through these feelings and still do their thing without missing a step, while others feel like their body is betraying them *raises hand*. Celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Robert Downey Jr. have said they take beta blockers before red carpets and other Hollywood moments, and reality star Paige DeSorbo has been open about how life-changing they've been for her on her podcast, Giggly Squad. Situational anxiety shouldnt be confused with generalized anxiety, though, which is way more persistent, can become dysfunctional, and impairs day-to-day function, says Dr. Breitinger. So basically, if youre anxious all the time, even when everythings chill, its probably not situational anxiety. But! If you feel nearly paralyzed from nerves before big moments, that could be situational anxiety, and a beta blocker could be a useful tool to help it out. If you have been toying with the idea of starting a beta blocker or are now suddenly intrigued to learn more, keep on reading for everything you need to know about taking them for those moments when youre freaking the hell out. What exactly is a beta blocker? In short, its a medication that helps slow your heart rate. Without getting too deep into it, there are two different kinds: selective, which are focused on the heart only, and non-selective, which work on your whole body, heart included. For context, selective beta blockers are typically used for things like when chest pains start after the heart doesnt get enough blood. On the other hand, non-selective beta blockers may be preferred by doctors for preventing things like migraines, and these are the ones prescribed for situational anxiety. How do beta blockers help situational anxiety? Remember all those pesky symptoms like sweating, shaking, and shortness of breath? Well, these bad boys are caused by a spike in adrenaline, the hormone known to make you feel amped up, says Sanjiv Shah, MD, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of adrenaline, slowing your heart rate and reducing those physical signs and symptoms of nervousness and anxiety, he explains. Essentially, think of using beta blockers like turning down the volume on your fight or flight response. Unlike antidepressants or other SSRIs, beta blockers dont directly aid in quieting worries or nervous thoughtsthis is a heart medication, lest we forget. But for some people, they do help you to feel more in control of your body, especially since they can also help increase blood flow to the brain to allow it to function at its best, explains cardiologist Nishant Shah, MD, an associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine. How do you take beta blockers? If youre taking beta blockers for situational anxiety, the dosage is typically one or two pills about an hour ahead of the specific event. Of course, your doctor who prescribed them should give you clear instructions too! Your doctor will also tell you to take the beta blockers for a test-drive firstsay, during a normal working day or when you dont have a high-pressure situation on the horizonjust to see how your body responds. Raw dogging a dose before a major moment (be it a date, family event, or stressful work presentation) and having a bad reaction is definitely not the vibe, so this part is pretty crucial. It's important to note that beta blockers should be more of a tool in your kit for navigating situational anxiety, rather than a long-term solution. To really get in control of your situational anxiety, you likely need a full-blown arsenal, including a therapist or psychiatrist (ideally in your insurance network). Theyll likely use a variety of techniques to help, like exposure therapy, which means continuing to put yourself in the situations that make you nervous. Are there any side effects or things I cant do when taking beta blockers? Yes. Like most meds, beta blockers come with a list of potential side effects, such as low blood pressure, low heart rate, fatigue, reduced libido, and sleep disturbances, according to Dr. Breitinger. Dr. Nishant adds some people may experience hair loss, weight gain, and erectile dysfunction for patients with penises. I know, I know, that sounds like a lot, but Dr. Nishant also says most people tolerate beta blockers just fine, and some never feel side effects at all. Just be sure to keep a super close eye on how you feel, and make sure you keep your doctor up to date on your medical history. There are also certain people who shouldnt take beta blockers, including people who already have low blood pressure or anyone with diabetes, says Dr. Breitinger. That's because beta blockers can mask the symptoms in those patients, he explains. How do I get beta blockers? Before you do anything, talk to your therapist, psychiatrist, or doctortheyll help you determine if you have situational anxiety or generalized anxiety. Start by describing how you feel and what triggers your symptoms. If your physician agrees that what youre experiencing seems like situational anxiety, mention that youd like to give beta blockers a try. After that, the next step would be to get a prescription and take it for a test drive. Again, just make sure your physician knows your full medical history (no, seriouslytell them all the things) because beta blockers may affect people on certain medications and those with asthma or chronic lung diseases differently, Dr. Sanjiv explains. And remember that while beta blockers may serve as a sort of Band-Aid for getting through stressful events, theyre not a cure. When we work to confront the things were fearful of, that fear gradually extinguishes itself, Dr. Breitinger said. The role of the medication is just to get the patient to the point where they feel like they can confront the fear. Always consult your health care provider, dietitian, or other medical professional before taking a new medication or supplement. You Might Also Like Organs, brains, skin, hands, faces and dissected heads are examples of the human remains stolen and trafficked by a former morgue manager at Harvard University, the ex-employee admitted in federal court. Cedric Lodge, 57, pleaded guilty on May 21 in the Middle District of Pennsylvania to the interstate transport of stolen human remains, Acting U.S. Attorney John Gurganus announced on May 22. From 2018 through at least March 2020, Lodge was involved in the sale and trafficking of human remains stolen from Harved Medical School's morgue in Boston, Massachusetts, according to the U.S. attorney's office. At the time of the crimes, Lodge was employed as the manager of Harvard Medical School's morgue. The stolen remains came from donated cadavers after they were used for research and teaching purposes, federal prosecutors said. Before they could be disposed of, Lodge took the remains without the knowledge or permission of Harvard, the donor of the cadavers or the donor's family, according to the U.S. attorney's office. "We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus a community dedicated to healing and serving others," George Daley, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Edward Hundert, dean for Medical Education, said in a joint statement in 2023. "The reported incidents are a betrayal of (the Harvard Medical School) and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research." Who bought the stolen human remains? Once in Lodge's possession, he transported the remains to his home in New Hampshire. After Lodge and his wife, Denise Lodge, sold the remains, they would ship them to buyers in other states, or the buyer would purchase them directly and transport the body parts themselves, the U.S. attorney's office said. According to federal prosecutors, the stolen remains sold by Lodge were transported from the morgue in Boston to various locations in Salem, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Lodge admitted to selling the remains to multiple individuals who have since pleaded guilty, including Jeremy Pauley, Joshua Taylor, Andrew Ensanian, Matthew Lampi and Angelo Pereyra. According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY, Ensanian and Pereyra bought and transported remains worth $5,000 or more. Lodge, his wife and Taylor would communicate with potential buyers of the stolen human remains through social media websites and cell phones, an indictment against the three says. According to the court document, the group sometimes shipped the remains through the U.S. Postal Service to Pennsylvania and elsewhere. The Harvard University shield "VERITAS" sits above a campus entrance gate at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025. When will Cedric Lodge be sentenced to prison? Another individual involved in the scheme was Candace Chapman-Scott, who stole remains from an Arkansas crematorium where she was employed and sold them to Pauley in Pennsylvania, federal prosecutors said. She pleaded guilty in Arkansas federal court and was sentenced to 15 years. The only person who has not pleaded guilty or been convicted is Katrina Maclean, who federal prosecutors allege helped Lodge, his wife, and Taylor. According to a criminal complaint, Maclean owns Kat's Creepy Creations, a studio and store in Peabody, Massachusetts. As of May 23, court records do not show that Lodge has a sentencing date scheduled. Contributing: Eric Lagatta/ USA TODAY Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harvard morgue case: Cedric Lodge pleads guilty to trafficking remains Getty Stock image of a person in a hospital bed Twelve people on a family vacation last December were sickened when they came into contact with bat droppings while touring the popular Venado Caves in Costa Rica, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Six adults and six children all experienced symptoms of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection that primarily impacts the lungs The CDC, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the Costa Rica Ministry of Health are working together to offer more information on histoplasmosis in waiver forms for cave exploration A family of 12, including children as young as 8, were sickened by coming in close contact with bats after they visited a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica. A total of 13 extended family members from Georgia, Texas and Washington traveled to Costa Rica from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28, 2024, according to a case report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Twelve of the family members opted to visit Venado Caves on Dec. 24. The popular tourist destination near Arenal Volcano is known for its waterfalls, underground river, striking limestone formations and colony of bats. Cavenas de Venado/Facebook Bats in the Venado Caves in Costa Rica The caves have been associated with a previous outbreak of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection that primarily impacts the lungs, and is linked to bird or bat droppings. All reported seeing bats and having direct contact with bat droppings while crawling and squeezing through tight spaces in the cave, the CDC report says. Beginning eight days after exposure, all 12 who toured the caves began to feel mildly or moderately ill," while the one family member who did not visit the cave had no symptoms. The CDC notes that the disease does not spread from person to person. Those affected sought medical care, and one family member was hospitalized after his abnormal lung scans raised concerns about lung cancer. Once doctors reviewed the familys travel history, treatment was quickly shifted to address concerns of histoplasmosis, which the CDC explains can cause cause flu-like symptoms including fever and chills, malaise, cough, headache, chest pain and body aches. The condition, the CDC notes, is often misdiagnosed." Getty Stock image of bats in a cave hanging upside down 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 total, one eight-year old and five children between the ages of 11 and 17 were sickened after visiting the cave. One adult was confirmed to have histoplasmosis via lab tests, and the remaining patients were treated for suspected or probable histoplasmosis given their connection to the patient who tested positive. The CDC contacted the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the Costa Rica Ministry of Health to offer more information on histoplasmosis in waiver forms for cave exploration, and in March, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica issued a warning about the recent spike in cases, noting, Histoplasmosis can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications if left untreated. Read the original article on People I have two indoor outhouses: Florida retiree says shes flushing money down the drain on her new home with crappy plumbing but the builder says there arent any issues with the pipes In theory, the advantage of a new-build home is that its in perfect shape when you buy it. Thats what motivated retired radio host Patty Wood to purchase a new Apollo Beach, Florida ranch home recently constructed by D.R. Horton, a home builder with 45 years experience. Unfortunately, as Wood shared with ABC Action News, far from being problem-free, her new home is a nightmare. The biggest problem? Plumbing. Don't miss I paid a lot of money for this house. It should work, Wood told ABC Action News. An unacceptable situation for one new homeowner Wood said water started rushing out of her toilets three days after she moved in. Since then, the pipes have been repeatedly clogged with waste. She can't flush toilet paper without the pipes clogging, so she has to put her toilet paper in a trash can near her toilet. I have two indoor outhouses and thats unacceptable in any house let alone a new house, she said. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America and that anyone can do it Under her new home warranty, Wood is entitled to have the problem fixed. She called D.R. Horton to address the issue and the company referred her to their contractor, Northwest Plumbing. After Northwest Plumbing made one visit to clear out the pipes and inspect them with a video camera, the plumbing company blamed her toilet paper and recommended a brand she already used. Then the plumbing company sent her an email commenting that such clogs aren't as common in large families when multiple people flush and more water flows to move solids out of pipes. That didnt help her. "I'm not going to find a family to move in with me so I can flush my toilets, Woods responded. Frustrated by Northwest Plumbing's inability to resolve the issue, Wood reached out to her own plumber Thomas Flynn, a master plumber with 47 years experience. He identified a problem with the underground pipe that carries waste from the toilet to the sewer. He said it was not set at a sufficient angle, or pitch, to remove the waste. He added that fixing that could cost tens of thousands of dollars. To make it right, you would have to saw, cut up the floor, go down to the waste pipe, and readjust it," he explained. "It's a huge undertaking." When ABC Action News reached out to D.R. Horton to see what the company could do, the home builder issued this statement: "D.R. Horton has worked with Ms. Wood to evaluate her plumbing concerns. We and our vendor, Northwest Plumbing, have investigated this matter extensively, including performing a video camera line inspection, and we have not discovered any issues in the homes plumbing system. We have provided guidance to Ms. Wood on how best to prevent future clogs." Wood, who is trained as a paralegal, has since filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney Generals Office against both D.R. Horton and Northwest Plumbing. Financial takeaways for buying a new-build In a 2022 survey by Real Estate Witch, 66% of people who bought new construction felt regret about the home-building process. Meanwhile, 26% said they wish they'd purchased an existing home instead of building from scratch. Even more telling is that 88% of buyers of new-builds dealt with "premature" repairs or maintenance issues after moving into their homes. The problem is that issues during the building process don't always get discovered during the inspection process. That can lead to situations like Wood's. And while a new home warranty can protect buyers against construction issues, it doesn't guarantee theyll be resolved, as Wood discovered. So, if you're going to buy new construction, it's important to anticipate things going wrong and to have a backup plan. Vet your builder thoroughly before signing a construction contract. Talk to other people who have worked with the builder and ask what their experience entailed not just during construction, but in the year or so after they moved in. Consider adding a clause into your contract giving you the right to bring in your own home inspector to sign off on the building process every step of the way. Your contract should give you the right to walk away without a financial penalty if your inspector discovers problems that your builder won't fix. Negotiate a good home warranty. Carefully review the warranty your builder offers, and if necessary, bring in a lawyer to negotiate better terms. Make sure you have a solid emergency fund when you put in an offer on the home. That way, if there are problems with your new home and your builder doesn't step up to fix them, you'll be able to fix things so your home is livable and then pursue your builder for the cost of repairs. And if you hear too many horror stories that are similar to Woods experience involving the builder, run. What to read next Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. President Trump threatened Apple (AAPL) on Friday with 25% duties on overseas-made iPhones, the latest entry in a long list of company-specific tariff threats from the president stretching back to his first term in office. He also has a history of not following through on these warnings, often ending them with a claim of victory or by simply dropping the issue. Trump himself alluded to the frequency of his threats, writing Friday that he "long ago informed [Apple CEO] Tim Cook" of his position and his focus on iPhone manufacturing in India. The president added that not complying would take the form of a tariff that "must be paid by Apple to the U.S." The companies that Trump has singled out in a similar manner since his first administration range from John Deere (DE) to General Motors (GM) and others. He has also made previous threats against Apple dating back to 2016, even before he took office. "Companies like Apple will start making their iPhones and other products inside the United States," Trump promised that year when part of his first campaign's platform was 35% tariffs on companies if they move overseas. In recent weeks, Trump has also called out at least four other companies by name Walmart (WMT), Amazon (AMZN), Ford (F), and Mattel (MAT) over the possibility that they could raise prices due to tariffs. The threats from Trump do have the ability to affect investor sentiment. Apple's stock fell more than 2% on Friday morning following Trump's warning, issued on Truth Social. In Apples case, in spite of Trumps years of threats and the recent opening of new US Apple manufacturing facilities around AI and silicon engineering, no iPhones are currently made in the United States now, as in 2016, and that isnt seen as likely to change anytime soon. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives quickly reacted to Trumps threat by posting that a scenario of Apple acceding to Trump would result in an iPhone price point [of ~$3,500 and] that is a non-starter for Cupertino." He offered more details as to why in a note to investors, citing an upside down cost model and Herculean-like supply chain logistics needed for such an initiative. Also Friday morning, Trump announced he was "recommending" a 50% tariff on the European Union in a separate post that quickly drove down broader markets alongside the Apple broadside. An array of company threats Another company often in focus for Trump during his most recent presidential campaign was John Deere, with Trump last September promising a 200% tariff on the company over "everything that you want to sell into the United States" amid concerns that the company would move operations to Mexico. Trump relented and suggested his threats had worked in claims that John Deere at the time dismissed as fictional. Something similar happened to other manufacturers in 2017 when Trump threatened both Toyota and GM with a "big border tax" over production facilities in Mexico. Since those auto threats were issued, there have not been significant shifts in auto company production. These companies continue to split between various countries, with both continuing to operate manufacturing facilities in both Mexico and the US today. President Donald Trump waves before departing the White House in Washington Thursday evening to head to his Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) (MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images) The number of companies Trump has threatened over the years grows much longer when threats over non-tariff issues are included. That is a list that stretches to dozens or perhaps hundreds of companies and has been a mainstay of the president's time in public life, even down to a threat of prosecution during the last campaign against Google (GOOG) for "only revealing and displaying bad stories about Donald J. Trump." Trumps new move against Apple appears to be in reaction to news earlier this week that Foxconn will invest an additional $1.5 billion in factories in India as part of a larger shift out of China. Whats also unclear is what action Trump could take if he looks to target this facility and iPhone production more generally. The tools Trump has relied on tariff authority for so far in his second term give him wide latitude to impose tariffs on entire nations, with his "Liberation Day" actions drawing on a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Other powers let him target sectors like steel or semiconductors, but they can require investigations and have not historically been aimed at specific companies. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance President Trumps Justice Department has agreed to let Boeing (BA) out of a criminal trial and guilty plea surrounding two fatal 737 Max 8 crashes. It was a result that some family members of the crash victims didnt want. The DOJ said in a court filing Friday that it had struck an agreement in principle for Boeing to avoid prosecution, meaning it won't have to go to trial next month and can avoid being branded a corporate felon. Boeing had previously reached a criminal guilty plea deal in 2024 with President Bidens DOJ, admitting that its workers conspired to defraud aviation regulators before the crashes killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019. This new "non-prosecution" agreement would end the criminal fraud charges renewed after prosecutors revoked a prior deferred prosecution agreement they reached with Boeing in January 2021. In a court filing on Friday the DOJ said it is the Governments judgment that the Agreement is a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest. The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial. Boeing has agreed to pay an additional $444.5 million into a crash victims fund on top of an additional $243.6 million fine. The government said in its court filing Friday that family members of more than 110 crash victims advised the government that they either support the agreement specifically, or support the departments efforts to resolve the case without a trial. But some some family members of the crash victims said before this deal was announced that they were not in favor of it, saying they viewed it as a sweetheart deal for the aviation giant at the expense of justice and safety. The message that is sent to corporate America is: Don't worry about killing your customers, said Dr. Javier de Luis, a retired aerospace engineer and MIT lecturer whose sister, Graziella de Luis y Ponce, an interpreter, died in one of the crashes. Just treat it as a cost of doing business. Family members hold up a pictures of the victims of the Boeing Ethiopian Flight 302 crash as Beoing CEO Kelly Ortberg testifies before a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing in April. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The idea of letting Boeing out of its guilty plea was floated last week with some of these family members in two calls with DOJ officials. The government said in an update on the case published May 19 that Boeing would also be required to pay the maximum fine allowed by law, pay for compliance improvements, and retain an independent compliance consultant. Avoiding a criminal conviction would be a major victory for the company and would re-insulate Boeing from a criminal fraud trial for a third time, most recently after a federal judge ordered a trial to begin in June. Criminal convictions can foreclose or suspend a company's right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans. Those consequences have particular meaning for Boeing, which counts the federal government as its largest customer and also happens to be the country's largest exporter. US President Donald Trump, right, talks to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg during a breakfast with business leaders in Doha on May 15. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images) Earlier this year, Boeing won a major contract to build a new F-47 jet fighter for the Pentagon. Last week, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg accompanied Trump on a trip to the Middle East and thanked the president for helping to broker a $96 billion order from Qatar Airways. Sitting next to the president at an event, he said, "All of these aircraft will be built in the United States, creating a significant number of jobs." 'There is no judicial oversight' Tracy Brammeier, a crash victims lawyer from Clifford Law Offices, said before Friday's announcement that plan being considered by the DOJ was the most lenient bargain yet and would reward Boeing with less accountability for its repeated breaches. She added that a trial, on the other hand, could expose who at the company is responsible for the deaths of her clients. When it comes to a non-prosecution agreement, there is no judicial oversight. It's truly a private agreement, Brammeier said. With a deferred prosecution agreement, it's truly deferred, so there's a time period where Boeing still has to answer to a judge. You had a criminal who said, I want to plead guilty to a crime. And now all of the sudden, six or seven months later, the government is saying we just decided that they can pay [millions] and we're going to drop the case, Brammeier added. A Boeing 777-9 aircraft on display during the 54th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, in 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo (Reuters / Reuters) Court approval is required for the DOJ to dismiss the charges. However, because judges have limited discretion to overstep the governments prosecutorial discretion, its rare for such a request to be denied. Another family member of victims who was not happy with what the DOJ was considering was Ike Riffel, who lost two sons, Melvin, 29, and Bennett, 26, in Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash of 2019. The governments latest proposal, he said, leaves no path for families to uncover who specifically at Boeing knew about the 737 Maxs deficiencies. We've lost any other options that we have, Riffel said, adding that the governments prosecution of Boeing's test pilot on multiple counts of fraud ended in acquittal. What I'd like to see is a public trial. Who did what? Who said what? Which executives were in on this whole conspiracy? I want Boeing to get back to the gold standard of engineering and safety," Riffel said. "There are a lot of great people we know that work for Boeing that knew nothing about it. No one wants to see Boeing fail. We just want to get the rats out of the cellar." That's reason enough for the judge to reject the deal, he added. Hopefully, he'll see through this that they're dangling money in our face. 'My sons never had a chance' Matthew Yelovich, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner in Cleary Gottliebs white collar criminal practice, agreed that a trial generally brings more to light. "One of the great hallmarks of our system of public trials is the participation of the public in the criminal justice system, Yelovich said. Its not just the right of the government to put on the full force of its evidence, but also for the public to have visibility into the charges, the evidence, and the defenses that might otherwise not be reflected in a resolution agreement. Bremmeier said the families reason that their objection to another trial-evading agreement will enhance flight safety. Boeing is still recovering from another near-fatal aircraft failure in January 2024, when a door plug blew off a Boeing-made 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines. A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airline's facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The door plug incident a year and a half ago is a really good example of that, she said. Riffel said he pleaded with the government's lawyers during last week's call to reconsider. I ask that the DOJ tear this agreement up and reopen the investigation, he said. People committed these crimes, not a corporation If this non-prosecution agreement is accepted, the truth will never be known, and I believe that the truth is very important to help make sure that this never happens again. The DOJ is giving Boeing another chance; my sons never had a chance. De Luis said the victims proposed that Boeing make a much more significant monetary contribution in the "single-digit billions" of dollars. The funds, he said, would be used entirely to employ external safety monitors on Boeing's factory floors for five years. Monitors are needed, he said, because in his opinion, the FAA is not currently equipped to fully oversee manufacturing safety. People say Boeing is too big to fail. Yes, but it's also too big to produce unsafe airplanes," de Luis said. "We need them to do better. And they have proven time and time again that left to their own devices, they will not do better." Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on X @alexiskweed. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Jussie Smollett Jussie Smollett is speaking out after agreeing to make a $50,000 charitable donation to settle a civil lawsuit with the city of Chicago The lawsuit stemmed from Smollett's allegations he was the victim of a hate crime in 2019 In a statement he shared to Instagram, the former Empire actor said he's made an additional $10,000 donation and is looking "onward" Jussie Smollett has agreed to pay a $50,000 charitable donation to settle a years-long legal saga with the city of Chicago, stemming from his allegations he was the victim of a hate crime in 2019. The former Empire star shared a lengthy statement to Instagram on Friday, May 23, explaining how this resolution came to be, why he chose the charity he donated to and his thoughts on his future now that this chapter is behind him. "Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, City Officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set an assault against myself. This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear," he began. "These officials wanted my money and wanted my confession for something I did not do. Today, it should be clear.They have received neither." Smollett went on to say the decision to settle the civil lawsuit with the city "was not the most difficult one to make." "After repeatedly refusing to pay the City, I was presented with an opportunity to make a charitable donation in exchange for the case being dismissed," he continued. "Despite what happened there politically, Chicago was my home for over 5 years and the people became my family. Therefore, making a donation to benefit Chicago communities that are too often neglected by those in power will always be something I support." Smollett then announced he'd made a $50,000 donation to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, which he described as "a local nonprofit doing incredible work nurturing self expression, creativity and exploration of the arts for Chicago youth." "This organization was of my choosing and I'm comforted that there will be at least one winner from this experience," he added. Though the convictions against him were overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court in November 2024 and the city's civil case against him will now be dismissed, Smollett said he's "aware that it will not change everyone's mind about me or the attack I experienced." E. Jason Wambsgans-Pool/Getty Jussie Smollett (Center) and the actor's attorney Tina Glandian (L) in Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago in March 2019 "However, despite arduous and expensive attempts to punish me, I am innocent in the eyes of God and our criminal justice system. What I have to do now is move forward," he continued. "I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth." Smollett then said he was "grateful to have had the resources to defend myself" and acknowledged that "many do not." "They are backed into corners to take deals or confess to crimes they did not actually commit," he explained. "In their honor, I am donating an additional $10,000.00 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center who provides resources to communities healing from the violence and the Chicago Police Department. To anyone who has had to prove they have in fact been violated, you know how difficult this can be to navigate. I stand with and for you." Smollett ended his post with a message of thanks to those who supported him throughout the years. "Your prayers and belief in me mean more than words can properly express. I will never take it lightly and will never forget," he concluded. "Onward." More than six years ago, Smollett, who identifies as a gay Black man, claimed that on Jan. 29, 2019, he was the victim of a hate crime. He alleged he was attacked by two men late at night on his way to his home in Chicago, claiming the men yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him, put a noose around his neck and doused him with bleach. Scott Olson/Getty Jussie Smollett (Center) after being released from the Cook County Department of Corrections detention center in March 2022 Following an investigation conducted by law enforcement, prosecutors alleged that Smollett staged the attack to get media attention and paid two brothers, Abimbola "Bola" and Olabinjo "Ola" Osundairo, to help him pull it off. Smollett was found guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing false police reports following a jury trial in 2021. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail in March 2022 as well as hit with a $25,000 fine and ordered to pay more than $120,000 in restitution to the Chicago Police Department. He served six days of his sentence before he was released on bail. Smollett has maintained his innocence over the years, opening up to PEOPLE in September 2024 about a month before the Supreme Court of Illinios overturned his conviction about how he was dealing with being at the center of the high-profile case. "People can say what they want about you, but they have no control," he said at the time. "They can do whatever they want, they can even put you behind bars. They can control your physical, but they can't control my mind. They can't control my spirit. They can't control my soul, and they can't control the knowledge that I have of who I am." Read the original article on People Palestinians struggle to receive cooked food distributed at a community kitchen in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) At least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes across Gaza in a 24-hour period, Gaza's health ministry said Friday, as Israel pressed ahead with its military offensive and let in minimal aid to the strip. The dead included 10 people in the southern city of Khan Younis, four in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to the Nasser, Al-Aqsa and Al-Ahli hospitals where the bodies were brought. Israel faces mounting international criticism for its offensive and pressure to let aid into Gaza amid a humanitarian crisis. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, with experts warning that many of its 2 million residents are at high risk of famine. Even the United States, a staunch ally, has voiced concerns over the hunger crisis. The strikes that lasted into Friday morning came a day after Israeli tanks and drones attacked a hospital in northern Gaza, igniting fires and causing extensive damage, Palestinian hospital officials said on Thursday. Videos taken by a health official at Al-Awda Hospital show walls blown away and thick black smoke billowing from wreckage. Israel said it will continue to strike until Hamas releases all of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages and disarms. Fewer than half of the hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Suspect charged with murder over deaths of Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington The strikes come a day after two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot while leaving a reception for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum, in Washington, DC. The suspect told police he did it for Palestine, according to court documents filed Thursday as he was charged with murder. He didnt enter a plea. On Thursday night, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killings in Washington horrific and blasted France, the UK and Canada for proposing to establish a Palestinian state. Because by issuing their demand, replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power, he said. Earlier this week the three leaders issued one of the most significant criticisms by close allies of Israels handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the West Bank, threatening to take concrete actions if the government did not cease its renewed military offensive and significantly lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. Aid starts entering, but agencies say nothing like enough Amid pressure, Israel started letting in aid. Israeli officials said Friday they let in more than 100 trucks of aid, including flour, food, medical equipment and drugs. The trucks came in through the Kerem Shalom crossing. But U.N. agencies say the amount is woefully insufficient, compared with around 600 trucks a day that entered during a recent ceasefire and that are necessary to meet basic needs. U.N. agencies say Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order in Gaza make it difficult to retrieve and distribute the aid. As a result, little of it has so far reached those in need. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that Israel had so far authorized what "amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required," with no supplies at all reaching northern Gaza. On Friday dozens of people crowded a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, holding empty pots and plastic containers in the air in hopes of receiving a share of lentil soup. Halima Abu Amra, a displaced woman from Rafah, said she had been struggling to feed a daughter injured in the fighting. She said she had been collecting discarded bread from the streets, washing and soaking it so her daughter can eat, while her younger children get by on soup. We want this war to end in any way," she said. My family is dying slowly. The World Food Program said that 15 of its trucks were looted Thursday night in southern Gaza while going to WFP-supported bakeries. It said that hunger and desperation about whether food was coming in is contributing to rising insecurity, and called on Israel to allow greater volumes of food to enter, faster and more efficiently. Israel says the aid now is to bridge the gap until a U.S. backed initiative starts soon. A new group known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it will take over aid distribution in Gaza, and armed private contractors will guard the distribution. Israel says the system is needed because Hamas siphons off significant amounts of aid. The U.N. denies that claim and has rejected the foundation's proposal for delivering aid, saying it fails to respect international law and humanitarian principles. Guterres said Friday that the UN already has a structure in place capable of delivering enough aid to fill 9,000 trucks. A Geneva-based advocacy group said Friday it was taking legal action to urge Swiss authorities to monitor the privately run GHF, which is registered in Switzerland. A foundation spokesman said that it adheres to humanitarian principles and that its operations are free from Israeli control. It said the foundation was not a military operation and its decision to integrate armed security contractors allows it the ability to access and operate in Gaza. No movement on ceasefire negotiations in Doha Earlier this week, Netanyahu said he was recalling his high-level negotiating team from the Qatari capital, Doha, after a week of ceasefire talks failed to bring results. A working team will remain. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said a fundamental gap remained between the two parties and that none of the proposals was able to bridge their differences. Hamas said no real ceasefire talks have taken place since last week in Doha. The group accused Netanyahu of falsely portraying participation and attempting to mislead global public opinion by keeping Israels delegation there without engaging in serious negotiations. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Israels retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. Settler violence in the occupied West Bank Palestinians in the village of Bruqin, in the northern West Bank, said Israeli settlers attacked them Thursday afternoon, burning cars and damaging houses. The U.N.'s humanitarian agency said eight residents were injured, with most sustaining burns while trying to extinguish fires. Weve been suffering since Wednesday from settler attacks and assaults verbal abuse, stone throwing, and constant harassment at all times, said Mustafa Khater, whose house was attacked. He said he had previously evacuated his wife and four children for fear of attacks, but had stayed behind to protect the house. The attack follows last week's killing of a pregnant Israeli woman near Bruqin. The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out large-scale operations targeting militants that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. That has coincided with a rise in settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. ___ Associated Press reporter Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Arnold Jerocki/WireImage Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg & Nicolas Bagory Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg is expecting her second child The princess and her husband, Nicolas Bagory, welcomed their first child, daughter Victoire, in May 2024 The following month, Alexandra's father set in motion his plan to abdicate and pass the grand duchy to her eldest brother, Prince Guillaume Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and her husband, Nicolas Bagory, are expecting their second child. Alexandras parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, shared the happy news in a statement released on Instagram. "Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess have the great pleasure of announcing that Princess Alexandra and Mister Nicolas Bagory are expecting their second child," the statement read. Adding the child is expected in the fall, they continued, The Grand Duke, Grand Duchess and members of both families join in the joy of their children. Alexandra, 34, is the fourth child and only daughter of Luxembourgs ruling couple. She and Bagory, 36, married in April 2023, with a civil ceremony in the Town Hall of Luxembourg City on April 22 and a private religious ceremony one week later at Saint Trophyme Church in Bormes-les-Mimosas, Var, France. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Victoire, on May 14, 2024. "The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess have the great joy to announce the birth of their granddaughter Victoire, first child of their daughter Alexandra and their son-in-law Nicolas, born this Tuesday, May 14 in Paris," the court said in a statement. The mother and child are doing well. The following month, Princess Alexandras father announced a shake-up in the royal family, announcing his plans to appoint her eldest brother, Prince Guillaume, as his Lieutenant-Representative, or regent. He made his plans for abdication official on Dec. 23, announcing that he would pass the duchy to his eldest son on Oct. 3, 2025, after 25 years in power. The move later this year will shift Princess Alexandra up one in the line of succession. She is currently eighth in line for the duchy, with Victoire ninth and her expectant child to be tenth. Read the original article on People Measles cases have reached 1,046 as the virus continues spreading across the United States, according to data updated Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases have been confirmed in 30 states including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Infectious disease experts have previously said the U.S. is likely on track to surpass the 2019 total of 1,274 cases, which were confirmed over the course of a year. This year's total also marks the second highest case count in 25 years, CDC data shows. MORE: Even a small uptick in vaccination could prevent millions of US measles cases. Here's how The CDC says 12% of measles patients in the U.S. this year have been hospitalized, the majority of whom are under age 19. About 96% of measles cases are among those who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, according to CDC data. PHOTO: Signs point the way to measles testing in the parking lot of the Seminole Hospital District across from Wigwam Stadium, on Feb. 27, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images, FILE) Meanwhile, 1% of cases are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and 2% of cases are among those who received the recommended two doses, according to the CDC. At least three deaths have been confirmed this year, two among children and one among an adult, all of whom were unvaccinated. It comes as an unvaccinated traveler with measles may have exposed people at Denver International Airport and a nearby hotel, health officials said on Thursday. The patient was in the international terminal on Tuesday, May 13, and then took a shuttle to stay at the nearby Quality Inn and Suites that night. The next day, the patient took a shuttle back to the airport and boarded a domestic flight. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment said anybody who may have been exposed on either flight will be directly notified by health officials. MORE: Amid growing Texas outbreak, how contagious is measles? Similarly, a resident of King County in Washington state traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and a medical center while infectious, Public Health Seattle & King County said on Tuesday. The individual was likely exposed to measles while recently traveling internationally. Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Health sent out an alert that a non-resident with measles attended the Shakira concert at MetLife stadium last week, potentially exposing people. Although the concert occurred on May 16, officials warned that people may develop symptoms as late as June 6. So far, no associated cases have been identified. The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles, the CDC says. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. But vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years. PHOTO: Boxes and vials of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Virus Vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department, on March 1, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images) "I think the overall and overarching worry we have is that, as vaccination rates decline, we're starting to now see very contagious diseases such as measles come back and, generally, you need a 95% immunity wall of the population to stop an outbreak," Dr. Scott Roberts, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine and medical director of infection prevention at New Haven Hospital, told ABC News. "There are now many areas of the U.S. where we don't hit that 95% and it's much lower than that, and I think we're seeing the consequences," he continued. Roberts say he's worried about misinformation that has arisen around the MMR vaccine such as a link between the vaccine and autism, which has been debunked by several high-quality studies. "I worry that we are seeing this misinformation and parents are reading these things on the Internet, which is not based in truth," he said. "What we try to do as health care providers and public health professionals is really just to give the right information out there that the measles vaccine is safe. It is effective and measles itself is not a run-of-the-mill cold; it can lead to these really devastating consequences if somebody's vulnerable and gets infected." Dr. Karen Tachi Udoh is an internal medicine resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Measles cases reach 1,046 in US as infections confirmed in 30 states: CDC originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Whether you are traveling or planning outdoor activities, weather conditions this Memorial Day could be a factor to weigh into your decision-making, especially in the central and southern U.S. Travel, particularly by car, is expected to be busy this year with AAA anticipating that a record 45.1 million people will venture at least 50 miles from home over the holiday period. Here's a look at where rainfall could slow some down and how a nationwide temperature split might factor into your activities. Who Could Be Wet Vs. Dry The sluggish-moving weather system is nudging a bit farther south and east today. That means rain and thunderstorms will plague much of the South and Plains. This could mean a washout in locations shaded darker green in the map below. The rainfall could also be heavy, resulting in localized flash flooding in portions of the South. Scattered severe storms could impact the Southern Plains and parts of the Southeast, especially across the state of Texas. Damaging winds and very large hail will be the main threats, but we cant rule out an isolated tornado. Once again, the West should be trouble-free for most, although expect some rain in the Central and Southern Rockies. The Northwest might also see a few showers. Temperature Split -Plains, Mississippi Valley Staying Cool: Rain and storms will keep temperatures well below average across this part of the country. Look for highs in the 50s across the Northern Plains with more 60s and 70s farther south. -South Sweats: Florida, the Gulf Coast states and south Texas will see summer-like heat with plenty of 90s, so a pool or a beach is a great place to hang out and cool off. -Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, Great Lakes Around Average: Looking good with plenty of highs in the 60s and 70s. -Western Contrast: The Southwest will feel like summer unless you are in coastal Southern California, where the Pacific Ocean's influence keeps it cooler. Lower elevations of the Northwest will generally be in the 60s and 70s, while the Great Basin and Northern Rockies heat up into the 70s and 80s. Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with weather.com for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s. Mayar Al-Arja, 2, who suffers from malnutrition, lies on a bed in a clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) Grabbing her daughter's feeble arm, Asmaa al-Arja pulls a shirt over the 2-year-old's protruding ribs and swollen belly. The child lies on a hospital bed, heaving, then wails uncontrollably, throwing her arms around her own shoulders as if to console herself. This isn't the first time Mayar has been in a Gaza hospital battling malnutrition, yet this 17-day stint is the longest. She has celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that means she can't eat gluten and requires special food. But there's little left for her to eat in the embattled enclave after 19 months of war and Israel's punishing blockade, and she can't digest what's available. She needs diapers, soy milk and she needs special food. This is not available because of border closures. If it's available, it is expensive, I cant afford it, her mother said as she sat next to Mayar at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Mayar is among the more than 9,000 children who have been treated for malnutrition this year, according to the U.N. childrens agency, and food security experts say tens of thousands of cases are expected in the coming year. Experts also warn the territory could plunge into famine if Israel doesnt stop its military campaign and fully lift its blockade but the World Health Organization said last week that people are already starving. Everywhere you look, people are hungry. ... They point their fingers to their mouths showing that (they) need something to eat, said Nestor Owomuhangi, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund for the Palestinian territories. The worst has already arrived in Gaza. Israel eases blockade but little aid reaches Palestinians For more than two months, Israel has banned all food, medicine and other goods from entering the territory that is home to some 2 million Palestinians, as it carries out waves of airstrikes and ground operations. Palestinians in Gaza rely almost entirely on outside aid to survive because Israel's offensive has destroyed almost all the territory's food production capabilities. After weeks of insisting Gaza had enough food, Israel relented in the face of international pressure and began allowing dozens of humanitarian trucks into the territory this week including some carrying baby food. Children are already dying from malnutrition and there are more babies in Gaza now who will be in mortal danger if they dont get fast access to the nutrition supplies needed to save their lives, said Tess Ingram of the U.N. childrens agency. But U.N. agencies say the amount is woefully insufficient, compared to around 600 trucks a day that entered during a recent ceasefire and that are necessary to meet basic needs. And they have struggled to retrieve the aid and distribute it, blaming complicated Israeli military procedures and the breakdown of law and order inside the territory. On Wednesday, a U.N. official said more than a dozen trucks arrived at warehouses in central Gaza. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. That appeared to be the first aid to actually reach a distribution point since the blockade was lifted. Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid, without providing evidence, and plans to roll out a new aid distribution system within days. U.N. agencies and aid groups say the new system would fall far short of mounting needs, force much of the population to flee again in order to be closer to distribution sites, and violate humanitarian principles by forcing people to move to receive the aid rather than delivering it based on need to where people live. On top of not being able to find or afford the food that Mayar needs, her mother said chronic diarrhea linked to celiac disease has kept the child in and out of hospital all year. The toddler whose two pigtails are brittle, a sign of malnutrition weighs 7 kilograms (15 pounds), according to doctors. That's about half what healthy girl her age should. But its getting harder to help her as supplies like baby formula are disappearing, say health staff. Hospitals are hanging by a thread, dealing with mass casualties from Israeli strikes. Packed hospital feeding centers are overwhelmed with patients. We have nothing at Nasser Hospital," said Dr. Ahmed al-Farrah, who said his emergency center for malnourished children is at full capacity. Supplies are running out, people are living off scraps, and the situation is catastrophic for babies and pregnant women, he said. Everything watered down to make it last In the feeding center of the hospital, malnourished mothers console their hungry children some so frail their spines jut out of their skin, their legs swollen from lack food. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises, has warned that there could be some 71,000 cases of malnourished children between now and March. In addition, nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women will need treatment for acute malnutrition in the coming months. Mai Namleh and her 18-month-old son, who live in a tent, are both malnourished. She wanted to wean him off of breastmilk because she barely has any, but she has so little else to give him. She gives him heavily watered-down formula to ration it, and sometimes offers him starch to quiet his hunger screams. I try to pass it for milk to stop him screaming, she said of the formula. An aid group gave her around 30 packets of nutritional supplements, but they ran out in two days as she shared them with family and friends, she said. In another tent, Nouf al-Arja says she paid a fortune for a hard-to-find kilogram (about 2 pounds) of red lentils. The family cooks it with a lot of water so it lasts, unsure what they will eat next. The mother of four has lost 23 kilograms (50 pounds) and struggles to focus, saying she constantly feels dizzy. Both she and her 3-year-old daughter are malnourished, doctors said. She's worried her baby boy, born four months earlier and massively underweight, will suffer the same fate as she struggles to breastfeed. I keep looking for (infant food) .... so I can feed him. There is nothing," she said. ___ El Deeb reported from Beirut and Mednick from Tel Aviv, Israel. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 9: The White House is seen from the North Lawn on March 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) - Samuel Corum/Getty Images The Trump administration has put more than 100 officials at the National Security Council at the White House on administrative leave on Friday as part of a restructuring under interim national security adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to two US officials and another source familiar with the matter. CNN previously reported that a significant overhaul of the body in charge of coordinating the presidents foreign policy agenda was expected in the coming days, including a staff reduction and a reinforced top-down approach with decision-making concentrated at the highest levels. An email from NSC chief of staff Brian McCormack went out around 4:20 p.m. informing those being dismissed theyd have 30 minutes to clean out their desks, according to an administration official. If they werent on campus, the email read, they could email an address and arrange a time to retrieve their stuff later and turn in devices. The email subject line read: Your return to home agency, indicating that most of those affected were detailed to the NSC from other departments and agencies. On Thursday, Rubio convened a meeting with principals, which raised speculation that it was about the re-organization, the official said. And on Friday at 3:45 p.m., shortly before the email went out, senior directors were summoned to a meeting with Rubio. A flurry of emails from those leaving then started going out with personal contact information. With this happening on a Friday afternoon before a long holiday weekend, the official called it as unprofessional and reckless as could possibly be. Those put on leave include career officials, as well as political hires made during the Trump administration. In recent weeks staffers were being re-interviewed by the Office of the Presidential Personnel as the reshaping of the office was taking place, sources said. One of the questions asked was what officials thought was the appropriate size of the NSC, one source said. Staffed by foreign policy experts from across the US government, the NSC typically serves as a critical body for coordinating the presidents foreign policy agenda. But under President Donald Trump, the NSCs role has been diminished, with the overhaul expected to further reduce its importance in the White House. Earlier this month, Mike Waltz who previously led the NSC was removed from his role in the first major staff shakeup of the new administration. Trump announced that he would nominate Waltz to serve as UN ambassador and Rubio would replace him on an acting basis at the NSC. Waltz had been on shaky ground within the administration having lost most of his influence in the West Wing after he inadvertently added a journalist to a messaging app group chat about highly sensitive military strikes. Even before the Signal fiasco, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles had been privately unimpressed with Waltz. And weeks before he was out, his influence internally had been waning, illustrated best by Trumps decision to dismiss several staffers from the NSC at the urging of far-right activist Laura Loomer, who told him they were disloyal. CNNs Katie Bo Lillis and Natasha Bertrand contributed to this report. This story and headline have been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The White House "unquestionably" violated a court order when it put eight migrants with violent criminal convictions onto a flight to South Sudan, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. The Trump administration unquestionably violated a court order when it put eight migrants with violent criminal convictions onto a flight to South Sudan, a Biden-nominated federal judge ruled Wednesday. US District Judge Brian Murphy, who was nominated to the seat by former President Joe Biden in 2024, slammed the White House for failing to provide the men with adequate due process when ordering them on a flight bound to the African nation, of which only one of them is actually from. The department actions in this case are unquestionably in violation of this courts order, the judge said in an emergency hearing, suggesting the White House may have committed criminal contempt. (Clockwise from top left) Enrique Arias-Hierro, Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones, Thongxay Nilakout, Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez, Tuan Thanh Phan, Nyo Myint, Kyaw Mya, and Dian Peter Domach were all put on a flight to South Sudan. US District Judge Brian Murphy said the White House clearly violated a court order when it ordered the men to be flown to the African nation. Alliance for Justice Murphy alleges that the eight immigrants were not given a meaningful opportunity to object that the deportation could put them in danger in South Sudan, one of the worlds most dangerous and war-torn nations suffering from food shortage, ethnic conflict and violent crime. While the White House touted that it had sent the monstrous and barbaric immigrants to South Sudan, President Trump confirmed that the men are currently being held in Djibouti, a small country on the Horn of Africa where the US holds a military base. A Federal Judge in Boston, who knew absolutely nothing about the situation, or anything else, has ordered that EIGHT of the most violent criminals on Earth curtail their journey to South Sudan, and instead remain in Djibouti, Trump said in a Truth Social post. He would not allow these monsters to proceed to their final destination. President Trump revealed that the migrants are currently being held in the African nation of Djibouti. / SplashNews.com Homeland Security declined to say where exactly in the African country the men have ended up for safety and operational security reasons. South Sudan officials, who did not consent to the deportations, also confirmed that no foreign migrants had arrived in the country. Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka, the nations police spokesman, said that any arrival would be investigated, with all foreign-born migrants set to be re-deported to their correct country. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin slammed the judges orders as deranged. AP Attorney Jonathan Ryan who represented one of the migrants, Nyo Myint, of Myanmar said his client received two conflicting deportation notices a day before the flight, with both notices given to him in English, a language he barely understands. I have no idea where he is, Ryan told the BBC. Hes been disappeared by the United States government. Myint was convicted of first-degree sexual assault involving a victim mentally and physically incapable of resisting in Lincoln, Nebraska. South Sudan is one of the poorest and most violent nations in the world plagued by ethnic violence and looming civil war. AP The Trump administration has defended the deportations, with Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for DHS, mocking Murphys order to reprocess the migrants as deranged. [Myint] sexually assaulted a mentally disabled woman with the mental capacity of a three-year-old, she told The Post. This Lincoln man is an ILLEGAL ALIEN and one of the monsters that the activist Massachusetts District Judge is trying to bring back to the United States after he was deported yesterday. Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, added that the countries where the migrants were from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Sudan refused to take the men back. Lyons maintains that the deported migrants represent true national security threats, with the men previously convicted of rape, homicide, armed robbery and other violent crimes. With Post wires (Reuters) -Ukraine should abandon any notion of restoring its borders established with the 1991 collapse of Soviet rule or even those dating from the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion, the country's former military commander was quoted as saying on Thursday. Valery Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine's ambassador to London, was replaced as top commander in February 2024 after months of reported disagreements between him and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy and other public figures have long called for the eviction of Russian forces and a return to Ukraine's 1991 post-Soviet borders, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. But as efforts over recent months have focused on launching talks to secure a ceasefire, public statements by Kyiv have been more moderate on the question of ceding territory. "I hope that there are not people in this room who still hope for some kind of miracle or lucky sign that will bring peace to Ukraine, the borders of 1991 or 2022 and that there will be great happiness afterward," the RBK Ukraine news site quoted Zaluzhnyi as telling a forum in Kyiv. "My personal opinion is that the enemy still has resources, forces and means to launch strikes on our territory and attempt specific offensive operations." Zaluzhnyi said Russia had been waging a war of attrition for a year and, given Ukraine's smaller forces and difficult economic circumstances, its only hope was to rely on advanced technology. "We can speak only about a high-tech war of survival, using a minimum of economic means to achieve maximum benefit," he was quoted as saying. Opinion polls show Zaluzhnyi to be among the most popular public figures with Ukrainians. Polls also show Zelenskiy's rating rising since his confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump at a White House meeting in February. With Trump attempting to pressure both Moscow and Kyiv to end the conflict, Ukraine has agreed to launch direct talks with Russia but first wants a ceasefire lasting at least 30 days. The European Union, in the absence of Russian agreement on a ceasefire, this week imposed new sanctions on Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin said discussions on a memorandum it proposes to draft with Ukraine would include the principles of a settlement and the timing and definitions of a possible ceasefire, including its time frame. (Reporting by Ron PopeskiEditing by Rod Nickel) LAPD officers seen watching guard at City Hall on January 20, 2025. | Jon Putman/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom "False flags" are a staple of conspiracy theories. Many infamous attacks and threats, the theory goes, were cooked up by the government itself to spread fear and justify crackdowns. But a bomb threat against Los Angeles City Hall turned out to be exactly that kind of schemealbeit a poorly cooked up one. Brian K. Williams, former deputy mayor for public safety, pleaded guilty on Thursday to calling in a bomb threat during a meeting on October 3, 2024. According to his plea deal, Williams used Google Voice to place a call to his work phone, then told the Los Angeles Police Department chief of staff and texted other officials that the "caller" had threatened to blow up city hall. Williams implied that the threat was sent in by a pro-Palestinian activist. "I'm tired of the city support of Israel. I have decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the Rotunda," he quoted the non-existent caller as saying. The meeting was during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and a few days before the anniversary of the October 2023 attacks on Israel. After police searched city hall and found no bomb, Williams showed them the call record from the Google Voice number. He then texted other officials to say "There is no need for us to evacuate the building." But the investigation of the threat didn't end there. The Los Angeles Times reports that detectives "conducted surveillance that led them to conclude that Williams was responsible for the bomb threat." They then turned over the investigation to the FBI, which raided Williams' house in December 2024. He was placed on administrative leave immediately after. As deputy mayor for public safety, Williams oversaw the Los Angeles Police Department as well as the Fire Department, Emergency Management Department, airport police, and seaport police. He was promoted to the job in February 2023 from his previous post as executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. Williams "not only betrayed the residents of Los Angeles, but responding officers, and the integrity of the office itself, by fabricating a bomb threat," Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said in a press release. "Government officials are held to a heightened standard as we rely on them to safeguard the city. I'm relieved that Mr. Williams has taken responsibility for his inexplicable actions." Inexplicable indeed. The plea agreement didn't explain William's motive, and his lawyer Dmitry Gorin simply told the Los Angeles Times that the "aberrational incident was the product of personal issues which Mr. Williams is addressing appropriately, and is not representative of his character or dedication to the city of Los Angeles." It's one thing for the government to exaggerate dangers, mix up different kinds of threats, or get swept up in mass panic. It's another for a government official to make up a lie from scratch. Yet that's what really happened in Los Angeles. The post That Time L.A.'s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Called in a Bomb Threat on His Own City Hall appeared first on Reason.com. By Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Thursday that she had signed waivers from Iowa and Indiana that would allow the states to bar the purchase of some processed foods and sugary drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. President Donald Trump's administration has encouraged states to submit such waivers to the Department of Agriculture as part of its Make America Healthy Again initiative led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Rollins said at a White House event celebrating the release of a report on childhood disease that she had signed the two waivers earlier in the day and that more approvals would be forthcoming. "We are on track to sign multiples of SNAP waivers to get junk food and sugary drinks out of our food stamp system," Rollins said. Rollins on Monday announced she had signed a similar waiver from Nebraska. The state will exclude all sodas and energy drinks from SNAP purchases beginning January 1, 2026, according to a copy of the waiver on the USDA website. More than 42 million Americans receive benefits through SNAP, the nation's largest food aid program. (Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio) By Parisa Hafezi, John Irish DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian and U.S. negotiators resumed talks on Friday in Rome to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Iranian media reported, despite Tehran warning that clinching a new deal might be insurmountable amid mutually exclusive demands. The stakes are high for both sides. President Donald Trump wants to curtail Tehran's potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. The Islamic Republic, for its part, wants to be rid of devastating sanctions on its oil-based economy. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to lead a fifth round of talks, through Omani mediators. Both Washington and Tehran have taken a tough stance in public over Iran's intensifying uranium enrichment programme, which could potentially give it scope to build a nuclear warhead, even though Tehran says it has no such ambitions and the purposes are purely civilian. Iran insists the talks are indirect, but U.S. officials have said the discussions - including the latest round on May 11 in Oman - have been both "direct and indirect". Ahead of the talks, Araqchi wrote on X: "...Zero nuclear weapons = we Do have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that Trump believes negotiations with Iran are "moving in the right direction". Tehran and Washington have both said they prefer diplomacy to settle the impasse. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington is working to reach an accord that would allow Iran to have a civil nuclear energy programme but not enrich uranium, while admitting that achieving such a deal "will not be easy". Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on Iran's state matters, rejected Washington's demands that Tehran stop refining uranium as "excessive and outrageous", warning that the talks are unlikely to yield results. Among remaining stumbling blocks is Tehran's refusal to ship abroad its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium - possible raw material for nuclear bombs - or engage in discussions over its ballistic missile programme. Iran says it is ready to accept some limits on enrichment, but needs watertight guarantees that Washington would not renege on a future nuclear accord. MOUNTING TENSIONS Trump in his first term in 2018 ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between major powers and Iran. Since returning to office this year, he has restored a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran and reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions that continue to hobble the Iranian economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond the 2015 pact's limits. Wendy Sherman, a former U.S. undersecretary for political affairs who led the U.S. negotiating team that reached the 2015 agreement, said it was impossible to convince Iran to scrap enrichment - which Tehran touts as a matter of sovereignty. "I don't think it is possible to get a deal with Iran where they literally dismantle their programme, give up their enrichment, even though that would be ideal," she told Reuters. The cost of failure of the talks could be high. Iran's arch-foe Israel sees Iran's nuclear programme as an existential threat and says it would never allow Iran's clerical establishment to obtain nuclear weapons. Israel's strategic affairs minister and the head of its foreign intelligence service Mossad will also be in Rome for talks with the U.S. team that is negotiating with Iran, a source aware of the matter told Reuters. Araqchi said on Thursday that Washington would bear legal responsibility if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear installations, following a CNN report that Israel might be preparing strikes. While rising U.S.-Iran tensions have put the nuclear talks in doubt, three Iranian sources said on Tuesday that the clerical leadership lacks a clear fallback plan if efforts to overcome the standoff collapse. (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai and John Irish in Paris; writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Alexandra Hudson, Mark Heinrich and Kevin Liffey) Free trade agreement spurs booming rose trade between China, Ecuador 08:39, May 23, 2025 By Shi Yuanhao ( People's Daily Photo shows a rose greenhouse of Hoja Verde, a rose farm in Ecuador. (Photos by Joselyn Gutierrez) At the foot of Cayambe volcano in Ecuador -- where the equator meets the Andes -- workers at rose farm Hoja Verde begin their day at 6 a.m., harvesting flowers bound for markets around the globe. The region, one of Ecuador's most productive rose-growing areas, is dotted with such farms, supported by the country's high altitude, abundant sunlight, and favorable climate. "Ecuador's natural conditions give our roses exceptional quality," said Hernan Davila, sales manager at Hoja Verde. "They've been in high demand in China for years." From the moment each stem is cut, the race is on to deliver fresh roses to consumers. Workers quickly disinfect and package the flowers before loading them onto trucks bound for the airport. There, boxes are stored in refrigerated containers at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius before being flown overseas. During peak seasons, roughly 30 flights depart daily from Quito, Ecuador's capital, carrying fresh-cut roses across the world. A typical shipment to Beijing involves two transfers and takes about 40 hours. With the support of a "green channel" for fresh-cut flowers, customs officials in China offer expedited processing and round-the-clock inspection services. From harvest to customs clearance, the journey takes just 1.5 hours -- and within three days, Ecuadorian roses can travel from farm to vase in the hands of Chinese consumers. The surge in Ecuadorian rose exports to China underscores the growing strength of bilateral trade ties. China has long been Ecuador's second-largest trading partner and the top destination for its non-oil exports. On May 1, 2024, the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries officially came into force. Approximately 90 percent of the products traded between China and Ecuador will be exempted from tariffs. Besides, tariffs on Chinese imports of products like bananas, white shrimp, fish, fish oil, flowers, cocoa, and coffee from Ecuador will be reduced to zero from the current rates of between 5 percent and 20 percent. A worker picks roses in Hoja Verde, a rose farm in Ecuador. (Photos by Joselyn Gutierrez) According to Beijing customs, since the agreement took effect, customs officers at Beijing Capital International Airport have cleared 128 shipments of Ecuadorian roses -- totaling some 500,000 stems and over 40 metric tons of fresh-cut flowers. "Since Chinese Valentine's Day is celebrated on different dates from those in many other countries, China has become an important off-season market for Ecuadorian roses," said Andres Mancero, head of Valdani Trading, a long-time exporter to China. Having lived in China for several years, Mancero sees immense potential in the market. "As tariffs on fresh-cut flowers gradually fall to zero, Ecuadorian roses will become even more price-competitive," he noted. "The agreement has helped us save nearly 60,000 yuan ($8,306) in tariffs and related costs so far," said Wang Lei, head of a Beijing-based foreign trade company. "Roses from Ecuador are now one to two yuan cheaper per stem, making them more accessible to Chinese consumers." The impact of the FTA has been felt more broadly across trade figures. According to China's General Administration of Customs, bilateral trade between China and Ecuador reached $3.915 billion in the first quarter of this year, a 34.17 percent increase year on year. Chinese imports from Ecuador totaled $2.339 billion, up 42.8 percent from the same period last year. The National Aquaculture Chamber of Ecuador reported that white shrimp, the country's top export to China, generated $280 million in sales in January this year alone, a year-on-year increase of 25 percent. On its official website, Ecuador's Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries described the FTA with China as "a strategic opportunity," highlighting China's role as the world's largest food importer. Photo shows a distant view of Hoja Verde, a rose farm in Ecuador. (Photos by Joselyn Gutierrez) "Ecuador produces high-quality seafood, fruits, and grains," said Mancero. "Meanwhile, Chinese consumers are becoming increasingly open to premium imported goods. We hope to expand from roses to other sectors." Exporters of quinoa, blueberries, and pineapples are already applying for the necessary plant quarantine and sanitary certification in China in hopes of benefiting from the new tariff exemptions. In February this year, Ecuador sent its first zero-tariff shipment of canned tuna to China. "China has an enormous demand for premium seafood. Ecuadorian tuna has the potential to become as popular as our shrimp," said Ricardo Herrera, head of Tecopesca, a company involved in Ecuador's tuna exports to China. Herrera believes the trade agreement will offer consumers in both countries more diverse choices and foster shared prosperity. "Many Ecuadorian growers of yellow dragon fruits and blueberries are now using supplemental lighting systems made in China to boost yield and quality," said Zhang Pengxiang, a board member of the Ecuador-China Chamber of Commerce. As tariffs on Chinese machinery, electronics, vehicles, and components continue to fall, Chinese products are playing an increasingly important role in Ecuador's push for industrial modernization. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) By Steve Holland and Svea Herbst-Bayliss WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday expressed support for Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel, saying their "planned partnership" would create jobs and help the American economy. Shares of U.S. Steel soared 21% as investors interpreted Trump's post on Truth Social to mean Nippon Steel had received his approval for its long-planned takeover, the last major hurdle for the deal. "This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. This week, Reuters reported that Nippon Steel has said if the merger is approved, it would invest $14 billion into U.S. Steel's operations, including up to $4 billion in a new steel mill. Trump added that the bulk of that investment would occur in the next 14 months and said he would hold a rally at U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh next Friday. U.S. Steel praised Trump's leadership. "U.S. Steel will remain American, and we will grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel that brings massive investment, new technologies, and thousands of jobs," the company said in a statement. Nippon Steel also applauded Trump's decision. "The partnership is a game changer - for U.S. Steel and all of its stakeholders, including the American steel industry, and the broader American manufacturing base," the Japanese company said in a statement on Saturday. A Nippon Steel spokesperson in Tokyo declined to comment on the $14 billion investment and the 14-month timeline that Trump cited. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the announcement. It is unclear whether Trump's term "partnership" refers to the full acquisition Nippon Steel has been pursuing. For Japan's top steelmaker, the deal is core to its global expansion strategy, lifting production to 86 million metric tons from 63 million tons now - especially at a time when domestic demand is declining. The merger would create the world's third-largest steel producer by volume, following China's Baowu Steel Group and Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, according to World Steel Association data. U.S. Steel kept rising after hours, hitting $54, just shy of the $55 per share that Nippon Steel offered in late 2023. While no details were released, investors expressed confidence that terms will be similar to those agreed in 2023. Investors said that eventually U.S. Steel will no longer be publicly traded and they will receive a cash payout for their shares. The deal has been one of the most highly anticipated on Wall Street after it morphed into the political arena with fears that foreign ownership would mean job losses in Pennsylvania, where U.S. Steel is headquartered. It factored into last year's election, in which Trump regained the White House. Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick, who also called the deal a "partnership," said on Friday it was a "huge victory for America and the U.S. Steel Corporation," which will protect more than 11,000 Pennsylvania jobs and support the creation of at least 14,000 more. The last pieces of the deal came together surprisingly fast. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which reviews deals for national security risks, told the White House this week that the security risks can be addressed, Reuters reported, moving the final decision to Trump's desk. Following an earlier CFIUS-led review, then-President Joe Biden blocked the deal in January on national security grounds. The companies sued, arguing they did not receive a fair review process. The Biden White House rejected that view. The companies argued Biden opposed the deal when he was running for reelection to win support from the United Steelworkers union in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. The Biden administration had defended the review as essential to protecting security, infrastructure and supply chains. Trump also initially opposed the deal, arguing the company must be owned and operated in the U.S. The United Steelworkers were against the deal as recently as Thursday when they urged Trump to block the deal despite the $14 billion investment pledge from Trump. For investors, including prominent hedge funds, the news spells relief after more than a year of waiting for a resolution. "There were huge high-fives all around today," one recent investor said, adding, "We understood Donald Trump's psyche and we played it to our advantage here." Investors said Trump appears to have won ground after the pledge for new investments was increased. "This deal ensures that steelmaking will live on in Pittsburgh for generations," another investor said. (Reporting by Jasper Ward, Steve Holland and Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Washington; Additional reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo; Editing by Sandra Maler, Anna Driver and David Gregorio) North Korea has opened an investigation into a failed warship launch earlier this week after leader Kim Jong Un said the accident threatened the country's dignity, state media reported. On May 21, Kim was in attendance at a launch ceremony for a new naval destroyer when a "serious accident" occurred, the Korean Central News Agency reported. The ship's flatcar failed to move in parallel with the launch slide of the stern, KCNA said, citing "inexperienced command and operational carelessness." Kim warned that the accident, which occurred at the Chongjin Shipyard about 430 miles northeast of the capital city Pyongyang, was a criminal act, according to KCNA. The North Korean leader also said the accident "brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse," KCNA said. Here's what to know. North Korea warship damage is 'not serious,' state media says A satellite image shows the new North Korean warship at harbour before launch, in Chongjin, North Korea, May 18, 2025. KCNA reported on May 23 that an internal inspection of the damaged warship found there were no holes at the bottom of the ship. However, the hull starboard was scratched and some water had flooded the stern, KCNA said. "The extent of damage to the warship is not serious," the report said. According to Reuters, officials said the incident was caused by a loss of balance while the vessel was being launched, and sections of the bottom of the warship were crushed. South Korea's military said the ship was lying on its side in the water. It's unclear if there were any injuries or deaths as a result of the accident. KCNA also said the failed launch was an "unpardonable criminal act," adding that "those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime." U.S. analysts: North Korea's warship was 'significantly damaged' A satellite image shows a North Korean warship covered with a blue tarp after an accident that occurred during its launch at the shipyard in Chongjin, North Korea, May 23, 2025. In a report on the failed warship launch, the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies analyzed satellite images of the destroyer after the accident. CSIS said the images confirm that the destroyer was "significantly damaged" in the incident. "The stern is seen swung out into the harbor as a result of the wheeled units placed under the frame sliding into the water while the bow remained on the side slipway," CSIS' report said. The group also added that the site of the launch may have contributed to its failure the Chongjin Shipyard has primarily produced smaller vessels, so it "undoubtedly lacks significant expertise in manufacturing and launching large warships such as the new destroyer," CSIS said. Contributing: Reuters Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Korea investigates naval destroyer accident Smitt / Getty Images Key Points Grocery store jalapenos are generally less spicy today than decades ago due to selective breeding for consistency in processed foods like salsa. In the early 1980s, Dr. Ben Villalon developed the TAM Jalapeno a low-heat, visually appealing, and bug-resistant pepper specifically to meet industry demand for predictable heat levels in products. While mild jalapenos dominate the market, those seeking spicier options can turn to heirloom jalapeno varieties or substitute with hotter peppers like serranos or habaneros. My mom eats a hot pepper with pretty much every meal. When I was growing up, it was usually a jalapeno she would chop it up and mix the pieces into a salad or bite directly off the pepper. But over the years, she has gradually transitioned to spicier chile options, like serranos and habaneros. This isnt just because her spice tolerance has increased; its also because shes found that store-bought jalapenos lack the heat they once had. My mom isnt alone in this observation. Many chile consumers have taken notice, and as someone who has a low threshold for spice, I can now handle most raw jalapenos from the grocery store. If youve been wondering whether these popular peppers have lost their intensity, experts can confirm that this isnt just in your head; many jalapenos in the U.S. are less spicy than they were a few decades ago. In this weeks episode of the podcast The Sporkful, guest host Willa Paskin of Decoder Ring does a deep dive into why jalapenos have become less potent over the years and humans are to blame. Although Mexican food is one of the most popular cuisines in the United States today, it wasnt always as prevalent across the country. As Paskin details, In the early nineteen eighties, demand for Mexican food was growing all over America. Sales at Mexican restaurants had doubled in just a few years, but consumer tastes varied widely. With a growing interest in Mexican food came an increase in demand for jalapenos, one of the most commonly used peppers in the cuisine. This demand translated to interest in consumer products as well, such as jars of salsa in grocery stores. However, there was one major issue for producers: the heat of jalapenos was unpredictable, making it challenging to satisfy those varying consumer tastes. Related: How the Scoville Scale Works and Where Your Favorite Chiles Fall Dr. Stephanie Walker, an extension vegetable specialist at New Mexico State University, explains to Paskin that, For chili peppers, predicting pungency is hard. So the pungency level of a different chili pepper variety is based on genetics, but also the environment. When we did vats of salsa, we wanted to have it mild, medium, or hot. And if you happen to get a load of jalapenos that were extra hot, we might mislabel a whole day's run of medium or mild salsa. If you bought a mild salsa and found your mouth on fire, youd likely be upset. But Walker points out that while you cant make a hot pepper less spicy, you can add heat to something thats mild. Although jalapenos themselves dont have consistent levels of heat, the substance that makes them spicy oleoresin capsaicin, which is extracted from chili peppers is much more predictable. "They call me Dr. Pepper, you know, so I was the man for the job." Dr. Benigno Villalon Additionally, as Paskin mentions, Jalapeno is a family. There are so many different varieties of jalapeno. It is not just a pepper. Heres what all this meant for producers: If they could develop a variety of jalapeno that was always mild, unlike the options available at the time, they could use it for any salsa and add heat as needed to create spicier offerings. In search of a milder version of the beloved pepper, brands reached out to chile expert Dr. Benigno (Ben) Villalon. Villalon holds degrees in plant breeding, genetics, and pathology, and he served as a professor and research scientist at Texas A&M University for thirty years. As Villalon tells Paskin, They call me Dr. Pepper, you know, so I was the man for the job They came to me Pace Foods, Old El Paso, La Victoria, and all of the big guys they came to me and they said, If we had a mild jalapeno, we could sell a lot more salsa picante with less heat. So I said, Well, we already have it. Weve been working on it since 1972. Related: 3 Essential Tips for Drinking Wine With Spicy Foods, According to Science The podcast host summarizes Villalons early research, outlining that In the seventies, Ben had been trying to breed a virus-resistant bell pepper by crossing it with different peppers, including jalapenos. After a lot of crossbreeding, he realized he'd inadvertently created a low-heat jalapeno. This initial mild jalapeno had lost much of the peppers core flavor along with its spice, and it took Villalon about 10 years to develop a variety that didnt have the heat but maintained the chiles classic flavor profile. That low-heat pepper was released in the early 1980s as the TAM Jalapeno. And it seemed to do exactly what the processing plants wanted, Paskin details. The Sporkfuls usual host, Dan Pashman, chimes in with more context, explaining that the new pepper Was controllably, mildly hot. It was resistant to bugs. It didn't develop kind of gnarly black spots, and it wasn't so curved. It's a glorious little invention. 5PH / Getty Images New, milder varieties of jalapenos also have a less curved shape. This new pepper did everything that salsa companies hoped it would. According to Villalon, The salsa industry really started booming. Their sales went up, not only for the processing industry, but also for the fresh market. By 1990, the United States outsold ketchup two to one with the mild salsa. In the early 2000s, two even more predictable chile varieties were developed by Villalons successors at Texas A&M. Because 60% of jalapenos are sent to processing plants, these were the varieties that farmers prioritized, making them the dominant crop. The side effect? These mild jalapenos have started appearing in our grocery store produce aisles, and now home cooks who enjoy heat are taking notice. (Youll likely observe that many store-bought jalapenos that are more straight in shape too. This is evidence that mild jalapeno varieties arent as curved.) If youre pining for a more potent pepper, dont despair. Mass-produced jalapenos sold in the United States may often be this mild breed, but just like with other crops such as tomatoes or beans, there are heirloom varieties of peppers available. Walker suggests that If you want a good, hot jalapeno, buy some of these heirloom varieties, you know, plant your own. And if you cant find or grow heirloom jalapeno, then do what my mom and apparently also Dr. Pepper himself, Ben Villalon does: snag some spicier options at the store, like serranos, habaneros, or Scotch bonnets. Read the original article on Food & Wine Nvidia (NVDA) reported its first quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, beating expectations on revenue but falling short on adjusted earnings per share (EPS) due to the impact of the ban on shipments of its H20 chips to China. The company also said it expects to miss out on roughly $8 billion in sales of H20s in the second quarter. Nvidia stock was up 5% in premarket trading on Thursday following the announcement. For the quarter, Nvidia reported EPS of $0.81 on revenue of $44.1 billion, compared to analysts' expectations of $0.93 on revenue of $43.3 billion, according to Bloomberg analyst consensus data. Without the charge for the H20 chips in Q1, adjusted EPS would have topped out at $0.96. The company reported adjusted EPS of $0.61 on revenue of $26 billion in the same period last year. Nvidia's data center segment, its largest business, saw revenue of $39.1 billion, up from $22.5 billion last year but behind Wall Street expectations of $39.2 billion. According to Nvidia CFO Colette Kress, Nvidia generated just under 50% of its data center revenue via hyperscalers like Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG), and Microsoft (MSFT). "Global demand for Nvidia's AI infrastructure is incredibly strong," CEO Jensen Huang said in a statement. "AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate. Countries around the world are recognizing AI as essential infrastructure just like electricity and the internet and Nvidia stands at the center of this profound transformation, he said. Nvidia had to write down $4.5 billion in charges related to the Trump administration's ban on sales of its H20 chip to China. The company announced the news in an April regulatory filing. Nvidia's shares have fluctuated wildly since the start of the year as the company has dealt with setbacks ranging from export controls to concerns related to expected semiconductor tariffs. But a last-minute reprieve from Washington's planned AI diffusion rule, which was put in place by the Biden administration to limit GPU sales to certain countries, and major investment announcements during Trump's visit to the Middle East have increased Nvidia's share price to more than $136 slightly less than 2% up from the stock's value at the start of the year, and up roughly 20% over the past 12 months as of Wednesday. Nvidia's report follows the company's showing at the annual Computex Taipei trade show in Taiwan, where it showcased new technologies, such as a cloud offering that gives customers access to cloud-based versions of Nvidia's GPUs via third-party providers like CoreWeave (CRWV) and Foxconn (2354.TW). Nvidia specifically designed the H20 to meet the Biden administration's restrictions on AI chips destined for China. But DeepSeek sent shockwaves through Washington and Wall Street when it proved it could produce powerful AI models using below top-of-the-line Nvidia chips. As a result, Trump imposed tighter restrictions on the company's chips, banning the sale of H20s in the country. "There is simply no offset to this," Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore wrote in an investor note ahead of the earnings report. "Blackwell demand is very strong ... but they are supply constrained, and lost H20 does not result in more Blackwell supply. We assume that this takes about $1 billion out of the April [quarter] impact was effective April 7, so 23 days of lost H20 revenueand about $5 billion of lost revenue in July. We actually think demand for H20 is much higher, driven by the surge of inference in China." According to Reuters, Nvidia is now working on a modified version of the H20 that meets the Trump administration's performance requirements. During a press conference at Computex, Huang came out swinging against the US's policies, saying that they've been a failure and that they benefit China's own AI chipmakers, according to Bloomberg. Nvidia received relief from some export restrictions when the Trump administration axed the Biden administration's planned AI diffusion rules, which would have created a tiered system that determined which countries could purchase AI chips and which required special licenses or couldn't get them at all. The administration plans to introduce a new set of export requirements in the future. Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, speaks during a news conference in Taipei on May 21. (I-Hwa Cheng/AFP via Getty Images) (I-HWA CHENG via Getty Images) The move set up Nvidia's announcement that it will provide hundreds of thousands of GPUs over the next five years to Humain, an artificial intelligence startup backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The news came during Trump's trip to the Middle East, which also included the announcement of a second Project Stargate that will be built in the United Arab Emirates using Nvidia's Blackwell systems. "For investors worried about AI capex sustainability, we now have another deep pocketed customer willing and capable to spend large amounts of money on a clearly strategic push as Saudi Arabia attempts to position itself as a regional and global AI hub," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in an investor note. Sign up for Yahoo Finance's Week in Tech newsletter. (yahoofinance) Read more about Nvidia's earnings: Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on X/Twitter at @DanielHowley. For the latest earnings reports and analysis, earnings whispers and expectations, and company earnings news, click here Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance. STERLING, Va. President Donald Trump held a private event Thursday night for 220 crypto investors who had bought into his meme coin, defying bipartisan concerns from lawmakers that he was selling access to accumulate personal wealth. Crypto enthusiasts, including former NBA star Lamar Odom, attended the dinner at Trump National Golf Club in northern Virginia, just outside Washington. About 100 demonstrators lined the road to the entrance, trying to shame attendees with chants and signs such as Trump is a traitor, Crypto corruption and America is not for sale. Odom, a former Los Angeles Laker, walked past the protesters carrying an umbrella, according to a post on his X account in which he promoted his own meme coin. Other people arrived in luxury SUVs with tinted windows, and many wore tuxedos for the event billed as black-tie optional. Former pro basketball player Lamar Odom arrives at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va., on Thursday. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) To secure a seat, the mostly anonymous attendees had to be among the top 220 holders of the $TRUMP coin, with the average participant spending $1.8 million, according to the blockchain analytics firm Nansen. Two Trump-affiliated companies own 80% of the $TRUMP coin project. While their ability to sell is restricted in the short term, the projects creators get a fee for every trade. Those fees have added up to more than $324 million since January, according to the research firm Chainalysis. The precise amount going to Trump personally is not known. Every time theres a transaction, he gets a transaction fee? Just unconscionable what hes doing, said Ken Papaj, a former Treasury Department official who was among the protesters outside the event. Demonstrators outside Trump National Golf Club. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) Hes using the presidency to make himself and his family richer. Its just not right for that to be happening in our country, said Papaj, 73. Trump arrived at the dinner via helicopter and left the same way without speaking to reporters and barely speaking to the attendees, according to one of them. A 32-year-old man based in Austin, Texas, who declined to provide his name said Trump spoke for about 15 minutes. The person said Trump did not reveal a new crypto policy but instead spoke in support of a potential bitcoin reserve and described himself as pro-crypto. A majority of people at the event, this person said, did not have an opportunity to speak with or take a photo with Trump, who promptly left at the conclusion of his remarks. He helicoptered in, he helicoptered out. We didnt really get to shake hands with him or anything, but it was a really interesting group of crypto people all in the same room, the person said. "Its about what I expected. I got the chance to be pretty close to the president when he was giving his speech. The dinner was advertised on its website as intimate and the most EXCLUSIVE INVITATION in the World. The menu for the night included a "Trump organic field green salad," filet mignon, pan-seared halibut and lava cake. A photo posted by one attendee, who goes by @cryptoo_bear, showed attendees receiving a commemorative hat and card. In another post from @cryptoo_bear, written in Japanese, the user expressed disappointment with Trump's appearance. "After giving a speech of just under 30 minutes, President Trump danced as he left the room," the user wrote. "The initial explanation said that we would go around the tables and take commemorative photos at each table, but for some reason that was no longer the case. That's a bit disappointing." Trump celebrated the event on Truth Social. The U.S.A. is DOMINATING in Crypto, Bitcoin, etc., and we are going to keep it that way! he wrote. After he arrived back at the White House on Thursday night, Trump told reporters the event was good, very good. In Congress, it sparked concerns on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said this month that the exclusive dinner gives me pause, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the concept of the dinner, in abstract, is hard to understand. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., denounced the project at a news conference earlier Thursday. This is the most corrupt White House in the history of the country, he said alongside other lawmakers. Just because the corruptions playing out in public where everybody can see it doesnt mean that it isnt rampant, rapacious corruption. The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal, which often praises Trump on policy, urged him this week to call off the gala or at least disclose those who attended so Americans know who may be trying to buy access to the President. On Thursday, the White House again refused to release a list. Guests arrive at the golf club. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) The president is attending it in his personal time. It is not a White House dinner. Its not taking place here at the White House, said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. But event organizers did not market it as a personal event. The dinners website says: President Donald J. Trump is Known as the Crypto President! At this Intimate Private Dinner, Hear First-Hand President Trump Talk about the Future of Crypto. According to multiple photos posted on X by people who said they were inside the event, Trump was due to speak from a podium with the presidential seal. Guests arrive at the ball. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said this week that Trump was not acting to enrich himself. President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses from the fake news media, she said. Trumps all-in dive into cryptocurrency is a sharp reversal from a few years ago, when he bashed the industry. I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air, he said in a series of social media posts in 2019. Like other meme coins, the $TRUMP coin is far from a traditional investment. It is not tied to anything with tangible value, and it is part of a carnival-casino atmosphere that has returned to cryptocurrency since Trump was re-elected in November. Guests arrive at the ball. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) The fine print on the website of the $TRUMP project says the coins are intended to function as an expression of support for, and engagement with, the ideals and beliefs embodied by the symbol $TRUMP and are not intended to be, or to be the subject of, an investment opportunity, investment contract, or security of any type. The secrecy around the invitation list set off a scramble to confirm who paid money to attend the dinner. The events website published a leaderboard of who owned the most $TRUMP coin, but with usernames instead of real names. Using publicly available information from the coins blockchain recordkeeping system, Bloomberg News reported strong interest in the coin among non-Americans. According to Bloomberg, 19 of the top 25 holders bought on foreign exchanges that say they exclude U.S. customers, and 56% of the top 220 bought on those exchanges. Guests arrive at the ball. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) The top holder identified himself on X this week as Justin Sun, a Chinese-born crypto entrepreneur whom the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued in 2023, alleging fraud. The case is still pending, though the SEC has explored a possible settlement or dismissal following Trumps second inauguration. As people began arriving for the event, the price of $TRUMP dropped suddenly by about 6%, indicating a significant sales volume, before it stabilized again. Protesters, meanwhile, used megaphones to amplify their chants while standing in the rain for hours. They included a mix of local Democratic groups, as well as the left-leaning group Public Citizen. Guests arrive at the ball. (Maansi Srivastava / Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) Rose Fabia, 66, a former employee at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the event was a blatant example of corruption. These wealthy people, theyre just here to pay for access. Thats all it is, she said. And hes taking advantage of it and saying, How much are you gonna give me? How much you gonna pay for my crypto coin? Its a joke. Its corruption in our faces. One person at the dinner, Kendall Davis, sparred with protesters, rejecting their assertion that he is a blind supporter of Trump and implicitly advocating for his policies. Davis, a young Black crypto owner, said the industry has made him a multimillionaire after he previously was homeless. He characterized his attendance as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dine with a sitting president. Kendall Davis at Trump National Golf Club. (Maansi Srivastava for NBC News) I dont feel any type of remorse for coming here. My dad is Black. Hes proud of me. My grandma is Black. Shes proud of me. Theyre Democrats, he said. Nobody in my family has ever ate with the president. Let me say this: If it was Joe Biden or Barack Obama, I wouldve came, too. Other people spotted at the dinner included Sandy Carter, the COO of blockchain-based Unstoppable Domains. Joining the protesters was Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who talked up legislation the End Crypto Corruption Act that he introduced this month with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The measure would prohibit senior executive branch officials, including the president, from financially benefiting from issuing, endorsing or sponsoring crypto assets. The spirit of the Constitution was that no one elected would be selling influence to anyone because its to be government by and for the people, your constituents, not government by and for people who hand money across the table to you, Merkley said. David Ingram reported from San Francisco and Nnamdi Egwuonwu from Sterling. You remember the distinctive laugh, the gray, slender-fitting suit and the cherry red bow tie. But do you have any recollection of the man who brought Pee-wee Herman to life, save for a fuzzy memory of a few incriminatory headlines? In Pee-wee as Himself, Paul Reubens makes it clear that he didnt want the two-part docuseries arriving in its entirety on May 23 (HBO, 8 ET/PT and streaming on HBO Max) to be a legacy movie. I really want to set the record straight on a couple things, and thats pretty much it, says Reubens (born Paul Rubenfeld). But unbeknownst to director Matt Wolf and the public, Reubens had been privately battling cancer for years. He died on July 30, 2023, at 70, while fighting acute myelogenous leukemia and metastatic lung cancer, according to reports. I was completely unaware that he was sick, Wolf tells USA TODAY. I could tell something was up, but I had no sense of the gravity of it. So when he died, it was a complete shock to me, and I went to work immediately to figure out how to make meaning out of these extraordinary circumstances and to better understand the relationship that I had with him and what unfolded through the process of making this film. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Paul Reubens sat for 40 hours of interviews for HBO's "Pee-wee as Himself." Throughout 40 hours of interviews, Reubens, a perfectionist, and Wolf verbally tussle over control on the project. The entertainer opens up about his decision to allow his avatar Pee-wee, star of Pee-wee's Playhouse, to swallow Reubens in a stop-at-no-costs search for stardom ignited at an early age. Reubens grew up performing plays on a stage his father built in the basement of their home in Sarasota, Florida, with early aspirations of becoming an actor. I wanted to be the focus of everyones attention, he says. Reubens also addresses topics more difficult for him to talk about, including his sexuality and trouble with the law. Reubens was arrested in 1991 and charged with indecent exposure after he was accused of masturbating at an adult movie theater. After a raid of his Los Angeles home in 2001, Reubens was charged with possessing child pornography. Wolf, a filmmaker interested in unconventional visionaries who beg for reappraisal, investigates the incidents in search of the truth. Paul Reubens was anxious about coming out as gay In Pee-wee as Himself, Reubens remembers he fell in love instantly at a party with a painter named Guy, who inspired some of Pee-wees mannerisms. But Reubens says their relationship eclipsed his sense of self and ambitions, and that was a threat too great to bear. When we split up, I just made a conscious decision and went, Im not doing this again, Reubens says. I not only wasnt going to be openly gay, but I wasnt going to be in a relationship. My career wouldve absolutely suffered if I was openly gay, and so I went to great lengths for many, many years to keep it a secret. Wolf says Reubens wanted to come out in the docuseries, but he didn't know how he was going to do it, and he was anxious about it. He pulled me aside while we were on set and said, I don't know how to do this, says Wolf, who told him, "All you have to do is say Im gay (and) take it from there. Reubens didnt want his sexuality to define him, Wolf says. He didn't want his work to be seen through a gay lens or to be perceived as a gay icon, Wolf says. That just wasn't how he defined himself. 'We loved you right back': Bette Midler, Tim Burton, more stars remember Paul Reubens Paul Reubens, in character, with filmmaker Tim Burton, director of the 1985 movie "Pee-wee's Big Adventure." Paul Reubens arrests: It was important to really go there to clear his name The film examines what happened in both of Reubens' arrests, and it was important to really go there to clear his name, Wolf says. The response that I've heard is that people really believe that what happened to Paul was unjust, and I feel that way based on having absorbed and looked at the facts very closely. Reubens denied the masturbation accusation at the time and says in Pee-wee as Himself, I still feel the effects all the time. He pleaded no contest to move on. A decade later, authorities raided Reubens home, where he kept an art collection of gay erotica. Reubens was charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of child pornography. A plea deal was made that addressed this being material that was offensive somehow, but on an obscenity standard, not anything to do with child pornography, Reubens attorney Blair Berk says in the docuseries. The charge was lessened to one count of possession of obscene material, and Reubens pleaded guilty. Still, he was ordered to attend mandatory counseling and register as a sex offender for three years. The message Paul Reubens recorded a day before his death Reubens died before he could sit for a final interview with Wolf. In the last months of Pauls life, he was in a loving relationship, Reubens assistant Allison Berry says. He was surrounded by his closest friends. He had a lot of joy. I think he was embracing the fullness of his life in those last days and in awe of the life that he had lived. The day before he died, Reubens recorded an audio message for the docuseries. The reason I wanted to make a documentary was to let people see who I really am and how painful and difficult it was to be labeled something that I wasnt, Reubens says in part, seemingly putting in great effort to speak. I wanted people to understand that occasionally where there is smoke, there isnt always fire. I wanted somehow for people to understand that my whole career, everything I did and wrote, was based in love and my desire to entertain and bring glee and creativity to young people and to everyone. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pee-wee Herman documentary examines Paul Reubens' controversial past The Edgar Thomas Plant of the United States Steel Corporation in Braddock, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2022. - Branden Eastwood/AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump announced a partnership between U.S. Steel and Japanese steelmaker Nippon that he says will keep the headquarters in Pittsburgh and draw $14 billion in investment toward the US economy. This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy. The bulk of that Investment will occur in the next 14 months, Trump posted on TruthSocial Friday. Trump will visit the steel plant next Friday for a BIG rally, he said. But Trumps post included few details about whats included in the deal, such as whether this is truly a partnership instead of an acquisition and how much control would remain with U.S. Steel. Former president Joe Biden blocked the $14.3 billion acquisition during his last week in office. The deal has been controversial since it was first announced in December 2023, with both sides of the political aisle opposing foreign control of a once-key component of US industrial might that has fallen on hard times. Trump found rare convergence with Biden when also began his term opposed to an outright deal. I dont want US Steel being owned by a foreign country. All they can have is an investment, Trump said. But in March, the Trump administration signaled it may allow the deal to go through after it filed a motion to extend two deadlines in a lawsuit U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel filed against the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which scrutinizes foreign investments for national security risks. CFIUS launched a review into the acquisition in April, and submitted a recommendation to Trump on whether any of the measures proposed by the companies would mitigate national security risks on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Nippon raised its investment pledge in US Steels operations to $14 billion, which would include a new $4 billion steel mill in the US, if its bid was greenlit, according to Reuters. US Steel was once a symbol of American industrial might, when it was the most valuable company in the world and the first to be worth $1 billion, soon after its creation in 1901. It was also crucial to the US economy and the cars, appliances, bridges and skyscrapers that tangibly indicated that strength. But it has suffered through decades of decline since its post-World War II height. It is no longer even the largest US steelmaker, and a relatively minor employer, with 14,000 US employees 11,000 of whom are members of the United Steel Workers union. But it is still not a company that politicians who enjoy talking about American greatness have wanted to see fall into foreign hands particularly in the politically significant state of Pennsylvania. US Steel called Trump a bold leader and businessman in a statement Friday. U.S. Steel will remain American, and we will grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel that brings massive investment, new technologies and thousands of jobs over the next four years, the company said in a statement to CNN. The deal had sparked fierce opposition from the union, saying it was concerned the Nippon would not maintain a long-term commitment to the remaining unionized mills. In a press release Thursday, the United Steel Workers said that allowing US Steel to be sold to Nippon would be a disaster for American Steelworkers, our national security and the future of American manufacturing. President Trump has publicly pledged to block this sale since January 2024. We now urge him to act decisively, shutting the door once and for all on this corporate sellout of American Steelworkers and defending U.S. manufacturing, the release said. But Republican Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick applauded the partnership, saying it ensures that U.S. Steel remains under U.S. control in a Friday statement, although he too did not detail how the deal would work. Democratic Senator John Fetterman said the original deal was a death sentence in a post on X Friday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also praised the partnership, adding that he directly discussed the transaction with Trump in the past few days. Throughout the entire process, I have maintained that my priority was to keep and grow jobs here in Pennsylvania and get the largest investment we possibly could for our Commonwealth, he said in a statement Friday. US Steel (NYSE: X) stock shot up 21% Friday once the news was announced. CNN has reached out to US Steel, the USW, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros office for comment. This story has been updated with additional details and context. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Domestic orange cats have provided scientists a window into an unusual mutational mechanism. - Tambako the Jaguar/Moment RF/Getty Images Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A new study may have uncovered exactly what makes orange cats special though it might not be for the reason you think. Ginger kitties are known among cat owners for being particularly friendly and feisty. To geneticists, however, the uniqueness of these house cats comes from the unusual way they get their color. Now, scientists say they have unraveled a longstanding mystery by identifying the specific DNA mutation responsible for that golden hue and the variant has not been found in any other animal. The genetic variant is described for the first time in a paper published May 15 in the journal Current Biology. This is a really unusual type of mutation, said lead study author Christopher Kaelin, a senior scientist in genetics at Stanford University in California. The vast majority of fully orange cats are male, which led scientists to reason decades ago that the genetic code for orange color is carried on the X chromosome. As with other mammals, female cats have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. Any male cat carrying the orange trait on its one X chromosome will be entirely orange. A female would need to inherit the trait on both X chromosomes (one from each of her parents) to be completely orange, which makes it less likely. Instead, most female cats with orange fur have patchy patterns calico or tortoiseshell that may include black and white. But where the mutation exists on the X chromosome, and how it gives rise to orange coloration, has been an enigma until now. Typically, mutations that lead to yellow or orange fur in animals (and red hair in humans) occur within genes that control for color. And those genes arent carried on the X chromosome. That suggested to us that by identifying the molecular cause, we might learn something new and interesting, which turned out to be the case, said senior study author Greg Barsh, a professor emeritus of genetics and pediatrics at Stanford. The findings not only elucidated the peculiar origins of some cats charismatic coloration, but also revealed new insights about a familiar gene. Genetic glitch behind orange cats Female cats carrying the genetic code for the orange color on one X chromosome won't be ginger. They'll be tortoiseshell (left) or calico. - Laurie LaPorte/Moment RF/Getty Images Scientist have long known about this sex-related mutation; however, the mutation itself puzzled geneticists. - Ping Shu/Moment RF/Getty Images Step one was to identify genetic mutations that are unique to orange cats and might give rise to their color. For a decade, Kaelin has frequented cat shows, asking owners of ginger-colored cats if he could take samples of the animals DNA with a cheek swab. (Hes also interested in patterns that are similar to those found in wild cats such as leopards and ocelots, which are common in popular breeds like Bengal cats and Toygers.) Comparing his collection of DNA with feline genomes that have been sequenced in the past five to 10 years, he and his research team found 51 genetic variations on the X chromosome that were shared by orange males. But 48 were also found in non-orange cats, which left three likely candidates for the elusive mutation. One was a small, 5,076-base pair deletion that removed about 0.005% of the X chromosome in a region that didnt appear to code for a particular protein. The deletion wasnt located within a gene, where mutations usually are found. However, the mutation lay between two sites associated with a nearby gene called Arhgap36, which regulates an important hormone signaling pathway used by nearly all mammalian cells and tissues. There was no known connection to pigmentation. The gene isnt even turned on in pigment-producing cells. To find out how the gene affects color, Kaelin studied its actions in live tissues collected at spay and neuter clinics that otherwise would have been discarded. The experiments showed that, somehow, the deletion activates Arhgap36 in pigment cells, where it blocks production of black pigment so the cells produce orange instead. The variant has not been found in other animals, including the wild cats that gave rise to domestic cats. Its a genetic exception that was noticed over a hundred years ago, Kaelin said in a news release by Stanford University. Its really that comparative genetic puzzle that motivated our interest in sex-linked orange. That singularity suggests the mutation probably occurred once during domestication and then was selectively bred for, Kaelin said. We see the same mutation in all orange cats that weve looked at over a wide geographic area, so theres a single mutation that occurred, he said. And we know that mutation is quite old because there are depictions of calico cats in Chinese art that dates to the 12th century. He added that specialists in prehistoric DNA might be able to use the new findings to pinpoint when and where the mutation originally arose. The variants identified could serve as valuable tools in population genetics to trace domestic feline evolutionary history, said Hannes Lohi, a professor of veterinary biosciences and genetics at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Lohi was not involved in the study. In the meantime, Kaelin and his collaborators want to figure out how a small deletion thats not itself within a gene can change the activity of a nearby gene. The goal is, sure, that well learn about the mutation, Barsh noted, but we also want to learn more about mutational mechanisms in general: Why is this so unusual and might the same mechanism occur in other genes that cause other phenotypes in other animals? He pointed out that there are many conditions in humans that are thought to be genetic, but for which no genetic mutation has been identified. Maybe, he posits, the problem isnt just that we havent located the mutations, but that we dont understand all the ways that mutations can cause disease traits in the first place. And could orange cats unusual genetics possibly explain their particular personalities? So far, Kaelin says he and his colleagues have no reason to think so, though other researchers could make use of the new studys findings to look for associations between behavior and coat color. I think orange cats have really convinced their owners that theyre different, but theyve yet to convince us, he said. Amanda Schupak is a science and health journalist in New York City. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com FILE - The Harvard University logo is displayed on a building at the school, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) WASHINGTON (AP) The efforts by President Donald Trumps administration to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students have struck at the core of the Ivy League school's identity and unsettled current and prospective students around the world. Last month, the government told Harvard's thousands of current foreign students that they must transfer to other schools or they will lose their legal permission to be in the U.S. A federal court in Boston last week blocked the Department of Homeland Security from barring international students at Harvard. On Wednesday, Trump signed a proclamation invoking a different legal authority to keep Harvard's international students from entering the United States. After Harvard filed a new legal challenge Thursday, the same judge within hours temporarily blocked that bid as well. Trump has targeted Harvard's international enrollment as his administration presses the nation's oldest and wealthiest university to adopt a series of policy and governance changes, which the university has rebuffed. Harvard decried the latest order as retaliation and said it violates the school's First Amendment rights. Harvard will continue to protect its international students, the university said Wednesday in a statement. Harvard enrolls about 7,000 international students, most of them in graduate programs. Those students have been scrambling to figure out their next steps. How does Trump's latest move differ from the first effort to block Harvard's international enrollment? In May, the Trump administration tried to ban foreign students at Harvard, citing the Department of Homeland Securitys authority to oversee which colleges are part of the Student Exchange and Visitor Program. The program allows colleges to issue documents that foreign students need to study in the United States. In a lawsuit, Harvard said the administration violated the governments own regulations for withdrawing a schools certification. A judge put the administration's ban on hold. On Wednesday, Trump tried a different approach. In a proclamation, he invoked a law that gives the president the ability to block foreigners from entering the country if their presence would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. At the center of Trumps pressure campaign against Harvard are his assertions that the school, which he has called a hotbed of liberalism, has tolerated anti-Jewish harassment especially during pro-Palestinian protests. In the directive Wednesday, he said Harvard is not a suitable destination for foreign students. Harvard President Alan Garber has said the university has made changes to combat antisemitism and will not submit to the administration's demands for further changes at Harvard over fears of retaliation. Ive never seen anything like it. I've never seen a president take a specific action against a higher education institution like this, said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president and chief of staff for government relations for the American Council on Education. The legality of these actions is certainly in question as well. How is Harvard responding to Trump's latest ban? In the amended legal challenge, which led to the judge's ruling in Harvard's favor Thursday, the university called the Republican presidents action an end-run around the previous court order. The filing attacks Trumps legal justification for the action a federal law allowing him to block a class of aliens deemed detrimental to the nations interests. Targeting only those who are coming to the U.S. to study at Harvard doesnt qualify as a class of aliens, Harvard said in its filing. The Presidents actions thus are not undertaken to protect the interests of the United States, but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard, the university wrote. What percentage of Harvard's student body is affected? Harvard sponsors more than 7,000 people on a combination of F-1 and J-1 visas, which are issued to students and to foreigners visiting the U.S. on exchange programs such as fellowships. Across all the schools that make up the university, about 26% of the student body is from outside the U.S. But some schools and programs, by nature of their subject matter, have significantly more international students. At the Harvard Kennedy School, which covers public policy and public administration, 49% of students are on F-1 visas. In the business school, one-third of students come from abroad. And within the law school, 94% of the students in the masters program in comparative law are international students. Will admitted students be able to enroll at Harvard in the fall? If Trumps measure were to survive the court challenge, it would block thousands of students who are scheduled to go to Harvards campus for the summer and fall terms. While the court case proceeds, Harvard is making contingency plans so students and visiting scholars can continue their work at the university, President Alan Garber said in a message to the campus and alumni. Has the government ever done this before? The government can and does remove colleges from the Student Exchange and Visitor Program, making them ineligible to host foreign students on their campus. However, it's usually for administrative reasons outlined in law, such as failing to maintain accreditation, lacking proper facilities for classes, failing to employ qualified professional personnel even failing to operate as a bona fide institution of learning. Other colleges are removed when they close. How else has the Trump administration targeted Harvard? Harvard's battle with the Trump administration dates to early April. The storied institution became the first elite college to refuse to comply with the government's demands to limit pro-Palestinian protests and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Various federal agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have cut their grant funding to Harvard. Harvard has sued the administration, seeking to end the grant freeze. The administration first threatened to revoke Harvard's ability to host international students back in April. Trump also has said Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status. Doing so would strike at the school's ability to fundraise, as wealthy donors often give to tax-exempt institutions to lower their own tax burdens. Does Harvard give scholarships to international students? Harvard awards need-based financial aid to students across its multiple schools. Unlike merit-based scholarships, which are awarded based on achievements or academic records, need-based aid is given to students depending on their ability to pay for tuition. Admissions to the undergraduate college is need-blind, including for international students, which means that a student's ability to pay full tuition is not considered during the application process. Unlike the majority of U.S. colleges and universities, international students do not disproportionately pay full tuition to attend. In a post last month on Truth Social, Trump criticized Harvard for enrolling a significant percentage of international students. Why isnt Harvard saying that almost 31% of their students are from FOREIGN LANDS, and yet those countries, some not at all friendly to the United States, pay NOTHING toward their students education, nor do they ever intend to, he wrote. Nobody told us that! Most governments do not pay for their students to study abroad. With the exception of some government-funded scholarship programs, most international students pay their own tuition, receive need-based aid or earn merit scholarships from external organizations. Harvard is among a handful of wealthier universities that do offer financial aid to foreign students. ____ AP writers Collin Binkley and Cheyanne Mumphrey contributed. ____ The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. US troops on the southern border The Trump administration approved an additional 1,115 service members for deployment to the southern border Thursday as part of President Trumps mission to seal off the US-Mexico boundary. The latest round of deployments will bring the total number of US troops at the border close to 10,000 far higher than the 2,500 National Guardsmen former President Joe Biden had stationed on the frontier at the end of his term. Currently, there are more than 8,000 service members actively patrolling the US-Mexico border in aerial, maritime and land support roles, a US Northern Command spokesperson told The Post. There are currently more than 8,000 US service members guarding the US-Mexico border. U.S. Northern Command The incoming units will provide enhanced sustainment, engineering, medical, and operational capabilities as part of the Department of Defenses continued whole-of-government approach to gain full operational control of the southern border, US Northern Command said in a statement. Approved elements for deployment include members of the Armys Expeditionary Sustainment Command, to coordinate logistics, and the Quartermaster Field Feeding Company, to ensure troops get enough to eat in the harsh environments. About half of the 1,115 soldiers set for deployment are attached to engineering companies, battalions and brigades and will be tasked with construction-oriented missions. Trumps big, beautiful agenda bill, which cleared the House of Representatives early Thursday morning, provides $175 billion in spending on border security including $46.5 billion for new border wall construction. The legislation still needs to be approved by the Senate. Federal agents encountered fewer than 10,000 migrants illegally crossing the southern border last month. U.S. Department of Defense The Senate is considering legislation that would provide more than $200 billion for border security. U.S. Department of Defense Illegal border crossings from Mexico have hit historic lows since Trump took office in January. Last month, federal agents encountered fewer than 10,000 migrants crossing the southern border illegally, marking a 93% decrease from the more than 128,000 people who streamed across last April during the Biden administration, Border Patrol statistics show. Trumps Day One executive order on border security ordered the US military to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the US by repelling illegal migrants, drug smugglers and human traffickers seeking to enter the country between ports of entry. Apart from sending more troops, Trump has also authorized the military to take control of large swaths of federal land along the southern border in order to accomplish the mission. CORRECTS TIME SPENT IN COUNTRY - The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, speaks during a press conference at the end of her two-week visit, in Guatemala City, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) GUATEMALA CITY (AP) A United Nations expert warned Friday at the conclusion of her two-week visit that Guatemalas prosecutors office is increasingly using criminal law against former prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, journalists and others. Margaret Satterthwaite, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, traveled the country meeting with judges, lawyers, lawmakers and others, including Guatemalas chief prosecutor. The instrumental use of criminal law by the Prosecutor Generals Office appears to amount to a systematic pattern of intentional and severe deprivation of fundamental rights, targeted at specific groups, Satterthwaite wrote in her preliminary report. This persecution appears to be intensifying, as those who have sought to end impunity and corruption, defend human rights, or speak out against abuses of power increasingly face digital harassment, threats, and criminal charges. The office is led by Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by the United States and other countries and accused of being an obstacle to corruption investigations. Satterthwaite met with Porras and her staff. They told Satterthwaite that they acted within the law, denied using criminal law to pursue opponents and said they were the real victims of attacks by the executive branch and its allies, the U.N. expert said. Criminal charges have been directed at more than 60 justice operators and defense or human rights lawyers, Satterthwaite said, noting that more than 50 justice operators have been forced into exile by the prosecutors office. Porras office said later that it did not agree with Satterthwaite's preliminary report, because it did not reflect the complex work that we do, nor the exhaustive information that was provided. We energetically reject the idea of a criminalization of sectors,'" the office said. Our actions are based on serious, objective investigations that strictly adhere to the Guatemalan legal framework. President Bernardo Arevalo has tried unsuccessfully to convince Porras to step down. His office said it agreed with Satterthwaite's observations about the criminalization carried out by the prosecutor's office and justice system, something the president repeatedly has called attention to. Stocks closed down but off session lows even after President Donald Trump made fresh tariff threats. Trump said in a social media post Apple would have to pay a 25% tariff if phones sold in the country are not made in the U.S. It's the first time Trump has mentioned a specific company in levying taxes. Apple shares lost 3%. Later, he expanded that threat to Samsung and other smartphone makers and suggested this tariff would go into effect in late June. The president also recommended a 50% tariff on the European Union, beginnng June 1. He said in a social media post the EU has been very difficult to deal with, Trump wrote. Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried to calm tariff worries, saying he thought Germany could help the U.S. push the EU on negotiations of tariffs. He also said in a Bloomberg interview he expected "over the next couple of weeks we're going to have several large deals announced." Meanwhile, EU officials urged calm and said negotiations are ongoing. The blue-chip Dow shed about 0.61%, or 256.02 points, to 41,603.07; the broad S&P 500 slid 0.67%, or 39.18 points, to 5,802.83; and tech-laden Nasdaq dropped 1%, or 188.53 points, to 18,737.21. All three indexes posted losses for the week. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.509%. The indexes are off their session lows as investors try to digest how serious Trump's new tariff threats are. "President Trumps threat of a 50% tariff from 1st June may well turn out to be a negotiating tactic and seems very unlikely to be where tariffs settle over the long run," said economists at Andrew Kenningham, chief Europe economist at Capital Economics, in a note. Meanwhile, the Senate's examining the proposed tax bill after the House narrowly passed by one vote its version of the legislation that Trump has dubbed the "One, Big Beautiful Bill." Investors worry that the more than 1,000-page bill will lead to a sharply wider deficit. To pay for the spending, the government would have to issue more debt, which will dampen Treasury prices and push up rates. Debt prices move in the opposite direction of yields. The 30-year Treasury bond yield touched a high of 5.161%, its highest level since October 2023. The rate on the 10-year Treasury note at one point breached 4.6%. Both yields came off their highs but remain elevated, keeping pressure on stocks. A view of Nasdaq headquarters in Times Square, as Nasdaq fell nearly 4 percent this morning on January 27, 2025 in New York City. European and Asian stock markets mostly slid Monday and Wall Street was forecast to open sharply lower on talk that a cheaper Chinese generative AI programme can outperform big-name rivals, notably in the United States. (Photo by Bryan R. SMITH / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images) Corporate news Deckers Outdoor issued a lower-than-expected outlook for the current quarter. Shares fell almost 20%. Trump greenlighted the Nippon-U.S. Steel merger. U.S. Steel shares jumped more than 21%. Nuclear stocks like Constellation Energy, Cameco and NuScale rallied after Trump signed orders to boost nuclear power. Constellation Energy rose 2%, Cameco jumped almost 11% and NuScale added almost 20%. Ross Stores withdrew its full-year outlook, saying it expects pressure on its profitability if tariffs remain at elevated levels. The discount retailer's stock slid almost 10%. Intuit cited a more stable outlook and raised its full-year earnings forecast above Street estimates. Its stock rose 8%. Autodesk issued a higher-than-expected second-quarter outlook, but its shares dipped. Cryptocurrency Major U.S. banks including companies co-owned by JPMorgan Chase,Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and other large commercial banks, are exploring a joint stablecoin to compete with the crypto industry, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources. Separately, Trump held a private event Thursday night for 220 crypto investors who had bought into his meme coin. Demonstrators lined the road to the entrance, protesting the event and calling it part of Trump's corrupt plan to line his and his family's pockets. Bitcoin was last down 2.62% at $108,746.60. This story was updated with new information. Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US stocks end off lows as investors weigh Trump's new tariff threats The body of Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli embassy employee killed in a possible antisemitic attack in Washington D.C. this week, was expected to arrive back in the Jewish state Friday, officials said. Loved ones of Lischinsky and representatives of the Israeli Foreign Ministry will receive the victim's coffin at an undisclosed airport before it's taken to a burial site, according to a ministry spokesperson Lischinsky, 30, and his colleague and girlfriend Sarah Milgrim, 26, were fatally shot Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum. A funeral is planned for Milgrim on Tuesday near her Kansas City-area hometown. Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old Chicago resident, was arrested Wednesday night near the museum. He was charged Thursday with the murder of foreign officials and other crimes in connection with the deaths. He allegedly shouted Free, free Palestine after opening fire. The suspect told officers on the scene, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, according to prosecutors. Jewish leaders in Chicago decried the slayings and pinned blame on burgeoning antisemitism coming from protests against Israel. The Jewish state's military action in Gaza, seeking to root out Hamas in the wake of its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has sparked protest against Jerusalem throughout the United States. David Goldenberg, Midwest regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that calls for Israel to curtail military action have too often devolved into antisemitism. "Saying 'Free Palestine' is, in itself, not antisemitic," Goldenberg told reporters in Chicago on Friday. "When the (anti-Jewish) chants begin, you as the leader, you lead. You shut it down. You make it clear to people coming to the protest (that) you don't bring a sign that says 'Globalize the Intifada' we're not going to have a sign that celebrates and calls for violence against Jews." FBI agents were going through Rodriguez's apartment in the quiet tree-lined street in the Albany Park neighborhood on Thursday looking for any evidence that could link or explain the suspect's actions and motives. Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. (@IsraelinUSA / X) "This horror hits even closer to home," said Chicago Alderman Debra Silverstein. "We have learned that the attacker lives in Chicago and was likely radicalized right here in our city. This is not just a national tragedy, it is a local wake up call." Rodriguez came to the DMV on Tuesday, flying in from OHare International Airport in Chicago to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia, according to United Airlines records cited in the affidavit. He declared his firearm in his checked baggage and flew with it across state lines, the affidavit said. by Melani Manel Perera On Tuesday the company informed its employees via WhatsApp, shocking workers and unions. A worker told AsiaNews that, compensation will help us for a few days, but what about after that? The Ministry of Labour was not informed until the last moment. The Company has threatened workers against requesting an inquiry, reports the Dabindu Collective. Colombo (AsiaNews) The NEXT apparel factory, located in the Katunayake free trade zone (FTZ), Western Province, has abruptly stopped operations, without any notice to workers, shocking both employees and unions. NEXT Manufacturing, a factory owned by a British group, said it was closing a plant in the Katunayake FTZ due to high operating costs, while two other connected plants will continue to operate with reduced staff. According to several employees who spoke to AsiaNews, the managements drastic decision, coming without warning, is extremely unfair after 40 years of activity. They explained that NEXT, a leading global brand, makes children's clothing, which it exports to the UK. The emotional and economic toll is huge. For one worker, this compensation will help us for a few days, but what about after that? We have children to raise, house and room rental to pay, look after other matters in families, and no time to find another job soon." The employees who finished work on Monday, 19 May, were getting ready to go to work the next day the same evening, as usual, but, around 8 pm, they received a message from the company via WhatsApp announcing the total closure and sealing of the plant. The message noted that the plant employed 2,825 workers, and that 1,416 would lose their job as a result of the decision. The company also said that only 1,409 employees working in other units of the company would be guaranteed jobs. This has been a very difficult decision for the Company and has been taken after exploring all alternative options, said director David Reay in the statement sent to employees. Ostensibly, the reason for the shutdown is high operating costs at the Katunayake plant. "For some years now, the plant has been unprofitable, and despite our considerable efforts to rectify the situation, we have been unable to make the factory economically viable. Recently, it has become clear that there is no prospect of this changing, the company statement reads. The latter does not mention what costs contributed to the closure, but according to industry analysts, one of the highest is labour. The statement goes on to say: We would like to reassure our remaining colleagues that no further redundancies in Sri Lanka are planned or foreseen by NEXT Manufacturing. Thus, if labour costs are too high, no other investor would be able to take over and manage such a company, to compete with other countries. Closure was considered the only solution. NEXT said it will pay compensation of up to 2.5 million rupees (US$ 8,400) to each laid off worker. The embellishment and product development plants, also located in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone, will remain operational, but with a reduced number of employees. NEXTs other production activities in Andigama and Nawgaththegama will also continue to operate as usual. Sri Lankas acting Minister of Labour, Mahinda Jayasinghe, said that a discussion with various stakeholders is expected following the closure of the NEXT garment factory, which has left more than 1,400 workers jobless. Addressing parliament, Jayasinghe said he plans to discuss the situation with management, trade unions and representatives of the Board of Investment (BOI). The Labour Department must be informed prior to a factory closing down, and the NEXT garment factory had not informed the department of their decision until Tuesday, 20 May," the acting minister said. The Dabindu Collective, a workers' rights group in the FTZ, told AsiaNews that NEXT threatened workers to force them not to request an inquiry, saying that it would withhold the severance pay. "This blatantly violates the workers' right to legal redress, said Chamila Thusshari, executive director of the Dabindu Collective in Katunayake, speaking to AsiaNews. The situation emphasises the broader crisis Sri Lanka's apparel industry faces. Growing instability in the global supply chain created by wealthier powers of the Global North pushes local factories to scale down at the cost of workers' lives and rights. The young woman, killed in Washington with her colleague and boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky, by an attacker who shouted "I did it for Gaza, I did it for Palestine, was actively involved with an NGO that brings together Israelis and Palestinians to build common ground and coexistence using new technologies. Unlike the extremists who fan the flames, the group sees people behind the propaganda. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) Sarah Milgrim, 26, and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were killed Wednesday at the end of an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Sarah was also a devoted and active" volunteer at Tech2Peace, an Israeli-Palestinian NGO focused on using technology and entrepreneurship to bring together Israelis and Palestinians and build a reality different from the current one of war and violence. The groups philosophy was more than an empty slogan but translated into actions, initiatives, meetings, activities, and deeds to develop a different narrative in a land that is "holy" for many, but which today is increasingly "martyred". Sarah and Yaron were employees at the Israeli embassy he as a research assistant in the political section, she as a member of the administrative staff. They were gunned down by 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, from Chicago, who claimed responsibility for the action during his arrest shouting, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza", site of war and humanitarian disaster. Some observers note that the two embassy employees were moved ideals of peace and dialogue. Others have focused on the assassin and his motives to strike Israeli interests and symbols in the name of a struggle for Palestinian freedom and in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Israels far-right government and parties are already using the couples death, blaming it on antisemitism and Jew-hate, ex post facto justification for the war in Gaza. In fact, the reasons and ideals of Sarah Milgrim and Tech2Peace promoting peace through innovation are far removed from the ideology and politics that inform the government of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu At Tech2Peace, people work to create a common ground for dialogue, use modern technologies to unite, not annihilate, representative of a large segment of Israeli society seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and the end to the conflict and siege in Gaza, but who struggle to find real representation and a political voice in Israels parliament, the Knesset. Over the years working with the NGO, the young woman did research on theories about peace building, centred on grassroots initiatives in Israel and Palestine. She developed field experiences, encouraging discussion and exchange on geopolitical issues as well, working as a Jewish educator and developing topics concerning the environment, which reflect her commitment to promoting understanding among different peoples. Emblematic, in this regard, is the message of condolence posted by Tech2Peace to remember the "tragic death" of the young woman. She is described as a "devoted and active volunteer in our community [who] participated in seminars, supported our team with grace and commitment and remained a meaningful presence over the years. Her energy, thoughtfulness, and unwavering belief in dialogue, peace, and equality inspired everyone who had the privilege to work alongside her. She was a deeply curious person who brought people together with empathy and purpose, profoundly dedicated to building a better future. The young embassy employees character fits perfectly with the "mission" outlined on the Tech2Peace website, which is To build a network of Israelis and Palestinians that develop the high-tech skills, professional opportunities, and mutual understanding needed to work together towards a brighter future. Seminars and meetings are among the activities the group proposes, focusing on high-tech and entrepreneurial training alongside conflict dialogue to young Palestinians and Israelis. Some of our alumni go on to create start-ups and other initiatives together, and many work to spread the word in their local communities and networks. One of the founders of the group, Abeer Bandak, is a Palestinian peace activist. Born in Jerusalem, she held deep anti-Israel views for years, especially since she had been taught that Israelis were the enemies. With her is Noam Alon, a Tel Aviv native. After serving in the Israeli military and attending Columbia University, she returned to Tel Aviv, Israels economic capital, to work for a start-up. Today both are part of the team that runs Tech2Peace, making knowledge of conflict resolution technology available to young Israelis and Palestinians like them. Created in 2017, today the NGO has almost 200 alumni from both Palestine and Israel, and has evolved from seminars run by volunteers to year-round programmes with a balanced number of participants. Until now, most of the young people the organisation has been able to involve in its various activities and initiatives have been moderately oriented. However, following the escalation in Gaza, Tech2Peace now aims to get in touch with more extremist groups. The riots in Israel and the situation in Gaza were hard, but it was so touching to see how the Tech2Peace community supported one another, Alon said. We talked about how Instagram and other groups seem to be using the algorithm to brainwash people, and show more of the extremist view. When they come home to Tech2Peace our community is reminded of how to see the people behind the propaganda. Were seeing real friendships develop through Tech2Peace, Alon added. Thats long-term impact that extends the initiatives reach. Today's news: new wave of Covid-19 in Asia, cases in Thailand, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong. Maoist leader killed in Chhattisgarh; Indian government pledges to end insurgency by 2026. Torrential rains and landslides in southern China: 4 dead, 17 missing. Gaza: at least 85 killed by Israel since yesterday; Borrell (EU): Half the bombs are European-made. SOUTH AFRICA TAIWAN CHINA South Africa has downgraded Taiwan's diplomatic status: the Taiwanese Liaison Office has been renamed the Taipei Commercial Office. Recently, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accused China of pressuring South Africa into taking this step. These changes underscore China's efforts to extend its influence across Africa and the Global South. Just days ago, at the White House, Trump pressured South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with false accusations of white genocide. ASIA Large parts of Asiaespecially China, Thailand, Singapore, India, and Hong Konghave seen sharp increases in Covid-19 transmission in recent weeks, raising concerns over potential regional repercussions. The Indonesian government has assured the public that its healthcare system is well prepared to handle future outbreaks, while authorities are stepping up precautionary measures. The recent surge in cases is driven by the JN.1 variant, a descendant of Omicron BA.2.86. INDIA A Maoist leader has been killed in a clash with Indian security forces in the state of Chhattisgarh. Nambala Keshava Rao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), also known by several aliases including Basavaraju, was among 27 rebels killed this week. It is the first time in three decades that a Maoist of such high rank has been killed by government forces. Certain areas of Chhattisgarh have long been the site of an insurgency; the Indian government has vowed to end it by March 2026. CHINA Four people have died and 17 are missing following heavy rains in southern China. The downpours have also triggered landslides in the southwestern province of Guizhou. The military has been deployed to assist with rescue operations. Authorities have issued disaster risk warnings for surrounding areas. China is experiencing more intense and prolonged heatwaves, as well as increasingly frequent and unpredictable torrential rains due to climate change. GAZA ISRAEL EU Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 85 people in Gaza in the past day. The death toll continues to rise amid relentless bombardment. As Brussels proceeds with a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, former EU foreign affairs chief Borrell stated: Half the bombs falling on Gaza are made in Europe. The Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza claims that 29 children and elderly people who died in recent days were officially registered as hunger-related deaths. RUSSIA UKRAINE Ukrainian armed forces have successfully carried out a drone strike on the Bolkovskaya factory in Russias southern Oryol region, a major facility for the production of missile components, aircraft, drones, and military microelectronics, which supports around twenty other factories in the Russian military-industrial complex. GEORGIA The Georgian Dream government in Tbilisi has resorted to a new tactic against protestorsalongside arrests, violence, and dismissalsby stripping citizenship. This was the case with activist Lasha Gabitasvili, known for a brawl with two ruling party MPs and other high-profile protest actions. Even during military operations against Pakistan-administered Kashmir, false reports had already begun to circulate in India. But the repressive measures have continued even after the violence subsided. The government has shut down thousands of accounts and banned Pakistani media. A university professor has been jailed over a critical post, and at least 11 citizens have been arrested on charges of espionage. New Delhi (AsiaNews) The arbitrary closure of numerous social media accounts, the arrest of activists and journalists, and, most notably, the 14-day judicial custody imposed on university professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad have reignited debate over freedom of expression in India. A lecturer at Ashoka University in Haryana, Mahmudabad was charged for a post criticising the Indian armys media management during Operation Sindoor. Im very pleased to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, he wrote, but they should also call for protection of lynching victims, those whose homes have been arbitrarily demolished, and other victims of BJP hate, as fellow Indian citizens. The complaint was filed by a member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the ruling BJP party. Mahmudabad has been released on bail, with the next hearing scheduled for 27 May. Ashoka University and the opposition Congress party have expressed full support for the professor, describing his post as thoughtful and raising concerns over increasing repression of dissent. Mahmudabads case is part of a broader wave of censorship and misinformation that has defined the weeks following Operation Sindoor. After India launched a missile strike on 8 May against Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a flood of false news reports spread across Indian and Pakistani media. Some Indian TV channels aired videos purporting to show the destruction of Karachis port, the capture of Islamabad, the arrest of Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and the takeover of Quetta by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) none of which actually happened. Similarly, Pakistani media circulated false claims of drone strikes on Indian military bases in Jalandhar and Ambala and the destruction of Indian checkpoints. Civil society groups and journalists in both countries have attempted to counter the disinformation. In India, platforms such as Alt News, BOOM Live, and The Wire carried out fact-checks on viral content, while in Pakistan, the Digital Rights Foundation issued a guide on recognising fake news. Several international fact-checking organisations also monitored and analysed the sources and veracity of the information being spread. Indian NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed complaints against six broadcasters Aaj Tak, ABP News, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, India TV, and News18 for airing a four-year-old video of Israels Iron Dome system and presenting it as footage of missile defences used during Operation Sindoor. Two days after the attack, the Indian government asked platform X (formerly Twitter) to block more than 8,000 accounts, including those of international organisations and public figures. X complied with the request, while noting it was an act of censorship and that the government had not explained which posts were allegedly illegal. More than sixteen Pakistani YouTube news channels, including Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and GeoNews, were also banned for allegedly spreading provocative and misleading content. Meanwhile, Indian authorities have announced the arrest of 11 Indian citizens suspected of being part of a spy network working for Pakistan. According to local media, nine arrests were made in the states of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, while Punjabs police chief confirmed the detention of two individuals accused of sharing sensitive information related to Operation Sindoor. Among those arrested is a travel influencer, accused of repeatedly entering Pakistan and maintaining suspicious contacts. According to broadcaster India Today, the arrests are linked to online recruitment efforts luring individuals with promises of financial rewards. Indias armed forces are currently investigating possible connections between these suspects and the 22 April massacre of tourists in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir the attack that triggered the latest wave of violence. INDIAN MANDALA IS ASIANEWS' NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO INDIA. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY FRIDAY IN YOUR EMAIL SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT THIS LINK Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 23 May 2025 16:15 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Baku State University (BSU) hosted a presentation of an interactive map highlighting the environmental damage caused by mining enterprises operating in Armenia. The project was developed by the "Environmental Protection First" coalition, Azernews reports. According to BSU, Amin Mammadov, co-founder of the coalition and Chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, along with coalition member Mugabil Bayramov, briefed attendees on the coalitions activities and goals. Mammadov emphasized that the primary objective of the event was to raise awareness among faculty and students about the ecological impact of Armenia's mining industry in the Caucasus and to encourage collaborative efforts in assessing cross-border environmental damage. The interactive map and accompanying report were compiled using satellite imagery of more than 20 industrial sites involved in the extraction of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, many of which are located near Azerbaijans borders. The map integrates data from various sources, including historical maps, archived materials, and environmental reports. A live demonstration of the online platform hosting the map was provided, showcasing its features and functions. The event concluded with a Q&A session, where participants engaged in discussion on the importance of cross-border environmental monitoring and joint scientific cooperation. 23 May 2025 17:05 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more During an ongoing trial at the Baku Military Court, defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan admitted to participating in the occupation of Azerbaijan's sovereign territories. According to Azernews, Mnatsakanyan testified that he had served in various positions within the so-called regime over the years, including battalion commander, division commander, and chief of artillery. Answering questions posed by state prosecutors, the defendant acknowledged his involvement in military operations under the command of Samvel Karapetyan. I took part in combat operations in Aghdam, Jabrayil, Aghdara, Fuzuli, and other areas, he stated. It should be noted that trials are ongoing for citizens of the Republic of Armenia accused of committing numerous crimes during Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan. These charges include crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, as well as terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, and other grave offenses. 23 May 2025 19:51 (UTC+04:00) The trial of Arayik Harutyunyan continued today at the Baku Military Court, where video footage featuring the defendant was presented as part of the ongoing proceedings. Harutyunyan, who faces numerous charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity, responded to questions from state prosecutors during the session. According to Azernews, the footage shows Harutyunyan alongside Samvel Karapetyan, seated atop a tank while surveying the surrounding area with binoculars. Confronted with this evidence, Harutyunyan dismissed the statements he made in the video, claiming they were not his own but spoken on behalf of his brother. Referring to comments made in the video regarding the capture of Gulluja village, located in Azerbaijans Aghdam district, Harutyunyan stated, When I said we entered Gulluja, I was referring to the 8th regiment. During the session, Harutyunyan identified himself in several photographs presented to the court, most of which depict him in military uniform. Tugay Rahimli, an assistant to the Prosecutor General for special assignments, questioned Harutyunyan on why United Nations Security Council resolutions related to the conflict were not implemented. There was a decision, but I do not know why it was not enforced, Harutyunyan replied. I also met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan and realized there was no consensus. Responding to further questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, Harutyunyan admitted to participating in a joint meeting between Armenia and the former separatist entity during 20182019. In May 2020, I assumed the position of president, he said. In June, I requested Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to convene a meeting. I wanted negotiations with Azerbaijan and a final agreement. The discussion included the four UN resolutions. In response to questions about the plundering of formerly occupied Azerbaijani territories, Harutyunyan condemned the destruction of cemeteries, calling such actions "barbaric." The case against Harutyunyan and other Armenian nationals includes charges related to crimes against peace and humanity, preparation and execution of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, violent seizure and retention of power, among others. The proceedings are set to continue on May 26. 23 May 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Throughout history, success has always attracted opposition from those unsettled by progress and resentful of transformation. These detractors often operate not on the basis of facts or fairness but from a place of ideological hostility and selective outrage. Unfortunately, such behavior is now all too visible within the halls of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), embodied by individuals like German MP Frank Schwabe. Schwabe's hostility toward Azerbaijan is so entrenched that it extends beyond our country to even include German political figures who engage with Baku in a spirit of mutual respect. His persistent anti-Azerbaijan bias has evolved into an ideological obsession, one that distorts not only his own views but also seeks to impose a distorted lens on all institutional discourse. At its core, Schwabes worldview is incompatible with Azerbaijans sovereignty and right to self-defense. He has made no secret of his disdain for Azerbaijans historic restoration of control over its territories after decades of illegal occupation. Since 2023, following Azerbaijans final consolidation of sovereignty in the Garabagh region, Schwabe has grown visibly more antagonisticfrequently condemning Azerbaijans legitimate counter-terror operations on its own sovereign soil and criticizing the country's role in promoting regional security in the South Caucasus. Let us be clear: Schwabe is not defending human rightshe is defending geopolitical bias. His actions do not promote peacethey fuel division. Such conduct is not without consequence. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rightly placed Schwabe and other deputies who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE on the list of persona non grata. This move is not driven by hostility toward Europe or the European Union. On the contrary, Azerbaijan values its strategic partnerships with EU institutions and member statesGermany, Hungary, Italy, and beyond. What Baku will not accept, however, is the abuse of parliamentary platforms by ideologically motivated actors who seek to undermine Azerbaijans territorial integrity under the guise of human rights advocacy. Schwabes role in PACE increasingly resembles that of a political saboteur rather than a constructive statesman. His presence, and that of those who enable him, risks turning important European institutions into arenas of division and dysfunction. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recognized Azerbaijans critical role in the global and regional order. Her 2022 visit to Baku underscored this, and her recent candid exchange with President Ilham Aliyev in Tirana further affirmed that a forward-looking European strategy runs through constructive engagement with Azerbaijan, not ideological brinkmanship. In a nutshell, Schwabes behavior represents an outdated, unproductive model of foreign engagement. Azerbaijans path forwardbased on justice, sovereignty, and cooperationwill not be derailed by those who mistake political activism for diplomacy. Yet, there is a clear red line: individuals who openly challenge Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereign decisions will not be afforded legitimacy or hospitality. The presence of such figures in organisations like PACE is not seen as benign dissentit is viewed as disruptive and counterproductive. Their actions do not advance dialogue or democratic norms; instead, they foster division, undermine trust, and compromise the credibility of intergovernmental cooperation. 23 May 2025 13:55 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijans trade turnover with Croatia saw remarkable growth in JanuaryApril 2025, increasing 2.1 times compared to the same period last year. mports from Croatia to Azerbaijan also grew, albeit modestly, reaching... Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 23 May 2025 16:32 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more An innovative forum titled BIRIM Business, Innovation, Digital Incubation, and Diversity was held at Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Azernews reports. The forum, initiated by student rector Nihad Isgandarov, aimed to provide young people with new insights into the digitalization of business in the modern era, the development of artificial intelligence technologies, startup ecosystems, and intellectual collaboration. In his opening speech, Nihad Isgandarov noted that the event would give participants the opportunity to explore current trends in business and technology, interact with renowned experts, and build valuable networks for future cooperation. Throughout the forum, professional speakers shared their knowledge and experience. Rustam Bakhishaliyev, head of 44 Group, spoke on Becoming a Young Entrepreneur in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The Path from Idea to Success, focusing on strategic approaches and technological opportunities for young entrepreneurs. AI specialist Umid Salay discussed the impact of AI on daily life and creativity in his presentation, The Role of Creative Artificial Intelligence in Our Lives. Zinaddin Babayev, Deputy Director of the Project Management Department at the Innovation Center, provided practical insights into the application of innovations in modern business and digital project management with his talk, Business Innovations and Digital Project Understanding. Digital marketing specialist Anar Rustamli highlighted the importance of data analytics and automated marketing technologies in future strategies in his session, Data-Based Marketing The Automated Future. Jamal Aghayev, Head of the Startup Ecosystem Building Department at the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, emphasized the role of AI and innovative collaboration in startup development in his talk, Artificial Intelligence and Business Restructuring: New Opportunities through Innovation and Cooperation. Students showed great interest in the forums presentations on artificial intelligence, innovation, and marketing. 23 May 2025 15:25 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) has been officially signed between the National Libraries of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan during a ceremony held in Dushanbe, Azernews reports. The agreement was inked by the director of the Azerbaijani National Library, Karim Tahirov, and the director of the Tajikistan National Library, Farzalizada Jumakhon This memorandum provides a framework for enhanced collaboration between the two institutions, emphasising the exchange of books, publications, and other cultural materials to foster mutual understanding and strengthen the cultural ties between the two nations. It also sets the stage for joint activities and projects aimed at promoting literacy, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting scholarly research. Furthermore, the agreement envisions organising a series of commemorative events dedicated to prominent historical and cultural figures from both Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. These events are intended to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of each country, promote bilateral cultural exchanges, and deepen the appreciation of their shared history and achievements. Recall that the Azerbaijani literature corner has been recently opened at the Tajikistan National Library. The opening ceremony took place as part of the Azerbaijani Culture Days held in Tajikistan. The corner offers more than 250 publications. It includes editions related to Azerbaijan's history, culture, literature, and contemporary development. Azerbaijan and Tajikistan share a long-standing friendship rooted in common cultural values, rich historical connections, and mutual respect. This enduring bond has grown over the years into a vibrant partnership, with cultural collaboration serving as a vital bridge that brings the two nations closer together. The foundation of this close relationship was laid with the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 29, 1992. Since that time, bilateral cooperation has continued to develop across multiple spheres, with a particular emphasis on cultural engagement. Today, cultural exchanges such as collaborations in classical music, joint artistic initiatives, and various intercultural projects have become a proud and cherished tradition between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. These ongoing efforts not only celebrate their shared heritage but also strengthen the enduring ties that unite the two nations on a cultural level. 23 May 2025 17:52 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The 3rd International Festival of Student Performances, "Turkic World", has taken place in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Azernews reports that students from the SABAH group of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, specialising in acting, represented Azerbaijan and earned the award for Best Male Role. The festival was organised by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan in collaboration with the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, under the auspices of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY). The festival featured masterclasses, creative meetups, roundtable discussions, staged readings, and gala concerts. Participants included students from universities in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The Azerbaijani delegation presented a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. The course director and stage director of the play was Mikail Mikhailov, the chief director of the Azerbaijan State Theatre Yug, with Ruslan Ismayilov serving as acting instructor. Mikail Mikhailov shared that the Azerbaijani delegation received a very warm welcome in Kazakhstan: "This was the first international festival experience for our students. It was both a great opportunity and a source of joy for them. It also helped broaden their horizons and worldview," he emphasised. "It's incredibly important to have festivals like this, where young people can meet each other and explore the cultures of Turkic nations. As members of the Turkic world, we must remain in creative dialogue and support cultural exchange. Azerbaijan hosted the second edition of this festival in Baku last year. The fourth will be held next year in Izmir, Turkiye." The director also noted the positive reception the Azerbaijani performance received from the audience: "The students were very nervous performing on a foreign stage is a big responsibility. But they managed the pressure and delivered a great performance. Over the course of the three-day festival, we watched several other productions, each one reflecting the unique cultural identity of a different Turkic nation. That was incredibly meaningful for us to witness," he said. At the festival's closing ceremony, all participants received diplomas and medals. The Best Male Role award was presented to Azerbaijani student Raghib Allahguliyev for his outstanding performance. 23 May 2025 18:00 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The Baku Congress Center hosted one of the most vibrant events in the fashion worldBaku Fashion Week for the Fall/Winter 20252026 season, Azernews reports. Over the course of three days, the capital of Azerbaijan transformed into a runway for fresh ideas, creative discoveries, and cultural self-expression, becoming a meeting place for designers, stylists, media, and everyone passionate about fashion. The event highlighted the growing significance of the country on the international fashion arena. It was not just a runway showit was a dialogue between masters and young talents, cultures, generations, and aesthetics. This season, collections by renowned designers such as Emre Erdemoglu and Jihan Nakar from Turkey, ZHIWJ from Tajikistan, as well as Azerbaijani brandsCONFIDANCE, UVENTA, GUNAH, Saint Aslan, Dadas, TUVA, Fidan Sadg, and Chovghunwere showcased on the runway. Particular attention from the audience was drawn to the presentation of the jewelry brand Hasanovs and the capsule collection Monkey Fourest. The event was organized by the platforms ModePoint and Stock Concept Store, which have been actively developing fashion as part of Azerbaijans creative industry and creating professional opportunities for designers over the past few years. Among the guests were prominent figures of Azerbaijans fashion industry, influencers, stylists, and show business representatives. Baku Fashion Week is confidently strengthening its position in the international fashion calendar, becoming not just an event but a platform for cultural diplomacy, innovative design, and global creative exchange. The FW 20252026 season marked yet another step in this direction, once again emphasizing Azerbaijans potential as a new hub for the global fashion communitywhere modernity reinterprets traditions, and style speaks the universal language of inspiration. Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az. 23 May 2025 10:44 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more A delegation headed by Major General Stefan Fix, Deputy Chief of Staff for Support at NATOs Joint Force Command Brunssum, has paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. The delegation visited the Azerbaijani Naval Forces as part of their itinerary. During the meeting held at Naval Headquarters, the sides discussed the current state and future prospects of NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation within the framework of partnership programs, with a focus on expanding opportunities for experience exchange. The discussions highlighted Azerbaijans active participation and proactive initiatives within NATO partnership frameworks. Following the talks, the guests were given a briefing on the operational focus of a designated military unit of the Naval Forces, known as Military Unit "N". They also observed tactical and special training exercises conducted by Azerbaijani service members. The NATO delegation later visited the Military Police Department, where they received detailed information on the establishment, structure, and history of the unit. A special video presentation was shown, and a comprehensive briefing was delivered on the department's functions. In the final leg of the visit, the delegation held discussions at the Department for International Military Cooperation. Talks centered on the current status of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, ongoing joint initiatives, and future avenues of mutual interest. Throughout the series of meetings, both parties emphasized that such high-level visits reaffirm the strategic importance of NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation and contribute to further strengthening the atmosphere of mutual understanding and partnership. 23 May 2025 11:13 (UTC+04:00) On May 23, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation of participants of the second meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports. The delegation included Yerzhan Sadenov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of Interior of the Republic of Turkiye; Aziz Tashpulatov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Dursun Oguz, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Bence Retvari, Deputy Minister of Interior of Hungary; and Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States. Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said: - The second meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs of the Organization of Turkic States is being held in Azerbaijan. This is a very pleasing development. I am confident that such meetings will continue. As you know, the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Hungary two days ago. I must note that the initiative to hold such events and meetings came from the Azerbaijani side. The first Informal Summit took place last year in Azerbaijan, in Karabakh, in the city of Shusha. The heads of state and government decided that such informal meetings should be held regularly. Our official Summit meetings take place annually. However, we considered that meeting only once a year in this format is insufficient. I must state that this year, the official Summit will be held in Azerbaijan. Serious preparations are underway for this meeting, and I am confident that important decisions will be made during the Summit. The shared interests of the member and observer countries of the Organization are clear. We are not only friends, strategic partners, and allies most importantly, we are brotherly nations, and this principle lies at the core of the Organization. I believe that in the coming years, our Organization can rise to even greater heights. All the necessary conditions are in place for this. A positive dynamic of development is being observed in our countries. Internal stability is ensured in the member states. We cover a vast geographical area. Some member countries of the Organization possess rich natural resources. Our transport projects connect our countries and even extend across a larger geography. The transport corridors passing through our countries link Europe with Asia. In short, we have immense potential in the economic sphere. When combined with our positive demographic trends, the picture becomes even more encouraging. In our countries, populations are increasing. In the case of Azerbaijan, when our country restored its state independence in 1991, the population was approximately 7 million; now it exceeds 10 million. A similar trend is observed in all member countries. Our populations are young, dynamic, and deeply connected to their historical roots. Therefore, within the framework of the Organization, along with issues of economy, transport, and energy, we must also extensively discuss our common roots and shared history. Throughout history, there have been different periods. For reasons beyond our control, we were once separated from one another. However, the will of the member states and their peoples brought us together again. Of course, the historic Nakhchivan Summit holds a special place in the formation and development of the Organization. We are very delighted that this historic decision was made precisely in Nakhchivan, an ancient city of Azerbaijan. Regarding the joint activities of the internal affairs bodies, there is certainly a great need for cooperation. Because, as I mentioned, even though there is internal stability in our countries, there are threats, there are challenges, there are and will be attempts of external interference. No one is immune from this. Therefore, safeguarding public order the main task of the internal affairs bodies is an important factor in ensuring internal stability in each of our countries. The coming together of the internal affairs bodies of the member states, the regular holding of meetings, and the exchange of views, experience, and information all of this carries great importance. Naturally, our main goal is to further strengthen the Organization. I am fully confident that if all member and observer countries demonstrate a strong, united will, our Organization can become one of the leading international organizations in the world. We know the existing international organizations well. We are members of some, and we cooperate with others in different formats. And we can clearly see the advantages of the Organization of Turkic States here in Azerbaijan. Once again, the main advantage is that we are united by historical roots, ethnic ties, moral values, and, of course, as I mentioned, our economic, industrial, and other potentials. We have brought all of this together under one roof, structured the Organization, and active work is underway in various areas. I believe the main issue now is to become a voice on the international agenda not only within the geography of the Organization and its surroundings, but also to transform into one of the worlds leading political organizations on the global stage. I repeat all the necessary conditions for this are in place. If they were not, I would not be speaking about it. I once again welcome you. Welcome to Azerbaijan. I wish you success. I extend my respect to the peoples of the countries you represent and wish you fruitful work and excellent results. X X X Then, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, said: - First of all, I would like to thank you for hosting us. As you noted, this is the second meeting of our interior ministers. Last year, the first meeting was held in Kyrgyzstan. Our esteemed ministers do not simply hold meetings; as you pointed out, they focus heavily on the content. A communique has also been prepared today. Following this meeting, further sessions will be held where a communique outlining the main areas of cooperation among the Ministers of Internal Affairs will be adopted. These areas include the fight against banditry, terrorism, crime, and all other issues under the ministers' leadership. Two days ago, our Informal Summitwhich you originally initiatedwas held, and despite its name, it was quite formal in terms of content. The work of our law enforcement agencies was also discussed there. As you mentioned, last year for the first time, a meeting of our higher judicial authorities took place in Shusha. Recently, two weeks ago, the Presidents of the Supreme Courts met again in Antalya and adopted their charter, specifying their directions of activity. Platforms for Prosecutors General and notary bodies have already been created, and the Justice Ministers met in Astana last year. In summary, the entire law enforcement sector has begun a process of institutionalization, and the first steps have been taken. You briefly mentioned this in your inaugural speech in Parliament, and we fully support it. Now, as you observed, our organization can become even stronger. We truly are a unique international organization. The Nakhchivan Agreement adopted 15 years ago states that it is our historical roots, culture, language, and religion that unite us. Therefore, there is no other organization like ours. Our shared task is to strengthen it through the established platforms. 23 May 2025 14:27 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The 13th International Festival was held on the campus of ADA University on May 23, bringing together cultures from around the world in a vibrant celebration of diversity and international cooperation, Azernews reports. Organized with the support of ADA University and its Foundation, the festival has become a cherished tradition on campus, reflecting the institutions commitment to intercultural dialogue and global engagement, Azernews reports. This years festival featured the cultural displays of around 50 countries, with national cuisine, music, dances, and traditional attire showcased at country stands. Participants included representatives from countries such as Japan, Malaysia, China, Turkiye, and several EU member states. The lively event was attended by ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and both local and foreign students. Alongside the cultural exhibitions, a concert program, interactive presentations, and competitions fostered an atmosphere of celebration and learning. Rita Capajova, a Slovak student at ADA University, highlighted the festivals impact on fostering a global mindset among students. Such events make a significant contribution to the formation of a global mindset, she said. Local student Aygun Kangarli echoed this sentiment: Even if we dont go to distant countries like Chile and Brazil, this festival gives us the opportunity to feel and learn about the culture of those peoples. With over 200 participants, the event once again affirmed that cultural diversity at ADA University is more than a value it is a lived experience that shapes campus life. 23 May 2025 15:16 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijan has officially taken over the presidency of the International Transport Forum (ITF) 2025 during the annual summit held in Leipzig, Germany. The presidency was handed over from Chile to Azerbaijan for the 20252026 term, Azernews reports. According to the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, Azerbaijans election to this role was confirmed by unanimous agreement among ITF member states in 2023 marking the first time Azerbaijan has assumed the presidency of the organization. Deputy Minister Rahman Hummatov emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating that the presidency is not just a formal responsibility, but a reflection of Azerbaijans long-term commitment to modernizing transport systems: This presidency for Azerbaijan is not just a task, but a continuation of extensive efforts to promote more innovative, greener and more connected transport systems. He added that transportation is more than physical infrastructure: We know that transport is not only infrastructure, but also a tool for economic development, regional cooperation and social inclusion. The International Transport Forum, with 69 member countries, is one of the worlds leading platforms for shaping global transport policy. Azerbaijan has been a full member of the organization since 1998. Since its inception in 2008, the annual ITF Summit has served as a critical venue for dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, and experts on the future of transportation. 23 May 2025 15:06 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more The investigation into the recent incident involving an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft in Aktau, Kazakhstan, has progressed to the stage of analyzing the collected materials, according to Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, Azernews reports. Karabayev confirmed that the information-gathering phase has been completed and experts are now reviewing the data. He also noted that during the course of the investigation, both Kazakh and international specialists conducted site visits to airports in Azerbaijan and Russia, including Baku, Grozny, and Rostov-on-Don, as part of the comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The tragic incident occurred on December 25, when an AZAL Embraer E190 aircraft en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near the city of Aktau. The crash resulted in the deaths of 38 passengers, while 29 people, including both crew members, survived. As part of the investigation, flight recorders recovered from the site were sent to Brazil for analysis. Kazakhstan has handed over the black boxes to Brazils Aviation Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA), which is responsible for decoding and examining the data. 23 May 2025 15:38 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The migration caravan, which departed for its native land on May 23, has reached Kangarli village in Aghdam, Azernews reports. According to the data, 49 families comprising 232 individuals were resettled in this phase and received keys to newly built individual houses. Representatives from the Special Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend regions, along with the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, attended the ceremony. It should be noted that currently in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur, in addition to former internally displaced persons who have returned, more than 40,000 people are involved in project implementation and serve in local branches of various state agencies. They also work in resumed operations in sectors such as healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy. 23 May 2025 13:17 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to Azernews, the letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. President, On the occasion of your countrys national holiday May 28, Independence Day I am pleased to extend to you my sincere congratulations. I wish you and the friendly people of Azerbaijan prosperity and continued progress, and express my best wishes. Taking this opportunity, I reaffirm my readiness to work with you to further strengthen the friendly relations between our countries." 23 May 2025 12:08 (UTC+04:00) King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to Azernews, the letter reads: " His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan The celebration of your National Day gives me an opportunity to extend to Your Excellency my congratulations and my best wishes for a prosperous future for the people of Azerbaijan." 23 May 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Samsung Biologics Co., the biotech arm of South Korea's Samsung Group, announced Thursday that it plans to spin off its biosimilar development business to streamline its operations and focus more on its core Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services, Azernews reports. According to a regulatory filing, the company will create a new entity, Samsung Epis Holdings, which will later incorporate Samsung Bioepis Co., a biosimilar drug developer, as a wholly owned subsidiary. The spinoff process will begin with the submission of a securities report on July 29, followed by a shareholders meeting on September 16 for final approval. Samsung Biologics explained that this move will enable the company to better concentrate resources on its CDMO business, which operates under a different revenue model compared to biosimilars. CDMO refers to a company that not only manufactures drug substances on an outsourced basis but also handles all the innovation and development work that takes place before production. Samsung Biologics emphasized that this move is aimed at improving operational focus and addressing concerns raised by its CDMO clients about potential conflicts of interest. In particular, the company acknowledged that some customers were worried that proprietary technologies used for original drugs might be shared with Samsung Bioepis, which operates in the biosimilar space. "As Samsung Bioepis has been expanding its biosimilar business, the concerns of Samsung Biologics' customers have gradually increased, which has affected our order competitiveness," said Ryu Seung-ho, Chief Financial Officer at Samsung Biologics, during an online briefing. "After the separation, we expect our customers' concerns about conflicts of interest will be better addressed," Ryu added. Samsung Biologics originally established Samsung Bioepis as a joint venture with U.S. pharmaceutical company Biogen Inc. in 2012. In 2022, Samsung acquired Biogen's stake for $2.3 billion, making Bioepis a fully owned subsidiary. Ryu also stressed that the spinoff is not part of any broader corporate governance restructuring within Samsung Group. In a separate statement, Samsung Bioepis reassured that the spinoff would not affect its day-to-day operations. "Samsung Bioepis' ongoing business operations, including research and development, manufacturing, supply distribution, and commercialization of biologic medicines, will not be affected by the spinoff," the company stated. "We will continue to focus on our core business and remain committed to ensuring the continued development, manufacturing, and distribution of high-quality biosimilar medicines to patients worldwide without disruption." By separating the two businesses, Samsung Biologics aims to reinforce the independence of both entities, enabling each to focus more strategically. The company believes this will enhance competitiveness, operational efficiency, and long-term value for shareholders. Interesting fact: Samsung Biologics is already one of the worlds leading CDMO firms, reporting 4.54 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in sales and 1 trillion won in net profit for 2024. With the increasing demand for biologic drugs and the rapid growth of biosimilars, this spinoff could position both Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis for even greater success in their respective markets. Shares of Samsung Biologics fell 1.82 percent to close at 1.08 million won on the Seoul bourse, underperforming the broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index, which dropped 1.22 percent. The spinoff plan was announced before the market opened. 23 May 2025 18:16 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that the Russian military is actively working on the creation of a "security buffer zone" along the border with Ukraine, Azernews reports. The statement came during a meeting with government officials on May 22. "A decision has been made to create the necessary security buffer zone along the border. Our armed forces are currently solving this problem. The enemy's firing points are being actively silenced, the work is underway," Putin said. He listed Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk as among the Russian regions most affected by recent Ukrainian attacks, noting that the buffer zone aims to mitigate these threats. The initiative comes amid increasing pressure from local officials. During a recent meeting with municipal heads in the Kursk region, the head of the Glushkov district, Pavel Zolotarev, appealed directly to Putin, proposing the establishment of a buffer zone extending into Ukraines Sumy region. When asked by Putin how deep the zone should be, Zolotarev responded that Russia should "at least" take control of the city of Sumy. This proposal coincides with heightened concerns in Ukraine. In mid-May, authorities in the Sumy region announced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents from 202 settlements near the Russian border, underscoring the increasing intensity of cross-border hostilities. The US Supreme Court upheld the President's Constitutional power to fire executive branch officials in a 6 to 3 ruling. The case was on the emergency docket and involves specifically the staff of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. It should however, be indicative of what rulings will be relative to other executive branch agencies. Democrat lawyers originally brought the lawfare case in front of an Obama judge in the liberal DC District Court, who ruled that Trump could not fire the plaintiffs. On appeal to a three judge panel of the liberal DC Circuit Court of Appeals, that district court ruling was reversed on a 2 to 1 decision. It was then appealed to all of the Circuit judges sitting together which ruled with the district judge 7 to 4. The Trump administration then took the issue to the Supreme Court which ruled in his favor.. https://redstate.com/beccalower/2025/05/22/scotus-settles-legal-showdown-over-trump-firing-nlrb-and-mspb-appointees-n2189480 https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/breaking-huge-supreme-court-allows-trump-fire-labor/ Politically motivated partisan district court rulings by Obama judges and Biden judges trying to strip President Trump of his Constitutional executive powers, however, continue. A radical Biden district judge in Massachusetts has issued an order saying that President Trump cannot reduce the staff of the Department of Education just hours before the Supreme Court ruling. https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2025/05/22/another-day-ending-in-y-federal-judge-steps-in-to-block-trumps-moves-on-dept-of-education-n2189448 https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/breaking-biden-judge-blocks-trump-dismantling-department-education/ Eco-fascism is raising its ugly head in Oregon and Colorado ballot measures that would ban farming, ranchinig, and even owning pets. This is the point of the spear of environmental extremism. To make it worse, state officials in both states are assisting in trying to get these ballot initiatives before the voters. They are also expected to be bankrolled by wealthy globalist organizations. The Oregon measure, Initiative Petition 28 would make it illegal in the state to raise, eat, ride, or own domestic livestock or to own domestic companion animals like dogs and cats. This would undoubtedly bring a lot more support in tural Oregon to the Greater Idaho Movement, where many counties have already voted to secede and join Idaho. In Colorado, the ballot initiative seeks to establish a Wildlike and Ecosystem Conservation Commission, appointed by universities and environmental groups and which people connected to farming, development, or energy production would be prohibited from serving on, that would have vast powers to control use of land. The measure tracks a proposed international convention backed by Communist China. https://www.zerohedge.com/food/eco-fascism-2026-ballot-measure-seeks-end-farming-colorado Meanwhile, major climate alarmist leader Dr. Michael Mann, who was a leading Climategate plumber, made a post calling for violent overthrow and / or assassination of President Trump. https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2025/05/23/upenn-climate-alarmist-quickly-backtracks-after-seeming-to-call-for-armed-uprising-against-trump-n2189507 New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte has just signed a bill into law that bans sanctuary city / county policies for illegal aliens in that state after it passed both houses of the legislature. This state law will now require local government and law enforcement officials to cooperate with ICE in turning over illegal alien criminals for deportation. https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/05/23/new-hampshire-gov-kelly-ayotte-signs-bills-banning-sanctuary-cities/ North Carolina currently has most of our large counties implementing sanctuary county policies to protect illegal aliens who have committed crimes here from deportation. These policies are implemented by Democrat sanctuary sheriffs in Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford, Forsyth, Durham, Buncombe, Orange, and Chatham Counties, sometimes with their county commission approval. If New Hampshire can prohibit sanctuary cities and counties, it seems that North Carolina should be able to do so. Who in their right mind other than crooked Obama judges and Biden judges wants these criminals back out on our streets when they should not even be in our country? There is a bill going through the legislature to ban sanctuary counties here in North Carolina, but it is sure to be vetoed by our radical leftwing governor Josh Stein. Lets hope we can find one sensible House Democrat to override that expected veto. Rap trio Kneecap are set to headline a festival on Friday, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. Grenfell Tower survivors and the bereaved can be heard calling for justice while one person claims victims were treated like scroungers who didnt deserve anything in a trailer for a new Netflix documentary about the disaster. Grenfell: Uncovered, which launches on June 20, will aim to share the voices of those impacted by the fire as it examines the chain of events which led to the incident that left 72 people dead in 2017, when the blaze spread via combustible cladding on the west London tower blocks exterior. Heather Ann McCarroll received a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, for her behaviour on a flight in 2022 A disgraced social worker who assaulted four Jet2 cabin crew during a drunken air rage incident has been barred from the profession. Co Antrim woman Heather Ann McCarroll (39) hit the headlines in 2023 when she sobbed as she was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, over her outrageous behaviour on a flight to Turkey. DUP councillor who proposed motion says veterans arent being treated fairly A decision to reject a motion that would have seen Belfast City Council sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant was not wrong on procedural grounds, a legal review has found. The DUP called-in the decision to reject the motion, which is aimed at ensuring no former or serving member of the armed services is disadvantaged compared to other citizens when it comes to the provision of public and commercial services. Cocaine thug who brought hammer to hospital in case he was attacked by Muslims celebrates freedom The coked-up arsonist was jailed for arriving to hospital with weapon in case he was attacked by Muslims James Burns in the Donegal bar Steven Moore Fri 23 May 2025 at 08:43 An ex-soldier thug who brought a hammer to hospital while off his face on cocaine in case he was attacked by Muslims has been nailing pints to celebrate his release from jail. Great nephew of Lady Edith Dixon welcomes plan to restore historic NI home but hits out at council Great nephew of original donor Lady Edith Dixon hits out over lack of consultation with family Wilmont House (Abandoned NI) Amy Cochrane Fri 23 May 2025 at 07:26 The great nephew of Lady Edith Dixon has said hes pleased work is under way that could see Wilmont House restored to its former glory. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where the trio announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) A message supporting Kneecap has appeared on Belfasts Black Mountain on Friday afternoon, as the band released their latest track. The message showing the words Kneecap Abuwhich translates to Up Kneecap or Kneecap Forever was displayed in white lettering on the mountain. It comes as Kneecaps new release this afternoon has reignited the groups feud with Kemi Badenoch, including a reference to the Conservative leader and the partys most recent election results. The band have officially released The Recap Ft. Mozey (Bootleg Version) this afternoon, with the track including a reference to Ms Badenoch at the end of the song. Making reference to the English local election results at the start of the month which saw the Tories lose 674 councillors, in the track one member of the band says: Good effort Kemi, hard lines on the elections. Onwards and upwards. Free Palestine. Meanwhile at the start of the track, it samples a news clipping referencing the investigation by counter terror police involving the band. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The new music from the band comes just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The group, who rap in the Irish language, have a headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, later on Friday night. Earlier in a post on social media, the band said they have some day coming up. "We've a brand new landing in our WhatsApp channel at 1pm, they wrote. Kemi Badenoch you might wanna sit down for this one...if you've any seats left. Then we're at Wide Awake in Brockwell Park London for a headline show to 15,000 legends tonight. The reference from the band to Ms Badenoch is part of an ongoing back and forward stretching back to last year, after Kneecap won their discrimination case against the previous government, when the Conservative leader refused the trio funding in her then ministerial role. Last year, the UK Government conceded it was unlawful that the group were refused a 14,250 funding award by Ms Badenoch. Kneecap launched legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. It comes after the band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where the trio announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) He then joked about being careful what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He said: I need to thank my lawyer hes here tonight as well. Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Police officers outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where Kneecap announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authoritys decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was irrational. Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to confirm that the event has been cancelled and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said that no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the events organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. The sign support Kneecap (inset) on Belfast's Black Mountain. Photo: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph Kneecap: A timeline of controversy and success In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesnt have a jury. Whats the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. Kneecap's Mo Chara faces charge under terrorism act over Hezbollah flag Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. They also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Ms Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. Exclusive | Stormont told a judge that tarmacking 3,000 acres of farmland would be less polluting than the industrial farming it has encouraged Gerry Adams outside the High Court in Dublin, where the former Sinn Fein president is bringing a legal action against the BBC over allegations about the murder of an MI5 spy. Claims were made in a BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme in 2016 over who sanctioned the killing of British spy Denis Donaldson. Picture date: Thursday May 22, 2025. Jurors in the Gerry Adams libel action against the BBC are not being asking to pass verdict on Irish history, a judge has said. Delivering his instructions to the jury members on Friday, Judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens told them they were not being asked to make a decision as journalists, but as ordinary members of the public. In his charge to the jurors in Dublin High Court, the judge made clear they were not tasked with making a historical judgment on Mr Adams role in the peace process. No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history, he added. Judge Alexander Owens outside the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Former Sinn Finn leader Mr Adams alleges a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. In the programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gives the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter is ongoing. Mr Adams claims he was subject to a grievous smear while the BBC has described the legal action as a cynical attempt to launder his reputation. The high-profile republican is seeking damages of at least 200,000 euro (168,000) from the BBC. However, the British public service broadcaster has argued it would be a cruel joke to award the former Sinn Fein president any damages. On Thursday, Declan Doyle SC, for Mr Adams, said damages awarded to his client should be very substantial indeed. In his closing statement, Mr Doyle said the widespread circulation of a national broadcaster of an allegation of a cold-blooded cynical murder could not be a defamation of anything other than very serious or exceptional. The BBC has stood by the programme and has argued it was entitled to put forward matters raised in the documentary, which it says were of public importance and done in good faith. The corporation has argued the meaning of the programme and article was not that Mr Adams had sanctioned and approved the killing, and that the claim had to be taken in context of the whole report. BBC Spotlight journalist Jennifer OLeary (PA). In his closing statement, Paul Gallagher SC, representing the BBC, said the claim made by Martin was presented as an allegation and was immediately followed by Mr Adams denial, the claim of responsibility by the Real IRA and the state of the Garda investigation. Mr Gallagher also argued that the reputation of Mr Adams is important for the case, contending that it was universally held that he had a reputation of being in the IRA and on its Army Council. Mr Adams denies ever being in the IRA. On Friday, Justice Owens outlined the key issues in the case for the jurors. On the issue of whether Mr Adams has a bad reputation, the judge said the onus of proof was on the BBC to make that case. He then referred to the evidence of a witness called by the BBC former attorney general and Irish government minister Michael McDowell. Earlier this week, Mr McDowell told the court that Mr Adams was reputed to have become a member of the Army Council of the IRA. The judge said Mr McDowells view and Mr Adams view on the former Sinn Fein leaders role in the peace process are poles apart. But if you come to assess damages in the trial, youre not concerned with that, or to make a historical judgment on that, you do what the evidence tells you about Mr Adams public reputation, about the reputation he enjoyed in 2006 and now, in relation to those matters, he added. He said an historical analysis and theory about the peace process was irrelevant. No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history, he added. The judge later emphasised to the jurors they were not being asked to adopt the mindset of a journalist or judge when making their decision. Youre asked, of course, to make the decision, not as journalists, but as ordinary members of the public, using your common sense, he added. On the issue of Mr Adams reputation, the judge told the jurors it was them who had to assess the Sinn Fein leaders standing in the public mind. So really what youre asked, in my view, is his public reputation a man who approved murders, of a man who approved of murders by others, of a man who was involved in directing terrorism, or is his public reputation of a man who persuaded others to stop and devise the process of discussion and compromise which led to permanent cessation of violence in Northern Ireland? he asked. Or is it a bit of both? Or is it predominantly one or predominantly the other, or totally one or totally the other? Those are really the matters which are for you to decide. The judge also spoke to the jurors about the potential level of damages they could award if they decide Mr Adams was defamed ranging from one cent to hundreds of thousands of euro. He urged them to adopt that question with a sense of proportion and fairness. You dont want to be what I would describe as an over-generous judge or a mean judge, he said. Mr Justice Owens then proceeded to begin summarising the evidence that was heard in the case. That exercise will continue when the court proceedings resume again on Tuesday. The changes require zoos to improve conservation standards and safety measures when keeping dangerous animals (Aaron Chown/PA) Zoos will be required to give animals more enclosure space as long overdue welfare reforms come into place. The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said new standards published on Saturday would modernise British zoo practices for the first time in over a decade, better protecting species ranging from the majestic snowy owl and golden eagle to iconic elephants and wonders of the sea like sting rays and octopus. The changes will see elephants given larger habitats and bring an end to practices like the long-term tethering of birds of prey and letting visitors touch fish and cephalopods such as rays and octopuses. Animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman said the move was the first step in the Governments plan to deliver the most ambitious welfare reforms in a generation. Zoos and aquariums will face a two-year timeline to adapt to the changes, which will also require them to improve conservation standards and safety measures when keeping dangerous animals. Baroness Hayman said: We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept. Todays long-overdue reforms lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums and the animals they protect. This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation. Were making sure all sectors have the tools they need to thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country under our Plan for Change. Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums, said its members have been working closely with Defra officials to meet the updated standards. The new standards are a significant step up in legal requirements and cement Britains position as a global leader for zoos and aquariums, she said. We are delighted to see them published today, demonstrating governments and the sectors commitment to the highest levels of animal care, and helping empower zoos and aquariums to keep leading the fight for nature. The BelTel podcast has taken home a Silver Tower at the prestigious New York Festival Radio Awards The BelTel podcast, hosted and produced by Ciaran Dunbar, with Olivia Peden, with sound design by Graham Davidson has been a huge success The Belfast Telegraphs Podcast has won a New York Festivals Audio Award for the second year in a row. The NYF awards are considered among the most prestigious in the news genre. The BelTel won a Silver Tower prize in News Podcast category, competing against podcasts from Al Jazeera, the Economist and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The BelTels sister podcast, The Indo Daily, won a Bronze Award in the same category. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation also won a Silver award, Al Jazeera won a Bronze. Speaking as part of the New York Festivals Radio Awards Ceremony on Thursday, presenter and producer Ciaran Dunbar said: This is a huge honour, for a small team, and from a small place. This award isnt just for us, the production team its a prize shared by all our journalists who appear on the BelTel, their journalism, their commitment, and by the editorial and legal staff who facilitate that, he added. We live and work in a place with a tragic history but its one which the international audience clearly finds interesting. Our production team is tiny compared to some of those we were competing with, so this makes this Silver Award all the sweeter. The Editor in Chief of the Belfast Telegraph, Eoin Brannigan said: "In just over three years, the BelTel has established itself as an authoritative voice on Northern Ireland. Being recognised with silver in the News category is further evidence of the great audio journalism produced at the Belfast Telegraph by Ciaran, Graham Davidson and Olivia Peden. "It also rewards the entire newsroom without whose contribution the BelTel would not be made. Thanks also to Group Head of Audio for Mediahuis Ireland Mary Carroll and her team in Dublin who help us get the BelTel out every couple of days, and congratulations to them and our colleagues at the Indo Daily on their own awards." The award follows the two-part special of The BelTel Killing Edgar: The IRA murder of lawyer Edgar Graham, hosted by Sam McBride, being runner-up in the News Report: Investigation category last year. The Indo Daily received another bronze award for best investigative journalism podcast for the two-part special investigation Field of Broken Dreams, a two-and-a-half year joint effort between Sunday Independent journalist Mark Tighe and RTE Investigates Marie Crowe. As part of the joint investigation, multiple female footballers claimed they were subjected to unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances from FAI coaches in the 1990s, outlining their personal stories and a series of harrowing allegations. Just eight months after being launched, the daily sport podcast Indo Sport, hosted by Joe Molloy, won silver in the best sports podcast category for the November 2024 episode The Descent of Conor McGregor. Mediahuis Ireland group head of audio Mary Carroll said: The New York Festivals awards are hugely prestigious, so to see our podcasts win alongside those from some of the biggest media producers in the world is an amazing achievement for our teams. The Indo Daily and The BelTel are our flagship news podcasts that rely on old-fashioned journalism. The collaboration between dedicated journalists and our talented audio team has been really successful in reaching new audiences. Were very proud of the success in the investigative journalism category for the Field of Broken Dreams. For Indo Sport to win an award after only eight months on air is a fantastic accomplishment. Mediahuis Ireland Group Head of Sport David Courtney said: Since its debut in September 2024, the Indo Sport podcast has rapidly become a flagship product for Mediahuis Ireland, redefining how Irish Independent sports fans engage with our daily coverage. Hosted by Joe Molloy and featuring a dynamic line-up of contributors including Pat Spillane, Philly McMahon and Dan McDonnell, the podcast delivers sharp, insightful and entertaining commentary across GAA, rugby, football and more. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Peter Hirzel, of Pownal, Vt., sits at defense table Thursday in Vermont Superior Court in Bennington. The former Pine Cobble School math teacher was sentenced to seven years in prison for the sexual assault of a middle school student. PITTSFIELD A total of 39 seniors at Taconic High School have set their sights on a future in their field or in the military after graduating. During a National Signing Day Ceremony on Thursday, the students signed cards at a table at the front of the room as their bios and photos of their work were flashed on the screen above. Olivia Luckey is one of them; she's on her way to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She first studied advanced manufacturing at McCann Technical School in North Adams and then transferred to Taconic after moving back to Pittsfield. Its been amazing," she said of Taconic. "Ive learned a lot, learning how to work different machines, making different materials, and being able to make different things has been amazing." At Worcester Polytechnic Institute, I hope to engineer new things, she said, giving her body a light shake. And maybe make new stuff along the way. Luckey fits a profile described by Marcie Simonds, career technical education supervisor, who said that, while Taconics enrollment is just 41 percent female-identified, We are seeing female students increase their participation in nontraditional shops. So we are seeing students make choices based on what their interests are. Taconics enrollment is rising overall, Simonds said, with 824 students now enrolled and 868 expected in the fall. Most trades are at or near capacity after Taconic transitioned fully to career and technical education in the fall of 2023. Other seniors in Taconics trades, who were honored in the program, said they enjoyed their time at the school and also learned practical skills. Elijah Jones, who studied horticulture, is heading to Berkshire Community College and hopes to transfer to get his bachelors degree in environmental science at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He said the most important skill he obtained in his studies at Taconic was being able to identify 20 to 40 plants by their basic and scientific names. Vincenzo Avanzato plans to continue his focus of carpentry as an apprentice in the North Atlantic Carpenters Union. He said he was drawn to the trade because of the kindness of the carpentry teachers but hes grown to enjoy construction though hes not still crazy about heights. I hope Im mostly working on the ground, he said. Ranked fourth in Taconics Class of 2025, Kaitlyn Timoney was recognized for having the highest grade-point average among seniors in career and technical education. While she studied horticulture, shes heading to Springfield College where she plans to study to become a physicians assistant. She was honored at this program as well. Janayah Jones is heading to Bentley University to study business. She is the secretary of Taconics chapter of SkillsUSA, which hosted the National Signing Day ceremony. Its been so cool to build it from the ground up, she said. What's the most important skill she's taking with her? Communication. When Jones began studying business technology and entrepreneurship in her sophomore year, I was very shy, very quiet, didnt talk to many people, but now Im speaking in front of a whole room of people. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NEW ASHFORD Just 20 of the towns 190 voters took care of municipal business at the annual town meeting Tuesday, approving a budget of $665,669, a decrease of $35,163 from the previous year. The budget amount was tweaked in the final moments, up from $646,949, to add a buffer for the School Committee and to pay for mowing of grass around the now town-owned New Ashford Church, where the meeting took place. In addition, voters approved adding language to the zoning bylaw allowing for and regulating accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals. Planning Board Chair Diane George said the board supported the language. Its a mandate by Boston, she said, referring to state government. Boston does not have to do it, but we do. Addressing the fire chief, Select Board member Mark Phelps wondered how new units would be numbered as they are added under the bylaw. Ill get the answer, Fire Chief Frank Speth III said. I dont want to commit to that without talking to the assessor. That motion also carried unanimously. In addition, voters approved the following expenditures of $10,000 or more: Raise and appropriate $90,325 through user fees and $6,300 from the general fund to reimburse shared officer and appointees stipends, electricity license and propane costs. This was primarily for the municipal lighting plant, Select Board member Ken McInerney explained, adding that as a mature utility, 10 percent of our population is not paying bills on time. He also said the plant needs to be able to operate as a standalone operation and that he would not take his stipend. Transfer $35,000 from free cash (surplus revenue) to build a shed/extension at the fire station to house the town mower and for storage. Phelps said this has been tried before and there were no bidders. Hopefully well get some bidders this time around, he said. Transfer $15,000 from the municipal lighting plant enterprise fund's free cash account to the broadband stabilization fund. Transfer $10,500 from free cash for the towns share of a firefighters safety grant. Transfer $10,000 from the municipal lighting plant free cash account for unforeseen repairs. Voters also accepted a Massachusetts law relating to the disposition of unclaimed property and funds, allowing the treasurer to take unclaimed property as revenue into the general fund. The taking is allowed after a calendar year has passed, and there have been several unsuccessful attempts to notify the check recipient. Mike Koperniak selects the perfect vegetables to fill the final spaces in his above-ground-pool-turned-garden at Jaeschkes Orchard in Adams on Wednesday, just ahead of the wet cold spell that descended on the region. Brighter skies are expected for the holiday weekend, especially Sunday and Monday. As we just looked at the verses about the release of bondservants, I cannot help but travel over to the books of the New Testament. Romans 6:17-18 says, But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. We were all slaves to sin before Jesus came to take away our sin and purchase our freedom through His death. No matter what we have been enslaved to in our lives, Jesus offers freedom; Jesus is our ultimate jubilee. Instead of just offering us freedom once every 50 years, Christ gave us eternal freedom through His death and resurrection. Philippians 2:5-6 says, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. The year of Jubilee is never mentioned in the New Testament. Christians do not celebrate this year. Jewish people today also no longer recognize this celebration either. According to My Jewish Learning, But the jubilee year has not been observed for at least two millennia. This is because the verse in Leviticus, which specifically namesall its inhabitants, was understood by the rabbis to mean that the jubilee year only applies when all those who are meant to live in Israel that is, all 12 tribes of Israel do in fact live there. Jesus is offering jubilee to each one of us today. The truth is that we do not need to be held captive by our sins anymore. We can proclaim and embrace the freedom that we have through Christ. I imagine that we all have our own testimonies of coming to a saving faith in Jesus. One thing that I love about the Year of Jubilee in Scripture is that no matter if a person was a bondservant for one day or forty-nine years, on the 50th year, this person was given the ability to be set free of all debts and all service. In a similar way, whether we accepted Christ as a child, or on the last day of our lives, our debts are paid and forgiven by the grace of Jesus. May the Year of Jubilee remind us how we were once enslaved to our sins, but we have been made alive and freed through Jesus. We can celebrate the Jubilee of Jesus resurrection every moment of every day. More from this author Glorify God with What He Has Placed in Your Hand Why Are Trumpets So Important Throughout the Bible? How 3 Biblical Trees Reveal the Wonder of Salvation Photo credit: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio Madras Diabetes Research Foundation signs MoU with Russias Almazov National Medical Research Centre May 23, 2025 | Friday | News Institutions to collaborate on research on emerging fields like artificial intelligence and precision medicine in diabetes care The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) has entered into a strategic research collaboration with the Almazov National Medical Research Centre, based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This partnership marks a significant step toward advancing international research in diabetes and its related fields. The Almazov Centre, a leading medical research institution under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and MDRF will collaborate on several key areas including the development of new diagnostics and treatment strategies for diabetes, particularly Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), as well as emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and precision medicine in diabetes care. The MoU was formally signed by Dr V. Mohan, and Prof. Evgeny Shlyakhto, Director General of the Almazov Centre. As part of the agreement, the two institutions will engage in the training and exchange of medical specialists, joint scientific conferences and academic meetings, collaborative research publications, and the development of educational and cultural exchange programmes. Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. V. Mohan - Chairman of MDRF said, This partnership signifies a shared commitment to tackling one of the most pressing global health challengesdiabetesthrough scientific innovation and international cooperation. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to jointly explore the potential of AI and precision medicine to transform diabetes care. Further to the signing of the MoU, researchers from both institutions have commenced joint projects focusing on gestational diabetes. The collaboration involves Dr Polina V. Popova and her team from the Department of Endocrinology at the Almazov Centre, and Dr Mohan and his colleagues from MDRF, with plans to expand the scope of their joint research initiatives in the coming months. Hoax A giant ship, over 10,000 years old, was discovered by archaeologists in Ecuadors jungle with alien technology. Analysis A story has been circulating on social media claiming a remarkable archaeological discovery in South America. The post, accompanied by an image, alleges that a giant ship of unknown origin was found buried in the Amazon jungle, in the Pastaza province of Ecuador. According to the story, the artifact is more than 10,000 years old, made from an unidentified metal alloy, and displays incomprehensible inscriptions raising suspicions of extraterrestrial origins or a highly advanced ancient civilization. The narrative also mentions the use of ground-penetrating radar and names a supposed archaeologist, Dr. Isabel Marquez, as the one responsible for the discovery. Here is the content being shared: Incredible discovery! A giant ship was found buried in the Ecuadorian jungle, hidden for over 10,000 years: possible evidence of advanced technology from our past. This finding could change the way we understand human history. A team of archaeologists uncovered a colossal structure buried in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest. The formation, identified as a giant ship of unknown origin, was completely covered by sediment and vegetation, remaining hidden for over 10,000 years. The discovery took place in the remote and hard-to-reach Pastaza province. Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology, the team led by Dr. Isabel Marquez detected an anomaly in the ground, initially thought to be a natural rock formation. However, excavations revealed a massive object with features suggesting a technological design far beyond any known civilization. The structure is approximately 100 meters long, with an aerodynamic shape resembling science fiction spacecraft. It was built from an unknown material that, according to preliminary analysis, could be a metal alloy with properties not yet understood by modern science. The outer walls have geometric engravings and patterns that seem to serve a functional purpose possibly related to energy or navigation. Inside the ship, archaeologists found perfectly preserved chambers containing strange artifacts, including glass spheres and panels with inscriptions that dont match any known language. Initial spectroscopy analysis revealed traces of materials not found naturally on Earth, fueling speculation about the ships origin. The discovery has sparked a wave of theories and debates in the scientific community. Some experts believe the ship could be evidence of an extremely advanced terrestrial civilization that vanished millennia ago. According to this theory, the structure might have served as a laboratory or a transportation vessel used to explore the planet. Others suggest it might have extraterrestrial origins. The alignment of the structure with specific star patterns and the exotic materials found have led some to propose it could be an ancient alien ship stranded on Earth due to a catastrophic event. An even bolder hypothesis suggests the ship might have been built using hybrid technology the result of collaboration between ancient humans and beings from another world. Although these theories sound like science fiction, the research team has not ruled out any possibilities until the studies are complete. Among the objects discovered are metallic discs that appear to be data storage devices. Though they could not be activated, scientists believe they might contain crucial data about the ships function and the civilization that created it. Moreover, the engravings on the panels indicate deep knowledge of advanced geometry and quantum physics concepts we are only beginning to grasp today. If confirmed to be over 10,000 years old, this discovery would force us to rewrite human history. The idea that such advanced technology existed in such a distant past challenges traditional theories about our species development and raises new questions about our true origins. Fact-check The story went viral on social media, but theres no evidence that a 10,000-year-old giant ship was discovered in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In this fact-check, we address the following: 1) Was a 10,000-year-old ship found buried in the Ecuadorian jungle? 2) Is the supposed image of the ship real? 3) Are there other similar hoaxes about archaeological finds? Was a 10,000-year-old ship found buried in the Ecuadorian jungle? No. There are no credible records of such an archaeological discovery. No reputable news outlet, scientific institution, or academic publication mentions this structure in Pastaza. There is also no record of an archaeologist named Dr. Isabel Marquez involved in such an excavation. Is the supposed image of the ship real? No. The image that circulates with the posts was created using artificial intelligence. It shows visual characteristics inconsistent with real archaeological digs, such as surreal lighting, lack of contextual details, and exaggerated proportions. Furthermore, no credible source has provided any photo or study supporting the existence of such a structure. Are there similar hoaxes about archaeological discoveries? Yes. Social media frequently features impossible discovery stories, often accompanied by AI-generated images and texts that mix technical terms with science fiction. Examples include fake reports of giant skeletons, ancient robots, and even giant mummies. These stories follow the same pattern: remote locations, lack of sources, pseudoscience, and the use of technical jargon to lend credibility. Conclusion The claim that a 10,000-year-old giant ship was discovered in the Ecuadorian jungle is entirely false. There is no archaeological, scientific, or journalistic evidence supporting such a discovery. The image was created with AI, and the hoax follows a common pattern in fake news stories about history-rewriting discoveries. Fake news Ps: This article was suggested by readers of Boatos.org. If youd like to suggest a topic to Boatos.org, contact us by email at [email protected] or WhatsApp (link here). 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. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Actress Saoirse Ronan is reportedly expecting her first child with her husband Jack Lowden. According to the Irish Independent, a source close to the couple confirmed the news and said the pair were "thrilled". Advertisement The four-time Oscar-nominated actress married Slow Horses star Lowden in Edinburgh last summer. Saoirse Ronan at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2026 photocall on May 22nd in Avignon, France. Photo: Antoine Flament/Getty In October last year Ronan said she felt fortunate that she will be able to step away from her Hollywood career to have children without having to give up acting for good. The 30-year-old told British Vogue: I became successful when I was quite young. So it meant that, actually, by the time I found my partner, Im now at the stage where, if it happened, I would like to have a kid. Photo: Antoine Flament/Getty I feel fortunate enough that, if I step out of this for a minute, Im hopefully not giving it up forever. But, yeah, Ive always wanted that. Ronan attended a Louis Vuitton event in the south of France on Thursday night, wearing a black gown from the French luxury house. She appeared on the front row of the star-studded fashion show alongside actresses Emma Stone, Cate Blanchett and Sophie Turner. Dublin clampers have been ordered to compensate a motorist for repairs after his car was damaged during towing last year. Oscar Adonis Marchat, of Elton Park, Sandycove, Dublin, won a small claims case against Dublin Street Parking Services Ltd. Advertisement He told Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court that he had to bring the civil action due to his car getting towed away in the city on July 16th last year. Mr Marchat testified that he had no issue with that and paid the fine, and the vehicle was unclamped. However, he told Judge White it showed a "failure signal" and would not start. The judge queried whether an anti-theft device was triggered to immobilise the car. Mr Marchat said that was not the issue, and his garage found that the steering column was damaged, "and that forced the car to shut down". Advertisement Judge White heard Mr Marchat was left with a 553 repair bill, which he referred to the clampers, asking them to pay. He alleged they responded by saying they needed a private investigator and had to appoint someone to interview him and contact his garage to look into his complaint. Ireland Revealed: Cork's illegal parking blackspots with o... Read More But by late summer they had not got in touch about seeing the car. "I tried to follow up multiple times," the motorist said. Finally, he said, the investigator had told him he had come off the case and to deal directly with the parking company again. Mr Marchat got his car fixed at his own expense and provided documentation from his garage, a quote and an explanation for the damage. With no defence entered by Dublin Street Parking Services Ltd and noting the evidence furnished, Judge White accepted that the steering column was damaged during towing and granted Mr Marchat a decree for the full repair amount. The jury in Gerry Adamss High Court defamation action against the BBC is expected to begin deliberations next week. Mr Justice Alexander Owens told the jury of seven men and five women that at least nine of them must be in agreement in coming to a decision in the case. Advertisement The former Sinn Fein leader claims a BBC Spotlight programme and a related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning British agent Denis Donaldsons killing at a cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal, in 2006. He described the allegation as a grievous smear. The BBC denies it defamed Mr Adams, who insists he had no involvement in Mr Donaldsons death, for which dissident republicans claimed responsibility for in 2009. On Friday, Mr Justice Owens addressed the jury on the key questions they are to consider when coming to a verdict in the case, and summarised part of the evidence heard over the course of four weeks of the trial. Advertisement The judge said the onus was on Mr Adamss side to prove that the statements complained of in the broadcast and article were defamatory, that they mean he sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson. The BBC says the statements did not defame Mr Adams. It is the broadcasters case that the statements were couched as allegations, and should be considered in the context of the wider broadcast and article. The judge said it was the jurys role to decide what the words complained of mean to a reasonable member of society. If the jury find the statements mean what Mr Adams says they do, then they must consider the BBCs defence of fair and reasonable publication in the public interest. Advertisement The onus of proof in this defence is on the BBC, the judge said. Mr Justice Owens told the jury theyd heard a great deal of evidence on the public reputation of Mr Adams, but noted that this was not relevant until considering the question of damages. The jury will only consider damages if they find the statements to mean what Mr Adams has pleaded, and if they reject the BBCs defence. On Thursday, BBC senior counsel Paul Gallagher claimed the case was Mr Adams cynical attempt to launder a reputation of being in the IRA and on its decision-making body, known at the army council. Advertisement Mr Adamss senior counsel Declan Doyle said the BBC was deliberately and cynically ignoring Mr Adamss reputation for peace and reconciliation. The judge said the BBCs argument in relation to Mr Adamss reputation was simple: they say his reputation is bad and they say he should be given nominal damages. The judge said the BBC say the jury should send [Mr Adams] packing, with a euro or even a cent in damages, if it comes to that. Mr Adamss case is that he has a public reputation for supporting the move to the peace process in Northern Ireland, the judge said. Mr Adamss lawyers have argued that their client should receive very substantial damages of at least 200,000. Advertisement The judge reiterated to the jury that allegations made about Mr Adams in newspapers, books and in other publications put to Mr Adams by the BBCs lawyers during the trial were not proof that he was involved in nefarious activities. They are, however, relevant to his public reputation, he said. The judge noted that Mr Adams freely admitted these allegations were made about it, and are in the public domain. He also notes the allegations have been denied by Mr Adams. Also relevant are recordings of Mr Adams giving speeches or press conferences, or clips of him meeting leaders such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. The judge said it was for the jury to decide what Mr Adamss public reputation is. The judge said they were being asked if his reputation was of a man who approved murder of others and was involved in terrorism, or a man who persuaded others to stop violence, leading to a permanent cessation in violence in Northern Ireland. The judge said they could decided his reputation is a mixture of both propositions, or more one than the other. He said that they should only consider his reputation in this jurisdiction, not in Northern Ireland, or anywhere else. The judge said that in considering a witnesss evidence, the jury should consider if they have an axe to grind or is withholding something. He said they should consider the internal consistency of their evidence, to consider if their account is credible. The case returns on Tuesday. A soldier who bagged and mixed thousands of euro of drugs in his room in an Army barracks in Cork has been jailed for four years. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Shane Scanlon (35) served in the Army for 18 years. He reportedly became involved in drug dealing because of financial pressures. Advertisement He resigned from the Defence Forces after he was caught with close to 27,000 worth of cocaine in a room he rented in Collins Barracks in Cork on March 27th, 2024. Det Garda Derry OBrien said Scanlon, of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork, was the sole occupant of the room. In addition to cocaine, gardai found 1,100 in cash and numerous drug paraphenalia including a blender used for mixing drugs, a weighing scales and bags. Gardai found evidence of drug dealing on a phone owned Scanlon with the offending behaviour going as far back as 2021. A search was carried out at his home, and 2,250 in cash was also recovered. Advertisement Scanlon made full admissions to gardai upon his arrest. He also co-operated fully with the Garda investigation. Det Garda OBrien said Scanlon was using the Army barracks as a safe haven for storing drugs as opposed to his house address in Cobh. The father-of-three has two previous convictions for minor driving offences. He has not come to the attention of gardai since his arrest. The drug dealing was carried out purely for monetary gain, and there is no suggestion of drug addiction or a drug debt. Advertisement Defence barrister Ray Boland SC said his client had resigned from the Army after years of otherwise exemplary service. Mr Boland asked Judge Dermot Sheehan to impose a fully suspended sentence in the case in light of certain family circumstances of the defendant. He said his client had suffered from homelessness in the past. Mr Boland said Scanlon was keenly aware of the shame his conduct brought on his unit. Advertisement He is ashamed of that and remorseful. I would ask for his admissions and co operation to be taken in to account. The amount [of cocaine], though considerable, is at the lower end for Section 15A. This [offending behaviour] was done because he was under financial pressure. In sentencing, Judge Dermot Sheehan said Scanlon had a lack of victim awareness and empathy of the real consequences of drugs on the citizens of Ireland. He said the accused wasnt just storing drugs in his room in the barracks but was actively bagging and mixing the product for distribution onwards. Advertisement Judge Sheehan said Scanlon was taking advantage of the fact the barracks was controlled with armed guards 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. He said Scanlon wasnt on the Garda radar and only came to attention because they were contacted by the authorities in the barracks. Describing what had occurred as an extraordinary breach of trust, he jailed Scanlon for five years suspending the last year of the sentence. He cited the signed plea, the lack of relevant previous convictions and the personal circumstances of the accused as factors in his decision to depart from the mandatory 10 year sentence for a Section 15A offence. Scanlon had pleaded guilty to being in possession of cocaine at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another, on March 27th, 2024. Ireland Dispute over letting out of 17 allegedly overcrowd... Read More He also admitted having cocaine unlawfully in his possession for his own use on the same occasion. Scanlon also pleaded guilty to money laundering in respect of 1,100 at Collins Barracks and another sum of 2,250 at his home in Cobh. He also entered a guilty plea to being in possession of articles, namely a blender and weighing scales in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference it was for the purpose of commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug-trafficking offence. The charge of having cocaine for sale and supply when it exceeds 13,000 comes with a mandatory 10-year minimum prison sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances. Tom Odell has announced details of his new album, A Wonderful Life, as well as a concert in Dublin's 3Arena for October 23rd. The new record is released on September 5th, 2025, and was recorded in London. It features 10 tracks, including the recent introductory track and album opener, Dont Let Me Go. Advertisement Tickets for Odell's Dublin gig wil go on sale on Friday, May 30th, at 10am, with tickets prices ranging from 61.85 to 78.25. These are subject to 12.5 per cent Ticketmaster service charge per ticket (max 10.50). On this his seventh studio album, Tom Odell has aimed to create a record that embodies a universal spirit of empathetic, total honesty; one that looks out at the broken landscape of modern, fractured society and finds dystopia and doom, but also - integrally - glimmers of beauty and hope. To coincide with the albums announcement, Tom has shared a new single, Dont Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder. Odell said the songs on A Wonderful Life seek understanding within a human existence that is, at its core, messy and convoluted and never just one thing. Advertisement I wish I could wrap it up into a nice little bow of what the mood and the message is, but these songs are the antithesis of that, he said. To live, and to write honestly about it, is such a profoundly important part of my life now. And I feel like if I have any duty whatsoever, its just to continue to do that. Odell has recently been out across Europes arenas in support of Billie Eilish, and will return to many of the same venues to headline them later this year as part of a huge 27-date arena run across the UK and Europe. A woman in her 20s has been assaulted in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The incident happened on Thursday night, when gardai were called to Georges Street Lower. Advertisement The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment. Gardai say investigations are ongoing. At least 60 people have been killed by Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight as Israel pressed ahead with its military offensive and let in minimal aid to the Strip. The dead included 10 people were killed by strikes in the southern city of Khan Younis, four in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to the Nasser, Al-Aqsa and Al-Ahli hospitals where the bodies were brought. Advertisement Israel is facing mounting international criticism for its latest offensive, and pressure to let aid into Gaza amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The Strip has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, according to the United Nations. Experts have warned that many of Gazas two million residents are at high risk of famine. There are growing calls for Israel to ends its campaign (AP) Even the United States, a staunch ally, has voiced concerns over the hunger crisis. The strikes come a day after two Israeli embassy workers were shot while leaving a reception for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum, in Washington, DC. Advertisement The suspect told police he did it for Palestine, according to court documents filed on Thursday as he was charged with murder. He did not enter a plea. On Thursday night, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killings in Washington horrific and blasted France, the UK and Canada for proposing to establish a Palestinian state. He said: Because by issuing their demand, replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power. Earlier this week, the three leaders including the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issued one of the most significant criticisms by close allies of Israels handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the West Bank, threatening to take concrete actions if the government did not cease its renewed military offensive and significantly lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. Advertisement For the first time in two months, a handful of WFP-supported bakeries in south and central #Gaza are producing fresh bread again. WFP is using every opportunity to deliver critical food supplies as families face high risk of famine. Read more: https://t.co/KPciUatX5f pic.twitter.com/3QFybaO1NO World Food Programme (@WFP) May 22, 2025 Amid pressure, Israel started letting in aid. On Friday, Israeli officials said they let in more than 100 trucks of aid, including flour, food, medical equipment and drugs. The trucks came in through the Kerem Shalom crossing. But UN agencies say the amount is woefully insufficient, compared with around 600 trucks a day that entered during a recent ceasefire and that are necessary to meet basic needs. UN agencies say Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order in Gaza make it difficult to retrieve and distribute the aid. As a result, little of it has so far reached those in need. The strikes that lasted into Friday morning came a day after Israeli tanks and drones attacked a hospital in northern Gaza, igniting fires and causing extensive damage, Palestinian hospital officials said on Thursday. Advertisement Videos taken by a health official at Al-Awda Hospital show walls blown away and thick black smoke billowing wreckage. Civilians, including children, continue to bear the brunt of armed conflict, the Security Council heard on Thursday. In 2024, more than 36,000 civilians were killed in 14 conflicts around the world. Latest update: https://t.co/Q49TUI3YqS pic.twitter.com/kTOyPjDJ2v United Nations (@UN) May 22, 2025 Israel said it will continue to strike Hamas until all of the 58 Israeli hostages are released fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive, according to Israel and until Hamas disarms. Earlier this week, Mr Netanyahu said he was recalling his high-level negotiating team from the Qatari capital, Doha, after a week of ceasefire talks failed to bring results. A working team will remain. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said a fundamental gap remained between the two parties and that none of the proposals was able to bridge their differences. Advertisement Hamas said no real ceasefire talks have taken place since last week in Doha. The group accused Mr Netanyahu of falsely portraying participation and attempting to mislead global public opinion by keeping Israels delegation there without engaging in serious negotiations. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. The militants are still holding 58 captives, around a third of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israels retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Iran and the United States made some but not conclusive progress in a fifth round of negotiations in Rome over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, the talks Omani mediator said. The remarks by Badr al-Busaidi suggested the negotiations between the two long-time enemies would continue even as the talks run up against their toughest challenge: Trying to find middle ground between American demands that Iran stop enriching uranium while Tehran insists its programme must continue. Advertisement The fifth round of Iran US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress, Mr al-Busaidi wrote. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement. US officials up to President Donald Trump insist Iran cannot continue to enrich uranium at all in any deal that could see sanctions lifted on Tehrans struggling economy. Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi early on Friday insisted online that no enrichment would mean we do NOT have a deal. Advertisement Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science, Mr Araghchi wrote on X. Time to decide. The US was again represented in the talks by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Departments policy planning director. Mr al-Busaidi was mediating the negotiations as the sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula has been a trusted interlocutor by both Tehran and Washington in the talks. Multiple convoys arrived at the Omani Embassy in Romes Camilluccia neighbourhood just after 1pm. The embassy previously served as the site of another round of talks. Iranian media said the talks started at 1.30pm. Advertisement After about two-and-a-half hours, a convoy left the embassy compound. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, at the embassy in Rome, told state television that it was Mr Witkoff leaving because he needed to catch a flight. Mr Baghaei said the talks had continued without Mr Witkoff in a sane and calm atmosphere. Mr Araghchi announced online the talks were over just after 5pm. Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he held telephone talks with US President Donald Trump and agreed to hold productive discussions at an upcoming tariff talks between the two sides. Investment, not tariffs, Mr Ishiba told reporters after the talks. Advertisement He said Japans position to keep pushing Washington to drop all recent tariff measures is unchanged and that he stands by plans to push for Japanese investment to create more jobs in the US in exchange. The two leaders held talks just after Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japans chief tariff negotiator, headed to Washington for a third round of talks with his US counterparts. In the earlier rounds of talks, the US had not agreed to the Japanese requests. Mr Ishiba said he reminded Trump that Japans position was for the US administration to scrap all recent tariffs on imports from Japan, to which the American leader made no specific response. Advertisement I expressed my expectations for productive discussion to be held, and we agreed, Mr Ishiba told reporters. The US is charging a 25% tariff on imports of autos, a mainstay of Japans trade with America and a key driver of growth for the economy. Mr Trump has relaxed some of those tariffs but has kept in place higher tariffs on steel and aluminium. Fridays talks were requested by Mr Trump and the two leaders discussed about 45 minutes on range of topics that also included security cooperation between the two allies and the US Presidents recent visit to the Middle East, Mr Ishiba said. He said the two leaders also agreed to hold talks when they both attend the Group of Seven summit in Canada next month. Record floodwaters on Australias east coast have left four people dead and one missing, officials said on Friday as rain eased over the disaster area. Some 50,000 people have been isolated by flooding along the coast of New South Wales state, north of Sydney, after days of heavy rain. Advertisement The low-pressure weather system that brought the deluge had moved further south to Sydney and its surroundings on Friday. Four bodies have been retrieved from floodwaters in New South Wales since Wednesday. Three of the victims had driven into floodwaters, while a mans body had been found on the verandah of his flooded home. Rescue personnel assist a resident stranded in flooded waters at her home in Port Macquarie, north of Sydney (Lindsay Moller/AAP Image via AP) The latest victim was a man in his 70s whose body was found in a car in floodwater on Friday near Coffs Harbour, a police statement said. The car had run off the road. Advertisement A 49-year-old man remains missing after walking near a flooded road at Nymboida on Wednesday night. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales premier Christopher Minns on Friday were inspecting devastated communities, some of which had been inundated by the highest floodwaters on record. Bellingen Shire Council mayor Steve Allan said landslides and damaged roads and bridges were complicating the process of reaching isolated communities in his rural local government region southwest of Coffs Harbour. Weve woken up to blue skies, which is a great thing, Mr Allan told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Advertisement Our rivers are slowly receding and I think were probably transitioning from the response phase into the recovery phase this morning. Hackers working for Russian military intelligence targeted Western technology and logistics companies involved in shipping assistance to Ukraine, the US National Security Agency said. The hackers were trying to obtain details about the type of assistance entering Ukraine and, as part of the effort, sought access to the feeds of internet-connected cameras near Ukrainian border crossings, according to the NSAs report on the cyberattack, which was issued late on Wednesday. Advertisement The cyber campaign sought to penetrate defence, transportation and logistics companies in several Western countries, including the US, as well as ports, airports and rail systems. The report did not specify which types of aid Russia was surveilling, but Ukraines allies have contributed significant amounts of military and humanitarian assistance since the war began. More than 10,000 internet-connected cameras were targeted, including private devices and public traffic cameras near critical transportation points, such as ports, rail hubs or border crossings. Most were in Ukraine, though some were in Romania, Poland and other eastern or central European countries. Advertisement Officials did not disclose details of the hackers success or how long they remained unnoticed. The activity detailed in the report began in 2022, the same year that Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia is expected to continue its efforts to spy on aid shipments, and companies involved in aid logistics or shipments should be on guard, according to the report, which was issued jointly by the NSA, the FBI and security agencies in several allied nations. To defend against and mitigate these threats, at-risk entities should anticipate targeting, the NSA said. Advertisement Authorities linked the activity to a Russian military intelligence unit dubbed Fancy Bear that is well known for its past campaigns targeting the US and its allies. The hackers used a variety of tactics to gain access, including spear phishing, which involves sending authentic-looking messages to a potential victim that contain links to harmful software or requests for sensitive information. The Russian team also exploited security vulnerabilities in computer devices used at small and in-home offices, networks that often lack the security measures found in larger systems. The hackers did not use particularly innovative techniques, according to Grant Geyer, chief strategy officer at the cybersecurity company Claroty. Advertisement Nevertheless, the sprawling yet carefully orchestrated effort gives the Russians a granular understanding of the aid sent to Ukraine, he said. They have done detailed targeting across the entire supply chain to understand what equipment is moving, when and how whether its by aircraft, ship or rail, Mr Geyer said. Russia could use the information it obtained to hone its war planning, Mr Geyer said, or to plot further cyber or physical attacks on the supply chain to Ukraine. Last autumn, US intelligence officials issued a public bulletin directing American defence companies and suppliers to increase security precautions following several acts of sabotage in Europe that officials have blamed on Russia. Advertisement The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond requests for comment. US President Donald Trump has said Russia and Ukraine have carried out a large exchange of prisoners. A Ukrainian official said the swap was ongoing, but not yet complete. Advertisement Moscow did not immediately confirm the exchange was under way. A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine, Mr Trump said on the Truth Social platform. He said it would go into effect shortly, although it was not clear what that meant. A senior Ukrainian official said the exchange was ongoing on Friday morning and has not finished yet. Advertisement This could lead to something big??? Mr Trump added in his post, apparently referring to international diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. White House and National Security Council officials did not immediately respond to requests for further details. The exchange was agreed last week in the first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscows 2022 invasion of its neighbour. That meeting in Turkey lasted just two hours and brought no breakthrough in international diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Chinese, Dutch FMs hold talks, reach six-point consensus Xinhua) 08:53, May 23, 2025 Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to enhance communication with the Netherlands, deepen practical cooperation and strengthen multilateral collaboration, thereby making new contributions to the development of China-EU relations, the recovery of the world economy and the stability of global industrial and supply chains. Wang said China has introduced a number of new opening-up measures and welcomes the Netherlands to seize opportunities. He expressed the hope that the Dutch side will provide a just, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. Veldkamp said the Dutch side adheres to the one-China policy, and is willing to work with China to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen practical cooperation and uphold multilateralism. He said the relationship between Europe and China is of vital importance, and the Netherlands is willing to make active efforts to enhance EU-China relations. Following a comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views, the two sides reached six points of consensus. Both sides agreed to maintain close exchanges and deepen practical cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture and water conservancy. They agreed to maintain close communication concerning cooperation in multiple fields, including semiconductor technology, via existing channels. They reaffirmed support for multilateralism, pledged to adhere to free trade and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and promised to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as climate adaptation and green transformation. Both sides reaffirmed the goal of jointly promoting the realization of equal rights for all, especially women and girls, which requires significant actions on a global scale. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Hanging on a blue wall there is a picture of a woman. She is relaxed, completely naked, and looking just a little bit out of frame as she perches on the edge of a bed. The colours are soft and gentle, and its only when you take a step back that you realise that they inform the palette of the room its currently displayed in. Girl sitting on a bed by Edith Collier. Credit: Via Art Gallery of South Australia There are a few things to know about this painting. Girl sitting on a bed is by New Zealand artist Edith Collier, who until now had never been exhibited in Australia. It was painted around 1917, during the artists time spent in London. The main thing to know, however, is that its remarkable that we are seeing this work at all. Upon Colliers return to New Zealand she was met with scathing reviews, and in the fallout of all this, her father burned most of her progressive works mostly nudes. This one, however, was spared. This work were thrilled to have because it is a rare surviving nude, says Elle Freak, associate curator of Australian art at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Collier is one of 50 women artists whose work forms Dangerously Modern, a new exhibition at Art Gallery of South Australia, curated in conjunction with Art Gallery of New South Wales. 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 Jim E. Browns gone AWOL, nowhere to be found. Damn it, Jim, his beleaguered tour promoter, Andy Burns, on hand to connect our Zoom interview, says after several unsuccessful attempts to track Brown down on his phone. I mean, this is very on-brand, he adds with a resigned laugh. Look, it wasnt unexpected. As his songs anthems such as Im An Obese Alcoholic, Im Naked in My Room Huffing Nitrous Balloons, and I Know Im Going to Die of a Stroke suggest, Jim E. Brown is battling demons. As his Bandcamp bio helpfully explains, Jim E. Brown is an alcoholic and has several degenerative conditions. The same time a day later, Browns found. Hes backstage at a venue in Milwaukee, about 30 minutes from a headline slot, with an Old Fashioned in one hand and a Miller High Life in the other. Theres also an entire refrigerator filled with beers, which Ill show you right now because youre a journalist and you need to see these things, he says, swinging his laptop across the room to reveal a hefty stash. Ill need all of it before the end of the night. Jim E. Brown, the live experience: the eternally 19-year-old alcoholic Britpop star is touring Australia this month. Dressed in a mustard turtleneck and a grey blazer, he looks as dejected as he does on the cover of his 2021 debut, Jim E. Brown Sings His Songs. Im so sorry about yesterday, says Brown. Im just deeply suspicious of the news media and I feared you were going to slander me. But Andy convinced me that it would be good to do this interview. Burns first brought Brown to Australia last year, when the pair toured the country together for three weeks. My memory is a bit shoddy from alcohol abuse, but I remember the incessant squawking of the birds in Katoomba, which was very disturbing to me. I didnt really like that, says Brown. Beyond a pie floater he had in Adelaide, he didnt like much about Australia. I cant say I really like Australian people, theyre a bit weird, he says. But people all over the world are weird and I dont really like anyone, so it was alright. Advertisement If, by this point, this all sounds like some sort of Kaufman-ian shtick, thats because it is. Jim E. Brown comes from the same grand tradition as Mojo Nixon, Weird Al Yankovic, The Darkness or Jimothy Lacoste, musical acts who straddle the line between silly joke and sonic transcendence. According to his own lore, Brown was born and raised in East Didsbury in Manchester, the day before 9/11. It should be noted, theres a lot of Brown lore: three volumes of his autobiography Brown On Brown, and three subsequent memoirs (Holiday with Mrs. Higgins, Shattered, and Brittanys Burden, which tells the story of his relationship with a sober woman he met on Loosid, the sober dating app). And Im working on my new book, which is as yet untitled, adds Brown. Its a memoir about the time I spent living in the cage in Gregs basement. What does that mean? Some bloke called Greg locked me in a cage in his basement and I wrote a book about it, he says. Music was an unexpected career for Brown. As an alcoholic with several degenerative conditions and as an obese person who eats excessively, Id been using alcohol and food to ease the pain in my life for so long, and I still do that, he says. But then I discovered that music and poetry and the written word could also ease some of the pain, provide a bit of catharsis, so I started doing music for that reason. Brown was 19 when he started releasing music. How old is he now? Advertisement 19, says Brown. Still 19? I ask. Yes, says Brown, stifling a chuckle with his hand. Its one of the few times Ill get a peek at the ridiculously dedicated man behind the act. Browns recent masterpiece, Shame. In the internet age, mystery seems impossible, but whoevers behind Jim E. Brown is committed. Reddit seems to agree hes some guy from Philadelphia, a 40-something ex-animation filmmaker named Max Margulies. People have said that to me at shows, but I dont understand it, says Brown. Its a bit weird. I dont go up to people saying, I heard youre from this place that you said youre not. I take it at face value what people say. The mistrust galls me, he adds. But its alright, because theyll usually buy some merch, give me money, and then they say I heard youre actually this or that, and I say, Oh right, I dont know, and I move on. And then I take the money to the pub and I get pissed. How does Brown account for the fact that, in the real world, Margulies is credited as the sole composer and writer on all his songs? I dont know who that is. Ive not heard of him, he says. I dont handle the publishing or anything like that, so I dont know the names. Also, you really cant trust what you read on the internet, you know? Advertisement Who am I to poke any further at the facade? Especially when the music is this good, songs that make you wanna dance, cry and possibly even get a medical check-up (see My Urine is Foamy, Do I Have Kidney Damage?). As a born and bred Mancunian (falsely, but still), Browns sound understandably draws from Manchesters post-punk and baggy tradition. Drum machines and synths shimmer like a crap New Order. He wails like the Falls Mark E. Smith, if Smith was a shame-ridden depressive. He rhapsodises like John Cooper Clarke, if Clarke was raised on YouTube brain rot. Never heard of them, says Brown. People ask me about that all the time. They say, do you like Mark E. Mark or whatever his name is or the Smiths, and then I get confused, like which Smith is it? Ive not listened to any of that music. My favourite artists are Coldplay, Kraftwerk and Phish. Im also quite keen on Owl City. You know that song, Fireflies? Loading It was Browns album Shame released last Christmas, and featuring the singalong Im Quitting Prozac to Continue Drinking that became an unlikely online breakout. Last year, Burns toured the US with Brown, where he noticed a sort of Jim E. mania taking hold. People were stopping him in the streets, he says. He just hit the luck of the algorithm. Brown or is that Margulies? cant believe his music allows him to tour the globe. I mean, if I were to listen to something, the very last thing would be a Jim E. Brown album, thats 100 per cent sure, he says. So Im surprised, because its all a bit shit to me. Advertisement Advertisement Review Eating outDocklands This surprising steakhouse serves limousine food at rust-bucket prices Juan Berbeo of Berbeo Bar & Grill isnt Melbournes best-known steak specialist, but its hard to imagine many local chefs have cooked as much meat as he has (including for 5500 people in one day, once upon a time). Dani Valent May 23, 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 . 1 / 7 Mains, such as inside skirt steak, come with a salad, two Colombian-style sauces and a choice of fries, rice, plantain fritters, cassava chips or golden potatoes (pictured). Bonnie Savage 2 / 7 Berbeo Bar & Grill steakhouse is housed in a two-level restaurant in Docklands. Bonnie Savage 3 / 7 Deep-fried empanadas filled with cheese and corn. Bonnie Savage 4 / 7 House-made chorizo with cheese arepa (corn flatbread). Bonnie Savage 5 / 7 Pork ceviche salad with a curl of chicharron. Bonnie Savage 6 / 7 The steak of the day lunch plate. Bonnie Savage 7 / 7 Tres leches cake topped with torched Aperol meringue. Bonnie Savage Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Steakhouse$$$$ Steak isnt hard to come by, but next time I have a serious hankering for beef, Ill be going back to Berbeo Bar & Grill. I was floored by the quality, variety of cuts, expert grilling and good value: its limousine food at rust-bucket prices. The location (Docklands), setting (two-level, corporate) and broader cuisine focus (Colombian) might seem a surprising match for superlative steak, but dig in and it all makes sense. Colombian-born owner Juan Berbeo has been in Australia for 20 years, cooking at MoVida, Latin restaurant Pastuso, his own Colombian street-food hangout, Berbeo Bros, and at events such as Meatstock. Hes brought his heritage and experience together at this function-friendly restaurant, which is about to celebrate its first birthday. Advertisement Berbeo Bar & Grill steakhouse is housed in a two-level restaurant in Docklands. Bonnie Savage After waiting for a liquor licence for months, theres a small, smashable selection of tap beer, cocktails and Argentinian wine, including lush Ruca Malen malbec. Berbeo isnt our best-known steak specialist, but its hard to imagine many local chefs have cooked as much meat as he has. Back home, his grandparents, uncles and parents are renowned butchers, caterers and restaurateurs, sometimes feeding thousands of people at government-funded celebrations for farmers or pensioners in their town of Fusagasuga, one hour south of Bogota. Meat was always the focus, cooked over glowing heaps of charcoal. By the age of 10, Juanito would stand on a chair and help cut carcasses. From 12, he had to slaughter lambs for his parents restaurant before heading off to play. A decade ago, he returned to run a feast for 5500 farmers and hired one person to continually sharpen his knives so he could keep rotating them. Quantity is one thing, quality another. Here, Berbeo, 38, is buying direct from Victorian farmers Nick and Vicki Sher, who run their wagyu on grass for more than a year before fattening them on grain. Their rich, flavoursome meat is excellent, whether you find it at a farmers market or restaurant, but Berbeos expertise means he can carve out tasty, tender steaks where others may not, leading to better prices and beefy adventure. Advertisement Housemade chorizo with arepa (corn flatbread) and cheese and corn empanadas (top left). Bonnie Savage The long, thin inside skirt isnt as prestigious as prime cuts, such as sirloin, but in Berbeos hands, its conversation-stoppingly delicious, brushed with a house seasoning of spring onion, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper and white wine, and judiciously cooked and rested. Many steak restaurants charge extra for sides. Not here. Mains come with a salad, Colombian-style sauces one a lemony sour cream, the other a zesty tomato and a choice of fries, rice, plantain fritters, cassava chips or golden potatoes. Bring friends and share a bowl of each. Killer lunch deals are $19 (bowls) or $25 (steak of the day), delivered efficiently by a friendly team. Tres leches cake topped with torched Aperol meringue. Bonnie Savage Advertisement Entrees and desserts are where Berbeos Colombian side unfurls. Empanadas are an easy win, house-made chorizo is served with cheesy arepa (a corn flatbread), and pork ceviche is a citrus-spiked salad thats sweet, sour and extra-crunchy, thanks to chicharron, a curl of pork crackling. The Latin classic sponge, tres leches (three milks; whole, evaporated and condensed), is turned from a soggy marvel into a dining-room dessert with the addition of toasty caramel, lulo pulp (Colombian fruit) and a crown of torched Aperol meringue. Im not enamoured of Docklands, but sometimes I need a great steak. Until I can get to Fusagasuga and hang with 5000 feasting farmers, Ill be staving off my cravings at Berbeo Bar & Grill. The low-down Atmosphere: Efficient by day, upbeat at night Go-to dishes: Inside skirt steak ($39, 250g); cheese and corn empanada ($6); chorizo con arepa ($18); tres leches cake ($18) Drinks: Tap beer, cocktails with Colombian touches and approachable, good-value Argentinian wine. As befits a steak restaurant, the red wines are listed first. Cost: About $150 for two, excluding drinks Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Like its sibling venues Bar Planet and Cantina OK!, this new Campari-hued cocktail bar does one thing exceptionally well. 1 / 5 The signature green, yellow and red negronis. Nikki To 2 / 5 The interiors. Nikki To 3 / 5 The classic negroni. Nikki To 4 / 5 Plentiful seating along the red-hued bar. Nikki To 5 / 5 The Americana, seasonal spritz and Fernando. Nikki To Previous Slide Next Slide Contemporary$$$$ Sydney has bars dedicated to martinis (Bar Planet, Bobbies) and margaritas (Cantina OK, Centro 86), but where do you go for something more bitter and herbal? Enter Herbs Taverne a Campari-hued cocktail bar devoted to the negroni. The small, 80-person bar is influenced by 60s New York, with chequered carpet, a glittering disco ball, and a soundtrack that leans into nostalgic indie tunes. The menu features innovative twists on one of the worlds most famous cocktails, with a traffic-light trio of red, gold and green negronis, backed by a selection of 45 amaros behind the bar (including a pineapple rum-based amaro from Milwaukee). 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 24 edition of Good Weekend. See all 17 stories . More than 400 wineries were surveyed and 10,000 wines tasted for this years The Real Review Top Wineries list. Here we present the cream of that crop, along with the six top drops. And the verdict on the state of Australian wine? Its never been better. 1. Wine By Farr LOCATION: Geelong, Vic BEST KNOWN FOR: Pinot noir and chardonnay are the main game at the Farr familys Moorabool Valley property, with shiraz, viognier and gamay the support acts. HUON SAYS: Powerful yet elegant pinot noir, cast in a distinctive mould and bottled under several vineyard names (Cote Vineyard, Sangreal, Tout Pres and Farrside), gave By Farr the edge this year, the 2022 vintage shining especially brightly. The 2023 Cote Vineyard Chardonnay also thrilled, but the shiraz and viognier were also blindingly good. 2. Yarra Yering Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley, Vic. Credit: Hugh Davison LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic BEST KNOWN FOR: A blend of cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux red grapes cutely named Dry Red Wine No. 1 and, increasingly, fabulous shirazes as well. HUON SAYS: Sarah Crowe is a star, not only an impeccable producer of elegant shiraz, cabernet, pinot noir, chardonnay and viognier, but a leading wine industry figure who gives a lot of time to wine-show judging and mentoring. The rising stars in the portfolio are the Underhill shiraz and the Dry Red Wine No. 3, a blend of Portuguese red varieties. 3. Levantine Hill Advertisement Levantine Hill, Yarra Valley, Vic. Credit: Image Play LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic BEST KNOWN FOR: The jaw-dropping prices, the lavish restaurant, the cellar door and winery and, yes, also the superb wines across the key regional varieties. HUON SAYS: Paul Bridgemans wines chardonnay, shiraz, pinot noir, sweet white, sparkling and a superb cabernet blend named Samanthas Paddock make a statement. Levantine Hills wines made their debut just 11 years ago and their quality and style, which incorporates extra pre-release age, back up the prices that set the bar high. 4. Giant Steps Giant Steps, Yarra Valley, Vic. Credit: Giant Steps LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic BEST KNOWN FOR: Exquisite vineyard-designated pinot noirs, chardonnays and shiraz from various parts of the Yarra Valley, but with an emphasis on the high country. HUON SAYS: Hauntingly beautiful wines emanate from this super-savvy Yarra winery, the Applejack Vineyard proving year after year that its the jewel in the crown, but Primavera, Sexton and the more recently acquired Bastard Hill Vineyard are also yielding sensational wines. Theres an outstanding Tarraford syrah for good measure, too. 5. Wynns Coonawarra Estate Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Coonawarra, SA. Credit: John Kruger Advertisement LOCATION: Coonawarra, SA BEST KNOWN FOR: Cabernet sauvignon, for which Wynns is Coonawarras standard-bearer, under a profusion of labels at various price points. HUON SAYS: The iconic John Riddoch cabernet sauvignon is one of Australias finest, supported by a different single-vineyard cabernet bottling every year (2022 Childs is the current), while the Black Label cabernet is the wine thats in every wine lovers cellar. The new vintage 2023 is rebadged The Original: its history goes back to the 1954 vintage. Gareth Belton has, by his own admission, an uncanny ability to recall the taste and backstory of most of the wines he has sampled in his relatively short life. Its funny, he says, I have the worst brain in the world, but can remember everything about most of the wine I have ever tasted. It was a skill deployed regularly even as he spent his days collecting different types of seaweed while completing a PhD in marine science. Wine was a hobby, though somewhat more encompassing and passionate than most peoples love of a good drop. I loved the stories behind the labels I was drinking and learning about the lives of the winemakers who made the wine, he says. Unconsciously angling to write his own wine story, he struck up a friendship with several winemakers while he was living in Adelaide in 2012. He and his wife, Rainbo, also a marine biologist, spent their free time in the Basket Range wine region, easily slotting into a community known for making natural wine (a style of low-intervention grape-growing and winemaking that avoids synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and yeasts). In 2013, they made three barrels of their own wine. Today, Belton, 41, farms five sites across the Adelaide Hills totalling eight hectares, planted with parcels of pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling and sauvignon blanc grapes that produce between 6000 and 7000 cases a year under his Gentle Folk label. Advertisement The Real Review has named Gareth Belton the Rising Star winemaker of 2025. Belton is a quite recent arrival on the wine scene who has risen so quickly to become one of the most impressive winemakers in the Adelaide Hills, judge Huon Hooke says. While Hooke nominates Beltons chardonnay and pinot noir as great wines, Belton says his ambition is to make the best sauvignon blanc in Australia. Unlike the popular Australian and New Zealand brands, such as Marlboroughs Oyster Bay and Cloudy Bay, Gentle Folks sauvignon blanc is wild-fermented and aged in barrels for up to eight months. This means it ferments naturally no yeast is added to the wine to start fermentation and the wine takes on some of the complex character of the oak, unlike standard sauvignon blanc, which is stored in steel tanks. Belton throws a few other modern winemaking practices out the window, too, such as occasionally stomping on the fresh-picked grapes to press them. If I feel like the wines will benefit from me getting my hands or feet in the juice, then I will. We pick by hand, we let wild ferments happen, we bottle by hand. We just make wine in the way we feel is right that particular year, always with maximum drinkability in mind. 6. Yalumba Yalumba, Eden Valley, SA. Credit: Adam Bruzzone LOCATION: Eden Valley, SA BEST KNOWN FOR: Yalumba, Australias oldest family-owned winery, produces a fine range of superb wines across many styles, brands and varieties, mostly red. They also make great rieslings under the Pewsey Vale and Heggies brands. HUON SAYS: Yalumbas main game is red wines, headed by super-impressive flagship The Caley cabernet shiraz, The Menzies Coonawarra cabernet, The Octavius Barossa shiraz and oldvine Barossa grenaches. Viognier is a specialty, with spicy The Virgilius at the top and Eden Valley viognier second in line. Advertisement 7. Seppeltsfield Chief winemaker Fiona Donald at Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley, SA. Credit: Max Allen LOCATION: Barossa Valley, SA BEST KNOWN FOR: Fortified wines and increasingly impressive dry red and white table wines produced at one of the Barossas showpiece wineries. HUON SAYS: Fortified wines of great age, especially tawnies, headed by the unique 100-Year-Old Para Vintage Tawny, are legendary. But the dry reds are seriously impressive, too, especially shirazes labelled The Northing, The Southing, The Easting and The Westing, sourced from the four quadrants of the Barossa Valley. 8. Oakridge Wines Oakridge Wines, Yarra Valley, Vic. Credit: Redfish Bluefish Photographic LOCATION: Yarra Valley, Vic BEST KNOWN FOR: Chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon under a series of individual vineyard labels. Chief winemaker David Bicknells skills extend to sparkling blanc de blancs, shiraz, riesling and sauvignon blanc. HUON SAYS: The 864 reserve bottlings of single-vineyard chardonnay and pinot noir continue to delight: the pinot increasing in depth year by year, and the Winery Block vineyard cabernet sauvignon one of the regions very best. An exciting new flagship chardonnay, The Apex Twin, debuted earlier this year. 9. Cullen Wines Advertisement I never saw any reason to hide it. I kind of thought, well, I was a 30-year-old woman and I was educated and I was middle class and all of those things, she says. So if it could happen to me, it was probably happening to an awful lot of other people and if its not been spoken about, nobody can get help. Roasted beetroot with walnuts and a side of snake beans. Credit: Thomas Wielecki After Keyes came out of rehab, she wrote her first novel, Watermelon. She has stayed sober and written books all bestsellers ever since. Life seemed good but, in 2009, completely out of the blue, the author experienced the onset of a debilitating four-year depression during which she barely got out of bed and suffered ongoing suicidal tendencies. It eventually lifted, which she attributes to time and the support of her loved ones. And hormone replacement therapy! Nothing is off the table at a Marian Keyes lunch. I ask her if she thinks it is a great comfort to readers going through tough times to read about someone similarly afflicted and know theyre not alone. She agrees. Every single one of us on Earth, we think that bad things only happen to other people. Its a survival technique but sooner or later, the terrible thing happens to us, she says. Keyes latest book My Favourite Mistake. You know, the spotlight of doom is above our head. Theres such an endless list of awful ways for your life to be unbended. But most things are survivable; you can, you will be happy again. You can be happy again, in a different way. We can never go back to the person we were before the terrible thing. Back to your old self isnt really possible in big trauma, I think, but youre still there. One of the things Keyes discovered, after the darkness had lifted, was her capacity for resilience. We only really discover the resilience when its required, but were given it at terrible times or difficult times, I think. Whatever loss there is, that kind of muscle of resilience is still available to us, maybe in a different form. We are stronger than we know, but it doesnt mean its going to be pleasant. Feeling resilient doesnt mean that youre feeling good. No, in the storm, it means youre surviving. Keyes is prolific on social media; her Instagram feed is a riot and includes candid photos of her family: mother (Old Vumman), four siblings and several nieces and nephews. They are a close family. Keyes and her husband Tony Baines (Himself) have been married for 29 years. Earlier this year, she spoke about their inability to have children, saying she was at peace with it. The bill for lunch at Sails at Lavender Bay. Were fine now, you know, were grand, she says. I also felt like ... Id been given so much by the universe, like I was given the ability to stop drinking alcoholically, and then I met this lovely man who was really, really nice to me, and then I got a job doing something that I was able to do when people were willing to kind of pay me for it. And I just think I thought, like nobody gets everything. But I feel like some kind of grace was afforded to me and my husband and we were just able to go, Lets focus on what we have rather than what we havent. You get what you get, and this is what Ive got. And Im absolutely grateful for my life. Weve been talking so much that weve hardly touched the food, which is light and delicious. The sun is refusing to come out. But Im so engrossed in our conversation, which ranges from mental illness to lip liner, I stop noticing. Keyes reveals that she has become addicted to online personality quizzes in particular, about the diagnosis du jour, ADHD. And after watching Andrew Scott in Ripley, she did several quizzes titled, Am I a psychopath? (The answer was no.) I am very much self-diagnosed as [someone with ADHD]. Ive met a lovely woman who says she will diagnose it with a test. And Im so scattered that I havent got it together to go and do it the proof is already there. I dont even need to do the test. If Im too scatty to actually get it together to do it I should already be getting my green tick. I ask her about My Favourite Mistake, which features a 48-year-old woman called Anna Walsh. At the start of the story, she jettisons her relationship, her job and her entire life in New York to go back to Ireland, without a plan of action. Keyes says feeling resilient doesnt mean that youre feeling good. No, in the storm, it means youre surviving. Credit: Thomas Wielecki We discuss the phenomenon of older women increasingly deciding to upend their lives to run away and experience life on their own terms. When Keyes turned 60, she didnt run away but blocked out a year to pause her writing and go back to university to study design. The older I get, the more I realise that you can start again at any stage, she says. Last year, I took a year off and I went back to college, just to do something that I had always wanted to do. And I think with better health care and longer life expectancy, women are far more vocal about what they expect from their lives than they used to be. I do think burnout is very real. Anna doesnt have children, but I often see it when the children are grown, the children have gone to university, thats it, and women are deciding, this is my time and Im going to do all the things that I wanted to do when I was told I had to be doing other things. And I love it. Lunch passes in a rush and Keyes minder arrives to whisk her away. I step outside, suffused with the contentment you feel after a meal of good food and great craic, in Irish terms. Turning to take in one of the worlds iconic views, I spot a patch of blue. Like a Keyes novel the clouds part, and the light returns. Marian Keyes is appearing at a Sydney Writers Festival event at the Sydney Town Hall at 8pm on Saturday. Stan is owned by Nine which also owns this masthead. If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au). 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 two decades Barnaby Joyce has been in parliament, hes just about seen it all. The only person ever to serve in the Senate for one state and in the House of Representatives for another state, hes been everything from deputy prime minister to humbled backbencher, a thorn in the side of John Howard, disqualified from parliament for being a dual citizen through to being the man that kindled the climate change rebellion in Coalition ranks back in 2009. But until this week, he had never played the role of relationship counsellor. Looking back on a crazed few days, Joyce chooses his words carefully about a business relationship that temporarily ran off the rails. It was a tumultuous week that would have been better having never been experienced. I cant talk to the reasons why, but I can say that a more sage approach would have produced a different outcome, he says. I hope, like most business relationships I never call it a marriage there is maturity to both sides to say that was a bad day at the office, but we move on. Barnaby Joyce and David Littleproud in question time in February 2024. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Advertisement Joyce, along with former Nationals leader Michael McCormack and Darren Chester, a former cabinet minister, was instrumental in keeping the lines of communication open between the two Coalition parties during a split that now looks likely to be repaired. As party elders including a pair of former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott spoke out against the split and cautioned that the longer it took to effect a reformation, the harder it would be to achieve one, Ley spoke to the three Nationals who, along with Susan McDonald and Sam Birrell, spoke in the Nationals party room meeting against the split. Joyce says he will not benefit personally from helping to stop the divorce he and Littleproud are not close and he is unlikely to return to the frontbench this term but he spoke to Ley for the good of both parties. Sussan and I were discussing how to keep the Coalition together. I wont go into the intricacies. So much has been reported about extraneous issues, it was purely around how do you keep the Coalition together and resolve this issue, he says. It worked. Just two days after the death of Leys mother Angela Braybrooks will not be laid to rest until next Friday the new opposition leader looked to have been dealt a fatal blow on Tuesday when, with much haste, Nationals leader David Littleproud, his deputy Kevin Hogan and the influential Senate leader, Bridget McKenzie, announced the Coalition parties were getting a divorce. Advertisement Two more days later, they changed their minds. The week ends with Leys judgment call to stare down the Nationals demands proving to be the right one, and with her leadership enhanced. Littleproud, on the other hand, looks like a man who overplayed his hand in a grab for power, with his judgment and the future of his leadership now in question. The speed with which the two parties split and then began to reconcile has been remarkable, so brief that the ink hadnt dried on the Liberal-National party divorce papers before the two parties were headed back to counselling. Littleprouds predecessor in the seat of Maranoa, Bruce Scott, was in parliament for 26 years and served as a minister in the Howard government for five years before retiring in 2016. A staunch coalitionist and one of the architects of the merger of the Liberal and National parties in Queensland in 2008, he says the two parties should absolutely get back together as soon as possible. Advertisement For years, the Coalition has been the great strength of the conservative side of politics in Canberra. You only have to look at the LNP merger in Queensland. Working as one has delivered government, and the LNP members in Canberra, in the House, they have been the largest group of MPs and yet we [Queensland] are not the largest state population-wise, he says. From election to election, policies are modified, added to or whatever. We have just had an election and the electorate has spoken comprehensively against the policies of the Coalition. So we have to revisit strategy, policies and our campaign. I think its important to go back to them, and I think thats what Sussan has been suggesting. Illustration by Matt Golding As the dust settled at the end of the week, Littleprouds decision to split the Coalition looked like an attempt to seize extra power and influence for the Nationals just as the Liberals were at their weakest. The Nationals stated reason for the split was Leys unwillingness to immediately sign up to retaining four key policies support for nuclear power, laws that could force supermarket divestiture, improved regional mobile phone coverage and a $20 billion regional fund. So serious was Littleproud about the split that by Thursday, he had chosen a shadow shadow cabinet and was preparing to unveil his team of frontbenchers in Canberra. But then the two parties agreed to restart talks. Advertisement It was not unreasonable for Ley to ask for more time, given she had just announced a lengthy policy review and her party room had not met. Littleproud said that the four policy areas are important to the lives and livelihoods of the people that I represent. And the fact that the Liberal Party room is now prepared to have that conversation, I think speaks volumes about the fact that we should allow that to happen, and that gives every chance [of reconciliation]. Asked why he had not waited for the Liberals to meet and discuss the policies the party room subsequently met on Thursday and then Friday Littleproud effectively blamed Ley. Loading I didnt dictate ... this is a matter for the Liberal Party, I dont have control over the Liberal Party, he said, adding that the timeline that they were talking about was months away, it was a review of all policies. By the end of the week, although they were grumbling about it, it seemed likely the Liberals would hold their nose and at least give in-principle agreement to making supportive noises about the Nationals policy demands. As one senior Liberal, who asked not to be named, puts it: It now looks like a tantrum, like the junior Coalition partner not feeling respected enough. As in, you stole Jacinta, youre forcing us to recognise net zero. Advertisement The former boss of the NSW governments school building unit, Anthony Manning, was sacked from his previous job in the health department because of concerns his isolationist leadership style was having a negative impact on the organisation, the anti-corruption watchdog has heard. On Friday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard evidence from Sam Sangster, the chief executive of Health Infrastructure NSW from 2013 to 2018, who was Mannings boss until early 2017. Former NSW schools infrastructure chief, Anthony Manning, is the subject of the ICACs latest blockbuster inquiry. Credit: Janie Barrett ICAC is investigating allegations Manning and others within School Infrastructure NSW subverted recruitment practices, improperly awarded contracts and misallocated funds to favour friends and associates between 2017 and 2024. During his evidence, Sangster described Manning as an innovative and thoughtful strategic leader who had worked on a wide range of very complex projects for the health agency. But, he said, he was concerned about his isolationist style and a perceived unwillingness to be part of a broader team. Chernihiv Region, Ukraine: Russia and Ukraine each released 390 prisoners on Friday and said they would free more in the coming days, in what is expected to be the biggest prisoner swap of the war so far. The agreement to exchange 1000 prisoners each was the only concrete step towards peace to emerge last week from two hours of talks in Istanbul, the first direct talks between the warring sides in more than three years. Family members of Ukrainian prisoners hold banners and photos of servicemen in captivity ahead of an exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine. Credit: AP They failed to agree to a ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trump. The Russian ministry of defence said each side had released 270 soldiers and 120 civilians on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the total of 390 each, and said more would be released on Saturday and Sunday. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On Wednesday, a sitting congressman by the name of Gerry Connolly died at his Virginia home. He was 75, and became the third Democratic member of US Congress to die in as many months. Both parties contribute handsomely to what commentators have labelled an American gerontocracy: a society governed by old people. At the start of the year, 84 members of the 435-seat House of Representatives were older than 70, along with a third of the 100 senators. Donald Trump became the oldest person to become US president when he took the oath of office in January 2017, aged 70. Joe Biden broke that record in January 2021, aged 78 and 61 days, and Trump reclaimed it in January 2025, aged 78 and 220 days. Joe Bidens diagnosis, sad though not shocking, has only served to underline his frail condition. Credit: AP But Bidens decline while president stands alone. Not only because of its consequences for the most powerful office in the world, but because of his denial, his stubborn resolve to run again, and the way his allies played down the reality of what was happening, and gaslit the world. One of the great lessons from 2024, Democratic campaign adviser David Plouffe tells the authors of a new book, is that never again can we as a party suggest to people that what theyre seeing is not true. The book, Original Sin, was already making headlines when Biden announced last weekend that he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Advertisement Written by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson, it paints a picture of a widespread cover-up rising to scandal perpetuated by enablers who were as addicted to the trappings of power as the Oval Office occupier himself. Bidens diagnosis, sad though not shocking, has only served to underline his frail condition. It might make the discussions more awkward, but it seems to heighten, not reduce, the culpability of those around him, and adds to the questions facing Democrats about how seriously they took Bidens health and capability. Loading (Not everyone sees it that way. Comedian Jon Stewart mercilessly mocked the book on The Daily Show, as well as CNNs attempts to promote it following Bidens diagnosis.) The book has, of course, opened up new conspiracy theories about who knew what and when conjecture fuelled by Trump this week. But Bidens office clarified he had not been screened for prostate cancer since 2014, and independent experts said this was perfectly normal. Most guidelines recommend stopping screening after the age of 70 or 75, says Dr Todd Morgan, co-director of the Weiser Centre for Prostate Cancer at Michigan Medicine. It really shifts in the direction of more risks than benefit as we get older. This is also true for someone like the president of the United States, whom we might expect to have the most rigorous healthcare possible. Advertisement Sometimes outstanding medical care is less care rather than more care, Morgan says. In the United States, thats a little bit against our culture because we really do have a tendency to think that more is always better, and it isnt. Bidens aides may not have been obscuring a cancer diagnosis, but they certainly obscured the extent of their boss physical and cognitive impairment. Original Sin sets out how those closest to Biden circled the wagons and imposed measures designed to shield him from forums where things could go wrong. They restricted the hours in which he participated in events and meetings no early mornings or late nights gave him a teleprompter even in friendly forums such as fundraisers, equipped him with note cards, and supplied questions to friendly journalists. Thompson alleges these things were initially just about making him look good, but over time became about trying to hide how bad it had gotten from voters. The then-president was increasingly isolated from public view. The book illustrates an undulating but progressive decline that only became fully clear to the world in the disastrous June 27, 2024 presidential debate. But it was far from the one bad night the campaign portrayed it as at the time. Some of Tapper and Thompsons sources suggest Biden was never really the same after his son Beaus death from brain cancer in 2015. His grief seemed to break something inside him, one person was quoted as saying. Advertisement Biden struggled to recall his senior aide Mike Donilons name while campaigning in Iowa in December 2019, according to the book. Donilon had worked with Biden since 1981. The authors write that since at least 2022, Biden had moments in which he could not recall the names of top staffers he saw every day. In one particularly damaging section, Tapper and Thompson say some of Bidens cabinet secretaries told them that by 2024, he could not be relied upon to perform adequately in the case of a 2am emergency. Loading And in another chapter, they recount how Biden failed to recognise megastar George Clooney at a Los Angeles fundraiser that Clooney was headlining. The incident, in part, prompted the actor to pen an influential opinion piece for The New York Times after the debate, calling for Biden to drop out of the race. The book reflects poorly on Bidens closest aides, dubbed the Politburo, including Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Anthony Bernal and Ron Klain. While they are extended some lenience for loyalty to the boss and service of the cause, they are also accused of clinging to false hope, denying reality and dismissing the legitimate concerns of senior and well-meaning Democratic onlookers. Donilon who was reportedly paid $US4 million ($6.2 million) for his campaign work from February to November is alleged to have interpreted polling data in a more favourable way until the end, rather than telling Biden the hard truth. They did such a disservice to Joe Biden and to the country, former Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod says in the book, in remarks directed at Bidens inner circle. The family as well. Advertisement Another person familiar with the internal dynamics told Tapper and Thompson: Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board. At the same time, the book does not contain any shocking revelations about Bidens conduct in office that demonstrate harm to the nation and its security; something a Biden spokesperson seized on in a statement about the book. There is nothing in this book that shows Joe Biden failed to do his job, as the authors have alleged, nor did they prove their allegation that there was a cover-up or conspiracy, the spokesperson said. George Clooney, Joe Biden, Julia Roberts and Barack Obama at a Democratic fundraiser on June 15, 2024. Credit: X - @JoeBiden Original Sin also serves as a reminder that not everyone was in on the alleged ruse. Some people spoke up or raised concerns. Especially later in the piece, some shouted. And the polls were always clear. In 2023, 71 per cent of people thought Biden was too old to be president. One anecdote tells of Democratic campaign veteran David Morehouse shaking Bidens frail hand at an event in late 2023 and hearing the president tell a story Morehouse knew never happened. Stunned, he told a governor seated next to him: Ive worked on four of these things. This guy cannot run for president of the United States. Morehouse reportedly also rang Bernal, first lady Jill Bidens senior adviser, who didnt have much to say in response. Advertisement I think the most positive development in our industry in recent times, as much as we all curse it, is the best interest duty and additional compliance, he said. It has forced the cowboys to come into line (or to go and find a different job) and has absolutely given us a real point of difference and credibility to the major banks that we are competing with in regional areas. They said policy should primarily ensure adequate and secure shelter for all Australians, and that both service-based supports like social housing and ownership initiatives like first-home grants must be treated as part of the same broader mission. It is now up to the government to eliminate red tape and push this land through the subdivision approval process, to ensure it is brought to market expediently. In addition, government must also consider infill opportunities and housing densification as part of its broader housing solutions. A REMARKABLE Carlow teenager last week added her voice to support organ donation and help save a life by appearing on RTE. Kidney transplant recipient Amber ORourke from Browneshill Road appeared on the RTE2 childrens news show News2Day to talk about her own successful kidney transplant in August 2017 and to support Organ Donor Awareness Week. Amber received a kidney from her mother Elaines friend Anne Marie Byrne, Graiguecullen, who donated a kidney to Amber after secretly getting tested to determine if she was a suitable match. Anne Maries nephew sadly passed away waiting for a heart transplant two years ago. Amber was just five when she suffered a stroke and spent months of hospitalisation and rehabilitation away from home in Dublin. Showing incredible determination, Amber learned to walk again and received nightly 12-hour dialysis treatment up until her life-changing kidney transplant in August 2017. Organ Donor Awareness Week 2025 ran with a powerful national call to action: Dont Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt. Organised by the Irish Kidney Association with support from the HSEs Organ Donation Transplant Ireland office, the campaign shines a spotlight on the life-changing impact of organ donation for transplantation and the role that families play in ensuring that your wishes are carried out. With over 600 people currently on transplant waiting lists for organs, including heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas, and more than 500 of these waiting for a kidney transplant alone, the need for a national conversation about organ donation has never been more urgent. You can request an organ donor card from the Irish Kidney Association website www.ika.ie/donorweek. You can also tick the box YES for organ donation when applying for, or renewing, your driving licence. A DOG owner told Carlow District Court last week that he has paid a donation to a canine charity and was willing to pay compensation to injured parties after his two dogs attacked them. Evidence about the incident involving two Belgian Shepherd dogs belonging to Florin Veres was heard at a sitting in March. Judge Geraldine Carthy was told that Mr Veress dogs had attacked a 13-year-old girl and were barking and snapping at her and her sister and when their father intervened, he was bitten by one of the dogs. Mr Veres, 15 Fairgreen Manor, Dunlavin subsequently pleaded guilty to having uncontrolled dogs and to having dogs without leashes during the incident, which occurred at Fairgreen Manor on 8 June last year. The case had been adjourned for preparation of a probation report and last week solicitor John OSullivan told the judge that Mr Veres had donated 300 to the Dogs Trust charity and that he was willing to pay a sum of money to the injured parties. Judge Carthy said the investigating garda should contact the injured parties and offer them 3,000 by way of compensation. She then adjourned the case again for the defendant to gather the money and put the matter back to 11 June. Advertisement Premier Cement Mills PLC successfully held its Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) at City Hall, Chattogram, Bangladesh, chaired by Chairman Mohammad Mustafa Haider, on 21 May. The meeting followed a High Court order related to Company Matter No 523 of 2025. According to the statement to the media, shareholders unanimously approved the Scheme of Amalgamation, merging Premier Power Generation Ltd and National Cement Mills Ltd into Premier Cement Mills PLC. This transition will result in Premier Cement Mills PLC becoming the surviving entity. Premier Cement Mills' Managing Director, Mohammed Amirul Haque, addressed shareholder queries regarding the amalgamations objectives and implications. The meeting was attended by directors and featured a special address from M. Shaifur Rahman Mazumdar, MD of Chittagong Stock Exchange, who urged entrepreneurs to contribute to the growth of the capital market. By Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan 25-005428 5700 BLK Ringgold Road Miscellaneous / Assist EMS A store employee reported a man was trapped under a vehicle in the parking lot. Police, Fire and EMS units responded to the scene and found the man pinned under the tire of his vehicle. He was extricated and transported to a local hospital with significant injuries. Police determined that he had exited his vehicle without putting it into park.The vehicle rolled backwards and caught him, pulling him under it. An unidentified man jumped in the vehicle and stopped it. The Good Samaritan left prior to the arrival of First Responders. Day Shift May 22: A Squad 25-005396 700 BLK Summit Avenue Warrant Service A warrant service for Domestic Assault was executed on a man at his residence. He was transported to jail without incident. 25-005401 587 Wando Drive Check Wellbeing A pest control employee asked officers to check on an elderly female after he was unable to contact her at her front door for a half hour. Contact was made by police, and the female advised she was okay. 25-005403 6500 BLK Ringgold Road Disorder An onlooker called police after she witnessed a male and female arguing in the parking lot. The couple drove off with the witness in tow. The couple stopped at a market on Page Road in Georgia after getting a flat tire. Catoosa County and ERPD responded to the scene where the couple said they were having a verbal argument, which never got physical, but had struck a curb causing the flat. Deputies located a suspected meth pipe while conducting a search of the vehicle. Deputies seized the pipe and sent the couple on their way. 25-005415 400 BLK Camp Jordan Parkway Property Police responded to the parking lot to locate a backpack that contained a 9mm pistol that was left behind. Police located the backpack between two businesses. The bag contained MRE's and a loaded Glock 43 handgun. The owner returned to the area to retrieve the lost bag. 25-005397-6300 BLK Ringgold Rd.- Well-being check Police responded to this address on reports of a female sleeping on the sidewalk. The woman advised she was going through a bad break-up and did not require medical assistance. 25-005414- 900 BLK Spring Creek Rd.- Traffic Stop Police conducted a traffic stop on a black Nissan for speeding. Police identified the driver and her passenger. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted after officers smelled the odor of marijuana and the passenger handed officers a blunt. No further items were discovered, and the occupants of the vehicle were written a warning for speeding. The marijuana was placed into property and evidence for destruction. 25-005399 4400 BLK Ringgold Road - Disorder/Criminal Simulation/Conspiracy A female, later identified, attempted to cash fraudulent checks at the market. The female informed police she was dropped off by two males, later identified, who picked her up from Atlanta. The passenger was seen getting out of the vehicle and leaving the scene on foot in an unknown direction. The driver proceeded to leave the scene, was stopped by police, and identified. While police were identifying the driver, the woman had confessed to police that they had picked her up and would pay her to cash the checks. The driver was placed into custody for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Criminal Simulation. The female was placed into custody for the crime of Criminal Conspiracy to cash fraudulent checks. Warrants will be taken out for the other subject for Criminal Conspiracy to commit Criminal Simulation. Night Shift May 22: C Squad 24-012476 4214 Ringgold Road Warrant Hold McMinn County Sheriffs Deputies detained a woman after they found she had an arrest warrant through East Ridge. The charge on the warrant was Criminal Conspiracy. A hold was sent, and she was transported to the McMinn County Jail to await pick-up. 25-005418 6100 BLK Ringgold Road Broken Down Automobile / Warrant Service Police responded to a broken-down automobile complaint on Ringgold Road. While assisting the driver, the officer found the motorist had an arrest warrant through East Ridge. He was taken into custody and transported to Hamilton County Jail. Police determined that he had missed a 48-hour incarceration period required for DUI Conviction. 25-005419 3400 BLK Frawley Street Assault / Arrest The caller reported an unknown male walked up to her and requested something to drink. She did not provide him with anything, so he hit her arm. The unknown male then ran down the road to another house. Police located the suspect and identified him. He was arrested and charged with Simple Assault and Aggressive Panhandling. 25-005427 10 BLK Franklin Place Domestic Disorder A neighbor reported a verbal argument at this residence. Police located an adult female who advised she and her boyfriend had been arguing, and he left the home. The woman showed no signs of an assault and declined to cooperate with the Police investigation. 25-005435 6700 BLK Ringgold Road Burglar Alarm / Field Interview Police responded to a Burglar Alarm at the storage facility. Officers located a white truck near the entrance with its lights turned off. Police spoke with vehicle occupants who stated they were planning to pull items from their storage unit for re-sale. The woman planned to use the funds for her ex-boyfriends bail. A field interview was completed for the incident. 25-005436 5600 BLK Oakdale Avenue Suspicious Activity Police responded to a report of possible shots fired near Oakdale Avenue and Swope Drive. Multiple officers checked the area but did not locate any signs of distress or property damage. The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga will begin its Free Summer Food Program for area kids starting Tuesday, and CARTA is connecting families to those meals through the Read & Ride program. The YMCA program is designed to provide children up to 18 years of age with the nutritional support they need to maintain good health and reach their fullest potential. Meals are available to all children. Children across Bradley, Hamilton, Polk, Rhea, Sequatchie counties, and Walker and Catoosa counties in North Georgia are eligible to participate in this first-come, first-serve meal program. Were grateful to the YMCA for once again running the Free Summer Food Program and to CARTA for connecting families to these food sites through the Read & Ride program, said Mayor Tim Kelly. There are over 70 locations participating in the YMCAs Free Summer Food Program between Memorial Day and when kids go back to school in August. No child should ever go hungry, which is why we encourage anyone needing meals for their kids this summer to stop by and pick up food. City community centers, libraries, YMCA sites, community partner locations and local schools are participating in the program. Specific dates, times, locations, and what meals or snacks are available can be viewed online. The program will run through early August. "We are excited about our continued partnership with the city of Chattanooga, especially all of the library branches and community centers, said Paula Irwin, executive director of the J.A. Henry Community YMCA, which is the non-profits branch that prepares, packs and delivers 300,000 meals annually to feed children. With the Read & Ride program, we know that many more families will have access to our summer food program sites and be able to receive these meals and snacks for their children, providing a really crucial resource for our Chattanooga neighbors. CARTAs route map is available to view online. "The fare-free Read & Ride program supported by CARTA and the Chattanooga Public Library is another way were connecting opportunities for residents and supporting the YMCA for its Free Summer Food Program was a no-brainer, said Charles Frazier, chief executive officer of CARTA. The YMCA is also partnering with the city, Library and CARTA to provide approximately 1,500 five-day passes to the YMCA for children enrolled in Ride & Read. David Hume remarked, Courage, of all national qualities, is the most precarious; because it is exerted only at intervals, and by a few in every nation. It truly takes immense courage to risk ones life for the sake of our state and country. As Norman Schwarzkopf expressed, It doesnt take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who go into battle. Therefore, it is only right that we dedicate a day to honor those who have sacrificed their lives to serve our nation. As a society, we owe it to these heroesthose few who became legends on the battlefield, standing against our enemies. In Tennessee, approximately 4,500 veterans of the American Revolution are laid to rest, as noted in the book Roster of Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Tennessee. Among them is my fourth great-grandfather, Colonel James Taylor, interred at Centenary Baptist Church in Blount County. Unlike many, he was fortunate enough to return home and raise a family. Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolution, was killed during the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770. Believed to be the son of a slave and a Native American woman, Attucks was among those confronted by British soldiers, who opened fire, resulting in the deaths of five men, including Attucks. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. honored Crispus Attucks in his 1964 book *Why We Cant Wait*, highlighting his role in American history. Notably, Attucks and the others were displayed at Faneuil Hall before being buried together, demonstrating that there was no segregation among Patriots. My Great Uncle Maxwell Green signed up to fight for his country in World War 2 like anybody his age. He probably had never been more than 100 miles from his own home. Now he was going to fight halfway around the world. For freedom? Maybe not. To preserve our nation and protect his family and fellow citizens? Absolutely. He knew what was at stake. He was killed in Grand-Failly in north-eastern France, and he is buried in the National Cemetery in Chattanooga. Traditionally, Americans have commemorated Memorial Day by visiting the graves and memorials of our fallen heroes. However, in recent years, the day has shifted towards a celebration marking the start of summer, losing its original significance. We must honor the courageous men and women who served and sacrificed their lives for freedom. While freedom does not guarantee a meaningful life, it provides the opportunity for one. To maintain that possibility, we must actively uphold and protect our freedoms. Thomas Jefferson wisely stated, The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. We should take a moment to express our gratitude to the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing us to enjoy our liberties. Life is incredibly precious, and those who gave their all surely had their dreams and aspirations for our country. We must also urge our politicians to remember the veterans who returned home and ensure they receive the benefits they were promised, as well as top-notch medical care, including mental health support. Thomas Smith poignantly captured the essence of this tribute: This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our veterans. As a civilian, I owe an unpayable debt to all our military. Moving forward, let us not send our servicemen and women into war or conflict zones unless it is overwhelmingly justifiable and grounded in moral integrity. The men of WWII were the greatest generation; Korea was the forgotten conflict, Vietnam the trampled, the Cold War unsung, and the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan often underestimated. Every generation has demonstrated its worthiness to stand alongside the greatest generation. From the Revolution onward, American soldiers have been the finest in the world. Let us take a moment to remember all veterans, whether they served during peace or wartime, those who have passed, and those who remain. God Bless America and All Veterans. George Patton once said, It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived. This is why I commemorate Memorial Day. I honor their sacrifice. JC Bowman Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee With the declared aim of measuring matter under extreme pressure, an international research collaboration headed by the University of Rostock and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) used the high-performance laser DIPOLE 100-X at the European XFEL for the first time in 2023. With spectacular results: In this initial experiment they managed to study liquid carbon an unprecedented achievement as the researchers report in the journal Nature. Liquid carbon can be found, for example, in the interior of planets and plays an important role in future technologies like nuclear fusion. To date, however, only very little was known about carbon in its liquid form because in this state it was practically impossible to study in the lab: Under normal pressure carbon does not melt but immediately changes into a gaseous state. Only under extreme pressure and at temperatures of approximately 4,500 degrees Celsius the highest melting point of any material does carbon become liquid. No container would withstand that. Laser compression, on the other hand, can turn solid carbon into liquid for fractions of a second. And the challenge was to use these fractions of a second to take measurements. In a previously unimaginable way, this has now become reality at the European XFEL, the worlds largest x-ray laser with its ultrashort pulses, in Schenefeld, near Hamburg. Unique measuring technology in this combination The unique combination of the European XFEL with the high-performance laser DIPOLE100-X was crucial for the success of the experiment. It was developed by the British Science and Technology Facilities Council and made available to scientists from all over the world by the HIBEF User Consortium (Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields). A community of leading international research institutions at the HED-HIBEF (High Energy Density) experimental station at the European XFEL has now combined powerful laser compression with ultrafast X-ray analysis and large-area X-ray detectors for the first time. In the experiment, the high-energy pulses of the DIPOLE100-X laser drive compression waves through a solid carbon sample and liquefy the material for nanoseconds, that is, for a billionth of a second. During this nanosecond, the sample is irradiated with the ultrashort x-ray laser flash of the European XFEL. The carbon atoms scatter the x-ray light similar to the way light is diffracted by a grating. The diffraction pattern allows inferences to be drawn about the current arrangement of the atoms in the liquid carbon. The whole experiment only lasts a few seconds but is repeated many times: every time with a slightly delayed x-ray pulse or under slightly different pressure and temperature conditions. Many snapshots combine to make a movie. Researchers have thus been able to trace the transition from solid to liquid phase one step at a time. Water-like structure and accurate melting point determined The measurements revealed that with four nearest neighbors each, the systemics of liquid carbon are similar to solid diamond. This is the first time we have ever been able to observe the structure of liquid carbon experimentally. Our experiment confirms the predictions made by sophisticated simulations of liquid carbon. We are looking at a complex form of liquid, comparable to water, that has very special structural properties, explains the head of the research collaborations Carbon Working Group, Prof. Dominik Kraus from the University of Rostock and HZDR. The researchers also managed to precisely narrow down the melting point. Up to now, the theoretical predictions on the structure and melting point had diverged significantly. But precise knowledge is crucial for planet modelling and certain concepts for power generation through nuclear fusion. In 2022 a team led by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry discovered that high levels of OH radicals can be generated indoors, simply due to the presence of people and ozone. This means: People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them within their own personal space. Now, in a follow-up study again in cooperation with an international research team, they found that commonly applied personal care products substantially suppress a humans production of OH radicals. These findings have implications for the indoor chemistry, the air quality of occupied spaces, and human health, since many of the chemicals in our immediate vicinity are transformed by this field. The indoor environment contains multiple sources of chemical compounds. These include continuous emissions from housing materials such as furniture, floors and furnishings, but also periodic intense emissions from human activities such as cooking, smoking, and cleaning. Outdoor air chemicals can also enter indoor environments through infiltration and ventilation. Ozone (O3) from outdoors can react with compounds indoors to create a complex chemical cocktail within the indoor living space. Since people spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, exposure to this diverse array of chemical compounds over extended periods is cause for concern, particularly as the human-health impacts of many such chemicals remain poorly understood. On the basis of their findings in 2022, Jonathan Williams research group from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry had a closer look on how the human oxidation field might be influenced by personal care products. Given that the human oxidation field influences the chemical composition of air in the breathing zone and close to the skin, it affects our intake of chemicals, which in turn impacts human health. It is therefore of interest to examine how personal care products can influence the strength and spatial extent of the self-generated OH-field, explains Jonathan Williams. The experimental measurements made by the Max Planck team were supported by Manabu Shiraiwa and his team at the University of California (Irvine, USA) and Donghyun Rims group from the Pennsylvania State University. Our team took a unique approach to simulate concentrations of chemical compounds near humans in the indoor environment, said Shiraiwa. We developed a state-of-the-art chemical model that can simulate reactions of ozone with human skin and clothing that can lead to the formation of semi-volatile organic compounds. We applied a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model to simulate the evolution of the oxidation field around human occupants, said Rim. This integrated modeling approach highlights the impact of personal care products on the human oxidation field. Personal care products affect the human oxidation field First, the researchers examined how the application of body lotion impacts the chemistry in the periphery of the persons tested. Then they investigated, how perfume applied to the skin affects the chemical composition of the indoor air. For both cases Williams and his team saw that the OH concentration around the volunteers decreased. This means: It decreased compared to the standard case without cosmetics, where ozone reacts on human skin to form gas phase products that react again in the air with ozone to make OH. Concerning the perfume, the researchers explain the OH decrease with the primary perfume component ethanol: it reacts with OH, using it up, as ethanol does not produce OH when reacting with ozone. Regarding body lotion, we can explain the decline in two ways. One is that phenoxyethanol a chemical in the body lotion reacts with OH but does not generate OH with ozone. This is the same as the perfume with ethanol. The second explanation is simply that the body lotion gets in the way of ozone reacting with squalene on the skin, states atmospheric chemist Jonathan Williams. The application of a fragrance and a lotion together showed that fragrances impact the OH reactivity and concentration over shorter time periods, whereas lotions show more persistent effects, consistent with the rate of emissions of organic compounds from these personal care products, sums up Nora Zannoni, first author of the study published in the research magazine Science Advances. She is currently employed at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate in Bologna, Italy. Implications for indoor chemistry While thousands of different fragrances and lotions exist on the market, there are some general conclusions valid for any product that the international research team draws based on their tests: Following the new findings of this study, an applied fragrance indoors would be expected to suppress the personal human oxidation field. In contrast with fragrances, lotions have more variable compositions. Despite their variable composition, they expect most lotions to suppress the human oxidation field due to a combination of dilution of skin oil constituents and reduced interaction between O3 and the skin. Additionally, marketed lotions contain preservatives acting as antimicrobial agents. Widely used is phenoxyethanol which further contributes to suppressing the human oxidation field by reacting with the OH radicals as experimentally demonstrated in this study. If we buy a sofa from major furniture company, it is tested for harmful emissions before being put on sale. However, when we sit on the sofa, we naturally transform some of these emissions because of the oxidation field we generate. This can create many additional compounds in our breathing zone whose properties are not well known or studied. Interestingly body lotion and perfume both seem to dampen down this effect, says Jonathan Williams. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Samuel Tadros and his daughter Serenity 3, sit with the family's bags after their flight to New York was cancelled at the Nashville international Airport Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn., ahead of Memorial Day. World Business Kyrgyz violence hurting business By Qin Jize (China Daily) Updated: 2010-06-22 10:02 Chinese traders have seen their shops looted or burned in riots Beijing - Violence in Kyrgyzstan has dealt a blow to the nation's trade with China, and international analysts say the crisis could pose a threat to northwestern China's security. According to statistics from the Kyrgyzstan-Chinese United Chamber of Commerce, there are 35,000 Chinese traders scattered in the capital city of Bishkek, and in the battle-scarred cities of Jalalabad and Osh. However, the clashes have stopped normal business as shops have been looted or burned. "Their business have been seriously hurt by the clashes and need time to recover," Jin Yulong, commercial counselor of Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan, told reporters, noting most of the Chinese traders own small- or medium-sized enterprises in construction materials, food and light industry. Migrants from China also work at construction sites, for example aid projects such as housing projects for low-income people, and the violence has also stopped those projects. China is currently Kyrgyzstan's second largest trading partner and bilateral trade jumped to $9.3 billion in 2008, up from just a few hundred million dollars at the start of the decade. The growing influx of Chinese products into Kyrgyzstan has been accompanied by a similar inflow of Chinese citizens. Over the past 15 years Kyrgyzstan's Chinese population has swelled from zero to around 100,000 in a country with a population of just over 5 million. The unrest not only slows trade, but also gives separatism and terrorism a chance to breathe, analysts said. "Some extremist forces and terrorist organizations are back in central Asia after the breakout of clashes in Kyrgyzstan and this has posed a great threat to China's security," said Ji Zhiye, a senior researcher with China Institute of Contemporary International Relations. Beijing-based researcher Wen Yi told media that being China's close neighbor, as well as the first stop for the transportation of energy from Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has important strategic significance for China. "Instability in the country will have a negative impact on China's interactions with Central Asian nations," said Wen. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which consists of China and Kyrgyzstan plus Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, expressed deep concern on Sunday over the situation in southern Kyrgyzstan. It appealed for an end to the rampant crime, chaos and lawlessness that is provoking confrontation between nationalities and ethnicities who live side by side in Kyrgyzstan. The organization underlined the need to provide emergency humanitarian aid to the victims, including refugees, most of whom have been staying in Uzbekistan. The United States, which operates a crucial air base at the northern town of Manas, is also stepping in to help stabilize the region, which borders Russia and China. Analysts say Russia and the US have in recent years been competing for influence in Kyrgyzstan, which Moscow considers a sphere of influence. Kyrgyzstan still remains heavily dependent on Russia for aid, energy and other key supplies, though Chinese products now account for much of Kyrgyzstan's non-energy imports. Home News Prominent 82-year-old Pastor Douglas Jones to face judge for sex crime Douglas P. Jones, the longtime senior pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, is expected to be arraigned before a Circuit Court Judge next Thursday, May 29, on a fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charge. Jones, 82, the senior pastor of the more than 4,000-member Pontiac church since 1989, pleaded not guilty to the charge at an arraignment on March 20. He posted a $10,000 bond that same day, The Christian Post previously reported. Though Jones denied the charge, which stems from an alleged incident from August 2024, Judge Laura Polizzi determined there was enough evidence to bind the case to the higher court for possible trial after a preliminary exam in 52-3 District Court, according to The Oakland Press. He is set to be arraigned before Judge Mary Ellen Brennan. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe While all the details pertaining to the case aren't immediately clear, it is alleged that family members of the plaintiff continue to attend Welcome Missionary Baptist Church. Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan indicates unwanted sexual contact but not penetration and is punishable by up to two years in prison. When contacted for comment on the case Thursday, a representative of the church told CP they had nothing to say. The pastor's lawyer, Cyril Hill, denied the allegation and previously told The Oakland Press that they were confident the case would be dismissed. An announcement on the church's website states that it is set to celebrate their pastor for his 36 years of faith, leadership and vision on Sunday, June 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine," the announcement declared, quoting I Timothy 5:17. Jones, who has served on many boards and is recognized for his work with local youth, has been described as a "pillar" of the Pontiac community, according to the Oakland Community Health Network. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native is also a father of three daughters and a grandfather, according to the church. Pastor Keyon Payton previously noted in a statement on Facebook that Jones suffered the loss of his wife and a daughter in recent years. "Beyond his decades of ministry, Pastor Jones has endured profound personal loss. The passing of his wife of many years, followed by the tragic death of his daughter, has compounded his grief in ways that few can understand. And yet, like so many pastors, he likely felt the pressure to keep going to push through, to lead, to serve while carrying an unbearable weight," Payton wrote. "The psychological toll of such grief and stress is immeasurable, and for many, it leads to unprocessed pain that manifests in ways they never intended." He further asserted that while Jones isn't a "perfect man," he is "a good man." "In my 20 plus years of pastoral ministry, I cannot begin to fathom the depth of sacrifices he has made over his lifetime of service," Payton said. "His generation of pastors gave of themselves in ways that few outside of ministry can fully comprehend often at great personal cost to their health, their families, and their own emotional well-being." Home News Azerbaijan seeks to 'silence' Christian group at UN over Nagorno Karabakh Azerbaijan has filed a formal complaint with the U.N. Committee on NGOs against Christian Solidarity International (CSI), a Switzerland-based human rights group with consultative status, over its advocacy for Armenian Christians displaced from Nagorno Karabakh. The permanent mission of Azerbaijan to the U.N. has accused CSI of engaging in politically motivated hostile actions and requested a review of the organizations compliance with U.N. regulations. The committee is scheduled to discuss the complaint on Friday, a source familiar with the proceedings told The Christian Post, calling the action an "attempt to silence" the Christian group. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Azerbaijans complaint follows repeated interventions by CSI at the U.N. Human Rights Council, where the group has raised concerns about the treatment of Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh particularly the 2023 military operation that forced nearly 120,000 ethnic Armenians to flee and related human rights violations that are allegedly ongoing. CSI has also called for the safe return of Armenians to Nagorno Karabakh and raised alarm about the conditions of what it describes as Armenian hostages in Baku. The 23 detainees, including former high-ranking officials, are allegedly being tried behind closed doors without access to impartial legal counsel or the ability to review evidence against them, according to information published on CSIs website. In its filing, Azerbaijan claimed CSI had used invalid or fictitious names by referring to the region as Nagorno Karabakh and accused the group of displaying a distorted map by outlining the boundaries of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. Azerbaijan also accused CSI of spreading distorted facts about the ongoing trials of 16 Armenian detainees being held in Baku. In addition to those on trial, seven others have already been convicted and are serving prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years on terrorism-related charges. A provisional order from the International Court of Justice, issued in November 2023, stated: Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any actions directly or indirectly aimed at or having the effect of displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing the safe and expeditious return to their homes of persons displaced in the course of the recent military attack including those who have fled to Armenia or third States, while permitting those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh to do so without any hindrance. In its report on Azerbaijan published on May 10, 2024, the U.N. Committee Against Torture stated it was alarmed by alleged extra-judicial killings, torture, and ill-treatment of national and ethnic Armenians during armed conflict and anti-terrorism operations, and the perceived lack of investigations and prosecutions of these allegations. The committee also expressed concerns over the continued detention of 23 individuals of Armenian ethnic or national origin for terrorism and related offences. The report further noted: The Committee was concerned about allegations that human rights defenders and journalists continue to face physical and judicial harassment, and in some cases, are subjected to torture and ill-treatment in Azerbaijan. It was troubled by the shrinking civic space in the country, recalling that a free and vibrant civil society was key to prevention of torture and ill-treatment. On March 3, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan, including ethnic Armenians. Nagorno Karabakh, while predominantly Armenian in population and self-governed since 1991, has been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The 2023 military offensive marked Bakus move to assert full control over the region. Though Armenia backed its autonomy, geopolitical interests, including Turkeys support, allowed Azerbaijan's takeover of the region and influenced the weak global response to its humanitarian impact. For many Armenians, the loss is deeply felt Nagorno Karabakh remains part of their ancestral homeland, with centuries-old churches and monuments central to Armenian identity and history. Home News The situation is very dire for Gaza Christians, Evangelical Palestinian Khalil Sayegh tells Joel Rosenberg Khalil Sayegh is a Palestinian Evangelical Christian who grew up in Gaza and now lives in the United States. In the latest episode of "INSIDE THE EPICENTER" podcast from the Joshua Fund, Sayegh spoke with Joel Rosenberg, editor-in-chief of ALL ARAB NEWS and ALL ISRAEL NEWS, about the devastating toll the recent war has taken on his family and community. From losing loved ones to the harsh realities of displacement and fear, Sayegh shared his perspective about the challenges facing Gazas Christians. The situation is very dire, Sayegh told Rosenberg. We are talking about less than 600 Christians left in Gaza. It used to be 1,500 before. Those who could leave have already left, in May. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The idea of relocation controversial and heartbreaking has become an urgent moral dilemma for Sayegh. I find myself asking shall we advocate for them to leave? Maybe we should just go to the Trump administration, tell them, 'Listen, there are only 600 Christians in Gaza. We would rather have them leave and flourish somewhere else than all of them die.' I dont know what Gods will or plan is for us. His perspective is not theoretical. Its shaped by personal tragedy. When Hamas launched its brutal Oct. 7 assault on Israel in 2023, Sayegh was in the U.S. He immediately texted his family in Gaza. They werent really scared despite the bombing. They thought its just another round of bombardments. And then October 8 happens and my family home is bombed. All of a sudden, my family is homeless. They took refuge in a church one of the last safe spaces left for Christians. But the nightmare didnt end there. Ive lost so many people in this war, he said. Classmates, friends Muslims and Christians and family. When the bombing of the church happened on October 23, I lost extended cousins, most of them babies. Then, after the sniper attack on the Catholic church in Gaza, my father passed away. And my youngest sister, Lara, who had just turned 18, died while evacuating on foot to Egypt. She just collapsed. We dont know what happened. Despite the overwhelming loss, Sayegh said he understood from the beginning what Hamas actions would mean. I understood how Israelis think. I understood what Hamas could have done. I knew it would be hell in Gaza. I slept that night terrified. When asked why he thought the war began, Sayegh pointed to a mix of miscalculations on both sides. I personally think that two, most likely scenarios happened. One, that Sinwar was drunk in power and thought he could get hostages and force Israel into a deal. The second that Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria would launch a joint attack, catching Israel off guard while the U.S. was distracted in Ukraine. Both were complete miscalculations. He also criticized what he views as strategic misjudgment in Israels policy, saying: Israel has grown comfortable with the idea that Hamas could be managed. There was a sense that if they just gave Hamas money Qatari cash arriving in suitcases Gaza would stay quiet. Netanyahu believed Hamas was an asset to prevent a Palestinian state. In management terms, Rosenberg reflected, there are tensions to be managed and problems to be solved. The Israeli government viewed Hamas as a tension to be managed. Even prior to Oct. 7, there was no appetite within Israels government or security services or among the general public for a major ground operation. But that calculation, like that of Hamas, was shattered by reality. Now, Sayegh sees something unprecedented: a shift in the Palestinian street. A new poll shows 48% of Gazans support anti-Hamas protests. Even that number is likely higher, Sayegh said. Tens of thousands marched in Beit Lahia with slogans saying, We are the resistance. Thats unprecedented. In Palestinian culture, resistance is sacred. But now people are saying if it comes at the price of our children, were against it. He added that the protests are not only against Hamas, but also the war itself an expression of collective despair and exhaustion. As Israels war cabinet continues its campaign to dismantle Hamas and claims this is not just another round of conflict but a final reckoning Rosenberg asked what a post-Hamas future could look like. My vision for Gaza is one in which the Palestinian Authority, with the help of Arab states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, leads the transition. Hamas must be dismantled, and policing must happen with Arab support. Rosenberg pressed him, Are there any Arab nations actually willing to get involved? Yes, but two conditions must be met, Sayegh explained. One, the Palestinian Authority must invite them. Theyre seen as the legitimate government. Two, Israel must commit to a political plan something like the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative. As difficult as the present moment is, Sayegh holds onto a vision of peace. Its not naive optimism but a hope forged in grief and faith. This article was originally published by All Arab News. Home News DOJ opens inquiry into claims of anti-Asian discrimination in Virginia school district The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into a Virginia school district following allegations of racial discrimination against Asian American students, acting on a referral from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. Fairfax County Public Schools has been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by using race in its admissions decision process, among other impermissible acts, errors, and omissions, according to a May 21 letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJs Civil Rights Division. According to Dhillon, the alleged discrimination occurred at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Thomas Jefferson HS), a top-ranked public high school in Alexandria, Virginia. Miyares referred the case to the DOJ, citing evidence of intentional discrimination tied to the schools 2020 admissions policy overhaul. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Ranked among the top STEM-focused schools in the country, the school saw a steep drop in Asian-American student enrollment from about 73% in 2020 to roughly 54% in 2021, despite an increase in available seats. According to Miyares, internal communications, including text messages among Fairfax County School Board members, reveal an intent to reduce Asian American representation, with references to an anti-Asian feel and statements like Asians hate us. He described the policy as a deliberate, race-based system designed to disadvantage Asian American students, violating both state and federal civil rights laws. The Fairfax County School Board made clear its intended outcome was to reduce opportunities for Asian American students, and thats exactly what occurred, said Miyares. These students are not statistics. They are sons and daughters, neighbors, classmates, and Virginians who deserve equal protection and opportunity under the law. The 2020 policy shift eliminated standardized testing and introduced a holistic admissions process, reserving seats for top students from each middle school in Fairfax County and prioritizing factors like socioeconomic status and attendance at underrepresented schools. In a statement released Thursday, an FCPS spokesperson said: "This matter has already been fully litigated. A federal appellate court determined there was no merit to arguments that the admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology discriminates against any group of students. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) division leadership and counsel are currently reviewing the documents released today by the Attorney General and will issue a more detailed response in the coming days. FCPS remains committed to providing a world class education for all of our students." Dhillon said her office will work in coordination with the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights "to determine whether Fairfax County Public Schools has violated its obligations" under the law and has directed her office to "review this matter to determine whether the actions in question also violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution." U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement that Thomas Jefferson High School "has long had a reputation for producing some of our nations brightest minds, due in no small part to its rigorous admissions process." "The Fairfax County School Board's alleged decision to weigh race in TJ's admissions decisions appears to be both contrary to the law and to the fundamental principle that students should be evaluated on their merit, not the color of their skin, McMahon said. The Department of Education is grateful for the diligent work of Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares for documenting a pattern of concerning practices at TJ, and we will further investigate this complaint to ensure that all students being assessed fairly, according to merit and accomplishment. The review comes amid reports Thursday that FCPS also faces a federal civil rights complaint over its enforcement of "racial equity" policies that reportedly involve skewing grades based on race and a curriculum that includes a video depicting white students as mosquitoes biting people of color. The advocacy group Defending Education filed a federal civil rights complaint against Fairfax County Public Schools on Tuesday, requesting that the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights investigate the district. Home News House passage of bill defunding Planned Parenthood draws excitement, caution from pro-lifers Pro-life and Christian leaders offered mixed reactions after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill this week that would strip federal funding from the nation's largest abortion provider, as it still awaits approval from the U.S. Senate and President Donald Trump. In a 215-214 vote Wednesday, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed House Resolution 1, also known as the Big Beautiful Bill Act. The vote on the measure fell mainly along party lines, with all Democrats opposing it and two Republicans breaking from their party by voting against it. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against the bill, while a third Republican, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, voted "present." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe While the wide-ranging bill contains over 1,100 pages of text, a provision that would have the effect of defunding Planned Parenthood which receives over $700 million in government funding each year has received particular attention and praise from pro-life advocacy groups and religious organizations. Section 44126 declares no federal funds that "are considered direct spending and provided to carry out a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act or a waiver of such a plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act or a waiver of such a plan shall be used to make payments to a prohibited entity for items and services furnished during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act." A "prohibited entity" is defined as a non-profit organization that "provides for abortions." Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the leading national grassroots pro-life advocacy organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, described the House's passage of HR 1 as "a big step toward stopping forced taxpayer funding of the Big Abortion industry." She called it "a crucial win in the fight against America's #1 cause of death abortion and against waste and corruption." "There is no excuse for forcing taxpayers to prop up a scandal-ridden industry that prioritizes abortions, gender transitions and partisan political activism instead of prenatal care, cancer screening and other legitimate health services that are in continual decline," she said in a statement Thursday. "We now urge the Senate to do its part, and both chambers to come together and get it across the finish line. More than 400,000 babies a year, their mothers, and countless American taxpayers are depending on you." The measure's fate now rests in the hands of the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. Republicans currently have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, meaning that if support for the legislation comes down along party lines as it largely did in the House, they can only afford to lose the support of three senators for the bill to pass. Carol Tobias, president of the pro-life organization National Right to Life, said, "this bill would put the brakes on federal funding of the abortion industry." "Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, is also one of the nation's most successful 'non-profits' raking in over $2 billion in revenue every year," she said. "It is time that Planned Parenthood, and organizations like it, stop receiving tax dollars from hardworking Americans." According to its most recent annual report, Planned Parenthood performed an all-time high of over 402,000 abortions in the fiscal year 2023-2024, all the while the number of other health services it offers, like cancer screenings, continued to decline. It received about 39% of its revenue from government health services reimbursements and grants, totaling $792 million. "As the nation's single largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood took the lives of over 400,000 unborn babies last year and reached this monstrous goal with the help of American taxpayers,:" Tobias said. Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, stressed that the House's passage of HR 1 shows that "Congress still listens." Across several federal administrations and congresses, pro-life advocates have long called for Planned Parenthood to be stripped of tax dollars. Federal law has banned federal funding for abortion (except in rare circumstances) for nearly five decades under a provision known as the Hyde Amendment to avoid forcing American taxpayers to pay for a procedure that many find morally objectionable. "Passage of this bill is a significant step toward establishing a true culture of life in America," Leatherwood said in a statement. "Because this effort isn't just about saving tax dollars, it's about who we are morally as a nation. Preborn lives and families are at stake. Cutting off the hundreds of millions of dollars that flow to predatory organizations like Planned Parenthood will be a gut punch to the abortion industry." While most reactions to the measure from the pro-life community have been overwhelmingly positive, Katie Brown Xavios of the American Life League maintained that "this bill is not the full win it's being portrayed to be." Xavios expressed concern that the House-approved "big, beautiful bill" will "still fund Planned Parenthood for abortions in the cases of rape, incest, and the mother's health." "Give Planned Parenthood an inch, and they will take a mile," she warned. "If the exceptions are the only way Planned Parenthood will get paid, you had better believe that every abortion will now become a life-or-death situation so that Planned Parenthood ensures that it will get its money." Home News Summit Churchs religious discrimination lawsuit assigned to magistrate court Pre-trial proceedings for a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear's The Summit Church in North Carolina against the Chatham County Board of Commissioners have been moved to magistrate court. According to the North Carolina Judicial Branch, while a case can be sent to magistrate court for a variety of reasons, these cases are mainly about civil matters with limited monetary value. In a letter to the attorneys for both parties in the case on Tuesday, Chief United States District Judge Catherine Eagles of the Middle District of North Carolina said the case was randomly selected. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe This case has been randomly selected from the combined dockets of all district judges and administratively assigned to Magistrate Judge Webster to conduct all pretrial proceedings, including recommendation on dispositive motions, Eagles wrote while noting they could also choose to conduct all proceedings in magistrate court if they wish. Parties have the option to agree for magistrate judges to conduct all proceedings in civil cases, both jury and nonjury, as encouraged by the Judicial Conference of the United States, she said. The decision comes after the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a statement of interest in support of The Summit Church after lawyers for the Chatham County Board of Commissioners asked the court to dismiss it. The Summit Church alleges in its lawsuit that members of the county board unlawfully rejected its application to rezone nearly 100 acres of land to house its Chapel Hill campus. The church contends the board's decision violated its "civil rights as enshrined in the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and codified in the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act." The congregation has asked the court for a preliminary injunction and is seeking an order requiring the county to approve the church's rezoning request and associated site plan. In response, the county asked the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, citing multiple defenses, including governmental immunity. Chatham officials also maintain that their zoning decision is a "legislative act" under state law and is not subject to RLUIPA. The DOJ declared in its statement of interest in support of the church's claim that RLUIPA protects against the county's discriminatory zoning decision. "RLUIPA protects the rights of religious groups to exercise their faith free from the precise type of undue government interference exhibited here," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in the statement. "The Civil Rights Division is committed to defending religious liberties as our founders intended and as federal law requires." The DOJ noted that since RLUIPA is a federal law, it "guards individuals and religious institutions from unduly burdensome, unequal, or discriminatory land use regulations." Trial before a magistrate judge can result in greater efficiency and lower costs, as well as an earlier trial date if desired and a special setting. Appeal from a judgment entered by a magistrate judge will be to the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Eagles advised in her letter on Tuesday. The parties were given 30 days to respond to the offer from the court. It was also noted that even if the parties did not agree to have their case handled by a magistrate judge, it will still be reviewed in magistrate court first anyway. Cases in which consent is not given will nevertheless be first considered by the magistrate judge, who will make rulings or recommendations on all motions, including dispositive ones, Eagles said. Accordingly, the Clerk may contact you if you have not responded within 30 days. Home News Verizon acknowledges DEI policies 'could be associated with discrimination' Telecom giant drops DEI committment for approval of $20B merger Verizon has abandoned its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to secure federal regulatory approval for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications. The Federal Communications Commission praised the merger in a May 16 statement, noting it will expand internet access across 25 states, especially in rural areas, with Verizon committing to deploy fiber-optic access to at least 1 million homes annually. The FCC also emphasized Verizon's pledge "to ending DEI-related practices" and commitment to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination as a key factor in its decision, aligning with the Trump administration's recent executive orders targeting what it deems "illegal DEI" programs. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Verizon Chief Legal Officer Vandana Venkatesh wrote in a May 15 letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr that DEI policies "could be associated with discrimination." "Verizon has been evaluating its DEI-related programs, HR processes, supplier programs, training programs and materials, and other initiatives," wrote Venkatesh. "For that reason, Verizon reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination and is modifying its practices and ending its DEI-related policies." The letter outlined specific actions, including Verizon "changing its HR structure" and elimination of any "team or any individual roles focused on DEI," with affected employees reassigned to "HR talent objectives." Additionally, Venkatesh wrote that "Verizon is removing references to DEI or 'diversity, equity and inclusion' from its employee training materials" and "has removed the supplier diversity metric from its management pay plan." "We recognize that the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion ('DEI') has changed. The Supreme Court, the President's Executive Orders, and federal mandates require changes in the way companies approach DEI issues moving forward," Venkatesh added. "Verizon ... will ensure that all training materials are focused on achieving the company's core business objectives or compliance obligations and not on separate DEI objectives." It's a dramatic turnaround for Verizon, which was one of more than 250 businesses that signed a letter in protest against Montana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act and other pieces of legislation they argued would "unnecessarily single out already marginalized groups for more mistreatment, harassment, and discrimination." This retreat follows a pattern seen in other corporations, such as T-Mobile, which similarly scaled back DEI programs to gain FCC approval for its Lumos acquisition in March. The FCC, under Carr's leadership, has intensified its crackdown on DEI, investigating companies like Comcast and Disney for allegedly promoting discriminatory practices. Verizon's decision reflects the impact of President Donald Trump's January executive orders banning certain diversity programs among federal contractors and agencies, including directing all federal agencies to remove preferred pronouns from employee email signatures. Trump also instructed departments to disable any email features that prompt or display pronouns, reinforcing his administration's recognition that only two biological sexes exist. Even before Trump returned to the White House in January, several U.S.-based corporations were already in the process of reevaluating their DEI policies in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling, which found that the admissions policies of the University of North Carolina and Harvard University that use race as a factor were unconstitutional. Home News Young girl kidnapped, forcibly married to older man is rescued, reunited with parents LAHORE, Pakistan A kidnapped Christian girl in Pakistan reunited with her parents on Wednesday, five months after a Muslim man abducted her, and forcibly converted and married her and got her pregnant following repeated sexual assault, her lawyer said. Attorney Hanif Hameed said the 15-year-old girl was abducted from her aunts home by Muhammad Anees, 29, and four accomplices from Sambrial Tehsil in Sialkot District, Punjab Province on Jan. 25. Her Catholic father, Yousaf Masih, works as a laborer at a local brick kiln in Sambrial. The girl, whose name is withheld as a rape victim, and her younger sister had gone to their aunts home when she was taken by the accused, Hameed told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. Masih initially did not know that Anees, who worked at a nearby farm, had abducted his daughter, but upon learning about his involvement, he registered an abduction case against him on Jan. 27. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Police ignored the impoverished familys pleas for action against the suspect and for recovery of their daughter. After 12 days, the police informed the Masih family that their daughter had converted to Islam and married Anees with her free will, Hameed said. However, when we saw the conversion and marriage certificates that had been issued from Gujrat District, we found that both documents were fabricated. The documents indicated she had contracted Nikah (Islamic marriage) on Jan. 17 and converted to Islam the next day, though she was at home in Sambrial with her family on those dates, Hameed said. This is a clear case of false conversion and fake marriage to cover the crime of abduction and rape, he said. After police failed to recover her, the family filed a petition in the Lahore High Court ordering police to find her and arrest the suspects, he said. Police presented her in the high court on May 6. Since the child was suffering from immense physical and mental trauma and was not in a position to record her statement, the court directed that the child should be moved to a government shelter for women in Sialkot District for rehabilitation, Hameed said. Three accused, including the primary suspect Anees, were sent to prison on judicial remand while police are making efforts to arrest their two absconding accomplices. The attorney said that those treating her at the shelter discovered she was four months pregnant as a result of repeated rape by Anees. On Wednesday, the girl recorded her statement before Sambrial Magistrate Khurshid Ahmad in which she expressed her desire to be given into the custody of her parents, Hameed said. Accepting her request, the magistrate allowed Masih to take his daughter home, where she is now among her family members, he said. The lawyer said he was preparing charges related to rape, forced faith conversion and child marriage in the case against the suspects. The law must take its full course against the accused, and all those involved in the criminal acts of abducting the minor girl, sexually assaulting her and solemnizing the fake Islamic marriage must be sternly punished to make them an example for others, he said. Regarding the pregnancy, Hameed said he would help the family approach the high court for its direction on the matter. She got pregnant as a result of rape, therefore the court will have to decide the fate of her pregnancy, he said. Anti-child marriage bill Amid a proliferation of such cases, Pakistans parliament on Monday passed a significant bill aiming to curb, discourage and eventually eradicate child marriages in the federal capital territory by raising the legal age of marriage for both sexes to 18 years. The bill defines a child as anyone younger than 18, whether boy or girl, and states that no Nikah registrar (officiant) is allowed to solemnize a marriage if either of the individuals is under 18. Registrars are also required to check and confirm the age of both parties using their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC), issued by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). As per the legislation, if a registrar violates this law, they can face up to one year in jail and a fine of 100,000 Pakistani Rupees ($354 USD). The bill states that any man older than 18 who marries an underage girl could face up to three years in prison. Living with a child under 18 in a marital relationship will be considered statutory rape, the bill states. Moreover, the legislation also stresses that anyone who forces a child into marriage could be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to 1 million Pakistani Rupees ($3,540 USD). The same punishment applies to anyone involved in trafficking a child for the purpose of marriage, it specifies. The bill also criminalizes abettors and accomplices, stating: Those who assist in arranging a child marriage may be sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined. It further states that parents or guardians who fail to stop or are involved in a childs marriage can also face up to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. According to the legislation, courts will have the authority to stop a child marriage if informed in time, while the law also ensures protection for whistleblowers who wish to remain anonymous. The new law also would deny bail to the perpetrators of the crime of underage marriage and bind courts of law to complete the trial within 90 days. A bill criminalizing child marriage also has been pending in the Punjab Assembly since April 2024. Christian activists say that the enactment of this law would help in curbing forced faith conversions and marriages of minority girls in Punjab province, which is home to over 1.5 million Christians. Pakistan, where the population is 96% Muslim, ranked eighth on Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian. This article was originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Trump Confronts South African President, Kennedy Center Theater Season Includes Drag, Israeli Embassy Tragedy link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:25 07:25 Top headlines for Friday, May 23, 2025 In this episode, we examine the tense exchange in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump confronts South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over serious allegations of genocide. Shifting gears, we explore the vibrant and diverse upcoming theater season at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, highlighting the intriguing trend of men dressing as women in several productions. Lastly, we cover the tragic incident involving the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and the subsequent arrest of a suspect. 00:11 Trump shows South African president video of memorial to dead 01:07 2 Israeli Embassy staffers killed in antisemitic shooting 02:08 Pete Hegseth leads prayer to 'King Jesus' during Pentagon event 03:01 Kennedy Center's upcoming theater season includes men in drag 03:46 City settles with atheist group to end legal fight over prayer 04:43 School video depicts white students as mosquitoes: complaint 05:35 Patricia Heaton, husband David Hunt talk infusing films with 'truth and hope,' raising godly kids Home Opinion A psychedelic trip that offers to bring you closer to God? Will a psychedelic trip bring you closer to God? That is the question raised by a recent New Yorker feature on a clinical trial involving 30 pastors and spiritual leaders who took psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms, to experience what the researchers called a sacred experience. One of the studys participants, a minister at an Episcopal Church in Washington State, said, I looked completely different, adding, I was like a new creation. Even so, a Protestant minister in the study said, There was nothing particularly Christian about it. The study found, 96% rated their first encounters with psilocybin as being among the top five most spiritually significant experiences of their lives. The results are undeniably striking for those of us in the Church and should stir caution. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Pastors and priests who turn to substances to feel closer to God risk leading their flock to confusion and counterfeit spirituality. The Bible clearly states that church leaders are held to a higher standard (Titus 1:8). What is at stake here is the integrity of the shepherds of Christs flock. This is not just theological drift; it is spiritual danger. If the Church legitimizes psilocybin as a pathway to God, it will create a new faith entirely one not rooted in the cross but in a chemical, one not shaped by Scripture but by serotonin. If experience replaces truth, doctrine will erode, discernment will collapse, and the Church will become a mirror of the culture rather than a witness to it. At a time when the 1970s fervor over the potential of psychedelics is re-emerging, the spiritual dynamics of using these drugs have once again presented difficult questions for Christians and Church leaders alike. From a biblical perspective, the answer is clear: You cannot drug your way into the presence of God. The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Peter goes further, urging believers to be sober and alert (1 Peter 5:8), which you can hardly be while on a 68-hour trip on psilocybin that inhibits your mental faculties. The spiritual experience touted by psychedelics enthusiasts, or psychonauts, today is reminiscent of King Saul, who sought the help of a medium to find answers from God in 1 Samuel 28. Saul had rejected God and disobeyed his commands, which separated him from His presence. Rather than turning to God wholeheartedly, he sought a medium to reach God and the result was catastrophic. Likewise, many today prefer to eschew the Bibles gospel message for potent drugs in a doomed attempt to reach God. Like Saul, they will find only emptiness and even more confusion. From a scientific perspective, the marketing of psilocybin and other psychedelics as harmless wonder drugs is deeply concerning. The funders of most of the research into psychedelics are wealthy investors. The ballot measure in Colorado to permit the medical use of psilocybin, which clearly violates federal law, was partly funded by the founder of TOMS shoes and other for-profit ventures. The state of the research on the substances gives cause for alarm. Far from healing every ailment in society, there have been rising cases of extreme harm. Last year, an airline pilot used psilocybin, better known as magic mushrooms, and tried to crash an Alaska Airlines flight with 83 passengers. These prolonged episodes of psychosis are a known and desired effect of powerful psychedelics and are not uncommon. Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder is another growing concern as experimentation with these mind-altering drugs increases. Sometimes, lasting for weeks or months after taking psychedelics, a sober individual may continue to experience the hallucinatory effects of the drug. The potential harm of hallucinating while driving or working long after someone has used the substance is enormous. Regarding the purported medical benefits of psilocybin, the American Psychiatric Association has stated, There is currently inadequate scientific evidence for endorsing the use of psychedelics to treat any psychiatric disorder. The Food and Drug Administration, entrusted to regulate medicine, has not approved these substances for treating any disease or condition (i.e., it is not a medicine). When God spoke to Moses, He commanded him to remove his sandals in reverence: Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Todays priests are walking up to the burning bush with sneakers on, casual, uninvited, while boldly claiming the smoke is holy. The simple message for Christians is to look to the Bible, not mind-altering drugs, for a connection to God. You dont have to pay for a psilocybin trip to find Him. Jesus death paid the price already. Home Opinion Genetic engineering: Where should Christian ethics draw the line? The mega-ethical question of who and what is a human being is brought to ones mind with increasing frequency by the accelerating advances in scientific technology. As human beings increasingly apply extraordinary advances in scientific research to remedy human impairments, the inevitable questions of how such advances could be applied to enhance normal human functioning always arise. Scientists are increasingly pushing back the frontiers of what may be done to ameliorate human maladies from generic disorders in the womb or postpartum. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Who among us would not applaud and support efforts to cure babies from debilitating, heartbreaking, life-debilitating genetic disorders, either in the womb or postpartum? Unfortunately, human nature being what it has revealed itself to be, such marvelous scientific expertise will inevitably be used to seek to enhance certain human traits through genetic engineering. Some humans will assume the desirability or the superiority of certain human traits over others and will seek to engineer these more desirable traits through genetic engineering and even post-birth alterations when technically possible. The inevitable problem is, and will be, that our human technical skill will always outpace our wisdom. Also, we are not God, and thus we do not have perfect knowledge. Consequently, we cannot know all the consequences of our actions. Of course, it is easy to support genetic engineering to correct dire dysfunction. The problems arise when we start engineering for improvements. As human beings, with limited knowledge and perspective, we cannot know all we are doing because, unlike God, we are not omniscient. Thus, we make mistakes. For instance, let us assume that through mapping the human genome, we can identify the genetic markers for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD (disproportionately male) are more twitchy, complicate classroom instruction, and certainly make teachers classroom lives more complicated. However, let us assume for a moment that we could identify and fix the genetic markers for ADHD in utero. What would be the possible unforeseen consequences? More and more evidence has surfaced that indicates there may be a link between ADHD and right-brained, artistic traits. If we eliminated genetic markers for ADHD, would we be unwittingly circumscribing the number of artists and musicians among us? At the very least, we should rein in human hubris and seek uncharacteristic human humility. This should not be interpreted as advocating banning pharmaceutical medications for debilitating ADHD symptoms, which hinder educational functioning. I have a close personal relative who now holds a masters degree who benefited greatly from such medications in his youth. The crucial difference is that pharmaceutical solutions are not permanent, while genetic and surgical solutions are. These serious questions of human scientific reach exceeding our human wisdom grasp were activated recently by reading an article in the Wall Street Journal Business Section, of all places. The article, by Christopher Mims, Coming to a Brain Near You: A Tiny Computer, summarizes some of the more serious attempts to enhance human brain functioning through planting computers in human brains. The articles subtitle underscores the urgency with which this development will unfold: In the next 12 months, the number of people with a brain-computer interface is set to double," as a consequence of dozens of so-called neurotech startups. Each of these start-ups are betting theyll eventually become a standard part of care for tens of thousands, perhaps even millions, of us. The commercial incentive is real. Morgan-Stanley projects a $1 billion-a-year brain-computer implant market by 2041. Any time you implant a machine inside the human body, you are raising serious ethical issues. When the organ that is invaded by human machinery is the brain, it is more problematic ethically and morally than cochlear (hearing), or cornea (eyesight) implants. To use such computer technologies to allow brain-injured people to function more normally should not be controversial. To employ such technology in an attempt to create super-human abilities will require much more societal and civilizational conversation and societal and governmental supervision. Such conversations will be essential and should not be shunned or discouraged. As human beings, we are in this together, and it is far more than a mere business decision. And as we have these discussions, we must guard ourselves against the peculiar American mythology that change is always progress. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isnt, and it always comes at a cost. Let us not shy away from discussions of progress, and what the costs are, and who will pay the price. Home News Church of England says Israel's actions in Gaza are 'war of aggression,' no longer 'defensive' Church of England bishops have called for a ceasefire to the war in Gaza, claiming that Israel's actions are "no longer a defensive war" but rather a "war of aggression." The Church of England's House of Bishops, which has been meeting in York this week, issued an official statement Thursday denouncing Israel's blockade of food and medical aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. "Nothing justifies the heinous terror attacks committed by Hamas on October 7 2023. In such circumstances nations have a right to self-defense in line with international law, and to hold perpetrators to account," stated the bishops. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Yet, the Government of Israel has shown through its statements and actions that this is no longer a defensive war, but a war of aggression. We strongly affirm that the Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank have a right to live in peace and security in their homeland." The bishops believe that "the death, suffering and destruction being inflicted on Gaza is a grave sin that violently assaults God-given human dignity and the very integrity of God's creation." "We call on all sides to end the war," they added. "We call on relevant [United Nations] bodies to be allowed to administer all necessary aid in line with long standing humanitarian principles." "We call for the immediate release of all hostages without condition. The continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank, the appalling levels of settler violence, and the forced displacements and house demolitions must cease." The Anglican leaders also commended Jewish voices within Israel who are calling for peace and praised the United Kingdom government for suspending talks with Israel on a new free trade agreement. The bishops expressed support for "our Jewish brothers and sisters" and denounced antisemitism, including "the shocking and senseless murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington, D.C." on Wednesday night. "We encourage dioceses and parishes to continue supporting the ongoing appeal for the Diocese of Jerusalem, including the restoring of medical facilities and the buildings of the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza," the bishops concluded. "We give thanks for their steadfastness and faithful witness, and invite churches across the country to join us in praying for their ministry in sharing the light of Christ in such dark times." On Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic terror group Hamas launched a series of attacks on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, which it has controlled since 2007. Nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including around 40 Americans, were killed, and more than 250 others were taken hostage. The Israel Defense Forces struck back with several air strikes on Gaza and then a ground offensive, with the stated objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. During the fighting, large numbers of Hamas militants and many of its leaders have been killed. However, large numbers of unarmed civilians have also been either killed or displaced. According to claims made by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since October 2023, although the tally does not distinguish between unarmed civilians and combatants. The validity of the Gaza death toll has been questioned as thousands of names have quietly been removed from the casualty list since the beginning of the war. On Wednesday, Israel allowed around 100 aid trucks carrying food and medical equipment into Gaza after an 11-week blockade of aid supplies entering the territory. Antoine Renard, country director of the World Food Program, said Thursday that the aid had yet to reach the Gaza civilian population, according to Reuters. Hamas has been accused of stealing aid meant for the Gaza population. In April, Israel pushed back on criticism from Germany, France and the U.K. over the blockade of supplies into Gaza. "Article 70 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions requires aid when 'the civilian population is not adequately supplied.' During the 42-day ceasefire, 25,000 aid trucks entered Gaza," Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said at the time. "According to Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, a side is not obliged to allow in aid if it is 'likely to assist the military or economic efforts of the enemy.' Hamas hijacked the humanitarian aid to rebuild its terror machine." Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid. "If you look, Hamas is making it impossible because they're taking everything that's brought in," Trump said during a press conference. "But we're going to help the people of Gaza because they're being treated very badly by Hamas." Trump's comments followed the approval by Israel's cabinet of a plan for aid to be distributed by private companies and aid organizations. This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is open to a temporary ceasefire to allow for the return of the remaining hostages. But if a deal is not reached, he vowed to move forward with an offensive to take complete control of Gaza. He accused leaders in the U.K., France, and Canada of "inviting more such atrocities" like the one on Oct. 7, 2023, by pressuring Israel to end its war in Gaza without accomplishing its stated objectives. "The war began on October 7 when Palestinian terrorists stormed our borders, murdered 1,200 innocent people and abducted over 250 more innocents to the dungeons of Gaza," Netanyahu said in a statement Monday. "Israel accepts President Trump's vision and urges all European leaders to do the same. The war can end tomorrow if the remaining hostages are released, Hamas lays down its arms, its murderous leaders are exiled and Gaza is demilitarized. No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won't." The Church of England is not the only religious body advocating for a ceasefire, as the newly installed leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, called for a cessation of hostilities on Wednesday during his first general audience in St. Peter's Square. "The situation in the Gaza Strip is increasingly worrying and painful," stated the pontiff. "I renew my appeal to allow the entry of dignified humanitarian aid and to put an end to the hostilities, whose heartbreaking price is paid by the children, elderly, and the sick." Home News DOJ sues Idaho town for religious discrimination against Evangelical church The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit accusing the City of Troy in Idaho of religious discrimination after town officials denied an application from the nearby Moscow-based Christ Church for a conditional use permit that would allow the church to hold services in the city of just under 950 people. In a 19-page complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, the department argues that officials in Troy violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act when they denied Christ Church's conditional use permit application that would allow the growing congregation to worship at a location city's C-1 zoning district. "The church has a fast-growing congregation and has sought to accommodate this growth by holding services at additional locations in the area. At present, Christ Church's congregation is too large to hold services at any one location, and the church has had to establish several new locations for services in Moscow," the filing states. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "As part of this expansion effort, Christ Church sought to find an appropriate facility for Sunday services in Troy, which is a close neighbor to Moscow. Historically, congregants residing in Troy have commuted from Troy to Moscow to attend the church's services, but desire to have worship services in Troy." Though the city already allows non-religious assemblies in the C-1 zoning district, such as clubs, museums, auditoriums and art galleries, the DOJ alleges that Christ Church's permit was denied because of public animus towards the church's religious beliefs, which is a violation of RLUIPA. In one written comment opposing the church worshiping in Troy, a critic noted: "I do not want Christ Church to be allowed to destroy another Idaho town. They are evil people spreading evil beliefs." "RLUIPA unequivocally forbids local governments from deciding zoning matters based on their dislike of certain religious groups," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that discriminate in land use matters on the basis of the applicants' religious beliefs." Troy officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Christian Post on Friday. Christ Church, led by Senior Pastor Douglas Wilson, has made many headlines in the past due to their practice and advocacy for traditional Christian values. The church has proudly defended its ambition to make Moscow, a city of just under 27,000 people that is home to the University of Idaho, "a Christian town." "Our mission at Christ Church is summed up by the phrase 'all of Christ for all of life,'" the church noted. "Under the grace of God, this means that our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town through faithful and robust covenant renewal worship on the Lord's Day, through proclamation of the gospel to unbelievers, while training additional evangelists who will continue proclaiming that gospel, through teaching men and women how to live together in harmonious Christian marriage, through establishing a family-friendly culture of Christian education." In September 2022, the church rented a local bar in downtown Troy to hold Sunday services for about 60 residents of Troy. Two services were held there without incident. But on Oct. 5, 2022, the city's attorney sent a cease-and-desist order to the bar's owner stating that the bar could not be used for church services because a conditional use permit was required for a church to operate in a commercial zoning district. "Christ Church made a substantial effort to find a suitable location for its Sunday services. On various occasions, the church reached out to other facilities in Troy to explore renting space for Sunday services, including a local public school, but those requests were rebuffed. The church also considered building a facility outside of town, but did not have enough capital for such a project," the lawsuit stated. In November 2022, a parish elder purchased a former bank building on Main Street in Troy's business district. The plan was to convert half of the property into an event space that could be used for church services. In January 2023, the church entered into a leasing agreement. The church and the elder engaged in efforts to seek a conditional use permit from the city, but their application was denied in March 2023. "The written decision stated that the church 'did not enhance the commercial district' and that the religious use was 'not in harmony with the Comprehensive Plan,'" the DOJ lawsuit states. In April, the DOJ filed a statement of interest in support of a similar religious discrimination lawsuit filed by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear's The Summit Church in North Carolina against the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. In their lawsuit, Summit Church alleges that members of the county board unlawfully rejected its application to rezone nearly 100 acres of land to house its Chapel Hill campus. The church contends the board's decision violated its "civil rights as enshrined in the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and codified in the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act." Home News DOJ investigating Andrew Cuomo over COVID-19 nursing home deaths The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over his controversial decision to place COVID-19 patients in nursing homes during the pandemic. The DOJ had opened up the investigation about a month ago into claims that Cuomo lied to members of U.S. Congress about his actions as governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, two sources familiar with the matter told The New York Times. This investigation began not long after the Trump administration dismissed a criminal indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment claims, is currently running for mayor of New York City in the Democratic primary. If nominated, he would likely face Adams, who is running as an independent, in the next election. Rich Azzopardi, a Cuomo spokesman, told the outlet that he considered the investigation "lawfare and election interference plain and simple something President Trump and his top Department of Justice officials say they are against." "[Cuomo] testified truthfully to the best of his recollection about events from four years earlier, and he offered to address any follow-up questions from the subcommittee but from the beginning this was all transparently political," Azzopardi said. In March 2020, as the pandemic was spreading worldwide, the Cuomo administration sent around 9,000 recovering COVID-19 patients to hundreds of nursing homes in New York. While the move was meant to alleviate the burden facing hospitals, it was widely criticized for putting elderly New York residents in danger and for possibly causing thousands of deaths. As many as 15,000 nursing home residents in New York died from COVID-19 during the time period that Cuomo's order was in effect, The Associated Press reported in 2021. Cuomo gained even more scrutiny when an audit accused his administration of undercounting the number of documented COVID-19-related deaths in New York-based nursing homes, saying the state health department "conformed" its narrative to present "data in a manner that misled the public." In January 2022, reports surfaced that the former governor would not face prosecution for his nursing home placement order. Last September, Cuomo testified before the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic about the placement of coronavirus patients into nursing homes. Cuomo had previously spoken with the Select Subcommittee in June 2024 for a recorded interview that was held behind closed doors and had lasted around seven hours. The Justice Department's investigation into Cuomo comes less than six months before the New York City mayoral election, where polling indicates that Cuomo is favored to win both the primary and general elections. A Marist College poll of 3,383 likely Democratic primary voters conducted from May 1-8 found Cuomo capturing a plurality (37%) of the vote among Democratic primary voters in New York City against eight other candidates. When eliminating the undecided voters and using several rounds of ranked-choice voting to eliminate the candidates who receive the lowest share of the vote, Cuomo is the last candidate standing among Democratic primary voters. He secures 60% of the vote against Zohran Mamdani. A poll of 1,000 registered voters in New York City conducted by Emerson College from March 21-24 finds Cuomo leading with 43% of the vote in a hypothetical general election matchup, with Republican Curtis Sliwa at 13%, Adams at 11% and independent Jim Walden at 4%. Home News 'We're losing the narrative': Rabbi warns Hamas' PR strategy is working, fueling rise in hatred of Jews The day before two Israeli Embassy staffers were gunned down in the nation's capital, a rabbi warned U.S. lawmakers that Hamas' propaganda about Israel and its military campaign in Gaza has fueled a worldwide spike in antisemitism. Eric Fusfield, a rabbi and the director of legislative affairs for Bnai Brith International, a Jewish human rights and Israel advocacy organization, was among four witnesses who testified at a Tuesday hearing titled Worldwide Persecution of Jews. The bipartisan hearing, hosted by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the House of Representatives, comes amid reports of a global surge in antisemitic incidents. Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., both led the hearing, during which Fusfield stressed the importance of an educational approach to addressing antisemitism while also emphasizing that governments have a duty to ensure public safety. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Were losing the narrative, the rabbi testified. Were losing the PR battle to terrorists, who rape women and decapitate babies. Somehow, in this morality play, Israel is the bad guy. It does take all of us to turn this narrative around. While the commission noted that anti-Israel animus has played a part in various antisemitic incidents following the Hamas-led terror attacks against Israel in October 2023, Jewish advocacy groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League, had already been tracking an apparent rise in antisemitism. Marina Rosenberg, the vice president for international affairs at the Anti-Defamation League, also testified at the hearing, warning that increasing antisemitism is a global emergency and it requires a global response. Rosenberg asserted that discussions about deceased Jews are not enough to combat antisemitism and help people to better understand the Jewish community. We need to teach about the living ones, she said. People need to recognize the contribution of Jewish communities worldwide, what Jews are all about, that we are human beings. At the start of the hearing, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., who himself is Jewish, recognized the Hamas-led attacks in 2023 as one of the bloodiest days since the Holocaust in Jewish history. On Oct. 7, 2023, the terror group slaughtered at least 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted over 240 others, including 31 Americans. Nadler warned that when it comes to hate, what starts with Jews rarely ends with Jews. Ted Deutch, the chief executive officer of the American Jewish Committee and a former member of Congress, later made a similar point. Antisemitism does not just threaten Jewish communities, it threatens the values that hold free societies together, Deutch said. The former Florida congressman urged lawmakers at the hearing to call out any form of Jewish hatred. Condemn antisemitism unequivocally and publicly, in all its forms, whenever and wherever it occurs, Deutch said. Name it. Call it out. Be strong. When an incident occurs, it matters when elected officials speak out loudly and use their broad reach, raising awareness that antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem but an assault on our shared values. Tuesdays hearing occurred one day before the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where the American Jewish Committee had hosted an event. The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were soon to be engaged. According to police, the 30-year-old suspect from Chicago opened fire on four people and fatally shot two of the attendees. After the shooting, the suspect entered the museum but was later detained by the authorities. According to the police, the shooter reportedly chanted free, free Palestine while in custody. In a statement shared with The Christian Post, Susan Michael of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem USA, said that she met Yaron at the ICEJ Gala in honor of Israel's 75th anniversary. Michael described Yaron and his family as cherished friends of ICEJ President Dr. Juergen Buehler. "That his life and Sarah's was so senselessly cut short here in our nation's capital is beyond heartbreaking," she stated. "I have worked with the embassy for over 40 years, and never have I witnessed such brazen hatred against the Jewish people. This is not an isolated tragedy it is part of a dangerous wave of antisemitism that is spreading rapidly and must be confronted with courage and moral clarity. Our prayers are with the families of Yaron and Sarah and with the entire Israeli diplomatic community." Home News Vineyard USA threatens Duluth Vineyard with dissociation amid dispute over handling of sexual abuse The American arm of the Association of Vineyard Churches, Vineyard USA, has threatened leaders of the Vineyard Church in Duluth, Minnesota, with dissociation if they fail to resolve a dispute over the handling of sexual abuse by August. That threat came in an April 10 letter after the Vineyard Church in Duluth voted to support a call for the resignations of Vineyard USAs leaders and to withhold their 3% contribution to the parent organization over the mishandling of sexual abuse. Vineyard Churchs Interim Lead Pastor John Kliewer also publicly highlighted his disagreement with Vineyard USA about the relative importance of victims and perpetrators (pastors) in our response to abuse. In the April 10 letter to the Church Council of the Duluth Vineyard, Vineyard USA Super Regional Leader John Elmer addressed the ongoing disagreements between the two parties and declared that if the dispute isnt resolved by Aug. 15, that date would also be the end of their affiliation. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The primary role of Vineyard USA is to provide leadership, resourcing, and support to local Vineyard churches. We recognize that, like every local church, the Duluth Vineyard needs these things, and we are concerned that VUSA is unable to fulfill those responsibilities. We believe the current situation necessitates a different path. Under the Trademark License agreement, Vineyard USA retains the right to terminate the association between Vineyard USA and a local church with cause immediately or without cause with a sixty-day written notice both of which are reasonable options in light of the events noted above, Elmer noted. Instead of adhering to the 60-day notice, Elmer said Vineyard USA would undertake a more compassionate and thoughtful process instead by giving the Vineyard Church six months in which to resolve the dispute. Vineyard USA considers your February 20, 2025 email Letter from the Duluth Vineyard Church Council to the Board of Vineyard USA, in which you noted your vote in support of the call for resignations of National leadership and your choice to withhold your 3% contribution to VUSA, as the start of these six months thus making August 15, 2025 the end date of our affiliation should we not satisfactorily resolve the matters above as outlined in the March 10th email, Elmer wrote. When asked if Vineyard USA had come to terms on the issue with The Vineyard Church, a spokesperson told The Christian Post that talks were still ongoing. "Vineyard USA remains in meaningful dialogue with the Duluth Vineyard Church Council and looks ahead with hope and compassion as those conversations continue, Vineyard USA said in their statement. The spokesperson did not respond, however, when asked if the organization would continue with dissociation if they failed to reach an agreement. Both The Vineyard Church and Vineyard USA, have been named in nine civil lawsuits alongside Jackson Gatlin, a former young adult and online community pastor at The Vineyard Church who accepted a plea deal in November for criminal sexual conduct with a child. In a letter to Vineyard USAs National Director Jay Pathak in January, the Rev. Donnell T. Wyche, senior pastor of Vineyard Church Ann Arbor, called for a purging of the organizations leadership in the wake of the abuse scandal. Vineyard Churchs Interim Lead Pastor John Kliewer supported that call. Shortly after supporting Wyches call, John Kliewer, the interim senior pastor of the Vineyard Church was accused of leadership abuse by Vineyard USA then cleared by an independent investigation a month later. Kliewer previously highlighted several ways he believes Vineyard USA appeared to prioritize the perpetrators of abuse instead of the alleged victims and recommended 20 actions Vineyard USA could take to better address the issue of abuse in the organization, including "radical transparency." Other recommendations include: "a public acknowledgment and apology for past failures; offering private apologies and making amends with survivors and churches that are willing to engage; dedicating a main session at the next National Conference to confession, lament, and a call for repentance regarding past mishandling of abuse; gender diversity in leadership; and investing in trauma-informed training." Vineyard pastors, were all a part of a culture that prioritized Senior Pastor power, rather than Senior Pastor accountability, Kliewer said. I dont blame Vineyard USA any more than I blame myself. The question now is: what are we going to do about it? We could start by being honest and acknowledging the truth. China's top legislator holds talks with National Assembly of Turkmenistan chairperson Xinhua) 08:55, May 23, 2025 Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, in Beijing on Thursday. Zhao, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that in January 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. In October of the same year, President Xi held friendly exchanges with Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, who came to China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, drawing a new blueprint for cooperation in various fields between the two countries, Zhao added. He also said that China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen cooperation in various fields, and continuously enrich the connotation of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. China highly appreciates Turkmenistan's firm support for China's position on the Taiwan question and issues related to Xinjiang and human rights, Zhao said, adding that China will, as always, firmly support Turkmenistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security, and support Turkmenistan in pursuing a permanent neutrality policy and following a development path that suits its national conditions. China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to strengthen the alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative with Turkmenistan's development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road, explore new measures to deepen cooperation concerning connectivity and agriculture, and expand cooperation in terms of culture, tourism and education, Zhao stated. He called on the two sides to jointly promote the implementation of the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi, safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and practice true multilateralism. He further said that the legislative bodies of China and Turkmenistan have always maintained friendly exchanges, and the NPC of China is willing to join hands with the National Assembly of Turkmenistan, strengthen friendly exchanges at multiple levels among legislative bodies, deepen exchanges of experience in legislation, supervision and governance, and create a favorable legal environment for practical cooperation between the two countries. Gulmanova, meanwhile, said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership has achieved vigorous development in various fields including politics, economy, diplomacy and culture. The National Assembly of Turkmenistan is willing to deepen friendly exchanges with the NPC of China, and enhance communication among special committees, youth and women parliamentarians and representatives, Gulmanova added. Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) In a recent mandate letter to his cabinet, Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated his broad goals for Canadas immigration system. Carneys mandate letter outlined two main immigration goals: Returning overall immigration to sustainable levels; and Attracting the best talent from around the world to help build Canadas economy. These two goals were presented as a single directive and were one of the top seven priorities for Canadas cabinet moving forward. Join our immigration newsletter Be the first to know Mandate letters are special directives given to members of the cabinet from the prime minister, which typically outline major goals, milestones, and sometimes even methods that the prime minister would like his cabinet to conform to, in keeping and achieving their governmental mandate. In the past, Canadian prime ministers have often delivered individual mandate letters to each minister. It is unclear at this time whether Carney will follow this pattern. Returning overall immigration rates to sustainable levels In his mandate letter, Carney reiterated the need to bring overall immigration levels down to sustainable levels. Previously on the campaign trail, the Liberals under Carney ran on a platform of stabilizing permanent resident immigration levels, acknowledging that the previous Liberal administration had allowed immigration levels to rise at an unsustainable ratea change which in turn had placed strain on Canadas housing and public services. To address this, the Liberals previously proposed to stabilize permanent admissions at less than 1% of Canadas population annually beyond 2027. With Canadas population projected to be 41.5 million in 2025, the previously planned targets (as outlined in Canadas 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, published in October of 2024) already fall below the 1% threshold. According to the Plan for 20252027, the government aims to admit 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. Attracting the best talent from around the world In addition to the above, Carneys mandate letter also mentioned another theme that was previously touched on during the federal election: gearing the immigration system to attract top global talent. The Liberal Partys election platform included plans to update the Global Skills Strategy (GSS) to bring key professional talent to help build and support critical sectors of Canada's economy. The GSS is a federal work permit program that supports eligible Canadian companies by facilitating the hiring of skilled foreign workers. Under this program, foreign nationals can get expedited work permit processing, typically within two weeks. The proposed changes included in the Liberal election platform contained new initiatives aimed at helping high-growth Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs bring in talent. The platform also highlights a focus on attracting highly skilled professionals from the United States. Additionally, the party committed to working with provinces and territories to improve and accelerate the recognition of foreign credentials and international work experienceallowing foreign skilled workers to more quickly and effectively integrate into the Canadian labour market. Context for these changes The changes advocated by Mark Carney in his mandate letter have their roots in the immigration policy instituted by previous Immigration Minister Marc Miller, at the tail-end of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus tenure. Under Marc Miller, and in response to growing concerns around affordability and housing, Canadas Liberal government adjusted their immigration policy to scale back on both temporary resident and permanent resident admissions. This included measures such as Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER Concerns have been expressed for the impact on UK charities of Microsofts recent decision to end its free software service offers for voluntary organisations. Last week, the US technology giant announced it would end its free offers of Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 to charities in July. From July, the firm will instead offer discounts of up to 75% on the software services to charities as well as up to 300 licenses of the more rudimentary Microsoft 365 Business Basic. Microsoft said in its announcement, which came a week after founder Bill Gates pledge to give $200bn (around 150bn) to charitable causes through his foundation over the next 20 years, that it was making the changes to streamline our grant offerings and simplify our grant portfolio. However, some have expressed concerns that the software offer changes could negatively impact smaller charities. Big impact on small charities Olivia Barker White, chief executive of small international development charity Kids Club Kampala, said her charity has used Microsoft 365 Business Premium for several years but will now consider switching to different software. However, she said changing to another provider would be difficult as Microsoft Office is most commonly used so her charity might have to start paying, even for a less advanced version of the US firms services such as Microsoft 365 Business Standard. It is an additional cost, and it is going to have a big impact, and its going to disproportionately affect the smallest charities, she told Civil Society. In a social media post, Qlic IT managing director Adam Graham said he was shocked and disappointed that Microsoft was making the changes with only a few weeks notice. Its a real blow to smaller non-profits, especially those already stretched to the limit with resources and funding, he said. We support hundreds of these organisations, and the sense of frustration is real. Theres little time to budget or plan. Petition launched The US-based International Misophonia Foundation has opened a petition urging Microsoft to reconsider the pricing changes, which has gained over 900 signatures. Its petition reads: Without the financial backing from Microsoft's grant program, countless non-profits may face operational challenges that could cripple their efforts. This could lead to reduced services, slowed growth, and in some cases, the unfortunate closure of organisations vital to the welfare of the communities they serve. Considering the critical importance of non-profit work and the growing difficulty in obtaining funding, we urge Microsoft to reconsider their decision. Continuing the grant program would not only demonstrate Microsoft's commitment to social responsibility but also bolster the impact these non-profits have. A Microsoft spokesperson said: As part of a recent update to our nonprofit offers, we are retiring the Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grant offers. Existing grant recipients can continue service through their next renewal on or after July 1, 2025. When they renew, eligible nonprofits will have several options to maintain access to secure, modern collaboration toolsincluding up to 300 free Microsoft 365 Business Basic licenses and up to a 75% discount on Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1. Were committed to making this transition smooth and are working closely with partners to provide clear guidance and hands-on support. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Oxfam Trade union Unite has launched a petition against Oxfams plans to cut up to 265 jobs and alleged aims to outsource some of the roles. Unite accused the international development charity of planning to replace permanent staff with casual, non-unionised labour and said workers fear more roles could be targeted if the charity decides that outsourcing is acceptable The union claimed that Oxfam plan to replace secure jobs with casual work in the charitys publishing and training teams. However, the charity said it was not planning to outsource in-house roles, but rather continue to bring in short-term, specialist expertise for some services. Oxfam announced in April that 265 jobs at the charity are at risk of redundancy as part of its effort to save 10.2m per year in salary costs. Unite: Oxfam must remember what it stands for The unions proposals are at the consultation stage and are the first step in a wider campaign to pressure Oxfam to roll back the redundancy programme. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: Any company that dumped its permanent staff and replaced them with casual, non-unionised labour would rightly face criticism from Oxfam. Yet that is exactly what Oxfam is planning for its own workers. Oxfam must remember what it stands for. Unite is committed to fully protect jobs in a charity that should know better. Unite regional coordinating officer Jamie Major said: "There are two things at stake. Firstly, outsourcing creates a two-tier workforce and flies in the face of Oxfam's mission to fight poverty. Secondly, Unite believes that this will set a precedent for other roles in the organisation. Were calling on all staff and supporters to sign our petition demanding Oxfam keep these jobs in-house. The more people who sign, the stronger our voice will be." Oxfam: We are not preparing to outsource in-house roles An Oxfam GB spokesperson said: We have seen Unite's petition about outsourcing and we are engaging directly with them on this. These proposals are about strengthening Oxfam's financial position to ensure we are able to operate effectively into the future. We are not preparing to outsource in-house roles to replace them with casual labour. For relevant services, we will continue to bring in short-term, specialist expertise. This approach has long been part of how we work and helps us respond flexibly and efficiently to the needs of our in-house teams. We recognise that outsourcing can raise concerns, especially given Oxfams own public stance on practices that undermine wages or workers rights. These proposals do not go against that position; we will always uphold our commitment to ethical and fair working practices. Were committed to meaningful consultation and open conversation, and well continue to engage constructively as the process moves forward. Oxfam has recorded three annual deficits over the past five financial years, including a 28.4m shortfall for the financial year ending March 2024. The charity implemented a hiring freeze on non-business-critical roles since July 2024, and projected that its wage bill will rise from 69.6m in the current financial year to 78.2m in 2025-26. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Boeing Co. has reached a tentative agreement with the US Justice Department that would allow the planemaker to avoid criminal prosecution for two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jets more than six years ago. Related: Boeing Whistleblowers Family Settles Suit With Aircraft Maker Over His Death The settlement was disclosed in a federal court filing Friday, just weeks before a trial was set to start June 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The parties are proceeding expeditiously to memorialize the terms into a written agreement, according to the filing. The agreement still needs to be approved by US District Judge Reed OConnor. Related: Boeing Settles Lawsuits With Two Families of 737 MAX Crash Victims A spokesperson for Boeing didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Top photo: A Boeing 737 MAX airliner takes off from Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Washington. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. 15 best delis in Northeast Ohio: Vote for your favorite (poll) (photo by Brenda Cain, Cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We love your passion, dear readers. When we asked you to send us your candidates for the best deli in all of Northeast Ohio, you sent in nominations by the hundreds. We ended up with an unusual quandary: some nominees tied, and while some may not be a typical deli, they still counted in our readers eyes. We could not, in good conscience, exclude those who received identical numbers of votes. So, we did the only thing that felt fair: we expanded the voting list to 15. Your cleveland.coms Best of Team relies on your vast knowledge to lead us in the right direction and you never disappoint. Whats more, you love your delis and we love your love of them! Now, we can get on to the business of crowning the Best of them all, with your help. We compiled all of those nominations into a list of the top 15, and now were ready to open up the voting! Head over to our poll below and advocate for your favorite! Each establishment is listed in alphabetical order: Well track all your votes for these go-to delis; you can vote once every hour for your favorite until polling closes at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. NOTE: If youre viewing this on a handheld device, you may cast your vote here. At the conclusion of voting, your Best of Cleveland reporters Peter Chakerian and Yadi Rodriguez will visit the top three delis with the most reader votes. Well bring you the stories behind these local favorites and share insights about our dining experiences there. Want to start checking out the delis that your fellow readers have been raving about? Here is the list (below). Try a new place and (maybe) vote to get them into that top spot. Here are the top 15 delis in alphabetical order: Dannys Deli 1658 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland Davis Bakery & Deli 28700 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Diamond Deli 378 S. Main St., Akron Express Deli 5185 Smith Rd., Brook Park Farmer In the Deli 12613 Chillicothe Rd., Chesterland Gabors Deli 5700 Dunham Rd., Maple Heights Gust Gallucci Company, Inc. (Galluccis Deli) 6610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Jacks Deli and Restaurant 14490 Cedar Rd., University Heights Joes Deli & Restaurant - 19215 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River Larder Delicatessen and Bakery 1455 West 29th Street, Cleveland Lehmans Deli & Bakery 24961 Detroit Rd., Westlake Mister Brisket - 2156 South Taylor Rd., Cleveland Heights Slymans Restaurant 3106 Saint Clair Ave., NE, Cleveland Superior Restaurant Deli 3000 Superior Ave. E., Cleveland T.J.s Butcher Block & Deli 14415 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Apollo's Fire will perform at the Casals Festival on Saturday, May 31. A pair of warm-up/send-off shows are scheduled so local fans can soak up the fortified setlist. Heather Zweifel CLEVELAND, Ohio Apollos Fire, Clevelands baroque orchestra conducted by Jeannette Sorrell, is revisiting HISPANIA! A Voyage from Spain to the Americas with a pair of tour send-off concerts on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28. The performances, which feature soprano Sophia Burgos, baritone David Guzman and flamenco guitarist Jeremias Garcia, will take place at the Bath Church (UCC) and Harkness Chapel (Case Western Reserve University), respectively. Both begin at 7:30 p.m. The concerts are a bon voyage! and prosecco toast of sorts for the ensemble, which is headed to the Casals International Festival in Puerto Rico. They will present a fortified version of last years critically hailed HISPANIA! program. Excitement and enthusiasm is running high for Sorrell & Co. according to Nichole Fehrman, the ensembles marketing and communications director. Our soloist Sophia is of Puerto Rican heritage and her family is from there, said Fehrman in an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. She grew up in Chicago, but shes a really big advocate for that heritage. [Jeannette] received email from Casals saying, Were very interested in Apollos Fire, wed love to invite you to come perform. And Jeannette said, We happen to have the perfect program! Their reputation led to securing a spot on Casals, which they play on Saturday, May 31. The shows ahead locally will serve as a warm-up and give fans of the ensemble a taste of what will be delivered at the festival. We have some new repertoire on the program, Fehrman said. So, the version thats being performed next week at that UCC and at Harkness Chapel on the Case Campus features some new repertoire showcasing vocal skills, along with some of the original program. World-class Puerto Rican soprano Burgos and baritone Guzman join 13 other international artists to bring 16th Century Spain to baroque Latin America. The musical program blends Mexican and Peruvian traditions and Sephardic ballads from the Jewish communities of Spain and Argentina inspired by Latin American poets Pablo Neruda and Julia de Burgos. We will be excited to debrief when we return from the festival, Fehrman said. HISPANIA! A Voyage from Spain to the Americas with a pair of tour send-off concerts is Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday May 28, at the Bath Church (UCC), 3980 W. Bath Road, Akron, and Harkness Chapel (Case Western Reserve University), 11200 Bellflower Ave., Cleveland, respectively. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Toastique, a toast and juice bar, is opening in the Pinecrest shopping center in Orange Village this summer. Getty Images ORANGE VILLAGE, Ohio Toastique, a gourmet toast, juice and coffee bar, will open its first Cleveland-area location this summer at the Pinecrest shopping center in Orange Village. The 1,500-square-foot cafe will feature indoor seating for 30 guests, with outdoor seating planned. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder waits to retrieve his personal items after going through security at Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse before jury selection in his federal trial, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel) AP Rotunda Rumblings Still no fix: Nearly five years after the House Bill 6 scandal landed House Speaker Larry Householder in prison, Ohio lawmakers are still debating how to prevent the next one. Anna Staver reports that Democrats introduced the latest round of reform bills this week. One bill would require disclosure of dark money donors while another would block companies from getting state contracts if they donate to politicians. Sin city: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has asked state lawmakers for permission to raise the countys sin tax on alcohol and cigarettes to cover maintenance costs for Rocket Arena and Progressive Field. But as Rich Exner and Jeremy Pelzer report, the Cleveland Cavaliers who play in Rocket Arena are now voicing concern that the push for a tax hike could be thwarted by talks over allowing the Cleveland Browns to keep their share of sin tax money if they leave downtown Cleveland for a new stadium in suburban Brook Park. Beautiful bill: The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly passed a tax cut and spending package that President Donald Trump referred to as the big, beautiful bill, with Ohios Warren Davidson providing one of just two GOP votes against it, Sabrina Eaton writes. I cannot support this big deficit plan, the Miami Republican explained. The rest of the states Republicans supported the bill and all its Democrats were in opposition. Domestic terrorism: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Westlake Republican, asked U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to investigate the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy workers on Wednesday as an act of domestic terrorism. We must do everything we can to stop hate crimes, domestic terrorism, and antisemitism in America, including prosecuting those who commit domestic terrorism and hate crimes, fully funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and appropriating funds to the Department of Justice for grants to states for law enforcement to protect our religious institutions against acts of terror, Moreno wrote in a Thursday letter to the pair . Pulling up a chair: As expected, the state partys 146-member executive committee is officially set to vote Tuesday, June 10, on who will succeed Liz Walters as Ohio Democratic Party chair, according to a party release. Kyle Herman, a Stow City Council member, has become the fifth candidate to enter the race, joining ex-state Rep. Kathleen Clyde of Kent, state Sen. Bill DeMora of Columbus, Greene County Democratic Party Chair Kim McCarthy, and Tamie Wilson of Delaware County, a perennial opponent of Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan. All five candidates are slated to participate in a virtual forum on Thursday, June 5 , held by the Ohio Democratic Partys Pride Caucus. Press pause: Capitol Letter will be on break for the Memorial Day holiday. Well return to your inbox on Wednesday, May 28. Buckeye Brain Tease Question: The islands near the western end of Lake Erie were nicknamed Les lies aux Serpentes (The islands of snakes) by which French explorer? Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next weeks newsletter. Thanks to everyone who answered last weeks trivia question: After Attorney General Dave Yost left journalism when the Columbus Citizen-Journal stopped publishing in 1985, he became press secretary for which Ohio mayor? Answer: Yost worked for the late Dana Buck Rinehart, a Republican who served as mayor of Columbus from 1984 to 1992. In Yosts new memoir, Stand, the Columbus Republican remembered being mortified when, in 1990, Rinehart used a wrecking crane to start demolishing the old Ohio State Penitentiary in downtown Columbus without waiting for state permission. Reader Rob Kirchstein of Plain Township was the first to respond with the correct answer. On the move Buckeye Institute President Robert Alt has successfully summited Mt. Everest and is heading home. Everest is the fifth peak Alt has collected from the Seven Summits, a mountaineering challenge to climb the highest peak on each of the worlds seven continents. Birthdays Friday, May 23: JT Batchelor, legislative aide to state Sen. Kristina Roegner; Greg Lawson, Buckeye Institute research fellow; ex-state Rep./2026 Ohio Senate candidate Craig Riedel Saturday, May 24: Angelika McClelland, director of operations, Ohio Secretary of States Office; James Sullivan, legislative aide to state Rep. Dan Troy Sunday, May 25: Former state Rep. Tim Ginter; Sarah LaTourette, former lawmaker and chief advocacy officer for the Ohio Childrens Alliance Monday, May 26: Fitzgerald Oladejo, legislative aide to state Rep. Juanita Brent Tuesday, May 27: Dauren Mason, legislative aide to state Rep. Angela King; John Sayers, Ohio House chief information officer Straight from the Source Im hoping to get home by Sunday night. --State Sen. Jerry Cirino describing the 14-hour days hes been working to write the Senate version of the state operating budget. Cirino says the Senate plans to work through the weekend but will hopefully spend Memorial Day with family. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. Apple on Friday raised the amount of money people can get off their next iPhone in China by trading in their old device, rolling out further incentives to spur demand in a crucial market. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now has a trade-in value of up to 5,700 Chinese yuan ($791), an increase from 5,625 yuan previously. For reference, a brand new iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at 7,999 yuan in China. The iPhone 15 Pro model can now be traded in for up to 4,750 yuan, up from 4,725 prior. There are also trade-in value increases across other models too. Apple has looked to offer discounts over the last year, especially around holiday periods in China. While the latest hikes are not huge, they signal Apple's ongoing desire to galvanize sales in the world's second largest economy, where it has faced falling market share and declining sales amid tougher competition from local rivals. In the first quarter of the year, Apple's China shipments fell 8% year-on-year, while the company's share of the smartphone market in the country declined from 15% to 13%, according to data from Canalys. Apple also reported this month that sales in its Greater China region, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, fell slightly on an annual basis. But Apple's China headache goes beyond sales to questions over its supply chain and products. While U.S. President Donald Trump has paused most tariffs on China for now, there is still an ongoing discussion about whether chips and other electronics may receive a special duty. Apple, which makes around 90% of its iPhones in China via its manufacturing partner Foxconn , has been looking to move more production to India though Trump has also voiced displeasure with that. The White House leader said this month that he told Apple CEO Tim Cook he doesn't want the company building products in India and would rather them make devices in the U.S. Apple's biggest challengers number Xiaomi and Huawei, with the latter seeing a stunning revival in its home market over the last 17 months thanks to breakthroughs in chips and aggressive launches of new devices. Xiaomi, which was the biggest player by market share in China in the first quarter, has meanwhile been ramping up its presence in the high-end device space to directly compete with Apple. On Thursday, the company launched the Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphone that contains an in-house developed chip something very few companies in the world have managed to do successfully. Xiaomi has also committed nearly $7 billion to develop more chips over the next 10 years, signaling its ambition to compete with Apple and Huawei. Bank of America sees room for Dollar General to run as earnings near. Analyst Robert Ohmes lifted his price target by $15 to $115, suggesting shares can jump 14.3% above Thursday's close. That marks a new high for price targets on the discount retailer among analysts on Wall Street, according to LSEG. "With the stock at a discount to historical levels & peers, we believe competitive & expense risks are fully reflected in the stock price," Ohmes wrote to clients in a note. "Increasing visibility on strategic initiatives and share gains from competitor store closures provide a favorable setup for comp & profitability improvement into 2025, particularly in 2H." Ohmes also reiterated his buy rating. That makes him an outlier on the Street, with the majority of analysts surveyed by LSEG having a hold rating. He sees $1.40 in adjusted earnings per share and 1% growth in comparable store sales. Ohmes also said the bank has observed accelerating sales data in the first quarter despite flat estimates, which points to potential for upside. Dollar General is expected to report earnings on June 3. Additionally, the analyst said he has confidence that the Tennessee-based company's "back to basics" strategy is working. While he said bears may point to Walmart's outperformance, Ohmes said Dollar General's price gaps compared with competitors and expanding digital presence can provide tailwinds. Store closures from competitors can also give the company an edge, he said. The stock has rallied more than 32% this year, on track for its first positive year in three. Ethiopian Federal policemen stand at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 11, 2019. The U.S. Justice Department said Friday that it has reached a deal with Boeing that will allow the aircraft maker to avoid prosecution over two crashes of its 737 Max planes that killed 346 people. The non-prosecution agreement would allow Boeing, a major military contractor and top U.S. exporter, to avoid being labeled a felon. The decision means Boeing won't face trial as scheduled next month, as crash victims' family members have urged for years. The Department of Justice met with crash victims' family members last week to discuss the potential deal. In a court filing Friday the DOJ said it "is the Government's judgment that the Agreement is a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest." The agreement "guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial." The DOJ said it intends to file a motion to dismiss the case once the "agreement in principle" is finalized, by no later than the end of next week. Under the agreement, Boeing will have to "pay or invest" more than $1.1 billion, the DOJ said in its filing in federal court in Texas on Friday. That amount includes a $487.2 million criminal fine, though $243.6 million it already paid in an earlier agreement would be credited. It also includes $444.5 million for a new fund for crash victims, and $445 million more on compliance, safety and quality programs. Boeing declined to comment. The company has been trying for years to put the two crashes of its best-selling Max planes a Lion Air flight in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight less than five months later behind it. The Maxes were grounded worldwide for nearly two years after the second crash, a pause that gave rival Airbus a head start in recovering from the Covid pandemic. But families of the crash victims have criticized previous agreements as sweetheart deals for Boeing, called for more accountability from the company and said its executives should stand trial. In 2022, a former chief technical pilot for Boeing was acquitted on fraud charges tied to the Max's development. Several of the victims' family members issued a statement through their lawyer shortly after the court filing was released criticizing the deal and saying it set a troubling precedent for other large companies. "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history. My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it," said the families' lawyer, Paul Cassell. The Justice Department said relatives of more than 110 crash victims told the government they support the non-prosecution agreement or "support the Department's efforts to resolve the case pre-trial more generally," but added that others said they want the U.S. to take Boeing to trial and that they would litigate to dismiss the deal. The aerospace giant reached a settlement in 2021 in the final days of the first Trump administration that shielded it from prosecution for three years. Under that deal, Boeing agreed to pay a $2.51 billion fine to avoid prosecution. That included a $243.6 million criminal penalty, a $500 million fund for crash victims' family members and $1.77 billion for its airline customers. The new fund will be on top of the $500 million that was already established. Oil prices held near two-week highs in early trading on Wednesday, supported by an agreement between the U.S. and China to temporarily lower their reciprocal tariffs and a falling U.S. dollar. A protracted slump in crude prices has ramped up the pressure on Big Oil's commitment to allocate cash to shareholders. Western energy supermajors have long sought to return cash to investors through buyback programs and dividends to keep their shareholders happy. Energy executives have also expressed confidence that they can continue to reward investors following a relatively robust set of first-quarter earnings. Some analysts, however, are less convinced about Big Oil's pledge to return ever-higher shareholder returns, citing already stretched balance sheets and a sharp drop in crude prices. Oil prices have fallen more than 12% year-to-date amid persistent demand concerns and U.S. President Donald Trump's back-and-forth trade policy. Espen Erlingsen, head of upstream research at consultancy Rystad Energy, said recent market volatility has left the energy majors with "few economically attractive options" that allow for reinvestment while maintaining a competitive capital returns framework. "As companies like Shell and ExxonMobil continue to push ahead with large-scale buyback programs despite shrinking cash inflows, the durability of these strategies is in question. For now, the majors are holding the line. But if oil prices remain depressed, adjustments may be inevitable," Erlingsen said in a research note published Thursday. Share buybacks, which are typically more flexible than dividends, are "likely to be the first lever pulled," he added. In that vein, weaker crude prices mean energy majors will have less cash to return to shareholders. The U.S. and China agreed to keep lines of communication open, following a call between senior officials Thursday, signaling continued high-level engagement as both sides work toward a broader deal. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau exchanged views on a range of key issues during the call, both sides said in closely aligned statements released Friday, without specifying whether tariffs were among the topics discussed. While the call may not indicate a breakthrough in the ongoing trade talks, it is a "positive sign" that Beijing now knows who to talk to on the U.S. side, said Dan Wang, China director at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, adding that "the communication channel established in the Geneva talks is working." Following the high-level talks in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier this month, both sides issued a rare joint statement to temporarily lower most tariffs on each other's goods, while working toward a broader agreement. The last time both sides issued a joint statement was in November 2023, which focused on climate cooperation. The call between Ma and Landau was the second diplomatic-level call between the U.S. and China during U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, said Xinbo Wu, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in January after Trump returned to the office. The Thursday call signals that both sides are "reconnecting" on the diplomatic level and may be preparing for upcoming talks on Beijing's cooperation in curbing fentanyl flows, Wu said. Earlier this week, Ma had met with the new U.S. Ambassador to China, David Perdue, signaling that Beijing hopes to align more closely with the U.S. in the ongoing trade discussion, according to a readout of the meeting. In that meeting, Perdue said he had shared Trump's priorities for the bilateral relations, according to a post on his X account. "I look forward to working with the Ministry and counterparts to achieve concrete outcomes for the American people," he said in the post. Trump has made it a priority to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors from China, which are used to make the deadly opioid. He has also urged Beijing to open up its markets to the U.S. Perdue's arrival in Beijing came as a trade war between the world's two largest economies had stoked fears of a broader "decoupling." Bonds across the board are still rallying in Europe, as investors dump regional stocks in a flight to safety. Government bonds particularly in developed economies like the U.K., U.S. and Germany have historically been seen as a safe source of steady income, as governments are unlikely to default on their debts. Bond yields are inversely related to the asset's price, so when demand drives prices higher, yields move lower. Short and long-dated government debt rallied on Friday afternoon, on top of benchmark 10-year bonds. The yield on German 2- and 5-year bunds were down by 10 basis points at 2:02 p.m. in London, as French 2-year yields also shed 9 basis points. At the long-end of the curve, German 20- and 30-year bunds saw yields move around 7 basis points lower, while French and Italian 30-year bond yields were down 5 basis points. Chloe Taylor Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Citi initiates U.S. Foods as buy Citi said it sees a slew of positive catalysts ahead for the food service products company. "We believe USFD is firmly in the foodservice feedback loop, with accelerating growth in gross profit per case, steady leverage vs operating expenses, and: (1) a credible track record on the initiatives ultimately underpinning this growth, and (2) the expectation of more innings of this to come." Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm is bullish on the stock heading into earnings next week. "Despite these near-term headwinds we maintain Buy on NVDA, a top sector pick given its unique leverage to the global AI deployment cycle, and possibility for China sales recovery on new redesigned/compliant products later in the year." Jefferies reiterates Microsoft as buy Jefferies said the stock remains a top pick after attending the company's Microsoft Build conference. "We attended MSFT Build in Seattle and came away with 5 key takes: Copilot gains reasoning via Researcher & Analyst agents, rolling out over the coming months; Copilot adoption is still early but intent to roll out strong; Data access & governance cited as biggest barriers for Copilot; Macro sentiment remains cautiously optimistic w/ MSFT seen as a safe haven; MSFT is leaning into an open platform to be the AI hub." Evercore ISI downgrades Deckers to in line from outperform Evercore ISI downgraded the stock, citing slow growth and no real near-term catalysts. "Once a well-loved story with strong growth momentum and margin expansion, we think DECK might be entering a new phase of lower growth profile as we see signs of deceleration across its two key brand growth engines UGG and HOKA." Baird upgrades Wix to outperform from neutral Baird said the Israeli tech company is "compelling." "We are adopting a constructive stance on WIX because: 1) the product is becoming increasingly compelling, 2) expectations now seem more reasonable post-1Q print, and 3) the long-term drivers of the investment case are attractive." JPMorgan upgrades Waste Management to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said it is bullish on the stock heading into the company's analyst day in June. "Longer term, WM's valuation gap vs. peers should narrow as we expect ~HSD% topline and HSD-LDD% [high single digits -low single digits] EBITDA growth targets in the next five years at the June Analyst Day driven by revenue and cost synergies in Healthcare Solutions/Stericycle and sustainability projects gaining traction." Evercore ISI reiterates Apple as outperform Evercore ISI said it is sticking by the stock despite a myriad of uncertain issues. "AAPL No End To Pain: While worries on Services and GMs [gross margin] remain, the recent issues have been around OpenAI and the impact of Jonny Ive moving there as another risk specially over the medium term." Wedbush reiterates Tesla as outperform Wedbush said Tesla is in the "golden age of autonomous growth." "We believe the golden age of autonomous is now on the doorstep for Tesla with the Austin launch next month kicking off this key next chapter of growth for Musk & Co. and we are raising our price target from $350 to $500 reflecting this massive stage of valuation creation ahead. We maintain our OUTPERFORM rating." Oppenheimer reiterates Marvell as outperform Oppenheimer said it is bullish on Marvell shares heading into earnings on May 29. "We see upside to F1Q (Apr) results and F2Q (Jul) outlook led by AI." Bank of America reiterates Dollar General as buy Bank of America raised its price target on the stock to $115 per share from $100 heading into earnings in early June. "We rate DG Buy. With the stock at a discount to historical levels & peers, we believe competitive & expense risks are fully reflected in the stock price." Wells Fargo upgrades Sonoco to overweight from underweight Wells Fargo said the packaging company is best positioned for more upside. "We believe SON is on the right path to longer-term value creation following its portfolio optimization (increasing leverage towards Consumer Packaging) efforts." Jefferies reiterates Salesforce as buy Jefferies said Salesforce is attractive heading into earnings on May 28. "Considering the cautiously optimistic tone from partners and software peers, we expect FY26 guidance to be maintained, but do not expect upside on rev to be flowed through to the FY guide. We believe a cautious approach is appropriate given the current macro." Wells Fargo reiterates BJ's as overweight The firm said the warehouse retailer is well positioned in a choppy macro following earnings on Thursday. "BJ's Q1 beat demonstrated continued strength in a choppy backdrop." Truist reiterates Amazon as buy Truist said it is sticking with the e-commerce giant. "Halfway through 2Q25, Amazon NA [North America] revenue looks to be tracking ahead of consensus. Our analysis of the Truist Card Data (through 5/19) indicates that Amazon's QTD US Revenue for 2Q25 is tracking $1-2B ahead of consensus expectations of ~$97B, implying a healthy 8-9% Y/Y growth, which is in line with growth in 1Q25, reflecting no notable impact from macro concerns." Bank of America reiterates Analog Devices as buy Bank of America said the semiconductor manufacturing company is a top idea following earnings on Thursday. "We rate ADI Buy on its growth projects in communications, automotive and industrial markets along with best in class free cash flow growth." Morgan Stanley resumes Loar Holdings as overweight Morgan Stanley said the aerospace and defense company has a long runway for growth. "We resume coverage with an Overweight rating as Loar continues to execute on its organic and inorganic growth strategy." FILE PHOTO: People walk on the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025. A federal judge in Boston on Friday temporarily halted the Trump administration's ban on Harvard University enrolling international students, hours after the private school filed a lawsuit challenging that draconian action. The order came a day after the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students under the F-1 visa program at the behest of Secretary Kristi Noem, saying the private school tolerated "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" on campus. Judge Allison Burroughs, in issuing a temporary restraining order on Friday morning, allowed international students to remain enrolled at Harvard pending a court hearing, which she scheduled for Tuesday. Burroughs said Harvard had shown that unless that TRO was granted, "it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties." "A TRO is justified to preserve the status quo pending a hearing," the judge wrote. DHS said Thursday that Harvard was barred from enrolling future international students, and that current foreign students enrolled at the school had to leave the school or risk losing their legal status in the United States. The ban affected more than 7,000 current visa holders studying at Harvard, which has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration for months. Among the foreign students at Harvard is Princess Elisabeth, the future queen of Belgium, who is pursuing a master's in public policy there. President Donald Trump last month said that Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status. "With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," the school said in its lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. "Harvard's certification is essential for each of Harvard's thousands of international students to lawfully remain in this country while they complete coursework, obtain degrees, and continue critical research," the suit said. The lawsuit called the revocation a "blatant violation of the First Amendment" and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The school also said it was the "latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the government's demands to control Harvard's governance, curriculum, and the 'ideology' of its faculty and students." watch now Immediately after the Trump administration blocked Harvard University on Thursday from enrolling future international students and retaining currently enrolled foreign students, some members of next year's freshman class started scrambling. "I was on the phone with a parent who was visibly shaken and completely frantic," said Christopher Rim, president and CEO of college consulting firm Command Education. Rim, who works with a large share of international students from abroad, said a few of his clients were accepted into the Class of 2029 and committed to Harvard on May 1, also known as National College Decision Day, which was just three weeks ago. Now, they don't know what to do. "This is a major moment in these students' lives," Rim said. "Given the circumstances and policies and laws that we have right now, we are advising these families to look into taking a gap year hopefully by then, the Trump administration and Harvard can come to an agreement." An escalating legal battle Harvard University merchandise displayed at a store in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, on Monday, May 5, 2025. Mel Musto | Bloomberg | Getty Images Colleges rely on international enrollment "It's a shock," said Hafeez Lakhani, founder and president of Lakhani Coaching in New York. "At a time when international applications and international yield are under pressure, this sends a signal to the rest of the world that not only is Harvard closed to the international best and brightest, but that the U.S. is not a welcome place for international students," Lakhani said. International enrollment is an important source of revenue for schools, which is why colleges tend to rely on a contingent of foreign students, who typically pay full tuition. Altogether, international student enrollment contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023-24, according to a report by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. During that academic year, there were more than 1.1 million international undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S., mostly from India and China, making up slightly less than 6% of the total U.S. higher education population, according to the latest Open Doors data, released by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education. In the 2023-24 academic year, the U.S. hosted a record number of students from abroad, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. Next steps for Harvard students in limbo FILE PHOTO: People walk on the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025. Faith Ninivaggi | Reuters Kantrowitz's advice to admitted or enrolled international students at Harvard: Start exploring your options but don't make any sudden moves until you hear from the university. "Harvard is going to be scrambling to deal with this, and they will issue guidance to admitted students and the enrolled students," Kantrowitz said. In its statement, Harvard called international students and scholars "vital members of our community." "We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world," it said. Transferring to another U.S. school may have its own risks, Kantrowitz said. "I've heard from [Harvard] students who are seeking to transfer," Kantrowitz said. "But that might be jumping from the frying pan into fire. These other colleges could be targeted soon enough." It may also be difficult for Harvard's incoming freshman class to transfer to another university, Kantrowitz said. Many institutions may already be at full enrollment for the coming academic year, he said. There are currently more than 300 U.S. schools still accepting applications for prospective first-year and transfer students for the upcoming fall term, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Harvard students who require financial aid may have a tougher time transferring, depending on the university, compared to those who don't need assistance, Kantrowitz said. That's because many schools use "need sensitive" or "need aware" admissions for international students, Kantrowitz said. That means they consider the student's financial need when choosing whether to accept the student. Shares of Intuit closed up 8% on Friday, a day after the company reported quarterly results that beat analysts' estimates and issued rosy guidance for the full year. Intuit, which is best known for its TurboTax and QuickBooks software, said revenue in the fiscal third quarter increased 15% to $7.8 billion. Net income rose 18% to $2.82 billion, or $10.02 per share, from $2.39 billion, or $8.42 per share, a year earlier. "This is the fastest organic growth that we have had in over a decade," Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi told CNBC's "Closing Bell: Overtime" on Thursday. "It's really incredible growth across the platform." For its full fiscal year, Intuit said it expects to report revenue of $18.72 billion to $18.76 billion, up from the range of $18.16 billion to $18.35 billion it shared last quarter. Analysts were expecting $18.35 billion, according to LSEG. "We're redefining what's possible with [artificial intelligence] by becoming a one-stop shop of AI-agents and AI-enabled human experts to fuel the success of consumers and small and mid-market businesses," Goodarzi said in a release Thursday. Apple's laundry list of problems got even longer Friday morning, and Jim Cramer warned it could play right into the hands of an overseas competitor. By the afternoon, the story changed. Early Friday morning, Trump ramped up his pressure on Apple, which has been considering moving more iPhone production to India to lessen its reliance on China, given the long-simmering trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their [iPhones] that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Shortly after Trump's post, Jim Cramer said during Friday's Morning Meeting that Apple having to raise prices would be a gift to smartphone rivals such as South Korea's Samsung, according to Jim. "You don't want to have a second-rate competitor suddenly become the real powerhouse, and that's what would happen with Samsung," Jim said. Earlier Friday, Jim called an Apple-specific tariff "a Samsung subsidy," adding that "Samsung is the winner here." Friday afternoon, in comments from the Oval Office, Trump said Samsung and other smartphone makers would be subject to the same tariff as Apple. "Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair," the president added. If Apple were hit with the higher tariffs, it would likely need to raise prices on the iPhone its biggest money maker to protect its profits. An alternative would be keeping prices steady and absorbing a hit to margins, which investors usually do not want to see. In a note to clients Friday, Wells Fargo estimated that Apple would need to hike prices anywhere between $100 to $350 per device in order to maintain its margins. Apple has for months been in the crosshairs of the White House, as Trump tries to remake global trade and bring more manufacturing back to the U.S. with aggressive tariffs on imports. In particular, Trump and members of his administration have frequently pushed for a made-in-America iPhone; most are made in China today. It has put Apple CEO Tim Cook in a difficult position and forced Apple investors to reckon with a new set of risks on top of the business disruption that may come from the artificial intelligence race and legal battles. Shares of Apple fell nearly 3% on Friday as investors reacted to Trump's latest criticism of the tech giant. The stock didn't seem to get any boost from Trump saying that rival smartphone makers would be hit with the same levies. Friday's saga is yet another reason why Apple has become the portfolio's "most worrisome stock," Jim said Friday, echoing what he said during the Club's Monthly Meeting on Wednesday. Others on Wall Street are concerned about the financial implications of Trump's new threat because relocating iPhone production to the U.S. cannot happen overnight. What Trump wants Apple to do is "nigh impossible" for the company in the near term, Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett argued Friday morning. "To make iPhone at scale in this country is not going to happen in an investable time frame and certainly not while Trump is president. To do this to a company that has been operating under the rules, creating an iconic business for a long time, it's just hard to believe that this comes to pass," Crockett said on CNBC's "Squawk Box." He continued, "I would suspect Apple is working really hard on what they can offer. They can't make all their iPhones here, but perhaps they can start building something beyond what they have today to take the pressure off." Apple has made its high-end Mac Pro computer in Austin, Texas, since 2013 . AAPL YTD mountain Apple (AAPL) year-to-date performance Last week, Trump criticized Apple's plan to make more iPhones in India but at that time, he did not include any threats of tariffs. Jim said in response that Trump's pressure campaign on Apple may not end unless Cook announces a plan to make some iPhones to the U.S. Trump's latest demands to bring manufacturing to onshore come less than a day after the Financial Times reported that Foxconn , one of Apple's main iPhone assemblers, plans to spend $1.5 billion on growing its India facilities. This is part of Apple's years-long push to grow its presence in emerging markets in an effort to diversify its supply chain out of China, which, in addition to being its primary iPhone production hub, is its second-largest market for revenue. In recent years, Apple has also upped its production of wearable products like the Apple Watch in Vietnam. Trump and Cook met at the White House on Tuesday, the news outlet Politico reported . That meeting between Trump and Cook could be part of the administration's effort to bring "precision manufacturing" back to the country, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Friday, though he acknowledged he was not present for it. "A large part of Apple's components are in semiconductors. So, we would like to have Apple help us make the semiconductor supply chain more secure," Bessent said. Before all of this, Apple had seemingly tried to get Trump's good side. Cook, who has been widely praised for cultivating a friendly relationship with Trump during his first term, donated $1 million to the president's second inauguration fund earlier this year. Shortly after that, Apple said it would put $500 billion into U.S. development over the next four years. None of this has been enough to appease the president, though, and it has been reflected in Apple's stock performance in 2025. Shares have fallen over 21% year to date, including Friday's move. Apple's problems extend far beyond Trump's trade war. The company's lucrative agreement with former Club holding Alphabet to make Google Search the default search engine on iPhones could fall victim to the Justice Department's antitrust actions against Alphabet. That arrangement was worth $20 billion in revenue for Apple in 2022. Meanwhile, the company's AI suite, Apple Intelligence, continues to underwhelm. Management continues to push back the rollout of these features, which Jim once saw as a key reason for a much-needed iPhone upgrade cycle. With all of this in mind, the Club still plans to stick it out in the stock but there's no denying that it's been harder and harder to defend this stock. Jim already retired his long-held "own, don't trade" thesis on Apple in April. We trimmed some of our position shortly after, as well. But, as Jim said Thursday, even before this latest twist, "They still have the best product. .. Right now, everything is going wrong, and yet I am not backing away. I just don't want to buy [anymore]." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. My top 10 things to watch Friday, May 23 1. President Donald Trump said on social media today that Apple must pay at a 25% tariff on iPhones not made in the United States. Most iPhone manufacturing is out of China. Apple has been moving more and more production to India. The starting price for an iPhone 16 Pro is $1,000. Analysts estimate a U.S.-made iPhone would cost quite a bit more. Apple is the Club stock that I am most concerned about . 2. At the same time, Apple raised iPhone trade-in prices in China so customers could get more money for new devices. The move to spur demand in the world's second-largest economy comes as Apple faces tougher competition from Huawei and other domestic players. 3. Wall Street was headed for a sharply lower open today on Trump's Apple comments and his saying he is "recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union." The president said trade talks with the EU have stalled. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China keep the lines of communication open on trade after earlier this month pausing their triple-digit tariffs on each other's imports. 4. Ross Stores shares sank 13% this morning after the off-price retailer withdrew full-year guidance due to "macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty." Ross, which did best estimates with first-quarter earnings and revenue, also mentioned the stressed consumer. Rival TJX Companies , a Club holding behind T.J. Maxx, reported a respectable Q1 and managed to maintain its full-year outlook. 5. Deckers Outdoor shares plunged more than 19% this morning despite a quarterly earnings beat and a slight revenue beat, too. The company behind UGG and Hoka decline to release full-year guidance due to macro uncertainty. Decker signaled current-quarter guidance below estimates. Lots of Wall Street analyst price cuts and a downgrade to hold from buy at Telsey. 6. Intuit shares jumped nearly 7% this morning after better-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue. The TurboTax and QuickBooks company also saw truly terrific numbers for its Credit Karma business. Intuit's financials were the star among the companies that reported last night. Lots of analyst praise. 7. Barclays raised its Ralph Lauren price target to $321 per share from $260. Finally, some recognition for a terrific set of numbers and the iconic fashion brand is the king of social. Investors were not impressed, selling the stock down 2.5%. Many other analysts also boosted their PTs. 8. Wedbush said the "dark chapter" for Tesla is over, boosting it price target to $500 per share from $350. I agree with this call. The analysts feel that Elon Musk is once again committed running Tesla and focusing on the future of self-driving electric vehicles and robotics. 9. Citi cut its price target on Club name Salesforce to $310 per share from $335 and kept neutral. The analysts see business slowing down. I told Club members on this week's Monthly Meeting Salesforce is one of the portfolio stocks that I am worried about. Not to mention ServiceNow is taking a direct shot at Salesforce by ramping up its customer relationship management platform. 10. Okta is still a Wall Street as demand for the company's identity protection software remains strong. Zscaler similarly is loved by analysts. Both can do no wrong. I like CrowdStrike . Sign up for my Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free (See here for a full list of the stocks at Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Cooling towers are seen at the nuclear-powered Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Georgia, on Aug. 13, 2024. Nuclear power stocks surged Friday after President Donald Trump signed executive orders to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and speed the deployment of new reactors in the U.S. Advanced reactor companies Oklo and NuScale jumped about 23% and 19%, respectively. Constellation Energy , the largest nuclear operator in the U.S., gained 2%. Cameco Corp. , one of the biggest uranium miners in the world, rose around 11%. Trump said the orders focus on small advanced reactors that are viewed by many in the industry as the future. But the president also said his administration supports building large plants. "We're also talking about the big plants the very, very big, the biggest," Trump said. "We're going to be doing them also, but I think our focus today is the smaller module." Trump's orders force the NRC to make decisions on nuclear license applications within 18 months and calls for an overhaul of the commission. The president's orders also create regulatory framework for the Departments of Energy and Defense to build nuclear reactors on federal land. His actions also aim to jump start the mining of uranium in the U.S. and expand domestic uranium enrichment capacity Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez and Oklo head Jacob DeWitte joined Trump at the signing ceremony in the Oval Office. In this article MSFT Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing titled Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters OpenAI's skyrocketing valuation over the past few years has turned a lot of employees at the artificial intelligence startup into paper millionaires. But when those employees want to donate a portion of their equity to charity, they've been unable to do so, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The company has deprioritized the issue despite employees' concerns, said the people, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. For OpenAI, which has a highly unusual equity structure due to its origination as a nonprofit, it's a matter of maintaining tight control over the shareholder base. An OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC that the company isn't singling out philanthropic donations, and is just practicing good governance. "We have a cap table for a reason and need to keep that cap table well-managed and know who's on it," the spokesperson said. Equity donations via donor-advised funds (DAFs) are a major consideration at high-valued startups because salaries tend to be modest, and a significant portion of an employee's net worth is wrapped up in their options or stock holdings. By donating their equity instead of cash, workers can receive charitable deduction benefits and potentially avoid capital gains taxes and other levies, leading to an organization receiving as much as 40% more than it otherwise would, experts told CNBC. What makes OpenAI unique among tech startups is that it was set up as a nonprofit research lab in 2015, and has continued to operate with a nonprofit parent, even as the company has commercialized products like ChatGPT and headed down a distinctly for-profit path. Rather than traditional equity, employees receive so-called profit participation units (PPUs) that can't be transferred without company approval. It's a topic that's come up repeatedly at OpenAI in Slack threads, all-hands meeting and internal discussions, but the company has continued to resist making changes that would loosen restrictions, the sources familiar said. Last year, OpenAI held an employee tender offer, allowing staffers to sell some of their equity to the company. Executives and members of the company's finance staff told employees at the time that they should be able to expect a charitable donation opportunity soon after the tender, two people said. But the company has indefinitely pushed back the timeline, according to the sources. At this point, one person said, OpenAI is "at least a year late" in offering the opportunity to donate. watch now Meanwhile, the value of employee holdings keeps going up. In March, OpenAI closed a $40 billion financing round led by SoftBank at a $300 billion valuation. That's up more than tenfold from early 2023, which was soon after the public launch of ChatGPT, and up twentyfold from two years before that. Go back to 2019, and the company was valued at $1 billion. Based on that math, a staffer who joined in 2019 with $100,000 worth of equity in the company would now own a stake worth about $3 million. OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said at an all-hands meeting ahead of the latest financing that the company's priority was closing its funding round, according to a person familiar with the matter. After that, Friar said the focus would be the company's for-profit conversion, and OpenAI would eventually turn its attention to allowing charitable donations through stock, the person recalled. In questions submitted by Slack ahead of the meeting, employees asked a lot about donating equity, sources said. "I'm mystified why a startup would disallow employees from contributing, because it's a great opportunity not only for their charitable giving impulses but also for their taxes," Christina Kramlich, co-founder of wealth management firm Cantata Wealth, said in an interview. Kramlich, who's based in the Bay Area and has worked at multiple tech startups, said DAFs are "an incredibly winning strategy, from the perspective of the contributing donor, as well as the recipient charity." DAFs allow employees to receive an immediate fair-market-value tax deduction and to avoid taxes, amounting to anywhere from 20% to 40% of the stock value, that would be incurred if they sold shares and then donated the cash proceeds. Employees can advise the DAF on their charities of choice. Because DAFs are tax-exempt nonprofits, they get the benefit of liquidating the employee's shares without incurring capital gains, which all leads to more money for the charity. OpenAI confirmed that it has partnered with Dechomai as its donor-advised fund. OpenAI said it has offered two equity donation opportunities in the past in 2021 and 2022 and that it made a special exception for at least one employee in 2023. But sources told CNBC they're still frustrated with the shifting timelines and that it's been so long since the last opportunity. Some private companies have what amounts to veto power over any move employees make with their shares, a way to exercise greater control over their cap tables. OpenAI doesn't allow employees to transfer their equity without explicit board approval, according to an agreement viewed by CNBC. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman appears on screen during a talk with Microsoft Chair and CEO Satya Nadella at the Microsoft Build 2025 conference in Seattle on May 19, 2025. Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty Images Once the company restructures and potentially goes public down the road it will be easier for it to facilitate equity donations, an OpenAI spokesperson said. OpenAI may have a vested interest in keeping certain charities off its cap table, because many employees are passionate about different, sometimes competing, facets of AI safety. Nonprofits focused on such issues could be seen as antagonistic to the company's aggressive commercialization efforts. The dispute over stock donations isn't the first time employees and management have been at odds over stock ownership. With no IPO on the near-term horizon and a price tag that makes OpenAI too expensive to be acquired, the only way for shareholders to presently realize any value from their equity is through secondary stock sales. While OpenAI has implemented plans to allow stakeholders to sell a portion of their shares annually, it previously had the power to claw back vested equity, limiting participation, CNBC reported last year. Soon after that report, OpenAI reversed its policies toward secondary share sales, allowing current and former employees to sell in the tender offers. But the issue of donations remains a concern. And while employees await that opportunity, they're dealing with an increasingly complicated corporate structure. Earlier this month, OpenAI announced that a nonprofit would retain control of the company even as it restructures into a public benefit corporation. Bret Taylor, OpenAI's board chairman, said that the move will alter the equity structure "so that employees, investors, and the not-for-profit can own equity in that PBC." WATCH: What OpenAI's structure move means for investors Apple CEO Tim Cook, left, and President Donald Trump speak to the press during a tour of the Flextronics computer manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, where Apple's Mac Pros are assembled, Nov. 20, 2019. Some Wall Street analysts have estimated that moving iPhone production to the U.S. would raise the price of the Apple smartphone by at least 25%. Wedbush's Dan Ives put the estimated cost of a U.S. iPhone at $3,500. The iPhone 16 Pro currently retails for about $1,000. Apple's flagship phone is produced primarily in China , but the company has been shifting manufacturing to India in part because that country has a friendlier trade relationship with the U.S. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India , or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.," Trump said on Truth Social. President Donald Trump said in a social media post Friday that Apple will have to pay a tariff of 25% or more for iPhones made outside the United States. Trump told reporters Friday afternoon that the tariff would also apply to other smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung, and would start at the end of June. "I had an understanding with Tim that he wouldn't be doing this. He said he's going to India to build plants. I said that's okay to go to India, but you're not going to sell into here without tariffs. And that's the way it is," Trump said. This is the latest jab at Apple from Trump, who over the past couple of weeks has ramped up pressure on the company and Cook to increase domestic manufacturing. Trump and Cook Apple's CEO met at the White House on Tuesday, according to Politico. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News on Friday that he was not part of the meeting at the White House but that the Apple situation could be part of the Trump administration's push to bring "precision manufacturing" back to the U.S. "A large part of Apple's components are in semiconductors. So we would like to have Apple help us make the semiconductor supply chain more secure," Bessent said. Cook gave $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund and attended the inauguration in January. Apple has announced a $500 billion spend on U.S. development, including AI server production in Houston. Apple declined to comment for this story. The company said during its May 1 earnings report that it expects about $900 million in additional costs for tariffs in the current quarter. Cook said on the company's earnings call that the tariff outlook was "very difficult to predict" past June. Foxconn, one of Apple's main iPhone assembly partners, is spending $1.5 billion on expanding its India facilities, the Financial Times reported Thursday. Trump has publicly criticized other major U.S. companies, including Walmart , during his trade war push, but the levies on a specific consumer product is a new step. The exact legal mechanism for the tariff is unclear. Trump followed up his post about Apple with another one calling for a 50% tariff on products from the European Union. Taken together, the posts point to trade tensions increasing again after the U.S. had temporarily lowered many of its levies, including in an agreement with China. Apple also had to navigate tariff threats during Trump's first term, when a 15% tariff on Chinese imports was being considered in 2019. At that time, Cook had a strong relationship with Trump and the final trade deal excluded core Apple products from the duties. As Apple is caught in the U.S. president's crosshairs, the company is also seeing weak demand in China. On Friday the company hiked trade-in incentives for iPhones in China. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (not pictured) speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery on May 13, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. It would be challenging for NATO members to deliver on U.S. President's Donald Trump's defense spending demands, Greece's prime minister told CNBC. The White House leader has frequently called for NATO nations to increase their security contribution to 5% of their gross domestic product a target Greece's Kyriakos Mitsotakis questions can be met. "I think 5% frankly, is very, very difficult," he said in an interview with CNBC's Silvia Amaro that was aired on "Europe Early Edition" Friday. "If we're talking about hard defense spending, I think 3.5% is probably the ceiling of ... what could be sort of accepted," Mitsotakis said. He nevertheless noted that the 5% mark could be a long-term target if broader expenses such as critical infrastructure were to fall under the spending umbrella. "So it really depends on how we do the accounting," he noted. NATO chief Mark Rutte has reportedly suggested that NATO members should increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, while committing an additional 1.5% to wider security-related matters. Many NATO countries have historically struggled to meet the alliance's currently lower 2% target, earning Trump's ire. NATO estimates suggest the U.S. spent around 3.4% of its GDP on defense in 2024, with only two other allies Poland and Estonia allocating a bigger share of their economic power to security matters over the period. Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Friday's key moments. 1. Wall Street declined on Friday after President Donald Trump threatened Apple and the European Union with tariffs. "I don't think it's down enough," Jim Cramer said, referring to the overall stock market while noting Trump's high tolerance for market pain as he pushes for trade deals. Lower bond yields on Friday did not help stocks. However, the 10-year Treasury yield was still elevated and above 4.5%. "On these down days, it's always important to search for positives," said Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Investing Club. CrowdStrike and GE Vernova were our two biggest winners Friday and for the entire week. 2. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Friday that he hopes the president's latest tariff updates "light a fire" under both the EU and Apple. Administration officials said the EU's proposal was not as good as others. In a post on his Truth Social, Trump suggested a 50% tariff on the EU, beginning June 1. He also said that iPhones not made in the U.S. should be subject to a 25% tariff. It appears, however, that progress with China on trade matters continues, with both parties maintaining communications after agreeing last week to temporarily reduce tariffs on each other's goods. 3. Our newest Club name GE Vernova was one of the nuclear stocks doing well Friday amid the overall market sell-off. The stock on Friday hit an all-time intraday high of $468.27 per share. The company, which makes small modular reactors (SMRs), had a double shot of good news this week. It struck an SMR deal with the Tennessee Valley Authority. It also saw Trump agreeing to allow a New York offshore wind project move forward. 4. Stocks covered in Friday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Deckers Outdoor , Ross Stores , Workday , and Intuit . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AAPL, GEV. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Former President Joe Biden's administration aimed to lower Americans' monthly student debt payments and maximize loan forgiveness opportunities. President Donald Trump's administration seems more focused on ensuring all those loans are repaid. A harsh reality could be on the way for borrowers who have gotten used to leeway in the federal student loan system, or are struggling to make payments: An estimated 1 in 12 Americans will face "negative" financial consequences in the coming months, finds a new report by the University of California Student Law Initiative, researched in conjunction with the left-leaning nonprofit Student Borrower Protection Center. Some student loan borrowers are already experiencing credit score drops. Others will face involuntary debt collection this summer, the Department of Education announced. Many of the 43 million Americans with student debt are already struggling financially: Nearly 30% of borrowers report, at some point, having gone without food, medication or other necessities to make their student loan payment, a 2024 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau survey found. DON'T MISS: How to master your money and grow your wealth In response to a request for comment, a U.S. Department of Education spokesperson pointed CNBC Make It to a statement made by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on April 21. "The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation's economic outlook," McMahon said. The University of California report says that three particular groups, totaling 20 million student loan borrowers, risk deepening their financial challenges this summer: Borrowers behind on monthly payments Over 7 million borrowers were behind on their monthly payments as of March 31, according to Department of Education data. Most of them nearly 6 million were between 91 and 180 days past due on their payments, the data says. The rest were at least 31 days behind. Once a loan is 90 days past due, the loan servicer reports the delinquency to the credit reporting bureaus, which can lower the borrower's credit score and leave a negative mark on their credit report. Trump's first presidential administration paused delinquency reporting to credit bureaus, along with monthly payments, in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Monthly payments resumed in October 2023 under the Biden administration, and delinquency reporting resumed in January 2025 under Trump. The move may have happened regardless of the 2024 presidential election's results: In October, the Biden administration announced plans to resume delinquency reporting in January. Nine million borrowers could see their credit scores drop from delinquency reporting, according to analysis from Federal Reserve Bank of New York economists. Since January, some borrowers on social media have reported seeing declines of more than 100 points, which could make it more difficult for them to get approved for new loans or credit cards, get a lease on a home or activate utilities services. If you're delinquent on your loan, paying your past-due amount or getting on a payment plan can bring your account into good standing. Borrowers who are in default Loans that go 270 days past due without a payment are considered in default. More than 5 million borrowers have at least one federal loan in this situation, according to the researchers' analysis of Federal Student Aid data. Before the pandemic, those borrowers would've seen their tax refunds and federal benefits, including portions of their Social Security checks, seized by the federal government in a process known as "Treasury offset." Additionally, their wages would've been be subject to garnishment, meaning the government would take money up to 15% of disposable income out of their paychecks to repay the defaulted loans. Trump's first administration paused Treasury offset and wage garnishment during the pandemic. The Biden administration maintained those pauses, planning to restart Treasury offset in July 2025 and wage garnishment in October 2025 with an emphasis on trying to decrease the number of impacted borrowers according to a January 13 Department of Education memo. The Trump administration instead restarted Treasury offsets in early May, notifying borrowers whose federal benefits may be impacted. People facing wage garnishment will be contacted later this summer, the Department said in an April 21 press release. The federal government is required to provide borrowers with a 60-day notice before reducing their benefits or wages. If you fall into either category, your benefits or wages will return to normal once your debt is repaid, you enter a rehabilitation agreement that includes a payment plan or you request a hearing to determine whether you're exempt from some or all wage garnishment. Borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan At least 8 million borrowers are currently in an administrative forbearance because they enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, an income-driven repayment plan created under the Biden Administration. That plan is temporarily blocked by federal courts after multiple Republican-led states sued to prohibit its enactment. These borrowers may not be required to make payments for now. But when they are, their payments will likely be higher than they'd have been on the SAVE plan. Under currently available income-driven repayment plans, borrowers' monthly payments can be up to 20% of their discretionary income, compared with a 5% cap under the SAVE plan. The SAVE plan's legal challenges began during the Biden administration, which sought to defend it in court something the Trump administration is unlikely to do. In Trump's "big, beautiful" tax bill, which narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, Republicans proposed creating a new income-driven repayment plan and eliminating the existing repayment options for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026. The proposal which includes a new repayment path called the Repayment Assistance Plan would set minimum monthly payments at $10 for low-income borrowers, as opposed to no monthly payments under the SAVE plan. It's unclear whether the Repayment Assistance Plan will be included in the version of the bill that gets voted on in the Senate. Want to boost your confidence, income and career success? Take one (or more!) of Smarter by CNBC Make It's expert-led online courses, which aim to teach you the critical skills you need to succeed that you didn't learn in school. Topics include earning passive income online, mastering communication and public speaking skills, acing your job interview, and practical strategies to grow your wealth. Use coupon code MEMORIAL to purchase any course at a discount of 30% off the regular course price (plus tax). Offer valid from 12:00 am Eastern Time ("ET") on May 19, 2025, through 11:59 pm ET on June 2, 2025. Terms and restrictions apply. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and peers. A yacht party hosted by DogeOS during the Token2049 Dubai conference week. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC DUBAI, United Arab Emirates On a humid Dubai night in early May, I joined guests gathered on the five-storey, 220-foot long Lotus megayacht to celebrate the culmination of TOKEN2049, a major crypto conference held in the glitzy desert emirate I call home. The party was hosted by DogeOS, the app developer behind the blockchain for Dogecoin, the shiba inu-faced meme coin that saw a rip-roaring rally in 2021 and briefly turned a few bullish buyers into millionaires. It's part of a long string of high-profile UAE-based industry events and feels like a prescient symbol of the ever-growing exuberance around cryptocurrencies in the Middle East and globally right now. The attendees around me spanned a colorful mix; crypto investors and startup founders, programmers, influencers and those who, after half an hour of conversation, still wouldn't really explain what they do. "You've probably heard of me. Elon retweets me a lot," one guest said as he introduced himself. I later heard him say the exact same line to three other people. One pair of female attendees promoted their Dubai-based startup that designs business plans for corporates and entrepreneurs "by calculating their astrology and birth chart numerology." They told me that "millionaires often look down on this science but billionaires love it." Bartenders serve guests aboard the 220-foot long Lotus megayacht in the Dubai Marina, May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC The guests hailed from all over the world, sharing a common passion for the future of decentralized digital currency and the revolutionizing of finance. A microcosm of Dubai itself, the boat was a melting pot of nationalities and characters. One American passenger wearing a cowboy hat and a ninja turtle backpack hawked a meme token featuring a shiba inu in a cowboy hat called $WIT coin, standing for "what in tarnation." Between shots of tequila he discussed collaboration with crypto enthusiasts who'd flown in from China. An organizer of the DogeOS yacht party welcomes guests aboard the Lotus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC The guestlist also featured Olaf Carlson-Wee, the bleach-blonde original "bubble boy" of crypto, who was Coinbase's first employee and later founded Polychain Capital, one of the world's largest crypto hedge funds. Carlson-Wee, whose net worth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, said he is frequently flown in from Los Angeles to work with the UAE government. The Trump crypto train comes to Dubai The bullish energy of the yacht party complete with open bars, teppanyaki grills and Vegas-style belly dancers wearing feather headdresses matched the unbridled optimism currently pulsing through the global crypto community. Posts of "WE'RE SO BACK" have abounded on social media in the months following U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House and his pledge to make America the "crypto capital of the world." His son Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and board member of Trump-family-owned crypto platform World Liberty Financial, was a keynote speaker at Dubai's Token2049. He was joined by Zack Witkoff, World Liberty Financial's co-founder, and the son of Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's Middle East envoy. watch now "Smart people, low taxes and the willingness to actually look forward and realize that the modern financial system is broken" is part of what makes the UAE so attractive for cryptocurrency enthusiasts like himself, the younger Trump told CNBC during the conference. Speaking onstage at the event on May 1, Eric Trump also announced that the Trump family's World Liberty Financial would provide the stablecoins for Abu Dhabi state-backed investment firm MGX's mammoth $2 billion investment into Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange. "We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us," Zack Witkoff told the audience. "It's only the beginning." 'Everybody was here' Jordan Jefferson, CEO of MyDoge, the team behind DogeOS, moved from Canada to Dubai in 2022 in search of a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment. At a time when North America was cracking down on the industry, he said the UAE was "embracing it and leading regulation." "I came out here because it was at the forefront of the industry. And everybody was here the energy was amazing," he told CNBC at the yacht party. Jefferson and his colleagues had donned shirts emblazoned with a picture of the Doge shiba inu wearing an Emirati headdress, the kandura, which they dubbed "Habibi Doge." Part of the Dubai skyline as seen from the DogeOS yacht party on May 1, 2025, in the United Arab Emirates Natasha Turak | CNBC Major crypto exchanges like Binance, Crypto.com, OKX, Bybit, and Kraken have received approvals or provisional licenses to operate in the UAE, with many choosing to open offices and regional headquarters there. The Gulf country has also established a "UAE blockchain strategy," hosts several major crypto events annually and offers visas to remote workers and entrepreneurs along with streamlined procedures for starting businesses. "They're leading the way in regulation, definitely trying to be one of the premier jurisdictions where everything is fully regulated," Jefferson said of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai in 2022 established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, or VARA the world's first independent crypto regulator which oversees virtual asset activities in the emirate and provides licensing and supervision to crypto businesses. Abu Dhabi Global Market in the UAE capital also updated its digital asset framework in 2023, providing a clearer licensing and regulatory environment for crypto exchanges, custodians, and other virtual asset service providers. Scandals and regulation Despite enjoying a rally in prices in recent years, the crypto industry has faced numerous scandals and controversies over time, from the collapse of FTX to the jailing of the crypto exchange's founder Sam Bankman-Fried and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. Before declaring bankruptcy in November of 2022, FTX had established its regional headquarters in Dubai and was one of the early firms issued a license by VARA in March of that year, as the emirate worked to entice crypto businesses. Zhao, a Dubai resident, has since been released from prison after serving a four-month term on charges of money laundering. He was granted UAE citizenship, though the timing of his Emirati naturalization has not been publicly disclosed. watch now In February, Dubai-based digital currency exchange Bybit revealed it was the victim of a hack that saw cybercriminals make off with $1.5 billion worth of tokens the largest-ever crypto heist in history. The UAE has learned from its experiences, Token2049 attendees told CNBC. "It's not easy" to implement robust regulation, Jefferson of DogeOS said. "It's easy to say, 'hey, you can do anything here'. It's harder to do a regulatory framework where other countries around the world will accept it and realize that if you're a company built here [in the UAE] and under these regulations, it's legit. So I think that's probably the most important part." Walkway of the Dubai Marina, May 1, 2025 Natasha Turak | CNBC South Korea said there have been no discussions with the US over a possible pullback of American troops stationed in the country, after a media report said Washington is reviewing a proposal to withdraw some of its forces.The proposal could result in the removal of about 4,500 American troops based in South Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, a move that could further stir security concerns in the divided Korean peninsula.South Koreas defense ministry said there has been absolutely no discussion with the US regarding a potential US troop withdrawal.US troops stationed in South Korea are a core part of the two countries alliance, helping to deter North Korea from invading or making provocations while contributing to peace and stability in the region, the ministry said in a text message to reporters.The WSJ report said one of the options under discussion includes relocating some of the 28,500 US troops in South Korea to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam. The proposal has not reached US President Donald Trumps desk yet and is one of several ideas being discussed by senior officials conducting the review, the report said.Trump has pushed US allies to step up military spending in return for deploying American troops in conflict zones. In October, just before winning the presidential election, Trump said South Korea would pay billions of dollars more every year to host US troops if he were in the White House and called the long-time US ally a money machine.Trump made those remarks less than two weeks after the US and South Korea reached a new five-year cost-sharing deal for hosting American forces on the divided peninsula. Under the agreement, South Korea will raise its share of the costs to 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion) in 2026, up 8.3% compared with this year.A Pentagon spokesman was quoted in the report saying there were no policy announcements to make. National Security Council spokesman Pete Nguyen didnt address the troop-withdrawal issue but said Trump was committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, while South Koreas defense ministry declined to comment, according to the report. Trump said in April that he discussed trade deficit, shipbuilding cooperation, the Alaska pipeline project and defense cost sharing during his phone call with Koreas then Acting President Han Duck-soo. Intelligence and cybersecurity agencies from 10 countries has warned in a joint advisory that a cyberespionage group operated by the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU, has been targeting logistics and IT companies for the past three years. Known in the security industry as APT28 and Fancy Bear, the threat actor has been launching attacks against these targets using a variety of initial access tactics including password spraying, spearphishing and exploitation of vulnerabilities in popular software. As Russian military forces failed to meet their military objectives and Western countries provided aid to support Ukraines territorial defense, unit 26165 [of the Russian GRU 85th GTsSS] expanded its targeting of logistics entities and technology companies involved in the delivery of aid, the advisory read. These actors have also targeted Internet-connected cameras at Ukrainian border crossings to monitor and track aid shipments. The targets included dozens of government organizations and commercial entities involved in goods transportation on air, sea and rail. This included defense industry companies, shipping and logistics companies, air traffic management agencies and IT services firms. The countries targeted were Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and the US. A now-patched high-severity security flaw affecting Trimble Cityworks a specialized software used by local governments in the US, utilities, and public agencies to manage their infrastructure and community serviceswas abused by Chinese hackers to compromise systems before a patch was available. According to a Talos intelligence report, the flaw (tracked as CVE-2025-0994) in the Geographic Information System (GIS)-based asset management tool was used by hackers in zero-day exploitation for achieving remote code execution and subsequent malware delivery. Talos has found intrusions in enterprise networks of local governing bodies in the United States (US), beginning January 2025 when initial exploitation first took place, the cybersecurity outfit said in a blog post, attributing the exploitation to the entity it tracks as UAT-6382.Based on tooling and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) employed by the threat actor, Talos assesses with high confidence that the exploitation and subsequent post-compromise activity is carried out by Chinese-speaking threat actors. 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. Shabana Mahmood was eager to discuss castration. The Justice Secretary had just announced an unprecedented dilution of criminal sentences. All sorts of thugs will now serve a mere third of their porridge. Soft on crime, soft on the causes of crime. Yet Ms Mahmood was keen to depict herself as a toughie, so she aimed below the belt. Castration. 'I'm not squeamish,' she averred, narrowing her eyes like a farmer closing some gelding clamps on a bullock's knackers. Charlotte Nichols (Lab, Warrington North) had asked if chemical castration might suit sex maniacs. Ms Nichols remains utterly still when she speaks. There is something troubling about her, even when she is not proposing castration. Ms Mahmood said the idea had often been considered by her Tory predecessors but they (even Liz Truss, amazingly) had demurred. What was different this time? Well, none of them ever agreed to such an extraordinary release of convicts. None, therefore, needed to create a distraction by talking about sex pests' down-belows. Beside the Secretary of State sat a ministerial colleague Alex Davies-Jones, crossing her muscular forearms and shouting 'year-year' in a Rhondda baritone. Ms Mahmood had one last thing to say about castration. She wished 'to use every tool'. Blimey. That was one way of putting it. This announcement represented a Leftwards lurch in penal liberalisation. Shabana Mahmood was eager to discuss castration. The Justice Secretary (pictured) announced an unprecedented dilution of criminal sentences in the House of Commons on Thursday A prison officer walking on the landing in 'A' Hall in Craiginches prison in Aberdeen, Scotland Labour and Lib Dem MPs (they are increasingly the same thing) approved; yet they did not want it applied to those guilty of violence against women. This was the crime that most gripped the Left. Not burglary. Not murder or terrorism. Not even BBC licence fee evasion. Count yourselves lucky they won't be giving us the snip for that. Robert Jenrick, shadow minister, sprang to the despatch box and unleashed a response that instantly drew fire from the Left. No one upsets them quite like Mr Jenrick. 'The Labour Party doesn't believe in punishing criminals,' he cried, his delivery salty, energetic, undeniably electric. Speaker Hoyle may not be a fan, mind you. He twice interrupted Mr Jenrick, ostensibly to hush the hecklers. This cost Mr Jenrick his flow. Then the Speaker told him off for saying Ms Mahmood was 'out of her mind'. When Ms Mahmood was back on her feet, the Speaker told Mr Jenrick to show more respect to the minister. Mr Jenrick harrumphed. A United Nations peace envoy may be needed to improve relations between Hoyle and Jenrick. Sir Desmond Swayne (Con, New Forest West) said nothing weakened justice more than knocking years off judges' sentences. Ms Mahmood seemed to agree, oddly. Ms Mahmood said the idea of castration of sexual predators had often been considered by her Tory predecessors but even Liz Truss had demurred Sir John Hayes (Con, South Holland & The Deepings) noted that 'the Establishment, poisoned by liberal thinking' had long been at odds with public opinion on prison sentences. For this he was rewarded with further yelps of abuse from Labour and the Lib Dems. Which in a way rather confirmed the truth of Sir John's comment. 'I believe in prison,' said Ms Mahmood, even as she was letting cons go free. She complained bitterly, in just about every paragraph she uttered, about the previous government's failure to build enough prisons; yet her policy was based on a report by David Gauke, who served in that very government as minister in charge of prisons. Labour MPs kept attacking the old Tory government and praising Mr Gauke. They were the same thing, you numpties! With MPs now off for the Whitsun break, perhaps they could use their leisure to read Evelyn Waugh's story Mr Loveday's Little Outing, about an apparently reformed murderer who is let out of his lunatic asylum with predictable results. The story is short and horribly true. Which leaves room to touch, briefly, on another apparently inevitable tragedy. Amid rumours of her impending destruction, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy missed her departmental questions. She was at the World Expo in Osaka. In her absence she was theatrically upstaged by her deputy, Chris Bryant. Farage in France, Reeves in Canada, Nandy in Japan: Parliament's a tough old gig. Keir Starmer, the most unpopular Prime Minister of recent times, and David Lammy, the most inept Foreign Secretary of recent times, yesterday signed the most self- defeating diplomatic deal in generations. They agreed to surrender the Chagos Islands, a strategically valuable British territory, to Mauritius, a state that has never owned it. To do this, against the wishes of former islanders, we will end up paying Mauritian politicians as much as 30 billion. Yes, you read that correctly: as much as 30 billion to pay another nation to take our territory. That's almost ten times more than the promised defence uplift and 20 times the 'savings' brought by the disgraceful winter fuel cuts. This is a pointless act of self-laceration by a Prime Minister lurching from crisis to crisis after less than a year in power. The only other decision that comes close in its counter-productive futility was Britain's decision to relinquish control of its naval bases in Ireland in 1938 one year before the breakout of the Second World War. The parallels should worry us. The Chagos Islands contain the Diego Garcia airbase, a strategically important site in the Indian Ocean which is primarily used by the US. Keir Starmer, the most unpopular Prime Minister of recent times, yesterday signed the most self-defeating diplomatic deal in generations The government agreed to surrender the Chagos Islands - a strategically valuable British territory - to Mauritius, a state that has never owned it, much to the outcry of Chagossians In an increasingly dangerous world, you'd think it was common sense to keep long-term sovereignty over the land our military bases are on. To Labour's mind, clearly not. Britain has held the Chagos Islands since 1814. Mauritius, meanwhile, has never had a serious claim on it. The Chagos archipelago and Mauritius are not even close they're 1,300 miles apart. That's farther than London is from St Petersburg. Even former islanders, who left the archipelago only after the UK took possession to make way for the base, do not want it surrendered to Mauritius. This week two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, made a valiant effort to halt the decision, arguing: 'The Government's attempt to give away the Chagossians' homeland whilst failing to hold a formal consultation with the Chagossian people is a continuation of their terrible treatment by the authorities in the past.' Their 11th-hour legal challenge delayed the decision, but failed to overturn it. So why against such a deafening clamour of criticism has Labour done this disastrous deal at all? Starmer and Lammy claim that a long-term plan for the island was needed due to the findings of the International Court of Justice in 2019. The trouble with this claim as with so many statements by our PM is that it is spurious. Their 11th-hour legal challenge delayed the decision, but failed to overturn it. So why against such a deafening clamour of criticism has Labour done this disastrous deal at all? This week two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, made a valiant effort to halt the decision Britain has held the Chagos Islands since 1814 while Mauritius has never had a serious claim on it - the Chagos archipelago and Mauritius are not even close they're 1,300 miles apart While the ICJ ruled that the UK should make plans to hand the archipelago to Mauritius, the ruling was in no way legally binding. What's more, the court's then-vice president was a former Communist Chinese official who went on to back the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That Starmer has taken heed of a 'court' with no mandate that has been stuffed by cronies of adversarial states is a parody of true justice. We were also told that respecting the ICJ would (in the words of our buffoonish Foreign Secretary) increase our 'international standing'. Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Lammy? Our allies will see us as a nation no longer willing to stand up for our own interests. As for our enemies, they will see us as naive, weak and gullible. We have lost our 'standing', not regained it. Worse, as I have previously warned in these pages, our enemies have been actively stirring in Mauritius to damage the UK. Last year, I was handed a dispatch from a European security agency which proved that the British Government had been told Russia was seeking to manipulate the issue. Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy (pictured) claim that a long-term plan for the island was needed due to the findings of the International Court of Justice in 2019 Yet, despite all this, Labour persevered. Perhaps this is what Starmer means by going 'further and faster' working further and faster to damage our national interests. This shameful betrayal is also representative of something worse, summed up this week by the great Cambridge historian Robert Tombs. For the first time in three centuries, since the early Hanoverian kings made Britain serve German interests, we are led by people who do not put this nation first. To Starmer, Labour and the posse of woke de-colonisers pushing this decision, Britain is always the bad guy. Our great nation is a source of shame, not pride. Our history is to be denigrated, not celebrated. And lest we forget, the PM's old friend Philippe Sands is an adviser to the Mauritian government. Let's remember that this dreadful deal comes just three days after Starmer dragged Britain back into the EU's orbit with his surrender deal on fishing, trade and youth mobility. Who can believe a word Starmer says after this? When he claims he is a 'patriot', it is no more convincing than the litany of falsehoods he has spewed in No 10: from the 22 billion 'black hole' to his social media posts claiming jobs are up and bills are down. With this capitulation, Starmer has shown he puts international legalese above our national interest. Is this the most unpatriotic Government in history? Its actions speak louder than words. Dr Bob Seely MBE is a military and security expert and author of The New Total War, to be published by Biteback in July. This should have been a celebratory week for the Beckhams. Time magazine, which has in the past chosen Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King and Barack Obama for its cover pictures, has bestowed the same honour on David Beckham after singling him out from The 100 Most Influential Leaders In Philanthropy. Meanwhile, his wife Victoria has been in Dubai celebrating the launch of her latest capsule wardrobe collection, and speaking candidly about being a working mum with four children. Id like to think Im a good mum, a good wife, she said. I try the best I can. I work hard. I like to think Im a kind person. Im very positive. I love good energy. And lets be honest, she has certainly needed all that positivity amid the fallout with her eldest son Brooklyn who seems to have abandoned his loving family. Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz conspicuously failed to turn up at any of the events to mark his Dads milestone 50th birthday. On Monday he and Nicola flew into London from LA, where they live, for a joint fashion shoot. Astonishingly, they could not find the time to visit the Beckham family home just miles away. As my colleague Katie Hind reported, Brooklyn didnt even bother to let his parents know that he was going to be in London, and that was deeply upsetting for the Beckham family. While they were here, Dad David was pictured a stones throw away from where Brooklyn was spotted, at the Chelsea Flower show chatting to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Surely they could have met up. Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz conspicuously failed to turn up at any of the events to mark his Dads milestone 50th birthday Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi last December But no. The couple chose instead to have a date night at their luxury London hotel. Nicola posted a gushing tribute to her husband as she shared snaps online of a cosy picnic they enjoyed together @brooklynpeltzbeckham I love you so much baby, she wrote. Insiders blame the rift on Nicola, daughter of the billionaire US frozen food mogul Nelson Peltz. They claim she creates dramas whenever Brooklyn and his wife are expected to appear at Beckham family get-togethers. It seems to me that, although Nicola is only four years older than Brooklyn, she effectively has a cougar relationship with him. She comes across as more worldly-wise, as well as demanding, sexy and petulant. For his part, Brooklyn has been struggling to find a career for himself so is especially susceptible to the control of an older, more calculating wife. And for some unfathomable reason Nicola appears to want Brooklyn all to herself. What must particularly grate with Victoria and David is that Nicola, a hitherto unknown actress, milks the Beckham brand for all its worth. Brooklyn has assumed the Peltz family name and both use it for all social media and self-promotion. Neither the Beckhams nor the Peltz Beckhams (as Brooklyn and Nicola now term themselves) have spoken publicly about what for David and Victoria and their other children - Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper just 13 - must be a heartbreaking schism. Nicola may now seem to be the iron fist in the velvet glove controlling Brooklyn, but I have no doubt that will change over time. Given that he comes from such a tight-knit family, it cant fail to. He will, in time, miss his parents too much, his siblings and the incredibly close bond they once all shared. When the scales finally fall from his eyes and he sees his wife for what she is - a publicity-seeking diva, using his family to raise her profile - he will return to the fold. Hell become the prodigal son who seeks forgiveness for all the hurt he has caused, and will be lovingly embraced back into his family minus one Nicola Peltz. To my mind, that return to the fold cannot come a moment too soon. Captive-bred green peafowls naturally reproduce in China Xinhua) 09:00, May 23, 2025 A captive-bred green peafowl is seen at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) KUNMING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Four green peafowl chicks were recently hatched naturally in a wild training base in southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking the first successful natural breeding of the captive-bred species in a simulated wild environment and major progress in the country's rewilding efforts for the rare birds. The young birds were discovered in mid-May via camera surveillance at the training base located at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali. The base was co-founded by the nature reserve, the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Yunnan Forest Nature Center (YFNC), with a focus on wild training of captive-bred green peafowls. Currently, 11 birds are receiving wild training at the base. Thursday marks International Day for Biological Diversity. Yang Jiawei, an official at the reserve, said captive-bred green peafowls are trained in simulated wild conditions to master survival skills like foraging, predator avoidance and reproduction before they are released into the wild. "Naturally hatched chicks adapt better in the wild, increasing the release success rates," Yang said. He added that, in the next step, the base will assess the peafowls' survival skills and release those qualified into the wild with trackers for monitoring, providing technical support for China's conservation efforts. Lu Lin, who is in charge of wildlife rescue and breeding at the YFNC, said that in 2024, the center in the provincial capital Kunming successfully bred 48 chicks, with the hatching rate surging to 73.85 percent, up from 15 percent three years prior. As of Thursday, 12 chicks have hatched from 68 eggs laid this year, with more expected soon. The entire hatching process will be completed within two months. The green peafowl, China's only native peafowl species, is classified as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List, with a higher extinction risk than giant pandas. With the continuous ecological conservation efforts in China, endangered wild animal species, including the green peafowl, have seen a rise in their populations. In Yunnan, multiple nature reserves have been established in green peafowl habitats, with 48.1 million yuan (about 6.7 million U.S. dollars) spent on conservation projects like population monitoring and habitat improvement as of 2024, said Li Peng, an official in charge of wildlife protection from the provincial forestry and grassland bureau. Thanks to these efforts, the population of wild green peafowls has risen from less than 500 in 2016 to about 850 today. An aerial drone photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A captive-bred green peafowl is seen at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Green peafowl chicks are seen at the Yunnan Forest Nature Center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A staff member of Yunnan Forest Nature Center checks the condition of a green peafowl chick, who is about to break out of the shell, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A panoramic drone photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Staff members set an infrared camera at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A staff member of Yunnan Forest Nature Center feeds green peafowls in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Staff members feed green peafowls with a drawer-shaped trough at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A staff member of Yunnan Forest Nature Center changes food and water for green peafowl chicks in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A green peafowl chick is seen at the Yunnan Forest Nature Center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Green peafowl chicks are seen at the Yunnan Forest Nature Center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A captive-bred green peafowl is seen at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A staff member of Yunnan Forest Nature Center checks the condition of a green peafowl chick in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A staff member of Yunnan Forest Nature Center checks the condition of green peafowl chicks in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Green peafowls are seen at the Yunnan Forest Nature Center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Staff members check the condition of green peafowls released into the wild via a monitoring system at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Peiran) Green peafowl chicks are seen at the Yunnan Forest Nature Center in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Princess Josephine of Denmark has caused a storm on social media after a video was shared showing her entering Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. The youngest daughter of Queen Mary and King Frederik X of Denmark delighted royal fans by casually entering her home like it was any other abode and not a royal residence. Instagram account @copenhagenfrow, which spots famous faces in and around the Danish city, shared the clip to its profile with the caption, 'The princess got FROWED! casually walking into the palace.' The 14-year-old, accompanied by a friend, strolled by the royal guard who was standing outside her home before entering a pin in the door and going through the gate. Josephine cut a chic figure in a pair of oversized blue denim jeans, a white jumper, and a quirky black-and-white striped bag. The original clip quickly gained over 200,000 views. It wasn't long before it was reshared on TikTok. After an account shared the footage on TikTok, viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts. One said, 'The way they just casually open the door like opening an apartment door. I find it so adorable.' Princess Josephine (pictured left) was spotted entering Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen with a friend Another thought similarly, adding, 'Ringing the doorbell like it's just any apartment building.' 'To you it's a palace, but to her it's just home,' said a third user in the comment section. A fourth wrote, 'People say she doesn't act like a princess [and] she's just down to earth.' It comes after Denmark's royal household released Princess Isabella's first official gala portraits to mark her 18th birthday last month. The eldest daughter of Queen Mary and King Frederik X of Denmark, who enjoyed multiple events in honour of her birthday, posed for the photographs at Knight's Hall of Frederick VIII's Palace in Amalienborg. Isabella put on a dashing display in a vibrant orange ballgown, which was adorned with the Order of the Elephant and a miniature portrait of her father. The 18-year-old, who opted for a glowing makeup look, added a pair of turquoise and diamond earrings and a matching tiara. The caption read: '18 years ago today Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella was born.' The daughter of Queen Mary and King Frederik casually tapped the buzzer before entering her home 'The birthday itself is marked with the publication of the Princess's first official gala portraits. 'The princess is photographed in the Knight's Hall of Frederick VIII's Palace in Amalienborg, and on the portraits Her Royal Highness wears the Order of the Elephant with a star chest... and a miniature Order portrait of her father, His Majesty the King.' One day before Isabella's birthday, the Danish Royal Family shared a scrapbook of adorable intimate family pictures. To mark her milestone birthday, the proud parents posted an array of childhood snaps of Isabella and her family throughout various stages of her life. The royal family's Instagram caption read: 'Little glimpses from childhood to 18 years old. 'On the occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella's 18th birthday on Monday, Their Majesties the King and Queen share here a selection of memories.' These included an adorable snap of Queen Margrethe - who abdicated the Danish throne in January last year - holding her newborn granddaughter shortly after she was born. The former monarch was seen smiling as she looked down at Isabella while cradling her in her arms. Another sweet black and white image also showed a young Isabella smiling as she clutched onto her mother's back. A second endearing photograph showed older sister Isabella touching Mary's baby bump when she was pregnant with twins Josephine and Vincent in 2010. The couple also chose a picture of Isabella - who is called Bella for short in some of the scrapbook captions - and her late grandfather, Prince Henrik of Denmark, who passed away in 2018. The monochrome image showed the Princess wrapping her arms around Henrik, giving him a huge hug. The extensive post also included snaps of Isabella with her Australian Scottish grandparents on Mary's side. Mary's parents are Scottish, but they emigrated to Hobart, Tasmania, where she was born in 1972. Her mother, Henrietta Clark Donaldson, sadly passed in 1997 following complications from a heart surgery when Mary was just 25 years old. Her father, John Dalgleish Donaldson, remarried a British crime writer Susan Horwood, who writes under the name Susan Moody. Elsewhere, another picture showed a young Isabella swimming and spending quality time with her father, King Frederik. Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on the video of Princess Josephine Other images showed Isabella from when was around five years old on family trips in Tisvilde, a seaside town in Denmark, and her feeding a horse - along with more recent snaps of her with the family border collie, Grace. Princess Isabella reportedly enjoyied a private birthday celebration with family and loved ones to mark the occasion. From this year onwards, Princess Isabella will also have her birthday added into the rotation of annual flag days, which are the official dates when the national flag is traditionally flown. In addition to celebrating at the lavish Royal Theatre's Old Stage in Copenhagen last Tuesday, Isabella also had an earlier party on April 11, which, according to Hello, cost a staggering 32,542. Prince William made a witty remark to the crowd on Thursday afternoon after a royal fan called Kate 'beautiful'. The Prince and Princess of Wales were at the the traditional naming ritual of HMS Glasgow at the BAE Systems' shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde. Kate, 43, officially named HMS Glasgow by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull. Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024. As the couple departed, one wellwisher from the crowd couldn't resist telling the princess, 'you're beautiful!' And in an effort not to leave her husband out, they added: 'You too, William!', in footage recorded by local news outlet Clyde News. Clearly amused by the surprise compliment, William, 42, quipped: 'You don't have to say that, don't worry!' The crowd then burst into laughter at his self-deprecating comment, as the couple bid goodbye after a busy afternoon. Prince William made a witty remark to the crowd this afternoon after a royal fan called Kate 'beautiful' during their trip to Glasgow Earlier, stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, Kate uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her'. The Princess then flicked up a small red 'launch' button to release a bottle of exclusive single malt whisky made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery. The ceremonial act is said to bring good luck and fortune to the vessel and its crew. The distillery opened its doors in 2017, the same year that the HMS Glasgow build began, marking what is considered the start of two modern icons of Glasgow's maritime heritage. Each bottle of the whisky sold will include a donation to HMS Glasgow's chosen charity, Place2Be, of which the Princess is patron, and which supports children's mental health in the city. The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard'. A year later, Kate met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the ship's progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy. As the couple departed, one wellwisher from the crowd couldn't resist telling the princess, 'you're beautiful!' They quickly added 'you too, William!' to her husband, to which he responded: 'You don't have to say that, don't worry!' The Princess of Wales (pictured) was all smiles as she attended the official naming of a new Royal Navy warship in Glasgow Prince William looked just as sophisticated as his wife in a smart suit with a striped tie (pictured right) The Princess appeared relaxed as she met staff (pictured) at the naming ceremony for the warship After today's naming ceremony, the couple stepped aboard to meet representatives from BAE Systems who have been leading the delivery of the vessel, as well as others from the Royal Navy to discuss the ship's unique capabilities. The Princess was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan. The Prince and Princess were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates. They heard about the shipbuilding and maritime training the students have received, including craft trades such as fabrication, electrical, sheet metal work, welding, and pipefitting all of which contributed to the construction of HMS Glasgow. The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge, a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils. Aided by second year pipe apprentices Natalie Black and Rory Hamilton, the couple got to work building their pipes while chatting. The Princess appeared to be in great form as she shared a laugh while meeting apprentices and graduates during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Princess meets the Ship's company and their families at the official naming ceremony The Princess looked effortlessly elegant as she attended the occasion in Glasgow with Prince William (pictured together) The Princess appeared radiant in a blue and white ensemble which she teamed with cream heels and a navy handbag The Princess of Wales (pictured right at the event today) has officially named HMS Glasgow by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull After the ceremony, the Prince and Princess (pictured) were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates The Princess (pictured left) was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan After the naming ceremony, the couple stepped aboard to meet representatives from BAE Systems who have been leading the delivery of the vessel, as well as others from the Royal Navy to discuss the ship's unique capabilities. Pictured, Kate at the event today As the Princess swiftly began screwing her pipes together, Ms Black told her: 'You look like you've done this before,' prompting the Princess to tell her it was her experience playing with the childrens' toys. Prince William, who spent more time chatting than building, later claimed he had not realised it was a race. Deborah Lynch, an early careers and skills practitioner at BAE, declared the Princess the winner, only for her pipe construction to collapse, prompting much laughter. The Princess was then asked to screw in a wing nut to complete an inclinometer, the gadget traditionally fixed to a ship to measure its tilt, which will be put on display in the bridge. 'It's so beautifully made,' she said. 'I look forward to seeing that in place if I come back another day.' The Prince and Princess also met a cross-section of BAE Systems employees from different backgrounds, trades and skills involved in the building of the ship, and members of HMS Glasgow ship's company and their families. The Princess repeatedly described how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board. 'It's so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive,' she marvelled. 'What's really interesting as well is seeing the international interest.' Kate wore a custom brooch designed by local jewellers James Porter & Son, established in 1858 in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade The Princess and the Prince of Wales (pictured) attending the ship's naming ceremony The Princess (pictured) told an employee after the ceremony: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest' Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024 After the ceremony, William and Kate (pictured), known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, boarded the ship and met representatives from BAE Systems, which has led the delivery of the vessel, and others from the Royal Navy who discussed the ship's capabilities The Princess (pictured) talked to the crowd as she attended the naming ceremony She admitted that she was still getting to grips with the naval language. 'I'm still learning all my naval lingo,' she told one woman. 'There are a lot of abbreviations that I don't fully understand. I've got a lot to learn.' The Princess told another employee: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest.' She met several children, parents and grandparents of employees, telling them it was so important for family members to come and see the work after 'so much time and effort had been invested' and to share the experience. 'It must be a very proud day for you, to see what your loved ones do on a day to day basis,' she told one grandmother. 'The technology is so advanced. Have you had a look around? I find it fascinating.' She told another family member that the 3D animations she had seen 'looked very James Bond' and another that she hoped the sunny weather would prove 'a good omen' for the ship. The Princess was introduced to Lt Simon Hartland RN and his son, Teddy, 11. 'Have you got any aspirations to be in the Navy?' she asked Teddy. 'I was just hearing, there are so many jobs that you can do. Have you started coding yet? The Princess told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge.' Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, Kate (pictured centre) uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her' The Princess is presented flowers upon her arrival at the HMS Glasgow naming ceremony The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Second Sealord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell The Prince of Wales and The Princess of Wales, Sponsor HMS Glasgow, attend the ship's naming ceremony at the BAE Systems' shipyard She added: 'Everyone's very excited about the gadgets on board, everyone's raving about them.' The Princess said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes.' Asking one young girl what she thought of HMS Glasgow, she said: 'She's pretty impressive. I'd seen a picture but I didn't realise she was going to be that big.' She told another employee: 'It's so special, when I saw her, I was like, 'wow'.' Before leaving, the Prince and Princess were given a bottle of the Clydeside Distillery whisky. The couple visited the distillery when they were in Scotland for Cop26 in 2021. The Prince joked that he thought it a shame that the whisky was wasted by smashing a bottle on the ship. Tim Morrison, the distillery founder, suggested they use a drop of cold tea instead, to much laughter. The Princess asked why whisky was used rather than champagne and was told it was because Elizabeth II had once christened a ship with whisky from Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which the Morrison family previously owned. The Princess (pictured next to Prince William) said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes' The Princess (pictured) told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge' The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship (pictured), a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard' On arrival at the shipyard (pictured), the Prince and Princess were met by Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow, Sir Simon Lister, managing director, of BAE Systems Naval Ships and Commander Phil Burgess, senior naval officer on HMS Glasgow The Princess also met the local jewellers who designed the brooch she wore for the occasion. James Porter & Son, established in 1858, is based in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade and is one of Scotland's oldest jewellers. Simon Porter said they had been asked to design a brooch based on HMS Glasgow's crest. 'It was an absolute honour to see her wearing it,' he said. 'Against a plain navy background it really stood out.' The brooch was funded by two London livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The ship, the first of eight planned Type 26 frigates, is designed to provide protection to the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. It features advanced systems such as the Sea Ceptor anti-air missile system, a 5-inch naval gun, and the capability to carry both Wildcat and Merlin helicopters. The construction of the eight frigates has sustained 4,000 jobs across Scotland and the wider UK supply chain. The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Princess of Wales during an activity at the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge (pictured), a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils On arrival at the shipyard, the Prince and Princess were met by Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow, Sir Simon Lister, managing director, of BAE Systems Naval Ships and Commander Phil Burgess, senior naval officer on HMS Glasgow. 'It'a so great to see her, she's fantastic,' Kate said at first sight of the vessel. Cdr Burgess escorted the couple past a guard of honour made up of the ships company for a royal salute. A piper marked the start of the 25-minute ceremony before a P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft from 120 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth performed a flypast. Sir Simon and Second Sealord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, gave speeches. Sir Martin Connell thanked the Prince and Princess for their support in reaching the milestone. 'From the first ever HMS Glasgow, sailing under the Royal Navy flag at the end of the 17th Century to the ship we see here in the 21st Century, HMS Glasgow has evolved and adapted to meet the warfighting and operational demands of its day,' he said. 'Each metamorphosis saw shipbuilders adapting materials and designs so that crews could operate each successive HMS Glasgow on operations and in conflict and war. 'The result of this being 11 battle honours HMS Glasgow's pedigree is awe inspiring.' He hailed the ship as 'a pure-bred Anti-Submarine Warfare platform, setting the standard for naval warfare', which was ready to 'meet the global and geopolitical challenges of today'. He continued: 'HMS Glasgow and her class represent the next chapter of naval innovation, safeguarding the UK's interests and contributing to national prosperity.' Sir Simon said the naming ceremony marked 'quite a moment' for Glasgow. 'There are many sons and daughters of this city here today and you should be proud to say you are helping Glasgow to flourish,' he said. 'HMS Glasgow is a reminder of the role ship building on the Clyde plays on the global stage', he added. 'Your efforts have started a legacy you should be rightly proud of, that will put us on a stronger footing for years to come. To HMS Glasgow, go well, fair winds and following seas'. Sable, now 57, was once one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling One of the biggest sex symbols of the late '90s has re-emerged with a new look. Former WWE superstar Sable (real name Rena Lesnar) was at one time the biggest female star in professional wrestling. Despite her immense fame and popularity, the three-time Playboy covergirl quit the wrestling business for good in 2004 and completely vanished from the spotlight. In 2006, she married her third husband, WWE and UFC legend Brock Lesnar, and relocated to a secluded farm in Canada to be a fulltime wife and mother to their two children. However, Rena, now 57, resurfaced this week alongside Brock at a private country music party. The former WWF Women's Champion looked unrecognizable during the outing for one significant reason. Her signature long blonde hair was no more, with Rena now rocking honey brown tresses instead. Former WWE star Sable (real name Rena Lesnar) resurfaced this week with a new look alongside husband Brock Lesnar Her husband was also sporting a mini makeover of his own with a bushy beard and long locks - which fans on social media compared to a viking. As for Rena, wrestling fans were blown away by how beautiful and elegant she still looked despite spending decades away from the squared circle. 'Omg Sable looks AMAZING. Need her in the WWE Hall of Fame immediately please,' gushed one. 'She looks better today than she did 20+ years ago,' wrote another. 'Still fine as hell,' wrote a third, while another fan exclaimed, 'She's still absolutely beautiful.' 'Kids, the woman on the right made a helluva lot of money and actually got more ratings than your faves today ever did, back in her day,' lectured one wrestling fan. Rena first entered the wrestling business in 1996, serving as the manager to her then real-life husband Marc Mero. Wrestling fans were blown away by how beautiful and elegant she still looked despite spending decades away from the squared circle Rena's character Sable was arguably one of the most popular celebrities in America during the height of her fame in the late '90s Due to her stunning beauty and scantily-clad outfits, Rena's popularity exploded to the point that she quickly became more popular than most of the show's male talent. Despite her limited wrestling skills, Rena was soon crowned the WWE Women's Champion and featured as a main draw for many of WWE's pay-per-view specials. In 1999, she became the first WWE star to cover Playboy magazine, with her issue becoming the highest-selling issue in Playboy's history at the time. She covered the magazine again just a few months later, becoming the first woman to land two Playboy covers in one year. That same year, Rena quit WWE and filed a $110 million lawsuit against the company, citing allegations of sexual harassment and unsafe working conditions. One of the most shocking allegations in the lawsuit was that a male wrestler defecated in her bag as part of a sick prank. Sean Waltman, better known as X-Pac, later confirmed that he was the culprit behind the gruesome number two. Due to her stunning beauty and scantily-clad outfits, Rena's popularity exploded to the point that she quickly became more popular than most of the show's male talent In 1999, she became the first WWE star to cover Playboy magazine, with her issue becoming the highest-selling issue in Playboy's history at the time Rena and WWE settled out of court in 1999 and she eventually returned to the company in 2003, reprising her role as Sable in a series of racy storylines. She covered Playboy for a third time, this time alongside fellow wrestling beauty Torrie Wilson, before eventually leaving WWE for the second and final time in August, 2004. Around that time, Rena's then-husband Marc Mero claims that she started having an affair with WWE superstar Brock Lesnar. She eventually married Brock in 2006 and the couple welcomed two sons together. Rena rarely appears in public these days. She's pictured during one of her last public outings at UFC 200 in 2016 After finding love with Brock, Rena ceased almost all of her public appearances and was only ever occasionally seen supporting her husband at the odd UFC pay-per-view. Lesnar, who grew up on a dairy farm in South Dakota, moved Rena and their children to a rural farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, back in 2014. In 2010, Lesnar gave a rare interview about his decision to keep his private life out of the public domain. 'I just don't put myself out there to the fans and prostitute my private life to everybody,' he told Yahoo. 'In today's day and age, with the internet and cameras and cell phones, I just like being old school and living in the woods and living my life. I came from nothing and at any moment, you can go back to having nothing.' Picture this: you've walked into an Aldi Australia store and are pushing one of their coin-deposit trolleys as you peruse the aisles. But something is missing from the grocery shopping experience - can you pinpoint what it is? Unlike other major Australian supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths, Aldi stores don't play any music over their speakers. That means, no Michael Buble crooning as you grab some milk or humming along to Kelly Clarkson's 'Miss Independent' while loading up your trolley with grocery items. And it seems there's a simple explanation behind why the supermarket chain decided to forgo 'muzak' - AKA background music. 'You won't hear music playing in our stores, but we hope our customers are singing praises about the savings,' an Aldi Australia spokesperson told FEMAIL. 'By skipping extras like in-store music, we keep things simple and pass those savings straight to our customers. 'It's all about making shopping easy, efficient, and affordable.' An Aldi Australia spokesperson confirmed to FEMAIL that it was a deliberate decision to not play background music in stores The spokesperson added: 'We've always said we do things a little differently.' Any retail business - including grocery stores like Woolworths and Coles - are required to hold a public performance license to play background music. In Australia, these licenses are purchased from company OneMusic, which is a joint licensing initiative of Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA). The licensing fees collected from retail businesses are used to pay musicians and artists, who own the copyright to their songs. Exactly how much a licensing fee costs a retailer is dependent on the business' floor space - and in a major supermarket, the area is sizeable. A spokesperson for APRA AMCOS previously told Yahoo Finance that the music license for a major grocery store could run into the thousands and that price would be paid for each individual store. Coles and Woolies respectively have around 850 and 1,100 store locations. These fees would be factored into the grocery store business bottom line and absorbed into their product pricing strategy. This presumably translates into higher product prices for shoppers. It begs the question as to why the major grocery stores don't follow Aldi's lead and give background music a miss. However, a new study released in March 2025 offers insight into why retail businesses persist with muzak. The 'Music Impact Study' done in partnership between music technology company Audoo and German performing rights society GEMA, found a clear link between the use of background music and an increase in revenue. It found that music played in a retail setting had the potential to increase sales by 'an average of 8 per cent'. This was similarly the case in dining settings like cafe and restaurant settings, where background music equated to 'an average 5.4 per cent' sales increase. This report also echoed previous studies around the way background music influenced 'customer behaviour, customer retention and spending positively'. Despite the research suggesting background music enhanced the shopping experience (ultimately resulting in customers spending more), there are numerous Reddit threads dedicated to praising Aldi for not playing tunes in stores. 'The last time I was in Aldi it was pretty empty and the quiet was so nice. I imagine the employees appreciate it too,' one said in a Reddit thread. 'As someone who has worked at a bigger grocery chain before that played the typical grocery store radio music, it was actual torture,' another shared. 'I love that my Aldi doesn't play music. I can shop at Aldi in peace, a welcome change from noise overload everywhere else,' one added. Eagle-eyed Aussie shoppers have noticed an interesting detail printed on the barcode sticker of certain Coles baked goods - sparking speculation about the inclusion of the mysterious letters 'SC' on the label. The letters are in fact a little-known internal code, which also provide insight into how the product is made. One observant customer spotted the letters - printed in brackets - on a Custard Pull Apart loaf they recently purchased from the Coles Bakery section. 'What does SC on bakery items mean?' the shopper wrote in a Reddit thread. The question prompted a discussion, which eventually uncovered the meaning behind the 'SC' on the package. A person claiming to be a Coles employee shared their explanation that the letters 'SC' are in fact a shortening of the word 'scratch'. 'SC means scratch and indicates products made and baked from flour in store,' the worker suggested. FEMAIL asked a Coles spokesperson to clarify whether anyone in the Reddit community had cracked the case of the baked goods mystery code. 'If there is one thing we all love, it's a reddit mystery. Those Reddit-sleuths in the comments had it half right - the 'SC' is simply an internal code for our team which means it's baked in store,' the Coles spokesperson told FEMAIL. 'But here's a fun twist: just because a product doesn't have a code, doesn't mean it's not baked in store.' A Redditer who'd recently purchased a Coles Bakery Custard Pull Apart loaf asked the forum whether anyone knew the meaning behind the mysterious 'SC' letters The Coles spokesperson further explained that while some in-store baked goods featured the 'SC' letters on the packaging, other items also made in-store did not necessarily feature the code. 'We have some bakery products that are only made from scratch in-store, so there is no need for the 'SC' code,' the spokesperson said. 'We only use the 'SC' code on those products which could be baked in store OR parbaked before being delivered to the store before its final bake. 'Regardless of whether it's baked from scratch in-store, or parbaked ahead of time, you can rest assured that our behind-the-scenes bakers have spent hours making sure to get the recipes just right.' In addition to the 'SC' code letters, some Coles shoppers noted that they'd also seen the letters 'FZ' and 'PB' printed on baked goods packages, like the white Vienna loaf (leaf) and flatbread Before the mystery was solved, some suggested the code could be an acronym or abbreviation for 'store cooked', 'soooo custardy' and 'single coated'. However, the real answer to the Reddit mystery delighted many regular Coles shoppers - some of whom had no idea there were hidden titbit of information on the barcode labels. Meanwhile, one shopper revealed: 'I always look for the hot cross buns with the SC code at my store around Easter, they're so much better.' Other observant shoppers asked the Coles employee responder on Reddit if they could also explain some other codes they'd seen printed on baked goods items, like 'PB' and 'FZ'. 'PB means par bake and is baked to 85 per cent cooked at a remote bakery, snap frozen and sent frozen to a store to be baked the last 15 per cent,' the employee said. 'This is all of the Laurent and Coles finest sourdough range, and some rolls in some stores (if they are facing baker shortages, or are just a PB bakery). Sometimes but not always labelled.' The response continued by explaining that the codes FZ or FD usually refer to 'frozen dough that is shaped from a remote bakery and frozen raw to be fully cooked at your bakery. The person claimed the code was sometimes seen on Danish and crown pastries. It certainly seems that shoppers in the know are keeping an eye out for these secret codes while browsing the Coles Bakery section. It's traditional to use champagne to christen a new ship - yet the Princess of Wales officially named HMS Glasgow on Thursday by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull. Kate, 43, was joined by her husband, Prince William, to conduct the traditional naming ritual at the BAE Systems' shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow. The mother-of-three asked why whisky was used rather than champagne and was told it was because Queen Elizabeth II had once christened a ship with whisky from Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which the Morrison family previously owned. Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, Kate uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her'. The Princess then flicked up a small red 'launch' button to release a bottle of exclusive single malt whisky made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery. The ceremonial act is said to bring good luck and fortune to the vessel and its crew. The distillery opened its doors in 2017, the same year that the HMS Glasgow build began, marking what is considered the start of two modern icons of Glasgow's maritime heritage. Each bottle of the whisky sold will include a donation to HMS Glasgow's chosen charity, Place2Be, of which the Princess is patron, and which supports children's mental health in the city. It's traditional to use champagne to christen a new ship - yet the Princess of Wales (pictured) officially named HMS Glasgow on Thursday by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull Before leaving yesterday's outing, the Prince and Princess were given a bottle of the Clydeside Distillery whisky. The couple visited the distillery when they were in Scotland for Cop26 in 2021. The Prince joked that he thought it a shame that the whisky was wasted by smashing a bottle on the ship. Tim Morrison, the distillery founder, suggested they use a drop of cold tea instead, to much laughter. Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024. The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard'. A year later, Kate met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the ship's progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy. After the naming ceremony, the couple stepped aboard to meet representatives from BAE Systems who have been leading the delivery of the vessel, as well as others from the Royal Navy to discuss the ship's unique capabilities. The Princess was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan. Kate (pictured), 43, was joined by her husband, Prince William , to conduct the traditional naming ritual at the BAE Systems' shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow The mother-of-three (pictured) asked why whisky was used rather than champagne and was told it was because Queen Elizabeth II had once christened a ship with whisky from Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which the Morrison family previously owned Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the formal naming ceremony for HMS Queen Elizabeth in Rosyth Dockyard, Fife, in 2014 The Prince and Princess were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates. They heard about the shipbuilding and maritime training the students have received, including craft trades such as fabrication, electrical, sheet metal work, welding, and pipefitting all of which contributed to the construction of HMS Glasgow. The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge, a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils. Aided by second year pipe apprentices Natalie Black and Rory Hamilton, the couple got to work building their pipes while chatting. As the Princess swiftly began screwing her pipes together, Ms Black told her: 'You look like you've done this before,' prompting the Princess to tell her it was her experience playing with the childrens' toys. Prince William, who spent more time chatting than building, later claimed he had not realised it was a race. Deborah Lynch, an early careers and skills practitioner at BAE, declared the Princess the winner, only for her pipe construction to collapse, prompting much laughter. The Princess was then asked to screw in a wing nut to complete an inclinometer, the gadget traditionally fixed to a ship to measure its tilt, which will be put on display in the bridge. The Princess appeared to be in great form as she shared a laugh while meeting apprentices and graduates during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Princess meets the Ship's company and their families at the official naming ceremony The Princess looked effortlessly elegant as she attended the occasion in Glasgow with Prince William (pictured together) After the ceremony, the Prince and Princess (pictured) were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates The Princess (pictured left) was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan 'It's so beautifully made,' she said. 'I look forward to seeing that in place if I come back another day.' The Prince and Princess also met a cross-section of BAE Systems employees from different backgrounds, trades and skills involved in the building of the ship, and members of HMS Glasgow ship's company and their families. The Princess repeatedly described how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board. 'It's so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive,' she marvelled. 'What's really interesting as well is seeing the international interest.' She admitted that she was still getting to grips with the naval language. 'I'm still learning all my naval lingo,' she told one woman. 'There are a lot of abbreviations that I don't fully understand. I've got a lot to learn.' The Princess told another employee: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest.' She met several children, parents and grandparents of employees, telling them it was so important for family members to come and see the work after 'so much time and effort had been invested' and to share the experience. 'It must be a very proud day for you, to see what your loved ones do on a day to day basis,' she told one grandmother. 'The technology is so advanced. Have you had a look around? I find it fascinating.' Kate wore a custom brooch designed by local jewellers James Porter & Son, established in 1858 in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade The Princess and the Prince of Wales (pictured) attending the ship's naming ceremony The Princess (pictured) told an employee after the ceremony: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest' Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024 After the ceremony, William and Kate (pictured), known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, boarded the ship and met representatives from BAE Systems, which has led the delivery of the vessel, and others from the Royal Navy who discussed the ship's capabilities She told another family member that the 3D animations she had seen 'looked very James Bond' and another that she hoped the sunny weather would prove 'a good omen' for the ship. The Princess was introduced to Lt Simon Hartland RN and his son, Teddy, 11. 'Have you got any aspirations to be in the Navy?' she asked Teddy. 'I was just hearing, there are so many jobs that you can do. Have you started coding yet? The Princess told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge.' She added: 'Everyone's very excited about the gadgets on board, everyone's raving about them.' The Princess said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes.' Asking one young girl what she thought of HMS Glasgow, she said: 'She's pretty impressive. I'd seen a picture but I didn't realise she was going to be that big.' She told another employee: 'It's so special, when I saw her, I was like, 'wow'.' Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, Kate (pictured centre) uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her' The Princess is presented flowers upon her arrival at the HMS Glasgow naming ceremony The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Second Sealord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell The Prince of Wales and The Princess of Wales, Sponsor HMS Glasgow, attend the ship's naming ceremony at the BAE Systems' shipyard The Princess also met the local jewellers who designed the brooch she wore for the occasion. James Porter & Son, established in 1858, is based in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade and is one of Scotland's oldest jewellers. Simon Porter said they had been asked to design a brooch based on HMS Glasgow's crest. 'It was an absolute honour to see her wearing it,' he said. 'Against a plain navy background it really stood out.' The brooch was funded by two London livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The ship, the first of eight planned Type 26 frigates, is designed to provide protection to the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. It features advanced systems such as the Sea Ceptor anti-air missile system, a 5-inch naval gun, and the capability to carry both Wildcat and Merlin helicopters. The construction of the eight frigates has sustained 4,000 jobs across Scotland and the wider UK supply chain. The Princess (pictured next to Prince William) said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes' The Princess (pictured) told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge' The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship (pictured), a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard' On arrival at the shipyard (pictured), the Prince and Princess were met by Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow, Sir Simon Lister, managing director, of BAE Systems Naval Ships and Commander Phil Burgess, senior naval officer on HMS Glasgow On arrival at the shipyard, the Prince and Princess were met by Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow, Sir Simon Lister, managing director, of BAE Systems Naval Ships and Commander Phil Burgess, senior naval officer on HMS Glasgow. 'It'a so great to see her, she's fantastic,' Kate said at first sight of the vessel. Cdr Burgess escorted the couple past a guard of honour made up of the ships company for a royal salute. A piper marked the start of the 25-minute ceremony before a P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft from 120 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth performed a flypast. Sir Simon and Second Sealord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, gave speeches. Sir Martin Connell thanked the Prince and Princess for their support in reaching the milestone. 'From the first ever HMS Glasgow, sailing under the Royal Navy flag at the end of the 17th Century to the ship we see here in the 21st Century, HMS Glasgow has evolved and adapted to meet the warfighting and operational demands of its day,' he said. 'Each metamorphosis saw shipbuilders adapting materials and designs so that crews could operate each successive HMS Glasgow on operations and in conflict and war. The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Princess of Wales during an activity at the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge (pictured), a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils 'The result of this being 11 battle honours HMS Glasgow's pedigree is awe inspiring.' He hailed the ship as 'a pure-bred Anti-Submarine Warfare platform, setting the standard for naval warfare', which was ready to 'meet the global and geopolitical challenges of today'. He continued: 'HMS Glasgow and her class represent the next chapter of naval innovation, safeguarding the UK's interests and contributing to national prosperity.' Sir Simon said the naming ceremony marked 'quite a moment' for Glasgow. 'There are many sons and daughters of this city here today and you should be proud to say you are helping Glasgow to flourish,' he said. 'HMS Glasgow is a reminder of the role ship building on the Clyde plays on the global stage', he added. 'Your efforts have started a legacy you should be rightly proud of, that will put us on a stronger footing for years to come. To HMS Glasgow, go well, fair winds and following seas'. Nikita Darwin, 22, has built a huge following posting videos of himself on TikTok A Joe Goldberg lookalike has been inundated by fans of Netflix's You who ask him to 'kidnap them and lock them in cages'. Nikita Darwin, 22, a content creator from Dover, Kent, says he is regularly compared to Joe, the lead character in the hit series played by Penn Badgley. Goldberg's character initially appears charming and innocuous, but watchers quickly realise he is an obsessive stalker with murderous tendencies. Perhaps an unfortunate likeness, Nikita said it is 'kind of crazy' to be told that he looks like the fictional serial killer and the amount of messages he gets about it is 'insane'. Nikita even claims women on dating apps ask him to kidnap them and lock them in a cage - like Joe does in the show. He says some women have even sent him their address by way of an invitation, but insists he's never taken anyone up on the offer. Nikita says the resemblance has revealed people's kinky preferences. 'People really love the idea of being stalked by Joe,' he said. 'A lot of people tell me that I have a serial killer vibe, which is kind of scary as I'm not trying to be a serial killer. 'I will be sent locations, people will ask me to stalk them and lock them in a glass cage.' Nikita Darwin (pictured) says he has been inundated with messages by fans of Netflix's You owing to his resemblance of the show's main character Nikita started posting videos on TikTok, where he has 179,000 followers and a combined ten million 'likes', and his messages were soon flooded by strangers who said he bears striking resemblance to Joe Goldberg. He said he found it 'crazy' to be likened to a serial killer but has leaned into the stereotype. He said: 'I have had a lot of people in my life who tell me I look like Joe, including many family members and friends. 'So, I thought I would start posting online and it has been kind of crazy. 'I get thousands upon thousands of messages every day of people telling me that I look like Joe and asking me to stalk them.' Nikita, who is single, says women on dating apps will often message him with their location and he will often jokingly respond that he is Joe's brother. 'I get people on dating apps messaging me asking if I can put them in a glass cage,' he said. 'People will send me their live location and ask me to stalk them. They don't think I am a catfish, they just think I am a really good lookalike. Nikita (pictured right in one of his TikTok videos) has been told he looks uncannily like the violent character played by Penn Badgley (pictured left) Nikita (pictured) has built a TikTok following of 179,000 posting videos of himself posing and wearing similar outfits to Joe Goldberg 'I just respond to them saying I'm his brother and their reaction is always a surprise.' Nikita is a huge fan of You, but doesn't understand why women are fascinated by Joe as a character. And every time he leaves the house, he says, someone will approach him - having mistaken him for the actor. He said: 'My initial response is always "I get that a lot". I will leave the house and people will come up to me asking me to stalk them. 'In all honesty, I don't think people would enjoy it as much as they think they would. I think he is really bad, but all the girls seem to be fascinated by this serial killer, which is really messed up.' Women's attraction to the show's violent protagonist is nothing new. The newest season hit Netflix a month ago, but the first episode streamed in 2018, and social media has since been flooded with women professing their attraction to the fictional killer. Elaine Parker, CEO and Founder of Safer Date, has warned that this tendency to focus on the character's charming and attractive side is concerning. In the series, Goldberg's character (pictured) initially appears charming and innocuous, but watchers quickly realise he is an obsessive stalker with murderous tendencies Nikita (pictured) insists he has declined all invitations to go over to women's houses and roleplay as Joe Goldberg She argues that if you do the same in a real-life relationship, it's easy to miss the warning signs of violent and controlling tendencies. Elaine told FEMAIL: 'When it comes to dating - and particularly online dating - everyone needs to be aware that there are no legal standards for the dating industry. 'So, you could literally be talking to anyone online - even serial domestic abusers and sex offenders. 'When it comes to You, we've seen a lot of women on social media say that they have a guilty crush on Joe despite his violent tendencies. 'These definitely aren't qualities you should be looking for in a partner. 'However, watching his character on TV, we can see how easy it is for Joe to hide these characteristics and that's why it's so important to look out for red flags like "love bombing" and possessiveness.' She added: 'If you are dating and you see any red flags - trust your gut and get out of the relationship. 'Please look out for your friends too. If any of your friends are dating online and you feel something isn't right, ask if they're okay. 'It's not always easy to talk about what's going on behind closed doors, so if you see less and less of them and they are becoming withdrawn, reach out. It's difficult to start those conversations, but it could make a huge difference.' The Princess of Wales couldn't contain her laughter when competing against her husband Prince William on Thursday. Kate, 43, officially named the Royal Navy's HMS Glasgow at the BAE Systems' shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow. After the naming ceremony, the royal couple were driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates. They heard about the shipbuilding and maritime training the students have received, including craft trades such as fabrication, electrical, sheet metal work, welding, and pipefitting all of which contributed to the construction of HMS Glasgow. The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge, a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils. Aided by second year pipe apprentices Natalie Black and Rory Hamilton, the couple got to work building their pipes while chatting. As the Princess swiftly began screwing her pipes together, Ms Black told her: 'You look like you've done this before,' prompting the Princess to tell her it was her experience playing with the childrens' toys. Prince William, who spent more time chatting than building, later claimed he had not realised it was a race. The Princess of Wales (pictured right) couldn't contain her laughter when competing against her husband Prince William on Thursday Deborah Lynch, an early careers and skills practitioner at BAE, declared the Princess the winner, only for her pipe construction to collapse, prompting much laughter. The Princess was then asked to screw in a wing nut to complete an inclinometer, the gadget traditionally fixed to a ship to measure its tilt, which will be put on display in the bridge. 'It's so beautifully made,' she said. 'I look forward to seeing that in place if I come back another day.' The Prince and Princess also met a cross-section of BAE Systems employees from different backgrounds, trades and skills involved in the building of the ship, and members of HMS Glasgow ship's company and their families. The Princess repeatedly described how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board. 'It's so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive,' she marvelled. 'What's really interesting as well is seeing the international interest.' She admitted that she was still getting to grips with the naval language. 'I'm still learning all my naval lingo,' she told one woman. 'There are a lot of abbreviations that I don't fully understand. I've got a lot to learn.' The Princess told another employee: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest.' Kate (pictured right, on Thursday), 43, officially named the Royal Navy's HMS Glasgow at the BAE Systems' shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge (pictured), a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils The Princess of Wales during an activity at the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy She met several children, parents and grandparents of employees, telling them it was so important for family members to come and see the work after 'so much time and effort had been invested' and to share the experience. 'It must be a very proud day for you, to see what your loved ones do on a day to day basis,' she told one grandmother. 'The technology is so advanced. Have you had a look around? I find it fascinating.' She told another family member that the 3D animations she had seen 'looked very James Bond' and another that she hoped the sunny weather would prove 'a good omen' for the ship. The Princess was introduced to Lt Simon Hartland RN and his son, Teddy, 11. 'Have you got any aspirations to be in the Navy?' she asked Teddy. 'I was just hearing, there are so many jobs that you can do. Have you started coding yet? The Princess told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge.' She added: 'Everyone's very excited about the gadgets on board, everyone's raving about them.' The Princess said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes.' Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024 The Princess (pictured) told an employee after the ceremony: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest' The Princess and the Prince of Wales (pictured) attending the ship's naming ceremony Kate wore a custom brooch designed by local jewellers James Porter & Son, established in 1858 in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade Asking one young girl what she thought of HMS Glasgow, she said: 'She's pretty impressive. I'd seen a picture but I didn't realise she was going to be that big.' She told another employee: 'It's so special, when I saw her, I was like, 'wow'.' The Princess officially named HMS Glasgow by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull. Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024. Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, Kate uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her'. The Princess then flicked up a small red 'launch' button to release a bottle of exclusive single malt whisky made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery. The ceremonial act is said to bring good luck and fortune to the vessel and its crew. The distillery opened its doors in 2017, the same year that the HMS Glasgow build began, marking what is considered the start of two modern icons of Glasgow's maritime heritage. Each bottle of the whisky sold will include a donation to HMS Glasgow's chosen charity, Place2Be, of which the Princess is patron, and which supports children's mental health in the city. The Princess (pictured left) was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan The Princess appeared radiant in a blue and white ensemble which she teamed with cream heels and a navy handbag The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard'. A year later, Kate met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the ship's progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy. Before leaving the naming ceremony, the Prince and Princess were given a bottle of the Clydeside Distillery whisky. The couple visited the distillery when they were in Scotland for Cop26 in 2021. The Prince joked that he thought it a shame that the whisky was wasted by smashing a bottle on the ship. Tim Morrison, the distillery founder, suggested they use a drop of cold tea instead, to much laughter. The Princess asked why whisky was used rather than champagne and was told it was because Elizabeth II had once christened a ship with whisky from Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which the Morrison family previously owned. The Princess also met the local jewellers who designed the brooch she wore for the occasion. James Porter & Son, established in 1858, is based in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade and is one of Scotland's oldest jewellers. The Princess looked effortlessly elegant as she attended the occasion in Glasgow with Prince William (pictured together) The Princess meets the Ship's company and their families at the official naming ceremony After the ceremony, the Prince and Princess (pictured) were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates Simon Porter said they had been asked to design a brooch based on HMS Glasgow's crest. 'It was an absolute honour to see her wearing it,' he said. 'Against a plain navy background it really stood out.' The brooch was funded by two London livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The ship, the first of eight planned Type 26 frigates, is designed to provide protection to the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. It features advanced systems such as the Sea Ceptor anti-air missile system, a 5-inch naval gun, and the capability to carry both Wildcat and Merlin helicopters. The construction of the eight frigates has sustained 4,000 jobs across Scotland and the wider UK supply chain. The Princess of Wales looked effortlessly elegant on Thursday as she officially named HMS Glasgow by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull. Joined by her husband, Prince William, to conduct the traditional naming ritual at the BAE Systems' shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, the mother-of-three completed her outfit with a pair of cream heels and navy handbag. But it was her jewellery that held especially touching tributes. The royal added a personal and sentimental touch to her ensemble by wearing her Cabochon Sapphire Drop Earrings, thought to have been a wedding gift to the late Princess Diana. She also wore a brooch especially designed for the occasion on Thursday. James Porter & Son, established in 1858, is based in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade and is one of Scotland's oldest jewellers. Simon Porter said they had been asked to design a brooch based on HMS Glasgow's crest. 'It was an absolute honour to see her wearing it,' he said. 'Against a plain navy background it really stood out.' The brooch was funded by two London livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. The Princess of Wales (pictured) was all smiles as she attended the official naming of a new Royal Navy warship in Glasgow On Thursday, Kate pressed a button to smash an exclusive bottle of whisky into the hull of the grey stealth-like HMS Glasgow, the first of eight Type 26 anti-submarine frigates to be built in Glasgow. Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, the royal uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her'. The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship, a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard'. A year later, Kate met Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to hear about the ship's progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy. After the naming ceremony, the couple stepped aboard to meet representatives from BAE Systems who have been leading the delivery of the vessel, as well as others from the Royal Navy to discuss the ship's unique capabilities. The Princess was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan. The Prince and Princess were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates. They heard about the shipbuilding and maritime training the students have received, including craft trades such as fabrication, electrical, sheet metal work, welding, and pipefitting all of which contributed to the construction of HMS Glasgow. Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white 1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024 The Princess appeared to be in great form as she shared a laugh while meeting apprentices and graduates during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Princess meets the Ship's company and their families at the official naming ceremony The Princess looked effortlessly elegant as she attended the occasion in Glasgow with Prince William (pictured together) The Princess appeared radiant in a blue and white ensemble which she teamed with cream heels and a navy handbag After the ceremony, the Prince and Princess (pictured) were then driven a short distance down the road to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy to meet apprentices and graduates The Princess (pictured left) was congratulated on naming the ship and appeared relieved it had gone to plan Princess Diana pictured in 1991 wearing the Cabochon Sapphire Drop Earrings The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge, a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils. Aided by second year pipe apprentices Natalie Black and Rory Hamilton, the couple got to work building their pipes while chatting. As the Princess swiftly began screwing her pipes together, Ms Black told her: 'You look like you've done this before,' prompting the Princess to tell her it was her experience playing with the childrens' toys. Prince William, who spent more time chatting than building, later claimed he had not realised it was a race. Deborah Lynch, an early careers and skills practitioner at BAE, declared the Princess the winner, only for her pipe construction to collapse, prompting much laughter. The Princess was then asked to screw in a wing nut to complete an inclinometer, the gadget traditionally fixed to a ship to measure its tilt, which will be put on display in the bridge. 'It's so beautifully made,' she said. 'I look forward to seeing that in place if I come back another day.' The Prince and Princess also met a cross-section of BAE Systems employees from different backgrounds, trades and skills involved in the building of the ship, and members of HMS Glasgow ship's company and their families. Kate wore a custom brooch designed by local jewellers James Porter & Son, established in 1858 in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade The Princess and the Prince of Wales (pictured) attending the ship's naming ceremony The Princess (pictured) told an employee after the ceremony: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest' After the ceremony, William and Kate (pictured), known in Scotland as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, boarded the ship and met representatives from BAE Systems, which has led the delivery of the vessel, and others from the Royal Navy who discussed the ship's capabilities The Princess (pictured) talked to the crowd as she attended the naming ceremony The Princess repeatedly described how impressed she was by the sheer scale of the ship, the number of people involved in the build and the technology on board. 'It's so exciting to see it all come together, all the technology is so impressive,' she marvelled. 'What's really interesting as well is seeing the international interest.' She admitted that she was still getting to grips with the naval language. 'I'm still learning all my naval lingo,' she told one woman. 'There are a lot of abbreviations that I don't fully understand. I've got a lot to learn.' The Princess told another employee: 'It's a really proud moment for the UK but particularly, Glasgow, because there's such international interest.' She met several children, parents and grandparents of employees, telling them it was so important for family members to come and see the work after 'so much time and effort had been invested' and to share the experience. 'It must be a very proud day for you, to see what your loved ones do on a day to day basis,' she told one grandmother. 'The technology is so advanced. Have you had a look around? I find it fascinating.' She told another family member that the 3D animations she had seen 'looked very James Bond' and another that she hoped the sunny weather would prove 'a good omen' for the ship. The Princess was introduced to Lt Simon Hartland RN and his son, Teddy, 11. Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship's company, Kate (pictured centre) uttered the time-honoured words: 'I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her' The Princess is presented flowers upon her arrival at the HMS Glasgow naming ceremony The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Second Sealord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell The Prince of Wales and The Princess of Wales, Sponsor HMS Glasgow, attend the ship's naming ceremony at the BAE Systems' shipyard 'Have you got any aspirations to be in the Navy?' she asked Teddy. 'I was just hearing, there are so many jobs that you can do. Have you started coding yet? The Princess told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge.' She added: 'Everyone's very excited about the gadgets on board, everyone's raving about them.' The Princess said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes.' Asking one young girl what she thought of HMS Glasgow, she said: 'She's pretty impressive. I'd seen a picture but I didn't realise she was going to be that big.' She told another employee: 'It's so special, when I saw her, I was like, 'wow'.' Before leaving, the Prince and Princess were given a bottle of the Clydeside Distillery whisky. The couple visited the distillery when they were in Scotland for Cop26 in 2021. The Prince joked that he thought it a shame that the whisky was wasted by smashing a bottle on the ship. The Princess (pictured next to Prince William) said: 'It's a very proud day for me to see all the hard work that's been going on behind the scenes' The Princess (pictured) told some employees that it must be 'great to be part of something so new and cutting edge' The Princess was named sponsor of the 8,000-tonne warship (pictured), a state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021 and is said to hold 'a real interest' in the ship 'and in the lives of those who will serve onboard' On arrival at the shipyard (pictured), the Prince and Princess were met by Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow, Sir Simon Lister, managing director, of BAE Systems Naval Ships and Commander Phil Burgess, senior naval officer on HMS Glasgow Tim Morrison, the distillery founder, suggested they use a drop of cold tea instead, to much laughter. The Princess asked why whisky was used rather than champagne and was told it was because Elizabeth II had once christened a ship with whisky from Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which the Morrison family previously owned. The ship, the first of eight planned Type 26 frigates, is designed to provide protection to the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers. It features advanced systems such as the Sea Ceptor anti-air missile system, a 5-inch naval gun, and the capability to carry both Wildcat and Merlin helicopters. The construction of the eight frigates has sustained 4,000 jobs across Scotland and the wider UK supply chain. On arrival at the shipyard, the Prince and Princess were met by Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Lieutenant of Glasgow, Sir Simon Lister, managing director, of BAE Systems Naval Ships and Commander Phil Burgess, senior naval officer on HMS Glasgow. 'It'a so great to see her, she's fantastic,' Kate said at first sight of the vessel. Cdr Burgess escorted the couple past a guard of honour made up of the ships company for a royal salute. The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, during a visit to the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The Princess of Wales during an activity at the BAE Systems' Shipbuilding Academy The couple's long held rivalry was once again put to the test as they were tasked with racing to complete a pipe building challenge (pictured), a STEM exercise used to teach secondary school pupils A piper marked the start of the 25-minute ceremony before a P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft from 120 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth performed a flypast. Sir Simon and Second Sealord Vice Admiral Sir Martin Connell, gave speeches. Sir Martin Connell thanked the Prince and Princess for their support in reaching the milestone. 'From the first ever HMS Glasgow, sailing under the Royal Navy flag at the end of the 17th Century to the ship we see here in the 21st Century, HMS Glasgow has evolved and adapted to meet the warfighting and operational demands of its day,' he said. 'Each metamorphosis saw shipbuilders adapting materials and designs so that crews could operate each successive HMS Glasgow on operations and in conflict and war. 'The result of this being 11 battle honours HMS Glasgow's pedigree is awe inspiring.' He hailed the ship as 'a pure-bred Anti-Submarine Warfare platform, setting the standard for naval warfare', which was ready to 'meet the global and geopolitical challenges of today'. He continued: 'HMS Glasgow and her class represent the next chapter of naval innovation, safeguarding the UK's interests and contributing to national prosperity.' Sir Simon said the naming ceremony marked 'quite a moment' for Glasgow. 'There are many sons and daughters of this city here today and you should be proud to say you are helping Glasgow to flourish,' he said. 'HMS Glasgow is a reminder of the role ship building on the Clyde plays on the global stage', he added. 'Your efforts have started a legacy you should be rightly proud of, that will put us on a stronger footing for years to come. To HMS Glasgow, go well, fair winds and following seas'. Partners who suspect their spouses of cheating are often drawn to shifty warning signs like staying out later, changing phone habits and increased secrecy. But British private investigator Paul Jones of ARF Investigators has warned that there is one tell-tale sign, often overlooked by suspicious spouses, that could be a clear indication of adultery. Even something as unlikely as a toothbrush could hold information that incriminates an adulterous partner, the investigator, who has more than a decade of experience catching love rats, told The Mirror. It's rare to actually catch a cheater red handed, but cautious parties should watch closely for 'small clues' lurking in 'innocent' places. These could be as seemingly insignificant as 'spending more time at work, picking up a new hobby or taking more pride in their appearance', he explained. Proving infidelity is about culminating 'data', and this could even be in something as little as monitoring teeth brushing habits. Paul recalled one case of a mother who had suspected her husband was cheating on her. At the time, she had installed a smart electric toothbrush app in the hopes of encouraging her children to improve their brushing habits. British private investigator Paul Jones of ARF Investigators has warned that there is one tell-tale sign, often overlooked by suspicious spouses, that could be a clear indication of adultery (stock photo) The app, which was used by everyone in the family, tracked every single session of dental care. 'Over time, the client noticed their partners brushing history was being logged at odd times, times when they were supposedly at work,' Paul explained. 'At first, it didnt seem like much, brushing late in the morning on Fridays didnt raise immediate red flags.' Monitoring the app, the mother could see that her husband had been brushing his teeth at home during periods that he'd been claiming he was at work. It revealed that he had been brushing his teeth later in the mornings on Fridays, a time when he was supposed to be out the house. In reality, her husband hadn't worked a single Friday in three months, and had been having an affair with one of his work colleagues in their family home. Knowing the whole house would be out on Fridays, her husband had secretly been inviting his mistress over, all the while pretending he was at work. Rather than looking in the more obvious places, in texts, emails and note apps, suspicious partners will more often than not find clues in the most mundane of places. It's rare to actually catch a cheater red handed, but cautious parties should watch closely for 'small clues' lurking in 'innocent' places, claimed the investigator (stock photo) Even smart devices like voice assistants and toothbrushes can hold incriminating information about cheating partners. Though partners can lie, data doesn't. As Paul said: 'Its timestamped, often location-based, and emotionless. When a device says someone brushed their teeth at 10:48 am when they were supposed to start work at 9 am thats very hard to explain away. ' He urged suspicious partners to search for 'digital cues', which can be 'as innocent as a toothbrush'. It's not the only place where signs of cheating could lurk. London-based private investigator Aaron Bond of detective agency Bond Rees said there is one app rarely checked by partners, that could prove vital to determining whether someone is having an affair. Instead of heading straight to WhatsApp, the notes app, or camera roll, Bond has urged concerned spouses to check the supermarket loyalty scheme apps, such as Tesco's Clubcard. He told The Mirror: 'While most people think of text messaging and call logs as the obvious signs of cheating, there are often other signs that can uncover and paint a larger picture'. Bond said that while most people would never consider browsing the receipts of their partner's Clubcard use, it can be incredibly revealing. The private detective, who has helped people catch their unfaithful partners for over 15 years, said there are 'digital signals' to weed out white lies from suspecting cheaters. Supermarket loyalty cards, used to help shoppers save cash and earn rewards, are rarely thought of as a place to stash secrets. Indeed, few shoppers are aware that apps are even tracking them. However, according to the private investigator, the often-overlooked loyalty apps contain all manner of data that could help pick out a cheater. 'Clubcard data is limited, but it does tell you a date and location, which is easily accessible if you log into your account,' he said. For example, if an individual is dubious about what their partner has really been up to, they can verify their location and purchases made using the app. 'If your partner claims they were working or out with friends, but the account shows they made a purchase in a completely different area, then it's a clear red flag,' Bond explained. While Clubcards can't offer a definitive answer as to whether someone is being unfaithful, monitoring historic purchases and spending habits to line up with a suspicious partner's alleged activity can help reveal whether they are lying about what they're up to. It looks like wedding bells are ringing for Hunter Biden's ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle. According to Politico's Playbook via The Daily Beast, Buhle is engaged to art historian and Johns Hopkins University lecturer Nik Apostolides, after he proposed to her on May 10. Buhle, who is close friends with former first lady Michelle Obama, and Biden were married for 24 years, divorcing in 2017. However, it wasn't exactly amicable, as Obama was apparently annoyed by the family's excommunication of Buhle at the time, per Daily Beast. After Biden's divorce, Buhle came out with a bombshell memoir in June 2022 which exposed her marriage to the troubled Hunter. It was titled, 'If We Break.' She wrote about Hunter's drug and alcohol abuse, as well as his affair with his sister-in-law, Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother, Beau Biden, who passed in 2015 from brain cancer. 'Divorce impacts the whole family not just the couple, not just the kids. We were all really close and it was painful,' Buhle told People in a 2022 interview. 'It was hard for a long time. But what we share now, and we will share for the rest of our lives, is this love for my three daughters,' she continued. According to Politico's Playbook via The Daily Beast , Buhle is engaged to art historian and Johns Hopkins University lecturer Nik Apostolides, after he proposed to her on May 10 However, it wasn't exactly amicable, as Obama was apparently annoyed by the family's excommunication of Buhle at the time, per Daily Beast Together, the pair share three children - Naomi Biden, 31, Finnegan, 24, and Maisy Biden, 23. After a tumultuous trial last year, Biden was pardoned by his father, former President Joe Biden, just before he was scheduled to be sentenced for criminal convictions in both Delaware and California, where he faced a hefty prison sentence. In her book, Buhle revealed intimate details, including the moment when she found a crackpipe in their ashtray in the summer of 2012, resulting in her throwing Biden out of the house. He later moved into an apartment. He had also admitted to cheating on Buhle with prostitutes while he was going on work trips abroad. 'In the fall of 2015, I called and texted Hunter compulsively. From my computer, I watched his every move,' she wrote in the book, per People. 'There were charges at Lake Tahoe at a nail salon and a charge for two lift tickets. I found a credit card charge for $10,000 at a hot tub store in Los Angeles. I found hundreds at liquor stores and strip clubs,' she continued to write. 'The whole time, he told me he was healthy and sober and I was crazy. I continually told him that I was the one person actually trying to get him sober. It became my own kind of addiction. I didn't want to admit, to myself or anyone else, how unhealthy our relationship had become, so my struggle was just one more secret.' In May 2019, Biden remarried to Melissa Cohen, six days after they had met for the first time. Johns Hopkins University lecturer Nik Apostolides reportedly proposed to her on May 10 'In the fall of 2015, I called and texted Hunter compulsively. From my computer, I watched his every move,' she wrote in the book, per People He had also admitted to cheating on Buhle with prostitutes while he was going on work trips abroad President Joe Biden promised the American people for years that he would not move to pardon his son Hunter despite multiple lawsuits against him. While it's been reported that Biden made the decision at mass in December 2024, two people with direct knowledge of the discussions told NBC News at the time that the president was discussing a pardon with close aides as early as Hunter's conviction was handed down on June 11, 2024. The individuals said a decision was made for Biden to publicly state he would not pardon his 54-year-old son even though he still privately weighed the option. Others close with Biden told Axios that internal family lobbying combined with the president's own feelings of guilt over prosecution of his son made them believe he would change his mind about a pardon. 'Once it became clear that the Justice Department was dead set on jail time, this was always how it was ending,' a person in the Biden orbit claimed. Biden said in his statement on the pardon that he 'wrestled' with the decision, but sources told CNN he began telling staff about the pardon the same night he attended mass with his family, including Hunter, on Nantucket. Adrien Brody may be an Oscar winner - but that doesn't mean all his art is appreciated. The 52-year-old actor has been ridiculed after showcasing his artwork at a fundraising event in Cannes. The Brutalist star introduced his art piece at the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) event, showcasing a giant canvas featuring Marilyn Monroe. 'I've painted and drawn most of my whole life,' Brody said in a clip shared by Variety of the event. 'Painting precedes acting for me.' The actor then went on to say: 'Marilyn Monroe - we all know - is one of the most iconic movie stars of all time.' But unfortunately for Brody, the response to the mixed-media work he produced was not overwhelmingly positive. 'The noise I made when the painting appeared,' one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'I don't understand how someone could be that bad at art and yet so confident that it's good art,' agreed another. Adrien Brody may be an Oscar winner - but that doesn't mean all his art is appreciated The Brutalist star introduced his art piece at the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) event, showcasing a giant canvas featuring Marilyn Monroe Someone else chimed in saying: 'Actor brain. This is what makes him good at acting.' 'Was this preceded by another 100-hour speech,' another sarcastically wrote, referring to Brody's lengthy speech at the 2025 Academy Awards. The Pianist actor has always been one to flaunt his range of talents including composing, directing and producing - but he has also been known to showcase his love and appreciation of art. Back in 2016, his painting of a Tiger titled Tiger on Last Legs sold at the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala for $275,000. Elsewhere, the actor was photographed standing next to his BRODYBUCKS paintings which was a riff on a Starbucks logo that instead showed a mermaid holding two pistols to her head. Another image saw the words 'Brodybucks' and 'Hooked' in place of the usual Starbucks wording. The art was part of The Pianist actor's second public series in May 2016, which was held in New York City. Titled Hooked, the art of display included a range of colorful fish painting and sculptures which Brody hoped would 'call upon the viewer to find light in a dark world.' The Brutalist actor has always been one to showcase his range of talents including composing, directing and producing - but he has also been known to showcase his love of art Titled Hooked, the art of display included a range of colorful fish painting and sculptures which Brody hoped would 'call upon the viewer to find light in a dark world' He said previosuly: 'Most people think actors are incredibly vain, and probably most actors are. And maybe I am vain, to a certain extent, but the purpose of doing this is far from vanity.' Brody debuted his first collection, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Handguns, at Art Basil in Miami in December 2015. Speaking to Huffpost about his second collection and how he is treated as an actor who dabbles in art, he stated: 'On one level I relate to it, I understand people see you, they're exposed to you in a certain way. He continued: 'But even as an actor, you're limited by what people feel you are. 'What they've read about you, you know, if you're in the tabloids.' 'Or, if you've only done dramatic films, you couldn't possibly have a sense of humor, and if you've only done comedic movies, you couldn't be a great dramatic actor.' He continued: 'Most people think actors are incredibly vain, and probably most actors are. And maybe I am vain, to a certain extent, but the purpose of doing this is far from vanity.' Today Show co-host Sheinelle Jones has broken her silence on the death of her late husband, Uche Ojeh, as it was announced on-air Friday that he had passed of brain cancer at the age of 45. Taking to Instagram, Jones posted a clip of the heartfelt tribute to Ojeh that was aired on Today, sharing pictures of their relationship throughout the years. Her post was met with hundreds of comments from viewers and colleagues alike. 'Uche was an extraordinary person. Full of light and heart and faith. Sheinelle, my dearest, we love you and the kids with all of our hearts. I marvel at your strength. You are surrounded by love now and forever,' Savannah Guthrie wrote. Host Sherri Shepherd typed, 'Sheinelle sending you love and prayers.' 'Hoping you can find peace in the love and prayers that surround you and your incredible children. I'm so lucky to have known Uche and his spirit lives on in your family. Love you Sheinelle,' NBC meteorologist Dylan Dreyer shared. Jenna Bush Hager sent, 'Love you Sheinelle... we wrap our arms around you now and forever!' Guthrie was the one to announce his passing on Friday morning. Today Show co-host Sheinelle Jones has broken her silence on the death of her late husband, Uche Ojeh, as it was announced on-air Friday that he had passed of brain cancer at the age of 45 Her post was met with hundreds of comments from viewers and colleagues alike, like Jenna Bush Hager 'With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,' Guthrie said. 'There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person,' the co-host, 53, continued. 'We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle's perfect partner in life.' Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord, and grows very quickly, per Mayo Clinic. There is no cure for the cancer, although it can be managed with treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. The couple got married in 2007, and share three children together, 14-year-old Kayin, and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche. They were college sweethearts, as they met when they were both studying at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in the late 1990's. Sheinelle's last appearance on the show was on December 18. Taking to Instagram, Jones posted a clip of the heartfelt tribute to Ojeh that was aired on Today, sharing pictures of their relationship throughout the years The couple got married in 2007, and share three children together, 14-year-old Kayin, and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche She continued: 'It's not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but also have all of you. In mid-January, she took to Instagram to break her silence, and assured viewers that she would be back soon. She said: 'Hi everybody I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I've been absent from the show. 'I want to share with you that I'm taking time to deal with a family health matter.' She continued: 'It's not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but also have all of you. 'Your kindness means so much to me. I'll see you soon.' Krispy Kreme Australia has quietly relaunched a fan favourite doughnut after it sold out across stores earlier this year. Foodies are rushing to get their hands on the Pistachio Overload Doughnut in collaboration with Pistachio Papi - an Aussie spread. The treat is made with Krispy Kreme's signature fluffy doughnut, filled with creamy pistachio mousse, dipped in silky Pistachio Papi spread, sprinkled with caramelised hazelnuts, and finished with a decadent white chocolate drizzle. The doughnuts were sold popular during its first collaboration in February that they were selling out by 10am every day at all stores across the country. Those who missed out last time are encouraged to act swiftly as it's only available for two weeks until June 3 - or while stock lasts. However, the delicious treat is only available across stores in NSW, VIC, WA, and QLD. After sharing the news on social media, fans marvelled over the return of the pistachio-flavoured doughnut. 'Omg need!' one wrote. 'I gained 2kg from eating so much of these last time,' another added. Krispy Kreme Australia has once again collaborated with spread brand Pistachio Papi to bring back the Pistachio Overload Doughnut (pictured) But it's only available for two weeks and excludes South Australia and Townsville 'I can't wait!' another said on Instagram. However, not everyone was impressed by the decision to only offer the doughnuts for a limited time and exclude certain locations. 'Why keep making it a limited edition? Why not sell it everyday? People like me can't travel to buy one,' one asked. 'What about South Australia?' another said. Pistachio Papi Founder, Mark Abdelmalik said: 'The response from Aussies to our first Pistachio Papi x Krispy Kreme collaboration was absolutely incredible! 'And honestly, how could we not do this again? The people wanted more, so we had to give the people what they wanted!' Krispy Kreme's Marketing Manager, Laura Pashby added: 'At Krispy Kreme, we're committed to creating innovative, joy-filled experiences for our fans. We are extremely grateful for all the love and support during our first launch.' When Raphael Rodriguez realized medical school was not for him and left after the first year, he was forced to reconsider his entire life plan. I knew I was still destined to help people somehow, he told DailyMail.com. He swapped scrubs for a lab coat, learning from top organic chemists at Oxford and Cambridge. It was in the lab not the lecture hall that he had his revelation. Very quickly, I realized that when you know what compound to make, and if you're capable of making it, then you might be able to pull out a drug and cure many more people than you if you want to be a clinician. Now, years later, that vision may be coming true Rodriguez and his team have engineered a powerful new compound that could stop cancer from doing what it does best: spreading and killing. Called Fentomycin-1, the experimental molecule targets one of cancers most dangerous weapons its ability to metastasize to other parts of the body which is responsible for at least 70 percent of cancer deaths. The rest are due to complications from localized tumors or blood cancers. When you look at the literature, you quickly realize that 70 percent of cancer patients do not succumb to the primary tumor, but the metastatic spread, Rodriguez said. After years of research in chemical biology that can be leveraged to fight cancer , Dr Raphael Rodriguez and his team have developed a molecule that could save millions from deaths caused by the cancer spreading to other parts of the body I realized the gap. The treatments we have are not sufficient they are not designed to target metastasis, and they are not designed to target the capacity of a cell to migrate. Cancer cells hoard iron in special compartments called lysosomes, which makes them more aggressive but also gives them a hidden weakness. That same iron can trigger a process called ferroptosis, which destroys the cancer cell from the inside out. Rodriguez said: We conceptualize the fact that cancer cells can exploit iron chemistry to adapt, to change identity, to be plastic, to become invasive.' But at the same time, he said, iron is chemically active (redox-active), meaning it easily reacts with molecules in cells. The paper that we just published exploits that finding, basically: could we develop a compound that would accumulate inside of the cell where iron is loaded, and can we manipulate the chemistry of iron? Rodriguez, a French biochemist, helped develop Fentomycin-1, a molecule that supercharges ferroptosis. In early lab tests, metastatic cancer cells were wiped out in less than 12 hours. Cancer cells aggressively stockpile iron in lysosomes to fuel their spreadbut this creates a fatal flaw. The same iron can trigger ferroptosis, a self-destruct mechanism that corrodes tumors from within And this was spectacular, Rodriguez said. At this point in time, cancer patients are dying specifically in this population [with these cancers]. 'And it was very gratifying for us to see that we are capable of designing a compound that does what we wanted to do. The team tested Fento-1 in aggressive forms of pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and sarcomas, a group of rare malignant tumors that form in bones or soft tissues all known for drug resistance, high iron levels, and grim survival rates. In mice injected with breast cancer cells, the drug slowed tumor growth and activated the immune system, potentially offering a one-two punch with existing treatments. It also worked well in combination with chemotherapy, especially in pancreatic cancers. Rodriguezs lab even tested tumor samples taken directly from patients after surgery. The compound reduced the number of cells with CD44, a protein that helps cancer resist drugs and spread to new organs. Rodriguez's team tested Fento-1 in aggressive forms of pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and sarcomas, a group of rare malignant tumors that form in bones or soft tissues all known for drug resistance, high iron levels, and grim survival rates Because cancer cells have higher iron levels than surrounding healthy tissue, Fento-1 can target tumors with precision, leaving normal cells relatively unharmed. Clinical trials will be needed to determine if these molecules could be leveraged as new cancer treatments. Before then, Rodriguez said, his team will have to raise funds for the next stage of research, which will establish basic knowledge about how the compound might interact with living human cells in the body. But Rodriguez is clear getting there will take funding, testing, and more time. There are a few other [data sets] that are not published, and what we now need to do is [figure out] can we scale up the compound, is it stable, is it bioavailable, can we take it by IV, how does it get decomposed inside the body, what is the clearance of it? At this point in time, he added, we are happy with the compound we made. His team's findings were published in the journal Nature. Metastatic cancer cells are adept at resisting chemotherapy by developing ways to prevent the medicine from entering the cell, and radiation treatments, by learning how to repair any damage done to their DNA to help them survive When cancer cells spread beyond their original site in the body, or metastasize, it becomes markedly more difficult to treat and reach remission. Metastatic cancer cells can adapt to new, hostile environments, such as unfamiliar organs and tissues, adjusting their metabolism and outsmarting the immune system. They are also adept at resisting chemotherapy by developing ways to prevent the medicine from entering the cell, and radiation treatments, by learning how to repair any damage done to their DNA to help them survive. Estimating the exact number of Americans living with metastatic cancer at any single time is challenging due to limited real-time tracking. The National Cancer Institute estimated in 2018 that there were more than 623,000 people in the US living with the six most common metastatic cancers - bladder, breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, prostate. That rate was expected to increase to nearly 700,000 in 2025. The recent suicide of a young Pennsylvania police officer has reignited concerns over Lasik eye surgery, as dozens more were pushed to the brink of death over similar complications. Ryan Kingerski, a 26-year-old officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, took his own life after months of excruciating pain, double vision and persistent headaches. He claimed the Lasik eye surgery he underwent five months earlier was the source of his suffering. Now, as more horror stories of agonizing symptoms surface, it's becoming increasingly clear that Kingerski's case is not isolated. 'Everyone has different problems when it comes to Lasik,' Edward Boshnick, a Miami-based eye doctor, told The New York Post. 'It's the biggest scam ever put on the American public... and it's a multi-billion dollar business.' Lasik eye surgery, or laser vision correction, is marketed by providers as 95 to 99 percent safe. The so-called 'simple' procedure uses an ultraviolet laser to reshape the cornea, improving vision without glasses or contacts. Morris Waxler, 89, was the former head of the Food and Drug Administration branch responsible for reviewing data and approving the Lasik operation decades ago - a decision he now regrets. The recent suicide of a young Pennsylvania police officer has reignited concerns over Lasik eye surgery, as dozens more were pushed to the brink of death over similar complications - despite the surgery being marketed by providers as 95 to 99 percent safe Ryan Kingerski (pictured), a 26-year-old officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, took his own life after months of excruciating pain, double vision and persistent headaches - claiming the Lasik surgery he underwent five months earlier was the source of his suffering Morris Waxler (pictured), 89, was the former head of the Food and Drug Administration branch responsible for reviewing data and approving the Lasik operation decades ago - a decision he now regrets In 2018, Detroit TV meteorologist Jessica Starr (pictured) hanged herself at just 35-years-old , leaving behind a 30-page suicide note and videos blaming her tragic decision on the elective surgery 'It didn't matter what questions and concerns I had, because the surgeons were very powerful and still are,' he told The Post. He had petitioned the FDA to revoke its approval of the Lasik procedure after his own analysis revealed complication rates between 10 to 30 percent - a staggering contrast to the 'less than one percent' figure cited by providers. In 2018, Detroit TV meteorologist Jessica Starr hanged herself at just 35-years-old, leaving behind a 30-page suicide note and videos blaming her tragic decision on the elective surgery. She documented her struggles in video diary entries. In one recording, she spoke about feeling mad at herself for deciding to go through with the procedure. According to her family, Starr reached out to various eye doctors and even sought help with a therapist, but her emotional state continued deteriorating. The young mother ultimately took her own life after struggling with intense pain and vision problems in the two months since her surgery. 'Prior to the procedure, Jessica was completely normal, very healthy,' Dan Rose, Starr's widower, told The Post. 'There was no depression... no underlying issue.' Also in 2018, Paul Fitzpatrick, a Canadian father-of-two, killed himself and blamed 20 years of post-Lasik pain in his suicide note. Waxler petitioned the FDA to revoke its approval of the Lasik procedure after his own analysis revealed complication rates between 10 to 30 percent - a staggering contrast to the 'less than one percent' figure cited by providers Also in 2018, Paul Fitzpatrick, a Canadian father-of-two, killed himself and blamed 20 years of post-Lasik pain in his suicide note Gloria McConnell (pictured) had two Lasik procedures in 2019, and died by suicide aged 60. Her son said she left a note to her family in which she explained that the pain from the bungled surgery formed part of her decision to end her life In Kingerski's heartbreaking suicide note, he wrote: 'I can't take this anymore. Lasik took everything from me' (pictured: Kingerski) In the years following his operation, Fitzpatrick suffered headaches and described feeling needles in his eyes as well as an unbearable dry and burning sensation. His family said in the months leading up to his death, the pain was so unbearable he would keep his eyes closed for most of the time, walking with a cane and planned to move in with his parents. He left a suicide note when he took his life in October of 2018, which described the pain he felt that pushed him to death. 'I cannot experience any type of pleasure anymore,' Fitzpatrick wrote. 'Just the pain of burning eyes inside my head and throughout myself Since 1996 Pain, pain and more pain, please forgive me for not being strong enough to cope. The past few months have been unbearable.' Gloria McConnell had two Lasik procedures to fix her short-sightedness in 2019. Serious complications arose a few weeks after the surgery, including eyes so dry they had a burning sensation, mites and ingrown hairs in her eyelashes. Four years later, she was barely able to leave her bed. Starr documented her struggles after Lasik in video diary entries. In one recording, she spoke about feeling mad at herself for deciding to go through with the procedure (pictured) Fitzpatrick's family said in the months leading up to his death, the pain was so unbearable he would keep his eyes closed for most of the time, walking with a cane and planned to move in with his parents (pictured) Paula Cofer (pictured), one Lasik survivor, endured two years of suicidal thoughts following her 'disastrous' procedure back in 2000 and runs the Lasik Complications Support Group on Facebook - just one of many organizations on social media created in response to the unspoken dangers of Lasik Cofer claimed to have known at least 40 people who have taken their own lives after Lasik - unable to go on living with the constant pain and vision problems developed after the procedure She died by suicide aged 60. Her son said she left a note to her family in which she explained that the pain from the bungled surgery formed part of her decision to end her life. McConnell even submitted a comment to the FDA's draft recommendations which said: '[LASIK] has destroyed my life.' In August of 2024, Kingerski took some time off his dream job as a police officer to get Lasik and improve his vision - a decision that seemed safe given the demands of his career. However, he would tragically never wear his uniform again, as what his parents described as a 'tragically unsuccessful surgery' transformed him from a smiling, vibrant person to someone unrecognizable. The operation left him with debilitating side effects - headaches, dark spots floating in his eye sight, double vision and extreme sensitivity. In January, still without relief or answers, Kingerski ended his life. In a heartbreaking suicide note, he wrote: 'I can't take this anymore. Lasik took everything from me'. Paula Cofer, one Lasik survivor, shared that she endured two years of suicidal thoughts following her 'disastrous' procedure back in 2000, The Post reported. Dr. Edward Boshnick (left), a Miami-based eye doctor, said that Lasik is 'the biggest scam ever put on the American public... and it's a multi-billion dollar business' In Lasik and similar surgeries, a small flap is cut into the cornea, which is then raised slightly. This reshaping changes the way that light is refracted to make up for nearsightedness or farsightedness that occur when light doesn't hit the proper spot on the retina. Abraham Rutner (pictured getting treated), a 43-year-old Brooklyn electrician, was one of the lucky ones - miraculously finding a sliver of hope after his failed Lasik procedure five years ago when he found Dr. Boshnnick Dr. Boshnick fitted Rutner (picured) with a scleral lens, a specialized contact that covers and protects corneas damaged by Lasik 'The Lasik lobby and the surgeons will tell you only one percent of patients have issues afterward,' the 66-year-old woman told the outlet. 'That's not true. There are multiple studies that indicate otherwise.' 'The percentage of those with poor outcomes are in the double digits, not one percent,' she added. 'And they know it.' In a shocking twist, Cofer claimed to have known at least 40 people who have taken their own lives after Lasik - unable to go on living with the constant pain and vision problems developed after the procedure, The Post reported. As a way to spread awareness, Cofer runs the Lasik Complications Support Group on Facebook - just one of many organizations on social media created in response to the unspoken dangers of Lasik. 'I really didn't want to stick around at times, but I decided I would to get the word out about how dangerous this surgery can be,' she told the outlet. 'If you understand Lasik and what it does to the eyes and cornea, you realize you can't do it on a healthy eye and not expect complications,' she added. In Lasik and similar surgeries, a small flap is cut into the cornea, which is then raised slightly. This reshaping changes the way that light is refracted to make up for nearsightedness or farsightedness that occur when light doesn't hit the proper spot on the retina. According to her family, Starr (pictured) reached out to various eye doctors and even sought help with a therapist, but her emotional state continued deteriorating in the two months following the surgery In Fitzpatrick's heartbreaking suicide note, he wrote: 'Just the pain of burning eyes inside my head and throughout myself Since 1996 Pain, pain and more pain, please forgive me for not being strong enough to cope. The past few months have been unbearable' (pictured: Fitzpatrick) According to Dr. Boshnick (pictured), Lasik is nothing more than a 'BS procedure' More than 10 million Americans have undergone the procedure since Lasik was FDA approved in 1999, with 700,000 to 800,000 opting for laser vision correction each year 'Not everyone has severe complications but a lot more people are suffering than you know,' Cofer said. 'I got floaters, severe dry eyes, induced astigmatism and severe night vision problems.' More than 10 million Americans have undergone the procedure since Lasik was FDA approved in 1999, according to the medical journal Clinical Ophthalmology, which reports that 700,000 to 800,000 opt for laser vision correction each year. Abraham Rutner, a 43-year-old Brooklyn electrician, was one of the lucky ones - miraculously finding a sliver of hope after his failed Lasik procedure five years ago. 'It's like you have a layer of oil on top of your eye - it was so hazy and terrible,' he told The Post. 'I couldn't work. I couldn't drive. I felt like I was still a young man and I lost my life.' However, he heard about Dr. Boshnick's work, whose optometric practice offers vision and comfort restoration due to a variety of eye conditions and surgeries - including Lasik. Rutner was eventually fitted with a scleral lens, a specialized contact that covers and protects corneas damaged by Lasik. Cofer said she was also fitted with the lens - and that it has provided significant relief. The FDA does warn on its website that the procedure carries risks, including vision loss, glare, halos, double vision and other 'debilitating visual symptoms'. According to The American Refractive Surgery Council's website, 'Lasik is safe and is one of the most studied elective surgical procedures available today... the rate of sight-threatening complications from Lasik eye surgery is estimated to be well below one percent.' However, for some experts like Boshnick, Lasik is nothing more than a 'BS procedure', according to The Post. 'People come in with healthy eyes and all they need is eyeglasses,' Waxler told the outlet. 'But when surgeons cut the cornea they are removing nerves and leaving the corneas with odd shapes and some patients will have intractable pain.' A doctor has warned of the dangers of drinking too many fizzy drinks, after he was forced to remove 35 stones from the bladder of a man who had a habit of drinking three litres of Coca-Cola every day. In an Instagram video that's so far attracted more than 8.5 million views, Brazil-based urologist Dr Thales Andrade said 'excessive' consumption of sugary, fizzy drinks can cause kidney stones. Speaking in portuguese, he showed viewers a dish of several large yellow stones that he had removed, as the patient lay on the table following the procedure. Kidney stones are calcium deposits that build in the urinary tract and move to the bladder to be urinated out, causing sharp pain, nausea, vomiting, pinching or stinging and potentially blood in the urine. If left untreated, they can migrate to the bladder and lead to life threatening complications like kidney failure or sepsiswhen the body attacks its own tissues and organs. The caption below the video explained how the stones developed. Drinking too much Coca-Cola, which contains high amounts of sugar, can increase the amount of calcium in the body, raising the risk of stones forming. Brazil-based urinary system specialist Dr Thales Andrade has warned of the dangers of drinking too many fizzy drinks, as he had to remove 35 stones from a man's bladder Speaking in portuguese, he showed a dish of several of the gruesome, large, yellow stones that he had removed What's more, carbonated beverages are filled with chemicals like phosphoric acid, which creates an acidic environment in the kidneys that is further encouraging of the formation of hard stone-like lumps. Dr Andrade added: 'Maintaining adequate hydration and avoiding excessive consumption of soda are essential measures for prevention. Kidney health begins with the daily choices of what we drink.' According to the National Kidney Foundation, the larger the stone, the more noticeable the symptoms. A severe pain on either side of the lower back is a common complaint. These periods of intense pain may last for minutes or hours. Blood in the urine, a urinary tract infection and feeling sick or vomiting are also other common warning signs of the ailment. Kidney stones affect more than one in ten people, mostly aged between 30 and 60, and are caused by waste products in the blood forming crystals. Over time, crystals build up to form a hard stone-like lump. Once a kidney stone has formed, the body will tries to pass it through urine. Most are small enough to do so and can be managed at home. When they get too big, however, surgery is usually needed to remove them. A new Covid variant behind a surge of hospitalizations in China has been detected in the US. Latest CDC data shows the new NB.1.8.1 strain has been detected among international travelers arriving in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York City. The patients came from nine countries China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, France, the Netherlands and Spain between April 22 and May 12. The variant has also been detected in Hawaii, Rhode Island and Ohio. There is some alarm over the new variant which is potentially more infectious than the current dominant strains. In China, data shows the proportion of severely ill respiratory patients with Covid has jumped from 3.3 to 6.3 percent over the last month. The proportion of Chinese ER patients testing positive for Covid had jumped from 7.5 to 16.2 percent. Officials in Taiwan are also reporting a surge in Covid emergency room admissions, with the number rising 78 percent in a week over the seven-days to May 3, according to the latest data available. And hospitalizations have risen to a 12-month high in Hong Kong, thought to be driven by the new variant. Officials are telling people to mask up as a result. The above is an image of a crowded hospital in China that was posted in January 2025. It is related to an outbreak of a mysterious virus in the country, and not the current uptick in Covid cases being reported there The above image is also from the mystery outbreak that gripped China back in January 2025 The variant has been circulating in the US since late March. But there is no sign of a major uptick in cases at present with the positivity rate of swabs detecting the virus falling 12 percent in the latest week data is available. The data showing arriving cases of the strain in the US was revealed by the CDC's airport testing partner Ginkgo Bioworks and reported by CBS News. In this program, travelers at select airports can volunteer to self-collect two nasal swab samples and complete a short survey. These swabs are then tested for a range of diseases of concern, including Covid. The travelers behind the cases of the new variant were tested between April 22 and May 12. Experts are closely watching the new variant, which is already dominant in China and is on the rise in parts of Asia. In Taiwan, there were 19,097 visits for Covid last week, the latest available and the NB.1.8.1 variant has become dominant in the country. Early research from China suggests the NB.1.8.1 variant is better at binding to human cells, making it more infectious. There is concern over a new variant of Covid, called NB.1.8.1 Cases have been detected in the US, but they are few - with the positivity rate for the virus falling. This graph shows overall Covid cases by test positivity rate - or the proportion of swabs that detect the virus Your browser does not support iframes. In a notice from Hong Kong released last week, officials again urged people to wear face masks in public places if they were at high risk from an infection. And they urged the public to wear a face mask when traveling on public transportation or staying in crowded areas. The FDA held a meeting Thursday on whether to update the Covid vaccines, where the strain came up multiple times. Currently, the latest vaccines target the JN.1 variant and its descendants. Data currently suggests that the LP.8.1 variant is dominant in the US which is a descendant of JN.1. At the meeting, CDC and FDA officials told the panel that only one strain called XFC has been significantly growing in the US. Doctors are sounding the alarm after discovering 1.5million Americans died after the Covid pandemic from a 'silent epidemic' gripping the US. Boston University researchers compared the fatality rate in the US over 2022 and 2023 to that in 21 similar developed countries including the UK and Australia. After accounting for population sizes, results showed that an extra 820,000 Americans died in 2022 than would the case if the US had a fatality rate comparable to peer nations. There were an extra 705,000 'excess deaths' in the US in 2023 when the same logic was applied. Both totals were roughly 30 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels when 631,000 excess deaths were logged in 2019. Excess deaths the number of fatalities above whats typically expected surged during Covid due to direct virus deaths, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and economic hardship. But while the pandemic has officially ended, the elevated death toll has persisted. Researchers blame the ongoing crisis on a combination of drug overdoses, gun violence, traffic accidents, and chronic diseases like heart failure and diabetes, all of which are hitting the US harder than other countries. They also cited the lack of a robust social safety net common in many European countries as a major factor worsening the toll. The researchers said the uptick was linked to surging overdose deaths from drugs among other factors. Pictured above are people suffering from drug dependency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The above shows people suffering from drug dependency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were pictured on May 7 Dr Jacob Bor, an epidemiologist who led the research, said: 'The US has been in a protracted health crisis for decades, with health outcomes far worse than other high-income countries. 'This longer-run tragedy continued to unfold in the shadows of the Covid pandemic.' For the study, published in JAMA Health Forum, the researchers calculated the rate of deaths per year for the US and that in 21 other developed countries. These were: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. These figures were compared, and analysis was carried out to reveal how many extra deaths the US was recording per year compared to the average for other developed countries. For the study, researchers used data from the Human Mortality Database, the world's leading scientific data resource on mortality in developed countries covering the years 1980 to 2023. The analysis included 107million deaths in the US and 230million deaths recorded in the 21 other countries between 1980 and 2023. The above graph shows the excess number of deaths being recorded in the US every year compared to that in similar nations. Zero means they both recorded the same number of excess deaths, while a minus figure means the US is recording fewer deaths than the other nations Excess deaths have been treding upward in the US for years (shown above), before surging during the Covid pandemic Over the 1980 to 2023 period, there were an estimated 14.7million extra deaths in the US compared to other countries. US excess deaths have been rising slowly since 1980, the report found, and jumped during the Covid pandemic. They remain high today, with the data showing nearly 23 percent of all US deaths were excess deaths in 2023. Your browser does not support iframes. Senior study author and global health expert Dr Andrew Stokes said: 'These deaths reflect not individual choices, but policy neglect and deep-rooted social and health system failures. 'The Covid pandemic exposed structural weaknessesincluding gaps in healthcare access and social supportsthat have continued to fuel premature deaths even after the acute phase of the pandemic ended.' Dr Stokes added: 'Other countries show that investing in universal healthcare, strong safety nets, and evidence-based public health policies leads to longer, healthier lives. 'Unfortunately, the US faces unique challenges; public distrust of government and growing political polarization have made it harder to implement policies that have proven successful elsewhere.' RIOTS AND REBELS by Nick Rennison (Oldcastle Books 16.99, 210pp) Throughout history, angry men and women have taken to the streets to express their displeasure about everything from theatre tickets (too expensive) to prayer books (no longer in Latin) by way of brothels (shouldnt be allowed). Richard II meeting the leaders of the Peasant's Revolt Thats not forgetting the wonderfully named Plug Plot riots (1842), the Brown Dog riots (1907) and the Rebecca riots (1839-43). In this highly accessible book, Nick Rennison walks us through the history of popular protest from the 14th century to the present day. In the process some common themes emerge. Not only do protesters usually not get the thing they are campaigning for a longer lunchbreak, the abolition of the monarchy, cheaper potatoes they also have a high chance of ending up mangled or dead. One of the earliest examples of how things can escalate was Ketts Rebellion of 1549, which was fought by East Anglian peasants against the local gentry who were enclosing their common land. During a tense stand-off, a boy dropped his trousers and mooned at the soldiers, whereupon he was despatched with a single bullet. In one way the lad was lucky. The punishments meted out to rebels and rioters were generally designed to inflict the maximum pain. Nor was rank any protection. In 1660, Major-General Thomas Harrison was hung, drawn and quartered for his part in the execution of Charles I 11 years earlier. The grisly procedure involved Harrison being hanged almost to the point of death, before being castrated and then having his bowels cut out of his body and paraded in front of him. Only at the beheading stage did the torture end. After death, Harrisons body was cut into quarters and displayed to the crowd as a warning about what awaited anyone tempted to commit high treason. Incredibly, the old soldier seems to have borne his fate with equanimity. Protesting is as English as a cup of breakfast tea According to the diarist Samuel Pepys who witnessed the horrible spectacle, the condemned prisoner looked as cheerful as any man could in that condition. A HUNDRED and fifty years later, the appetite for revenge showed little sign of abating. During the anti-Catholic Gordon riots of 1780, thousands of citizens were brought to boiling point by a wild rumour that hordes of Jesuit priests were hiding in tunnels beneath London, awaiting instructions from the Pope to blow up the banks of the Thames and flood the city. Taking to the streets, the protesters set buildings on fire, pelted bishops with filth and even roughed up the Lord Chief Justice. In the confusion, hundreds of citizens were trampled underfoot, while others were later condemned to death for public disorder. (As an extra bit of unfairness, the hotheaded leader of the riots, Lord George Gordon, was acquitted of any wrongdoing.) Just because the forces of law and order usually won in the long run, it didnt mean that there werent some close calls along the way. Rennison reveals that even rocksteady Victorian England teetered on the edge of full-scale insurrection. In 1842, men disguised as women and calling themselves Rebeccas Daughters roamed South Wales smashing tollgates in protest at the way that poor farming communities were forced to pay to use local roads. Militant Suffragette Mary Richardson That same year, the Chartists gathered in their thousands to demand a radical overhaul of the status quo, including giving the vote to every man in England. A political revolution, in other words. In the circumstances you can see why Queen Adelaide, Victorias aunt, was convinced that England would go the way of France, and that her fate is to be that of Marie Antoinette. She wasnt the only person to misread the situation. In 1855, Karl Marx witnessed a riot in Hyde Park held in protest at the proposed ban on Sunday trading. He declared excitedly he was not exaggerating in saying that the English Revolution began yesterday in Hyde Park. He was, of course, exaggerating. Throughout this engaging book, Rennison keeps a sharp eye out for themes and patterns that repeat across the centuries. For instance, the riots against Margaret Thatchers poll tax in 1990 centred on the unfairness of everyone paying the same, regardless of income. Six hundred years earlier a similar grievance ignited the Peasants Revolt when King Richard II imposed a levy of one shilling on poor and rich alike. The Rokeby Venus Perhaps the most obvious hangover from the past, though, concerns the Just Stop Oil protesters who glued themselves to Constables Hay Wain in 2022. The choice of painting was no accident. John Constables 200-yearold masterpiece shows a rural landscape in his native Suffolk in which a hay wagon is being pulled through a tranquil millpond. By targeting this image, the protesters made the point that climate change and fossil fuels threaten to destroy this natural idyll. Indeed, before gluing themselves to the frame, the Just Stop Oilers attached their own version of The Hay Wain, depicting an apocalyptic vision of the future complete with a broken washing machine in the hay cart. This incident achieved maximum publicity around the world, which was exactly what had been intended. Still, it was hardly original. Riots and Rebels is available now from the Mail Bookshop OVER a hundred years earlier, the suffragette Mary Richardson had chosen another National Gallery treasure to deface. In 1914, she slashed the priceless Rokeby Venus with a meat cleaver. In Velazquezs 17th-century masterpiece, a luscious nude female figure reclines languorously on a chaise longue while admiring her reflection in a mirror held by Cupid. Richardson and her suffragette colleagues saw The Rokeby Venus as a symbol of the objectification and subjugation of women. Specifically, Richardson wanted to draw attention to the way that suffragette hunger-strikers, of whom she had been one, were systematically brutalised by prison doctors. During force-feeding sessions, a tube was shoved down the womens gullet and into their stomach, resulting in physical and mental trauma that could last a lifetime. How different from Velazquezs Venus, whose naked body was the object of veneration and titillation for the men who poured into the National Gallery to gawp at her sensuous curves and gleaming skin. Apart from anything else, the goddess of love seemed entirely unconcerned with bothering her pretty head as to whether or not she had the vote. With half-term fast approaching, plenty of us will be preparing to jet off for some early summer sunshine. But as blissful as a holiday is, theres one element of travelling we dont relish: the jet lag. Jet lag is the extreme fatigue you experience while travelling across time zones, and a recent study has shown it can impact your sleep quality for at least a week. Its particularly bad after travelling eastward (on return to the UK, you effectively have to stay up for additional hours), which is bad news given the boom in tourism to eastern locations like Thailand and Japan. Lets be honest: with work, childcare and all the other everyday activities, we cant afford a week of feeling tired all the time. So when Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, shared his five tried-and-tested tips for beating jet lag, youd better believe we listened up. Here are his top hacks to enjoy your holiday and return home feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, wherever you travel. Start shifting your sleep schedule a few days before travel Jet lag is essentially your body clock being out of sync with the clock, Seeley explains. But there are ways to start incrementally syncing your body with the time zone of where youre flying to. A few days before your trip, move your bedtime and wake-up time by 30 to 60 minutes each day towards the time zone youre travelling to, Seeley advises. For example, if youre flying east, try going to bed earlier. This gradual adjustment gives your internal clock a head start, so youre not trying to make a big jump all at once, and therefore should experience less severe symptoms when you land. Change your watch and phone to your destinations time as soon as you board the plane Most of us wait until we land to start fiddling with our watch to adjust the time (and phones only change when they regain network signal after airplane mode is switched off). However, Seeley says we should instead be switching to our new time zone as soon as we sit down for the flight. It might seem like a small thing, he admits, but its a powerful psychological cue that helps your brain start thinking in the new time zone. Its particularly useful if youre on a long-haul flight and trying to sleep, as youll be aware whether youre doing so in sync with the correct time zone. This early mental shift can make it easier to sleep and eat according to local time both while flying and as soon as you land, speeding up your adjustment. Use temperature cues to manipulate your body clock Temperature plays a key role in signalling to your body when to sleep and when to wake, Seeley explains, and you can therefore use it to trick your body into feeling more tired or lively. Try taking a cool shower in the morning to help wake you up gently, and a warm shower about an hour before bed, as this helps encourage sleepiness. Keeping your bedroom cool around 16 to 18C also supports deeper, more restful sleep. These simple temperature cues can help your body adjust faster to a new time zone and reduce jet lag. Keep your evenings calm and lights low We all know how disruptive the blue light emitted by screens is to our sleep schedule. But this is particularly the case when your body is already out of whack because of the change in time zone. Its even more important to dim the lights and avoid screens for at least an hour before bed, Seeley explains, because blue light from phones and tablets tricks your brain into thinking its still daytime, making it harder to fall asleep. Instead, wind down with a book, some gentle stretching, or meditation. This helps your body produce melatonin naturally and signals its time to rest, which is vital for resetting your internal clock. Consider melatonin supplements, especially for eastward flights Over the past few years, melatonin supplements have surged in popularity as people rave about the sleep-boosting benefits. For Seeley, eastward travel is when they work most effectively, to help provide the sleep chemicals your body needs. If youre crossing multiple time zones, especially flying east, a small dose of melatonin about an hour before your new local bedtime can help nudge your body clock in the right direction, Seeley advises. Its not a magic bullet, but many travellers find it useful. Just make sure to consult your doctor before trying supplements. In the UK, melatonin is prescription-only, so you will need to speak to your GP if you want to try it. CBS is in crisis - with staffers crying in the hallways, fighting over story coverage and seating, and scrambling to update their resumes amid fears of mass layoffs. Insiders have told the Daily Mail that morale has plummeted across the network, from the flagship Sunday news show 60 Minutes to CBS Mornings, sparked by a looming $8.4 billion merger and a $20 billion lawsuit. The tumult is turning into a 'bloodbath', one employee said, with feverish speculation rife among colleagues as to who will get the axe next. Tensions are running particularly high about reports that CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, is preparing to slash $500 million in costs in preparation for the lucrative merger with Skydance Media against the backdrop of a ratings freefall. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's legal action against 60 Minutes over claims that an interview with former presidential candidate Kamala Harris was deceptively edited continues to cause deep division. There have been suggestions recently that bosses at Paramount are entertaining a $50 million payout as the Trump administration considers whether to renew CBS's broadcast license. The chaos has intensified since the abrupt exit of CEO Wendy McMahon on Monday, who indicated that she opposed settling with President Trump, and described her final months in the job as 'challenging'. 'It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,' McMahon wrote in her terse exit memo. 'It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.' CBS News is crisis after the departure of CEO Wendy McMahon - with staffers crying in the hallways, fighting over story coverage and seating, and scrambling to update their resumes amid fears of mass layoffs Her sudden departure sent shockwaves through the offices of The Early Show and CBS Evening News and has prompted frenzied gossip about which household names will follow her out the door. '[Wendy leaving] really hurt us a lot,' said one CBS employee. 'I've seen people crying in the halls. Everyone is going into offices and conference rooms to whisper and strategize.' Fed-up sources observed that there was growing resentment towards legendary CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King, who is reportedly facing a fight to have her $10million contract renewed when it ends in September. And there might be more exits to come. Multiple sources told the Daily Mail that 60 Minutes host Scott Pelley could also be on the way out. 'It's marquee name after marquee name. People don't want to say it out loud in the office but the entire space debacle really hurt us,' a 60 Minutes staffer said of King's participation in Blue Origin's all-female spaceflight on April 2. 'Gayle being part of that is not a good look for our brand.' Fed-up sources observed that there was growing resentment towards legendary CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King , who is reportedly facing a fight to have her $10million contract renewed when it ends in September And there might be more exits to come. Multiple sources told the Daily Mail that 60 Minutes host Scott Pelley could also be on the way out 'I think a lot of people resent Gayle for that,' continued the insider. 'I know I do.' There was a general sense of embarrassment, said one Early Show producer. 'I almost feel like apologizing when I tell people where I work. I hate it here.' But the most palpable impact appears to have been felt at 60 Minutes, where staff have compared the atmosphere to a 'sinking ship'. 'We're in the middle of a bloodbath,' a staffer said. 'The axe is falling, people are leaving, no one knows what to do next. We're all updating our resumes because it really feels like this is a sinking ship.' The tension has spilled out into the open, with blazing rows in the office over story coverage and petty squabbles concerning seating plans, sources told the Daily Mail. 'Fights, and loud ones,' the insider continued. 'You can hear them in the halls. People are arguing over everything and anything. From big things, like how to report stories, to small things, like who is sitting where in the conference room.' The deterioration of the mood in the newsroom began with the April departure of Bill Owens, the long-time executive producer of 60 Minutes, who left citing concerns about editorial independence. The deterioration of the mood in the newsroom began with the April departure of Bill Owens, the long-time executive producer of 60 Minutes, who left citing concerns about editorial independence Now, there is speculation Pelley could also be leaving, and King's future is far from guaranteed - not least because of the backlash within CBS and beyond after the controversial spaceflight. When Owens quit, Pelley said on 60 Minutes: 'Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires. No one here is happy about it. But in resigning, Bill proved one thing he was the right person to lead 60 Minutes all along.' Significantly adding to the pressure at the embattled news network are suggestions of the potential settlement in the $20 billion lawsuit from Trump. The president claims that a 60 Minutes segment featuring Harris ahead of the 2020 presidential election was deceptively edited in an attempt to assist her election chances. Two versions of Harris's interview were aired in which she appears to give different answers to the same question about the Israel-Hamas war, according to the federal lawsuit. CBS News has maintained that the then-vice president simply gave a lengthy answer, which was cut down due to time constraints, and that the lawsuit was 'completely' without merit'. The network has asked a judge to dismiss the case. But the President's lawyers insist that CBS was being partisan, and trying to make Harris's answer more coherent. As CBS and Paramount Global are working towards their merger with Skydance, Trump's Federal Communications Commission has said that it would not approve the deal until the lawsuit was settled. All the uncertainty has led to frazzled nerves and personal turmoil for the journalists still working for CBS News. 'People are literally keeping antacid at their desks,' said the Early Show staffer. 'I've never seen anything quite this bad.' A representative for CBS News said the network 'doesn't comment on personnel matters' in a statement to the Daily Mail. Hidden among rolling hills in Bedfordshire is a wonderful automotive facility that looks uncannily like a life-sized Teletubbies set. But amid the undulating landscape of trees, grass and futuristic buildings, is a complex network of tracks where a wide variety of mainly camouflaged motor cars and military vehicles are secretly being put through their paces during development. This is the world-renowned Millbrook Proving Ground, run by testing specialists UTAC. It boasts more than 30 miles of roads and replicates every challenge encountered by British motorists from bumps and potholes to a two-mile high-speed endurance circuit. I was there for the annual driving jamboree of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), at which major car makers bring their newest models for journalists to test drive and share the latest industry news. During my visit, I had the chance to drive Hyundai's funky and surprisingly spacious new four-door Inster, a mini urban SUV which has just been crowned best electric car in the World Car Awards. Mighty mini SUV: The Hyundai Inster is speedy and spacious The Korean car is an affordable and roomy rival to Renault's R5 hatchback, with a higher roof and more headroom. Prices start from 23,505 for the standard Inster 01 running on 15 in alloy wheels, 26,755 for the Inster 02 with 17 in wheels, and 28,755 for the Inster Cross. There are two battery options: a standard 42kWh, and the longer range 49kWh which I drove. Accelerating from 0 to 62mph in 10.6 seconds, and with a top speed of 93mph and a 229-mile range, my Inster drives well, with sufficient punch up the hills, manoeuvrability on corners and spirit on the straight. I like its bright interior, with customisable door trim and up to 351 litres of boot space. But my time at Millbrook also included a reality check, provided by SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. He warned that the Government must do more to incentivise motorists to switch to EVs: cutting VAT on charging, introducing a three-year halt on VAT on EV sales and providing more public charging points. Hyundai's Inster is an example of the unprecedented choice of EVs currently enjoyed by motorists. But I can only agree that we will need 'bold support' from ministers to reverse the lack of public demand from private EV buyers. Without it, zippy cars like the Inster won't get beyond Millbrook's test tracks. Missing so far from Keir Starmer's trade deals is any attempt to shield Britain's intellectual property. Gifted British musicians nursed the hope that vengeful rules regarding visas, work permits and the movement of goods in Europe that have complicated their lives might have been lifted. Elton John rightly is outraged that the Government is prepared to abandon Britain's creative sector to encourage big tech AI investment. He describes the Government as 'absolute losers' and argues it is a 'criminal offence' to let Silicon Valley use copyright-protected work without permission. Britain is a pioneer in the use of copyright to protect creators with laws which date back to the early 18th century. But Starmer and his Technology Secretary Peter Kyle seem determined to override that heritage. Copyright grab: Missing so far from Keir Starmer's trade deals is any attempt to shield Britain's intellectual property As originally previewed, before 'Liberation Day' on April 2, a tech deal which allowed Google, Facebook-owner Meta and Apple freedom to harvest UK creativity was expected to be at the heart of a UK-US pact. I n exchange for AI being allowed to roam freely on this side of the pond, big tech would step up inward investment. Intellectual property, Britain's up-and-coming artistes and creators and established powerhouses such as Elton and JK Rowling would be sacrificed. Essentially, a craven Labour government, desperate to find some levers to drive growth, was adopting a Trumpian agenda. In Washington last month, I dined with old friend Shira Perlmutter, a distinguished legal academic, who headed the US Copyright Office an agency responsible to Congress. Her branch has been commissioned by the White House to produce a report on AI. There was a veiled indication that if the administration disagreed with the independent findings, funding for the Copyright Office could be reduced. A draft report found that the use of large language models for 'research and analysis' using copyright material for training purposes was permissible. But when AI is trained on copyrighted journalism, artworks, books and other original material to generate a product to sell that likely breached fair use protections, it found. That is in legalese much the same case that Elton is making in Britain. Soon after the draft report appeared, Perlmutter received an email from the White House. She had been dismissed from her post with no due process. Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Chuck Schumer described the firing as 'unlawful' because Congress had shielded the US Copyright Office from politics. This treatment of one of the most respected guardians of copyright law must be regarded as unacceptable in a democracy. But Trump and his acolytes willingly trample on constitutional values in support of their own ends. What big tech wants it gets. The power of lobbying by Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and the other Silicon Valley tech bros has no boundaries. Cook was swiftly able to exclude mobile devices from punitive Trump tariffs imposed on China. AI is big tech's new frontier and anything or anyone who gets in its way receives the White House hairdryer treatment and worse. Of course, the UK must rub along with the US. Jaguar Land Rover might have faced near extinction had not Peter Mandelson, on behalf of Labour, secured a tariff reduction deal. Labour's willingness to accede to the Trump copyright agenda, destroying four centuries of copyright at a stroke, is indefensible. Within 100 days of Donald Trump's election to the US presidency, he managed not only to help send global financial markets into a spin, but also throw into question the future of the current geopolitical status quo. The S&P 500, which tends to rise in the early days of a presidency, is lower now than it was at the time of the inauguration. When Trump made his tariff announcements on 2 April, the index fell off a cliff. Elsewhere, most other major indices such as London's FTSE 100 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng also tumbled following the announcement. Not only has Trump's approval rating slipped to just 45 per cent, from 52 per cent at his inauguration, but data from Quilter shows that a majority, 53 per cent, of fund managers now expect the US to have the worst returns of any region. At the time of Trump's election, these fund managers overwhelmingly expected the US to be the outperforming region. Best of British: Experts say these UK stocks could be the answer to protecting your investments from impending tariffs Tariffs might be paused for now, but in July they could be set to relaunch in full force, and with US equities now accounting for 63 per cent of the MSCI All Country World Index, it is difficult to avoid having exposure to the nation's firms. Meanwhile, the US is also the UK's largest trading partner, with total trade between the two countries worth 314.6billion in 2024 and the US taking some 22 per cent of UK exports. This means that choosing to invest closer to home can still mean that you are vulnerable to the whims of US trade policy. Pivoting away from US exposure could help investors to hedge against the possible negative effects of Trump's tariffs. Bet on UK domestic winners The UK small cap market is cheap and therein lies opportunity. Chris McVey, deputy head of quoted companies at Octopus Investments, told This is Money: 'If you look back over the last 25 years, UK small caps have only been this cheap on an EV/Ebit multiple perspective three times in this period, and once was after tech bubble and the other after the global financial crisis.' This, McVey says, could offer a way for investors to diversify their portfolios away from overweight exposure towards the US. He added: 'We should be diversifying and by diversifying we should be buying UK small caps and the UK market in general.' 'Perhaps some of the larger cap, more global businesses will be more impacted, but we're focused on UK small and UK growth companies and I think lots of them are well positioned from that perspective.' McVey says investing in domestic winners that are unlikely to be impacted by happenings across the pond is a way counteract the effects of potential tariff chaos. Construction materials distributor Brickability Group, for example, manages around a fifth of the UK market share for brick inventory. McVey says the firm's dominant position in the market means that the firm makes a significant margin on managing customer inventory. He said: 'This is a stock that trades on about six to seven times price to earnings, so its extremely cheap from a ratings perspective.' Octopus also highlights Foxtons estate agency, which has refocused its business on lettings in recent years. McVey said: 'It has a high-quality lettings book that gives great earnings visibility, but its not ignoring sales it has started to build back its market share and now has about five per cent of London exchange volumes. 'Sales are still modestly loss making but at some point this will swing back.' In 2024, Foxtons' sales operating loss narrowed by 58 per cent to 4.1million, from a previous 9.9million loss. Likewise, Gamma Communications, which offers telecoms-as-a-service, also has strong revenue visibility. McVey said: 'These are contracted revenues, meaning it has great cash generation as a result and it's a stock which I think has been massively oversold over recent months.' Gamma Communications shares have fallen 24 per cent since the beginning of the year, but has recently upped its dividend. McVey said: 'We're really bullish on the opportunity from here and for the potential of these stocks to rerate and for investors to make significant returns.' Quality and quantity of UK stock picks While smaller firms with UK-focused exposure will help to diversify investment holdings away from tariff chaos, investors can also head to the names that will be able to weather any coming storm. Canaccord Wealth says investors should consider backing quality stocks during tumultuous periods, to make the most of their strong fundamentals and lack of debt. Simon McGarry, head of equity research at Canaccord Wealth, said: 'When economic growth slows, investors want companies that have strong balance sheets, consistent earnings and resilient cash flows.' He added: 'We have taken a look at quality stocks, those that are seen as a safe haven in times of risk aversion, when investors move to defensive, high-quality names to preserve capital.' When it comes to UK giants, you can't get bigger than AstraZeneca. The pharmaceutical firm, which became a household name during the Covid pandemic, has a market capitalisation of more than 160billion and is that largest listing in the FTSE 100. McGarry said: 'With a 25.7 per cent Ebit margin and eight per cent average EPS growth over the past decade, it remains a strong defensive play in the pharmaceutical sector. 'Its diversified drug pipeline and strong oncology segment make it a compelling investment for long-term stability and growth.' Fellow FTSE 100 giant Relx is also tipped by Canaccord, with the analytics firm boasting a 34.1 per cent Ebit margin. McGarry says is a result of its strong pricing power and the scale of its operation. Relx, the fifth largest FTSE 100 constituent, has posted consistent earnings per share growth over the past ten years. 'Its stable business model and data-driven services provide resilience, making it appealing for investors seeking reliable growth,' McGarry said. McGarry warns that, in part, the movement away from the US comes as a result of concern that the nation's expensive AI and tech stocks might have a rocky road ahead. He said: 'In addition to what's been happening on a geopolitical level, concerns over high valuations, a potential slowdown in AI-driven demand and a broader shift in investor sentiment away from the more expensive parts of the market have contributed to a rotation out of US equities.' Despite this, McGarry also tips London-based Softcat which offers IT infrastructure and services. He said: 'Softcat has been a standout performer in IT services, with an exceptional 16 per cent EPS growth over the past decade 'With demand for IT infrastructure and cybersecurity rising, Softcat remains well-positioned for further expansion.' In recent years, I've started buying Swatch watches as a fun, slightly eclectic collectible hobby. While friends and family wear Rolex, Omega and the like, I enjoy having a colourful Swatch on my wrist especially retro ones from the early 1990s, it's always a talking point. Two of my favourites are a 1996 Atlanta watch, which is a 'Seoul' design and a 1994 First Sin Adam and Eve design. I've got around 30 now, bought in charity shops, boot sales and auctions I've kept a spreadsheet, and I've paid 26 per watch (excluding a Vivienne Westwood Orb version, which I paid more for given its designer connections). I even have a bunch of collectible catalogues which contains every design from when it launched in 1983 all the way to 1993. I'm not after a valuation of my collection, but more a: what rare ones are worth keeping an eye out for? And do you think Swatch watches will grow in value in the coming decades especially 1980s and 1990s designs? SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR MODERN TREASURE VALUED BY DAN Swatch out: I have nearly 30 watches in my collection, including this Vivienne Westwood number Dan Hatfield, resident This is Money expert valuer, replies: People, often slightly apologetic, approach me in the street, restaurants, even a couple of times in a public loo, arms out showcasing a watch on their wrist or ring on their finger and ask: 'Dan, how much is this worth?' Not that I mind - and every now and again, someone asks me to comment not on value, but on collecting generally and that makes me incredibly happy. So, let's talk Swatch. Now, before the Rolex brigade descend on me in horror, I'm going to confess something: I absolutely love a Swatch. Yes, I know, it's not what people expect. I'm meant to wax lyrical about the hairspring of a 1940s Jaeger-LeCoultre or the moonphase on a Patek Philippe. And don't get me wrong, I do. But there's something deeply charming, clever and culturally important about Swatch that no amount of horological snobbery can sweep aside. Part of Swatch's appeal and why it holds such a special place in many collectors hearts is how it all began. It's a proper underdog tale - think Rocky Balboa in plastic watch form. Back in the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry found itself teetering on the brink of disaster. We aren't talking about a downturn, this was a full-blown, existential crisis. Enter: the Quartz Crisis. Talking point: This Adam and Even Swatch is certainly out there For the uninitiated, quartz watches (battery-powered, extremely accurate, and crucially cheap) began flooding in from Japan. Brands like Seiko were producing sleek little tickers that made the traditional, lovingly crafted Swiss mechanical watches look outdated and overpriced. Imagine trying to sell a hand carved horse drawn carriage in the era of Ford Escorts, that's what the Swiss faced. Factories shut. Jobs vanished. The number of watchmakers in Switzerland shrank from over 1,600 in the 1970s to just 600 by the early 1980s. RETRO ITEMS VALUED Do you some watches - or other quirky items or collections - you want valued? We're on the lookout for more Modern Treasure to shine a spotlight on. Email: editor@thisismoney.co.uk Centuries of craftsmanship were suddenly irrelevant. A whole national industry was dying. And then, in 1983, along came Swatch. A Swiss-made, quartz-powered, brightly coloured slice of genius. The name itself is short for 'second watch', a casual accessory rather than a treasured heirloom. Plastic cases. Bold designs. Affordable. And fun. So very fun. Swatch wasn't just a product; it was a lifeline. A way to get people buying Swiss watches again and it worked, big time. People didn't just buy Swatches, they collected them, they matched them to outfits, they swapped them with friends, they loyally queued for new releases and in doing so, it helped in part save the Swiss watch industry. Today, the Swatch Group owns some of the grandest names in horology Breguet, Omega, Longines. That's right. The cheeky little plastic watch didn't just help save Swiss watchmaking, it ended up owning a huge chunk of it. Which brings me back to your collection. First of all, hats off. I'm super impressed. The spreadsheet, the organisation, the clear love of the hunt. You're a true collector. Not someone just hoovering up for profit, but someone who genuinely enjoys the horological past time. Focusing on the 1980s and 1990s is also a wise decision. While there have been some amazing Swatches in more recent years those two decades were the brand's golden age. The design was fearless, experimental, and thoroughly of its time. And now, with retro fashion roaring back into the mainstream, those decades are being mined for inspiration by nearly every watchmaker out there. You sir, are on trend. Unless you have extremely deep pockets, bundles of time and vaults to keep your Swatches in I wouldn't suggest collecting all 1,400 versions from these decades and instead be more specific in your approach. Below, are the five categories I believe it could be worth focusing on and keeping an eye out for: 1. Artist collaborations One word: Haring. Keith Haring, the iconic pop artist, designed four Swatch models in 1986. They are bold, bonkers, and beautiful. If you've got one in good condition, complete with box and papers, it could fetch anything from a few hundred to over 2,000. 2. Early prototypes and limited editions These are pure collector gold. Models from 19831985, like the legendary 'Jellyfish' (clear case, wonderfully odd), are increasingly rare. If you stumble across one at a boot sale for 20, grab it and run. 3. Swatch chrono series (early 1990s) A shift toward more sporty, intricate designs. Some of these dials are getting serious attention, especially lesser-known colourways. 4. Event editions From the Olympics to Expo events, these watches were made for the moment and now ride the nostalgia wave. Your Atlanta 1996 piece with the 'Seoul' dial? That's a winner. 5. Fashion crossovers Vivienne Westwood's Orb design. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac's surrealist touches. Swatches that blend art and fashion are doubly desirable. You were very savvy to grab the Orb. Funky: This Atlanta 1996 Swatch is part of the collection Some of my personal favourites are: Nine to Six (1987) Playful and peak 80s. These go for about 5060 but are increasingly sought after. Like a Rubik's Cube for your wrist. Kailua Diver (1988) Sporty, sleek, and stylish. 100130 and climbing. A safe bet for future appreciation. Tresor Magique (1993) Platinum case. Yes, really. Only 12,999 made for the brand's 10th birthday. Not cheap (2,5003,000), but the rarity speaks volumes. Voir (1987) Created by Jean-Michel Folon. Strange, surreal, and rather beautiful. Around 200230 well worth watching (pun entirely intended). Ticking Brain (1997) Designed by Jo Whaley. Smart, simple, stylish. These have started to tick upwards in value 250 or so if you can find one. Will Swatch values keep increasing? In my view, many Swatches will grow in value, especially for the 1980s and 1990s models. This is because nostalgia is the fuel that powers so much of today's collecting world. Whether it's toys, vinyl, or watches, we're all trying to buy back a piece of our past, it transports us to happy, less complicated times and that feeling always carries a premium value wise. Swatch captured a moment. It stood for creativity, rebellion, and resilience. It was born of crisis, but it wore that heritage with pride. And now its become something of a cult collectible. Your collection may not fund an early retirement but it appears to bring you lots of joy and you never know, perhaps a nice little nest egg for the future. So keep collecting, keep curating and keep an eye on the car boot sales, you never know when the next 2,000 Keith Haring might be sitting under a stack of Cliff Richard vinyl. The boss of one of Britain's biggest stocks and shares platforms has accused Labour of trying to 'bully and cajole' pension funds over where to invest retirement savings. AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill yesterday voiced concerns that Rachel Reeves could instruct pension providers to back unlisted UK equities. Retirement saving funds last week caved in to pressure from the Chancellor to boost their investment in private British businesses and infrastructure projects. Aviva, Legal and General and Phoenix Group were among the 17 firms that vowed to invest 10 per cent of workplace pensions in unlisted assets by 2030 with 5 per cent of that allocated to the UK. Fears are mounting that Reeves will force pension funds to make the shift if investment continues to lag. Earlier this month the Chancellor said she was 'never going to say never' to such a move. But Summersgill labelled the tactic among ministers to 'bully and cajole' firms as 'crude'. 'It's not the right approach', he said. Worry: AJ Bell chief executive Michael Summersgill voiced concerns that Rachel Reeves could instruct pension providers to back unlisted UK equities AJ Bell is not a pension provider in the traditional sense as it does not control money on behalf of clients. But its customers can open a personal pension on the platform and choose their own investments. Summersgill said he was against a mandate, claiming it is 'highly risky to start mandating what people should do with their money it is very complicated'. Meanwhile, shares in AJ Bell jumped 8.4 per cent, or 38.4p, to 495.6p, after it reported a rise in half-year sales and profits for the six months to March 31. The Manchester-based company has also urged the Chancellor to rule out pension tax changes to avoid speculation ahead of the Budget in October and pressed Reeves to charge forward with Isa reform. AJ Bell wants cash Isas and stocks and shares Isas to be combined into one product. Such a move would 'remove a current barrier which requires people to choose one or the other at the outset,' it said. Reeves faced a backlash at the start of the year amid speculation that she was planning a tax raid on cash Isas, including a potential reduction of the 20,000 tax-free allowance. AJ Bell said half-year profits rose 12 per cent to 68.8m and revenue was up 17 per cent to 153m. It added 51,000 new customers, taking its total to 593,000 a 9 per cent increase. Assets under management hit a record 90.4billion after growing 5 per cent. The inventor of the Sarco suicide pod is building a 'kill switch' implant which could allow dementia sufferers to seal the time of their death years in advance. Dr Philip Nitschke, whose controversial capsule ended an American woman's life in Switzerland last September, has told MailOnline that his newest device is nearing the testing phase. His plans have been labelled 'disturbing' by critics, who argue that enabling people to trigger their deaths with a simple switch could have serious consequences for individuals with various mental and physical health conditions. The mechanism would be sewn into a person's body - most likely their leg - and contain a timer which would make a beeping noise and vibrate to warn them to turn it off each day. If they failed to do so due to deteriorating brain function in the late stages of the disease, Nitschke says, it would then release a lethal substance into their system to kill them. The assisted dying campaigner believes that his new device could solve the 'dementia dilemma' - the situation whereby someone suffering from the disease is seen as lacking the mental capacity to consent to their death. While he admitted there were 'very real problems' with the switch that his team would need to overcome, he predicted that it would 'work well enough and be reliable enough for people to see it as the answer to a very, very difficult problem.' Alistair Thompson, a spokesperson for anti-euthanasia group Care Not Killing, responded to the news: 'This is yet another chilling development from Dr Death who brought us the personalised gas chamber. The Sarco's inventor Philip Nitschke has slammed claims that the first woman to end her life in the capsule had 'strangulation marks', calling the allegation 'absurd' The design for the dementia switch, created by Darab Jafary. According to Nitschke, the blue part is the micro syringe that contains the lethal drug, the green is the processor that provides the timing, and the white element is the lithium battery Philip Nitschke lies down in a 'suicide pod' known as 'The Sarco' in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 8, 2024 'Not content with advocating for killing vulnerable terminally ill adults, he has turned his attention to those with neurodegenerative conditions,' he went on. 'But we should not be surprised, because when a society decides that some lives are worthless and should be ended, this is the slippery slope you quickly go down.' Last week, MPs debated whether to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales, while MSPs in Scotland voted in favour of a bill which would allow terminally-ill, mentally competent adults to seek medical help to end their lives. Assisted dying has been decriminalised in several European countries since the early 2000s, and is also legal in Canada, which has one of the highest rates of euthanasia in the world. In the Netherlands - which was the first European country to legalise euthanasia - patients can sign an advanced euthanasia directive which gives doctors permission to end their life once they are in the late stages of dementia. However Nitschke - a former physician who is often dubbed Dr Death - believes these rules don't go far enough, leaving people's deaths in the hands of doctors rather than their own. 'It doesn't work well at all,' Nitschke says. 'It's not satisfactory and I have talked about it with a lot of Dutch doctors who have tried to use this system and are not happy with it. 'Trying to kill people who don't know what day it is just because they've got a piece of paper they signed ten years ago doesn't make it any easier. 'Instead of outsourcing your death to another person - asking someone else to do it - you can do it yourself with some sophisticated technology,' he argues. But just as patients are required to make their decision on the euthanasia directive before their mental state worsens, Nitschke's switch would also need to be implanted in advance of the person losing mental capacity - something he admits most doctors may not want to do. The device would contain one millimetre of a powerful deadly substance which would be released when the person fails to switch it off - though Nitschke said he is still unsure what this would be. Early stage designs of the switch, which have been shared with MailOnline, show the lithium battery-powered device with a micro syringe containing the lethal injection and a remotely-controlled timer - all of which would be concealed beneath the skin. Nitschke plans for the switch to be programmed to go off with the reminder 'beep' and vibrations at a time of the user's choosing. Rather than pressing a physical switch on the body, he says the mechanism would be remotely controlled. When a prototype is built, the inventor says he will be the first to try it out. Early blueprints of the switch, shared with MailOnline, show the various components it could include 'In my case I'm going to make sure it is just saline solution inside - obviously I don't want to discover that there's some fault with the software when there's some lethal risk involved, but that will be a fairly low-risk part of the whole testing process,' he said. The device would be designed to only work when the user is experiencing such severe dementia that they have stopped noticing the noises and vibrations it makes. 'You won't forget to press it otherwise, because after the time comes it'll start beeping and buzzing,' he insisted. 'If you really don't know what this thing is doing, beeping and buzzing for a week I think you've lost a lot of capacity. 'If you don't know the risks that are involved by not acting, that is, that you will die, then you're getting your wish from when you had it implanted.' He said that the alarm could beep for 'a day or two' before the switch is activated to ensure the dementia had progressed far enough. But he also suggested it could be limited to go off every year or two instead, if it were implanted long before dementia sets in. Asked what would happen if a patient changed their mind, he said: 'There's no problem technically in removing it - but you do have to go off and get someone to do it.' The first use of Sarco capsule took place in the middle of the forest in Switzerland, according to the creators of the device He admitted that removal would be complicated if someone was already experiencing cognitive decline, 'so are not in a position to negotiate the removal of this device.' He suggested a get around for this could be to adjust the timer so it wouldn't go off for decades 'then forget about it,' so the poison would stay dormant in a person's system for years. 'There are a series of legal problems, but right now we're pre-occupied with the technical hurdles,' he said. 'It has to be a system that is resistant to any kind of hacking, any interference, so there are a lot of real issues with it. 'I'm not trivialising the issues we've got, but I still see it as better than the current situation.' He said that the designer, who is based in Iran, is struggling to get hold of the parts to build the device, delaying their planned timeline. The project is ongoing while Nitschke's plans for his flagship Sarco pod have been put on hold by Swiss authorities. In September, dozens of police swooped on the forest where a 64-year-old woman was found dead inside the capsule, seizing the machine and arresting those present. The woman had been suffering with a severely compromised immune system in the lead-up to her death, which Sarco's operators described as 'peaceful and fast'. The device was used on the same day as Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told the National Council that she considers the use of the Sarco in Switzerland to be illegal. Swiss law allows assisted suicide so long as the person takes his or her life with no 'external assistance' and those who help the person die do not do so for 'any self-serving motive,' according to a government website. Months later, Nitschke's organisation and The Last Resort, the firm set up to operate the machine, say they have received no update from authorities regarding the investigation. Nitschke plans to push ahead with the roll-out of Sarco, and says a double pod, which would allow two people to end their lives in the same chamber, will be ready by October. The capsule is designed to allow a person inside to push a button that injects nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber, according to its creators. The person is then supposed to fall asleep and die by suffocation in a few minutes. According to Sarco's creators, some 120 applicants are hoping to use the machine to end their lives, with Nitschke saying that around 50 people in Britain had got in contact about using the machine. Among them are a former RAF engineer and his wife, who revealed earlier this year that they were signing up to become the first British couple to use the double pod. Peter and Christine Scott, who have been married for 46 years, made the decision after former nurse Christine was diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia. The couple want to travel to Switzerland to die in each other's arms in the death capsule, a wish which their son and daughter reluctantly said they would respect. The euthanasia campaigner says his dementia switch has also generated significant interest from people in the UK and around the world. 'A lot of the drive in interest is coming from the US and Canada and our members there,' he said. 'We're trying to move along with the death switch now quickly in this hiatus - while we're waiting for Sarco to be sorted out by the Swiss - to do something which will be of benefit to the whole world.' Care Not Killing, which is made up of disability and human rights groups, healthcare providers, and religious bodies, said in their statement: 'In every jurisdiction that has legalised assisted suicide or euthanasia, over time those eligible for death have increased. 'At a time when the NHS is in crisis and when the UKs palliative care system is broken with one in five hospices being forced to make cuts, we need to focus on fixing this. In short we need more care, not killing.' UK: For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org Mini 'tent cities' have sprung up in a West London borough where councillors say they are struggling to cope with supporting thousands of asylum seekers. Hillingdon had 89 supported asylum seekers out of every 10,000 residents at the end of last year or one in every 112 and residents told MailOnline the amount of taxpayers' money the council is having to pay was 'disgraceful'. Councillors say they are 5million short of the funds they would need to support everyone asking for help - putting a 'huge burden' on taxpayers and local services. With some deemed ineligible for housing support after leaving hotels, there has been a 'significant increase' in rough sleeping - with 'tented communities' springing up in parks and under bridges. Hillingdon accommodates a higher number of asylum seekers than average because of the large number of hotels it has near Heathrow Airport. Some of these are used as taxpayer-funded asylum accommodation and, once a migrant leaves this, they become the local council's responsibility. Residents said they think central government needs to fork out more money, but were equally sympathetic to the plight of the asylum seekers fleeing war and famine. Lisa Stevens, who lives in Cowley, a village within the borough of Hillingdon, admitted she had no idea how much the council is currently spending. Mini 'tent cities' have sprung up in Hillingdon in West London, as shown in this BBC report Your browser does not support iframes. Rough sleeping is rising with 'tented communities' springing up in parks and under bridges 'I see them all at the hotels [near Heathrow],' the 49-year-old told MailOnline. 'I didn't know it was that much we were spending on them. 'I just pay my bills. My daughter's in temporary accommodation and can't get a council house, and she's lived in the borough for 18 years.' Margaret, another Hillingdon resident, said she was 'fed-up' with the current migrant situation, and couldn't understand how authorities were unable to stop small boats crossing the Channel in the first place. The 76-year-old fumed: 'I find it absolutely appalling. My husband's in a nursing home and has been for three years. All I get to help is the attendance allowance of 435 a month. The rest comes out of our savings and my husband's state pension. 'I find it incredible that they can't stop the boats coming over. I can't understand why they can't and what the French are doing. I worked all my life, sent my kids to university and now I am paying for my husband's care. It's absolutely disgraceful.' Meanwhile Gina Forse sympathised with migrants making the perilous journey across the Channel to Britain, but believes central government should be footing the lion's share of the bill for migrants, not individual local councils. 'I work for the mental health trust,' the 66-year-old said. 'We have a lot of asylum seekers in hotels who come across with a lot of mental health problems to do with their homes and their traumatic journeys across. '[The money to house them] should come from central government. Asylum seekers should also have a separate mental health service for them as well, because it's draining on our already-drained mental health services. Gina Forse sympathised with migrants travelling across the Channel, but believes central government should be footing the lion's share of the bill for migrants, not individual councils Lisa Stevens, who lives in Cowley, said: 'I just pay my bills. My daughter's in temporary accommodation and can't get a council house, and she's lived in the borough for 18 years' Hillingdon in West London accommodates a higher number of asylum seekers than average 'Some people obviously need help more urgently than others, so we should triage them.' Sharon Harries, who works at Hillingdon Hospital, said asylum seekers often shoulder the blame for wider failures in services in Britain. 'It's nothing to do with asylum seekers,' the 68-year-old, who lives in Uxbridge, said. 'The National Health Service is not what it used to be. Waiting lists are getting longer and longer. People wait so long for one appointment that they don't even turn up.' Councillor Steve Tuckwell, cabinet member for planning, housing and growth at Hillingdon Council, said the strain on local services could soon increase due to the large number of asylum seekers currently staying in local hotels. He told MailOnline: 'We estimate there's around 3,500 asylum seekers in hotels in Hillingdon at the moment, which is the largest concentration in the country.' 'These asylum seekers will eventually become the responsibility of the London Borough of Hillingdon. 'And that doesn't include the additional asylum seekers that the Home Office is processing and will put in hotels.' The Conservative councillor said Government funding was not enough to cover the costs lumbered on the council, resulting in it having to stump up 5million a year from its own funds. Sharon Harries, who works at Hillingdon Hospital, said asylum seekers often shoulder the blame for wider failures in services in Britain, adding that the NHS is 'not what it used to be' 'Five million pounds would cover the entire library and heritage service for the year,' he said. 'The government provide some funding, but we are way, way, way beyond that. We estimate the funding [for this year] will run out by November. 'After that, the entire burden of asylum seekers will be with the Hillingdon taxpayer. That's unacceptable, particularly because some companies are making record profits from processing asylum claims.' Mr Tuckwell added that their asylum seeker burden was also being added to by British Nationals Overseas (BNOs) arriving from the Chagos Islands, which is expected to be handed over to Mauritius under a controversial new deal agreed by Labour. 'This week alone, we had 129 individuals arrived from the Chagos Islands,' he continued. 'They arrive at Heathrow Airport and, if they have dependants, we are obliged to house them. The Government have said they will only cover the costs for the first ten days. 'We are putting as much pressure on the Government as we can to provide adequate funding for processing asylum claims. It's a huge burden and it also diverts our attention from the services we provide our residents. 'Hillingdon is a welcoming borough, but the volume of asylum seekers being given permanent settlement means we need the funding from government to carry out their policy. 'It's not right that the Hillingdon taxpayer is to fund all of that. It's not acceptable.' Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Tuckwell added that the council were housing some asylum seekers in newly refurbished temporary accommodation blocks in the borough, but admitted that rough sleeping had risen among asylum seekers deemed ineligible for housing. Outside the Holiday Inn near the airport, Afghani asylum seeker Tory Alai said he had been living in Hillingdon for over a year, after spending his first year in Colchester, Essex. The 23-year-old said he took a small boat across the English Channel from France along with 18 other people, and insisted that he would not go back to Afghanistan, where the 'dangerous' Taliban now rule. 'I am not worried about being thrown out of the hotel,' he told MailOnline. 'I am going to a friend's home. I am not going back to Afghanistan.' Another man named Carlos, from Cali in Colombia, said he had been paying to stay in the same Holiday Inn hotel since arriving in the UK last August. London Councils, which represents the capital's boroughs, told the BBC that asylum accommodation pressures 'are felt by boroughs across the capital and are especially acute in port authorities like Hillingdon'. The group said it estimated a funding shortfall 'of at least 500million this year across all services. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'This government inherited a broken asylum system, with tens of thousands stuck in a backlog and claims not being processed, wasting millions in taxpayer money. 'We are immediately speeding up decisions and increasing returns so we can end the use of hotels, and save the taxpayer 4 billion by 2026. 'We remain committed to working closely with local authorities to work towards a fair and equitable spread of accommodation and provide the financial support required.' A group of Australian artists and creators have united to accuse a Gold Coast fashion label that 'promotes kindness' of copying their designs and bullying. They have produced a catalogue of artwork which they claim has been copied or reworked in designs which were then sold by fashion brand Sabbi. The row erupted after Australian artist Tahnee Kelland hit out at Sabbi co-founder Ash Tardrew after she painted over one of her original $3,000 artworks of two mermaids riding horses in an Instagram video. Other artists have since come forward to accuse Sabbi of using their designs. Kelland admitted she was nervous to speak out because of the potential backlash from Sabbi's huge fanbase. 'I knew it was going to blow up and I'm not into drama, I'm not into this, I mean I love drama for other people, but not me,' she said. 'I knew it was going to be big because Sabbi have such a large following, but it felt wrong, it felt really wrong to stay silent and I also wanted to show my son that's not what you do to bullies. You don't cop it.' While Kellard doesn't have confirmation her artwork was defaced because of her new range, she says she has good reason to believe it's the case. Australian artists are claiming that Sabbi, which is run by husband and wife duo Jason McDonnel and Ash Tardrew (above), have a history of copying designs Australian artist Tahnee Kelland (above) hit out at Sabbi after watching them paint over her original $3,000 artwork in an Instagram video Tahnee Kelland admitted she was nervous to speak out after her artwork (above) was painted over because of potential backlash from Sabbi's huge fanbase Sabbi co-founder Ash Tardrew is shown painting over Tahnee Kelland's original artwork on Sabbi's Instagram account 'The thing I'm upset about is my beautiful artwork being destroyed before my eyes,' Kellard told Daily Mail Australia. 'I'm feeling it's because Sabbi think I copied their flame sleeve aesthetic. 'The only reason I say this is because I shared a sneak peek of it, just a close up of flames on sleeves, and that day they unfollowed and kicked me out of their fan page. 'They think I copied their work, but they didn't invent that look and they are not someone I look towards for inspiration.' Sabbi, which is run by Tardrew and her husband Jason McDonnel, exploded into popularity within months of their launch of oversized comfy 'mum friendly' gear in 2023. The brand amassed a devoted following and was worn by celebrities including Celeste Barber and Domenica Calarco. Since then, the owners have flaunted their jet-setting lifestyle on Instagram flying around the world while celebrating their success. 'Here at Sabbi we are big on energy so wanted to create a brand that balances streetwear, vintage and a hell of a lot of comfort, tied together with bright and positive energy,' their website states. But hours after receiving backlash for their now-deleted video showing Tardrew's artwork being painted over, McDonnell posted a photo holding a card that read 'No 1 Rule F**K what they THINK'. The T-shirt designs that Kelland believes sparked the feud with Sabbi. The Sabbi design is left, Kellard's design is pictured right Hours after receiving backlash for their video, Sabbi co-founder Jason McDonnell posted a photo holding a card that read 'No 1 Rule F**K what they THINK' This T-shirt slogan appeared on the back of a Sabbi shirt (right) in September 2024 page but the same slogan was used by Dressed in Lala (left) 2020 Ruby Allegra launched her You Deserve Joy (left) print four years ago, Sabbi came out with their shirt set not long after launching their brand in 2023 (right) American based Dressed in Lala owner Lex Nevin said she has been sent photos of the Sabbi shirt that featured the same slogan as her popular design. 'Sadly I wasn't quick enough to trademark this phase, but I figure most people know we were the original, as we dropped the original tee in 2020,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's not cool at all. Everything is inspired by something, but you have to take that inspiration and make your own magic. That's the secret, people can feel it too.' Australian artist Ruby Allegra who had her print turned into a sell out shirt for Sabbi's range said she felt 'hurt and disrespected by their disregard for ethical creative practices'. 'They... are trying to avoid correct and proper accountability for their behaviour,' she said. Noosa Heads artist Jacob Pedrana was sent multiple messages after a similar design to his 2021 rodeo paintings appeared on a Sabbi T shirt in February. Pedrana has had to deal with it for years. 'I feel sorry for emerging artists who are starting out and this happens to them,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's not fair on their creativity and can really get you down.' Jacob Pedrana series was launched in 2021 (left) and Sabbi's in February 2025 (right) The Mombasa Kenya image was privately commissioned by the hotel in the mid 20th century (left) and launched on Sabbi's T-shirt in February 2025 (right) Sabbi launched this mermaid design (right) earlier in the year, however the original (left) is by artist Werner Klemke and appeared on the front of a magazine Kelland's post sparked a firestorm on Tiktok with dozens of videos and hundreds of fans weighing in on the controversy. 'What should I do with my Sabbi clothes now, I only just got them for Mothers Day?' asked one woman in a video with people in the comments section urging her to throw them away. Many viewers also defended Sabbi's right to paint over something they paid for and own, however according to Australian copyright law it's a grey area. Buying art does not give you the legal right to deface, modify or destroy it. 'It's the pot calling the kettle black because they (Sabbi) don't have original designs, they have straight ripped their designs and yet are accusing others of doing it,' former Sabbi customer Ali Caley told Daily Mail Australia. 'They have attempted to call out Tahnee, but it's backfired because it is Sabbi that has designs that look very similar or straight up copies to other artists.' Caley, who had been a long-time customer and fan of both brands, said she would no longer be wearing Sabbi clothes. 'I'm not even going to sell them, I'm putting them in the bin,' she told Daily Mail Australia. American Lindsey Gurk launched their Get Your Pink (left) back in 2022 with marketing around mothers losing themselves after having children. Sabbi launched their Got My Pink Back T-shirt (right) two years later in July 2024, with the same backstory. Popular American artist Sam Larson's Mermaid Cowgirl (left) from February 2024 has been compared to Sabbi's Flying Mermaid (right) they launched in July 2024 The Sabbi founders share their lavish lifestyle on social media 'It was a disgusting act of bullying, Sabbi purchased an original piece of art from Tahnee and defaced her art, it's humiliating. 'You don't get to preach kindness and inclusivity when you do this. It's calculated and cruel.' In a statement, Sabbi said: 'We know that art and creativity are so personal, and that all art - and all artists - should be respected. 'Sabbi has always been about joy and self-expression, and we've poured that spirit into every collection since day one. 'We have been loud and proud about our sources of inspiration, including vintage posters, tees and music. 'We also often spot artists taking inspiration from our creations, which we welcome. 'Style trends are just that: trends. However, we would never knowingly infringe on an artist's copyright. 'As creators, we regularly see companies like Temu plagiarising the Sabbi brand, and it is just not something we would ever do. 'This community is so important to us. We are reflecting carefully on the feedback being shared and will move forward with kindness and respect.' A tradie who fell through a skylight while working has been left struggling to support his family after his worker's compensation claim was rejected over a shocking technicality. Anthony Bell, 33, was just eight minutes into a patio installation at a home in Two Rocks, north of Perth, on February 3 when he fell 3.5m through a skylight that had been painted over and was not visible. He sustained bleeding on the brain and 19 broken bones and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Things got even worse when his worker's compensation claim was denied because, as a contractor, Mr Bell was not legally considered an 'employee.' Since then, the young family has drained their savings to challenge the decision in court, while also borrowing money to cover their mortgage and everyday expenses. All this is happening while Mr Bell awaits another surgery he hopes will allow him to return to work one day. Mr Bell was the only worker on the job when he fell through the skylight at the property in Two Rocks. His partner Klara Kitchen, 27, was adamant he could have died if the homeowner and his daughter hadn't offered assistance after hearing the fall. '[We are] super lucky that the client was there. Otherwise it could have been a different story,' she Daily Mail Australia. 'He could have definitely died.' Anthony Bell, 33, is pictured in critical condition in a Perth hospital after suffering brain bleeding and 19 broken bones from 3.5m fall through a skylight Mr Bell is pictured alongside his partner Klara Kitchen, 27, and their one-year-old daughter Maicy The young father is pictured with his daughter Maicy in their Banksia Grove home where Mr Bell spent 12 weeks awaiting shoulder surgery At first, the homeowner feared Mr Bell was dead when he found the tradesman unconscious and lying in a pool of blood. Miraculously, he regained consciousness and began apologising for causing damage to the property, before the homeowner told him to stay still and called an ambulance. Despite being concussed and critically injured, Mr Bell managed to give the homeowner Ms Kitchen's phone number. At the time, she was at home preparing breakfast for their daughter. 'I didn't actually know how bad it was until I saw him in the hospital, because obviously they didn't want to tell me that over the phone,' Ms Kitchen said. 'They just kind of said he'd been in an accident. He'd fallen off the roof.' It wasn't until she arrived at Joondalup Hospital that the reality sank in. 'He was covered in blood because he'd been bleeding out of his right ear, so his whole neck was covered in blood,' she said. 'It was very traumatic to see him like that, for sure.' The young Perth family are pictured enjoying a sunny day off before Mr Bell suffered his life-changing injuries It has been a gruelling few months for the 33-year-old father, who was recently forced to take a bone graft from his hip for a shoulder surgery Doctors soon confirmed Mr Bell had suffered bleeding in his brain and made the decision to transfer him to Royal Perth Hospital for specialist care. 'That's when it I think it hit for both of us that it was worse than what we thought it was,' the young mum said. Eight sleepless nights passed before Ms Kitchen was able to persuade the hospital staff to discharge Mr Bell on the condition she would attend to him closely. Mr Bell then spent 12 weeks at home waiting for shoulder surgery. By the time doctors operated, his condition had worsened - his shoulder bone had deteriorated so much they had to take a bone graft from his hip and insert several plates. 'He couldn't really move much at all. And obviously it's really hard when you have such a young daughter that doesn't understand and wants to be picked up by dad and everything,' Ms Kitchen said. 'Still, now, he can't pick her up because of the weight limits he has.' The couple fears Mr Bell may never be able to make a full recovery given the physical nature of his work. Suffering from ADHD and dyslexia, Mr Bell does not believe he could find a suitable office job. Mr Bell worked in fly-in-fly-out mining before returning to work in patio installation. He is pictured during a day on the job in his old line of work Mr Bell's daughter has been by his side every step of the way. While her first birthday celebration was a low-key affair for financial reasons, the two nonetheless remain inseparable The young family faces an uncertain future, with mortgage debt, childrearing expenses and prior legal expenses mounting well-beyond their means. Mr Bell had returned to patio installation last November after working fly-in-fly-out mining jobs, hoping to be closer to his family. Now, he knows that career is gone for good. Ms Kitchen said her parents had 'drained their savings' to help the young family stay afloat along with donations also from Mr Bell's grandparents and uncle. Recently, Mr Bell was forced to sell his car and the couple cancelled their daughter's first birthday celebration to meet their bills. 'We have had to miss out on a few things... the ordinary stuff that people would do, like going out on date nights, we obviously don't do any of that stuff anymore. 'It's pretty much just home and work, and that's it really.' On Tuesday, they launched a GoFundMe page which has since raised just over $4,000 towards a target of $11,000 - a move they were reluctant to make given neither enjoys asking for favours. To donate, a link to Mr Bell's fundraiser can be found here. 'We were blown away with how generous people are and how willing they are to help others that are in need, because when we posted it, we didn't expect a lot at all,' Ms Kitchen said. 'Most people didn't realise how bad it really was and how much we were struggling because we just don't show it on the outside. We just want to stay positive and just live our lives.' Dramatic new video has revealed a troubled test dive of the Titan submersible which later imploded while diving to the wreck of the Titanic in a disaster that left five dead. British adventurer Hamish Harding, 58, and father and son Shahzada, 48, and Suleman Dawood, 19, both died in the tragedy on the deep-sea vessel in June 2023. Stockton Rush, 61, who was the chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions which ran the voyage was also killed, alongside French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77. Four years earlier, Mr Rush had been in the middle of testing Titan's first-of-its-kind carbon fibre hull and took the submersible down to deep waters off the Bahamas. But those on board have told a new documentary called 'Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster', which airs on BBC Two next Tuesday at 9pm, how the dive ran into trouble. They heard a noise 'like a gunshot' from the hull, the lights on the exterior went off and it then lost full vertical thrust availability when one of the battery banks failed. Mr Rush was joined on the dive in April 2019 by colleague Joel Perry, underwater electronics technician Petros Mathioudakis and submersibles expert Karl Stanley - who claimed those on board 'were within a few percentage points of implosion'. Mr Stanley told how Mr Rush had planned the 12,000ft expedition after 46 previous dives most of which were shallow, with only three reaching deep sea pressure. The lights go out on the Titan submersible during a test deep dive off the Bahamas in April 2019 Slide me The Titan's first-of-its-kind carbon fibre hull was being tested during the dive in April 2019 (From left) Submersibles expert Karl Stanley, underwater electronics technician Petros Mathioudakis, OceanGate Expeditions chief executive Stockton Rush and his colleague Joel Perry during a test dive on board the Titan submersible off the Bahamas in April 2019 The Titan is taken to deep waters off the Bahamas in April 2019, four years before the disaster Karl Stanley (left) and Petros Mathioudakis (right) talk about the 2019 dive in the documentary He told the documentary: 'I did not even come close to appreciating the real danger. I was the one that was like 'hey, capture this moment'. I was happy to be there.' Joining the dive was Mr Mathioudakis, 25, who was in the Bahamas demonstrating an underwater scanner to Mr Rush and jumped at the chance for a ride on Titan. Mr Mathioudakis said: 'I was aware that this was extremely risky. And Stockton was very clear. He said do you have a wife, and I said 'no'. Do you have kids? And I said 'no'. And he said OK, you're in.' Speaking about being in the submersible, he added: 'When you're inside of Titan on your descent you're just freefalling. You're heavy and gravity is pushing you down.' Mr Stanley added: 'You're essentially in the dark, just enough light to see.' Mr Mathioudakis: 'The first time the carbon fibre made a noise in that hull, it was extremely loud - it was like a gunshot. Any noise would have been loud that was loud. Everyone stops talking for a little bit and 'OK, I think we're OK', you know. Mr Stanley said: 'That loud, sudden noise that you know is essentially part of your pressure vessel breaking. I think that's going to scare anybody.' In addition to these loud noises, the lights then went out with video filmed on board showing they were left in darkness apart from a torch that was turned on. A file photo of the OceanGate vessel Titan, used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic Remains of the Titan submersible on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean after the accident in 2023 The Titan submersible is seen on the floor of the Atlantic in June 2023 following the disaster Remains of the Titan submersible on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean in 2023 after the accident Debris from the Titan is unloaded from a ship at St John's in Newfoundland in June 2023 Someone can be heard saying: 'Can you see anything down there?' Another adds: 'The lights are off.' A voice is then heard saying: 'I see the bottom.' And another says: 'I don't think we're touching it right here.' A voice then says: 'We're getting close to it, but we're not touching it.' Speaking now about what happened six years ago, Mr Mathioudakis said: 'When we got almost to the bottom. The lights on the exterior of the sub powered down.' 'We had a bit of an issue with one of the battery banks. Stockton had mentioned we're not seeing full vertical thruster availability.' And Mr Stanley said: 'The supposed goal of the trip was to test it to the exact depth of the Titanic. They got 96 per cent of the way there. 'The cracking sounds were continuing, so at some point collectively we came to a decision of 'well, that's good enough, let's call it a day'. I'm sure we were within a few percentage points of implosion.' Mr Mathioudakis added: 'You're on the dive, it's hard to put the brakes on that, so what are you going to do?' After the terrifying experience, Mr Stanley warned Mr Rush in an email that the noises could mean the Titan's main hull was no longer safe. New footage in the BBC documentary also shows Wendy Rush, the wife of Stockton Rush, trying to contact the doomed crew during their descent to the wreck of the Titanic in 2023 Stockton Rush, who was the chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions which ran the voyage In an note sent on April 18, 2019, Mr Stanley wrote: 'The sounds we observed yesterday sounded like a flaw/defect in one area being acted on by the tremendous pressures and being crushed/damaged. 'From the intensity of the sounds, the fact that they never totally stopped at depth, and the fact that there were sounds at about 300 feet that indicated a relaxing of stored energy would indicate that there is an area of the hull that is breaking down / getting spongy.' A marine board of investigation hearing into the tragedy in 2023 took place in Charleston, South Carolina, in September last year - with evidence given from 24 witnesses over two weeks, including former executives of OceanGate and Mr Stanley. Speaking to the panel, Mr Stanley added: 'I was very much concerned that I kept sending him emails for over a year and I didn't even know a fraction of what we know now. 'I feel this exchange of emails strained our relationship. I feel like I pushed things as far as I could without just him telling me to shut up and never talk to him again.' Following the tragedy it was revealed that soon after dive 47, Mr Rush found out about the crack and the damage was worse than Mr Stanley had suspected. One of the pilots for OceanGate was later said to have been getting ready to do a pre-dive inspection of the hull and he found a crack in the carbon fibre. Billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding looks out to sea before boarding Titan. He later died Father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood both died in the tragedy on board the vessel French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet also died during the Titan expedition in June 2023 The layers of carbon fibre were beginning to come apart at this point in a process known as the 'delamination', which is what caused the crack. Four years later in 2023, Titan's hull collapsed due to immense water pressure - killing all five people on board. The deep-sea vessel was on an expedition to the Titanic wreckage around 435 miles south of St John's, Newfoundland where the ship now sits after it sank in 1912. But it lost contact with the tour operator an hour and 45 minutes into the two-hour descent, with the vessel reported missing eight hours after communication was lost. After days of searching in an extraordinary effort which captivated the world, wreckage from the submersible was recovered from the ocean floor near the Titanic. In the new documentary, footage has also been revealed of Mr Rush's wife Wendy smiling and asking 'what was that bang' as she unknowingly heard the moment the Titan submersible imploded - killing him and four others on board. Video released by the US Coastguard shows Mrs Rush trying to contact the doomed crew during their descent to the wreck of the Titanic. Mrs Rush, who was monitoring the sub's progress from a support ship, can be seen reacting to a noise that sounded like a 'door slamming'. A file photo from OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the firm's Titan submersible The Titanic leaves Southampton on April 10, 1912, on her maiden voyage. She sank on April 14 She then turns to a team member sitting behind her and asks 'what was that bang?' Moments later Mrs Rush received a text message saying the sub had dropped two weights. While she initially assumed this meant the dive was proceeding as planned, investigators now believe the 'bang' she heard was the moment the sub imploded. It is thought the message she received was in fact sent just before the tragedy with its arrival being delayed due to the sound of the implosion. The new documentary, which is also airing in the US on Discovery Channel on the same night at 9pm Eastern Time, follows the US Coast Guard investigation last year into the tragedy. It also assesses new evidence, features interviews with relatives of the victims and looks at why the incident happened and whether it could have been prevented. Speaking about the programme, Discovery Networks president Howard Lee said: 'The Titan story captivated the world's attention from the moment the vessel lost contact with the surface. 'In this special, we will probe into the fascination with exploration, the risks that we are willing to take, and the ultimate price one can pay when pushing the limits of technology. It is a compelling journey into the haunting reality of this tragedy.' The documentary is a co-production of the BBC, the Discovery Channel, CBC in Canada and ZDF in Germany. Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster airs on Tuesday, May 27 in the UK on BBC Two at 9pm BST and on iPlayer, and in the US on the Discovery Channel at 9pm Eastern This is the Istanbul hospital where Portsmouth mother-of-two Beth Martin took her last breath - less than two days after she began to feel unwell on the way to Turkey. Ms Martin, 28, was wheeled into Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital on the outskirts of the Turkish capital on Monday April 28, a day after arriving for a family holiday with husband Luke and children Elouise, eight, and Tommy, five. She had touched down in Turkey after taking ill during the flight - and as her condition rapidly deteriorated she became 'delirious' according to family friend Robert Hammond, who launched a GoFundMe in support of her family raising over 170,000. Following a scramble for an ambulance, she was handed over to doctors at the hospital - which hosts Istanbul's International Patient Service serving foreign patients - and was 'pinned down, poked, prodded invasively', Mr Hammond said. Doctors told her husband they were concerned about her heart, and sent her for an angiogram - a type of X-ray that shows blood vessels - that turned up nothing untoward. But by Tuesday night, she was dead. Ms Martin's family has been plunged into hell by the sudden tragedy. They have weathered huge medical bills, baseless police accusations, the indignity of her body being returned without her heart - and no answers as to why she died so suddenly. Her family are still wondering whether doctors missed a problem with her heart, or failed to acknowledge her allergy to penicillin. Further post-mortem results were expected on Thursday, a family friend told MailOnline. But the Marmara Pendik hospital, which sits a short distance from the city's Sabiha Gokcen international airport, is facing a negligence investigation over Ms Martin's rapid and as-yet-unexplained death, according to her family. The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) is also making its own enquiries with local authorities. Beth Martin, pictured with husband Luke, was rushed to hospital after she became 'delirious' Ms Martin died on April 29, a day after she was admitted to Marmara University Pendik Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul (pictured) Beth, 28, from Portsmouth, with her husband Luke and two children, aged eight and five A website operated by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Health states that the hospital's principles are 'transparency and accountability (with) people at the focal point of the fairness of the health service that is excellent'. It operates hematology, neurology, orthopaedic, paediatric and urology departments alongside a plastic and aesthetic surgery team and general surgery, with around 658 beds, including 26 emergency care beds and 32 in intensive care. The university hospital, which opened in 2010 before an expansion arrived in 2020, also has a dedicated treatment centre for international patients covering 'all stages of diagnosis and treatment', the website states. It is not known whether Ms Martin was treated in the international patient service area before she was moved to intensive care. Her family faces a distressing six-month wait for a coroner's inquest that could give them all of the answers they desperately need. 'It has been the worst and most traumatic week of my entire life,' husband Luke wrote on social media earlier this month. 'If anyone can take anything away from this... hold your loved ones a little longer, don't sleep on an argument, take photos, take videos, tell them you love them more.' Mr Hammond's GoFundMe post has laid out the hellish and traumatic ordeal in unflinching detail. His account of the nightmare has been expanded upon by Ellie Grey, a wellness influencer who described Ms Martin as her 'very good friend' and appeared to have gone to Turkey herself to help. Mr Hammond, writing on the page, said Ms Martin was taken to hospital on Monday April 28, where she was examined by medics and admitted. Mr Martin then left for a few hours to take his children back to the hotel, before he was summoned back to pay for a scan upfront. He then went to be with his children as his wife was admitted into intensive care. Her husband was, Mr Hammond says, 'banned from seeing her'. Mr Hammond adds: 'From there, no calls and no updates despite him trying to contact the hospital to see if his wife was OK. Just silence.' Overnight, Ms Martin was transferred to another hospital for an angiography - a type of X-ray used to show up blood vessels - due to what her family would be told were 'concerns with her heart'. This scan reportedly showed no cause for concern, according to Ms Grey. Beth and Luke Martin on their wedding day. The 28-year-old died suddenly after falling ill on the plane to Turkey on the way to a family holiday A view of part of the entrance to Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul The hospital in Istanbul's eastern reaches was opened in 2010 (pictured) The hospital includes an 'International Patients Service' ward (pictured). It is not known whether Ms Martin was treated here as a British person Ms Martin was then transferred back to the first hospital - which allegedly refused to provide paperwork to a private hospital contracted by her travel insurer. But Mr Martin and his wife's mother, who had flown out urgently to see her, were stonewalled when they asked to see her on Tuesday - unaware of her rapidly deteriorating condition. The crisis was complicated by the arrival of Turkish police officers at the Martins' hotel, where they handed Luke a document stating his wife had died at 9am, even as she remained on life support - still alive, barely. Police then informed him he was suspected of poisoning her - before her death was even formally confirmed. But there was more to come. As he watched his wife being loaded into a Turkish ambulance on Monday, Luke had told medics that she was allergic to penicillin - a common medicinal allergy affecting around one in 10 people around the world. But doctors at the hospital did not seem aware. Mr Hammond said: 'The doctor asked if Beth had allergies. Luke had already told the paramedics when Beth got in the ambulance that she was allergic to penicillin. 'And yet when told again, they were shocked to hear this information they had no idea and had been treating her for hours at this point.' On Tuesday, Mr Martin received a call from the hospital, delivering the news he had hoped not to hear: that his wife was dead, two days after complaining of an upset stomach, with no clear cause. 'How did she die? We don't know,' Ms Grey said. 'Beth was ill before she got to Turkey. 'She started being sick on the plane, we started thinking it was a dodgy Chinese. 'The insurance company wanted to move her to a private hospital but the public hospital in Istanbul were not cooperating, they were being slow and delaying reports and not sending information over. They stopped her. 'They transferred her to another hospital to have an angiography done but they said the heart was fine and transferred her back and still didn't transfer her to a private hospital. then she died.' Ms Grey has suggested the hospital may have been negligent in its duty of care. The modern hospital was opened in 2010, and was expanded in 2020 The Foreign Office is also making enquiries with local authorities in Istanbul in order to find out what happened (pictured: Luke and Beth on their wedding day) The hospital where Beth was treated is now being investigated for potential negligence (pictured with husband Luke) A UK autopsy later revealed Beth's heart had been removed after she passed away Family friend Ellie Grey has laid bare some of the more horrifying aspects of the Martins' hellish experience Beth was just a day into a trip with her husband Luke when she was rushed to hospital She added: 'They said they did 45 minutes of CPR but anyone who has ever had CPR or has seen CPR knows how brutal it is. 'When I saw Beth in the morgue after she had her hair in two French plaits and they were perfect. There is no way they did CPR for 45 minutes, I know that.' While Luke was being interrogated by police, the hospital tried to pressure the family into telling them whether they planned to sue over the death and handed them a piece of paper that they refused to sign. 'All they went on about is are you going to sue the hospital, sign this bit of paper,' Ellie added. 'I said: "Is there something we should be suing for? Do you know something we don't? Because that's really suspicious".' Medical reports, while unable to confirm how Ms Martin died, have ruled out food poisoning as the cause of her death, Ms Grey claimed. Luke was then dragged before police, with no time to grieve, to hear accusations of poisoning his late wife. But as it dawned on officers that he played no role in her death, they dropped the charge and let him go. The horrors, as alleged by Mr Hammond, continued: that Luke, alongside Beth's mother, was made to carry his wife's body in a zipped body bag, and threw thousands at repatriating her there and then, rather than waiting weeks for insurers. 'We got to see Beth for 30 seconds in the morgue then the guy (clicked his fingers) at us and handed us a corner of the bodybag that was zipped open and me, Beth's mum, Luke and a translator had to lift her body into a coffin,' Ellie Grey said in her video, appearing to corroborate the account. 'Losing her was traumatic enough but going over to Istanbul and seeing first hand the lack of respect and having to go the next day to the forensic examiner officer and saying 'do not take any organs'. 'They wanted to bury her or cremate her within 24 hours, we had to fight to repatriate her and pay ourselves.' Beth's family have been left desperately searching for answers about how and why she died Beth's family were reportedly kept in the dark about the seriousness of her condition and death A GoFundMe has raised more than 150,000 for the Martin family as of lunchtime on May 22 He then had to deliver the agonising message to his young children that their mother was gone. But the final shock was to come as Beth arrived into the care of British coroners - who found that she had been returned to the UK minus her heart. 'The Turkish hospital has removed it. No explanation. No consent. They have invaded her body and they have taken her heart,' Mr Hammond wrote on the GoFundMe. Official advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) notes that Turkish coroners can take small tissue samples as well as complete organs for testing 'without the family's permission'. 'You will not automatically be told if this happens,' the advice notes. And while they will often seek to return organs before a person's body is released, the FCDO adds, 'in exceptional circumstances, body parts might be kept without permission.' This may well what has happened: an exercise in brutal, opaque Turkish bureaucracy, rather than anything more untowards, even as Turkey still harbours a reputation as a global hotspot of illegal organ harvesting. There is, it should be said, no suggestion that Beth Martin's heart has been illegally harvested. The GoFundMe has raised over 170,000 in donations from well-wishers to help with medical bills, travel and repatriation costs, and helping Luke to build a future for his family without his wife by his side. With financial worries now set aside, Ms Martin's friends and family are determined to fight until they get straight answers from the Turkish authorities. 'Luke has gone through something that no person should ever have to go through and he has done it with dignity and strength and pride for Beth,' Ellie said. 'I swear to you, between her family and Luke and myself we are not letting this go. 'No way am I going to let them get away with taking her heart, lying about what happened and treating her as if she was somebody with no dignity. 'We will get answers.' An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are providing support to the family of a British woman who died in Turkey and are in touch with the local authorities.' The Marmara University Training and Research Hospital was contacted for comment. Napoleon Bonaparte was, according to everyone who matters, utterly compelling. The 'Little Corporal' conquered Europe, made himself emperor and wore his hat the wrong way around just to stand out. Now, that iconic bicorn headpiece is leading a stunning auction of the emperor's prized possessions. Expected to sell for nearly 700,000, the hat is one of around 100 objects being sold in Paris via leading auction house Sotheby's with an overall estimate of more than 5million (6million). Also on offer are relics of Napoleon's romance with his beloved first wife, Josephine, whom he divorced after she failed to give birth to his desired heir. The couple's handwritten marriage contract is tipped to sell for up to 42,000 (50,000), whilst a folio that is believed to have held their divorce papers could fetch 67,000 (80,000). A set of Napoleon's linen clothes, complete with faded monograms, are on offer with the same upper estimate. And one of Napoleon's portable campaign beds, which he came to love so much that he even used them when in residence in France, is believed to be worth up to 50,000 (60,000). This bicorn hat, worn by Napoleon in his unique style with the wings parallel to the shoulders, is tipped to sell for as much as 670,000 (800,000). It was crafted by Poupard, Napoleon's official hat maker. The French ruler later gave it to General Mouton, one of his most trusted commanders Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon in Ridley Scott's controversial 2023 film Sotheby's expert Marine De Cenival, who is leading the sale, told MailOnline: 'This is the first time that we are offering such an important group of lots about Napoleon. 'He is probably the most famous French person in the world.' She added: 'It is really the first time you will have items from every important moment from his life.' The trove was compiled by France's most famous antiques collector, Pierre-Jean Chalencon, who has described himself as 'Napoleon's press officer'. He is selling his collection - and his Parisian mansion separately - after getting into debt. According to The Times, he is said to be trying to pay off a 10 million loan that he took out from Swiss Life Banque Privee to fund his collection. But Chalencon told Le Parisien: 'I am not riddled with debts. I am doing well.' Napoleon's hats quickly became an inseparable part of his identity. Depicted in dozens of portraits and engravings, it ensured he stood out. The one being sold was crafted by Poupard, Napoleon's official hat maker. The emperor used it and then gifted it to General Mouton, one of his most trusted commanders. Napoleon ordered several hats in the same style each year and would change them frequently. The marriage certificate of Napoleon and his first wife, Josephine. It is tipped to sell for up to 42,000 (50,000). Handwritten, it was designed to present a united front before the Vatican A large red folio that was believed to contain the official documents detailing Napoleon's divorce from Josephine. It is being sold with an upper estimate of around 67,000 (80,000). The decree was pronounced on December 15, 1809. Napoleon lost his 'lucky star', although the ex spouses continued to correspond regularly Napoleon's signature portable campaign bed that was invented especially for him could sell for up to 50,000 (60,000). He loved the design so much that he used it everywhere, including when at home. He bequeathed these camp beds to his son. He wrote from exile on St Helena that they were a 'modest legacy' which would preserve the memory of 'a father the universe will forever speak of' The ceremonial sword and stick used during Napoleon's coronation ceremony in 1804. They were crafted for the person in who lead the ceremony, Michel Duverdier, the chief herald of the empire. They feature imperial bees, thunderbolt engravings. Together they are expected to sell for up to 336,000 (400,000) Born on the island of Corsica in 1769, Napoleon rose from a minor noble family to lead France after the French Revolution. He made his name at the Siege of Toulon in 1793, where he was credited with overseeing a victory over English and Spanish forces. The military leader went on to win a series of crushing victories over the Austrians, which further boosted his profile. He later went to Egypt, where his forces were roundly beaten by those of British naval hero Horatio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. Returning to France, he launched a military coup in 1799 and was crowned Emperor of France five years later, at Notre Dame on December 2, 1804. He famously wore two crowns for the ceremony. One was modelled on the one worn by medieval Emperor Charlemagne, while the other was a gold laurel wreath befitting of a Roman emperor. His wife Josephine, whom he married in 1796, was crowned by her husband. The couple's volcanic romance - depicted in Ridley Scott's controversial 2023 film - was tempestuous. Napoleon penned frequent, graphic love letters to his wife, which she responded to tersely, driving him wild with frustration. An imperial gift from Napoleon in 1811, just after his marriage to second wife Marie Louise of Austria. It has an upper estimate of 252,000 (300,000) Napoleon in his coronation robes, by Francois Gerard. It is tipped to sell for up to 252,000 (300,000) A gold, enamel and diamond necklace watch that was made for Empress Marie Louise. It was possibly gifted by her to friends. It is being sold with an upper estimate of 50,400 (60,000) The Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honour. It was reserved for just 60 of Napoleon's best officers and was the most prestigious award of the Napoleonic era. This example is accompanied by a handwritten label stating it was gifted in 1853 by Napoleons grandnephew, Joseph Lucien Bonaparte, to a friend. It is expected to sell for up to 168,000 (200,000) Napoleon's personal gold and ebony seal is expected to sell for up to 210,000 (250,000). It was seized in the chaos following the emperor's final defeat at Waterloo in 1815 Napoleon's marriage to Josephine, who was depicted by Vanessa Kirby in the 2023 film, was tempestuous Also in the Sotheby's sale is a portrait of Napoleon in his coronation robes, by Francois Gerard. It is tipped to sell for up to 252,000 (300,000). And the ceremonial sword and stick used during the coronation ceremony by chief herald Michel Duverdier, are expected to sell for up to 336,000 (400,000). Napoleon's dream of invading Britain and securing naval supremacy were crushed at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, at which Nelson was killed. But that defeat did not stop Napoleon from securing successive victories in Europe, over the Russians, Austrians and Prussians. Overreach followed with campaigns in Portugal and Spain and then French forces suffered catastrophic losses in the Peninsular War. Further defeats followed with the failed invasion of Russia and at the Battle of Leipzig. He did sensationally break out of exile on the island of Elba, but suffered his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. It was after that disaster that he spent his final days under British watch on the island of St Helena. An exhibition featuring the objects is being held in Hong Kong from today until May 27 and then in New York from June 5 until June 11. The auction takes place at Sotheby's Paris on June 25. Angela Rayner has encouraged Rachel Reeves to strip middle-class families of child benefits payments, it has been claimed. The Labour Deputy Prime Minister urged the treasury to 'claw back' the benefit from families where the top earner's annual salary was somewhere between 50,000 and 80,000, The Telegraph first reported. If taken forward, the decision would undo an announcement by the Tories in March 2024 that was predicted to save 500,000 families around 1,300 per year. Ms Rayner's suggestion was reportedly contained in the same leaked memo, in which the Deputy PM proposed eight tax rises. Ms Reeves faced criticism this week after details of the memo were revealed and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an about-turn on her abolition of the universal winter fuel payment. The memo accepted that the change to child benefit rules would be 'contentious' but added Labour could argue that the Tories had never properly funded the policy to begin with. Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative chancellor who announced the change in 2024, urged Labour not to reverse it. Angela Rayner (pictured) has encouraged Rachel Reeves to strip middle-class families of child benefits payments, it has been claimed Rachel Reeves (pictured) faced criticism this week after details of the memo were revealed and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced an about-turn on her abolition of the universal winter fuel payment 'This may look like a relatively minor budget measure but was one of the most popular things we did because it helped striving middle-class families struggling with childcare costs. 'Abandoning them would confirm that far from being a New Labour government, this is a traditional anti-aspiration Old Labour government.' It comes as Ms Rayner called for migrant benefits to be slashed and urged Ms Reeves to make changes, it was reported yesterday, after the Deputy PM challenged the Chancellor's economic approach. Bold proposals, outlined in the leaked memo, also suggested making it harder for immigrants to receive Universal credit. Ms Rayner even said Labour should raise the fee migrants pay to use the NHS, in policies she and her team claimed were 'contentious' but still 'worthy of consideration'. Under current policies, introduced under the Tories in 2015, foreigners on work visas pay to access healthcare - a fee currently set at 1,035. The 'radical' policies further included limiting access to the state pension. It comes as Keir Starmer was struggling to quell chaos in his Cabinet yesterday amid claims Rayner is jockeying to replace him. The PM signalled an extraordinary U-turn on cuts to winter fuel allowance on Wednesday as he bowed to a growing revolt on his benches. And the humiliating move could only be the start with signs Sir Keir is also considering giving ground on the two-child benefit cap, amid alarm at Labour's poll plunge. The pressure intensified as it emerged Ms Rayner's office wrote to embattled Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Spring urging her to hike taxes again instead of cutting welfare. The Deputy PM's aides have denied leaking the memo, and argued that such discussions are routine within government. However, some Labour MPs believe that Ms Rayner is 'on manoeuvres' to ensure she does not have 'blood on her hands' from failed policies. 'Angela has been loyal in public but she knows she needs to distance herself from some of the unpopular policies,' one backbencher told The Times. 'Starmer is not under any kind of threat now but if things have not improved closer to the next election that could change. Angela is ambitious and she needs to be credible if she is to present herself as the candidate of the left.' Labour MP Cat Eccles admitted the government's communications had been 'really poor', suggesting she blamed the PM's advisers and Ms Reeves for not 'listening'. 'It's annoying that we did raise these exact concerns at the time. And it's only now or down the line after we've had those local election results, as you say, that all of a sudden, they're all ears to their MPs,' she told Times Radio. 'Oh, what do you think the issues are? It's like, well, actually, we told you months ago. So I think there's a lot of us that are feeling slightly less buoyant than we did back in July last year.' The winter fuel allowance move was seen as an humiliation for Ms Reeves - who is at a G7 meeting in Canada. Stripping around nine million pensioners of the payments was one of the first announcements the Chancellor made after Labour's landslide election victory last year. But it has been widely blamed for the party's disastrous collapse in support. Labour campaigners reported it was toxic on doorsteps during May's local elections, which saw the party lose councillors and the Runcorn and Helsby Parliamentary by-election. Left-wing Labour MPs rallied behind Ms Rayner's push on targeting taxes instead of welfare, prompting the Tories to claim that the Cabinet was in 'open warfare'. A Venezuelan woman has been stranded for nearly two months after she was arrested by ICE in Miami, driven to Texas and deported to Mexico along with two busloads of illegal immigrants. The woman, who asked not to be named to avoid more legal trouble, says the migrants were lied to by American and Mexican authorities, who both refused to give the migrants back their passports from their countries of origin. She says men, women and children were dumped onto the streets of cartel-controlled cities without money, IDs and even cell phones. 'We were terrified after we were told we could be kidnapped or forced into working for them,' she recalled. The South American mother lived in Florida for the last 20 years with her husband and three sons - two of which are US citizens. In 2013, she lost her legal case in immigration court and was ordered out of America. She remained in the US, despite the final deportation - which means she had exhausted all legal pathways. 'When Donald Trump won the presidency, I did begin to get nervous, knowing I had a deportation order, but I never thought I'd end up in Mexico,' she told DailyMail.com in a phone interview from Mexico City. Migrants walk into Mexico after being deported from the U.S., at El Chaparral pedestrian border bridge in Tijuana, Mexico, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez, File) Pres. Donald Trump won in large part, but promising to shut down historic border crossings allowed under former President Joe Biden. More than a million Venezuelans were allowed into the US under the Democratic president. The Republican vowed to carry out the largest deportations in the country's history. However, in March, less than two months after Trump took over, ICE came looking for the illegal immigrant who had evaded the law for seven years. 'I was leaving my house one morning with my husband. They were parked next to me on the street, in an unmarked car, no sign it was them,' she described. 'They said come with us. You're under arrest.' She was held in federal immigration detentions centers in Florida for about a week, and was told at the time she would be sent to Mexico. The migrant claims she contact her lawyer and was told there was nothing that could be done. Mexico and the US have entered an agreement, where our southern neighbor has agreed to take in deportees that are not their own citizens. Mexican migrants deported from U.S. stand at the Migrant Assistance Center, a temporary shelter, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo A general view shows a temporary shelter built by Mexican authorities to receive migrants deported, as U.S. President Donald Trump completes his first 100 days in office, seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez Carlos Flores, of Honduras, who was deported from the United States, rubs his face as he looks at his phone at a migrant shelter where he lives with his wife and two daughters Thursday, May 1, 2025, in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Trump asked Mexico to take non-Mexicans in, fearing that not every country would be willing to take its own citizens back. In an April 29 press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed that it had received 39,000 deportees from the US since January. However, all but 6,000 were Mexican. 'Fewer and fewer people are arriving from other countries because the U.S. government has agreements with practically all nations,' Sheinbaum explained. Venezuela, a communist regime, had previously refused to take its own back, however, under Trump, the country has relented. Repatriation flights directly to Venezuela or stopping in our countries and then continuing on to Venezuela have been taking place. Despite that, the Venezuelan woman was driven over 1,400 miles to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility on the US-Mexico border. She was there for about two days, and then loaded onto a charter bus in Brownsville. Venezuelan migrants who fled their land are flown back Thursday, with government officials from the Communist regime waiting for them on the tarmac A propaganda video staged by the Venezuelan government shows smiling migrants who fled Venezuela bound for the US being returned to the government they fear on Thursday A Venezuelan migrant spread his arms as he arrives with other men, women and children in Caracas on a deportation flight from the United States Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Monday, March 24, 2025 She said two large busloads of migrants from all over Latin America where then driven to the international bridge and released to Mexican authorities. From there, they were told by Mexican officials that they would be returned to their own countries and loaded onto more buses. The migrants were driven hundreds of additional miles to the coastal state of Tabasco. In the dead of night, the migrants were released onto the streets without any ID or place to go. Fortunately, she was able to make her way to Mexico City where her cousin has taken her in. 'I was so afraid I was going to end up in El Salvador,' she said of the more than 200 Venezuelans flown to the Central America accused of being terrorists. For now, she's weighing whether she might apply for asylum in Mexico or in another country, but now she will be separated from her family no matter what. 'I don't know what my next steps are, partly because I don't want to think about it. It's hard to think that I will be away from my kids.' A couple who are both battling cancer are now trying to make memories together while they can after one of them was told they are terminally ill. Sarah Hughes, 43, and her partner of 13 years Paul Crook, 47, were diagnosed with the disease within weeks of each other earlier this year. The mother-of-two from Runcorn, Cheshire, first went to the GP after suffering from what doctors initially thought was a viral infection. However, a later scan revealed that Sarah had secondary breast cancer that had spread to her bones and was now incurable. The 43-year-old was previously diagnosed with the disease in March 2020 but after a mastectomy and various rounds of treatment she was given the all-clear a year later. To add to the family's nightmare, Sarah's partner Paul was also told he had tonsil cancer at the start of 2025. The father-of-five found a lump in his neck just after Christmas and was given antibiotics from the GP, who also thought he had an infection. However, he was subsequently diagnosed with a tumour on his tonsils after the mass did not go down. Paul, who is expected to make a full recovery, is due to have an operation in June to remove the cancer and then undergo radiotherapy. Sarah Hughes, 43, and her partner of 13 years Paul Crook, 47, were told they had cancer within weeks of each other earlier this year Kristy Boyce, 46, who has known Sarah since they were at school, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the couple to make memories together while they can. She told The Liverpool Echo: 'It's so heartbreaking for them both having to go through this. 'It's been a really bad strap for them, trying just trying to get through it as best as they can, they're both strong people and are keeping as positive as they can for each other.' Breaking into tears about Sarah's diagnosis, Kristy added: 'It has been devastating to find out she has been diagnosed with cancer again. We have loads of memories over the years, we've done so much together.' Kristy said she hoped to raise enough money for Sarah and Paul to go on a trip to New York. She wrote on the GoFundMe page: 'Sarah has been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer after being cancer free for five years. 'It has spread to her bones and cannot be cured, the only thing they can do is to start treatment to help prolong her life. 'Very sadly Paul is also fighting his own cancer battle as he has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer and needs an operation to remove it and then further treatment. 'Sarah has started to compile a bucket list and would love to go to New York before she becomes to ill. 'Obviously they are both going to be off work so this is where we come in!!! We would love to be able to raise enough money to get them to New York and any other little trips they want to do to make some precious memories!' Even Labour governments nowadays want to pretend to be tough on crime when the opposite is true but the Starmer administration will have its work cut out if its serious about introducing mandatory castration of sex offenders. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering an overhaul of the law requiring a persons consent in order to force sex offenders to take drugs to suppress their libidos, a process known as chemical castration. The procedure is already used on sex offenders in other countries including the US where, last year, the more drastic option of surgical castration was also adopted, of which more later. But it has proved enormously controversial and has been vigorously opposed by human rights campaigners American versions of Starmers old Left-wing lawyer mates who argue it is not only unethical but cruel, too. Mahmood is set to accept recommendations by the Independent Sentencing Review, a panel headed by ex Tory justice secretary David Gauke, that include dramatically expanding a pilot scheme that has seen 34 sex offenders, including paedophiles, undergo voluntary chemical castration. However, she reportedly disagrees with Gaukes view that libido-suppressing drugs should only be used with the consent of the subject. But making their use compulsory would involve overturning long-established legal and medical convention. Many believe that such a move would never get the go-ahead and floating the suggestion is just another cynical Starmer-government stunt. Yet despite its unsettling Old Testament overtones, castration is spreading in the US justice system and is also on the books in other countries amid growing frustration at the failure of conventional punishments to stop recidivist sex offenders. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering an overhaul of the law requiring a persons consent in order to force sex offenders to take drugs to suppress their libidos The procedure is already used on sex offenders in other countries including the US where, last year, the more drastic option of surgical castration The Czech Republic, Madagascar and Pakistan are among the handful of countries that allow judges to order chemical castration. It is voluntary in Germany, France, Sweden and Denmark, where some sex offenders seek it out. In America, six states, including California and Florida, allow judges to insist on chemical castration when sentencing sex offenders, or as a condition of being granted parole. Texas also has a policy but it is voluntary. The procedure usually involves injections of Depo-Provera, a birth control medication that temporarily lowers testosterone and sexual drive in men and women. Other states are considering introducing their own castration laws. Wherever its on the statute books, however, such is the controversy that surrounds the very mention of the word, that its rarely used. Critics note that the main problem with chemical castration is that its effects wear off when the patient stops taking the drugs, which could easily happen once they are released. As a result, some argue that any government contemplating the use of chemical castration should not rule out the surgical version of the procedure because it is permanent and more effective. Consequently, a number of US states allow offenders to opt for the surgical procedure if they prefer, an option taken up by those most determined not to reoffend. But one state Louisiana no longer gives them a choice. Last year, I went to New Orleans to visit the black Democrat politician who had pushed through legislation to make Deep South Louisiana the first US state to allow the surgical castration of rapists. State Representative Delisha Boyd, together with another black Democrat colleague, co-authored a bill that, from last August, allows judges to order anyone aged at least 17 who has been convicted of raping a child under 13 to undergo the physical removal of their testes before being released from prison. Given that Louisiana was one of Americas biggest slave states and plantation owners routinely castrated male slaves, most of Ms Boyds fellow Democrats were horrified by her initiative and opposed it. State Representative Delisha Boyd co-authored a bill that allows judges to order anyone aged at least 17 who has been convicted of raping a child under 13 to undergo the physical removal of their testes before being released from prison Her proposal was all the more controversial because Louisiana not only has one of the highest incarceration rates in the US but its inmates are disproportionately black (and still have to toil in the fields in work gangs at the notorious Angola State Penitentiary). But Representative Boyd, 56, had very personal reasons for introducing her bill. She is herself the product of child-rape her mother got pregnant with her aged 15 having been repeatedly raped from the age of 13 by a family friend twice her age. Abortion was not an option as it was illegal in the state at the time. Boyds mother never recovered from her ordeal and died aged 28 from drug-related cardiac arrest. I dont want to make this about race or party, Boyd told me. I am a woman first and foremost, with a child. This is about doing whats right to protect our children. She cited the arrest last May in Baton Rouge, her states capital, of a 51-year-old man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl. Hed been convicted in 2007 of a similar crime involving a five-year-old. Imagine if a judge had sentenced him [then] to castration, she said. I tell people: Close your eyes and think of your child at five. Theres nothing you can do to make either of those childrens lives normal again. While critics have opposed physical castration as a breach of the US Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment, its the five-year-old who received that, Boyd argues. The fact that were even discussing the cruel and unusual punishment of a rapist and not the victim is insane. Surgical castration, also called orchiectomy, involves the physical removal of the testes, which produce 95 per cent of a mans testosterone the primary male sexual hormone which is the main but not sole determinant of sex drive. Surgical castration, also called orchiectomy, involves the physical removal of the testes The patient is anaesthetised, a doctor makes an incision above the pubic area and the testicles are removed through the opening. The procedure typically takes place in an operating theatre but the castration of rapists will be administered by Louisianas prisons department. Castration will only be ordered at a judges discretion and must be performed a week before the offender is released from prison at the latest after a court-appointed doctor has agreed they are medically fit for major surgery. Offenders can refuse but then must serve another three to five years in prison. Even so, opponents of surgical castration have raised numerous objections to using it as a punishment. There would no doubt be similar resistance should chemical castration gain traction over here, let alone the surgical option. The Czech Republic is the only country in Europe to surgically castrate sex offenders. Rapist and killer Rafael Josef, underwent the 30-minute operation voluntarily and had part of his testicles removed to suppress his paedophile tendencies. It was painful but afterwards I felt calmer, more balanced, he told The Sun. I was able to think more about my life... I wish I had been castrated years ago and would advise other repeat violent offenders to have the operation. The exact number of prisoners who have undergone the surgery in the Czech Republic is hard to come by. But in 2009, Time magazine reported that 94 had had the treatment in the country in the previous decade. Numbers have been fewer since, partially due to the lobbying of groups such as the Council of Europe anti-torture committee. There are other reservations. Aside from the risk of permanently castrating an innocent person, critics say many rapes are about power more than sex, so removing an offenders libido wont affect their violent urges. Others question where it could lead cutting off a thiefs hand, for example. Another criticism is that castration, even surgical removal of the testes, doesnt always work. In men, the small amount of testosterone still produced by the adrenal glands could be enough to let some sexual function remain. According to a 1960s study of about 1,000 German sex offenders who chose to be surgically castrated, 18 per cent were able to have sex 20 years later. Evidence is hard to find as the procedure is used so rarely but more up-to-date data suggests no more than 10 per cent of sexual offenders who are surgically castrated repeat their crime. To people like Delisha Boyd, such statistics are beside the point. It wont stop every re-offender, she conceded, but even if castration prevented one rapist from re-offending, it would be worthwhile. It's taken an Aussie man more than a month to claim his million-dollar lotto win simply because he didn't think he was lucky enough to ever strike it rich. A Queensland man from Gympie, near the Sunshine Coast, decided on Thursday to scan a lotto ticket he bought weeks earlier, not expecting much. 'I went to the local newsagency to check my ticket and the young girls behind the counter said they couldn't pay out the prize,' the man said. 'That's when I knew it was big.' Little did he know, but for 39 days he held one of the three division one winning entries in the Saturday Gold Lotto draw 4563, on April 12, and won a staggering $1.6million. His winning entry wasn't registered so lotto officials couldn't contact him to tell him he'd won. He was left in shock after checking his numbers. 'I just had to sit and ponder the win for a month. I couldn't believe it,' he said. The Nextra newsagent where the winning ticket was bought The Gympie man had a $1.6million winning ticket in his hands and didn't even know it The winning ticket was bought at Nextra Gympie at Central Shopping Centre and store owner Kelly Goatham said there were a 'few expletives' shouted when the ticket was checked. 'My co-owner Justene thought there was a snake in the house by the way I had yelled out to her,' she said. 'The proof is in the pudding that we can, in fact, sell a division one winning entry. This is the first time Justene and I have sold a division one winning entry since we took over. 'We came in early to get our store decorated with balloons and posters, and we've been sharing the exciting news with all of our customers.' The winning numbers were 45, 3, 22, 17, 13 and 6, while the supplementary numbers were 29 and 31. In the same draw, two people in Western Australia and another in Queensland were also division one entry winners. The Gympie man said he didn't want to be identified and went even further to say he wouldn't tell many people around him about his new millionaire status, saying he planned to keep his win 'on the downlow'. 'It's pretty surreal. It's taken a lot to sink in,' he said. The Gympie newsagent celebrated the lotto win nearly as much as the man who won the prize 'My mum and two uncles were big Golden Casket fans. I don't think they did very well in terms of winnings, but they would be very happy to hear that I've taken home division one myself.' He said his first purchase would be a new car. According to lotto statistics, the three most common numbers drawn out were 1, 11 and 18. Ball 14 was the number that came out least followed by number 44. The most overdue number is 20, which last came out on September 7. An Arizona toddler has not smiled since Friday, when she was rushed to a local hospital after being bitten twice by a diamondback rattlesnake. She has since been pumped with 30 vials of antivenom - and may need even more - as her family worries about the long term effects the 15 month old may face. 'We miss her smiles,' Jacquelyn Reed told 12 News. She explained that she and her young daughter, Cara, were simply walking around their property near Florence when Reed went to throw away a piece of trash. Reed says she was only gone for about 10 seconds before she heard Cara start to cry. When she then went to find out what was wrong, she noticed the young girl 'had four puncture wounds on the top of her foot, in the little window of her little jelly shoe, and behind her, to her left was a snake coiled up.' Terrified, Reed said she immediately scooped Cara up and rushed to a nearby emergency room - calling ahead of time to let the doctors know her daughter needed antivenom. But an online fundraiser set up to help the family with the little girl's medical expenses says the hospital was unable to provide the antidote for over an hour - and soon Cara's foot started to turn black. Jacquelyn Reed told how her 15 month old daughter, Cara, had to be rushed to the hospital after she was bitten twice by a diamondback rattlesnake The little girl has been hospitalized since Friday and has not smiled since At the same time, Reed said, Cara ended up vomiting and passed out. From there, the hospital airlifted the little girl to Phoenix Children's Hospital for treatment - where Reed said Cara has 'had 30 vials of antivenom so far.' Her recovery has not been easy, as Cara soon started having trouble breathing and had to be intubated. That tube was finally removed on Tuesday, following a difficult few hours for the family. 'For the first few hours after taking the tube out, her breathing was very tight and we couldn't keep her oxygen up,' Cara's aunt wrote on the online fundraiser, noting that at times the little girl's oxygen saturation dropped to just 25 percent. Eventually, Cara's medical team at Phoenix Children's Hospital called the Ears, Nose and Throat specialists to the bedside - where they discovered that the toddler's vocal cords were swollen nearly shut. At that point, the doctors provided the little girl with more steroids, respiratory treatments, 'positioned her in a specific way to help with her floppy airway' and started her on oxygen mixed with helium. 'We were told that if she didn't show improvement within the hour, that we would be reintubating her with a tiny breathing tube and heading to the OR to have a vocal cord dilation performed,' her aunt, Delia, wrote. Reed told how her little girl had to be intubated and her foot started to turn black The family has remained by the little girl's side as she recovers 'We prayed and sat by her side, listening for improvement in her breathing' and soon, Cara 'began to move more air,' Delia wrote in an update on the online fundraiser. 'She slowly showed improvement and got over the hump.' Then on Wednesday, Delia wrote that Cara was 'finally getting nourishment by way of a feeding tube. 'Cara is now aware enough to make eye contact and is getting upset when Mom goes out of her sight,' she shared. 'She is so strong and resilient, and we are so happy with the progress she is making.' Yet it remains unclear whether Cara will ever regain full function of her foot, as Delia noted on Tuesday that she was beginning to show signs of long term injuries, and 'we do know that her injury is unfortunately one of the more severe. 'We will be looking to see what kind of recovery she can make, but right now, nothing is off the table as far as her long term damage goes,' Delia shared, noting that the family is considering foot surgery. The family says they are just glad Cara has survived the ordeal But both she and Jacquelyn say they are just glad Cara survived the ordeal. 'We are just grateful we still have our little girl with us,' Delia wrote on the GoFundMe, as she thanked everyone who has raised over $17,000 for the little girl's recovery. 'Cara is a true blessing from God and somehow, everyone knows it,' she said. 'We feel your love and your support and [know] without a DOUBT that Cara was preserved today because of the outpouring of faith and prayers to our Heavenly Father by all who love her.' Jacquelyn added that her baby is 'the angel of the family' and she still hopes 'that we can get full function back, that she can, you know, be back to her normal, happy, like cute, adorable self.' Aussie budget airline Jetstar is one of several carriers around the world being impacted by a major GPS glitch causing long delays for travellers. A number of Jetstar's Airbus planes suffered a fault in their navigation system just days after the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a warning about solar flare activity. Pilots on affected planes received a message 'requiring the (GPS) system to be reset before the flight departs'. The glitch sparked delays for flights to Bali, Fiji and Hobart from airports on Australia's east coast on Thursday. There was no safety concern for passengers, a Jetstar spokesperson said. 'Engineers have inspected the aircraft and have determined the multiple aircraft GPS systems continue to operate and transmit signals,' they told Daily Mail Australia. 'At no time has there been any impact to safety as a result of this issue. There has been minimal impact to our operation and we thank our customers for their patience if they have experienced any delays while engineers conduct system resets.' The Jetstar planes fleets affected include the new Airbus A320 Neos and A321 Neos. No other Qantas Group aircraft types were impacted and Virgin Australia has confirmed their planes were unaffected. GPS systems on planes around the world are being affected by possible solar flare activity The Jetstar planes fleets affected include the new Airbus A320 Neos and A321 Neos The GPS fault follows a NASA warning about solar flares - a burst of radiation from the sun that can knock out satellites and communications. Aviation expert Richard de Crespigny said solar flares could affect computers. 'The Earth is having bad weather at the moment. Every 11 years the sun's magnetic field flips,' the expert said. 'It causes pimples on the face of the sun, radiation, and it's (a) very high intensity and it overcomes or jams the GPS signals that come to Earth. 'The GPS inputs to about 16 different systems on the aeroplane, even the clock. GPS requirements are higher in an aircraft than a car.' On May 20, the NOAA issued a warning about solar flare activity saying it 'can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications'. A solar storm is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and material blasted into the solar system by the sun. 'When directed toward Earth, a solar storm can create a major disturbance in Earth's magnetic field, called a geomagnetic storm, that can produce effects such as radio blackouts, power outages, and beautiful auroras,' NASA said. President Donald Trump has added another piece of untraditional art to the walls of the White House. Hanging in the West Wing is an illustration of Trump alongside two other prominent Republicans, Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. A picture of the new addition was posted to X on Thursday by The New York Times' Shawn McCreesh. It's located in an area of the West Wing where reporters are allowed, in the hallway heading to 'upper press.' The artwork was created by illustrator and painter Dick Bobnick and titled 'Great American Patriots.' Bobnick's website says the original painting is still available for sale. Reproductions of the artwork are for sale for as low as $27 and the image is available on coffee cups, beach towels, pillows, tote bags and phone cases on the artist's site. The painting is just the most recent move by Trump and his aides to give the White House a more Trumpian and MAGA aesthetic. Last month, the White House moved President Barack Obama's official portrait across the residence's entryway and installed an image of Trump in his 'fight, fight, fight!' pose, after nearly being assassinated at the July 13 Butler, Pennsylvania campaign rally. The latest piece of Trumpian art that popped up in the West Wing is this painting of President Donald Trump and Republican greats, Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. It was painted by American artist Dick Bobnick This comes after the White House moved a portrait of President Barack Obama and installed a painting of President Donald Trump shouting 'fight, fight, fight' after being nearly assassinated in its place last month That artwork is a painted version of a photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci, snapped moments after an assassin's bullet grazed Trump's ear. Ironically the photographer who snapped the photo is one of the AP journalists who've been barred with taking a daily place in the White House 'pool' - the smaller group of journalists who follow the president daily and are allowed into more confined spaces, including Air Force One and the Oval Office. In February the White House said it was banishing the AP from the pool over the wire service's refusal to use 'Gulf of America' instead of Gulf of Mexico in its influential style guide. Vucci was one of the AP's journalists who testified in an ongoing legal case. The Trump White House also trolled critics by adding a piece of Star-Spangled Trump art - an American flag over the president's face - in a locale usually reserved for the first ladies. In the booksellers' entryway of the East Wing, the White House hung the Trump artwork up between portraits of first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. The new arrival was discovered during the White House's annual Easter Egg Roll last month, with visitors posting it on social media. A White House staffer called the new painting 'another iconic portrait' and told DailyMail.com that President 'Trump was re-elected after two failed impeachment hoaxes, dozens of criminal charges, and multiple assassination attempts. He can hang art wherever he wants!' Rep. Jimmy Patronis of Florida posted a photo of another new Trump painting after visiting the White House during last month's Easter Egg Roll Trump also ordered his mugshot hung up outside the Oval Office. Inside the Oval Office, the president has hung a variety of portraits and added gold all over. Most recently the decorative ceiling medallion in the Oval Office was painted with gold. For decades as a developer the Trump aesthetic included a lot of gold and marble. During last week's trip the Middle East, where the president was feted in grand palaces and government buildings in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, he repeatedly complimented the glitzy style. The wife of OceanGate's CEO smiled and asked 'what was that bang' as she unknowingly heard the moment the Titan submersible imploded killing her husband and four others on board. New footage released by the US Coastguard shows Wendy Rush, the wife of Stockton Rush, trying to contact the doomed crew during their descent to the wreck of the Titanic. Mrs Rush, who was monitoring the sub's progress from a support ship, can be seen reacting to a noise that sounded like a 'door slamming'. She then turns to a team member sitting behind her and asks 'what was that bang?' Moments later Mrs Rush, who was a director of OceanGate with her husband, received a text message saying the sub had dropped two weights. While she initially assumed this meant the dive was proceeding as planned, investigators now believe the 'bang' she heard was the moment the sub imploded. It is thought the message she received was in fact sent just before the tragedy with its arrival being delayed due to the sound of the implosion, the BBC has reported. The video of Mrs Rush is being used as evidence in the two-year long investigation by the US Coastguard Marine Board into the sub's catastrophic failure. New footage released by the US Coastguard shows Wendy Rush, the wife of Stockton Rush, trying to contact the doomed crew during their descent to the wreck of the Titanic The wreckage of the submersible was ultimately located on the ocean floor about 330 yards off the bow of the Titanic Among those onboard the doomed vessel were OceanGate founder and CEO Stockton Rush All five people on board were instantly killed in the tragedy on June 18, 2023. The victims included OceanGate co-founder Mr Rush, adventurer Hamish Harding, father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, as well as Frenchman Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The passengers had paid to see the wreck of the Titanic, which lies some 3,700 meters below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. It is believed the vessel imploded around 90 minutes into its descent with its wreckage later found 330 yards away from the bow of the ship. The new video footage released by the US Coastguard comes after the sub's haunting final moments were also revealed earlier this year in a sound clip. The audio, which detected an ominous noise from around 900 miles away, was captured from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration device. The US Coastguard reported in February that the sound was the 'suspected acoustic signature' of the vessel's implosion. The eerie recording was the latest piece of evidence to emerge in the wake of the ill-fated expedition which sparked a huge investigation into determining the cause and the company's processes as well as industry-wide safety reviews. The submersible suddenly lost contact with its support vessel, Polar Prince, after just about an hour and 45 minutes into the two-and-a-half hour descent. One of the last messages from the crew to Polar Prince before the submersible imploded stated, 'all good here,' according to a visual re-creation presented at a Coast Guard hearing last year. Ms Rush turns a team member sitting behind her and asks 'what was that bang?' Father and son Shahzada Dawood, 48, (right) and Sulaiman Dawood, 19, (left) were also killed in the implosion They died alongside Paul-Henri Nargeolet (left) and adventurer Hamish Harding (right) OceanGate's Titan submersible imploded in the Atlantic Ocean in June 2023 But the loss of contact sparked an international manhunt to track down the missing vessel which had plunged 12,400ft - more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon - under the North Atlantic ocean. Eventually, however, the wreckage of the ship was found on the ocean floor about 330 yards off the bow of the Titanic, with Coast Guard officials reporting that no one on board survived. Following the tragedy, questions emerged about the safety of the submersible, which had been making voyages to the Titanic wreckage site going back to 2021. It was later revealed that the vessel was being operated by a video game controller, and leaders in the field of deep-sea exploration had even warned Mr Rush five years earlier that the company's 'experimental' methods could end in 'catastrophic' disaster. Others inside the company also expressed concerns, including David Lochridge, who worked as the Titan project's director of marine operations. He had demanded more rigorous safety checks on the sub - including 'testing to prove its integrity'. Lochridge also wanted the company to carry out a scan of Titan's hull to 'detect potential flaws' rather than 'relying on acoustic monitoring' which would only detect an issue 'milliseconds before an implosion'. But he was unceremoniously booted from the company in the aftermath, as Rush continually brushed off the concerns. He even suggested at one point that questions about the Titan's safety credentials was 'personally insulting' and he branded claims he was 'going to kill someone' as 'baseless.' Rush went as far as saying he was 'tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation' as he appeared resentful of the 'obscenely safe' regulations he viewed as an obstacle to development and innovation. By September last year, the US Coastguard conducted public hearings to grill company executives on what may have gone wrong. At the hearing, Karl Stanley, a submersible pilot and designer of the Roatan Institute of Deepsea Exploration, claimed Rush was more concerned with leaving 'his mark on history' than keeping his passengers safe. 'He knew that eventually it was going to end like this, and he wasn't going to be held accountable,' Stanley testified. 'But he was going to be the most famous of all his famous relatives.' Stanley went on to say he had tried to flag safety concerns he noticed during a test drive in April 2019, including cracking noises and issues with drop weights. He emailed Rush, who dismissed the concerns. 'I felt also, this exchange of emails strained our relationship from what it had been previously,' he said. 'I felt like I pushed things as far as I could without him telling me to shut up and never talk to him again.' Stanley also said he viewed OceanGate's characterization of paid passengers as 'mission specialists' to be an attempt to avoid accountability. 'It's clearly a dodge with trying to get around U.S. regulations with passengers,' Stanley said. Additionally, the company's 'entire business plan made zero sense,' Stanley said. 'There was nothing unexpected about this. This was expected by everyone who had access to a little bit of information,' Stanley said. 'And I think that if it wasn't an accident, it then has to be some degree of crime. And if it's a crime, I think to truly understand it, you need to understand the criminal's motive. 'The entire reason this whole operation started was Stockton had a desire to leave his mark on history.' Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic But Amber Bay, director of administration for the company that owned the doomed submersible, insisted that the company would not 'conduct dives that would be risky just to meet a need'. Still, she agreed that the company wanted to deliver for those who paid $250,000 and were encouraged to participate as 'mission specialists'. 'There definitely was an urgency to deliver on what we had offered and a dedication and perseverance towards that goal,' she told a Coast Guard panel. She later broke down in tears when discussing the tragedy, which was personal, because she knew the victims. 'I had the privilege of knowing the explorers lives who were lost,' Bay said through tears. 'And theres not a day that passes that I dont think of them, their families and the loss.' OceanGate, based in Washington state, suspended its operations after the implosion. The company has no full-time employees currently, but was represented by an attorney during the hearing. The company said it has been fully co-operating with the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board investigations since they began. Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster airs on BBC Two on Tuesday 27th May at 9pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer. A New York City influencer and author claimed she had to beg cops to arrest a man who punched her in the face in an unprompted sidewalk attack. Author and keynote speaker Kindra Hall, 44, shared the frustrating experience she had with NYPD officers after she was knocked to the ground by a stranger. In a detailed Instagram post, featuring footage from the May 14 Upper East Side ordeal, Hall accused the police of downplaying her horrifying situation. Security cameras outside a nail salon captured Hall and the culprit, later identified as Yao Reed, 43, walking in opposite directions toward each other at around 10:30am. Reed, wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, was seen striking Hall's face as he continued walking passed her as if nothing happened. The public speaking expert in a white top then plunged to the pavement, evidently flustered and frightened. Witnessed appeared to have rushed to her aid. Hall also shared video she recorded on her cellphone, showing Reed strutting away from her and belligerently shouting. 'In an interesting twist, he gave me his address before threatening to slit my throat,' the shell-shocked victim wrote in the footage's description. Author and keynote speaker Kindra Hall (pictured), 44, shared the agonizing experience she allegedly had with NYPD officers after she was knocked to the ground by a stranger Hall also shared video she recorded on her cellphone, showing Yao Reed (pictured) strutting away from her and belligerently shouting Reed (pictured getting arrested), 43, seemed agitated at police officers as he was place in cuffs Already baffled and shaken from the assault, Hall's frustration only amplified when she dialed 911. 'The police took apprx 30 min to arrive and once they did, even after showing the video with the guy shouting threats, acted like it wasnt a big deal,' she claimed. 'I remember saying, So since Im not bleeding, a punch to the head is ok?!' Hall said cops finally agrees to arrest the suspect when she claimed she had a headache - but they insisted she come with them to his apartment. 'I cant describe how terrifying that was. Maybe they were hoping Id refuse and give up?' she wrote. Reed was visibly aggravated when he was arrested, as video shows him screaming at a police officer as he put him in cuffs. In her social media tell-all, Hall also complained that cops made no effort to retrieve security footage. She only got a copy of it after her boyfriend asked the salon owner to hand it over, Hall claimed. Reed ended up getting charged with third-degree assault, The New York Post reported. Hall said cops finally agrees to arrest the suspect when she claimed she had a headache - but they insisted she come with them to his apartment Hall (pictured) is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author whose expertise lies in storytelling and how it can be used as a business technique The public speaking expert in a white top plunged to the pavement, evidently flustered and frightened (pictured: the moment after Hall was punched) But the NYPD had a different perspective about the story Hall blasted to her more than 66,500 Instagram followers. Cops told the NY Post that at the time of Hall's complaint, they were handling several 'high priority calls,' including gunshots being fired. They also responded to the fact that they did not go get the nail salon's footage, saying they had no reason to do so because the attacker was already identified. 'I am so grateful it wasnt worse. Im grateful it was me and not someone who couldnt take the hit or the fall. Im hopeful the man gets the help and services he clearly needs,' Hall said. 'And Im heartbroken and furious that this is how it is - so much apathy.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the NYPD for comment. Hall is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author whose expertise lies in storytelling and how it can be used as a business technique. According to her professional bio, she has been hired by global brands to 'deliver messages that inspire teams and individuals to better communicate the value of their company, their products and their individuality through strategic storytelling.' An elderly man has been killed in an alleged hit and run in western Sydney. The 95-year-old man was hit by a car on Elizabeth Drive in Liverpool at about 10pm on Thursday. He was rushed to Liverpool Hospital, where he later died of his injuries. The driver of the car, a 36-year old man, was later arrested at a home on Narellan Crescent in Bonnyrigg Heights. He was uninjured. He was charged with fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death. The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on May 29. 'Police will allege in court the man did not stop and assist following the crash,' a NSW Police spokesperson said. An elderly man has been killed in an alleged hit and run in western Sydney (crash scene pictured) Donald Trump's original political guru Steve Bannon revealed that Elon Musk's attempts to gain access to secret briefings on war plans ultimately resulted in the end of his White House bromance. Bannon - whose influence during Trump's first term compares to 'First Buddy' Musk in the second - has labeled the Tesla billionaire as an elitist outsider and interloper in a political movement he helped shape from the ground up. In an explosive story about Musk's White House fallout, Bannon says that the alliance ended the moment Trump was prevented from showing Elon Musk the Pentagon's plans for a hypothetical war with China. 'You could feel it. Everything changed. The fever had been broken,' Bannon told The Atlantic. In late March, the president initially disputed claims by the 'fake news' that Musk was being allowed a glimpse at plans for a hypothetical battle ahead of his visit to the Pentagon. The head of the Department of Government Efficiency even suggested he was going to hunt down the 'leakers' who suggested he was getting a look at top secret plans. However, Trump held a press conference with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth where he was asked why Musk wouldn't just be shown such information. 'Certainly, you wouldn't show it to a businessman who is helping us so much, paying a big price for helping us cut costs... but Elon has businesses in China and he would be susceptible to that.' Longtime Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon (pictured) revealed that Elon Musk's attempts to gain access to briefings on a future war with China was the beginning of the end of his bromance with the president In a new feature story about Musk's (pictured) fallout with the White House, Bannon says that the moment potential conflicts of interest prevented Trump from showing Elon Musk the Pentagon 's plans for a hypothetical war with China , the unlikely alliance ended Trump ultimately said that Musk's visit was about finding potential 'waste, fraud and abuse' at the Pentagon. He also suggested he wants as few people as possible to see plans for a war he doesn't want to ever happen. 'I don't want to show it to anybody, you're talking about a potential war with China. I deal with these people all the time. I don't want anybody seeing potential war with China.' Hegseth suggested that the story only existed to 'undermine the relationship we have with Elon Musk.' Both Trump and Hegseth referred to Musk as a 'patriot' and someone making great sacrifices for the country. Access to the closely guarded military plan would have marked an sharp expansion of Musk's role as a Trump adviser who has spearheaded efforts to cut U.S. government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of both Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. Now, Bannon may be taking a victory lap against someone he has hated being in Trump's inner circle from the beginning. In late March, the president initially disputed claims by the 'fake news' that Musk was being allowed a glimpse at plans for a hypothetical battle ahead of the 'First Buddy' being invited to the Pentagon Access to the closely guarded military plan would have marked an sharp expansion of Musk's role as a Trump adviser who has spearheaded efforts to cut U.S. government spending. It would also fuel questions about conflicts of interest for Musk, who as the head of both Tesla and SpaceX has business interests in China and with the Pentagon Known for his ruthlessly populist vision, Bannon's blistering attacks have branded Musk everything from a 'parasitic illegal immigrant' to a 'truly evil person,' drawing clear battle lines inside the MAGA camp. But despite the growing animosity, Trump has made clear he wants to keep both men close. According to two sources familiar with private conversations in March, Trump urged Bannon as recently as February to cool his attacks on Musk and even pushed for a face-to-face sit-down between the two - a meeting that still has not happened. The tug-of-war reflects a deeper ideological struggle within MAGA. Behind the scenes, Musk grew irritated by Bannon's relentless attacks, though he has engaged only sporadically. Last month, in a rare jab, Musk fired back on X: 'Bannon is a great talker, but not a great doer. What did he get done this week? Nothing.' Bannon, meanwhile, is relentless, and according to his inner circle, he sees the fight less about personal insults but who gets to chart the course for MAGA after Trump. 'He's looking into the future, and he's saying, "Oh no, there's an atheistic, amoral, C.C.P.-aligned, unaccountable foreigner that's going to be the head of the MAGA movement at some point,"' said Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of The National Pulse and a close Bannon ally. 'And I think he's right to express the concerns in the way he's doing it.' President Donald Trump is scrambling to broker peace between two of his most influential and volatile allies, Steve Bannon, left, and Elon Musk, center. Pictured here together in 2017 Behind the scenes, Elon Musk has grown irritated by Bannon's relentless attacks, though he has engaged only sporadically Bannon served as chief strategist during Trumps first term before the pair split acrimoniously in 2017, but he was also devoted to the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. While Trump tries to hold the warring camps together, the schism runs deep. The tension between Musk and Bannon came to a head in February when both took the stage at CPAC, receiving thunderous applause from the same conservative audience. In a rare moment of deference, Bannon called Musk 'Superman' onstage, but quickly pivoted to remind the crowd of the bigger picture: 'They're gonna remember two things, Donald Trump and MAGA, OK?' Bannon thundered, making clear that neither he nor Musk was bigger than the movement. Bannon left no doubt in a New York Times interview that the chasm between him and Musk is 'probably insurmountable.' 'He's still not a populist nationalist, he's a globalist,' Bannon said. Bannon has blasted Musk over immigration, particularly his support for H-1B visas. 'Billionaires like Musk will abandon MAGA the second it stops serving their interests,' Bannon has warned repeatedly. Earlier this week, Musk broke news during the Qatar Economic Forum that he was moving away from politics and political spending. 'In terms of political spending, I'm going to do a lot less in the future,' he said at the Qatar Economic Forum. 'I think I've done enough,' he added, sparking laughter in the audience. A person familiar with Musk's activities did not rule out the billionaire getting financially engaged in the congressional midterms, but suggested he was dialing it back. 'Hard to say if he will do the same sort of thing like putting everything on pause to do rallies,' the source said. President Trump has noticeably turned his attention away from Musk, sending him fewer messages of support on his social media account in recent weeks. Trump did not mention Musk in any of his Truth Social posts in April or May, according to a Politico analysis of his posts. That's a steep decline from when he first took office and was constantly posting about DOGE and Musk's accomplishments. Musk's posts on X also appear to be veering away from politics and more toward his projects. Two Mastermind finalists have gone from rivals to lovers having entered a relationship after the show. Claire Reynolds, 42, of Stratford-upon-Avon, narrowly missed out on the top score in the final of the 52nd series of the show. John Robinson, a teacher at Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Birmingham, won the final and later his fellow player's heart. The couple said they became close as they embarked on their return journey to England, The Times first reported, after the final was filmed in Northern Ireland in November. 'The show was shot in Belfast and we were both flying back to Birmingham and were on a flight together,' Reynolds said. 'After we filmed the final, we had some time to kill at the airport. So we had a few drinks together and then got the plane back ... and stayed in touch. 'Although we started as friends it's more than that now, to be honest.' Claire Reynolds (second right) and John Robinson (right) were runner-up and winner of the 52nd series of Mastermind Robinson, a teacher at Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Birmingham, won the final and later his fellow player's heart Reynolds added that 'one thing led to another' and the two former singletons became a couple. The pair have reportedly now combined their knowledge and are taking on locals at community games nights. Before the show, Robinson won 500,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2019. Reynolds scored an impressive 12 points with no passes on her specialist round on the German mathematician Emmy Noether, and 17 points on general knowledge. The oldest inmate on death row had some fiery words for Tennessee's governor as he was executed for murdering his estranged wife and her teenage sons. Oscar Franklin Smith, 75, was killed by lethal injection on Thursday morning for the 1989 murders of Judith Smith and her sons, Jason and Chad Burnett. Smith has always maintained his innocence in the grisly murders, and as he lay strapped to a gurney at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville he claimed the justice system was broken. He noted that Gov. Bill Lee - who made a last minute decision to stop Smith's execution in 2022 - 'has the last word' on allowing executions to continue. 'He's a damned fool if he doesn't realize we've got [innocent] men at Riverbend waiting to die,' the 75-year-old said in his three-minute final statement, according to the Nashville Banner. 'I'm not the first, and I won't be the last,' he said. Smith could later be heard insisting, 'I didn't kill her' in the moments before visible signs of respiration stopped and he was pronounced dead at 10.47am. Witnesses to the execution said they saw no obvious sign that the injection had begun after his final statement, but noted that Smith's speech became labored as he spoke with his spiritual adviser - who was allowed into the execution chamber under an agreement with state officials. She was seen performing a final liturgy, reading from scripture and at one point singing I'll Fly Away. Oscar Franklin Smith, 75, was killed by lethal injection on Thursday morning He was convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting his estranged wife, Judith Smith, her 13-year-old son Jason Burnett and 16-year-old son Chad Burnett at their Nashville home shorty before midnight on October 1, 1989 Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting Judith Smith, her 13-year-old son Jason Burnett and 16-year-old son Chad Burnett at their Nashville home shorty before midnight on October 1, 1989. Prosecutors argued that the couple were going through a contentious divorce and were fighting over custody of their three-year-old twins. When the murders occurred, Smith was also facing domestic violence charges for allegedly assaulting his wife. At his trial, two of Smith's co-workers testified that he had solicited them to kill Judith, noting that he had a history of threats and violence against her and her boys. He even told one of his co-workers that he threatened to kill the boys because he said Judith treated them better than the twin children they shared, according to the Tennessean. Smith had also taken out insurance policies on all three victims, prosecutors noted. They also played the audio of the 911 call, in which they said Chad could be heard screaming, 'Frank, no.' Franklin is Smith's middle name, and one that prosecutors said he used regularly. Smith had some strong words for Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in his final statement But Smith has long denied the murders and allegations of domestic violence and death threats, claiming he, his wife and the boys had spent the day together and later that night, he said he left Judy's house with their twins, whom he dropped off at his mother's house while he left for a job in Kentucky. His claims, however, were refuted by the fact that his car was seen at the victim's home the night of the crime. A handprint found at the scene also matched Smith's left hand - including his two missing fingers. Smith was ultimately sentenced to death by a Davidson County jury in July 1990, and faced multiple execution dates that were rescheduled due to the COVID pandemic and moratoriums to review the state's lethal injection process, WPLN reports. It had turned out that the lethal drugs the state was using for executions were not properly tested for endotoxins - a step in its own required protocol, and Gov. Lee granted Smith a temporary reprieve. The corrections department, though, has since issued new guidelines for executions - this time involving just one drug, pentobarbital. Those guidelines are now the subject of a lawsuit, which claims the state was likely using pentobarbital purchased on the 'gray market' because even though it is legal, major manufacturers have banned its use in executions. That could increase the chance of torturous effects coming from a lethal dose, attorneys representing death row inmates argued, pointing to studies showing people executed with the drug experienced pulmonary edema - a form of lung damage, where fluid buildup creates a drowning sensation. 'It can create a sense of suffocating or drowning that has been likened by experts to the sensation intentionally induced by the practice of waterboarding, an unambiguous form of outright torture,' the lawsuit claims, according to the Nashville Banner. Judith Smith's sister, Terri Osborne, and brother, Mike Robirds, spoke out following the execution of their losses They said their sister's death shows how dangerous domestic violence can be In the last week of the Biden administration, the Department of Justice issued a report criticizing the use of pentobarbital in lethal injections, saying it comes with too high a risk of 'unnecessary pain and suffering.' Attorneys representing Smith therefore asked the state for a reprieve of his execution once again, but Lee denied the request on Tuesday. He was then seen breathing slowly, with his face turning red and then blue, before he was pronounced dead. Still, witnesses to the execution said it look like he simply fell asleep, according to the Tennessean. Among those witnesses were Judith Smith's sister, Terri Osborne, and brother, Mike Robirds, who spoke to reporters afterwards while standing in front of large portraits of their sister and nephews. 'The pain of losing Judy, Chad, and Jason is something we will continue to carry,' Osborne said. 'Not a moment goes by that we don't miss them. We miss the sound of Judy's voice on the other end of the phone. We miss the excitement of planning Chad's driving lessons. And we miss the pure joy of hearing Jason's laughter.' Assistant Federal Public Defender Amy Harwell eulogized her client The tragic deaths are a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence, she continued. 'We know it is an incredibly hard thing to do to leave a spouse who is abusing, but pray that this case becomes a call to action, encouraging those in danger to seek help before its too late,' Osborne said. The murders were brutal, Robirds added. 'No one should have to live in fear like our sister did,' he said. 'And no family should have to endure a loss like ours.' Meanwhile, federal public defender Amy Harwell eulogized Smith as she reiterated questions about the state's use of pentobarbital in executions. 'Oscar Smith was a beloved child of God,' she said. 'He will be remembered for his cantankerous, curmudgeonly brand of kindness, as well as his skill with leather crafts. 'Because an autopsy would violate Oscar's deeply held religious beliefs, we will never know for sure whether he experienced the torture of pulmonary edema while Tennessee took his life. 'We do know, however, from the dozens of autopsies that have been performed on those executed by pentobarbital, that this execution method causes excruciating pain and suffering,' Harwell concluded. 'Our state should stop poisoning people to death in this cruel manner.' William Floyd Burgess, who said he was the first person to enter the home after convicted killer Oscar Smith murdered his estranged wife and her two sons in 1989, supported the execution Nearly 40 other protesters gathered in opposition of the death penalty At a nearby field, nearly 40 protesters gathered in opposition of the death penalty. Among them was Christina Isbell, who said she opposes executions on a religious basis. 'For me, its just all about what God teaches,' Isbell said. 'And that is, even though somebody else may commit a horrible crime, you dont go do that to them as well.' William Burgess was the lone person standing in a fenced off area for death penalty supporters outside the prison. He said he owned a car lot across the street from the home where Smith murdered his family members. Burgess said he was one of the first one to see the bodies. 'He lived too long,' Burgess said of Smith. 'Waste of taxpayers' money.' An evangelical MAGA Christian preacher has warned about a 'great event' that will strike the United States and 'render two groups of people obsolete.' Mario Murillo - who famously endorsed Donald Trump and claimed Kamala Harris' campaign was 'demonic' - made the bizarre and vague warning which took aim at atheists and churches that don't believe in the supernatural. The outspoken preacher made the chilling prediction at the Living Proof Crusade in Texas this week. 'A great event is coming to the United States,' he proclaimed. 'It'll be unlike anything America has ever seen. It will top all of the epochal things that have happened to our country. 'And when it comes, and it will, it is going to render two groups of people obsolete. They will no longer be in business. They will be out of business.' Murillo went on to insist the event would be 'so stupendous, so monumental that it is very difficult for me to find the words to adequately describe it.' The pastor often boasts of performing miracles on his supporters, healing various ailments and illnesses. Mario Murillo's bizarre and vague warning targeted athiests and churches which do not preach supernatural occurences The outspoken preacher, who famously endorsed Donald Trump and claimed Kamala Harris ' presidential campaign was 'demonic', made the chilling prediction at the Living Proof Crusade in Texas this week He warned that the unnamed event would tear open the 'very thin veil' between the natural and supernatural. 'It will be generally accepted that the supernatural is real. The psychiatric community is going to admit that it's real.' He asked: 'Are you listening to what I'm saying? Medical doctors will admit that it's real.' Simultaneously, 'demonic' events will begin occurring alongside spiritual events, likely on university campuses and for the news media to see. In a warning to 'non-supernatural churches', Murillo said: 'You better bring back speaking in tongues. You better bring back prophecy. You better bring back casting out the devil. You better bring back laying hands on the sick.' Murillo then shifted to politics, warning ' The nations of the world are going to gang up on us. And do everything in their power to single out conservatives, Christians, and patriots. The pastor often boasts of performing miracles on his supporters, healing various ailments and illnesses 'God revealed that the Church has three and a half years to wake up, unify, get on fire, and begin speaking out. Men and women of God who preach the truth are the heroes of this era right now.' Ahead of the election, he took part in a four-day sermon also attended by JD Vance about the future of America. 'I don't want a devil in the White House,' Murillo said, speaking of Harris. 'God is saying to the Church, ''Will you wake up and realize that I'm giving you the authority to stop this thing?'' he said. 'You have the authority.' He sensationally claimed the Secret Service 'wanted' Trump to be assassinated in Butler, Pennsylvania, and urged followers: 'We gotta stop the insanity going on in the United States.' Patterson vented about her in-laws to online friends in the months leading up to the fateful lunch that claimed their lives. On Thursday, Victoria Police Cybercrime Squad senior digital forensics officer Shamen Fox-Henry was taken through a series of Facebook messages allegedly sent by Patterson seven months before the deadly lunch. In the messages, Patterson described her in-laws as a 'lost cause' and exclaimed 'f**k them'. Patterson showed no emotion at the back of courtroom four of the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in Victoria's east, where her Supreme Court hearing is being held. Mr Fox-Henry (pictured below) was able to recover the Facebook messages from a Samsung phone seized by police upon her arrest the following month August 2023. Some of the messages read: 'Simon's dad contacted me this morning to say that he and Gail had tried to talk to Simon about the matters I raised and to get 'his side' but he refused to talk about it other than to signal he disagreed with what I said,' she told her online chums. 'Beyond that he wont talk about it. So Don said they cant adjudicate if they don't know both sides and Simon wont give his side. So he said all he can ask is that Simon and I get together to pray for the children. A convicted paedophile has pleaded guilty to flying a drone over a primary school which is said to have seen one child to runing away in tears. Jeremy Bird, 47, was accused of using the lightweight aircraft to 'watch' the young children in Salisbury, Wiltshire. A court heard that on one occasion, Bird caused one pupil to 'run and cry' as he used the device to follow them. Bird accepted a charge of recklessly or negligently causing or permitting an aircraft to endanger a person or property at Salisbury Magistrates Court. But, he said that he 'didn't have any control over it' and is only pleading guilty because he did not have the 'appropriate qualification' to fly the aircraft. Elizabeth Valera told magistrates that the charge relates to the use of a drone over a primary school in Salisbury. She said: 'The Crown say he's flying them over primary school children to watch the children. 'He accepts he's flying them [but said in interviews] that he didn't have control over it. Jeremy Bird, 47, (pictured) was accused of using the lightweight aircraft to 'watch' the young children Bird accepted a charge of recklessly or negligently causing or permitting an aircraft to endanger a person or property at Salisbury Magistrates Court in Wiltshire (pictured) 'There's one video where a child is actually followed, and they're running and crying while he follows them with a drone.' Valera told the panel that he had previously tried to engage primary school children in conversations outside of the school. Paul Jones, defending, said: 'The charge is recklessly flying that drone - that does not relate to the question of taking images of children. 'He accepts recklessly flying the equipment because he does not have the appropriate qualification to do so.' At a hearing in Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, Bird also pleaded guilty to two charges of making indecent photographs. These included Category A images, which are the most serious kind. Prosecutor Kellie Enever reminded the judge that Bird 'does have previous relevant convictions, albeit back in 2011'. Bird will be sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on July 18. He was granted bail until then on the condition that he does not have any unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 18 and that he does not enter any school grounds. Bird was handed a community order in 2011 after he was caught with indecent images. A British four-year-old boy has died after being pulled from a hotel swimming pool in Tenerife. The heart-breaking incident took place on Thursday afternoon in San Miguel de Abona, a popular holiday spot in the south of the island. Emergency services rushed to Jose Miguel Galvan Bello Avenue shortly before 5pm local time following reports of a child in cardiac arrest. According to Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, the child was rescued from the water by a lifeguard but was found to be unresponsive. Several hotel guests, including individuals who identified themselves as doctors, reportedly joined the rescue efforts in a desperate attempt to revive the child. It's understood that a nurse from the Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) provided CPR instructions over the phone while medics scrambled to locate a defibrillator, The Sun has reported. Two advanced life support ambulances and a medical helicopter were sent to the scene. However, despite the best efforts of paramedics, who carried out advanced resuscitation procedures, the child could not be saved. Emergency services rushed to Jose Miguel Galvan Bello Avenue shortly before 5pm local time following reports of a child in cardiac arrest. Pictured: Stock image of Playa San Miguel de Abona,Tenerife Emergency services rushed to Jose Miguel Galvan Bello Avenue shortly before 5pm local time following reports of a child in cardiac arrest. Pictured: Stock image Telecinco stated: 'The child died after failing to recover from a cardiorespiratory arrest following a rescue from a hotel pool.' Local police supported emergency teams at the scene, and the Civil Guard has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Sun: 'We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Spain, and are in contact with the local authorities.' It comes after a a British woman died after plunging 60 feet from a scenic beauty spot in Majorca. The 39-year-old was rushed to hospital on Monday after falling from a lookout point in the Palma neighbourhood of El Jonquet, which overlooks the sea. Police and paramedics who responded to an emergency call stabilised her and she was transported to hospital, where she was admitted into an intensive care unit. The unnamed Briton died the same night at Palma's Son Espases Hospital, according to reports. A British woman has died after plunging from a scenic beauty spot in Majorca. File photo: Aerial view over Playa de Palma in Majorca The unnamed Brit died after being taken to Palma's Son Espases Hospital Palma police have opened an investigation. Insiders close to the ongoing probe confirmed police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy and said the woman's death was not being treated as a crime. Detectives have spoken with witnesses who saw the woman fall. It was not immediately clear if she was on holiday in Majorca or lived locally. A Danish father living in Mississippi was detained by ICE during the final stage of his US citizenship process because of a decade-old paperwork error. Kasper Juul Eriksen, 32, a father-of-four with another on the way, thought he was attending a routine citizenship appointment in Memphis, Tennessee on April 15. Legally living in the US with his pregnant wife Savannah for more than 10 years, Kasper would have never imagined this meeting would end in misery. Now, as his wife prepares to give birth to their fifth child, Erikson remains in legal limbo at an ICE detention center in Louisiana. The welder first came to America as an exchange student in 2009, when he met the love of his life at a Starkville, Mississippi high school. At the conclusion of his academic program, Kasper went back to Denmark for four years, maintaining a long-distance relationship with Savannah and planning to return to be with her. In 2013, the young couple was reunited when Kasper got a welding job in Mississippi. The pair married the following year - finally getting the happily ever after they were patiently waiting for. Since then, the green card holder has been working towards US naturalization for years - a process he and his wife believed was going flawlessly. The US government sent Kasper a letter in September 2024, stating his application was being reviewed. No questions about his paperwork were asked, Savannah told Mississippi Today. Kasper Juul Eriksen, 32, a father-of-four with another on the way, thought he was attending a routine citizenship appointment in Memphis, Tennessee on April 15 (pictured: Kasper proposing to Savannah in 2014) Savannah was dismissed from the office with no explanation about why her husband was being taken into custody or where he was going, she claimed (pictured: Kasper, Savannah and their kids) United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (middle) has championed Trump's crusade against illegal aliens, even warning migrants to leave the US before they are captured by ICE So when Kasper was swarmed by immigration agents at the April meeting, the couple was absolutely horrified. Savannah was dismissed from the office with no explanation about why her husband was being taken into custody or where he was going, she claimed. She spent the three-hour ride back to Sturgis, Mississippi panicked and afraid. They were later informed 'Kasper was detained for a paperwork miscommunication from 2015,' Savannah told the outlet. US Citizenship and Immigration Services found an error in Kasper's application for removal of conditions on his residency, which is a form immigrants fill out when marrying Americans. Kasper, who has a clean record and steady job, was allegedly never told about any logistical discrepancies before he was torn away from his family last month. 'The next 24 hours would, without a doubt, (be) the most frightening and stressful I have ever experienced, as I pined for my husband and some kind of communication to confirm his safety and whereabouts,' the devastated wife said. She later learned he was locked away at the LaSalle Detention Center in Jena, Louisiana. Kasper, who has a clean record and steady job, was allegedly never told about any logistical discrepancies before he was torn away from his family last month (pictured: Savannah and Kasper) Legally living in the US with his pregnant wife Savannah for more than 10 years, Kasper would have never imagined this meeting would end in misery (pictured: Kasper, Savannah and their four kids) Kasper's lawyers have been fiercely advocating for his release, arguing he was wrongfully detained. 'Kasper is a fully integrated, productive member of society,' Savannah told Mississippi Today. 'While Kasper embodies all the positive qualities of a hard-working man in pursuit of the American Dream, he never forgets his family and friends. 'He spends time with us and takes the time to give each of his children the attention and fatherly love they deserve.' A judge must rule on the petition Kasper's lawyers filed for his freedom. But Savannah said there is no court date scheduled. A GoFundMe created to support Kasper's family - as he his the household's sole provider - has raised more than $29,000 so far. 'As a homeschooling mother, we are completely dependent on Kaspers income. Legal fees are mounting as are living expenses with our sole provider being detained for over a month now,' Savannah wrote on the page. During the first 100 days of Donald Trump's second presidential term, during which he vowed to crackdown on illegal immigration, more than 66,400 migrants have been arrested by ICE, the agency reports. A judge must rule on the petition Kasper's lawyers filed for his freedom. But Savannah said there is no court date scheduled (pictured: Kasper, Savannah and their kids) Kasper is locked away at the LaSalle Detention Center in Jena, Louisiana (pictured) Roughly 65,700 have been removed from the country. The agency claims that three out of four arrests are criminals. 'The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbors by removing public safety and national security threats from our communities,' ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons declared at the end of April. 'Were just 100 days into this administration and thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is using every tool at its disposal to enforce our countrys immigration laws and protect our communities.' United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has championed Trump's crusade against illegal aliens, even warning migrants to leave the US before they are captured by ICE. 'President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you,' she said in February. Immigration is likely to remain at high levels following Anthony Albanese's landslide election win - amid claims large numbers of Indian and Chinese migrants will give Labor a permanent voting bloc. Labor promised to ease immigration before the last election but in the year to March, 437,440 migrants came to Australia on a permanent and long-term basis. This was significantly higher than Treasury's March Budget forecast of 335,000 for 2024-25, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics data casting doubt on Labor's promise to reduce it to 260,000 during the upcoming financial year. MacroBusiness chief economist Leith van Onselen said the high concentration of Chinese and Indian voters was likely to keep giving Labor a solid, long-term voting bloc, helping it to keep having safe seats in Sydney and Melbourne. 'If we're getting so much migration from one or two countries - India followed by China - you risk creating voting blocs,' he told Daily Mail Australia. This could lead to new minor parties based on ethnicity being created, that preferenced Labor, forcing it to adopt their policy demands, with international students already allowed to bring a spouse to Australia. 'If this keeps going on in the next 10 years, we'll have a situation where it could be like London,' he said. 'We'll start getting voting blocs form where they might actually form an Indian political party that lobbies for interests that are favourable to Indians, whether it's more parental visas ... they'll create voting blocs and lobby groups that lobby for their interests but not necessarily in the greater interests of Australia. Immigration is likely to remain at high levels following Anthony Albanese's landslide election win - amid a warning large numbers of Indian and Chinese migrants will give Labor a solid voting bloc 'If we're we're supposed to support this multiculturalism and diversity and all this other stuff, you don't go about that by importing most of your people from one or two countries, you should be spreading the load.' During the past decade, the number of Australian residents born in Indian has more than doubled from 411,240 to 916,330, making it second now only to England. The number of Chinese-born residents has surged from 466,510 to 700,120, putting it in third place ahead of New Zealand. The Labor-held seat of Parramatta went from being marginal to ultra-safe with an 8.9 per cent swing to the ALP, giving it 62.6 per cent of the two-party vote. But in the Parramatta city booth, Labor had 70.2 per cent of the vote after preferences. It catered to voters at Harris Park, a short walk away, where 45.4 per cent of residents were born in India. 'The Indian diaspora in Australia overwhelmingly votes Labor over the Coalition,' Mr van Onselen said. Within this same electorate, the Epping polling booth, a former Liberal stronghold, delivered Labor 75.7 per cent of the vote after preferences. MacroBusiness chief economist Leith van Onselen said the high concentration of Chinese and Indian voters was likely to keep giving Labor a solid voting bloc, helping it to keep having safe seats into future in Sydney and Melbourne In this suburb, 40.4 per cent of people have Chinese ancestry and 19.7 per cent of them were born in China. 'Unfortunately, Labor is incentivised to maintain this,' Mr van Onselen said. Labor enjoyed a massive 9.34 per cent swing to it in Bennelong on Sydney's lower north shore, turning it from an ultra marginal electorate, with no ALP buffer, into a safe seat in a traditional Liberal heartland. The Lane Cove booth, another former Liberal stronghold, gave Labor a massive 68 per cent of the two-party vote and in this suburb, 14 per cent of people have Chinese ancestry, more than double the national average of 5.5 per cent. The Chinese vote is also high in seats Labor won off the Liberal Party. Labor candidate Zhi Soon won Banks in south-west Sydney with a five per cent swing to him. Within this electorate, the ALP won Hurstville with 60 per cent of the two-party vote in a suburb where 47 per cent of residents have Chinese ancestry. In Melbourne, Labor candidate Gabrielle Ng won the eastern suburbs seat of Menzies off the Liberal Party with a small 0.67 per cent swing. Leith van Onselen likened high immigration to a political gerrymander where a political party manipulates electorates to stay in power But in the Box Hill polling booth, there was a bigger 2.85 per cent swing in a suburb where 39 per cent of residents have Chinese ancestry. Mr van Onselen said high immigration, including a large number of students on bridging visas hoping to stay longer in Australia, had created longer-term political advantages for one side of politics. It only takes three years to become a citizen with voting rights after being a permanent resident. High immigration was likened to a political gerrymander where a political party manipulates electorates to stay in power. 'It's a longer-term gerrymander - this is why they're incentivising the big Australia policy because they're basically sandbagging their supporter base for the long term,' he said. Kevin Rudd has slammed Donald Trump's 'distressing' decision to block foreign students from enrolling at Harvard University amid escalating tensions with the elite institution. The ban, announced by the US President on Thursday, is forcing existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. It will also impact the roughly 120 Australian students who study at Harvard, according to the university's website. Rudd, who is Australia's ambassador to the US, said he was 'monitoring closely developments at Harvard University' in a post on X on Friday morning. 'I know this will be distressing for Harvard's many Australian students,' Rudd said. 'The Embassy is working with the United States Government to obtain the details of this decision so that Australian students can receive appropriate advice. 'We also intend to engage the administration more broadly on the impact of this decision for Australian students and their families both at Harvard and at other campuses across the United States.' Rudd encouraged any Australians requiring assistance to contact the consular emergency centre. The ban, announced by US President Donald Trump (pictured) on Thursday, is forcing existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status It will also impact the roughly 120 Australian students who study at Harvard, according to the university's website (pictured: Harvard Yard) The move comes amid escalating tensions between the Ivy League university and the White House after the university refused to provide information about some foreign student visa holders. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has accused Harvard of 'fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party'. A Wisconsin judge accused of helping an illegal migrant evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials was caught on surveillance footage trying to distract the officers. Hannah Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, evade arrest when he appeared in her courtroom on April 18 for a pretrial hearing in a domestic abuse case. Federal prosecutors have claimed Dugan directed the ICE agents to the chief judge, and helping Flores-Ruiz and his attorney leave the courtroom through a restricted exit typically used by jurors. Newly released surveillance footage from the Milwaukee County Courthouse that day apparently shows her engaging in the conduct, for which she is charged with obstructing a federal investigation and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. In the footage released by Milwaukee County under an open records request, Dugan could be seen wearing her black robes and confronting federal agents. As they then walked away, Flores-Ruiz and his attorney were seen leaving through the so-called jury door. An agent could also be seen following Flores-Ruiz onto an elevator and out of the courthouse. Soon, Flores-Ruiz was caught running north for nearly a block before agents ultimately apprehended him outside of the courthouse. Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was caught on surveillance footage apparently trying to distract Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who were at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18 The surveillance footage also shows illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz leaving the courtroom through a restricted exit typically used by jurors Federal prosecutors arrested Dugan one week later, with a criminal complaint claiming she 'became visibly angry' and called the ICE agents presence at the court hearing 'absurd,' before she left the bench. 'Witnesses uniformly reported that Judge Dugan was visibly upset and had a confrontational, angry demeanor,' it stated Dugan then allegedly asked the officers to leave and informed them they needed a judicial warrant to arrest Flores-Ruiz. An affidavit also claimed Dugan told the migrant and his attorney, 'wait come with me' before they left the courthouse and directed them to the back jury door. The courtroom deputy told investigators that the door is only used for deputies, juries, court staff, and defendants already in custody. The deputy added that defense attorneys and defendants who weren't in custody 'never' used that door. At that point, the criminal complaint says, Dugan adjourned the case without the state attorney's knowledge. Dugan is now facing charges of obstructing a federal investigation and concealing an individual to prevent arrest Flores-Ruiz is charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery for allegedly assaulting three people on March 12 Flores-Ruiz had been accused of punching someone 30 times in the face after they complained he was playing loud music. He was charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery for allegedly assaulting three people on March 12. Flores-Ruiz also faces charges for allegedly returning to the US illegally after prosecutors say he was deported in 2013. ICE agents in Milwaukee were then alerted to Flores-Ruiz's hearing on April 18, and agents showed up at the courthouse to arrest him. He is now due back in court on June 2 for a final pretrial conference, and a status conference for his battery and domestic abuse charges is set for June 18. Meanwhile, Dugan has also pleaded not guilty to the charges, as her attorneys try to get the indictment tossed out - arguing that as a judge she is immune from prosecution over official actions and that the case intrudes on state authority. 'The government's prosecution of Judge Dugan is virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional,' her lawyers wrote in a court filing. Demonstrators protest in front of the federal courthouse where Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan appeared in front of a judge Dugan is being supported by over 150 former state and federal judges Dugan is being supported by over 150 former state and federal judges, who signed a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi calling her arrest an 'assault on the judiciary, the Rule of Law and those who administer it.' Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin also stood by Dugan, writing in a statement that the arrest was a 'gravely serious and drastic move.' 'Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country and we are a Democracy governed by laws that everyone must abide by,' Baldwin previously said. 'By relentlessly attacking the judicial system, flouting court orders, and arresting a sitting judge, this President is putting those basic Democratic values that Wisconsinites hold dear on the line.' Yet the Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended the judge, claiming it was in the public interest to relieve her of her duties as she faces the federal charges. The order noted that the court was acting on its own initiative and was not responding to a request from anyone. Liberal justices control the court 4-3. Dugan's legal team said it was disappointed 'that the Court acted in unilateral fashion. We continue to assert Judge Dugan's innocence and look forward to her vindication in court.' She is now due back in court on July 9 for a pretrial hearing and a jury trial is set for July 21. A man at the centre of a wild brawl at a Sydney petrol station last week almost lost his life in an attempted underworld two years earlier. William Siale, 33, barely escaped with his life when a masked gunman allegedly ran into a Marrickville barber shop and fired at him and his brother Eric in July 2023. Both brothers were hit - one in the chest and the other in the lower back. Daily Mail Australia was told at the time they were regular customers at the barber. Siale was also one of the men involved in a violent brawl at the Metro Petroleum on Belmore Road, in Sydney's south-west, last Thursday. CCTV from the petrol station showed Siale and Habib Alameddine talking inside the service station, before things quickly soured between the pair. Two of Siale's friends came to help him throw Alameddine to the ground before they beat him with milk crates and a concrete bollard. One of the men then threw the bollard through the back window of Alameddine's Bentley Bentayga. The latest model starts at $396,500. William Siale was one of the four men involved in a brawl at a Sydney service station last week CCTV of William Siale (left) and Habib Alameddine (right) at the Metro Service Station in Belmore moments before they came to blows Alameddine was heard crying out in pain as the trio fled the scene. NSW Police said in a statement that Alameddine was taken to hospital and was treated for facial injuries and a broken arm. A manhunt has been launched for the two other men involved in the brawl described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance and aged in their 30s. It comes as police charged a man they allege was responsible for shooting at Siale and his brother in 2023. There is no suggestion the brawl and the 2023 shooting are linked in any way. A Kentucky married couple passionately embraced as a catastrophic tornado wrecked their home and tore off one of each of their arms. Paul and Gail Cline, both in their late 60s, were hunkered down in their London, Kentucky bedroom as a twister with 170 mph wind speeds made them fear for their lives on May 16. In what could have been their final moments, the couple - who have been married for 29 years - held each other tightly as the storm raged on, sending sheet rock and shattered glass flying through the air. When the terrifying tornado finally settled, a neighbor rushed to the ruins of the Clines' home, where Paul and Gail were crying for help. 'When they were found, they were holding each other, and thats why they lost opposite arms,' Brandy Bowman, one of the Clines nieces, told WLKY. 'Because they were holding on to each other, and whatever impacted them impacted them at the same time.' Taylor Baker, another niece, thanked the heroic neighbor for saving her aunt and uncle's lives. 'He pulled a cord from something and put a tourniquet on her arm, and thats what kept her from bleeding out,' Baker told the outlet. Paul and Gail Cline, both in their late 60s, were hunkered down in their bedroom as twister made them fear for their lives (pictured: the first time Paul and Gail saw each other after the tornado) In what could have been their final moments, the married couple of 29 years clung onto one another as the storm raged on, sending sheet rock and shattered glass flying through the air (pictured: the Clines' wrecked home) Paul (left), a beloved community pastor, and Gail (right) were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they have remained ever since the harrowing incident Paul, a beloved community pastor, and Gail were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they have remained ever since the harrowing incident. Gail suffered extreme injuries was put in a medically induced coma and placed on life support. She sustained damage to her ribs, liver and lungs. Fortunately, Gail was finally able to come off life support on Thursday, and a heartwarming photograph captured the moment Paul and Gail laid eyes on each other since the life-changing tornado. Paul's injuries were less severe, despite losing his arm as well, and he is in recovery. Although their long-time residence was reduced to rubble, their tiny 12-year-old puppy, Sadie, survived the disaster. Sadie was found inside what was left of the Clines' bedroom, awaiting their return. The cherished pet was brought to the hospital to comfort the pair battling for their health. The furry guest especially excited Paul, who has dementia and is struggling to comprehend what exactly transpired (pictured: Sadie visiting Paul in the hospital) Their long-time residence was reduced to rubble and the elderly couple must rebuild their lives after they recover (pictured: a busted window inside the house) The furry guest especially excited Paul, who has dementia and is struggling to comprehend what exactly transpired. 'All I can't get out of my head is just how terrified they both were. I cannot imagine the fear that was going through their minds, but there's one thing about them they are godly people,' Baker told Lex18. A GoFundMe created by Baker to help the Clines rebuilt their lives has already raised nearly $56,000. Baker wrote: 'My aunt and uncle lost everything in the recent tornadoes in London, Ky. They both lost an arm and my aunt is still on life support. 'Their home and vehicles and everything theyve worked for is gone. They are two of the best people you could ever find. 'My aunts daughter also has stage 4 cancer so they were already battling that before this hit. They need all the help and prayers they can get.' Governor Andy Beshear had declared a state of emergency the day the Clines lost nearly everything. The Clines' nieces Taylor Baker (left) and Brandy Bowman (right) spoke extensively about the devastating events 'Once again we have a dangerous weather system sweeping across the commonwealth,' Beshear urgently warned. 'We expect a significant round of weather coming this afternoon and into tonight that will produce strong winds that could lead to power outages, a possibility of hail, flooding and potential for tornadoes. 'We need everyone to be really careful and make sure you have weather alerts on and are at a location where you can seek safety if needed.' The former foster mother of missing toddler William Tyrrell has had a conviction over the intimidation and assault of another child overturned. The woman, who cannot be legally named, was convicted in March 2024 after magistrate Susan McIntyre found her threats to slap the child amounted to intimidation. She earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of assault after striking the child with a wooden spoon and kicking them on the thigh. Her conviction over these incidents was overturned on Friday at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court. Judge Miiko Kumar found the offences proved but imposed a 12-month conditional release order without conviction. Five counts of intimidation brought against the foster mother over alleged incidents related to the child were dismissed by Ms McIntyre in March 2024. In February, William's former foster father had a conviction for intimidating the child tossed out after a successful District Court appeal. In that decision, Judge Sean Grant found the man did not intend to cause fear of harm when he screamed in frustration while taking the child to school. William was three years old when he went missing while playing at his foster grandmother's home in Kendall on the NSW mid-north coast on September 12, 2014 The former foster mother of missing toddler William Tyrrell has overturned a conviction over the intimidation and assault of another child William was three years old when he went missing while playing at his foster grandmother's home in Kendall on the mid-north coat on September 12, 2014. No one has ever been charged over his disappearance, although police have aired a theory that his foster mother disposed of his body after his accidental death. The woman denies having anything to do with William's disappearance. A group of at least 18 Army Rangers apparently went rogue when they opened fire at a crowded Florida beach last Friday and sent boaters and sunbathers ducking for cover. The soldiers were caught on video wearing their military fatigues and Army Ranger t-shirts in two row boats off of Crab Island when they fired blanks into the air next to people wading through the shallow water and enjoying the warm weather. In one video shared to social media, a woman could be heard off camera shouting 'Is that real?' as the shots went off. The sound of guns discharging prompted clients on Michael Ingram's charter boat to try to take cover, he told Task & Purpose. After the second burst, Ingram said he heard people screaming in the distance - and his heart sank as he thought somebody had been shot. 'This is unacceptable because there are so many real mass shootings going on in America each year,' the boat captain argued. 'You can't be joking about it.' Meanwhile, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office reported it received at least two 911 calls about the shots fired. The shocking incident apparently came after the Army Rangers with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion participated in a pirate festival just five miles away - but city officials and festival organizers have denied the wild scene was part of the festivities. A group of at least 18 Army Rangers apparently went rogue when they opened fire at a crowded Florida beach last Friday and sent boaters and sunbathers ducking for cover The soldiers had earlier participated in the annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, five miles away Army Rangers take part in the annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival at the nearby Fort Walton Beach each year. As part of the festivities, the soldiers engage in a mock battle in which they fire blanks while riding in small boats to capture the legendary pirate. Festival officials, though, note that the Army Rangers in the videos were not participating in a sanctioned event at the time - and were located outside of the festival's perimeter. City of Fort Walton Beach officials also noted that it had sent out noise alerts earlier in the day detailing the exact time frame and location of the battle, as well as the noises that could be expected. The shots heard Friday afternoon were not on the schedule, city officials said on social media. They explained that the mock sea battle 'was the ONLY approved festival activity that involved the Army Rangers firing their weapons.' 'What happened at Crab Island was NOT part of the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, NOR was it approved by either the City of Fort Walton Beach or the Billy Bowlegs organization.' Shocking video showed the soldiers in two row boats off of Crab Island when they fired blanks into the air next to people wading through the shallow water and enjoying the warm weather 'We do not know what occurred at Crab Island on Friday... except to say that it was not in any way part of the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival,' city spokesman Devon Ravine added, noting that the Fort Walton Beach Landing is five miles from Crab Island. A soldier who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Task & Purpose also seemed surprised by his colleagues' actions. He said that if the Rangers were testing their weapons prior to the Pirate Festival, they showed poor judgment by doing it so close to civilians. The soldier also expressed his doubt that a senior leader would have given permission to fire weapons in public outside of the designated festival area. A soldier who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Task & Purpose said the soldiers showed poor judgment if they decided to test their weapons in such a crowded location Jennifer S. Gunn, a spokeswoman for the Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia, has since confirmed the US Army is investigating the incident. 'We take this situation seriously and are investigating,' she said, adding that the Army 'will ensure accountability based on the outcome of the investigation.' She has since announced that the 18 soldiers involved in the fake shooting have been temporarily suspended as instructors, pending the outcome of the investigation. As part of the suspension, Gunn said, the soldiers cannot train students going through the final stage of the US Army Ranger Course at Camp Rudder, which is located on Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. The Liberal Party has reportedly agreed 'in principle' to the Nationals four key policies, paving the way for the Coalition to be patched up just days after it was blown apart. Liberal Party Leader Sussan Ley will now negotiate a new Coalition agreement with the Nationals after their decision to split earlier this week. Following a meeting on Friday afternoon, sources told The Australian that the Liberal party room had reached consensus despite 'bad behaviour' from the Nationals. 'Sussan (Ley) has been authorised to negotiate a final landing on our behalf with David Littleproud,' a senior Liberal source told the paper. Nationals Leader Littleproud said his previous negotiations with Ley centred on four non-negotiable policies. These included support for nuclear energy, break-up powers for supermarkets, a regional Australia future fund and reliable telco coverage in rural areas. The Nationals revealed on Tuesday they were breaking away from the Liberals, marking just the third time the Coalition parties have gone their separate ways in the last 80 years. The move sent shockwaves through Canberra, with former Liberal leader and Prime Minister John Howard lashing the decision as a 'stupid move'. 'Sussan (Ley) has been authorised to negotiate a final landing on our behalf with David Littleproud,' a senior Liberal source told The Australian Nationals Leader David Littleproud (pictured) said his previous negotiations with Ley centred on four non-negotiable policies: support for nuclear energy , break-up powers for supermarkets, a regional Australia future fund and reliable telco coverage in rural areas But overtures were made on Thursday when Littleproud said that his party was willing to accept Shadow Cabinet solidarity as part of a Coalition agreement. This led Ley to invite the Nationals leader to 're-enter good-faith negotiations', which he accepted. 'It has always been the Liberal Party's objective to form a Coalition and we welcome The Nationals' decision to re-enter negotiations,' Ley said. The Coalition has only split three times in the last 100 years, with the last time occurring in 1987 over the 'Joh for Canberra' campaign, which pushed for Queensland National Party premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen to become Prime Minister. Then, the two parties split for a matter of months before the rift healed after the 1987 federal election. They also split after being defeated in the 1972 federal election but reunited ahead of the next election. Financial relief for people affected by the catastrophic flooding in NSW has been confirmed by the Prime Minister and NSW Premier during a press conference on Friday. Those who live in the Dungog, Kempsey, MidCoast, and Port Macquarie-Hastings local government areas are eligible for the Disaster Recovery Allowance. This payment is available for workers who will lose income, such as those who are unable to go to work or whose employer has had to cease operating for up to 13 weeks. The payment amount is usually assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the maximum not exceeding Jobseeker and Youth Allowance payments. 'That provides for up to 13 weeks' pay for people who are employees unable to work or people who are sole traders, self-employed, too,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. 'That will be made available from 2pm on this coming Monday as well.' Services Australia will provide on-the-ground assistance as soon as possible to ensure payments can be made for those people who need it, and those impacted can also apply on the MyGov website. Albanese said disaster recovery will commence as soon as possible. A flooded truck is seen in a photo from the NSW SES as hundreds of rescues are performed Services Australia will provide on-the-ground assistance as soon as possible to ensure payments can be made for those people who need it, and those impacted can also apply on the MyGov website Jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments, personal hardship assistance grants will soon be available to support urgent needs such as food, clothing, and emergency accommodation. The grants will be available in the following 19 LGAs: Armidale, Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter and Walcha. The grants will be $180 for an individual or $900 for a family. Applicants must demonstrate they have suffered hardship as result of the disaster, making them unable to meet immediate needs. 'It's not today but that funding is on the way for communities that are subject to an evacuation order,' Minns said. 'I want to make clear that I know, particularly for businesses and the local economy, that it will take more than these hardship grants to get these towns back on their feet. 'But I wanted to get the ball rolling and the clear message from myself and the prime minister is these projects and grants were essential and needed to be announced as soon as possible.' Further details will be announced on Saturday morning, including how people can access the grants. Major banks have introduced emergency support for people affected by the floods, including options to increase overdraft limits and temporarily defer mortgage repayments. Legal Aid NSW warned on Thursday it could be too late for people affected to update their insurance, but not to protect themselves by recording what is happening. 'If it's safe, take photos and videos of water entering your home or property, furniture, electronics, and other important contents, water levels inside and outside (and) use your phone's timestamp,' a statement on social media said. It also advised people to record what was damaged, when flooding began and any emergency steps taken. 'This evidence can support insurance claims, even if you're not covered for flood, and help with disaster relief or legal support later,' the organisation said. A Teal candidate on Sydney's north shore is leading by just four votes in Australia's tightest election race in more than 100 years. Independent Nicolette Boele was just four votes ahead of her Liberal rival Gisele Kapertarian in the seat of Bradfield with 100 per cent of the vote counted. This is shaping up as Australia's tightest race since 1919 when Labor lost Ballarat in regional Victoria by one vote. The Australian Electoral Commission automatically recounts votes if the margin is less than 100. A narrow loss in Bradfield, after a recount, would see the Liberal Party lose a seat it has held continuously since it was created in 1949, in an area that had been home to three Liberal premiers and a federal Opposition leader. This would also see the Liberal Party have no federal seats on Sydney's wealthy north shore east of the Lane Cove River, having been wiped out on the northern beaches and the eastern suburbs by Teal candidates at the 2022 election. In an unusual political situation, Labor now has a safe seat on the north shore, Bennelong, while the Liberal Party has been wiped out in its traditional heartland for the first time ever. Boele, a clean energy executive, had 56,195 votes, after preferences, compared with 56,191 for Kapertarian, a corporate lawyer. A Teal candidate on Sydney's north shore is leading by just four votes in Australia's tightest election race in more than 100 years (pictured is Nicolette Boele) But when it came to primary votes, the Liberal Party had a 38 per cent share compared with 27 per cent for the Teal, who had benefited from Labor and Greens preferences. This was Ms Boele's second attempt to win Bradfield, after she unsuccessfully challenged former Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher in 2022. Her 3.4 per cent swing in 2025 was much weaker than her 12.3 per cent swing three years ago, following a scandal at a Gordon hair salon. Bradfield had also been the only federal Liberal electorate in 2023 to vote for the Voice and Ms Kapterian had beaten leading No campaigner Warren Mundine for Liberal preselection. Even within the Bradfield electorate, Labor won the primary vote at polling booths on the lower north shore, including at St Leonards and Chatswood. This gave Boele 60 per cent of the two-party vote after preferences in these booths with high-rise apartments and a higher proportion of Chinese voters. But Boele had won the primary vote in booths like South Turramurra, giving her 58.6 per cent of the vote after preferences in a bushland suburb with very few units and mainly houses. The Liberal Party, however, won the St Ives booth with 52.8 per cent of the vote after preferences, in a suburb where 8.1 per cent of voters are Jewish compared with the national average of just 0.4 per cent. Independent Nicolette Boele was just four votes ahead of her Liberal rival Gisele Kapertarian (pictured) in the seat of Bradfield with 100 per cent of the vote counted The Bradfield electorate was redrawn to stretch from Wahroonga to Northbridge following the abolition of the Teal seat of North Sydney. The Liberal Party now has just five federal seats in metropolitan and outer Sydney - Berowra, Mitchell, Lindsay, Cook and former shadow treasurer Angus Taylor's redrawn electorate of Hume. Just eight state Liberal electorates now overlap with a federal Liberal seat in New South Wales, including in Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's seat of Farrer. Bradfield's former MPs have included a previous Liberal leader, Brendan Nelson, and a former prime minister Billy Hughes, who had defected from the Labor Party during World War I over conscription. The federal seat also overlaps with the former Liberal state seat of Ku-ring-gai that had been held by Liberal premiers Barry O'Farrell and Nick Greiner, and Willoughby previously held by Gladys Berejiklian. Boele would be one of six Teal MPs, along with Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps, Zali Steggall, Monique Ryan and Kate Chaney. Liberal candidate Tim Wilson defeated Zoe Daniel in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein. A man has been rushed to hospital with a forearm injury after he fell about two metres in a workplace incident in Sydney's north-west. Emergency services Fontana Drive in Gables about 3.30pm on Friday. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance told Daily Mail Australia the man fell about two metres and sustained a forearm injury. Emergency services first believed the man had been shot but later determined he had sustained injuries from a fall at a construction site, Daily Telegraph reported. NSW Police and NSW Ambulance attended the Gables site about 3.15pm on Friday He was rushed to Westmead Hospital. NSW Police confirmed it was a 'workplace incident' and had been handed over to SafeWork NSW. SafeWork NSW has been contacted by Daily Mail Australia. A British woman is preparing to set sail on a solo loop of the Arctic Circle to break a record made potentially possible by melting sea ice. However, Ella Hibbert, 28, said the prospect of making history is 'exciting', it goes hand-in-hand with the disturbing reality that the journey should not be feasible. The Yachtmaster sailing instructor based in the Solent will leave the Haslar Marine in Gosport on Saturday afternoon, travelling towards Iceland and Norway, where she will officially begin the 10,000-mile journey alone on her boat Yeva. The route, expected to take five months, passes over the north of Iceland, down around southern Greenland, up through Canada and across the north of Alaska before a long leg through Russian waters back to Norway. Ms Hibbert is thought to be the first ever person to attempt a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle, completing both the northwest and northeast passages in a single trip. 'It will be a bittersweet record to achieve because if I make it all the way round in a single season, it will prove that the Arctic no longer has the ice covering that it is supposed to,' she said. 'I'm trying to achieve something that I don't actually want to be achievable. It's a hard one to wrap your brain around. 'I will not be sailing over the finishing line popping bottles of champagne.' Ella Hibbert is preparing to set sail on a solo loop of the Arctic Circle to break a record made potentially possible by melting sea ice. The 28-year-old said the prospect of making history is 'exciting', it goes hand-in-hand with the disturbing reality that the journey should not be feasible. Scientific projections show that there is a possibility that there will be no Arctic ice during the summer months by 2050 Scientific projections show that there is a possibility that there will be no Arctic ice during the summer months by 2050. Ms Hibbert said: 'I could circumnavigate the ice this year but before I'm 50 years old, I could hypothetically sail a straight line almost from Scotland to Tokyo in summer.' 'The North Pole physically would no longer be there, which is harrowing, crazy stuff,' she said. 'I wanted to see it for myself before we lose it'. During the voyage, Ms Hibbert will likely face severe sleep deprivation and will only be able to sleep for 20 minutes at a time once she hits the Arctic Circle. Other challenges she has prepared for include hostile wildlife such as polar bears, unpredictable conditions, huge waves, wind chills down to minus 30C, snow build-up on deck, icebergs and fast-moving sea ice. 'It's not something that you can prepare for until you're there in it, and there's all sorts of weather around the Arctic. It's both unpredictable and and extreme,' she said. Ahead of 'slipping lines' between noon and 1pm on Saturday, Ms Hibbert said it has been 'all hands on deck' with final arrangements. Ms Hibbert has spent three years getting the project off the ground, campaigning, training, finding sponsors, reaching out for advice from sailors such as Kirsten Neuschafer and Ben Shepton as well as finding, crowdfunding, buying and fitting out Yeva A map of the route, expected to take five months, and passes over the north of Iceland, down around southern Greenland, up through Canada and across the north of Alaska before a long leg through Russian waters back to Norwa To showcase the impact of climate change, the trip is also being used as a research opportunity - with endorsements from the British Scientific Exploration Society and the International Seakeepers Society 'We're looking good to go on Saturday. Unfortunately the weather is not looking the best but I'm very much looking forward to getting out there and getting gone,' she said. 'It's been a long time in the making so just feeling very ready, trying not to feel too stressed, looking forward to it.' Ms Hibbert plans to auction off the boat once she finishes the trip, donating proceeds to conservation charities as a way to give back to the Arctic for the time she spent there. To showcase the impact of climate change, the trip is also being used as a research opportunity - with endorsements from the British Scientific Exploration Society and the International Seakeepers Society. Ms Hibbert will be recording depth soundings of the sea bed as she travels, gathering data on areas that currently have no depth readings for the Seabed 2030 ocean mapping project. Documentary production firm Ocean Films has also installed cameras on the boat to help Ms Hibbert capture the highs and lows of her journey and shoot the decline in sea ice she encounters for a feature. Ms Hibbert has spent three years getting the project off the ground, campaigning, training, finding sponsors, reaching out for advice from sailors such as Kirsten Neuschafer and Ben Shepton as well as finding, crowdfunding, buying and fitting out Yeva. But her sailing journey stems back to childhood when her father first put her in a dingy near Ipswich, before the family moved to the south of France where they spent the summer sailing to Corsica. Ms Hibbert first worked on super yachts but began her sailing career in earnest when she was 24 years old and completed qualifications such as her yacht master offshore, yacht master instructor and cruising instructor certificates. 'I've always known that once I had an idea of what I wanted to do, I'll give it 110% and throw myself into it,' she said. 'I'm sure I'd be nervous and scared at some points during the trip itself, but at the moment, it's just the buzzing excitement really.' Benjamin Netanyahu tore into Western leaders over their threat of sanctions against Israel last night as tensions reached new highs over a planned Israeli offensive in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister took to social media to accuse Britain's Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Mark Carney of complicity towards Hamas over a joint statement issued this week denouncing Israel's 'disproportionate' escalation. Monday's joint statement had been welcomed by Hamas, who described the stance as 'an important step' in the right direction toward restoring the principles of international law. But Netanyahu hit back, writing on X late on Thursday: 'I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice.' 'You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history.' Netanyahu took aim at the three leaders in the wake of a fatal attack on two Israeli embassy workers in Washington on Wednesday evening. The suspect yelled. 'Free, free Palestine' after he was arrested, police said. The attack was seen by officials in Israel and the U.S. as the latest in a growing wave of antisemitism as Israel ramps up its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Plans for a major offensive, codenamed Gideon's Chariots, includes measures to flatten 'all infrastructure' above and below ground and move virtually 2.3 million people to what Israel has termed a 'humanitarian area'. The Netanyahu government faces mounting pressure from both allies and domestic voters over its conduct in the war in Gaza. Critics have accused Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' and 'genocide' in Gaza, charges roundly denied by Netanyahu. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025 British Pirme Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at Northwood military base in west London, Britain, 22 May 2025 Israeli troops deploy at a position on Israel's border with the Gaza Strip on May 22, 2025 Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, May 22, 2025 '[Hamas] don't want a Palestinian state,' Netanyahu asserted in a post on X on Thursday. 'They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to annihilate the Jewish people, who have been in the Land of Israel for 3,500 years.' 'I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. They are now proposing to establish a Palestinian state and reward these murderers with the ultimate prize.' 'Well for 18 years we had a de facto Palestinian state. It's called Gaza. And what did we get? Peace? No. We got the most savage slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.' He added: 'Now, these leaders may think that they're advancing peace. They're not. They're emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. And they give them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state.' 'And mind you, it's not going to be a state free of Hamas. When you establish a Palestinian state, we've seen it, the radicals take over. Iran sends them in and they take over. So don't give us this talk, "It'll be a peaceful Palestinian state". It won't be.' Monday's joint statement argued in favour of a ceasefire and a pathway towards a two-state solution. It was something the Biden administration had also argued for. The Trump administration, however, has been less critical of Israeli policy in Gaza. Netanyahu acknowledged his ally on Thursday as he thanked President Trump and the American people for their 'forthright stand with Israel'. Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee their homes after the Israeli military issued orders of evacuation from the northern Gaza Strip, May 22, 2025 A limited number of humanitarian aid trucks enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Abu Salem border crossing on May 22, 2025 in Gaza City, Gaza Police officers work at the site where, according to the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., U.S. May 21, 2025 While the U.S. reportedly has no plans to pressure Israel into ending the war, Britain, France and Canada have remained resolute in their threats of 'further concrete actions' unless Israel ceases its renewed military offensive in Gaza. The signatories cited the 'intolerable' level of human suffering and 'denial of essential humanitarian assistance' in their warning. 'We have always supported Israel's right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate,' Monday's statement read, while reiterating calls for Hamas to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza since October 2023. Monday's statement was followed by a second, signed by 27 donor countries including the UK, condemning a new Gaza aid delivery model promoted by Israel that would replaced existing humanitarian agencies like the UN with civilian contractors backed by the Israeli military. On Tuesday, Britain suspended trade deal talks with Israel, sanctioned West Bank settlers and summoned the country's ambassador, while Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Israel's actions as 'monstrous'. Lammy reified the position in the Commons on Wednesday, as his opposite, Dame Priti Patel, argued that Hamas was benefitting from criticism of Israel. 'For decades there has been a cross-party commitment to a two-state solution and the pursuit of peace from friends of both Israel and the Palestinian people across this House,' Lammy said, citing examples of positions held by Tory prime ministers. 'Sadly, today, it seems that the Conservative party, or at least its current front bench, is refusing to confront the appalling reality of what is happening in Gaza and what the Netanyahu Government are doing.' He added: 'Opposing the expansion of a war that has killed thousands of children is not rewarding Hamas. Opposing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians is not rewarding Hamas. 'On this side of the House, we are crystal clear that what is happening is morally wrong and unjustifiable, and it needs to stop.' Tributes are left at the scene where two people were shot and killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, USA, 22 May 2025 Displaced Palestinians reach out for bread being distributed through a bakery window in Nusseirat Refugee Camp after limited flour supplies entered the Gaza Strip, May 22, 2025 A girl is seen with bread being distributed as Palestinians receive the bread distributed again after a long hiatus in Gaza City, Gaza on May 22, 2025 Criticism focused on the planned offensive in Gaza in recent days has been largely obscured by political polarisation around the conflict. Polls show some two thirds of Israelis still oppose a major operation to occupy Gaza, and most of the families of hostages believe the operation would endanger their relatives. No hostages have been released since the conflict resumed and critics in Israel continue to lobby for a ceasefire to ensure the safe return of dozens of captives. Political opponents and hostage advocates have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political purposes, which he denies. Israel's ground and air war in Gaza has left much of the Palestinian enclave in ruin, displaced nearly all residents and killed more than 53,000 people, many of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. An 11-week blockade on food, fuel, water and medicine has pushed the decimated civilian population of Gaza to the brink of famine, experts continue to warn. Israel says it won't agree to end the war until Hamas is defeated. Hamas, meanwhile, has demanded an agreement that winds down the war. Dr Andreas Krieg, Associate Professor of Defence Studies at King's College, told MailOnline: 'In the process of creating ever more corridors of military control cleansed from civilians, Israel will advance the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the north to the south of the territory an objective that will require high troop levels. 'The IDF will advance this agenda gradually by clearing and holding territory small slices at a time until the remaining 2 million Gazans will be crammed into a much smaller territory in the south of the Gaza Strip. 'This will unlikely deliver on the objective of freeing the hostages, which has long been abandoned by the Netanyahu government as the primary objective. 'The collapse of the ceasefire in March, which provided an effective way to release hostages, showed that Netanyahu is preoccupied with delivering on the agenda of seizing territory rather than getting the hostages back.' Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift tent camp at the Gaza City port on Thursday, May 22, 2025 Mr Lammy told the Commons: 'Civilians in Gaza facing starvation, homelessness, trauma, desperate for this war to end.' The brutal gunning down of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington - a young couple on the verge of becoming engaged - threatens to further inflame the conflict in the Middle East at a delicate time. Suspect Elias Rodriguez, 31, told police after his arrest, 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' federal authorities said on Thursday, as they announced criminal charges. Sir Keir described the shooting as 'antisemitic'. He said: 'I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. 'Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. 'My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.' Downing Street said the Prime Minister 'stands in solidarity with the Jewish community here in the UK', adding the Government has offered its 'full support to the Israeli embassy in London'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: 'As you know, we continue to provide around 18 million a year in funding for protective security measures for Jewish community sites in the UK.' The Government's approach towards Israel's actions in Gaza will not change as a result of the killings, the spokesman indicated, but he said this 'does not take away at all from the fact that antisemitism is an evil that must be stamped out wherever it appears'. Denmark is set to raise the retirement age to 70 - a move that has been heavily criticised by to-be pensioners. The Scandinavian country has tied the new retirement age to life expectancy, only affecting those who were born after January 1 1971. The cap will rise from the current retirement age of 67 to 68 in 2030 and then to 69 in 2035. Tommas Jensen told Danish media 'we're working and working and working, but we can't keep going'. 'I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren.' The 47-year-old roofer went on to say the move was 'unreasonable' and highlighted the difference between working a desk job and jobs that are demanding of the body. The Danish government has been revising the retirement age every five years for the last two decades, with this new rule passed through their parliament yesterday 81 votes in favour to 21 against. But the Social Democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has previously said these numbers would be renegotiated. Social Democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has previously said her party believed 'you can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer' But the Danish government are set to raise the retirement age to 70 after passing through the new law yesterday 81 votes in favour to 21 against She said: 'We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically.' She added that her party believed 'you can't just keep saying that people have to work a year longer'. Protests have been taking place in Copenhagen over the last few weeks as trade unions stood against the new changes. The chairman of a Danish trade union confederation, Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, said ahead of the vote on Thursday that the proposal was 'completely unfair'. 'A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life.' 'Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age,' he added. Retirement ages across Europe have been rising in recent years to meet budget deficits as well as the improved life expectancy. Brits born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960 can begin to receive their pension from 66 but this will raise to 67 for people born after this period. Critics have said 'I've paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren' This could increase as the State Pension age will also be repeatedly reviewed in the UK to address longer life expectancy. By comparison, people in Sweden can start claiming pension benefits from 63. But for those living in Italy, they will have to wait until they are 67 to receive their pension. A young boy who was last seen leaving a home with a black duffle bag over two weeks ago has been found safe and well. The boy, whose age has not been released by police, was last seen leaving a Fanfare Place property in Capalaba about 10.40pm on May 9. His family reported him as missing on May 12. In an update on Friday, Queensland Police said the young boy had been located. 'The boy reported missing from Capalaba since May 9 has been located safe and well,' the update just after 5pm stated. 'Police would like to thank the media and community for their assistance.' Investigators earlier said the boy could be in the Kingaroy area in South Burnett. A British minister has climbed to the summit of Mount Everest in just five days, thanks to a special gas that dramatically cut his prep time and allowed him to make a record-breaking ascent. Al Carns, the UK's veterans minister, was seen alongside a group of ex-British Special Forces soldiers at the top of the world's tallest mountain on Wednesday. They waved the Union Jack from the peak. An ascent normally takes two months to prepare for, as climbers have to acclimatise their bodies to deal with thin air at the top of the Nepalese mountain. Carns said the climb was 'off the scale of a challenge'. He added: 'Now that we have done the biggest, I am never doing another mountain again.' But the Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, a former regular and a current Royal Marines Reserves colonel who was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in Afghanistan, used xenon gas to massively cut down their acclimatisation time. Carns' team said they inhaled xenon gas at a German clinic two weeks before the expedition to prevent altitude sickness, and prepared with tents that simulated the lack of oxygen at high altitudes. Research has suggested that xenon can increase the body's production of a protein that fights hypoxia, which can increase the chances of survival on a mountain that has claimed the lives of countless people. A British minister has climbed to the summit of Mount Everest in just five days Al Carns (pictured) is also a former regular and a current Royal Marines Reserves colonel who was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in Afghanistan Your browser does not support iframes. Carns told the Sun before the climb: 'This is like a Special Forces mission. We have the best people, the best training, the best kit and we are at the very cutting edge of science. We'll go in, hit the objective and leave no trace, no waste.' The mountain has a 'death zone' above 8,000 metres, where oxygen levels are so low that the body struggles to function, causing sickness, cognitive impairment and exhaustion that can rapidly lead to death. Though the minister's climb, believed to be the fastest anyone has climbed Everest without acclimatisation, was done in order to raise 1 million for British military charities, the Nepalese government has criticised the use of xenon gas. 'We are investigating the travel agency and the climbers who used xenon gas for scaling everest,' Narayan Prasad Regmi, Nepal's tourism chief, told The Telegraph. 'We will summon them, including the British minister, and take action as deemed fit under the law,' he added. Regmi said that xenon gas has never been used by climbers in Nepal, and that legislation needed to be brought in to clarify its legality. 'All climbers and expedition organisers are required to declare the substances and equipment they use,' Regmi said. Furtenbach Adventures, the Austria-based company that organised the climb, defended the use of the gas. Al Carns, the UK's veterans minister, was seen alongside a group of ex-British Special Forces soldiers at the top of the world's tallest mountain on Wednesday The minister's climb, believed to be the fastest anyone has climbed Everest without acclimatisation, was done in order to raise 1 million for British military charities Carns climbed the mountain with a group of ex-British Special Forces soldiers The group used xenon gas to massively cut down their acclimatisation time Carns told the Sun before the climb: 'This is like a Special Forces mission' Founder Lukas Furtenbach said: 'There was no breach of any Nepali regulation. What happens outside Nepal should not be under the purview of the Nepal government.' He added: 'It makes the climb safer and shorter while ensuring climbers are properly acclimatised, unlike those who rely solely on oxygen from Base Camp without prior acclimatisation, which is extremely dangerous.' Furtenbach claimed that shorter trips had the benefit of being more environmentally friendly, as fewer resources are used and left behind on the mountain. But Rajendra Bajgain, a Nepalese MP, said these short-duration climbs aided by xenon gas 'will hurt our mountain economy'. He claimed: 'These quick summits reduce the need for local sherpas, guides and kitchen staff, cutting off vital income for rural communities who have long depended on traditional expeditions. It will collapse the support ecosystem.' The veteran gangster who held Kim Kardashian up at gunpoint and left her thinking she would die today offered 'a thousand pardons' to the reality TV star. Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, begged for forgiveness on Friday, just before a jury in Paris retired to consider a verdict in the case. A total of nine men and a woman are in the dock at the French capital's Assizes court, accused of a variety of charges, including 'armed robbery' and 'kidnap in an organised gang'. 'I can't find the words to say how sorry I am,' were the words of Ait Khedache, who is now almost mute and partially deaf following years of ill health. 'I offer a thousand apologies,' he scribbled on a piece of paper, before his claims were displayed on a screen inside the historic Voltaire Chamber of the court. Ms Kardashian, who is now 44, lost $10million-worth of jewellery in the October 2016 raid, including a $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband, the rapper Kanye West, that has never been recovered. Prosecutor General Anne-Dominique Merville told the court that Ait Khedache who has multiple convictions for drugs running and robbery should spend the next 10 years in prison. She said he was 'now of a certain age and showed no risk of reoffending' but should 'pay for his crimes.' Aomar Ait Khedache (pictured), the supposed ringleader of the robbers, penned a letter of remorse whilst in prison in 2017 to Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian leaves the courthouse after testifying in the trial of 10 people accused of stealing millions of dollars worth of jewellery from her, in Paris, France, May 13, 2025 Ms Merville said Ait Khedache, who admitted taking part in the heist after his DNA was found at the scene, 'now downplays the violence involved.' During an emotional testimony to the court last week, Ms Kardashian said she had feared she would not survive the raid. Trial judge David De Pas asked her directly during court questioning: 'Did you think you were going to die, Madam?' She replied: 'Absolutely, I was certain I was going to die.' Ait Khedache denied being the mastermind of the heist, saying there was a mysterious 'X or Ben' who was ultimately responsible. But Ms Merville said there was ample proof that Ait Khedache 'gave the orders', and then went to Antwerp, Belgium, to try and sell the swag. A 10-year prison sentence was also requested for Yunice Abbas, 72, and the only other defendant to plead guilty. While on remand, Abbas wrote a book called 'I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian,' which became a gift to prosecutors. During his own last words to the court on Friday, Abbas said: 'Once again, I have nothing but regrets to offer you; I'm sorry for what I did.' The same sentence was requested for Didier Dubreucq, 69, who was allegedly the second robber to enter the Kardashian's penthouse, along with Ait Khedache, who is also known as 'Old Omar'. Old Omar claimed a man presented detailed heist plans to him, including layouts of the hotel building and pictures of Kardashian wearing the prized jewellery. Listen now The socialite was bound and gagged at a hotel room in Paris in October 2016 Lesser sentences were requested for other members of the gang who, like Dubreucq, had all denied any wrongdoing. All of them were allowed to address the court for the last time today, before the jury retired. Most of the key defendants are in their 60s and 70s, meaning they have been dubbed the 'Grandpa Robbers'. There is one woman defendant Cathy Glotin, 78, who was once Ait Khedache's mistress. She has continually pleaded her innocence, saying on Friday: 'I had nothing to do with this case, and look forward to being reunited with my family.' But the veteran criminal is said to have provided 'secretarial services' to the gang, including providing burner phones. Glotin also travelled to Antwerp the diamond capital of Europe with Ait Khedache to sell the swag, the prosecution claims. It could have asked for sentences of up to 30 years, but the defendants' ages and poor health are the reasons for relatively low ones been requested. The vast majority of defendants were imprisoned in January 2017, three months after the robbery. But then they were released on bail, meaning they were all free when the trial started in April. Ms Kardashian was not in court today, but her lawyers said she was following proceedings from her home in Los Angeles. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star qualified as an attorney this month, following six years of study. She said she wanted to 'fight for justice', including for defendants in criminal trials. Her late father, Robert Kardashian Junior, famoulsy defended actor O.J.Simpson at his murder trial in 1995. During the Paris trial, Ms Kardashian accepted an emotional apology from the gang ringleader, Ait Khedache. The trial continues, and a verdict is expected on Friday evening. Labour's civil war looked to be intensifying today amid claims Angela Rayner pushed to strip child benefit from middle-class families. The Deputy PM suggested the Chancellor should 'claw back' the handouts from families where one adult earns over 50,000 a year. The manoeuvring emerged amid more evidence of tensions within Labour about how to balance the books and prioritise spending. The PM, who announced an humiliating U-turn on winter fuel allowance earlier this week, is said to be ready to ease the two-child benefit cap amid a massive revolt by MPs. However, his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has apparently urged the premier to hold firm, pointing to the 2.5billion cost. Downing Street sources flatly dismissed the Bloomberg report. It was later revealed that ministers have delayed a flagship plan aimed at driving down child poverty until the autumn. The child poverty strategy, originally due to be published this spring, was expected to include a recommendation to scrap the two-child benefit cap. But the plan has now been pushed back until the autumn, it was reported, in order to align it with the next Budget. Meanwhile, Labour's Welsh leader Baroness Morgan waded into the winter fuel row, calling for 'the majority' of pensioners to get the handouts worth up to 300. Nine million older people were stripped of the payments by Ms Reeves last year, and it is not yet clear what the new arrangements will be. Angela Rayner (left with Keir Starmer at PMQs) is said to have suggested the Chancellor should 'claw back' child benefit from families where one adult earns over 50,000 a year. No10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney has reportedly been urging the premier to hold firm on the two-child benefit cap Your browser does not support iframes. The mooted child benefit move would have effectively reversed a more generous Tory policy. Currently the cash is gradually reduced for earners between 60,000 and 80,000 - when it disappears entirely. But that would have been rolled back to hit households with incomes from 50,000 to 60,0000. The document accepted that the change to child benefit rules would be 'contentious' but added Labour could argue that the Tories had never properly funded the policy to begin with. Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt urged Labour not to reverse the policy. 'This may look like a relatively minor budget measure but was one of the most popular things we did because it helped striving middle-class families struggling with childcare costs,' he told the Telegraph. 'Abandoning them would confirm that far from being a New Labour government, this is a traditional anti-aspiration Old Labour government.' It was floated by Ms Rayner's office alongside a range of tax hike and spending cut options ahead of the Spring Statement. A memo to Rachel Reeves proposed targeting pensioners and shares instead of curbing the spiralling benefits bill. In the end Ms Reeves largely ignored the ideas and went ahead with a package to trim welfare - but dozens of Labour MPs are now threatening to revolt in a looming vote. Allies of Ms Rayner have insisted memos proposing policy options are routine in government, and are not always signed off by ministers personally. Rachel Reeves (pictured in Canada this week) has been increasingly embattled as she struggles to balance the government's books MPs have been insisting the government must fully reverse the winter fuel allowance cuts, rather than merely extend eligibility But some Labour MPs believe that Ms Rayner is 'on manoeuvres' to ensure she does not have 'blood on her hands' from failed policies. Lord John Bird, an anti-poverty campaigner and founder of the Big Issue, criticised news of the delay to the child poverty strategy and said the Government had 'just kicked the issue of child poverty into the long grass'. He added: 'The impact of their inaction will be grave. It is shameful that child poverty is forecast to not fall, but rise significantly, to 31.5% of children under this Labour government. 'We need action now, not in six months or a year's time. I will relentlessly pursue my intervention of adding child poverty targets to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill with the vigour that the 4.3 million children living in poverty in our country deserve.' Dan Paskins, executive director of policy, advocacy and campaigns at Save the Children UK, said: 'Every month that goes by while Keir Starmer does not scrap the cruel two-child limit means thousands of children are plunged into poverty. 'We would like to see assurance from No10 that this delay means their child poverty strategy contains bold ideas backed with the finance starting with scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap.' The winter fuel allowance move was seen as a humiliation for Ms Reeves - who is at a G7 meeting in Canada. Stripping around nine million pensioners of the payments was one of the first announcements the Chancellor made after Labour's landslide election victory last year. But it has been widely blamed for the party's disastrous collapse in support. Labour campaigners reported it was toxic on doorsteps during May's local elections, which saw the party lose councillors and the Runcorn and Helsby Parliamentary by-election. Labour Left-wingers rallied behind Ms Rayner's push on targeting taxes instead of welfare, prompting the Tories to claim that the Cabinet was in 'open warfare'. MPs have been insisting the government must fully reverse the winter fuel allowance cuts, rather than merely extend eligibility. Many also believe that ministers will be unable to bring in changes in time for this winter, as the PM said plans would not be revealed until the Budget in the Autumn. Labour ex-premier Gordon Brown underlined demands for the two-child benefit cap to be lifted earlier this week. Ms Reeves has hinted that the cap is something that will be looked at, with claims it has driven child poverty. Before the winter fuel cuts more than 11million pensioners were receiving winter fuel allowance 'I want to lift people out of poverty particularly I want to lift children out of poverty and, of course, we'll set out more plans to do that,' she told the Guardian in an interview. Making his winter fuel announcement at PMQs on Wednesday, Sir Keir said he understood 'that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, including pensioners'. He added: 'As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.' A troupe of pole dancers have sparked fury in Greece after video emerged showing the half-naked performers staging a photoshoot in front of the Old Palace on Corfu. Greek media shared video showing British onlookers watching outside the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in the early hours of this morning. One of the clips shows two women balancing together on a pole in bright red underwear. In another, a woman in black thong leotard is cheered on by a British woman who shouts 'yes Shelly, nice!'. Protothema assessed: 'Understandably, there were several reactions regarding who gave permission for such a photo shoot in the city centre.' The former royal residence, commissioned by British Lord High Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland and designed by Colonel George Whitmore, holds pride of place in the Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dozens of residents expressed online fury over the 'disgraceful' photo shoot taking place outside the historic palace with some claiming the dancers were British. 'The Corfu Palaces: they once hosted royals. Now, pole dancing,' commenter Panagiotis Kalogeros wrote on Facebook. 'If Lord Byron saw pole dancing at the Palaces, he would have returned to England without a second thought.' 'Would they do the same at Buckingham [Palace]?' wrote another. 'Of course, here we have been the inferior in Europe for years on vacation and binge. [sic]' Another worried how the pole was supported, fearing 'that they pierced the slabs in the ground' to hold it in place. There was no evidence the site had been damaged. Footage showed women in underwear performing on a fitness pole in Corfu Another woman swings from the pole under the arch of the palace early on Friday Dancers limber up next to the performance in Corfu early this morning The stunt sparked out rage in Corfu where it featured as the top story on local news website Corfu Press (pictured) The Palace of St. Michael and St. George was designed by British architects in the early 19th century, using neoclassical styles typical of the time. For more than two centuries it has stood in the old city of Corfu, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007. The building is still in use today and remains a well preserved instance of Regency architecture towards the end of the Georgian period. Greek users on Facebook were anxious that part of the site could have been damaged during the photoshoot, several asking how they gained permission. 'Did the permanent residents of the historic center and their association take a position for this event?' one asked. 'Who gave the permission slip???' said another. 'Someone should call the police,' added a third. The Directorate of the Museum of Asian Art, today housed inside the palace, was unaware of the event, according to local media. The Palace of St Michael and St George in Corfu City, Corfu, undated. Onlookers watched the performance under the arches at the 19th century palace A woman performs on the pole before an audience in Corfu The unidentified dancers were criticised by locals on social media Not all abhorred the dancers for performing outside the historic building, however. User Bill Metallinos defended the performance. 'Basically, what we see is the backstage of some photography,' he said of the video. 'Otherwise dancing is part of culture[.] it's just that this one is misunderstood... 'Yes the concept offends the monument but as an open space unguarded and unmarked disappointing swimsuits or extra items I see no reason someone who wants to take photos to be banned, it is an open public space. 'But to see how hypocrit[ical] we are, we have passed a road of heavy vehicles through the Palace and under its Arch and we are sending all the exhaust pollution to Tufopetra that has been consumed by all this fuel gas... 'And instead of shouting about the damage we are doing to it we ourselves are shouting about the photography that was done by some professionals in the area. 'In the end, who damages the monument? Them or us?' Another user disagreed and expanded: 'What do traditional dances have to do with stripping there? 'Me personally if my daughter was there I would be ashamed.' Some social media users defended the routine, however, writing: 'Dancing is part of culture[.] it's just that this one is misunderstood...' A Panoramic view of the Old Town of Corfu as seen from New Fortress The palace in Corfu was built over a five year period in the immediate aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 saw the Ionian Islands, including Corfu, become a protectorate of the UK through the Treaty of Paris. In turn, Corfu became the seat of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. It was Sir Thomas Maitland who commissioned the Palace of St. Michael and St. George as the official residence for the Lord High Commissioner. There was a boom in Regency architecture building across Britain and its overseas holdings after the end of the Napoleonic Wars as government spending steadily recovered and timber shortages eased without the war demand. Closer to home, examples of Regency architecture can be seen in the work of John Nash across London. Britain revived some of the classical architectural styles of the Greeks and Romans during its imperial rise, after architects like Inigo Jones brought back to the British Isles techniques recovered by the Italians through the 16th and 17th centuries. The former wife of a crooked lawyer who carried out a 'breathtaking' 146m fraud could have cash seized from her recently-sold 1.5million house amid claims it was bought with criminal proceeds and the couple are 'still in a romantic relationship'. Cumbria-based solicitor Timothy Schools raked in millions of pounds from his victims, pocketing cash invested into his Cayman Islands-registered Axiom Legal Financing Fund. But by the time he was caught the proceeds had vanished, with the prosecution 'unable to identify any bank balance in his name in excess of about 50.' He was jailed for 14 years in August 2022 after being convicted of three offences of fraudulent trading, one offence of fraud by abuse of position, and one offence of transferring criminal property at Southwark Crown Court. A confiscation order of just 1,083,67.38 - representing 'tainted gifts' to others - with five years' extra jail time in default was made in January this year, leaving almost all of the swindled millions unaccounted for. Now the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) - which London's High Court heard 'seeks to investigate this serious shortfall and identify any other assets that might have been obtained through Mr Schools' unlawful conduct'. This includes having been given permission to probe his ex-wife Claire, with a view to seizing the proceeds of her recently-sold 1.5m Lake District home, Hope Springs House, in Matterdale, Penrith. The application had been backed by a witness statement from a SFO financial investigator, Ian Price, who highlighted suspicions Mr and Ms Schools are 'still in a romantic relationship, or at the very least that they remain close and in regular contact.' Claire Schools, the former wife of crooked lawyer Timothy Schools, who carried out a 'breathtaking' 146m fraud, could have cash seized from her recently-sold 1.5million house The Serious Fraud Office is seeking to investigate whether their Lake District home was bought with criminal cash - amid claims the couple (pictured at their wedding in 2011) are in 'regular contact' with one another Hope Springs House, in Matterdale, Penrith, is being targeted by the SFO amid suspicions the property was purchased and renovated with criminal cash The two had lived together until his conviction in 2022 and there was evidence that she 'regularly visits and talks daily to her former husband in prison'. She is also listed on prison records as his next of kin, his common law wife and his partner. Ms Schools married the fraudster at a lavish champagne reception at a luxury ski hotel in the French Alps in March 2011 and the pair separated in 2016, before finally divorcing in 2020. But Ms Schools' home, a five-bedroom, four-bathroom converted schoolhouse set in over two acres of grounds, is now being targeted by the SFO over suspicion the purchase and renovation may have been funded with criminal cash. The house - which boasts spectacular views of Lakeland Fells and includes a separate two-bedroom lodge with its own living space - was put on the market for 1.8m, then reduced to 1.5m. It is now listed by an estate agent online as being sold subject to contract. Earlier this year at the High Court, Mr Justice Pepperall granted an unexplained wealth order and an interim freezing order against Ms Schools relating to the house and the proceeds of its sale. Giving his reasons for doing so this week, he said the crown court had found Mr Schools' 'benefit from his general criminal conduct' was over 146m, but only a mere 1,083,067.38 was available to be confiscated. Timothy Schools, 65, was jailed for 14 years in August 2022 for pocketing cash invested into Cayman Islands-registered Axiom Legal Financing Fund Schools, of Sedbergh, Cumbria, told his victims their loans would be given to high quality law firms to fund legal cases with good chances of success. But most of the funds were paid to just three law firms, all of which Schools either owned or held an undisclosed interest in Schools used the illicit money to fund a luxury lifestyle including the purchase of a motor boat, luxury cars and a 5million fishing and shooting estate in the Lake District (above) 'Despite the breathtaking scale of Mr Schools' criminality, the prosecution was unable to identify any bank balance in his name in excess of about 50,' he said. 'Further, there were no properties and the vast majority of the available assets comprised tainted gifts to his family and associates. 'Unless very substantial further assets are subsequently identified as available, confiscation proceedings will therefore be largely ineffective in recovering the proceeds of Mr Schools' crimes. 'The SFO seeks to investigate this serious shortfall and identify any other assets that might have been obtained through Mr Schools' unlawful conduct. 'The SFO applied for an unexplained wealth order and an interim freezing order pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 against Mr Schools' former wife, Claire Schools. At the conclusion of the hearing, I made both orders. 'It is not alleged that Ms Schools was herself involved in her former husband's criminal activity. 'Nevertheless, these proceedings are designed to target assets that might be held in her name but which were obtained through her former husband's crimes.' He continued: 'Mr Price gives an account of Mr Schools' criminal offending and asserts that complex offshore arrangements were used as a mechanism to purchase and hold property, and to hold monies in bank accounts,' the judge continued. Schools was convicted on five counts of fraudulent trading, fraud by abuse of position and money laundering 'Mr Price asserts the SFO's belief that, with minimal other income, Ms Schools has used money made available to her via the divorce settlement and other means such as realising property purchased from the proceeds of her former husband's crimes. 'Ms Schools purchased Hope Springs House for 430,000 on 11 September 2018. 'The conveyancing file indicates that the purchase was primarily funded from the proceeds of sale of a chalet in France, which had been owned jointly by Mr and Ms Schools through their French company, SCI Chalet Schools, prior to their divorce. 'Mr Price asserts that analysis of the French company's bank accounts and the corporate vehicles used by Mr Schools to perpetrate the fraud showed that the chalet was primarily funded by payments from companies instrumental in the fraud. 'Mr Price says that Hope Springs House has undergone extensive renovations and estimates that some 750,000 has been spent on the property. 'One of the primary purposes in seeking an unexplained wealth order is to obtain a detailed explanation from Ms Schools in respect of the costs and sources of funding for the renovation works. 'Ms Schools' bank statements support expenditure of about 740,000. Against that, there is little evidence of meaningful income. 'Since 2017 to 2018, Ms Schools has been in receipt of a pension of just over 11,000 per annum. Southwark Crown Court heard that Schools paid himself over 1m in salary, consultancy fees and other personal benefits, with monies also transferred offshore 'There is some rent totaling about 60,000 for the period between 2014 and 2020. 'Ms Schools' only other apparent source of funds to finance the renovations appears to have been the sale proceeds of another seven properties, sold between March 2017 and August 2019 with total net proceeds of sale of a little under 1.2 million. 'Mr Schools had an interest in one of those properties, Headley House, until he transferred his interest to Ms Schools in 2004 for no consideration. 'She did, however, assume liability for a mortgage debt secured against the property. 'Mr Price adds that the SFO believes that the couple may have continued to live there together until Headley House was sold in March 2017 despite their divorce. 'During the criminal trial, there was evidence that Axiom Funds, a vehicle used for the fraud, paid off the mortgage on Headley House. 'Further, there is evidence that Noble Finance, another company involved in the fraud, loaned Ms Schools 500,000 in November 2010.' He said he was satisfied there are 'reasonable grounds for suspecting' that Ms Schools' known income would have been 'insufficient to enable her to obtain Hope Springs House.' 'There is ample evidence of Ms Schools' connection with Timothy Schools, a convicted fraudster who has been involved in serious crime. 'The threshold conditions for an unexplained wealth order are therefore established. 'In my judgment, it is appropriate to make such an order in this case for the purpose of investigating further the proceeds of Mr Schools' crimes and specifically whether Hope Springs House might be recoverable property.' Ms Schools had made representations to the court against the freezing order being made. But the judge said he was granting the interim freezing order in relation to the house and proceeds of its sale because 'there is a real risk that the proceeds of sale will simply be dissipated in supporting (Ms Schools') lifestyle'. During Schools' trial at Southwark Crown Court, a jury heard investors were told their loans would be given to high quality law firms to fund legal cases with good chances of success. But most of the funds were paid to just three law firms, all of which Schools either owned or held undisclosed interest in. He paid himself over 1m in salary, consultancy fees and other personal benefits, with monies also transferred offshore. The cases Axiom funded were not independently vetted, often failed at court and case insurance policies failed to pay out when cases did not succeed, according to the SFO. Schools covered up these failures by arranging for the repayments of old loans with new Axiom loans, giving the false impression to directors, administrators and auditors that law firms were successfully repaying their loans and achieving returns on investment. Sydney trains have been brought to a standstill for the second time in a week as rain flooding across the tracks causes major delays across the network. Commuters have been warned that every major line on the Sydney Trains network on Friday night is affected by water across the tracks at various locations. Friday night marks the opening of the Vivid Festival and large crowds had been expected. Trains are still running on most lines with reduced services but on some lines services have stopped. One city worker told Daily Mail Australia they had left their office at 5pm and were still waiting for a train at Wynyard station at 6:30pm. Earlier this week hundreds of thousands of commuters across the city experienced two days of disruption to rail services when a train hit an overhead power line at Strathfield station. Premier Chris Minns said $1.5 billion a year was spent on rail infrastructure and maintenance so punters should expect a more reliable network. 'This is nowhere near good enough, we've let the travelling public down,' he told Sydney's 2GB radio. 'I saw (media) today which was damning of the government, and it said it was a shame for Sydney, I have to agree.' Vivid Festival attendees have been urged to reconsider visiting this weekend Users on social media share their negative experiences while trying to get home Transport for NSW said replacement buses were at full capacity trying to supplement for the lack of trains. 'It's not like flicking a switch and getting the timetable operating instantly,' rail operations executive Jas Tumber said. 'We have to go through a gradual build-up of matching crew and trains to provide the frequency of service that we need.' Heavy rainfall caused widespread delays and disruptions across Sydney's rail network. In the 24 hours leading up to 9am Friday, Richmond recorded over 200mm of rainfall, while Camden saw around 90mm. Katoomba received more than 50mm, and Sydney Airport registered at least 75mm. Meanwhile, in the Illawarra, places including Clover Hill, received more than 200mm of rain, resulting in flooding. 100mm of rain is expected in Sydney and the Blue Mountains over the next 24 hours, with Warragamba Dam now at 97 per cent capacity. Warnings for major delays are in place across every train line in Sydney on Friday night Friday May 23 marked the first night of Sydney's annual Vivid Festival Flooding in Parramatta (pictured) saw delays across Ferry Services Howard Collins, Transport for NSW's coordinator-general, advised Vivid festivalgoers to delay their visit if possible. 'If you can come early next week instead, please consider doing that,' he said. 'You won't get to see it all in one night , plan your Vivid Sydney experience over a few nights.' Lines impacted included Leppington, Liverpool, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra, Hunter, Southern Highlands, and South Coast services. Lewisham Station was temporarily closed due to flooding, with crews working to pump out water from the premises. 'Residual delays' are expected to continue across the majority of Sydney's train network for the rest of Friday. Timetables have been changes to come every 15-minutes across all lines, aside from the Intercity and Eastern Suburbs. The NSW government announced a fare-free day as compensation on Monday. A thug who battered a supermarket worker to death with a pepper mill has been detained in prison. Brian Simpson, 64, left 37-year-old Kristine Sparane with fatal head injuries after attacking her at her home in Spalding, Lincolnshire, on November 26 last year. A court heard how Kristine had been struck with a large pepper mill, kicked and stamped on as well as having her head shut in a door. She suffered multiple skull fractures which a pathologist said was more typical of a person 'involved in a road traffic collision or falling from height'. Officers who attended the property found her lying face down on a bed in a pool of blood while Simpson was found lying on the floor with a kitchen knife next to him. Kristine had allowed Simpson to stay at the property but she 'only saw him as a friend', a trial of facts hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was told. Simpson was charged with Kristine's murder but was deemed unfit to plead due to his mental health following reports from two forensic psychiatrists. This week a jury found that Simpson, of no fixed address, had been responsible for the injuries that led to Kristine's death. Brian Simpson, 64, left 37-year-old Kristine Sparane with fatal head injuries after attacking her at her home in Spalding, Lincs., on November 26 last year Officers who attended the property found her lying face down on a bed in a pool of blood while Simpson was found lying on the floor with a kitchen knife next to him Kristine suffered multiple skull fractures which a pathologist said was more typical of a person 'involved in a road traffic collision or falling from height.' Judge Simon Hurst requested further psychiatric reports be undertaken and Simpson currently continues to be detained in prison. He will decide if Simpson is to be detained in a secure psychiatric hospital for an unlimited period and a further hearing was scheduled for July 14. Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Lovatt, of East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said after the case: 'The outcome is not about the individual who took Kristine's life - my thoughts remain steadfastly with Kristine and her grieving family, who have endured unthinkable heartbreak and loss. 'Throughout this painful experience they have shown extraordinary courage and resilience. 'We remain committed to ensuring justice is upheld and will continue to closely monitor the defendant's progress and compliance throughout the duration of the hospital order. 'This vigilance reflects our dedication to safeguarding the community while seeking true justice for all involved.' Lincolnshire Police said Simpson will continue to be assessed in hospital and could participate in a future trial should he be found to have made sufficient recovery. Police cordoned off part of Kristine's home in Spalding, Lincolnshire after her body was discovered at the property The force yesterday released a mug shot of him, adding: 'We have taken the decision to release the photograph of the man found to be responsible for killing 37-year-old Kristine Sparane. 'Our primary focus in these situations remains firmly on the victim, ensuring justice is pursued for them and their loved ones. 'While we provide essential coverage of the perpetrators, our commitment is to centre the impact on those affected. 'However, we feel it timely and just that we now share an image of the man who was found to be responsible for taking Kristine's life.' Spanish authorities were experimenting with how far they could push their reliance on renewable energy before the Iberian Peninsula was hit with a massive power outage last month, it has been suggested. As people wait for more answers on what caused the power cut that disrupted tens of millions of lives across Spain and Portugal, several have questioned Spain's heavy reliance on renewable energy sources as it plans to phase out nuclear reactors. Spain's socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has rejected such criticism, asking for patience while the government investigates the causes of the historic blackout. Spains electric grid operator Red Electrica de Espana pinned it on a significant and unprecedented drop in power generation. Now, it has been suggested that the Spanish government was carrying out an experiment before the country's grid system crashed, The Telegraph reports. Under said test, authorities had been trialling how far they could push their reliance on renewables as they prepared for Spain's phase-out of nuclear reactors from 2027. The Spanish Association of Electrical Energy Companies (Aelec), which has criticised the inquiry into the blackout's cause, has now said it was not the country's generators that failed to deliver power to the grid, but rather it was the grid that failed to manage it and then shut down automatically. The head of Spain's photovoltaic association, Jose Donoso, had made a similar suggestion earlier this month, telling newsoutlet 20Minutos: 'It's a matter of logic; the fact that the entire system goes down because of a photovoltaic plant makes no sense. Spanish authorities had been experimenting with how far they could push their reliance on renewable energy before the Iberian Peninsula suffered a massive power outage last month. Pictured: People stand inside a supermarket without lights on April 28, 2025, amid the outages Travelers covered with Red Cross blankets lie on the floor as they prepare to spend the night at the Atocha train station, following a massive power cut Several have questioned Spain's heavy reliance on renewable energy sources as it plans to phase out nuclear reactors 'We suffered the consequences of a grid disruption, but we didn't cause it.' Aelec said the authorities had essentially confined the trial to a 20-second span on April 28, and ignored a series of oscillations in tension that began days earlier and transcended 'emergency' levels across the peninsula for two hours leading up to the blackout. The association added that the authorities did not substantiate their claim that it all began with a sudden drop of 2.2 gigawatts in power supplied to the grid. It comes after the sweeping power outage last month raised questions about the electricity grid in a region not normally known for blackouts. Spain's top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, said it was investigating whether the blackout was 'an act of computer sabotage on critical infrastructure' that could be classified as 'a terrorism offence'. The government set up a commission to investigate what triggered the incident, and refused to rule out any hypothesis. Spain's grid operator ruled out a cyber attack. The sweeping power outage that hit Spain and Portugal last month raised questions about the electricity grid in a region not normally known for blackouts Spain's top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, said it was investigating whether the blackout was 'an act of computer sabotage on critical infrastructure' The government set up a commission to investigate what triggered the incident, and refused to rule out any hypothesis Spain's grid operator ruled out a cyber attack The outage, said to be one of the worst ever in Europe, started on the afternoon of April 28 and lasted through nightfall Local media soon began pointing to historic reports warning that the rapid integration of renewable energy sources could cause fluctuations in power levels, potentially leading to widespread blackouts. The outage, said to be one of the worst ever in Europe, started on the afternoon of April 28 and lasted through nightfall, affecting tens of millions of people across the Iberian Peninsula. Offices closed and traffic was snarled in Madrid and Lisbon, while some civilians in Barcelona directed traffic. Train services in both countries stopped. It disrupted businesses, hospitals, transit systems, cellular networks and other critical infrastructure. Emergency services and rail workers in Spain had to help evacuate some 35,000 people from over 100 trains that stopped on the tracks when the electricity was cut. Just a month after the widespread powercut, all major mobile networks went down in Spain this week. Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Digimobil and O2 were all reported to have been affected by outages hitting professional services, including health centres. Complaints soared as landline, internet and emergency contact services were knocked offline early Tuesday morning. Madrid, Andalucia, Galicia, the Basque Country, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura and the Valencian Community were all reportedly affected. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pictured last month People listen to the radio through the loudspeakers of the headquarters of catalunya radioPeople outside Barcelona Sant rail station during a massive power cut A traveller raise her phone up to catch network inside Barcelona-Sants rail station during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France, in Barcelona on April 28, 2025 Millions were left without power as public transport and roads ground to a halt in April People get off a stopped high-speed AVE train near Cordoba on April 28 This photograph shows traffic jam in downtown Madrid during a massive power cut People stand inside a supermarket without lights in Burgos on April 28, 2025, amid the outages Networks contracted with Telefonica appeared to have been hit, but outages did not appear to be affecting individuals' network access. Spain generated nearly 57% of its electricity in 2024 from renewable energy sources like wind, hydropower and solar, according to Red Electrica. 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. It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian Peninsula, with a combined population of about 60 million people. Spains Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and the territories of Ceuta and Melilla, located across the Mediterranean in Africa, were not affected. A 'very wealthy' businesswoman who was 'infatuated' with her burglar boyfriend has been jailed after she fraudulently claimed on insurance for a 350,000 raid that he masterminded on her home. Emma O'Shea was regarded as a 'soft target' by Dean Ryan, who hired an associate to break into the house and make off with 'high value' diamond jewellery, designer handbags, and envelopes containing thousands of pounds of cash. But after discovering the raid, the 46-year-old - who refused to believe her partner was involved - tried to con insurers into paying out before fleeing to the Caribbean to avoid having to appear at his trial. O'Shea asked Ryan to smash a window in her property so that her insurance would pay out the 350,000 in goods she had lost. She then lied to a court and fled to Barbados at the time of his trial, causing the case to collapse. Jailing the mother-of-one for 30 months, a judge branded O'Shea 'selfish' over her insurance fraud following the raid on her 900,000 home in Portsmouth, Hampshire. O'Shea - who now lives in a 1.5 million home - was 'infatuated' with her partner at the time, business owner Ryan, 41, who conspired to steal from her without her knowledge. Among the stolen items from O'Shea's home was a Tiffany engagement ring worth 15,000, Tiffany platinum diamond earrings worth 16,000, and a Tiffany platinum diamond ring worth 22,000. Emma O'Shea, 46, has been jailed for 30 months after trying to con insurers when her lover Dean Ryan masterminded a plot to steal 350,000 of valuables from her 900,000 Portsmouth home Dean Ryan, 41, conspired to have an associate carry out the high value raid without his partner's knowledge A court heard her Ryan had hired an 'associate' to carry out the 'targeted burglary' while O'Shea and he were out of the house Tanzanite diamond earrings worth 43,000 were swiped, a chain diamond necklace worth 58,000 was taken, as were diamond earrings worth 34,000 and a 27,000 round diamond necklace. Several Chanel handbags, each worth up to 10,000, were stolen as well as Rolex watches worth 7,300, plus sapphire diamond rings and eternity bands worth 4,000 and 8,425, and loose diamonds, worth up to 14,000. After Ryan orchestrated the raid, O'Shea refused to believe he was behind the burglary and tried to 'protect' him when he faced justice. The couple agreed to trick O'Shea's home insurance provider by smashing a window and claiming it was broken during the break-in, prosecutors said. When Ryan was due to stand trial for the burglary, O'Shea - who was still seen as the victim at the time - caused the case to collapse by failing to appear in court. She hid out in Barbados to avoid giving evidence against Ryan and intimidated her housekeeper, who was also due to give evidence, by warning her 'you won't get another penny'. Mother of one O'Shea denied her offending but on Thursday was jailed for 30 months for conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice, and witness intimidation. Her mother, Sarah O'Shea, 70, went on trial alongside her for perverting the course of justice - by telling her daughter to stay in the Caribbean - and she was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for 12 months. Ryan, who pleaded guilty at the start of the trial in January this year, was jailed for four years. He admitted conspiracy to commit burglary of a dwelling, conspiracy to commit fraud, and perverting the course of justice. O'Shea hid out in Barbados to avoid giving evidence against Ryan and intimidated her housekeeper in a bid to prevent her attending court Some of the luxury items stolen in the raid were taken out of O'Shea's safe, which was unlocked with a key Pictures show Gary Cleeve, who colluded with Ryan, carrying out the raid at O'Shea's home Among the stolen items from O'Shea's home was a Tiffany engagement ring worth 15,000, Tiffany platinum diamond earrings worth 16,000, and a Tiffany platinum diamond ring worth 22,000 He is already serving a nine-year sentence for an armed robbery which took place in December 2021. Ryan's associate Gary Cleeve, 45, who burgled the house, denied conspiracy to commit burglary of a dwelling and has been sentenced to three years in prison. Both Ryan and Cleeve refused to attend the sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court. Sentencing O'Shea, Judge William Ashworth said that she 'acted in her own personal selfish self-interest' when she pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, placing a 'burden' on her family. He said: 'Sadly, Miss Emma O'Shea is still in denial about her involvement in these offences. 'She's very wealthy indeed, and found herself infatuated by Dean Ryan. He found it convenient to have a relationship with her and live under her roof. 'There's no doubt he saw her as a soft target in relation to the burglary before using Miss O'Shea as his own alibi and then playing the role of affronted boyfriend when the burglary was discovered. 'However, when Miss O'Shea realised that the burglar hadn't damaged the property so that her insurance policy was invalid, it wasn't Mr Ryan who was asking her to fraudulently do the window break - quite the reverse. 'It was her asking Mr Ryan to do it for her, which he did. 'She then proceeded to ask Wioletta Krol [her housekeeper] to back up her story that the window had been broken and then hoped that she could then recover the full sum from the insurance company.' It was heard that Ms Krol had 12,000 in cash stolen but O'Shea has only given her 7,000 back. The court heard that Ryan moved into O'Shea's townhouse in the Southsea area of Portsmouth after they struck up a relationship in 2021. O'Shea's mother, Sarah O'Shea, 69, was sentenced to a suspended six-month jail term for perverting the course of justice by telling her to stay in Barbados After the burglary, a window in the house was smashed in a bid for O'Shea to be able to claim the 350,000 on her insurance Ladders were used to access the property by Ryan's associate The eight-minute burglary which prosecutor Dale Sullivan said took place in the afternoon of March 20, 2022, was committed while Ryan was on bail for armed robbery. Ryan has had 16 convictions for 34 offences committed between 1999 and 2004. He colluded with Cleeve, who raided the property while the couple were out. Mr Sullivan said O'Shea was alerted to the burglary thanks to an alert from her Ring doorbell. Worried she had been burgled, O'Shea called police but also called her housekeeper Mrs Krol asking her to check her home as she was closer. Mrs Krol found two ladders propped against the back wall and - crucially - that the dressing room window was open and had not been smashed. Approximately 350,000 worth of high value jewellery including Tanzanite and Tiffany diamonds, Chanel handbags, Rolex watches and cash were removed from the property by Cleeve. Subsequently Mrs Krol heard Ryan and O'Shea speaking about the window being open and agreeing they would smash it so it would look better for the insurance company. The following day, when Mrs Krol went to O'Shea's address to work, she found that the window had been smashed. Mr Sullivan said O'Shea's insurance policy did not cover theft unless there was force used to enter and no force was used to exit. By the end of April 2022, police arrested Ryan and Cleeve. O'Shea told police that she did not accept that her partner Ryan was in any way involved, and asked that he could remain living at the house. In July 2023 Ryan and Cleeve were due to be tried at Portsmouth Crown Court and Mrs Krol and O'Shea were due to give evidence. Mother of one O'Shea had told the court she was due to be on holiday in France at the time of the trial but was served with a witness summons, ordering her to attend. She instead went to Barbados at the time of the trial - but told the UK court service a 'flat out lie' that she was 'on the South Pacific'. The trial had to be aborted after O'Shea failed to attend. Mr Sullivan said it emerged O'Shea had been communicating with Ryan while he was in custody and relaying information to her daughter in Barbados. Mrs O'Shea urged her daughter to remain outside of the UK while the trial took place. Mrs Krol told the court in a victim impact statement that O'Shea was 'like family' to her before the burglary took place. Sarah O'Shea will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work as part of her sentence. A fifth person has died in a region devastated by floods after dangerous conditions prevented emergency crews from accessing a home. The body of a man believed to be his 80s was found inside a burnt-out vehicle in a shed on a Cooplacurripa property, about 50km north-west of Taree on the NSW mid-north coast. A concern for welfare had been raised on Wednesday after the shed was reportedly spotted alight, but severe weather conditions prevented crews from getting to the property by road. Access to the home was only possible by helicopter with officers arriving early on Friday afternoon, NSW Police said in a statement. In some welcome news, a man missing in Nymboida has been located safe and well. However, police have not ruled out floods as a factor in the disappearance of another man in Bellingen. The intense rainfall that has battered the mid-north coast for several days moved south on Friday, but communities remain cut off and it will take some time to recover once floodwaters recede. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns planned to visit hard-hit Taree but their attempt to meet affected locals was called off, further highlighting the town's isolation by its second major flood in four years. A man in his 80s was found dead at a property north of Taree on Friday afternoon (pictured: a police helicopter rescue in flooded areas near the NSW town of Taree) The rain and flooding has moved further south but many communities on the mid-north coast remain cut-off by road (pictured: people use boats during flooding in Maitland) 'We've heard word from local MPs and businesses that they've had a torrid three days, incredibly difficult circumstances,' Mr Minns said from Maitland. 'We know it will take a long time to get that community back up on its feet.' Port Macquarie local Margret Meagher said the town took 18 months to recover from its last major flood and it would be important for the community to band together. 'People feel they're isolated, so that's where the whole community spirit is so pivotal,' she said. More than 1600 insurance claims have already been made, according to the Insurance Council of Australia. 'Insurers stand ready to serve customers through the oncoming recovery period,' chief executive Andrew Hall said. Of the five deaths linked to the record-breaking floods, three have involved drivers. The body of a man in his late 70s was found on Friday after his vehicle appeared to be swept off a causeway at Nana Glen near Coffs Harbour. Emergency crews have conducted hundreds of rescue throughout the NSW mid-north coast Fire and Rescue NSW crews moving house to house to account for flood victims and their pets Another man died at a flooded home near Taree, as did a driver west of Port Macquarie and a 60-year-old woman near Coffs Harbour. But hundreds of people would be dead without SES volunteers, the premier said. The prime minister announced assistance grants of $180 per person or $900 for families would roll out in coming days. Those unable to work in the hardest-hit areas will have access to disaster recovery allowance from Monday. 'Tragically, we're seeing more extreme weather events,' Mr Albanese said. The SES has conducted 736 flood rescues. But with the rate of rescue requests decreasing, volunteers are focusing on getting supplies to the 50,000 people isolated by floodwaters. Locals in Port Macquarie took things into their own hands, boating food to people in the city's northern suburbs. In welcome news a man missing in Nymboida has been located safe and well Disaster recovery payments have been greenlighted for 19 local government areas (pictured is Maitland) The slow-moving trough that dumped months of rain over the mid-north coast also brought heavy falls south to the Hunter, Blue Mountains, Sydney and Southern Highlands. Drier conditions are forecast in the flood-ridden areas but residents are not out of danger. 'There are waters still moving quite quickly through the river systems, a lot of debris around so it's quite dangerous,' Bureau of Meteorology's Jane Golding said. Increased wind on Monday and Tuesday could also uproot trees and buildings from sodden soil. Police warned Sydney drivers to exercise caution in the wet after two deaths overnight - including a 95-year-old hit by a car in Liverpool. Disaster assistance has been expanded, with 19 areas now eligible for support. The chief designer of Russian missiles is fighting for his life after a hammer attack. Andrei Kondratyev, a head of the key Kurganpribor factory, was struck in a suspected assassination bid in his apartment block in Kurgan. His plant - which faces Western sanctions - makes components for multiple launch rockets and anti-aircraft missile systems used in the war against Ukraine. The assailant hit him several times on the head and fled, according to pro-Kremlin news outlet Mash. The ambush came as he was returning home from work. 'His driver brought the head of the plant to the entrance of the building,' said a source. 'There the pre-planned attack took place. 'The man was hit with a hammer. Andrei Kondratyev, a head of the key Kurganpribor factory, (pictured) was struck in a suspected assassination bid in his apartment block in Kurgan He was a leader at the key Kurganpribor factory, which manufactures Russian missiles Service members of the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a mortar towards Russian troops, at a position in a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 16, 2025 Firefighters extinguish a blaze at the Barabashovo market after a Russian drone strike on May 6, 2025 in Kharkiv, Ukraine 'Immediately on the spot he received emergency medical care, which may have saved his life.' His condition is reported as serious in intensive care. The plant - which also produces parts for guided and unguided air-to-air missiles, such as the short-range R-74 - has cranked up production 70 per cent during Vladimir Putin's war including extended shifts and weekend production. Kondratyev deployed hundreds of prisoners released from jails by Putin to man production lines. The plant also makes fuses for tank shells, artillery rounds, and naval munitions as well as capsule bushings for artillery used by ground forces and the navy. Britain as well as the EU and US has sanctioned Kurganpribor due to its role in the war. Other attacks on defence plant officials and military figures have been blamed on Ukraine. But news outer BAZA said a 'conflict at work' was a possible motive because he had slashed salaries of some workers. A violent pair of Algerian asylum seekers have been sentenced after two young girls were drugged and assaulted in Austria. The men had lured the teenagers, 14 and 15, into an abandoned building before plying them with ecstasy and holding them at gunpoint. The younger girl was assaulted so brutally she had bruises along her ribs while the other had her mouth covered as he raped her so she couldn't call out for help during 15 hours of horrifying abuse. 'She cried and prayed during this,' the judge read from her victim statement. The 32-year-old asylum seeker denied the allegations, saying he did not force the girls to take drugs and that the eldest girl consented to having sex, Austrian media reported. 'We just wanted to have a little fun,' he said, 'we turned on music, danced, and talked.' 'I'm only guilty of taking drugs and not knowing the girls were underage. They said they were 24 and 21.' But he could not explain why the 15-year-old had strangulation marks, bruises and scratches and was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. The girls had been celebrating the country's national holiday in Keplerplatz (pictured), in the south of the capital, when the men encouraged them to get into a taxi The 24-year-old man who was also on trial was acquitted of aiding and abetting the rape but sentenced to three months' suspended prison sentence for sexual harassment, Kronen Zeitung reports. A court heard how the teenage girls had been celebrating the country's national holiday in Keplerplatz, in the south of the capital, last October when the men encouraged them to get into a taxi. They had told the girls 'come on, we'll take you to a party', before luring them to an illegally occupied 'horror house'. 'Once the girls got out, the defendants grabbed the older one and pulled her into the building,' the Vienna public prosecutor's office wrote in its indictment. The girls testified that they were treated like objects by the men and were left with stomach-curling injuries. 'He said, in essence, that no one could hear her and that he would kill her if she didn't have sex with him,' the court heard in regards to the elder girl. 'The younger man held a gun to my temple,' the 14-year-old said during her interrogation, with the pistol later being revealed to be a toy gun. She then tried to get help as her friend was being attacked, calling the police to tell them that her friend had been raped at a party. The violent pair of Algerian asylum seekers have been sentenced after two girls were drugged and horrifically raped in Austria (pictured: Vienna Regional Court) However, the girl was unable to tell officers where she was and attempts to locate her and her friend were unsuccessful. The girls were not able to get away from the abandoned house until the men fell asleep the next afternoon on October 26, at which point they fled. The sleeping men were arrested shortly after. Andreas Reichenbach, the lawyer for the 24-year-old defendant, told the court during the trial that the group had been at a party where 'the two girls were just chilling.' He added that his client 'doesn't speak a word of German' and 'the girls were already under the influence of drugs when they arrived'. The older defendant said that on the night in question the girls 'made TikTok videos, we smoked a little, I took cocaine. Then [the 15-year-old girl] wanted sex.' This was the first time he admitted to having sexual intercourse with the child, Heute reported, something which DNA traces are said to have already proven. He said he believed she had falsely accused him of rape because 'I noticed that she was sad because I didn't want a relationship with her'. More than 30 people have been arrested and 17,000 of suspected criminal assets seized in a people-smuggling crackdown in Northern Ireland. A lorry related to an unpaid penalty notice over stowaways, worth 144,000, was also confiscated by officers. The arrests of 33 illegal migrants and suspected people smugglers were part of a three-day operation to tackle criminals exploiting the common travel area (CTA) at ports and airports in Northern Ireland, north-west England and Wales. Pictures show stacks of cash and officers seizing the lorry, while footage from Belfast International Airport shows a traveller with a suitcase being taken into the back of a police van. It is the sixth operation of its kind, working between the Police Service of North Ireland, An Garda Siochana, the National Crime Agency, other UK police forces, Border Force and international partners. The Home Office said 60 arrests have been made and more than 405,000 of criminal cash seized, over abuse of the CTA, since Labour took power in July last year. Officers arrested 33 illegal migrants and suspected people smugglers during a crackdown in Northern Ireland Cash and valuables were recovered as part of the three-day operation A lorry related to an unpaid penalty notice over stowaways, worth 144,000, was also seized Routes from the island of Ireland to the UK mainland have long been feared to be susceptible to people smuggling due to minimal border controls in the zone. Last year, 14 Albanians were found hiding inside a livestock wagon that had travelled into the British mainland from Northern Ireland. Officials confirmed the arrest was made at Loch Ryan ferry port in Dumfries and Galloway, 80 miles south of Glasgow. Illegal migrants are also known to have exploited the lack of a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Home Office immigration enforcement deputy director Ben Thomas said: 'Criminal networks seek to bypass robust border checks through fraudulent means and trap vulnerable people into further illegal activities. 'The success of this operation marks a significant step up in enforcement activity, leading to the arrest of 33 criminals who attempted to abuse the common travel area and undermine the UK's border security.' Routes from the island of Ireland to the UK mainland have long been feared to be susceptible to people smuggling due to minimal border controls in the common travel area Your browser does not support iframes. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle added: 'This Government is using every tool at its disposal to take down the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people in order to make quick cash.' Arrivals on the more high-profile illegal migration route across the Channel have topped 12,000 an increase of 40 per cent on 2024. A total of 13 boats carrying 825 migrants made the treacherous journey across the Channel on Wednesday - with at least two people dying on one of the crossings. The Home Office confirmed there were 825 arrivals on Wednesday, bringing the total since the general election to 36,811, and a year-on-year increase of 37 per cent. Critics have repeatedly warned that the crossings continue in the absence of a strong deterrent akin to the axed Rwanda scheme. Donald Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the UK's Net Zero drive today. The US president criticised Keir Starmer for focusing on 'costly and unsightly windmills' - insisting there should be more drilling in the North Sea. The intervention is another headache for the PM, who is desperate to maintain warm relations with Mr Trump. Sir Keir is also facing growing domestic unrest over the government's Net Zero push, championed by Ed Miliband. Posting on his Truth Social site, the president said: 'Our negotiated deal with the United Kingdom is working out well for all. Donald Trump criticised Keir Starmer for focusing on 'costly and unsightly windmills' - insisting there should be more drilling in the North Sea The intervention is another headache for the PM, who is desperate to maintain warm relations with Mr Trump 'I strongly recommend to them, however, that in order to get their Energy Costs down, they stop with the costly and unsightly windmills, and incentivize modernized drilling in the North Sea, where large amounts of oil lay waiting to be taken. 'A century of drilling left, with Aberdeen as the hub. The old-fashioned tax system disincentivizes drilling, rather than the opposite. U.K.'s Energy Costs would go WAY DOWN, and fast!' Mr Trump made great play of his 'drill baby drill' approach to fossil fuels in the US election campaign last year. Polls have suggested Brits are wary of the costs of the push to clean energy, with Nigel Farage seizing on the issue. He has pledged that Reform-controlled councils will do away with Net Zero activities and jobs where possible. Unions have lashed out at Mr Miliband for having 'no plan' to make Net Zero work, and for winding down North Sea activities. GMB described the Government's energy policy as 'bonkers', with General Secretary Gary Smith saying it was 'absolute madness' to be cutting off investment into North Sea oil and gas, and warned of a 'growing sense of betrayal'. An extraordinary intervention by Tony Blair last month exposed deep Labour rifts over Mr Miliband's approach. Sir Tony said a strategy based on phasing out fossil fuels in the short term or curbing consumption was 'doomed to fail'. He cautioned that Brits would resent 'being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal'. The comments, in a foreword to a report by his think-tank, sparked a furious backlash from some Labour elements, although other MPs and ministers insisted he had been right to voice concerns. The Institute later issued a clarification, with Keir Starmer adamant that the former PM was 'absolutely aligned' with the government's plans. Donald Trump has hinted at 'something big' coming in Ukraine and revealed that Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to hand over 1,000 prisoners of war from both sides. The American president said on his social media platform, Truth Social: 'A major prisoners swap was just shortly completed between Russia and Ukraine. 'Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???' Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times that the swap will see each side hand over 1,000 prisoners each, as agreed during peace talks in Turkey that Vladimir Putin failed to attend. The swaps have today begun, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealing: 'The first stage of the '1000-for-1000' exchange agreement has been carried out. Today - 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue.' Russia's defence ministry added: '270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians including peaceful residents of the Kursk region captured by the Ukrainian army were returned... In exchange, 270 Ukrainian prisoners of war and 120 civilians were handed over.' White House and National Security Council officials did not immediately respond to requests for further details. The exchange was agreed last week in the first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow's 2022 invasion of its neighbour. That meeting in Turkey lasted just two hours and brought no breakthrough in international diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Donald Trump (pictured) has hinted at 'something big' coming in Ukraine and revealed that Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to hand over 1,000 prisoners of war from both sides Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a maeeting with the Crown Prince of Norway in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukrainian prisoners of war get off a bus after arriving in Ukraine on May 6, 2025 in Chernihiv, Ukraine Despite the positive steps, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov continued to stoke tensions, telling reporters today that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a 'junta' led by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Lavrov said it would be a 'crime' for Russia to allow this to happen. He added that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. Kyiv denies any such discrimination. Lavrov's comments highlighted Russia's insistence, in any peace talks, on enforcing the same demands it made at the very start of the war. Earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine swapped 205 POWs as part of an exchange mediated by the UAE. Countless Ukrainian soldiers are being held in horrific conditions in Russian prisoners, and are being subjected to physical and moral torture, sexual violence, illegal sentencing and violent execution according to former POWs. Volodymyr Labuzov, chief medical officer of the 36th Marine Brigade, was one of them. He was stationed in Mariupol when Russia started its full-scale invasion in early 2022. Labuzov told Euronews that along with soldiers, Vladimir Putin's nation has been holding thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including children, captive 'who have nothing to do with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and they should be returned without any conditions, without any agreements.' 'Russia doesn't make any difference between the soldiers and civilians in their captivity', Labuzov told the outlet. He added that most of the civilians being held by Russia were kidnapped from 'the territories that Russia allegedly liberated and allegedly brought them happiness and freedom. But the treatment is the same for both civilians and military personnel.' Currently, it is not known exactly how many civilians are being held by Russia. 'They are now forced into such conditions that if you want just to live or to even walk the streets of your villages, you must take Russian citizenship. Without Russian citizenship - you are a nobody, you have no rights,' Labuzov said. Two-thirds of Britons back chemically castrating sex offenders - with majority support from supporters of all main political parties, a poll revealed today. Some 67 per cent back the policy while 16 per cent oppose it, after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood revealed this week that 20 prisons will pilot the idea. Those who voted Reform in the last general election are the most likely to 'strongly' support the idea at 59 per cent, followed by Conservative voters at 44 per cent. Labour voters follow on 37 per cent, then those who backed the Liberal Democrats on 33 per cent, according to the YouGov study of more than 4,500 adults in Britain. However all four parties have a majority of voters who either 'strongly' or 'somewhat' support the policy, compared to those who 'strongly' or 'somewhat' oppose it. It comes as the Government is now exploring whether to enforce the chemical castration on offenders as mandatory, after recommendations from the independent sentencing review to explore its use further to reduce the risk of reoffending. But there have been suggestions that some doctors may refuse to carry chemical castration procedures. Don Grubin, emeritus professor of forensic psychiatry at Newcastle University, told BBC Radio 4's World at One: 'I don't know quite how it would work and we certainly don't support it. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. 'We've always resisted suggestions for mandatory prescribing whenever they've been raised. We've always structured the programme as treating a health condition, helping patients manage sexual arousal. 'And that's very much why I think it's been effective - because the individuals who are taking the medication want to reduce the risk.' He added: 'There'd be a lot of resistance from doctors because you'd be asking them really to prescribe not to patients but to reduce risk for society. So they become, in fact, agents of social control, which is something that we've always resisted.' The review led by former justice secretary David Gauke recommended reforms to overhaul the prisons system and make sure there is space to jail the most dangerous offenders after a string of emergency measures to deal with the capacity crisis. It also looked at ways to cut reoffending, with one proposal to consider further use of chemical suppressants, which is currently being piloted in South West England. The Government has also agreed to scrap the use of short sentences of less than 12 months, apart from exceptional circumstances such as domestic abuse cases, and extend the length of suspended sentences from two to three years. The YouGov poll found 58 per cent of Britons oppose scrapping short prison sentences of less than 12 months, while 23 per cent support it. Your browser does not support iframes. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured arriving at Downing Street for a Cabinet metting this week) said a total of 20 prisons will pilot the chemical castration of sex offenders The Probation Service will receive a funding boost of up to 700million by 2028/29 to meet the extra demand of more offenders serving their sentences in the community. Problematic sexual arousal can be reduced by chemical suppressants and prescribed medication. But the review highlighted the treatment would not be relevant for some sex offenders such as rapists driven by power and control, rather than sexual preoccupation. The Government has not yet confirmed which regions or prisons will be part of the pilot scheme. The Prison Officers' Association represents some healthcare staff who work in jails, and union boss Mark Fairhurst said their members have 'not reported any difficulties when administering this medication' as part of the South West trial. Downing Street also would not be drawn into saying whether it thought chemical castration of paedophiles was a punishment for offenders. Chemical suppressants have been used in Germany and Denmark on a voluntary basis, and in Poland as mandatory for some offenders. Meanwhile Kazakhstan is set to move away from the policy, after dozens of child sex offenders were injected in the country in recent years. The former Soviet state will instead enforce life-means-life sentences for men who rape or violently sexually attack children. The review in the UK said the medications are not widely used in prisons across England and Wales but are currently delivered in prisons through a national programme, jointly commissioned by the NHS and prison service, that provides 'psychologically informed' services for offenders with complex needs, and likely diagnosed with personality disorder. Chemical castration is carried out in Kazakhstan (file photo), where it is going to be phased out A nurse conducting the chemical castration of a paedophile in Kazakhstan (file picture) It was first piloted in the UK at HMP Whatton, in Nottingham, in 2007, and was rolled out to six more prisons in 2016. In 2022, the pilot scheme extended the treatment, called clinical management of sexual arousal, to five prisons in the South West of England. Chemical suppressants include hormonal drugs, anti-androgens, which can be prescribed to reduce libido, and non-hormonal drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can be used to reduce compulsive sexual thoughts. Meanwhile the Justice Secretary accepted reforms to allow some criminals, including violent and sexual offenders, to be released at an earlier point in their sentence if they show good behaviour. Terrorists or the most dangerous offenders serving extended sentences would not be eligible for any early release scheme. The shake-up comes as ministers have introduced a series of emergency measures to free up jail space to 'buy time' before the sentencing reforms are believed to take effect next spring. Ms Mahmood has said despite record prison building expansion, demand for prison places will outstrip supply by 9,500 in early 2028. Latest figures show the prison population in England and Wales is 88,103, just 418 below the record of 88,521, which was reached on September 6 last year. A West Country sea shanty band who have played Glastonbury is today at the centre of a modern slavery investigation after their minibus crashed on the edge of Dartmoor. Six members of The Old Time Sailors have been arrested by Devon and Cornwall Police and there are reports that the band's leader is on the run and being sought by detectives. Officers were called to Dolvin Road in Tavistock at 7.30am on Monday, May 19 and revealed the following day that they believed some people in the van may have been possible victims of exploitation. The band, which has around 20 members, were apparently travelling back from a gig in Liverpool the night before when their bus came off the road into some trees. No injuries were reported. There was then a raid on a caravan park linked to the band in nearby Gulworthy where eight potential victims of modern slavery were found. These are now being 'safeguarded', police have said, adding that six men were arrested on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences and later bailed. The Old Time Sailors, whose wild shanties include Galway Girl and The Wild Rover, are accused of barely paying some of its musicians, despite playing huge venues around the UK. Fans are encouraged to dress like pirates and dance like drunken sailors. But the band have hit back, insisting they are a 'family' and 'share' all their costs, calling the accusations false and 'ruinous'. The Old Time Sailors performing on stage at the Winchester Hat Fair. The band is at the centre of a modern slavery investigation by police Fans are encouraged to dress like pirates and dance like drunken sailors at their riotous gigs, pictured here next to the SS Great Britain in Bristol Their van crashed here in Dolvin Road in Tavistock, sparking the investigation Devon and Cornwall Police, Sergeant Tom Ottley said: 'As part of our response to the initial incident, we identified several of the occupants of the van as being potential victims of exploitation offences. They are receiving specialist support and being safeguarded at this time. 'Shortly after, officers carried out a search at an address in the Gulworthy area which led to the identification of further potential victims. We worked alongside the local authority and partner agencies yesterday in safeguarding these individuals and their support was very much appreciated. 'As part of this investigation, we have arrested six males on suspicion of modern-day slavery offences. We appreciate the activity may have caused some confusion and concern amongst the local community.' The six arrested were later bailed. The Sun claims that musicians working for the band were being kept in a farmhouse in east Devon and earning little or no wages. Yesterday police said: 'The six individuals who were arrested have all been bailed. The identified victims are being supported by specially trained officers and are receiving multi-agency support. Enquiries are ongoing.' The band have issued a statement on Facebook branding it 'scandalous accusations, speculation and fabrications about Old Time Sailors' - but did not mention the police investigation. They are on the bill at Camp Bestival festival and have gigs planned in Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol this summer - but concerts in Newquay this week have been cancelled. 'We are aware of a number of articles currently online and categorically state that none of what is being said is the actual truth. It is what might sadly get acknowledged these days as an online hate campaign', they said. 'At no point has any of the information been even slightly fact checked. Fake websites and anonymous social media posts are supposedly telling the truth but it's an elaborate web of hate. It is dangerous and highly illegal. 'The true facts are Old Time Sailors are a collective of musicians who tour as a family. Yes it's true, we live and travel collectively. We share our costs and overheads. We just have a love of music and performing. The Old Time Sailors have hit back on Facebook, insisting they are a 'family' and 'share' all their costs, calling the accusations false and 'ruinous'. 'Why is this happening? We have been asking the same question. The sad fact is a certain crew member parted ways with the band, and following this we received a very threatening email indicating what could be made to happen if we did not do certain things. But we didn't respond, and then suddenly it happened. Accusations, lies, horror stories and ruinous allegations. 'We still choose to focus on performing - living the free life we chose, and making connections with local communities. We teach and learn new music as we go along and have fun while we travel around. It is what we are all about. 'We all know it's never right to make assumptions about anyone's situation, or glean so called 'facts' from anonymous social media posts. 'We will instead focus on what we have put all our efforts into; the music and performing. We love our fans so thank you for all the support and we hope to see you at a show soon.' A prison officer accused of having sexual relationships with two inmates will face a trial in October. Isabelle Dale, 23, allegedly had a fling with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, 33, between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2022. Dale is also accused of having a sexual relationship with a second jailhouse lover, Connor Money, 28, at the same time. Money was serving nine years for killing his best friend in a car crash while escaping police at 147mph. Dale is also accused of conspiring to smuggle drugs into HMP Swaleside in Kent - the high security jail where Sharif was locked up. She appeared at Southwark Crown Court charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office in relation to the relationship with Sharif and Money. The first charge alleges she 'wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder by having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a serving prisoner by the name of Shahid Sharif.' The second misconduct charge alleges she had a sexual relationship with Money between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2022. Prisoner officer Isabelle Dale, who has been accused of having sexual relationships with two inmates, will face a trial in October Isabelle Dale, 23, (dressed in black) allegedly had a fling with convicted robber Shahid Sharif, 33, and Connor Money, 28, at the same time Dale is accused of having sexual relationships with Money (right) and Sharif (left), with whom she is also charged with conspiring to bring controlled drugs into Swaleside prison Dale, of Portsmouth, is charged with conspiring together with Sharif, Lilea Sallis, and others unknown to bring controlled drugs into Swaleside. Wearing a smart black blazer, she was bailed today ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on Friday 6 June at the same court. Judge Justin Cole set a trial date for 21 October 2025 to last between two and three weeks. Dale, of Portsmouth, appeared at Southwark Crown Court charged with two counts of misconduct in a public office Lilea Sallis, 27, is charged with conspiring with Dale and others unknown to bring controlled drugs into Category B prison Swaleside Sharif and Sallis, 27, of Brighton, are charged with conspiring with Dale and others unknown to bring controlled drugs into Category B prison Swaleside. The 27-year-old, wearing a white top, was also bailed for a plea and trial preparation at the same court in two weeks time. Sharif, who was on a video-link from HMP Manchester, is also charged with possessing a mobile phone in HMP Brixton and HMP Wandsworth between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2022. Dale describes herself on the website 'topline.com' as 'a seasoned Prison Officer with 2 years of experience, holds a degree in Criminology and Law from City of Portsmouth College, and is proficient in English and Maths.' A group of teen bullies got a taste of vigilante justice after they were filmed beating up a young disabled woman in Hawaii. Four teenagers - aged 13, 14, 16 and 18 - were arrested after horrific footage showed them surrounding and assaulting the confused woman, 21, who tried to shield herself as she was kicked and punched in the head. The victim, named only as Carly, remained crouched on the ground and did not fight back as the attackers take turns assaulting her, with local spokesman Michael Kitchens branding their behavior 'evil.' The brutal April attack was posted online earlier this month and sparked widespread anger from the Wahiawa community, who took matters into their own hands and hunted down the suspects. The community members livestreamed themselves as they went looking for the bullies at their homes, with as many as 11,000 people watching at one point, as reported by Hawaii News Now. Footage shows dozens of students and parents heading to the suspects' residences, with someone climbing up a building's exterior at one point. The vigilantes knocked on their doors and demanded the bullies came out and meet with them. A group of teen bullies were arrested after a video showed them assaulting a disabled young woman in Hawaii The community took matters into their own hands and livestreamed themselves going to confront the suspects Someone was seen climbing up a building's exterior at one point as the community looked for the teens suspects The eldest bully in the group, 18-year-old Jasmine Keola, spoke to KHON2 as she was released from jail on Thursday after chargers against her were dropped. 'It was incidents on the bus that happened and it just got way out of hand. So I took it upon myself, I got pressured actually to fighting the girl,' Keola claimed. 'I didnt want to fight her. but I did anyway. So I talked to her, but again Im sorry for what I did, I didnt mean to do it.' Keola's excuse was met with derision by locals who say she's shown little remorse and now seems keen to try and play the victim. The other teen bullies were also released from jail. The case against them has been dismissed - but investigators say this is only because they need to gather further evidence with a mind to press stronger charges in the near-future. The mother of two of the teens involved also apologized, saying: 'I just wanted to apologize to the family of the girl that got hurt in that video. 'And I didnt mean for it to go this far. But I apologize for my childrens actions and I hope that you guys can forgive my kids.' The bullies attend Leilehua High School and Wahiawa Middle School. The school district said they are cooperating with authorities. The victim's family told local media they were also shocked to see the video, as the young woman never told them about the assault. As many as 11,000 people were watching the livestream at one point as the community looked for the teen bullies The eldest bully in the group, 18-year-old Jasmine Keola, spoke to KHON2 as she was released from jail on Thursday after chargers against her were dropped against the bullies The victim's family told local media they were also shocked to see the video, as the young woman never told them about the assault They issued a statement thanking the public for their support and also asking people to refrain from seeking revenge. 'The family would like to sincerely thank friends, family and the public for the outpouring of love, support, and concern during this incredibly difficult time. Your kind words and compassion have meant more to them than they can expressed in words,' their statement read. 'At this moment, the family respectfully ask for their privacy as they try to process what has happened and figure out their next steps. They are still coming to terms with everything, and need time and space to do so. In the meantime, we ask not to contact the family. 'The family also kindly asks that no one retaliate or act out against any of the other parties involved.' Pheobe Bishop has been missing since May 15 The mother of missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop has shared an emotional message to her daughter, missing for over a week, as police widen their search area. Pheobe, 17, was last seen on May 15, when she was driven to Bundaberg Airport, reportedly by her housemates from a Gin Gin property. She was supposed to board a flight to Brisbane and then onto Perth to see her boyfriend. But police say she did not check in, was not on the 8.30am flight and she has not been seen since. It is believed that James Wood and Tanika Bromley, who Pheobe was living with, had driven her to the airport. The Gin Gin property, near Bundaberg, had earlier been declared a crime scene, along with the vehicle understood to have been used to take Pheobe to the airport. Police on Friday expanded their search about 40km south of Gin Gin, looking at the Good Night Scrub National Park. Pheobe's mother, Kylie Johnson, took to Facebook on Friday to describe her emotions as each day passes without any answers. 'As each day goes by, it gets harder to breathe. I feel numb, not knowing where you are or if you're okay,' Ms Johnson said. Pheobe Bishop (left) and mother Kylie Johnson (right). Pheobe has been missing for over a week Police on Friday evening scoured Good Night Scrub National Park, 40km south of Gin Gin. Police divers and the homicide squad have also been called in Waterways and other nearby areas are being searched for any sign of the missing teenager 'We would do anything just to hear your voice, to have you curl up in my lap and hold you tight,' she said. 'I have no words to describe what this is doing to our family, our friends, and our community.' Ms Johnson also made an emotional plea for the public to cherish their loved ones. 'What we need right now from everyone is to hold your loved ones tight and tell them you love them,' she added. She made no comment on Pheobe's living situation, she had earlier written on social media she was wary that she might 'jeopardise the current police investigations'. Police have now expanded their search to find the teenager into rural areas west of Gin Gin. Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson confirmed that officers are focusing on various locations for any signs that could lead to Pheobe's whereabouts. 'We are searching for any evidence or information that could help us find Pheobe,' Detective Thompson said. It was not known why Pheobe Bishop (pictured) was staying with Mr Wood and Ms Bromley The home of James Wood (left) and Tanika Bromley (right) was searched on Thursday Ms Johnson pleaded for anyone with information to speak up. 'If anyone was near the airport around the time she disappeared, please come forward. Every little piece of information matters,' she said. On Friday, police divers also searched waterways in the Bundaberg region, though no belongings or personal items from Pheobe have been found as of yet. Police were also at the home Mr Wood and Ms Bromley shared with Pheobe on Friday. Four police cars guarded the house as two forensic investigators combed the property and appeared to collect evidence from the front porch. Mr Wood has taken to social media promising to give his boat to anyone who can lead police to the teen. Ms Bromley's 2011 silver Hyundai ix35 hatchback, registration 414-EW3, has been seized by police. On Thursday, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Ms Bromley is facing unrelated charges for possessing a sawn-off shotgun and a flick knife in public. Though it's unclear why Pheobe was living at the Gin Gin house, final posts she made to social media before she disappeared suggested the troubled teen had fallen out with her mother and would not return home. Mr Woods has offered his boat as a reward to anyone who has information about the teen Police expanded their search along Gayndah Road near the Good Night Scrub National Park It is not known what brought police to that area about half an hour from the house where she was staying in Gin Gin Police searched the Gin Gin home of Mr Woods and Ms Bromley on Thursday The missing teenager has not been since May 15, as the search lasts more than a week A friend of Pheobe's who wished to remain anonymous earlier revealed the last messages they received from her on Monday, May 12, before she went missing. 'I've been better but I focus on the good s***,' Pheobe said when asked how she was going. 'I take of (sic) to WA in three days! Get out of this s*** home for a bit so that will be good, just packing atm (at the moment).' Asked how long she was going for, Pheobe replied: '10 days beautiful x'. When a Daily Mail Australia reporter visited the Gin Gin house on Thursday, there was a pervading stench of decay emanating from the Milden St property. Witnesses speculated it could be due to the dead dogs reportedly found at the home. Early reports suggested police had discovered and removed four dead dogs from the scene, but one neighbour told Daily Mail Australia she believed as many as 13 of the animals had been found. No one has been arrested over Pheobe Bishop's disappearance Why Pheobe Bishop (right) was staying at the Gin Gin property at the time is not known As the search enters its eighth day, Inspector Thompson stressed that the case is far from closed. 'Pheobe was a lovely young girl and a really relatable person to her family. We are doing everything we can to bring her home,' he said. 'We never give up hope,' he added, reaffirming the police's commitment to finding Pheobe safe and well. A Queensland police spokesman confirmed on Friday that no one is currently in custody in relation to the investigation. A Labour minister today hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'emboldening Hamas'. Following the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC, Mr Netanyahu tore into the UK Prime Minister and other world leaders. He claimed Sir Keir, France's Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Mark Carney were 'on the wrong side of justice'. Mr Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not 'advancing peace', but 'emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever'. It came after Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Carney had earlier this week condemned the Israeli government's 'egregious' actions in Gaza. They warned they would take 'concrete actions' unless Mr Netanyahu changes course. The UK Government on Tuesday suspended trade deal talks with Israel, sanctioned West Bank settlers and summoned the country's ambassador. In a widening rift between Britain and the Israeli government, Labour MP Luke Pollard - the Armed Forces minister - this morning flatly rejected Mr Netanyahu's remarks about Sir Keir. A Labour minister has hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'emboldening Hamas' Mr Netanyahu claimed Sir Keir, France's Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Mark Carney were 'on the wrong side of justice' In a widening rift between Britain and the Israeli government, Labour MP Luke Pollard - the Armed Forces minister - flatly rejected Mr Netanyahu's remarks about Sir Keir Mr Pollard told LBC: 'I don't agree with those comments. 'We condemn in the fullest possible terms the murder of the Israeli diplomats in the US. That is completely unacceptable. 'But the argument that we have been making about how we bring peace to Israel and to the Palestinians is with a restoration of the immediate ceasefire. 'With Hamas releasing the hostages without any further delay and for massive amounts of aid to get into Gaza to give the Palestinians the food, water and medical support that they need. 'Now that's an argument we've been making consistently, publicly, but also privately. 'We're going to continue doing that, because what we're seeing, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, is unacceptable. I think everyone will be able to see that that's unacceptable. 'We oppose Hamas. We oppose the awful atrocities they committed on 7th October, and that is the reason why we want to see peace. 'The only way to achieve that two-state solution that is good for Israelis and Palestinians alike is a restoration of the ceasefire, the hostages released and aid delivered to the people who really need it.' Mr Pollard also stressed that Britain stood with Israel in their right to self defence, 'but that self defence must be conducted within the bounds of international humanitarian law'. 'At this moment, we stand fast against terrorism, but we also want to make sure that the aid is getting into Gaza,' he told Times Radio in a round of media interviews. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France, which like Britain and Canada designates Hamas as a terrorist organisation, was 'unwaveringly committed to Israel's security'. He said it was determined to combat anti-Semitism and that it was 'absurd and slanderous' to accuse supporters of a two-state solution of encouraging anti-Semitism or Hamas. In a post on X on Thursday evening, Mr Netanyahu said Hamas wants to 'destroy the Jewish state' and 'annihilate the Jewish people'. He said: 'I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. 'I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice. 'Because by issuing their demand replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power.' Mr Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not 'advancing peace', but 'emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever'. The Israeli leader's comments came in a video statement after two Israeli embassy staff were killed in Washington DC. The embassy staff, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the 31-year-old suspect approached. Israel's foreign minister identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The attack has sent shockwaves around the world and prompted Israeli missions to beef up security. Elias Rodriguez, 31, told police after his arrest, 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' federal authorities said on Thursday, as they announced criminal charges. Sir Keir has described the shooting as 'anti-Semitic'. He said: 'I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. 'Anti-Semitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. 'My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.' Downing Street said the PM 'stands in solidarity with the Jewish community here in the UK', adding the Government has offered its 'full support to the Israeli embassy in London'. Sir Keir's official spokesman added: 'As you know, we continue to provide around 18 million a year in funding for protective security measures for Jewish community sites in the UK.' The Government's approach towards Israel's actions in Gaza will not change as a result of the killings, the spokesman indicated, but he said this 'does not take away at all from the fact that antisemitism is an evil that must be stamped out wherever it appears'. A Queensland builder who joined the Ukrainian Foreign Legion before he went missing in April has been sentenced 'in absentia' by a Russian court. Caleb List signed up with the Ukrainian army following the Russian invasion in 2022, after having been rejected from joining the Australian Defence Force. The 25-year-old from Gladstone is believed to have died last month after being hit by artillery fire in a contested territory near the city of Izyum, in the Kharkiv region, though his body has not been found. On Friday, the self-declared Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic - a far eastern Ukrainian region that is temporarily under Russian occupation - sentenced Mr List to 14 years in prison as a mercenary, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported. The court has previously sentenced other foreign volunteers who joined Ukrainian military to death. According to the Kyiv Post, international legal experts said that the findings of court were 'meaningless'. 'One international lawyer who has worked extensively in Ukraine and Russia said ''If there is no country there is no court,'' and any international court that would review the case would immediately throw out the rulings,' the paper said. Since enlisting, Mr List had sent encrypted messages from Ukraine's trenches to Daily Mail Australia journalist Jonica Bray, sharing exclusive updates on his time in the war-ravaged country. Australian man Caleb List was this week sentenced 'in absentia' for joining the Ukrainian army's fight against the Russian invasion Mr List, from Queensland, has been missing since his unit suffered heavy artillery fire in April in the Kharkiv region Thousands of foreign fighters like Mr List had signed up to help defend Ukraine, despite warnings from their governments, including Australia, not to travel there. 'It's not as crazy as most people think,' he said about what day-to-day was like in a warzone that's seen almost one million people killed or wounded,' Caleb said. 'There are scary moments and bad thing happen around Ukraine every day, but it's a normal country and it still has to operate like one. 'The only thing is there's a giant war in the background.' The Aussie tradie spent anywhere from days to weeks in the trenches alongside both local soldiers and other foreign legion members of the army. 'It could be quiet. We could get bombed or the trench could get assaulted,' he said. 'Then I come home to the back lines, I do some training, eat some food, work on hobbies, call and message family, friends and other loved ones. 'Kind of like what normal people do on their weekends. Then, the cycle repeats itself.' The Aussie builder (pictured in Ukraine) had previously tried to join the Australian army but was knocked back Mr List said he decided to head to Europe in 2022 to fulfill his lifelong dream of one day becoming a soldier and participating in military action. His initial plan was to join the French Foreign Legion, but while on his way to France to sign up, Russia invaded Ukraine, and his whole life changed. While on a drunken night out in Poland, Mr List crossed the border and headed to a tent with the sign 'Legionnaire.' After about a month of basic training, he was transferred to the frontline, but kept the news from his family. Mr List said he used various encrypted apps to communicate because he believed that as an Australian, he had a bounty on his head. 'It puts my life in danger if they know where I am,' he said. 'I just become a target on pro-Russian Telegram [messaging apps] groups.' This week, Russia's defense ministry said its forces were advancing at key points along the front, and pro-Russian war bloggers said Russia had pierced Ukrainian lines between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, the heaviest frontline battles were around Pokrovsk and made no reference to any Russian advances. As Russia, Ukraine, the United States and European powers consider the sequencing of a possible end to the more than three-year conflict in Ukraine, the drone war continues and fighting is intensifying in some key areas of the front. Russia's defense ministry said 105 drones had been shot down over Russian regions between midnight and the early morning of Thursday, including 35 over the Moscow region. The previous day, Russia said it shot down well over 300 Ukrainian drones. Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow's mayor, said multiple drones had been shot down heading towards the capital, which along with the surrounding region has a population of 21 million people. Two youths have admitted murdering a 14-year-old boy in a machete attack on a London bus while he was travelling home from school. Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed 27 times as he travelled on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, South East London, on the afternoon of January 7. Emergency services were called to the scene at about 2.30pm, but Kelyan died shortly after medics arrived having suffered a severed femoral artery. In an unusual move, Scotland Yard had issued CCTV images and named two boys as part of a public appeal for information. They were arrested on January 15 after a manhunt by Metropolitan Police officers, and charged the next day. The defendants, both aged 16, appeared at the Old Bailey today for a plea hearing. The pair pleaded guilty to Kelyan's murder and having a knife on Woolwich Church Street. Relatives of Kelyan gasped and appeared tearful as they sat metres away from the dock where the two boys sat flanked by officers. Reporting of the case was briefly delayed after one of the boys' barristers had called for time to speak to his client in light of what had appeared to be an unexpected plea. Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed around 27 times as he travelled home on a 472 bus in January The 14-year-old boy died after being fatally stabbed on the London bus in Woolwich in January Later, the youth returned to court and confirmed his guilty plea. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered reports ahead of sentencing on July 25. At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Tom Little KC said the victim was sitting on the back seat of the bus on the upper deck when he was attacked by two youths both armed with 'lengthy machetes'. The defendants knew in advance of the presence of Kelyan when they boarded the bus and walked directly towards him, the court was told. Mr Little said: 'It is clear this is not a form of spontaneous incident. The two defendants must have known the deceased was on the bus. 'They approach him and almost instantaneously, the two of them pull out machetes and attacked the deceased. Police cordons were put in place amid a murder probe after the stabbing on the 472 bus Forensic officers gather evidence on the bus following the stabbing in Woolwich in January 'He is stabbed or attempted to be stabbed on a total of 27 occasions before the defendants made their way off the bus.' One of the machetes was discarded in the River Thames but was later recovered. Both defendants remained at large for a few days before being arrested. Both had previous convictions, including for having a knife in a public place. One of them had a referral order in place at the time of the murder. The defendants cannot be named because of their ages. However, Judge Lucraft indicated he would hear a media application to lift the reporting restriction at their sentencing hearing. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee from the specialist crime unit, who led the Metropolitan Police's investigation, said this afternoon: 'Today I wish to express my team's heartfelt sympathies to Kelyan's family. 'The brutal and senseless attack on Kelyan's has deeply impacted his friends, the wider community and everyone that has worked tirelessly to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible. 'I hope Kelyan's family can take some solace in this outcome but I know they remain deeply bereft at the waste of three young lives.' Footage posted on social media showed first responders performing first aid at the scene A vigil at St Mary Magdalene church in Woolwich on January 8 following Kelyan's death An inquest in January heard members of the public tried to help Kelyan after he was stabbed. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee told that hearing that police were called at around 2.28pm on January 7 by a bus driver reporting a stabbing on the bus. She said police understand that Kelyan boarded the bus at 2.06pm at North Greenwich train station and then two male suspects boarded the vehicle at 2.26pm. DCI Lee continued: 'They went up to the top deck where Kelyan was sitting and they immediately attacked him. 'Members of the public who were boarded on the bus called for help and asked the driver to stop, which he did, on Woolwich Church Street, and the suspects fled the bus. 'A number of passengers tried to help Kelyan. He came down the stairs and they placed him on a seat on the lower deck.' She said the bus driver called for aid, and police and London Ambulance Service attended, but Kelyan could not be saved and he died at the scene. At a vigil held in January at a church overlooking the bus stop where he was stabbed, one of Kelyan's friends said the boy had a 'pure heart' and would 'always be there for you'. A Russian Su-24 tactical bomber was intercepted by the Polish Air Force over the Baltic Sea last night, Poland's defence minister revealed today. Wladysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that a pair of Polish jets were scrambled after the joint operational command for NATO forces in Europe issued the order to intercept. They located the aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic late on Thursday, before intercepting and 'effectively deterring' it, he said. 'The Russian Federation's Su-24 aircraft was performing dangerous manoueuvres,' Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters. He said such manoueuvres 'show what the intentions of this action are, that this is not an accidental action, but an intentional action'. He added that 'such incidents have already taken place in recent weeks'. Earlier this week, Poland said a sanctioned Russian ship was performing 'suspicious manoueuvres' in the Baltic Sea near the power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. NATO troops were this week conducting training exercises on the strategic Baltic island of Gotland, itself considered for remilitarisation to face down the perceived Russian threat. A pair of Polish jets were scrambled after the joint operational command for NATO forces in Europe issued the order to intercept the Russian SU-24 (file pic shows a Russian SU-24M) FILE PHOTO: A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet takes off during a demonstration flight at the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznan-Krzesiny, Poland, 10 February 2025 Thursday's interception came just days after Polish MiG-29s were sent out to meet a 'Gabon-flagged' oil tanker in Vladimir Putin's shadow fleet. The Russian-bound ship is suspected of being used by Moscow to avoid international sanctions, and was sanctioned by Britain earlier this month. Russia also deployed a Su-35S fighter jet which allegedly violated Estonian airspace as it sought to provide cover for the fleeing tanker, 'Jaguar'. In dramatic video, the plane belonging to NATO-member Poland was seen tailing the Russian Su-35 over the Gulf of Finland, which is part of the Baltic Sea. In separate footage, a Russian voice on the bridge of the tanker accused the Estonians of being 'clowns' as they tried and failed to board the vessel. Russia sparked international concern last year with plans to expand its territorial waters in the Baltic Sea, near its maritime border with Finland and Lithuania. Russian jets have repeatedly made manoueuvres around the Baltic since the illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. And earlier this month, a Royal Navy warship tracked a Russian submarine and ships passing through the English Channel. HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a NATO operation to shadow Moscow's submarine Krasnodar as it travelled back to a Russian Baltic port. The 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. Your browser does not support iframes. Satellite images have emerged in recent weeks showing a build up of Russian forces just miles from the Finnish border. Moscow appears to have been been establishing troop accommodation, aircraft infrastructure and other new facilities at key military bases as tensions rise. Finland's Prime Minister and German intelligence are among the European partners who have suggested that Putin is gearing up for a lengthy conflict with the West. A Finnish government report cited in news outlet Iltalehti in December states that Helsinki considers an attack on Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Baltic states to be a possibility. 'Russia is strengthening its military presence and activities in its northwestern direction in all operational environments as quickly as possible,' the report warns. A mother has been detained in Russia after 'ordering the contract killing of her 12-year-old daughter'. She offered a male acquaintance 930 to drown the child in a local river in Chelyabinsk region, according to law enforcement. Unknown to her, the girl was secretly eavesdropping from behind a door and heard her mother's chilling demand to kill her. The woman, named only as Svetlana, 46, cited her bad relationship with her daughter as the reason for her attempt to have the girl killed. She was 'tired' of the 12-year-old's 'bad behaviour' and their 'constant arguments'. After ordering her killing, the mother-of-four sent her daughter out of the house with the man - Andrey, 36 - in Izmailovsky settlement, it is alleged. 'When they were walking along the road, the schoolgirl was very afraid and worried,' reported Shot news outlet, citing law enforcement. 'But the man told her everything and promised to protect her. A mother has been detained in Russia after 'ordering the contract killing of her 12-year-old daughter' The woman, named only as Svetlana, 46, cited her daughter's 'bad behaviour' and their 'constant arguments' as the reason for her attempt to have the girl killed Unknown to her, the girl was secretly eavesdropping from behind a door and heard her mother's chilling demand to kill her She offered a male acquaintance 930 to drown the child in a local river in Chelyabinsk region, according to law enforcement 'He hid the girl at his home and went to the police.' The woman had offered to pay cash for drowning her in Bolshaya Karaganka River, he told officers. Police detained the woman who faces up to 15 years in jail for incitement to murder a minor, if convicted. She was 'unable to explain her actions' when quizzed by officers. The girl has been placed in care with two siblings, aged 17 and six. The detained woman also has an adult daughter, 18. A Kentucky man with special needs was left paralyzed from the waist down after a tornado tore through his home and threw him against a wall. David Krell was in his home in London, Kentucky on Friday when the twister ripped apart the town as part of a terrifying storm system that left a trail of destruction across multiple states and killed almost two dozen people. Krell's sister Shawn Cupp, who is his primary caregiver, said she feared for her brother's life when she got off work Friday night and was told their home was entirely leveled by the tornado. And she was horrified to learn how badly he'd been injured. 'Unfortunately, he does remember it. He said he heard the freight train, and he knew it was over,' Cupp told WKYT. Krell was found under rubble by neighbors when they heard him yelling for help, and Cupp said he told her the last thing he recalled was being slammed into a wall and passing out. When he woke up, Krell found that he couldn't move, and the force of the storm threw him 'about 80 feet from the trailer,' Cupp said. She said the neighbors' hearing her brother's screams saved his life, and even though he suffered a horrific spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed, she believes a guardian angel protected his life. 'When our mother passed away, we had an urn. The urn was found intact...right beside him,' she said. David Krell, a Kentucky man with special needs, was left paralyzed from the waist down after a tornado tore through his home and threw him against a wall Krell was found under rubble by neighbors when they heard him yelling for help, and it was found in hospital that he suffered a spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed and unable to move his arms Krell's sister Shawn Cupp, who is his primary caregiver, said she got off work Friday night and was told their home was entirely leveled by the tornado (pictured) The siblings' home was among thousands of structures that were destroyed by the severe storm system that tore through the Ohio Valley on Friday night. Forecasters said wind gusts peaked at over 170mph, and at its widest point the storm system stretched across a mile as it ripped apart neighborhoods and left over 100,000 without power. Cupp said despite her brother's severe injuries, he is in good spirits after surviving the near-death experience. 'You know, hes laughing. Hes just happy to be alive,' she said. In a GoFundMe set up to help the family after they lost everything, Krell's niece said the force of the tornado impact 'completely crushed' his C6 and C7 vertebrae, and his spinal paralysis also caused his arms to become 'unusable.' 'He can feel them and move them but he says they just hurt horribly. He also had a brain bleed, damage to the artery on the back of the neck, and several compressed fractures in his spine,' the fundraiser read. Krell's sister Shawn Cupp (pictured with rapper Nelly) said she feared for her brother's life when she heard their home had been levelled by the tornado The siblings' home was among thousands of structures that were destroyed by the severe storm system that tore through the Ohio Valley on Friday night (seen in London, Kentucky on May 18) A London, Kentucky resident stands in what is left of her destroyed home on May 18 Krell's niece did not specify his special needs, but said he had been taken care of by Cupp since their mom passed away in August 2021 and is his primary caregiver. The family said they now need funds to move into a wheelchair-accessible home, but Cupp told WKYT that they are taking things one day at a time and are grateful to have each other. 'Its gonna be a long road, just trying to put everything back together and get prepared for him,' she added. Krell was far from the only victim in the severe storms in the small town of London, with Kentucky couple Paul and Gail Cline each losing an arm when a tornado tore apart their home. The couple, both in their late 60s, were hunkered down as a 170mph twister moved through the area. In what could have been their final moments, the couple - who have been married for 29 years - held each other tightly as the storm raged on, sending sheet rock and shattered glass flying through the air. When the terrifying tornado finally settled, a neighbor rushed to the ruins of the Clines' home, where Paul and Gail were crying for help. 'When they were found, they were holding each other, and thats why they lost opposite arms,' Brandy Bowman, one of the Clines nieces, told WLKY. 'Because they were holding on to each other, and whatever impacted them impacted them at the same time.' Krell was far from the only victim in the severe storms in the small town of London, with Kentucky couple Paul and Gail Cline each losing an arm when a tornado tore apart their home. (Pictured: the first time Paul and Gail saw each other after the tornado) Paul (left), a beloved community pastor, and Gail (right) were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they have remained ever since the harrowing incident Debris is seen in London, Kentucky after severe storms sent a tornado through the town Officials said at least 18 people died in the tornadoes as they swept through the Ohio Valley on Friday night and into the weekend. It comes as the city of St. Louis, Missouri fired its Emergency Management Director, Sarah Russell, after she failed to activate tornado sirens. Officials said Russell exposed critical failures in the city's emergency response systems and left residents unprepared for the imminent storm system. The City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) director has since been placed on paid administrative leave, Mayor Cara Spencer announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to 'provide accountability' after the life-saving alerts weren't deployed. In a statement, Spencer said CEMA failed to 'alert the public to dangers.' 'Commissioner Russell has served our city for years and is a person of goodwill, but I cannot move on from this without providing accountability and ensuring that our emergency management is in trusted hands,' the mayor said. Spencer said an internal investigation into the siren failure revealed 'multiple' issues, prompting her decision to seek an external investigation of CEMA. A dog harness a Queensland woman bought off a discount website so she could take her pet pooch for a ride has earned her a huge fine. The woman who was fitted with full safety gear and the dog - who had none - were stopped on the Sunshine Coast last weekend. Bodycam video of the interaction showed the officer appeared to be amused and chuckled at the unusual passenger, but that didn't stop him from applying to full force of the law. 'Officers from the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol were conducting routine patrols along Alexandra Parade in Alexandra Headland around 2pm on May 17, when they intercepted the rider,' Queensland Police said. 'What caught their attention wasn't just the bike, but the furry companion perched in front of the handlebars.' The rider, a 35-year-old woman from Maroochydore, was issued a $376 traffic infringement notice for 'riding with an animal between the arms'. Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho from Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol said while officers understand the strong bond people share with their pets, safety is paramount. The motorcyclist has been fined $376 for the dangerous driving. The dog appeared unfazed 'We know how attached some people are to their pets, but it's best to apply a paws-off approach when it comes to our roads,' he said. According to police, the woman had purchased a special harness online designed to secure small pets to the chest. In the video, the woman can heard saying she bought it from Temu. Authorities warned that such setups, while seemingly convenient, could have dangerous consequences. 'The rider had purchased the harness online and did not think through the safety implications, particularly if the dog was to react to other road users, pedestrians or animals,' Senior Sergeant Panoho explained. 'This could place the rider and her pooch in harm's way or put other motorists at risk,' he added. 'Although the dog seemed to be comfortable on the bike, we urge riders to practice safe and responsible behaviour on our roads.' Queensland Police have warned all motorists to ensure any animals are restrained in a way that does not interfere with the rider's control of the vehicle or obstruct their view of the road. Police shared the shocking video online, warning the incident could have ended in tragedy Queensland road rules require drivers and riders to have proper control at all times, something that is difficult with a pet in close proximity to the handlebars. Police say while the sight may have amused some bystanders, it could have ended in tragedy if the dog had become startled or caused a distraction. Last year, a Sydney driver was slammed on social media for driving on a 110 kilometre an hour road, with their pet dog in the back of the truck. 'Can somebody driving at 110km/h on a highway keep the dog in an open boot?' a driver who spotted the pooch asked Reddit. Hundreds of commenters were divided on the issue, noting the potential danger if the dog jumped out or the car had to stop suddenly or swerve. Motorists in NSW must ensure pets are safely restrained if travelling in the back of a ute. Drivers can be hit with fines and a possible jail sentence if they do not take measures to ensure the pet is safe. 'Consider safely restraining your dog in the cabin of your ute or open vehicle with a safety-belt restraint as this is generally safer, especially in the case of an accident,' the RSPCA advises. Reform UK's newly-elected mayors joined other regional leaders in London today for talks with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Greater Lincolnshire mayor, and Luke Campbell, the Hull and East Yorkshire mayor, both attended the meeting alongside 12 other mayors. It was the first time the Reform politicians had attended Ms Rayner's 'mayoral council' since their stunning election victories at the beginning of this month. Dame Andrea is a former Tory MP and ex-education minister who defected to Reform in November last year. She secured a return to frontline politics by beating her former party by more than 40,000 votes to win the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty for Nigel Farage's outfit. Hull-born Mr Campbell is a former professional boxer who won gold for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. He was elected Hull and East Yorkshire mayor with a majority of almost 11,000 votes on 1 May. At today's meeting at Lancaster House, Ms Rayner warned Dame Andrea, Mr Campbell and other regional mayors they had to 'deliver' for local voters in their roles. Reform UK's newly-elected mayors joined other regional leaders in London today for talks with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner It was the first time the Reform politicians had attended Ms Rayner's 'mayoral council' since their stunning election victories at the beginning of this month Luke Campbell is a former professional boxer who won gold for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. Dame Andrea Jenkyns is a former Tory MP and ex-education minister Hull-born Mr Campbell was elected Hull and East Yorkshire mayor with a majority of almost 11,000 votes on 1 May Both Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire are newly-created combined authorities. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, the Deputy PM told local leaders they must be held to account as they take back control of decision-making. She urged them to deliver on matters closest to voters' hearts and play their part in the Labour Government's 'Plan for Change'. Ms Rayner also stressed that, with increased power and resources, there would be increased responsibility and expectations for all mayors to deliver real results. She said: 'We are ripping up the long-standing 'Whitehall knows best' rhetoric that has for too long stifled growth with a 'one size fits all' approach. 'That's why we are driving forward deeper, strategic devolution, so mayors can make decisions that will actually deliver for their communities. 'Deeper devolution isn't about empty headline-grabbing promises, but doing the hard yards to make meaningful improvements to the day to day lives of working people in line with our Plan for Change.' A drug dealer behind the wheel of a Land Rover 'chased' a mother and boyfriend on an e-bike for more than a mile before deliberately running them over, a murder trial heard today. Alana Armstrong, 25, suffered 'catastrophic' injuries after being rammed by 23-year-old Keaton Muldoon on Batley Lane in Pleasley, Derbyshire, a court heard. She had been riding pillion on the Sur-Ron bike with her boyfriend, 22-year-old Jordan Newton-Kay, who survived but had to have his right leg amputated 15cm above the right knee. Derby Crown Court heard that shortly before 'deliberate, targeted' ramming on November 26, Muldoon had met a woman in a pub car park to drop off 30 pounds of cocaine. Sally Howes KC, prosecuting, said Muldoon started chasing Mr Newton-Kay and Ms Armstrong, as well as their friend James Gilbert - after they disturbed him while he was parked in a field. She said the 'close pursuit', which lasted for 1.1 miles, ended up with Muldoon using his 'much larger, heavier' Land Rover Discovery Mk3 as a 'weapon' and knocking his victims from the bike before leaving them for dead. Jurors were told that in the immediate aftermath of the collision, he was heard by the woman he had been selling the drugs to saying: 'Oh s***. Oh for f**** sake. I was only meant to knock them off the bike.' Keaton Muldoon (pictured) is on trial for the murder of Alana Armstrong The 25-year-old, who had been riding pillion on the Sur-Ron bike, was declared dead at the scene in Batley Lane, Pleasley, Derbyshire Alana is pictured with Jordan Newton-Kay on the beach Muldoon, who was arrested a week after the incident, denies the murder of Ms Armstrong, who had a six-year-old son. He also denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Newton-Kay. However, he has pleaded guilty to charges of causing death, and serious injury, by dangerous driving. Outlining the background to the case, Ms Howes told the court how emergency services who were called to the scene found them lying in the road at around 8pm on November 26. She described how the couple and Mr Gilbert had met up earlier that evening and had smoked cannabis together in a car park before setting off on the bikes, which were not road-legal. However, Ms Howes said they passed by Muldoon's Land Rover Discovery parked up in a field and 'decided to take a closer look' driving back to where the 4x4 vehicle sat stationary. She told the jury of eleven women and one man: 'James Gilbert recalls the vehicle was in darkness. 'As the motorbikes' lights shone through the rear window, he noticed two figures moving and described how they ''sort of got up as if they were getting themselves together''. 'It is at that point that the driver got the vehicle out of the field very quickly.' A forensics tent by the scene of the ramming along Batley Lane in Pleasley, near Mansfield, on November 26 Police in white forensic suits are seen at the address where Alana lived in Tibshelf, Derbyshire Ms Howes said Mr Gilbert claimed the vehicle 'spun around and lit us up with his high beam' before driving straight at them following an 'aggressive wheel spin'. She added: 'Mr Newton-Kay and Mr Gilbert rode their bike back onto the lane and made off in their original direction with the 4x4 in pursuit. 'They (the two bikes) kept swapping around, vying for pole position, and eventually James Gilbert maintained the lead, probably due to having the lighter weight of one person on his bike. 'Jordan Newton-Kay described the 4x4 as 'flying at us down the lane, and he kept getting close to the point where his wheel was on my bumper and making this horrible noise'.' Ms Howes claimed Mr Newton-Kay said Muldoon made four attempts to knock them off the bike succeeding on the fifth. Describing his recollection of the collision, she told the court: 'He said he watched Alana go over the bonnet and roll over the whole car, and she had ended up flying backwards and watched her go over the whole car.' Mr Newton-Kay said the vehicle then drove over him, before continuing its pursuit of Mr Gilbert. Ms Howes said he told the police he managed to just avoid also being knocked off by riding up grass banking at the side of the road, with the Land Rover Discovery then 'flying past' and driving away. The young mother (pictured) suffered 'catastrophic' injuries when the off-roader knocked her off the bike on the evening of November 26 She added: 'He managed to gather his wits and flew back down the lane in search of friends 'He found two bodies lying in the road with smoke coming from them. He was told by Mr Newton-Kay, ''Bro, they f****** rammed me'', who then told him to help Alana, who was lying face down in the road.' Jurors were told Mr Gilbert called his father, who urged him to phone an ambulance, before beginning CPR on Ms Armstrong. However, when paramedics arrived they found she had suffered 'unsurvivable' injuries, and she was declared dead. A post-mortem examination later carried out found extensive fractures to the rear of her ribcage causing bleeding 'entirely consistent with heavy impact', and suggested she had been 'dragged' along the road. Mr Newton-Kay was rushed to hospital with 'horrific' injuries to his right leg including multiple fractures to his tibia and fibula, and had to undergo two amputations. Turning to Muldoon, of Mansfield, Notts, Ms Howes said that within an hour of the collision he had contacted an unwitting associate and arranged to swap the Land Rover Discovery for a Seat Leon. However, he was later arrested, and initially made no comment, before going on to admit that he was the driver - but claiming the collision was an accident. Ms Howes said: 'He further stated he was in a panic due to fear of being robbed by the persons on the motorcycles. 'It is the Crown's case this was the deliberate running down by a bigger, heavier vehicle, using it as a weapon, of two exposed, vulnerable young people on a motorcycle that is more of a toy than a road-worthy vehicle. 'This is not panic, this is pursuit. It was a brutal impact that left one person dead, and the other maimed.' The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues. The father of the accused gunman who shot and killed two Israeli staffers at the Capital Jewish Museum was a special guest of a Democratic congressman for President Donald Trump's March address to Congress. 'Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President's Joint Speech to Congress, but we don't know his family,' a spokesperson for Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia (D-Ill.) confirmed to the New York Post. At the time, Garcia's office celebrated Rodriguez as an 'outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans' services and the rights of unionized federal employees.' Eric Rodriguez identified himself as a disabled Iraq War veteran and was involved in anti-Trump protests of cuts to the federal government. 'Veterans, we're under attack,' he said tearfully at an event with congressional Democrats. 'They're slashing staff, crushing unions and selling out the VA, for what?' he said. 'So billionaires can make more money while veterans sit on wait lists, or worse, they'll get no treatment.' Congressman Garcia hailed Rodriguez, the father of the shooter, as a hero. Disabled Iraq War Veteran Eric Rodriguez and father of shooter Elias Two staff members from the Israeli embassy were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night by a gunman who shouted "free Palestine" during his arrest. 'Eric represents the very best of our community someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people,' the congressman said in a statement at the time. He also posted video of Rodriguez's speech on Instagram. His son, Elias Rodriguez, was charged in court for shooting and killing a young couple, Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, as they left an event at the museum. 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' Rodriguez told officers who arrested him, according to the charging documents. After the shooting, Rep. Garcia condemned the shooting as a 'horrible senseless act of antisemitism.' Two staff members from the Israeli embassy were shot dead outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night Shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez, 31, is seated in U.S. District Court, where he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum, 'My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack. We mourn the lives lost and reject the idea that justice can be won through violence,' he wrote on social media. Elias Rodriguez graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago and was increasingly involved in left-wing activism. He also donated $500 Joe Biden's presidential campaign in 2020. His mother Elvira Rodriguez declined to comment to Daily Mail. 'I have no comment, thank you,' she said. Rodriguez, 30, worked as a far-left activist who worked as an 'oral history researcher' on African American communities at educational non-profit TheHistoryMakers, participated in anti-capitalist demonstrations, and has been a member of the party for 'socialism and liberation.' President Trump issued a statement late Wednesday night condemning 'hatred and radicalism' which led to the vicious attack. 'These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!' he wrote on social media. 'Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!' A beautician who spat at and called a mixed-race bouncer the N-word 25 times after he refused her entry to a club has avoided jail. Shannon Quinn, 28, was denied entry to the Banff club in Southport after arriving drunk and throwing a drink over a man in the queue. The bouncer, Ethan Obom, returned to the entrance at 2am and found Ms Quinn was still there. He asked her to leave and in response she spat in his face, went on a racist tirade and threatened to smash the windows of Mr Obom's home and assault his fiancee and child. Her partner then punched Mr Obom. Mr Obom called the police but shortly after his girlfriend Jessica Humphreys said their front bay windows had been smashed in. Ms Quinn denied smashing the windows and blamed her behaviour on losing her mother, grandmother and best friend in the space of a year. In a statement Mr Obom said: 'Miss Quinn said to me: "I am going to come to your house and throw a brick through your window. I am going to smash your girlfriend's head in and smash your kid's head in". I tried to get her out of the queue and at this point Miss Quinn's boyfriend punched me. Shannon Quinn, (pictured) 28, was denied entry to the Banff club in Southport after arriving drunk and throwing a drink over a man in the queue A beautician who spat at and called Ethan Obom (pictured) the N-word 25 times after he refused her entry to a club has avoided jail 'Miss Quinn made threats to smash my windows and a short time later, the windows to my girlfriend's property were damaged. 'I am fearful that she will return to my girlfriend's property. If I am not around. I do not know what she will do. That night I immediately left work as I did not feel it was safe to leave my partner and child in the property on their own.' At Liverpool Magistrates' Court, Ms Quinn pleaded guilty to making threats to damage property, assault and racially aggravated intentional harassment on October 27, 2024. The beautician from Ainsdale, Merseyside, who went to school with Mr Obom was sentenced to a 12 month community order with requirements that she complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and wears a sobriety tag for 120 days as part of an alcohol monitoring programme. She was also given a restraining order prohibiting her from contacting or approaching Mr Obom for two years and she was made to pay him 100 in compensation along with 199 in prosecution costs and surcharge. 'On the night I was at the entrance where clientelle usually queue,' Mr Obom added, 'I saw Miss Quinn but as I went to speak with her I saw her having an argument with another male. 'She threw a drink and I denied her entry due to her behaviour.' Mr Obom who is mixed race, black and white British said the racist abuse caused him 'alarm and distress'. At Liverpool magistrates court Ms Quinn pleaded guilty to making threats to damage property, assault and racially aggravated intentional harassment Ms Quinn, who has one child, studied hair and beauty at Southport College had a previous motoring conviction from 2022 for failing to provide a specimen of breath. Her lawyer Alison Sharples said in mitigation: 'She has never accepted that she was the person who caused the damage to the window. But she accepts that she made threats to cause criminal damage. 'The complainant is known to her. as they went to school together. But it is clear more went on than meets the eye. She is a young woman who has a lot going on dealing with multiple mental health diagnoses. You can see what happened in relation to her mum. 'It was absolutely horrific for her to have to deal with that as a young woman. On the day in question she actually said in one of the messages to the complainant, 'I was not myself'. She accepts that she was drinking to excess and behaved in a manner that was completely unacceptable and wrong. She held her hands up and said 'I know I have done something wrong.' 'This offence was borne out of having too much alcohol of the night and the stress of everything else she has been dealing with the last few years'. In sentencing JP Linda Phillips said: 'I suggest that you do not drink alcohol now.' Culture-driven innovation behind giant NEV manufacturer Xinhua) 09:04, May 23, 2025 This photo taken on May 13, 2025 shows a product displayed in the exhibition hall at the headquarters of BYD Company Limited in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Huang Shuo) SHENZHEN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- In south China's Shenzhen, people from across the country are often seen lining up to visit the headquarters of BYD Company Limited. As the world's top-selling new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer in 2024, BYD not only displays its impressive electric vehicles but also offers a glimpse into its "enigmatic" cultural elements. Many of its car models incorporate traditional Chinese elements. Some bear distinctively Chinese names such as "Han" and "Tang," which are inspired by the two glorious ancient Chinese dynasties. One of the company's sub-brand logos is inspired by the ancient oracle bone script character for "electricity." "We don't change these features when selling overseas, because they are Chinese-made cars. Buyers also appreciate them as they bring with them the charm of Eastern civilization," said a BYD representative. BYD was founded in 1994. In 2022, the company's operating revenue exceeded 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time. Last year, the company sold over 4.27 million NEVs. "Within the company, there has been an unwavering belief from the chairman to employees that to improve global ecology and benefit humanity, we must embrace green energy. This belief aligns with China's philosophy of harmony between man and nature," he said. A visitor at the headquarters shared a similar sentiment, telling Xinhua that in China, it's common for several generations to live together. When traveling, elderly family members often prefer to sit in the back seat, and BYD's newly launched business vehicle thoughtfully caters to this aspect of Chinese family values, she said. An "engineer culture" is also a hallmark of BYD. As the representative put it, it means "focusing on solving real problems based on real-world situations." Such a culture is further enriched through broad interaction and exchange with diverse segments of society, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu himself is an engineer. To address urban traffic congestion, he envisioned a new energy-based rail system called "SkyShuttle," which costs much less than building a subway system and is already operating in several cities. The company currently employs more than 120,000 research and development (R&D) personnel and holds over 59,000 patent applications, mastering a number of core technologies across the NEV industrial chain. The new generation of its independently developed "blade battery" can ensure a driving range of 1,000 kilometers and boasts strong fire resistance. Previously, BYD had invited 11 Chinese science fiction writers to its headquarters to brainstorm with engineers. The result of that experience, a sci-fi short story collection titled "The Dream Builders," was published earlier this month. It envisions the future of human transportation. "The spirit of the engineer is like the divine spark of creation in science fiction. As a sci-fi writer, I feel privileged to witness this transformative force," said sci-fi author Wanxiangfengnian. "We saw that BYD's team is young, vibrant, and full of upward momentum. They have R&D in their blood, and the perseverance they've shown over time is incredibly touching," said Ji Shaoting, head of the sci-fi agency Future Affairs Administration. "This is the secret behind the success of China's smart manufacturing," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Peers are poised to hike their 'overnight' allowances by 20 per cent - and will be able to claim 63 to stay in their own London properties. The ruling Lords commission is recommending ramping up entitlements on top of the tax-free 371 'per diem' members get for attending sittings. Those who declare their main residence is outside the capital are set to be able to claim 125 per night towards hotels - or private clubs - instead of the 103 at present. Nearly 100 peers received 57,000 worth of overnight allowances in December, the most recent month where figures have been released. Meanwhile, those who own second properties in London will be able to get taxpayer cash to use them for the first time. That will start at 63 a night. The plans from the House of Lords Commission - due to be presented to the Upper House for approval on June 2 and take effect immediately - could cause anger as Brits struggle with the cost of living. The cross-party committee stressed that those who claim the allowance must be 'away from their registered residential address for the purpose of attending sittings of the House'. Receipts also need to be filed. Peers in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament last year Your browser does not support iframes. The peers said they recognised that some members would be maintaining properties they own or rent in London. 'We therefore propose introducing an additional allowance to contribute towards other accommodation costs, such as for those who rent or own accommodation that is not their registered residential address residence, in order to attend sittings of the House,' the report said. Most Lords are not paid salaries, and can instead claim for every day they attend. The standard per diem for members of the House of Lords rose to 371 last month, in line with the 2.8 per cent increase in MPs' salaries. With the House sitting for roughly 150 days a year, that gives a potential income of 55,600. A normal worker would require a salary of around 81,000 to take that sum home after tax. Sessional returns show that the average length of the sitting day in 2023-24 was six hours and 17 minutes - although peers could have been working outside the chamber. Current rules allow peers to claim on 'attendance travel costs' including mileage, rail fares and plane tickets. A House of Lords spokesman said: 'Members from across the UK should be able to attend House of Lords business, scrutinise and revise laws and hold the government to account. 'To reflect the cost of residing overnight in London when attending the House of Lords, an allowance of 63 per night is proposed for those who incur accommodation costs but whose registered residential address is outside the Greater London area. 'For those Members who require hotel accommodation because they do not live in Greater London, an increase in the current overnight maximum allowance to 125 per night is proposed. 'This is equal to the lowest rate civil servants can claim for hotel costs in London. 'The Lords chamber should be accessible to all, regardless of someone's financial position or where they live. 'It is important that membership of the House reflects the whole of the UK, and that Members who don't live in London or its environs are not prevented from attending the House due to the cost of doing so.' President Donald Trump's ban on foreign students studying at Harvard could result in Princess Elisabeth of Belgium having to leave the ivy league university. The 23-year-old future queen just completed her first year of study and may not be able to return to its Boston campus after Trump revoked Harvard's ability to enroll international students on Thursday. 'Princess Elisabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of (the Trump administration's) decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation,' the Belgian Royal Palace's spokesperson Lore Vandoorne told Reuters. The 23-year-old Princess Elisabeth is the future Queen of Belgium Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium on her first day at Harvard, where she is studying for a Masters degree in public policy Trump's ban is forcing foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status in the U.S. The president has threatened to expand the crackdown to other colleges. Harvard is suing to counter the order, calling it an illegal move and retaliation against the school. The Palace is waiting to see how things play out. 'We are analyzing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks,' the Palace's communication director, Xavier Baert, told the Associated Press. Elisabeth will spend the summer back in Belgium. 'And well have to see what happens next year,' Baert said. Elisabeth will be Belgium's first reigning Queen when she ascends the throne. The eldest of four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, she also has studied at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels. She speaks Dutch, French, German and English. At Harvard, the princess studying Public Policy, a two-year master's degree program that prepares students for a life of public service. Before studying in the United States, she earned a degree in history and politics from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. The Belgium Royal Family: Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Princess Elisabeth, and Prince Emmanuel attending Te Deum at Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels during National Day celebrations Belgium's Crown Princess Elisabeth, center, takes part in a three-day exercise at an Army Commando Training Center in Marche-les-Dames, Belgium Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accounting for more than a quarter of its student body. Most are graduate students, coming from more than 100 countries. The Harvard Kennedy School has almost half its student body from abroad and Harvard Business School is about one-third international students. The university has several notable alumni who are not American-born, including Canadian author Margaret Atwood, Indian billionaire philanthropists Ratan Tata and Anand Mahindra, and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In its lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government's action violates the First Amendment and will have an 'immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.' 'With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,' Harvard said in its suit. 'Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.' Princess Elisabeth with her father King Philippe when she graduated from Oxford Princess Amalia of the Netherlands and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium at the 18th birthday party for the Danish crown prince President Donald Trump has placed a ban on all foreign students at Harvard The threat to Harvard's international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Harvard is filing for a temporary restraining order while awaiting the formal court case. This case is separate from the Trump administration's attempt to ban federal funding from the school Harvard University sued Trump one day after his administration issued a ban on the enrollment of foreign students. The school said in a court filing Friday that Trump's action will have an 'immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.' 'With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,' Harvard went on. 'Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.' The Department of Homeland Security announced the move on Thursday, saying thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem published a letter she sent to Harvard stripping the ivy league university of its ability to host and enroll students from other countries. The punishment, Noem said, comes in response to the Trump administration claims that Harvard fostered antisemitism and coordinate with the Chinese Communist Party. She wrote in a post to X on the action: 'It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments.' Harvard University sued Trump one day after his administration issued a ban on the enrollment of foreign students In a statement they said that Harvard had created an unsafe campus environment by allowing 'anti-American, pro-terrorists agitators' on campus. DHS also accused the school of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, claiming they hosted and trained members of their paramilitary group. Foreign students account for a quarter of the student body of the school, with around 6,800 at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard hit back with a statement calling the move unlawful and that they would be quickly working to provide guidance to their students. 'This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission', they said. The move by the department, headed by Secretary Kristi Noem, comes after she promised last month to terminate the school's ability to have foreign students. The sanction was announced on Thursday. President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are seen here Foreign students account for a quarter of the student body of the school, with around 6,800 at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, seen here That promise come after she had demanded that Harvard hand over detailed records of its international students and their 'illegal and violent activities'. In a letter to Harvard on Thursday, Noem said the sanction is 'the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements.' It bars Harvard from hosting international students for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Her updated request demands all records, including audio or video footage, of foreign students participating in protests or dangerous activity on campus. She said: 'This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.' It is the latest in the ongoing battle between the administration and the school, with officials saying earlier this month that they would be cutting grants. Trump has been critical of universities that allowed pro-Palestinian demonstrations to run amok. The Department of Homeland Security said that Harvard had created an unsafe campus environment by allowing 'anti-American, pro-terrorists agitators' on campus Supporters of Palestine gather at Harvard University to show their support for Palestinians in Gaza, during a rally in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 14, 2023 Administration officials have also taken issue with what they consider to be lack of diversity - with too few conservatives on staff. A Education Department official said earlier this month that the school would not be eligible for new grants. Research grants would be the ones impacted - not federal student aid, which funnels through universities before providing students with financial relief. Trump previously froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard and said he's looking into stripping the Ivy of its tax-exempt status. Harvard has refused to meet a series of demands issued by the administration, pushing back on the requests. Harvard President Alan Garber, seen here,has previously said he won't bend to the government President of the school Alan Garber has previously said he won't bend to the government. The university sued last month to overturn the funding freeze, pushing back against the government's 'sweeping and intrusive demands.' The demands include that Harvard make broad government leadership changes, change its admissions policy and audit its faculty and student body. Harvards lawsuit said the funding freeze violated the schools First Amendment rights and the statutory provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has an endowment of $53 billion, the largest in the country. Across the university, federal money accounted for 10.5% of revenue in 2023, not counting financial aid such as Pell grants and student loans. That accounts for more than half the $109 billion spent on research at universities, with most of the rest coming from college endowments, state and local governments and nonprofits. Others being pushed to make changes include Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, all of who have had their funds cut. A fit female college student tragically died after suddenly collapsed while working out at the gym. Surveillance video showed Dayane de Jesus, 22, seated at an exercise machine Tuesday evening at the Forma Fitness gym in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As her fellow gym-goers worked out around her, de Jesus fell backward without warning as stunned witnesses rushed to her aid. Two men, including one later identified as a doctor, could be seen attempting to revive de Jesus before paramedics were called. The doctor reportedly requested a defibrillator, but the gym did not have one on site. De Jesus had a history of heart problems, her friends told TV Globo. Forma Fitness remained closed as part of the investigation. 'Regardless, if there is this congenital problem, we need to know whether the presence of the defibrillator could have prevented this death,' Rio de Janeiro Civil Police chief Angelo Lages told news outlet G1. Dayane de Jesus collapsed and died while training at a gym in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday. The 22-year-old was set to graduate from college in June De Jesus had a history of heart problems, her friends said De Jesus attended the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where she majored in international studies A Rio de Janeiro state law passed in 2022 requires some locations, including gyms, to have portable defibrillators and staff must be trained to operate them. De Jesus attended the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where she majored in international studies. She was set to graduate in June. In a statement, the school expressed 'its deepest condolences' after her death. 'We share with her family and friends the pain of this loss, and we are available to provide any support that may be necessary,' the university said. 'It is established that the institute will be in official mourning for the next three days.' 'She was already in her last year of college,' her friend Rafael D'Avila told G1. 'I think she was a hard-working girl and a source of great pride for her parents, because she really was a great woman.' Spain's government is going ahead with a controversial plan to slam Brits with a 100% tax on holiday homes in order to tackle a growing housing crisis. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist party presented the plan to the country's Parliament yesterday, in which non-EU residents would have to pay double for properties in the country. The bill aims to promote 'measures that enable access to housing, since we are facing one of the largest problems our society is currently confronted with', according to a copy of the draft legislation seen by Bloomberg. Brits are the biggest buyers of Spanish properties outside of native Spaniards, making up 8.2% of deals. The plans were first announced by Sanchez in January, amid massive malcontent over rising prices and dwindling housing stock that many in Spain felt was caused by foreign buyers snapping up homes. In 2023 alone, non-EU residents bought 27,000 properties in Spain. The bill, if passed, won't affect businesspeople or professional workers. But it would increase VAT on short term rentals and also increase taxes on publicly listed real estate investment trusts, as well as apply a tax on houses that sit empty. The plans were first announced by Sanchez in January, amid massive malcontent over rising prices and dwindling housing stock Thousands of people protest against the tourism model and mass tourism in the Canary Islands in Tenefire, Spain on May 18, 2025 An aerial view of people gathering to protest soaring housing prices as part of a nationwide demonstration organized by tenant unions under the slogan 'End the Housing Business' in Madrid, Spain on April 05, 2025 It is not currently known whether Sanchez will be able to pass the law through the country's parliament. He has, since forming his latest government in 2023, struggled to pass legislation. The Spanish leader is currently the head of a minority coalition, and will need the support of at least eight parties to pass laws, something that he rarely achieves. It comes after Spain ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday homes from its platform as part of a crackdown on illegal listings. The country's Consumer Rights Ministry said the listings violated existing rules, according to Reuters. Many of the banned listings do not include a licence number and some do not specify whether they're run by an individual or corporation, said the Ministry. Pablo Bustinduy, Spain's Consumer Rights Minister, said: 'No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country.' The minister said his goal was to end the 'lack of control' and 'illegality' in the holiday rental industry. Spain is currently facing a housing crisis as construction has failed to keep up with demand. According to official data, Spain had about 321,000 homes listed as holiday rentals in November 2024. That's a 15 per cent increase from 2020 while there are thought to be many more that operate without an official licence. Police have arrested two British holidaymakers in Ibiza accused of fleeing from their cruise liner after trying to dodge a four-figure room service bill. The pair, both in their twenties, were held on suspicion of fraud at Ibiza Airport on Wednesday after leaving the ship 'in a hurry' when it docked on the holiday island. A spokesman for the National Police in Ibiza revealed yesterday they had been accused of attempting to wriggle out of paying a bill totalling 2,685 The force said: 'On Wednesday Spanish National Police officers arrested a man aged 23 and a woman aged 18 who are both British as the suspected authors of a crime of fraud for refusing to pay several consumptions during their stay on board a cruiser liner. 'The couple tried to leave the cruise liner in a hurry with their luggage, declining to pay the cost of expenditure linked to their holiday, around 3pm on May 21. 'The bill for various items, linked to their room, came to [ 2,685). 'Police called to the scene interviewed crew members who told them the alleged offenders had tried to push their way off the ship in their attempts to abandon the vessel. 'The couple were tracked down in the island airport after detectives launched an operation to find them. Police have arrested two British holidaymakers in Ibiza accused of fleeing from their cruise liner after trying to dodge a four-figure room service bill. File photo: Large cruise ship sailing on the ocean with a beautiful sunset backdrop The pair, both in their twenties, were held on suspicion of fraud at Ibiza Airport on Wednesday 'They were held at 6pm on May 21 as they tried to leave Ibiza.' It was not immediately clear this afternoon if they have already appeared in court. The cruise company they were travelling with has not been named by police. The arrest of the two Brits on Ibiza comes after a local last week pleaded for her island to stop letting in 'wild animals' as she endured a raucous flight from Luton to the Spanish isle. Erika Barrachina posted footage of rowdy tourists, insisting they should not have been allowed on the plane in the first place. 'My flight from London to Ibiza was absolutely horrible,' she captioned her post, showing tourists banging and chanting on board the two and a half hour flight. 'I was scared. A plane full of real English animals.' 'Everyone standing, screaming, guys hitting each other, drinking bottles of alcohol one after the other and stopping the flight attendants from doing their job. Real hell.' Passengers could be seen on board banging on luggage compartments above them and yelling: 'Come on Ibiza.' She alleged that she had seen passengers drinking before the flight took off, insisting 'this shouldn't be allowed'. Spain was rocked by anti-tourism protests last summer, which saw tens of thousands of fed up locals filling streets across the country Anti-tourism campaigners have long been contesting the current tourism model, claiming that many locals have been priced out by holidaymakers Last year, Spain saw a record-breaking number of tourists, with over 15 million visitors flocking to the island of Mallorca alone 'They shouldn't let rabble like this get on a plane or sell alcohol on board. We don't want this type of tourism in Ibiza, they should stay at home,' she told Diario de Ibiza. Erika, who posts online as Kiribarrachi, told local media she had complained to the flight attendants. She claimed the two male air stewards and an air stewardess on board had asked some passengers for their documentation but were met with shouts of 'F*** off.' 'I had a very bad time and the flight attendants unable to do anything because how do you control these wild animals inside a plane. There has to be a solution.' 'I'm not afraid of flying because I've flown around the world but I had a panic attack because it was like being in a pub, in a nightclub, but in the air,' she added. 'This video is the just the end because I couldn't film what happened during the journey,' she said. She said they were let off the plane after reaching Ibiza airport and identifying themselves. easyJet told MailOnline the flight 'was met by police on arrival due to a group of passengers behaving in a disruptive manner'. Erika posted the footage last Saturday, a day before thousands of people marched in Canary Islands capitals as part of a new anti-mass tourism protest. Locals in the Balearic Islands, which include Ibiza, are due to stage their protest on June 15. Demonstrations across Spain continue to gather pace as locals decry what they call 'overtourism' - the catering of local industry to foreign visitors, affecting jobs and house prices, and the arrival of noisy, drunken tourists. While the Spanish government has introduced a rent cap mechanism, only few regional governments - like that in Barcelona, where it led to slightly reduced rents - have applied it. Government measures have not proven enough to stop protests over the past two years and experts say the situation likely won't improve soon, with more demonstrations expected in the coming months. Police have admitted they are powerless to force key witnesses to attend the inquest into Jay Slater's death. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, disappeared in Tenerife last summer sparking a major manhunt before he was found dead about a month later. The inquest was halted on Wednesday after Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, 55, made an emotional plea to judges after the two key witnesses failed to attend and were unable to be contacted. But Lancashire Police have now admitted they are unable to bring back witnesses - some of whom have left the country. A spokesperson for Lancashire Police today told MailOnline: 'First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Jay's family and friends at this distressing time. 'We supported HM Coroner by making extensive efforts to contact a number of witnesses ahead of the inquest, both in Lancashire and more widely. However we understand some of these individuals may be abroad and had already left the country when these efforts were made. They added: 'We have no jurisdiction in such circumstances to compel someone to attend. We will continue to support the coroner ahead of the resumption of the inquest. Once again, our thoughts are with Jay's loved ones.' Apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater, 19, pictured with his mother Debbie Duncan (file picture) Members of Jay Slater's family including his mother Debbie Duncan (front right) arrive at Preston Coroner's Court in Lancashire for the inquest into the death of the 19-year-old Jay Slater called his friend Lucy Law (pictured together) in June last year saying he was lost Mr Slater was on holiday on the island and had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas on June 16 last year. Early the next day, Mr Slater is thought to have gone to an Airbnb with other people he had met while on holiday, then vanished and was reported missing on June 18. His body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard near the village of Masca on July 15, 2024 and an inquest at Preston Coroner's Court today heard he was found to have had drugs in his system. The hearing was told extensive efforts including summonses had been issued for several witnesses who were in contact with Mr Slater before he disappeared But the inquest was adjourned after the teenager's mother, Debbie Duncan, 55, pleaded for it to be halted until they could find the missing witnesses. They include the two British men who rented the AirBnb - convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim, 31, Steven Roccas, previously known as 'Rocky', Lucy Law, who is reportedly in Tenerife, Brandon Hodges and Bradley Geoghegan, who also uses the surname Hargreaves. On Wednesday, Ms Duncan told Lancashire senior coroner Dr James Adeley: 'How can we ever get any understanding? We know he died, he had an accident.' Sobbing, she added: 'There's things that we want to question. We want these people to be sat in front of us. Something went wrong that day, he didn't come back. There's questions we need to ask - please.' The coroner agreed to pause proceedings so she could compose herself. He later adjourned it altogether so his staff could make further efforts to find Mr Qassim and Mr Roccas, but warned the family he was 'not confident of success'. Dr Adeley told Mr Slater's family: 'You've heard of our difficulties in finding Ayub Qassim and Steven Roccas. However in view of your distress we will make an effort to find them.' The coroner said those of Mr Slater's friends who are currently abroad would also be provided with new summonses to attend the resumed hearing. He asked the family to pass his office any contact details which they had for them and the hearing would reconvene at a date to be fixed. Earlier, the inquest was told Mr Slater had traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine in his body when he was found dead - and had been 'off his head on drugs'. The hearing was also told that his friends had failed to attend to give their accounts. Lucy Law who received a call from the Mr Slater saying he was lost, had 1 per cent charge on his phone and needed water is among those who could not be traced to give evidence, the coroner revealed. As proceedings began, Dr Adeley said police had failed in attempts to contact Ms Law and several of Mr Slater's other British friends. 'We can't find them, they have stopped responding to phone calls,' he said while Mr Slater's parents Ms Duncan and father Warren Slater, 58, listened in silence. Mr Slater went to an AirBnB cottage with drug dealer Ayub Qassim (pictured) and another man Lucy Law (above) is among those who could not be traced to give evidence, a coroner revealed The Airbnb house in Masca, Tenerife, where Jay Slater was staying before his disappearance Jay Slater pictured with friend Brad Hargreaves (left), with whom he was on holiday in Tenerife Jay Slater's mother Debbie Duncan arrives at Preston Coroner's Court in Lancashire Dr Adeley also told the coroner's court: 'When drugs are involved in a death, the witnesses are less than forthcoming and do not wish to speak to the authorities.' The inquest also heard his severe skull and pelvis fractures were consistent with a fall from a height - and that traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine were in his body. And a friend said that Mr Slater seemed to be 'off his head on drugs' the night before his death. The apprentice bricklayer was last seen alive leaving the white-washed house in Masca at around 7.30am on June 17. He was apparently trying to walk the 10-hour journey back to the apartment where he was staying after missing a bus back. An immediate focus of the investigation was a post Mr Slater uploaded on Snapchat of him having a cigarette, with the location tagged at the door of the apartment at 7.30am UK time. Then two phone calls emerged. Ms Law - who later attended Mr Slater's funeral in August - received a call at 8.30am where he said he was lost, had 1 per cent charge on his phone and needed water. In a video call to their other friend, Brad Hargreaves, Mr Slater was walking on rough, stony ground, saying he was making the long walk back. Jay Slater's father Warren Slater (right) and brother Zak (left) at Preston Coroner's Court A police officer overlooks Masca in Tenerife during the search for Jay Slater on June 21, 2024 His mother and father joined family and friends to comb the island for sightings. As the mystery surrounding the teen's disappearance grew, 'vile' and 'distressing' conspiracy theories began to emerge that dogged efforts to find Mr Slater. Among the rumours circulating included claims Mr Slater had been targeted by a criminal cartel on the island for allegedly stealing a watch from a gang member - something his family vehemently denied happened. Tragically Mr Slater's body was found a month later in a mountainous area of the island. He is believed to have lost his footing and fallen while desperately trying to climb through the ravine to try and return to his hotel. A post-mortem found that he died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height. His death would have been instantaneous. A forensic pathologist who examined Mr Slater's body after its repatriation to the UK said at today's inquest that injuries including severe skull and pelvis fractures were consistent from a fall from a height. He found no sign of injuries associated with Mr Slater being assaulted prior to his death but said his post mortem examination could not rule out the possibility that Jay had been pushed. Dr Richard Shepherd said the injuries seen in assault victims were 'very different from the type of injuries I saw with Jay'. The pathologist said decomposition of Mr Slater's body during the 28 days it lay at the bottom of the ravine in the hot Tenerife climate meant he could not 'exclude' the possibility of a push 'because a push would not leave a mark'. 'But with that proviso there was nothing to indicate an assault or gripping of any sort,' he added. Dr Shepherd said the injuries caused by the fall would have caused 'instantaneous' loss of consciousness and Mr Slater would have died soon afterwards. 'Jay would undoubtedly have been unconscious and unaware,' he added. Even with immediate specialist treatment in a neurosurgical unit, Dr Shepherd said he would be 'extremely surprised' if Mr Slater could have survived his 'severe' injuries. The inquest also heard traces of cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine were found in Mr Slater's body. Toxicologist Dr Stephanie Martin said the length of time before Mr Slater's body was discovered meant it was impossible to carry out tests on blood or urine. But examination of a liver sample found metabolites of MDMA and of another recreational drug MDA, as well as of cocaine. Jay Slater attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance Jay Slater's brother Zak Slater arrives at Preston Coroner's Court in Lancashire Spanish scientists additionally tested hair and muscle samples, finding a metabolite of ketamine, Dr Martin added. However due to the length of time between Mr Slater's death and the samples being taken, she was unable to say if he had been under the influence of drugs when he fell to his death, she said. But he would have taken the ketamine within the previous 12 hours, Dr Martin added. She said her analysis suggested Mr Slater had taken MDMA within one or two days before his death. But the Spanish tests indicated that Mr Slater had used ketamine 'over a much longer period'. The hearing was also told by one friend of Mr Slater who did give evidence about a message in which the teenager mentioned being 'thrown out' of the rave and trying to sell an expensive watch for 10,000. Joshua Forshaw who gave evidence by videolink - said he met Mr Slater and his friends for the first time when they flew out for the NRG festival and swapped Snapchat details. He told the Spanish authorities that when he saw Mr Slater on June 16 the night before his death he seemed to be 'off his head on drugs'. Asked how he seemed by Dr Adeley, Mr Forshaw said: 'He was quite excitable. He seemed to be in a happy mood, joyful, excited to be there.' He assumed Mr Slater had taken ecstasy because his friend Mr Hargreaves had asked Mr Forshaw to split a tablet with him, he said. Later that night Mr Forshaw received a Snapchat message from Mr Slater saying he had 'ended up getting thrown out' with two other people and planned to sell a watch for 'ten quid'. Mr Forshaw said that meant 10,000 but said he never saw the watch and had no involvement in attempts to sell it. Snapchat messages normally delete automatically, but Mr Forshaw said he saved that one and later handed it to police. However the court was told police later accidentally deleted the image, the court heard. The Snapchat message read: 'Yes cuz ended up getting thrown out of there me with 2 Maili kids just took an AP off some **** on way to sell it for 10 quid'. Mr Forshaw said an AP was an expensive watch brand. The message was sent at 5.58am. He said that later in the early morning of June 17, Mr Slater sent him another image with mountains in the background showing his top pulled up and two knives in his waistband. At the same time through Snapchat he said Mr Slater texted him: 'I'm carrying these in case it kicks off.' The coffin of Jay Slater ahead of his funeral in Accrington, Lancashire, on August 10, 2024, where mourners wore the colour blue in his memory Mr Forshaw said he didn't save the image and did not mention it to the Spanish Guardia Civil before leaving Tenerife. However he told Lancashire Police about it when he returned to the UK because it was 'the right thing to do'. Mr Forshaw said he did not ask Mr Slater if he was OK in response to the message. Later that morning he overheard a Facetime call between Mr Slater and his friend Mr Hargreaves after going to their apartment. 'He was slurring his words but he wasn't begging for help or anything,' he told the court. 'He didn't sound like he was in danger.' Mr Forshaw said Mr Hargreaves urged Mr Slater to get a taxi back to where they were staying, but the teenager said he had no money. Mr Hargreaves told Mr Slater he should either get a taxi and run off when it reached its destination, or alternatively they would pay for it, the hearing was told. Mr Slater didn't sound 'distressed or angry', he added. The coroner pressed Mr Forshaw on whether it was true that Mr Slater sent him an image showing knives in his waistband, reminding him that he was under oath. 'I wouldn't lie,' he said. 'I went to police off my own back.' At the close of his evidence, Dr Adeley instructed him to provide 'proof' that 'ten quid' was 'common parlance' meaning 10,000, warning that there would be 'serious consequences' if he did not comply. Before closing the videolink, the coroner gave him until 2pm to supply the information. Attempts to contact the Britons with whom Jay spent his final hours via mobile phone numbers and email addresses which they gave the Spanish authorities were unsuccessful, the court heard. Police served summonses on Ayub Qassim, who was renting the AirBnB he went back to, and fellow Briton Steven Roccas, known as Rocky, the coroner heard. But both were unknown at the addresses in London held by police. Witness summons were also issued for Jays friends Josh Forshaw, Lucy Law, Brad Hargreaves and Brandon Hodgson. Mr Forshaw responded to a summons and gave evidence, but Mr Hargreaves replied to say he would be away on holiday when the inquest was heard today, having booked the trip last October. Ms Law is currently in Tenerife, the coroner was told, while Mr Hodgson is also understood to be abroad. 'We've been looking for them for months and we cannot find them,' Dr Adeley said. 'We really tried, we just can't find them.' Asking about Mr Qassim and the fellow Briton whose AirBnb the teenager went back to, Mr Slater's father Warren told the coroner: 'The two people who can put some light on whatever happened to Jay aren't in court today.' Dr Adeley said he understood his concerns. But he said evidence from Spanish witnesses given to the Tenerife authorities due to be spelt out to the hearing would corroborate the account Mr Qassim gave at the time. A United Kingdom Special Forces officer rejected the resettlement applications of 1,585 Afghan soldiers who may have witnessed war crimes committed by British troops. According to court documents, the officer rejected every bid by Afghan commandos, known as Triples, despite these troops facing reprisals by the Taliban for fighting with the British. Some of these Afghan commandos have been killed since the Islamists toppled the Western-supported government in Kabul in August 2021. Their applications were rejected in 2023 just months before a High Court inquiry into allegations of an SAS shoot to kill policy in Afghanistan began hearing evidence. The probe is looking into claims the SAS murdered 80 or more Afghan captives on night raids between 2010 and 2013. The elite British troops were accompanied by the Triples on these secretive missions. It was feared last night the unnamed Special Forces officer was attempting to ensure the Triples could not give evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice. Once in Britain, they could have been summoned to the hearings, possibly to reveal they saw UK troops conduct Extra-Judicial Killings. Johnny Mercer has spoken out after a court heard a Special Forces officer rejected asylum claims by 1,585 Afghan soldiers as they may have seen UK troops commit war crimes. Last night, the former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, who campaigned for the Triples to come to this country, told the Mail he was shocked and appalled by the evidence. He said: When I raised this as happening to the most senior civil servants in UK government, one in particular from UK Special Forces claimed he was offended that I could make such a suggestion. He was either to lying to my face, as a Cabinet minister, which was serious enough, or he was so deeply incompetent he didnt know this was going on. I stand ready to assist any legal action against the government for what is increasingly taking on the appearance or criminal negligence that has seen some of these good men killed. That they were Afghan lives may not matter United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF). I can assure you they matter to me and I will not let this go. British soldiers from Task Force Helmand on patrol near provincial capital Lashkar Gah in 2006. British Troops newly arrived in Afghanistan patrol in lightly protected Snatch Land Rovers in Helmand Province. Sir Charles Haddon-Cave (right) is leading a High Court probe into claims the SAS committed war crimes. It is claimed Special Forces chiefs blocked bids by Afghan soldiers to relocate to UK to prevent them giving evidence at the inquiry. The documents emerged as part of a judicial review into the UK governments handling of the Triples applications to come to this country. Lawyers for the Triples have argued the blanket refusal of applications breached the UK governments Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). The case was brought by a Triples officer who has seen former colleagues killed and tortured by the Taliban while they waited for protection under the scheme. In 2010 and 2011, when most of the alleged Extra-Judicial Killings took place, Afghan units expressed their disapproval at SAS tactics by refusing to deploy on night raids. Under guidelines imposed by the Afghan government, British units were forced to take Afghan units with them. So when they went on strike, these missions could not take place. In early 2011, the Afghan commandos also lodged a formal complaint alleging the SAS were assassinating innocents on these operations. The judge-led inquiry into claims of SAS war crimes is due to publish its findings later this year. This could lead to soldiers facing a fresh criminal investigation. A Frontier plane could have exploded in a fireball after a female pilot landed so hard one of the jet's wheels snapped off and was sucked into its engine. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board released the images as a new report detailed how one of the plane's wheels came off and was sucked into the engine. The horrifying near-miss came on April 15 as the Frontier flight landed in Puerto Rico from Orlando, and footage from inside the jet showed its 228 passengers screaming in terror after the plane touched down on the tarmac. According to the new report, the crew heard a loud bang from under the fuselage as the plane's monitor warned the captain of an engine failure when they made their initial descent. This led the crew to abort their landing and perform several 'go-arounds', with air traffic control also reporting an engine fire. The report noted the crew said they only had an engine failure, however footage from inside the plane showed a fire on the wing. The plane was being flown by a female co-pilot at the time with a male captain monitoring her, however he took over the controls as he decided the 'aircraft was too high, so she corrected with a shallow descent and then a gradual flare.' The report noted that the aircraft was in a 'nose down' position and was in a 'takeoff/ go-around setting' when it first touched down, and it recorded a vertical acceleration of 2.2G's - far higher than the 1.8G's allowed for the Frontier aircraft. The pilot went ahead with the landing, with footage from terrified passengers on board showing people screaming and praying as they noticed the flames from the plane before it landed with an aggressive thud. The wheel from the landing gear broke when the Frontier Airlines aircraft tried to land on the runway at Luis Marin Munoz International Airport in Puerto Rico last month, which sent 'metal fragments' into the engine, a new report showed The horrifying near-miss came on April 15 as the Frontier flight landed in Puerto Rico from Orlando, and footage from inside the jet showed its 228 passengers screaming and praying as an apparent fire was seen on the wing As the pilot took over and performed the landing, he decided to pass by air traffic control to see if controllers could see if the plane's landing gear was intact and appeared to be down, which a controller confirmed it was. Once they landed, investigators found that the left wheel and tire on the nose landing gear had been severed from its axle, which led 'metal fragments' to be sucked into the left engine. According to the NTSB report, 'damage was found on the engine's inlet cowl liner, thrust reverser, fan blades, and guide vanes' as a result of the wheel and tire being destroyed in the landing. It remains unclear if the hard landing was the result of pilot error or an as-yet undisclosed technical or external issue that was beyond the pilot's control. A full report with a conclusion on what caused the incident will be released at a later date. Data from the preliminary probe showed the plane touched down with a 'maximum recorded vertical acceleration' far higher than the landing threshold on the Frontier aircraft. There were no reported injuries as a result of the hard landing. According to the new report, the crew heard a loud bang from under the fuselage as the plane's monitor warned the captain of an engine failure as they made their initial descent (pictured inside the plane filmed by a passenger) Flight tracking company FlightAware showed that the aircraft circled the airport a total of four times before it made its successful landing attempt. Luis Irizarry, who has investigated other aviation accidents, told WAPA television that the aircraft was not stable on its first approach. 'The plane was coming in, but it was in an unstable pattern. It wasn't stabilized for landing,' Izarrry said at the time. 'While trying to land, it hit the runway with its nose wheel.' NTSB investigators have not fully established the cause of the hard landing, however expert Irizarry speculated that the pilot may not have had control of the aircraft as they made their descent. 'When the nose wheel hit the plane, the pilot grabbed it and gave it power to turn around. At that time, they shut down the left engine to avoid further damage and the possibility of it catching fire. They turned around and landed,' he said. 'The information we have is that the person flying was the copilot, and the copilot was a new pilot for the airline. When I say new, I mean a young pilot, with a thousand or so flight hours,' he said. 'Perhaps it was their first flight, flying solo and not with a supervisor or a trainer, and that's the situation we fear. That's why the plane wasn't stable because they didn't have it under control.' A video recorded by Melanie Gonzalez Wharton, who was on the flight with her husband and their two children, showed sparks coming out of the airplane's left engine. Melanie Gonzalez Wharton said cries and prayers were heard throughout the Frontier Airlines aircraft after it encountered mechanical issues on landing The horrifying near-miss came on April 15 as the Frontier flight landed in Puerto Rico from Orlando Irizarry's claim that the novice co-pilot was in control of the airplane seemingly confirmed Gonzalez Wharton's initial concern. 'Oh my God, I knew it!!! Finally, the answer I wanted to hear,' she wrote on her Facebook page at the time. 'I said the same thing to Edwin [her husband], 'I have a feeling it was a trainee pilot who didn't know how to land properly.' They almost killed us.' 'It was a horrible experience,' she added to El Nuevo Dia. 'While we were on the plane going around the island, we were crying, the children were screaming, people were praying, singing loudly,' she said. 'It was an unforgettable experience. It was horrible.' Frontier Airlines said in a statement that the plane experienced a 'hard landing upon arrival,' but it landed safely and there were no injuries. It noted further that the incident is under investigation. Up to 43,000 criminals a year are set to dodge jail sentences and walk free from court with a slap on the wrist under Labours soft-justice masterplan. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmoods measures will also see rapists and killers let out of jail years earlier, Ministry of Justice figures indicate. The sentencing review was published yesterday and its recommendations have been accepted in principle by Ms Mahmood. Under the plan courts will no longer impose jail terms of less than 12 months, apart from in exceptional circumstances such as when an offender fails to comply with a court order. Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures show that of 79,812 criminals handed an immediate custodial sentence last year, 43,322 received a sentence of less than 12 months, excluding those sentenced for breach of a court order. Under Labours measures, offenders who could now be handed a community punishment rather than jail each year include as many as 2,700 burglars, 11,000 shoplifters, 160 car thieves, 600 muggers and 80 robbers, based on 2024 sentencing figures. It could also include up to 3,000 thugs who last year were jailed for assaulting an emergency services worker, 3,000 for common assault, 1,200 for causing actual bodily harm, 1,200 for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and 200 for wounding/inflicting GBH without intent. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced in the House of Commons yesterday that she was accepting 'in principle' most of the sentencing review recommendations Ms Mahmood, pictured left at an earlier visit to HMP Bedford, set up the review to create space in overcrowded jails by handing thousands of criminals softer sentences or allowing them to dodge jail altogether The Justice Secretary, pictured on a visit to HMP Millsike near York in March, has admitted her soft justice plan 'will not be welcomed by all' Also dodging a jail term could be up to 2,500 criminals convicted of carrying a knife or blade a move that could have huge implications for tackling knife crime. Among sex offenders, 309 received jail terms of less than 12 months last year plus 163 jailed for possessing indecent images of children who may no longer qualify for prison under Labours plan. There were also 1,900 criminals handed a jail sentence of less than 12 months last year for various drugs offences who under the new measures are likely to avoid receive a custodial sentence. The review, carried out for Labour by former Tory justice secretary David Gauke, also recommended sweeping reductions in the amount of jail time served by serious offenders providing they abide by good behaviour rules. The sentencing review was led for Labour by former Tory justice secretary David Gauke An analysis conducted by the Daily Mail of MoJ sentencing data indicates compliant criminals convicted of attempted murder could get out five years earlier, on average. They are currently eligible for automatic release after serving 75 per cent of their sentence which on average is after 184.3 months. Your browser does not support iframes. Under the plans being adopted by Ms Mahmood they could instead be freed at the halfway point, which on average is 122.8 months a 61.4 month reduction in prison time. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick condemned the Labour plans in the Commons this week, branding them a 'recipe for a crime wave' Killers convicted of manslaughter could, on average, serve two years less behind bars. Currently they are eligible for release after serving 84.6 months on average. Your browser does not support iframes. They could instead be freed at the halfway point after 56.5 months on average, which is 28.2 months less than currently under the terms of the new scheme. Rapists could be able to serve two and a half years less behind bars if they comply by the new good behaviour requirements. Currently they are eligible for release after 96.5 months on average but this will fall to 64.3 months, a 32.2 month reduction. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick blamed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for going ahead with measures which amounted to a gift to hardened criminals who will now be free to cause carnage on our streets. He said: Offenders will be able to terrorise communities with impunity. The only people benefiting from this Labour Government are criminals and illegal migrants. Instead of offering huge sentence discounts to killers and rapists, Starmer should free up space in our prisons by deporting the 10,800 foreign offenders clogging up our jails. But he wont as hes wedded to broken human rights laws and previously campaigned to keep foreign criminals in the UK. Announcing in the Commons on Thursday that she was accepting the majority of Mr Gaukes report, Ms Mahmood admitted: I know its recommendations will not be welcomed by all. Victims of crime and senior police officers immediately voiced grave reservations about the proposals. A spokesman for the Justice for Victims campaign group, co-founded by the parents of Sarah Everard who was raped and murdered by a serving Met Police officer in 2021, said: There isnt any excuse for letting the worst offenders get out of prison even earlier. They added: We hope MPs of all parties will ensure that nothing is done to weaken punishment of the worst offenders. Glenn Youens, whose four-year-old daughter Violet-Grace was killed by a stolen car in a hit-and-run, blasted the insulting proposals. A victims' group co-founded by the parents of Sarah Everard, who was raped and murdered by a serving Met Police officer in 2021, has voiced serious doubts over Labour's plan An MoJ spokesman said: This Government inherited prisons in crisis, close to collapse. We will never put the public at risk by running out of prison places again. We are building new prisons, on track for 14,000 places by 2031 the largest expansion since the Victorians. Our sentencing reforms will force prisoners to earn their way to release or face longer in jail for bad behaviour, while ensuring the most dangerous offenders can be kept off our streets. We will also increase probation funding by 700million by 2028/29 to tag and monitor tens of thousands more offenders in the community. The ringleader and seven members of a gang that tied up and robbed the billionaire reality TV star Kim Kardashian were found guilty by a Paris court. Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, unable to speak or hear due to illness, read the presiding judge's verdict from a screen, as he had followed the whole trial. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five of which were suspended. Seven of his co-defendants were also found guilty of crimes including robbery in an organised gang, kidnapping, sequestration, acquisition and possession of weapons, assisting an armed gang, aggravated theft, and complicity in preparation of a criminal act. Most of them also received prison sentences, portions of which were suspended, but all will walk free due to time already served. A jury at the Paris Assizes handed down their verdicts on Friday evening after 11 hours of deliberation, before one was told he would spend just three years in a cell. Two of the defendants both considered informants who allegedly passed on Ms Kardashian's movement to the gang during Paris Fashion Week were acquitted. 'The sentences are quite lenient; they were thought of a long way away from this serious event, which impacted the civil parties. You have caused harm, even if you did not strike, if blood has not been shed, you have caused fear,' said the presiding judge David De Pas as he handed down the verdict. Ms Kardashian, 44, who was not in court yesterday, lost $10million-worth of jewellery in the October 2016 raid, including a $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband, the rapper Kanye West, that has never been recovered. Ms Kardashian, 44, who was not in court yesterday, lost $10million-worth of jewellery in the October 2016 raid, including a $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband, the rapper Kanye West , that has never been recovered Aomar Ait Khedache (pictured), the ringleader of the robbers, penned a letter of remorse whilst in prison in 2017 to Kim Kardashian Yunice Abbas arrives for the last day of verdict of the Tronchet trial for the 2016 robbery and kidnapping of US celebrity Kim Kardashian at the Assize Court of Paris, on May 23, 2025 Franck Berton, left, and Chloe Arnaux, lawyers for Khedache, one of the men accused in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian, react after the verdict in the trial of Kim Kadashian heist, Friday, May 23, 2025 in Paris Your browser does not support iframes. In a statement released after the trial, Kardashian said she was 'deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case.' 'The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system,' Kardashian said. Her legal team said, 'Kim appreciates the court's decision and once again thanks the French authorities for treating her with great respect throughout the process. It has been a long journey from that terrible night back in 2016 to her standing courageously in a historic Paris courtroom to confront these criminals. 'She looks forward to putting this tragic episode behind her, as she continues working to improve the criminal justice system on behalf of victims, the innocent, and the incarcerated seeking to redeem themselves.' Prosecutor General Anne-Dominique Merville earlier told the court that Khedache who has multiple convictions for drugs running and robbery should spend the next 10 years in prison. She said he was 'now of a certain age and showed no risk of reoffending' but should 'pay for his crimes.' Khedache begged for forgiveness on Friday, just before the jury in Paris retired to consider their verdict. 'I can't find the words to say how sorry I am,' he told the court. Khedache is now almost mute and partially deaf following years of ill health. 'I offer a thousand apologies,' he scribbled on a piece of paper, before his claims were displayed on a screen inside the historic Voltaire Chamber of the court. During an emotional testimony to the court last week, Ms Kardashian said she had feared she would not survive the raid. Trial judge David De Pas asked her directly during court questioning: 'Did you think you were going to die, Madam?' She replied: 'Absolutely, I was certain I was going to die.' Khedache initially denied being the mastermind of the heist, saying there was a mysterious 'X or Ben' who was ultimately responsible. But Ms Merville said there was ample proof that Khedache 'gave the orders', and then went to Antwerp, Belgium, to try and sell the swag. Khedache said the stolen gold was melted down and sold, along with the diamonds, but he had 'no idea' where it all ended up. Mrs Merville said he was 'now of a certain age and showed no risk of reoffending' but should 'pay for his crimes.' She said Khedache, who admitted taking part in the heist after his DNA was found at the scene, 'now downplays the violence involved.' A 10-year prison sentence was also initially requested for Yunice Abbas, 72, and the only other defendant to plead guilty. The lawyer for Abbas, who was found guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison, with five suspended, also welcomed the verdict. 'It's a very fair decision, it's a very just decision. (Abbas) is very happy to be back with his family tonight. We're very happy with this decision,' said the lawyer Gabriel Dumenil. While on remand, Abbas wrote a book called 'I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian,' which became a gift to prosecutors. During his own words to the court on Friday, Abbas said: 'Once again, I have nothing but regrets to offer you; I'm sorry for what I did.' The same sentence was requested for Didier Dubreucq, 69, who was allegedly the second robber to enter the Kardashian's penthouse, along with Khedache, who is also known as 'Old Omar'. Old Omar claimed a man presented detailed heist plans to him, including layouts of the hotel building and pictures of Kardashian wearing the prized jewellery. Listen now A 10-year prison sentence was also requested for Yunice Abbas, 72, and the only other defendant to plead guilty Abderrahmane Ouatiki, right, who was working as a hotel receptionist, arrives for the verdict in the Kim Kadashian heist during the Paris Fashion Week in 2016, Friday, May 23, 2025 Defendant Marc Boyer arrives for the verdict in the trial of Kim Kadashian heist Defendant Aomar Ait Khedache arrives for the last day of verdict of the Tronchet trial for the 2016 robbery and kidnapping of US celebrity Kim Kardashian at the Assize Court of Paris, on May 23, 2025 Last week a sobbing Ms Kardashian told the Paris court she forgave the defendant Marc Alexander Boyer, 36 and the youngest member of the gang, was sentenced to seven years in prison, with five suspended, after it was proved he entered the Kardashian apartment. Lesser sentences were requested for other members of the gang who, like Dubreucq, had all denied any wrongdoing. All of them were allowed to address the court for the last time yesterday, before the jury retired. Most of the key defendants are in their 60s and 70s, meaning they have been dubbed the 'Grandpa Robbers'. There is one woman defendant Cathy Glotin, 78, who was once Khedache's mistress. She continually pleaded her innocence, saying on Friday: 'I had nothing to do with this case, and look forward to being reunited with my family.' But the veteran criminal is said to have provided 'secretarial services' to the gang, including providing burner phones. Glotin also travelled to Antwerp the diamond capital of Europe with Ait Khedache to sell the swag, the prosecution claimed. Francis Delaporte, 69 and another gang member, got a three year suspended sentence, while Marc Boyer, 62, was fined the equivalent of around 4500 for supplying the vintage Mauser pistol used in the raid. Florus Heroui, 52, and Gary Madar, 34, were both acquitted after prosecutors failed to convince the jury that they had handed out information about Ms Kardashian's movements in Paris. Prosecutors could have asked for sentences of up to 30 years, but the defendants' ages and poor health are the reasons for relatively low ones requested. The vast majority of defendants were imprisoned in January 2017, three months after the robbery. But then they were released on bail, meaning they were all free when the trial started in April. The socialite was bound and gagged at a hotel room in Paris in October 2016 Last week a sobbing Ms Kardashian told the Paris court she forgave the defendant. The social media star said: 'I just want to be heard and understood. I appreciate the letter, those words. I forgive you. But it doesn't change the emotion and the feelings, the trauma, and my life being changed forever,' after the judge read aloud an apology note written to Kardashian in 2017 by Khedache. 'I came to Paris for fashion week, Paris was always a place that I loved so much. I used to walk around the city when I woke up in the middle of the night. I always felt very safe.' Kardashian told the court on May 13. 'It was around three in the morning. I heard stomping up the stairs when I was in bed. I kept calling out for my sister and one of my best friends, but no one answered me. And in my bedroom come in a few police officers, or what I assumed were police officers as they were in police uniforms,' she said, recalling the night of the robbery. She told the court that the attackers arrived dressed as police officers, with the concierge in handcuffs. Kardashian described how they tied her hands with cable ties, dragged her to the bathtub and pointed a gun at her temple. One robber gestured toward her ring. 'Then I heard one of the gentlemen forcefully say 'Ring! Ring!' in English, with an accent, pointing'. The suspects were accused of tying up Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making off with jewellery, including a $4million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye), according to investigators. 'And I was still in such shock, because honestly a lot of terrorist attacks were happening in the world, and I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack, and I didn't immediately understand it was for my jewellery. 'They pulled me back in the room once they realised they had everything, and they threw me on the bed. 'I was pretty hysterical and I just looked at the concierge and told him what is going to happen to us, I have to make it home to my babies,' Kardashian said. She said at one point she feared she was going to be raped as the robbers threw her on the bed and one of them grabbed her leg. 'But he ended up tying me up and closed my legs,' she added. Kardashian described how they tied her hands with cable ties, dragged her to the bathtub and pointed a gun at her temple 'I thought about my sister, thought she would walk in and see me shot dead and have that memory in her forever. 'I absolutely thought I was going to die. 'After a few minutes, I didn't hear anything, so I (moved over) to the sink, and it was a marble sink so I cut my ties. 'When I got downstairs, Simone (her stylist) let me know that she had called my sister Kourtney, and her and the security were on the way. We weren't sure at that point if they were going to come back. So we ran on the balcony to hide in the bushes. 'I remember calling my mom from the bushes to let her know what happened. And then I think while we were waiting for my security, we were trying to come up with a plan, if we should jump from the window, as it was just a one-storey building.' Kardashian, who once shared nearly every moment of her life online, later acknowledged the role that visibility played. 'People were watching,' she said in a 2021 interview. 'They knew what I had. They knew where I was.' 'Now I have between four and six security (personnel) at home for me to feel safe. I think there are people who hear these stories and then they want to copycat. My house in Los Angeles was robbed just after what happened in Paris. 'I can't sleep at night if there aren't multiple security people.' The nurse embroiled in an employment tribunal over a trans doctor using a female changing room is suing the Royal College of Nursing. In a legal first, Sandie Peggie has instructed her lawyers to raise proceedings against the nursing union for failing to help in her battle against Fife Health Board. Mrs Peggie, 50, was suspended by NHS Fife after she challenged the presence of Dr Beth Upton, who was born a biological man, in the women-only changing rooms at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. But when she turned to the RCN for help after 30 years of membership, she claims she was refused support and legal assistance. Last night, Mrs Peggies solicitor confirmed her client had launched the landmark legal action. The move is set to open the door to a flood of further law suits lodged against unions over their failure to support single-sex spaces and gender critical beliefs - including from groups such as the Darlington nurses. It comes just days after the Mrs Peggies solicitor wrote to the union to request it intervene in the case. The latest proceedings will build on her ongoing employment claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton alleging sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation. Sandie Peggie has instructed her lawyers to raise proceedings against the nursing union Mrs Peggie was suspended by NHS Fife after she challenged the presence of transgender medic Dr Beth Upton, above, in the women-only changing rooms at the hospital Campaigners have said the action should serve as a wakeup call to other workers groups. Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at human rights charity Sex Matters said: Unions right across the economy have shamelessly abandoned members whove been penalised for asserting their right to single-sex spaces at work. Theyve stood by while women have been fired for simply stating that the two sexes are real and important, and taken the side of employers who are acting unlawfully. Sandie Peggies decision to sue RCN should be a wakeup call for every union representing employees who need single sex facilities for their basic privacy and dignity. Mrs Peggies employment tribunal, which began before the Supreme Court clarification over the meaning of sex in equalities law and will resume in July, heard how Ms Peggie felt uncomfortable at the prospect of getting changed in front of Dr Upton, which culminated in an incident in the changing room on Christmas Eve 2023. After Mrs Peggie challenged Dr Upton, the doctor complained and Ms Peggie was suspended from her job at NHS Fife. The nurse then lodged a claim against Fife Health Board and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment, harassment related to a protected belief, indirect discrimination and victimisation. The women-only changing rooms referred to in the case are at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy It has prompted a similar case to go ahead south of the border by a group of eight nurses - known as the Darlington nurses - who are challenging their health trusts policy over allowing a trans colleague to use the female changing rooms at Darlington Memorial Hospital. In light of the English litigation, the RCN south of the border wrote to the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust asking it to abide by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and provide single-sex changing rooms without delay, a move that Mrs Peggie is said to have been surprised but nevertheless delighted with. On May 21, Mrs Peggies solicitor Margaret Gribbon wrote a follow up letter to associate director (employment relations) Norman Provan at RCN Scotland to identify what similar action it could take for Mrs Peggie. She said her client expected the union to exercise its industrial muscle to challenge the decision which was adversely impacting her and other female union members and alleged she first spoke to the union about the issue of single-sex spaces in February last year. Ms Gribbon added: To Sandies knowledge and disappointment, the union has made no attempt to resolve this matter industrially with the board. Just days later, the solicitor has now confirmed legal proceedings have been launched against the union. She said: I can confirm that my client has raised proceedings in the employment tribunal against the RCN following their refusal to grant her legal assistance. Since the Supreme Court clarified that biological sex, not gender choices, is the decisive factor in equality law, a number of industrial organisations have failed to change their sex and gender policies. Unison is allowing a trans member who identifies as female to stand for election for its national council positions reserved for women, while the National Education Union has called on employers to allow people to use gendered facilities which match gender identities. And GMB Union and the Scottish Trades Union Congress have also raised concerns over the impact of the Supreme Court judgement on transgender workers. Susan Smith, of For Women Scotland which brought the successful Supreme Court action, said: We imagine this is likely to be first of many such cases. Sadly, it seems that only financial penalties will persuade the unions to step up, do their job, and represent women in the workplace. An RCN spokesperson, said: 'We treat our members right to confidentiality with the utmost importance and do not comment on individual cases.' Accused Washington shooter Elias Rodriguez had a live-in girlfriend who moved out just weeks ago, DailyMail.com can reveal. Rodriguez and the woman who is believed to have the last name Oliver moved in to the modest Chicago apartment two years ago. The 'manifesto' Rodriguez allegedly wrote the day before the killings ended with the words 'I love you Mom, Dad, baby sis, the rest of my familia, including you, O*****.' The exact number of asterisks were used to match the remaining letters in the name Oliver in the screed about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. Neighbor John Fry, 71, said Rodriguez's girlfriend mysteriously vanished shortly before the horrific shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. 'There was a young woman, although I haven't seen her for a couple of weeks now. I can't say exactly when she left,' Fry added. 'I'm guessing she was in her late 20s, about 5ft 3ins tall, dark hair. Nothing special about her build. Difficult to really describe her much after that. 'I don't know why she apparently hasn't been around.' Elias Rodriguez, 31, shouted 'Free Palestine' during his arrest after he allegedly shot two staff members from the Israeli embassy outside a Jewish museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night The mailboxto Rodriguez's apartment also had the name Oliver on it The gunman's Chicago neighbor John Fry, 71, said Rodriguez lived at the apartment with a 'girlfriend' who he hasn't seen her for weeks He would not speculate that the couple could have fallen out before the murderous assault outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night where Rodriguez shouted 'Free Palestine' after the killing spree. 'They were a really quiet couple. Although in these apartment buildings people only tend to just say hi to each other, not much more than that,' said Fry. 'I didn't exchange that many words with her.' Fry said he also had not seen Rodriguez who allegedly unleashed 21 rounds from his H&K pistol to kill soon-to-be engaged Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim for days either. A small pair of women's size black CAT sneakers remained outside the door of the couple's second floor apartment today despite the FBI raid on the premises 24 hours earlier. Apair of women's size black CAT sneakers were outside the door, despite the FBI raiding the apartment 24 hours earlier On the dark wood front door is a cardboard graphic of a Hello Kitty Chinese New Year decal, with Kitty and her friend Dear Daniel, as revealed in exclusive DailyMail.com photos. The apartment building is in the mixed Albany Park area of the city, where support is strong for Palestine following the October 7 Hamas atrocities and Israel's military response in Gaza. Fry said he too supported the Palestinian cause but added: 'What he did was so wrong. And if I'd had any idea that he would do such a thing I believe I could have talked him out of it. 'If he wanted to support Palestine, this is not the way to do it. What's killing two people doing to do? It was so stupid, so counterproductive. 'There's a very strong Palestine support network in this neighborhood. And for him to do what he did, he did it because he had lost hope. I believe he just lost hope over the death and destruction. It pushed him over the edge.' Fry also revealed the FBI did not seem particularly interested in the girlfriend. 'I told them about her, but they didn't appear to pick up on it,' he said. Soon-to-be engaged Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrime were the two shot dead on Wednesday night On the dark wood front door is a cardboard graphic of a Hello Kitty Chinese New Year decal, with featuring Kitty and her friend Dear Daniel with the Chinese word for 'Blessing' A sign in Rodriguez's apartment window that calls for 'Justice for Wadea', a six-year-old Palestinian American boy who was stabbed to death by his family's landlord in Chicago 'The comment they made to me was that the people they had talked to all seemed to think he was a nice guy. And that was the way he came across to me. He was quiet, he was friendly.' Referring to a sign in Rodriguez's window saying Justice for Wadea, with a picture of murdered six-year-old Palestinian American Wadea al-Fayoume' Fry said: 'That's the kind of sign a sensitive person would put up.' Fry said he had no idea Rodriguez had been a gun owner for five years but added: 'This is Chicago. When I moved here a cop friend of mine said, "John, get a gun". And that was when the city was trying to get them off the streets.' It was also revealed Friday that the father of the accused gunman was a special guest of a Democratic congressman for President Donald Trump's March address to Congress. 'Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the President's Joint Speech to Congress, but we don't know his family,' a spokesperson for Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia confirmed to the New York Post. At the time, Garcia's office celebrated Rodriguez as an 'outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans' services and the rights of unionized federal employees'. Eric Rodriguez identified himself as a disabled Iraq War veteran and was involved in anti-Trump protests of cuts to the federal government. 'Veterans, we're under attack,' he said tearfully at an event with congressional Democrats. Disabled Iraq War Veteran Eric Rodriguez (right), the alleged gunman's father, was invited to President Trump's address to Congress by Rep. Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia Shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder inFederal Court in Washington, DC 'They're slashing staff, crushing unions and selling out the VA, for what?' he said. 'So billionaires can make more money while veterans sit on wait lists, or worse, they'll get no treatment.' Congressman Garcia hailed Rodriguez, the father of the shooter, as a hero. 'Eric represents the very best of our community someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people,' the congressman said in a statement at the time. He also posted video of Rodriguez's speech on Instagram. After the shooting, Rep. Garcia condemned the shooting as a 'horrible senseless act of antisemitism.' 'My heart is with the victims, and everyone impacted by the attack. We mourn the lives lost and reject the idea that justice can be won through violence,' he wrote on social media. Elias Rodriguez graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago and was increasingly involved in left-wing activism. He also donated $500 to Joe Biden's presidential campaign in 2020. His mother Elvira Rodriguez declined to comment to Daily Mail. 'I have no comment, thank you,' she said. Rodriguez is a far-left activist who worked as an 'oral history researcher' on African American communities at educational non-profit TheHistoryMakers, participated in anti-capitalist demonstrations, and has been a member of the party for 'socialism and liberation.' President Trump issued a statement late Wednesday night condemning 'hatred and radicalism' which led to the vicious attack. 'These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!' he wrote on social media. 'Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!' An assassin disguised himself as a nurse to sneak inside a hospital and execute a woman recovering from a shooting a day earlier. Wendy Martinez, 39, was in the emergency wing at the Tijuana General Hospital in Mexico near the US border after being shot three times on Tuesday. Martinez told investigators that she was first attacked after she had told a drug dealing crew that she was not interested in working for them. She even moved to a new neighborhood to avoid problems with the gang. After the first murder attempt, the gang dispatched a gunman to the hospital on Wednesday around 2 pm local time, Telediario reported. But the hitman fled after dropping his gun at the entrance. Hours later, the suspect walked into the medical facility wearing hospital scrubs and wasn't stopped by security. Surveillance video showed the shooter standing outside the room where Martinez was being treated. The assassin appeared to make a call on a cellphone before stepping toward the room and opening fire. Wendy Martinez, 39, was in the emergency wing at the Tijuana General Hospital in Mexico near the US border after being shot three times on Tuesday Surveillance video showed the shooter walking toward the room where Martinez was being treated before opening fire Martinez reportedly had protection from police and the National Guard He was then seen running down the hallway as a staffer sought refuge. Online news outlet Zeta reported that Martinez had protection from police and the National Guard. Authorities rushed to the scene and sealed the perimeter but were unable to find the shooter. The Baja California state prosecutor's office is investigating the incident, with doctors, nurses and staffers being interviewed. A similar incident occurred on September 28, 2023 when assassins and Sinaloa Cartel members had a shootout inside a hospital in Culiacan, Sinaloa that three gunmen and a doctor dead. The hired killers were seeking to complete the job they were unable to finish after wounding two cartel members the day before in the city of Badiraguato. They spotted a high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel leader attempting to pay a bill at a front desk and tried to kill him when three cartel gunmen responded with fire. Dr. Otniel Montoya was caught in the crossfire and died on the scene. One of the three gunmen was killed after he attempted to shoot a cop as he was being carried away in a stretcher. Police have launched an urgent probe after a woman was left in intensive care after using a weight-loss jab which she sourced from a beauty salon. The woman was rushed to hospital earlier this month, where she was treated for suspected internal injuries after using the injection. North Yorkshire Police said two women, 32 and 37, from Selby, were arrested on suspicion of administering the medicine and have been released on bail. A third woman, 58, also from Selby, was arrested on suspicion of selling or supplying a prescription-only medicine and has been released while under investigation. Health bosses have warned against using weight loss medicines bought from private clinics or online, saying they can pose a 'direct danger to health'. She has since been discharged while police investigation after being reported the issue by health professionals on May 7. Weight loss injections, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, require a prescription from a doctor in order to buy them legitimately. The drugs are generally only available to those with a BMI of 30 or more, meaning they're obese or overweight people with other weight-related health conditions. The woman used the injection and was taken to intensive care earlier this month, having to be treated for suspected internal injuries. Picture: Stock image Health bosses have warned against using weight loss medicines bought from private clinics or online, saying they can pose a 'direct danger to health'. Picture: Stock image NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Chief Pharmacy Officer, Laura Angus, said: 'There has been a lot of attention in the media and on social media about these so-called 'skinny jabs', but as with any medicines bought outside of legitimate supply chains, the contents may not match the ingredients on the label. 'If you use such products, you could be putting your health at serious risk. 'If you are thinking of buying a weight-loss medicine, please talk to a healthcare professional first. 'The only way to guarantee you receive a genuine weight-loss medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy - including those trading online - using a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.' Andy Morling, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's deputy director of Criminal Enforcement, said: 'Weight loss medicines are powerful medications and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. 'Public safety is our top priority, and our Criminal Enforcement Unit works tirelessly with partners to prevent, detect and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices. 'Buying so-called weight loss medicines from illegal suppliers significantly increases the risk of receiving products that are either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK. 'Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA's strict quality and safety standards, and taking such medicines may put one's health at risk.' Steering his fishing boat towards his home port of Wick, Andrew Bremners darkening mood scarcely matched the sunlight dancing off the flat calm waters of the Pentland Firth. He and his ten-man crew should have been buoyed up by a successful 16-day stint at sea catching cod, haddock and whiting. But like all those whose lives and livelihoods rely on the bounty beneath the waves, there was little joy to be found in their return home. For the scatterings of communities who still cling to Scotlands craggy coastline and hope for the future of its fishing industry were left reeling by last weeks announcement of a new trade deal between the UK and the European Union. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed it as supporting British businesses, backing British jobs and acting to strengthen our borders. For everyone on both sides of the Channel, he said, it was a win-win. Mr Bremner had another word for it. Betrayal, he said. I first heard about the deal on social media on the day it happened and then saw it on the TV. There was just this terrible feeling that we had been sold out again, that the Government doesnt care enough about its fishing industry. He was referring to the first major post-Brexit reset of relations between the UK and the EU, which covers everything from trade, defence and energy to, of course, fishing. Andrew Bremner, skipper of the fishing trawler Boy Andrew, said the deal is a 'betrayal' North Sea trawlermen fish in some of the world's most unpredictable seas to make sure that cod, plaice and herring still have a place on the nation's plates Fishing boats sail into port in Aberdeen during a previous protest over cod quotas A key part of the deal was only finalised in the last few hours of horse-trading by politicians and bureaucrats many hundreds of miles to the south of the Scottish fishing fleet. It involved giving European fishing boats 12 more years of unfettered access to British waters in exchange for, arguably, little discernible benefit to Scottish skippers and crew. The Government said the deal would make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing paperwork and checks that led to lengthy lorry queues at borders with the EU, while some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely. Its time to look forward, said Sir Keir at a summit attended by EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa in London on Monday. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people. It wasnt long before some British people were lining up to vent their fury at an agreement which the Scottish Fishermens Federation (SFF) branded disastrous, fearing it poses an existential threat to Scotlands commercial sea fishing industry which in 2022 employed 4,000 people and brought 335million into the Scottish economy. Meanwhile, others in the fish farming and aquaculture sector which together account for around 2,200 jobs and are worth 337million to Scotlands economy welcomed the cutting of post-Brexit red tape which had been strangling their businesses. Their warm words contrasted with the strident tone of the SFF, which reserved both barrels for successive UK governments, accusing them of being serial abandoners of its fishing industry and of capitulating to Europe. Such emotive language has been seized upon by political parties keen to capitalise on Labours unpopularity not least the pro-Brexit Reform UK, which is desperate to forge a bridgehead in Scotland ahead of next years Holyrood elections. Sensing rich pickings among disillusioned voters along the Scottish coastline, Reform UK MP Richard Tice said the Prime Minister had sold out British fishing and promised his party would repeal the deal if it won the next general election. Certainly, the SFF has long trumpeted Brexit as opening up a sea of opportunity that would afford Britain and crucially its Scottish fleet sovereignty over its waters once more. It has called repeatedly for the EU to follow through on the treaty it signed in 2020, which stated that after 2026, access to waters becomes part of the annual negotiations on fisheries between the UK and EU. But with the clock ticking and the prospect of their fleets being unable to catch their quotas in their own waters after 2026, Europes powerful fishing lobby persuaded their politicians to renege on their treaty obligations and push hard for another multi-year deal. When it became clear that Europe wouldnt sign anything without this major concession, the SFF believes Sir Keir simply caved in to their demands. Prime Ministers have been viewed with deep distrust by fishermen since the days of Edward Heath when, infamously, prior to the UKs admission to the European Economic Community, an internal Whitehall memo noted the broader benefits of UK membership meant the interests of fishermen must be regarded as expendable. Cod continues to be a popular fish, bringing in much-needed income for fishermen Creel fisherman Bally Philp said he and others in the sector want to see sustainable fishing Mr Bremner, 33, the third generation of his family to put to sea, said he and the crew of his seine-netter Boy Andrew were dismayed but not surprised by the deal. Theres nothing we can do, this always happens with the fishermen we get betrayals and it all goes the wrong way for us and we just have to get our head down and get on with the job, he said. Perhaps such fatalism comes with the job which pitches him against the daily treacheries of the cold sea. But Mr Bremner argued that the deal will only worsen his struggle against foreign intruders who are often ruthless in trying to run him out of his traditional fishing grounds. He is bracing himself for the prospect of yet another battle a new cod war. Its too early to say what the impact will be, he said. The EU boats have always been around in our waters so its not something that were not used to. You see it around the Shetland waters especially. We dont like it, weve raised our concerns for many years. The problem is now we really can do nothing about it, and we are getting nothing in return. His big fear is of a fishing free-for-all where the Scottish fleet is crowded out by foreign boats and the fishing grounds are stripped bare by overfishing, something the SFF vowed at a meeting on Thursday to push ministers to crack down on. Weve been attacked before, said Mr Bremner. Weve had foreign boats try to foul our propeller, force us off the grounds, attack the boat. And theyre our fishing grounds. And we have no recourse. We have seen a lot of trouble with Spanish and French vessels, some of which are UK-registered but theyre Spanish and French. Weve tried to bring it up in government and with MPs and been told theres nothing they can do about it. Even the Brexit Treaty failed to end such skirmishes. In 2021, James Anderson was catching up on sleep below deck when the alarm went up 30 miles north-west of his native Shetland. They were being attacked by a vessel with a German flag, whose crewmen were trying to foul the propeller of Mr Andersons boat, the Alison Kay, with a rope. Rather than risk his life and those of his five crew, Mr Anderson, who first went to sea aged 16, ordered his men to haul in his nets and back away. The aggressor, the Pesorsa Dos, won the day. There is little to suggest they wouldnt win a similar battle of wills should it take place again today. Boris Johnsons Brexit deal, after all, won them little protection. The promise that Starmers version will offer any more is, Mr Anderson believes, simply a pipe dream. Fishermen bring in their catch in the North Sea as they carry on the tradition And Scotlands precious marine resources will be open to plunder from vessels with French or Spanish crews using radically different methods from Scottish trawlers to land their catch. These foreign nationals are gill net fishermen who drape vast curtains of vertical netting into the depths. They leave them there for up to 48 hours at a time, snaring hake or monkfish by the thousand and commandeering stretches of water a mile wide and up to 15 miles long per boat, chasing away any threat by any means fair or foul. According to Mr Anderson, who is chairman of the Shetland Fishermens Association, the encroachment of the foreign vessels on British waters more than 12 miles offshore is a direct consequence of the perceived weakness of the UK fleet. Vessel numbers have been depleted year on year as EU quota cuts designed to preserve fish stocks have made trawling for white fish such as cod, haddock, hake and monkfish less profitable. The fact is that we are sadly not like Iceland or Norway, or a country that still recognises the value of protecting our own fishing fleet and fishing grounds, he said. Other countries value it enough to ask for it, and we value it little enough to give it away. We have to compete with them in the same fishing grounds where we feel we should have had some advantage the same as the Norwegians have when theyre fishing in the Norwegian grounds. We need to fight hard to get into their grounds and catch their fish, we need to give them something. And Iceland do you think we could get into Iceland and do what the EU is doing? Not a hope in hell. EU vessels catch around 450million to 500million worth of fish annually in UK waters, compared with 75million caught by UK vessels in EU waters. Mr Anderson said French, Danish, Spanish and even Dutch vessels are regular sights as far north as Shetland. Everybody wants to come to the same area and that needs to be managed, he said. If we were an independent coastal state and we thought there was a severe shortage of fish, we might say to the EU fleet, Were struggling here, were going to limit your access. But thats gone now. Scotlands fishing industry lands around two-thirds of all fish and shellfish caught in the UK each year, making it the UKs powerhouse of seafood production. It supports thousands of livelihoods across the country and forms the backbone of many coastal towns and villages. But like any war, Mr Anderson, 56, fears coastal communities may suffer collateral damage as some fishermen hang up their oilskins. It could happen that some leave fishing, he said. Two of his three sons are fishermen. For their sake, he is keen to look to the future. As part of the deal, the UK government also announced a 360million fund to invest in coastal communities. It said the money would go towards new technology and equipment to modernise the fleet, training to upskill workforces and help to revitalise coastal communities. For Mr Anderson, the money would be better invested in a scrap and build scheme to renew the Scottish fleets tonnage, which he argued would be good for the shipyards, for Scotland, and good for the fishermen, good for efficiency. He said: The fleets so old and getting too expensive to maintain. We should get that modernised first and then I think the youth schemes and training will fall into place once the boats are making money. And what of Reform circling the fishing grounds in search of support? Mr Anderson is in no doubt some colleagues will voice their protest through the ballot box: Whether it makes any difference in the final result, but I have no doubt I think they [Reform] will get votes on the back of this. Mr Bremner is already a fan of Reform. I voted for Farage at the last elections. Hes the only one talking sense, community-wise and business-wise, he said. Electoral expert Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, is less convinced fishing is a vote-winner. I think the answer is it would depend on which fishermen youre talking to because we know there are two sides to this, he said. We know their hopes for a reduction in the number of EU boats fishing in British waters have been dashed. On the other hand, their ability to export what they catch to the European Union is now potentially much enhanced. The SFF are very upset about it but Tavish Scott at Salmon Scotland is delighted because it was very difficult to export things like shellfish to the EU under the current regime. So, its a double-edged sword for the fishing industry. Workers take fish sold at Peterhead out of the market to be loaded on trucks On the West Coast, in Kyle of Lochalsh, Bally Philp, who has worked for 35 years as a creel fisherman, sees the deal as a route back from the brink of extinction under Brexit: The small guys got hammered twice by Brexit the big boats enjoyed a quota uplift as a result of the Brexit Treaty, while the extra red tape meant our markets disappeared for months and nearly wiped out our industry. There are more than 1,000 creel fishermen in Scotland, but Brexit sunk a lot of boats. Exports are crucial for us almost all the scallops and langoustines we catch go to Europe, a small amount of crab goes to China. Shellfish fishermen may be better off after this deal because it will be easier to export our catch and there will be stability in the market. Weve already been told we can expect better prices soon. Yet even he is wary of heaping praise on the dealmakers: I dont think either the Government or industry bodies do a great job of representing the small-scale fishermen. What we really want to see is sustainable fishing. We may be slightly better off in this deal, but its surely by accident rather than because somebody had our backs. Clueless diners at Jeremy Clarkson's pub have been left baffled by the establishment's bizarre rule. The Farmer's Dog has been widely praised since it opened last year - with many customers leaving glowing reviews. However, some visitors were unimpressed after noticing several items, including ketchup and Coca-Cola, were missing from the menu. Clarkson's pub only uses Great Britain's produce to support British farmers - meaning some common condiments aren't on offer. Although the former Top Gear host regularly discusses the importance of his strict business model, it seems some customers didn't get the memo. One reviewer complained that 'drinks are limited, no cola, pepsi, lemonade or coffee', whilst another said: '(I) asked for some pepper and was told, "sorry no!!". 'Ate 3 mouthfuls and that was enough'. A third person gave positive feedback before complaining: 'Sadly they do not have pepper or coffee - both items I really missed. Clueless diners at Jeremy Clarkson's pub have been left baffled by the establishment's bizarre rule The Farmer's Dog has been widely praised since it opened last year - with many customers leaving glowing reviews But some visitors were unimpressed after noticing several integral items, including ketchup and Coca-Cola, were missing from the menu Clarkson's pub only uses Great Britain's produce to further support British farmers - meaning some common condiments aren't on offer 'It was strange not to have a coffee after my meal, and I always have pepper on my veg.' They added how although they 'respect' Clarkson's decision to use local produce it was 'extreme' to not have pepper and coffee. Clarkson's reluctance to make any small exceptions to the rule means he loses 10 for every customer who eats at his restaurant, as home-grown products are much more expensive. He said in a column for The Times: 'Now, a business-minded person would look at these costs and realise that with British-only rules in place, a hotdog was going be priced at about 45. 'But I'm not a business-minded person. So I just filled my heart with hope, asked an AI program to work out what the average price of lunch in a Cotswolds pub is and just charged that. 'It's possible that for every customer who comes through the door I'd lose about 10.' It comes after earlier this year Clarkson sparked shock after a viral video revealed he is charging 200 for a pie at his farm shop and pub. An Instagram video filmed inside the popular Oxfordshire Diddly Squat shop features an 'extra, extra large' meat pie which is priced at a whopping 199.99. Although the former Top Gear host regularly discusses the importance of his strict business model, it seems some customers didn't get the memo A video, narrated by The Skeptics Take, showed the pie and price tag and said: 'Enough pie to throw at your neighbour for 200 quid.' The clip, which started off by showing the The Farmer's Dog sign at the farm, saw a visitor walk through the farm shop and reveal the prices of some of the goods on offer. 'I went to Jeremy Clarkson's pub and farm shop so you don't have to,' a voiceover states. The video shows how visitors to the pub must pay 2 for parking in a 'muddy field', which caused controversy among viewers. The voiceover told watchers that after paying for parking, visitors could choose from 'an array of overpriced souvenirs that will end up in your bin'. It then showed various objects available to purchase, including a Christmas candle for 22 with the branding: 'This smells like my Christmas balls'. It then turns to a stack of large pies on a countertop, ranging from large to extra extra large. While a large pie costs 'just' 46.15, the extra extra large version is on sale for a whopping 200. Even the armed police patrolling Madrid-Barajas airport are wary of the rough sleepers who have turned Terminal 4 into a dosshouse. 'Be careful,' a young, clean-shaven officer warned when the Mail visited this week. 'It can be dangerous here this is zombieland.' With an annual headcount of 65million passengers, Spain's biggest airport has long been used to human traffic. But Barajas has now turned into a so-called 'hidden city' thanks to the spiralling number of homeless people taking over its halls. In the past decade, the number of rough sleepers here has swelled from about 50 people to as many as 500. Unsurprisingly, the increase has sparked a rise in drink-related violence and other anti-social behaviour as well as reports of weapons, rampant drug use including crack cocaine and even prostitution. It's not exactly the stuff of holiday brochures and that cheesy 1970s pop hit Y Viva Espana. No one would describe Terminal 4 as a pretty picture. By 7.30pm, the'unauthorised occupants' as the rough sleepers are diplomatically named by the authorities start turning in for the night. Barajas has now turned into a so-called 'hidden city' thanks to the spiralling number of homeless people taking over its halls Chronic housing shortages, spiralling migration and the highest unemployment rate on the continent have seen tensions rise across Spain Ranging in age from early 30s to late 60s, most of them bed down one level below the check-in area using blankets, sheets of cardboard or for the lucky few sleeping bags. The prime spots are located next to power sockets, where mobile phones can be charged and kettles boiled. Almost everyone has an airport trolley weighed down with battered suitcases and carrier bags. Among them is a Peruvian woman in her 60s who has been sleeping at the airport for the past year. 'I got robbed and lost all my documentation, so I have been scraping by and flitting around ever since,' she says. 'Basically, the little money I have isn't enough to live on outside of the airport.' Others, perhaps with darker tales to tell, are less inclined to talk. But a 67-year-old Spanish man exclaims: 'I was in full-time employment for 50 years. I lost my job and I've no pension left. That's how I ended up in this situation.' Trailing off, he adds: 'The problem here is Pedro Sanchez . . .' That is Spain's 53-year-old prime minister a man who looms large in this increasingly dismal picture. For the chaotic scene at the airport has become a horrifying illustration of the country's decline since his socialist government took power in 2018 and which should serve as a disturbing warning to Britain. By 7.30pm, the 'unauthorised occupants' as the rough sleepers are diplomatically named by the authorities start turning in for the night Communications networks were paralysed, transport ground to a halt and panic buyers stripped supermarket shelves bare during the recent nationwide blackout As any holidaymaker visiting the EU's sixth-largest economy in recent months will have observed, it is not just limited to Terminal 4. This week, tourists described 'watching in horror' as a homeless man stabbed a stranger in the neck at Palma airport on the Balearic Island of Mallorca. Carlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo, a 45-year-old man from El Salvador, who is believed to be among dozens sleeping rough at the airport, later appeared in court over the attack. But the shocking scenes of poverty don't end there. Chronic housing shortages, spiralling migration and the highest unemployment rate on the continent have seen tensions rise across Spain. That's before we recall the devastating flash floods around the city of Valencia in eastern Spain, which killed more than 200 people last November, as well as last month's power outage, which saw hospitals, shops and banking networks wiped out and led to the deaths of three people. Both events have been widely linked to Spain's demented, dysfunctional push for Net Zero. It doesn't take a particularly keen-eyed observer to see the cautionary parallels with Britain's Government today. Sir Keir Starmer and key Labour figures, including Ed Miliband, are intent on pursuing a slyly Left-wing agenda on economics and energy. For the chaotic scene at the airport has become a horrifying illustration of the country's decline since the socialist government took power in 2018 Yet these are broadly the policies that Sanchez's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party has been implementing since coming to power and which are now wreaking havoc. So how exactly did it all go wrong for Spain? And is it in danger of losing its allure entirely? As far as Britons are concerned, the attraction dates back to the 1950s and the dawn of the package holiday. With its miles of golden beaches, 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and cheap sangria, Spain quickly became our favourite overseas destination. Even now, it remains our most popular choice. Of British travellers' 86.2million journeys abroad in 2023, around one in five (17.8million) were to Spain, data from the Office for National Statistics shows. But recent anti-tourist demonstrations are perhaps the clearest sign yet that the long-running love affair between Britain and Spain is heading for the rocks in itself a knock-on effect of the country's major domestic problems. By far the biggest issue has been housing. Rents have risen by 74 per cent nationwide over the past decade, figures show. Almost half of tenants spend 40 per cent of their income on rent and utility bills compared to the EU average of 27 per cent, a recent Bank of Spain report reveals. While social housing makes up just 2.5 per cent of Spain's domestic property stock, some 3.8million homes 14 per cent of the total supply are vacant, largely after being snapped up by overseas buyers. Tensions have grown over Spain's unemployment rate which at 11 per cent is the highest in Europe These concerns have played a major part in the anti-tourist protests which have exploded this year in Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and, just last week, in the Canary Islands. Indeed, Sanchez yesterday confirmed he would push ahead with plans to hit Britons with a 100 per cent tax when buying holiday homes since by his own admission 'we are facing one of the largest problems our society is currently confronted with'. Elsewhere, tensions have grown over Spain's unemployment rate which at 11 per cent is the highest in Europe. This is even worse among the under-25s, more than a quarter of whom don't have a job. Jorge Calero, a credit controller from Madrid, explains the rage: 'Lots and lots of people in Spain are not in a good place. The housing situation is a real disgrace. It is really difficult to get a place to live. I'm not too far off 30 and I have to share a place with three other guys. I really don't see a time when I will be able to afford a home of my own.' He adds: 'I'm lucky that I have a job. I know plenty of people who are well qualified and genuinely want to work, but they just can't get anything that is even vaguely suitable. 'And the wages in most sectors are pretty low. The cost of living in Spain might not be as high as other places, but you still need money to live.' Migration, too, has become a crunch issue, with Sanchez unveiling plans last October to make it easier for migrants to integrate into the labour market and cut red tape for residency applications. Now, of the 49million population, nearly one in five was born abroad and close to 900,000 come from Morocco. Of British travellers' 86.2million journeys abroad in 2023, around one in five (17.8million) were to Spain But while the Spanish public has traditionally taken a liberal approach to the incoming population, a poll commissioned by the Left-wing El Pais newspaper last October found that 57 per cent believe there is now 'too much' immigration. It all paints a dismal portrait of Sanchez's political stance. His drive for Net Zero came under the spotlight internationally after the blackout, which saw mainland Spain and neighbouring Portugal plunged into mayhem. Communications networks were paralysed, transport ground to a halt and panic buyers stripped supermarket shelves bare. This week, claims emerged that officials had 'covered up' evidence linking the 23-hour outage to Spain's reliance on renewable energy. More than half of the country's electricity is now generated from solar and wind. One of the green push's few dissenters is Jordi Sevilla, who served as chairman of Red Electrica, which runs the national grid, until 2020. He says that the current government's plan for the grid has involved 'too much renewable messianism' and 'turning a deaf ear to the technical problems associated with such an important change in Spain's energy mix'. Another expert, Antonio Turiel, of the state-owned Spanish National Research Council, warns that the system is vulnerable due to the 'haphazard integration of a host of renewable systems'. This week claims emerged that officials had 'covered up' evidence linking the 23-hour outage to Spain's reliance on renewable energy Indeed, just this week, EU sources told the Daily Telegraph that authorities had been conducting an experiment before the system crashed to investigate how far they could push the country's reliance on renewables before Spain phases out its nuclear reactors from 2027. If that wasn't alarming enough, Red Electrica is currently overseen by Beatriz Corredor, a political ally of Sanchez who has no previous experience in the electricity sector and whose reported six-figure salary is six times higher than that of the prime minister. Yet, despite these misgivings and cover-up claims, there is no sign of any let-up in Spain's relentless drive for renewable energy. Quite the opposite, in fact. The authorities are determined to cover 81 per cent of the country's electricity demands using green power by 2030. For his part, Sanchez is resolute. 'In Spain, the future of energy lies in other sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind and green hydrogen,' he has declared. 'Renewables are not only the future; they are our only choice.' Four hours from Madrid, I visit Valencia, the country's third biggest city. As well as its pristine beaches, aquarium and 13th-century cathedral, it is home to the Requiem in Power project: a plan to create the country's largest urban solar farm by carpeting three cemeteries with 6,600 photovoltaic panels. More than 800 of these unsightly metallic panels each covered in cells which absorb sunlight to convert into electricity have already been slapped over the top of window-sized 'nicho' graves lining the cemeteries' walls. None of the relatives of the deceased were asked about what they thought about the project before work started because, according to city official Carlos Mundina, the graveyards are 'publicly owned' and the authorities 'don't need to consult anyone'. More than half of the country's electricity is now generated from solar and wind But it doesn't stop there. In the southern rural province of Jaen, 100 olive farmers have been forced from their land to make way for a 900-hectare solar park. The plan, which will see 40,000 olive trees cut down, has already sparked outrage as Natalia Corbalan, the spokeswoman for agricultural lobby group SOS Rural, tells the Mail. 'We're seeing farmers who have no say whatsoever and are being forced to hand over their land,' she says. 'We're not talking about farmers who are willingly giving up their lands on promises of money for the next 30 years. 'The energy companies are pressuring them into giving up their land in exchange for an amount of money that is nothing to write home about around 3,000 per hectare and are telling them that if they don't agree to do so, the land will be categorised as land of national interest and end up being expropriated. 'These farmers can't sue either because lawsuits are lengthy and costly, and we're talking about people who perhaps haven't got the resources to fight against an army of lawyers. 'It's David against Goliath, the weak against the strong.' And the wider repercussions for the country could be even more dire, as Ms Corbalan highlights. 'When you transform fertile agricultural land to make way for solar panels, the change is irreversible,' she warns. In the southern rural province of Jaen, 100 olive farmers have been forced from their land to make way for a 900-hectare solar park 'We need a system that guarantees us food in extreme situations, like the one we suffered during the Covid crisis, or in certain times of difficulty, like the one caused by the power blackout. 'If we carry on the way we are, we risk suffering a food blackout.' All of which paints a gloomy picture indeed for Spain's once-glittering socialist dream. And, as I watch yet more rough sleepers preparing to bed down at Terminal 4, I can only hope Britain isn't next. Former President Joe Biden was seen in public for the first time since announcing he had prostate cancer. WTNH, New Haven, Connecticut's ABC affiliate reported Friday that Biden was was spotted at the Woodland Restaurant in Lakeville the night before. As he arrived in the state, a crowd cheered for the former president as he walked through Bradley International Airport, the station also shared. The ex-president said he 'loves Connecticut' and is 'feeling great' after learning he had aggressive protate cancer, which was announced publicly on Sunday. 'Great to have Joe & Jill Biden at The Woodland last night. He was so gracious and thoughtful in conversations with staff and guests,' the restaurant's Instagram page said. 'We very much enjoyed such decency and humility from our President. You made our evening very special. All the best.' The restaurant also added, 'Congratulations to his grandson on his graduation.' On Friday, former first daughter Ashley Biden posted photos from grandson Hunter's high school graduation. That Hunter is the son of the late Beau Biden. President Joe Biden was spotted Thursday night at the Woodland Restaurant in Lakeville, Connecticut Former President Joe Biden (left) attended grandson Hunter Biden's (center) high school graduation on Friday. Also there (from left) granddaughter Natalie, former first lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden His sister Natalie was also in the picture, as was former first lady Jill Biden. On Sunday, the ex-president's office said the 82-year-old, who left office in January, was diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer that spread to his bones. 'Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,' a statement from his office said. The announcement led to an outpouring support for the former commander-in-chief, though also launched conspiracy theories about how long he had cancer. After Biden bombed his late June debate against Trump, questions about his fitness for office got even louder. Then-White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre initially bungled a response when asked why a Parkinson's disease expert had visited the White House multiple times. Additionally, Biden's White House physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, never took questions from the press, unlike Trump's original White House physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson, now a MAGA-aligned Republican representing Texas in Congress. Trump's second White House doctor, Dr. Sean Conley, addressed the press when Trump contracted COVID-19 just weeks before the 2020 election. WTNH, New Haven, Connecticut's ABC affiliate reported that former President Joe Biden said he was 'feeling great' after his shock prostate cancer diagnosis Former President Joe Biden (left), former first lady Jill Biden (right) and their cat Willow. The Bidens shared this picture on social media Monday reacting to the outpouring of support after revealing the former president's shock cancer diagnosis Conley was criticized, however, for painting a much-too-rosy picture of Trump's battle with the disease, which could have turned deadly. Throughout Biden's term, O'Connor stayed away from the cameras. Biden's health had already been in the news due to a slew of books being released on the 2024 presidential race. This week CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson's book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, was released. It chronicled how Biden's inner circle of aides kept the octogenarian president away from his Cabinet, members of Congress and other Democratic Party members. The president was largely kept in the dark, they reported, on how bad his 2024 polling was and how he had quickly lost the support of his party in the aftermath of the bungled. In an excerpt of the book aides discussed putting Biden in a wheelchair after the election, because his physical deterioration, 'most apparent in his halting walk,' had become so severe. In Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes wrote that Biden needed fluorescent tape to guide him through a fundraiser. Author Chris Whipple, who wrote Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History, said on CNN last month that 'this was different from a cover-up.' 'It wasn't a Watergate-style cover-up. It wasn't a grand conspiracy as Karl Rove has described it,' Whipple said. 'The closest advisers to Biden believed, despite all the evidence, that Joe Biden was capable of running for reelection, of winning and of serving another four years,' Whipple said. 'Now it was really delusional.' Angela Rayner is at war with Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves over plans to slash her department's budget, the Mail can reveal. In a series of increasingly heated meetings, the Deputy Prime Minister is said to have complained 'forcibly' about proposals to squeeze spending on housing. Ms Rayner, who this week sparked fevered speculation about her leadership ambitions, is set to be one of the biggest losers at next month's comprehensive spending review. Labour sources said she had confronted the Prime Minister and Chancellor about the plans in recent weeks but had got nowhere. It is the latest sign of splits between Ms Rayner, Ms Reeves and Sir Keir and comes just days after a leaked memo revealed the Deputy PM had urged the Chancellor to hike taxes on savers and high earners. The leak sparked speculation that Ms Rayner could be positioning herself as a future leader from the Left of the party. Housing Secretary Ms Rayner is tasked with delivering the manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029. She reportedly threatened to resign over the 'impossible' target, it emerged last month, but now faces meeting it on an even smaller budget. Angela Rayner is at war with Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves over plans to slash her department's budget, the Mail can reveal In a series of increasingly heated meetings, the Deputy Prime Minister is said to have complained 'forcibly' about proposals to squeeze spending on housing Ms Rayner, who this week sparked fevered speculation about her leadership ambitions, is set to be one of the biggest losers at next month's comprehensive spending review. Pictured: Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves A Labour source told the Mail: 'She is unhappy because she's been screwed in the spending review. 'The review is going to be a difficult moment for the whole Government but her department is being really squeezed. 'She has made her views known forcibly in private because she has been set this very difficult housing target and feels like she is having the rug pulled out from under her. 'But she has got nowhere so far and I think that is why you are seeing her signalling to Labour MPs that she doesn't agree with some of the decisions being made on cuts. 'It is not helpful behaviour and it's probably not even in her own interests, but it is understandable.' Downing Street sources say they are 'sure' Ms Rayner is on manoeuvres, and it emerged yesterday that her supporters have been quietly conducting 'unauthorised focus groups' to find out how she would fare in a leadership campaign. The results suggest she needs to show she is a 'serious politician', according to The Guardian. Along with funding to meet her housing target, Ms Rayner is also reportedly urging Ms Reeves to hike spending on social housing but is facing resistance. Unlike some other departments, she is still locked in talks with the Treasury over the funding settlement, a separate source said. Rayner is said to be furious about plans to cut housing spending and has demanded the chancellors hike taxes on higher earners Another senior government figure said the spending review would be 'f*****g hard' and involved some 'really serious trade-offs'. 'There are always going to be people that are unhappy, but that's the nature of it,' they added. 'Every single one of those departments with unprotected elements of their budget will be fighting hard.' But time is running out, with Ms Reeves due to announce her first multi-year spending review on June 11. While the health and defence budgets are protected, other departments are facing billions of pounds of cuts in day-to-day spending. One government figure pointed out that the Office for Budget Responsibility said in March that the Government was on track to build an extra 1.3 million homes by 2029. The source said this was due to planning reforms alone suggesting money set aside in the housing budget was not key to meeting the target. Ms Rayner's leadership ambitions have come under the spotlight this week after she sent a secret memo to the Chancellor arguing for tax rises instead of spending cuts. Along with a series of tweaks to tax policy designed to raise around 3.5 billion, she also suggested stripping middle-class families of child benefit payments. The Deputy PM recommended the Treasury 'claw back' the benefits from households where one person earned between 50,000 and 80,000. It would reverse a change introduced by Tory former chancellor Jeremy Hunt, which meant that families where no parent had an income above 80,000 a year would be entitled to some child benefit. He also raised the point at which families start losing the support from 50,000 to 60,000. The memo, seen by The Daily Telegraph, said: 'These two changes were forecast to cost 600 million a year, which could be saved if they were reversed on the grounds that they added to the welfare budget without being properly funded.' Ms Rayner also proposed other ways to raise revenue by taxing the wealthy, rather than spending cuts hitting the vulnerable. The ideas are popular with her allies on the Left of the party, but were seen as provocative by critics. The timing of the leak also raised eyebrows in Westminster, coming amid a growing rebellion over welfare changes. As many as 170 Labour MPs are threatening to avoid voting for welfare reforms when they come before the Commons next month. A source close to Ms Rayner last night declined to comment on private spending discussions but rejected the suggestions being made. They added that it was normal for ministers to make the case for departmental spending priorities during the review period. A man who claimed to be an heir to the Rothschild banking dynasty died in a blaze that ripped through his Los Angeles home after suffering a stroke while cooking. William Alexander de Rothschild, 87, was found in an 'unrecognizable condition' following the fire at his $1million Laurel Canyon house in November. Officials ruled de Rothschild, who told his neighbors he was from the prestigious family, had been in the kitchen when he suffered the medical emergency. Soot was found in his airway and an elevated amount of carbon monoxide indicate that he was alive for some time after the fire had started, officials ruled. According to the report his official cause of death is hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with smoke inhalation being a contributory fact. His passing was ruled as an accident. Despite his remarks to his neighbors and his surname, he did not appear anywhere on the storied family's official genealogical records and his brother has since identified him as William Alfred Kauffman. Kauffman changed his name in a petition to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1985, records show. In his application, he told the judge: 'I want to take my family name, that I prefer to Kauffman, it would simplify my life greatly, taking the name from my mothers side'. The name change was granted and Kauffman became de Rothschild for the remainder of his days. William Alfred Kauffman in his 1955 high school year book. He changed his name to William de Rothschild about 30 years later Officials ruled that de Rothschild had been cooking at the address when he was incapacitated by a stroke when the fire began Speaking with DailyMail.com in March, his younger brother Richard revealed that he had no contact with his brother until after his death. 'Oh, boy! This is a really bizarre story,' he said. 'For 40 to 50 years I had no contact with my brother so I just accepted that he had died from some sort of illness. And then I got that phone call.' He was told by a reporter at the Los Angeles Times last year that a wealthy man by the name of Rothschild had died in a November house fire in Laurel Canyon, a haven for the city's artists and musicians since the 1960s. Might this man be his long lost brother? Richard knew his brother as William Kauffman, who had disappeared after telling his family he was leaving their home state of Oregon for LA to pursue his passion for art. So it made sense he'd be living in an artsy Los Angeles idyll, in a $1.2million hillside home adorned by a fleet of rare cars. William had always been obsessed with cars, and the victim was in his eighties, so the timeline added up too. But officials had identified the dead man as William de Rothschild, who claimed to be part of the prominent Rothschild banking family. Richard knew of no family connection to the Rothschilds, so why was his missing brother posing as one? In disbelief, he fixated on the memory of their unforgettable final conversation, which had been ricocheting through his mind all those years. 'He seemed like he wanted to tell me something else but he was holding back. We had a couple of phone calls after he moved to Los Angeles and then he just disappeared,' Richard said. 'But the last call, I remember, was so strange because it sounded like he wanted to say something, but he never did. We hung up and I never heard from him again.' The man who called himself De Rothschild moved to this hillside home in the famed artist enclave of Laurel Canyon Neighbors said they would see the reclusive senior on walks and often spoke about his rare car collection The Rothschild connection perplexed him. The secretive Rothschild dynasty had the world's largest private fortunes in the 19th century. Their golden era dwindled in the 20th century, but surviving family members still possess substantial fortunes. Over the years, the name has been used by many imposters who have taken advantage of their mystique. But the case of the man who died in a fire at his Los Angeles home may be one of the strangest. Neighbors said the man they knew as De Rothschild had told them he was a member of the prestigious European family, whose fortune is worth billions of dollars. However, he did not appear anywhere on the storied family's official genealogical records. Neighbors, who lived next to De Rothschild on Lookout Mountain Avenue, also said he was a 'nice, good-looking older gentleman', who always dressed impeccably and had classic cars parked around his hillside home. They said he was a quiet man and had a dog but no one had seen him or his pet in the months before the November fire. A family friend told the Daily Mail that De Rothschild was a 'brilliant and talented' artist who was a very private man. The friend said De Rothschild's dog had died 10 months ago. Neighbors said the man they knew as De Rothschild had told them he was a member of the prestigious European family, whose fortune is worth billions of dollars 'He was absolutely dynamic,' the friend said. 'He read 24 hours a day and just knew everything. He was an absolute expert with classic cars. The only reason he talked about cars all the time was because it made him happy, and very interestingly, he didn't like to talk about himself.' Richard, 78, agreed that the man who people knew as De Rothschild had many similarities with his long lost older brother. 'That sounds like him,' Richard said. 'He was always into cars when I knew him and he was always a sharp dresser. I mean, the person I knew sounds like the same person all of his neighbors have described. And yes, he was a very smart and talented guy.' Neighbors also said that De Rothschild had donated some rare vehicles to the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA, but museum officials told the Daily Mail there were no records of any vehicle donations by the 87-year old. A family friend has now revealed that some of the rare vehicles De Rothschild kept in pristine order for years will go under auction. De Rothschild was born William Alfred Kauffman but he changed his name in 1985, according to Los Angeles Superior court records. 'I want to take my family name, that I prefer to Kauffman, it would simplify my life greatly, taking the name from my mother's side,' he wrote. A judge granted the petition since there were no objections filed and he legally became William Alexander De Rothschild. Richard, 78, said neither his mother nor father had any connection to the Rothschild lineage. Before he moved to Los Angeles and settled at the Laurel Canyon home, De Rothschild lived in Eugene, Oregon where he grew up with his parents, William and Juanita, and younger brother Richard. Records show he graduated from North Salem High School and then earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Oregon in 1962. Richard said he remembered William, who was nine years older, was always crafting, sculpting or drawing something. 'He was a savant,' Richard said of his sibling. 'He always participated in art projects and was sculpting something. He had some art shows when he moved to California, but we never heard anything from him again.' Yellow caution tape can still be found around De Rothschild home, which suffered significant damage. A car still sits on the driveway, which was one of the many the senior kept near the property De Rothschild's death certificate, obtained by the Daily Mail, revealed his birth name Richard said he and his parents never had a falling out with his brother. He remembers his parents mentioning that William was renting cars for the movie industry before he suddenly disappeared. 'I thought he might have had some sort of physical problem that he didn't want anyone to know about when he called. All these years I thought he had died.' Richard said officials with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office contacted him about providing a DNA sample to confirm the man found in the burned Laurel Canyon home was his brother. The test kit was sent to local Oregon police, who then collected a swab sample from Richard. The kit was then mailed securely back to the LA Medical Examiner's Office. Richard said the results showed the man who went by the name William De Rothschild was definitely related to him. He was positively identified using DNA records on January 28, according to the LA Medical Examiner's office. The certificate also showed De Rothschild was married to Margaux Mirkin, heir to the Budget Rent a-Car fortune founded by her father, Morris Mirkin. Morris Mirkin opened the first Budget Rent-a-Car office at Wilshire and Robertson boulevards in Los Angeles in 1958. However, court filings have revealed he was actually born William Alfred Kauffman and changed his name by court petition Margaux would later open her own business venture called 'Drive A Dream', which rented out exotic cars. 'For $50 to $350 a day, plus 50 cents a mile, you can rent a Porsche, a Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce or a flashy replica of more dramatic models,' according to a 1980s advertisement for the business. Richard said he has tried several times to reach out to Mirkin, but has not received a response. According to the death certificate, De Rothschild was cremated. While Los Angeles fire and police officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, Richard hopes Mirkin would be open to speak to him to help answer some questions. Richard said he was told Mirkin was still upset about losing her husband but wanted to send her thanks for providing his DNA samples to authorities. 'I am the only one left who knew my brother before he changed his name, and she is the only one who can tell me about the last 40 to 50 years of his life,' Richard said. 'I don't know if Margaux ever knew that he was not a Rothschild because he had changed his name prior to them getting married. I'm giving her space to grieve and hopefully we can come to some understanding.' Richard said he hopes that one day he will be able to see any sculptures or artwork left behind by his beloved brother. 'I came to terms with my brother's death a long time ago, so it's more a curiosity at this point,' Richard said. 'I am curious about what he did all of these years, and to maybe own one of this art to remind him by. He was so talented when I knew him and bet he was his whole life.' As her plane soared high into the sky above Bangkok, Charlotte May Lee wasted no time getting settled in. SriLankan Airlines Flight UL 405 had barely left the runway before the 21-year-old part-time beautician from Surrey slapped on a hydrating in-flight facial mask and stuck in her earphones. If the former Tui air stewardess was nervous about what lay in store for her in Sri Lanka then she showed no sign. A brief video filmed just a few minutes into her three-hour 15-minute flight and immediately posted on TikTok shows her staring defiantly into the camera as the Thai coastline disappears through the window behind her. She didn't look quite so cocky in the police mugshot taken later that day at Bandaranaike International Airport after a staggering 101lb (46kg) of super-strong, synthetic 'kush' cannabis was found stashed in her luggage. It is the largest haul ever discovered at the airport in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. If convicted of drug smuggling, Charlotte faces up to 25 years in a tough maximum-security jail. Now an exclusive investigation by the Mail can reveal details of this young British woman's dramatic interrogation by police and the account or accounts she desperately gave them when asked to explain the colossal quantity of drugs allegedly found in her bags. SriLankan Airlines Flight UL 405 had barely left the runway before the 21-year-old part-time beautician from Surrey slapped on a hydrating in-flight facial mask and stuck in her earphones. Pictured: Charlotte May Lee behind bars in Sri Lanka If the former Tui air stewardess was nervous about what lay in store for her in Sri Lanka then she showed no sign. Pictured: Charlotte May Lee in her TUI cabin crew uniform A staggering 101lb (46kg) of super-strong, synthetic 'kush' cannabis was found stashed in Charlotte's luggage For while she insists she is innocent, police sources in Colombo have told us she has already changed her story several times, ultimately claiming that a British man someone she had spent just three days with in the Thai holiday resort of Koh Phi Phi must be to blame for the illegal haul. The man, said by Charlotte to be British but of Pakistani origin and apparently known to her only as 'Dan', allegedly bought her airline ticket, telling her he had to remain in Bangkok to see a friend but would join her soon. He also provided and packed her suitcases and gave her cash for the airline's excess baggage fee, allegedly telling her that one of the pieces of luggage she checked in held his own clothes and belongings. Sri Lanka, she claims 'Dan' told her, was a 'lovely place for a holiday'. He promised they would have a 'wonderful time' travelling around the country. Describing roofer's daughter Charlotte as 'desperate and incredibly naive', Sri Lankan police sources say that when they asked for further details about the mysterious 'Dan', Charlotte claimed not to know his surname, where he comes from in the UK, or even to have his phone number. She has also insisted she has never previously visited Sri Lanka, but the police dispute this. They say she flew into the country in January, although it is not yet clear from where. 'This woman is in a lot of trouble and will not help herself by failing to tell the truth,' a police source told the Mail. A photograph on Miss Lee's social media shows her in her former job as a TUI stewardess 'The investigation is only just beginning and we will be looking closely at her previous visit, who she was with and where she went.' To be clear, Sri Lankan police do not believe Charlotte's story. They are examining her phone and retracing her steps with the help of Thai and British authorities, a painstaking inquiry which will involve tracking down CCTV in Bangkok. In the meantime, she has received visits from British consular officials. Meanwhile, this unfortunate or foolhardy young woman languishes in Negombo prison just north of the Sri Lankan capital, deprived of the high-fashion clothing and make-up she wears in the copious selfies she posts on social media, complaining that the spicy food is inedible. Earlier this week, the Mail visited Charlotte in prison, when she claimed she'd never seen the drugs nor been to Sri Lanka before, and had only decided to visit while she waited for her Thai visa to be renewed. She insisted, 'I know who did it' when asked who, if not her, was really to blame. 'I didn't expect it at all when they pulled me over in the airport,' she said, speaking through the bars of her cell to the Mail's reporter. 'I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff. 'I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was really early. I left my bags in the hotel bedroom and headed for the night out. 'As they were already packed I didn't check them again in the morning.' She added: 'They [the people she believed had planted the drugs] were supposed to meet me here. But now I'm stuck here in this jail.' Earlier this week, the Mail visited Charlotte in prison, when she claimed she'd never seen the drugs nor been to Sri Lanka before, and had only decided to visit while she waited for her Thai visa to be renewed So is it really possible that Charlotte was duped into becoming a drugs mule by a British drugs gang operating in Thailand? And should we read anything into the track she chose to accompany the video selfie she filmed, mid-air a recent hip-hop song with lyrics about how to charm women by showering them with extravagant luxuries? Back in Coulsdon, south London, where Charlotte grew up and was a pupil at Woodcote High School, a close friend said this week that she'd 'been through a tough year' and had recently got out of an abusive relationship. The friend added: 'Her mental state is fragile. She's vulnerable. She's a silly 21-year-old but not silly enough to do something like this.' As the friend pointed out: 'She was trained as Tui cabin crew. She knew the risks.' Above all, given her professional experience, she would have been perfectly aware of the ultimate security question asked at check-in by all international airlines: 'Did you pack your bags yourself?' Charlotte's arrest on May 12 came just two days after that of 18-year-old Bella Culley from Billingham in County Durham at Shota Rustaveli airport in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, after flying from Bangkok within hours of Charlotte and travelling via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Bella is alleged to have been carrying 26.4lb (12kg) of cannabis and 4.4lb (2kg) of hashish in her luggage with a street value of 200,000. She is now being held in the former Soviet state's grim Prison Number 5 in Rustavi where, in an alarming turn of events, she told officials she is pregnant, something prison authorities have yet to confirm. If convicted of drug smuggling, Charlotte faces up to 25 years in a tough maximum-security jail. Pictured: Welikada Prison in Colombo where British woman Charlotte May-Lee will be sent if convicted of drug smuggling The detention of both young women comes at a time when British and Thai authorities have warned of a boom in organised crime gangs in Thailand who are grooming young tourists from the UK to use as drug mules. According to Tony Saggers, the National Crime Agency's former head of Drugs Threat and Intelligence: 'There will be typical sales pitch that it's a tried and tested route, that they've got people on the inside that will help to corrupt the process, that they've got couriers who have recently travelled who haven't been caught. 'It will be that if you've got no convictions you're unlikely to go to prison, that no one who works for them so far has been caught. 'When you add them up and then put a few thousands pounds of rewards on the end of that, it actually sounds like quite a reassuring recruitment campaign.' Charlotte, who had been training to be a lash technician at a beauty salon in Chipstead, Surrey, first flew out to Thailand in April to celebrate her 21st birthday with her older sister, Sophie, who travelled to meet her from Australia where she lives. Photographs on her Instagram page show her in Bangkok on April 5, Koh Samui on April 8 and Phuket on April 18. She returned to the UK towards the end of the month, telling one friend that she 'loved Thailand and wanted to work out there'. Others say she had fallen in love with a British guy she referred to as 'Rocko'. Around four weeks ago, she announced she'd found a job on one of the party boat 'booze cruises' which tour Koh Phi Phi, an archipelago of six stunning islands off Thailand's west coast and a popular tourist destination. Before returning to Thailand she had work done on her teeth, had hair extensions fitted and bought designer bags and trainers. Our sources in Sri Lanka say she told police that she met 'Dan' on the island of Koh Phi Phi Don. From the description she gave them, they believe Charlotte was staying with the Brit at the three-star Papaya Phi Phi resort. According to former Sri Lankan investigator Shanti Mendis: 'A young woman travelling alone from a known country like Thailand with an excess of luggage double the normal maximum for a holiday would have been a red flag. It may be that from the airline manifest they were aware of it, but my understanding is that it was not a tip-off from Thai police. Charlotte's arrest on May 12 came just two days after that of 18-year-old Bella Culley (pictured) from Billingham in County Durham at Shota Rustaveli airport in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, after flying from Bangkok within hours of Charlotte and travelling via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates 'Both customs and police have spotters in the airport, looking for potential smugglers. They could not believe the quantities they found inside the bags. It is huge the amount that would come by sea rather than aircraft.' Bella Culley set off to the Philippines from the UK earlier this month on what was meant to be a last hurrah holiday before settling down to a nursing course. In a phone call, she told her mother Lyanne that instead of flying on to Ibiza in Spain, as her friend was doing, she was going backpacking through Thailand and possibly meeting up with a boy or a group of boys that she knew from home. A legal source in Georgia says that she went to Thailand 'for love' while Bella's 80-year-old grandfather William Culley said she had gone to visit someone called 'Ross or Russ'. A family friend of Bella's meanwhile told the Mail last week that she had met suspicious men from Liverpool weeks before her arrest who they believe may have been involved in smuggling drugs. Another family friend told the Sun earlier this week that they believed she had been 'completely exploited' after getting involved with drug runners. Organised crime gangs from across the UK, some of whom have been pushed abroad by rival groups from countries like Albania, have re-established themselves in Thailand over the past decade. Bella Culley set off to the Philippines from the UK earlier this month on what was meant to be a last hurrah holiday before settling down to a nursing course. Pictured: Culley being arrested upon arriving in Georgia earlier this month They collaborate with local drugs cartels and cannabis growers in the north of the country which in 2022 became the first in Asia to decriminalise the drug. In recent weeks, the Thai government has said it plans to re-criminalise cannabis, aside from medical usage, raising the possibility that gangs are attempting to smuggle as much as they can out of the country before the clampdown. In March, Thai police arrested 13 foreign nationals, mainly British, for attempting to smuggle 826lb (375kg) out of the country at Koh Samui airport. Just last month, alleged British cannabis kingpin 30-year-old Adel Mohammed was arrested in Bangkok alongside 11 fellow UK nationals. All are accused of trying to flood London with cannabis grown in farms on the Thai island of Koh Samui. Teenagers and younger adults visiting Thailand in the weeks and months ahead are being told to remain vigilant if they are approached by fellow Brits offering 'easy money'. As Tony Saggers puts it: 'It's just the human psyche that you feel less intimidated when sitting in a bar chatting to a fellow Brit. You almost become even more reassured that the risks aren't quite what you fear them to be because it's a fellow Brit telling you everything will be all right.' Whatever the truth about the drugs allegedly found in their bags, it is clear that Charlotte May Lee and Bella Culley are far from alright. Both girls were drawn to Thailand by its glamorous, hedonistic party scene. Both now face months, if not years, of waiting to find out their fate in the harshest of prisons. Innocent or guilty, the ongoing agony of their situations serves as a powerful warning about the realities of the evil underworld lurking beneath the glamour of Thailand's sunny beaches and what lies in wait for those tempted to delve into it. Sir Keir Starmer was yesterday warned against more Brexit backsliding after Donald Trump threatened to hit the EU with 50 per cent trade tariffs. The US President made the threat amid trade talks between Washington and Brussels, warning he could impose the tariffs next month. It comes after Sir Keir unveiled his EU-UK 'reset' deal this week, bringing Britain the closest its been with the bloc since Brexit. But critics fear it's the start of a slippery slope which could lead to the PM, who tried to reverse Brexit while in Opposition, taking Britain back into the EU's customs union or single market. Were this to happen, the tariffs would likely apply to the UK too.As part of his deal, dubbed the 'surrender' pact by Brexiteers, Sir Keir agreed to shackle Britain to the EU's rulebook on food standards, also known as the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS). He also surrendered Britain's fishing waters to EU trawlers for another 12 years and committed to a youth mobility scheme which could give tens of thousands of Europeans the right to live and work here. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'This week he stupidly went and handed ourselves over to the EU on SPS, where we have now become a rule-taker from the EU. 'So this 50 per cent tariff should be a warning to him that it's a mistake getting directly back involved with the EU.' Sir Keir Starmer was yesterday warned against more Brexit backsliding after Donald Trump threatened to hit the EU with 50 per cent trade tariffs The US President made the threat amid trade talks between Washington and Brussels, warning he could impose the tariffs next month European markets fell even further with Germany's Dax down 1.5 per cent and France's Cac 40 falling 1.7 per cent Stock markets fell sharply on Mr Trump's threats. The FTSE 100 closed 0.24 per cent, or 21.29 points, down. European markets fell even further with Germany's Dax down 1.5 per cent and France's Cac 40 falling 1.7 per cent. In New York, stocks were also trading lower. Analysts said Mr Trump's announcements had eradicated optimism that his previous aggressive stance on tariffs had cooled after deals with China and the UK. 'The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. 'I am recommending a straight 50 per cent Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.' EU exports to the United States last year totalled about 500billion (420billion), led by Germany with 161billion (135billion). Mr Trump also turned his fire on tech firm Apple. Stock markets fell sharply upon Mr Trump's threats to impose more tariffs against EU nations. The FTSE 100 closed 0.24 per cent, or 21.29 points, down 'I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' he said, referring to the Apple chief executive. 'If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US.' Apple shares fell nearly three per cent. Tory MP Mark Francois, chairman of the European Research Group, said: 'President Trump has always been sceptical about the EU as an organisation and his imposition of major tariffs highlights yet another reason why we're well out of it.' The NHS is planning to open a network of 'calm and welcoming' mental health A&Es across England to treat patients who are in crisis. The specialist units will be offer around the clock care to relieve pressure on already overcrowded hospitals and emergency services. Around 250,000 people went to A&E last year due to a mental health crisis - with around a quarter facing a wait of 12 hours or longer. It comes as lengthy delays and the so-called 'corridor care' crisis at major hospitals have been linked to thousands of avoidable deaths. Doctors and nurses at the new mental health A&Es will support patients who are either suicidal or experiencing symptoms such as psychosis or mania. People will be able to 'walk-in' to the centres or be referred by either their GP or the police. The A&Es will be designed to provide a 'calm and caring environment', rather than the 'noise and chaos' of busy trauma centres, it has been reported. For example, one unit which has already opened in Ladbroke Grove, west London, has two 'emotional support dogs' that cuddle up to patients. The NHS is planning to open a network of 'calm and welcoming' mental health A&Es across England to treat patients who are in crisis (file photo) Fresh fruit, biscuits, tea and coffee and other refreshments are also laid out for people who come in. Sir Jim Mackey, the chief executive of NHS England, told The Times: 'Crowded A&Es are not designed to treat people in mental health crisis. 'We need to do better, which is why we are pioneering a new model of care where patients get the right support in the right setting. 'As well as relieving pressure on our busy A&Es, mental health crisis assessment centres can speed up access to appropriate care, offering people the help they need much sooner so they can stay out of hospital.' Separate mental health A&Es have already been introduced by ten NHS trusts - with the scheme set to be expanded in the next decade by the Labour government. It comes as UK public services have been struggling to cope with a rise in demand from people suffering from mental health issues. And last year, the Met Police said it would stopping attending mental health-linked emergency calls unless there is a threat to life. Around 250,000 people went to A&E last year due to a mental health crisis - with around a quarter facing a wait of 12 hours or longer (stock photo) The move is designed to free up officers to spend more time on their core roles, rather than dealing with patients in need of medical help from experts. But serious concerns were raised about what the policy change could mean for vulnerable individuals and whether it will prove practical on the ground. A Met spokesperson said that the force needed to 'redress the imbalance of responsibility', noting the considerable amount of time taken up by such incidents. Humberside Police introduced a similar policy, known as Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) in 2020, with mental health professionals dealing with calls. On paper, Harold Wilson and Queen Elizabeth II could not have come from more different walks of life. Wilson was a proud Yorkshireman from Huddersfield born into a lower middle-class family. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II came from a very different social background as a member - and head - of the most famous family in Britain. Despite the stark differences between the two, Wilson and the Queen developed a close friendship which led Elizabeth to bestow upon Wilson the honour of being her favourite Prime Minister. Today, is 30 years since Wilson died from colon cancer aged 79 and while the late Queen did not attend his funeral it is likely his death had a profound effect on Her Majesty. As according to author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth Wilson and Elizabeth enjoyed a 'relaxed intimacy' which was unique as the meetings between the Queen and her PM were typically very formal. Writing in his biography of the Queen, 'Elizabeth an intimate portrait', Brandreth revealed that Her Majesty allowed Wilson to smoke his pipes during their meetings which 'grew longer and longer: one touched two hours, a prime-ministerial record'. Brandreth believes that their friendship developed for a number of reasons. Harold Wilson greets the Queen outside No.10 in 1976. Despite the stark differences between the two, Wilson and the Queen devolved a close friendship which led Elizabeth to bestow upon Wilson the honour of being her favourite Prime Minister A young Queen Elizabeth II in 1965. Wilson was the Queen's PM whose age was closer to her own Wilson with his trademark pipe. Writing in his biography of the Queen, 'Elizabeth an intimate portrait', Gyles Brandreth revealed that Her Majesty allowed Wilson to smoke his pipes during their meetings Prior to Wilson's election in 1964 as the Queen's first Labour PM, all of the Prime Ministers were much older than the young Elizabeth. 'Sir Anthony Eden, born 1897, who succeeded Churchill, and Harold macmillan, born 1894, who succeeded hIm, were of a similar vintage and each in his own way, played the old school charmer with the young queen... essentially telling her what was going on rather than seeking to draw any advice,' Brandreth said. Wilson was different. He was the Queen's first Prime Minister who was not educated at a public school, although he was Oxford educated like three of her four previous PMs. But most importantly Wilson was closer to her own age - at just ten years her senior - and treated the Queen as an equal. As a staunch royalist, the Labour politician is reported to have said: 'I have great respect for tradition. I like the real ceremonies of the Monarchy.' Which explains why Wilson made it 'his business to endear himself to his queen', according to Brandreth. His mission was a resounding success with Elizabeth inviting Wilson to stay for drinks after their very first meeting. The late Queen also got on well with Wilson's wife Mary. Brandreth wrote that the Queen 'admired Lady Wilson's poetry and did not like the way it had been "belittled in certain quarters" when Mary first published a collection of her poems.' The Queen with Wilson in 1969. As a staunch royalist, Wilson is reported to have said: 'I have great respect for tradition. I like the real ceremonies of the Monarchy' Wilson with his wife Mary. The late Queen also got on well with Wilson wife Mary. Brandreth wrote that the Queen 'admired Lady Wilson's poetry and did not like the way it had been "belittled in certain quarters" when Mary first published a collection of her poems' Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh leaving Downing Street in 1976. As a mark of their close friendship, the Queen accepted Wilson's invitation to have dinner at Downing Street just before he stepped down. The Queen had not dined at No.10 since Winston Churchill invited her in 1955 According to Robin, Harold and Mary's son, they got on so well that Mary was invited to Buckingham Palace in 2016 to have tea with the Queen to mark her 100th birthday. In 1970, Wilson lost re-election in a surprise defeat at the hands of Tory leader Edward Heath. Elizabeth relationship with Heath was in stark contrast to one she enjoyed with Wilson. 'Heath was socially awkward at the best of times and found it hard to relax and, unlike Wilson, found it difficult to relax with an attractive, intelligent women ten years his junior,' Brandreth said. However, the Queen was given the unusual opportunity to resume her weekly meetings with Wilson when Labour beat the Conservatives in the 1974 election making Wilson PM once again. By now, aged 58, Wilson had grown weary of British politics having been leader of the Labour Party for over a decade. He reportedly told a close adviser in 1974 that: 'I have been around this racetrack so often that I cannot generate any more enthusiasm for jumping any more hurdles.' Two years after he re-entered No.10 Wilson resigned reportedly out of physical and mental exhaustion from his time as Prime Minister. The Queen with Tory PM Edward Heath in 1973. Elizabeth relationship with Heath was in stark contrast to one she enjoyed with Wilson Wilson at Labour Party Conference in 1973. After his departure, Elizabeth and Wilson remained close friends. So much so that Brandreth claims Wilson showed him a small photograph of him and the Queen which he kept permanently inside his wallet Elizabeth II at the state opening of Parliament in 1966. Prior to Wilson's election in 1964 as the Queen's first Labour PM, all of the Prime Ministers were much older than the young Elizabeth As a mark of their close friendship, the Queen accepted Wilson's invitation to have dinner at Downing Street just before he stepped down. The Queen had not dined at No.10 since Winston Churchill invited her in 1955. The Queen also immediately made him a Knight of the Garter, the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system. After his departure, Elizabeth and Wilson remained close friends. So much so that Brandreth claims Wilson showed him a small photograph of him and the Queen which he kept permanently inside his wallet. In the years running up to his death in 1995, Wilson developed Alzheimer's which caused his health to deteriorate significantly. But through his health struggles in later life the Queen kept in touch with the Wilsons. Tragically, his health struggles meant Wilson struggled to earn money post-premiership as his Alzheimers meant he struggled to write and give speech - which was traditionally a source of income for former Prime Ministers. Upon his death the then-Prime Minister John Major paid tribute to Wilson describing him as a 'formidable political opponent'. 'In the ledger of life, his credit balance is very high. It is a privilege for me, as one, nominally, of his political opponents, to pay him this tribute and I do so unreservedly,' Major added. A memorial service was held for Wilson at Westminster Abbey which was attended by Major and all the living former Prime Ministers. While the Queen did not attend, the then-Prince Charles was at the service. Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her late mother-in-law Princess Diana never had the chance to meet, but they share a clear connection through their impeccable sense of style. Both women have become fashion icons of their time - Diana for her bold, trend-setting looks in the 1980s and 90s, and Kate for her modern take on royal dressing. Over the years, Kate has often drawn inspiration from Diana, subtly honouring her through her wardrobe choices. From sequinned evening gowns to polka dot prints, there is a recurring echo of Diana's influence in Kate's outfits. A recent example came during the official naming ceremony of the Royal Navy's HMS Glasgow, where Kate wore a nautical-inspired outfit that offered a nod to her mother-in-law's style. She opted for a sophisticated navy and white coat dress by Suzannah London. Crafted from luxurious Italian wool crepe, it featured a figure-skimming silhouette and flap pockets, accented with a refined white trim. The naval theme served as a subtle tribute to Princess Diana, who was often seen in skirt suits with a similar flair during the 1980s and 90s. Following in the footsteps of her late mother-in-law Diana, Princess Kate has become a fashion icon Kate has often drawn inspiration from Diana, subtly honouring her through her wardrobe choices It also incorporated structured shoulder pads, a signature design element that Diana frequently favoured. The subtle padding added definition and strength to the silhouette, enhancing Kate's posture and lending the look a powerful edge. Much like her mother-in-law's signature power suits, the shoulder detail underscored both confidence and grace - qualities embodied by both women in their public roles. In true Diana style, Kate completed the look with a dramatic wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy, which she debuted at the 2022 Trooping the Colour, along with an Emmy London clutch and Gianvito Rossi heels. Adding a personal and sentimental touch, she wore the Cabochon Sapphire Drop Earrings, thought to have been a wedding gift to Diana. The floral-inspired double-drop design beautifully complemented her sapphire engagement ring, another treasured heirloom passed down from the late Princess. With this ensemble, Kate once again demonstrated her ability to merge tradition with modernity - honouring Diana's legacy while defining her own sense of royal style. A recent example came during the official naming ceremony of the Royal Navy's HMS Glasgow, where Kate wore a nautical-themed outfit that felt like a nod to her mother-in-law's style Much like Diana's signature power suits of the 80s and 90s, Kate's outfit underscored both confidence and grace - qualities embodied by both women in their public roles Notably, it incorporated structured shoulder pads, a signature design element that Diana frequently favoured In true Diana style, Kate completed the look with a dramatic wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy Kate added a bespoke brooch by James Porter & Son, one of Scotland's oldest jewellers, founded in 1858 and based in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade In contrast to her mother-in-law's consistent choice of black footwear, Kate opted for her go-to nude suede court shoes - a trusted pair she has worn on countless occasions. She added a bespoke brooch by James Porter & Son, one of Scotland's oldest jewellers, founded in 1858 and based in Glasgow's historic Argyll Arcade. The piece was specially commissioned to reflect the crest of HMS Glasgow. Its creation was funded by two London livery companies: the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. Meghan Markle first came across Edward Enninful, the former editor of British Vogue, when she was invited to guest-edit the fashion magazine in 2019. At the time, they were inseparable with Meghan describing them as 'like-minded thinkers' who enjoyed 'philosophising' over cups of mint tea. But there have long been rumours amid fashion circles that the pair fell out over a planned feature in British Vogue about the Duke and Duchess's charitable work in 2022. Now, the Mail's team of unrivalled royal experts have delved into the truth behind Meghan and Edward's friendship on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, questioning whether the style stalwart has become an 'honorary member' of the 'Sussex Survivors' Club'. 'One of Meghan's friends was the editor of British Vogue,' Richard Eden, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor, said. 'Or he certainly used to be.' Richard, who has written about the Royal Family for over 20 years, urged viewers of Palace Confidential to remember the 'cringemaking' video that Meghan made in 2019 to promote the record-breaking issue she guest-edited for Vogue entitled Forces for Change. The cover featured familiar faces such as Salma Hayek Pinault, Greta Thunberg and Laverne Cox. It was described as the 'fastest-selling' issue in the magazine's history by Forbes. 'The video was them wearing party hats,' he said, 'and they talked about their shared love of mint tea. Anyway, they were besties for a while these two. 'Then it clearly went badly wrong and they did that classic modern thing of unfollowing each other on social media but it was known that they were really not on speaking terms anymore.' Richard Eden (left), Rebecca English (centre) and Jo Elvin (right) discuss Meghan Markle's friendship with Edward Enninful in the latest episode of Palace Confidential Referencing a 'very interesting' article in the Mail on Sunday, Richard said his colleague Charlotte Griffiths reveals 'what actually went wrong'. 'Meghan was hoping that Enninful would run in Vogue a big number on the [Sussexes'] charitable work,' he explained. 'This is going back to 2022 and she was hoping there would be a special that was to coincide with Meghan's appearance at the One Young World Summit. 'I think she hoped for a cover of Vogue as well as a big spread online as well as the magazine. But it didn't happen.' Although the Duchess is said to have been relaxed with 'no expectations', her team reportedly had 'high expectations for the piece'. A source told the MoS they were 'expecting she might get a print cover or at least a digital cover out of it, but Enninful was not able to meet those expectations. 'He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month.' Adding his own commentary on Palace Confidential, Richard said: 'I think the problem was he had already designated a cover to the great former supermodel Linda Evangelista. Meghan poses in party hats with Enninful while guest-editing a 2019 edition of British Vogue Forces for Change - Vogue's September issue that was guest-edited by the Duchess of Sussex in 2019 'It was a really striking cover and presumably they had been negotiating for ages.' Indeed, British Vogue's September 2022 cover star was the Canadian fashion model. In the issue, Linda opened up about her struggle to 'love herself' again after a botched cosmetic procedure left her 'permanently deformed' and 'brutally disfigured.' According to insiders, Meghan's project needed a full production team including photographers, videographers, stylists and editors to shoot exclusive images and film an in-depth video feature with the royal couple. Shelving it is said to have caused irreparable damage to Meghan and Edward's friendship. 'Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Conde Nast,' a source told the MoS. The newspaper approached the Duchess of Sussex and Enninful for comment. Conde Nast declined to comment. Richard added: 'Meghan was so disappointed that it sounds like she threw her toys out of the pram and never spoke to Edward again.' He then passed the floor to Jo Elvin who not only hosts the hit YouTube show Palace Confidential but previously edited the glossy fashion magazines You and Glamour. Richard, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor believes Meghan 'threw her toys out of the pram' when she was told she could not be on the cover of British Vogue Supermodel Linda Evangelista on the September 2022 cover of British Vogue Sharing her insight, Jo said: 'I haven't ever had the weird privilege of turning away royalty on my magazine cover - that is a whole rarified Vogue world that I know not of. 'But I have definitely been in the situation so many times where you've got three celebrities who want that cover and they can only have that one cause it's the only that's promoting the thing at the time that they want it to be at - and you've already given it to somebody. 'People don't pay celebrities to be on magazine covers, I think that might surprise a lot of people. 'Once you've said, "you can have the cover, Beyonce" to suddenly dump Beyonce because Meghan wants the cover. You just can't do it.' 'So Edward Enninful would have had no choice?' asked Rebecca English, the Daily Mail's Royal Editor. 'He would have been between a rock and a hard place,' Jo replied. 'If it's true that she then decided that she didn't even want to be in the pages of Vogue, I think I can sympathise with him being pretty annoyed at having probably at least a 10-page hole. 'Most celebrities understand that once that offer has been somewhere else, you're not going to get it.' As the former editor of You and Glamour magazine, Jo added her own insights Enninful (pictured) was not able to meet the 'high expectations' of Meghan's team, a source told the MoS 'If this is true,' Richard interjected, 'it does seem very self-defeating because if they did want publicity for their charitable works, surely you would welcome any publicity?' To which Jo said: 'I think the three of us know that if Meghan had been in Vogue with somebody else on Vogue, there would have been reams of speculation worldwide about why she wasn't "good enough" for the cover.' Turning back to her role as host, Jo turned to Rebecca and said: 'On another note, the Sussexes do fall out with a lot of people, don't they?' 'I wonder if Edward Enninful has been given honorary membership of the Sussex Survivors Club?' Rebecca said. 'Oh, he may well have a t-shirt,' Jo joked. 'He could design the t-shirt.' 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. Miami Beach's iconic Art Deco District is at risk of being torn down as developers look to replace historic buildings with high rise condos. Lawmakers have proposed an update to an Act which could pave the way for developers to bulldoze Miami Beach's art deco gems to make room for affordable housing projects. Some developers are looking at building apartment towers with more than 50 floors in the historic area, Realtor.com reported. Community leaders have hit back at the plans, arguing that removing the colorful buildings would fundamentally alter the community's identity. Miami Beach's Art Deco District runs between 5th Street and 23rd Street, and is distinguished by its pastel-colored buildings with stylized geometric lines. Among the most iconic landmarks are the Colony Hotel, the Tides Hotel, and the Clevelander South Beach. Under current plans only eight buildings in the entire area would be spared from demolition since they are on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. 'That is unacceptable, because it would turn us into Manhattan, or even Sunny Isles to some extent,' Gonzalez said at a press conference last month. Miami Beach's iconic Art Deco District is at risk of being torn down The proposals come under an update to the state's 2023 Live Local Act, which was first signed into law two years ago. The Act was designed to allow developers to erect taller buildings than local zoning laws would otherwise permit, provided that they set aside 40 percent of apartments as affordable housing. To be defined as affordable, units have to be accessible for people making between 80 percent and 120 percent of local median income. Critics have pointed out, however, that in Miami-Dade County, that range means that people making as much as $96,000 a year could be eligible for affordable housing, Realtor.com reported. At a gathering of lawmakers opposing the proposed change last week Gonzalez argued that the demolition could have serious economic repercussions. The Art Deco District is Florida's second-largest tourist attraction after Disney World, making it a major source of revenue for the city. 'Our art deco architecture, it's our Leaning Tower of Pisa, our Eiffel Tower, our pyramids,' she told the meeting last week. Other local leaders are also against the proposed changes which would include losing control of zoning regulations and historic preservation of buildings, as well as the prospect of a huge influx of new residents. Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez is opposed to the planned changes The Art Deco District is Florida's second-largest tourist attraction after Disney World The area is distinguished by its pastel colored buildings with stylized geometric lines Critics argue that the proposed new apartment complexes would lead to a skyrocketing local population that would put pressure on vital local services such as storm evacuation measures. 'Our evacuation routes today are at a failing level of service and that is based on FDOT [Florida Department of Transportation] maps from the state of Florida,' Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernande said. 'So if we up-zone our city with 50-story towers all over South Beach, God forbid there is an evacuation, it would be the most devastating thing that could happen because today those evacuation routes are at an F level of service,' he said. However, state representative Vicki Lopez - a Florida Republican who proposed the law change - said Florida was in the grip of a housing crisis and more must be done to make Miami Beach an affordable place to live for local workers. Florida saw an influx of residents during the pandemic as families, freed by remote work, were attracted by its sunny climate and low taxes. However, the steep population rise only compounded the state's affordable housing crisis. Residents are facing rising HOA fees and insurance costs as a result of increased extreme weather. South Florida's real estate market is now flooded with listings as desperate homeowners rush to sell amid soaring costs and vanishing buyers. It is often considered a key turning point in the history of Christianity. Now, archaeologists claim to have found the exact place where Jesus turned water into wine. According to the Bible, Jesus performed this miraculous feat at a wedding in the town of Cana of Galilee. Although the true location has been disputed, experts say they have now pinpointed exactly where Cana is and it is not the site visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. New excavations at the ruined village of Khirbet Qana, eight miles northwest of Nazareth, suggest that this lesser-known site could be the real location. Archaeological evidence from the site shows that Khirbet Qana was the site of a well-connected Jewish village during the time of Jesus' life. However, the best evidence for Khirbet Qana is the discovery of a hidden Christian worship site in an underground cave system, which dates back to the third century AD. Archaeologists even claim one of these hidden churches contains two of the vessels which might have held the water Jesus turned into wine. It is often considered a key turning point in the history of Christianity. Now, archaeologists claim to have found the exact place where Jesus turned water into wine (artist's impression) Your browser does not support iframes. The real Cana of Galilee According to the Bible, Jesus performed his first miracle while attending a wedding in the town of Cana of Galilee. During the wedding, Jesus' mother, Mary, pointed out that the party had run out of wine. Upon hearing this, Jesus transformed six vessels of water used for 'ceremonial washing' into fine quality wine. In the Bible, we are told very little about the village of Cana except that Jesus went there for this wedding and on at least one other occasion. From this, we know that the real Cana must be in Galilee, close enough to Nazareth for Jesus to make the journey, and have been home to a sizeable Jewish population. Since the Middle Ages, the town of Kafr Kanna, located three miles (5km) northeast of Nazareth, has claimed to be the real site of Cana. The town is home to the 'Wedding Church' which claims to hold the real water pots used by Jesus in his miracles and is visited by thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year. Archaeologists now say the real site is more likely to be the town of Khirbet Qana, eight miles northwest of Nazareth, where signs of early Christian worship have been discovered (pictured) Where did Jesus perform his first miracle? According to the Gospel of John, Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine. This was done at a wedding of an unknown couple in a village called Cana of Galilee. Historically, the town Kafr Kanna has been treated as the real location of Cana. But archaeologists now say that the nearby site of Khirbet Qana is more likely. Khirbet Qana was home to a thriving Jewish settlement at the time of Jesus' life and was the site of early Christian worship. Advertisement However, Dr James Tabor, a Bible scholar, archaeologist and distinguished fellow at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, says that Kafr Kanna's status is more likely to be due to its location than historical fact. Dr Tabor says: 'I think what's happening in the Middle Ages is that pilgrims want convenience. They're coming to Nazareth and they want to see it all. 'To see the other place, Khirbet Qana, you have to climb this unbelievable hill so, to have pilgrims trek up that in the heat of the Middle East, it's just not going to happen. 'It's so much more convenient to just go a few miles down the road and find 'the other Cana'.' The problem is that no excavation has actually found evidence of Jewish settlement beneath Kafr Kanna dating back to the Roman period. This makes it quite unlikely that this town could have been the place referred to by the author of the signal source in the Gospel of John. Dr Tabor says that the location that the archaeological evidence truly points to is the much harder-to-access site of Khirbet Qana. Since 1998, a group of archaeologists originally led by the late Professor Douglas Edwards and now by Dr Tom McCollough, of Centre College, has been excavating the nearby site of Khirbet Qana. Since the Middle Ages, the town of Kafr Kanna (also called Kefr Kanna) has claimed to be the site of Jesus first miracle. Now, archaeologists have proposed that Khirbet Qana, a few miles to the North, is the real place Archaeologists now say that the site of the 'wedding church' (pictured) became established as the 'real' location because it was an easier place for pilgrims to reach In a research paper published in the Biblical Archaeology Review, Dr McCollough revealed that the now-abandoned site was once home to a thriving Jewish settlement between 323 BC to 324 AD. The fact that Khirbet Qana's settlement was Jewish is confirmed by the presence of a Roman-period synagogue or study hall known as a Beth Midrash and six coins printed by the leaders of the Jewish 'Maccabean' revolt. Excitingly, Dr McCollough and his team also found evidence of several bathhouses or miqva'ot. These not only indicate the presence of Jewish culture but also align with the biblical account of Jesus' miracle which says the water jars were for 'ceremonial washing'. However, what makes Khirbet Qana the most promising site for the real location of Cana of Galilee is the presence of early Christian artefacts. Dr McCollough has found an extensive network of Christian worship sites in a cave system hidden beneath the village. These chambers date from Byzantine times through the Crusader period, from 415 to 1217 AD, and some are decorated and lined with plaster. One of the cave chambers even bears Christian graffiti depicting crosses, giving the names of pilgrims or even saying 'Kyrie Iesou' or 'Lord Jesus'. Archaeologists have found Christian graffiti dating back to the fourth century AD, which suggests that Jesus' earliest followers thought this was the site of his first miracle In one of the chambers, researchers even discovered a series of shelves above an altar holding the remains of two water vessels (pictured) that could have been the very pots used by Jesus to perform his miracle Most excitingly of all, the archaeologists discovered an altar in one of the caves made of an upturned sarcophagus lid. Above it was a shelf containing two large stone vessels which were believed by early Christians to be the very vessels Jesus used to turn water into wine. Dr McCollough writes: 'There was space for another four. Six stone jars would have held the water that Jesus turned into wine. 'All this suggests that Khirbet Cana was regarded as New Testament Cana from a very early time.' Why was Cana important to Jesus? What makes this discovery so interesting is Cana might have been hugely important to the historical Jesus and his followers. This is possible because the account of Cana actually comes from an even more ancient part of the Bible. Dr Tabor says that the Gospel of John contains a separate, older narrative called the 'signal source' which the later gospel writer built on. Although it is nothing more than ruins today, Bible scholars think that Jesus might have used Cana as his base of operations during his lifetime Evidence from the Bible suggests that Jesus visited the place a number of times and may have had family there. Some suggest he could have used Cana (pictured) as a retreat to lay low after causing trouble in Jerusalem Whose wedding was Jesus attending? One of the odd details of the Bible's account is that we don't know whose wedding Jesus was attending. We know that his mother, Mary, was involved in the planning and that Jesus was somehow responsible for ensuring there was enough wine. Scholars believe it might have been someone close to Jesus' family or even one of his brothers. Some have even proposed that it was Jesus' own wedding, but there is no evidence in the Bible for either view. Advertisement According to Dr Tabor, there are hints in this narrative that Cana was potentially the 'headquarters' of the early Jesus movement or even a personal 'retreat' for Jesus himself. Not only was it the site of his first miracle, but the scant pieces of evidence we have also seem to hint at a more personal connection. The fact that his mother Mary is involved in the planning of the wedding suggests that it was likely a 'family affair', perhaps even the wedding of one of Jesus' four brothers. The signal source narrative then records that Jesus came back to Cana again after causing trouble in Jerusalem by clearing out the moneylenders in the temple. The Gospel of John even points out that one of Jesus' followers, Nathaniel, was originally from Cana. Dr Tabor says: 'It could well be his village headquarters a place he felt very much at home where he could be safe and peaceful.' What would it be like to drink wine with Jesus? Although it might seem odd, wine would have played a major role in the life of Jesus and his disciples. At a time when potable water was less common, brewed and alcoholic drinks were a great source of sterile water and calories, as well as part of social and community life. Wine would have played a large role in the lives of Jesus and his followers as a form of nutrition and part of social life. Pictured: A painting by the Italian artist Paolo Veronese, 1562, depicting the wedding at Cana That might make you wonder what it would have been like to drink the wine Jesus made or that was served at the Last Supper. Luckily, thanks to the work of some curious archaeologists, we actually have a pretty good idea. Dr Paulina Komar, an archaeologist from the University of Warsaw and expert on Roman wine, told MailOnline that wine in Jesus' day would have been very different to what we have now. Dr Komar says: 'The Romans could make good wines, good according to our standards, but they would have been different than most good wines today.' Instead of ageing in wooden barrels, Romans made wine in clay jars which were often buried underground. This required the grapes to be macerated, kept partially intact, which has a similar effect on the taste to adding boiled-down grape syrup called defrutum in modern wines. 'Clay jars allowed for microoxidation, which changed wine taste less fresh green and yellow fruits, more dried fruits, apricot jam and slightly nutty aromas typical of today's sherry,' says Dr Komar. Roman wine was also quite a lot stronger than the wines we have today due to the wild yeasts and very sugary grapes, reaching between 15 and 16 per cent ABV. Unlike modern wine, the wine Jesus would have drunk was made in clay pots buried in the ground. Experts say this would have given it a similar flavour to today's sherry or Georgian qvevri wines In the Gospel of John, upon drinking the wine, Jesus made the host remark: 'Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.' Dr Komar says: 'If it was a good wine, it would probably have been similar to modern Georgian qvevri wines, or amber wines in general. Bad wine would have been simply bad with a high concentration of acetic aldehyde and acetic acid. 'Posca - that means wine that almost turned into vinegar mixed with seawater - was most likely the last drink of Jesus and was typical for poor people, as well as some legionaries and slaves. 'This is most probably why in antiquity wines were spiced with a number of different herbs and spices such as pepper, thyme, rose, wormwood.' Over a billion Facebook users have had their private account information stolen in one of the largest data breaches in social media history. A cybercriminal using the alias ByteBreaker claims to have scraped 1.2 billion Facebook records and is now selling the data on the dark web. Scraping, or web scraping, involves using automated tools to collect large amounts of data from websites, similar to copying and pasting information at scale. Cybersecurity researchers at Cybernews revealed that the stolen data includes names, user IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, gender information, and location data such as city, state, and country. Investigators say ByteBreaker exploited a flaw in a specific Facebook tool designed to let apps or programs access user data. If verified, ByteBreakers trove would represent the largest single data-scraping incident from a social media platform to date. Officials are urging all Facebook users to change their passwords, freeze their credit, and activate fraud alerts on their bank accounts. They warn that the dataset scraped by ByteBreaker contains enough information for cybercriminals to open credit cards in victims names or access their financial accounts. Internet security researchers revealed that names, user IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, user gender information, and locations were taken in the breach ByteBreaker shared a sample of 100,000 user records on the dark web to prove they have the data. However, both Facebook and cybersecurity experts are questioning if the cyber thief actually has what they claim. A spokesperson from Meta told Daily Mail that the stolen information ByteBreaker allegedly has is actually from a 2021 Facebook breach involving more than 500 million users. 'This is from 2021, so it's not a new claim. We disclosed this years ago and have taken steps to prevent similar incidents from happening,' Meta said in a statement Thursday. According to researchers from Hackread, some of the data in the 100,000 user sample ByteBreaker posted on the dark web was from that 2021 breach, so it's possible the cybercriminal is trying to pass off old data as new. Cyber experts added ByteBreaker claimed in their dark web ad that the 1.2 billion accounts were stored in '200 million rows.' In databases, however, each 'row' represents one user's complete info (name, email, etc.). So, 1.2 billion records should need 1.2 billion rows, not 200 million, adding even more skepticism to the hacker's story. Facebook and cybersecurity experts are questioning whether the cyber thief actually collected 1.2 billion Facebook records or if the data breach is a lie A cybercriminal going by the alias 'ByteBreaker' has claimed that they've scraped 1.2 billion Facebook records from the platform and is now selling the data on the dark web It would surpass the 700 million LinkedIn scrape and the 533 million Facebook breach of 2021. 'Scraping data using features meant to help people violates our terms. We have teams across the company working to detect and stop these behaviors,' Meta wrote in a statement after the 2021 data breach. Meta told Daily Mail that their stance on this issue hasn't changed and the company firmly believes no new data has been taken from Facebook. ByteBreaker claims that they collected the data by abusing Facebook's Application Programming Interface (API). Facebook's API can allow an app to access user profiles to show their names or posts. The hacker figured out a way to trick or overuse this API to collect massive amounts of user data without permission. It's like finding a loophole in a library's computer system to download everyone's contact info instead of just borrowing a book. Along with changing your email password and freezing your credit, consider updating your passwords for accounts that use the same email or phone number that may have been stolen from Facebook. You can also enable two-factor authentication, which adds an extra step to logins, like a code sent to your phone or email, making it harder for hackers to access your account even if they have your password. A violent tornado tore through Kentucky last week, shredding homes with 170 mph winds and carving a deadly path of destruction that stretched for days. The damage was so extensive that satellites orbiting more than 300 miles above Earth could see the trail from space. Long stretches of what were once neighborhoods now appear as bare earth and splintered wood. Roofs are gone, homes flattened, and debris scattered across wide swaths of land. The tornado, nearly a mile wide at its peak, stayed on the ground for approximately 83 minutes, traveling more than 55 miles. At least 19 people were killed, with the town of London in Laurel County suffering the worst of the storm's wrath. The multi-day severe weather outbreak is estimated to have caused between $9 billion and $11 billion in total damage and economic losses. In a public statement, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said: 'I promise that we will be there for our people until every home and every life is rebuilt. Your browser does not support iframes. 'And I want to thank all our heroic first responders for the work they've done over the past few days. 'This is another incredibly tough time for Kentucky. And it's another reminder that life is short, and it's our duty to be kind and do good. As always we will get through this together.' After images of the devastation were provided by SkyFi/Vexcel. The tornado's path began in Russell County and moved eastward, intensifying as it passed through Pulaski County and into Laurel County. It reached peak intensity in London before weakening and dissipating near Lida. But as families mourn and dig through the debris, frustration is mounting. Five days after the deadly tornadoes, the federal government has yet to arrive. Jeff Wyatts home of 17 years was destroyed along with much of his neighborhood in London, Kentucky. Wyatt, his wife and two of their children scarcely made it to safety in a hallway while the roof and family room were ripped away. Long stretches of what were once neighborhoods now appear as bare earth and splintered wood On Sunday, the family returned to the wrecked home to collect photos, baby blankets and other keepsakes. Governor Beshear formally requested an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump, which would trigger assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Yet no federal aid had reached the ground. Residents and local leaders criticized the delay as communities struggled without basic services. Among the many horrifying and heartbreaking stories emerging from the aftermath is that of Tara Hollifield, who clawed her way through debris to save her two-year-old son, Parker. When the EF-4 tornado leveled her home, she couldn't see him, but she could hear his cries. Nathan Anders stands in the remnants of his home as his relative, Raymond Samples, sits on his sofa after a tornado hit Edwina Wilson stands in what is left of her destroyed home, after a severe storm passed through the area. An EF-4 tornado, classified on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, is considered violent, with wind speeds between 166 and 200 miles per hour. It's capable of destroying entire neighborhoods. 'I heard him crying, and that's how I was able to find him, thankfully,' Hollifield told FOX Weather. Although both survived, the events of that night replay in Hollifield's mind every day. Just a few miles away, a love story turned into a nightmare. Paul and Gail Cline , a married couple from London, each lost an arm while clinging to each other as the tornado tore through their home. Among the many horrifying and heartbreaking stories emerging from the aftermath is that of Tara Hollifield, who clawed her way through debris to save her two-year-old son, Parker An American flag is pictured among the debris in the Sunshine Hills neighborhood Paul is recovering, but Gail suffered broken ribs, liver and lung damage, and required staples in her head. The couple's nieces, Brandy Bowman and Taylor Baker, spoke to FOX Weather, sharing the harrowing details of that night. 'They were actually holdinglike hugging each other,' Bowman said, her voice filled with emotion. 'We're not sure what fell on them, but it just completely took their arms off.' The storm also claimed the life of 57-year-old firefighter Leslie Leatherman, who died shielding his wife from flying debris. Satellite images captured on May 20 by Chinese company MizarVision reveal a stark trail of destruction left behind by the powerful EF-4 tornado that tore through London At least 19 people were killed, with the town of London in Laurel County suffering the worst of the storm's wrath The London-Corbin Airport suffered significant damage, with several hangars and aircraft, including a medical helicopter, destroyed. The destruction raised concerns about emergency medical services, as the airport served as a critical hub for medical transport. According to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, as the twister tore westward through the town of approximately 7,500 residents, entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. In the immediate aftermath, the community came together, with hundreds of volunteers helping clean up and provide aid to those affected. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado watch earlier in the day, but due to service outages, some residents, like Hollifield, did not receive the alerts. Local and state officials continue coordinating relief efforts, emphasizing the importance of preparedness in the face of increasingly severe weather events. As Kentucky mourns the lives lost and supports those affected, the stories of survival and heroism stand as a testament to the strength and unity of its communities. We're all regularly told of the benefits of getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. But a new study has revealed that a small group of people can thrive on as little as three hours of slumber. While the rest of us would likely nod off at our desks, or start snoring on the train, they appear bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Now, experts have pinpointed a new genetic variant linked to 'short sleeper syndrome'. And it could help to develop treatments for sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnoea. So, are you one of the lucky few who can flourish on just a few hours of kip? 'Our bodies continue to work when we go to bed, detoxifying themselves and repairing damage,' co-author Ying-Hui Fu, a neuroscientist at the University of California in San Francisco, told Nature. 'These people, all these functions our bodies are doing while we are sleeping, they can just perform at a higher level than we can.' Some people manage to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after just getting three hours of sleep per night Since the turn of the millennium Professor Fu and her team have been analysing the genes of short sleepers people who can get by on six hours or less per night. So far they have identified five mutations in four genes that can contribute to the trait. This includes in one gene that helps to regulate circadian rhythm the internal clock responsible for regulating our sleep-wake cycle. A part of the latest study, the researchers searched for new mutations in the DNA of a naturally short sleeper who slept an average of 6.3 hours per night. They discovered one in SIK3, a gene that produces a particular type of protein which sends chemical signals to other proteins to change their function. Mice engineered with the same genetic mutation also slept less, the researchers found though not by much. These animals typically snooze for around 12 hours a day, and those with the genetic mutation slept for around 31 minutes less. The researchers found that the genetic mutation might shorten sleep by supporting the brain's ability to regulate itself and maintain a stable environment. Margaret Thatcher famously got by on just four hours of sleep per night, but experts don't recommend it for everyone WHAT IS 'SHORT SLEEPER SYNDROME'? Short Sleeper Syndrome (SSS), or Familial Natural Short Sleep (FNSS), is a condition where individuals can function normally with less sleep than most people, typically between four and six hours per night. However, some can thrive on as little as three hours of slumber every day. They often wake up feeling refreshed and alert, without needing to nap or sleep longer on weekends. SSS is not considered a sleep disorder, and individuals with SSS don't typically experience negative health consequences from their short sleep duration Advertisement Since the mice only lost a fraction of their sleep, it indicates that the SIK3 mutation is not a major cause of reduced sleep needs, Clifford Saper, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, said. However, it clearly does have some impact. 'This work fits very well with what is known about SIK3, and that may help us understand the basis for sleepiness,' he said. The researchers hope that finding enough mutations in naturally short sleepers could get a better idea of how sleep is regulated in people, which could lead to treatment for sleep disorders. Famous faces that didn't get much sleep include Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, who allegedly got by on just four or five hours' slumber. However, for the average person, this is ill-advised. A 2022 study found that getting less than five hours of shut-eye per night in later life could raise the risk of getting a chronic illness by a fifth. Researchers looked at 7,864 British people, who were asked at the age of 50, 60 and 70 how much sleep they got on an average weeknight. These people were tracked over 25 years to see if they developed any of a list of 13 common chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease or dementia. The findings could help to develop treatments for sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnoea, the scientists said People aged 50 getting five hours of sleep a night or fewer, compared to those sleeping for seven hours, were found 20 per cent more likely to develop one of the 13 illnesses for the first time. But they also had a higher risk of going on to get two or more of these diseases. It shows a lack of sleep is not only linked to illness in later life, but to multiple illnesses which people live with at the same time, raising their risk of hospitalisation and disability. Jo Whitmore, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which helped to fund the research, said: 'This research adds to a growing body of research that highlights the importance of getting a good night's sleep.' California's wealthiest cities could soon sink under the waves of rising sea levels, according to a report predicting alarming changes throughout the US by 2050. Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) revealed that Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Alameda are all among the coastal cities which have seen their local sea levels rise since 2018. Rising sea levels and continued land erosion threaten to exacerbate flooding and subsidence (sinking of the ground) in these areas. The new data showed that San Diego is experiencing the highest amount of sea level rise along the entire West Coast, rising 2.6 millimeters a year. By 2050, all four of these cities are predicted to see their local sea levels rise several inches above the projected average for that year. That may lead to dramatic changes along the entire California coast due to higher tides flooding out more communities, less tourism due to fewer beaches, and millions evacuated from sinking properties. However, the new report by VIMS discovered an even more alarming forecast in several other parts of the US. The report also found that major metropolitan areas like New York and Boston are facing even higher rates of sea level rise that threaten to reshape those cities. Researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science revealed that San Diego is among the 36 coastal cities which have seen their local sea levels rise since 2018. San Diego's predicted sea level rise by 2050 was the worst among all California cities Your browser does not support iframes. In California, the sea level 'report card' adds to mounting concerns that the state is facing a climate-related emergency that threatens to cause billions in damage. The Public Policy Institute of California noted that these changes in sea levels along the coast could lead to $18 billion worth of buildings being inundated with flood waters. More than 26 million of California's 40 million residents live along the coast. In San Francisco alone, the group claims that it will cost $110 billion to properly protect the Bay Area from higher sea levels by 2050. A study by NASA in February projected that sea levels will rise more than twice as much as previously expected in parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles by 2050. While sea levels are actually rising at a relatively stable rate along the West Coast, researchers found that the problem is speeding up at an alarming pace in several other regions. Molly Mitchell, an assistant professor at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and VIMS, revealed that Georgia and South Carolina have seen a surprising rise in local sea levels in recent years. 'We continue to see the fastest rates of sea level rise in Gulf states like Texas and Louisiana, but many of the East Coast stations are accelerating quite quickly,' Mitchell said in a statement. In February, scientists from NASA mapped land sinking (shown in blue) in coastal California cities and in parts of the Central Valley. NASA also tracked where the grounds was rising, a condition called uplift (shown in red) The researcher added that these trends along the East Coast were likely the result of glaciers melting in the nearby Greenland ice sheet. Overall, the new report looked at the sea level trends and projections in 36 coastal communities around the US. Most of the team's projections are based on 55 years worth of data on average global sea level rise. They collected measurements from tide gauges, which are tools placed at specific coastal spots that track the ocean's height over time. These gauges record the average sea level each month, as well as high and low water levels during events like storms. Next, the researchers looked at how fast the sea level has been rising and whether that rise is speeding up, which they call 'acceleration.' They also considered long-term patterns, like changes caused by climate events such as El Nino, which can affect sea levels for years. Using all this data, they calculated trends for each location and predicted what the sea level might be in 2050. However, since sea levels do not rise uniformly throughout the world, they also factored in rising or sinking land and local ocean currents in these cities to make their predictions. Their forecast specifically sounds the alarm of a future sinking crisis along the East Coast in Boston, New York, Baltimore, Charleston, and Savannah. Each of these East Coast cities is projected to see their local sea levels rise by more than a foot by 2050. The predictions are even worse for the cities along the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico). Researchers from VIMS warn that cities in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana could all see the height of the ocean's surface rise by more than 18 inches. In Rockport, Texas, the report card projects that sea levels will rise by 2.49 feet by 2050. Over 500,000 US citizens across 32 major cities are expected to be displaced by the flooding, due to home property damages that could cost up to $109 billion by 2050. In 2024, scientists warned that nearly one foot of rising sea-levels is likely to compound the risk of 'destructive flooding' Between the destruction of local infrastructure due to flooding and the loss of tourism due to disappearing beaches in many coastal areas, the damage in these areas could cost sinking communities tens of billions of dollars. New Orleans, which has already been ravaged by flooding in recent decades, remains one of the most threatened areas along the Gulf. A 2024 study published in the Hydrogeology Journal discovered that a large portion of the city and the surrounding areas are now sinking by up to two inches per year. Areas like New Orleans sit on soft, squishy soils (peat and clay) that sink when drained or built on. Virginia Tech researchers found two dozen cities to be at higher risk of sinking over the next three decades. They identified over 24 locations that are battling a combination of sinking land and rising sea levels, putting one out of every 50 residents at risk of needing to relocate. 'Many people who live near the coast want to know what they can reasonably expect over the next few decades, giving them time to make actionable plans and decisions,' Mitchell said. British zoos and animal parks face an enormous overhaul thanks to new government rules announced today. Under new legislation, the minimum size of elephant enclosures will increase sixfold, there will be a touching ban in aquariums and the practice of tethering birds of prey long-term will be ditched. There will also be curbs on the sourcing of animals from around the world, double-gated entry system requirements for zoos that house dangerous animals, and the 'appropriate availability of firearms' in the event of a life-threatening situation. The 'long-overdue' reforms, announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), are 'the most advanced in the world' and represent a 'significant step up' in legal requirements. But it means several British zoos will be forced to significantly expand their elephant enclosures including Chester Zoo. The current requirement is for a minimum space of 3,000m for all adult elephants. But the new rules mean that by 2040, all outdoor enclosures must be at least 20,000m for five elephants or less the equivalent of a sixfold increase. This must be boosted further by at least 2,500m for each additional animal over two years old. Your browser does not support iframes. The size of Chester Zoo's elephant enclosure (pictured) will need to more than double to meet the new requirements Chester Zoo, which is home to three Asian elephants, has a total habitat size of 8,365m. This means their enclosure space will need to more than double over the next 15 years. Blackpool Zoo's outdoor area for their six elephants stands at 8,000m. This means it will have to nearly triple to reach the required size by 2040. Colchester Zoo, meanwhile, has a 4,806m outdoor paddock for their three female elephants, and a 2,681m outdoor paddock for their male elephant. Since the requirements also apply to a lone elephant, and the male and females are kept separate, an enormous overhaul would be required for both to reach the new minimum recommendation. West Midlands Safari Park also has four elephants and a total outdoor space believed to be in the region of around 13,000m, meaning they will also have to increase their enclosure size. Both Blair Drummond Safari Park and Longleat Safari Park house one elephant each but due to their age these elephants will likely no longer be alive by the 2040 deadline. Howletts Wild Animal Park, in Kent, is currently home to the UK's largest herd of elephants with 13 individuals in total. The Aspinall Foundation, the charity who work in partnership with Howletts, are in the process of rewilding the herd to their ancestral homelands in Kenya which they aim to do well before the 2040 deadline. Blackpool Zoo's outdoor area for their six elephants (pictured) stands at 8,000 metres squared. This means it will have to nearly triple to reach the required size by 2040 The practice of tethering birds of prey, like this falcon, as a method of long-term accommodation, will also be phased out (stock image) Meanwhile Woburn Safari Park, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol and Whipsnade Zoo already house their elephants in enclosures that would meet the new rules. The updated measures, which form part of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain, will also see the practice of tethering birds of prey as a method of long-term accommodation phased out, with a shift to large aviary enclosures. Meanwhile aquariums will no longer be allowed to let visitors touch fish and cephalopods including creatures such as the ray and the octopus. These are highly intelligent animals and handling causes them stress. Other measures include a curb on the sourcing of animals from around the world, and greater protections for the public such as double-gated entry systems and the appropriate availability of firearms in zoos which house dangerous animals. Announcing the measures at Chester Zoo yesterday (Fri), animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman said: 'We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept. 'Today's long-overdue reforms lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums and the animals they protect. 'This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation.' Aquariums will no longer be allowed to let visitors touch fish and cephalopods including creatures such as rays and octopus. The rules also state that animals in touch pools must have the 'choice to interact with the public or stay out of reach' West Midlands Safari Park also has four elephants and a total outdoor space believed to be in the region of around 13,000 metres squared, meaning they will also have to increase their enclosure size ZOOS THAT WILL HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR ELEPHANT ENCLOSURES: New rule: 20,000m for up to five elephants, plus extra 2,500m for every additional animal over the age of two Blackpool Zoo: currently has 8,000m for six elephants Chester Zoo: currently has 8,365m for three elephants Colchester Zoo: currently has 4,806m2 for three female elephants and a 2,681m for a single male elephant West Midlands Safari Park: currently has 13,200m for four elephants Advertisement Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums said: 'The new standards are a significant step up in legal requirements and cement Britain's position as a global leader for zoos and aquariums. 'BIAZA members already lead the way in animal care and conservation and we have been working closely with Defra officials to realise these updated standards. 'We are delighted to see them published today, demonstrating government's and the sector's commitment to the highest levels of animal care, and helping empower zoos and aquariums to keep leading the fight for nature.' However, campaigners argue there should be no elephants in British zoos at all. Born Free's Captivity Research and Policy Manager, Chris Lewis said: 'While an increase in overall enclosure space for elephants is welcomed, we are disappointed to see that elephants will continue to be legally kept in British zoos despite the inherent welfare challenges they face. 'It is impossible to meet the welfare needs of an elephant in a zoo environment as evidenced by an ever-growing mountain of scientific evidence. 'Additionally, zoos have been given 15 years to get up to standard. Despite the increase in size requirements, it does not change the harsh, unsuitable climatic conditions in Britain, nor does it address the reality that it is impossible to recreate natural elephant societies in a zoo environment. 'It is indeed ironic that the launch of the standards has been held at a zoo which does not currently meet the new enclosure requirements for elephants, with it being less than half as big as what is required, and whose record of keeping elephants is highly questionable. Pictured, an elephant eating at Colchester Zoo. They will also have to massively overhaul their enclosure size to fit the new requirements Campaigners argue there should be no elephants in British zoos at all (pictured: a mother and baby elephant at Chester Zoo) 'Since 2009, 12 elephants have sadly died at Chester Zoo, eight of whom were under the age of five. 'These complex, highly intelligent animals deserve better. We must use these standards as a starting point to phase elephants out of zoos, starting with those that cannot meet these new enclosure requirements.' Chester Zoo said they have already drawn up proposals for an expanded elephant habitat. CEO Jamie Christon said: 'These plans are designed not only to meet the new standards but to far exceed them just as we've always strived to do. 'We're excited to begin putting these plans into action, now we have the certainty of the newly-published standards. 'Elephants are one of the world's most iconic and charismatic animals, but sadly they remain one of the most threatened mammal species on the planet. 'Wild populations continue to face relentless pressures from habitat loss, human conflict, poaching and disease. It's therefore essential that conservation zoos like ours continue to play a leading role in safeguarding their future.' A video has taken the internet by storm, showing manhole covers lifting off the ground during heavy rains that have reignited fears of an impending storm. The clip, which is going viral on X, claims water has been rushing beneath New Orleans streets, pushing manhole covers several inches into the air across multiple neighborhoods. It has sparked fears among Louisiana locals, as the scene reminds them of Hurricane Katrina when manhole covers reportedly floated due to catastrophic flooding that killed nearly 1,400 people and destroyed around 300,000 homes. While video has been viewed more than six millions times on X, users have questioned its authenticity and claims that levitating manholes predict incoming storms. However, manhole covers can be displaced during heavy rainfall due to hydraulic pressure buildup in the sewer or drainage system. The city has been inundated with rain over the past week, receiving more than two inches just last night. Manhole covers, though heavy, is typically not bolted down and can be lifted by the force of rising water. A manhole cover rises several inches as water gushes from below in New Orleans. The incident is among several caught on viral TikTok and X videos, raising concerns about underground pressure and city infrastructure Much of New Orleans sits below sea level, making its drainage system heavily reliant on pumps to remove rainwater. When those pumps can't keep up, water backs up, causing street flooding and, in severe cases, forcing manhole covers to pop off. In New Orleans, where folklore and spiritual traditions run deep, some residents see the manhole covers as more than just mechanical failures. 'In our culture, we believe nature gives us signs,' said Marie Johnson, a longtime resident, in an interview with the online magazine HypeFresh. 'These videos remind me of stories my grandparents used to tell.' However, levitating manholes are not rare in New Orleans. 'I live in New Orleans and work downtown they do this with every heavy rain,' one user posted on X. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans on August 29, 2005, causing $125 billion in damages. More than 50 breaches in the city's levee system led to flooding that submerged 80 percent of the city. A manhole cover lifts as water bursts out in New Orleans. Some residents say it reminds them of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when levee breaks led to massive flooding and damage across the city The city's Sewerage and Water Board operates a complex system designed to manage heavy rainfall. However, as climate change brings more frequent and intense storms, the infrastructure faces mounting pressure. In response to past failures, the US Army Corps of Engineers invested $14.5 billion to upgrade the city's flood protection system, which is designed to withstand a so-called 100-year flood event. Yet concerns remain about its long-term resilience, especially as weather patterns become more extreme and unpredictable. Recent studies show parts of New Orleans are sinking at a rate of 6 to 8 millimeters per year, further increasing flood risk. This land subsidence, combined with sea-level rise, threatens to erode the city's defenses over time. Officials have increased preparedness efforts. With no current hurricane threats, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) is taking proactive measures to prepare for heavy rain. Crews have begun lowering canal levels citywide to increase stormwater storage. Drainage teams are closely monitoring capacity and working to reduce the risk of flooding. Currently, 88 of the city's 93 drainage pumps are operational. The system can manage about one inch of rain in the first hour and half an inch each hour thereafter. If rainfall exceeds those rates, officials warn that temporary street flooding is likely. NOAA's 2025 Atlantic hurricane season outlook predicts a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, with 13 to 19 named storms expected, including 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes. The agency, which holds 70 percent confidence in these projections, credits advanced forecasting models and tracking systems for improved preparedness. 'Threats from hurricanes extend well beyond the coast,' said acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm. 'As we saw last year with Hurricanes Helene and Debby, inland flooding can be just as dangerous. Early, accurate forecasts save lives.' A pilot flying out of New Jersey's Newark Airport says the experience was a complete 'disaster' and is warning Memorial Day travelers to prepare for major delays. Peter, the first officer for a major cargo airline, shared on TikTok what's going on behind the scenes at the beleaguered airport which has already been thrown into chaos by repeated radar blackouts. The co-pilot of a Boeing 767 cargo plane revealed on Wednesday that his flight was forced to wait to take off for nearly an hour because over two dozen planes were all using the same runway. 'Holy cow, was that a disaster!' Peter said. 'We were number 27 for takeoff, and that's for multiple reasons.' Those reasons included two runways at Newark being closed for construction, leading to a backup that the pilot said was bigger than he'd ever seen before. 'Unbelievable. It took us 57 minutes from pushback to takeoff behind all these airplanes,' the veteran pilot said as he showed a live map of all the aircraft waiting to use this one runway at New Jersey's busiest airport. Peter, who did not use his last name on social media, then warned Memorial Day weekend travelers that they should expect delays and even cancellations if they're flying into or out of Newark. Transportation Security Administration officers screened more than 75,000 people at Newark security checkpoints May 22, with about 70,000 more on today. By 5pm ET on Friday, there were already 182 delays and seven cancelled flights at Newark, which is the second-busiest airport in the New York-New Jersey area, behind only JFK Airport. The first officer for a major cargo airline revealed that it took 57 minutes to take off from Newark Airport this week due to all the runway traffic being diverted into one lane because of construction Peter, a cargo pilot posting on TikTok, warned Memorial Day weekend travelers that they should expect delays and even cancellations if they're flying into or out of Newark Memorial Day is one of the biggest travel weekends of the year, and the American Automobile Association (AAA) project that a record 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Thursday and Monday. Millions will be traveling by plane, but the numbers are expected to be significantly lower out of Newark after a series of terrifying failures in the air traffic control tower. Since April 28, there have been three power outages that left radar screens dark while air traffic controllers were directly planes in the air along the East Coast. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on X, 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, has been managing air traffic for Newark Airport since July 2024 because of staffing shortages in the New York-New Jersey region. However, connection issues led to April 28's 90-second blackout, as well as two more radar outages on May 9 and May 11. All of the incidents caused ground stops at Newark and led to hundreds of delays and cancelled flights. After the April 28 radar blackout, officials with United Airlines claimed that more than 20 percent of Newark's tower controllers allegedly 'walked off the job.' Newark Airport has been dealing with staffing storages, causing the airport to rely on a Philadelphia radar center for some of their flight data. This has led to 3 radar blackouts since April 28 Officially, several of the air traffic controllers used their 'trauma leave' following the radar blackout last month. 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. As for the trouble plaguing Newark this week, Peter said that it had nothing to do with the air traffic controllers in the tower. 'Ten out of ten, excellent job. Super, super skilled getting airplanes airborne as quickly as possible while dealing with airplanes coming in to land,' he said, adding that he still believes flying out of the airport is completely safe. Airline executives and US transportation officials are reportedly planning to meet to work on a plan that will shift air traffic away from the New Jersey airport. According to Bloomberg, carriers would voluntarily cut the number of flights heading to Newark for a limited period, potentially affecting millions of travelers. The discussions for slashing service out of Newark Airport are scheduled to begin in the next few weeks. After the first radar blackout, 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 on May 8. '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. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Beauty buffs are locking in longer-lasting wear from their favourite nail colour while also protecting from breakage with one 19 nail strengthening polish. The Strengthen & Breathe Oxygenated Base Coat and Nail Strengthener from Nailberry is being recommended time and time again by those with splitting, fragile or brittle nails. And, helping to deliver a longer-lasting manicure, it could be the best investment you make for under 20 this summer. Nailberry Strengthen & Breathe Oxygenated Base Coat and Nail Strengthener The Nailberry Strengthen & Breathe Oxygenated Base Coat and Nail Strengthener contains Hexanal, which helps strengthen nails, improves condition, and limits breakage. Used alone or over the top of your manicure, this could help prevent chips, extending the life of your manicure too. Shop Shoppers are extending the life of their manicures this summer thanks to one long-wear, strengthening nail polish. The 19 polish is being hailed as the product behind visibly healthier-looking nails, not only preventing them from chipping but also making nails harder and healthier. Breathable and non-drying, over 100 users have left five-star reviews for the polish, with one writing: 'Has definitely improved my nails which were rather soft and splitting. But no longer! So happy.' Priced at under 20, the Nailbery Strengthen & Breathe Oxygenated Base Coat and Nail Strengthener is cheaper than a trip to the salon and could leave you with noticeably healthier nails. If your nails are being put through the wringer and are looking flakey and brittle, then the 19 polish could be what you need ahead of the busy summer social season. Going further than bog-standard nail strengtheners, the oxygenated polish actually harnesses Hexanal - a patented active thats proven to reduce nail fragility, brittleness and splitting. As the brand states, you can wear the polish alone or underneath a Nailberry polish and use two coats twice weekly as an intense repair treatment. Powered by Hexanal, the award-winning base coat treatment leaves nails feeling stronger, harder and healthier, all while delivering a smoother, longer-lasting manicure 'I used this as a base for the first time and it certainly made a difference to the appearance of the finish when I put my polish on,' wrote one impressed Nailberry user. 'And it also added extra life to the polish.' Another agreed, adding: 'The best ever and I truly noticed a difference how well the nail enamel applies after looked much smoother and brighter. Lasted longer too and nails are in good condition!'. Users of the Strengthen & Breathe Oxygenated Base Coat and Nail Strengthener have also noted less chips or polish peels since using the polish. Creating a flexible, breathable film that delivers polish adhesion to nails could be the secret to making your manicures last longer, thereby saving you money in the long run, too. An English teacher who became pregnant by one of the students she sexually abused is facing a new lawsuit from another alleged victim. Laura Whitehurst is accused of sexually abusing the unnamed victim, who was 16 at the time, in 2007 while teaching inside Redlands High School in California. The suit, filed last month and seen by Mercury News, alleges sexual battery, negligent hiring and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Legal action: Laura Whitehurst is accused of sexually abusing the victim in 2007 Location: Whitehurst previously worked at Redlands and now four victims have alleged abuse Whitehurst made headlines in 2013 when she was arrested and charged with 41 counts of sex and oral copulation with a minor. The former teacher had given birth that June to a daughter fathered by her one of her students at nearby Citrus Valley High School. Police reports indicate that complaints about her molesting minors went back to 2006 and continued to 2013 but nothing was done about it, according to the filing. Morgan Stewart, a partner with Manly, Stewart & Finaldi who filed the suit, said: 'There is a good reason why Redlands Unified School District is the national poster child for sexual abuse of students.' 'More than 20 teachers and administrators in RUSD have been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with their students over the last ten years. 'The district has spent millions on civil lawsuit settlements, and two students have committed suicide.' Alongside Whitehurst, former Redlands Principal Christina Rivera and the school district are named as defendants in the civil action, which is seeking damages. Whitehurst pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with three former students and served six months in jail for it. She is a registered sex offender. She is said to have invited male students between the ages of 14 to 18 into her classroom where they would engage in sexual discussions. Lawsuits filed against her have said that she would engage in sexual intercourse with students inside the classroom and at her home. The former student who fathered a child with her sued Whitehurst and Redlands District in 2014, receiving a $6million settlement. The student claimed he was stalked by Whitehurst prior to their relationship and that she told him she could not get pregnant. There is a no contact order between them. Judgment: Whitehurst is seen awaiting a hearing on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, in Superior Court in San Bernardino He alleged that Redlands Unified officials knew of his relationship with the teacher and failed to warn his family. In 2023, the school district also agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle another suit with another student she allegedly preyed upon and abused at Redlands High. Whitehurst admitted to police in 2013 she had sex with the youth 10 to 15 times in her classroom and at her apartment, a police report stated. When she was first arrested she told reporters she was just a 'clean-cut American girl' and was having a hard time being in jail. She told investigators she and the father of her child began having sex at her apartment after a Disneyland trip in 2012. According to Mercury News an investigation by the Southern California News Group led to the implementation of new policies at the school district. The district said in a statement: 'The safety and well-being of every student in Redlands Unified School District is our highest priority. 'We are aware of the recently filed lawsuit regarding a case from 2013 and take these allegations very seriously. 'While we cannot comment on pending litigation or the specific claims being made, we remain committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for all students.' Dramatic footage shows terrified passengers screaming on a terrifying flight as their plane was buffeted by severe turbulence, a hail storm and a bird strike. The flight bound for Srinagar, India, departing from the capital, New Delhi, was subjected to extreme weather conditions on Wednesday and was eventually forced to make an emergency landing. Videos taken from inside the cabin show the moment panic spread. Several terrified passengers can be heard screaming, as lightning flashes inside of the plane. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Plane terrifying: Passengers shared footage of screams on a flight from New Delhi to Srinagar Despite damage to the nose of the aircraft, no injuries were reported among the 227 passengers. Passengers aboard the flight described being in 'shock' as turbulence violently rocked the aircraft, with the hailstorm impact reportedly causing minor internal damage. One passenger, Owais Hakeem, said: 'I was on this flight, heading now home. It was terrible and I am still in shock.' Frightening flight: People yelled as the plane shook violently during a hailstorm Fellow passenger Aaqib said: 'I had a narrow escape while flying from Delhi to Srinagar. 'Hats off to the captain for the safe landing. Special mention to the cabin crew for staying calm and professional.' Officials confirmed that the Delhi-Srinagar flight encountered extreme weather conditions, prompting the pilot to alert Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar of an emergency. ATC Srinagar confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe, and the aircraft has since been designated AOG (Aircraft on Ground) for further inspection by the airline. Fuselage damage: People were seen surveying the punctured nose of the aircraft This week, Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday homes from its platform as part of a crackdown on illegal listings. Spain ordered the online holiday lets giant to remove the listings on Monday, with Pablo Bustinduy, Spain's Consumer Rights Minister, saying: 'No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country.' The minister said his goal was to end the 'lack of control' and 'illegality' in the holiday rental industry - the country is currently facing a housing crisis as construction has failed to keep up with demand. The worst affected destinations appear to be cities, including tourist hotspots Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga; the latter has 85 per cent of flats in its historic centre linked to tourism lets. Where does the move leave your summer plans if you fancied heading to Britain's favourite holiday destination? The good news is that there are still plenty of properties right across Spain - including the Balearics and the Canary Islands - listed on Airbnb's website that are perfectly legal and do have the required registration. How can you tell? Look for the required eight digit 'registration number' - made up of letters and numbers - on listings. Tourists can find the code at the bottom of the page entitled 'About this space', which usually appears in a 'show more' grey box at the end of the property's initial description - if you can't see it, it's likely the let falls foul of Spain's requirements. While many of Spain's holiday lets are under threat from tougher legislation that requires them to be registered, there are plenty on Airbnb that have that crucial registration number (Pictured: Cala d'Hort beach in Ibiza) Here's a selection of Spanish properties that all have registration numbers on their pages... so, what are you waiting for? Vamos! MALLORCA Villa Sylvia, Pollenca Villa Sylvia costs from 438 per night in the height of the summer holidays, and sleeps six people This three-bed rustic villa with a pool sits in beautiful Pollenca, on Mallorca's north-eastern coast. Sleeping six guests, there's two bathrooms and a large covered terrace for al fresco dining - visitors can pick up delights at the weekly food market in Pollenca. Other highlights nearby? Puerto Pollenca, just a few miles east, has gently sloping golden sands that are perfect for families with younger children. Book it: From 438 a night, based on August departures MENORCA Ses Milans Villa Close to the Menorcan city of Mahon, Ses Milans Villas sleeps ten and has its own pool Stylish interiors - and wi-fi and air con - make it a perfect summer stay for large groups Sleeping ten, this huge villa sits in rural splendour close to Menorca's second city of Mahon. There's five bedrooms, an outdoor bar, pool and beautiful beaches nearby. Inside there's stylish muted blue interiors, with all mod cons including wi-fi, a built-in sink bar and air con. Book it: From 545 a night, with a five night minimum stay required IBIZA 'Country house with views' In Ibiza's quieter north, this one-bed sits in beautiful countryside - but has great beaches nearby Fancy a rustic bolt-hole just for two on the White Isle? This one-bed couple's retreat sits in Can Surya, in the northern part of Ibiza. Nearby beaches include Benirras or Puerto de Sant Miquel and tranquility is guaranteed. One former guest described it as 'one of the best airbnbs ive stayed in my many years of traveling'. Book it: From 259 a night BARCELONA Serviced boutique next to Rambla In the thick of the action in Barcelona's heart, this serviced apartment sleeps six in three bedrooms The registration number on this gorgeous apartment is front and centre in its listing, offering reassurance that this Barcelona holiday let is legit. The period apartment sleeps six in three bedrooms, each of which have a bathroom each - even better, Barcelona's most famous shopping street is just outside. Book it: From 364 a night in peak season SAN SEBASTIAN La Concha Natural light floods into La Concha, which overlooks San Sebastian's easy-on-the-eye beach This elegant two-bed property in Spain's most famous foodie town, just 15 miles from the French border in the country's north, boasts views of its winsome crescent bay. Sleeping four, there's bold modern artwork on the walls and a bright and airy island kitchen in the offing too. A stay in Donostia as the city is known to locals - comes with gourmet dining opportunities galore, including San Seb's famous pintxo, the Basque regions refined take on tapas. Book it: From 501 a night CANARY ISLANDS Tenerife Finca la Mandarina A statement fire-pit frames this stylish retreat that has one villa for four and one for two and sits on a farm close to the Teide National Park Just a ten-minute drive from Tenerife's otherworldly Teide National Park, Finca la Mandarina is far from the madding crowds and has a 4.99 review score. Sleeping six guests across three bedrooms, this white-washed modern property is set on a 3,000m2 farm. There's one large villa, sleeping four, and another sleeping two - so ideal for grandparents wanting to travel on a family getaway. Book it: From 242 a night The Italian seat design company behind the Skyrider 2.0 'standing seat' that could one day be a reality for tourists heading abroad has revealed what they're really like to sit in. Aviosonteriors produces luxury business class seats for private jets and airlines around the world and has created a physical prototype of the futuristic standing seat design at the company's headquarters in the city of Latina near Rome. The unconventional airplane standing seat concept has piqued tourists' interest ever since it was first published back in 2012, with designers suggesting it could be a way to save airlines and passengers money in the future. Described as 'a provocative exercise in design innovation, challenging the limits of what air travel might one day look like', under current airline safety regulations, standing seat tickets are not something tourists will be able to buy anytime soon. However, a spokesperson for Aviosonteriors told MailOnline Travel that a physical prototype of the bike-style padded seats which allow passengers to lean at an angle without completely sitting down - has been manufactured. The prototype is kept at the company's headquarters and its employees have tested out the innovative design. Revealing what it's like to sit/stand in, the spokesperson was hesitant over how comfortable the seat felt when he tried it out. The futuristic standing seat design - known as Skyrider 2.0 - was created by Italian plane seat Aviosinteriors as a concept - but a physical prototype has been made and tested for comfort Verdict: A spokesperson told MailOnline Travel they were comfortable 'for five minutes' but admitted it was unclear how they would feel to sit in for 'two or three hours' He said: 'I only sat in it for five minutes, I obviously haven't travelled in those seats [for a long time]. 'I ride horses, so for me, it felt comfortable. Who knows whether if you sat in it for two hours or three hours how that would feel?' The spokesperson also said the brand has faced 'hate comments' over the design idea, and has been forced to issue a response on social media platforms clarifying that the horse saddle-style seating is purely a concept. Posting on Instagram, the company, which specialises in designing and making seats for the highest cabin classes on planes, said: 'Aviointeriors is well aware of todays market demands, bringing together quality, comfort, and the unmistakable touch of Made in Italy in every product it creates. 'For now, the Skyrider is not part of the official lineup.' Judging by the strong reaction of some travellers to the images, if the seats ever do become a reality, the money-saving idea, which could increase passenger capacity by 20 per cent on planes, is likely to be divisive. One person on social media said the design was akin to 'slave ship seating', while another said the concept didn't 'treat humans like humans'. As the concept has evolved, the Skyrider - currently known as 2.0, has seen the seat designs add more padding and firmer mountings, with poles connecting each row to the ceiling and floor, instead of the frame just being fitted to a rail. The horse-saddle style seats could increase passenger capacity on airlines by 20 per cent - but are unlikely to be introduced anytime soon due to airline safety regulations The brand published a message on its social media accounts this week clarifying that the standing seats aren't being made - after receiving 'hate comments' about the Skyrider seat design The seats the Italian brand actually makes; the company sells its luxurious business class designs to airlines and private jet manufacturers around the world Aviosinteriors said of its designs in a statement in 2018: The Skyrider 2.0 is an innovative seat. It allows an ultra-high density in the aircraft cabin. 'Skyrider 2.0 opens the travelling experience to a wider passenger market, creating also a useful space for the introduction of mixed classes boarded on the same aircraft. Its main feature is the original bottom that ensures an increased upright passenger positon allowing installation of the seat at a reduced pitch, while maintaining an adequate comfort. The design of this seat enables [carriers] to increase the passenger number by 20 per cent allowing increasing profits for airline companies. At the time, the company added that Skyrider 2.0 weighs 50 per cent less than standard economy seats and has a reduced number of components for minimum maintenance costs. Its claim is that this seating represents the new frontier of low-cost tickets and passenger experience. Although Ryanair denied any plans to use the 'standing berths' in the near future to MailOnline this week, CEO Michael OLeary has been vocal about his desire for them to be installed in his planes. In 2012, he said he wanted his Boeing's 737 and 800 fitted with 10 rows of them and 15 rows of traditional seats. The half-standing seats havent impressed prospective passengers on social media At the time, Michael suggested the standing tickets may potentially cost as little as 1 to 5. But the half-standing seats havent impressed prospective passengers on social media. One said: This is pathetic. Treat humans like humans. My gosh. Another joked: Soon they will strap you to the wing with an oxygen mask. A third added: Please never buy these tickets whenever they exist! Dont help/support this. And a fourth blasted: I know slave ship seating when I see it. Ill pass. Premier Inn has launched an exciting 'Kids Eat Free' offer to celebrate the May half-term. The major hotel chain already runs a 'Kids Eat Breakfast Free' year round but it's extending the offer between May 23 and June 1. Over the half-term holiday, kids will be able to eat for free at lunch and dinner as well. And you don't have to be a guest to take advantage of the deal. While the deal is an attractive one for parents looking to feed their kids for less this holiday, there are a couple of terms and conditions to be aware of. Up to two children (aged 15 and under) can have one free main from the kids' menu per adult. The adult will need to order a main course from Premier Inn's core evening menu and a drink priced at 1.99 to qualify for the offer. The 'Kids Eat Free' at lunch and dinner offer is valid at selected Premier Inn restaurants, a list of which can be found on the hotel brand's website. A Premier Inn spokesperson says: 'Whether you're a guest or not, this offer is sure to help your money go further this half-term holiday and bank holiday weekend, and with up to two children eating for free with every adult ordering a main course of full breakfast, Premier Inn hopes that families of all shapes and sizes can enjoy this great value deal. Premier Inn has launched an exciting 'Kids Eat Free' offer to celebrate the May half-term Over the half-term holiday, kids will be able to eat for free at lunch and dinner as well. And you don't have to be a guest to take advantage of the deal (stock image) 'Premier Inn have designed its kids' menu with the help of its clever nutritionist, always 100 per cent responsibly sourced fish, 100 per cent chicken breast and 100 per cent UK and Irish beef, designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children.' Premier Inn's Kids' menu includes dishes such as 10-Veg Tomato Pasta and Oven Baked Poppin' Chicken. The hotel brand recommends that people call their chosen location prior to visiting to confirm the opening times. Still looking to get away on a holiday over this half-term? Find out how to save money on a last-minute flight. Nine Perfect Strangers (Amazon Prime Video) Rating: Brace yourself for scandalous gossip. You'll be gobsmacked. The sublime Christine Baranski slips this line into Nine Perfect Strangers, as she greets a celebrity nun. 'Sister Agnes, I've met you before,' she purrs. 'Rome, wasn't it? I think Elton played, but he couldn't have, not for a benefit for the Catholic Church.' And explaining herself to the bemused other guests, she drops her bombshell: 'Elton John is gay.' This second series, based on Liane Moriarty's bestseller, overflows with sharp dialogue, crammed with so many clever asides that in places it has the archness and pacing of a sitcom. Baranski plays an oversexed septuagenarian called Victoria O'Clair, treating her toyboy lover Matteo to a therapy retreat in the Bavarian Alps. She introduces her petulant offspring Imogen (Annie Murphy) with delicious spite: 'You must excuse my daughter 35 is such a difficult age. It's when the panic really sets in.' Sister Agnes (Dolly de Leon) has come in search of 'absolution but only She can grant that'. Who is the mysterious 'She'? Why, God, of course. Nicole Kidman (pictured) as Masha Dmitrichenko in Nine Perfect Strangers This second series, based on Liane Moriarty's bestseller, overflows with sharp dialogue, crammed with so many clever asides that in places it has the archness and pacing of a sitcom Like that other murder-and-meditation thriller, The White Lotus, this series demands concentration. We have to get to grips with a dozen characters, all with their own neuroses You'd be excused for thinking the nun is talking about the show's resident deity, Nicole Kidman, wearing an ice-blonde wig and a face so flawless yet immobile, it appears to be a porcelain mask. Kidman is perfectly brilliant as the fragile, obsessive therapist Masha, part visionary and part insane control freak. Masha has devised a 'psychedelic drug delivery system' that enables her clients to 'experience memories as if for the first time, in a highly neuroplastic state'. Put-down of the week: Drafted in as Clarksons Farm (Amazon Prime Video) returns today, 24-year-old farmhand Harriet Cowan scoffed when Jeremy asked if she was a fan of the show. I aint got time to watch all that, she told him. Jezza deflated like a balloon. Advertisement In other words, she doses their drinks with magic mushrooms, and watches on a network of hidden CCTV cameras as they lose their minds. Her obsequious pet scientist Martin (Lucas Englander) lays down some ground rules: 'No imperfect dosage, no dosage without consent, and no dosing yourself.' But Masha has already broken that last rule, with the result that she is followed everywhere by the ghost of her young daughter, Tatiana. When Masha is being feted on stage, as a psychotherapy superstar, the little girl is sitting in the wings with her arms wrapped round her knees. And at night, Tatiana stands beside her mother's bed, whispering, 'I can't sleep. I never sleep.' Like that other murder-and-meditation thriller, The White Lotus, this series demands concentration. We have to get to grips with a dozen characters, all with their own neuroses. Wolfie and Tina (Maisie Richardson-Sellers and King Princess) are a lesbian couple with a thing about pianos. Super-rich idler Peter (Henry Golding) has daddy issues, a problem made worse by the fact that Daddy (Mark Strong) is an evil billionaire and one of Masha's ex-lovers. Murray Bartlett, a former White Lotus star himself, is a TV entertainer and puppeteer with a very short fuse. It's enough to make your head spin. Nurse more drugs please! Just as the current season draws to a close, Channel Seven has announced that Farmer Wants A Wife will be back on our screens in 2026 and applications are officially open. The network took to social media on Thursday to share the exciting news, urging single farmers from across Australia to head online and apply for their chance at finding love. In a move sure to delight fans, producers confirmed they are on the hunt for 'all single farmers' to star in the show's upcoming sixteenth season. While the series has captured the hearts of the nation for years, it has only featured a handful of female farmers in the past, including Jenny Blake, Becky Casanova, Melia Brent-White, and most recently, Paige Marsh. To be eligible for the show, applicants must be at least 21 years old and are required to disclose any past or present criminal charges. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Just as the current season draws to a close, Channel Seven has announced that Farmer Wants A Wife will be back on our screens in 2026 and applications are officially open Seven took to social media on Thursday to share the exciting news, urging single farmers from across Australia to head online and apply for their chance at finding love Budding reality stars will also need to be available for filming from early October to mid-December 2025, with the highly anticipated reunion episode set to film over three days in January 2026. 'CALLING ALL SINGLE FARMERS. Its your turn to fall in love on the most successful dating show in Australia,' the show's announcement declared alongside a gender-neutral 'Wanted' poster. 'We're searching for our next crop of farmers!' the official applications website declares. Fans have already flooded social media with their hopes for the new season, with a strong consensus that they would love to see more female farmers looking for their soulmates. 'Get some female farmers in between 30 and 50 so I can apply. I know they're out there,' one eager viewer commented. Another chimed in: 'Can we have a female farmer again please!'. Daily Mail Australia reached out to Channel Seven to query whether applications from both male and female warmers are welcome. 'The 2026 season will follow the same format of the current season,' a spokesperson for the network responded, attaching an image of the applications landing page. 'The 2026 season will follow the same format of the current season,' a Channel Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Friday Natalie Gruzlewski is likely to return as host for the 15th season of Farmer Wants A Wife Australia, with her former co-host Samantha Armytage locked in to host the Golden Bachelor There are two buttons that separate applicants: 'Farmers Apply Here' and 'Ladies Apply Here.' This would seem to suggest that the series is seeking male farmers and 'ladies' who would like to be their suitors, rather than 'all farmers'. According to the most recent Australian Census, women make up roughly one third of Australia's agriculture workforce. In 2021, approximately 88,000 women were employed in the sector, representing 32 percent of the total workforce. This number grew by 7,105 between 2016 and 2021. Women are also increasingly taking on leadership roles in agriculture, with about 48 per cent of women in agriculture employed as managers in 2021. The Australian version of Farmer Wants a Wife is the most successful reality dating television show in the country, by the metric of lasting unions. It has resulted in a notable number of marriages and babies, including 11 marriages and 27 children in Australia. The show's international success is even more impressive, with reports of over 200 marriages and more than 500 children worldwide. Natalie Gruzlewski is likely to return as host for the 16th season of the Australian franchise, with her former co-host Samantha Armytage locked in to host the Golden Bachelor. A Sky News presenter has quit TV after 14 years in journalism for a huge career change, admitting 'it's not a decision I've taken lightly'. The channel's Home and Political Correspondent Matthew Thompson has announced he is set to leave, after three years in the job, in just a matter of weeks. Not only that, the former LBC and BBC Newsnight presenter said his departure will see him exit both the field of journalism entirely - and England. He posted on X yesterday: 'Some personal news. In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London and journalism altogether. 'It's not a decision I've taken lightly but it's one that's best for me and my family. 'I'll be moving to Edinburgh and into the world of finance.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A Sky News presenter has quit TV after 12 years for a huge career change, admitting 'it's not a decision I've taken lightly'. Pictured: File photo The channel's Home and Political Correspondent has announced he is set to leave, after three years in the job, in just a matter of weeks. Pictured: File photo Not only that, former LBC and BBC Newsnight presenter Matthew Thompson (pictured) said his departure will see him exit both the field of journalism entirely - and England He continued, explaining to his more than 23,000 followers: 'I wont subject you all to a self-indulgent run through of my career highlights. 'But suffice to say it has been the privilege of my life to spend these last 12 years or so as a journalist. To work with some of the best in the business, and to talk to all of you. 'Thank you to all the people who made it possible, and to all the people who let me tell their stories along the way. 'Ive always tried to make it about you, rather than me. I hope I managed that, and that I did the privilege justice. As for next steps I can say more soon. 'I hope this isnt goodbye. It may be possible to keep some level of engagement on here in my new gig. 'For now, thank you. Ive learned so much from reading and speaking with you all over the years. Its made me a better journalist, and a better person. Ill miss it terribly.' He received a raft of sympathetic responses to his post, from people sad to see him go and praising his career with Sky since he joined in June 2022. Fellow Sky News presenter Sarah-Jane Mee said: 'Good luck! We'll miss you.' He posted on X yesterday to announce his departure The post read: 'Some personal news. In a couple of weeks, I am leaving Sky News. And indeed, leaving London and journalism altogether' He received a raft of sympathetic responses to his post, from people sad to see him go and praising his career with Sky since he joined in June 2022 One viewer added: 'Thank you for your work Matthew. I've followed your career and appreciated your professionalism.' Another recalled the impact Matthew's coverage of the trial of Wayne Couzens had on them. The serving Metropolitan Police officer abducted, raped and murdered Sarah Everard in London in March 2021 as she walked home from a friend's house. The 48-year-old, who joined the police in 2002, was sentenced to life in jail in September of the same year for his crimes against the 33-year-old marketing executive. The commenter told Matthew: 'Never forgot your coverage of the Sarah Everard trial. It was probably one of the most fantastic pieces of journalism I've listened to. 'A horrific story covered with pure professionalism, tinged with the emotion many of us felt.' It comes after another Sky News presenter quit just two months ago, after seven years on screen, issuing a statement about the 'tough decision' to devastated fans. Broadcaster Sally Lockwood first joined the channel in 2017 but decided to step down from her role earlier this year. It comes after another Sky News presenter (pictured) quit just two months ago , after seven years on screen, issuing a statement about the 'tough decision' to devastated fans Broadcaster Sally Lockwood (pictured) first joined the channel in 2017 but decided to step down from her role earlier this year She announced her career move on social media and revealed she would be 'relocating to the Middle East'. In a post on Instagram, Sally wrote: 'Some personal news. It's been a very tough decision after seven very happy years. 'I'll be relocating to the Middle East with my family and launching a new venture in journalism, in partnership with political powerhouse 'You'll still see me on TV, but our new show will be online. Details to follow! 'Thank you to the talented team at Sky for everything they've taught me and for all the unforgettable memories. 'It's such a lucky job being trusted to tell people's stories and to witness history firsthand. To do it with people you call friends, is an utter privilege. 'Stay in touch and click on the link in my bio to subscribe to our new show - coming soon!' Sky News is available to watch online or on TV, at Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freeview 82 and Freesat 202. A 'highly offensive' ITV comedy is returning to screens for a brand new series, despite sparking Ofcom complaints and major controversy from shocked viewers. Piglets, which follows a ragtag bunch of police recruits and their trainers at training college, is set to make a comeback, after the first six-part series was released in July last year. Filming of the new six episodes has already started and will see many cast members return, including Friday Night Dinner's Mark Heap and Mistresses' Sarah Parish as two of the superintendents in charge. With series one viewed a whopping 5.6million times, it is one of the biggest comedies for on-demand platform ITVX. But despite this, it is seen by many as highly controversial, with the Police Federation of England and Wales describing the programme's title - based on the derogatory slang for police, 'pig' - as 'highly offensive'. Tiffany Lynch, acting national chair for the organisation representing more than 145,000 officers, said in July last year: 'It is a disgusting choice of language to use for the title of a TV programme. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. A 'highly offensive' ITV comedy is returning to screens for a brand new series, despite sparking Ofcom complaints and major controversy from shocked viewers. Pictured: File photo Piglets (pictured, with the cast of series two), which follows a ragtag bunch of police recruits and their trainers at training college, is set to make a comeback, after the first six-part series was released in July last year Filming of the new six episodes has already started and will see many cast members return, including Friday Night Dinner's Mark Heap (left) and Mistresses' Sarah Parish (right) as two of the superintendents in charge 'I find it incredulous that this has passed through checks and balances at an organisation made up of people who at any time have or may need the support and assistance of the police. 'Our colleagues are working hard and keeping people safe under relentless negative pressure at the moment. Insulting our new in-service officers is unhelpful. 'The name of this show is also inflammatory against a landscape of rising threats and violence against officers. 'We should not be put at further risk for viewing numbers, our officers deserve respect not humiliation for the job they are undertaking. 'It is actually incredibly dangerous to incite more negativity and misinformation against a public sector service thats already under so much pressure.' The federation's CEO Mukund Krishna added: 'The programmes title is an insult to our brave and hard-working members. 'At a time when the service is fighting to attract and retain officers, ITVs actions are totally undermining. 'The Federation will be writing to Ofcom and ITV to register its disgust and demanding a change.' With series one (pictured) viewed a whopping 5.6million times, it is one of the biggest comedies for on-demand platform ITVX But despite this, it is seen by many as highly controversial. Pictured: Series one In just the single week after the release of Piglets, more than 100 people complained about it to Ofcom. The 106 concerns raised with the broadcast regulator similarly claimed the show, particularly the title, was disrespectful to the police. But some former officers, even, did not agree with the contention, taking to social media at the time of the Police Federation's comments last year to blast its strong criticism of the programme. One, with 30 years experience as a police officer, said: 'Do get a grip. It's a comedy. Focus on issues that really affect your members.' Another added: 'Very good. You have bigger fish to fry than that. 'Unless and until the governance issues are rectified, your members really don't need you to focus on anything else. It's looking pretty poor from out here.' Someone else with experience in the force said: 'It's just a comedy show. I was called far worse. 'You should be fighting for equality and fighting to rectify the mistakes you made over the pension scheme not getting involved in TV programmes.' Some former officers, even, did not agree with the contention, taking to social media (pictured) at the time of the Police Federation's comments last year to blast its strong criticism of the programme Madelyn Smedley, who starred in series one of The Traitors, posted on Instagram yesterday (pictured) to announce her addition to the cast: 'Over the moon, going to be playing Danni in Piglets series two. Bring it on' ITV posted to Instagram yesterday announcing the show's return - and fans took to the comments section (pictured), largely excited to see it back An ITV spokesperson said at the time: 'Piglets is a fictional new comedy about a police training academy and the title is not intended to cause any offence, it's a comedic and endearing play on words to emphasise the innocence and youth of our young trainees.' The upcoming second series will see Colin McFarlane, Rebecca Humphries and Ricky Champ all reprise their roles as part of the training college staff. The recruits themselves will also be returning, played by Halema Hussain, Abdul Sessay, Jamie Bisping and Sukh Kaur Ojla. Two new trainees will also be joining the cast, played by Kerr Logan and Madelyn Smedley - the latter having starred in series one of The Traitors. She posted on Instagram yesterday to announce her addition to the cast: 'Over the moon, going to be playing Danni in Piglets series two. Bring it on.' This series' antics will see Mark and Sarah's characters, Superintendents Bob Weekes and Julie Spry, battle to save their jobs. A trainee wedding, an exciting rooftop chase and antics on an anger management course will round out the instalment. British comedy writer Victoria Pile - known for early noughties sketch show Smack the Pony and hospital sitcom Green Wing - will co-direct, produce and co-write the series. It comes after the future of an 'excellent' British police drama (pictured) that has been compared to Vera was confirmed Channel 5's Ellis (pictured) follows DCI Ellis, as she delves into complex investigations in the north of England with DS Harper by her side ITV posted to Instagram yesterday announcing the show's return - and fans took to the comments section, largely excited to see it back. 'Look forward to watching this. Really enjoyed it, reminded me of some people I have worked with.'; 'Can't wait to see!'; 'Well done, loved the first series.' It comes after the future of an 'excellent' British police drama that has been compared to Vera was confirmed. Channel 5's Ellis follows DCI Ellis, as she delves into complex investigations in the north of England with DS Harper by her side. Award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke, 58, who last year starred in the stage musical Wicked, plays the lead character and is joined by Andrew Gower, 35. The first season, consisting of three two-hour episodes, premiered back in 2024 and was a hit with fans. It has now been confirmed there will be a second instalment of the detective series and filming is set to commence next month. Sharon, who has won three Olivier Awards, described how 'thrilled' she was to be returning as Ellis. MailOnline contacted the Police Federation for comment at the time of its statement on the show and officers' criticisms of them for releasing it. Piglets is available to stream on ITVX. Fred Sirieix fought back tears as he learned of his great-grandfather's horrific ordeal in 'the biggest battles of World War One' on Who Do You Think You Are? The French TV chef, 53, will appear on next week's episode of the BBC genealogy show, which sees celebrities explore their family tree with the help of experts. One segment of the episode, exclusively revealed to MailOnline, saw him explore his connections to his great-grandfather Leonard, who fought in the war from 1914 to 1918. The historian explained his ancestor fought the Germans at The First Battle of Champagne, from December 1914 to March 1915 - but 'that wasn't the end of his war'. Speaking to the First Dates host, she continued: 'In fact, he moved on to many other areas in the frontline, most notably Verdun.' Wide-eyed with shock his relative was at the longest, bloodiest battle of the war, lasting 300 days in 1916 and leaving around 800,000 soldiers dead, wounded or missing, Fred responded: 'He was in Verdun? Oh my God.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Fred Sirieix fought back tears as he learnt of his great-grandfather's horrific ordeal in 'the biggest battles of World War One' on Who Do You Think You Are? The French TV chef, 53, will appear on next week's episode of the BBC genealogy show, which sees celebrities explore their family tree with the help of experts One segment of the episode, exclusively revealed to MailOnline, saw him explore his connections to his great-grandfather Leonard, who fought in the war from 1914 to 1918 The expert confirmed: 'Yes, so your great-grandfather Leonard served at Verdun which became known as "the meat grinder". 'The action at Verdun is well-known in France, of course, and it was where a million German soldiers attacked 200,000 French soldiers.' Fred, born in the French city of Limoges and up on his national history, replied: 'But the French resisted and eventually they won.' The historian concluded: 'They did. Leonard was there, your great-grandfather Leonard was there.' But that was not the end of her insights into the family history of Fred, best known for his job as the maitre d' at the restaurant where Channel 4 dating reality show First Dates takes place. She continued: 'And I think also, we need to consider the fact that after Verdun, the war continued, and your great-grandfather Leonard, his war continued. 'He then went to the Somme where he served in October 1916, so we're well into the Battle of the Somme at that point.' Fred was left utterly speechless by this - the costly and largely unsuccessful Allied offensive from July to November 1916, which saw enormous bloodshed. Wide-eyed with shock his relative was at the longest, bloodiest battle of the war, lasting 300 days in 1916 and leaving around 800,000 soldiers dead, wounded or missing, Fred responded: 'He was in Verdun? Oh my God' Fred is best known for his job as the maitre d' at the restaurant where dating reality show First Dates takes place (pictured) The emotional chef and TV personality continued: 'But he did every single big battle, I mean, he was in the first battle where they were doing hand-to-hand combat, fighting with the bayonet. 'Then, he was in Verdun and then the Battle of the Somme. I mean, these are the biggest battles of World War One.' The expert was just as impressed: 'Your great-grandfather saw the evolution of the First World War, he lived that.' It comes after Irish comedian and actress Aisling Bea also had an astonishing revelation about her family history on her recent episode of Who Do You Think You Are?. One segment of this week's instalment of the BBC show saw her look through archival documents about her ancestry during a meet-up with historian Dr Richard McMahon in County Limerick, Ireland. Richard opened up to the comedian, from the town of Kildare, Ireland, about her great-grandmother Martha Sheehy and her time during the Great Famine, from 1845 to 1852. Richard told Aisling: 'The family have a larger farm by the end of the famine then they had [in] pre-famine Ireland. She asked in response: 'So, during this devastating period in Irish history, which would have such a long terrible legacy for all of us afterwards, how does someone come to have more land if owned than renting so soon after the famine?' It comes after Irish comedian and actress Aisling Bea also had an astonishing revelation about her family history on her recent episode of Who Do You Think You Are? (pictured) One segment of this week's instalment of the BBC show saw her look through archival documents about her ancestry during a meet-up with historian Dr Richard McMahon (right) in County Limerick, Ireland He explained: 'During the famine, landlords would have evicted hundreds of thousands of people off the land and when they are moved off the land, the land is taken over by farmers like your great-, great-, great-grandmother Martha.' Aisling tries to wrap her head around it, replying: 'So, while she might not be evicting them, she maybe using it as an opportune moment.' The historian confirmed: 'Some people got larger farms on the back of people getting moved off the land.' Aisling struggled to process the brutal realisation: 'That is hard to hear. I'll be honest. 'Having spent all our childhood learning about the Irish famine in our history classes, anyone who, any terrible situation profited... 'It does make me feel a little bit shameful to be honest.' Who Do You Think You Are? is available to watch on BBC One on Tuesdays at 9pm and to stream on iPlayer. Drew Carey has had a great career in stand up, television and as host of The Price is Right. One of the secrets to his success is unusual as he revealed before the release of the 30th anniversary edition DVD set of The Drew Carey Show. 'Not a lot of my fans know [that] I don't like watching myself on TV. I have a real hard time,' Drew, 67, told Parade. 'I've sat in the editing room a few times on The Drew Carey Show, and I had to leave. 'I don't do it that often because every time I saw it, I was like, "That's what I look like? And that's [how] I walk?" I get so tired of seeing myself,' he said. He went on to note that one of the producers had some suggestions for his performance on the long running game show. Drew Carey has had a great career in stand up, television and as host of The Price is Right. Seen here February 4, 2025 'I was like, "Oh my God." He was like, "I know, I apologize." And he really had to twist my arm to make me watch myself, even on The Price Is Right,' he continued. 'So I've always been like this. I don't watch The Price Is Right. I don't watch The Drew Carey Show. 'Once in a while, I'll put it on [to] just like see a minute of it, or Whose Line [Is It Anyway?].' Earlier this week, Drew was spotted having a good time at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Drew had his arms his arms around a mystery blonde as they beamed and took photographs together surrounded by revelers in the wee hours. 'Many people were shocked to see Drew in the crowd, especially considering his age, but he was the life and soul of the event,' the US Sun reported. 'He seemed to be having the best time, dancing and laughing with a group of friends all night. 'Plenty of women were going up to him and flirting, he appeared to enjoy the attention and was very friendly.' One of the secrets to his success is unusual as he revealed before the release of the 30th anniversary edition DVD set of The Drew Carey Show 'Not a lot of my fans know [that] I don't like watching myself on TV. I have a real hard time,' Drew, 67, told Parade 'I've sat in the editing room a few times on The Drew Carey Show, and I had to leave 'I don't do it that often because every time I saw it, I was like, 'That's what I look like? And that's [how] I walk?' I get so tired of seeing myself,' he said He was also seen last month with OnlyFans creator Niki Skyler in West Hollywood, California. The lunch excursion came just two months after Drew shared that he is still not dating after his former fiancee Amie Harwick was murdered in 2020 by ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse. Pursehouse had pled not guilty but in 2023 he was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Carey and Harwick became engaged in 2018 but called it quits later that same year. During an interview with Us Weekly in February, the TV personality got candid about her tragic death and admitted to the outlet, 'It destroyed me for a while. I still don't date. 'I have women I go out with and spend time with, but it's all platonic, and I don't care about anything else. Amie's death really affected everything.' He also expressed, 'I think about her every day. It's such a loss. Her death still affects me and my ideas about relationships and intimacy. 'It was all damaged by first our breakup, and then, the day before she died, when she texted me. It had been a really bad breakup for both of us, but a necessary one. I couldn't think about her or see a picture of her.' The day before her passing, Carey recalled receiving a message from Amie who brought up the topic of forgiveness and asked to meet up. He went on to note that one of the producers had some suggestions for his performance on the long running game show that required him to watch himself 'I texted her that I loved her and that I'd see her the next week,' the TV host said. 'I heard from one of her friends that she shed tears about my saying that I loved her still. Which I did. I loved her madly even though we had broken up.' When her murderer was sentenced to life in prison, Carey opened up to People about finally having closure. 'I can barely remember the guy's name that's how much I've put him out of my life but ever since the final sentencing, it feels like we've all let out a breath and are able to finally move on.' He continued, 'The whole process is over now, and there's nothing else to be done and nothing else to worry about. Just speaking just for myself, it's been quite a load off.' Drew also shared that following her passing, he still has photos of Harwick inside of his house. 'She's with me always. A lot of times I'll feel like I'll be thinking things through, and it's almost like I can hear her voice saying, "Well, really, it's because of this and that." It's really nice, honestly.' Jeremy Clarkson was left choked up as he thanked his farm assistant Harriet Cowan for 'saving his life' during an emotional send-off on Clarkson's Farm. The Top Gear legend, 65, praised Harriet, 24, in a heartfelt goodbye scene on the new series of his hit Prime Video show, which dropped on Friday. Harriet - who had been stepping in for fan favourite Kaleb Cooper, 26 - was heading back to Derbyshire after lending a helping hand at Diddly Squat Farm. Getting visibly emotional, Jeremy told Harriet: 'Listen, you've been an absolute star. Thanks ever so much for everything. 'Absolutely brilliant, and best of luck, and I'll send you pictures of the barley when it's growing.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop Jeremy Clarkson was left choked up as he thanked his farm assistant Harriet Cowan for 'saving his life' during an emotional send-off on Clarkson's Farm The Top Gear legend, 65, praised Harriet, 24, in a heartfelt goodbye scene on the new series of his hit Prime Video show, which dropped on Friday Harriet - who had been stepping in for fan favourite Kaleb Cooper , 26 - was heading back to Derbyshire after lending a helping hand at Diddly Squat Farm Quick as a flash, Harriet quipped: 'If there are any f**k ups don't send them to me.' Jeremy replied: 'No, I'm not. I'm not going to tell Kaleb either. That's the important thing. Saved my life, you did. You were brilliant.' As she packed up to leave the caravan she'd been living in, Jeremy quickly asked if he could call on her again if he ever got 'stuck' to which she assured him he could. Speaking directly to camera, the telly star summed it all up with: 'She's a superstar, that one.' Clarkson's kind words came after weeks of chaos at the farm following Kaleb's absence. The young farmer was away touring with his live show, The World According to Kaleb, leaving Jeremy to tackle most of the graft alone. In one scene, the TV presenter is seen stranded in the dark, stuck in a tractor and completely overwhelmed. 'I don't know anything,' he says, flustered. 'The fuse has blown [in the tractor], Lisa's in London, Kaleb's off wherever the b****y hell he is. 'It's coming up for six o'clock and all I've drilled in a whole day is a tenth of the field.' With Kaleb away, Jeremy had to tackle most of the graft alone but after getting stranded in the dark, stuck in a tractor and completely overwhelmed, he asks land agent Charlie for help who appoints Harriet As she packed up to leave the caravan she'd been living in, Jeremy quickly asked if he could call on her again if he ever got 'stuck' to which she assured him he could Full-time farmer and nurse Harriet soon stepped in and after the fourth series aired, many fans were rooting for her and commented that 'a star is born' Struggling to stay afloat, he turns to land agent Charlie Ireland for help. 'I'm thinking while Kaleb is away I'm going to need a hand,' he admits. 'Is it possible for you to go away and find someone to give me a hand? Because I'm properly struggling.' Full-time farmer and nurse Harriet soon stepped in and after the fourth series dropped on Friday, fans raved 'a star is born' at the newcomer. They wrote on X: '30 minutes in and I'm calling it already Harriet is going to be massively famous and she could be worth bringing back #clarksonsfarm.' 'And a 'Star' is born Harriet Cowen! #clarksonsfarm #amazonprimevideo.' '#clarksonsfarm S4 and I already love Harriet '4000 years old' 'That's as old as you?',' another penned, followed by laughing emojis. 'And I'm already rooting for Harriet... she's brilliant.' 'I love Harriet. And I love that she calls the Lambo 'she'. Harriet features in the very first episode and Jeremy said: 'Later, after I'd fed the animals, finished off the GS4 drilling and gone back to the office to deal with the daily government paperwork, my new helper arrived, a young farmer called Harriet.' She sits down with the TV star in his office and described her journey from Derbyshire. Jeremy offers Harriet coffee to which she replies, 'No thanks, I don't like coffee, have you got tea?' He says, 'No' to which she jokes, 'I'll be alright then'. Clarkson's kind words came after weeks of chaos at the farm following Kaleb's absence During the conversation, she admits she hasn't properly watched Clarkson's Farm before and explains how her family work on a farm that used to be her grandfather's. Despite rumours he had left Clarkson's Farm, Kaleb confirmed on Thursday during an interview on This Morning that he was still very much a part of the show and didn't hold back on complimenting Harriet's work so far. 'I'm still involved, there's lots of rumours going about that I've been replaced but I'm still here, Harriet stepped in as I jumped away on tour, I'm very grateful that Harriet came along and saved the day,' he said. The farmer added Jeremy 'shouldn't be trusted alone on the farm, he's getting better but there are loads of things he still can't do'. Nicola Peltz was branded a 'monster' and 'the worst of the worst' by her ex celebrity hair colourist Justin Anderson in 2019 after an alleged altercation between the pair over a decade ago. The hairdresser, who has worked with the likes of Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne, Jennifer Aniston and Katy Perry, was Nicola's colourist when she was on the 2014 press tour for Michael Bays Transformers: Age of Extinction, in which she starred aged 18 as Mark Walhbergs on-screen daughter Tessa Yeager. Years later, in 2019, Justin went on a shock rant about Brooklyn Beckham's wife Nicola on a podcast with Jackie Schimmel , branding the actress a 'diva' and vowed he would 'never work with her again'. But there is some mystery surrounding what really happened between the duo, as sources close to Nicola allege Justin 'burnt her hair off' during the process of bleaching it for the Transformers press tour. It appears Justin's remarks towards Nicola stem from the colouring mishap, which he was allegedly fired for, after he allegedly caused her hair to 'fall out in the sink'. Photos of Nicola from the press tour show her hair styled into blonde wavy tresses, but it is unclear what damage repair she may have had. MailOnline has contacted Nicola and Justin's representatives for comment. Nicola Peltz was branded a 'monster' and 'the worst of the worst' by her ex celebrity hair colourist Justin Anderson after he allegedly 'burnt' her hair while bleaching it for the Transformers press tour in 2014. (Pictured above, Nicola on the Transformers press tour) The hairdresser (pictured) was Nicola's colourist when she starred as Mark Walhbergs on-screen daughter Tessa Yeager in Michael Bays Transformers: Age of Extinction in 2014 Justin Anderson, pictured above, has a slew of celebrity clients who go to him to have their hair coloured, including Katy Perry and Jennifer Aniston. Five years after he was 'fired' - and three years before Nicola married Brooklyn Beckham - Justin had plenty of things to say about his interactions with the actress. Speaking on the podcast about the celebrities he has worked with - including Miley Cyrus and Jennifer Aniston, he said: 'Ive lucked out that I have had amazing people to work with but the ones that were ever bad were the ones that ended up not going anywhere, so I can talk about them. 'I remember this one time the worst of the worst of the worst, there was this one little diva girl, f*** yeh, Im just going to get in trouble. 'But she was the new Transformer girl, her name was Nicola Peltz, turns out shes from a really wealthy family and it was like she was supposed to be the new IT girl but she has disappeared now. 'She is actually a monster.' Justin has been open about previously causing a celebrity's hair to fall out. He recently revealed that he damaged Katy Perry's locks while taking them from black to bleach blonde - which forced her to get her iconic blonde pixie cut. Speaking about it on the Let's Be Honest podcast on Tuesday. 'Katy was trying to go blonde so she had gone to somebody else and they couldnt quite get it there', he explained. Justin has worked with the likes of Miley Cyrus (pictured), Kelly Osbourne, Jennifer Aniston and Katy Perry Years later, Justin went on a shock rant about Brooklyn Beckham's wife Nicola on a podcast with Jackie Schimmel in 2019, branding the then 18-year-old a 'diva' and vowed he would 'never work with her again' (Nicola Peltz pictured at the Transformers premiere in 2014) But there is some mystery surrounding what really happened between the duo as sources close to Nicola allege Justin 'burnt' her hair off on the Transformers press tour Nicola pictured with Gigi Hadid and Blake Lively four months after her hair was 'burned off' Nicola pictured with Mark Walhberg as his on-screen daughter Tessa Yeager in Michael Bays Transformers: Age of Extinction in 2014 Nicola Peltz as Tessa Yeager in the movie Justin has previously caused a celebrity's hair to fall out as he recently admitted to damaging Katy Perry's locks - which forced her to get her iconic blonde pixie cut (Katy debuted the new look at the 2017 MTV Awards, pictured) Justin opened up on the shocking mishap on the Let's Be Honest podcast on Tuesday (pictured with co-host Kristin Cavallari) 'When she came to me, they had been bleaching it over and over, and her hair was crisp. So I told her, "Katy, your hair will break off if we do anything to it". But after Katy insisted to proceed with the new look, Justin said 'all the foils in the back just started falling out'. 'It was so bad', Justin admitted, before declaring it was his 'worst experience' he's ever dealt with. Friends of the Beckham clan have accused Nicola of keeping Brooklyn from family events and claimed she created 'drama' - following their failure to attend his father David's 50th birthday earlier this month. It appears Nicola's persona has caused issues in the past, with actress Bella Thorne also famously branding the star a 'very, very mean girl.' She was also portrayed as a 'nightmare bride' in the 2023 documentary Peltz Beckhams vs The Wedding Planners following her dispute with her planners. Rumours of a feud between the Beckhams and their daughter-in-law were first sparked on the young couple's wedding day three years ago, when Nicola opted to wear a Versace bridal gown instead of one of Victoria's designs. However Nicola went on to squash the rumours and the pair had gone on to put on a very supportive display of one another. Friends of the Beckham clan have accused Nicola of keeping Brooklyn from family events and claimed she created 'drama' - following their failure to attend his father David's 50th birthday earlier this month It appears Nicola's persona has caused issues in the past, with actress Bella Thorne (pictured) also famously branding the star a 'very, very mean girl' Rumours of a feud between the Beckhams and their daughter-in-law were first sparked on the young couple's wedding day three years ago, when Nicola opted to wear a Versace bridal gown instead of one of Victoria's designs (pictured with Nicola in February 2024) They would praise each other's work, appear at events together and even post tributes to each other on social media. However things have since turned sour and Brooklyn and Nicola were no shows at any of David's birthday celebrations. The Mail revealed that a rift with Nicola is at the centre of the breakdown in relations - despite the Beckhams' best efforts to support and champion their eldest son's wife since their 2022 wedding. On Monday Brooklyn came close to bumping into his father David during a fly-in visit to London. The aspiring chef was back in the UK posing for a new modelling campaign with upscale fashion company Moncler following strained relations with the wider Beckham family. While Brooklyn was taking part in the photoshoot, his father David was just half a mile up the road at the Chelsea Flower Show chatting to King Charles and Queen Camilla. It was a fly-in visit for Brooklyn who arrived in London early Monday morning and was at the photoshoot from 9am until around 4pm. He then went to his hotel in Park Lane to have a relaxed evening with Nicola and flew back to America at 7am on Tuesday. David and Victoria are understood to be devastated following a fall-out with Brooklyn, who lives in the United States with his wife and her wealthy family (pictured at David's 50th) He opted not to stay at the Beckham's family home in Holland Park which was located close by the shoot. David and Victoria are understood to be devastated following a fallout with Brooklyn, who lives in the United States with his wife and her wealthy family. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Victoria appeared to offer an olive branch by sharing a group photo of their four children alongside her father, Tony Adams - who celebrated his birthday over the weekend, with the accompanying message: 'We both love you all so much!' The undated photo also features Victoria's mother Jackie, flanked by Brooklyn and his siblings Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 13. David is allegedly 'desperate to make amends with his son as he fears history is repeating itself' following his bitter fall out with his father Ted in 2005. In the latest evidence of this, David included Brooklyn in a post about Mother's Day in the U.S. as he dedicated a post to the mother of his children, Victoria. Over the weekend, David reached out to his son on social media as rumours of their family feud continue to bubble. A sweet black and white photo showed Victoria cuddled up with her four kids, soon after welcoming their daughter Harper. Alongside the photo, David wrote: 'Happy Mother's Day to the best mommy. To all our friends in the U.S. Happy Mother's Day.' Brandi Glanville made a heartbreaking confession this week amid her battle with a mystery illness that has left her face disfigured. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 52, has spent over $100,000 seeking treatment for the condition, which she believes is caused by a facial parasite. And on Wednesday, Glanville who is the ex-wife of actor Eddie Cibrian provided a rare update while calling out those who've left 'cruel comments' about her face. 'I haven't posted much on any social site lately because I'm hiding out and don't want to deal with the cruel comments on my appearance,' she revealed in part on X (formerly Twitter). However, Glanville promised fans that her hideout is over and that she would no longer be disguising herself with 'filters and heavy edits' on social media. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Brandi Glanville made a heartbreaking confession this week amid her battle with a mystery illness that has left her face disfigured; seen in April 2024 The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 52, has spent over $100,000 seeking treatment for the condition, which she believes is caused by a facial parasite 'But I'll be posting and sharing authentically without all the filters and heavy edits... See you there and don't forget to turn on your notifications for the daily drops,' she wrote. Brandi also addressed her absence on Patreon, a paid subscription platform, amid her emotionally taxing health battle. 'It's been a minute since I posted on Patreon, but I'm going back and will be interacting on there again,' she promised in the tweet. After posting the tweet on Wednesday, Glanville received an outpouring of support from fans, with one writing, 'I appreciate your raw honesty and sharing the things that can happen. You'll always be beautiful to me.' Another fan tweeted, 'I'm so sorry you are going through this.' They also encouraged her to 'ignore the trolls' while admiring her strength. 'It's a 'them' problem, not a 'Brandi' problem. You are doing great. Keep on being that strong a** woman!' the fan conluded. Someone else gave the reality TV star more support, writing, 'This is sad that people are mean and cruel. You have to do what is necessary as you recover from this horrible situation.' Brandi has been open about her ongoing struggle with a suspected facial parasite, which she believes she contracted in Morocco while filming the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Glanville has been frequently hospitalized due to her ongoing health concerns and that she has incurred substantial expenses because of it. And on Wednesday, Glanville who is the ex-wife of actor Eddie Cibrian provided a rare update while calling out those who've left 'cruel comments' about her face Glanville promised fans that her hideout is over and that she would no longer be disguising herself with 'filters and heavy edits' on social media; Glanville seen with her son Jake, 17, and his prom date over the weekend After posting the tweet on Wednesday, Glanville received an outpouring of support from fans The Bravo star said she's spent 'over $113,000' of her own money seeking treatment for the mystery condition outside of her health insurance plan. However, she's seen no improvements since. After various medical appointments, multiple physicians told the reality star she could be suffering from a 'parasite that jumps around [her] face.' According to the Mayo Clinic, angioedema is a reaction similar to hives that causes swelling in the deeper layers of skin, often around the face and lips. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow who is married to Real Housewives Of Orange County star Heather Dubrow said he was 'concerned' that Glanville could be suffering from either an 'infectious process' or a 'foreign-body reaction to something she's had injected.' Dubrow also clarified that Glanville isn't at 'fault' for not being certain about what is plaguing her, and he instead blamed her doctor for not having a solid diagnosis and treatment plan. However, he seemed fairly certain that whatever was going on with her is 'not a parasite' and is 'not from something she ate.' Instead, he suggested the issue is 'something that got into her bloodstream and seeded some foreign body.' Surprisingly, Dubrow even thought it was possible that Glanville could be ahead of her doctors, as he said she could be right that she might require surgery. Brandi has been open about her ongoing struggle with a suspected facial parasite, which she believes she contracted in Morocco while filming the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip He noted that she could have been infected with either mycobacteria or fungi, which could be 'very difficult to treat.' Dubrow looked particularly concerned when he said Glanville's condition was 'like a ticking time bomb,' because the potential damage could get more and more severe in a short period of time. He added that antibiotic treatments for mycobacteria or fungus could take six to 12 months, so it would be essential for her to get a solid diagnosis and possibly a skin sample to determine what she was suffering from. Dubrow concluded the interview by offering the services of himself and his Botched costars. Brandi later shared that she had a consultation with Dubrow, but had decided to get a second opinion. Brandi explained that Dubrow told her it might take five years for her to be 'totally fine.' 'Five years is way too long for me to wait,' the reality beauty said on her Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast, while also revealing she has not had sex in a year due to her health issues. After various medical appointments, multiple physicians told the reality star she could be suffering from a 'parasite that jumps around [her] face' Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow previously said he was 'concerned' that Glanville could be suffering from either an 'infectious process' or a 'foreign-body reaction to something she's had injected'; Dubrow seen with wife Heather Dubrow in 2024 'I have places to go, people to make out with. I have not had sex since last October. I haven't kissed [or] made out with anyone. I haven't socialized, really.' The star shared that she wants to 'run tests, get another MRI, another cat scan' adding that she wants to 'get to the bottom of this.' Brandi added that she doesn't 'feel better' and stills sees 'this thing in my face jumping around.' She also shared that she has 'four different doctors' who have given her 'four different opinions of what it could possibly be.' Nicole Kidman looked nearly unrecognizable as she posed up a storm in two different wigs for her latest Allure interview which was published on Thursday. The Moulin Rouge actress, 57 - who recently broke her silence on wearing wigs - stunned as she appeared on the cover for the publication and discussed a number of topics, such as grief and aging. The star wowed in a reddish-orange wig that had bangs which fell down onto her forehead as well as strands that flowed down past her shoulders. Kidman donned a strapless, black Balenciaga top and high-waisted black leggings that clung to her frame. In other images snapped by photographer Dan Beleiu for the outlet, she also opted for a shorter red bob with bangs while wearing a purple Robert Cavalli dress. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Nicole Kidman looked nearly unrecognizable as she posed up a storm in three wigs for her latest Allure interview which was published on Thursday In other images for the outlet, she also opted for a shorter red bob with bangs while wearing a purple Robert Cavalli dress The ensemble contained a thigh-high slit on the left that offered a glimpse at the sleek purple heels Nicole additionally wore for the photo shoot. The Australian-born actress, still rocking her long fringe wig, later modeled a printed bandeau top from Schiaparelli and a matching miniskirt. Kidman slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black pumps and accessorized the look with dangly earrings and a chunky gold bracelet. It comes not long after the star suffered a wig mishap while making an appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival earlier this month. While walking the red carpet at glitzy events, she donned a blonde hairpiece - but the wig cap was visible and in another instance, the wig itself was off center. During an appearance on Channel Seven's Sunrise this week, Nicole opened up about opting for wigs. 'As you know, I love changing my hair,' the Big Little Lies star expressed, before bringing up the short pixie cut she chose for the 2025 Met Gala in NYC this month. The Moulin Rouge actress stunned as she appeared on the cover for the publication and discussed a number of topics, such as grief and aging It comes not long after the star suffered a wig mishap while making an appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival earlier this month (seen above) While some fans initially believed that the star was simply unveiling her natural hair, it was soon revealed that it had also been a wig. 'For the Met Gala, everyone was questioning if I had chopped my hair off. But no, I didn't.' During her interview with Danielle Pergament for her new cover story for Allure for its May 2025 issue, Kidman reflected on getting older. When questioned if aging has been difficult, the actress candidly replied: 'Yes. I've always been a future person, and suddenly you go, "Oh." It's coming to terms with the idea that you have no control over the future.' She continued, 'Probably that's to do with losing people very, very suddenly. I have more time behind me than ahead. 'That shift in the ratio becomes a big thing. You're just always going, "What is all this?" The existential questions. Who are we? Why are we here?"' The Oscar winner is preparing to celebrate her 58th birthday next month on June 20. Nicole also had a discussion about coping with grief following the passing of her mother last year in September. 'For the Met Gala, everyone was questioning if I had chopped my hair off. But no, I didn't,' she explained; seen above at the 2025 Met Gala in NYC 'Losing my mother changed every part of me,' she admitted to the outlet, revealing that they would talk to each other multiple times a week; seen with late mother in 2018 in Sydney 'My husband is a massive part of who I am, and my daughters. My daughters are huge, huge contributors to things in my life, and they open my eyes to things,' Nicole said; seen with Keith Urban earlier this month in Texas 'Losing my mother changed every part of me,' she admitted to the outlet, revealing that they would talk to each other multiple times a week. The star explained that her mother's death still feels 'so raw' and added she is still 'on the journey of grief, the year of magical thinking.' The beauty has children of her own and is mom to Sunday, 16, and Faith, 14, whom she shares with husband Keith Urban. During her past marriage to actor Tom Cruise, the former couple also adopted Bella, 32, and Connor, 30. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Kidman gave insight to her loved ones. 'My husband is a massive part of who I am, and my daughters. My daughters are huge, huge contributors to things in my life, and they open my eyes to things.' Nicole has been keeping busy and recently starred in the second season of the Hulu thriller series Nine Perfect Strangers, which she also executive produces. Other cast members in the new season - which began airing this week on Wednesday - include Henry Golding, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Murray Bartlett, Mark Strong and Lena Olin. The premise of the show is: 'Nine stressed city dwellers visit a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. The resort's director is a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies,' per IMDB. During an interview with ABC's On The Red Carpet, the actress reflected on the latest season and her own character Masha. Nicole has been keeping busy and recently starred in the second season of the Hulu thriller series Nine Perfect Strangers, which she also executive produces (seen above in season two of series) 'It's just such a rich story, which lends itself to many different reinventions, and Masha herself is a reinvention every time,' Kidman expressed. 'I'm in the middle of it all, but I get to shine a light on everybody else who's in it, and this time around, it was this extraordinary cast.' While season one took place in Los Angeles, the setting for season two has changed to the Austrian Alps. The second season of Nine Perfect Strangers consists of eight episodes - with the final set to release on Hulu on July 2. Ncuti Gatwa will exit Doctor Who after just two series as woke storylines saw ratings for the much-loved show plunge, it was claimed today. The BBC programme is also said to have been paused for an extended break amid criticism about recent plots involving non-binary aliens, incels and even a pregnant male extra-terrestrial. Rumours of Gatwa's departure came after his sudden withdrawal from presenting the UK's Eurovision jury scores on Saturday night after Israel, represented by a October 7 survivor, made the final. Ncuti has been vocal in his support for Palestine. A TV insider reportedly said: 'If the final nail wasn't already in the coffin, it was well and truly hammered in after that. 'Bosses were incredibly disappointed. Ncuti, as the Doctor, is one of the corporation's most high-profile faces'. Doctor Who was watched by around 2.5milion last Saturday - around 2million fewer people than the numbers watching when Jodie Whittaker, the previous Time Lord, was on the show until 2022. But this is still a tiny fraction of the sort of interest it used to attract. At its peak it was watched by around 13million on a Saturday night in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Last year Gatwa told his critics: 'Don't watch. Turn off the TV', adding: 'I feel like anyone that has a problem with someone who's not a straight white man playing this character, you're not really, truly a fan of the show'. Some fans have lamented some of the programme's best loved villains being given 'woke' facelifts as well as the introduction of a pregnant male alien, for example. Some fuming 'Whovians' were outraged at the introduction of transgender and non-binary characters who would lash out at those 'assuming their gender', as well as a deranged villain played by a drag queen. Campaigners have accused bosses behind the BBC series of 'promoting the cult of gender ideology' in the latest episodes of the time-hopping romp, which is streamed globally thanks to a lucrative deal with Disney thought to be worth 100million. The current Doctor Who is yet to comment on claims he may be leaving but the BBC has said: 'Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been 'axed' is pure fiction' and that no decision has been made. Ncuti Gatwa has been axed as Doctor Who after just two series, it was claimed today The announcement that Ncuti had withdrawn from presenting Eurovision was made moments after Israel's Yuval Raphael - a survivor of the October 7 attacks - qualified with her song New Day Will Rise Doctor Who's 'woke' characters at a glance Rose Noble: The transgender daughter of Doctor companion, Donna Noble. She is imbued with Time Lord energy which supports her non-binary personality. She famously grilled David Tennant's Doctor for 'assuming' an alien's gender. Maestro: A non-binary villain played by American drag queen, Jinkx Monsoon. She uses music and singing as a power. Yoss: A pregnant man from the alien species known as the Gifftans. He reveals that unlike humans, both male and female Gifftans can give birth. The Doctor: David Tennant's Doctor, in the 60th anniversary episode, hints at being homosexual after encountering an Isaac Newton of Indian heritage who he goes on to call 'hot'. Advertisement 'As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs and any other claims are just pure speculation. The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes and we still have an entire spin off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, to air. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.' There was some anger as the announcement Rwandan-Scottish actor Ncuti had withdrawn from presenting Eurovision came moments after Israel's Yuval Raphael - a survivor of the October 7 attacks - qualified for the final with her song New Day Will Rise. She ended up finishing second to Austria last Saturday. Sophie Ellis-Bextor stepped in for him. The TV source told The Sun: 'His withdrawal was incredibly embarrassing. It caps what has been a largely depressing tenure in the Tardis for Ncuti.' Representatives for Ncuti, the BBC and Disney+ were contacted by MailOnline for comment. Ncuti caused problems when he pulled out of Eurovision last week, when Israel made the final. BBC bosses had Sophie Ellis-Bextor on stand-by to reveal the UK's jury results on last night's Eurovision song contest 'for some time' as they believed Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa would 'change his mind'. Sources told the Mail on Sunday that executives were left 'cross' and 'exasperated' by the 32-year-old actor's last minute decision. A statement issued by the BBC last Thursday said: 'Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately Ncuti Gatwa is no longer able to participate as spokesperson during the Grand Final this weekend.' Gatwa has been vocal in his support for Palestine, sharing photographs of Free Palestine graffiti in Italy on his Instagram and posting links to fundraisers for Palestinian causes. The 'man' called Yoss is an alien from a species known as the Gifftans. He reveals that, unlike humans, both male and female Gifftans can give birth Donna Noble's transgender daughter, Rose (played by trans actress Yasmin Finney) Davos, the gaunt, disfigured creator of the Daleks, had been forced to use a wheelchair and mobile life-support system since his introduction to Doctor Who in 1975 but was given a 'woke' facelift when he reappeared in the show, able to walk David Tennant's Doctor said to his companion that Isaac Newton, played by Nathaniel Curtis, pictured, 'was so hot'. He added in an apparent reference to his own sexuality: 'Oh, is that who I am now?' Ncuti's 15th Doctor said he is gay Ncuti Gatwa, 32, appeared in Saturday night's Eurovision-inspired Doctor Who episode hours after withdrawing from presenting the contest's Final (pictured May 2025) After it was revealed he would be delivering the UK's points to BBC viewers, he was inundated with negative feedback on social media from fans. One told Gatwa to 'read the room', while another said: 'I would usually be excited but I'm boycotting until Israel is given the same treatment as Russia.' Ahead of the final, a source admitted that BBC producers had 'suspected that he would change his mind about the role' and that his stand-in, Sophie Ellis-Bextor had been 'in place for some time'. Despite their anger, however, executives have attempted to play down the link between his decision to stand down and his pro-Palestinian views. They claimed an announcement about his withdrawal was actually made on Radio 2 three minutes before Ms Raphael's place in the final with her song New Day Will Rise was confirmed, closely followed by a social media post five minutes later. The BBC source said: 'The announcement was first made on BBC Radio 2 by Richie Anderson and Sara Cox three minutes before Israel qualified for the final. The statement was then issued on social media five minutes later, which was coincidentally two minutes after Israel qualified.' The Scottish actor, 32, joined the cast of Doctor Who in 2023 for the 14th season after Jodie Whittaker - the first female Doctor - bowed out. Fans of the show have also lamented some of the programme's best loved villains being given 'woke' facelifts. It is said that Ncuti has already filmed his regeneration exit scene, with crews allegedly fearing that this could spell the end of the series after more than 60 years [Ncuti pictured in 2023] The long-running sci-fi show has suffered a huge drop in ratings of late, with fans said to be fed up of the injection of woke storylines [Ncuti pictured with co-star Millie Gibson] Davros, the gaunt, disfigured creator of the Daleks, had been forced to use a wheelchair and mobile life-support system since his introduction to Doctor Who in 1975. But Russell T Davies apparently disliked the fact Davros was a 'wheelchair-user who is evil' and, when he returned in 2023, Davros appeared able-bodied and sporting a new, younger look. But the changes, which many blame on a Disney deal, have left those who have previously worked on the show unimpressed. Gatwa is also said to have grown increasingly frustrated by how the show is run - and is keen to move to Hollywood to pursue other opportunities. A BBC spokeswoman said earlier this year 'Doctor Who has not been shelved'. An insider said: 'Everything is now pointing in the direction of a prolonged break once the next series has aired. It will be back to the drawing boards for the Doctor Who team.' Gillian Anderson was a vision of elegance as she joined co-star Jason Isaacs at the UK special screening of their film The Salt Path, held at The Curzon Soho in London on Thursday. The actress, 56, stunned in a striking multi-toned TOVE blue midi dress that accentuated her incredible figure. She paired the chic look with classic nude heels and pulled her golden tresses up into a chic updo. Meanwhile Jason, 61, looked dapper by her side in a textured navy suit layered over a deep blue shirt, finishing the ensemble with polished black suede shoes. The duo radiated charm as they posed for snaps on the red carpet at the London venue. They were joined at the event by fellow cast member Marianne Elliott, as well as producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Gillian Anderson was a vision of elegance as she joined co-star Jason Isaacs at the UK special screening of their film The Salt Path, held at The Curzon Soho in London on Thursday The actress, 56, stunned in a striking multi-toned TOVE blue midi dress that accentuated her incredible figure The films real-life inspirations, Raynor and Moth Winn, also made a special appearance at the screening. The evening marked a celebratory moment for the cast and crew as they introduced the adaptation to a London audience. The novel, with the same title, was published in 2018 and soon skyrocketed to the top of the bestseller lists and sold more than 1.5 million copies. It would go on to be shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards and the Wainwright Prize, and won the inaugural RSL Christopher Bland Prize. As for the film, it sees Gillian playing Raynor opposite Jason as her husband Moth, in the real-life story of the couple who became homeless after a business deal with a friend went wrong. After Moth was then diagnosed with a rare and incurable degenerative brain disease, the couple decided to make a 630-mile trek along the Cornish, Devon and Dorset coastline armed with only a tent and limited supplies. In response to one scene in the film that sees Gillian and Isaac's characters get intimate inside their small tent, The Sunday Times probed the X-Files star on whether she would recommend the location for an amorous encounter. A grinning Gillian affirmed: 'Well, sex in the back of a car, sex anywhere, I mean, yeah, why not? Uncomfortable, tight quarters, but needs must.' She paired the chic look with classic nude heels and pulled her golden tresses up into chic updo Meanwhile Jason, 61, looked dapper by her side in a textured navy suit layered over a deep blue shirt, finishing the ensemble with polished black suede shoes They were joined at the event by fellow cast member Marianne Elliott Producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley were also at the screening The films real-life inspirations, Raynor and Moth Winn, also made a special appearance at the screening The Scoop actress also admitted that she doesn't feel any shame in discussing sex and even released a book about women's sexual fantasies in September. She explained that it was through doing Sex Education, filming scenes speaking openly about topics like sexual pleasure, genitalia and sexual orientation, that she first realised how comfortable she felt and how vital the conversations were. She said: 'In playing Jean, having [sex] become a regular topic, I realised that I didnt have shame around it. 'Also, I suddenly realised the degree to which there still was so much shame around it and the degree to which the show helped many demographics blast through some of that.' Gillian lamented that having frank conversations about sex, was still regarded as taboo and shameful, with even couples struggling to be open with each other about their desires. She said: 'In 2025 some of us seem to struggle to have that conversation with our partners. The conversation about "I prefer it like this" or "Can we take ten more minutes so I can actually get more pleasure out of this exchange?". 'Some of it is the fear that the partner might feel judged that theyre doing something wrong, when actually thats not what youre saying.' The Salt Path is scheduled to be released in the UK by Black Bear UK on May 30, 2025. Kim Kardashian's go-to hairstylist Chris Appleton flaunted his gym-honed figure in a tiny white Speedo while on the beach in Cannes this week. The 41-year-old British hunk bared his ripped abdomen and bulging biceps while cooling off in the ocean. He accessorized with a dark beaded necklace and narrow black sunglasses as he waded hip-deep in the sea. Appleton who recently transformed Kim's mom Kris Jenner took a swig from a glass water bottle at one point. His short, sandy-colored hair was perfectly tousled and he sported a thin, scruffy beard while soaking up the sun solo. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kim Kardashian's go-to hairstylist Chris Appleton flaunted his gym-honed figure in a tiny white Speedo while on the beach in Cannes this week The 41-year-old British hunk bared his ripped abdomen and bulging biceps while cooling off in the ocean Appleton, who was briefly married to actor Lukas Gage in 2023, took a swig from a glass water bottle at one point On Thursday he engaged his Instagram audience of four million as he took to the app's Stories feature to upload two posts. One of them was a brief black and white video snippet showing him opening an invitation to the amfAR Gala. The invite teased a performance from Adam Lambert and listed Taraji P. Henson as the host. He tagged his location as Hotel Martinez where Selling Sunset stars Emma Hernan and Jason Oppenheim were spotted days ago. Appleton, who is dad to two adult children, also posted a mirror selfie as he prepared for his evening out in France. His visage was covered in a rejuvenating face mask and he wore a plush white robe with the hotel's logo. Chris has been doing 44-year-old Kim's hair for nearly a decade, and styled her raven locks as recently as last week when she was in Paris. Sharing a video of the mom-of-four sporting a sleek and taut updo online several days ago, he wrote, 'Last night in Paris, I wanted Kim's updo to speak volumestimeless, but with a strong edge to complement a look. Definitely a favorite.' Appleton, who is dad to two adult children, also posted a mirror selfie as he prepared for his evening out On Thursday he engaged his Instagram audience of four million as he took to the app's Stories feature to upload two posts. One of them was a brief black and white video snippet showing him opening an invitation to the amfAR Gala Chris has been styling Kim's hair for nearly a decade; pictured in 2023 Nearly one week ago Chris used Instagram to mark his nine-year anniversary working with the SKIMS billionaire. He said, 'Nine years ago in Paris, Kim and I stared working together, and we created a moment that would set the tone for so many more to come. 'Since then, we've shared a lifetime of transformationson the outside and in. We've been through marriages, divorces & milestones.' He added in the heartfelt note, 'But through it all, I've had the privilege of standing beside someone who isn't just beautiful, but loyal, strong, and real. 'I'm so grateful for the friendship, the trust, and the memories we've made. And after all these years, still showing upand still serving looks [heart-emoji].' Joe Exotic is opening up about his devastating forced separation from his husband after he was deported to Mexico. Joe (real name: Joseph Allen Maldonado) told TMZ on Thursday that he was feeling 'pretty emotional' after his husband Jorge Marquez Flores was removed from the country. Jorge was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shortly after he was released from the same prison where his husband is currently serving a 21-year sentence for attempted murder after trying to hire a hitman to kill his rival Carole Baskin. His big mistake was offering $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin. Joe rose to fame from the 2020 Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness that followed his life as he looked after exotic big cats at his G.W. Zoo in Oklahoma. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Joe Exotic, 62, said he was 'pretty emotional' after his husband Jorge Marquez Flores was deported to Mexico after being released from prison on Friday Joe and Jorge tied the knot in prison, where the Tiger King star is serving a 21-year sentence for attempted murder for trying to hire a hit man to kill his nemesis Carole Baskin Joe, 62, said he and Jorge were both 'bawling so hard' when they said their goodbyes on Friday morning ahead of Jorge's release. He admitted that the two 'expected' that Jorge would have trouble with immigration officials, but Joe complained that he 'spent all this money on some of the best immigration lawyers America had to offer' in order to get relief from deportation proceedings for his husband. According to him, Jorge was supposed to have a hearing about his attempts to seek asylum in the US, but he was whisked away by ICE agents before that could happen once he was released from the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth, where he and Joe had been incarcerated. Asylum applicants are typically permitted to remain in the US while their request proceeds, but it's unclear where Jorge was in the process, and his criminal status may have made it easier for ICE to deport him. According to Joe, Jorge was taken to Mexico so quickly that his attorneys didn't even have a chance to see him before he was out of the country. Jorge was imprisoned in 2024 for 'unlawfully reentering the US from Mexico after previously being deported,' according to The Sun. In October, after announcing their engagement, Joe said he was working on 'getting asylum or we'll be leaving America when we both get out.' He doubled down on that claim in answering a comment on social media wishing him luck in his appeal. Joe said he spent a 'fortune' on immigration attorneys who never even got a chance to see Jorge before he was deported. He reportedly had a hearing date for his asylum application, which normally precludes an applicant from being deported Jorge said the two bonded at the gym and prison library, and they worked together to practice their English and Spanish. He said he had written multiple letters that he hoped the documentary star would soon read Joe offered a dispiriting update on his cancer, which had spread to his left lung. He said he would be opting not to get chemotherapy and radiation treatments after the side effects devastated him previously Exotic wrote that he has 'no problem going to Mexico' with his husband when released. Jorge also spoke with TMZ via phone from a friend's house in Mexico and said he hadn't had a chance to speak with his husband since his deportation. However, he said he had already written multiple letters to the Tiger King star, which he hoped he would be able to read soon. Jorge also gave a glimpse into their relationship in prison, reportedly saying he and Joe regularly spent time together at the prison library and gym. The two had different native tongues, but practicing their English and Spanish together was also a bonding experience for them. Joe also shared some dispiriting updates on his health and the cancer he has been afflicted with. Though it had previously been in remission, he confirmed that the cancer had begun growing again and it had since spread to his left lung. He was surprisingly casual about his illness, telling the publication that he wasn't willing to undergo more treatments after he was overwhelmed by the side effects of a year of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Exotic rose to fame from the 2020 Netflix series Tiger King : Murder, Mayhem and Madness that followed his life as he looked after exotic big cats at his G.W. Zoo in Oklahoma 'I just can't do it again,' he admitted. 'Honestly, I would rather go visit my parents and my two dead husband and my brother in heaven,' than be 'in a concrete room puking again,' he added. Joe said he was feeling well for the time being, and he was trying to stay fit and eat well, so he feared the treatments would just make him feel worse. 'If I die tomorrow, I've had the happiest 10 months of my life,' he declared. Joe shocked fans last month when he announced he'd married a fellow prisoner. Speaking to Sydney, Austrailia's 2DayFM's Jimmy & Nath Show, Joe revealed whether the couple had consummated the marriage. Sharing a photoshopped snap of the couple wearing suits for the big day, he quipped: 'Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado.' Joe shared the news of their engagement back in October, as he told fans: 'Meet Jorge Marquez. He is so amazing and is from Mexico.' He added: 'Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we be leaving America when we both get out. 'Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago.' Joe, also known Joseph Maldonado-Passage, submitted a marriage application to the federal prison to wed Jorge. Suki Waterhouse is showing off her incredible post-baby body after her fiance Robert Pattinson made rare remarks about being a first time dad. The English musician, 33 who gave birth to a daughter in March 2024 rocked a tiny bikini in vacation photos shared to Instagram on Thursday. Suki posed up on the balcony of a luxury, oceanfront resort suite while rocking a two-piece that left little to the imagination. Her stomach looked incredibly flat as she smoldered for the camera with wet hair and sunglasses on. The Good Looking hitmaker captioned the post: 'posting a bikini photo, losing my edge' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Suki Waterhouse is showing off her incredible post-baby body just over a year after giving birth to her and Robert Pattinson's first child The English musician, 33, rocked a tiny bikini in vacation photos shared to Instagram on Thursday In another shot, Suki went braless in a small white tank top and frilly bikini bottoms as she took a dip in the ocean. She also put her abs on display after soaking up the sun in chaise lounger while only wearing a cropped white sweatshirt and bikini bottoms. Also included in Suki's Instagram slideshow were pictures of her with her pals as they vacationed together in the tropical destination seemingly without Pattinson. Suki has since returned from her idyllic getaway as she was spotted taking her baby daughter for a stroll in Los Angeles on Monday. Waterhouse, 33, and Pattinson, 39, welcomed their child whose name has not been revealed in March 2024. The couple have been romantically linked since 2018 and are believed to be in engaged. While promoting his latest film, Die, My Love, Pattinson recently made rare comments about his experience with fatherhood as well as voicing his fondness for his baby daughter. In Die, My Love, Pattinson and co-star Jennifer Lawrence play new parents. Suki posed up on the balcony of a luxury, oceanfront resort suite while rocking a two-piece that left little to the imagination. Her stomach looked incredibly flat as she smoldered for the camera with wet hair and sunglasses on In another shot, Suki went braless in a small white tank top and frilly bikini bottoms as she relaxed in the sand Also included in Suki's Instagram slideshow were pictures of her with her pals as they vacationed together in the tropical destination seemingly without Pattinson This prompted them to open up about how being parents themselves has affected their work at a press conference on Sunday, May 19. 'I think, in the most unexpected ways, having a baby gives you the biggest trove of energy and inspiration afterward. It's a different kind of energy,' he told reporters. Lawrence, 34, who shares her son Cy, three, and a newborn with her husband Cooke Maroney, concurred. 'Having children changes everything. It changes your whole life. It's brutal and incredible,' she said. 'Not only do they go into every decision of if I'm working, where I'm working, when I'm working they've taught me,' the Oscar winner also shared. Continuing, she explained, 'I mean, I didn't know that I could feel so much, and my job has a lot to do with emotions, and they've opened up the world to me. It's almost like feeling like a blister or something, so sensitive.' 'They've changed my life, obviously, for the best, and they've changed me creatively. I highly recommend having kids, if you want to be an actor,' she told reporters. After hearing his co-star, Pattinson said 'It's literally just like what Jennifer said. I'm here just to support.' Suki gave birth to a daughter, whose name has yet to be revealed, in March 2024 Pattinson and Waterhouse have been romantically linked since 2018 and are believed to be engaged; the couple seen in 2023 Recently, Pattinson revealed that becoming a father has made him a 'completely different person'; the star seen on May 18 in Cannes 'Ever since she was born, it's reinvigorated the way I approach work, and yeah, you're a completely different person the next day,' he said. Both Lawrence and Pattinson are careful to keep their children as sheltered from the public as possible. Neither has a social media presence and Pattinson and Waterhouse have yet to reveal their daughter's name. Lawrence, who gave birth to her second child earlier this year, have not yet revealed the name or gender of the little one. Jussie Smollett has reached a settlement with the city of Chicago over the 2019 'hate crime' hoax lawsuit. Smollett was convicted in December 2021 for lying to police about an alleged episode in Chicago two years before, where he claimed two men beat him, yelled homophobic slurs and placed a noose around his neck while wearing MAGA hats. The former Empire actor's, 42, conviction was overturned last year due to a due process violation. The city of Chicago's Law Department filed a civil lawsuit against him in 2019 to recover over $130,000 in costs incurred investigating his allegedly staged attack, after he failed to meet a city-imposed payment deadline. The case, which had dragged on for six years, was finally put to rest by both sides through a settlement. The terms of his settlement require that Smollett pays $50,000 to a charity of his choice, instead of paying the six-figures in restitution for the investigation, as per TMZ. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett, 42, has reached a settlement with the city of Chicago over the 2019 'hate crime' hoax lawsuit; He is pictured at the 2022 BET Awards in LA Smollett has already chosen his charity, and donated the $50,000 to the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts organization in Chicago. A judge has yet to sign off to make it official. Building Better Futures Center for the Arts provides mental health support, art, music, and acting training for underprivileged youth in Chicago. Smollett had his conviction for lying to the police with a bizarre anti-Trump hoax overturned in a sensational ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court last November. The court found that the actor had his rights violated by a special prosecutor's decision to retry him after initial charges against him were dropped with an agreement that he would not be re-charged. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months' probation after it was proven that he made the episode up, and he was also slapped with a hefty fine of $130,160. Smollett appealed the ruling and has not yet served a day of that sentence behind bars, even after his conviction was previously affirmed by a lower court in 2023 before the Supreme Court agreed to hear his appeal. The actor's hoax and subsequent arrest sparked a media firestorm years ago, as it was found that he had actually paid two Nigerian brothers - Abel and Ola Osundairo - to stage the incident. When Smollett first came forward with his story, the actor was met with widespread support, and the Chicago PD vowed to swiftly find his attackers. Smollett even showed police the noose that he claimed he was almost lynched with. Smollett was convicted in 2021 for lying to police about an alleged episode in 2019, where he claimed two men beat him, yelled homophobic slurs, and placed a noose around his neck while wearing MAGA hats. His conviction was overturned last year due to a due process violation; Pictured in his 2019 booking photo The city of Chicago's Law Department filed a lawsuit in 2019 against the actor to recover over $130,000 in costs incurred investigating his allegedly staged attack; Smollett seen in 2018 The case was finally put to rest through a settlement that requires Smollett to pay $50,000 to a charity of his choice, which he has already done, as per TMZ; He is pictured in 2022 Smollett has donated $50,000 to the Building Better Futures Center for the Arts charity in Chicago. A judge has yet to sign off to make it official; He is pictured in court in 2019 Although Smollett claimed he was attacked by two white Trump supporters, detectives reviewed surveillance footage and zeroed in on the Osundairo brothers as suspects. When presented with a grainy surveillance picture of the brothers near the scene, Smollett said they were 'absolutely' the men who attacked him, not realizing they had already been arrested. One of his attorneys, Tina Glandian, claimed that Smollett may have misidentified the brothers - who he had also just been on the phone with moments before - because they could have been 'in disguise' in white makeup. She went on to point to a 2016 YouTube video of Abel Osundairo, the brother in question, where he is wearing white make-up to perform a Joker monologue for Halloween as proof of her theory. By that time, stories had leaked that detectives believed Smollett had concocted the story, seemingly in an attempt boost his public profile. Smollett went on Good Morning America to tearfully insist he was the victim, but by February 2019, a month after the incident, he was arrested and charged with filing a false police report, and his character from Empire was halted. However, despite a grand jury indicting him for repeatedly lying to cops, the charges against Smollett were then sensationally dropped a month later in March, sparking outrage from the public. President Trump led the backlash as he decried the charges being dropped as an 'embarrassment to the nation', while Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson, who is Black, said at the time: 'Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.' The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, amounted it to a 'whitewash of justice' that proved Smollett was treated gently by the system because he is a celebrity and a prominent figure in the city. After he was fined $140,000 for wasting police resources, a special prosecutor was named to investigate why the charges against Smollett were dropped. It was this decision that has now led to Smollett's ultimate conviction to be overturned, as it was found his rights were violated because Smollett had agreed with prosecutors that he would not be re-charged at the time after the case against him was dropped. Smollett had his conviction for lying to the police with a bizarre anti-Trump hoax overturned in a sensational ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court last November; Pictured in Chicago in 2020 The court found that the actor had his rights violated by a special prosecutor's decision to retry him after initial charges against him were dropped with an agreement that he would not be re-charged; Smollett pictured in his 2022 booking photo The actor's hoax and subsequent arrest sparked a media firestorm years ago, as it was bizarrely found that he had actually paid two Nigerian brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo (pictured) to stage the incident Smollett played Jamal Lyon on the Fox drama series Empire from 2015 to 2019; Pictured in a still In February 2020 Smollett was indicted again on felony lying to police, and following a contentious trial where he maintained his innocence, Smollett was convicted at the conclusion of his trial in 2021. Smollett again sparked backlash during his conviction hearing, as he triumphantly raised his fist to appear defiant, despite being caught in a lie. When the Illinois Supreme Court handed down the ruling to overturn that conviction, Chief Justice Theis and Justice Cunningham recused themselves from the decision. The court's opinion pointed to the agreement Smollett had with Illinois prosecutors after his charges were dropped. 'We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and believed it to be unjust,' the opinion read. 'Nevertheless, what would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the State was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied.' Smollett is known for his role as Jamal Lyon on the Fox drama series Empire, where he starred from 2015 to 2019. Married at First Sight star Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Sobinoff has revealed why she left the spotlight. On Friday, the two-time reality TV bride shared a humorous Instagram reel to her Stories from the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids with the caption: 'POV: Me after leaving a social event that was full of inauthentic conversations.' Lizzie, 34, added some choice words of her own explaining her brief foray into the influencing industry after her appearances on MAFS in 2019 and again in 2020. 'What it felt like when I attended the maybe five influencer events I've ever been to...' she wrote, sharing the post to her 370,000 followers. In a second post, Lizzie added that she doesn't consider herself to be an influencer like most reality stars become following their time on the show, before revealing why. 'And no, I'm not what most people would call an influencer,' she continued. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Married at First Sight star Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Sobinoff has revealed why she left the spotlight Lizzie, 34, had some choice words of her own explaining her brief foray into the influencing industry after her appearances on MAFS in 2019 and again in 2020 'I did it for five minutes of my life. It wasn't for me. I just have a bit of a following because of the show.' Lizzie was dubbed 'Australia's Most Confident Bride' in season six when she was disastrously paired with groom Sam Ball and was rumoured to have been paid $100,000 by Channel Nine when she returned in season seven. New Idea reported the former retail store manager had been paid 'the whopping fee for a four-week appearance on [season seven] while the rest of the cast were paid $150 a day.' The former reality TV star is now happily married to her engineer husband Alex Vega, and is mum to an 18-month-old baby girl and a newborn baby boy who was born in April. During Lizzie's first appearance on MAFS, her occupation was listed as 'Store Manager' and during her second, it was listed as 'MAFS contestant'. In April 2019, she signed with celebrity talent agency CGM Talent, which no longer exists. 'So Im pretty excited to mention that Ill be working with @ctmgroupau for all things management. Cannot wait to work with a team that understand my direction! For MGMT Enquiries, TV and radio and brand collabs, DM the team or email- talent@ctmgroupau.com,' Lizzie wrote on Instagram at the time. Lizzie partnered with brands such as Booby Tape, Sculpt, Tan Tootie, and Tribe Skincare. In a second post, Lizzie added that she doesn't consider herself to be an influencer like most reality stars become following their time on the show, before revealing why The bulk of her posts did not include an advertising hashtag, which wasn't yet required by Australian law, but did often include discount codes. Presumably, Lizzie was paid for her posts and also for the use of her discount codes. Lizzie limited comments on her account after the birth of her daughter in 2023, citing the negativity that often permeates on Instagram. 'My comments have been limited for a while now. Due to the nature of social media. It tends to breed negativity, not always but it definitely can,' she explained. 'I love to post BUT I have set boundaries. And that's not a bad thing.' In April 2024, she also took to social media to defend MAFS brides from trolling about their appearances. 'I saw an Instagram post about an injector going into detail about a girl on the current season of MAFS' face,' she said. 'Coming from someone whose been on MAFS twice, these are people. Two, it's not fair to their mental health when you start picking apart their appearance like that because they will see it.' Lizzie was famously fat- shamed by her first Married At First Sight groom Sam Ball on season 2019 of the show 'I dont know this girl's storyline, I just was upset at how no one takes into consideration that she is a human and has feelings. Maybe say its triggering for me at how I was torn apart by a lot of the PUBLIC,' Lizzie continued. 'In that particular line of work Im under the assumption that you want to improve someones confidence, make them feel good about themselves. I see this as counterproductive. Just for views?' she added. Lizzie was famously fat-shamed by her first Married At First Sight groom Sam Ball on season 2019 of the show. 'I've never really dated girls as big as Elizabeth to be honest. It's obviously a topic that's troubled her in the past,' he on the reality series. Sam also sparked outrage after revealing his plans to help Lizzie lose weight after their televised nuptials. 'She's got a beautiful face... Maybe I'll get her running in the mornings... but she'll be right. We'll get her going,' he said. Lizzie and Seb Guilhaus hit off immediately during her second showing on MAFS in 2020, and stayed together after the show, before parting ways in 2021. Georgia Fowler has made waves at the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival thanks to her jaw-dropping fashion statements, but it appears the stunning model has suffered a nasty injury. The Kiwi model, 32, who has made multiple appearances this week at the high-profile event on the French Riviera, channelled movie star glamour on Thursday as she donned a silky floor-length gown at the amfAR Gala held at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc. The sophisticated white dress bragged a high neckline and a one-sleeved design that bared her right arm where a blood-stained plaster was visible. She paired the sleek ensemble with gold Tiffany & Co. jewellery, sporting a $66,000 Elsa Peretti bone cuff and $10,400 Elsa Peretti high tide earrings. She finished off the look with a silver Elsa Peretti bean clutch in-hand. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Georgia Fowler has made waves at the 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival due to her jaw-dropping fashion statements, but it appears the stunning model has suffered an injury The Kiwi model, 32, who has made multiple appearances this week at the high-profile event on the French Riviera, channelled movie star glamour on Thursday as she donned a silky floor-length gown at the amfAR Gala held at Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc The sophisticated white dress bragged a high neckline and a one-sleeved design that bared her right arm where a blood-stained plaster was visible Georgia opted for a glowy makeup look, with bronzed cheeks, pink lips and lightly shaded eyes. Slicking her hair back into a ponytail, her striking facial features stole the show as she walked the red carpet. This isn't the first time fans have gotten a glimpse of the forearm injury at the French film festival. Georgia also sported a bandage on her arm as she stepped out at The History of Sound premiere on Wednesday. The New Zealand model pulled out all the stops as she joined the A-list guest list for the glitzy event. A large plaster was once again seen on the back of her arm, just below her elbow. Georgia still stormed the red carpet in style and put on a very glamorous display in a sparkling black gown with a sequinned bodice and a fishtail skirt. She paired the sleek ensemble with gold Tiffany & Co. jewellery, sporting a $66,000 Elsa Peretti bone cuff and $10,400 Elsa Peretti high tide earrings This isn't the first time fans have gotten a glimpse of the forearm injury at the French film festival. Georgia also sported a bandage on her arm as she stepped out at The History of Sound premiere on Wednesday. The New Zealand model, 32, pulled out all the stops as she sported a very glamorous ensemble while joining the A-list guest list for the glitzy event Georgia accessorised with an array of high-end jewellery, again from Tiffany and Co., including statement earrings and a dazzling bangle. She swept her raven tresses back into a wet-look up-do and accentuated her stunning features with a dewy make-up palette. Georgia stepped out to celebrate the premiere of Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor's new queer romance movie, The History Of Sound. Based on the short story of the same name by Ben Shattuck, The History Of Sound stars Paul and Josh as love interests Lionel and David. The plot follows the two men as they fall in love while travelling together in the shadow of the WW1. Lionel and David, who meet at music college, embark on a project to record the lives, voices and music of their friends and countrymen, and in the process forge a forbidden bond. Georgia Harrison and Samie Elishi turned heads as they attended the Market Place Food Hall party at St Paul's in London on Thursday evening. Pregnant Georgia, 30, showcased her blossoming baby bump in a chic brown mini dress, paired with a long grey jacket and brown tights that highlighted her toned legs. She completed the look with brown Dr. Martens and statement gold jewellery. By her side was boyfriend Jack Stacey, who kept it casual in a white polo neck and blue jeans. Meanwhile, Samie, 25, opted for a fashionable brown co-ord featuring a wrap top and smart trousers. She styled the ensemble with Nike trainers, a brown leather bag, and a chunky chain choker. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Georgia Harrison and Samie Elishi turned heads as they attended the Market Place Food Hall party at St Paul's in London on Thursday evening Pregnant Georgia, 30, showcased her blossoming baby bump in a chic brown mini dress, paired with a long grey jacket and brown tights that highlighted her toned legs Her brunette locks were swept up into a stylish updo and finished her look off with a radiant palette of makeup. Also at the event was Laura Whitmore, Curtis Pritchard, and David Haye with his model girlfriend Sian Osborne. The celebs appeared in great spirits as they indulged in delicious food and enjoyed a friendly game of pool. The event was to celebrate the launch of its new site in St Paul's, opening May 27. It comes after Georgia took to her Instagram earlier in the month to share a cute bikini-clad first-trimester video taken before her first scan. The clip began with Georgia looking sensational in a stylish baby blue bikini and white lace beach trousers as she enjoyed a day at the beach. She then unbuttoned her trousers and cradled her tummy while lip-syncing to the popular TikTok audio: 'Are you real? I dunno, you seem a little sus.' She cheekily captioned the video: 'Me before I had my first ultrasound.' By her side was boyfriend Jack Stacey, who kept it casual in a white polo neck and blue jeans Meanwhile, Samie, 25, opted for a fashionable brown co-ord featuring a wrap top and smart trousers Also at the event was Laura Whitmore, who stunned in a bright red blazer over blue and red stripped trousers Curtis Pritchard was all smiles at the event David Haye looked dapper with his model girlfriend Sian Osborne The celebs appeared in great spirits as they indulged in delicious food. Pictured Georgia, Jack, and Samie Samie seen eating a pizza at the event The celebs also enjoyed a friendly game of pool (pictured Curtis) The star recently revealed she has a 'whole new drive' to change the world for the better - just weeks after announcing she is expecting her first child. The reality TV star explained in a new interview that she wants to make the world a better environment for her unborn baby to grow up in by continuing her campaigning on the issue of revenge porn. Georgia told OK! Magazine: 'I initially thought of my little sisters and brother when I was campaigning hoping to make things different for them. 'Now, I have this whole new drive I want the world to be a better place because I'm bringing my own child into it.' Georgia met Jack, 33, on a dating app last summer and described her pregnancy as a 'beautiful surprise'. Georgia said: 'We both definitely wanted children, but we didn't quite plan on it this soon, we might've tried to have a fun summer beforehand! But once we'd taken it in, we realised this was the right time. The star added that it's 'amazing to have the gift of being pregnant', as so many people struggle for a long time and for some, the dream never comes true. Georgia also explained to the publication that she was hesitant before starting her relationship with City worker Jack after her former partner, Stephen Bear, 35, shared a private video of them on the internet without her consent. Georgia, who announced her pregnancy on April 10, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Jack (pictured) The Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins star explained that she was quite 'pessimistic' about love in general after the ordeal. However, she wanted to make an effort to meet someone. Now, she has her partner Jack, who treats her well, and the pair are expecting their first child together. Elsewhere in the interview, Georgia was particularly emotional about telling her mother, Nicola, that she was expecting. The star said that her mum has watched her 'go through everything' and has always reassured her that everything will be okay and that she would finally meet someone and get her 'happy ending'. So, Georgia added that her mother seeing her at this happy stage in life is 'such a relief for her'. The stunner announced her happy news via Instagram in April after a whirlwind ten-month romance with Jack. She told followers: 'We've been keeping a secret! Me and Jack are having a baby! Due November 2025, we can't wait to welcome this little one into the world and embrace all the joy and love he or she will bring. 'I still can't believe I've finally got everything I ever wanted and I couldn't be more gratefulAnd just like that 2 are about to become 3.' Brad Pitt unveiled a strikingly new look on Thursday when he was spotted driving in Los Angeles. The 61-year-old Oscar winner is famous for making regular changes to his appearance which often mirror the style of the woman he's with at the time but his latest look marked a particularly big change. Instead of the longer hair that he has lately been rocking, Brad debuted a shockingly short buzzed haircut when he was spotted behind the wheel. The close-cropped look was a major deviation from the spiky, medium-length hair he wore late last year and in his upcoming racing film F1, and it was an even bigger change compared to the the shaggy neck-length hair and full salt-and-pepper beard he was seen displaying earlier this year. Brad had opted to keep the beard, but he instead opted for a much shorter version that, when combined with the buzz cut, gave him a sporty, youthful appearance. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Brad Pitt unveiled a strikingly new look on Thursday when he was spotted driving in Los Angeles; pictured in September 2024 in Venice Instead of the longer hair that he has lately sported, Brad debuted a shockingly short buzzed haircut when he was spotted behind the wheel. He also rocked a close-cropped beard and wore thick tortoiseshell sunglasses with a stylish white jacket The fashion aficionado wore a stylish pair of chunky tortoiseshell sunglasses, and he had on an eye-catching white button-up jacket. Brad's most recent sighting appears to have been around Easter Sunday, when he gave a young fan working a McDonald's drive-through window in New Zealand the surprise of a lifetime when he pulled up. Although the Tree Of Life star's order hasn't been revealed, the woman shared a fun video in which she managed to get him to greet her father on camera. 'Just say hello to my dad?' she pleaded in the clip, with the actor responding 'No' before relenting. 'I'm sorry. Hi Dad,' Brad said, before waving at the camera and adding, 'All right, moving on. Happy Easter.' Brad has previously styled his hair fairly short, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But he may be even better known for the lengthy periods between his film projects when he lets his hair grow. After growing his hair out for a more period-appropriate look in Interview With The Vampire (1994), he continued showing off his even longer hair now complete with a full beard while promoting the film, which costarred Tom Cruise. Brad's most recent sighting appears to have been around Easter Sunday, when he surprised a McDonald's drive-through worker in New Zealand while looking shockingly different with a salt-and-pepper beard and shaggy hair He went even more extreme in the early and mid-'90s. He seen here in 1994 after letting his hair and beard continue to grow after filming Interview With The Vampire Brad also went in a shaggy directing earlier this decade, though he kept a more moderate hair length and usually was clean shaven; pictured in February 2020 in Hollywood Brad also opted for a more reserved but still shaggy look earlier this decade. He tended to skip the beard for a somewhat more refined look in recent years, with hair that was often long enough to slick back but not quite long enough to touch his shoulders. But after going all out on the rugged bearded look, Brad appears to have gone in the opposite direction. Brad famously has appeared to adjust the length of his hair and his styling to complement the women he has dated or been married to over the years, including his ex-wives Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston, as well as girlfriends Gwyneth Paltrow and Juliette Lewis. But he doesn't appear to have made the drastic changes to match his current partner, girlfriend Ines de Ramon. Instead, Brad has seemingly contrasted with the stunning Swiss jewelry professional over the past few years, rocking an individual look during their public outings. Part of that may be that they have a different relationship than he had with some of his former partners, DailyMail.com reported exclusively that he has no plans to marry her for a heartbreaking reason. While there are seemingly differing views about their future, it appears that their styles have followed suit, with Brad confidently branching out with his own unique appearance. Brad appears to have broken his tradition of dressing to matching his partners with his current love Ines de Ramon (pictured in 2024), whom he's been dating since late 2022 While the Hollywood hunk has in the past perfectly complemented his former flames, including Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured together in 1997), the same couldn't be said for his present girlfriend While their red carpet debut would have been the perfect opportunity to rock matching ensembles to highlight how united they were, instead they went for distinctly differing looks; pictured in September in Venice Most notably, when the couple officially made their red carpet debut at the Wolfs premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024. While their big moment would have been the perfect opportunity to rock matching ensembles to highlight how in love and united they were, instead they went for distinctly differing looks, with the hunk donning an all black outfit while Ines stunned in a figure-hugging white dress. Their locks were not on the same page either, with Brad's cropped spiked hair flecked with blond highlights and dashes of gray compared to Ines' lusciously long raven tresses. Other public appearances of the couple also show how Brad has broken the norm with his current girlfriend. Weeks earlier in on September 8, the pair stepped out with Ines looking sleek in a black co-ord, while Brad decided to showcase his jazzy sense of style, teaming his white shirt with a pair of red-and-white checked trousers. Another outing in New York that month saw Brad once again expressing his individual style, turning heads in a bright lemon ensemble while Ines looked effortlessly elegant in a fluffy beige two-piece and coordinating heels. Meanwhile, another trip out in the Big Apple saw rocking a casual outfit consisting of a white bucket hat, white hoodie and houndstooth trousers. Disparately, Ines cut an elegant figure, opting for a more polished look with chic cream knitwear, trendy tortoiseshell sunglasses and a designer bag draped across her body. Weeks earlier in on September 8, the pair stepped out with Ines looking sleek in a black co-ord, while Brad decided to showcase his jazzy sense of style with red and white checked trousers Another outing in New York that month saw Brad once again expressing his individual style, turning heads in a bright lemon ensemble while Ines looked elegant in a fluffy beige two-piece Meanwhile, another trip out in the Big Apple saw rocking a casual outfit consisting of a white bucket hat, white hoodie and houndstooth trousers, compared to Ines' chic cream knitwear While there is nothing wrong with not matching with your partner, Brad and Ines' differing styles further highlights Brad's apparent past love for morphing into his partners. From Angelina Jolie to Jennifer Aniston and Juliette Lewis, Brad has romanced some of Hollywood's biggest leading ladies. And fans previously couldn't help but notice that Brad has at some point echoed the look of the woman he's dating. In the past, fans have spotted a remarkable likeness between Brad and ex-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow, with them showing off matching blond cropped hair. While he and ex wife Jennifer Aniston attended the 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1999 both sporting textured sun-kissed hair and golden tans. Meanwhile, back at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild awards, Brad and his other former wife Angelina Jolie looked eerily similar with their swept-back, highlighted hair, chiseled features and sleek black clothes. Going back even further, Brad was pictured with voluminous hair just like that of then-girlfriend Jitka Pohledek in 1994, just a year after showing off a shorter do much like ex girlfriend Juliette Lewis. It comes as the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the movie megastar won't be hearing wedding bells anytime soon, despite him being loved-up with jewelry designer Ines. Brad has romanced some of Hollywood's biggest leading ladies and fans previously couldn't help but notice that Brad has at some point echoed the look of the woman he's dating In the past, fans have spotted a remarkable likeness between Brad and ex-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow, with them showing off matching blond cropped hair [pictured in 1997] While he and ex wife Jennifer Aniston attended the 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1999 both sporting textured sun-kissed hair and golden tans Meanwhile, Brad and his other former wife Angelina Jolie looked eerily similar with their swept-back, highlighted hair, chiselled features and sleek black clothes. [pictured in 2012] In 1994 Brad was spotted showing off a shorter do much like ex girlfriend Juliette Lewis as he attended a premiere It comes as the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the movie megastar won't be hearing wedding bells anytime soon, despite him being loved-up with jewelry designer Ines 'He's been burned badly by the divorce from Angelina and his kids wanting little if nothing to do with him. He's 61 and loving his life just the way it is' 'Brad is totally in love with Ines, but he doesn't want to go down the road of marriage and kids,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'He's been burned badly by the divorce from Angelina and his kids wanting little if nothing to do with him. He's 61 and loving his life just the way it is.' Pitt and de Ramon have been dating for more than two years. They made their initial appearance as a couple in November 2022 at a Bono concert. As the couple's relationship strengthens, lingering in the background has been a bitter custody battle for Pitt's six children and a second legal battle over the ownership of his French winery, Chateau Miraval. Still, de Ramon is one bright spot in the veteran actor's life, and she has impressed his friends who are still holding out hope they will wed. 'He has spoken to those close to him, including George [Clooney], and everyone has signed off on him doing it,' the insider revealed. 'It would be a nice thing for him as it would be the official moving on from his romantic past with [Jennifer Aniston] and Angie.' Just five months after strongly suggesting she split from Elise Williams, Tommy Dorfman has officially filed for divorce. The 33-year-old Dorfman - who came out as a transgender woman in July 2021 - met on Hinge that year and got engaged after just two months of dating. The couple secretly tied the knot in late 2023 in Malibu, with Dorfman not publicly revealing the nuptials until May 2024. Dorfman shared a 2024 recap post in late December, with 20 images from the year, the first of which was her in a bathtub, with the caption, 'Heartbreak feels good in a place like this,' taken from Nicole Kidman's now-famous AMC Theatres ad, hinting that she and Williams had split. While Dorfman didn't speak publicly about the split since then, People reports that she filed for divorce May 16 in New York City. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Just five months after strongly suggesting she split from Elise Williams , Tommy Dorfman has officially filed for divorce Dorfman shared a 2024 recap post in late December, with 20 images from the year, the first of which was her in a bathtub, with the caption, 'Heartbreak feels good in a place like this,' taken from Nicole Kidman 's now-famous AMC Theatres ad, hinting that she and Williams had split Dorfman was previously married to Peter Zurkuhlen from 2016 to 2021, though they still remain friends. The 13 Reasons Why star came out as non-binary in 2017, four years before coming out as transgender in 2021 in an interview with Time. 'For a year now, I have been privately identifying and living as a womana trans woman,' she said, while adding why she decided to keep her male birth name Tommy. 'Im not changing my name. Im named after my moms brother who passed a month after I was born, and I feel very connected to that name, to an uncle who held me as he was dying. This is an evolution of Tommy. Im becoming more Tommy,' she said. She met Williams in 2021, and while they got engaged just two months after meeting, Dorfman said in her May 2024 Vogue essay that they didn't move in together until months later. 'We got engaged two months into dating. To our credit, we waited a full 12 months before moving in together, so you cant say we U-Hauled (though one might argue taking in a Great Dane puppy at our six-month mark was a smidge irresponsible),' she said. 'Thats the thing about falling in love though; your responsibility barometer isnt always where it should be. Love, for us, required that nauseating combination of naivete, delusion, and fate,' Dorfman added. She called Williams, 'a self-respecting and grounded human,' adding, 'she likes her life, and her privacy.' The 13 Reasons Why star came out as non-binary in 2017, four years before coming out as transgender in 2021 in an interview with Time She met Williams in 2021, and while they got engaged just two months after meeting, Dorfman said in her May 2024 Vogue essay that they didn't move in together until months later 'We got engaged two months into dating. To our credit, we waited a full 12 months before moving in together, so you cant say we U-Hauled (though one might argue taking in a Great Dane puppy at our six-month mark was a smidge irresponsible),' she said Dorfman said that for Williams, 'fame, or even fame by association, was never aspirational for her; she dedicated the first half of her 20s to educating, interior design projects, and writing.' Dorfman said that for Williams, 'fame, or even fame by association, was never aspirational for her; she dedicated the first half of her 20s to educating, interior design projects, and writing.' 'On the other hand, I had never been more public-facing than in our first year together: from fashion weeks to beauty campaigns to the Met Gala. Those first few months illustrated our lifestyle differences and became a testing ground for how we would relate to the outside world,' Dorfman said. Dorfman hasn't publicly commented on the split yet, though she will be embarking on a tour for her new book Maybe This Will Save Me. The tour kicks off in New York City on May 28 with a signing and discussion with Real Housewives of New York star Jenna Lyons. The tour continues in Los Angeles on May 30 with Kaia Gerber, then San Francisco June 5 with Chloe Benjamin and Atlanta June 11 with E.R. Anderson. Lizzo bore shocking resemblance to Beyonce in new photos shared via Instagram on Thursday evening. The 37-year-old music sensation who has lost a significant amount of weight transformed into a platinum blonde bombshell with help from a natural-looking lace-front wig in her latest carousel post. 'Just a girl & her blonde era,' she captioned the images while engaging her audience of 11.6 million. The star, born Melissa Jefferson, even uploaded a snapshot of the 43-year-old Cowboy Carter artist for comparison. Both women's faces were fully made up with glowy cosmetics and their lengthy, flowing, frosty locks created a frame around them. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Lizzo bore shocking resemblance to Beyonce in new photos shared via Instagram on Thursday evening. The star, born Melissa Jefferson, uploaded a snapshot of the 43-year-old Cowboy Carter artist for comparison Lizzo was clad in a body-hugging brown co-ord in the snaps, which she wore on stage during a performance in video footage included in the roundup. Her off-the-shoulder look was complemented with gold accents, including a necklace with a cross pendant and multiple chunky rings with stones. She flaunted her ongoing transformation, as the body-inclusivity advocate has been steadily dropping weight. Jefferson was a guest on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast in April, where she discussed her 'weight release journey.' Addressing her shrinking frame, she declared, 'I have been on an intentional weight release journey.' The About Damn Time songwriter continued, 'I put it on the internet. I posted about it, and I think over the last year and a half, as I've been doing it, my body has been changing very slowly but I don't think people were paying attention.' She opened up, 'I was still very anti-fatphobia on this entire journey. But I think that we gotta remember: everybody's not seeing your sh*t all the time, everybody's not seeing every video you post, everybody's not privy to what you're going through.' Fans were shocked to see a much smaller Lizzo earlier this year when she released Love In Real Life, the titular first single off her upcoming album. She explained further on Shetty's podcast, '[Everybody's] not with you every day. So when I pop out on a red carpet or when a video suddenly goes viral and my body is different, it appears like it was overnight. It appears sudden.' Lizzo shot to fame in 2019, when she was much heavier, and quickly became an outspoken voice for body positivity. The 37-year-old music sensation transformed into a platinum blonde bombshell with help from a natural-looking lace-front wig in her latest carousel post Lizzo was clad in a body-hugging brown co-ord in the snaps, which she wore on stage during a performance in video footage included in the roundup 'Just a girl & her blonde era,' she captioned the images while engaging her audience of 11.6 million The About Damn Time hitmaker included an artfully blurred image in the selection of pictures Beyonce has maintained blonde locks throughout most of her decades-long career; pictured in 2024 While speaking to Jay she acknowledged, 'I think [my weight loss] was shocking to a lot of people.' The musician made a triumphant return to the stage in March with a show at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Addressing the audience between songs, she opened up about her struggle with depression after getting hit with sexual harassment lawsuits by her backup dancers in 2023. She confessed things got so 'dark' for her at times that she started to have suicidal thoughts. 'I named [my album Love In Real Life] because about a year and a half ago its so hard for me to talk about I was in such a dark, deep depression,' the classically trained flautist shared. 'I was so heartbroken by the world and so deeply hurt that I didn't want to live anymore, and I was so deeply afraid of people that I didn't want to be seen. Eventually I got over that fear,' she declared. Samantha Armytage has sent fans wild after sharing pictures of her lookalike sister Georgina during a trip to the UK. The Golden Bachelor star, 48, took to Instagram this week to post a series of photos showing the pair horse riding in Wimbledon Common, located in south-west London. The sisterly duo looked chuffed to be in each other's company for the quaint outing, with the pair beaming broadly as they posed on horseback. Samantha and Georgina could be mistaken for twins in the images, with the pair looking almost identical in their near-matching riding helmets. It was a fact not lost on Samantha's 257,000 followers, with many pointing out the striking similarity. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Samantha Armytage has sent fans wild after sharing pictures of her lookalike sister Georgina 'Twins? You look like twins!' one fan offered, while another chimed in with a similar: 'You and your sister look like twins.' 'I told you that both of you look alike,' a third offered, summing up the sentiment of many. Others were quick to point out just how happy Samantha looked to be in the company of her sister. 'What Fun To B Together Xx U Look Sooo Happy,' one fan swooned. Another offered: 'You look great up there! So good to see you so happy. You deserve it.' Captioning the images, Samantha revealed that she and Georgina had been indulging in their passion for horses since childhood. 'The Armytage sisters have come a long way since Adaminaby Pony Club in the 80's/early 90's. 17,000kms to be precise,' she wrote. 'Probably the first time Daryl Braithwaite has belted out across Wimbledon Common ~ but what fun to womble our way around this morning with Honey, Rosie, Fudge- the -Shetland & the gang. The sisterly duo looked chuffed to be in each other's company for the quaint outing, with the pair beaming broadly as they posed on horseback while riding in Wimbledon Common Sam and Georgina could be mistaken for twins in the images with the pair looking almost identical in their matching riding helmets - a fact not lost on Sam's 257,000 followers, with many pointing out the striking similarity 'Twins? You look like twins!' one fan offered while another chimed in with a similar: 'You and your sister look like twins.' 'I told you that both of you look alike,' a third offered, summing up the sentiment of many She continued: 'Pls note Georgie's "hands & heels"; a throw back to our PC days& my Honey; at 17 hands ~ not bad for an old girl with a new hip - the both of us (no wonder I need the steps).' Samantha's UK jaunt comes after she announced her shock split with husband Richard Lavender late last year. Sam and Richard's separation was planned to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper in December, but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail Australia in advance. 'Yes Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it's somewhat lessened by the fact it's amicable and we wish the best for each other,' Samantha told media following the revelations. 'I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won't be making any further comment.' It is understood Samantha's television presenter friends had been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time. Samantha is no longer followed on Instagram by Richard's two daughters, Sascha and Grace, although the former couple still follow each other. Samantha started dating Richard in April 2019, and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at his property in rural NSW six months later. Others were quick to point out just how happy Sam looked to be in the company of her sister Sam certainly hasn't been resting on her laurels though, with the popular presenter currently filming the anticipated Nine reality series The Golden Bachelor. Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed Barry 'Bear' Myrden, a 50-something infrastructure engineer and passionate sailor from Sydney, has been handpicked as the leading man for the upcoming Australian adaptation. In exclusive pictures, Barry was seen filming the show in Sydney in March, and his cast of leading ladies have since been spotted arriving at the Sydney mansion where filming will take place. Unlike The Bachelor and The Bachelorette which feature young men and women, the Golden Bachelor is targeted at a more mature audience eager to watch how those who have already experienced great love and loss are chasing companionship in their next chapter. 'Bear is not your usual reality TV type,' an insider told Daily Mail Australia. 'He's charming, intelligent and has really lived a full life. He's been through love, loss, and now he's ready to open his heart again. Women are going to adore him.' Naomi Watts and her daughter Kai Schreiber are serving tens across the board as the hosts of a glamorous fundraising event for the trans community in New York City. The British-born Australian actress, 56, and her 16-year-old daughter dolled up in matching gold metallic ensembles for the sold-out Mother Daughter Holy Spirit party on Thursday night. Naomi looked every inch the proud parent as she wrapped an arm around Kai's waist and flaunted their mother-daughter likeness for the cameras. The pair sported matching dramatic makeup with bronzed cheekbones, heavy eyeliner, as well as plum lipsticks, and both wore their blonde locks out. Naomi finished her look with a pair of black leather trousers and a smart blazer, while Kai let her gold sequins do the talking. In the next slide shared to her Stories, Naomi revealed the packed crowd at One for One a new private venue in Midtown East created as a collaborative space for artists and culture makers. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Naomi Watts and her daughter Kai Schreiber hosted a glamorous fundraising event for the trans community in New York City. The British-born Australian actress, 56, and her 16-year-old daughter dolled up in matching gold metallic ensembles for the sold-out party on Thursday Naomi Watts was one of the hosts for the NYC fundraising party held on May 22 for The Trans Justice Funding Project 'We are so pleased to introduce Naomi Watts as a host of Holy Spirit, a party by to fundraise for the Trans Justice Funding Project,' an announcement shared earlier this week read. 'A parent's love is important to every human on earth. 'For trans people, the love and support of a parent can be absolutely crucial. Pictured, Naomi Watts is with her daughter in ...owning MOTHER DAUGHTER.' The Trans Justice Funding Project is a community-led funding initiative that was founded in 2012 to support grassroots, trans justice groups run by and for trans people in the United States. Tickets for the event were priced at US$30 for trans people and US$65 for allies. Naomi played the mum-of-Instagram as she snapped a photo of Kai cuddled up to Hari Nef, an openly transgender model and actress at the event. The outing comes after the Mulholland Drive star shared never-before-seen photos of her daughter, Kai, and son Sasha, 17, on Mother's Day earlier this month. 'My heart is so full. Thank you Sasha and Kai for giving me motherhood,' she said. In the next slide shared to her Stories, Naomi revealed the packed crowd at One for One a new private venue in Midtown East created as a collaborative space for artists and culture makers Naomi played the mum-of-Instagram as she snapped a photo of Kai cuddled up to Hari Nef, an openly transgender model and actress at the event Naomi went on to also thank her current husband Billy Crudup for organising the family day: 'And to Billy for the most wonderful day. Feeling so grateful.' Kai came out as transgender in 2025 on Instagram, after making her her runway debut for Valentino during Paris Fashion Week in March. 'I'm so eternally grateful that I'm so supported as a young transgender girl,' the up-and-coming model and activist wrote. 'But there are so many boys and girls like me who can't say they have the same blessing. 'Our job is to stand up and support those young beautiful lives, and the @aliforneycenter is helping us to do so.' Kai's father, actor Leiv Schrieber, also stood by her side at the Ali Forney Center's A Place at the Table gala at The Glasshouse. The Ali Forney Center is a New York City non-profit which provides shelter and healthcare services to LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness. 'This isn't just about representing the trans community,' he said. 'These are people who are being rejected. These are people who are experiencing the harshest version of humanity that we can offer, and some of them are not surviving it.' 'We got to bear that in mind when we go out there and glam ourselves up and get ready to be seen, you know?' Schreiber continued. 'That what we're doing is actually raising money for a community that desperately needs it.' 'Kai is embracing her space in the trans community like never before,' Liev said. 'Kai is such a fighter,' he added. 'It's important that she goes, "Hey, I am trans," and, "Look at me."' Jennifer Aniston, who is reportedly worth $320 million, joined an ultra-casual trend that has been sweeping Hollywood celebrities. Leaning into the breezy style of Los Angeles, the 56-year-old Friends star headed out to a meeting in a a set of simple black flip flops. Flip flops have become a galloping fad among the showbiz elite, though they are known to splash out even for their relaxed footwear. Kylie Jenner, Michelle Williams and Zoe Kravitz have all been glimpsed in pairs from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's brand The Row that can run up to over $600. Meanwhile Aniston has opted to economize by superstar standards, splashing out $40 each for three pairs of Archies Arch Support sandals, per Cosmopolitan. When she surfaced in Los Angeles this week, the Horrible Bosses actress appeared as though she might be wearing flip flops from the same brand yet again. Jennifer Aniston , who is reportedly worth $320 million, joined an ultra-casual trend that has been sweeping Hollywood celebrities She emphasized her lithe figure in a skintight white tank top that clashed elegantly against her black skirt and her sleek, dark sunglasses. Her taste for $40 flip flops runs counter to that of fellow celebrities, such as Hailey Bieber, who wore a $520 pair by Toteme for dinner with Kendall Jenner this month, according to a report in Marie Claire. She is apparently a longtime devotee of flip flops by The Row, the coveted fashion brand founded by the Olsen twins two decades ago. A couple of weeks ago, Aniston was seen indulging in another footwear fad as she surfaced in a pair of hippie-style Birkenstocks. She wore those sandals with a simple set of folded-up jeans and a white t-shirt, exuding an unpretentious air of chic that was mirrored when she was spotted this week. Her latest outing comes on the heels of news her alleged stalker has been deemed unfit to stand trial - but has requested a second opinion. A Los Angeles mental health court heard that Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, 48, has been evaluated by psychiatrist Dr. Phani Tumu. Carwyle, from Mississippi, was arrested on May 5 after ramming his car into the gates of the beloved Friends stars $21 million sprawling hilltop Bel-Air mansion that sits behind 15-feet high privacy hedges. Leaning into the breezy style of Los Angeles, the 56-year-old Friends star headed out to a meeting in a a set of simple black flip flops Aniston's latest outing comes on the heels of news her alleged stalker Jimmy Wayne Carwyle (pictured) has been deemed unfit to stand trial - but has requested a second opinion His estranged wife previously told Daily Mail that he believes himself to be Jesus Christ and Aniston, 56, is his queen. Dr. Tumu is of the opinion that my client is client is currently incompetent to stand trial, public defender Robert Krauss told the court on Thursday. After speaking with my client he is requesting a second opinion as is his right. The defendant stood silent facing out into the court from inside a glassed-walled security booth, wearing what appeared to be a vest designed to prevent self harming. Prosecutors say Carwyle 'repeatedly' harassed Aniston between March 1, 2023 to May 5, 2025, sending her 'unwanted social media, voicemail, and email messages.' During his first bizarre court appearance, just days after he crashed into the A-lister's gate, Carwyle showed up shirtless and disoriented. He pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and vandalism charges at the May 8 hearing, when the judge paused proceedings until the accused stalker was evaluated. Whoopi Goldberg made a surprising confession during an episode of The View this week. While chatting alongside co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin, the 69-year-old Hollywood vet who appeared to fall asleep on a recent episode revealed she hasn't worn a bra in 50 years. The admission was made as the women discussed the subject in reference to a conversation between Real Housewives of Potomac stars Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon on their podcast Reasonably Shady. During The View's Hot Topics segment, the ladies weighed in on their preferred way of putting on the undergarment. When it was time for the Ghost actress to share, she exclaimed, 'I dont wear one. I have not worn a bra in 50 years.' She lightheartedly added that she 'liberated those girls a long time ago.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Whoopi Goldberg made a surprising confession during an episode of The View this week; pictured on May 5 And the star joked, 'Its too uncomfortable, and I dont mind if they hit the floor! Theyre mine.' According to her timeline, Whoopi has not put on a brassiere since she was in her 20s back in the 1970s. Demonstrating her ability to make an audience laugh with her comedic chops, Goldberg got out of her chair and quickly acted out a scene. 'This is what you do. Youre walking and then you go, "Hey girl," she said while pretending to kick a would-be breast off the ground and over her shoulder. One year ago Whoopi revealed that a hotel maid once found her in the closet with cocaine 'all over' her face after she became a 'high-functioning' addict in the 1980s. She opened up about her substance abuse in her memoir, Bits And Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, And Me. Inside the pages of the book she also wrote about her mom, Emma, being sent to a psychiatric hospital for two years. Recalling the height of her addiction to cocaine, the Sister Act star wrote that she believed she could handle the drug because it didn't seem as dangerous as heroin, which she had previously been hooked on in the 1970s. Whoopi explained in the literary effort how after moving to Los Angeles she attended parties where it wasn't unusual for a bowl of Quaaludes to be openly displayed for guests. While chatting alongside co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin, the 69-year-old Hollywood vet While chatting alongside co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin, the 69-year-old Hollywood vet revealed she hasn't worn a bra in 50 years Goldberg pictured in January during Paris Fashion Week According to her timeline, Whoopi has not put on a brassiere since she was in her 20s back in the 1970s; pictured in 1985 The mother-of-one, whose first husband Alvin Martin was her drug counselor, explained that despite using drugs routinely, she still showed up to work. However, about a year into the substance abuse she realized she was getting 'sloppy.' She recalled the incident that took place in a Manhattan hotel room, describing it as a 'slap-in-the-face' moment for her. According to the memoir, she was sitting on the closet floor sniffing cocaine by herself when a maid knocked on the door and let herself in. 'I screamed, she screamed and backed up and looked like she was going to run,' Whoopi explained. 'I had to get to her quickly and try to calm her down. She was staring at my face as I talked,' the morning show host continued before noting she later looked in the mirror and realized that she had cocaine 'all over' her face. Australian indie-pop band Sheppard have made the shock decision to cancel their upcoming American tour for a heartbreaking reason. The band shared a sad statement to social media on Friday confirming the scheduled concerts would not be going ahead, due to the challenging reality of touring. 'To our beautiful fans, I'm afraid we have some rather upsetting news. We've had to make the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our upcoming US tour,' they began. The Geronimo hitmakers had been performing across Europe earlier this year and were set to bring their shows to the States in June. They revealed a combination of the high touring costs and challenging concert logistics meant it was no longer feasible for them to perform in America, and reassured those who had already bought a ticket they would be refunded. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Australian indie-pop band Sheppard have made the shock decision to cancel their upcoming US tour for a heartbreaking reason 'A combination of sky-high touring costs, ambitious production standards so that we can give you the show you deserve and complex logistics have made this tour impossible,' they wrote. 'We're heartbroken. Being on stage in front of our fans - watching you not just sing but feel every word in our words - is always the greatest experience of our lives. 'Please know this isn't the end. It's just a pause. We're taking time to reset, to rebuild a more sustainable path forward.' Devastated fans took to the comment section to share their sadness over the band's shock decision. 'I was so looking forward to this concert, but its okay! Next time,' one person wrote. 'Guys, better times will come, you've worked so hard this past year,' a second added. It comes after the band made the shock decision to not cancel their recent concert in Poland, despite selling just 59 tickets to the show. The Brisbane-based band were performing across Europe and had a scheduled performance in Warsaw on April 12 that sold below expectations. The band shared a sad statement to social media on Friday confirming the scheduled concerts would not be going ahead, due to the challenging reality of touring They revealed a combination of the high touring costs and challenging concert logistics meant it was no longer feasible for them to perform in America However, the band decided the show must go on and played their hearts out to a small yet passionate crowd. They later shared a clip to social media revealing why they made the decision to continue with the performance. '59 people showed up to our show in Poland. We knew we had only sold minimal tickets but also knew the people that would show up would be our biggest fans,' they began. 'We knew that no matter what we had to show up for them. So we got on stage and gave it 100 per cent.' Sheppard formed in 2009 and the current line-up comprises of siblings Amy, Emma and George Sheppard and Jon Butterworth. The band shot to fame in 2014 with the song Geronimo. The track reached number one in Australia and also charted in America and the UK. They have released four studio albums, all of which have made the top ten in Australia. They are still scheduled to perform two shows in Queensland, Australia and will take the stage in Port Douglas on May 24 and Logan Central on May 31. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was the subject of a huge surge in bets on Thursday as speculation about who could be the next superstar to play 007 heats up. The drastic change in betting habits came after the Godzilla actor, 34, dropped a major hint on Wednesday that he could be in line to play Bond in the much-anticipated movie. It was announced that Aaron had signed a deal with the official watch provider of the James Bond franchise Omega, leaving film-lovers in a frenzy. Following the news, bets placed on Taylor-Johnson to become the latest actor 'with a license to kill' surged by a whopping three times on Thursday compared to the previous fortnight, according to Oddschecker. Bookies' odds on the 34-year-old have since been slashed with Aaron edging closer to second favourite Henry Cavill, 42. Fans are more eager than ever to find out who is to replace Daniel Craig, 57, as the next James Bond after the actor relinquished the role with No Time To Die Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 34, saw an almost 70% increase in bets placed on him for the part on Thursday Leon Blackman, a spokesperson for Oddschecker, said: 'Aaron Taylor-Johnson has seen a surge of betting interest for him on the Oddschecker platform on Thursday after news broke of his watch deal with Omega. '67% of bets have backed him to replace Daniel Craig as 007 and he's taken three times the number of bets on Thursday afternoon than the previous fortnight.' Pierce Brosnan, 72, was the first special agent to don Omega during the 1995 film GoldenEye and the partnership has flourished ever since, with Craig wearing the brand's Seamaster watch during No Time To Die. After signing the lavish new deal, Aaron Taylor-Johnson said: 'I have always had an appreciation for timepieces but especially for Omega. 'Now, after visiting the factory, I am in awe of the skill required to manufacture such a luxurious product.' Omega's CEO described Aaron as a 'versatile actor with a range that covers action, thriller, romance and much more'. It's precisely those qualities - and his striking good looks - that have led to the actor's strong links to the role. Aaron has previously played it cool when asked about the possibility of him becoming Bond, telling Esquire: 'It's not really for me to stay anything.' The surge came after Aaron signed a deal with Omega - the watch provider for the James Bond franchise After signing the lavish new deal, the actor said: 'I have always had an appreciation for timepieces but especially for Omega' Former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, now 72, has also backed Aaron for the part, saying he would 'make a fine Bond' But with his odds for the part slashed, Aaron (7/2) seems firmly in the running just behind Cavill (3/1). The pair however are pipped at the top by the bookies' favourite to be the next 007 - The Divergent Series star Theo James, 40, who is currently 5/2, according to Oddschecker. The Brit has previously impressed while playing rogue, morally ambiguous characters somewhat similar to Bond in both The White Lotus and and Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen. Theo has played down speculation linking him to the part however, telling The Guardian in 2024 that it 'probably wouldn't be me'. But betting habits in recent weeks have suggested that eager fans have been growing in confidence that Theo James could star in the next movie, with 70% of all bets on the next 007 placed on The White Lotus actor. Jack Lowden (8/1) and James Norton (10/1) remain some of the outside favourites for the part. It was announced earlier this year that Amazon Prime had taken over 'creative control' of the James Bond franchise leaving fans fearing the beloved films could be ruined by endless spin-offs. The deal comes after Amazon bought MGM Studios in 2022 as a part of its media push. The acquisition gave Amazon distribution rights to the 007 franchise but not creative control. The current bookies' favourite to become the next Bond is none other than The Divergent series star Theo James, 40, Superman actor Henry Cavill, 42, had soared to the top of the odds list last week but has now been pipped by Theo The company is said to be fast-tracking the new movie after spending a reported $1 billion to regain control from Barbara Broccoli. Producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal have been hired and they are understood to be close to a deal with director Alfonso Cuaron. Then they will go about casting the next Bond. As The Daily Mail reported, the plan is for a 'straight up' reboot after Daniel Craig's 007 died in No Time To Die. There is reportedly set to be no explanation of how the special agent is still alive, no multiverse of Bonds and no attempt to go back to the 1960s for a vintage Bond. Amazon bosses are currently said to be considering locations in which to set the much-anticipated new film, which experts predicted is likely to be released at the end of next year or in 2027. Due to a filming ban being imposed in Central London next year, new locations are reportedly being considered - with Liverpool a frontrunner, according to The Sun. An insider told the publication: 'This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise may lead to them making big changes. As The Daily Mail reported, the plan is for a 'straight up' reboot after Daniel Craig's 007 died in No Time To Die 'But Liverpool is a well-known alternative to London for film-makers. 'It has appeared in everything from The Batman to Captain America and Harry Potter movies, doubling up as international cities.' The source added that it doesn't necessarily mean the story will be set in Liverpool - though eagle-eyed Merseysiders will no doubt spot their city centre in the background. MailOnline contacted Amazon for comment about the possibility of Liverpool being the setting for the next Bond. Nicole Kidman spilled the beans on one unusual activity she does with her husband Keith Urban which makes her a 'good wife'. The Eyes Wide Shut icon, 57, revealed the thing she likes to do tends to be while she is at home with her husband, also 57. Nicole - who has been happily married to Keith since 2006 - spoke candidly in a recent interview with Allure. She said: 'I watch car auctions with my husband. Thats a good wife.' The Aussie actress also said her nighttime activities might change from time - and it can include a cold plunge in the ocean. 'I love the cold ocean. On Big Little Lies, Meryl thought I was nuts; she would see me in the ocean at 6:00 a.m. every day.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Nicole Kidman, 57, spilled the beans on one unusual activity she does with her husband Keith Urban, also 57, which makes her a 'good wife' (pictured in January together) The actress added proudly: 'I watch car auctions with my husband. That's a good wife' (pictured this month in Cannes) Nicole - who has been happily married to Keith since 2006 - spoke candidly in a recent interview with Allure It comes not long after the star suffered a wig mishap while making an appearance at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival earlier this month. While walking the red carpet at glitzy events, she donned a blonde hairpiece - but the wig cap was visible and in another instance, the wig itself was off center. During an appearance on Channel Seven's Sunrise this week, Nicole opened up about opting for wigs. 'As you know, I love changing my hair,' the Big Little Lies star expressed, before bringing up the short pixie cut she chose for the 2025 Met Gala in NYC this month. While some fans initially believed that the star was simply unveiling her natural hair, it was soon revealed that it had also been a wig. 'For the Met Gala, everyone was questioning if I had chopped my hair off. But no, I didn't.' During her interview with Danielle Pergament for her new cover story for Allure for its May 2025 issue, Kidman reflected on getting older. When questioned if aging has been difficult, the actress candidly replied: 'Yes. I've always been a future person, and suddenly you go, "Oh." It's coming to terms with the idea that you have no control over the future.' She continued, 'Probably that's to do with losing people very, very suddenly. I have more time behind me than ahead. Speaking about her changing look, she said: 'For the Met Gala, everyone was questioning if I had chopped my hair off. But no, I didn't,' she explained; seen above at the 2025 Met Gala 'That shift in the ratio becomes a big thing. You're just always going, "What is all this?" The existential questions. Who are we? Why are we here?"' The Oscar winner is preparing to celebrate her 58th birthday next month on June 20. Nicole also had a discussion about coping with grief following the passing of her mother last year in September. 'Losing my mother changed every part of me,' she admitted to the outlet, revealing that they would talk to each other multiple times a week. The star explained that her mother's death still feels 'so raw' and added she is still 'on the journey of grief, the year of magical thinking.' The beauty has children of her own and is mom to Sunday, 16, and Faith, 14, whom she shares with husband Keith Urban. During her past marriage to actor Tom Cruise, the former couple also adopted Bella, 32, and Connor, 30. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, Kidman gave insight to her loved ones. 'My husband is a massive part of who I am, and my daughters. My daughters are huge, huge contributors to things in my life, and they open my eyes to things.' Nicole has been keeping busy and recently starred in the second season of the Hulu thriller series Nine Perfect Strangers, which she also executive produces. Other cast members in the new season - which began airing this week on Wednesday - include Henry Golding, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Murray Bartlett, Mark Strong and Lena Olin. The premise of the show is: 'Nine stressed city dwellers visit a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. The resort's director is a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies,' per IMDB. During an interview with ABC's On The Red Carpet, the actress reflected on the latest season and her own character Masha. 'It's just such a rich story, which lends itself to many different reinventions, and Masha herself is a reinvention every time,' Kidman expressed. 'I'm in the middle of it all, but I get to shine a light on everybody else who's in it, and this time around, it was this extraordinary cast.' While season one took place in Los Angeles, the setting for season two has changed to the Austrian Alps. The second season of Nine Perfect Strangers consists of eight episodes - with the final set to release on Hulu on July 2. Melania Trump has released her memoir, Melania, as an AI-narrated audiobook - using a synthetic version of her own voice. The 18 audiobook launched on 22 May and is currently available in English through the ElevenReader app and on her official website, MelaniaTrump.com Versions in Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi are due later this year. The recording lasts seven hours. I am honoured to bring you Melania The AI Audiobook narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice, she posted on X. Let the future of publishing begin. In a formal statement, she added: I am proud to be at the forefront of publishing's new frontier the intersection of artificial intelligence technology and audio. ElevenLabs developed an AI-generated replica of my voice under my strict supervision, which will establish an unforgettable connection with my personal story, in multiple languages for listeners worldwide. Melania Trump has released her memoir, Melania, as an AI-narrated audiobook. The 18 audiobook launched on 22 May and is currently available in English through the ElevenReader app and on her official website, MelaniaTrump.com Melania Trump published her memoir in October 2024 The memoir, published in October 2024, is described by publisher Skyhorse as a compelling and inspirational account. It traces Trumps life from her childhood in Slovenia to her modelling career in Europe and New York, culminating in the serendipitous meeting with Donald Trump, a chance encounter that forever changed the course of her life. The book also includes personal photographs and has been presented in a coffee table format. But while the book promises inspiration, the decision to use artificial intelligence in place of a traditional reading has triggered widespread criticism. Why wouldnt you read it yourself? Thats disappointing, wrote one user on X. Others were less diplomatic: That aint publishing. Thats you talkin to Siri. Siddown, said one particularly sharp post. Trump worked with ElevenLabs, a New York-based AI audio company backed by 208 million in funding and recently valued at 2.4 billion. The company created an official AI voice for the former First Lady, allowing her to release the audiobook without recording it herself. ElevenReader, its app, features AI-narrated works from public figures including Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra and Arianna Huffington, and even voices of deceased celebrities such as Judy Garland, Sir Laurence Olivier and John Wayne. Some critics viewed the decision as a broader warning about automation in the arts: Lets stop replacing humans with AI. Its a road to disaster. Trump's embrace of AI in storytelling comes even as she warns of its dangers elsewhere. Just days before the audiobooks release, she appeared alongside Donald Trump at the signing of the Take It Down Act, aimed at strengthening protections for victims of deepfake pornography - an initiative she supported as part of her Be Best campaign. Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation: sweet, addictive, and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children, she said. Denzel Washington may have become embroiled in a heated exchange with a photographer at Cannes earlier this week, but Homeland star Damian Lewis appears better at keeping his cool. When the actor, 54, arrived at Nice Airport on his return from Cannes Film Festival, he and his girlfriend, rock star Alison Mosshart, were accosted by a group of autograph hunters. 'One woman simply wouldn't take 'no' for an answer,' a witness told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden. They added: 'She quickly became extremely vexed, ranting about how they had 'made' him and how he was ungrateful. 'She was shouting and finger-jabbing and had people rushing to restrain her.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Denzel Washington became embroiled in a heated exchange with a photographer at Cannes when he at Nice airport with his rock star girlfriend Alison Mosshart Yet unlike Denzel, Eton-educated Lewis 'could not have been cooler', the source said. 'He was calm, even polite, and simply let her vent while quietly clarifying that he couldn't agree with anything she was saying.' Earlier this month Damian put on a cosy display with his girlfriend Alison at the Moet Hennessy Dom Perignon Revelations party at London's Tate Modern. The actor and the rocker, 46, looked as loved-up than ever as they posed for snaps inside the starry venue. Damian and Alison have been dating for two years, after they were first spotted together in the summer of 2022. Romance blossomed a year after Damian's wife of 14 years, actress Helen, tragically passed away in April 2021 aged 52 after a secret battle with breast cancer. Shortly after Helen's death, Damian wrote a heartbreaking tribute to his late wife in The Times where he revealed she wanted him to find love again - joking his children said their mother 'wanted daddy to have lots of girlfriends'. Last month, Damian poignantly opened up on how he handles grief after Helen's passing. Denzel Washington lashed out at an overzealous photographer while attending the red carpet premiere of his movie Highest 2 Lowest at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday Damian's first wife Peaky Blinders actress Helen McCrory died from breast cancer in April 2021 aged just 52, having kept her diagnosis a secret (pictured with Damian in 2020) Damian has two teenage children - Manon, 18, (R) and Gulliver, 16 (L) - with Helen The Homeland actor said: 'There's a well-known psychological state in grief, or post any sort of trauma, which is called the manic defence.' He continued: 'I have the manic defence in a very pronounced way, which is that you affirm life. 'So in amongst the inevitable days of being in a heap on the floor bawling your eyes out, there is your manic defence, which is like, 'Come on, live life, move forward, and reaffirm life'. Damian, who has two teenage children - Manon, 18, and Gulliver, 16 - with Helen, added: 'Life is there for the taking, to be lived. 'Especially when you have two children making sure they have a sense that everything is not over.' Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showcased her jaw-dropping physique as she posed for a slew of sun-soaked Instagram pictures on her lavish holiday in Antibes, France. The Plymouth-born supermodel, 38, flaunted her rock hard abs as she donned a tiny white bikini and matching sarong ahead of a beach day. The former Victoria's Secret Angel snapped a mirror selfie to show off her outfit, adding a cream cap and oversized dark shades. Rosie added a maxi straw tote bag and sported chic sandals, finishing off the look with a dazzling set of gold jewellery. The catwalk queen appeared to be living her best life in the luxurious French Riviera following her appearance at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where she has been a regular guest for years. The fashion icon gave fans a glimpse of her getaway as she snapped a picture in a classy white maxi dress and open-toe heels. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showcased her jaw-dropping physique as she posed for a slew of sun-soaked Instagram pictures on her lavish holiday in Antibes, France The Plymouth-born supermodel, 38, flaunted her rock hard abs as she donned a tiny white bikini for one stunning snap Another stunning shot of Rosie from behind saw her weae a glamorous white dress with sexy open-back detail. In a behind-the-scenes snap from her Cannes red carpet look, the English beauty wowed in a strapless red gown and elegant black stilettos, oozing old glamour. Rosie once again proved her impeccable sense of fashion as she sported white trousers and a cream mesh knit top with stylish black sunglasses as well as a headscarf. In a beaming selfie at the 2025 Kering Women In Motion Awards gala night, she captured herself alongside pal Patrick Schwarzenegger. They appear to be linked thanks to Rosie's fiance Jason Statham's long-time friendship with Patrick's father and acting legend Arnold, 77. The photo dump comes a day after Rosie tantalized her 20.5 million Instagram followers as she shared a new set of bikini-clad snapshots. The supermodel bared her washboard abs in the brand's two-piece check swimsuit with string ties. Rosie smoldered underneath an outdoor shower as she modeled the $370 top and $290 bottoms. The fashion icon enjoyed the well-deserved sunshine break and displayed her sizzling figure in a classy white maxi dress and open-toe heels Another stunning shot captured Rosie from behind wearing a glamorous white dress with a sexy open-back detail while taking a walk outdoors In a behind-the-scenes snap from her Cannes red carpet look, the English beauty wowed in a strapless red gown and elegant black stilettos, oozing old glamour Rosie once again proved her impeccable sense of fashion as she sported cosy white trousers and a cream mesh knit top with stylish black sunglasses as well as a headscarf The catwalk queen appeared to be living her best life in the luxurious French Riviera In a beaming selfie at the 2025 Kering Women In Motion Awards gala night, she captured herself alongside pal Patrick Schwarzenegger She used a clever play on words as she captioned the post, 'Thirst tap.' And the stunner also took to Instagram Stories to share a closer look at the pictures, declaring it a 'Burberry bikini summer.' In April, Rosie sat down with The Sunday Times and opened up about her relationship with fiance Jason Statham, who is 20 years her senior. She and the actor are parents to son Jack, eight, and daughter Bella, three. The former Victoria's Secret Angel told the publication that their age gap has never been a problem. 'Im committed to my family,' she said of their longtime romance. The star emphasized, 'I value the family unit and hes just been such an incredible person in my life. 'We take each day as it comes. Theres a lot of love and fun and humor, and we just try to make it work.' The photo dump comes just the day after Rosie tantalized her 20.5 million Instagram followers as she shared a new set of bikini-clad snapshots from her time in France This former teen star looked unrecognizable while stepping out on a rare outing in Los Angeles this week. The actress, now 47, was fresh-faced as she stepped out to pick up a refreshment at a coffee chain in Larchmont Village. She looked much more mature while sporting casual, errand-running attire, compared to back when she starred in the 1999 cult classic Girl, Interrupted alongside Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder, when she was only 22. This comes after she publicly discussed about her mental health battle and opened up about coming out as gay. She also touched on self-acceptance. She was also pictured kissing her best friend, Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne, several years ago after they previously made out in a Sapphic romantic comedy together. She is also close friends with Kristen Stewart after they worked together in another holiday rom-com. Can you guess who she is? This former teen star looked unrecognizable while stepping out on a rare outing in Los Angeles this week The actress, now 47, was fresh-faced as she stepped out to pick up a refreshment at a coffee chain in Larchmont Village She is Clea DuVall. The actress and director is best known for appearing in cult classics But I'm A Cheerleader and Girl, Interrupted. The movie star who is of no relation to Shelley Duvall is also known for starring in a number of blockbuster hits including Argo, She's All That, The Grudge, Zodiac and Faculty. She was spotted coming out of Starbucks with an iced tea beverage and toting a black, leather crossbody bag and a brown paper bag after picking up a gift from local children's shop Flicka. Kicking off the weekend, she was spotted grabbing a little pick-me-up for her morning errands. For her day out on the town, she sported a bright blue graphic T-shirt layered with a brown, linen button-up shirt and paired with dark-wash, fitted jeans. She opted out of any makeup and showed off her fresh-faced, glowing visage, a little rosy from spending time in the sun, on Friday. DuVall who was previously linked to Elliot Page, Camila Grey and Carla Gallo has reportedly been married to film producer Mia Weir since 2015. She looked much more mature while sporting casual, errand-running attire, compared to back when she starred in the 1999 cult classic Girl, Interrupted, starring Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder, at the age of 22 DuVall at the Los Angeles premiere of Poker Face Season 2 at Hollywood Legion Theater on May 1 in Los Angeles She is also close friends with Kristen Stewart after they worked together in another sapphic holiday rom-com together; pictured in 2020 Happiest Season still Her directorial work includes the 2020 sapphic rom-com Happiest Season. The Hulu romantic comedy film was directed by DuVall, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Mary Holland. The movie, which featured an all-star ensemble cast including Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie and Dan Levy among many others. Her most recent projects include appearing as Lyonne's lead character Charlie's estranged sister in Poker Face. She is also a director for a special episode of season two. She also worked on 2022 Amazon series High School. DuVall was also tapped to direct the female-driven comedy adventure film, Abbi and the Eighth Wonder, last year. The actress previously opened up about working on the satirical, sapphic romantic comedy, But I'm A Cheerleader, as she opened up about a difficult time in her life. A few years ago, she opened up about her mental health while discussing the legacy of But I'm A Cheerleader and reflecting on working on the gay conversion camp rom-com with Lyonne in 1999. She was also pictured kissing her best friend, Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne, several years ago after they previously made out in a sapphic romantic comedy together Her most recent projects include appearing as Lyonne's lead character Charlie's estranged sister in Poker Face. She is also a director for a special episode of season two DuVall said it was a 'scary time' for her back then, because, at the time, she had not come out yet publicly. 'I came out at 16, but until I was in my thirties I was just kind of surviving,' she confessed. 'So many opportunities came to me because of [But I'm A Cheerleader] that I didn't take because I was afraid,' she admitted in an October 2022 interview with The Independent. 'I was very closeted and very afraid of people finding out I was gay,' she explained. 'It was the Nineties. There was no conversation about sexuality you were just not going to talk about it.' Though she had already come out to her friends and family at the time, she was not yet ready to come out publicly while in the spotlight. 'It was dangerous for me,' she said about promoting the movie around the time of its premiere. 'It was such a scary time. Once it came out and we started the press cycle for it, I remember feeling like, "Oh s***, I need to hide. I need to stop."' The actress previously opened up about working on the satirical, sapphic romantic comedy, But I'm A Cheerleader, as she opened up about a difficult time in her life A few years ago, she opened up about her mental health while discussing the legacy of But I'm A Cheerleader and reflecting on working on the gay conversion camp rom-com with Lyonne in 1999 She later came out in 2016. 'I could either try to convince people that I was not who I am, or embrace who I was and come out,' she said. 'So much pain comes from not accepting yourself for who you are.' She continued: I've seen so many people bending over backwards and tying themselves in knots. I've had friends die because they were trying so hard to be something that they weren't. Eventually you buckle under the weight of that.' She added, 'The time that it took to [come out] helped shape the person that I've become. I feel settled. I feel more at peace with myself.' Tori Spelling has shared a pin-up bikini photo to Instagram for the first time in several years. The 52-year-old TV and movie actress looked slender and toned as she showed off her figure in a colorful striped two-piece bathing suit while on the sandy beach. There were four marks on her tummy which fans asked about. Turns out they are belly piercings. The Beverly Hills, 90210 veteran was on vacation with her family at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The blonde Los Angeles native has five children with ex Dean McDermott: Liam, 18, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, eight. 'Spring break + my birthday celebration with my favorite people at @atlantisbahamas. Grateful for this time to unwind, laugh, and make memories in paradise. ,' she wrote in her caption as she credited Finn McDermott as the photographer. Spelling is officially dating her on-again boyfriend Ryan Cramer, 46, again nearly two years after they were last publicly spotted together. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Tori Spelling has shared a pin-up bikini photo to Instagram for the first time in several years The 52-year-old TV and movie actress looked slender and toned as she showed off her figure in a colorful striped two-piece bathing suit while on the sandy beach. The marks on her tummy are belly piercings The Beverly Hills, 90210 veteran was on vacation with her family at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas The reality TV personality and her former flame reportedly rekindled their romance 'a few months' ago before they made their relationship red carpet official a little over a week ago. The pair attended at the Los Angeles premiere of The Carters docuseries last in April and sparked reconciliation rumors after posing for photos together. He works as an advertising CEO. The pair were first romantically linked two years ago when they were spotted making out during a romantic dinner date just months after Spelling's separation from her ex-husband McDermott, 58. Spelling was previously married to McDermott for nearly two decades before they parted ways in 2023 and she filed for divorce in early 2024. In her legal filing, their date of separation was listed as June 17, 2023. McDermott also shares adult son Jack, 25, with his ex-wife Mary Jo Eustance. The insider revealed that even after Spelling and her new beau broke up, they remained in contact 'here and there' in the past two years. 'She feels it was serendipitous that they reconnected and hit it off again,' the source told the outlet. The insider also said Spelling feels supported by Cramer because he is 'the least judgmental person.' The source added that the reality star 'is really happy and feels like her life is moving in a great direction.' Another insider also told the outlet that the couple previously met through work before their romance initially began in 2023. The blonde Los Angeles native has five children with ex Dean McDermott: Liam, 18, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, eight 'Spring break + my birthday celebration with my favorite people at @atlantisbahamas. Grateful for this time to unwind, laugh, and make memories in paradise. ,' she wrote in her caption as she credited Finn McDermott as the photographer Cramer is the co-founder and CEO of a California-based advertising agency Neuron Syndicate. 'She thought he was very charming and handsome,' the source said at the time. 'Tori is really excited about the new relationship.' Their reconciliation comes just a couple weeks after Spelling opened up about single life and admitted she has fears of 'dying alone.' 'I'm now 51 and single again with five kids, so I don't even know where I stand in the future,' she told guest Aubrey O'Day on the April 4 episode of her misSPELLING podcast. 'I just don't want to be alone,' she continued as she broke down in tears. 'I don't want to die alone. I don't know what I'm doing right now.' Also in April she said a conversation with her daughter led to the breakdown of her marriage. Speaking on her 'misSPELLING' podcast, Tori revealed Hattie asked her: 'Have you ever considered what it would be like to be with someone else and not dad and get treated right?' The resort treated her well as they served her a dessert with a cute note The menu was full of treats like shrimp and a Mediterranean salad Spelling also shared a photo of a shark Although Tori insisted that Hattie 'loves her dad', the question made her consider if staying in the marriage was the best thing for the kids. She explained: 'It got to the point where it was worse for the kids to see us together. We could no longer hide what was happening, the fights.' Tori also revealed that Dean's alcoholism took a toll, saying: 'He was an addict going through a lot, and a lot of it was taken out on me. 'And she saw that. I didn't like the person I was, trying to raise strong humans and just taking it and taking it. Spelling is officially dating her on-again boyfriend Ryan Cramer again nearly two years after they were last publicly spotted together. Seen in April in LA Spelling, her ex Dean McDermott and their children arrive for the World Premiere of Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019 'On my part, at least, the want of kids, just always wanting their parents together, I think kept me from making what was outwardly a better decision for them than what they saw between two partners. 'That kept me in the relationship far too long, and it ultimately, I feel, did a disservice to my kids.' Meanwhile, Dean entered rehab after their split and celebrated one year of sobriety last July. He wrote on Instagram: 'Last week was an incredible week of love, hugs and recovery. Thank you to my Sponsor, my Sponsee Brothers and everyone in the fellowship for celebrating my 1 year birthday. 'If you're struggling with addiction, just surrender and ask for help. We're here waiting for you, to love you, until you love yourself.' Michelle Keegan put on a glamorous display in a structured white gown and a dramatic hat ahead of the L'Oreal Light on Women Award. The former Coronation Street star, 37, was seen at Hotel Martinez on Friday during day eleven of the Cannes Film Festival before attending the premiere of The Mastermind. The L'Oreal Light on Women Award 'champions emerging female voices in film' and will this year be hosted by American actress Viola Davis, 59, who follows in the footsteps of Elle Fanning and Kate Winslet. Michelle turned heads as she stepped out in a stunning white corseted strapless gown, which featured a peplum design and figure-hugging skirt. She paired the gown with a striking matching hat from Jane Taylor and open-toed satin heels, accessorising with a statement diamond necklace and earrings by Kiki McDonough. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Michelle Keegan put on a glamorous display in a structured white gown and a dramatic hat ahead of Friday's L'Oreal Light on Women Award The former Coronation Street star, 37, was seen at Hotel Martinez on Friday during day eleven of the Cannes Film Festival before attending the premiere of The Mastermind Another star who was spotted out at the festival on Friday was Gillian Anderson, who wowed in a green gown, which featured a full skirt and a small waistband, as well as thin straps. The Sex Education star, 56, looked sensational as she stepped out in a spring green jacquard print gown The L'Oreal award will be handed out to one standout female director from the Cannes Short Film Competition after Viv Li scooped the prize for her work on Across the Waters in 2024. The event comes on the penultimate night of the festival after a host of A-listers flocked to Cannes over the previous couple of weeks. Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories. The awards were being held as part of Cannes Film Festival, which will come to an end on Saturday with a closing ceremony. Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end. 'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship. 'You've got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.' The L'Oreal Light on Women Award 'champions emerging female voices in film' and will this year be hosted by American actress Viola Davis , 59, who follows in the footsteps of Elle Fanning and Kate Winslet Michelle looked sensational as she took to the red carpet in the south of France She oozed sophistication in the all-white ensemble as she arrived for the star-studded premiere Michelle waved to photographers as she scaled the red carpet steps at the star-studded premiere Michelle turned heads as she stepped out in a stunning white corseted strapless gown, which featured a peplum design and figure-hugging skirt She paired the gown with a striking matching hat and open-toed satin heels, accessorising with a statement diamond necklace This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films. Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100 percent tariffs. The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions. The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival. In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name. This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) have all unveiled their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section. Many Cannes veterans have returned, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who received an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, who paid tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman. Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. Another star who was spotted out at the festival on Friday was Gillian Anderson, who wowed in green The Sex Education star, 56, looked sensational as she stepped out in a spring green jacquard print gown Gillian's floor-length gown featured a full skirt and a small waistband, as well as thin straps But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival. According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet. 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumiere for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes. It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles. Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted. While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. Elle Fanning oozed glamour in a plunging blush gown as she lead the stars at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Mastermind. The A Complete Unknown star, 27, was among the Hollywood stars who took to the red carpet for the premiere of the film, starring Josh O'Connor and Alana Haim, on Friday. Elle, the sister of fellow actress Dakota Fanning, looked sensational as she stepped out in a long-sleeved blush pink gown, which was adorned with jewels and featured a plunging neckline. Her geometric patterned gown also had a train at the bottom of its tulle skirt and a brooch attached to the waistband, with her blonde locks in natural waves. She was joined on the red carpet by Bridgerton star Simone Ashley, who turned heads in a white puffed out strapless midi dress complete with statement features at the bust. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Elle Fanning oozed glamour in a plunging blush gown as she lead the stars at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Mastermind on Friday The A Complete Unknown star, 27, was among the Hollywood stars who took to the red carpet for the premiere of the film, starring Josh O'Connor and Alana Haim Simone, 30, looked effortlessly chic in the ruched gown, which cinched her in at the waist, and she paired it with white stilettos and diamond drop earrings. Another star who was spotted out at the festival on Friday was Gillian Anderson, who wowed in a green gown. The Sex Education star, 56, looked sensational as she stepped out in a spring green jacquard print gown, featuring a full skirt and a small waistband, as well as thin straps. Gillian's blonde locks were swept into a beehive messy bun and she paired the dress with Swarovski Created Diamonds. Meanwhile Michelle Keegan also made an appearance as she stepped out in a structured white gown and a dramatic hat ahead of the L'Oreal Light on Women Award. The former Coronation Street star, 37, was seen at Hotel Martinez on Friday during day eleven of the Cannes Film Festival before attending the premiere of The Mastermind. Michelle turned heads as she stepped out in a stunning white corseted strapless gown, which featured a peplum design and figure-hugging skirt. She paired the gown with a striking matching hat and open-toed satin heels, accessorising with a statement diamond necklace. Elle, the sister of fellow actress Dakota Fanning, looked sensational as she stepped out in a long-sleeved blush pink gown, which was adorned with jewels and featured a plunging neckline Her geometric patterned gown also had a train at the bottom of its tulle skirt and a brooch attached to the waistband, with her blonde locks in natural waves She was joined on the red carpet by Bridgerton star Simone Ashley, who turned heads in a white puffed out strapless midi dress complete with statement features at the bust Simone, 30, looked effortlessly chic in the ruched gown and she paired it with white stilettos and diamond drop earrings Simone's dress was complete with statement features at the bust and it cinched her in at the waist Another star who was spotted out at the festival on Friday was Gillian Anderson, who wowed in green and Swarovski Created Diamonds The Sex Education star, 56, looked sensational as she stepped out in a spring green jacquard print gown Gillian's floor-length gown featured a full skirt and a small waistband, as well as thin straps Viola Davis looked stunning as she arrived for the premiere in a striking bright yellow chiffon gown The Hollywood actress's appearance comes ahead of her role hosting the L'Oreal Light on Women Award later that night The stars of The Mastermind were also out in force as The Crown's Josh joined his co-star, HAIM band member Alana, on the red carpet. The L'Oreal Light on Women Award 'champions emerging female voices in film' and will this year be hosted by American actress Viola Davis, 59, who follows in the footsteps of Elle Fanning and Kate Winslet. The L'Oreal award will be handed out to one standout female director from the Cannes Short Film Competition after Viv Li scooped the prize for her work on Across the Waters in 2024. The event comes on the penultimate night of the festival after a host of A-listers flocked to Cannes over the previous couple of weeks. Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories. The awards were being held as part of Cannes Film Festival, which will come to an end on Saturday with a closing ceremony. Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme dOr, to give out at the end. 'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonca Filho, whos returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazils dictatorship. 'You've got to really prepare for the whole experience because its quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.' Michelle Keegan put on a glamorous display in a structured white gown and a dramatic hat ahead of Friday's L'Oreal Light on Women Award The former Coronation Street star, 37, was seen at Hotel Martinez on Friday during day eleven of the Cannes Film Festival before attending the premiere of The Mastermind The L'Oreal Light on Women Award 'champions emerging female voices in film' and will this year be hosted by American actress Viola Davis , 59, who follows in the footsteps of Elle Fanning and Kate Winslet Michelle looked sensational as she took to the red carpet in the south of France She oozed sophistication in the all-white ensemble as she arrived for the star-studded premiere The stars of The Mastermind were also out in force as The Crown's Josh joined his co-star, HAIM band member Alana, on the red carpet Anish Savjani, Christopher Blauvelt, Alana Haim, Kelly Reichardt, Josh O'Connor, John Magaro, Neil Kopp, Amy Roth attend the premiere Canadian fashion model Coco Rocha also made an appearance for the premiere, as she arrived in a striking gown Coco turned heads as she took to the carpet in a black and teal gown, featuring a huge satin skirt Sex Education star Mimi Keene joined her co-star Simone for the premiere as she arrived in an extravagant black sequined gown She paired the gown with statement diamond and emerald drop earrings with a diamond choker necklace This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trumps vow to enact tariffs on international films. Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100 percent tariffs. The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions. The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival. In the time since, Cannes resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name. This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) have all unveiled their feature directorial debuts in Cannes Un Certain Regard sidebar section. Many Cannes veterans have returned, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who received an honorary Palme dOr 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, who paid tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman. Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival. According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet. 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' Mariska Hargitay seemed to be inspired by old Hollywood glamor as she attended the annual Foundation for AIDS Research gala in Cannes Thursday night. The actress, 61, who has been at the film festival promoting her documentary My Mom Jayne, about her later mother, blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield. The Law & Order: SVU star stepped out in a stunning white gown with a silver beaded halter neck and a short train from the French fashion house Patou. In keeping with her classic look, the Emmy winner had her thick, chestnut tresses styled in a sleek updo. She chose to let her natural beauty shine out wearing a sensuous smoky eye with a hint of blush and a soft pink lip. Hargitay accessorized with diamond earrings, rings, a bracelet and a purse from gala sponsor Chopard. Sharing the look on social media she thanked her makeup artist Georgi Sandev and hair stylist David von Cannon for their help in making her picture perfect for the fundraiser. Mariska Hargitay seemed to be inspired by old Hollywood glamor as she attended the annual Foundation for AIDS Research gala in Cannes Thursday night Peter Hermann, 57, looked elegant in a black tuxedo and shirt, which highlighted his salt and pepper hair and beard. The couple, who have been married for more than 20 years and share three kids together, seemed like newlyweds, holding hands as they made their way toward the storied Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Sharing a photo of herself and Hermann on social media, Hargitay played off the couple's bridal look tagging the photo with #isaidyes, which many future brides use to announce their engagements. The pair met when Hermann was a guest star on SVU in 2002. Their son August, was born in 2006, and they adopted daughter Amaya and son Andrew, both 13, in 2011. All three kids accompanied their parents to Cannes, but Thursday night was a rare public date night for their mom and dad. Giving a shoutout to charitable organization, Hargitay wrote, 'Thank you @amfarfor the extraordinary work you do in the fight to end the global aids epidemic.' Since it's founding in 1985, 'amfAR has raised more than $920 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide,' according to the organization's website. It was a rare public date night for the actress, 61, and husband Peter Hermann, 57, who seemed more like newlyweds than a couple who have been married for more than 20 years Sharing a photo of herself and Hermann on social media, Hargitay played off the couple's bridal look tagging a photo with #isaidyes, which many future brides use to announce their engagements The couple ,who share three kids, seemed like newlyweds, holding hands as they made their way toward the storied Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Giving a shoutout to charitable organization, Hargitay wrote, 'Thank you @amfarfor the extraordinary work you do in the fight to end the global aids epidemic' on social media Hargitay directed and produced the documentary My Mom Jayne. The love letter to her late mother, who died in an automobile accident in 1967, received a four minute standing ovation after it was screened May 17. Deadline's Pete Hammond wrote in his review the film 'includes a very happy ending that just might have you in tears. It is indeed quite a ride, quite a life and quite an extraordinary film.' My Mom Jayne will begin streaming on Max June 27. Olivia Attwood has thrown major shade at her ex Chris Hughes - appearing to accuse him of dating US star JoJo Siwa for clout. The former Love Island star didn't hold back when asked for her reaction to Chris' unlikely romance with the American pop sensation and former Dance Moms contestant. Responding to a question on TikTok, the TV presenter, 33, did not hold back on her thoughts. One user took to the video platform to say: 'I'm sorry, I need to know what's Olivia Attwood's reaction to this Chris and JoJo thing'. Olivia than gave a cutting one-liner and wrote in the caption: 'She's really famous,' hinting that she believes Chris is only with JoJo because of her celebrity status. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz letter to stay in the loop. Olivia Attwood has thrown major shade at her ex Chris Hughes - appearing to accuse him of dating US star JoJo Siwa for clout The former Love Island star didn't hold back when asked for her reaction to Chris' unlikely romance with the American pop sensation and former Dance Moms contestant MailOnline have contacted Olivia's representatives for comment. Chris, 32, and JoJo, 21, have sparked endless speculation over the nature of their relationship after growing close during their time on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year. The pair have since been inseparable jetting off on luxury trips together including to Florida and Mexico, where they were seen kissing at an adults-only resort pool. JoJo also changed the lyrics of Kim Carnes' hit Bette Davis Eyes mid-performance in Mexico City to reference her 'new man', belting out: 'Chris Hughes' eyes' instead of 'she's got Betty Davis eyes'. Meanwhile, Chris could not stop gushing about JoJo in a flirty video for Access Hollywood. When asked who had better music taste, he said: 'I am introducing her to some indie bangers from the UK. 'I played her 'Sex' by The 1975 and she started playing it on the drums.' JoJo giggled at the track's title as the two laughed and cuddled throughout the clip adding fuel to rumours their flirty friendship has turned into something more serious. Responding to a TikTok questioning the TV presenter, 33, did not hold back on her thoughts and gave a cutting one-liner writing in the caption: 'She's really famous,' hinting that she believes Chris is only with JoJo because of her celebrity status (pictured: JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes) Throughout the series, Olivia, who dated Chris after they met on Love Island in 2017, admitted she's seen a mixed reaction to his behaviour online Chris, 32, and JoJo, 21, have sparked endless speculation over the nature of their relationship after growing close during their time on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year It comes after JoJo left E! News hosts Jake Quickenden and Keltie Knight open-mouthed as she showed them a secret intimate snap. During the clip, JoJo showed the presenters a picture on her phone, which Keltie confirmed was a forehead kiss selfie. 'Oh, that's a forehead kiss selfie', Keltie revealed. Jake hit back 'Don't tell them! Don't tell them!', before JoJo laughed 'No, it wasn't'. JoJo was completely lost for words when Jake cheekily asked her about Chris and their relationship status. 'So, JoJo. How's things going with my best friend Chris?', Jake asked. Left visibly speechless, she replied: 'They're going great.' Later on in the clip, Jake gushed: 'I am so happy for Chris and JoJo. You know what, if anything happens, if it doesn't. Who cares. 'You find your people on these shows and they've found each other and whether or not they're friends or whatever, it is amazing.' Despite JoJo nor Chris officially confirming their relationship, after jetting to Florida with JoJo's family to celebrate her 22nd birthday, pictures obtained by The Sun this week showed the pair kissing in the swimming pool. It comes after JoJo left E! News hosts Jake Quickenden and Keltie Knight open-mouthed as she showed them a secret intimate snap JoJo Siwa was then left red-faced when Jake cheekily asked her about Chris and their relationship status A source told The Sun: 'JoJo and Chris looked very loved-up and as they snogged in full view of other holidaymakers. 'They spent their time at the hotel holding hands and looked like a giddy couple in the early throes of love. It was nice to see. 'They were very hands on - not entirely different to how they were on TV, just a bit more intimate. JoJo seemed totally relaxed, really in love and not in any way the JoJo we see when she's on stage. They're just totally comfortable around each other.' MailOnline has contacted a representative for Chris Hughes for comment. The premise and release date for The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been revealed, and fans are divided over the plot line involving Meryl Streep's ice queen Miranda Priestly. The upcoming sequel will follow Streep's iconic character as she navigates the challenges of the declining print magazine industry. She will also be facing off against Blunt's character, now a high-powered executive for a luxury group with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs, per Variety. This comes after news broke last year that a sequel to the 2006 comedy drama that originally starred Streep, 75, Anne Hathaway, 42, and Emily Blunt, 42, was greenlit at Disney. Last year, the three actresses reunited onstage at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards in February 2024 for a skit based on their blockbuster hit movie. Only Streep and Blunt are confirmed to be returning for the follow-up film, which is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026. The premise for The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been revealed, and fans are divided over the plot line involving Meryl Streep's ice queen Miranda Priestly Only Streep and Blunt are confirmed to be returning for the follow-up film, which is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026 With the storyline and release date finally unveiled, fans are sharing their mixed reactions. Last July, it was reported that Streep would be returning alongside Emily Blunt, but no other cast members have been officially confirmed yet. Stanley Tucci, who starred in the original movie, also mentioned the forthcoming sequel but did not disclose whether or not he would be reprising his role. 'I know they're working on it. If it happens, I would be so happy, but I cannot give you any information. Otherwise, I'll go to the actor's prison or something,' he told Variety in January. '[The original] was one of the best experiences ever,' he added. About the movie, which comes two decades after the first, many fans shared their excitement as they praised the 'realistic' plot line. However, others slammed the idea of making another movie to follow up the beloved movie as they criticized lazy sequels. The Devil Wears Prada, the original 2006 movie, was based on Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel about a young journalist's nightmarish experience working at a fashion magazine. The upcoming sequel will follow Streep's iconic character as she navigates the challenges of the declining print magazine industry She will also be facing off against Emily Blunt's character, now a high-powered executive for a luxury group with advertising dollars that Priestly desperately needs This comes after news broke last year that a sequel to the 2006 comedy drama that originally starred Streep, 75, Anne Hathaway , 42, and Emily Blunt, 42, was greenlit at Disney Last year, the three actresses reunited onstage at the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards in February 2024 for a skit based on their blockbuster hit movie Streep starred as Miranda Priestly, the icy editor-in-chief of the fictional Runway magazine in the original movie Weisberger previously worked as a personal assistant for American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, though she never said that Priestly is at all based on her former boss. However, she did clarify her book is partially fictional as well as partially based on real-life events of her and her friends at their first jobs. Streep starred as Miranda Priestly, the icy editor-in-chief of the fictional Runway magazine. Hathaway played Andrea Sachs, a young woman freshly out of journalism school, who lands the job that 'a million girls would kill for' as Priestly's assistant. There, she faces the challenge of working for her hard-to-please boss who constantly reminds her that she disapproves of her 'no style or sense of fashion.' Blunt is Priestly's first assistant who trains Andy, while Tucci plays Nigel, a longtime fashion editor who helps Andy revamp her closet and find her confidence again. Stanley Tucci, who starred in the original movie, also mentioned the forthcoming sequel but did not disclose whether or not he would be reprising his role With the storyline and release date finally unveiled, fans are sharing their mixed reactions About the movie, which comes two decades after the first, many fans shared their excitement as they praised the 'realistic' plot line However, others slammed the idea of making another movie to follow up the beloved movie as they criticized lazy sequels 'Oooh this is going to be good,' one person tweeted. 'Yep. I'm interested for part 2.' 'I actually love this,' one social media user tweeted on X before sharing a suggestion for the forthcoming movie. 'Also, another Miranda origin story would be great.' 'Can't wait to see Miranda back,' another X user shared 'I mean, that's actually a decent premise,' another fan added 'Oooh this is going to be good,' one person tweeted. 'Yep. I'm interested for part 2.' 'I actually love this,' one social media user tweeted on X before sharing a suggestion for the forthcoming movie. 'Also, another Miranda origin story would be great.' 'Can't wait to see Miranda back,' another X user shared. 'I mean, that's actually a decent premise,' another fan added while someone else agreed that it is a 'good premise.' 'Can't wait to see the cast,' another fan wrote. 'The plot also reflects the harsh present reality. I hope she is a bad*** the same.' Another fan joked that they 'can't wait' to see whether somebody is 'definitely getting fired.' Though many were excited about the plot reveal, there were other fans who were equally upset about a sequel being in the works. Meanwhile, someone else agreed that it is a 'good premise' 'Can't wait to see the cast,' another fan wrote. 'The plot also reflects the harsh present reality. I hope she is a bad*** the same' Another fan joked that they 'can't wait' to see whether somebody is 'definitely getting fired' One fan tweeted: 'The sequel will never match the original. Why?' 'NO ONE ASKED FOR THAT! Stop destroying great movies with useless sequels,' another X user wrote. 'We don't need this,' one person said in agreement with the criticism 'You've got to be kidding me,' one person criticized the plot line. 'It's obvious there aren't any more original ideas. Everything is getting a part 2' 'For the love of God, enough with the sequels,' another person wrote as they criticized the forthcoming sequel. 'Especially of films that have become classics' 'I'm tired of Hollywood rebooting everything just 'cause they are risk adverse,' one person tweeted One fan tweeted: 'The sequel will never match the original. Why?' 'NO ONE ASKED FOR THAT! Stop destroying great movies with useless sequels,' another X user wrote. 'We don't need this,' one person said in agreement with the criticism. 'You've got to be kidding me,' one person slammed the idea of a sequel. 'It's obvious there aren't any more original ideas. Everything is getting a part 2.' 'For the love of God, enough with the sequels,' another person wrote as they criticized the forthcoming sequel. 'Especially of films that have become classics.' 'I'm tired of Hollywood rebooting everything just 'cause they are risk adverse,' one person tweeted. Kim Kardashian has reacted to the criminals behind her Paris jewelry heist robbery being found guilty on Friday. In a statement released after the trial, the 44-year - old said she was 'deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case.' The SKIMS founder added: 'The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. 'While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all,' she added in what could be perceived in a nod to the family of the criminals. She ended with: 'I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.' Kardashian, who was not in court on Friday, lost $10million-worth of jewelry in the October 2016 raid, including a $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband, the rapper Kanye West, that has never been recovered. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kim Kardashian has reacted to the criminals behind her Paris jewelry heist robbery being found guilty on Friday. Seen in Paris earlier this month In a statement released after the trial, the 44-year - old said she was 'deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case.' The SKIMS founder added: 'The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family' Her legal team said, 'Kim appreciates the court's decision and once again thanks the French authorities for treating her with great respect throughout the process. It has been a long journey from that terrible night back in 2016 to her standing courageously in a historic Paris courtroom to confront these criminals. 'She looks forward to putting this tragic episode behind her, as she continues working to improve the criminal justice system on behalf of victims, the innocent, and the incarcerated seeking to redeem themselves.' The ringleader and seven members of a gang that tied up and robbed the billionaire reality TV star Kardashian have been found guilty by a Paris court. Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, unable to speak or hear due to illness, read the presiding judge's verdict from a screen, as he had followed the whole trial. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five of which were suspended. Seven of his co-defendants were also found guilty of crimes including robbery in an organized gang, kidnapping, sequestration, acquisition and possession of weapons, assisting an armed gang, aggravated theft, and complicity in preparation of a criminal act. Most of them also received prison sentences, portions of which were suspended, but all will walk free due to time already served. A jury at the Paris Assizes handed down their verdicts on Friday evening after 11 hours of deliberation, before one was told he would spend just three years in a cell. Two of the defendants both considered informants who allegedly passed on Ms Kardashian's movement to the gang during Paris Fashion Week were acquitted. 'The sentences are quite lenient; they were thought of a long way away from this serious event, which impacted the civil parties. You have caused harm, even if you did not strike, if blood has not been shed, you have caused fear,' said the presiding judge David De Pas as he handed down the verdict. 'While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all,' she added in what could be perceived in a nod to the family of the criminals. She ended with: 'I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system'; seen in court on May 13 Aomar Ait Khedache (pictured), the ringleader of the robbers, penned a letter of remorse while in prison in 2017 Yunice Abbas arrives for the last day of verdict of the Tronchet trial for the 2016 robbery and kidnapping of Kim at the Assize Court of Paris, on May 23 Franck Berton, left, and Chloe Arnaux, lawyers for Khedache, one of the men accused in the 2016 armed robbery of Kardashian on Friday Your browser does not support iframes. When Kim was in court on May 13, she said she was terrified the night of the robbery. She said a silent prayer for her sister, her best friend, her family as a masked man pulled her toward him in a Paris hotel room during the 2016 jewelry heist that changed her life. She wore a bathrobe. Her hands were zip-tied. Her mouth was taped. She thought she wouldnt survive. 'I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me,' she told a Paris court. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die.' She said she was getting ready for bed when she heard stomping on the stairs. At first, she thought it was her sister Kourtney and a friend returning drunk from a night out at Paris Fashion Week. 'Hello? Hello? Who is it?' she called out. Then masked men stormed the room. She grabbed her phone but didnt know the French emergency number. She tried to call her sister and bodyguard, but one man stopped her. The men threw her on the bed, zip-tied her hands and pressed a gun to her. 'I have babies,' Kardashian said, according to her testimony. 'I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.' She was carried into the bathroom. One man taped her mouth. She was told shed be OK if she stayed quiet. A Hollywood mogul has claimed John Travolta rejected an iconic role due to the movie's 'gay subtext'. Barry Diller, who published tell-all memoir Who Knew this week, alleged Travolta, 71, was set to take the leading role in 1980's American Gigolo, about a male escort who gets framed for the murder of an ex-client, but was replaced by Richard Gere, 75, after he exited the movie. Diller, 83 who was the CEO of Paramount at the time, writes in the book that Travolta told then-Paramount Pictures president Michael Eisner that he was pulling out due to his grief over the death of his mother and girlfriend Diana Hyland. Per THR, Diller writes: 'He slumped down in a chair in Michaels office, started to cry and said, "I cant do American Gigolo. Im too sad. Im still in mourning. Its the wrong thing for me to do. You have to let me out of it."' 'Michael came down to my office and said, "Johns just left, and we have to let him out of the movie because he just cant do it." I said, "Hes faking it and using you. Its too late to recast and hes perfect for it.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Hollywood mogul Barry Diller has claimed John Travolta rejected an iconic role due to the movie's 'gay subtext' Diller alleged Travolta, 71, was set to take the leading role in 1980's American Gigolo, about a male escort who gets framed for the murder of an ex-client, but was replaced by Richard Gere, 75, after he exited the movie - Gere pictured in the film Travolta is pictured in 1983's Staying Alive with Sylvester Stallone Diller says he 'was certain [Travolta] had acted his way through his meeting with Michael' and 'no longer wanted to do Gigolo. He was afraid of playing that character because of its somewhat gay subtext. For days, I said, "Im not even going to hear of letting him out of the movie, full stop, period. Diller says he then sat down with Travolta and tried to persuade him not to 'screw up' his career but listening to his 'twerpy, inexperienced manager.' He wrote: 'This is a critical time for you, and when youve got a great script and a great part, you dont let anything put you off it. I went on with various examples of how his management had been mishandling things since his spurt to superstardom. 'He left with a pained and hurt look. A day or two later it became clear that he was not going to show up for the first day of shooting and would take whatever consequences ensued. I had made the situation worse because hed told his manager about my criticism of him, so they both hated me.' Diller added that 'Gigolo made Gere a star' and claimed the Pretty Woman actor briefly broke up his romance with Diane von Furstenberg - who Gere had a fling with in the 1980s. Diller went onto wed Von Furstenberg in 2001 but has now came out as gay in his memoir. American Gigolo director Paul Schrader also claimed the 'gay subtext' of the film led to Travolta's drop-out, telling THR 'three things' led Travolta to exit: the passing of his mother, 'his first mega-flop, a film called Moment by Moment' and 'he had growing anxiety about the gay subtext [of the film].' DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for John Travolta for comment. Travolta lost his first love Hyland, to breast cancer in 1977, when he was 23 and she was 41, ten years before he met his wife Kelly Preston, who died from the same disease in 2020. American Gigolo featured a plethora of racy scenes including full-frontal male nudity Diller, 83 who was the CEO of Paramount at the time, writes in the book that Travolta told then-Paramount Pictures president Michael Eisner that he was pulling out due to his grief over the death of his mother and girlfriend Diana Hyland - pictured with Hyland in 1976 Travolta married Kelly Preston - the couple welcomed three children before her death in 2020 - including son Jet who died aged 16 in 2009 (pictured with daughter Ella and son Benjamin) Travolta and Hyland met while working on the movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble in which Hyland played Travolta's mother. The film was released in 1976, a year before Diana died in Travolta's arms. In an interview with People three months after she died, he said: 'I have never been more in love with anyone in my life. I thought I was in love before, but I wasnt. 'From the moment I met her I was attracted. We were like two maniacs talking all the time on the set of Bubble. 'After a month it became romantic. The pair spent weekends traveling and spending time with Diana's four-year-old son from a previous marriage. 'I had more fun with Diana than I ever had in my life. 'And the odd thing is just before we met I thought I would never have a successful relationship. 'She told me that she too had thought the same thing. Then, bam,' he said. She'd already had a mastectomy two years before they met, and was confident her cancer would not return. When she got her second diagnosis, Travolta was filming Saturday Night Fever in New York. He flew back to be with her. She died aged 41 two weeks after finding out the cancer had returned. He married Preston in 1991 and the couple welcomed three children, including son Jett, who died aged 16 in 2009. A New Hampshire bakery owner has won a legal victory over the local authority after it tried to tear down its donut art. Leavitt's Country Bakery, located in the heart of the picturesque New England town of Conway, was ordered to take down an art mural on the front of its store for violating zoning laws. The mural on top of the local institution known for its homemade doughnuts was made by local high school students and features New Hampshire's famous White Mountains in whimsical baked goods form. Conway local authorities, however, did not see the funny side. Last year they ordered Leavitt's Bakery owner Sean Young to take the art down as it allegedly contravened the town's zoning laws. The mural was apparently four times larger than those permitted for commercial signs. Young however argued that the mural was art, not commercial advertising, and filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Conway seeking $1 in damages. Now U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante says the donut art can stay. 'Conway's application of its sign code, and specifically its enforcement of the sign code to the Leavitt's sign in the particular manner it employed in this case, does not withstand any level of constitutional scrutiny,' the Judge wrote in his ruling. Leavitt's Country Bakery is located in the heart of the picturesque New England town of Conway The ruling comes after a tense bench trial in February where both the bakery and the town presented their evidence and eyewitnesses. Young told The Wall Street Journal that he was 'thrilled' by his victory. 'I think our mural is a wonderful depiction of everything that makes the Mount Washington Valley such a great place to live,' he told the publication. Robert Frommer, who represented Young previously, said 'you don't lose your right to free speech because you open a doughnut shop. 'Whether you put up pastry mountains or paint real mountains, that's the artistic choice of the shop owner, not the government.' Leavitt's Bakery has been in operation since the 1970s and occupies a quaint 1,300-square-foot red cabin. The case drew headline attention since New Hampshire, which goes by the state slogan 'live free or die', leans toward the libertarian rather than interventionist form of local government. For example, the state charges no sales tax and takes a laissez-faire approach to road safety - with no requirements for adults to wear a seatbelt in a car or a helmet on a motorcycle. Leavitt's Bakery owner Sean Young was told to take the art down as it allegedly contravened the town's zoning laws Young filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the town authorities in Conway seeking $1 in damages Bismark donuts are showered with powdered sugar at Leavitt's Country Bakery Young bought Leavitt's Bakery during the pandemic and shortly afterwards had the idea to commission the mural from art students at the local high school. 'Probably a year after we bought it, a friend of mine who knows the local high school art teacher said, "Hey, they're looking for a place to do an art project,"' Young previously told the Journal. The students leapt at the opportunity and were proud of the work they created. During the legal wrangle, local residents of the tight-knit community were divided over who was in the right. Fourth-generation Conway resident Lisa Parent attended zoning board meetings to support Young in his appeal. 'I'm very familiar with your sign policies, which are all over the place,' she told the board at one such meeting last year. BYD overtakes Tesla in Europe for the first time, with April sales soaring by 169%: report Global Times) 09:09, May 23, 2025 A man looks at a BYD Tang during the press day of the 100th Brussels Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium, January 13, 2023. (Photo/Xinhua) Chinese automaker BYD sold more electric vehicles (EVs) than US EV maker Tesla in the European market for the first time in April. The Chinese EV giant has reported a 169-percent surge in sales last month as Tesla stumbles, according to data from market research firm Jato Dynamics on Thursday. The data showed that BYD sold 7,231 battery-powered EVs in April, outpacing Tesla, which sold 7,165 units during the same period, said the market research firm. Against the backdrop of a 28-percent overall growth in the European EV market, Tesla's sales plummeted by 49 percent. Analysts called this a "watershed moment" for the European EV market. For the month of April, Renault, koda, Volkswagen, Audi and BMW also outsold Tesla in pure electric cars, the data showed. BYD outsold Tesla by an even wider margin when including the carmaker's plug-in hybrid EVs. The Chinese company's total sales soared 359 percent in April from a year earlier, Jato Dynamics said. "Although the gap in monthly sales volume between the two automakers is not yet significant, the impact is substantial. This marks a watershed moment for the European EV market," Felipe Munoz, an analyst at Jato, said. Beyond Europe, Tesla's sales in China fell by 6 percent year-on-year in April, marking the seventh consecutive month of year-on-year declines. Meanwhile, BYD is eyeing rapid expansion overseas, as it unveiled the Dolphin Surf, the European version of its cheap Seagull EV, on Wednesday. In 2024, BYD's overseas sales reached 417,200 units, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Data showed that in the first quarter of 2025, BYD's car carriers transported more than 25,000 new-energy vehicles (NEVs) overseas. To date, BYD's NEVs have reached over 400 cities in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide, per Xinhua. This marks a breakthrough for the Chinese brand's efforts to expand into overseas markets. On a global level, BYD has overtaken Tesla in the future readiness rankings, an indicator referring to a company's ability to anticipate and adapt to external changes, according to a report released Tuesday by a Swiss business school, Xinhua reported. Chinese companies' localization efforts allow Western audiences to recognize them not just as Chinese brands with advanced technology, but as truly global enterprises that adapt to local markets, per Xinhua. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Hosted by Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust, the Neutrality Roadshow will be in the city "warning of the danger to Irish neutrallity if the Irish Government dismantles the triple lock". The Neutrality Roadshow began a one-month tour of Ireland on May 8, holding conversations on the issue with local communities. The Roadshow will be in Derry on Thursday, June 5, in the Museum of Free Derry. Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: It is very fitting that we host this event north of the border, and that we host it in our museum. Any moves to remove Irelands cherished neutrality are an issue for all of us on this island, and for all our futures. Irelands place as a neutral country has made it a trusted country around the world, one that can be involved in peace-keeping and conflict resolution rather than unjust wars for land or resources. The only fight we should be considering is the one against those who wish to remove our neutral status," said Mr Doherty. In March, the Irish government brought legislation to cabinet to dismantle the triple lock, a mechanism that regulates the deployment of Irish Defence Forces overseas. According to Mr Doherty, if the Triple Lock is dismantled, "Irish troops may be deployed, not to keep the peace, but to engage in conflict as part of an EU Battlegroup or potentially on NATO-led missions". He added: "We are already seeing moves in this direction. From March 25 to April10, 139 Irish troops participated in a German-led EU Battlegroup training exercise in Hungary, in preparation for deployment to conflicts and crises outside the EU. "While training exercises are permitted under the Defence Act, deployment on overseas military missions without a UN mandate is not. Since the foundation of the state, Irish troops have only served overseas on UN mandated missions. Removing the Triple Lock will fundamentally change the character of Irelands engagement with the world. "The Neutrality Roadshow is a grassroots people-led initiative that is not affiliated with any political party. It will see local communities host speakers from diverse backgrounds including peace activists and anti-war campaigners, former peacekeepers, legal scholars, academics, writers, and artists. It forms part of a broader campaign launched earlier this year to keep Ireland neutral and save the triple lock," said Mr Doherty. Speaking in support of the initiative, former UN peacekeeper, Edward Horgan, said: While the world has lost a peacemaker with the death of Pope Francis, there are no shortages of potential war-makers in Europe and internationally. "In Ireland our political leaders continue to erode our active neutrality by abandoning the triple lock, failing to pass the Occupied Territories Bill, providing military and financial support for Ukraine in its war with Russia and appeasing the US Trump administration in its global economic war. Mothers Against Genocide member, Clare O Connor said: I have two children and I didnt bring them into this world for them to be used as weapons of war, to be conscripted into war to kill other peoples children or be killed themselves. "If we don't save the triple lock, it won't be us as parents sent off to war, it will be our children. We owe it to them to take a stronger stance to protect our neutrality." Professor Ray Murphy of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway said: In order to protect our military neutrality and support the UNs role in the maintenance of international peace and security, it is essential to maintain the Triple Lock. The Neutrality Roadshow will be in the Museum of Free Derry at 7.00pm on Thursday, June 5. All welcome. Police seized suspected Class A and Class B drugs in the Waterside area of Derry on Thursday night (May 22). The seizure was made by officers from Waterside Neighbourhood Policing Team while on patrol at around 8.45pm in the Stevenson Park area where they observed a silver-coloured Audi A3 parked in the area from which males ran off from when seeing police. A search of the vehicle resulted in suspected cannabis and suspected cocaine, as well as items of drug-related paraphernalia, being seized. Enquiries are ongoing to identify the males who ran off, and police appeal to anyone with information about their identity or whereabouts to get in touch. At this time, police believe the same vehicle was involved in an incident of anti-social behaviour earlier in the evening on Trench Road where eggs were thrown at another vehicle at around 7.40pm causing criminal damage. The Audi A3 has been seized and enquiries are ongoing in relation to both incidents. READ NEXT: Terror charge against Kneecap band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh branded 'complete hypocrisy' Police appeal to anyone who was in the Trench Road and Stevenson Park areas last night around these times and captured footage of the vehicle, or has information that may assist enquiries to call 101, quoting reference 1814 of 22/05/25. A report can also be made online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/ The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, and Cllr Terry Crossan, Leas Cathaoirleach Inishowen MD, came together to publicly endorse the North West Anti-Racism Charter at an event that took place on Friday, May 23, 2025 at Bridgend. The Bloody Sunday Trust, North West Migrants Forum and the Irish Network Against Racism are delighted with the success of the recently launched North West Anti-Racism Charter. The charter, which was developed at a meeting held in Derry as part of the 2025 commemoration of Bloody Sunday, pledges supporters to: oppose all harm by words and actions on the basis of difference of race and colourlive together, love together, struggle together, thrive togetherhold ourselves and others to account for racist words and actionscommit to policies and practices that oppose division by race and colourpromote these attitudes throughout our region in the north west of Irelandsay no to racism. Copies of the charter, for display in workspaces, social spaces and anywhere where people gather and oppose racism, has recently been made available in the city by the Bloody Sunday Trust and North West Migrants Forum, and so far have been delivered to or requested by more than a dozen venues across the north west. Copies remain available from both groups. Bloody Sunday Trust Director Maeve McLaughlin said: With the rise of right-wing groups across this island it is getting more and more important that we stand against them, united and publicly, to remind them that the vast majority of people in Ireland reject their racist message and stand with the new communities that we welcome to our country. This charter gives everyone an easy way to show where they stand on this serious issue, and we urge community groups, businesses and statutory agencies across this region to get a copy and put it on display. We also believe this initiative should go beyond the north west and become an all Ireland charter against racism. Conor Sharkey of North West Migrants Forum said: We are seeing more and more how racism is becoming the norm, expressed with worrying abandon on our streets and expressed freely online where it is amplified by social media algorithms that care little for truth, empathy or compassion. Colr. Terry Crossan , Leas Cathaoirleach Inishowen with Derry Mayor Colr. Lilian Seenoi-Barr at the launch of the North-West Anti-Racism Charter held at Bridgend, on Friday. Included on left are Niall Cusack, proprietor The Gap Coffee Shop, Maeve McLaughlin, director, Bloody Sunday Trust, and on right Conor Sharkey, NW Migrants Forum. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics) Now more than ever we need people to stand together and say no no to racism, no to Islamophobia and no to xenophobia. By adopting this Charter you are sending out that message that hate speech and divisive actions are not welcome and will not be tolerated in your school, office, home, business, community hall, place of worship or wherever you choose to display it. Derry City and Strabane District Council has committed to divesting from companies which are not Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) compliant. At Thursdays meeting of Councils BDS Working Group, it was confirmed Council has divested from all British banks and building societies identified in the 2023 Continued complicity in Illegal Israeli settlement enterprise report. BDS is a non-violent, Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel. Its objective is to pressure Israel to meet its obligations under international law to withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel and respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties. The BDS movement is organised and co-ordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee. Councils move has been welcomed by the Bloody Sunday Trust, BDS Strabane, and Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). According to the three groups, the UN Advisory Opinion of July 2024, determined Israel's occupation of Palestinian Territories since 1967, and the subsequent creation of Israeli settlements and exploitation of natural resources within those territories were illegal under international law. They added this created a clear legal and moral imperative for organisations across all sectors to comprehensively review all economic ties with Israel - including business and finance, pension funds, academia, and charities. While welcoming the Council decision in this context, the three groups said it must now go further and implement an ethical procurement policy that is also BDS compliant. They said while procurement was an issue covered by a range of legislation, the Procurement Act 2023 provides a clear legal basis for taking ethical issues into account during procurement, and the current situation in Palestine is clearly an ethical issue that has to be prioritised . Bloody Sunday Trust chairperson Tony Doherty said: This is welcome news. Since Israel broke the ceasefire almost two months ago not a piece of bread, a bottle of water, or a pill of medicine has been allowed to reach Gaza. "Humanitarian operations have been stifled by a combination of expanded military activity, the Israeli governments blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, killing of aid workers, attacks on medical facilities and the displacement of over 400,000 people. Over 15,000 children have been killed since October 2023. "Across the West Bank the Israeli military has been conducting devastating military operations in which hundreds have been killed, many thousands have been displaced, and massive damage has been caused. Israels illegal settlements continue to expand and grow unchecked, with regular announcements by the Israeli Government of new homes on stolen Palestinian land that are met with silence by the international community including shamefully the Irish Government. Given the clear legal precedent that now exists for such action, Derry City and Strabane District Council can and must take a stronger line on procurement. In Britain, Oxford City Council has passed a motion to cut ties with companies which are complicit in violations of human rights and international law. In its decision, the council cited the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings that it is plausible that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, said mr Doherty, who added: The recent Oxford City Council motion follows the earlier 2016 UK High Court ruling in favour of three Councils which had passed boycott motions in solidarity with Palestine. Mr Doherty added that Derry City and Strabane District Council could and should significantly strengthen its approach to implementing BDS policies. It should also recognize that one local council acting on its own can do little but a joint approach with Donegal, Belfast and other like-minded Councils across the North would have a much more powerful impact. This is something that DCSDC should therefore actively explore. Adam Mc Ginley, Co-Chairperson of BDS Strabane, also welcomed the announcement. Following the recent BDS Working Group meeting, we were informed of Council's divestment. It also communicated its commitment to undertaking an Ethical Procurement Policy which will be BDS compliant, in effect, implementing the boycott of Israeli goods, services and complicit companies, said Mr McGinley. This is a massive win for BDS and the Palestinian solidarity movement. Our hope is that this will serve as an example to other local authorities & will hopefully galvanise them to take similar action. We will continue to push DSDC to ensure they uphold their obligations under international law & along with Derry IPSC, Bloody Sunday Trust and council members, we will work to ensure further progress and input to council through the BDS Working Group in these matters. Lets together, stand against Israeli genocide, occupation, apartheid and bring to a close the dangerous ideology of Zionism. Lets, together, stand on the right side of history." Catherine Hutton, Chairperson of Derry IPSC described Councils BDS decision as a huge win for BDS, an example to other local authorities and a message of solidarity to the Palestinian people." Sinn Fein councillor Pat Murphy said it was great news Derry City and Strabane District Council has divested from financial institutions complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. He added: This is to be welcomed by everyone who is horrified by ongoing events in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank. BDS works. Support and promote it with family, friends and your community. Fresh evidence suggests that double murderer Hazel Stewart was suffering from mental illness when she killed her policeman husband and the wife of her ex-lover, Colin Howell, a court has heard. The Court of Appeal in Belfast also heard submissions that Stewart, 62, a former Sunday school teacher, was being coercively controlled by Howell at the time of the killings in 1991. Three appeal court judges are hearing an application that Stewart should be given leave to mount an appeal over the length of her sentence. However, a barrister for the Public Prosecution Service said that, more than 30 years after the murders, Stewart had finally found a doctor who will say something sympathetic. Stewart is serving a minimum 18 years behind bars for the killing of Constable Trevor Buchanan, 32, and Howells 31-year-old wife Lesley Howell. Both were found in a fume-filled garage in Castlerock, Co Derry, in May 1991. Police originally believed they had died in a suicide pact, after discovering that their partners were having an extra-marital affair. Instead, they had been drugged and murdered and their bodies arranged to make it look as though they had taken their own lives. Nearly two decades passed before dentist Howell, 65, confessed to both killings. He implicated Stewart and she was ordered to serve at least 18 years, at her trial in 2011. She is making a fresh bid to have her sentence reduced. Stewart, wearing a blue T-shirt and a necklace with a cross, watched proceedings via video link from Hydebank Prison. Lesley Howells daughter, Dr Lauren Bradford-Clarke, was in the court, as was Stewarts second husband, David Stewart. The court heard lengthy submissions on whether it has jurisdiction to order a new appeal. It also has to adjudicate on a preliminary point about delay in raising the fresh ground of appeal. Representing Stewart, Brendan Kelly KC said: This application was created by the discovery of fresh evidence. He said a series of reports from a psychiatrist in 2024 had said Stewart was suffering from two forms of mental health, depression and PTSD, at the time of the murders. He said coupled with coercive behaviour from Howell, these were factors that should have been taken into account during her sentencing. The barrister said the new evidence was cogent and admissible. He said her mental illness had been caused after she had an abortion in 1990, adding that her condition simply wasnt identified or recognised at the time of her trial. Pointing out that the diagnosis had been made only last year, Mr Kelly said it was difficult to see how we could have moved more quickly. The barrister said the application to give leave for appeal should be granted, the new evidence submitted to the court and the psychiatrist called as a witness. Representing the Public Prosecution Service, Philip Henry KC said Stewarts barrister was trying to create an exceptional scenario. He said the appeal judges were being invited to feel so uncomfortable about the new medical evidence that a sense of injustice is provoked. He said the psychiatrist was first instructed in 2023 and was initially given some, but not all, of the relevant medical material. Mr Henry said: What we have here is a psychiatrist, 30 years after the event, diagnosing depression and PTSD. The barrister said there had been six medical reports on Stewart closer to the time, adding every single one of those doctors examined the applicant in person. He said none of them had concluded there was evidence of mental illness. He added: We have six reports, all closer to the time, all doctors properly instructed, all examined the applicant and none of them had concerns about mental illness at the time of the offending. The barrister then referred to emails from Stewarts husband, David Stewart, to her solicitor, in which Mr Stewart had said medical experts were attempting to find evidence of mental illness but would not be able to. Mr Henry said: Finally a doctor has been found who will say something sympathetic. The barrister said the recent psychiatric report was in direct contravention of all previous medical evidence, describing it as one solitary voice. He said that after the new psychiatric report, the court was nowhere near the point where it could allow an appeal over the sentence to proceed. Mr Kelly denied that Stewarts legal team had been shopping for a psychiatrist. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan said the court would rule on the application next month. Following the hearing, Dr Bradford-Clarke was hugged by a number of supporters and friends outside court. Jurors in the Gerry Adams libel action against the BBC are not being asking to pass verdict on Irish history, a judge has said. Delivering his instructions to the jury members on Friday, Judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens told them they were not being asked to make a decision as journalists, but as ordinary members of the public. In his charge to the jurors in Dublin High Court, the judge made clear they were not tasked with making a historical judgment on Mr Adams role in the peace process. No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history, he added. Former Sinn Finn leader Mr Adams alleges a BBC Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent for 20 years. In the programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gives the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter is ongoing. Mr Adams claims he was subject to a grievous smear while the BBC has described the legal action as a cynical attempt to launder his reputation. The high-profile republican is seeking damages of at least 200,000 euro (168,000) from the BBC. However, the British public service broadcaster has argued it would be a cruel joke to award the former Sinn Fein president any damages. On Thursday, Declan Doyle SC, for Mr Adams, said damages awarded to his client should be very substantial indeed. In his closing statement, Mr Doyle said the widespread circulation of a national broadcaster of an allegation of a cold-blooded cynical murder could not be a defamation of anything other than very serious or exceptional. The BBC has stood by the programme and has argued it was entitled to put forward matters raised in the documentary, which it says were of public importance and done in good faith. The corporation has argued the meaning of the programme and article was not that Mr Adams had sanctioned and approved the killing, and that the claim had to be taken in context of the whole report. In his closing statement, Paul Gallagher SC, representing the BBC, said the claim made by Martin was presented as an allegation and was immediately followed by Mr Adams denial, the claim of responsibility by the Real IRA and the state of the Garda investigation. Mr Gallagher also argued that the reputation of Mr Adams is important for the case, contending that it was universally held that he had a reputation of being in the IRA and on its Army Council. Mr Adams denies ever being in the IRA. On Friday, Justice Owens outlined the key issues in the case for the jurors. On the issue of whether Mr Adams has a bad reputation, the judge said the onus of proof was on the BBC to make that case. He then referred to the evidence of a witness called by the BBC former attorney general and Irish government minister Michael McDowell. Earlier this week, Mr McDowell told the court that Mr Adams was reputed to have become a member of the Army Council of the IRA. The judge said Mr McDowells view and Mr Adams view on the former Sinn Fein leaders role in the peace process are poles apart. But if you come to assess damages in the trial, youre not concerned with that, or to make a historical judgment on that, you do what the evidence tells you about Mr Adams public reputation, about the reputation he enjoyed in 2006 and now, in relation to those matters, he added. He said an historical analysis and theory about the peace process was irrelevant. No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history, he added. The judge later emphasised to the jurors they were not being asked to adopt the mindset of a journalist or judge when making their decision. Youre asked, of course, to make the decision, not as journalists, but as ordinary members of the public, using your common sense, he added. On the issue of Mr Adams reputation, the judge told the jurors it was them who had to assess the Sinn Fein leaders standing in the public mind. So really what youre asked, in my view, is his public reputation a man who approved murders, of a man who approved of murders by others, of a man who was involved in directing terrorism, or is his public reputation of a man who persuaded others to stop and devise the process of discussion and compromise which led to permanent cessation of violence in Northern Ireland? he asked. Or is it a bit of both? Or is it predominantly one or predominantly the other, or totally one or totally the other? Those are really the matters which are for you to decide. The judge also spoke to the jurors about the potential level of damages they could award if they decide Mr Adams was defamed ranging from one cent to hundreds of thousands of euro. He urged them to adopt that question with a sense of proportion and fairness. You dont want to be what I would describe as an over-generous judge or a mean judge, he said. Mr Justice Owens then proceeded to begin summarising the evidence that was heard in the case. That exercise will continue when the court proceedings resume again on Tuesday. A coroner investigating the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe is to send a court order to Meta in a bid to access private messages in the late teenagers Instagram account. Noah, 14, was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in June 2020 six days after he went missing as he cycled to meet friends. Coroner Mr Justice Rooney is presiding over the inquest for the St Malachys College pupil. Noahs mother, Fiona Donohoe, is hoping to get answers to some of her questions surrounding the death of her son through the inquest process. At a preliminary hearing in Belfast on Friday, counsel to the coroner Peter Coll KC updated the court on correspondence with Meta about accessing information on Noahs Instagram account. Mr Coll said there were two levels of access. He said Meta would provide certain data from the account to Noahs next of kin if it was given relevant documents, such as a death certificate. But the barrister said Meta had advised the coroner that in order to secure private Instagram messages, a court order would be required. Mr Coll made clear that Meta had not indicated whether or not there were any private messages in the account. The barrister said the process to secure access to any messages that may exist may not be straightforward, given Meta was based outside the courts jurisdiction. But he said that the letter from the US social media company indicated a willingness to engage positively on the issue. There is at least a strong possibility that they would, if content with the format and the content of the draft order, that they would seek to comply with it, even if it was not something that could be strictly enforced against them, he said. So hopefully that may provide a way forward. Brenda Campbell KC, representing Ms Donohoe, agreed that a court order should be drafted. The aim should be to get the fullest information by way of a court order, she said. And the letter (from Meta) certainly leaves open the possibility of co-operation with the matter, notwithstanding that they are out of the jurisdiction. Mr Coll cautioned that it had taken some time for Meta to respond to initial correspondence from the coroner. He added: Were slightly in their hands, and it did take quite a period of time, but, in fairness, the response that has come has been helpful, and represents significant engagements on the part of Meta, and thats to be welcomed. Mr Justice Rooney told legal representatives that a draft order would be prepared by Tuesday of next week for them to review. The next preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 17. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Rap trio Kneecap are set to headline a festival on Friday, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language, have a headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night. It comes after they held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He said: I need to thank my lawyer hes here tonight as well. Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authoritys decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was irrational. Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to confirm that the event has been cancelled and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said that no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the events organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: 14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesnt have a jury. Whats the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. Officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, police said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. They also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A member of Irish rap trio Kneecap said the terror charge he faces is an attempt to silence us as the group appeared on stage for a gig they claimed was nearly pulled. Liam O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, spoke to thousands of people in Brockwell Park, south London, as the group headlined the Wide Awake Festival on Friday. Earlier in the day they released a new song, just two days after O hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig in November last year. The group have been outspoken on the war in Gaza and before they emerged on stage a screen displayed the message Free Palestine, which was met with cheers from the crowd. Performing alongside his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, O hAnnaidh said he believed the prosecution was designed to silence us and prevent them playing Glastonbury Festival this summer. He said: We are being made an example of, the Israeli lobbyists are trying to prove to other artists that if you speak out, were going to hit you where it hurts most. Theyre trying to cancel gigs, they trying to cancel my freedom of travel. And the fact that Im speaking to this amount of people, and I assume the majority of you will agree, shows that were on the right side of history. He also told the crowd at Brockwell Park in south London: I went for an interview with the counter-terror police and within days they came to a verdict that they were going to charge me, never has it been that quick. And the reason it was that quick was because Glastonbury is just around the corner, theyre trying to silence us. One of the group said: Thank you very much. They tried to stop this gig. And one was heard saying: Honestly lads, you have no idea how close we were to being pulled off this gig. One of the trio thanked their fans for supporting them. Earlier, the group posted on Instagram to thank the 25,000 legends due to attend the event. The trio have had gigs cancelled after footage emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. But they also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police. O hAnnaidh, 27, was then charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. On Friday night, one member was heard telling the crowd: If anybodys about on June 18 were all going to gather outside the Westminster court to show support. One of the trio was also heard saying: Anybody whos free on June 18 get a big bag of ket and well go on the steps of Westminster. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. A number of other politicians have made the same demand. Last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after former business secretary Mrs Badenoch tried to refuse them a 14,250 funding award when she was a minister. The new song, The Recap, opens with a sample of a news report about the counter-terrorism police investigation into the group, and mocks Mrs Badenochs attempts to block their arts funding, and the Conservative Partys election loss. The song also features DJ Mozey. On Thursday, the band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful about what he said, adding that he wanted to thank his lawyer. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A teenager who slashed a man in the face in County Louth, leaving him with a v-shaped scar, has been sentenced to two and a half years at Dundalk Circuit Court, with half of the sentence suspended. However, the now 18 year old defendant, who can't be named as he was a child at the time of the assault, walked free from court as he had spent 11 months in Oberstown Children's Detention Centre after his bail was revoked - the equivalent of serving 15 months (with remission). The victim had met three teenagers on Earl Street in Dundalk on August 6th 2023 and after discussing buying cannabis, walked with them behind the Imperial Hotel, where a row broke out after the defendant refused to return the injured party's phone. His co-accused punched the man a number of times to the head and neck, but it was the older teen who slashed him with a curved blade. READ NEXT: Woman given community service for violent disorder incident in Louth housing estate The victim, who needed 24 stitches is still shaken by his ordeal and visibly scarred. The court heard the defendant, who pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, had left school at 13 and regularly misused cannabis and tablets, and used cocaine in the past. Judge Hayes said the defendant had played a central role in the assault and the injuries sustained. The teen, who had five previous convictions, including violent disorder for which he was given a Probation supervision order, had previously been assessed as being at high risk of re-offending. His sentencing was adjourned in November to see how the progress he had made at that stage could be maintained. Judge Hayes had warned him he expected a positive report on the next occasion. In finalising the matter, he said the report was positive albeit with hiccups and there had been a period of stability since the adjournment. The judge said the 18 year old has made good progress in all areas of his life and is engaging with addiction services. He further noted that while the boy's mother had expressed concern about his mental health, CAMHS was satisfied there is no requirement for any involvement with the Adult Mental Health Services at this juncture. Judge Hayes stressed that if he had been sentencing him as an adult offender the then maximum sentence of five years for assault causing harm would have been appropriate. However, as he was a child at the time, a custodial sentence must be an option of last resort. The Judge said the time spent in custody was effectively a 15 month sentence. He imposed a two and a half year sentence and suspended the balance of the jail term on the defendant entering a 100 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years. He must also place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months and attend all appointments as directed, engage with the Turas counselling service, the Gaining Ground probation project and avail of education and training services. Judge Hayes told the defendant That's a two and a half year sentence. You have served in real terms 15 months - that leaves 15 months of the sentence left to serve if you engage in any further offending behaviour you will be brought back before me and you'll serve that sentence. Twenty-two schools from across County Louth were honoured for their outstanding environmental efforts at the Green-Schools Awards Ceremony held on Tuesday, 21st May 2025, at the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk. Dundalk was the chosen venue for this regional celebration, welcoming schools not only from Louth but also from Fingal, Meath, and Monaghan. Environmental Awareness Officers from these counties joined as guest speakers, warmly congratulating the students and schools on their achievements and celebrating the positive impact they are making in their communities. A total of 78 Green Flags were presented on the day, marking a significant milestone in the regions commitment to environmental education and sustainability. READ NEXT: Launch of Louth in Bloom 2025 Each school received a coveted Green Flag, a symbol of their commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action through the national Green-Schools Programme, operated by An Taisce in partnership with local authorities. The awards celebrated achievements across a wide range of themes, including litter and waste, energy, water, biodiversity, and global citizenship. Representatives from the schools, students, teachers, and Green-Schools coordinators attended the ceremony, where they were recognised for their hard work and innovation in promoting sustainable practices within their school communities. Held during National Biodiversity Week, this years event took on added significance by highlighting the importance of protecting and celebrating Irelands diverse natural environment. Cllr Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, praised the schools and their communities for their exceptional contributions, saying: Its incredibly heartening to see the commitment of our young people and schools to environmental action. "Their achievements reflect the strong community spirit across Louth and a shared responsibility for building a more sustainable future. I congratulate every school on this well-deserved recognition. Paula Gribben, Louth County Council Environmental Awareness Officer, also addressed the audience, highlighting the students impact: The enthusiasm and leadership shown by these young people is inspiring. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are leading the way today in making Louth a greener, more sustainable place. The Green-Schools Programme continues to empower schools to develop environmental awareness, promote active citizenship, and instil lifelong sustainable habits that reach beyond the classroom and into the wider community. Congratulations to all 22 Louth schools for earning their Green Flags and for their continued leadership in driving positive environmental change. The full list of Louth award winning schools are: Links II Blackrock Hub, St John Of God, Blackrock; Scoil Dairbhre; Rathcor NS; Dulargy NS, De La Salle College; Ballapousta NS; St Louis Secondary School; St Josephs National School, Dundalk; St Josephs NS, Drogheda; Redeemer Girls NS; St Malachys Girls NS; St Olivers NS, Drogheda; St Olivers National School, Dundalk; SN Muire nan Smal Cartown; SN Talamh na Manach; Tullyallen NS; Tallanstown National School; St Oliver Plunkett NS; Scoil Phadraig Naofa; Scoil Naomh Lorcan; Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal; St Marys NS. Irish Wheelchair Association, one of Irelands largest disability organisations has thanked its employees across Louth as the organisation was recently ranked 2nd place in the annual Sunday Independent Irelands Best Employers List for 2025, which was released this week. Irelands Best Employers List 2025 is based on independent feedback from more than 12,000 workers from 1,100 organisations across the country who were surveyed anonymously. IWA was ranked above many highly successful national and international companies including ESB, Intel and Pfizer. 2nd place is a move up two places, from 4th place in 2024, for the Association. According to Irish Wheelchair Association CEO Ann Marie O'Grady this award recognises the hard work of IWA employees, who are committed to serving IWA members with disabilities in the Louth and across Ireland. It is reassuring that despite the challenges we face in Louth and nationwide to recruit personal assistants for our members that IWA continues to grow from strength to strength. In the Louth our employees work incredibly hard for our members and for their own colleagues to make sure we are an inclusive, supportive organisation for everyone. I am delighted for the organisation that the hard work of our employees has been recognised. Read also: Louth councillor calls for wasteland at Fatima to become recreational space In recent months Irish Wheelchair Association has run numerous recruitment campaigns focused on filling roles across the county. The organisation is hopeful that ranking 2nd in Irelands Best Employers List for 2025 will encourage more people to apply for the many vacancies within the organisation. Working with IWA is more than just a job according to Ann Marie OGrady. "Every role, whether they are personal assistants for our members, drivers or support staff, feeds into something bigger: helping people with disabilities live the lives they choose. I congratulate all our staff for what they have achieved this year. With nearly 2,500 employees across the country, Irish Wheelchair Association is one of Irelands leading disability service providers offering at-home assisted living support and support within its national network of community centres and bus services. In recent years, the organisation has added additional offerings like fitness inclusion and a nationwide School Leavers Programme. Learn more about job opportunities in Louth with IWA at www.iwa.ie/careers Above L-R: Louth County Councils Olivia McCormack, Mark Kimmins, Paula Gribben, David Conway (Chief Executive), Cllr Paddy McQuillan (Mayor of Drogheda), Finbar Gethins, Cllr Andrea McKevitt, Grainne Fogarty and Gareth Fitzpatrick at the Blue Flag raising ceremony at Clogherhead Beach. Photo: Ciaran Culligan Three of Louth County Councils beaches - Clogherhead, Port, and Templetown - have retained their Blue Flag status for 2025, while Seapoint beach in Termonfeckin has been awarded a Green Coast Award. The awards were presented by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD, at a ceremony held at Ravenport Resort, Kilmacoe, Co. Wexford, overlooking Curracloes Blue Flag beach, on Friday last. This year marks the 38th year of the International Blue Flag programme. A world-renowned award trusted by millions around the globe, the Blue Flag programme is operated in Ireland by An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Beaches and marinas that achieve this accolade must comply with a specific set of criteria relating to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and beach management. Read also: Louth based Muchgrange Farm launches in SuperValu stores This year also marks the 22nd anniversary of the National Green Coast Programme. The Green Coast Award recognises beaches that boast excellent water quality and are valued for their natural, untouched beauty. Cllr Paddy McQuillan, Mayor of Drogheda Borough District, added: These awards are testament to the tireless efforts of Louth County Council, coastal groups, and the community to protect and enhance our coastline. As we celebrate Volunteering Week, it's important to highlight the key role played by voluntary Clean Coasts groups. These dedicated volunteers take part in community clean-ups and work alongside Louth County Council to help manage the nominated beaches. At its core, the Green Coast Award programme aims to build strong community partnerships to protect and improve local coastal environments, while also honouring the hard work and commitment of those communities. At the 2025 Blue Flag raising ceremony at Clogherhead Beach, David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, expressed his strong support for the Blue Flag Programme, stating: We take great pride in the collaborative efforts that made this achievement possible. In particular, during Volunteering Week, we want to acknowledge the incredible dedication of the volunteers who work tirelessly to keep our coastlines clean and beautiful. Louth County Council remains firmly committed to protecting our environment for future generations. A record-breaking 99 awards were announced by the Minister for the 2025 season, with 89 beaches and 10 marinas in Ireland receiving the Blue Flag Award, while 70 beaches were awarded the Green Coast Award. Further information on the Blue Flag and Green Coast awards may be found at www.beachawards.ie Mens sheds in Louth should apply for additional funding as part of 1 million fund announced today, said local Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly. Deputy Butterly is encouraging eligible sheds to apply and get funding to help with their operational costs. We all know the positive impact Mens Sheds have had on our communities so Im delighted to see they can now apply for this funding. 450 Mens Sheds across Ireland will receive grants of up to 3,000 to help with their running costs. READ NEXT: Louth schools honoured at Green Awards ceremony This funding will help Mens Sheds in Louth with their costs such as heating, utility and insurance bills. Mens Sheds in Louth and across Ireland help provide a safe and welcoming environment for men of all ages to come together. Mens Sheds have become central to so many communities across Ireland. They have created a space to socialise, share skills and work on meaningful projects together. I encourage all eligible Mens Sheds to apply, in particular Mens Sheds in County Louth. I am very familiar with the hard work of Dunleer and Mid-Louth Mens sheds and it is clear to me the great benefit they provide. This funding highlights Fine Gaels commitment to supporting Mens Sheds across Ireland, concluded Deputy Butterly. Louth students from schools in Dundalk and Ardee were among 270 young people who gathered in Causey Farm, County Meath on 28 April as part of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) North East & Midlands Region Youth Day. Students and teachers from 18 schools across the region gathered for an unforgettable day of learning, connection, and celebration. Participating schools from Louth were St Vincent's Secondary School, Dundalk and Ardee Community School, This vibrant event brought together the young people from counties Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Cavan, Longford, and Westmeath. It was a day designed not only to be fun and interactive but also deeply rooted in the values of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) service, dignity, compassion, and solidarity. The days activities were expertly facilitated by the team at Causey Farm, with each session tailored to reflect one of SVPs core values: Ceili Dancing Fostering inclusion and a shared sense of community. Bread Making Highlighting service and the importance of providing for others. Bodhran Workshop Encouraging teamwork and active engagement. Animal Farm (featuring newborn lambs) Teaching responsibility, care, and compassion. Tractor Trail & Bog-Jumping Challenging students to step out of their comfort zones and build resilience. Mineshaft Tunnels Representing the perseverance required to overcome lifes challenges. Mural Painting Allowing creative expression linked to SVPs mission of social justice. This event served as a living expression of the Young SVP journey one where young people explore real-life social issues, develop leadership skills, and reflect on the impact they can have in their communities. Read also: Empowered women inspire at Network Ireland Louth April event In the lead-up to Youth Day, participating schools worked on SVP projects exploring themes such as poverty, social exclusion, and human dignity. Through workshops, school campaigns, and community actions, students tackled issues like homelessness, food poverty, mental health, and inclusion all while building empathy and awareness of the world around them. During the Youth Day, teachers were invited to view some of this outstanding student work and were especially moved by a talk from Hannah Clarke, the SVP North East & Midlands Regional President. Her stories about the powerful, non-judgmental work of SVP volunteers provided a meaningful and eye-opening insight into the reality of life for many in our communities. Her words brought the mission of SVP to life in a way that left a lasting impact on both teachers and students. She said that thanks to the incredible support of teachers and the enthusiasm of students, Young SVP continues to thrive, encouraging a new generation to engage with their communities, champion justice and fairness, and carry the spirit of SVP forward into their future schools, colleges, and lives. To learn more about the Young SVP programme or to find a Youth Development Officer for your region, visit www.youngsvp.ie. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work: Im Robert Barrett, co-founder and master distiller of Rebel City Distillery, Corks first distillery in over half a century. Im a Cork native, and after living and working in places like Canada, Leitrim, and Dundalk, Im thrilled to have Cork as home again. I hold a masters degree in biochemistry, and distilling and brewing became a natural extension of my passion for science and craftsmanship. Along with my wife, Bhagya Barrett, weve built Rebel City Distillery into something were really proud of. The journey has been incredible blending my scientific background with the artistry of distilling has been a dream come true. Its been amazing to see how the craft spirits scene has evolved here in Cork, and Im excited to be part of that growth. At the heart of everything I do, Im driven by a deep love of quality spirits and an ongoing curiosity about perfecting the craft. I feel incredibly fortunate to work every day doing something I truly enjoy and can pour so much of myself into. What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night? After a full week at the Rebel City Distillery, I enjoy something low-key usually feet up at home with a good drink, Maharani gin, and some documentary or my favourite shows ... That said, a night out in town with my wife, friends, or family isnt off the cards either depends on the mood. Lie-ins or up with the lark ... which is it for you? Oh, Im definitely a lie-in person when I get the chance. Theres nothing better than a slow, quiet morning no rush, no alarm blaring. I find that giving myself that bit of extra rest actually helps me think more clearly. Some of my best ideas come when Im just lying there, letting the day unfold. Does work creep into your weekend at all? I try to keep a line between work and home, but Ill admit, it does creep in sometimes. When you love what you do, its hard to fully switch off. I might find myself reading about new techniques, tinkering with ideas, or just thinking through a recipe. Its part of the rhythm of my life, though I do make an effort to carve out proper down-time too. If money was no object, where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you? Id head to Kyoto something about the precision, history, and craftsmanship of Japan speaks to me. Id bring my wife Bhagya along with me, we love exploring new cultures together. Robert Barrett and his wife Bhagya at their distillery in Cork. Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries? I love a good stroll around Cork city or out along the greenway. But if I really want to clear my head, Ill head up Patricks Hill. The views up there are unreal and its one of those spots where you can just sit, take it all in, and watch the city go about its day. Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend? For sure. Weekends are all about spending quality time with family and friends whether its a planned get-together or just a casual pop-in. Good company and a bit of chat are what make the weekend feel complete. Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator? One of my biggest hobbies is reading. Ive set myself the goal of reading 25 books this year, and Im currently on book 14. I switch between fiction and non-fiction, and it really helps me stay grounded and calm. Theres nothing quite like getting lost in a good book. Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter, do you have a signature dish? A bit of both. I love having people over and cooking for them. My go-to dish? Probably slow-roasted lamb with plenty of fresh herbs. And, of course, its always served with a Maharani gin and tonic to complement the meal. We have so many places to eat out in Cork where are your go-to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal? For coffee, I always go to Alchemy. For lunch, Good Day Deli is a favourite. When its time for a special meal, I love Paradiso, but Glass Curtain, Jacques, Elbow Lane, and Goldie are also top spots. They all have great food with real thought and care behind it. Sunday night comes around too fast ... how do you normally spend it? I usually take it easy on Sunday night. A bit of reading or maybe a film to wind down. Its all about slowing down, shifting gears, and setting a positive tone for the week ahead. What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning? 8:00am. I start the day with a good cup of coffee and a bit of reading before heading to work at Rebel City Distillery. It helps ease me into the week. Rebel City Distillery will join Irish food and drink producers appearing at the Food Village and Bloom Inn at this years Bord Bia Bloom, which returns to its home in the Phoenix Park, Dublin from Thursday, May 29, to Monday, June 2. See bordbiabloom.com. Some 3.1 million passengers flew to and from Cork Airport during 2024, which was a 10% increase on the figure from the previous year. That figure is expected to grow further in 2025. Cork Airport recently launched its summer schedule, with 2.75 million seats on sale on more than 50 routes which are operated by nine airlines. This includes four new routes from Cork to Bilbao, Bordeaux, Corfu and Izmir. Playing a critical role in ensuring a comfortable flight experience for passengers and making sure that the overall operation runs smoothly are the Cork Airport staff. The Echo was granted a behind-the-scenes tour of the airport to get an insight into the working lives of the airport staff who make such an important contribution on a daily basis. Among the first to greet us on arrival in the main terminal building are Eadaoin ORiordan and Ben OFlynn of the Cork Airport Police and Fire Service (APFS). They are responsible for general policing and aviation security duties at the airport in Cork. This includes responding to emergency situations, traffic management and dealing with the preservation of good order, to ensure all passengers can enjoy a safe environment travelling through the airport. The most enjoyable aspect of my job is the variety we have in our day. Our day always looks different. So that is probably my favorite part, along with the people that I work with, said Ms ORiordan, who outlines that no two days are the same in this particular role. We have a nice atmosphere in the airport so that makes the job a lot easier. You could be called to anything from medicals to spillages. The training we get helps us to prepare for everything. Mr OFlynn adds: You never know what you are going to have from day to day. You also get to watch people go off on their holidays and have a happy time, it is just a nice positive way to be. Meanwhile, the main function of the Airside Management Unit is to manage the daily activities and operations in general out airside. This role is a critical one to say the very least and many at the airport argue that this role is the oil in the machine. A few minutes inside the airport control room is all that you need to obtain an insight into the comprehensive tasks which they carry out. Staff handling ground operations in the Airside Management Unit and Airport Control Centre at Cork Airport. Picture Larry Cummins Through a number of different screens, they monitor flight operations through detailed mapping and runway cameras. The Airside Management Unit are first responders, along with the airport police, to all major incidents and accidents airside. As Siobhan Herlihy from the Airside Management Unit demonstrates, her role focuses on making sure operations continue to run without incident. Ms Herlihy and her colleague, Kerrie Woods, are responsible for managing all activities on the airfield including aircraft movements, maintenance and safety. They are also tasked with providing on the spot solutions when issues arise, to ensure continued operations and in general maintaining standards across the airside environment. It can be stressful at times, but it is enjoyable, said Ms Herlihy. You are constantly monitoring and listening to the ATC (Air Traffic Control) radio for anything out of the ordinary. Such as if an airline requests a medical emergency. We are all in one area, so we could say it to the duty manager and airport police are behind us. So, for example, we would say to them that there is a medical emergency and the airline is going to stand 13. That is the whole point of the office, you are all in one. We still would monitor and listen to ATC to make sure they are calling out the right stand. One of the main pillars of Cork Airport is the role provided by Swissport, who provide airport ground services, operate one lounge and manage one modern air cargo warehouse at the airport. Ground crew assist with boarding an edelweiss aircraft at Cork Airport. Picture Larry Cummins Swissport has been serving airlines at Cork Airport for many years and are tasked with looking after every airline in the airport apart from Aer Lingus. For Alan Mannion of Swissport, ensuring that the passenger experience in Cork Airport is as smooth as possible is the primary objective. The passengers are always flowing. Basically, on the ground floor here it is all about check in. So here we check in baggage. Once we get upstairs it is boarding and making sure passengers get on their flights. Meeting people is the most enjoyable aspect of the job. Being in an airport, you are meeting different people and from different cultures, creeds and religions. Kate, Alisha, Paula and Alan Mannion of Swissport at the check-in desks at Cork Airport. Picture Larry Cummins Once our tour of the terminal building has been completed, The Echo is then taken out onto the runway. Among the staff to chat is Michal Boguszewski, Aer Lingus ground supervisor. His role is another important cog in the operation of the airport. His main roles include ramp operations, cargo, baggage handling and cabin appearance on the aircraft. As the passengers head off on their sun holidays, the role of the airport ground supervisors is of paramount importance in getting their luggage and baggage to the desired destination safely and securely. Mr Boguszewski said he fully embraces the demands and responsibilities of his role. It is a very important role and very responsible. It can be very busy here. You have to watch everything and your eyes have to be everywhere around your head. We have to supervise the flights inbound and outbound. Pushing aircraft and pulling aircraft, loading and offloading. It is a very nice job. You can meet a lot of new people and new friends. We have a few different shifts. Some people dont like it, but this is the airport business. 'INCREDIBLY BUSY' Barry Holland, communications manager at Cork Airport, joins The Echo on the airport runway, which on this Friday afternoon is a hive of activity with numerous flights departing and arriving. In his role at the airport, Mr Holland looks after external communications, marketing, social media, public and media relations and stakeholder engagement. You have aircraft coming in and out now every 10-15 minutes, said Mr Holland. Barry Holland at Cork Airport. Picture Larry Cummins What you see here is Cork Airport functioning at its busiest on a weekend in summer time. So it is incredibly busy. This is part of the operation that passengers rarely get to see. It is a part that is so integral to the work that goes on here. As you can see, there are multiple roles people have to ensure aircraft come in and out. Cork Airport recently announced a capital investment of plan of 200m, which will see the creation of a further 10,000 jobs within the region, and the demolition of the old terminal building to facilitate the construction of a new pier with more boarding gates and aircraft parking stands. The expansion of Cork Airport will enable the facility to cater for up to and beyond five million passengers over the coming years. On what he enjoys the most about working at Cork Airport, Mr Holland describes: I think the most enjoyable part about it is that airports are generally happy places. You see people departing on any given day and predominantly if they are going on holidays, they are in great form and great spirits, looking forward to their getaway. What is important for us at Cork Airport is to ensure that everyone has a very pleasant experience when they are flying through. As Cork Airport is set for another busy few months ahead, the staff will play a crucial part in keeping operations functioning for all travelling through its facilities. A McCurtain St business owner has encouraged people to make submissions on the Cork Luas public consultation, saying that the preferred route would be disastrous for his and other businesses on the street. The emerging preferred route sees the Luas go from St Patricks Street to McCurtain St before making its way to Kent Station. Sean Gargano from MacCurtain Wine Cellar said that he was 100% pro-Luas but feared his and other businesses would not survive the construction period, and that having the Luas go directly down the street would undo all of the good work recently done on revamping the area. He told The Echo: The public money that went into McCurtain street recently was huge, and now its a wonderful street. Its almost completely independent, owner-occupied businesses, and we suffered a lot during the construction but we were told the benefits would outweigh the loss. While the hoardings were up from May to September we were on our knees, we lost 14% of our profits that time, around 35,000. This project is much more invasive, TII need a minimum of two years and to have construction all that loss would be unsustainable, I dont see how we could keep going were too small to handle it, and we only just did it. There are vacant outlets on our street and were not going to get people investing in them while this is around the corner. He suggested that the Luas would be better going down the quays, saying: Our quays need regeneration and in other European cities these projects dont go bang down the arteries of a city but feed onto them, in Dublin the Luas doesnt go directly down Grafton street but adjacent to it. What McCurtain St needs is pedestrianization rather than adding more traffic, he said, explaining: Luas plus cars, buses and bicycles mean the street will be choked with traffic our beautiful outdoor spaces like seating outside pubs will be pushed back, and there will be overhead cables visually disrupting the area. He added that the public consultation itself is also very complex: Ive watched people start it then say theyll do it later. People in Cork are also really used to saying this is never going to happen anyway, but whether this happens in 2029, in 15 years or 25 years, the last date to contribute on the route is June 9. Once the consultation is closed all research will go into that route. The next public consultation will be to say yes or no, this is the last chance to suggest a different route. Katherine Fitzpatrick, the director of destination for the VQ, a business group for the area, told The Echo: overwhelmingly, we would be very supportive of a Luas in Cork, its really long overdue. However, our members have mentioned, the area has very recently gone through a period of upheaval, and a lot of patience is required when works are ongoing, though they did produce a very positive result. This amazing space has been created making MacCurtain St into a real destination. The footpaths have been widened, theres trees and planters, people are sitting out and eating outdoors theres an overriding concern that by putting the Luas there, you could reverse all the work done to create this vibrant atmosphere. If the Luas is running both ways, are people going to say they dont want to sit and eat right beside that? We appreciate that the Luas would bring footfall, but our members have pointed out that having it one street down could create the same footfall. MacCurtain Street thoroughfare. Pic Larry Cummins She added: MacCurtain street is also a really historic street, theres concerns around the idea of electrical lines strung across buildings, and there are still challenges with deliveries and drop offs on the newly revamped street, so the Luas taking up two sides of the street is a big question mark for businesses. Ms Fitzpatrick said that it was important to bring the Luas onto the northside and connect it to Kent Station, but said the quays are a logjam of cars at the moment, this would be a really good opportunity to revitalize that space. We will be putting in a submission to encourage TII to really look at that quayside option. We would also love to see the street used in a more open way for community events, it would lend itself to things like the city councils open streets events they wouldnt be activating the quays in the same way. Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Padraig Rice said: We have to get Cork Luas route right. This vital project provides us with a unique opportunity to rethink our city centre we mustnt squander it. Currently the quays are dominated by car traffic. An alternative light rail route that skirts the historic centre would have the dual benefit of bringing life to areas that have been neglected for too long, while also acting as a pathway for pedestrians heading into the commercial centre. In general, its more beneficial for an established businesses to be on a street adjacent to a light rail line, especially hospitality businesses. He added: MacCurtain Street has just gone through a long period of regeneration. A huge amount of money was spent upgrading the area only for it to be ripped up under the current proposal. Mr Rice said that as the area is host to a booming hospitality trade. we should be encouraging this upward trend by increasing outdoor dining, not limiting it, and strongly encouraged people to make their voices heard about the route before the consultation period closes on June 9. Paolo Carbone, TII's head of light rail capital programmes, told The Echo that the Luas going down MacCurtain St: is one of the concerns that have been raised, and we welcome submissions on it as part of the consultation. TIIs Sarah ODonnell, the Cork Luas project manager, added: In the longer term, the Luas would add to the vitality of the day and night time economies on MacCurtain St, and theres real benefits into getting right into the heart of the area, but we are still constantly refining the plan and considering alternatives. Taoiseach Micheal Martin yesterday turned the sod on a development which will deliver 149 cost-rental homes at Jacobs Island in Mahon. The development, the Respond Crawford Centre, is part of a two-phase project which, when completed, will deliver a total of 218 homes. The first phase has already delivered 69 social homes, with creche facilities and retail units also completed, and that section was formally opened by Mr Martin yesterday. The Taoiseach paid tribute to Respond, which is Irelands largest construction-led approved housing body, to Cork City Council, McCarthy Developments, and all involved in the development. Eradicate barriers Mr Martin said that in Cork there is a certain can-do attitude for everyone to come together and work together to make things happen. That concept of people being willing to work together, to eradicate barriers, and to get things done, and to get housing delivered is so important, because housing is the number-one priority facing us as a society, he said. Our population has grown exponentially in the past two decades, the fastest- growing population across Europe per capita, which comes from a decade, perhaps prior to 2020, when there was a dearth of infrastructure development, and theres a need to catch up. Respond spokesperson Niamh Randall said the Jacobs Island development showed what was possible, through collaboration with the city council, the Department of Housing, the Housing Finance Agency, and The Housing Agency. Proud Were incredibly proud of whats been achieved here at the Crawford Centre, Jacobs Island, and excited for whats to come, she said. Dr Tom McCarthy, managing director of McCarthy Developments, said the scale and ambition for Jacobs Island continued to grow. With retail units and creche facilities already built, we look forward to developing further amenities at Jacobs Island, including bars and restaurants, a 165-bed hotel, and 20,000sq m of office space, said the McCarthy Developments managing director. The Crawford Centre will bring the total number of homes at Jacobs Island to over 600, with a further 250 completions anticipated in the coming 18 months. Funeral details have been announced for the 41-year-old man who drowned in the River Blackwater at Dysert, Dromagh in Mallow, Co Cork earlier this week. Simon OConnell, from Meelaheeragh, Kanturk, got in to difficulty in the water at around 7pm on Wednesday. The alarm was raised and the emergency services were at the scene within minutes. The body of the deceased was recovered downstream by members of the Cork County Fire Service. A post mortem examination took place yesterday at Cork University Hospital Mortuary. An inquest into the death will take place at a later date. A file on the case is being sent to the coroner in North Cork. Sinn Fein Senator Nicole Ryan said that she was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr OConnell. My thoughts are with Simons family, friends and the wider community in Kanturk during this incredibly difficult time, she said. Simon is survived by his parents James and Nancy and his siblings James and Barry. He will also be sadly missed by his nephews Jamie and Danny, his niece Isla, extended family and friends. A requiem mass for Simon will take place on Saturday at 11.30am in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Kanturk. Funeral afterwards to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy. Mr OConnell was a tradesman who was well liked locally. He was a keen fisherman and loved the outdoors. A journalist from The Echo/Echolive.ie has received two nominations in the 2025 Justice Media Awards. Amy Campbell has been shortlisted in the Print/Online Journalism (local) and Newcomer of the Year categories in recognition of her reporting that contributed to highlighting various justice issues over the past year. Ms Campbell has been shortlisted in the local journalism category for her story in relation to anomalies at Cork-based charity Support After Crime and ways in which it did not comply with the charities code, according to an independent review. The review was provided to The Echo on foot of a Freedom of Information request, after a spokesperson for the Department of Justice said it had identified serious issues. Over-reporting of client numbers, use of Government funding for ineligible travel and subsistence claims, and record-keeping were among the issues highlighted. The longest-running media awards in Ireland, the Justice Media Awards recognise outstanding print, broadcast, and online journalism that contributes to the publics understanding of justice, the legal system, and legal issues. Amy Campbell: Photo Chani Anderson Public understanding of our legal system is vital to society, editor of The Echo Grainne McGuinness said. In The Echo, we place huge importance on covering our courts and broader justice issues, so we are delighted with this recognition in the Justice Media Awards. I am particularly delighted for Amy Campbell. Amy is a talented and diligent young journalist and it is great to see her work acknowledged on the national stage. The awards will take place at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, in June. A former soldier was jailed for four years for stashing his 27,000 worth of cocaine at Collins Barracks in Cork in an extraordinary breach of trust for a member of the defence forces using a facility of a state institution to protect it. Judge Dermot Sheehan said Shane Scanlon, 35, was active in drug-dealing, mixing cocaine and putting it into baggies for onward street distribution and was using a room to which he alone had access in Collins Barracks to store it. The judge said today that unlike cases where dealing is uncovered as a result of confidential information about drug activities this was discovered first by army authorities at the barracks who immediately notified An Garda Siochana. It was contact from the authorities in Collins Barracks that caused the gardai to act, Judge Sheehan said. The judge was concerned that this was not only a matter of storing drugs but of its active preparation. The probation service expressed concern about his apparent lack of empathy for others. Judge Sheehan said that was a concern shared by the court. Detective Garda Derry OSullivan said that by his own admission the accused considered the barracks a safe haven for storing the cocaine. Judge Sheehan commented on this: The reason the barracks was chosen was I suppose it is obvious it is the main military installation in the south of Ireland, under military guard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Access is controlled by military police people cannot just walk into the barracks, it is under armed guard. That is why he stored it there. SEARCH Detective Garda Derry OBrien said the search of Room 31 at Collins Barracks was carried out on March 27 2024. While Mr Scanlon was living in Cobh he rented this room and was the sole occupant of it. A stash of cocaine with a street value of 26,992 was discovered in the room at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork, along with 1,100 in cash, and numerous drug paraphernalia including a blender, weighing scales and bags. He took full ownership of the drugs and materials as soon as they were found. He admitted having the drugs for sale or supply A follow-up search of his home was conducted and 2,250 in cash was seized there. He was not a drug user. And the sale of drugs was purely for monetary gain. His phone was examined and there was evidence of drug-dealing on his phone as far back as 2021. He was storing it in the barracks and he regarded it as a safe haven. Det. Garda OBrien said. Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said that in light of the defendants particular family circumstances he was asking for a fully suspended prison sentence. Judge Sheehan said he was disinclined to do that as the legislature sought mandatory minimum sentences of ten years unless there were exceptional circumstances. Shane Scanlon of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, County Cork, pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, at Collins Barracks, Old Youghal Road in Cork for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another on March 27 2024. when its street value exceeded 13,000 the charge which carries a ten-year minimum sentence unless there are exceptional circumstances. Mr Scanlon signed a plea of guilty to the drug-dealing charge and to money-laundering in respect of 2,250 at his home in Cobh and another sum of 1,100 at Collins Barracks. Mr Scanlon finally pleaded guilty to possession of articles, namely a blender and weighing scales in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was for the purpose of commission, preparation, facilitation or instigation of a drug trafficking offence. Mr Boland said, He is of previous good behaviour. He has resigned from the army after 18 years of otherwise exemplary service in the army. It brought shame on his unit and brought the army into disrepute and he is ashamed of that and remorseful. I would ask for his admissions and cooperation to be taken into consideration. The amount though considerable is at lower end for 15A (the charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act that carries the ten-year minimum term). This was done because he was under financial pressure. Housing prices in Cork will likely grow by a further 6.4% this year, Ann OMahony, regional director of the Cork branch of Sherry FitzGerald property advisory firm has said. Speaking at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Southern Construct Summit at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs yesterday, Ms OMahony said that fewer properties in Cork were being traded than before. She said: Reflecting back on last year, in 2024 in Cork there was about 2.4% of standing stock traded. Nationally, there were under 50,000 transactions in the market last year. She explained that while Dublin saw a slight increase in the amount of transactions, Cork was down 3.5%, with just under 5,500 houses traded. Cork deviates slightly from the national average in that 75% of transactions in the Cork market last year were by people buying a house to live in themselves, compared to 82% nationally, Ms OMahony said. Additional residences in Cork were up slightly on the national average, she said. Were coastal; weve Kinsale, East Cork, West Cork, so its no surprise we have slightly higher figures of additional residences. She also explained that a similar amount of homes were built nationally last year and in 1981, despite a population increase of 2m between then and now, saying: In Cork, just over 3,500 properties were completed in 2024. The figures, which represent an increase of 14% compared to 2023, include 2,500 scheme houses, while the remainder were single units and apartments. There have been 720 completions so far in 2025. CIF Cork Branch chair Cian OMahony, director general Hubert Fitzpatrick, and Southern Region director Joanne Treacy with EU Commissioner Michael McGrath and CIF president Stephen McCarthy at its Southern Construct Summit in the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs. The summit, attended by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, was themed Elevating Cork and discussed funding Corks infrastructure, housing, and innovation in construction. Ms Treacy welcomed the signing of contracts for the M28 and Responds announcement of 218 homes in Jacobs Island, while Ann OMahony, inset, said Cork house prices may rise 6.4%. Picture: Brian Lougheed She highlighted that the population of Cork and the rest of Ireland is growing steadily month by month, and household sizes are getting smaller, meaning more houses are needed. These people who are coming into Cork, where are they going to live? she said. Ms OMahony said Sherry FitzGerald estimates Ireland needs to build around 56,200 homes a year every year, but 62,000 or more for the next few years in order to catch up. In the South West, Cork and Kerry, just over 4,000 homes were built last year, but our estimates show between 7,000 and 7,500 are needed year-on-year to cater to the growth in population and the demand for homes in the South-West, she said. Ann OMahony, Regional Director, Sherry FitzGerald Cork Right now in Cork, theres less than 1% of standing stock of private dwellings advertised for sale. This is the lowest Ive ever seen, and Im doing this almost 30 years. In Cork in January there [were] only 1,400 homes advertised for sale in the private market thats down 43% from prior to covid. However, she said: When you look at reasons for selling, nationally, 30% are selling investment properties, whereas in Cork only 25% are leaving for this reason, getting out of the rental market, which bodes well, and says that Cork is a place people want to come to. She said housing prices overall are now very near the height of the market again and the growth is not looking likely to slow down, with price increases of 6.4% in Cork this year. A woman who admitted throwing a pint glass at another woman during a party, leaving a permanent mark on her face, has been given a three-year suspended sentence. Judge Dermot Sheehan said: This was a very serious assault. The result of the assault was a nasty wound to the forehead of the young lady, who is left with a nasty scar. This was at a birthday party and, for whatever reason, Carla ODriscoll threw a glass at the injured party and hit her. She is left with permanent scarring. It might be covered with a fringe, but why should she have to cover her forehead? The victim was completely unaware of what was happening and had no way of protecting herself from this. Carla ODriscoll, of 16 Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork, pleaded guilty to the charge of assault causing harm to the other young woman on November 17, 2023. Garda Richard ODonovan said, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, that ODriscoll was fully co-operative and signed a plea of guilty to the charge. She had no previous convictions of any kind, and is in employment. The victim impact statement was handed into court, but was not read out publicly. Defence barrister Brendan Kelly said that while 25-year-old Carla ODriscoll did not have a specific recollection of the incident, she did identify herself on CCTV of the assault. She expressed her utter shock at what she had done, Mr Kelly said. ODriscoll brought a total of 1,500 compensation to court, out of limited personal means. The incident occurred at the Route Fourteen premises on Togher Rd on the night of birthday celebrations. Thirteen projects in Cork have secured a total of 223,760 in funding to conserve and celebrate cultural and natural heritage. Under the Heritage Councils 2025 Community Heritage Grant Scheme, 25,000 has been allocated to Skibbereen & District Historical Society, to restore the historic train mural painted in 1994 by local artist, the late Russell Barrett, depicting the last train to leave Skibbereen. A further 25,000 in funding has also been awarded to the Saleen & District Residents Association for the conservation of 19th-century stone walls along the Saleen CreekJamesbrook roadway at East Cork. Other Cork awards include 24,845 to Crosshaven Community Association Ltd; 24,971 to YMCA Ireland (ROI); 23,205 to Ballynamona Graveyard Group; 22,889 to Irish Heritage Trust CLG; 18,727 to Mealagh Valley Community Centre Ltd; 18,000 to The Firkin Crane; 12,717 to Allihies Copper Mine Museum; 10,849 to Arts @ Civic Trust House; 10,000 to Cork Traveller Visibility Group; 7,846 to Ross Union of Parishes, and 4,887 to Ballyhoura Development CLG. Completed All funded projects can begin work immediately and are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Cork South West TD and minister of state for nature, heritage and biodiversity, Christopher OSullivan TD, said that the funding would enable communities to safeguard their local heritage. Community groups and heritage organisations do incredible work in preserving our natural, cultural and built heritage for generations to come," said Mr O'Sullivan The restoration of the historic train mural in Skibbereen, the conservation efforts at the Allihies Copper Mine Museum, and the work being done to preserve the Ross Union of Parishes in Rosscarbery are all fantastic examples of the impact of this scheme. Virginia Teehan, chief executive of the Heritage Council, added: Whether its restoring a local landmark, recording oral histories, or creating habitats for biodiversity, these projects have a tangible and lasting impact. Economic competitiveness must be prioritised in the new non-domestic water tariffs framework, Cork Chamber has said. The chamber of commerce made its call in a submission to the recent public consultation by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) on Uisce Eireanns Non-Domestic Tariff Framework. The representative body for Cork business urged the CRU to consider the potential impact on economic competitiveness before introducing any water tariff increases for business customers. Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, said Uisce Eireann must have sufficient funding to provide efficient water and wastewater services, but this should be achieved through exchequer funding, not by increasing charges for businesses. Uncertainty The examination of Uisce Eireanns non-domestic tariff framework comes at a time of significant uncertainty for the business community, he said. Concerns regarding the increased cost of doing business, exacerbated by the potential implications of US tariffs, continue to impact businesses of all sizes from SMEs to large indigenous and multinational organisations. Mr Healy said supporting the business community and enhancing Irelands economic competitiveness must be prioritised in all decision-making, and any increase in the cost burden for businesses should be mitigated wherever possible. Uisce Eireann needs sustained capital funding allocations to enable it to make necessary investments in water infrastructure, facilitating upgrades to the network and new connections. All new developments across the country, from much-needed housing to vital industrial and commercial developments, depend on the availability of timely connections to water services, he said. Planning The Chamber CEO added that, in the current context of housing demand and ongoing infrastructural developments, Uisce Eireann must align its planning to local and national development plans, as well as to the plans of other providers of critical utilities and developers. It is vital that Uisce Eireann has the resources to work proactively, ensuring that zoned lands are prepared for development in a timely manner. Government must consider increasing the capital allocation for Uisce Eireann to enable the utility provider to carry out the maintenance, upgrade and future-proofing of Irelands water network that is so critically needed, Mr Healy said. Multi-annual government funding should be made available to provide certainty around the delivery of large-scale capital investment projects what is crucial is that the cost of necessary investments in our water services is not passed on to businesses, particularly in the current climate of economic uncertainty. Richard Satchwell's narrative of how his wife died after he held her off by the belt of her bathrobe is "absolutely farcical" and has more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese, a prosecution barrister has told a Central Criminal Court jury. Gerardine Small SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, today gave her closing speech in the trial of Mr Satchwell, submitting that the British truck driver had woven "a web of deceit" and continued his "fabricated narrative" over the years when he engaged with the media and "anyone who would indulge him". The Leicester native, counsel submitted, was "shamelessly brazen right up to the very end" until his wife's remains were discovered at the couple's home in Youghal, over six years after Tina Satchwell was reported missing. Ms Small said Mr Satchwell's objective from the very outset was "always to put everyone off the scent" and that this was done because he had murdered Tina. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan told the jurors that there was no doubt Mr Satchwell is guilty, but asked the jurors what exactly he was guilty of. He said that although Richard Satchwell had lied "to the people of Ireland", the lies do not make him a murderer or relieve the prosecution of the burden of proving the ingredients of murder. He said his client was made to carry out a "perp walk" after he was charged with murder which had all the resonances of Caravaggio's "The Taking of Christ", but in this case was "The Taking of Richard Satchwell". Trail of breadcrumbs He submitted that his client was far from a "criminal mastermind" and was instead someone who left a trail of breadcrumbs behind him that would "rival anything in a nursery tale". 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 late Tina Satchwell. The accused formally reported Ms Satchwell 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 home found her decomposed remains in a grave that had been dug almost one metre deep underneath the stairs. When re-arrested on suspicion of Tina's murder after her body was removed from their Cork home, Mr Satchwell told gardai that his wife "flew" at him with a chisel, that he fell backwards against the floor and described her death after he said he held her off by the belt of her bathrobe at her neck. The Assistant State Pathologist has told the trial that Tina's cause of death could not be determined due to the skeletal nature of her remains after they were found buried beneath her Cork home. Addressing the jurors in her closing speech today, Ms Small said the case was "calling and screaming out" for them to apply their common sense and experience. Ms Small said that the jurors can infer intent from "the surrounding circumstances" of Mr Satchwell's actions, reactions and omissions, as well as the lies he told, the manner in which he concealed the body, the "whole web of deceit he wove" and the fact that it was not until Tina's body was found that his narrative changed. These, she said, were all matters for the jury to examine when they were looking at the accused's intent. Immediate aftermath Counsel suggested that in the immediate aftermath of the killing, Mr Satchwell had not sought any medical help and made no calls to the emergency services. "Nothing; he doesn't contact anyone." Ms Small told the jurors that the accused created a false email to an international monkey rescue association at 10.42am on March 20, 2017 "in very close proximity to the killing", where he wrote: "I have put an awful lot of work into this and my wife is going to leave me as a result." "That is a very calculated move on Mr Satchwell's part," the prosecutor told the jury. "It's very deliberate and very reasoned and what he is doing is creating a digital footprint he can avail of later down the line....it's a safety net because further down the line, he can say she was alive at that stage." The barrister said another text message sent by the accused to "a Mr James" in a similar manner to the email made for "two very deliberate and conniving actions" on the accused's part; "full of guile". In his first contact with gardai on March 24 2017, Ms Small said Mr Satchwell told officers he was not really worried about Tina because of the deterioration in their relationship; "again the deceit has been woven". She said Mr Satchwell had continued this "fabricated narrative and deceit" over the years when he engaged with the media and "anyone who would indulge him". Ms Small said during the accused's "enhanced cognitive interview" with gardai in June 2021, he still maintained the same narrative of how Tina had left him. She said when the accused told gardai he thought Tina may come knocking on his door, he did this "knowing full well she was buried under the concrete; it's absolutely callous". Outlined The lawyer outlined that when Mr Satchwell was first arrested for his wife's murder on October 10, 2023 gardai had told him there was going to be an invasive search and that they "were going into the walls" of his home and digging up every inch of the house. Ms Small said at this stage, Tina's body hadn't been found, but officers asked the accused what he kept under the stairs. She said Mr Satchwell had told them "bits and pieces". "That illustrates how shamelessly brazen he is, right up to the very end, absolutely brazen and he maintains that position right to the bitter end until he is released from detention," said counsel. Counsel told the jurors that ultimately, Tina's decomposed body and skeletal remains were recovered when the cement under the stairs was broken. She said gardai then re-arrested the accused on October 12. "He knows the body has been found, you would expect this is a road to Damascus moment, you would be forgiven for thinking that, but no. Richard Satchwell now embarks upon another narrative and another web of deceit; this narrative has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese, it is laden with discrepancies," she continued. Commented Ms Small commented that Mr Satchwell's account of how his wife died was "totally implausible and self-serving". She went through his account on how Tina "flew" at him with a chisel and was on top of him trying to stab him. "Curiously this eight stone lady versus a six foot two man never manages and doesn't get a mark on him but nonetheless she is still stabbing at him," she commented. "For some reason he said he grabs her clothes but doesn't know it's a belt at the time, only after the deed he realises it's a belt, he said he is holding her off because he is terrified". Ms Small submitted that Mr Satchwell gave no detail of the struggle because he could not be then probed by gardai and "found out". She continued: "Tina is well capable of getting up, she has her left hand free and can stop her own death, it's absolutely farcical but that is what he is telling gardai." Ms Small noted that when the accused was asked by gardai to demonstrate what happened to his wife, he said he couldn't. She also said that when Mr Satchwell was asked how he held the belt around her throat, he said he didn't know. Interview Counsel also submitted that when the accused was asked what had caused Tina to die, he could not say but went on in his interview "to set up" the defence of self-defence for himself. She said lies are subject to scrutiny and this was where the accused had fallen down, including by telling gardai he had put Tina's wedding ring in the pocket of her bathrobe. She said a "meticulous excavation" had taken place by hand and it wasn't the case that the ring was lost, but rather the accused hadn't put the ring in with her. Counsel called the accused an "arch manipulator" and that when he was asked to demonstrate the interaction with Tina, he said he couldn't'. She said when asked how close his hands were to Tina's neck, he had said he didn't know. "Think about that; it totally beggars belief," she told the jury. Rachard Satchwell with an address at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork has pleaded not (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. She said Mr Satchwell told gardai there would be no jury needed as he was going to plead guilty. She said the accused said "even if I was advised to try to let it go to trial and try for a lesser charge I wouldn't because for 36 years I've kept a secret for Tina and that's the violence and I'm not going to have it dragged out in a court of law for every Tom, Dick or Harry to listen to it". She said his account in interviews was self-serving and had pivoted at every juncture. Counsel told the jury they needed to ask themselves why Mr Satchwell had concealed the body. "He is totally focused on protecting himself from the discovery of his crime. Think of the lengths he goes to to ensure the body isn't found and as a consequence there is no cause of death; it's astounding". She said there was no skin, flesh or organs with the remains so the "normal indicators" as to how death occurred were not available. "The prosecution don't know the cause of death because Richard Satchwell ensured we didn't, so we don't know the mechanism of the killing". Freezer Ms Small said the manner in which the accused buried Tina was "absolutely disrespectful", by firstly leaving her on a couch, then putting her in a freezer before covering her in black plastic - which he used on the ground for car boot sales - and digging a three foot hole which he cemented over. She said this was in stark contrast to the burial received by the couple's dog Heidi. Counsel said it was "so cynical" and astounding to have offered witness Sarah Howard the freezer that her "beloved cousin" Tina was in. In summary, Ms Small said Mr Satchwell's objective was "always to put everyone off the scent" and that it had started from the very outset when he was "full of guile, cunning and told a plethora of lies". She said the accused did this because he had murdered Tina Satchwell and it was nonsense to suggest it was an accident or self defence. She asked the jury to return a verdict, "in Richard Satchwell's own words", of guilty. Defence closing At the outset of his closing address, Mr Grehan said that the prosecution's case was "a big contradiction". Defence counsel submitted that the prosecution were quite happy to rely on the accused's account in terms of establishing a time of death and various other aspects but then to ridicule it, mock it and say it wasn't reasonable. He said gardai told the defendant in interviews that what he had said happened wasn't possible. "Even the expert, who had conducted 30,000 post mortems, the only thing she was asked was to show how the robe belt was tied around". Mr Grehan stated: "Richard Satchwell is guilty...there is no doubt about it but what exactly is he guilty of. "He is certainly guilty of causing his wife's death, which he said occurred in a struggle while she was attacking him with a chisel. He is certainly guilty of burying her under the stairs of their home and he is certainly guilty of disreputable conduct such as offering a freezer to Tina's cousin which his wife's body had been in." The lawyer said his client was also guilty of lying to his wife's family and many different gardai from Youghal to Fermoy. "He lied to every reporter and media outlet that would listen to him. He lied on local airways and national airwaves, he lied to the people of Ireland. He lied to you and me........." But, counsel said, the lies do not make him a murderer or relieve the prosecution of the burden of proving the ingredients of murder. Evidence He said there was no evidence in the case that Mr Satchwell intended to kill or cause serious injury to Tina. "The prosecution are happy to glide over that". He said people lie for lots of different reasons and can lie to cover up their conduct or because they killed the very thing they loved. "As reprehensible as lies might be, they don't make your job easier, they make it harder because lies can be told for all manner of reasons," he told the jury. "And when we find out, as you representatives of the people of Ireland, that someone has lied to you, that you have been taken in, all those people that indulged him on their programmes, we feel a very great resentment". He told the jury that they couldn't allow themselves the easy option "of being overwhelmed that Richard Satchwell" told lies all over the place, big ones and small ones, to lead them to the easy conclusion that his client must be guilty of murder. Mr Grehan said "it was indeed a web of lies" and quoted Sir Walter Scott: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive". He said when one starts a lie it can be difficult to stop and the domino effect is to tell another one to cover the previous one. Counsel said his client told gardai that once he started lying he couldn't stop, agreeing that he had "brazened it out until the bitter end'. It was clear, he said, that Mr Satchwell was besotted, obsessed and worshipped Tina. "He told his brother when he first saw her that he was going to marry that girl. He spent the rest of her life devoted to her and knew things most husbands wouldn't know about their wives, not only the shoe size but the size of her underwear as well". The lawyer said there wasn't a scintilla of evidence that Mr Satchwell had ever laid a hand on Tina. But he said the accused loved her so much that he was prepared to put up with being hit suddenly and without any clear motive. Suddenly He said it was the defence case that Tina could suddenly turn violent on the accused and that this happened on March 20, 2017. The case, he said, was filled with a few "what if's" and the prosecution had glossed over the biggest elephant in the room; the failure of An Garda Siochana. He accepted that Superintendent Anne Marie Twomey and Detective Garda David Kelleher brought a new energy to the case but that matters had progressed at quite a pedestrian rate. He said Supt Twomey was satisfied Tina was no longer alive by the end of January 2022 and had never left the house. Mr Grehan accepted his client was the greatest contributor to the delay in this case which resulted in limitations in uncovering Tina's cause of death. He added: "I suggest there is more than enough blame for that delay to go around. Gardai never needed to get archaeologist and sleuth Dr Niamh McCullagh to do a report to tell them what 'Detective 101' tells you when someone goes missing, particularly a wife in a particular set of circumstances". "Every police force in the world looks first at a partner or a husband, that's the experience in countless investigations everywhere." "Why the gardai weren't in there, if not immediately, but certainly when they went in June properly looking for Tina's remains. It's beyond me and beyond Dr McCullough, it seemed blindingly obvious to her". 'Red flags' Mr Grehan said "red flags", such as the accused leaving it for four days to report his wife missing at Fermoy Garda Station, 43kms away from where the accused lived in Youghal, were simply ignored. "Once that was indicated, everyone should be on red alert because the trail is running cold...gardai had all the jigsaw pieces". He said what a different case it would have been in terms of pathology if the intrusive search had been done as it could have been in June 2017. He said the accused can't be punished for this "even if he is his greatest author of all that delay". Counsel said his client did make comments in garda interviews about going to prison and not needing a jury. "It does need a jury of his peers to determine what exactly he is guilty of, beyond lying and other disgraceful behaviour after his wife died". He said the accused's "cryptic" reply of "guilty or not guilty, guilty" when he was charged reminded him of a scene in the film "My Cousin Vinny", when the words in the film "I shot the clerk" are later seen as a rhetorical answer. He told the jury to ignore it and leave it to one side as it didn't fit with what the accused said in interview. Referring to what the defence argued was a "perp walk" at Cashel District Court, where he said the accused was handcuffed at the front and "paraded" into court, Mr Grehan said it had all the resonances of the Caravaggio painting "The Taking of Christ" but in this case it was "The Taking of Richard Satchwell". Opinion Counsel said this was "the fomenting of public opinion before the courtroom so that everyone knows he is a dangerous man; 'we brought him to justice, but by the way don't look too hard behind why it took so long for that to happen'". He described the bathrobe belt as like a "Sam Browne belt" and said Dr Margaret Bolster's initial instinct was that it was put on the body afterwards to help move it. He submitted that his client was far from a "criminal mastermind" and was instead someone who left a trail of breadcrumbs behind him that would "rival anything in a nursery tale". Mr Grehan said the prosecution would like the jurors to focus exclusively on the aftermath, the cover up and the lies so that they can make a case of intent before that. He asked the jurors to return a "just" verdict. He said a verdict of not guilty would arise if the jury accepted that the accused believed he was going to be under serious threat from Tina and that "sharp, strong, sturdy implement" and that he had acted reasonably. Counsel told jurors the verdict of manslaughter was open to them if they thought the prosecution had not discharged the burden of proving intent and that the accused had used more force than was necessary but no more than he believed necessary at the time. The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women, when the judge will commence charging the jury. Mr Satchwell (58), with an address at Grattan Street, Youghal, Co Cork has pleaded not (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 recent good weather got most of us out and about and, as always, the music community was eager to take advantage. Ive often written about the great opportunities that we have in Cork for such outdoor music activity, rain or shine, and there still remains loads of untapped potential in this regard. There is no doubt that the outdoors have been embraced more since covid, and there are some decent options available right now for music fans. The Marina Market is certainly one of the most foremost options in this regard. The covered market has plenty of space outside and even indoors, its large event rooms can host big events. On recent Saturdays, various DJs from the Electronic Music Council have been playing summery tunes down near the front of the market, and its provided a useful outlet for some more community building in this regard. This is set to continue during the summer, and there are also plans to do some more musical events in the market itself going forward. My own Everybody Dance party continues in the middle of the market, but the Market itself is well equipped to do more because it has the space and a certain entrepreneurial zeal to make things happen too. Not everyone wants to hear music while they eat and chill, and its such a big space that there are plenty of options for people to sit comfortably elsewhere in this regard too. Further down The Marina I spun some tunes down in Cortado coffee last Sunday and, as habits change, cafes are another area where you will see or hear lots more live music and DJs these days. Cycling, running, yoga and other hobbies go hand in hand with coffee culture, and, in Ireland and abroad, there are early morning raves, chill out afternoon sets and much more activity in this regard. Again, outside areas are important in this regard, and many who have the space are taking advantage of not only the good weather but the changing habits of music fans. Its taken a while to develop, but The Marina and the surrounding park area is really coming on nicely at the moment and there are a few potentially nice spots for more events down the line. Embracing our harbours and rivers seems to be a no brainer and its a shame more of our bars and cafes in the city arent really riverside. Myo Cafe on Popes Quay has been running some great daytime and early evening events for years and its a great place to sit by the water and catch some tunes. This weeks Africa Day festivities are hosting plenty of outdoor events, including Saturdays family fun day in Fitzgerald Park, another great inner city facility that is still probably underused for music events. The new look Bishop Lucey Park is currently being redeveloped, and will hopefully be another great option when reopened to the public. The music and cultural scene here is nothing without people and, sadly, a few big contributors to our community have passed recently, and Id like to mention a few of them today. Our longtime adopted friend from Rome, Riccardo Vallebella, hosted many great parties and restaurants in Cork over the years and was a great supporter of music and the arts. Cordelia Oseh headed up Multicultural Ireland here and hosted events in Cork City Hall and other venues over the years. These events brought many different communities together and I was honoured to have been the DJ at them for nearly 10 years. This weekend just gone brought the news that John Emanuel Henry, aka Harry J, had also passed. Harry J touched down in Cork in the mid 90s and, like Rico and Cordelia, he was soon welcomed here with open arms. I first met him in Sir Henry's and he soon began MCing with me in the Back Bar, but its fair to say he made his mark in multiple other parties too. He was a big fixture on the reggae/hip-hop and jungle circuits, and throughout the 2000s he was performing alongside the Conspiracy and other groups at festivals and parties all over Cork and beyond. Finally, we also lost Siobhan ODowd this week. A tireless campaigner for the LGBT and other communities over many decades, Siobhan was a very important figure in Cork and, like Rico, Cordelia and Harry J, she will be sadly missed. Ellen O'Donoghue A vote by the Camogie Association allowing women to choose what they want to wear on the pitch while playing the sport, be that shorts or skorts, features on Irish front pages on Friday. The Irish Times lead with Ireland performing a U-turn to oppose contentious EU reforms aimed at broadening access to new drugs and medicines, a historic vote by the Camogie Association voting to allow women to choose what they wear when playing, whether that is shorts or skorts, and sea temperatures off the western and southern coasts of Ireland being above normal. The Irish Examiner lead with a group of mother and baby home survivors taking a High Court case over their exclusion from the State redress scheme, US flights carrying deportees stopping over in Ireland not needing to be cleared with the Government, an advocate warning that the covid review is 'not fit for purpose', a vote allowing camogie players to choose what they want to wear, and the shooting of two Israeli embassy workers in the US. The Echo lead with a MacCurtain St business owner objecting to the preferred Luas Cork route, and the Camogie Association ruling allowing players to choose what they wear on the pitch, whether they choose shorts or skorts. The Irish Independent lead with a surgeon who implanted experimental spinal devices in three children, also being linked to an investigation into unnecessary hip operations. The Belfast Telegraph lead with the law used to charge Kneecap star Liam Og O hAnnaidh with displaying a flag in support of a terror group, being used to arrest just 13 people in Northern Ireland since 2001. The Irish Daily Mirror lead with the historic Camogie Association vote, which allows players to choose themselves what they wear while playing their sport, whether it be skorts or shorts. The Irish Daily Mail lead with an audit into the cost of the infamous Leinster House bike shed, costing 25,000, bringing the total cost of the bike shed to 361,000, including the audit. The Irish Daily Star and The Herald both lead with the trial of Richard Satchwell, who is accused of allegedly murdering his wife Tina in Co Cork. Sean McCarthaigh Compensation totalling over 8.7 million was paid out to victims of violent crime in 2023 with one individual receiving an award of over 2.7 million. Another victim received total compensation of over 1.5 million on appeal after initially being awarded just 5,000. The latest annual report of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal reveals that combined awards made to individuals who suffered personal injuries under a general scheme for victims of violent crime and a special one for prison officers increased by 8 per cent in 2023 to 8,717,040. A total of 345 individual awards were made by the CICT in 2023 an annual increase of 22 per cent. The compensation scheme, which was established in 1974, is open to all applicants who have been victims of a violent crime. A total of 270 applicants under the general scheme accepted and received awards totalling over 7.5 million in 2023 representing an average payout of 27,838. However, the awards ranged from less than 100 to over 2.7 million. The highest compensation payout was made to a woman who suffered debilitating and enduring injuries following an intentional assault to cause her serious harm. The CICT noted the victim, who had no relevant medical or psychiatric history before the assault, sustained serious brain injuries and now required full-time care as she could no longer have an independent lifestyle or return to work. It awarded her victim a total of 2,762,453 in compensation including almost 2 million for the cost of future care and 221,000 for the cost of future childcare. In another case, a young man who sustained an acquired brain injury after hitting his head on the ground after he was punched in an unprovoked attack by an unknown individual was originally awarded 5,000 compensation. On appeal, however, the sum was increased to 1,539,234 after the victim was made a ward of court and the CICT heard evidence that he would require life-long support. The tribunal also awarded 95,000 to a close friend of the victim who has supported him for future care costs as well as 44,417 for out-of-pocket expenses in relation to the case. The CICT has also operated a separate compensation scheme since 1990 for prison officers who suffer personal injuries during the course of their work. Its latest annual report shows 75 prison officers received compensation totalling over 1.2 million in 2023 representing an average award of 16,011. The report reveals the tribunal received a total of 252 new applications in 2023 an annual decrease of 7 per cent. They consisted of 163 for the general scheme and 89 under the prison officer scheme. The tribunals chairperson, Conor Heaney, said the number of applications received in 2023 is approaching levels seen prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Mr Heaney said the tribunal was well placed to deal with the increase in volume. He said there had also been significant progress in reducing significantly the number of abeyance files by closing off cases where applications had been made more than five years previously and where no awards could be made due to a lack of supporting information. Overall, tribunal members, which consist of qualified barristers and solicitors appointed by the Minister for Justice, processed a total of 805 cases in 2023. The scheme allows victims and their dependents in fatal cases to apply for reimbursement of expenses and losses they may have suffered as a direct result of a violent crime. The tribunal also considers claims for compensation from people injured in coming to the aid of gardai or trying to prevent crime in a public place as well as anyone injured in preventing the escape of a criminal from custody or attempting to save a human life. It is also a requirement that any criminal incident which resulted in an injury for which compensation is sought must be reported to gardai without delay, or Fiosru (previously known as the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission) in cases where the alleged offender is a garda. An application for compensation must be submitted to the CICT within three months of the offence, although a longer deadline of up to two years is accepted in exceptional circumstances. The scheme does not consider applications from people injured as a result of road traffic offences except in cases where there has been a deliberate attempt to run down a victim. Since 1986, compensation is only paid out in relation to special damages losses which are quantifiable such as wages as the CICT does not consider any award for general damages such as pain and suffering. Further changes may arise from a report due this year from the Law Reform Commission which is reviewing how victims of crime should be compensated. Awards by the tribunal are limited to the amount in annual funding voted to it by the Dail each year. In April, Sinn Feins spokesperson on justice, Matt Carthy called on the Minister for Justice, Jim OCallaghan to bring forward legislation to put the CICT on a statutory basis as a matter of urgency. It followed briefing documents which showed funding for the scheme was due to be exhausted by the end of March. Mr Carthy said a lack of funding for the scheme would be deeply concerning as it was vital for supporting victims of crime including those who had experienced life-changing injuries. Last year, a Circuit Court judge, Judge Keenan Johnson, called for National Lottery funding and court fines to be used to provide improved compensation payments for victims of violent crime. Judge Johnson claimed the current system a reference to the CICT was inadequate for recognising the impact of violent assaults on injured parties. He observed that a scheme which does not allow payments to compensate for any pain or suffering felt by victims was grossly unjust. The judge had previously observed that Ireland had one of the meanest systems in Europe for compensating victims of crime. He also contrasted how the State has no difficulty in spending a fortune on incarcerating people with the inadequate levels of compensation for victims of violent crime. Eoin Reynolds Jozef Puska's brother Marek told gardai investigating the murder of Ashling Murphy that he wanted to tell them more, but couldn't because of medication he was taking for back problems, which had left him on disability allowance. Marek Puska (36) is accused of withholding information that was crucial to the investigation into Ms Murphy's murder. He is on trial with his brother Lubomir Puska Jnr (35), who is also accused of withholding information. Their wives, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension or prosecution by burning the clothes he wore when he murdered Ms Murphy. Each accused has pleaded not guilty. From left: Lubomir Puska (35), Viera Gaziona (38), Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Marek Puska (34), who have addresses in Mucklagh, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Photo: Collins On Friday, Detective Garda Cian Steers told prosecutor Anne-Marie Lawlor SC that on January 14th, 2022, two days after Ms Murphy's murder, Marek agreed to give a voluntary statement at Tullamore Garda Station. He described how the family ended up in Ireland with three brothers, their wives and 14 children all living in one house in Mucklagh, Tullamore. He described the recent months as "golden times, the best of times", and added: "I swear to God, everyone says they don't see a family like this getting on... We sit and talk and don't argue." "The kids are at the top of everything and get everything," he said. He and Jozef, he said, were on disability allowance due to back problems. On January 12th, the day of the murder, Marek got up at his usual time of about 12.30pm. Jozef was not home, which was unusual, and he hadn't taken his phone. Marek went into Tullamore to search for Jozef. He visited a casino where Jozef would sometimes go and a plaza near the Bank of Ireland. When he still couldn't find Jozef, he went to a Garda station to report his brother missing and the local hospital to ask if anyone named Jozef Puska had checked in. Marek said he went to Dublin that evening but returned to Mucklagh the following day by bus. As he pulled up to the house, he noticed gardai. A Polish garda told him that "someone from my house had killed someone," he said. He asked if she was joking and added: "I did not know how to answer or what to say... is it about me, my brothers? I thought about it and said, No, it is not possible." He said nobody who knows his family would say they could kill someone. At the end of the statement, Marek said: "I want to tell you a bit more, but I can't because of the medicine I have taken [for his back]. My doctor told me it can affect my memory." He promised to contact gardai if he remembered anything else, adding: "I want to help." In cross-examination, Det Gda Steers agreed with defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC that at the start of the statement, Marek accurately described Jozef Puska's bicycle and immediately identified the bike when shown a photograph. Det Gda Joanne O'Sullivan told Ms Lawlor that in the following days, gardai became aware that Marek Puska wished to make a further voluntary statement. On the evening of January 18th, gardai took Marek to Mullingar Garda Station because all the interview rooms in Tullamore were in use. The jury has previously been told that Jozef Puska was arrested at 11.31am on January 18th. Marek told Gda O'Sullivan that when he and Lubomir Jnr were looking for Jozef on the 12th, they received a phone call at about 9pm telling them their brother was at home and in a "poor state" having been "beaten up". He said Jozef had injuries and blood on his head, "like he had been hit", and three holes in his abdomen. When Marek asked him about it, he said Jozef told him it was "not my business" and not to ask questions. Jozef did not want an ambulance and claimed to have self-inflicted the wounds to his abdomen, Marek said. Marek said he didn't believe his brother would do that to himself and cried when Jozef refused an ambulance. He said he is close to his brother, "like two halves of an apple, I can't live without him." Marek said he and Jozef would tell one another everything, and he had been struggling to sleep in the days since seeing the injuries. He described Jozef as the "go-to man" who would "help everyone". He said Jozef did not have mental issues and would talk through any problems he had. Later on the night of the 12th, Marek said his parents arrived in Tullamore and Jozef left with them to go to their house in Dublin. It is alleged that Marek Puska failed to disclose that Jozef had returned home on the night of Ashling's murder with visible injuries and admitted to killing or causing serious injury to a woman. It is further alleged that he knew of the arrangement to burn Jozef's clothes and that Jozef Puska travelled to Dublin later that night. Lubomir Puska Jnr, it is alleged, also withheld that Jozef returned home with visible injuries, admitted to "cutting a female", and travelled to Dublin. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988. Jozefina Grundzova (31), who is married to Marek Puska, and Viera Gaziova (38), who is married to Lubomir Puska Jnr, are accused of assisting in burning clothing between January 12 and 14th, without reasonable excuse, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska, knowing or believing him to have committed the offence of murder or some other arrestable offence within the same category or of a similar nature. Ms Grundzova and Ms Gaziova pleaded not guilty to the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997. All the accused have an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Tullamore, Co Offaly. The trial continues on Monday before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of seven men and five women. Fiona Magennis Four men have been convicted of offences arising out of the "inhumane" murder of Mahamud Ilyas, after a jury convicted a 21-year-old of impeding the apprehension of two drug dealers who beat the victim to death for stealing a bag of cannabis. Lorenzo Cantaragiu drove Mr Ilyass murderers Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24) to a wooded area in Co Meath where the two killers left Mr Ilyas (22) for dead. Clejan and Doroscan had previously assaulted Mr Ilyas with various weapons, including a hammer, causing the injuries that led to his death. Lorenzo Cantaragiu has also been convicted of cleaning the car to impede the prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan, knowing or believing that they had caused serious harm to Mr Ilyas. Viorel Doroscan (23). Photo: Collins Otniel Richardo Clejan (24). Photo: Collins Robert Burns (59), who lived at the apartment in Verdemont in Blanchardstown where the assault took place, was initially charged with six counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Clejan and Doroscan. A little over one week into the trial, Burns pleaded guilty to one offence of cleaning the apartment at Verdemont on December 9th, 2022, knowing or believing Clejan had committed serious harm there. The prosecution indicated that the other charges will be dismissed at a later hearing. The Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous verdicts on the four charges against Cantragiu on Friday afternoon. The panel of seven men and five women rejected the defence case that Cantaragiu had feared for his life and had acted reasonably given the "intimidating and terrifying" circumstances in which he found himself. Mahamud Ilyas They had deliberated for a total of four hours and 58 minutes. Mr Cantaragiu did not react as the verdicts were delivered. He later bowed his head and wiped his eyes. Mr Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury for the hard work and commitment they put into this case and the important contribution they had made in this very sad and very difficult matter. He exempted each of them from jury duty for 30 years. After the jury delivered its verdicts, Jane Murpy BL, prosecuting, made an application for Cantaragiu to be remanded in custody ahead of a sentencing hearing on June 23rd. Michael Lynn SC, for Cantaragiu asked that his client be granted bail, highlighting the fact that Cantaragiu is a 21-year-old man with no previous convictions. After considering the matter, Mr Justice Hunt said the defendant had been involved in the disposal of a man who was very badly wounded, at best. He said to treat another human being in this manner was grotesquely inhumane and Mr Ilyas had literally been left for dead. He remanded Cantaragiu in custody to June 23rd and directed the preparation of a probation report. Mr Ilyass body was discovered in a wooded area at Belgree Lane in Co Meath on December 10th 2022. The 22-year-old died from blunt force trauma to the head. Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told the jury that the deceased sustained depressed fractures to his head, which were "typical of hammer blows". Row over drugs It was the States case that Doroscan and Clejan were involved in the sale and supply of drugs and that they beat Mr Ilyas to death after a row over a stolen bag of cannabis. Cantaragiu, of Castlegrange Park, Blanchardstown, had faced four charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Doroscan and Clejan, while knowing or believing them to have committed the offence of causing serious harm to Mr Ilyas. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was accused of impeding the prosecution by driving Doroscan and Clejan to Belgree Lane in Co Meath, where Mr Ilyas's body was found in a field the following day. It was further alleged that Cantaragiu cleaned his car to impede the prosecution. Defence counsel Michael Lynn SC had argued that Cantaragiu believed he was at risk and had acted reasonably given the "intimidating and terrifying" circumstances in which he found himself. He reminded the jury that Cantaragiu told gardai that Doroscan and Clejan had threatened to kill him and he saw no way to escape. Cantargiu had told gardai that he feared that "bigger criminals" or drug dealers would come after him and he was worried for his family. When interviewed, Cantaragiu said that he drove Doroscan and Clejan to an area in Hollystown where they took the body out. Thats the last time I seen them with him. I last seen him when he was headfirst in the ditch and I helped him up. He was breathing, because I heard his gasps. I left after that and never went back, he told officers. During the trial, the jury viewed CCTV footage from Verdemont in Blanchardstown on December 9th showing two people wearing dark clothing carrying a red object which contained the victim. A BMW driven by Cantaragiu then exited the car park and travelled towards Kilbride, Co Meath, before returning at 4.18pm from the area where the deceased was found. At 4.29pm, Cantaragiu entered the Circle K at Mulhuddart, where he purchased cleaning products. Less than a quarter of an hour later, Cantaragiu met with an individual at Circle K, Coolmine to sell the BMW. In his closing address to the jury, Eoin Lawlor SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that Cantaragiu had known Doroscan and Clejan had brought a body down to the car, so he had known that the offence of causing serious harm had been committed. Counsel said the CCTV footage showed that Cantaragiu arrived at the apartment at 3.46pm, but the body was not brought to the car until 3.53pm, with the boot of the car open for a long time. He said Cantaragiu had time to weigh the significance of what was being asked of him, but it was clear he intended to assist. Counsel said Cantaragiu later sold his car, as he knew that the car had become a crime scene. Doroscan, of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin, and Clejan, with a former address at Verdemont, had both pleaded not guilty to Mr Ilyas's murder on December 9, 2022 but were unanimously convicted by the jury on Tuesday. The 12 jurors rejected the defence case that the two men had acted in self-defence after they claimed Mr Ilyas came running into an apartment with a weapon and threatened to kill them. Evidence Witness Vlady Ndosimau previously told the trial that he barged through the door of the apartment after hearing a loud banging noise. Inside, he said he witnessed Mr Ilyas sitting on the floor, with his back against a radiator, looking as if he had been beaten and with blood coming from his nose. His hands and feet were tied using a rope or a zip tie and he was moaning while Clejan and Doroscan shouted at him, the witness said. Doroscan, holding a fruit knife, stood between Mr Ilyas's legs while Clejan stood close to his head with a hammer in his hand, the witness said. Doroscan, he said, kept on shouting "where is the stuff" while Mr Ilyas responded by "groaning and groaning". Mr Lawlor told the jury that the use of a hammer was the modus operandi for conflict resolution employed by Doroscan, while the appalling, callous way in which the victims body was disposed of indicated his co-accused's part in the joint enterprise of the murder. During the nine-week trial, the jury viewed footage of a Snapchat video on Doroscans account that showed a man lying on the ground, face up, with visible blood on his face and a large blood stain on the wall behind him. The short clip showed the video-taker moving in closer to the head of the man on the floor and video-takers shoe can be seen briefly. Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue said the shoe matched those worn by Doroscan on the same day. Metadata from Snapchat showed that the clip had been taken at 2.51pm on December 9, 2022 in Verdemont estate in Blanchardstown. Doroscan and Clejan have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing on June 23rd when members of the victim's family will be invited to make Victim Impact Statements. In recent years, the disparities in healthcare between men and women have become increasingly evident, and thankfully, they are beginning to be recognised at government level. The importance of this cannot be understated. Whilst women need the same level of care as men in relation to their health, the type of care must be tailored to their specific needs. Hormonal and reproductive health, for example, demands more extensive knowledge, facilities, and services, as does a focus on heart and bone health. An action plan launched by the government three years ago has been the driver for these improvements, and this has been backed by significant funding to see it realised. Inequalities in healthcare service and access are evident in Ireland, but also at EU and international levels. Poorer health outcomes across a range of conditions need to be addressed, having emerged from decades of male-focused research and investment into medicines and treatments. Reversing this inequality will not happen overnight. It is vital that we support women so they can enjoy improved quality of life and health in their later years. Key initiatives underway Free Contraception Scheme for women from the age of 17, with the age range continuing to expand, currently covering up to and including the age of 35. Specialist Menopause Clinics (six established), five Endometriosis Hubs, and two developing Supra-Regional Centres for complex endometriosis care. An action plan to eliminate cervical cancer in Ireland by 2040 supported by vaccination and education. Gynaecology and maternity services have also developed significantly, including See-and-Treat Ambulatory Gynaecology Clinics, Community-based Postnatal Hubs and Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services. The governments focus on womens health is guided this year by the Programme for Government and Phase 2 of the Womens Health Action Plan 202425. Priorities are following a life cycle approach, addressing the different needs of women at various stages of life. Upcoming and ongoing improvements Mental health services tailored to gender: As with physical health, equality in mental health support must not mean uniformity. Gender affects mental health needs and appropriate services. New initiatives include eating disorder teams, improved postnatal mental health care, and progress on Irelands first mother-and-baby inpatient mental health unit, allowing recovery without separation. Heart and bone health focus: Funding is now directed at prevention and early intervention for mid-life and older women in these key areas to avoid the significant health impacts that the absence of such services can have for women. Free HRT for women: Although delayed due to administrative issues, roll-out is now expected in June, supported by the Irish Pharmacy Union. Supported reproduction: The first-ever public Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Centre is due to open by years end, increasing accessibility. Period dignity programmes: Free period products are being made available in public buildings through local authorities, family resource centres, and community partners. This scheme is essential and is expected to expand further. Increased breastfeeding supports: Lack of early information and guidance can affect both feeding outcomes and maternal confidence. More trained staff in maternity hospitals will support informed and individual decisions. Expansion of See-and-Treat Gynaecology Clinics: These clinics are essential for improving the speed and quality of care for women suffering long-term from gynaecological conditions. Addressing the gaps Despite these well-intentioned efforts, we dont know what we dont know - and the voice of women in Ireland is vital in continuing to identify gaps in healthcare and seeking action to address them. Whilst its usually not the fault of any one healthcare professional, systemic failures need to be communicated when they occur. Being vocal about your experiences in accessing care, and advocating for yourself or loved ones when needs are not being met, is incredibly important. If you dont feel able to do this while unwell, youre always entitled to re-engage with the services afterwards. Sometimes, opportunities arise to take part in research projects related to a service or experience, which can be a powerful way to influence change. In your own healthcare journey, its always important to recognise and understand the need for gender-specific healthcare, and to advocate for it where its missing. Doing so can help women to live longer, healthier lives. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. When plants hear the buzzing of bees collecting nectar, they increase their output of the sugary substance as the bees get closer, a new study by Francesca Barbero, a zoology professor at University of Turin, and a team of researchers from Spain and Australia has found. The research suggests that plants play more of an active role in the symbiotic relationship they have with bees than previously thought. The plants behavior could be a survival tactic that favors giving sustenance to bees over nectar robbers who dont offer them any reproductive benefits, a press release from the Acoustical Society of America said. Plant-pollinator coevolution has been studied primarily by assessing the production and perception of visual and olfactory cues, even though there is growing evidence that both insects and plants can sense and produce, or transmit, vibroacoustic signals, Barbero said in the press release. Pollinators produce a variety of sounds when they visit flowers flapping their wings over a flower, hovering, landing and taking off. But these sounds are very small in comparison with other acoustics and vibrations of insect life, which had previously led to researchers overlooking their acoustic signals related to body and wing buzzing. Barbero and an interdisciplinary team of entomologists, plant physiologists and sound engineers studied the signals to develop efficient and noninvasive methods to monitor pollinator communities and how they influence ecology and plant biology. Barbero presented the findings on May 21 at the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and 25th International Congress on Acoustics. The team played recordings of buzzing sounds by a Rhodanthidium sticticum bee also known as a snail-shell bee near growing snapdragons to monitor the plants reactions. A photo of the recording device, the model snapdragon plant (A. litigiousum), and the approaching bee (R. sticticum). Vibrant Lab They discovered that the sounds of the bees, who are snapdragon pollinators, caused the flowers to ramp up their volume of nectar and sugar, and even change the gene expression governing nectar production and the transport of sugar. The response by the snapdragons could be a coevolutionary survival strategy, particularly if the plants are able to increase the pollinators loyalty by affecting how much time they spend inside their flowers. The ability to discriminate approaching pollinators based on their distinctive vibroacoustic signals could be an adaptive strategy for plants, Barbero said. By replying to their proper vibroacoustic signal for instance, an efficient pollinators plants could improve their reproductive success if their responses drive modifications in pollinator behavior. The research team is looking into whether the plants responses increased the attraction of all visitors to their flowers including the nectar robbers or just suitable pollinators. Our hypothesis is that the changes in nectar we observed after treating the plants with the sounds of the best pollinators specifically increase the attraction of this particular species (Rhodanthidium sticticum), Barbero said, as The Guardian reported. However, to confirm this, we need to conduct choice tests to assess how different nectar concentrations attract various species. Barbero said that if they are able to confirm this response from insects, sounds could be used alongside plants and crops to increase the attraction of their specific pollinators. The researchers are conducting ongoing analyses to compare snapdragon reponses to nectar robbers and other pollinators. The multitude of ways plants can perceive both biotic factors such as beneficial and harmful insects, other neighboring plants and abiotic cues, like temperature, drought, and wind in their surroundings, is truly astonishing, Barbero said in the press release. ViTFOX project The ViTFOX projecta collaboration between Europe and Koreais developing an energy-efficient vision transformer architecture (50 TOPS/W) based on ferroelectric oxides for AI applications at the edge. Diesen Artikel anhoren As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into sectors such as healthcare, autonomous vehicles and smart cities, traditional computing architectures face significant limitations in processing speed and energy efficiency. The ViTFOX project unites eight partners from Europe and Korea to create a groundbreaking Vision Transformer architecture based on ferroelectric oxide, allowing for significant reductions in energy consumption and latency. Unlike traditional architectures, which often rely on separate memory and processing units, ViTFOX aims to integrate computing directly into memory, achieving an exceptional energy efficiency of over 50 TOPS/W. The European Union is funding the project with 1.5 million. Traditional computing architectures face significant limitations in processing speed and energy efficiency when handling the vast amounts of data generated in today's digital landscape. Neuromorphic systems, systems that imitate the working method of the human brain, leverage specialized hardware, such as ferroelectric devices, to execute computations more efficiently and effectively, enabling real-time processing and decision-making. This approach not only enhances the performance of AI applications, such as image recognition and natural language processing, but also reduces energy consumption, making it a sustainable solution for future technology. The ViTFOX project is at the forefront of advancing AI by developing energy-efficient neuromorphic computing systems. At the heart of the ViTFOX project is the Vision Transformer (ViT) architecture, which is designed to perform complex AI computations while consuming less energy. Vision Transformers are a type of neural network architecture that excels in image recognition tasks by processing visual data more effectively than traditional methods. The project aims to create a ViT that utilizes ferroelectric oxide materials to achieve exceptional energy efficiency of over 50 TOPS/W, which is crucial for AI-powered edge applications. We aim to push the boundaries of current technology by developing hardware-software co-optimization platforms, novel materials, and integration methods that will not only enhance AI performance but also ensure sustainability in energy consumption, says Prof. Dr. Thomas Kampfe, project leader at Fraunhofer IPMS, one of the partners in the consortium. We want to significantly contribute to the semiconductor industry, addressing both the technical challenges of emerging memory technologies and the societal need for efficient computing solutions, he adds. Collaboration between Europe and Korea to advance the state-of-the-art technology In total, the ViTFOX consortium consists of eight partners from leading research institutions, universities and technology development laboratories from Europe and Korea. The project aims to strengthen the leading position of EU and Korea in Hafnia-based Silicon-compatible ferroelectric electronics, a field which was pioneered in Europe and has attracted significant interest from Korean researchers. The project will advance the technology beyond the state of the art in the whole value chain from materials and devices to heterogeneous and monolithic integration as well as design and simulation of the ViT circuits and systems. The project is particularly significant as it capitalizes on the recent advancements in ferroelectric materials, specifically hafnium-zirconium oxide (HZO). Which has shown to be compatible with conventional silicon components and is an exceptional promise in enhancing memory devices and reducing power consumption. Three of the project objectives target the design and fabrication of the main components of the ViT, namely a Compute-in-Memory demonstrator, a circuit level simulator and a hardware-software co-optimization platform with ferroelectric oxides. The platform will support two types of emerging memories, high-density 3D FeRAM developed in Korea and epitaxial ferroelectric tunnel junctions developed in Europe. This strong collaboration allows the partners to leverage their collective expertise in materials science, semiconductor technology, and artificial intelligence to push the boundaries of this emerging field. Fraunhofer IPMS is a key partner in the ViTFOX project, contributing its extensive expertise in neuromorphic systems and semiconductor technologies. Fraunhofer IPMS will focus on the development of advanced materials and devices for neuromorphic computing applications, particularly utilizing ferroelectric materials. This includes the design and testing of novel ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) and the integration of these devices into functional prototypes. By leveraging its state-of-the-art clean room, Fraunhofer IPMS aims to facilitate the scaling and optimization of ferroelectric technologies, ensuring they meet the stringent requirements for energy-efficient computing systems. Project partner: President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Apple to manufacture iPhones for the American market domestically. In a post on Truth Social Friday morning, the president explicitly warned that he would recommend a 25 percent tariff be applied to any iPhones sold in the United States that were manufactured outside the country. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S., the president wrote. His reference to India was in response to continued reporting that Apple has been considering shifting all US-bound iPhone production to India in order to avoid trade instability with China brought on by tariffs . Apple trialed low-volume production of iPhones in India in 2017 with the iPhone SE. The company began ramping up production in India throughout subsequent years, and now plans to accelerate that expansion . CEO Tim Cook clarified during the companys most recent earnings call that the majority of iPhones sold in the US during the coming quarter would be sourced from India. Apple has been careful in managing its relationship with the Trump administration, pledging investments in the United States that align with the presidents goals, and inviting Trump to "open" a manufacturing facility in Texas that had actually been producing Mac Pros for years. Apple CEO Tim Cook also donated $1 million to the presidents inauguration fund and attended the event. Analysts have said that an iPhone made in America could cost upwards of 25 percent more from increased labor costs alone. Labeling a product as "Made in the USA" requires meeting standards set by the FTC , and it's uncertain whether Apple could meet that standard without drastically increasing the cost of its products. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. X is still experiencing performance issues a few days after a data center outage brought the site down, with feeds struggling to load on Saturday morning. The site went down for many users around 8AM ET, when downdetector shows a major spike in problem reports. It's since come back up, but performance remains spotty. In an update about the incident posted on Friday night, X's engineering team said, "We're still experiencing issues from yesterday's data center outage. Login and signup services are unavailable for some users, and there may be delays in notifications and Premium features. Our team is working 24/7 to resolve this." According to posts on the company's developer platform page, a "site-wide outage" began at 11AM PT on Thursday, May 22, had "been resolved" as of 10:35 AM PT Friday morning. But the developer site notes that X is still experiencing "degraded performance" of some of its login features. The company has yet to officially comment on the ongoing technical problems since an update Thursday afternoon, when the company said that a data center outage was causing "performance issues" for some users. X is aware some of our users are experiencing performance issues on the platform today. We are experiencing a data center outage and the team is actively working to remediate the issue. Engineering (@XEng) May 22, 2025 At the time, reports on downdetector.com, which tracks online service outages, spiked as users reported issues accessing direct messages and other features. While the company hasn't elaborated on the cause of the prolonged outage, the timing lines up with a reported fire at an X data center in Oregon on Thursday. According to Wired, firefighters responded to a fire at a data center leased by X near Portland, Oregon at 10:21AM PT on Thursday. The extent of the damage is unclear, but the fire crews were reportedly on-scene for several hours. Batteries were apparently a contributing factor to the blaze. X hasn't responded to questions about the fire or the data center outage it disclosed. However, this wouldn't be the first data center-related headache X has faced. Shortly after Elon Musk took over the company in 2022, he insisted on moving the company's servers out of a facility in California to a space in Oregon in a bid to save money. And while Twitter engineers had insisted the process would take months, Musk insisted on moving them in a matter of weeks, in an incident detailed by Musk's biographer. While Musk was able to accomplish his goal of quickly relocating the servers, his haphazard approach to the move resulted in months of technical issues for the company and an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. Update, May 24, 2025, 11:07AM ET: This post has been updated to reflect the ongoing issues with the site's performance and to include the latest update from X about the outage. It was previously updated multiple times, and that information is now included in the story above. A man who lost his job after going viral for performing a ukulele cover of Kanye West's inflammatory song, "Heil Hitler," reached out to Elon Musk asking for support, "from a fellow Roman saluter to another." @TowerGangToad, who goes by Toad online, posted a video in an appeal to Musk last week, quoting a 2023 post from the billionaire promising to fund the legal bill of anyone "unfairly treated" by an employer due to an X post. Hey @elonmusk, from a fellow Roman saluter to another I hope you're serious bro. I have been canceled for singing a song on your platform! *Link in replies* https://t.co/jcyXmIxdtc pic.twitter.com/ujigXuNR37 Toad (@TowerGangToad) May 19, 2025 "From a fellow Roman saluter to another I hope you're serious bro," Toad wrote. "I have been canceled for singing a song on your platform!" On May 10, Toad a computer programmer and aspiring comedian posted a video of himself singing every line of "Heil Hitler" while strumming on a ukulele. The cover, which has racked up more than 8.8 million views, ends with Toad performing a Nazi salute. "The woke mob got their eyes on it and started coming out of the woodwork," Toad said in his video message to Musk. "They have doxed me and gone to my employer," he continued. "My employer, being a bunch of p**** woke progressive leftists, immediately caved and fired me." "So I am losing my income...and being canceled over singing a song," Toad wrote, proceeding to announce his crowd-funding campaign. He said he needs the money for legal expenses, to relocate, and "to send a message to the f***** woke progressive leftists." The chorus in the song consists of the phrase "N**** heil Hitler," repeated dozens of times. The song also features the line, "All my n****s Nazis," and plays an excerpt of Adolf Hitler delivering a speech in 1935. It's been banned from streaming platforms. Musk, who has been an outspoken advocate for free speech, especially on the social media platform he purchased in 2022, has been widely criticized after being accused of aligning with elements of Nazi ideology. The billionaire vocally supported Germany's far-right AfD party, propagated "white replacement" conspiracy theory and was accused of performing a Nazi salute twice at Trump's inauguration earlier this year, which has has denied. His supporters argued the gesture was a "Roman salute," while Musk insisted the gesture meant, "my heart goes out to you." Musk has publicly not responded to Toad's plea for legal assistance. Toad's GiveSendGo fund, "Canceled Over Chords," seeks to raise $25,000, claiming his only crime was "being unapologetically himself." So far, the fundraiser has collected over $10,000. Originally published on Latin Times Zachary Levi, once a rising star in the superhero world, is now making headlines for a different kind of reveal: his open support for President Donald Trump and his claim that many of his Hollywood peers secretly feel the same way. "I've gotten messages from lots of people who I won't name but who were very grateful to me for taking the stand that I took," the "Shazam!" actor told Variety. "They would tell me, 'I want to do that, but I'm so afraid,'" Levi said. "And I would tell them, 'Listen, you're on your journey. I'm on my journey.'" "I know that there are people that would prefer not to work with me now because of my opinions," he admitted, noting his agents have flagged concerns from unnamed parties. "It's unfortunate. I knew that was probably going to happen. I didn't make this decision blindly or casually." Levi, 44, alluded to vaccine skepticism in 2023, then supported 2024 presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., before eventually pivoting to Trump following RFK's endorsement. Back in 2016, Levi encouraged his social media followers not to vote for Trump. "I was not a fan of Trump's Trumpiness, I didn't like a lot of these personal things, the ways that he carries himself a lot of the time," he told the outlet. "I understand people's aversion. Do I think the whole package is somehow perfect? No." A devout Christian who's spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community, Levi remains unapologetic about his political leanings, and open to the possibility that his mind could change. "I could be getting bamboozled right now," he acknowledged. "Putting my trust into leaders that I helped to get elected." Still, he believes more Hollywood players are with him than will admit it. "While there are some people who might prefer not to work with me anymore, there's a lot of people on that side of the political spectrum who are even more inclined to hire me and to want to do business with me," he said. "They see what I did was a great risk." Tapper and musician Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi broke the silence he had been keeping for months after delivering testimony that shed light on the volatile relationship between himself and music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs. "I just wanna say I've been seeing all the love and support and I just wanna say thank you so much," he said on an Instagram video. "People been hitting me up the past week just checking in and even today. It really means a lot to me. You guys are the best. I love y'all. It's a stressful situation and I'm glad it's behind me." He finished the video by telling his fans to "go stream 'Neverland.'" The testimony centered on events from 2011 and 2012, during which Cudi briefly dated Cassie Ventura, Diddy's former partner and witness in the trial. Cudi recounted a series of alarming incidents that followed, including a home break-in and the destruction of his car by fire, incidents he attributed to Combs' alleged retaliation. It is unclear where the two rappers first met, and they have never collaborated on a released track together (and likely never will), but Combs did reveal that they were spending time together while Diddy was in the studio recording his 2010 album 'Last Train to Paris.' However, just one year later, their relationship would turn bitter. Cudi testified that in December 2011, during a separation from Combs, while he and Cassie were staying at a West Hollywood hotel, he received a call from Combs' assistant, Capricorn Clark, who informed him that Combs and an associate had broken into his house. Cudi called Combs on the way back to his house from his hotel, and Combs replied, "I want to talk to you." Upon returning, Cudi found that Combs was not there, his dog had been locked in a bathroom, and Christmas gifts had been unwrapped. Weeks later, in January 2012, Cudi's Porsche 911 convertible was set ablaze in his driveway. A Molotov cocktail was discovered inside the vehicle, indicating arson. Cudi testified that he believed Combs was responsible for the attack, stating, "I reached out to Sean Combs after my car caught fire and told him we needed to finally meet up and talk. He'd been wanting to talk to me. After the fire, I thought this is getting out of hand and I need to talk to him." His suspicions were reinforced by a subsequent meeting at SoHo House, where Combs was allegedly "staring out the window with his hands behind his back like a Marvel supervillain." During the meeting, Combs denied involvement with the fire. Cassie Ventura's earlier testimony corroborated Cudi's account, stating that Combs had threatened to harm both her and Cudi upon learning of their relationship. She also alleged that Combs had threatened to release explicit videos to manipulate her. Cudi's testimony contributes to a broader case against Combs, who faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Prior to Combs' arrest, surveillance video surfaced of Combs beating Ventura in the hallway of a hotel. The trial has featured testimonies from several individuals alleging a pattern of abuse and intimidation by Combs. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Originally published on Latin Times HELENA, Mont. Montana has been leading the nation in drunk driving fatalities among adults and teens, with 60 percent of all fatal crashes in the state resulting from impaired driving. A two-day public health campaign in Helena is aiming to address this issue. Lewis and Clark Public Health (LCPH) kicked off the campaign at Capitol and Helena High Schools. The event continued at the Project for Alternative Learning High School, where they delivered presentations on alcohol safety. Joining the campaign is indigenous hip hop artist and motivational speaker Christian Takes the Gun Parrish, known as "Supaman." Parrish shared his personal story about his family's struggles with alcohol addiction and his decision to never drink. "I made that decision when I was ten and I was ten years old. I looked to my environment and I said, all the drama, all the chaos of fighting, going to jail, going to the hospital. And I said, I don't want that drama," Parrish said. Parrish also spoke about how he uses music and dance to find happiness and encouraged students to find their own happiness and identity. LCPH also hosted two community events aimed at overcoming the stigma surrounding alcohol consumption and encouraging conversations about sobriety. Amber Johnson, a communication specialist with LCPH, emphasized the campaign's goals. "The purpose of our campaign is to encourage moderation and responsible drinking, as well as to champion sobriety for people who are struggling with alcohol dependence. Alcohol is a drug. And what people might not realize is that alcohol kills and injures more people than all other drugs combined. And we have a robust drinking culture in Montana," she said. Lewis and Clark Public Health offers addiction resources to residents. More information can be found on their website. Beef, lamb, milk and eggs are at the greatest risk of losing market share to lab-grown alternatives, according to a ground-breaking joint UK-Norway study. The research believed to be the first of its kind assessed how cultivated proteins and a potential carbon tax might reshape the food industry and emissions landscape. It revealed that cattle and sheep farming, along with dairy and egg production, are more vulnerable to synthetic competition than pork and chicken, which emit lower levels of greenhouse gases. Funded by Norways Ruralis Institute for Rural Research, scientists modelled two future scenarios: one with a carbon tax and one without. In both cases, beef, lamb, milk and egg sectors saw a more pronounced drop in market share compared to poultry and pork. With a carbon tax in place, the fall was both sharper and faster. Researchers assumed that consumers would increasingly treat cultivated and conventional animal products as largely interchangeable, with cost being the dominant driver of purchasing decisions. The study highlights a growing need for governments and agricultural sectors to prepare for the shifting dynamics of the global protein market, particularly in the face of mounting environmental and economic pressures. Proponents of lab-grown proteins say they are marketed as a climate-friendly alternative to conventional meat, with potential greenhouse gas reductions of up to 97%. However, support payments to livestock producers in many countries currently make it difficult for these technologies to compete purely on cost. Dr Nick Roxburgh, of the James Hutton Institute, which took part in the study, said: "This study suggests that sheep and cattle rearing could be most vulnerable to competition, especially if a carbon tax is introduced. "Given the potential for disruption, it will be important to plan carefully for the possible impacts of cultivated proteins on livestock farming and rural livelihoods. It comes as British consumers could see lab-made meat and dairy on sale within two years, as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently said it was seeking to speed up the approval process In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorise the sale of cell-cultivated meat for human consumption. Since then, Italy and the US states of Alabama and Florida have instituted bans om cell-cultivated products in defence of traditional livestock farming. Ports and fresh produce leaders are demanding government compensation for now-redundant post-Brexit border posts, calling them a costly blunder with lasting impact on the sector. Industry figures have criticised the 320m combined public and private investment in Border Control Posts (BCPs), many of which may no longer be needed under the recently sealed UK-EU agreement on food and plant checks. Border Control Posts are the white elephants of Brexit, said Richard Ballantyne, CEO of the British Ports Association, speaking on BBC Radio 4s Farming Today. The total cost of BCPs was around 200 million from government and an additional 120 million from the industry itself in capital costs. Ongoing operational expenses are also mounting. For larger BCPs its around 200,000 a year just to manage with energy, security, business rates etc., he added. A prime example is the sprawling government facility at Sevington in Kent. Who paid for that? The figure that was spent on that was getting on for half a billion of public sector funding, said Mr Ballantyne. Much of this facility is now redundant, although we dont know for sure that we dont need the facility at all. He stressed that ports acted in line with government guidance: The ports have invested in good faith under the direction of government, so we are now asking for compensation. "They were built in haste and at great cost. Were left with a really bitter taste in our mouths. The call for compensation is echoed by the fresh produce sector, where businesses fear that control points constructed at the governments urging could soon become obsolete. Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), warned of the financial hit to private companies if current negotiations with the EU result in reduced inspection requirements. Those facilities, assuming the agreement is reached, will become redundant, said Mr Jenney. That is why, like others, we are calling for compensation from the government, because these businesses have spent hundreds of thousands, if not millions of pounds of their own money to build facilities under the encouragement of two successive governments that will become obsolete. While a UK-EU agreement to streamline sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks is still under discussion, he warned that we dont have an agreement yet the details have not been finalised. He acknowledged the potential benefits for trade in fresh produce and plants but noted the high cost already incurred. It should be positive for many businesses however, there is a price for this, in terms of the costs that businesses have already incurredincluding the control points. Mr Jenney also raised concerns about the implications of closer UK alignment with EU regulations for trade with non-EU countries. It would appear that we are going to adopt EU legislation, which could well impact on our trade with our rest of world countries as well. He pointed to citrus imports as an example: Right now, if were buying citrus from South Africa or Egypt there are no border controls. "Yet, if we adopt the EU regulations, many of them will be subject to 100% inspection, which means delays, costs and disruption to the whole industry. He concluded: Surely this is about a discussion between the UK and the EUit should not have the potential liability to impact trade with other countries These goods will be consumed in the UK. They will not be consumed in Europe. A government spokesperson commented: Closing border control posts will depend on the final shape of the deal. Tea fields may soon rival sheep pastures on the Welsh hillsides, as research suggests the UK could become a serious player in home-grown tea production. Researchers are pointing to the viability of growing tea in non-traditional regions, particularly in mid Wales and south-west England. Scientists at Aberystwyth University have harnessed machine-learning techniques to analyse the chemical profiles of tea plants cultivated in areas such as Powys and Dartmoor. Their work could pave the way for a stronger UK-grown tea industry, helping producers to develop tailored breeding and cultivation methods that suit local climates. Tea can be grown in the UK, but there are several challenges that make it more complex than in traditional growing regions. Due to cooler temperatures, UK-grown tea grows slower than in tropical climates, with the plants preferring consistent warmth and humidity. The team is currently collaborating with Dartmoor Estate Tea in Devon, a site chosen for its unique microclimate and diverse soil types. The study is examining six varieties of tea selected for their environmental adaptability and chemical complexity. Dr Amanda J Lloyd, senior researcher at Aberystwyth University, and her team have also been working with Buckhall Farm near Knighton in Powys, one of the few UK farms pioneering high-altitude tea production. She said: This study is contributing to the growing field of metabolomics by providing a comprehensive chemical profile of tea grown in a non-traditional region. "Our findings offer new insights into the adaptability of tea plants and their potential for cultivation in emerging regions, contributing to global food security and agricultural diversification." Further research will now need to be carried out and will include multi-seasonal sampling and comparisons with traditional tea-growing regions. It will also include analysis of processed tea to provide a more comprehensive understanding of tea chemistry. The work builds on an innovative portfolio of research at Aberystwyth University focused on teas health benefits, sustainable cultivation and consumer behaviour. China and the Netherlands reached six points of consensus at a meeting yesterday between the formers Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing. Both sides agreed to maintain close exchanges and deepen practical cooperation in fields like economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture and water conservation. China and the Netherlands reached six points of consensus at a meeting yesterday between the former's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Dutch counterpart Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing. Both sides agreed to deepen practical cooperation in fields like economy and trade, S&T and agriculture. They agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas like climate adaptation and green transformation. They agreed to maintain close communication related to cooperation in multiple fields and reaffirmed support for multilateralism, pledging to adhere to free trade and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. They agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas like climate adaptation and green transformation, a Chinese news agency reported. Wang expressed hope that the Dutch side will provide a just, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) President Donald Trump today recommended imposing a 50-per cent tariff on goods imported from the European Union (EU) from next month, citing a lack of progress in the ongoing trade talks. Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. President Donald Trump today recommended a 50-per cent tariff on goods from the EU, citing a lack of progress in talks. The EU's 'trade barriers, value-added tax, ridiculous corporate penalties, non-monetary trade barriers, monetary manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits' against US firms have led to a trade deficit of over $250,000,000 a year, and that's 'totally unacceptable', he posted. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the US of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable, he wrote. Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50 per cent Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with, he noted. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2025) - Journey Energy Inc. (TSX: JOY) (OTCQX: JRNGF) ("Journey", or the "Company") announces the voting results from its Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") held today pursuant to Section 11.3 of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Journey is pleased to report that all resolutions were approved by the shareholders and the details of the voting results are contained below. 1. Fixing the Number of Directors to be elected at the meeting On a vote by proxy, the number of directors of the Company to be elected at the Meeting was fixed at six members. The numbers in respect of the vote are based on the proxies received. Votes For % For Votes Against % Against 28,696,094 85.67 4,800,998 14.33 2. Election of Directors On a vote by ballot, each of the following six nominees proposed by management was elected to serve as a director of the Company until the next annual meeting of shareholders, or until their successors are duly elected or appointed, subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) and the by-laws of the Company: Nominees Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Craig H. Hansen 24,138,030 81.64 5,428,552 18.36 Jenna M. Kaye 23,809,514 80.53 5,757,068 19.47 Thomas J. Mullane 24,240,395 81.99 5,326,187 18.01 Reginald S. Smith 23,481,426 79.42 6,085,156 20.58 Scott A. Treadwell 24,543,991 83.01 5,022,591 16.99 Alex G. Verge 23,802,307 80.50 5,764,275 19.50 3. Appointment of Auditor On a vote by proxy, KPMG LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, was appointed as auditors of the Company until the next annual meeting of shareholders, and the directors of the Company were authorized to fix their remuneration as such. The numbers in respect of the vote are based on the proxies received. Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld 32,617,308 97.37 879,785 2.63 4. Advance Notice By-Law On a vote by ballot, the Advance Notice By-Law dealing with the advance notice of nomination of directors of the Corporation was approved. Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld 24,274,170 82.10 5,292,412 17.90 No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253168 SOURCE: Journey Energy Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2025) - IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV: IPT) (OTC PINK: ISVLF) (FSE: IKL) ("IMPACT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a tranche of the non-brokered private placement financing announced on April 15th, 2025 and subsequently increased on April 18th, 2025 (see IMPACT news releases dated April 15, 2025 and April 18, 2025 for details). The financing comprised a LIFE (listed issuer financing exemption) offering and a standard private placement (together referred to as the "Offering"). The Company received aggregate proceeds of C$1,658,000 from the issuance of 8,290,000 LIFE units (the "LIFE Units") at $0.20 per LIFE Unit and C$2,272,711.86 from the issuance of 12,626,177 units (the "Units") of the Company at C$0.18 per Unit for a total of C$3,930,711.86. Each LIFE Unit comprised of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for two years at $0.26 per common share. Each Unit comprised of one common share and one warrant, exercisable for three years at $0.24 per common share. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering to follow up recent success in its exploration activity at its Plomosas high-grade zinc(-lead-silver) property, and its prolific silver assets at its legacy Royal Mines of Zacualpan district, as well as invest in operational improvements to improve productivity and throughput. The LIFE portion of the Offering was made pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "LIFE Exemption"). The securities sold under the LIFE Exemption are not subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. A copy of the offering document under the LIFE Exemption dated April 15, 2025, is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile. The Offering remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid an aggregate of $64,696.19 in finder's fees and issued 359,423 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") on the Unit part of the Offering to certain finders. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.24 cents per share for three years. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. ABOUT IMPACT SILVER IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV: IPT) is a successful producer-explorer with two mining projects in Mexico. Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver-Gold District: IMPACT owns 100% of the 211 km2 Zacualpan project where four underground silver mines and one open pit mine feed the central 500 tpd Guadalupe processing plant. To the south, the Capire Project includes a 200 tpd processing pilot plant adjacent to an open pit silver mine with an NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of over 4.5 million oz silver, 48 million lbs zinc and 21 million lbs lead (see IMPACT news release dated January 18, 2016 for details and QP statement); Company engineers are reviewing Capire for a potential restart of operations. Over the past 17 years, IMPACT has placed multiple zones into commercial production and produced over 13 million ounces of silver, generating revenues over $284 million. Plomosas Zinc-Lead-Silver District: Plomosas is a high-grade zinc producer in northern Mexico with exceptional exploration upside potential. The Company recently re-commenced operations and has plans for expansion in 2025. Exploration potential at Plomosas is exceptional along a 6km-long structure. This is in addition to other exploration targets on the 3,019-hectare property including untested copper-gold targets with indications of high-grade material from surface. Regionally, Plomosas lies in the same mineral belt as some of the largest carbonate replacement deposits in the world. Qualified Person and NI 43-101 Disclosure George Gorzynski, P.Eng., an Officer and Director of IMPACT, is a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. On behalf of IMPACT Silver Corp. "Frederick W. Davidson" President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This IMPACT News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to IMPACT that is based on the beliefs of IMPACT management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to IMPACT management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to future silver prices, interpretation of drill results, future work plans, proceeds received and use of funds, the timing for closing a further tranche of the Offering, the potential of the Company's projects, and potential and plans for the Plomosas project, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expected use of proceeds of the financing. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and assumptions, including with respect to, without limitations, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, criminal activity, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices,; pandemics and one-time events. Should any one or more risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein. IMPACT does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. The Company's decision to place a mine into production, expand a mine, make other production related decisions or otherwise carry out mining and processing operations, is largely based on internal non-public Company data and reports based on exploration, development and mining work by the Company's geologists and engineers. The results of this work are evident in the discovery and building of multiple mines for the Company and in the track record of mineral production and financial returns of the Company since 2006. Under NI 43-101 the Company is required to disclose that it has not based its production decisions on NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource or reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments or feasibility studies, and historically such projects have increased uncertainty and risk of failure. 303-543 Granville Street Telephone (604) 664-7707 Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1X8 www.impactsilver.com Twitter LinkedIn NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253172 SOURCE: IMPACT Silver Corp. 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! Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2025) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQB: RYES) (the "Company" or "Rise Gold") announces that it has granted a total of 3,320,000 stock options to directors, officers, and consultants of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Company's Stock Option Plan. The stock options are exercisable at a price of US$0.10 (CAD$0.14) per share until May 22, 2030. The Company also announces that it has entered into an agreement to receive investor relations services from Millstream Partners. Millstream Partners' contact information is: 4 Ducking Stool Walk, Christchurch, England, BH231GA, telephone: (+44)7726655975, email: MillstreamPartners@proton.me. The contract starts on May 22, 2025, and has an initial term of four months. Rise Gold will pay US$8,000 per month to Millstream Partners in exchange of services that include organizing of meetings and events in person or online with individuals and organizations interested in investing in the mining sector. The compensation paid to Millstream Partners does not include options to purchase securities of Rise Gold. About Rise Gold Corp. Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Joseph Mullin President and CEO Rise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253174 SOURCE: Rise Gold Corp. TOKYO, May 23, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - AISIN Corporation, DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Woven by Toyota, Inc. ("Five Toyota Group Companies") today announced the launch of the Toyota Software Academy to strengthen AI and software-centered human resource development. As a complementary effort, Toyota is also launching the Global AI Accelerator (GAIA) to significantly expand investments in AI research and development, accelerating innovation. Through both of these efforts, the Five Toyota Group Companies will collaborate to nurture AI and software professionals, and use AI to create better products (including AI-enabled products) aimed at achieving a society with safety, security, and freedom of mobility for all.1. Human Resource Development by the Toyota Software AcademyToyota Software Academy aims to nurture AI and software professionals who understand not only software technology but also hardware technology, embodying the essence of future automotive expertise.(1) Providing Practical Education Programs for Hands-On LearningFive Toyota Group Companies will offer about 100 training courses where participants can learn practical knowledge areas such as AI, data security, and vehicle regulations. For example, in the data-driven autonomous driving software development course, participants will learn knowledge as well as specialized AI and control theory, and by implementing their own programs in actual vehicles, they will gain hands-on experience in building cars that prioritize safety and quality while experiencing the joy of making cars.(2) Creating Opportunities for AI and Software Professionals Worldwide and Supporting Career DevelopmentFive Toyota Group Companies will bring together high-level AI and software professionals, providing opportunities to learn from each other and consider various career paths. Additionally, the academy will help participants' challenges by visualizing skills through collaboration with each company's career development system, such as DENSO's unique skill certification program, "SOMRIETM," and educational recommendations powered by AI.2. Toyota's Global AI Accelerator (GAIA)GAIA aims to rapidly accelerate the use of AI by significantly boosting investment in research, development, human resource development and implementation of AI systems throughout every part of Toyota. Rooted in the idea of Toyota's longstanding practice of Jidoka: automation with a human touch, GAIA's efforts will both amplify team member productivity and help create new AI-enabled products. GAIA will initially focus on 11 categories: AD/ADAS, Business Software Development, Customer Relations, Knowledge Retention and Transfer, In-Vehicle Agents, Material Discovery, Manufacturing, Novel Mobility, Office Productivity, Robotics, and Vehicle Engineering, with more categories planned.3. Comments from the Leaders of the Five CompaniesDr. Gill Pratt, Toyota's Chief Scientist said, "There is tremendous enthusiasm across global Toyota for leveraging AI to improve speed and efficiency in everything from manufacturing to design to office work, and to create new products that utilize AI. While we cannot predict the future, especially in AI, we can prepare for it and ensure we bring our best traditions to the table, putting people at the heart of technological change. By working together as one team, transcending organizational boundaries and national borders, we will provide greater value to our customers through AI and improve happiness for all."Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Chief Technology Strategy Officer of AISIN, stated that "We are advancing the development of more highly skilled engineers in the areas of vehicle actuators, control, and software, which are AISIN's strengths in order to realize our management philosophy of 'Bringing excitement to mobility and smiles to the future'. By participating in the Toyota Software Academy AISIN aims to cultivate many engineers who can develop technologies with a holistic view of the vehicle. This will contribute to the evolution of mobility technologies, including electrification and intelligence, and enable AISIN to provide attractive products to customers."Atsushi Hayashida, Chief Software Officer (CSwO) of DENSO said, "DENSO is not only advancing the in-vehicle software technology that we have developed over the past 40 years, but also providing opportunities for each and every software engineer to learn and grow so that they can continue to improve their knowledge and skills for the future mobility society where people everywhere can feel happy. We also provide a place for each software engineer to learn and grow so that they can continue to improve their knowledge and skills. In collaboration with the Academy, we will not only strengthen our own human resource development, but also contribute to the development of software human resources in the industry as a whole."Eiji Matsuzaki, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Solutions Division at Toyota Tsusho, stated "Toyota Tsusho has been engaged in software development and engineer training primarily overseas. With the evolution of AI, the ways of developing software and the necessary knowledge and know-how are constantly changing, requiring not only an update of the knowledge and know-how accumulated so far but also further advancement. Through engineer training at the Toyota Software Academy, Toyota Tsusho aims to realize "global, human-centered software development" and contribute to the sustainable development of the automotive industry."Hiroaki Okuchi, Chief Customer Officer of Woven by Toyota said, "Woven by Toyota is working to build a safe, secure, and human-centered mobility society through software-driven technologies and business initiatives. Through this academy, we hope to share our strengths in areas like software and AI, and help develop the next generation of talent. We're excited to open up these efforts to many more like-minded partners so that we can grow and weave the future of mobility, together."Source: Aisin SekiCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. 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! ATHENS, Greece, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited ("De Havilland Canada") is pleased to announce the launch of DeHavillandAircraftofCanadaHellasLtd., its new wholly-owned subsidiary in Greece, further strengthening our commitment to providing exceptional customer support to our valued customers in the region. This expansion also reflects De Havilland Canada's deep confidence in the Greek market and its strong cooperation with the Greek government and the relevant aviation authorities. De Havilland Canada Hellas will also function as a strategic base for DHC's regional operations, providing closer proximity and more responsive support to operators of De Havilland Canada's Waterbomber aircraft across Greece. This expansion underscores De Havilland Canada's ongoing commitment to strengthening its global customer support network and ensuring the highest levels of operational efficiency and customer success. It also reinforces the company's long-term dedication to its customers and DHC's commitment to operators in Greece to best support their operations for decades to come. "We are proud to establish a regional presence in Greece, a country with a strong aviation tradition. This announcement reinforces our commitment to operators in this important market," said Jean-Philippe Cote, Vice President, Programs and Business Improvement at De Havilland Canada. "This investment will allow us to better address the specific needs of our customers in the region, delivering faster response times, improved parts availability, and personalized support." Marking a key step forward in their collaboration, Mr. Cote is visiting Athens this week for high-level talks with Greek government officials. Joined by Canada's Ambassador to Greece, Anna-Karine Asselin, he is meeting with Deputy Minister for Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas and Alternate Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis. The visit aims to deepen the growing partnership and identify new opportunities for future cooperation. AboutDeHavillandAircraftofCanadaLimited With more than 5,000 aircraft delivered, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) is well established across the globe and our talented team of aviation professionals is dedicated to advancing our near-100-year reputation for excellence in innovation, production, and customer support. Our aircraft operate reliably in some of the world's harshest climates and provide vital connections between rural communities and urban centres - transporting essential cargo and millions of passengers annually. Our aircraft also support a wide variety of special mission operations including aerial firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and coastal surveillance. Visit: dehavilland.com. Siegfried AG / Key word(s): Expansion Siegfried expands production capacity for ophthalmic drugs in El Masnou 23.05.2025 / 06:30 CET/CEST Media Release Zofingen, May 23, 2025 Siegfried (SIX: SFZN), a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for the pharmaceutical industry, today announced a further expansion of its ophthalmic drug manufacturing site in El Masnou near Barcelona, Spain. The latest expansion will significantly increase the site's sterile eye drop manufacturing capacity, in response to growing customer demand. The new capacity will be available for customers beginning in 2027. This additional expansion complements the company's ongoing initiative to increase production capacity for sterile eye care ointments, which is expected to be available to customers by 2026. It also includes the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment compliant with the European Union's Annex 1 regulations for the manufacture of sterile medicinal products. Marcel Imwinkelried, CEO: "We see continued strong demand for ophthalmic products and the expansion of our El Masnou site will provide valuable additional capacity for our customers. This expansion enhances our global ophthalmic manufacturing footprint and enables us, together with our ophthalmics site in Irvine, US, to effectively serve Europe and the US." Established in 1925, Siegfried's El Masnou site has a century long expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing with deep expertise in ophthalmic formulations. The facility specializes in eye drops and sterile ointments, as well as products for nasal and otic use. The site supplies more than 100 million treatments annually to patients across the globe. Siegfried expands capacity for eye drop production at its manufacturing site in El Masnou, Spain Expansion complements the ongoing capacity extension for sterile eye care ointments in El Masnou Capacity expansion strengthens global manufacturing footprint for ophthalmic products, with El Masnou serving the European market and Siegfried's manufacturing site in Irvine serving the US market Contact Financial Analysts: Media: Dr. Reto Suter Peter Stierli Chief Financial Officer Head Corporate Communications reto.suter@siegfried.ch peter.stierli@siegfried.ch Tel. +41 62 746 11 35 Tel. +41 62 746 15 51 Siegfried Holding AG Untere Bruehlstrasse 4 CH-4800 Zofingen About Siegfried The Siegfried Group is a global life sciences company with sites in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Malta, the USA and China. In 2024, the company achieved sales of CHF 1.295 billion and employed on 31.12.2024 more than 3,800 people at thirteen sites on three continents. Siegfried Holding AG is publicly listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: SFZN). Siegfried is active in manufacturing pharmaceutical APIs (and their intermediates) as well as drug products (tablets, capsules, sterile vials, ampoules, cartridges and ointments) for the pharmaceutical industry and provides development services. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This media release includes statements concerning the future. They are based on assumptions and expectations that may prove to be wrong. They should be considered with due caution as, by definition, they contain known and unknown risks, insecurities and other factors which could result in a difference in the actual results, financial situation, developments or the success of Siegfried Holding AG or Siegfried Group from the explicit or implicit assumptions made in these statements. expect more Siegfried AG Untere Bruhlstrasse 4 4800 Zofingen, Switzerland +41 62 746 11 11 info@siegfried.ch www.siegfried.ch End of Media Release Curatis Holding AG / Key word(s): Change in Forecast/Strategic Company Decision Curatis discloses Corticorelin as active substance of C-PTBE-01 | Market Opportunity in PTBE expected to exceed USD 1 billion | Strengthens team with Dr. Kirsty Crame and Dr. Timm Trenktrog 23-May-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Liestal, Switzerland, 23 May 2025: An epidemiological market study commissioned by Curatis Holding AG (SIX:CURN, "Curatis") shows that the target patient group is substantially larger than previous estimates. In the US alone, over 150,000 patients suffer from peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in association with milagnant tumors. In previous clinical studies, human corticorelin (C-PTBE-01), demonstrated significant benefits in the treatment of PTBE. "The prospect of developing a potential blockbuster drug with that can contribute significantly to the quality of life of many patients, combined with the potential of maintaining the efficacy of immunotherapies for these patients, is very motivating and exciting.", said Dr. Roland Rutschmann, Curatis CEO. Key statements Corticorelin (hCRH), a 41 amino acid endogenous polypeptide, has demonstrated the ability to positively impact the blood-brain barrier after a disruption due to the underlying malignant tumor. Curatis intends to develop corticorelin to treat PTBE in primary and metastatic brain tumors. The medical need for new treatments is increasingly high, as conventional treatment with corticosteroids often leads to serious glucocorticoid-induced side effects. Additionally, corticosteroids can interfere with certain chemotherapies and modern immunotherapies, which are rapidly growing in importance. Curatis is strengthening the team with Kirsty Crame, MD, as Chief Medical Officer and Timm Trenktrog, PhD, as Head of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC). The application for the meeting with the FDA will be filed in Q2 2025. Target patient group significantly larger than previous estimates In March, Curatis communicated a significant increase in the estimated size of the patient target group. We are further increasing our forecast following a recent epidemiological market analysis. The number of patients with PTBE associated with primary and metastatic brain tumors is now estimated to exceed 150,000 patients in the USA, and approximately 500,000 globally. Our estimate for the potential market opportunity for C-PTBE-01 is therefore over USD 1 billion. Corticorelin and the treatment of PTBE PTBE occurs in association with many primary and metastatic (secondary) brain tumors, often in connection with metastates caused by lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and colorectal cancer. PTBE results in impairment of brain function due to the accumulation of extracellular fluid around the tumor and can cause symptoms such as headaches, vomiting and neurological dysfunction such as paralysis, speech disorders, visual problems and altered mental status. Standard of care treatment for PTBE is the use of corticosteroids which frequently have serious side effects such as severe myopathy, impared glucose metabolism, muscle wasting, abnormal weight gain, osteoporosis, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and personality changes. Additionally, corticosteroids can also counteract certain cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or emerging immunotherapies that rely on adequate T-cell functionality which is impaired by corticosteroids. Corticorelin has demonstrated a strong steroid-sparing effect in both preclinical and in two clinical studies, demonstrating the potential for a significant reduction or complete replacement of steroid use. This may reduce or avoid the severe glucocorticoid-related side effects and improve patient quality of life. By being able to lower the dose or even negate the need for steroids completely, there is also the potential to maintain the efficacy of novel tumor therapies for PTBE patients currently treated with corticosteroids. Next steps A meeting with the FDA is targeted for Q3 of this year to gain agreement on the design of a pivotal Phase 3 trial of corticorelin which the company plans to intiate in 2026. Curatis Team strengthened by additions of Dr. Kirsty Crame and Dr. Timm Trenktrog Kirsty Crame, MD, was educated at the University of Amsterdam as a Doctor of Medicine. She has more than 12 years of experience in clinical development, of which more than 10 years have been in the field of immuno-oncology in a variety of indications for rare and non-rare diseases. Kirsty was previously a member of the Executive Committee and Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Development at Medigene, a German biotech company specializing in the development of highly innovative, T-cell receptor-directed cancer therapies. Prior to that, she was Director of Clinical Development at Gadeta, a Dutch company specializing in the development of novel immunotherapies. Kirsty will support Curatis in the preparation and conduct of the pivotal Phase 3 study with C-PTBE-01 and also brings extensive experience in regulatory affairs. Timm Trenktrog, PhD, worked for Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in Switzerland for more than 19 years, most recently as Vice President and Head of Technical Operations on the Executive Board. As a leading pharmaceutical expert, he lectured for over 10 years at the ETH Zurich on quality, production and technical development. Timm will support Curatis in the area of technical development and manufacturing (CMC) for C-PTBE-01 to ensure smooth production and the highest quality of the active ingredient, dosage form and final product. About Curatis Curatis Holding AG is a publicly listed company (CURN.SW) specializing in the final development and commercialization of drugs for rare and very rare diseases. Curatis has a sales portfolio of more than 40 products and a pipeline of orphan drug products and specialist products. More information can be found on the website www.curatis.com. Contact: Patrick Ramsauer CFO Phone: +41 61 927 8777 ir@curatis.com Disclaimer: The information contained in this media release and in any link to our website indicated herein is not for use within any country or jurisdiction or by any persons where such use would constitute a violation of law. If this applies to you, you are not authorized to access or use any such information. This media release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "project", "plan", "will likely continue", "will likely result", or words or phrases with similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of the control of Curatis Group, that may cause Curatis' business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements (or from past results). For any factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this media release, please see the risk factors included in our listing prospectus in connection with the Business Combination. Curatis Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. It should further be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser. The information contained in this media release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for securities. This media release is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act nor a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Some financial information in this media release has been rounded and, as a result, the figures shown as totals in this media release may vary slightly from the exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them. End of Inside Information Corticorelin Market Opportunity in Peritumoral Brain Edema (PTBE) expected to exceed USD 1 billion; Strengthens team with Dr. Kirsty Crame and Dr. Timm Trenktrog An epidemiological market study commissioned by Curatis Holding AG (SIX:CURN, "Curatis") shows that the target patient group is substantially larger than previous estimates. In the US alone, over 150,000 patients suffer from peritumoral brain edema in association with malignant tumors. In previous clinical studies, human corticorelin (C-PTBE-01), demonstrated significant benefits in the treatment of PTBE. "The prospect of developing a potential blockbuster drug with that can contribute significantly to the quality of life of many patients, combined with the potential of maintaining the efficacy of immunotherapies for these patients, is very motivating and exciting," said Dr. Roland Rutschmann, Curatis CEO. Key statements Corticorelin (hCRH), a 41 amino acid endogenous polypeptide, has demonstrated the ability to positively impact the blood-brain barrier after a disruption due to the underlying malignant tumor. Curatis intends to develop corticorelin to treat PTBE in primary and metastatic brain tumors. The medical need for new treatments is increasingly high, as conventional treatment with corticosteroids often leads to serious glucocorticoid-induced side effects. Additionally, corticosteroids can interfere with certain chemotherapies and modern immunotherapies, which are rapidly growing in importance. Curatis is strengthening the team with Kirsty Crame, MD, as Chief Medical Officer and Timm Trenktrog, PhD, as Head of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC). The application for the meeting with the FDA will be filed in Q2 2025. Target patient group significantly larger than previous estimates In March, Curatis communicated a significant increase in the estimated size of the patient target group. We are further increasing our forecast following a recent epidemiological market analysis. The number of patients with PTBE associated with primary and metastatic brain tumors is now estimated to exceed 150,000 patients in the USA, and approximately 500,000 globally. Our estimate for the potential market opportunity for C-PTBE-01 is therefore over USD 1 billion. Corticorelin and the treatment of PTBE PTBE occurs in association with many primary and metastatic (secondary) brain tumors, often in connection with metastates caused by lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and colorectal cancer. PTBE results in impairment of brain function due to the accumulation of extracellular fluid around the tumor and can cause symptoms such as headaches, vomiting and neurological dysfunction such as paralysis, speech disorders, visual problems and altered mental status. Standard of care treatment for PTBE is the use of corticosteroids which frequently have serious side effects such as severe myopathy, impaired glucose metabolism, muscle wasting, abnormal weight gain, osteoporosis, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and personality changes. Additionally, corticosteroids can also counteract certain cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or emerging immunotherapies that rely on adequate T-cell functionality which is impaired by corticosteroids. Corticorelin has demonstrated a strong steroid-sparing effect in both preclinical and in two clinical studies, demonstrating the potential for a significant reduction or complete replacement of steroid use. This may reduce or avoid the severe glucocorticoid-related side effects and improve patient quality of life. By being able to lower the dose or even negate the need for steroids completely, there is also the potential to maintain the efficacy of novel tumor therapies for PTBE patients currently treated with corticosteroids. Next steps A meeting with the FDA is targeted for Q3 of this year to gain agreement on the design of a pivotal Phase 3 trial of corticorelin which the company plans to initiate in 2026. Curatis Team strengthened by additions of Dr. Kirsty Crame and Dr. Timm Trenktrog Kirsty Crame, MD, was educated at the University of Amsterdam as a Doctor of Medicine. She has more than 12 years of experience in clinical development, of which more than 10 years have been in the field of immuno-oncology in a variety of indications for rare and non-rare diseases. Kirsty was previously a member of the Executive Committee and Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Development at Medigene, a German biotech company specializing in the development of highly innovative, T-cell receptor-directed cancer therapies. Prior to that, she was Director of Clinical Development at Gadeta, a Dutch company specializing in the development of novel immunotherapies. Kirsty will support Curatis in the preparation and conduct of the pivotal Phase 3 study with C-PTBE-01 and also brings extensive experience in regulatory affairs. Timm Trenktrog, PhD, worked for Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in Switzerland for more than 19 years, most recently as Vice President and Head of Technical Operations on the Executive Board. As a leading pharmaceutical expert, he lectured for over 10 years at the ETH Zurich on quality, production and technical development. Timm will support Curatis in the area of technical development and manufacturing (CMC) for C-PTBE-01 to ensure smooth production and the highest quality of the active ingredient, dosage form and final product. About Curatis: Curatis Holding AG is a publicly listed company (CURN.SW) specializing in the final development and commercialization of drugs for rare and very rare diseases. Curatis has a sales portfolio of more than 40 products and a pipeline of orphan drug products and specialist products. More information can be found on the website www.curatis.com. Disclaimer: The information contained in this media release and in any link to our website indicated herein is not for use within any country or jurisdiction or by any persons where such use would constitute a violation of law. If this applies to you, you are not authorized to access or use any such information. This media release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "project", "plan", "will likely continue", "will likely result", or words or phrases with similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of the control of Curatis Group, that may cause Curatis' business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements (or from past results). For any factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this media release, please see the risk factors included in our listing prospectus in connection with the Business Combination. Curatis Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. It should further be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser. The information contained in this media release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for securities. This media release is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act nor a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Some financial information in this media release has been rounded and, as a result, the figures shown as totals in this media release may vary slightly from the exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250522906458/en/ Contacts: Patrick Ramsauer CFO Phone: +41 61 927 8777 ir@curatis.com Updated data from the pivotal phase III STARGLO study continue to demonstrate a clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival with a 40% survival benefit for people with R/R DLBCL who are not candidates for transplant 1 89% of patients whose cancer had fully responded at the end of treatment with Columvi in combination with chemotherapy were still alive and 82% showed no signs of cancer one year post-treatment 1 Timely initiation of effective therapy at relapse or after initial therapy failure is critical for this aggressive, life-threatening disease Results demonstrate potential of the Columvi combination as a much-needed, off-the-shelf and fixed-duration treatment option Basel, 23 May 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today two-year follow-up data from the phase III STARGLO study. After a median follow-up of 24.7 months, data showed a 40% improvement in overall survival (OS) for patients treated with Columvi (glofitamab) in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) and OS was not reached, compared to 13.5 months for MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) plus GemOx (R-GemOx).1 These updated data continue to demonstrate the statistically significant and clinically meaningful survival benefit of this off-the-shelf, fixed-duration Columvi combination for people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have received at least one prior line of therapy and are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).1 Data will be presented in an oral session at the 61st American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 30 May - 3 June 2025. "We are encouraged that the two-year follow-up data for Columvi reinforces its potential to extend the lives of many patients where prognosis has historically been poor," said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Roche's Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "These findings demonstrate the potential lasting benefits of early and effective treatment initiation with a bispecific antibody for people with relapsed or refractory disease." "When cancer comes back or doesn't respond to treatment, it's devastating for patients with DLBCL given the aggressive nature of the disease," said Haifaa Abdulhaq, MD, Professor, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Director of Hematology, UCSF Fresno. "In my community practice, I've seen the potential of this Columvi combination to help patients start treatment quickly - providing lasting remissions and more time without ongoing therapy." The benefit across key secondary endpoints, including progression-free survival (PFS) and complete remission (CR), was maintained for patients treated with the Columvi combination.1 There was a 59% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death (hazard ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.58) and more than twice as many patients sustained a CR (58.5% vs. 25.3%).1 Among patients with a CR at the end of the treatment period, 89% were alive and 82% had maintained remission one year after treatment.1 Safety of the combination remained unchanged from the previous analysis and was consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medicines.1,2 Patients received a higher median number of cycles of the Columvi combination (11 versus 4), due to disease progression in the R-GemOx arm.1,2 A higher rate of adverse events (AEs) was observed with the Columvi regimen. One of the most common AEs was cytokine release syndrome, which was generally low grade.1 Given the wide adoption of global treatment guidelines in real-world clinical practice, there are no biological or clinical differences in DLBCL management worldwide.3-6 While second-line therapies have advanced, DLBCL can progress rapidly and many people are not candidates for, cannot tolerate, or do not have access to latest therapies.7,8 There is an urgent need for treatments that are rapidly available upon a diagnosis of relapse, that can manage the disease and improve long-term outcomes. Based on the STARGLO data, this Columvi combination is approved in more than 30 countries for people with R/R DLBCL who are not candidates for ASCT, including countries throughout the EU. Columvi in combination with GemOx was added to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) as an NCCN category 1 preferred recommendation for the treatment of people with second-line DLBCL who are not intended to proceed to transplant.3 Columvi monotherapy has been approved for use in R/R DLBCL after two or more prior lines of therapy in more than 60 countries worldwide. Columvi is part of Roche's industry-leading CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody programme. Together with the clinical development of off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR T-therapies, Roche aims to provide tailored treatment options that suit the diverse needs, preferences, and experiences of people with blood cancers and healthcare systems. About the STARGLO study The STARGLO study [GO41944; NCT04408638] is a phase III, multicentre, open-label, randomised study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Columvi (glofitamab) in combination with gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with GemOx in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior line of therapy and who are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant, or who have received two or more prior lines of therapy. Preclinical research indicated an increased antitumour effect when combining Columvi with GemOx over GemOx alone, so the STARGLO study was initiated to further explore the potential complementary effects of the treatment combination. Outcome measures include overall survival (primary endpoint), progression-free survival, complete response rate, objective response rate, duration of objective response (secondary endpoints), and safety and tolerability. About Columvi (glofitamab) Columvi is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD3 on the surface of T cells and CD20 on the surface of B cells. Columvi was designed with a novel 2:1 structural format. This T-cell engaging bispecific antibody is engineered to have one region that binds to CD3, a protein on T cells, a type of immune cell, and two regions that bind to CD20, a protein on B cells, which can be healthy or malignant. This dual-targeting brings the T cell in close proximity to the B cell, activating the release of cancer cell-killing proteins from the T cell. Columvi is part of Roche's broad and industry-leading CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody clinical development programme that also includes Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab), which aims to provide tailored treatment options that suit the diverse needs, preferences, and experiences of people with blood cancers and healthcare systems. Roche is investigating Columvi as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma. As part of Roche's efforts to elevate treatment standards in the earlier stages of DLBCL, where there is the best opportunity to improve long-term outcomes and prevent relapse, Columvi is also being investigated in combination with Polivy]. About diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) DLBCL is an aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and the most common form, accounting for about one in three cases of NHL.9 Approximately 160,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with DLBCL each year, with comparable incidence rates across regions.9,10 Medical practices, including pathological classification, diagnosis, staging, initial treatment and relapse management, are similarly approached worldwide.3-6 While it is generally responsive to treatment in the frontline, as many as 40% of people will relapse or have refractory disease, at which time salvage therapy options are limited and survival is short.7,11 Improving treatments earlier in the course of the disease and providing much needed alternative options could help to improve long-term outcomes. About Roche in haematology Roche has been developing medicines for people with malignant and non-malignant blood diseases for more than 25 years; our experience and knowledge in this therapeutic area runs deep. Today, we are investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to patients across a wide range of haematologic diseases. Our approved medicines include MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab), Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin), Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) in collaboration with AbbVie, Hemlibra (emicizumab), PiaSky (crovalimab), Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab) and Columvi (glofitamab). Our pipeline of investigational haematology medicines includes T-cell engaging bispecific antibody cevostamab, targeting both FcRH5 and CD3 and Tecentriq (atezolizumab). Our scientific expertise, combined with the breadth of our portfolio and pipeline, also provides a unique opportunity to develop combination regimens that aim to improve the lives of patients even further. About Roche Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the world's largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice. For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roche's business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com. All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. References [1] Abramson J, et al. Glofitamab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. [10] World Health Organization. Numbers derived from GLOBOCAN 2022. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Factsheet [Internet; cited May 2025]. Available from: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/34-nonhodgkin-lymphoma-fact-sheet.pdf. [11] Sehn LH, et al. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(9):842-858. Roche Global Media Relations Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com Hans Trees, PhD Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech Phone: +41 79 935 81 48 Nathalie Altermatt Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas Phone: +41 79 568 24 95 Simon Goldsborough Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine Phone: +41 79 461 86 83 Nina Mahlitz Phone: +41 79 327 54 74 Kirti Pandey Phone: +49 172 6367262 Yvette Petillon Phone: +41 79 961 92 50 Dr Rebekka Schnell Phone: +41 79 205 27 03 Roche Investor Relations Dr Bruno Eschli Phone: +41 61 68-75284 e-mail: bruno.eschli@roche.com Dr Sabine Borngraber Phone: +41 61 68-88027 e-mail: sabine.borngraeber@roche.com (mailto:sabine.borngraeber@roche.com) Dr Birgit Masjost Phone: +41 61 68-84814 e-mail: birgit.masjost@roche.com Investor Relations North America Loren Kalm Phone: +1 650 225 3217 e-mail: kalm.loren@gene.com Attachment In pics: Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, China's Shandong Xinhua) 09:13, May 23, 2025 People visit the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province, May 20, 2025. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows stone axes displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) People visit the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province, May 20, 2025. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows a clay pot with engraved patterns displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows potteries displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows a zun, a type of Chinese ritual ceramic wine vessel with a vase-like form, displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) A staff member restores cultural relics at an archaeology workstation of the Dawenkou site in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province, May 20, 2025. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) An aerial drone photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows the Dawen River (upper L), Dawenkou Site Museum (upper R) and the core area of the Dawenkou site in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Chen Shuo) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows a pottery pot displayed at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) People look at a piece of cultural relics through multimedia demonstration at the Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province, May 20, 2025. The 2,600-square-meter Dawenkou Site Museum in Tai'an shows the origin, development, connotation and importance of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age, to the public through relics display, scene restoration and multimedia demonstration, etc. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) TOKYO, May 23, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Lockheed Martin, a global leader in the development and delivery of cutting-edge radar solutions, and Fujitsu Limited, a Japanese multinational leader in information and communications technology and digital services, today announced the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing Fujitsu as a source for the SPY-7 Subarray Suite Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit (PS LRU). Purchase orders in support of the Aegis System EquippedVessel program are anticipated later in 2025.Executive Perspectives"By locally manufacturing critical components for the SPY-7 radar, Japan can have complete confidence that this system will be fully supported and sustained for decades to come," said. Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin. "We are honored to play a role in shaping the future of Japan's defense industry and proud to contribute to the growth of the defense employment landscape in the country.""Fujitsu is honored to contribute to the manufacturing of the SPY-7 radar, especially in the production of the PS LRU, a critical component of the system," said Tsuneo Hayashi, corporate executive officer, SEVP, Fujitsu Limited. "Fujitsu will further expand its collaboration with Lockheed Martin on the SPY-7 radar, contributing to its sustainment in Japan and helping to strengthen national security."Continued PartnershipIn 2024, the two companies signed a previous MOU to expand Lockheed Martin's Industrial Cooperation goals for expanding its solid-state radar production and sustainment in Japan.The collaboration demonstrates Lockheed Martin's commitment to growing the defense workforce and furtherdeveloping the production and sustainment of key components for its SPY-7 radar product line.For more than 30 years, Lockheed Martin has supported Japan's national security through the delivery of highlycapable systems and sensors for the Kongo, Atago and Maya class destroyers. Lockheed Martin's mission of expanding "21st Century Security" in Japan continues to be strengthened by the partnerships and relationships built in country.The SPY-7 Advantage: Elevating Naval Radar PerformanceLockheed Martin's SPY-7 solid-state radar technology empowers users to respond swiftly and decisively to evolving threats. With advanced detection and tracking capabilities, SPY-7 effectively counters complex threats, enabling simultaneous engagement of multiple targets.About Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Ourall-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at LockheedMartin.com.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digitaltransformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.Press Contacts:Lockheed MartinAsiaShorbani Royshorbani.roy@global.lmco.com+813 4563 8000DomesticCara Hoaglundcara.a.hoaglund@lmco.com+1 856-206-3139Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations DivisionGlobalLuke Happlefj-prhq@dl.jp.fujitsu.comSource: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Amersfoort, The Netherlands--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Strategis Groep, a forward-thinking technology company, has officially launched the latest iteration of its 3D Cityplanner platform - an innovative urban planning software solution that leverages AI to help cities design smarter, more sustainable, and efficient urban environments. The cloud-based platform, which requires no installation, enables urban planners, governments, and developers to create detailed 3D city models, assess infrastructure, and simulate complex planning scenarios all in real-time. 3D Cityplanner Unveils AI-Driven Urban Planning Software to Enhance Smart City Development To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/253042_ec1af18af4acaa84_002full.jpg The new version of the 3D Cityplanner introduces AI-powered design tools, advanced 3D visualizations, and seamless integration with geospatial data to provide a comprehensive planning experience. The platform helps users evaluate urban spaces from multiple perspectives, including sustainability, environmental impact, and public welfare. "Our mission is to streamline urban planning by making it more intuitive, transparent, and responsive to the challenges of modern cities," says Anne Dullemond, CEO of Strategis Groep. "With 3D Cityplanner, urban planners now have a cutting-edge tool at their disposal that runs entirely in the browser, making it easier to design, simulate, and refine complex city plans in real-time." Key Innovations in the 3D Cityplanner: AI-Driven Building and District Generator: The tool automatically generates optimized urban layouts, integrating elements like roads, public green space, solar-ready rooftops, and flexible parking solutions, making it ideal for speeding up the early stages of urban projects. Line-of-Sight and Environmental Impact Tools: Users can evaluate the visibility of key areas, sunlight access, and the distribution of greenery using realistic 3D simulations, which are vital for urban livability and health. Fully Browser-Based Design Platform: Unlike traditional CAD or GIS software, 3D Cityplanner operates entirely in the cloud. Users can easily draw, modify, and visualize urban environments from any device with an internet connection. GIS and BIM Data Integration: The platform supports various data formats, including WMS, WFS, CityGML, and BIM models like IFC, offering robust geospatial planning capabilities that professionals can rely on for complex projects. Live Urban Simulation: The platform can simulate various urban factors such as hydrology, infrastructure, and climate resilience, enabling urban designers to test and validate different scenarios efficiently. A Global Solution for Urban Development Although originally developed in the Netherlands, the 3D Cityplanner has expanded its reach with pilot projects in Europe, North America, and the Middle East. It stands as a modern alternative to outdated planning tools, offering a collaborative space where policymakers, engineers, planners, and the public can engage in the planning process together. The platform serves a range of urban planning needs from master planning and urban redevelopment to public consultations, helping governments and developers achieve their sustainability goals while optimizing land use. Shaping the Future of Urban Planning The 3D Cityplanner platform is poised to play a major role in the evolution of smart city design. Its innovative features and integration with AI make it a valuable tool for cities seeking to address the pressing demands of climate adaptation, infrastructure efficiency, and overall urban livability. "3D Cityplanner allows us to move forward in our mission of creating smarter, more sustainable cities," says Dullemond. "By providing an accessible, real-time platform for urban planning, we're empowering cities to make data-informed decisions that will shape the future." About Strategis Groep Strategis Groep is a technology and consulting firm based in the Netherlands, specializing in digital tools for urban development. The company partners with governments, architects, engineers, and developers across Europe to help reshape urban spaces using innovative technologies like GIS, BIM, and AI. The 3D Cityplanner is Strategis Groep's flagship platform for sustainable, data-driven city design. For more information, visit: www.3dcityplanner.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253042 SOURCE: Plentisoft EQS-News: Grand City Properties S.A. / Key word(s): AGM/EGM Grand City Properties S.A. announces publication of convening notice for the 2025 Annual General Meeting 23.05.2025 / 08:53 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS GRAND CITY PROPERTIES S.A. ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF CONVENING NOTICE FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Luxembourg, 23 May 2025 - Grand City Properties S.A. ("GCP" or the "Company") announces today the publication of the convening notice and related materials for the annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company ("AGM") to be held on 24 June 2025. Further information regarding the AGM is available at https://www.grandcityproperties.com/investor-relations/general-meeting/agm-2025 . About the Company The Company is a specialist in residential real estate, value-add opportunities in densely populated areas primarily in Germany and London. The Company's strategy is to improve its properties by repositioning and intensive tenant management, and then create value by subsequently raising occupancy and rental levels. Further information: www.grandcityproperties.com Grand City Properties S.A. (ISIN: LU0775917882) is a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 37, Boulevard Joseph II, L-1840 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and being registered with the Luxembourg trade and companies register (Registre de Commerce et des Societes Luxembourg) under number B 165 560. The shares of the Company are listed on the Prime Standard segment of Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Contact: Grand City Properties S.A. 37, Boulevard Joseph II, L-1840 Luxembourg T: +352 28 77 87 86 E: info@grandcity.lu www.grandcityproperties.com Investor Relations Team: Grand City Properties S.A. E: gcp-ir@grandcity.lu DISCLAIMER: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES MENTIONED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DIRECTED AT AND IS ONLY BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO (I) PERSONS WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE ORDER), (II) HIGH NET WORTH ENTITIES, AND OTHER PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49 OF THE ORDER, AND (III) PERSONS TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS RELEVANT PERSONS). THIS COMMUNICATION MUST NOT BE READ, ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (EEA), THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER IF MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IS DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC, AS AMENDED (THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE) (QUALIFIED INVESTORS). ANY PERSON IN THE EEA WHO ACQUIRES THE SECURITIES IN ANY OFFER (AN INVESTOR) OR TO WHOM ANY OFFER OF THE SECURITIES IS MADE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. ANY INVESTOR WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT ANY SECURITIES ACQUIRED BY IT IN THE OFFER HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF PERSONS IN THE EEA OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS, NOR HAVE THE SECURITIES BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR OFFER OR RESALE IN THE EEA TO PERSONS WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE MANAGERS OF A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY CONTAIN PROJECTIONS OR ESTIMATES RELATING TO PLANS AND OBJECTIVES RELATING TO OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES, FUTURE FINANCIAL RESULTS, OR ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING OR RELATING TO ANY SUCH STATEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH CONSTITUTES A FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY, DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. 23.05.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC PINK:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), a bioscience innovator specializing in advanced drug delivery systems, is pleased to announce that the examining division of the European Patent Office ("EPO") has provided formal notice of the EPO's intention to grant BioNxt its core patent without significant changes. The Company's core patent filing was a comprehensive application for the sublingual delivery of anticancer drugs for the treatment of autoimmune neurodegenerative diseases. This patent family provides numerous proprietary product development and commercialization opportunities, including BioNxt's lead product, BNT23001, a sublingual thin-film formulation of Cladribine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). "Confirmation of the Company's flagship intellectual property asset in Europe is a major milestone for BioNxt," stated Hugh Rogers, CEO of BioNxt. "We expect the European patent grant to be finalized and published in the coming weeks. The timing is excellent as we can confidently prepare for the upcoming BNT23001 human bioequivalence study in Europe." BioNxt continues to advance the nationalization phase of the patent protection process at the European Patent Office and Eurasian Patent Organization, as well as with independent filing nations, such as Australia (AU), Canada (CA), New Zealand (NZ), USA (US), and Japan (JP). Securing nation-level patents around the globe will serve as the foundation for commercial opportunities for the Company's pipeline of sublingual products targeting autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis (MG), lupus nephritis (LN) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). About BioNxt Solutions Inc. BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery technologies, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. The Company's proprietary platforms-Sublingual (Thin-Film), Transdermal (Skin Patch), and Oral (Enteric-Coated Tablets)-target key therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and longevity. With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization e?orts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide. BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com. Investor Relations & Media Contact Hugh Rogers, Co-Founder, CEO and Director Email: investor.relations@bionxt.com Phone: +1 778.598.2698 Web: www.bionxt.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bionxt-solutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bionxt Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the development, testing, regulatory approval, and commercialization of BioNxt's sublingual drug products, as well as projected milestones, anticipated partnerships, and potential market opportunities. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, many of which are beyond BioNxt's control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, delays in regulatory approvals, negative outcomes from clinical trials, changes in market demand, fluctuations in funding availability, or disruptions in supply chains. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. BioNxt undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected include changes in market demand, regulatory developments, delays in clinical trials, fluctuations in financing availability, supply chain disruptions, and unforeseen competitive pressures. SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/bionxt-solutions-reports-formal-notice-from-the-european-patent-offic-1031166 NINGBO, China, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Ningbo External Communication Center: On May 22, the 4th China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. With the theme "New Visions for the Future," the event attracted over 15,000 professional visitors from 72 countries and regions. Import purchase intentions from CEECs are expected to exceed 10 billion yuan. The 80,000-square-meter exhibition space is divided into two main sections: the CEEC exhibition zone and the export consumer goods zone. Covering 20,000 square meters, the CEEC zone features over 400 exhibitors showcasing more than 8,000 unique products, including Czech beer, Slovenian honey, Hungarian down products, and Slovenian ski gear. Meanwhile, the export consumer goods zone features over 1,000 Chinese enterprises presenting high-quality offerings such as consumer goods and smart technologies, giving global buyers an immersive technological showcase. During the Expo, a number of events such as business matching activities and intergovernmental exchange activities will be staged. Besides, conferences such as the China-CEEC Joint Chamber of Commerce Meeting and the 7th China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation will be held to deepen the alignment of rules. Another side event, the 2025 China-CEEC Mayors Forum, focuses on shaping a new paradigm of urban governance, and the China-Central and Eastern Europe International Regatta will set sail for promoting people-to-people exchanges. In addition, interactive activities such as the "Hi-Go" CEEC Product Shopping Festival will be held in an online-offline hybrid form. This year, Slovenia and Slovakia serve as the Guests of Honor. In addition to full participation from all 14 CEECs, exhibitors from nine other countries-including the UK, France and Germany-are attending the Expo for the first time. Moreover, institutions such as the World Bank, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and world-renowned enterprises including Sanofi, Novartis, and Morgan Stanley have been invited to attend the event. Looking ahead, the Expo aims to unlock greater potential and expand the scope of cooperation. By promoting a regularized mechanism for exchanges and collaboration, it seeks to capitalize on new opportunities in industrial transformation and investment. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694297/image_5019309_41472051.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-visions-for-the-future-4th-china-ceec-expo--international-consumer-goods-fair-kicks-off-302464117.html BERLIN, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With landmark initiatives announced to advance Europe's digital sovereignty, encompassing a 200 - billion commitment to AI and placing significant emphasis on cloud technologies, GITEX EUROPE, one of the world's largest tech and startup events, made its highly-anticipated debut in Berlin, bringing together over 1,400 major tech companies, startups, and SMEs from more than 100 countries. Wondershare, a leading global software company, made a strong appearance at the event by unveiling its latest AI-powered creative software solutions - highlighting its commitment to empowering European industries' intelligent digital transformation. Showcasing under the theme "More AI, More Efficiency", Wondershare attracted significant attention with its engaging demos and practical showcases of AI applications across key areas such as video creativity products, PDF solutions products, and Diagra&Graphics products. The company featured its four flagship creative software products - Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PDFelement, Wondershare EdrawMax, and Wondershare EdrawMind - demonstrating not only its technological innovation, but also its strategic commitment to delivering sector-specific AI solutions tailored for enterprise users in government, manufacturing, IT, healthcare, finance, etc. The booth quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic hubs at GITEX Europe, drawing a steady stream of professionals, enterprise delegates, and industry media. Popular influencers also joined the scene with live streamings, further amplifying the excitement and extending the booth's reach beyond the venue. Attendees engaged in hands-on demos and in-depth product consultations with Wondershare's AI experts. The strong interest from B2B visitors underscored the market's growing appetite for practical, ready-to-deploy AI solutions tailored to real-world industry scenarios. Addressing this demand, Wondershare presented a suite of AI solutions designed to meet the distinct needs of different sectors. In the government and public sector, PDFelement facilitates efficient document digitization, secure e-signatures, and intelligent archiving - streamlining administrative workflows. For the manufacturing and IT sectors, EdrawMax and EdrawMind deliver advanced diagramming and mind-mapping capabilities to help teams visualize complex processes, systems, and technical architecture with clarity. Among the highlights of Wondershare's presence was the announcement of EdrawMax 14.5, featuring powerful new AI-driven diagramming capabilities. With the new AI Diagram Creator, users can simply input their ideas, and EdrawMax will instantly generate visually polished diagrams with clear logic, harmonious color schemes, and well-matched layouts. Supported formats include one-page slides, flowcharts, infographics, timelines, and more. To further support mobile productivity, EdrawMax APP also introduces a new Photo-to-Diagram feature. Users can take a photo with their mobile device, and the AI will accurately transform the image into an editable diagram file - including recognition of hand-drawn sketches - turning smartphones into portable creative workstations. *The AI Diagram Creator and PowerPoint Add-ins features are anticipated to be progressively released to users starting in June 2025, with exact rollout times varying by market due to differences in technical readiness, user demand, and local regulations. In addition to EdrawMax, visitors also explored AI-powered innovations across Wondershare's ecosystem, including Filmora's AI Idea to Video and Smart Short Clips, PDFelement's AI Summary, and EdrawMind's AI Mindmap Generator - all engineered to simplify content creation, enhance productivity, and streamline complex workflows for individuals and teams alike. Wondershare's AI solutions have earned consistent acclaim from global software review platforms like G2, and the company's footprint in Europe is growing rapidly. PDFelement, in particular, has been adopted by leading organizations including DIHK, Pilz, SySS, and Worwag Pharma, driving productivity gains of over 40% through smart document automation. As Europe accelerates toward becoming a global AI powerhouse through initiatives like the AI Continent Action Plan, GITEX stands out as a vital nexus of cross-sector collaboration and innovation. Wondershare's participation in the inaugural event reinforces its dedication to supporting this transition, and highlights its goal of becoming a trusted digital partner for organizations navigating the era of intelligent work. "We're excited to make our debut at GITEX EUROPE and showcase AI-driven creative software solutions tailored for European industries," said Rocky, General Manager of Wondershare's Enterprise Development Business Unit. "This marks a key step in our long-term commitment to empowering local businesses with intelligent tools and deepening strategic collaboration across the region. We welcome local partners to join us in exploring new possibilities for smarter, more efficient digital transformation. For collaboration opportunities or product inquiries, feel free to reach out to our team." About Wondershare Wondershare is a globally recognized software company founded in 2003, known for its innovative solutions in creativity and productivity. Driven by the mission "Creativity Simplified", Wondershare offers a range of tools, including Filmora, Virbo, and DemoCreator for video editing; PDFelement for document management; EdrawMax, EdrawMind for diagramming; and SelfyzAI, Pixpic for image recovery and editing. With over 1.5 billion users across 200+ countries and regions, Wondershare empowers the next generation of creators with intuitive software and trendy creative resources, continually expanding the possibilities of creativity worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694960/image.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1274391/wondershare_LOGO.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wondershare-showcases-ai-powered-creative-software-solutions-at-gitex-europe-reinforcing-commitment-to-europes-intelligent-future-302464116.html What You Should Know About This Wine Nation CHI?INAU, Moldova, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, the World Congress of Vine and Wine will take place for the first time in the Republic of Moldova - the country with the highest vineyard area per capita in the world, with 4 hectares for every 100 people. Moldova's total vineyard area reaches nearly 110,000 hectares. The country ranks among the top 20 wine producers globally and is the 14th largest wine exporter in the world. In 2024, Moldova exported 144 million liters of wine, worth over 234 million USD. Moldovan wines are shipped to 73 countries, with half of all exports going to European markets. In Moldova, wine is not just an industry - it is part of the country's identity, history, and economy. Over the past few years, the wine sector has grown significantly, thanks to high quality and improved wine tourism infrastructure. Moldova now has over 250 wineries, offering great wines and unforgettable experiences for visitors from around the world. Moldova has built a strong reputation in the international wine world not only through its authentic terroir and ancient traditions, but also through the growing recognition it has earned in recent decades. In the past five years, Moldovan wines have won thousands of medals at top global competitions - including Berliner Wine Trophy, Mundus Vini, Decanter World Wine Awards, and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. These awards have helped Moldova become known as a serious producer of high-quality wines, able to compete internationally and impress even the most demanding wine experts. A major milestone in promoting Moldovan wines abroad was the creation of the National Office of Vine and Wine (ONVV) and the launch of the national brand "Wine of Moldova: Unexpectedly Great" in 2013. The 46th edition of the World Congress of Vine and Wine will take place from June 16 to 20, 2025, at the Palace of the Republic in Chi?inau, Moldova. The congress will bring together 300 experts, researchers, winemakers, oenologists, producers, and policymakers from 51 member countries of the OIV, to discuss the future of the global wine industry. Participants will also take part in 13 technical visits to Moldova's most renowned wineries, and enjoy a festive dinner hosted at Cricova - the world-famous underground wine city known for its vast tunnels and excellent wines. Participation packages are available for purchase on the official congress website: https://oiv2025.md/packages-available/ The event is organized by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova and the National Office for Vine and Wine (ONVV). Moldova has been a member of the OIV since April 3, 2001 - the first country from the CIS to join the organization. In 2024, the OIV celebrates its 100th anniversary, and the congress in Moldova marks the beginning of its second centenary. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694526/Moldova_World_Congress_of_Vine_and_Wine.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/moldova-to-host-the-46th-world-congress-of-vine-and-wine--in-the-country-with-the-highest-vineyard-density-per-capita-302464128.html "The irony is glaring," said Boise. "The DEA blocks lawful drug development while cartels profit. The agency is both gatekeeper and roadblock-and now, a constitutional liability." The DEA's own 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment admits that illicit cannabis operations tied to foreign cartels thrive in legalized states, operating under state licenses while DEA policy bureaucrats Thomas Prevoznik and Matthew Strait remains unchecked. WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / In a brazen act of regulatory defiance, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reignited its unlawful campaign against MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, a federally compliant cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical company. This comes in direct contradiction to a Supreme Court ruling, the stance of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and overwhelming public support for medical cannabis reform. On May 19, the DEA's Office of Administrative Law Judges issued an order rescheduling a prehearing conference with MMJ BioPharma for June 11, 2025. This comes despite the fact that the DOJ-through the Attorney General Pam Bondi-has formally notified federal courts that it will no longer defend the constitutionality of DEA's internal tribunal system. The DEA's administrative law courts were ruled structurally invalid by the Supreme Court for violating Article II of the Constitution. "This is a rogue agency acting outside the law," said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings. "The DEA is not just obstructing medical research-it's defying the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General." DEA Crusade Against MMJ Medical Cannabis Developer MMJ BioPharma has spent more than seven years complying with every federal requirement to develop cannabinoid-based therapies for serious neurological conditions. The company holds: - Two FDA-accepted INDs - Orphan Drug Designation for Huntington's disease - A DEA-registered Schedule I Analytical Laboratory - Partnerships with GMP-certified manufacturers and international distribution networks Despite these credentials, the DEA refuses to issue a Schedule I Bulk Manufacturing License-a mandatory step to produce cannabis for FDA-approved clinical trials. Instead of resolving the matter in federal court, the agency is again using a discredited tribunal structure already struck down by the nation's highest court. The DEA's 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment confirms that transnational cartels continue operating under state cannabis licenses, exploiting regulatory gaps in legalized states. While illicit actors thrive, the agency devotes its energy to obstructing a law-abiding, federally regulated pharmaceutical innovator. "The irony is glaring," Boise added. "The DEA blocks lawful drug development while criminal enterprises profit. The agency is both gatekeeper and roadblock-and now, a constitutional liability." A Constitutional and Scientific Crisis Science Denied: - DEA disregards the 2023 HHS recommendation, based on FDA-reviewed evidence, to reclassify cannabis as Schedule III - Ignores decades of clinical data from global medical programs on epilepsy, chronic pain, and PTSD Constitutional Violations: - DEA continues using tribunals declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court - DEA operates in defiance of the Attorney General's directive that DOJ will not defend these proceedings Public Will Ignored: - 69% of 40,000+ public comments called for full descheduling - DEA continues to invoke debunked "gateway drug" rhetoric Economic Harm: - DEA delays access to treatments for Huntington's, MS, and pain - All while the U.S. federally illegal cannabis market exceeds $32 billion annually "The DEA is enforcing a backroom hidden anti marijuana agenda-not public safety," said Boise. "While cartels flourish, the agency uses taxpayer resources to sabotage federally compliant innovators and delay treatments for suffering patients. This is no longer about regulation-this is rogue retaliation." The Path Forward: Accountability Now MMJ International Holdings calls on: - Congress to launch oversight hearings into DEA obstruction and administrative abuse - DOJ to halt all unconstitutional proceedings in accordance with the Axon ruling - DEA nominee Terrance Cole to commit to ending the agency's war on science "The DEA's credibility is bankrupt," Boise concluded. "It's time for Congress to end this obstruction-patients' lives depend on it." MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey MHisey@mmjih.com 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/dea-defies-supreme-court-and-attorney-general-targeting-marijuana-com-1029589 SUIZHOU, China, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A grand ancestral worship festival in the hometown of Chinese Yan Emperor was held in Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province, on May 23. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. This year's festival, highlighted by sophisticated ritual music, seeks to create a national-level sacrificial ceremony rooted in cultural traditions and showcasing the spirit of the times. On the morning of May 23, the Lieshan Ancestral Worship Square was filled with the rumble of drums and the melodious chimes of bells. Worship guests formed neat lines and, guided by the ceremonial procession, the grand ceremony to pay homage to Yan Emperor Shennong began in a solemn atmosphere. The lunar April 26 of each year marks the birthday of Yan Emperor Shennong. This year, Suizhou launched an online co-sacrifice initiative, innovatively using digital technologies such as AI interaction with Yan Emperor and virtual candle-lighting and flower-offering, which allows Chinese descendants at home and abroad to participate in the ceremony in real time and offer blessings online. The festival, organized by the People's Government of Suizhou City, was inaugurated in 2009 and the Suizhou Shennong sacrificial ceremony was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2011. It has become a landmark cultural event demonstrating the long-standing Chinese civilization, a spiritual symbol highlighting the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation, and a bridge uniting Chinese worldwide. The festival was co-hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Association for Yan Huang Culture of China, and the People's Government of Hubei Province. Exchange and cooperation platforms themed around special-purpose vehicles, emergency response, cultural communication and cultural and tourism promotion were also organized during the event, with an aim to boost the introduction of investment projects and promote characteristic products and services to the world. Source: The People's Government of Suizhou City Contact person: Mr. Liu, Tel: 86-10-63074558 SHENZHEN, China, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) formally announced that Dr. Wang Ruixin, a leading telecommunications expert at vivo, has received the prestigious 3GPP Excellence Award 2024 during the 3GPP RAN4#115 meeting held in Malta on May 19, 2025. Presented by 3GPP, an authoritative global communication standards body, the award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of mobile communication technology specifications. Dr. Wang's achievement is an acknowledgment of his technical leadership and underscores vivo's position as one of the global leaders in 5G core technology R&D and international standard setting. Dr. Wang's Award Recognizes Exceptional Technical Contributions 3GPP is the world's leading telecommunication standard development body. It currently has more than 850 member companies from over 40 countries, including mobile network operators, equipment manufacturers, instrumentation manufacturers, chipmakers, universities and R&D institutions. The technical specifications produced by 3GPP directly impact the communication experience of billions of users around the world. Established in 2012, the 3GPP Excellence Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding technical contributions to the 3GPP working groups. Each year, a maximum of four recipients are selected from all technical specification groups, including Radio Access Networks (RAN), Services & Systems Aspects (SA) and Core Network & Terminals (CT). According to 3GPP statistics, over 1,000 representatives participated in the standard discussions across its working groups in 2024. Dr. Wang stood out with his breakthrough contribution to the field of 5G OTA standards, becoming the second expert from the RAN4 Working Group to receive this honor since the award was established. At the award ceremony, the 3GPP RAN4 leadership team highlighted Dr. Wang's dedication and expertise. "His strong technical expertise, dedication and excellent leadership has made him a successful and outstanding delegate in 3GPP RAN4. Many thanks for Ruixin's excellent work and contribution!" they stated. Dr. Wang Ruixin has been actively engaged in 3GPP technical standardization work for many years. In the 5G era, he has served as the Rapporteur for multiple standard projects (WI/SI), leading the development of mobile terminal radiated performance and Over-the-Air (OTA) testing standards. Under his leadership, 3GPP achieved several industry milestones in this field, including the finalization of 5G UE OTA requirements in 2024 - a groundbreaking accomplishment in the industry. Beyond his individual technical contributions, as vivo's prime delegate of RAN4 working group, Dr. Wang has led the vivo RAN4 team participation in technical discussions across multiple topics, actively driving the development of 3GPP standards. From Technical Breakthroughs to Ecosystem Building: vivo's Methodology for Standard Innovation Dr. Wang's achievements reflect vivo's systematic investment in the field of communication technology. As a global leader in smartphone manufacturing, vivo established the Communications Research Institute in 2016, focusing on cutting-edge mobile communication research, international/industry standard development, and core technology verification and testing for the group. To date, vivo has submitted over 17,000 5G technical proposals to 3GPP, participated in the formulation of more than 700 technical standards, and applied for over 7,000 patents for 5G and 6G technologies. It has successfully driven projects such as UE power saving, Multi-SIM, LP-WUS, and narrowband voice satellite communication within 3GPP. vivo has also developed prototypes for 5.5G and 6G technologies, including NTN, RedCap, AI+ communication, 6G mobile computing-network integration, 6G integrated sensing and communication, 6G data plane, and 6G backscatter technologies. Additionally, vivo has published six 6G white papers and three technical books through People's Posts & Telecommunications Press, making outstanding contributions to the formulation of global mobile communication standards and the advancement of the industry. With its achievements and contributions in 5G standard setting, technology validation, testing, product development, and application, vivo was awarded the National Science and Technology Progress Award First Prize in June 2024, consolidating its leading position in the field of global communication technology. Dr. Wang's 3GPP Excellence Award marks a career milestone and demonstrates vivo's innovation leadership. As the global communication industry steps into a new decade of "intelligent connectivity for all", innovation pioneers like vivo are writing a new chapter in the history of world communications. About vivo vivo is a technology company driven by design to create exceptional products, with smart terminals and intelligent services at its core. It aims to bridge the gap between people and the digital world, offering users a more convenient and personalized mobile digital life. Guided by its corporate values of 'Benfen' (staying grounded), user orientation, design-driven innovation, continuous learning, and teamwork, vivo integrates sustainable development strategies across its value chain, striving to become a healthier, enduring world-class enterprise. Headquartered in Dongguan, China, vivo taps into local talent resources and maintains an extensive R&D network spanning Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Xi'an. Its research covers a wide range of frontier areas, including 5G communication, artificial intelligence, industrial design, and imaging technology. Currently, vivo's manufacturing network (including authorized production) boasts an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million units, with sales covering over 60 countries and regions and a user base exceeding 500 million. For more corporate, brand, product, and technology updates, follow vivo's official WeChat accounts: 'vivo' and 'XG Detective Agency'. For additional media resources, high-resolution images, or videos, please visit: https://mobile.vivo.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694864/image_818437_13704494.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694865/1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vivo-expert-dr-wang-ruixin-wins-3gpp-excellence-award-for-outstanding-contribution-to-5g-ota-standards-302464150.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTCQB: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) ("Group Eleven" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares have been approved for uplisting from the OTCBB to the OTCQB Venture Market, effective today. The Company will continue to trade under the symbol "GRLVF" on the OTC and will continue to trade under the symbol "ZNG" on the TSXV market. The OTCQB is a premier marketplace for early-stage and developing companies, offering increased visibility and credibility among U.S. investors. This uplisting reflects Group Eleven's commitment to transparency, improved liquidity, and adherence to high financial reporting standards. "We are thrilled to achieve this milestone as we transition to the OTCQB market," said Bart Jaworski, CEO. "This uplisting enhances our ability to attract a broader investor base and supports our ongoing efforts to advance our Ballywire zinc-lead-silver and copper discovery in the Republic of Ireland. Our decision to be added to the OTC Markets Blue Sky Report will also help in boosting our visibility in the United States." Trading the Company's shares on the OTCQB Market provides the Company with a dealer market in the United States that will provide easier access for US based investors and shareholders. The OTCQB Market through its SEC registered OTC Link ATS features over 110 US broker-dealers. The Company has also applied for Depository Trust Company (DTC) eligibility. DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a U.S. company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies. About Group Eleven Resources Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTCQB: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) is drilling the most significant mineral discovery in the Republic of Ireland in over a decade. The Company announced the Ballywire discovery in September 2022, demonstrating high grades of zinc, lead, silver, copper, germanium and locally, antimony. Ballywire is located 20km from Company's 77.64%-owned Stonepark zinc-lead deposit1, which itself is located adjacent to Glencore's Pallas Green zinc-lead deposit2. The Company's two largest shareholders are Glencore Canada Corp. (16.1% interest) and Michael Gentile (16.0%). Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bart Jaworski, P.Geo. Chief Executive Officer 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the continuation of trading of the Company's shares on the TSXV and OTCQB and the impact the uplisting will have on the Company's performance. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, general market, economic or business conditions. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. _________________________ 1 Stonepark MRE is 5.1 million tonnes of 11.3% Zn+Pb (8.7% Zn and 2.6% Pb), Inferred (Apr-17-2018) 2 Pallas Green MRE is 45.4 million tonnes of 8.4% Zn+Pb (7.2% Zn + 1.2% Pb), Inferred (Glencore, Dec-31-2024) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253170 SOURCE: Group Eleven Resources Corp. TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To address rising geopolitical risks and global supply chain shifts, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI (http://www.itri.org/eng)) hosted the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership Forum in Taipei on May 23. In line with the government's initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies, the forum explored supply chain security, global collaboration, and technological complementarity under the themes of Innovation, Security, Resilience, and Prosperity. The event brought together over 700 industry leaders and government officials, including representatives from foreign trade offices in Taiwan. President Lai Ching-te stated that in the face of challenges such as dumping practices, global democracies must work together, leveraging their respective strengths to ensure a resilient semiconductor supply chain. Taiwan, he said, is ready to serve as a key pillar of technological development in the AI era. The government is promoting supportive policies, offering financial and tax incentives, and building data centers and supercomputers to advance industrial innovation. Minister of Economic Affairs Jyh-Huei Kuo emphasized Taiwan's pivotal role in the global semiconductor ecosystem. The Ministry is encouraging global supply chain partners to invest, co-develop the value chain, and explore emerging markets. Taiwan, he noted, will also work with like-minded democracies to establish credible, self-regulating market mechanisms that safeguard trusted supply chains. The Ministry will further advance cross-border talent initiatives to link Taiwan's strong semiconductor workforce with the world and boost the competitiveness of democratic supply chain partners. "Semiconductors are now a core strategic asset in global economic and technological competition, requiring deeply interdependent supply chains," said ITRI President Edwin Liu. "ITRI will focus on potential niche markets, drive key technology development, and strengthen global partnerships to enhance supply chain transparency, cybersecurity, and adaptability. We will work closely with partners worldwide-from materials and manufacturing to talent development-to explore innovation and "blue ocean" opportunities. Our goal is to build an open, inclusive semiconductor ecosystem where all partners can create value and share in the success." "The United States and Taiwan share a long-standing, symbiotic relationship in the high-tech sector with semiconductors at its core," said Jeremy Cornforth, Deputy Director at American Institute in Taiwan. He emphasized the growing two-way investment, joint efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience and technology security, and a shared commitment to building a strong and innovative global semiconductor ecosystem. Kazuyuki Katayama, Chief Representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, noted that a resilient semiconductor supply chain requires comprehensive global collaboration-drawing on Japan and Europe's materials and equipment, the U.S.'s design, and Taiwan's manufacturing-to ensure both business success and economic security. Lutz Gullner, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office, emphasized that the EU is working closely with like-minded partners to strengthen resilient and secure semiconductor supply chains and to build robust AI infrastructure. Taiwan is a key and trusted partner in this endeavor. With TSMC's investment in Germany and growing cooperation between Foxconn and European firms in the semiconductor and space industries, the EU is committed to deepening its engagement with Taiwan. Ruth Bradley-Jones, Representative at British Office Taipei, said, "Collaboration is at the heart of advancing and securing semiconductor and AI supply chains. The UK will continue to forge partnerships, both in pursuit of advancing semiconductor and AI innovation, and in pursuit of the policy and regulatory frameworks that underpin resilient and diversified global supply chains." Matthijs van der Hoorn, Deputy Representative at the Netherlands Office Taipei, noted, "The semiconductor industry is inherently global, and no country can address its challenges alone. As a key player in the global value chain, the Netherlands is committed to working with governments, businesses, and research institutions to jointly build a resilient, reliable, and sustainable chain." Akira Amari, Honorary Chair of Japan's Parliamentary Association for Semiconductor Strategy, stated that the Japan-Taiwan alliance should serve as a starting point for like-minded countries to jointly build a resilient semiconductor supply chain, from design to manufacturing, to mitigate economic security risks and ensure stable global industrial development. The forum focused on Taiwan's strategies to enhance semiconductor supply chain resilience. The first panel emphasized the importance of alliances, markets, and talent, calling for deeper collaboration with like-minded countries, increased investment in Taiwan, and the development of derisking mechanisms and talent networks. The second panel explored challenges in advanced and mature process technologies as well as efforts to cultivate industry-ready talent at all educational levels. The third panel addressed the need for value-based alliances and the advancement of mid- to high-end process technologies amid supply chain restructuring and regionalization. About ITRI Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is one of the world's leading technology R&D institutions aiming to innovate a better future for society. Founded in 1973, ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan's industries from labor-intensive into innovation-driven. To address market needs and global trends, it has launched its 2035 Technology Strategy and Roadmap that focuses on innovation development in Smart Living, Quality Health, Sustainable Environment, and Resilient Society. Over the years, ITRI has been dedicated to incubating startups and spinoffs, including well-known names such as UMC and TSMC. In addition to its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branch offices in the U.S., Germany, Japan, and Thailand in an effort to extend its R&D scope and promote international cooperation across the globe. For more information, please visit https://www.itri.org/eng (https://www.itri.org/eng). Media Contact Annie Wu Office of Marketing Communications, ITRI +886-3-591-8406 aiyunwu@itri.org.tw A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62190032-b790-4b3b-b4b4-383571de08c2 (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62190032-b790-4b3b-b4b4-383571de08c2) NINGBO, China, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2025 China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo opened in Ningbo on May 22, cultural and business exchanges between China and the CEE region were spotlighted. Among the many contributing to this growing partnership are Vladimir Tzanev and Fang Yu, in different professions but with a shared connection to Ningbo. The Bulgarian pianist Vladimir Tzanev has spent the past two decades working across China. But Ningbo, in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, is where he and his family want to call home. "My children were born here-they're Ningbo natives now," he says in a smile. Alongside his wife, a fellow musician from Latin America, Vladimir established a music society in the city that welcomes students from all walks of life. "Music is a language that opens any door," he says. "And here in Ningbo, we found an audience eager to listen." Fang Yu, meanwhile, has a different story related to the city. After years of working in Slovakia, she returned to China in 2015 and dove into trades with CEE countries. Based in Ningbo, she helps connect Chinese companies with partners from CEE countries, especially through platforms like the China-CEEC Expo. "Trades are built on human connection," she explains. "And Ningbo is a perfect bridge." This year, Slovakia is one of the guest-of-honor countries of the Expo, which holds special meaning for Fang. It was during a government delegation visit from Ningbo to Slovakia that she established a connection with the city. Since then, she's seen firsthand how face-to-face conversations and shared experiences create trust and opportunities. "When we started, few people knew about these countries or their products," she recalled. "Now, thanks to events like the China-CEEC Expo, more products from the region are stepping into the spotlight." From classical music to Slovakian wine, Vladimir and Fang are helping build more than just business ties-they're weaving personal stories into the fabric of China-CEEC cooperation. And Ningbo, with its open arms and mind, is right at the center of it all. YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQo35CxFus4 Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQo35CxFus4 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-matters-feature-bridging-cultures-at-china-ceec-expo-central-and-eastern-european-voices-in-ningbo-302464201.html Vero Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - The Sherwood Group, a long-term and significant shareholder with approximately 29.90% of the issued and outstanding shares of Barnwell Industries, Inc. ("Barnwell", "BRN" or the "Company") today issued the following letter to Barnwell shareholders. To our Long-Suffering Barnwell Shareholders, On Wednesday, Delaware Vice Chancellor Paul A. Fioravanti, Jr. entered a judgment invalidating our slate of Board candidates from being considered for election at Barnwell's upcoming annual meeting. Not once in Judge Fioravanti's 75-minute soliloquy reciting case after case about various technical requirements did he factor into his decision the overwhelming support received in favor of removal of management's slate and that as of May 23 approximately 42% (and growing) of Barnwell's outstanding shares had voted on the Green Card for the election of Brian Henry, Doug Woodrum, Ben Pierson and me (Sherwood slate) versus less than 15% of Barnwell's shares have voted for the incumbent Barnwell Directors (Company slate)!! While we retain our right to appeal the Judge's decision, it is very disappointing that the Delaware court blatantly ignored the will of the shareholders and opted for form over substance. Equally troubling is the SEC's continued failure to enforce basic standards of transparency and disclosure in Barnwell's press releases and other filings. Years of violations of section 13(d) filings by the Magaro family have gone unaddressed and Kinzler's blatant statements about his group of approximately 25% of Barnwell shareholders has never been questioned by the SEC! We are obviously disappointed that all long-suffering Barnwell shareholders (along with me) will not get an opportunity via our slate to turn around Barnwell's chronic underperformance, entrenchment tactics, clear violation of governance, and refusal to act in the best interest of all shareholders. Despite Grossman and Horowitz almost being removed by a majority of shareholders in the Consent Solicitation, they still assert themselves as "stewards of corporate governance." If they truly cared about what shareholders wanted, they would listen to them and step down. To be clear: unless we hold a majority of the Board and can implement the real changes that our plan had contemplated, a turnaround would be a difficult challenge especially given the current "going concern" warning stated in Barnwell's current quarterly filing. We did not anticipate that current entrenched management would expend nearly all its remaining scarce cash balances on non-productive legal defense and in so doing jeopardize Barnwell's viability. Again, we are shocked and disappointed at the outcome of our efforts. But we respect and support the will of the shareholders. As such, although the Judge has ruled that the Sherwood slate of directors are not eligible for election, we will continue our solicitation on the GREEN card in protest against the Company's blatant disregard for its shareholders. We will not stand by without protest while the Company "rips off" the election against approximately 42% (and growing) of the outstanding shares who have voted in favor of the Sherwood slate (and against them). Grossman and Horowitz may not wish to protect OR respect the will of the shareholders but the Sherwood Group will preserve it to the extent it can. Sincerely, /s/ Ned L. Sherwood Ned L. Sherwood Voting Is Ongoing Shareholders are reminded that voting remains open for the 2025 Annual Meeting. Preliminary voting results are not final and may not reflect the ultimate outcome. Shareholders who have already voted may revoke their proxy and submit a new one at any time up to and including the meeting date. Shareholders should note that Barnwell has refused to accept or count votes submitted in favor of the Sherwood Group. The Sherwood Group strongly urges shareholders not to give undue weight to the preliminary voting results and, instead, to consider all material facts concerning the election before making their voting decisions with respect to the annual meeting. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253186 SOURCE: Ned L. Sherwood UPDF, developed by Superace, is set to launch UPDF 2.0 on May 29, 2025, introducing a new era of speed and simplicity in PDF management. The latest version features a completely redesigned interface and more innovative tools, reinforcing UPDF's leadership in AI-powered productivity and offering users a smarter, faster, and more intuitive document experience. HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / The innovative PDF solution UPDF, under Superace has now unveiled plans for the launch of new UPDF 2.0 on May 29 2025. This release is a pivotal step in improving document management. It offers efficient and user-friendly tools to manage documents. With the redesigned interface and advanced functionalities, UPDF 2.0 reaffirms its position as the AI productivity software. Launched in 2022, UPDF has quickly become a full-featured platform with over 3 million users. This platform is integrated with ChatGPT 4.1, and DeepSeeks AI engine. Not only this, it also offers expansion and innovation in editing, annotation and secure collaboration tools. UPDF 2.0 has enhanced speed that focused user experience. Today UPDF is available across different platforms such as Windows, macOS, iOS and Android systems that is used for both personal and professional content. With UPDF, users can AI chat with PDFs, edit, annotate, convert PDFs, and do much more. The upcoming release offers a series of developments aimed to improve the stability, usability, and performance of UPDF . This version builds on the foundation with sustainable refinements on both the interface and performance. While the company has not disclosed all the new features that are being introduced, some of the confirmed features of this version deliver improvement in the document navigation editing speed and overall software responsiveness. All of these upgrades are made to improve functionality and adaptability to varying file sizes and user needs. One of the key aspects of your UPDF's development is the cross-platform compatibility. This software is manufactured in such a way that it offers a consistent experience across all devices. They have unique input and layout requirements for the desktop and mobile environments. Hence, this has a bit of UPDF to be adopted by users in hybrid work models and easily integrated across multiple systems. For the past three years, Superace has planned a strategic expansion of UPDF. This platform now has a growing number of individuals and organizations worldwide. However, the core functionality remains rooted in PDF editing and conversion; however, there has been increased attention paid to the security, usability, and performance of the platform. The company confirms that UPDF will continue to deliver regular updates following this release. There will be developmental cycles in the future to focus on interface optimization and expanded file format compatibility. Additional enhancements in the software will be considered on the usage data and evolving user requirements. More About UPDF Superace develops software solutions, including UPDF, a PDF editor launched in 2022. The company provides tools for document management across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms, serving over 3 million users worldwide. The main aim of Superace has been to change the landscape of how PDF editing software works. They aimed to develop a PDF editor with an accessible interface to support efficient document management, resulting in the creation of UPDF for streamlined PDF handling across various tasks. The goal was to design an interface and software that is easy to use and support efficient workflows, which UPDF provides for users managing PDF documents. With the new UPDF 2.0 , you can easily enhance your work with PDF. The latest and innovative functions have made the job much more efficient and faster. The advanced tools support document management and workflow efficiency, also AI integration enhances document processing capabilities. UPDF 2.0 will be available for Windows, Mac on 29th May, making it very functional and easy to integrate work on different devices. Thus, the design, interface, advanced tools, and functionalities of UPDF sets it apart with unique features. For more information about UPDF, kindly visit them on: UPDF website , YouTube , Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . Media Contact Organization: HONGKONG SUPERACE SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY CO. , LIMITED Contact Person Name: Taylor Pang Website: https://updf.com/ Email: taylor@superace.com Contact Number: +85213129579808 Address: FLAT A F15 GOLDFIELD IND Address 2: BLDG 144-150 TAI LIN PAI ROAD KWAI CHUNG NT City: Hongkong State: Hongkong Country: Hong Kong S.A.R. SOURCE: SUPERACE SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY CO. , LIMITED View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/updf-20-launching-may-29-enhancing-speed-and-usability-in-pdf-man-1031192 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - FIRST ANDES SILVER LTD. (TSXV: FAS) (OTC Pink: MSLVF) (FSE: 9TZ0) (the "Company" or "First Andes") today announced that it has secured SPF Drilling S.A.C. ("SPF") for the upcoming 2000-meter ("m") diamond drilling program at the Company's 100%-owned Santas Gloria Project ("Santas Gloria" and the "Project") in Peru. Drill rig mobilization is expected to commence this month, with a July start to the campaign. Colin Smith, CEO and Director of the Company stated: "We are very pleased to secure SPF Drilling for this phase of drilling at Santas Gloria. Their deep experience in Peruvian terrain, strong safety record, and proven capabilities make them an ideal partner. First Andes' 2024 drilling results surpassed expectations, returning shallow high-grade intercepts within the oxides zones of several epithermal targets. The upcoming drill program will test for extensions of higher-grade mineralization at depth associated with the sulphide zones of the San Jorge vein. San Jorge is one of fifteen at-surface, largely undrilled vein systems at Santas Gloria, which collectively comprise >12 km of epithermal outcropping veins, showcasing the Project's considerable exploration upside." 2025 Drill Program The 2025 drill campaign will total approximately 2000 meters in 15 to 17 drill holes and is designed as a follow-up to First Andes' highly successful 2024 drill program, which returned multiple high-grade, near-surface silver intercepts across key target zones (Table 1). Results from 2024 confirmed the presence of a robust and previously undrilled mineralized system with significant exploration upside (Figure 1). 2025 drilling will target the San Jorge vein system, which produced the best results in 2024. The primary focus is to test for the higher-grade sulphide zone at depth, down-dip from the previously drilled oxide zones (Figure 2). The San Jorge vein has been mapped at surface for >2.6 kilometers ("km"), but only drilled over approximately 250 m of strike, with all holes returning high-grade, shallow silver intervals. San Jorge represents one of fifteen at-surface vein systems at Santas Gloria which collectively total 12 km of multiphase intermediate sulphidation veins. The Project had never been drilled or explored by modern techniques before 2024, showcasing the substantial untapped exploration upside. Table 1: Highlight Assay Intervals from 2024 Drill Program Hole ID Vein System From (m) To (m) Interval (m) AgEq (g/t) Ag (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) Au (g/t) FAS-24-003 San Jorge 86.7 94.1 7.4 224 193 0.34 0.30 0.05 incl. San Jorge 88.7 89.6 1.0 754 701 1.07 0.62 0.08 incl. San Jorge 91.7 93.0 1.2 387 356 0.34 0.39 0.12 FAS-24-001 San Jorge 47.3 50.4 3.1 155 138 0.18 0.17 0.08 FAS-24-004 San Jorge 138.8 145.2 6.4 108 70 0.40 0.78 0.05 incl. San Jorge 138.8 141.1 2.3 162 103 0.59 1.34 0.03 FAS-24-007 San Jorge 88.5 91.6 3.1 96 69 0.09 0.20 0.20 incl. San Jorge 88.5 89.6 1.1 150 133 0.10 0.20 0.20 SG005 Maribel 42.7 47.1 4.4 134 80 0.16 0.34 0.44 FAS-24-006 Paquita 35.4 38.7 3.3 110 65 0.15 0.43 0.31 incl. Paquita 37.8 38.3 0.5 391 310 0.02 0.02 0.89 FAS-24-002 Tembladera 115.3 116.2 0.9 131 72.4 0.71 1.19 0.05 incl. Tembladera 115.8 116.2 0.4 224 127 1.25 2.00 0.04 Silver Equivalent ("AgEq") values were calculated using the following assumptions in USD for metal prices: $28/oz silver, $2500/oz gold, $2900/t zinc, $2100/t lead. Interval lengths represent metres down-hole. True widths are yet to be determined. Figure 1: Santas Gloria Project, showing mapped epithermal veins, rock samples, and 2024 drill holes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10525/253079_28524986e40e09ce_002full.jpg Figure 2: 3D long section of San Jorge zone, showing 2024 drill holes and 2025 proposed drill holes. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10525/253079_28524986e40e09ce_003full.jpg Quality Assurance / Quality Control ("QA/QC") The Company follows industry-recognized standards of Best Practice and QA/QC. Samples from 2024 were submitted to ALS Peru S.A. (ISO 9001:2008) in Lima, Peru in sealed in plastic bags using single use tie-locks, thereby ensuring chain of custody, for fire assay and ICP analysis. To date, all batches have passed QA/QC within acceptable tolerance limits. All diamond holes were drilled in PQ-NQ diameter. Core recovery across all veins exceeded 90%. Qualified Person Dr. Christopher Wilson, Ph.D., FAusIMM (CP), FSEG, FGS, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About SPF Drilling S.A.C. SPF Drilling S.A.C. is a Peruvian drilling services company headquartered in Lima, established in 2007 by a group of local entrepreneurs with over two decades of experience in the mining and exploration sectors. The company specializes in diamond drilling, geotechnical surveys, hydrogeological testing, piezometer installation, and borehole measurements. SFP emphasizes occupational safety, environmental stewardship, and continuous professional development, aiming to deliver high-quality services that support responsible mining and infrastructure projects. Their modern equipment fleet and experienced personnel enable them to meet diverse client needs across Peru. For more information, visit https://www.sfpdrilling.com/. About First Andes Silver Ltd. First Andes Silver Ltd. is a British Columbia company that holds a 100% interest in the high-grade Santas Gloria silver property, located in a major mining district 100 km east of Lima, Peru. Santas Gloria has excellent established road access, and is situated within a well-known intermediate sulphidation epithermal belt, and hosts over 12 km of multiphase veins mapped at surface which had never been historically drilled or explored by modern techniques before 2024. First Andes' maiden diamond drill program last year reported high-grade silver grades on all drilled vein systems confirming silver endowment and warranting high priority follow-up drilling in 2025. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Company's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration programs and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253079 SOURCE: First Andes Silver Ltd. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced on a deep hole that is planned to initially drill across the Gilt Creek gold deposit, then to continue to drill in order to test the adjacent Wenot gold deposit at a vertical depth of approximately 1,100m. Gilt Creek and Wenot are two adjacent orogenic gold deposits on the Company's 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in Guyana, South America. The Wenot open pit deposit consists of multiple near-vertical shear-hosted gold zones that have been identified along a 2.5km strike that have been drilled from surface to maximum depths of 450-525m. The Company's 2024-25 drill program, now surpassing 25,000m, has focused on exploring the size potential of this very large Wenot open pit deposit down to a depth of 450-500m. This new hole (25ODD-122) will provide additional data as it drills across the Gilt Creek gold deposit then, very significantly, is planned to continue a further 600m-800m to explore for the extension of the near-vertical Wenot gold zones at approximately 1,000m to 1,200m vertical depth or roughly 600m below the known deposit. A gold intersection at this depth would not add to the Wenot resources in the short-term, however, would be indicative of the upside and long term mine life potential of this large Omai gold camp. Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented: "Our 2025 goal is to more fully realize the expansion potential of the gold resources at Omai, with a vision towards a multi-decade mine life. By accelerating our testing of the Wenot deposit starting in 2024, our drilling has provided ample evidence of the continuity of the gold zones down to depths of at least 500m, establishing Omai as one of the largest and fastest-growing gold camps in the Guiana Shield greenstone belt. We believe that we are on the path to maximizing the value of this large, two-deposit gold project with the current resource expansion drill program at Wenot, the updated MRE for Wenot that is underway, and the updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") to follow. By testing the Wenot deposit at much greater depths we hope to further unveil the blue-sky expansion potential of the Omai property, which we believe would unlock further value for all stakeholders." The Company has completed 46 holes totalling 29,050m since the completion of the most recent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for Wenot in February 2024. An updated NI 43-101 MRE to incorporate these new results has commenced, while additional assay results are pending for several holes. Drilling continues on the Wenot expansion drill program with two drills. This new drill hole (25ODD-122) is designed to achieve several objectives: 1) to assist in the Gilt Creek mine planning and metallurgical studies that will facilitate its inclusion into an updated PEA mine plan anticipated later in 2025, 2) to further explore the lateral extent of the Gilt Creek intrusion-hosted gold deposit, and, very significantly, 3) to explore the open depth potential of Wenot well below the known limits of the deposit, that could be indicative of the potential for a multi-decade mine life for the Omai project. This deep hole is expected to be 1,800 to 2,000m in length, well within the capability of the drills on-site, however will be closely monitored for successful completion. Gilt Creek Deposit Background The Gilt Creek gold deposit is a 500m by 275m intrusion-hosted orogenic gold deposit. It is located approximately 500m north of the Wenot gold deposit on the Omai property (Figure 1). The MRE for Gilt Creek comprises Indicated Mineral Resources of 1,151,000 ounces gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 665,000 ounces gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au, using a 1.5 g/t Au cutoff and a US$1,700/oz gold price. Initial engineering studies anticipate a ramp from surface to access this deposit for underground mining. The very wide mineralized zones are likely amenable to sub-level open stoping and transverse open stoping, with follow-up cut-and-fill mining. The Gilt Creek gold deposit is relatively shallow with approximately 76% of the MRE gold ounces lying at vertical depths of between 300m and 600m. Limited drilling of the Omai intrusion below 600m continued to encounter gold mineralization down to 967m. Drill hole 24ODD-095 completed in December, 2024 confirmed gold mineralization within the intrusive host rock from just 225m to a depth of 850m below surface. Wenot Extension Target The Wenot deposit is a 2.5km long, shear-hosted, orogenic gold deposit with a current Indicated MRE1 of 834,000 ounces grading 1.48 g/t Au and Inferred MRE of 1,614,000 ounces grading 1.99 g/t Au. Gold mineralization at Wenot is dominantly hosted within multiple, parallel, near-vertical zones along the east-west trending shear corridor. Gold zones at Wenot have been identified from surface to a maximum vertical depth of 555m. A late post-mineralization diabase dike that underlies the Gilt Creek pit extends under Wenot and has been intersected in a few holes from 480m to 510m depth. The Wenot orogenic gold zones pre-date this later dike and therefore most likely continue below. The recent drilling provides ample evidence that the gold grades and zone widths increase with depth and appear to potentially support underground mining at greater depths. There are multiple examples of orogenic gold deposits extending to great depths and confirmation of this for the Wenot deposit could have significant impact for ensuring a longer potential mine life for the Omai gold project. The Gilt Creek deposit is robust and, pending the updated PEA later in 2025, may support an economically attractive underground mining scenario. Therefore, the discovery of Wenot gold zones extending to depth just 500m south of an underground Gilt Creek mine could allow accelerated underground access to a deeper Wenot deposit, far earlier than from surface or an eventual Wenot pit bottom. With two significant gold deposits, both with indications of continuations at depth, the Omai property offers significant upside potential. Drilling to date has been highly successful and the Company continues to be well-funded with a cash position at Quarter end, March 31, 2025 of approximately C$29 million. 1 NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024 "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" was prepared by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website. It includes a Wenot resource of 834,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 1.48 g/t Au and 1,614,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 1.99 g/t Au, and the adjacent Gilt Creek resource of 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au. 2 Past production at the Omai Mine (1993-2005) is summarized in several Cambior Inc. documents available on SEDARplus.ca, including March 31, 2006 AIF and news release August 3, 2006. Figure 1. Plan map showing location of Hole 25ODD-122 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/253188_65dc034f746f5b72_001full.jpg Figure 2. Cross-section of deep hole 25ODD-122, looking east To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8712/253188_65dc034f746f5b72_002full.jpg Qualified Person Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. ABOUT OMAI GOLD Omai Gold Mines Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in mining-friendly Guyana, South America. Since 2021, the Company has quickly established the Omai Gold Project as one of the fastest growing and well-endowed gold camps in the prolific Guiana Shield greenstone belt. In February 2024 the Company announced an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate1 ("MRE") of 2.0 million ounces of gold Indicated and 2.3 million ounces Inferred, comprising of both the Wenot open pit deposit and the adjacent Gilt Creek underground deposit. This was followed by an initial baseline Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in April 2024, which contemplated an open pit-only development scenario and included only 45% of the Omai Gold Project MRE. Subsequent to the 2024 MRE, the Company has been aggressively drilling to expand gold resources at the Wenot deposit and has identified additional wide zones of high-grade gold mineralization. In 2025 Omai Gold plans to continue its impactful drill programs, announce an updated and expanded MRE, and complete an updated PEA which would include an expanded Wenot open pit deposit and an underground mining scenario at Gilt Creek. The Omai Gold Mine produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold from 1993 to 20052, ceasing operations when gold was below US$400 per ounce. The Omai site benefits from much existing infrastructure and will soon be connected to the two largest cities in Guyana, Georgetown and Linden, via paved road. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of exploration, trenching and drill programs, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in the Omai Gold news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. 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. 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 law. Further, the Preliminary Economic Assessments and related data discussed in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Omai Gold Mines Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, copper and other minerals and metals; general market conditions; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; uncertainty of access to additional capital; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253188 SOURCE: Omai Gold Mines Corp. EQS Newswire / 23/05/2025 / 14:30 CET/CEST A Strategic Partnership Accelerate New Industralisation and Microelectronics Development HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 23 May 2025 - Hong Kong's advanced manufacturing and microelectronics sector received a significant boost today with a three-year strategic partnership between Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Wurth Elektronik. Under this collaboration, Wurth Elektronik -a global premier electronic components manufacturer with a R&D base at Hong Kong Science Park-will launch the first pilot Engineering Service Programme in InnoPark. Leveraging its global network, specialised expertise and cutting-edge tools, Wurth Elektronik will further strengthen Hong Kong's advanced manufacturing ecosystem and nurture local tech talent, propelling the city as the international innovation and technology (I&T) and new industrialization hub. Hong Kong's advanced manufacturing and microelectronics sector received a significant boost today with a three-year strategic partnership between HKSTP and Wurth Elektronik. (Front row from left: Mr Daniel Yu, General Manager, Wurth Electronics (HK) Ltd; Mr Oscar Wong, Head of Innofacturing of HKSTP. Back row from left: Mr Thomas Garz, Chief Executive Officer, Wurth Elektronik eiSos Group; Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry; Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer, HKSTP) Wurth Elektronik, a global leader based in Waldenburg, Germany, operates with 23 production sites worldwide, making it one of the most successful entities within the Wurth Group. In 2024, the company employed around 7,500 people and achieved sales of 1.02 Billion Euro. Their Technical Service Centre was established in the Hong Kong Science Park in 2024. Through the Engineering Service Programme, about 100 microelectronics related startups and SMEs in both Science Park and InnoPark will gain access to Wurth Elektronik's essential components and tools, together with business and technical consultation support, speeding up the whole product development cycle ranging from research and development, prototyping to pilot production. Additionally, together with the infrastructure and facilities at Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Tseung Kwan O InnoPark, the high-potential prototyping projects would significantly accelerate their path to commercialisation and mass production. Wurth Elektronik will deliver hands-on skills training, technical workshops, and industry seminars in InnoPark to technology start-ups and local students. The company's experts will also host insight-sharing sessions with Hong Kong's industry practitioners on emerging global industry trends, market opportunities, and technical knowledges, positioning the city's high-skilled talent for global success in the rapidly evolving microelectronics landscape. Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said, "The Engineering Service Programme will equip our local ecosystem with specialised tools and expertise, accelerating progress in microelectronics and advanced manufacturing. From R&D to prototyping and small-scale production, this programme will support companies at every stage - perfectly aligning with the Government's strategy to foster high-value, tech-driven industries and cement Hong Kong's role in the global I&T landscape. With Wurth Electronics' global network and HKSTP's local support, the programme is poised to become a testing ground for next-generation industrial solutions." Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, "Wurth Elektronik has been a key enabler of HKSTP's I&T ecosystem. We are delighted with their strengthened commitment towards Hong Kong's microelectronics and advanced manufacturing development-a driving force in our ecosystem's prospects and the potential of our innovative talent. This collaboration will create a substantial impact on our community of 270 microelectronics related companies while delivering strategic value for Wurth Elektronik, ultimately catalysing Hong Kong's agenda in advanced manufacturing and new industrialisation." Mr Thomas Garz, CEO of Wurth Elektronik eiSos Group, said: "Being the leading electronic components manufacturer, we see the opportunity in Hong Kong. With the global experience in the industry, we utilise the global expertise to help the local market on developing the innovation and technology projects. As an enabler in the whole product life cycle from development to production and then to market, we offer the More Than You Expect experience in the product development journey. Partnering with HKSTP to facilitate the R&D and advanced manufacturing for companies in this ecosystem will further boost up the synergy to contribute the innovation development in Hong Kong." The signing ceremony was held at the "Advanced Manufacturing in Hong Kong: Enabling Global Microelectronics Innovations" event. Alongside was a fireside chat hosted by Wurth Elektronik's representatives, academia, start-up founders and industry experts, sharing insights on industry-academia-research collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystem support from HKSTP. The discussion aimed to inspire students about career prospects and opportunities in Hong Kong's growing microelectronics sector. Wurth Elektronik has successfully supported many park companies, the event also featured an exhibition of the electronics innovations co-created by Wurth Elektronik's partners and HKSTP partner companies benefiting from Wurth's engineering services and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing support. The technologies showcased Wurth Elektronik's expertise in accelerating companies' innovation journey and delivering higher-quality solutions to market more efficiently. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to advancing new industrialisation in Hong Kong with an industry-oriented approach to drive diversified economic growth. Comprehensive support is proactively provided, such as the "New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme" (NIAS), "New Industrialisation Funding Scheme" (NIFS), and the upcoming "Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme (Manufacturing+)". HKSTP fully supports the government's new industrialisation strategy by empowering microelectronics companies with extensive support services and infrastructure, including Hardware Lab, Sensor Packaging and Integration Lab, Heterogeneous Integration Lab (HI Lab), as well as Microelectronics Centre, Advanced Manufacturing Centre and ProShop at the InnoParks. These resources power the entire product lifecycle-from R&D and design to prototyping and commercialisation-offering technologies and services that position Hong Kong as a hub for new industralisation and advanced manufacturing. Hashtag: HKSTP The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 13 unicorns, more than 15,000 research professionals and over 2,300 technology companies from 25 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc. Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined. Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more. Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues to contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org . News Source: Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation 23/05/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com RENO, NV / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Brookmount Explorations, Inc. (OTC PINK:BMXI), a gold exploration and production company, is pleased to announce that Brookmount has today executed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") for the potential acquisition of a controlling interest in Principal Solar, Inc. (OTC:PSWW). Under the terms of the MoU, Brookmount will initially acquire, for cash and shares, a controlling interest in Principal Solar. Following this acquisition, Brookmount's North American asset portfolio, comprising three gold development properties in the Tintina Gold Belt, will be acquired by Principal Solar. Thereafter, the parties plan to distribute Brookmounts' shares in Principal Solar to Brookmount shareholders in the form of a special dividend to be calculated on a pro-rated basis for the Brookmount shares owned. At the conclusion of the transaction, it is anticipated that Brookmount shareholders will retain an 80% interest and Principal Solar shareholders a 20% interest in the consolidated group. The transaction will be structured such that Brookmount will retain control of the North American properties and ownership going forward will be evenly distributed between Brookmount shareholders. The management of Brookmount and Principal Solar have been involved in discussions concerning the proposed transaction since last year and respective managements believe that the transaction proposed is in the best interests of the shareholders of both companies. By providing an independent investment platform for Brookmount's North American assets, Brookmount intends to will create additional financial opportunities for further development of the assets leading up to and beyond basic production. Following completion of the potential transaction, Principal Solar, (to be renamed "North American Gold") intends to pursue an underwritten public offering of its shares and simultaneous listing. In announcing the transaction CEO of Brookmount, Nils Ollquist commented: "We are incredibly pleased that the efforts of our team and that of Rick Toussaint, CEO of Principal Solar, are progressing towards the conclusion of a seminal transaction for our collective shareholders. We believe that restructuring our North American assets as a separate business in this manner will enhance their collective value from a balance sheet perspective. We believe that it will also significantly improve access to development, production and larger stakeholders. Our Indonesian assets, having recently been brought under direct management control, will continue to provide Brookmount with valuable, increasing cash flow to facilitate continued growth and development of its Asian gold production assets. By utilizing two different publicly traded companies, one for the operating mines in Indonesia and one for the pre-production assets in the lucrative Tintina Gold Belt, the Company believes it will maximize shareholder value. We are working diligently toward a definitive agreement with Principal Solar and will make further announcements as progress is achieved." About Brookmount Gold Founded in 2018, Brookmount Gold is a high-growth gold-producing company quoted on OTC Markets in the United States (OTC PINK:BMXI). With operating gold mines in Southeast Asia and exploration and production assets in North America, the company is focused on building production of existing assets to scale, in addition to acquiring and developing additional high quality gold assets with JORC/NI 43-101 verified resources. Safe Harbor Statements: Except for the historical information contained herein, certain of the matters discussed in this communication constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "could," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "project," "future," "potential," "intend," "seek to," "plan," "assume," "believe," "target," "forecast," "goal," "objective," "continue" or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. These forwardlooking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding benefits of the proposed license, expected synergies, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates of growth. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this communication. For example, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending transaction, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the pending transaction that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction, the ability to successfully integrate the businesses, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the negotiations, the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Brookmount's common stock. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond our control. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this report, except as required by applicable law or regulations. Investor Relations Contact: info@chesapeakegp.com or 410-825-3930 Website: https://www.brookmountgold.com Corporate Contact: corporate@brookmountgold.com Social Links: Brookmount Gold X (Former Twitter): https://x.com/brookmountgold SOURCE: Brookmount Explorations, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/correction-brookmount-exploration-announces-potential-acquisition-of-principal-so-1031147 Building a New AI-Era Ecosystem with the Power of Synergy BERLIN, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 22, during GITEX Europe 2025 in Berlin, H3C grandly launched the H3C NAVIGATE Global Summit 2025. Centered around the theme of "Synergy+," the summit showcased H3C's technological blueprint and ecosystem strategy for the AI era, bringing together global industry leaders, technical experts, and enterprise representatives to explore cutting-edge trends. As H3C's flagship annual event, the NAVIGATE Global Summit made its debut in Europe, marking a new phase in H3C's global expansion and international business development. At the summit, Tony Yu, President & CEO of H3C, delivered a keynote speech titled "Synergy, For a Better AI Era." He emphasized that artificial intelligence has become an "accelerator" and a "force multiplier" for advancing social productivity. H3C embraces a global perspective and open collaboration, powered by its "AI in ALL" and "AI for ALL" vision. H3C has launched a full-stack intelligent computing solution that leverages the multiplier effect of "Computing Connectivity" to reduce AIDC investment costs and improve operational efficiency. Meanwhile, H3C is accelerating the deployment of its full-stack liquid cooling solutions to drive green transformation across the AI industry. Additionally, through strategic partnerships, H3C empowers worldwide industry upgrades via its comprehensive AI portfolio including the LinSeer AI Solution, and is rapidly expanding LinSeerCube into global markets. Looking ahead, H3C remains dedicated to fostering an open, thriving ecosystem that combines technical innovation with business synergy. By democratizing AI adoption, we aim to make AI applications more accessible, efficient, and inclusive, ultimately creating a better digital life for all. Gary Huang, H3C Co-President and the President of International BG, emphasized that in an era where AI is reshaping global industries, breakthrough innovation must rely on ecosystem collaboration. He said guided by the "Partner First" principle and its "AI in ALL" and "AI for ALL" strategies, H3C has built an open and win-win "Ecosystem Synergy." This ecosystem integrates full-stack intelligent computing capabilities, the self-developed LinSeer LLM, and scenario-based solutions. Through strategic alliances with global semiconductor leaders, ISVs, and standards organizations, H3C connects with over 3,200 industry partners and 300 service partners across 181 countries and regions. H3C drives technological innovation and scenario-based solutions through four ecosystem pillars-market-driven R&D, cutting-edge technology alliances, Partner-First approach, and localization strategy. Furthermore, H3C advances three localization strategies of building local innovation capabilities, empowering talent, and fostering localized ICT ecosystems to harmonize technological and commercial ecosystems. Through open collaboration, H3C and its partners achieve mutual success, ensuring AI innovation drives tangible industrial upgrades and leads the intelligent future. From Computing Synergy to Intelligent Connectivity: Building a Green and Sustainable AI Foundation Aligned with its "AI in ALL" strategy, H3C proposes an innovative "Computing Connectivity" approach, integrating three core elements-computing infrastructure, high-speed networking, and green energy-saving technologies-to deliver a full-stack intelligent computing solution. This solution, centered on high-performance lossless networks, AI servers, next-gen storage, and computing resource management platforms, significantly reduces AIDC investment costs while boosting operational efficiency. Ray Xu, Senior Vice President of H3C, President of Cloud, Compute, and Storage Product Line, highlighted in his keynote that AI inclusivity hinges on a "diverse, efficient, and green" computing system. H3C has built an inclusive technological ecosystem: at the hardware level, it supports over 80 AI accelerator cards, 10+ mainstream CPUs, and 20+ AI server models; at the infrastructure level, it leverages SuperPOD AI clusters (capable of trillion-parameter model training), UniServer G7 servers, and the LinSeer AI Solution to establish a cohesive computing architecture optimized for "Computing Connectivity" efficiency; at the software level, innovations like CAS computing virtualization and UltraStor distributed storage achieve breakthrough improvements in resource utilization. Notably, in green innovation, H3C champions the "ALL in GREEN" philosophy, advancing its full-stack liquid cooling solution with revolutionary G-Flow immersion cooling technology. This reduces data center PUE to an industry-leading 1.1, enhances cooling efficiency by 40%, and achieves a "0 ODP" standard with zero ozone-depleting substances. This tripartite computing approach-diverse & adaptable, highly efficient, and sustainable-is establishing a scalable model for global AI adoption. It's driving AI transformation across industries, unleashing intelligent productivity worldwide. In an era where AI is sweeping the globe and computing demand grows exponentially, high-performance networking has become a critical pivot for intelligent computing center upgrades. Traditional Ethernet architectures struggle with bandwidth limitations and congestion when handling massive data transfers. Qiao Yan, Senior Vice President of H3C, President of Network Product Line, shared how H3C addresses these challenges with its intelligent computing network solution, redefining computing efficiency through innovation. H3C's DDC (Diversified Dynamic-Connectivity) product series and solutions represent a technological breakthrough for high-performance intelligent computing networks. By leveraging advanced technologies such as cell-based switching and out of order delivery, DDC achieves large-scale lossless, non-blocking 400G/800G Clos fabric networking, delivering 107% higher effective bandwidth compared to traditional RoCE solutions. This significantly enhances the throughput capacity and operational stability of AI computing networks. Furthermore, H3C has collaborated with key ecosystem partners to submit multiple IETF drafts on open schedule fabric technology, accelerating the commercialization and standardization of DDC solutions. Qiao also highlighted H3C's groundbreaking 51.2T CPO switch-a cutting-edge solution that integrates silicon photonics with co-packaged optics technology. This innovation delivers 8x higher cluster throughput, 25% improved GPU efficiency, and 30% lower TCO through "silicon photonics + liquid cooling" integration, establishing a high-speed, green, and "zero-lag" network for intelligent computing centers. H3C, a global leader in digital solutions and networking infrastructure, delivers an end-to-end product matrix covering data center, campus and WAN environments. Its networking portfolio comprises 1,000+ mainstream products across switching, routing, wireless, security, and network management domains. Ecosystem Synergy: Accelerating Inclusive AI Adoption Collaborative ecosystems are the key driver for AI implementation. Powered by its "AI in ALL" technological foundation and global partner network, H3C's "Ecosystem Synergy" strategy is closing the loop from technological empowerment to industrial value. Through deep collaboration with eco-partners, H3C integrates AI products, solutions, and its LinSeer LLM capabilities to empower intelligent transformation across global industries, including hospitality, retail, healthcare, education, public services, and carriers, significantly lowering AI barriers and making innovation truly accessible to all. To expand ecosystem value, H3C also introduced its new sub-brand H3C Aolynk at the summit, targeting global SMEs with the vision of "Connecting ALL with AI." Featuring simplified design, intelligent O&M, and full-scenario solutions, H3C Aolynk addresses SMEs' "last-mile" digital challenges. The launch was attended by H3C Co-President & CTO Steven Yoe, Senior Vice President & CMO Yang Xi, and Senior Vice President & President of Commercial BG Wang Xin. In today's rapidly evolving digital economy, H3C continues to harness collective ecosystem strength, dismantle technical adoption barriers, and democratize AI access, fully unleashing the multiplier effect of computing power and connectivity to drive intelligent industrial transformation. By making technological innovation universally accessible, H3C and its partners are co-creating an inclusive digital future where AI benefits all industries and society at large. For more info, please visit https://www.h3c.com/en/. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695079/1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695080/2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695081/3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695082/4.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695083/5.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/h3c-navigate-global-summit-2025-kicks-off-in-berlin-302464258.html Company leads growth among businesses in the tri-state area with $1-$5 million in revenue CINCINNATI, OHIO / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / CONQUERing, the innovative jewelry brand redefining meaningful self-expression, has been named the #1 fastest-growing company in the $1-$5 million revenue category at the Cincinnati Business Courier's 2025 Fast 55 Awards. CONQUERing Jewelry is 2025 Fast 55 Winner.JPG Left to right: Hallie Montague, Director of Brand & Partnerships; Tammy Nelson, Founder & CEO, Jake Nelson Co-creator & Director of ecomm & Product Development; Alisha Molloy, Business Director Each year, the Cincinnati Business Courier recognizes the 55 fastest-growing private companies in the Greater Cincinnati region based on revenue growth over the past three years. From those 55 honorees, just five are selected as winners - one from each revenue tier. CONQUERing took top honors in the $1-$5 million category, distinguishing itself among the region's most dynamic and high-performing businesses. This award means the world to us," said Tammy Nelson, Founder & CEO of CONQUERing. "It's a celebration of the hard work and creativity of our team, and the momentum we've built together over the past few years. Being recognized as the fastest-growing company in our category is an incredible honor - and a milestone we're proud to share with our customers, who've made it all possible. We're proud of how far we've come - and even more excited for what's next." What began as a single "spin to reveal" ring design has blossomed into a global jewelry brand offering an expansive and interchangeable collection. Today, CONQUERing features hundreds of crystals, crafted metals, and mosaic stones that can be mixed and matched across rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more - giving customers the freedom to create pieces that reflect their mood, style, and identity. The 2025 Fast 55 Awards ceremony was held on May 20 and brought together business leaders from across the tri-state area to honor excellence in entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustained growth. About CONQUERing Founded in 2020, CONQUERing is a woman-owned, globally recognized jewelry brand known for its patented interchangeable designs that blend fashion and function, serving as both stylish accessories and fidget-friendly tools. With more than 150,000 customers worldwide, the brand has built a loyal community drawn to its blend of empowerment, creativity, and connection. CONQUERing's rapid growth has been fueled by its commitment to innovation and inclusion-earning honors from Fast Company's Innovation by Design Awards and Milan Jewelry Week. More than just jewelry, CONQUERing creates meaningful pieces that help people feel confident, inspired, and connected - and continues to grow as a positive force in the fashion and lifestyle space. Learn more at www.myconquering.com. SOURCE: CONQUERing View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/conquering-earns-top-spot-in-cincinnati-business-couriers-fast-55-rank-1030790 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated May 8, 2025, it has completed the sale of the Porter Idaho Project to Dolly Varden Silver Corporation ("Dolly Varden"). StrikePoint completed the sale of the Porter Idaho Project to Dolly Varden for consideration of $1,100,000, which was satisfied through the issuance of 295,699 common shares in the capital of Dolly Varden at a deemed price of $3.72 per share. Michael G. Allen, President and CEO of StrikePoint said, "The sale of this non-core asset to Dolly Varden allows us to focus on our gold projects in Nevada's Walker Lane. We recently completed a successful spring drill program on the Hercules Gold project with all holes returning significant gold grades. Near surface oxide gold deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions are increasingly rare, but recent exploration successes in the Walker Lane have highlighted the potential of this part of Nevada." For further information on recent drilling on the Hercules Gold Project, please refer to the Company's May 5, 2025 new release. About StrikePoint Headed by CEO Michael G. Allen, StrikePoint is a multi-asset gold exploration company focused on building precious metals resources in the Western United States and in Canada. Mr. Allen has been working in the Walker Lane for the last 15 years, with multiple transactions completed in that timeframe including the acquisition of the Sterling Gold Project, located near Beatty, Nevada, and the sale of Northern Empire to Coeur Mining for approximately $120 million. The Sterling Gold Project is now part of AnglogGold Ashanti's "Expanded Silicon" project. In addition, Mr. Allen was the past President and CEO of Elevation Gold Mining Corporation, which operated Arizona's largest gold mine. The Management and Board of StrikePoint has strong expertise in exploration, finance and engineering. StrikePoint is rapidly becoming one of its largest holders of mineral claims with approximately 145 square kilometers of prospective geology under claim, encompassing two district scale projects, the Hercules Gold Project and the Cuprite Gold Project. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "speculates", "could" or "would". All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company 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, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, 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 release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253178 SOURCE: StrikePoint Gold Inc. PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced that it has been recognized as one of "Europe's Best Employers 2025" by the Financial Times. The list includes companies that are highly recommended by their own employees and employees working at other companies in their industry sector. The list was compiled via an independent, anonymous survey developed by rankings firm Statista from a large sample of European employees working for companies with at least 500 employees in Europe. The final score is based on personal recommendation (the willingness of employees to recommend their employer) and public recommendation (the willingness to recommend other employers in their industry sector). "It's an honor to be recognized not only by our own employees but also by those working in our industry," said Rob Massy, PPG senior vice president and chief human resources officer. "We pride ourselves on providing fulfilling work environments for our approximately 45,000 employees worldwide to advance our purpose to protect and beautify the world." PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com. The PPG Logo and We protect and beautify the world are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. CATEGORY Corporate View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250523686416/en/ Contacts: PPG Media Contact: Andrew Wood Corporate Communications, EMEA +31 6 5121 6579 awood@ppg.com www.ppg.com Initial donation supports a hospital and village in Nigeria, with plans for further expansion WILMINGTON, Del., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass Mining, a leading provider of Bitcoin mining infrastructure and services, proudly announces its role as the inaugural donor to Synota's Impact Mining initiative. Through this groundbreaking partnership, Compass is turning Bitcoin's computing power, or "hashrate", into a humanitarian resource: affordable, reliable energy for underserved communities. Through this collaboration with Synota, Compass Mining aims to demonstrate another way the Bitcoin mining industry can contribute directly to energy access, healthcare, and education in underserved communities without leaving the data center. "This is hashrate with heart," said Paul Gosker, CEO of Compass Mining. "We're proud to show our customers and the broader industry how Bitcoin mining can improve lives, not just balance sheets." Under the Impact Mining initiative, Compass Mining has directed some of the output of its mining machines to a Bitcoin mining pool configuration provided by Synota and managed on behalf of Renewvia Solar Africa, an operator of clean energy mini-grids in Africa. The revenue generated by this hashrate is used to offset electricity costs for critical infrastructure in Nigeria. At Oloibiri Hospital , Compass's contribution is helping cover the monthly power bills. This allows the facility to redirect resources to patient care. Serving over 3,600 patients annually and having delivered over 34,000 babies since 2010, this hospital is now empowered to treat hundreds more. , Compass's contribution is helping cover the monthly power bills. This allows the facility to redirect resources to patient care. Serving over 3,600 patients annually and having delivered over 34,000 babies since 2010, this hospital is now empowered to treat hundreds more. In Ozuzu, a rural village connected to a solar mini-grid in 2021, 150 homes, businesses, and a school are now benefiting from a 20% reduction in power costs thanks to Impact Mining. Lower energy prices mean more lighting, more technology use, and ultimately more economic opportunity. "Bitcoin mining has always been a driver of energy innovation," said CJ Burnett, Chief Revenue Officer at Compass Mining. "Now it's a driver of energy opportunity. A small portion of global hashrate is delivering outsized impact for real people." Compass Mining views this initiative as a proof-of-concept that mining can be more than profitable; it can be purposeful. Whether through direct machine allocation or partial hashrate donations, every block solved can help power a brighter world. Looking ahead, Synota plans to expand the Impact Mining initiative and Compass Mining intends to continue the partnership. "We're thrilled to have Compass Mining lead the way," said Austin Mitchell, CEO and Co-founder of Synota. "They've shown that any miner, anywhere in the world, can take part in Impact Mining simply by redirecting a portion of their hashrate through a shared pool configuration. It's a small step that can make a big difference. Donating hashrate also offers tax advantages, and we're building the infrastructure to support that." To learn more about Impact Mining, visit synota.io/impact-mining . About Compass Mining Compass Mining is a customer-first company that provides a platform for individuals and businesses to purchase Bitcoin mining hardware, host machines, build and manage mining facilities, and access a range of ancillary services. With a commitment to exceptional customer support and transparency, Compass Mining sets the benchmark for bitcoin mining hosting. Its mission is to make Bitcoin mining accessible to everyone. To learn more about Compass Mining or to start mining today, visit compassmining.io . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1957082/Compass_Mining_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/compass-mining-partners-with-synotas-impact-mining-initiative-to-transform-bitcoin-hashrate-into-community-impact-302464076.html ADLER Group S.A. Societe anonyme 55, Allee Scheffer, L-2520 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg RCS Luxembourg: B197554 (the "Company") CONVENING NOTICE The shareholders and holders of voting securities (parts beneficiaires avec le droit de vote) of the Company are invited to participate in the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders/Holders of Voting Securities (the "AGM" or the "Annual General Meeting") to be held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 at 11 a.m. CEST at Le Royal, 12, Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in order to deliberate on the items of the agenda set out below. PARTICIPATION TO THE GENERAL MEETING MUST BE CONFIRMED BY MIDNIGHT CEST ON WEDNESDAY, 11 JUNE 2025. SHAREHOLDING/VOTING SECURITIES HOLDING CONFIRMATIONS AND PARTICIPATION, PROXY AND VOTING FORMS MUST BE PROVIDED BY MIDNIGHT CEST ON FRIDAY, 20 JUNE 2025.QUESTIONS RELATED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT CEST ON FRIDAY 20 JUNE 2025. Listed shares International Securities Identification number (ISIN): LU1250154413 Voting securities (parts beneficiaires avec le droit de vote) (ISIN): LU2900363131 AGENDA AND PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS OF THE AGM 1. Presentation of the special report of the board of directors of the Company (as required pursuant to Article 441-7 of the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended) on any transaction, since the last general meeting of the Company, in respect of which any of the directors declared to have an interest conflicting with that of the Company. No resolution required. 2. Presentation of (i) the combined management report of the board of directors of the Company in respect of the standalone annual accounts of the Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024, (ii) the report of the independent auditor of the Company in respect of the standalone annual financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024 and (iii) the report of the independent auditor of the Company in respect of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. No resolution required. 3. Approval of the audited standalone annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution I) The Annual General Meeting, after having reviewed the management report of the board of directors of the Company and the report of the independent auditor of the Company, approves the audited standalone annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 December 2024 in their entirety. 4. Approval of the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution II) The Annual General Meeting, after having reviewed the management report of the board of directors of the Company and the report of the independent auditor of the Company, approves the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024 in their entirety. 5. Approval of the allocation of the statutory financial results for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution III) The Annual General Meeting, upon proposal of the board of directors of the Company, resolves to carry forward a loss of EUR 752,602,453 according to the standalone annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024, to the next financial year. 6. Approval of the granting of discharge (quitus) to all directors who held office during the financial year ending 31 December 2024 in respect of the performance of their duties during that financial year. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution IV) The Annual General Meeting resolves to grant discharge (quitus) to all directors who held office during the financial year ending 31 December 2024 in respect of the performance of their duties during that financial year. 7. Approval of the appointment, as recommended by the board of directors, of AVEGA Revision S.a r.l. as the approved statutory auditor/approved audit firm to perform the statutory audit of the standalone annual accounts and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 with such engagement to last until the annual general meeting of the Company to take place in 2026. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution V) The Annual General Meeting, upon proposal of the board of directors of the Company, resolves to approve the appointment of AVEGA Revision S.a r.l. as the approved statutory auditor/approved audit firm to perform the statutory audit of the standalone annual accounts and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 with such engagement to last until the annual general meeting of the Company to take place in 2026. 8. Re-appointment of Mr. Thilo Schmid as director of the Company for a period running from the date of this AGM until the annual general meeting to take place in the year 2027. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution VI) The Annual General Meeting approves the immediate re-appointment of Mr. Thilo Schmid as director of the Company for a period running from the date of this AGM until the annual general meeting to take place in the year 2027. 9. Confirmation of the appointment of Dr. Karl Reinitzhuber as a director of the Company who was appointed by co-optation since the last general meeting of shareholders of the Company (for declaratory purposes only), and the appointment of Dr. Karl Reinitzhuber as director of the Company for a period running from the date of this AGM until the annual general meeting to take place in the year 2027. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution VII) The Annual General Meeting resolves (i) for declaratory purposes only, to confirm the appointment of Dr. Karl Reinitzhuber as a director of the Company who was appointed by co-optation since the last general meeting of shareholders of the Company, and (ii) to approve the immediate appointment of Dr. Karl Reinitzhuber as director of the Company for a period running from the date of this AGM until the annual general meeting of the Company to take place in the year 31 December 2027. 10. Approval of additional directors' remuneration, applicable for the financial year 2025, in an aggregate gross amount of EUR 6,000,000.00, and authorisation to the board of directors of the Company to allocate this aggregate amount among the members of the board of directors and to determine the further implementation modalities and payment conditions. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution VIII) The Annual General Meeting resolves to approve an additional aggregate gross remuneration for the directors, applicable for the financial year 2025, in an aggregate gross amount of EUR 6,000,000.00, and authorises the board of directors of the Company to allocate this aggregate amount among the members of the board of directors, as deemed appropriate, and to determine the implementation modalities and payment conditions; the Annual General Meeting further resolves to confirm that the additional remuneration described in the preceding sentence is supplementary to the fixed remuneration structure (as approved by the ordinary general meeting held on 27 November 2024), which is as follows: an annual fixed remuneration in a gross amount of EUR 300,000 for the role as the chairman of the board of directors of the Company; an annual fixed remuneration in a gross amount of EUR 210,000 for the role as chairman of the audit committee of the Company; an annual fixed remuneration in a gross amount of EUR 180,000 for the role as a director of the Company (excluding the chairman of the board of directors and the chairman of the audit committee of the Company). Comment of the board of directors: The board of directors of the Company has been instrumental in procuring the successful refinancing of the 1 L Notes and 1.5L Notes issued by ADLER Financing S.a r.l., an orphan special purpose vehicle not related to the group of the Company, and corresponding amendments to the facility agreements between, inter alia, the Company and ADLER Financing S.a r.l. (the "Facility Agreements"). With the currently assumed refinancing volumes and the current business plan, the Company will save approximately EUR 134,000,000 of interest costs over the expected remaining lifetime of the Facility Agreements. It is proposed to the AGM to reward the members of the board of directors of the Company, including executive directors of the Company, for their contribution to achieving the refinancing by granting an additional remuneration of EUR 6,000,000.00 (the "Additional Remuneration") and authorising the board of directors of the Company to allocate the said amount among the members of the board of directors, including the executive directors of the Company and to determine the further implementation modalities and payment conditions. The Additional Remuneration shall be granted in addition to the directors' remuneration applicable as from the start of the financial year 2025 and as approved by the ordinary general meeting held on 27 November 2024 (cf. above). 11. Approval (on an advisory and non-binding basis) of an adapted version of the remuneration policy of the Company. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution IX) The Ordinary General Meeting approves on an advisory non-binding basis the adapted version of the remuneration policy of the Company in its entirety. 12. Approval (on an advisory and non-binding basis) of the remuneration report of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. Draft resolution (AGM Resolution X) The Annual General Meeting approves on an advisory non-binding basis the remuneration report of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024 in its entirety. I. AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION The following information is available on the Company's website, https://ir.adler-group.com, in the segment "Corporate Governance"> "General Meeting" > "General Meeting 2025" and at the Company's registered office in Luxembourg as from a date no later than the date of publication of the convening notice in the Luxembourg Official Gazette (Receuil Electronique des Societes et Associations) and in the Luxembourg newspaper Tageblatt: this convening notice for the AGM (which includes draft resolutions in relation to the above agenda points to be adopted at the AGM; the total number of shares and voting rights as at the date of the convening notice; the participation, proxy and voting form for the AGM (the "AGM Participation, Proxy and Voting Form" or the "AGM PPV Form"); the full text of any document to be made available by the Company at the AGM including: the special report of the board of directors of the Company (as required pursuant to Article 441-7 of the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended); the audited standalone annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024; the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024; the combined management report of the board of directors of the Company in respect of the audited standalone annual accounts of the Company and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024; the report of the independent auditor of the Company in respect of the standalone annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024; the report of the independent auditor of the Company in respect of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its group for the financial year ending 31 December 2024; the curriculum vitae of Dr. Karl Reinitzhuber; the curriculum vitae of Thilo Schmid; the remuneration policy of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024; the remuneration report of the Company for the financial year ending 31 December 2024. Shareholders and holders of voting securities may obtain a copy of the full text of any document to be made available by the Company at the AGM and draft resolutions proposed to be adopted by the AGM upon request by post (see contact details in Section VII below) or by e-mail to anmeldestelle@hce-consult.de to HCE Consult AG, in its capacity as mandated agent of the Company ("HCE"). II QUORUM AND VOTING The AGM will validly deliberate on its agenda regardless of the number of shareholders/holders of voting securities present or of the number of shares represented but provided that a quorum of at least one half of all voting securities is present or represented. Resolutions relating to these agenda items will be adopted by a simple majority of the votes validly cast by shareholders/holders of voting securities present or represented. Each share is entitled to one vote. If no quorum is reached in a first meeting, a second meeting may be convened in accordance with the provisions of article 13 of the articles of association of the Company which may deliberate regardless of the quorum and at which resolutions are adopted at a simple majority of the votes validly cast. III. ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL AND VOTING SECURITIES, TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS On the date of publication of this convening notice: (i) the issued share capital of the Company amounts to EUR 188,016.37; (ii) the total number of shares composing the share capital of the Company is 151,626,107 registered shares without a nominal value; (iii) the total number of voting rights attached to the shares composing the share capital of the Company is 151,626,107 voting rights; (iv) the total number of voting securities (parts beneficiaires) of the Company is 454,878,321; (v) the total number of voting rights attached to the voting securities (part beneficiaires) of the Company is 454,878,321; and (vi) the total number of voting rights attached to the shares composing the share capital of the Company and the voting securities (parts beneficiaires) of the Company is 606,504,428. IV. RIGHT OF SHAREHOLDERS/HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES TO ADD ITEMS TO THE AGENDA OR TO TABLE ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTIONS Shareholders holding individually or collectively at least 5% of the issued share capital of the Company have the right (a) to add new items on the agenda of the AGM and/or (b) to table draft resolutions regarding items included or to be included in the agenda of the AGM. Holders of voting securities holding individually or collectively at least 10% of the voting securities of the Company have the right to put items on the agenda of the AGM, however, any decision in relation to any dividend, repayment or any other kind of distributions being expressly excluded from the scope of this right. Such requests must be in writing and sent to HCE by post (see contact details in Section VIII below) or by e-mail to anmeldestelle@hce-consult.de. They must be accompanied by a justification or a draft resolution to be adopted at the AGM. They must also indicate the postal or electronic address at which the Company or HCE (as the Company's agent) may acknowledge receipt of these requests. The requests must be accompanied by proof (in the form of a certificate issued by the bank, the custodian, professional securities' depositary or the financial institution where the shares or voting securities are on deposit) that the shareholder(s) or the holder(s) of voting securities hold the required number of shares or voting securities on the date of the request (i.e. at least 5% of the issued share capital and at least 10% of the issued voting securities). The new agenda points/draft resolutions will only be considered by the AGM if the requesting shareholder(s) or holder(s) of voting securities holds the requisite number of shares or voting securities also on the Record Date (as defined below). Any such request and accompanying documents from shareholders must be received by HCE (in the manner as described above), not later than the 22nd day before the AGM (i.e. not later than Tuesday, 3 June 2025). The Company or HCE as the Company's agent, shall acknowledge receipt of any such requests within 48 hours of receipt or electronic address indicated in the request. Any draft resolutions received by shareholders or holders of voting securities shall be made available on the website of the Company as soon as practicable after the Company has received them. The Company shall publish a revised agenda at the latest on the 15th day before the AGM (i.e. by Tuesday, 10 June 2025). V. RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS Every shareholder or holder of voting securities has the right to ask questions concerning items on the agenda of the AGM. The Company will respond to such questions on a best efforts basis subject to the measures which it may take to ensure the identification of shareholders or holders of voting securities, the good order of the AGM and its preparation and the protection of confidentiality and the Company's business interests. The Company may provide one overall answer to questions having the same content. Where the relevant information is available on the Company's website in a question and answer format, the Company shall be deemed to have answered the questions asked by referring to its website. For the sake of the good order of the AGM and to facilitate the Company providing comprehensive answers to questions raised, questions of shareholders or holders of voting securities concerning items on the agenda of the AGM, should be received by HCE by midnight (24:00 CEST) on Friday, 20 June 2025 by post (see contact details in Section VII below) or by e-mail to anmeldestelle@hce-consult.de. Answers will be provided by Company either during the AGM or on the Company's website in a question and answer format. VI. PARTICIPATION TO THE AGM The rights of shareholders or holders of voting securities to participate to the AGM and exercise voting rights are subject to such shareholders or holders of voting securities being shareholders or holders of voting securities of the Company at midnight (24:00) CEST on Wednesday, 11 June 2025 (the "Record Date", i.e. the day falling fourteen (14) days before the date of the AGM. In order to participate in the AGM, a shareholder or holder of voting securities must: (i) indicate his/her/its intention to participate in the AGM, as applicable at the latest by 24:00 CEST on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the Record Date. This confirmation of participation shall be given to HCE in writing (by e-mail to anmeldestelle@hce-consult.de or by post (see contact details in Section VII below) or) by a shareholder or holder of voting securities directly or someone on his/her/its behalf; (ii) procure that a Shareholding Confirmation Certificate or a Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate is received by HCE at the latest by midnight (24:00 CEST) on Friday, 20 June 2025. This "Shareholding Confirmation Certificate" or "Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate" must indicate the shareholder's or holder of voting securities' name and the number of Company shares or voting securities held at midnight, (24:00) CEST on the Record Date. The Shareholding Confirmation Certificate or Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate shall be issued by the bank, the professional securities' depositary or the financial institution where the shares or voting securities are held. A template form can be downloaded from the Company's website, https://ir.adler-group.com, in the segment "Corporate Governance" > "General Meeting" > "General Meeting 2025"; and (iii) complete and return an AGM PPV Form as described here below, depending on whether the shareholder or holder of voting securities is participating at the AGM: a. by attendance in person, he/she/it must complete and sign the AGM PPV Form, excluding section 2, 3, 4 and 5 and return that form to HCE at the latest by midnight (24:00 CEST) on Friday, 20 June 2025 (together with the Shareholding Confirmation Certificate or Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate mentioned above). He/she/it must attend the AGM and identify himself/herself/itself with a valid identification card; or b. by appointing HCE as proxyholder or another proxyholder of his/her/its choice to exercise his/her/its voting rights as the relevant proxyholder deems fit, he/she/it must complete and sign the AGM PPV Form, excluding section 1, 3, 4 and 5 and return that form to HCE at the latest by midnight (24:00 CEST) on Friday, 20 June 2025 (together with the Shareholding Confirmation Certificate or the Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate mentioned above). A proxy holder must attend the AGM and identify himself/herself/itself with a valid identification card; or c. by appointing HCE as proxyholder or another proxyholder of his/her/its choice to exercise his/her/its voting rights according to explicit instructions, he/she/it must complete and sign the AGM PPV Form, excluding section 1, 2 and 4 and return that form to HCE at the latest by midnight (24:00 CEST) on Friday, 20 June 2025 (together with the Shareholding Confirmation Certificate or Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate mentioned above); d. by voting by correspondence, he/she/it must complete and sign the AGM PPV Form, excluding section 1, 2 and 3 and return that form to HCE at the latest by midnight (24:00 CEST) on Friday, 20 June 2025 (together with the Shareholding Confirmation Certificate or Voting Securities Holding Confirmation Certificate mentioned above). The AGM PPV Form can be downloaded from the Company's website, https://ir.adler-group.com, in the segment "Corporate Governance"> "General Meeting" > "General Meeting 2025". VII. CONTACT DETAILS OF HCE The contact details of HCE, as the agent duly mandated by the Company to receive confirmation of participation to the AGM and to receive the Shareholding Confirmation Certificate, the Participation, Proxy and Voting Form, questions on the agenda of the AGM, proposals of additional agenda items and proposed resolutions pursuant to this convening notice are as follows: ADLER Group S.A. c/o HCE Consult AG Postal address: Postfach 820335, 81803 Munchen, Deutschland E-mail: anmeldestelle@hce-consult.de Courier or personal deliveries are only accepted at the following address: HCE Consult AG, Stahlgruberring 22, 81829 Munchen, Deutschland For questions regarding the registration process or the Annual General Meeting of Adler Group SA, shareholders and holders of voting securities can contact HCE by email at anmeldestelle@hce-consult.de or by phone at +49 30 814533828 from Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. VIII. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA For information on the processing of personal data in connection with the AGM, we invite you to consult the Company's Data Protection Notice, which can be found on the Company's website, https://ir.adler-group.com, in the segment "Corporate Governance"> "General Meeting" > "General Meeting 2025". Signed on 16 May 2025 The Board of Directors Stefan Brendgen, Chairman BERLIN, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 21 to 22, H3C, a leader in digital solutions, made its grand debut at GITEX Europe 2025 in Berlin, showcasing its full-stack capabilities in cloud, network, security, computing, storage, and terminal technologies under the theme "Synergy+". Tony Yu, President & CEO of H3C, met with Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner and Deputy Mayor Franziska Giffey. Yu noted that Europe is deepening its Industry 4.0 digital transition while leveraging green and digital innovations for sustainable industrial growth. Aligning with local needs, H3C will uphold its open, collaborative philosophy, delivering high-quality, user-friendly products and solutions to customers and partners. By integrating "AI in ALL" and "AI for ALL", H3C aims to accelerate secure, intelligent application deployment and support Europe's journey toward a sustainable digital future. Qiao Yan, Senior Vice President of H3C, President of Network Product Line, was invited to attend the GITEX Europe panel discussion- "The Fusion of AI, Connectivity and Cloud". Qiao emphasized: "Building sustainable AI infrastructure requires the integration of three core elements-computing power foundation, high-speed networks, and energy-saving technologies. H3C is delivering efficient, low-carbon intelligent solutions to global customers through intelligent network optimization and diverse, high-performance, green computing synergy, supporting digital economic growth and carbon neutrality goals." Under the "AI in ALL" strategy, H3C is driving digital transformation through technological innovation, making comprehensive advances in data centers, intelligent computing, and intelligent connectivity to navigate the industry's intelligent evolution. In the data center and intelligent computing domains, H3C is leading the development of green data centers to address the energy efficiency revolution. The company has established new industry benchmarks for commercial-scale ultra-low consumption data centers, achieving a record-breaking power usage effectiveness (PUE) below 1.05 through its full-stack liquid cooling technology, combined with 800G silicon photonic switches and intelligent thermal management systems. At the same time, H3C has built future-ready intelligent computing foundations encompassing modular data centers and AI computing infrastructure. H3C provides powerful and adaptive computing capabilities for data centers through evolvable architectures, AI-native operating systems with intelligent management cores, and diverse computing systems-delivering optimal performance for all AI application scenarios. For AIGC scenarios, H3C's LinSeer AI Solution delivers powerful capabilities. The AMPHA Computing Platform 3.0 with UniServer G7 series servers meets diverse workload demands while boosting efficiency, complemented by intelligent O&M and proactive security. Meanwhile, as the core foundation of integrated solutions, H3C's LinSeerCube delivers high-speed networking, massive data processing, and smart energy management to build an efficient, intelligent, and eco-friendly AIGC computing platform, providing solid infrastructure support for AIGC advancement. H3C also excels in cloud-intelligence integration and intelligent connectivity. In cloud computing, H3C offers comprehensive services and complete solutions built on deep technical expertise. The H3C CAS virtualization platform and H3C UIS 8.0 hyper-converged software enable efficient IT resource management and flexible cloud data center deployment, supporting enterprise digital transformation. Through its "Application Driven + AI Driven" dual-strategy, H3C provides optimized network infrastructure for various scenarios, delivering key innovations like Wi-Fi 7 and all-optical networks to accelerate intelligent transformation across industries. In the exhibition area, H3C officially unveiled its Adaptive Optical Network solution, which pioneers the integration of Ethernet optical and PON technologies at the passive architecture layer. The solution also incorporates advanced capabilities such as cybersecurity linkage, end-to-end optical slicing, and intelligent identity and application recognition, establishing an efficient coordination mechanism between optical networks and business systems. This empowers industry customers to build next-generation optical campus networks featuring high density, ultra-large bandwidth, enhanced security, and simplified deployment. At the event, H3C introduced its new sub-brand H3C Aolynk, dedicated to providing one-stop digital enablement solutions for global SMEs. With only 12% of Europe's 34 million SMEs having achieved full digitalization, H3C Aolynk's user-friendly, intelligent networking products and solutions are poised to break through the "last mile" bottleneck in Europe's digital transformation journey. H3C has also signed MoU and formed strategic partnerships with key European technology partners. The partnerships will further facilitate H3C's deeper integration into the European market and comprehensively empower regional digital transformation initiatives. Since its full-scale European market entry in 2024, H3C has established Germany, Poland, and Spain as strategic hubs to build a pan-European localized service network. This expansion aligns with EU priorities for digital sovereignty and green transition. Through establishing local entities, strengthening regional partnerships and increasing R&D investments, H3C is driving Europe's intelligent transformation through its "Global Local" dual-engine strategy. Since going global in 2019, H3C has accelerated its international presence, now maintaining 22 overseas subsidiaries and 3,000+ certified partners across 181 countries. Through cross-regional technical collaboration and an open ecosystem strategy, H3C is demonstrating that Chinese innovation drives global progress. With unwavering commitment, H3C is expanding worldwide partnerships to fast-track intelligent transformation-enabling industries to harness digital opportunities and collectively pioneer the smart era of tomorrow. For more info, please visit https://www.h3c.com/en/. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695046/PIC_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695036/PIC_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695045/PIC_3.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/h3c-makes-debut-at-gitex-europe-with-synergy-strategy-to-unlock-new-momentum-in-ai-era-302464282.html NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 19, 2025 / Fast Finance Pay Corp. (OTC PINK:FFPP) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. Operating Results for the three months ended March 31, 2025: Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $2.45 million, a decrease of 3% from $2.53 million in the same period of 2024. Gross profit was $1.19 million, compared to $1.22 million in the same period in 2024. Net loss was $281 thousand, as compared to a net loss of $247 thousand in the same period of 2024. Ole Jensen, CEO, President and Chairman of Fast Finance Pay Corp. stated, "Although our first quarter resulted in a slight decrease in our numbers, we are dedicated and moving forward aggressively to have audited financials for the past 2 years and prepare the company for an uplisting as soon as possible. The first quarter included a great deal of time and effort in conducting the reverse split, which we believe improved our capital structure and positions us a step closer to an uplisting. We continue to implement a sales and marketing plan targeting B2C and B2B costumers with our numerous product lines and services, all of which we believe will result in long term growth. Over the last year, it has been a lot of work to move the Company forward, and I want to recognize the dedication of our employees who have embraced these changes to put us in a position to be successful." About Fast Finance Pay Corp. Fast Finance Pay Corp. is a communication and fintech innovator that delivers cutting-edge, end-to-end communication and financial solutions for businesses and individual users. Its unified ecosystem seamlessly combines secure communication with advanced banking technologies, enabling businesses and consumers to transact smarter and more efficiently. OK.de provides a mobile free-mail email platform, along with secure, encrypted instant messaging and cloud storage services. In addition to news and a comparison tool, it offers integrated free solutions that connect people worldwide on a single platform, OK.secure. OK.secure is a completely free cross-platform messenger service for private and secure messaging, file sharing, and cloud storage, protected by military-grade encryption. Utilizing end-to-end encryption based on blockchain technology, it ensures safe communication through chat and video calls. Its integrated crypto wallet enables seamless payment exchanges via chat and worldwide crypto management. OK.pay is an innovative solution for modern banking and crypto asset management. It offers seamless global integration of crypto trading, enabling users to buy, sell, and spend cryptocurrencies through a one-stop platform. By combining encrypted messaging with a noncustodial wallet, crypto-to-fiat conversions, and IBAN banking, OK.pay delivers efficient tools for managing finances and conducting secure transactions worldwide. The OK.pay Debit Card extends these advantages to everyday transactions for both individual users and businesses. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) and section 21e of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended). Those statements include the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management team. Forward-looking statements are projections of events, revenues, income, future economics, research, development, reformulation, product performance or management's plans and objectives for future operations. Some or all the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements because of various factors. Accomplishing the strategy described herein is significantly dependent upon numerous factors, many that are not in management's control. CONTACT: Investor Relations Andrew Barwicki 516-662-9461 andrew@barwicki.com SOURCE: Fast Finance Pay Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/fast-finance-pay-corp-releases-first-quarter-2025-financial-results-1028877 Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) today provides clarification to inaccuracies made in a press release by Zijin Mining released earlier today. The press release was made in relation to the temporary suspension of operations at the Kakula underground mine, as announced by Ivanhoe Mines on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The press release by Zijin Mining refers to "multiple roof-falling and rib-spalling in the eastern section of the [Kakula] mine." Ivanhoe Mines does not agree with this statement. Ivanhoe Mines and Kamoa Copper senior management, supported by geotechnical specialists, continue to conduct a thorough inspection of the Kakula underground mine, which commenced on May 20, 2025. The inspection is ongoing and has been advancing further into the eastern section of the mine. Results so far show that there is no evidence of collapsing stopes or structural pillars. Preliminary indications suggest that seismic activity, which was experienced during the last week and has subsequently subsided, resulted in a redistribution of forces underground and caused "scaling", or rock falls, from the sidewalls of certain mining areas. The operational teams are currently focused on safely repairing damage caused to the cables and pipework that support the underground pumping infrastructure. Once this activity is complete, focus will shift to returning to normal mining operations starting with the western side of the Kakula Mine. Once the underground investigation is completed, Ivanhoe Mines will determine whether the temporary suspension of underground operations will impact annual production guidance of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex. Ivanhoe Mines will provide a more detailed update by Tuesday May 27, 2025. About Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa; the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the DRC, the ramp-up of the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC; and the phased development of the tier-one Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-rhodium-gold-copper Mine in South Africa. Ivanhoe Mines is exploring for copper in its highly prospective, 54-100% owned exploration licences in the Western Forelands, covering an area over six times larger than the adjacent Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, including the high-grade discoveries in the Makoko District. Ivanhoe is also exploring for new sedimentary copper discoveries in new horizons including Angola, Kazakhstan and Zambia. Follow Robert Friedland (@robert_ivanhoe) and Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) on X. Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified using words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance, and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such statements include, without limitation: i) statements regarding Ivanhoe Mines to provide a detailed update on Kamoa-Kakula operations by Tuesday, May 27, 2025; ii) statements regarding the operational teams are currently focused on safely repairing damage caused to cables and pipework that support the underground pumping infrastructure. Further, that once this activity is completed, focus will shift to returning to normal mining operations starting with the western side of the Kakula Mine; and, iii) statements regarding once the investigation is completed, Ivanhoe Mines will determine whether the temporary suspension of underground operations will impact annual production guidance. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether such results will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed above and under the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and its current annual information form, and elsewhere in this news release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors outlined in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's MD&A for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and its current annual information form. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253194 SOURCE: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. NEW YORK, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand dedicated to inspiring people to live spectacular, sustainable lives, is proud to unveil its latest innovation: the Silk Jersey Capsule Collection, available online starting May 23. Combining the softness of knitwear with the elegance of silk, the new line redefines everyday luxury with seven versatile, breathable pieces designed for the summer season. At the heart of this collection is Silk Jersey, a fabric crafted using natural protein fibers and a specialized weaving technique that brings together the best of both worlds: the stretch and softness of jersey with the breathability and sheen of high-grade silk. Lightweight, cool to the touch, and hypoallergenic, Silk Jersey offers a luxuriously comfortable experience ideal for warmer weather. LILYSILK's Silk Jersey is lighter than cotton and cooler than linen, making it a smart, stylish choice for those seeking comfort without compromising elegance. Crafted from 6A-grade mulberry silk, the brand has enhanced the material's durability with added stretch and machine-washable functionality - turning timeless silk into an easy-care staple. The seven-piece capsule includes five t-shirts, one shirt, and one skirt. Each piece blends form with function, offering refined silhouettes that complement modern lifestyles. Slim Fitted Silk Jersey Tee: Designed to flatter with a slim fit and balanced length, this tee accentuates the figure while staying breathable and fresh. Available in four colors, it embodies quiet confidence and everyday grace. Oversized Silk Jersey Tee: Draped and effortless, this tee transitions effortlessly from day to night, offering understated elegance in three calming tones. Silk Jersey Cowl-Neck Sleeveless Top: Featuring a deep, structured cowl neckline and hidden anti-slip tape, this top layers beautifully under summer jackets for a refined yet comfortable look. "As we welcome the summer season, I'm proud to unveil our Silk Jersey Capsule Collection, which embodies the essence of LILYSILK: innovation, elegance, and intention," said David Wang, CEO of LILYSILK. "By reimagining the properties of silk with a breathable knit structure, we've created timeless garments that move with you, from sunlit mornings to starlit evenings." This summer, LILYSILK invites consumers to embrace luxurious self-care through thoughtful clothing that fits both body and lifestyle - whether traveling, working, or unwinding at home. For more information, please visit www.lilysilk.com or follow LILYSILK on Instagram and Facebook. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694979/LILYSILK_Unveils_Breathable_Stretchable_Machine_Washable_Silk_Jersey_Collection_Summer_2025.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lilysilk-unveils-breathable-stretchable-and-machine-washable-silk-jersey-collection-for-summer-2025-302464125.html CHICAGO, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global thermal imaging market size is projected to be valued at USD 4.63 billion in 2023 and reach USD 7.59 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% according to a new report by The Research Insights. Defense and security sectors globally are driving substantial expansion in the thermal imaging market due to their increasing demand. Due to increasing geopolitical tensions and the elevated importance of national security governments are now investing more heavily in advanced surveillance systems and military modernization programs. For More Information and To Stay Updated on The Latest Developments in The Thermal Imaging Market Size, Download FREE Sample Pages: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/request_sample?id=12095 Market Overview and Growth Trajectory: Thermal Imaging Industry Growth: According to an exhaustive report by The Research Insights, the Thermal Imaging Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing adoption of thermal imaging technologies is fueling consistent market expansion while solidifying its essential role in current industrial maintenance and inspection operations. The industrial inspection sector represents one of the fastest expanding practical applications in the thermal imaging industry. Manufacturing plants and energy utilities use thermal imaging technology to maintain equipment reliability while optimizing operational efficiency. Thermal imaging has become essential to condition monitoring strategies as industries adopt automated systems and smart maintenance solutions. The report runs an in-depth analysis of market trends, key players, and future opportunities. In general, the thermal imaging market growth of 7.3% comprises a range of technology, product type, wavelength, application and geography which are expected to register strength during the coming years. For Detailed Thermal Imaging Market Size & Insights, Visit: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/reports/thermal-imaging-market-12095 Increasing Use in Industrial Inspection: The thermal imaging market is emerging at this crucial time when avoiding unplanned downtime has become paramount in today's fast-paced industrial world. Different sectors including manufacturing and power production depend more on thermal imaging technology to maintain efficient and secure operations. Maintenance teams utilize thermal imaging to detect overloaded electrical panels and worn-out bearings in heavy machinery through a non-invasive process that provides real-time results to prevent costly breakdowns. Advancements in uncooled infrared sensors have resulted in more compact, affordable, and user-friendly devices which promote increased growth in the thermal imaging industry. Small-scale facilities can now use tools which used to be available only to big industrial businesses. With stricter safety regulations and efficiency becoming a key competitive factor, thermal imaging technology is now a mandatory requirement. The industrial inspection camera system drives substantial growth for the global thermal imaging market size by both reducing risk and increasing productivity. Shift Toward Uncooled Thermal Cameras: The thermal imaging market is moving toward uncooled thermal cameras because they offer substantial benefits. Thermal cameras used to be large and costly devices that served mainly military and high-end industrial functions. The development of microbolometer technology has enabled uncooled thermal action camera to become widespread by eliminating the need for cryogenic cooling which results in smaller size and lower cost. Uncooled thermal cameras now serve as the preferred choice for tasks ranging from facility maintenance to automotive and security applications. The compact size of these devices allows for easy integration into drones and mobile electronics while maintaining full operational performance. The widespread adoption of thermal imaging technology is broadening its market reach by enabling applications in firefighting as well as HVAC systems for diagnostics agriculture and consumer electronics. The move towards uncooled thermal cameras represents a wider thermal imaging market trend that emphasizes both accessibility and versatility alongside innovative developments. Stay Updated on The Latest Thermal Imaging Market Size & Trends: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/request_sample?id=12095 Thermal Cameras Lead as the Preferred Choice in the Global Thermal Imaging Market Size: In the thermal imaging market thermal cameras lead as the preferred segment because of their flexible uses and user-friendly operation together with their growing industrial application range. The defense, industrial maintenance, healthcare, automotive, and public safety sectors are rapidly adopting these cameras because they deliver precise thermal imaging instantaneously without needing physical contact. Both handheld and fixed thermal cameras stand out as top choices in predictive maintenance and surveillance as well as fever detection because they feature portable designs and intuitive user interfaces alongside the ability to work with AI and Internet of Things (IoT) systems. Lower prices and improved availability of these technologies have helped small and mid-sized businesses adopt them more broadly. Thermal cameras will continue to dominate the thermal imaging industry because industries are focusing on operational safety and efficiency. Geographical Insights: The thermal imaging market will see North America controlling 32% of the market share in 2024 due to substantial defense spending together with technological advancement and increased use in industrial inspection and public safety operations. The United States stands at the forefront of military-grade thermal imaging applications and border surveillance technology while also leading smart city deployment initiatives. The thermal imaging market experiences its fastest growth rate in the Asia Pacific region because of swift industrialization and infrastructure build-up coupled with increased defense spending across China, India, Japan, and South Korea. The European thermal imaging market shows significant dedication to sustainable practices along with energy-efficient solutions and precise manufacturing methods. Germany, France, and the UK are currently utilizing thermal imaging to enhance industrial inspection processes while monitoring renewable energy systems and electrical grids. Purchase Premium Copy of Global Thermal Imaging Industry Growth Report (2023-2030) at: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/license?id=12095 Thermal Imaging Market Segmentation and Geographical Insights: Based on technology, the thermal imaging market size is divided into cooled thermal imaging and uncooled thermal imaging. The cooled thermal imaging segment held the largest share of the thermal imaging market in 2024. Based on product type, the thermal imaging market size is divided into thermal cameras, thermal scopes and thermal modules. The thermal camera market segment held the largest share of the thermal imaging market in 2024. Based on wavelength, the thermal imaging market size is divided into Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR), Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) and Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR). The Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) segment accounted for a larger share of the thermal imaging market in 2024. Based on application, the thermal imaging market size is divided into military & defense, industrial, commercial and residential. The military & defense segment accounted for a larger share of the thermal imaging market in 2024. The thermal imaging market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa. Key Players and Competitive Landscape: The Thermal Imaging Market is characterized by the presence of several major players, including: Honeywell International Inc. Lockheed Martin Corporation Teledyne FLIR LLC Raytheon Technologies Corporation Axis Communications AB BAE Systems, Inc. Testo SE & Co. KGaA Leonardo DRS Safran Group Lynred USA Thermoteknix Systems Ltd Hikvision Global These companies are adopting strategies such as new product launches, joint ventures, and geographical expansion to maintain their competitive edge in the market. For Region-Specific Market Data, Check Out Brief Sample Pages: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/request_sample?id=12095 Thermal Imaging Market Recent Developments and Innovations: In March 2024, Hikvision launched "Myth Buster" high performance thermal cameras used for temperature measurement, perimeter protection, and fire detection. In January 2024, Teledyne FLIR launched its improved K-Series firefighting and search and rescue (SAR) thermal imaging cameras (TICs). The enhanced K-Series will help firefighters navigate dangerous conditions with greater safety and efficiency through image processing improvements that significantly increase image quality throughout the imaging span. In January 2024, Valeo and Teledyne FLIR announce agreement and first contract for thermal imaging for automotive safety systems. The two companies have already secured a major contract from a leading global automotive OEM to deliver new thermal imaging cameras as part of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). Conclusion: The thermal imaging market continues its strong growth because of its applications in various sectors including defense and security, industrial inspection, healthcare, automotive, and public safety. A complex yet efficient value chain of raw material suppliers, component suppliers, module manufacturers, device OEMs, software developers, system integrators and a diverse range of end users serves as the foundation of the market. Thermal camera market size dominate the product segment rankings because they offer portability and real-time imaging capabilities along with versatile applications. Thermal imaging technology is broadening its range of applications and becoming more cost-effective which enables its progress from defense-oriented specialization to an essential mainstream tool for safety and operational efficiency in multiple fields. The thermal imaging market will continue to evolve through constant innovation and achieve broad acceptance in future years. Need A Diverse Region or Sector? Customize Research to Suit Your Requirement: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/Ask_For_Customization?id=12095 The report from The Research Insights, therefore, provides several stakeholders-including component suppliers, thermal imaging module manufacturers, device manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, distributors and end users -with valuable insights into how to successfully navigate this evolving market landscape and unlock new opportunities. With projected growth to US$ 7.59 billion by 2030, the Thermal Imaging Market represents a significant opportunity for component suppliers, thermal imaging module manufacturers, device manufacturers, OEMs, system integrators, distributors, end-users, investors, industry stakeholders, and others. By staying abreast of market trends, embracing innovation, and focusing on quality and performance, companies can position themselves for success in this dynamic and evolving market landscape. Check out more related studies published by The Research Insights: Thermal Scanners Market - The global thermal scanners market size is expected to reach USD 9.23 billion by 2030, according to a new report by The Research Insights. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2025 to 2030. The integration of thermal scanning technology with cutting-edge systems like IoT and AI is driving market growth. This convergence elevates thermal scanner capabilities, empowering real-time data analysis and remote monitoring. The global thermal scanners market size is expected to reach USD 9.23 billion by 2030, according to a new report by The Research Insights. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2025 to 2030. The integration of thermal scanning technology with cutting-edge systems like IoT and AI is driving market growth. This convergence elevates thermal scanner capabilities, empowering real-time data analysis and remote monitoring. Thermal Management Technologies Market - The global thermal management technologies market is poised to expand significantly, driven by an insatiable appetite for high-performance electronic devices across various sectors. Currently valued at USD 14.17 billion in 2023, this market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2024 to 2030. - The global thermal management technologies market is poised to expand significantly, driven by an insatiable appetite for high-performance electronic devices across various sectors. Currently valued at USD 14.17 billion in 2023, this market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% from 2024 to 2030. Thermal Insulation Coating Market - The global thermal insulation coating market is poised to undergo significant growth, driven by increasingly stringent government regulations aimed at reducing energy consumption. With the European Union's revised Energy Efficiency Directive setting a new benchmark, companies are under pressure to adopt innovative solutions that contribute to this goal. The target of cumulative end-use energy savings has been set at 1.3% in the short term and is expected to increase further by 2028-2030, creating a compelling incentive for businesses to invest in thermal insulation coatings, which are set to play a vital role in buildings and industrial applications. - The global thermal insulation coating market is poised to undergo significant growth, driven by increasingly stringent government regulations aimed at reducing energy consumption. With the European Union's revised Energy Efficiency Directive setting a new benchmark, companies are under pressure to adopt innovative solutions that contribute to this goal. The target of cumulative end-use energy savings has been set at 1.3% in the short term and is expected to increase further by 2028-2030, creating a compelling incentive for businesses to invest in thermal insulation coatings, which are set to play a vital role in buildings and industrial applications. Shortwave Infrared Market - The global shortwave infrared market size is expected to reach USD 1,179.6 million by 2030, according to a new report by The Research Insights. It is projected to register a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period, driven by increasing demand across various industries such as defense, industrial inspection, healthcare, and security. The shortwave infrared (SWIR) market is experiencing significant growth driven by its increasing acceptance in defense and military operations. The global shortwave infrared market size is expected to reach USD 1,179.6 million by 2030, according to a new report by The Research Insights. It is projected to register a CAGR of 12.0% during the forecast period, driven by increasing demand across various industries such as defense, industrial inspection, healthcare, and security. The shortwave infrared (SWIR) market is experiencing significant growth driven by its increasing acceptance in defense and military operations. Aerospace Insulation Market - The global aerospace insulation market size is anticipated to reach USD 12.28 billion by 2027 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2020 to 2027, according to a new report by The Research Insights. The increasing demand for fuel-efficient engines with corrosion-resistant insulation has created an opportunity for aerospace insulation to play a crucial role in reducing emissions and extending equipment lifespan. The global aerospace insulation market size is anticipated to reach USD 12.28 billion by 2027 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2020 to 2027, according to a new report by The Research Insights. The increasing demand for fuel-efficient engines with corrosion-resistant insulation has created an opportunity for aerospace insulation to play a crucial role in reducing emissions and extending equipment lifespan. IR Camera Market - The global IR camera market size is anticipated to reach USD 11.98 billion by 2030, according to a new report by The Research Insights, expanding at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2030. The global IR camera market is expected to experience significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for enhanced safety and security measures. Browse More related reports on Semiconductors & Electronics Market - https://www.theresearchinsights.com/categories/semiconductors-electronics About The Research Insights: The Research Insights provides thoroughly conducted research which is backed up by real-time statistics and data. Our experts are eager to help you with any information required under the sun. The key to our success is keeping abreast with the markets, industries, and ever-changing consumer trends that matter. Our market research professionals have in-depth knowledge and expertise across various domains that includes IT and Telecom, Emerging Technologies, Consumer Offerings, Manufacturing and Others. We are committed to reviewing the scope and procedure of the research studies that you select and provide you with an accurate guidance in order to assist you in taking the correct business decisions. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Kaushik Roy E-mail: sales@theresearchinsights.com Phone: +1-312-313-8080 Website: https://www.theresearchinsights.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2684869/The_Research_Insights_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thermal-imaging-market-size-worth-7-59-billion-globally-by-2030--exclusive-report-by-the-research-insights-302464173.html DELRAY BEACH, Fla., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Breast Biopsy Devices Market, valued at US$2,255.0 million in 2024, is forecasted to grow at a robust CAGR of 6.5%, reaching US$2,384.1 million in 2025 and an impressive US$3,261.7 million by 2030. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of breast cancer worldwide, which has heightened the demand for early and accurate diagnostic methods. Growing awareness of the benefits of early detection, along with the expansion of national screening programs, is encouraging more women to undergo regular breast exams. Technological advancements, such as image-guided biopsy instruments and vacuum-assisted biopsies, and the rise of minimally invasive treatments, have improved diagnostic accuracy while also reducing patient discomfort and recovery time. Outpatient procedures are becoming increasingly popular among patients, and various factors, including favorable reimbursement policies and a shift toward personalized treatment plans, are contributing to market growth. Together, these elements are driving the adoption and development of advanced breast biopsy technologies globally. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=189011805 Browse in-depth TOC on "Breast Biopsy Devices Market" 230 - Tables 45 - Figures 320 - Pages By Based on products, the global breast biopsy devices market is categorized into several segments: biopsy needles, biopsy equipment, guidance systems, biopsy tables, localization wires, assay kits, liquid biopsy instruments, and other products. Among these, the biopsy needles segment is expected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the rising incidence of cancer worldwide and the increased demand for accurate diagnostics and testing. Biopsy needles are utilized in minimally invasive procedures, such as core needle biopsy (CNB) and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), providing a pain-free method for tissue sampling with shorter recovery times compared to traditional surgical methods. Technological advancements supporting the biopsy needles market include vacuum-assisted and ultrasound-assisted biopsy needle systems and the development of needle systems that incorporate diagnostic imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI. By Based on procedure, the breast biopsy devices market is divided into needle breast biopsy, open surgical breast biopsy, and liquid breast biopsy. The liquid breast biopsy segment is expected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing use of liquid mammary biopsies, which are non-invasive, provide quick results, and allow for real-time analysis of tumor dynamics. Unlike traditional tissue biopsies, liquid biopsies analyze circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTC) collected from a blood sample. This approach enables early detection, monitoring of treatment responses, and identification of mutations related to drug resistance. By Based on applications, the global breast biopsy devices market is segmented into four main categories: early cancer screening, therapy selection, treatment monitoring, and recurrence monitoring. In 2024, early cancer screening represented the largest share of the market. The rise in various available screening technologies that enhance detection rates, such as digital mammography, artificial intelligence-assisted imaging, and genetic risk assessments, has contributed to advancements in this area. These innovations lead to higher sensitivity and improved specimen availability. Additionally, strong government initiatives, including public health campaigns and increased awareness among individuals, have resulted in greater accessibility to and participation in routine screenings by patients and wider populations. By end users, the breast biopsy devices market is divided into hospitals & surgical centers, breast care centers, and imaging clinics & diagnostic centers. In 2024, hospitals & surgical centers were the largest segment in the breast biopsy devices market. This growth is primarily due to their advanced infrastructure, streamlined diagnostic processes, and high patient volumes. Most hospitals and surgical centers are equipped with cutting-edge imaging technologies, such as MRI, ultrasound, and digital mammography, allowing them to conduct biopsy procedures in a more accurate and less invasive manner. By geography, the breast biopsy devices market is divided into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2024, North America was the market leader. This dominance can be attributed to several factors. The region boasts an exceptional healthcare infrastructure and has higher healthcare spending, which facilitates access to advanced diagnostic techniques, including minimally invasive biopsy procedures. Additionally, the rates of breast cancer, particularly in the US, are significant. As a result, many individuals seek to detect tumors early, making accurate result interpretation crucial. Furthermore, ongoing government initiatives, such as the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act, aim to increase economic opportunities for low-income families. This means enhancing access to screening and diagnostic programs. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=189011805 As of 2024, notable market players include Hologic Inc. (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), Argon Medical Devices (US), Merit Medical Systems (US), and Menarini-Silicon Biosystems (Italy), among others. Hologic Inc. (US): Hologic Inc. is a leading company in the breast biopsy devices market. It is dedicated to women's health and equipped with a wide range of advanced technologies. Its innovative products, such as the Brevera Breast Biopsy System with CorLumina Imaging Technology, utilize real-time imaging along with vacuum-assisted tissue acquisition to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve the efficiency of biopsy procedures. The company continues to strengthen its position in the market through strategic acquisitions, including SOMATEX Medical Technologies GmbH and Endomag, which expand its capabilities in biopsy site markers and localization technologies. With a strong global presence, substantial resources, a focus on research and development, and a steadfast commitment to innovation, Hologic is well-positioned to remain a leader in breast biopsy solutions. Becton, Dickinson and Company (US) Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) is a leading player in the breast biopsy devices market, offering innovative solutions such as the EnCor Enspire and BD EleVation systems. EnCor Enspire is an advanced, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system that features an intuitive touchscreen display and real-time visualization of needle activity. It also offers in-breast adaptability, allowing clinicians to adjust tissue density and lesion size without having to reinsert the probe. Its ergonomic design includes a palm-sized handpiece and integrated headlights, enhancing maneuverability across MRI, ultrasound, and stereotactic modalities. Additionally, features like a top-load canister and snap-in tubing cassette simplify setup and inventory management. Complementing this, the BD EleVation system is an ergonomic, handheld, vacuum-assisted instrument designed for ultrasound-guided procedures. Devicor Medical Products, Inc. Devicor Medical Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Leica Biosystems and part of Danaher Corporation, is a leading company in the breast biopsy devices market, particularly known for its Mammotome vacuum-assisted biopsy systems. Founded in 2010 after being carved out from Johnson & Johnson, Devicor has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including the HydroMARK breast biopsy marker, which enhances its offerings in tissue marking solutions. The company's commitment to minimally invasive procedures and diagnostic excellence has established its reputation among healthcare professionals, with products available in over 50 countries worldwide. Devicor's acquisition by Leica Biosystems has further strengthened its position by combining anatomical pathology solutions with advanced biopsy technologies, facilitating precise breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Liquid Biopsy Market Breast Imaging Market MRI Systems Market Needles Market Ultrasound Market Get access to the latest updates on Breast Biopsy Devices Companies and Breast Biopsy Devices Market Size About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. 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Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/breast-biopsy-devices-market-worth-us3-261-7-million-by-2030-with-6-5-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302464055.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Recently at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Entergy proudly continued its partnership with the American Indian College Fund, or the College Fund, by announcing a significant grant aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for Native American students. 2025 marks the 11th year of this collaboration. Entergy's support has been essential in helping Native American students pursue impactful careers and thrive as influential leaders in their communities. During the festival, Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May, alongside Entergy New Orleans President and CEO Deanna Rodriguez, presented a $35,000 grant to the College Fund and the Chief of the United Houma Nation. This investment is set to provide scholarships for students as they embark on their academic journeys, empowering them to create positive change within their communities. "Our decade-long partnership with the American Indian College Fund underscores our commitment to empowering Native American communities," said May. "It's a meaningful part of our Louisiana 100 plan, which prioritizes education, opportunity and long-term investment." "Education is a powerful tool for transformation-not just for individuals, but entire communities," said Rodriguez. "Entergy New Orleans is committed to helping our youth overcome educational barriers and reach their full potential. We are proud to partner with the American Indian College Fund and the United Houma Nation to support the next generation of leaders and change-makers." Since the inception of this partnership in 2015, Entergy has contributed over $350,000 in scholarships, positively impacting more than 160 students. Native American individuals remain among the most underrepresented groups in higher education, with a bachelor's degree attainment rate of less than half the national average. Every year, the College Fund is a beacon of support for more than 5,000 students, helping them navigate their educational paths and achieve their degrees. The organization aims for a graduation rate of 60% for all scholars by 2025 and has awarded more than 160,000 scholarships, totaling over $349 million since its founding in 1989. Entergy's mission, "We Power Life," extends beyond the delivery of essential energy services. We are committed to fostering the growth and well-being of the communities we serve through vital programs and initiatives. By investing in philanthropic efforts, encouraging volunteerism, supporting our low-income customers, and driving economic development initiatives, Entergy is dedicated to nurturing healthy, educated, environmentally sustainable, and thriving communities. Discover more about our community initiatives here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/utilities/entergys-tribal-scholarship-provides-educational-opportunities-for-native-american-studen-1031287 Talkdesk artificial intelligence-powered solutions will accelerate Cegeka's goal to enhance customer engagement and provide exceptional quality support across multiple channels PALO ALTO, Calif. and HASSELT, Belgium, May 23, 2025, a global provider of artificial intelligence, a leading global IT solutions provider, has selected Talkdesk to modernize its customer experience. By adopting the Talkdesk cloud-native and AI-driven platform, Cegeka aims to enhance customer engagement and deliver consistent, high-quality support across multiple channels. Talkdesk was selected for its omnichannel capabilities, user-friendly interface for its service desk agents, and advanced AI tools designed to streamline workflows and address diverse customer needs. As part of the partnership, Talkdesk will provide Cegeka with a range of solutions from the Talkdesk CX Cloud suite. These capabilities include text-to-speech and speech-to-text, as well as live chat and voice bots, adding new channels for real-time support. Additionally, Talkdesk CX Analytics extracts valuable insights from customer conversations so Cegeka can continuously improve its customer service. Talkdesk's ongoing track record of innovating and introducing cutting-edge AI solutions to its platforms was a significant reason for Cegeka's decision. Cegeka recognized how Talkdesk can help the organization seamlessly integrate AI into its customer service, minimizing response times and reducing average handle time (AHT). Among its many capabilities, Talkdesk Ascend AI enables businesses to automatically identify frequently asked questions (FAQs) and create consistent, fast responses to recurring issues. It also detects intent during conversations to improve agent responsiveness and service quality. "Partnering with Talkdesk has supported our efforts to modernize customer experience at Cegeka," said Luc Dedroog, vice president of digital workplace at Cegeka. "The platform offers flexibility and simplicity, which has helped streamline service for both our customers and service desk agents. We expect to see improvements in customer satisfaction from our initial deployments and look forward to exploring the potential of Talkdesk's AI capabilities moving forward." Ease of deployment and use was another deciding factor in Cegeka's choice to implement Talkdesk solutions. Talkdesk CX Cloud has a user-friendly interface and provides seamless integrations with the third-party systems Cegeka uses. The Microsoft Teams Connector integrates its communications solutions, and Talkdesk BYOC will enable internet-based calling and efficiently route conversations to the appropriate groups, without the need for manual routing. "Talkdesk looks forward to empowering Cegeka to deliver an enhanced customer experience through our innovative and comprehensive solutions," said Tiago Paiva, chief executive officer and founder at Talkdesk. "Supporting Cegeka on its customer experience transformation journey is an honor." About Talkdesk Talkdesk is on a mission to rid the world of bad customer experience. With our cloud-native, generative AI-powered CX platform , purpose-built industry solutions, and extensible AI offerings, we empower enterprises in the cloud and on-premises to deliver exceptional customer experiences that make them more competitive, grow revenue, reduce costs, and provide operational efficiencies. With specialized workflows and integrations delivered out of the box for our Industry Experience Clouds, Talkdesk accelerates value for our customers faster and more simply than legacy or one-size-fits-all solutions. Partnering with enterprises globally, we deliver continuous innovation and breakthrough results. Our commitment to reliability and security, paired with our track record of delivering on promises, sets us apart in the industry. Elevate customer experiences, streamline operations, and increase revenue with Talkdesk. Companies that love their customers use Talkdesk . Talkdesk is a registered trademark of Talkdesk, Inc. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them. About Cegeka At Cegeka, we believe in shaping digital together. We don't just deliver technology - we work shoulder to shoulder with our clients to design, build, and run resilient digital solutions that drive impact where and when it matters most. Our broad portfolio spans application services, business solutions, quality engineering, data & AI, digital workplaces, cyber resilience, networking & regulatory services, and hybrid cloud. With a strong focus on craftsmanship, we expertly manage legacy systems while accelerating modernization and innovation. Cegeka has a global presence with offices in the Benelux, Germany, Austria, Romania, Moldova, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Colombia, and India. With over 10,000 employees, the company achieved a consolidated revenue of 1.3 billion in 2024. Founded in 1992 by Andre Knaepen - who currently serves as chairman of the board - Cegeka is a family-owned company headquartered in Hasselt, Belgium, and led by CEO Stijn Bijnens. BANGALORE, India, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Sensors Market is Segmented by Type (Atomic Clock, Gravity Sensor, Magnetic Sensor, Rotation Sensors, Imaging Sensors, Temperature Sensors), by Application (Defense, Oil & Gas, Transportation, Construction, Medical & Healthcare, IT & Telecommunication, Agriculture). The Global Quantum Sensors Market is projected to grow from USD 506 Million in 2024 to USD 839 Million by 2031, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.6% during the forecast period. Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-7W10062/Global_Quantum_Sensors_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of Quantum Sensors Market: The quantum sensors market is expanding steadily as industries seek superior measurement, navigation, and detection capabilities. The convergence of technological miniaturization, rising investment, and real-world applications is accelerating commercialization. Key sectors such as defense, healthcare, aerospace, and infrastructure monitoring are integrating quantum sensors into their operational systems. The ecosystem is also maturing, with startups, academic institutions, and large corporations collectively shaping innovation. Growing awareness about quantum advantages and supportive regulatory environments further aid adoption. As barriers to cost and complexity reduce, quantum sensors are poised to move beyond niche applications into mainstream industrial and consumer markets, marking a transformative shift in precision sensing. Unlock Insights: View Full Report Now! https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-7W10062/global-quantum-sensors TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE QUANTUM SENSORS MARKET: Magnetic sensors are a critical segment driving the growth of the quantum sensors market due to their unmatched sensitivity in detecting minute magnetic fields. Quantum magnetic sensors, particularly those based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds or superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), offer significantly enhanced accuracy compared to traditional sensors. Their applications in medical imaging, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), enable high-resolution brain activity mapping, fostering adoption in the healthcare sector. Additionally, they are increasingly used in geophysical surveys and mineral exploration where ultra-precise magnetic readings are required. As industries prioritize precise diagnostics and non-invasive techniques, the demand for quantum-based magnetic sensing grows, propelling market expansion in both research and commercial applications. Atomic clocks are a foundational application of quantum sensors, driving substantial market growth due to their unparalleled accuracy in timekeeping. These clocks, based on quantum transitions in atoms like cesium and rubidium, offer stability required for critical infrastructures such as GPS, telecommunications, and high-frequency trading. The need for enhanced synchronization across global networks has heightened demand for compact and portable atomic clocks. In defense and aerospace sectors, atomic clocks support advanced navigation systems, especially where satellite signals are inaccessible. Ongoing advancements in chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC) technology are making precise timekeeping more accessible, fueling commercial adoption. Their role in enabling robust and reliable digital systems underpins the broader expansion of the quantum sensor market. The defense sector is a major force driving the growth of the quantum sensors market due to its increasing need for precise navigation, communication, and surveillance capabilities. Quantum sensors are being deployed in inertial navigation systems for submarines, aircraft, and spacecraft, offering accurate location tracking even without GPS. Additionally, they are vital for detecting stealth objects and submarines using gravitational and magnetic field anomalies. Governments are heavily investing in defense research and development to incorporate quantum technologies into military applications, driving commercialization efforts. Collaborations between defense agencies and tech companies are accelerating innovation and deployment. This strong institutional backing and critical application scope make defense a key contributor to quantum sensor market growth. One of the primary drivers of the quantum sensors market is the rising demand for highly accurate measurement tools across industries. Traditional sensors often fall short in extreme or sensitive environments, whereas quantum sensors offer ultra-precise detection of changes in magnetic fields, gravity, time, and acceleration. Industries such as geophysics, aerospace, and navigation require these levels of precision for mapping underground structures, monitoring seismic activity, or guiding autonomous vehicles. As these sectors grow in complexity and scale, the need for precision instruments intensifies, pushing demand for quantum sensors that can operate beyond the capabilities of classical technologies. This demand is fueling research, investment, and commercial interest in quantum sensing solutions. Government and private sector investments in quantum technologies are significantly boosting the quantum sensors market. Countries like the U.S., China, Germany, and the U.K. are launching national quantum initiatives to develop and commercialize quantum-based solutions. These investments are not only funding academic and industrial R&D but are also facilitating collaborations between universities and enterprises. The result is a pipeline of innovations in quantum sensors, including miniaturized devices, improved stability, and increased portability. As funding becomes more widespread, barriers to entry are lowering, allowing startups and smaller firms to enter the quantum technology landscape. This influx of capital and innovation is accelerating product development and market penetration. Space exploration and satellite technology are emerging frontiers for quantum sensors, contributing to market growth. Quantum sensors are being used to measure gravitational variations, detect mineral deposits, and monitor environmental changes from space with unprecedented accuracy. They enable mapping of Earth's gravitational field, essential for understanding tectonic activity and sea-level rise. Additionally, quantum gyroscopes and accelerometers help in autonomous navigation of satellites and spacecraft without reliance on external signals. Space agencies and private space companies are investing in these technologies to enhance mission safety and data accuracy. As space missions become more complex and data-driven, the need for quantum sensors in orbital applications will continue to expand. Quantum sensors are playing a pivotal role in the advancement of autonomous systems and robotics, particularly in environments where GPS is unavailable or unreliable. Quantum inertial sensors provide precise movement and orientation data, making them valuable in self-driving vehicles, drones, and underwater autonomous systems. These sensors enable machines to navigate and respond to their surroundings with greater accuracy, enhancing safety and functionality. The global trend toward automation and robotics across logistics, defense, and manufacturing sectors creates a robust demand base for such cutting-edge sensor technologies. As autonomous solutions become mainstream, quantum sensors are expected to form an integral part of their sensor stacks, driving adoption. The ongoing trend of miniaturization in sensor technology is a significant growth driver for the quantum sensors market. Traditionally large and lab-bound, quantum sensors are now being engineered into compact, chip-scale devices suitable for integration into commercial and industrial systems. This evolution has made quantum sensors more accessible and practical for real-world use, especially in fields such as healthcare diagnostics, mobile communications, and wearable technologies. Portable quantum gravimeters, atomic clocks, and magnetometers are now being explored for field applications. Miniaturization also reduces costs and expands the scope of applications, helping quantum sensors move from research settings to commercial and consumer markets. Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-7W10062&lic=single-user QUANTUM SENSORS MARKET SHARE North America dominates due to heavy investments in defense, space exploration, and quantum research, particularly from the U.S. Asia-Pacific is witnessing rapid growth driven by strong government support in China, Japan, and South Korea, along with rising demand from manufacturing and navigation sectors. Europe is a key contributor, with Germany and the U.K. spearheading R&D through public-private partnerships and EU-funded initiatives. Key Companies: Muquans SAS Microsemi Corp AOSense GWR Instruments Inc Oscilloquartz MSquared Lasers Ltd Cryogenic Limited Supracon AG Inquire for Discount: https://reports.valuates.com/request/discount/QYRE-Auto-7W10062/global-quantum-sensors SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS: EXPLORE SIMILAR REPORTS! PAR Quantum Sensors Market The global market for Spherical Underwater Quantum Sensor was valued at USD 121 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 172 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. was valued at USD 121 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 172 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. Carbon Quantum Dots (CQD) Market Full Spectrum Quantum Sensors Market Underwater Quantum Sensors Market Quantum Dot Image Sensors Market The global market for Quantum System was valued at USD 28740 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 48430 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period. was valued at USD 28740 Million in the year 2024 and is projected to reach a revised size of USD 48430 Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period. Quantum Magnetometry Market The global market for Infrared Sensors was estimated to be worth USD 734.1 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1070.8 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030. was estimated to be worth USD 734.1 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1070.8 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period 2024-2030. The global market for Cooled Infrared Sensors was estimated to be worth USD 215 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 314.4 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030. was estimated to be worth USD 215 Million in 2023 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 314.4 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period 2024-2030. Quantum Cryptography Solutions market is projected to grow from USD 3824.8 Million in 2024 to USD 4811.7 Million by 2030, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.9% during the forecast period. DISCOVER OUR VISION: VISIT ABOUT US! Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. 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GET A FREE QUOTE Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/quantum-sensors-market-to-hit-usd-839-million-by-2031--key-growth-in-defense-healthcare--it---valuates-reports-302464381.html Oradea, Romania--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - BacklinksPro, a leading authority in search engine optimization, today announced the launch of its link building platform aimed to transform how businesses build website authority and improve their search engine rankings. The new platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools that streamline the often complex process of acquiring quality backlinks, positioning itself as an essential resource for digital marketers, SEO professionals, and business owners. BacklinksPro To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8871/252968_16e76b46d47b7aa8_001full.jpg In today's competitive digital landscape, backlinks remain one of the most critical factors for search engine rankings. BacklinksPro's platform addresses the challenges businesses face when building a strong backlink profile by offering verified, high-authority links across diverse niches. "We've developed our platform with a clear focus on quality, transparency, and results," said Andrei Popovici, the CEO of BacklinksPro. "Our mission is to democratize access to premium backlink opportunities, enabling businesses of all sizes to compete effectively in the digital space without compromising on quality or breaking their budget." The BacklinksPro platform stands out with several key features: Diverse Link Portfolio : Access to thousands of high-authority websites across multiple industries and niches : Access to thousands of high-authority websites across multiple industries and niches Quality Verification : Rigorous vetting process to ensure all backlink sources meet strict quality standards : Rigorous vetting process to ensure all backlink sources meet strict quality standards Custom Link Building Strategies : Personalized recommendations based on individual website needs and industry specifics : Personalized recommendations based on individual website needs and industry specifics Transparent Reporting : Comprehensive analytics and reporting to track performance and ROI : Comprehensive analytics and reporting to track performance and ROI Expert Support: Dedicated team of SEO professionals available to provide guidance and optimization suggestions Early adopters of the platform have reported significant improvements in their search rankings, with some experiencing up to 40% increase in organic traffic within the first three months of implementation. As search engines continue to refine their algorithms, the importance of quality backlinks has only increased. BacklinksPro's platform helps businesses navigate these changes by focusing on sustainable, white-hat link building practices that align with current search engine guidelines. The company's commitment to quality extends to its customer service, offering personalized support to ensure clients maximize the platform's potential. The BacklinksPro team conducts regular strategy sessions with clients to review performance metrics and adjust approaches as needed. For more information about BacklinksPro and its innovative link building platform, visit www.backlinkspro.net. About BacklinksPro BacklinksPro is a premier SEO service provider specializing in high-quality backlink solutions for businesses seeking to improve their online visibility and search engine rankings. Founded with a commitment to quality and transparency, BacklinksPro helps clients build sustainable website authority through ethical link building practices and strategic SEO implementation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/252968 SOURCE: PRNews OU SAN ANTONIO, TX / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Boss Security Screens, a leader in high-performance security doors and security screens for windows , is proud to announce its expansion into Texas, launching operations in San Antonio under the new regional brand name American Security Screens. Security Door Security Doors & Security Screens for San Antonio, TX The expansion marks the company's fourth location in Texas and continues its mission of delivering best-in-class security solutions for residential, commercial, and government properties. While the name may be new to Texans, the products, people, and process remain exactly the same. "This is not just a new market-this is a new chapter," said James Kerr, Founder and Chief of New Business Development at Boss Security Screens. "Texans care deeply about protecting their homes and families, and we're here to offer a solution that combines real security with real style. American Security Screens may be a new name, but it's built on the same foundation that made Boss Security Screens a trusted name in the West." Boss Security Screens has already completed thousands of installations across Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and California. Now, through its San Antonio-based brand American Security Screens, the company is bringing its proven product line to Central Texas-where warm weather, crime rates, and growing neighborhoods all contribute to increased demand for robust security solutions. The company's security doors and security screens for windows are made from industrial-grade stainless steel mesh framed in aircraft-grade aluminum. Designed to withstand extreme force and resist tampering, they provide peace of mind from break-ins without bars or bulky metal grilles. The screens allow full airflow and visibility while preventing intruders from gaining unauthorized access. Each product is custom-measured, built to spec, and professionally installed. Every unit comes with a 15-year parts and labor warranty and is backed by the company's No Break-In Guarantee. "Whether it's a home in the Hill Country or a business in downtown San Antonio, our customers want discreet protection that works 24/7," said Kerr. "We're excited to help our new Texas neighbors protect what matters most." Boss Security Screens will continue to operate under its original name throughout the Western U.S. American Security Screens will serve the Texas market, beginning with San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas and surrounding areas, with plans to expand further across the state in the near future. Contact - Boss Security Screens (World Headquarters) Boss Security Screens 6718 W Sunset Rd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118 BossSecurityScreens.com 702-637-0255 Contact - American Security Screens (San Antonio) American Security Screens - San Antonio info@securityscreenssanantonio.com (210) 446-6306 SecurityScreensSanAntonio.com Contact Information: James Kerr Founder & Chief of New Business Development info@bosssecurityscreens.com 702-637-0255 SOURCE: Boss Security Screens View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/boss-security-screens-expands-to-san-antonio-under-new-brand-ame-1031285 Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - E-Power Resources Inc (CSE: EPR) ("E-Power" or the "Company") announces that it has closed the third and final tranche "Third Tranche" of the private placement previously announced on March 12, 2025 (the "Private Placement"). An aggregate of 5,598,240 units (the " Units") of the Company were issued in the Third Tranche of the Private Placement at a price of $0.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of $279,912, each Unit being comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one-half common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"), each Warrant entitling its holder thereof to acquire one additional common share (each a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of 60 months from the closing date (the "Offering"). Net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for general working capital purposes. No insiders of the Company participated in the Third Tranche of the Private Placement. Finder's fees of $3,800 and 76,000 broker warrants were paid to Acuarios Foundation in connection to this Third Tranche. The broker warrants enable the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.10 per share for a period of 24 months from the closing date. The securities offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. The securities offered pursuant to the Offering are subject to certain trade restrictions pursuant to applicable securities laws. About E-Power Resources Inc. E-Power Resources Inc. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of graphite properties in Quebec. Its flagship asset, the Tetepisca Graphite Property, is located in the Tetepisca Graphite District of the North Shore Region of Quebec, approximately 215 kilometers from the Port of Baie-Comeau. For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company by email at info@e-powerresources.com. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations, or beliefs of future performance are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253235 SOURCE: E-Power Resources Chartres, 23 May 2025, Osmosun today announces the signing of a business combination agreement with Unibios Holdings S.A., a company incorporated under Greek law and listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (ISIN number: GRS084003011). The company has operated in the water treatment market since 1963 through its Luxembourg subsidiary Watera International S.A.. The combination would involve Unibios acquiring a majority stake in Osmosun by way of a 1.6 million cash contribution and a contribution in kind of 30.0% of Watera International's share capital to Osmosun, supplemented by a 0.4 million cash contribution by certain long-standing shareholders. While Osmosun estimated that it only had a cash horizon until July 2025, this agreement will enable it to continue its business operations. Watera International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Unibios and, through Watera Hellas S.A., constitutes a leading water treatment company in Greece. Watera Hellas was founded in 1963 and is the leading company in Greece in terms of installed desalination capacity. Watera International also operates through subsidiaries in other countries, namely the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Italy, while developing significant export activities in Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Watera International generated consolidated revenues of 14.426 million and consolidated EBITDA of 3.041 million in 2024. The industrial reasoning behind this business combination lies in the value of Osmosun's intellectual property and the attractiveness of its range of solar desalination products, for which Watera International can improve cost-effectiveness and optimise marketing. This combination should make it possible to successfully (re)introduce these products in both existing and new markets. It will also enable Watera International to leverage its expertise and low cost base in the French and French-speaking water treatment and reuse markets. Watera International is particularly experienced in these areas, as its main markets have always faced water scarcity and poor water quality. Ultimately, the aim is for Osmosun to become the parent company of the Unibios Water Treatment division, consolidating the activities of Watera International and Osmosun and strengthening their market positioning. For the purposes of the transaction, Osmosun has been valued at 4 million and the contributed Watera securities at 6.6 million. Following these transactions, Unibios would hold 65% of the share capital and voting rights of Osmosun. These reserved transactions would have a dilutive effect on existing shareholdings. For example, a shareholder currently holding 1% of Osmosun's share capital would hold 0.32% of the increased capital upon completion of the transactions. The transactions will be subject to approval by Osmosun's shareholders at the General Meeting on 30 June 2025, whose decision shall be based in particular on a report by a contributions auditor who will also assess the fairness of the contribution transaction. Representing nearly two-thirds of outstanding voting rights, long-standing shareholders have already pledged to vote in favour of the resolutions submitted to the General Meeting. The commitments made by Unibios are subject to various conditions precedent, mainly including shareholder approval of the 2024 financial statements and the resolutions regarding the business combination at the 30 June General Meeting, as well as the grant by the AMF to Unibios of an exemption from the requirement to file a mandatory offer on the Osmosun shares. In the event of a favourable vote by Osmosun's shareholders, and in the event that the aforementioned exemption has not yet been obtained by 30 June 2025, Unibios has undertaken to grant Osmosun a convertible bond loan for a maximum amount of 1 million, to be deducted from its cash contribution commitment when the capital increase transactions are carried out. This commitment would allow Osmosun to extend its cash horizon until October 2025. Upon completion of the transactions, the membership of the Board of Directors will be changed to include two Unibios representatives and to replace two incumbent directors with two independent members. ABOUT OSMOSUN Founded in 2014, OSMOSUN's ambition is to become a leading player in the low-carbon water market in order to make drinking water accessible to all. OSMOSUN has developed a unique, patented, cost-effective, clean and sustainable solution for solar-powered battery-free seawater and brackish water desalination. This innovation makes OSMOSUN units among the most energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions in the world. The water production capacities of its units range from 1 m3 to 50,000 m3 per day. At 31 December 2024, 78 desalination units have been sold in 27 countries. More information: OSMOSUN | Create water where life is CONTACTS SPECIALISED PRESS FINANCIAL PRESS INVESTOR RELATIONS Nadege Chapelin Deborah Schwartz Helene de Watteville n.chapelin@nc-2.com dschwartz@actus.fr osmosun@actus.fr +33 6 52 50 33 58 +33 1 53 67 36 35 +33 1 53 67 36 33 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: nGlvk5ZukpeUx21vlZ1sl2plm2qXm2CVa2SWxZNxZJbKaGlpnWplnMiXZnJinW1u - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-91888-accord-unibios-eng_prep-en-final.pdf Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Regal Resources Inc. (the "Company" or "Regal") is pleased to announce that it has been successful in its applications to the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") and the Ontario Securities Commission (the "Securities Regulators") to revoke the cease trade orders issued on December 11 and 30, 2015 respectively by the Securities Regulators (the "Cease Trade Orders"). The Company previously announced its intention to make application to revoke the Cease Trade Orders on December 23, 2024. The Cease Trade Orders were issued as a result of the Company's failure to file its audited annual financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis and other materials for the year ended July 31, 2015. The Company has filed its audited annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and related certifications for the years ended July 31, 2024 and July 31, 2023 and its interim financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and related certifications for the quarter ended January 31, 2025, and has otherwise met its continuous disclosure obligations pursuant to securities laws (collectively, the "Disclosure Documents"). Accordingly, the revocation of the Cease Trade Orders has been granted by the Securities Regulators. The Disclosure Documents are available for review online under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Corporate Activity The Company significantly reduced its business activities following the Cease Trade Orders. On January 25, 2016, the Company's shares were suspended from trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") as a result of the Company being in default of the CSE's requirements, and on April 25, 2016, the Company was delisted from the CSE. In August 2017, the Company entered into definitive agreements (the "Sunnyside Agreement") with Barksdale Resources Inc. (TSX-V: BRO) ("Barksdale") for Barksdale to acquire up to a 67.5% undivided interest in the Sunnyside Project in two stages, with Barksdale entitled to acquire an initial 51% interest in the Sunnyside Project upon making certain cash payments, issuing a number of Barksdale shares and incurring certain qualified expenditures during the first two years of the option, following receipt of all required governmental permits. Following acquisition of the initial 51% interest in the Sunnyside Project, Barksdale will have the option to increase its interest to 67.5% of the Sunnyside Project upon payment of additional cash and share consideration and the incurring of additional qualified property expenditures. Following signing of the Sunnyside Agreement, in 2018 Barksdale made cash payments to the Company in the aggregate amount of $750,000 and issued to the Company 1,250,000 common shares of Barksdale. In August 2020, the Company held its annual general meeting, at which a change of management and board occurred. Greg Thomas, the chief executive officer and president and a director of the Company did not stand for re-election at the meeting. Matthew Sauder, Martin Carsky, Derek Daly, Tony Louie, and Drew Brass were elected as directors, and following the meeting Matthew Sauder was appointed as chair of the board, president and chief executive officer and Derek Daly was appointed as chief financial officer. In May 2021, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Barksdale providing for Barksdale to indirectly acquire 100% of the Sunnyside Project. The transaction required approval from 2/3 of the Regal shareholders to move forward. At a special general meeting called to consider the sale in July 2021, the required 2/3 shareholder approval was not obtained and the transaction was subsequently terminated. On October 1, 2021, Matthew Sauder, Martin Carsky, and Derek Daly resigned from the Company's board and as officers of the Company. On October 4, 2021, Barksdale, as assignee of various debt owed by the Company, delivered a notice of intention to enforce security pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and on October 14, 2021, the Company entered creditor protection under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada). In January 2022, Greg Thomas, the former chief executive officer and president of the Company from 2010 to 2020, was reappointed as chief executive officer, president and a director of the Company. In January 2022, the Company applied to the BCSC and obtained a partial revocation of the CTO in British Columbia to permit it to complete a private placement financing (the "Debenture Financing") under which it raised $2,885,000 through the issuance of secured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") to four investors in British Columbia and Yukon. The Debentures bear interest at 12% per annum and are convertible into units at a conversion price of $0.10 per unit. Each unit will be comprised of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable to acquire one common share for $0.20 for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Using the proceeds from the Debentures and other funds, the Company repaid a total of $3,048,504 to various secured and unsecured creditors and was able to exit creditor protection. In Q1 of 2023, pursuant to a second partial revocation of the CTO in British Columbia granted by the BCSC the Company raised a total of $350,000 from the sale of $0.10 units of its securities to investors in British Columbia and Colorado USA. Each unit was comprised of one common share and one half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable to acquire one common share for $0.20 for a period of two years from the date of issuance. All the warrants expired unexercised in Q1 2025. In September 2023 Barksdale received its last regulatory approval to commence exploration at the Sunnyside Property and in September 2024, pursuant to the Sunnyside Agreement, Barksdale fulfilled year 1 of its earn-in to the Sunnyside Project by completing C$3,000,000 in qualified exploration expenses, making a net payment of C$717,071, and issuing 3,850,000 Barksdale shares to the Company. In February 2025 the Company's trustee in bankruptcy filed its final report to the bankruptcy court and the final order discharging the trustee was received on April 30, 2025. Following the revocations of the CTOs, the Company will prepare for the expected vesting of Barksdale's 51% interest in the Sunnyside Project in September 2025. Assuming it completes its 51% earn in, Barksdale will have 120 days to elect to increase its interest to 67.5% in consideration for making an additional cash payment of $550,000, issuing an additional 4,900,000 Barksdale shares, and incurring an additional $6,000,000 in qualified expenditures, including 25,000 feet of drilling within the following two years. Once the joint venture commences with Barksdale at either 51% or 67.5%, Regal will hold two seats of a four person management committee that will oversee work programs to advance the Sunnyside Project. Regal will evaluate several financing options in order to participate fully in upcoming exploration programs to maintain its 49% or 32.5% interest, as the case may be. About Regal Resources Inc. Regal Resources is a junior mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, British Columbia whose sole mineral project is its interest in the Sunnyside Project near Nogales, Arizona. Regal Resources is a reporting issuer in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Greg Thomas Chief Executive Officer To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253249 SOURCE: Regal Resources Inc. Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Sorso, the fast-growing manufacturer of premium water purification systems, has closed a substantial Series B funding round to support its expansion across North America and fast-track the development of next-generation water technologies. Photo Credit: Sorso Wellness Water website To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/251484_9ca09af5e4c7f937_001full.jpg Specializing in naturally alkaline, hydrogen-rich drinking water systems and comprehensive whole-home filtration and softening solutions, Sorso has gained recognition for merging advanced purification with wellness-oriented design. The company's systems cater to rising consumer demand for cleaner, healthier hydration in the home. The funding round - led by a consortium of Canadian and U.S.-based venture investors - marks a major milestone for the Toronto- and Miami-based company. The capital will primarily support research and development efforts focused on next-generation filtration, modular system design, and integrated smart-home water monitoring technology. It will also help Sorso scale operations in key U.S. metropolitan markets. "Our mission has always been to redefine how families interact with water at home - not just by removing contaminants, but by restoring water to its natural, health-supporting state," said Sorso COO and co-founder Alessandro Cernuto. "This round gives us the momentum to innovate faster and bring Sorso's systems to more homes across North America." Riding the Wave of a Booming Market The investment arrives at a time when the residential water filtration market is undergoing rapid growth. Valued at over $14 billion in 2024, the North American market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of more than 6% through 2030, driven by growing concerns around water safety, aging infrastructure, and consumer interest in wellness and sustainability. Within this expanding category, Sorso has carved out a niche at the high end of the market. Its advanced systems combine reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, and mineralization to remove up to 99% of common contaminants while boosting pH levels and enriching water with molecular hydrogen - a compound increasingly associated with antioxidant benefits in early-stage research. Sorso's innovative approach has attracted both residential and commercial partners. In 2024, the company announced a partnership with Canadian developer Tridel to install its systems in new condominium buildings throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Scaling Smart and Sustainably Sorso's growth strategy builds on its proven success in two key markets: Toronto and Miami. In both cities, the company has seen rapid adoption of its systems through a combination of direct-to-consumer sales, strategic real estate partnerships, and growing brand awareness among wellness-conscious homeowners. In Toronto, Sorso units have been installed in tens of thousands of residences and luxury homes, while in Miami, the company has gained traction with eco-forward households seeking healthier, bottle-free water solutions in a region where water quality is often inconsistent. Now, Sorso plans to replicate that momentum in several major U.S. cities, beginning with New York, Boston, Austin, Chicago, and Los Angeles. To support this expansion, the company is investing in localized service infrastructure, a national installer network, and enhanced customer support capabilities. With growing environmental concern over plastic bottle waste, Sorso's home-based system offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative. The company estimates that a typical household using its system can eliminate over 90% of bottled water consumption, avoiding the use of thousands of plastic bottles per year. "With this funding, we're not just expanding our footprint - we're doubling down on innovation," said Cernuto. "We're building smarter, more sustainable ways for families to access truly great water at home." SOURCE: Goldsilver To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251484 SOURCE: APG Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - AJN Resources Inc. (CSE: AJN) (FSE: 5AT) ("AJN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of units (each, a Unit) in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.12 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $500,000 (the Offering). Each Unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase warrant (Warrant), where each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share (Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share for a four year period. AJN intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for due diligence in connection with possible property acquisitions, exploration on the Company's properties and for working capital purposes. A finder's fee may be payable with respect to a portion of the Offering. The securities issuable pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period. The issuance of the Units will not result in a change of control or materially affect control of the Company. About AJN Resources Inc. AJN is a junior exploration company. AJN's management and directors possess over 75 years of collective industry experience and have been very successful in the areas of exploration, financing and developing major mines throughout the world, with a focus on Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although AJN Resources Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, AJN Resources Inc. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253252 SOURCE: AJN Resources Inc. Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Speaky.co launches innovative new ways to connect creators with fans. It's a new-age platform changing the creator economy landscape by empowering models, influencers, and public figures to directly connect with their fans. Speaky considers itself a movement that creates a real connection between content creators and their fans. It's about real money and empowerment, not just passive likes. Speaky - Pay-Per-Minute Calls with Influencers & Models Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/251501_6f9cf238643068fa_001full_200.jpg "Breaking through the noise in a saturated creator space was our biggest challenge. Traditional social media is overloaded with static content. We overcame it by creating a completely new interaction model - making live video calls the product, not just photos or posts. It's an entirely different lane - and creators love it because it feels real," Blaire Lily, a spokesperson for Speaky says. Breaking Free of Traditional Income Streams The traditional influencer economy depends on follower counts, content views, and ad revenue. Speaky gives content creators control over their financial power by allowing them to charge for the attention and time they spend with their fandom. On the platform, creators can set prices for direct interactions with fans through live video connections. Speaky understands that genuine interaction between influencers and their fans is the most valuable currency in the creator economy. Creators cultivate their large audiences through their unique public offerings on social media. The popularity of social media has offered fans limited access to their favorite influencers, celebrities, and public figures, and influencers have responded with more content. Uploading images and videos is how creators draw in more viewers while maintaining their income stream. Additionally, creators scrambling to create more content to maintain a steady income can experience burnout. The demand for more content from followers can be financially rewarding, but can also lead to content fatigue for both the creator and the audience. Speaky addresses these concerns and provides an innovative solution by empowering the creators to charge their fans directly for individual attention on the platform. Speaky - Pay-Per-Minute Calls with Influencers & Models To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8798/251501_6f9cf238643068fa_002full.jpg "We saw a massive gap in the creator economy. Fans wanted a real connection, not just passive content. Models and influencers wanted more control over their time and income. Speaky.co was built to bridge that gap: a place where creators talk, connect, and get paid every minute they're online," Blake Lily explains. Real Interaction Is the Future Speaky stresses the power of connection. While the traditional format is saturated with influencers fighting for views and likes, it allows fans to call their favorite creator and pay them for their time. This allows content creators, from models to influencers, to transform their social media followers into income. "We're building the future of the creator economy. In a few years, Speaky will be the platform where thousands of creators worldwide make a full-time living through authentic fan interaction - not just likes and views. Our dream is to make real human connection a creator's most valuable currency," says Blake Lily. About Speaky.co Speaky.co is a digital platform that connects content creators with their fandom through video conferencing. The creators set their price per minute and schedule, empowering them to turn their social media followers into income. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251501 SOURCE: APG Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Mineral Road Discovery Inc. (CSE: ROAD) (the "Company" or "ROAD") announces that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Bergslagen Tungsten Project in Sweden. The Bergslagen Tungsten Project, Sweden consists of eight mineral concessions located in the Bergslagen region near the municipality of Ludvika, which is approximately 220 km from Stockholm. Each of the properties have had some level of historic production for tungsten, iron or molybdenum with the oldest mines dating back to the 17th century. There has been a considerable amount of work performed in the region and as such there is a significant amount of historical information available on the properties, however, neither of the properties have been explored using modern techniques and all have untested prospects. The Bergslagen region has a long history of mining and smelting that dates back over a millennium. Within the municipality of Ludvika alone, there are more than 550 historical mines registered. There is an extensive network of paved highways and rail services in the region and the national power grid passes through or nearby all of the properties. The nearest seaport is Gavle, approximately 155 km northeast of the properties. A large network of unpaved roads allows easy access to large portions of the properties. An initial focus for the Company will be the Yxsjoberg permit. The Yxsjoberg mine exploited a number of deposits that made it the most important producer of tungsten in Sweden. The mine was in operation by the State-owned mining company until 1989. All properties are covered by low altitude airborne surveys consisting of total magnetic field, VLF and spectrometry, carried out by the Geological Survey of Sweden. In addition, regional biogeochemical sampling has been carried out. During the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of heavy minerals in till samples were taken, both by the Geological Survey and a state-owned mining company, LKAB. Drilling has been conducted on several targets within the permitted areas. ROAD will first ensure that all historical data is digitally compiled and then begin detailed exploration work tailored to each permit. Terms ROAD has entered into a definitive acquisition agreement with 1521480 B.C. Ltd. (the "Vendor") dated May 22, 2025 to acquire a 100% interest in NewPeak Sweden OY ("NewPeak Sweden"), which holds the eight exploration permits in central Sweden, in consideration of the issuance of 2,700,000 ROAD Shares to the original property owner (the "Previous Owner"), and the payment to the Vendor of $300,000 in cash and/or marketable securities owned by ROAD. An additional milestone payment of $250,000 will be payable to the Previous Owner if exploration expenditures exceed $250,000 within 30 months of closing, with an additional $750,000 payment upon the reporting of a JORC inferred resource of a minimum of 3mt at 0.3% WOBE. The milestone payments can be made by cash or ROAD shares, at the option of the Company. The Vendor is owned by a trust that is controlled by Damien Reynolds (the "Joint Actor") who is a director of ROAD and owns and controls, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 53,112,150 ROAD shares representing approximately 57.3% of the issued and outstanding ROAD Shares as at the date hereof. Accordingly, the acquisition of an interest in NewPeak Sweden will be considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, as the amount of the consideration paid to the Vendor does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. FINANCING ROAD announces a non-brokered private placement of 666,666 shares at a price of $0.075 per share for proceeds of $50,000 (the "Private Placement"). Proceeds will be used for general working capital. The Private Placement is subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange. All shares issued upon closing of the Private Placement will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. About Mineral Road Discovery Mineral Road Discovery is an investor in exploration. By focusing on a combination of top-down thematics and significant technical and financial expertise, we can manage risks better to provide exceptional shareholder value. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "proposed", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, completion of the transactions described herein on the terms set out, or at all; receipt of all required regulatory approvals; the Company's objectives, goals and exploration activities proposed to be conducted on the properties to be acquired by the Company; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Company's properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the ability to complete the proposed transactions on the terms disclosed, including receipt of all required regulatory approvals and any other consents; the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration proposed to be conducted at the properties to be acquired by the Company; failure to identify any mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Company's properties; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; 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); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described in the most recently filed management's discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as 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 statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253255 SOURCE: Mineral Road Discovery Inc. Salt Lake City, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - As the nation observes Memorial Day, Wise Food Storage pauses to honor the memory of U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service to our country. This day stands apart as a solemn reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by America's fallen heroes. In keeping with the spirit of service and remembrance, Wise is highlighting Military Appreciation Month and their partnership with MMA legend and U.S. Army veteran Randy Couture and his nonprofit, the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation. Founded in 2009, the foundation is dedicated to helping combat veterans and their families with financial and emotional support as they transition back to civilian life. To support this mission, Wise donates $10 for every Prepare with Randy Emergency Food Bucket sold. Get prepared and make a difference with the 60-serving starter bucket. This is a practical first step toward preparedness and includes a variety of long-lasting meals made to sustain families during uncertain times. "We believe in doing more than just providing emergency food-we want to make a meaningful difference," said Norm Ramos, Director of Marketing at Wise Food Storage. "Through our partnership with Randy and support for the Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation, we are proud to give back to those who have given so much." Earlier this month, Wise Food Storage was honored to support the Foundation's 17th Annual Ride for Our Troops, a community-driven event that raises awareness and funds to veterans in need. While Memorial Day is a time for solemn remembrance, it also reminds us of the importance of readiness and resilience within our communities. Freedom is not free, and the sacrifices made by our service members inspire us to prepare thoughtfully for the future. This month, we invite families to explore ways to become better prepared. Learn more at www.wisefoodstorage.com. Wise Food Storage Survival Food To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9785/253281_fd7a999d5453891a_001full.jpg About Wise Food Storage Wise Food Storage is a leading provider of long-term and emergency food supplies designed for everyday families, outdoor adventurers, and anyone seeking peace of mind. From shelf-stable meals to survival gear, we're committed to helping households prepare today for whatever tomorrow brings. Learn more at https://wisefoodstorage.com/. About Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation The Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Randy Couture to support wounded veterans and their families. The organization provides financial assistance, housing help, and access to essential resources for veterans and their families. Learn more at https://www.xcgif.org/. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253281 SOURCE: Wise Food Storage CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Mason Jappa, CEO and Co-Founder of Blockware Solutions LLC, participated in Benchmark's Digital Assets Virtual Seminar, offering insights into the evolving landscape of Bitcoin mining and digital asset infrastructure. Drawing from his extensive experience in the industry, Jappa highlighted the critical role of transparency, accessibility, and innovation in shaping the future of cryptocurrency mining. In his presentation, Jappa emphasized the importance of building trust within the mining community. He discussed how Blockware Solutions has been at the forefront of providing reliable hardware procurement, hosting services, and mining pool operations, ensuring that both newcomers and seasoned miners have access to the resources they need. "Our mission at Blockware has always been to democratize access to Bitcoin mining," said Jappa. "By offering comprehensive solutions and fostering a transparent ecosystem, we aim to empower individuals and institutions to participate confidently in the digital asset space." Jappa also addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by the current regulatory environment. He underscored the necessity for miners to adapt to changing policies while advocating for clear guidelines that support innovation and growth in the sector. The seminar provided a platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas on the future of digital assets. Jappa's insights contributed to a broader understanding of how infrastructure development and strategic partnerships can drive the adoption of cryptocurrencies. Quick Facts About Blockware Solutions: Marketplace Activity: Blockware's ASIC Marketplace has enabled its users to purchase and sell live, hosted miners with ease since 2017. Business Operations: Operating across six U.S.-based facilities in states like Kentucky, Texas, and Georgia, Blockware offers comprehensive services including Mining as a Service (MaaS), hardware procurement, hosting, and mining pool operations. Recent Partnerships: Crypto Blockchain Industries (CBI): Entered a $10 million strategic partnership to enhance Bitcoin mining efficiency and scalability, with Blockware deploying and managing next-generation Bitmain ASIC miners on behalf of CBI. Soluna Holdings: Signed a two-year hosting agreement to deploy approximately 1,500 S21+ mining units at Soluna's Project Dorothy 2 data center in Texas, emphasizing sustainable Bitcoin infrastructure. Expansion into HPC and AI: Blockware has recently announced its strategic expansion into High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sectors, offering high-performance GPU servers and AI-optimized hardware. A new HPC marketplace is in development to facilitate access to these resources. About the Company BLOCKWARE SOLUTIONS, LLC is a leading Bitcoin mining infrastructure and services provider, evolving from a mining hardware brokerage to a comprehensive Mining-as-a-Service platform. With billions in hardware transactions and a trusted mining community, Blockware offers U.S.-based infrastructure that delivers premier hosting solutions, liquidity, and operational tools to optimize transparency, efficiency, and profitability. Their innovative Bitcoin-native Marketplace is transforming the way miners buy and sell hardware, hashrate, and energy contracts, providing just-in-time liquidity and driving the future of decentralized, transparent, and efficient mining. To learn more, visit www.blockwaresolutions.com Watch the Benchmark's Digital Assets Virtual Seminar Here Media Contact: Nicholas Dorion Director of High Performance Computing and Communications Phone: +1 (917) 725-7118 Nicholas@blockwaresolutions.com SOURCE: Blockware Solutions View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency/blockware-solutions-ceo-mason-jappa-highlights-strategic-growth-and-i-1031517 LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Electronic Caregiver, Inc., the company behind Addison Care - the world's first 3D AI-driven virtual caregiver with integrated TeleCare infrastructure-is expanding its national reseller network through the launch of its Master Care Partner Program, offering what may be one of the most exciting and lucrative self-employment opportunities in the U.S. today. With over 140 million Americans living with chronic conditions, 53 million overstressed family caregivers seeking support, and 50 million aging adults aiming to maintain independence, the demand for proactive, AI-powered health management has never been greater. Addison Care delivers real-time health trend monitoring, chronic care adherence, personalized engagement, cognitive stimulation, and coordinated emergency and clinical response, providing users with longer, safer, more fulfilling lives at home. "This market segment is a rocket ship of opportunity," said Anthony Dohrmann, Founder and CEO of Electronic Caregiver. "But there's been no national destination for distributing digital health at scale. The company that builds diverse, integrated, and far-reaching distribution channels across all care delivery models will dominate virtual care-and that's our mission." A Groundbreaking Turnkey Opportunity Master Care Partners are self-employed resellers who receive a complete, ready-to-launch business model with no startup costs, no inventory to purchase, and no staffing required. Each Partner earns upfront activation bonuses and participates in recurring monthly revenue streams from long-term service contracts, plus equity participation. Electronic Caregiver handles all inventory logistics, 24/7 customer support, warranty service, and product delivery, enabling resellers to focus entirely on network development and market growth. Partners build professional referral networks in key healthcare verticals, including: Senior living & senior services Home care & rehabilitation Physical therapy & DME providers Podiatrists, audiologists, optometrists, and primary care Insurance brokers & aging-in-place solution providers "This is a business that enables every reseller to become a mission-driven community leader reducing preventable hospitalizations, promoting patient independence, and giving caregivers peace of mind," said Dohrmann. "We're talking about changing lives while building a powerful income stream." Massive Demand, Meaningful Impact The digital health industry is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2035, and AI-driven care avatars like Addison are increasingly recognized as the future front line of healthcare, as echoed in recent comments by CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. Addison Care addresses the 5 Pillars of Patient Concern: Longevity and survival Autonomy and independence Comfort and quality of life Understanding health status and trust in care plans Staying connected to family, friends, and purpose "Addison is more than just a tablet. It's 24/7 companionship, real-time care plan engagement, access to emergency help, on-demand physicians, and daily stimulation for both mind and body," said Dohrmann. "It's the right mission, at the right time with the right model." Electronic Caregiver plans to recruit 30,000 U.S. resellers by Q1 2030, with hundreds already onboarded and beginning to build their markets. Qualified applicants must complete a brief HIPAA certification and background check, followed by training and immediate activation with a complete starter kit. About Electronic Caregiver Electronic Caregiver, Inc., founded in 2009, is a pioneering digital health technology company delivering AI-powered virtual care solutions to aging, ill, and disabled populations. With over $150M invested in R&D, 27 awarded patents, spotlights by AWS, Intel, and Samsung, serving reputable clinical organizations coast to coast, and clients in all 50 states, the company is redefining home healthcare, chronic care management, and patient engagement for the 21st century. Contact Information Travis Luevano Director, Digital Marketing media@ecg-hq.com (575) 649-7808 SOURCE: Electronic Caregiver, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/electronic-caregiver-expands-national-reseller-program-with-launch-of-1030109 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sc3 Asset Management announces that it is entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to co-manage and launch a U.S. defense industrial base private equity platform in partnership with National Capital, a Capital Market Authority (CMA) regulated and licensed Saudi based Capital Market Institution. This initiative is designed to pursue the rapid development and commercialization of key defense technologies - both within the United States and with allied nations - in support of the global mission. This announcement comes alongside the historic U.S.-Saudi trade mission and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening transnational security cooperation, advancing sovereign innovation, and mobilizing trusted capital toward mission-critical infrastructure. About National Capital KSA National Capital Company (NCC) is a licensed Saudi-based Capital Market Institution regulated by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) of Saudi Arabia. NCC offers a full range of investment banking services, alternative investments asset management, advisory & arranging, and private equity & VC; with a strong focus on aligning capital with strategic sectors under Saudi Vision 2030. The firm provides robust financial governance, Shariah-compliant offerings, and is a trusted partner for domestic and international investment initiatives across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Learn more: www.nationalcapital.com.sa About Sc3 Asset Management Sc3 Asset Management is a U.S.-based alternative asset management firm focused on private equity, real estate, venture capital and private credit. The organization's primary focus is on national security, aerospace, and emerging technologies. With decades of experience in defense sector investment and intelligence community operations as well as extensive experience as global asset manager, Sc3 specializes in aligning capital with mission-driven innovation. The firm supports technology commercialization, defense industrial base resilience, and sovereign infrastructure initiatives critical to U.S. and allied interests. Learn more: www.sc3assetmanagement.com About GIS QSP Skunkworks Inc. GIS QSP Skunkworks KSA is a Saudi-based joint venture formed through an exclusive agreement between Science Technology for Development and Industrial Investment (Science Tech) and GIS QSP Skunkworks Inc., a U.S. Cyber Defense technology Company that provides solutions to Critical Infrastructure including quantum-resilient, mission-grade cybersecurity solutions to help secure IT, OT, and IOT networks and is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama. GIS QSP Skunkworks KSA serves as a strategic platform for sovereign cyber capability development, secure hardware manufacturing, and public-private technology transfer aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The JV is positioned to support critical national security, defense-industrial, and commercial infrastructure modernization initiatives across the Kingdom and the broader GCC region. https://www.gisqspskunkworks.com/ For media inquiries: Kimberly Gretta kgretta@gisqsp.ltd Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695331/Sc3_Asset_Management_Ltd_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695330/National_Capital_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695332/GIS_QSP_Skunkworks_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695333/Science_Technology_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/sc3-asset-management-and-national-capital-company-to-launch-us-defense-industrial-base-private-equity-platform-302464606.html BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) completed its acquisition of Kinectrics, a Toronto, Canada-based provider of nuclear power plant lifecycle support solutions. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The acquisition nearly doubles the workforce of BWXTs Commercial Operations group and enables an expanded portfolio of products and services for current and new customers. Kinectrics offers a broad suite of nuclear power plant lifecycle support services, including for CANDU reactors, and lifecycle management services for the global nuclear power industry, transmission and distribution markets and in the production and supply of isotopes for the radiopharmaceutical industry. Kinectrics will operate as a BWXT subsidiary, and its financial results will be reported within BWXTs Commercial Operations segment. David Harris, president & CEO of Kinectrics, will lead the organization reporting to MacQuarrie. BWX Technologies is a Lynchburg, Va.-based manufacturing and engineering company that provides nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With nearly 10,000 employees, BWXT and its affiliated companies have 20 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. In addition, BWXT joint ventures provide management and operations at more than a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. FinSMEs 23/05/2025 Diligent, a NYC-based AI-powered company which specializes in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, acquired Vault, a San Francisco, CA-based AI-powered ethics and compliance solution provider. The acquisition will expand Diligents ability to serve global enterprises with localized compliance features, multilingual reporting channels, and assistance with adhering to global regulations. Founded by CEO Neta Meidav, Vault is an Active Integrity company, optimizing programs with a digital, AI-enabled platform for Speak Up, investigations, and data reporting. It acts as a control center for managing misconduct reporting, investigations, and built-in analytics, all from one central solution that builds a Speak Up culture across the business. The company received investments from VCs such as Gradient, Googles early-stage AI fund, and Illuminate Financial. Diligent is an AI company which specializes in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS solutions, helping more than 1 million users and 700,000 board members to clarify risk and elevate governance. The Diligent One Platform gives practitioners, the C-Suite and the board a consolidated view of their entire GRC practice so they can more effectively manage risk, build resilience and make better decisions. FinSMEs 23/05/2025 Kenishaa Francis shared screenshots on social media of receiving death threats and abusive messages from several users for breaking the marriage of Ravi and Aarti read more Kenishaa Francis has finally broken the silence amid the ongoing battle between actor Jayam Ravi and his estranged wife Aarti Mohans social media battle. She shared screenshots on social media of receiving death threats and abusive messages from several users for breaking the marriage of Ravi and Aarti. Sharing the message of an unknown user who abused Kenishaa and gave her death threats, she wrote. Im not turning off my comments or running away. I have nothing to hide from nobody. You have the right to question my actions but please come do it to my face and Im happy to show each one of you and in public my side of the story and how one persons falsification is your truth. Please take me to court if youre confident that Im even a catalyst to anything that is happening around me now. I beg you- take me to court! Do it rightfully! STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Have any of you paused to think about what Im going through with your curses and abuse? You speak of karma to hurt me, but when the truth comes outlegally and legitimatelyI wont wish that same pain upon you, she added. I understand that because most of you dont know my truth and pain, words like this and worse are easy to lay upon me. Im sorry your assumptions are hurting you. But I pray to the Gods of light that someday soon, the truth will unfold. If Im wrong, Im ready to be punished by law. Until then, can I be allowed to breathe without hatred?" Kenishaa wrote in a separate note. Jayam Ravi and Aarti were married for 15 years. In 2024, the actor hinted at irreconcilable differences and filed for divorce after he walked out of his house. A few days back, Ravi and Kenishaa came together at Dr Ishari K Ganeshs daughters wedding in Chennai. There are reports of tensions between Bangladesh leader Mohammed Yunus and the Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman over the holding of elections. Zaman is said to be unhappy with the interim government over its functioning. Amid speculations of Yunus potential resignation, lets look at who is the army chief? read more Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman gestures during an interview with Reuters at his office in the Bangladesh Army Headquarters, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 23, 2024. File Photo/Reuters Bangladesh is once again on the brink of a political upheaval. Tensions have been reported between the interim government leader, Professor Mohammed Yunus, and Bangladeshs Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman over holding the general elections in the South Asian country. There are also speculations that Yunus could offer his resignation. The Nobel laureate formed the interim government after the then Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country in the wake of widespread anti-government protests last August. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The recent developments have thrown Bangladeshs army chief into the limelight. Who is Waker-uz-Zaman? Lets take a closer look. Meet Waker-uz-Zaman Born in Dhaka in 1966, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman has served nearly four decades in the military. A graduate of the Bangladesh Military Academy, he earned a Masters degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh and completed a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from Kings College, London. He joined the infantry in 1985 and subsequently rose through the ranks to command Bangladeshs Infantry Battalion, as per The Hindu report. Zaman has served as an instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, Non-commissioned Officers Academy and the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training. He was also part of the UN peacekeeping affairs of the Bangladesh Army. Zaman also has experience as Military Secretary in the Army Headquarters and Principal Staff Officer at the Armed Forces Division under Prime Minister Hasina. As the principal staff officer, he played a big role in national defence strategies and international peacekeeping. Zamans contributions to modernising the army earned him the Army Medal of Glory (SGP) and the Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP), reported Indian Express. When India warned Hasina about Zaman General Zaman took over the post of Bangladeshs Army chief in June 2024, succeeding General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed. However, before his appointment, Indian intelligence agencies had warned Dhaka against him. Top sources in Hasinas Awami League told News18 that a senior Indian government official had contacted the then Bangladesh PM against Zamans appointment, believing that the incoming army chief may be pro-Pakistan. Hasina listened and thanked the official for their concern, but did not stop Zamans appointment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The objection was on two counts. One, on technical grounds as Zaman wasnt in his best health then. Two better candidates were overlooked, New Delhi had pointed out. The second point was strategic as Zaman was pro-Pakistan. However, it seems Waker-Uz-Zaman finally got the post because he was related to Sheikh Hasina," Bangladeshi journalist Shahidul Hasan Khokon told News18. Zaman is married to academic Sarahnaz Kamalika Zaman, the eldest daughter of late General Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman. Sarahnazs father was the Army chief in the late 1990s, during Hasinas first prime ministerial stint. General Rahman was married to a cousin of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This makes General Zaman a distant relative of Hasina. Hasinas downfall puts focus on Zaman As Hasina s government fell last August due to student-led anti-government protests, General Zaman announced the formation of an interim government. Confirming Hasinas resignation, he said: Im taking all responsibility (of the country). Please cooperate. Dressed in his military uniform, Zaman was on state television, telling the public, We will establish an interim government. Our country has endured significant suffering the economy is in turmoil, and many lives have been lost. It is crucial to end the violence. I hope my address today will contribute to restoring stability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After the Hasina governments downfall, the Army took over responsibility for law and order in the country. Is there rift between Zaman and Yunus? Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was named chief adviser of Bangladeshs interim government on August 6, 2024, a day after Hasina fled the country and came to India. In an interview with Prothom Alo in December, General Zaman announced support for the interim government. However, he also condemned the authorities for failing to rebuild the policing structure. At the end of the day, it is my soldiers who have to take to the field. They have been five months in the field now, he said. Zamans meeting with former PM Khaleda Zia at her residence in January gave rise to speculations about the Bangladesh Army chiefs next move. Now, the friction between Zaman and Yunus is out in the open. The interim government has indicated it cannot hold elections by December. This was part of the discussions led by Yunus of the council of advisers late Thursday (May 22), as per The Hindu report. This came a day after Zaman held a closed-door meeting with Commanding Officers where he expressed displeasure with the functioning of the interim government and said, Elections must be held by December and that only an elected government should determine the nations course and not an unelected administration. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There are reports that Yunus is threatening to resign. If he steps down, would Zaman come forward and take direct control of Bangladesh? Only time will tell. With inputs from agencies A 22-year-old Brazilian influencer, Luna Ambrozevicius Abrahao, was reportedly stabbed during a live broadcast by her boyfriend. The content creator could be seen dripping blood and screaming as her followers reached out to emergency services. This case comes just days after the horrific murder of a Colombian content creator, Valeria Marquez read more Luna Ambrozevicius Abrahao, a 22-year-old content creator, from Brazil was reportedly attacked during a live broadcast shortly after ending her relationship with her boyfriend. Image courtesy: Instagram Days after the horrific death of a Colombian content creator, Valeria Marquez, another case of an influencer being attacked while livestreaming has come to light, this time from Brazil. Luna Ambrozevicius Abrahao, a 22-year-old content creator, was reportedly attacked shortly after she ended her relationship with her boyfriend. Disturbingly, Luna was stabbed nine times with a knife as the camera rolled. The brutal assault unfolded in real time, leaving viewers horrified. This and the multiple recent cases have sent shockwaves through the online community, raising serious questions about the safety of influencers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres what we know so far. A breakup turns violent on camera According to Newsflash, Luna was arguing with her boyfriend, the father of her four-year-old daughter, while broadcasting live from an apartment in Sao Paulo on Monday. Soon after the tattooed influencer told her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, terrified screams pierced through the stream as her boyfriend began attacking her. una was arguing with her boyfriend, the father of her four-year-old daughter, while broadcasting live from an apartment in Sao Paulo on Monday. Image courtesy: Instagram/@Luna Ambrozevicius Abrahao As seen in footage obtained by The New York Post, blood stained the floor and furniture as Luna was stabbed repeatedly in the head, back, hand, and foot. A large knife, its blade appearing snapped from the force of the blows, was visible in the video. Viewers watching the livestream rushed to alert emergency services. Some even shared snippets of the horrific footage, which were later taken down by the platform. Against all odds, Luna survived. She was rushed to the hospital with multiple wounds and underwent emergency surgery. She remains hospitalised and is still recovering from the trauma. Her boyfriend, Alex Olievira, fled the scene after the attack. He is now wanted by police and has been charged with attempted murder and domestic violence. Authorities confirmed that the couple had been fighting at the timesomething neighbours say had happened often in the past. Luna, who shares content on dancing, beauty, and fashion with her 260,000 Instagram followers, posted a message from her hospital bed just two days after the attack for her followers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Surviving 10 stabs wasnt just a miracle, it was a revival. In the midst of pain, fear and uncertainty, I found strength in my little Serena. They were the worst hours of my life but when she came to my mind, I knew I needed to live for her, she wrote. Colombian influencer shot by a fake delivery man In a terrifying incident just days ago, 22-year-old Maria Jose Estupinan, a university student in Cucuta, Colombia, was shot multiple times at her home by a man posing as a delivery person. Security footage, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the suspect fleeing the scene as Estupinan screams in pain off-camera. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #Ahora || TRAGICO CRIMEN EN COLOMBIA: ASESINAN A LA INFLUENCER MARIA JOSE ESTUPINAN. La joven universitaria fue asesinada en su casa en la urbanizacion El Bosque. Un hombre se hizo pasar por repartidor y, al entregarle una supuesta encomienda, le disparo en el rostro. Su pic.twitter.com/OFy4aj7K0N Sivar al Dia (@SivarAlDia) May 18, 2025 The young student, who was studying at Francisco de Paula Santander University, tragically succumbed to her injuries shortly after the attack. The 22-year-old Maria Jose Estupinan, a university student in Cucuta, Colombia, was shot multiple times at her home by a man posing as a delivery person. Image courtesy: Facebook/Maria Jose Estupinan Following Estupinans death, Colombian police said she had been abused by her former partner, whos now a suspect, and suggested that the killing could have been a femicide, the targeted and purposeful killing of women and girls because of their gender. Magda Victoria Acosta, president of the National Gender Commission of the Colombian Judiciary, also revealed that Estupinan had recently been expecting a payment of 30 million pesos from her ex-partner. The amount was part of a settlement in a domestic violence case she filed back in 2018. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mexican Influencer gunned down mid-livestream Just days before Estupinans murder, another horrific incident took place, this time in Mexico. Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old social media influencer, was shot dead inside her beauty salon while livestreaming on TikTok. The attack occurred in Guadalajara, Jalisco, when a man pretending to deliver a gift entered her Blossom the Beauty Lounge and opened fire, according to the state prosecutors office. Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old social media influencer, was shot dead inside her beauty salon while livestreaming on TikTok. Image courtesy: Instagram/@Valeria Marquez Valeria was live with nearly 20,000 followers at the time. Just seconds before the fatal shots, she was heard saying, Theyre coming, followed by a voice in the background: Hey, Vale? She replied, Yes, and then muted the audio. Moments later, gunshots rang out. Marquez clutched her side and collapsed. Prior to the attack, Valeria had raised concerns about her safety online. She had mentioned receiving an expensive gift from an unknown sender, which left her unsettled. Authorities are investigating her murder as femicide. Japanese streamer killed on live video In March, a chilling case from Japan shocked viewers across the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Airi Sato, a 22-year-old influencer, was stabbed to death during a livestream watched by more than 6,000 people. The attacker, it turns out, was one of her own followers. Sato, known for her content focused on daily life, had been streaming since her high school days. One of her recent videos, titled 3.11 Walking Around the Yamanote Line, had unknowingly revealed clues about her location. Airi Sato, a 22-year-old influencer, was stabbed to death during a livestream watched by more than 6,000 people. The attacker, it turns out, was one of her own followers. Image courtesy: X Kenichi Takano, a 42-year-old man who had lent her around $17,000 (Rs14.5 lakh), tracked her down through the landmarks visible in her video. He told police the two had met online in 2021, and that Sato often requested money under different excuseslost wallet, blocked funds, urgent emergencies. Though he eventually won a court case against her for the unpaid debt, Sato never repaid him. The ongoing tension over money, paired with Takanos obsession, allegedly escalated into the deadly attack. These casesspanning Colombia, Mexico, and Japanpaint a harrowing picture of the growing dangers for influencers, especially women. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With input from agencies The United Kingdom is set to introduce chemical castration in a bid to lower the sex drive of offenders. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that the punishment will be rolled out in 20 prisons across two regions. Aimed at reducing sexual thoughts, the measure is part of a broader push to cut reoffending and relieve pressure on the prison system, which is nearing full capacity read more The treatment is expected to lower the offenders sex drive and reduce sexual thoughts. AI-Generated/Representational Image The British government is planning to start using chemical castration to reduce the sex drive of offenders. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the treatment will be introduced in 20 prisons across two regions. She also mentioned she is thinking about making it compulsory. The treatment is expected to lower the offenders sex drive and reduce sexual thoughts. ALSO READ | How UKs murder prediction tool could predict who might kill in future It is worth noting that chemical castration has already been used in countries like Germany and Denmark. In the UK , too, it has been used before, but only for men who chose the treatment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what exactly is chemical castration? Why is the UK bringing it in now? How does it work? This explainer will look at these questions. Lets find out: What is chemical castration? Chemical castration involves using medicines to block the production of sex hormones in the body. Hormones are released by different glands and travel through the bloodstream, sending signals to various parts of the body. They help control things like energy levels, growth, and mood. It is worth noting that chemical castration has already been used in countries like Germany and Denmark. Pixabay/Representational Image Sex hormones in particular trigger puberty and support the bodys reproductive functions, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This treatment is given through medication, along with psychiatric support. It is mainly used for sex offenders who have ongoing, obsessive thoughts about sex or show troubling sexual behaviour. How will it work in the UK? Why is it being introduced? The UK plans to begin using medication to lower the sex drive of certain sex offenders. This move is part of a wider effort to reduce reoffending and ease pressure on the prison system, which is close to full capacity. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in Parliament, following the release of an independent sentencing review, Of course, it is vital that this approach is taken alongside psychological interventions that target other causes of offending, like asserting power and control. While the review pointed out that the treatment may not suit all sex offenders, such as those whose actions are linked to control and violence rather than sexual urges, Mahmood noted that research suggests chemical castration can reduce reoffending by as much as 60 per cent. The suggestion came from a major review led by former Justice Secretary David Gauke. The review not only looked at ways to cut reoffending but also recommended major changes to a prison system nearing its limits. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of Mahmoods early decisions as justice minister, after Labour returned to power last July following 14 years in opposition, was to approve an early-release scheme to create space in prisons. She said she had inherited a justice system that had long been overlooked under the previous Conservative government and launched the review to bring stability back. British Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood at the No. 9 Downing Street Media Briefing Room. AP Mahmood is now considering whether the chemical castration programme should be made available across the country, and whether it should become compulsory. There is currently no set timeline for this decision. So far, the government has not confirmed which areas or prisons will be involved in the expanded pilot. Gaukes report noted that, as of the end of March 2025, sexual offences made up 21 per cent of adult prison sentences being served. The review recommended creating a strong evidence base for the use of chemical castration and suggested looking into continued funding for these services, according to BBC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, it also warned that this form of treatment should never be used as a risk management tool or standalone rehabilitative offer, and it is only appropriate for a limited number of sex offenders. However, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick raised concerns, saying mandatory chemical castration could breach human rights laws. He claimed the government was using the policy as a distraction. This is a dead cat story from a Labour Government desperate to distract from its dangerous plan to let arsonists, paedophiles and child abusers get away with serving just a fifth of their sentence, he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph UK. The sentencing changes aim to free up 9,800 prison spaces, a 10 per cent reduction, by 2028, to help manage the overcrowding crisis and stop jails from running out of room. Who will be part of this? As part of the new plans, the system allowing automatic release after serving 40 per cent, 50 per cent or two-thirds of a sentence, based on the 1991 Criminal Justice Act, will be removed. According to The Telegraph UK, serious offenders such as killers, rapists, and others convicted of violent or sexual crimes will now be released halfway through their sentence instead of two-thirds, but only if they follow prison rules and take part in rehabilitation programmes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This change will apply to thousands of prisoners who are serving determinate or fixed-term sentences of four years or more. These include crimes like rape, manslaughter, attempted murder, soliciting murder, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Meanwhile, people convicted of less serious crimes, such as burglary, theft, fraud and assault, could be released after serving just a third of their sentence, provided they maintain good behaviour, the report added. So far, the government has not confirmed which areas or prisons will be involved in the expanded pilot. AI-Generated/Representational Image Under an earned progression system, these offenders may spend up to one-third of their remaining sentence on an enhanced licence. During this time, they could be monitored through electronic tags, subject to curfews, and may even have their passports taken away. The final third of the sentence would be served on a standard licence, where breaking the rules could mean being sent back to prison. How effective is chemical castration? Chemical castration involves the use of two types of medication. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help reduce intrusive sexual thoughts, while anti-androgens lower testosterone levels and decrease sex drive. These drugs are used along with psychiatric support to address deeper reasons behind sexual offending, such as a desire to assert control or power. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Though research is still limited, early findings show a drop in reoffending rates. According to BBC, one study tracked ten offenders after treatment, none of them committed another offence. In another study, two groups were compared: one group received chemical castration while the other did not. The reoffending rate was found to be 60 per cent lower in the group that received the treatment. With inputs from agencies Elias Rodriguez, 31, has been accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a couple who were about to get engaged. About an hour after the shooting, a document believed to be linked to Rodriguez surfaced on social media. Titled Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home, the post accused Israel of killing tens of thousands of Palestinians since the Hamas attacks in October 2023. It also referenced armed action and attempted to justify it morally read more Two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, a young couple soon to be engaged, were shot and killed on Wednesday evening by a man from Chicago who shouted Free, free Palestine after being taken into custody. Elias Rodriguez, 31, has been accused of opening fire on a group of people as they were leaving an event for young professionals and diplomats. The gathering was organised by the American Jewish Committee, a group that works against antisemitism and supports Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26. The couple was planning to get engaged . ALSO READ | How 14,000 babies in Gaza are at the risk of dying in 48 hours if Israel aid block continues Now, a document believed to belong to Rodriguez appeared on social media about an hour after the shooting. In this explainer, we look at who Elias Rodriguez is, what the document and his social media activity show, and what took place on the night of the shooting. Lets take a look: Who is Elias Rodriguez? Rodriguez has been charged with the murder of foreign officials along with other offences. During a brief court appearance, he did not enter a plea. Prosecutors have said more charges could be added as the case is still under investigation. Authorities are looking into whether the attack was a hate crime targeting the Jewish community and if it amounts to terrorism. Rodriguez has been active with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and has also been involved in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, according to reports. Back in 2017, he took part in a protest outside the home of then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It was led by groups including the Peoples Congress of Resistance, ANSWER Chicago, and Black Lives Matter Women of Faith. After the shooting, Rodriguez went inside a museum nearby and admitted to the act. By the time he was arrested, he was no longer armed, the affidavit states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed, he reportedly said. Footage showing 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez yelling Free Palestine while being taken into custody by D.C. Metro Police, after shooting and killing two staffers of the Israeli Embassy outside of the Capital Jewish Museum tonight in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/pOyIawAMVn OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 22, 2025 Rodriguez also told police that he looked up to a US Air Force service member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in February 2024. He referred to the man as courageous and a martyr, according to court documents. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD An FBI affidavit claims that the attack was planned in advance. Rodriguez is said to have flown from Chicago to Washington on Tuesday, bringing a handgun in his checked luggage. He also bought a ticket for the event about three hours before it began. Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2018 with a bachelors degree in English. What Rodriguezs alleged manifesto and social media profile reveal FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on social media that investigators are aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect and are working to confirm whether they are genuine. His remarks seem to refer to a manifesto signed with Elias Rodriguezs name, which was posted on an anonymous X account shortly before the shooting on Wednesday. The post, titled Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home, accused Israel of killing tens of thousands of Palestinians since the Hamas attacks in October 2023. It also discussed the idea of armed action and its moral justification. Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives. This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words pic.twitter.com/2HytKDp8Fr Embassy of Israel to the USA (@IsraelinUSA) May 22, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The manifesto began, In the wake of an act people look for a text to fix its meaning so heres an attempt. The atrocities committed by Israelis against Palestine defy description and defy quantification. It claimed that Rodriguez believed many Americans would now see his actions as highly legible and even rational. The message ended with the words, Free Palestine - Elias Rodriguez. Alongside this, a LinkedIn profile that appeared to be his stated that he had been working as an administrative specialist since July. His earlier roles included production and logistics coordinator and oral history researcher for HistoryMakers, a nonprofit organisation that works to preserve African American history. Firstpost has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the profile. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happened during the shooting? The shocking attack led Israeli missions around the world to tighten security and lower their flags to half-mast. The shooting took place at a time when Israel is carrying out a major operation in Gaza in its war with Hamas, a conflict that has raised tensions across the Middle East and globally. US law enforcement had already warned that such events could lead to violence within the country. The victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli national, and Sarah Milgrim, an American. According to Israels ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, the couple were soon to be engaged. The couple was planning to get engaged. Reuters/File Photo Friends and colleagues remembered them on Thursday as warm and curious individuals, committed to peace and to building understanding across cultures and faiths. The couple were walking out of the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and began shooting. Witnesses said he had been pacing nearby and acting strangely beforehand. Surveillance footage showed Elias Rodriguez moving in on the two victims after they had fallen, leaning over and firing again. He appeared to reload his weapon before running away, according to the FBI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Thursday that he was shocked by what he called a horrific, antisemitic attack. We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel, he said. Former US President Donald Trump also condemned the killings. These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! he posted on Truth Social. Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. With inputs from agencies Germany announced the permanent deployment of thousands of its troops in Lithuania the first time it has done so since World War II. The development came against the backdrop of a visit from Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Lithuania. But what do we know? Why does this matter? read more German soldiers march at a formal inauguration of a German brigade for NATO's eastern flank in Vilnius. AP Germany has sent permanent troops overseas and it is a big deal. Germany has announced the permanent deployment of thousands of its troops in Lithuania the first time it has done so since World War II. The development came in the backdrop of Chancellor Friedrich Merz making a visit to Lithuania. This is a historic day, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after meeting Merz. This is a day of trust, responsibility and action. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what do we know? And why is this such a big deal? What do we know? As per The Guardian, the ceremony in Lithuania was attended by Merz, his defence minister Boris Pistorius and Nauseda. Dozens of military helicopters roared over the central cathedral square in Lithuanias capital, Vilnius, as the ceremony wrapped up on a rainy Thursday afternoon, with hundreds of troops and spectators attending. It was held to mark the formation of a new armoured brigade. The new unit will consist of 4,800 German soldiers as well as 200 civilian staff. It will reach 100 per cent operational capacity by 2027. Soldiers from Lithuania stand at a formal inauguration of the German brigade for NATOs eastern flank in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) An advance party started work on setting it up just over a year ago and expanded into an activation staff of about 250 people last fall. The 45 Armoured Brigade is expected to see its troops stationed at Rukla and Rudninkai. The stationing in Lithuania marks the first time that a German brigade is being based outside Germany on a long-term basis since World War II. Why is this such a big deal? Because Lithuania lies in Europes Baltic region**.** It borders Russia and Moscows ally Belarus. More importantly, it is a fellow member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and an ally of Germany. Together with our partners, we are determined to defend the alliance territory against any aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security, Merz was quoted as saying by The Guardian. This troops are being deployed to strengthen Natos eastern flank and protect Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD All three Baltic states formerly belonged to the Soviet Union. They are now members of Nato and the EU and worried about what Russia might do next. As per Business Insider, Lithuania is one of the highest spenders on Nato when measured as a percentage of its GDP. It is also a fierce ally of Ukraine. Indeed, Nauseda at the press conference claimed Russias aggressive revisionism was imperilling the entire continent. We understand the threat and believe that we can face up to the threat with our allies, Nauseda said. He added that Lithuania wanted to meet its new Nato goal of spending 5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2026. The move from Germany, which is the powerhouse of Europe, is essentially a signal to Russia which invaded Ukraine in 2023 try us at your own peril. Business Insider quoted Brigadier General Christoph Huber, the commander of the 45th Armored Brigade, as saying Were not only moving toward operational readiness, were taking responsibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For the alliance, for Lithuania, for Europes security, he said. As a sign of our determination to defend peace and freedom with our partners. Merz told the event that protecting Vilnius is protecting Berlin. Lithuanias President Gitanas Nauseda, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Lithuanias defense minister Docile Sakaliene and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius participate with military leaders at a formal inauguration of a German brigade for NATOs eastern flank in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) Germany has been eyeing bolstering its military after years of not doing so. This is in part due to its actions during World War I and II. The country also has had a debt brake which limited borrowing against defence spending over 1 per cent of its GDP. However, Germany has recently done away with that. Germany spent just 1.51 per cent of its GDP on defence in 2022 and 2.12 per cent of its GDP on defence in 2024, as per Business Insider. However, it has pledged to do more. As have all the other Nato members in the backdrop of Russias actions in Ukraine and US President Donald Trumps demanding that they stop freeloading off of Washington. Merz added that Berlins strengthening of its own military also send a signal to its allies to invest in security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Germany is investing massively in its own armed forces. With this, we also want to send a signal to our allies: let us now invest with determination in our own security, Merz said. Together with our partners, we are determined to defend alliance territory against every every aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security. With inputs from agencies Germany will suspend the informal visa appeal process from July 1 worldwide, which is a big setback for Indians seeking Schengen and national visas. The European country says the move will reduce wait times and free up resources. However, Indians will have only two options if their visas are rejected, which are costly and time-consuming read more A woman poses for a picture on a bridge above the Main river in the centre of Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on August 7, 2023. File Photo/AFP Germany is doing away with the informal visa appeal process from July 1 globally. The move will be a big jolt to Indians seeking Schengen and national visas for higher education, skilled jobs and tourism in the European country. According to the German Missions in India, the change is expected to reduce wait times and free up staff to process more visas. However, after Germany scraps the remonstration procedure, applicants will be left with rather costly and time-consuming recourse if their visa is rejected. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. Germany scraps visa appeal process Germanys remonstration procedure allowed visa aspirants whose applications were rejected to file a letter for free and contest the decision. This informal step saved visa seekers from taking the lengthy and costly legal recourse. The Federal Foreign Office has decided to abolish the remonstration procedure for visa rejections worldwide from July 1. This eliminates a legal remedy in the visa application procedure that is not statutorily prescribed and which up to now has been granted voluntarily, the German Missions in India said on its website. This change comes after a pilot project was launched in June 2023, when remonstrations for both Schengen visas and national visas were suspended to assess their impact. Evaluation of the pilot project has shown that dispensing with the remonstration procedure has released considerable staff capacity in visa sections in some cases, freeing up staff to process more visa applications, the German Missions said. It said this helped them process more visa applications as well as cut wait times. A man walks past a wall with street art in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on August 1, 2023. File Photo/AFP How will Indians be impacted? Indians comprise one of the largest groups seeking German Schengen and national visas. The changes are, thus, likely to affect them more. According to the visa processing platform Atlys report, the demand for Schengen visas surged among Indians this year. Schengen visa enables non-EU holders to visit 29 countries in the Schengen zone for 90 days in a 180-day period. Indians travelling to Germany also witnessed an 8.6 per cent spike in 2024, rising from 8,26,703 overnight stays in 2023 to 8,97,841 in 2024. As the informal visa appeal process ends, visa applicants will have to ensure their applications are error-free the first time to reduce the chances of being turned down. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2024, Germany denied 206,733 Schengen visa applications with a rejection rate of 13.7 per cent. Visa applicants will have only two options if their application is rejected. They can either submit a completely new application or file a legal appeal in German courts. The legal route is usually costly, and the applicant has to hire a German lawyer. The courts can take up to two years to reach a decision. Adequate legal protection will also be guaranteed in the future, for judicial review under law will not be limited by the abolition of the remonstration procedure. Furthermore, it goes without saying that all applicants have the option of submitting a new visa application at any time in the case of a rejection, the German Embassy said. However, experts say that the visa reforms will make the appeal process more difficult. Germanys upcoming visa reform, effective from July 2025, is a double-edged sword for Indian students and travellers, Ankit Mehra, Founder & CEO of GyanDhan told Financial Express. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By removing the appeals process for rejected visa applications, the system promises faster processing and administrative efficiency. However, it also eliminates a crucial safety net. Applicants will no longer have the option to appeal rejections, making it essential that their documents and application meet all criteria from the start, Mehra added. With inputs from agencies The IndiGo Delhi-Srinagar flight, which was caught in terrifying mid-air turbulence on Wednesday, was denied permission to enter the Pakistani airspace by both the Indian Air Force and Lahore ATC, putting over 200 lives in danger, pilots told the DGCA. The airspace between the two countries is closed following tensions over the Pahalgam attack read more As the pilots of The IndiGo Delhi to Srinagar flight battled extreme turbulence, they made a desperate request to reroute into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. However, the request was denied. Image courtesy: X, PTI It was supposed to be a regular flight from Delhi to Srinagar, until the skies turned hostile. Midway through the journey, IndiGo flight 6E-2142 flew straight into a violent hailstorm, shaking the aircraft and rattling passengers. As the pilots battled extreme turbulence, they made a desperate request to reroute into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. However, the answer from across the border was a no, as per the pilots statement to Indias aviation safety regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is investigating the incident. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With no way around, flight crew decided to go through the inclement weather and continue flying to Srinagar, triggering a plunge of 8,500 feet per minute and unleashing panic inside the cabin. According to an initial report from the DGCA, the flight was carrying more than 220 passengers, including members of Parliament. Heres what really happened. Request to deviate rejected According to the crews post-flight statement submitted to the DGCA, the flight was cruising at an altitude of nearly 36,000 feet when it ran into bad weather near Punjabs Pathankot, close to the India-Pakistan border. As conditions worsened, the pilot reached out to Northern Air Traffic Control, which is under the Indian Air Force (IAF), requesting a left deviation toward the international border to dodge the storm. But with military tensions still high following Operation Sindoor earlier in May, that request was turned down. As per crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route, however, it was not approved, the DGCA said. The Lahore ATC denied permission, despite the worsening weather and safety risk to over 220 passengers on board. AI-generated representative image. With few options left, the crew made a second requestthis time to Lahore ATC, asking for emergency clearance into Pakistani airspace. That plea was denied too, despite the worsening weather and safety risk to over 220 passengers on board. Crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too, the report noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan had already closed its airspace to Indian carriers from April 24, initially for a month. That ban was extended further to June 24, according to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by Pakistans aviation authorities on Friday. With the storm now rapidly closing in, the pilots briefly considered turning back to Delhi. But by then, the aircraft was already too close to the approaching clouds. Weighing the proximity and potential hazards, the crew decided to penetrate the weather head-on to proceed toward Srinagar. The terrifying freefall Once inside the storm, things took a dramatic turn. The aircraft was tossed around by extreme turbulence and hit by strong vertical air currentswhat pilots call updrafts and downdrafts. Preliminary findings from the DGCA reveal that the aircraft experienced an Angle of Attack fault and lost alternate law protectionessential flight control featuresbecause of the violent atmospheric conditions. In simple terms, the planes automatic stability systems were overwhelmed and failed to respond. As the storm battered the aircraft, the autopilot system disengaged. The pilots had to take over manual control while dealing with erratic airspeed data, shaking controls, and a cockpit filled with warning alarms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At one point, the aircraft plunged at a terrifying rate of 8,500 feet per minutewell above the normal descent rate of 1,500 to 3,000 feet during standard landings. Inside the cabin, panic broke out. Passengers were seen crying, screaming, and praying. Videos capturing those tense moments quickly went viral, showing the true scale of the fear and confusion onboard. SHOCKING: IndiGo flight 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar hit by severe mid-air turbulence. Flight 6E-2142 was caught in a terrifying hailstorm just before landing in Srinagar, forcing an emergency landing around 6:30pm. Passengers report panic, falling luggage, and a pic.twitter.com/C30e76Z9Db Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) May 21, 2025 Despite the chaos, the pilots managed to keep the aircraft steady and pushed through the storm on course toward Srinagar, making the quickest possible exit from the turbulent zone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How did the plane land? Once the aircraft stabilised after the terrifying descent, the crew kicked into emergency protocol. They worked through the ECAM (Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitoring) checklist to assess the damage and ensure the aircraft could continue flying safely. Recognising the seriousness of the situation, the pilots declared a PAN PAN, an international radio call used to signal urgency and request possible assistance. Srinagar Air Traffic Control (ATC) then took over, guiding the shaken flight through its final descent. Despite the earlier system faults and turbulence, the aircraft touched down safely in Srinagar without further complications. Once on the ground, a routine post-flight inspection was carried out. It revealed notable damage to the aircrafts nose, particularly the radome, the rounded tip of the plane that houses the weather radar and is especially vulnerable to hail and high-speed impacts. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a formal investigation into the mid-air emergency. Both IndiGos technical team and regulatory experts are now analysing the planes flight data and cockpit voice recordings to determine exactly what went wrong. With input from agencies Officials from the US and Iran are set to meet in Rome for their fifth round of negotiations over Irans nuclear program. This comes in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump vowing a maximum pressure campaign against Iran and even musing about conducting strikes on Tehran. Heres what you need to know about the talks, Irans nuclear programme and how things went so wrong between the two nations read more US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with bombings if Tehran does not come to a nuclear agreement with Washington. Reuters The US and Iran are set to pick up where they left off talking about Tehrans nuclear programme. Officials from the US and Iran will meet in Rome for their fifth round of negotiations. The negotiators previously met in Rome and Muscat. This came after US President Donald Trump vowed a maximum pressure campaign against Iran urged on no doubt by ally Israel. While Trump has mused about conducting a military strike on Iran, he has also said a deal could possibly be reached. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump even penned a letter to Irans 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei which led to these talks. Khamenei has warned the US that Iran would respond to any attack with its own action. But what do we know about Trumps letter and Irans nuclear programme? How did things between us and Iran go so wrong? Lets take a closer look Trumps letter to Iran Trump sent the letter to Khamenei on March 5. The next day, he gave a television interview in which he acknowledged sending it. Ive written them a letter saying, I hope youre going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, its going to be a terrible thing. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme leader of Iran. AFP Since returning to the White House, Trump has alternately been suggesting talks and threatening Iran with strikes. Trump previously wrote a letter to Khamenei, which resulted in an angry response. Though Trumps letters to Kim Jong-un during his first term led to the leaders meeting, he could not pull of an agreement curbing North Koreas missile program. What about previous talks? Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has hosted the three rounds of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. The two men have met face to face after indirect talks, a rare occurrence due to the decades of tensions between the countries. It hasnt been all smooth, however. Witkoff at one point made a television appearance in which he suggested 3.67 per cent enrichment for Iran could be something the countries could agree on. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But thats exactly the terms set by the 2015 nuclear deal struck under U.S. President Barack Obama, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew America. Witkoff, Trump and other American officials in the time since have maintained Iran can have no enrichment under any deal, something to which Tehran insists it wont agree. Despite that, Iran and the US have held expert-level talks. Experts described that as a positive sign, though much likely remains to be agreed before reaching a tentative deal. What about Irans nuclear ambitions? Iran has insisted for decades that its nuclear program is peaceful. However, its officials increasingly threaten to pursue a nuclear weapon. Iran now enriches uranium to near weapons-grade levels of 60 per cent the only country in the world without a nuclear weapons program to do so. Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67 per cent purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Irans program put its stockpile at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds) as it enriches a fraction of it to 60 per cent purity. US intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A worker rides a bicycle in front of the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, just outside the southern city of Bushehr, Iran, on October 26, 2010. File image/ AP Ali Larijani, an adviser to Irans supreme leader, has warned in a televised interview that his country has the capability to build nuclear weapons, but it is not pursuing it and has no problem with the IAEAs inspections. However, he said if the US or Israel were to attack Iran over the issue, the country would have no choice but to move toward nuclear weapon development. If you make a mistake regarding Irans nuclear issue, you will force Iran to take that path, because it must defend itself, he said. How did things go so wrong? It wasnt always this way. Iran was once one of the US stop allies in the Mideast under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Shah purchased American military weapons and allowed CIA technicians to run secret listening posts monitoring the neighbouring Soviet Union. The CIA had fomented a 1953 coup that cemented the Shahs rule. But in January 1979, the Shah, fatally ill with cancer, fled Iran as mass demonstrations swelled against his rule. The Islamic Revolution followed, led by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and created Irans theocratic government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Later that year, university students overran the US Embassy in Tehran, seeking the shahs extradition and sparking the 444-day hostage crisis that saw diplomatic relations between Iran and the US severed. The Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s saw the US back Saddam Hussein. The Tanker War during that conflict saw the US launch a one-day assault that crippled Iran at sea, while the US later shot down an Iranian commercial airliner that the American military said it mistook for a warplane. Ever since then, Iran and the US have see-sawed between enmity and grudging diplomacy Relations peaking when Tehran made the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. But Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018, sparking tensions in the West Asia that persist till today. With inputs from agencies In the Trump vs Harvard battle, the US administration has kicked it up a notch. The government is halting the elite universitys ability to enrol foreign students, taking aim at a crucial source of funding. This move imperils several thousands of foreigners, including 788 Indians, who are currently registered in this academic year read more The Donald Trump administration in the US stepped up its clash with Harvard University by stripping the school of its right to admit international students. File image/Reuters Most students in the United States and even abroad dream of getting admission at Harvard University. However, the Donald Trump administrations new move could lead to many just having to dream of enrolment at the elite university. Thats because on Thursday (May 22), the US government said it is halting Harvard Universitys ability to enrol international students . Moreover, it has ordered existing international students at the university to transfer or lose their legal status. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This move marks the latest escalation between the famed educational institution and the Trump government. Harvard has already filed a lawsuit against the US president for cutting federal grants. Trumps latest move against Harvard prompted a strong response the Ivy League University deemed the move as unlawful, adding that it is a retaliatory action that threatens serious harm to the university. But what does all this mean for a foreign student, especially an Indian at Harvard? We get you the full picture. What is Trumps latest action against Harvard? On Thursday, the Trump administration notified Harvard University that it would be halting its ability to enrol international students and also ordered existing international students at the university to transfer or lose their legal status. Shortly later, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L Noem posted a copy of the letter the department had sent to Harvard. In it Noem said: I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked. Harvard University is reflected in the window of a merchandise store across the street from the school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Trump administration announced that it would block Harvard University from enroling foreign students. AFP The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J-nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year. This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status, Noem continued. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She later said in a statement, It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025 Why has the Trump administration taken this move? As per the Trump administration, the move to terminate Harvards Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification, which allows US universities to admit international students, is owing to the universitys refusal to turn over the conduct records of foreign students requested by the DHS last month. Moreover, the government added that the university has allowed for anti-American, pro-terrorist foreigners to harass and physically assault individuals and obstruct its once-venerable learning environment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Noem even accused the university of working with the Chinese Communist Party by hosting and training members of its paramilitary group. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson was later quoted telling CNN, They (Harvard) have repeatedly failed to take action to address the widespread problems negatively impacting American students and now they must face the consequences of their actions. She further added, Harvard has turned their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators. People cross the Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The latest escalation in Harvard vs Trump comes as a result of the universitys refusal to turn over the conduct records of foreign students. AFP What does this mean for the foreign students at Harvard? If the US government holds firm on its move to curtail foreign students at Harvard, it would change the entire landscape of the university. The university has an enormous foreign student population. Data shows that Harvard has 9,970 people in its international academic population, with 6,793 international students, comprising 27.2 per cent of its enrolment, in the 2024-25 academic year. Of this, Harvards official website says that anywhere between 500 to 800 Indian students and scholars are part of the university every year. Right now, 788 students from India are enroled at the university. Noem has stated that students who complete their degrees this semester will be allowed to graduate. Noems letter said the changes would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Harvards Class of 2025 is expected to graduate next week. However, students who have yet to complete their degree need to transfer to another university, Noem said, or theyll lose their legal permission to remain in the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD People walk between buildings on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge. File image/AP Does this hurt Harvard and other US universities? As much as the move hurts foreign students, it also hits Harvards pockets. Losing international students would be a financial hit, as most often those enrolled from outside the country pay full tuition fees. The fees for Harvard for the 2025-2026 year is $59,320 (Rs 51 lakh). This goes up to nearly $87,000 (Rs 74.8 lakh) when boarding and lodging is added. International students tend to pay larger shares of education costs compared with other students. It also has implications for the broader Massachusetts economy and a regional ecosystem that thrives off the universitys existence, Bloomberg reported. The media outlet explained that international students dont just pay tuition to Harvard; they also spend money on restaurants and other activities and many of them stay in the area to work at the states prestigious hospitals, research institutions and biotechnology companies. Additionally, it sends a message to other universities and if applied to other universities will eventually hurt the American economy. Thats because more than one million international students attend colleges in the US, contributing nearly $44 billion to the US, said NAFSA: Association of International Educators. What do students and educators say about the latest move? The administrations move to restrict foreign students at Harvard has prompted strong reactions from students as well as educators. Many of us have worked our entire lives to get to a university like Harvard, and now we need to wait around and see if we might have to transfer out and face difficulties with visas, said rising junior Karl Molden, who is from Austria, to CNN. Leo Gerden, an international student from Sweden, called the announcement devastating in the university newspaper Harvard Crimson. Every tool available they should use to try and change this. It could be all the legal resources suing the Trump administration, whatever they can use the endowment to, whatever they can use their political network in Congress, Gerden said, adding: This should be, by far, priority number one. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Faculty former and present also expressed shock over the move. Harvard economics professor Jason Furman called the measure horrendous on every level. It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. They are a huge benefit to everyone here, to innovation and the United States more broadly, Furman told CNN. Higher education is one of Americas great exports and a key source of our soft power. I hope this is stopped quickly before the damage gets any worse. Some of Harvards students and staff were stunned by the announcement, which has left thousands of students in limbo. File image/Reuters Pippa Norris, an author and Paul F McGuire lecturer in comparative politics at Harvards Kennedy School of Government, also concurred. In a report in The Guardian, she is quoted as saying that Trump is basically cutting off international knowledge to American students, he is reducing soft power, and therefore weakening America And for me personally, its going to mean tremendous problems in terms of teaching. She continued: Imagine that youve come, youve spent a lot of money and resources to come to Harvard, and youve got in, and your second or third year of the undergraduate degree, or the second year of your masters degree, and [they] say: Well, Im sorry, you know, youre not going to be able to study here next year. I mean, its devastating. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Harvards administration has also slammed the move, with its spokesperson Jason Newton saying, We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. What comes next? For now, theres a whole lot of uncertainty. The Department of Homeland Security has given Harvard 72 hours to turn over the requested records in order to regain certification. In the meantime, students have begun a scramble, determining whether they should leave the country or transfer to another. Many predict that the move will prompt a legal challenge. Harvard has already filed a suit against the Trump administration over attempts to dictate changes to its admissions and hiring practices. With inputs from agencies The killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC has drawn condemnation from many people all over the world, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However, that hasnt stopped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from accusing Starmer of siding with Hamas and being on the wrong side of history. But why is Netanyahu targeting the UK leader? read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Netanyahu claimed that Keir Starmer, Frances Emmanuel Macron and Canadas Mark Carney had "effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power".. AFP Photo On Wednesday, two Israeli embassy staff were killed in Washington DC. The staff, Sarah and Yaron, were a couple. They were planning to get engaged. The suspected gunman, Elias Rodriguez, is a 30-year-old man from Chicago. The attack has drawn condemnation from many people all over the world including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However, that hasnt stopped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from accusing Starmer of siding with Hamas and being on the wrong side of history. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what did Starmer say? What exactly did Netanyahu say and why? Lets take a closer look: What did Starmer say? Starmer has unequivocally condemned the killings. As per The National, Starmer said the killings were antisemitic. I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, Starmer said. He also slammed anti-Semitism. Britains Prime Mi.nister Keir Starmer Image: AFP Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. Starmer further offered condolences to the friends and family of the victims and the Jewish community on a whole. My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, Starmer added. What did Netanyahu say? As per BBC, Netanyahu claimed Starmer, Frances Emmanuel Macron and Canadas Mark Carney had effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power. He claimed they were in the corner of mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers. Some of Israels closest allies wanted Israel to stand down and accept that Hamass army of mass murderers will survive, Netanyahu said. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice, he added. Youre on the wrong side of humanity, and youre on the wrong side of history. As per The Independent, the Israeli Prime Minister also claimed they were emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever, by giving them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per BBC, Netanyahu also slammed UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. A few days ago, a top UN official said that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see many international institutions are complicit in spreading this lie, Netanyahu said. The press repeats it. The mob believed it. And a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington. What about other top Israeli officials? As per The Independent, Amichai Chikli, Israels minister for the diaspora and combatting antisemitism, blamed Starmer and the other leaders for the killings. We must also hold to account the irresponsible leaders in the West who give backing to this hatred whether through appeasement, double standards, or silence, Chikli said. French president Emmanuel Macron, British prime minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney have all, in different ways, emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines. This cowardice has a price and that price is paid in Jewish blood, Chikli wrote on X. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar toed a similar line. Two people who wee shot at US Capitol Jewish Museum have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The couple days away from an planned engagement. Image courtesy: X/IsraelinUS There is a direct line connecting antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder, Saar was quoted as saying by The Independent. This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organisations, especially from Europe. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Their words are the modern blood libels. Blood libels about genocide, crimes against humanity and murdering babies paved the way exactly for such murders. This is what happens when leaders in the world surrender to the Palestinian terrorist propaganda and serve it. But why have Israels prime minister and other top officials gone on the attack against Starmer and other western leaders? Why Israel is on the attack Because Starmer, Macron and Carney earlier this week came out against Israels latest offensive in Gaza. The leaders called Israels actions disproportionate" and warned that the humanitarian situation was intolerable. Starmer, backed up by Macron and Carney, had warned Netanyahu to halt his egregious actions in Gaza and said concrete actions would follow over the intolerable human suffering he is inflicting The leaders called on Israel to halt its military offensive and end restrictions on humanitarian aid which is thought to be causing widespread famine in Gaza. All three governments in a joint statement said they were committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution to the war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We strongly oppose the expansion of Israels military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterdays announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. Palestinian children shove to get a ration of hot food from a charity kitchen set up at the Islamic University campus in Gaza City. AFP They added that the Israeli governments denial of aid is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law. We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law. They warned they will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response. Starmer, speaking to MPs earlier in the day in the House of Commons, called the situation in Gaza horrific. Id like to say something about the horrific situation in Gaza, where the level of suffering innocent children being bombed again, is utterly intolerable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Over the weekend, we coordinated a response with our allies and I want to put on record today that were horrified by the escalation. From Israel, we repeat our demand for a cease fire as the only way to free the hostages. We repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank, and we repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza. As per BBC, UK armed forces minister Luke Pollard condemned the killings in Washington but rejected Netanyahus words against Starmer. We stand in support of Israels right to self-defence as long as they conduct that within international humanitarian law - a position weve had since those appalling attacks on 7 October, Pollard said. We are also very clear we need to see aid get to the people who are genuinely suffering in Gaza. With inputs from agencies Both states Delhi and Kerala have reiterated the importance of vigilance and urged the public to follow health guidelines as authorities closely monitor developments. read more Amid renewed concerns over COVID-19, Delhi, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have stepped up health preparedness following the detection of fresh cases in their respective regions. In the national capital, 23 COVID-19 cases were reported as of Thursday, prompting the Delhi government to issue an advisory for all hospitals to ensure readiness in terms of beds, oxygen supply, medicines and vaccine availability. While Kerala reported 273 COVID-19 cases in May, with Kottayam recording the highest number at 82. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday said four Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the state in the past 24 hoursthree in Visakhapatnam and one in the Rayalaseema region. The minister said a woman in Vizag tested positive on Thursday, followed by her family member and a postgraduate medical student who tested positive on Friday. Four persons tested positive for Covid-19 in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hoursthree in Visakhapatnam and a 61-year-old woman in Kadapa, Yadav told PTI. According to the minister, the first case in the port city had no travel history. He stressed there is no need to panic, as the state is well prepared. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh said that 23 COVID-19 cases have been reported till Thursday and the government is verifying the details whether patients are residents of Delhi or have travel history outside the city. The Delhi government is fully prepared to deal with any situation. We have already coordinated with all medical superintendents, doctors, and their teams across hospitals in the capital, Singh said in a statement. In terms of preparedness, hospitals and healthcare facilities have been placed on alert, and all necessary resources are being mobilised to ensure rapid response and care, the statement said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The health department continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to the public, he said, adding that citizens are advised to follow all health and safety guidelines and cooperate with authorities as needed. Earlier, the health department issued an advisory to all Delhi government hospitals regarding COVID-19 preparedness. Kerala Health Minister Veena George directed district medical and surveillance officials to increase monitoring in light of rising cases in Southeast Asia. She emphasised early detection and public cooperation as critical measures for containing any spread. Thiruvananthapuram (73), Ernakulam (49), Pathanamthitta (30), and Thrissur (26) also reported notable case counts. Both states have reiterated the importance of vigilance and urged the public to follow health guidelines as authorities closely monitor developments. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced major investment plans for Indias Northeast region on Friday (May 23). Speaking at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit, he discussed the companys future plans for the area. He started by praising the success of Operation Sindoor. Let me begin by saluting our beloved Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, for the resounding success of Operation Sindoor. It is a shining testament to his steely resolve and to the unmatched bravery our armed forces, Ambani said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Talking about the groups presence in the region, Ambani said that over the past four decades, we have invested Rs 30,000 crore in the Northeast, and our commitment to the region is only growing stronger. Will invest Rs 75,000 crore over next 5 years in Northeast. He also highlighted expanding Jios network coverage in the Northeast, increasing Reliance Retails procurement, setting up new factories, significantly boosting solar power generation, and helping the region become a healthcare hub. We will greatly enhance generation of solar power in the region. We will convert the regions vast Wasteland into Wealth-Land, by setting up 350 integrated CBG plants, the RIL chairman added. Reliance Retail is set to enhance its procurement efforts from the Northeast region as part of its broader investment strategy. The company also aims to significantly boost solar power generation in the area, contributing to the regions sustainable energy development, Ambani added. On healthcare, the RIL chairman added that In a step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure, Reliance has already established a 150-bed cancer hospital in Manipur, underscoring its commitment to the regions growth and well-being. Additionally, he also added that we will establish Olympic training centres throughout the Northeast to nurture sporting talent. Disclosure: Firstpost is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary. Since the terrorist attack, only a few tourists have visited Pahalgam, and they have mostly stayed near the scenic riverbank. All parks in Pahalgam, as well as nearby attractions like Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Chandanwari, etc, have been closed to visitors and tourists read more A month after terrorists gunned down 26 people in Pahalgam, making it the worst attack in recent memory, tourist arrivals in the town have been sparse. The incident dealt a major blow to tourism in Pahalgam and Jammu and Kashmir in general, as locals wait for travellers. The Pahalgam Hotels and Owners Association has said that the occupancy rate has dropped to 10 per cent in the past month, with over 1,500 hotels in the town going empty. Local restaurants, whose staff depend on tourists for their livelihood, cant find customers to serve food. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Javed Burza, president of the PHOA, told The Hindu, There are many big hotels with zero occupancy. Many hotels asked their staff to stay home till tourists return. It (Pahalgam terror attack) was a gruesome and scary incident. Tourism prospects remain bleak as of now. Since the terrorist attack, only a few tourists have visited Pahalgam, and they have mostly stayed near the scenic riverbank. All parks in Pahalgam, as well as nearby attractions like Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Chandanwari, Lidderwat, Sheshnag, Tulian Lake, and the Kolhai Glacier, have been closed to visitors and tourists. Even Kashmiris dont visit Pahalgam Mohit Kumar, a waiter from UP who works at a restaurant in Pahalgam, told Times of India, We called Pahalgam Mini India. We were among the first restaurants to open, confident that tourism in these parts would only grow bigger. Now, the situation is such that not even Kashmiris visit Pahalgam. Meanwhile, the owner of the restaurant, Muhammad Tasneem has pinned hope on the next festive season for the resurgence of tourism in the town. He said, Hopefully, the tourist footfall will increase during Diwali. We have seen the worst over the past three decades, and hopefully this too shall pass. Just a few metres from the restaurant, 18-year-old Darshan Ram sells wooden souvenirs like key holders, key chains, pen boxes, and toy shikaras engraved with phrases such as I love Kashmir or Gift from Kashmir. Before the Pahalgam massacre, his family used to earn between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 daily from these sales. He told TOI, In the past 10 days, I havent sold anything. Pakistans decades-long playbook of denial, deflection, disinformation, and doublespeak must be met with a chorus of facts, not just from ministries and diplomats, but from us, Indians everywhere read more It has been one month since the brutal Islamist terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (April 22, 2025), where civilians were deliberately targeted and killed after being asked their religion a cold-blooded and calculated act of violence. The incident stands as yet another grim reminder of the enduring and well-orchestrated threat posed by Pakistan-based Islamist terror networks. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision military operation aimed at dismantling terror launchpads and training facilities across the Line of Control (LoC). Far from being an isolated military reaction, Operation Sindoor marks a deliberate continuation of Indias evolving strategic doctrine, what has come to be known as the new normal, characterised by swift, proportionate retaliation to cross-border terrorism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As this assertive approach takes root, it is imperative to simultaneously globalise the discourse on Pakistans longstanding complicity in sponsoring terrorism, not just through formal statecraft but also via civil society, citizen activism, and transnational advocacy. While the Indian government is sending at least seven multi-party parliamentary delegations comprising members of parliment (MPs) and former diplomats to 33 foreign places, including the US, UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Malaysia and several African and European nations, to present its case with a unified voice, the move is not without its domestic political undertones. On the one hand, it represents a rare consensus on national security, a signal to international observers that Indias fight against terrorism transcends party lines. On the other hand, critics argue that such outreach often coincides with electoral narratives, where muscular responses to terrorism are used to consolidate political support. Nonetheless, the effort reflects a timely, calculated strategy to internationalise the issue of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistans soil in forums such as the UN, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and G20, especially as Pakistan seeks renewed economic assistance and diplomatic normalisation. In this context, civil society support can act as a moral and factual force multiplier, preventing the politicisation of national security from undermining its legitimacy on the world stage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Pattern Repeated, A Doctrine Reinforced The Pahalgam terror incident fits into a pattern that India has endured since the 1990s, a hybrid warfare strategy pursued by Islamabads security establishment using Islamists and jihadists (non-state actors) as proxies. While these groups have different names from Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the off-shoot of LeT, The Resistance Front (TRF), their objectives, funding channels, and ideological support systems have remained unchanged. However, Indias political and military response has evolved significantly, especially since 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From covert restraint in the 2000s to the surgical strikes in 2016, the Balakot airstrikes in 2019, and now Operation Sindoor (2025), the Indian counter-terror doctrine has decisively shifted towards proactive kinetic deterrence. These actions not only seek to degrade and decimate militant infrastructures but also signal to both state and non-state sponsors that India will not absorb aggression passively and can reach deep into the heartland for a blitzkrieg. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This evolution is also reflected in diplomatic engagements. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently reiterated that while India remains committed to peace, it will no longer tolerate terror on its soil. This message, however, must transcend diplomatic circles and resonate in civil societies and parliaments globally, especially in countries that continue to provide strategic or developmental cover to Pakistan. The Role of Indians: Citizens and Diaspora Herein lies the opportunity for every Indian (citizen or diaspora) to take the initiative to bring global attention to the issue of Pakistani complicity in terrorism. With a sizable Indian diaspora across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, and Australia, the potential for influencing public discourse and policy conversations is considerable. Diaspora-led delegations could engage lawmakers, think tanks, and local media with well-documented dossiers on Pakistans terror infrastructure, drawing from UN Sanctions Committee reports, FATF evaluations, and open-source intelligence. Testimonies from victims of attacks like Pahalgam and Pulwama could humanise the cost of terror in global forums. Furthermore, visual exhibitions, academic symposia, digital campaigns (#GlobalAgainstPakTerror), and strategic commentaries in global media could amplify the issue beyond South Asian strategic circles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The model is not unfamiliar altogether, of course. Jewish, Tibetan, and Uyghur communities have long leveraged diasporic networks to spotlight their causes effectively. It is time for global Indians to rise. While international advocacy by the diaspora is crucial, sustained domestic engagement is equally vital to build the factual and moral foundation of Indias global case against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Civil society organisations, community leaders, and academic think tanks within India must take the lead in systematically documenting incidents of cross-border terrorism, producing credible research, and preserving victim narratives, especially from communities directly impacted, such as Kashmiri Hindus, Hindu pilgrims or tourists, and security personnel in Kashmir. These efforts should be institutionalised through the creation of digital archives, public memorials, and open-access databases that catalogue patterns of religiously motivated attacks, links to Pakistani handlers, and judicial proceedings in terror cases. Indian think tanks and policy groups should not consider Islamism or jihadism as taboo subjects anymore. They can very well devote resources and can further supplement the effort by generating data-driven white papers and policy briefs for both domestic audiences and diplomatic use. Social media campaigns (eg, #NeverForget #NeverForgive on X, Facebook or YouTube etc) led by citizen volunteers, student groups, and survivors can play a crucial role in countering misinformation, amplifying Indias narrative globally, and ensuring that civil society remains an active participant, not a passive observer, in the national security discourse. A coordinated domestic front, grounded in research and advocacy, will thus serve as the intellectual and emotional reservoir of Indias international campaign for justice and accountability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why This Matters Now! There are primarily three reasons why this effort is urgent and necessary now, following the Pahalgam terror attacks. First, Pakistans narrative machinery is in overdrive, portraying itself as a victim of terrorism even as it hosts UN-designated terrorists and allows platforms like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Jaish-e-Mohammed to operate under charitable guises. These narratives find traction in sections of Western academia and media, often due to a lack of countervailing information. Second, as Pakistan navigates an economic crisis, external actors, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and multilateral donors, continue to funnel assistance with few strings attached. Global citizens must demand that terror accountability and deradicalisation reforms be part of the conditionalities for international aid. Third, the international counter-terror regime is shifting focus toward emerging threats such as cyber-terrorism, biosecurity, and lone-wolf actors. While necessary, this transition should not overshadow the ongoing threat posed by state-supported terrorism in South Asia. Civil society must ensure that these legacy threats are not dismissed as regional anomalies but must be addressed as global concerns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Towards a Global Coalition of Accountability Globalising the accountability for terrorism is not an anti-Pakistan campaign. Instead, it is a pro-justice, pro-peace, and pro-security effort. Indias credibility in the global arena today rests not only on its strategic clarity but also on its democratic resilience and citizen participation. A globally coordinated grassroots campaign can strengthen Indias national narrative with a moral urgency that is hard to ignore. Such an initiative will also be a testament to Indias soft power, where citizens act not as passive spectators but as active participants in shaping the international order. As terrorism evolves in form and geography, so must the architecture of resistance, rooted in facts, rights, and collective resolve. The message must be clear: Terrorism has no borders, and neither will truth. Therefore, Pakistans decades-long playbook of denial, deflection, disinformation, and double-speak must be met with a chorus of facts, not just from ministries and diplomats, but from us, Indians everywhere. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Animesh Roul is Executive Director of the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC), New Delhi. He specialises in counter-terrorism and strategic affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. India was fighting a one-front, two-country adversary. Yet, due to the heavy damage inflicted by IAF strikes and concerned about the possibility of more Pakistan chose to seek a ceasefire read more On April 22, terror struck Pahalgam. Pakistan-backed attackers stormed Baisaran, a scenic meadow located about 7 km from Pahalgam. They asked people their religion and killed them, resulting in 26 deaths. A clear attempt to incite communal violence, this marked a shift from cross-border attacks to dividing India from within. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor to destroy the terror bases behind the attack. But Pakistan attempted to hit back. Over the next week, it used drones and shelling to target Indian military and civilian targets, including religious sites. These were not random strikes. They were part of a plan to break Indias unity. India had a clear resolve to punish the perpetrators and the backers and planners of terror. The aim was to destroy terror infrastructure across the border. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India Hits Terror Targets Numerous terror camps and training sites were identified. The targets were finally selected with due diligence. The self-imposed operational ethics and restraint meant avoiding collateral civilian damage. Many targets were deeper inside Pakistan. It was decided that air will be the best means for long-range precision strikes in the shortest possible time. The Indian Air Force (IAF) was thus to do the heavy lifting. Nine terror targets were struck in the early hours of May 7. India successfully destroyed nine major terror training centres and launch-pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) facilities. The targets were hit with precision, and over 100 terrorists were killed, including JeM Chief Masood Azhars ten family members at the Bahawalpur HQ. The five targets in PoJK included Muzaffarabad (2), Kotli, Gurpur, and Bhimber. Those in Pakistani Punjab were Sialkot, Sarjal, Muridke (near Lahore), and Bhawalpur, which is around 140 kilometres from the Indian border. As many as 14 targets at 9 locations were hit using cruise missiles and loitering munitions, including indigenous ones. India clarified its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. Pakistan was told that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response. Pakistani Response Pakistans retaliatory Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos targeted several Indian military bases and civilian areas, including Hindu and Sikh religious sites. They used aircraft, surface-to-surface missiles (SSM), drones and cruise missiles. Pakistans aim was also to swarm and saturate Indian air defences. These were thwarted and neutralised by Indias air defence systems, which included S-400, Akash, and other Surface-to-Air-Guided Weapons (SAGW) systems. Also used were the Pechora, OSA, Igla, L-70 and Shilka AD systems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Only a few Pakistani weapons reached close to the targets but made no impact because of low accuracy and small warheads. India has an indigenously developed counter-drone grid called 4D (Drone, Detect, Deter, and Destroy). IAFs Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) controls all airborne and ground-based combat assets and supports all interceptions. Aircraft from either side did not cross the border. Pakistani Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also started running a media campaign stating a large number of Indian fighters were shot down during 7th morning raids. The claims were credited to Chinese PL-15 missiles fired from J-10CE and JF-17 aircraft. India countered all such claims with facts and actually claimed to have shot three Pakistan Air Force (PAF) hi-tech fighters and an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C). Since any wreckage would have fallen in their own countries, the truth will take some time to unfold. Meanwhile India displayed a complete PL-15 which had landed in India unexploded. Obviously it had either failed to lock on, or had a technical malfunction, or may have been fired well outside the authorised range of the weapon. These would need deeper technical analysis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD IAF Strikes Major Military Targets India responded to Pakistani strikes by destroying an HQ-9 supporting radar installation near Lahore and radar facilities near Gurjanwala. India followed this with major military strikes across the length and depth of Pakistan. On May 910, India became the first country to strike 11 airbases of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation, destroying 20 per cent of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) assets. The targets included airfields at Skardu, Nur Khan (Chaklala), Murid, Sargodha, Rafiqi, Rahim Yar Khan, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and Bholari. Air defence systems and ammunition storage were hit at Looni (Sialkot), Pasrur, Dha (Lahore), Arifwala, Chunian, and Malir cantonment (Karachi). These massive airstrikes covered the entire country. Interestingly Nur Khan is within walking distance of the Capital Islamabad and Pakistan Army HQ at Rawalpindi. Sargodha has PAFs nuclear air vector with large nuclear weapon storage. Rafiqi is a major fighter base in the middle of the country. To hit targets in the countrys financial capital, Karachi, actually unnerved them, and the stock market went spiralling down. IAF strikes called the Pakistani nuclear bluff and threat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) pictures of each strike were made public the very next day, shutting up all naysayers in India and abroad. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) played a great role in satellite-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and communication, among others. The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a technical intelligence agency, also supported target data. The heavy damage inflicted by IAF strikes, and worried about many more that could come, Pakistan chose to seek a ceasefire. India accepted the same conditionally. For India, it was a pause. Pakistan was warned that any adverse act could restart hostilities. The non-military measures put in place earlier would not be withdrawn. Indias non-kinetic efforts played a crucial role in shaping the strategic environment and ensuring public and international support. Through strategic policymaking, information dominance, and psychological operations, India diplomatically and economically isolated Pakistan while strengthening domestic preparedness and global backing. India has held in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Blood and water cannot flow together. India closed the Integrated Check Post at Attari. India also suspended all bilateral trade with Pakistan, imposing significant economic costs. India revoked visas of all Pakistanis residing in the country and deported them immediately. A total ban was imposed on Pakistani artists. The military attaches were declared persona non grata. The overall strength of the High Commissions was brought down. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD IAF Succeeded in All Tenets of Air Power Modern air power is characterised by several key principles, including precision, reach, flexibility, mobility, responsiveness, offensive lethality, and trans-domain operational capability. These characteristics allow for the concentration of force, decisive firepower, and the disruption of enemy systems and networks. Essentially, air power focuses on achieving effects rather than just mass, leveraging superior technology and stand-off weapons to target vulnerabilities and achieve strategic paralysis. All these tenants were more than amply displayed during this very short and swift air operation. The IAF displayed the ability to project power over vast distances (reach). The capacity to adapt and respond to changing circumstances (flexibility), deploying forces and resources in various ways to achieve objectives. Included switching from terror to specific military targets. The ability to move rapidly and strategically (mobility), taking advantage of the speed of air-based platforms to react quickly to unfolding events. Industry supported, and naval and army assets were brought in quickly where needed. The speed and efficiency with which air power can be deployed and utilised in response to evolving threats or opportunities (responsiveness) was very visible. Offensive lethality, implying destructive power and precision of air-delivered weapons, enabling the targeting and neutralisation of enemy forces and infrastructure, was seen globally from the battle damage then and now pictures released. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indian Air Force has trans-domain operational capability. The ability to operate across different domains (land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace) was achieved through integrated and synergistic effects. The Indian Navys Carrier Battle Group was dominating the Arabian Sea, and IAF maritime Su-30MKI and Jaguars were closely coordinating. Similarly, the Indian Armys offensive loitering munitions and air defence assets were fully integrated. Key principles of concentration of force and decisive targeting were visible. IAF hit Pakistans crucial locations and vulnerabilities to achieve the desired effect. A lot was visibly happening in New Delhi (centralised control), but the physical action was taking place in the Regional Air Commands (decentralised execution). Resource prioritisation was being accordingly done for effect-based results. Maintaining a balance between different air power capabilities, such as combat aircraft, missiles, drones, cyber and electronic warfare, and logistics support, was ensured. The assets guarding Indias other fronts were left in situ for possible eventualities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The IAF could maintain control of airspace and prevented the enemy from any aircraft intrusions through aerial denial. Most of the intruding drones and missiles were neutralised. IAF demonstrated its reach, speed, and shock effect. Adversaries could not intercept Indias high-speed missiles. As a part of the narrative building, Pakistan claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 84 Israeli-made Harop drones, an absurdly exaggerated number. IAF targeted critical infrastructure, disrupting command and control systems, and impeding enemy logistics through strategic strikes. IAF leveraged technological advancements and strategic principles to achieve decisive effects in warfare and protect national interests. Indian political leadership had given a well-selected aim of the operation. It was first to hit terror targets and, in case of an escalatory response, to hit a host of military targets to dismantle capability. The same was fully achieved by IAF. Indias military assets were fully protected from aerial attacks through very effective air defences. To Summarise Throughout the conflict, the focused objective against terrorism remained unchanged. PM Modi had given very clear political direction and thereafter full freedom to military leadership to deliver firm and clear combat effects. IAFs was a measured, yet powerful response. No harm was inflicted upon civilians. This was despite repeated provocations from Pakistan, including using civilian call signs for military aircraft missions while attacking India. Very careful targeting showed both Indias capability and its commitment to responsible warfare. Addressing the nation on the eve of May 12, PM Modi made it clear that Operation Sindoor is not just a name but is a reflection of the feelings of millions of people in the country and an unbroken pledge of justice. He declared that for every terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given. India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of the so-called nuclear umbrella. Aircraft and armaments of many countries, such as Russia, China, France, Israel, and indigenous systems of the two countries, were at play. Politico-military-industrial interests were driving narratives to highlight their own and downplay competitor equipment. Authentic-sounding analysts were hired to build scenarios. China was praising the performance of the J-10CE, JF-17 and PL-15 to attract future buyers. Some Western analysts wanted to downplay Rafale in view of the upcoming Indian MRFA tender. The Chinese MQ-9 had genuinely failed, as even Pakistan did not credit it with any intercepts. There was universal praise of the S-400 and Akash air defence systems. Also, all the strike weapons had done their job. Indias counter-drone system had come of age. Indian armed forces were fully coordinated and demonstrated Indias growing joint military prowess. Indias political leadership had given unambiguous directions. Indias military leadership led from the front. The entire security establishment under the National Security Advisor (NSA) was backing the military operations. ISRO and NTRO had a great role. International diplomacy was handled very deftly. Yet China and Turkey provided significant hardware support to Pakistan; China also helped in satellite-based ISR and communications and supported command and control. We can say India was fighting a one-front two-country adversary. Military conflicts will start at short notice after trigger events. The military would have to be ever ready. Capabilities will have to be in place all the time. Air will remain the preferred medium of combat action. While larger funds have been authorised for emergency purchases, defence budgets may have to go up. Backlog of modernisation, getting back fighter squadron numbers, pushing FRA and AEW&C inductions, enhanced munitions and drone stocking, securing data links, and accelerating indigenous aircraft projects and Atmanirbharta in Defence, among many others, have to be given priority. Every conflict also throws up doctrinal and tactical reviews. India showed the world that it does not require anyones permission to defend its people. India is prepared for more equally decisive counter-strikes. India demonstrated an improved global standing and narrative control. India sent an unambiguous message terrorism will be met with a swift and proportionate response, irrespective of borders or diplomatic complexities. IAF made us proud. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. While Trump had nothing to say about Pakistani political and military travesty, he is insouciant about the damage he is causing to US-India relations. Image: REUETRS The fall-out from Indias retaliation against Pakistan for the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack has been bilateral, regional and international. At the bilateral level, a powerful signal has gone to Pakistan that henceforth India will not tolerate terror attacks engineered against India. Talk of zero tolerance of terrorism has moved from rhetoric to a robust military response, despite escalatory risks. That Pakistan has nuclear weapons is no longer considered a deterrent to appropriate levels of Indian retaliation. India, in any case, has no reason to pose an existential threat to Pakistan. Just as India has to control the escalatory ladder, Pakistan too has to do, as India also possesses nuclear weapons. Pakistans belief that under the nuclear overhang it can pursue the low-cost option of conducting terror attacks against India has now been severely challenged. As in the case of the proxy war in Ukraine between NATO and Russia, both having formidable nuclear arsenals, the scope of conventional warfare has been shown to be considerable. This would not be lost on both Pakistan and India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is difficult at this stage to determine whether Pakistan has learnt a hard lesson and will avoid the risk of staging terror attacks against India in the future. It may yet be tempted to organise small-scale terror attacks on Indian soil and test Indias willingness to retaliate on a large scale. Pakistan has shown over the years that it can take the risk of playing the terrorist card even against its benefactors like the US, calculating that the latter would place self-limits on its response by weighing costs and benefits of a strong response. India too would have to consider whether a limited Pakistan-backed terrorist incident in the future would require a major military response. What adds to the doubt whether Pakistan will eschew terror in the future is the narrative that has been cultivated with the connivance of the Western media that Pakistan either got the edge over India in the recent conflict or that it was a draw. For the Western media and defence correspondents, the only metric for judging the outcome of the conflict is whether Pakistans Chinese planes and missiles succeeded in downing a French made Indian Rafale, even though no evidence has been produced by either Western or Pakistani sources to back any such claim. That the major terror hubs of Pakistan were targeted by India with precision strikes, its most important air bases were successfully attacked, and that Pakistani air defences failed to intercept the Indian missiles, are realities that have been glossed over. Part of the reason why the Western narrative has been in Pakistans favour is the Wests concern that accepting that the Pakistani military failed to defend the country would have severe repercussions internally in a Pakistan already in the throes of a political and economic crisis, and even a security one with the activities of the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), the Pakistani Taliban. (TTP) and the Afghanistan Taliban. The absurd result of this make-believe success of Pakistan against India is the self-elevation of Pakistans army chief to the rank of Field Marshal. This may well mean that a rabid, India-hating Islamist like General Asim Munir could well continue to believe that periodically bleeding India through terrorism is a realistic option. The Pakistani political class will now have even less control over a pumped-up Field Marshal. At the regional level, the consequences of Indias military action could well mean more attacks on Pakistani security forces and other targets by the BLF and the TTP as well. India has reached out to the interim Taliban government in Kabul at the political level for the first time, with Indias External Affairs Minister speaking to the Taliban Foreign Minister. This conversation came days after the Taliban administration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack too, with its official statement locating Pahalgam in India. At the same time, somewhat surprisingly, at the level of its Foreign Minister who was to visit India, Iran publicly announced its desire to play a mediatory role between India and Pakistan, knowing well Indias rejection of any third-party role in India-Pakistan issues. For Iran this was a way to balance its ties with India and Pakistan. Islamic solidarity with Pakistan is a factor. Both the Supreme Leader and the Iranian president have madereferences to Kashmir in the past to which India has objected. Indias major partners in the Arab world have all strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack. However, they have all advocated restraint and de-escalation of tensions, with Saudi Arabia sending its Minister of state for Foreign Affairs Affairs to visit India and Pakistan on May 8 and to 9 de-escalate tensions. Indonesia too has urged both parties to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue in resolving the crisis. Malaysias prime minister bought Pakistans spurious line by affirming his countrys support for an independent and transparent investigation to identify those responsible for the attack at Pahalgam. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although Turkey too condemned the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, it supported Pakistans call for an investigation into it. Turkey has been arming Pakistan and its drones have been used against India in the recent conflict. With Turkey being the only country to mention the Kashmir issue in the UNGA the backlash against Turkey has been severe this time, including the cancelling of the contract of its major airport handling company for national security reasons. China, which is today Pakistans biggest military and economic partner, has tried to play a complex balancing diplomatic act of going along with the UNSCs strong statement on the Pahalgam terrorist act but joining Pakistan to ask for an impartial international probe into it. China limited itself to calling Indias military response regrettable. Indias NSA thought it politic to reach out to Chinas Wang Yi. China no doubt assisted Pakistan in this conflict by supplying additional military equipment as well as intelligence inputs. One can foresee that China will bolster Pakistans military capacity against India especially in areas where Pakistans defence gaps have been exposed. The China-Pakistan nexus will continue to be a major security challenge for India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the international level, the EU and individual European countries had condemned the Pahalgam attack. After Indias retaliation the EU, while recognising that every state has the duty and the right lawfully to protect its citizens from acts of terror, called on both parties to exercise restraint, to de-escalate tensions, desist from further attacks to safeguard civilian lives on both sides, and urged both sides to engage in dialogue. France expressed its wholehearted solidarity with India and its support for India in its fight against terrorist groups, but expressed its deep concern over the military developments and called for de-escalation and protection of civilians. Germany too followed a similar line. The G7 statement too called for immediate de-escalation and encouraged both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome. President Donald Trumps position on the conflict has been the most unexpected. He has shifted attention away from the core reason why India had to finally change the paradigm in its response to Pakistans sponsorship of terrorism by hitting at the terror hubs on its soil. Trump should have found a way to allude to this in some way in his statements and supported Indias step, as he has his own concerns about Islamic terrorism and extremism from which the US itself has suffered even at Pakistans hands. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead, in his self-projection as a peacemaker, he shifted the focus to a ceasefire, as in the case of the Ukraine conflict. In the latter case he acknowledged the legitimacy of Russias case and made his distaste of Zelenskyy known. In Indias case, he has equated India with Pakistan, Modi with Pakistani leaders, heaping praise on the quality of Pakistani leadership, and calling Pakistan a great country which makes excellent products. He has promised to increase trade ties with. Pakistan. Trump has embarrassed India on several counts. He said that he had mediated a ceasefire and chose to announce it even before India and Pakistan could, giving the impression that India succumbed to US pressure. He linked this pressure to trade. This has forced India to clarify that there was no mediation by the US or anyone else, that India made its position clear to the US and others that if Pakistan sought a ceasefire its general had to speak to his Indian counterpart. India also affirmed that trade did not figure at all in exchanges with the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has spoken of wanting to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue, which has played into Pakistans hands, as this is what Pakistan has always sought. US mediation, in Pakistans eyes, means territorial concessions by India. Trump has also claimed that he has prevented a nuclear war, and has. saved millions of lives. This too serves Pakistans strategy of stoking fears in the international community about the danger of a nuclear conflict erupting in the subcontinent if India-Pakistan issues remained unresolved. During his recent meeting in the White House with the South African President, Trump was back at lauding Pakistans great leaders, while also saluting Modi, an equivalence that boosts the status of Pakistan and its leaders, which even the Islamic countries and China as well do not do, and diminishes India and its leaders. When he said this the Pakistan army chief had declared himself a Field Marshal, no doubt emboldened by Trumps championing of Pakistan. While Trump had nothing to say about Pakistani political and military travesty, he is insouciant about the damage he is causing to US-India relations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kanwal Sibal is a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He was Indias Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. A looming housing crisis and pressure on health and transport infrastructure in the country are to blame for stringent visa requirements. PM Mark Carney has announced that temporary residents, including foreign students and workers, will not exceed 5 per cent of Canadas population by 2028 read more Experts say Indian students contribute close to $20 billion to Canada's economy. Representational image The number of Indian students going to study in Canada has nosedived significantly in the first quarter of 2025 since Ottawas stringent visa requirements came into effect in January this year. Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that only 30,640 permits were issued to Indian students from January to March of this year, marking a 31 per cent drop from the same period in 2024. Since 2023, Canada has been working to curb the surge of international students entering the country. That year, it issued 681,155 study permits, with Indian students accounting for 278,045. By 2024, the total number of permits had declined to 516,275, with permits granted to Indian nationals falling to 188,465. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why has Canada tightened visa? A looming housing crisis and pressure on health and transport infrastructure in the country are to blame for stringent visa requirements. The newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has announced that temporary residents, including foreign students and workers, will not exceed 5 per cent of Canadas population till 2028. To meet this objective, IRCC has set a reduced cap of 437,000 study permits for 2025, down from this years target of 485,000. Indian students have traditionally made up the largest share of international students in Canada. In 2022, they accounted for 41 per cent of the total international student population. What are the new rules? The new eligibility requirements to get a Canadian visa are: Applicants must first be accepted by a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada They must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to pay tuition fees, cover the cost of accommodation and any other expenses, including those of family members accompanying them Applicants must comply with Canadian laws and have no criminal record They must be in good health and may be required to undergo a medical examination They must convince an immigration officer that they will leave Canada once their study permit expires The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, confessed that he committed the crime for Palestine. He was also heard shouting Free, free Palestine as he was being taken away by police officers on Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum read more People hold signs and Israeli national flags in a sign of support outside the Capital Jewish Museum following a shooting that left two people dead, in Washington, DC, on May 22, 2025. AFP The suspect accused of opening fire at a Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, killing two Israeli embassy staffers, has been charged with first-degree murder, as well as with the charge of killing foreign officials and other firearm-related charges. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said, This is a death penalty-eligible case, adding that it is still too early to decide whether the prosecutors will seek it or not. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, confessed that he committed the crime for Palestine. He was also heard shouting Free, free Palestine as he was being taken away by police officers on Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Chicago man made an initial court appearance Thursday after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials. Israel identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a US employee of the embassy, and said they were a couple planning to marry. Police said Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting around 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Thursday). According to court documents, Rodriguez approached his victims, who were facing away from him, and fired 21 rounds. He shot multiple times at the couple after they were already on the ground and fired at Milgram as she tried to crawl away. Witnesses said security personnel at first mistook the gunman for a victim of the shooting and allowed him into the museum, where he was initially comforted by bystanders. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered enhanced security measures at Israeli diplomatic missions across the world after the brutal murder of officials in DC. The incident has drawn international criticism, with many leaders calling the act anti-Semitic. Israels foreign minister, Gideon Saar, blamed European criticism of his countrys stepped-up Gaza offensive, claiming a direct line connecting anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organisations, especially from Europe, he said. With inputs from agencies The images and videos Trump cited as proof have been proven to be fake or taken out of context, marking what is likely the first time fake news was presented at such a high level of diplomacy inside the Oval Office read more President Donald Trump confronts South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House with printouts of White people being allegedly attacked in South Africa. AP In a tense and highly unusual Oval Office encounter on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump presented false and misleading information to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, claiming white farmers in South Africa were being killed. The images and videos Trump cited as proof have been proven to be fake or taken out of context, marking what is likely the first time fake news was presented at such a high level of diplomacy inside the Oval Office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump held up a printed article with a photo, saying, These are all white farmers that are being buried. However, the picture in question was not taken in South Africa but was a screengrab from a February Reuters video showing humanitarian workers handling body bags in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, after clashes involving M23 rebels. Reuters has confirmed the footage was unrelated to South Africa. Later in the meeting, Trump played a video that purportedly showed the graves of white farmers more than a thousand marked by white crosses. But the footage, filmed near Newcastle and Normandien in South Africa, showed a temporary memorial erected by activist Rob Hoatson to raise awareness about rural crime, not a burial site. It was a memorial. It was not a permanent one, BBC quoted Hoatson as saying. Trump used the video to justify his proposal of offering refuge to white South African farmers, invoking a longstanding conspiracy theory that white people in South Africa are victims of state-backed genocide a claim consistently refuted by South African officials and independent researchers. The video also featured controversial clips of Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), wearing his signature red beret and chanting inflammatory slogans including Kill the Boer, kill the farmer. Trump falsely claimed Malema was a government official, implying that his rhetoric reflected official policy. In reality, Malema is an opposition figure whose party received just 9.5% of the vote in the last election. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD President Ramaphosa and members of his delegation, including Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance, rejected Trumps claims. Steenhuisen said that he joined Ramaphosas multiparty coalition precisely to keep these people out of power. Ramaphosa visited Washington to improve relations with the U.S. after months of criticism from Trump over South Africas land policies and supposed mistreatment of white citizens. The South African government says those claims are false and politically motivated. While fake news and disinformation have long been fixtures in the Trump era, this Oval Office incident marks a rare and alarming instance of false narratives being presented directly to a foreign head of state as fact. With inputs from agencies The United Nations has retracted a claim made by one of its officials that 14,000 Gazan babies would die if they dont receive the aid within 48 hours. The body said that while the figure is correct, the time frame is different read more The United Nations on Wednesday backtracked on the claim it had made that around 14,000 Gazan babies could die within the next 48 hours unless humanitarian aid reaches the coastal enclave. The proclamation was made by Tom Fletcher, the UNs under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, during an interview with the BBC. The remarks from the UN official garnered international attention, with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calling out the current Israeli regime. There are five trucks just sitting on the other side of the border right now, Fletcher said in the BBC interview on Tuesday. They have not reached the communities they need to reach. This is baby food, baby nutrition. There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them," he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When pressed by the British news outlet about how he came to this extraordinary figure, the UN official replied: Weve got strong teams on the ground; they are at the medical centres, the schools, trying to assess needs. UN backtracks Soon after the interview stirred headlines, other UN officials elaborated on Fletchers statement and seemed to downplay the exact time frame of the dire consequences. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) later clarified its stance in a statement to the BBC. We are pointing to the imperative of getting supplies to save an estimated 14,000 babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza, as the IPC [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] partnership has warned about. We need to get the supplies in as soon as possible, ideally within the next 48 hours," the international body clarified. It is pertinent to note that, according to the IPC report, there are 14,100 severe cases of acute malnutrition that could occur among children in Gaza aged 6 to 59 months. The time frame of these cases is stipulated to be April 2025 and March 2026. The report says that 14,000 children in Gaza can face malnutrition in one year, not in 48 hours. In a separate news conference later on Tuesday, a UNOCHA spokesperson did not cite the 14,000 figure but rather said if babies who are in urgent life-saving need of those supplements do not get them, they will be in mortal danger," The Jerusalem Post reported. Israel removes the blockade On May 18, the Israeli authorities announced that they would begin allowing humanitarian aid back into the Gaza Strip. The Jewish nation prevented aid from entering Gaza when the first phase of its ceasefire with Hamas ended on March 1. Meanwhile, in the same interview with the BBC, Fletcher slammed Israels proposed humanitarian aid strategy, which involves moving Gazans to a Hamas-free area in the southern Gaza Strip to receive aid. The new strategy was a dodgy modality, he said, adding that the previous method of getting aid into Gaza works perfectly well. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The international community is very clear with us that this is the only way to do it, Fletcher explained. To go with the other modality would be to support the objectives of the military offensive. When asked if he would be handing over the aid to the new mechanism, Fletcher said: Weve got to get the aid in ourselves. Later on Tuesday, the United Nations confirmed that it had received permission from Israel for about 100 more aid trucks to enter Gaza. According to The Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) inspected 93 UN aid trucks, confirming that the humanitarian aid included flour for bakeries, food for babies, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs. The IDF declined to comment on the remarks made by the UN official and said that the issue was under the jurisdiction of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. However, Fletchers assertion garnered attention from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Olmert, who was Israels Prime Minister between 2006 and 2009, told the BBC that Israels current actions in Gaza are very close to a war crime, describing the Israel-Hamas war as one without purpose. From every point of view, this is obnoxious and outrageous. We are fighting the killers of Hamas, we are not fighting innocent civilians. And that has to be clear, Olmert told the British news outlet. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday described his meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Berlin as excellent, expressing appreciation for Germanys clear support of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday described his meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Berlin as excellent, expressing appreciation for Germanys clear support of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism. In a post on X after the talks, Jaishankar said, Deeply appreciate Germanys understanding of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism. Excellent meeting today with FM @JoWadephul in Berlin. Deeply appreciate Germanys understanding of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism. Discussed making our Strategic Partnership stronger, deeper and closer. Identified areas of further promise and potential. pic.twitter.com/teX3h6DDWb Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jaishankar also said that he discussed ways to strengthen the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, aiming to make it stronger, deeper, and closer. Discussed making our Strategic Partnership stronger, deeper and closer. Identified areas of further promise and potential. Exchanged views on issues from our immediate neighborhood to global concerns and challenges, he added. Germany on Friday strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed Indias right to defend itself against cross-border terrorism. According to a News 18 report, citing sources, Wadephul denounced the heinous terrorist attacks in Pahalgam in the strongest terms during his meeting with Jaishankar. The statement underscores Berlins solidarity with New Delhi on security concerns and its support for Indias fight against terrorism. Germany also reiterated its longstanding position that the issue between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally between both nations, aligning with Indias stance against third-party mediation. This comes amid US President Donald Trumps claims of having mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor a claim India has firmly denied. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Indian government has repeatedly stated that the cessation of hostilities was the result of direct communication between senior military officials from both countries, following a request from Pakistan for a ceasefire, with no involvement from any international mediator. India maintains that following the recent events if any dialogue is to be held with Pakistan, it will pertain solely to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which Islamabad has occupied illegally for decades and uses to destabilise the region by backing terrorists. In a video obtained by sources speaking to News 18, Wadephul is heard saying during a joint press conference with Jaishankar that he had been in contact with his French counterpart to gain a clearer understanding of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Speaking at the same press conference in Germany, Jaishankar reiterated Indias firm stance on terrorism, declaring that the country maintains a policy of zero tolerance and will never give in to nuclear blackmail. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also emphasised that Indias dealings with Pakistan would remain strictly bilateral, stating,There should be no confusion in any quarter on that point, Jaishankar was quoted as saying. I came to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. Let me share with you what I conveyed to Mr Wadephul in that context. India has zero-tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail," he said. Jaishankar is currently in Germany as part of his three-nation Europe visit. With inputs from agencies ATS officials said Alam joined several groups operated by Pakistani agents, and he was in touch with Pakistani nationals linked to the banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik read more The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Thursday (May 22) arrested a Varanasi resident for allegedly spying for Pakistan. 45-year-old Tufail Alam was allegedly in contact with a Pakistan-based network of spies and was reportedly involved in sharing sensitive material to Pakistanis to hurt Indias sovereignty and internal security. ATS officials said Alam joined several groups operated by Pakistani agents, and he was in touch with Pakistani nationals linked to the banned terror outfit Tehreek-e-Labbaik. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alam used to share photos and videos of sensitive locations on the groups, featuring Raj Ghat, Namo Ghat, Gyanvapi, railway stations, Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Nizamuddin Dargah. He would also share provocative material on groups, including videos of Maulana Saad Rizvi and messages promoting Ghazwa-e-Hind, revenge for Babri Masjid and the imposition of Sharia law in India. In total, he was in touch with over 600 Pakistani numbers. He used to contact a woman named Nafisa from Faisalabad, Pakistan, whose husband serves in the Pakistani Army. Tufail sent the link of these [WhatsApp] groups run by Pakistan to many other people of Varanasi, and he was in contact with more than 600 Pakistani numbers. He was in contact with a woman named Nafeesa, a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, through Facebook, whose husband is in the Pakistani Army, the ATS statement claimed. The authorities have now booked Alam under sections 148 and 152 of the BNS. Delhi resident also booked on similar charges The UP ATS also arrested a Delhi resident on Thursday on similar charges. Mohammed Haroon, a resident of Seelampur, Delhi, allegedly maintained contacts with Muzammil Hussain, the Delhi-based Pakistan High Commission staffer whom India on Wednesday declared persona non grata. Haroon, a scrap dealer, extorted money in connivance with Hussain, promising people Pakistani visas, the ATS said. He is involved in anti-national activities by sharing security-related information related to national interest with Muzammil Hussain, it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Investigators said that during questioning, Haroon revealed he met Hussain at the Pakistan High Commission because he has relatives in Pakistan. The ATS mentioned that Haroon shared important information about Indias internal security with Muzammil Hussain. Hussain then used that information to try to harm Indias internal security. Haroon is also accused of giving Muzammil Hussain details about several bank accounts in India. Hussain deposited money he collected by defrauding people seeking Pakistani visas into those accounts. EAM Jaishankar clarified that conversations between the Indian and German governments had taken place on May 7 itself, the day India launched Operation Sindoor and that Germany had explicitly acknowledged Indias right to self-defence. read more External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday dismissed reports that Germany did not support Indias recent cross-border Operation Sindoor, asserting that Berlin had expressed solidarity from the outset. Responding sharply to a journalists question on whether India was disappointed by Germanys lack of support, Jaishankar said, I think you are misinformed. He clarified that conversations between the Indian and German governments had taken place on May 7 itself, the day India launched Operation Sindoor and that Germany had explicitly acknowledged Indias right to self-defence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even before public statements were made, there was a conversation. Subsequently, the German government expressed solidarity. The ministry also expressed that India has the right to defend its territory, Jaishankar said during a press conference in Berlin. Operation Sindoor, a major military action targeting terrorist infrastructure and Pakistani military assets, was launched earlier this month in response to mounting cross-border threats. Germanys response, as noted by Jaishankar, aligns with Indias long-standing position that terrorism must be met with zero tolerance. In a post on X after he met with German counterpart Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar said the two leaders exchanged views on a range of issues from regional dynamics to broader global challenges. Excellent meeting today with FM @JoWadephul in Berlin. Deeply appreciate Germanys understanding of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism. Discussed making our Strategic Partnership stronger, deeper and closer. Identified areas of further promise and potential. pic.twitter.com/teX3h6DDWb Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 Reiterating Indias foreign policy stance on Pakistan, Jaishankar said, India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. We will never give in to nuclear blackmail. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The blog post showed to Ramaphosa was shown by Trump during the White House meeting was published by American Thinker, a conservative online magazine, about conflict and racial tensions in South Africa and Congo read more U.S. President Donald Trump shows a copy of an article that he said its about white South Africans who had been killed, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump showed a screenshot of a Reuters video taken in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of what he falsely presented on Wednesday as evidence of mass killings of white South Africans. These are all white farmers that are being buried, said Trump, holding up a print-out of an article accompanied by the picture during a contentious Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. In fact, the video, published by Reuters on February 3 and subsequently verified by the news agencys fact check team, showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from Reuters footage shot following deadly battles with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The blog post showed to Ramaphosa was shown by Trump during the White House meeting was published by American Thinker, a conservative online magazine, about conflict and racial tensions in South Africa and Congo. The post did not caption the image but identified it as a YouTube screen grab with a link to a video news report about Congo on YouTube, which credited Reuters. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Andrea Widburg, managing editor at American Thinker and the author of the post in question, wrote in reply to a Reuters query that Trump had misidentified the image. She added, however, that the post, which referred to what it called Ramaphosas dysfunctional, race-obsessed Marxist government, had pointed out the increasing pressure placed on white South Africans. The footage from which the picture was taken shows a mass burial following an M23 assault on Goma, filmed by Reuters video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. That day, it was extremely difficult for journalists to get in I had to negotiate directly with M23 and coordinate with the ICRC to be allowed to film, Al Katanty said. Only Reuters has video. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Al Katanty said seeing Trump holding the article with the screengrab of his video came as a shock. In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, white people are being killed by Black people, Al Katanty said. Ramaphosa visited Washington this week to try to mend ties with the United States after persistent criticism from Trump in recent months over South Africas land laws, foreign policy, and alleged bad treatment of its white minority, which South Africa denies. Trump interrupted the televised meeting with Ramaphosa to play a video, which he said showed evidence of genocide of white farmers in South Africa. This conspiracy theory, which has circulated in far-right chat rooms for years, is based on false claims. Trump then proceeded to flip through printed copies of articles that he said detailed murders of white South Africans, saying death, death, death, horrible death. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Friday, the IMFs Communication Director, Julie Kozack, said that the international body has found that Pakistan has met all criteria to be eligible for the package. However, she laid out certain conditions that Islamabad has to follow read more While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) defended its move to provide a $1 billion package to Pakistan despite Indias objection, it has laid down the ultimatum on how Islamabad would use it. On Friday, the IMFs Communication Director, Julie Kozack, said that the international body has found that Pakistan has met all of the targets to acquire the aid package. However, she noted that the aid is only being provided to the country to resolve its balance of payments problems and Pakistan is not allowed to redirect the money to financing its budget or any other sector. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the case of Pakistan, and this is my second point, the EFF disbursements, all of the disbursements received under the EFF, are allocated to the reserves of the central bank. So, those disbursements are at the central bank, and under the program, those resources are not part of budget financing. They are not transferred to the government to support the budget, Kozack said on Friday. The third point is that the program provides additional safeguards through our conditionality. These include, for example, targets on the accumulation of international reserves. It includes a zero target, meaning no lending from the central bank to the government. And the program also includes substantial structural conditionality around improving fiscal management, she added. Why India is concerned While clarifying the bodys stance, Kozack said that Pakistan has fulfilled all requirements to receive the latest loan instalments. It is pertinent to note that India voiced concerns about the financial support since it coincided with Pakistans response to Indias Operation Sindoor . On May 7, the Indian mission struck 9 terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Operation Sindoor was seen as Indias response to the Pahalgam terror attack that led to the death of 26 tourists in Kashmir. During the military escalation between the two nuclear-powered nations, India requested the IMF to reassess the bailout, citing Pakistans allowance of its territory for state-sponsored terrorist activities against Indian citizens. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently described the aid as indirect funding to terror and warned international organisations, including the IMF, to reevaluate their decisions to aid Pakistan. The IMF has provided Pakistan with $2.1 billion in two instalments under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. The instalments are part of a $7 billion agreement signed with Pakistan last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7, following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions. read more Indian parliamentary delegations on Friday conveyed New Delhis unwavering zero-tolerance policy on terrorism to senior officials in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Japan as part of a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor. The delegations engaged in detailed discussions on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts and combating radicalism with their counterparts in the three countries. The outreach is part of a broader initiative by India to build global consensus and coordination against terrorism, particularly in the wake of its recent counter-terror operation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #TeamIndia sends a strong and united message on combating terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a three-nation tour of Europe, said in a post on X. India is sending out seven multi-party delegations to 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistans designs and Indias response to terror in wake of the Pahalgam terror attack after which India launched Operation Sindoor. In Moscow, the all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi met Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko to sensitise the Russian side about terror emanating from Pakistan, a month after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead. Honble MPs @KanimozhiDMK , @RajeevRai , @CaptBrijesh , @guptapc50 , @DrAshokKMittal and @ambmanjeevpuri are received by the Chair of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs H.E. Mr. Leonid Slutsky along with other Members of the State Duma.#OperationSindoor pic.twitter.com/I447cXfB3N India in Russia (@IndEmbMoscow) May 23, 2025 In Japan, the delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha held a focused and lively press engagement held at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo where the MPs briefed the Japanese media on Indias New Normal against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all parties resolve to stand united in all matters of national interest, the Embassy said in a post on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, sent a strong message of harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence - the values shared & cherished by India and UAE, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said.The delegation paid obeisance at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, BAPS Hindu Temple and Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, the Embassy said in a post on X. The all party delegation met Nikolay Mladenov, Director General of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and exchanged views on furthering India-UAE cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating radicalism. The Indian MPs in Moscow earlier had a detailed exchange of views at a round-table meeting with all-party members of the Russian Federation Assembly (Parliament) led by the Duma (lower house) International Affairs Committee chair Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal-Democratic Party. The delegation also met with First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs Andrey Denisov and other senators in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, said a post from the Indian Embassy in Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Russian side condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and stated that Russia stands in solidarity with India for the elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations! Russia and India have a shared position in the fight against terrorism. Russia India | Together in the fight against terrorism! it added. The delegation in Tokyo also met Yasuhiro Hanashi, Acting Chairperson of the Research Committee on Counter-terrorism of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and former Minister of Justice. Indias unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms was highlighted. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, the Embassy of India in Japan said in another post on X. The delegation also held fruitful interaction with Minoru Kihara, Former Defence Minister of Japan, and Shinako Tsuchiya, Director General of the International Bureau, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. As part of the Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam attack, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7, following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions and attacked air bases. The two countries reached an understanding to ceasefire on May 10. India on Friday slammed Pakistan at the UN Security Council, saying it has experienced decades of Pakistani sponsored terrorist attacks ranging from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to barbaric mass murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam last month. read more India on Friday strongly condemned Pakistan at the UN Security Council, highlighting decades of terrorist attacks sponsored by Islamabad, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the recent barbaric mass murder of tourists last month in Pahalgam. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, made the remarks during an open debate focused on protecting civilians in armed conflicts. He responded firmly to what he called baseless allegations made by the Pakistani representative on various issues. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Harish stressed the urgency of addressing emerging threats to civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists and media professionals, while calling for enhanced accountability mechanisms. I am constrained to respond to the baseless allegations of the representative of Pakistan on a number of issues, Harish said in his statement at the debate on the theme Addressing emerging threats, ensuring safety of civilians, humanitarian and UN Personnel, journalists and media professionals and enhancing accountability mechanisms under the agenda item Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. India has experienced decades of Pakistani sponsored terrorist attacks across our borders. This has ranged from the horrific 26/11 attack on the city of Mumbai to the barbaric mass murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam in April 2025. The victims of Pakistani terrorism have been predominantly civilians, since its objective has been to attack our prosperity, progress and morale. For such a nation to even participate in a discussion on protection of civilians is an affront to the international community, he said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7, following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions. The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. With inputs from agencies Three years on, Indias position in the Russia-Ukraine war stands vindicated, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in an interview on his visit to Denmark read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that Indias approach to the Russia-Ukraine War stands vindicated as the war drags on in the fourth year. In an interview with Denmarks TV2 Channel, Jaishankar said that India has maintained from the beginning that direct contact between Ukraine and Russia is a must for the war to end direct talks have now started between the two sides after they collapsed within weeks in 2022. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jaishankar is on a three-nation tour of Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany on May 19-24, 2025. As for the India-Denmark relationship, he said that the country has an important place in sustainability and security matters. We are now vindicated three years on Three years into the conflict, Jaishankar said that Indias position in the war has been vindicated. Jaishankar said, We always said youre not going to get a solution to the Ukraine conflict from the battleground. We also said youre going to have to talk. Theres got to be dialogue. Theres got to be diplomacy. And theres got to be direct contact. Now, there was a time that there were these conferences which were going on. Now, we attended those conferences. But we always said, look, whats the point of gathering everybody else and not having Russia in the room? Jaishankar admitted that the Ukraine conflict has concerns for the entire world. He said that the conflict led to a food security and fertiliser crisis. At the same time, Jaishankar addressed the way Indian position has been looked at in the West. While India has garnered some criticism in some quarters in the West for forcefully condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and continuing to purchase Russian oil, Jaishankar pointed out that European nations have also continued to buy Russian gas. He further pointed out that while Europe has been vocal about the violation of Ukraines sovereignty, it did not pay heed to the violation of Indias sovereignty by China and Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since 1947-48, Pakistan has continued to illegally occupy parts of Jammu and Kashmir and China has occupied eastern Ladakhs parts since 1950s and 1960s. After the Second World War, we are one of the countries which actually have had, you know, a violation of our sovereignty. We still have a violation of our sovereignty by our neighbors. Pakistan and Kashmir region and China. And the fact is, Europe was very detached about it. In fact, at times, Europe was very cynical about it, said Jaishankar. According to media reports, New Delhi will also oppose the upcoming World Bank funding for Pakistan read more The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog( Source: AP) India is likely to press the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to add Pakistan back to its grey list during the terror financing watchdogs next meeting, news agency Reuters has reported. India will take it up in the FATF meeting coming up. India is making preparations accordingly, sources said. Countries on FATFs grey list are subjected to increased monitoring and scrutiny on the financial front, which might lead to a significant drop in foreign direct investment inflows and aid approvals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a country is placed on the grey list, it means it has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring. As of now, 25 nations have been added to the grey list under FATF. Pakistan was put on the grey list in 2018 by the FATF and was eventually taken off in 2022, which helped Islamabad gain access to loans and aid from global financial institutions. According to media reports, apart from pressing FATF, New Delhi will also oppose the upcoming World Bank funding for Pakistan. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours are running high following a brief military conflict that was triggered by the massacre of Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. India blamed Islamabad for the terror attack and launched strikes on terror hideouts inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 under Operation Sindoo r. India is convinced that Pakistan has failed to act on terror emanating from its territory and has been diverting funds from multilateral agencies to buy arms and ammunition, which it deploys against India when its armed forces seek to neutralise terror hideouts. India had earlier this month opposed the release of the tranche of the IMFs bailout package to Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iranian and US negotiators wrapped up a fifth round of talks on Friday, with mediator Oman saying there was some limited progress in negotiations aimed at resolving a decades-long dispute over Tehrans nuclear ambitions read more Members of the Iranian delegation leave the Omani embassy, where the fifth round of US-Iran talks takes place, in Rome, Italy, on Friday. Reuters Iranian and US negotiators wrapped up a fifth round of talks on Friday, with mediator Oman saying there was some limited progress in negotiations aimed at resolving a decades-long dispute over Tehrans nuclear ambitions. The sides will meet again, though the date and venue still have to be decided, a source close to the Iranian team told Reuters. There was no immediate comment from the US delegation at Fridays session in Rome. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there was potential for progress in the negotiations after Oman made several proposals, but the talks were complicated and more discussions were needed. Weve just completed one of the most professional rounds of negotiations, Araqchi told Iranian state TV. The stakes are high for both sides. President Donald Trump wants to curtail Tehrans potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. The Islamic Republic, for its part, wants to be rid of devastating sanctions on its oil-based economy. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, whose country is mediating the negotiations, said on X the fifth round of talks had ended with some but not conclusive progress. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had led the fifth round of talks through the Omani mediators, Iranian media reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Both Washington and Tehran have taken a tough stance in public over Irans intensifying uranium enrichment programme, which could potentially give it scope to build a nuclear weapon, though Tehran says it has no such ambitions and the purposes are purely civilian. Ahead of the talks, Araqchi wrote on X: Zero nuclear weapons = we Do have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had told reporters on Thursday that Trump believes negotiations with Iran are moving in the right direction. Stumbling blocks US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington was working to reach an accord that would allow Iran to have a civil nuclear energy programme but not enrich uranium, while acknowledging that this will not be easy. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on matters of state, rejected demands to stop refining uranium as excessive and outrageous, warning that such talks were unlikely to yield results. Among remaining stumbling blocks are Tehrans refusal to ship abroad its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium - possible raw material for nuclear bombs - or engage in discussions over its ballistic missile programme, which could carry warheads over long distances. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran says it is ready to accept some limits on enrichment, but needs watertight guarantees that Washington would not renege on a future nuclear accord. Trump in his first term in 2018 ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between major powers and Iran. Since returning to office this year, he has restored a maximum pressure campaign on Tehran and reimposed sweeping US sanctions that continue to hobble the Iranian economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond the 2015 pacts limits. Wendy Sherman, a former US undersecretary who led the US negotiating team that reached the 2015 agreement, earlier said that Tehran presents enrichment as a matter of sovereignty. I dont think it is possible to get a deal with Iran where they literally dismantle their programme, give up their enrichment, even though that would be ideal, she told Reuters. The cost of failure of the talks could be high. Irans arch-foe Israel sees Irans nuclear programme as an existential threat and says it would never allow the clerical establishment to obtain nuclear weapons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israels strategic affairs minister and the head of its foreign intelligence service, Mossad, were also due to be in Rome for talks with the US negotiators, a source aware of the matter told Reuters. Araqchi said on Thursday that Washington would bear legal responsibility if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear installations, following a CNN report that Israel might be preparing strikes. US President Donald Trumps plan to turn Gaza into the Riviera of the East appears to be in full swing as Israel now occupies more than 50% of the strip and is on its way to occupy it entirely read more Footage released by the Israeli Army says to show military operations in a location given as northern Gaza, in this screen grab taken from an undated handout video, released May 17, 2025. Reuters In the weeks since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed the war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have occupied more than 50 per cent of the strip and are increasing their occupation by the day, according to an analysis. Even though the occupation has been presented as a way of cornering terrorists, the way the Israeli forces have operated in Gaza lately suggests that the occupation is more about laying groundwork for the implementation of US President Donald Trumps plan for Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this year, Trump announced that the United States would annex Gaza , expel all Palestinians, and turn it into the Riviera of the East. Netanyahu has endorsed Trumps plan and has said that he would not end the war in Gaza unless all Palestinians are expelled from the strip. Observers have said that Trumps plan and Netanyahus apparent implementation of it amounts to ethnic cleansing as it involves the forced removal of a population from a place a place the population considers its historic homeland. Israel to control vast majority of Gaza: Analysis Since mid-March when Netanyahu renewed the war, Israeli occupation of Gaza has jumped to more than 50 per cent of the area and is on its way to complete control, according to an analysis in The Jerusalem Post by Yonah Jeremy Bob. Whether Israeli occupation stops at around 70 per cent or reaches 100 per cent is subject to debate and interpretation, according to Bob. Israel has already expelled the majority of Palestinians from northern Gaza where it has renewed operations in recent weeks. In northern Gaza, around 100-200,000 Palestinians lived before the ceasefire in January. After the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of people returned to the region. Now, Bob has reported that as many as 400,000 people are estimated to have left the region in the wake of latest Israeli offensive. Israel on Wednesday and Thursday ordered Palestinians to move out of northern Gaza and moved southwards in light of upcoming Israeli operations. Netanyahu is implementing Trumps Gaza plan Even though Israeli sources suggest that the Israeli occupations primary goal is to take over territory to separate civilians from Hamas and taking over food distribution services, all available indicates that the real objective is the expulsion of Palestinians and implementing Trumps plan to take over Gaza. In the clearest evidence of it, Netanyahu on Wednesday said that the war would not end until all Palestinians are permanently expelled from Gaza. Netanyahu said that he was ready to end the war but only under clear conditions that will ensure the safety of Israel: All the hostages come home, Hamas lays down its arms, steps down from power, its leadership is exiled from the Strip Gaza is totally disarmed; and we carry out the Trump plan. A plan that is so correct and so revolutionary. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In recent weeks, Israel has been flattening entire neighbourhoods in Gaza , most notably in the southernmost city of Rafah. The destruction is part of Netanyahus plan to make Gaza as uninhabitable as possible, so that if and when the war ends, Palestinians cannot simply live there and are forced to migrate. Earlier this month, Netanyahu told the foreign affairs and defense committee of the Israeli parliament that Israel was destroying more and more houses in Gaza so that the strip is as uninhabitable as possible for Palestinians. We are demolishing more and more houses. They have nowhere to return to. The only inevitable outcome will be the desire of the Gazans to emigrate out of the Gaza Strip. Our main problem is with the receiving countries, said Netanyahu, according to Maariv parliamentary reporter Avraham Bloch. Soldiers and officers serving in Gaza have also confirmed this. A soldier told +972 Magazine and Local Call, I secured four or five bulldozers [from another unit], and they demolished 60 houses per day. A one- or two-storey house, they take down within an hour; a three or four-story house takes a bit longer. The official mission was to open a logistical route for maneuvering, but in practice, the bulldozers were simply destroying homes. The southeastern part of Rafah is completely destroyed. The horizon is flat. There is no city. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The decision to flatten the area in Gaza has been a conscious, strategic call to make sure that the return of people to these spaces is not something that will happen, according to Yotam, a deputy company commander who served in Gaza. An Israeli officer who refused to serve in the war in the Gaza Strip over the abandonment of hostages has been sent to jail. He said that he could no longer serve in a war that had been reduced to an endless death of innocent people and has a lack of a political vision. read more Israeli military patrols near the Al Shifa Hospital compound in Gaza City amid the ongoing ground operation against Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip on November 22, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) An Israeli army officer who refused to serve in the Gaza Strip over the direction of the war has been sent to jail. The officer, Captain Ron Feiner, had previously served in Gaza as well as Lebanon in the ongoing war, but he refused to answer to latest summons over the abandonment of hostages, according to Hebrew-language outlet Ynet. Feiner told Ynet that he refused to serve another tour of duty as Netanyahu had dropped the return of hostages to the bottom of the priority list and that he could not neither commit nor convince soldiers under his command to commit the kind of war crimes that Israeli far-right seeks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ: Israel cleaning up Rafah, the shelter Gazans once fled to: Reports Earlier this month, Netanyahu said that the top-most objective of the war is not the return of hostages but the war against Hamas. Similarly, his principal far-right ally, Bezalel Smotrich, has said that the return of hostages is not the most important goal. Earlier this week, Netanyahu also said that the war would only end when he has expelled all Palestinians from Gaza under US President Donald Trumps plan for the US takeover of the strip. I am appalled by never-ending in Gaza Feiner said that he is appalled by the never-ending war in Gaza. Instead of his refusal to serve, he said that the war itself has become a threat to Israels security. Feiner said, What is currently harming the security of the state is the war itself, not people like me who refuse to report for duty. I believe that the governments policy today does not reflect the values of the State of Israel. In the future, when we return to a situation where the government contributes to the true defense of the country, we will be able to return to service. I am at peace with my decision. Feiner and Daniel Yahalom, another soldier was sent to prison for refusal to serve, belong to an organisation called Soldiers for the Hostages that. The organisation said that Feiner participated in three rounds of active combat in Gaza, commanded battles in Gaza, and led a force under fire to extract a wounded in an operation in which six soldiers were killed. Feiner told Ynet he was driven by the same values that the State of Israel was founded with. Feiner said, I am driven by the same values that led me to serve and fight I love the country and feel my future here slipping through my fingers. When the government openly declares that the hostages are at the bottom of the priority list, when Smotrich apologizes to his public for not starving the residents of Gaza and not committing these war crimes, when the fighters in my platoon are called for hundreds of days of reserve duty, I can no longer convince them to report for duty. I take responsibility as a commander. I am also refusing for them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Feiner further said that the war had been reduced to the endless death of innocent people and it has a lack of a political vision that are behind his decision to no longer serve in the war. Feiner said, Although the government is willing to throw their future away, I still care. I am appalled by the never-ending war in Gaza, the abandonment of the hostages, the endless death of innocent people, and the lack of a political vision, and I feel that I am morally unable to continue serving as long as this does not change. I need to resist in every possible way for the war to end. On Thursday, Jaishankar held a good interaction with members of the German Bundestag (Parliament), and appreciated their strong support for the continued growth of India-Germany relations. read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday conveyed Indias intent to strengthen its strategic partnership with Germany during a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Jaishankar, currently in the final leg of his three-nation tour to the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, said India looks forward to working with the new German government to elevate and expand bilateral ties. Honoured to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz today in Berlin. Conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi. Look forward to working with his government to elevate and expand our Strategic Partnership. Appreciate Germanys solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism, Jaishankar posted on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Honored to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz today in Berlin. Conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi. Look forward to working with his Government to elevate and expand our Strategic Partnership. Appreciate Germanys solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism. pic.twitter.com/DOwJpdt9BU Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 He also met Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche. Discussed ways to enhance our talent linkages, industry partnership and joint collaboration to build more resilient supply chains, Jaishankar said. He also held a good conversation with Gunter Sautter, Foreign & Security Policy Advisor to Merz. Exchanged perspectives on major global issues, including combatting terrorism. Our deepening partnership is an important factor of stability in an uncertain world. We will also work together to strengthen resilience and trust, Jaishankar said. On Thursday, Jaishankar held a good interaction with members of the German Bundestag (Parliament), and appreciated their strong support for the continued growth of India-Germany relations. Also discussed with them Indias firm commitment to combatting terrorism in all forms and manifestations, Jaishankar said. PM Modis new anti-terror doctrine signals a willingness to use a broad array of economic, diplomatic, and strategic tools to pressure Islamabad. read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Adampur airbase on May 13, a day after he made a speech to the nation on Operation Sindoor. Image courtesy: X Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday (May 22) issued a stern warning to Pakistan: Its economy will have to pay a heavy price for any terrorist attack in India. The PM warned that New Delhi had adopted a new form of justice to deal with terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack Pakistans army will pay it, Pakistans economy will pay it, PM Modi said at his first public meeting in Rajasthan after Operation Sindoor. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The PM warned that Operation Sindoor was not mere revenge but a new manifestation of justice. First we took the attack to their home now we strike them outright, he said. This message, delivered in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam attack, marks a significant escalation in Indias counter-terror doctrine and signals a willingness to use a broad array of economic, diplomatic, and strategic tools to pressure Islamabad. What is in Indias toolkit against Pakistan? Lets have a look. Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and water leverage: Following the Pahalgam attack, India suspended its adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement that has governed the allocation of the Indus river system since 1960, and survived three serious wars of the 20th century. India controls the flow of the eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and, under the treaty, allows Pakistan use of the western rivers Indus, Chenab, Jhelum. By suspending the treaty and advancing water diversion projects, India can significantly reduce water available to Pakistan, which is already facing acute water stress. While large-scale diversion requires years of infrastructure development, the suspension itself is a potent political signal and can cause immediate uncertainty for Pakistans agriculture and industry. Commerce: Trade and economic sanctions India has banned all imports from Pakistan, shut down its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, and closed the Attari border effectively severing direct trade ties. The Modi government has made it clear there will be no trade or talks with Pakistan, except on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and stopping terrorism. India is also considering halting the supply of critical goods, such as pharmaceuticals, which Pakistan would struggle to replace at a reasonable cost. Stopping critical supplies, particularly in the health sector, is bound to trigger a crisis, higher import costs in Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Diplomacy: Pakistans isolation through global pressure India has intensified its global campaign to expose Pakistans terror links, with all-party parliamentary delegations engaging world leaders to highlight Islamabads involvement in attacks. India is leveraging its growing international stature to press major powers including the US, EU, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the UAE to cut arms sales and financial support to Pakistan. Indias market clout is a big tool that New Delhi can use as leverage, especially with countries such as China, which is both Pakistans chief arms supplier and a major trading partner of India, and the US or Russia. Military muscle as strategic deterrence PM Modi has said the government has granted the Indian armed forces full operational freedom, demonstrated in recent swift and decisive strikes that dismantled Pakistani defences and shut down key military assets such as Sargodha, Noor Khan or the Rahim Yar Khan airbase. He also said that Operation Sindoor is only in a pause mode, it has not been called off. Indias new doctrine rejects nuclear blackmail and treats both terrorist groups and their state sponsors as equal adversaries. India also fought back against Pakistans information warfare through a robust fact-checking mechanism. For instance, Indias Press Information Bureau launched a special drive to bust false claims made by Pakistan or pro-Pakistan handles across social media platforms. India has taken steps to be a step ahead of Pakistan in the information domain, countering Pakistani disinformation and highlighting indigenous resistance within Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Strategic communication has been used to consolidate domestic support and shape international perceptions, further isolating Pakistan diplomatically. Any challenges for India? Indias challenge will be to maintain international support, manage escalation risks, and ensure that these measures serve long-term strategic objectives without unintended consequences. Pakistan sits on a geostrategic location that excites every Western power that aspires to keep an eye on China, central Asia, sensitive West Asia and also Russia. A pliable Pakistan is therefore something that every global power sees as useful asset. Trumps recent sudden soft approach towards Islamabad is another indication why Islamabad keeps featuring in the Wests scheme of things. PM Modis warning, however, signals a new era in Indias response to cross-border terrorism, where economic ruin is positioned as a credible threat for Pakistan should it continue to support terror. Indias toolkit ranging from water leverage and trade bans to global lobbying and narrative control marks a decisive shift in the regional/South Asian geopolitics, with the potential to reshape the deterrence for years to come. A preliminary probe into the debris of Pakistani drones thwarted by Indias air defence systems on May 9 reveals that the country used the Turkey-made Songar armed drone system read more The External Affairs Ministry has called for Turkey and China to be sensitive to Indias concerns after initial investigations revealed that Pakistan deployed drones made by the two countries following New Delhis Operation Sindoor. We expect Turkey to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades. Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each others concerns, foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A preliminary probe into the debris of Pakistani drones thwarted by Indias air defence systems on May 9 reveals that the country used the Turkey-made Songar armed drone system. Songar is an armed drone system developed and produced by Asisguard, a subsidiary of Asis Electronics and Information Systems, to enhance capabilities in low-intensity conflict scenarios. It is the first domestically produced armed drone to be deployed by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the first indigenous Turkish drone equipped with a machine gun. Meanwhile, Director General Air Operations, Air Marshal A K Bharti, had presented images of debris of the Chinese-made PL-15 during a joint military press briefing, saying that the missile had fallen inside the Indian territory and parts of it were recovered from Punjabs Hoshiarpur. On the use of Chinese military equipment, Jaiswal said, Our NSA and the Chinese FM and Special Representative on Boundary Issue Mr Wang Yi had spoken to each other on May 10, 2025, when the NSA conveyed Indias resolute stance against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The Chinese side is aware that mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity remain the basis of India-China relations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias Armed Forces intercepted and neutralised various advanced foreign-made weapons employed by Pakistan, including Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles and Turkish Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones. The decision is the latest development in a long-running controversy surrounding the role, which has seen mass protests against the incumbent chiefs dismissal, as well as against moves pushed by Netanyahus government to expand elected officials power to appoint judges read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday his pick for the next head of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, defying the countrys attorney general and a significant segment of the public. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced this evening his decision to appoint Major General David Zini as the next head of the Shin Bet, a statement from the premiers office said.The decision is the latest development in a long-running controversy surrounding the role, which has seen mass protests against the incumbent chiefs dismissal, as well as against moves pushed by Netanyahus government to expand elected officials power to appoint judges. The supreme court on Wednesday ruled the governments decision to fire current domestic security chief Ronen Bar was improper and unlawful. Netanyahus move to tap Zini to replace Bar directly defied Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who had said that, given the court ruling, the premier must refrain from any action related to the appointment of a new head of the Shin Bet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Netanyahu immediately responded in a rare press conference that his government would make an appointment despite Baharav-Miaras stance. Following Thursdays announcement, the attorney general released a statement saying that the prime minister was acting contrary to legal guidance. There is serious concern that he acted while in a conflict of interest, and the appointment process is flawed, the statement said. New court challenge Zini, the son of immigrants from France and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, has held many operational and command positions in the Israeli military, Thursdays announcement said, including for some elite units and combat brigades. The announcement comes after more than two months of political and legal wrangling over who should head the powerful agency. In March, Netanyahu said that he was dismissing Bar due to ongoing lack of trust. The move was challenged in court by non-profit organisations and the political opposition, which decried it as a sign of anti-democratic drift on the part of Netanyahus right-wing government. Following Thursdays announcement, opposition leader Yair Lapid called on General Zini to announce that he cannot accept his appointment until the Supreme Court rules on the matter. The NGO Movement for Quality Government in Israel, meanwhile, said it will file a legal petition in the coming days against this invalid appointment, and will continue to stand firm against attempts to defy the legal system and the rule of law. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bar himself suggested that his ouster was linked to investigations into Hamass October 7, 2023 attack and other serious matters. He has since said he will step down in June. Baharav-Miara has suggested Netanyahus conflict of interest in removing Bar stems from a case, dubbed Qatargate by Israeli media, involving close advisers to the premier under investigation for allegedly receiving money from the Gulf emirate, which has long hosted the political office of Hamas. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Thursday that the authority to appoint the head of the Shin Bet is legally granted solely to the prime minister and it is good that the prime minister exercised this authority and appointed a very worthy individual. Netanyahu branded the killings as a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism and drew an explicit link with the increasingly hostile climate facing Israel over the war in Gaza, which has ranged from campus protests to accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a memorial ceremony for those killed by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack, in Jerusalem, on October 28, 2024. AP File Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called out French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Mark Carney of the UK and Canada for saying they want Hamas to remain in power and asking Israel to end its war in Gaza. His comments came after the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, DC on Wednesday night. I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. They are now proposing to establish a Palestinian state and reward these murderers with the ultimate prize, Netanyahu said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added, You wont be surprised to learn that Hamas thanked President Macron and Prime Ministers Starmer and Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice. Last night in Washington something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young beautiful couple Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were pic.twitter.com/FFdMwlacJ9 Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) May 22, 2025 Netanyahu branded the killings as a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism and drew an explicit link with the increasingly hostile climate facing Israel over the war in Gaza, which has ranged from campus protests to accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice. Israel identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, a US employee of the embassy, and said they were a couple planning to marry. They were leaving the Capital Jewish Museum when the attack happened. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, confessed that he committed the crime for Palestine. He was also heard shouting Free, free Palestine as he was being taken away by police officers on Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum. Rodriguez has been charged with first-degree murder as well as with the charge of killing foreign officials and other firearm-related charges. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said, This is a death penalty-eligible case, adding that it is still too early to decide whether the prosecutors will seek it or not. Chinas Nanshan Group, has planned to establish a local unit in the Indonesian island of Bintan, sparking protests among businesses that operate there read more Chinas business ambitions are hurting the peace and calm of a cluster of islands that is a popular tourist spot among Singaporeans. A large China-based conglomerate, Nanshan Group, has planned to establish a local unit in the Indonesian islands of Bintan and other archipelagos, sparking protests among businesses that operate there. Although the company claims to adhere to environmental regulations and has pledged to minimise its ecological impact, the project has drawn renewed attention to the rapid expansion of Chinese raw materials firms in Indonesia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, this will not be the first time Nanshan has built a presence in the Indonesian islands. The companys Gbkek Industri Park already has an industrial park in Bintans southeast. The Indonesian government has created a special economic zone in the area to lure more investments, and as part of this status, Nanshan enjoys perks like tax waivers for up to 20 years. Whats the plan? The firm has now announced plans to bring more Chinese firms to the site and build a $6 billion aluminium smelting complex by 2028. As part of this expansion, there are plans to develop another industrial park on nearby Pulau Poto, a small, low-lying sandy island. According to resort co-owner Andrew Dixon, citing environmental impact documents shared with local business operators, the proposed development includes a steel smelter, an oil refinery, and both multi-purpose and bulk cargo ports. Gbkek director Santoni told Bloomberg that the Indonesian government has permitted the company to expand its operations to Poto. He said that the firm will build a petrochemical industry on the island as well as build ports. We will expand and develop the GB Special Economic Zone, that is also our right. We dont understand what the objections of the resort operator are, he said. Why are people protesting? Dixon has said that industrial operations on Poto would not just be devastating for our own business but its going to devastate the communities in that area. According to him, resort operators and landowners, who have been filing objection letters since 2023, submitted their most recent protest to the Indonesian government earlier this month, addressing it to the environment and tourism ministries. A meeting between the involved parties is scheduled for next week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What was once a very rich unique marine environment is now a nearly dead zone, said Marc van Loo, who owns the resort on the island. No one has supported the military regime - and undermined democracy in Pakistan in so many ways - as much as the West, said Jaishankar in an interview with Danish newspaper read more External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that no one has supported Pakistans military regimes and undermined its democratic processes as consistently as Western countries. According to a PTI report, in an interview with Danish newspaper Politiken, Jaishankar criticised Europe for backing Pakistan when it was under military dictatorship, suggesting that such support weakened democratic institutions in the country. He also identified terrorism as one of the worlds most pressing collective challenges, alongside climate change and rising poverty, emphasising the need for unified global action to address these threats. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our borders have been violated by Pakistan in Kashmir ever since our independence in 1947. And what have we seen in the eight decades since then, PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying during the interview. That large, democratic Europe, to use your own term, has stood side by side with military dictatorships in the region. No one has supported the military regime - and undermined democracy in Pakistan in so many ways - as much as the West, he added. The external affairs minister made these comments during his visit to Copenhagen as part of his three-nation tour of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. Jaishankar emphasised that India supports countries sovereignty and internationally recognised borders. But my worldview and my view of Europe are shaped by my own experiences. You talk about the inviolability of borders - well, why dont we start with the inviolability of my borders? Thats where my world begins. But weve always been told that we had to solve that ourselves, he was quoted as saying. Jaishankar made the remarks in response to a question about why democratic India continues to buy large quantities of oil from authoritarian Russia, even as Moscow wages war against Ukraine. Addressing the criticism, Jaishankar argued that Europes actions specifically its increased sourcing of crude oil from the Middle East have contributed to a surge in global energy prices, impacting developing countries like India. He defended Indias oil purchases from Russia as a necessary economic decision, highlighting the need to balance national interests amid rising costs and global instability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wealthy Europe turned to the Middle-East because it had a problem with Russia and offered inflated prices to get oil redirected to Europe. So what happened was that many countries not just us - could no longer afford it. The major oil companies didnt even respond to purchase offers because they were too busy selling to Europe, Jaishankar was quoted as saying. What was the rest of the world supposed to do? Say okay, well just do without energy because Europeans need it more than us, he asked. Jaishankar also described terrorism as a major global challenge. Of the major collective challenges today, I would place terrorism at the top - alongside climate change, growing poverty, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South, he said. In a separate interview with Danish broadcaster TV 2, Jaishankar clarified that the May 10 understanding between India and Pakistan to halt fighting and military actions was reached directly through communication between the two countries armed forces. His remarks came in response to US President Donald Trumps claim that Washington played a role in mediating the ceasefire a claim India has consistently denied. We had the conflict for a few days (and) we resolved that conflict for the moment in its particular military form through an understanding for the cessation of fighting and military action. And this was something that we negotiated directly between the militaries of the two countries, he said. The trigger for it was that after we had had fighting for a few days, we hit them very hard on the morning of (May) 10..and that caused the Pakistanis to say, Ok, were prepared to stop the firing and reach an understanding about how to deal with it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Under Operation Sindoor, India carried out precision strikes on nine terror infrastructures early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Pakistani attempts were strongly responded to by the Indian side. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. With inputs from agencies A flight with the Operation Sindoor delegation, including Indian MP Kanimozhi, was delayed due to a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow airport. The delegation aims to inform Russia about Indias stance against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism read more A flight carrying the Operation Sindoor outreach delegation to the Russian capital was caught in the crosshairs of a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Moscow airport on Thursday (May 22). Indian Member of Parliament (MP) Kanimozhi from the DMK party was on the flight, which was forced to circle for hours due to the airport closure. The MPs team said Friday that the flight could land after a delay of several hours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, the drone attack, likely launched by Ukraine, led to disruptions at the Domodedovo International Airport, affecting both domestic and international flight operations for several hours. Due to this, the MPs flight was denied permission to land and was asked to stay airborne for several hours. Indian embassy staff later received the delegation when the flight landed at the airport after a prolonged delay. Kanimozhi is leading a group to Russia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, and Latvia to inform these countries about Indias recent Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, which was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attacks. The team will explain Indias position on regional security and raise awareness about Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. Other members of the group include Rajeev Rai from the Samajwadi Party, Mian Altaf Ahmad from the National Conference, Brijesh Chowta from the BJP, Prem Chand Gupta from the RJD, Ashok Kumar Mittal from the AAP, and former diplomats Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. They were all on the same flight that was delayed. The group is set to meet with Russian Duma members and foreign ministry officials on Friday, and interact with top experts from local think-tanks. On Saturday, they will hold a press conference and speak to local media before heading to Slovenia. Indias global outreach programme started on May 21, with the purpose of conveying Indias strong stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These delegations are likely carrying a detailed dossier of Pakistans involvement in terrorist activities inside India, with all evidence. The dossiers may be prepared in the official language of the respective country, a source earlier said. Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made provocative remarks against Indias decision to block the Indus Water Treaty, which sounded oddly similar to the 26/11 mastermind and LeT terrorist Hafiz Saeed read more Amid the brewing tensions between India and Pakistan , Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry issued a threat to India, which sounded similar to the one made by internationally recognised terrorist Hafiz Saeed . The remarks from the Pakistani military spokesperson came during his provocative address at a public gathering. During his speech, Chaudhry slammed India for putting the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance. He warned that Pakistan would hit back if India attempted to disrupt the flow of water. It is pertinent to note that India put the Indus Water Treaty on hold shortly after the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that led to the death of 26 tourists. The four terrorists involved in the attack are still at large. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #BREAKING Pakistani military spokesperson @OfficialDGISPR is at a university in Pakistan delivering hate and violence-encouraging speeches against India echoing what terrorist Hafiz Saeed said some years ago ! Shameful! pic.twitter.com/W7ckNPePOH Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) May 22, 2025 The Pakistani military spokespersons remarks mirrored the proclamation made by Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed. In the video circulating online, Saeed can be heard saying the same words. It is pertinent to note that Saeed was the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and is known for his inflammatory speeches against India and the United States. Here is Hafiz Saeed saying the same thing : pic.twitter.com/SLBV5ODojR Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) May 22, 2025 Pakistans usual tactic of pushing aggressive rhetoric The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 and was brokered by the World Bank. The international body governs the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries. The treaty also requires both sides to share regular information on water use. However, Pakistans tendency to push aggressive and communal rhetoric against India is part of the reason why terror incidents frequently rock India. On April 16, just days before the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir said that Hindus and Muslims were distinct nations and encouraged attendees to share the story of Pakistans creation with their children. He had also called Kashmir Pakistans jugular vein, attracting strong condemnation from India. 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Commenting on the provocative remarks made by the Pakistani Army Chief, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said that it was Munirs extreme religious views that led to the Pahalgam terror attack. It started because it was triggered by a very barbaric terror attack where 26 tourists were murdered in front of their families after ascertaining their faith. It was intended to harm tourism and to create religious discord, the EAM said during his visit to Denmark. You have a Pakistani army chief driven by an extreme religious outlook, so some connect with views expressed and conduct," he added. The remarks from both Munir and Chaudhury reflect how their aggressive rhetoric against India promotes terror groups, finding refuge on its soil. With inputs from agencies. Chinas ironclad friendship with Pakistan is real, but Beijing may never risk its booming trade and fragile detente with India by openly backing Islamabads terror agenda. Heres why read more India and Pakistan teetered on the brink of war during the recent four-day military conflict in which Indian forces compelled the Pakistani establishment to seek a ceasefire, following a deadly attack in Kashmir. The worlds gaze turned to China during Indias robust response in its war on terror with Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring that India will not tolerate nuclear blackmail. The question that is being debated is: Would Beijing, Islamabads staunchest ally, throw its weight behind Pakistans hardline tactics? The answer, as recent events reveal, is a nuanced but resolute no. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chinas relationship with Pakistan is often described as ironclad, forged in the crucible of Cold War rivalries and cemented by billions in Belt and Road investments. Some see BRI as Chinas long game in Pakistan,while others also see it as a contributing factor to the instability in Pakistan and also as a trap that Beijing finds itself in. Yet, when it comes to overtly backing Pakistans terror-linked provocations against India, Beijing exercises marked restraint. Seven key factors seem to underpin this calibrated approach by China: Economic stakes with India: With annual bilateral trade nearing $140 billion, China has far more to lose than gain by antagonising India. New Delhi is not only a vital export market but also a key node in global manufacturing shifts away from China. Any disruption would reverberate through both economies, especially as India tightens restrictions on Chinese tech and investment. India is the biggest emerging markets for global manufacturers, from consumer items to strategic products. Border stability is paramount: After the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, both nations have worked though fitfully towards de-escalation along their disputed borders. Direct support for Pakistans terror agenda would instantly unravel this fragile progress, risking new confrontations in Ladakh or Arunachal Pradesh. The aftermath of the Galwan clash saw India exposing faultlines of Chinas economy with a series of ban orders against Chinese apps that triggered a disruption shaking Beijing economy. Indias action also set a template for the rest of the world to emulate. China may not risk a new vulnerable front. Leadership in the Global South: China aspires to lead the Global South, a grouping that prioritises stability and development over conflict. Openly abetting Pakistans cross-border terrorism would tarnish Beijings image as a responsible power and alienate emerging economies it hopes to court. Avoiding regional chaos: A full-blown India-Pakistan war would threaten Chinas flagship Belt and Road projects, especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Recent attacks on Chinese workers in Pakistan underscore the risks Beijing faces from instability risks it is loath to exacerbate. Also, China is facing a mammoth challenge from the second term of Donald Trump as the US president. An uncertain US policy structure means greater risks to Chinese economy that is faltering despite months-long push by the Xi Jinping regime. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Strategic diversion, not confrontation: China prefers to keep India strategically distracted through arms sales and diplomatic support to Pakistan, rather than direct involvement in terrorist activities. This approach maintains pressure on India without crossing red lines that could provoke a broader conflict. With India becoming vocal in bilateral engagements and on multilateral forums about tacit support by countries to Pakistan, resulting in funds flowing to terror outfits flourishing with deep linkages to Pakistani military. Diplomatic deniability: In their statements, China has made official calls for peace, coupled with behind-the-scenes support for Islamabad. This allows China to maintain plausible deniability. By condemning terrorism in generic terms but blocking UN sanctions on Pakistan-based groups, China walks a diplomatic tightrope. However, recently, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on his return from post-Operation Sindoor tour of Beijing, acknowledged that he assured the Chinese leadership that his country would not allow its soil to be used for terror activities against any third country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Then, there is the US factor: Indias growing defence ties with the United States, particularly through the Quad, make China wary of pushing New Delhi further into Washington DCs embrace. Any overt support for Pakistans militant agenda could accelerate Indias strategic realignment. India has already launched a massive global diplomatic outreach to expose Pakistans terror links and those backing Pakistani establishment through overt and covert means. The US has now also started openly admitting that Pakistans terror patronage is known to its agencies and governments for decades. A likely India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by July is expected to cement Indo-American alignment, putting China in more disadvantageous position. In the nutshell Chinas approach to the India-Pakistan rivalry is best described as strategic ambivalence: quietly empowering Pakistan while publicly urging restraint, and never quite tipping the balance. The calculus is clear Beijing values its economic and diplomatic relationship with India too highly to risk it for Islamabads more extreme ambitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As India-Pakistan tensions simmer and heat up South Asia, Chinas balancing act is likely to persist. For all the talk of ironclad friendship, Beijings true allegiance is to its own interests and, for now, that means keeping India onside. This also means that China may ultimately discipline Pakistan or risk its global power ambitions. Trump's conversation with European leaders triggers controversy Xinhua) 09:23, May 23, 2025 LOS ANGELES, May 22 (Xinhua) -- What U.S. President Donald Trump told European leaders after his two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin has triggered controversy. Three days after the high-stake talks for Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing senior European officials familiar with the conversation, that Trump told European leaders that Putin "isn't ready to end the Ukraine war because he thinks he is winning." The White House denied this account immediately. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said that Trump "did say he believes Putin is winning the war, but he never said 'Putin isn't ready to end the war'." During the call, Trump said several times that "he believes Putin wants peace and wants the war to be over," Leavitt noted. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also dismissed the WSJ report, saying Russia was only aware of what was said during the phone call between the two leaders on Monday. "Look, we know what Trump told Putin. We don't know what Trump told the Europeans after that phone call. We know the official statement by President Trump," Peskov said. According to Trump, the afterward call's participants included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The controversy came as European officials accused Trump of handing Putin a win after their phone call since he suggested abandoning being a mediator in ending the war and refused to impose fresh sanctions on Russia. "Several European officials said the message they took from the call was that they should not expect the United States to join them any time soon in piling additional financial pressure onto Mr. Putin," The New York Times said in a analysis published Thursday. "The disagreement between the Americans and the Europeans over support for Ukraine will likely come to a head over two nearly back-to-back summits: the Group of 7 in Canada in mid-June and the NATO summit a week later in The Hague," the report added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year read more Indian students at Harvard University raised objections to the visit of Pakistani delegates to the campus. Reuters/File Photo US President Donald Trumps administration has moved to revoke Harvard Universitys ability to enrol international students and has forced existing foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year, the department said in a statement. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country, she wrote late Thursday. The Trump 2.0 administration has been fighting a battle against the Ivy League school ever since it took office in January. From fund cuts to stringent rules, the US government has launched a crackdown on the supposed antisemitism on Harvards campus. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in the 2024-2025 school year, amounting to 27 per cent of its total enrollment, according to university statistics. Meanwhile, the government has also said that it will widen its crackdown on other universities as part of its wider campaign to fight antisemitism on college campuses. The move came after Harvard refused to provide information that Noem demanded about some foreign student visa holders at Harvard, the department said. In a letter to the university, Noem gave Harvard the opportunity to regain its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about foreign students, including any video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years. Unlawful The university has said that Trumps move to block the admission of foreign students will affect thousands of students and is illegal, amounting to retaliation. Harvard called the governments action unlawful and said it was fully committed to educating foreign students. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably, the university said. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission, it added. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump has again criticised Apple CEO Tim Cook for planning to set up manufacturing plants in India, threatening a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones not produced in the US read more US President Donald Trump on Friday (May 23) again slammed Apple CEO Tim Cook for manufacturing and assembling iPhones in India, asserting that he will impose 25 per cent tariffs on the company if the phones sold in the US are not produced locally. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter! Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This comes after Trump last week expressed his frustration over Apples plans to build manufacturing plants in India. While speaking during his Gulf tour on May 15, Trump recalled his conversation with Cook on May 14 and said, He is building all over India. I dont want you building in India. India can take care of itself. Not interested in you building in India, they can take care of themselves says US President Donald Trump To Apple CEO Tim Cook@realDonaldTrump @Apple @tim_cook pic.twitter.com/e4UmwMpKZD CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) May 15, 2025 Apple production in India Most Apple iPhones are assembled at Foxconn Technology Groups factory in southern India. Additionally, the Tata Group is also involved in setting up iPhone assembly plants in India. According to 2023 media reports, Tatas factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, was expected to have around 20 assembly lines and generate employment opportunities for approximately 50,000 people within the first two years of operation. Apple assembled $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months through March, increasing production by nearly 60 per cent over the previous year. As Apple looks to diversify its supply chains away from China, the US company has ramped up iPhone assembly in India in recent years, working with suppliers like Foxconn and Pegatron. Cook had mentioned earlier that the majority of the iPhones sold in the US this quarter will be manufactured in India, owing to the trade war between the US and China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Turkey arrested 65 soldiers and police officers early Friday over suspected connections to the late preacher Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt in 2016 read more Turkey arrested 65 soldiers and police officers early Friday over suspected connections to the late preacher Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt in 2016. According to The Economic Times report, citing the state-run Anadolu news agency, 56 active-duty members of the Turkish armed forces were taken into custody, while authorities continue to search for seven others. Separately, Halk TV reported that nine police officers were also arrested, most of them in Istanbul. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an operation against the terrorist organisation FETO in 36 provinces centred in Istanbul, 56 of the 63 active-duty soldiers for whom detention orders were issued were captured, The Economic Times quoted Anadolu as saying. Turkey refers to Gulens Hizmet movement as FETO, short for the Fethullah Terror Organisation a group that once wielded significant behind-the-scenes influence. Gulen, who died in October, was formerly a close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before their relationship turned hostile. He moved to the United States in 1999 and never returned. Despite his death, Turkish authorities have pledged to continue targeting his followers worldwide. According to a prosecutors statement cited by Halk TV, the latest arrests began at 6 am local time (0300 GMT) in Istanbul and involved members of the air force, gendarmerie, and the army and navy. With inputs from agencies US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs handed down the ruling just hours after Harvard filed a lawsuit on Friday, according to a report read more People walk between buildings on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge. File image/AP A federal judge has issued a temporary halt to the Trump administrations move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students. According to a CNN report, US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs handed down the ruling just hours after Harvard filed a lawsuit on Friday, claiming the revocation of its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme was a form of clear retaliation for the universitys rejection of ideologically driven policy demands by the government. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Judge Burroughs is also overseeing a separate case in which Harvard is challenging the administrations freeze of $2.65 billion in federal funding. Harvards latest legal filing contends that the Department of Homeland Securitys decision on Thursday to remove the university from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) system is unlawful. It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the governments demands to control Harvards governance, curriculum, and the ideology of its faculty and students, the complaint states. In her order, Judge Burroughs, an Obama appointee, said that Harvard had demonstrated it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury if the government were permitted to revoke its certification before the court could fully review the case. A remote hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, followed by in-person arguments on Thursday at the federal courthouse in Boston, where the judge will consider whether to issue a preliminary injunction to block the administrations action while the lawsuit proceeds. Earlier, the White House doubled down on its stance taken against Harvard, calling lawsuit frivolous If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldnt be in this situation to begin with, Reuters quoted White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson as saying. Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, she added. The Trump administrations move to revoke Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students appeared to be a pointed reprisal against the prestigious institution for resisting White House policy directives. The administrations demands, seen as politically driven, included surrendering student disciplinary records and dismantling equity programmes, similar to requirements imposed on other US. colleges STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, CNN quoted the US Department of Homeland Security as saying in a statement. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, said the Harvards lawsuit. Harvard President Alan Garber assured the university community that the institution would stand by its international students and continue to fight on their behalf. You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, our partners in the work of this great institution, CNN quoted Garber as saying in a statement on Friday. Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world, he added. Harvards new lawsuit was filed against the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Harvard is already engaged in a separate legal battle with the White House over the recent freeze of $2.65 billion in federal grants and contracts. That case, also assigned to Judge Allison Burroughs, has not yet resulted in an immediate injunction, as the university opted not to seek one. As a result, the freeze is expected to remain in effect at least until late July, when both parties are scheduled to present their arguments in court. With inputs from agencies Iranian and US negotiators resumed talks on Friday in Rome to resolve a decades-long dispute over Irans nuclear ambitions, despite Tehran warning that clinching a new deal might be insurmountable amid mutually exclusive demands read more Delegation members stand with security as they arrive at the Omani embassy, where the fifth round of US-Iran talks takes place, in Rome, Italy, on Friday. Reuters Iranian and US negotiators resumed talks on Friday in Rome to resolve a decades-long dispute over Irans nuclear ambitions, Iranian media reported, despite Tehran warning that clinching a new deal might be insurmountable amid mutually exclusive demands. The stakes are high for both sides. President Donald Trump wants to curtail Tehrans potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. The Islamic Republic, for its part, wants to be rid of devastating sanctions on its oil-based economy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to lead a fifth round of talks, through Omani mediators. Both Washington and Tehran have taken a tough stance in public over Irans intensifying uranium enrichment programme, which could potentially give it scope to build a nuclear warhead, even though Tehran says it has no such ambitions and the purposes are purely civilian. Iran insists the talks are indirect, but U.S. officials have said the discussions - including the latest round on May 11 in Oman - have been both direct and indirect. Ahead of the talks, Araqchi wrote on X: Zero nuclear weapons = we Do have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that Trump believes negotiations with Iran are moving in the right direction. Tehran and Washington have both said they prefer diplomacy to settle the impasse. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington is working to reach an accord that would allow Iran to have a civil nuclear energy programme but not enrich uranium, while admitting that achieving such a deal will not be easy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on Irans state matters, rejected Washingtons demands that Tehran stop refining uranium as excessive and outrageous, warning that the talks are unlikely to yield results. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Among remaining stumbling blocks is Tehrans refusal to ship abroad its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium - possible raw material for nuclear bombs - or engage in discussions over its ballistic missile programme. Iran says it is ready to accept some limits on enrichment, but needs watertight guarantees that Washington would not renege on a future nuclear accord. Mounting tensions Trump in his first term in 2018 ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between major powers and Iran. Since returning to office this year, he has restored a maximum pressure campaign on Tehran and reimposed sweeping US sanctions that continue to hobble the Iranian economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond the 2015 pacts limits. Wendy Sherman, a former US undersecretary for political affairs who led the US negotiating team that reached the 2015 agreement, said it was impossible to convince Iran to scrap enrichment - which Tehran touts as a matter of sovereignty. I dont think it is possible to get a deal with Iran where they literally dismantle their programme, give up their enrichment, even though that would be ideal, she told Reuters. The cost of failure of the talks could be high. Irans arch-foe Israel sees Irans nuclear programme as an existential threat and says it would never allow Irans clerical establishment to obtain nuclear weapons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israels strategic affairs minister and the head of its foreign intelligence service Mossad will also be in Rome for talks with the US team that is negotiating with Iran, a source aware of the matter told Reuters. Araqchi said on Thursday that Washington would bear legal responsibility if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear installations, following a CNN report that Israel might be preparing strikes. While rising US-Iran tensions have put the nuclear talks in doubt, three Iranian sources said on Tuesday that the clerical leadership lacks a clear fallback plan if efforts to overcome the standoff collapse. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed details of a new AI hardware project being developed with former Apple designer Jony Ive. The plan includes eventually producing 100 million units of a compact device designed for everyday use. OpenAI to buy io startup in $6.5 billion deal During an internal meeting, Altman told employees the initiative could be the biggest thing weve ever done. He also confirmed that OpenAI will acquire Ives startup, io, for $6.5 billion. A recording reviewed by The Wall Street Journal revealed Altmans belief that the acquisition could boost OpenAIs value by as much as $1 trillion. Reflecting on the collaboration, Ive described working with Altman as profound, similar to his experience with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Device Features The upcoming device is described as an AI assistant that can sense and understand its environment. It is small enough to be carried in a pocket or placed on a desk. Altman and Ive said the device will not function as a phone or wearable like smart glasses. Instead, it will serve as a third core device, used alongside a laptop and smartphone. Ive mentioned the beginning of a new design movement. Altman added that the project will involve a series of devices, combining hardware and software in a unified systeman approach similar to Apples. The device will have cameras and microphones to detect surroundings but will not include a display. It is intended to connect to phones and computers for processing and screen use. Production and Launch Timeline The first version is expected to be released by the end of 2026. Altman said the goal is to reach 100 million units shipped, not all at once, but at a faster rate than any previous tech device. Ives team is already working with suppliers to enable large-scale production. The devices final assembly is planned to take place outside China, with Vietnam being the likely location, the report added. Industry Context This strategy allows OpenAI to deliver AI products directly to users rather than relying on platforms like Apple or Google. The company has reportedly told investors it does not anticipate turning a profit before 2029, with projected cumulative losses reaching $44 billion by that time. Altman pointed out that current devices restrict AI use, since people still have to open browsers and type commands manually, which he said falls short of AIs full potential. Analyst Views Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared his insights on X (formerly Twitter), outlining several predictions about the device: Mass production is expected to begin in 2027. Manufacturing will likely take place outside China, with Vietnam as the leading candidate. The prototype is slightly bigger than the AI Pin, and similar in shape to an iPod Shuffle. One possible use is wearing it around the neck. It will feature microphones and cameras, but no screen. The device will rely on phones and PCs for computing and display. Kuo suggested the timing of OpenAIs announcement may aim to draw attention away from Googles recent I/O event. He also sees the move as part of a growing trend toward physical AIbringing AI into everyday physical environments. He concluded with a reference to Alan Kays well-known quote: People who are serious about software should make their own hardware. Background and Development The collaboration began roughly 18 months ago when OpenAI VP Peter Welinder started working with Ives team. At first, io planned to develop its own device powered by OpenAIs technology. Altman later decided on a full merger, saying the device was too central to OpenAIs mission to remain separate. If you subscribed to ChatGPT, we should just send you new computers, Altman told staff, explaining that the project aims to rethink how users interact with AI. Outlook Many details about the device remain secret as development continues. OpenAIs acquisition of io and partnership with Jony Ive mark a significant move into AI hardware. The first product is expected by 2026, with more updates to come as the project advances. Source 1, 2 Fire walkers display their feet after the ritual, showing they have no burns -- proof of a miracle, believers say Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel A proposal by Colorados U.S. senators to permanently protect more than 730,000 acres in areas including the Gunnison Basin and North Fork Valley has gained the backing of U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Grand Junction, while hes still considering whether to also get behind a measure by the senators to protect part of the Dolores River region. U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both D-Colo., recently reintroduced the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act. First introduced last year, it includes designations of some areas as wilderness, withdrawal of some areas in the North Fork Valley from oil and gas development, and other protective measures, and Hurd has now introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Bennet and Hickenlooper also have reintroduced a bill to designate a national conservation area and special management area for part of the Dolores River corridor in San Miguel, Dolores and Montezuma counties. The measure would permanently protect more than 68,000 acres of public lands. Hurds predecessor representing Colorados 3rd Congressional District, Republican Lauren Boebert, who now represents Colorados 4th Congressional District, agreed in 2022 to carry a companion House bill to the senators Dolores River bill. But Hurd, who is in his first year in Congress, hasnt taken a stance on the legislation yet. We are currently looking at the Dolores Canyon bill and ensuring all our local officials, impacted communities and important industries have a say in this important legislation, Nick Bayer, a Hurd representative, told The Daily Sentinel. Boebert, in announcing support for the measure in 2022, had called it a locally driven one that provides river corridor and wildlife protections while protecting water and private property rights and traditional uses like grazing, uranium mining and motorized-vehicle use. Bennet said in a news release, This bill was written in Colorado, by Coloradans who live, work, and depend on the Dolores River. It represents a balanced, sensible way forward to resolve many long-standing disagreements, protect the river for all parties, and provide long-term certainty for generations. Some conservation and recreation activists also have pushed for new protections along the Dolores River corridor in Mesa and Montrose counties, and had hoped former President Joe Biden might designate lands there as a national monument. Hurd, while running for Congress last year, said he opposed a unilateral decision by a president to create such a monument on the corridor. But he also said he thought there was an opportunity for good-faith discussions looking for areas of possible agreement on managing the corridor, and that its critical that any proposal have buy-in from affected families and communities. The GORP Act would provide wilderness designations for nearly 123,000 acres of land, withdraw more than 74,000 acres in the North Fork Valley from oil and gas development, impose no-surface-occupancy requirements for oil and gas operations on nearly 50,000 acres of national forest roadless areas in the North Fork Valley, and establish other management designations aimed at things such as protecting wildlife and enhancing recreation. According to Bennets office, the North Fork Valley oil and gas provisions were included at the request of Delta County and other stakeholders in the North Fork Valley. The bill also would allow capture and use of coal mine methane in those areas. Honored to lead the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act alongside Senator Bennet, Hurd said in a news release. This legislation reflects strong local support for the responsible stewardship of our land. In contrast to his support for the bill and its limitations on oil and gas activities, Hurd has separately introduced legislation that would rescind recent Bureau of Land Management resource management plan amendments in its Grand Junction and Colorado River Valley field offices that sharply curtailed the amount of acreage available for future oil and gas leasing. That bill also would undo other recently adopted BLM plans including one that seeks to better protect big game habitat from oil and gas development. The GORP Act has support from Gunnison, Delta, Ouray and other counties; communities including Gunnison, Paonia and Crested Butte; conservation groups such as Trout Unlimited and the North Fork Valley's Western Slope Conservation Center and Citizens for a Healthy Community; and the Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association, Gunnison Valley OHV Alliance of Trail Riders (GOATs) and others. In emailed comments to the Sentinel, Soren Jespersen, director of the Colorado Wildlands Project, applauded Bennet, Hickenlooper and Hurd for their efforts on the GORP bill. He called it a strong example of landscape-scale conservation, and added, Bold efforts like this are essential if were going to hold the line against the mounting threats of habitat loss and climate change. It also shows whats possible when people come together in good faith to find balanced solutions to complex public land challenges. He also said the Dolores bill is a critical step forward for the Dolores canyons, but only part of the solution. Over the past two years, Coloradans have made their voices heard, loud and clear. The entire lower Dolores River corridor from McPhee Dam all the way to the Utah state line, including its tributary canyons deserves permanent protection. EU announces 80 million humanitarian aid package for Yemen European Commission Press release May 20, 2025 Brussels The Commission has announced 80 million in EU humanitarian funding for 2025 to support people in need in Yemen. This humanitarian aid will target food and health services - including those focusing on malnutrition and epidemics - as well as water provision, sanitation and hygiene and education, among others. The EU funding will be channelled through EU humanitarian partners, such as UN agencies and NGOs, actively providing relief to vulnerable communities affected by conflict, displacement, and climate emergencies among other challenges. Humanitarian programmes will also ensure the provision of protection services, including mine clearance and mine risk education. The announcement coincides with the seventh Senior Officials Meeting on Yemen, attended by Commissioner Hadja Lahbib in Brussels. Background Yemen continues to go through one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. One decade of conflict, economic deterioration and recurrent climate-induced events have left 19.5 million people, more than half of the population, in need of humanitarian assistance. Half of Yemen's children - a staggering 2,4 million - are also malnourished. Sudden unprecedented cuts to humanitarian funding also deeply impacted Yemen, forcing aid agencies to drastically reduce life-saving programming. Since the beginning of the war in 2015, the EU has contributed almost 1.6 billion to respond to the crisis in Yemen. This includes over 1 billion in humanitarian aid and nearly half a billion in development assistance and peacebuilding efforts. The European Commission is the largest donor to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, European Member States are also large contributors. Quote(s) For more than a decade, as a donor, the EU continued to stand in solidarity with the people of Yemen. These contributions helped saving lives, avert famine and provide relief and hope to those who are suffering. We cannot fail them now. Only by pursuing a stable pathway to peace, people in Yemen can have a dignified life and a better future. Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 22, 2025 Transcript SD Hegseth Speech at 82nd Airborne, Ft. Bragg, NC SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: [Applause] What an amazing day. What an incredible opportunity. I thought I had the best job in the country. I don't think I do. Major General Work, thank you. Congratulations. Appreciate your actions, your words and your leadership, along with Command Sergeant Major Delapena, two of the best jobs in the country, best jobs in the world. It is an absolute honor to be here not just amongst the current but amongst the past [applause], amongst those who stand the line and those who stood the line. Those who fight and those who support. This here I know is a community. It means the world for me and my staff to be here; there is nowhere I would rather be. We've had this day circled on our calendar in the Pentagon for quite some time. It is great to be here at Fort Bragg it is Fort Bragg again. [Applause] I was going to call it Liberty. Give me liberty or give me death, I love it; but give me Fort Bragg every day of the week. [Applause] You see this formation out here, this beautiful formation as I look, a message from our commander-in-chief from your commander-in-chief from President Donald J. Trump. [Applause] We know that all of you, Americas 911, that you have our back. The message from the commander-in-chief, straight from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, is he has your back. [Applause] I get a chance to watch it every day in the Oval Office, on foreign trips, wherever he is, he is laser-focused on putting America and Americans first and ensuring peace through strength. So, as you train, as you prepare, as you are the tip of the spear, know that you are serving under a commander-in-chief who has your interests in mind with every decision that he makes. Now one of those decisions he made is choosing a Secretary of Defense [applause] and, you know, some folks out there, some of we've got our friends in the fake news media are here. [Laughter] Some of them said, critics might say you can't choose an army major to be the Secretary of Defense. It has to be well, one of our many distinguished generals or Congressmen or business leaders or corporate leaders, wonderful. There's many incredible Americans. One of the critiques was we need somebody that can think strategically, big picture. We can't have a guy who thinks like the troops, to which I say "hell, yeah, we can have a guy that thinks like the troops." [Applause] You see, my job is to think strategically, operationally, but also understand the tactical. I have stood, not that long ago, in a formation like this one, and if you didn't hear it please rest. Double rest, if that's a command from the Secretary of Defense. [Laughter] I've been in that formation, loosening my knees, taking a deep breath, gazing over the horizon, sweating and wondering what time it is but I can't move my arm. I've been in your boots not yours. The 101st is not the 82nd. [Applause] I'll admit that on a day like today. Not quite your boots or your beret, but close. And so, as I thought about this speech, I have an amazing staff, a wonderful staff who and a great speechwriting team, and they put together a binder of 27 pages. I mean, it's like the Gettysburg Address meets the State of the Union, Churchill meets Reagan. But then I thought wait. The last thing I want if I'm standing in formation is a 27-page speech. So, I will spare you that today. [Applause] The old timers appreciate that one because they can sound that off. I recognize in many ways many of the aspirations, thoughts, anxieties, fears dreams that you have standing in formation, you and your families. My job is to stay focused on you and our warfighters every single day. So, my message today is simple and on behalf of the president. We're going to bring it back to the basics the basics, sir, that you talk so much about that the 82nd airborne is focused on. We're going to restore the warrior ethos, and we are across our formations a standard that's set here every single day. We will focus on readiness, on training, on warfighting, on accountability, on standards. Black, white, male, female doesn't matter. We're going to be color blind and merit-based warfighters, just like you are here in the 82nd. [Applause] We're also taking care of our people. It's not just training, it's not just beans and bullets, it's families, it's historic investment in barracks and housing, in health care, and yes, in pay. There's a big increase coming for E-1 to E-4. Also, I've got a bit of an announcement today that might be of interest to this community. For the first time in 25 years, here the Secretary of Defense through the Secretary of the Army, we are increasing jump pay. [Applause] Not only are we increasing jump pay, but for the first time jumpmasters, who have never been compensated additionally for that additional duty, are going to receive an additional $150 a month in incentive pay. [Applause] So, here's to our jump our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine. But I want you to know inside the corridors of the Pentagon, you are on our mind with the decisions that we make in budgets, in planning, in deployments, in orders, in reorganizations we have you and your families in mind. We're also going to rebuild our military. President Trump is committed to historic investments inside our formations. Our promise to you is that when the 82nd airborne is deployed, if we have to call 911 for America's Response Force, you will be equipped better than any other fighting force in the world. You should never enter and will never enter under President Trump's watch a fair fight, that's my promise to you. [Applause] We will rebuild this military. And we're going to reestablish deterrence. Unfortunately for a number of years the world watched and wondered where American leadership and American strength was. They watched the war that was unleashed in Ukraine or the attacks that happened on October 7th, just that same mentality reverberating just this last night, sadly in Washington DC, we saw the debacle of what happened in Afghanistan. President Trump has said by putting America first, we will reestablish peace through strength, and we will reestablish deterrence. And when I look out at these this formation, the eyes of the men and women and these flags, I see the eyes of deterrence. I see the eyes of American strength. I see the eyes that will deter the wars that we don't want to fight because we know we have a president committed, a commander-in-chief committed to peace, peace through strength. And my first platoon motto we ever had is one that you all know well, those who long for peace must prepare for war. You live that motto every single day on behalf of our nation, and I cannot thank you enough, express our gratitude enough for what you do. So, in conclusion, I'm going to turn to page 27 [Laughter] and end with some well-written words deserved of a fantastic formation like this one. I'm grateful to be assembled here amongst America's guard of honor, the warriors of the 82nd Airborne Division, your families and so many stout-hearted veterans. Like those who came before you, you keep showing the world the stuff you're made of because we know you are ready for the important work that lies ahead. On behalf of the president of the United States, on behalf of the office of the Secretary of Defense, on behalf of a grateful nation, Godspeed to all of you, God bless the United States of America. And airborne, all the way. [Applause] Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4195999/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 22, 2025 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News Hegseth Directs Changes to Address Shortfalls in Household Movement System In advance of this summer's peak permanent change of station moving season, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. Transportation Command to change how the Global Household Goods contract is implemented in an effort to better serve military families. "We're heading into peak season of moving PCS moving and that process, I know, has been a mess, and we are addressing it," Hegseth said. "We have ... to take some aggressive action and fast." In a memorandum dated May 20, 2025, Hegseth directed Transcom to make various changes to the existing GHC program. He noted that, while the PCS process has "never been a great system," recent changes have made things worse. "We know it's not working, and it's only getting worse," he said. "We've heard your concerns about contractor performance, quality and accountability. We hear you loud and clear, and that's why we're taking decisive action immediately." In his memorandum, Hegseth directed that during the 2025 PCS moving season, Transcom should "fully leverage" capabilities under the new GHC and the legacy Tender of Service program, which GHC replaced. "We're going to split this year's peak moving season between our new and legacy systems," he said. "There's a new system we've been trying it's not working very well and then there's a legacy system that wasn't perfect ... those systems can talk to each other and work together, so we're going to use both in every way possible." Under GHC, fees paid to independent moving companies for conducting PCS moves may not be as high as they were under the legacy ToS system. Because of this, fewer independent moving companies, or vendors, are stepping up to offer their services. Hegseth has directed Transcom to develop and implement rates similar to the legacy ToS system within GHC to increase vendor capacity and ensure enough companies are willing to move military family household goods to the next duty station. Some military families opt to move themselves, either by purchasing packing materials and renting their own moving vehicle or by hiring a moving company to assist them. Such moves were once called do-it-yourself, or DITY, moves. The Defense Department now calls these moves personally procured moves, or PPM. Following a PPM, service members file for reimbursement. However, reimbursement amounts can vary significantly based on individual circumstances. Hegseth noted that those rates are too low, and some service members could be paying out of pocket to move their family. "We're increasing the government reimbursement rate to 130% instead of 100%, which will cover [the cost of a PPM], we believe, based on the math we're looking at, full compensation when you take that on as a responsibility of moving you or your family," he said. Hegseth also said that DOD is forming a task force to examine how PCS moves are conducted. "We're going to review the entire PCS process and recommend rapid actions inside the department for the best possible moving experience for our service members and their families," he said. He added that when a military family moves from one duty station to another to meet the needs of the Defense Department, more than the mechanics of the move are at stake. "Ultimately, this is not just about moving boxes. This is about moving families, husbands, wives, kids, valuables, memories, everything and you deserve that kind of respect across the board," he said. "We owe it to you to get it right. Everything's on the table. We're going to track this progress weekly. We're going to hold leaders accountable at every level, as we just did, and we will not tolerate poor performance." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address L3 Technologies Inc. Agrees to Pay $62,000,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations arising from Submission of False Cost or Pricing Data on Defense Contracts Thursday, May 22, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs L3 Technologies Inc., a corporation doing business in Utah, has agreed to pay the United States $62 million to settle allegations that its division, Communications System West, violated the False Claims Act and the Truth In Negotiations Act by knowingly making false statements and submitting and causing the submission of false claims by failing to disclose accurate, current, and complete cost or pricing data for communications equipment sold to various Department of Defense agencies, including the Air Force, Army, and Navy, and other government agencies. L3 manufactures communications equipment to operate unmanned vehicles and retrieve data and visuals for military operations and intelligence. The devices are known as remote operations video enhanced receivers (ROVER), Video-Oriented Transceivers for Exchange of Information (VORTEX), and Soldier Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (SIR) receivers. The United States has purchased ROVER, VORTEX, and SIR products through sole source, fixed price contracts, and L3 also has supplied these products under subcontracts with other prime contractors who manufacture unmanned vehicles. The settlement resolves allegations that, between October 2006 and February 2014, L3 failed to disclose accurate, complete, and current cost or pricing data relating to the labor, material, and other costs for manufacturing the ROVER, VORTEX, and SIR products, and each of their versions and kits, and falsely certified that it had done so in dozens of government contract proposals. The United States alleged that this conduct violated the Truth in Negotiations Act, which requires a contractor to provide to the government at the time of an agreement on price the most current, complete, and accurate facts that could reasonably be expected to affect price negotiations significantly. The United States further alleged that, by failing to disclose accurate, complete, and current cost or pricing data, L3 knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims in connection with the ROVER, VORTEX, and SIR contracts and subcontracts in violation of the False Claims Act. "The Department will vigorously pursue federal contractors who fail to provide truthful information during contract negotiations to ensure federal agencies do not overpay for products and services." said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department's Civil Division. "Taking advantage of the resources that support the armed forces of the United States and other government agencies will not be tolerated," said Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable individuals and contractors who defraud the government." "This $62 million settlement underscores the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) commitment to protecting national security and ensuring the integrity of Department of Defense acquisitions.," stated OSI Special Agent Jeffery T.E. Herrin. "L3's defective pricing in contract proposals for critical systems like ROVER, VORTEX, and SIR erodes public trust, and OSI, through robust law enforcement partnerships, will continue to uphold law and order within the defense industry." "This settlement is the result of a collaborative effort to guard against fraud, waste, and abuse, demonstrating the commitment of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and our partner agencies to safeguard public funds," said Special Agent in Charge Olga Morales of the Department of the Army CID Southwest Field Office. "Investigating companies that defraud the Army is crucial to maintaining the trust of the American public and upholding the integrity of government contracting." The settlement resulted from a coordinated effort among the Civil Division's Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah with assistance from the Defense Contract Management Agency, the Department of the Air Force, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Special Operations Command. Senior Trial Counsel A. Thomas Morris and former Senior Trial Counsel Russell Kinner of the Civil Division's Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carra Cadman for the District of Utah handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Topic: False Claims Act Components: Civil Division USAO - Utah Press Release Number: 25-544 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Estonia - Javelin Missiles NEWS | May 22, 2025 Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No. 25-43 WASHINGTON, May 22, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Estonia of Javelin Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $296 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Estonia has requested to buy eight hundred (800) FGM-148F Javelin missiles (including 8 fly-to-buy missiles) and an additional seventy-two (72) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLUs) that will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $10.18 million ($3.1 million in MDE), included twelve (12) LwCLUs; LwCLU Basic Skills Trainers; Javelin missile simulation rounds; Battery Coolant Units; spare parts; tool kits and support equipment; equipment training; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and services; engineering services; and related elements of logistics and program support. This notification is for a combined eight hundred (800) FGM-148F Javelin missiles (including 8 fly-to-buy missiles) and eighty-four (84) LwCLUs. The following non-MDE items will also be included: LwCLU Basic Skills Trainers; Javelin missile simulation rounds; Battery Coolant Units; spare parts; tool kits and support equipment; equipment training; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and services; engineering services; and related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total program cost is $296 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. This sale is consistent with U.S. initiatives to provide key allies in the region with modern systems that will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and increase security. The proposed sale will enhance Estonia's capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. The proposed sale will support its goal of improving national and territorial defense as well as interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. Estonia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture between RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ, and Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, FL. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Estonia. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbia: remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas at the press conference European External Action Service (EEAS) 22.05.2025 Belgrade, 22/05/2025 EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. It is really a pleasure to be here in Belgrade. Of course, we have had very intensive programs, so very intense discussions. During my visit, I met with President Vucic. I met with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, opposition representatives, civil society and also the representatives of the youth. As expected, the views are very divergent, but we had a good exchange on issues including Serbia's EU accession, domestic reforms and the ongoing dialogue with Pristina. Let me start with EU enlargement. I am deeply committed to encouraging all the Western Balkan countries to really seize the current momentum that we have in enlargement. Yes, this process has been going on for quite some time, but there is always a political momentum, and this political momentum is right now - the united Europe is one vision that we must all work towards. From my discussions with the Serbian political leadership, it is clear that EU membership remains a strategic goal. However, I want to emphasize that we need to see actions also to prove and support those words. Reforms are how Serbia will advance along its EU path. There are no shortcuts for membership. Real progress must be made here in Belgrade, and the next steps are very clear. They include media freedom, combating corruption, electoral reforms. Reforms need to be real, not just ticking the box on the paper. These reforms will bring real benefits for the citizens and people of Serbia, as hundreds of thousands of protesters have been demanding in recent weeks. The autonomy of universities must be respected. In our talks we also address border European security concerns. Serbia faces a strategic choice [on] where it wants to be. Serbia's European future depends on the values it chooses to uphold. We also talked about Serbia's relations with its closest neighbour. The normalisation of relations with Kosovo is not just improving ties. It is fundamental for Serbia's European future. It is time to overcome the past and focus on the common future. I plan to invite the representatives from Belgrade and Pristina to Brussels as soon as possible to discuss the concrete steps forward. I also addressed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I stressed to President Vucic and other leaders the importance of Serbia's leadership and constructive role in supporting the country's stability. The future of the region depends on this. Thank you, I am willing to take your questions Q&A. Q. Three activists in Novi Sad are still in detention where they were sent more than two and a half or two months ago. One of them, according to his lawyer, is in bad condition. He was beaten in detention. Have you discussed this with Serbian authorities during your visit? And the other question with Serbia conditioning dialog on the formation of the association of the Serb majority municipalities and Kosovo demanding the lifting of EU measures. What concrete steps will the EU take to break the deadlock and move the process forward? Thank you. Of course, we discussed the issue of the detained people and also how the due process has to be followed. We expect from all the Member States and candidate states to really follow the principles. One of those is human rights, which is what must be followed in all those processes. When it comes to your second question, then we are traveling from here to Kosovo. I will not comment on that before I have also sat down with Kosovo and addressed all the concerns that we have with them. I will do that then, thank you. Q. You mentioned the dialogue with Pristina. The current format of the dialogue does not work. Does the EU plan to do something about that, to change the format? Thank you. We have a new Special Representative for the dialogue that is been appointed for one year. As I am new to the process, we have been mapping what works and what does not work in this process, because what we need is the normalisation of the relations. It is necessary for the future of both. This is what we are working on. Thank you Q. I will practically refer to my colleague's question, but I am talking about activists who were allowed to defend their freedom, who were transferred to the domestic court. After that, we had a reaction from the President, who ordered that judges and prosecutors who support, as he said, hooliganism, banditry, injustice and disrespect, will not be judged in Serbia, but only those judges who have the honour and reputation to defend the state of Serbia. Is that, according to European standards, a pressure on the judiciary? And what specific message can Brussels send to the country to be a candidate in which the President treats the judiciary in this way, and it is not the first time that he has had such requests for judges and prosecutors in the last few months? Thank you. Thank you. Of course, one of the principles of European Union is also the separation of powers, which means that you have the legislative power, you have you have the governing power, and then you have the legislature, the courts. So, separation [of] powers - and that is what we also expect from our candidate countries. In Europe, we do not comment the work of the courts, because they have to be independent in their work. And we expect this also from the candidate countries. Thank you. Q. Have you clarified everything with the President regarding his trip to Moscow, and have you reached any agreement on how Serbia should continue aligning with the EU's security and foreign policy? Yes, I had the possibility to discuss the visit to Moscow already in Tirana with President Vucic, and I expressed my views, which are very clear. I really do not understand why it is necessary to stand side by side with the person who is conducting this horrible war in Ukraine. President Vucic was explaining his side of the story. So yes, we had a very extensive discussion about this. The other part of the question was about the alignment of the Common Foreign Security Policy. We discussed this with the government as well. And of course, one of the issues that was brought [was] that the normalisation of the relationship with Kosovo is actually hindering the Common Foreign Policy alignment - which, of course, if you look at the elements, is disputable. I would say so. I raised this issue, and this is definitely something that we expect from the candidate countries, to follow the policies. Otherwise, the kind of message it sends is, 'do you want to be with us'? Because if you are in the European Union, we work together, and this is how we operate. This is what we want to see, also from our candidate countries. Thank you. Q. I will refer to what the colleagues asked about the EU response to the move of the leader of the region, the President of Serbia, on his trip to Moscow, or the move of Milorad Dodik to the Republic of Srpska. Many believe that the EU responses were quite weak to this. Where is the red line in that sense, on such moves? Thank you. Well, I have heard against me exactly that I have been too strong on this. Because I have been very clear and open about these things. But I mean, I cannot speak for others, I can only speak for myself - and I have expressed my opinion very clearly on this. Thank you. Q. Dear Mrs. Kallas, recently there has been a decline in Serbian citizens' trust in the EU. How does the EU plan to restore this damaged trust? Thank you. This is a very good question as well. I think what it shows, is, of course, one thing that we require from our candidate countries, but the other part is also what we do ourselves. If the candidate countries are following the path, doing the reforms, but they do not see any progress because we, European Union, are stuck behind our procedures and decision-making process, then it brings frustration. I know for the Western Balkans, the process has been very long, and it brings frustration that people really do not see the tangible benefits from this. But I can tell you first what I said in my introductory remarks, that I really see that this is the political momentum to use. I explained this, coming from a country like Estonia, we also had a small opportunity window that was closed again afterwards, so when we got in. That requires the mindset of people to really do the reforms on the candidate country's side, but it also requires from our side to do the necessary steps so that there is no frustration. What I want to stress is that European Union enlargement is a convergence machine. Again, coming from a country that you know, GDP per capita was 36% of European average before we joined, four years before we joined. When we joined, it was 48% and now it is close to 90% of the European average. What it means for the people is that the prosperity of people, actually, is increasing. But I agree with you that in order to prevent the frustration, we need to do our homework. Also on the European side Thank you. Q. The qualitative media monitoring of Demostat showed that on the public media service of Serbia, RTS, pro-Russian propaganda is dominant and sophisticated. Both on RTS and on other televisions with national frequency, EU is usually portrayed negatively, but on Demostat, it's always neutral. How do you comment on that, on RTS and on other frequencies that we have pro-Russian propaganda? I do not know to comment on the concrete channels. But what I can say is that the fight with misinformation is a big issue. We need to fight the propaganda, and we also need to fight the narratives that are not true. But it is very hard. Especially nowadays where we are living in this information age. One of my favourite quotes is from Winston Churchill after the Second World War when he said that [a] lie is halfway across the globe before the truth gets its pants on. And now we are in this information age and it is extremely hard. But I think we have tools to fight the misinformation. We also, for example, in Moldova, give them the tools to fight with this. It is media literacy, it is free media. It is also people who recognise the false information and are able to really point this out. And also the counter narratives that we have to really describe. Thank you. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-272441 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Export of civilian ammunition to require authorisation Finnish Government Ministry of the Interior Publication date 22.5.2025 13.30 Type:Press release The export of ammunition intended for civilian use will become subject to authorisation. In its session on 22 May, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the bill for the relevant act on Friday 23 May. The act is scheduled to enter into force on 2 June 2025. It supplements the European Union's sanctions legislation. The aim is to prevent the export of cartridge components to Russia in particular. Cartridge components are cases, primers, gunpowder, bullets and projectiles for use in firearms. In addition, unauthorised export of cartridge components will be criminalised under the Criminal Code. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland to join NATO's 2026 peacetime activities primarily in Baltic Sea, North Sea and North Atlantic Finnish Ministry of Defence 22.05.2025 14:01 In its plenary session on 22 May 2025, the Finnish Government endorsed a report on the Finnish Defence Forces' participation in NATO's peacetime activities in 2026. The report was also submitted to Parliament. "In 2026, Finland will contribute to NATO's collective peacetime activities by deploying two Navy vessels in NATO's maritime area of responsibility, primarily in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the North Atlantic. Our participation in NATO's peacetime activities signals the unity of the Alliance and shows its readiness and defence capability. It also demonstrates that we bear our responsibility for the security of our neighbouring areas and that we are committed to increasing stability in the Baltic Sea. The security situation in the region is emphasised as a result of Russia stepping up its hybrid activities," said Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen. The Finnish Defence Forces plans to contribute to NATO's peacetime activities in 2026 by deploying one Hamina class vessel to the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and one Katanpaa class vessel to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1). The Finnish Defence Forces does not plan to contribute to NATO's Forward Land Forces or to Air Policing and Air Shielding in 2026. The launch and progress of the F-35 fighter deployment project will determine when the Finnish Air Force will be able to resume its participation in NATO's Air Policing and Air Shielding. NATO's peacetime activities are an important element of NATO's essential purpose where all Allies are prepared to support each other through the implementation of deterrence and defence throughout the territory of the Alliance. NATO's peacetime activities include the Forward Land Forces, the Standing Naval Forces and the Air Policing and Air Shielding missions. Their purpose is to demonstrate NATO's readiness and defence capability and to show that the Allies are committed to unity, solidarity and burden-sharing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CCG takes control measures against Philippine vessels intruding into waters near Zhubi Jiao, Tiexian Jiao: spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: May 22, 2025 06:59 PM Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard (CCG), said on Thursday that Philippine government vessels 3002 and 3003 illegally intruded into the waters near Zhubi Jiao and Tiexian Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao on Wednesday without permission from the Chinese government. The Philippine side also sent personnel to illegally land on Tiexian Jiao and carry out activities there. In response, CCG law enforcement personnel carried out control measures in accordance with the law and boarded the reef to verify the situation, Liu said, adding that on-site operations were conducted in a professional and lawful manner. Between 9:13 and 9:14 am, the Philippine vessel 3002 ignored repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side and dangerously approached CCG vessel 21559, which at the time was engaged in routine rights protection and law enforcement operations, resulting in a minor collision, Liu said, stressing that the responsibility lies entirely with the Philippines. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao and the surrounding waters. The actions of the Philippine side constitute a serious infringement on China's territorial sovereignty, violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and undermine peace and stability in the region, the spokesperson said. "We urge the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringing actions. The CCG will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law," Liu said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM spokesperson responds to Israeli soldiers firing 'warning shots' at diplomatic delegation in West Bank Global Times By Global Times Published: May 22, 2025 04:15 PM In response to a media inquiry on reports that Israeli soldiers fired "warning shots" near a refugee camp in the West Bank at a diplomatic delegation on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that China pays high attention to the incident, firmly opposes any actions that endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel, and calls for a thorough investigation to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Mao noted that the situation in the West Bank has remained tense for some time, and China urges all relevant parties, particularly Israel, to refrain from any actions that could further escalate tensions. The Israeli army said its soldiers fired "warning shots" after the foreign diplomats, who included representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Russia and China, deviated from a previously agreed-on route, according to a report from Al Jazeera. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Israeli Embassy staff shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington DC Global Times Incident underscores spillover effects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: expert By Fan Anqi and Liu Xin Published: May 22, 2025 02:56 PM Two staff members of Israel's Embassy in Washington, DC, were shot dead outside the district's Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night local time, officials said, and one suspect has been taken into custody, according to Washington police, US media reported. US President Donald Trump condemned the violence and sent his condolences to the families of the two victims, saying that antisemitism, "hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA," per CNN. The suspect was identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, who chanted "Free Free Palestine" while in custody, police said. An eyewitness said the suspected shooter "pretended to be a witness" and waited for police to arrive for over 10 minutes before saying he "did it for Gaza," the CNN report said. Rodriguez is currently being interviewed by the Washington DC Metropolitan Police along with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Forces, according to Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who said the shooting happened close to the FBI's Washington Field Office. The close-range shooting occurred shortly after 9 pm on a downtown street outside an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, in the heart of official Washington, reported the New York Times. The sold-out "Young Diplomats Reception" is described as an event "bringing together Jewish young professionals (22-45) and the diplomatic community," according to its Eventbrite page. The two Israeli embassy staff members who were shot dead were leaving the event, according to Pamela A. Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador, told reporters at a news conference that the two people killed were a young couple about to be engaged, "A young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem." The victims were named by the embassy as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgram, according to NBC News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday expressed deep shock and outrage over the killing. He ordered an increase to security arrangements at Israeli diplomatic missions around the world, his office said in a statement. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned the incident, calling it a "despicable antisemitic terror attack" and adding that Israel stands with the US Jewish community, reported the Times of Israel. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen!" US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said on X that "This was a brazen act of cowardly, antisemitic violence. Make no mistake: we will track down those responsible and bring them to justice." Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "the incident in DC underscores the spillover effects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." The fatal incident came on the same day as the Israeli army said its soldiers fired "warning shots" near foreign diplomats, who included representatives of the European Union, the UK, Russia and China, after they deviated from a previously agreed-on route. No one was injured in the incident, according to a report from Al Jazeera. More than a dozen governments, including those of Canada, UK, France and Mexico, have condemned Israeli forces for firing "warning shots" near diplomats, said the report. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that China pays high attention to the incident, firmly opposes any actions that endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel, and calls for a thorough investigation to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Mao noted that the situation in the West Bank has remained tense for some time, and China urges all relevant parties, particularly Israel, to refrain from any actions that could further escalate tensions. Sun said any form of violence targeting diplomatic personnel should be opposed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Norway Government of Norway News story | Date: 22/05/2025 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had a chance to see key aspects of Norway's contribution to NATO first-hand when he visited Evenes Military Air Station and Ramsund Naval Station in North Norway on Thursday. During his visit, Mr Rutte learned more about how Norwegian and Allied forces work together on a daily basis as well as how Norway's P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft are being used to safeguard security in the High North. Strategic importance 'The world's largest nuclear arsenal is located in the north, close to the Norwegian border. Norway has the world's second-longest coastline and has in-depth knowledge of the strategically important northern sea areas. Norway is NATO's eyes and ears in the north. I am pleased we were able to provide the Secretary General with a better understanding of Norway's role during his visit,' said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. Mr Stre was pleased that Secretary General Rutte came to Norway to gain insight into how the Norwegian Armed Forces work in the north as well as how the Alliance works as an integrated whole in the region. 'We must stand together to deal with the security challenges of today. That is why we are cooperating with our friends and Allies to strengthen our collective security,' said Prime Minister Stre. Vital for NATO Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik also took part in the visit to Ramsund and Evenes. 'Ramsund Naval Station and Evenes Military Air Station are of vital importance to NATO due both to their strategic location in the north and to their role as NATO operational hubs. They are also important bases for receiving Allied reinforcements and for exercises and training,' said Defence Minister Sandvik. Support for Ukraine The Secretary General, the Prime Minister and the ministers received briefings by senior Armed Forces personnel and participated in a number of meetings during the visit to Nordland and Troms counties. Among the topics discussed were the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague in June, the need for increased contributions to NATO and support for Ukraine. 'There is broad agreement that Europe must shoulder more responsibility for its own security, and that is what is happening now. All the NATO countries are increasing their defence budgets. We are also unified in our support for Ukraine. This is a good basis for the crucial discussions in the lead-up to the NATO Summit in The Hague,' said Foreign Minister Eide. Earlier this month, Norway announced that it is increasing its support to Ukraine for 2025 by NOK 50 billion, to NOK 85 billion. Forecasts indicate that Norwegian defence expenditure for 2025 will be 3.3 % of GDP. 'Secretary General Rutte and I fully agree that Europe must commit to spending more on defence and assume greater responsibility for its own security. Norway is spending more on defence than we have done for a very long time,' said Mr Stre. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Prime Minister Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister's Office Events and Speeches The 37th Government Publish Date: 21.05.2025 Updated date: 22.05.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening: "Good evening citizens of Israel. On behalf of all of you, I would like to first convey heartfelt condolences, from your hearts as well, to the dear families of Sgt. Yosef Yehuda Chirak and Staff Sgt. Danilo Mocanu, who fell in the Gaza Strip. The War of Redemption has claimed a heavy price from us but it also has an incomparably clear and just purpose: To defeat Hamas, which perpetrated the atrocities of October 7, return all of our hostages and make certain that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel. These objectives are integrated - and we are committed to fully achieving them. While we have already achieved much together, the work is not yet finished. We have a very organized plan. We started in Gaza: We have eliminated tens of thousands of terrorists. We eliminated the arch-murderers - Deif, Yahya Sinwar and apparently Muhammad Sinwar as well. We have destroyed countless terrorist infrastructures. Whoever attacked us with such horrifying brutality - today understands the magnitude of the destruction he has brought on himself. Thanks to the heroism of our fighters and thanks to the rational decisions that we made - we have, so far, returned 197 hostages, including 148 alive. There are - for a certainty - 20 living hostages left, and up to 38 deceased. We will return them all. I would like to remind you that at the start of the war there was someone who said that it could be that we would not succeed in returning even one hostage! This is what he said, a very senior person. I thought differently, and I acted differently, and this has proven itself. If there is an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to return additional hostages, I would like to emphasize: We are ready for a temporary ceasefire. After smashing the enemy in the south - we faced great international pressure to stop the war. I would like to say, we also faced great domestic pressure to stop the war. We rebuffed this pressure. We entered Rafah. We seized the Philadelphi Corridor, we cut off Hamas's supply routes. Then, and only then, we turned north - to Lebanon. In the daring pagers operation, an operation the likes of which has not been seen in the annals of war, we simultaneously hit thousands of vital Hezbollah terrorists. At the same time, we eliminated thousands of terrorists, including most of Hezbollah's senior command. We eliminated Nasrallah, his replacement and his replacement's replacement. We destroyed the great majority of Hezbollah's arsenal of missiles which it took them years to build. We destroyed the terrorist villages in southern Lebanon and thus lifted the threat of invasion from the northern communities. By the way, we are enforcing this ceasefire, with very high frequency, with a constant iron fist. This is my directive to the IDF and it is carrying it out around the clock. Our actions in Lebanon led to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, including the destruction of most of the Syrian military's capabilities. We have harshly struck the Houthis in Yemen, and we still have not had the last word. We struck Iran's air defense capabilities and additional vital infrastructure. But I would like to say that Iran is still a very serious threat to Israel. We are - of course - fully coordinating with the US; we speak to them all the time, and we hope that they will achieve an agreement that will prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons, meaning that it will deny Iran the ability to enrich uranium. If this is achieved, we would, of course, certainly welcome it. But in any case, the State of Israel reserves to itself the right to defend itself from a regime that threatens to destroy it. In any case, even if we have made great achievements against the Iranian axis, we have yet to complete the work. Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' is designed to do this, to complete the work. Three days ago, together with the Defense Minister, and with the unanimous approval of the Security Cabinet, I ordered the opening of an additional stage in the War of Redemption. Our forces are landing increasingly intense and forceful blows on Hamas's remaining strongholds in Gaza. I ask of you one thing - ask the residents of Sderot, Netivot, Be'er Sheva and the communities of the Western Negev: Their houses are shaking, not from Hamas missiles, but from the great firepower of the IDF. Our forces are seizing more and more territory in order to sweep it free of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure. At the end of the effort, all areas of the Gaza Strip will be under Israel's security control - and Hamas will be totally defeated. In order to maintain our operational freedom of action, and to allow our best friends to continue to support us, we need to prevent a humanitarian crisis. We said this at the beginning of the war. I hear from Israel's best friends, friends in the Senate, true friends of our country, they tell me this: 'We will give you full backing. We will send you weapons. We will give you full backing in the Security Council. Eliminate these monsters, eliminate them. But there is one thing we cannot accept: We cannot accept a situation in which there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.' But, on the other hand, you know, you all know, that Hamas has looted a considerable part of the aid, and it sells the rest at inflated prices in order to finance its terrorist army. This is the source of the money for financing the recruitment of the terrorists. We are eliminating the terrorists, and they are recruiting with the money they loot from the assistance that is coming into Gaza. Therefore, in order to deny Hamas the ability of taking control of the humanitarian assistance, we - together with the US - have developed a different framework for the allocation of basic food to the civilians and the children, which will not reach Hamas. This is divided into three stages: Stage A: The bringing in of basic food now to Gaza - in order to prevent a humanitarian crisis, and in order to allow the fighting to continue. Stage B: This will happen in the coming days, the opening of food distribution points by American companies, and which will be secured by the IDF. Stage C: While taking control of areas in the Gaza Strip, the creation of a sterile zone in the southern Strip to which the civilian population will be evacuated from the combat areas, for the purpose of defending it. In this zone, which will be Hamas-free, the residents of Gaza will receive full humanitarian assistance. But there are those around the world, and in Israel, who say 'Enough. Come on, end the war .' Then I have news for you: I am ready to end the war - according to clear conditions that will ensure the security of Israel: All of the hostages will return home. Hamas will lay down its weapons, leave power, its leadership (whoever is left) will be exiled from the Strip, Gaza will be completely demilitarized, and we will carry out the Trump plan, which is so correct and so revolutionary, and it says something simple: The residents of Gaza who wish to leave - will be able to leave. Whoever calls on us to stop the fighting before these objectives are achieved - is, in effect, calling for Hamas to stay in power. What does this mean? This means that all of our achievements and all of the sacrifice of our heroic soldiers will have been for naught. Hamas will rebuild, resume its missile production, dig more terrorist tunnels and reposition itself with armed terrorists a short distance from the communities of the Negev. We will receive more abductions, more murders, more rapes, and more burning of infants. I will not accept this! Citizens of Israel, you will not accept this either. Yesterday I heard Yair Golan's shocking remarks. Like many of you, the vast majority of the citizens of Israel, I was outraged by them. At a time when our heroic soldiers are laying down their lives in the Gaza Strip in order to defend our country and bring back our hostages - Yair Golan accuses them of war crimes. He said that we are killing babies as 'a hobby.' Such as this I have heard only from the worst anti-Semites who propagate blood-libels against the Jewish People. This genuinely reminds me of the things that were said about us in the Middle Ages. Who really has a hobby of killing babies, and does so with horrific malice, is Hamas, not the soldiers of the IDF, who are doing everything to prevent the killing of civilians. But instead of defending the soldiers of the IDF, they protect Yair Golan, and fan the flames of global antisemitism. There is no limit to his having lost the way, and the band of has-beens with him. About this it says in the Ethics of the Fathers (4:21): 'Envy, lust and honor drive a man from the world.' And I will tell you why they do this - because with them, everything is political. In order to topple the Government of Israel, they are willing to do everything: Burn down the clubhouse, slander Israel and the fighters of the IDF in the world, and are also willing to do something else - they will have us to lose the war. But thankfully, the decisive majority of the citizens of Israel utterly reject these remarks. And moreover, this is not weakening the steadfast spirit of our splendid fighters. I meet them in the field. I meet the wounded. I meet the reservists. I meet the bereaved families. And they tell me: 'Bibi, don't stop. All the way. Go all the way until victory.' And this is what I tell you, citizens of Israel. We are here, together, all the way, until victory! Together we will fight and with G-d's help, together we will win." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by PM Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister's Office Press Releases The 37th Government 22.05.2025 "Last night in Washington something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young beautiful couple - Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were planning to start a new and happy life together. Well, that tragically did not happen. Yaron and Sarah weren't the victims of a random crime. The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone - he wanted to kill Jews. And as he was taken away, he chanted, "Free Palestine!" This is exactly the same chant we heard on October 7th. On that day, thousands of terrorists stormed into Israel from Gaza. They beheaded men. They raped women. They burned babies alive. They butchered 1,200 innocent people and took 251 innocent people hostage to the dungeons of Gaza. A short time afterwards, Chancellor Scholz of Germany visited Israel. And after he saw the horrors, he said to me, "These Hamas terrorists are exactly like the Nazis." He was right. And if they could get away with it, these Hamas terrorists would have slaughtered every last Jew on earth. For these neo-Nazis, "Free Palestine" is just today's version of "Heil Hitler." They don't want a Palestinian state. They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to annihilate the Jewish people, who have been in the Land of Israel for 3,500 years. I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. They are now proposing to establish a Palestinian state and reward these murderers with the ultimate prize. Well for 18 years we had a de facto Palestinian state. It's called Gaza. And what did we get? Peace? No. We got the most savage slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. You won't be surprised to learn that Hamas thanked President Macron and Prime Ministers Starmer and Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately. Hamas was right to thank them. Because by issuing their demand - replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas - these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power. They want Israel to stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive, rebuild and repeat the October 7th massacre again and again and again because that's what Hamas has vowed to do. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice. You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history. Now, these leaders may think that they're advancing peace. They're not. They're emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. And they give them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state. And mind you, it's not going to be a state free of Hamas. When you establish a Palestinian state, we've seen it, the radicals take over. Iran sends them in and they take over. So don't give us this talk, "It'll be a peaceful Palestinian state". It won't be. But the hypocrisy doesn't stop there. These and other leaders have bought into Hamas's propaganda that says Israel is starving Palestinian children. And not only is Hamas putting out this lie. A few days ago, a top UN official said that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see many international institutions are complicit in spreading this lie. The press repeats it. The mob believed it. And a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington. So here are the facts: Since October 7th, Israel has sent 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza. That's right. 92,000 aid trucks. That includes 1.8 million tons of aid. 1.8 million tons of aid - more than enough food to feed everyone in Gaza. Yet as we had let the aid come in, Hamas stole it. They took a huge chunk for themselves. The rest they sold at exorbitant prices to the Palestinian population. And then they used the money they stole to recruit new terrorists to continue their war against Israel. Our goal from the start was to get food to Palestinian civilians, not to Palestinian terrorists. So we consulted with our American allies: what do we do to prevent Hamas from looting the aid? Well, together we devised a mechanism to achieve this goal. American companies will distribute the food directly to Palestinian families. They'll do so in safe zones secured by our military. And this will allow us to complete our goal of destroying Hamas while enabling aid to reach the civilian population. We'll complete the construction of the first distribution zones in the coming days. Ultimately, we intend to have large safe zones in the south of Gaza. The Palestinian population will move there for their own safety, while we conduct combat in other zones, and receive humanitarian aid there without Hamas interference. In the meantime, we authorized letting trucks enter Gaza to provide for immediate needs. Yesterday I think 100, more than 100 trucks went in. More will come in today. I tell you this: no army in the world has ever gone to such lengths to provide aid to the civilian population in the midst of intense combat. And Hamas of course, opposes this. It shoots Palestinian civilians who want to leave for safe zones and it shoots Palestinian civilians who want to prevent Hamas terrorists from looting the aid trucks intended for them. As for the hostages, we'll do every effort to secure them. I'm ready for a temporary ceasefire to get more out but we demand, and you should demand, that all of our hostages be released and released immediately. And so should every civilized country demand this. We're in an intense seven front war that was launched against us by Iran and its proxies. Sometimes in war accidents happen. One such incident happened the other day in Jenin. And thankfully no one was hurt. Our military has expressed its regret over the event because we don't target civilians or diplomats. We target terrorists. Exactly the opposite of Hamas. They target civilians, ours, and they hide behind civilians, theirs. They use them as human shields. That's a double war crime. But I don't hear that coming from anyone of those countries that criticize Israel. For those who say that Israel stands alone, I say we're not alone. Justice stands with us. The truth stands with us. History stands with us. And so do countless people around the world who can tell the difference between right and wrong, between good and evil. I want to thank all of them. And I especially want to thank President Trump and the American people for their forthright stand with Israel and with the Jewish people. Together we stand. Together we'll triumph and will see the victory of civilization over barbarism". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New barracks for NATO Multinational Brigade soldiers unveiled at Military Base "Adazi" Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence 05/22/2025 - 10:09 In Latvia Information prepared by Media Relations Section On Wednesday, May 21, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Military Base "Adazi" to unveil the fourth barrack building intended to accommodate NATO Multinational Brigade soldiers. "I am grateful for Canada's significant contribution to the development of the Military Base Adazi, ensuring even better living conditions for the soldiers of the NATO Multinational Brigade soldiers who are serving in Latvia and are ready to support us militarily in these challenging times," said Defence Minister Andris Spruds. The expansion of the barracks buildings is one of the projects currently being implemented by Canada, which demonstrates the country's long-term commitment to promoting Euro-Atlantic and Latvian security. Canada plays a key role in coordinating the composition of the NATO Multinational Brigade and the infrastructure necessary for accommodating allied soldiers. Canada has invested 18.5 million euros in the construction of four barracks buildings. In total, the four barracks buildings will be able to accommodate 600 allied soldiers, but if necessary, the space allows the number of soldiers to be increased to 1,200. Each barracks building has a laundry room, storage rooms in the basement, a weapons storage room and other amenities for soldiers. The construction of the barracks began in 2023. The expansion of the barracks is necessary because the number of soldiers from the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia has increased significantly over the past year. Their main task is to provide support for the defence of NATO's eastern flank. Latvia has developed close relations with Canada, which is the leading country of the NATO Multinational Brigade stationed in Latvia. The allied brigade brings together soldiers from Albania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Canada, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, North Macedonia and Sweden. Latvia, together with its Canadian allies, is working on infrastructure development, such as road improvement and reconstruction, to ensure the future movement of military transport to and from the military base "Ceri" in Marupe Municipality. Canada is also a member of the international Drone Coalition in support of Ukraine, and is involved in training Ukrainian soldiers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Address by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, at the inauguration ceremony of the German 45th Armored Brigade President of the Republic of Lithuania May 22, 2025 Dear people of Lithuania, Today is a joyful day for us all. We mark the inauguration of the German armored brigadean event of historic significance for Lithuania. Its arrival stands as a testament to the shared values between our two nations, our time-tested friendship, and the impressive progress of our strategic partnership in recent years. It is truly encouraging to see the strong support of our German friends, who are coming to Lithuania to help us strengthen our national defense and deter Russia. Allow me to say a few words directly to them. Dear German soldiers, I am addressing you today with an open heart and deep gratitude. I sincerely thank you for choosing to serve in Lithuania. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure you have the best possible conditions in Lithuaniain training, in exercises, and in your daily life. Your presence here strengthens not only Lithuania and Germany. Thanks to you, all Europe is becoming stronger. Thank you for your service! And now, for a wider audience, in English. I am especially glad that Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, is with us today. Chancellor, From the very first days in office, you have expressed the strong and unbending spirit of the new Europe. Europe that not only talks about unity and solidarity but also turns these words into concrete actions. Europe that responds to the greatest security challenge of this century by enhancing its capabilities and strengthening external borders. Lithuania welcomed with great joy the news that Germany intends to build the strongest conventional army on the continent. This is the clearest sign yet that Europe is ready to assume greater responsibility for its own security. My country is ready to play its part. Next year we will reach 5 per cent of GDP for defense. We are also building our national division. The stationing of the German 45th Armored Brigade here, in Lithuania, is an invaluable contribution to the defense of the whole NATO Eastern flank. It ensures a deeper cooperation between our militaries and, what is most important, brings our nations closer together. Together we make an unbreakable force. Together we will ensure that the people of Lithuania and Germany never face the ultimate test - that of war. May the most sincere, and productive, friendship unite Lithuania and Germany for ages! Gitanas Nauseda, President of the Republic of Lithuania NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President and the German Federal Chancellor discussed regional security and defense President of the Republic of Lithuania May 22, 2025 On Thursday, President Gitanas Nauseda met at the Presidential Palace with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is on an official visit to Lithuania. This is the Chancellor's first visit to Lithuania and the Baltic States since he took office two weeks ago. The President thanked the Chancellor for Germany's strong commitment to regional security and for the decision to permanently station the 45th Armored Brigade in Lithuania. He called it a clear demonstration of Germany's leadership and a historic step towards strengthening NATO's eastern flank. Gitanas Nauseda emphasized that Lithuania is fully prepared to host the brigade by 2027: construction of a military campus is already underway in Rudninkai, the necessary infrastructure is being developed, and a kindergarten and school will open in Vilnius this September to accommodate the children of arriving Bundeswehr personnel. Military acquisitions were also discussed in the meeting, with the President noting that Germany is Lithuania's main partner in this area. The total value of bilateral contracts already exceeds 2 billion. Lithuania is acquiring Leopard tanks, Boxer fighting vehicles, and howitzers. Construction of the Rheinmetall ammunition plant will begin in Lithuania this year, marking the largest defense project in the country's history. The meeting also addressed broader economic cooperation. The President highlighted that Germany is Lithuania's largest investor and one of the most important trading partners. He noted the growth of German companies in Lithuania and the significance of joint projects in defense, technology, and energy. Gitanas Nauseda thanked the German government for its support for these projects and called for further strengthening of economic ties. The President and the Chancellor also discussed the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague. Gitanas Nauseda emphasized the importance of a clear message to allies: that we are united, ready, and determined. "Lithuania supports an ambitious defense spending target of 5% of GDP, which we will reach as early as next year. This is our clear response to growing security challenges," he pointed out. Support for Ukraine was another major focus of the meeting. The President stressed that it is Europe's duty to continue its unwavering support for Ukraine by increasing pressure on the aggressor. Russia's refusal to agree to a ceasefire, he said, only makes it more urgent to step up sanctions and consolidate military aid. He expressed appreciation for Germany's substantial military support and called for continuing and strengthening this leadership, including through active participation in the Coalition of the Willing. "We must see this as an opportunity for Europe to come together and defend what truly matters peace, freedom, and democracywith decisive action, not just words," the President said. Gitanas Nauseda thanked Friedrich Merz for visiting Lithuania, calling the visit a symbol of strong partnership and shared responsibility for Europe's security. The Lithuanian leader expressed hope for even deeper strategic cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Addressing the German Chancellor, the President pointed out that Lithuania welcomed with great joy the news that Germany intends to build the strongest conventional armed forces in Europe. "From the very first days in office, you have expressed the strong and unbending spirit of the new Europe. Europe that not only talks about unity and solidarity but also turns these words into concrete actions. Europe that responds to the greatest security challenge of this century by enhancing its capabilities and strengthening external borders," Gitanas Nauseda spoke. According to the President, Lithuaniahaving re-established a national division and committed to spending more than 5% of its GDP on defense starting next yearintends to fulfil its duties as a NATO member with honor. Addressing the German brigade, Gitanas Nauseda thanked them for their decision to serve in Lithuania and assured them that they would receive the best possible training and living conditions. "Your presence here strengthens not only Lithuania and Germany. Thanks to you, all Europe is becoming stronger," the Head of State spoke. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As part of the international momentum initiated under His Majesty King Mohammed VI's impetus in support of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and its autonomy plan, "Slovakia acknowledges the Moroccan initiative, presented to the UN Secretary General on April 11th 2007, as a basis for a definitive solution under the auspices of the United Nations," to the Moroccan Sahara issue. Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday 22 May 2025 This position was conveyed by Slovakia in the Joint Statement signed following a meeting on Thursday in Rabat between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, M. Nasser Bourita, and his Slovak counterpart, Juraj Blanar, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. Furthermore, "Slovakia welcomes the serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the political process forward towards a resolution and supports reaching a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, within the framework of all relevant resolutions adopted by the Security Council, including the resolution S/RES/2756 of October 31st, 2024," according to the Joint Statement. With its newly strengthened position, the Slovak Republic reinforces the growing momentum in favor of the Moroccan Sahara and the autonomy Initiative hailed by the international community. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nordic Air Forces Strengthen Interoperability over the Baltic Sea NATO Allied Air Command May 22 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- Air forces from Denmark, Finland and Sweden conducted a coordinated operation over the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, May 21, enhancing NATO's collective defence posture and reinforcing regional security through integrated training. The exercise, known as Nordic Combat Enhanced Training, brought together Danish F-16s, Finnish F/A-18 Hornets, and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens. Finnish aircraft deployed to Ronneby Air Base in Sweden, where mechanics from Finland and Sweden performed cross-servicing tasks, demonstrating advanced interoperability in maintenance operations and Agile Combat Employment (ACE). Conducted under the Nordic Airpower Concept (NAPC), the operation encompassed joint planning and command of air operations, coordinated use of air bases, enhanced situational awareness, and joint education and training. These efforts aim to bolster NATO's agility and readiness across the region. "The security situation and expectations demand swift transition from planning to action," said Colonel Carl-Fredrik Edstrom of the Swedish Air Force, lead for the Nordic division at the Norwegian Joint Air Operation Centre (JAOC). "This training drives our cooperation forward. We have tested key conditions for virtual collaboration and shown we are on course for Nordic Air Forces Fighting as One." The mission featured a common Nordic Air Tasking Order, dynamic and pre-planned targeting, and coordination with Joint Tactical Air Controllers. The initiative reflects the rapid maturation of cooperation among Nordic air forces and their role in strengthening NATO's defensive capabilities. As part of NATO's integrated deterrence efforts, the exercise demonstrated the Allies' ability to respond collectively and decisively, reinforcing the Alliance's posture of unity, readiness, and regional stability through joint action. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. B-52 bombers arrive in Spain, bolster Alliance training in Agile Combat Employment NATO Allied Air Command May 22 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft arrived at Moron Air Base, Spain, on May 20, 2025, as part of a scheduled Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment to Europe. The deployment is aimed at enhancing transatlantic security through integrated training and rapid deployment capabilities. The deployment enables U.S. forces to test Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts, alongside Allied aircraft, operating from strategically dispersed locations across Europe, thereby reinforcing operational flexibility and responsiveness. "This BTF deployment is a clear demonstration of peace through the strength of Airpower," said Lieutenant General Jason T. Hinds, Deputy Commander of United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). "Our forces remain resilient, dynamic and capable of responding to evolving security challenges with speed and precision." This mission underscores the enduring commitment of the U.S. to NATO and transatlantic security. It showcases the Alliance's ability to rapidly deploy combat-ready Airpower across diverse operational environments, strengthening collective deterrence and defence. As part of an array of Allied activities, such as Exercise Ramstein Flag and the Baltic Air Policing mission, Bomber Task Force operations in Europe continue to reinforce NATO's core principles of interoperability, collective defence and regional stability. These deployments signify how NATO's integrated air forces remain prepared to operate together in defence of Allied territory and sovereignty. BTF was last deployed to Spain in the Spring of 2024. By training with Allies in multinational settings, BTF enhances tactical coordination, enabling realistic, complex scenarios that bolster the Alliance's deterrence posture and readiness. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO discusses regional security and strengthening partnership with Egypt NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 22 May. 2025 Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska welcomed the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Egypt, Dr Badr Abdelatty, to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (22 May 2025) to discuss NATO-Egypt relations and regional security during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. Allies recognized Egypt's key role for stability in the Alliance's southern neighbourhood and welcomed its close partnership with NATO, encouraging the timely completion of Egypt's Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP). Minister Abdelatty offered his perspective on recent developments in the Middle East and beyond. He also outlined opportunities for strengthening Egypt's partnership with the Alliance, including through capacity building in the areas of cyber security, counter terrorism, counter-IED and demining. Ms Shekerinska concluded "I am confident we can take this relationship to the next level". Since 2011, NATO and Egypt also cooperate on the education and training of personnel from NATO nations and partners at Cairo's International Centre for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Activities (CCCPA). Egypt joined NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue in 1995. This NATO partnership format aims to contribute to regional security and stability in the Mediterranean region through political dialogue and practical cooperation. In 2024, the NATO Secretary General appointed a Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, responsible for enhancing NATO's dialogue and cooperation with countries in the Middle East and North Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DOJ: Final SCS Code of Conduct must be consistent with UNCLOS Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora May 22, 2025, 6:02 pm MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said negotiators must ascertain that the final Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea does not supersede the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "The UNCLOS is considered the highest instrument or constitution for the oceans, so this COC must be consistent with UNCLOS, it cannot be higher than UNCLOS," DOJ Senior State Counsel Fretti Ganchoon said at the We Protect our Seas forum on ASEAN Maritime Security in Pasay City. Ganchoon recognized that the COC is an important mechanism for states to manage tensions in the sea lane, but said it cannot include any provision that might impair the Philippines' sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea. "It cannot supersede UNCLOS, it cannot have rules there that would impair the Arbitral Award," she said. "Under UNCLOS, we consider that we have exclusive rights to all of the natural resources in the West Philippine Sea, exclusive jurisdiction with respect to marine scientific research and taking of measures to protect and preserve the marine environment." Within the West Philippine Sea, she said, the country must balance how to cooperate to protect the country's sovereign rights in the area. The West Philippine Sea is a portion of the South China Sea marking the maritime zone entitled to the Philippines under the UNCLOS. In the same forum, political analyst Richard Heydarian agreed that a version of a COC that contravenes with UNCLOS, more so if legally binding, would be "worse than not having a COC." China, which lays claim on a huge swath of the sea lane, has consistently rejected the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal's 2016 landmark ruling on the South China Sea. At present, negotiations to conclude the COC early are ongoing between Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Last March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is ready to work with the bloc to step up talks, "so as to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation." Nanyang Technological University S. Rajaratnam School Associate Professor Collin Koh, meanwhile, said negotiators must ensure the COC has enough confidence and security-building measures (CSBMs) in place. Citing the 2018 Single Draft Negotiating Text for the COC, Koh cited a "huge gap of difference" in priorities when it comes to driving maritime security cooperation. "There are much more proposals when it comes to promoting practical security cooperation but very scant proposals when it comes to promoting confidence and security-building," he said. Koh said an effective COC would bank heavily on CSBMs to "moderate behavior" among the claimant states' maritime forces. "We need to focus more on that," he said. "Without CSBMs, I don't think we could go very far in actually implementing the practical security cooperation itself." In 2023, the foreign ministers of ASEAN and China adopted the Guidelines on Accelerating the Early Conclusion of the Code of Conduct and agreed to work towards concluding the COC within three years. The recent negotiations were held in Manila in April, with the next round set to convene in Malaysia later in the year. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BFAR condemns CCG's aggressive actions vs. research vessels in WPS Philippine News Agency By Stephanie Sevillano May 22, 2025, 5:26 pm MANILA -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday condemned the China Coast Guard (CCG) for its "aggressive" actions against two Philippine civilian vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). The two BFAR-owned vessels, particularly the BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) and BRP Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003), were conducting marine scientific research missions in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) on Wednesday when the interference happened. The area is still within the country's territorial sea of Pag-asa Island and Pag-asa Cay 2, which form part of the Kalayaan Island group. In a statement, the BFAR reported how the safety of the personnel onboard MMOV 3002 was put at risk as its port bow and smokestack were damaged after the CCG vessel water cannoned and sideswiped the vessel. "The Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) condemns the aggressive interference by the China Coast Guard (CCG) against two Philippine civilian vessels," the BFAR said. "This incident marks the first time water cannons have been used against DA-BFAR research vessels in the area of the Pag-asa Cays." The bureau, however, assured unhampered operations despite the CCG's illegal activity in the Philippine waters. "Despite the aggressive interference, dangerous maneuvers, and illegal acts by the CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels, the Philippine scientific team was able to complete its operations in Pag-asa Cays 1, 2, and 3," the BFAR said. The agency vowed to continue advancing its commitment to "scientific integrity, sustainable fisheries management, and the protection of national interests." (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: France, Saudi Arabia pushing plan to disarm Hamas in Gaza Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 7:27 PM France and Saudi Arabia are pushing a new post-war Gaza plan aimed at disarming the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, which has already affirmed that its weapons are a "red line." Informed sources told Western media outlets on Thursday that Paris and Riyadh were drafting a proposal to "disarm" the Palestinian resistance movement and "pave the way for its demobilization." Saudi officials had reportedly been in touch with Hamas as part of the new push, according to the report. The anonymous sources further said, "allowing Hamas to retain a degree of political power would make it more likely to accept disarming." "The objective is to transform the group into a purely political entity that can still play some role in future Palestinian governance." While the resistance group has signaled a willingness to step down from governance, it has affirmed that its weapons are a "red line." Next month, a UN conference co-chaired by Paris and Riyadh will be held to resurrect the idea of the so-called two-state solution. In March, Arab leaders endorsed an Egyptian-proposed post-war Gaza plan to reconstruct the devastated, besieged strip. Egypt's plan also takes a firm stance against US and Israeli-led efforts for the forced displacement and relocation of Gaza's population to other countries. The report coincides with a brutal new Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which aims to bring the entirety of Gaza under Israeli control. The Israeli regime has rejected the prospect of Palestinian statehood and refuses the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Wednesday night that his condition for ending the war in Gaza is the implementation of the displacement plan, in line with a controversial initiative proposed by US President Donald Trump earlier this year. Trump announced in early February that after the war is over, Washington aims to take over Gaza and expel its residents. Trump also doubled down on his scheme to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians during his recent visit to some Arab states of the Persian Gulf region, insisting that the besieged strip be turned into a "freedom zone." Meanwhile, European states, closest allies of Israel and complicit in genocide, have strongly condemned the ongoing brutal offensive and Israel's prevention of sufficient amounts of desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Tel Aviv regime says its latest offensive aims to ensure the total "defeat" of Hamas and other resistance groups in Gaza, which it has failed to achieve after 19 months of brutal military campaign across the blockaded Palestinian territory. Israel's genocidal war in the Gaza Strip continues to claim the lives of Palestinian civilians every single day. Nearly 110 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza on Thursday. Overall, some 16,500 Palestinian children have lost their lives in the brutal Israeli campaign so far. With American support, the Israeli genocide has so far killed over 53,760 Palestinians and injured almost 122,200 others. Most of the victims have been women and children. Authorities in Gaza said tens of thousands are missing or buried under mountains of rubble, many with "disintegrated bodies." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Houthi warns of 'very dangerous' eventuality if Muslims fail to curb Israel Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 6:08 PM The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has lashed out at Muslim nations over their silence and inaction in the face of Israeli atrocities in the Gaza Strip. Delivering a televised speech from the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the inaction has emboldened the occupying regime to commit more vicious crimes. "The silence of the Muslim Ummah has given the Israeli enemy the courage to perpetrate more crimes, and provoke more conflicts," Houthi said. "The Islamic Ummah has a grave and heavy responsibility in helping the Palestinian people, who are enduring gross and incomparable injustice," he said. "Shirking this responsibility has very dangerous consequences because this responsibility is towards God." Houthi said Muslims can assist Palestinians to a great extent, warning that their apathy will certainly create a perilous situation. The scale of the crimes of the Zionist regime, he said, has even prompted Zionists to protest. "One of the Zionists has written that he never believed such crimes would ever occur, where the massacre of 100 people in a single night in the Gaza Strip could be a regular occurrence. "This statement reflects the sorry state of one billion Muslims and their feelings towards the worst crimes committed against the children of the Ummah. "This is the painful situation of the Ummah with such a large population and resources, large armies, and military and economic capabilities and capabilities," he added. Houthi said, "As long as the official response remains limited to issuing statements and without practical action, the enemy will continue its genocide and crimes." "The statements of Arab and Islamic regimes contain cold and lifeless phrases, only asking others to do something for Palestine, as if the Ummah itself has no responsibility." Houthi said many Zionist leaders and commanders have concluded that the criminal onslaught on the Gaza Strip is futile and pointless. "Some former officials, such as Ehud Olmert, have also admitted that the war in the Gaza Strip is fruitless." The Ansarullah chief said genocide and starvation of the residents of the Gaza Strip continue and have reached unprecedented levels. "The famine and hunger and the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip are a great scandal for the international community and global institutions. This famine and hunger are a disgrace for the Muslim world and Arab countries. "If there were a tinge of zeal, humanity, and a sense of responsibility left, the cries of women were enough to stir up the emotion of millions of Muslims," he added. Houthi touched on Yemen's operations in solidarity with the Palestinians, saying the country's forces targeted Israel with "eight hypersonic and ballistic missiles and drones" this week. Three missiles were launched at Lod Airport (Ben Gurion) in Tel Aviv, he said, adding many airlines have extended their suspension of flights to Occupied Palestine, which is significant. "Zionist statements reveal the extent of the impact of Yemeni operations and demonstrate the Israeli enemy's inability to deter or influence the Yemeni position," he said. Houthi touched on the Israeli aggression on Yemeni ports in Hudaydah, saying 22 aerial raids had failed to stop Yemeni operations. "The enemy's escalation calls for escalation in action, support, and intensive attention," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces conduct missile, drone strikes against Israeli targets Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 10:17 AM The Yemeni Armed Forces have conducted new missile and drone operations against Israeli targets in the occupied territories in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the genocidal war on the besieged territory. In a statement released on Thursday, the Yemeni forces said they had fired a Zulfiqar ballistic missile toward Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. "The operation successfully achieved its goal, thanks to God, causing millions of occupying Zionists to rush to shelters and bringing the airport to a standstill for nearly an hour," they added. The Yemeni forces also said that they had launched two Yaffa drones at two vital Israeli enemy targets in the occupied areas of Yaffa and Haifa. The ongoing Israeli crimes against Palestinians in Gaza call for all members of the Islamic Ummah to fulfill their religious, moral, and humanitarian duty and take immediate action, the statement read. Yemen will continue its anti-Israeli operations and will not hesitate to expand and escalate its retaliatory strikes until Israel ends its Gaza onslaught and lifts the siege on the Palestinian territory, it noted. The Yemeni Armed Forces began their campaign against Israeli-linked ships and targets in the occupied lands in November 2023, a month after the usurping regime unleashed its genocide in Gaza. Yemen halted its attacks in January, when Israel accepted a Gaza ceasefire. Two months later, however, Israel unilaterally broke the Gaza truce and resumed its aggression, prompting the Yemeni forces to resume their operations in solidarity with Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No aid reached Gazans despite Israel's claim of allowing trucks to enter: UN Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 5:51 AM The United Nations says no supplies have reached Palestinians despite Israeli claims that aid trucks were allowed into the Gaza Strip. While Israel says it has permitted dozens of aid trucks into Gaza under global pressure following a three-month blockade on essential supplies, the assistance remains stuck at the Palestinian side of the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. Israel said last week it would allow limited food supplies into Gaza for what it described as "diplomatic reasons," aiming to reduce global pressure that could force a ceasefire. The regime's military claimed over 90 aid trucks had entered the strip this week. However, Israeli officials responsible for aid distribution in Gaza have not responded to questions about whether the food and medicines they carried had been authorized for distribution. Meanwhile, aid organizations also say that no humanitarian relief has been distributed. The UN said Wednesday it is attempting to deliver vital aid that arrived in Gaza this week to Palestinians, but distribution faces delays from both looting risks and Israeli military restrictions. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that while most aid arriving since Monday had been transferred to UN trucks, they could not move it beyond the crossing zone. He cited Israeli-approved routes as too dangerous, adding that negotiations for safer alternatives were ongoing. Dujarric noted that the incoming aid remained "a drop in the ocean" compared to the required humanitarian response. Food security experts have warned that Gaza faces imminent famine unless the siege is lifted, with starvation worsening as aid agencies exhausted food stocks weeks ago. Nearly all of the 2.3 million residents are dependent on overstretched community kitchens. Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed nearly 54,000 Palestinians there so far, according to the health ministry of Gaza. In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives. The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement. On March 18, the regime resumed the strikes on Gaza, breaking the nearly two-month-long ceasefire. Israel had enforced a total blockade on Gaza before resuming the offensive, preventing any food, medical supplies, or goods from entering the besieged territory. The Gaza Government Media Office reports that since then, starvation and medical shortages have claimed at least 300 lives, including 58 from acute malnutrition and 242 from lack of food and medicine. Israel has been condemned for using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain says Netanyahu deploying starvation as 'tool of war'; calls for sanctions on Israel Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 3:01 AM A senior Spanish official has denounced Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using starvation as a weapon of war during Tel Aviv's ongoing war of genocide on the Gaza Strip. Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Diaz also called for immediate sanctions against the Israeli regime, and urged expedited enforcement of a parliamentary-approved arms embargo targeting the regime. "In wars, one of the tools used is starvation, and that's exactly what Netanyahu is doing today," she stated, while emphasizing the urgent need for international action. "Sanctions must be imposed on Israel, the genocidal state that is committing a massacre in Gaza in full view of the world." Spanish parl. approves 'Gaza Law' The remarks came a day after the Spanish parliament approved a non-binding motion, informally known as the "Gaza Law." The measure is aimed at imposing an automatic embargo on arms sales to parties found culpable of crimes against humanity by international courts. The move directly targets the Israeli regime in response to the genocide that has been taking unprecedented toll on Gaza since October 2023. In April, the Spanish government unilaterally canceled a 6.6-million contract to purchase ammunition from the Israeli company IMI Systems. The decision followed intense pressure from coalition partners, including Diaz's Sumar party, which had condemned the deal as a violation of Spain's commitment to halt arms trade with the regime amid the genocide. At least 53,573 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since the onset of the genocide, with the United Nations and various human rights organizations highlighting the use of starvation and blockade tactics by Israeli forces. In response, several countries, including Spain, have taken steps to reassess their diplomatic and trade relations with the Israeli regime. Among others, the UK recently suspended free trade negotiations with the regime and imposed sanctions on some of the regime's illegal settlers amid the genocide and Tel Aviv's concomitant intensified aggression in the occupied West Bank. The European Union has also agreed to review its cooperation deal with the regime over human rights abuses in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen serves Israel, US with strong warning as missile soars over occupied territories Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 1:36 AM Yemen has issued a strong warning to the Israeli regime and the United States against their potential resumption of their attacks on the Arab Peninsula nation. Speaking during a ceremony in the capital Sana'a on Wednesday, President of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat emphasized full readiness on the part of the country to confront fresh attacks "by the United States and its mercenaries, or any Zionist-American aggression." Citing a case in point concerning Yemen's operational preparedness, he noted how the entire nation came out in force and united following initiation of the Israeli regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023. "Yemen demonstrated a national consensus to support Palestine," he said, referring to hundreds of strikes against sensitive and strategic Israeli targets that Sana'a has been conducting since the onset of the warfare. Mashat also reminded how "everyone united in the face of the Zionist-American aggression," pointing to the country's rising up in defense of itself after the US and the Israeli regime began attacking Yemen to stop the pro-Palestinian strikes. The senior official, meanwhile, noted that Tel Aviv and its supporters, most importantly Washington, were not simply targeting regional nations, "they are attacking the entire [Islamic] nation." However, Mashat asserted, Yemen would not only refuse to give up on the people of Gaza, but also it would further enhance its military prowess to better strike the regime and its allies in support of the war-hit Palestinians in the coastal sliver. "Once again, we affirm our firm religious and principled stance in supporting the oppressed people of Palestine and the residents of Gaza," the official said. "The people of Gaza must know that we remain committed to our decision. We are aligning all our capabilities with their demands" until the regime ends the genocide and a simultaneous near-total siege it has been deploying against Gaza, he asserted. The remarks came on the same day that regional resistance outlets reported that a Yemeni missile had reached the central part of the occupied Palestinian territories before causing a "loud explosion" across the targeted areas. The projectile, a large number of which have been fired towards the territories since the onset of the genocide, was reported to have set off missile sirens repeatedly in and around the city of Tel Aviv, and elsewhere throughout the central areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu Names Conditions for Ending War in Gaza Strip Sputnik News 20250522 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named the key conditions for ending the war in the Gaza Strip, including the release of all hostages, demilitarization of the enclave and the expulsion of the leadership of Palestinian movement Hamas from it. "I am ready to end the war on clear conditions that will guarantee Israel's security: all hostages return home, Hamas lays down its arms, leaves power, and its leadership is expelled from the Strip. Gaza remains completely demilitarized," Netanyahu said at a press conference on Wednesday. He added that it is also necessary to implement US President Donald Trump's plan, which he called very "correct and revolutionary." "It says one simple thing: the residents of Gaza who want to leave will be able to leave," Netanyahu said. The prime minister noted that all countries calling on Israel to stop hostilities until these goals are achieved are, in fact, advocating for Hamas to retain power in the Gaza Strip. Israel launched a new offensive in the Gaza Strip last week as part of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which it claims will finally defeat Hamas. The escalation of hostilities is taking place in parallel with mediated negotiations in Qatar on a truce and a deal to release Israeli hostages. On March 18, Israel resumed strikes on the Gaza Strip, citing Hamas' refusal to accept the US plan to extend the ceasefire, which expired on March 1. In early March, Israel cut off electricity supply to a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip and barred entry to trucks carrying humanitarian aid. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Imposing Measures on Sudan for its Use of Chemical Weapons US Department of State Press Statement Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson May 22, 2025 On April 24, 2025, the United States determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the CBW Act) that the Government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024. This determination was delivered to Congress today, along with an addendum to the April 15, 2025, Condition 10(C) Report on Compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that finds the Government of Sudan in non-compliance with the CWC, to which it is a party. Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, the United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit. The sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around June 6, 2025. The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC. The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address This Council should use the tools at its disposal to press parties to conflict to protect civilians: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki Published 22 May 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 22 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) The Secretary-General's report is a chilling reflection of our collective failure to protect civilians around the world. Famine has returned to Sudan. Thousands of women and children have been killed in Gaza, and hostages are still held by Hamas following the appalling October 7 attacks. Civilian infrastructure has been further damaged in Ukraine. It does not need to be this way. This Council, and the international community, have the tools to protect civilians; we have an urgent duty to use them. President, I will focus on three points. First, in recent days, we have heard powerful accounts from senior UN officials of the gaps between the obligations of parties to conflict under international humanitarian law and their implementation. These gaps are where harms to civilians arise every day in conflicts on this Council's agenda. But they are also where dangerous precedents are set, which risk fostering impunity. This Council should use the tools at its disposal to press all parties to conflict to comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and applicable International Human Rights Law. Indiscriminate attacks and direct attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure need to stop. There must also be an end to impunity. The United Kingdom will continue to stand behind the International Criminal Court as the court of last resort for the most serious crimes of international concern. Second, as we have heard, 2024 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. We call for the full implementation of resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian personnel, premises and assets. And we underscore the vital importance of ensuring safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Third, we need to ensure the UN can play its critical part in supporting the protection of civilians, especially through peace operations. Peacekeepers must be properly trained and equipped to fulfil protection mandates, and those mandates must be respected by parties to conflict. President, the United Kingdom is taking practical steps to advance the protection of civilians, including through ICRC's Global IHL initiative. And this month we published a practitioner's handbook to support IHL compliance and better tackle conflict and hunger. In conclusion, the UK remains fully committed to working with international partners, including in this Council, to uphold our shared obligations to the protection of civilians and to bring an end to impunity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report of the Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje: UK statement, May 2025 The UK underlines appreciation for the work and added value of the OSCE Mission to Skopje over the last 12 months, particularly in supporting government reforms. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Deirdre Brown MBE Published 22 May 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 22 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Chair. Firstly, I would like to welcome back Ambassador Wahl to the Permanent Council. Thank you for the work of your team over the last year, and for your comprehensive and engaging report this morning. The United Kingdom highly appreciates the work and added value of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, and the Mission's support to government reforms. The United Kingdom and North Macedonia have developed a strong and supportive bilateral partnership since we established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago. I am delighted that our Prime Minister met with Prime Minister Mickoski during the European Political Community summit last week and announced the new strategic partnership between our two countries. This deepens our mutual commitment to work together on issues of trade and investment, foreign policy, tackling organised crime, infrastructure cooperation and migration. The UK welcomes the findings of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission that the parliamentary and presidential elections held in North Macedonia last year were competitive and fundamental freedoms were respected, though we note the concerns highlighted over insufficient regulation of the process. We encourage the Government of North Macedonia to continue engagement towards addressing the remaining recommendations in the ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report ahead of municipal elections later this year. The UK positively notes the OSCE Mission's achievements over the past 12 months, set out clearly in your Report. We particularly welcome your continued engagement to promote social cohesion and community rights, and your support on criminal justice reform - including work in the last 12 months on judicial independence, promotion of fair trial standards and strengthening cooperation with civil society. The UK is also pleased to note the Mission's continued commitment to gender equality - particularly your support for women's political participation, and your engagement with parliament on the adoption of a new Gender Action Plan for 2025-2027. Mr Chair, it is vital for the work of all OSCE field operations that participating States agree a Unified Budget for 2025 and beyond. As highlighted in the Report, the continued non-agreement of budgets and the resulting forced subsistence on monthly allotments make it very challenging for field missions to deliver across their mandates and adjust to changing priorities. We urge all participating States to engage constructively with upcoming proposals to resolve the impasse over budgets. Thank you, Ambassador Wahl. Thank you, Mr Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address All eyes on Gaza as aid teams retrieve first lifesaving relief in months 22 May 2025 - UN agencies in Gaza confirmed on Thursday that desperately needed aid has finally arrived at warehouses inside the enclave after an 11-week blockade by Israeli authorities. "Today will be crucial. Truckloads of lifesaving aid finally on move again," said top UN aid relief coordinator Tom Fletcher. Hours earlier and in a major development, 198 trucks entered Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south of the enclave, carrying nutrition supplies, medicines and wheat flour. Announcing the news online, Mr. Fletcher reported that humanitarian organizations then retrieved "about 90 truckloads of goods" in a night-time operation to prepare them for distribution. But significant challenges remain "in loading and dispatching goods" Mr. Fletcher continued, citing security and looting concerns, "delays in coordination approvals and inappropriate routes being provided by Israeli forces that are not viable for the movement of cargo". Until earlier this week, no commercial or humanitarian supplies had been allowed into Gaza since 2 March, deepening an already catastrophic hunger crisis and sparking widespread condemnation from the international community. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO) at least 57 children have reportedly died from the effects of malnutrition, according to the local health authorities. The number is likely an underestimate and is expected to increase if the aid blockade continues. In their latest report, respected and UN-partnered food insecurity experts warned that nearly 71 000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next 11 months unless Gazans can access sufficient food and healthcare support. Working through the night Video footage published online Thursday by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) showed aid crews hurrying to offload sacks of flour from trucks at a floodlit warehouse. Elsewhere in the storage hangar, other images showed large quantities of dough being made in an industrial mixer. "Our teams are working non-stop to get bakeries running again," the agency said, referring to the 25 facilities it had to close on 31 March when wheat flour and fuel ran out. "But it's nowhere near enough to support everyone in need. We need more trucks, more food, in now," the UN agency warned. After 19 months of constant Israeli bombardment which continues today, one in five Gazans faces starvation, food insecurity experts have warned. And reiterating the urgent need for more lifesaving supplies to enter the shattered enclave, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, stressed that much more aid will be needed to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. No fuel allowed in No hygiene products or fuel have been allowed into the enclave by the Israeli authorities, the UN agency noted. "The UN and its partners have been engaging with the Israeli authorities to identify the best possible route from Kerem Shalom onward into Gaza to ensure the flow of aid is not disrupted or suspended," OCHA explained in its latest update. "Partners are in touch with community leaders in Gaza to mitigate the risk of looting and ensure that the supplies entering Gaza reach the people who rely on them." Meanwhile, Gazans continue to contend with daily bombardment and shelling across the Strip, with dozens reported killed on Tuesday. A day later, OCHA noted that the health authorities on an urgent request for blood donors to treat the sick and injured. "Amid the hostilities, large numbers of people continue to be displaced - once again fleeing for their lives amid intense bombing of their communities and with no safe place to seek shelter or supplies," the UN agency said. It reported that a full 80 per cent of Gaza is either subject to displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarized zones which require aid teams to coordinate their movements with the Israeli authorities. "Partners report that over the past few days, almost half of people newly displaced have fled with none of their belongings," OCHA said. "The ongoing displacement of Gaza's population is putting immense pressure on humanitarian teams, especially when there is no food or other basic supplies to offer." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kenya: Refugees facing 'lowest ever' emergency food rations amid funding crisis 22 May 2025 - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday that it has been forced to cut food aid to unprecedented lows in Kenya's sprawling refugee camps, as a result of severe funding shortages. Over the past five years, the refugee population in Kenya has surged by more than 70 per cent - from approximately 500,000 to 843,000 - driven largely by conflict and drought in neighbouring Sudan and Somalia. Of these, around 720,000 people are sheltering in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, as well as the Kalobeyei settlement. In Sudan, the civil war that erupted in April 2023 has killed over 18,000 people, displaced 13 million, and left 30.4 million in need of assistance, according to the UN. WFP provides emergency food and nutrition support to 2.3 million Sudanese as violence and the collapse of essential infrastructure deepen the crisis. In Somalia, severe drought has placed 3.4 million people - including 1.7 million children - at risk of acute malnutrition. At the weekend, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommended that the Security Council ensure financing for the African Union's Support and Stabilisation Mission there (UNSOM), as the country continues to battle insecurity and attacks from Al-Shabaab militants. Shrinking rations, rising need Previously, a monthly WFP ration for a refugee in the camps included 8.1 kilogrammes of rice, 1.5 kg of lentils, 1.1 litres of oil, and cash for purchasing essentials. That support has now been halved, and cash payments have stopped entirely. Without emergency funding, food rations could drop to just 28 per cent of their original level. WFP is appealing for $44 million to restore full food and cash assistance through August. Cuts compound existing crises Although cuts to foreign aid by many developed nations this year has further constrained operations, WFP began reducing services for Kenya's refugee population in 2024. Many of the families arriving are already food insecure, and Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates among children and pregnant or breastfeeding women exceed 13 per cent - three percent above the emergency threshold. Targeted nutrition programmes ended in late 2024 due to lack of resources. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: UK cedes sovereignty over Chagos Islands, suffering in Sudan deepens, UN releases new emergency relief funds 22 May 2025 - The United Kingdom agreed to cede its control over the Chagos Islands to the Republic of Mauritius in an agreement signed between the two countries on Thursday. Before granting Mauritius independence in 1968, Britain unlawfully separated the Chagos archipelago to create the British Indian Ocean Territory. In doing so, it expelled 1,500-2,000 islanders to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island, to the United States for joint military use. Under the agreement, the UK will lease the island of Diego Garcia for the next 99 years to continue operating its joint military base with the United States. Value of diplomacy The agreement signed on Thursday between the UK and Mauritius is "a significant step towards resolving a long-standing dispute in the Indian Ocean region" and "demonstrates the value of diplomacy in addressing historical grievances", said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in Thursday's briefing. Welcoming the signature of the agreement, the UN Secretary-General, urged both the UK and Mauritius to "continue engaging in constructive discussion", in order to ensure that "the rights and aspirations of the Chagossians people are fully respected," said Mr. Dujarric. Sudan: Civilian Suffering Deepens Amid Drone Strikes The civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed over 18,000 people and displaced 13 million, triggering a regional migration crisis. Even before the war, humanitarian conditions and human rights protections were fragile, but in the past two years, they have become dire. Of the 30.4 million Sudanese in need of assistance, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is currently reaching 2.3 million with emergency food and nutrition support, as ongoing violence and infrastructure destruction compound the crisis. Urgent ceasefire needed Recent drone attacks on Port Sudan, once a vital entry point for aid, have further deepened the crisis. UN-designated expert Radhouane Nouicer warned Monday that these strikes on critical infrastructure "are putting lives at risk, worsening the humanitarian crisis, and violating basic human rights." On Thursday, Mr. Dujarric reported that attacks in Khartoum state have triggered a total electricity blackout, disrupting access to clean water and healthcare amid rising food prices and cholera outbreaks. The blackout has exacerbated the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Mr. Dujarric also noted that ongoing insecurity displaced 47,000 people from Khiwai and Nuhud in West Kordofan this month, while another 1,000 were displaced this week from Abu Shouk camp and El Fasher in North Darfur. At the Arab League Summit in Iraq over the weekend, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for urgent multilateral action to end "appalling violence, famine and mass displacement," and met with African Union leaders to encourage a push for a ceasefire. Emergency relief funds released for DR Congo The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated new funds to crisis situations, from Afghanistan to Zambia. On Wednesday, CERF made $750,000 available to support cholera response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. The emergency funds will enable the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and partners to deliver critical aid, including timely cholera detection and response, medical treatment, risk communication, and community engagement. In addition, CERF allocated $10 million to help more than 270,0000 people in vulnerable communities across South Sudan, where the threat of renewed civil war looms. Ahead of the rainy season, CERF's life-saving aid will notably target communities who have been impacted by overlapping crises, especially conflict and displacement in the states of Jonglei and Upper Nile. CERF also allocated $9.5 million to support climate action initiatives in eight countries: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, Venezuela, and Zambia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign financial firms upbeat on China market amid steady economic growth, policy support 09:36, May 23, 2025 By Ma Jingjing ( Global Times As China's economy shows strong upward growth momentum after authorities unveiled a fresh round of supportive policies, multiple foreign financial institutions have expressed optimism about China's capital market, with some vowing long-term development in the market amid external challenges. Compared with other stock markets, China's stock market remains at a relatively low valuation level and still appears quite attractive, Wang Zonghao, head of China equity strategy research at UBS, said in a note sent to the Global Times on Thursday. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in China's technology sector will continue to boost market confidence in the medium to long term, with fundamental factors showing a gradual recovery trend and the overall performance of listed companies remaining relatively robust, Wang said. "Over the next few quarters, foreign capital is expected to flow to China's stock market," Wang said, noting that China's core assets, including some companies in industries such as electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals, are of great attractiveness to overseas investors. According to the Global Family Office Report 2025 released by UBS, almost one-fifth of global family offices are planning to increase their exposure to the Chinese mainland over the next 12 months. On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley analysts led by chief China equity strategist Laura Wang nudged up their 12-month target for MSCI China to 78, implying 5-percent potential returns, while raising the CSI300 target to 4,000, signaling 3-percent potential returns. "We raise index targets for Chinese equities on the back of sustained structural improvement and the latest positive developments with tariffs and earnings," the analysts wrote in a note shared with the Global Times. With optimism about China's economic prospects and the long-term potential of the country's capital market, some foreign institutions have reaffirmed their development in China. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase &Co, said that his firm is committed to long-term investment in China, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. "We're a long-term investor here," he said in a Bloomberg TV interview at the lender's Global China Summit in Shanghai. "Yes, there's all these other issues causing consternation, but we have to deal with the world that we have, not the world we want, and we'll continue to grow," Dimon said. Moreover, Singapore-based real estate CapitaLand Investment (CLI) said on Wednesday that it had launched its first onshore master fund in China, backed by a total equity commitment of 5 billion yuan. "Leveraging our over 30 years of experience in China and deep on-the-ground expertise, our first master fund in China demonstrates CLI's capabilities in structuring and launching a diversified suite of yuan funds tailored to domestic investors' needs," Puah Tze Shyang, CEO of CLI China, was quoted as saying in a press release. According to recent data from the China Association for Public Companies, Chinese listed companies achieved net profits of 1.49 trillion yuan ($206.73 billion) in the first quarter, a 3.55-percent increase year-on-year. A total of 4,084 companies were profitable in the first quarter, further consolidating the positive recovery trend. In order to further stabilize markets and sustain the economic recovery amid external headwinds, Chinese monetary and financial authorities have recently announced a series of fresh measures, including policy rate and reserve requirement ratio cuts. Despite the complex and volatile external environment, China's strategic direction toward high-quality economic development remains clear and firm, which, along with the increased stability and predictability of macro-policies, especially timely policy adjustments, has strengthened foreign investors' confidence in investing in China's capital market, Wu Qing, head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said at a press conference on May 7, vowing a firm commitment to boost high-level opening-up of the capital market. "Thanks to a series of policies, we believe China's economy will continue to see a steady recovery in growth this year, backed by investment, exports or consumption, achieving the GDP growth target of about 5 percent," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, told the Global Times, noting that stable economic growth and policy support will bring greater investment opportunities to the capital market. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) UN Emergency Fund allocates $10 million to address vulnerability and protection risks in South Sudan UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Over 270,000 people affected by multiple shocks to receive life-saving, multi-sectoral assistance (Juba, 22 May 2025) Amid escalating humanitarian needs driven by conflict, flooding, acute food insecurity and cholera outbreaks, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has urgently allocated US$10 million to support life-saving humanitarian assistance for more than 270,000 people in South Sudan. The funding will target communities in six high-risk counties: Canal/Pigi, Fangak, Ayod, and Akobo in Jonglei State, and Panyikang and Fashoda in Upper Nile State. These areas have been severely affected by overlapping crises, leaving families in critical need of immediate humanitarian support. "This timely and much-needed CERF funding will contribute towards mitigating acute vulnerabilities and protection risks through coordinated interventions led by United Nations agencies and their partners in South Sudan." said Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan. "The allocation must also serve as a catalyst to mobilize support for the millions more in need across the country." Since the escalation of conflict in Upper Nile State in March, more than 130,000 people have been displaced, including thousands who have reportedly crossed into Ethiopia. The ongoing rainy season is expected to bring heavy flooding to areas already affected in previous years. Meanwhile, South Sudan continues to face its most severe cholera outbreak on record, with 60,530 cases and 1,247 deaths reported nationwide as of 18 May. An estimated 7.7 million peoplerepresenting 57 per cent of the analyzed populationare projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and July 2025. Of particular concern, approximately 63,000 people, are expected to experience Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most severe level of food insecurity. "CERF funding will help ensure they receive food, cash assistance, seeds, tools, fishing kits, shelter, nonfood items, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies, as well as health, nutrition and protection services. They will also need continued support to restore their livelihoods and rebuild their lives" said Ms. Gbeho. As of now, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for South Sudanseeking $1.7 billion to assist 5.4 million peopleis only 16.6 per cent funded. Continued support is urgently needed to sustain life-saving assistance. For further information, please contact: David Carden, Head of Office, carden@un.org Iramaku Vundru Wilfred, Reporting Officer, vundru@un.org OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org/south-sudan or www.reliefweb.int. 22 May 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address International Framework to Protect Civilians during Armed Conflict Unraveling, Speakers Warn Security Council, Urging Enforcement of Existing Laws Meetings Coverage Security Council 9921st Meeting (AM & PM) SC/16068 22 May 2025 2024 Deadliest Year on Record for Humanitarians, as Civilian Deaths Soared United Nations officials and humanitarians alike warned that the international framework created to protect civilians during armed conflict is itself under attack during a day-long debate in the Security Council today on that topic, as many speakers stressed that civilians will continue to suffer if existing laws are not enforced. "The short version the scaffolding built last century to protect us from inhumanity is crumbling; those who will die as a result need us to act," stated Thomas Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. In 2024, the UN recorded more than 36,000 civilian deaths in 14 armed conflicts, with the real number likely far higher. He detailed the plight of civilians today: dead, deprived of essential services, forcibly displaced, subjected to "rampant" sexual violence or suffering from "alarming" levels of conflict-driven hunger. "2024 was also the deadliest year on record for humanitarians," he added. Spotlighting an unravelling of international law "despite the lessons of history and clear legal commitments" he underscored that this jeopardizes the protection architecture that took decades to build. "There is, though, another path," he said provided States act to "salvage what they have built". This requires that they ensure respect for international law and support efforts to fight impunity. He said they also must acknowledge that, even when parties comply with the law, "the scale of civilian harm can be devastating", which necessitates strong policy and operational measures to protect civilians. "Let us be remembered not for the warnings we gave, but for the action we took," he urged. Next, Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), emphasized: "In the past year, we have seen bombed maternity wards, blockaded medical supplies and massive funding cuts." In Afghanistan where 90 per cent of women lack access to essential healthcare services a woman dies from preventable pregnancy-related complications every two hours. And, with bans on female workers and shrinking access to care, maternal deaths are projected to rise by 50 per cent in 2026. Meanwhile, in Gaza, over 28,000 women and girls have been killed since October 2023, she noted, adding: "Tens of thousands have given birth under bombardment and siege, without anaesthetics, postpartum care or clean water." Urging the Council to treat reproductive violence as a distinct category of harm and hold perpetrators accountable, she added that "trauma compounds over time". In Gaza, 75 per cent of women suffer from depression; women in Afghanistan describe living in "open-air prisons" and domestic violence is rising in Ukraine. Call to End 'Permissive Signals' to Ignore International Humanitarian Law "Where is the political courage to stop the killing?", asked Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). "If you do not defend the rules of war today, you are accepting a world where wars are fought with increasing barbarity and disregard for our shared humanity," she underscored. "In today's conflicts, you do not have to pull the trigger to be complicit in the consequences," she added, stressing that the fourth Geneva Convention contains clear, unambiguous protections for civilians in times of armed conflict. She therefore urged the Council to prevent any permissive signals that international humanitarian law can be ignored, that life-saving aid can be denied or that principled humanitarian action can be replaced. Peace starts with treating the wounded, reconnecting separated families, ensuring the provision of life-saving aid and sparing civilian populations and infrastructure from harm. "It is in the darkest moments that our commitment to protecting civilians is most tested and needed," she said, declaring: "It is possible to protect civilians in war." Children Are Uniquely Vulnerable to, Harmed by Effects of War Doing so is especially necessary in the context of children, emphasized Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children, as they are "uniquely vulnerable to the effects of war". Recalling the words of one of her organization's healthcare workers in Somalia, describing what happens when children suffer acute malnutrition, she said that "the skin becomes attached to the bone, the child becomes a skeleton" and cries all day "until it stops doing that". Children, she continued, are also more likely to die from blast injuries: "The blast is more likely to penetrate their small bodies, and they have less blood to lose." Observing that humanity faces a "moment where many competing visions of the future are battling for supremacy" and "not an erosion, but an assault" on its values, she said that humanitarians are often asked for technical solutions to inherently political problems. "Yes, we need support to get food, medicine and schooling to children trapped in conflict," she acknowledged, but added that it is also necessary for Member States "to do your job". When civilians suffer because a State makes a political choice to disregard the laws of war, that choice is based on a calculation that the international community will not enforce the law. "We urge you to act," she concluded. "Crisis of compliance with international law, the question of impunity and the imperative of justice and accountability without politicization, selectivity and double standards in our view were the key common messages from these briefings," observed the representative of Pakistan. The United Kingdom's representative, recalling that the Council has recently heard several such briefings on the gap between obligation and adherence, underscored: "These gaps are where harms to civilians arise every day." Political Will and Accountability, Not Empty Promises, Needed Guyana's representative, recalling the many Council instruments that "form a robust framework" to protect civilians in armed conflict, nevertheless observed that their implementation has been "mostly honoured in the breach". Moreover, she stressed that the existing framework "is not an end in itself it must be matched with the same level of political will for its implementation and the relevant accountability when it is ignored". Panama's representative concurred: "Protection of civilians in armed conflict cannot continue to be an empty promise." "Impunity", stressed the representative of the Republic of Korea, "only paves the way for perpetrators to continue committing heinous crimes." Denmark's representative, similarly, stated: "Put simply, impunity has pushed our system to the breaking point." Only a predictable, enforced system of accountability will deter future crimes, she stressed, warning: "If we fail on these fronts, it signals a green light to those who bomb hospitals, recruit children, perpetrate sexual and gender-based violence and weaponize hunger." "Sadly, in many contexts in particular in Gaza respect for international humanitarian law has been reduced to an empty slogan," said Algeria's representative. Detailing the many horrors there, he also joined others in noting that journalism is under fire "murdering not only lives, but also the truth". On that, the representative of Somalia, warning that "technology can amplify hate speech and disinformation, putting journalists and media workers at risk and threatening democratic values", urged greater efforts to combat these threats. Delegates Urge Stronger Monitoring of UN Resolutions, Support for Existing Mechanisms Others also offered specific suggestions. Among them, Sierra Leone's representative called for strengthened efforts to monitor implementation of Council resolutions aimed at protecting civilians. The representative of France said that the Council must support existing mechanisms and encourage States to exercise criminal jurisdiction including by invoking the principle of universal jurisdiction. Council members, stressed the representative of the United States, have a responsibility to use the tools at their disposal to enforce peace. "As long as conflicts persist, the fundamental safety of civilians will remain elusive," observed the representative of China. He therefore encouraged the Council to promote the cessation of hostilities including in Gaza, where "achieving a ceasefire and saving lives is an urgent priority". Stating that the "stalled peaceful settlement" in Gaza is the reason why civilians there continue to suffer, the representative of the Russian Federation also took issue with today's Secretary-General report as it relates to Ukraine and urged that "those who mislead the Council are brought to account". Alarm Sounded over Destruction of Water and Sanitation Infrastructure For his part, Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, Council President for May, spoke in his national capacity to call on the Council to make "abundantly clear" that war, violence and propaganda should never deprive a child of the right to grow up healthy and hopeful. Meanwhile, Melita Gabric, Deputy Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, said: "In Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, we are witnessing how the destruction of water infrastructure leads to alarming levels of thirst, dehydration, spread of diseases, disruption of healthcare services and, ultimately, to preventable deaths." The representative of the Philippines, speaking for the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts, agreed: "Destruction, disruption and denial sometimes deliberate of water and sanitation services, as well as the pollution of freshwater sources, have become a regular occurrence." Touching on another facet of today's topic, Alexis Vafeades, Minister for Transport, Communications and Works of Cyprus, stressed: "We must not overlook the humanitarian dimension of missing persons." "This discussion could not be more relevant for Ukraine, where civilians, humanitarian and UN personnel and journalists continue to be deliberately and systematically targeted by the Russian Federation," stressed Ukraine's representative. Lasha Darsalia, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, similarly detailed the grave human rights abuses perpetrated against civilians in the Russian Federation-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions. "Georgia's experience reflects the severe impact of continued occupation," he said. The representative of Israel after spotlighting the "horrific antisemitic terror attack on 21 May" in which two diplomatic staffers were shot to death "in the name of 'Free Palestine'" stressed: "Let us be clear Israel is not at war with the Palestinian people; Israel is at war with Hamas, a genocidal terror organization that bears the responsibility for all devastation in Gaza." He added that "we deeply regret every innocent lost, and we do everything in our power to protect humanitarian workers". No One Should Be Above the Law "The protection of civilians is not a choice," underscored Jordan's representative, urging immediate, unified action to address the flagrant violations being witnessed in Gaza and elsewhere. Detailing the effects of Israeli aggression in the Strip, the representative of South Africa stressed: "If we are really serious about the protection of civilians, no one should be above the law." The representative of Colombia, underlining her country's commitment to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, urged: "Now is not the time to reinterpret the rules." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NIWC Pacific Enhances India's Maritime Security Capabilities US Navy 22 May 2025 From Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific Public Affairs SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Navy is strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region through a $125 million initiative designed to enhance India's maritime domain awareness. Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific is playing a central role in the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) program, a flagship effort under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. The IPMDA initiative aims to improve maritime awareness and regional coordination by providing partner nations with unclassified maritime situational awareness tools and data. A core component of the case is SeaVision, a U.S. Navy-managed platform that aggregates Automatic Identification System (AIS) and other vessel tracking data to enable secure, real-time maritime monitoring, according to Robert Lendvay, NIWC Pacific Foreign Military Sales Case Manager supporting the Navy's International C4I Integration Program Office [PMW 740]. Lendvay has spearheaded the effort since January 2023. The initiative also integrates commercial satellite-based radio frequency (RF) detection capabilities from HawkEye 360, enabling partner nations to detect and monitor vessels operating without transponders. Together, these tools create a multi-layered operational picture that significantly enhances India's ability to monitor its maritime domain and contribute to regional security objectives. The program's inception began with a foundational meeting at NIWC Pacific in San Diego, where Lendvay, alongside the NIWC Pacific SeaVision Technical Assistance Field Team, hosted a high-level delegation from the Indian Navy and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. This engagement was instrumental in defining the initial operational and technical requirements that laid the groundwork for the largest IPMDA-related case to date. Over the course of two years, Lendvay led detailed coordination efforts across the U.S. Department of State, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Navy International Programs Office, and other interagency partners to ensure the program met U.S. releasability standards and foreign disclosure policies. "These collaborative efforts ultimately resulted in the successful completion of the Congressional Notification process - a critical milestone," said Lendvay. "This authorizes the U.S. Government to offer new and improved capabilities to India in support of IPMDA. This approval not only affirms the strategic trust placed in India as a key Indo-Pacific partner but also reflects the growing defense ties between members of the Quad alliance: the United States, Japan, Australia, and India." "This initiative is a testament to the strong partnership between the U.S. and India and our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," said John Smith, a NIWC Pacific employee. "By providing India with advanced maritime domain awareness tools, we are enhancing their ability to monitor their maritime domain and contribute to regional security." NIWC Pacific and PMW 740 have played a central role in managing the program's development, working closely with commercial vendors and interagency stakeholders to define a technically sound and contractually executable acquisition strategy. The IPMDA initiative strengthens the region's ability to detect and deter threats and reinforces collective maritime security objectives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Completes Bilateral Naval Exercise Nautical Defender in Arabian Gulf US Navy 22 May 2025 From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs MANAMA, Bahrain -- Naval forces from the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in Nautical Defender in the Arabian Gulf, May 10-19. Nautical Defender is a weeklong maritime exercise designed to build and sustain combined warfighting capabilities, support long-term regional security and enhance military-to-military interoperability between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "Nautical Defender is an excellent opportunity to strengthen tactical proficiency and to support long-term relationships with our Saudi counterparts," said U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Reitter, commander of Task Force 56. "This type of comprehensive exercise enables us to pool our resources with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces to create a truly challenging and realistic training environment." This year's exercise integrated unmanned systems and focused on maritime security, explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures and other drills ashore and at sea. The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fresh bread returns for the first time in over two months as limited supplies reach bakeries overnight World Food Programme 22 May 2025 GAZA, Palestine -- A handful of bakeries in south and central Gaza, supported by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), have resumed bread production after dozens of trucks were finally able to collect cargo from the Kerem Shalom border crossing and deliver it overnight. These bakeries are now operational distributing bread via hot meal kitchens. However, after nearly 80 days of a total blockade of humanitarian assistance, families still face a high risk of famine and far more aid is needed across all of Gaza. "We are in a race against time to prevent widespread starvation," said WFP Country Director Antoine Renard. "WFP will capitalize on every opportunity to deliver critical food supplies to Gaza's desperate population. However, this is just a drop in the bucket of what is needed to reverse the catastrophic levels of hunger. Humanitarian agencies require immediate, unrestricted, and safe access to flood Gaza with lifesaving aid. This is the only way to avert an entirely preventable disaster." Vital convoys entered Gaza this week carrying wheat flour and resources to support kitchen operations for hot meals. Other aid included baby formula, nutrition supplements for malnourished children, as well as medical supplies. But food assistance must go beyond one meal per day and more diverse food items are required to effectively push back the risk of famine. Distributing food parcels directly to families the most effective way to prevent starvation is still not allowed. That must change. Over 140,000 metric tons of food - enough to feed the entire population for two months - is pre-positioned at aid corridors and ready to be brought into Gaza at scale. We call on all parties to uphold this principle and facilitate swift, safe, and unimpeded aid delivery at scale to the more than two million people facing hunger across the Gaza strip. # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Health system at breaking point as hostilities further intensify in Gaza, WHO warns 22 May 2025 News release Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva Israel's intensified military operations continue to threaten an already weakened health system, amidst worsening mass population displacement and acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter. Four major hospitals in Gaza (Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital) have had to suspend medical services in the past week due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks. WHO has recorded 28 attacks on health care in Gaza during this period and 697 attacks since October 2023. Only 19 of Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, including one hospital providing basic care for the remaining patients still inside the hospital, and are struggling under severe supply shortages, lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties, all while staff work in impossible conditions. Of the 19 hospitals, 12 provide a variety of health services, while the rest are only able to provide basic emergency care. At least 94% of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed. The increased hostilities and new evacuation orders issued across northern and southern Gaza in the past two days threaten to push even more health facilities out of service. This includes 1 hospital, 11 primary care centres, and 13 medical points within the evacuation zones, and an additional 5 hospitals, 1 field hospital, 9 primary care centres, and 23 medical points within 1000 metres of those zones. North Gaza has been stripped of nearly all health care. Al-Awda Hospital is only minimally functional, serving as a trauma stabilization point. It faces an imminent risk of closure due to ongoing insecurity and restricted access. The hospital's third floor was reportedly attacked on Wednesday, injuring a staff member. Hostilities in the area also damaged the water tank and pipeline. Today, the hospital was attacked again. The third and fourth floors were reportedly hit, injuring two health workers. Patient triage tents, including one provided by WHO, caught fire, which also burned all medical supplies in the warehouse and destroyed vehicles in the basement. A WHO mission attempting to reach the hospital today was impeded. The Indonesian Hospital is out of service due to continued military presence since 18 May, making it inaccessible. Yesterday, a WHO mission to the hospital was forced to abort due to the security situation after waiting nearly four hours for clearance to proceed. WHO team had planned to deliver food and water to patients, assess their conditions, and identify critical equipment for transfer. WHO tried to reach the hospital again today, but the mission was impeded. Kamal Adwan Hospital, which had the only centre to treat patients with severe acute malnutrition in North Gaza, went out of service on 20 May after intense hostilities in its vicinity, forcing patients to evacuate or be discharged prematurely. In southern Gaza, Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal, and Al-Aqsa hospitals are overwhelmed by a surge of injured people, worsened by a new wave of displacement to Deir al Balah and Khan Younis. The European Gaza Hospital remains out of service following an attack on 13 May, cutting off vital services including neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment - all unavailable elsewhere in Gaza. Currently, across the Gaza Strip, only 2000 hospital beds remain available, for a population of over 2 million people, grossly insufficient to meet the current needs. Of these, at least 40 beds are at risk of being lost as they are in hospitals within newly declared evacuation zones, while an additional 850 could be lost if conditions deteriorate at facilities near these zones. Continued hostilities and military presence inhibit patients from accessing care, obstruct staff from providing care, and prevent WHO and partners from resupplying hospitals. With each hospital forced out of service, patients lose access to health care, and WHO and partners' efforts, to sustain Gaza's health system are undone. The destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end. Amid constant fear and insecurity, health workers, including those from national and international emergency medical teams, continue delivering urgent care in Gaza. WHO salutes their courage and commitment. WHO calls for the active protection of health care. Hospitals must never be militarized or targeted. WHO calls for aid at scale to be allowed into Gaza through all possible routes, and for unimpeded humanitarian access to reach people wherever they are. Echoing the United Nations' Relief Chief, WHO reiterates that the UN and its partners have a clear, principled and effective plan to deliver aid with safeguards against diversion, a system that has worked and must be enabled to continue. WHO calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 90 truckloads of UN aid delivered to Gazans, breaking 11-week blockade People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:27, May 23, 2025 OCHA said Israeli authorities must facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys, including from southern Gaza to the north, so that all supplies can reach people in need wherever they are across the Gaza Strip. UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The first aid in 11 weeks delivered to Gazans includes nutrition supplies, flour, medicines and other critical goods, UN humanitarians said Thursday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said about 90 trucks loaded at the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem checkpoint headed for multiple destinations, carrying the supplies to Gazans facing the threat of famine. OCHA said nearly 20 truckloads, carrying about 500 pallets of nutrition supplies, were safely offloaded in UNICEF's warehouse in Deir al Balah. The material delivered includes ready-to-use therapeutic food and lipid-based nutritional supplements. The life-saving supplies are being unpacked and repackaged into smaller loads to dozens of distribution points. A handful of bakeries in southern and central Gaza, supported by the World Food Programme, have resumed bread production, the office said. These bakeries are now operational, distributing bread through community kitchens. However, after nearly 80 days of a total blockade of humanitarian assistance, families still face a high risk of famine, and far more aid is needed across all of Gaza, it said. OCHA stressed that the shipment is limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the scale and scope of the needs of Gaza's 2.1 million people. Other supplies as basic as fresh food, hygiene items, water purification agents, and fuel to power hospitals have not been let in for over 80 days. Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said it is important for commercial trucking to resume to supply markets with fresh fruits and vegetables. He said the latest analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification committee concluded that people across Gaza are at risk of famine, with nearly 500,000 people teetering on the edge of starvation. The spokesman said humanitarian workers in Gaza going to and from the Kerem Shalom crossing have to travel through an Israeli-militarized area. "This means that our teams need to wait, often for hours, for military activities to pause for their safety for a green light to be given by the Israeli authorities to proceed," he told a regular briefing. "We also need to ensure the use of secure routes from Kerem Shalom onward into Gaza, as we did last (Wednesday) night and hope to do again today (Thursday)." The spokesman also reminded reporters that military operations continue across the Gaza Strip, with reports of strikes, shelling and fresh ground incursions. "In recent days, our colleagues on the ground report that attacks have struck tents and buildings where people are sheltering, causing scores of casualties," he said. OCHA said Israeli authorities must facilitate the movement of humanitarian convoys, including from southern Gaza to the north, so that all supplies can reach people in need wherever they are across the Gaza Strip. The office said Al Awda Hospital of North Gaza caught fire on Thursday, reportedly after being attacked. Through coordination with Israeli authorities, OCHA facilitated access for Palestinian Civil Defense to the area, where they spent hours fighting the fire. According to initial reports, the medicine warehouse was heavily damaged. OCHA also said water wells in some areas of Gaza are shutting down as they remain out of reach or lack fuel. It said Israeli authorities continue to deny attempts to retrieve fuel from areas where coordination is required. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Choe Hyon destroyer The "Choe Hyon" destroyer was the first warship of a new generation in North Korea. This ship, unveiled by Kim Jong Un, represents a significant modernization effort for the North Korean navy. The Choe Hyon is described as a "new generation" warship, marking a departure from the aging Soviet-era vessels that previously dominated the Korean People's Navy. It is the first surface vessel in the Korean People's Navy to be equipped with a phased array radar and a Vertical launch system, with 44 small VLS, 20 medium VLS, and 8 large VLS. The destroyer has 74 vertical launch tubes in total, with 44 in the bow and 30 at the stern, all employing a cold-launch system. Released imagery suggests 32 bow cells will carry anti-aircraft missiles, 12 will carry cruise or anti-ship missiles, and aft launchers will carry Hwasal-2 cruise missiles, North Korea's newest supersonic land-attack missile, and Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles. The ship has several launch points for the Kumsong-3 anti-ship, based on the Russian Kh-35. According to Joseph Dempsey, a research associate for Defence and Military Analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the Choe Hyon is the largest ship ever constructed in North Korea.. Reports of the Choe Hyon being under construction began surfacing in May 2024, when satellite images of Nampo Shipyard picked up new rows of pillars and mesh roofs being added in order to hide construction from satellite view. In October 2024, the mesh roof was replaced with proper roofs to shelter the ship while it w as being constructed. Kim was reportedly present when he visited the shipyard on at least two occasions to inspect the status of the construction. KCNA later showed more photos of the ship under construction in December 2024 The vessel was presented with fanfare and is seen as a key element in Kim's efforts to upgrade his navy and build a more formidable maritime force. Kim attended the launch of the first "new multipurpose destroyer" equipped with "the most powerful weapons" on 25 April 2025." During the ceremony to launch the Choe Hyon at the port of Nampo on the country's western coast, Kim said the ship's construction represented "a breakthrough" in North Korea's naval modernization. "I feel infinitely honoured to proclaim the birth of the first warship of a new generation," Kim was quoted as saying. Kim hailed the vessel as "indispensable in building up our capability for stoutly defending our maritime frontier." Images released by state media showed Kim, accompanied by his daughter Ju Ae, being enthusiastically welcomed by navy personnel in white uniforms in front of the new warship, with colourful confetti scattered across the ground. Ju Ae, who is considered by many experts as Kim's likely successor, was also photographed whispering to her father, dressed in a formal black suit in front of the ship. The first such destroyer, Choe Hyon, was built in just 400 days. 38 North, the leading U.S. think tank monitoring North Korea, said more work appeared to be necessary for the destroyer, citing commercial satellite imagery that showed tugboats being used to move the ship. The lead ship was named after Choe Hyon, a North Korean general who served as a general in the Northeast Counter-Japanese United Army and later became the Minister of the People's Armed Forces of North Korea. Choe Hyon served as Kim Il-Sung's minister of armed forces, and his name is well known among the military people in the North. Jeong-Un. Choe Ryong-Hae is Choe Hyon's son. In Korea, family succession is very important. Look at Korean companies. In the North, their government is a family business. Choe Hyon, not Kim Il-Sung, was the father of the KPA, and he had a son named Choe Ryong-Hae. Thus, the KPA does not belong to Kim's family, and Kim Jeong-Un's influence limited in the military establishment. The South Korean military said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Kyiv. North Korean state media witnessed supersonic and strategic cruise missile, anti-aircraft missile, and electronic jamming projectile launches as well as fire from the ship's 127mm main naval gun. Mark Soo noted the main gun is a locally produced 127mm naval cannon located ahead of the VLS array. It has optical and manual aiming with external ventilation. Close-range defense is provided by two AK-630 30mm cannons on either side and the aforementioned Pantsir-M CIWS located aft. Secondary armament comprises four quad-mounted Bulsae-4 anti-tank missile systems and assorted decoy launchers. Soo reported that "Anti-submarine warfare is enabled by two sets of dual torpedo tubes and bow-mounted sonar. While no towed sonar array has been sighted or reported, onboard systems imply the possible addition of Soviet-era RPK missile systems, allowing the vessel to conduct long-range torpedo or nuclear depth charge attacks." As for sensor and electronics, Soo reported. the Choe Hyon has a 360-degree phased-array radar, two Russian-style fire-control radars, an MR-36-series air and surface search radar, standard navigation and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems, and electronic-warfare antennas. Precise guidance techniques for its missile systems are not apparent, but radar-integrated or active-seeker technologies are probable. Soo further reported that the ship is powered by conventional diesel turbines, with bow thrusters as auxiliary units to help maneuver in harbor spaces. There is no specialized aviation hangar or flight deck, limiting its capacity to operate helicopters, but providing more VLS During the commissioning ceremony, North Korea unveiled several of the vessel's weapons systems, including the Hwasong-11 missile and a Russian Pantsir-M naval close-in weapon system (CIWS) with 57E6M missiles. The main gun is a locally produced 127mm naval cannon located ahead of the VLS array. It has optical and manual aiming with external ventilation. Close-range defense is provided by two AK-630 30mm cannons on either side and the aforementioned Pantsir-M CIWS located aft. Secondary armament comprises four quad-mounted Bulsae-4 anti-tank missile systems and assorted decoy launchers. Anti-submarine warfare is enabled by two sets of dual torpedo tubes and bow-mounted sonar. While no towed sonar array has been sighted or reported, onboard systems imply the possible addition of Soviet-era RPK missile systems, allowing the vessel to conduct long-range torpedo or nuclear depth charge attacks. As for sensor and electronics, the Choe Hyon has a 360-degree phased-array radar, two Russian-style fire-control radars, an MR-36-series air and surface search radar, standard navigation and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems, and electronic-warfare antennas. Precise guidance techniques for its missile systems are not apparent, but radar-integrated or active-seeker technologies are probable. The ship is powered by conventional diesel turbines, with bow thrusters as auxiliary units to help maneuver in harbor spaces. There is no specialized aviation hangar or flight deck, limiting its capacity to operate helicopters, but providing more VLS space. The Choe Hyon has been assigned to the KPN's Eastern Fleet, which operates in waters adjacent to Japan. The Choe Hyon would officially be placed in KPN service by 2026 after ship tests are completed Satellite images of the North Korean shipyard in Chongjin revealed a rapid pace of Choe Hyon-class missile destroyer construction at two shipyards simultaneously. Satellite images from 12 May 2025, published by CSIS, show the second ship progressing at a fast pace. This is the first image since November 2024, when the destroyer's hull was still hidden under a special canopy South Korea's military said 22 May 2025 the DPRK appeared to have failed to complete a side-launch of the second ship, and it had partially capsized. With no engines or machinery to lower the center of gravity, but all the weapons installed, the ship was dangerously unstable and top-heavy. The North Koreans got lucky with the first ship. The 5,000-ton destroyer suffered damage to its hull when the stern of the cradle detached prematurely during the launch ceremony in the northeastern city of Chongjin. South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess that North Korea's "side-launch attempt" of the ship failed. "The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military," Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, also said the newly built warship may have been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is conveniently close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. "It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel -- including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched -- was shared with the Russian side," he told AFP. "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. "With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side." North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reprimanded officials over a "serious accident and criminal act" that resulted in damage to the newly built warship, state media reported. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) blamed the incident on "inexperienced command and operational carelessness". Well-known KCNA television anchor Ri Chun-hee said in a broadcast that the incident was caused by "inexperienced command and operational carelessness." "In the course of the launch, the launch slide of the stern has departed first and stranded as the flatcar failed to move in parallel," she said. "Some sections of the warship's bottom were crushed, destroying the balance of the warship and the bow couldn't leave the shipway, leading to a serious accident." Kim offered "stern assessment" that the accident was caused by "absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism," which "could not be tolerated", the KCNA said. Kim "warned solemnly" that officials responsible for the botched launch "would have to be dealt with" at the next meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, and "censured them for the fault", according to the KCNA Kim "sternly warned" several government bodies and institutions, KCNA said, including the Department of Munitions Industry, the Institute of Dynamics of the State Academy of Sciences, Kim Chaek University of Technology and the Central Ship Design Institute. Kim ordered the warship to be fixed in time for a plenary meeting of the party's central committee in June, describing the vessel's restoration as "not merely a practical issue but a political issue directly related to the authority of the state", according to. KCNA. Official admissions of incompetence are uncommon in North Korea, where the ruling Kim family enjoys a near God-like status. "There is no additional identified damage to the warship and the field rehabilitation promotion team is pushing ahead with the rehabilitation plan as scheduled," KCNA said. Pyongyang denied that there had been any serious damage, saying the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater flowed into the stern section. On Friday, North Korea estimated that it would take two to three days to drain the flooded compartments and separate the bow from the slipway to restore balance to the warship. Repairing the starboard hull would then require approximately 10 additional days. Observers say it could take a lot longer. North Korea initially reported that the accident had torn holes into the ship's hull. But it later retracted that assessment. Though some seawater flowed into the ship, a detailed inspection revealed that it had only sustained scratches, North Korea said on 23 May 2025. Still, "the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime," Mr. Kim's Central Military Commission said. It said it was taking the accident seriously "to deal a telling blow" to lax attitudes "prevailing in any field." The chief engineer at the Chongjin shipyard on North Korea's northeastern coast was arrested, as were the head of its hull-construction workshop and a deputy manager for administrative affairs, the official Korean Central News Agency reported According to a Thursday report from the Beyond Parallel project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS, the ship "may ultimately prove to be a complete loss." The Washington-based think tank said the launch failure is "an embarrassment to (leader) Kim Jong Un and North Korea's Korean People's Navy," and would disrupt Kim's plans to turn the navy from a coastal defense force to a blue-water one, capable of "strategic offensive operations Retired U.S. Navy Capt. James Fanell, who previously served as the chief of intelligence for the U.S. 7th Fleet and Pacific Fleet, told RFA that the incident may reflect internal pressures within North Korea's naval development program: "It is reported the North Korean Navy launched their first new destroyer using the floating dry-dock method, which worked well," he said. "Why Hambuk Shipyard was used to launch the second destroyer via the side-way gravitational method could be a reflection of the pressure Kim Jong Un has put on the North Korean [military] to more rapidly grow the size of the North Korean Navy." The ship's appearance looks more like a destroyer operated by the South Korean or US Navy than a Russian or North Korean warship. North Korea even gave the ship the same number as the US Navy's core ship, the Arleigh Burke, DDG-51 North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported on 06 June 2025, that the damaged destroyer had succesfully been set upright. Following this, a group of experts would examine the overall hull of the destroyer for damage before additional restoration work to be carried out at the dry dock of the Rajin Dockyard for a stated period of 7-10 days. Jo Chun Ryong, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, who is guiding the work of the field restoration promotion team, said that the perfect restoration of the destroyer will be completed without fail before the convening of the Twelfth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 22 May 2025 - Day 1184 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 101 combat encounters, theRussian enemy launched two missiles and 51 air strikes, used four missiles and dropped 78 cabs. In addition, he used 1324 kamikaze drones, carried out 4183 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces tried to break through the defensive borders of Ukrainian defenders six times in the area of the settlement Vovchansk and towards Dovgenky. At the same time, the opponent caused an aviation strike on the area of the settlement point of Rublenene. Three attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction, in the areas of Petropavlivka, Kolisnikivka, Kindrashivka, Nova Kruglyakivka and towards Pi any. Two more clashes are ongoing so far. Twelve Russian attacks were stopped by Ukrainian soldiers in the areas of the settlements of Grekivka, New Mir, Torske, Lipove and Ridkodub in the Lyman direction. In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces committed two offensive actions in the areas of grigorivka and bilogorivka. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped three Russian attempts to advance in the areas of Time Jar and White Mountain. One confrontation is ongoing so far. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today six times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Romanivka, Toretsk and Diliyivka. Defense forces are steadily suppressing the pressure and repelled four Russian attacks, so far two clashes are ongoing. In the Pokrovsky direction, Russian forces committed 32 offensive actions. Activity of the Russian occupiers is near the settlements of Elizabeth, Lisivka, Malinivka, Zvirove, Kotlyarivka, Dachene, Udaachne, Trinity, Andriyivka, as well as in the direction of the settlements of Rumin, Shevchenko the First, Mirolubivka. Five combat clashes are ongoing so far. Also Russian forces launched aviation strikes on the areas of poprovsk, Stepanivka, Novotoretske, Gnativka. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction Ukrainian warriors eliminated 83 Russian invaders and wounded 70 more. One self-propelled artillery facility "2C1", 11 cars, eight motorcycles, antenna control of unmanned aircraft, Murom-M far-visual surveillance complex, 13 unmanned aircraft of different types, two satellite terminals and enemy mortar. The car, ATV and artillery system of the Russian occupiers were also significantly damaged. In the Novopavliv direction, Ukrainian units stopped 11 Russian attacks near Konstantinopol and towards Shevchenko and Novopol. There is currently one confrontation in progress. At the same time, the Russian enemy made aviation strikes on the settlements of Mosquitoes, Novoukrainka and Novodarivka. In the gulyajpil direction, the Defense Forces successfully stopped one attempt of the Russian invaders to advance near the settlement of Vysoke. Aviation strikes were hit by the settlements of Gulyaipole and Vysoke. In the Orihivsky direction, Russian forces today carried out two offensive actions in the direction of Novodanilivka. At the same time, aviation strikes were struck on the settlements of Kamianske, Novodanilivka and Stepnogirsk. In the Pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions. In the Kurs .komu direction today, 20 boezitknen . Russian forces launched 12 air strikes, dropping 16 controlled bombs on settlements and positions of the Defense Forces. In addition, carried out 191 artillery shelling, including three - from the reactive systems of salpovogo fire. In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Harvard University Loses Student and Exchange Visitor Program Certification for Pro-Terrorist Conduct Harvard is being held accountable for collaboration with the CCP, fostering violence, antisemitism, and pro-terrorist conduct from students on its campus. 22 May 2025 WASHINGTON - Today, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered DHS to terminate the Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status. Harvard's leadership has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment. Many of these agitators are foreign students. Harvard's leadership further facilitated, and engaged in coordinated activity with the CCP, including hosting and training members of a CCP paramilitary group complicit in the Uyghur genocide. "This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus," said Secretary Noem. "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country." On April 16, 2025, Secretary Noem demanded Harvard provide information about the criminality and misconduct of foreign students on its campus. Secretary Noem warned refusal to comply with this lawful order would result in SEVP termination. This action comes after DHS terminated $2.7 million in DHS grants for Harvard last month. Harvard University brazenly refused to provide the required information requested and ignored a follow up request from the Department's Office of General Council. Secretary Noem is following through on her promise to protect students and prohibit terrorist sympathizers from receiving benefits from the U.S. government. Facts about Harvard's toxic campus climate: A joint-government task force found that Harvard has failed to confront pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus. Jewish students on campus were subject to pervasive insults, physical assault, and intimidation, with no meaningful response from Harvard's leadership. A protester charged for his role in the assault of a Jewish student on campus was chosen by the Harvard Divinity School to be the Class Marshal for commencement. Harvard's own 2025 internal study on anti-Semitism revealed that almost 60% of Jewish students reported experiencing "discrimination, stereotyping, or negative bias on campus due to [their] views on current events." In one instance, a Jewish student speaker at a conference had planned to tell the story of his Holocaust survivor grandfather finding refuge in Israel. Organizers told the student the story was not "tasteful" and laughed at him when he expressed his confusion. They said the story would have justified oppression. Meanwhile, Pro-Hamas student groups that promoted antisemitism after the October 7 attacks remained recognized and funded. Instead of protecting its students, Harvard has let crime rates skyrocket, enacted racist DEI practices, and accepted boatloads of cash from foreign governments and donors. Crime rates at Harvard increased by 55% from 2022 to 2023. From 2022 to 2023 aggravated assaults increased 295% and robberies increased 560% Harvard partnered with individuals linked to China's defense-industrial base, including conducting robotics research with military applications. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Law Enforcement Seize Record Amounts of Illegal Drugs, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking Proceeds in International Operation Against Darknet Trafficking of Fentanyl and Opioids; 270 Arrested Across Four Continents Thursday, May 22, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Today, the Attorney General and the Department of Justice's Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team, and international law enforcement partners announced the results of Operation RapTor, including the arrests of 270 dark web vendors, buyers, and administrators in Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Operation RapTor resulted in the highest number of seizures of any JCODE operation, including more than $200 million in currency and digital assets, over two metric tons of drugs, 144 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, and over 180 firearms. Operation RapTor was a global, coordinated effort by law enforcement in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking, as well as the sales of other illicit goods and services, on the darknet, or dark web. Operation RapTor builds on the successes of prior years' operations and takedowns of marketplaces, which resulted in the seizure of darknet infrastructure from Nemesis, Tor2Door, Bohemia, and Kingdom Markets, providing investigators across the world with investigative leads and evidence. JCODE and Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) continue to compile intelligence packages to identify entities of interest. These leads allow U.S. and international law enforcement agencies to identify darknet drug vendors and buyers, resulting in a series of coordinated, but separate, law enforcement investigations, reflected in the statistics announced today. In furtherance of Operation RapTor and in its first action as a JCODE member agency, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) additionally sanctioned Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad for his role as the founder and operator of Nemesis Market following seizure of the market. Parsarad was also indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio on drug trafficking charges related to the illegal business he ran on the dark web. "This historic international seizure of firearms, deadly drugs, and illegal funds will save lives," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. "Criminals cannot hide behind computer screens or seek refuge on the dark web - this Justice Department will identify and eliminate threats to the American people regardless of where they originate." "By cowardly hiding online, these traffickers have wreaked havoc across our country and directly fueled the fentanyl crisis and gun violence impacting our American communities and neighborhoods. But the ease and accessibility of their crimes ends today," said FBI Director Kash Patel. "The FBI could not do this work without our partners both at home and abroad, and the staggering success of this year's record-breaking amount of fentanyl, guns, and drugs seized prove that our efforts are working. Anyone looking to anonymously harm our citizens through illicit darknet trafficking: your days of recklessness are numbered." "These predators who peddled poison on the dark web might have thought they are untouchable hiding behind screens, pushing fentanyl, fueling overdoses, and cashing in on misery. However, Operation RapTor just proved them wrong," said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. "DEA and our global partners reached across borders, across platforms, and across currencies to rip their networks apart. Let this stand as a warning: no mask, no marketplace, and no digital wallet can hide you from facing justice." "Operation RapTor shows that the dark web is not beyond the reach of law enforcement," said Head of Europol's European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Sileris. "Through close cooperation and intelligence sharing, officers across three continents identified and arrested suspects, sending a clear message to those who think they can hide in the shadows. Europol will continue working with our partners to make the internet safer for everyone." "This unprecedented operation is a testament to the power of global partnership and the unwavering dedication of our team," said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). "Working through the JCODE initiative, IRS Criminal Investigation and our international partners led the largest and most impactful takedown to dateseizing over $200 million in assets, removing deadly drugs and weapons from circulation, and holding more than 270 individuals accountable. This critical strike against dark web networks fueling the fentanyl crisis marks a proud moment in our ongoing effort to protect communities worldwide." "This record-breaking operation sends a clear message to every trafficker hiding behind a screenyour anonymity ends where our global reach begins," said Acting Director Todd Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Thanks to the unwavering efforts by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Europol and our international partners, we're cracking the code of the so-called 'safe spaces' for cybercriminalsthey are in our sights and we're not backing down." "Operation RapTor shows what's possible when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our partners around the world stand united," said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale of the United States Postal Inspection Service. "No matter where criminals hide, we will find them, dismantle their operations, and bring them to justice. This operation was about protecting innocent people from predatory criminals who profit from violence, addiction, and fear. Our commitment is unwavering." "The FDA is committed to continuing its work to disrupt and dismantle the illegal sales of drugs on the dark web, where such sales far too often have tragic consequences," said Deputy Director Chad Menster of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI). "We will continue to monitor, investigate and bring to justice those who misuse the internet in a quest for profits with reckless disregard for the risk to public health and safety." The impact of Operation RapTor can be attributed to the tireless work of U.S. and international law enforcement partners. For example: On Dec. 16, 2024, Rui-Siang Lin pleaded guilty to charges brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York of narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell adulterated and misbranded medication for owning and operating Incognito Market, one of the largest narcotics marketplaces on the internet. According to court documents and statements made in court, Incognito Market was an online narcotics bazaar that started on the dark web in October 2020. Until it shut down in March 2024, Incognito Market sold more than $100 million of narcoticsincluding hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine. Incognito Market was available globally to anyone with internet access using the Tor web browser on the "dark web" or "darknet." Incognito Market was designed to facilitate seamless narcotics transactions, incorporating many features of legitimate e-commerce sites such as branding, advertising, and customer service. Upon visiting the site, users were met by a splash page and graphic interface, which is pictured below: Figure 1: Incognito Market homepage Figure 1: Incognito Market homepage While concealing their identities with a unique username or "moniker," users were able to search thousands of listings for narcotics of their choice. Incognito Market sold illegal narcotics including heroin, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, oxycodone, methamphetamine, ketamine, and alprazolam, as well as misbranded prescription medication. An example of listings on Incognito market is below: Figure 2: Listings for various drugs on the Incognito Market. Figure 2: Listings for various drugs on the Incognito Market. Listings included offerings of prescription medication that was falsely advertised as being authentic. For example, in November 2023, while operating in an undercover capacity on Incognito Market, a law enforcement agent purchased and received several tablets purported to be oxycodone. Testing revealed that these tablets were not oxycodone and were, in fact, fentanyl pills. The FBI, HSI, DEA, FDA OCI, and the New York Police Department investigated the case. In a second example, in January 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California secured a 17-year sentence for Adan Ruiz, of Orange County, and a 15-year sentence for Omar Navia, of Los Angeles, for supplying fentanyl-laced pills to a drug trafficking ring that sold these drugs to more than 1,000 customers nationwide via the darknet. In imposing the sentences, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter called this case "the most sophisticated fentanyl distribution ring that this court has seen." Navia and Ruiz admitted in their plea agreements that, from at least August 2021 to December 2022, they supplied fentanyl-laced pills to Michael Ta, 26, of Westminster, and Rajiv Srinivasan, 38, of Houston, who used the darknet and encrypted messaging applications to sell more than 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 20 pounds of methamphetamine, and other drugs directly to more than 1,000 customers in all 50 states, causing several fatal overdoses. According to court documents and statements made in court, Srinivasan and Ta used the "redlightlabs" darknet account to advertise and sell counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Srinivasan also used the encrypted messaging application Wickr to communicate with and sell drugs to customers. Srinivasan received virtual currency as payment for the drugs and then routed that virtual currency through cryptocurrency exchanges. The court record also shows that Ta communicated with Srinivasan about drug orders, obtained fentanyl-laced pills and methamphetamine from sources of supply, stored those drugs in his residence, and mailed out packages with drugs to customers who had ordered them from Srinivasan on the "redlightlabs" account. Ta and Srinivasan admitted in their plea agreements to causing the fentanyl overdose deaths of three victims. Both defendants further admitted to distributing fentanyl-laced pills to two additional victims, both of whom suffered fatal drug overdoses shortly after they received the pills from Ta and Srinivasan. Prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, "The five victims of defendants' crimes ranged in age from 19 to 51. They lived across the country, from California to Florida, Colorado to Arkansas. Each of the five victims leaves behind a family that has been forever and fundamentally changed by defendants' actions. [Ta and Srinivasan] also victimized countless others as part of an epidemic of addiction and despair plaguing our district and our country." The FBI investigated this case, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the DEA's Fayetteville Resident Office, and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force. In a third example, in February 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia charged Joshua Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, and Rafael Roman by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Joshua Vasquez, Joseph Vasquez, and Roman conspired to sell counterfeit Adderall containing methamphetamine on darknet markets such as Bohemia and Tor2Door. The defendants allegedly sold drugs on darknet marketplaces in exchange for cryptocurrency under the monikers "NuveoDelux," "Mrjohnson," and "AllStateRx." According to court documents and statements made in court, these three prolific darknet vendors were collectively responsible for fulfilling over 13,000 drug orders shipped throughout the United States, ranging in size from user quantities, e.g., 5 pills, to "reseller" quantities, e.g., 10,000 pills. Joshua and Joseph Vasquez collectively ran the NuveoDeluxe and AllStateRx accounts. A fourth co-conspirator, Gregory Castillo-Rosario, who was arrested in October 2024, ran the Mrjohnson account. Roman assisted his co-conspirators by pressing counterfeit Adderall pills, packaging them, and distributing drug orders into the mail using the U.S. Postal Service. The conspiracy also laundered funds associated with darknet drug proceeds. While executing search warrants in New Jersey and New York, federal law enforcement officers seized more than $330,000, close to 80,000 counterfeit Adderall pills, one firearm, and two industrial pill press machines. Additionally, two vehicles and several pieces of property were seized during the search warrants. An additional 30 kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills were seized on May 2, 2024, in New York. Photographs of some of the seized items are below: Figure 3: Counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine stored in 5-gallon buckets Figure 3: Counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine stored in 5-gallon buckets Figure 4: Bags ready to be shipped to customers nationwide. Figure 4: Bags ready to be shipped to customers nationwide. Figure 5: Illegal pill press machines used by drug traffickers to make counterfeit pharmaceutical pills. Figure 5: Illegal pill press machines used by drug traffickers to make counterfeit pharmaceutical pills. Figure 6: Trash bags full of counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine. Figure 6: Trash bags full of counterfeit Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine. Joshua Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024, and was sentenced on July 25, 2024, to 12 years in prison. Joseph Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024, and was sentenced on Aug. 8, 2024, to 10 years in prison. Roman pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, and was sentenced on Nov. 14, 2024, to 10 years in prison. They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to create a counterfeit substance and distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The FBI, FDA, and USPIS investigated this matter with significant contributions from DEA, HSI, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, the Howell Township Police Department, the Lakewood Township Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the Arlington County Police Department, and the New York Police Department. In a fourth example, a San Fernando Valley man, Brian McDonald, 23, was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison in the Central District of California for using darknet marketplaces to sell hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine to buyers nationwide. He admitted in court documents to causing one fatal fentanyl overdose. From at least April 2021 until May 2023, McDonald and others conspired to sell fentanyl and cocaine via multiple darknet marketplaces. McDonald operated under the monikers "Malachai Johnson," "SouthSideOxy," and "JefeDeMichoacan." McDonald created, monitored, and maintained the darknet vendor profiles, including by updating drug listings and shipment options, tracking drug orders, and offloading Monero cryptocurrency received as drug deal payments into cryptocurrency wallets that McDonald controlled. McDonald recruited and hired accomplices to help package and ship the narcotics they sold on the darknet. McDonald directed and helped these accomplices package and ship the narcotics. McDonald purchased bulk quantities of fentanyl and cocaine and then directed others to complete hundreds of drug sales involving large quantities of both fentanyl and cocaine. The FBI and DEA investigated this matter. Operation RapTor involves law enforcement actions taken by JCODE member agencies, including the DEA, FBI, FDA OCI, HSI, IRS-CI, and USPIS. Credible reporting from the referenced agencies, in addition to contributions from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Army Criminal Investigation Division, Customs and Border Protection, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and OFAC, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, enabled domestic law enforcement actions in support of Operation RapTor. State, local, and other federal agencies also contributed to Operation RapTor investigations through task force participation and regional partnerships, as well as the multi-agency Special Operations Division. The investigations leading to Operation RapTor were significantly aided by support and coordination from the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, with valuable assistance from the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Fraud Section, and Office of International Affairs. Key international partners include Europol; Eurojust; Austria's Criminal Intelligence Service with various Provincial Criminal Police Departments (Bundeskriminalamt und Landeskriminalamter); Brazil's Civil Police of the State of Para (Policia Civil do Estado do Para) and Civil Police of the State of Sao Paulo (Policia Civil do Estado do Sao Paulo); France's French Customs (Douane), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale); Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), Prosecutor's Office in Cologne - Central Cybercrime Contact Point (Staatsanwaltschaft Koln, Zentral- und Ansprechstelle Cybercrime), Central Criminal Investigation in Oldenburg (Zentrale Kriminalinspektion Oldenburg) various police departments (Dienststellen der Landerpolizeien), and German Customs Investigation (Zollfahndungsamter); the Netherlands' Team High Tech Crime (National Investigations and Special Operations (NIS) and Post Interventie Team (PIT), National Intelligence, Expertise and Operational Support (NIEO); Spain's National Police (Policia Nacional); South Korea's Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office - Darknet Investigations Unit; Switzerland's Zurich Cantonal Police (Kantonspolizei Zurich) and Public Prosecutor's Office II of the Canton of Zurich (Staatsanwaltschaft II); and the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA), National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). Federal investigations spanned the United States, and 26 United States Attorneys' Offices are prosecuting cases, including the Central District of California, the Northern District of California, the Southern District of California, the District of Colorado, the District of Connecticut, the District of Columbia, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Georgia, the District of Hawaii, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Eastern District of Kentucky, the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of New Jersey, the Southern District of New York, the District of North Dakota, the Northern District of Ohio, the Southern District of Ohio, the Northern District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Western District of Washington. The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topics: Drug Trafficking Opioids Prescription Drugs Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Press Release Number: 543 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fifteen Charged with Drug Conspiracy and Weapons Charges Thursday, May 22, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A 29-count indictment was unsealed today charging 12 men and 3 women for their roles in a drug trafficking organization and related gun offenses. According to court documents, the defendants were part of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, Xanax, psylocibin mushrooms, and marijuana. Six of the defendants face additional charges for gun crimes relating to their alleged drug trafficking. The defendants are alleged to have used several drug houses and a food truck to store illegal drugs and conduct drug transactions. As alleged, in one notable instance in June of 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized 29 kilograms of methamphetamine that one defendant was attempting to transport into the United States. "As alleged, this drug trafficking organization imported methamphetamine directly from Mexico and used the U.S. mail, a taco truck, and homes in different Houston neighborhoods to distribute and sell methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs," said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Several of the defendants are also alleged to have used firearms in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking and illegally possessed firearms despite having previously been convicted of felonies. The Criminal Division, along with our federal, state, and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to combat the scourge of drug trafficking in communities." "The defendants are alleged to have engaged in a multi-drug narcotics distribution ring, and, as often seen in the drug trade, are also alleged to have used illegal firearms to facilitate their enterprise," said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. "Some of the charges indicate methamphetamine was alleged to have been sourced from Mexico, and thus this investigation highlights why this office's enforcement efforts on the border are so critical. The Southern District of Texas will do everything it can to prevent narcotics from entering our country and will be relentless in apprehending those that would distribute drugs in our communities." "For years, the transnational criminal organization allegedly operated by these gang members has brazenly flooded our local communities with deadly narcotics," said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Houston. "Working in conjunction with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) partners, we were able to expose and dismantle their drug trafficking scheme, eliminating a significant contributor to violent crime in the area and saving an untold number of Houstonians from becoming addicted." James Michael Brewer, also known as Creeper, 33; Jonathan Alvarado, also known as Joker, 28; Hector Luis Lopez, also known as Capulito, 23; Alfredo Gomez, also known as Fredo, 26; and Victor Norris Ellison, 35, all of Houston, have been indicted on drug trafficking and firearm charges. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The following defendants, all of Houston unless otherwise noted, have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Jose Francisco Garcia-Martinez, also known as Paco, 29, a Mexican national; Enzo Xavier Dominguez, also known as Smiley, 32; Alexis Delgado, also known as Chino, 28; Jose Eduardo Morales, also known as Primo, 22; William Alexander Lazo, also known as Miclo, 21; Kylie Rae Alvarado, 24; Ruby Mata, 31; Mexi Dyan Garcia, also known as Mexi, 31; and Jesus Gomez-Rodriguez, also known as Jr., 33. Marcos Rene Simaj-Guch, also known as Taco Man, 41, a Mexican national, is charged with drug trafficking. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. ICE-HSI and HPD conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Texas Board of Criminal Justice Office of the Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Rodriguez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston, Texas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhoods. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Criminal Division Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section USAO - Texas, Southern Press Release Number: 25-547 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader of Qakbot Malware Conspiracy Indicted for Involvement in Global Ransomware Scheme Thursday, May 22, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A federal indictment unsealed today charges Rustam Rafailevich Gallyamov, 48, of Moscow, Russia, with leading a group of cyber criminals who developed and deployed the Qakbot malware. In connection with the charges, the Justice Department filed today a civil forfeiture complaint against over $24 million in cryptocurrency seized from Gallyamov over the course of the investigation. These actions are the latest step in an ongoing multinational effort by the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Canada to combat cybercrime. "Today's announcement of the Justice Department's latest actions to counter the Qakbot malware scheme sends a clear message to the cybercrime community," said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "We are determined to hold cybercriminals accountable and will use every legal tool at our disposal to identify you, charge you, forfeit your ill-gotten gains, and disrupt your criminal activity." "The criminal charges and forfeiture case announced today are part of an ongoing effort with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable cybercriminals," said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. "The forfeiture action against more than $24 million in virtual assets also demonstrates the Justice Department's commitment to seizing ill-gotten assets from criminals in order to ultimately compensate victims." "Mr. Gallyamov's bot network was crippled by the talented men and women of the FBI and our international partners in 2023, but he brazenly continued to deploy alternative methods to make his malware available to criminal cyber gangs conducting ransomware attacks against innocent victims globally," said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "The charges announced today exemplify the FBI's commitment to relentlessly hold accountable individuals who target Americans and demand ransom, even when they live halfway across the world." According to court documents, Gallyamov developed, deployed, and controlled the Qakbot malware beginning in 2008. From 2019 onward, Gallyamov allegedly used the Qakbot malware to infect thousands of victim computers around the world in order to establish a network, or "botnet," of infected computers. As alleged, once Gallyamov gained access to victim computers, he provided access to co-conspirators who infected the computers with ransomware, including Prolock, Dopplepaymer, Egregor, REvil, Conti, Name Locker, Black Basta, and Cactus. In exchange, Gallyamov was allegedly paid a portion of the ransoms received from ransomware victims. The announcement of charges today is the latest step taken by the Justice Department against the Qakbot conspiracy. In August 2023, a U.S.-led multinational operation disrupted the Qakbot botnet and malware. At that time, the Justice Department announced the seizure of illicit proceeds from Gallyamov, including over 170 bitcoin and over $4 million of USDT and USDC tokens. According to the indictment, after the disruption and takedown of the Qakbot botnet, Gallyamov and his co-conspirators continued their criminal activities. Instead of a botnet, they allegedly used different tactics, including "spam bomb" attacks on victim companies, where co-conspirators would trick employees at those victim companies into granting access to computer systems. The indictment alleges that Gallyamov orchestrated spam bomb attacks against victims in the United States as recently as January 2025. It also alleges that Gallyamov and his co-conspirators deployed Black Basta and Cactus ransomware on victim computers. On April 25, 2025, pursuant to a seizure warrant, the FBI seized additional illicit proceeds from Gallyamov, including over 30 bitcoin and over $700,000 of USDT tokens. Today, the Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Central District of California against all of the illicit proceeds seized from Gallyamov worth over $24 million as of today in order to forfeit and ultimately return those funds to victims. The investigation of Gallyamov was led by the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, which worked closely with investigators from Germany's Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), the Netherlands National Police, The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Netherlands, France's Anti-Cybercrime Office (Office Anti-cybercriminalite) and Cyber Division of the Paris Prosecution Office, and Europol. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the FBI Milwaukee Field Office provided significant assistance. Trial Attorney Jessica Peck of the Justice Department's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Khaldoun Shobaki, Lauren Restrepo, and James Dochterman for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation Endgame , an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling and prosecuting cybercriminal organizations around the world. Resources for victims can be found on the following website, which will be updated as additional information becomes available: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/divisions/national-security-division/qakbot-resources An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topic: Cybercrime Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Press Release Number: 545 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OSCE boosts Tajikistan's ministry of interior capacities in combating cybercrime OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 22 May 2025 The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe conducted two specialized practical training courses from 12 to 16 May and from 19 to 22 May 2025 focused on strengthening cybersecurity measures in Tajikistan. Thirty-two law enforcement officials (31 men and one woman) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) participated in two intensive courses focused on enhancing their capabilities in usage of open-source cybercrime intelligence and modern investigation techniques. This comprehensive initiative aimed to equip participants with advanced skills and knowledge essential for effective cybercrime intelligence gathering, by incorporating global best practices into their methodologies. Both courses were facilitated by experts from the General Directorate of Security and Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC), by the request of Tajikistan's MIA in co-operation with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye in Tajikistan. During the closing ceremony of the course, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Tatiana Turcan, National Coordinator on Police Reform under the MIA, Major General Azizulozoda Safialo, and Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye in Tajikistan Umut Ajar jointly underscored their commitment and the importance of continuing co-operation to advancing cybersecurity in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. judge says Trump administration violates court order by deporting migrants to South Sudan People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:48, May 22, 2025 WASHINGTON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the administration of President Donald Trump violated an earlier court order by attempting to deport migrants to South Sudan. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy said at a hearing on Wednesday that the administration had violated a preliminary injunction he issued in April, which barred officials from deporting people to countries other than their own without first giving them sufficient time to object. Murphy said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified seven migrants on Monday night that they could be deported to South Sudan, less than 24 hours before they were loaded onto a plane, which was "plainly insufficient" notice. "The department's actions in this case are unquestionably violative of this court's order," said the judge, who has yet to announce what he plans to do about the apparent violation. Murphy said officials who are involved in the illegal deportation should be on notice that they "risk criminal contempt." In a statement issued after Murphy's finding on Wednesday, the White House accused Murphy of being "activist judges" who are advocating the release of dangerous criminals. Murphy's finding delivered one of the most forceful rebukes yet to the Trump administration since he returned to office in January. Trump vowed to crack down on illegal immigration and announced sweeping deportation plans since taking office. However, many of his efforts have been blocked by the courts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Australia to beef up cyber defense cooperation Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno May 22, 2025, 10:42 am MANILA -- The Philippines and Australia have committed to beefing up their cyber defense cooperation. This came as Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with the Australian Defense Force (ADF)'s Joint Force Cyber Component (JFCyC) commander, Air Commodore Paul Pettigrew, at the DND main building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday. "The meeting underscored the shared commitment of the Philippine and Australian governments to advancing cybersecurity and cyber defense cooperation, particularly in light of increasing global cyber threats," DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Wednesday night. Also discussed in the meeting were Australia's "Defend Forward" initiative, the operational role of the ADF's JFCyC, and potential areas for cyber capacity building and collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND. "Both sides emphasized the need to deepen the enduring partnership between the Philippines and Australia, particularly in the cyber domain and highlighted that collaboration is needed not only at the tactical level, but also in governance and strategic planning," Andolong said. Meanwhile, Pettigrew reaffirmed Australia's readiness to support the Philippines' efforts to build secure and interoperable cyber defense systems and to strengthen cooperation through sustained dialogue, skills development, and joint cybersecurity initiatives. He also introduced JFCyC, established in 2024, which is responsible for the integrated planning and execution of cyber operations as a coherent element of Australian military power. "The Australian side also provided insights into the ADF's cyber force structure, emerging concepts of cyber power, and the vision of cyber as a unifying domain. Air Commodore Pettigrew noted the growing linkages being established by the JFCyC with public service sectors, industry partners, and international allies, further reinforcing the strategic value of multilateral cyber collaboration," Andolong added. Both parties concluded the meeting with a shared vision of deepening bilateral defense ties and promoting a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific Region. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China adheres to peaceful use of outer space, says FM over US space chief's hype of 'threat' of China, Russia Global Times By Global Times Published: May 22, 2025 05:24 PM When asked to comment on the recent claims by US Space Operations Chief Gen. B. Chance Saltzman that surging technologies spearheaded by Chinese and Russian forces represent the "greatest threat" in space defense, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that China has always adhered to the peaceful use of outer space, and opposes the arms race in outer space, adding that China has no intention of engaging in a space race with any country, nor does it seek so-called superiority in space, according to the Beijing Daily. "The US openly defines outer space as a domain of combat, continuously expanding outer space military capabilities, forming space military alliances, and promoting the battlefieldization of outer space, which has severely threatened the common security and development interests of all nations in outer space," Mao said. She urged the US to cease spreading irresponsible rhetoric, stop its military expansion and war-readiness preparation in space, and earnestly uphold lasting peace and security in outer space. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney speaks with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney May 22, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk. Prime Minister Tusk congratulated Prime Minister Carney on his election. The prime ministers discussed shared priorities, including Euro-Atlantic security, co-operation within NATO, and support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The leaders emphasized deepening bilateral and commercial ties between Canada and Poland, and agreed to remain in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior Chinese military official holds talks with Chief of Defence Forces of Royal Thai Armed Forces Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source China Military Online EditorLi Weichao 2025-05-22 20:09:14 BEIJING, May 22 -- General Liu Zhenli, member of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) and Chief of Staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department, held talks with the visiting General Songwit Noonpackdee, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF), in Beijing on May 22, 2025. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern such as the relations between the two countries and the two militaries as well as the international and regional situations, and reached important consensus on strengthening strategic communication and deepening cooperation in joint exercises and training. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 22, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: May 22, 2025 20:20 At the invitation of President of Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will pay an official visit to Indonesia from May 24 to 26. At the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, ASEAN's rotating chair, Premier Li Qiang will attend the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 28. From May 23 to 29, upon invitation, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Chen Wenqing will attend the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues and the 10th Meeting of the China-Russia Law-Enforcement and Security Cooperation Mechanism in Russia and visit Russia and Hungary. CCTV: The upcoming ASEAN-GCC-China Summit will be the first of its kind. What's the special significance of the summit? What's China's expectation for the summit? Mao Ning: ASEAN and GCC member states are emerging economies in Asia, important members of the Global South and key partners in Belt and Road cooperation. China supports Malaysia, ASEAN's rotating chair this year, in proposing and hosting the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit. Given the current international and regional landscape, it is highly significant that the three sides are gathering together to discuss ways to enhance solidarity and cooperation for development and prosperity, and promote cross-regional cooperation of mutual benefit. China looks to expand practical cooperation with ASEAN and GCC member states in various fields to leverage our respective strengths, pursue win-win results, jointly uphold the multilateral trading regime, and defend the common interests of the Global South. Global Times: It is reported that on May 21, a bombing attack on a school bus in Khuzdar of Balochistan Province in western Pakistan killed at least five people including three children and injured at least 38 others. What's China's comment on this? Mao Ning: China noted relevant reports and strongly condemns the attack on a school bus. We deeply mourn for the lives lost, and extend sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured. China resolutely opposes all forms of terrorism and will continue to firmly support Pakistan in combatting terrorism, maintaining social stability and keeping its people safe. Antara: Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting this week with Indonesia's Chairman of National Economic Council Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. Furthermore, Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to make an official visit to Indonesia on May 24 to 26. With these frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries, what does China expect from Indonesia? Mao Ning: China and Indonesia are friends and neighbors across the sea and close partners with a shared future. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties. The bilateral relations have maintained steady growth with fruitful practical cooperation and the traditional friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted in the people. President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo Subianto met twice last year and reached important common understandings on building the China-Indonesia community with a shared future that carries regional and global influence, lifting bilateral ties to new heights. During the upcoming visit, Premier Li Qiang will meet and hold talks with President Prabowo Subianto and other Indonesian leaders for in-depth exchanges on deepening the robust all-round strategic cooperation between the two countries. He will also attend an event hosted by the business community. China hopes that through this visit the two sides will carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and coordination, keep consolidating the cooperation paradigm with five pillars, namely political, economic, people-to-people and cultural, maritime and security cooperation, jointly advance toward modernization on our respective paths, enrich the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, and make greater contribution to regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity. AFP: Yesterday Israeli forces fired warning shots at a group of diplomats, which included Chinese ones in the West Bank. Does the Foreign Ministry wish to comment on this incident? Mao Ning: China is closely following the incident. China firmly opposes any act that threatens the safety and security of diplomatic personnel, and calls for a full investigation and efforts to prevent such incident from happening again. Amid recent ongoing tension in the West Bank, China urges relevant parties especially Israel not to take any escalatory moves. Beijing Youth Daily: The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development was held earlier this week. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum. Can you further brief us on the event? As the rotating SCO president, what will China do to promote SCO countries' sustainable development? Mao Ning: The SCO Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development was held this week in Xi'an where parties had in-depth communication under the theme of "Sustained Poverty Reduction and Cooperative Development: Advancing Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development among SCO Countries". President Xi Jinping in his congratulatory letter noted that China as the current SCO president stands ready to continue to step up policy communication with all parties, share poverty reduction experience, deepen practical cooperation, help more countries explore the path of poverty reduction and sustainable development that suits their respective national conditions, and work together to build a better world of common prosperity free from poverty. President Xi's congratulatory letter was warmly echoed by representatives from SCO countries at the forum, who see the letter as a demonstration of the high importance President Xi Jinping attaches to poverty alleviation and sustainable development as well as his hope for deepening exchanges and mutual learning between SCO countries and building a SCO community with a shared future. Since China took over the rotating SCO presidency, we've hosted a series of events with a focus on the SCO Year of Sustainable Development in an effort to deepen China's cooperation with SCO countries in poverty reduction and boost sustainable socioeconomic development in all countries. Reuters: The Taiwanese official Lin Chia-lung said yesterday that whether or not Taiwan is a country is not up to Beijing. It's Taiwan's business what its name is. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment? Mao Ning: Taiwan is never a country. These remarks are sheer "Taiwan independence" provocations that only reveal this person's presumptuousness and ignorance. There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. The future of Taiwan can only be decided by the over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots. China will realize reunification. This is a historical trend that no force can stop. People's Daily: Today marks the 25th International Day for Biological Diversity. This year's theme is "Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development". With the global climate and environment governance facing even more uncertainty, how do you view China's role in promoting international cooperation in biodiversity conservation? Mao Ning: Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China is actively advancing the conservation of biodiversity and has witnessed greater diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem. As one of the first parties to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity, China remains committed to firmly fulfilling its pledges and obligations, exploring the path of harmonious coexistence between humanity and Nature, and bringing global biodiversity governance to a new level. During its presidency of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), China brought all parties together to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which is of milestone significance. At the meeting, China also launched the Action Initiative for the Framework and took the lead in making contributions, and establishing and managing the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. These are all concrete actions taken by China to support developing countries in biodiversity preservation. The Earth is the common home of humanity and biodiversity governance can only be realized with the international community working as a whole. China will continue to join hands with all sides to build a clean and beautiful world. AFP: Yesterday the DPP in Taiwan expelled five of its party members for allegedly spying for Beijing. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this? Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with that, and this is not a question about foreign affairs. AFP: The Philippines said today that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel used water cannon and struck one of its research vessels near Sandy Cay yesterday. Does China have a response to this accusation? Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with what you mentioned. Let me say that China Coast Guard carries out law-enforcement activities in accordance with laws and regulations. RIA Novosti: U.S. Chief of Space Operations Chance Saltzman said recently that surging technologies spearheaded by Chinese and Russian forces represent the greatest threat in space defense. What's China's comment on that? Mao Ning: China is committed to the peaceful use of outer space, and opposes any arms race in outer space or weaponizing it. China has no intention to engage in a space race, nor do we seek so-called edge in outer space. The U.S. has openly declared space as a "warfighting domain". It has kept expanding military strength in space, created space military alliances, and attempted to turn space into a warzone. That severely threatens the common security and development rights and interests of other countries in space. China urges the U.S. to stop spreading irresponsible rhetoric, stop expanding military build-up in space, and make due contribution to upholding the lasting peace and security in space. China Review News: It was reported that Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele issued a statement, reaffirming the Solomon Islands government's steadfast commitment to the one-China policy, and directing all government ministries, agencies, and officials to fully comply with the government's policy. What is your comment? Mao Ning: China highly appreciates Solomon Islands government's firm support for the one-China principle and upholding this just position. There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is enshrined in the UNGA Resolution 2758. It is a basic norm in international relations and a prevailing international consensus. Upholding the one-China principle and supporting China's reunification is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends, and the right thing to do. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Too big to conceal: North Korea fesses up to botched warship launch Leader Kim Jong Un delivers harsh, public rebuke after 5,000-ton naval destroyer lists in the water. By Dohyung Han and Jaewoo Park for RFA Korean 2025.05.22 SEOUL/WASHINGTON -- Notoriously secretive North Korea quickly owned up to the botched launch of a 5,000-ton naval destroyer ship that listed sideways in front of supreme leader Kim Jong Un because the mistake was too large to conceal, experts said. State-run Korean Central Television, or KCTV, reported Thursday that the vessel lost stability during its launch at the shipyard in the northeastern port city of Chongjin, tipping into the water as the stern-side launch sled detached prematurely. The ship had taken on water and suffered hull damage due to poor handling and "incompetent command," the report said. Kim Jong Un, who was at the launch, condemned Wednesday's mishap in unusually strong language. He called it a "grave and unacceptable accident" caused by "carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism," and described it as a "serious criminal act," the state-run news agency reported. He ordered the destroyer to be fully restored before the June plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party, stressing that the matter is not merely technical but one of political urgency and national dignity. Mismanagement not sabotage The leader's tough rhetoric and its reporting by his regime's media was an unusually forthright acknowledgment of negative news in the totalitarian country, but not without precedent. Although North Korea is notoriously secretive, especially when it comes to internal failures, analysts have observed a notable shift under Kim Jong Un's leadership. The regime has, on occasion, chosen to acknowledge major setbacks, such as failed satellite launches or economic shortcomings. Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, told Radio Free Asia that Pyongyang likely realized the ship launch failure was too visible to conceal, especially with commercial satellite imagery readily available. "Kim's characterization of the incident as a 'criminal act' likely refers to mismanagement, not sabotage," Klingner said. "By admitting the failure, the regime is reframing it as a problem of leadership and discipline, rather than a technical deficiency." That fits into an emerging pattern. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said that just as Kim openly admitted a failed military satellite launch last year, his government now appears to be using such public acknowledgments as a strategic tool turning failure into an opportunity to demonstrate resolve. By portraying recovery efforts as "patriotic struggles," it seeks to reinforce internal unity and instill a renewed sense of loyalty among officials. Kim Dong-yub said in a Facebook post that the unusually harsh reprimand may be aimed at repackaging the mishap as a test of loyalty an opportunity for redemption through devotion to the leader. A South Korean Unification Ministry official, briefing reporters on customary condition of anonymity, also commented that Kim's directive to fully restore the damaged warship suggested it is not beyond repair, though it suffered serious structural harm. Covered in blue tarp South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that U.S. and South Korean intelligence had been monitoring the launch preparations. They assessed the side-launch as a failure and noted the destroyer remains tipped over in the water. "The destroyer is currently lying on its side," said spokesperson Lee Sung-jun. He added that the ship's design appears similar to the Choe Hyon Ho, a destroyer which was launched last month using a flotation method at the Nampo Shipyard. Wednesday's launch was by a less common sideways or lateral method. The two destroyers are North Korea's most advanced naval vessels. The first destroyer is designed to carry weapons systems including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles, state media reported last month. It was slated to enter active duty early next year and Kim Jong Un has supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship. The U.K.-based security research institute Open Source Center (OSC) released satellite imagery showing the result of Wednesday's botched launch on its X account. The photo shows approximately two-thirds of the ship's hull exposed above the waterline, listing to its right side. A large blue tarp covers part of the vessel. Missile launches Shortly after news of the accident broke, North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles into the East Sea from near Seondeok in South Hamgyong province, according to the South Korean military. Authorities are analyzing the launch site and missile trajectories. The cruise missile launch came just 14 days after a short-range ballistic missile launch on May 8 and may have been an attempt to reassert military confidence after the ship launch failure, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Edited by Mat Pennington. Copyright 1998-2016, 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Investigation into Destroyer Launch Accident Intensified Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- An investigation group of the destroyer launch accident got down to a full-scale investigation into the serious accident occurred at the Chongjin Shipyard. The accident investigation group included a public prosecutors organ and relevant experts. Detailed underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship's bottom, the hull starboard was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel. Experts estimated that it will take two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway and 10-odd days to restore the warship's side. The accident investigation group reported the relevant investigation content to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on May 22. The Party Central Military Commission gave the following stand and instructions to the investigation group: The extent of damage to the warship is not serious and the result of the flooding process immediately after the accident is only information necessary to take practical rehabilitation measures. The above-said data have no connection with the cause of the accident and the identification of its responsibility. It is necessary to make clear the cause of the accident. The Party Central Military Commission instructed the investigation group to investigate and expose the cause of the accident which should never occur and could not be tolerated and those responsible for it. No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime. Regarding this accident as a serous matter is not because of the damage to the warship or economic loss. The aim of doing so is to deal a telling blow to incautiousness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricist attitude prevailing in any field and to sound an alarm bell. On the basis of the investigation data of the accident investigation group, the law-enforcement organ started to follow the procedure for first restraining and investigating those who are clearly responsible for the accident. Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin Shipyard, was summoned to the law-enforcement organ on May 22. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (May 22, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs May 22, 2025 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Namaskar,aap sabhi ka is press vaarta mein swagat hai. [Approximate Translation: A warm welcome to all of you to this press conference.] A warm welcome to this press conference. So let's begin. The floor is open for questions. Ayushi Agarwal, ANI: Sir, this is Ayushi from ANI. I have two questions. One, regarding the trilateral meeting held in Beijing between China, Pakistan, and Taliban, where they spoke about expanding the CPEC to Afghanistan. What is India's comment on that, since we have been critical of the CPEC? And also, during the recent conversation held between our External Affairs Minister and Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi, did India raise its concerns to Kabul? And second, a question related to the multi-party delegation that we are sending globally. What is the message that India wants to give on the world stage, especially when it comes to exposing Pakistan on terrorism? Pranay Upadhyaya, India Today Aaj Tak: Sir, this is Pranay Upadhyaya from India Today - Aaj Tak. You must have seen the statement by the President of the United States, Donald Trump. He again claimed that he has brokered the peace deal between India and Pakistan. You have clarified it in your previous briefing. But did we take it up with the U.S. authorities, with the U.S. State Department? And what is their response on this thing? Yeshi Seli: I have two questions. One is that, you know, the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan have met twice in the past couple of weeks. They also met in Kabul. Is that a point of concern for India? And what is the update on the Indo-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement since our Commerce Minister was there recently? Anything to talk about? Is it going to be in phases or in one go? Rishabh, Times Now: Sir, good evening. Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, have we hired any PR agency in Washington to outreach in Washington ... for that matter? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Let me go over these questions. So, first, Ayushi, regarding your question on trilateral that has been held in the Beijing. We have seen some reports; I have nothing further to say beyond that. As far as the External Affairs Minister's conversation with Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan is concerned, we had put out a release; it was put out on X; all the details of the conversation that happened. External Affairs Minister thanked Acting Foreign Minister for his very strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack. As also they agreed to advance bilateral cooperation in several areas, as to how we can further strengthen development partnership. So those details are available in public domain, so I would urge you to have a look at that. External Affairs Minister also welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports. So these details are available in the public domain. On the multi-party delegation, you have received information through PIB press releases. In all, there are seven multi-party or all-party delegations that have gone, or would be going. Three of these have departed. One in fact departed this morning to Russia, from there they will travel to other countries including Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain. Two groups, one to Japan left yesterday, and that group will be travelling from Japan to South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. And the second group which left yesterday was to the United Arab Emirates. They will also further be travelling to DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), to Liberia and to Sierra Leone. Four groups are to travel shortly. Three groups will be leaving on 24th ... and this is to the United States, one country ... several other countries along with it. Then there is a group which will go to South Africa, Ethiopia, Algeria, and Egypt, these four countries. And then the seventh group will travel on 25th. They will go to Europe, to France, UK, Germany, Brussels and Denmark and one/two more countries. See the central idea behind this objective ... this is a political mission. We want to make a strong outreach to the world, to convey our resolve to fight terrorism. We want the world to come together to fight terrorism tooth and nail in all its forms and manifestations. We want to exhort the world to hold those responsible for cross-border terrorism accountable. Those have been practicing it for the last 40 years against India; that is Pakistan. Their actions need to be called out. They have to be held accountable for the terror attacks that they have carried out against India. So that is the larger message, the unity of India, the purpose of India, and this will be an occasion for us to thank our international partners for the strong support, sense of solidarity that they conveyed to us in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam. As also we will convey the details of OPERATION SINDOOR; the objective behind OPERATION SINDOOR; and what we mean when we say there should be zero tolerance on terrorism. So for further details I would refer you to the press releases that have been issued by the PIB to get more factual details. But we are posting all the details of the meetings through press releases, through video reportage, etc. They are being circulated, so please follow them through our handles and through the Ministry of External Affairs website. Pranay, on the question of President Trump, in the last briefing I had made very clear; I had addressed this issue. Further to that I have nothing to add, but at the same time I would like to let you know that you are aware of our position that any India-Pakistan engagement has to be bilateral. At the same time I would like to remind you that talks and terror don't go together. On terrorism itself, as I had said earlier, we are open to discussing the handing over to India of noted terrorists whose list was given to Pakistan some years ago. I would also like to underline that any bilateral discussion on Jammu and Kashmir will only be on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan. And on the question of Indus waters treaty, I am again repeating myself, it will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjure its support for cross-border terrorism. As our Prime Minister has said, water and blood cannot flow together; trade and terror also cannot go together. Yeshi, regarding meeting between two countries, that's fine, we have taken note of them. Further to that... Unidentified Speaker: (inaudible) Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Dekhiye pichhle press vaarta mein humne is mudde par apna paksh rakha tha, uske aage mujhe aur kuch kehne ki zarurat nahi hai. Lekin main yeh baat aapke saamne rakh doon ki yeh teen jo mudde hain Bharat-Pakistan par, us par hamara kya paksh hai. Bharat-Pakistan ka jo bhi engagement hoga, woh bilateral tareeke ... do pakshiya tareeke se hi hoga. Saath hi saath main kehna chahunga ki vaarta aur aatankvaad dono saath mein nahi chal sakte hain. Jahan tak aatankvaad ka sawaal hai, hum yeh baat karne ke liye tayyar hain. Lekin jo baatcheet hogi, us par hogi ki Bharat ne jo ek list di thi Pakistan ko kuch saal pehle, us list mein kai ek terrorists the, unko kab woh Bharat ko hawale kar rahe hain, is baat par baat hogi. Jahan tak bilateral discussion, do pakshiya discussion, baatcheet ki baat hai Jammu-Kashmir ke maamle mein, us par sirf aur sirf ek hi baat par baatcheet hogi, woh hai ki jo illegal tareeke, avaidh tareeke se Pakistan ne jo Bharatiya bhoomi ko kabza kar rakha hai, usko jald se jald woh vacate karein. Jahan tak Sindhu Jal Sandhi ka sawaal hai, woh abeyance mein rahega, sthagit rahega tab tak jab tak Pakistan credible tareeke se, vishwasniya tareeke se aur irrevocable tareeke se aatankvaad ko khatam nahi karta. Aur jaisa ki humare pradhan mantri ne kaha uss par main apko, apka dhyan kendrid karna chahunga ki paani aur khoon dono saath me nahi beh sakta hain. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi: Look, in the previous press conference, we had presented our stance on this issue. Beyond that, I don't think there is anything more I need to say. However, I do want to reiterate what our position is on the three issues related to India and Pakistan. Any engagement between India and Pakistan will only happen through a bilateral framework. I would also like to emphasize that dialogue and terrorism cannot go hand-in-hand. As far as terrorism is concerned, we are ready to have a discussion, but that discussion will only be about when Pakistan will hand over the terrorists listed by India a few years ago. The list included several terrorists, and the conversation will revolve around when Pakistan plans to hand them over to India. Regarding bilateral discussions, specifically in the matter of Jammu and Kashmir, there will be only one point of conversation that Pakistan must vacate the Indian territory it has illegally and unlawfully occupied, as soon as possible. As for the Indus Waters Treaty, it will remain in abeyance suspended until Pakistan credibly, reliably, and irreversibly eliminates terrorism. And as our Prime Minister has said "water and blood cannot flow together".] Yeshi, on your question regarding meetings of two Foreign Ministers of different countries. It's for them to decide what they have to do, how they have to engage. Beyond that, I don't have any comment to make, but I would also like to urge what I conveyed to Ayushi, the meeting that had happened ... the telecon that happened between Afghan Foreign Minister and External Affairs Minister. On BTA, as you know that these talks are going on in Washington, D.C. presently. Our Commerce and Industry Minister, along with our team, they are there to negotiate. This is an ongoing process and we will update you as and when we have something to share with you. So that is where it is. On Rishabh, your question regarding hiring of lobby firms, so let me tell you that this is something which is not new, which is not a new practice. This has been in place for several decades now and has been the practice under successive governments since the 1950s. In fact, even beyond that, 1949 first lobby firm was hired in Washington, D.C., possibly others also. These firms have been regularly engaged by the Indian embassy as per the situation, or as per the requirement that arises. All such engagements are available in the public domain, so you can visit the U.S. Department of Justice website and access all the information that is there. In fact, in the run-up to the nuclear deal of 2007, similarly, we had engaged firms to strengthen India's case in the United States. I should also add that such a practice is very common among embassies and other organizations in Washington, D.C., and other parts of the United States. Just to give you a little more factual details about it ... in 1949, the embassy had hired Rosen and Fred. In 1954, GoI hired Schaler, Butler Associates. In 1958, GoI hired Moss Edward K. From 1969 to 1974, GoI had hired Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLC. In 1981 to 1983, GoI had Baron / Canning & Co Inc. From 1992 to 1993, GoI had hired International Development Systems Inc. In 2005, till date, GoI has hired BGR Govt. Affairs LLC. So all this information, I mean, just give you some samples of it. But all this information is available on the U.S. Department of Justice website. It is available in public domain, so you can have a look at it. Huma Siddiqui, StratNews Global: Sir I'm Huma Siddiqui from StratNews Global. I have two questions. Recently, the U.S. administration had imposed visa restrictions on travel agents. Would you have the number of such agents, and in which state are they located? And my second question is, has any Indian self-deported from the U.S. in the recent past? Neeraj, News18 India: Sir, Neeraj hu News 18 India se. Latvia, Liberia, Congo, Bahrain, and Colombia, ye panch aise desh hain jo alage saal se surakshya parisad ke non-permanent members banenge. Yaha delegation ko bhejne ka maksad kya hain? Dusara sawal ye hain sir ki videsh mantri Jaishankar daure pe the Netherlands ke. Netherlands se Pakistan ko arm supply ka masla bhi ek mahatwapurna masla raha hain Bharat ke taraf se. kya iss masle pe baatchit huwi? Kis taraha se maujuda waqt me iss chinta ko jahir kiya hain? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi Sir, I'm Neeraj from News18 India. Latvia, Liberia, Congo, Bahrain, and Colombia these are five countries that will become non-permanent members of the Security Council starting next year. What is the purpose of sending a delegation there? My second question is, sir, that Foreign Minister Jaishankar was on a visit to the Netherlands. The issue of arms supply from the Netherlands to Pakistan has also been an important concern from India's side. Was this issue discussed? In what way has this concern been conveyed at present? ] Ayanangsha Maitra: Sir Ayanangsha Maitra. This is again in the line of the conversation between acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Muttaqi and Dr. S. Jaishankar. Sir you mentioned teleconference. Was it a normal telephone or a video telephony? How long was the duration and was trade logistics discussed during the conversation? Thank you, sir. Krishna Mohan Sharma, Bharat Express: Sir Krishna Mohan Sharma Bharat Express se. mera ek sawal hain ki jo Pakistan aur Bharat ke bich tension jo huwa Pahalgam ke baad, uspe Attari border pe dono taraf se rok diya gaya tha jo humare functions hote hain. Usko partially restore kardiya gaya hain ke haath nahi milayegen lekin waha pe ceremony hogi dono taraf se. Kya jo humare rajnaiko ke sankhya kum ki gai thi uss darmayan? Uske restore hone ke koi sambhawana near future me hain? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi: Sir, Krishna Mohan Sharma from Bharat Express. My question is regarding the tension between Pakistan and India after the Pahalgam incident, due to which the functions held at the Attari border were stopped from both sides. It has now been partially restored they won't shake hands, but the ceremony will take place from both sides. During that period, was the number of our diplomats reduced? Is there any possibility of restoring that in the near future?] Ubeer Naqushbandi, The Tribune: Hello, Sir. This is Ubeer from Tribune. Sir my question is regarding this ... two Pakistan officials have been deported within a week from the Pakistan High Commission. Can you please clarify and elaborate, you know, what were the cases and why were they, you know, asked to expel within 24 hours from the country. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Huma, regarding restrictions on agents. These are details that you will have to seek from the U.S. Embassy. They will be in a position to provide. As far as we are concerned, we have taken action against agents who promote illegal immigration and we will continue to do so in the future as well. All law enforcement agencies are taking due action. In regard to self-deported Indian students, there was one Indian student who had self-deported sometime back of which we had given you some information. But other than that, if somebody is traveling in his own accord, it is very difficult for us to come to know unless he or she provides us information. Neeraj, humare jo delegations hain duniya ke 33 desho me ja rahe hain. Ye jitne desh hain ye humare bade mazboot international partners hain. Inse humare badi acche riste hain. Kai ek isme security council me abhi member hain ya aane wale dino me security council me aane wale hain. In sabhi chijo ko madhya nazar rakhte huwe ye jaruri tha ki hum inn desho pe jaye taki humko apna Bharat ka jo sandesh hain aatankwad ko le ke aur kis prakar se duniya ki sabhi logo ko, samudaye ko jo global community hain, unko saath milke iss challenge se kis prakar se ladna hain, isko samjhane ke liye, ispe baat karne ke liye, ispe sahamati banane ke liye humare delegations waha gai hain. Latvia ka naam apne jikar kiya. Liberia ka jikar kiya. DRC ka jikar kiya. Ye sab desh abhi security council me jaane wale hain, aur iss nazariye se unki bhumika aham ho jati hain. Netherlands ke mamle me videsh mantri ka daura Netherlands ka 19 aur 20 May ko raha. Do din pahele. Waha par unki mulakat waha ke pradhan mantri se huwi, waha ke videsh mantri se huwi. Waha ke defense minister se bhi baatchit huwi hain. Aur uske alwae waha par jo Bharatiya samudaye ke logo hain unse bhi mulakat huwi hain aur saath hi saath waha par jo Think Tank ke log hain, warg ke log hain unse mulakat huwi hain. To saare muddo par jitne bhi dueipakshiya mudde hain, unpe baatchit huwi hain aur humara manna hain ki iss daure se jo Netherlands aur Bharat ki maitri hain, dosti hain jo partnership hain usko aur majbooti melega. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi: Neeraj, our delegations are going to 33 countries around the world. All these countries are our strong international partners. We have very good relations with them. Some of them are already members of the Security Council, or are going to become members in the coming days. Keeping all these things in mind, it was necessary for us to visit these countries so that we could convey India's message regarding terrorism and how the people of the world, the global community as a whole needs to come together to fight this challenge, to explain it, to discuss it, and to build consensus on it. You mentioned Latvia, Liberia, and DRC all these countries are going to join the Security Council soon, and from that perspective, their role becomes important. Regarding the Netherlands, the EAM's visit to the Netherlands took place on the 19th and 20th of May just two days ago. There, he met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the Foreign Minister, and also had discussions with the Defense Minister. In addition, he met with members of the Indian community residing there, and also with members of think tanks and intellectual circles. So, all the bilateral issues were discussed, and we believe that this visit will further strengthen the friendship and partnership between the Netherlands and India.] Ayanangsha this was a telephone conversation between the two leaders. You had seen what we have put out. In addition, the Afghan side also has given a readout. From our side, the External Affairs Minister thanked him for his strong support on the Pahalgam terror attack. Also, he welcomed very firm rejection of the recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports. The External Affairs Minister also underlined the traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continued support for their development needs. We discussed and now we want to take this engagement forward through various means, including through development partnership, including through people-to-people contacts, so on and so forth. Krishna Mohan ji, jahan tak ... dekhiye jo cabinet committee ki meeting hui thi uske baad se foreign secretary ne isi manch se aap logo ko dhyan laya tha ki kis prakar ka kadam hum log utha rahe hain Pakistan Pahalgam atankwadi ghatna ke baad, Pakistan ke sandarbh mei. Toh us samay jo hum logo ne press vigypati jaari ki thi ki hamari jo sankhya hai waha 55 se ghata ke hum log 30 la rahe hain, woh 30 pe hi hai. Abhi lekin aapne dekha hoga ki abhi haal mein do Pakistani uchayog ke do staff members ko persona non grata kiya gaya hai, kyuni woh jis prakar ki harkate yaha kar rahe the, woh unke jo official status se uska koi lena dena nahi hai, woh uske violation mein hai ek tarike se. toh sankhya to wahi hai jahan tak jo hum logo ne pehle bataya tha wahi tak diplomatic rajnaik waha ki unke kitne hamare yaha rahenge aur hamare kitne rahenge wo sankhya ka ... jo tay sankhya hai jo number hai woh hi hai. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi Mr. Krishna Mohan, after the Cabinet Committee meeting, the Foreign Secretary had informed you all from this very platform about the steps we were taking with regard to Pakistan following the terrorist incident in Pahalgam. At that time, we had issued a press release stating that we were reducing the number (of diplomatic staff) from 55 to 30. That number remains at 30 even now. However, you may have noticed that recently, two staff members of the Pakistani High Commission were declared persona non grata because of their activities here, which had nothing to do with their official duties and were, in fact, in violation of their official status. So, the number remains the same. As far as what we had communicated earlier regarding how many of their diplomats will stay here and how many of ours will stay there that number remains fixed and unchanged. ] Ubeer, on the questions again ... we had put out a press release, one yesterday, one on 13th, that there are Pakistani High Commission staff members who have been conducting activities that are not in keeping with their official status. And for that reason, they have been told to leave India. One has left India. The other one was given 24 hours yesterday to leave India. So, hopefully, by the end of those 24 hours, he would also depart India. Sridhar Kumaraswamy, Asian Age, Deccan Chronicle: Sir Sridhar here from Asian Age, Deccan Chronicle. My first question is that the External Affairs Minister's phone call with the acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan ... I gather it is the first time that he has spoken to him. So, is India inching towards formal recognition of the Taliban regime in Kabul? Secondly, we saw last week that the security clearance of Turkiye firm Celebi had been revoked on national security grounds. Has the Indian government been in touch with the Turkiye government on their support to Pakistan during the recent conflict? And just lastly, one small question. Have we already slashed ... you just mentioned, as the quote of the Prime Minister saying, of course, that blood and water cannot flow together. Have we already slashed the quota, the water that would normally have gone over to Pakistan? Have we used any of our dams to divert that water? Has it happened so far? Thank you. Megha Sharma, NewsX: Good evening, Sir. Megha from NewsX. My question about Netherlands, the meeting that was held by the External Affairs Minister with the Defence Minister of Netherlands ... spoke about deepening the defence relationship between both countries. If you could give me the salient points of what was discussed. Has something concrete come out of it? And secondly, these delegations, the all-party parliament delegations that are travelling across the 33 countries, is there likelihood of potential press interactions with foreign media that are going to take place? As we saw, External Affairs Minister spoke to two of these press agencies in Netherlands. Manish Chand, India Writes Network: Manish Chand, India Writes Network. Sir, what's your view of China's role in the India-Pakistan crisis? I have a couple of specific questions. Number one, China has tried to counter India's freezing of the Indus Waters Treaty by helping build a dam for Pakistan. That's number one. Number two, you know, there's a lot of talk about Trump playing a role in brokering the ceasefire. Have we been in touch with the Chinese after Operation Sindoor? What has been the nature of discussion? Did China play any role in the ceasefire? Alex, New York Times: Thank you, Sir. Alex from the New York Times. I've got a question or two about the G7 happening next month in Canada. We'd like to know if India, Prime Minister Modi has been invited, if there's any chance of his actually attending, and if he doesn't attend, if there's any other way for India to participate. We believe it would be the sixth consecutive G7 for India. Siddhant, CNN News 18: Hi, Sir. I'm Siddhant from CNN News 18. Sir, I want to know Indian government's reaction to the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington DC. Thank you. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Sridhar, first ... regarding External Affairs Minister's meeting. Yes. The first time that we are having conversation at the level of the Foreign Minister. In that sense, you know, it is an important development. As far as the details of the conversation, I just told you what was discussed. And this was also put out. On the Turkiye matter ... Celebi ... this matter has been discussed with the Turkish Embassy here, the Turkish Embassy and our Ministry of External Affairs. But I understand that this particular decision was taken by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security because they are mandated with security issues. On the question of Turkiye, well, you know, we expect Turkiye to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable action against the terror ecosystem that it has harbored for decades now. And relations, as you know, are built on the basis of sensitivities to each other's concerns. On IWT, we have spoken, so I would refer you to all our Press Releases, what we have done. You know, we have made it very clear that the IWT is in abeyance till such time, Pakistan abjures, you know, credibly and irrevocably supporting cross-border terrorism. Megha, on Netherlands, see, this was a bilateral visit. External Affairs Minister called on the Prime Minister of Netherlands. He also met with the Foreign Minister, and discussed a whole range of issues. Netherlands, we have very strong partnership in the field of technology, in economy, in trade, investment, on green partnership, on innovation and defense is again an important area. So all these aspects were discussed and we put out a press release. So I would refer you to have a look at the Press Release for more details in this regard. You also asked questions about the 33 countries. Yes, the 33 countries, I mean, where the delegations are going, they will be interacting with media, the domestic media, I mean, the international media there, domestic media there, and they will have several engagements. So, you will see many of those ... of our leader of delegation attending interviews, engaging the international media, trying to put India's point of view to our stakeholders in those countries. Manish ji, on your question regarding China. Now, you know, on 10th of May, I think, our National Security Advisor, he had a telephone conversation with his counterpart, the Foreign Minister and the Special Representative on Boundary Issue, Mr. Wang Yi. During this conversation, our National Security Advisor conveyed clearly, India's resolute stance on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. And just to underline that the Chinese side is well aware that mutual trust, mutual sensitivity, and mutual respect forms .... or remains the basis of India-China relations. Alex, on G7 I have no information at this point in time on this issue, but let me check and we will get back to you. Siddhant, your question was on the attack in Washington DC. This is deeply shocking. You must have seen the message also posted by External Affairs Minister. On my part, we can say that this is deeply shocking. We condemn the attack. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Those responsible for this heinous act must be brought to justice. Safety and security of diplomatic staff is paramount. Kallol Bhattacherjee, The Hindu: Sir, Kallol Bhattacherjee, from The Hindu. So, is there any plan to reach out to the neighborhood also, in terms of multi-party delegations and also the BIMSTEC countries, especially. Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Bloomberg: Sir, thank you, Sudhi Ranjan Sen, from Bloomberg. Associated question to Kallol sir. Sir, is India reaching out to China on this. We don't see the parliamentary delegations going to China. And also there have been reports from India's Defense Ministry about China helping Pakistan with its air defense in the interim, after the attack happened in Kashmir. Has India raised these concerns with China? Because we see that it is raising these concerns with Turkiye. Soumya, Republic TV: Sir, this is Soumya from Republic TV. Sir, my question is with regards to China's role in helping Pakistan, with regards to us holding in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty. Now there are reports suggesting that it has paced up the construction of a dam there. So, your comment on that? Gautam Lahiri: Hi, this is Gautam Lahiri. I have a question regarding the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Recently, India is pushing back a few hundreds illegal immigrants to Bangladesh. After that Bangladesh government, according to their media reports, they have sent a letter to India ... that to stop the pushback. And so, what is the status of this pushback system? Alpyu, NBT: Sir, Gaza ke haalaat kharaab hain, wahan maanviya sankat jo hai, khada ho gaya hai aur kuch deshon ne Israel ka jo military action hai, usko criticize bhi kiya hai. Bharat sarkar ki is par kya pratikriya hai? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi: Sir, the situation in Gaza is bad. A humanitarian crisis has emerged there, and some countries have also criticized Israel's military action. What is the Indian government's response to this?] Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So, Kallol, first, we have given details of the 33 countries that we are reaching out. So, those details of the countries that our delegations are going out to, is there for you to see. Sudhi on your question regarding India, as I told you, our National Security Advisor spoke to his counterpart on 10th of May, where he clarified that our stance on fighting cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan remains firm and resolute. It is also our understanding that the Chinese side is aware that mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity form the basis of India-China relations. Soumya, again, you know, on China, as I have told you, that the Chinese side is aware that mutual trust, mutual sensitivity, and mutual respect happens to be the basis of India-China relations. Dada, your questions regarding illegal immigration. See, illegal ... people who are staying in India illegally, or foreigners who are staying in India illegally, whether they happen to be Bangladeshi national or any other national, they will be dealt as per law. We have a large number of Bangladeshi nationals here who are required to be deported. We have asked Bangladeshi side to verify their nationality. We have a pending list of 2360 ... upwards of 2360 cases of people who are required to be deported. Many of them have actually completed their jail sentences also. And in many cases, the nationality verification is required to be done. It is pending since 2020. So, almost five years have passed, gone by. So, we would urge the Bangladeshi side that they must expedite the verification process so that people who are required to be deported can be sent back to Bangladesh. They must expedite this process. Dekhiye, Bharat mein avaidh tareeke se jo log reh rahe hain, chahe woh Bangladesh ke ho, ya kisi aur desh ke ho, un par vidhivat kanoon vad kaarvaai ki jaayegi. Bangladesh ka jahan tak sawaal hai, hamare yahan 2360 logon se upar infact agar precise kahein to 2369 aise cases hain jo abhi tak lambit hain, jismein hum logon ne maanga hai ki yeh aapke nagrik hain, inka verification ho ke, nationality verification ho ke aap in logon ko wapas le jaayein, apne ghar le jaayein. Ismein kai ek waise log hain jo jail mein the, jail mein unka sentencing khatam ho gaya, aur kai ek aise cases hain jismein ki 2020 se lambit cases chal rahe hain. To abhi ismein zarurat yeh hai ki Bangladesh is par kaarvaai karein, jaldi se verification karein taaki yeh jo deportation ki prakriya hai, usko jald se jald poora kiya jaaye. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi Look, in India, those who are residing illegally whether they are from Bangladesh or any other country will be dealt with through due legal process. As far as Bangladesh is concerned, we currently have over 2,360 in fact, to be precise, 2,369 such pending cases where we have requested verification of individuals we believe to be Bangladeshi nationals. We've asked for their nationality to be verified so they can be taken back to their country. Many among them are people who were in jail, have completed their sentences, and several of these cases have been pending since 2020. So now, what's needed is for Bangladesh to act on this, to carry out the verifications quickly so that the deportation process can be completed as soon as possible.] Aapka sawaal Gaza ke upar... dekhiye, Gaza ke upar hamara kya rukh hai, kya paksh hai, isse aap sabhi log bhaanti ... bhali bhanti se avagat hain. Maine kai dafa is baat par hum logon ne charcha ki hai, hum logon ne press vigyapti bhi diya hai, aur toh main chahunga ki hum logon ne jo pehle is maamle par jo baat rakhi hai Gaza par, us par aap dhyan dein. Our position on Gaza is very clear and I have said this on several occasions ... you know what is our stand on Gaza. So, I would refer you to my comments earlier and also to the press releases that we have issued in the past. Manas, PTI: This is Manas from PTI, Press Trust of India. So, I mean the military has already openly said that in fact how Pakistan received military support from China during the Operation Sindoor. So, my question is in fact, we are in the process of normalizing our ties with China. We are initiating a number of initiatives in the last few months, including resumption of the Mansarovar Yatra. So, will China's military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor impact the normalization process between India and China? And a quick second question is, we have been maintaining that Operation Sindoor is not yet completed. So, have we put any conditionalities to Pakistan ... so that in fact it can be concluded? Or what is the timeline or is it an indefinite kind of an operation? We will keep it open? Just a clarification, if you can have? Dhairya Maheshwari, Sputnik News: Good evening, Sir. So, my first question is regarding the IMF bailout to Pakistan. On 16th of May, the 1.2 billion dollar tranche was disbursed to Pakistan. So, India had opposed this. We heard Foreign Secretary expressing reservations. India had also abstained from a vote. And Defence Minister had also made a statement. So, what would be India's reaction to that, I mean, continued assistance. And the second question is in regards to the ... EU foreign policy chief, they have said that Brussels wants to lower the Russian oil price cap from 60 dollar per barrel as part of a new sanctions package. And this demand from EU and the UK was also raised at the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting. India being a chief importer of Russian crude, what would be India's reaction to that? Thank you. Sanjeev Trivedi, News24: Sir, main Sanjeev Trivedi hoon News 24 se. Jaisa ki apekshit tha, poora desh is poori prakriya mein ek tha. Lekin ek prashn hai jo lagataar baar-baar videsh mantri, videsh mantralay se poocha ja raha hai ke kya hum logon ne Pakistan ko hamle ki poorv jaankari de di thi? Waise toh yeh raajneetik realm mein hai, lekin ek aadhikarik pratikriya aapse isliye apekshit hai ki kya kootneetik star par yeh baat unhein batayi gayi thi? Did we inform them before hitting? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi: Sir, I'm Sanjeev Trivedi from News 24. As expected, the entire nation stood united throughout this process. But there is one question that is being repeatedly asked to the External Affairs Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs did we inform Pakistan in advance about the strike? While this largely falls within the political realm, an official response is expected from you. Was this communicated to them at the diplomatic level? Did we inform them before hitting?] Trupti, the Wall Street Journal: Hi, this is Trupti with the Wall Street Journal. The Shangri-La Dialogue is taking place in Singapore at the end of this month, a security forum for the region. Does India have plans to send participation there? What sort of participation is India thinking of? Manish: Thank you, Sir. Promise hain ekdam naya sawal hain, Sir. Sir, US Army aur Air Force dono Bangladesh mein Cox's Bazar ke paas exercise kar rahi hai, ye theek woh location hai jahan se mushkil se 10-20 minute ke distance par Saint Martin Island hai. Toh Bharat is maamle ko kis roop mein dekh raha hai? Especially tab jab next month bhi India ... Bangladesh aur US ke beech exercise hone wala hai. [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi: This is indeed a fresh question, Sir. Sir, both the US Army and Air Force are conducting exercises near Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh a location that is barely 10-20 minutes away from Saint Martin's Island. How does India view this development? Especially considering that next month, a joint exercise involving India ... Bangladesh, and the US is also scheduled to take place.] Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, Manas, again, first your question, I have already answered your question that the Chinese side is aware that mutual trust, mutual sensitivity, and mutual respect forms the basis of India-China relations. Dhairya on IMF, we have put out a statement, Ministry of Finance has put out a statement. So, I would refer you to look at the statement to get to know more of our stance. On the EU foreign policy, this is a question that you must ask the European Union, you know, what do they desire, how do they want to take things forward. As far as we are concerned, you know, our energy requirements are decided as per the market conditions and the prevailing global situation. Sanjeev, aapka sawaal hum logon ne Pakistan ko bataya ek baar jab humne unko maara ... Maarne ke baad bataya, DGMO ke tahat ke maadhyam se, ki hum logon ne Operation Sindoor ke tahat jo hamara right to respond tha, woh humne kiya hai. Aur uske baad humne bataya. Toh ghatna ke baad bataya. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi: Sanjeev, regarding your question we informed Pakistan after the strike. Once the operation was carried out, we conveyed the information through the DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) channel. Under Operation Sindoor, we exercised our right to respond, and after that, we informed them. So yes, the communication took place post-strike.] Trupti ... Shangri-la Dialogue, at this point in time I don't have information to share, but hopefully closer to the date we will get you more details. Manishji, your question regarding the exercise that is happening in Bangladesh. These are developments that we closely follow. Aise jitne bhi gatividhi hota hai, usko hum badi paini nazar se dekhte hain aur uchit kaarvaai aur kadam uthate hain. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi: We view all such activities very seriously and take appropriate actions and measures accordingly.] Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. New Delhi May 22, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran will take special measures to safeguard its nuclear facilities, Araqchi informs U.N. and I.A.E.A. IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 22, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi has formally notified the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) that Iran will take special measures to defend its people, interests, and nuclear facilities, with details to be disclosed to the U.N. and I.A.E.A. at a later date. Araqchi conveyed these remarks in a letter addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, U.N. Security Council President Evangelos C. Sekeris, and I.A.E.A. Chief Rafael Grossi on Thursday. Citing a CNN report from May 20, 2025, which quoted U.S. officials alleging that the Israeli regime was preparing an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, Araqchi warned that any Israeli adventurism targeting Iran's nuclear sites would be met with a decisive response, as has been the case in the past. He reiterated Iran's stance that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, as repeatedly confirmed by I.A.E.A. reports. He further referenced I.A.E.A. resolutions affirming that attacks or threats against nuclear facilities endanger peaceful nuclear energy development and pose risks beyond national borders. Araqchi also emphasized that Israel's nuclear program presents a serious threat to global security, urging the international community to exert pressure on the Israeli regime to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and commit to disarmament agreements. 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran will not hesitate to reciprocate any attacks, says Foreign Minister Araqchi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 22, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says that Iran will not hesitate to forcefully respond to any offense and will take all necessary actions to protect its interests and people. Araqchi made the remarks on his X account on Thursday in response to ongoing Israeli threats against Iran. He wrote, "Threats from the rogue Israeli regime are nothing new. But the recent leak citing US officials as divulging Israeli plans for an unlawful attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities is alarming and warrants immediate and serious condemnation from the UN Security Council and the [International Atomic Energy Agency] (I.A.E.A.)" He also said that he has written a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the I.A.E.A. chief, Rafael Grossi regarding the regard. "I have called on the international community to take effective preventive measures against the continuation of Israeli threats, which if unchecked, will compel Iran to take special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities and materials." He further wrote that his letter is "a serious pre-action warning," adding, "The nature, content, and extent of our actions will correspond and be proportionate to preventive measures taken by these international bodies in accordance with their statutory duties and obligations." Araqchi said that desperate to dictate what the U.S. can and cannot do, "the Wanted War Criminal Netanyahu" does anything possible to derail diplomacy and divert attention from his arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Araqchi concluded, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to forcefully respond to any transgression and will stop at nothing to protect its interests and people." 9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Europe must bear the consequences of activating the 'snapback' mechanism: Araqchi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 22, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says threatening Iran with the "snapback" mechanism has no legal or political legitimacy, and Europe must bear the consequences of such a wrong move. In an interview with Saudi Arabia's Asharq News network on Wednesday, Araqchi described uranium enrichment as a fundamental and principled issue, as well as a major scientific achievement by Iranian scientists. He stressed that the enrichment program represents a major accomplishment developed by local scientists and holds immense value for the Iranian people. Araqchi also paid tribute to the seven Iranian nuclear scientists who were assassinated for their invaluable contributions to the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear energy program. According to him, the sacrifices made by these victims have rendered the nuclear issue "absolutely non-negotiable". The top Iranian diplomat added, "The situation we are in is by no means Iran's fault. It is the fault of the United States, which withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the fault of the European countries that failed to compensate for the US's withdrawal." Iran and Saudi Arabia enjoy positive ties, Foreign minister says Araqchi discussed the positive relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding: "Our relations with Saudi Arabia are currently in a very good state. Since the restoration of ties, we have cooperated effectively and have achieved greater mutual understanding. We share common views on many issues concerning the region and the Islamic world." He also said: "I can say that we have close ties with Cairo and Manama. While diplomatic relations between these countries have not yet been fully restored, there is a strong willingness on both sides. We are waiting for the right conditions to establish formal diplomatic relations." 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM: 'There'll be no deal if US insists on zero enrichment in Iran' Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 11:10 PM Iran's foreign minister has once again highlighted uranium enrichment as the country's red line in the upcoming nuclear talks with the United States. Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that there would be no deal if the US insisted on zero enrichment in Iran. "We will not give up our rights, and our nuclear program, including enrichment, must continue. But we are ready to take confidence-building measures," Araghchi said. "I declare frankly that if what American officials have said in their interviews, that they do not believe in enrichment in Iran, is true, there will be no agreement," he stated. "But if its goal is to ensure that nuclear weapons are not obtained, this can be achieved because we are not seeking nuclear weapons in principle," the foreign minister said. The minister said Iran has never sought to build a nuclear weapon, although it possesses the technical capability to do that. He reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's defense doctrine. Referring to Israel's threats about attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, Araghchi said Iran is ready to defend itself and its response will be rapid and strong. He added that Iran considers the US responsible for any possible Israeli attack, whether American forces are involved or not, because Israel will never dare to attack Iran without coordination with the US. He also touched on threats posed by the European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal to activate its snapback mechanism and restore UN sanctions against Iran. He said Europeans could restore those sanctions, but in that case, they would lose contact with Iran, and cause a crisis for the global non-proliferation system. Iran and the US have already held four rounds of indirect negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, mediated by Oman, amid repeated shifts in Washington's stance, which has prompted Iranian officials to criticize the "contradictory" statements made by US officials. The US also keeps imposing fresh sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry and nuclear program, despite the ongoing talks. Washington has time and again insisted on demanding "complete cessation" of Iran's peaceful uranium enrichment activities, seeking to label any level of enrichment as a "red line." This is while Tehran has firmly rejected the idea, stating that it would continue its enrichment program regardless of the outcome of the talks. On Tuesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also called it "utterly wrong" for the US to insist on Iran's completely stopping its peaceful uranium enrichment activities, advising the American side to avoid "idle talk" regarding the courses of action that it thinks the Islamic Republic should or should not take. He voiced skepticism concerning the outcome of Iran's underway indirect talks with the US, saying that the talks are unlikely to yield results. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran will give devastating response to any foolish act by Israel, IRGC Spokesman says Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 6:59 PM A spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran will give a devastating response to any foolish act by Israel, stressing that the Tel Aviv regime is incapable of grasping the power of the Iranian nation in supporting the Islamic Republic in times of war. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, the IRGC's spokesman and deputy head of the Public Relations Department, made the remarks on Thursday, in an apparent response to a CNN exclusive report on Tuesday that Israel is preparing for a potential military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. "They try to frighten us with the threat of war. Accusing an establishment of fearing war, an establishment that enjoys popular, military, and strong support, only stems from repeated miscalculations by an enemy that fails to grasp the power of the Iranian nation in supporting the Islamic Republic in times of war," he stressed. The CNN report, citing multiple US officials familiar with the matter, said the US has obtained new intelligence suggesting that the occupying regime has been moving air munitions and conducting air exercises, signaling a heightened state of readiness. "The enemy is delusional and ignorant in its assessments of the Islamic Republic's strengths, and fails to understand that if war breaks out, the power of the people will enter the scene, just as it did during the Iran-Iraq War. Enemies began the war based on similar illusions and were ultimately defeated," General Naeini emphasized. The IRGC's spokesman also warned that if the Israeli regime commits any act of folly and aggression, "it will undoubtedly receive a devastating and decisive response within its small and vulnerable occupied territory." General Naeini stressed that the past 46 years, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, have conveyed a clear message that "overthrowing the Islamic Republic is impossible, and that unrests occurred during the past several years also carried the same message - that the Islamic Republic cannot be brought down." In retaliation for Israel's April 1, 2024, bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which killed two Iranian generals, the IRGC launched Operation True Promise I, firing over 300 missiles and drones at Israeli military sites. Operation True Promise II, launched on October 1, 2024, was the IRGC's response to the Israeli assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah chief Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan, and involved around 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli military sites. "We have become more powerful in various aspects compared to past years, and our military advancements are astonishing. Today, the entire existence of the Zionist regime lies within the range of the Islamic Republic's fighters. The usurping Israel is supported by the US and weakening Western governments, and until Israel is wiped out, stability will not return to the world and the region," General Naeini concluded. Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also warned the Tel Aviv regime against any foolish act, stressing, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to forcefully respond to any transgression and will stop at nothing to protect its interests and people." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran urges UN to condemn 'Israeli plans for unlawful attack' Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 3:29 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to urgently condemn leaked plans by "rogue" Israel to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Araghchi's remarks on Thursday came in response to a CNN exclusive report on Tuesday that Israel is preparing for a potential military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The report, citing multiple US officials familiar with the matter, said the US has obtained new intelligence suggesting that the occupying regime has been moving air munitions and conducting air exercises, signaling a heightened state of readiness. The Iranian foreign minister said in a post on his X account that Tel Aviv's threats against the Islamic Republic are not new, but the leaked plans are alarming. "Threats from the rogue Israeli regime are nothing new. But the recent leak citing US officials as divulging Israeli plans for an unlawful attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities is alarming and warrants immediate and serious condemnation from the UN Security Council and the IAEA," Araghchi said. He added that he has already written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, urging them to immediately condemn these threats by the Israeli regime. "In a letter to UNSG Guterres and IAEA DG Grossi, I have called on the international community to take effective preventive measures against the continuation of Israeli threats, which if unchecked, will compel Iran to take special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities and materials," Araghchi warned. The leaked plans come as the administration of US President Donald Trump seemingly pursues a diplomatic deal with Tehran. The two sides have already held four rounds of indirect negotiations on Iran's nuclear program mediated by Oman, with a fifth round scheduled in Rome on Friday. "My letter is a serious pre-action warning. The nature, content, and extent of our actions will correspond and be proportionate to preventive measures taken by these international bodies in accordance with their statutory duties and obligations," Araghchi stressed. Iran's top diplomat also slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for trying to sabotage diplomacy and evade his ICC arrest warrant, warning that Iran will strongly respond to any aggression to protect its interests and people. "Evidently, the Wanted War Criminal Netanyahudesperate to dictate what the U.S. can and cannot dospares no effort to derail diplomacy and divert attention from his ICC arrest warrant. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to forcefully respond to any transgression and will stop at nothing to protect its interests and people," Araghchi emphasized. In retaliation for Israel's April 1, 2024, bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which killed two Iranian generals, Iran launched Operation True Promise I, firing over 300 missiles and drones at Israeli military sites. Operation True Promise II, launched on October 1, 2024, was Iran's response to the Israeli assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah chief Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan, and involved around 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israeli military sites. Tehran has stressed that the operations were acts of self-defense. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As Iran And The US Stand Firm On Nuclear Red Lines, Who Will Step Back First? By Kian Sharifi and Hannah Kaviani May 23, 2025 After nearly two weeks of escalating rhetoric that nearly led to the collapse of diplomacy, Iran and the United States have agreed to resume nuclear talks -- this time in Rome. Yet, as negotiators prepare to meet, both sides are digging in on their core demands, raising the stakes for what could be a decisive round of diplomacy. The main stumbling block remains uranium enrichment. The United States, under President Donald Trump, insists that Iran must halt all enrichment activities -- a demand US special envoy Steve Witkoff recently said was crucial "because enrichment enables weaponization." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the point on May 21 when he told a Senate committee hearing that "any level of domestic enrichment is unacceptable and poses a direct threat." Iran, meanwhile, shows no sign of backing down. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed US demands as "outrageous" and "nonsense," and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has insisted that Iran will enrich uranium "with or without a deal." "We have never abandoned diplomacy. We are still assessing whether, on that date and at that location, useful and productive negotiations can be held or not," Araqchi said on May 21, hours before Oman announced the next round of talks would be held in Rome on May 23. Domestic Pressure Driving Demand Despite this breakthrough, expectations remain low. Both parties have made clear that their fundamental positions have not shifted, and the atmosphere is charged with suspicion. "I do not think nuclear talks with America will bring results. I do not know what will happen," Khamenei said earlier this week. Ali Vaez, the director of the Iran program at the International Crisis Group, says the US demand for zero enrichment stems from the "prevailing perception" in Washington that the Islamic republic is at its weakest. "So, the belief is that compromising on enrichment is a mistake and the United States has to at least try to get what it has always wanted," Vaez told RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Domestic politics in both Washington and Tehran further complicate compromise. In the United States, the Trump administration is under pressure from congressional hardliners to demand a total ban on enrichment -- over 200 Republican lawmakers recently sent a letter urging no concessions on this front. Iran, meanwhile, faces internal pressure to defend what many see as a symbol of national pride. "There are serious domestic constraints that inhibit the possibility of compromise on this fundamental issue," Robert Einhorn, a former special adviser to the US State Department on nonproliferation, told Radio Farda. "All Iranians across the political spectrum take great pride in the enrichment program," he argued, adding that both Trump and Iran's leadership were under pressure. Vaez said it was not yet clear whether the Trump administration's demand that Iran abandon enrichment was its bottom line or ideal outcome, but he speculated that it would be made clear in the next two or three weeks. The Israeli Factor And Threat Of War Reports earlier this year claimed that Trump pulled Israel back from launching strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities in favor of diplomacy with Tehran. But the US president has warned that if negotiations collapse, the military option is very much on the table. CNN reported earlier this week that new US intelligence suggests Israel is actively preparing for a possible strike on Iran's nuclear facilities if talks fail. US officials cite intercepted Israeli communications and military maneuvers as evidence that Israel is weighing its options. This looming threat adds urgency -- and peril -- to the Rome talks, as any military action could ignite a broader regional conflict. Menashe Amir, a Middle East expert based in Israel, said the assessment in Israel is that negotiations will fail and Iran is too weak now to respond to any attack due to Israel having weakened Tehran's regional network of armed groups and disrupted its missile production capabilities. "The view among Israeli analysts is that the best time to strike Iran is between now and the next few weeks," Amir told Radio Farda. He said it was not easy to say with certainty whether Israel would attack Iran without US permission, but insisted that the country "has both the capability and courage" to do so, especially since the Israeli Army "trains for this" regularly. Iran's two primary nuclear facilities are the underground enrichment plant at Natanz and the Fordow site, which is buried deep within a mountain. Some experts question whether even US weapons could reliably penetrate and fully disable these fortified sites. But Amir appeared confident that the sites' physical location would not be an obstacle for Israel. He said "there are methods" to destroy underground nuclear facilities but declined to elaborate, citing security restrictions. Critics of military action say that, while it can destroy physical infrastructure, it will not be able to wipe out knowledge. Araqchi has said Iran will "take special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities and materials" if international bodies fail to "take effective preventive measures" against Israeli threats. Europe's Patience Wears Thin Complicating matters is Iran's strained relationship with Britain, France, and Germany. Collectively known as the E3, the European powers have threatened to reimpose UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran if it fails to reach a deal with Washington. Iran has warned the E3 against the move, with Araqchi calling it a "big mistake" that would have "consequences," including potentially leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The "snapback" of UN sanctions is a provision under the 2015 nuclear deal which expires in October. The E3 has reportedly given Iran until the end of June to reach an agreement with the United States. The Islamic republic has significantly expanded its nuclear program since Trump withdrew from the 2015 accord during his first term in office and reimposed sanctions against Tehran. Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has no intention to develop a bomb. But it is now enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels and far above the 3.67 percent limit under the 2015 deal. While past US administrations struggled to rally domestic support for a nuclear deal with Iran, observers say Trump -- despite his polarizing style -- might face less resistance if he negotiates an agreement that includes strict conditions and monitoring. Einhorn said congressional Republicans "have been inclined to support the policies of Trump," adding that "any respectable deal negotiated" by the US president would also likely have Democratic support -- especially if it's seen as tough and enforceable. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear-talks- enrichment-demand-trump-khamenei/33421388.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France takes command of NATO Mission Iraq NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 22 May. 2025 On Thursday 22 May, Major General Christophe Hintzy from France assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq, at a change of command ceremony in Baghdad. He succeeds Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs from the Netherlands, who had been in post since May 2024. The ceremony was attended by Iraqi officials, Ambassadors from Allied and partner countries, NATO officials, and other representatives from the international community in Baghdad. "For France and for me personally, it is an honour and immense privilege to take over command of the NATO Mission in Iraq, a country often regarded as the cradle of civilization," Major General Hintzy said. "Together with Iraqi security institutions and Iraqi Security Forces, we share a common goal. Our success will never be an individual success, but rather a collective one to develop tailored and sustainable solutions that will help Iraq as a valued partner for NATO," he pointed out. The outgoing commander, Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs, thanked his Iraqi counterparts for their hospitality and excellent cooperation and praised them for their commitment to the cooperation with NATO and to further strengthening the Iraqi security forces and institutions. "To our Iraqi partners your resilience and leadership inspire us. We have learned much from you, and it has been a privilege to serve alongside you. To our Allies and partners thank you for investing in Iraq's future and in our shared security," he said. "Christophe, I pass this command to you with full confidence. You inherit a team of dedicated professionals and a resilient network of partnerships. I know you will lead with vision and respect for both NATO's principles and the Iraqi context. This mission is about people about trust, support, and sovereignty. I know you will carry it forward with the integrity it deserves," Lieutenant General Schreurs added. At the NATO Summit in Brussels in July 2018, Allied leaders launched NATO Mission Iraq, following a request and upon invitation from the Government of Iraq. The mission was established in Baghdad, in October 2018. It is a non-combat, advisory, and capacity-building mission that assists Iraq in building more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and forces, so that they themselves are able to stabilise their country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh. All efforts of NATO Mission Iraq are carried out with the consent of the Iraqi government and conducted in full respect of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ahead of the change of command ceremony of NATO Mission Iraq, NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Tom Goffus, participated in the second meeting of the High-Level Dialogue for Partnership between NATO and Iraq, held in Baghdad, on 21 May. "This second meeting of the High-Level Dialogue for Partnership, here in Baghdad, is a testimony to our partnership with Iraq and to cementing this dialogue," he said, adding that "NATO continues to stand prepared to support the Government of Iraq and its security institutions into the future through NATO Mission Iraq." The High-Level Dialogue for Partnership between NATO and Iraq was launched in Brussels on 27 August 2024. It provides an additional framework for consultations and exchange of views on issues of mutual interest - including stability across the Middle East. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington shooting IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 22, 2025 Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were killed by a lone gunman as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., officials have reported. The shooting occurred near 3rd and F Streets in Northwest, an area approximately 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White House, on Wednesday night. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack, stating, "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" he wrote on his Truth Social page. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was shocked by the killings. The victims were a young couple who planned to get married, according to Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said that the suspect fired a handgun at a group of four people, striking both victims. Prior to the shooting, he was seen pacing outside the museum. The single suspect, tentatively identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, reportedly chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine" after his arrest, according to the police chief. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Speaks with US Attorney General Pam Bondi Israel - Prime Minister's Office Media Statements The 37th Government 22.05.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is outraged by the horrifying antisemitic murder of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington, DC. The Prime Minister has spoken with Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, who updated him on the details of the incident. The Prime Minister offered his support to the Ambassador and the embassy employees. US Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu and detailed everything that is known at this time about the identity of the murderer and the two embassy employees. The Attorney General told the Prime Minister that she is sorry to the depths of her heart and that US President Donald Trump is involved in managing the event, and that the US will bring the murderer to justice. Attorney General Bondi asked to convey her condolences to the families of the young couple who were due to become engaged soon. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked her and President Trump for their clear stand against antisemitism. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We are witness to the terrible cost of the antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel. Blood libels against Israel have a cost in blood and must be fought to the utmost. My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer. I have directed that security be increased at Israeli missions around the world and for the state's representatives." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Speaks with US President Donald Trump Israel - Prime Minister's Office Media Statements The 37th Government 22.05.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today , spoke with US President Donald Trump, who expressed deep sorrow over the shocking murder in Washington of two Israeli Embassy employees: Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, of blessed memory. The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for the efforts he and his administration are making against displays of antisemitism in the US. The two leaders also discussed the war in Gaza; President Trump expressed his support for the objectives set by Prime Minister Netanyahu for releasing the hostages, bringing about the elimination of Hamas and advancing the Trump plan. The Prime Minister and President Trump agreed on the need to ensure that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Israeli embassy staffers shot dead in Washington Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 4:08 AM Two staff members at the Israeli embassy in Washington have been shot dead near a Jewish museum. The shooting took place late Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, which was hosting an American Jewish Committee event at the time of the incident. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the deaths in an X post, saying, "We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share." Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy, confirmed that the two staff members were shot "at close range" while attending the event. In a post on X, Israeli diaspora minister Amichai Chikli named Yaron Lischinsky, 28, as one of the embassy employees killed. The second victim was also identified as Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish American who worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington. Washington police chief Pamela Smith said a single suspect who was seen pacing outside the museum before the event was apprehended. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriquez of Chicago, Illinois, "chanted 'Free, free Palestine,' while in custody," she added. Anger against Israel has increased worldwide since October 7, 2023, when the regime launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. More than 19 months into its brutal aggression, the occupying regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives in Gaza despite killing at least 53,655 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 121,950 others. Israeli and US officials claimed that the shooting was driven by anti-Semitism, a term usually used by them to justify the Gaza onslaught and the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests. US President Donald Trump condemned the incident on his Truth Social media platform, saying, "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to "track down those responsible and bring them to justice." Israeli president Isaac Herzog also called the shooting a "despicable antisemitic terror attack." Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security will be stepped up at the regime's embassies around the world. Far-right Israeli heritage minister Amichay Eliyahu blamed Wednesday's attack on Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff and current head of the Democrats party, who said earlier that the regime is killing babies in Gaza "as a hobby." In response, Golan said the discourse of the Israeli cabinet ministers, including supporters of racist rabbi Meir Kahane, enabled the attack and caused Israel's unprecedented diplomatic isolation. He also vowed to replace Netanyahu's regime and "restore security to all Jews, in Israel and anywhere around the world." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, Minister of Information and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), visited Quetta Prime Miinister's Office - Islamic Republic of Pakistan May 21, 2025 Quetta:21 May 2025 In a reprehensible and cowardly act of terrorism, a school bus carrying innocent children was targeted today in Khuzdar, Balochistan by state sponsored proxies (Fitna Al Hindustan) of India which the world has largely come to know as epicentre of instability in the region. Sequel to gross failure to intimidate Pakistan through overt military means, dastardly terrorist incidents are being orchestrated through their proxies at an intensified scale in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deliberately targeting civilians in a futile attempt to destabilize the Pakistan. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, Minister of Information and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), visited Quetta to meet the injured children and other victims of this horrific attack. Chief Minister Balochistan and Commander Quetta Corps briefed the visitors about the dastardly incident which led to martyrdom of three innocent children and two soldiers along with 53 injured including 39 innocent children of which 8 are critical. The Prime Minister, Federal Minister and Chief of Army Staff expressed deep grief over the loss of innocent lives and injuries to the innocent school going children. The visitors seeing the badly wounded and critically injured children expressed that such a diabolical act of terrorism through these Indian sponsored proxies is a shameful and despicable act. These terrorist groupsmasquerading under ethnic pretensesare not only being exploited by India as instruments of state policy, but also stand as a stain on the honour and values of the Baloch and Pashtun people, who have long rejected violence and extremism. India's reliance on such morally indefensible tactics, particularly the deliberate targeting of children, demands urgent attention from the international community. The use of terrorism as a tool of foreign policy must be unequivocally condemned and confronted. Pakistan's security forces and law enforcement agencies will relentlessly pursue all those involved in this barbaric act. The architects, abettors, and enablers of this crime will be held accountable and brought to justice and the truth about India's cunning role, a real perpetrator of terrorism but feigns as a victim, stands exposed before the world. The Prime Minister expressed that entire nation stands resolute behind its Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies in the collective will to eradicate the scourge of terrorism as well as safeguard the sovereignty and security of Pakistan. The Prime Minister and COAS highlighted that it's now time, that the nation displays a very strong resolve similar to the one shown recently against the aggression by India, to bring the fight against foreign-sponsored terrorism to its logical and decisive end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Staff Member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, Declared Persona Non Grata Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the High Commission of India, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status. The concerned official has been directed to leave Pakistan within 24 hours. The Indian Charge d'Affaires was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey this decision. It was stressed that none of the diplomats or staff members of the Indian High Commission should misuse their privileges and status in any manner. Islamabad 22 May 2025 147/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff, chaired the 270th Corps Commanders' Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - May 22, 2025 No PR-169/2025-ISPR Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff, chaired the 270th Corps Commanders' Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi. The Forum commenced with Fateha for the martyrs of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and the heinous terrorist attack in Khuzdar, Balochistan, an atrocity perpetrated through India-sponsored proxies which resulted in the loss of four innocent children and two adults. The Forum unequivocally condemned this barbaric act, noting its deliberate targeting of non-combatants, particularly children, as a reprehensible violation of all norms of humanity and international conduct. The Forum also paid solemn tribute to all martyrs of Marka-e-Haq who laid down their lives in defence of the nation during India's unprovoked aggression. It reaffirmed that the sacred blood of the Shuhada shall not go in vain and safety and security of the people of Pakistan will continue to be the foremost priority of the Armed Forces. The Forum extended its felicitations to the Army Chief on his conferment as Field Marshal, acknowledging his strategic foresight, resolute leadership, and enduring contributions to national defence. A comprehensive review of the prevailing internal and external security environment was undertaken, with particular emphasis on the successful conclusion of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, a decisive chapter of Marka-e-Haq. The Forum lauded the professionalism, synergy, courage, and resilience of Pakistan's Armed Forces and the unwavering support of the nation, which together repelled aggression with exemplary precision and resolve. The forum acknowledged Pakistan's media and information warriors who stood in step with the State against Indian propaganda onslaught, fake news and war hysteria, while accurately portraying facts and figures thereby fostering public trust and countering misinformation. The forum wholeheartedly recognized the spirit and dynamic contributions of the Pakistani youth, whose passion and patriotism rallied the National spirit as well as projection of national narrative. The Forum saluted the political leadership for their foresight and steering the Nation during the Marka-e-Haq with utmost clarity, conviction and resolve. It was noted that history would recall with pride Pakistan's swift and resolute defensive posture, which neutralized a grave threat within hours of its emergence. Pakistan responded with strategic restraint and operational clarity, upholding both deterrence and moral authority. The Forum reaffirmed Pakistan's unyielding resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any act of aggression or misadventure. Reiterating Pakistan's strategic stance, the Forum declared: "No one can coerce Pakistan through the use or threat of force. The nation will take all measures necessary to safeguard its vital interests." The Forum deliberated in depth on the threat posed by India-backed terrorist proxies operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was observed that following its military failure in the wake of the Pahalgam incident, India so called and self-claimed victim of terrorism but actually a perpetrator of terrorism and epicenter of regional instability, has upscaled the use of covert means, employing non-state actors to pursue its destabilization agenda. The Forum resolved that Pakistan will never allow its peace to be compromised by externally sponsored terrorism. The Armed Forces, in close synergy with intelligence and law enforcement agencies, will pursue all proxies and facilitators of terrorism with unrelenting resolve. These hostile elements, trained and financed to incite chaos and fear, will be dismantled and decimated with full force of national will and institutional strength, InshaAllah. A strategic overview of the regional environment was also undertaken, including the security posture along the Line of Control (LoC), the Working Boundary, and the Eastern Border, in light of the recent Pakistan-India conflagration. The Forum expressed deep concern over persistent human rights abuses in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). It condemned these actions as they contributed to organic backlash and perpetuated cycles of violence. Forum underscored the urgent need for international attention and intervention to prevent further deterioration of peace and security in South Asia. Forum reiterated full diplomatic, political, moral and humanitarian support for Kashmiri brothers and sisters and their just resistance for right of self determination The Chief of Army Staff commended the high morale, operational readiness, and professionalism of all ranks, as well as the steadfast support of the Pakistani nation. He emphasised the blessings of Almighty Allah in guiding national efforts and directed all commanders to maintain a heightened state of vigilance and preparedness to address evolving threats across the spectrum. In his concluding remarks, the Army Chief reaffirmed the Pakistan Army's pivotal role in ensuring internal stability and securing national frontiers. He expressed profound appreciation for the enduring support of the people of Pakistan, stating: "The people of Pakistan are our greatest strength. We remain committed to their trust and expectations in our shared struggle against any foreign aggression, terrorism and extremism." The Conference concluded with the Field Marshal expressing full confidence in the operational capability, preparedness and unwavering morale of all formations and institutions entrusted with the defence of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Government members Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Government members, via videoconference. May 22, 2025 18:45 The Kremlin, Moscow The main topic of discussion - tools for supporting investment projects in industry. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon. As you are aware, earlier this week, I paid a working visit to Kursk, to the Kursk Region. During this trip, I engaged with volunteers, heads of municipalities, and regional authorities. Our direct conversations addressed issues of utmost concern to residents of towns and villages affected by shelling, combat operations, and - frankly speaking - the terrorist methods employed and perpetuated by Ukrainian formations and foreign mercenaries. We recognise that additional support is currently needed for residents of the Kursk Region and other border regions in close proximity to the line of combat engagement: the Belgorod Region and the Bryansk Region. Naturally, each of these regions presents its own unique situation and specific challenges, which we must consider when developing support measures. Nevertheless, there are common concerns shared by citizens. I would like to reiterate these priorities: the restoration of housing, social and transport infrastructure; compensation payments for lost property; and support for displaced persons who were forced to leave their homes and are now residing in temporary accommodation centres, with relatives, or renting housing. A separate, critically important issue for ensuring safety and protecting people's lives and health is the demining of territories where combat operations occurred, including the elimination of unexploded ordnance, mines, and weapon caches left behind by militants. I reiterate: this concerns the Kursk Region, the Bryansk Region, and the Belgorod Region, which have also suffered and continue to endure shelling. Moreover, the adversary typically targets objectives devoid of military significance: civilian infrastructure and people's homes. The most recent events only confirm what I just said: drone attacks as well as sabotage and reconnaissance actions target civilian transport, including ambulances and agricultural machinery. Most of the casualties are women and children. As I said, a decision has been made to create a buffer security zone along the Russian border. Our Armed Forces are working on this now. They are also effectively suppressing enemy firing points. At the same time, I would like to point out once again that, given the situation in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, we need to begin restoring and rebuilding everything that has been destroyed there right away. We need to help people return to their home towns and villages when it is safe enough, restore transport infrastructure and other facilities, ensure the sustainable operation of industrial and agricultural enterprises, and support entrepreneurs and their teams. To achieve this, I instruct the Ministry of Economic Development as well as our colleagues from the Presidential Executive Office to prepare, as soon as possible, a programme for the comprehensive redevelopment of the affected areas in the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions. This programme should be backed with sufficient financial and material resources, additional equipment and specialists, including those from other regions. I would also ask our colleagues from the ministries of Defence, of the Interior, Emergencies, Construction, Transport, Energy, Digital Development, Healthcare, and Education, and other agencies to actively contribute to the development and implementation of this programme. Naturally, it is essential to establish smooth interaction between all levels of government, including the federal government, regional teams and municipalities. Furthermore, I ask you to keep in touch with volunteer and public organisations and take advantage of the feedback from those regions' residents, promptly responding to their requests and concerns. Please keep me regularly informed on the progress of this comprehensive programme for the reconstruction of the affected regions. We will hold a separate discussion on the subject at one of our future meetings. People have many questions there. We discussed all of this in detail at the meeting with the heads of municipalities. I will not go into detail now, but I want these details taken into account in the rebuilding programme. Let's move on to today's agenda. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia must immediately release election monitor Grigory Melkonyants: UN Special Rapporteur Press releases Special Procedures 22 May 2025 GENEVA -- The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, today condemned the 12 May 2025 sentencing of Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the "Golos" movement which had been declared "foreign agent" in Russia. Melkonyants was sentenced to five years in prison by the Basmanny Court of Moscow for his peaceful work defending electoral integrity and human rights in Russia. "This sentence is a grave miscarriage of justice and a blatant attempt to silence one of Russia's critical voices for electoral transparency. It is yet another example of the severe clampdown on civil society by Russian authorities in the past three years, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022," Mariana Katzarova said. "The charges are politically motivated and based on legally dubious grounds, including misrepresented evidence and disregard for the defendant's rights." Melkonyants was convicted under article 284.1(3) of the Russian Criminal Code for allegedly organising the activities of an "undesirable" organisation - the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO). The court also imposed a nine-year ban on his participation in public activities following his prison term. "Melkonyants' case exemplifies the systematic targeting of civil society actors in Russia who dare to challenge the State's control over the electoral process," Katzarova said. "His arrest and conviction violate his rights to freedom of expression, association, and participation in public affairs, as protected under articles 19, 21, and 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." Melkonyants was arrested in August 2023, just weeks before the start of the presidential campaign that led to Russian President Vladimir Putin's re-election. The prosecution alleged ties between "Golos" and ENEMO, despite "Golos" publicly withdrawing membership in 2021 after ENEMO was labelled "undesirable." His trial, which began in September 2024, was marred by procedural flaws, including reliance on outdated ENEMO website data linking "Golos" to a defunct organisation, and disregard for evidence of "Golos" formally leaving the network. Furthermore, Melkonyants' participation in a roundtable at the Central Election Commission (CEC) - used as evidence against him - was at the official invitation of the CEC chair and in his capacity as an individual expert, not as a representative of any foreign organisation as claimed by the prosecution. "The prosecution failed to demonstrate that Melkonyants posed any risk to the investigation, yet he was held in pre-trial detention for over a year," the expert said. The Special Rapporteur expressed grave concern over the broader legal framework for Melkonyants' prosecution, noting that laws on "foreign agents" and "undesirable" organisations criminalise international cooperation and civic engagement. She noted that the targeted "designations" of human rights organisations under these laws, continued. Most recently, on 19 May 2025, the authorities declared Amnesty International "undesirable" for, as they claimed, "backing Ukraine against Russia, promoting Russophobic narratives, and financing 'extremists' and 'foreign agents'". "Melkonyants is being punished not for a crime, but for his steadfast commitment to human rights and safeguarding the principle of free and fair elections in Russia," Katzarova said. "For over 20 years, "Golos" has advanced electoral transparency and reform in Russia," she said. "Melkonyants must be released immediately with all charges against him dropped. The repressive laws under which he has been targeted must be repealed." The Special Rapporteur has earlier addressed the Government on this case. *The expert: Mariana Katzarova, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Lawmakers Increase Pressure By Targeting Fertilizers From Russia And Belarus By Rikard Jozwiak May 22, 2025 The European Union has taken a major step toward ending imports of Russian and Belarusian nitrogen fertilizers, approving phased duties designed to make purchases economically unviable within three years. In a vote in the European parliament in Brussels on May 22, EU lawmakers voted 411-100 in favor of introducing the import duties from 1 July as the bloc tries to ratchet up pressure on Moscow to bring an end to the war in Ukraine sparked by its full-scale invasion more than three years ago. "Today, we take further steps to target the Russian war economy," Lubica Karvasova, an MEP from the Progressive Slovakia party, said after the vote. "Russia refuses to engage in cease-fire negotiations with Ukraine. Russia doesn't want peace; on the contrary, it has deliberately weaponized our dependencies. Not anymore," she added. "As Europe moves decisively away from Russian fossil fuels, time has come to do the same with fertilizers, which are only gas imports in another form." The move by the 27-nation bloc comes after a week of intense diplomacy centered around the first direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in three years and a long phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. While just holding talks were a step forward, the main objective set out by Ukraine and the West, a 30-day cease-fire, was not achieved, prompting the EU to approve a 17th package of sanctions against Moscow on May 20. The duties approved on May 22 will see the current 6.5 percent tariff levied on fertilizers from the two countries remain in place. But additional duties of 40 euros to 45 euros ($45-50) per metric ton will be enforced until mid-2026, when they will rise to 60 euros ($68) per ton, then to 80 euros ($90) per ton in 2027. They will then make a massive jump to 350 euro ($395) and 430 euro ($486) per ton by 2028, essentially making it prohibitively expensive to buy the products from Belarus and Russia. EU countries imported 4.4 million tons of fertilizer from Russia and Belarus last year -- about 30 percent of total EU fertilizer imports -- up from 3.6 million tons in 2023. The increase has raised concerns about growing European dependence on Russian products, which remain attractive due to their low price as Moscow scrambles to find foreign buyers amid waves of sanctions over the war. The May 22 European Parliament session also increased EU tariffs by 50 percent on the value of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products such as sugar, vinegar, flour, and animal feed. The Kremlin reacted to the news by saying the measures would hurt EU members more than Russia. "I think that markets in other areas will compensate for the European duties, but the Europeans will continue, as always, to shoot themselves in the foot," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow during a daily briefing. The bloc had previously been reluctant to hit Russian agricultural products with sanctions given accusations from poorer countries in Asia and Africa that such moves cause food shortages. The situation has been somewhat alleviated over the past year with Ukraine resuming exports of its food produce via the Black Sea. The European Union has also pledged that the transit of Russian and Belarusian agricultural exports through the bloc to the rest of the world is still possible. The EU is also hoping that the measures will mean a diversification of supplies with increased imports from countries like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Oman, places Brussels is keen to forge closer relationships with. The United States has also said it wants to increase fertilizer exports with President Donald Trump suspending April tariffs on fertilizers for the EU. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-lawmakers-target-fertilizers- russia-belarus-ukraine/33421369.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Italian Court Gives Russian Lawyer 38-Month Prison Sentence For Role In Artyom Uss Escape By Mike Eckel May 22, 2025 An Italian court sentenced a Geneva-based Russian lawyer to 38 months in prison for his role in helping politically connected Russian businessman Arytom Uss flee house arrest from a Milan suburb two years ago. The verdict against Dmitry Chirakadze was handed down by a judge in Milan on May 22, according to Italian newsreports. In closing arguments earlier this month, prosecutors had requested five years for Chirakadze, who has been held by Italian authorities since being arrested at Rome's airport in June 2024. Chirakadze's defense lawyer, Tatiana Della Marra, did not immediately respond to e-mail inquiries for comment. The verdict is the latest development in a twisting saga involving Uss, whose father previously was the governor of the sprawling Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk. Uss was arrested at the Milan airport in October 2022, a month after a US grand jury secretly indicted him on smuggling charges. Along with a Russian business partner and four others, US authorities accused Uss of using a German company to smuggle military and dual-use technologies to Russia in violation of Western sanctions -- including the kinds of electronics that later showed up on the battlefield in Ukraine. Uss was ordered held, pending an Italian court ruling on a US extradition request. However, he was not held in police custody, but rather house arrest, in a townhouse in a development south of Milan. In March 2023, days before he was set to be extradited, Uss escaped from the townhouse where he was staying, breaking an electronic monitoring bracelet. He was driven across Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and into Belgrade, where he later flew to Moscow and later to Krasnoyarsk. The escape embarrassed Italian authorities; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the circumstances behind his flight deserved further scrutiny. It also infuriated US prosecutors, who had warned Italian counterparts that Uss was a flight risk. In the months that followed, Italian investigators and US authorities identified a group of seven men and women from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, and Slovenia who they alleged organized Uss's escape. A Bosnian man was indicted by US prosecutors in December 2023 in connection with the escape, and arrested in Zagreb. He later cooperated with the Italian investigation and was released. A Slovenian man was arrested by Slovenian police on an Italian warrant in January 2024, and was later released. Also implicated was a Serbian businessman named Srdjan Lolic, who joined a Russian expedition to the North Pole in April 2023, less than a month after he allegedly helped Uss escape. He traveled via the Krasnoyarsk region. While at the North Pole, Lolic was seen dancing along with Krasnoyark's vice governor, and he also bragged about dining with Aleksandr Uss, the region's governor, and attending an Orthodox mass with him. After resigning as Krasnoyarsk's governor, Aleksandr Uss became a lawmaker in Russia's upper house of parliament. Meanwhile, in June 2024, Chirakadze was flying from Sardinia to Switzerland, when he was detained at Rome's airport by Italian police. In addition to owning a luxury resort in Sardinia, Chirakadze owned a hunting estate in Krasnoyarsk. In Russia, he is best known for his part in establishing Pravo.ru, an online legal publication and resource popular with the Russian legal community. In closing arguments earlier this month, Milan prosecutor Giovanni Tarzia told the court that Lolic had testified via video conference from Serbia, and implicated a now-deceased Russian lawmaker from Krasnoyarsk. According to the Milan newspaper Corriere Della Serra, Lolic testified that the dead lawmaker contacted Lolic and asked him to meet with Chirakadze, who prosecutors said was the lead mastermind behind Uss's escape. Uss could not be located for comment. However, his Russian lawyer told the business newspaper Vedomosti a day earlier that Chirakadze was not involved in the escape, and he accused Italian authorities of "hostage taking." "Chirakadze was organizing Artyom's legal defense, and obviously could not have had anything to do with his escape from house arrest," Aleksei Tikhomirov was quoted as saying. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/italy-russia-uss-escape- chirakadze/33421510.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks at the 4th meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for Caspian Cooperation, Moscow, May 22, 2025 22 May 2025 13:39 851-22-05-2025 Colleagues, We are beginning the fourth meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for Caspian Cooperation. I would like to begin with extending my best wishes to everyone on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. Let me also note that many Russian regions held events to mark this momentous landmark, including the Astrakhan Region. On April 25 this year, the Astrakhan Patriotic Forum was held, which also featured a conference on the Role and Importance of the Caspian Transport Corridor in the Army and Home Front Supply System during the Great Patriotic War. Representatives of all Caspian states took part in the event, which was indeed a worthy contribution to the Great Victory celebrations. Colleagues, Strengthening cooperation in the Caspian Sea area is our priority, which is clearly stipulated in the Russian Foreign Policy Concept approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023. We consistently promote the view that the five littoral states have exclusive competence in addressing any Caspian Sea issues, even though there is an increasing number of players wishing to interfere in those processes. It is essential that we ensure strict abidance by the relevant agreements reached as part of the work on the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. It is obvious that greater interaction between the five parties to this convention will help develop a framework for broader economic cooperation in Eurasia, something President Vladimir Putin referred to as the Greater Eurasian Partnership, as well as build equal and indivisible security on the continent we share. Given its geopolitical and geostrategic importance, the Caspian region should be an integral part of this security system. The five Caspian states have held several important events since our last meeting. On February 17-18, Tehran hosted the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum (CEF). Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk led the Russian delegation attending the meeting. The conference featured more than a dozen thematic roundtables where participants spoke in favour of strengthening joint research, including the study of the causes of Caspian shoaling. They noted the high level of cooperation between the littoral states in oil and gas as well as in power generation, including green energy projects. They also supported further expanding cooperation in transport, and building transport and logistics infrastructure. We agreed to hold ministerial meetings on transport and on economic issues before the end of the year. We believe that the Commission should continue to focus on the areas identified as the five states' priorities. Its mission is to facilitate the implementation of the decisions adopted at the 3rd Caspian Economic Forum. On May 5-7, the 10th meeting of the High-Level Working Group on Caspian Sea Issues took place in Moscow. Among other Caspian-related issues they reviewed, representatives of Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan discussed methods for drawing straight baselines in the Caspian Sea. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed to accelerate and finalise the process of enacting the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. The participants also reviewed the preparations for the next meeting of foreign ministers to be held in Ashgabat this year. The littoral states continued the well-established practice of holding roundtables dedicated to Caspian issues on the sidelines of major international events. On May 14 this year, Rossotrudnichestvo and the Russian Foreign Ministry organised a meeting during the 16th International Economic Forum Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum. The discussion, Caspian cooperation: Development of twinning relations, focused on interacting at the level of cities and municipalities. On May 16, the Russian Ministry of Transport organised a session on Transport cooperation between the Caspian littoral states. The Defence Ministry's Navigation and Oceanography Department is currently holding the Second Caspian Hydrographic Conference dedicated to hydrographic support of navigation in the Caspian Sea in Kaspiysk (Dagestan). The conference brought together representatives from the five states' defence ministries. The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will hold a roundtable on the sidelines of the 11th Nevsky International Ecological Congress in St Petersburg to consider ways to intensify the activities of respective agencies in the five states to address the Caspian Sea's environmental issues, above all, its continuing shoaling. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump baffles Ramaphosa with baseless claim of white genocide in South Africa Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 4:45 PM US President Donald Trump has confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House with the baseless claim of the systematic killing of white farmers in his country. He began the meeting in the Oval Office by describing Ramaphosa as a "truly respected man in many, many circles," adding that "in some circles he's considered a little controversial." The South African president, who had sought to use the occasion to enhance his country's ties with the US, playfully jabbed back at the controversial American president, saying, "We're all like that." The US president made a show by playing a video of a politician chanting a song that includes the lyrics "kill the farmer." Trump then leafed through news articles to underscore his point, baselessly claiming that white farmers in South Africa have faced "death, death, death, horrible death." "People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety," Trump said. "Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they're being killed." Zingiswa Losi, the president of a group of South African trade unions who was in attendance, took on herself to answer. "The problem in South Africa, it is not necessarily about race, but it's about crime," Losi said. She told Trump it was important to understand that Black men and women in rural areas were also being targeted in heinous crimes. Farmers and ranchers in South Africa and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa frequently face robbery and crime, a common phenomenon that affects African people regardless of their racial background. Tech tycoon Elon Musk, who is a South African, attended the Wednesday meeting and appeared to be at the heart of the groundless claims raised by the US president. The billionaire has said on social media that he has been unable to get a license for his Starlink satellite service to operate in South Africa due to his skin color. South African authorities say Starlink hasn't formally applied. The South African government says its longstanding affirmative action laws are a cornerstone of its efforts to right the injustices of the white minority rule of apartheid, which denied opportunities to Blacks and other racial groups. Since his return to office, Trump has targeted the South African government with a series of accusations, claiming it is seizing land from white farmers, enforcing anti-white policies, and pursuing an anti-American foreign policy. He has cut all US assistance to South Africa and welcomed several dozen white South African farmers to the US as refugees as he has pressed the case that a "genocide" is underway in the country. Experts find Trump's remarks groundless, saying there is no evidence of whites being targeted for their race, although farmers of all races are victims of violent home invasions in a country with a high crime rate. The bilateral relationship between the US and South Africa is at its lowest point since South Africa enforced its apartheid system of racial segregation, which ended in 1994. Observers say the Trump administration is apparently angered by South Africa over charges at the International Court of Justice against the Israeli regime for its genocidal war on Gaza. Washington has also put Ramaphosa under scrutiny for a joint venture with Iran's second-largest telecom provider, Irancell. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway supporting Syria at a critical time Government of Norway Press release | Date: 22/05/2025 'The sense of hope which the Syrian people expressed amid destruction, is what stands out the most, said the Norwegian Minister of International Development, Asmund Aukrust, after visiting Syria today. Norway is providing a further NOK 20 million in funding to support the UN's humanitarian efforts in Syria. This will bring Norway's overall support to Syria in 2025 close to NOK 400 million. During his visit to Syria today, Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust was able to see first-hand the widespread destruction caused by 14 years of war. According to UN estimates, some 16 million of the country's inhabitants are currently in need of life-saving assistance. Since the fall of the Assad regime, as many as 500 000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria. Many have returned to find their homes in ruins, and the scale of need will continue to be enormous in the time ahead, while the country is gradually being rebuilt. Norway is now increasing its support for the UN's humanitarian efforts in Syria by NOK 20 million. 'I have met people in despair over the situation the country is in. The massive destruction is gutting. Entire neighbourhoods are bomber to destruction. But I also saw people putting up new tiles on bullet torn walls, hoping the peace will last. I'm haring their hope. This is why Norway is supporting Syria, with the aim of a successful political transition', said Mr Aukrust. Norway already provides substantial support to Syria. The additional allocation of NOK 20 million includes NOK 10 million to support the work of the UN Refugee Agency to help refugees who have returned to Syria, NOK 7 million in funding for the UN's Syria Humanitarian Fund, and a further NOK 3 million channelled to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 'In the revised national budget, the Government has also proposed an increase of NOK 37.9 million in support to restore health services and rebuild electricity infrastructure in Syria. When I met the Syrian Minister of Energy and the Deputy Minister of Health in Damascus today, they confirmed that these are important priorities for them,' said Mr Aukrust. Some of the funding will be used on rehabilitation of existing power plants, which is the best way to increase the power supply short term. In connection with the visit, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Norway and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was also signed. UNDP is to draw up a comprehensive plan for renewable energy in Syria, with funding from Norway. This will be an important roadmap setting out how the various stakeholders involved in the reconstruction of the country can introduce green, renewable solutions from the outset. The plan will also contain estimates of Syria's future energy needs and the associated costs. Norway is also increasing its support for UNICEF's efforts to provide protection and activities for young people living in refugee camps in northeastern Syria by NOK 5 million. Conditions in the camps are still very difficult, and the level of need is high. Overall, Norway will provide at least NOK 400 million in support to Syria in 2025. This includes support for the reconstruction of infrastructure such as water, electricity and health systems. 'In all the political meetings I have had today, I have conveyed Norway's intention to maintain its strong support for the Syrian people. We are choosing to be optimistic. The lifting of sanctions announced last week will make it easier for Syria to move towards self-reliance. At the same time, we must be realistic, and that is why we have made it very clear to the Syrian authorities that we and the rest of the international community expect to see progress towards building an inclusive Syria,' said Mr Aukrust. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The story of tomorrow's Syria is being written now. Government of Norway News story | Date: 22/05/2025 Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust visited Syria today. Six months after the fall of the Assad regime, the political situation remains fragile. There is an enormous need for humanitarian assistance and support for reconstruction efforts. Norway remains committed to promoting a sustainable political transition and helping to facilitate the reconstruction of Syria. Ruin after ruin. Entire neighbourhoods the Darayya suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus, are gone. Darayya was particularly hard hit during the Syrian civil war. Here, the Norwegian Minister of International Development met a family who has received support from the Norwegian Refugee Council to repair their house. They have taken in family members returning to ruins in Syria after being displaced. According to UN estimates, some 16 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance. Norway has been one of the largest humanitarian donors to Syria over the past decade. 'This is the third political visit from Norway in six months, a clear illustration of our strong commitment to the Syrian people. The political situation is fragile, which is precisely why it is important to start reconstruction efforts without delay and provide support to ensure that people have access to basic services. The story of Syria is being written now, and Norway is seeking to play a constructive role,' said Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust. Mr Aukrust had political meetings with Syrian Foreign Minister al-Shaibani, Energy Minister al-Bashir and Deputy Health Minister al-Khatib. In these meetings, they confirmed health and energy as two priority areas in the reconstruction process. The Norwegian Government has already proposed to increase funding for these areas in the revised national budget. The lifting of sanctions was also highlighted as something that brings hope. 'In order to have hope for the future, people need food on the table, access to basic services and jobs to go to. Many people are hoping that recent announcements by the US and EU that they intend to lift sanctions will lead to economic growth and development. Norway has been calling for the sanctions to be lifted since the fall of the Assad regime. We have done so because the key to building a sustainable and inclusive Syrian society lies in a well-functioning economy and the opportunity to promote development. The international community must seize this opportunity,' said Mr Aukrust. A new national commission on transitional justice was established earlier in May. Norway hopes to see a constructive and inclusive approach in this important work. Norway has made its expectations of the Syrian authorities clear. Syria is facing a number of major challenges, and the violent clashes in March and more recently are cause for great concern. It is vital that the transitional government succeeds in maintaining law and order in the country and embarks on a credible reconciliation process. 'As a good friend of the Syrian people, we speak frankly when presenting our views. Norway supports a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process. The UN should play a key supporting role. The aim is for all Syrians to feel safe and to benefit from inclusive governance where women can participate fully and there is room for a vibrant civil society. Syria's territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty must be respected,' said Mr Aukrust. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran UN envoy says removal of Syria sanctions 'long overdue' but 'positive' step Iran Press TV Thursday, 22 May 2025 9:58 AM Iran has described the decision by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to lift and suspend unilateral sanctions on Syria as a "long overdue" but "positive" step. Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani made the remark before the UN Security Council session on "The situation in the Middle East: (Syria)" in New York on Wednesday. He hailed the growing international acknowledgment that humanitarian and reconstruction aid in Syria must not be politicized, saying the suffering of the war-ravaged country's people should not be used for political purposes. "We call for the full and unconditional lifting of all unilateral sanctions. These illegal measures violate the UN Charter and international law," he added. He emphasized that any easing of sanctions must lead to real and immediate changes in the lives of more than 16 million Syrians who are currently in need of urgent help. "It must also support the return of refugees and help rebuild Syria's economy and infrastructure, paving the way for lasting peace and stability," Iravani said. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that he would lift the entirety of Washington's sanctions against Syria after the new administration in the Arab country reportedly proposed making "peace" with the Israeli regime, the US's closest regional ally. "Now it is their time to shine. We are taking them (the sanctions) all off. Good luck Syria. Show us something very special," he said. The EU has also agreed to lift economic sanctions on Syria in an effort to help the war-torn country recover. Following the decision by EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, the EU's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wrote on X, "We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria." Last month, the UK also announced the partial suspension of sanctions on Syria. The Iranian envoy reiterated Syria's right and responsibility to maintain peace and security throughout its territory, noting that the country suffers "fragile" security given the ongoing foreign military presence and illegal occupation, especially in the northeast and south. "The continued occupation of the Syrian Golan by Israel clearly violates international law and Security Council resolution 497 (1981)," he added. He stressed the importance of strongly condemning Israel's repeated attacks, including the May 2 airstrike near the presidential palace. Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes adjacent to the presidential palace in the Syrian capital of Damascus on May 2, amid the silence of the ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led (HTS) administration. Since Bashar Assad's government collapsed in December, Syria has been hit by hundreds of Israeli airstrikes, mainly targeting military infrastructure that belonged to the former Syrian army. "These acts threaten the region's peace and are made possible by US support," he said. The diplomat once again affirmed Iran's firm stance on the need for respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and withdrawing all illegal foreign forces "immediately and unconditionally." "It is evident that only the Israeli occupying regime stands to benefit from the fragmentation and instability in Syria," Iravani added. "Its persistent acts of aggression, repeated violations of international law, and continued expansion of occupation are clearly aimed at perpetuating a state of permanent instability in the country." Iravani emphasized the need to fight all forms of terrorism in Syria, especially the threat posed by "foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs)." He said Iran, as a close neighbor, is deeply concerned about reports that FTFs are being relocated from Syria to other conflict areas, as the move could increase instability in the region and pose serious risks to neighboring countries. He urged the Security Council to remain alert and respond through strong and effective measures. 'PKK disarmament significant step toward rejecting violence' In his remarks, the Iranian ambassador noted that the announcement by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group to disarm was a significant step toward rejecting violence and enhancing regional stability. He expressed hope that other affiliated armed and terrorist groups, including PJAK, will follow suit in a bid to contribute to lasting peace and security in the region. In a significant development, the PKK announced in May that it is disbanding and formally renouncing its decades-long insurgency against Turkey, bringing an end to over 40 years of violent conflict. The move, announced by a media outlet close to the group, will bring an end to one of the longest-running insurgencies in the region. Elsewhere in his remarks, Iravani pointed to the suffering of the Syrian people from foreign occupation, terrorism, and economic pressure. "We emphasize that Syria's future must be decided by Syrians alone, without outside interference or imposed solutions. Any political process must be led and owned by Syria, in line with Security Council resolution 2254," he said. He threw Iran's full weight behind the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and his efforts to promote an inclusive process that would respect Syria's sovereignty and proceed without foreign pressure. "In this context, Iran supports the dialogue between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as an important step toward national integration," the diplomat added. Iran encourages inclusive engagement and dialogue that ensures equal rights for all Syrians, he explained. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Political cohesion on national security necessary: Security Chief RTI (Radio Taiwan International) 21 May, 2025 Mary Anne Sioco Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen () on Wednesday warned that China's military expansion in the region is intensifying. Tsai also stressed the importance of having a common understanding of national security among Taiwan's political parties. Following President Lai Ching-te's () national address on Tuesday, in which he announced plans to hold a national security briefing for opposition party leaders, Tsai explained that the government hopes to foster bipartisan understanding of the increasing security threats, especially those posed by China. Tsai notes Beijing's increasing use of Taiwan's open society to carry out united front infiltration efforts. He says the briefings are a critical first step, intended to help shape a common framework for understanding these threats. He adds that participation from all parties is essential, whether promoting national security policies, revising legislation, or developing global economic strategies. Tsai says that the Presidential Office has already begun preparations and that the NSB will fully support and coordinate with the arrangements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New U.S. bill seeks 'NATO Plus' status for Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 05/22/2025 12:39 PM Washington, May 21 (CNA) U.S. Congress members Rick Scott and Scott Perry introduced a new bill on Wednesday, seeking to designate Taiwan as a "NATO Plus" partner of the United States to facilitate easier and faster arms sales. The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Scott of Florida, states that Taiwan should be designated as a "NATO Plus" partner so that it may enjoy the same privileges as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. "The Taiwan PLUS Act will cut red tape and make it faster and easier for Taiwan to purchase the weapons it needs from the U.S. to defend itself should Communist China invade," Scott said in a statement. In a separate statement released Wednesday, Republican House Representative Perry of Pennsylvania also said such a designation would elevate Taiwan to "the same status as trusted U.S. defense partners like Australia, Israel and Japan." "Taiwan already is one of the United States' closest defense collaborators -- the top Foreign Military Sales customer in FY20, and historically tied with Japan as the third largest buyer since 1950," Perry said. The bill was proposed on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reforms to the Foreign Military Sales program were needed to address delays in sales and financing deals. "We get so many complaints," Rubio said during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. "Every bilateral engagement we have is someone complaining about some sale or even a financing deal that has been in place for five years and has not yet been delivered or has not yet been approved through the process." One of the leading priorities of the current U.S. administration is to reform the government program that facilitates arms sales to foreign countries and international organizations, he said, during the hearing on the State Department's 2026 budget request. Last week, two U.S. senators -- Republican Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware -- made the first proposal for legislation to include Taiwan in the NATO Plus category. "Our antiquated arms sales process and struggling defense industrial base have prevented Taiwan from getting the weapons it needs in a timely manner," Ricketts said in a statement on the bill titled Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protections in Nefarious Environments Act, or PORCUPINE Act. (By Chung Yu-chen and Kay Liu) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense ministry closely monitoring China's live-fire drills ROC Central News Agency 05/22/2025 11:44 AM Taipei, May 22 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said late Wednesday that it was keeping close track of China's live-fire exercises being held in waters off the southeastern Chinese coastal city of Shantou. China's Maritime Safety Administration on May 20 issued a no-sail warning for a maritime zone off Shantou, citing plans for live-fire exercises on Tuesday and Thursday. The exercises were scheduled to take place between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both days, according to the notice. In response to CNA's request for comment, the MND said Wednesday night that it was closely monitoring Chinese military activities related to the drills, which so far have not affected Taiwan's air or marine safety. The MND said that by means of its joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, it always keeps abreast of China's routine and ad hoc military exercises. (By Wu Su-wei and Sean Lin) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/05/22 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. May. 21 (Wed.) to 6 a.m. May. 22 (Thu.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 23 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 16 out of 23 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140522_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window] 1140522_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Support for UK and Mauritius Agreement on Chagos Archipelago US Department of State Press Statement Marco Rubio, Secretary of State May 22, 2025 Today, the United States welcomed the historic agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territoryspecifically, the Chagos Archipelago. We commend both the United Kingdom and Mauritius for their leadership, vision, and commitment to ensure that Diego Garcia remains fully operational for the duration of this agreement. We look forward to working closely with both governments to strengthen our collaboration in support of regional peace and stability. Following a comprehensive interagency review, the Trump Administration determined that this agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia. This is a critical asset for regional and global security. President Trump expressed his support for this monumental achievement during his meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at the White House. This milestone reflects the enduring strength of the U.S.-UK relationshipa relationship that, as demonstrated by the U.S.-UK trade deal announced on May 8, extends far beyond defense to encompass economic growth, innovation, and shared global leadership. Although the United States is not a party to this agreement, we remain responsible for operating the U.S. Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia, which continues to play a vital role in supporting forward-deployed operational forces and advancing security across the region. The United States values its partnership with both the United Kingdom and Mauritius, and we stand ready to continue our collaboration to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and beyond NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Communique: UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework Communique on the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Framework between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Mauritius. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 22 May 2025 Today, with the conclusion of the agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Mauritius enter a new era. In recognition of this, we - the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs for the United Kingdom, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade for Mauritius - agree to a new Strategic Partnership Framework, to cement and boost our flourishing relationship for the benefit of both nations. The United Kingdom and Mauritius enjoy deep historical ties and strong partnerships across a full range of shared strategic interests including economic growth, security, and climate change. We are both Commonwealth democracies, committed to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and the rules-based international system. Our new governments will work together to deliver the clear mandates for reform we were given in our elections last year, to support the change our people want to see. In agreeing to this partnership, we also demonstrate our continued shared commitment to the pursuit of a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific that delivers security and prosperity for all. From 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius will strengthen our cooperation, addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of our time, with a particular focus on: boosting mutual economic growth and trade, strengthening the international rules-based system, reinforcing maritime security, and tackling climate change. Building on our vibrant bilateral trade relationship currently worth 1.2 billion annually, we will increase mutual trade and investment to boost long-term growth for both our countries, supporting Mauritius's aim to transition to a high income country and putting more money into hardworking people's pockets. This will include: deepening our existing trade relationship under the United Kingdom-Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement maximising growth and development by cooperating on competitive financing through UK Export Finance, with at least 5 billion in market risk appetite, to deliver British business opportunities and growth and jobs in Mauritius new government-to-government initiatives on digital trade and health, and a United Kingdom/Mauritius Business Forum delivering a set of formal partnerships with Mauritian and British institutions across priority sectors, including hospitals, the civil and public service, universities, and City of London financial institutions We also commit to work together to strengthen the international rules-based system and in particular to build resilience against corruption and illicit finance, including by enhancing Mauritius's status as a regional financial hub and instilling further confidence in Mauritius as an investment destination. This will include: developing a bilateral Economic Security Partnership to counter corruption and illicit finance, including measures to support Mauritius's next Financial Action Taskforce review expanding law enforcement cooperation, in particular cyber training and investigations, to reduce crime identifying opportunities for Mauritian judicial reform and support We will explore ways to strengthen our democracies and shared values by forging deeper connections between our Parliaments and increasing our collaboration in international and multilateral fora such as the Commonwealth and regional Indian Ocean organisations. On maritime security and irregular migration, we will deepen our cooperation to fight the scourges of irregular migration, drugs trafficking, piracy, and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, supporting safer streets in our countries and protecting mutual prosperity. This will include: cooperation agreements and capacity building to secure Mauritius's Exclusive Economic Zone consideration of patrolling capability across the Chagos Archipelago to support a secure maritime domain cooperation to counter and manage irregular migration provision of training and institutional partnerships to boost Mauritian maritime security capability and strengthen fisheries protection We further commit to tackle one of the defining global challenges of our time together: climate change. Our shared objectives are to deliver Mauritius's transition to energy independence through sustainable renewable energy, to protect biodiversity including rare indigenous species, and to increase Mauritius's long-term climate resilience. This will include: a 12 million Access to Climate Finance programme, to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds through private sector partnerships and international green funds mitigation and adaptation projects to tackle the immediate effects of climate change including coral restoration, coastal erosion and indigenous species conservation technical expertise to develop and manage the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area, pursuant to the agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago The new UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework will provide a comprehensive mechanism for delivering, together, for our countries. Our Ministers will meet in the coming months to finalise the partnership and will then meet in an Annual Strategic Dialogue to review and keep evolving it as necessary to support the security and prosperity of our countries into the future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM's remarks at press conference on Diego Garcia: 22 May 2025 PM's remarks at his press conference on Diego Garcia. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 22 May 2025 Location: Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood Delivered on: 22 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) A few moments ago... I signed a deal... To secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia. This is absolutely vital... For our defence and intelligence... And therefore - For the safety and security of the British people. The full assessment of why this is so important is highly classified. But I want to speak as frankly as I can. The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain. From deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan... To anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific... The base is right at the foundation of our security and safety at home. It has helped us to... Disrupt threats to the UK... Support counter terror operations against Islamic State... And to reduce the risk to brave British and American servicemen and servicewomen. The base will help protect the safe passage of our Carrier Strike Group as it goes through the Middle East. It enables rapid deployment across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia... It helps combat some of the most challenging threats we face, Including from terrorism and hostile states... And its location creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific. The base gives the UK and the US access to unique and vital capabilities - which benefit us directly. Many of these capabilities are secret, but they include... Airfield and deep-water port facilities... Facilities that support the worldwide operation of GPS... And the monitoring of objects in the earth's orbit... And equipment to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty. The base is one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States - Which is critical for keeping Britain safe. Almost everything we do from the base is in partnership with the US. President Trump has welcomed the deal - Along with other allies. Because they see the strategic importance of this base - And that we cannot cede this ground to others who would seek to do us harm. And let me be clear - We had to act now... Because the base was under threat. The courts have already made decisions which undermine our position. And if Mauritius takes us to court again... The UK's longstanding legal view... Is that we would not have a realistic prospect of success... And would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks. But this is not just about international law. This is about the operation of the base. Even if we chose to ignore judgments made against us... International organisations and other countries would act on them. And that would undermine the operation of the base - Causing us to lose this unique capability. One example of this is the electromagnetic spectrum. Countries have the right to manage this spectrum as they wish within their borders... A right that's recognised in regulations... And overseen in the International Telecommunication Union. The use of spectrum is key to understand and anticipate those who seek to do us harm. If our right to control it is put into doubt... We would lose the first line of defence against other countries who wish to interfere and disrupt this capability... Rendering it practically useless. In addition - if we do not agree this deal... The legal situation would mean that... We would not be able to prevent China... Or any other nation... Setting up their own bases on the outer islands, Or carrying out joint exercises near our base. We would have to explain to you - the British people - And to our allies... That we had lost control of this vital asset. No responsible government could let that happen. So there is no alternative - But to act - In Britain's national interest. By agreeing to this deal now - on our terms - We are securing strong protections, including from malign influence... That will allow the base to operate well into the next century... Helping to keep us safe for generations to come. Other approaches to secure the base have been tried over the years - And they have failed. [political content redacted] Now there is obviously a cost to maintaining such a valuable asset. We pay for our other military bases. Allies like the US and France do the same. This cost is part and parcel of using Britain's global reach to keep us safe at home... And it will be less than cost of running one aircraft carrier for a year. * Today's agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term. There is no alternative. We will never gamble with national security. So we have acted - To secure our national interest... To strengthen our national security - And to protect the British people for many years to come. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with President El-Sisi of Egypt: 22 May 2025 The Prime Minister spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this afternoon. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 22 May 2025 The Prime Minister spoke to President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi today. The leaders discussed the deeply concerning developments in Gaza, agreeing that restrictions on humanitarian aid must be lifted. The Prime Minister pressed for the urgent release of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah so that he can be reunited with his family. He underlined how important it is to him to bring an end to the anguish Alaa and his family have faced. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK secures future of vital Diego Garcia Military Base to protect national security The long-term agreement secures future of joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia. From: Ministry of Defence, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, The Rt Hon John Healey MP and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 22 May 2025 Long-term agreement secures future of joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia Vital capabilities protected to counter growing global threats, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad Deal is backed by strong support from the US and key international allies The UK has today (22 May) signed a landmark agreement with Mauritius to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, one of our most significant contributions to the transatlantic defence and security partnership. The base has played a vital role in defending the UK and its allies for over 50 years. This new deal ensures its continued operation for at least the next century, protecting capabilities essential to UK intelligence and counter-terrorism. The base plays a key role in operations that support UK forces and our allies across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia. Its deep-water port, airfield, and advanced communications and surveillance capabilities give the UK and its allies crucial strategic capabilities, which have played a key role in missions to disrupt high-value terrorists, including Islamic State threats to the UK. The legal necessity of this deal has been recognised by successive governments. The previous government started these negotiations over two years ago, and they held 11 out of the 13 rounds of talks that underpin the deal, that this government has concluded. Crucially, all Five Eyes partners - the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - back the agreement, along with India, recognising the critical role Diego Garcia plays in upholding global stability and deterring adversaries. The base is a cornerstone of the Government's Plan for Change, with operations there deterring threats to our nation and protecting our economic security. Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: As the world becomes more dangerous, our military base on Diego Garcia becomes more important. Today's Treaty secures full operational control, strengthens our UK-US defence partnership and keeps British people safe at home for the next 99 years and beyond. Without this base, our ability to deter terrorists, defend our interests and protect our troops around the world would be at risk. This agreement will safeguard our national and economic security for generations to come. Critically, the deal ensures the UK retains full operational control of Diego Garcia, including management of the electromagnetic spectrum satellite used for communications - vital for countering hostile interference. There will also be robust provisions to keep adversaries out, including: A 24 nautical mile buffer zone where nothing can be built or placed without UK consent - meaning we can protect UK interests. A rigorous process, including joint decision-making, to prevent any activities on the wider islands - some over 100 nautical miles away - from disrupting base operations. Joint decision-making means there can be no development unless we agree. A strict ban on foreign security forces on the outer islands, whether civilian or military. A binding obligation to ensure the base is never undermined. Both countries have also agreed to a ban on the presence of foreign forces across the wider territory and a binding guarantee that base operations cannot be undermined. Without this deal, international legal proceedings could have rendered the base inoperable, affecting UK national security in the process with our adversaries being allowed to capitalise on this - building outposts near the base. Within a matter of weeks, with no deal, the UK could face legally-binding provisional measures through an Arbitral Tribunal under the Law of the Sea Convention - affecting the ability of the Armed Forces to patrol the waters around the base. Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP said: This treaty secures the Diego Garcia military base for generations to come, protecting national and global security. Without this deal, the land, sea and air operations of the base would become inoperable - doing nothing was not an option. The US, Australia, Canada and India all back this deal because they understand its importance for global security. This government has always been clear that we will act in the national interest, not gamble with our national security like those who oppose this deal. It was clear that this agreement was the only route to securing the future of the base and preventing the UK's adversaries from establishing a presence in the region. It is a clear demonstration of the UK's commitment to act decisively in defence of its interests and ensure that the base continues to support operations that keep British citizens safe, now and in the decades to come. Notes to editors: The cost per year is 101 million and the net present value of payments under the treaty is 3.4 billion. All costs have been verified by the Government Actuary's Department. Further details will be laid out in Parliament. Diego Garcia Capabilities Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago, located in the central Indian Ocean. The joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia has a strategic location which makes it vital to UK and US power projection in the Indian Ocean and beyond. The base provides a unique shared platform with irreplaceable security capabilities that enable a UK and US military presence across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa. Strategic and operational importance: Diego Garcia's strategic location allows it to support a wide array of operational activity in a number of theatres, helping to combat some of the most challenging threats, including terrorism, and hostile states. Diego Garcia is the only UK base in the region with guaranteed freedom of use. It is central to current UK and US emergency planning and operations, just as it was with Afghanistan and Iraq. The base offers the UK and its Allies unique and vital capabilities that help us understand and anticipate those who would do us harm. This includes capabilities which have been used to support counter terrorism operations against high value Islamic State targets. The base is a critical logistics hub at a strategic location, with a full range of facilities that acts as a key refuelling and resupply station for naval and air operations. This enables power projection and global reach, allowing for rapid and flexible deployment of our forces across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia. The base helps protect some of the most important shipping lanes in the world, while also remaining isolated enough to be protected from attack by adversaries. The close collaboration between UK and US delivers shared real-world operational outcomes, in the Indo-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. The base has also hosted visits from Allies and partners such as Japan, France, Republic of Korea and Australia. Base capabilities Airfield: Location and infrastructure accommodate a broad range of military aircraft, with capability to support military requirements from strike operations, as seen through the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns, to humanitarian response. Port: A multitude of berthing options for the UK and US navies to support various missions including Carrier Strike Group deployment. The UK maintains a Nuclear Emergency Response Organisation to permit nuclear powered submarines to safely berth at the port. The US uses Diego Garcia to strategically position equipment and supplies at sea for rapid deployment in various global theatres, including for humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions over the years, across the Indo-Pacific. Seismic monitoring: Permanent location of three pieces of critical Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty monitoring equipment, a network constantly monitoring for indicators of nuclear testing, vital in preventing nuclear proliferation. Space capabilities: Hosts one of the monitoring stations and one of the four ground antennas for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Also hosts part of the Ground-Base Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) System. This provides situational awareness of objects in Earth's orbit, helping to track space debris that pose a risk to space systems. Government Legal Position - Diego Garcia Mauritius's legal claim of sovereignty over the island of Diego Garcia is supported by a number of international institutions, including the UN General Assembly. The International Court of Justice considered this issue in an Advisory Opinion delivered on 25 February 2019. An Advisory Opinion of the ICJ carries significant weight; in particular it is likely to be highly influential on any subsequent court/tribunal considering the issues arising out of disputed sovereignty, and whose judgment would be binding in international law. The ICJ concluded that "the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible". The 2019 Advisory Opinion was followed in 2021 by a Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (in a case about delimitation of the boundary between Mauritius and The Maldives) which ruled that Mauritius' sovereignty was inferred from the ICJ's determinations. If a long-term deal is not reached between the UK and Mauritius, it is highly likely that further wide-ranging litigation would be brought quickly by Mauritius against the UK. This might, for example, include further arbitral proceedings against the UK under Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS"). A judgment from such a tribunal would be legally binding on the UK. The longstanding legal view of the United Kingdom is that the UK would not have a realistic prospect of successfully defending its legal position on sovereignty in such litigation. Even if the United Kingdom chose to ignore binding judgments made against it, their legal effect on third countries and international organisations would give rise to real impacts to the operation of the Base and the delivery of all its national security functions. International organisations have already adopted decisions based on Mauritian Sovereignty, and others would follow suit following such litigation. These impacts could include: our ability to protect the electromagnetic spectrum from interference, to ensure access to the Base by air and by sea, effectively to patrol the maritime area around the Base, and to support the Base's critical national security functions. Further, the UK would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks of Mauritius commencing proceedings, which would also be legally binding. That would mean facing the sorts of detrimental impacts set out above, with the effect of substantially disrupting the operation of the military Base, in very short order. This deal is thus the only way to secure unfettered access to the Base for the long-term and to ensure its full contribution to national security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence Secretary oral statement on Diego Garcia Oral statement to Parliament Oral statement from the Defence Secretary John Healey on Diego Garcia. From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 22 May 2025 Location: House of Commons Delivered on: 22 May 2025 With permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement on the Diego Garcia Military Base. For more than 50 years, the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia has been a launchpad to: ... defeat terrorists... ... prevent threats to our nation... ... and protect our economic security. This base keeps Britain secure at home and strong abroad. This afternoon, the Prime Minister has signed a Treaty with Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius which guarantees full continued UK control of Diego Garcia for the next 99 years and beyond. I pay tribute to the UK's negotiators... ... to the FCDO and MOD teams who supported them... ... and to the Mauritian officials who worked for two and a half years with the last government and this, to reach this agreement. The Foreign Secretary has laid in the House today... ... the full Treaty text and his formal exchange of letters with the Foreign Minister of Mauritius that confirm the agreement and the financial arrangements between our two countries. A Bill will be introduced soon to implement the Treaty. There has been a great deal of misinformation about this Treaty [political content removed] - but the simple truth Mr Speaker, is that our national security rests on securing a deal that protects the operational sovereignty of this vital military installation. By signing this Treaty - on our terms - my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister, has ensured the UK retains full control of Diego Garcia, throughout the next century and beyond. It is a deal struck in the national interest... ... a deal that makes Britons today and generations to come, safer and more secure. Mr Speaker, the importance of Diego Garcia cannot be overstated. Some of the operations on our joint UK-US base are in the public domain. Most - by necessity - are not. But all the work conducted from Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in protecting: ... our nation ... ... our Armed Forces ... ... and our trade routes. Mr Speaker, Diego Garcia is unique. We do things there, that we simply could not do anywhere else. Its airfield allows for strike operations and rapid deployments to the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia... ... its deepwater port supports missions from nuclear-powered submarines to our Carrier Strike Group... ... it hosts surveillance stations which disrupt terrorist attacks, protect satellites and provide global intelligence capabilities... ... and it projects UK-US military power into the Indo-Pacific to reinforce regional stability and security. Mr Speaker, America is our closest security ally. And continued use of this base is fundamental to maintaining the special strength of that relationship. In fact, Diego Garcia is our nation's most significant contribution to the UK-US security partnership that has kept us safe for nearly eighty years As I have said, this is a joint military base and almost every operation conducted from it is done in partnership with the US. This is why, this Treaty has the full-throated support from the US: Secretary of State - Marco Rubio - has said: This agreement secures the long term stable and effective operation of the joint US-UK military facility at Diego Garcia, which is critical to regional and global security. And President Trump described the deal as "very long term" and "very strong". Mr Speaker, Diego Garcia also strengthens Britain's economic security. Over one-third of the world's bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of global oil shipments is transported through the Indian Ocean. Our constant presence in these waters serves to safeguard trade routes, keeping the price of food and energy for Britons down here at home. Diego Garcia is also the permanent location of critical Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty monitoring equipment... ... a network that watches every moment of every day for evidence of nuclear testing to hold nuclear - and any would-be, nuclear powers - to account. Diego Garcia is one of just four locations in the world to operate ground station antennas for the Global Positioning System... ... which everyone from astronauts, to motorists, to our military, rely on to navigate. Mr Speaker, the loss of the Diego Garcia military base would now be unthinkable. Yet, without action, without this deal, within weeks we could face losing legal rulings... ... and within just a few years the base would become inoperable. Some have suggested simply ignoring international legal decisions. But this is not just about international law. This is about the direct impact of law on our ability to operate the base. Rulings against us would mean we would be unable to prevent hostile nations setting up installations around Diego Garcia, on the outer islands or carrying out joint exercises near the base. No deal means we could not guarantee the safe berth of our subs... ... patrol the waters around the base... ... control the airspace directly above... ... or protect the integrity of our communications systems. Such developments would deeply damage the security interests of the UK and our allies. It would be a dereliction of our first duty of government. Agreeing this Treaty now - on our terms - means the UK retains full control over Diego Garcia. Now and for the next century. We've laid before the house the full treaty and associated costings. The [political content removed] frontbench - will see how we have toughened the terms of the deal they were doing so it does more now to guarantee the UK's national security and national interests. At a cost of less than 0.2 per cent of the annual defence budget, we have secured unrestricted access to and use of the base... ... as well as control over movement of all persons and goods on the base, and control of all communication and electronic systems. Nothing can be built within a 24 nautical mile buffer zone without our say so. We have secured an effective veto on all development in the Chagos archipelago. And a strict ban will be imposed on foreign security forces operating on the outer islands. All provisions that were not there in the draft agreement, that had been negotiated by the [political content removed] before the election. Mr Speaker, anyone who would abandon this deal, would abandon this base. They would weaken the security of the British people, and they would weaken the strength of the British Armed Forces But... in signing this deal, a British flag will fly over the Diego Garcia base well into the next century... ... the relationship with our closest security ally will be strengthened... ... and our capacity to deter our adversaries and defend UK interests is secured for generations to come. And as the world becomes more dangerous, Diego Garcia becomes more important. This government will never compromise on our national security. And with this deal, we've made Britain more secure at home and stronger abroad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Major 1.5 billion defence contract with British firm ensures world-class equipment testing for UK forces and secures 1,200 jobs UK Armed Forces will benefit from world-class equipment training and testing under a contract which supports more than 1,200 skilled jobs across the UK. From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP Published 22 May 2025 The five-year 1.5 billion contract extension with British defence firm QinetiQ provides test, trial, training and evaluation of defence equipment and capabilities at 16 Ministry of Defence sites. This includes missile firings, test pilot training and delivering live-threat scenarios. The Long-Term Partnering Agreement will sustain 1,200 UK jobs, including more than 200 in Scotland and 200 in Wales, delivering on the government's Plan for Change by boosting jobs and prosperity for working people, while keeping the nation safe. The investment supports an extensive supply chain of 825 companies, including 590 small-to-medium enterprises - demonstrating the government's commitment to small businesses and their access to the defence market and ensuring defence is an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK. The contract will ensure UK Armed Forces equipment remains combat-ready and will support the delivery of future capabilities, including the Global Combat Air Programme's next-generation combat aircraft. The Agreement has supported key moments for UK capabilities, including the first launch of a ballistic rocket into space from the UK, the first firing of a high-power laser directed energy weapon - DragonFire - against aerial targets and Europe's first successful demonstration of teaming a piloted aircraft with an autonomous air vehicle. Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: Rigorously tested equipment and the trialling of emerging technologies are key to ensuring our Armed Forces are using combat-ready capabilities on the frontline. The contract will help keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad, as we drive forward innovation to bolster our national security and support skilled jobs across the UK. With hundreds of British businesses supported by this investment through QinetiQ's supply chain, we are demonstrating how defence is an engine for growth across the UK, and delivering on our Plan for Change. Under the agreement, QinetiQ will invest in modernising the UK's equipment testing capabilities to keep pace with operational needs. The contract will also support around 30 early careers professionals, providing development opportunities such as digital training in modelling and simulation for engineers. Earlier this month, QinetiQ hosted Formidable Shield, a NATO joint strike exercise, at the Hebrides range in Scotland - one of the 16 Ministry of Defence sites managed under the Long-Term Partnering Agreement, which was first signed in 2003. Steve Wadey, Group Chief Executive Officer at QinetiQ, said: Through the LTPA, we play a vital role helping to protect and enhance the UK's defence and security. The extension of our partnership with MOD enables us to continue investing to deliver the transformational change in test and evaluation that's required to ensure our armed forces have operational advantage over disruptive technologies. We're seeing increased demand for our services from NATO countries and this LTPA extension positions the UK as a leading centre for T3E, and facilitates the delivery of major equipment platforms as well as future upgrade programmes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New sanctions package against Russia Germany - Federal Government Further tightening The EU Member States have agreed on a 17th package of sanctions against Russia. Through this, the European Union is sending a further signal of its determination to Russia. Tuesday, 20 May 2025 On 20 May, the EU adopted the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. This package aims to cut off Russia's access to key military technology and significantly reduce revenues from the energy sector that are financing the war against Ukraine. One particular focus is the so-called "shadow fleet" of Russian oil tankers, as well as their operators and a large Russian oil company. In addition, this package of sanctions is part of a more comprehensive package of EU measures. It is also directed against Russia's hybrid activities, human rights violations domestically and the use of police violence by Russian forces in Ukraine, which are dealt with under three further sanctions regimes. Measures against Russian shadow fleet The EU has adopted its largest package of sanctions to date against the so-called Russian "shadow fleet". The number of ships affected has doubled, meaning that 342 tankers are now subject to port access bans and service bans. These ships transport Russian oil in risky and unregulated conditions, thereby supporting Russia's energy sector. The aim of the measures is to destroy the operational capacity of this fleet and thus reduce the oil revenues that finance Russia's war economy. In addition, the EU is imposing targeted individual sanctions on companies and players that enable the shadow fleet. These include shipping companies from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Hong Kong, as well as a major insurance company in the Russian oil transport industry. Since the introduction of EU sanctions and the oil price cap, Russian revenues have fallen considerably - by a total of 38 billion euros. Military economy The EU is imposing sanctions on over 45 Russian companies and individuals that support the Russian military with drones, weapons, ammunition, equipment and key components. In addition, Russian and Chinese players who supply machine tools to the Russian military and industrial sectors are being targeted. Supporters from third countries are also being sanctioned. In addition, the EU is expanding its export restrictions on so-called dual-use goods and technologies in order to further restrict Russia's military infrastructure. 31 new units are listed due to the circumvention of existing trade bans. In addition, the EU is tightening its measures against the export of goods that strengthen Russia's defence and security sector, including chemical precursors for energy materials and spare parts for machine tools. Energy sector The EU is imposing further sanctions against "Surgutneftegaz", one of the most important Russian oil companies, which generates considerable revenue for the Russian government and thus contributes directly to the war effort. In addition, a major Russian oil transport company has been placed on the sanctions list. Individual sanctions The EU has added a further 75 individuals and organisations to its sanctions list - a total of over 2,400 individuals and companies are now affected. These measures include the freezing of assets and a ban on EU citizens and companies providing financial resources. In addition, natural persons are subject to travel restrictions and may not enter or transit through the EU. You can find a detailed overview of the EU sanctions against Russia on the European Council website. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sergii Marchenko discusses future support for Ukraine with finance ministers of Canada and Germany on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada Ukraine Government Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, posted 22 May 2025 13:12 Ukraine's Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko met with Canada's Minister of Finance Francois-Philippe Champagne and Germany's Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil during a working visit to Canada. The ministers discussed the state of Ukraine's economy, the impact of the full-scale war on public finances, the need for budgetary support in 2026, and future cooperation. Sergii Marchenko thanked his colleagues for their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and the financial assistance their countries have provided since the start of russia's full-scale invasion. "Over the past three years, Ukraine has received more than USD 133 billion in international financial assistance. This has allowed the Government to maintain macro-financial stability amid full-scale war, and to ensure salary payments for teachers, healthcare workers, civil servants, pensions, and social assistance to the most vulnerable. Financial challenges persist, making continued external support crucial. That's why we must already be working on a reliable system to secure next year's budget needs," said Sergii Marchenko. Canada and Germany have been among Ukraine's leading supporters since the outset of the war, providing assistance across all available areas. Since February 2022, direct budgetary support from Germany has reached USD 1.7 billion and from Canada - USD 7.1 billion. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany ranks second globally in terms of total support provided to Ukraine since the start of russia's full-scale invasion, with EUR 17.3 billion. Canada ranks fifth globally, providing 10.3 billion. Sergii Marchenko noted that, thanks to the joint efforts of the Government of Ukraine and international partners, the country's 2024 external financing needs - totaling USD 39.3 billion - are fully secured. He expressed gratitude to the German Government for its support of the EU's Ukraine Facility financial instrument for 2024-2027, totaling EUR 50 billion. Budgetary support under this initiative is expected to reach EUR 12.5 billion by the end of 2025, with EUR 3.5 billion already disbursed. Minister of Finance of Ukraine also highlighted the support of the Canadian and German Governments for the G7's Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) for Ukraine initiative, which amounts to USD 50 billion. Canada's contribution is CAD 5 billion (approximately USD 3.4 billion), while the EU's contribution totals EUR 18.1 billion (about USD 20 billion). Ukraine has already received a first tranche from Canada worth CAD 2.5 billion and four tranches from the EU amounting EUR 6 billion. In total, under the G7 ERA initiative, Ukraine has received around USD 14.7 billion from its partners. These funds are enabling priority State Budget expenditures to be covered from the profits of frozen russian assets. The parties also discussed the potential for the future confiscation of all frozen sovereign russian assets. In turn, the Finance Ministers of Canada and Germany reaffirmed their Governments' commitment to providing comprehensive support for Ukraine. The parties agreed on the need to maintain a systematic dialogue with Ukraine. Their countries share a common goal: to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine as soon as possible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Murder In Madrid: Who Was Andriy Portnov, The Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Gunned Down In Spain? By Yaroslava Tymoshchuk, Oleksiy Prodayvoda and Iryna Romaliyska May 22, 2025 As he went to get into his Mercedes sedan after dropping his children at an international school near Madrid, a Ukrainian lawyer named Andriy Portnov was approached by gunmen who shot him five times, the last time in the head. Portnov's brazen daylight killing on May 21 stunned Spaniards. It sent bigger shockwaves through Ukrainian political circles, where Portnov circulated for years: as a lawyer, a fixer, and a political operative. Here's what you need to know about Portnov, his political importance, and what his killing means. Who Was He Exactly? A lawyer by training, Portnov was closely associated with Viktor Yanukovych, who served as Ukrainian president until February 2014, when months of street protests erupted in violence and Yanukovych fled the country. Portnov served as the deputy head of Yanukovych's administration. He was known for being litigious -- filing threatening lawsuits against journalists, in particular. In 2019, Portnov threatened Schemes, the investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, posting personal data of some of the unit's journalists. "Portnov was very closely tied to the judicial system. At one time, he led a large number of different trials. He influenced judges, he influenced security officials," Ivan Stupak, a military analyst who formerly worked for Ukraine's SBU security agency, told Current Time. Under Yanukovych, Portnov took charge of an effort to update the country's Criminal Code and procedures. The effort was criticized for, among other things, making it harder to conduct fair trials and for obstructing official investigations into corruption and bribery. Before he advised Yanukovych, Portnov worked alongside Yulia Tymoshenko, Yanukovych's political archrival who lost the 2010 presidential election to him. Portnov also crossed paths with veteran US political lobbyist Paul Manafort, who helped engineer Yanukovych's political comeback in the 2000s, and his election victory over Tymoshenko. Yanukovych later ordered Tymoshenko jailed. In 2013, Portnov traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of Manafort's effort to tamp down US criticism of Tymoshenko's jailing. "The success of Andriy's visit is important and timely. It shows that a continued presence by key Ukraine leaders coming to the US is effective, and can change the rhetoric," Manafort wrote in a February 2013 e-mail. "We need to have Andriy come back to the US on a semiannual or quarterly basis." The e-mail, which was addressed to a former chief of staff for Yanukovych, was included in US court filings after Manafort was indicted in 2017 on tax and fraud charges stemming from his work for Yanukovych. Manafort was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison, but later was pardoned by President Donald Trump. Portnov, meanwhile, was hit by financial sanctions in 2021 by the US Treasury Department. "Widely known as a court fixer, Portnov was credibly accused of using his influence to buy access and decisions in Ukraine's courts and undermining reform efforts," the department said in a press release. "Portnov took steps to control the Ukrainian judiciary, influence associated legislation, sought to place loyal officials in senior judiciary positions, and purchase court decisions." What Was He Doing In Spain? It wasn't immediately clear how long Portnov and his family had lived in Spain. He left Ukraine for Russia after Yanukovych fled the country, in the wake of the February 2014 street protests known commonly as the Maidan. Portnov was outspoken in his criticism of the Maidan events. He later ended up in Austria, where he practiced law, and traveled back to Ukraine several times. In 2018, the SBU announced it had opened a treason investigation of Portnov, alleging he had a role in Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula that Moscow seized in the weeks after the Maidan. The case was launched after intercepted telephone conversations from 2014 showed Portnov speaking with a top Kremlin adviser. It was later closed without charges being brought. In 2019, he returned to Ukraine shortly after the election of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president. "Friends, I haven't been to my country for over five years," he wrote on his Telegram channel at the time. "And today I want to give a strong signal to the thousands of people who left Ukraine. It's time to return, build, and restore. Hello, my dear Motherland!" He was a part owner of a pro-Russian TV channel linked to a Kremlin-allied politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Ukrainian authorities shuttered the station in 2021. In March 2022, a month after Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine, Schemesuncovered real estate holdings belonging to Portnov's family in the Moscow region. That June, Portnov left Ukraine for good. Yanukovych fled to Russia after the Maidan events, and lived in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. His current whereabouts are unclear. Who Killed Him? Portnov was shot around 9:15 a.m., reportedly just after he dropped off his two daughters at the American School of Madrid, a private institution located in Pozuelo de Alarco, on the Spanish capital's outskirts. Spanish authorities have said little about the progress of their investigation. Outside observers pointed to Portnov's past run-ins with Ukrainian intelligence as possible indications that he was targeted by a Ukrainian assassin. Others said it was possible Portnov had had clashes due to his business interests. "Perhaps, someone had a big business taken away from him at one time, perhaps, the money from this business was not divided correctly, and one of the partners decided to take revenge," Stupak said. "We can't rule this out." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-who-was-andriy-portnov- madrid-assassination-shooting-/33421424.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Says Russia, Ukraine 'Yet To Agree' On More Peace Talks As 2 Killed In Strikes On Donetsk By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 22, 2025 Despite talk of renewed diplomacy, Russia and Ukraine have not scheduled further peace negotiations, a Kremlin spokesman said -- even as fresh Russian strikes in the Donetsk region killed two civilians and left others wounded in one of the war's most violent hotspots. Dmitry Peskov denied information that appeared in US media over the past few days suggesting that the Vatican could host Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in June. "There is no concrete agreement about the next meetings," Peskov told reporters in Moscow on May 22. "They are yet to be agreed upon." Peskov has also denied Finnish President Alexander Stubb's suggestion on May 21 that the two sides were likely to hold "technical-level talks" as soon as next week. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump had a long phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after which, Trump said that negotiations toward a cease-fire would start "immediately." Putin, however, repeated his rhetoric about eliminating the "root causes" of the war -- -- a term he uses to question Ukraine's right to exist as well as the wider post-Cold War international order. He added that Moscow would "propose and is ready to work with" Ukraine on a "memorandum" outlining the framework for "a possible future peace treaty." When asked about when the memorandum could be expected, Peskov gave no direct answer, adding that "nobody is interested in dragging out this process." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that a bilateral memorandum could be a possibility, but underlined that, so far, a potential prisoner exchange -- agreed upon in Istanbul talks -- is "perhaps the only real result." According to Russian and Ukrainian officials, the two countries have already handed each other lists of 1,000 prisoners of war whom they want to return in a forthcoming exchange deal. Deaths In Donetsk Despite Western urges for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire, as well as the phone call between Putin and Trump, the Kremlin has not halted its attacks. On May 22, Russian strikes on the Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka and the village of Rayhorodok in the Donetsk region killed two people and wounded two others. In Kostyantynivka, local police reported that a 54-year-old woman died from injuries caused by munitions that hit her home. Her 27-year-old daughter was left in critical condition with blast injuries and open wounds on her head, neck, and legs. Another woman, 51, was killed when a Russian drone struck a local shop in Rayhorodok, where she was working as a cashier. "Over the last day, Russians launched 36 attacks on towns and villages in the Donetsk region. A total of 409 people were evacuated, including 49 children," Vadym Filashkin, the head of Ukraine's Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said. Zelenskyy said the Donetsk region, particularly in and around the war-torn city of Pokrovsk, was still seeing the hardest fighting. "Unfortunately, the Russians show no signals of a cease-fire, and they are not yet ready to end the war," he added. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-peace-talks- donetsk-war/33421473.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Army is Solving Task of Creating Buffer Zone - Putin Sputnik News 20250522 The Russian President said that his army is now solving the task of creating a buffer zone. "I have already said that a decision has been made to create a necessary security buffer zone along the border. Our armed forces are now solving this task," Putin said during a meeting with members of the government. Highlights of Putin's speech: Putin calls methods used by Ukrainian Armed Forces and foreign mercenaries terrorist Enemy chooses targets not connected to the military Russian military actively suppresses enemy fire points, work underway Ukrainian forces hunt for civilian vehicles, including ambulances, during drone raids and sabotage groups actions Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Liberate Novaya Poltavka Settlement in DPR Sputnik News 20250522 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian troops have taken control of the settlement of Novaya Poltavka in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "As a result of the active and decisive actions of the units of the Center group of forces, the settlement of Novaya Poltavka in the Donetsk People's Republic has been taken control of," the ministry said . Russia's Tsentr group of forces has eliminated up to 400 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "The enemy lost up to 400 troops, seven armored combat vehicles, including a US-made HMMWV and MaxxPro armored vehicle, and a Canadian-made Senator armored personnel carrier. Two pickup trucks and three artillery pieces were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement. Russia's Zapad group of forces has eliminated over 220 Ukrainian servicepeople, while Russia's Yug group of forces has eliminated up to 245 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the ministry said. Russia's Sever group of troops eliminated up to 215 soldiers in the past day, while the Vostok group has eliminated more than 215 Ukrainian soldiers, the ministry said. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's war must end without delay, and the way it ends should matter to us all: UK statement to the OSCE Ambassador Holland corrects Russia's claims that the UK wishes to prolong the war in Ukraine. He calls for it to end without delay but explains why the way in which it ends should matter to all OSCE participating States. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Neil Holland Published 22 May 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 22 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mister Chair. Last week I felt the need to reply to allegations made by our Russian colleagues in this forum that the UK was somehow invested in prolonging their war against Ukraine. I did so because that is genuinely incorrect and I wanted to correct the misrepresentation. Let me explain in more detail. The UK does not want this war to continue. This has been a truly awful conflict. We have seen death, injury and destruction on a scale not witnessed in Europe for eighty years. I shouldn't have to repeat this after more than three long years of regularly demanding an end to this war repeatedly in this forum but let me say it again: the UK wants this war to end without delay. But the way in which it ends should matter to us all. And none of us need a history lesson to know why. Russia believes it is entitled to a sphere of influence in its neighbourhood, a belief that runs against the letter and spirit of the Helsinki Final Act. It has a long track record of establishing frozen conflicts on its periphery which it uses as tools to manipulate and control by dialling up and down the temperature to increase or decrease the levels of political and military instability. This has to stop. It cannot be allowed to repeat this in Ukraine; both because Russia has no right to do so, but also because it almost guarantees a return to war at some point in the future. The best insurance against further bloodshed is a peace that offers Ukraine the prospect of genuine security, deters Russia from further aggression and that respects the UN Charter and the commitments we all made in the Helsinki Final Act. To allow anything else would be to encourage aggression elsewhere. And an erosion of these laws and norms risks instability for us all. None of us would truly benefit from this outcome, including Russia, even if they fail to see this now. This is not an attempt to deliver a "strategic defeat" on Russia: it is neither UK policy nor strategy to seek regime change in Russia. It is not the UK who launched little green men into Crimea in 2014. It is not the UK who launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour. And it is not the UK who talks peace but wages war. And just to be really clear, it is not "rabid Russophobia": we take no issue with the Russian people whose sons and daughters are paying the ultimate price in shockingly high numbers. This is about supporting Ukraine's self-defence against an unprovoked attack and about defending the commitments that, if respected, are there to keep us all safe. We welcome the important contributions that the US and Turkiye have made in moving us towards a just and lasting peace. The direct talks in Istanbul on 16 May were a first step, and we welcome the agreement between Russia and Ukraine to exchange one thousand prisoners of war each. But to create space for serious talks, and to bring an end to the killing as quickly as possible, we urge Russia to agree to an immediate, complete and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, just as Ukraine has done. If Russia does not engage seriously with this process, we are prepared to ratchet up the pressure on Russia with new sanctions, building on our package earlier this week. Not because we want to delay peace, but because we want to pressure Russia to choose peace. For after all, it is Russia's choice. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Canada Coordinate Positions Ahead of G7 Summit President of Ukraine 22 May 2025 - 21:33 Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Brusyl held a video call with Cynthia Termorshuizen, Canada's Deputy Minister for the G7 Summit. The main topic of discussion was the coordination of positions between Ukraine and Canada ahead of the G7 Summit, which will take place in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 15-17. The parties discussed an action plan and agreed on joint events involving the President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada. They also outlined Ukraine's key priorities within the framework of the G7 Summit. Ihor Brusyl thanked Canada for inviting Ukraine to participate in the G7 Summit. "This is a strong signal of Canada's unwavering support for our country. It reaffirms the strategic nature of our relations with Canada and recognizes Ukraine as an important partner in global affairs," he emphasized. Particular attention during the conversation was given to strengthening Ukraine-Canada relations and expanding bilateral cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Meets with Representatives of Ukraine's National Minorities and Indigenous Peoples President of Ukraine 22 May 2025 - 21:25 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Azerbaijani, Arab, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Armenian, Gagauz, Greek, Georgian, Jewish, Moldovan, German, Polish, Roma, Romanian, Turkish, and Hungarian communities, as well as of Ukraine's three indigenous peoples: the Crimean Karaites, Krymchaks, and Crimean Tatars. Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated those present on the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity, which Ukraine marked for the first time just recently. He emphasized the important role that national minorities play in various spheres and thanked them for their contribution to Ukraine's defense. "These are representatives of many nations that make up our united Ukraine. And they are all fighting for our shared country. I am especially grateful for that. It is important not only to honor them with awards, but to remind everyone: we are a multinational country, and we all live together. We live and fight so that we may live in peace," the President said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during a previous meeting on December 27, they had discussed the preparation of an action plan to protect the rights of national minorities in Ukraine. He added that the Cabinet of Ministers has already approved that plan. According to the President, in addition to addressing language, education, and infrastructure issues, it is also important to support Ukrainians living abroad and help them return home. That is why the Ministry of National Unity was established. "We've already begun building these connections. There are concrete steps. There are appropriate hubs that we will open in all parts of Europe at the very least. We have already started doing this. We already have appropriate hubs where we could bring together all our communities abroad," said the President. "A large number of people have gone abroad, and of course, we need to work with them - both in terms of providing support and in terms of ensuring they don't lose their connection to Ukraine," added Oleksandr Khara, a representative of Greek community organizations in Ukraine. The core focus of the meeting was discussing unresolved issues. These included the implementation of the law on indigenous peoples, stronger coordination between the government and national minorities, and matters related to language and education. Leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev stressed the importance of including residents of the occupied territories - who were forcibly issued Russian passports - in prisoner exchange lists. Olena Arabadji, a representative of the Union of Crimean Karaites of Ukraine, spoke about how Ukrainians in the Russian-occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region responded to the President's call and, despite bans, celebrated Vyshyvanka Day. "On May 15, they sent us photos in vyshyvankas. You remember how Ukraine bloomed on Vyshyvanka Day. And for the people under occupation, it was a civic stance - an expression of identity and a declaration that they are free," she said. Participants also raised the issue of granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners who have been waiting for it for a long time. Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for National Unity Oleksiy Chernyshov stated that a draft law on multiple citizenship has passed its first reading and is now being prepared for a second. He noted that its adoption would comprehensively address the issue. "Ukrainian identity today is not about DNA or blood tests. Ukrainians today are freedom-loving, independent people who have chosen the European path - people who are defending freedom with weapons in their hands," he emphasized. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Heads of the Office of the President Olena Kovalska, Ihor Zhovkva, and Viktor Mykyta, as well as Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelenskyi. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It Is Clear to the World That It Is Russia's Fault the War Is Still Ongoing - Address by the President President of Ukraine 22 May 2025 - 19:35 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! A brief summary of today. Preparations for a prisoner exchange. Intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine reported on the lists provided by the Russians - specific details are being worked through. Further meetings will follow. I held an extended meeting with our military officials: Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Hnatov, all intelligence agencies, and the Ministry of Defense. We discussed the situation on our frontline, our prospects, and the activities we are preparing. We also discussed the military foundation for diplomacy - the next technical meeting. We are working to ensure it takes place as soon as possible. Ukraine's interest is not to prolong the war, but to be prepared for any development. It is clear to the world that it is Russia's fault the war is still ongoing. Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps - for a real ceasefire and the establishment of a new security architecture. We are doing all the necessary groundwork on our side. What's needed is a reciprocal readiness from Russia - and it's not there now. Without global pressure, that won't change. We are doing our part to maintain that pressure, primarily through our defense and active operations. I want to thank all our warriors for their resilience and real results. Thank you for the long-range capabilities too, guys. Today, I held a meeting with our government officials: the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Deputy Prime Ministers, and the Office team. We discussed the most important economic steps - those that can bring greater long-term stability for our people. Jobs, technological development, and guaranteed social opportunities for our people - these are the three key priorities. And today, I continued talks with our European partners - support for the negotiation process, support for a ceasefire, support for all our joint formats of work in Europe. Today, I invited Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Moldova to take part in the next Ukraine - Southeast Europe Summit. I thank everyone for being ready to make this format of ours even more substantive. Several more talks with our partners are ahead. I want to thank everyone who stands with us, who stands with Ukraine, and who is preparing new defense support packages. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Greece Discuss Increased Pressure on Russia President of Ukraine 22 May 2025 - 12:36 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The main topics of discussion were increased sanctions pressure on Russia and continued support for Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided a brief update on his diplomatic efforts with European leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Head of State emphasized that there are currently no signs that Russia is genuinely seeking to end the war, which is why it is crucial to intensify pressure on it. The President thanked the Prime Minister of Greece and the entire European Union for the 17th package of sanctions against Russia. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, further restrictions are needed in the energy and banking sectors, as well as against the shadow tanker fleet, along with a lowering of the oil price cap. Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed his support for practical steps to strengthen sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation. Additionally, the Head of State stressed the importance of continued support for Ukraine, the Ukrainian Army, the defense-industrial sector, and the strengthening of air defense. The President expressed gratitude for Greece's readiness to assist. Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Kyriakos Mitsotakis to participate in the Ukraine - Southeast Europe Summit. The Prime Minister of Greece confirmed his attendance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address G7 Finance Ministers Agree To Increase Pressure On Russia If There Is No Cease-Fire In Ukraine By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 23, 2025 Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven democracies agreed during a meeting in western Canada that Russia could face further sanctions if it resists a push toward a cease-fire in its war in Ukraine. The G7 finance chiefs condemned Russia's "brutal war" in a communique on May 22 at the end of their meeting and said that if efforts to achieve a cease-fire failed, they would explore all possible options, including "further ramping up sanctions." The communique also said Russia's sovereign assets held in G7 jurisdictions would remain frozen until Moscow ended the war and paid for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. In addition, the ministers pledged to work together to ensure no countries or entities that financed or supplied the "Russian war machine" would be eligible to profit from the reconstruction of Ukraine. "That's a very big statement," said Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, calling it a fundamental pillar of the communique, which did not name China or other countries accused of supplying critical components to Russia. The ministers' meeting in the Canadian Rocky Mountains sets the stage for a G7 summit in mid-June in a nearby mountain resort. US President Donald Trump will attend the summit, the White House confirmed on May 22. Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko attended the talks and urged the G7 to maintain pressure on Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not mention the G7 meeting in his evening video address but said Ukraine is ready to take the "fastest possible steps" to end the war. "Ukraine's interest is not to prolong the war, but to be prepared for any development. It is clear to the world that it is Russia's fault the war is still ongoing," he said. "We are doing all the necessary groundwork on our side. What's needed is a reciprocal readiness from Russia -- and it's not there now." Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have accelerated and last week Russian and Ukrainian officials held their first face-to-face talks in more than three years. But the Kremlin said on May 22 that new peace talks with Ukraine had "yet to be agreed," disputing reports the two nations would soon hold negotiations at the Vatican. Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19 in a call he said was aimed at ending the "bloodbath," but neither the call nor the earlier direct talks resulted in Russia offering any concessions. Putin this week made a surprise visit to Russia's Kursk region, saying after his return that Russian forces are working to establish a buffer zone along the country's border with Ukraine. "Our forces are currently engaged in solving this task, hostile firing points are being actively suppressed, and the work is ongoing," Putin said on May 22. It was Putin's first visit since Russian troops pushed out Ukrainian troops who had been occupying parts of the region since launching an incursion last year that appeared to catch Russia off guard. Kyiv rejected Putin's buffer zone plan and criticized the statements as further proof that Russia has no interest in peace. "These new aggressive claims clearly reject peace efforts and show that Putin has been and remains the only reason the killing continues," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on X. Putin also issued instructions for a comprehensive reconstruction program to be worked out for the southern Russian regions affected by Ukrainian drone strikes and fires, including Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-g7-finance-ministers- canada-putin-trump-zelenskyy/33422004.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Regulated Information Nyrstar NV releases notice for the 2024 annual general shareholders meeting to be held on 24 June 2025 23 May 2025 at 07.00 CEST Nyrstar NV (the Company) today issued the notice for the 2024 annual general shareholders meeting to be held on 24 June 2025 at 11:00 a.m. CEST. The annual general meeting will be held physically with no virtual option available. The practical modalities of the meeting are set out in the notice to the meeting which has been published on the Company's website ( https://www.nyrstarnv.be/en/investors/share-and-bondholder-information/shareholder-meetings ). The full notice, including agenda, proposed resolutions and explanatory note can be found on the aforementioned Nyrstar NV website. About Nyrstar NV The Company is incorporated in Belgium and is listed on Euronext Brussels under the symbol NYR. For further information please visit the Nyrstar website: www.nyrstarnv.be For further information contact: Company Secretary company.secretary@nyrstarnv.be Whyte Corporate Affairs - +32 2738 0620 nyrstar@whyte.be Attachment Updated data from the pivotal phase III STARGLO study continue to demonstrate a clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival with a 40% survival benefit for people with R/R DLBCL who are not candidates for transplant 1 89% of patients whose cancer had fully responded at the end of treatment with Columvi in combination with chemotherapy were still alive and 82% showed no signs of cancer one year post-treatment 1 Timely initiation of effective therapy at relapse or after initial therapy failure is critical for this aggressive, life-threatening disease Results demonstrate potential of the Columvi combination as a much-needed, off-the-shelf and fixed-duration treatment option Basel, 23 May 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today two-year follow-up data from the phase III STARGLO study. After a median follow-up of 24.7 months, data showed a 40% improvement in overall survival (OS) for patients treated with Columvi (glofitamab) in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) and OS was not reached, compared to 13.5 months for MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) plus GemOx (R-GemOx).1 These updated data continue to demonstrate the statistically significant and clinically meaningful survival benefit of this off-the-shelf, fixed-duration Columvi combination for people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have received at least one prior line of therapy and are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).1 Data will be presented in an oral session at the 61st American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 30 May 3 June 2025. We are encouraged that the two-year follow-up data for Columvi reinforces its potential to extend the lives of many patients where prognosis has historically been poor, said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, Roches Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. These findings demonstrate the potential lasting benefits of early and effective treatment initiation with a bispecific antibody for people with relapsed or refractory disease. "When cancer comes back or doesnt respond to treatment, its devastating for patients with DLBCL given the aggressive nature of the disease, said Haifaa Abdulhaq, MD, Professor, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Director of Hematology, UCSF Fresno. In my community practice, Ive seen the potential of this Columvi combination to help patients start treatment quickly - providing lasting remissions and more time without ongoing therapy. The benefit across key secondary endpoints, including progression-free survival (PFS) and complete remission (CR), was maintained for patients treated with the Columvi combination.1 There was a 59% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death (hazard ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.290.58) and more than twice as many patients sustained a CR (58.5% vs. 25.3%).1 Among patients with a CR at the end of the treatment period, 89% were alive and 82% had maintained remission one year after treatment.1 Safety of the combination remained unchanged from the previous analysis and was consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual medicines.1,2 Patients received a higher median number of cycles of the Columvi combination (11 versus 4), due to disease progression in the R-GemOx arm.1,2 A higher rate of adverse events (AEs) was observed with the Columvi regimen. One of the most common AEs was cytokine release syndrome, which was generally low grade.1 Given the wide adoption of global treatment guidelines in real-world clinical practice, there are no biological or clinical differences in DLBCL management worldwide.3-6 While second-line therapies have advanced, DLBCL can progress rapidly and many people are not candidates for, cannot tolerate, or do not have access to latest therapies.7,8 There is an urgent need for treatments that are rapidly available upon a diagnosis of relapse, that can manage the disease and improve long-term outcomes. Based on the STARGLO data, this Columvi combination is approved in more than 30 countries for people with R/R DLBCL who are not candidates for ASCT, including countries throughout the EU. Columvi in combination with GemOx was added to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) as an NCCN category 1 preferred recommendation for the treatment of people with second-line DLBCL who are not intended to proceed to transplant.3 Columvi monotherapy has been approved for use in R/R DLBCL after two or more prior lines of therapy in more than 60 countries worldwide. Columvi is part of Roches industry-leading CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody programme. Together with the clinical development of off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR T-therapies, Roche aims to provide tailored treatment options that suit the diverse needs, preferences, and experiences of people with blood cancers and healthcare systems. About the STARGLO study The STARGLO study [GO41944; NCT04408638] is a phase III, multicentre, open-label, randomised study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Columvi (glofitamab) in combination with gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab) in combination with GemOx in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior line of therapy and who are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplant, or who have received two or more prior lines of therapy. Preclinical research indicated an increased antitumour effect when combining Columvi with GemOx over GemOx alone, so the STARGLO study was initiated to further explore the potential complementary effects of the treatment combination. Outcome measures include overall survival (primary endpoint), progression-free survival, complete response rate, objective response rate, duration of objective response (secondary endpoints), and safety and tolerability. About Columvi (glofitamab) Columvi is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD3 on the surface of T cells and CD20 on the surface of B cells. Columvi was designed with a novel 2:1 structural format. This T-cell engaging bispecific antibody is engineered to have one region that binds to CD3, a protein on T cells, a type of immune cell, and two regions that bind to CD20, a protein on B cells, which can be healthy or malignant. This dual-targeting brings the T cell in close proximity to the B cell, activating the release of cancer cell-killing proteins from the T cell. Columvi is part of Roches broad and industry-leading CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody clinical development programme that also includes Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab), which aims to provide tailored treatment options that suit the diverse needs, preferences, and experiences of people with blood cancers and healthcare systems. Roche is investigating Columvi as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma. As part of Roches efforts to elevate treatment standards in the earlier stages of DLBCL, where there is the best opportunity to improve long-term outcomes and prevent relapse, Columvi is also being investigated in combination with Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin) and MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (R-CHP) in previously untreated DLBCL in the phase III SKYGLO study [GO44145; NCT06047080]. About diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) DLBCL is an aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and the most common form, accounting for about one in three cases of NHL.9 Approximately 160,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with DLBCL each year, with comparable incidence rates across regions.9,10 Medical practices, including pathological classification, diagnosis, staging, initial treatment and relapse management, are similarly approached worldwide.3-6 While it is generally responsive to treatment in the frontline, as many as 40% of people will relapse or have refractory disease, at which time salvage therapy options are limited and survival is short.7,11 Improving treatments earlier in the course of the disease and providing much needed alternative options could help to improve long-term outcomes. About Roche in haematology Roche has been developing medicines for people with malignant and non-malignant blood diseases for more than 25 years; our experience and knowledge in this therapeutic area runs deep. Today, we are investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to patients across a wide range of haematologic diseases. Our approved medicines include MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab), Gazyva/Gazyvaro (obinutuzumab), Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin), Venclexta/Venclyxto (venetoclax) in collaboration with AbbVie, Hemlibra (emicizumab), PiaSky (crovalimab), Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab) and Columvi (glofitamab). Our pipeline of investigational haematology medicines includes T-cell engaging bispecific antibody cevostamab, targeting both FcRH5 and CD3 and Tecentriq (atezolizumab). Our scientific expertise, combined with the breadth of our portfolio and pipeline, also provides a unique opportunity to develop combination regimens that aim to improve the lives of patients even further. About Roche Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, as one of the first industrial manufacturers of branded medicines, Roche has grown into the worlds largest biotechnology company and the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to discover and develop medicines and diagnostics for improving and saving the lives of people around the world. We are a pioneer in personalised healthcare and want to further transform how healthcare is delivered to have an even greater impact. To provide the best care for each person we partner with many stakeholders and combine our strengths in Diagnostics and Pharma with data insights from the clinical practice. For over 125 years, sustainability has been an integral part of Roches business. As a science-driven company, our greatest contribution to society is developing innovative medicines and diagnostics that help people live healthier lives. Roche is committed to the Science Based Targets initiative and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to achieve net zero by 2045. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com. All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. References [1] Abramson J, et al. Glofitamab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (Glofit-GemOx) in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): 2-year (yr) follow-up of STARGLO. Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; 2025 May 30 - Jun 3. Abstract #7015. [2] Abramson J, et al. Glofitamab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus rituximab-GemOx for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (STARGLO): a global phase 3, randomised, open-label trial. Lancet 2024; 404 (10466): 1940-1954. [3] NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for B-Cell Lymphomas V.1.2025. [4] Tilly H, et al. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2015;26:v116-25. [5] Zhu J, et al. Union for China Lymphoma Investigators of Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) diagnosis and treatment guidelines for malignant lymphoma 2021 (English version). Chin J Cancer Res. 2021;30;33(3):289-301. [6] Wight J, et al. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a consensus practice statement from the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance. Intern Med J. 2022;52(9):1609-1623. [7] Fabbri N, et al. Second-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Evolution of options. Semin Hematol 2023; 60(5): 305312. [8] Westin J, et al. CAR T cells as a second-line therapy for large B-cell lymphoma: A paradigm shift? Blood. 2022;139(18):27372746. [9] UpToDate. Patient education: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma in adults (Beyond the Basics). [Internet; cited May 2025]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma-in-adults-beyond-thebasics. [10] World Health Organization. Numbers derived from GLOBOCAN 2022. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Factsheet [Internet; cited May 2025]. Available from: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/34-nonhodgkin-lymphoma-fact-sheet.pdf. [11] Sehn LH, et al. Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(9):842-858. Roche Global Media Relations Phone: +41 61 688 8888 / e-mail: media.relations@roche.com Hans Trees, PhD Phone: +41 79 407 72 58 Sileia Urech Phone: +41 79 935 81 48 Nathalie Altermatt Phone: +41 79 771 05 25 Lorena Corfas Phone: +41 79 568 24 95 Simon Goldsborough Phone: +44 797 32 72 915 Karsten Kleine Phone: +41 79 461 86 83 Nina Mahlitz Phone: +41 79 327 54 74 Kirti Pandey Phone: +49 172 6367262 Yvette Petillon Phone: +41 79 961 92 50 Dr Rebekka Schnell Phone: +41 79 205 27 03 Roche Investor Relations Dr Bruno Eschli Phone: +41 61 68-75284 e-mail: bruno.eschli@roche.com Dr Sabine Borngraber Phone: +41 61 68-88027 e-mail: sabine.borngraeber@roche.com Dr Birgit Masjost Phone: +41 61 68-84814 e-mail: birgit.masjost@roche.com Investor Relations North America Loren Kalm Phone: +1 650 225 3217 e-mail: kalm.loren@gene.com Attachment Press release Paris, 23 May 2025 Credit Cooperatif has signed a memorandum of understanding with Orange regarding a possible acquisition of the fintech Anytime As part of its 2030 strategic plan "100% committed", Credit Cooperatif is continuing its development strategy by engaging in exclusive discussions with Orange Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Orange Group, to acquire "Anytime", a fintech specializing in supporting associations. "To achieve its growth ambitions by 2030, Credit Cooperatif aims to strengthen its digital offering, particularly for its small and medium-sized association clients. Anytime offers simple and innovative services that perfectly meet the new needs of this clientele," explains Pascal Pouyet, CEO of Credit Cooperatif Group. "We are pleased to have initiated these discussions with Credit Cooperatif, a cooperative bank that has a catalogue of offers that are fully complementary with that of Anytime. After a development period supported by Orange Bank, this opportunity allows Anytime to continue its evolution, especially in the Social and Solidarity Economy markets," said Frederic Niel, CEO of Orange Bank. An acquisition supporting Credit Cooperatif's 2025-2030 "100% committed" plan With the acquisition of Anytime, Credit Cooperatif aims to: Strengthen its presence in its traditional association market Build up its distribution model with a 100% digital offering tailored to the needs of small associations Achieve a market share of over 6% among newly created association by 2030 Enhance its dedicated services for large SSE organizations with an advanced expense management and card fleet tool Credit Cooperatif, the historic bank for actors in the social and solidarity economy (SSE) market With a strong representation of associations and non-profit organizations in its portfolio, Credit Cooperatif is the reference bank for actors from the solidarity economy. It offers a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of this clientele through a hybrid distribution model: A network of 68 business centers and multi-market agencies (retail clients, businesses, associations) located in major urban areas A remote banking service in France for individual clients and small associations An impact investment bank to support the structuring projects of large SSE organizations Anytime, a fintech specializing in the association segment Founded in 2014 and a subsidiary of Orange Bank since 2020, Anytime is a digital platform for account management and payment services aimed at professionals and associations. Over the past two years, it has specialized further and offers an innovative, tailored solution for associations and non-profit organizations, including advanced expense management tools. Social process The employee representative bodies within the Orange Group and those of Credit Cooperatif are being consulted on this project with a view to potentially completing the operation by the end of 2025. About Credit Cooperatif Credit Cooperatif is a bank committed to environmental and social transitions. While it operates across all banking sectors and expertise, its mission is to leverage its skills in service of actors in the real economy. Historically a cooperative bank for legal entities, 100% of its capital is contributed by its clients: cooperatives, SMEs, mutual societies, associations, public interest organizations, and the movements that represent them. These clients hold the dual status of customer and member. Thanks to its everyday banking productssolidarity-based and traceableindividuals are increasingly choosing Credit Cooperatif. www.credit-cooperatif.coop Press contacts Credit Cooperatif: Tiara de Cerval; +33 6 99 95 82 84; presse@credit-cooperatif.coop Fabienne Salagnac; +33 6 82 39 43 77; fabienne.salagnac@petitlama.fr About Orange Orange is one of the worlds leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 125,800 employees worldwide at 31 March 2025, including 69,700 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 294 million customers worldwide at 31 March 2025, including 256 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries). Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan "Lead the Future", built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. "Lead the Future" capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com and the Orange News app or to follow us on X: @orangegrouppr. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. Press contacts Orange: Emmanuel Gauthier; emmanuel2.gauthier@orange.com; +33 6 76 74 14 54 Tom Wright; tom.wright@orange.com; +33 6 78 91 35 11 Attachment Dublin, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Strategic Intelligence: Deforestation Risk" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. While previous efforts to halt deforestation have focused on consumer campaigns, we are entering a new era of deforestation regulation with serious financial implications for companies. This Deforestation Risk framework combines this regulatory risk with physical, reputational, and financing risk. This report also contains our five key recommendations for mitigating deforestation risk. Historically, public pressure and reputational concerns have driven deforestation action. However, new regulations will now force companies to take account of the risk posed to them by the deforestation to which they contribute, both directly and indirectly. Key Highlights The landmark EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) will require companies to prove their supply chains are deforestation-free or face hefty sanctions. Companies must be prepared for this regulation, which comes into force in December 2025. Other regions are scrambling to respond to the EUDR, either with similar regulations or by supporting their exporters. Companies should implement a comprehensive deforestation strategy to minimize the risk they face. Setting robust targets, engaging with stakeholders across the supply chain, and investing in technology to monitor deforestation will all help mitigate deforestation risk. Scope Anthropogenic deforestation (forest loss caused by humans) and forest degradation (the destruction of a forest's ability to perform ecosystem services) have climbed steadily over the past few decades. Deforestation drives climate change, weakens ecosystem services, and reduces biodiversity. To prevent this, governments are increasingly regulating it. Most deforestation occurs in a small number of countries to aid the production of a small number of commodities. However, new regulations will hold any company whose supply chain involves deforestation accountable. Any company that uses deforestation-intensive commodities will face elevated risk. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary The analyst's Deforestation Risk Framework The Economic and Environmental Impacts of Deforestation The Global Regulatory Landscape Deforestation Strategies Deforestation Risk Profiles by Sector Glossary Further Reading Thematic Research Methodology Companies Featured Amazon Atomo Barclays Barry Callebaut Boston Consulting Group Bunge Cadbury Cargill Chiangmai Life Architects Danone Deloitte GainForest Green Earth Fresh Produce Louis Dreyfus Company McDonald's Mondelez Olam Rainforest Connection Satelligence Seedlip Tesco TraceX Technologies TrusTrace Voyage Foods For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3jzuxg About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Dublin, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Opportunities in the Global Fragrances Sector 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the global fragrances sector, analyzing data from 108 countries. The global fragrances sector is valued at $59.1 billion in 2024 and is expected to rise to $73.1 billion in 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%. Female fragrances constituted the largest category by value, capturing a 53% market share in 2024, followed by male fragrances at 32.2%. Regionally, the Americas led the sector in 2024 with a 45.2% share of the value, followed by Western Europe, which held a 27% share. Rapid urbanization, rising purchasing power, and the increasing demand for exotic and luxury perfumes are stimulating growth in the global fragrances sector. With the rise in focus on personal grooming, consumers are increasingly incorporating fragrances in their daily routines, fueling sales. The growing consumer inclination towards incorporating fragrances into their daily grooming routines is pushing the demand for fragrances. Moreover, consumers seek new and innovative secents in fragrances. As a result, manufacturers are formulating novel scent combinations to capitalize on this trend. Consumers are also looking for premium fragrances with high-quality ingredients. Manufacturers are leveraging this trend by introducing luxury fragrances to attract them. Scope Global snapshot: Includes executive summary, current sector scenarios in terms of ingredients, manufacturer claims, labeling, and packaging. The section also touches on the key growth enablers and inhibitors for the fragrances sector. Sector snapshot: The analysis provides a global overview, along with regional and category-level data and analysis. It also includes regional overview across five regions-Americas, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Western Europe-highlighting sector size and evolution, value and volume shares by category, and growth drivers for each region. Consumer trends: Provides an overview of evolving consumer trends, supported by the analyst's in-house consumer surveys, and product examples. Country deep-dive: Provides risk-reward analysis of the top high-potential countries in each region based on market assessment, economic development, governance indicators, sociodemographic factors, and technological infrastructure. Provides a deep-dive analysis of 10 high-potential countries covering value growth during 2024-29, key challenges, consumer demographics, and key trends. It also includes regional analysis covering the outlook for each region. Competitive environment and brand shares: Provides an overview of the leading companies and brands at global and regional levels. Market shares of brands and private labels in each region are also detailed. Distribution overview: Provides an analysis of the leading distribution channels in the global fragrances sector in 2024. It covers modern retail, traditional retail, specialist retail, direct sellers, cash & carries and warehouse clubs, and other distribution channels. Packaging analysis*: The report provides percentage share (in 2024) and growth analysis (during 2024-29) for various pack materials, pack types, closures, and primary outer types based on volume sales of fragrances. Select industry metrics: The section provides topline statistics and analysis for different alternate datasets, such as patent filings, job analytics, and deals in the cosmetics and toiletries (C&T) industry in 2024. Reasons to Buy Manufacturers and retailers seek latest information on how the market is evolving to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the sector in the region The report provides a detailed analysis of the countries in the region, covering the key challenges, competitive landscape and demographic analysis, that can help companies gain insight into the country specific nuances The analysts have also placed a significant emphasis on the key trends that drive consumer choice and the future opportunities that can be explored in the region, than can help companies in revenue expansion To gain competitive intelligence about leading brands in the sector in the region with information about their market share and growth rates Key Topics Covered: Global Snapshot Executive Summary Market Outlook Enablers and Inhibitors Sector Snapshot Global Overview Regional Overview Consumer Trends Country Deep Dive Identifying High-Potential Countries by Region Americas Canada Chile Regional Overview Asia-Pacific Malaysia Japan Regional Overview Eastern Europe Poland Hungary Regional Overview MEA UAE Saudi Arabia Regional Overview Western Europe Switzerland Germany Regional Overview Competitive Environment Competitive Landscape - Sector Analysis Competitive Landscape - Category Analysis Distribution Overview Packaging Analysis Growth Analysis by Key Pack Material and Pack Type Growth Analysis by Closure Type and Primary Outer Type Select Industry Metrics Global Patent Filings Global Job Analytics Global Deals Appendix Definitions About the Analyst A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to: L'Oreal LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton Coty Chanel Natura &Co For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ix9akx About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Tom Erik Foss-Jacobsen has been appointed CEO of Borregaard ASA. He succeeds Per A. Srlie, who will retire after 26 years in the position (see notice to Oslo Stock Exchange 3 December 2020). The appointment will be effective 1 August 2025. I am pleased that Tom Erik Foss-Jacobsen has accepted the position as CEO of Borregaard. With Foss-Jacobsen, Borregaard will get a leader with in-depth understanding of the business and previous experience from significant parts of Borregaards international operations. Over several years, he has delivered strong results and has made a significant contribution to developing a robust and common culture and strategic understanding throughout the company. We are confident that he has the qualities necessary to further develop the company in the years to come, says Helge Aasen, chair of Borregaards Board of Directors. Tom Erik Foss-Jacobsen is currently Executive Vice President (EVP) and head of the BioSolutions (lignin-based biopolymers and vanillin products), a position he has held since 2019. Prior to that, he was EVP and head of BioMaterials (speciality cellulose and bioethanol) in Borregaard. Foss-Jacobsen holds a masters degree in international marketing and strategy and a bachelors degree in civil engineering. He has more than 25 years experience from Borregaard, including 21 years in leadership roles. I have been fortunate to be part of an exciting journey in Borregaards commercial organisation. Im proud of how Borregaards highly competent organisation has continuously advanced our specialisation strategy by growing high-value business, driving diversification, and delivering solid results. I approach the responsibilities of my new role with humility and a deep sense of commitment. With a comprehensive understanding of our organisation's operations and strategic objectives, I am confident in our collective ability to continue driving sustainable growth and creating value for both Borregaard and its stakeholders, says Foss-Jacobsen. Per A. Srlie has worked in Borregaard for 35 years and will leave the company at the end of September 2025. Per A. Srlie has made significant contributions to Borregaard over more than 26 years as CEO, following nine years in key leadership roles within the company. He has been instrumental in shaping Borregaards strategy, leading the transformation into a bio-based specialty chemicals company with strong global market positions. Since the company's listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2012, Srlie has played a pivotal role in driving substantial profit growth and increasing shareholder value. Moreover, he has fostered a robust commercial culture and developed leaders capable of advancing the business in the years ahead, says Aasen. The Board will grant Foss-Jacobsen stock options at the accession date 1 August in accordance with the company's remuneration policy for long-term incentive schemes. Contacts: Director Investor Relations, Knut-Harald Bakke, +47 905 79 164 Director Communications, Tone Horvei Bredal, +47 924 67 711 This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. PARIS, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) announced today that the voting results for its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 15, 2025 (the AGM) have been published on the Companys website (https://www.constellium.com/investors/shareholder-meetings). All the proposals were adopted at the AGM, including the appointment of Bradley Soultz and the re-appointment of Emmanuel Blot, Martha Brooks, and Lori Walker to the Companys Board of Directors for a period of three years following the Annual General Meeting. About Constellium Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value-added aluminum products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, packaging and automotive. Constellium generated $7.3 billion of revenue in 2024. www.constellium.com TALLINN, Estonia, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the crypto market enters a new phase of innovation and user empowerment, Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S) is emerging as one of 2025s most compelling blockchain opportunities. With its ongoing presale generating buzz across the industry, Bitcoin Solaris is redefining accessibility and scalability in Web3, offering everyday users a real shot at building long-term wealth. A New Era of Decentralized Accessibility Bitcoin Solaris introduces a next-generation hybrid blockchain that merges Proof-of-Work and Delegated Proof-of-Stake (PoW + DPoS) mechanisms, supporting lightning-fast speeds of up to 10,000 transactions per second and 2-second finality. With cross-chain compatibility and seamless integration with Solanas tech stack, Bitcoin Solaris delivers both performance and flexibility. Key features include: Hybrid PoW + DPoS architecture for scalability and decentralization ZK privacy options, DeFi/NFT capabilities, and mobile-first design Cyberscope and Freshcoins -audited smart contracts and -audited smart contracts Freshcoins KYC verification for added transparency Most notably, the Solaris Nova Appcurrently in betaallows users to mine BTC-S directly from smartphones or laptops without expensive hardware or technical skills, making it one of the most accessible crypto experiences to date. And people are noticing. A growing number of influencers and early adopters are joining the conversation. One of the most talked-about reviews is from CryptoChester , who breaks down why Bitcoin Solaris is poised to lead the next market wave. Why Work for Money When BTC-S Can Work for You? Tokenomics That Build Trust Bitcoin Solaris adheres to a deflationary model with a 21 million total token supply, reflecting a long-term vision grounded in utility and scarcity. The distribution model prioritizes community and miner incentives: 66.66% for mining (14 million BTC-S) (14 million BTC-S) 20% for presale 5% for liquidity pools 2% each for ecosystem development, community rewards, marketing, and staking 0.33% for team and advisors This transparent structure ensures decentralization, trust, and broad-based participation from the ground up. Presale Highlights: A 90-Day Opportunity The Bitcoin Solaris presale is designed to reward early adopters and generate sustainable momentum. With only 90 days to participate, its already breaking records: Current Price: $4 Next Phase: $5 Launch Price: $20 Bonus: 12% But what makes it stand out even more? Runs for only 90 days, launch Date: July 31, 2025 Over $1,000,000 raised already More than 8,900 unique users onboarded Potential return: 1,900% One of the shortest and most explosive presales of the year And that growth isnt just hypeits backed by substance. To stay updated or get involved, explore their Telegram or check the buzz on X . This is one of the fastest-growing presales in the 2025 crypto landscape, driven by strong fundamentals and community excitement. Double Rewards Referral Program Bitcoin Solaris is boosting community growth with a referral program that rewards both you and your invitees . During the presale, youll earn 5% in BTC-S tokens for every purchase made through your referral link, while your referrals get a 5% bonus on their token buy. Simply log into your account at bitcoinsolaris.com , grab your referral link, and start sharing it across social media, crypto groups, or directly with friends. Its a win-win system built to grow the ecosystem and your rewards. Join the Bitcoin Solaris Movement With a rapidly growing user base, audited infrastructure, and mobile-friendly innovation, Bitcoin Solaris is positioning itself as a cornerstone of the next crypto cycle. Whether you're new to digital assets or a seasoned investor, BTC-S offers a compelling pathway to participate inand benefit fromthe decentralized future. Get involved before July 31, 2025. The clock is ticking. For more information: Website: bitcoinsolaris.com Telegram: @Bitcoinsolaris X (Twitter): @BitcoinSolaris Media Contact: Xander Levine info@bitcoinsolaris.com Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Bitcoin Solaris The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0de5d24-8d39-48ec-9ac3-a58c3ce8fa14 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4812643c-7ca2-4e66-90f4-a08aabbc474c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7232e923-9a0b-406b-af65-991e2329843e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dadbff09-25b1-4b4d-98c3-c9e8e643680b The annual general meeting of Terranet AB (the "Company") was held today, May 23, 2025, in Lund. The meeting resolved, with the required majority and in accordance with the board's proposal, on the following main resolutions. Adoption of the profit and loss account and balance sheet The annual general meeting resolved to adopt the income statement and balance sheet of the Company and the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet. Allocation of profits The annual general meeting decided to allocate the result in accordance with the board's proposal in the annual report, i.e. that the result be carried forward. Discharge from liability The members of the board of directors and the CEO were discharged from liability for the financial year 2024. Election of Board of Directors, auditor and remuneration The annual general meeting resolved that the board of directors shall consist of five (5) members without deputies. It was further resolved that the Company shall have a registered accounting firm as auditor. Torgny Hellstrom, Anders Blom, Magnus Edman and Mats Fagerhag were re-elected as board members. Uwe Brandenburg was also elected as a new board member. Torgny Hellstrom was re-elected chairman of the board. The registered accounting firm Ernst & Young AB ("EY") was elected as the Company's auditor. EY has announced that the authorized public accountant Martin Henriksson will be the auditor in charge. It was resolved that a fee of SEK 185,000 shall be paid to each of the members elected by the annual general meeting who are not employed by the Company or the Group, and SEK 495,000 to the chairman of the board. A fee of SEK 27,500 shall be paid to each of the members of the remuneration committee (maximum three members) and a fee of SEK 65,000 shall be paid to each of the members of the audit committee (maximum two members), and SEK 110,000 to its chairman. It was resolved that fees to the auditor shall be paid according to approved invoices. Decision to amend the articles of association The annual general meeting decided to amend the articles of association as follows. Previous wording New wording 4 Share capital The share capital shall be not less than SEK 3,300,000 and not more than SEK 13,200,000. 4 Share capital The share capital shall be not less than SEK 14,500,000 and not more than SEK 58,000,000. 5 Number of shares The number of shares shall be not less than 330 000 000 and not more than 1 320 000 000. 5 Number of shares The number of shares shall be not less than 1 450 000 000 and not more than 5 800 000 000. Approval of the Board's decision on a directed share issue The meeting resolved to approve the board of directors' resolution of April 16, 2025 on a new share issue of up to 5,461,210 units (the "Directed Issue"). The new series B shares and warrants shall be issued in units. Each unit contains 33 series B shares and five (5) warrants of series TO9 B. The Company's share capital may, through the Directed Issue, be increased by a maximum of SEK 1,802,199.30 through the issuance of a maximum of 180,219,930 series B shares. The subscription price per unit amounts to SEK 2.97, corresponding to a subscription price per share of SEK 0.09. The right to subscribe for shares in the Directed Issue is, with deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, granted to a number of pre-announced investors, existing shareholders and members of the Company's management and board of directors. Through the Directed Issue, a maximum of 27,306,050 warrants of series TO9 B are issued, entailing an increase of the share capital upon full exercise by a maximum of SEK 273,060.50. Each warrant of series TO9 B entitles the holder to subscribe for one (1) series B share at a subscription price corresponding to SEK 0.18. The subscription price may not be less than the share's quota value applicable at any given time. Subscription for new shares by exercising the warrants of series TO9 B can take place during the period from December 1, 2025 up to and including December 15, 2025. Approval of the Board's decision on a rights issue of units The annual general meeting also resolved to approve the board of directors' resolution of April 16, 2025 on a new issue of a maximum of 13,880,714 units with preferential rights for existing shareholders (the "Rights Issue"). The new shares and warrants shall be issued in units (so-called units). Each unit shall contain twelve (12) series B shares and three (3) warrants of series TO9 B. The Company's share capital may, through the Rights Issue, be increased by a maximum of SEK 1,665,685.68 through the issue of a maximum of 166,568,568 series B shares. The subscription price amounts to SEK 1.08 per unit, corresponding to a subscription price of SEK 0.09 per share. The warrants are issued without consideration. The right to subscribe for units in the Rights Issue shall, with preferential rights, be granted to those who are registered as shareholders in the Company on the record date for the Rights Issue, whereby the holding of one (1) series B share entitles to one (1) unit right. Eighty-six (86) unit rights entitle to subscription of one (1) unit. Subscription of units shall take place during the period from May 27, 2025 up to and including June 11, 2025. Through the Rights Issue, a maximum of 41,642,142 warrants of series TO9 B are issued, entailing an increase in the share capital upon full exercise by a maximum of SEK 416,421.42. Each warrant of series TO9 B entitles the holder to subscribe for one (1) series B share at a subscription price corresponding to SEK 0.18. The subscription price may not be less than the share's quota value applicable at any given time. Subscription for new shares by exercising the warrants of series TO9 B can take place during the period from December 1, 2025 up to and including December 15, 2025. Resolution to authorize the Board of Directors to resolve new issues of shares, warrants and convertibles The annual general meeting resolved to authorize the board of directors to decide, on one or more occasions up until the next annual general meeting, on the issue of series B shares, warrants and/or convertibles with the right to subscribe for or convert series B shares, with or without deviation from the shareholders' preferential rights, within the limits of the articles of association applicable at any given time, to be paid in cash, in kind and/or by set-off. The main reason for the board of directors to be able to decide on a new share issue without preferential rights for shareholders as described above is to be able to raise new capital to increase the Company's flexibility for financing. Resolution authorizing the Board of Directors to make minor adjustments to the resolutions adopted by the General Meeting The meeting resolved to authorize the board of directors, the CEO or the person otherwise appointed by the board of directors to make such minor adjustments and clarifications to the resolutions adopted at the annual general meeting as are necessary for the registration of the resolutions. _______________ Lund in May 2025 Terranet AB The Board of Directors For more information, please contact: Lars Lindell, CEO E-mail: lars.lindell@terranet.se About Terranet AB (publ) Terranet's goal is to save lives in urban traffic. The company develops innovative technical solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV). Terranets anti-collision system BlincVision laser scans and detects road objects up to ten times faster than any other ADAS technology available today. The company is headquartered in Lund, with offices in Gothenburg and Stuttgart. Since 2017, Terranet has been listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (Nasdaq: TERRNT-B). Follow our journey at: www.terranet.se Attachment Dublin, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Small Drones Market by Application (Combat, ISR, Inspection, Survey & Mapping, Agriculture, Delivery, Search & Rescue), Platform (Nano, Micro, Mini), Type (Fixed Wing VTOL, Multi Rotor, Hybrid), Mode of Operation, Power Source, and Region - Global Forecast to 2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The small drones market is on a remarkable growth trajectory, projected to reach USD 11.25 billion by 2030 from USD 6.40 billion in 2025, registering a CAGR of 11.9%. This report offers invaluable insights for both established market players and new entrants, detailing the entire ecosystem of small drones, thus enabling stakeholders to better analyze the competitive landscape and strategize their market positioning. Furthermore, it assists in crafting effective go-to-market strategies and highlights key market drivers, challenges, and opportunities. This growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of drones across civil and commercial sectors, including agriculture, delivery services, and media, alongside military applications for surveillance and intelligence. Supportive government regulations are fostering a favorable landscape for ongoing drone innovation and development. Leading entities in the small drones market include DJI (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Parrot Drone SAS (France), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), and AeroVironment, Inc. (US). The battery-operated segment is projected to account for the largest share during the forecast period. Predominantly driven by ease of use and quieter operation compared to fuel-powered models, battery-operated drones are bolstered by technological advancements. These drones, powered by rechargeable batteries, align with the escalating demand for environmentally friendly solutions, particularly in urban environments and for surveillance purposes. While lithium-ion batteries currently necessitate frequent recharging, industry innovation is set to overcome these challenges. Companies like Eaglepicher Technologies (US), RRC Power Solutions (Germany), and Plug Power Inc. (US) are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge battery technologies expected to support longer flight times and more tasks. Fully autonomous is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. The rise of fully autonomous drones reflects the accelerated movement towards independent operation without human oversight. These drones are becoming increasingly integral to military missions, particularly in high-risk settings. The US is notably investing heavily in R&D to advance the capabilities of these drones, enhancing their ability to perform sophisticated tasks such as monitoring and data collection autonomously. Industry collaboration is further enhancing drone technologies, compliance, and performance, solidifying the position of fully autonomous drones in the burgeoning market. Europe is estimated to be the second largest market for small drones during the forecast period. Europe's growing demand for drones is underscored by the necessity for advanced surveillance and security measures amidst rising geopolitical tensions. Countries like France and Russia are actively developing high-tech drones for military and security operations. Corporations such as Thales (France) and BAE Systems (UK) are spearheading partnerships to develop platforms capable of addressing border security, coastal monitoring, and homeland defense, thus accelerating market growth within the region. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 356 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $6.4 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $11.25 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.9% Regions Covered Global Market Dynamics Drivers: Extensive Use of Small Drones in Civil and Commercial Applications Rising Procurement For Military Applications Supportive Government Regulations and Initiatives Elevated Demand For Small Patrolling Drones For Marine Border Security Restraints: Information Security Risk and Inadequate Air Traffic Regulations Shortage of Certified Drone Operators Opportunities: High Public and Private Sector Investments Enhancing Critical Infrastructure Protection and Law Enforcement With Aerial Remote Sensing Rapid Adoption of Real-Time Traffic Monitoring Solutions Challenges: Lack of Sustainable Power Sources To Improve Endurance Extreme Weather Conditions Safety and Privacy Concerns Complex Regulatory Approval Case Study Analysis: Improved Crop Management and Yields With Small Drones Countertrafficking With Aerovironment Puma 3 Ae Field Tests With Cargo Drones in Amazon Forest, Peru Canyon Mapping With Dji M600 Pro in Colorado, US Geohazard Monitoring With Jouav Ph-20 Uav in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Company Profiles Dji Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Lockheed Martin Corporation Aerovironment, Inc. Parrot Drone Sas Boeing Northrop Grumman Rtx Teledyne Flir Llc Textron Inc. Bae Systems Thales Elbit Systems Ltd. Aeronautics Skydio, Inc. Xag Co., Ltd. Jouav Yuneec Delair Microdrones Turkish Aerospace Industries Shield AI Instanteye Robotics Flyability Autel Robotics Wingtra Nearthlab Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5spk3c About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Austin, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spatial Omics Market Size & Growth Analysis: According to SNS Insider, the global Spatial Omics Market was valued at USD 451.76 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 1,308.88 million by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 12.55% over the forecast period of 20242032. The US led the market in 2023, accounting for over 81% of the share. The demand is propelled by the increasing utilization of precision medicine and the necessary detailed molecular tissue-level knowledge. As the scientific and medical community is seeking a more comprehensive view of disease pathogenesis and cellular architecture, spatial omics is emerging as an essential contributor to this, providing next-generation insights through high-resolution gene and protein expression mapping, particularly in oncology and neuroscience. Get a Sample Report of Spatial Omics Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/4257 Market Overview Spatial omics is a powerful molecular biology method that integrates genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics with spatial information for gaining new insights at the single-cell and sub-cellular level. It maintains the spatial information of biomolecules within tissue, which can be used to understand the heterogeneity of disease, tumor microenvironment, and immune response. This power is revolutionizing how diseases are investigated and treated. Especially in the U.S., academia and biopharma are making big bets on spatial biology tools in efforts to advance drug discovery and personalized treatment plans, supported by healthy funding and collaborations. Major Players Analysis Listed in this Report are: 10x Genomics (Visium Spatial Gene Expression, Xenium In Situ Gene Expression) Akoya Biosciences, Inc. (PhenoCycler-Fusion, Phenoptics) Bio-Techne (RNAscope, Advanced Cell Diagnostics - RNAScope) Bruker Corporation (MALDI Imaging, TIMS-TOF Pro) Dovetail Genomics (Cantata Bio.) (Hi-C, Micro-C) Illumina, Inc. (NextSeq 1000, NovaSeq 6000) Ionpath, Inc. (MIBI, MIBI-TOF) NanoString Technologies, Inc. (GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler, nCounter Analysis System) RareCyte, Inc. (CyteFinder System, CyteJet) Vizgen, Inc. (MERSCOPE, MERFISH) Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc. (RNAscope, BaseScope) Biognosys AG (SpectroMine, Panorama) Fluidigm Corporation (CyTOF, Helios) Lunaphore Technologies S.A. (PhenoImager, PhenoCycler) Molecular Machines & Industries GmbH (Molecular Machine Imaging System, Spatial Protein Profiling) PerkinElmer, Inc. (Vectra Polaris, Opera Phenix) Rebus Biosystems, Inc. (REBUS Imaging Platform, REBUS Scanning Technology) Standard BioTools Inc. (CellStream, IonFlux) Zeiss Group (ZEISS LSM 980, ZEISS Axio Imager) GE Healthcare (Inveon PET, Discovery MI) Spatial Omics Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 US$ 451.76 Million Market Size by 2032 US$ 1,308.88 Million CAGR CAGR of 12.55% From 2024 to 2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Key Regional Coverage North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Eastern Europe [Poland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Rest of Eastern Europe] Western Europe] Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Rest of Western Europe]), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (Middle East [UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East]), Africa [Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of Africa], Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia Rest of Latin America) Segment Analysis By product, the consumable segment was the largest in 2023, and the fact that consumables are used in repeated experiments favored the dominance of the segment. Instruments are expected to be the most rapidly growing segment, favored by the requirement of automation in sensing devices with high-resolution spatial sensing capabilities. FFPE samples accounted for 60.7% share, and are also preferred due to stability and abundant presence in biobanks. Fresh frozen is quickly evolving as more samples are being acquired because of their suitability for high-resolution molecular profiling. The technology market, led by spatial transcriptomics (40.9% market share), is rising, with spatial proteomics being adapted because of its capabilities for mapping protein interactions. Diagnostics led applications, with 49.4%, while drug discovery was the fastest growing use case, fueled by pharma investment in precision biology. Workflow and End-user Analysis Workflow-wise, instrumental analysis accounted for the highest share with a 43.8% in 2023, such as imaging and sequencing technologies used for spatially linked data. Data analysis is now the fastest-growing workflow, as there is a growing need for AI and machine learning tools to make sense of complex, multi-modal datasets. Academic and translational research facilities led demand among end-users, with 40.8% of the market, backed by government funding and partnerships. The pharmaceutical and biotech industry is the largest and fastest-growing user of spatial omics applications in the clinical trial, biomarker discovery, and drug development pipeline space. This change suggests an emerging market in which research results are moving more and more into actual therapy development. Regional Trends The largest share of the global spatial omics market in 2023 was held by North America (39.7%) due to early adoption of technology development, the presence of a large number of academic and research institutes, and R&D funding from the public and private sectors. The USA is still dominating in innovation thanks to contributions of biotech companies, research institutions, and clinical laboratories. Asia Pacific, in the meantime, is the most promising region, owing to the rise in governments` investments in spatial biology research projects in countries like South Korea, Japan, and China. This demand is also boosted by government-funded precision medicine programmes and a burgeoning biotechnology industry. Europeans are also jumping on the spatial omics bandwagon in cancer and neurodegenerative disease research, particularly in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic nations. Buy a Single-User PDF of Spatial Omics Market Analysis & Outlook Report 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/4257 Recent Developments Illumina announced in February 2025 a spatial transcriptomics tech, only a few months in advance was capable of resolving millions of cells per experiment, while the capture area is nine times greater and the resolution four times higher than systems. It is expected to be launched commercially in 2026. In January 2025, University of Pennsylvania researchers introduced an AI tool called MISO (Multi-modal Spatial Omics), which can help make sense of tiny tissue samples for personalized cancer diagnostics. 10x Genomics in December 2024 introduced the Xenium Analyzer Plus, an updated spatial imaging platform with increased multiplexing for concurrent RNA and protein detection. In November 2024, NanoString Technologies and Thermo Fisher Scientific partnered to jointly develop spatial multi-omic panels for FFPE samples. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting Globally, over USD 1.5 billion was invested in spatial biology research from all funding sources, with North America contributing to approximately 48% of this funding as a result of federal grants and biotech venture capital. 27% of new, non-redundant oncology solution-initiating trials in 2023 included spatial omics data, a 60% increase from 2020. The US is leading the world in trial-based adoption. Adoption of spatial omics in the academic lab is estimated to increase from 900 installations in 2023 to more than 3,200 by 2032 worldwide, an increase of 4fold in spatial technology implementation. Spatial transcriptomics and proteomics, combined, produced more than 1.2 petabytes of data in 2023, with more than 65% of the analysis being executed in the cloud with bioinformatics tools. The cost to perform a typical spatial omics operation was USD 480 per sample in 2023 and is anticipated to decrease to less than USD 300 in 2027 through automation of the platform and reagent standardization. Spatial Omics Market Segmentation By Product Instruments Sequencing Platforms IHC Microscopy Flow Cytometry Mass Spectrometry Others Consumable Software Bioinformatics Tools Imaging Tools Storage & Management Databases By Sample Type Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Fresh Frozen By Technology Spatial Transcriptomics Spatial Genomics Spatial Proteomics By Application Diagnostics Translation Research Cell Biology Single Cell Analysis Others By Workflow Sample Preparation Instrumental Analysis Data Analysis By End-use Academic & Translational Research Institutes Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Contact Research Organizations (CROs) Others Need Any Customization Research on Spatial Omics Market, Enquire Now@ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/4257 Table of Contents Major Key Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Spatial Omics Market by Product 8. Spatial Omics Market by Sample Type 9. Spatial Omics Market by Technology 10. Spatial Omics Market by Application 11. Spatial Omics Market by Workflow 12. Spatial Omics Market by End-use 13. Regional Analysis 14. Company Profiles 15. Use Cases and Best Practices 16. Conclusion Related Reports Single-Cell Analysis Market to Triple by 2032, Reaching $10.27B with 13.61% CAGR Single-Cell Omics Market Set for Explosive Growth to $6.21B by 2032, CAGR of 16.2% Consumer Genomics Market to Surge to $10.8B by 2032, Driven by 24.6% CAGR Bioinformatics Market Forecast to Reach $35.38B by 2032, Growing at 13.38% CAGR About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. Austin, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SNS Insider, the Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market was valued at USD 4.62 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 11.58 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.77% over the forecast period 20242032. This growth is propelled by increasing global demand for biologics, vaccines, and gene therapies, as well as stricter regulatory mandates worldwide. In the United States, the market stood at USD 1.36 billion in 2023 and is expected to climb to USD 3.09 billion by 2032, reflecting robust investment in biopharma R&D, increased FDA oversight, and a national drive toward innovation in therapeutic development. Get a Sample Report of Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market@ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/4483 Market Overview The Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market has witnessed steady expansion due to the growing demand for vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and gene therapies. As biotechnology companies face increasing pressure to comply with strict safety standards, the demand for biological safety testing products, such as reagents, kits, and instruments, has surged. Moreover, advancements in technology have enhanced testing efficiency and accuracy, further driving market demand. On the supply side, companies are adopting automated testing systems to meet the demand for rapid, reliable safety assessments. The rise of personalized medicine, especially in oncology, is also propelling the demand for specialized biological safety testing. With more companies developing biologics and complex therapeutics, the need for comprehensive safety testing across various stages of drug development and production is expected to increase, significantly contributing to market growth. Major Players Analysis Listed in this Report are: Charles River Laboratories Endosafe nexgen-PTS, Accugenix Microbial Identification System BSL Bioservice Mycoplasma Detection Assays, Adventitious Agent Testing Services Merck KGaA (MilliporeSigma) Steritest NEO System, PyroMAT System Samsung Biologics Viral Clearance Testing Service, Endotoxin & Bioburden Testing Sartorius AG Microsart Filtration System, Sartoclear Dynamics Lab Filtration Eurofins Scientific GMP Sterility Testing, Residual Host Cell Protein Analysis SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance SA Mycoplasma Testing Service, Bioburden & Endotoxin Testing Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Applied Biosystems qPCR Kits, EndoPrep Endotoxin Testing BIOMERIEUX BACT/ALERT 3D, Endozyme Endotoxin Detection Assays Lonza PyroGene Recombinant Factor C Assay, MycoAlert Mycoplasma Detection Kits Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market Report Scope Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2023 US$ 4.62 billion Market Size by 2032 US$ 11.58 billion CAGR CAGR of 10.77% From 2024 to 2032 Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2024-2032 Historical Data 2020-2022 Key Regional Coverage North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Eastern Europe [Poland, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Rest of Eastern Europe] Western Europe] Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Rest of Western Europe]), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (Middle East [UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Rest of Middle East]), Africa [Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of Africa], Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia Rest of Latin America) Key Growth Drivers The expanding biopharmaceutical industry and the increasing regulatory requirements for product safety. Segment Analysis By Product Reagents and Kits: In 2023, reagents and kits dominated the market, accounting for over 40.5% of revenue. Reagents are essential for various biological safety tests, including endotoxin and bioburden tests, and are widely used in clinical and research laboratories. Continued innovation in reagent formulations and their growing application in high-throughput testing further boost their demand. Instruments: The instruments segment is expected to be the fastest-growing through 2032, driven by the increasing number of biological safety testing labs and the rising complexity of biologic drugs. Instruments are crucial for performing advanced safety tests, such as cell-based assays and flow cytometry. By Application Vaccines & Therapeutics: The vaccines & therapeutics segment dominated in 2023, fueled by the need for strict regulatory compliance and safety testing standards. Collaborative efforts like BioNTech SEs agreement with the UK government to accelerate mRNA vaccine trials highlight the growing need for safety testing in the vaccine development process. By Test Type Endotoxin Tests: The endotoxin test segment witnessed significant revenue in 2023. The increasing adoption of endotoxin testing in drug production ensures that biopharmaceuticals meet stringent safety standards. Recent product launches, such as Lonza's Nebula Multimode Reader in 2022, have improved the efficiency and accuracy of endotoxin detection, further driving segment growth. Buy a Single-User PDF of Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market Analysis & Outlook Report 2024-2032@ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/4483 Regional Analysis Dominating Region: North America North America held the largest share of the Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market in 2023, driven by its well-established biopharmaceutical sector and stringent safety regulations. The U.S. FDAs guidelines for biologics and therapeutic products have bolstered the demand for biological safety testing services. Leading companies in this region, such as Lonza and Thermo Fisher Scientific, are continuously innovating and expanding their product portfolios to meet the region's growing demand for biologics safety testing. Fastest-Growing Region: Asia Pacific The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing in the biological safety testing market, driven by the rapid expansion of the biotechnology sector in countries like China, India, and Japan. Government initiatives to boost biopharmaceutical R&D, along with increasing foreign investments, are fueling this growth. In particular, Chinese biopharma companies are adopting advanced safety testing technologies to meet global safety standards, contributing significantly to the region's growth. Recent Developments July 2023 Lonza launched the Nebula Multimode Reader, enhancing the efficiency of endotoxin detection in safety testing labs. April 2023 BioMerieux introduced a new pyrogen testing system designed to improve patient safety in biologics testing. February 2023 Charles River Laboratories expanded its endotoxin and bioburden testing services to meet the rising demand for biologics testing in North America. November 2022 Merck KGaA launched a new range of reagents for cell-based assays, enhancing the speed and accuracy of biological safety tests. August 2022 Eurofins Scientific opened a new biologic testing facility in the U.K., aimed at supporting advanced therapeutic development. October 2021 Sartorius Stedim Biotech introduced rapid mycoplasma detection kits to enhance biologics safety testing. Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market Segmentation By Product Reagents & Kits Services Instruments By Application Vaccines & Therapeutics Vaccines Monoclonal Antibodies Recombinant Protein Blood & Blood-based Products Gene Therapy Tissue & Tissue-based Products Stem Cell By Test Type Endotoxin Tests Sterility Tests Cell Line Authentication & Characterization Tests Bioburden Tests Adventitious Agent Detection Tests Residual Host Contamination Detection Tests Others Need Any Customization Research on Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market, Enquire Now@ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/4483 Table of Contents Major Key Points 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Research Methodology 4. Market Dynamics Impact Analysis 5. Statistical Insights and Trends Reporting 6. Competitive Landscape 7. Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market by Product 8. Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market by Application 9. Biological Safety Testing Products and Services Market by Test Type 10. Regional Analysis 11. Company Profiles 12. Use Cases and Best Practices 13. Conclusion Related Reports U.S. Cell-Based Assays Market to Surpass $6 Billion by 2032, Driven by Advancements in Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine Biotechnology Reagents & Kits Market Poised to Reach $1.44 Trillion by 2032, Accelerated by Growth in Genomic and Proteomic Research Flow Cytometry Market Forecast to More Than Double by 2032, Reaching $11.41 Billion Amid Rising Demand for Precision Diagnostics About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. PHILADELPHIA, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berger Montague PC advises investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed against BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BigBear or the Company) (NYSE: BBAI) on behalf of purchasers of BigBear securities between March 31, 2022 through March 25, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired BigBear securities during the Class Period may, no later than JUNE 10, 2025 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . BigBear, headquartered in McLean, VA, is an AI-driven technology company offering national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. In June 2021, BigBear.ai Holdings entered into a business combination with GigCapital4, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company. After the business combination was consummated on December 7, 2021, BigBear issued $200 million of convertible notes with a maturity date of December 15, 2026. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose that: (i) BigBear maintained deficient accounting review policies; (ii) the Company incorrectly determined that the conversion option within the 2026 Notes qualified for the derivative scope exception under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815-40 and failed to bifurcate the conversion option as required by ASC 815-15; (iii) thus, BigBear had improperly accounted for the 2026 Notes. On March 18, 2025, BigBear disclosed that certain financial statements since fiscal year 2021 should no longer be relied upon and would be restated, in particular with respect to the accounting treatment of the Company's 2026 Notes. On this news, BigBear's stock price fell $0.52 per share, or 14.9%, to close at $2.97 per share on March 18, 2025. Then, on March 25, 2025, BigBear filed its 2024 10-K, disclosing that a conversion option embedded within the 2026 Notes was incorrectly deemed to be eligible for a scope exception from the bifurcation requirements of ASC 815-15. As a result, the Companys financial statements were restated. The Company further disclosed that it had identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting specifically, that BigBear had not consistently executed [its] technical accounting review policies with respect to certain non-routine, unusual, or complex transactions. On this news, BigBear's stock price fell $0.32 per share, or 9.11%, to close at $3.19 per share on March 26, 2025. To learn your rights or for more information, CLICK HERE or please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at phamner@bm.net . A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member. Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. Contact: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 aabramowitz@bm.net Dublin, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Competitor Profile: Amazon Pay 2025" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Amazon Pay, originally launched in 2007 as Pay with Amazon, was rebranded in 2017 to its current incarnation. This innovative solution empowers users to make payments on third-party partner merchant websites and apps, utilizing payment methods stored in their Amazon profile. In the United States, Amazon Pay facilitates transactions with major credit and debit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB. For users in India, it extends functionality to adding funds to an Amazon Pay balance for merchant payments and bill settlements. Expanding beyond online transactions, Amazon Pay entered the realm of credit and loan services. A significant partnership with ICICI Bank in October 2018 brought forth a Visa-branded credit card tailored for Amazon customers. Another substantial development was the launch of Smart Stores in India in June 2020, allowing merchants to create digital storefronts. Customers could conveniently scan store QR codes through the Amazon app to view product offerings and complete purchases using Amazon Pay. In April 2022, Amazon unveiled the Buy with Prime feature, which allows Prime members to enjoy streamlined checkout on merchant sites using their Amazon Prime credentials and Amazon Pay. Furthermore, in July 2024, Amazon Pay integrated with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, enhancing commuter convenience by facilitating online booking and digital QR code ticket generation through its platform. The report provides information and insights into Amazon Pay including: Insight into the business model and strategic objectives Extensive coverage of products and services Comparative analysis with major alternative payment solutions Details on revenue strategies and merchant registration processes Chronicle of significant events and achievements Key Highlights Amazon Pay, rebranded in 2017, originated as Pay with Amazon in 2007. In July 2017, launched Amazon Pay Places for in-store payments via the Amazon app in the US. April 2019 saw the introduction of P2P money transfers in India via UPI on Android. April 2024 marked a collaboration with Stripe, expanding Amazon Pay's acceptance through the Stripe platform. Plans to launch a standalone payment app in India by March 2025, currently operating through the main Amazon app. Scope Discover business propositions and strategic milestones such as product launches and partnerships. Analyze operational and financial performances, benchmarking against competitors. Gain detailed insight into the current product and service offerings. Reasons to Buy Access insights into Amazon Pay's operations and key business activities. Explore its diverse product portfolio and revenue generation strategies. Evaluate competitive dynamics in the alternative payments industry through performance comparisons. Key Topics Covered: Table of Contents Overview Benchmarking Revenue Model Merchant Registration Process Products and Services Significant Events Amazon Pay's Ecommerce Market Share by Country Supporting Merchants Appendix A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to: Amazon Pay Apple Pay Google Pay PayPal For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zboou4 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. LONDON, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apollo Art Auctions is proud to announce a landmark sale. Fine Ancient Art Shipwrecked Phoenician Treasures, taking place on 7th June 2025 at 15:00 GMT. From the depths of the ancient Mediterranean to todays refined collections, this exceptional auction offers a thoughtful introduction to the Phoenicians seafarers who played a role in trade and cultural exchange across the ancient world. This highly anticipated sale features artifacts recovered from a long-lost shipwreck. Each piece tells a story not only of their journey, but also of the craftsmanship and cultural influences reflected throughout the sale. Made using early mould-making techniques, they illustrate the artistic practices of the Phoenicians and their interaction with neighbouring cultures, including those of Egypt and Greece. These were not everyday items. They were devotional offerings, placed in sanctuaries and temples, where flickering oil lamps cast shadows on sacred walls. Rich in iconography and steeped in meaning, these artifacts once served as powerful symbols of faith, ritual, and maritime connection in the ancient Mediterranean. The collection has been previously published and exhibited, reflecting its historical interest and well-documented provenance. Each artifact has been preserved for over two thousand years, providing insight into aspects of spiritual and artistic life in the ancient Phoenician world. A scholarly, illustrated publication will accompany each lot, offering useful context for collectors, historians, and researchers. Some notable highlights are: Lot 5: PHOENICIAN TERRACOTTA TRITON HYBRID FIGURE WITH FISH TAIL Lot 9: PHOENICIAN TERRACOTTA STANDING MALE FIGURE IN A POSE OF PRAYER OR BLESSING - TL TESTED Lot 11: PHOENICIAN TERRACOTTA MODEL OF A MEDIUM-SIZED BOAT WITH CREW Lot 15: PHOENICIAN TERRACOTTA GROUP WITH BIRTH SCENE For further insight into the collection, watch our ancient art expert Alessandro Neri discuss the significance of these remarkable pieces: Watch on YouTube This auction offers a rare opportunity to connect with a collection shaped by a remarkable journey from shipwreck and rediscovery to the possibility of new ownership. These objects once travelled across the ancient seas for ancient rituals and faith and now stand ready to be part of modern collections. Payments will be accepted in USD, GBP, and EUR. All items will ship from Spain and are supported by export licenses in full compliance with international cultural heritage regulations. Apollo Art Auctions will handle the entire process, ensuring a smooth and transparent experience for all buyers. Please allow up to six weeks for licensing and delivery. For more information, to book a viewing, or to register to bid: enquiries@apolloauctions.com | +44 7424 994167 Explore the catalogue and register online at: https://auction.apolloauctions.com/auctions/5-1SP87C/fine-ancient-art-shipwrecked-phoenician-treasures MONTREAL, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MADD Canada is renewing its call for the Quebec Government to introduce administrative sanctions for drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between .05% and .08%. Every other jurisdiction in Canada has implemented this proven road safety measure. Yukon, which had previously also lacked such sanctions, passed legislation last year, leaving Quebec as the only province or territory without this critical tool to help prevent impaired driving. We hear from victims and families across Quebec who are devastated and frustrated, said Tanya Hansen Pratt, National President of MADD Canada, whose mother, Beryl, was killed by an impaired driver in 1999. Impaired driving tragedies are preventable. We are calling on the Quebec Government to act. Research has consistently shown that essential driving skillssuch as reaction time, coordination, and decision-makingare impaired at a .05% BAC. Drivers in this range have a much higher risk of being involved in fatal crashes than drivers at .00% BAC. Administrative sanctions offer police a fast, effective way to remove unsafe drivers from the road before tragedy occurs. Eric Ducharme, CEO of La Societe de lassurance automobile du Quebec (SAAQ) had commissioned an analysis at the request of the coroner's office which concluded that "the introduction of penalties for blood alcohol levels of 50 mg or more would prevent 3 to 9 deaths and about 10 serious injuries due to drinking and driving annually in Quebec," and that this decrease would reduce compensation by $2.2 million to $3 million per year for victims. Coroners, public health experts, and the SAAQ agree that lowering the BAC limit in Quebec would save lives. Public support is growing, with 61% of Quebecers now in favour of lowering the limit and imposing administrative sanctions, up from 54% in March 2024. MADD Canada is calling for the creation of strong administrative sanctions for drivers in the .05% to .08% BAC range. By doing so, we can create a culture of responsibility on our roads and ensure impaired driving is met with swift and appropriate consequences. We created a microsite with information and resources to help Quebecers take action. Join us in calling for the Government of Quebec to adopt this life-saving measure, like other jurisdictions in Canada. To learn more and sign our petition, click here: https://qcroadsidesanctions.ca/ About MADD Canada MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in close to 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. For more information, visit www.madd.ca. For more information, contact: Arielle Nkongmeneck, MADD Canada Communications Manager, 1-800-665-6233 ext. 240 or ankongmeneck@madd.ca References: https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/05/22/quebecers-favour-lowering-alcohol-limit/ https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2025-05-16/alcool-au-volant/le-pdg-de-la-saaq-favorable-au-0-05.php?sharing=true https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-faits-divers/2025-04-22/alcool-au-volant/la-mort-d-un-motocycliste-aurait-pu-etre-evitee-avec-le-0-05.php#:~:text=(Qu%C3%A9bec)%20L'abaissement%20de,demande%20au%20gouvernement%20d'agir.&text=En%202020%2C%20un%20motocycliste%20est,%C3%A9t%C3%A9%20frapp%C3%A9%20par%20un%20chauffard. https://www.aspq.org/app/uploads/2023/10/donnees-de-sondages-leger-aspq-2022-2023-alcool-au-volant.pdf https://montreal.citynews.ca/2025/04/22/quebec-coroner-drunk-driving-penalties/ SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 15, 2025, investors in UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) saw the price of their shares crater as much as $59.13 (-19%) after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is under criminal investigation for possible Medicare fraud. This latest development comes on the heels of the filing of a securities class action suit against UnitedHealth, and just one day after its CEO Andrew Witty stepped down and the company pulled its 2025 guidance which the company issued less than one month ago. Hagens Berman is investigating the securities fraud claims alleged in the pending suit and urges UnitedHealth investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may be able to assist in the investigation to contact its attorneys. Class Period: Dec. 3, 2024 Apr. 16, 2025 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 7, 2025 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/unh Contact the Firm Now: UNH@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 The Wall Street Journal UnitedHealth Group Is Under Criminal Investigation for Possible Medicare Fraud: On May 14, 2025 the WSJ reported that, according to people familiar with the matter, the Justice Department is investigating UnitedHealth Group for possible criminal Medicare fraud and that the investigation has been active since at least last summer. The report noted that, [w]hile the exact nature of the potential criminal allegations against UnitedHealth is unclear, the people said the federal investigation is focusing on the companys Medicare Advantage business practices. News of the criminal investigation comes just one day after UnitedHealth announced that it was retracting its already revised April 17 guidance and that the companys CEO Andrew Witty was being replaced by Stephen Hemsley, the current chairman and former CEO of UnitedHealth. The Pending UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) Securities Class Action: Adding to its woes, UnitedHealth Group Inc. is facing a securities class action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York. The action, Faller v. UnitedHealth Group Inc., et al., No. 1:25-cv-03799, centers on the health care giant's financial outlook for fiscal year 2025. The lawsuit alleges that UnitedHealth misled investors regarding its earnings projections. Initially, on December 3, 2024, the company projected net earnings per share (EPS) of $28.15 to $28.65 and adjusted EPS of $29.50 to $30.00. This guidance was reaffirmed on January 16, 2025. However, on April 17, 2025, the company sharply reduced its forecast to a net EPS of $24.65 to $25.15 and an adjusted EPS of $26.00 to $26.50, citing unexpectedly higher care utilization among its Medicare Advantage members. This revision triggered a roughly $170 billion decline in UnitedHealth's market value on the same day, with shares plummeting 22%. The lawsuit further contends that the revised guidance followed years of an alleged corporate strategy by UnitedHealth to deny health coverage to inflate profits and its stock price. The plaintiff claims this strategy drew increased scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers, fueled public discontent, and purportedly contributed to the December 4, 2024, murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealth's insurance division. The complaint highlights the intense public reaction to Mr. Thompson's death, suggesting widespread animosity towards the company's practices. According to the lawsuit, this heightened regulatory and public pressure compelled UnitedHealth to alter its practices regarding coverage denials. Despite this alleged shift, the company proceeded to reiterate its initial, now-contested, financial guidance. The lawsuit argues this reiteration was reckless and unrealistic given the purported changes in the company's operational strategies. The abrupt reversal in guidance on April 17th caught investors off guard. Following the announcement, at least one analyst reportedly suggested that the lowered utilization management, potentially driven by the aforementioned scrutiny, could be a factor in the increased care utilization cited by UnitedHealth. The lawsuit seeks to represent investors who purchased or acquired UnitedHealth Group stock between December 3, 2024, and May 13, 2025, and alleges violations of federal securities laws. Hagens Bermans Investigation Shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman is investigating the alleged claims. The latest news of a DOJ investigation and the CEOs departure is disturbing and raises serious questions about the information flow from UnitedHealth to the market, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in UnitedHealth and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the UnitedHealth Group case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding UnitedHealth should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email UNH@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Bermans team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. WASHINGTON, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to former White House and Pentagon Insider Jim Rickards, two major shifts are now unfolding: the possible closure of the IRS and the unlocking of a $150 trillion natural resource windfall beneath U.S. soil. For decades, weve watched trillions flow out of this countryto China, to global banks, and to a dysfunctional tax system, Rickards says. But that drain may finally be shutting off. Rickards, a veteran intelligence analyst and advisor to four U.S. presidential administrations, believes the Supreme Courts 2024 Chevron ruling was the first domino. It could clear the path to access enormous U.S. mineral reserves that had been frozen by environmental red tape for nearly 50 years. A Tax System Designed to Fail? At the same time, Rickards says a new plan gaining traction inside Trumps economic team could end income taxation for the working and middle classreplacing it with tariffs. The plan would eliminate taxes on wages, tips, Social Security, and even small business income for Americans earning under $150,000 per year. In its place: revenue from imported goods. Presidents goal is very simple, said Howard Lutnick, Trumps Commerce Secretary. To abolish the Internal Revenue Service and let all the outsiders pay. Where Would the Money Come From? According to Rickards, that question already has an answer: a dormant federal reserve of mineral wealth valued at over $150 trillion. This reserve is not hypothetical, he explains. Its real. Its documented. Its mapped. The only reason we havent accessed it is because of legal sabotage. Rickards highlights data showing massive holdings across federally controlled land : $3.1 trillion in Nome, Alaska $7.35 trillion in Midland, Texas $516 billion in Californias Salton Sea region In his new interview The American Birthright, Rickards outlines how these mineral-rich zonesonce off-limitsmay now power a sovereign wealth engine for the U.S., just as similar reserves did in Norway and the UAE. A New Era of National Funding? Rickards cautions that while change wont happen overnight, the framework is being put in place nowand fast. He believes this dual strategycutting income taxes and activating the countrys real, physical wealthcould finally put the U.S. on the same footing as the worlds most resource-wealthy nations. About Jim Rickards Jim Rickards is a former advisor to the CIA, Pentagon, U.S. Treasury, and Federal Reserve. He has advised government officials on financial warfare and systemic risk, and currently serves as the editor of Strategic Intelligence, a research advisory focused on geopolitics and wealth protection. HOUSTON, TX, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Points: Extreme Animals Alive opens May 24 at HMNS (members see it first May 23), and invites guests to investigate the stunning variety of animal adaptations found in the natural world. Animals within the exhibit include vinegaroons, Savannah monitors, axolotls, fennec foxes, and many more. Visitors learn about animal adaptations, including those that allow animals to shape-shift, glow, endure extreme temperatures, or even control the minds of other animals. Meet Eustace. Eustace is a six-banded armadillo; cute and shy, but a skilled digger with a keen sense of smell, Eustace carries his armor with him. He uses his flexible shell, made of overlapping bony plates, as well as his claws and teeth to defend himself from predators if necessary. And he just happens to be one of the superheroes of the natural world bursting onto the scene in the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences (HMNS) newest exhibition Extreme Animals Alive, opening May 24 (members see it first May 23). Step into a graphic novel aiming to reveal the strange and wonderful specializations animals exhibit to escape danger and prove themselves supreme. Extreme Animals Alive invites guests to meet some of the champions of the animal kingdom, both famous and hidden gems, that showcase unique characteristics designed for survival over the competition. From super speed to super stealth, these exceptional beasts have sensational superpowers that allow them to shape-shift, glow, or control the minds of other animals. In addition to Eustace, visitors can observe the surprising defense mechanisms of the vinegaroon, the incredible regenerative power of tokay geckos, the peculiar eating habits of prehensile porcupines, the sly and desert-defying survival skills of fennec foxes, and a whole host of other incredible animals. The exhibition allows guests to get up close with a variety of critters, both familiar and fantastic. In fact, opportunities to interact with live animals occur daily. "Extreme Animals Alive isn't just a display of creatures; it's a window into the sheer ingenuity of nature, said Nicole Temple, VP of Education for HMNS. We've carefully curated a collection that highlights the extraordinary adaptations that organisms have evolved to survive and thrive. From the microscopic to the majestic, and from the prehistoric to the present day, visitors witness firsthand the remarkable superpowers that have allowed these critters to conquer their environments, showcasing the breathtaking diversity and resilience of life on Earth." Explore topics like biofluorescence and learn about how a surprising number of animals glow under UV light, like corals, arthropods, insects, fishes, mammals and more. But why do they fluoresce? Communication, camouflage, to attract prey, and to avoid predators are all theories; but, in reality, we dont fully know. Investigate how some animals can beat both the extreme heat and the extreme cold of the Sahara Desert. Clever, physical adaptations help animals like the Bactrian camel, the fennec fox, and the Savannah monitor cope with blistering days in the desert where temperatures can reach over 115F. But when the sun goes down, the temperature may drop by 75 degrees and these same animals must also be able to survive the night in near freezing conditions. Discover living fossils among us, such as the dragonfly and shark, that have evolved very slightly, if at all, from their ancient ancestors. They thrive today just as they did in the geologic past perfectly adapted and successful for hundreds of millions of years. Get ready to plunge into a world where animal adaptations are nothing short of spectacular, with Extreme Animals Alive. Extreme Animals Alive is on display at HMNS beginning May 24 (members see it first May 23). For ticket prices or more information, visit our website at www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629. Extreme Animals Alive is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. About Houston Museum of Natural Science The Houston Museum of Natural Scienceone of the nations most heavily attended museumsis a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory, and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure. ### Contact Info Sami Mesarwi smesarwi@hmns.org +1 281-684-0430 Attachments Chicago, IL, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Side Seniors, a coalition of elders dedicated to the disaster recovery of Chicago's West Side communities, has expressed significant concerns regarding the City of Chicago's proposed allocation of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. The grant, totaling $426,608,000, was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to aid in the long-term recovery efforts following the devastating flooding events of July 2023, which were declared disasters by FEMA (DR-4728), along with subsequent disasters (DR-4749 and DR-4819). West Side Seniors Advocate at Chicago City Hall on April 16, 2025 wearing "Where's My Money?" T-Shirts The City of Chicago's current budget proposal for the grant focuses exclusively on infrastructure repairs, neglecting the pressing unmet needs of residents who continue to suffer from the aftermath of these disasters. Many residents are still grappling with mold infestations in their basements, a direct consequence of the flooding, which poses serious health risks and undermines their quality of life. West Side Seniors, in alignment with its mission to empower and uplift the community, is advocating for a more balanced allocation of the funds. The organization emphasizes the importance of addressing both infrastructure and the immediate needs of affected residents to ensure a comprehensive recovery process. "I am tired of living with mold in my basement, going back and forth to the hospital, and not getting any help from the city. When I asked the city for help through a newly launched program, the city sent inspectors to try to condemn my home and take it from me - a home that I have lived in for 40 years and has been passed down from generation to generation," Larry Quinn, Jr. "It is imperative that the recovery efforts prioritize the health and well-being of our residents," stated Princess Shaw, CEO of Light Up Lawndale. "Ignoring the mold issue not only jeopardizes public health but also hinders the overall recovery and resilience of our communities." We stand with West Side Seniors and Light Up Lawndale in urging the City of Chicago to listen to the voices of those most impacted by these disasters. Recovery is not just about fixing roads and buildingsits about restoring the health, dignity, and security of every resident," said Dr. Atyia Martin, Executive Director, Next Leadership Development, which convenes the Black Resilience Network, a national coalition of Black-led organization committed to community resilience. West Side Seniors calls upon city officials to reconsider the budget allocation and to engage with community organizations and residents in the decision-making process. By doing so, the city can ensure that the recovery efforts are inclusive and effective, addressing the full spectrum of needs as the result of these disasters. West Side Seniors, supported by the 501(C)(3) nonprofit Light Up Lawndale, is committed to its mission of fostering a healthier, more cohesive, and flourishing community in Chicago's West Side. The organization continues to work closely with local residents and other stakeholders to advocate for equitable and sustainable development initiatives. About West Side Seniors Light Up Lawndale is a registered 501(C)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Chicagos Lawndale community. Our mission is to change the narrative of Chicagos West Side communities through education, empowerment, engagement, housing, and economic development. We collaborate closely with residents and organizations in Lawndale to foster a healthier, more cohesive, and flourishing community. Press inquiries West Side Seniors https://www.lightuplawndale.org/flooddisasterjuly2023 Princess Shaw info@lightuplawndale.org (312)459-9092 1440 West Taylor Street Suite 582 Chicago, IL 60607 BALTIMORE, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A recent Supreme Court decision may have ended one of the most powerful doctrines in administrative lawbut according to a former CIA advisor, it also opened the door to something much bigger. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, says Jim Rickards, former advisor to the White House and U.S. Treasury. For the first time in half a centurywe can go get it Rickards is referring to what he calls a $150 trillion national endowment, buried beneath federally controlled land across the United States. Locked away for over a century by red tape and environmental restrictions, this vast store of mineral wealth is now accessible, thanks to the repeal of the Chevron Doctrine. From Courtroom to Country: The Real Impact of Chevrons Repeal For decades, the Chevron Doctrine gave federal agencies broad authority to interpret and enforce environmental regulationsoften blocking access to Americas natural resources. They tied us down with reams of regulation and ushered in one boondoggle after another, Rickards says. But all thats over now Trumps Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine and fast-tracked the ability to recover trillions of dollars worth of resources Rickards argues the legal change doesnt just limit bureaucracyit unleashes untold national potential. We have truly massive mineral wealth here. Its not hard to extract. We know where it is. And how to get it. But the government got in the way, he says Minerals Over Money: Americas Forgotten Treasure This national endowment, as Rickards calls it, isnt made up of cash or bondsbut rare and valuable minerals required for everything from energy production to national defense. These seemingly obscure minerals are the building blocks of everything from NVIDIA chips to advanced military weapons to the new freedom cities Trump has proposed According to Rickards, the Supreme Courts decision will shift control of these resources from regulators back to the public and private sectorsushering in what he calls the modern Homestead era. Despite giving away 10% of all land in the United States the government retained the most valuable part, he says. For 163 years, its held on to it About Jim Rickards Jim Rickards is an attorney, economist, and former advisor to the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Treasury. He served as a principal negotiator during the 1981 Iran Hostage Crisis, helped architect the 1970s Petrodollar Accord, and has briefed U.S. government agencies on financial crises and national security. Rickards is the founder of Strategic Intelligence, a monthly publication covering high-impact political and economic developments shaping Americas future. CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnera Corporation (NYSE: MAGN) today announced its participation in the Stifel 2025 Boston Cross Sector 1x1 Investor Conference. Magneras CEO, Curt Begle, CFO & Treasurer, Jim Till, and EVP, Corporate Development, Investor Relations & Strategy, Robert Weilminster will meet with institutional investors June 3-4, 2025 in Boston, MA. About Magnera Magnera Corporation (NYSE: MAGN) serves 1,000+ customers worldwide, offering a wide range of material solutions, including components for absorbent hygiene products, protective apparel, wipes, specialty building and construction products, and products serving the food and beverage industry. Operating across 46 global facilities, Magnera is supported by over 8,500 employees. Magneras purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. For more than 160 years, the company has delivered the material solutions their partners need to thrive. Through economic upheaval, global pandemics and changing end-user needs, we have consistently found ways to solve problems and exceed expectations. The distinct scale and comprehensive portfolio of products brings customers more materials and choices. Magnera builds personal partnerships that withstand an ever-changing world. Visit magnera.com for more information and follow @MagneraCorporation on social platforms. Investor Contact: Robert Weilminster ir@magnera.com Dublin, Ireland , May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a pioneering move for advertising and filmmaking, Storytailors AI Studio today announced the release of Prove It, one of the first government-commissioned films crafted by human creatives using AI tools and next-generation virtual production workflows. Produced entirely without cameras for the California Highway Patrol, Prove It honours Motorcycle Safety Month and will be distributed statewide. Prove It - AI-Powered film for the California Highway Patrol The launch of Prove It marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of creative production, combining human direction with generative AI to deliver a compelling, cinematic safety message at scale. The project represents a rare fusion of cinematic storytelling with next-generation creative technology, resulting in a powerful narrative that calls on motorcycle riders to "prove" their skill not by taking risks, but by prioritizing safety. Simultaneously, Storytailors also announced the appointment of Aleksander Bach, internationally acclaimed director of Hitman: Agent 47, as Executive and Head of Creative. Known for his cinematic vision and global commercial work, Bach will now lead all creative AI film initiatives across the studios expanding slate. A First for Statewide Government Campaigns Riester, the principal agency, was led by Peter Buck (CCO), Paul Svancara (ACD, Art), Mike Rushing (CD, Copy), Samara Byrne (Sr. Producer), Hayley Winter (Account Director), and Claire Sheriff (Account Supervisor), who drove the vision. Storytailors AI Studio produced the project, with AI OR DIE directing, prompting, and editing using cutting-edge generative AI to craft a cinematic narrative. The project featured music by Sebastian Pille and audio engineering by AE Media. As one of the first state agencies to harness generative AI, the CHPs Prove It redefines public awareness campaigns, blending human creativity with AIs limitless potential. Launching across broadcast, digital, and social platforms statewide, it sets a bold new standard for public communications storytelling. Key Details Public Sector Meets AI : This is believed to be one of the first generative AI-driven concept films distributed statewide by a U.S. law enforcement agency. : This is believed to be one of the first generative AI-driven concept films distributed statewide by a U.S. law enforcement agency. Creative Innovation Meets Cause : Produced in conjunction with Motorcycle Safety Month, the film aligns with the CHPs statewide commitment to reducing fatalities among motorcyclists. : Produced in conjunction with Motorcycle Safety Month, the film aligns with the CHPs statewide commitment to reducing fatalities among motorcyclists. New Leadership, Bold Vision: Aleksander Bachs appointment as Executive and Head of Creative reinforces Storytailors mission to define the next chapter of cinematic AI storytelling. Executive Commentary "This is a defining moment for usnot just as filmmakers, but as technologists," said James Dubec, Founder and Executive Producer at Storytailors. With Prove It, weve demonstrated that AI doesnt have to compromise craft. It can elevate purpose, scale creativity, and deliver powerful narratives more quickly and effectively. And now, with Aleksander Bach joining us as Executive and Head of Creative, were doubling down on that vision. Aleksander Bach, Executive and Head of Creative of Storytailors, added: As a filmmaker, I see AI as a tool for the creative human spirit. With Prove It, were not just producing content; were reshaping the creative economy itself. Storytailors is building something bold, and Im thrilled to lead this new chapter in filmcraft where soul steers the machine. About Storytailors Storytailors is shaping the future of filmmaking in the age of artificial intelligence. More than a studio, it operates as a flexible story system where emotion, technology, and creative authorship converge. Storytailors blends the creative human spirit with AI to create deeply resonant motion stories for brands, agencies, and original IP ventures. To view the film or learn more about Storytailors, visit www.storytailors.com. Media Contact: Masha Kuliabicheva hello@storytailors.com A video associated with this press release is available: https://www.youtube.com/embed/lLxFvtmudmM California, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trio Petroleum Corp (NYSE American: TPET) (Trio or the Company), a California-based oil and gas company, has decided to suspend operations at McCool Ranch and will terminate its efforts to acquire a working interest in the project. We have made this determination, because, under previously negotiated terms, natural gas prices and water disposal costs, particularly in California, where McCool Ranch is located, makes it cost prohibitive for the Company to employ cyclic-steam operations to increase production and will not be economically feasible in the long run. The Company has decided to focus its efforts on other sites which it believes will be more economically feasible, and hopefully generate greater profits for the Company. About Trio Petroleum Corp Trio Petroleum Corp is an oil and gas exploration and development company in California, Saskatchewan and Utah. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release of Trio Petroleum Corp (Trio) and its representatives and partners that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Acts). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "estimates," "believes," "hopes," "expects," "intends," on-track, "plans," "anticipates," or "may," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Acts and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Acts. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Trio's control, that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth in the Risk Factors sections of the Trio reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of such documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. Trio undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC:MECPF, FRA:92T) (the Company or Mustang) is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2025 field exploration program at the 914W Project (the Project), located in a prospective region known for its mineral potential south of the world-renowned Athabasca Basin. The Company purchased an interest in the Project pursuant to an option agreement (the Option Agreement) with Skyharbour Resources Ltd. whereby the Company may acquire a 75% interest in the Project by satisfying certain conditions. Please refer to the Companys news release dated November 13, 2024, as filed under the Companys SEDAR+ profile, for further details regarding the Option Agreement. The field program at the Project will involve surface prospecting activities, including detailed rock and soil sampling, aimed at identifying zones of mineralization and alteration across target areas. The sampling program will be carried out over nine days. Results from this phase of exploration are expected to inform further exploration efforts, including geophysical surveys or drilling in future phases. The program marks a step forward in Mustangs strategy to advance projects through systematic exploration. Were excited to launch our first field program of the summer at 914W, said Nick Luksha CEO of Mustang Energy Corp. The project area has shown encouraging geological features, and our upcoming work is designed to generate meaningful results that will guide the next phases of exploration. About the 914W Uranium Project The Project is situated approximately 48 km southwest of Camecos Key Lake Operation, offering favourable logistics and access via Highway 914. The Project is strategically positioned within the Western Wollaston Domain, known for unconformity-related and pegmatite-hosted uranium mineralization. The Project hosts favorable geology with local graphite bearing assemblages. Immediately to the north of the Project is the Scurry Rainbow Zone E1 and the Don Lake Trenches2, where up to 1,288 ppm U was encountered in drill hole ML-11, and surface prospecting revealed up to 0.64% U 3 O 8 in a trench at Don Lake Zone E2. The Company advises that, notwithstanding the proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on or near the Scurry Rainbow Zone E, Don Lake Trenches, and Camecos Key Lake Operation, and any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Project, or the Companys ability to commercially exploit the Project, or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. The Company cautions investors on relying on this information as the Company has not confirmed the accuracy or reliability of the information. While historical exploration conducted several geophysical and geological surveys over portions of the property, most of the Project remains underexplored. Mustang sees potential for advancing uranium and rare earth element (REE) exploration on this property. Figure 1: Location Map for the 914W Uranium Project, Northern Saskatchewan.3 References 1. SMDI# 1961, Drill hole ML-1 or Scurry Rainbow E Zone, retrieved from: https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/1961 2. SMDI# 1983, Don Lake Radioactive Zones C, D, and E, retrieved from: https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/1983 3. Saskatchewan GeoAtlas, retrieved from: https://gisappl.saskatchewan.ca/Html5Ext/index.html?viewer=GeoAtlas Qualifying Statement The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo., Technical Advisor for Mustang Energy, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Ms. Guillaume is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Mustang Energy Corp.: Mustang is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada and holds 92,211 hectares in around the Athabasca Basin. Mustang's Ford Lake project covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 3,442 hectares, and the south-east region with the Spur Project (17,929 hectares). Mustang has also established a footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the Yellowstone Project (21,820 hectares) and further expanded its presence in the south-central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project (7,633 hectares). For further information, please contact: Mustang Energy Corp. Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director Phone: (604) 838-0184 Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends, believes or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as 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 future potential of the mineral claims held by the Company and the completion of future work on the Project. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to continue exploring its properties given various environmental and economic factors outside of its control and that the Company will be able to integrate the Project into its existing business. 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. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee3f3063-69e4-47dd-90c2-569f060c6d95 BALTIMORE, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The IRS has stood as a fixture of American life for more than a century. But according to former CIA advisor and financial intelligence expert Jim Rickards, a radical new plan quietly gaining traction could mark the end of income taxesand the agency itselfas early as next year. But Rickards believes it centers on something bigger. This forgotten inheritance, as Rickards calls it, originates from a little-known provision in Title 30 of the U.S. Codean 1872 statute originally designed to give American citizens ownerships of the mineral wealth under public land. But for decades, its been sealed off by a now-defunct federal legal doctrine called Chevronuntil the Supreme Court struck it down in 2024. A Plan to Close the IRSAnd Replace It with Tariffs Now, Rickards says, were on the verge of something much bigger than just a tax cut: a full-scale transformation of how the federal government funds itself. There is a realistic chance that Trump could abolish the income tax, Rickards says. Its not just campaign rhetoricits a complete reversal of how our economy works. Under this new plan, rather than tax labor, the government would generate revenue through tariffs on foreign goods. But Rickards believes we could also be monetizing dormant national resourcesstarting with the $150 trillion of copper, lithium, uranium, and other strategic metals spread across 28% of U.S. land. Rickards explains that this model would return America to a pre-IRS system used throughout the 18th and 19th centuries funding government operations through taxes on imports and exports. A Path Toward Fiscal and Strategic Independence Rickards believes this dual breakthroughthe legal clearance to access untapped resource wealth and the shift away from income taxationcould solve both the debt crisis and the political war over taxes in one stroke. Beyond the revenue implications, he says, tapping into these domestic reserves would also end Americas dangerous reliance on foreign powers particularly Chinafor key materials used in A.I., electric vehicles, and military systems. The potential benefits, Rickards argues, extend far beyond Washington. This is not a stimulus check. This is not a temporary credit, he says. This is a structural shift in how wealth flows through the American economyand a once-in-a-generation chance for working families to come out ahead. Inside the $150 Trillion Opportunity In his newly released briefing , Rickards details: The Supreme Court ruling that makes this all possible The forgotten law that grants public access to buried wealth How a sovereign wealth fund could form around this mineral reserve And how it all connects to a broader plan to eliminate the income tax entirely He also pinpoints regions like Alaska, Nevada, Texas, and Arizonawhere massive deposits have been mapped and valued, but remain untouched. $516 billion in the Salton Sea area... $3.1 trillion in Nome... $7.35 trillion in Midland, Texas, Rickards notes. These arent just estimates. These are documented, measurable assets. Rickards says the public has a narrow window to understand whats happeningand to take steps before these changes are formalized. The vault is open, he says. And what happens next could redefine the American economy. About Jim Rickards Jim Rickards is an economist, attorney, and former advisor to the CIA, White House, and U.S. Treasury. He has worked on financial crisis response planning and testified before Congress on systemic risk. He currently serves as editor of Strategic Intelligence, a monthly research advisory focused on global macro shifts and U.S. economic policy. Toronto - King Global Ventures Inc. (CSE:KING) (OTC: KGLDF) (FSE: 5LM1) (the "Company" or "King Global") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (the "Offering") by the issuance of 1,145,378 Units at a price of $0.50 per Unit for total gross proceeds of $572,689. Pursuant to the terms of the Offering, each Unit is comprised of one common share ("Common Share") and one 2-year Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of $0.70 per Common Share for a period of two years following the closing date of the Offering. All of the securities issued under the Offering are subject to a four-month and one-day statutory hold period. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes. About King Global Ventures: Black Canyon Property in Arizona King Global Ventures is focused on the exploration of precious and base metals in North America. The Black Canyon Project in Yavapai County Arizona is comprised of 213 contiguous concessions covering a total area of 3,742 ac, including 12 former operating mines including the past producing Howard Copper Mine. And is situated 100 km (64 miles) north of Phoenix Arizona. The Black Canyon Project represents an early-stage exploration opportunity targeting copper-gold-silver-zinc, Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") mineralization. The geology of Yavapai County, Arizona is notable due to the presence of a variety of base and precious metal deposit types. The region has a significant history of exploration, discovery and mining operations, including base metals from mining operations like Bagdad, Jerome and Cleopatra. The property is on trend and is approximately 8 km (12 miles) N.W. of Arizona Metals and 100 km (60 miles) south of the historic Jerome Copper mine. The Howard Copper Mine Property is located on 78 acres of patented land approximately 100 km (64 miles) north of Phoenix AZ. Discovered in the early 1920's, small scale production and development focused on high-grade copper. Historical reports state that the main shaft was sunk to the 900-foot level, but that no ore was mined below the 500-foot level. York Property in Quebec The York Property is comprised of 77 claims exceeding 40 sq. km. The Property is on trend between Azimut's Elmer Property and the Eleonor Gold Mine. The Eleonor Mine is hosted by rocks similar to the clastic sediments known to host the Ukaw gold showings. Additional information about King Global Ventures can be viewed at the Company's website at www.kingglobal.gold or at www.sedarplus.ca. On behalf of King Global Ventures Robert Dzisiak Chief Executive Officer 204-955-4803 ir@kingcse.com The technical contents of this news release were approved by Andrew Lee Smith, Bsc., P.Geo, ICD.D, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Neither the CSE Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, the uncertainty of the financing, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in preparing such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove imprecise and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. OR DISSEMINATION THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Grass Valley, May 22, 2025 - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQB: RYES) (the "Company" or "Rise Gold") announces that it has granted a total of 3,320,000 stock options to directors, officers, and consultants of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Company's Stock Option Plan. The stock options are exercisable at a price of US$0.10 (CAD$0.14) per share until May 22, 2030. The Company also announces that it has entered into an agreement to receive investor relations services from Millstream Partners. Millstream Partners' contact information is: 4 Ducking Stool Walk, Christchurch, England, BH231GA, telephone: (+44)7726655975, email: MillstreamPartners@proton.me. The contract starts on May 22, 2025, and has an initial term of four months. Rise Gold will pay US$8,000 per month to Millstream Partners in exchange of services that include organizing of meetings and events in person or online with individuals and organizations interested in investing in the mining sector. The compensation paid to Millstream Partners does not include options to purchase securities of Rise Gold. About Rise Gold Corp. Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Joseph Mullin President and CEO Rise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253174 Why does China still need foreign investment? 09:53, May 23, 2025 By Luo Shanshan, Liu Yang ( Global Times "I've noticed that a new action plan to stabilize foreign investment has been introduced this year. After more than 40 years of reform and opening-up, China's domestic market entities have grown strong. Why do we still need foreign investment?" This is a question that a reader of people.cn posted. This reader's question is representative. The answer can be found in three sets of data. First, as of now, foreign investors have established a cumulative total of 1.24 million enterprises in China, with investments nearing $3 trillion. Foreign-funded enterprises have long been an integral part of China's high-quality development, contributing one-quarter of industrial added value, one-seventh of tax revenue, and creating over 30 million jobs, making significant contributions to China's economic growth. Second, foreign investment in China spans 20 industry categories and 115 major industry sectors. In the manufacturing sector, all 31 major categories and 548 subcategories have attracted foreign investment. China is the only country with all industrial categories listed by the United Nations, and foreign investment has played a pivotal role. Over the past decade, investment in research and development by foreign-funded industrial enterprises above a designated scale in China has grown by 86.4 percent, and the number of effective invention patents has surged by 336 percent. The advanced technologies and management expertise brought by foreign enterprises have positively influenced the development of Chinese companies and talent cultivation, providing substantial support for building a modern industrial system. Third, foreign-funded enterprises contribute to one-third of China's imports and exports. The negative list for foreign investment access has been reduced from an initial 190 items to the current national version of 29 items and the free trade zone version of 27 items, with the manufacturing sector achieving a "zero" negative list. In accelerating the construction of a new development pattern, foreign investment serves as a bridge connecting domestic and international dual circulation. On one hand, it promotes factor-flow-based openness, driving the cross-border flow of technology, products, and services through supply chains, enabling China to deeply engage in global industrial division and cooperation. On the other hand, it supports institutional openness, advancing institutional reforms in economic, technological, ecological, and other areas. "All of this shows that foreign businesses are important participants in the Chinese modernization drive, in the country's reform and opening up and innovation, and in its interconnectivity with the world and integration into economic globalization." In fact, the question "Why does China still need foreign investment?" is not new. In 1979, China enacted a law on Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, opening the door to foreign investment. At that time, some argued that introducing foreign capital would hinder the development of domestic industries. Over the past 40 years, a consensus has emerged: Reform and opening-up have enabled China to rapidly integrate into the global market and keep pace with the times, with the active utilization of foreign investment being a key factor. Opening door wider In recent years, global unilateralism and protectionism have intensified, with foreign investment in China increasingly disrupted by geopolitical factors. Some have claimed that "China does not welcome foreign investment." "Humankind is a community with a shared future." "Openness brings progress while closing the door can only leave one behind." China's commitment to reform and opening-up remains unwavering, its doors of openness will only widen, and its policy of welcoming foreign investment has not changed and will not change. China's pace of opening up to the world has never slowed. The action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025 further proposes 20 policy initiatives building upon the existing 24 measures for attracting foreign capital. Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Commerce has held an "Invest in China" policy briefing in Japan and organized related events in Sweden and the UK, significantly boosting the willingness of relevant countries to invest and cooperate with China. In early 2025, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade dispatched 107 delegations to visit 33 countries and regions, visiting corporate headquarters such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Bosch. How sincere is China's commitment to opening-up? Foreign enterprises have the most sayAt the China Development Forum 2025, 86 official representatives from multinational corporations from 21 countries and regions participated. According to the 2025 China Business Climate Survey Report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, nearly 70 percent of surveyed US consumer firms plan to increase their investments in China this year. From January to March 2025, China established 12,603 new foreign-invested enterprises, a year-on-year increase of 4.3 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Actual foreign investment in e-commerce services, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, aerospace and equipment manufacturing, and medical equipment and instrument manufacturing grew by 100.5 percent, 63.8 percent, 42.5 percent, and 12.4 percent, respectively. By region, actual investment from ASEAN rose by 56.2 percent, and from the EU increased by 11.7 percent. Wang Peng, associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the data reflected the firm confidence and sustained commitment of foreign companies to the Chinese market. China's economy is on a sustained upward trajectory, with a vast and expanding market, providing foreign investors with broad market opportunities and reliable returns. Moreover, the Chinese government has implemented a series of proactive measures to attract foreign capital, continuously optimizing the business environment and providing policy support, offering robust guarantees for foreign investors, Wang said. "Partnering with China will bring more opportunities. No matter how the external environment may evolve, China remains firmly committed to high-standard opening up and always welcomes companies from all countries to keep investing in China and explore the Chinese market to enjoy benefits and development together," Mao Ning, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on March 13, 2025. Luo Shanshan is a People's Daily reporter; Liu Yang is a Global Times reporter. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) VANCOUVER, May 23, 2025 - Getchell Gold Corp. (CSE: GTCH) (OTCQB: GGLDF) (FWB: GGA1) ("Getchell" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a private placement financing of units ("Units") at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering includes a $1.2 million order from lead investor, Myrmikan Gold Fund LLC ("Myrmikan"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will be exercisable into one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.30 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance. In connection with the Financing, the Company may pay finder's fees. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to spearhead the 2025 exploration program at the Fondaway Canyon gold project with the focus to: Expand the Mineral Resource: The already sizable mineral resource remains open in most directions for further expansion. Through targeted drilling, by an initial drill program comprising 3,000 metres, the drill program's aim is to extend the mineralization along strike and dip, increase the mineral resource, enlarge the open pit model, and thereby substantially enhance the Project's overall value. Increase Gold Recoveries: The metallurgical test work conducted in support of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") reported highly satisfactory gold recoveries of 84%. The test work also identified process methods to improve on the recoveries, however due to the commissioned scope of work and the allowable timeframe, further test work was scheduled to be pursued in 2025. The current objective is to conduct additional test work to demonstrate increased gold recoveries and upgrade the concentrate. Gold recovery directly translates through to the economics and any increased contribution can have a significant positive impact. Given the potential for significant increases generated by the planned 2025 drill program and metallurgical test work, and the likelihood of a substantially higher gold price regime, the intent is to produce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment that could reveal a marked improvement beyond the recently published and highly robust PEA (refer to Company news release February 7, 2025). Debenture Conversion Option In addition, the Company announces that it is offering to convert the Company's outstanding debentures (the "Debentures") and accrued interest in exchange for Units, on the same terms as the Offering. If all Debenture Holders agreed to convert their Debentures, the Company will issue an additional 25,000,000 Units. On December 29, 2023, January 26, 2024, and May 2, 2024, the Company issued Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $4,363,318 (the "Debenture Financing"). The Debentures bear interest at 11% per annum and mature three years from the date of issuance. In addition, lenders also received an aggregate of 43,633,180 warrants (the "Debenture Warrants"). Each Debenture Warrant is exercisable at $0.10 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance. 50% of the Debenture Warrants vested on the date of issuance and the remaining 50% vest 14 months following the closing of each tranche of the Debenture Financing. Bob Bass, Chairman of the Company, has agreed to convert the principal amount of his Debentures, being $1,100,000, together with all accrued interest owed up to the conversion date, in exchange for Units under the same terms as the Offering (the "Debenture Conversion Option"). Debentures in the principal amount of $280,000 (including accrued interest) held by other family members of Mr. Bass will also be converted into Units. In consideration for Mr. Bass agreeing to convert the Debentures, the Company has agreed to accelerate the vesting date of 1,500,000 unvested Debenture Warrants, with an exercise price of $0.16 per share held by Mr. Bass, and 400,000 unvested Debenture Warrants held by other family members of Mr. Bass, to the closing date of the Offering. The Company is offering the Debenture Conversion Option to all Debenture Holders. Upon voluntary conversion of the Debentures, electing Debenture Holders will receive Units under the same terms as the Offering, and accelerated vested Debenture Warrants, if applicable. The Debenture Conversion Option will not affect the rights of those Debenture Holders who have not accepted it. Electing Debenture holders who wish for more information or the necessary steps for the Debenture conversion should contact the Company. The Debenture Conversion Option will remain open until closing of the Offering, which is expected on or before Friday, June 6, 2025. Bob Bass, the Company's Chairman offered the following thoughts on this opportunity. "I am excited to see Myrmikan's support of this Offering and regard this as an opportunity for me and my family to receive additional equity in Getchell at this formative stage of its development. Myrmikan has a track record of identifying undervalued opportunities and we see this as an inflection point for the value of the Company moving forward. We encourage all Debenture holders to consult with their financial advisors to carefully consider following our lead on the Debenture Conversion Option." The conversion of Bob Bass and Chris Bass's Debentures are considered "related party transactions" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company will rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirements contained in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the minority shareholder approval requirements contained in section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on specified markets and the fair market value of the Units issued on conversion of Messrs. Bass's Debentures do not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. All securities issued under the Offering and Debenture Conversion Option will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Corporate The Company further announces that it proposes to extend the expiry dates of an aggregate of 2,462,750 outstanding share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"), as described below. Pursuant to the first and second tranche private placement of units that closed on June 15, 2023 and July 14, 2023, the Company issued 2,143,750 Warrants expiring on June 15, 2025 (the "June Warrants") and 319,000 Warrants expiring on July 14, 2025 (the "July Warrants"), exercisable into common shares at $0.35 per share. The Company proposes to extend the expiry date of the Warrants by an additional 12 months, such that the June Warrants will expire on June 15, 2026 and the July Warrants will expire on July 14, 2026. All other terms of the Warrants will remain unchanged. Warrant holders are advised that replacement warrant certificates will not be issued and that the original warrant certificate must be presented to the Company in order to effect the exercise of the Warrants. About Getchell Gold Corp. The Company is a Nevada focused gold exploration company trading on the CSE: GTCH, OTCQB: GGLDF, and FWB: GGA1. Getchell Gold is primarily directing its efforts on its most advanced stage asset, Fondaway Canyon, a past gold producer with a large mineral resource estimate and recently published Preliminary Economic Assessment. Complementing Getchell's asset portfolio is Dixie Comstock, a past gold producer. www.getchellgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Offering and the terms thereof, participation in the Offering by Myrmikan Gold Fund LLC, completion of the Debenture Conversion Option by Mr. Bass and his family members, election by other Debenture holders to complete the Debenture Conversion Option, and the extension of the June Warrants and the July Warrants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of Getchell have 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. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Getchell Gold Corp. Vancouver, May 23, 2025 - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated May 8, 2025, it has completed the sale of the Porter Idaho Project to Dolly Varden Silver Corp. ("Dolly Varden"). StrikePoint completed the sale of the Porter Idaho Project to Dolly Varden for consideration of $1,100,000, which was satisfied through the issuance of 295,699 common shares in the capital of Dolly Varden at a deemed price of $3.72 per share. Michael G. Allen, President and CEO of StrikePoint said, "The sale of this non-core asset to Dolly Varden allows us to focus on our gold projects in Nevada's Walker Lane. We recently completed a successful spring drill program on the Hercules Gold project with all holes returning significant gold grades. Near surface oxide gold deposits in Tier 1 jurisdictions are increasingly rare, but recent exploration successes in the Walker Lane have highlighted the potential of this part of Nevada." For further information on recent drilling on the Hercules Gold Project, please refer to the Company's May 5, 2025 new release. About StrikePoint Headed by CEO Michael G. Allen, StrikePoint is a multi-asset gold exploration company focused on building precious metals resources in the Western United States and in Canada. Mr. Allen has been working in the Walker Lane for the last 15 years, with multiple transactions completed in that timeframe including the acquisition of the Sterling Gold Project, located near Beatty, Nevada, and the sale of Northern Empire to Coeur Mining for approximately $120 million. The Sterling Gold Project is now part of AnglogGold Ashanti's "Expanded Silicon" project. In addition, Mr. Allen was the past President and CEO of Elevation Gold Mining Corp., which operated Arizona's largest gold mine. The Management and Board of StrikePoint has strong expertise in exploration, finance and engineering. StrikePoint is rapidly becoming one of its largest holders of mineral claims with approximately 145 square kilometers of prospective geology under claim, encompassing two district scale projects, the Hercules Gold Project and the Cuprite Gold Project. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "speculates", "could" or "would". All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company 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, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, 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 release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253178 Ottawa, May 23, 2025 - Stria Lithium Inc. (TSXV:SRA) (OTC:SRCAF) ("Stria" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has reached a mutual agreement with its partner, Cygnus Metals Ltd. (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG, OTCQB: CYGGF) to extend the timeline of the second stage of Cygnus's earn-in agreement on the Pontax Lithium Project, located in the James Bay region of Quebec ("Pontax"). In July 2023, Cygnus successfully completed the first stage of the earn-in, acquiring a 51% interest in Pontax by investing C$4 million in exploration expenditures and issuing 9,129,825 fully paid ordinary shares to Stria. Reflecting the collaborative and constructive relationship between Stria and Cygnus, both parties have agreed to extend the timeline for the second stage of the earn-in by an additional 24 months. This extension provides Cygnus with increased flexibility and a stronger runway to continue its exploration efforts and earn a further 19% interest, bringing its potential total ownership of the project to 70%. Under the revised terms, Cygnus will now have until October 2027 to invest an additional C$2 million in exploration activities at Pontax and make a C$3 million cash payment to Stria. As consideration for the extension, and subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange, Cygnus will issue 300,000 ordinary shares to Stria at a deemed price of A$0.105 per share (based on the ASX closing price on April 1, 2025). These shares will be voluntarily escrowed for a period of 12 months following issuance. "This extension demonstrates our strong and aligned commitment with Cygnus Metals to unlock the long-term value of the Pontax Lithium Project," said Dean Hanisch, CEO of Stria Lithium. "We look forward to continued collaboration and to advancing the potential of Pontax as a strategically significant lithium asset in Quebec." About Stria Lithium Stria Lithium (TSX-V: SRA) is an emerging resource exploration company developing Canadian lithium reserves to meet legislated demand for electric vehicles and their rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The Company is committed to growth through responsible and efficient exploration and development of its mining assets. Stria's Central Pontax Lithium Project covers 36 square kilometres, including 8 km of strike along the prospective Chambois Greenstone Belt. The region, known as the Canadian "Lithium Triangle," is one of only a few known sources of lithium available for hard rock mining in North America. Stria's Pontax Central Project Joint Venture with Cygnus Metals now has a maiden JORC-compliant inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 10.1Mt at 1.04% Li2O based on the central area of the known mineralisation. This JORC estimate establishes Pontax Central as a significant occurrence in the emerging James Bay lithium region. Cygnus Metals, being an ASX issuer, adhered to Australian JORC Code 2012 guidelines, meaning that such mineral resource estimate is not necessarily compliant with CIM and National Instrument NI 43-101 standards and the Company is not considering them as such at this time. Cygnus Metals is committed to fully funding and managing the current two-stage exploration and drilling program to a maximum of $10 million at Stria's Pontax property and will also pay Stria up to $6 million in cash. In return, Cygnus may acquire up to a 70% interest in the property. Cygnus has fulfilled its stage 1 requirements within the agreement and has now earned its 51% interest in the property. As momentum builds for the green energy revolution and the shift to electric vehicles, governments in Canada and the U.S. are aggressively supporting the North American lithium industry, presenting the industry and its investors with a rare, if not unprecedented, opportunity for growth and prosperity well into the next decade and beyond. Stria is committed to exceeding the industry's environmental, social and governance standards. A critical part of that commitment is forging meaningful, enduring and mutually beneficial relationships with local communities and stake-holders, and engaging openly and respectfully as neighbours and collaborators in this exciting project that has the potential to create lasting jobs and prosperity. The scientific and technical content disclosed herein was reviewed and approved by Rejean Girard, P.Geo and president of IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc, a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Reference: JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of Pontax Project, James Bay Quebec, Brian Wolfe; Duncan Grieve, August 14, 2023. For more information about Stria Lithium and the Pontax Lithium project, please visit https://strialithium.com Follow us on: Twitter @StriaLithium Instagram @strialithium Facebook http://www.facebook.com/strialithium LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/stria-lithium/ For more information on Stria Lithium Inc., please contact: Dean Hanisch CEO Stria Lithium dhanisch@strialithium.com +1(613) 612-6060 Investors Relations, Stria Lithium Inc. info@strialithium.com 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 accuracy or adequacy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is 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. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Please refer to the risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Vancouver, May 23, 2025 - Mineral Road Discovery Inc. (CSE: ROAD) (the "Company" or "ROAD") announces that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Bergslagen Tungsten Project in Sweden. The Bergslagen Tungsten Project, Sweden consists of eight mineral concessions located in the Bergslagen region near the municipality of Ludvika, which is approximately 220 km from Stockholm. Each of the properties have had some level of historic production for tungsten, iron or molybdenum with the oldest mines dating back to the 17th century. There has been a considerable amount of work performed in the region and as such there is a significant amount of historical information available on the properties, however, neither of the properties have been explored using modern techniques and all have untested prospects. The Bergslagen region has a long history of mining and smelting that dates back over a millennium. Within the municipality of Ludvika alone, there are more than 550 historical mines registered. There is an extensive network of paved highways and rail services in the region and the national power grid passes through or nearby all of the properties. The nearest seaport is Gavle, approximately 155 km northeast of the properties. A large network of unpaved roads allows easy access to large portions of the properties. An initial focus for the Company will be the Yxsjoberg permit. The Yxsjoberg mine exploited a number of deposits that made it the most important producer of tungsten in Sweden. The mine was in operation by the State-owned mining company until 1989. All properties are covered by low altitude airborne surveys consisting of total magnetic field, VLF and spectrometry, carried out by the Geological Survey of Sweden. In addition, regional biogeochemical sampling has been carried out. During the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of heavy minerals in till samples were taken, both by the Geological Survey and a state-owned mining company, LKAB. Drilling has been conducted on several targets within the permitted areas. ROAD will first ensure that all historical data is digitally compiled and then begin detailed exploration work tailored to each permit. Terms ROAD has entered into a definitive acquisition agreement with 1521480 B.C. Ltd. (the "Vendor") dated May 22, 2025 to acquire a 100% interest in NewPeak Sweden OY ("NewPeak Sweden"), which holds the eight exploration permits in central Sweden, in consideration of the issuance of 2,700,000 ROAD Shares to the original property owner (the "Previous Owner"), and the payment to the Vendor of $300,000 in cash and/or marketable securities owned by ROAD. An additional milestone payment of $250,000 will be payable to the Previous Owner if exploration expenditures exceed $250,000 within 30 months of closing, with an additional $750,000 payment upon the reporting of a JORC inferred resource of a minimum of 3mt at 0.3% WOBE. The milestone payments can be made by cash or ROAD shares, at the option of the Company. The Vendor is owned by a trust that is controlled by Damien Reynolds (the "Joint Actor") who is a director of ROAD and owns and controls, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of 53,112,150 ROAD shares representing approximately 57.3% of the issued and outstanding ROAD Shares as at the date hereof. Accordingly, the acquisition of an interest in NewPeak Sweden will be considered a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, as the amount of the consideration paid to the Vendor does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. FINANCING ROAD announces a non-brokered private placement of 666,666 shares at a price of $0.075 per share for proceeds of $50,000 (the "Private Placement"). Proceeds will be used for general working capital. The Private Placement is subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange. All shares issued upon closing of the Private Placement will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. About Mineral Road Discovery Mineral Road Discovery is an investor in exploration. By focusing on a combination of top-down thematics and significant technical and financial expertise, we can manage risks better to provide exceptional shareholder value. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "proposed", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, completion of the transactions described herein on the terms set out, or at all; receipt of all required regulatory approvals; the Company's objectives, goals and exploration activities proposed to be conducted on the properties to be acquired by the Company; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Company's properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as 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 materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the ability to complete the proposed transactions on the terms disclosed, including receipt of all required regulatory approvals and any other consents; the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration proposed to be conducted at the properties to be acquired by the Company; failure to identify any mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Company's properties; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; 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); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described in the most recently filed management's discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as 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 statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253255 Alex Wurz not denying link to FIA presidential run Alex Wurz has not outright denied that he might consider running to become FIA president. Charles Leclerc, Monaco GP 2024 Ferrari This week, Osterreich newspaper suggested the former Formula 1 driver might take on the increasingly divisive Mohammed Ben Sulayem in December's elections - to be joined by potential fellow candidates Carlos Sainz senior and David Richards. The Austrian publication quoted 1996 world champion Damon Hill as endorsing the candidature of Wurz, who is also co-director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and a race track designer. This all came about because Damon Hill mentioned me in a tweet, Wurz, 51, said in Monaco. "I was talking about racing events, and Damon responded. He simply asked his fans the question - 'Next FIA president?' Of course it's nice if Damon thinks I could take on the role of FIA president. Tellingly, Wurz did not deny the growing rumour. Damon brought that up, not me, the Austrian reiterated. "In any case, there has been no official announcement. At the moment, one third of my brain capacity is dedicated to my job, one third to commentating, and the rest is dedicated to my family. Recently, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff's wife Susie was also linked with a potential challenge to Ben Sulayem, but it was apparently ruled out on grounds of conflict of interest. As for Wurz's new candidature, Toto Wolff responded in Monaco: "Let's wait and see who actually runs. Alex has done everything possible in motorsport, he knows everyone, and he is definitely an expert. However, he added: I don't understand enough about politics at the FIA level. (GMM) Briatore happy to be Alpine's democratic dictator Flavio Briatore insists he has no regrets whatsoever after dropping Jack Doohan and installing the highly rated and heavily sponsored Franco Colapinto in his place. Franco Colapinto, Emilio Romagna GP 2025 Alpine He (Doohan) had five races to prove himself, the 75-year-old told RTL, even though the 22-year-old Australian rookie was actually replaced after round six in Miami. After five races, we looked at the results, the Italian added. "And I didn't like them. "You only stay in a company if you do a good job. If you do a bad job, you get fired. Over a thousand people and their families depend on it. I'm just protecting the people who work for me, Briatore insists. That's why I always choose the best possible driver for the car. Rookie Colapinto's first race in the Alpine was very much mixed, including a huge qualifying crash. Briatore, though, said: "If you look at Sunday's times, you can see that he drove a similar time to (Pierre) Gasly. This is the first time our cars have been so close. However, the cockpit swap continues a long period of great instability at Alpine, including the recent sudden departure of team boss Oliver Oakes, amid rumours of off-track scandals and personal clashes with Briatore. Briatore denies any disagreements and says Oakes' resignation also took him by surprise. However, he seems content about the extra power, with Dave Greenwood now serving only as the designated 'team representative' in the eyes of the FIA. To be the actual team principal, 'executive advisor' Briatore would need FIA approval and also be officially employed by Alpine - and therefore pay UK taxes. However, he said of his role: "In a Formula 1 team, you need a dictator, maybe a democratic dictator. You need someone who is accountable. I'm now in Enstone three days a week instead of two, Briatore added, revealing that he has been working on streamlining the team structure. "Six directors report to me now. Before Oliver, there were 25. We had to change that. Briatore is also known for running lean operations, as he also reveals that he recently scrapped plans to improve Alpine's aesthetic presentation in the paddock and pitlane. We don't need a nicer pit facility, he insisted, according to Auto Motor und Sport. "We need a faster car. From now on, we'll only spend money that helps performance. What is beyond doubt is that since Briatore arrived, car performance has improved. It's no longer a truck like last year, he agreed. "But we need to understand why we sometimes make it into the top ten and sometimes fall short. Because it's not the engine. "We know our engine costs us between three and four tenths of a second - always roughly in the same range. That doesn't explain our fluctuations. We need to focus on other things and not hide behind the engine excuse. (GMM) Drivers warn hardcore fans about F1 movie Formula 1 drivers have warned insiders and hard-core fans of the sport that they might not enjoy the new 'F1' film starring Brad Pitt. Drivers, Australian GP 2025 Williams Only Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll were missing on Wednesday when the field of active race drivers gathered in a Monaco cinema for a private screening. I notified FOM about that, Verstappen insisted. I think it's coming out on June 27? I'll download it on Apple. Stroll commented: I just had things to do. Verstappen insists attending the screening wasn't mandatory, but most of the rest of the drivers dutifully turned up in team rather than casual clothing. When asked what he thought of the movie, Nico Hulkenberg said: "It's a Hollywood film, so it's not about getting every detail right. You have to sit back a bit, see the whole picture, and not take everything so seriously, he added. It's simply about showing a broad audience what's going on here. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc agreed that the movie doesn't show exactly the way we live things . Rookie Isack Hadjar commented: As drivers, it's hard to give feedback, because we're really critical. But I think if you're a kid or someone who doesn't know about the sport, I think it's the best way to get started. Alex Albon's advice to the hyper-critical insiders is to just relax and watch it as a movie . Gabriel Bortoleto agreed: It's going to be very good for those who still don't know the sport so much. Up and down the pitlane, the drivers generally had the same view about the movie - that it will be good for the sport, but that insiders may need to cringe. There were some things that didn't make much sense to us drivers, Esteban Ocon said, but I saw where Lewis (Hamilton) had contributed to try to make it as realistic as possible. When asked what the producers got wrong, however, the Haas driver added: "The crashes. In some scenes, it feels very Hollywood. The film has to appeal to a wider audience, but I would like to see less crashes and more racing. Carlos Sainz points out that the drivers' critical feedback echoes how they feel about the popular Netflix series, Drive To Survive. It's going to be really good for people who don't know anything about Formula 1, Sainz said. For the hardcore fans, journalists, us, we're going to see things that might seem too American or too Hollywood, added the Spaniard. They also warned us. They said 'Guys, we love your sport. We're in love with your sport. But this is Hollywood'. (GMM) Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Charles Leclerc made it two-for-two on home soil by setting the fastest time in Fridays second Formula 1 practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, edging McLarens Oscar Piastri by just 0.038 seconds in a crash-disrupted FP2. The Ferrari driver, buoyed by topping FP1 earlier in the day, delivered a composed qualifying simulation midway through the hour to clock a best of 1m11.355s on soft tyres. That lap held firm through a session plagued by two red flags and several near misses on Monte Carlos tight street circuit. Piastri had shown strong early pace for McLaren, leading the session before his costly off at Ste Devote 19 minutes in. The Australian locked up and slid straight into the tyre barriers, triggering the second red flag of the afternoon. Fortunately, the damage was minor, and Piastri returned to finish second-fastest after a quick repair job. Before Piastris incident, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar brought out the first stoppage by tagging the wall at the Nouvelle Chicane, puncturing his left-rear tyre. The Frenchman managed to limp back to the pits but later suffered another scrape with the barriers at Turn 1, ending his day with bent rear suspension despite finishing sixth fastest. Lewis Hamilton continued Ferraris strong showing with third place, just over a tenth down on Leclerc, while Lando Norris completed a solid session for McLaren in fourth. In a surprise, Racing Bulls Liam Lawson slotted into fifth ahead of his team-mate Hadjar. Fernando Alonso put Aston Martin seventh on the leaderboard ahead of Williams Alex Albon, with Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Red Bulls Max Verstappen rounding out the top ten. Verstappen endured a frustrating session, briefly going long at Turn 1 and later fuming over heavy traffic, calling the situation so dangerous. The Dutchman narrowly edged team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, while Carlos Sainz, struggling on mediums, could do no better than 13th. Oliver Bearman of Haas was summoned by race stewards after potentially failing to comply with red flag protocols during Piastris crash. Saturdays crucial qualifying session looms large where grid position could prove decisive on Monacos unforgiving streets Scientists push for investment in cashew value addition Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News May - 23 - 2025 , 07:29 THE Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI), Professor Charles Tortoe, has called on key stakeholders to invest heavily in the countrys cashew sector which holds enormous untapped potential for economic development. The stakeholders include the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA). He said the country was yet to fully harness the economic benefits from the crop due to limited value addition and processing capabilities. With proper investment in science and technology, he said, Ghana could significantly increase revenue from cashew exports while creating employment opportunities for youth. Prof. Tortoe made the call last Tuesday at the opening of a dissemination workshop and cashew fair in Accra. Workshop The event was organised by CSIR-FRI and its partners CSIR- Institute of Industrial Research and Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited under the Maximising gains from Cashew production for youth development (MA-CASH) project. The project, supported by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) grant through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology (MEST), aims to reduce waste and drive sustainable development in the cashew industry. The workshop brought together stakeholders of the cashew apple value-chain, international non-governmental organisations, government ministries and related organisations to disseminate the project findings, identify synergies and build functional partnerships to sustain the project's intervention. Efforts He explained that current practices in the sector were predominantly focused on exporting raw cashew nuts, which fetched lower prices compared to processed products such as cashew butter, cashew milk and other value-added derivatives. He emphasised that the institutes efforts to find research solutions to problems pertaining to cashew fruit waste, poverty alleviation and youth-led sustainable economic growth resulted in the development of the MA-CASH project that was piloted in the Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana with six farmer groups. Major project outputs include the development and transfer of innovative value-added cashew apple and apple by-products, and beekeeping for agrobiodiversity on cashew farms with the potential to improve yields and generate alternative income. Additionally, the project has enhanced market access and digital inclusivity by developing an app available on Google Play Store for processors, farmers and aggregators to facilitate trading. Prof. Tortoe said these major outputs were laudable for the cashew industry and if supported to expand into other cashew growing areas would make a significant impact in the industry. Govt commitment In a speech read on his behalf, the Statistics and Information at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Cephas Mensah commended the collaboration between research institutions, financial entities and the private sector as exemplifying the multi-stakeholder approach needed to drive sustainable development in agriculture. He emphasised the ministrys commitment to supporting innovative initiatives that bridge the gap between research and practical application while addressing pressing development challenges. As we move forward, let us build on these achievements to create a more sustainable, innovative and inclusive cashew sector in Ghana, he stated. Ayisi: Im made for purpose not fame Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News May - 22 - 2025 , 23:09 2 minutes read Ghanaian musician Ayisi has shared the philosophy that has driven his career, stating that he believes he is made for purpose, not fame. According to Ayisi, this mindset has helped him stay focused and motivated, even during periods when recognition eluded him. The artiste whose real name is Emmanuel Kwadwo Oware said despite pouring his heart and soul into producing numerous songs, recognition eluded him for a long time.(Read Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, are my target for global hitStay Jay) However, he remained undeterred, choosing instead to focus on his purpose rather than fame. In a recent interview, following his big win at the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards, where he took home the Record of the Year award, Ayisi shared his inspiring story. He recounted how he continued to create music with unwavering optimism, convinced that his breakthrough was just around the corner. His mantra, it seems, was that not everyone is destined for fame, but everyone has a purpose, and staying true to that purpose is what ultimately matters. I took a break because I wasnt going for interviews and was handling some personal stuff too. But I was always going back to the studio to record and getting ready for the right moment when everything had settled because Im not the type of person that will wait for everything to cool down before Ill take actions. I was still recording and going to the studio, doing what I should be doing and when the right moment came Im out here again. he told Roselyn Felli on Joy Prime's 'Changes.' Ayisi, formerly known as A.I., initially gained recognition in 2016 with his hit song "Grind." However, despite continuing to produce music, his subsequent tracks failed to replicate the same level of success.(Read Empress Gifty files GH20million defamation suit against Agradaa) It wasn't until 2024 that his 2022 single "Can I Live" finally gained momentum, leading to a nomination at the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards in 2025. Ultimately, "Can I Live" earned Ayisi the coveted Record of the Year award, marking a triumphant breakthrough in his career. Gospel artistes must leverage TGMA to win more souls - Nii Noi Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News May - 23 - 2025 , 08:30 3 minutes read Media personality and strong advocate for gospel music, Nii Noi is encouraging gospel artistes to show enthusiasm for Telecel Ghana Music Awards(TGMAs) since that can help them fulfil their core mandate of sharing the gospel with a broader audience outside the core church audience. We need to see the TGMA scheme and its stage with all its importance. The scripture says go into the world and win souls for me. When we are confined to our audience, that is the church, how do we win souls? We need to take the scheme seriously and even when billed to perform, we must consider it a platform for winning souls. Also, during the TGMA, when we solicit for votes to win a category, grace the red carpet and again, get the chance to perform, they should be a reflection of our Christian values. This is because they help win souls for Christ. We should attach seriousness to some of these things, like we attach to all other programmes in the gospel space. For instance, if you get a slot to perform, have it at the back of your mind that you are performing at a crusade to win souls for Christ. It is not about your brand, it is about the brand Jesus, so mount the stage and make Jesus proud, he noted. (Read Ayisi: Im made for purpose not fame) Nii Noi, who is also an Academy member of the TGMA, believes that participating in the awards offers gospel artists invaluable exposure, boosting their recognition and helping them establish a strong foothold in the music industry. In an interview with the Graphic Showbiz on May 20, he emphasised the detrimental impact of dismissing the positives associated with the TGMA when its role in elevating the careers of leading gospel artistes such as Joe Mettle and Diana Hamilton has been evident over the years. (ReadHe was my music hero KK Fosu eulogises close friend Dada KD) I cant confirm or deny that some gospel artistes dont show enthusiasm for the TGMA because they see it as secular or evil, because I havent heard it personally. However, what I want them to know and understand is that the TGMA will not dent your brand as a gospel artist. It would be unfortunate for gospel musicians to overlook the benefits of the TGMA, especially when we see the clear growth in brands such as Joe Mettle before and after he won Artiste of the Year in 2017, he remarked. The same can be said for Diana Hamilton before and after 2021. Let's analyse those changes together. TGMA serves as a propeller for your brand as a gospel artist, he said. Nii Noi further argued that the TGMA is a powerful platform for spreading the gospel and winning souls since gospel music has the unique ability to reach a wider audience and touch hearts in a way that traditional evangelism cannot. Next article: Payments in the name of National Security Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude! Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion May - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 5 minutes read The weekend of Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, 2025, was a busy one for me. On Saturday, I was the Guest Speaker at the Immanuel Methodist Church, East Airport, where the Association of Methodist Mens Fellowships of the Methodist Church of Ghana held their 7th Koomson-Ackah-Enchia Memorial Lectures. It was to celebrate two personalities, Maj. Daniel Sowa Ablorh-Quarcoo (Rtd) and Mr Emmanuel Botchwey of Regimanuel Real Estate fame, for their immense contributions to the Mens Fellowship. The Chairman was Rt. Rev. Andrew Mbeah-Baiden, Bishop of the Northern Accra Diocese. I spoke on the topic: Our Culture and Leadership. On Sunday, May 11, 2025, there was a huge traffic jam at Burma Camp, as all roads led to the Garrison Church of Pentecost. There, the Induction Church Parade/Service of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Service Chiefs (Commanders) of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Chief-of-Staff, General Headquarters, took place. The sermon, You are a chosen Vessel of God, was preached by Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Head of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana. Talking about Leadership, the Apostle stated that good leadership identifies value in subordinates and opens doors for such talents for societys advancement/development. Inductees The five Generals/Admirals/Marshals inducted were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt Gen. William Agyapong; the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu; the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing; the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen-Frempong, and the Chief of Staff (COS), General Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Joshua Mensah-Larkai. In their acceptance speeches, all five thanked God for their elevation and pledged their determination to serve Ghana to the best of their abilities. They thanked the President for reposing such trust and confidence in them. Perhaps, the highlight of the ceremony was the speech by the CDS, which he titled Gratitude. Gratitude Lt Gen. Agyapong started by saying that his speech was a simple message of Gratitude. It has been a long journey, and I am grateful to God, he said. Then came an impressive list of officers' names who have helped shape his career since he joined the GAF as an officer cadet of Regular Career Course Intake 30 in 1988. Commissioned as an Infantry officer in 1990, he was posted to the 1st Battalion of Infantry, Michel Camp, Tema. While thanking everyone who has contributed to his growth and development to the three-star General he is today, he also reminded those after him and his team of the reward of hard work by quoting Henry Longfellows popular dictum: The heights by great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling into the night. Discussion In my article in September 2022 titled The Military Honour Code, I stated as follows: All over the world, the military is one of the most respected state institutions. Indeed, at many airports, military personnel are given the priority of boarding and enter commercial aircraft with passengers flying first class. This is in recognition of their unique service to the nation by air, land or sea, even at the cost of their lives and that of others. As a former Commanding Officer of mine put it, it is the only institution where one swears an oath to leave home vertically (alive) in the morning and return horizontally (dead) in the evening! In Ghana, notwithstanding our chequered history, the military is still a respected institution. Indeed, it is opined that if the military is left to self-regulate, without any political interference, it would be a better institution. It is against this backdrop that the last British CDS of the GAF, Maj. Gen. HT Alexander said in his 1961 book, The African Tightrope, that Ghana will regret the day the army enters politics, or politics enter the army! Summary Interestingly, many Ghanaians believe in the culture of discipline in the military and opine that if all members of parliament/district chief executives (MPs/DCEs) did a three-month military training before starting their parliamentary/district duties, discipline would be instilled in them. This, hopefully, will have a trickle-down effect on Ghanaians. Proponents cite, as an example, the Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden, where military service is compulsory as National Service. To the politicians, the newly inducted generals are not only fine professionals; they are also intellectual soldiers. Please do not interfere with their work, and allow them to run the GAF as the capable professionals they are. If there is any sincerity about ending galamsey, give the military a free hand to operate. Finally, in our world of ingratitude exemplified by Jesus question to the Samaritan leper in Luke 17:11-17, Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? I found the CDSs gratitude in listing a whole gamut of officers/men whose inputs have helped shape his life extraordinary and a worthwhile lesson for emulation. I wish the CDS and his Service Chiefs Gods direction and blessings. Long live the Ghana Armed Forces! Long live Ghana! Leadership, lead by example! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up! The writer is the Former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association. Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra. E-mail: [email protected] Payments in the name of National Security Enimil Ashon Opinion May - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read How often have we, the over-burdened, innocent citizens of Ghana, not wondered why in every four years, a number of Ghanaians emerge, some from total obscurity and some from political hibernation, to file as presidential candidates, either as independents or leaders of some nondescript political party, though they themselves know, and all Ghanaians know, they cannot garner even 0.0001 per cent of the votes? Their motive? We dismissed the possibility of money laundering. Could they be suffering from delusions of grandeur? Now we know. Thanks to the trial (so far, in the court of public opinion) of former National Signals Bureau Director-General, Kwabena Adu Boahene and his wife, who have been accused by the Attorney-General of misuse of public funds, we now know that these candidates are no idiots Momo. On May 5, Adu Boahene issued a memo from EOCO cells, in which he disclosed that the bulk of the funds were legitimately spent on sanctioned national security operations. Among these legitimate expenditures, it is emerging that ruling parties or incumbent Presidents did authorise payments of large sums of money to certain presidential candidates or opposition parties to fund their campaigns. Since it is inconceivable that a New Patriotic Party (NPP) government would fund National Democratic Congress (NDC) electoral agenda, and vice versa, we are being invited to look with suspicion at the minor parties. So now we know, these candidates are no mere presidential hopefuls, after all. They are smart businessmen. All they have needed is a certain amount of noise with posters, press conferences, hyper-criticism or hyper-praise for the government of the day. Their vituperations or praises, well-orchestrated, are carried by the media, including Tik-tok, loud enough to attract a certain amount of interest. Voila, they garner some following, and presto, they qualify to be considered for secret funding by national security! The question may never attract a reply, but it bears asking: is that how our taxes are spent Is Ghana this rich, and yet, we are on the verge of another dumsor, contractors are owed in billions of cedis and school feeding caterers have not been paid for over a year, etc. Of course, from the day we are born, everybody is told that national security budgets are unknown and unknowable, As far as democracy is concerned, it is enough for national security to claim that so-and-so amounts of money have been spent chasing enemies of the state, such as, coup plotters, and on high-cost operations, including counter-terrorism programmes, anti-kidnapping campaigns and election security efforts. Classified Meanwhile, from his cells at EOCO, Adu Boahene has let it be known to the government, through the Attorney General, that I have tried to withhold classified information from my interrogators, but I deem it prudent to inform your good office that in light of the current developments, we run the risk of public disclosure of National Security and Intelligence operations expenditure items. How yours truly itches to set eyes on these threatened disclosures! It will help Ghanaians to understand why rent for a lot of the high-rise apartments in this country is priced so immodestly high, yet they continue to attract so much custom. Those who know will tell you that there are buildings and bank accounts in the USA, UK, France, etc., whose ownership no-one can tell, save the government agencies in charge of registering such properties and the bank managers. Who are these unknowable landlords and account holders? Meanwhile, throughout the world, no invoices or receipts are supposed to be demanded or issued to cover covert transactions. Otherwise, it should have been possible to know which Special Aid of President Mahama received on his behalf, those huge sums of money which Adu Boahene allegedly paid, as well as vehicles which were supposedly bought for Mahama. Who authorised the payments or purchase? Smoke As Bright Simons has intimated, a lot of smoke may be entering our eyes. What makes these operations unquestionable is the oft-unspoken justification that the spy-world keeps awake at night so that citizens can sleep well, safe from terrorists. Ghanaians are supposed to be grateful because supposedly, without these secret payments, Al Qaeda or Boko Haram would penetrate Ghana with guns and bombs. No pro-forma, no receipt With that kind of justification, who am I to continue to insist on knowing every detail of national security operations! O, yes, even America funds presidential candidates. Under the Presidential Public Funding Programme, eligible presidential candidates receive federal government funds to pay for the qualified expenses of their political campaigns. But these payments are not covert and are not at the discretion of the incumbent President. It is a match-up fund and the individual candidate is supposed to apply for it. Meanwhile, back in Ghana, Adu Boahene has threatened the National Security Coordinator that he might be compelled to break his oath of secrecy, if what he calls false accusations from the Attorney-General are not withdrawn. The things they do in our collective name! The writer is the Executive Director, Centre for Communication and Culture. E-mail: [email protected] Ghanaians, other Africans lost nearly $70M to denied visas applications to Europe in 2024 cnn.com International News May - 23 - 2025 , 10:00 6 minutes read When Joel Anyaegbus application for a Schengen visa to travel to Barcelona was denied late last year, he was surprised but immediately reapplied. He sent in more documents than were required, including bank statements and proof of property ownership in Nigeria. He was rejected again. The information submitted regarding the justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay were not reliable, read a checklist returned with his passport from the Spanish consulate in Lagos. The 32-year-old gaming consultant said he felt humiliated. I had to cancel meetings with partners at the conference I was attending, he told CNN. I emailed the embassy to understand why I was denied but it has not been answered to date. Anyaegbus was among the 50,376 short-stay Schengen visa applications rejected in Nigeria last year, nearly half of all submissions, according to newly released data from the European Commission. Applicants worldwide pay a non-refundable visa fee of 90 euros (about $100), so Nigerians alone lost over 4.5 million euros (about $5 million) seeking permission to travel to the 29 European countries that make up the Schengen Area. In total, African countries lost 60 million euros ($67.5 million) in rejected Schengen visa fees in 2024, analysis from the LAGO Collective shows. The London-based research and arts organization has been monitoring data on European short-term visas since 2022 and says Africa is the continent worst affected by the cost of visa rejections. The poorest countries in the world pay the richest countries in the world money for not getting visas, its founder Marta Foresti told CNN. As in 2023, the poorer the country of application, the higher the rejection rates. African countries are disproportionately affected with rejection rates as high as 40-50% for countries like Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria. She says this proves inbuilt discrimination and bias in the process. A European Commission spokesperson told CNN that member states consider visa applications on a case-by-case basis. Each file is assessed by experienced decision-makers on its own merits, in particular regarding the purpose of stay, sufficient means of subsistence, and the applicants will to return to their country of residence after a visit to the EU, the spokesperson said via email. Insufficient reasoning Africans have long complained about inconsistent, sometimes baffling decisions about who gets approved or denied while applying for European visas. Cameroonian Jean Mboule was born in France but when he applied for a visa in 2022 alongside his wife using similar documents, his application was rejected but hers was not. At the time she was unemployed but with a South African passport. She had no income but received a visa on the back of my financial statement, he told CNN. But the embassy said they refused my application because my documents were fake, and they werent sure I would come back to South Africa, where I am a permanent resident, if I went to France. The 39-year-old regional executive took legal action in French courts and won, forcing the French embassy in Johannesburg to grant his visa and pay him a fine of 1,200 euros. He told an administrative tribunal in the French city of Nantes that the embassys decision to deny him a visa was tainted by insufficient reasoning. Mboule pointed out that he had provided sufficient guarantees that he would return at the end of his trip to his wife and daughter in South Africa where he owns a building. After he got the visa, he chose to go to Mauritius instead as he didnt want to spend his money in France. The Cameroonians case is unique as many Africans denied Schengen visas rarely appeal or contest the decisions in court. Like Anyaegbu, the Nigerian gaming consultant, they often reapply, losing more money in the process. Mboule has travelled several times to the UK and other African countries but was still denied twice for Schengen. The financial cost of rejected visas is just staggering; you can think of them as reverse remittances, money flowing from poor to rich countries, which we never hear about, the LAGO Collectives Foresti says. Schengen visa fees increased from 80 to 90 euros in July 2024, making it even more expensive for the worlds poorest applicants. But South African management lecturer Sikhumbuzo Maisela said the visa rejection rates for Africans were lower than he expected. The visa vetting process seems to be shaped less by outright prejudice and more by historical patterns of behaviour, he told CNN via email. Western countries have had instances where visa holders overstayed or violated terms, and this has influenced how future applications are scrutinized. An act of trust Though he hasnt conducted formal academic research on the issue, Maisela said Africans should treat visas as an act of trust and hospitality, and observe the rules. When one person violates these principles, it impacts all of us, he said. It makes it harder for the next applicant someone who may be fully compliant to be granted the same opportunity. So, in a way, those who break the rules contribute to the very discrimination others face. Younger Africans are the most vocal about visa rejections online but older applicants face similar barriers. Julius Musimeenta, a 57-year-old Ugandan engineer, applied for a visa to attend an engineering fair in Munich last year with his family. All six of them were rejected even though they had all previously traveled to Europe. Africans contribute a lot to funding these embassies through these rejections. They always think negatively about us travelling to their countries, he told CNN. He has three grown-up children who are also engineers and the entire family has a long history of international travel so they were surprised by the blanket denial, he says. The European Commission said it does not comment on individual cases but EU law allows visa applicants to appeal negative decisions if they feel that the refusal was unjustified. The reasons for refusals vary, and include for example the submission of false or forged supporting documents such as bank statements or civil status documents, and weak socio-economic ties to the country of residence and hence a heightened risk of irregular migration, it said. While Schengen visa rejections get the most attention due to the large number of countries, African applicants to the UK complain of similar access challenges. UK visa fees rose from 100 to 115 in July 2024 ($134 to $154) and then to 127 ($170) in April this year. There was a 13.5% spike in the cost of rejected visas to 50.7 million ($68.8 million) in 2024, the LAGO Collective estimates. Nigerians alone paid an extra 2 million trying to travel to their former colonial master, according to its calculations. Next article: US says Sudan used chemical weapons in war as it issues new sanctions Previous article: If you dont lead, others will keep misleading: Ras Mubarak urges African Youth Judge temporarily blocks Trump plan to stop Harvard enrolling foreign students BBC International News May - 23 - 2025 , 17:04 4 minutes read A judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration's plan to strip Harvard University of its ability to enrol foreign students. The ruling came after Harvard filed a lawsuit - the latest escalation of a dispute between the White House and one of America's most prestigious institutions. The university said the administration's decision on Thursday was a "blatant violation" of the law and free speech rights. The Trump administration says Harvard has not done enough to fight antisemitism and change its hiring and admissions practices allegations that the university has strongly denied. US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order in a short ruling issued on Friday. The order pauses a move that the Department of Homeland Security made on Thursday to revoke Harvard's access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program - a government database that manages foreign students. There are around 6,800 international students at Harvard, who make up more than 27% of its enrolments this year. "With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," Harvard argued in the lawsuit. "We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action," Harvard President Alan Garber said in a letter. "The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government's illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body," he wrote. In response, White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said: "If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldn't be in this situation to begin with. "Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits," Jackson said in a statement. 'We did not sign up for this': Harvard's foreign students are stuck and scared Harvard relies heavily on the money that comes from international students who make up nearly a third of its student body. Many of them pay full tuition while domestic students can access assistance like scholarships and loans. A year's tuition at Harvard Law School, for example, costs $80,760 (60,758). With housing, food, insurance and other expenses included, students can expect to pay around $120,000 (90,192) for the year. The Trump administration has taken aim at Harvard and other elite institutions, not only arguing that they should do more to clamp down on pro-Palestinian activists but also claiming they discriminate against conservative viewpoints. It has launched investigations into dozens of universities across the country and wrung concessions from other major US institutions like Columbia University in New York. In April, the White House froze $2.2bn (1.7bn) in federal funding to Harvard, and Trump has threated to remove the university's tax-exempt status, a standard designation for US educational institutions. The funding freeze prompted an earlier Harvard lawsuit, also asking the courts to stop the administration's actions. Harvard, one of eight elite Ivy League universities, is located just outside Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While Harvard leaders have made concessions - including dismissing the leaders of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies, who had come under fire for failing to represent Israeli perspectives - the latest lawsuit indicates the university is willing to fight the Trump administration in court. The university has enlisted several high-profile Republican lawyers in its battle, including an advisor to the Trump Organization and Robert Hur, a former special counsel who investigated Joe Biden's retention of classified documents. Foreign students currently attending Harvard have expressed worries that the row between their institution could force them to return home. Chinese student Kat Xie, who is in her second year in a STEM programme, told the BBC she is "in shock". "I had almost forgotten about [the earlier threat of a ban] and then Thursday's announcement suddenly came," she said. With reporting from Bernd Debusmann at the White House Previous article: Ghanaians, other Africans lost nearly $70M to denied visas applications to Europe in 2024 US Treasury confirms the end of one cent coins bbc.com International News May - 23 - 2025 , 08:59 2 minutes read One cent coins will stop being produced in the US next year, the Treasury Department has confirmed. It marks the phasing out of the coins, commonly known as pennies, which have been in circulation for more than two centuries. President Donald Trump told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in February to stop minting the coins, calling them "wasteful". There has been a long debate over the cost and usefulness of pennies in the US. In January, Elon Musk's unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) drew attention to the cost of minting pennies in a post on X. Final order The penny was one of the first coins made by the US Mint, entering circulation in 1793. But over the past 10 years, the cost of producing it has risen from 1.3 cents to 3.69 cents per coin, according to the Treasury. The Mint estimates that stopping production will result in an immediate annual saving of $56m (42m) in reduced material costs. Critics of the zinc and copper coin say producing it is a waste of money and resources, while those who want to keep it argue it keeps prices lower and boosts fund-raising for charities. The phasing out of the coins will mean businesses will need to round prices up or down, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), who first reported the story. "Confirming the WSJ story, the Treasury has made its final order of penny blanks this month and the United States Mint will continue to manufacture pennies while an inventory of penny blanks exists," a Treasury spokesperson said. Other countries have discontinued similar coins. Canada ditched its one cent coin in 2012, citing the cost of minting it and its falling purchasing power due to higher prices. The declining use of cash meant the UK did not mint any new coins in 2024, after officials decided there were already enough coins in circulation. The UK Treasury has said that 1p or 2p coins are not being scrapped, but with more people living cashless lives, there have been several years when no 2p coins were produced. Next article: Oil money to drive Big Push - Petroleum revenue law amended to channel 70% proceeds to infrastructure - Experts applaud move Four arrested at Kotoka International Airport over cannabis trafficking attempt Jemima Okang Addae May - 23 - 2025 , 12:24 2 minutes read The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested and detained four individuals at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in connection with attempts to traffic cannabis out of the country. The arrests, carried out on Sunday, May 18, 2025, were part of the Commission's routine profiling operations, triggered by intelligence reports. According to a statement by the Acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations, Francis Opoku Amoah, one of the suspects, Jada Chyna Brown-Frater, a 23-year-old British national, was intercepted during a screening exercise before boarding British Airways flight BA 2066 bound for Gatwick, UK. A search of her luggage uncovered 32 slabs of a substance suspected to be a narcotic drug. Field tests confirmed the substance as cannabis, with a total weight of 17.72 kilogrammes. She was immediately arrested and is expected to be prosecuted in court. On the same day, NACOC officers also arrested Christian Williams Owusu, a 19-year-old British national, who had arrived in Accra via Emirates Flight EK 787 from Dubai. He was found in possession of two suitcases containing 92 slabs of cannabis, weighing 53.60 kilogrammes. Further investigations led to the arrest and detention of two additional individuals who were believed to be aiding Owusu in the trafficking attempt. NACOC has stated that investigations into all four suspects are ongoing. Mr Amoah reiterated NACOCs commitment to eradicating drug trafficking in Ghana. He assured the public that the Commission would continue to intensify surveillance and intelligence-led operations to combat the threat of narcotic drug smuggling. Read full statement here: NACOC ARREST TWO BRITISH NATIONALS AND TWO GHANAIANS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AT KIA Next article: Four arrested at Kotoka International Airport over cannabis trafficking attempt Interior Ministry beefs up security in conflict-prone areas Mohammed Fugu May - 23 - 2025 , 12:57 2 minutes read The Ministry for the Interior has stepped up efforts to enhance security across 334 conflict-prone areas identified nationwide to restore peace and stability. Consequently, it is engaging relevant stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the various conflicts, which include communal, religious and land-related disputes. Speaking during a working visit to the Northern Region last Wednesday, the sector minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, indicated that the number of conflict hotspots in the region had significantly reduced from 14 to six, indicating some progress and a readiness of all interested parties to resolve the issues. Visit As part of the tour, the minister paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari II, Regent of Zabzugu, Tugu-Lana Alhaji Muhammad Ibn Umar, and the Paramount Chief of Savelugu, Yoo Naa Yakubu Andani, to familiarise himself with them and foster stronger collaboration to promote peace. He also interacted with members of the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the various security agencies. Undocumented migrants In his remarks, Alhaji Mubarak raised concerns about the increasing presence of beggars on the streets of Tamale, describing the situation as a nuisance and a threat to national security. He hinted at plans to embark on an operation to rid the metropolis of beggars and criminals, adding that major cities, including Tamale, Kumasi, Takoradi, Accra and Koforidua, were being targeted for the exercise. All undocumented migrants should either return to where they came from or face deportation. We will go after them, including the prostitutes parading the streets in our major cities, he warned. The minister emphasised that while Ghana welcomes individuals who come to do legitimate business and contribute to national development, it will not tolerate activities that threaten societal order and public safety. Collaboration For his part, Ya-Na Abukari II commended the minister for his visit and reiterated his commitment to collaborating with the ministry to ensure peace and stability in the area. As custodians of our communities traditions and values, our input can be invaluable in shaping policies that affect our people, he said. He, therefore, called on the ministry to prioritise community engagement and adopt a just and fair approach in its interventions. The Paramount Chief for Savelugu also appealed to the government to provide adequate resources to security personnel to enhance their operations. He further advised the youth against drug abuse, citing its negative impact on them and the countrys development. Writers email: [email protected] Oil money to drive Big Push - Petroleum revenue law amended to channel 70% proceeds to infrastructure - Experts applaud move Maclean Kwofi May - 23 - 2025 , 12:06 6 minutes read The recent amendment of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) to ensure that the entire Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) is dedicated solely to infrastructural development has received the endorsement of stakeholders in the petroleum sector. The stakeholders explained that the amendment would now enable allocations to focus on large-scale and high-impact projects that could generate substantial returns. That would be different from the previous regime where funding was spread across multiple small-scale projects which limited their impact on the citizenry, they argued. The stakeholders, including representatives of the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), however, expressed concerns that the recent PRMA amendment process was insufficiently inclusive, lacking meaningful input and participation from relevant stakeholders, which led to notable shortcomings. Others, including petroleum economists, called for a comprehensive review of the PRMA by engaging all relevant stakeholders to address the various loopholes and challenges that have emerged during its 13-year implementation period. Context The government recently amended some sections of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815) to ensure that the ABFA is dedicated solely to infrastructural development. Dr Steve Manteaw, Co-Chair, Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative The amendment will ensure that all ABFA funds are dedicated to infrastructure projects under The Big Push programme to deliver significant, high-impact projects that will leave a lasting legacy. It is expected to enhance the efficient utilisation of petroleum revenues and yield tangible developmental outcomes. ABFA utilisation Data sourced from the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) show that the country has funded various development projects from oil revenue to the tune of GH27.51 billion since commercial oil production began in 2011. It was consistently facilitated through the ABFA under the PRMA by various governments under three Presidents between 2011 and 2024. The data further show that the governments of Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama were allocated GH3.31 billion between 2011 and 2016, while Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration disbursed GH24.20 billion from 2017 to 2024. However, many stakeholders have raised concerns that allocations of the ABFA were spread across multiple projects which limited their impact and reduced the ability to complete transformative legacy projects. Welcome move The Dean of the University of Cape Coast School of Business, Professor John Gatsi, welcomed the amendment as a laudable move by the government. The decision to channel ABFA towards infrastructure development is significant. However, the PRMA created a key stakeholder, which is PIAC, that needs to be engaged. And so, if there are opportunities for the stakeholders, such as PIAC, to be engaged on the amendment, we must do that as soon as possible to ensure efficient management of the oil proceeds, he said. Prof. Gatsi said the government must stay focused on its manifesto promise prior to the 2024 general election, which sought to undertake a comprehensive review of the PRMA to ensure efficiency. Of course, there are other areas of the law which have not been touched yet. For example, the law will be 15 years in 2026, and it states that after 15 years of coming into force, the accrued interest on the Heritage Fund can be used in the same manner as the ABFA, the professor of finance pointed out. Prof. Gatsi added that in spite of the recent amendment, the government could initiate a review process to help improve the law to ensure efficient management of the oil proceeds. A Senior Programme Officer for Africa at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), Dennis Gyeyir, said the amendment was a positive step by the government but there was the need for comprehensive stakeholder consultations. He said that would help inform a thorough review to tackle the loopholes and challenges that had arisen during the implementation of the Act over the past 14 years. The recent amendment of the Act was not consultative; a number of stakeholders were not involved. I am aware that PIAC and others with the mandate to monitor the utilisation of petroleum proceeds and ensure compliance were not consulted, even though the amendment seems to be positive. If proper consultations were done, the amendment could have benefited from industry stakeholders such as PIAC, Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) with vast experience to share, Mr Gyeyir said. He expressed concern that under the current amendment, the fate of key institutions such as the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) remained uncertain. Mr Gyeyir added that the government must develop a long-term national development plan to guide the utilisation of the petroleum proceeds instead of amending just a section out of the 60 sections of the PRMA. Change the approach For his part, the Co-Chair of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Steve Manteaw, commended the government for amending the PRMA to help finance infrastructure in the country. He explained that it was time for the government to take deliberate steps to shift how proceeds from all natural resources were spent from consumption to investment. Dr Manteaw, who is a former chairman of PIAC, stated that investing the proceeds would help facilitate growth in natural resource revenues to support the national development agenda. In the past, the petroleum revenue was used for recurrent expenditure. It is basically used to finance what we call in Ghana chop money to support the budget. As a country, we have mined gold for 100 years and yet no one can remember what the proceeds were used for because they were used to support the budget and pay salaries of workers, he stated. However, Dr Manteaw said it was unwise for the country to continue to spend proceeds from natural resources rather than investing them. He said the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government under President John Mahama between 2013 to 2017 invested $30 million of oil proceeds into the construction of Terminal Three of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). Today, the $30 million invested has yielded more than $40 million, so just imagine if we had invested $1 billion, Dr Manteaw stated. While throwing his weight behind the amendment, he also drew attention to a relook at funding PIAC from the Consolidated Fund which may affect its independence and activities. Dr Manteaw explained that the minister being given the power to determine the appropriate funds to support PIAC and its activities may be problematic once the institution gets into the bad books of the Minister of Finance for the work cut out for it to do. If we are not careful and PIAC produces a report which the minister is not happy about, PIAC may be starved of funds, and this has happened in the past. I propose that the law must be adjusted to ensure that the Parliamentary Committee for Mines and Energy approves the budget of PIAC instead of the minister, as the new amendment stipulates, Dr Manteaw added. PIACs position The PIAC Chairperson, Constantine Kudzedzi, said the committee was making several attempts to engage the Presidency and Parliament to determine the next steps. However, a committee member, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the funds allocated to PIAC for its activities this year had been significantly reduced by over half compared to last year. This drastic cut will severely impact our operations, the member explained, attributing the reduction to PIAC's funding not coming from the ABFA, making it more vulnerable to budgetary constraints. NIB withdraws officers from Wontumis residence following tensions over botched arrest GraphicOnline May - 23 - 2025 , 13:20 2 minutes read The National Investigations Bureau (NIB) has withdrawn its personnel from the residence of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, after an attempted arrest on Friday triggered a standoff between security operatives and some supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Kumasi. The early morning operation saw a joint team of National Security operatives and Police officers surround the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPPs private residence in Kumasi, prompting widespread confusion and tension in the Daban area. The reasons for the raid remain unclear, and authorities have yet to provide a formal explanation. Chairman Wontumi, who was reportedly inside the house during the operation, is said to have assured the officers that he would honour any official invitation on Monday, May 26, 2025. Despite this, the heavily armed security presence provoked a strong backlash from party loyalists who began gathering at the property in protest. As the crowd of NPP supporters swelled and chants of defiance rang out, pressure mounted on the security agencies. The NIB subsequently ordered a complete withdrawal of its operatives from the scene, temporarily defusing tensions that had begun to grip the neighbourhood. Addressing journalists after the withdrawal, the NPPs Ashanti Regional Secretary and a member of Wontumis legal team, Kwame Adom-Appiah, criticised the manner in which the security operation was conducted, calling it immature and excessive. When you are going to arrest someone and arrive with about 20 vehicles, when the person is neither a coup plotter nor has any intention to overthrow the government, I dont think it is appropriate, Adom-Appiah stated. He further argued that such a show of force was not only wasteful but an unnecessary burden on state resources. A simple invitation would have sufficed. And even if he failed to honour it, there are proper, lawful ways to effect an arrest. Although the immediate tension has subsided following the NIBs withdrawal, a number of NPP supporters have remained around the residence, insisting on clarity about the motive behind the operation and the legality of the attempted arrest. Local media reports indicate that a strong police presence continues to secure the compound, as the matter draws national attention ahead of Chairman Wontumis expected response to the summons on Monday. Next article: We are not recruiting - Ghana National Fire Service warns public against recruitment scam Previous article: It is 'erroneous' for UTAG to assume Legon management was not engaged before final report on Gh59.2 million overstated payroll - Audit Service Residents of these areas have been put on alert as Ghana Water begins spillage of Weija Dam GraphicOnline May - 23 - 2025 , 15:50 2 minutes read Residents in Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Adakope, and nearby communities have been advised to evacuate immediately as Ghana Water Limited (GWL) begins a controlled spillage of the Weija Dam. The caution comes amid rising water levels at the dam, which currently stand at 45 feetjust two feet below the maximum safe operating limit of 47 feet. The onset of the rainy season has prompted GWL to take precautionary action to prevent flooding and safeguard the dams structural integrity. To safeguard the structural integrity of the dam and avert any potential disaster, minimal spillage has begun, GWL said in a press release issued on Friday, May 23, 2025. The Management of GWL is by this release sounding a word of caution to inhabitants downstream to evacuate the area to forestall any eventuality. The utility company warned that failure to heed evacuation advice could result in a repeat of previous flood disasters. Residents have been urged to follow all guidance from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and relevant municipal authorities. The GWL also appealed to the Ga West Municipal Assembly to desilt the estuary and remove waste along the river channel to ensure a smooth flow of excess water into the sea and minimise the risk of further flooding. We kindly request that all affected residents remain cooperative and adhere to any safety instructions issued by the Municipal Assembly to ensure their safety and prevent any untoward incidents, the statement added. As rainfall intensifies, the spillage is expected to continue, and public cooperation is being described as vital to avoiding loss of life and property. Next article: It is 'erroneous' for UTAG to assume Legon management was not engaged before final report on Gh59.2 million overstated payroll - Audit Service You don't go arresting a 'wild dog unprepared', security officers were there to invite Wontumi - Deputy Minister of Interior Enoch Darfah Frimpong May - 23 - 2025 , 17:44 4 minutes read The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi has explained that security officers who went to Bernard Antwi Boasiako's house in Kumasi on Friday morning were there to invite him. Earlier on Friday officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) withdrew from the residence of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, after an attempted arrest on Friday triggered a standoff between security operatives and some supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Kumasi. The early morning operation saw a joint team of National Security operatives and Police officers surround the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPPs private residence in Kumasi, prompting widespread confusion and tension in the Daban area. The reasons for the raid was earlier unclear. Chairman Wontumi, who was reportedly inside the house during the operation, is said to have assured the officers that he would honour any official invitation on Monday, May 26, 2025. Despite this, the heavily armed security presence provoked a strong backlash from party loyalists who began gathering at the property in protest. As the crowd of NPP supporters swelled and chants of defiance rang out, pressure mounted on the security agencies. The NIB subsequently ordered a complete withdrawal of its operatives from the scene, temporarily defusing tensions that had begun to grip the neighbourhood. Addressing journalists after the withdrawal, the NPPs Ashanti Regional Secretary and a member of Wontumis legal team, Kwame Adom-Appiah, criticised the manner in which the security operation was conducted, calling it immature and excessive. When you are going to arrest someone and arrive with about 20 vehicles, when the person is neither a coup plotter nor has any intention to overthrow the government, I dont think it is appropriate, Adom-Appiah stated. He further argued that such a show of force was not only wasteful but an unnecessary burden on state resources. A simple invitation would have sufficed. And even if he failed to honour it, there are proper, lawful ways to effect an arrest. Although the immediate tension has subsided following the NIBs withdrawal, a number of NPP supporters remained around the residence, insisting on clarity about the motive behind the operation and the legality of the attempted arrest. Official response In a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online on Citi FM on Friday evening, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, the Deputy Minister of the Interior provided a formal response and said "the security services are on top of their job, they know what they are about and there is nobody in this country who is above the law." "When you fall foul of the law, the law will come at you," he said. He said the security services operate with intelligence and so if "Wontumi is on the radar and they want him, nobody can prevent them from getting him to come and answer questions." "Yes, the information is that, the security team went there, I am yet to get the details but what I am saying is that they did not go to Wontumi's house without intel and I don't think I can share all those details on air," he added and advised that the security services should be allowed to do their job. Related article NIB withdraws officers from Wontumis residence following tensions over botched arrest The Deputy Minister of the Interior also advised against inciting the public on the basis of "mischief". "They did not go there to go and kill him, they went there to invite him, so if at the end of the day, they decided otherwise that he should be brought on Monday, so be it." He said they should be no attempt to obstruct law enforcement officers from doing their job. Responding to a question on Wontumi's complaint that the officers were armed and that a mere invitation should not be seeing armed me in his house, the deputy minister said, "my brother, I am sure you and I will call the security services names if they go there unprepared... the kind of things he [Wontumi] says on air to the extent that even there was a time he was throwing a challenge to the security personnel and the sitting President... in the event that he was trying to do something untoward, the security services must be prepared, that is not to say that they were going there to shoot him down." "Because the gentleman in question has made all manner of statements..., if you are to go and catch a wild dog, you don't go there without arming yourself." Writer's email: [email protected] Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh Next article: NIB withdraws officers from Wontumis residence following tensions over botched arrest Previous article: Residents of these areas have been put on alert as Ghana Water begins spillage of Weija Dam We are not recruiting - Ghana National Fire Service warns public against recruitment scam Jemima Okang Addae May - 23 - 2025 , 14:46 1 minute read The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has cautioned the public against a fraudulent recruitment notice circulating online, falsely claiming that the Service is currently hiring for various positions. In a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Desmond Ackah, the GNFS clarified that no recruitment exercise was currently underway, and any official recruitment would only be announced following government clearance. Mr Ackah emphasised that legitimate announcements would be published in national newspapers, on the Services official website, and verified social media pages, complete with clear eligibility criteria and application procedures. He advised the public to disregard the fake notices, avoid making any payments or purchasing e-vouchers, and to report any suspicious recruitment activity to law enforcement authorities for swift action. Mr Ackah reaffirmed the GNFS's commitment to transparency and professionalism, especially concerning recruitment processes. Read the full statement below See the fake recruitment Amazing Grace Children's Charity support paediatric cancer patients at three hospitals in Accra Jemima Okang Addae Health May - 23 - 2025 , 14:52 3 minutes read Amazing Grace Children's Charity, a non-profit organisation, has donated a variety of toys to the paediatric oncology departments of three hospitals in Ghana as part of its annual Toy Drive project. The beneficiary facilities included the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Princess Marie Louise Childrens Hospital, and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge. President of the charity, Dr Gloria Nimo, explained that the initiative was inspired by the needs of children undergoing long-term hospital care, particularly those receiving chemotherapy who are often isolated from their communities. She said the charity wanted to find a meaningful way to support these children during their time away from friends and family. "We thought about how we could help them spend that time meaningfully, and giving them toys seemed the best way. Toys are not just playthingsthey support neurocognitive development and help children cope with depression, she stated. Therapeutic companions Dr Nimo stressed the importance of providing children with stimulating items while hospitalised. According to her, the toys donated were carefully selected to aid children's learning and mental wellbeing while easing the emotional burden of confinement. Children need things that stimulate them, especially during such challenging times. These toys help neurocognitively and serve as emotional support, she noted. She added that toys become companions for the children, especially during painful procedures, acting as allies they can hold on to, helping to redirect their pain and offer comfort. The Toy Drive project, Dr Nimo revealed, is part of a broader national initiative and forms a key aspect of the organisation's annual medical mission to care for children with disabilities and others in need. She also disclosed that Amazing Grace is in the process of building a hospital that will cater to underprivileged communities. Our focus is on making sure every child reaches their developmental milestone, whether in a hospital or community setting. Toys are one of the tools we use to help achieve this, she said. Dr Nimo highlighted the need for stronger community engagement, stating that many hospitals lack essential items for children's wellbeing. She called on other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to step in to support in areas such as toys, learning materials, and medical equipment. Gratitude The Head of Public Relations and Client Services at Princess Marie Louise Childrens Hospital, Rockson Obeng, expressed the hospitals gratitude for the donation. He said the hospital had been looking forward to such support and emphasised the positive impact it would have. "Organisations like Amazing Grace help put smiles on the faces of our young patients. This will go a long way in lifting the spirits of these children who are stuck in hospital due to health challenges," he stated. The charitys gesture has been widely appreciated as it aligns with the goal of holistic paediatric care; combining medical treatment with emotional and developmental support. Previous article: A new city for Ghana? Yes But lets get it right 2024 Elections: Competitive, well conducted EU Daily Graphic Politics May - 23 - 2025 , 09:57 2 minutes read The 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections were competitive, well conducted, with a generally peaceful and inclusive campaign, the European Union (EU) Election Expert Mission has stated. The election met most regional and international obligations for elections. Civil and political rights, including freedoms of association, assembly, movement and speech and the right to vote, essential for inclusive, competitive elections, were provided, it said in its final report presented to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Adukwei Mensa, last Tuesday. The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Ramiandrasoa Razaaly, who presented the report, commended Ghana for the conduct of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, describing the process and outcome as positive. Commendation He commended the government and people of Ghana for deepening the countrys democratic credentials through peaceful polls, despite some challenges and highlighted the ECs openness and transparency as key to the success of the 2024 election. We have spoken with and met many of your peers from other African countries and I must say, the overall conduct of the election has been inspiring to many African brothers, he said. Ambassador Razaaly encouraged other African countries to learn from Ghanas example of conducting peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections and urged the EC to open its doors for knowledge and experience sharing. He described Ghana as a country where people freely expressed dissent, opinions and assessments of the government. Going to the Makola market, Korle-Bu and Chorkor and most of the people we interact with say, we like this and we dont want to change this. We have our disagreement, we might be frustrated because of ABC, but this democracy, we want to save, he said. Progress Ambassador Razaaly also noted progress made on the EUs 2020 recommendations, including the role of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the absence of legal barriers to womens participation. The EC should continue efforts to further improve adherence to the procedures for ballot reconciliation and accurate and timely collation of results at the constituency and regional levels, building on the improvements noted for these elections, he added. EC pledge In response, Mrs Mensa pledged the commissions commitment to using the report for the benefit of all Ghanaians. We intend to use both the technical aspects, what has gone on well and where we need to improve, she said. She acknowledged that the report accurately reflected the realities on the ground and reaffirmed the ECs dedication to daily improvements in Ghanas electoral processes. GNA. Veep is back Diana Mensah Politics May - 23 - 2025 , 07:35 2 minutes read The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has returned to the country after seeking medical attention from the United Kingdom (UK). She arrived around 4 p.m. yesterday aboard a private jet. The President, John Dramani Mahama, and the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice-President, Alex Segbefia; the Senior Presidential Advisor, Governmental Affairs, Dr Valerie Sawyerr, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, and other government officials welcomed her at the Kotoka International Airport. Julius Debrah (left), Chief of Staff, welcoming the Vice-President back home while President Mahama (right) looks on Also at the airport were the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Prof. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, the Chief Executive Officer of Stratcom Africa, Esther Cobbah, who handed a bouquet of natural flowers to the Vice-President, and family members of Prof. Opoku-Agyemang. President Mahama and the government officials hosted the Vice-President at the Jubilee Lounge of KIA for a brief interaction. In brief remarks, Vice-President Opoku-Agyemang thanked Ghanaians for their prayers and sent her appreciation to doctors and the medical staff at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). The Vice-President also celebrated President Mahama and his younger brother, Ibrahim Mahama, for their support, thoughtfulness and care. Background On Sunday, March 30, this year, the Spokesperson to the President and Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, reported that the Vice-President received treatment at UGMC the previous day due to a sudden illness that occurred after work on Friday, March 28. President John Mahama (middle), Lordina Mahama, (7th from right) and some ministers and other dignitaries with Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (arrowed), the Vice-President The release said based on expert medical opinion, she would be seeking further care abroad and, therefore, wished the Vice-President a speedy recovery. The Vice-President subsequently took a medical leave from April 7 this year, during which she sought medical treatment abroad. On Sunday, May 11, this year, President Mahama visited Prof. Opoku-Agyemang in London and reported that she had recuperated well and would soon return to the country. Minority accuses government of withholding statutory funds Daniel Kenu Politics May - 23 - 2025 , 09:27 2 minutes read The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of deliberately withholding statutory payments owed to key national institutions and district assemblies, despite enjoying what it describes as overwhelming goodwill from the Ghanaian public. Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday (May 22), the Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh alleged that the government had failed to disburse a single cedi of the GH7.1 billion allocated to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as required by the Local Governance Act, Act 936. Not a dime has been paid, he declared, stressing that the delay is in clear breach of the law and is starving the assemblies of the oxygen they need to function. Mr Annoh-Dompreh said the failure to honour these statutory obligations is undermining institutions such as the National Health Insurance Authority, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)which he said is owed GH4.1 billionand Parliament itself, which is yet to receive second quarter payments. The Minority expressed scepticism over a recent assurance by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson that payments would commence in June. If the government does not have the funds, it should communicate to Ghanaians and not attempt to take undue advantage of the goodwill given them, Mr Annoh-Dompreh stated. He further suggested that the delay in payments might be a strategy to create the impression that the governments financial books are in good shape. As I speak, contractors and other legitimate payments are not being made and it could be one of the reasons why the cedi is performing well against the United States dollar, he alleged. The Minority warned that if the finance minister fails to act by Tuesday, when Parliament reconvenes, they will escalate the matter. It is strange that the government has been collecting taxes over the last six months, yet has failed to build the financial muscles of the assemblies to bring development to the local people, Mr Annoh-Dompreh said. He painted a grim picture of inaction at the Common Fund Secretariat, describing the administrator as just idling around because nothing was happening. According to him, The ruling government is doing all the evil things under its first year just because of the goodwill it is enjoying. At the passage of the last budget, Dr Forson had pledged to pay 80 per cent of releases directly to the assemblies, bypassing MPs. However, the Minority claims no such payments have been made so far. This is a slap in the face of the people of Ghana, Mr Annoh-Dompreh concluded. Next article: NPP General Secretary slams as disgraceful arrest of Adenta Kumi following petition to President NPP alleges NDC misusing state security forces to target opposition GraphicOnline Politics May - 23 - 2025 , 15:32 2 minutes read The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a condemnation of what it describes as politically motivated intimidation and harassment of its members by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, alleging the misuse of state security institutions. In a press release issued today, the party demanded an immediate halt to these actions, labelling them a direct assault on Ghanas democracy and the rule of law. The NPPs statement followed the dramatic arrest of Alfred Ababio Kumi, a party member widely known as "Adenta Kumi," by heavily armed operatives believed to be from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). According to the party, six masked officers wielding AK-47 rifles forcibly detained Kumi at his residence in what the NPP characterised as a "Rambo-style" operation. Kumi had recently petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, calling for the dissolution of a committee reviewing petitions for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The NPP claims his arrest was an attempt to silence dissent rather than address the concerns raised in his petition. "The states duty is to engage with legitimate grievances through due process, not through brute force and intimidation," the party asserted. In a related development, the NPP also raised alarm over the alleged harassment of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly-known as Chairman Wontumi. Armed men reportedly stormed his residence despite prior communication with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in which Wontumi had cited medical reasons for his unavailability until May 26. The party condemned the raid as "a blatant act of political persecution." The NPP called on Ghanaians, civil society organisations, and democratic institutions to resist what it termed a calculated erosion of opposition rights. "These actions violate the fundamental freedoms of citizens and endanger the principles of justice and equality before the law," the statement read. "We urge all defenders of democracy to condemn this abuse of power." Next article: A new city for Ghana? Yes But lets get it right NPP General Secretary slams as disgraceful arrest of Adenta Kumi following petition to President GraphicOnline Politics May - 23 - 2025 , 12:40 3 minutes read The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong has criticised the arrest of Alfred Ababio Kumipopularly known as Adenta Kumicalling the incident a disgrace to the rule of law and a shame to the nation. Mr Kodua said he received a distress call from Mr Kumi in the early hours of Friday, alerting him that around 20 armed men had besieged his residence in Adenta, demanding that he come outside. According to Mr Kumi, who was speaking from inside his house, the men did not identify themselves. On my way to his residence, I received another callthis time from his wifesaying he had been taken away and that they told her he was being sent to an office, Kodua recounted in an interview with Joy News. By the time he arrived at the property, Kumi had already been removed. The NPP General Secretary expressed outrage at the state in which he found the home. He described the front door as having been destroyed and alleged that a woman in the house had been assaulted with the butt of a rifle. Its appalling that officers, whoever they may be, would act in this manner. What crime has Adenta Kumi committed? Kodua asked. This is someone who, acting as a responsible citizen, submitted a petition to the President after observing what he believed to be wrongdoing. He never received a responseonly to be forcibly picked up without explanation. Related: Dissolve committee probing petitions asking for Chief Justice Torkornoo's removal - NPP Parliamentary aspirant Adenta Kumi petitions President Mahama Mr Kodua condemned the arrest as an act of intimidation, criticising the absence of due process. Are they trying to put fear into him? Are they trying to intimidate him? If someone has filed a petition, the right course of action is to invite themnot to storm their home without a warrant. Mr Kumis location was still unknown as of Friday morning, but Kodua confirmed that they had noted the registration number of the vehicle involvedWE 323-11and had taken photographs of some of the individuals who participated in the arrest. We are now on our way to the National Security office to confirm whether he is being held there, he added. The arrest comes days after Mr Kumi submitted a petition to President John Dramani Mahama calling for the dissolution of a committee investigating the potential removal of the Chief Justice. In his petition, Kumi accused Justices Pwamang, Adibu-Asiedu, and Supreme Court Justice Yonni Kulendi of holding an inappropriate meeting with Thaddeus Sory, legal counsel for petitioner Daniel Ofori, at Santoku Restaurant in Accra after the committees first hearing on 15 May 2025. Kumi claimed that issues relating to the petition were discussed during the dinner, a meeting he says compromises the credibility of the committees work. A video of the alleged gathering has since gone viral, sparking public debate over its authenticity and implications. Fairphone, the sustainable Dutch smartphone brand, was supposed to bring Android 14 to its nearly four-year-old Fairphone 4, but that is not happening. A company representative confirmed the news via a post on the Fairphone forum. Fairphone planned to ship the Android 14 update to users by the start of 2025, but the software team ran into unexpected issues, including factors outside of their control. Instead of continuing its uphill battle, Fairphone is now shifting its focus and resources to deliver Android 15 for the Fairphone 4. The company is not ready to share a detailed launch timeline just yet but it will post more updates as it gets closer to launch. Source Samsung is working on the Galaxy Buds Core, according to recent rumors. These are intended to replace the Galaxy Buds FE as the cheapest TWS earbuds in the company's portfolio. They are definitely launching very soon, as Samsung support sites in a bunch of countries, including India, the UAE, Russia, and Turkiye, have now listed these buds under their SM-R410 model number. The Galaxy Buds Core have already been certified for sale in India by BIS. Interestingly, the first Samsung launch event where these could be presented is in early July, when the company is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7, so perhaps the Buds Core will be announced on that occasion, when the Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic should also debut. Nothing about the Galaxy Buds Core's specs is known at this point, but if the Buds FE are any indication, expect these to cater to the entry-level market for TWS earbuds. They may or may not adopt the new stem design that debuted with the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro last year, that remains to be seen. Via These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Customs officials from around Oceania wrapped up their five-day conference on Guam Friday with a firm commitment to combating environmental crimes around the Pacific. The final day of the 27th Annual Conference of the Oceania Customs Organization explored the concept of Green Customs or initiatives aimed at enhancing customs capacity to monitor and control trade of environmentally-sensitive goods, including endangered species, hazardous waste, and ozone-depleting substances. The OCO said they will have a strong focus on environmental protection and a commitment to strengthening customs role in combating environmental crimes in the region. Customs administrations stand at the frontline of environmental protection, monitoring cross-border movements of goods that can have significant impacts on our ecosystems, said Kiribati Customs comptroller Tekaie Ititaake, who moderated the morning panel on Green Customs. In the Pacific, where our communities depend so directly on healthy marine and terrestrial environments, this role takes on even greater importance. Presenters shared experiences and best practices in addressing illegal trade in endangered species, managing waste imports, and adopting eco-friendly practices within customs operations. Several member administrations highlighted successful interventions that had prevented illegal wildlife trafficking and unauthorized waste shipments in recent months. Concrete actions The five-day conference concluded with the adoption of a communique outlining concrete actions for advancing customs operations across the Pacific region, with special emphasis on digital transformation, gender equality, capacity building, and environmental protection. The closing ceremony also marked a leadership transition, with Udit Singh of Fiji assuming the chairmanship of the OCO Steering Committee for 2025-2026, taking over from outgoing chair, Ike Q. Peredo, director of the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency. It has been an honor to lead the OCO Steering Committee over the past year and to host this productive conference, Peredo said. The discussions and commitments made this week demonstrate the vitality of our organization and our shared determination to strengthen customs operations throughout the Pacific. On behalf of the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, we sincerely appreciate the crucial role of the OCO in our collective growth, while fostering lasting partnerships along the way. The incoming chair, Singh, outlined priorities for the coming year. Building on the momentum generated in Guam, we will focus on implementing the digital transformation initiatives, gender equality commitments, and environmental protection measures agreed upon at this conference, he said. I look forward to working with all members to advance these important priorities. The conference confirmed Fiji as the venue for the 28th OCO Annual Conference in 2026, with Kiribati set to host in 2027 and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2028. The OCO, established in 1986, serves as the primary regional body for customs administrations in the Pacific, facilitating cooperation, capacity building, and harmonization of customs procedures across its membership of 24 countries and territories. A man on felony pre-trial release in a theft case was accused of damaging vehicles on Route 1 in Piti, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court. Byron Taimanglo Muna, 34, was charged Thursday with two counts of criminal mischief as a third-degree felony. The charges carry a notice of commission of a felony while on felony release. At 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, police received a report of a shirtless man damaging a black Toyota Tundra by striking and denting its hood. Police were shown security footage of the incident, and they were able to locate Muna, according to the complaint. While they were on route to the scene, the officers received information that Muna had also damaged a Hawaiian Rock dump truck that was traveling south on Route 1 near Asan Beach park. The truck driver said Muna threw a large rock at the dump truck, striking and damaging the windshield. If found guilty of the charges, he could face up to 35 years in prison. Judge Sean E. Brown ordered Muna held on $5,000 cash bail. The Guam Museum is connecting the community to the wonders of the deep sea with its first-ever Puengen Tasi Siha or ocean nights at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. During the event, the island community will get to connect with Amanda Dedicatoria, a Guam-based science writer, and D.L. Perez Elementary School teacher Shannon Seleen, who are sailing as 2025 Ocean Exploration Trust Science Communication Fellows onboard Exploration Vessel Nautilus. The Mattingan: Mariana Arc Volcanic Exploration (NA171) expedition (CHamoru: deep sea), is the first of a two-part expedition series that will survey the volcanic seafloor around and within the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. Through a virtual call held live with explorers on the ship, participants will learn more about features such as undersea volcanoes, hydrothermal vents, as well as opportunities to get involved in deep-sea exploration, the Guam Museum said in a release. Pacific Islands University alumna and volunteer community educator Shelterihna Alokoa, another 2025 SCF from Guam participating in a later expedition, will facilitate the event in-person and field questions from the audience. In June, Alokoa will embark on the Metaw: Exploring Mud Volcanoes and the Mariana Trench (NA172) expedition (Refaluwasch: deep ocean) to survey more features of the Mariana Archipelagos deep ocean as part of this years Nautilus Live exploration season. Following the presentations, participants will be able to interact with outreach booths from local marine and environmental conservation programs, community organizations, and support local artists and artisans who will display their ocean-inspired works available for purchase. The Guam Museum said it is proud to support Puengen Tasi Siha as part of its HITA Talk Program. The HITA in HITA Talks stands for Heritage-Ideas-Traditions-Arts, and is a free public educational and workshop series offered by the Guam Museum and the Guam Museum Foundation. For more information about this event, e-mail the Guam Museum at michael.bevacqua@dca.guam.gov. Haiti - FLASH : Launch of the project Mandatory access to professional internships... On Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Oasis Hotel, Wilbert Franck, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), in the presence of Ministry officials, Directors General, and heads of professional centers and universities across the country, officially launched the pilot project "Mandatory Access to Professional Internships for Young Graduates". This project aims to offer young professionals the opportunity to complete internships in various public and private institutions across the country, with the aim of further developing their skills, facilitating their employability, and thereby boosting their professional integration. This quarterly work-study internship is an important step towards the professional development of young people and the preparation of skilled executives for the Haitian market. Minister Franck, the initiator of this project, emphasizes the importance of access to internships for graduates and the effective regularization of the Haitian labor market. In this regard, he commends the efforts of Guy Orel Andre, Director of Workforce at the Ministry, in implementing, on the one hand, the Public Employment Service project, a technological tool for regulating and intermediating job supply and demand in Haiti, and, on the other hand, mandatory access to internships for young graduates. Through this program, beneficiaries will be able to obtain, among other things, a professional internship certificate and a work permit, thus facilitating their access to the job market. The Minister invites institutions to collaborate with the Haitian government to create approximately 40,000 internship positions for the country's young graduates. This is an essential tool in developing employability and reducing social injustice. At the launch of this pilot project, approximately sixty graduates received their letters of assignment and signed their internship agreements, ready to begin this new experience. These young people will also benefit from legal assistance from the Haitian government throughout their internship period to ensure strict respect for their rights, said Moise Jules, Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry. HL/ HaitiLibre While last year's Computex IT trade fair was buzzing with new PC chips, this year was quieter than expected. c't and heise online went behind the scenes to find out about Intel's next generation of Panther Lake notebooks (probably Core Ultra 300), what AMD has up its sleeve and why Nvidia hasn't announced a PC processor after all. Anzeige In 2024, AMD and Intel hastily brought forward their Ryzen AI 300 and Core Ultra 200V in order to have a competing product with a strong AI unit against Qualcomm's Snapdragon X. The inherent disadvantage: If manufacturers launch a single chip generation earlier than planned, this does not also apply to their respective successors, which are still in earlier stages of development. In fact, they are more likely to be slowed down if resources are withdrawn. Intel's current status At Computex 2025, Intel presented a prototype system with Panther Lake, which inherits both Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 200V: strong NPU, small CPU) and Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200H: big CPU, but no NPU for Copilot+) and uses Intel's brand-new 18A manufacturing process for the first time. However, even before the trade fair, it was already known that instead of the promised sales launch, only mass production will start in 2025. From then on, it will be several months before finished notebooks arrive in stores. Intel's Panther Lake processor (Image: c't / chh) Perhaps some first notebooks will be on the shelves of some retailers in some regions shortly before Christmas, as was the case with Meteor Lake, but most will become available in 2026. The fact that Panther Lake, like Lunar Lake, is extremely unattractive for laptop manufacturers also plays a role here: Lunar Lake already requires special mainboards that cannot accommodate either the previous or the next generation and are therefore particularly expensive to develop. Panther Lake is yet another new platform that will not be suitable for its successor Nova Lake. AMD: Refresh in sight With Strix Point aka Ryzen AI 300, AMD achieved the notable success of selling the first x86 CPU for Copilot+ last year. However, there were only a few chips in the first few months, most of which Asus received. The situation improved in the fall and repeated itself in the spring: the smaller offshoot Krackan Point (also Ryzen AI 300) with a maximum of eight instead of twelve Zen 5(c) cores and a smaller graphics unit made its debut at CES in January, but is only now being found in notebooks. According to notebook manufacturers, Krackan Point is simply too expensive, so they prefer to use the Hawk Point Ryzen 200 refresh. Anzeige At Computex 2025, AMD did not have a successor for the Strix Point, which is now a year old. Instead, the name Gorgon Point is circulating in the rumor mill. This is supposedly a rather unexciting refresh, which is to be fully exploited in terms of marketing with the new name Ryzen AI 400. AMD needs this for the 2026 product year because the next technical development is still a long way off: Only Medusa Point brings Zen 6 cores and a GPU with new RDNA4 architecture. The latter uses the recently released desktop graphics cards of the Radeon RX 9000 series and the former was specially designed for TSMC's N2 manufacturing process. This means that the entire chip is more likely to be something for the next Computex in a year's time ... or even later. Notebook motherboard with AMD's Krackan Point (Image: c't / mue) Qualcomm arouses curiosity about Snadragon X successor By then, not only Intel will have something new in its portfolio, but certainly Apple and probably Qualcomm as well. The only noteworthy announcement made by company boss Cristiano Amon at his Computex keynote speech was that the successor to the Snapdragon X will be unveiled at the Snapdragon Summit in-house exhibition in September. And a press spokesperson promised that interested parties would then be able to buy such notebooks quickly that sounds like the run-up to Christmas or the turn of the year. Everything in the green at Nvidia? Speaking of the end of the year and ARM processors: Nvidia already unveiled its DGX Spark mini workstation at CES in January, including its own GB10 processor, which consists of two chiplets. Nvidia developed the GPU part itself, while the CPU part, which also includes all other SoC functions from USB to RAM controller to network, comes from Mediatek. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang repeatedly emphasized at various events, which he attended as keynote or guest speaker, how great the cooperation was, that the complex chiplet network was already running in the first approach and that mass production would start. Since journalists, as professional pessimists, are wary of the most effusive praise, and we are also generally skeptical about Nvidia, we asked around in Taiwan. It was suspicious that Nvidia exhibited numerous DGX Spark systems with GB10 at the GTC in-house exhibition, which took place parallel to Computex, but there was still no running system to be seen in the demo area months after the unveiling. Nvidia's DGX Spark mini workstation in the Founders Edition (front) and from partners (back) (Image: c't / mue) As a well-informed source told us, GB10 probably has a small, but subtle bug with piquant consequences. The chip is generally working, but the display controller is apparently screwed up: it is only supposed to only run one resolution. And this is not even one of the resolutions that monitors usually display. In conversation, one of the Spark partners therefore brought a new narrative into play: he sees DGX Spark not so much as an over-engineered office PC, but rather as an additional device with a dedicated task similar to a network-attached storage (NAS), which perhaps sits on the same desk as the work PC. This is why DGX Spark would not be delivered with a mouse and keyboard like other complete PCs. Does it click for you too? Exactly: A NAS doesn't need a monitor because you only access it via the network. Bad news for Nvidia: GB10 is also to get closely related offshoots called N1X and N1, which will then be used in powerful gaming notebooks with Windows on ARM and take away Qualcomm's exclusivity. However, a functioning display controller would be needed here. The error mentioned above requires a step back to the drawing board and a revised chip design, which is likely to take at least six months. A delay of this magnitude for the N1X and N1 was reported to us by several sources without them knowing the exact background. We therefore believe that an official unveiling in this calendar year is now out of the question; however, it would fit in well with CES in early 2026. Nvidia's powerful GB10 processor (Image: c't / mue) For DGX Spark with GB10, all companies are still hoping for a faster launch (probably with the above restrictions). At Computex, it was sometimes said vaguely "in the third quarter", sometimes more specifically "we are planning for the end of August". However, the only promise that we trust 100 percent with years of Nvidia experience is "when Jensen allows it" and yes, this is also a quote from a partner. Almost notebook-compatible If it weren't for the stupid bug, GB10 would already have everything that is relevant for notebooks in its current form. Nvidia confirmed integrated WLAN and Bluetooth, for example. We had to dig deeper into other aspects, as there is still no official block diagram that names all of GB10's components. Without an NPU that is suitable for Copilot+, Nvidia would not even need to compete with high-priced Windows notebooks. Nvidia itself cleverly dodged the question with "we're not exposing an NPU on DGX Spark": Just because there is no programming interface, as DGX Spark pushes all AI calculations in the targeted market segment onto the much more powerful GPU, an NPU can still be slumbering in the chip. We have been told by third parties that there is an NPU based on NVDLA. Nvidia has already used these in the past, for example in the Jetson Xavier processor. Alternatively, cooperation partner Mediatek could also have contributed an AI unit. Mediatek already has plenty of experience with such computing units: Mediatek's smartphone processor Dimensity 9400(+) and its Chromebook offshoot Kompanio Ultra 910 are equipped with a 50 TOPS NPU. With one Cortex-X925, three Cortex-X4 and four Cortex-A720, the processor also has everything you need for everyday computing power in non-AI applications. The GPU (Mali Immortalis G925) is also one of the latest and most powerful that design supplier ARM currently has on offer. Chromebook prototype with Mediatek's Kompanio Ultra 910 (Image: c't / mue) Piquant side note: In the footnotes of the processor data sheet, Mediatek mentions that GPU features such as ray tracing cannot be used under ChromeOS. Well, we can immediately think of another operating system that has no problems with this and would also enjoy such a big NPU. The stand staff put a friendly, but firm stop to this in conversation: Kompanio Ultra is for Chromebooks, for Windows notebooks "only the one with Nvidia" is in the works for now. Supply or get involved? As is so often the case, external factors play a more important role than internal will. Mediatek does not develop the CPU and GPU architectures used in its chips itself, but takes what ARM provides to all its licensees. This means that the company is also dependent on their support when it comes to (graphics) drivers; and these are currently not available for Windows. The emphasis in the last sentence must be on "currently", because as a birdie in Taiwan chirped to us, this will change: ARM is working on Windows drivers for the Mali GPUs. We are not aware of the current status, though. However, ARM's lack of an announcement to date explains Mediatek's current focus on Chromebooks. 2026 ahoy With all this knowledge, the only question we were unable to answer with certainty during the trade fair is of a purely academic nature: it is unclear when exactly the exclusive agreement between Microsoft and Qualcomm on Windows on ARM will expire. The two companies have never publicly admitted it. However, it is an open secret that Windows on ARM is currently only allowed to run on devices with a Qualcomm processor. By 2026 at the latest, there will be more than just the three companies AMD, Intel and Qualcomm offering processors for notebooks. (mue) 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. Lower Saxony's data protection officer Denis Lehmkemper can report a legal victory in his long-standing battle against manipulatively designed cookie banners. The Hanover Administrative Court has confirmed his legal opinion in a judgment of March 19 that has only just been made public: Accordingly, website operators must offer a clearly visible "reject all" button on the first level of the corresponding banner for cookie consent requests if there is also the frequently found "accept all" option. Accordingly, cookie banners must not be specifically designed to encourage users to click on consent and must not prevent them from rejecting the controversial browser files. Anzeige Otherwise, the cleverly obtained consent would be ineffective, explains the Lower Saxony supervisory authority with reference to the reasons for the ruling. This would constitute a violation of the Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act (TDDDG) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In the case, the Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung (NOZ) had taken legal action against an order issued by Lehmkemper (case reference: 10 A 5385/22). The inspector demanded a redesign of the Lower Saxony media company's cookie banner, as it did not obtain effective, in particular informed and voluntary consent before setting the browser files and subsequently processing personal information. NOZ, on the other hand, took the view that consent was effectively obtained. It did not process personal data. Moreover, the data protection authority was not responsible for monitoring compliance with the legal provisions on setting cookies. Many legal violations with the NOZ banner The 10th Chamber of the Administrative Court has now ruled that rejecting cookies on the controversial banner was much more complicated than accepting them. Users were constantly forced to give their consent by new requests. The headline "optimal user experience" and the caption "accept and close" were misleading, the judges stated. The term "consent" was completely missing. The number of partners and third-party services involved was also not clear, the chamber criticized. References to the right to withdraw consent and data processing in third countries were only visible after scrolling. Overall, users had not given informed, voluntary and unambiguous consent within the meaning of the GDPR. Data protection officer hopes for a signal effect Anzeige Lehmkemper believes the ruling strengthens users' rights. "The vast majority of people are probably annoyed by cookie banners," says the data protection expert. However, these fulfill an important function for maintaining privacy on the internet. This is precisely why the supervisory authorities are "campaigning for a real choice in the design of banners". He hopes that "the ruling sends a signal to as many providers as possible and thus helps to implement consent solutions that comply with data protection regulations". The Conference of Independent Federal and State Data Protection Supervisory Authorities (DSK) stated in a guidance document at the end of 2021: If the user is only offered an "Accept all" button and additional options such as "Settings" or "Further information" for cookie banners, this is not legally compliant. This is because the "communication effect" of the two approaches is not equivalent. Furthermore, the use of a consent management platform (CMP) alone does not automatically obtain consent within the meaning of the law. The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision recently carried out a random, automated review of website operators and found many solutions that were not legally compliant. (wpl) 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 rule introduces a three-month deadline for most permit holders who lose their jobs. If they fail to find new work within that period and lack other grounds to remain, their permits may be revoked. A new law set to take effect in June 2025 will require foreign residents in Finland with work-based residence permits to secure new employment within a set timeframe or face potential deportation, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment confirmed on Thursday. An exception allows certain high-skilled workers, defined as specialists with monthly earnings of at least 3,827, to remain for six months while seeking employment. The reform follows months of public criticism and an open consultation period last year, during which the majority of responses opposed the proposal. Despite this, the government is moving forward with implementation. According to the ministry, the consultation helped inform supporting materials but did not alter the law itself. The matter is political, said Jarmo Tiukkanen, Senior Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The hearings were general and did not significantly impact the wording of the law. The rule applies to roughly 50,000 foreign workers currently in Finland. It aligns with an EU directive stating that unemployment alone is not grounds for removing a permit if the job-seeking period does not exceed three months, or six months for those with over two years of residence. In addition to specialists, the six-month window will apply to Blue Card holders, middle and top-level managers, intra-company transferees, and those who have lived in Finland on a work-based permit for more than two years. Employers will also face new obligations under the legislation. They must notify the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) within 14 days if an employees work-based residence ends. However, this requirement does not extend to short-term or side jobs unrelated to the main employment attached to the permit. Authorities plan to issue a government decree in June designating sectors facing labour shortages. Foreign workers may then switch to a different shortage sector under the same residence permit, something that previously required a new application if changing fields. The ministry said the law is intended to tighten the link between residence and employment and enable more systematic oversight. Until now, residence permits could be cancelled after job loss, but there was no time limit or formal monitoring process in place. The policy comes amid rising unemployment. According to figures released Thursday by the KEHA Centre, the number of jobseekers in Finland grew by nearly 38,000 year-on-year in April. At the same time, the number of reported vacancies dropped by 14,300 compared to April 2024. Critics say the new law adds pressure to an already strained job market and risks displacing foreign workers who contribute to sectors facing long-term labour shortages. HT On Thursday, the Prosecution Service officially announced only a suspicion of misconduct in public office. However, sources confirmed to Helsingin Sanomat that the investigation also includes the more serious charge of revealing classified information. Finlands Parliament Secretary General Antti Pelttari is under investigation for suspected treason, according to information obtained by Helsingin Sanomat. The suspected offence concerns the disclosure of a state security secret during his previous role as head of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo). Under Finnish law, the unauthorised disclosure of a security secret carries a prison sentence of between four months and four years. If deemed unintentional, the penalty ranges from a fine to two years' imprisonment. The alleged offences date back to Pelttaris tenure at Supo, which he led from 2011 to 2023. He was appointed Secretary General of Parliament in 2024. At the centre of the case is an incident involving a retired official who reportedly took part in counterintelligence work targeting Russia. Investigators suspect the retired civilian was given access to protected information despite no longer holding an official position. The case remains in the preliminary investigation phase, and the legal classification of the alleged crimes may still change. Neither Pelttari nor the lead investigator, Special Prosecutor Tarmo Tanner, commented on the details of the allegations. The Prosecution Service's public statement confirmed only that individuals responsible for the arrangement at Supo are suspected of official misconduct. It made no mention of treason-related charges. In March, Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho was informed of the investigation during a private meeting with Tanner and Chief Inspector Merja Laitinen. The matter became public only this Thursday, after the parliamentary office committee announced it would hear Pelttari and consider suspending him from his duties. In 2023, Helsingin Sanomat reported that several current and former Supo staff were under criminal investigation. Among them is former counterintelligence chief Pertti Haaksluoto, who is suspected of similar offences, including misconduct and revealing classified information. Supo has publicly denied that any of its personnel have acted on behalf of a foreign state. It said the objective in all known cases was the protection of Finlands national security. Pelttari has declined to respond to the latest claims. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. HT From 1 August, students will instead receive a smaller study grant housing supplement, which only applies during months of active study. The change ends housing support during summer holidays and significantly reduces the total amount of aid available throughout the year. Thousands of students in Finland will see their housing support from Kela drop to zero in August following a nationwide policy change that removes students from the general housing allowance system. The National Social Insurance Institution Kela has confirmed the transition. Students remain in the general housing allowance system until the end of July. In August, many will receive no payment at all. The maximum housing benefit for a student living alone in Helsinki is currently 394.10 per month, amounting to 4,729.20 annually. After the change, the maximum monthly support will fall to 296 during study months only, totalling 2,664 per year. This represents a drop of 44% for those studying nine months annually. Only students with children or a spouse with children will continue to receive general housing allowance under the current rules. The change is expected to take many by surprise. Kela has warned that its call centres may experience high traffic in early August as students seek to understand why no support payment arrives. Most students are unlikely to notice the impact until the first missed payment in August. The new model does not provide any support for non-study months. Kela will only begin payments again in September, and even then at the reduced rate. According to government data, about 130,000 students received general housing allowance in 2023. The sudden change affects nearly all of them simultaneously. The reduced support shifts a larger share of housing costs onto students. For many, the difference will be significant, particularly in cities where rental prices are high. In Helsinki, an average studio apartment rents for about 750 per month. Under the old system, the general allowance covered over half. Under the new model, the supplement will cover less than 40% during study months and nothing in summer. Students are expected to adjust by seeking cheaper housing. Demand for low-cost rental units is forecast to increase sharply, putting pressure on already limited supply. This could drive rents higher in the lowest price categories despite the overall downward pressure on the broader market. Experts in student affairs and housing policy have noted that many landlords and housing investors have not yet responded to the incoming change in demand patterns. The full effects are likely to become visible during the autumn term. The August change also removes the income-testing of cohabitants for housing benefit eligibility. As a result, shared living is expected to grow more common. Students may increasingly choose to live in larger flats with others to reduce individual rent costs. In practical terms, a shared apartment could allow a student to live in a more central or expensive location at a lower personal cost than a studio under the new support structure. Kela has not published specific outreach plans to inform students of the upcoming shift. Advocacy groups have warned that awareness remains low, particularly among continuing students. New university entrants in autumn 2025 will likely factor the support change into their housing choices. Existing tenants may not act until the financial impact becomes clear in August. The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, which oversees Kela, has not commented on potential revisions or phased implementation to soften the impact. HT Captain Lauri Nieminen , representing the Finnish Defence Forces, commanded a 60-person international unit in a scenario replicating threats on NATOs eastern flank. The exercise took place at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu and ran for three weeks. Finnish military officers made a strong impression during the recent NATO Joint Resolve exercise in Estonia, where over 260 officers from 20 countries trained in leading joint operations under simulated crisis conditions. "Despite different backgrounds, we operate using NATOs shared manuals. That ensures everyone speaks the same operational language," Nieminen said. Although Finnish military ranks are generally lower compared to other nations in joint drills, Nieminen noted that competence outweighs titles. "We focus on solutions. Theres no hesitation, just forward motion, even when we dont have all the facts. Thats something our allies value." One trait that stands out is Finlands deep-leadership model, built on mutual respect rather than strict command. It surprised many. People said our style worked unusually well, especially under pressure, Nieminen said. NATO instructors noticed. Retired Norwegian Rear Admiral Hans Helseth, one of the exercises senior mentors, described the Finnish officers as "open, bold and intelligent." From the start, they made a big impression, Helseth said. The drill took place against a backdrop of increased defence cooperation among Finland, the Baltic states, and Polandcountries seen as the core of NATOs eastern frontier. We share borders, values and threat perceptions, said Brigadier General Alvydas Siuparis, commander of the Baltic Defence College. The regions strategic relevance was echoed by Polish Colonel Dariusz Majchrzak, who stated: These nations are NATOs frontline. Their national resilience strengthens the whole alliance. Ukrainian officers also took part in the exercise. Their presence, shaped by combat experience, brought realism to the training. They had every reason to be bitter, but instead they came to learn and lifted everyones spirit, Nieminen said. Conversations with them made a lasting impact. Helseth said Ukraines participation was a reminder of the stakes: If we dont win this war together with Ukraine, the Russians will come here next. According to Majchrzak, helping Ukraine is not just solidarity, but strategy. If Kyiv is safe, so are Warsaw and Helsinki. From Finlands perspective, participating in NATO's command exercises is essential. Deputy Rector of the National Defence University, Pasi Hirvonen, said the experience prepares Finnish officers for real-world leadership roles within NATO structures. These exercises build operational skills and trust between countries. That trust is critical for Baltic Sea security, Hirvonen said. He also warned that Russias military threat will not disappear with the end of the war in Ukraine. Russia has adopted a wartime economy, and that momentum is not easy to reverse. Their rearmament continues, and were seeing increased military infrastructure just across our border. Next year, Finland will host the Joint Resolve exercise. For Nieminen, the outcome of the exercise wasnt just in the reports filed, but in the recognition received, sometimes marked by a quiet handoff of a coin during a handshake. Its a sign of trust and shared experience, he said. HT The breach, active between April and August 2022, also resulted in more than 50 fraudulent transactions and around 150 suspected data breaches, according to law enforcement. Finlands Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) has fined S-Bank 7.7 million after a programming error in 2022 allowed some customers to access other users' bank accounts. Criminals exploited the flaw to make illicit transfers worth approximately 1.3 million. Around 10 individuals in Finland, including a minor, have been charged in connection with the crimes. The penalty, issued alongside a public warning, cites multiple failures by S-Bank in adhering to strong customer authentication requirements and verifying payer consent during payment transactions. The FIN-FSA also criticised S-Banks risk management, particularly its handling of outsourced IT systems. The importance of digital security in banking services is pronounced in Finland, as customer service has moved almost entirely to mobile and online banking, said Tero Kurenmaa, Director General of the FIN-FSA. He added that geopolitical instability had further increased the need for strong digital oversight in the financial sector. The programming error allowed attackers to use compromised login credentials to access sensitive services linked to Suomi.fi, the states centralised authentication platform, and the national social insurance institution Kela. S-Bank, which has more than 3 million customers and 9.6 billion in deposits, issued a negative profit warning following the fine. It now expects its 2025 operating profit to fall short of its earlier 100 million estimate. The bank, owned by the S-Group and SOK Corporation, has said it takes the FIN-FSAs ruling seriously but considers the financial penalty severe. It plans to review the decision and may appeal within the statutory 30-day period. This is not the first time the supermarket-affiliated bank has faced regulatory scrutiny. In 2019, FIN-FSA fined S-Bank nearly 1 million for deficiencies in its monitoring of suspected money laundering and terrorism financing. In 2023, S-Bank expanded its operations by acquiring the bulk of Svenska Handelsbankens Finnish assets. The latest breach and penalty, however, raise fresh concerns about its digital infrastructure as more banking activity shifts online. The FIN-FSA confirmed that oversight of ICT systems, cybersecurity and outsourcing remains a top supervisory priority through 2025. HT Kela confirmed that all benefit payments were processed and transmitted as scheduled. However, delays occurred in transferring the funds from banks to recipients accounts. The institution issued a public apology for the disruption. Some social benefit payments issued by the Finnish Social Insurance Institution (Kela) failed to reach customers bank accounts on time Friday due to technical issues at major Finnish banks. Osuuspankki (OP), Finlands largest financial services group, reported a problem with SEPA payments earlier in the day. By the afternoon, OP stated that services had returned to normal and that the delayed Kela payments were being processed. Danske Bank also experienced delays and said that a technical failure at another bank had affected incoming transactions. As a result, some Danske Bank customers did not receive their wages, pensions, or social benefits on time. The bank apologised and said the issue was being resolved. Nordea, another major bank, reported no disruptions in its payment systems and said services were functioning normally. SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is used for standardised euro transfers across EU countries, and disruptions in the system can delay a wide range of financial transactions. Both OP and Danske Bank said they are continuing to investigate the cause of the problems. Kela advised customers to contact their bank if their benefit payments have not arrived by the end of the day. HT Trump showed Ramaphosa printed screenshots from a Reuters video, reportedly to support allegations that white farmers were being systematically killed in South Africa. US President Donald Trump presented misleading material during a tense meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa , claiming to show evidence of a so-called genocide of white farmers in South Africa. The images were later confirmed to be unrelated to the country. Reuters, however, confirmed that the footage was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, filmed in February in the city of Goma after fighting between government forces and M23 rebels. There is no doubt. Only Reuters has that video. The people in the footage are aid workers recovering bodies in Congo, said Djaffar Al Katanty, the Reuters journalist who shot the footage. It was deeply disturbing to see it used out of context. Another image presented by Trump during the White House meeting had also been previously shown to be misleading. Trump had claimed the image depicted a mass burial of white farmers. In fact, the image had been taken from an unrelated setting and used in an opinion article by the American Thinker website. The author of that article, Andrea Widburg, admitted to Reuters that the photo had been wrongly attributed. Trump used the image in the wrong context, she said. Despite the contentious exchange, the meeting between the two presidents resulted in a renewed commitment to strengthen trade relations between the United States and South Africa. Ramaphosas office released a statement late Thursday confirming that the leaders had agreed to increase bilateral trade, boost investment, and expand cooperation in technology transfer. Speaking in Washington, Ramaphosa described the meeting as very good despite what he termed as difficult moments. Trumps repeated claims about land expropriation and persecution of white farmers were dismissed by the South African president, who said such claims were false and damaging. Tensions over the issue have escalated during Trumps presidency. His administration has echoed allegations from conservative media figures and business allies, including tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa and has amplified the notion of a white genocide in the country. These claims have been consistently denied by South African officials. In recent months, Trump has intensified his criticism of South African land reform policies. Prior to the meeting, he again accused Ramaphosas government of forcibly taking land from white landowners, a claim widely debunked by international observers. Ramaphosa remained calm during the White House press appearance, reiterating South Africas constitutional framework for land reform and stating that the process does not involve racial targeting or violence. The meeting came as part of Ramaphosas effort to safeguard trade ties amid broader economic pressures. The United States is South Africas second-largest trading partner after China, and continued access to American markets is a key priority for the country. Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed a 31 percent tariff on certain South African imports. These tariffs have since been temporarily suspended, but uncertainty remains over their long-term status. Although the meeting highlighted major policy differences and the persistence of misinformation, both governments have signalled that economic cooperation will continue. Ramaphosas office described the visit as successful in terms of securing commitments on trade and investment. The dispute over Trumps use of inaccurate material, however, has not gone unnoticed. Analysts say the episode underscores the risks of disinformation influencing foreign policy discussions at the highest level. HT The European Union, which was set up primarily to take advantage of the US in TRADE, has been a very difficult negotiating partner, Trump wrote. Our talks are going nowhere! European stock markets fell sharply on Thursday after Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50 percent import tariff on goods from the European Union. The US president announced the proposed measure on Truth Social, citing stalled trade negotiations and what he described as the EUs long-standing advantage over the United States. The proposed tariff would take effect on 1 June. Trumps announcement triggered immediate market reactions, with Paris falling 2.8 percent and Frankfurt dropping 2.5 percent by mid-afternoon. Helsinkis stock exchange fell by around 2 percent shortly before 3 p.m. Jan von Gerich, chief analyst at Nordea, said the move is likely intended to apply pressure ahead of further trade talks. Traditional trade negotiations take years. Trump is giving the EU a week, von Gerich said. Its an extreme position, but not out of character. Von Gerich urged caution in interpreting the announcement. He sometimes uses dramatic language, but he has also followed through on aggressive measures before. The risk is real. The Finnish economy could be directly impacted, he added. Finland relies on exports. A 50 percent tariff would effectively block many Finnish products from reaching the US market. The European Commission declined to comment on the tariff threat before trade representatives from both sides meet later on Thursday. EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is scheduled to speak with US trade envoy Jamieson Greer at 6 p.m. Finnish time. Speaking to Reuters, Polands Trade Minister Michal Baranowski, whose country currently holds the EU Council presidency, downplayed the announcement. Some people negotiate behind closed doors, others in front of cameras, he said. Public statements dont automatically translate into US government policy. Trumps Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News the US president sees current EU offers as insufficient. He hopes the tariff threat will light a fire under the EU, Bessent said. EU trade negotiations with the US are scheduled to continue until 8 July. This is not Trumps first tariff escalation. In April, he announced a 20 percent tariff on EU goods, only to suspend it days later and reduce it to 10 percentexcluding steel, aluminium, and cars, which are taxed at 25 percent. Trumps latest threat, if implemented, would mark a significant escalation in US-EU trade tensions. HT Fentanyl, meth dealer sentenced to 28 years in federal prison A 35-year-old Asheville man was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Thursday for his role in a drug trafficking ring that distributed many pounds of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs in Buncombe and Henderson counties and the surrounding area, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced. Related Stories In addition to the prison term, Zachery Micah Rice was sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to court records, Rice was a major distributor of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine in Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania counties from 2021 to 2023. He obtained the drugs from a supplier in Atlanta and transported them back to Western North Carolina for further distribution through a local network of traffickers and dealers, the U.S. attorney said. During one trip, law officers stopped and searched Rices vehicle, seizing over 11 kilograms of methamphetamine, a .40-caliber pistol modified to fully automatic with a machinegun conversion device known as a Glock switch, and more than $32,683 in cash. Investigators later executed search warrants at stash houses and a storage unit used by Rice, recovering kilogram quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, multiple firearms, including high-capacity magazines ammunition, digital scales, drug paraphernalia used for drug distribution, and more than $27,470. Rice pleaded guilty last Oct. 18 to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a machinegun. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending placement by the federal Bureau of Prisons. In making todays announcement, Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Buncombe County Sheriffs Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, the Anderson County Sheriffs Office in South Carolina, the Asheville Police Department, the Waynesville Police Department, the Cherokee Indian Police Department, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office, the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office, the Haywood County Sheriffs Office, the Swain County Sheriffs Office, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, the Clay County Sheriffs Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office in South Carolina for their investigation of the case. A Godsend for recipients, HOP may lose funding At Interfaith Assistance Ministry employees and volunteers pack and delivery healthy meals as part of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot. [CONTRIBUTED} More than 11,000 at-risk households in Henderson, Transylvania, Polk, Rutherford counties and throughout the rest of Western North Carolina are growing healthier from North Carolinas Healthy Opportunities Pilot, say HOP providers, who express concern that federal and state funding cuts may jeopardize the pilot. Related Stories Children and adults participating in the Medicaid program are receiving prescribed healthy food boxes, assistance with rent for safe housing, nutritious formula, help with power bills, healthy relationship counseling sessions and more are saving the state of North Carolina more than $1,000 per recipient per year in health care costs, the providers say. In Henderson County, six safety-net nonprofits have already invested millions of dollars back into the community through purchases of fresh produce from local farms, grocery stores and food distributors, payments to local contractors for home repairs and renovations, rent assistance to landlords, utility assistance and more. Despite the documented success of HOP in its first three years, the $88 million needed to continue HOP funding is not included in either the state Senates budget or the draft budget released this week by House leaders. Gov. Josh Stein has included funding for HOP as a priority in his recommended budget. $313 million at stake Because the federal government matches 65 percent of state HOP funding a total of $313 million for rural counties would be lost, NC Health and Human Services officials said Monday in a briefing to nonprofits participating about HOP. We have had incredible success with HOP over the last several years, said Melanie Bush, assistant secretary for NC Medicaid. Its important to note the economic impacts HOP has on communities it serves in three regions of the state. It has also increased the safety net across the state. The pilots services have been a life-line for area residents hurt by the ravages of Hurricane Helene who have needed help, said Elizabeth Willson Moss, Interfaith Assistance Ministrys executive director. Known as social determinants of health, assistance with these basic needs, dramatically lower health-care costs by reducing hospital stays and ER visits, HOP has shown. HOP has literally been a Godsend for its recipients, especially those hurt by Hurricane Helene, Moss said. Low-income, working families who suffered from time lost on the job and loss of their homes have desperately needed HOPs assistance with housing, nutritious food, utility bills, counseling and other critical services. These critical services, provided through North Carolinas Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) the first in the nation are funded through the state Department of Health and Human Services budget. HOPs Medicaid funding pays for non-medical services that have proven to dramatically impact a child or adults wellbeing, according to state officials. These non-medical services address the social determinants of health, which data shows affect 80 percent of each of our wellbeing and health. North Carolina saves $1,020 annually for each Medicaid client who participates in HOP; a savings that is projected to keep growing as the HOP program grows, according to the University of North Carolinas Sheps Center, which tracks HOP results. In Western North Carolina, HOP health care savings amount to $11.9 million annually, according to Impact Health, WNCs HOP network lead. Caja Solidaria, a Hendersonville-based food hub, underscores the significant revenues HOP service organizations have invested back into the communities they serve while improving the health of Medicaid participants. In the last three years, weve been able to invest $5 million into local farmers, food distributors, and businesses, said Christina Schnabel, Cajas co-executive director. All of the food we purchase is getting to families who need it. We hear every day about how much participants enjoy the fresh, local, and healthy foods. HOP paying off in a healthier community HOPs impact through six local safety-net nonprofits includes: Caja Solidaria, a Hendersonville-based food sharing hub, provides an average of 350 Medicaid households with healthy food boxes (including fresh local fruit and vegetables) each week and has provided support for utility bill assistance to 120 households, healthy home goods for 124 households, housing navigation for 26 households and housing move-in support for 14 households since joining HOP. Staff employed for HOP: 10. All of the food we purchase is getting to families who need it, Schnebel said. We hear every day about how much participants enjoy the fresh, local, and healthy foods. All these investments are paying off in a healthier community. Children and Family Resource Center (CFRC), Hendersonville, supports early childhood development and education, quality childcare, healthy parenting and offers family support. CFRC provides healthy baby formula to 43 households across Western North Carolina and provides parenting classes via home visits to 18 families through the HOP program. HOP Staff: 2.5. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot has enabled CFRC to help families in the 18-county region who are struggling with the high cost of formula, said Jamie Weiner, CFRC Executive Director. This initiative ensures they dont have to worry about affording their childs next meal. The funding not only helps prevent future health issues by creating programs that address all the social determinants of health while saving taxpayers money in the long run and by providing a sustainable financial path for nonprofits to continue their important work while being reimbursed for their efforts. Housing Assistance Corp. WNC provides safe and affordable housing to local residents with limited income. Through HOP, Housing Assistance assesses homes for safety and health repair needs, shares those findings with client care managers, coordinates with contractors to complete repairs, and ensures those contractors are reimbursed (HOP funding). To date, 192 households have been served and an additional 117 clients are pending for these housing-related services. Staff contributing to HOP services: 9. Through this program, weve been able to serve families with children suffering from asthma, seniors living with COPD, and others whose housing conditions pose serious health risks, said Margaret Fenton Leback, HACs executive director. HOP has allowed us to address urgent needs for clients who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Without this funding, many of these households will be left without options and the broader community will feel the impact. provides safe and affordable housing to local residents with limited income. Through HOP, Housing Assistance assesses homes for safety and health repair needs, shares those findings with client care managers, coordinates with contractors to complete repairs, and ensures those contractors are reimbursed (HOP funding). To date, 192 households have been served and an additional 117 clients are pending for these housing-related services. Staff contributing to HOP services: 9. Through this program, weve been able to serve families with children suffering from asthma, seniors living with COPD, and others whose housing conditions pose serious health risks, said Margaret Fenton Leback, HACs executive director. HOP has allowed us to address urgent needs for clients who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Without this funding, many of these households will be left without options and the broader community will feel the impact. IAM , the largest nonprofit provider of crisis assistance in Henderson County, provides an average of 650 Medicaid households with healthy food boxes (including fresh local fruit and vegetables), and has provided 11 families with rent assistance and 148 with utility bill assistance. Staff employed for HOP services: 12. Through HOP, IAM has helped improve the health of thousands of children and adults prescribed food as medicine while putting more than $3 million back into the local economy, Moss said. Our HOP families thank us for giving them a chance to become healthy by eating foods they otherwise could not afford. , the largest nonprofit provider of crisis assistance in Henderson County, provides an average of 650 Medicaid households with healthy food boxes (including fresh local fruit and vegetables), and has provided 11 families with rent assistance and 148 with utility bill assistance. Staff employed for HOP services: 12. Through HOP, IAM has helped improve the health of thousands of children and adults prescribed food as medicine while putting more than $3 million back into the local economy, Moss said. Our HOP families thank us for giving them a chance to become healthy by eating foods they otherwise could not afford. SAFE Inc. of Transylvania County , is a domestic abuse treatment center in Brevard. It provides interpersonal violence intervention services and case management, transportation assistance, rent and move in assistance, utility bill set-up assistance, short-term post hospitalization housing and help with healthy home goods, to residents of Henderson, Transylvania and other nearby counties. HOP staff: 2.5. Continued funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot is essential to sustaining SAFEs ability to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence through critical non-medical services like housing, transportation and interpersonal safety planning, said Melissa Smith, SAFEs HOP Manager. These resources are often the bridge between crisis and stability, ensuring survivors not only escape danger but also begin to heal and rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. , is a domestic abuse treatment center in Brevard. It provides interpersonal violence intervention services and case management, transportation assistance, rent and move in assistance, utility bill set-up assistance, short-term post hospitalization housing and help with healthy home goods, to residents of Henderson, Transylvania and other nearby counties. HOP staff: 2.5. Continued funding for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot is essential to sustaining SAFEs ability to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence through critical non-medical services like housing, transportation and interpersonal safety planning, said Melissa Smith, SAFEs HOP Manager. These resources are often the bridge between crisis and stability, ensuring survivors not only escape danger but also begin to heal and rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. Safelight , a Henderson County nonprofit that provides support for survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse, has provided 26 individuals with HOP services this year including holistic high intensity enhanced case management, interpersonal violence case management services (IVP), housing move-in support and transportation for Medicaid participants who have experienced violence, abuse or exploitation. Staff for HOP services: 3. This pilot has been extremely successful addressing the social determinates of health and propelling families out of poverty with wrap-around-resources, said Lauren Wilkie, Safelights executive director. We have been able to use this tool to help families access us to find safety through our programs offering housing, employment, counseling and other linkages to care. , a Henderson County nonprofit that provides support for survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse, has provided 26 individuals with HOP services this year including holistic high intensity enhanced case management, interpersonal violence case management services (IVP), housing move-in support and transportation for Medicaid participants who have experienced violence, abuse or exploitation. Staff for HOP services: 3. This pilot has been extremely successful addressing the social determinates of health and propelling families out of poverty with wrap-around-resources, said Lauren Wilkie, Safelights executive director. We have been able to use this tool to help families access us to find safety through our programs offering housing, employment, counseling and other linkages to care. Thrive, a Hendersonville-based mental health and housing assistance nonprofit, provides housing navigation and move-in support, rent assistance, utility assistance, helps with healthy home goods and provides housing inspections for safety and quality. Thrive is currently serving 100 Medicaid members and is managing 130 housing needs related cases. Staff for HOP services: 2.25. Thrive would lose 2 full-time staff if HOP funding is cut, said Melissa Fundukian, HOP program manager. Thrive would lose the ability to work with and assist members of the community that would not qualify for housing related services otherwise, Fundukian said. We are proud of the work that we do and the programs we support. The 60 HOP service providers throughout Western North Carolina will hopefully help educate their local legislators about the ground-breaking work thats being done through this national pilot, said Laurie Stradley, CEO of Impact Health, the network organization that oversees HOP in Western North Carolina. They also need to remind legislators that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved North Carolinas second Medicaid waiver request in December 2024, authorizing HOP for another five years. Many states are looking to North Carolina for our leadership because our approach is working, Stradley said. People are becoming healthier and reducing their reliance on healthcare. Losing all of the investment, new jobs and healthy outcomes that have occurred because of HOP would be an injustice, local safety net nonprofits agree. This program showed how progressive NC is at understanding how to forever change generational poverty, said Wilkie of Safelight. Were leading the way for project other states want to replicate. Sadly, we may be witnessing the first and last of its kind, as it isnt in the NC budget currently. -30- STUDENTS at The Henley College can now shoot and edit videos and podcasts and develop photographs at a new media hub. The D6 building, at the Deanfield campus, which was previously the college library, has been redeveloped as part of a 2.8 million project. Inside is a MacBook suite, television studio and control gallery for live editing, a photography studio and dark room, a podcasting studio and an ICT room. The building also includes classrooms, a technicians office, staff room and toilets and a music studio will also open from September. The library has been relocated to the former media studies classrooms at the colleges Rotherfield site. Principal Simon Spearman said that the hub would help enable the college to equip its students with industry-standard skills. He said: Its an amazing facility that has upgraded everything we had previously. It means that the students are undertaking their learning on the right kit and they are moving from the college to university and to the media industry, having used all the up-to-date equipment. Mr Spearman said that it was beneficial for the students to have all media facilities in the same place, rather than dotted around the campus as it was previously and has meant the library could be upgraded. He added: It has created an amazing space thats going to become a significant learning centre for students. Tom McBain, 16, who is studying media, production and broadcast, described the new facilities as university-standard. He said: I love the studio. The gallery is primarily where I will be working because Im doing the broadcast side of things. For my final major project, Im doing a live game show, so Ill be live editing that and directing it. Our old studio was an ex-classroom so, height-wise, it was very minimal. There was a separate control room but it was quite outdated. Tom said he, along with other students, had already been trained in the studio to use the lighting, vision mixer and the sound desk. He has also been taught how to load up scripts on the autocue and how to use the sound desk and the talkback system. Ive learnt quite a lot already in the two weeks we have had it, Tom said. Department head Sarah Wilson said: This is miles away from what we had just a million times better. Its just bigger, better, nicer, easier, fresher and it looks nicer to work in. Our old television studio was only eight years old but, as time moves on, the technology has moved on. It was a bit redundant and it was a bit small, Photography was in three different rooms, in three different locations, so we were all over the place. Having it all together in one building helps us massively because the students tend to do the same courses and this becomes their building. Ms Wilson said that the media courses were popular at the college. She said: We've got a creative world out there now. Its hard work but its also fun and is what people want to do as a passion. Eamonn Eagan, the colleges outgoing vice-principal, was pleased to see the project completed having submitted the bid for the project. He said: We consulted with students, consulted with industry and I think weve come up with a really fantastic studio. Were really very pleased with the outcome. Mr Eagan said that he believed the best way to ensure the students at the college were ready for employment was to inspire them to make the right choices. He said: Making a pathway from an education setting into an industry is always a difficult business. You want to give students choice and let them make their own decisions. We see our role as inspiring students so that they know theyve learnt the skills they need to work in an industry that they're thinking about going into. We want them to have confidence and know theyll be successful when they get there. Town councillor Rory Hunt, who cut the ribbon to open the facility as mayor, said: Im genuinely overwhelmed. I was expecting to see a renovated space, not an entirely new creative building on this scale. Whats here is extraordinary, and comparable with facilities Ive seen at universities. Henley students are incredibly lucky to have this right on their doorstep. A GIRL who launched a petition to reopen a public footbridge in Henley had her campaign presented in the House of Commons. Claudia Fennell, nine, of Wargrave Road, was joined by her mother Ellie, father Andy and sister Tilly to see her petition presented in parliament on Wednesday last week by Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo. She began gathering support in January in a bid to accelerate repairs to the rotting Marsh Lock horsebridge. The crossing over the River Thames was shut by the Environment Agency in May 2022 following complaints about its condition. Repairs on the bridge were initially expected to take two months but were delayed due to the agency denying responsibility for maintaining it. Claudia decided to start the petition as part of her speaking out badge with the 1st Henley Brownies group, which encourages them to stand up for an issue they feel passionate about. She sat in the public gallery accompanied by her family to watch the proceedings while her petition was presented and Mr van Mierlo addressed the deputy speaker Caroline Nokes. Mr van Mierlo arranged the visit to raise the petitions profile when Claudia wrote to him in February. He said: For three years the Marsh Lock horsebridge in Henley has been closed. The bridge connects Henley to Shiplake and is an integral part of the Thames Path National Trail. The petition I present today has more than 6,000 signatories started by nine-year-old Claudia Fennell who is in the gallery today calling for the bridge to be reopened. I welcome news from the Environment Agency that money has been identified to begin design work but it is only partial funding and the future is still uncertain. May I take this opportunity madam deputy speaker to put forward my regret at the closure of events organiser Henley Swim due to the sewage crisis and express concern about the pending strike action by lock keepers. The Environment Agency must be given the resources needed to keep our river thriving economically and safe for all users. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the government to take immediate action to encourage the Environment Agency to repair and reopen Marsh Lock footbridge. Claudia, who attends Rupert House School, said it felt amazing to see her petition presented while she listened to Mr van Mierlos speech. Originally, she had hoped for 100 signatures but it received a total of 6,383 and has been signed by people across the world including in Uganda, The Netherlands and America. She said: We left school early just to go. When Freddie said, Nine-year-old Claudia Fennell, who is sat in the gallery, lots of MPs waved at me. They all said, here, here. That was really funny and we all started laughing but mum turned and said to me, youre not allowed to laugh. It felt amazing when Freddie read it out. I was thinking, oh my goodness, Ive just done it. I felt really important. I felt happy, I felt excited, I felt overjoyed. Following Mr van Mierlos address, the petition was handed to the clerk, who then reads out its title. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be contacted for a response. Claudia, who is in year 4, started the petition when she was frustrated by the lack of action to repair the bridge after it had been closed for three years. Her family also said the walk is their favourite walking spot for them and their dog Basil, and would use the bridge every week. Last month, she handed a physical copy of all of the signatures to 10 Downing Street wearing her Brownie uniform with a sash of badges. She was accompanied by Mr van Mierlo, who arranged the visit, and her family. Her petition was received by a member of the digital communications unit at the offices. The visit came a week after the Henley Standard reported that 500,000 had been identified by the Environment Agency to start developing plans for the replacement of the bridge. The funding is expected to be used to fund the planning of the bridge repair, which has an estimated cost of about 1.3m. Claudia said: [Doing this] felt even more amazing than being invited here. It felt really good that something I had created was presented to people who are really, really important. I was quite surprised because when I walked in, there were so many MPs walking around. It was so busy [when we arrived] because they were in the middle of a vote. The speaker was saying lock the doors [after the MPs file out to vote] and it scared me every single time she said it. Claudia said its important to her that the remaining funding is granted following the announcement of money allocated for the design. She added: I really hope that the signatures help. Every signature helps. I bet our dog Basil doesnt even remember the last time we went to the bridge. Mr van Mierlo wrote to four government ministers at the start of the year, asking for help in accelerating the work, including Baroness Sue Hayman, the Minister of Access at the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs. Claudias mother, a features writer, said she was emotional on hearing her daughters name read out in parliament. She said: Claudia was grinning from ear to ear and she looked so happy and it was so special to be there. Her campaign came at a really good time for this particular issue. It really caught a lot of peoples attention. As a result, its raised what many, many people in Henley were annoyed about. Its a personal issue for lots of us. It has been great to see Claudia become the person to sort of pull this all together. Freddie has been absolutely brilliant at opening lots of doors for us as well to raise the petitions profile. Claudias sister Tilly, 11, said: I think Ive just had the biggest proud sister moment. Its not like there are many nine-year-old children who get that experience. Shes very lucky. Shes the first woman in our family to have her name read out in the Houses of Parliament which is incredible. The family celebrated Claudias achievement by enjoying takeaway kebabs in London. In February, the town council decided to take legal action in a bid to accelerate the repair and reopening of the bridge. It agreed to serve a notice on Oxfordshire County Council which would require the highways authority to state within one month whether the bridge is considered a public highway and who is liable to maintain it. ends Pakistan-China bond "stronger than ever" after 74 years: parliament speaker Xinhua) 10:01, May 23, 2025 ISLAMABAD, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of Pakistan's national assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said Wednesday that the relationship between Pakistan and China is "stronger than ever." Speaking at a ceremony held at the Silk Road Culture Center in Islamabad to commemorate 74 years of diplomatic relations, Sadiq lauded the "unshakeable strategic trust and mutual respect" that define the Pakistan-China relationship, describing their all-weather partnership as a cornerstone of regional peace, stability, and development. "Our bond with China has not only endured but has grown stronger with each passing decade," he said. "Today, this friendship is more robust, more relevant, and more forward-looking than ever before." Sadiq highlighted the transformational impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. He said the multi-billion-dollar corridor has modernized Pakistan's energy and infrastructure sectors, while increasing regional connectivity and attracting growing interest from Central Asian and Eastern European countries. In his address, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China's firm commitment to advancing the strategic partnership. "Our ironclad friendship has only deepened amid global uncertainties," he said, adding that the CPEC has entered a new stage of high-quality development, with an emphasis on innovation, green growth, and people's livelihoods. The ambassador noted that China has remained Pakistan's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years, adding that the full-year opening of the Khunjerab Pass and the inauguration of New Gwadar International Airport are expected to further enhance bilateral trade and regional integration. The ceremony also featured cultural performances and a traditional tea ceremony under the theme "Tea for Harmony," highlighting centuries-old civilizational exchanges and shared values between the two nations. "Tea embodies simplicity, peace, and inclusiveness -- ideals we both cherish," Jiang said. Both sides pledged to deepen people-to-people exchanges and enhance coordination at multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Explainer: What do we know about Qatar's Air Force One gift to Trump? Xinhua) 10:06, May 23, 2025 WASHINGTON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the United States has accepted a Boeing 747 aircraft as a gift from Qatar, with plans to quickly modify the jet to serve as the next Air Force One to transport President Donald Trump. The acceptance of the Qatari jet has intensified scrutiny over potential violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, with Democrats accusing Trump of exploiting his office for personal gain while he defends the gift as a cost-saving measure for taxpayers. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFT "The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement. "The Department of Defense will work to ensure proper security measures and functional-mission requirements are considered for an aircraft used to transport the President of the United States," he said. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the start of planning to update the jet to meet needed standards and acknowledged that the plane will require "significant" modifications. The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to begin the enormous modifications necessary to transform a Boeing 747 aircraft from Qatar into a platform usable for U.S. executive airlift, according to a service spokesperson. The Qatari plane, flight records show, has been in San Antonio, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, since early last month at an airplane maintenance facility, The New York Times reported. Trump administration officials have said they are considering hiring L3Harris, a military contractor, to handle the retrofit, but no formal contract has been disclosed publicly, said the report. The U.S. Congress, required by the Constitution to sign off on any large gift to the president, has not yet taken any formal vote to accept the plane as a gift from Qatar. However, Trump has argued that the plane is a gift to the U.S. government rather than to him as president. "They are giving the United States Air Force a jet ... not to me, to the United States Air Force, so they could help us out," Trump said, when asked about the move Wednesday while he was meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa, in response, said, "I'm sorry I don't have a plane to give you." "If your country was offering the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it," Trump said. BIPARTISAN CONTROVERSY The gift has raised bipartisan controversy, which has escalated into a constitutional and political battle, with Democrats accusing Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution while he defends the move as a cost-saving measure for taxpayers. "This unprecedented action is a stain on the office of the presidency and cannot go unanswered," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, adding that the deal "apparently includes a corrupt plot for Donald Trump to keep the plane at his library after leaving office." Schumer has tried in vain to introduce legislation that would prohibit any foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One and forbid the use of taxpayer money to modify or restore the aircraft. Several Democrats have also submitted a resolution in the House of Representatives calling on Trump to submit all plans for the jumbo jet donation to Congress in compliance with the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. "The Constitution charges Congress with ensuring the President does not use the highest office in the land as a get-rich-quick scheme to pocket lavish gifts from foreign Presidents ... It is high time that Congress do its job," said Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. Trump has defended the gift as a way to save tax dollars. "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE," he said on social media. However, Senator Tammy Duckworth said that "Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over 1 billion in taxpayer dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft when we currently have not one, but two fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft." Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Tuesday that he did not know why people thought of the gift as a bribe or "something that Qatar wants to buy and influence with this administration. I don't see any, honestly, a valid reason for that." "The plane story is a ministry of defense to department of defense transaction, which is basically done in full transparency and very legally, and it's part of the cooperation that we've been always doing together for decades," he said. COSTLY UPGRADE AHEAD Air Force One is commonly used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modified and used to transport the president. They are equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States, according to the White House. The two Boeing planes currently serving as Air Force One have been in operation since 1990. During his first term, Trump signed a 3.9-billion-dollar deal with Boeing to customize two new Boeing 747-8 planes to become the next generation of Air Force One. The Trump administration had tried to push Boeing to move faster on them, but Air Force officials were projecting that it would now be 2027, at the earliest, before the first of the two new planes would be ready for Trump, said a report by The New York Times. Soon after Trump took office for his second term, military officials started to discuss how the United States could buy a temporary plane for him to use while Boeing's work creaked along, an investigation by The New York Times found. The Boeing 747 gift came just in time. However, experts argue that it will take years to fit with additional security systems and upgrades required to carry the president, including the ability to withstand an electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear blast, and to refuel mid-flight. Aviation experts told NBC News that accepting the 13-year-old jet would likely cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over time, noting that refurbishing the commercial plane would exceed its current value of 400 million dollars. Installing the new systems could push the project into the 2030s, said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst and consultant on commercial and military aviation, who added that equipping the plane with midair refueling capability alone would be "enormously time-consuming." The idea made no financial or practical sense, given that Boeing is already deep into a multi-year effort to convert two 747s to replace the current Air Force One planes, NBC News reported, citing experts. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Harvard University filed a lawsuit Friday morning against the Trump administration, seeking an immediate temporary restraining order to halt the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) move to revoke the school's certification to enroll international students. The legal action comes after DHS notified Harvard it was no longer certified under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a status the university has held for more than 70 years, citing allegations of campus antisemitism and race-based discrimination. More than 7,000 students study at Harvard on a visa. In a message to affiliates, Harvard President Alan M. Garber called the revocation "unlawful and unwarranted," stating, "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams". The 72-page suit accuses DHS of an "unprecedented and retaliatory" act, arguing that decertification would force current and prospective international students to transfer or lose their legal status in the U.S. Harvard's lawyers contend the action would "seriously and immediately disrupt the University's ongoing, day-to-day operations" and "impairs the educational experience of all Harvard students by diminishing the global character and overall strength of the institution". Harvard's court filing describes the government's move as politically motivated retaliation, carried out "without process or cause," and claims it violates the First Amendment by infringing on academic freedom and retaliating against constitutionally protected speech. The university also argues the loss of SEVP status would put it at a "competitive disadvantage" in admissions for years to come. The lawsuit names DHS, the Department of Justice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of State as defendants. Harvard is represented by attorneys including Robert K. Hur and William A. Burck, both of whom previously served in high-level roles under former President Donald Trump. The DHS justified its action by alleging Harvard's response to an April 16 records request was "insufficient," specifically requesting detailed information on international students' disciplinary records, protest participation, and documentation of "dangerous or violent activity." Harvard maintains it complied with all requests, submitting documents on April 30 and May 14. The suit notes that Trump publicly called for revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status in April, and that the DHS records request followed just one day later. The university argues the government's demands exceeded regulatory norms and that no evidence of violations was provided. If a judge does not grant Harvard's request for a temporary restraining order by Sunday, DHS could proceed with terminating the visa status of thousands of international students. The university warns this would cause "immediate and irreparable harm" and disrupt academic operations as well as the lives of affected students and staff Originally published on University Herald Trade, business with Central, Eastern Europe on the rise 10:39, May 23, 2025 By Zhong Nan, Chen Ye ( China Daily A guest shakes hands with a humanoid robot at the ongoing fourth China-CEEC Expo in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. (Zhang Wei/China Daily) Central and Eastern European countries' expanding cooperation with China will further energize regional economic activity and deepen industrial integration in the coming years, said senior government officials on Thursday. Speaking at the ongoing fourth China-CEEC Expo in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, they said the partnership between China and the CEEC has transitioned from policy coordination to practical results, with growing two-way trade, big-ticket infrastructure projects, and green and digital industry cooperation taking center stage. Richard Rasi, chairman of the Slovak National Council, said Slovakia welcomes Chinese investment, particularly in projects that offer added value in innovation, research and development, and new technologies. These projects, led by Chinese companies including battery maker Gotion High-tech Co and automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group will not only drive regional development in Slovakia, but also further strengthen the country's leading position in the field of electric mobility in Europe, said Rasi. Chinese companies have been expanding their presence in the CEEC through increased investment and industrial chain integration in recent years, especially in the areas of household appliances, electric vehicles and power battery manufacturing sectors. China's investment in the CEEC exceeded $24 billion as of May 9, said the Ministry of Commerce. Foreign guests interact with a humanoid robot during the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, May 22, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua) Meira Hot, vice-president of Slovenia's National Assembly, emphasized that cooperation between China and Slovenia aims to extend beyond the exchange of goods, reflecting a broader commitment to long-term partnership. She said China's recent decision to grant visa-free entry to Slovenian citizens has further strengthened people-to-people exchanges, while efforts such as the Belt and Road Initiative continue to create new avenues for collaboration. Amid profound changes in the international landscape and growing challenges to global economic development, Jiang Yu, special representative for China-CEEC Cooperation under China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said China remains committed to being a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. "China will continue to pursue high-quality development and advance high-standard opening-up, while promoting mutually beneficial cooperation with countries around the world, including those in Central and Eastern Europe, to share development opportunities and bring greater stability and certainty to the global economy," said Jiang. Zhao Zenglian, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, said a growing variety of agricultural and food products from the CEEC have entered the Chinese market, generating new opportunities for CEEC businesses and providing Chinese consumers with a broader selection of high-quality options. A total of 126 types of agricultural commodities from 14 Central and Eastern European countries have been granted market access to China, with 3,430 overseas agricultural businesses registered to date, Customs data showed. A Polish merchant promotes his cheese to visitors during the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, May 22, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua) The fourth China-CEEC Expo covers a trade exhibition area of 80,000 square meters, divided into sections for Central and Eastern European products and export-oriented consumer goods, according to information released by the Zhejiang provincial government. The expo in Ningbo is expected to attract over 15,000 professional visitors, including more than 3,000 overseas buyers from 72 countries and regions, with anticipated import procurement intentions from Central and Eastern Europe exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.39 billion). Ningbo, a major hub for China-CEEC trade, saw its trade with the CEEC surge 13.8 percent year-on-year to 19.7 billion yuan between January and April, said Ningbo Customs. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Daly Seven, a leading hotel developer and operator in the Southeast, is excited to announce the development of a new Holiday Inn Express & Suites and an adjacent restaurant outparcel in Lynchburg/Campbell County, Virginia. The 113-room hotel is currently under construction at 15241 Wards Road, Lynchburg, Virginia. The new hotel replaces the existing Holiday Inn Express on Seminole Avenue, and is scheduled to open in Fall 2026. The new Holiday Inn Express & Suites will offer guests the comfort, value, and consistency travelers expect from the IHG brand, including complimentary hot breakfast, a fitness center, and modern, well-appointed rooms. The hotel is designed to serve both business and leisure travelers visiting Liberty University, Centra Health, and the greater Lynchburg area. As part of the development, Daly Seven is also offering a 1.75-acre pad-ready restaurant outparcel, positioned at the front of the hotel site along the high-traffic Wards Road corridor, which sees over 40,000 vehicles daily. This site offers an exceptional opportunity for a fast-casual or full-service restaurant to serve a built-in customer base of hotel guests, Liberty University's 20,000+ undergraduate students, and local residents. The hotel and restaurant will complement the surrounding commercial district, which includes the newly renovated Hampton Inn & Suites Lynchburg, newly renovated SpringHill Suites by Marriott Lynchburg, and Chili's. Together, these properties will contribute to a welcoming and convenient retail corridor at the southern entrance to Liberty University on Liberty Mountain Drive. Parties interested in the restaurant outparcel ground lease opportunity should contact Noel Anderson at (919) 872-3507 or [email protected]. Media Contact: Noel Anderson at (919) 872-3507 or [email protected] Hotel website B&B HOTELS is set to complete its first hotel using modular timber construction in Neustadt in Holstein by autumn 2025. The project combines modern modular techniques with the restoration of a listed historic building, reflecting a strategic focus on faster, more economical, and environmentally conscious hotel development. Combining modular construction and heritage preservation The new 100-room hotel will be located near the Neustadt train station as a hybrid building that integrates a modern new structure with a revitalized, protected agricultural storehouse. While the ground floor and stairwell core will be built using traditional solid construction methods, the upper floors will utilize prefabricated timber modules. These modules, produced under controlled factory conditions, come fully equipped with insulation, windows, wall finishes, and technical installations, and are transported to the site for rapid assembly. Collaboration with Timber One and sustainable production The hotel project is realized in partnership with Timber One, serving as the general contractor. The timber modules are manufactured by hobb Holzveredlung GmbH, a shareholder in Timber One, using wood sourced exclusively from certified sustainable forestry in Germany. This production process meets B&B HOTELS' rigorous quality and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Toward efficient and sustainable hotel development B&B HOTELS' Neustadt project is positioned as a model for sustainable hotel construction, leveraging modular timber technology to shorten construction periods, reduce site disturbances, and lower emissions. The project aligns with industry trends seeking environmentally responsible solutions alongside operational efficiency, combining heritage preservation with modern design and construction methods. Renaissance Business Bay Hotel, Dubai, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of hotels, is proud to announce the appointment of Andrea Strim as General Manager. With over 30 years of global hospitality experience, Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and a deep passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences. His career spans leadership roles in Italy, Japan, Ghana, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirateseach chapter marked by a commitment to excellence and guest-centric innovation. Andrea's career began as a Garcon de Cuisine in Italy, and through his exceptional skill and leadership, he rose to the position of Executive Chef at the prestigious Burj Al Arab. Over the years, he has held strategic executive leadership roles with renowned hospitality brands, including Jumeirah, Kempinski, and Grand Millennium, where he has consistently driven operational excellence, business growth, and strategic development. In his most recent role as Vice President of Hospitality and Owner's Representative at RTS Investments Group, Andrea successfully led the conversion and launch of the Renaissance Business Bay Hotel, Dubai demonstrating his expertise in asset management, luxury hospitality, and F&B operations. Now, he returns to lead the property into its next phase of growth. With Renaissance Hotels' commitment to uncovering the unexpected and inspiring discovery, Andrea's appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the brand in Dubai. His leadership is set to elevate the hotel's offering while staying true to the spirit of Renaissancewhere every stay is a story waiting to unfold. JW Marriott Hotel Muscat is pleased to announce the appointment of Samir Messaoudi as its new General Manager, bringing with him over two decades of global hospitality expertise and a transformative leadership style that has shaped some of the most iconic properties. Known for his exceptional operational acumen, strategic foresight, and commitment to excellence, Samir steps into this role poised to further elevate the hotel's positioning as the city's premier luxury urban resort. A visionary leader in luxury hospitality, Samir Messaoudi has consistently redefined standards of performance, innovation, and sustainability within Oman's tourism landscape. Over the past decade, his leadership has driven measurable success across financial performance, guest experience, and associate engagement. Samir began his journey with Marriott International in 2006 at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay in California. After holding several operational roles in the United States, he moved to the Middle East in 2009, where he built a robust foundation in F&B operations at Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha. His professional experience through Dubai, Jakarta, Doha, and Muscat, has enhanced his ability to navigate diverse markets and cultural nuances. Notably, Samir has led key leadership roles at flagship properties, including Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Oman, where he served as Hotel Manager, and JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, where he was Acting General Manager. In 2020, he was appointed General Manager of Sheraton Oman Hotel. There, he achieved remarkable milestones, from market-leading RevPAR (revenue per available room) and record-setting revenue, to significant improvements in guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. Beyond hotel operations, Samir has participated in initiatives aimed at enhancing the hospitality sector in Oman. In 2025, he was appointed Chairperson of the Marriott Business Council Oman, to spearhead growth initiatives and innovation across the portfolio of Marriott International in The Sultanate. His reappointment for a second term as a Board Member for Oman American Business Council (AmCham) and the Chair of the Tourism Committee further reflects his commitment to strengthening diplomatic and business ties between Oman and the U.S., while bridging the gap between tourism authorities and the travel industry through strategic endeavors. Samir has also played a pivotal role in promoting Oman as a world-class destination on the international stage. In 2024 and 2025, he was featured in several high-profile media interviews across Tunisian television and radio, reinforcing Oman's position as a must-visit tourism hub. His contributions have earned him regional acclaim, including being named General Manager of the Year - Oman by Hotelier Middle East in 2024, a recognition that follows three consecutive appearances on their prestigious GM Power List. He is currently shortlisted for the 2025 accolade. With Samir Messaoudi at the helm, JW Marriott Hotel Muscat embarks on an exciting new chapter, defined by bold vision, elevated service, and a deep-rooted commitment to excellence in every detail. Underpinned by exceptional love of service and hospitality, JW Marriott Hotel Muscat features 304 luxurious, spacious guest rooms and suites featuring unique interior design. A short drive from Muscat International Airport in the heart of Madinat al Irfan, it also boasts direct connectivity to the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) and offers business and leisure travelers a haven to escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living. JW Marriott Hotel Muscat is a Green Key certified hotel, standing as a beacon of environmental sustainability, with its architectural excellence aligning with the stringent standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. WASHINGTON - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the leading voice representing all segments of the hotel industry, today issued the following statement from AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta following the inclusion of key tax provisions critical to the hospitality industry in the U.S. House-passed Budget Reconciliation package: This is a win for Main Street businesses. We commend lawmakers for including critical tax provisions in the budget reconciliation bill that will prevent a tax increase on American workers and the small businesses that are the backbone of Americas hotel and lodging industry. This is a critical step to stave off the expiration of important tax provisions that will provide our members, the majority of whom are small business owners, the level of certainty they need to effectively operate their businesses. We urge the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass this legislation and send it to President Trumps desk. Additional Background AHLA supports the Houses inclusion of permanency for Small Business Deduction (Section 199A) and applauds the increase of the Qualified Business Income deduction. The majority of hotel owners are bona fide small business owners who license the name and standards from nationally recognized hotel brand companies. These are the entrepreneurs who own real estate, acquire capital, employ workers and undertake financial risk. The expiration of the small business deduction would significantly increase their taxes inhibiting their ability to reinvest back in their employees and businesses. The majority of hotel owners are bona fide small business owners who license the name and standards from nationally recognized hotel brand companies. These are the entrepreneurs who own real estate, acquire capital, employ workers and undertake financial risk. The expiration of the small business deduction would significantly increase their taxes inhibiting their ability to reinvest back in their employees and businesses. AHLA supports the Houses preservation of the Like-Kind Exchange (Section 1031). Maintaining Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, allowing for like-kind exchanges, as it currently exists, is critical. Any limits, caps or efforts to repeal the current law would significantly reduce new investments and inhibit job creation. This provision allows real estate owners to defer capital gains taxes if the proceeds are employed to purchase another property and, in the process, create new jobs, improve their community and promote economic activity. Maintaining Internal Revenue Code Section 1031, allowing for like-kind exchanges, as it currently exists, is critical. Any limits, caps or efforts to repeal the current law would significantly reduce new investments and inhibit job creation. This provision allows real estate owners to defer capital gains taxes if the proceeds are employed to purchase another property and, in the process, create new jobs, improve their community and promote economic activity. AHLA welcomes the Houses extension of bonus depreciation at 100% for almost 5 years. Bonus depreciation incentivizes hotel industry members to make capital improvements that support jobs across a myriad of sectors, enhance existing properties and draw in new guests with modern updates. About the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at www.ahla.com. Rosanna Maietta AH&LA View source Sao Paulo - Accor, a global leader in hospitality, and the Forum de Empresas e Direitos LGBTI+ (LGBTI+ Business and Rights Forum), a business movement that brings together large companies around 10 Commitments to the promotion of LGBTI+ human rights, promoted the event Together for the Eradication of LGBTI+ phobia on Friday, May 16, in Sao Paulo. Led by TchaKa Drag Queen, and held on the eve of the International Day to Combat LGBTI+ phobia, May 17, the meeting brought together public authorities, representatives of large companies, experts and civil society organizations to discuss concrete paths towards more diverse, safe and welcoming environments. The program covered topics such as the limits of what can no longer be tolerated, the challenges faced by LGBTI+ people in the job market and hospitality as a tool for inclusion. During the opening ceremony, Antonietta Varlese, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Communications at Accor Americas, reinforced the company's commitment to the subject: We understand that welcoming and respecting differences is essential to creating memorable experiences and safe environments, both for our customers and our employees. After all, hospitality is about people. We are committed to promoting a culture of respect and appreciation for diversity, strengthening efforts to ensure that LGBTI+ people have their human rights fully recognized and guaranteed in society. The first conversation, Panel with CEOs - Let's change what we can no longer tolerate, was led by Caio Magri, President of the Ethos Institute, and Reinaldo Bulgarelli, Executive Secretary of the LGBTI+ Forum. The debate was attended by executives such as Thomas Dubaere, CEO of Accor Americas; Rodolfo Eschenbach, President of Accenture in Latin America; Rogerio Barreira, President of the Brazil Division of Arcos Dourados; and Elayne Correa, General Director of Saint Gobain PPL. At the opening, Bulgarelli reinforced the importance of the event to mobilise leaders and members of the industry to create inclusive, safe and respectful environments for all people: This event allows us to work together with our signatories to promote truly inclusive practices in large corporations. The practice of discriminating against LGBTI+ people needs to be eradicated. We can and must promote a safe and healthy environment for everyone , said Bulgarelli. Also present at the event was Raphael Calumby, Coordinator of Policies for Sexual Diversity - Secretariat of Justice and Citizenship of the State of Sao Paulo, who emphasized the fight against prejudice, as well as the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) actions in companies and in society so that all people can feel included. And Regina Celia Silveira, Municipal Secretary of Human Rights and Citizenship of the City of Sao Paulo, who emphasized the relevance of the presence of the LGBTI+ Forum in Brazil and the constant fight for spaces that need to be increasingly occupied within the Secretariat and organizations by diverse people, emphasized the care and support needed for people from the LGBTI+ community in situations of vulnerability and called on companies to join forces with the Secretariat of Justice and Citizenship of the State of Sao Paulo to develop social and economic development proposals to eradicate prejudice. The program continued with two more panels. The second, I, LGBTI+, in the workplace, brought together representatives from initiatives such as the UNHCR Refugee Business Forum, the Social Inclusion Business Network, the Generations and Future of Work Forum, the Voluntary Board of the Womens Movement 360, the Business Initiative for Racial Equality and the LGBTI+ Business and Rights Forum. In the second meeting of the day, Reinaldo emphasized the spaces that Brazil can occupy in advancing DEI practices. The panel brought debates about the fundamental role of leadership as a bridge for positive transformation against discrimination, including the American vs. Brazilian political-economic context regarding the need for quotas to include people with disabilities and black people in universities and the workplace. The last meeting of the day, The art of hospitality: Welcoming LGBTI+ travellers featured Ricardo Gomes, President of the Brazilian LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, Cesar Ferragi, Adjunct Professor in the Tourism Course at UFSCar, Bruno Chateaubriand, Journalist and former gymnast, and Jorge Souza, Marketing Director at Orinter. About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. View source London, UK - New data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed South Africas Travel & Tourism sector is projected to reach a major milestone this year, set to support more jobs than ever before, but wider data points to a sector still in recovery mode. According to WTTCs latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), in 2025 Travel & Tourism is forecast to support 1.9 million jobs, surpassing 2019 levels and marking an all-time high, underlining its role as a key employer and major source of opportunity, with the sector accounting for 11.3% of all jobs in South Africa. Domestic visitor spending continues to show stronger resilience, with 2025 total forecast at ZAR 445 billion, 3.8% above 2019 levels. But while employment is set to reach an all-time high and domestic spending continues to grow, Travel &Tourisms contribution to GDP and international visitor spend, continues to lag. Travel & Tourisms total contribution to the economy is projected to reach ZAR 659.8BN, equivalent to 8.9% of national GDP, but still 3.4% shy of the 2019 peak. International visitor spending, while set to grow steadily, is expected to remain below pre pandemic levels at ZAR 128.4BN, trailing 2019 by ZAR 37.7BN South Africas Travel & Tourism sector is slowly turning the corner. Jobs are leading the recovery, with employment expected to reach new highs, showing the enormous human impact of the sectors growth. As South Africa takes on the G20 Presidency in 2025, it has a unique opportunity to place Travel & Tourism at the heart of its agenda. WTTC is delighted to be working with Minister Patricia de Lille, a truly dynamic Minister, in contributing to the G20 process, including an Investment Summit in September. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO Drawing from 2024 In 2024, WTTC South Africa's Travel & Tourism contributed ZAR 618.7BN to the nation's economy - 9.4% below 2019, whilst the sector employed 1.8MN people. International visitor spending reached ZAR 116.5BN, whilst domestic spending hit ZAR430BN. A Decade of Opportunity WTTC believes that with the right national priorities, strengthened public-private collaboration under the powerful leadership of Minister Patricia de Lille, South Africa can unlock a new era of unprecedented growth. The global tourism body forecasts strong momentum through 2035, with Travel & Tourism adding an additional 620,000 new jobs, reaching a total of 2.6MN 13.8% of the countrys workforce. The sectors economic contribution could grow to ZAR 911.7BN, representing a 10.3% share of GDP. For more information and to access the full factsheet, including WTTCs latest Environmental Social Research (ESR), please visit WTTC's Research Hub. All figures given in ZAR About WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. WTTC Press Office WTTC View source From reading online reviews to comparing amenities and pricing, the process can be overwhelming, so they crave certainty and objectivity. On that note, one of the most crucial factors in this decision-making process is the hotel star rating. Star ratings give travelers a quick overview of what to expect, from basic accommodation to luxury experiences. In this guide, well break down the star rating system, explain how it impacts bookings, and offer actionable tips for improving your hotels ratings and reviews. What is the hotel star rating system? The hotel rating system is a standardized method used to classify hotels based on the quality, range and consistency of their facilities and services. Typically ranging from one to five stars with five indicating the highest level of luxury and service these ratings help travelers gauge what to expect from a property before booking. Several organizations assign hotel star ratings, with varying standards and scopes. One of the most internationally recognized is the Forbes Travel Guide, which pioneered professional, anonymous hotel inspections in 1958. Forbes assigns one to five stars based on rigorous evaluations of service and facilities, with particular emphasis on the guest experience. In the United States, AAA (American Automobile Association) offers its own assessment system, using a Diamond rating instead of stars, awarding hotels between one and five Diamonds. Unlike the star rating system, which is widely used across different countries, AAAs system is primarily focused on North America. The concept of hotel star ratings dates back to the early 20th century, developed to bring transparency and consistency to hotel standards as leisure travel became more widespread. Over time, especially with the rise of online reviews and online travel agencies (OTAs), the influence of official star ratings has shifted. While still respected, travelers today often weigh them alongside guest reviews and personal recommendations. Still, for hoteliers, a strong star rating remains a mark of credibility, and a valuable tool for attracting discerning hotel guests. How does the star rating system work? As weve shown above theres no single global authority for hotel star ratings, but leading entities like Forbes follow a formal, inspection-based process to evaluate and rate hotels, one that excludes the likes of motels, for example. Forbes deploys trained inspectors to anonymously assess properties using hundreds of criteria, ranging from service delivery and room quality to dining, wellness offerings and overall guest experience. Their evaluation process places significant weight on service: nearly 70% of a hotels score is based on the guest experience, not just physical facilities. The number of stars a hotel receives typically reflects the breadth and quality of its amenities, the professionalism of its service and the overall consistency of the experience offered. For example, higher-starred properties are expected to offer services like 24-hour reception, valet parking, fine dining, luxurious bedding and concierge access. Lower-starred hotels may offer more limited services but still meet important standards of cleanliness and functionality. Importantly, hoteliers dont receive a star rating automatically; they must actively apply for evaluation through organizations like Forbes or relevant national tourism bodies. This often includes submitting detailed information about your property and agreeing to an inspection. If youre seeking to boost your visibility, reputation and rate potential, applying for a formal star rating can be a valuable strategic move. Hotel star rating systems vary While the star rating concept is widely recognized, the criteria behind the stars can vary significantly from country to country. Many nations, particularly in Europe, use their own government-backed or nationally regulated systems to evaluate hotels. For example, Germanys DEHOGA, Frances Atout France and Italys regional tourism authorities each apply distinct criteria tailored to their market expectations and cultural norms. These differences exist because guest expectations, hospitality standards and regulatory environments differ across regions. A four-star hotel in Spain may offer different amenities from one in the United Kingdom, even if both meet their respective national requirements, with some countries emphasizing physical infrastructure and others focusing more heavily on service or sustainability. This variation can sometimes cause confusion for international travelers. It also makes it important for you to understand your local system and how its perceived in the global context, especially when competing with international brands or attracting guests from overseas markets. Hotel star ratings explained In short, hotel star ratings offer a quick reference for the level of service, amenities and overall experience guests can expect. While weve highlighted that exact standards vary by country, the general meaning behind each rating remains fairly consistent worldwide. From the bare essentials of a one-star property to the luxury of a five-star hotel, these categories help travelers choose accommodation that matches their expectations and they can help you position yourself within a competitive market. 1 star hotel A one-star hotel typically offers basic, no-frills accommodations for budget-conscious travelers. Expect simple furnishings, minimal service and limited on-site amenities usually just a private or shared bathroom, a bed and perhaps a small desk. Theres rarely 24-hour reception, daily housekeeping or dining facilities; the focus here is functionality over comfort, and customer service may be minimal or self-service. While perfectly adequate for short stays, a one-star property is designed for affordability, not indulgence. 2 star hotel Two-star hotels offer modest comfort with a few added conveniences. Rooms may include TVs, Wi-Fi and en suite bathrooms, and, while amenities are still limited, travelers can expect cleaner, more functional spaces and slightly better service. Some two-star hotels offer breakfast or a small dining area, and reception hours may be more consistent. These properties suit value-minded guests who want a step up from the most basic accommodation without splurging on extras. 3 star hotel Three-star hotels strike a balance between affordability and comfort. These properties typically offer spacious rooms with modern furnishings, on-site dining options, and enhanced guest services such as daily housekeeping and 24-hour reception. Amenities may include fitness centers, business facilities and in-room extras like minibars or coffee makers. Service is generally friendly and professional, though not luxury-level. Many travelers see three-star hotels as reliable mid-range options that deliver good value and consistency and theyre right to. A good example of a three-star hotel is the Holiday Inn Berlin City Center East P-Berg in Germany. 4 star hotel Four-star hotels deliver a high standard of comfort, style and service. Guests can expect upscale design, plush bedding, concierge services, multiple dining outlets, and wellness amenities like spas or gyms. Attention to detail is key, with staff trained to anticipate guest needs and service being personalized. Leisure and business travelers alike appreciate the refined experience and expanded offerings, including valet parking or in-room dining. The Hotel Palazzo Veneziano in Venice, Italy provides an example of a typical four-star property. 5 star hotel Five-star hotels offer the pinnacle of luxury and service. These properties feature exceptional architecture and design, world-class dining (often Michelin-starred), full-service spas and highly personalized guest experiences. Rooms are spacious and impeccably furnished, often with high-end technology, premium linens and 24-hour room service. Staff-to-guest ratios are high, ensuring attentive, discreet service. And no detail is overlooked, from turndown service to curated local experiences. A five-star stay is about indulgence, exclusivity and memorable hospitality. An archetypical example is The Ritz Paris in France. Star rating system vs. Guest review star rating While both use stars, theres a key difference between official hotel star ratings like those from Forbes Travel Guide or national tourism bodies and guest review star ratings found on platforms like TripAdvisor, Google or Booking.com. As we outline above, official star ratings are awarded by professional inspectors or authorities based on standardized criteria, with evaluations focusing on tangible aspects such as facilities, amenities, service levels, cleanliness and operational consistency. The process is structured and repeatable, with clear benchmarks for what hotels at each star level must provide. Such ratings arent influenced by guest opinion but by measurable performance and quality standards. Guest review star ratings, on the other hand, are entirely subjective and based on the aggregate scores of real customer reviews. After their stay, guests rate the hotel usually on a scale of 1 to 5 based on their personal experiences. These scores are averaged over time to produce a publicly visible star rating on each platform. Factors like friendliness, perceived value and individual expectations heavily influence these hotel reviews. While guest ratings can offer valuable insight into recent performance, they lack the consistency and objectivity of official systems. For hoteliers, its important to manage both: deliver the quality required for official recognition, while ensuring memorable guest experiences that lead to strong online feedback. Why star ratings matter Star ratings play a critical role in how travelers evaluate your hotel and make booking decisions. For many guests, the star rating sets the baseline for expectations. The difference between a one-star and a five-star hotel is immediately clear: budget versus luxury, basic versus full-service, self-service versus high-touch hospitality. This distinction significantly influences first impressions, as does it with a more nuanced difference between a three- and four-star property. From an operational standpoint, a hotels star rating affects nearly every facet of business strategy. Higher-rated hotels can justify premium pricing and attract guests seeking elevated experiences, while lower-rated properties must compete on value and efficiency. Marketing strategies are also shaped by star level; luxury hotels emphasize exclusivity and service, whereas economy hotels focus on affordability and location, for example. Staffing needs vary accordingly. A five-star hotel typically requires highly trained staff, including concierge professionals, sommeliers and housekeeping supervisors, all of whom command higher salaries and have extensive hospitality experience. In contrast, a one-star hotel may rely on cross-functional staff with broader roles and more limited hospitality training. These operational differences directly impact pay scales, recruitment and training investments. Ultimately, a star rating is more than a marketing label; its a structural framework that shapes a hotels identity, guest expectations and operational model. How to improve hotel ratings and reviews Improving your hotels ratings and reviews takes a combination of strategic focus on the guest experience, proactive engagement with guests and operational efficiency. While star ratings from industry authorities are important, online reviews have an increasingly significant impact on bookings. In this section, well explore key strategies to elevate your hotels performance, including enhancing guest satisfaction, encouraging feedback and streamlining operations with technology, all of which contribute to better ratings and a stronger reputation. Focus on the guest experience The quality of the guest experience is central to both official star ratings and online guest reviews. Inspectors and travelers alike assess hotels based on service, comfort and attention to detail. To improve in this area, you should invest in staff training to ensure consistent, courteous service across all touchpoints. Enhancing or updating amenities, such as offering upgraded toiletries or in-room tech, can also elevate the stay. Where feasible, property upgrades like refreshed interiors or improved bedding signal quality and care. Even small improvements can make a big difference in guest satisfaction and perceived value. Encourage guests to leave reviews While weve established that guest reviews dont impact official star ratings, they heavily influence online star ratings and can sway booking decisions. A steady stream of positive, recent reviews builds credibility and boosts visibility on platforms like Google and TripAdvisor. To encourage feedback, you can use QR codes on the front desk at checkout, email follow-ups after departure or even make polite in-person requests during a guests stay. Making it easy and timely increases response rates. Consistent reviews not only reflect your hotels quality of service but also help identify areas for improvement, making it a valuable tool for ongoing guest experience refinement. Streamline operations with software Modern software tools can significantly enhance hotel performance, not just behind the scenes but in ways that directly improve the guest experience. By automating time-consuming tasks like rate updates, availability synching and reporting, hoteliers can redirect their focus toward service quality and guest satisfaction. This operational efficiency is especially valuable for independent hotels with limited staff. Key tools worth considering include dynamic pricing solutions, which help you stay competitive by adjusting rates based on demand, seasonality and local events. Channel management software maximizes your visibility on distributed channels and ensures listings are accurate and consistent across all online travel agencies (OTAs), reducing the risk of overbookings or pricing errors. Investing in the right technology doesnt just make day-to-day tasks easier; it creates the breathing room needed to deliver a standout guest experience that earns high ratings and glowing reviews. Get more time to focus on guests with automation tools The value of software for small and independent hotels cannot be overstated. With access to Lighthouses suite of tools, youre better placed to provide a top-class guest experience. Whether youre tapping into our solutions for pricing, distribution, channel management or a host of data-driven apps for better hotel and revenue management, exploit Lighthouse to earn better star ratings, both from guest reviews and hotel rating entities. 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. Jonathan Gough PR & Content Manager Lighthouse View source The European Travel Commission (ETC) and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement) have released a white paper, A Destinations Guide to the New EU Sustainability Regulations, at IMEX Frankfurt 2025. This guide aims to help destinations in the tourism industry navigate significant upcoming regulatory changes. Being prepared helps Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) ensure sustainability compliance, reduce negative environmental impacts, mitigate reputational damage, achieve financial and legal immunity, and create new business opportunities. The new directives the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (ECGTD), and the Green Claims Directive (GCD) will require greater transparency, accountability, and stricter management of sustainability claims, reshaping how destination management organisations operate and communicate their environmental impacts. These regulations apply not only to destinations and businesses within Europe, but to any organisation operating in the EU market, including global accommodation platforms and digital intermediaries. This white paper was launched to help NTOs, DMOs, and the wider tourism industry navigate these changes and offers practical steps to achieving compliance, managing risks, and seizing new opportunities. It also provides guidance on updated sustainability reporting and compliant communication strategies to help organisations navigate the evolving legislative landscape with confidence. Sustainability is now a key factor in how destinations are viewed and engaged with. NTOs and DMOs are in a unique position to lead the way, helping local businesses and stakeholders navigate the shift to more responsible, responsive tourism. With new EU rules on the horizon, its essential they stay ahead of the curve and set the example for others to follow. ETC CEO, Eduardo Santander Proactive destinations can lead by example while honouring the new regulations. This is not just about compliance its about leadership and new scope. Destinations that act now will build trust, enhance their reputations, and be better-positioned for long-term success. Guy Bigwood, CEO of the GDS-Movement The white paper highlights three key actions: Understanding the roles and responsibilities involved in complying with the new EU directives. Aligning with the regulations, marketing claims, and destination management strategies. Tackling the risks of non-compliance and the opportunities of early adoption, such as improved reputation, new funding channels, and enhanced visitor trust. To further support the industry in this transition, ETC and GDS-Movement will host two webinars, on 10 and 11 June 2025, offering additional insights and practical next steps. The full white paper can be downloaded here. About European Travel Commission Established in 1948, the European Travel Commission is a unique association in the travel sector, representing the National Tourism Organisations of the countries of Europe. Its mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination. In the last several decades, ETC has positioned itself at the forefront of the European tourism scene, establishing its expertise and building up partnerships in areas of tourism, based on promotion, market intelligence and best practice sharing. View source From Search Engines to AI: The Transformation of Travel Booking Unveiled at Google I/O 2025 - Image Credit Google The primary focus during Google's I/O developer conference was the shift towards an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled future, particularly in the travel industry. The rise of the Gemini app, with over 400 million users and 7 million developers, was mentioned, as well as the potential impact of AI on search engines and how people find and book travel. Google's AI Impact on Travel: From Traditional Search to AI Future The Google I/O 2025 conference highlighted how the world rapidly transitions from traditional search engine results to an artificial intelligence (AI)- enabled future. Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, emphasized the company's focus on AI, particularly in the travel industry. Other industry leaders further confirmed this shift, suggesting that the travel sector will soon undergo its biggest transformation since the advent of online booking. The Gemini App's Growth The Gemini app has grown significantly over the past year. It now boasts over 400 million monthly active users, and 7 million developers are building with Geminifive times more than in the same period last year. The app's ecosystem now processes 9.7 trillion tokens a month50 times more than in 2024. AI Mode: Reimagining Search Pichai announced a total reimagining of searchAI Modewhich was rolled out in the United States after extensive research and testing with developers. AI Overviews have scaled to over 1.5 billion users, increasing user satisfaction and search frequency. AI Mode allows users to ask longer and more complex queries, signaling an end to the traditional 'top ten links' in favor of a single, synthesized response. Deep Search: Personalization with Context Google integrates personal context into AI Mode searches with the feature Deep Search. This feature connects to other apps in the Google ecosystem to enhance personalization, thus leveling up with other AI providers and online travel agents that leverage cookies and search history for personalized experiences. Agentic AI: Project Mariner Project Mariner, Google's agent mode, is designed to interact with the web and complete tasks on behalf of the user. An agentic checkout feature was also announced, which monitors prices and prompts users to buy when a price drops. From Inspiration to Booking: AI Mode and Deep Search In AI Mode, Deep Search remembers users' search journey context, integrating results from Google Travel and Google Things to Do. Plans include incorporating agent mode to allow users to book from the same window. Other Announcements from Google I/O Several other announcements were made at Google I/O that could impact the travel sector. These include real-time speech translation on Google Meet, the launch of AI-enabled glasses, the introduction of Google Beam, a video communications platform, and improvements in AI-generated content. Discover more at PhocusWire. Houston NASA Clear Lake Hotel - Image Credit Hilton Ashford Hospitality Trust plans to sell the 242-room Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake for $27 million. The scheduled completion of the sale is set for June 2025, subject to standard closing conditions. Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. has signed an agreement to sell the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake. The transaction, priced at $27 million, will be finalized by June 2025, contingent upon typical closing conditions. When adjusted for the Trust's projected capital expenditures, the sale price indicates a 3.2% capitalization rate on net operating income or a 23.6x Hotel EBITDA for the twelve months concluded on April 30, 2025. When the anticipated capital spend is excluded, the sale price reflects a 5.0% capitalization rate on net operating income or 15.2x Hotel EBITDA for the same period. The agreement to sell the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake is expected to reduce the Trust's Morgan Stanley 17 Pool loan and lead to substantial savings in capital expenditures. The sale is part of a broader strategy to transform the Trust through the potential for opportunistic sales. Additional assets are currently on the market at various stages of the sales process. These sales are intended to shift the asset portfolio of the Trust further and influence its future trajectory. The Trust has not guaranteed that the sale will be completed on the agreed terms or finalized. The completion of the transaction depends on several factors, including but not limited to the fulfillment of standard closing conditions. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State Invests in Berkshire County Youth Employment and Skills Training PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has allocated funding to support youth employment in Berkshire County through the YouthWorks program. As part of the more than $22 million awarded statewide, Berkshire Training and Employment Inc. (BTE Inc.) will receive $584,200 to engage 111 young individuals. "Youthworks provides foundational opportunities for young people to obtain real world experiences, new skills and paychecks as they explore future careers," said Governor Maura Healey. "YouthWorks is part of our administrations commitment to improving educational and job opportunities for young people to set them on a path to success and meet the needs of our employers." "By providing our future workforce with the skills they need to succeed, we are strengthening the states competitiveness, growing our local economies and building a pipeline of future workers," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "We look forward to seeing our young people gain these experiences and join Team Massachusetts." This funding will enable BTE Inc. to introduce youth to various trades, including Automotive and Welding, and provide opportunities to obtain certifications as EMTs, LPNs, and paraprofessionals. The YouthWorks program aims to provide valuable work experience and soft skills training to young adults in Berkshire County, preparing them for future careers. Since January 2023, more than 13,000 youth and young adults have been placed in a job or received job training through the Youthworks program. Program participants have been placed in jobs in industries such as education, health care, information technology, camp counselors, and arts and communications. Participants also receive vital soft skills training, including leadership, project management, and customer service, and received workforce supports to reduce barriers to employment, including transportation. Conte Community School Crossing Guard Recognized BOSTON The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, announced Soleil Hanger of Conte Community School in Pittsfield as one of the winners of the 2025 Safe Routes to School Crossing Guard Awards. Hanger, along with other winners, will be recognized at the annual Safe Routes to School Awards Ceremony, scheduled to be held on June 2, 2025. This annual contest, which began in 2021, recognizes and highlights the important role crossing guards play in helping students and families safely travel to schools. "Crossing guards are essential to the safety of students walking to and from school," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Their dedication, vigilance, and kindness give families peace of mind and make them trusted pillars in our communities. Through the Safe Routes to School Crossing Guard Awards, we're proud to honor their vital contributions." This year's crossing guard appreciation campaign began with nominations submitted from partnering school communities and included a dedicated Crossing Guard Appreciation Day which was held this past March. More than 450 nominations were submitted for 120 crossing guards who work in 43 communities. Representatives from SRTS partner schools, including school faculty and staff, parents, and community members, completed an online nomination form, sharing stories of how their crossing guards go above and beyond to keep students safe and what makes them stand out. Nominations were evaluated by the Safe Routes to School team and MassDOT based on stories of safety and dedication to their job. The Massachusetts SRTS Program, sponsored by MassDOT and with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to walk, bike, and roll to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments. The program currently serves more than 1,200 schools in more than 280 communities across the Commonwealth. Through these partnerships, the Massachusetts SRTS Program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety. SRTS also provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice North Korea has announced an investigation into the failed launch of a new naval destroyer which infuriated leader Kim Jong Un and was deemed an unpardonable criminal act. Satellite images from the site of Wednesdays launch showed the 5,000-tonne vessel lying on its side and most of its hull submerged in water. In a rare admission of failure, Mr Kim, who was present for the launch at the northeastern port of Chongjin, fumed at the absolute carelessness and irresponsibility shown by multiple state institutions tasked with the job. The Central Military Commission, the apex military affairs body in the country, said on Friday that the damage was not serious and could be repaired in about 10 days, according to the Korean Central News Agency. An underwater inspection of the ship confirmed there were no holes at the bottom of the warship as found in the initial assessment. The commission said the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater had flowed into the stern section. Experts estimate that it will take two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway and 10-odd days to restore the warship's side, the KCNA report said. open image in gallery Satellite image provided by Airbus DS shows a blue tarp covering a North Korean destroyer after it suffered a failed launch in Chongjin ( Airbus DS ) The military commission, however, told investigators that the failure couldnt be tolerated. No matter how good the state of the warship, it said, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime. At the launch ceremony, the ship slid off its ramp and became stuck after the flatcar failed to move alongside it, throwing off its balance and crushing parts of the bottom, according to the KCNA. open image in gallery Satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows a blue tarp covering a North Korean destroyer after it suffered a failed launch ( Planet Labs PBC ) The accident is an embarrassing setback for Mr Kim who sees naval advancement as key to North Koreas power projection. Mr Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for what he described as a serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism. Analysts said it was the North's biggest and most advanced warship to date and was likely built with Russian assistance. The vessel, likely of the same class as the destroyer unveiled last month, was intended to be North Korea's second major naval surface ship revealed in rapid succession. open image in gallery North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae attend a weapons system test of naval destroyer Choe Hyon in April ( KCNA ) In April, Mr Kim unveiled the country's first newly built destroyer in decades, Choe Hyon, and announced his ambition to construct additional destroyers as well as various cruisers and frigates. Pyongyang was preparing the new destroyer for launch with a method it has rarely used, 38 North, a website focused on North Korea, had assessed last week. It said the ship was being prepared to be launched sideways from the quay while the previous destroyer launched at the western shipyard of Nampo used a floating dry dock. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice South Koreas defence ministry denied that it was talking to the US about pulling out some of its 28,500 soldiers stationed in the East Asian country. The Wall Street Journal had reported that the Donald Trump administration was weighing a withdrawal of thousands of American troops from South Korea. Citing unnamed defence officials familiar with the discussions, the newspaper said that an option being developed by the Pentagon is to pull out roughly 4,500 troops and move them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam. In a statement contradicting the report, the Souths defence ministry said it remained committed to working closely with the US to uphold a strong joint military posture aimed at deterring North Korea. Seoul and Washington agreed a five-year deal on defence cost-sharing last year, but Mr Trump recently indicated that expenses tied to the American military presence could become a point of negotiation in broader trade talks. But South Korean officials insisted on tackling the issue of defence contributions separately. The agreement mandates Seoul to pay $1.1bn in 2026 for the upkeep of the US forces, an 8.3 per cent increase from 2025. The ministry said that alongside its own military, the US forces in Korea, have contributed to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula by maintaining a firm combined defence posture and deterring North Koreas invasion and provocation, state news agency Yonhap reported. We will continue to cooperate with the US side to advance in such a direction. South Korea is set to hold a snap presidential election on 3 June following months of political upheaval that has left a leadership void as Seoul looks to ease US tariffs on its export-driven economy. In its report, the Wall Street Journal said the Pentagon was preparing the idea of withdrawing troops from South Korea for consideration by president Trump as part of an informal policy review on dealing with North Korea. The report emerged amid speculation that Washington could pursue greater strategic flexibility for US forces in Korea, expanding their role to counter Chinas rising assertiveness rather than focusing solely on North Korean threats, Yonhap noted. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly ordered the Pentagons next National Defence Strategy to emphasise burden-sharing with allies and countering Chinas influence. The strategy, due by 31 August, could include hiking South Koreas financial contribution for hosting American forces. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Indian forces have killed top Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao in the central state of Chhattisgarh, home minister Amit Shah confirmed. Rao, commonly known as Basavaraju, was the general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India Maoist, the most powerful Maoist insurgent group in the country. He was one of 27 rebels killed in a gunfight with security forces in the forests of the Narayanpur region. One police officer also died in the operation. Mr Shah noted that Rao was the first Maoist leader of such high rank to be killed in nearly 30 years. The home minister hailed the operation as a landmark success, while prime minister Narendra Modi praised the forces for the remarkable outcome. Maoist rebels, who started their insurgency in the late 1960s and control swathes of what is known as the red corridor in central India, have long claimed to represent indigenous tribal communities neglected by the state and exploited by private corporations seeking to extract natural resources from their ancestral lands. The Indian government has pledged to dismantle the movement entirely by March 2026. A sweeping security crackdown in recent months has reportedly led to dozens of arrests and surrenders. The Maoist conflict has reportedly claimed over 10,000 lives so far, although violence has declined in recent years. Rao, Indias most-wanted Maoist rebel with a Rs 1.5 crore (130,000) bounty on his head, was the ideological architect and strategic mastermind behind some of the deadliest Maoist attacks in the country, according to local media. Rao was born in 1955 in the southern Andhra Pradesh state and graduated with an engineering degree from NIT Warangal before joining the Peoples War Group, a Maoist faction that later merged into the Communist Party of India Maoist, in the early 1980s. He reportedly received guerrilla training from the Sri Lankan insurgent group LTTE. A key strategist for the Maoist rebel movement, he was accused of orchestrating several major attacks, such as the 2010 Dantewada massacre, the 2013 Jeeram Ghati ambush, and a 2003 assassination attempt on Andhra Pradeshs then chief minister. Rao rose to become chief of the Maoist group in 2018, directing operations from underground while eluding intelligence agencies. His killing reportedly came after weeks of coordinated efforts tracking Maoist leaders in the dense forests at the junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada districts. A landmark achievement in the battle to eliminate Naxalism, Mr Shah, the home minister, said. Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces have neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of CPI Maoist, topmost leader and backbone of the Naxal movement. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Bangladesh's interim leader is reportedly threatening to step down if political parties cannot agree on reforms that citizens have been demanding since last year's mass agitation. Muhammad Yunus, 84, took over as interim leader of the South Asian nation of nearly 170 million last August after a street uprising led mainly by students forced Sheikh Hasina to quit as prime minister and flee to India. Nahid Islam, head of the newly formed National Citizen Party which wants national elections held only after the proposed reforms are in place, said Dr Yunus was finding it difficult to work without the backing of political parties. "He was visibly upset," Mr Islam told reporters after meeting the leader on Thursday. "He said if he cannot do the work he was asked to do reform the system and prepare for fair elections then he may have to leave. He feels trapped between demands from different political camps and growing public impatience." In the aftermath of the agitation that ended Ms Hasina's 15-year rule, Dr Yunus promised reforms in various sectors, but a lack of progress and growing political disagreement have put his administration in a tight spot. Bangladesh is reeling under economic and political distress and a crisis of law and order. "We told him clearly that people didn't rise up just to switch governments but to change the system," said Mr Islam, whose party emerged out of the student agitation. "Elections without reform will only take us back to the same problems." Mr Yunus leaving the interim government when it is caught between competing demands for swift polls and reforms could lead to further uncertainty. Dr Yunus has said national elections could be delayed until 2026. Former prime minister Khaleda Zia after arriving in Dhaka from London on 6 May 2025 ( AP ) Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, a special assistant to Dr Yunus and head of the ministry of posts, telecommunications and IT information technology, said the interim leader needed to stay in office for the "sake of Bangladesh and a peaceful democratic transition. "The chief adviser is not going to step down. He does not hanker after power," Mr Taiyeb wrote on Facebook, referring to Dr Yunus by his title. Dr Yunus allegedly threatened to stand down after thousands of supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party rallied in Dhaka against the interim government for the first time on Wednesday. The BNP, led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been pushing for polls by December. On Wednesday, BNP leaders said it would be "difficult" to continue supporting the interim government without a firm election plan. Responding to Mr Islam's remarks, senior BNP member Abdul Moyeen Khan called for corroboration from Dr Yunus office at a time when his interim government's credibility was at its lowest. "I would rather say the holy wish of the people of Bangladesh is a dignified exit of Dr Yunus and him honouring the trust put by our people in him for organising a free and fair election at the earliest," he added. Adding to the pressure on the interim leader, Bangladesh's army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, also called for elections to be held in December in a speech at the Dhaka cantonment this week. The general also expressed his dissatisfaction over the political situation in the country. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Ukrainian man who lives in the US claims to have completed a journey from sea level in New York to the summit of Mount Everest in a record four days. This feat, announced Friday, stands in stark contrast to the usual two-month acclimatisation period most climbers undertake to adjust to the extreme altitudes. Andrew Ushakov, a structural engineer who is relatively unknown as a climber, began his journey from sea level in New York, which added another layer of difficulty to the already arduous climb. Traditional Everest expeditions involve a gradual ascent, with climbers establishing camps at progressively higher altitudes to allow their bodies to adapt to the thin air. This process typically takes weeks, if not months, before a summit attempt is made. The Ukrainian-American's four-day ascent bypasses this crucial acclimatisation period. Independent verification of this record-breaking claim remains a challenge. Nepal lacks an official body to validate such mountaineering feats. Typically, record claims are scrutinised by fellow climbers and specialist mountaineering organisations, a process that can take weeks or even months. open image in gallery Andrew Ushakov, a structural engineer who is relatively unknown as a climber, said he did not use Xenon gas ( REUTERS ) This claim follows another recent, similarly unverified feat. Just days earlier, four British climbers, having pre-acclimatised using Xenon gas in Germany, reportedly summited Everest in under five days, starting their journey from London. Their rapid ascent also awaits independent confirmation. Andrew Ushakov said he did not use Xenon gas. He said he embarked on his expedition from New York and scaled the Everest summit on Monday in slightly less than four days. Similarly to the Britons, Ushakov slept at home in a hypoxic tent that simulates high-altitude conditions before heading to Nepal, and used supplemental oxygen like other climbers. Ushakov, 40, told Reuters in Kathmandu that he hoped his feat, which came after two years of preparation and research, would set an example for his 6-year-old son to do "something big" in the future and encourage people to take to mountaineering without having to leave work and family for long. Ushakov said that in an attempt to make a fast ascent of Everest last year, he reached 8,500 m (27,880 ft) but developed a vision problem and failed to complete the climb. He said he broke his arm in Ecuador two months ago when he was hit by an avalanche. Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, has issued permits to 468 people to climb Mount Everest during the current season ending this month. About 300 climbers, including the Sherpa guides, have scaled the summit so far. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pakistan reportedly rejected an Indian commercial flight crews request to enter its airspace to avoid turbulence after the aircraft was caught in a storm. The IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Srinagar in India-administered Kashmir, carrying nearly 200 passengers, including five members of parliament, hit severe turbulence during an unexpected hailstorm on Wednesday, which caused minor damage to the aircrafts nose. A viral video captured panicked scenes inside the cabin, with passengers screaming and crying as the plane shook violently from the turbulence. Despite the chaos, the flight landed safely in Srinagar at 6.30pm local time. "It was a near-death experience. I thought my life was over. People were screaming, praying and panicking," Sagarika Ghose, MP from the opposition Trinamool Congress party, said. "Hats off to the pilot who brought us through that. When we landed, we saw the nose of the plane had blown up. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation regulator, said the airplane was caught in a hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot in Punjab state near the border with Pakistan. The crew asked the northern control of the Indian air force for permission to deviate towards the international border but were turned down, the aviation body said. The crew then contacted Lahore's air traffic control tower to enter into their airspace but same was refused too, it added. According to the regulator, the crew initially attempted to return but decided to go through the storm as they were close to the cloud. There was no injury to any of the passengers on board the flight. Post-flight walk-around revealed damage to the nose radome," it said. Aftermath of an aerial attack from Pakistan in Jammu on 10 May 2025 ( Getty ) India and Pakistan shut their airspaces to each others planes amid one of the worst military skirmishes in decades between the South Asian nuclear powers earlier this month. In the wake of the conflict, India had to shut nearly 20 airports along its northern and western border for commercial use. The conflict began after India struck alleged militant hideouts in Pakistan to avenge the massacre of 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in a militant attack in Kashmir on 22 April. New Delhi accused Pakistan of supporting the gunmen who had launched the attack, but Islamabad denied the charge and sought an independent investigation. The Indian strikes escalated the tensions into a military skirmish as the two sides exchanged heavy fire along their de facto border in the restive Kashmir region, as well as missile and drone attacks on military installations, leaving dozens of people dead on both sides. The Indian aviation regulator has reportedly directed commercial airlines to ensure that aircraft window shades, except for emergency exit row seats, stay shut during takeoff and landing at airports near the border for "enhanced operational safety and to prevent unintentional sharing of security-related information". On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thai and foreign nationals would be required to show a medical certificate to buy cannabis legally, the latest move by the Southeast Asian country to regulate the use of the drug three years after decriminalising it. Somsak Thepsutin, public health minister of Thailand, said he would issue stricter regulations for cannabis use within 40 days. Thailand became the first Asian country in 2022 to decriminalise cannabis, a decision that initially boosted agriculture and tourism. The legislation didnt govern the sale, production or use of the drug, however, sparking criticism that it was fueling addiction and underage use as cannabis shops proliferated across the country. I will improve regulations on cannabis use in Thailand, Mr Somsak said at a press conference in Bangkok. For example, cannabis smokers may have to show medical certificates. Foreign and Thai cannabis users must have medical certificates. Well order government organisations to keep enforcing the law and not to allow any problems to develop. Somruek Chungsaman, heads of the health ministry's department of traditional and alternative medicine, said the medical certificates requirement would ensure cannabis was used for medical purposes and not recreationally. Anyone who wants to buy cannabis flowers to smoke, Thai or foreign, must have a doctors prescription for medical use," he told Reuters. We dont want people saying they came to Thailand just to smoke cannabis. That gives a negative impression." Marijuana advocates, however, argue the latest requirement for a doctors note is unnecessary, claiming that cannabis use is already declining following an initial surge. A tourist sits outside a cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand ( AP ) The health minister had previously said recreational use of marijuana would be banned by the end of last year, but no curbs were placed on the industry, estimated to be worth more than $1bn annually. Authorities have thus far implemented piecemeal regulations banning cannabis in schools and requiring retailers to clearly label cannabis-infused foods and beverages. The health ministry is drafting a comprehensive cannabis law, which must secure cabinet approval before it is presented to the parliament for debate. Airport authorities have intensified inspections to combat smuggling. They have reported that most intercepted cannabis is carried by foreign nationals, predominantly Britons and Indians. Last week, two young British women were arrested in Georgia and Sri Lanka for allegedly trying to smuggle cannabis from Thailand, according to the British media. The British government said a joint operation with Thailand in February resulted in more than two tonnes of cannabis being seized from air passengers. It said since July last year, over 50 British nationals had been arrested in Thailand for attempting to smuggle cannabis. It also reported a dramatic increase in the amount of cannabis sent to the UK from Thailand by post since the drug was decriminalised in 2022. In March, immigration authorities and police said 22 suitcases filled with a total of 375kg cannabis were seized, and 13 foreigners, most of them British, were arrested at the international airport on the Samui island. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Bernadette Dugasse was just a toddler when her family was forced to leave her birthplace. She didnt get a chance to return until she was a grandmother. Dugasse, 68, has spent most of her life in the Seychelles and the U.K., wondering what it would be like to set foot on the tropical island of Diego Garcia, part of the remote cluster of atolls in the middle of the Indian Ocean called the Chagos Islands. Like hundreds of others native to the islands, Dugasse was kicked out of her homeland more than half a century ago when the British and U.S. governments decided to build an important military base there. After years of fighting for the right to go home, Dugasse and other displaced islanders watched in despair Thursday as the U.K. government announced it was formally transferring the Chagos Islands sovereignty to Mauritius. While political leaders spoke about international security and geopolitics, the deal meant only one thing for Chagossians: That the prospect of ever going back to live in their homeland now seems more out of reach than ever. We are the natives. We belong there, said Dugasse, who has reluctantly settled in Crawley, a town south of London. It made me feel enraged because I want to go home. open image in gallery People demonstrate outside the High Court in London, Thursday, May 22, 2025, after a British court blocked the U.K. from transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius hours before the agreement was due to be signed. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Dugasse was born on the Chagos Islands, which had been under the administration of Mauritius, a former British colony, until 1965, when Britain split them away from Mauritius. Mauritius gained independence in 1968, but the Chagos remained under British control and were named the British Indian Ocean Territory. Dugasse was barely 2 years old when her family was deported to the Seychelles in 1958 after her father, a laborer, allegedly broke a work contract. They were never allowed back. Throughout the 1960s, many other islanders who thought they were leaving temporarily for a holiday, or medical treatment -- would be told they cannot return to the Chagos. It turned out that Britain was evicting the entire population of the Chago Islands -- about 1,500 people descended from African slaves and plantation workers - so the U.S. military could build a base on the largest island, Diego Garcia. open image in gallery Chagossian Bernadette Dugasse shows sand and sea shells from the Chagos Islands during an interview with The Associated Press, at her home in London, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) By 1973, all Indigenous Chagossians were forced to leave. Thousands of islanders and their descendants are now spread around the world, most living in Mauritius, the U.K. and Seychelles. Most want to return home. Britains government has acknowledged that its removal of islanders was wrong, and has granted many citizenship and set aside some funds to improve their lives. But it continues to bar Chagossians from returning and living in their homeland, citing defense and security concerns and cost to the British taxpayer. Although the British government this week finalized a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos to Mauritius, ending a long contested colonial legacy, there is no upside for Chagossians. Dugasse and other islanders say they were completely excluded from political negotiations, and that Mauritius government is unlikely to grant them any right to return. Under the deal, which still needs Parliament's approval, Britain will lease back the Diego Garcia military base for at least 99 years. That means the island will be off-limits for the foreseeable feature. I dont have a Mauritian passport. I dont want to affiliate myself with Mauritius, she said. We have our own culture. We have our own identity. We are unique Indigenous people. open image in gallery Chagossian Bernadette Dugasse shows photos of the Chagos Islands during an interview with The Associated Press, at her home in London, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Dugasse and another Diego Garcia native, Bertrice Pompe, sought to bring legal action against the British government over the deal to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritian control. They only managed to halt the signing of the deal by a few hours Thursday. Pompe said it was a very sad day but she wasnt giving up. The rights were asking for now, weve been fighting for for 60 years, Pompe said outside a London courthouse. Mauritius is not going to give that to us. So we need to keep fighting with the British government to listen to us. Human Rights Watch and other groups have urged Britains government to recognize the Chagossians right to return home, calling its failure to do so a continuing colonial crime against humanity." Map of the Chagos Islands: Dugasse who received British citizenship but said she got no other compensation has been allowed back to Diego Garcia just twice in recent years. Both times the visits were only possible with special permission from the U.K. government. She described the island as a mini-America, populated by American service members and Filipino staffers. She visited the church where her parents were married and where she was baptized, but found her village cemetery and school in ruins. And when she collected seashells and white sand from the beach, officials told her she wasnt allowed to bring those home. I told them no (the shells and the sand) are mine, not yours, she said. We were allowed there for only nine days, and every day I cried. Dugasse said her elderly mother, who lives in the Seychelles, would like to die on Diego Garcia. She doesn't think that's possible and she is pessimistic that any of her children or grandchildren will get a chance to see where their family came from. Are we Chagossians always going to be nomads, going from place to place?" she asked. "Most of the natives are dying. What will happen? Its time for us to set foot home. Ryan Yates was 30 years old when a judge told him that he may never be released from prison. He was jailed more than 15 years ago, in April 2010, at the High Court in Glasgow, where Judge Lord Pentland ordered him to serve at least 10 years, and imposed a life-long restriction order on Yates: he was an exceptionally high level of danger to women and society, the judge said. Six months earlier, in October 2009, in a tree-lined park in Aberdeen, Yates had tried to murder a 60-year-old woman during an attempt to abduct and rape her two granddaughters, aged eight and two. As part of his sentence, Yates agreed to be chemically castrated. It was voluntary: after the judgement was passed, the serial offender who carried out his attack just days after he was released from custody for an assault with a sexual element was administered leuprorelin, a testosterone suppressant which reduces sexual drive and arousal. At the time, public response to the decision was positive the twisted paedophile would face something that looked more like real justice, then, many said. Did it work? Difficult to say: in December, Yates died in custody at HMP Glenochil, aged 44. Yates was the last publicly reported person in the UK to undergo chemical castration the use of anaphrodisiac drugs to reduce libido and sexual activity yet the practice remains a topic of hot debate. This week, justice secretary Shabana Mahmood announced plans to expand the use of chemical castration for serious sex offenders, including a proposal for mandatory treatment, as part of a broader sentencing reform aimed at reducing prison overcrowding. The practice not to be confused with surgical castration has been legally available on a limited, voluntary basis since 2009, when a pilot at HMP Whatton in Nottinghamshire began. Within just a few years, around 100 prisoners had participated in the programme, which a spokesperson at the Ministry of Justice said at the time was being used in conjunction with other approaches to managing the risk of sexual offending. Now, as a result of the independent sentencing review published this week, the government is set to roll out the pilot for sex offenders in 20 prisons across the country. Mahmood said she is not squeamish about the decision to use medication to manage problematic sexual arousal, adding that she is exploring whether mandating the approach is possible. What was once a rare, voluntary treatment may soon become a formalised tool of sentencing reform, aimed not only at rehabilitation but also at reducing the strain on a chronically overcrowded prison system. In theory, it could mean that men like Yates sexual predators deemed a menace to women and children in society would automatically be subjected to chemical castration in an attempt to control the population of sex offenders in England and Wales. open image in gallery The justice secretary has announced plans to expand the use of chemical castration for serious sex offenders ( Getty ) Some say its a necessary evolution. Physical punishment like this, or like corporal punishment in prisons, is the antidote to a soft justice system too preoccupied with the human rights of those it deals with for its own good. When public figures like Nigel Farage make inflammatory calls to reignite debate on the use of the death sentence in the UK, you can usually find conversation about compulsory castration not far behind. When it comes to dealing with serious offenders especially when faced with the despair of their victims theres a tendency to be very simplistic: we want an eye for an eye. But there are also studies that show success rates of chemical castration. One trial of a drug named degarelix in Stockholm, Sweden, reported on by Sky News, found that just two weeks after the first injection, men living in the community had a significantly reduced risk of committing child sexual abuse. However, how this was measured exactly is not fully clear and the study was conducted on just 52 men, a tiny pool to pin decisions with such high potential repercussions on. Others say that chemical castration offers rehabilitation and support to long-term psychological therapies and, when undertaken in the correct way, voluntary castration even empowers perpetrators to take responsibility for their own behaviour. It is, these advocates say, a way of allowing offenders back into society with less risk when offered as a condition of early release. And crucially, lets not forget its much cheaper than rehabilitating them in prison. open image in gallery Women hold placards during a vigil held in memory of Sarah Everard in March 2021 ( Getty ) Yet, theres something instinctively troublingly intimate about the state altering a persons body chemistry even with their consent; critics of the practice question how voluntary consent really is inside a prison. Its not a new concept, of course during a particularly dark period in the mid-20th century it was used as a form of punishment for homosexual acts, notoriously in the case of Alan Turing, a pioneering codebreaker during the Second World War who was convicted of gross indecency due to his homosexuality in 1952. He took his own life two years after choosing the option of imprisonment or chemical castration the science around it is still shaky. Violence and harm cant be attributed to a simple hormonal imbalance; misogyny and an impulse to control women cant be medicalised A lot of the studies are lacking in long-term follow-ups and dont account for important variables like the natural decline of libido with age, or even what other tools like therapy are being used alongside the medication, which generally consist of two drugs: anti-androgens, that reduce testosterone, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs such as Prozac, citalopram and sertraline; common antidepressants). Theyre taken alongside psychiatric work that reportedly targets other causes of sexual offending like the desire for power and control. And its the latter that really feels like the point. Libido alone is rarely, if ever, the cause of sexual offending not all crimes are driven by desire. Violence and harm cant be attributed to a simple hormonal imbalance; misogyny and an impulse to control women cant be medicalised. Sexual violence in society isnt contained in science its in deeply embedded attitudes. To suggest otherwise could be the beginning of a dangerously slippery slope. Similarly, formalising chemical castration puts other forms of medical intervention into the frame too, potentially leaving doors open to tiptoe towards ideas like forced sterilisation for those with severe mental illnesses, or medicine as a punishment. In the long term, this type of castration causes many side effects like weight gain, increased cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis whats more, the effects of some of these drugs, particularly SSRIs, can induce depression and suicidal ideation. Though its deemed reversible, it can leave lasting damage to fertility. open image in gallery Shabana Mahmood says she is not squeamish about expanding the procedures use ( PA Wire ) Britain is hardly the first to wrestle with this dilemma. In parts of the United States, chemical castration is either encouraged or required for repeat offenders. In California, it's a condition for parole. Poland introduced mandatory chemical castration for child sex offenders in 2009, prompting criticism from the European Union, while Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway take a more therapeutic approach. Chemical castration is available, but only as part of comprehensive therapy, and never mandated. Human dignity, they argue, must come before public retribution. Chemical castration is no longer a footnote or a quietly ongoing trial in Britain, but a political statement. As the proposal is debated, uncomfortable questions are likely to be raised. Yates who told police that he had gone out that day looking to find some children to have sex with was prepared to try anything to overcome his problems, which have blighted his life, his barrister told the court, 15 years ago. Was it chemical castration that could have prevented his heinous crimes? Shabana Mahmood wants us to think about that and the answer may be more complicated than first thought. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Armed police were called to a hospital in Glasgow on Friday morning after a man entered the building armed with a crossbow. Specialist firearms officers were among those dispatched to the scene after police were alerted to the incident in the atrium of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital at about 6.30am. Police confirmed the weapon had not been fired and there were no injuries. A 29-year-old man has been arrested. A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said the atrium of the hospital was closed for a short time and traffic around the hospital had been temporarily diverted. open image in gallery The health board said the hospital is now operating as normal ( PA ) There was no disruption to services, and the hospital is now open as normal. Police said inquiries into the incident are ongoing. Inspector Alyssa Fullelove-McCann said: Im aware this incident will be concerning but Id like to provide reassurance that it is being treated as isolated and there is no ongoing risk to the public. Officers will remain in the area while inquiries are carried out and anyone with concerns or information can speak to them, or call 101. A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: We can confirm we supported police with an incident in the atrium of the QEUH this morning. The atrium was closed for a short time while this was dealt with, and traffic around the hospital was temporarily diverted. There was no disruption to any of our services and the hospital is now open as normal. We would like to thank our security teams for their handling of this incident before officers arrived. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The NHS is opening a network of mental health A&Es across England to relieve pressure on hospitals amid the ongoing corridor care crisis. These units will be staffed with specialist doctors and nurses to provide 24/7 support for patients feeling suicidal or experiencing symptoms such as psychosis or mania, NHS England confirmed. Patients will be able to walk in or be referred by GP and the police to these units, designed to be a calm and welcoming environment in contrast to the noise and chaos of hospitals. Sir Jim Mackey, the chief executive of NHS England, said Crowded A&Es are not designed to treat people in mental health crisis. We need to do better, which is why we are pioneering a new model of care where patients get the right support in the right setting. As well as relieving pressure on our busy A&Es, mental health crisis assessment centres can speed up access to appropriate care, offering people the help they need much sooner so they can stay out of hospital. The mental health A&Es hope to relieve pressure on overcrowded hospitals as the corridor care crisis ensues. Last year, 250,000 people went to A&E experiencing mental health crises, with one in three waiting more than 12 hours. The Royal College of Physicians called for a zero tolerance approach to the NHS corridor care crisis ( PA ) The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) estimated around 320 patients a week may have died in England last year due to excessive waits for hospital beds in A&E departments. Already, 10 NHS trusts have launched separate units for mental health crises, some on sites alongside existing A&E units, but the scheme is expected to be expanded nationally to dozens of locations as part of the 10 year NHS plan set to be published this summer by the government. Ladbroke Grove, west London, is home to one of the first new mental health units being rolled out by the NHS. The unit, run by Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), is staffed by a team of mental health nurses, doctors and healthcare assistants round the clock. Mental health nurse Toti Freysson, who manages the service, told The Times: Anybody who walks in is seen by a mental health specialist within 10 minutes. Normally in A&E they would have to wait for hours, surrounded by the noise and the chaos. Most of the people we see have suicidal thoughts. Here, they can come in and sit with their families. We are able to intervene early and link them up with treatment in the community. It means we can get them home much sooner. The new services include a full and holistic assessment of a patients mental health needs, hoping to address the root causes of a crisis. The units deputy head of urgent care, Selena Cox, told The Times that staff make sure that patients have a plan, of action going forward. This may involve connecting them to local charities to tackle homelessness, debt or addiction issues, or arranging home treatment team visits. The Metropolitan Police, the countrys largest force, said in 2023 its officers would not attend mental health call-outs where a healthcare professional is more appropriate. Claire Murdoch, the NHS national director for mental health, told the newspaper: I would certainly hope to see these mental health A&Es across the country over the next decade. While the policy was welcomed by the Tories, the partys shadow health minister warned that Labours decision to increase employers national insurance contributions at the last budget will force mental health charities and local authorities to redirect their resources away from those struggling most. Dr Luke Evans said the mental health hubs are a crucial step in recognising the importance of mental health and ensuring patients receive the right care in the right environment However, this follows the Labour governments decision to cut mental health spending as a proportion of the overall NHS budget and impose a jobs tax that has forced mental health charities and local authorities to redirect their resources away from those struggling most, he added. This government must now make sure that these units are funded properly so that those struggling the most with their mental health can receive the targeted and compassionate care theyre in need of. Minister for Mental Health, Baroness Merron, said: Too often, people experiencing mental health crisis are not getting the support or care they deserve, and so it is vital that we continue to provide a range of services like this one Backed by an extra 680 million in government funding this year, we are transforming mental health services investing 26 million in new mental health crisis centres, hiring more staff, delivering more talking therapies, and getting waiting lists down through our Plan for Change. On top of this, through our proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act, we will ensure people with the most severe mental health conditions get better more personalised care. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A historian claims to have proof that the Princes in the Tower of London were not murdered by their uncle Richard III. Most historians believe Richard killed his nephews in the summer of 1483 after their father, Edward IV, died unexpectedly, despite a lack of hard evidence linking him to the murders. The boys, Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, were 12 and nine respectively when their father died. They were taken one by one to the Tower of London in expectation of Edward Vs coronation, but never emerged. Philippa Langley, the historian and screenwriter who played a key role in uncovering Richard IIIs remains in a Leicester car park, has spent the last ten years investigating the case. Ms Langley teamed up with professional cold case investigators, some of whom work with the police on unsolved murder to join her Missing Princes Project. open image in gallery Philippa Langley with a model of Richard III ( Getty ) Uncovering a treasure trove of never-before-seen documents and letters she believes she has built a strong enough case for the boys survival from the Tower of London. The conventional narrative has always been Richard IIIs loyal servant, Sir James Tyrell, was the boys killer, after a confession, obtained under torture, before his execution for treason in 1502. Ms Langley argues that for it to have been worthwhile for Richard to kill the princes, he had to display their bodies, otherwise he did it for no reason, putting himself in jeopardy. Following the death of King Richard at the battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485, Henry VII became King but Ms Langley said the Princes rose again and challenged him for the throne. She said: But Henry attempted to cast the Yorkist Princes as impostors by giving them false names and reverse-engineering their stories: Edward V became a 10 year-old boy called Lambert Simnel, the son of a joiner, tailor, barber, baker, organ-maker or shoemaker, and Richard, Duke of York became Perkin Warbeck the son of a French boatman. The documents she uncovered include letters supporting a rebellion by Edward IVs son in 1487, the year of Simnels uprising - which ended in him being crowned in Ireland. They also found fresh references to a boy said to be a son of King Edward. On Richard, three items signed with his seal have emerged in Europe, as well as letters allegedly written by him to James IV of Scotland and even a document from the Pope. A biography of his life as an escaped prince also emerged but the author remains a mystery. Simnel and Warbeck ultimately confessed to being impostors, but Ms Langley and her team of researchers insist these were false confessions extracted by Henry VII to discredit the challengers. Asked by The Times if this amounted to proof, she said: Had we supplied this amount of evidence in this book to say Richard III had murdered the Princes in the Tower, would you be asking me that question? I would say that they now have to prove that Richard III murdered the Princes in the Tower. open image in gallery The Princes in the Tower, Edward V (1470 - 1483) and Richard, Duke of York (1473 - 1483) ( Courtesy Scailyna, under Creative Commons ) Officially, the princes remains were found in 1674, when workmen at the Tower dug up a wooden box containing two skeletons. Four years later, the bones were placed in an urn and interred in Westminster Abbey on the orders of King Charles II. The suspects Richard III The prime suspect, escorted Edward V to the Tower of London where he was last seen. Motive insecure hold on the Monarchy due to the way he obtained the crown, faced rebellions from the Yorkists loyal to Edward IV prior to Parliament conforming his title to the throne in January 1484. Evidence circumstantial. Ms Langley argues that it would have better served Richard III to display the dead bodies in public to prevent pretenders to the throne coming forward. Henry VII (Henry Tudor) Richard IIIs rival who defeated his forces at the Battle of Bosworth. Motive executed rival claimants to the throne following his coronation. Evidence Henry Tudor was out of the country at the time of the princes disappearance and so could only have murdered them post-accession. Historians have called the theory the only plausible alternative to Richard IIIs being the killer. Henry Stafford 2nd Duke of Buckingham, kingmaker and breaker: played a major role in the rise and fall of Richard III. Motive held a claim to the throne through the House of Beaufort family. Evidence a manuscript found in the early 1980s in the College of Arms collection states that the princes were murdered be [by] the vise of the Duke of Buckingham. There is some argument over whether vise means advice or devise. Sir James Tyrell English knight, loyal servant to Richard III. Motive following the orders of his King. Evidence said to have confessed under torture to the murder of the princes before his execution for treason in 1502, according to Sir Thomas Mores The History of King Richard III. The original document containing his confession was never produced. Shakespeare portrayed Tyrell as the murderer in his play Richard III. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Two teenage boys have been killed in a motorbike crash in Salford. Detectives are appealing for information following the fatal collision at 8:20pm on Thursday night as they seek to give the boys families the answers they deserve. Greater Manchester Police said the teenagers aged 16 and 17 were believed to have been riding on the same motorbike when they collided with a car. They had been attempting to turn from Lower Broughton Road into Clarence Street when they collided with the silver Vauxhall Viva, police said. open image in gallery The collision took place at the junction between Lower Broughton Road and Clarence Street ( Google Maps ) Emergency services rushed to the scene but the boys were both later pronounced dead in hospital. The 24-year-old woman who was driving the car involved in the crash stayed at the scene to assist officers and no arrests were made, police said. The families of the two boys are receiving support from specialist officers and detectives investigate the crash, according to the force. There was an outpouring of grief on social media from members of the community in Salford, with heartfelt tributes describing the boys as having touched so many hearts. Detective Sergeant Matt Waggett said: This is a heart-breaking and upsetting incident where two young men have sadly lost their lives and our thoughts are with their families. Our investigation continues so we can give them the answers they deserve. This is still an active investigation, and we are looking for anyone who has any information regarding the incident to come forward and get in touch with us. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or doorbell footage has been asked to call Greater Manchester Polices serious collision investigation unit. You can contact the unit on 0161 856 4741, quoting incident number 3458 of 22/05/2025, while reports and concerns can also be made anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Labour has delayed a flagship plan designed to cut child poverty until the autumn, in a move that could leave tens of thousands on the brink. Just weeks after coming to power, ministers said they would consider ditching the cruel two-child benefit cap in a bid to head off a backbench Labour revolt. But the overall strategy in which the policy was expected to be included has now been pushed back, despite fears of another rebellion on welfare cuts within weeks. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signalled a partial U-turn on restricting winter fuel payments earlier this week (Thomas Krych/PA) ( PA Wire ) But the new timings, designed to coincide with the budget, have raised some hopes ministers could push ahead and abolish the two-child cap, amid reports Sir Keir Starmer is in favour of the move, while his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney is less convinced. Both are under increasing pressure from Labour backbenchers on the issue. The benefits cap affects more than 1.6 million children by limiting welfare payments to the first two children in most families. New costings released recently by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) show another 109 more children are pulled into poverty by the policy every day. The number affected will continue to increase until 2035 - when the first children born under the turn 18. The charity says that scrapping the cap would be the most cost-effective way to lift kids out of poverty. It it were dumped, 350,000 children would be lifted from poverty at a stroke, while the depth of the poverty experienced by another 800,000 children would be reduced. As well as pressure over the cap, No 10 is still facing a potential rebellion from Labour MPs next month when tough welfare cuts, including to disability payments, are due to be voted on in the House of Commons, despite his partial U-turn on winter fuel payments earlier this week. Downing Street has insisted the government is taking a "comprehensive approach" to child poverty, including rolling out free breakfast clubs, increasing the number of affordable homes, and raising the minimum wage. Lord John Bird, an anti-poverty campaigner and founder of the Big Issue, criticised news of the delay and said ministers had "just kicked the issue of child poverty into the long grass". He added: "The impact of their inaction will be grave. It is shameful that child poverty is forecast to not fall, but rise significantly, to 31.5 per cent of children under this Labour government. "We need action now, not in six months or a year's time. I will relentlessly pursue my intervention of adding child poverty targets to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill with the vigour that the 4.3 million children living in poverty in our country deserve." But Helen Barnard, from the Trussell Trust, which provides food banks, said: This may be good news. Better a delayed child poverty strategy with measures to really protect children than one hitting the deadline but falling short on substance. A government spokesperson said: The government is determined to bring down child poverty. We've already expanded free breakfast clubs, introduced a cap on the cost of school uniforms, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions. We will publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully-funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hundreds of British students face expulsion from Harvard University after an appalling and vindictive decision by Donald Trump to ban the institution from overseas recruitment. The White House revoked the universitys ability to enrol international students on Thursday in a major escalation of Trumps war on the college. Current foreign students, including hundreds of Britons, will have to transfer to other colleges or lose their legal right to stay in the US. The move has triggered a furious backlash on this side of the Atlantic and led to calls for Keir Starmer and Britains ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson, to tell President Trump not to make UK students victims of his politics. Former education secretary Nicky Morgan was among senior politicians lining up to slam the move, calling it chilling. open image in gallery Trump ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Harvard, which has almost 6,800 foreign students, more than a quarter of its student body, has hit back, saying the ban is illegal and amounts to retaliation. Trump has been in conflict with the university for months, after it became the first to openly defy White House demands amid claims it had been taken over by woke ideas. Making the announcement, the US Department of Homeland Security accused Harvard of creating an unsafe environment on campus by allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to assault Jewish students. It also claimed the university was cooperating with the Chinese Communist Party. Former Labour Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham told The Independent the prime minister and Lord Mandelson should intervene. He said: Its going to be a traumatic experience for any students who are forced to leave the States and who thought that they were going to go next year. Its a terrible thing to happen to students and an appalling thing for a government to do. open image in gallery Mandelson with Trump earlier this month ( REUTERS ) He added: Our government should be saying you cant go around treating people like this. If people have complied with the rules simply to force them to leave your country because you have an argument with a university is not the way that we expect our citizens to be treated. These are young people between about 18 and 24, depending on whether theyre undergraduates or going to do postgraduate degrees. You cannot make individual young people the victims of your politics in that way. And I think the government should say that very, very clearly, to Trump. And Peter Mandelson has got this really good relationship with the White House that we read about. I think Peter Mandelson should be in there, on behalf of the British government, making this very clear. open image in gallery Former education secretary Nicky Morgan described the ban as chilling ( Getty ) Former education minister Robin Walker said the ban on foreign students seems a very vindictive decision, which would be harmful to US interests (and) more of a power play and playing to the gallery than pursuing serious policy. Ex- business and skills secretary Vince Cable condemned the move as absurd and dangerous and said it was another sly move to punish Harvard for standing up to him. It is understood that Labour ministers are seeking further information about the situation and that concerned UK students at Harvard should seek advice from the university. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Mays local elections left 10 councils under no overall control and sparked weeks of uncertainty about their political direction. Reform won the most seats of any party 677 out of some 1,650 cinching majority control in ten councils, but gaining representation across all 23 councils. Labour and Conservatives lost two-thirds of the seats they had in 2021 while the Liberal Democrats nearly doubled their seats up to 370 overall, and winning majority control of three councils. Since the election counts, 10 local councils left with no overall control have since confirmed their leadership and executive arrangements after holding annual meetings. This is the political makeup of each authority, and which parties will lead them. Devon County Council Both the Lib Dems and Reform gained 18 seats at the election, ensuring the former became the biggest party with 27 councillors. The Conservatives lost 32 seats and control of the council, with seven councillors remaining. The Greens were the only other party to make gains as their seats increased from two to six. Lib Dem Julian Brazil was elected leader unchallenged on Thursday. A major challenge for the new leadership will be childrens services, with the countys support rated inadequate by Ofsted for the second time in five years earlier this month. Commenting on the issue on Thursday, Mr Brazil said: No stone will be unturned or sinew unstrained in order to improve the service that we deliver to some of the most vulnerable children in our communities. At the same meeting, Reform councillor Michael Fife Cook complained that half the council is being ignored after the Lib Dem cabinet was confirmed. open image in gallery How many Conservative councillors lost their seats across the local elections Gloucestershire County Council The Conservatives had led Gloucestershire County Council since 2001 but lost 20 seats at the election, reducing the Tory group to just six. The Lib Dems gained 11 seats but fell one short of the 28 needed for a majority. The partys group leader Lisa Spivey was elected council leader unchallenged on May 21, becoming the first woman to take on the role. Her nomination was backed by the Greens, which secured the third highest number of seats at the election with nine a gain of five. Reform became the second largest group with 11 councillors while Labours seats were reduced from five to one. Speaking at the annual meeting, Ms Spivey said the electorate had delivered a clear call for something better a loud and resounding vote for change. Addressing new Reform councillors, she acknowledged there would be sharp differences of opinion between the two groups, but added: I look forward to working with you to deliver for your communities. Hertfordshire County Council Hertfordshire County Council slipped into no overall control for the first time this century, with a collapse in support for the Conservatives indicative of the partys wider electoral woes. Such was its dominance in this part of the South East, the Tories had been the only party to hold a majority in Hertfordshire since the council was established in 1974. With 40 seats needed for a majority, the Lib Dems came closest with 31 due to a gain of eight. The Tories lost more than half of their 46 seats to end the night with 22 councillors, while Reform made the biggest gain by securing 14 seats. Both Labour and the Greens ended up with five seats. Lib Dem Steve Jarvis was elected leader on May 20, with no sign of a formal coalition agreement with other parties. He said his first two priorities were to fix roads and host a summit on plans to improve support for those with special educational needs and disabilities. open image in gallery Conservatives and Labour were the two big losers of the local elections in May Leicestershire County Council A surge in support for Reform in Leicestershire resulted in the party gaining 25 seats just three short of an overall majority. The Conservatives, who led the council as a majority since 2001, lost 27 seats. This left the party as the second largest group with 15 councillors, followed by the Lib Dems with 11 (+2), Labour with two (-2), the Greens with one (+1) and independents with one (+1). Former Conservative councillor Dan Harrison was elected leader on May 14, having defected to Reform in February. The Conservatives had ruled out forming a coalition with Reform, preferring to provide a strong opposition, the BBC reported. Warwickshire County Council Warwickshire County Council, which has alternated between a Conservative majority and no overall control since it was established in 1974, is now under the leadership of Reform. However, despite securing 23 seats the party fell short of the 29 needed for a majority. The Lib Dems gained nine seats to take its total to 19, while the Conservative vote collapsed to deliver just nine councillors a loss of 32. The Greens won seven seats with a gain of four. Labour lost three to end with three. Reforms Rob Howard was elected as leader of the county council on May 16 and his cabinet will be announced in the coming weeks, the council said. Alternative leadership nominations were made for Liberal Democrat councillor Jerry Roodhouse and Green councillor Jonathan Chilvers. Mr Howard won the support of 28 councillors, while Mr Roodhouse won 15 votes and Mr Chilvers 10, with one abstention. Reform councillor Edward Harris was chosen as the new chairman of the authority and Conservative councillor Dale Keeling elected as vice-chairman. open image in gallery How each political party performed at the local elections in May 2025 Worcestershire County Council Reform were just two seats shy of securing the 29 needed for an overall majority after voters turned their backs on the Conservatives en masse, with the party losing 33 councillors leaving them with 12. The Tories had been in charge of the county since 2001. Reforms Jo Monk was elected the new leader of the council unchallenged on Thursday. The Greens benefited from a five-seat boost to become the third biggest group, ahead of the Lib Dems on six (+2) and Labour on two (-1). Buckinghamshire Council The Conservatives fell one seat short of retaining overall control of Buckinghamshire council, a unitary authority performing both county and district-level functions created in 2020. The Tories lost 29 seats to leave them with 48 after boundary changes, while the Lib Dems gained 19 to secure 27 and second place. Conservative Steven Broadbent was elected council leader on Thursday after former Tory leader Martin Tett stepped down. Independents are the third largest group with 13 councillors, an increase of six, followed by Labour on four. Reform failed to make the inroads it achieved elsewhere, with the party winning three seats. open image in gallery (PA Graphics) Cornwall Council Reform emerged from the election as the biggest party but fell well short of the 44 seats needed to gain overall control. Reforms 28 new councillors put the party ahead of the Lib Dems in second on 26, after a gain of 13. However, the support of independents proved pivotal in the vote for council leader on May 20 as Lib Dem councillor Leigh Frost was elected with 53 votes. There were 25 abstentions. Reform UK had withdrawn from the race after other parties said they would not support them, the BBC reported. Independents maintained their 16 seats and became the third biggest block, while the Conservatives suffered a huge loss of 40 seats, reducing their representation to seven councillors. Labour now have four seats on the council a reduction of one. Northumberland County Council The Conservatives narrowly retained its status as the largest group on Northumberland County Council, finishing three seats ahead of Reform, which gained its first 23 councillors. But the Tories failed to win the 36 seats needed for overall control and faced a challenge from Reform for the leadership of the unitary authority. Support from independents, Greens and Liberal Democrats led to Tory leader Glen Sanderson being re-elected as leader ahead of Reform nominee Mark Peart. Labour councillors abstained. The election saw Labour slip from 21 seats to eight while independents, the Lib Dems and the Greens maintained low levels of representation. Speaking at the annual meeting on May 21, Mr Sanderson is reported as saying: We will build together to make this continue to be successful. We all share one thing in common, which is to have our residents put a cross in our box to say we put our trust in you to represent us. Wiltshire Council During a dramatic annual meeting on May 20, the Liberal Democrats took control of Wiltshire Council a Conservative stronghold since it became a unitary council in 2009. The Lib Dems gained 16 seats in the election but fell seven short of an overall majority, while the Tories lost 24 to come in second on 37. This set up a head-to-head between Lib Dem Ian Thorn and former council leader Richard Clewer for the leadership. Boosted by support from independents, it was Mr Thorn who prevailed by a margin of five votes. Mr Thorn said there is now an opportunity to encourage parties to work together more, while Mr Clewer said he was frustrated and sad not to continue in the role. Reform is now the third biggest party on the unitary council after winning 10 seats, followed by independents on seven and Labour on one (-2). After some last-minute legal delays, the Chagos Islands treaty between the UK and Mauritius has been signed, and will almost certainly be implemented in the coming weeks. The great controversies about the UK-US military base in this remote stretch of the Indian Ocean have passed most of Britains population by, but for some the issue remains a matter of passionate concern, and the charge of treason has been lobbed at the prime minister. The arguments wont go away... What happens next? In the UK, there will have to be a parliamentary debate and approval within 21 (sitting) days of the signature, and given that the Commons is in recess again for a week, things wont be finalised for a while. In the past, international agreements would be signed under the royal prerogative, thus averting the need for formal legislative approval. However, this is now required under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, and the provisions of the treaty ought to be enshrined in domestic law (including the Mauritius Independence Act 1968). Given Labours overwhelming majority, the treaty is bound to be ratified, but Priti Patel for the Conservatives, along with Reform UK, will put up a fight. What difference will it make? It will settle for at least a century the status of the Chagos Islands, including the base on Diego Garcia, and thus make the area safe from any further action under international law. Why are we giving the Chagos Islands away anyway? Arguably, the UK is not giving the Chagos Islands away, but back to their rightful owner, Mauritius. They were carved out of the old Mauritius crown colony in 1965 as a condition for granting the rest of the territories independence, which came three years later. A new colony, now a British Overseas Territory, of the British Indian Ocean Territory was created to administer the area. It will soon disappear, and the islands will be Mauritian sovereign territory, the base area leased back for 99 years with an option to renew. Why cant we just carry on as we are? We could, but its getting more hazardous. First, because the ownership of the islands is under dispute, and multiple UN and International Court rulings have said they belong to Mauritius. More adverse decisions are on the way, too. Although these have been safely ignored by the British and Americans for decades, its hardly ideal. One risk is that Mauritius could lawfully grant, say, China or India permission to establish a military base on another of the islands, and that would spark a serious crisis to say the least. Another practical threat is highlighted by the defence secretary, John Healey: The most proximate, the most potentially serious, is the tribunal of the international Convention [on the Law] of the Sea. If the government lost a case there, the government says, other countries and UN agencies would be obliged by international law to take decisions that would hamper the operations of the base. In addition, Diego Garcias satellite communications would be in jeopardy, because the UK relies on a UN agency in Geneva to maintain access to a particular electromagnetic spectrum. Company contractors nervous about international law might refuse to come to the base, while international regulations on air travel might also make passage to the islands more difficult. What will it cost? Some 101m a year, plus additional development aid for Mauritius. Some of this will be index linked, but its spurious to try to translate it into prospective cash terms at 2124 price levels. The UK will pay the lease, with no US contribution. Keir Starmer argues, in effect, that UK national security also benefits from the base, and the money is worth spending to help preserve the special relationship with America. What about the Chagossians? There are none left on the islands to consult or to take part in a referendum. In a shameful episode during decolonisation, they were deported, with most settling in Mauritius, the Seychelles and the UK. Many oppose the deal, but their legal actions have failed. Is the base useful? Certainly to the US, as a centre for space communications and communications surveillance, and for bombing raids in the Middle East. It is also useful as a base for aircraft carriers, among other things. Does it matter politically? The opposition parties are weaponising the deal as proof that Labour is weak and basically unpatriotic, hence the Tory slogan when Labour negotiates. Irrelevant to domestic political issues, for some it will become totemic, as was the case when Gordon Brown as chancellor sold off some of the UKs gold reserves for equally rational reasons. The Chagos Islands deal, then, provides a handy source of dishonest jibes for the Tories and Reform, but wont seal the fate of the Starmer administration at the next election. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israels leader has accused Sir Keir Starmer and other world leaders of being on the wrong side of justice, humanity and history after two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead in Washington DC. The UK prime minister, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney were emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed, by giving them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state. A gunman shot young diplomat couple Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim from close range after they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The suspect then walked into the building chanting Free Palestine before he was stopped by security staff and arrested. open image in gallery Sarah Milgrim, left, and Yaron Lischinsky were shot dead in Washington DC ( X/@IsraelinUSA ) On Monday, the UK, French and Canadian governments said in a joint statement they were committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution to the war. Mr Netanyahu said Hamas had thanked Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately, claiming the three had shown they effectively wanted Hamas to remain in power. He said in a video on social media: I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice. You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history. The three leaders, he claimed, wanted Israel to stand down and accept that Hamas's mass murderers would repeat the 7 October 2023 massacre. Hamas wanted to annihilate Jews, he said, adding: I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others. open image in gallery Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney were emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever ( AFP/Getty ) Sir Keir condemned the shootings, saying antisemitism was an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. He said: My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. Mr Netanyahu also dismissed as a lie claims that Israel was starving Palestinian children. Other Israeli ministers have also suggested that the condemnation by Western leaders of Israels aid blockade and resumed offensive in Gaza was partly to blame. We must also hold to account the irresponsible leaders in the West who give backing to this hatred whether through appeasement, double standards, or silence, said Amichai Chikli, Israels minister for the diaspora and combatting antisemitism. French president Emmanuel Macron, British prime minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney have all, in different ways, emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines. This cowardice has a price and that price is paid in Jewish blood, he added in a post on X. In a press briefing later on Thursday morning, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar expressed similar views. There is a direct line connecting antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder, he said. This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries and international organisations, especially from Europe. Their words are the modern blood libels. Blood libels about genocide, crimes against humanity and murdering babies paved the way exactly for such murders. This is what happens when leaders in the world surrender to the Palestinian terrorist propaganda and serve it. open image in gallery Gideon Saar said that there is a direct line connecting... anti-Israel incitement and the double homicide ( AFP via Getty ) Mr Netanyahu described the shootings as the terrible cost of the antisemitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel. My heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer, he said. I have directed that security be increased at Israeli missions around the world and for the states representatives. The Israeli government has come under strong criticism for the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza after this week ending an 11-week aid blockade which caused widespread hunger and desperate sanitary conditions in the strip. In the past week, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed including dozens of women and children after intensified airstrikes on Gaza and the launch of a new ground offensive from the north and south of the strip, named Operation Gideons Chariots. On Sunday night, the UK, Canada and France issued their strongest condemnation yet of Mr Netanyahus government. A joint statement with Canada and France demanded that he halt his egregious actions in Gaza, threatening concrete actions over the intolerable human suffering inflicted on the enclave. open image in gallery Hunger is widespread in Gaza, a situation described as intolerable by several European leaders ( AFP/Getty ) The next day, Sir Keir spoke out against the utterly intolerable situation in Gaza, as foreign minister David Lammy announced the UK would suspend trade negotiations with Israel and introduce sanctions against a number of settler individuals and entities in the West Bank. Describing Israels actions as monstrous, Mr Lammy announced that Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely had been summoned to the Foreign Office by Middle East minister Hamish Falconer. Following the joint statement by Sir Keir, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney, Mr Netanyahu hit back, accusing the leaders of offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities. In Washington DC, police cordons remained around the site of the shooting, which took place at around 9.15pm local time on Wednesday (02.15am BST). Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Elias Rodriguez, who was not previously known to police, was seen pacing outside the venue before the attack. Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offence, she said. US President Donald Trump condemned the shooting on Truth Social, writing: These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A major rescue operation is underway to save 260 mine workers trapped underground in a South African gold mine. Rescuers are attempting to provide food to the trapped workers in the three-kilometre-deep Kloof gold mine near Johannesburg. A miners union says the workers are without food. "We can confirm that we had an incident at Kloof 7 shaft and are busy with making safe and shaft exam procedures, whereafter we will then hoist the employees out to surface," mining company Sibanye Stillwater said. open image in gallery A general view of the Sibanye Stillwater mine, where efforts continue to rescue mine workers trapped underground at one of its shafts at the Kloof gold mine, in Westonaria ( Reuters ) Mining company Sibanye Stillwater says the workers are safe after the incident at 10pm (9pm BST). Safety procedures and an examination of the shaft were under way, the spokesperson added, after which the miners would be hoisted to the surface. An initial investigation showed that a sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point and caused some damage to the mineshaft, the company said. The situation is expected to be resolved by midday, Sibanye said - but mine experts have said the more than 3km deep shaft must at first be guaranteed safe. We dont want to let the employees walk far distances at this time and hence its best for them to stay where they are at the station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, the company added. We are in the process of also providing them with food. We expect the situation to be resolved by about midday today. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) confirmed they had heard about the incident on Friday morning. We are angry that Sibanye has tried to hide the fact that 300 workers are trapped underground without food, NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu told South African outlet the Daily Maverick. Shaft 7 of the Kloof mine is a classic ultra-deep Witwatersrand gold operation which is more than 3km deep, the DM reported, increasing the difficulty in extracting the workers. An NUM spokesperson earlier said: "We have reports that about 300 workers are trapped underground at Kloof mine No. 7 shaft. The incident happened at around 10 pm yesterday," a spokesperson for NUM told Reuters. Mining accidents in South Africa are relatively common. Earlier this year, at least 78 bodies were pulled from an illegal gold mine after police cut off food and water supplies for months in an attempt to crack down on illegal mining activity. Johannesburg-based Sibanye is among only a few South African miners squeezing profits from the area's gold deposits. The precious metals producer is mining at depths of about 3,200 meters (2 miles) at the Kloof 7 shaft. The Kloof mine, which accounts for 14% of Sibanye's total gold output, also operates two other shafts. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The blood-stained leather gloves that were in Lincolns pocket the night he was assassinated have been sold for $1.52 million at a controversial auction. The gloves were among the treasured artifacts associated with President Abraham Lincoln that were sold on Wednesday. One of two handkerchiefs Lincoln had with him on April 14, 1865, the night he was shot, went for $826,000. A Wanted poster featuring photos of three suspects in the assassination conspiracy, led by John Wilkes Booth, sold for $762,500, far higher than the top estimated price of $120,000. The earliest known sample of the 16th presidents handwriting, from a notebook in 1824, fetched $521,200. A total of 144 items were up for bid, 136 of which sold. They were auctioned to pay off the remainder of a two-decade-old loan that the Lincoln Presidential Foundation used to buy a one-of-a-kind cluster of Lincoln artifacts from a California collector. open image in gallery A piece of Abraham Lincolns coat, which he wore when he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, is framed at Freeman's-Hindman in West Loop, Chicago, May 15, 2025 (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) ( Chicago Sun-Times ) The items were bought in 2007 from collector Louise Taper, who expressed anger at the auction before it took place. Taper said she sold the items, hoping they would live on in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 2005. The items were separated from a collection that was intended to be available for public display forever, but wound up in the middle of an interagency feud amid a lingering $8 million debt. The auction at Freemans-Hindman in Chicago raised $7.9 million, but that includes buyers premiums of roughly 28 percent tacked onto each sale to cover the auction houses administrative costs. Phone and email messages seeking comment were left for the foundation. Its website said proceeds from the auction would be put toward retiring the debt and any excess funds will go toward our continued care and display of our extensive collection. open image in gallery A portrait of Abraham Lincoln, which was signed by him and taken by Alexander Hesler, is on display at Freeman's | Hindman in West Loop, Chicago, May 15, 2025. (Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) ( Chicago Sun-Times ) The artifacts were supposed to give the library and museum, which was rich in Lincoln-related manuscripts, a boost in what it lacked the meaty kind of curios that draw tourists. But fundraising was slow, forcing the sale of non-Lincoln portions of the collection and threats by the foundation to sell more before it finally extended the loan. In 2012 a controversy arose over what had been the crown jewel of the group a stovepipe hat, appraised at $6 million, that Lincoln was said to have given as a gift to a southern Illinois supporter. That story came under intense scrutiny, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, resulting in a 2019 study that found there was no evidence the hat belonged to Lincoln. It was not part of Wednesdays auction. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Beef prices had soared to a record high in April - up almost 50 percent from five years ago. While Americans are eating more protein than ever, farmers are hiking up the price of their beef as they struggle to raise cattle. According to government statistics, the average cost of one pound of ground beef reached $5.80 in April a new record for the meat industry and an almost 50 percent price increase in five years. Stephen Kirkland, owner of the Texas-based Z Bar Cattle Company, told CBS News that he could buy a steer for roughly $1,500 a year ago. Steers are young male cattle raised for beef. Kirkland said the price of a steer has now spiked to almost $2,400. He explained all the extra costs of raising cattle: "$2,400 for one steer going into the feed yard, and then feed and everything else, transportation, everything else that gets involved in that. open image in gallery Beef prices had soared to a record high in April, up almost 50 percent from five years ago. ( Justin Sullivan/Getty Images ) Kirkland said his company has tried to absorb the cost increases at his two butcher shops. But as cattle prices increase, we're left with no other choice, he said, adding, "If we want to stay profitable, we want to stay in business at all, you've got to go up on your price. One Texan shopper, Darlowe Torkelson, who was buying a single sirloin steak and one potato for him and his wife, told CBS News that he hasnt found his upper limit of what hes willing to spend on certain groceries. But he said, I'd like to see it back down. Despite high prices, more Americans are eating protein. The New York Times reported earlier this month that meat is back. The Times cited a report from the Food Industry Association and the Meat Institute released in March stating that meat sales, which included beef, hit a record high of $104.6 billion in 2024. Another report that the sustainable food company Cargill issued in April, which was also cited by the Times, stated that 61 percent of Americans increased the amount of protein they ate last year compared to 48 percent who upped their protein intake in 2019. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Costa Rican police seized five capybaras, crack cocaine and marijuana after chasing down a fleeing vehicle on a highway along the Central American countrys Pacific coast on Thursday. The large rodents are a semi-aquatic South American relative of the guinea pig and happen to be having a moment on social platforms. But they are not native to Costa Rica, and the Public Security Ministry said Thursday that possessing, transporting or trafficking them is illegal. The agency said it had never recorded another seizure of the animals. Two men in the vehicle, who both had criminal records, were arrested. The police action was important and shows the concurrence where the drug world coincides with the introduction of non-native species, Security Minister Mario Zamora said. The capybaras were turned over to the National System of Conservation Areas to be evaluated by veterinarians. As a non-native species, they cant be released in Costa Rica, so they will be taken to a refuge for environmental and conservation education programs. Earlier this year, Peruvian police arrested a suspected drug dealer by disguising himself as a cuddly capybara. open image in gallery Peruvian police officer wears capybara costume to make an arrest in drug probe ( AP ) A day before Valentines Day, an officer disguised himself as a stuffed capybara and descended on a street in the capital, accompanied by two policewomen carrying gifts. In Peru, it is common for people to dress as teddy bears and other characters to deliver gifts on special dates. Police said the operation lured the suspect out of his house, where he was quickly apprehended. Col. Pedro Rojas, Chief of the 'Green Squadron' division of Perus Police, which carried out the operation, said officers later searched the house and found a large quantity of cocaine as well as marijuana. This operation was not the first in which officers from the squadron disguised themselves to arrest suspected drug dealers. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Vietnamese click farm is accused of duping Elon Musks X out of a small fortune by exploiting apparently lax controls surrounding its Creator Revenue Sharing Program an initiative touted by the worlds richest person as a purported way for premium users to earn a living through their activity on the site. The eight-man crew operated out of a dingy office space in downtown Hanoi, where they programmatically post[ed] computer-generated content to a network of inauthentic X profiles set up using stolen identities to engage in coordinated platform manipulation, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday and obtained by The Independent. It says these automated profiles would subsequently like, repost, and otherwise artificially engage with each others content, all for the purpose of deceiving X into paying out funds based on what the company which just last year enthusiastically touted a new improved authentic engagements algorithm now claims were bogus clicks. The fraudulent scheme, Xs complaint contends, extracted payouts from the Creator Revenue Sharing Program by manufacturing the appearance of content engagement where none really exists. X is now seeking disgorgement of the groups haul, suing them and 25 as-yet unidentified John Does for what its complaint calls a pattern of racketeering activity, including thousands of predicate racketeering acts of wire fraud since at least 2023. open image in gallery The alleged click farm in Hanoi, Vietnam, where, according to X, an extensive fraud was perpetrated against the platform ( US District Court for the Northern District of Texas ) Although the companys complaint does not specify the exact amount of the outfits total take, it says the payments were funneled into at least 125 U.S. bank accounts, set up using stolen identities, and transferred to accounts in their real names at nine banks in Vietnam, across more than 1,700 individual transactions. The complaint was filed in Texas, where X is headquartered. According to the complaint, private investigators working for X eventually learned the names and addresses of the eight named defendants after external payment processing sites PingPong and Payoneer, where Stripe, Xs payment processor, sent the Hanoi teams ill-gotten gains, turned over the identity documents used to set up their accounts. The five attorneys representing X in the case did not respond on Friday to requests for comment. Defendants Do Minh Thang, Phan Ngoc Tuan, Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, Le Dinh Chung, Nguyen Nhu Duc, Nguyen Viet Kieu, Do Viet Khanh, and Do Xuan Long were unable to be reached. Xs revenue sharing program was launched in 2022, shortly after Musk bought the platform for $44 billion. In the beginning, premium users, who pay $8 a month for a blue verified checkmark next to their names and preferred algorithm placement, received a portion of the revenue generated by ads served to other premium users in their replies. open image in gallery The eight defendants in a lawsuit brought by X that accuses them of manipulating the social platform's engagement data ( US District Court for the Northern District of Texas ) But when hate speech on X proliferated under Musks stewardship, and major advertisers began to flee the site, the company rejiggered the program to instead reward accounts for how many interactions they generated with other premium users. Payouts vary based on a variety of factors, but one estimate pegs it at around $8 for every 1 million impressions. The more engagement an account generates, the more the account holder is financially rewarded, Xs complaint states. However, according to the complaint, the alleged fraudsters in Hanoi deceive[d] X into concluding that the accounts they control are the accounts of legitimate content creators deserving of payment. Just as a broker in the financial industry may churn profits by engaging in excessive and unnecessary trades in a clients investment account to generate artificially high commissions or fees, Defendants have employed software to create extensive, artificial engagement within a network of commonly-owned and controlled accounts, the complaint continues. open image in gallery The Hanoi crew allegedly sold their techniques to others, creating an entirely separate revenue stream while creating more problems for X, according to court filings ( US District Court for the Northern District of Texas ) The group also sold their automation tools and techniques, generating a separate stream of income by teaching others how to help themselves to a slice of Xs money, the complaint contends. One script, called the XGPT Tool, was advertised to tens of thousands of users on YouTube, TikTok, Telegram, Discord, Facebook, Instagram and X itself, the complaint goes on. On top of the fraud allegations central to Xs complaint, the filing also accuses the Hanoi hackers of trademark infringement, asserting they specifically misuse[d] and misappropriate[d] the Twitter and X Trademarks in thumbnails for instructional videos posted to YouTube. Broadly speaking, Xs complaint claims the alleged scam has harmed [its] reputation and customer relationships by introducing low-quality content to the platform. Musk has claimed he would ban engagement farming on X, but experts say paying for clicks only encourages it to continue. Anytime theres a monetary value added to clicks, theres going to be people going to the dark side, an Illinois social media marketing CEO told the Associated Press more than a decade ago. X is seeking injunctive relief to disrupt the [Hanoi crew's] ongoing criminal scheme, and is asking for compensatory, treble, and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Georgia man has been arrested for fatally shooting a black bear that came near his home several times and scared his dogs, local officials say. Late on May 15, an unnamed resident of the Bent Tree community, about 60 miles north of Atlanta, shot the mother bear from a window of his home, according to officials. The man said that the bear came near his home three times that night, scaring his dogs and tapping on the glass door of his home before he shot it. During the bears first two visits, the man said he tried to scare off the bear by yelling, banging on his door and turning on his car alarm. When the bear came back for the third time, the man said he became afraid for his safety and worried about the bear potentially breaking through his door. Officials said the man shot at the bears behind to get it to leave. The bear ran off and was later found dead near the home by a person passing by. The man said he did not know the bear was a mother or had seen the bear dead. A black mother bear was shot and killed by a Georgia man after it went near his home. Pictured: another black bear in the woods ( National Park Service ) Before he struck the bear, the man asked an off-duty public safety worker if he could shoot it, officials said. The worker told him no and to call public safety for help. But officials never received a call from him about the bear before it was too late. According to officials, the bear swiped the door once in what appeared to be an attempt by the bear to keep the dogs away. Officials also attested that there were no signs of damage to the mans door and that the bear always remained outside the home. Additionally, the bear could have been lured to the property by cat food and greasy grills. The future of the two now-orphaned cubs is uncertain. They could be adopted by a new mother bear or captured by officials and taken to an approved facility. As for the resident, he has been charged in connection with the shooting by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and cited for violations of Bent Tree community rules. Black bears are the most common type of bear in North America. They can be found is forests, beaches and the alpine zone. Black bears will eat almost anything and are able to identify food by both smell and appearance. They may spend up to six months in hibernation when the weather is cold and they can't hunt for food. The creatures can grow to about 5-feet-7-inches tall when standing upright, they can weigh upward of 400 pounds. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A hiking influencer who went missing while trekking at the foot of an Arizona mountain range has been found dead, officials say. Hannah Moody, 31, was discovered just after midday Thursday at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, on the outskirts of Phoenix, by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Air Unit. Moody, a social media influencer and former dancer originally from California, was found 600 yards off-trail from the parking lot of the Gateway Trailhead: a popular 4.4-mile loop considered moderately challenging by AllTrails. Scottsdale Police Department confirmed the heartbreaking development in a social media statement late on Thursday. Tragically, Hannah's body was located by search crews. Our hearts go out to her family and friends, the department wrote on Facebook. open image in gallery Hannah Moody posted regularly on her Instagram about her fitness lifestyle and her faith ( Hannah Moody/Instagram ) Moody was first reported missing by concerned friends at 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday after they failed to reach the hiker by cell phone, police said. A missing persons poster described her disappearance as unexpected and uncharacteristic. Officers responded to the Gateway Trailhead, where she was last sighted, to find her car still in the parking lot. Moodys body was found following a sweeping search and rescue mission which saw authorities scouring the landscape on foot and bicycle, along with the deployment of drones, a Phoenix Police Department helicopter, and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office air unit, officials said. Authorities are now looking to piece together how Moody died, with an investigation underway. There were no obvious signs of foul play or trauma, police said. Moodys family and friends shared their heartbreak after learning of the hikers passing on Thursday. My heart aches I love you, sis, brother Ethan Moody wrote in a Facebook post. Joel and I and Mom and Dad and so many others miss you more than words can express. I hope that, in death, she has found the home she sought in life. I just wish I could see her once more. I love you and miss you, Hannah, her older brother Joel wrote. open image in gallery Moody said that she moved back to Arizona from Charleston just six months ago ( Hannah Moody/Instagram ) Detailing her fitness journey on Facebook last summer, Moody said that she walked away from dancing at the club after nine years and fell in love with amateur bodybuilding. She said she did five shows between 2015 and 2018 and placed fifth in one national competition. Fellow fitness fan Meg Pasquel posted on her Instagram story that she is lost for words right now. Another friend added: I love you hannah. I will forever remember you and ur smile. I love how i have videos of you so i can just keep watching. You were a family to me, she said, along with a collage of photos of them together. Just days before Moodys disappearance, who is now a digital creator and restaurant worker, she started a new Instagram series, Hikes with Han. There can always be something positive in every situation, if you just look for it, she told her 44,000 followers while trekking through the mountains, sharing her love for sunsets and hikes. On April 28, Moody posted several photographs taken from her hikes showing that life has been so good since moving back to Arizona six months ago. She had previously lived in Charleston, South Carolina. In another video from late February, Moody reflects on her previous life as a dancer and her Christian faith while walking through the mountains. My self 5-6 years ago felt stuck in the club, stuck in a relationship that made me feel insecure, stuck in an identity that was based on the validation & acceptance of others, she said. If I only knew where I would be now. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A private security officer stands accused of putting his hands around a handcuffed detainee's neck and slamming him against walls at an immigrant detention center in Conroe, Texas. The officer, Charles Siringi, was criminally charged last week. The detainee was taken to the medical unit at the Montgomery Processing Center. The 66-year-old Siringi was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas with deprivation of rights while acting under the governments authority, resulting in bodily injury, The Washington Post noted. On Tuesday, Siringi posted $10,000 bail. The company that employed Siringi, the GEO Group, operates the detention center. The firm told The Independent that Siringi no longer worked for the group. Following an internal review, the company referred the incident to Immigration and Customs Enforcements Office of Professional Responsibility. We are committed to respecting the human rights and dignity of all individuals in our care, and we have a zero-tolerance policy with respect to staff misconduct, the GEO Group told The Independent. A view of Delaney Hall, a 1,000-person detention center operated by private prison company GEO Group for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey. In Texas, a private security guard at an ICE facility is accused of choking a detainee. ( Reuters ) The detainee claimed that Siringi handcuffed him outside his housing unit and took him into a small room alongside other officers, according to the criminal complaint. In the room, Siringi is alleged to have told the officers, You better get him before I do. The complaint added that Siringi subsequently grabbed the detainee by the neck and slammed his face into a wall. As the detainee turned around, Siringi is alleged to have put enough force on his throat that he tucked his chin down to his chest because he was gasping for air. The detainee said Siringi did not remove his hands from his throat and used the choke hold to move him across the room and slam him into the wall near the doorway, court documents state. One of the two officers in the room, Elbert Griffin, backed up the detainees version of events and took him to the medical unit for treatment. Griffin stated he did not believe it was an appropriate use of force, nor did he believe [the detainee] had been resisting in any manner, the complaint notes. The Post noted that experts said the incident was a rare moment when an officer at a detention facility was being held criminally accountable for alleged abuse. Its more common for detainees to file civil lawsuits. American Civil Liberties Unions National Prison Project senior staff attorney Eunice Hyunhye Cho told the paper that detainees dont have much power to reveal abuses. The power dynamic is so significant that people are either afraid to come forth [or] they are not believed when they raise complaints about abusive treatment, she told The Post. And facilities have all sorts of incentives to keep those types of incidents under wraps. A spokesperson for the nonprofit Freedom for Immigrants, Jeff Migliozzi, told the outlet that the allegations of abuse against Siringi were unfortunately characteristic of similar altercations. A lot of people dont realize how common that actually is, he said. But again, in the vast majority of those cases, nothing results, in terms of an oversight process or some sort of lawsuit or investigation. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice King Charles III is set to deliver a pointed message during his upcoming visit to Canada, telling citizens that it is a sovereign nation, distinct from the United States. The visit, at the invitation of new Prime Minister Mark Carney, comes in response to repeated suggestions by US President Donald Trump that the US should annex its northern neighbour. The King, as head of state of Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth, will address Parliament from the throne on Tuesday, outlining the government's agenda for the upcoming session. This symbolic act underscores Canada's independent status and its enduring ties to the monarchy. Prime Minister Carney, in announcing the royal visit earlier this month, emphasised the monarch's role, stating, "Canada has a steadfast defender in our sovereign." open image in gallery Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla look at the Key to Canada House which was presented to the King by High Commissioner for Canada, Ralph Goodale, during a visit to Canada House to mark 100 years since it opened, in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 ( News Group Newspapers Ltd ) The King's address is expected to reinforce this message of sovereignty and highlight the distinct identity and future of Canada. Heres everything you need to know about his visit: Why is Charles visiting Canada? It is extraordinarily rare for the monarch to deliver whats called the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles mother, Queen Elizabeth II, only did it twice in her 70-year reign. The last time was in 1977. Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the U.S. and he said that the kings visit clearly underscores the sovereignty of Canada. The Americans had a revolution to gain independence from Britain. Canada remained a colony until 1867 and continued thereafter as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system. Were different, former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said. We are not the United States. It sounds simple, but thats what the visit says. We dont have the same institutions. We dont have the same history, Charest said. "We are a different country with a different choice in terms of how how we built ourselves, and King Charles tells that story. This will be Charles' first visit as monarch. He visited Canada 19 times as prince. The king has been showing his support for Canada in recent months, including displaying Canadian military medals on his chest during a visit to a Royal Navy aircraft carrier. open image in gallery Britain's King Charles, centre left, and Queen Camilla leave after visiting the Canada House Trafalgar Square, in London, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 to mark 100 years since it opened in June 1925 ( AP ) Historian Robert Bothwell said that the kings speech in Parliament is a gesture of solidarity and identity that can be construed to be a gesture of support. What is the speech from the throne? The speech sets the legislative agenda for a new session of Parliament. It's not written by the king or his advisers in the U.K., as the king serves as a nonpartisan head of state. The king will read what is put before him by Canada's prime minister and his team. The speech is usually read by Canada's governor general, the monarch's representative in Canada. The governor general holds a constitutional but mostly ceremonial and symbolic position. King Charles is unlikely to comment directly on the 51st state issue. Yet, his introductory remarks could feature broad statements about Canadas integrity and sovereignty. At least this is what many Canadians would like him to do," said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Former Canadian prime ministers and governor generals will attend the speech. The king will then pay his respects at the National War Memorial before a Royal Canadian Air Force flyby. What will the French in Quebec think? Beland said the monarchy has long been unpopular among Quebecs French-speaking majority, and some nationalist voices in the province have been critical of the Carney governments decision to invite the king to deliver the throne speech. "Whether the separatists work themselves into a lather over this frankly, I dont care. I dont think Quebecers will care a lot, said Charest, the former premier of Quebec. The may not like the monarchy or whatever theyd like to read into it, but British institutions have served us very well. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice One of the lowest moments of Badar Khan Suris two months in federal custody was being crammed onto an airplane with hundreds of other shackled prisoners. The Trump administration was trying to deport the Georgetown University scholar over statements he made against Israels war in Gaza. The guards wouldn't say where they were headed, but the Indian national was convinced it was out of the United States. Then Khan Suri had to use the planes bathroom. He said the guards refused to unshackle his wrists. They said, No, you have to use it like this or do it in your trousers, Khan Suri recalled of the trip, taking him to a Louisiana detention center. They were behaving as if we were animals. Khan Suri, 41, was released on bond last week as his lawsuit against the U.S.'s deportation case continues. In an interview with The Associated Press, he spoke Thursday of repeated lies by prison guards who said he could talk to his wife when he couldn't. His living quarters were a cramped open cell with a toilet where he worried and waited anxiously, fearful about what would happen next. Speaking with The AP, he addressed the Trump administration's accusations that he spread Hamas propaganda. Khan Suri said he only spoke in support of Palestinians, who are going through an unprecedented, livestreamed genocide. I dont support Hamas, he said. I support Palestine. I support Palestinians. And it is so deceiving for some people who just publish canards ... They will just replace Palestine with Hamas. Yet, because of his comments, he said U.S. authorities treated him as if he had committed a high-level crime. Fellow inmates said his red uniform was reserved for the most dangerous offenders. I said, No, Im just a university teacher. I did nothing, Khan Suri recalled. Still, there were rays of hope. He said more than a hundred people from the Georgetown community wrote letters on his behalf to the federal judge overseeing his case, including some who are Jewish. A crowd also greeted him when he arrived back in Virginia. Hindus, Jews, Christians, Muslims everyone together, said Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow who studies religion, peace and violence. That is the reality I want to live with. Thats the reality I want to die for. Those people together. I was not in Russia or North Korea U.S. Immigration authorities have detained international college students from across the country many of whom participated in campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war since the early days of Trump's second administration. The administration has said it revoked Khan Suris visa because he was spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media," while also citing his connections to a senior advisor to Hamas, which court records indicate is his wife Mapheze Saleh's father. Saleh is a Palestinian American whose father worked with the Hamas-backed Gazan government in the early 2000s, but before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Khan Suri's attorneys have said. They also said he barely knew his father-in-law, Ahmed Yousef. Khan Suris attorneys said he wouldn't comment on Yousef during Thursdays interview, which mostly covered his arrest and time in custody. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Khan Suri's statements. Khan Suri said he was arrested just after he taught his weekly class on minority rights and the majority. Masked police in plain clothes pulled up in an unmarked car outside his suburban Washington home. They showed no documentation, such as a warrant, he said. Other than saying his visa was being revoked, they refused to explain the reason for his arrest. He described it as a kidnapping." This is not some authoritarian regime, Khan Suri said. I was not in Russia or North Korea. I was in the best place in the world. So, I was shocked. How can this be happening? As police whisked him away, Khan Suri realized they wanted to deport him. The dehumanizing procedures came next: A finger scan, a DNA cotton swab and chains binding his wrists, waist and ankles, he said. They also said he could talk to his wife at a detention center in Virginia, but that never happened." He said he slept on a floor without a blanket and used a toilet monitored by a camera. The next day, he said he and other detainees were placed in a van, which soon rolled up to an airplane. I asked them where I am going now? Nobody would reply anything, Khan Suri said. They just pushed us in. He said the bathroom situation did not get better at a federal detention center in Louisiana, where Khan Suri was taken next. It lacked a privacy barrier and was also watched by a camera. He was finally able to call his wife, but he said she couldn't hear him. Khan Suri said he was extremely terrified, thinking that someone was making his family not reply. He was not able to speak to a lawyer, while fellow inmates said everyone there is deported within three days, Khan Suri said. I was crying from inside, 'How can this be happening?" he said. A few hours back, I was in Georgetown teaching my students, talking about peace and conflict analysis. Through the abyss Khan Suri said his first seven or eight days of captivity were the same: Same terror. Same fear. Same uncertainty. Same mockery of rule of law. I was going more and more deeper, reaching to my abyss, he added. And I was discovering that the abyss also has more and more depth. But he was still praying five times a day, uncertain which direction Mecca was. I was very strong like that, that God will help me. American Constitution will help me. American people will help me, he said. Afterward, Khan Suri was transferred to a detention facility in Texas, where he said he slept on the floor of a crowded cell for the first two weeks. Eventually, he got his own cot. And, finally, he was allowed to speak to his attorneys, which he said led to a change in treatment. He soon received a Quran and then a prayer rug. As for the rug, he rolled it up like it was his son. My eyes would become wet, and I would give that blanket a hug as my son so that this hug should reach him, Khan Suri said. And when I came back, he told me the same, that he was hugging a pillow. ___ Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, Tiffany Slaton stood in front of a room of reporters and recounted the grueling details of her against-the-odds survival in the California mountains. After setting out on a three-day hiking trip in the Huntington Lake region, the 28-year-old hiker from Georgia claims she fell off a cliff and was unconscious for two hours, and needed to put her leg in a splint. She began trekking in search of help after her GPS was unable to provide a route back to the main road, but which could locate a Starbucks which was 18 miles away, she said. Slaton disappeared on April 20, but reportedly survived for some three weeks in the wilderness, eating wild leeks, boiling snow melt for water and even surviving 13 snowstorms despite losing both her tent and her sleeping bag in her fall. open image in gallery Slaton disappeared on April 20, but reportedly survived for some three weeks in the wilderness, eating wild leeks, boiling snow melt for water and even surviving 13 snowstorms, despite losing both her tent and her sleeping bag in a fall. She was found by authorities in a cabin on May 14 ( Fresno County Sheriff's Office ) She was found by authorities in a cabin on May 14. I ended up on this very long, arduous journey that I journaled to try and keep sane, and eventually managed to get to civilization, Slaton told reporters at the conference two days later. I haven't really gone through all of the details. I ran out of a lot of food after five days, but I will do my best to answer any questions that you may have. But while authorities and Slatons family were overjoyed at her safe return, many others have raised their eyebrows at the veracity of her tale. Somethings very off about the story. I dont believe her at all, wrote one user in reply to the press conference, posted on the Fresno County Sheriffs Facebook page. I think shes just looking for fame or money. open image in gallery After setting out on a three-day hiking trip in the Huntington Lake region, the 28-year-old hiker from Georgia claims she fell off a cliff and was unconscious for two hours, and needed to put her leg in a splint. At a press conference she said she began trekking in search of help after her GPS was unable to provide a route back to the main road, but was able to locate a distant Starbucks ( Fresno County Sheriff's Office ) Added another: I'm sorry, not sorry. This lady put a lot of lives at risk by being reckless with her own She is not a hero and people should not glorify her or her story as one. Im glad to see that other people dont believe this story, added a third. So many things dont add up, I hope this office investigates fully since resources were used. Its embarrassing to think people believe someone fell off a cliff, survived two hours unconscious (guess she was timing it), popped her knee back into place, and traveled 20 miles after splinting her leg. A GoFundMe page for Slaton, organized by her family, was shut down on Monday, after raising more than $23,500. Her parents said there had been negative feedback that has arose from these events. It has taken a lot to endure the attacks and attention asking for help has brought us, Slatons mother, Fredrina Slaton, wrote on GoFundMe. open image in gallery Many have raised doubts about the veracity of Slaton's account, with some suggesting she made up the story for money. A GoFundMe page set up by her parents raised over $23,000 ( Fresno County Sheriff's Office ) According to the Fresno County Sheriff, Slaton's family reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for nine days. The fundraiser was started a week later and continued to accept donations for a while after she was found. Tony Botti, a spokesperson for the Fresno County Sheriffs Office, said that the department is still investigating various elements of Slatons story, including her exact route and how her phone was able to access GPS while she could not call 911. We can only work with the information she told us because there are no other independent witnesses, Botti said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. If there are inaccuracies or embellishments, we really cant do anything about it. Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni called Slatons journey an incredible story of perseverance, determination and survival, saying it is something that you may see on TV that they would make movies about. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The last Instagram post by The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams showed him in the cockpit of a plane hours before it crashed in a fireball into several homes in San Diego. Williams, 39, who played in the Christian metal-core group between 2005 and 2016 before working for GoPro, was on board the small Cessna 550 that crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood in the early hours of Thursday morning. Authorities said they fear all six passengers on board, including music agent Dave Shapiro, 42, who owned the light corporate jet, had died in the crash that led to the evacuation of 100 people and 15 homes and cars engulfed in flame. At least two fatalities had been confirmed and eight others injured. Sitting on the tarmac before takeoff at New Jerseys Teterboro Airport, Williams posted a series of photographs to his Instagram story. Flying back with @davelocity, he said, standing outside the private plane. Hey. Hey you.. Look at me Im the (co)pilot now, he wrote from behind the wheel of the plane in the cockpit. Here we goooooo, he said in a third. open image in gallery Daniel Williams posted a string of final Instagram stories before he was believed to have been killed in the crash ( Daniel Williams/Instagram ) open image in gallery The metalcore drummer was did not have a pilot's license, his father says ( Daniel Williams/Instagram ) Williamss father, Larry, confirmed to TMZ that his son was on the flight and had most likely died. He also said that his son did not have a pilots license. The Devil Wears Prada took to social media to lament the loss of its former drummer. No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever, it read, alongside a collage of photos of Williams. This hurts really bad, wrote the bands guitarist Jeremy DePoyster. Rest easy boys. I love you. Well see each other again. Lead guitarist Kyle Sipress reshared a photo of Williams overlaid with forever family. open image in gallery Williams joined Christian metal-core group The Devil Wears Prad in 2005 and left more than a secade later in 2016 ( WireImage ) According to NBC San Diego, the aircraft was heading to San Diegos Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport after a quick fuel stop in Kansas during its 2700-mile journey. A final transmission from the flight revealed the jets pilot notifying passengers that they were about 3 miles from the airport, according to audio recordings on LiveATC. The controller said visibility was about half a mile, and the cloud ceiling was 200 feet. All right, that doesnt sound great, but well give it a go, the pilot responded. open image in gallery Drone footage of aftermath of plane crash in San Diego ( AP ) Though there was no sign of a problem or emergency being declared, the plane plunged from the sky about 30 minutes later. The full scale of damage came into view later Thursday, as officials inspected the skeleton of a home with a gaping hole caused by the planes impact. The destruction stretched for at least a quarter mile down the residential street. San Diego Fire Assistant Chief Dan Eddy noted, however, that it was a miracle that no local residents were killed. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New video reveals the harrowing moment the wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush listened live as the Titan submersible imploded during its deep-sea voyage to the wreck of the Titanic. Footage recently obtained by the U.S. Coast Guard shows Wendy Rush, an Oceangate company director, attempting to contact Titan on June 18, 2023, as the sub began to dive 2.4 miles towards the Titanic shipwreck, which lies 380 miles from St Johns in Newfoundland, Canada. On board the sub's support ship, Rush sat in front of a computer that sent and received text messages from Titan. What was that bang? she said with a smile, unaware that the Titan had just suffered a catastrophic implosion. Moments later, Rush received a message from the sub stating that it had dropped two eights, which appeared to have led her to believe that the dive was going according to plan. open image in gallery Oceangate director Wendy Rush, wife of the submersible company's CEO, Stockton Rush, watched on unbeknownst that the Titan sub had imploded ( BBC/USCG ) To Rush, the grim reality of events remained unclear: the message had taken longer to arrive at the support ship than the sound of the implosion. The video of Rush, first obtained by the BBC for its upcoming documentary Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster, has been presented as evidence to the USCG Marine Board of Investigation, which has spent the last two years investigating the sub's catastrophic failure. It took four days for parts of the sub to be discovered following the catastrophic implosion, with the subs last known position about 1,600 feet away from the Titanic. Debris was found as close as 900 feet away from the ships bow, the USCG revealed in a Titan Marine Board of Investigation inquiry in September last year. open image in gallery Left to right: Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood, Paul-Henry Nargeolet, Stockton Rush, and Hamish Harding ( AP ) All five crew members died, including OceanGates CEO, British explorer Hamish Harding, British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman, as well as French deep-sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who earned the nickname Mr Titanic. Warning signs had been raised prior to the dive, according to testimony from several former employees at the USGCs inquiry in September. Matthew McCoy, who worked at OceanGate for six months in 2017, testified on the final day of the inquiry that the companys engineering department was full of college interns at the time, adding that he doesnt believe there was a professional engineer on staff. open image in gallery The Titan submersible suffered a catastrophic implosion less than half a mile away from the wreck of the Titanic ( OceanGate Expeditions ) open image in gallery Taken from r=footage of the Titan submersibles tail cone in support of the hearing in North Charleston, Sept. 17, 2024 ( US Coast Guard ) Another former employee described the Titans design as an abomination and said the disaster was inevitable. Titan had never undergone an independent safety assessment, and a key concern was that the main body of the sub, the hull, where the passengers sat, was made of layers of carbon fibre mixed with resin, which was deemed unreliable under pressure. The USCG said sensors fitted to Titan show that the bang was caused by delamination, the separation of layered materials. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Officials from the Federal Bureau of Prisons visited Alcatraz this week to assess the feasibility of reopening the island prison in the San Francisco Bay after being ordered to do so by President Donald Trump. I have been in discussion with folks from the Bureau of Prisons, David Smith, superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area GGNRA, told a meeting of the Presidio Trust board on Thursday, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. They have been out here, theyll be coming out again to do assessments of the structure. The president announced the project earlier this month in a post on TruthSocial in which he declared: REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. open image in gallery Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, California ( AP ) 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. Thats the way its supposed to be. Smith was doubtful about the prospect of the historic maximum-security penitentiary ever reopening, however, telling those in attendance at the meeting, I dont think this is likely in our future. He noted the amount of money that would be necessary and the amount of legal hurdles that will stand in the way and concluded the island was just not well-situated for the purpose. The visit follows FBP Director William Marshall telling Lara Trump on Fox News that weve got engineering teams out there now reviewing the site and that he would soon make an inspection himself, calling the venture exciting. When you think of Alcatraz, you think of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, those types of facilities you get that kind of feeling about Alcatraz when you think of those historical venues, he said. And so yeah we absolutely think we can get it done. open image in gallery Visitors inspect the cells of Alcatrazs main cell block ( AP ) Alcatraz was opened in 1934 and quickly gained notoriety until it was closed by then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in 1963. It was found to be three times more expensive to run than other jails and too costly to maintain, not least because of the extreme weather it was exposed to from the Pacific. The facility has since enjoyed a lucrative second act as a tourist attraction, with visitors drawn by the lurid reputation it acquired during its 29 years of service, when it housed such legendary criminals as Al Capone, George Machine Gun Kelly, Creepy Alvin Karpis, and Robert Stroud, a psychopathic amateur ornithologist known as the Birdman of Alcatraz. Asked to elaborate on his Truth Social post, Trump told reporters that the idea had originated with his frustration at radicalized judges slowing down his effort to deport undocumented migrants by insisting that due process be followed. Florida Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz suggested a different source of inspiration, wondering during a House committee hearing whether the president had been taking in reruns of old movies on late-night television. Perhaps he was watching Escape from Alcatraz, Moskowitz speculated, referring to Don Siegels 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood. The funny part about that is that it was actually on television in South Florida. It was on PBS South Florida over the weekend when Trump was at Mar-a-Lago. In fact, he made his announcement just hours after it aired. open image in gallery The famous penitentiarys guard tower, looking out across the Pacific ( EPA ) The congressmans reference to the scheduling proved correct. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, a local resident, has dismissed Trumps plan, as did a tourist interviewed by ABC News who described it as one of the stupidest ideas Ive ever heard in my life. Also skeptical was Charlie Hopkins, one of the last living inmates to have served time at the institution in its heyday, who said he did not believe the president was serious and was just trying to draw attention to the crime rate. When I was on Alcatraz, a rat couldnt survive, Hopkins added. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Apples stock dropped Friday after President Donald Trump threatened to slap the company with a hefty 25 percent tariff on all products unless it moves iPhone manufacturing to the U.S. The tech giant saw shares fall 3 percent as the markets closed, down around 6 points, following the presidents threat against the company in a Truth Social post. Overall the Dow Jones dropped by about 250 points on fears after Trumps Friday tariff threats against apple and the European Union. In premarket trading, Apples shares were down 3.5 percent but bounced back 2.8 percent in early trading Friday morning. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones [sic] that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump said. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Trump made the threats after he met with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the White House Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Wall Street tech analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush said Trumps proposal to manufacture iPhones in the U.S. was a fairy tale. open image in gallery Apple saw shares fall 3 percent as the markets closed following President Donald Trumps threat. The president said he was going to put a tariff on the companys products. ( REUTERS ) The analyst estimated it would take between 5 to 10 years and raise the price of an iPhone to $3,500. [Its] not realistic in our view, Ives said. Barton Crockett, a senior analyst with Rosenblatt Securities, told CNBCs Squawk Box that Trump is asking for the impossible. Cook said the company was looking to move iPhone manufacturing from China to India following the presidents tariff war with the worlds second-largest economy, which has not gone down well with Trump. He called Cook out during last weeks trip to the Middle East. I had a little problem with Tim Cook, Trump said in Qatar. I said to him, Tim, youre my friend. I treated you very good. Youre coming in with $500 billion. But now I hear youre building all over India. I dont want you building in India. open image in gallery Trump posted the threat on Truth Social. While in Qatar last week, Trump spoke about his frustration over Apples plans to move manufacturing to India after the presidents trade tariff battle with China. ( Truth Social ) Trump also threatened a 50 percent tax on all imports from the European Union and claimed the organizations primary purpose has been taking advantage of the United States. Our discussions with them are going nowhere! he fumed on Truth Social Friday. Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trumps threats against Apple and claimed that the president is trying to light a fire under the company and the EU. Again, the president is trying to bring back precision manufacturing to the U.S., Bessent told Fox News Americas Newsroom Friday. And I think that one of our greatest vulnerabilities is this external production, especially in semiconductors, and a large part of Apple's components are in semiconductors, so we would like to have Apple help us make the semiconductor supply chain more secure. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amid first buddy Elon Musks ongoing public war against Media Matters for America, the Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into the liberal media watchdog over what it says could be illegal collusion with advertisers. Essentially piggybacking on Musks lawsuits against Media Matters over the groups research into hateful and antisemitic content on the mega-billionaires social media platform X, the FTC sent a letter to the organization requiring it to share communications and documents related to its research, as well as copies of its budgets. This demand is issued pursuant to Section 20 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 57b-1, in the course of an investigation to determine whether there is, has been, or may be a violation of any laws administered by the Federal Trade Commission by conduct, activities, or proposed action as described in Item 3, the letter states. Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said the formal government probe was an escalation of President Donald Trumps efforts to punish his critics, which have resulted in executive orders against law firms, investigations into Democratic-aligned groups, and threats against media outlets. open image in gallery The Trump administration has launched a probe into Media Matters that essentially parrots Elon Musks lawsuit against the liberal watchdog. ( Getty ) The Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics, Carusone said in a statement. Its clear thats exactly whats happening here, given Media Matters history of holding those same figures to account. These threats wont work; we remain steadfast to our mission, he added. The FTC declined to comment. Earlier this spring, the president dismissed the last two remaining Democrats on the FTC, calling into question the commissions independence. While the commission is supposed to be made up of five commissioners who serve seven-year terms, with no more than three from any political party, the FTC currently has just three members all Republican. Musk, who served as a close adviser to Trump and has championed himself as a free speech absolutist, sued Media Matters for defamation in 2023 and blamed it for an advertiser exodus from X over a harmful report that showed pro-Nazi posts appearing next to blue-chip company ads. Since then, Musk launched another lawsuit against an industry group that represents a slew of global brands and advertisers, accusing it of conspiring to cut off Xs advertising revenue. The worlds richest man has also filed additional complaints against Media Matters across the world, while sympathetic GOP state attorneys have spun up their own Musk-related civil investigations into the liberal organization. A federal judge halted those probes last year, stating that they were being used to retaliate against a media organization for protected speech. open image in gallery Musk, who served as a close adviser to Trump and has championed himself as a free speech absolutist, sued Media Matters for defamation in 2023. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In March, Media Matters went on offense and sued X for breach of contract over the multiple lawsuits Musk has filed against the group, which includes complaints in Ireland and Singapore, claiming the tech mogul was engaging in a vendetta-driven campaign of libel tourism. X's worldwide campaign of intimidation seeks to punish Media Matters for exercising its core First Amendment rights on a matter of public importance, the lawsuit alleges. This Court should stop X's antics and enforce the forum selection clause that X itself drafted. The Tesla CEOs vendetta against Media Matters has forced the non-profit group to make severe cutbacks amid the financial strain of the escalating court battles. The watchdog laid off roughly a dozen writers and researchers last year and has scaled back much of its work in recent months. Carusone has therefore spent much of the past year meeting with donors and allies while attempting to raise enough money to keep Media Matters afloat. Meanwhile, the Trump-led government seemingly doing the bidding of a close ally of the presidents, who donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the GOP in the past year, has already prompted quite a bit of criticism. Of course, if the roles were reversedif a Democratic administration were using the FTC to target a conservative media watchdog because George Soros didnt like its reportingoutlets like Fox News would never stop covering it, Status founder Oliver Darcy wrote. There would be front-page stories, members of Congress would be pressured to hold hearings, and endless screeds about weaponizing government would saturate social media platforms like X. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps administration is blocking Harvard University from enrolling international students and is forcing currently enrolled foreign students to leave the university or risk losing their legal status in the country. Thursdays announcement accelerates the administrations pressure campaign against the nations oldest school in an escalating effort to bend institutions to the presidents ideologically driven demands. open image in gallery The Trump administration is blocking international students from attending Harvard and forcing them to transfer to other schools or leave the country following the presidents ongoing ideological war with higher education ( Reuters ) The Trump administration previously warned that the universitys federal funding was at risk if it did not comply with the presidents efforts to eliminate diversity programs, cooperate with immigration enforcement, dissolve pro-Palestine demonstrations and submit to a viewpoint diversity audit. The Department of Homeland Security claims Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the university of fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused, she said in a statement. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Roughly 6,800 international students attended Harvard this year, making up more than a quarter of the universitys student body. A spokesman for the university called the move unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the university and this nation immeasurably, according to a statement from media relations director Jason Newton. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. Thursdays announcement arrived as a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from revoking legal status for international students nationwide while a legal challenge is ongoing. The order from California District Judge Jeffrey White blocks the government from arresting or jailing students over their legal status after the administration wreaked havoc" on the lives of hundreds of foreign students studying in the United States. White, who was nominated by George W. Bush, issued a nationwide injunction following a lawsuit from a group of students whose legal statuses were abruptly terminated by immigration officials earlier this year. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he has proudly terminated hundreds of student visas. open image in gallery Pro-Palestinian protests at Harvard ( AFP/Getty ) In March, Columbia University in New York agreed to an unprecedented set of demands from the Trump administration largely in an effort to combat pro-Palestine demonstrations against Israels ongoing war in Gaza in an attempt to claw back roughly $400 million in federal funding that the Trump administration pulled from the school. Dozens of other universities were warned they could similarly lose hundreds of millions federal funding if they didnt fall in line with the presidents vision of campus civil rights, which has categorized all participants in pro-Palestine protests, which included scores of Jewish student leaders, as antisemitic Hamas sympathizers. The administration then threatened to pull $9 billion from Harvard, the nations oldest and wealthiest university. Harvard then filed a lawsuit alleging that Trump was simultaneously exploiting and ignoring federal law and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination at federally funded institutions. Threats like these are an existential gun to the head for a university, according to the complaint. They overtly seek to impose on Harvard University political views and policy preferences advanced by the Trump administration and commit the University to punishing disfavored speech. Harvard president Alan Garber and university lawyers also said the school would not agree to the demands. No government regardless of which party is in power should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue, Garber wrote. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice While a federal appeals court appears to have given its blessing to the Trump administrations efforts to completely gut Voice of America, the bare-bones staff that Kari Lake brought back earlier this month has been wracked with low morale and confusion. I am angry most of the time Im in there, one staffer told Poynter this week. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA and its sister outlets, to reduce staffing down to the statutory minimum. Lake, the failed Arizona politician who now serves as senior adviser overseeing the agency, subsequently laid off hundreds of contracted employees and placed the rest of VOAs staff on indefinite leave. Following a series of lawsuits from VOA employees and executives, Lake was ordered by a district court judge last month to restore Voice of America and bring back its workforce. Additionally, the judge ruled that the administration needed to reinstate Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Not only is there an absence of reasoned analysis from the defendants; there is an absence of any analysis whatsoever, Judge Royce C. Lamberth wrote. open image in gallery Kari Lake, the White House senior adviser overseeing Voice of America, has installed a bare-bones staff at the network in recent weeks. They say no ones really in charge. ( REUTERS ) Earlier this month, however, a three-judge appellate court panel decided to freeze the lower courts injunction, saying it needed more time to consider the merits of the case. On Thursday, the full appellate court said it would not intervene at this time. We are devastated and concerned that this ruling might lead to further adverse reactions from the administration, Patsy Widakuswara, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit and VOAs White House bureau chief for Voice of America, told The Independent about the appeals court decision. But our day in court is not over yet, and we are committed to fighting until we can return to our congressionally mandated right to broadcast factual, balanced, and comprehensive new. After Lamberths initial order to return Voice of America to the air and staff it back up, a small group of 30 employees from a staff of 1300 workers on leave was brought back by Lake earlier this month. In an article for Poynter, Liam Scott VOAs press freedom reporter until he was placed on leave in March and informed he would be terminated this month spoke to several of the staffers who returned this month and described the grim and confusing atmosphere in VOA headquarters. People who are in there do not see this as some kind of hopeful return, one employee told Scott. I am angry most of the time Im in there They cant credibly say that they havent shut us down when zero people are working, Prior to the presidents executive order, VOA broadcast in 49 languages around the world to a weekly measured audience of roughly 360 million people, some of whom live in highly censored authoritarian states. Now, according to those at the pared-down network, Voice of Americas content is only translated into Dari, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto and Persian. The amount of programming thats being produced is not a credible replacement for what was on air before, a staffer said. We were a 24/7 news operation. Now were a five-minutes-a-day, five-days-a-week operation, another source added. We all know that this is not what this place is meant to be doing. open image in gallery While fewer than three dozen employees man the ship under Lake, hundreds of other full-time Voice of America staffers remain on the sidelines and in limbo as they wait to hear from the administration about their fate. ( Getty Images ) Voice of Americas primary English-language newsroom, meanwhile, produces just one television segment and a handful of articles a day, which are then translated into four different languages and published, according to Poynter. Notably, with press freedom experts expressing concern about Kremlin propaganda filling the airspace left vacant by VOAs absence, the network is not publishing in Russian in its current depleted state. At the same time, the small cohort that is currently working to produce what little VOA content they can is still following the networks charter, noting that they havent received any editorial requests from the agency since returning. Interestingly, despite Lakes recent announcement that VOA had partnered up with MAGA cable channel One America News to provide a news feed, Voice of America has yet to air any OAN content. No ones really in charge, a staffer told Poynter, noting the lack of clear leadership at VOA right now. Mike Abramowitz, the networks director, remains on administrative leave. The Independent has reached out to Lake and the USAGM for comment. While fewer than three dozen employees man the ship, hundreds of other full-time VOA staffers remain on the sidelines and in limbo as they wait to hear from the administration about their fate. All the while, Lake has cut other frivolous expenditures from VOA and its sister broadcasters. In March, for instance, she canceled the agencys contracts to carry reporting from wire services such as Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The media agency also reneged on a 15-year lease for new office headquarters even though it actually saved the government more than $150 million. Though much of the networks full-time staff remains on administrative leave, such as Widakuswara, hundreds of others have already been told they are gone. Last week, Lake announced that 584 total employees were terminated across the agency, the majority of whom came from VOA. We will continue to scale back the bloat at [the agency] and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans, she told The Washington Post of the terminations before adding: Buckle up. Theres more to come. Widakuswara, meanwhile, bluntly described how she feels that Lake and the administration are treating the VOA staff at the moment. My assessment of the situation is that this is just more emotional terror that they're applying to us, she told The Independent. There's no rhyme or reason why they're bringing people back and then kicking them out. To me, it feels like emotional terror to ensure obedience. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice With graduation season underway, universities across the country are taking action against anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists who speak out at commencement ceremonies and during the final weeks of classes, in some cases threatening to withhold their degrees. Administrators accuse the students of breaking campus rules and marring graduation festivities, while activists say the punishments are the latest way school officials are demonizing pro-Palestinian views and repressing students rights to political expression. The controversy all happens in the long shadow of the Trump administration, which has stripped universities like Harvard and Columbia of millions in federal funds over alleged failures to stop antisemitism during the protests, while detaining campus activists and revoking the student visas of non-citizens involved in the Palestinian cause. At Virginia Commonwealth University, two students diplomas are on hold after they took part in a modest gathering in late April that the school says was not permitted. VCU senior Selma Ait-Bella, 21, one of the students facing discipline, described the situation to The Independent as a massive overreaction meant to deter future activism. Theyre using these bureaucratic methods to scare other students, the sociology major said. If were paying thousands of dollars to go to this university, get an education, and build a community, if they can take that away, for speaking out against a genocide, it leaves everybody feeling like their situation is increasingly precarious. open image in gallery Virginia Commonwealth University students Selma Ait-Bella (left) and Sereen Haddad (center) have not been officially conferred their degrees, as officials investigate an April activist gathering on a campus lawn ( Courtesy of Selma Ait-Bella ) The campus action began on April 29, the last day of classes, she said. A group of about 40 students gathered informally to sit and talk on a lawn, marking a year since a multi-agency group of riot police used pepper spray, and tear gas to clear a student Palestinian protest encampment, while authorities and school officials say protesters threw objects and used chemical spray on officers. This time around, there werent any speeches or chants or tents, though the participants did use cloth protest banners from past events as picnic blankets. open image in gallery Activists say the event that caused a backlash from the VCU administration was a peaceful gathering of students; the school says otherwise ( Courtesy of Selma Ait-Bella ) Eventually, school officials and police arrived, telling the group the gathering wasnt allowed, but that they could relocate to a campus free speech zone, Ait-Bella said. Organizers began telling students to leave, fearing another police crackdown. However, in the ensuing confusion, some remained. A student holding a sign that read, Gonna gas us again, you f***ing monsters was eventually arrested, Ait-Bella said. Despite multiple warnings over a three-hour period from Student Affairs, security personnel and VCU Police that VCU policy did not authorize events on the lawn but would have permitted the event to relocate to the Park Plaza Amphitheater just a few hundred feet away many of those assembled refused to relocate, a spokesperson told The Independent via email, conduct they said broke the schools campus expression and space utilization policy. Bottom line: if the event moved to Park Plaza Amphitheater it would have been fine, the spokesperson added. The Independent has also contacted the VCU police department for comment. Ait-Bella was able to walk in VCUs commencement this month, but her degree is on hold, pending an investigation. The situation has left her with unanswered questions beyond her grad status. Will she be able to travel freely? Will she be able to get a job? Will she or her parents, Moroccan immigrants, face any repercussions, given the Trump administrations immigration dragnet? Still, she knew the risks she was incurring by being an activist, and says she doesnt regret taking them now. Everybody that is a part of this movement understands there is something to risk, she said, adding, Im willing to do it again. open image in gallery The tension on campus comes as the Trump administration has stripped funding from places like Harvard University to punish it for allegedly not doing enough to stop antisemitism that took place during protests ( REUTERS ) For many involved in the campus push, the status quo is a risk, too. The other VCU student whose diploma is in limbo, Sereen Haddad, is a Palestinian-American who has lost over 200 family members in the conflict. My activism isnt a choiceits a duty, Haddad told The Independent. As a Palestinian, I carry generations of resistance in my blood. Ive watched my people be dehumanized, displaced, and massacred while the world turns its back...I will never be silent while this is happening. Clashes have also taken place over commencement ceremonies themselves. Two people were arrested this week at Columbia, where protesters booed the university president, burned diplomas, and shoved police, just weeks after over 70 were detained for occupying a library in the run-up to semester finals. Columbia says that those involved were not graduates and that the fake diplomas were burned off campus. Across town, at the May 14 ceremony for New York Universitys Gallatin liberal arts program, student-selected speaker Logan Rozos used his brief remarks to address the war as well, which has killed over 1,000 Israelis and over 61,000 Palestinians, according to their respective governments, stretching into a brutal stalemate in which the Israeli government is accused of blocking aid and causing mass starvation in Gaza. The conflict was sparked by the bloody Oct. 7, 2023, incursion into Israel of Hamas terror squads who slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped about 250, taking them back into Gaza. Rozos, a filmmaker and actor, told the crowd he had been freaking out about what to say, but ultimately concluded, My moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say is in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine. open image in gallery NYU grad Logan Rozoss graduation speech about the atrocities in Palestine provoked a divided response ( Getty Images ) His remarks were met with some cheers from the crowd, but the school swiftly condemned Rozos for having stolen the moment by sharing one-sided political views. He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules, the school said in a statement. The University is withholding his diploma while we pursue disciplinary actions. The Independent has contacted Rozos and NYU for further comment. Outside reaction was split, with groups like the Anti-Defamation League claiming Ross made Jewish students uncomfortable with rhetoric that promotes harmful lies about Israel, while some faculty members criticized the administration for what they saw as a heavy-handed attempt to avoid scrutiny from Trump. They are bending over backward to crack down on speech that runs counter to what the current administration in Washington espouses, Andrew Ross, a professor of social and cultural analysis, told ABC News. open image in gallery Federal immigration agents have arrested campus Palestine activists, some with only glancing ties to the movement, raising the stakes for 2025 grads who want to speak out Even those who have already graduated are feeling the consequences. Three days after Rozoss speech, George Washington University graduate Cecilia Culver, who received her degree in December, told a commencement crowd to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment of ties between the university and Israel. I am ashamed to know my tuition is being used to fund this genocide, she told a crowd of about 750. The school soon announced that Culver was banned from its campuses and events, saying she had been inappropriate and dishonest and veered from pre-rehearsed remarks. In an interview with the school paper, the economics and statistics grad said she had no regrets, either. There was just never any point where I was not going to say something, she told The GW Hatchet. Culver declined a request for comment from The Independent. She has retained legal representation from Palestine Legal, which has defended her remarks. open image in gallery 2024 graduate Cecilia Culvert was banned from campus for urging George Washington University to divest from Israel in a graduation speech ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ) Students are harbingers of how future generations will view this historical moment and the role of universities in it, the group said in a statement to The Washington Post. History will celebrate principled students like Logan Rozos at NYU and our client Cecilia Culver at GWU. Whatever history thinks of these students, the institutional conflict over how to treat them shows no signs of abating, even as the school year comes to a close. On Thursday, Trumps feud with Harvard escalated, with the administration attempting to pull the universitys ability to enroll any international students, the same day a federal court in California temporarily barred the administration from revoking visas of a wide swathe of international students. Even after all the lawsuits, investigations, dueling protests, and immigration arrests on campus, there are those like Ait-Bella and Haddad determined to keep sharing their perspective on campus, come what may. People in Gaza are starving and eating grass, with children writing their wills and parents writing their names on their arms so their bodies can be identified if they get bombed in their sleep, Haddad says. Compared to that, what do I have to fear? she said. If youre someone staying silent, I ask youwho is your silence benefiting? Its not the people under the rubble. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The U.S. Department of Defense has approved plans to send 1,115 more active-duty soldiers to the southern border, the latest ramping up of Americas military presence in the Southwest under President Donald Trumps administration. The Military Times reports that the units will support engineering, logistics, and construction missions, performing duties ranging from clearing roads to providing medical care. Their deployment will bring the total number of U.S. troops stationed at the border closer to the 10,000 that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised earlier this year. open image in gallery U.S. military personnel stand near the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border ( Reuters ) There are currently around 8,600 personnel stationed at the border. Approximately 6,100 of that total were moved there by the new administration as part of its attempt to crack down on the flow of undocumented immigrants and contraband into California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. The Pentagon has also sent U-2 surveillance planes, helicopters, two Navy Destroyers, and a brigade of armored Stryker vehicles to help with the mission, which has cost an estimated $525m to date, according to The New York Times. The administration has further moved to redesignate two long strips of land along the border stretching hundreds of miles as military bases, overseen by army commands at Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, and Fort Huachuca in Arizona. That has enabled soldiers to detain migrants who trespass on it without violating a prohibition against soldiers engaging in domestic law enforcement, which is otherwise only permitted if the president has invoked the Insurrection Act. A federal judge recently dismissed charges brought against 100 migrants accused of trespassing into New Mexico, ruling that they had not been given sufficient warning that they were entering Pentagon property. open image in gallery U.S. military Stryker vehicles sit in a fenced area at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Douglas, Arizona ( Reuters ) Trump and Hegseth have pledged to achieve 100 percent operational control over the border, and illegal crossings have plunged since Trump took office, although they had already begun to fall sharply in the latter part of Joe Bidens presidency. They have also committed to expanding the U.S. military, and the presidents big, beautiful bill that passed the House of Representatives on Thursday includes an additional $150bn commitment to defense spending. Congressional Democrats have criticized the escalation, calling it a waste of resources that risks placing the Armed Forces in needless danger. It is difficult to explain the border missions as anything but a distraction from readiness, said Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, earlier this month. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, heir to the Belgian throne, faces uncertainty over her studies at Harvard University following a ban on international students imposed by the Trump administration. The 23-year-old princess, who recently completed her first year at the prestigious institution, is now among the numerous foreign students whose academic future hangs in the balance. The ban, announced on Thursday, revokes Harvard's ability to enroll international students and compels current foreign students to transfer or risk losing their legal status in the US. This measure raises concerns not only for Princess Elisabeth's education but also for the countless other international students who contribute to the vibrant academic environment at Harvard. The Trump administration's decision comes after previous warnings to the university regarding its federal funding. The administration demanded compliance with a series of presidential directives, including the elimination of diversity programs, cooperation with immigration enforcement, suppression of pro-Palestine demonstrations, and submission to a "viewpoint diversity" audit. The ban on international students appears to be the latest escalation in this ongoing conflict between the administration and the university. open image in gallery Belgium's Royal Family, from left, Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Belgium's Queen Mathilde, Belgium's King Philippe, Crown Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel attend a religious service at the St. Gudula cathedral in Brussels, Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Belgium celebrates its National Day on Wednesday in a scaled down version due to coronavirus, COVID-19 measures. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) ( Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) "Princess Elisabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of (the Trump administration's) decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation," the Belgian Royal Palace's spokesperson Lore Vandoorne said. "We are analyzing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks," the Palace's communication director, Xavier Baert, added. Elisabeth is studying Public Policy at Harvard, a two-year master's degree program that according to the university's website broadens students' perspectives and sharpens their skills for "successful career in public service". The princess is heir to the Belgian throne, as the eldest of four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Before attending Harvard, she earned a degree in history and politics from the UK's Oxford University. open image in gallery A view of the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025 ( REUTERS ) The Department of Homeland Security claims Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment. Roughly 6,800 international students attended Harvard this year, making up more than a quarter of the universitys student body. A spokesman for the university called the move unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the university and this nation immeasurably, according to a statement from media relations director Jason Newton. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trumps much-touted big, beautiful bill narrowly squeaked through the House of Representatives in the early hours of Thursday in a vote that passed 215 to 214. After days of negotiation with Republican holdouts and hours after the legislation passed the House Rules Committee, it made it through a full House vote with just three GOP representatives breaking ranks to vote against it and risk Trumps wrath. The bill now passes to the Senate ahead of an informal July 4 deadline, where the Republican majority is also slim and where plenty of discontent likewise lingers. They cobbled together a very delicate balance over there but, you know, the Senate will have its imprint on it, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of House Republicans after the president finally got his win. open image in gallery Senate Majority Leader John Thune ( AP ) Theyve got to do what they can get 218 for, and weve got to do what we can get 51 for. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham declined to wholeheartedly support the bill in its current form. On Thursday, he told The Independent it was a step in the right direction, but he reserved judgment: Well find out what they pass. Objections in the House largely came from fiscal conservatives and Republicans in blue states seeking tax cuts for their constituents. Still, unease surrounding the package extends beyond Congress and threatens to spill over into the wider MAGA movement. I have not changed my mind one bit on this bill, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast this week. This bill could be a lot better. Im very concerned about the deficits in the short term, but given the totality of President Trumps program, its the best youre going to get for right now. And Im very upset. Bannon went on to complain that the $150bn allotted for defense spending is too high, that he disapproved of social security taxes and tax cuts for the wealthy, but that he grudgingly accepted the need to go on [the] offensive to be able to sell this to the global capital markets. Now Republicans in the Senate will have their say, and many have concerns of their own. Senate Leader Thune, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, has a number of fiscal conservatives in his own chamber to deal with, many of whom consider the bills spending cuts too weak and are likely to demand a $2trn ceiling, a $500bn increase on the present package. open image in gallery New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler defended himself on Fox News this week after being criticised by President Donald Trump for holding out on the bill but ultimately fell in line ( Fox News ) The Houses relatively minor changes to Medicaid financing rules risk being blocked by senators as different as Missouris Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine. All of whom fear that any tampering with them would be an election loser. Others want to make the bills short-term business tax cuts permanent and wipe out the cost of further extending $ 3.8 trillion in expiring Trump tax cuts by employing contentious accounting tactics that their colleagues may not be able to unite behind, according to Politico. Still, more senators are worried by the House bills requirement that states cover at least 5 percent of the cost of federal food assistance programs for the first time. This could hit some red states harder than others, notably Alaska and South Carolina. Opposition also exists to the bills gutting of renewable energy tax credits created by the Democrats 2022 climate law, with senators like North Carolinas Thom Tillis fearing a loss of investment and jobs in their states as a direct consequence. Finally, senators are also likely to object to the bills agreement to raise the state-and-local-tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 (phased out for taxpayers making more than $500,000), which was a redline for the likes of New York Rep. Mike Lawler but which Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson has already opposed by flatly demanding: Eliminate it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A federal judge has blasted the Trump administrations attempts to stop Harvard from enrolling international students as a blatant violation of the Constitution. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration Friday and agreed with the university that Harvard had shown that the move would do immediate and irreparable injury to the institution. In its lawsuit filed earlier Friday in federal court in Boston, the Ivy League university said the governments action violates the First Amendment and will have an immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders. open image in gallery U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administrations efforts to stop Harvard from enrolling international students. ( REUTERS ) With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, Harvard said in its suit. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard. Harvard accused the Trump administration of a campaign of retribution in the lawsuit. We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action, Dr. Alan M. Garber, Harvards president, wrote in a letter addressing students and staff Friday. He added the Trump administrations efforts imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. The White House said the latest lawsuit against the administration was frivilous. open image in gallery The university is pushing back against the Trump administrations pressure campaign in an escalating effort to bend institutions to the presidents ideologically driven demands. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, antisemitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldnt be in this situation to begin with, Abiggail Jackson said in a statement to The New York Times. Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits. The administration has waged a pressure campaign against the nations oldest school in an escalating effort to bend institutions to the presidents ideologically driven demands. The Department of Homeland Security claims Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the university of fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. This week a a federal judge also blocked the Trump administration from revoking legal status for international students nationwide while a legal challenge is ongoing. The order from California District Judge Jeffrey White blocks the government from arresting or jailing students over their legal status after the administration wreaked havoc" on the lives of hundreds of foreign students studying in the United States. The Associated Press contributed reporting Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump imposed a "straight" 50 percent tariff on goods from the European Union, a move that could have a massive impact on American consumers. The president accused the 27-member bloc of forming for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, he wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday morning. Last year, the U.S. imported $605 billion from the E.U. while the E.U. imported $370 billion from the U.S., leading to a $235 billion trade deficit. Now, Trump announced a 50 percent tariff, noting the U.S.'s discussions with the E.U. are going nowhere. The new sweeping levies are set to take effect on June 1. The announcement follows Trumps 10 percent reciprocal tariffs for 90 days on the 27 nations in April. EU officials have not yet commented on the latest tariff threat. From French wine to Swiss chocolates, here is a look at some popular products that could soon become more expensive under Trumps E.U. tariffs: open image in gallery Americans may want to soon say au revoir to some of their favorite products imported from Europe as they could soon become more expensive due to Trumps new tariff policy. ( AP ) Pharmaceutical products The blanket tariff policy could mean that popular treatments such as weight-loss drug Ozempic, blood thinner Eliqui and the HPV vaccine Gardasil that are largely manufactured in Europe could be caught in the crosshairs of Trumps trade war. Last year, the U.S. spent $127 billion on pharmaceutical products imported from the E.U., according to U.S. International Trade Commission data. Cars Americans hoping to buy from German car manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Audi, could soon be hit with higher price tags. Its unclear if the 50 percent tariff would replace or be in addition to the 25 percent levy Trump has already announced on cars outside of America. Volkswagens 2025 Jetta Compact Sedan retails for $22,495. If the new 5o percent tax takes effect, Americans could see that figure rise as high as $33,742. open image in gallery Cars, including those made in Germany, could soon become much more expensive in America due to Trumps new tariff policy ( EPA ) Steel The U.S. imports billions of dollars in steel each year from the 27-member bloc. Trump already imposed a 25 percent levy on all steel imports. Its not immediately clear if that means the U.S. will put a 75 percent tax on steel imported from the E.U. French wine Some French wine lovers may soon want to say au revoir to their favorite products. Many wines are imported from France and could get more expensive. A $55 of Veuve Clicquot, which makes its champagne in Reims, France, could soon go for $82 stateside - if makes pass the full cost of the tariff on to consumers. open image in gallery Champagne imported from France could soon get even pricier ( REUTERS ) Hermes bags American consumers could soon see an uptick in prices in French designer brands, like Hermes. For example, the Hermes Lindy mini touch bag which currently sells for $13,100 could soon cost $19,650 - if the buy foots the tariff bill. Perfumes Smelling fresh could soon cost even more. Perfumes and essential oils are commonly imported products from the E.U. Perfumes are already expensive, but soon a $95 bottle of Grain de Soleil from France-based perfume house Fragonard could cost $142 for Americans. Aircraft Aerospace giant Airbus has a massive factory in Toulouse, France. The aircraft makers CEO has previously warned that if tariffs disrupt imports, Airbus would prioritize customers other than U.S.-based companies, such as American Airlines and Delta. "We have a large demand from the rest of the world, so [if] we face very significant difficulties to deliver to the U.S., we can also adapt by bringing forward deliveries to other customers which are very eager to get planes, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told CNBC in February after Trumps initial tariff threat. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Georgia college student who was detained by ICE after a mistaken traffic arrest has spoken out after being released from a federal detention center on Thursday night, saying the experience changed her as a person. Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, a Dalton State student, said the ordeal was terrifying while calling the ensuing outpouring of support for her a blessing. "My life won't be the same," she said, according to 11Alive. "I think it's changed me as a person, like I said, I guess be more humble, understand people more, and just be able to see the people around you." Arias-Cristobal may still face deportation proceedings, however. She said that her next steps would be to find a visa or permit that would allow her to remain in the U.S. The 19-year-old has grown up in the country since her family entered illegally when she was 4 years old. Her mother previously told the local outlet that the family came to the U.S. in 2010 from Mexico, and that because of her age at the time, she was not eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program when it remained in place. Arias-Cristobal was mistakenly arrested when an officer wrongly stopped her when a separate driver made a right turn at a no right turn on red light, the city of Dalton said after reviewing dashcam footage. She said the dropped charges opens more doors for me, so we will have to see what happens there." Her lawyer, Dustin Baxter, has said that if they can prove that her arrest was because of profiling, "we may make the argument with immigration that she qualifies for a U Visa." The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services site states that such visas are handed to people who are victims of "certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. Ximena Arias-Cristobal poses for a senior portrait provided by family friend Hannah Jones. The Georgia college student is facing deportation after she was mistakenly arrested by local police and put into ICE custody ( Courtesy Hannah Jones ) Baxter added that Arias-Cristobals father, who was detained at the same time as his daughter, is applying for cancellation of removal. The attorney added that since the father has been in the country for over 10 years, has children who are citizens, and has displayed good moral character, he has a case to put forward to an immigration judge. "Ximena, however, does not have any qualifying relative. She does not have a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child," Baxter said earlier, according to 11Alive. "What we're going to try and do is link her case to her father. So therefore, if her father is granted permanent resident status by winning his case, she would have that qualifying relative, and she would conceivably be approved for permanent residence as well." The 19-year-old described the last few weeks as a "burst of emotions I was mad, I was confused, but most of all ... I realized that everything that was happening was a blessing in disguise. She said the support for her, such as protests in Atlanta, has been "incredible, I would've never thought that this would've happened, the support, it's a blessing, and I'm very, very thankful for everybody that's been out here supporting me and pouring out their hearts for my family." Arias-Cristobal said she wouldnt wish her detention on my worst enemy. "It's the conditions and the unknown, it's not knowing what's going to happen to me, knowing that I could be sent back to a country that I don't know, having to be torn apart from my family," she added. "It's also the conditions you don't get much privacy, you get screamed at for every little thing, the food is horrible, they don't pay attention to you, you get sick, and they don't care." She said one of the most challenging things about her detention was not being able to speak to her father despite them being at the same facility. "It was terrifying, and it was sad at the same time because I had asked various times to speak to my father, see him, and I wasn't allowed to," she said, according to 11Alive. "More than anything, I felt a lot of pressure on my shoulder, knowing that my mom was out here on her own with two little kids, and it was very heartbreaking." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Eight people have been found guilty of a violent robbery of Kim Kardashian in a Paris hotel in a $10m jewellery heist that left the celebrity traumatised. The verdict came after a four-week week trial that unfolded nearly a decade after the US influencers harrowing ordeal. The high-profile case saw the Californian star break down in tears in the witness box of the French courtroom as she described her fear of rape and murder at the hands of the robbers. Nine men and a woman were accused of carrying out, or aiding, the robbery of Kardashian, then 35, while she was alone in her room in the glamorous Hotel de Pourtales during a visit to the French capital for its 2016 fashion week. The more elderly suspects became known in France as the grandpa robbers and arrived in court in orthopaedic shoes while one leaned on a cane. open image in gallery Kim Kardashian, pictured outside the courtroom, gave emotional testimony during the trial on 13 May ( AFP/Getty ) At the heart of the trial was Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, a veteran of Paris' criminal underworld. He admitted his involvement in the robbery but denied being the ringleader. His DNA, found on the zip-ties used to bind Kardashian, cracked open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices, and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. The loot was never found. Khedache claims he was only a foot soldier and blamed a mysterious "X" or "Ben" someone prosecutors say never existed. Khedache begged the court for a thousand pardons in his final statement, written on a piece of paper because he has become deaf and mute. Prosecutors have asked for a 10-year sentence. open image in gallery Aomar Ait Khedache walking with a cane in court ( AP ) It was nearly three weeks into the trial when Kardashian arrived at the Palais de Justice to face the alleged robbers for the first time in nearly a decade. Offering only sparing and occasional glances towards the accused, Kardashian revisited her fear of being raped and murdered on the night of 3 October 2016. I have babies, she recalled telling the armed robbers, after she was tied up and thrown onto the bed. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home. Her robe fell open she said she was naked underneath as one man pulled her toward him. I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me, Kardashian told the court. open image in gallery Yunice Abbas, one of the men accused in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian, arrives at the Palais de Justice ( AP ) She revealed how the robbery changed everything for her family. I started to get this phobia of going out, she said, adding that without half a dozen security guards she cant even sleep at night. In one powerful moment, the judge read aloud a letter from Khedache, also known as Old Omar. The letter, which told of the mans regret after seeing the psychological impact the robbery had had on her, was written following his initial arrest in 2017 but Kardashian had never known about it. I do appreciate the letter, for sure," Kardashian told him. "I forgive you for what had taken place. But it doesnt change the emotion, the trauma, and the way my life is forever changed. Adding that she is studying to become a lawyer, Kardashian said she regularly visits prisons. Ive always believed in second chances, she added. The robbery is thought to be Frances biggest robbery of an individual person, with the value of stolen jewellery reported at nearly $10m including an 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring gifted by former husband Kanye West worth $4m. open image in gallery Court sketch of Kardashian providing her testimony ( AFP/Getty ) Twelve people were originally charged with the robbery, despite only 10 standing trial. One suspect died before the case reached trial and another, who was declared unable to participate for health reasons, will be tried separately. Defence lawyers have asked the court for leniency, citing the defendants' age and health. But prosecutors insist that criminal experience, not frailty, defined the gang. Khedache, who admitted a role in the robbery but denied prosecutors claims that he was the ringleader, received the stiffest sentence of eight years imprisonment, but five of those are suspended. Yunice Abbas, 72, also admitted his role in the robbery, speaking out in French media before the trial began and expressing his regret in the courtroom. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, with five of them suspended. open image in gallery Kardashian is accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner to court ( AP ) Didier Dubreucq, 69, was accused of being one of the two men who directly carried out the robbery, and of holding Kardashian at gunpoint. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, with five of them suspended. Gary Madar was accused of being an accessory to the heist by feeding information to the gang about Kardashians whereabouts. His brother, Michael, owned a firm which provided transportation and taxis to the world-famous family for years. He was acquitted. Florus Heroui, 52, accused of having received information about Kardashian from Madar, was also acquitted. Marc Boyer, 62, was accused of obtaining the gun used for the heist but investigators believed his son played a more significant role. He was was fined the equivalent of around 4,500. His son, Marc-Alexandre Boyer, 36, was accused of going inside the flat, and was sentenced to seven years in prison, with five suspended. Francois Big Guy Delaporte, 61, was charged with associating with the gang, and possessing false administrative documents. He received a three year suspended sentence. Christiane Cathy Glotin, 78, the only woman on trial, continued to plead her innocence on Friday. She was sentenced for four years in prison, all suspended. Harminy Ait Khedache, 38, son of Aomar, was accused of being the getaway driver in the heist. He was sentenced to five years in prison, four of them suspended. Close Tsunami warning after magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes off Crete coast in Greece On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Aftershocks have continued through the day after a powerful magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred north-east of Crete on Thursday morning. The powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Crete at 6.19am local time (3.19am GMT), according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. No injuries or major damage have been reported, but popular tourist spots the Samaria and Imbros gorges remained closed throughout Thursday as a precaution. Seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos said on social media there would be some additional aftershocks through the day, but they are all harmless. Fortunately, the depth and distance from the island became a shield of protection again, he said in a translation of his post. The quake was felt across the Aegean Sea, reaching parts of Turkey and north Africa. Shortly after the quake tourists were urged to move away from the coast after the tremors led to warnings of a possible tsunami in Greece and beyond - though the head of Greeces Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation said this was unlikely. Crete is a seismological hotspot and while most quakes are mild, stronger ones such as the deadly 2021 earthquake also centred near Crete have caused damage in the past. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Denmark will increase its retirement age to 70 by 2040 making it the highest in Europe, after its parliament adopted a controversial new law. Since 2006, retirement age in Denmark has been tied to life expectancy, which is currently 81.7 years. It is revised every five years and is set to rise to 68 in 2030 and 69 in 2035. Passed in the Danish parliament with 81 votes for and 21 against, the increase has prompted anger among Danes who hoped the retirement age would not reach a symbolic milestone, forcing many to work until they reach their eighth decade. Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks Social Democrat prime minister, has made clear that the policy is not sustainable long term. We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically, she said, according to the BBC. You cant just keep saying that people have to work a year longer. Many voters have reacted angrily, fearful of being forced to keep going even when their bodies are not up to it. open image in gallery Mette Frederiksen believes there needs to be a renegotiation of how the retirement age works ( AP ) The policy is unrealistic and unreasonable, 47-year-old roofer Tommas Jensen told public broadcaster Danmarks Radio. We work and work and work, but we cant keep going. While it might be different for those with desk jobs, Mr Jensen added, workers with physically demanding jobs would struggle with the changes. Ive paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren, Mr Jensen told outlet DK. According to the Times, however, surveys show that more than half of Danes want to keep working beyond the state pension age, gradually phasing themselves into retirement over several years during their 60s rather than cutting off entirely once they reach retirement. Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, chair of the Danish trade union confederation, said the change was completely unfair, according to the BBC. Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EUs highest retirement age, he said. A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life. Some Danes have angrily noted the retirement age of 60 for many of their politicians on parliamentary pensions, including Ms Frederiksen, 47, and 26 MPs elected before 2007. They need only to have worked as an elected MP for one year to be eligible for this pension. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Four countries will face the strictest import checks under the EU's groundbreaking anti-deforestation law. Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea, and Russia have been designated as "high risk" for contributing to deforestation, according to a European Commission act published Thursday. Yet nations with historically high deforestation rates, such as Brazil and Indonesia, have been categorised as "standard risk," facing less stringent compliance checks on exports to Europe. This landmark legislation mandates due diligence for companies introducing products like soy, beef, palm oil, timber, cocoa, coffee, and chocolate into the EU market. It has faced strong opposition from Brazil and Indonesia, who argue the regulations are overly burdensome and expensive. The law's tiered system means EU authorities will conduct compliance checks on 9 per cent of companies exporting from high-risk countries, compared to just 3 per cent from standard-risk nations and 1 per cent from low-risk countries like the United States. While companies from all listed countries must provide supply chain information, those from low-risk nations will not be required to assess and address deforestation risks. open image in gallery The European Commission said in an act published on Thursday that the law would categorise goods imported from Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea and Russia as having a "high risk" of fuelling deforestation. ( Associated Press ) Companies in high risk and standard risk countries will need to show when and where the commodities were produced and provide "verifiable" information that they were not grown on land deforested after 2020. Indonesia Palm Oil Association, GAPKI, said the EU should have branded the world's largest palm oil exporter Indonesia as a low-risk country, along with the U.S., China, Thailand and Australia. "The EU did not see Indonesia's achievement in significantly reduced deforestation rate in recent years," GAPKI secretary general Hadi Sugeng Wahyudiono said, adding that due diligence on shipments would increase cost and reduce palm oil's competitiveness. Campaigners criticised the EU decision to impose the strictest checks on only four nations, but said even lower-risk countries would face some, albeit simpler, due diligence obligations. "In practice, this shouldn't undermine the power of this law to save forests," said Giulia Bondi, campaigner at non-profit group Global Witness. Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN) was less optimistic and urged the EU to strengthen controls. "It is simply unbelievable that Brazil, responsible for 42 per cent of tropical forest loss in 2024, more than a doubling since the previous year, is not rated as high risk," said RFN director Toerris Jaeger, citing a recent report from Global Forest Watch. The Commission said it had labelled countries based on scientific evidence and data. The EU law will apply from the end of 2025 for large companies, and from June 2026 for small firms. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 4 per cent of a company's turnover in an EU country. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A teacher in France has been suspended for nearly two months after holding a minutes silence for Gaza victims in her class. The physics and chemistry teacher at the Janot-Curie high school in Sens, Yens, was told by the local education authority that she failed to respect the principle of neutrality when she was suspended on 31 March. On 25 March, days after resumed Israeli strikes ended the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the teacher is accused by the Dijon education authority of having organised a minute of silence for the Palestinians killed in the week before. This was done on her own personal initiative, the education authority told The Independent - but this claim has been disputed by teaching unions. open image in gallery The teacher worked at the Janot-Curie high school ( Google Street View ) "Respecting neutrality is a duty for civil servants, enshrined in their status, and any failure to comply with this obligation triggers disciplinary proceedings," the authority explained. But the education branches of French unions FO, CGT and Sud insist that the students had requested the silence. The teacher agreed, at the end of her class, to observe this time of homage with the students who wished to do so," they said. "We demand that this teacher be reinstated immediately, that all charges be dropped, and that her dignity be officially restored in the eyes of the school, staff, and parents," the unions added in a joint statement. Equally outraged were political figures including the first-secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Olivier Faure. A minute of silence requested by the students, with those who do not want to join being able to withdraw, to pay tribute to the victims in Gaza, and it is the teacher who is suspended... really??? he wrote on X. We are standing on our heads. open image in gallery Israels relations with its western allies are straining as it resumes its offensive in the Gaza Strip ( EPA ) It comes as Frances relationship with Israel becomes increasingly strained, after Israeli ministers responded furiously to condemnation by Western allies over its actions in the Gaza strip, including the previous 11-week blockade on aid and its resumed offensive. President Emmanuel Macron joined the UK and Canada in issuing their strongest condemnation yet of Netanyahus government. A statement demanded Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu halt his egregious actions in Gaza, threatening concrete actions over the intolerable human suffering inflicted on the enclave. Following the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington DC on Wednesday night, Mr Netanyahu echoed earlier statements by fellow ministers laying the blame at the door of the UK, France and Canada. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice, he wrote on social media. You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice At least 17 people are believed to have been injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station on Friday evening. Hamburgs fire service said late on Friday 17 people were injured four of them with life-threatening injuries, another six with serious injuries and seven with light injuries, German news agency dpa reported. Hamburg Police said it had arrested the suspected assailant on social media after declaring a major police operation. They said on social media: There is currently a major police operation in #Hamburg on #Hauptbahnhof! We are investigating the background and will provide further information here shortly. Authorities revealed they arrested a 39-year-old woman, who they believe acted alone. Police said there were no reliable figures on the number of injured people but confirmed several people had sustained life-threatening injuries. The incident is believed to have taken place between platforms 13 and 14 ( Reuters ) Local media reported that the attack took place near platforms 13 and 14, accessible via a busy main road, while a train had pulled into one of the platforms around 6pm local time. Police have cordoned off part of the complex. Officers approached her, and the woman allowed herself to be arrested without resistance, Hamburg police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth said, according to the comments carried by public broadcaster ARD. We have no evidence so far that the woman may have had a political motive, he said. Rather, we have information, based on which we now want to investigate, whether she may have been experiencing a psychological emergency. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office said the German leader was appalled by the news. He reportedly called Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher to say my thoughts are with the victims and their relatives. Deutsche Bahn said of the incident: We are deeply saddened by the violent incident at Hamburg Central Station this early evening. Our thoughts and condolences are with those injured. Due to the ongoing police operation, tracks 11 to 14 at Hamburg Central Station are currently closed. Delays and diversions are occurring for long-distance trains. We ask our passengers to check their connections before starting their journey using digital information tools such as bahn.de and the DB Navigator app. DB service staff will be available to assist passengers at the main station. We are fully supporting the authorities in their investigations on site. The station, downtown in Germany's second-biggest city, is a major hub for local, regional and long-distance trains. With an average of 550,000 passengers a day, Hamburg is Germany's busiest railway station and the second-busiest in Europe after the Gare du Nord in Paris. Carrying weapons, including knives, is banned at the station and on local transport in the city. The incident comes over two months after a a car rammed into a crowd on a busy shopping street in the city of Mannheim. Police arrested one man following the incident on a pedestrianised street, where a market had been put up for carnival season. An elderly woman and 54-year-old man were killed in the incident which took place in March. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Yulia Navalnaya has said Donald Trumps negotiations with Russia on Ukraine are making Vladimir Putin feel stronger. The Russian activist and widow of the late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny said Trump speaking to the Russian president like theyre equal is making him more powerful. She made the remarks while speaking at a sold-out event with Alastair Campbell at the Hay Festival in Wales on Friday, which The Independent is once again partnering with. Putin is [a] crime person; he is a kind of mafia boss. He kills people. He started the war, Ms Navalnaya said when asked how she felt about Trumps involvement in Ukraine peace talks. open image in gallery ( Billie Charity and Hay Festival ) Trump you can like him or not but hes an elected president of a big country. He participated in real elections, he won these elections. But all of these negotiations happening like theyre equal gives Putin who is a tyrant more power. Im sure it was very difficult for Putin and that he suffered a lot during these last few years, because nobody would have been meeting with him. He was just sitting in Moscow, scared to go anywhere because he was at war and he could be arrested somewhere. open image in gallery She made the remarks while speaking at a sold-out event with Alastair Campbell at Wales Hay Festival on Friday, which The Independent is once again partnering with ( Billie Charity and Hay Festival ) But now all of these negotiations have given him again more power. Im absolutely sure Putin now feels more strength, and like he can do whatever he wants, because he feels people want to speak with him, people want to negotiate with him. open image in gallery Yulia Navalnaya has said Donald Trumps negotiations with Russia on Ukraine are making Vladimir Putin feel stronger ( AFP/Getty ) She added: Trump promised to stop this war and hes trying to show that hes capable of doing it. But its very difficult in the end to do it with a person who promises something that you cant trust. Ms Navalnyas late husband was arrested in 2021 after returning to Russia and had been serving sentences totalling more than 30 years on a number of charges, which were widely rejected by the international community. His death was announced by Russian authorities on 16 February 2024 while he was serving time in a special regime penal colony in central Russia. The 47-year-old had reportedly fallen unwell after a walk, before losing consciousness. Ms Navalnaya has previously claimed that Putin is responsible for Mr Navalnys death, and on Friday she revealed how she had found out about her husbands death through a news story. I was at Munich Security Conference, just at regular meetings in my hotel room, just preparing. Then I just opened [my phone] and it was written, Alexei Navalny dead in prison. She added that she had seen false headlines about her husband being dead in the media at least once before. open image in gallery A woman places flowers by a photograph of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny ( AP ) Since her husbands death, Ms Navalnaya has vowed to continue his fight. Last July, Russia issued an arrest warrant for Ms Navalnaya herself, over accusations she had participated in an extremist group. She described her late husband as courageous, funny and the best man in the world after walking in to a standing ovation at the event to discuss his book Patriot. When asked at the end of the talk if she hoped Russia would be a democracy one day, she replied simply: Of course. Spread over 11 days, the 38th spring edition of the annual cultural event is set in Hay-on-Wye, the idyllic and picturesque Town of Books. The star-studded lineup includes Mary Trump, Michael Sheen, Jameela Jamil, and more. The Independent has partnered with the festival once again to host a series of morning panels titled The News Review, where our journalists will explore current affairs with leading figures from politics, science, the arts and comedy every morning. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amid an apocalyptic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and mounting global pressure, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed ahead with a deeply controversial new plan to deliver supplies to the besieged Strip. In a rare press conference on Wednesday night, Netanyahu said that in the coming days, they would enact the scheme, which would replace the existing UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza with a new arrangement under full Israeli control. He said his forces would begin corralling the two-million-strong population of Gaza into a sterile zone in the south of the Strip, free from Hamas militants, where the Israeli military would oversee the delivery of supplies at a small number of distribution hubs directed by a private US-backed group known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Armed private contractors would guard the distribution. The UN and other humanitarian groups say it enables Israel to use aid as a weapon and forcibly displace civilians. open image in gallery Mayar Al-Arja, 2, lies on a bed in a clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza. She is one of many children suffering from malnutrition ( AP ) open image in gallery A Palestinian girl holds a container at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat camp for refugees ( AFP/Getty ) The situation in Gaza, after Israel imposed a full three-month total blockade on supplies and launched a renewed intensive expanded operation, is so catastrophic that it has pushed the entire population to the brink of famine, according to the UNs global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). So far, only a handful of trucks of supplies have been let back in. This has sparked rare global action from Israels allies, as the country increasingly becomes a global pariah. This week, UK foreign secretary David Lammy described Israels blockade and intensified fighting as monstrous before announcing a formal pause in free trade negotiations with Israel and summoning Israels ambassador to London. The UK, which is an arms supplier to Israel, also imposed sanctions on three Israeli citizens, two illegal settler outposts, and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Canada and France also issued statements saying they were poised to take concrete action. Yet these responses have been criticised in some quarters as too little, too late. open image in gallery Images of the landmark al-Hassaina mosque in Gaza City on 26 January 2021 and again three years later show the scale of devastation ( AFP/Getty ) open image in gallery Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, pictured on 15 July 2023, and nearly 18 months later on 1 December 2024 ( Google ) How did we get here? In 19 months, Israels unprecedented bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 53,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities. The United Nations says that over 90 per cent of homes in the besieged 25-mile-long Strip have been destroyed or damaged. It estimates it could take as long as 80 years to restore the destroyed housing units and that is if the conflict were to stop now. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which reached new, unimaginable levels this month, has been intolerable since the earliest weeks of the war. From the second day of the conflict in 2023, the Israeli government made clear its intention to collectively punish the population of Gaza for the events of 7 October, primarily through cutting off aid. On 9 October 2023, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a complete siege on Gaza in the wake of the horrific and bloody attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israel, during which over 1,000 people were killed and more than 250 taken captive to Gaza. He said: There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals. open image in gallery An Israeli soldier at the site of the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas militants on the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Reim, southern Israel ( AP ) open image in gallery A protest demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv, in March ( AP ) Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has repeatedly reiterated that the goal is for Gaza to be totally destroyed and, aside from a tiny patch of land into which two million people would be corralled, it would be empty of its population echoing Netanyahus new aid plan. The aim as Smotrich framed it a few weeks ago at a conference was to make Gazans so totally despairing and devoid of hope that they would seek relocation elsewhere to begin a new life, according to Israeli media. Timeline Israels first total siege on Gaza began on 9 October 2023 and was only alleviated on 21 October when aid trucks were first allowed through the Rafah border crossing to the south. But six days later, Israel launched a ground offensive into Gaza. Aid was again allowed into Gaza in larger numbers during a seven-day ceasefire in November, when around half of the hostages were released. But that was short-lived; the war resumed on 1 December, along with renewed restrictions. Desperation reached such catastrophic levels that, at the start of 2024, foreign states began attempting to airdrop aid into northern Gaza and open maritime corridors both of which proved largely unsuccessful. By 25 June last year, the global hunger monitor (IPC) stated that Gaza remained at high risk of famine. Ahead of his inauguration, the then US president-elect Donald Trump applied pressure for a ceasefire, warning there would be hell to pay in the Middle East if hostages in Gaza were not freed before his 20 January swearing-in. open image in gallery Israeli soldiers work on tanks and APCs at a staging area near the border with the Gaza Strip in May ( AP ) open image in gallery Palestinians at the site of the destroyed building of al-Ahli Baptist hospital ( EPA ) Finally, on 15 January, negotiators reached a deal for a Gaza ceasefire after 15 months of conflict. The phased agreement included hostage and prisoner releases, and a massive surge in aid delivery. But that expired on 1 March without agreement on a second phase. Israel blamed Hamas for scuppering the talks and cut off Gaza aid as a pressure tactic, to massive international criticism. Now, after the IPC announced famine-like conditions again, with half a million people facing starvation, the Israeli government is pushing ahead with plans to put all supply deliveries under Israeli control. Israel, which has defended its actions by accusing Hamas of stealing aid to fuel its war machine, this week boasted that it had allowed nearly 100 trucks containing baby milk and flour among other goods into Gaza. But UN officials and humanitarian workers told The Independent that the number was woefully small, especially given that thousands of trucks with supplies were poised to enter. open image in gallery Palestinians gather to receive a hot meal at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat camp for refugees in the central Gaza Strip, on Wednesday ( AFP/Getty ) What can five or nine or even one hundred trucks do for a population that has been made to suffer from hunger as a weapon of war? asked Tamara Rifae, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA. To avert famine, at least 500 to 600 trucks of food, humanitarian, and commercial goods must enter Gaza every day. This is the minimum required. Right now, there are goods sitting in warehouses in Jordan and Egypt that could be brought into Gaza within hours if Israel allowed their entry. Amed Khan, a humanitarian who has coordinated aid into the besieged Strip, said that the problem was the system if one could even call it that is set up to fail and accused Israel of paying lip service to the Trump administration. The whole thing is smoke and mirrors. People need the war to stop, the genocide to stop. People need a ceasefire, he told The Independent. Its hard to see how any real volume of trucks will be distributed in this system because they are constantly carrying out operations everywhere. There are no secure, reliable routes that trucks full of food can take. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has shown no indication of changing direction, despite widespread international condemnation. Trailing in the opinion polls and facing trial at home on corruption charges he denies, as well as an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, he has made clear the war will continue. After he claimed Israel had probably killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar at a press conference this week, he added: All of Gaza Strip will be under the security control of Israel. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israeli tanks and drones attacked the last partially functioning hospital in northern Gaza in overnight bombardment of the besieged Palestinian territory where alarm was mounting over starvation deaths as little humanitarian aid trickled in. Israeli forces struck Al Awda Hospital on Thursday, killing several people and igniting a huge fire that wrecking the facility, local health officials said. A video taken by a healthcare worker showed the hospitals walls blown away and a huge fire erupting from the wreckage with thick black smoke billowing in the sky. Israeli forces killed over 100 people across Gaza and wounded some 250 in the 24 hours until Thursday morning, the local health ministry said. The attack on Al Awda targeted the main hospital building, water tanks and fuel reserves, causing the huge blaze, Dr Rafat Al-Majdalawi, director general of the Al Awda Health and Community Association, said, according to The National. It was the last partially functioning hospital for thousands of people in northern Gaza, ActionAid said, adding that starving and injured people, as well as pregnant women in need of maternity care, will have nowhere left to turn if it was forced out of service. In the last 24 hours, staff report that tank fire has hit the hospitals surgery department, water tanks, fuel tanks and outpatient buildings, ActionAid said. A warehouse housing medical supplies was also hit, sparking a huge fire which has yet to be contained, due to firefighters reportedly being prevented from reaching the site. The situation is incredibly dangerous, with no one able to enter or leave the facility, and around 160 medical staff and patients trapped inside, trying to continue saving lives under the nonstop sound of quadcopters firing overhead. open image in gallery Palestinians displaced by Israeli military offensive shelter in tents in Gaza City ( REUTERS ) The Israeli military said its forces were operating "adjacent" to Al Awda Hospital and had allowed emergency workers to come try and put out a fire. "The circumstances of the fire are still under review," they added. The attacks came as limited shipments of food aid, deemed not enough for the starving population, entered Gaza after a three-day delay. The shipments went in after Israel eased its nearly three-month blockade of the territory this week. "The shipments from yesterday are limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the scale and scope of Gaza's 2.1 million people," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The UN said that food aid had been collected from only about 90 trucks out of the nearly 200 that entered Gaza after Israel relaxed the blockade. Israel completely blocked the entry of food, fuel and medicine into Gaza on 2 March, and resumed its military offensive two weeks later after collapsing a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. At least 29 children and elderly people have died from "starvation-related" causes in Gaza in recent days, Palestinian authority health minister Majed Abu Ramadan, who is based in the occupied West Bank, told reporters. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, backed by the UN, has said half a million people are at risk of facing starvation in the coming months. open image in gallery Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Jabalia ( AP ) Israel also launched a wave of strikes on multiple areas in southern Lebanon on Thursday, some far from the border. The National News Agency of Lebanon described the strikes as "the most violent in some areas" since a ceasefire agreement ended Israels latest war with Hezbollah last November. The Israeli attacks came two days before municipal elections were set to take place in southern Lebanon. Prime minister Nawaf Salam said the attacks "will not deter the state from its commitment to the electoral process" and called for more international pressure to make Israel stop bombing his country. The Israeli army issued a warning ahead of one strike that destroyed a building in the town of Toul, which it described as "facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah. A video of the strike's aftermath showed fire and a cloud of smoke rising over an area packed with apartment buildings. Strikes in other areas were carried out without warning. Residents of northern Israel also reported hearing loud explosions from across the border. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Getting to know a destination is sometimes best done through your belly; swapping long guided walking tours for a cafe crawl, ditching the sightseeing for a supper or spending your cash on speciality drinks rather than in the shopping district. Tucking into the culinary culture of a location can tell you just as much about the area, its heritage, history and community as hitting up the local landmarks can. With the rise of bakery tourism on social media, it shows tourists are intrigued by handcrafted treats which can reveal an awful lot more about culture through their creative designs, flavours and skills and willing to travel for good food. While heading to a city for a Michelin-starred meal or visiting districts for their street scene are likely the must-dos for most itineraries, a reputation alone seems enough to draw bakery-lovers in and encourage them to make the pilgrimage. Its the unusual baking techniques, hyper local produce specific to that area, and flavours that cant be replicated elsewhere thats driving those with a sweet (and savoury) tooth to travel such distances. From the Parisian patisserie, the Austrian coffee houses to grab and go street stalls in countries like India, the common thread is theyre able to provide that all-important treat, which a local high street chain cafe just cant suffice. From kanelbullar, Swedish cinnamon bun,a pain au chocolat from Paris, to sourdough made in San Francisco, we have rounded up the best destinations to visit depending on your favourite bakery item. While it's not a comprehensive list, the original destinations of these snacks and popular bakery hot spots will inspire you on your next bakery world tour. Sweet pastries open image in gallery Theres no better place in the world to snack on a croissant than Paris ( Getty/iStock ) Arguably, the sweet pastry capital of the world stands strong in Paris, famed for its light and flaky treats such as the pain au chocolat, the humble croissant, the light and airy eclair, creme patissiere and puff pastry-layered millefeuille, to name a few. Just as French fine dining has forever been rooted within the countrys character, French patisserie holds an important place in its history and culture, stemming from the drive to master the art of pastry making and often driven by the bourgeoisie's desire to eat such delicate and sophisticated treats. To seek out some of the best of Paris sweet pastries, La Maison dIsabelle is known for its award-winning croissants, with a crispy exterior with a fluffy inside, or head over to L'Eclair de Genie for, youve guessed it, for unique and immaculately decorated light choux eclairs. The one nation that is a true contender to Frances sweet treat domination is of course, Austria. Its famed for its indulgent desserts and the high art of Viennese patisserie that has been shaped by the sugar addiction of the countrys imperial courts, which later began influencing Paris pastry scene with the rise of the Viennoiseries in the 1800s. One particular delicacy is the apple strudel, popularised in the country during the 18th century, which is made up of fresh apple, cinnamon, raisins and sugar, all wrapped in a blanket of paper-thin strudel dough that is light and crispy when baked. One of the top spots to sample the strudel for yourself is at Cafe Landtmann, a historic Viennese coffee house that serves apple strudel with whipped cream, vanilla sauce or vanilla ice cream. What these two countries have in common is that their bakes are centred around their love for coffee, Paris with its cafe culture its and Vienna with its trips to the kaffeehauser (coffee house). This is no different in Italy, who often sip on an espresso accompanied by a sweet snack. If you are seeking a traditional Sicilian treat, check out I Segreti del Chiostro or Cannoli & Co on the island for a cannoli, a pastry consisting of fried pastry shell, that once bitten into makes way to a sweet ricotta filling, often topped with orange zest or pistachios. Read more: Where to eat in Paris in 2025 - from classic bouillon restaurants to a street food market Another country where bakery crawls can more than fill up your city break itineraries is Denmark, home to the many-layered laminated sweet pastry, also inspired by Viennoiserie tradition and known locally as a spandauer. This sweet snack is often topped off with a dab of custard cream or jam in the middle, with some of the most premium pastries of this kind found in Hart Bageri or Juno in Copenhagen. Moving away from the grab-and-go pastries we may pick up in between city sightseeing or for an afternoon coffee pick-me-up, Spain is the place to visit to devour authentic churros, far better than the bag you will get at any fun fair or seaside pier in the UK. More specifically, fans of these fried choux pastry fingers should take a trip to Madrid, where Chocolateria de San Gines has been satisfying customers since 1894 with its churros, paired with thick hot chocolate to dip in. For a pastry that sits within the verges of sweet and savoury, Greeces bougatsa breakfast food is traditionally made of filo pastry filled with a semolina-based custard or cheese, topped with sugar or cinnamon depending on the region. If you are in Thessaloniki, grab a slice at Bantis or Giannis, or head to Crete, where travellers have raved about the bougasta from the bakeries Chania or Iordanis. Similar to the bougasta, the traditional Arab dessert Knafeh also plays with sweet and savoury flavours, using spun pastry dough named kadayif, layering with cheese before soaking in a sweet sugar syrup. Variations are made in Palestine using Nabulsi cheese, which is also popular in Jordan, and in Hatay, Turkey, which uses mozzarella-like Hatay cheese. Dubai Chocolate, which is currently having its moment on social media and has sparked supermarkets across the globe to sell their versions, is inspired by the Palestinian dessert knafeh, using shredded pastry inside its bars. Fans of egg custard tarts need look no further than Portugal, whose crispy yet creamy pastel de nata have inspired recipes all over the world. Many visitors to Lisbon head straight to Pastelaria Aloma for their award-winning takes on these classic delights. Read more: From fry-ups to Michelin stars how Tenerife became a foodie paradise Savoury pastries open image in gallery Salta in Argentina is one of many places to stop by for an empanada ( Getty/iStock ) If you prefer a savoury snack over a sweet treat, bakeries do not discriminate when it comes to spotlighting salty and spicy pastries, filled with aromatic vegetables or layers of cheese, among their baked goods. If lots of filling is what you are after, Spain, South America and the Philippines have mastered this with the empanada, a stuffed pastry, either baked or fried, that is filled with meats, cheeses and vegetables, or even sweet ingredients, depending on what region you visit. One area that is famous for its empanadas is Salta, Argentina, where bakeries will often fire their patties in clay ovens to achieve a charred crust on the outside, found in spots such as La Salteneria and Dona Salta. A distant cousin of the empanada can be found much closer to home in Cornwall, whose pasties are a holiday favourite of those visiting the county. While there is some debate as to whether its true origin should be attributed to neighbouring Devon, the pasty has remained an important part of the area's heritage, used by tin miners as its thick crust made it easy to eat without cutlery. The traditional Cornish pasty wraps beef cubes, potatoes, swede and onion in a thick blanket of shortcrust pastry. While it's hard to name all the best Cornish pasty joints in the region, Sarahs Pasty Shop in Looe and Philps Pasties in Marazion are known for their generous fillings and handcrafted goods. Read more: This little-known Croatian region makes wine loved by the royal family with bottles as cheap as 4 Much like the pasty, the UK is also known for its pie heritage, popularised on the Isles in the Middle Ages. Each year, pie shops and bakeries around the country compete in the British Pie Awards, and 2025s supreme pie of pies champion went to the deep-filled donner kebab pie found at Boghall Butchers of Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland. Away from the UK, theres hundreds of variations of the simple pie. Among the most loved is samosas in South and West Asia, which vary from region to region, and are mostly found at street stalls stuffed with meat, vegetables and spices, tucked within a crisp pastry crust, which make for a quick snack Over in Latin America, the pastel is also a popular street food in Brazil, very similar to an empanada, but often it has a thinner crust and is deep-fried for a crispy finish. A twin to Greeces bougatsa is borek (thin flaky filled pastry) popular across Turkey, the Middle East, and the Balkans. One location renowned for its spinach borek and recommended by critics is Buregdzinica Bosna in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, forever busy with people pining for a slice of its meat-filled or spinach and cheese pastries cooked in crispy layers of flaky filo, topped with yoghurt. Read more: Inside the secret world of covert restaurant bookings where customers are ranked to get a table Bread open image in gallery Varieties of bagels are in display inside the St-Viateur Bagel Shop in Montreal ( Getty/iStock ) Over in Australia, two bakery chains named Bakers Delight and Brumbys are known for their cheesymite scroll, using an Aussie classic, yeast extract Vegemite spread, and pairing it with melted cheese wrapped up in a swirl of bread dough. If you are looking for a more high-end version of this Australian delicacy, the sophisticated Lune Croissanterie (also known for its exceptional croissant creations) sells a cheese and Vegemite escargot pastry, filled with Vegemite bechamel and gruyere cheese. If you are looking to sample a sweeter version of Australias scroll, the best place to travel to would be Sweden to indulge in a cinnamon bun, known locally as kanelbullar, during a fika coffee break. The buns are created using a long string of cinnamon-spiced pastry dough wrapped into a ball, bound by a sticky-sweet cinnamon syrup, and topped with pearl sugar. In the capital, Stockholm, Robin Delselius Bageri sells traditional and innovative buns, while over in Gothenburg, Cafe Husaren attracts people from all over for their giant buns. While not as sticky and sugary as the Swedish kanelbullar, the UK has its slightly spiced treat: the hot cross bun. Made with warming cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, its peppered with dried fruit and a cross is piped over on the top. The UK and other countries have eaten this bun traditionally as part of breaking fast on Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. To seek out this bread bake, head to Loafing or the Redbournbury Watermill & Bakery in St Albans, which created the Alban Bun, a precursor to the hot cross bun, are popular places to pick up these traditional treats. While it's always tempting to pick up a sweet treat at a bakery, home-baked bread in the form of warm loaves, crusty rolls, and soft and fluffy baguettes also attracts foodies far and wide, whether sitting in for a generously filled sandwich or simply tearing off bites en route to the park. Bagel lovers should consider a trip to Montreal in Canada for their famous boiled hand-shaped bread, with signature poppy-seed, sesame or cinnamon and raisin bagels found at St-Viateur Bagel. For a city break centred around baguettes, the obvious choice is Paris, where boulangeries, such as Utopie, sell their well-known French sticks sprinkled with sesame seeds. If you are seeking the perfect slice of sourdough to accompany your avocado toast in the morning, a trip to San Francisco is in order, where Tartine has perfected the art of sourcing the right grains and fermenting process to create a whole grain loaf with a crisp, dark crust. Read more: We use food to tell stories, to nourish, and to heal on the culinary trail through Mississippi Cakes and other treats open image in gallery Austrias sachertorte is a staple in Viennese coffeehouse culture ( Getty/iStock ) If pastry or bread is not your thing, and you would prefer to lose yourself in the sweetest of sweet treats, it's best to pursue the locations prized for their cakes and other sorts of sugary confectionery. Your first stop should be the USA, the masters of taking everything to the next level. Brownies hail from Chicago, specifically the Palmer House Hotel, whose cafe still sells their fudgy glossy creation, using dark chocolate, walnuts and apricot preserve. Over in New Yorks SoHo neighbourhood, its the source of the flaky, sweet amalgamation of a croissant and a doughnut, lovingly known as the cronut, created by pastry chef Dominique Ansel. Europe also has its fair share of pulling in the cake lovers, with sponge cake delicacies from the British Victoria sponge, to the black forest gateau in Germany. Unfortunately, Cafe Schafer in Triberg, which was famed for its authentic black forest cake, closed in 2020, but this cherry-fuelled sponge is also sought after at Cafe Konig in the German town of Baden-Baden. Aside from its formidable pastry reputation, Austrias sachertorte (chocolate glazed cake) is well worth getting on a plane for alone. Hotel Sacher in Vienna is the place to head for this glossy chocolate cake which was first created to appease an Austrian prince where traditional Viennese coffeehouse sells slices of this sought-after sponge. While there is so much to choose from in Paris when it comes to baked goods, with hundreds of boulangeries and patisseries, a long-time favourite is the madeleine small traditional shell-like shaped sponge, often eaten as an afternoon tea snack. Head to Le Comptoir de Madeleine or Mado a Paris to indulge in the light and airy cakes, or if you want to forego sponge altogether, seek out Laduree or Pierre Herme for macarons, another star in the Parisian confection crown. Read more: Delve deeper into Izmirs surprising and growing fine-dining scene Lawyers expressed relief and satisfaction after eight people were convicted for the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris a $10 million jewellery heist that left her traumatised. Ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache received an eight-year sentence, mostly suspended. His lawyer said, We are really relieved, even if we are exhausted. Kardashians lawyer added that she had wanted justice, and now she can move on with her life. The verdict followed a four-week trial nearly a decade after the crime. Dubbed the grandpa robbers, the elderly suspects targeted Kardashian while she was alone during Paris Fashion Week. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The European Union has 5,316 miles of high-speed rail, China's network exceeds 31,000 miles, while America has a high-speed line mileage of zero. But the high-speed rail revolution may well be underway in the U.S., with some in the industry quietly optimistic that one day the country will have a comprehensive network of high-speed trains. Work has begun on Brightline West, a line costing $12 billion that will run from Las Vegas to an outer suburb of Los Angeles. When it launches in December 2028, it will be the first-ever 186mph train in the States. And California is building a $128 billion, 220mph line that will take passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours when it begins operations sometime between 2031 and 2033. open image in gallery Pictured here is a first-class Acela car. The high-speed Amtrak train will soon be operating between Washington DC and Boston via New York ( Amtrak ) open image in gallery Above is the Acela business-class car ( Amtrak ) open image in gallery This map from the High Speed Rail Alliance shows America's foetal high-speed rail network. Only two high-speed lines are under construction, marked in purple - a 220mph LA to San Francisco line and the 186mph Brightline West, which will run from Las Vegas to an outer suburb of Los Angeles ( High Speed Rail Alliance ) Rick Harnish, the Executive Director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, stresses to The Independent that there is "no doubt" that Brightline West will be a catalyst for other high-speed projects, the definition of "high speed" generally acknowledged as above 150mph. Rick also points to the imminent launch of Amtrak's 160mph Acela trains as a crucial step in the right direction for high-speed rail in America. These trains, due to debut in the next few weeks, will serve the Northeast Corridor, from Washington, D.C. to Boston via New York. Rick explains that because "it's an old corridor that has slowly been rebuilt, there are different speeds in different places". Amtraks next-gen Acela fleet is set to launch open image in gallery An Acela crossing the Susquehanna River during a trial run. The train will run on existing track that only allows for high speeds of 150mph in two sections, near Princeton in New Jersey and a short stretch in Connecticut ( Amtrak ) open image in gallery Features on the new Acela trains include onboard cafe cars (above), Wi-Fi, in-seat USB ports and plug sockets, winged headrests that Amtrak says "provide more comfort and separation", and seat covers made out of recycled leather ( Amtrak ) open image in gallery The Acela in-seat charging points ( Amtrak ) He continues: "Mostly it's 110mph. But there is one short section near Princeton in New Jersey where they can get to 150mph and a short [150mph] section in Connecticut. "The Northeast Corridor has gotten the most significant funding for passenger rail for decades. We would call that regional rail, but it's important." Read more: These US attractions make the list of the worlds most beautiful museums Features on the new Acela trains include onboard cafe cars, Wi-Fi, in-seat USB ports and plug sockets, winged headrests that Amtrak says "provide more comfort and separation", and seat covers made out of recycled leather. Plus, there's an interactive reservation system that will allow passengers to change their seats using the Amtrak app. As swish as the new Acela trains will be, Rick believes that it's the high-speed projects on dedicated lines that will help "change the way people travel across the country". One major obstacle is that traveling by road or air is embedded from the top down in America. open image in gallery China's high-speed network exceeds 50,000km (31,000 miles) ( By Howchou - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 ) open image in gallery A rendering of California's 186mph Brightline West train ( Brightline West ) open image in gallery A rendering of a Brightline West cafe car ( Brightline West ) A cultural and political shift will be needed for a high-speed rail network to flourish. Rick says, "The federal government has forced us to focus on moving cars fast, not on building communities that are healthy, productive, and enjoyable places to live." In a blog post, the High Speed Rail Alliance blames "perverse incentive structures and feedback loops" for America's rail system lagging behind Europe and China's. It said: "The industries that profit from building more congested highways and airports fund political campaigns and think tanks devoted to lobbying legislatures for more highways and airports. "Naturally, policymakers are responsive to the people who fund their campaigns and rationalize their policy priorities." A case in point, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently described a proposed high-speed line between Houston and Dallas as a "waste of taxpayers' money". New York-based author Will Doig who wrote High-Speed Empire, Chinese Expansion, and the Future of Southeast Asia agrees with the High Speed Rail Alliance, telling The Independent that "political will and government funding are the prime suspects" behind high-speed rail inertia. But he name-checks other factors, too. open image in gallery The Brightline West Las Vegas station (rendered). Rail author Will Doig said: We shouldn't be asking whether Americans will ever convert to train travel, we should be asking whether America will ever provide railways worth converting to ( Brightline West ) open image in gallery The Northeast Corridor has benefited from substantial federal funding. Above is an Acela on a test run ( Amtrak ) He continues: "There are other reasons American infrastructure has stalled. For instance, environmental impact assessments have ironically become a tool that any group can use to delay or kill a project they don't like, even if that project would ultimately have a net-benefit for the environment." Does he think Americans can ever be fully converted to rail travel? Will replies: "We know that people will take the train if the infrastructure makes it worth it. We know this because they already do: train travel is commonplace in the Northeast, where rail is often the fastest and most convenient option. "But in most other parts of the U.S, rail is a third-rate option, plagued by delays and slow trains. "Asking Americans to choose that option over flying or driving is unrealistic. "We shouldn't be asking whether Americans will ever convert to train travel, we should be asking whether America will ever provide railways worth converting to. When things work well, people use them." The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Just as Israel seemed on the brink of losing some of its most durable diplomatic support, the killing of two Israeli diplomats in Washington DC could have the effect of calling that shift into question, or at least putting it on hold. Both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the attack on antisemitism, with the Israeli prime minister adding that it was a consequence of wild incitement a comment he later extended specifically to include the recent condemnation of Israels conduct in Gaza from the UK, Canada and France. The shooting of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky as they left a reception appeared to be politically inspired, with the gunman caught on camera shouting Free Palestine as he was apprehended. Initial reports suggested that he had acted alone, but the action and the timing are bound to resonate far beyond the US capital. The first immediate effect could be to blunt the effect of a joint statement issued only days before, in which Keir Starmer, Mark Carney and Emmanuel Macron had appealed to Israel to stop its military operations in Gaza forthwith and end an almost three-month-long blockade on humanitarian aid. Threatening concrete actions if Israel continued an egregious expansion of military operations in Gaza, the statement described the level of suffering in Gaza as intolerable, and said the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population risked breaching international humanitarian law. The statement, which followed a demarche from the head of UN humanitarian relief, Tom Fletcher, about the danger of starvation in Gaza, was the first real evidence that Israels conduct in Gaza was losing it some of its last remaining international support. Needled, Netanyahu accused the three signatories of handing Hamas a huge prize in the war. Whether or not as a direct effect of this condemnation, the first serious amounts of food aid for almost three months have now started arriving in Gaza. With Israeli representatives abroad now so clearly at risk, it will be harder for the UK and others to follow up the condemnation contained in their statement, or demonstrate what they might mean by concrete action. Netanyahu, Israel and Jewish communities the world over now have fresh and lethal evidence illustrating the extent to which they not only feel but genuinely may be at risk. And while some will insist that there is a difference between official representatives of the state of Israel, as diplomats are, and members of the Jewish diaspora many of whom openly dissent from the Netanyahu government the killings in Washington will inevitably intensify fears of ordinary Jews for their safety, and who is to blame them? Nor is the line between protests against the actions of the state of Israel and ingrained antisemitism always as simple to draw as it might seem. The killings in Washington are likely to have further immediate effects. One will be increased attention to the security of individuals and institutions associated with Israel or Jewish communities around the world although how effective such efforts might be in the face of lone assassins and pervasively hostile public opinion must be questioned. Combined with the start of new aid flows to Gaza, another could be the muffling of some international criticism of Israel. After the killings, Netanyahu accused Starmer and other world leaders of being on the wrong side of justice, humanity and history. A third might be a rallying around the flag, if not Netanyahus government. It could also cement continued US support. Unless some new evidence emerges to suggest either that the Washington gunman did not act alone or that the shootings were part of a more organised operation to target Israeli interests abroad, reverberations in the Middle East will probably remain limited. Even if Netanyahu were to embark on additional reprisals against Hamas, it is hard to see how much more he could destroy which makes for a stark contrast with the attempted assassination, say, of Israels ambassador, Shlomo Argov, in 1982. Argov was shot and paralysed when leaving a diplomatic reception at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The attack was blamed on the Palestinian Abu Nidal group, and Israels then prime minister, Menachem Begin, used the attack as a pretext for an all-out invasion of Lebanon. The result was a war that lasted almost three years. The contrast with 2025 is instructive. Israels position in the Middle East now is more dominant and less contested than it was then. Hamas is, or was, a regional operator: nothing like the PLO and its offshoots, which became bywords for international terrorism. There was an organisation, and its protectors, for Israel to take on. Netanyahu and his government may be tempted to lash out in response to the assassination of their diplomat, but one gunmans lone protest if that is what it was makes an effective reply difficult. At once an isolated incident in a foreign country and a manifestation of a more widely-held public sentiment, this is an atrocity whose recurrence will be exceptionally hard to prevent. He made his call and then it was up to me to make my call and I did Joey OBrien on decision to take over from Damien Duff and nervy win over Cork Agrobiodiversity congress highlights China's leading role in sustainable agriculture Xinhua) 10:56, May 23, 2025 KUNMING, China, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Participants at the third International Agrobiodiversity Congress, held here from Tuesday to Thursday, have praised China's efforts in agrobiodiversity conservation, saying the country is at the forefront of global efforts and serves as a model for others. Themed "Agrobiodiversity for People and Planet," the congress drew more than 800 representatives from agricultural departments, research institutions, and international organizations across 60-plus countries. Biodiversity is the foundation on which human survival and development depend, and agrobiodiversity is central to overall biodiversity, providing humans with a rich source of food. "At present, the world is confronted with challenges such as climate change and food security, and the significance of agrobiodiversity has become increasingly prominent," said Marcela Quintero, associate director general for the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Agrobiodiversity also plays a key role in public health, said Lynnette Neufeld, director of the Food and Nutrition Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). She expressed hope that participants would reach a consensus, respond actively to global challenges, and work toward a win-win situation for the protection of agricultural biodiversity and food security. China, one of the birthplaces of global agricultural civilization and a major center of crop origin, has long integrated tradition and innovation in conserving agrobiodiversity. From millennia-old terraces on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to dryland farming in the Yellow River Basin, and from rice-fish symbiosis systems in the Yangtze River region to nomadic culture in grassland pastoral areas, China is home to 25 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, the most in the world, as recognized by the FAO. In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, China continues to emphasize agricultural biodiversity and fulfill its biodiversity commitments with concrete actions. "I was pleased to see the progress that China has made in protecting its nature," Marcela said, stressing the role of agrobiodiversity in sustainable development. Elisabeth Fournier, a scientist at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, described China as a global leader in promoting biodiversity. "There are very big efforts made by the Chinese government to promote biodiversity in order to have a more sustainable agriculture, decreasing the use of chemicals. This is the main goal while continuing to feed people," said Fournier. Similarly, Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, vice minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, said: "Agrobiodiversity is important for us as agriculture is the backbone of the Lao economy." The minister also praised China's contributions to Laos in boosting grain production and protecting biodiversity. At the closing ceremony, delegates released the 2025 Kunming Manifesto. The document clarifies the strategic importance of agrobiodiversity in addressing food crises and climate change, provides guidance for the research, conservation and utilization of agrobiodiversity in the future, and contributes wisdom and strength to building a more sustainable and resilient global food system. This year's congress also marked progress in implementing the Kunming Declaration and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. A new fiscal mechanism was proposed to support cross-border cooperation, enabling the exchange of germplasm resources, technology transfer and capacity building. "Cooperation between countries and regions is essential to ensuring the sustainable management of agricultural resources," said Fabio Schina, consul general of Italy in Chongqing. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SMEs need all the help they can get with GDPR and Dora rules, says SumUp compliance chief Claire Gillanders warns it can be hard for businesses to stay on top of new regulations Claire Gillanders is head of compliance at London-headquartered fintech firm SumUp Azmia Riaz Fri 23 May 2025 at 03:30 Small businesses in Ireland can use all the help they can get with new regulations, the head of compliance at London-headquartered fintech firm SumUp has said. As Kildare actor showcases new gay role at Cannes Film Festival, he says The History of Sound focuses on love, not repression John Lennon, whose half-sister would prefer Liverpool actors to play The Fab Four. Photo: Getty John Lennon, whose half-sister does not want Paul Mescal to play Paul McCartney. Photo: Getty Paul Mescal at the premiere of his latest film The History of Sound at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Reuters Actor Paul Mescal has rejected comparisons of his new period romance The History of Sound with gay cowboy classic Brokeback Mountain, saying the only thing they have in common is the characters spend time together in a tent. The History of Sound, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, stars Mescal and Josh OConnor as Lionel and David, who meet at the Boston Conservatory in the early 1900s and fall in love over their shared love of folk songs. However, the couple are separated when David is drafted into World War I. After the war, they reunite to hike across Maine in search of oral-tradition songs to record, with the adventure having a profound effect on both men later in life. I personally dont see the parallels at all between Brokeback Mountain, other than the fact that we spend a little bit of time in a tent, Mescal (29) told journalists at Cannes. Variety described the new film as Brokeback Mountain on sedatives, while The Guardian said it was a quasi-Brokeback Mountain film whose tone is one of persistent mournful awe at its own sadness and gave it two out of five stars. There should be more films about the sort of dynamics and the nuances of queer relationships Mescal rejected the comparisons as lazy and frustrating, saying the focus of the film, unlike Ang Lees 2006 Oscar winner, was a celebration of the characters love rather than repression. South African director Oliver Hermanus, who was nominated for a Bafta for 2022 film Living, said that comparing his film with one that came out 20 years ago showed there was a deficiency. There should be more films about the sort of dynamics and the nuances of queer relationships, of relationships that are beyond the context of what most movies probably deal with, he said. Mescal who previously played a gay character in the heartbreaking romantic drama All of Us Strangers opposite Andrew Scott, before his Hollywood turn in Gladiator II said his attraction to such roles was based on instinct. I personally celebrate actors who lean into their artistic compulsion, and if thats what Im about to do at this moment in my career, Im going to just hopefully pursue that for a little while longer until that compulsion changes, he said. Meanwhile, Mescals role as Paul McCartney in a series of films to be made charting the rise and lives of The Beatles has come in for criticism from John Lennons half-sister. John Lennon, whose half-sister would prefer Liverpool actors to play The Fab Four. Photo: Getty Mescal will star alongside Harris Dickinson, Joseph Quinn and Barry Keoghan in a quartet of films about The Fab Four being made by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes. In an interview with MailOnline, Lennons half-sister Julia Baird expressed her disappointment that the director did not decide to use actors originally from Liverpool. Mescal is from Co Kildare and Keoghan is from inner-city Dublin, while Dickinson and Quinn are from London. When the casting was announced, many Beatles fans complained about the actors, who they said bore no resemblance to the Fab Four. Now Lennons sister has spoken out to back up their criticisms. It will be interesting to see what kind of accent he comes up. Nobody can do a Liverpool accent. They all get it wrong Whats wrong with Liverpool? she asked, suggesting the producers should have chosen unknown local actors for whom these could have been breakthrough roles. We have actors, and they speak the language. Paul Mescal is in everything get real, come on, Baird said. There are more actors out there waiting for a go and for a chance. It will be interesting to see what kind of accent he comes up with, because nobody can do a Liverpool accent. They all get it wrong. Each of the four films will focus on a different member of The Beatles, with Mendes claiming they would all be released in cinemas within a month of each other. Even the minor works were of quality retired postman turned art aficionados collection goes under hammer Though some pieces have gone to the State, the remainder of the collection will appear at de Veres Irish Art and Sculpture Auction on May 27 Fish Kite Form, Estuary by John Shinnors Eleanor Flegg Fri 23 May 2025 at 03:30 When Alan Conroy died in March 2024, he left a house full of paintings behind him. Glanbia Performance Nutrition in partnership with research company Opinions scooped the Grand Prix at the Marketing Institute Ireland (MII) All-Ireland Marketing Awards last night. Over 800 professional Irish marketers gathered at the Clayton Hotel for the prestigious awards hosted by the professional body, which are uniquely judged by an in-person panel of business experts. Awards were presented across 22 categories, including for emerging talent, international marketing, insights and market research, and marketing team of the year. Glanbia Performance Nutrition in partnership with the research company Opinions delivered the award-winning business case study, winning the MII All Ireland Marketing Awards Grand Prix. They scooped the top prize for highlighting their insightful understanding of consumer motivations to build a framework upon which their global brands can be modelled. Diageo Ireland won a record five awards, while Waterwipes took home gold in two categories. We recognise and celebrate the power of marketing to build business through brands and we are witnessing businesses that are literally conquering the world, inspiring audiences, beating competitors and adding tens of millions of euro to the bottom line of their businesses, said chief executive of MII Shane McGonigle. "Professional Irish marketers are building some of the most successful brands in the world, brands that are strengthening our businesses right across the economy. Marketing is now at the heart of driving business success and at MII we are delighted to see so many Irish marketers and businesses shine tonight and to highlight the contribution of their work and that of their teams, their companies and how long-term business growth is at the centre of supporting the Irish economy, said Mark Nolan, the chairman of MII. The MII National Marketing Professional Services initiative has just been launched, which provides a structured and strategic approach to supporting the development of marketing professionals and advancing the wider industry. Services include the creation of the MII National Marketing Competency Framework, the establishment of professional standards, and the introduction of accreditation tools. MII, the professional body representing marketing professionals in Ireland, was incorporated in 1962 with the mission to develop better marketers and deliver better performance for the individual, their company and the Irish economy overall. Grieving widower of late bishop ordered to give up home after he loses legal battle To tell you the truth, Im still in a state of shock, because Ive suddenly been made homeless. he said. Eduardo (Eddie) Yang Hugh Jordan Fri 23 May 2025 at 07:36 An Appeal Court ruling has left the grieving widower of deceased rebel Catholic cleric Pat Buckley devastated. An Irish student at Harvard is no longer sure whether he will be able to attend his graduation ceremony next week after the Trump administration barred the school from enrolling foreign students. Cormac Savage from Co Down, who just finished his fourth year at Harvard University, learned through the news yesterday that his student visa could be in doubt as a result of the order by the Department of Homeland Security. The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's ability to enrol international students in its escalating battle with the Ivy League school, saying thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country. Harvard University Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2025 It said Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students on campus. Without offering evidence, it also accused Harvard of co-ordinating with the Chinese communist party. There are 24 Irish students studying at Harvard and 26 scholars from Ireland, according to data from the Harvard International Office. There are almost 6,800 foreign students at the university in total. Speaking to RTE's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Savage said: "I'm about to get my undergraduate degree just as all this news has come this week about Harvard having it's right to host international students like me revoked. Mr Savage, who is studying government and romance languages at the university, said students had been aware for some weeks that the Trump administration had threatened such action as part of the "current battle" with the university. "In all honesty, we thought it had been settled and it wasn't going to happen, at least not in my time, in the time that I would be there. So it was very, very, very shocking, at least when we first heard it, he said. He said there is a "scared feeling" among many international students, adding that he is "one of the lucky ones" as he has plans to move back to Europe after graduation. "I have friends who are planning to stay in the United States for the next year or so, and their ability to stay in the United States after this announcement is contingent on the administration allowing Harvard to have them stay," he said. He said the wider student body have been supportive of the international student community, adding: "But at the end of the day, this is a fight between Harvard and the federal government that we're caught in the crossfire of." Mr Savage said the college believes the action taken by the administration is "unlawful" and expects it may be preparing to mount a legal case. "The United States is one of the most fascinating countries in the world because of what it is, for being a country that was founded as a republic and founded on the basis of freedom," he said. "And I think that it's fascinating now in my fourth year living in a country that is founded on freedom, to see myself being completely and what, in my opinion, is at the centre of great assault on freedom. "The United States is known for having some of the greatest universities in the world and the greatest sense of academic freedom of speech in the world. So, for me now to be in the middle of it, at the epicentre of how the very foundation of this country is being shaken is really, really fascinating. I mean, it's certainly not enjoyable, but it's an incredible place to be in." He said that while he hopes he will be able to attend his graduation ceremony next week, he is still unsure whether it will be possible. "My hope would be that I'll still be able to walk across the stage and pick up a degree on Thursday and beyond that I really have nothing to hope or want for." West Belfast trio claim charge against Liam Og O hAnnaidh political policing Police officers outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where Kneecap announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where the trio announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where police were also seen entering the venue of their surprise gig on Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) Kneecap will release a new song this afternoon before they headline a festival in London, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year. They have thanked the 25,000 legends who will be at their headline performance at Londons Wide Awake festival. The bands post read: Well well, London heads. Some day coming up. Weve a brand new track landing in our WhatsApp channel at 1pm. Kemi Badenoch, you might wanna sit down for this one, if youve any seats left." Conservative Party leader Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. A number of other politicians have made the same demand. Last year, the trio won a discrimination case against the UK government in the Belfast High Court after former business secretary Badenoch tried to refuse them a 14,250 funding award when she was a minister. O hAnnaigh appeared on stage during a surprise sold-out gig from the rap group with tape on his mouth last night. In videos posted on social media, the Kneecap star could be seen joking about being careful what he said. O hAnnaidh added: "I need to thank my lawyer he's here tonight as well." Shortly before the concert started, the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed it was operating a policing plan during the gig. At least three officers were seen walking into the venue about 7.35pm, while a short queue formed outside the venue before the doors opened, including one man in a band T-shirt. Police officers outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where Kneecap announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) In a statement issued on Thursday morning, the west Belfast group claimed the charge was political policing, adding that they would vehemently defend themselves. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where police were also seen entering the venue of their surprise gig on Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) Kneecap: A timeline of controversy and success Announcing the gig yesterday, the band shared a post containing a quote from former Sex Pistols vocalist John Lydon who told ITVs Good Morning Britain (GMB) maybe they need a bloody good kneecapping in response to the kill your MP footage. Less than an hour after tickets went on sale, the rap trip took to social media to announce tickets had sold out. "Sold out in 90 seconds with 2000 on the waiting list lets go, London, read the post. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. The group have said they will vehemently defend themselves against the terrorism offence brought against one of their members by British police, describing it as political and a distraction. 14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us, read the statement. "We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is. "As they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. "A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesnt even have a jury. Whats the objective? The statement continued: To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us from speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. They added: Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. It concluded: We stand proudly with the people. You can stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. "We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine. On Thursday Tanaiste Simon Harris said Hezbollah and Hamas should not be equated with the Palestinian people. Mr Harris told Newstalk: "I won't comment on the specifics, but on the broader point that you make, I don't think we should conflate Hamas or Hezbollah with the cause of the Palestinian people. "To take Hamas first, Hamas is a despicable terrorist organisation. It carried out a brutal terrorist attack in Israel that has been condemned by Ireland and all right-thinking people. "They offer the people of Palestine no future of hope or positivity. They shouldn't be in any way, shape or form given any succour - and aren't - by Ireland. "When it comes to Hezbollah, I'm also the Minister for Defence in this country. We're fighting daily for justice for Private Sean Rooney. Hezbollah, again, is an illegal terrorist organisation that have brought pain, suffering and death to Irish peacekeepers." Kneecap are due to perform at Wide Awake on Friday (PA) Last month, the Met Polices anti-terror unit in London confirmed that there are grounds for further investigation over videos in which a band member from the group appeared to shout, Kill your MP from the stage and, in a separate incident, Up Hamas, up Hezbollah. Both groups have been declared terrorist organisations in the UK, meaning it is illegal to voice support for them. Tanaiste, Simon Harris, said he accepts responsibility for the National Childrens Hospital as he came under sustained pressure from the opposition over cost overruns and another delay in its completion. The Dails Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has heard that the completion of the project has been pushed back from September to June 2026 the fifteenth delay in five years. Chief Executive of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), David Gunning, said he could not at this time offer assurances that this will be the final delay. National Children's Hospital mid-construction. Today's News in 90 seconds - 22nd May 2025 Under questioning from Aontus Peadar Toibin during Leaders Questions in the Dail, Mr Harris said: Of course I am responsible. I am responsible for bringing the decision to cabinet. I am going to be responsible for a world class facility. He said nobody gets everything right in politics...as you sit over there and correct everybodys homework You rehearsed your lines that you must practice in front of the mirror in the morning. I am responsible, of course I am responsible. I am responsible for bringing the proposal to cabinet, I am responsible for recommending we proceed. And the easiest thing to do in politics if you dont want to get into any challenging situation is never make a decision. I am also going to be responsible for a world class facility, we are going to be responsible for transforming childrens healthcare, he said. Deputy Toibin accused him of blame-shifting: Simon it wasnt me Harris is what we have in front of us at the moment. He added: Accountability and yourself are like oil and water. But the Fine Gael leader fought back. He said that nobody gets everything right in politics and added: its easy to sit over there and just correct everybodys homework. It much harder to come to work and roll up your sleeves and actually deliver for the people. Meanwhile, Mr Harris said that a new childrens hospital planned for the North will cost more per square metre than the one due to open next year in Dublin. He was responding after Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty accused him of declaring open season on the public finances when he proceeded with National Childrens Hospital as Minister for Health. Tanaiste, you personally signed the contract for the National Childrens Hospital without even a finalised plan in place. It was pay as you go, and that is why BAM has the state over the barrel for the past eight years. He said its no surprise that developers are going to squeeze as much profit out as they can but that competent ministers are supposed to protect the public purse. So when you signed that contract you declared open season on the public finances, he said. But Minister Harris replied that the Sinn Fein First Minister in the North, Michelle ONeill, has announced that 671million will be spent on a state-of-the-art childrens hospital at the Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital. The childrens hospital that you are delivering in Northern Ireland that your First Minister, that your Vice President welcomed, is more expensive per square metre than the Childrens Hospital we are delivering here in this jurisdiction, he said. Former minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed she will not run in this years presidential election. Ms Humphreys, who was the social protection minister in the last Dail, decided not to run in the last general election in order to spend more time with her family. Since her announcement that she was to leave politics, Ms Humphreys name has been considered as a potential Fine Gael candidate in the autumn election. Ms Humphreys said that after much consideration, she has decided not to run. I have made my decision, and I have to say, I have been quite humbled by the number of people who have approached me and said that I should run for the presidency, Ms Humphreys said. I have given it a lot of consideration and a lot of thought, and while it is very flattering and a great honour to be considered for the highest office in the land, I have decided that I will not be running for the presidency. I said at that time I wanted to spend more time with the family, and that my time in public life was over. That doesnt mean Im not committed to public service, but I made that decision then, and it is the same. Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show on Northern Sound, Ms Humphreys said she gave a bid very serious consideration. I said at the time, if I was younger, I wouldnt be leaving politics, and the same applies to the presidency. I want to do other things in life, because I have been working. People probably dont realise this. Between the bank and the credit union and politics, I have worked full-time for 47 years. She added that committing to the presidency was a significant decision and she would only have considered it if she was willing to give it 100pc. I just feel that its a job for somebody else this time, Ms Humphreys said. The former minister said she would support any Fine Gael candidate selected, but did name-check Mairead McGuinness. If she decided to put her name forward, shed have my support. Ive known her for many years. Ive canvassed with her. Shes been a brilliant MEP, a fantastic European commissioner, and she has been a great ambassador for Ireland, Ms Humphreys said. So I know her well, and as I say, shed have my support. Ms Humphreys said she did not discuss her decision with Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris. Micheal Martin says that Irish authorities werent made aware of the deportees on board the flight from the US The flight arrived at Shannon Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning The Taoiseach has said the Irish Government is not concerned about legal action after a flight carrying deportees from the US to stopped over at Shannon Airport. In the early hours of Wednesday, the flight landed at the airport in Co Clare, carrying eight men from the United States to Africa. The flight took off despite Boston judge Brian E Murphy saying that the actions of the Homeland Security Department, were unquestionably violative of the court order and could amount to criminal contempt. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he did not think Ireland should have any worries about being caught up in legal proceedings. I wouldnt think so, said Mr Martin, speaking at the launch of the new Dosco cleaning supplies plant in Cork. First of all, there are various international agreements and legal agreements that pertain to aircraft landing and refuelling" It wouldnt be immediately apparent to Irish authorities in terms of the fact - and again, I think enquiries should be made that there were any deportees on any particular flight. These are matters that we will review and engage with our partners in the US and indeed elsewhere, government to government, because obviously our planes fly and land in different locations to refuel. I dont think we are [liable for any breaches of court orders], but again, enquiries are being made. I havent got a full report on it yet but the Department of Transport and Foreign Affairs [will provide one]. When questioned on when he can expect that report the Taoiseach responded, shortly, I hope. Mr Martin said he wants to avoid a knee-jerk response in potentially introducing diplomatic clearance for all civil flights following the incident. There are capacity issues there, the Taoiseach said. But I do think trust is important, and so when planes fly through our airspace if they are carrying weapons there is an agreement that they let us know. Trust is an important aspect of relationships between countries in respect of honouring aviation covenants and agreements. We need to assess what has happened in the first instance. Brendan Treacy and Joe Kirby brought their Tullamore six-bedroom home to life with artistic touches Asking price: 500,000 Agent: DNG Kelly Duncan (057) 9325050 Every creative dreams of the day the phone chirrups to the tune of a fantasy gig. Brendan Treacy and Joe Kirby, interior designers and co-proprietors of Dublin-based Silver River Interiors, can count themselves among that lucky cohort. They were contacted by the sisters in residence at Kylemore Abbey, the magnificent Benedictine monastery in Connemara; who hired them to do the fit-out for their new contemporary accommodation at the Abbey, during the recent redevelopment of the famous nunnery and national tourist attraction. So we did the full interior fit-out for the nuns down there, Treacy says. It was amazing. That was huge because its just the two of us, myself and Joe, involved. The project is still ongoing. "The nuns have been incredible to work with. There were a vast amount ducks to get in line and get past them, as the nuns needed to be in their new home at a certain time on a certain day. And, as is often the case, we didnt have as long as we thought we would need to do the job, but we got it done. Joe Kirby and Brendan Treacy run Silver River Interiors together Kirby, for his part at least, had some very appropriate credentials on his resume, having spent time as a member of the Christian Brothers. He was familiar with this type of community in terms of how they live day-to-day, how they have their meals and how they share their community spaces, Treacy says. When the pair initially met with the nuns, they bonded really quickly because the two felt they understood what the sisters wanted. Treacy says: I suppose we werent just shoving chairs and fabrics down their throats, but actually listening to how they live, which is what we do with all our clients. Except in this case, it was 16 different women. A walk-in wardrobe leading to en suite at Gorteen Kirby adds: Sister Magdalena could run the country. They really knew what they wanted, and we are really proud of how it turned out in the end. They were so excited because quite a few of them had never seen the inside of the place until the day they moved in. Now it has a lovely calm feeling about it. Treacy has a background in the hotel business where he developed his interest in interior design, completing a one-day per week two-year course at the Dublin Institute of Design on Suffolk Street. The two are mainly influenced by the work of William Morris and take inspiration from places they visit, preferring that to the more modern influences of social media. The entrance hall Treacy says: We visited Winston Churchills home at Chartwell recently and were very impressed. We dont have a formula, as is the case with some interior designers. We prefer to see how the client lives. He began working from home at first, before he and Kirby decided to open a showroom in Tullamore and then a second in Dublin in the early 2000s until, as Treacy puts it, the world ended after the collapse of the Celtic Tiger. Their business survived, however, and has gone from strength to strength. The pair mainly work with private clients, and tend to design in a classical style. Treacy and Kirbys own home in Tullamore could double as an additional showroom. From the outside, it is a relatively plain-looking detached house on 0.6 acres, located about 10 minutes from Tullamore town. Gorteen in Killeigh, Co Offaly The only sign from the outside that it may belong to someone with an eye for design is a wire sculpture of a pair of red-setters, Billy and Pauline, guarding the front door. It has a hallway behind the teak front door with glazed side panels, floored in polished marble tiles. There is decorative wall panelling and intricate ceiling coving. Off this is a sitting room with walnut timber flooring, and a polished marble fireplace with a cast iron insert and a black granite hearth. This room is decorated with dark brown wallpaper, offset with colourful velour sofas. The sitting room Treacy says: This room is one of the darkest in our house. So we made it dark and moody by using the textured wallpaper, then following down with the deeper colour sofas. Glass-panelled doors from the sitting room lead to the kitchen/dining area, which also has polished marble floors. The kitchen is bespoke and was designed by Dermot Bracken, with quartz countertops and a large centre island. The kitchen There is a solid fuel stove on a marble plinth. Integrated appliances include a hob with feature extractor fan, double oven, dishwasher and a hidden pantry with additional worktop space and storage. There is also a utility with fitted storage, additional countertop space and a second dishwasher. One of the bedrooms is located on the ground floor, which was a boon for Kirby on account of his parents who visit. This has an en suite bathroom, and there is also a guest WC on the ground floor. One of the six bedrooms Upstairs has an additional five bedrooms, including a master suite with a walk-in dressing room/wardrobe and en suite bathroom and a luxurious family bathroom. There is also a detached garage of approximately 270sq ft. Outside to the rear, is a recently completed patio area with raised flowerbeds and uplighters set into the ground for evening entertaining outside. A garden seating area The pair bought a home in Dublin 8 about 11 years ago, close to the city centre, and are now keen to relocate to the capital full-time. We have been here for 20 years, says Kirby. It was a great party house and has a lovely atmosphere, and was really convenient when we had the business down there. But we just dont spend enough time there anymore. DNG Kelly Duncan is seeking offers in the region of 500,000. It was hoped influencer content would spread tourism around, but the strategy appears to have backfired Spain has said it will stop using social media influencers to promote popular Balearic Islands destinations in a bid to control overwhelming selfie tourism. The Balearic government backtracked on the use of influencer marketing campaigns after a cove in Mallorca was swarmed by 4,000 visitors a day last summer. Calo des Moro only has the space to welcome around 100 beachgoers each day. Calo des Moro, Mallorca. Photo: Markus Beck / Getty Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2025 Influencer content showcasing the small cove prompted tourists to travel for pictures of the golden sands and clear waters. The local mayor of Mallorcas Santanyi, Maria Pons, said at a press conference last June that 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were descending on Calo des Moro daily. In June 2024, hundreds of activists descended on the once secluded cove to demand sunbathers leave the beach with a giant banner that declared: Ocupem les nostres platges We will occupy our beaches. Previously, the Balearics had hoped that the use of influencer content would redirect tourist flow to more remote parts of the popular holiday islands and highlight hidden gems. However, following a push on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, the tourism marketing strategy has seen remote and protected parts of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza overrun with holidaymakers looking to snap a selfie. Last weekend, a spokesman for the Balearic tourism department said selfie tourism had had the completely opposite effect to what was intended and runs contrary to government policy on containing tourism, reported the Guardian. The local authority has since removed all images of the cove from its website and pleaded with journalists and tour operators to stop promoting the location altogether. Calo des Moro, Mallorca. Photo: Markus Beck / Getty Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2025 Similarly, in March, residents in Ibiza vowed to continue anti-tourism protests this summer, barricading a famous viewpoint with boulders and no entry warnings. Angry locals in Cala dHort de Sant Josep blocked tourist access to the Es Vedra lookout and its car parks in a bid to curb overtourism and wild parties in the area. Hundreds of unregulated holidaymakers flock to the islet viewpoint on Ibiza's southwest coast each day in summer, using unofficial car parks on private land to watch the sunset. Amid an apocalyptic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and mounting global pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed ahead with a deeply controversial new plan to deliver supplies to the besieged Strip. In a rare press conference on Wednesday night, Netanyahu said that in the coming days they would enact the scheme, which would replace the existing UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza with a new arrangement under full Israeli control. He said his forces would begin corralling the two million-strong population of Gaza into a sterile zone in the south of the Strip, free from Hamas militants, where the Israeli military would oversee the delivery of supplies at a small number of distribution hubs directed by a private US-backed group known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Armed private contractors would guard the distribution. The UN and other humanitarian groups say it enables Israel to use aid as a weapon and forcibly displace civilians. The situation in Gaza, after Israel imposed a full three-month total blockade on supplies and launched a renewed intensive expanded operation in Gaza, is so catastrophic that it has pushed the entire population to the brink of famine, according to the UNs global hunger monitor, the IPC. So far only a handful of trucks of supplies have been let back in. This has sparked rare global action from Israels allies, as the country increasingly becomes a global pariah. This week, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Israels blockade and intensified fighting as monstrous, before announcing a formal pause in free trade negotiations with Israel and summoning Israels ambassador to London. The UK, which is an arms supplier to Israel, also imposed sanctions on three Israeli citizens, two illegal settler outposts, and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Canada and France also issued statements saying they were poised to take concrete action. Yet these responses have been criticised in some quarters as too little, too late. When Tina Satchwell disappeared in 2017 there was no note, no trace of her. For six years, her husband insists she left of her own accord. That she needed space. That she was, in his own words, his trophy wife. Those were comments that her family did not like. This week in the Richard Satchwell trial, Tinas half-sister Lorraine took to the stand to describe the accused as controlling and odd. Her testimony shone a light on Tinas family and Tinas relationship with her husband Richard. Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent with the Irish Independent, to hear evidence from Tina Satchwells family as her husband stands accused of her murder. Could Richard Satchwell be called to the stand to give evidence? National Volunteering Week runs until May 25 and celebrates a legacy of volunteerism. Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle with CDA Board Members Paul Barry, Chair Marian Kelly, Triona Fitzgerald and Sean Gaine pictured at the Cork Deaf Association volunteer appreciation event in the newly refurbished community room in MacCurtain Street shaped by DeafSpace Design Principles. Picture. John Allen Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle pictured with CDA staff at the Cork Deaf Association volunteer appreciation event in the newly refurbished community room in MacCurtain Street shaped by DeafSpace Design Principles. Picture. John Allen Volunteers across Cork were acknowledged and celebrated during an appreciation event in Cork City on Wednesday. Hosted by Cork Deaf Association (CDA), who are located in their newly refurbished community room on MacCurtain Street, volunteers were told they play a vital role in the associations story. Speaking from the CDAs new community room, Gerrie OGrady, Executive Manager at the Cork Deaf Association, said: Volunteers play a vital role in the Cork Deaf Association story. They are true partners. For example, we have a dedicated core group of volunteers who work with our indispensable Advocacy Officer, Susan OCallaghan, to deliver meaningful, inclusive programmes for children and families. That is just one example of the spirit of partnership that makes volunteer contribution so impactful, she said. The event was attended by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, CDA volunteers, board members, staff, service users and families. CDA was founded by volunteers in 1966 and has provided essential support and services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Cork since. The CDAs community room is a space shaped by DeafSpace Design Principles. The inclusive space includes features such as low-echo acoustics; contrasting colour palettes for clear visibility across all skin tones; an accessible stage; adjustable lighting and a calm, welcoming atmosphere. National Volunteering Week runs until May 25 and celebrates a legacy of volunteerism. As a nation, volunteerism is woven into the fabric of Ireland and we are so proud to celebrate our own volunteers during such a special week, Ms OGrady said. Today we acknowledge many volunteers who have given almost three decades of their time to CDA. We are most grateful to them for their continued support, she added. To find out more about volunteering with CDA, or to explore using the community space, please contact mail@corkdeaf.ie, call 0214505944 or text 086 853 5574. You can also visit the website: www.corkdeaf.ie. Crosshaven Post Office is set to close on Friday, May 30 and all services from that date on will be provided from Carrigaline post office. A statement from An Post, said Crosshaven Post Office will close on Friday, May 30. From that date, post office services will be provided at Carrigaline post office which is situated in the Supervalu Shopping Centre there, read the statement. An Post said the closure had been prompted by the resignation of the outgoing postmaster in Crosshaven and that despite advertising the vacant contract, it had not received any expressions of interest. Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins said the closure of Crosshaven Post Office continues a policy of Government neglect. It is the result of systematic and decade long neglect of vital rural services that have been left to wither on the vine and die from an over-exposure of government rhetoric that never matched commitments with real practical support. The Cork TD criticised the government for their inability to make the tendering offers financially viable. This government and previous governments have brought Crosshaven to this point through their abysmal inability and unwillingness to make the tendering offers for new post office contractors financially viable or attractive. We now have 4,228 people without a post office, but with all of the upheaval that such a move brings in its wake. There is just this overwhelming sense now among rural communities like Crosshaven that the beating hearts of our towns and villages are being crushed into silence through a slow, but steady process of service withdrawal. That policy of neglect and indifference must be reversed, he added. Alflorex won the Best Digestive Product award on the night as the supplement continues to gain industry recognition. An over-the-counter supplement researched and developed in Cork has won an award at the Irish Pharmacy News OTC and Retail Pharmacy Product Awards for the ninth year in a row. Alflorex won the Best Digestive Product award on the night as the supplement continues to gain industry recognition. Developed by scientists and gastroenterologists at PrecisionBiotics, and in collaboration with the APC Microbiome Institute at University College Cork, Alflorex features the exclusive bacterial strain, 35624, which has undergone rigorous clinical testing and research spanning over 15 years. Shirley ORegan, Marketing Manager, PrecisionBiotics Ireland, said she is thrilled with the support offered by Irish pharmacists. PrecisionBiotics, with its unwavering commitment to rigorous scientific research, has a long-standing reputation for developing high-quality products. Alflorex, a testament to this commitment, has consistently proven to be a top-quality product, endorsed by both the public and industry experts. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey, she said. The panel of judges at the 2025 Irish Pharmacy OTC Awards commended Alflorex for its carefully selected ingredients and balanced formula, focusing on gut health and overall wellness. They also praised it for proven efficacy in clinical trials and noted that it is frequently prescribed by specialists in gastroenterology. The Cork-based Good Fish Company hooked not just one, but two European Union commissioners as well as a government minister to launch its new multi-million-euro processing facility in Shanbally, Ringaskiddy this week. Irelands EU Commissioner, Michael McGrath, along with Fisheries & Oceans Commissioner Costas Kadis and Minister of State Timmy Dooley, were on hand to cut the tape at the new facility. Founder Denis Good opened his first shop almost 40 years ago in Carrigaline and quickly began to supply restaurants across Cork. Two retail units in Douglas Court and Kinsale followed, with seven shops open at the height of the companys focus on retail operations. The company, which employs over 100 people, then expanded into exporting its products to new overseas markets and demand soared, necessitating the new processing facility that's strategically located adjacent to Cork Container Terminal. Proximity to the port allows immediate export of the fish and seafood processed on site and as well the new M28 motorway (due to open in 2028) means the company will be able to easily transport its products throughout Ireland. We are delighted Commissioner McGrath, Commissioner Kadis, and Minister Dooley were able to join us for the official opening of our new location, just two kilometres from Corks new container terminal, Donagh Good said. Building the facility was essential for us to maintain our current growth and to respond strongly to the ever-increasing demand for high-quality frozen seafood products in the domestic market, in Europe, and further afield. Our focus has always been to provide sustainably sourced fish and seafood and ensuring good quality from dockside to dinner tables. That ethos remains unchanged, though customers are getting more adventurous in their tastes! "Sustainable practices are at the core of processes at our new facility, so we foresee further development, new markets, a stronger and more capable workforce, and exciting times in our new home in Shanbally, thanks to the support of everyone that helped bring this investment to life," Donagh added. Commissioner McGrath said: I am delighted to welcome this incredibly impressive new facility by the Good Fish Company - an extraordinary Cork success story Ive long admired and known personally. The journey started in 1988 when Denis Good opened a fish shop in Carrigaline and now, under the leadership of his son Donagh, the company is opening a state of the art, next generation processing facility in Shanbally. With vital EU and Government of Ireland funding behind it, this investment is a major contribution to enhancing Irelands seafood sector supporting employment and demonstrating the EUs commitment to rural enterprise and innovation. I wish the Good family and their staff continued success in the years ahead. Good Fish has received support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the Brexit Adjustment Reserve, and Irelands Seafood Development Programme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the EU as part of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. This factory marks the beginning of another new chapter in the Good Fish story, Donagh Good concluded. Building on more than 35 years of hard work, innovation, and dedication that came before me, were excited about the developments to come while maintaining the same high-quality standards in service and products that Good Fish is renowned for. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Appearing in Cork, the Sinn Fein party leader said that the battle to save Irish neutrality is on The battle to save neutrality has begun, declared the President of Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald during a meeting in Ballyphehane on Thursday evening, May 22. Speaking in the first of a series of meetings to Defend Irish Neutrality, Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald said: We will go to the four corners of Ireland to say with one voice that we will not stand by while our neutrality is undermined and attacked by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and by the militarisation agenda at the heart of the European Union. Meetings will take place across the country in the coming months culminating with events in Dublin and Belfast. Ms McDonald was joined at the Cork meeting by local TD Donnchadh O Laoghaoire who is the Sinn Fein Foreign Affairs Spokesperson. The leader of Sinn Fein said Fine Gael have long set their face against Irish neutrality. The meetings are the first step in the campaign to defend Irish neutrality in the face of Irish government moves to undermine neutrality, the first step of which is the removal of the Triple Lock. Legislation from Simon Harris to end the Triple Lock will be published in the coming days. It is no surprise that Fine Gael are seeking to do this. They have long set their face against Irish neutrality. Its more than two decades since they launched their ill-fated document Beyond Neutrality. They are joined by Fianna Fail who have now abandoned their long standing position on Irish neutrality, she added. Ms McDonald continued: In the most cynical effort the two parties have joined forces to use the volatility in the world as an alibi to tear down our neutrality, to dismantle the Triple Lock so that Irish soldiers can be deployed in EU-led and NATO-led military misadventures that are not in Irelands interests, and without an UN mandate. This sends a message that the United Nations no longer matters. Our neutrality has stood us in good stead, declared Ms McDonald. Its the bedrock upon which Ireland built a powerful reputation as a voice for peace, freedom and justice in the world, as an honourable defender of human rights and democracy, as a respected champion of conflict resolution through dialogue. It has allowed members of our defence forces to wear the blue beret of UN Peacekeeping missions with pride and stand in protection of the vulnerable throughout the world. The President of Sinn Fein acknowledged that we are now living in an uncertain world, but she reiterated that is why preserving and strengthening Irish neutrality has never been more important. Never has it been more crucial for neutral states to stand-up and be counted, to confront the instinct of the powerful to arm-up, flex their military muscles and go to war. The battle to save Irish neutrality is on. We will fight back with everything weve got against this disgraceful plan from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. We will campaign relentlessly, said Ms McDonald. On the streets, in our communities, on the airwaves, and in the Dail. We will ask people to join us, to get involved, to play their part, to put their feet on the street and raise their voices loudly in protest. During her visit to Cork, the Sinn Fein leader also visited residents from the Clashduv Road flats in Togher. Ms McDonald said the flats have been neglected for far too long. Built in the 1970s, these flats face damp, rusted railings, uneven floors and rodents. Children play near danger. Families live with daily discomfort. They deserve better. Regeneration is urgent. The residents are the heart of these flats. The government cannot keep turning away, she added. Gardai are appealing to the public for any information as to the whereabouts of a missing Dublin teenager. Jennifer (goes by Jade) Halligan, 16 years old, has been missing from the Finglas area of north Dublin since May 21. She is described as being approximately 411 (150cm), with brown hair and blue eyes. When last seen Jade was wearing a pink tracksuit and grey runners. Gardai said they are concerned for her well being. Anyone with any information on Jennifer's (Jades) whereabouts is asked to contact Finglas Garda station on (01) 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Scallywags Pre-School in Muckross was alive with excitement last week as the children donned their high-vis vests, put on their best walking shows and set off to take part in the big adventure that was Barnardos Big Toddle event, a half-mile long sponsored walk. The school has for over 20 years now been a huge supporter of the work done by Barnardos and has helped to raise an impressive 3,000 to date for the charity. Barnardos mission is to deliver services and work with families, communities, and our partners to transform the lives of vulnerable children who are affected by adverse childhood experiences. Patricia Quigley, owner and manager of Scallywags Pre-School, had this to say about the event: Weve been taking part in the Barnardos Big Toddle for more than 20 years and have always found it to be a fun and worthwhile fundraiser. Its all about children helping children. We share the stories of vulnerable children supported by Barnardos with our little ones, create hero capes, and give ourselves superhero names. Teaching children the value of helping others is a lesson that lasts a lifetime. The Barnardos Big Toddle is designed for creche and pre-school-aged children, with all funds going toward Barnardos Early Years services. Since its inception, the Big Toddle has raised an impressive 4.84 million in support of Irelands most vulnerable young children. Whether youre part of a creche, a parent, or a childminder, everyone can host your own Big Toddle at any time during May or June by registering at www.barnardos.ie/bigtoddle. Your support helps ensure that some of Irelands youngest children receive the best start in life. For more on Barnardos and how to get involved, visit www.barnardos.ie. A Limerick creche is set for a major expansion after receiving 750,000 in government funding to build a new facility. The funding for Banogue Community Creche has been allocated through the Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare, which is managed by the Department of Children to help provide thousands of additional affordable childcare places across the country. The staff are hoping for a new building which will allow the creche to expand its services and relieve long-standing pressure on their growing waiting lists while also supporting working families across a wide area. Speaking about the impact of the funding with the Irish Independent, Assistant Manager Niamh Power said the development will benefit not only Banogue but also surrounding communities. We offer places to families not just from Banogue, but from Charleville, Kilmallock, Bruree, and even Bruff, she said. A lot of parents drop their kids off here on their way to work. This funding will make a big difference, especially for those whove been on our waiting lists. Its a big help to everyone in the community, she said. The creche currently employs 25 staff, including early years educators, administrators, and kitchen staff. It offers care from infancy to school-age, including an after-school programme and full meal provision for every child. The centre has seen rising demand in recent years, a trend Niamh attributes partly to growth in the nearby national school. As the school across the road has grown, the demand for childcare has grown alongside it. Weve really seen the need for expansion, she added. The new funding will allow the creche to expand capacity, improve facilities, and continue offering early education and care from 7:30am to 6pm daily. Its all very exciting, said Niamh, who has worked at the creche for the past three years. The children, staff, and families will all benefit. Its a huge relief to local parents who want reliable, nearby care without having to travel far. League of Ireland Dare Kareem (19) proves the Drogheda winner on his first start, delivering the only goal against Galway For Drogheda United, there was no Douglas James-Taylor or Warren Davis. Galway were without Moses Dyer and Patrick Hickey. These are all key figures in the recent success of both these clubs, but at Sullivan & Lambe Park, a new match-winner Gardai in Co. Sligo have appealed for witnesses to an incident in the water at Lissadell Beach on Saturday, May 17, where a seven-year-old boy from Ballisodare died. Alan Singh tragically drowned following the incident at Lissadell Beach on Saturday afternoon. Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the incident when the alarm was raised and volunteers from Sligo RNLI also attended. The Irish Coast Guards search and rescue helicopter Rescue 118 airlifted the boy to Sligo University Hospital, but he later died. Gardai are appealing for witnesses, in particular a group of young people on bodyboards who assisted, and also two women who provided medical assistance. A Garda spokesperson said: At approximately, 3:30pm, Gardai received a report of a young boy getting into difficulty in the water. He was subsequently airlifted to Sligo University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to support the family and a file will be prepared for the Coroner. Gardai are anxious to speak with a group of young people on bodyboards who assisted in bringing the boy ashore so that welfare supports can be provided, and also wish to speak with two ladies who provided medical assistance when the boy was taken ashore. They can contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 9157000. Tipperary taxi driver speaks out as getting a lift is literally impossible in rural Ireland Socialising has gone completely With only 25 taxis left in Clonmel, locals say nightlife and essential travel are vanishing as post-Covid struggles and rising costs cripple the industry. Only about 25 to 30 cars are left providing a hackney/taxi service for the whole of Clonmel, Irelands largest inland town with a population of over 18,000 people (stock image) Eoin Kelleher Fri 23 May 2025 at 13:24 Trying to get a taxi in large parts of rural Ireland is literally impossible, and new solutions are needed so country people can enjoy a night out, a Tipperary TD has said, as a local taxi driver shared what his sector is going through. An artist's depiction of the new large-scale residential development (LRD) of 155 homes and apartments, which have been granted planning permission in Duckspool, Dungarvan, Co Waterford. The decision has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against plans to build 155 homes and apartments in the seaside town of Dungarvan. S&K Carey Ltd submitted plans to Waterford City and County Council (WCCC on February 20 this year seeking planning permission to construct a large-scale residential development (LRD) consisting of 155 homes at Duckspool, Dungarvan, County Waterford. The development consists of detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses, along with 42 apartments in four three-storey duplex apartment blocks. It was given the green-light by Waterford planners on Wednesday, April 16, with Sinn Fein TD for Waterford Conor McGuinness describing the decision as a very positive step for Dungarvan at a time when the need for housing is acute. Local resident John McGrath raised concerns about the development to WCCC, in relation to the master plan, traffic congestion, and environment. Mr McGrath wrote that the subject site provides access to a larger land bank which should be subject to a master plan for the area. A master plan should be developed in the first instance. I would suggest therefore that this development is premature in that a master plan should now be drawn up for the entire area. A zoning map of the area with some notes, a creche and a spine road included as part of this planning submission does not constitute a master plan. The absence of a master plan is simply not acceptable as certain infrastructural, social and community obligations are being neglected or worse ignored. Under traffic congestion, Mr McGrath maintained that a previous planning grant for a much smaller development on the subject site was conditioned by the council such that the developer was to contribute towards a new roundabout at the junction of the L-3168 and the N25. Five years on, a much larger development is now proposed for the site with no consideration been given for a roundabout at the junction of the N25 and the L-3168. Traffic models prepared as part of the planning submission suggest that the project should be developed in advance of upgrading work to the local road network. As a local resident I would respectfully suggest that one must question the suitability and validity of the Traffic Impact Assessment and its findings, he wrote. Additionally, in 2022, An Bord Pleanala granted permission for 218 housing units on the opposite side of the same road as the subject development. This grant was issued despite huge opposition from local stakeholder groups whose concerns were vast and varied, wrote Mr McGrath. Some concerns were raised concerning infrastructure. "While the most robust opposition came from those with regards to environmental concerns, I wish to ask the local authority to consider the concerns raised by local stakeholders and in particular the environmental concerns which were presented with much gusto and hype before making any decision regarding permission on the subject site. In conclusion, I would ask WCCC to refuse planning permission for this development in its present application format, added Mr McGrath. The case is due to be decided by An Bord Pleanala on or before September 1 next. Bonmahon - the public are invited to drop in to the Copper Coast Visitor Centre at any time between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, June 7, for a taste of Waterfords placename heritage Waterfords residents are being invited to share their favourite names for that special place in their hearts which only they know. Does your favourite fishing or swimming spot have a name? Does your grandfather have a local boithrin named after him? Do you know what the fields around your house are called? The Cad As Duit? Placenames of the Deise roadshow event, organised by Waterford City and County Councils Placenames Committee, will reach out to local communities to share the placenames they have collected so far and give people an opportunity to add the names of local places that they know. We would love to hear your stories about local placenames, said a spokesperson. Waterfords residents are invited to drop in to the Copper Coast Visitor Centre at any time between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, June 7, for a taste of Waterfords placename heritage through a mixture of short talks, stories and maps. Learn about the work of the Waterford Placenames Committee and how to search online for maps, records and other valuable placenames resources. Sit down and share your stories and add your local placename to our maps. We will take all the information we can get, added the spokesperson. This event is being organised with support from Creative Ireland Waterford. The spectacular Copper Coast. WCCC is organising this free bilingual event. Refreshments will be served, with no booking required Follow Independent Waterford on Facebook This is a free bilingual event. Refreshments will be served, with no booking required. Contact Maire Seo Breathnach, Oifigeach Gaeilge at msbreathnach@waterfordcouncil.ie or Joanne Rothwell, Waterford City and County Archives at archivist@waterfordcouncil.ie for more information. Farm animals were also brought in to the delight of the students. Younger siblings took the day off school to help out. The sixth year students of FCJ Secondary School in Bunclody took a well-deserved break from studying for their Leaving Cert exams to have a little fun and to show their creativity through the schools Anything but a Backpack Day. A massive social media trend, particularly in the United States, students were given the challenge of leaving their school bags at home and making use of random objects to hold their books, stationary, and lunches for the day. Teacher at the school Justin Kelly, said the staff were mightily impressed with the creativity of the students even if some of the items caused traffic issues in the hallway. "These sixth years really outdid themselves this year. It is surprising what you can use instead of a schoolbag! We had everything from canoes, wheelie bins, lawnmowers, and live farm animals. Some students even went the extra mile by roping their family members in to make it a memorable day. "The younger siblings of some of our students took the day off primary school to carry their big brothers and sisters books for them, he added. Launch of Duncannon summer festival July. Front from left; poster competition winners, Corey Somers middle room runner-up, Charlie Sherriff junior room winner, Abby Slevin middle room winner and Elliana Lukosius junior room runner up. Back; George Lawlor TD, Cllr Marty Murphy, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, Eve Butler over-all poster competition winner, Eoin Cleary school principal, Susie Cunningham senior room runner up and Emma Butraimente senior room winner. Photo; Mary Browne As young local children gathered around the recently refurbished Danny boat at the entrance of Duncannon village, a little boy, Jay Stafford, read the story attached to the boat aloud, with such pride of his homeplace, which truly encapsulated the feeling of those from the seaside town who were joined by the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy TD, for the launch of the upcoming Duncannon Summer Festival. There were smiles and laughter galore in Duncannon, Co. Wexford this week, as local representatives joined residents from the village to celebrate the launch of this years festival, which has been missed by many in its absence. The revival of the annual festival has been announced by the Duncannon Village Renewal Committee, with an extensive number of events to be held on Saturday, July 26. During the launch, Director Clare Power highlighted plans for the many opportunities for the public to discover and enjoy the treasures of at Duncannons golden-sands beach, its historic military fort and the ocean shoreline. Launch of Duncannon summer festival July. Front from left; poster competition winners, Corey Somers middle room runner-up, Charlie Sherriff junior room winner, Abby Slevin middle room winner and Elliana Lukosius junior room runner up. Back; George Lawlor TD, Cllr Marty Murphy, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, Eve Butler over-all poster competition winner, Eoin Cleary school principal, Susie Cunningham senior room runner up and Emma Butraimente senior room winner. Photo; Mary Browne Ms Power also highlighted plans for a grand finale, that will include an open-air concert on the village green by the hugely popular band, the Controversial All Stars, and a near-shore fireworks display by Rocket Pyrotechnics. With the great groundswell of community support weve received, were bringing back our beloved annual festival and building it up over the next couple of years, Clare added. The Duncannon Festival will also include food for curious minds, and hungry stomachs, which will be fed by the festival partner, SEA School, where children and their parents will be encouraged to explore the marine treasures of Duncannons rich shoreline while having a lot of fun doing so. Seal Rescue Ireland will also be on hand to help them learn about protecting marine mammals, with the goal of educating all about the steps to be taken to protect and care for waterways, coastline and sea. All efforts are designed to contribute to Duncannons campaign to win back its Blue Flag status after an absence of 17 years. Launch of Duncannon summer festival July. From left; Claire Power, Josephine O'Connor from Scurri presenting 1,000 and Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. Photo; Mary Browne The hunger will well and truly be kept at bay by Duncannons great local businesses including Roches Bar, The Strand Bar, The Wild Rose, Lucas Fish & Chip Shop and The Shop at Shoreline, all of which are located in the heart of the village. In addition, the public will have a great opportunity to sample and buy local food and beverages as well as handcrafts and other products at Duncannon Fort during the day, which is currently undergoing extensive works under the steer of District Manager, Alan Fitzhenry. Its an absolute honour to be standing here today, both as your local TD and as the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Murphy said as she addressed those in attendance. Its a huge honour to represent Wexford, she continued, as she commended the sense of community spirit in Duncannon, along with the driven commitment from locals to taking on the responsibility of operating the festival. Launch of Duncannon summer festival July. Eve Butler over-all poster competition winner and Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. Photo; Mary Browne The Ceann Comhairle also highlighted that the future of the county is in great hands as the artwork for the festival was unveiled at the event, which was drawn and designed by primary school student, Eve Butler. The attendance of local Councillor, Marty Murphy, and Deputy George Lawlor was also acknowledged by the Ceann Comhairle who stated that its a testament to the community spirit that Duncannon is getting support from the local county council, which is great and it means theres great organisation and commitment shown. Deputy Murphy said she looks forward to seeing works and projects in the area being carried out by the council in coming to their fruition, and reiterated her support for Duncannon Fort to become the fifth tourist attraction in the Ring of Hook initiative. On a personal note, the Deputy concluded by saying: I had some friends at the weekend, who said it was like heaven here in south Wexford. The sun shone, the people were so friendly and they thought the hospitality was just fabulous. Thats what we need to keep in mind as we continue to push to put it on the map." More information on the festival will be posted on www.DuncannonVillage.ie as other elements are added to the programme. Friendly faces await Wicklow people at the Irish Cancer Society 'Your Health Matters' roadshow later this month. A nurse-led initiative aimed at catching cancer early is coming to Co Wicklow for two days next week. The Irish Cancer Societys Your Health Matters roadshow will be at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre in Arklow from 9am to 6pm on Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29. The service is free and allows members of the public to have a consultation with a specialist cancer nurse. No booking is required and during each session there is the opportunity to have a free blood pressure check, body mass index reading and carbon monoxide check. Friendly faces await Wicklow people at the Irish Cancer Society 'Your Health Matters' roadshow later this month. These health checks go alongside a suite of information about cancer prevention, screening and ways to spot the early signs. A referral for a GP can also be arranged where further help is required. Explaining the purpose of the roadshow, which travels to a different county each month, a spokesperson said that early detection and diagnosis of cancer is essential to improve health outcomes. When cancer is diagnosed early, it can improve the quality of life of those living with cancer, increase survival and reduce the severity of treatment. Many patients find it difficult to or do not attend GP visits even when they are experiencing potential cancer symptoms. The Your Health Matters Roadshow initiative seeks to change this by promoting positive lifestyle changes, increasing awareness of cancer symptoms, and improving medical care-seeking behaviour for the early signs of cancer. In 2024, the roadshow travelled to 26 locations in Ireland, engaging with more than 27,300 people about the signs and symptoms of cancer. Saoirse Ronan attends the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2026 photo call at Palais Des Papes on May 22, 2025 in Avignon, France. (Photo by Olga Gasnier/WireImage) Saoirse Ronan and her husband Jack Lowden are expecting a baby, the Irish Independent can reveal. A source close to the couple confirmed the news, with both Saoirse and Jack said to be "thrilled" at the upcoming arrival. The pair were married in a private ceremony in Edinburgh last summer, with just a handful of close friends present. Saoirse Ronan and Jack Lowden. Photo: Getty Today's News in 90 seconds - 23rd May 2025 Carlow native Ronan (31), who is a four-time Oscar nominee, met British star Lowden (34) in 2018 during the filming of Mary Queen of Scots, in which she played Mary and he played Lord Darnley, Marys second husband. He has previously described working with Ronan as remarkable. The woman is a force of nature, on- and off-screen, and utterly fearless and a brilliant leader as well, he said. Ronan gave her reaction to Lowdens comments in an interview with Harpers Bazaar, saying: When a person you respect as much as I do him says that, it means more than anyone elses opinion. Speaking to British Vogue last year, Ronan said she had always wanted to marry and have children alongside her career. I became successful when I was quite young. So it meant that, actually, by the time I found my partner, Im now at the stage where if it happened, I would like to have a kid, she said. I feel fortunate enough that if I step out of this for a minute, Im hopefully not giving it up forever. But, yeah, Ive always wanted that. The couple share a 2.8m home in Islington, north London, with their terrier, Fran. In 2020, Ronan was reported to have bought a two-bedroom waterfront cottage in Ballydehob in west Cork. The couple produced the 2024 film adaptation of The Outrun, in which Ronan played the lead, describing her husband as a lot calmer than she is as a collaborator. "Hes my voice of reason. But as a duo, weve both been on film sets our whole lives, so we have an appreciation of what were asking actors to do. We always want them to feel safe, she told USA Today. On whether the pair would appear on screens together again, she said: "Jack didn't want to for a long time, but I've now convinced him that's a great idea. Id really like to do something together on stage. Ronan was just 13 when she picked up her first Oscar nomination in 2008 for Atonement. Subsequent best actress nominations came for Brooklyn in 2016, Lady Bird in 2018 and Little Women in 2020. Her first media appearance was at the age of 10, when she appeared on the late Gerry Ryans radio show in a bid to win a trip to Florida for her family. She won the contest with her impression of the Gingerbread Man from Shrek. Ronans management has been contacted for comment. Holly Carpenter pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy James Kavanagh pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Rosanna Davison pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Maura Derrane pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Daisy Kelliher pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Mary Kennedy pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Celia Holman Lee pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Arthur Gourounlian pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Terrie McEvoy pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Rosalind Lipsett pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Roz Purcell pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Kathryn Thomas pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Pamela Uba pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Elaine Crowley pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Morah Ryan, Lottie Ryan, Bonnie Ryan and Babette Ryan pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Laura Fox pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Colette Fitzpatrick, Zara King and Ciara Doherty pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Jennifer Zamparelli pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy It was a night of glitz and glam at the Intercontinental hotel on Friday night for the annual Platinum VIP Style Awards. The red carpet was rolled out at the Dublin 4 hotel for the fashion awards run by the Irish publishing group, now in their 22nd year. No expense was spared as some of our best-known celebrities turned on the style with high hopes of walking home with one of the coveted accolades. Morah Ryan, Lottie Ryan, Bonnie Ryan and Babette Ryan pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy The Ballsbridge hotel was a sea of colour from 6pm onwards with some truly unique creations on display. Attendees included TV presenter Kathryn Thomas, who has been working with Q102 on her new breakfast show. She was delighted to get another wear out of her stunning Helen Cody wedding dress, having gotten hitched in 2019 at Kilkea Castle to Padraig McLoughlin. Kathryn Thomas pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy "This is my wedding dress. This was my evening number after the ceremony. She's my favourite designer and I looked at in the cupboard a week ago and went, 'The hook and the tie at the back is fastened but who cares?' "She lent me the shoes too and I borrowed the clutch off my neighbour." Holly Carpenter pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Recently linked with stepping into Joe Duffy's shoes on RTE Radio 1, she said she's been busy on Q102 with "my own radio show." "I'm flattered and honoured. Joe is a gentleman. The first person to send me a 'good luck' card on my desk at Q102 was Joe Duffy. He wished me the best of luck, said he was delighted for me and sent me a text a few weeks later saying, 'You're sounding great.' He is the consummate pro. So when I hear people say, 'Who's going to step into Joe's shoes?' Nobody can step into Joe's shoes." Other attendees included Rosanna Davison, Jennifer Zamparelli, Arthur Gourounlian, Elaine Crowley, Holly Carpenter alongside Lottie, Bonnie and Babette Ryan with mum Morah. Also spotted was Blathnaid Treacy, who was sporting a tiny baby bump as she looked forward to welcoming her second baby with husband Charlie Moone. Rosanna Davison pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Colette Fitzpatrick, Zara King and Ciara Doherty pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy The evening was hosted by 2fm presenter Laura Fox as some 350 attendees enjoyed a Moet champagne reception before a sit-down dinner. Tens of thousands of votes were cast by members of the public after the nominees were revealed by VIP magazine last month. Celia Holman Lee pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Some ten style awards were given out on the night, including Irelands Most Stylish Woman and Favourite Irish Designer. There was also an accolade for Best Dressed on the Night, which was only decided at the event itself. This year also had an international element, given that streaming service Hayu sponsored the Most Stylish Man category for the first time. Arthur Gourounlian pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Maura Derrane pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Mary Kennedy pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Daisy Kelliher pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy James Kavanagh pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Elaine Crowley pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Jennifer Zamparelli pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Laura Fox pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Pamela Uba pictured at the Platinum VIP Style Awards 2025 at the InterContinental Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy The largest of the Chagos Islands, Diego Garcia, is the site of a joint military facility of the UK and US. Photo: Getty UK prime minister Keir Starmer has formally signed an agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a scramble to prevent a further legal challenge following a last-minute injunction to halt the move failed yesterday. The deal will see the UK give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius, with Mr Starmer claiming the UK will pay 101m (120m) a year for 99 years to lease the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia back from the government, amounting to a total of 10bn over the course of a century. India-Chile Bilateral and Trade Relations in 2025 Available language India and Chile are actively negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the first round of talks held in New Delhi from May 26 to 30, 2025. India Briefing reviews India-Chile bilateral and trade relations in 2025, as the two countries mark a major leap in enhancing bilateral trade and investment ties. On May 8, 2025, representatives from India and Chile formalized the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the CEPA, with the document being signed by Juan Angulo, the Chilean ambassador to India, and Vimal Anand, joint secretary in the Department of Commerce and the chief Indian negotiator for the CEPA discussions. India and Chile set to begin CEPA negotiations India and Chile have formally agreed to commence negotiations for the CEPA in May 2025, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. During Chilean President Gabriel Boric Fonts state visit to India from April 1 to 5, 2025, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their trade relationship. Chile is increasingly seen by India as a strategic partner offering significant opportunities in areas like critical minerals, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, railways, and space exploration. The India-Chile CEPA intends to expand upon the current Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). This agreement targets a broader spectrum of areas such as digital services, investment collaboration, support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and critical minerals, thereby promoting deeper economic engagement. Loreto Leyton, executive director of the Chilean Pacific Foundation, a public-private institution affiliated with the Chilean Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations, shared the following comment on India-Chile CEPA negotiations: From a Chilean standpoint, the beginning of CEPA negotiations with India has enormous value in several senses. Firstly, it represents a major opportunity to diversify export markets by deepening trade contacts with the worlds fourth-largest economy, which is also projected to keep growing at high rates over the next several years. For many people both in the private and public worlds in Chile, India is considered to represent the same as China did two decades ago in terms of trade and investment opportunitiesthe existing FTA with the latter was signed in 2005. Secondly, the CEPA talks give off much-needed reassurance that Chile will continue to strive to advance a proactive international trade policy agenda. Through the CEPA, Chile will seek to boost its agricultural exports to India while also expanding its industrial base and attracting more Indian investments. Key sectors where Chile is inviting Indian participation include ports, infrastructure, and renewable energy. The CEPA discussions represent a timely and strategic opportunity to strengthen IndiaChile economic cooperation. With Indias focus on electric mobility and Chiles mineral capabilities, there is significant potential for integrated EV battery value chains. Ankur Munjal, Country Director Dezan Shira & Associates, India. Focus on the critical minerals sector One of the primary areas of focus in these discussions is the critical minerals sector, leveraging Chiles status as a major global producer. Chile accounts for about 24 percent of the worlds copper output and makes up approximately 30 percent of the global lithium market, making it a critical partner for Indias rapidly growing industries. Lithium, in particular, is a crucial component in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other advanced technologies. Both countries are exploring opportunities for closer collaboration in this sector, including potential Indian investments in Chilean mining and value-added processing before the minerals are exported. Chiles mining industry is a major contributor to its economy, accounting for roughly 13 percent of its GDP. To strengthen this partnership, India and Chile have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore deeper collaboration in the critical minerals sector, which is expected to be a key element of the upcoming CEPA negotiations. Facilitating India-Chile CEPA negotiations On April 3, 2025, the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Bombay Chamber) and the Chilean Federation of Industry (SOFOFA) signed an MoU aimed at enhancing economic cooperation between India and Chile. A key focus of the MoU is to provide strategic support for the ongoing negotiations for the CEPA. Both organizations have committed to offering technical insights and industry perspectives to their respective governments, with the goal of shaping a mutually beneficial trade framework that reflects the interests of businesses in both countries. Once the CEPA is finalized, the Bombay Chamber and SOFOFA plan to work together to ensure its effective implementation. This collaboration will involve identifying emerging business opportunities, promoting private sector participation, and organizing trade missions, industry briefings, and sector-specific initiatives to maximize the agreements impact on both economies. Indias trade ties with Latin American countries India and Chile share a steadily growing trade relationship, reflecting the broader trend of increasing economic engagement between India and Latin America. Chile ranks as the second-largest trading partner for India in the Latin American region. Indias Top 5 Trading Partners in Latin America, FY 2023-24 (Value in US$ Million) Country/region Exports Imports Total trade Trade balance Brazil 5,542.09 5,702.86 11,244.96 -160.77 Chile 1,098.25 1,353.21 2,451.46 -254.95 Colombia 1,097.57 2,849.43 3,947.01 -1,751.86 Argentina 972.44 2,316.49 3,288.93 -1,344.06 Peru 837.73 2,987.87 3,825.60 -2,150.14 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI In the FY 2023-24, bilateral trade between India and Chile reached approximately US$2.45 billion, with India exporting US$1.1 billion worth of goods to Chile and importing US$1.35 billion. This reflects a trade deficit of about US$255 million for India, indicating a relatively balanced but growing trade partnership compared to other Latin American countries. From a pure investment perspective, several Latin American countries are upgrading what they regard as strategic infrastructure to fuel development going forward. This encompasses a wide range of sectors, from IT, seaports, and airports to public works and digital connectivity, just to mention some of them. Against this backdrop, there are abundant opportunities for Indian businesses in the Latin American region, where other major Asian players like China have already been making inroads for quite a few years now. One aspect that Indian businesses might use to their advantage is the overall good reputation of Indias tech capabilities and the savvy of its workforce when it comes to 21st-century digital-based services. Loreto Leyton, Executive Director, Chile Pacific Foundation. India-Chile trade trends and key commodities Indias exports to Chile present a mixed growth trajectory in recent years. After a substantial 46.8 percent rise in FY 2021-22, exports saw a slight decline in FY 2022-23, followed by a modest recovery of 1.42 percent in FY 2023-24, reaching US$1.18 billion. India-Chile Bilateral Trade (Value in US$ Million) Trade activities FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 Indias exports to Chile 805.00 1,181.92 1,166.43 1,182.94 1,153.80 Growth (%) 46.82 -1.31 1.42 -2.46 Indias imports from Chile 670.60 1,371.16 1,435.83 1,514.10 2,604.32 Growth (%) 104.47 4.72 5.45 72.00 Total Trade 1,475.60 2,553.08 2,602.26 2,697.04 3,758.12 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI. Indias exports to Chile are diverse, including a wide range of products such as motor vehicles, chemicals, iron and steel products, man-made yarn, cotton fabrics, readymade garments, auto components, and electrical machinery, among others. Indias Exports to Chile (Value in US$ Million) HS Code Commodity FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 8711 Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor, with or without sidecars 17.55 24.83 3004 Medicaments (excluding items of headings 3002, 3005, 3006) 169.51 189.83 4203 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of leather or of composition leather 22.07 20.83 6305 Sacks and bags of a kind used for the packing of goods 13.09 18.33 6403 Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, lather/composition leather, and uppers of leather 12.06 15.82 7305 Other tubes and pipes (e.g., welded, riveted, etc.) 103.89 69.43 8207 Interchangeable tools for hand tools w/n power-operated or for machine tools 10.00 14.23 8503 Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of headings 8501 or 8502 44.97 1.15 8703 Motor cars and other motor vehicles for transport of persons (excluding those of heading 8702) including racing cars etc. 266.00 257.44 8708 Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705 16.61 20.58 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI Meanwhile, Indias imports from Chile have seen robust growth, driven primarily by the critical minerals sector. Between April 2024 and March 2025, Indias imports from Chile reached US$2.6 billion, a 72 percent increase from FY 2023-24. Indias Imports from Chile (Value in US$ Million) HS Code Commodity FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 2801 Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine 119.17 205.05 2603 Copper ores and concentrates 673.47 1,366.14 2613 Molybdenum ores and concentrates 170.10 216.91 4702 Chemical wood pulp, dissolving grades 24.78 41.92 7402 Unrefined copper; copper anodes for electrolytic refining 230.50 391.95 7602 Aluminum waste and scrap 10.14 19.79 7204 Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots 56.47 45.85 7108 Gold (including gold plated wth platinum) unwrought or in semi-manufactured forms/in powder form 0.00 70.29 7404 Copper waste and scrap 3.39 7.57 7326 Other articles of iron or steel 2.62 4.08 Source: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI India-Chile PTA The India-Chile PTA, which came into force in 2017, broadened the scope of tariff concessions between the two countries. Under the revised PTA, the two countries will grant concessions on the following commodities: Chiles concessions to India: Chile provides duty rebates on 1,798 goods, including agricultural items, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, apparel, iron and steel products, copper machinery, and rubber. Indias concessions to Chile: India offers reduced tariffs on 1,031 products, covering meat, fish, vegetable oil, processed foods, pharmaceuticals, pearls, rock salt, copper ore, leather, paper, and select industrial goods. Prior to this expansion, Chile offered duty reductions on just 296 items to India, while India extended similar benefits to 178 Chilean products, highlighting the enhancement in trade access achieved through this agreement. Trade relationship between India and Chile began with the signing of a Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation in January 2005, followed by a PTA in March 2006. The agreement was later expanded in September 2016, coming into effect on May 16, 2017. In 2019, the two countries made efforts to broaden the trade agreement, with three rounds of discussions held between 2019 and 2021. India-Chile DTAA The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Chile was signed on March 9, 2020, and came into effect on October 19, 2022, following ratification by both countries. In India, the provisions of this agreement apply to income derived in any fiscal year beginning on or after April 1, following the date the agreement entered into force, that is, October 19, 2022. Indias DTAA Rates Recipient Dividends (%) Interest (%) Royalties (%) Technical services (%) Chile 10 10 10 10 Source: India Briefing Indian business presence in Chile As of 2024, approximately 24 Indian companies have established representative offices in Chile. According to the Foreign Investment Committee of Chile, India invested approximately US$27.1 million in Chile between 1974 and 2012, primarily in the mining and IT sectors. This presence has expanded substantially, with Indian firms increasingly entering the Chilean market through acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic collaborations. Key players include Jindal Steel Works, TCS, Oracle Financial Services, Polaris, Evaluserve, Wipro, Godrej, Ashok Leyland, Tega Industries, Havells Sylvania, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, and NSL Renewable Power Private Limited. Exploring new sectors for collaboration Both countries are increasingly exploring new areas for collaboration beyond traditional sectors. This includes agriculture, digital services, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles, reflecting the evolving nature of their economic partnership and the growing importance of high-value, technology-driven industries. Indian trade and business organizations have been actively engaging with their Chilean counterparts, creating opportunities for deeper commercial ties. For instance, in August 2023, a high-level Chilean business delegation led by Sebastian Gomez Fiedler, director general of bilateral economic affairs at Chiles Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in a major business conclave in New Delhi. Additionally, in April 2024, an Indian mining delegation headed by the secretary of the Ministry of Mines visited Chile to participate in the World Mining Congress and the CRU World Copper Conference. (This article was originally published on May 23, 2025. It has since been updated on June 11, 2025.) The Chilean Pacific Foundation (CPF) is a public-private institution affiliated with the Chilean Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations. Since 1994, the foundation has promoted Chiles strategic integration with the Asia-Pacific region. India Mulls Opening Key Government Procurement Market to Foreign Companies India is considering partially opening its central government procurement market to foreign companies, including US firms, according to media reports dated May 23, 2025. The move is reportedly under discussion between India and the US as part of a broader interim trade agreement. As per several media reports published on May 23, 2025, India is preparing to partially open its tightly controlled government procurement market to foreign companies, including those from the United States (US). In an article published by Reuters, this move follows similar access granted to the UK by India under a recently concluded free trade agreement (FTA). It must be noted that Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry has not officially commented on the US negotiations or the potential for broader application of this policy. Access for US firms for procurement contract under discussion As of May 2025, Indias central government ministers are negotiating a trade pact with the US administration in Washington, D.C. Reports are emerging that discussions are reportedly underway to allow US-based companies to bid on national procurement contracts in India. These contracts would primarily involve central government projects, while state governments and local enterprises market procurement will remain off-limits to foreign bidders for now. Indias total public procurement includes spending by central, state, and local governments as well as state-owned enterprises. *NIC eProcurement Tender Statistics for March 2025 S. no. Organisation/state During the March 2025 Up to the month of March in FY 2024-25 No. of tenders Tender value No. of tenders Tender value A. Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) 1. Central CPSEs 3,957 INR 225.23 billion 40,225 INR 5.81 trillion 2. Central govt. organisation 3,858 INR 609.81 billion 51,689 INR 3.58 trillion 3. Defence establishment 3,791 INR 52.56 billion 59,183 INR 551.28 billion 4. PM Gram Sadak Yojana 1,108 INR 189.51 billion 9,038 INR 469.94 billion B. Major central public sector enterprises & Defence PSUs 1. Coal India Limited 3,023 INR 6.34 billion 27,759 INR 185.01 billion 2. Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited 1,134 INR 8.19 billion 12,111 INR 93.92 billion 3. NTPC 752 INR 1.72 billion 10,251 INR 76.58 billion 4. Indian Oil Corporation 446 INR 170.54 billion 7,835 INR 676 billion 5. Defence PSUs 200 INR 1.72 billion 2,373 INR 35.19 billion 6. Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd 31 INR 520 million 468 INR 7 billion C. States and union territories (31) 159,521 INR 2.19 trillion 1.6 million INR 14.10 trillion Grand total (A+B+C) 177,821 INR 3.45 trillion 1.8 million INR 25.60 trillion Source: Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) Newsletter, March 2025. *NIC refers to the National Informatics Centre, a central government entity. Public procurement tenders in India are largely reserved for its domestic players, with 25 percent of contracts earmarked for small businesses. It may be noted that certain sectors in India, like defense and railways, allow foreign procurement when domestic alternatives are unavailable. Public procurement is the process through which government bodies and state-owned enterprises acquire goods and services from private vendors to meet their operational needs. Similar to private companies, government departments require a range of supplies and servicesfrom office equipment to infrastructure developmentto function effectively. India uses CPPPa digital platform where tenders from central ministries, departments, and public sector enterprises are published for market procurement. Through this portal, registered businesses can view and bid on government contracts. Precedent set by India-UK trade deal On May 6, 2025, India signed an FTA with the UK that included a provision granting British firms access to a specific central government procurement market. This access spans goods, services, and construction contracts and is offered on a reciprocal basis. READ MORE: India-UK Free Trade Agreement Finalized UK companies are expected to gain the right to compete for a defined portion of contracts, especially in construction, goods, and services. While specifics are pending, the agreement signals a shift towards more inclusive participation. The deal would also extend preferential treatment to UK firms under Indias Make in India policy. UK companies with at least 20 percent domestic content could be classified similarly to Indian suppliers, allowing them better standing in central procurements. Those sourcing 50 percent or more from India may qualify for top-tier supplier status. In Indias public procurement, supplier status classifies vendors based on the local content in their goods or services, affecting their eligibility and preference in government tenders: Class-I local supplier: 50 percent or above local content; gets top preference. Class-II local supplier: 2050 percent local content; eligible but lower priority. Non-local supplier: Less than 20 percent local content; generally ineligible unless no local bids qualify. Selective market opening India, however, has confirmed that under the agreed FTA, UK suppliers will be limited to bidding on domestic contracts deemed Class-II local suppliers and only in non-sensitive sectors. On February 18, 2022, India opened the government procurement segment to the UAE under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Under that pact, UAE firms are allowed to participate in procurement tenders in India worth over INR 2 billion (US$23.44 million). India lobbies for favorable trade agreement with the US Indias Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, traveled to the US on May 16, 2025, to advance discussions, with both sides aiming to finalize an interim trade agreement by early July. This timeline coincides with a 90-day pause on tariff hikes announced by US President Donald Trump on April 9 for major trading partners, including India. One of the key issues for US negotiators has been Indias historically restrictive procurement framework, which the US Trade Representative criticized in its March 2025 report as a barrier for American businesses. Balancing MSME concerns in India Despite the policy shift, the central government is reportedly considering measures to protect its domestic industry. As per media reports, the secretary general of the Federation of Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (FISME) has assured that the central government will reserve 25 percent of public procurement orders for the small industry. Bhardwaj had emphasized that opening the procurement market to foreign firms on a reciprocal basis could create new opportunities for Indian exporters to access international government tenders. India has traditionally resisted joining the World Trade Organizations Government Procurement Agreement, citing the need to shield its small-scale industries. However, the new approach signals a willingness to explore bilateral frameworks that allow for limited and mutually beneficial access to public contracts. Role of the Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) To streamline and standardize the public procurement process at the central level, India has established the CPPP. This portal serves as a centralized platform for all central government departments, public sector enterprises, autonomous bodies, and other agencies to publish tender notices, contract awards, corrigenda, and related procurement information. One of the key objectives of the CPPP is to provide a single-window access to procurement activities across different ministries and departments, making the process more accessible and transparent. Procurement across central government ministries Various ministries under the central government participate in public procurement, such as the following: Ministry of Defence Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry of Railways Each ministry or department typically operates its own finance or procurement division, which is responsible for managing the procurement processes. These divisions act as the primary point of contact for vendors seeking to engage in government tenders. While the structure and role of these procurement wings may differ between central and state governments, their function remains fundamentally similar. (US$1 = INR 85.30) Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025: Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025 will be celebrated on 26th May 2025, which falls on a Monday. It marks the birth anniversary of Kazi Nazrul Islam. He was a famous Bengali poet, musician, and freedom fighter. This day is a public holiday in Tripura. It is celebrated with joy in West Bengal, Tripura, and Bangladesh. When is Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025? Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti celebrates the birth of Kazi Nazrul Islam. He is famously known as the "Rebel Poet." He was born on 24th May 1899 in Churulia, British India (now in West Bengal). Nazrul was a well-known poet, musician, and freedom fighter. His work inspired people during the fight for independence from British rule. He wrote boldly against social injustice, religious hatred, and gender inequality. He is deeply respected in Bengali literature and culture. Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti School Holiday 2025 In 2025, Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti is a public holiday in Tripura. Schools in the region will stay closed on this day. The holiday gives students and people a chance to take part in cultural programs. Biography of Kazi Nazrul Islam Kazi Nazrul Islam was born into a Bengali Muslim family. He showed interest in the arts from a young age while working with a rural theatre group. He later joined the British Indian Army during World War I. After the war, he became a journalist in Kolkata. There, his nationalist and revolutionary thoughts grew stronger. Nazrul was famous for his fiery poems and songs. He wrote nearly 4,000 songs, known as 'Nazrul Geeti.' These songs are still loved by Bengali-speaking people. Sadly, Nazrul suffered from Pick's disease, a rare brain disorder. His health slowly declined, and he became isolated. In 1972, he moved to Bangladesh. There, he was honoured as the national poet. He passed away in 1976. Famous Contributions of Kazi Nazrul Islam to Bengali Literature Nazrul's poetry was different from traditional Bengali writing. He wrote about freedom, love, equality, and justice. He composed thousands of songs. These songs still influence Bengali music and culture today. Nazrul stood against all kinds of oppression and hate. He supported peace between communities and spoke up for women's rights. His powerful words inspired the fight for freedom in both India and Bangladesh. How is Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti Celebrated? The day is celebrated with cultural programs, poetry recitations, and musical performances. Seminars are also held to highlight Nazrul's life and work. Schools, colleges, and cultural groups organise events. These events honour his role in literature and social change. Best Birthday Wishes for Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025 Happy Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025! May the spirit of the Rebel Poet inspire us to fight for justice, equality, and freedom every day. On this special day, lets remember the fearless voice of Kazi Nazrul Islam who taught us to stand against oppression. Happy Nazrul Jayanti! Wishing you a meaningful Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti! May his poetry and songs continue to enlighten and empower generations. Happy Birthday to the poet of revolution and love! Kazi Nazrul Islams legacy will forever inspire us to rise above hatred and injustice. Celebrate the birth anniversary of the great Kazi Nazrul Islam by embracing his message of unity and courage. Happy Nazrul Jayanti 2025! May the fearless words of Kazi Nazrul Islam ignite the flame of hope and change in our hearts. Wishing you a joyful Nazrul Jayanti! Remembering the poet who gave voice to the voiceless. Happy Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti! Lets keep his revolutionary spirit alive. On Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti, lets honor the legacy of a true visionary who fought for freedom with pen and music. Happy Birthday! Wishing everyone a blessed Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti 2025! May his teachings inspire peace, harmony, and courage in our lives. Happy Nazrul Jayanti! May the immortal words of Kazi Nazrul Islam continue to guide us towards justice and equality. Why is Kazi Nazrul Islam Called the Rebel Poet? Kazi Nazrul Islam is known as the "Rebel Poet." His poetry was bold and fearless. He strongly opposed British rule and social injustice. His famous poem Bidrohi ("The Rebel") expresses his defiance against tyranny. It shows his strong spirit to fight for freedom and equality. Nazruls writings also spoke out against religious hatred and caste discrimination. He stood for unity and justice. His activism went beyond poetry. He took part in protests and was even imprisoned for his views. This made him a true symbol of rebellion and human dignity. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. SBI clerk mains result 2025: The SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 is expected to be announced today soon on the official website, sbi.co.in. Candidates who took the exam on April 10 and 12, 2025, can check their results on the site. They should go to the Careers section and click on Current Openings. The result will be in a PDF file with roll numbers of shortlisted candidates. Once the link is active, candidates can download the PDF and search their roll number using Ctrl+F. SBI will also release category-wise cut-off marks with the result. Later, individual scorecards will be shared. This year, SBI is hiring for 13,732 Junior Associate posts. Candidates who qualify the mains will move to the next stages, like a language test or document check. When and Where to Check SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025? The SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 is likely to be released by May 24, 2025. Candidates can access the result by visiting the official SBI careers page at sbi.co.in/web/careers. The result will be published as a merit list PDF containing the roll numbers of shortlisted candidates. They will be considered qualified for the next stage of recruitment. How to Download SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 and Merit List PDF? Follow these steps to download the SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025: Visit the official SBI website: sbi.co.in Go to the Careers section and click on Current Openings. Find the link titled Recruitment of Junior Associates Mains Result 2025. Click the link to download the merit list PDF. Use the Ctrl+F function to search for your roll number. Save or print the PDF for future reference. SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025: Vacancy and Selection Process This year, SBI is filling 13,732 Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) vacancies, distributed across categories as follows: Category Number of Posts Unreserved (UR) 5,870 OBC 3,001 SC 2,118 ST 1,385 EWS 1,361 Candidates who clear the mains exam will move to the next phase. This may include a Language Proficiency Test (LPT), document verification, or an interview, depending on SBIs final selection process. SBI will release the final scorecards and category-wise cut-off marks shortly after announcing the result. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official SBI website sbi.co.in for the latest updates and official announcements regarding the SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025. FAQs Q. When will the SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 be declared? Answer: The SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 is expected to be announced soon, likely on or around May 24, 2025, on the official website sbi.co.in. Q. How can I check and download the SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025? Answer: Visit sbi.co.in, go to the Careers section, click on Current Openings, find the SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 link, download the merit list PDF, and search your roll number using Ctrl+F. Q. What details are mentioned in the SBI Clerk Mains Result PDF? Answer: The result PDF contains candidates roll numbers, names, registration numbers, marks obtained in each section, total marks, qualifying status, and category-wise information. Q. What is the next step after qualifying SBI Clerk Mains 2025? Answer: Candidates who qualify the mains will be called for a Language Proficiency Test (LPT), followed by document verification before final appointment. Q. Where can I find the SBI Clerk Mains cut-off marks and scorecard? Answer: State-wise and category-wise cut-off marks along with detailed scorecards will be published within a week of the mains result announcement on the official SBI website. For more news and updates from the world of Education, keep reading Indiatimes education. SSC GD Constable result 2025: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will soon release the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 on its official website ssc.gov.in. The result will be for the Computer-Based Exam held from February 4 to 25, 2025. Over 53,000 vacancies will be filled in CAPFs, Assam Rifles, and the Narcotics Control Bureau. Candidates can download the SSC GD Constable 2025 result PDF along with state-wise and category-wise cut-off marks. The result will also show the qualifying status and help candidates prepare for the next steps: physical and medical tests. SSC GD Result 2025: Expected Date & Official Website The official date and time for the SSC GD Result 2025 have not been announced yet. But, it is expected to be declared by May 25, 2025. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official SSC website, ssc.gov.in, for the latest updates. The site will also provide direct links to download the SSC GD Constable Result 2025, merit list, and cut-off marks in PDF format. How to Download SSC GD Constable Result 2025? Follow these steps to download the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 PDF and check your state-wise cut-off marks and merit list: Visit the official SSC website at ssc.gov.in. Click on the Results tab on the homepage. Locate and click on the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 link. The result PDF will open, displaying roll numbers of qualified candidates, cut-off marks by state and category, and the merit list. Download and save the PDF for future reference. State-wise Cut-off Marks & Merit List Details The SSC GD cut-off 2025 will be released state-wise, category-wise, and force-wise. It will show the qualifying marks separately for male and female candidates. The merit list will include the names and roll numbers of candidates who qualify for the next stages. These stages include the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST). The cut-offs help candidates understand their chances of selection and prepare for the next recruitment rounds. What Happens After SSC GD Result 2025? Candidates who qualify in the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 will be called for physical and medical exams. These tests are mandatory for final selection. The dates and details will be announced soon after the result is declared. Candidates should keep their roll numbers ready and regularly visit the official SSC website for updates on the recruitment process. SSC GD Constable result 2025: Highlights SSC GD Constable Result 2025 expected by May 25, 2025. Result available on official website ssc.gov.in. Download PDF for roll numbers, state-wise cut-off marks, and merit list. Over 53,000 vacancies across CAPFs, Assam Rifles, NCB, and SSF. No login required; result available as a downloadable PDF. Qualified candidates proceed to PET and PST stages. FAQs Q. When will the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 be declared? Answer: The SSC GD Constable Result 2025 is expected to be declared by the end of May 2025 on the official SSC website, ssc.gov.in. Q. How can I download the SSC GD Constable Result 2025? Answer: To download the SSC GD Constable Result 2025, visit ssc.gov.in, click on the Results section, find the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 link, and download the PDF. Q. Where can I find the state-wise cut-off marks for SSC GD Constable 2025? Answer: The state-wise cut-off marks for SSC GD Constable 2025 will be published along with the result PDF on the official SSC website. Q. What is the next step after checking the SSC GD Constable Result 2025? Answer: Candidates who qualify in the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 will be called for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Physical Standard Test (PST). Q. Is the SSC GD Constable Result 2025 available roll number wise or name wise? Answer: The SSC GD Constable Result 2025 is released as a merit list PDF containing roll numbers of qualified candidates. For more news and updates from the world of Education, keep reading Indiatimes education. Nothing Phone 3 leaks: The wait for the latest incarnation of Nothing's popular Phone series is nearly over, and excitement is mounting. The forthcoming Phone 3 will likely include several intriguing changes that will elevate the user experience to the next level. Fans are excited about the debut, and we're here to offer you the inside scoop. This post looks at the latest rumours and leaks about the Nothing Phone 3, including features, enhancements, and what to expect from this highly awaited smartphone. Please continue reading to see what Nothing has in store for us. Nothing phone 3 confirmed launch timeline Phone (3). It's a magic number. Coming July 2025. pic.twitter.com/WEQ7Vcf72H Nothing (@nothing) May 20, 2025 Nothing has finally announced that its much-anticipated flagship handset, the Nothing Phone 3, will be released in July 2025. Following the introduction of the Phone 2 in 2023, the company is prepared to introduce what might be a standout flagship in its portfolio. Nothing Phone 3 camera and battery details Nothing Phone 3 confirmed to launch in July 2025 | Credit: X The Nothing Phone 3 will likely have significant hardware improvements, such as a redesigned three-camera setup and a larger battery. The British consumer technology giant recently teased its future flagship at The Android Show: I/O Edition, and essential specifications have already surfaced online. According to 9to5Google, the Nothing Phone 3 will have a significantly updated camera system, including a big primary sensor and an enhanced periscope telephoto lens. The smartphone is also rumoured to have a battery capacity of more than 5,000mAh. In a post-event "Device Showcase" video on the official Android YouTube channel, Nothing CEO Carl Pei appeared with a blurred-out handset thought to be the Phone 3. The section indicated huge performance, software enhancements, and a significant price increase, implying that Nothing is pushing the Phone 3 as a more premium flagship offering. The Phone 3 is rumoured to have a three-camera setup and a revamped design. Along with a larger primary sensor, the smartphone features a larger periscope-style telephoto lens for greater zoom capabilities. The battery is also anticipated to be upgraded, with capacity expected to exceed 5,000mAha move consistent with recent releases from Nothing and its sub-brand CMF. The smartphone is believed to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 or the more advanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite chipset. It may include up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Also Read: Nothing Phone 3 price revealed by CEO Carl Pei: Expected to launch with AI features, Snapdragon 8 Elite, Android 15, 6.5-inch AMOLED display, and more Nothing Phone 3 expected price It should come as no surprise that Nothing Phone 3 will be the company's first real flagship phone, as co-founder Akis Evangelidis disclosed on X. The item will have a very high price tag, as the announcement itself reveals. Carl Pei stated in a video posted by the YouTube channel Android that the Nothing Phone 3 will go on sale for "around EUR 800." After conversion, this is approximately Rs 90,500 in India and $1,063 in the US. For the latest and more interesting tech news, keep reading Indiatimes Tech. Cue the drumroll and clear the red carpet, because Alia Bhatt is officially Cannes-bound and ready to cause fashion and cinematic mayhem on the French Riviera. After a chaotic week of swirling rumours, political speculation, and social media investigation, And the Darlings actress was spotted at Mumbai airport looking every bit the luxe diva that she is. Alia Bhatt spotted at the airport ahead of Cannes debut Wrapped in a beige Gucci trench and paired with a white figure-hugging top, vintage-style blue denims, and dark aviators, Alia did what she does best, served casual cool with high-fashion credibility. She flashed a quick smile to the paparazzi before strutting inside, not stopping to pose, as if to say, Let the mystery simmer. Her departure squashes days of internet whisperings that she had cancelled her debut appearance due to heightened Indo-Pak tensions following the April Pahalgam attack. Some gossip portals even suggested the delay had something to do with Cannes fashion code drama, and honestly, we were lowkey here for the chaos. But Alia cleared the air like the queen she is, no dramatic PR note, just a vibey Instagram post showing off her travel essentials. Among them? James Clears Atomic Habits, a glam-packed makeup pouch branded with LOreal Pariss Im worth it, and a caption that read simply: Off we go. Fashion girlies, intellectuals, and loyal stans, everyone felt seen. Alia Bhatt to make her Cannes Film Festival debut | Credit: Instagram | aliaabhatt Alia Bhatt to walk the carpet with Aishwarya Rai? Alia will be gracing Cannes as part of her ongoing collab with LOreal Paris, the festivals official beauty partner. She joins an already star-studded Indian lineup this year that includes Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (the Cannes queen herself), Janhvi Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Anupam Kher, making the 2025 edition one of Indias most powerful showings on the global stage. And as Aishwarya is also there for LOreal, there is a possibility that we might see them walk together. The wait is finally over! Alia Bhatt made her much-anticipated red carpet debut at the 78th Cannes Film Festivaland she broke the internet. The National Award-winning actress stole the spotlight in a vintage-inspired ensemble that radiated timeless elegance and classic charm. Alia sent fans into a frenzy when she posted a monochrome picture on her Instagram story with the caption, "& here we go.." In the photo, she's seen holding a hand fan emblazoned with the words "worth it," perfectly capturing the excitement and significance of the moment. Alia Bhatt Instagram story Alia Bhatt's enchanting floral look The actress stunned in a pastel floral gown embellished with delicate embroidery. Featuring a fitted bodice, structured shoulders, and subtle ruffle accents, the ensemble perfectly flattered her petite frame. Her hair was styled in a sleek side-parted bun, drawing attention to her radiant makeup which was soft peach blush, glossy nude lips, and a luminous glow. She completed the look with elegant stud earrings and a vintage-style paper fan. Fans capture her stunning entry Photos and videos shared by fan accounts on X (formerly Twitter) captured the Bollywood diva stepping onto a balcony just moments before her red carpet debut, offering a first glimpse of her breathtaking look. Soon after, more images surfaced showing her making her way into the festival, with several mobile cameras pointed at her, all eager to capture the moment. Alia Bhatt at the cannes film festival pic.twitter.com/3Qu5n1IB1i hourly Alia (@AliaHourly) May 23, 2025 One said, "OH MY GOD ALIA BHATT???????" Another said, "Alia Bhatt serving golden-era glam" One added, " she got the face card, the body tea!" Alia Bhatt's Cannes debut talk Earlier in the day, Alia Bhatt turned heads with a series of standout looks. She was spotted at Mumbai airport in a casual yet stylish Gucci tank top and baggy jeans. Later, when she arrived in Cannes in a chic short brown wrap dress featuring a front slit. Representing LOreal Paristhe official beauty partner of the Cannes Film FestivalAlia proudly joins the list of Indian celebrities making their mark on the global stage. She walks alongside icons like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Janhvi Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Urvashi Rautela at this year's red carpet. Amid the sudden resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and even China, fresh cases are being reported in India too. Currently, India is witnessing a mild but growing resurgence in COVID-19 infections in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and more. The recent rise in infections is being linked to the emergence of two new subvariants, namely, OF.7 and NB.1.8, which are the descendants of the JN.1 lineage, itself a subvariant of the Omicron strain. On the other hand, the Singapore health authorities have stated that the reason behind the sudden spike is the waning immunity among the population. Is waning vaccine immunity a concern? It is alarming to observe the increasing cases of COVID-19 in India, and waning vaccine immunity is a prime reason for this upsurge. Declining vaccine immunity is an issue in the background of increasing COVID-19 infections in India. Vaccine immunity wanes over time, and hence booster doses are essential, says Dr. Majeed Pasha, Consultant, Pulmonology, Chest & Sleep Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi. COVID-19 surge: Is it safe to travel to Singapore or Thailand? | Credit: PTI In view of the ongoing surge, it is important to look at providing booster doses, particularly for high-risk groups such as the elderly and comorbid patients. Booster doses will ensure sufficient levels of immunity and avoid critical disease. I advise that booster shots should be given priority to the vulnerable populations and encourage sustained adherence to public health practices such as masking and social distancing to reduce transmission of COVID-19, advises Dr. Pasha. Will a booster dose help prevent the rise in new cases? With COVID-19 cases on the rise again in India, many are questioning whether a booster dose could help curb the surge and offer renewed protection against evolving variants. According to Dr. Anantha Padmanabha, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, The recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide booster doses to vulnerable groups, like the elderly and immunocompromised groups, is a prudent measure. The Indian experts' idea of examining the possibility of providing booster doses to individuals who have taken their primary doses six months or more ago is also a rational approach, he adds. Cases rise in Mumbai, Gurugram, Andhra Pradesh, and more Amid India reporting fresh new cases, Mumbai has reported 95 cases so far in the month of May. With this, the share of Maharashtras total of 106 cases recorded since January, according to data released by the state health department. As a precaution, the Pune Municipal Corporation has set aside 50 beds at Naidu Hospital. VIDEO | Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav (@satyakumar_y) reacts to reports of single Covid-19 case detected in state. He said, All over India 257 cases (Covid-19) have been recorded. There is no need to panic as the state is fully prepared. Testing pic.twitter.com/BJhzrKszU2 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 23, 2025 While two Telugu states are also on high alert after a woman tested positive for COVID-19, the state government has issued a general advisory urging people to take precautions to tackle any possible spike in COVID-19 cases, reported the Hindu Businessline. In Haryana, three new cases of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed, including two in Gurugram and one in Faridabad. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. The Lego store has finally opened its first store in India after a long wait. The Danish toymaker, the Lego Group, has launched its 4,500-square-foot store at Ambience Mall, Gurugram. It is the largest LEGO Store in South Asia. With the inauguration of the store, Lego is shifting from selling its products online and via other retailers like FirstCry and Hamleys towards having its own physical location. The store features over 800 products, including 250 sets that are only available at Lego stores. Lego store in India promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience The global toy giant company has entered the Indian market in collaboration with retail leader Ample Group and has unveiled a vibrant outlet. Not only that, but it also promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience, as it is a blend of physical and digital products that bring spirit to life. Lego eyes big on Indian market For Lego lovers, this is an iconic Danish brand, and having a full-fledged store in India for the first time is a dream come true. But for Ample Group, it is a strategic leap as Indias economy eyes a 6.3 per cent growth in 2025, fueled by rising consumer demand and a policy push for retail. A look at Indias toy market According to a 2024 Exim Bank report, the value of the Indian toy market was $1.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 12 per cent to reach $3 billion by 2028. Credit: X | @2shar However, Lego intends to accelerate its expansion, aiming for double-digit growth by 2032. In close collaboration with the Ample Group, we are excited to offer the LEGO brand experience to India. Moreover, according to Bhavana Mandon, Country Manager, Lego India, over the next two years, the company plans to open stores at numerous locations to let more Indians discover the joy of play, and they are establishing the groundwork for a robust retail presence. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Netflix's Sirens ending explained: Okay, first things first, you need to watch Sirens on Netflix. It has its flaws, sure, but its addictive, and with all five episodes out, it makes for a cozy binge-watch. For those of you whove already watched the Julianne Moore, Milly Alcock, and Meghann Fahy starrer, were breaking down its ending and exploring the possibilities of a new season. The Netflix series, which is also being compared to HBOs The White Lotus for its portrayal of the lives of the uber-rich, has fans hooked. It follows two sisters, Devon and Simone DeWitt, from Buffalo, New York, with a dead mother and an absent, alcoholic dad who now also has Alzheimers. It doesnt get worse than this, youd think but thats not exactly true. What's Netflix's Sirens about? Sirens begins with the elder sister, Devon (Meghann Fahy), setting off on a quest to find her sister on a luxury island after she goes MIA. The younger sister, having not seen their dad in a decade and her sister for years, has gone completely off the grid, living a whole new life and not just blending in but thriving in the world of attorney-turned-millionaire philanthropist Michaela Kell while working as her personal assistant cum best friend. But her perfect little world shatters when Devon shows up at the Kell mansion and Devon is completely in disbelief at the hold Kiki has over her sister. We're talking about being unable to finish a sentence without name-dropping, Kiki-kind of influence. Simone (L) and Michaela (R)| Credit: Netflix After Michaela subtly arranges for Devon to be sent off the island, Devon becomes convinced that Michaela is more than just a manipulative socialiteshes a cult leader and possibly a murderer who got rid of Peter Kells ex-wife, Jocelyn, after seducing him. Shes almost certain her sister has fallen under the same spell and joined what she jokingly calls the hey hey club. Determined to break free from what she sees as a twisted trap, Devon is on a mission. Simone, meanwhile, is blinded by devotion despite Devons repeated warnings. Shes convinced that Kiki is the one person who truly understands her. Even though she keeps certain things hidden, Simone genuinely believes Michaela holds the key to fixing her life. The entire series plays out over Labor Day weekend, forcing both sisters to confront buried childhood traumas. And in the end, Simone makes a life-altering choiceone that shatters Michaelas carefully constructed world in more ways than one. Netflix's Sirens ending explained: Why did Peter leave Michaela for Simone? What happened to Devon? Throughout the series, Simone remains fiercely loyal to Michaela. She follows her advice to the letter, often completing tasks even before being asked. So when Michaela grows suspicious about her husband Peters sudden business trip to Japan, she asks Simone to discreetly follow him. Simone, however, fails in her mission and ends up getting caught by Peter. What starts as a confrontation turns unexpectedly intimate, with the two sharing several emotional moments, culminating in a kiss initiated by Peter. Simone and Peter (Credit: Netflix) Simone immediately pulls away, making it clear that her loyalty to Michaela is unwavering. She and Peter agree to keep the incident a secret, knowing full well that Michaela would never forgive them even if it was one-sided. Unfortunately, a Vanity Fair photojournalist captures the moment, and the proof lands in Michaelas hands. Furious, she fires Simone on the spot. Simone's and Michaela's fallout changes everything The fallout is brutal. Simone had just turned down a proposal from Ethan, Peters best friend, and was preparing to start a fresh chapter in New York, encouraged by none other than Michaela herself. Despite repeatedly trying to explain that Peter had made the move and that she stayed silent to protect Michaelas marriage, Kiki shows no leniency. She not only cuts Simone off but also arranges for her to return to Buffalo, accusing her of theft to save face, all while hosting a high-profile charity gala. But Simone proves she learned from the best. She confronts Peter and tells him everything. Peter decides to end his marriage to Michaela, accusing her of controlling his life and alienating him from his children. In a dramatic turn, he finds new Mrs. Kell in Simone. When Michaela protests, insisting no one else could care for the Kell legacyespecially the prized aviaryPeter counters that Simone is more than capable. Just like Michaela once replaced Jocelyn, her time is now up, as history repeats itself and the assistant becomes the one taking over. While this dramatic turn paints Simone as the villain, Sirens slowly unpacks her emotional wounds, starting with the trauma of witnessing her mothers suicide from the backseat. Shes kind at heart but often makes reckless choices chasing a sense of safety. So when Peter became an escape, she took itbecause returning to her old life was never on the table. What happened to Devon and why did she distance herself from Simone? Simone at the Kells' mansion (Credit: Netflix) Devon watched her sister unravel in real time, trying desperately to pull her back from what she believed was a cult. Having dropped out of college to raise Simone and later sacrificing her youth to care for their ailing father, Bruce, Devon felt a fierce responsibility. She couldnt just stand by as Simone slipped further under Michaelas influence. When Michaela fires Simone, Devon storms into the charity gala and accuses her of being a cult leader and even a murderer. But Michaela then reveals that Joeclyn is alive, just hidden from public life after a surgery gone wrong. That revelation shakes Devons perception. Soon after, she catches Simone with Peter and realizes her sister isnt brainwashedshes trapped in her past, clinging to the illusion that this new life can somehow make up for everything she lost. In that moment, Devon chooses to let go. She decides to leave the island with her father and declines a tempting getaway with Ethans boat captain, Jordan, even after Bruce assures her he can manage on his own. Underneath her tough, no-nonsense exterior, Devon has given up her best years for her family: first Simone, now Bruce. She soaks it all in and quietly boards the ferry home, leaving Simone in her glittering new life, one Devon knows could fall apart at any moment. The heartwarming conversation between Devon and Michaela Turns out, Michaela ends up on the same ferry to New York. Though she tries to keep a low profile, Devon sits beside her and offers a quiet apology for the accusations she made. What follows is an unexpectedly tender exchange between the two. When Devon asks whats next, Michaela admits she doesnt really know. She then tells Devon to cash the $10,000 check she once gave her to leave the island, since now shes planning to get her own placelike a grown-up, she says with a shrug. When Devon asks if Simone will be okay with Peter, Michaela simply says, No, but adds that she managed 15 years with him, implying Simone might survive too. In that moment, Devon sees Michaela not as the monster she imagined, but as someone deeply flawed and quietly heartbroken. And Michaela, in turn, says Simone isnt a monster eitherjust someone trying to find her place. Its a rare flash of honesty, revealing that Michaelas love for Simone was always real. In the final scene, Simone, dressed like the perfect Mrs. Kell, stands on the edge of the island estate, soaking in the view of a life she believes is finally hers. In the final moment, we see Simone, dressed up how a Mrs Kell would, admiring the beauty of the island, which she believes now belongs to her. Will there be a Sirens Season 2? Will Simone succeed as the new Mrs. Kell? (Credit: Netflix) First came Joeclyn, then Michaela, and now Simone. The cycle in the Kell world seems endless. Sirens season 2 could explore so muchwhether Simone thrives in her new role, if someone new replaces her in Peters life, how Michaela copes with the loss of her place and youth, and whether Devon finally chooses herself. The possibilities are wide open. But sadly, they might never unfold. Netflix has labelled Sirens a limited series, which usually means no continuation. Still, if fan demand grows loud enough, there's always a chance we could revisit the tangled world of the Kells. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Ray Kurzweil, the famed inventor and former Google engineer, has reignited a futuristic debate with one bold prediction: by 2030, humans may conquer death. Kurzweil believes that nanobotstiny molecular machineswill soon be able to repair our cells, eliminate diseases, and even reverse the aging process. Sound like sci-fi? It might be closer to reality than [] Hit Channel The 39th Award of Journalism Prizes and Certificates of Distinction by the Athanassios Vas. Botsis Foundation for the Promotion of Journalism took place at Zappeion Hall on Friday, in the presence of Hellenic Republic President Constantine Tassoulas and political and religious leaders. At the start of the event, a special honorary certificate was presented to Archbishop Hieronymos of Athens and All Greece for his contributions to humanity and society by President Tassoulas and Foundation President Panos Karagiannis. The certificate was received on behalf of the archbishop by Bishop Alexios of Stavropygion. The awards have been presented without interruption since 1982 and have become a Greek institution. A special mention was made of journalists who live and work in war zones, 164 of whom were killed in Gaza, Journalists' Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) president Maria Antoniadou noted. iefimerida.gr Greece has taken a leading role in international diplomacy during its presidency of the United Nations Security Council, launching a global initiative aimed at protecting civilians caught in armed conflicts, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said in a statement from New York. Speaking to Greeces public broadcaster ERT , Mr. Gerapetritis highlighted the countrys central role in guiding discussions on the humanitarian cost of warfare. Our goal is to reduce not only the armed conflicts themselves but above all their devastating consequences on the most vulnerablewomen, children, journalists, and humanitarian workers, he said. Under Greeces leadership at the Security Council this May, Athens initiated a debate focused on safeguarding civilians during wartime a subject that has gained renewed urgency amid escalating violence across multiple global hotspots, including Gaza. Mr. Gerapetritis warned that more than 130 conflicts are currently raging worldwide, increasingly targeting those least able to defend themselves. The Greek initiative culminated in a joint statement championing the principles of international humanitarian law. The statement has been formally endorsed by 80 countries, a strong show of support that Mr. Gerapetritis called a testament to the urgent need for collective action. He presented the declaration at UN headquarters, emphasizing that it reflects the shared position of the global body regarding civilian protection. In a parallel diplomatic move, the Greek presidency has spearheaded a second declaration this time on the environmental toll of armed conflict. The initiative highlights how warfare forces civilian populations to flee their homes, leaving them even more exposed to environmental degradation, displacement, and violence. Greece stands at the sharp edge of global diplomacy at the United Nations, Mr. Gerapetritis said, announcing plans to convene a special session by the end of May focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We aim not just to assess the scale of suffering but to form a real alliance to shield those paying the highest price of warespecially women and children. He added that Greeces leadership is guided by a firm belief in the UN Charters humanitarian values and by the pressing duty of the international community to act. It is our responsibility to protect the innocent, and Greece will be at the forefront of that effort, Mr. Gerapetritis said. iefimerida.gr A 20-year-old novice monk was violently assaulted Thursday evening at the Esphigmenou Monasterys representative quarters in Karyes, Mount Athos, in an incident that has shocked the monastic community. According to preliminary reports, the attack occurred around 7:45 p.m. when an unidentified man dressed in clerical robes struck the young monk multiple times. The assailant reportedly punched him in the face and struck his shoulder with a wooden object. The victim was transported to the Mount Athos Health Center, where he remains under observation. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, authorities said. The attacker fled the scene and remains at large. Local authorities are actively investigating the incident and are working to identify and apprehend the suspect. Mount Athos, an autonomous monastic state and spiritual center of the Eastern Orthodox Church, is rarely the scene of such violent episodes, and the motive behind the assault remains unclear. iefimerida.gr Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis met with the EU Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Association, Maria Luisa Albuquerque, at the Ministry of National Economy and Finance. During the meeting, Pierrakakis and Albuquerque discussed in detail the economic situation in Europe and Greece, with emphasis on the financial sector. Special reference was made to the country's banking system , which has become stronger, as reflected in the steady growth of deposits, the financing of the real economy and the significant decline in non-performing loans. The minister also had the opportunity to exchange views with the Commissioner regarding the European challenges for markets and financial stability. The meeting focused on the deepening of Banking Integration and the Capital Markets Union, necessary steps to advance the completion of the Savings and Investment Union. Pierrakakis stressed that Greece supports this effort, actively promoting reforms in the financial sector and recognizing that the Savings and Investment Union is crucial for the future financing of the European economy, the mobilization of private capital and the reduction of financial dependence on third markets. The minister pointed out, among other things, that "Greece is no longer managing crises. It is planning its future with confidence and credibility. We are building our fiscal stability not with words, but with measurable results." He also expressed the country's full support for the Commission's initiatives to promote innovation and digital finance, underlining that "Greece has not simply returned to normality. With a plan, stability and commitment to reforms, it is evolving into a model of stability and growth in Europe." On her part, Albuquerque said that the Commission is aware of the major challenges facing the European economy. "We have the resources in Europe that will allow us to overcome these challenges, if we commit and implement the right policies," she added. Referring to the prospects of the Greek economy, she said that "there is great optimism about the prospects of the Greek economy. It is good to see that things are different now, that the climate is more optimistic and that there is a perspective here in Greece, which we believe that the Savings and Investment Union strategy could support a lot." iefimerida.gr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended defectors moving to ruling All Progressives Congress, saying that Nigerias constitutional right to freedom of movement and association allows citizens to join any political party of their choice. Speaking on Thursday at the APC National Summit in Abuja, Tinubu described the opposition, including coalition movements, as dead, stressing that, as currently composed, only empty vessels are left behind. The President added that he is optimistic about more defections to the ruling the party, adding that they are welcome. Advertisement Tinubu also dismissed concerns about Nigeria becoming a one-party state, emphasising that political changes result from free choice. READ MORE: I See Everything Turning Around For You In 2027, More LP Senators To Join APC Akpabio Tells Tinubu He said: Before I skip, I just need to tell those ones saying one-party system is no good: its one party ruling and driving the aspirations of Nigerians. Where do they start? You dont blame people bailing out of a sinking ship when they have no life jacket. We are in a constitutional democracy. Dont forget, the freedom of movement and association is not criminally punishable. Welcome to the progressives, sweep them clean. We are just halfway through the journey that began 24 months ago. The faithfulness of Nigerians in assessing how far we have progressed is steering our country along the critical path of our socio-economic development. Recall that in April 2025, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, along with former governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other top PDP officials, defected to the APC. The Presidents remarks came just as all 22 Progressive Governors, under the auspices of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu. Department of State Services, has described the Eastern Security Network, a armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, as an illegal organisation. DSS led this out on Thursday, at the resumed trial of the detained leader of the IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Recall that Kanu is facing a seven-count terrorism and treasonable felony allegations, which was leveled against him by Federal Government. Advertisement Meanwhile, the second prosecution witness in the case, who is a DSS official, while being re-axamined by FGs lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, maintained that ESN, which was established by the defendant, is an unlawful organization that lacked the backing of the law. The witness, identified as BBB, told court that unlike the ESN, the DSS accorded recognition to Amotekun, which operates in the South West region of the country. He clarified that Amotekun, whose members also carry arms, was formed with the support of Houses of Assembly of the six states that made up the South West region. He said: My lord, while the ESN is not a registered organization recognized by law, Amotekun was established following the law passed by the respective Houses of Assembly in the affected States. Earlier during the hearing, defence counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN) tendered three video recordings contained in a flash drive, which the court admitted into evidence. In one of the recordings, the DG of the DSS was seen speaking at a public event where he encouraged communities to create a first line of defence against bandits and other external threats. READ MORE: Alleged Terrorism: We Werent Involved In Kanus Arrest From Kenya DSS Tells Court He was heard saying: The practical approach to mobilising people is to get everyone involved. It is impossible for the security agencies to deploy to every part of the country. What we need to do is to make communities set up a first line of defence. We have to allow some level of armament for the communities to rise and defend themselves first, but under the guidance and approval of security agencies. The time to start it is now. Another video played in court showed former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma, speaking at a public forum. In the footage, Danjuma alleged that some members of the armed forces were not neutral in the ongoing killings across the country. Upon identification of Danjuma as the speaker, Erokoro asked the witness to comment on the implication of Danjumas remarks. The witness declined, stating that Erokoro should direct such a question to Danjuma himself. Before adjourning proceedings for the day, Justice James Omotosho directed the prosecution to conclude its case within six days and allocated nine days for the defence to present its argument. Following an agreement by the parties, the judge adjourned further hearings to 28 and 29 May, and 6, 16, 18 and 19 June. A 60-year-old motorcycle operator, Wasiu Babatunde Adeniran, was confirmed dead by the Lagos State Police Command after he was swept away by floodwaters during heavy rainfall along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Alakuko, Lagos. In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the command disclosed that the incident took place on May 20, 2025, at approximately 4 p.m. Adeniran is said to have lost control of his motorcycle during the heavy rain and was swept away by the strong floodwaters. Advertisement READ MORE: Lagos Authorities Arrest Man For Illegal Waste Disposal The unfortunate incident took place along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Alakuko, during heavy rainfall. The victim, Wasiu Babatunde Adeniran, fell off his motorcycle, which was also carried away by the flood, the statement read. Search efforts for the victim began immediately, and Adenirans motorcycle was found downstream around 6 p.m. on the same day. However, his body was not recovered until the following morning. The body was discovered at about 9am on May 21, 2025, at the Obasanjo River in Ota, Ogun State, Hundeyin confirmed. Police investigators swiftly inspected the locations of the incident and recovery, gathering evidence to assist with their ongoing investigation. Photographs of the deceased were taken, and the corpse has been deposited at a public morgue for an autopsy. Investigation is in progress, the statement added. The police command reaffirmed its dedication to conducting a comprehensive investigation and offered its condolences to the family of the deceased. Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a strong call to party members to reject internal sabotage and maintain focus on Nigerias progress. Speaking at the APC National Summit held at the Presidential Villas Banquet Hall on Thursday, Ganduje urged all members to engage with communities, listen to citizens, and build a political structure that endures beyond elections. Ganduje emphasised the importance of unity within the party, urging members to rally behind President Bola Tinubu and support the policies driving the Renewed Hope Agenda. Advertisement Let us rally behind President Bola Tinubu, support our policies, and deliver the Renewed Hope Nigerians rightfully deserve, he stated. He described the APC as a movement founded on courage and conviction, representing over 200 million Nigerians. Under his leadership, Ganduje noted that the party has been reformed, energized, and steadily expanding. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/sdp-cant-be-used-no-one-can-frustrate-me-to-step-down-for-atiku-adebayo.html The Renewed Hope Agenda is already fulfilling its promises, he added. Highlighting the significance of a strong and stable APC for Nigerias future, Ganduje called on members to see themselves not just as politicians but as patriots and national stewards. The APC chairman expressed appreciation for President Tinubus achievements over the last two years and reaffirmed the partys endorsement of him as the sole presidential candidate. Ganduje described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a comprehensive strategy aimed at restoring governance, economic vitality, and national pride. This is no mere slogan its a serious contract with Nigerians, he said. The summit served as a platform for reflection on the partys journey and responsibilities. Ganduje urged members to embody courage, sacrifice, and sustained commitment to long-term national progress, emphasizing the signs of economic recovery and growing international interest in Nigeri Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has issued a clear directive to all commissioners and political appointees in his cabinet, they must either defect with him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or resign from their positions. This announcement came during a State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on Thursday, where Governor Eno officially confirmed his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the APC. Sources present at the meeting revealed that Governor Eno expressed no surprise that some might not have anticipated his defection, stating, Anybody who claims he is not aware of my intention to leave the PDP is still living in the 18th century. Advertisement READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/i-see-everything-turning-around-for-you-in-2027-more-lp-senators-to-join-apc-akpabio-tells-tinubu.html He emphasised that his admiration for President Bola Tinubus leadership style and his desire to work more closely with the Federal Government motivated his switch to the APC. The governor made it clear that he has nothing to negotiate with those unwilling to follow his political direction, warning that apart from elected officials such as House of Assembly members and Local Government Chairmen, all appointees must comply or step down. Let me tell you, anybody who believes that when I leave the PDP he will use the party structure to fight me is lying, because I will still control the PDP structure, he added. The State Executive Council meeting was ongoing as the report was filed, with further developments anticipated. Governor Enos firm stance underscores a significant political shift in Akwa Ibom State and highlights the growing influence of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. His decision to move his political base signals a notable realignment in the states political landscape, putting pressure on his appointees to align with the new direction or face resignation. Former Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has emphasised that the fate of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election will ultimately be decided by Nigerian voters, not a select group of governors. Speaking on Thursday, Wabara was responding to the recent endorsement of Tinubu by APC governors as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential race. While commending the governors for adhering to the global tradition of giving the President the right of first refusal, Wabara cautioned that this does not guarantee an automatic victory. Advertisement He cited the 2015 election, where then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP lost to the opposition APC candidate despite being the sitting president. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/2027-election-apc-governors-endorse-tinubu-for-second-term.html Wabara urged APC governors to focus on delivering tangible results to Nigerians rather than prematurely celebrating political endorsements. The Nigerian masses, who daily experience the impact of the APC-led Federal Government, are the ones to decide the Presidents fate in 2027, he stated. He further advised against heating up the political climate ahead of time, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not yet lifted the ban on campaigns. He also criticized the APCs governance, accusing the party of imposing a one-party system and warned that such a development poses a threat to Nigerias democracy. Wabara called on the APC to prioritize improving the living conditions of Nigerians amid the economic hardships many face under the current administration. In conclusion, Wabara stressed, Governors do not have the mandate to decide who becomes President in 2027. Such right resides with the electorate. His remarks serve as a reminder that democratic processes ultimately rest in the hands of the people, not political elites. President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to have more patience with his administration, saying that nothing good come easily for any developed nation. Tinubu insisted that his economic reform is working, despite the hardship facing the country. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress National Summit at the banquet hall of the State House in Abuja, on Thursday, the former governor of Lagos State noted that the ruling party is not a failure. Advertisement He added that subsidy on petrol, which has been costing the country huge amount of fund has gone forever. Tinubu said: Two years ago, we embarked on this journey, propelled by a bus of hope and abiding faith in Nigeria. Together, we pledged to confront Nigerias challenges head-on by rebuilding the trust, fostering prosperity. READ MORE: I See Everything Turning Around For You In 2027, More LP Senators To Join APC Akpabio Tells Tinubu Today, I am proud to affirm that our economic reforms are working. Theres nothing good that comes easily. The subsidy is gone and was gone for the good of this country. Recall that President Tinubu, in May 2023, embarked on a deep economic reform programme, which the government and international financial institutions said was necessary to right the public finances of Africa. The International Monetary Fund said last month that the governments tough economic reforms have yet to benefit the average citizen. Renowned Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has reportedly been held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, Yaba Lagos state. Human rights advocate Harrison Gwamnishu took to Instagram on Thursday, alleging that Ruggedmans detention is connected to a lingering disagreement with the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN). Gwamnishu alleged that Michael Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, is facing mistreatment while in police custody and is being held without a thorough investigation. Advertisement READ MORE: Chris Brown Granted 5m Bail By London Court Over Nightclub Assault Allegation Ruggedman is currently detained at State SCID Panti on the instructions of a Deputy Commissioner of Police over PMAN issues, he said. No proper investigation has been concluded. He and others are being maltreated. I wish to draw the attention of Nigerians about what is going on. This incident follows the August 2024 announcement by the PMAN National Executive Council (NEC), which indefinitely suspended Ruggedman along with fellow members Sunny Neji, Zaaki Azzay, and JFO Baba Ojonorgua. The council stated that the 51-year-old rapper and his colleagues were suspended after being deemed guilty of misconduct. As at the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the Nigeria Police Force regarding the arrest. SEE BELOW: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ9Kx3YoOp7/?igsh=MTU2OGFpc2d1YW5maQ== Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, was arrested alongside four othersveteran musician Sunny Neji, Zakky Azzay, Boniface Itodo, and Raymond Lasisias new details emerge about the events that led to their detention. According to SaharaReporters, the musicians were arrested over allegations of burglary, criminal trespass, and the theft of $130,000 from the national secretariat of the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) located in Lekki, Lagos. Their arrest was prompted by a petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police by the legal representatives of Pretty Okafor, the embattled National President of PMAN. Advertisement The petition, dated May 12, 2025, and written by Henrie Eduozor, Esq., alleged that the musicians forcefully broke into the PMAN national secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki, and made away with $130,000 in cash along with two Apple MacBook Pro laptops. READ MORE: Ruggedman Detained At SCID Panti Amid PMAN Dispute, Rights Activist Alleges A copy of the petition obtained by SaharaReporters states that the accused, identified as suspended or dismissed members of the PMAN National Working Committee (NWC), allegedly exploited Mr. Okafors official trip to Spain in August 2024 to unlawfully declare his suspension from office without following due process. The petition noted that their actions were overturned by the PMAN National Executive Council (NEC), which reinstated Okafor and directed a return to the status quo ante. The petition alleged that despite the NECs directive, Ruggedman (Michael Stephens), Sunny Neji, and the others continued to cause unrest and division within the union. They allegedly organized an illegitimate National Delegates Conference, during which a parallel leadership structure was fraudulently formedreportedly backed by a consent judgment obtained under what PMANs legal team described as deceitful and clandestine circumstances. The disputed judgment was reportedly obtained at the National Industrial Court in Lagos using an addressLobby D, National Arts Theatre, Iganmuthat is not recognized as the official headquarters of PMAN. Okafor and his faction insist they were never served with any court documents related to the case (NICN/LA/360/2024), which, in their view, invalidates the consent judgment. Tensions escalated in March 2025 when the accused individuals reportedly forced their way into the PMAN secretariat, seizing $130,000 and other valuables. Although the IGP Monitoring Unit in Abuja was still investigating, they reportedly came back on May 8, 2025, and regained control of the premises. The petition highlighted that the most concerning aspect is the suspects assertion that they acted with the approval of the Lagos State Commissioner of Policean allegation the petitioners called deeply disturbing. A high-level meeting led by DCP Akin Fakorede at Force Headquarters in Abuja reportedly cautioned the group to halt all activities until the legal issues surrounding PMANs leadership were settled. However, the accused reportedly ignored this warning, which ultimately resulted in their arrest. The petition also contains video and photographic evidence of the alleged break-ins, as well as documents from the Registrar of Trade Unions affirming Pretty Okafor as the legally recognized president of PMAN. In a recent statement regarding the incident, the Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), under the leadership of Mr. Pretty Okafor, also said: This is not the first offence. The suspects had illegally broken into PMANs National Secretariat at 4B Hameed Kasumu Street, Lekki, Lagos, in March 2025, while investigations into the first breach were still ongoing.Nigerian fashion They were cautioned and granted bail but refused to report back to the IGP Monitoring Unit for further investigation. They struck again. On May 8, 2025, they returned this time with Mr. Fruitful Mekwunye and forcefully took over the Secretariat a second time, prompting their re-arrest. Contrary to their narrative, this is not about union rivalry it is about criminal actions that undermine the rule of law. They are not being held without legal justification. The Police investigations have been concluded and the case is being prepared for prosecution. All suspects are fully aware of the offences for which they were arrested and are being treated within the bounds of law. Mr. Pretty Okafor, National President of PMAN, has demonstrated considerable restraint by refraining from resorting to self-help despite the persistent provocative acts of criminality that began on August 20, 2024, when dismissed and suspended members of the National Working Committeewithout any lawful justificationpurportedly found Mr. Okafor guilty of several criminal allegations. It is pertinent to state that these individuals had no constitutional authority to pronounce such judgment. Nonetheless, defamatory statements and accusations were circulated extensively across social media and vigorously sustained for several months, causing significant embarrassment to PMAN and Mr. Okafor both locally and internationally. Investigations into various cybercrimes and related offences had already been concluded prior to the escalation of hostilities by the dismissed and suspended NWC members, who further demonstrated audacity by repeatedly breaking into the PMAN National Secretariat. Falsehood cannot prevail over justice. These individuals are not victimsthey are defendants in a pending court action and remain persons of interest in ongoing criminal investigations involving conspiracy, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, fraud, impersonation, and misrepresentation. PMAN will not tolerate perpetrators parading themselves as union leaders while breaking into PMAN property, and spreading lies. The PMAN leadership calls on the media, stakeholders, and the public to disregard all malicious statements and false reports suggesting that the suspects are being detained without due process. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has said that the sit-at-home order enforced in the South-East by separatist groups is losing its grip. Ribadu added effort made by security agencies in the region showing marks of improvement. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress National Summit in Abuja on Thursday, the NSA boss gave an account of progress made under President Bola Tinubus administration across key security flashpoints in the country. Advertisement Ribadu noted that key figures of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, have either been captured or neutralised, significantly weakening the separatist campaign. He revealed that more than 50 police stations and posts have been rebuilt as normal social and economic activities gradually return across the South-East. According to him, 11,250 hostages have been rescued since President Tinubu assumed office, a development that reflects a decline in mass abductions. He said: The sit-at-home orders are becoming more and more ineffective. We have delivered decisive blows to top warlords. READ MORE: Sit At Home: Army Reveals Identities Of Soldiers Killed By IPOB More than 50 leaders known as Kachalas, over 70 deputy commanders, and hundreds of foot soldiers have been neutralised in targeted operations. Furthermore, over 35 warlords have surrendered as part of the governments non-kinetic strategy, dubbed the Kaduna Model. He added that a new process, Operation Safe Corridor North West, has been introduced to support deradicalisation and reintegration. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, in collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command, has rescued two victims from a car accident near Ikota School in the Ajah area of the state. In a statement issued on Thursday, LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq revealed that the accident occurred due to speeding, causing a Ford Jeep to ram into a moving public transit vehicle. Taofiq stated that the collision severely damaged the public bus, leaving the driver in a coma with a badly fractured right arm. He added that one of the passengers suffered heavy nose bleeding and lost consciousness at the scene. Advertisement READ MORE: Lagos Authorities Arrest Man For Illegal Waste Disposal The accident involved a white Ford Jeep with registration number: KWL 574 CY and a fully occupied commercial mini-bus with plate number: FST 207 YK. Preliminary findings indicate that the driver of the Ford Jeep, while allegedly travelling at a dangerously high speed, lost control of the vehicle and violently rammed into the moving commercial mini-bus. The resulting impact left the mini-bus extensively damaged. Regrettably, the bus driver slipped into a coma after suffering a severe fracture to his right arm, while a passenger aboard the vehicle sustained intense nasal hemorrhaging and was rendered unconscious at the scene, the statement partly read. The spokesperson noted that the traffic agency responded promptly and effectively at the accident scene, evacuating the victims to a nearby hospital and securing the site to ensure smooth traffic flow. Taofiq highlighted that officers from the Ajiwe Divisional Police Headquarters assisted LASTMA by providing crucial security support throughout the rescue operation. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, says the Tinubu administration has significantly reduced the widespread insecurity it inherited in 2023, crediting coordinated efforts by security agencies for the progress. Speaking on Thursday at the APC National Summit to mark President Tinubus two years in office, Ribadu stated that atrocities such as mass killings, abductions, and terrorist attacks have been largely contained. For us to appreciate where we are today, its important to reflect on where we were before the coming of this administration on May 29, 2023, Ribadu said, citing deadly incidents like the Abuja-Kaduna train attack and the Kuje prison break as examples of past security lapses. Advertisement He identified five major challenges inherited by the administration: Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, armed banditry in the North-West, IPOB/ESN secessionist agitation in the South-East, Niger Delta militancy, and herder-farmer conflicts in the North Central. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/akpabio-yahaya-bello-to-testify-as-fg-sues-senator-natasha-over-alleged-defamation.html According to the NSA, over 13,543 Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralised and more than 11,000 weapons recovered since 2023. He added that 124,408 fighters and their families have surrendered to Nigerian troops. Ribadu said these achievements show how effective joint operations have been in restoring stability. With the security agencies working as a team, challenges such as the sit-at-home in the South-East and sabotage of oil installations in the Niger Delta have been substantially addressed, he noted. While acknowledging that setbacks remain, Ribadu assured that military operations are ongoing in hot zones like the Tumbuktu Triangle to dismantle remaining insurgent strongholds. Former Minister of Water Resources, Muktar Shagari, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubus re-election bid, stating that the president deserves a second term to complete the implementation of his policies. Speaking during an interview with news men on Friday, Shagari dismissed suggestions that northerners are against Tinubu, insisting that the region holds no grudge against him and is witnessing tangible progress, particularly in the area of security. For President Tinubu to be able to implement the programs he promised Nigerians, he needs a second term, Shagari said. Advertisement And we, in the APC, believe in him and his ability and capability to do that. So what we can do is to give him the moral support, the political support, and ensure that nobody distracts him by contesting against him. The former minister explained that the decision by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to present Tinubu as its sole candidate in the 2027 election is to enable him focus on governance without internal political distractions. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/akpabio-yahaya-bello-to-testify-as-fg-sues-senator-natasha-over-alleged-defamation.html Shagari also addressed claims that the north is plotting to unseat Tinubu, saying the region appreciates the presidents efforts. In the north, we have nothing against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Hes doing very well in the area of security, especially. I can tell its physically now Sokotos security is getting better and better, he stated. Nigerian social media critic VeryDarkMan has expressed fears for his safety, alleging that individuals who introduced themselves as members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have threatened his life. The controversy arose from an Instagram video posted by the activist, showing two individuals suspected to be NANS members issuing violent threats against him over his alleged interference in student politics. In the video, the men threatened to physically assault the social media critic and cautioned him to stay away from matters concerning NANS. Advertisement READ MORE: Ruggedman, Sunny Neji Nabbed For Alleged $130,000 Theft, Break-In At PMAN Secretariat The threats made reference to Atiku Abubakar Isah, a factional NANS president who was assaulted during his inauguration ceremony in Abuja. Isah initially accused Seyi Tinubu of masterminding the attack by using thugs but later withdrew the allegation. VeryDarkMan, I came here because of you. Let me tell you this, our NANS president is Olusola Oladoja. Number 2, Seyi Tinubu is not part of us. He is not a comrade, he is not a student, one of the men said in pidgin English. NANS is not a party, no be APC, no be PDP. No carry yourself come NANS. NANS go beat you. Go ask Atiku. National Association of Nigerian Students beat Atiku because e dey impersonate. That your social media where you dey make money, dey there. NANS no get sense, dem go beat you if you trespass. We go mend you. Dont carry your social media come NANS. In response to the video on Friday, VeryDarkMan brushed off the threats and boldly challenged the individuals to face him in person. If dem born una well, carry your NANS exco come find me. I dey wait. Ill tell these guys make dem cut una as we no get government for the country, you dey threaten me, he said. In the posts caption, the internet personality urged the Nigerian police to take notice of the threats directed at him. The Nigeria police, this is a threat to beat me up like they did to Abubakar Isah. They have admitted to dehumanizing a citizen in Nigeria. They have admitted to killing, and guess what? The police will not do anything about it, he said. Well, I will definitely stand for myself to the guys in this video. The Ratel no dey run. Mind you, I no be Abubakar Isah. I will be waiting. Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has firmly denied any intentions of contesting against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Bello described recent campaign posters suggesting otherwise as false, misleading and the handiwork of mischief makers. In a statement released by his media aide, Ohiare Michae on Thursdayl, Bello emphasised that he remains committed to President Tinubus second-term ambition and dismissed the circulating posters as a recycled attempt to incite division. Advertisement Our attention has been drawn to another senseless post by mischief makers, who have no other job than to fabricate falsehood and disseminate same to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians, the statement read. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/nigerian-voters-not-governors-will-decide-tinubus-fate-in-2027-wabara.html#google_vignette He accused certain unnamed detractors of deliberately reposting images from a 2022 political rally, presenting it as a current event to create conflict between him and the president. In their desperate bid to create a crisis where there is none, they forgot the 2022 dates written boldly on the banners on display, the statement pointed out. Bello, who governed Kogi State until January 2024, said he had no interest in vying for the presidency in 2027. While we state, categorically, that our Principal, His Excellency former Governor Yahaya Bello, has no 2027 presidential ambition, we want to also stress his unflinching commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the media office reiterated. Bello commended Tinubus performance so far, adding, The indices cannot lie. The President and his team have done exceedingly well for the country, despite global challenges. On merit, he deserves the support of well-meaning Nigerians. Nollywood actor Yul Edochie and his wife, Judy Austin, have welcomed their third child togethera baby girlprompting an outpouring of congratulations from fans and fellow actors. The announcement came shortly after Yul shared a video on Instagram on Thursday, showing Judy being taken into the labour room. Advertisement Ahead of the delivery, the couple had already drawn attention with their maternity photo shoots, expressing their excitement as they prepared for the arrival of their child. READ MORE: Godswill Akpabio Hosts Davido, Cubana Chiefpriest In Abuja On Friday, Yul took to Instagram to officially announce the birth of their daughter. In his words: We prayed, our fans prayed. And God answered. Rejoice with us as we welcome our beautiful daughter. Her name is UNIVERSE IFEYINWA STORM YUL-EDOCHIE. Thank You Lord. The post also featured a heartfelt video capturing the moment Judy met her newborn, showing her emotional reaction as the baby was gently placed on her chest, giving fans a tender glimpse into the special moment. SEE BELOW: The city is seeking new ideas for the "flying saucer" building in LOVE Park. Read more The citys Parks & Recreation Department is seeking out-of-this world ideas for potential businesses that could bring life extraterrestrial or otherwise back to the circular building at LOVE Park known as the flying saucer. Faced with the question: What would you do with the Saucer if the sky was the limit? Philadelphians on social media this week have suggested everything from turning it into a museum (one devoted to meats and cheeses and/or skateboarding) to making it into an actual spaceship (oh, HAL yes!). Advertisement Opened in 1960 as the Fairmount Park Welcome Center, the structure at 16th Street and JFK Boulevard previously served as a visitor center and park staff offices, but its been inaccessible to the public for a decade, since closing in 2015 prior to park renovations (RIP old LOVE Park). According to RaChelle Rogers, Parks & Rec spokesperson, the saucer, which underwent $5.6 million in improvements, is structurally brand new and has a working bathroom but does not have a full kitchen and still needs finishing touches. The city has twice issued requests for proposals for a restaurant in the building. A hospitality group that initially signed on in 2019 backed out of the project after the pandemic and a subsequent 2023 request for proposals did not result in any bids, according to Rogers. This time around, Parks & Rec is seeking requests for expressions of interest, which isnt a formal proposal process, but rather an open call for ideas from visionary businesses, particularly those in food, beverage, retail or hospitality, a news release said. Revamping The Saucer now with a lighter-touch model, such as a cafe, taproom, or rotating residency, helps alleviate the cost burden of a full restaurant buildout and creates a more flexible, accessible use of the space, Rogers said via email. We anticipate [it] will garner more interest than what was requested in the 2023 bid process. The city is seeking restaurateurs, cultural curators, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs who will turn the space(ship) into a place that reflects the spirit of Philadelphia, showcases local pride and talent, serves residents and visitors, offers flexible community-centered use, and reflects the spirit of the 2026 semiquincentennial, according to the news release. Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who chairs Philadelphia250, the local group leading the citys 250th anniversary celebrations, wanted to create a permanent and interactive monument to democracy for 2026 in the saucer called the National Light, but the size of that project was unfeasible for the site, Parks & Rec Commissioner Susan Slawson previously told The Inquirer. Users on social media platforms Bluesky and Threads had some pretty great ideas for the saucer when asked earlier this week what they would do with it. One particularly popular idea was to make it into a home for the Phanatic and Gritty (with a huge nest on top for Swoop). Other suggestions included turning it into bathrooms, a Philly snack shop, a coffee shop, a Wawa, or an Arbys or making it into a venue for Philly artists of all mediums to showcase their talents. The saucer could also be fashioned into the bridge of the USS Enterprise (an idea that boldly goes where no one has gone before), a Gravitron, a tiny roller rink, a giant trampoline, or a place to display the Philadelphia Eagles two Lombardi trophies, readers said. Ideas must be submitted via email with the subject line SaucerRFEI Submission [your business name] to Katie.Burns.Kays@phila.gov by 5 p.m. June 6. In a tearful voicemail left for his ex-girlfriend in January, Harrison Jones spilled his heart. I still love you, I do, and it hurts a lot, Jones, 21, told the woman, mentioning he had planned to give her a promise ring on Valentines Day. I wouldve given up all my other friendships just to be with you. Advertisement Jones, of Rockford, Mich., was apparently willing to do more than that, Bucks County prosecutors said Friday. That included, they said, driving 700 miles to the Bensalem home of her new boyfriend and setting the house on fire at 5 a.m. while he and his family slept inside. District Judge Michael W. Gallagher held Jones over for trial on six counts of attempted murder, arson, and aggravated animal cruelty for the Feb. 10 blaze, from which the Zalenski family escaped by jumping through windows. Their beloved dogs, Trey and Jett, died in the fire. Jones attorney, Paul Lang, argued during the hearing that there was no evidence his client specifically intended to kill Alex Zalenski, the man Jones ex had met online through the video-chat website Omegle. There is absolutely nothing to show this was more than an arson, horrible as it was, Lang said. Their case goes too far. Zalenski and the woman had been dating since November 2024, and she had recruited Jones to drive her from Michigan to Bensalem for a Valentines Day visit, prosecutors said. But Jones made the trip, alone, to Zalenskis home on Merganser Way three days early. When Jones arrived, Lang said, he was not aware that there were multiple people in the home. Deputy District Attorney A.J. Garabedian disputed Langs theory of the case, saying it should have been abundantly clear to Jones that the house was full. Zalenskis father was asleep in a room on the first floor, the light in his sisters room was visible from outside, and Jones walked past Zalenskis mother as he prowled around the homes second floor, according to testimony Friday. [Jones] wanted to eliminate the person who had gotten in the way of his relationship, Garabedian said. When you light a fire at a home at 5 a.m., in a residential neighborhood, when everyone is asleep, youre not doing it so they can get out alive. Investigators ruled that the fire had been set on a sofa in the homes living room, and that it spread quickly to the kitchen before fully engulfing the house. Oppressive smoke from the fire filled the home, and Zalenskis family said they struggled to breathe as they fought their way outside. His father later had to be put into a medically induced coma in order to repair the damage to his lungs, according to testimony Friday. Nearby surveillance cameras recorded Jones fleeing the scene, and his fathers Volkswagen Passat was identified through license-plate readers mounted on roads in the area. Using data from his cell phone, detectives were able to trace Jones route through Southeastern Pennsylvania, and they found footage of him entering a Wawa in Aston hours before the fire was set. After Jones was taken into custody in Michigan, he admitted having set the fire to his relatives in a prison phone call, according to a recording of the call played in court. I was forced to choose, and I had to protect her, he said. Jones is to be arraigned in county court on June 27. The cash was hidden like the cheese. One of the family leaders of the Santuccis Original Square Pizza empire whose thick-crust pies are famous for having their cheese concealed beneath a layer of red sauce is expected to plead guilty next week to federal tax evasion charges. Advertisement Prosecutors said in court documents that Frank Santucci Sr., who took over the family business from his parents nearly 50 years ago, had informal bookkeeping responsibilities at its restaurants in South Philadelphia, Roxborough, and on North Broad Street. When the company began using an electronic point-of-sale system in 2017 expanding beyond its traditional cash-only policy Santucci began keeping two sets of records and bank accounts, court documents say: One that included funds and details for issues like payroll and expenses, which Santucci showed to his tax accountants, and another where he could deposit cash earnings from the restaurants, which he did not. Prosecutors said those actions caused his accountants to file false tax returns, and they estimated that Santucci understated the business income by more than $850,000 for the years 2017 and 2018. The charges, which were filed earlier this week and first reported by Axios Philly, include tax evasion and filing false tax returns. Santucci faces the possibility of prison time, although potential terms of his sentence were not specified in court documents. Richard J. Fuschino Jr., Santuccis attorney, said Santucci is taking full responsibility for a personal mistake and that by pleading guilty, he is showing the same integrity and character that built a legacy trusted by generations of customers, vendors, and business partners. Fuschino said the case will not affect the operations of the business many branches or franchises, which now span from the Shore through the city and into suburbs including Paoli and Media. The case, said Fuschino, is not going to affect a single slice. Exterior of the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice in 2020. Read more A West Philadelphia Democratic ward leader who resigned after being convicted of sexually assaulting a minor will spend about a month in jail, rather than the years prosecutors had sought, a judge ruled Thursday. Stephen Jones, 80, was sentenced in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to three to four weeks in jail, about the time it will take to be processed for the 20 years of house arrest he was also ordered to serve, in a hearing where harrowing details that had previously gone unreported about the case came to light. Advertisement In 2023, Jones was arrested for molesting a child while they were watching a Disney movie, according to prosecutors. Jones formerly led the citys 59th Ward and was once closely tied with the nonprofit Philadelphia Alliance Against Drugs and Violence, though he has not been involved with the group for about a decade, he said. In February, a jury convicted Jones on four charges including aggravated indecent assault of a person under 13, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor, and indecent assault of a person under 13. An earlier trial last May ended in a mistrial, with one juror dissenting. During the sentencing Thursday, the victims mother rose from the court gallery, screaming and hurling expletives at Jones as he silently stared ahead. Jones conviction also has driven a wedge into the Democratic primary race for Philadelphia district attorney. Shortly after Jones resignation, candidate Pat Dugan accused his opponent, incumbent District Attorney Larry Krasner, of knowingly seeking Jones endorsement at a ward event a claim Krasner, who won Tuesdays primary, vehemently denied. By the time Jones appeared in the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman, the politics and mudslinging surrounding the case had taken a back seat. There prosecutors sought a 16-year prison sentence for Jones that would have guaranteed that the former ward leader spend the rest of his life behind bars. He took away her innocence, he took away her bodily autonomy, he took away her privacy, he took away her trust in others, said Assistant District Attorney Kelsey Gimaro in reference to the victim. Brandeis-Roman while deriding Jones actions and calling the victim, who is a minor, a hero ultimately did not heed that request. In sentencing Jones primarily to house arrest and a year of probation as opposed to the years of jail time as requested, Brandeis-Roman told the court that she was factoring Jones advanced age and his diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer as well as other health ailments. However, this court is well aware of the damage that this kind of act does to the victims, Brandeis-Roman said. Heavy emotion soon spilled over in the sparsely attended courtroom; upon hearing the ruling, the victims mother whom The Inquirer is not identifying to protect the victims identity burst into tears. She was later allowed to approach the bench. This man has destroyed my daughters life, the woman yelled in Jones direction. He harmed my kid. The woman told the court her daughter had to change schools and experienced suicidal ideation after Jones molested her. The girl was not present in the courtroom. Youre a bully you stand behind that ward leader position, the woman continued to yell at Jones. You are sick, you are a freak. Jones private defense attorney, Vincent M. Lorusso, had earlier offered brief remarks to Brandeis-Roman about his clients character, citing a deluge of letters written by members of the community in support of Jones and his long status in the community. Gimaro, during her remarks, took to shredding that notion. There are two Stephen Jones, the prosecutor said. The community leader, the man who donates money, volunteers with children, and the Jones who is sexually attracted to children. Gimaro cast Jones as power hungry and a liar who took no accountability for his actions, providing conflicting statements about the assault to prosecutors and claiming that it was the victim who had come onto him. Meanwhile, Gimaro described Jones deceptively clinging to his political position despite his conviction. With Jones in charge, the 59th Ward hosted a meet-and-greet for political candidates which Krasner attended, spurring Dugans allegation. Krasner said he had been unaware of Jones conviction at the time and made no connection between that and any of the 30,000 new cases we have every year. Brandeis-Roman told the court that as she began reading briefings for the sentencing, she had not known that Jones had been a ward leader. I do not give him a pass in any way, shape, or form for the assault, she said in justifying the ruling. But in front of me is an 80-year-old man who takes 14 medicines, who is undergoing chemotherapy, and who has zero prior record. The victims mother was more blunt in her assessment of Jones. I hope the devil comes to you, she said. Correction: This story incorrectly misidentified the victim. It has been updated. Pennsylvania State Universitys board of trustees on a split vote Thursday approved a plan put forth by President Neeli Bendapudi to close seven of its 20 Commonwealth campuses with precipitous enrollment declines. The campuses, which are spread from Northeastern Pennsylvania to Western Pennsylvania, will shut following the 2026-27 school year. The plan is subject to approval by Pennsylvanias acting education secretary Carrie Rowe and regulatory authorities. Advertisement If it stands, the move would be the largest remake of the Pennsylvania flagship universitys Commonwealth campus system in its history, a fact underscored by trustee after trustee at the nearly two-hour meeting noting it is the most important vote theyll likely ever cast. READ MORE: Some Republican lawmakers are pushing back on Penn States plan to close campuses. Could that jeopardize its state funding? We cant ignore these trends anymore, said trustee Mary Lee Schneider. Weve got to do something. Schneider joined 24 other board members in approving the plan following the discussion on Zoom. Eight, or about a quarter, of the trustees voted against the proposal. I dont believe weve given ... the communities themselves an opportunity to reimagine themselves, said trustee Anthony Lubrano, asking the board to delay the decision. Trustee Chris Hoffman, noting he is a farmer and is in touch with rural Pennsylvania where some of the campuses to be closed are based, said he has heard from people who have ideas about how the campuses could be revitalized. I just think that this process as much as I appreciate it and as much as I appreciate all my colleagues on this board, we really have moved very, very quickly, he said, referring to the three-month study the university undertook. READ MORE: Penn State board plans to vote next Thursday on Commonwealth campus closure plan The campuses to close are Wilkes-Barre in Northeastern Pennsylvania; York, Mont Alto, and DuBois in central Pennsylvania; and Fayette, Shenango, and New Kensington in Western Pennsylvania. The majority of board members, underscoring their support for Bendapudi, her administration, and their analysis, said they believed it was right to act now. Today, [Bendapudi] has set in motion a transformation that our institution has needed to prioritize for decades, said David M. Kleppinger, board chair. Bendapudi, who has led the nearly 88,000-student university for three years, addressed the Penn State community in an online address an hour after the vote. READ MORE: Penn State considered 12 campuses to close. Heres what they examined in choosing 7 to shut down. Even when change is expected it can still feel deeply personal and difficult, she said. It is certainly one of those moments. Before trustees made their decision, she urged them to support the plan, while recognizing how deeply emotional and consequential the vote would be. The path that we recommend has been shaped by data, not just quantitative, but qualitative, she said. Over the past 10 years, the seven campuses recommended for closure have experienced a 43% decline in enrollment. The financial picture is also equally sobering. We are spreading our students, faculty, and staff so thin that we jeopardize the quality of education and the support that we can offer. We are subsidizing decline at the expense of growth. The public was not permitted to address the board, but submitted comments in advance of the vote, many of them impassioned pleas not to close the campuses. Trustee Jay Paterno said the fight is not over, noting education secretary Rowe has a sway. The ball is now in the governors court, he said. But Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday backed Bendapudi and her administration. They know they need to right size, he said, speaking at an event in Philadelphia. They know they need to plan for the long-term future, and to do that, they needed to make these tough choices. And I have faith in Neeli Bendapudi and her administration and the board who made those decisions. But he also recognized the big hole closing these campuses could leave in a community and committed to working on that with Penn State and the communities. The three cabinet secretaries who serve on Penn States board, including Rowe, did not attend the meeting. Kleppinger said they determined that the states regulatory responsibilities over Commonwealth campus closures conflicted them from voting on the matter. Faculty groups and some Republican lawmakers have spoken out against the plan, saying it didnt consider faculty input or the economic impact on rural communities where the campuses are located. Nicholas J. Rowland, a professor of sociology at Penn State Altoona and the trustee who represents faculty on the board, voted no on the plan. No matter how many times I come back to it, I simply cannot believe that closure is the only, let alone the best, ... path forward, he said. Put another way, I think we owe them more than closure. More than 20 trustees spoke at the meeting, some describing the difficulty they had making the decision. Im struggling with it, said trustee Kelley M. Lynch, immediate past president of the Penn State Alumni Association. But like many others, I absolutely recognize that we cannot continue with the Commonwealth campus system as it operates currently. She underscored the importance for Penn State to fully support the remaining 13 campuses. We dont want to be revisiting this again in a few years, she said. She also said any vital programs on the closing campuses, such as Mont Altos forestry program, must be maintained and relocated and Penn State must commit to helping to positively repurpose the campuses that are closed, even if the university itself no longer has a presence there. Ive seen the frustration in many emails, the news articles, social media posts, letters to the editor expressing concern that community input was not considered during this first phase, Lynch said. So I need you to confirm that during this next phase, this is exactly when this repurposing happens, and this is exactly when community members, local industry, local government, alumni will be encouraged to participate. Bendapudi assured her that would happen. University officials said the closures are necessary to address a precipitous decline in enrollment at the campuses since 2010 and projected population reductions. It also comes amid an increasingly challenging higher education landscape where closures and mergers of private schools and in the state university system have occurred. By closing the campuses, the university would erase an annual net loss of nearly $20 million in direct expenses, which could be redirected toward programs and employees serving a larger proportion of the student body, university officials said. The campuses were picked based on a holistic look at various factors, including enrollment declines, population projections, housing occupancy, student performance, other colleges in proximity, finances, and maintenance backlog. They enroll nearly 3,200 students and have experienced enrollment drops from their peaks ranging from a high of 68% at Shenango to 51% at Mont Alto. The five campuses that were considered for closure but were spared are Hazleton, Scranton, Greater Allegheny, Beaver, and Schuylkill. The campuses in the Philadelphia region Abington, Brandywine, and the graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley were not considered for closure. Over the next two years, the administration plans to help students graduate or transfer and to assist faculty and staff with finding other positions. The university is committing to keeping tenured faculty and honoring contracts for nontenured faculty, administrators have said. But the university did not rule out layoffs for some employees, though it said on a frequently asked questions portion of its website we are committed to minimizing the impact on our people to the greatest extent possible. Bendapudi and trustees noted that even with the closures, Penn State has more campuses than any other land grant university in the country. Penn States archrival Ohio State has six, trustee Schneider noted. Im a huge fan of beating Ohio State at just about anything, she said, but Im just not sure thats the right contest. Valerie Smith, Swarthmore College president, announced this week that the school would adopt a three-month budget amid uncertainty from the federal government. Read more Swarthmore Colleges board of managers has taken the unusual step of adopting a three-month budget for the next fiscal year given the uncertainty of federal policies, including a potential endowment tax increase that could cost the college an additional $18 million to $28 million. The college also is concerned about the loss of international students under President Donald Trumps administration, which this week after Swarthmore made its budget decision attempted to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students and warned other schools they could be next. And the Trump administration has terminated several federally funded research grants, Swarthmore president Valerie Smith wrote in a letter to the campus community this week. Advertisement In light of these financial uncertainties, and to avoid overcorrecting before we have a clearer picture of the conditions shaping the colleges finances, the board decided to move forward with an interim operating budget to carry us through the first three months of the new fiscal year, Smith said. READ MORE: Penn, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore warn increases in the endowment tax could harm financial aid, other programs The college will look to adopt a more permanent spending plan in the fall, once the federal budget is set. The three-month budget starts when the new fiscal year begins July 1. Its the latest move by a local college to deal with fallout from new federal administration policies targeting higher education. Since Trump took office, some colleges have removed references to diversity efforts from their websites to comply with an executive order. Some campuses, including the University of Pennsylvania, have instituted hiring freezes or slowed hiring and reduced graduate student admissions. READ MORE: Penn faculty criticize university plan to reduce graduate admissions by a third in response to NIH funding cuts Swarthmore, a highly selective private college with one of the biggest endowments in the region at $2.7 billion, has not frozen hiring, though promotions have been paused, Smith said. It also is delaying annual pay increases for faculty, staff, and student workers until the fall. This is not a pay freeze, she said, and I have made clear to the board my intent to prioritize pay increases when the full budget is addressed in the fall. Endowment taxes and lost federal funding Swarthmore is particularly concerned about a proposal that would raise the excise tax on endowment earnings, currently set at 1.4%, to 14%. At Swarthmore, endowment earnings fund more than half of the operating budget, which stands at about $220 million for 2024-25. For Swarthmore specifically, the proposed legislation would raise the tax Swarthmore pays from approximately $2 million a year to $20 million, or perhaps even $30 million annually, Smith said. The tax was enacted by Congress in 2017 during Trumps first term as president, and proposals have been circulating to expand it to more colleges and increase the levy. Locally, in addition to Swarthmore, only the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, and Princeton University which has the largest endowment of the four at $34.1 billion pay the tax. They meet the current threshold of having at least 500 tuition-paying students and an endowment that is larger than $500,000 per student. (Public colleges are exempt.) Swarthmore also is worried about a potential loss of additional research funding and several million dollars in federal financial aid. College spokesperson Alisa Giardinelli said Smith was referring to potential reductions in federal Pell grants targeted toward lower-income students and work-study program funding. Since the Trump administration began terminating some federal research grants at colleges, Swarthmore has lost three, totaling $865,794, and one faculty fellowship for $60,000, Giardinelli said. Uncertainty for international students Smith said the federal governments threats to student visas could prevent some first-year international students from arriving on campus by the start of the fall semester. International students represent around 15% of Swarthmores 1,730 students. READ MORE: Trump administration drops effort to revoke student visas, attorneys say, restoring study permission in Philly and elsewhere The Trump administration earlier this year revoked permission to study in the United States for more than 1,800 international students. In some cases, the administration cited participation in pro-Palestinian protests, but in many others, the reasons for the revocation were unclear. Last month, the Trump administration reversed course on the revocations, allowing students to remain. This week, the Trump administration announced it had revoked Harvards permission to enroll international students, a move the university has already begun to fight, filing a complaint and successfully getting a temporary restraining order Friday from a U.S. judge. Under the federal order, no new students would have been able to enroll and those already there would have had to transfer or lose their legal status, the Department of Homeland Security said in a news release. Harvard, the department said, had allowed anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students. More than a quarter of Harvards students are international. And the department put other schools on notice they could be next. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a news release. Harvard president Alan M. Garber in a statement called the move unlawful and unwarranted. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams, he said. The outside of Banh Mi Spot along Frankford Avenue in Fishtown. Read more Spring rolls and matcha milk tea with a side of mouse poop? Thats what some Redditors and members of a Fishtown neighborhood Facebook group worry is on offer at Banh Mi Spot, a Vietnamese restaurant on Frankford Avenue that reopened Thursday afternoon following a failed health inspection that went viral. Advertisement Banh Mi Spot was ordered to cease operations at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday after a health inspector discovered 27 health-code violations, according to an inspection report. Among the findings: mouse droppings spread across cutting boards, counters, and containers where food is prepped. No soap was available at the kitchens hand wash station which also had a broken hand sanitizer dispenser at the time of the inspection, the report stated. Employees were observed working without washing their hands or changing single-use gloves properly. The restaurant was ordered to close for at least 48 hours due to imminent health hazards, according to the report, and could not reopen until a $315 fine was paid and another inspection was passed. Health inspections are generally regarded as snapshots in time and not necessarily reflective of day-to-day conditions; most violations are corrected on the spot during an inspection. That hasnt stopped Philadelphias corner of the internet from fixating on Banh Mi Spots issues, which, to some, practically feel like a bid to get on one of Gordon Ramsays shows. Posts on Reddit and Facebook have received hundreds of comments, while a TikTok from local content creator Arianna Hemmings has been viewed more than 312,000 times. If you ever ate at that banh mi spot in Fishtown, Philadelphia you might want to maybe vomit or get checked, Hemmings said in the video. This might hold the record for the most mouse feces found in a restaurant. Commenters wondered if mouse poop was their secret sauce. Banh Mi Spot reopened at 1 p.m. Thursday after passing a reinspection, according to Philadelphia Department of Health Department records. The restaurant opened at 1425 Frankford Ave. in August after taking over the lease from beloved vegetarian cafe PomPom, and serves a pared-down menu of banh mis, pho, milk teas, and Vietnamese coffee. Co-owner Khoa Nguyen celebrated the reopening by posting a video to the restaurants Instagram account where he ceremoniously peeled off part of the cease-operations notice with his bare hands. The ordeal, Nguyen said, has left him embarrassed. People think highly of you as a business owner, and Ive lost their respect, their trust, Nguyen, 38, said. How did Banh Mi Spot get so dirty? Nguyen said he knew that Banh Mi Spot had some cleanliness issues. Funny story is that on the day [of the inspection] I did see rat poop, said Nguyen, who said he had plans to address the feces but didnt get to it in time. Soap was also on the premises, he said, but employees had moved it away from the sink. Nguyen attributed these lapses to being understaffed. The restaurant has six employees between front and back of house. Were just really tired, Nguyen said. We didnt take initiative. Banh Mi Spot underwent a deep clean between the failed inspection and the reopening, Nguyen said. We vacuumed, swept, mopped, bleached, everything. All supplies that came in contact with mouse feces were thrown away, Nguyen said, and an exterminator will visit the restaurant weekly to check traps. Staff will also be retrained on restaurant-industry basics like handwashing and how to properly label ingredients with expiration dates. People listen to you, do the right thing, and after awhile they kind of forget, said Nguyen, a South Jersey wedding photographer whose previous restaurant experience was limited to briefly owning a Mr. Wish tea shop in Ardmore that did not handle food. Now that my staff knows the reasons behind these inspections, theyre more understanding and a little scared, he said. A situation like this wakes a whole business up. Nguyen is defensive over claims on social media that Banh Mi Spot has given customers food poisoning. The feces isnt touching the food. Its touching other surfaces away from the food, Nguyen said. He said he and his staff had been eating the food here every single day, and we havent gotten sick. Ironically, that was part of the problem: The Banh Mi Spot got dinged during the first inspection for staff eating where food is prepared. A prime example of elderspeak: Cindy Smith was visiting her father in his assisted living apartment in Roseville, Calif. An aide who was trying to induce him to do something Smith no longer remembers exactly what said, Let me help you, sweetheart. He just gave her The Look under his bushy eyebrows and said, What, are we getting married? recalled Smith, who had a good laugh, she said. Her father was then 92, a retired county planner, and a World War II veteran; macular degeneration had reduced the quality of his vision, and he used a walker to get around, but he remained cognitively sharp. Advertisement He wouldnt normally get too frosty with people, Smith said. But he did have the sense that he was a grown-up and he wasnt always treated like one. People understand almost intuitively what elderspeak means. Its communication to older adults that sounds like baby talk, said Clarissa Shaw, a dementia care researcher at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and a co-author of a recent article that helps researchers document its use. It arises from an ageist assumption of frailty, incompetence, and dependence. Its elements include inappropriate endearments. Elderspeak can be controlling, kind of bossy, so to soften that message theres honey, dearie, sweetie, said Kristine Williams, a nurse gerontologist at the University of Kansas School of Nursing and another co-author of the article. We have negative stereotypes of older adults, so we change the way we talk. Or caregivers may resort to plural pronouns: Are we ready to take our bath? There, the implication is that the persons not able to act as an individual, Williams said. Hopefully, Im not taking the bath with you. Sometimes, elderspeakers employ a louder volume, shorter sentences, or simple words intoned slowly. Or they may adopt an exaggerated, singsong vocal quality more suited to preschoolers, along with words like potty or jammies. With what are known as tag questions Its time for you to eat lunch now, right? Youre asking them a question but youre not letting them respond, Williams explained. Youre telling them how to respond. Studies in nursing homes show how commonplace such speech is. When Williams, Shaw, and their team analyzed video recordings of 80 interactions between staff and residents with dementia, they found that 84% involved some form of elderspeak. Most of elderspeak is well intended. People are trying to show they care, Williams said. They dont realize the negative messages that come through. For example, among nursing home residents with dementia, studies have found a relationship between exposure to elderspeak and behaviors collectively known as resistance to care. People can turn away or cry or say no, Williams explained. They may clench their mouths shut when youre trying to feed them. Sometimes, they push caregivers away or strike them. She and her team developed a training program called CHAT, for Changing Talk: three hourlong sessions that include videos of communication between staff members and patients, intended to reduce elderspeak. It worked. Before the training, in 13 nursing homes in Kansas and Missouri, almost 35% of the time spent in interactions consisted of elderspeak; that share dropped to about 20% afterward. Furthermore, resistant behaviors accounted for almost 36% of the time spent in encounters; after training, that proportion fell to about 20%. A study conducted in a Midwestern hospital, again among patients with dementia, found the same sort of decline in resistance behavior. Whats more, CHAT training in nursing homes was associated with lower use of antipsychotic drugs. Though the results did not reach statistical significance, due in part to the small sample size, the research team deemed them clinically significant. Many of these medications have a black box warning from the FDA, Williams said of the drugs. Its risky to use them in frail, older adults because of their side effects. Now, Williams, Shaw, and their colleagues have streamlined the CHAT training and adapted it for online use. They are examining its effects in about 200 nursing homes nationwide. Even without formal training programs, individuals and institutions can combat elderspeak. Kathleen Carmody, owner of Senior Matters Home Health Care and Consulting in Columbus, Ohio, cautions her aides to address clients as Mr. or Mrs. or Ms., unless or until they say, Please call me Betty. In long-term care, however, families and residents may worry that correcting the way staff members speak could create antagonism. A few years ago, Carol Fahy was fuming about the way aides at an assisted living facility in suburban Cleveland treated her mother, who was blind and had become increasingly dependent in her 80s. Calling her sweetie and honey babe, the staff would hover and coo, and they put her hair up in two pigtails on top of her head, like you would with a toddler, said Fahy, a psychologist in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Although she recognized the aides agreeable intentions, theres a falseness about it, she said. It doesnt make someone feel good. Its actually alienating. Fahy considered discussing her objections with the aides, but I didnt want them to retaliate. Eventually, for several reasons, she moved her mother to another facility. Yet objecting to elderspeak need not become adversarial, Shaw said. Residents and patients and people who encounter elderspeak elsewhere, because its hardly limited to healthcare settings can politely explain how they prefer to be spoken to and what they want to be called. Cultural differences also come into play. Felipe Agudelo, who teaches health communications at Boston University, pointed out that in certain contexts a diminutive or term of endearment doesnt come from underestimating your intellectual ability. Its a term of affection. He emigrated from Colombia, where his 80-year-old mother takes no offense when a doctor or health care worker asks her to tomese la pastillita (take this little pill) or mueva la manito (move the little hand). Thats customary, and she feels shes talking to someone who cares, Agudelo said. Come to a place of negotiation, he advised. It doesnt have to be challenging. The patient has the right to say, I dont like your talking to me that way. In return, the worker should acknowledge that the recipient may not come from the same cultural background, he said. That person can respond, This is the way I usually talk, but I can change it. Lisa Greim, 65, a retired writer in Arvada, Colo., pushed back against elderspeak recently when she enrolled in Medicare drug coverage. Suddenly, she recounted in an email, a mail-order pharmacy began calling almost daily because she hadnt filled a prescription as expected. These gently condescending callers, apparently reading from a script, all said, Its hard to remember to take our meds, isnt it? as if they were swallowing pills together with Greim. Annoyed by their presumption, and their follow-up question about how frequently she forgot her medications, Greim informed them that having stocked up earlier, she had a sufficient supply, thanks. She would reorder when she needed more. Then, I asked them to stop calling, she said. And they did. The New Old Age is produced through a partnership with The New York Times. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism. 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins speaks to the news media outside the Camden County Hall of Justice Thursday, May 22, 2025 following detention hearings for Branndon Mosley and Brenda Spencer, who are charged with confining and abusing Spencer's daughter at their home in Gloucester Township. With him are members of the Camden County Prosecutors Office. Read more The Gloucester Township couple charged with confining and abusing the womans teenage daughter inside their home for years appeared in court for the first time Thursday, as prosecutors made new accusations of mistreatment. Brenda Spencer, 38, and Branndon Mosley, 41, were ordered to be detained until trial by Judge Gwendolyn Blue, who said that if the allegations brought by the prosecution were true, they indicated a pattern of barbaric ... acts of torture. Advertisement I find that conduct to be inhumane, she said. Spencer and Mosley have been charged with kidnapping, abuse, neglect, and assault, and Mosley also has been charged with sexual assault. Both defendants face the possibility of life in prison if convicted. Neither spoke in court Thursday. At the detention hearing, prosecutors alleged that Spencer and Mosley made the victim an outcast of their family, subjecting her to wide-ranging physical and verbal abuse, while referring to her privately as an inhuman it. When the victim finally escaped from the home on May 8 and went to a neighbor for help, Spencer allegedly saw her leaving through the front door and said, Bye, bitch. Handcuffs, chains, and dozens of animals Spencer removed the victim, who is now 18, from public school after she finished sixth grade in 2019, a year later than prosecutors previously reported. The victim told prosecutors that Spencer attempted to homeschool her for about a week, and that she had not received any education since. Spencer removed the victims younger sister, who is now 13, from school in 2020 after she finished second grade, prosecutors said. The sister told prosecutors that she has continued homeschooling on a computer, but could not describe much of what she had been learning. She was not confined in the same manner as her sister but told prosecutors it had been a long time since the two girls had been let outside to play. For several years after being pulled from school, the older sister said, she had been confined inside the familys home. She spent about a year being locked inside a dog crate with handcuffs behind her back, another period of time inside a locked bathroom chained to the toilet by her ankles, and since September inside a room that was not locked but was surveilled by Spencer and Mosley with a baby monitor, prosecutors said. The room was bare except for some of the homes many animals and a bucket for the victim to use as a toilet, which she would have to clean out herself, prosecutors said. The younger sister had her own room where the victim was allowed to sleep for awhile, but that was no longer the case by the time the victim escaped, prosecutors said. She was let out of these spaces sometimes to sleep, to greet visiting family members, to occasionally shower, or to do chores around the house and in the yard, usually cleaning and taking care of the familys animals, prosecutors said. They said the family had five Great Danes, multiple huskies, 26 chinchillas, birds, a snake, and a bearded dragon. Years of abuse Prosecutors said that the victim reported being physically beaten by both Spencer and Mosley. The couple sometimes withheld food as punishment for not doing her chores or talking back, and fed her meals from a popcorn bucket instead of a plate or bowl, prosecutors said. A neighbor who said she knew the family for a decade told prosecutors she saw the younger sister with black eyes on multiple occasions. When she asked Spencer about them, she said, Spencer told her that they were caused by a door. Another neighbor who knew the family reported not having seen the children since 2022, according to prosecutors. According to the older daughters statements to prosecutors, Mosley sexually assaulted her several times, beginning when she was 10. Once, Mosley gave her food in exchange for allowing him to perform oral sex on her, prosecutors said. The victim told her mother about these sexual assaults, but she did nothing about it, prosecutors said. After Mosley was arrested May 10, he told police that it was possible that he had committed the sexual assaults, but that he could not recall, in part because he used to drink frequently, prosecutors said. Mosley also allegedly cut the victims hair on multiple occasions without her permission, once so short that the family began referring to her as Buzz. Prosecutors also said police found a note in the home in which the victim said to her mother: Im sorry when you said kill yourself, and I said, I will. According to her attorney, Terrell Ratliff, Spencer, who also was arrested May 10, denied that she or Mosley confined her daughter in the home or withheld food. She also denied that her daughter told her about being sexually assaulted by Mosley. Passing blame Spencer and Mosley have been together since 2014, but are not legally married. They have lived in the Gloucester Township home since 2017. Neither has a criminal history. Mosley had worked for SEPTA for over 15 years, most recently as a rail engineer. He received an award last month for his handling of a train mechanical fire. Mosleys attorney, Megan Helfrich, said that he gave his statements to police about 3 a.m., after having worked multiple overnight shifts in a row, and that his instinct was to take the blame for Spencer in his confession. While Helfrich admitted this was not a home environment she would want her kids to live in, she disputed the level at which the daughters were actually kidnapped or confined, pointing to the fact that the older girl left through the front door with her mother watching. (Prosecutors said that the victim had tried to escape other times, and that she told police that Mosley once threatened to break her leg if she did.) The next court date for Spencer and Mosley is scheduled for July. Dancing saved me. In salsa, I found joy, healing, and freedom. In the loneliest days when I first came to the University of Pennsylvania the oldest daughter of two immigrant parents and the first to attend college it was in dance where I rediscovered myself, where I felt free, where I knew I was meant to be here. Advertisement Like so many other students of Latin American descent, my graduation is the culmination of a long journey. My parents left everything behind in Peru their home, sus familias, their language, their roots all for the hope of something better. Not just for themselves, but for the generations to come. And that sacrifice I will never forget. In my darkest moments, when I felt like giving up, when I was too tired to keep going, I thought of them. Of their strength. Of their courage. Of their love. And it reminded me: that strength also lives in me. I am a first-generation, low-income college student. La primera de mi familia en graduarse de la universidad. But I know I wont be the last. Because behind me a whole generation of dreamers, fighters, and leaders is coming. I come from Paterson, N.J. a city with many difficulties, but also with a lot of life, a lot of culture, and a lot of dignity. The kind of place people overlook. But it built me. To think that someone like me could make it from there to here to the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy league institution still feels surreal. The Class of 2025 made it here against all odds. We graduated from high school during a pandemic a time filled with fear, uncertainty, and pain. The world was dark. But we kept going. And now, were graduating into another kind of darkness. A world that questions our worth. With policies that make us feel like we dont belong. A country where immigrant communities are under attack. But let me tell you something: We are still here. We are graduating. And that is resilience. This diploma is more than a piece of paper. Its tangible evidence of every sleepless night. Of every hidden tear. Of every sacrifice made for our families. Of every time we felt we couldnt, but did it anyway. We graduated from high school during a pandemic a time filled with fear, uncertainty, and pain. The world was dark. Now, were graduating into another kind of darkness. At Penn, Ive had the privilege to wear many hats and take part in many student organizations post-pandemic. But let me be real with you. There were moments I wanted to quit. Moments where I questioned my worth, my character, my light. But even then I kept going. Because I know who I am. I poured love, grace, and dedication into everything I touched. Because my parents didnt raise me to be small. Because they didnt raise me to quit. They raised me to believe in myself. In my character. In my dignity. In my resilient Latin nature. And despite the hatred, I kept going. And to those who tried to turn off my light here I am. Shining brighter than ever. Because the struggle, el amor, and the faith that brought me here they dont fade. They just grow. But I could not have done this without all of the people who stayed and loved me when I couldnt love myself. To those who listened when I couldnt speak. To those who reminded me I was never truly alone. Class of 2025 we did this. We are the first class to fully experience college life post-pandemic. We brought life back to this campus. We filled the gap that was left to make sure our Latino community was still present. We brought back organizations, started new ones, and created community in places that werent made for us. We carried the legacies left behind and built our own. And no matter what the world tries to tell us we know our worth. So as we step into this next chapter, I want to leave you with this: Be bold. Be you. Confia en ti. This world needs people like us who love hard, who work harder, who know struggle, but never give up. Use this education this privilege to make change. To open doors for others. To build the world our parents dreamed of when they crossed borders and oceans. To our parents: This achievement is as much yours as it is ours. Thank you for sacrificing, for enduring, for never giving up. Thank you for teaching us to dream. Thank you for loving us beyond belief. They tried to make us feel like we didnt belong. But here we are. Graduating. Fighting. Living. And dancing, too. Sandra Maria Navarro Davalos graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania last week with a bachelor of arts in communication concentrating in advocacy & activism, with minors in fine arts and Latinx & Latin American Studies. A native of Paterson, N.J., she is enrolled in the masters program at Penns School of Social Policy and Practice. This essay is adapted from her remarks at Penns Latinx graduation ceremony. Retired Philadelphia Police Detective Charles Boyle (seated) with Sylvester Schieber, the father of Shannon Schieber, a University of Pennsylvania doctoral student killed by the Center City rapist in 1998. Read more On May 7, 1998, Shannon Schieber, a doctoral student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, was killed by a serial rapist who had broken into her apartment in the Fitler Square section of Center City. The two of us one a retired Philadelphia police detective who worked nearly four years on the homicide investigation into Shannons murder and the other Shannons father recently took a fresh look at the evidence in the case. Advertisement We both believe important information about her murder has gone undisclosed. Her killer, an assailant who came to be known as the Center City rapist, was convicted in 2002 of Shannons murder and a dozen sexual assaults in two states. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Shannons family unsuccessfully filed a lawsuit against the city after her death, in which they raised concerns about how police handled the case. Ultimately, a jury found that the police had been downgrading sexual assaults but held that the city was not liable in Shannons death. While the two of us respect that verdict, we believe that even after nearly three decades, Shannons case contains far too many lessons to be forgotten. Our review of the case file identified lapses we believe could have made a difference in Shannons case and possibly helped prevent other victims from being attacked. In one instance, we found evidence that Shannons assailant had broken into the apartments of four other women in her neighborhood and sexually assaulted or raped them in the year before Shannon was attacked. Two cases, we found, were classified as non-crimes by the sex crimes unit, although one of them was later classified as a burglary. Our review showed that Detective James McGinnis quickly determined that a victim in the burglary case had been sexually assaulted and concluded that the case was likely linked to a string of attacks in Center City. McGinnis asked to meet with sex crimes investigators to discuss his findings, we found, but that meeting never occurred. Ultimately, McGinnis would face departmental review over his work. We examined testimony from a departmental review hearing where Lt. Kenneth Coluzzi, then the head of a sex crimes investigations unit, said that Detective McGinnis had clearly overstepped his authority and was improperly conducting a sex crime investigation. McGinnis was ordered to drop his investigation, and the case would not be linked to the Center City rapist until October 1999 28 months after the burglary occurred and 17 months after Shannons murder. Police would not announce that they had successfully linked the cases by DNA until after Inquirer reporters began asking questions about the attacks. The key evidence in the case was what Detective McGinnis ordered up before he was ordered off the case. At the time the case was linked to Shannons murder, it was still classified as a non-crime by the sex crimes unit. We believe that if the prior four cases had been properly classified and investigated by the sex crimes unit, the assailant might have already been in jail the night Shannon was killed. Because the cases were not properly investigated, the police departments Ninth Police District commander, its detectives, and patrol officers didnt know there was a serial assailant working their territory. Our review of the evidence file also underscored a little-known aspect of the case: Most people have never heard that Officer Tyrone Winckler picked up the assailant in the early hours of Sept. 9, 1997. Winckler was responding to a 911 call from a woman reporting someone peeking in her windows. Winckler stopped the man near where the prior four assaults occurred, ran a background check on him, but let him go when it turned up nothing. Had Winckler known there had been several sexual assaults in the area and had he seen the composite that was later drawn with the help of one of the victims he might have brought the suspect to the precinct station that night for questioning by a detective. If the suspects DNA had been collected at that time, he would have been directly linked to the prior assaults and arrested. Even after nearly three decades, Shannons case contains far too many lessons to be forgotten. The final lapse we identified in our review occurred on the night Shannon was attacked. She screamed out for help, and a neighbor called 911. Two patrol officers arrived at Shannons apartment near 23rd and Manning Streets about six minutes after the call was made. The officers saw no signs of forced entry into Shannons apartment. They knocked on her door but left when no one responded. Those officers were on site for only five minutes. When Shannon failed to show up for a scheduled lunch the next day, her brother, Sean, went to her apartment building and rang doorbells until one of the other tenants the neighbor who had called 911 earlier let him into the building. Together, Sean and the neighbor broke down Shannons door and found her dead. We believe that if those two officers had known of the four earlier sexual assaults, each occurring in the early morning hours by an assailant making an almost acrobatic entry into his victims apartments, they would have broken down Shannons door. If those officers had broken into Shannons apartment that evening, they might have captured the assailant in the act of strangling her. If so, the attacker would not have been able to sexually assault another young woman in that same neighborhood in August 1999. Nor would he have been able to assault or attempt to assault eight more young women in Fort Collins, Colo., in 2001 and 2002, before he was captured there. Shannons death shed a grim light on missteps by Philadelphia police missteps that reflected what we found to be a rotten culture in a crucial investigative unit where mistrust, toxic power dynamics, and workplace territorialism impaired collaboration and hampered effective police work. That culture, sadly, also meant that other good officers were deprived of essential information that might have helped them catch a killer. Charles Boyle spent 30 years with the Philadelphia Police Department, including 14 years with the homicide unit. Sylvester Schieber lives in Frederick, Md. A Norristown banner is displayed at Norristown Area High School in this 2019 file photo. The heavily Latino school district will be without any Latino members on its school board after this year's election. Read more Despite a high Latino student population, the Norristown Area school board is poised to have no Latino members next year after a primary election write-in campaign led by incumbent school board president Chris Jaramillo failed Tuesday. Jaramillo and incumbent board member Tessi Ruiz launched a write-in campaign last month after their names, and the names of their running mates, were removed from the primary ballot for deficiencies in paperwork and the local Democratic committee endorsed a slate of newcomers led by the committees leader, Bill Caldwell. Advertisement Jaramillo and Ruiz had argued voters should keep them in office to preserve Latino representation on the school board that governs a district where half the student body is Latino. However, write-in campaigns are typically difficult to pull off, especially with just a few weeks to campaign, and write-in votes for the school board positions fell far below the votes obtained by the Democratic-endorsed slate on the ballot. Following Tuesdays loss, Jaramillo said he had no plans to run a write-in campaign in November or to run as an independent. Im very humbled that I received so much support during this primary election, Jaramillo said Friday. I think the message was clear. I think the community is watching. Without any GOP opposition, the Democratic-endorsed slate made up of Caldwell, marketing consultant Cynthia Davenport, engineer Terell Dale, former principal Jeremiah Lemke, and community activist Jordan Alexander has a clear pathway to victory in November. Though the slate is racially diverse and includes members of the LGBTQ community, Latino community leaders had worried the loss of that representation would mean the voices and needs of Latino parents and students wouldnt be heard. They worried progress in the relationship between Latino families and the district would stall. Caldwell, who did not respond to a request for comment Friday, has said the Democratic slate will advocate for Latino students when the candidates take office. The local Democratic committee in Norristown, East Norriton, and West Norriton had refused to support Jaramillo and Ruizs reelection campaign, citing broad concerns with Jaramillos leadership style and cooperation with other governments. A key piece of that opposition, Jaramillo said, was the result of his opposition to a proposal that would have given a property tax break to a senior affordable housing development. The developer on the project was a top donor to Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, a Democrat who represents the area. Jaramillo said last month he was frustrated by the role special interests were playing in the school board elections. For years some Democrats have questioned the fairness of the partys endorsement system. The Australia CEO of insurance giant American International Group (AIG) is resigning to help start a new venture. Steadfast Group COO Nigel Fitzgerald said that Grant Cairns (main picture) will join him in October to launch an underwriting business. Ensure electrical safety: A certified electrician should assess properties before reconnecting electrical systems. Water-damaged vehicles should not be operated until professionally inspected. Document the loss: Affected individuals should photograph damage and compile inventories of impacted property, including item details when possible. Material samples may assist claims assessments. Commence cleanup: Insured parties do not need to delay cleanup while waiting for an assessor, although repairable items should be kept for inspection. Prompt contact: Customers are advised to contact their insurer as soon as possible. Authorising building work before consulting the insurer is discouraged. We acknowledge the tragic loss of life and the ongoing impact this event is having on the affected communities. We know that for some this is the second or third flood event in the last few years, said ICA CEO Andrew Hall. Lassen, founder of The Lassen Law Firm and a specialist in life insurance litigation, told The Wall Street Journal on May 17, that insurers often cite policy ambiguities, outdated paperwork, or administrative procedures to justify delays. He said that beneficiaries are sometimes left waiting for months under the impression that their claims are being reviewed, while in reality, critical deadlines may be passing. Over the years, Siegel has been active in the broader community, serving on the board of Metro Community Health Centers in New York City and holding the treasurer role at the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency. His past roles include trustee of NYSARC Trusts and member of the advisory board of Reaching Up, Inc. Despite the setback, Kuderer said the bill will return in the next legislative session. As Washington operates on a two-year legislative cycle, the measure remains eligible for consideration. She said some lawmakers may reconsider their position, particularly given the bills focus on allowing consumers to recover restitution without needing to take legal action. The former manager of the Harvard Medical School Morgue this week pled guilty to interstate transport of stolen human remains. Acting U.S. Attorney Attorney John Gurganus in Pennsylvania reported that Cedric Lodge, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, admitted that, from 2018 through at least March 2020, he participated in the sale and interstate transport of human remains stolen from the Harvard Medical School morgue in Boston. Lodge removed human remains, including organs, brains, skin, hands, faces, dissected heads, and other parts, from donated cadavers after they had been used for research and teaching purposes but before they could be disposed of in accordance with the agreements between the donors and the school. Officials said Lodge took the remains without the knowledge or permission of his employer, the donor, or the donors family, and transported the remains to his home in New Hampshire where he and his wife, Denise Lodge, sold the remains to locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. Several other defendants, including Lodges wife, have previously entered guilty pleas in related cases. Families who believe their loved ones body parts were mishandled in an unlawful scheme for profit by the schools former morgue manager sued Harvard Medical School and the morgue operators and employees in 2023. However, in February, 2024, a Massachusetts judge threw out the complaints, ruling that Harvard and the programs operators are protected from suit under a state statute granting qualified immunity to those receiving bodies under anatomical gift programs. Citing Immunity Law, Judge Tosses Body Parts Theft Claims Against Harvard Suffolk Superior Court Judge Kenneth W. Salinger said that the allegations in the complaints did not plausibly suggest that Harvard and the program operators failed to act in good faith in receiving and handling the donated bodies, or that they were legally responsible for the former morgue managers alleged misconduct, as would be required to overcome the qualified immunity granted by the Massachusetts version of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA). Also, the judge noted that the families did not allege that Harvard employees were allowed to remove, keep, or sell human body parts, that any of the Harvard defendants knew what Lodge was doing, or that any of the Harvard operators gave Lodge permission to do so. The maximum penalty facing Lodge under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. In separate but related litigation, Liberty Mutual sought and won a declaratory judgment in March, 2024 that it was not obligated to defend or indemnify Lodge against the civil lawsuits under homeowners insurance policies it issued to Lodge from 2020 to 2023. Topics Fraud A Massachusetts man has agreed to plead guilty to hacking cloud-based education software provider PowerSchool and stealing data pertaining to millions of students and teachers that hackers used to extort the company and school districts into paying ransoms. Matthew Lane, 19, entered into a plea deal on Tuesday to resolve charges filed in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts, related to what prosecutors say were hacking schemes by him and others targeting PowerSchool and a telecommunications company designed to extort their victims into paying them in bitcoin. The charges marked the first time authorities had identified who was responsible for the data breach at PowerSchool, which appeared to expose the data of tens of millions of American children. PowerSchools software is used by more than 18,000 schools to support over 60 million students nationally. Prosecutors did not identify PowerSchool by name in court papers, but a person familiar with the matter confirmed the company was one of the corporate victims. A PowerSchool spokesperson referred questions to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Lanes attorney did not respond to requests for comment. Folsom, California-based PowerSchool disclosed the breach in January. It has said it learned of it on December 28, 2024 and decided to pay a ransom because it believed it was the best option to prevent data from being made public. The company said earlier this month it has become aware that multiple school districts have also received extortion demands related to the same data. According to prosecutors, Lane used the credentials of a PowerSchool contractor in September to gain access to its computer network and obtain student and teacher data. In December he transferred data on students and faculty to a computer server he leased from a cloud storage provider in Ukraine, according to prosecutors. Days later, PowerSchool received a ransom demand threatening to leak the names, addresses, Social Security numbers and other sensitive data belonging to more than 60 million students and 10 million teachers unless it paid $2.85 million worth of bitcoin, according to prosecutors. They said that before hacking PowerSchool, Lane and others conspired to extort an unnamed telecommunications company into paying a $200,000 ransom to avoid the disclosure of data stolen from its network. He agreed to plead guilty to engaging in cyber extortion and aggravated identity theft and accessing protected computers without authorization. He faces at least two years in prison. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; additional reporting by AJ Vicens in Detroit; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Richard Chang) Topics Cyber Massachusetts A Mexican navy tall ships fatal collision with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday highlighted a hazard that has worried seafarers for nearly 150 years. Even before construction on the bridge was finished in the late 19th century, the topmast of a passing U.S. Navy ship hit the spans wires and vessels continued to clip the iconic New York City structure for many years. But historians say Saturdays crash appears to be the first boat collision with the bridge to take the lives of crew members. Two Mexican naval cadets died and more were injured after the training ship Cuauhtemocs masts crashed into the bridge as dozens of sailors stood harnessed high up in rigging as part of a public display. Thats the first and possibly only time where theres been a fatality onboard of a ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge, said Dominique Jean-Louis, chief historian at the Center for Brooklyn History, part of the Brooklyn Public Library. Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River, connecting its eponymous boroughs downtown to Manhattan. The highest point of the bridges underside is listed at 135 feet (41.1 meters) on average above the water, but it fluctuates with the tides. Early Lawsuit During construction, a warehouse owner sued state officials first to stop the bridge and then for compensation arguing that some ships still had topmasts that exceeded the height. The case made it all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which dismissed the lawsuit, determining that the bridge did not unduly restrict ship navigation. Before that decision, however, at least one ship had already tangled with the still-under-construction crossing. According to an 1878 report in the New York Daily Tribune, the U.S. Navy wooden steam training ship USS Minnesota was headed toward the high point of the bridge after planning ahead and lowering its topmast. But at the last minute, it had to change course to avoid an oncoming ship, sending it to an area with lower clearance and striking the bridges wires. Nobody was reported injured. By the time the bridge was complete, steam ships were transporting the lions share of goods, and high-masted ships were waning in importance, said Richard Haw, professor of interdisciplinary studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the author of two books about the Brooklyn Bridge. They go from sail ships to steam ships, Haw said. You dont need a huge clearance. !920s Incidents Yet mast strikes continued, including at least two reported in the 1920s one of which was with the U.S. Navys flagship USS Seattle, which had a little wooden pole that was a little too high, Jean-Louis said. In 1941, the SS Nyassa was bringing hundreds of refugees to New York City when the captain miscalculated the tide and part of its mast was bent into a right angle by the bridges underspan, according to a New York Times article at the time that described a crunching sound. Among the refugees on board was Hedwig Ehrlich, widow of the Nobel Prize-winning Jewish German scientist Paul Ehrlich, as she headed to live with daughters in San Francisco. As the 20th century went on, ships got taller and wider. And they still required mast-like appendages for observation and communication. A shipyard just north of the bridge, now known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard, churned out larger and larger ships during and after World War II, including aircraft carriers that could barely fit beneath the bridge. Folded Mast One photo from 1961 shows the USS Constellation aircraft carrier leaving the navy yard and passing underneath the Brooklyn Bridge with a mast that folded down onto the ships deck, specially designed to get out into the harbor. In the past two decades, at least three minor strikes have been reported against the bridges underside or base, including a crane being pulled via barge in 2012, which tore into temporary scaffolding mounted underneath the bridge. A similar crane accident damaged peripheral bridge maintenance equipment in July of 2023, according to a Coast Guard incident report. None of the modern accident reports document serious injuries. But off the water, the bridge has been a site of tragedy long before Saturdays crash. More than 20 people were killed and countless crippled while building it, including workers injured by decompression sickness, a little-understood affect of working in underwater in boxes sunk to the riverbed. Twelve people died in a panic-driven stampede among crowds visiting the bridge shortly after it opened to the public in 1883. Photo: New York Police officers stands watch on Pier 35 where the Cuauhtemoc, a masted Mexican Navy training ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge the night before, sits docked. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A man has been charged with providing alcohol to the 20-year-old who fell from the outfield stands at a Pittsburgh Pirates game on April 30. Ethan Kirkwood, 21, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, was arrested Tuesday on misdemeanor charges of furnishing alcohol to a minor and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 23, according to court documents. Kavan Markwood suffered serious injuries after falling from the top of a 21-foot-high wall onto the warning track at PNC Park during a game between the Pirates and the Chicago Cubs. Markwood was admitted to the trauma center at Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition, but has made substantial progress since the fall. Kirkwood said he bought alcohol for Markwood at the ballpark, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. The complaint also says that surveillance video from PNC Park shows Kirkwood buying two 24-ounce beers before another video minutes later shows Kirkwood and Markwood together, each with one beer. Photo: A fan is carted off the field at PNC Park after falling out of the stands during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. European officials are weighing how to respond to US efforts to thwart local DEI programs, as the two regions come closer than ever to clashing over anti-discrimination policies. US embassies across Europe have spent the past few weeks sending letters to companies and public offices doing business with the American government, demanding that they certify that they dont have diversity, equity and inclusion programs that violate US President Donald Trumps executive order. The European Commission is aware of the issue and is currently working with European Union member states to figure out the impact of the US campaign and how best to respond, a spokesperson for the blocs executive branch told Bloomberg. DEI issues such as gender equality are enshrined in European law. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is committed to ensuring that Trumps executive order banning DEI initiatives is carried out by the department and US embassies, a State Department spokesperson said by email. The US campaign has left Europeans bewildered, with politicians and business heads speaking out in dismay about the development. Jan Valeskog, vice mayor for planning for the city of Stockholm, said staff members were shocked when the department got a letter in early May. In the correspondence, the US embassy in Sweden gave the city of Stockholm 10 days to confirm that it would comply with the order to drop DEI, he said. Of course well not do that, Valeskog said in an interview. For us, its very important to work with diversity, equality and inclusion, he said, noting that the requirement is legally binding in Sweden. If, for example, the US embassy seeks a building permit, it will need to comply with Swedish law, and so, I mean, its their problem, he said. The EU is already fielding attacks from the US over ESG (environmental, social and governance) regulations that apply to international firms seeking to do business in the region. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said hes willing to use a range of levers, including trade tools, in retaliation against such rules. The US Chamber of Commerce also has appealed to the Trump administration for support in its battle against Europes Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. CSDDD requires companies seeking to do business in Europe to have credible climate-transition plans and to ensure that their value chains are free from human rights violations. Last month, EU lawmakers delayed its implementation by a year amid renewed debate. The rift over DEI threatens to exacerbate trans-Atlantic tensions. Its not just a sort of fork in the road between the US and Europe, said Raoul Parekh, an employment lawyer who heads the international practice in the London office of Littler Mendelson PC. Its more like the two jurisdictions are driving in completely opposite directions, he said. Among Trumps first actions in his second presidency was to sign an executive order banning DEI from the federal government and its contractors, and ordering agencies to launch investigations into any organization that promotes what the White House has dubbed illegal DEI. A May survey by Littler Mendelson of corporate executives based in the US found that 55% expect to change their DEI programs as a result of Trumps executive orders. The atmosphere of hostility toward DEI and ESG has rocked institutions that had sought to champion diversity not just in the US, but globally. In some cases, European companies with a large US presence are now opting to tone down their DEI work. Among the latest examples is German software giant SAP SE, which dropped its global goal of having women fill 40% of its jobs. The change is among several made by SAP in the area of diversity and inclusion (D&I) to reflect current legal developments in order to ensure legal compliance, as well as a safe and inclusive work environment, Daniel Reinhardt, a spokesperson for the company, said by email. German carmaker Volkswagen AG told shareholders last week that its decided to exclude US subsidiaries from its global DEI targets, citing regulatory reasons. Meanwhile, VWs luxury brand Porsche AG said on Wednesday that it has no knowledge of any US government request relating to DEI, and that its German business is sticking to diversity targets. At the same time, the company said its US business isnt subject to those DEI goals and complies with local laws. In the US, companies saying theyll cut or curtail their DEI policies include International Business Machines Corp., Intel Corp., Accenture Plc, Walmart Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., to name just a handful. At the same time, theres evidence that some of those steps are more of an exercise in semantics than a fundamental about-face. Critics of the US approach say decades of work to address discriminatory policies that favored White males are now at risk of being wiped out. But instead of caving in to Trumps demands, European regulators are moving ahead with existing plans to prioritize gender and racial diversity and address discrimination in the workplace. In the face of any attempts to challenge these values or the rule of law, we double down our efforts in supporting the implementation of legislation that strengthens equality and inclusion, Carlien Scheele, director of the European Institute for Gender Equality, said by email. In the UK, the government is considering requiring employers to develop plans to close the pay gap that now exists between most ethnic minority groups and White Britons. And its set a June 10 deadline to respond to the consultation, which also addresses the pay gap faced by people with disabilities. In the EU, companies face a June 2026 deadline to meet targets set by the EUs Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive, passed in an effort to bring womens representation among non-executive directors to at least 40% at large companies. After that, companies will have to take action to reduce any pay gaps that exceed 5%, as the Pay Transparency Directive is phased in. Europes embrace of DEI initiatives coincides with its efforts to tackle a declining workforce. In a March report, BusinessEurope said increasing womens participation, particularly in science, technology and engineering, is critical to shoring up the blocs competitiveness as the population ages and shrinks. While the Brussels-based organization said its aware of the US letters received by members, it declined to comment further. Investors, meanwhile, are taking note. During a presentation this month, Matt Christensen, global head of sustainable and impact investing at Allianz Global Investors, said he was amazed to hear that companies including in France, where he lives had received letters from US embassies, and that the development has led some to adapt their policies. Christensen said hes aware of the changes at SAP. As a shareholder, it will be a discussion that were going to have, he said. Photograph: The US Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo credit: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics USA Europe China uses digital, intelligent technologies to promote equitable access to public services 11:07, May 23, 2025 By Ma Ruishan ( People's Daily A neurological specialist from Beijing provides a remote consultation for resident Liang Pingping in Hanzhuang village, Fangshan county, north China's Shanxi province. (Photo by Zhang Chaoning) Liang Pingping, a resident of Hanzhuang village, Fangshan county, north China's Shanxi province, laid pale-faced on her bed. Village doctor Chen Yan took out an electrocardiogram device from his diagnostic kit to examine her. Through real-time data transmitted to a remote screen, Beijing-based specialist Feng Pu quickly advised: "Get to a major hospital for a cardiac enzyme test immediately!" Thanks to the timely diagnosis, the patient made a full recovery. This diagnosis was facilitated by a "Mobile Hospital" initiative, jointly launched by Fangshan county and the China Primary Health Care Foundation. The project equips every rural doctor in the county with a diagnostic kit, enabling remote expert consultations and comprehensive checkups. It supports early disease detection and remote guidance for emergency care. So far, all 90 village clinics in Fangshan have conducted more than 16,000 remote consultations, serving over 370,000 patients, covering 53% of the county's permanent population. The initiative has saved patients nearly 10 million yuan in medical and travel expenses. Since its launch in 2018, the "Mobile Hospital" has been rolled out across multiple provinces, benefiting more than 20 million people. How does this initiative bring about a big leap in primary healthcare in Fangshan? It offers good experience by setting up a dispatch platform. When patients scan a code to request medical service, the platform assigns the closest village doctor based on location, ensuring full coverage for every village. A village doctor visits a resident in Mafang village in Fangshan county, north China's Shanxi province. (Photo by Zhang Chaoning) It mobilizes resources from all sides. The program provides free access to remote consultation with top-tier specialists from renowned hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. Village doctors can initiate video consultations, significantly lowering both time and cost for patients. It comes with robust incentive mechanisms. The local government has created a special fund to reward village doctors who detect early signs of serious illness. This encourages them to conduct proactive home visits, reinforcing village clinics as the frontline of rural health protection. Healthcare is a fundamental pillar of people's well-being, and having quality care available close to home is a basic yet important wish for millions of patients. In recent years, China has worked to reorient the focus of its healthcare system toward the grassroots level through policies like hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system and the development of medical consortium. These efforts have helped ease problems such as uneven distribution of medical resources and weak primary care capacity. Leveraging telemedicine partnerships and digital technologies to deliver embedded services has increasingly proven to be both effective and practical for expanding access to quality care. The benefits of data integration and resource sharing go well beyond healthcare. At Shihezi University in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, students conduct analog electronics experiments through remote laboratory access with Xidian University in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi province. At Henan Agricultural University in central China's Henan province, an online collaboration platform links experts, provides training, and connects farmers to marketsallowing growers hundreds of kilometers away to receive customized technical advice through "screen-to-screen" interaction. Whether it's access to education, elder care, early childhood development, or medical treatment, China's digital and intelligent technologies are bearing fruit, broadening the reach and equity of quality public services. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A European official said on Thursday that the United States is not convinced about lowering the Group of Seven nations (G7) price cap on Russian crude oil. The European Union has proposed revising the cap down to an indicative level of $50 a barrel. The cap, agreed in 2022, was designed to stop Russian oil being sold to third countries using Western insurance services if the price exceeded $60 a barrel, in order to hit Moscows revenues. Ukraine has pushed for an even lower price of $30 a barrel. The European official, who did not wish to be identified, told Reuters on the sidelines of the G7 finance ministers meeting in Banff, Canada, that the U.S. treasury team at the meeting took the view that oil prices were already falling and hurting Russia. However, the European official said the U.S. remained open to the idea and discussions would continue. The U.S. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brent oil futures fell to multi-year lows in April and have stayed depressed as U.S. tariff threats weigh on global economic forecasts. On Thursday, Brent oil futures were trading at around $64 a barrel LCOc1. Russias main crude grade Urals trades at around a $10 discount to the Dated Brent benchmark. The EU and its Western allies have been progressively cracking down on Russias shadow fleet of tankers and related players, which work to circumvent the cap. This week, the EU adopted a 17th package aimed at Russias shadow fleet and Russian oil producer Surgutneftegaz. EU Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters in Banff that more sanctions on Russia were discussed at the meeting, including EU ideas to hit energy. Dombrovskis declined to elaborate on the details. (Reporting by Julia Payne, editing by William Maclean and Susan Fenton) Related: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Thursday that the Baltic Sea is becoming a new area of confrontation with Russia, putting the countrys critical infrastructure increasingly at risk. His warning comes a day after Polish authorities said a sanctioned Russian ship was performing suspicious maneuvers near the power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. The tanker left for an unspecified Russian port after the Polish armed forces intervened, they said. The undersea power link was not damaged, but Poland is checking whether any explosive devices were planted, the prime minister said after meeting top navy commanders. The Baltic Sea has become a flashpoint in recent months after the detention of several vessels on suspicion of tearing up undersea telecommunications cables. Baltic nations have also increased scrutiny of unregistered tankers due to concerns about sanctioned Russian oil, saying that Moscows so-called shadow fleet could lead to security breaches and environmental risks. Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine there have been too many incidents in the Baltic Sea for Poland to take maritime security lightly, Tusk said at a meeting with Polish naval commanders in the coastal city of Gdynia on Thursday. The risks are keenly felt in Poland, which shares a border with Russias ally Belarus and exclave of Kaliningrad, home to a naval base at Baltiysk. On Wednesday, Russia declared that it would defend its vessels in the Baltic Sea, one of the worlds busiest shipping routes, by all legal means after briefly deploying a fighter jet as Estonia tried to halt an oil tanker in its economic zone. In recent years, Poland has expanded its energy infrastructure to wean itself off Russian supplies. It has constructed a gas link to Norway, a liquefied natural gas import terminal as well as expanded port capacities to handle growing flows of goods and military aid to neighboring Ukraine. Poland is also adding offshore wind farms to energy mix and building its first nuclear power plant, both examples of strategic infrastructure located on its Baltic coast. The country, which is NATOs highest spender relative to the size of its economy, has also embarked on a rearmament spree. Warsaw plans to buy submarines and has already ordered the construction of three frigates to better protect its maritime interests. Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. BMS Group, the London-based independent re/insurance broker, has acquired Istanbul, Turkey-based Oria Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi A.S. Financial details were not provided. Founded in 2019, Oria is an independent insurance and reinsurance broking firm that has built a strong reputation in the corporate insurance space and employee health benefits solutions. BMS said this acquisition reinforces its long-term commitment to Turkey and is a core part of its regional development as it expands further into the Middle East and beyond. Following the acquisition, the Oria team will integrate into BMS Groups Turkish operations and operate under the BMS brand. By combining BMSs global reach with Orias deep local insight, the company is poised to deliver more holistic, competitive, and solutions-oriented services to clients and insurance partners in Turkey and internationally. BMSs international strategic acquisitions across Europe and the Middle East have included David Roberts & Partners (UK), Rasher (Spain), and BMS entry into the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), subject to regulatory approval. Acquiring Oria represents a significant step forward in our EMEA growth strategy. Their talented team brings valuable expertise and strong client relationships that will further elevate our capabilities in Turkey. Were delighted to welcome them into the BMS family, commented Nick Cook, CEO of BMS Group. This is an integration of two like-minded businesses. Over the past three years, BMS has established itself in Turkey as a leading specialty broker with strong international capacity, said Kerim Gurkan, CEO of BMS Turkey. Now, by joining forces with Orias experienced team and local insight, we enter an exciting new chapterbroadening our client base and deepening the value we bring to both clients and insurance partners, locally and globally. This strategic merger brings together Orias local market knowledge with BMSs international strength and vision. Its a natural fit built on shared values and a commitment to delivering high-impact, high-value solutions, according to Cenk Erden, founder and CEO of Oria Sigorta. Erden will take on the role of chief growth officer and join the board of BMS Turkey. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies A crime victim will need a deep bench when responding to a cyber incident. While the role of brokers, privacy counsel and forensic investigators is well understood, the contribution of insurance claim professionals cannot be overlooked. A victim may have a number of questions during the initial stages of a cyber incident. However, without fail, we often hear the same question in the initial stages of response to a cyber event: Is this covered by my insurance? The big question comes early and arises because the insured is facing a difficult situation that directly impacts their business in addition to trying to work through what may be unfamiliar coverages of a cyber insurance policy. Many victims have never faced a cyberattack until this point, let alone worked through insurance coverage for such an attack. Claim professionals play a vital role in informing the insured about available coverages and providing the insurers coverage position. And the big question about insurance coverage can only be answered by claim professionals who are familiar with both cyber incidents and cyber policies. To answer the big question, claim professionals will need to understand the types of coverage provided by cyber insurance. In general, insurance policies provide either first-party insurance coverage or third-party liability coverage. First-party insurance policies provide coverage for losses the named insured sustains to their own property. The classic example is a fire insurance policy paying to rebuild an insureds home after a fire loss. On the other hand, third-party liability insurance policies provide coverage for liability resulting when another person makes a claim against the named insured. Here, the classic example would be a commercial general liability policy providing coverage for bodily injury or property damage allegedly caused by the named insured. Hybrid Characteristics Cyber insurance policies are unique to the extent that they typically provide a hybrid of both first-party coverage and third-party liability coverage. The hybrid properties of cyber insurance policies require claim professionals to approach the documentation and management of cyber claims differently from claims under traditional lines of insurance. The hybrid characteristics arise from the unique risk presented by a cyberattack. A cyberattack may expose an insured to first-party claims related to losses sustained in investigating the attack, restoring systems after the attack, negotiating with the criminals who launched the attack and working with regulators if personal information was exposed during the attack. Additionally, a cyberattack may expose an insured to liability to the individuals alleging they were harmed in the attack. These claims may trigger coverage under the third-party portion of the cyber insurance policy. Given this scenario, claim professionals should be ready to convey this unique aspect of coverage under a cyber policy. Forensic Investigations Claim professionals will need to understand that the forensic investigation of a cyberattack must strike a balance between providing sufficient information to an insurer to meet the terms and conditions of the policy while making sure they are not waiving privilege over information that may be used against them in subsequent litigation. During the investigation of the cyberattack, an insured needs a forensic investigator to provide unbiased insight into how the attack occurred and recommend steps to avoid another attack in the future. The insureds primary concern at this time may be to bring the insured back up and restore operations after an attack; the insured may not be thinking about preparing for regulatory review or litigation that may be a consequence of the attack. In answering the big question, claim professionals provide another resource to get the insured thinking about the impact of a cyberattack outside the initial days of the attackthat is, claim professionals should be answering the big question throughout the claims process. Regulations In addition to responding to issues such as encryption of their data or harassment by criminals if they are hesitant to pay a ransom, insureds must closely watch various statutory requirements for proper storage and potential exposure of data. This is not an easy task to the extent that each state may have its own specific data breach notification laws. For example, New York law may apply if a New York residents information is exposed during a cyberattack. An insured that experiences a breach under New York law that exposes a New York residents personal information may be required to provide regulatory notice to the New York attorney general, New York Department of State and the New York Division of State Police. The stakes are high to the extent that this process may result in the assessment of fines if a regulator finds lapses in security or untimely notice. Claim professionals should have a basic understanding of these data breach notification laws in order to assist insureds with documenting these losses under the first-party coverages of a cyber policy. After being targeted by criminals and having to work with regulators, cyberattack victims face an increasing threat of data breach class action lawsuits. The individuals notified under various data breach notification laws may join class action lawsuits against cyberattack victims. While an insured is well advised to provide all information requested by an insurer, claim professionals should understand that plaintiffs in data breach class actions may seek information gathered during the forensic investigation in an effort to establish liability against the insured. Claim professionals serve an important role by answering the big question as they remind an insured that the information gathered during the investigation may be used against them. Beyond the terms and conditions of the cyber policy, while answering the big question, claim professionals provide practical guidance such as trying to retain policy limits for notice of impacted individuals, regulatory issues and class action litigation. Consequently, by preparing to answer the big question, claim professionals can provide more certainty for an insured by understanding both the first-party and third-party coverages and being able to communicate that understanding to the insured. Rowe is a member of law firm Constangy, Smith, Brooks & Prophete LLPs cyber team. He leads the investigation and evaluation of potential data security breaches and provides clients with forensic and/or remediation services. Email: trowe@constangy.com. Starwind Specialty Insurance Services named Graham Jenks the president of JH Blades Group, which encompasses JH Blades Energy, JH Blades Marine, Southern Marine and Energy Technical Underwriters (ETU). JH Blades is a specialty platform of Starwind Specialty Insurance Services, a CRC Group company headquartered in New York City. Jenks has served as president of Southern Marine for eight years. He previously served at the company as a vice president and marine underwriter. Before joining the company in 2012, Jenks was a marine cargo broker at Price Forbes and Partners. Richard Martin, long-time leader of JH Blades, has retired following a career spanning many years of service. Gonzales Jois Alliant Healthcare and Risk Management Team Michael Gonzales joined Alliant Insurance Services, headquartered in Irvine, California, as first vice president with the value-based healthcare and risk management solutions team within its employee benefits group. Based in North Carolina, Gonzales will work closely with clients across the healthcare spectrum. Gonzales has over 20 years of experience in business development, sales operations, and go-to-market strategy, along with 15 years of experience focused on partnering with hospitals, health systems, physician provider groups and managed service organizations. Before joining Alliant, Gonzales most recently served as vice president of sales at MedEvolve. Previous roles include regional director at Waystar and director of business development at McKesson. Topics Alliant Global insurer American International Group (AIG) has reached an out of court settlement of its legal dispute with the excess and surplus insurance firm Dellwood that was started by former AIG executives. In a filing in federal district court in New Jersey on May 22, AIG and Dellwood said they reached a settlement on May 17 and AIGs lawsuit has been voluntarily dismissed with prejudice and without costs and/or attorneys fees to any party as against any other party. Details of the settlement were not disclosed. The legal battle began in April 2024 shortly after former AIG executives Michael Price, Kean Driscoll and Thomas Connolly launched their own E&S insurance holding company, Dellwood, in New Jersey. AIG sued the men and their new company alleging unlawful misappropriation of AIGs trade secrets and confidential information, violations of employment contracts, and unfair competition. AIG saw Dellwood as directly competitive with AIGs own E&S operations. AIG sought injunctive relief and damages. For its launch, Dellwood received more than $250 million in capital and was backed by RenaissanceRe, PartnerRe, Starr Insurance, Central Insurance, and a group of individual investors for wholesale brokers in the small- and middle-enterprise E&S market. AIG later dropped the former executives from the lawsuit but an amended complaint continued to name Dellwood Insurance. Since then, AIG and Dellwood have fired back and forth over whether the suit should be allowed to proceed. On March 28, a federal judge allowed some of the claims in AIGs lawsuit to proceed. Judge Evelyn Padin in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled AIG could go ahead with allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition by Dellwood. Padin dismissed without prejudice AIGs allegations of tortious interference, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and computer fraud abuse. AIG Can Continue Trade Secret Theft Allegations Against Dellwood On the matter of taking trade secrets, AIG was allowed to proceed with claims that former employee Thomas Connolly now with Dellwood as chief financial officer acted as a double agent for Dellwood while still employed with AIG. Dellwood had countered the lawsuit by arguing that AIG should not be allowed to claim a monopoly on the experience and general knowledge of its employees nor should it be allowed to prevent Dellwood from doing business by throwing around its weight with ginned-up claims, especially after dropping claims against three of its executives who were all former AIG employees. The judge scheduled a settlement conference for May 1. The two reached their agreement on May 17. Topics Lawsuits Excess Surplus AIG Private capital firms grappling with a moribund dealmaking climate are increasingly turning to a niche securitized product to raise cash. Collateralized fund obligations, or CFOs, slice and dice private portfolios into bonds, many with top ratings, allowing their issuers to borrow cheaply against illiquid assets. A swathe of CFOs have come to the market recently, including deals this week from Ares Management Corp. and Carlyle Group Inc.s private equity platform AlpInvest. CFOs have taken off at least partly because private firms are getting creative about finding new sources of liquidity. An ongoing slump in dealmaking, exacerbated by this years tariff turmoil, has disrupted their normal business model. CFOs reliant on cashflow from highly-levered assets have become part of the workaround. Not a week goes by for me without getting a new CFO proposal, so I expect the market to continue to grow, said Greg Fayvilevich, global head of Fitch Ratings fund and asset management group, which assigns ratings to the collateralized debt. Representatives for Ares and AlpInvest declined to comment. NAIC All-Clear The bonds have found eager buyers among insurers since the industrys regulators paved the way for them to increase purchases of CFOs. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners rules went into effect from Jan. 1, and cleared up doubts about capital treatment for the securities. That set the stage for private capital firms to tap into the deep-pocketed insurance industry. Proponents of the vehicles say that between scrutiny from regulators, ratings agencies and their professional investors, these products are a safe way to attract a new investor base. Many of these are carefully designed, theyre cash flow tested instruments to help insurers meet their obligations in ways that some low yield public markets cant, Jon Godfread, the current president of the NAIC, said in a recent interview. But as CFOs get more popular, some are concerned about the bundling of unrated private funds into instruments with top ratings. Some of the collateral used in these deals can be difficult to exit. The underlying stakes are still subject to economic headwinds whether they are packaged up or not. Restructuring advisors say they are spending more time sorting out problem loans for private funds as high rates, a consumer slowdown and tariff turmoil add to the stress. Read More: Private Credit Strains Are Keeping Advisors Busy: The Brink In 2023, Fitch Ratings downgraded parts of a CFO managed by Nassau Alternative Investments, saying that the performance of the underlying fund investments was getting weaker due to the market environment and the portfolios exposures. Youre taking illiquid, opaque assets, slicing them up, and selling tranches with theoretical diversification and little transparency, said Ludovic Phalippou, a Professor of Financial Economics at University of Oxford. Thats exactly what we saw with CDOs, he said, referring to the collateralized debt obligations that helped trigger the global financial crisis in 2008. There are safeguards built into the CFO structure. Such deals generally include a first-loss equity portion which takes the first hit in the event of a default or decline in value, and this is typically held onto by the manager themselves. CFOs may also have less single-issuer risk than vehicles like collateralized loan obligations, where troubles for one big borrower can ripple through the market. And to be sure, these CFOs are quite different to financial crisis-era CDOs. Those vehicles repackaged subprime mortgages, while many of the underlying companies in CFOs are private equity-backed firms with millions in earnings. Market participants also say that overall leverage was much higher in a 2008-era CDO than in a present day CFO. Right now, the market is fairly small. Kroll Bond Rating Agency said in March that it has assigned ratings to $37.7 billion worth of CFOs since 2018, with the bulk of those coming since 2022. Many last year were backed by secondaries funds which are themselves bundles of stakes in private assets. Other recent deals include a $2.4 billion CFO from Coller Capital last month, as well as products issued by Neuberger Berman Group. Representatives at both firms declined to comment. Investors in private funds have also turned to CFOs as a way to exit their stakes. Limited partner Thrivent raised a CFO in the first quarter to rebalance its exposure to private equity and stay active in the space, according to a spokesperson for the firm. According to Godfread, the NAIC president, its still important to take close heed of the risks of individual securities. CFOs may offer yield and diversification but we have to evaluate them carefully to make sure [customers] policies arent exposed to hidden risks, and thats going to be on a case-by-case basis. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. On April 21, 2025, Georgia lawmakers enacted sweeping tort reform through Senate Bills 68 and 69, signaling a significant recalibration of the states civil litigation framework. While proponents claim these reforms will reduce frivolous lawsuits and lower insurance costs, the practical effect is a substantial restriction in injured plaintiffs ability to recover fair compensation, particularly in premises liability and motor vehicle accident cases. These reforms arrive amid a climate of increasing claim denials and heightened insurance scrutiny. The tort reform law significantly alters the balance of power in civil litigation. Though framed as a cost-control measure, it reduces jury discretion, imposes stricter liability standards, and introduces procedural hurdles like bifurcated trials. These changes not only burden plaintiffs and their attorneys but also demand greater legal precision to achieve fair outcomes in an increasingly defendant-friendly system. Impact on Injured Plaintiffs The law introduces changes that could limit compensation for injured plaintiffs: Stricter Liability Standards : Negligent security cases now require proof of prior wrongful conduct within 500 yards of the property. This may reduce successful claims against property owners in cases like assaults or slip-and-falls. : Negligent security cases now require proof of prior wrongful conduct within 500 yards of the property. This may reduce successful claims against property owners in cases like assaults or slip-and-falls. Lower Damage Awards : Evidence of actual medical costs paid (not billed) and bans on anchoring pain and suffering damages (e.g., referencing unrelated high figures) could lead to smaller awards. : Evidence of actual medical costs paid (not billed) and bans on anchoring pain and suffering damages (e.g., referencing unrelated high figures) could lead to smaller awards. Procedural Challenges : Bifurcated trials (separating liability and damages) and allowing seatbelt evidence in auto cases may reduce payouts, as non-use of seatbelts could mitigate damages. : Bifurcated trials (separating liability and damages) and allowing seatbelt evidence in auto cases may reduce payouts, as non-use of seatbelts could mitigate damages. Funding Restrictions: Limits on third-party litigation funding and transparency requirements may hinder plaintiffs ability to finance lawsuits, potentially reducing access to justice. These reforms may lower the volume of litigation, but they do so by narrowing access to justice, not by resolving the root causes of injury or overburdened courts. Impact on Plaintiffs Attorneys The law creates challenges for attorneys representing plaintiffs: Fewer Cases : Stricter liability and damage rules may discourage taking on cases with lower potential payouts, especially in negligent security or smaller claims. : Stricter liability and damage rules may discourage taking on cases with lower potential payouts, especially in negligent security or smaller claims. Increased Complexity : Bifurcated trials, new dismissal motion timelines, and restrictions on voluntary dismissals increase litigation costs and time. : Bifurcated trials, new dismissal motion timelines, and restrictions on voluntary dismissals increase litigation costs and time. Reduced Attorney Fees : Eliminating double recovery of attorney fees and regulating litigation funding could lower earnings. : Eliminating double recovery of attorney fees and regulating litigation funding could lower earnings. Strategic Shifts : Attorneys may need to focus on high-value cases and adapt to new evidentiary rules, such as seatbelt evidence, requiring changes in case selection and preparation. : Attorneys may need to focus on high-value cases and adapt to new evidentiary rules, such as seatbelt evidence, requiring changes in case selection and preparation. Automatic Stay of Discovery : When a defendant files a motion to dismiss, discovery is automatically stayed for 90 days. This provision can delay the gathering of evidence, potentially impacting the plaintiffs ability to build a strong case promptly. : When a defendant files a motion to dismiss, discovery is automatically stayed for 90 days. This provision can delay the gathering of evidence, potentially impacting the plaintiffs ability to build a strong case promptly. Limitations on Damage Arguments: Attorneys must ensure that any suggested amounts for non-economic damages are substantiated by trial evidence, restricting the use of persuasive analogies or comparisons during closing arguments. The Georgia legislative changes are problematic because personal injuries remain a major public health concern, with approximately 31 million Americans requiring medical treatment annually for general injuries, as reported by the National Center for Health Statistics. Of these, about 2 million cases are severe enough to require hospitalization, underscoring the burden on healthcare systems. The National Safety Council further notes that preventable injuries, which include a significant portion of personal injuries, had a death rate of 66.5 per 100,000 population in 2022, marking a 0.6% increase from 2021 and a 100% increase since 1992. This escalation highlights the growing challenge of injury prevention, with unintentional injuries ranking as the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer, and contributing to nearly 175,000 deaths each year. But to many, the bigger challenge is the continuous denial of claims by insurance companies, mainly due to unintended errors in filings by individuals, as well as disputed liability. Three key factors drive settlements and denials. 1. Establishing Clear Liability Among many other factors, one of the major determinants of the outcome of any claim is how well liability is established. Many states, including Georgia, apply the comparative negligence doctrine to reduce a claimants recovery by their percentage of fault and bar recovery entirely if they are more than 50% responsible. Utilizing a broad approach to liability by identifying all potential defendants is critical in personal injury litigation, as it significantly expands the scope and potential recovery of a claim. In a tire failure case, for example, a thorough investigation might target not only the tire manufacturer for a defective product but also the dealership that failed to address a recall during routine maintenance, thereby increasing the claims financial and legal reach. This strategy demands early and exhaustive investigation to uncover less-obvious culpable parties, such as municipalities responsible for poorly designed roads, maintenance companies in premises liability cases, or third-party contractors whose negligence played a role in the incident. 2. Strength and Quality of Evidence Even when liability is clearly established in a case, without robust evidence to support duty, breach, causation and damages, insurance adjusters can still deny a claim. A robust evidentiary foundation is non-negotiable. Medical records, police reports, witness statements, and technological data, such as vehicle event data recorders, are essential to substantiate claims. One recent case used Fitbit data to illustrate a clients disrupted sleep patterns post-injury, strengthening the claims credibility. It is critical to avoid gaps in medical treatment, as insurers exploit these to argue injuries are not severe, a tactic that can be countered with meticulous documentation of injuries and medical treatments. 3. Accurate Assessment of Economic Damages Poor assessment of economic and non-economic damages means that many claim amounts are drastically reduced. Economic damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and future care costs require precise calculation to ensure fair compensation. There is a need for comprehensive documentation, including projections of long-term expenses, such as ongoing therapy or lost earning capacity. Employing financial experts to model these costs accurately can be beneficial, a step often overlooked in less experienced practices. Matt Wetherington is founder of Wetherington Law Firm in Atlanta, specializing in personal injury and wrongful death law. Topics Georgia Owners of dangerous dogs in Florida will soon have to secure at least $100,000 in liability insurance coverage after the governor signed House Bill 593 into law this week. Also known as the Pam Rock Act after a mail carrier who was mauled to death in 2022, the law mandates that owners of dogs that have bitten humans or killed or injured pets to obtain liability coverage. They also must keep the animals in an enclosure, with warning signs, must microchip and neuter the dogs, and must maintain rabies vaccination certificates, the bill reads. Animal shelters must provide information about the dogs history to prospective adopters. Animal control authorities also are authorized to euthanize dangerous dogs that have been surrendered. The law, which takes effect July 1, also slightly raises the level of violation, to a first-degree misdemeanor, when an owner disregards a dogs dangerous propensities, an legislative staff analysis of the bill notes. Florida has had a dangerous-dogs law on the books since 1990, but lawmakers this year said the statutes needed strengthening after a growing number of attacks around the state. More than 600 Floridians are hospitalized because of injuries from dog bites, and about two people die from them each year, the state Department of Health has reported, according to the bill analysis. In August 2022, a postal worker was delivering mail when she was attacked by five dogs in Putnam County. She died the next day. An 86-year-old had to have her leg amputated after being attacked by a neighbors dog in early 2023 in Hawthorne, Florida. In January 2025, an eight-year-old boy was attacked and killed by two dogs, the analysis explained. Topics Florida Liability Donald Trump has said he will impose a 50% tariff on all EU imports to the US from 1 June after saying trade talks between the two trading blocs were going nowhere. In a surprise announcement, the US president posted on his Truth Social platform that his long-running battle to secure concessions from the EU had run aground. He accused the EU of taking advantage of the US on trade, saying: Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on 1 June 2025. Stock markets slumped in response to the post, with S&P 500 futures down by 1.5% before the New York market opening. The STOXX Europe 600 index fell by 1.7%. The US imposed a 20% reciprocal rate on most EU goods on 2 April, but halved that rate a week later until 8 July to allow time for talks. It has retained 25% import taxes on steel, aluminium and vehicle parts and is threatening similar action on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and other goods. This is a major escalation of trade tensions, said Holger Schmieding, the chief economist at Berenberg, on Friday. With Trump you never know but this would be a major escalation. The EU would have to react and it is something that would really hurt the US and European economy. EU negotiators have been locked in meetings with White House representatives since Trumps liberation day tariffs were first announced. Dozens of nations have been holding discussions to try to bring down their own levies before the 90-day pause elapses. It comes as Mr Trump said Apple would have to pay a 25% tariff if phones sold in the country were not made within its borders. Shares of Apple dropped 2.5% in premarket trading on Mr Trump's warning, dragging down US stock index futures lower. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US." It is not clear if Trump can levy a tariff on an individual company. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House has relented on many of its most onerous tariffs, including lowering total tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% after what Trump declared were constructive talks with Beijing, which lowered its retaliatory border taxes from 125% to 10% in response. A week ago the US president appeared to acknowledge that Washington lacked the ability to negotiate deals with scores of countries at once, saying the US would instead send letters to some trading partners to unilaterally impose new tariff rates. Perceptions of an easing back on a hardline approach to trade brought a period of calm to stock markets, but Fridays threat of a 50% levy on EU goods, plus a separate threat made the same day of 25% tariffs on iPhones made abroad, have brought an end to the peace. additional reporting by Reuters When Mary Ann Kennys husband John collapsed and died while out running near their home in Co Dublin, she was blindsided by the sudden and devastating loss. But for Mary Ann, the nightmare was only beginning. The circumstances of Johns death and having to tell her two young sons had a profound impact on her and she struggled to cope in the aftermath. She was prescribed sleeping pills, sedatives, and finally anti-depressants, to which she had a severe physical reaction. Soon after, she experienced psychosis, believing her children had somehow been poisoned by her medication, and ended up in psychiatric care on two occasions. In her compelling and affecting memoir, The Episode, she describes how the whole experience, including being denied access to her children for a period, left her feeling dehumanised and even more traumatised. I felt cast out by society. I had no rights, I had no voice. And that is the greatest kind of trauma. On an evolutionary basis, we need to be part of a society, she says. We need connection with other people. We need care when were sick and that had been withdrawn from me. It is 10 years since Johns death and Mary Anns admission to a psychiatric hospital; her career as an academic is thriving and she and her sons, now teenagers, are in a good place. However, the anger she feels about her treatment stayed with her, which eventually led to her writing the book. She says: I couldnt put it behind me. It was consuming me and my every thought. I have a very strong sense of injustice, and so did John. When my involvement with psychiatric services came to an end, I felt liberated, but I was also full of questions about what had happened to me. I requested my files and I was enraged by what I read, about the way I had been treated as a person who had suffered a very sudden and tragic loss and was at the lowest point of my life. I felt I hadnt been treated with the compassion and care that I deserved. Yes, I lost John but I lost so much as a patient. That astonishing lack of care and compassion towards a grieving wife and mother is evident throughout Mary Anns treatment as recounted in the book. Kindness needed more than psychiatric treatment She acknowledges that while she did require psychiatric treatment, what she needed even more was kindness and most of all an opportunity to process the overwhelming accumulation of grief, uncertainty, and anxiety. She also felt tremendous guilt for relying on her friends and her own elderly mother who herself needed care. As she writes: What I needed most was to rest my tortured brain and my exhausted body. Instead, the death of her husband was barely mentioned and she was subjected to endless questions and team meetings where some staff didnt even introduce themselves or acknowledge her presence. It was absolutely torturous and excruciating to me to be asked perpetually about my thoughts at a time when I was heavily medicated, seriously ill, and exhausted and unable to verbalise my thoughts anyway, and certainly not in front of a group of professionals, half of whom I might never have met before, she says. Mary Ann received no talk therapy during her admissions and it was only when she left hospital and attended a cognitive behavioural therapy group that psychotic depression was explained to her. It is beyond belief, she says. When I would say to people that I didnt get any therapy when I was in hospital, they would be like: What? You must have. Its shocking, and its seems to be much more a feature of psychiatric treatment. She compares her experience to one she had when she was admitted to hospital for a serious injury two years ago. One of the big differences was that I was kept informed the whole time, she says. I was never sent copies of any letters that went from my psychiatric consultant to my GP, whereas, when I had my physical injury, every single communication between my surgeon and my GP was copied to me so I was kept up to date the whole time. The first time I saw the equivalent letters for my psychiatric treatment, and Im talking about my outpatient care as well over the following years, was when I requested my files. I was kept completely in the dark. It is all part of that dehumanisation and disempowerment. According to Mary Ann, the psychiatric system views mental illness as a chronic condition, which is counter-productive to recovery: There was no sense from them that this was ever going to end they did not hold out any hope that this would resolve itself. They view the person whos mentally ill as a collection of symptoms weight loss, insomnia, delusional thinking, in my case and they treat those symptoms in a vacuum. When her brother visited her, he told her what she describes as the single most helpful thing that anyone said to her during her period in hospital. She writes: Its an episode and an episode has a beginning, a middle and an end youre now in the middle and the middle is horrendous but episodes always end, and this will end. No mental health professional ever said anything remotely similar in all the months I spent being treated by them. It would have helped if they had. As it was, my brothers mantra gave me hope. And it turned out to be true. Mary Ann refers to being caught up in a mental health system that is itself sick. She says she would be delighted if mental health practitioners and social workers read the book and learned something from it. I have been as fair as I possibly can to them, she says. It is a hard position that theyre in, but it is not black and white. I hope that they see that there is a human being at the heart of this particular mental health emergency and every mental health emergency a human being who is suffering. We all need to have a bit more compassion professionals and society. She found the process of getting her experience onto the page cathartic to an extent but it was also a journey of discovery as she pieced together what had happened to her. I wanted to put my story on the record, she says. There were other records this is my record. But I had to unravel it. It was very therapeutic, it hugely aided my understanding of what had happened to me. While she has achieved clarity, she says her experience in psychiatric care is never far from her thoughts: I still think about so many aspects of this story all the time. I think about John all the time and his death, it was his anniversary recently. Its spring again, the sun is shining, the clematis is flowering and then the next few months come and its July and Im thinking, this is when so its never too far from my thoughts, any of it. The Episode not only serves as a reminder that there is always hope but also as a way to remember her husband John and celebrate all that he brought to his familys lives. We are a very close unit and we have our sad moments, but we keep John alive and we talk about him a lot, Mary Ann says. I wove whatever I could about him into this story. He would have been incensed about what happened to me but overjoyed by this book. His spirit lives on in it, it really does. One of the men behind the mystery of the note dated 1969 found in the walls of the Metropole Hotel has reminisced on his time working in Cork in the 1960s and 1970s. John Keogh from Blackpool on Corks northside was one of the four tradesmen who worked at the hotel in the 1960s who signed a note on a piece of wallpaper and hid it in the wall of the hotel more than half a century ago. A plumber by trade, Keogh was part of the maintenance crew at the hotel, alongside electrician Tommy Ross, carpenter Jerry Higgins, and painter Steve Casey. Keogh became a man in demand after the note was found hidden in the hotels walls during recent works as part of a long-term restoration project of the ground floor and upstairs ballrooms. Sitting down with the Irish Examiner, he reminisced on serving his time as a tradesman in Cork, the unique experience of working at the Metropole Hotel, the friendships that were formed, and the many famous faces that he encountered. Sitting in the cosy sitting room of the house where Keoghs wife Phyllis was born, it quickly became apparent that the 86-year-old is a true family man, proudly showing me photographs of his family that lined the fireplace mantelpiece and windowsill. It was his family, he explained, who shared in the excitement of the past 10 days after he became Corks most wanted - the only man still alive with the keys to open the door to the past and tell us what it was like to work as part of the maintenance team at the historical Metropole Hotel. It all came about when the hotel put out a call to find the four tradesmen. It was soon discovered that Ross, Higgins, and Casey, who worked alongside Keogh, had passed away. And while Keogh says he couldnt believe the reaction to the discovery of the note, he says he doesnt specifically remember signing it. He jokes that there could very well be a lot more of them in the walls of the hotel, saying it was just something Tommy would do. He was nostalgic, he was that way inclined. So, he probably handed it to us and said, Sign that there. I didnt even remember signing it until I saw it. I couldnt believe it - it knocked me for four, for six. I couldnt believe how anyone would have an interest in it. And the hotel wanted to find out what the hotel was like at that time, he says. Speaking about what life at the Metropole Hotel looked like back then, with a look of nostalgia in his eyes, he says: They had their own man preparing vegetables. They had their own florists where two ladies would grow and do up the flowers then everyday. It was a unique hotel. It was a dry hotel - no drink whatsoever. Douglas Vance then came as manager of the hotel in my time. He was my ideal type of man because what you saw was what you got, and you could talk straight to him. He and his wife had a penthouse on the roof of the hotel, and they lived there, and they had a little cottage out in Inniscara, a beautiful little place, rustic, with a big orchard and everything. There was a shop down alongside the hotel at the time called Hadji Bey's. I used to often work inside there. He had a special recipe, and he used to make beautiful Turkish delight and especially the fudge, a beautiful fudge. I used to bring it home here to my wife. Speaking about his time as a plumber, he says he remembers when he started serving his time quite well. It was 1954 and he was working on a housing scheme out in Ballyphehane. John Keogh: "There was a shop down alongside the hotel at the time called Hadji Bey's. I used to often work inside there. He had a special recipe, and he used to make beautiful Turkish delight and especially the fudge, a beautiful fudge." At that time, we had to do seven years, and you would do every one of them. Any you missed, youd have to do it again because you were doing every part of the trade, such as drainage and plumbing. It was a great experience, he says. Keogh went on to work for different companies and spent some time working in South Africa, saying he would have done a fair bit of travelling with the job, travelling all over Ireland also. I worked in every county in Ireland. When I would be staying somewhere, I would always prefer to stay in these little guesthouses. I could stay in the big hotels if I wanted to. Still, it was very comical when you stayed in a local area in a bed and breakfast and would go into the pub that night. Theyd be all very wary of you, and there would be nothing said, and then the next night theyd know who you were working for, and theyd have the whole history. Theyd be sizing you up first, but youd be one of the boys then after that. Theyd try you out, he laughs. Touching on the type of work they carried out at the hotel, which included some late nights that led to bumping into some famous faces, he says: Tommy and myself would be needed for the vital things, if something happened in the middle of the night, like a breakdown or something. Theyd send a taxi up in the night to collect me if something had to be done in the hotel, and sometimes the taxi would have to come to the pub to collect me, and Id have to come up home and then go there. One night, at about 2am, I was finishing what I was doing, and inside in the bar were Peter OToole, Trevor Howard and Noel Purcell. And Peter OToole got a vase with flowers in it, threw the flowers out, didnt even wash it, and filled it with stout, and sure there was drink pouring all over him. I doubt if you could find the likes of the hotel anywhere else. It is just completely unique. You could be doing a job, and the water would be off. When guests would try a tap and nothing was coming out, theyd never think to turn it off and next thing when the water would be back on, youd be running around the hotel listening for the water because the taps would be running and the guests that had gone out would be after locking the rooms so the emergency key was needed to open them. John Keogh recalling how his late colleague Tommy Ross was an awful trickster and would often write messages on the back of wallpaper. Tommys name appeared on a note discovered behind wallpaper in the Metropole Hotel. Picture: Chani Anderson When asked what his favourite memories are of his time at the hotel, he sits back in his armchair and smiles, saying: Everyone knew everyone. We just knew every one of the waiters and waiteresses and house maids and concierges - youd meet them out on the street. You wouldn't have seen that anywhere else. "Anything they wanted, theyd just give you a shout, and they knew who they were shouting for. It was unbelievable. We looked out for each other. A small bit of respect for one another goes a long way. Keogh worked until retirement and says he often still gets a knock on the door from apprentices he served his time with down through the years. There would often be a knock at the door and it would be apprentices I served my time with who might be back from America and its lovely, especially when they say, I was on a job John, and I always say to myself what would Johnny do in this situation?' And thats lovely to hear. I always believed in everyone getting a fair crack of the whip, he says. Still modestly soaking up the recognition he has been receiving, Keogh says that he and Phyllis have been invited to the hotel to enjoy a full board experience once refurbishments are complete, which he says they look forward to. US flights carrying deportees and stopping over in Ireland do not need to be cleared with the Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said. Flight tracking data shows that a Gulfstream jet owned by a US company, which has in the past carried out deportation flights, stopped in Shannon on Wednesday morning en route to Djibouti. The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed the aircraft was transporting eight men, which it described as violent criminals, to the African country in contravention of a court order blocking the deportations. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that, because the plane was a civil flight, there was no need for the US government to alert Irish authorities. It said: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports that a US flight on May 21 landed in Shannon en route to Djibouti. This was a civil aircraft and, as such, no diplomatic clearance would have been sought or would have been required. The regulation of civil aircraft and flights is a matter for the Department of Transport. Civil aviation In a statement, the Department of Transport said that world civil aviation was governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention), to which both Ireland and the US are signatories. Article 5 of this convention provides for the right of air operators of contracting parties to operate non-scheduled overflights and stops for non-traffic purposes [e.g. refuelling] in the territory of the other contracting parties, the department said. Trina Realmuto, the executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance which represents the men, told the Irish Examiner that she was not aware of other flights which had come through Ireland, nor has she been in contact with the men. On Wednesday, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the US Department of Homeland Security, said the flight contained criminals who had committed serious crimes and criticised US federal Judge Brian Murphy for trying to bring them back to America. It is understood that the deportees were from Vietnam, Cuba, Myanmar, Laos, and Mexico. The US Department of Homeland Security did not respond to queries about whether it had flagged the flights or sought any assurances of its legality. The issue was raised in the Dail yesterday, with Tanaiste Simon Harris being accused of disinterest in the use of Shannon Airport. Mr Harris told Labours Ivana Bacik that this was a civil aircraft and, as such, no diplomatic clearance would have been sought or would have been required. Ms Bacik said: It is unconscionable that an Irish airport could be used as an instrument to violate human rights. To date, the Government has shown an astounding lack of curiosity on the matter." A member of rap group Kneecap arrived at a surprise London performance with tape over his mouth a day after he was charged with a terror offence in the UK. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, Britain's Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. Mr O hAnnaidh arrived for the surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday in a silver Mercedes and happily posed for a photographer. He then joked about being careful what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He said: I need to thank my lawyer hes here tonight as well. Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. The group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language, announced they would perform at the central London venue on Thursday evening, ahead of their headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night. Police officers outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where Kneecap have announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. Picture: PA /PA Wire On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a British High Court ruling over planning permission. Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authoritys decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was irrational. Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to confirm that the event has been cancelled and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said that no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the events organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. Mr O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: 14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesnt have a jury. Whats the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. Officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, police said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. Kneecap are due to perform at Wide Awake on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. They also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group made up of Mr O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. Five people have been arrested after a massive day of action by gardai in Co Wicklow. Uniformed officers from across the county took part in a number of investigations under Operation Thor. They were assisted by the Detective Unit, Roads Policing Unit, Garda Armed Support Unit, and Air Support Unit during todays planned operation. Together, they conducted searches of 13 locations early this morning, targeting those involved in burglary, theft, and drug-related offences in the county. During these searches, five people were arrested and are currently detained. An imitation firearm was seized and will be sent for ballistic analysis. Gardai also conducted more than 80 checkpoints over the course of todays operation. Friday's operation follows the arrest of 12 other people over the past ten days who were wanted on warrant for failing to appear in court. Furthermore, more than 100,000 worth of drugs was seized by officers in the past two weeks, and two people were arrested. One person is now before the courts in connection with this seizure in Co Wicklow. Throughout the day, crime and burglary patrolsboth covert and high-visibilitywere carried out, along with a series of checkpoints. A number of road traffic and crime-related detections were made. Commenting on this activity, Chief Superintendent Derek Hughes from the Wexford Wicklow Division said: "When a persons home is broken into or someone has had their possessions taken from them, it can leave a lasting impact and really affect their sense of safety and privacy. Its an invasion and causes huge upset. "Gardai across Wicklow have been working around the clock to fully investigate the crimes that have been committed, and are determined to continue detecting and preventing criminals from profiting from the hardship of others our work this month demonstrates our commitment to robustly investigate and prosecute offenders who engage in this type of crime. Shamelessly brazen to the very end, telling clever lies which were ultimately self-serving, is how murder-accused Richard Satchwell was described by prosecuting counsel in closing arguments in his trial. Mr Satchwell displayed conniving actions, full of guile, and wove a web of deceit after burying his wife under a concrete floor in the sitting room of their Youghal home, prosecuting barrister Gerardine Small SC said in the States closing speech. Mr Satchwell, 58, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell, nee Dingivan, 45, on March 20, 2017 at their home on 3 Grattan St, Youghal. He reported her missing on March 24, 2017. Her skeletal remains were found wrapped in plastic and buried beneath a concrete floor under the stairwell in their terraced home in Youghal on October, 11, 2023. He set up malicious motives for his wife leaving him, Ms Small said. She left to get her own back for what he did in 2002 when he left for England for a year, he told gardai. He told gardai his wife had been so violent towards him he had taken an overdose once. But a GP who he said this was reported to denied any knowledge of this. She also denied she had seen Mr Satchwell with scratches on his face and vehemently denied the words he attributed to her that he should either leave the relationship or put up with it. He told gardai he imagined his wife would turn up at her aunt or uncles house with another fella, or he would receive a registered letter telling him he had to sell the house. He delivered a "shifting narrative", she said. When he was interviewed by gardai on October 11, 2023, as gardai were beginning an invasive search at the Satchwells' home, he still maintained his narrative that his wife had left him and he did not know where she was. When gardai showed him photos of under the stairs the area he had buried his wife in a shallow grave he still maintained he was innocent. Tina Satchwell. File picture When asked by gardai what he kept under the stairs, he said bits and pieces. That illustrates how shamelessly brazen Richard Satchwell is, right to the very end," Ms Small said. But Mrs Satchwells decomposed skeletal remains were found and he was then rearrested on October 12, 2023. He now knows her body has been found. You would expect this is a road to Damascus moment. But its not. Richard Satchwell now embarks on another narrative, another web of deceit," Ms Small said. This has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese, its laden with discrepancies. And this, she said, was ultimately self-serving. Clever lies, some rooted in fact, others giving intricate details, were told by Mr Satchwell, when he gave multiple interviews to gardai, and when he spoke to Mrs Satchwell's family, asking them for help in finding his wife, Ms Small said. He told gardai he did not know what clothes his wife took because she has so many. He gives detail about the breakfast he made that morning cutting apple and putting it in a bowl with mandarins, grapes and covering them in yogurt. He gave detail about the silver piping on the suitcases he said went missing from the house, Ms Small said. He also spoke about tragedies and difficulties in Mrs Satchwells family which the jury may interpret as being introduced as a method of distraction, to create a mist, to bring you down a rabbit hole. He said his GP Patrick Burke told him he was right not to report his wife missing immediately after her 'disappearance' on March 20, 2017 and to give him some space. But the jury heard Dr Burke give evidence he would be extremely worried to hear about one half of a couple who were constantly together, even attending medical appointments together, to go missing suddenly. He denied ever telling Mr Satchwell to give his wife space. Mr Satchwell enrolled in a professional driving course shortly after his wifes death but did not tell gardai this. This reflects his state of mind at the time and would show that he was getting on with his life, Ms Small said. The whole fabricated narrative, the deceit, continues from 2017, she said. He makes multiple media appeals to his wife to come home. "He tells TV and radio journalists how much he misses her. "In an interview with Paschal Sheehy on RTE in June, 2017, he said: Tina come home, there's no one mad at you. My arms are open, the pets are missing you like crazy, we need you'." To convict of murder, the jury must believe there was an intent to kill or cause serious injury beyond reasonable doubt. To ascertain what Mr Satchwells intention was, the jury could infer from his actions, reactions, lies and omissions, Ms Small said. The manner in which he concealed the body, the fact his narrative changes when Mrs Satchwells body was found are some matters than infer intent, she said. He said his wife threatened to leave him and said she had wasted 28 years of life with him. This could be interpreted as motive, she said. Mr Satchwells immediate actions after the killing could also infer intent, Ms Small said. What does he do or doesnt he do? He doesnt seek any medical help. "Very soon after the killing, at 10.42am, he emails the International Monkey Rescue Association saying that he had put a lot of work into procuring two monkeys and his wife was going to leave him as a result as they had not arrived. I put to you this is a very calculated move on Richard Satchwells part. Its very deliberate, very reasoned. Why is he saying this at 10.42am? Because he is creating a digital footprint that he can avail of later down the line oh look at this stage I was saying she was going to leave me. I say that is a very deliberate move. I say thats very significant. The closing speeches continue. A victim impact statement is to be prepared by a 90-year-old Cork woman who was terrified by an intruder pulling off bedclothes as she lay in bed at three oclock in the morning. On Friday, the culprit was remanded in custody for sentencing. 39-year-old Thomas Murray of 186 Rathpeacon Road, Cork, affirmed his plea of guilty today at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Prosecution barrister Katherine McGillicuddy said that a victim impact statement would be required in advance of sentencing. Defence senior counsel Donal OSullivan said that the accused had significant addiction difficulties and asked for a probation report to be prepared. Judge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing until the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing at the end of October and remanded the defendant in custody until then. Detective Garda Brian Murphy objected previously to bail being granted to the 39-year-old who was charged with burgling the elderly womans home on two occasions once at 3am on December 27, 2024. The detective said that during last summer, Mr Murray had done some lawnmowing and odd jobs at the home of the 90-year-old woman and allegedly burgled her home in July 2024 and again on December 27, 2024. Det. Garda Murphy said the intruder entered the womans home at Closes Road, Farranree, Cork, on December 27 when she was asleep in her bed and that he shook her violently and shouted at her asking where her purse was. He gained entry by smashing a rear kitchen window. This male then proceeded to pull the pillows from under her and stripped the duvet off the bed. When the injured party attempted to call 999, the male grabbed the phone line from her and cut the phone line preventing her from making the call. He searched the bedroom drawers for money before leaving via a back door. Gardai from the serious investigations unit initiated an investigation. The homeowner made a detailed statement saying that the man who carried out this burglary was the man who had completed jobs for her during the summer of 2024. As well as the alleged burglary on December 27 there was a charge brought against him related to another burglary at the same house on July 31 when it is alleged he pushed her aside at her front door and stole 3,000 in cash. The life of a garda was endangered when a motorist reversed at speed as the officer was trying to keep him stopped after a high-speed dangerous drive across rural roads in the early hours of the morning. Darren Fraser ODonovan, aged 25, faced sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Friday on charges including endangerment of the life of Garda Cormac Dineen. The defendant, who was living at Choill Barra, Dunmanway, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to endangering the life of Garda Dineen on February 25, 2023, and to dangerous driving at a number of locations from Ballinhassig through Innishannon to Dunderrow. Garda Dineen gave evidence of seeing the car driven by the accused at 4.25am on that date, and said he approached. Judge Helen Boyle said that at this point rather than doing what was required of you (the accused), you took off at high speed on country roads, through junctions displaying stop signs, without stopping, travelling at speeds of 100km per hour, and 120km and even up to 180km. When the car finally came to a stop and Garda Dineen exited the Garda patrol car, things got worse. Garda Dineen put his hand on the passenger door and opened it, you reversed your vehicle to turn towards Garda Dineen, causing him to jump out of the way. He is certain he would have been struck if he had not taken evasive action. He took out his baton to smash the drivers window to stop you. That did not work, and you took off again. It was sustained driving at speed, at times on the wrong side of the road going through junctions. I have no doubt it must have been a scary incident for the garda. The reason you took off is that you had no insurance on the car. If you had stayed put and dealt with this properly, you might not even have been disqualified from driving. Judge Boyle noted that the young man had been inclined to compulsive behaviour when he was younger. In his favour, he co-operated ultimately with the investigation and with the probation service. Ben Shorten, defence barrister, said O'Donovan had not come to the adverse attention of gardai since this incident occurred over two years ago. Judge Boyle had remanded the accused in custody on May 7 but has now imposed a three-year sentence backdated to this date, with the balance of it suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The jury in Gerry Adamss High Court defamation action against the BBC is expected to begin deliberations next week. Mr Justice Alexander Owens told the jury of seven men and five women that at least nine of them must be in agreement in coming to a decision in the case. The former Sinn Fein leader claims a BBC Spotlight programme and a related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning British agent Denis Donaldsons killing at a cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal, in 2006. He described the allegation as a grievous smear. The BBC denies it defamed Mr Adams, who insists he had no involvement in Mr Donaldsons death, for which dissident republicans claimed responsibility for in 2009. On Friday, Mr Justice Owens addressed the jury on the key questions they are to consider when coming to a verdict, and summarised part of the evidence heard over the course of four weeks of the trial. The judge said the onus was on Mr Adamss side to prove that the statements complained of in the broadcast and article were defamatory, that they mean he sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson. The BBC says the statements did not defame Mr Adams. It is the broadcasters case that the statements were couched as allegations, and should be considered in the context of the wider broadcast and article. The judge said it was the jurys role to decide what the words complained of mean to a reasonable member of society. If the jury find the statements mean what Mr Adams says they do, then they must consider the BBCs defence of fair and reasonable publication in the public interest. The onus of proof in this defence is on the BBC, the judge said. Mr Justice Owens told the jury they had heard a great deal of evidence on the public reputation of Mr Adams, but noted that this was not relevant until considering the question of damages. The jury will only consider damages if they find the statements to mean what Mr Adams has pleaded, and if they reject the BBCs defence. On Thursday, BBC senior counsel Paul Gallagher claimed the case was Mr Adamss cynical attempt to launder a reputation of being in the IRA and on its decision-making body, known at the army council. Mr Adamss senior counsel Declan Doyle said the BBC was deliberately and cynically ignoring Mr Adamss reputation for peace and reconciliation. The judge said the BBCs argument in relation to Mr Adamss reputation was simple: They say his reputation is bad and they say he should be given nominal damages. The judge said the BBC say the jury should send [Mr Adams] packing, with a euro or even a cent in damages, if it comes to that. Mr Adamss case is that he has a public reputation for supporting the move to the peace process in Northern Ireland, the judge said. Mr Adamss lawyers have argued that their client should receive very substantial damages of at least 200,000. The judge reiterated to the jury that allegations made about Mr Adams in newspapers, books, and in other publications put to Mr Adams by the BBCs lawyers during the trial were not proof that he was involved in nefarious activities. They are, however, relevant to his public reputation, he said. The judge noted that Mr Adams freely admitted these allegations were made about it, and are in the public domain. He also notes the allegations have been denied by Mr Adams. Also relevant are recordings of Mr Adams giving speeches or press conferences, or clips of him meeting leaders such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. The judge said it was for the jury to decide what Mr Adamss public reputation is. The judge said they were being asked if his reputation was of a man who approved murder of others and was involved in terrorism, or a man who persuaded others to stop violence, leading to a permanent cessation in violence in Northern Ireland. The judge said they could decided his reputation is a mixture of both propositions, or more one than the other. He said that they should only consider his reputation in this jurisdiction, not in Northern Ireland, or anywhere else. The judge said that in considering a witnesss evidence, the jury should consider if they have an axe to grind or is withholding something. He said they should consider the internal consistency of their evidence, to consider if their account is credible. The case returns on Tuesday. Murder accused Richard Satchwell was far from a criminal mastermind and had left a trail of breadcrumbs that could rival any nursery tale after him, senior counsel Brendan Grehan told a jury on Friday. The defence barrister was giving the States closing argument at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Mr Satchwell for the murder of his wife, Tina Satchwell, nee Dingivan. Mr Satchwell, aged 58, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mrs Satchwell, aged 45, on March 20, 2017, at their home at 3 Grattan St, Youghal. He reported her missing on March 24, 2017. Her skeletal remains were found wrapped in plastic and buried beneath a concrete floor under the stairwell in their terraced home in Youghal on October 11, 2023. Richard Satchwell is guilty, theres no doubt about it," Mr Grehan said. "But what exactly is he guilty of? He is certainly guilty of causing his wifes death, he says in a struggle where she was attacking him with a chisel. He is guilty of burying her under the stairs. He is guilty of disreputable conduct, which included offering the chest freezer he had stored his wifes body in to her cousin, to whom she was very close, he said. He is guilty of lying to Mrs Satchwells family, doctors, gardai, and to every journalist who would listen to him, Mr Grehan said. He lied to the people of Ireland, Mr Grehan said. He lied to you and he lied to me. That does not make him a murderer. To convict of murder, the jury must be satisfied, based on the evidence, that beyond reasonable doubt, he intended to cause his wifes death or serious harm, he said. And this intent could not be inferred from his lies, Mr Grehan said. People lie for all kinds of reasons, including for for killing the very thing they loved. "It was indeed a web of lies but what a tangled wicked web we weave when at first we practice to deceive. Once you start a lie it can be very difficult to stop a domino effect," he said. When someone lies to you, you feel aggrieved, Mr Grehan said. But the jury must not allow either favour or hostility to inform their decision. Instead, they must be cold, calculating, and clinical, he said, and examine the evidence. It seems clear that Mr Satchwell loved, was besotted with, obsessed with, and worshipped his late wife, Mr Grehan said. He told his brother when he first saw her at 17 years of age that he was going to marry that girl. And he did. He spent his life devoted to her. Tina Satchwell. File picture Mr Grehan spoke of rituals Mr Satchwell claimed the couple had how he would run her baths, rub baby oil into her body, and remove nail varnish from her fingers and toes. He knew things most husbands would not know about their wives not just the size of their shoes or clothes but size of their various underwear, he said. It was highly unusual that the couple attended medical appointments at the GP together and certainly smacks of some kind of controlling behaviour. No cause of death could be established because Ms Satchwells organs and much of her soft tissue had already decomposed. But no evidence of fractures was found on her bones, including the hyoid bone which is associated with some 70% of manual strangulations, he said. No damage was found either on the finger nails that were recovered. I accept that Richard Satchwell was the greatest contributor to the delay in this case so [pathologist Dr] Margot Bolster was unable to give a cause of death in this case, he said. But he also blamed gardai for the delay in finding her body. An initial search of the house in June, 2017, despite being extensive was not invasive, and did not uncover Mrs Satchwells remains. But after a new garda, Sergeant Anne Marie Twomey, was appointed to the case, an invasive search was ordered which uncovered Mrs Satchwells remains in October, 2023. However, Mr Grehan said that the investigation progressed at a pedestrian rate. What a different case we might have had had matters progressed in a different way, he said. But prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small, said that Mr Satchwells account of his wife's disappearance and death had more holes than a block of Swiss cheese. Richard Satchwell. File picture And Mr Satchwell had been shamelessly brazen to the very end, she said. He repeatedly lied, saying that his wife had left him. And he repeated these lies until her remains were found which was ultimately self-serving, Ms Small said. Mr Satchwell displayed conniving actions, full of guile, and wove a web of deceit after burying his wife under a concrete floor in the sitting room of their Youghal home, she said. His narrative beggars belief, she said. Hes an arch manipulator, she said, who displayed cunning and could pivot his narrative at every juncture. She said that the manner he buried his wife was absolutely disrespectful. He left her body on a couch, then put her in the freezer, which was not even turned on. He then dug a 3ft hole, put her body on black plastic the kind put on the ground at a car boot sale and concreted over her remains, she said. That he then offered the freezer he had stored his wifes body into her beloved cousin, was astounding. The objective of Richard Satchwell was always to put everyone off the scent, Ms Small said. He was full of guile and cunning. Why? Because he murdered Tina. The case of self-defence was nonsense she said. On Monday, the jury will be charged by Justice Paul McDermott and must then retire to consider a verdict. Join Communications Officer Lupo Bathke for a behind-the-scenes look at crew life, and discover why theyre so excited to be part of this years Cork Harbour Festival. Japans Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he held telephone talks with US President Donald Trump and agreed to hold productive discussions at an upcoming tariff talks between the two sides. Investment, not tariffs, Mr Ishiba told reporters after the talks. He said Japans position to keep pushing Washington to drop all recent tariff measures is unchanged and that he stands by plans to push for Japanese investment to create more jobs in the US in exchange. The two leaders held talks just after Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japans chief tariff negotiator, headed to Washington for a third round of talks with his US counterparts. In the earlier rounds of talks, the US had not agreed to the Japanese requests. Mr Ishiba said he reminded Trump that Japans position was for the US administration to scrap all recent tariffs on imports from Japan, to which the American leader made no specific response. I expressed my expectations for productive discussion to be held, and we agreed, Mr Ishiba told reporters. The US is charging a 25% tariff on imports of autos, a mainstay of Japans trade with America and a key driver of growth for the economy. Mr Trump has relaxed some of those tariffs but has kept in place higher tariffs on steel and aluminium. Fridays talks were requested by Mr Trump and the two leaders discussed about 45 minutes on range of topics that also included security cooperation between the two allies and the US Presidents recent visit to the Middle East, Mr Ishiba said. He said the two leaders also agreed to hold talks when they both attend the Group of Seven summit in Canada next month. Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the leaders of Britain, France and Canada of "emboldening Hamas", after they called for a halt to Israels military offensive and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza. Earlier this week, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney condemned the Israeli governments egregious actions in Gaza, warning that the allies will take concrete actions unless Mr Netanyahu changes course. In a post on X on Thursday evening, the Israeli prime minister said Hamas wanted to destroy the Jewish state and annihilate the Jewish people. I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others, Mr Netanyahu said. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice. Because by issuing their demand replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power. Mr Netanyahu said the actions of the leaders were not advancing peace, but emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. The Israeli leaders comments come after two Israeli embassy staff were killed in Washington DC. The victims, a man and a woman, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the 31-year-old suspect approached. Israels foreign minister identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. The attack has sent shockwaves around the world and prompted Israeli missions to beef up security. Elias Rodriguez, 31, told police after his arrest, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, federal authorities said on Thursday, as they announced criminal charges. Mr Starmer described the shooting as antisemitic. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum in Washington (Embassy of Israel in the US via AP) He said: I thoroughly condemn the antisemitic attack outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. Antisemitism is an evil we must stamp out wherever it appears. My thoughts are with their colleagues, family and loved ones, and as always, I stand in solidarity with the Jewish community. The man accused of the fatal shooting told police after his arrest, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, federal authorities said Thursday, as they announced criminal charges. Elias Rodriguez, 31, shouted Free Palestine as he was led away after his arrest and told police that he was the one who did it, according to charging documents that provided chilling new details of a Wednesday night attack that killed an American woman and Israeli man who were set to become engaged. Authorities described the slayings as a targeted act of terror. Rodriguez faces charges of murder of foreign officials and other crimes. Additional charges are likely, prosecutors said on Thursday, as authorities continue to investigate the killings as both a hate crime against the Jewish community and terrorism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the leaders of the UK, France, and Canada on Thursday, saying they are "on the wrong side of humanity" for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. His remarks came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others condemned Israels escalating military offensive, which has killed over 500 people in the past week. A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine has begun, the countries said, in one of the few signs of progress from their direct talks last week in Istanbul. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the first phase of the exchange was bringing home 390 Ukrainians, with further releases expected over the weekend. Its very important to bring everyone home, he wrote on Telegram, thanking all who worked to secure their return and pledging to continue diplomatic efforts to make more exchanges possible. Russias Ministry of Defence said each side had released 270 military personnel and 120 civilian detainees. The exchange is planned to continue in coming days, it said. Ukraines 65th Mechanised Brigade (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraines 65th Mechanized Brigade via AP) In Turkey last week, Ukraine and Russia agreed to the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side in their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Moscows 2022 invasion. That meeting lasted only two hours and brought no breakthrough in efforts to stop the fighting. The swap was taking place at the border with Belarus in northern Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian Defence Ministry said. The exchange, which also would be the biggest swap of Ukrainian civilians at one time, did not appear to herald any halt in fighting. Russia launched two ballistic missiles at infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, killing one worker and injuring eight others four critically, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper. It was the first recorded attack on the port since March 11. Fighting continues along the 620-mile front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. News of the prisoner release emerged when US president Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine had carried out a large exchange. Russian servicemen (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP) A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine, Mr Trump said on the Truth Social platform. He said it would go into effect shortly. He added in the post that this could lead to something big??? apparently referring to other diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. After the May 16 talks, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan called the prisoner swap a confidence-building measure and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks as diplomatic manoeuvering continued. European leaders have accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger armys battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. The Istanbul meeting revealed both sides clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back on a temporary halt to hostilities, and Mr Putin has said any such truce must come with a freeze on Western arms supplies to Ukraine and an end to Ukraines mobilisation drive. A senior Ukrainian official said in Istanbul that Russia had introduced new, unacceptable demands to withdraw Ukrainian forces from huge swaths of territory. The official, who was not authorised to make official statements, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The proposal had not been previously discussed, the official said. Mr Putin has long demanded as a key condition for a peace deal that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 but never fully controlled. Mr Zelensky has warned that if Russia continues to reject a ceasefire and make unrealistic demands, it will signal deliberate efforts to prolong the war a move that should bring tougher international sanctions. Russias Defence Ministry said it had shot down 788 Ukrainian drones away from the battlefield between May 20-23. Ukraines air force said Russia fired 175 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as a ballistic missile since late Thursday. A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard Universitys ability to enrol international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvards certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme, which allows the school to host international students with visas to study in the US. Friday, May 23rd, 2025 (12:02 am) - Score 1,760 The UK Governments Minister for Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant, this week provided more details to parliament on how Ofcom would soon improve the accuracy and relevance of their mobile coverage maps, which made particular reference to the minimum required 4G mobile broadband speed (currently 2Mbps) this will shortly be more than doubled to 5Mbps. A few months ago ISPreview reported on how Ofcom said theyd been working hard to overhaul our mobile coverage checker in order to better match peoples real-world experiences (here), particularly of modern 4G and 5G (mobile broadband) services. At the time, we noted that the regulator intend to launch the result of all their work later this year, but we werent given a solid date. NOTE: For 2G, For 2G, 3G and 4G networks, Ofcom primarily define coverage based on the minimum signal strength required to at a minimum deliver a 98% probability of making a 90-second voice call successfully. In the case of 4G specifically, the definition also delivers a 95% chance of getting a download speed of at least 2Mbps. The regulators existing Mobile Coverage Checker is currently based on predictions from the mobile network operators themselves (EE, Vodafone, Three UK and O2). Such predictions are generated using computer programs that simulate the way mobile signals travel from mobile masts and are blocked by any obstructions such as hills, trees, and buildings. But as we all know, this isnt always very reliable. Advertisement At present, we already know that the improved checker will use higher signal strength thresholds when presenting local predictions, while also providing clearer explanations of the issues and the specific functions of the web-checker. Ofcom also intends to assess predicted signal strength information at a more granular level (50 or 25 square metres, instead of the current 100 square metres) to determine if it is possible to reduce the local uncertainty to some extent. However, this week saw Sir Chris Bryant reveal that, from about the middle of June 2025, Ofcom would start reporting on mobile network coverage using a required minimum data speed figure of 5Mbps (Megabits per second). Sir Chris Bryant said: Reporting of mobile coverage is something that frustrates many of us. The Ofcom site may say, 96% of all four networks available everywhere across the whole of your constituency, but I say, No, you cant get a signal anywhere in Hannah Street in the middle of Porthend of story. I have been in discussion with Ofcom, and we have exchanged letters, which I have placed in the Library of the House of Commons, about how it is going to change its reporting. That reporting has historically been based in part on two things: first, the coverage predicted by the mobile phone companies, which might not necessarily match peoples experience; and, secondly, 2 megabits per second, which frankly is of no earthly use to anybody most of us now want 5 megabits per second. From about the middle of June, Ofcom will be reporting across the whole of the country on 2 megabits per second and 5 megabits per second, so people will have a much clearer understanding of the situation on the ground. I hope that might drive further commercial investment from the mobile phone operators, which will say, You know what? We need to make sure we have more masts in this area, because frankly its not good enough. Leaving aside the fact that hope is not a strategy (i.e. the reference above to all mobile operators boosting commercial investment in poorly served areas), the move to adopt both a 2Mbps and 5Mbps measure for 4G is useful, although even 5Mbps seems a bit archaic by modern standards. But it is important to reflect that this a minimum, and operators are still expected to do better. The fact that the 2Mbps figure is still being retained may, however, cause some confusion for consumers. But we suspect theyre taking that approach in order to avoid changing the targets mid-flight for existing rules and programmes, such as the 1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) project. Advertisement Lest we forget that the regulator is also still examining the use of measured data, including crowdsource data, to build on these coverage predictions. Finally, once the new checker has launched, Ofcom will move to consider undertaking a larger scale performance measurement programme to complement coverage predictions and further enhance their mobile reporting. As a side note, one MP also asked Chris whether the government planned to cut (i.e. in their future Spending Review) any of the 2bn that remains unspent within their 5bn Project Gigabit broadband roll-out scheme. But the minister did not know the answer to that as such things tend to be decided by HM Treasury. Friday, May 23rd, 2025 (8:11 am) - Score 10,560 In a major shift for one of the UK markets largest retail ISPs, Sky Broadband has quietly begun introducing a new, albeit not currently cheaper, range of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based home broadband packages that harness CityFibres alternative national network. Previously, Sky only sold packages via Openreachs network. The agreement with CityFibre was first officially revealed in August 2024 (here), although its taken Sky this long to introduce the new packages because theyve had to get all of their systems, support and services ready to cater for the added complexity of selling to millions of customers via two different networks. NOTE: Openreach s national full fibre network currently covers 18.3 million premises (rising up to 30m by 2030), while CityFibre has a footprint of 4.4m (aspiring to reach 8m in the future). But theres a fair bit of urban overbuild between these two. In theory, Sky should benefit from the deal by virtue of the fact that theyll be able to launch faster (symmetric speed) and more competitively priced full fibre broadband packages into areas currently covered by CityFibres network (these will be given preference in areas of overbuild with Openreach). Advertisement On the flip side, CityFibre should benefit by virtue of gaining access to another of the markets largest retail broadband providers (they already work with TalkTalk, Vodafone, Zen Internet and others), which has the potential to significantly increase take-up (over time) on their new network boosting the business case for future investment. At the time of writing, Sky has not yet put out an official announcement because this is the start of their open pilot phase, thus the above development was spotted this week during ISPreviews routine ISP listings update and then confirmed by several other members of our community who had run checks on their own areas. In short, if you live in a CityFibre area, then youll now see their packages instead of Openreachs (i.e. its available to new customers, but were not yet sure about re-contracting users, which will need another engineer visit to fit the new fibre + ONT modem). However, the main benefit from this for consumers currently seems to be in terms of CityFibres superior upload speeds (symmetric), since at present Sky appears to be using identical pricing to their Openreach tiers and has also not launched any faster packages than 1Gbps (we do expect faster packages to follow). Advertisement CityFibres packages are usually cheaper than Openreachs at wholesale, which should save Sky some money, albeit at the cost of being less competitive with other ISPs on the same network. On the other hand, Skys existing pricing is already fairly attractive, so this may not be such a big concern. One other consideration is that, at the time of writing, Sky does not appear to be listing a new router and so it currently looks as if the Sky Max Hub is still their primary device of choice for the new service too (awaiting confirmation of this). But they will need something better when they start pushing into future multi-Gigabit plans. The move may worry Openreach, which has previously worked hard to keep Sky Broadband on their side (the earlier Equinox discounts on FTTP may have played a role in that effort). The operator now risks losing even more market share to alternative networks and at an increasingly rapid pace. However, the growing competition could also make it easier for the BT Group to argue with Ofcom that Openreach should be allowed to respond with greater FTTP discounts or softer regulation, which may become a factor in the current Telecoms Market Review (TAR) process. Advertisement UPDATE 8:50am Take note that Sky hasnt yet made their CityFibre plans available via comparison sites, thus youll need to go directly to their website, otherwise only the Openreach results may show. UPDATE 10:55am The launch appears to be part of Skys open customer pilot phase, and the full official launch will come just a little later (we still think July-ish). Separately, we believe Sky may be planning to adopt a UK variant of the Comcast XER10 Wi-Fi 7 router in the UK, albeit obviously branded to Sky. This device features 10Gbps Ethernet ports. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo A man in Norway woke up early to find a large container ship had run aground just a short distance from his fjord-side home and he had slept through the entire incident. For reasons yet to be determined, the 135m NCL Salten found itself onshore just meters away from Johan Helbergs residence in a fjord near Trondheim in central Norway. Mr. Helberg only became aware of the unexpected visitor when a frantic neighbor, who had pressed his doorbell repeatedly without success, finally decided to call him. The doorbell rang at a time of day when I prefer not to answer, Mr. Helberg recounted to television channel TV2. The enormous red and green container ship remained stranded close to the wooden house, awaiting assistance to be refloated. His neighbor, Jostein Jorgensen, mentioned that he was awakened around 5 am by the sound of a ship speeding towards the shore and quickly ran to Mr. Helbergs home. I thought he was already outside, but no, there was no movement. I rang the doorbell many times, and nothing happened It was only when I called him on the phone that I was able to reach him, Mr. Jorgensen shared with TV2. Several hours later, the large red and green container ship was still lodged near the wooden house, waiting to be refloated. Its a very bulky new neighbor, but it will be on its way soon, an amused Mr. Helberg commented. Fortunately, none of the 16 crew members were injured in the incident, which is currently under investigation by Norwegian authorities. We are grounded first and foremost in the belief that all human life is precious, which is precisely why we are struggling for a world in which all people can live in safety and dignity, said Jewish Voice for Peace. ( Commondreams.org) Jewish Voice for Peace on Thursday was among those condemning the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., as federal agents investigated at the suspected shooters home in Chicago. We are grounded first and foremost in the belief that all human life is precious, which is precisely why we are struggling for a world in which all people can live in safety and dignity, said the Jewish-led Palestinian rights group in a post on social media. The group joined in mourning the killing of Yaron Lischinsky, a research assistant, and Sarah Milgrim, who organized trips to Israel for the embassy. The two staffers, aged 30 and 26, respectively, were a couple and were planning to get engaged in the coming days. Police said the suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, was seen pacing in front of the Capital Jewish Museum at around 9:00 pm Eastern time Wednesday before approaching four people who were leaving an event organized by AJC Access, part of the American Jewish Committee. IsraelAID, a humanitarian group that was represented by speakers at the event, said the gathering was focused on bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza through Israeli-Palestinian and regional collaboration. Rodriguez allegedly shot the two victims before entering the museum where he was detained by security guards. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the murders horrifying. Antisemitism and violence have no place in our country, said Casar. I condemn such hate and violence in all its forms. Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters that Rodriguez shouted, Free, free Palestine! after he was taken into custody. Killing all Humanity, Digital, Midjourney, 2025 The New York Times reported that pro-Palestinian signs were displayed in the apartment where Rodriguez is believed to live and that he attended a protest in support of Palestinian rights in 2023, after Israel began bombarding Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas-led attack. A manifesto obtained by journalist Ken Klippenstein suggested the suspect was motivated by anger over Israels U.S.-backed attacks on Gaza. Klippenstein said he believed the document to be authentic for several reasons, including the fact that it is signed by Rodriguez and timestamped well before he was named by law enforcement or any media. Journalist Mehdi Hasan of Zeteo said that if the suspect was indeed motivated by Israels actions in Gaza, the killing of the two staffers solves nothing and helps zero Palestinians. Right-wing politicians in the U.S. and Israel were quick to pin blame for the shooting on European leaders who have spoken out against Israels supposed crimes against humanity and thousands of U.S. college students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests. If the manifesto is genuine, said Mitchell Plitnick of ReThinking Foreign Policy, we need to grapple with this. This was an immoral act of murder, and one that will greatly serve Israels genocidal agenda, not the struggle for Palestinian rights and freedom. It must not be allowed to inspire others. One thing this manifesto establishes, if it is indeed proven to be genuine, said Plitnick, is that this bloody, heinous, self-defeating, and futile action had absolutely nothing to do with antisemitism. Progressive strategist Waleed Shahid called the shooting a horrific and unjust act of violence against innocent people. It does nothing to aid Palestinians in Gazaand only hands authoritarians another excuse to crack down, he said. When you take one life, it is like killing all of humanity. ( Tomdispatch.com ) Leon Golub once related a story to a mutual friend. A Chicago artist famous for large canvases depicting crimson torture rooms in Central America, Golub had been asked what it meant to him to be a Jewish political artist. The painters quick reply was that he wasnt a Jewish political artist, he was just a political artist. In the end, though, Golub came to believe that he had let himself off too easily, that his answer was too pat. Yes, he was a political artist. His paintings had focused not just on Latin America but on war-torn Vietnam and racism in the United States and South Africa. But he had consciously avoided Israels occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Golub admitted that what it meant for him to be a successful artist was never to take the horrors inflicted on Palestinians as his subject matter. Only then would he be left free to paint his political opinions on anything else. Over the last year and a half, Ive thought of Leon Golub, who died in 2004, many times as the escalation of Israels assault on Gaza and settler violence on the West Bank paralleled my own rush to finish a book (just published as America, America: A New History of the New World). Among other things, it traces Latin Americas largely unrecognized role in the abolition of the doctrine of conquest and the creation, after World War II, of the liberal international order, including the founding of the International Court of Justice (today considering South Africas case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza). Ive been writing critically on how the U.S. acted in Latin America for more than three decades. Unlike many scholars and students of the Middle East, I was able to do so and not be punished because, like Golub, I mostly focused on the horrors inflicted on people other than Palestinians. As President Richard Nixon put it all too accurately in 1971, nobody of import in the United States gives one damn about Latin America. A general indifference to the region, as well as the fact that even the most diehard defenders of U.S. global power have been willing to concede that this country often acted in unhelpful ways in its own hemisphere (where Washington undertook at least 41 regime changes between 1898 and 1994!), have made it remarkably safe to speak out about Latin America. Yet, in 2025, the horrors inflicted are everywhere and its no longer possible to silo ones sympathies. Conquest, Then and Now Consider the Spanish conquest of the Americas alongside Israels assault on Gaza. In many ways, the two events, separated by half a millennium, are incomparable. The first was continental in scale, a fight for a New World that was then home to, by some estimates, 100,000,000 people. The second unfolds on a patch of land the size of Las Vegas with a population of just over two million. The conquest would claim tens of millions of lives, while so far, Israel is estimated to have killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and injured tens of thousands more. Yet there are uncanny parallels between the two conflicts, including the fact that each began in the wake of a communications revolution: the printing press then, social media now. Spain was the first empire in modern history to actively publicize its colonial atrocities, as printers in Madrid, Seville, and other cities stamped out sheet after sheet of conquest gore: accounts of mass hangings, of babies drowned or roasted over fire pits to be fed to dogs, and of torched towns. One Spanish governor described a postapocalyptic landscape filled with the walking near-dead, victims of mutilations meted out to Native Americans, this way: a multitude of lame and maimed Indians, without hands, or with only one hand, blind, their noses cut off, earless. Today, the internet circulates countless photographs and videos with no less horrific images of atrocities committed by Israeli soldiers on Palestinians, of armless boys and decomposing babies. Some photographs of children starved by the IDF, according to a New York Times editor, were simply too graphic to publish. In sixteenth-century Spain, common soldiers wrote, or paid others to write, their stories of mayhem, hoping to make a heroic name for themselves. Today, we see updated digital versions of a similar kind of conquering pride, as members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), on platforms like TikTok, upload videos of Gazans stripped, bound, and blindfolded and others showing bulldozers and tanks razing homes. Soldiers mock the destruction of schools and hospitals or, as they rummage through abandoned homes, are seen playing with or wearing the bras and underwear of their former residents. Both Spanish officials then and Israeli spokesmen now have openly declared their intention to conquer their enemies by forcing their removal from their homes and concentrating them in more controllable areas. Not all Spanish, like not all Israelis, believed their enemies to be subhuman. But some did and do. Juan Gines de Sepulveda thought Native Americans were brute animals, as monkeys are to men. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calls Palestinians human animals. Many Spanish priests and royal officials admitted that Native Americans were human, but considered them child-like innocents who had to be violently severed from their pagan priests just as Israel believes Palestinians have to be violently severed from Hamas. We are separating Hamas from the population, cleansing the strip, said Israels Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the IDFs extreme tactics. Hernan Cortes had his men level Aztec temples, which he called mosques. Those temples served as healing places, and their destruction parallels the ruin visited on Gazas hospitals and other centers of refuge. Not even the dead were safe neither in the Americas, nor today in Gaza. As did the conquistadores, the IDF has desecrated several burial grounds. Spanish violence in the Americas provoked a powerful ethical backlash. The Dominican jurist Francisco Vitoria, for instance, questioned the legality of the Conquest, while Father Bartolome de las Casas insisted on the absolute equality of all human beings, and other theologians of the time condemned the many varieties of enslavement imposed on Native Americans. Such declarations and condemnations were consequential in the long run. Yet they did little to stop the suffering. Arguments over the legality of the Conquest went on for decades, just as arguments over the legality of Israels occupation of Palestinian lands have. The Conquest, as a singular uppercase event, might have been challenged, but all the individual battles that made up the Conquest, the morning massacres and midnight raids on indigenous villages, simply went on. Spanish settlers took it for granted that, no matter what priests said from pulpits or jurists argued in seminar rooms, they had a right to defend themselves: that, were Indians to attack them, they could retaliate. Heres just one of many examples: in July 1503, Spanish settlers slaughtered over 700 residents in the village of Xaragua on Hispaniola (the island that today comprises Haiti and the Dominican Republic), killings that Spains Queen Isabella deemed just because some members of the village had started to violently resist Spanish rule. Israel uses the same kind of legalisms to insist that its war on Hamas is indeed similarly just, since Hamas started it. Just as the conflict on Hispaniola is sequestered from the larger context of the Conquest, the conflict that started on October 7, 2023, is isolated from the larger context of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. From Cortes to Hitler The doctrine or right of conquest goes back to Roman times and, apart from the criticism aimed at Spain in the 1500s, remained mostly uncontested until the late eighteenth century, when with the breaking free of the Americas from Europe the doctrine found new champions and new critics. The leaders of the new United States reinforced the doctrine, invoking the right of conquest to justify their drive westward toward the Pacific Ocean and their taking of Native American and Mexican lands. Generations of law professors in the U.S. taught their students that the doctrine was legitimate. The title of European nations, and which passed to the United States, to this vast territorial empire, was founded on discovery and conquest, as James Kent put it at Columbia Law School in the 1790s. The Supreme Court, too, said that the United States was founded on conquest, and that its doctrine remained applicable. As late as 1928, a widely-assigned English-language law book insisted that, as long as a Law of Nations has been in existence, the States, as well as the vast majority of writers, have recognized subjugation as a mode of acquiring territory, deeming it legal for the victor to annex the conquered enemy territory. In contrast, Spanish Americas independence leaders fiercely repudiated the principle of conquest. They had to, since they had to learn to live with each other, for they presided over seven new Spanish-American republics on a crowded continent. If they had adhered to a U.S. version of international law, what would have stopped Argentina from conquering Chile the way the United States conquered the Creeks and the Mexicans? Or Chile from marching on Argentina to gain access to the Atlantic? The result would have been endless war. And so, the regions jurists and other intellectuals (drawing from earlier Catholic criticisms of Spains subjugation of the New World) disavowed conquest. In its place, they cobbled together a new framework of international relations that outlawed aggressive war and recognized the absolute sovereignty of all nations, regardless of their size. For decades, Latin American diplomats tried to force Washington to accept such a vision of cooperative international law and for decades Washington refused, not wanting to be a Gulliver tied down by a gaggle of Latin Lilliputians. Over time, however, U.S. statesmen began to grudgingly accept Latin Americas legal interpretations, with the far-sighted among them realizing that a reformed system of international law would allow for a more effective projection of Washingtons power. In 1890, at the first Pan-American Conference, the United States signed a provisional treaty abrogating the doctrine of conquest. In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt agreed to give up the right to intervene in Latin American affairs and to recognize the absolute sovereignty of all nations. At the end of WWII, with Adolf Hitler dead and fascism defeated, Latin Americas nations gladly joined in the creation of a postwar rules-based liberal order, the founding principles of which they had all already adopted, especially the rejection of the doctrine of conquest. Cortes to Hitler, the age of conquest, it seemed, was finally over. The End of the End of the Age of Conquest Not really, of course. Cold warriors found many ways to circumvent the rules, and didnt need to cite Roman law doctrine to justify atrocities in Vietnam, Guatemala, or Indonesia, among other places. Then, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, war began spreading again like wildfire in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, including the U.S.-led first and second Gulf Wars. Still, the liberal order globally held on to the idea that the world should be organized around cooperation, not competition, that nations had more interests in common than in contention. Now, though, that idea seems to have been tossed aside and, in its place, comes a new vision of conquest. We see its burlesque version in the boastful pronouncements of Donald Trump, who has casually claimed the right to use coercion to take the island of Greenland, annex Canada as the 51st state, grab the Panama Canal, and clear out Gaza, supposedly turning the strip into a Riviera-like resort. Far more ferocious expressions of that vision of conquest are seen in both Russian President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine and Israels in Gaza. Of those two wars of conquest, the second touches a deep nerve, in part because Israels existence is so tightly bound up with the fortunes of the liberal international order. The United Nations in 1949 conjured Israel (legally at least) into existence. Latin American nations at the time voted unanimously to recognize Israels nationhood, with Guatemala serving as Washingtons whip, ensuring that the region would act as a bloc. And the Holocaust has served as the Wests moral reference point, a nightmarish reminder of what awaits a world that forsakes liberal tolerance or doesnt abide by liberal rules. At the same time, especially after the Six-Day War in 1967, the United Nations has also become the most persistent critic of Israels occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Israel ignores U.N. criticism while invoking the U.N. charters article 51, which grants nations the right to self-defense, to justify its assault on Gazans. As we enter what may be the final phase of the Gazan genocide, that long entwinement between a rules-based order and Israel has become a kind of death dance. Many turn away, unable to bear the news. Others cant turn away, horrified that those in power in this country offer nothing other than more weapons to Israel, which continues to kill indiscriminately, while withholding all food and medicines from those trapped in Gaza. As of April, about two million Palestinians had no secure source of food at all. Babies continue to decompose. When children die of starvation, they dont even cry. Their little hearts just slow down until they stop, said Colorado pediatrician Mohamed Kuziez, who works with Doctors Against Genocide. In early May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet unanimously approved a plan dubbed Operation Gideons Chariots, which, if enacted, would drive all Gazans into a small containment zone in the southern part of that strip, with Israel controlling all food and medical aid to them. The IDF would then, as one official described the plan, complete the conquest of the Gaza Strip. Gaza, said Finance Minister Smotrich, will then be completely destroyed. He added grimly, We conquer and stay. Back in the 1500s, the revulsion felt by some theologians and philosophers at the extreme brutality of the Spanish conquest began the slow creation of humanity the fragile idea, nurtured over the centuries and always imperfectly applied, that all humans are indeed equal and form a single community beyond tribalism and nationalism. Today, a similar brutality is undoing that work. Humanity appears to be dissolving at an ever-quickening pace. From Cortes to Netanyahu, Putin, and Trump, the end of the end of conquest begins. Copyright 2025 Greg Grandin Via Tomdispatch.com ) VANCOUVER, BC, May 23, 2025 /CNW/ - Getchell Gold Corp. (CSE: GTCH) (OTCQB: GGLDF) (FWB: GGA1) ("Getchell" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a private placement financing of units ("Units") at a price of $0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering includes a $1.2 million order from lead investor, Myrmikan Gold Fund LLC ("Myrmikan"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will be exercisable into one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.30 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance. In connection with the Financing, the Company may pay finder's fees. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering to spearhead the 2025 exploration program at the Fondaway Canyon gold project with the focus to: Expand the Mineral Resource: The already sizable mineral resource remains open in most directions for further expansion. Through targeted drilling, by an initial drill program comprising 3,000 metres, the drill program's aim is to extend the mineralization along strike and dip, increase the mineral resource, enlarge the open pit model, and thereby substantially enhance the Project's overall value. Increase Gold Recoveries: The metallurgical test work conducted in support of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") reported highly satisfactory gold recoveries of 84%. The test work also identified process methods to improve on the recoveries, however due to the commissioned scope of work and the allowable timeframe, further test work was scheduled to be pursued in 2025. The current objective is to conduct additional test work to demonstrate increased gold recoveries and upgrade the concentrate. Gold recovery directly translates through to the economics and any increased contribution can have a significant positive impact. Given the potential for significant increases generated by the planned 2025 drill program and metallurgical test work, and the likelihood of a substantially higher gold price regime, the intent is to produce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment that could reveal a marked improvement beyond the recently published and highly robust PEA (refer to Company news release February 7, 2025). Debenture Conversion Option In addition, the Company announces that it is offering to convert the Company's outstanding debentures (the "Debentures") and accrued interest in exchange for Units, on the same terms as the Offering. If all Debenture Holders agreed to convert their Debentures, the Company will issue an additional 25,000,000 Units. On December 29, 2023, January 26, 2024, and May 2, 2024, the Company issued Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $4,363,318 (the "Debenture Financing"). The Debentures bear interest at 11% per annum and mature three years from the date of issuance. In addition, lenders also received an aggregate of 43,633,180 warrants (the "Debenture Warrants"). Each Debenture Warrant is exercisable at $0.10 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance. 50% of the Debenture Warrants vested on the date of issuance and the remaining 50% vest 14 months following the closing of each tranche of the Debenture Financing. Bob Bass, Chairman of the Company, has agreed to convert the principal amount of his Debentures, being $1,100,000, together with all accrued interest owed up to the conversion date, in exchange for Units under the same terms as the Offering (the "Debenture Conversion Option"). Debentures in the principal amount of $280,000 (including accrued interest) held by other family members of Mr. Bass will also be converted into Units. In consideration for Mr. Bass agreeing to convert the Debentures, the Company has agreed to accelerate the vesting date of 1,500,000 unvested Debenture Warrants, with an exercise price of $0.16 per share held by Mr. Bass, and 400,000 unvested Debenture Warrants held by other family members of Mr. Bass, to the closing date of the Offering. The Company is offering the Debenture Conversion Option to all Debenture Holders. Upon voluntary conversion of the Debentures, electing Debenture Holders will receive Units under the same terms as the Offering, and accelerated vested Debenture Warrants, if applicable. The Debenture Conversion Option will not affect the rights of those Debenture Holders who have not accepted it. Electing Debenture holders who wish for more information or the necessary steps for the Debenture conversion should contact the Company. The Debenture Conversion Option will remain open until closing of the Offering, which is expected on or before Friday, June 6, 2025. Bob Bass, the Company's Chairman offered the following thoughts on this opportunity. "I am excited to see Myrmikan's support of this Offering and regard this as an opportunity for me and my family to receive additional equity in Getchell at this formative stage of its development. Myrmikan has a track record of identifying undervalued opportunities and we see this as an inflection point for the value of the Company moving forward. We encourage all Debenture holders to consult with their financial advisors to carefully consider following our lead on the Debenture Conversion Option." The conversion of Bob Bass and Chris Bass's Debentures are considered "related party transactions" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company will rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation requirements contained in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and the minority shareholder approval requirements contained in section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on specified markets and the fair market value of the Units issued on conversion of Messrs. Bass's Debentures do not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. All securities issued under the Offering and Debenture Conversion Option will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Corporate The Company further announces that it proposes to extend the expiry dates of an aggregate of 2,462,750 outstanding share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"), as described below. Pursuant to the first and second tranche private placement of units that closed on June 15, 2023 and July 14, 2023, the Company issued 2,143,750 Warrants expiring on June 15, 2025 (the "June Warrants") and 319,000 Warrants expiring on July 14, 2025 (the "July Warrants"), exercisable into common shares at $0.35 per share. The Company proposes to extend the expiry date of the Warrants by an additional 12 months, such that the June Warrants will expire on June 15, 2026 and the July Warrants will expire on July 14, 2026. All other terms of the Warrants will remain unchanged. Warrant holders are advised that replacement warrant certificates will not be issued and that the original warrant certificate must be presented to the Company in order to effect the exercise of the Warrants. About Getchell Gold Corp. The Company is a Nevada focused gold exploration company trading on the CSE: GTCH, OTCQB: GGLDF, and FWB: GGA1. Getchell Gold is primarily directing its efforts on its most advanced stage asset, Fondaway Canyon, a past gold producer with a large mineral resource estimate and recently published Preliminary Economic Assessment. Complementing Getchell's asset portfolio is Dixie Comstock, a past gold producer. www.getchellgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Offering and the terms thereof, participation in the Offering by Myrmikan Gold Fund LLC, completion of the Debenture Conversion Option by Mr. Bass and his family members, election by other Debenture holders to complete the Debenture Conversion Option, and the extension of the June Warrants and the July Warrants. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of Getchell have 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. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2025) - IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV: IPT) (OTC PINK: ISVLF) (FSE: IKL) ("IMPACT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a tranche of the non-brokered private placement financing announced on April 15th, 2025 and subsequently increased on April 18th, 2025 (see IMPACT news releases dated April 15, 2025 and April 18, 2025 for details). The financing comprised a LIFE (listed issuer financing exemption) offering and a standard private placement (together referred to as the "Offering"). The Company received aggregate proceeds of C$1,658,000 from the issuance of 8,290,000 LIFE units (the "LIFE Units") at $0.20 per LIFE Unit and C$2,272,711.86 from the issuance of 12,626,177 units (the "Units") of the Company at C$0.18 per Unit for a total of C$3,930,711.86. Each LIFE Unit comprised of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for two years at $0.26 per common share. Each Unit comprised of one common share and one warrant, exercisable for three years at $0.24 per common share. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering to follow up recent success in its exploration activity at its Plomosas high-grade zinc(-lead-silver) property, and its prolific silver assets at its legacy Royal Mines of Zacualpan district, as well as invest in operational improvements to improve productivity and throughput. The LIFE portion of the Offering was made pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (the "LIFE Exemption"). The securities sold under the LIFE Exemption are not subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. A copy of the offering document under the LIFE Exemption dated April 15, 2025, is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile. The Offering remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid an aggregate of $64,696.19 in finder's fees and issued 359,423 finder's warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrant") on the Unit part of the Offering to certain finders. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.24 cents per share for three years. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. ABOUT IMPACT SILVER IMPACT Silver Corp. (TSXV: IPT) is a successful producer-explorer with two mining projects in Mexico. Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver-Gold District: IMPACT owns 100% of the 211 km2 Zacualpan project where four underground silver mines and one open pit mine feed the central 500 tpd Guadalupe processing plant. To the south, the Capire Project includes a 200 tpd processing pilot plant adjacent to an open pit silver mine with an NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource of over 4.5 million oz silver, 48 million lbs zinc and 21 million lbs lead (see IMPACT news release dated January 18, 2016 for details and QP statement); Company engineers are reviewing Capire for a potential restart of operations. Over the past 17 years, IMPACT has placed multiple zones into commercial production and produced over 13 million ounces of silver, generating revenues over $284 million. Plomosas Zinc-Lead-Silver District: Plomosas is a high-grade zinc producer in northern Mexico with exceptional exploration upside potential. The Company recently re-commenced operations and has plans for expansion in 2025. Exploration potential at Plomosas is exceptional along a 6km-long structure. This is in addition to other exploration targets on the 3,019-hectare property including untested copper-gold targets with indications of high-grade material from surface. Regionally, Plomosas lies in the same mineral belt as some of the largest carbonate replacement deposits in the world. Qualified Person and NI 43-101 Disclosure George Gorzynski, P.Eng., an Officer and Director of IMPACT, is a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of NI 43-101 and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. On behalf of IMPACT Silver Corp. "Frederick W. Davidson" President & CEO Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This IMPACT News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to IMPACT that is based on the beliefs of IMPACT management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to IMPACT management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to future silver prices, interpretation of drill results, future work plans, proceeds received and use of funds, the timing for closing a further tranche of the Offering, the potential of the Company's projects, and potential and plans for the Plomosas project, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expected use of proceeds of the financing. Such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks and assumptions, including with respect to, without limitations, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, criminal activity, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices,; pandemics and one-time events. Should any one or more risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein. IMPACT does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. The Company's decision to place a mine into production, expand a mine, make other production related decisions or otherwise carry out mining and processing operations, is largely based on internal non-public Company data and reports based on exploration, development and mining work by the Company's geologists and engineers. The results of this work are evident in the discovery and building of multiple mines for the Company and in the track record of mineral production and financial returns of the Company since 2006. Under NI 43-101 the Company is required to disclose that it has not based its production decisions on NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource or reserve estimates, preliminary economic assessments or feasibility studies, and historically such projects have increased uncertainty and risk of failure. 303-543 Granville Street Telephone (604) 664-7707 Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 1X8 www.impactsilver.com Twitter LinkedIn NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 23, 2025) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced on a deep hole that is planned to initially drill across the Gilt Creek gold deposit, then to continue to drill in order to test the adjacent Wenot gold deposit at a vertical depth of approximately 1,100m. Gilt Creek and Wenot are two adjacent orogenic gold deposits on the Company's 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in Guyana, South America. The Wenot open pit deposit consists of multiple near-vertical shear-hosted gold zones that have been identified along a 2.5km strike that have been drilled from surface to maximum depths of 450-525m. The Company's 2024-25 drill program, now surpassing 25,000m, has focused on exploring the size potential of this very large Wenot open pit deposit down to a depth of 450-500m. This new hole (25ODD-122) will provide additional data as it drills across the Gilt Creek gold deposit then, very significantly, is planned to continue a further 600m-800m to explore for the extension of the near-vertical Wenot gold zones at approximately 1,000m to 1,200m vertical depth or roughly 600m below the known deposit. A gold intersection at this depth would not add to the Wenot resources in the short-term, however, would be indicative of the upside and long term mine life potential of this large Omai gold camp. Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented: "Our 2025 goal is to more fully realize the expansion potential of the gold resources at Omai, with a vision towards a multi-decade mine life. By accelerating our testing of the Wenot deposit starting in 2024, our drilling has provided ample evidence of the continuity of the gold zones down to depths of at least 500m, establishing Omai as one of the largest and fastest-growing gold camps in the Guiana Shield greenstone belt. We believe that we are on the path to maximizing the value of this large, two-deposit gold project with the current resource expansion drill program at Wenot, the updated MRE for Wenot that is underway, and the updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") to follow. By testing the Wenot deposit at much greater depths we hope to further unveil the blue-sky expansion potential of the Omai property, which we believe would unlock further value for all stakeholders." The Company has completed 46 holes totalling 29,050m since the completion of the most recent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for Wenot in February 2024. An updated NI 43-101 MRE to incorporate these new results has commenced, while additional assay results are pending for several holes. Drilling continues on the Wenot expansion drill program with two drills. This new drill hole (25ODD-122) is designed to achieve several objectives: 1) to assist in the Gilt Creek mine planning and metallurgical studies that will facilitate its inclusion into an updated PEA mine plan anticipated later in 2025, 2) to further explore the lateral extent of the Gilt Creek intrusion-hosted gold deposit, and, very significantly, 3) to explore the open depth potential of Wenot well below the known limits of the deposit, that could be indicative of the potential for a multi-decade mine life for the Omai project. This deep hole is expected to be 1,800 to 2,000m in length, well within the capability of the drills on-site, however will be closely monitored for successful completion. Gilt Creek Deposit Background The Gilt Creek gold deposit is a 500m by 275m intrusion-hosted orogenic gold deposit. It is located approximately 500m north of the Wenot gold deposit on the Omai property (Figure 1). The MRE for Gilt Creek comprises Indicated Mineral Resources of 1,151,000 ounces gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and Inferred Mineral Resources of 665,000 ounces gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au, using a 1.5 g/t Au cutoff and a US$1,700/oz gold price. Initial engineering studies anticipate a ramp from surface to access this deposit for underground mining. The very wide mineralized zones are likely amenable to sub-level open stoping and transverse open stoping, with follow-up cut-and-fill mining. The Gilt Creek gold deposit is relatively shallow with approximately 76% of the MRE gold ounces lying at vertical depths of between 300m and 600m. Limited drilling of the Omai intrusion below 600m continued to encounter gold mineralization down to 967m. Drill hole 24ODD-095 completed in December, 2024 confirmed gold mineralization within the intrusive host rock from just 225m to a depth of 850m below surface. Wenot Extension Target The Wenot deposit is a 2.5km long, shear-hosted, orogenic gold deposit with a current Indicated MRE1 of 834,000 ounces grading 1.48 g/t Au and Inferred MRE of 1,614,000 ounces grading 1.99 g/t Au. Gold mineralization at Wenot is dominantly hosted within multiple, parallel, near-vertical zones along the east-west trending shear corridor. Gold zones at Wenot have been identified from surface to a maximum vertical depth of 555m. A late post-mineralization diabase dike that underlies the Gilt Creek pit extends under Wenot and has been intersected in a few holes from 480m to 510m depth. The Wenot orogenic gold zones pre-date this later dike and therefore most likely continue below. The recent drilling provides ample evidence that the gold grades and zone widths increase with depth and appear to potentially support underground mining at greater depths. There are multiple examples of orogenic gold deposits extending to great depths and confirmation of this for the Wenot deposit could have significant impact for ensuring a longer potential mine life for the Omai gold project. The Gilt Creek deposit is robust and, pending the updated PEA later in 2025, may support an economically attractive underground mining scenario. Therefore, the discovery of Wenot gold zones extending to depth just 500m south of an underground Gilt Creek mine could allow accelerated underground access to a deeper Wenot deposit, far earlier than from surface or an eventual Wenot pit bottom. With two significant gold deposits, both with indications of continuations at depth, the Omai property offers significant upside potential. Drilling to date has been highly successful and the Company continues to be well-funded with a cash position at Quarter end, March 31, 2025 of approximately C$29 million. 1 NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024 "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" was prepared by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website. It includes a Wenot resource of 834,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 1.48 g/t Au and 1,614,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 1.99 g/t Au, and the adjacent Gilt Creek resource of 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au. 2 Past production at the Omai Mine (1993-2005) is summarized in several Cambior Inc. documents available on SEDARplus.ca, including March 31, 2006 AIF and news release August 3, 2006. Figure 1. Plan map showing location of Hole 25ODD-122 Figure 2. Cross-section of deep hole 25ODD-122, looking east Qualified Person Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. ABOUT OMAI GOLD Omai Gold Mines Corp. is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on rapidly expanding the two orogenic gold deposits at its 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in mining-friendly Guyana, South America. Since 2021, the Company has quickly established the Omai Gold Project as one of the fastest growing and well-endowed gold camps in the prolific Guiana Shield greenstone belt. In February 2024 the Company announced an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate1 ("MRE") of 2.0 million ounces of gold Indicated and 2.3 million ounces Inferred, comprising of both the Wenot open pit deposit and the adjacent Gilt Creek underground deposit. This was followed by an initial baseline Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in April 2024, which contemplated an open pit-only development scenario and included only 45% of the Omai Gold Project MRE. Subsequent to the 2024 MRE, the Company has been aggressively drilling to expand gold resources at the Wenot deposit and has identified additional wide zones of high-grade gold mineralization. In 2025 Omai Gold plans to continue its impactful drill programs, announce an updated and expanded MRE, and complete an updated PEA which would include an expanded Wenot open pit deposit and an underground mining scenario at Gilt Creek. The Omai Gold Mine produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold from 1993 to 20052, ceasing operations when gold was below US$400 per ounce. The Omai site benefits from much existing infrastructure and will soon be connected to the two largest cities in Guyana, Georgetown and Linden, via paved road. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of exploration, trenching and drill programs, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in the Omai Gold news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. 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. 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 law. Further, the Preliminary Economic Assessments and related data discussed in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Omai Gold Mines Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, copper and other minerals and metals; general market conditions; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; uncertainty of access to additional capital; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Metals Corporation (Imperial or the Company) (TSX:III) reports initial diamond drill results from the Mount Polley 2025 exploration program with a notable interval of 152.5 metres grading 0.46% copper and 0.97 g/t gold starting from a depth of 282.5 metres, including 85.0 metres grading 0.67% copper and 1.56 g/t gold starting at 285.0 metres in C2 Zone diamond drill hole C2-25-121. The C2 Zone is located immediately south of the Cariboo Pit and, similar to the Cariboo and the WX zones, gold values in the mineralization of the C2 Zone exceed copper values. Also, much of the copper mineralization near surface and along faults in this zone is oxidized which results in lower copper recovery in processing. Given the recent increase in gold price, exploration priority has been given to the C2 Zone. This years drilling in the C2 Zone has been designed to fill gaps in the historic drilling to provide the information required to design an expanded pit in this area, and to target a higher-grade zone at depth. The significant mineralization intercepts are highlighted below. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Copper (%) Gold (g/t) Copper Oxide Ratio(% )* C2-25-116 165.0 200.0 35.0 0.31 0.62 52% including 185.0 200.0 15.0 0.45 1.09 60% C2-25-117 165.0 213.0 48.0 0.41 1.10 66% C2-25-118 290.0 381.2 91.2 0.53 1.10 9% including 347.5 381.2 33.7 0.79 2.02 8% C2-25-121 282.5 435.0 152.5 0.46 0.97 7% including 285.0 370.0 85.0 0.67 1.56 4% *Copper Oxide Ratio % = (CuOx%/Total Cu%)*100 Holes C2-25-116, C2-25-117 and C2-25-119 targeted gaps in drilling that would potentially fall within an expanded pit in the C2 Zone. Holes C2-25-116 and C2-25-117 were successful and intersected significant gold and copper values over considerable intervals. Hole C2-25-116 intersected 35.0 metres grading 0.31% copper and 0.62 g/t gold from a depth of 165.0 metres. Including 15.0 metres grading 0.45% copper and 1.09 g/t gold from a depth of 185.0 metres. Hole C2-25-117 intersected 48.0 metres grading 0.41% copper and 1.10 g/t gold from a depth of 165.0 metres. Holes C2-25-118 and C2-25-121 targeted the previously identified as a higher-grade area, with a lower copper oxide ratio. Both holes were successful in adding volume to the mineralization. Hole C2-25-118 intersected 91.2 metres grading 0.53% copper and 1.10 g/t gold from a depth of 290.0 metres. Including 33.7 metres grading 0.79% copper and 2.02 g/t gold from a depth of 347.5 metres. Hole C2-25-121 intersected 152.5 metres grading 0.46% copper and 0.97 g/t gold from a depth of 282.5 metres. Including 85.0 metres grading 0.67% copper and 1.56 g/t gold from a depth of 285.0 metres. The first phase of diamond drilling is ongoing. Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo., Imperials VP Exploration, has reviewed this news release as the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Mount Polley exploration program. Samples reported were analysed at Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Vancouver. A full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates was completed for all diamond drilling samples submitted to the labs. Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals. Diamond drill data, cross sections and plan view maps are available on imperialmetals.com. About Imperial Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). Imperial also holds a portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia. These properties have defined areas of mineralization and clear exploration potential. Management continues to evaluate various opportunities to advance many of these properties. Company Contacts Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959 Jim Miller-Tait | VP Exploration | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Companys managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys expectations with respect to current and planned exploration drilling programs at Mount Polley and timing thereof, specifically with respect to the C2 Zone; the potential for mineralization to be converted from resource to reserve; the potential for extension of mine life; and the impact of drilling on future pit designs and mine life schedule. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "outlook", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on information currently available to the Company as well as the Companys current beliefs and assumptions. These factors and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Companys annual information form, interim and annual financial statements and managements discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond the Companys ability to control or predict. 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 and all forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Despite mounting international pressure over its war on Gaza, Israel can lean on central and eastern European countries as faithful allies, for historical and ideological reasons. Their solidarity came to the fore on Wednesday, when Austria and Germany broke ranks with European Union peers to argue against a review ordered by Brussels of an EU-Israel cooperation deal. EU diplomats have said 17 of the bloc's 27 nations wanted to re-examine the pact, which has been in force for 25 years, to pressure Israel over its war in Gaza. Joanna Dyduch, from the Institute of the Middle and Far East at the Jagiellonian University in Poland, said Austria and Germany felt compelled to "compensate Jewish people for their fate during World War II". In that respect, they stand with eastern neighbours in Europe that shook off totalitarian Communist rule steered by Moscow over three decades ago, Dyduch said. Those countries, spanning from the Czech Republic to Bulgaria, share a "fear of being conquered... betrayed or being left alone," she said. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and their accession to the EU and NATO, the ex-communist countries have generally swapped a pro-Arab stance promoted by Moscow for Washington's view of global affairs. - Netanyahu 'exploiting divisions' - Their closeness to Israel also stems from segments of their populations fleeing to Israel to escape the Holocaust, and the antisemitism that was rife under Communist rule. Those historic reasons have gradually diminished, but another phenomenon is surging in some countries: a distaste for liberal democracy. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Slovakia's Robert Fico and former Czech president Milos Zeman have all been aligned to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political beliefs. Netanyahu pursues a policy of "exploiting divisions", and this is why he has forged friendly relations with countries like Hungary, said Azriel Bermant, from the Institute of International Relations in Prague. It is particularly useful for Netanyahu to be able to count on a leader such as Orban, who can try to block decisions made by Brussels, much to the EU's chagrin, he told AFP. During a recent Netanyahu visit to Budapest, Hungary announced it would withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which has an outstanding arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Another factor shoring up support for Israel in central and eastern Europe is the "narrative that Israel is on the frontline of the war against Islam" which allows local far-right movements to "whitewash their anti-Semitism", said Bermant. - 'Europeanised' Poland - There is also a nexus between politics and business, even if strategic cooperation between Israel and countries in the European region remains modest. Last year, Slovakia became the first NATO member to buy the Israeli air defence system Barak MX for 560 million euros ($630 million). In 2023, Germany signed a deal with Israel to buy the Arrow-3 anti-missile shield for an estimated $3.5 billion as Russia's invasion of Ukraine increased Europe's hunger for arms. Dyduch said that Poland was an exception in the region, as its stance on the Gaza conflict is closer to Brussels' and "more Europeanised" compared with eastern peers. Poland has distanced itself from Israel on some occasions, even after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,218 dead according to an AFP tally based on official figures. It has advocated "the preservation of Palestinian rights" after Israel's massive and broad retaliation claimed at least 53,762 lives, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Warsaw, a faithful backer of Kyiv, is also upset with "Israel's reluctance to provide military support to Ukraine and its refusal to explicitly condemn the Kremlin", said Dyduch. Despite supporting Israel in the past, Poland acknowledged the State of Palestine during a UN General Assembly vote in May 2024. In the same vote, the Czech Republic and Hungary were against, while Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Romania abstained. He says he came to bear witness to what he saw because he promised himself to always do something against those who commit abuses. For several years, Ahmed* says he documented the crimes of both the regime and rebel groups in Syrias Eastern Ghouta. Even today, he says, this work has earned him numerous threats. To protect himself from these possible risks, the Syrian activist who has taken refuge in France has requested anonymity, as have the two other individuals who have filed a civil action. Their reason: a climate of threats and pressure against them, which took place throughout the investigation and continued until very recently, according to their lawyer, Marc Bailly. Majdi Nema has been on trial since 29 April 2025 for complicity in war crimes and collusion with the Jaysh al-Islam group, in his capacity as spokesman, intelligence officer and strategic adviser to the groups leadership. Threats to prosecution witnesses Citing threats or risks, several witnesses indicated that they will not testify, either at the opening of the trial or in the days that followed. But apart from the sometimes direct threats that may have made against them, Bailly also explains their absence by the change of regime and the inclusion of certain rebel groups - including Jaysh al-Islam - into the institutions of the new government in Damascus. The witnesses do not want to insult the future, should they wish to return to Syria, nor do they want to jeopardise their families who have stayed there - and on whom their testimony could have repercussions, explained the lawyer at the very first hearing of the trial. In all, according to the national anti-terrorism prosecutors office (PNAT), ten Syrian witnesses who were to be heard at its request failed to appear. No defence witnesses On the defence side, for very different reasons, witnesses are totally absent. Nemas lawyers, Romain Ruiz and Raphael Kempf, had initially requested that five people be heard on his behalf. Three live in Syria, two in Turkey. But none of them, they claim, has received a summons to appear in court. While this does not surprise them in the case of Syria - given the context and the change of regime - the same cannot be said for Turkey, with which France maintains judicial cooperation ties. The Turkish authorities reportedly never replied to the ministry of justices Bureau for international mutual assistance in criminal matters (BPI), which had asked them to notify the two witnesses of their summons to appear before the Paris Assize Court. After several weeks of uncertainty as to whether it would be possible to hear them, and some heated discussions at the hearing about who was to take responsibility for their absence, the president of the court decided to go ahead - ruling out the possibility of organising a remote meeting, by videoconference, using an encrypted messaging application. This is the state of cooperation in international criminal justice, said Nemas lawyers, who finally argued in favour of a request to adjourn the trial on the evening of Monday 19 May 2025. They told the court that they were asking for a simple judicial decision, since everyone has the right to a defence. The request was rejected the following morning. In the end, only two witnesses called by the prosecution at the request of the defence - considered relevant to shedding light on Nemas role within Jaysh al-Islam - were heard. We are not the lawyers of Jaysh al-Islam In his closing argument, Kempf argued that postponing the trial would have enabled the parties to travel to Syria in search of new witnesses or victims who would participate in establishing the truth. According to Kempf, the trial is going in all directions. For several days now, the defence has been complaining that the vast majority of the debates have been extremely far apart from what Nema is accused of, and that entire hours have been wasted hearing witnesses who do not know the accused. According to Ruiz, this is a consequence of the way the trial was constructed. On the side, he explains: French justice wants to do justice for the crimes committed in Syria. But instead of putting Majdi Nema on trial, it is putting Jaysh al-Islam on trial. Thats why we dont systematically intervene in hearings: were not the lawyers for Jaysh al-Islam. The problem is that it is not the group as a legal entity that is facing twenty years in prison, but Majdi Nema, who has already been in prison for five years. As for the advisability of travelling to Syria to meet witnesses, things have been much more difficult for us since the fall of the regime, replied Bailly, who contested any breach of equality. Like you, he said to the defence, I would have liked to be able to go there even before this trial. But I couldnt, because it wasnt possible to ensure my safety. The civil parties lawyer recalls the fears and the threats suffered by the witnesses, but also by the civil parties organisations he represents - the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights League (LDH). Refusal of French visas for some witnesses On the prosecution side, no one disputes the weight of the absence of some witnesses who would have shed more light on Nemas role within Jaysh al-Islam. During his hearing as a representative of the SCM, Mazen Darwish regretted that several of them were unable to attend because of the danger for themselves or for their families. But he was also keen to protest to the court because, in his view, several important witnesses had not been supported by France to come and testify. More precisely, they had not obtained their visas, preventing them from appearing in court. This could concern at least one key witness, a young man who had been interviewed during the judicial investigation and whose testimony was due to be heard on Thursday 22 May - a priori behind closed doors. According to the indictment, the young man (renamed witness Xh3) described to the investigators the circumstances of his enrolment in a training camp when he was a minor to undergo a training praised by Jaysh al-Islam, before being assigned to a brigade of the rebel group. He explained that the training was aimed at young people aged 13 to 14; he himself was aged 13, Bailly told Justice Info. In his statement to the investigators, Xh3 added that he had seen Nema, alias Islam Alloush, at meetings with the general staff of the rebel group, and that he had also seen him inflict ill-treatment on detainees. But he didnt get his visa, says Bailly, despite the importance his testimony could represent before the Paris Assize Court - which is precisely trying Nema on charges of complicity in the enlistment or conscription of minors. In this case, Nema is suspected of having provided assistance in their recruitment and training, and of participating in the distribution of propaganda intended to indoctrinate them. The refusal to grant a visa to witness Xh3 is the result of a blockade by the interior ministry, for which todays policy is not to welcome people who we are not sure can return to their country of origin, without any other considerations, Bailly told Justice Info. In court, the statements of witness Xh3 were not read out by the president on Thursday, as it was the case with the statements of other absent witnesses. Bailly indicated that he might nevertheless go back to some of the information provided by the young man in the course of the trial in his closing arguments this Monday. * Given name France's Catherine Deneuve has joined over 900 cinema figures who have signed an open letter denouncing alleged "genocide" in Gaza and the movie industry's failure to speak up about it, organisers told AFP on Friday. The petition began circulating during the buildup to the Cannes film festival and had garnered around 380 names including "Schindler's List" star Ralph Fiennes when the event kicked off on May 13. An update issued by organisers Friday included more than 900 names, including Deneuve, British director Danny Boyle and Swedish actor Gustaf Skarsgard. The initiative, called "Artists for Fatem", was sparked by the killing of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima ("Fatem") Hassouna, who was the subject of a documentary that premiered at Cannes week. Hassouna, 25, was killed in an Israeli air strike along with 10 relatives in her family home in northern Gaza last month, the day after the documentary was announced as part of the ACID Cannes selection. "As artists and cultural players, we cannot remain silent while genocide is taking place in Gaza and this unspeakable news is hitting our communities hard," the open letter says. Other signatories include Juliette Binoche, who is chairing the jury at Cannes, Rooney Mara, Jonathan Glazer, US indie director Jim Jarmusch, "Lupin" star Omar Sy, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Pedro Almodovar and Mark Ruffalo. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is in Cannes to promote a documentary about his life, has also signed the letter, organisers said Friday. He posed for photographers on Tuesday with a T-shirt bearing the names of killed Gaza children. On Thursday, Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,613 people had been killed in the territory since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,762, mostly civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt forced then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee last year, ending her 15-year iron-fisted rule. Rival parties have repeatedly brought the streets of the capital Dhaka to a standstill with a string of competing demands. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who leads the caretaker government as its chief advisor until elections, was reported to have threatened to quit this week if political parties did not give him their full support. Political parties and power brokers in the Muslim-majority nation of some 170 million people range from student activists, Islamist politicians to the army. - Interim Government - Microfinance pioneer Yunus, 84, returned from exile in August 2024 at the behest of protesters. Yunus says the caretaker administration he heads has a duty to implement democratic reforms before elections. The timing of polls therefore depends on how much change the political parties can agree on. He has promised the elections could be held as early as December, and at the latest by June 2026. Bangladesh last held elections in January 2024, when Hasina won a fourth term in the absence of genuine opposition parties. - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - The BNP, the party of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is widely tipped to win elections. The BNP has protested against the government, demanding Yunus set an election date and has made a raft of other demands, including the sacking of multiple members of Yunus's cabinet. The party has demanded an election as soon as December. Zia, 79, led the South Asian nation twice but was jailed for corruption in 2018 during Hasina's tenure. After Hasina's fall, she was released from house arrest and travelled abroad for medical care, returning this month to cheering supporters. But her son Tarique Rahman, 59, who has lived in London since 2008 after being sentenced in absentia under Hasina -- convictions since quashed -- is expected to return to lead the party in polls. - Students - Opposing the BNP is the National Citizen Party (NCP), made up of many of the students who spearheaded the uprising against Hasina. Leader Nahid Islam, 27, was one of the most visible faces of the youth-led protest campaign, before joining the government. In February, he resigned to form the NCP. The NCP had sought to position itself as open to all people seeking to bring forward the spirit of last year's uprising. But as divisions widen between competing groups, rivals see it as too close to Yunus. They would like a later election to allow time for reforms. - Islamists - Hasina took a tough stand against Islamist movements, sentencing several of their leaders to death. Since she fled, groups have become emboldened. They include Hefazat-e-Islam -- an influential pressure group made up of multiple political parties, organisations and religious schools. Jamaat-E-Islami, the largest Islamist political party, has also protested against the government -- demanding the abolishment of a women's commission seeking equality. Religious relations have been turbulent, sparking worries among minorities including Muslim Sufis and Hindus -- who account for less than a tenth of the population. - Awami League - Hasina's Awami League, the country's oldest political party, played a key role in Bangladesh's liberation war from Pakistan in 1971. The government banned it on May 12 pending trials of Hasina and other key leaders. But what was once the country's most popular party retains core supporters. Hasina, 77, is in self-imposed exile in India, defying an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity related to the police crackdown that killed at least 1,400 protesters as she clung to power. - Army - In a country with a long history of military coups, the army has a powerful role. It was the army who played a decisive factor in the ending of Hasina's rule -- after the generals decided not to step in to quash the protests. They retain policing duties on the streets. It was army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman who announced that Hasina had been overthrown, with the military taking brief control, before handing over to Yunus. Bangladeshi newspapers reported that Waker-Uz-Zaman on Wednesday said that elections should be held by December -- aligning with BNP demands. - International players - Regional neighbours play a powerful role. Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with Hasina's old ally New Delhi turn icy. Yunus's first state visit was to China, while Bangladesh has also moved closer to Pakistan, India's arch-enemy. Bangladesh, the world's second largest garment manufacturer, is also eying the potentially dire impact of punishing US tariffs of 37 percent if a deal is not struck in coming weeks. South Africa does not face a "white genocide" and claims that most victims of murders on farms are white are a distortion of statistics, the police minister said Friday, dismissing statements by US President Donald Trump. The genocide conspiracy is "totally unfounded and totally unsubstantiated", Senzo Mchunu said, rejecting claims by Trump who again charged at talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa Wednesday that "thousands" of white farmers were being killed. "The history of murders in the country has always been distorted and reported in an unbalanced way," Mchunu told reporters. "The truth is that farm murders have always included African people and in more numbers." Presenting the quarterly crime statistics, he said that two farm owners were murdered between January and March 2025 and both of them were black. One farm dweller, two farm employees and one farm manager also lost their lives in attacks on farms over the quarter. Only the farm dweller was white, Mchunu said. "We don't deny that the levels of crime in the country are high," he said, but it "cuts across all divides, rural and urban areas". Twelve murders on farms were recorded in the previous quarter, from October to December 2024, of which only one victim -- a farm owner -- was white, the minister said. At Wednesday's talks in the Oval Office, Trump showed a video and articles purporting to support his claims of "persecution" and which AFP found contained many falsehoods. Ties between the two nations have nosedived since Trump took office in January, with the US leader cutting aid, expelling the South African ambassador and offering "refuge" to South African whites fleeing "persecution". - No land grabs - The minister said police figures did not usually categorise crimes by race but had made this distinction for farm murders "in the context of claims of genocide of white people". To "show a fuller picture", the police would include new categories in their statistics to distinguish between killings in rural areas, urban environments and on commercial farms, he said. The minister also rejected claims repeated by Trump that the government was expropriating land held by white farmers. The police had recorded a few cases of "unlawful" land invasion -- most in urban areas -- but there were no government-sanctioned land grabs, he said. "It is an unsubstantiated allegation, and it remains so, even though it is said by people who are in high positions," he said. The statistics for the January-March quarter showed a 12-percent drop in the number of murders compared to the same period last year, with 5,727 people killed. This averages about 63 murders per day, whereas police figures for the 2023/24 financial year showed just over 75 killings a day. Most victims of crime are young, black men in urban areas. The numbers released Friday also showed a slight increase in reported cases of rape to almost 10,700 in three months, Mchunu said. US President Donald Trump's claim that South Africa is facing a "white genocide" are "wholly inappropriate", a UN rights spokesperson said Friday. "These are very serious issues. One should not use this word (genocide) casually without deep knowledge of what this means. Looking at the history of South Africa, it is wholly inappropriate," said Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson in Geneva. Trump repeated his allegation in talks at the Oval Office Wednesday with visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The US leader played videos and brandished news articles he said proved his claim that white farmers are being systematically targeted in South Africa. Ramaphosa roundly disputed the authenticity of some of the material. One article in fact featured a photo from the Democratic Republic of Congo, suggesting Trump's allegations distorted the facts. South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, but whites do not make up a disproportionate number of victims. AfriForum, an identity group representing the white Afrikaner minority, recorded 49 murders of farmers in 2023, without distinction of ethnicity -- a minute proportion of 27,621 murders South African police recorded in total between April 2023 and March 2024. Trump's administration earlier this month granted refugee status to more than 50 Afrikaners -- descendants of Dutch settlers -- despite the fact it has effectively stopped taking asylum seekers from the rest of the world. Human Rights Watch said on Friday the UK government's deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius could "entrench" the exile of Chagossians from the archipelago's biggest island. While the agreement "may result in some Chagossians returning to some islands... it also appears to entrench their exile from Diego Garcia, the largest island," said Clive Baldwin of the New York-based rights group. The group described the forcible displacement of the "entire Chagossian indigenous people, mostly to Mauritius, for a US military base on the island of Diego Garcia" as an "ongoing colonial crime against humanity". British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday announced an agreement to give the remote Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius in exchange for control of a crucial US-UK military base on Diego Garcia island. The deal, first touted in autumn last year, will see Britain pay its former colony 101 million ($136 million) annually for 99 years to lease the facility, Starmer said. As part of the agreement, Mauritius will be able to resettle Chagossian islanders, expelled from the archipelago by Britain in the 1960s, to all of its over 50 islands, apart from Diego Garcia. Under the deal, the British government will set up a 40-million ($54 million) trust fund for the 10,000-strong Chagossian diaspora. The agreement was announced with a slight delay after a last-minute injunction was granted to Chagos Islands-born British national Bertrice Pompe. In court documents Pompe laid out concerns that under the deal Mauritius would be responsible for resettling the islands. She said Chagossians had suffered decades of "discrimination" at the hands of Mauritius, "including in relation to distribution of financial support intended for Chagossians", according to the court documents. Pompe said she had been living in exile since being "forcibly removed from the Chagos Islands by the British authorities between 1967 and 1973". Of the around 2,000 Chagos inhabitants who were expelled by the UK, many ended up in destitution in Mauritius, she said. Britain retained controlled of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s -- evicting thousands of Chagos islanders to allow the US to build the strategic military base. The islanders have since then mounted several legal claims for compensation in British courts, while Mauritius brought its claims over the islands to international courts. Ukraine said Friday it had opened probes into the alleged executions of 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian troops since Moscow invaded in February 2022. Kyiv has long accused Moscow of killing captive soldiers, including those who have been injured or surrendered on the battlefield. It has repeatedly called for an international tribunal to investigate Russian leaders and commanders for alleged war crimes. In February, a United Nations mission in Ukraine said it had recorded "a sharp rise in reported executions of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian armed forces", recording 79 killings since the end of August 2024. In a statement, Ukraine's prosecutor general said it had opened 75 criminal proceedings "into the murder of 268 Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian military personnel since the start of the full-scale invasion". Of those, 57 cases were from 2022, 11 from 2023, 149 from 2024 and 51 so far from 2025, it said. "This increase is linked to instructions given by the senior leadership of the Russian Federation, both political and military," it said. Several videos purporting to show captured Ukrainian soldiers being shot on the battlefield, sometimes at point-blank range, have been circulated online. The Kremlin denies accusations it has committed war crimes in Ukraine, and has repeatedly accused Ukraine of killing captured Russian soldiers. The United Nations says prisoners on both sides of the three-year war have been "subjected to torture and ill-treatment". Image by succo from Pixabay As remote work becomes increasingly common, the line between professional and personal space has blurred. Employers now conduct job interviews, meetings, and even terminations through virtual platforms like Zoom. But when it comes to being fired over a video call, many workers are left wondering: Is this legal? And more importantly, what rights do remote employees have in todays digital workplace? This article explores the legal landscape of remote terminations, the rights of employees, and what both workers and employers need to know to stay compliant and informed. The Rise of Remote Work and Virtual Terminations Remote work is no longer a temporary solution; its a permanent fixture in many industries. According to a Wikipedia article on remote work, millions of workers globally now operate from home, coworking spaces, or locations far from their employers central office. This shift has brought flexibility but also new challenges, particularly in how companies handle disciplinary actions and firings. With fewer in-person interactions, companies have adopted digital platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams for essential conversations, including layoffs and terminations. But this method raises critical legal and ethical concerns. Is It Legal to Be Fired Over Zoom? At-Will Employment Still Applies In most U.S. states, employment is considered at-will, meaning employers can terminate employees at any time, for any reason (with some exceptions), or for no reason at all provided the reason is not discriminatory or retaliatory. This legal standard holds true whether the termination occurs in person or over a video call. Federal and State Laws Still Protect Workers Even in a virtual setting, employees are protected by the same federal and state labor laws. For instance: Discrimination laws prohibit terminations based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, or national origin. Whistleblower protections ensure that employees who report illegal activities arent terminated in retaliation. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) laws protect employees taking medical or family leave. If an employee suspects they were fired over Zoom due to one of these protected reasons, they may have grounds for legal recourse. Legal Considerations for Employers Firing Remotely Employers must approach remote terminations with care. While firing someone via Zoom is not inherently illegal, several legal and ethical risks exist. Documentation is Crucial Whether a termination happens in person or online, documentation is essential. Employers should ensure that performance issues, warnings, or misconduct are well-documented and accessible. Proper documentation protects both parties in the event of a dispute. Avoiding Perceived Impropriety Remote firings can feel impersonal or even disrespectful. This perception can increase the risk of legal action from employees who feel wronged. Employers should ensure that terminations are conducted respectfully, with clear explanations and supportive resources, such as outplacement services or mental health support. Compliance With Local Labor Laws Different states and countries have unique requirements for terminating employees. For example, some jurisdictions require final paychecks to be issued immediately upon termination, even remotely. Others may mandate specific severance procedures or notice periods. Employers must familiarize themselves with applicable laws to avoid legal pitfalls. Employee Rights During Remote Terminations Right to Understand the Reason Employees have the right to know why they are being terminated. While employers arent always legally obligated to provide a reason in at-will states, doing so can reduce confusion and lessen the emotional toll on the employee. A clear explanation helps prevent misunderstandings and potential legal claims. Right to Final Pay and Benefits Employees are entitled to receive their final paycheck, including any accrued vacation or paid time off, according to state law. Employers are also required to inform employees of how benefits like health insurance and retirement plans will be affected and whether they qualify for COBRA continuation coverage. Right to Dispute Unlawful Termination If an employee believes they were wrongfully terminated due to discrimination, retaliation, or breach of contract, they have the right to file a complaint with agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or consult with an employment attorney. Best Practices for Employers When Terminating via Zoom While not illegal, firing an employee over a video call should be handled with sensitivity and professionalism. Below are some best practices for employers: Choose the Right Setting A private, secure video call is essential. The manager or HR representative should be in a quiet, confidential location to avoid embarrassment or unauthorized disclosure of personal information. Have a Witness Present Just as in-person terminations often involve an HR representative, remote firings should include a second person, such as an HR professional, to serve as a witness and provide support. Prepare Supporting Documents Send termination letters, benefits information, and any other relevant documentation via email immediately after the call. Be sure to include information on returning company property and accessing final pay. Offer Post-Termination Support Providing resources like career counseling, job placement assistance, or mental health services can ease the transition and reflect well on the companys values. Ethical Concerns in Remote Firings While legality is crucial, ethics also play a key role. Terminating someones employment over Zoom without warning or compassion can damage a companys reputation and impact employee morale. Public Firings and Mass Layoffs News stories have surfaced of companies conducting mass layoffs via Zoom, often with hundreds of employees receiving the same pre-recorded message. This approach, while technically legal, is widely viewed as inhumane. Employers must balance efficiency with empathy to avoid reputational fallout. Handling Sensitive Situations Firing an employee due to poor performance, misconduct, or budget cuts is always difficult, but doing so remotely adds another layer of complexity. Employers should ensure that their communication is clear, respectful, and personalized to minimize trauma. When to Seek Legal Advice Employees and employers alike may benefit from legal guidance in situations involving remote termination. Employees who feel they were unjustly fired should consult an attorney to determine whether their rights were violated. Likewise, employers seeking to implement or refine remote termination procedures can benefit from legal counsel to ensure compliance with applicable labor laws. For professional advice and representation in employment law matters, including wrongful termination and remote workplace policies, you can consult with Duddy Goodwin and Pollard, a firm with experience navigating the complexities of remote and hybrid work environments. Conclusion Being fired over a Zoom call can feel sudden and dehumanizing, but it isnt necessarily illegal. Both employees and employers need to understand the legal framework surrounding remote terminations to protect their rights and responsibilities. As the workplace continues to evolve, maintaining professionalism, empathy, and legal compliance in every virtual interaction becomes not just a best practice, but a necessity. Amicus International Consulting Launches Strategic Identity Defence Programs as Cyber Threats Target Individuals Like Never Before VANCOUVER, B.C. From Fortune 500 hacks to medical leaks and social media breaches, cyberattacks have escalated into a new era of digital warfare and civilians are now on the front lines. With names, faces, passwords, biometrics, and financial records weaponized against ordinary people, Amicus International Consulting responds with elite-level strategies designed to help individuals defend, recover, and rebuild their identities under siege. With its newly expanded Digital Identity Defence and Reinvention Program, Amicus is equipping breach victims with the tools diplomats, executives, and whistleblowers use to survive and thrive in a compromised digital world. Because in 2025, a data breach isnt just a security issue its an attack on your legal identity. We no longer live in a world where cyberattacks only hit governments or corporations, said an Amicus International spokesperson. Now, every individual is a potential target and every leak is a potential war zone. Our mission is to help people win that war. The Personal Cost of Cyber Conflict Global cybercrime is projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, and much of it is aimed directly at individuals. Unlike traditional war zones, this digital battlefield targets bank accounts, homes, workplaces, and even passportsoften with no warning. Common personal battlefield scenarios include: Dark web leaks of passports and drivers licenses Synthetic identities created from stolen data to open accounts Deepfake blackmail or facial recognition spoofing Compromised tax records used for false filings or government fraud Doxxing and harassment campaigns aimed at activists, journalists, or executives How to Win the War: Amicuss Four-Phase Defence Strategy 1. Surveillance: Know What the Enemy Knows Amicus begins with threat detection: scanning the open and dark web for signs of compromised personal data, credentials, images, or biometric signatures. Features: Real-time dark web monitoring Biometric data scan risk reports Identity cloning alert system Vulnerability maps and access tracing Case Study: A Canadian entrepreneur discovered her passport scan and selfie were used to open offshore bank accounts. Amicus identified the access points, issued cease-and-desist letters, and guided her through secure reissuance of all documentation. 2. Defence: Build a Legal Perimeter The next step is to deploy legal and regulatory protections to reinforce compromised identities and stop further damage. Features: Emergency identity freezes Legal takedown demands under GDPR and CCPA Privacy shielding through document suppression Lawsuit and cease-and-desist letter preparation against brokers and abusers Case Study: A university professor targeted in a political doxxing attack used Amicus to secure a legal name change, scrub digital references, and gain legal protection under U.S. privacy statutes. 3. Counterattack: Replace Whats Compromised Once secured, Amicus helps victims transition into new, fully valid legal identities using international legal frameworks. Services Include: Passport and ID reissuance New tax identification number (TIN) registration Court-backed legal name change Updated biometric profile processing in safe jurisdictions Case Study: A journalist whose fingerprints and facial scan were compromised at a border checkpoint successfully replaced her documentation through Amicuss secure identity transformation pathway, allowing her to travel under a new legal profile. 4. Reinvention: Win Back Control with a New Identity Strategy Amicus offers complete identity reinvention for high-risk clients, giving them legal, secure ways to relocate, protect assets, and live safely under new legal credentials. Reinvention Services: Dual or second citizenship acquisition (via ancestry, investment, or naturalization) Offshore residency in low-surveillance countries Anonymous banking and encrypted communications setup Digital profile separation (social, financial, employment) Case Study: An Eastern European whistleblower used Amicus to acquire Grenadian citizenship, relocate to a safe country, and disconnect from his former digital identity. He now lives and works under complete legal protection. A Call to Action: Digital War Requires Digital Resilience While corporations have cybersecurity divisions, the average individual is left with little more than credit monitoring or frozen accounts. Amicus believes its time to change that, treating every breach as a threat that deserves a tactical, legal, and global response. This is about more than stolen data this is about stolen lives, stolen mobility, stolen safety, said an Amicus strategist. We turn victims into survivors, and survivors into strategists. Who Needs This Program? Amicus International works with: Victims of data breaches, doxxing, and identity theft Executives, journalists, and whistleblowers under threat Individuals exposed in medical, legal, or political leaks Anyone whose biometric data has been harvested or cloned People seeking legal second citizenship or digital relocation Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: [email protected] Website: www.amicusint.ca Follow Us: LinkedIn Twitter/X Facebook Instagram Conclusion: You Can Survive Digital Warfare and Thrive A data breach can take your information, access, and peace of mind but it doesnt have to take your future. With Amicus International Consulting, individuals under digital attack can recover and rebuild with legal precision, international safeguards, and bulletproof privacy. In todays war for identity, your best weapon is legality. And your strongest ally is Amicus. Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Kenyan actress and content creator, Dorea Chege, is choosing love and loyalty over rumors, standing firmly by her fiance, Dickson Ndegwa better known as DJ Dibul, despite swirling cheating allegations. The popular Kikuyu music DJ has recently been accused of cheating with multiple women, some allegedly in his car and Airbnbs, while Dorea was pregnant. The drama unfolded just weeks after the couple welcomed their first child, with several women coming forward, prompting public speculation and online chatter. One lady, who claims to be a friend of one of the alleged side chicks, even reached out to Dorea with supposed evidence. While the mother of one initially ignored the allegations, she recently broke her silence with a nonchalant response. Im not the one who cheated, so I have nothing to say. However, in a heartfelt update on their joint YouTube channel, Dorea, best known for her role as Maggie in Maria, declared: There is nobody in this world who will ever come between us. Its us against the world until the wheels fall off. She went further, calling out one of the accusers for being obsessed with DJ Dibul and fabricating stories. In the same breath, she acknowledges that being in the spotlight complicates relationships but they have learned to trust each other. Hes a DJ, Im an actress - our careers mean were always around people. Thats why weve built trust and agreed not to touch each others phones. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, May 23, 2025 - Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has come out swinging just hours after his release from detention in Tanzania, accusing President Samia Suluhu of orchestrating acts of torture and repression. Mwangi, who was arrested alongside Ugandan activist, Agather Atuhaire, on May 19th while attending a court hearing in solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu in Dar es Salaam, described their four-day ordeal as inhumane and degrading. They threatened us with public humiliation if we revealed what happened, Mwangi claimed, alleging that the Tanzanian authorities acted under direct orders of President Suluhu. Everything that happened to us in Tanzania was done in Suluhus name. We shall speak for the Tanzanians who are too afraid to speak, he stated. In his explosive statement, Mwangi detailed the harsh conditions of their detention, comparing their treatment to worse than rabid dogs. Despite the trauma, he vowed not to be silenced, promising to amplify the voices of oppressed Tanzanians in the spirit of East African unity. This isnt just about us - its about solidarity. Dictators are united, and so must we be, he said, urging fellow African activists not to be deterred. The arrest has ignited backlash, with activist Okiya Omtatah condemning the move as a direct assault on our shared East African values. However, some Government officials like Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi have defended Suluhu, accusing the activists of disorderly conduct. Tanzania now faces growing pressure to explain the incident. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, May 23, 2025 - Four robbery with violence suspects including three Ugandan nationals and a Kenyan have been arrested and three firearms seized in a security operation conducted in Nairobi's Dandora, Saika, Pumwani and Huruma estates. The operation conducted on Thursday, May 22nd followed a spate of armed robberies reported in Nairobi and Western regions, by an organized gang whose modus operandi was analysed by DCI's Crime Research detectives ahead of the scrupulous pursuit. Swinging into action, the Operation Action Team of the DCI backed up by their counterparts at the Intelligence Bureau launched a manhunt for each of the four suspects, successfully netting all with two pistols, an AK 47 rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition. The suspects were identified as Sipholi Sam Wafula alias Sande, Ogomba Alex, Mohammed Musa and Wafula Clinton. Sipholi was the first to step in the police dragnet, who on interrogation led the officers to his rented house within Saika where a Falcon Pistol loaded with eleven (11) rounds of ammunition was discovered under a pillow. Equally, Ogomba Alex was cornered and cuffed, leading the hawkshaws to his rented house within Dandora where the AK47 assault rifle loaded with thirty (30) rounds was found hidden under his couch. Brief interrogation on the two suspects led detectives to the home of Mohammed Musa in Huruma area where he has been residing with his family. It has since been established that he is the owner of the AK47 rifle. Preliminary investigations have so far revealed that the Ugandan trio arrived back in Kenya on 21st May, 2025 through Malaba border, having disappeared to the neighbouring country after committing a violent robbery in Eastleigh. That has been the cat and mouse game in their bid to cover their criminal tracks. Wafula Clinton (Kenyan), a resident of Githurai 45 and supposed ringleader of the gang, was arrested in Pumwani. He has been the master planner in all the gangs' operations. On arrest and search, the second pistol, a Palleberum Feg .9mm loaded with nine rounds was found tucked in his waist. The swift arrest of the four thwarted a planned robbery at a business premise at 12th Street Eastleigh. Other accomplices in the planned attack holed up but have been identified and are being pursued. The arrested four have been handed over to DCI Starehe for processing, with Identification Parade scheduled for today ahead of their arraignment. Via DCI Friday, May 23, 2025 - Outspoken Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, has officially joined Kenyas legal fraternity after being admitted to the bar. Owino is among 609 lawyers who were on Friday admitted to the bar. Declaring it the dawn of a new chapter, Owino said his entry into law marks a significant step in his ongoing political and social justice advocacy. In a statement rich with emotion and boldness, Owino traced his legal motivation to his childhood in Kisumus Nyalenda slums, where he witnessed widespread police brutality and impunity. Growing up in Nyalenda, I saw ordinary Kenyans constantly harassed and humiliated by law enforcement, often unaware of their constitutional rights, he said. He recounted how his mother was frequently arrested and abused by police over her changaa brewing. She was beaten and forced to pay bribes instead of being taken to court, Owino added, noting that this injustice sparked his passion for the law. In addition to his law degree, Owino also holds a degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi. Known for his fiery parliamentary speeches, Owino emphasized that his legal credentials are not for personal gain, but to strengthen his advocacy for the underprivileged. This is not about grandiosity. Its about sharpening tools of service, he said, warning the government of more lethal arguments to come. The revolution continues - now with a gown and a gavel. So, help me God, he concluded. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, May 23, 2025 - Naivasha Member of Parliament, Jayne Kihara, has accused President William Ruto of using State security agencies to intimidate allies of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following the alleged withdrawal of her bodyguard. Addressing journalists on Friday, Kihara said she now feels "vulnerable and naked" without her security and warned that President Ruto would be directly responsible should any harm befall her. Should anything happen to me, Dr. Ruto, you are to blame. You once said youd never use security for political revenge - yet thats exactly whats happening, Kihara stated. The outspoken MP called on the President to uphold his campaign pledge not to weaponize State security against dissenters, demanding the immediate reinstatement of her bodyguard. She cited the recent shooting of Kasipul MP, Charles Were, as an example of the growing insecurity faced by lawmakers. My bodyguard was recalled, disarmed, and interrogated despite not being present at the DCI Headquarters during the shootout. This is pure intimidation, she said. Kihara further warned that withdrawing security from MPs loyal to Gachagua sends a troubling message about the Government's tolerance for political diversity. Being a friend to Gachagua is not a crime. I supported Ruto in his campaigns. I can also choose my political stand now, she added. Her remarks follow claims by DP Gachagua earlier this week that State agents are targeting him, including alleged plans to poison him with laced tear gas during a church visit. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, May 23, 2025 - With just days to go before this years Madaraka Day celebrations, construction works are in full swing at the Homa Bay State Lodge in preparation for President William Ruto's anticipated visit. The President is set to preside over the national holiday at the newly named Raila Odinga Stadium. However, the rapid expansion of the State Lodge has not gone without controversy. The Catholic Church in Homa Bay has voiced concern over the eviction of local families to pave way for the ongoing development. According to church leaders, several residents were forcibly removed from their homes without prior notice. Speaking to the media, Rev. Romanus Agenga of St. Pauls Homa Bay Parish condemned the manner in which the evictions were carried out, calling on the Government to give the project a human face. The President is coming to Homa Bay for one day. But let that visit not be used as a tool for causing discomfort to families, said Fr. Agenga. One of our faithful was evicted in a very inhuman manner. Let the government have a human face in implementing this project, he added. Photos from the site show contractors at work, signaling the government's urgency to meet the events deadline ahead of Madaraka Day celebrations. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot is on the spot after it emerged that he has been looting public funds to fund the lavish lifestyles of his side chicks. According to a well-placed insider, the vocal Senator, known both for his fiery political speeches and staunch anti-corruption rhetoric, has been living a double life. Despite his public image as a disciplined servant of the people, Cheruiyot is now accused of funneling millions of shillings into secret projects, including the construction of palatial homes for his mistresses. The properties in question are located in Tepes, a quiet area in Kericho County. A viral video clip showing aerial footage of the posh mansions has been circulating online. Critics have been quick to call out the Senator's hypocrisy, pointing to his past statements condemning corruption and urging fiscal discipline within Government. Many are now demanding that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigate the source of the funds behind the lavish projects. Hi Cyprian. I stayed in Kericho for about a year and noticed that Aaron Cheruiyot has built two mansions in a place called Tepes, Kericho, for his some of his clandes. They are white in coluor. The first house is located next to a well-known Airbnb building called Vikas Oak pic.twitter.com/aKEczgZ0X9 Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) May 20, 2025 "Tea for harmony" cultural gala highlights deep cultural bonds between China, Sri Lanka Xinhua) 11:17, May 23, 2025 A tea artist demonstrates tea brewing at "Tea for Harmony: YAJI 2025 China-Sri Lanka Cultural Gala" held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 21, 2025. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua) COLOMBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The "Tea for Harmony: YAJI 2025 China-Sri Lanka Cultural Gala" was held in Colombo from May 20 to May 21. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the historical and cultural richness of Chinese and Sri Lankan tea traditions in her remarks at the event on Wednesday. "Chinese and Sri Lankan tea cultures are rich and diverse, with historical and deep cultural significance," Amarasuriya said, underscoring the unique global reputation of Sri Lankan tea, commonly known as Ceylon Tea, for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and color. She also noted the importance of the Chinese market, now among the top five destinations for Sri Lankan tea exports. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong on Wednesday described tea as a powerful cultural bridge fostering deeper mutual understanding and friendship between China and Sri Lanka. "Tea is not only a commodity but also a bridge connecting hearts," he said, calling for expanded collaboration between China and Sri Lanka under the Belt and Road Initiative. The ambassador emphasized opportunities in technological innovation and market expansion within the tea sector, envisioning greater global recognition for Ceylon black tea and broader appreciation for Chinese tea traditions. The gala also featured vibrant cultural performances by Chinese and Sri Lankan artists, including traditional Tibetan dances of the Reba and Guozhuang alongside a memorable Biwang solo, and Sri Lankan tea picking dances. Ajith Dharmawardena, president of the Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association, said cultural exchange plays an important role in fostering spiritual resonance and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. Dharmawardena said the gala provided a valuable chance for Sri Lankans to experience Tibetan culture firsthand, deepening the connection between the two peoples. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) THE urban streetscape of the town of Athy is ever changing. I was reminded of this recently when I came across some ephemeral items which related to Duthie Large & Co. Ltd. They were issued by the company in the early 1900s to promote its business. Shown here are two of these attractive pieces, probably issued at the height of the Edwardian period. The plain, undecorated reverse sides are for use as ink blotters. For those of a younger ink blotters may be a bit of a mystery. Blotting paper is a thick paper especially made to absorb excess ink when writing with a fountain pen. For my generation, the ink pot was accompanied by a fountain pen and a blotter was always close at hand. I am often struck, when receiving correspondence from my peers, of the quality of the penmanship from people who are now well into their eighties. The blotter would have been handed out free to customers of the business, and presumably the company ordered these ink blotters in bulk. The blotters were printed in New York and the two examples illustrated here are under the titles When the Airship Flies and When the polite man gives up his seat. Duthie Larges had an extensive premises fronting onto Leinster Street, as well as commodious buildings extending back up Chapel Lane. An early article published in the Nationalist just before Christmas 1900 described Christmas shopping in Athy, writing of the company as doing a big business in the foundry and ironworks trade, they have in stock a great variety of every class of agricultural implements. They also have on hand all classes of machinery and agricultural implements which would well repay inspection by the farming community. I was fortunate in the early years of the Eye on the Past to interview Jack Murphy of Convent View, Athy who spent much of his working life in Duthie Larges. When I interviewed Jack, almost 30 years ago, he was already in his 10th decade. Jack first started working for Duthie Larges as a bicycle mechanic in or about 1919. After a while, he moved to work with Jackson Brothers when they started their garage and bicycle business on Leinster Street. He lost a finger as a result of an accident at work, and to add insult to injury, it also cost him his job, resulting in his ultimate return to Duthie Larges. In the 1920s and onwards Duthie Larges was an important employer in south Kildare at a time when the only alternative to such employment was in brick yards or Minch Nortons. The busy workshops turned out machinery and farm equipment while the supply and repair of bicycles was an activity as busy, even if not as lucrative as the modern-day sale and repair of motor vehicles. A moulding department, carpentry shop, garage and bicycle shops were some of the main departments to be found in Duthie Larges in those days. Skills abounded with bicycle mechanics, garage mechanics, blacksmiths and pattern moulders working side by side in the huge Duthie Large complex. Prior to the coming of the Asbestos Factory in 1936, Duthie Larges was the largest employer in the Athy area. Perhaps a lesser-known fact of the history of the firm is that Duthie Larges cast in iron the garda station plaques which were placed above the entrance doors of each new Garda Station after 1922. The plaque, derived from the cap badge of the Garda Siochana, was designed by John Francis Maxwell, an art teacher in the Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire Technical School, while Herbert Painting, the assistant principal of Athy Technical School and a teacher of art, made the mould from which the castings were made. By the time Jack left his work bench, retiring in 1979, neither the Large nor Duthie families were still involved in the business, even though the name remained a landmark on the commercial scene of Athy until its closure in the early 1980s. The next time you see a vintage tractor, or a piece of antique farming equipment, cast a quick look and you might be rewarded with the sight of an old Duthie Large badge proudly displayed. A MAN who pleaded not guilty to punching his girlfriends ex-husband on the latters property was found guilty and fined 500 this week. The defendant Robert OBrien (51), of Tinhill, Glasshealy, Ballitore, was accused of striking Andrew Buckley at his property at Ardellis Lower, Athy on 24 February 2024. Since his estrangement, Mr Buckley no longer lived at the Athy address, while Mr OBrien did at the time of the incident. However, Mr Buckley maintained a workshop and premises at the location. Because of this business, the court was told he had a number of difficulties with Mr OBrien allegedly parking his van inappropriately, denying him regular access and even provided a circuit court injunction to stop Mr OBrien from parking his van there. In evidence, investigating officer Garda Niall OLoughlin told how he had been called on the day in question about an incident, where a male alleged he was punched and pushed. He said he punched the side of his head and punched his stomach several times, recounted the garda. I saw no injuries on this man, there were no marks visible. The (defendants) girlfriend didnt want to turn up today, and both parties made statements." Defending solicitor Seamus Taaffe revealed that Mr Buckley made admissions to get an adult caution. An adult caution occurs when an individual takes responsibilty for lesser actions, and a garda inspector or superintendent will issue such a caution, saving one from a court appearance. When he took the stand, Mr Buckley revealed the injunction to the court and said: On the day in question, Mr OBrien was parked in front of my house. He added: My solicitor had told me to take photos, and thats when Mr Buckley approached me, put the phone in my face. Im sick of telling him about parking there. He wont leave us alone so I went to the ex to tell her to get him out." Did you like him filming you? asked Mr Taaffe. No, said Mr Buckley. My client will say you punched him in the face, said Mr Taaffe. No, I pushed his phone out of my face, said Buckley. Did you touch my client? asked the solicitor. Yes, admitted Buckley. My client will say that he was filming the first punch, and three more to the stomach, said Mr Taaffe, which was again denied by Mr Buckley. My client pulled your hoodie over your head head to protect himself, said Mr Taaffe. No, we were wrestling, I couldnt see anything. I was kicked, said Mr Buckley. Thats not in your statement the garda said there were no visible injuries for an adult caution you accepted you assaulted my client, concluded the solicitor. Mr OBrien then took the stand and Inspector Laura Dragoi questioned him. Why were you taking a video? she asked. He was interfering with my van and he has been violent. I didnt know what he was doing at my van, said the defendant. He then admitted he has since broken up with the girlfriend in all this because she wouldnt testify shes terrified. Youre telling me you were unaware of this court order? asked Judge Desmond Zaidan, and Mr OBrien again said he wasnt. Clearly the two were involved in an event Mr Buckley went to the doctor and this cert lists his injuries, and he took responsibilities with the adult caution, said Inspector Dragoi. Mr Buckley was very clear in his evidence; he didnt start it. Mr OBrien did with his videoing, she added. Obviously there were eye-witnesses, but we cant speculate what they saw, said the judge. I have no doubt in my mind that Robert OBrien was economical with the truth his defence was self-defence, but the subsequent assault of this man was totally inappropriate and Im convicting him of Section 2 assault, he ruled. This was a highly-charged atmosphere, my client is 50 years old and has no previous, said Mr Taaffe. The judge remarked: The garda said he wasnt suitable for an adult caution, there was no remorse, no sorry, why shouldnt I send him to jail? A court has told you to not park your van I think Im going to nominate you for Hollywood, for best cameraman a bit of tact would go a long way, he said, before issuing a 500 fine. And youre getting away very lightly, he concluded. By David Young, PA US president Donald Trumps threatened 50 per cent tariff on all EU imports would cause extreme disruption to the global economy, the Taoiseach has warned. Micheal Martin said the move by Mr Trump had come as a surprise, noting that the EU was engaging in good faith with the United States to agree a deal on trade. In April, President Trump announced a 20% tariff on EU goods being sold into the US. He later reduced that to 10% until July 8 to allow for time for talks with Brussels on a potential agreement. On Friday, Mr Trump claimed the talks were going nowhere and said he was recommending that the 50 per cent tariff rate comes into effect on June 1st. The president also announced he would be imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all Apple iPhones manufactured outside the US. He warned that tariffs were also coming for other foreign manufactured smartphones. Shares fell in the US, EU and UK following Mr Trumps latest threats on tariffs. Mr Martin warned of the consequences if such levels of tariffs were imposed. This is a surprise, because there was a pause until early July, he told RTE. Everybody in the European Union is acting in good faith and wants a negotiated settlement with the United States. The trading relationship between the European Union and the United States is the most dynamic and largest in the world, so tariffs of that height or scale would be extremely disruptive and would create even wider disruption across the global economy. Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said Ireland and the wider EU shared the same position in wanting a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. Tariffs are bad for Ireland, the EU & the US. They hurt consumers, businesses & jobs. We need calm and measured dialogue with the US. Negotiation is the only path forward. My full statement: https://t.co/yCE9F3H4gD pic.twitter.com/dHXtOTC3DO Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 23, 2025 Tariffs are a bad idea, said the Tanaiste. Theyre bad for Ireland, the EU, and the US. They push up prices for consumers and businesses. We have built a relationship of prosperity, jobs and investment based on working together and trading together. Negotiations remain the main focus for both the EU and Ireland and our deep and enduring relationship with the United States merits a more sustained and substantive engagement in the period ahead in a bid to bring about a negotiated settlement. I continue to keep in close contact with the European Commission, with colleagues across the EU and with industry as we continue to seek to navigate the current challenges. A negotiated solution remains very clearly the goal and the preferred outcome. NEWBRIDGE Tidy Towns have been allocated 22,500 to prepare a Conservation Management Plan. The allocation was announced last week and will go towards a plan for the standing remains and graveyard at the Great Connell Priory in Newbridge. The funds will help the local community to conserve and celebrate their built, cultural and natural heritage. Minister Martin Heydon welcomed the news. The tidy town group do fantastic work in keeping Newbridge presentable to the many people who pass through it, and also do important work in protecting our shared heritage. The Community Heritage Grant Scheme is a vital means of helping our communities across Ireland and indeed here in Kildare to protect the places, stories, and traditions that matter most to us. I am particularly delighted to see this funding for Newbridge Tidy Towns. "They are very active group with many volunteers who give of their time for the benefit of their community and local area." MBCC Foods (Ireland) Ltd has been granted conditional planning permission for a development at Costa Coffee, located in Kilkenny Retail and Business Park, Springhill, Kilkenny City. The applicant had sought permission to provide a drive-thru lane for the Costa Coffee unit. This would include a canopy and service hatch on the northern side of the unit, along with a height restrictor or entrance barrier on the access lane. READ NEXT: Check out this Kilkenny pub's sparkling outdoor seating area The proposed drive-thru lane would be 3.5 metres wide and would be accompanied by associated hard and soft landscaping. Permission was also sought for associated signage, consisting of two directional signs, one order station, and two menu boards or advertisement signs. The development includes alterations to all elevations of the Costa Coffee unit, incorporating the installation of new signage on all sides. Changes to the existing car parking layout were also proposed, including the realignment of parking spaces to the west of the unit, relocation of two accessible parking spaces to the east, and the removal of 14 existing parking spaces. The plans also encompass alterations to landscaping, updates to the outdoor seating area, the provision of six cycle parking spaces, and all other associated development works. Permission was granted by the planning authority subject to five conditions. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE A motorist who told gardai he wouldnt be paying a traffic fine if they sent him one has been fined at Kilkenny District Court. Jason Stokes, 43 Balladine Heights, Abbeyleix, Laois, was observed by gardai using a mobile phone while driving at the Dublin Road, Leggetsrath, on October 9, 2024, at 11.41am. Garda Jennifer Martin said she observed Mr Stokes driving a Renault van and holding a mobile phone. He appeared to be scrolling, she said in court. Mr Stokes was stopped by the garda. He produced his driving licence to the garda but when she asked for his address he said: You can send it where you want I wont be paying it anyway. He then gave his address to the garda. CLICK HERE FOR MORE CRIME UPDATES AND COURT REPORTS A fixed charge penalty was issued but not paid. The postal summons was returned by registered post, as unserved so it was served in-person by a garda, the court was told. Garda Martin said another garda with her at the time, at Leggetsrath, also observed Mr Stokes holding the phone. Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Stokes, who did not appear in court. Solicitor Chris Hogan said Mr Stokes works in the construction business and may have returned to Australia. A fine of 300 was imposed and recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. In October 2024, Hannah Dermody, a 30-year-old kidney patient from Freshford, County Kilkenny, who was thrust into the world of kidney failure at just 11 years old, spearheaded a successful darts fundraiser, that raised 7,075 for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA). Hannah has been receiving nightly dialysis treatment for the past nine years following the failure of a kidney transplant she had received when she was 19 failed after two years. Hannahs familys gratitude to the Irish Kidney Association for their continued support during her and other kidney patients' health journies was the inspiration for the fundraiser. READ NEXT: Kilkenny hurling hero: 'I was struggling. I needed help, and I got it' Central to its success were professional darts champions Alan Soutar and Ricky Evans, who had travelled from the UK to play against local participants. Their presence brought excitement and star power to the fundraiser, thrilling fans young and old. The fundraiser was hosted in her familys pub, McGraths Bar, run by Hannahs mother Philomena and her younger brother Jack. They, along with her other brother Sam, enthusiastically helped out on the event night. Supporting Hannah in planning and organising the fundraiser was her older brother Paul, who, along with four of his friends locals Niall Kenny, Ray Talis, Steven Farrell. This was their third consecutive year to organise a darts fundraiser, with proceeds from the previous two events also supporting charitable causes Kilkenny charity Teac Tom and the Motor Neuron Disease Association. The fundraisers total proceeds were raised through sponsorship cards, an online fundraising platform, a bucket collection at the local MACE store, and a bucket collection and raffle on the event night. "Since I was 11, my life has revolved around kidney disease," she said. "But I try to stay hopeful for a second transplant and make the most of what I can do." Hannah, grateful for the generosity of locals towards the fundraiser, explained, "The community of Freshford was amazing and I want to thank them for their support and generosity. The funds raised will go towards the vital services provided by the Irish Kidney Association." Hannahs journey with kidney disease began at the age of 11 when high protein levels in her urine led to a diagnosis. Doctors discovered that she had only one kidney, which was functioning at just 30%. During her teenage years, Hannah attended regular renal appointments and frequently stayed at St Lukes and Crumlin Childrens Hospital. At age 16, she transitioned to adult care at Waterford University Hospital (WUH). When her kidney function dropped to about 10%, she had no choice but to start dialysis to survive. In her late teens she began peritoneal dialysis (PD), a treatment she underwent every night. In 2012, Hannahs life took a positive turn when she received a kidney transplant. She remains deeply grateful to the family of the deceased donor for their selfless gift. Unfortunately, the transplant lasted only two years, after which she had to return to dialysis. For the past nine years, Hannahs life has revolved around nightly PD treatments at home lasting up to 10 hours. These treatments have often been complicated by infections at the site where her PD line connects to her body. As these infections persist, her renal team has prepared her for the possibility of transitioning to haemodialysis. Unlike PD, haemodialysis takes place in a hospital three times a week, with each session lasting three to four hours. A fistula has already been inserted in preparation for this change in treatment. When her recurring line infections are under control, Hannah hopes to be accepted onto the transplant waiting list, giving her hope for another chance at a better quality of life. Despite these challenges, Hannah maintains a positive outlook. She works part-time in her local Loop cafe and helps out in her mothers bar. Undeterred by the extra luggage of her PD dialysis machine, Hannah has enjoyed holidays provided by the Irish Kidney Association in their holiday homes in Kerry and Waterford. For the past two years, her machine has accompanied her to Lanzarote, where she hooked up to it at night for her vital, life-saving treatment. READ ALSO: Kilkenny parish in mourning after recently losing 'two great men' Hannahs story is a testament to the power of community, determination, and hope, inspiring others to rally around those affected by organ failure. There are over 2,500 people in Ireland undergoing dialysis treatme. 500 people are on waiting lisits for kidney transplants and approximately 100 more are waiting for other organ transplants including heart, lung, liver and pancreas. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Retired Ryanair pilot and Kilkenny native, George OHara was honoured for his lifetime contributions to aviation on Monday, as Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Michael McCarthy held a civic reception in the council chambers for the local pilot and his family. Captain OHara, Ryanairs most senior pilot, capped off an almost four-decade career with the airline earlier this year. George is a proud local man, who hails from Saint Francis Terrace in the city and exclusively told Kilkenny Live shortly after his retirement that he hopes his career will help inspire other young people to pursue their dreams in aviation. READ MORE: 'The landscape has totally changed' - Calls for Kilkenny to take historic step forward Captain OHaras early days in the skies were in Kilkenny Airfield with friends and family offering great encouragement on a journey that would have him flying high! "You achieved your dream career flying to destinations worldwide as a valued pilot with Ryanair," Cathaoirleach, Michael McCarthy said. There were unusual scenes at Kerry Airport last month when the former Ryanair pilot flew over Kilkenny on his final journey, before being met by a guard of honour at the conclusion. "It was so fitting that you would fly over the two most important KS in the country on your last mission," Cllr McCarthy added. "Its my pleasure to present you with a token of our appreciation from the people of Kilkenny," Cllr McCarthy concluded. EXCLUSIVE: Kilkenny pilot George O'Hara reflects on his storied career in Ryanair As Waterford and the Port of Waterford celebrate 1,111 years this year, to mark the occasion Irelands oldest Port has launched a brand new podcast series Port of Waterford 1111 which explores the Ports rich and varied maritime heritage. Episode 1 features the OHanlon family, for whom crane driving isnt just a jobits a legacy. For four generations, they have been an integral part of the Port of Waterfords daily operations, manoeuvring towering cranes with precision and skill high above the bustling docks. The new podcast series is hosted by a well-known voice in the maritime space, Tom MacSweeney, host of RTEs Seascapes radio programme. Tom says, In the podcast, well journey through time to explore the rich and fascinating history of the Port and the city of Waterford two stories deeply intertwined since the Vikings first set anchor in Waterford over a millennium ago. Well also take you behind the scenes to meet the people who keep the modern port running the dedicated team members who play a vital role in Irelands trade and transport network today. Whether youre a maritime enthusiast, a history lover, or simply curious about what makes this historic port so special, theres something here for you. Speaking about the milestone and new series, CEO at Port of Waterford, David Sinnott says, Throughout its history, the Port of Waterford has seen the rise and fall of empires, changes in global trade, and the development of modern shipping practices. Today, it serves as a vital gateway for both domestic and international trade, supporting industries such as manufacturing, logistics, food, agri-business and tourism. Despite the passage of time, the port remains a central hub in the region, maintaining its deep connection to the southeast region. Our new podcast series shares some insights into the 1,111-year legacy, which is not just a testament to the resilience of the Port itself but also to the enduring spirit of the region and its people. The Ports longevity is a source of pride for Waterford and the south east and a reminder of the historical significance of maritime trade in shaping the regions growth and prosperity. In the first episode of the Port of Waterford podcast Port of Waterford 1111, Tom meets the crane-driving brothers Gavin and Derek OHanlon, along with Gavins son, Michaelthe latest to join this remarkable family tradition. Gavin reflects on how the path was paved for him by his older brother, who taught him the ropes. He was the one who taught me, and I also taught the younger one here, too, he shares, smiling at Derek. Tom says, Its unusualIve never met another crane-driving family before. But the story goes even deeper. It was my father who was a crane driver, and his brothers were too. On my mothers side as well. It just ran in the families. We followed each other into it, I suppose. Gavins journey began in 1978 with Bell Lines as a compound controller. By 1980, he was in the cab of a gantry crane, learning from his father at Ferrybank. The two worked side by side for a decade until his father passed away. Over the years, Gavin has seen countless containers come and gobut he notes that the essentials of the job remain the same: concentration, calmness, and sharp eyesight. Its like driving a car or a truckyou cant take your eyes off it, not even for a second, Gavin explains. Youre dealing with heavy weights and big machines. A small mistake can be very dangerous. Dizzying Crane operators at Waterford work from dizzying heights, about 30 metersover 90 feetabove the ground. The workday starts with a trip up to the cab, usually by lift, though, as Gavin jokes, One of them isnt working at the moment, so were getting fitter by the day. The old days were more challenging still. It used to be straight up the ladder. You had to be fit and not afraid of heights first thing in the morning, he recalls. While technology has evolved, bringing newer, taller cranes to match the ever-larger ships docking at the port, the core of the job remains the same. The challenge of manoeuvring colossal containers onto ships, trucks, and railcars requires more than technical skillit demands a steady hand and nerves of steel. Derek and Gavin both point out the added complexity of working with multiple teams. Onshore, lorry drivers await containers, while on the ship, the crew ensures cargo is properly secured. And amid it all, safety is paramount. The container is your blind spot when its hanging, says Gavin. You always have to know whos around it and make sure theyre not under it. The job can be stressful, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Wind can affect the cranes stability, and operations can get tense. It does have its moments, admits Gavin. Thats where you need that cool head. You cant get overexcited. Youve got a job to do, and it has to be done safely. Michael, the youngest OHanlon on the cranes, grew up watching his father and uncle. From a child, you kind of adopt an interest, he says. Youre looking straight down all day, through the glass floorit can be a bit of a pain in the neck, literally, but you get used to it. Though the task might seem overwhelming to outsidersmanaging heavy machinery, working at heights, contending with weather and logisticsMichael emphasises that it becomes second nature. Its pretty much a one-man show in the cab, but theres always support on the ground for tasks like tying down the containers. Thats where the coolness of the operator comes inyou need to be confident and calm in moving it. For the OHanlons, the crane cab isnt just a workplaceits a vantage point where family heritage meets daily life. A place where generations have looked down on the River Suir, quietly keeping the flow of cargo moving smoothly and safely. To listen to the full podcast, visit PortofWaterford.com. Over the next 6 months there will be plenty more to come in the series, so dont forget to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA Passengers at the Columbia Regional Airport say they're excited for new routes following the Thursday announcements of new Denver and Chicago flights at the airport. United Airlines will return to COU on Sept. 25 with one daily flight to Denver and twice-daily flights to Chicago O'Hare. Passengers say the new flights will make it more convenient to fly in and out of Columbia. "We've had quite a bit of issues with layovers in the past, so if there is a direct flight, that would be amazing" Katie Jones said. "Being able to have more options of how to travel is always a nice thing for the customer," Jack Sumners said. And some hope that the prices of plane tickets will go down. "The more options you have, generally the cheapest the prices are," Sumners said. "You look up flights from Dallas: You can fly about 15 different airlines out of Dallas, which obviously means that you're not paying $400 to get back." Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. 1:13 United Airlines returning to COU with flights to Denver, Chicago United Airlines will return to the Columbia Regional Airport with flights to Denver and Chicago. A check of ticket prices Friday showed that a one-way, morning flight to Chicago O'Hare out of COU on Sept. 25 would cost at least $359 on American Airlines and $254 on United Airlines. Since 2022, American Airlines was the only airline represented at COU. It has offered nonstop flights to Chicago and Dallas. "Being able to have extra flights in and out is not just good for the students, for the people of the town; it gives people a better chance to get here and visit the town," Sumners said. A Passenger Demand Analysis the city conducted last year revealed that Columbia residents wanted to see more destinations offered at COU. Among them were Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, Houston and Washington, D.C. "Hopefully, they'll even expand and go to the East Coast," Charles Shoaf said. The addition of the Denver flight is thanks to a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Program. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he approved disaster declaration for multiple counties in Missouri impacted by severe storms in March and early April, according to a news release. FEMA will provide individual and public assistance for more than a dozen counties hit by storms March 14-15, including Phelps County. Rolla was hit by an EF2 tornado on March 14, which caused widespread damage in the city and hit several school buildings. Gov. Mike Kehoe's request for these storms included more than $26.9 million in qualifying expenses already identified, according to a news release. Trump also approved public assistance for 25 counties, including Cooper County, that were hit by severe weather from March 30-April 8. An EF2 tornado struck Pilot Grove on April 2, damaging several structures in the Cooper County town. Rolla residents recall the moment a tornado struck their homes The Rolla community came together to clean up debris after an EF2 tornado tore through the town. Pilot Grove resident recovers from damage after EF-2 tornado A Pilot Grove resident works to recover from the damage caused by an EF2 tornado. Kehoes request for the March 30-April 8 storms included more than $25.5 million in qualifying expenses already identified, according to a news release. This is important and very welcome news for the Missouri families and communities hit hard by the devastating storms and tornadoes that began in March and have affected so much of our state, Kehoe said in a news release. The State Emergency Management Agency will be working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to move the federal assistance process forward, which will provide millions of dollars in much needed recovery support for individuals, families, and local jurisdictions. We appreciate the work of our federal congressional delegation in advocating for these requests and future assistance for Missourians. U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., applauded Trump for approving the request for assistance. "This is just the beginning of helping communities across out state get back on their feet following devastating storms this season," Schmitt said in a news release. Kehoe asked the federal government to approve a major disaster declaration for the March 14-15 storms in early April, and he asked for a major disaster declaration for the March 30-April 8 storms at the beginning of this month. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., also acknowledged Trump's efforts but called for additional assistance regarding last week's storms in St. Louis. Hawley and Schmitt toured tornado damage in St. Louis on Monday and urged the president to approve the Kehoe's pending request. After touring the devastated neighborhoods, we can personally attest to the scale of the damage and the clear need for the governors request to unlock this first step of federal assistance to support first responder efforts, they said. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The additional request for aid after the storms on April 29 is currently under review. The process to request a major disaster declaration for storms on May 16 is still underway. Assistance available for Rolla The federal government approved individual assistance for the March 14-15 storms, which caused the Rolla tornado. People who sustained damage or losses due to the March 14-15 severe weather may apply for FEMA disaster assistance online or by calling FEMAs toll-free application line at 1-800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Individual assistance was approved for Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Wayne, Webster and Wright counties. Eligible residents in these counties can seek federal assistance with temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles and other expenses, according to a news release from the governor's office. The deadline for most individual assistance programs is 60 days following the presidents approval of the major disaster declarations Friday. The governor's office said disaster assistance to eligible individuals generally falls into the following categories: Housing assistance may be available for up to 18 months for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable. may be available for up to 18 months for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable. Disaster grants are available to help meet other serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental, and funeral expenses. are available to help meet other serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental, and funeral expenses. Low-interest disaster l oans are available after a disaster for homeowners and renters from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing, or other damaged personal property. SBA loans are also available to businesses for property loss and economic injury. Businesses can visit sba.gov or call 1-800-569-2955. l are available after a disaster for homeowners and renters from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing, or other damaged personal property. SBA loans are also available to businesses for property loss and economic injury. Businesses can visit sba.gov or call 1-800-569-2955. Other disaster aid programs include crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security, and veterans benefits. For the March 14-15 storms, the federal government also made the FEMA public assistance program available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs. Public assistance is available in the following 20 counties: Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne. Assistance available for Pilot Grove For the March 30-April 8 storms, the federal government made the FEMA public assistance program available to local governments and qualifying nonprofits for the repair of damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure as well as reimbursement of emergency response costs. Public assistance is available in the following 25 counties: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cooper, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Vernon, Wayne, and Webster. According to LSP, 59-year-old Connie Weeden of Slidell was taken into custody and charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Over 60 musicians from Laois travelled to TUS Athlone on Friday 16 May, to take part in a violin workshop day called 'Fiddle Fiesta'. 55 violin players from Scoil Bhride Rathdowney, and 11 violin players from Scoil Mhuire Fatima Timahoe, joined with other young musicians from school programmes in Music Generations across Offaly, Westmeath and Longford. Under the direction of Veronica Urrego, a violinist based in Scotland, and originally from Venezuela, 170 young violinists took part, alongside a live band. John Davidson of Music Generation Laois teaches violin in Scoil Bhride Rathdowney each week, while Irene Ramos of Music Generation Laois teaches violin in Scoil Mhuire Fatima Timahoe. John and Irene travelled to Athlone and worked along-side Veronica to create a large-scale string orchestra. Fiddle Fiesta is part of a new project called Building Orchestral Pathways (BOP), which seeks to develop string and orchestral playing in the midlands, supported by the Music Generation/Arts Council Partnership Creativity and Collaboration Fund. Most recently young musicians and adult musicians from Laois formed a BOP Orchestra along with musicians from Music Generations Offaly and Westmeath. BOP Orchestra had their debut performance in Music at the Malthouse on Sunday 11 May, presented by Music Generation Laois, conducted by Diane Daly (Irish Chamber Orchestra). Speaking at the Fiddle Fiesta event, Rosa Flannery Music Development Officer with Music Generation Laois, said: We are having a wonderful day with our young violin players in TUS Athlone. A large-scale performance of Coldplay's Viva La Vida has been the highlight for many of the children involved. Its really exciting for our young players to meet other musicians from neighbouring counties, play music, have fun and get the opportunity to work with Veronica Urrego. Veronica works with El Sistema Scotland and she also conducts the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain. We are really excited about how our BOP project, led by Music Generation Westmeath in partnership with ourselves, Music Generation Laois, and with Music Generation Offaly, will create lots of inspirational opportunities for musicians in the midlands.' Music Generation Laois and Laois School of Music's Annual Open Evening will take place on Tuesday 17 June in Laois Music Centre from 6-8pm. All are welcome to come and meet the team of Musician Educators and try out lots of musical instruments. Music Generation Laois is part of Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board and supported by Laois County Council. musicgenerationlaois.ie Students from Heywood Community School were among 500 students from 22 schools across Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, and Laois, who gathered at the SETU Arena in Waterford to showcase their inspiring social justice projects. Each school created interactive display stands, fostering creativity and connection among participants, before they took to the stage to perform inspiring songs, dances, drama, and poetry. A very enjoyable day of learning, forging new friendships was enjoyed by all the students A LAOIS teacher is set to cycle 1,000km in June, to raise money for two hospitals that saved his premature twins lives. Ballacolla man Padraic Kavanagh, devoted dad to miracle twins Ellie and Paidi, will cycle to work in Killenard NS on a borrowed bicycle throughout the month, in aid of The Coombe Hospital and Childrens Health Ireland Crumlin. Padraic and his wife Teresa, a teacher at St Fergals College in Rathdowney, wanted to give back for the life-saving care their twins received in Crumlin and The Coombe, after they were born 13 weeks early. Now aged three, Paidi has a condition that makes his heart beat at a very fast irregular pace, while Ellie has survived sepsis as well as emergency laser eye and bowel surgery. Even before the challenge begins, donations to the Twins Thank You Tour on iDonate.ie reached 8,600 on 23 May, with a target of 10,000. Padraic said both hospitals hold a very special place in the familys hearts, as they saved the twins lives more times than we can count. He admitted that the tour will be a massive challenge, as hes not a regular cyclist and had to borrow a bike for the month. He plans to cycle from his home village to Killenard NS three times a week, a round trip of 76 km, making up the remaining distance on weekends. He hopes to finish the challenge on 27 June, his last day of school. Giving a snapshot of the twins incredible battle for life on the fundraising page, Padraic said their story is one of fear, resilience, hope and overwhelming gratitude. Ellie and Paidi were born at just 27 weeks, fragile and impossibly small but already fierce fighters. From early in the pregnancy, there were major challenges. Paidi was diagnosed in the womb with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition that caused his tiny heart to race at over 240 beats a minute. Medication to slow his heart was essential but it came at a terrible cost. The treatment in the womb also affected Ellie, whose heart rate began to fall dangerously low. Padraic recalled: We were suddenly faced with a heartbreaking decision but in truth, there was no decision to make. The twins needed to be delivered to save them both. They arrived in a whirlwind of urgency, each rushed into separate incubators, surrounded by a flurry of medical staff. The first 48 hours were among the longest in the new parents lives, as doctors fought to stabilise Paidis heart. Just as the baby boy began to show signs of improvement, Ellies tiny stomach began to swell at four days old. Within hours, she was on her way to Crumlin in an incubator, blue lights flashing on the ambulance that carried her away. Surgeons quickly discovered that her bowel had twisted, a life-threatening condition that required immediate surgery. A section of her bowel had to be removed. Padraic said: We clung to hope through the longest night of our lives, as Ellie was moved into intensive care. The next 24 hours were critical. She was so small, so delicate but so full of fight. Ellie was strong enough to return to her little brother in The Coombe on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, there was a high risk of infection and she started a course of antibiotics for sepsis within two days. Padraic and Teresas attention and worry shifted from twin to twin, as Paidi was still experiencing episodes of SVT and Ellies bowel still wasnt functioning properly. Padraic said: Thankfully, the wonderful team at The Coombe acted promptly and the twins recovered enough to face their next challenges. Anxious months of hospital treatment and surgery followed. Ellie was finally discharged after 64 days in hospital but it was another 40 days before Paidi could join her. After 104 days, they finally travelled home as a family of four on the happiest day of their lives. While they still face ongoing medical challenges, the three-year-old twins are thriving today. We cant thank the staff of both hospitals enough, they are our heroes, Padraic said. We are endlessly grateful for what weve been given and we hope to raise funds to support the incredible, life-saving work that continues in these hospitals every day. Every euro raised will go towards helping more families like ours, ensuring that critically ill babies get the expert care and love they need to survive and thrive. Donations can be made on the online fundraising page on iDonate.ie titled Twins Thank You Tour On 22 May, the secretary general of Haitian journalists organisation, Reseau Haitien des Journalistes Anti-corruption (Rhajac), criticised a proposed draft of the new constitution, which was presented by a steering committee of the national conference for the constitutional review process to Prime Ministerand the transitional presidential council (TPC) the previous day. End of preview - This article contains approximately 404 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Chinese police clamp down on wildlife crime to safeguard biodiversity Xinhua) 13:07, May 23, 2025 BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- From 2023 to date, Chinese police have filed and investigated 89,000 wildlife-related criminal cases, arresting 97,000 individuals suspected of relevant criminal offences, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The MPS said that public security authorities have launched in-depth investigations into and cracked down on criminal activities endangering wild animals, dismantling a number of underground industrial chains that illegally hunt, catch, transport and sell wild animals. During their campaign against illegal hunting, public security authorities have filed and investigated 1,497 criminal cases, apprehending 4,105 criminal suspects. Chinese police have also participated in a joint law enforcement mission launched by Interpol, during which 63 cross-border cases involving wildlife were resolved, the MPS said. Thursday marked this year's International Day for Biological Diversity, which took on the themes of harmony with nature and sustainable development. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) DEAR MISS MANNERS: One co-worker likes to host office parties with food-themed potlucks. She will suggest a dish that she will cook and bring to share, such as trays of chicken wings or seafood pasta. Generally a lunch would have eight to 20 people. As she likes to make these meat- or seafood-based dishes, she will then ask for financial contributions to pay for the ingredients and keep her own costs down. Everyone else is welcome to additionally make or bring something to share. Co-workers arent happy with her asking for money AND a food contribution to these lunches. They feel if they do either, that it fulfills their participation for the occasion, and that she should not be asking for money to make her dishes. I dont have a problem with paying her money and contributing food of my own. Ive often even added more to have a better party, because people do love a hearty plate. But some co-workers have refused to participate in any way because they resent her asking to cover costs for her food; they feel that shes unjustly enriching herself on their financial contributions. Were talking $5 to $12 per person for contributions to office parties in general; shes asked for $7 to $10 on a few occasions for her food. Whats the proper thing that should be happening? GENTLE READER: Why does Miss Manners feel a nagging curiosity about your place in all this -- as if you have a position of more authority in the group than you have mentioned? She agrees with the co-workers who are refusing to participate -- but not for the reasons they give. Her belief is that if the boss wants to reward workers for a job well done, then they should either pay them more, send them home early (where they can socialize with their actual friends and family), or, if there must occasionally be an office party, pay for the refreshments out of office funds. Not being a fan of forced socialization at work, she is even less a fan of making the workers pay for it. That one co-worker is now demanding that her co-workers increase their contributions is ... grotesque. If you ask because you are the boss -- or HR -- and were looking to solve the problem, you are in luck: You can pay for the party out of office funds. *** (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.) A New York man had about $125,000 worth of methamphetamine in his car during a stop along Interstate 78 in Williams Township, near the New Jersey border, authorities said. Joseph Reid, 41, of Brooklyn, is charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and a summary traffic offense. He was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Robert A. Hawke, who set bail at $750,000. In lieu of bail, Reid was taken to Northampton County Prison. Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta announced the charges Friday morning. Court records show Reid requested a public defender to represent him, however, no one was immediately listed as assigned. Troopers around 7 p.m. Wednesday spotted Reids black Audi Q7 allegedly making unsafe lane changes at mile marker 74.7. The weather was rainy at the time and traffic was heavy, state police said. A police dog conducting a search of the vehicle gave a positive indication for illegal drugs, which allowed investigators to obtain a warrant to search the Audi, the DAs Office said. Seized in the search was about 16 pounds of methamphetamine, authorities said. The recovered methamphetamine has a street value in excess of $125,000, the DAs Office said. The district attorney praised Pennsylvania State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Easton Police Department for their assistance in Reids arrest. Reid is due back in court at 11:30 a.m. June 2 for a preliminary hearing before Hawke. A judge will then determine if theres sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Northampton Court of Common Pleas. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached atpholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. A voter grabs his I voted sticker after casting his ballot at the Mary Meuser Memorial Library in Wilson Borough in this file photo. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com Armchair Lehigh Valley content is published on lehighvalleylive.com as part of a partnership with the website, which aims to give voters nonpartisan factual information. Armchair Lehigh Valley is run by publisher Katherine Reinhard and editor Robert H. Orenstein. For more information, or to subscribe: armchairlehighvalley.substack.com. Here are five takeaway from the local results of the Tuesday, May 20 primary election in Pennsylvania: Low turnout again Tuesdays primary election continued the trend of low-voter turnout in primary elections when mostly local contests dominate the ballot. About 20.4% of eligible Lehigh County voters (Republicans and Democrats) cast ballots for the primary while Northampton came in at 22.3%. That rate was similar to the last two off-year elections. In 2023, Lehigh reported that 22.5% of voters cast ballots, which included 106 ballots from nonpartisan voters in Whitehall Township where a referendum question was on the ballot. In Northampton, the percentage was slightly higher at 23.7%. In the 2021 primary the turnout rate was 23.2% for Lehigh and nearly 21% in Northampton. Turnout in such off-year contests generally increases for the general election 31.1% in Lehigh and 33.1% in Northampton in 2023. Presidential elections attract as much as three times the number of voters. In 2024, for example, Lehighs voter turnout was 73.9%, Northamptons 76.4%. Party on The two Lehigh Valley contests for county judges showed that political party affiliation may be more important in a primary election than how much money a candidate spends. Consider Northampton County Republican candidate James Fuller and Lehigh County Democratic candidate Mark Stanziola. They won their party nominations in contested primaries despite spending little money on their campaigns. Each candidate appeared only on their partys ballot, choosing not to cross-file. Their opponents did cross-file and appeared on the Democratic and Republican ballots. Fuller spent less than $250 in his race; Democrats Jeremy Clark and Robert Eyer spent significantly more money on their efforts in excess of $160,000 in total in reaching out to voters. Fuller won the three-way Republican primary with 47% of the vote; Clark captured the Democratic primary with 52.6% of the vote and will face Fuller in November. In the Lehigh County judicial contest, Republicans Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen and Jenna Fliszar appeared on the GOP ballot and on the Democratic ballot with Stanziola. They also outspent Stanziola, whose campaign finance report showed $978 in expenses. By contrast, Mulqueen had $29,167 in expenditures while Fliszars campaign spent $38,574 and received another $35,059 worth of in-kind contributions from her husband, Gred Ludel. In his primary, Stanziola collected 48.8% of the vote in defeating Mulqueen and Fliszar for the Democratic nomination. Mulqueen took the GOP nomination with 61.8% of the vote and will run against Stanziola in November. Stanziola, Mulqueen to square off for Lehigh County judicial seat Democrat Clark, Republican Fuller win Norco judicial nominations Familiarity breeds comfort Winners of primaries for Lehigh and Northampton county executive were more familiar to voters than their opponents. Tara Zrinski, who with 57% of the vote defeated Amy Cozze in the Northampton Democratic executive primary, has been elected three times to a county office in the past eight years twice as a county commissioner and once in her present role as county controller in 2023. She also ran for the 14th District state Senate position in 2022, losing the Democratic primary by 42 votes to Nick Miller, who was elected to the Senate that November. Cozzes only bid for public office was seven years ago, when she ran for the state House from the 137th District, losing to incumbent Rep. Joe Emrick in 2018. MacLean, winner of the Republican nomination for Lehigh executive, was an Allentown police officer for 39 years, the last seven of which he served as police chief and was the public face of the department. He was elected to city council in 2015 and served as council president. Mike Welsh was elected once to Allentown School Board in 2013 and served three years. MacLean defeats Welsh in Lehigh County GOP executive race Zrinski defeats Cozze for Norco executive in Democratic primary Incumbency reigns School board incumbents across the Lehigh Valley won at least one spot on the November ballot, results show. School board races are supposed to be non-political thus the ability to cross-file. Results suggest voters seemed to know which party the candidates belonged to. Incumbents tended to capture a ballot position belonging to their party affiliation while losing in the opposing partys ballot lineup. That doesnt mean candidates didnt break through and win on both ballots as was the case with incumbent Democrat William Whitney in East Penn and incumbent Republican David J. Hein in Parkland. Appearing on both ballots in November does not guarantee a win. There appeared to be only one incumbent ouster Democrat Jason M. Bashaw, who placed fifth out of four candidates in the Catasauqua Area School Board race. He was not on the Republican ballot. Two former board members who lost in 2023 Easton Areas Edward Keegan, a Democrat, and Parklands Patrick Foose, a Republican won ballot spots and a chance to return to their positions. Even with incumbent wins, Lehigh Valley school boards will have new faces in December. This years crop of candidates were among those elected in 2021 the height of the COVID pandemic when school boards were under fire for masking policies and closings. A slew of school board members elected not to run again. A look at school board race results That was true in Parkland, East Penn, Southern Lehigh, Whitehall-Coplay and Saucon Valley, each of which saw two incumbents bow out of seeking reelection. None of Allentown School Districts four incumbents were on the ballot. Incumbents lose in council races It was a day of upsets in Easton and Allentown with voters handing walking papers to three incumbents, unofficial results show. In Eastons District 1, Frank Graziano III, a member of the city planning commission, tallied 536 votes to four-term incumbent Roger Ruggles 367. The district includes Eastons Fourth Ward, College Hill and downtown. In District 3, Easton Area School Board member Susan Hartranft-Bittinger defeated Taiba Sultana, who was seeking reelection to a second four-year term, 403 to 281. The district covers Eastons Southside. City council incumbents lose Democratic nominations in Easton but win in Bethlehem In Allentown, council president Daryl Hendricks finished fifth out of seven candidates in the Democratic primary with 2,585 votes. Council vice president Cynthia Mota won the top spot (3,352 votes), followed by newcomer Jeremy Binder (3,252), incumbent Natalie Santos (2,955) and newcomer Cristian Pungo (2,610). Allentown council president Daryl Hendricks loses reelection in tight race Going into the race, one seat on council opened up for newcomers. Incumbent Democrat Ed Zucal ran for mayor unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary instead of seeking reelection. He is awaiting results of his write-in campaign for the GOP nomination for mayor. With no Republicans in the running for council, the top four finishers are likely to win in November. In Bethlehem, incumbents Rachel Leon (4,425 votes) and Hillary Kwiatek (4,247) finished one and two on the Democratic ballot. They were followed by newcomers Justin Amann (4,061) and Jo Daniels (3,283). Joseph F. Poplawski was the only Republican on the GOP ballot and will be among the five candidates seeking four seats on council in November. Two positions on council opened up when incumbents Kiera Wilhelm and Grace Crampsie Smith did not seek reelection. Crampsie Smith, who ran for mayor instead, lost the Democratic primary to Mayor J. William Reynolds. Closing performance finishes off the night during the Freddy Awards show on May 22, 2025. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com Several high schools in the Lehigh Valley region took home multiple Freddy Awards on Thursday night during a live telecast from the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton. In their 23rd year, the 2025 Freddy Awards recognized the achievements of 29 high school musical theater programs across Lehigh, Northampton and Warren counties. Nazareth Area led the pack with five honors for Seussical as Freedom (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Northampton Area (Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical) and Warren Hills Regional (Newsies) each were recognized three times. 79 1 / 79 2025 Freddy Awards Show Lehigh Valley business leaders and others presented 25 awards on the venerable theaters stage, rewarding the participants in the high schools 2024-25 plays for their creativity, talent, dedication, artistic accomplishments and more. WFMZ-TV 69 carried the three-hour awards show. Heres what we can guarantee you, State Theatre President and CEO Shelley Brown said right after the opening number, alongside co-host Eve Russo from WFMZ. This is three hours you can spend on this channel, Brown continued. And I can guarantee you 100%, at the end of the evening youre going to feel better. Tell me where else you can see that. The evening featured numerous live performances, including the opener representing all of the participating shows. This was no small feat, Brown said, crediting the Freddy Awards choreography team with working in all of the references. Students from the six schools nominated for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical each performed a number: Easton Area from its production of Curtains plus numbers from Nazareth Areas Seussical; Parklands Les Miserables: School Edition; Warren Hills Regionals Newsies; Bangor Areas The Hunchback of Notre Dame; and Emmauss Mamma Mia! All 7 female and 7 male students nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress and Actor in a Leading Role each performed a song from their play during medleys. Wow, I cannot follow that, Russo said after the actresses had taken the stage. Werent they amazing? The Freddy Awards program directly impacts over 2,900 students each year and has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships, internships and community honors since its inception in 2003, according to organizers. Here is the complete list of 2025 Freddy Awards: Outstanding Technical Design By A Smaller School Moravian Academy The Drowsy Chaperone Outstanding Technical Design Freedom High School Nice Work If You Can Get It Outstanding Use of Costumes Nazareth Area High School Seussical Outstanding Performance by a Male Ensemble Member Dominic Oviedo as Reuben Bethlehem Catholic High School Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member Tailisha Montanez Vargas as Lucy William Allen High School Avenue Q: School Edition Air Products Education and Community Impact Freddy Award Bethlehem Catholic High School Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance Milo Dominguez, Echo Picone Something To Believe In Warren Hills Regional High School Newsies Outstanding Use of Choreography and Musical Staging Warren Hills Regional High School Newsies Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Kiersten Rubery as Duchess Estonia Dulworth Freedom High School Nice Work If You Can Get It Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Cole Faccinetto as Cookie McGee Freedom High School Nice Work If You Can Get It West Virginia University Scholarship Charlotte Reinoso as Margot Phillipsburg High School Legally Blonde Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance Emerson Tyrell Ireland Southern Lehigh High School Legally Blonde the Musical Outstanding Production Number Bangor Area High School Topsy Turvy (Parts 1 and 2) The Hunchback of Notre Dame Outstanding Technical Contribution By A Student Lauren Summers Costume Design Nazareth Area High School Seussical Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra Nazareth Area High School Seussical Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actor Nick Janneck as Dom Claude Frollo Bangor Area High School The Hunchback of Notre Dame Outstanding Featured Performance by an Actress Hailey Achey as Miss Trunchbull Northampton Area High School Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical Outstanding Stage Crew In memory of Capt. Christopher Seifert Nazareth Area High School Seussical Outstanding Performance by a Featured Dancer Hailey Laury as Mrs. Wormwood Northampton Area High School Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Audrey Wood as Matilda Northampton Area High School Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical Outstanding Ensemble Warren Hills Regional High School Newsies lehighvalleylive.com Student Achievement Award Cecilia Ruyak, Stage Manager Emmaus High School Mamma Mia! Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Dylan Penyak as Quasimodo Wilson Area High School The Hunchback of Notre Dame Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School Moravian Academy The Drowsy Chaperone Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical Nazareth Area High School Seussical Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A Phillipsburg man is facing assault charges after allegedly stabbing another man during a parking lot altercation at a Hanover Township, Lehigh County restaurant. Chevel Marc Jean-Jacque, 36, of the 100 block of Washington Street, is charged with two counts felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor possessing an instrument of crime; misdemeanor simple assault; and summary harassment. Jean-Jacque on May 19 was arraigned before District Judge Daniel C. Trexler, who set bail at $75,000. In lieu of bail, he was taken to the Lehigh County Jail, where he remained Friday. A man who fell on hard times twice burgled his family home and stole his mothers car. Daniel McManus (36) of Coolagh, Clonaslee, admitted burgling a house at Coolagh Cross, stealing keys and taking a car on December 19, 2024 and again on February 18, 2025. He also admitted having no licence or insurance and stealing fuel valued at 80 from Higgins Filling Station, Clonaslee on February 20 last. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant had taken his mothers car after entering the house and taking the keys in December 2024 and again in February 2025. He said the man was identified on CCTV taking fuel from a filling station in Clonaslee on February 20. The man had 12 previous convictions, he said. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had not come to the attention of gardai in some time. She said in December he had no place to stay and he returned the car after five days. Then in February he took the car for ten days. He has been in touch with the Local Authority for accommodation, she said. Ms Fitzpatrick said the man is spending four days a week in a hostel in Dublin. She said he was linking in with alcohol treatment services. She said he fell on hard times but thankfully the car was recovered and undamaged. She said her client was in receipt of jobseekers' benefit. Judge Susan Fay requested a probation report and a victim impact report. She remanded the defendant on bail and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on September 15 and said he was to bring 80 to court on that date. Jozef Puska's brother Marek told gardai investigating the murder of Ashling Murphy that he wanted to tell them more but couldn't because of medication he was taking for back problems, which had left him on disability allowance. Marek Puska (36) is accused of withholding information that was crucial to the investigation into Ms Murphy's murder. He is on trial with his brother Lubomir Puska Jnr (35), who is also accused of withholding information. Their wives, Jozefina Grundzova (31) and Viera Gaziova (38), are accused of impeding Jozef Puska's apprehension or prosecution by burning the clothes he wore when he murdered Ms Murphy. Each accused has pleaded not guilty. Detective Garda Cian Steers told prosecutor Anne-Marie Lawlor SC that on January 14, 2022, two days after Ms Murphy's murder, Marek agreed to give a voluntary statement at Tullamore Garda Station. He described how the family ended up in Ireland with three brothers, their wives, and 14 children all living in one house in Mucklagh, Tullamore. He described the recent months as "golden times, the best of times", and added: "I swear to god, everyone says they don't see a family like this getting on... We sit and talk and don't argue." "The kids are at the top of everything and get everything," he said. He and Jozef, he said, were on disability allowance due to back problems. On January 12, the day of the murder, Marek got up at his usual time of about 12.30pm. Jozef was not home, which was unusual, and he hadn't taken his phone. Marek went into Tullamore to search for Jozef. He visited a casino where Jozef would sometimes go and a plaza near the Bank of Ireland. When he still couldn't find Jozef, he went to a garda station to report his brother missing and the local hospital to ask if anyone named Jozef Puska had checked in. Marek said he went to Dublin that evening but returned to Mucklagh the following day by bus. As he pulled up to the house, he noticed gardai. A Polish garda told him that "someone from my house had killed someone," he said. He asked if she was joking and added: "I did not know how to answer or what to say... is it about me, my brothers? I thought about it and said, no, it is not possible." He said nobody who knows his family would say they could kill someone. At the end of the statement, Marek said: "I want to tell you a bit more, but I can't because of the medicine I have taken [for his back]. My doctor told me it can affect my memory." He promised to contact gardai if he remembered anything else, adding: "I want to help." In cross-examination, Det Gda Steers agreed with defence counsel Karl Finnegan SC that at the start of the statement, Marek accurately described Jozef Puska's bicycle and immediately identified the bike when shown a photograph. Det Gda Joanne O'Sullivan told Ms Lawlor that in the following days, gardai became aware that Marek Puska wished to make a further voluntary statement. On the evening of January 18, gardai took Marek to Mullingar Garda Station because all the interview rooms in Tullamore were in use. The jury has previously been told that Jozef Puska was arrested at 11.31am on January 18. Marek told Gda O'Sullivan that when he and Lubomir Jnr were looking for Jozef on the 12th, they received a phone call at about 9pm telling them their brother was at home and in a "poor state" having been "beaten up". He said Jozef had injuries and blood on his head, "like he had been hit", and three holes in his abdomen. When Marek asked him about it, he said Jozef told him it was "not my business" and not to ask questions. Jozef did not want an ambulance and claimed to have self-inflicted the wounds to his abdomen, Marek said. Marek said he didn't believe his brother would do that to himself and cried when Jozef refused an ambulance. He said he is close to his brother, "like two halves of an apple, I can't live without him." Marek said he and Jozef would tell one another everything, and he had been struggling to sleep in the days since seeing the injuries. He described Jozef as the "go-to man" who would "help everyone". He said Jozef did not have mental issues and would talk through any problems he had. Later on the night of the 12th, Marek said his parents arrived in Tullamore and Jozef left with them to go to their house in Dublin. It is alleged that Marek Puska failed to disclose that Jozef had returned home on the night of Ashling's murder with visible injuries and admitted to killing or causing serious injury to a woman. It is further alleged that he knew of the arrangement to burn Jozef's clothes and that Jozef Puska travelled to Dublin later that night. Lubomir Puska Jnr, it is alleged, also withheld that Jozef returned home with visible injuries, admitted to "cutting a female", and travelled to Dublin. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the offences, which are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988. Jozefina Grundzova (31), who is married to Marek Puska, and Viera Gaziova (38), who is married to Lubomir Puska Jnr, are accused of assisting in burning clothing between January 12 and 14th, without reasonable excuse, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska, knowing or believing him to have committed the offence of murder or some other arrestable offence within the same category or of a similar nature. READ ALSO: Ashling Murphy was 'kicking out hard' against murderer Ms Grundzova and Ms Gaziova pleaded not guilty to the offences, which are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997. All the accused have an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Tullamore, Co Offaly. The trial continues on Monday before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of seven men and five women. Electric Picnic has boosted everyone's weekend this Friday lunchtime May 23, with the next announcement of acts. "Were over the moon to announce 40+ names have just been added to your Electric Picnic 2025 line-up. We cant wait to see you all down in Stradbally for the best weekend of the summer," they say. Joining Hozier, Sam Fender, Kings of Leon, Chappell Roan, Fatboy Slim and Becky Hill in Laois are both international and Irish acts. "Top international acts from the four corners of the world will converge in Stradbally Estate to entertain 80,000 music fans including Confidence Man, The Kooks, Lord Huron, Barry Cant Swim and Conan Gray. They join an impressive roll call of homegrown Irish acts such as Amble, Kingfishr, Bell X1, Maverick Sabre, The Academic, Orla Gartland, Aaron Rowe and new kid on the block KhakiKid! "Eurovision fans rejoice as Estonias Tommy Cash, whose song Espresso Macchiato is one of the top streamed Eurovision songs of this years competition will bring some fun filled antics to Stradbally. Joining him on the lineup is Dutch Eurovision favourite Joost! "Terminus will provide the beats for anyone looking to keep the party going with big room energy from the likes of AZYR, DJ Heartstring, Ewan McVicar, Girls Dont Sync, Holy Priest and much more Read more: Electric Picnic giving extra tickets to Stradbally residents This years Electric Picnic returns to its end of summer slot and will take place from 29th to 31st August welcoming 80,000 music fans to the 600-acre Stradbally Estate. Fans can expect the return of festival favourites such as Provedencia, Croi, Trailer Park, Fish Town, Salty Dog and Mindfield. Full line-up so far: Friday Hozier, Chappell Roan. Saturday Sam Fender, Fatboy Slim. Sunday Kings of Leon, Becky Hill. Also: Amble, Barry Can't Swim (Live), Conan Gray, Confidence Man, Kingfishr, Lord Huron, Marc Rebillet, Maribou State, Montell Fish, Self Esteem, Suki Waterhouse, The Kooks, Viagra Boys, Alessi Rose, Bell X1, Black Country, New Road, For Those I Love, Joost, Just Mustard, KhakiKid, Maverick Sabre, Tommy Cash, Mundy, Orla Gartland, The Academic, Biig Piig, Arthur Hill, Blair Davie, Esmeralda Road, Hilltop Hoods, Luvcat, NOFUN!, Sunday (1994), Aaron Rowe Terminus: AZYR, DJ Heartstring, Ewan McVicar, Girls Don't Sync, Holy Priest, Horsegiirl, Juicy Romance, Kirk.mp3, Mark Blair, Pretty Girl, Sim0ne, Puzzy Wrangler. Signs warning of the dangers of Lyme disease are to be installed at public parks across Laois. The measure was requested by Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins in a motion at a recent meeting. He asked: That Laois County Council erect appropriate signage in all public parks in Laois to warn the public of the risks and dangers of Lyme disease. In a written response, Parks and Landscape Officer, Michael Buckley, said: I will work with all the Municipal District Engineers to have these signs installed in the public parks. Cllr Mullins said he had raised the issue previously and the Office of Public Works(OPW) had agreed to put a sign into Emo Court and Parklands. He said May was Lyme disease awareness month and public parks are where people go for recreation. He admitted to being totally ignorant of the impact of Lyme disease until he was contacted by a group. Lyme disease can be spread by the bite of a tick, he explained. Cllr Mullins said it is totally treatable if it is diagnosed early. However, if it goes undiagnosed it can lead to longterm illness including fatigue, neurological problems, heart problems and joint problems. He described the symptoms as horrific and said it was important for people to be aware and a group has produced signage which is ready for use. Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan, who is a practicising vet, seconded the motion. She said dogs also get Lyme disease and she believed awareness of Lyme disease is improving. There are geographic features with it and also with climate change Ireland is becoming a nicer place for ticks to live, she explained. She said only about five percent of ticks carry the disease so not all tick bites will lead to infection. She said the symptoms of Lyme disease can be similar to those associated with long Covid. READ ALSO: Laois heritage project secures funding of over 20,000 While welcoming the introduction of signs in public parks, Cllr Phelan said they would be even more appropriate in Coillte controlled woodland areas. Cllr Mulins said the council could contact Coillte about the issue. The matter was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. A residential square off Portlaoise Main Street should have more public parking spaces to support nearby businesses, says laois Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald. Councillors won back four spaces for the driving public some years ago in Jessops Court, off Hinds Square. It is not enough, the Fianna Fail councillor said, tabling a motion to the May meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. We need more. This is a vital area for traders and businesses. A lot of people got tickets because of confusion over parking. Anyone looking for a residents parking permit should be treated like the Main Street where there is a rigorous application to prove you are living there, she said. Laois County Council says it will paint new road markings to show which spaces are for residents only. Read also: Portlaoise residents beside schools complain about student shortcut Cllr Barry Walsh seconded her motion, noting the popularity of Hinds Square for pedestrians to sit out in good weather. "We need to support these areas so that the Main Street is more accessible," he said. Abbeyleix is buzzing with activity as preparations ramp up ahead of a major international visit from the Communities in Bloom judging panel, taking place from June 26th to 28th. Following its outstanding success as Irelands Overall Tidy Towns winner in 2023, Abbeyleix was selected to represent the country in the 2025 Communities in Bloom International Challenge. It is a global competition that brings together top-ranking towns from countries including Canada, the UK, USA, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia. The international judges, visiting from Canada and Belgium, will be in town on Friday, June 27, for the official judging day. In preparation, Abbeyleix Tidy Towns volunteers, with the support of Laois County Council, have been hard at work making sure the community is in pristine condition. MORE BELOW PHOTO. Busy at work in Abbeyleix. A statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live said the community spirit that Abbeyleix is known for was on full display at a public meeting held on Friday, May 16, where a large turnout of residents, volunteers, and business owners gathered to lend their support. Attendees heard from Bernadette Solon of the Department of Rural and Community Development, who gave a detailed presentation on what the judging panel will be looking for during their visit. With just weeks to go, all hands are on deck. Locals are being asked to play their part by keeping their homes, shopfronts, and public spaces clean and tidy in the lead-up to this important occasion. Abbeyleix is proud to fly the flag for Ireland and Laois in this international celebration of community pride, sustainability, and collaboration. As proven by the National Tidy Towns victory, the town is sure to give its all to show the judges what makes Abbeyleix a truly exceptional place to live, work, and visit. The Communities in Bloom organisation says its program provides a template for bringing everyone together to work towards improving the quality of life for all. It also provides a network of hundreds of communities worldwide with similar goals and objectives to share knowledge, experiences and best practices. READ MORE BELOW VIDEO. It adds that it is a volunteer and partnership-driven organisation that uses a multi-tiered competitive evaluation process to assess communities that then acts as a catalyst to help foster community strength, involvement and continuous improvement. This nurtures environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation and mitigation, enhancement of green spaces, and the conservation of the cultural and natural heritage. The program assesses all municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional space. READ ALSO: Electric Picnic giving more tickets to residents They add that promotional and educational opportunities along with special projects are facilitated by being involved. See the six judging criteria below a picture of blooming Abbeyleix flowers: Community Appearance Environmental Action Heritage Conservation Tree Management Landscape Plant and Floral Displays The 2025 National & International Awards Ceremonies along with the Symposium on Parks & Grounds, will be held in Stratford, Ontario Canada from October 16-19, 2024. International Finalists are provided with promotional opportunities during the events. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and the Marine has welcomed the allocation to Newbridge Tidy Towns Group from funding for heritage projects such as Great Connell Priory. Founded in 1202, the Priory on the banks of the Liffey in Newbridge, is a former significant house of Augustinian priests. It has been suggested that the masonry from the then crumbling Priory building was used in the construction of the nearby British Army Barracks in the early 1800s. Minister Heydon said the Community Heritage Grant Scheme will enable the Newbridge community to conserve and celebrate Kildares built, cultural, and natural heritage. Its fantastic to see funding of 22,500 confirmed for Newbridge Tidy Towns to carry out a Conservation Management Plan for the standing remains and graveyard of Great Connell Priory in Newbridge. The Tidy Towns group do fantastic work in keeping Newbridge presentable to the many people who pass through it, and also do important work in protecting our shared heritage. ALSO READ: 800 year old Kildare castle could be bought for housing. The Community Heritage Grant Scheme is a vital means of helping our communities across Ireland and indeed here in Kildare to protect the places, stories, and traditions that matter most to us. I am particularly delighted to see this funding for Newbridge Tidy Towns. They are very active group with many volunteers who give of their time for the benefit of their community and local area. Concluding Minister Heydon said: We are proud of our community groups and heritage organisations in Kildare that work so hard to protect and promote our heritage. These groups around the County such as Newbridge tidy towns are a key means of strengthening our local identity. This funding will ensure our traditions and stories are protected long into the future. Revisions have been proposed for a County Kildare development which would include a creche and two residential units. A planning permission application previously submitted by Ballymore Land Limited to Kildare County Council (KCC) shows that it wishes to make the changes to a previously permitted development under An Bord Pleanala Ref. PL09.247411 (KCC Ref. 15/1060). According to the description of the application, the development would be located at a "site within lands at Stonehaven, Tipper West, Blessington Road, Naas, County Kildare". The description also notes: "The development will consist of revisions to: a previously permitted two-storey neighbourhood centre (creche (990 square metres); licenced retail unit with cafe space (377 sqm); gym (403 sqm) comprising of interior (layout revisions and reconfiguration of spaces); and exterior (encompassing revisions to the facades, fenestration, materials, and finishes) changes to the permitted building, resulting in its replacement with a single-storey building." If granted permission from KCC, this new building would accommodate a creche (circa 566 sqm) and a licenced retail unit (c 425 sqm) with cafe space (c. 161 sqm). Permission is also being sought for the development of two two-bedroom residential units (combined c. 168 sqm) with own-door access, associated private amenity space, bin storage, and car and bicycle parking. Other proposed amendments from Ballymore Land Ltd include: The omission of gym use Revisions to the permitted outdoor play areas associated with the creche Revisions to the permitted car parking areas and set-down area and associated road, resulting in a total of 39 car parking spaces (a net reduction of 10 spaces) Revisions to the permitted bicycle parking areas, resulting in 48 external bicycle parking spaces (a net increase of 28 spaces) Modifications to landscaping and open spaces, boundary treatments, public lighting, drainage arrangements, and all associated development and site work necessary to facilitate the proposed development Amending condition no. 3 of An Bord Pleanala Ref. PL09.247411 (KCC Ref. 15/1060) to provide for two additional residential units The date received is listed as May 16 last, while the submission-by and due dates are listed as June 19, 2025 and July 10, 2025 respectively. The business information website SoloCheck.ie shows that Ballymore Land Ltd was established in 2001. It specialises in "the buying and selling of own real estate". Ballymore Land Ltd has a registered address listed as One Royal Canal House, Royal Canal Park, Dublin 15, County Dublin. READ NEXT: 5,000 Kildare premises connected to high-speed broadband through National Broadband Plan A Kildare-based stroke survivor (36), is taking on a walking challenge with her dog in aid of the charity that guided her through a health nightmare. In December 2020, Sharon Fitzharris had just been made redundant from her marketing role due to the pandemic, when she experienced a stroke. Next month, the Sallins woman will embark on the 100km challenge to raise funds for the Irish Heart Foundation, which has given her ongoing support since. READ NEXT: 5,000 Kildare premises connected to high-speed broadband through National Broadband Plan The challenge will see people and dogs across the country complete the walk throughout the month of June. Recalling the health emergency, Sharon said she was getting ready to meet friends when she felt a jabbing pain in the left side of her head. She initially thought it was a bad migraine, but after a few days of being on a waiting list with persistent pain, nausea and dizziness, she finally got an appointment with her GP. They recommended I go to A&E for a brain scan, as a precaution, said Sharon. On the way to the hospital, my health began to severely deteriorate and when I arrived, I was incoherent and didn't know my own name. I mixed up my words and was slurring my speech - the receptionist saw the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke and I was immediately brought to triage. Sharon was given medication to dissolve a clot and her family were told that she was in a critical condition. She was diagnosed with a stroke, cognitive difficulties, subsequently epilepsy and was told she may never regain her full health. The stroke team at the hospital helped with rehabilitation of her speech, physical capabilities and cognitive abilities. Two weeks later, she was released, heavily medicated and completely dependent on her parents and her siblings. I was feeling isolated and reached out to the Irish Heart Foundation, she said. That is where I met the Stroke Group Coordinators, who have been an amazing support to date. Sharon is now a member of the Irish Heart Foundations Young Stroke Survivors Network and the Peer-to-Peer Support Group. Being involved with the Irish Heart Foundation has given me the opportunity to meet other stroke survivors, take away from the feeling of isolation, share stories and build friendships. I needed people who understood my situation to talk to and to support me and I found this sense of connection with the Irish Heart Foundation. Sharon will take part in the Irish Heart Foundations Walk 100km with your Dog in June challenge alongside Danann, her mini-Dachshund. Danann came into my life as a tiny puppy full of joy after my stroke and made the worst parts of my difficult recovery so much more bearable, she said. I would encourage anyone to participate in the challenge this June it's fun, good for you, youll feel a great sense of achievement at the end and you are raising much-needed funds for the Irish Heart Foundation. To take part in the Irish Heart Foundations Walk 100km with your Dog in June challenge, email hello@irishheart.ie or visit https://fundraise.irishheart.ie/event/walk-100km-with-your-dog-in-june Uber and Kildare Village are delighted to announce their new partnership which will offer guests an easier way to access Irelands premium shopping destination. The partnership will enhance the customer journey with a dedicated pick-up and drop-off experience at the village and bespoke offers for Kildare Village members or new Uber customers. Kildare Village is home to over 100 boutiques offering leading fashion, lifestyle, and designer brands at year-round reductions. Renowned for its open-air setting, hospitality and curated retail experience, the village attracts millions of Irish and International visitors annually. READ NEXT: Kildare stroke survivor to walk 100km for charity As part of this new partnership, Uber has launched a dedicated pick-up and drop-off point within Kildare Village, designed to offer riders seamless, premium access to and from the shopping destination and its exclusive services including Hands Free Shopping. To celebrate the launch, Uber is offering 50% off all rides to and from Kildare Village to the value of 50 when booked through the Uber app for all Kildare Village members. This exclusive offer is valid until July 31st, 2025 making it the perfect time to shop in style and comfort. Were delighted to partner with Kildare Village to bring a more convenient and premium experience to our riders, said Kieran Harte, General Manager at Uber Ireland. This partnership aligns perfectly with our goal of providing hassle-free, reliable transport options that enhance everyday experiences. Kildare Village Business Director Victor Biffi Rosano said: We are always striving to enhance the shopping experience for our guests, and this partnership with Uber is a perfect example of that commitment. By making travel to and from the Village more seamless and convenient, were ensuring that Kildare Village remains accessible to allwhether guests are visiting from across Ireland or from abroad. For more information or to book your ride, download the Uber app or visit Earn Money by Driving or Get a Ride Now | Uber Ireland Promotion Details: Offer: 50% off all trips to/from Kildare Village - maximum 50 per trip Dates: May 23rd to July 31st, 2025 How to Redeem: Enter KILDAREVILLAGE50 into the promo section of the Uber App before booking your trip to or from Kildare Village pick-up spot For more information about the promotion or the partnership, visit Ubers website or Kildare Villages website. TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin will introduce a new route between Athy and Allenwood starting from the June 3. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. Route 888 will operate five daily return services Monday to Saturday and three daily return services on Sunday. The new route will offer a new public transport connection to Lullymore Heritage Park and will offer improved connectivity to the villages and areas of Rathstewart, Kilberry North & South, Kildangan, Monasterevin, Mountrice Cross, Tullylost Cross, Mullantine, Ard Mhuire, Rathangan, Newtown and Lullymore. The new route will offer peak time and evening services and will also provide improved connectivity to regional bus services and to Athy & Monasterevin Train Stations. Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Kildare South Dublin General Manager Alan Kerry, said: The launch of Route 888 marks another important milestone in the ongoing development of the TFI Local Link network in Kildare as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. Developed in collaboration with key partners, this new service offers a practical and sustainable alternative to private car use, improving access to employment, education, leisure, and tourism. Were particularly excited about the potential for Route 888 to support visitors to local attractions such as the Barrow Blueway and Lullymore Heritage Park, while also providing much improved connectivity for local communities. READ NEXT: Uber Teams Up With Kildare Village As Official Mobility Partner A special congress of the Camogie Association has voted in favour of allowing shorts to become part of the sports official kit. The ballot on Thursday night saw 98% vote in favour of the change which will result in players across Ireland having the option of wearing shorts or skorts. There had been protests in recent weeks over whether camogie players should have the option of wearing shorts or skorts, leading to some matches being postponed or delayed. Gaelic Players Association Statement on Camogie Association Special Congress#LetPlayersChoose pic.twitter.com/4X4QCVveg5 GPA (@gaelicplayers) May 22, 2025 Previous rules had dictated that camogie players must wear a skort during matches, which has the appearance of a skirt, but has built-in shorts underneath. Camogie is the female equivalent of hurling, a team-based field game played with a wooden stick called a hurl or hurley and a ball called a sliotar. The special congress meeting was held at Croke Park in Dublin. Camogie Association president Brian Molloy said: We are pleased to announce that delegates have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of giving players greater choice in their playing attire. From midnight tonight, each individual player will have the option to wear skorts or shorts adding choice while maintaining the professionalism and uniformity of our team kits in both colour and design. I want to sincerely thank our incredible volunteers for their ongoing support over the last few weeks, and to our delegates for voting on behalf of over 120,000 members, including 94,000 playing members. A statement from the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) welcomed the vote. It said: The GPA would like to put on the record our admiration for camogie players across Ireland and beyond, both at inter-county and club level, who made their voices heard to ensure this outcome. To our own membership who have led the campaign for choice, we salute your willingness to stand up for both yourselves, and future generations of camogie players. We thank the delegates who listened to players call for choice. The last few weeks have once again shown the necessity of putting players at the heart of decision making within Gaelic Games. Leitrim Rose 2024, Shauna Murtagh from Carrick-on-Shannon, will be taking part in a skydive on June 4 followed by a 120km on the Camino de Santiago beginning on June 9, in solidarity with families of seriously ill children across Ireland. This initiative is part of a fundraising campaign for Clionas Foundation, a national charity that provides financial support to families caring for a child with a life-limiting illness. Shauna will be taking the brave step of skydiving with Rose of Tralee 2024 Winner Keely OGrady and Cork Rose Shauna OSullivan. Following the skydive and the Rose Camino, the girls will be hosting Clionas inaugural Summer Gala on Friday, July 4 at the Castletroy Park Hotel in Limerick. Last year The Rose of Tralee International Festival announced a new partnership with Clionas Foundation. READ NEXT: Local Leitrim heritage project awarded over 20,000 in funding All funds raised through these events will go directly to the charity, helping to ease the non-medical financial burden faced by families covering costs such as travel, accommodation, and everyday household expenses. Clionas Foundation is an Irish charity that provides vital financial support to families of seriously ill children, said Shauna. As an Irish person, I believe that were the strongest when we look out for one another. It's a part of our culture." The foundation was set up by Brendan and Terry Ring, following the death of their daughter Cliona in 2006 at the age of 15 from an inoperable brain tumour. Throughout Clionas many hospital treatments, Brendan and Terry witnessed first-hand the severe financial strain faced by families already coping with the emotional trauma of having a seriously ill child. READ NEXT: Planning permission sought for three new homes in Leitrim town They were struck by how many families were brought to the brink of financial collapse due to the non-medical costs that quickly added up. Clionas Foundation does more than provide financial help, it offers hope and support to families who need it the most, Shauna added. Thats why Im walking 120km and doing a skydive to stand with those families, to honour their strength, and to help carry even a small part of their burden. If my steps can help to ease just one familys burden, its worth every mile. To support the Roses on their Camino challenge, donations can be made through iDonate. Tickets for the Summer Gala are available here or by emailing katie@clionas.ie. Shauna O'Sullivan, Keely O'Grady and Shauna Murtagh Leitrim County Council is calling on swimming enthusiasts to help identify official bathing waters across the county. Currently, Keeldra Lake in Mohill is the only designated bathing site in Leitrim. Under European and Irish legislation, local authorities are required to identify official bathing areas annually so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and usage levels. To help with this process, the Council is inviting residents who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to have their say. Swimmers are encouraged to suggest whether the existing designated bathing water should be maintained or if new locations frequently used for swimming but not yet officially recognised should be added to the list. When considering a site for designation, people are asked to reflect on factors such as how often the area is used for swimming, the number of users, available facilities, site accessibility and any known safety concerns. READ NEXT: RIP: Former Leitrim councillor Des Guckian passes away following illness Nationally, there are over 200 bathing water sites. According to a 2024 report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 96 percent of these met or exceeded the minimum sufficient standard for, with 81 percent achieving excellent status. Last year, three new bathing water sites were identified in Wicklow, Dublin and Tipperary. The closing date for submissions to Leitrim County Council is June 27. To propose your favourite swimming location as a new bathing site, contact Leitrim County Councils Environment Department at environment@coco.ie or call 071 9620005. Gardai investigating an explosion at a service station in Co Donegal in which 10 people died have arrested a man in his 60s. Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7, 2022 in the village of Creeslough. The man was arrested on Friday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The man is being held at a Garda station in the north-western region The investigation into the explosion, which ripped through the service station and an adjacent apartment block, is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room is in operation. The inquiry is being led by local gardai, supported by a number of different agencies, including Irelands Health and Safety Authority. The 10 victims of the explosion were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine ODonnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James OFlaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh Hughie Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper. Lincoln Avenue Communities Breaks Ground on its First Build-to-Rent Affordable Housing Development in Maricopa, Arizona MARICOPA, Ariz., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, broke ground this week on The Ranches at Gunsmoke Apartments, a ground-up development that will provide 271 units for individuals and families in Maricopa earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income. "We are excited to break ground on LAC's first Build-to-Rent development and to partner with WNC & Associates to bring high-quality affordable housing to Arizonans," said Ben Taylor, LAC vice president and project partner. "The Ranches at Gunsmoke will provide sorely needed units in one of the nation's fastest-growing metro areas." The Ranches at Gunsmoke is LAC's first Build-to-Rent (BTR) development and will consist of two- and three-bedroom duplexes and standalone homes, with each unit featuring a patio, walk-in closets, and private fenced backyards. Communal amenities will include a fitness center, pool, grilling areas, a clubhouse, and rental storage units. Additionally, a solar carport system will be installed to offset approximately 50% of the community's electricity usage. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026. "We're excited to see this new community taking shape thanks to Lincoln Avenue Communities," said Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith. "This new development addresses the needs of those who work in the city of Maricopa, whether they're hourly workers, teachers, new police officers, or even our retired senior citizens who want to be a part of a community in which they don't have to take care of the property itself." The development's financing includes back-to-back construction and permanent loans from Citibank, $65 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the Arizona Development Authority, and $49 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and solar equity from WNC. About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Communities (LAC) is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization with a presence in 28 states and a portfolio of 170+ properties comprising 30,500+ units housing 80,000+ residents. SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Communities 23 may 2025 at 11:39 News published onand distributed by: As UNESCO calls for streamlining of training across all schools, ensuring alignment with national priorities and needs A photo posted on a Kparblee facebook page appear to be the scene of the incident SOUTHILL Family Resource Centre offers a new counselling service to support individuals struggling with gambling addiction in the local community. The service is organised to support individuals and loved ones affected by gambling addiction. Fully funded by Gambling Awareness Trust, the free and confidential service is one of 20 similar programmes being provided through family resources centres across Ireland. The new service has been launched in response to the growing need for accessible gambling support, as the issues surrounding gambling become harder to detect with digital and gamified gambling platforms easily available. Speaking about the support offered at SFRC, Dylan Johnston, SRFC Gambling Counsellor said, We offer one-on-one gambling counselling for those affected by gambling addiction and for their families and loved ones. Being part of a wider picture within the Family Resource Centre network, we have access to many qualified psychotherapists, so we can offer support to the entire family network. READ NEXT: Limerick volunteers in with a chance to win a celebrity dinner It is also worth noting that gambling isnt just a male phenomenon, with gambling amongst women on the rise. We are noticing that not enough women are reaching out for support. Women more frequently gamble with online casino games, slots, bingo, lotto and scratch cards. If this is becoming a problem, you should definitely reach out. The Gambling Counsellor highlighted the warning signs of gambling addiction, which include increasing betting amounts, borrowing money, secrecy around finances, lying about gambling habits, missing social events, or obsessively trying to win back losses. Mr Johnston said, You might start off betting 5. But then it goes up to 10, 20 and 50. Before you know it, youre borrowing money, and youre getting into a lot of trouble that way. The temptation to gamble is a lot more potent today than ever before, with adverts becoming more tempting, frequent and addictive. Support options include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, financial advice through MABS, web-blocking tools like GAMBAN, and even banking restrictions available through providers like AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Revolut. Building a strong daily routine and support network is also emphasised as key to long-term recovery. Dylan Johnston said; Overcoming gambling addiction begins with reaching out for support. Its a tough challenge to face alone, so please consider contacting our confidential counselling service at dylan@southillfrc.com or by calling 083-4143684 or 061-440250. AS PART of National Volunteer Week, the Irish Red Cross is celebrating one of its most dedicated young volunteers: Sarah Collins, 22, from East Limerick, who was recently presented with a prestigious Garda Youth Award in recognition of her exceptional commitment to volunteering. Sarah, the Youth Officer for the East Limerick Irish Red Cross branch, has been immersed in the organisation since childhood. Her father founded the East Limerick branch, and the Red Cross was a constant presence in their lives - right down to the ambulance regularly parked outside their home. As a young girl, Sarah often accompanied her dad to training sessions, happily acting as the "patient" for first aid demonstrations. I used to beg to be allowed to go with him, she recalls. I couldnt wait to join properly. She got her wish in 2016 when, at age 13, she became a youth member and began training. It was a defining moment: I learned all these cool first aid techniques and I just knew this is something I want to do. READ NEXT: 'My heart broke': Limerick mum gets Cervical Check letter for daughter who died six years ago Now, eight years later, she is leading the next generation. Each Saturday, despite studying full-time at college in Mayo, Sarah returns home to run youth training for her branchs cadets and novices. The group may be small - with 8 young members, but under Sarahs guidance, its thriving. She also brings the Red Cross spirit to her wider community, including visits to a local preschool where she set up a mini "hospital" for dolls and teddies and showed children around the ambulance. Sarah is a shining example of what it means to be an Irish Red Cross volunteer - passionate, selfless, and driven to make a difference in the lives of others, said Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross. During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate and thank all of our 4,000 volunteers across Ireland their commitment builds resilience in our communities, because of them, we are ready to respond and help people to recover in times of crisis. Sarah embodies the spirit of service that defines them all. Sarahs dedication deepened during the pandemic. At just 16, she faced the first lockdown in her Leaving Cert year and spent both her 17th and 18th birthdays in isolation. Like many of her peers, she felt the weight of those lost years. But through the Red Cross, she found an outlet volunteering at vaccination centres, helping others, and building lasting friendships. That period was so hard, she says. Young people had no escape, nowhere to go. The Red Cross gave me a reason to leave the house and people who understood what I was going through. Volunteering has also helped Sarah personally. Once shy and lacking in confidence, she says being surrounded by like-minded people gave her the courage to open up, make friends, and take on leadership roles. Today, shes clear about her priorities: Id give 22 hours a day, 7 days a week to the Red Cross, she laughs. It comes first in my life. Her Garda Youth Award recognises this unwavering commitment, but Sarah remains focused on the future. Its not about the award - its about making a difference, she says. And showing others they can do it too. To learn more about volunteering or joining the Irish Red Cross in Limerick, visit www.redcross.ie or contact the local branch. A LIMERICK man, who used a former Scotland Yard listed most wanted killer as a witness in a failed objection to a publican renewing his pub licence has lost an appeal against the original judgement in the case. Last February, Anthony Kelly, aged in his 60s, Southill, Limerick, failed in his objection to Eamonn ORahilly renewing his licence to operate The Spotted Dog pub, after Mr ORahilly barred Mr Kelly, and convicted killer Kenneth Dundon. At Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Colin Daly dismissed the appeal by Mr Kelly, represented by barrister Antoinette Simon; affirmed the original judgement of Judge Patricia Harney at Limerick District Court last February, with no order for costs. Mr Dundon, the father of notorious brothers Wayne Dundon, John Dundon and Dessie Dundon, appeared as a witness for Mr Kelly, at the original hearing. READ MORE: 'Distinctive' hoodie links slash hook-accused to Limerick chipper visit amid feud, court hears That court heard that Mr Dundon, aged in 60s, was previously jailed for six years after he was convicted of the manslaughter of a man, whom it was heard, drowned in his own blood after Dundon stabbed him a number of times. The court heard that, on April 15, 2024, Mr Kelly was playing a card game in The Spotted Dog when Mr Dundon, of his own volition, entered the pub, ordered a drink, and went and sat with Mr Kellys friends. The two men bought drinks, and eventually left the pub together without any issue arising at the premises, the court heard. However, a barman, who had been on duty on the night, gave evidence the atmosphere in the pub suddenly changed when Mr Dundon walked into the premises. The barman said that, knowing the history of the notorious Dundon crime family, he telephoned Mr ORahilly to let him know he was fearful due to Mr Dundons presence in the pub. In his evidence to the court, Mr ORahilly said he was aware of Mr Dundon and his reputation. Mr ORahilly said he told the barman assistance was on the way and that he would get to the pub as soon as I could. However, Mr Kelly and Mr Dundon had left the pub moments before Mr ORahilly arrived at his premises on the night. Mr ORahilly said that when Mr Kelly arrived at the pub the following day, he told him he wasnt happy with Dundon being in his pub. Mr ORahilly said he reminded Mr Kelly that Mr Dundon was a member of a family that was troublesome, and that his presence at the bar had made customers and staff concerned and nervous. I was not happy to run the pub under such conditions which would exist if Dundon kept coming in, Mr ORahilly said. Mr ORahilly told the court that, he replied yes, after Mr Kelly asked him if he was also barred. On April 17, Mr Kelly and Mr Dundon - who were both barred at this stage - returned to the pub. Mr ORahilly told the court: I felt they were trying to compel me to serve them and their associates with a view to trying to run the pub from outside the counter. Mr ORahilly said he felt he would lose control of the pub if he allowed Mr Dundon and Mr Kelly back as customers. Mr Kelly was trying to coerce me into a situation by showing me who his friends were, who he was associated with, and telling me I would be alright because he would keep an eye on things, Mr ORahilly claimed. Mr Kelly and Mr Dundon each told the court they were surprised when they found out they were not welcome at the pub as there had been no trouble on the night they were both in the pub. They also both denied making any threats or trying to intimidate Mr ORahilly. READ MORE: Convicted criminals Anthony Kelly and 'Godfather of Dundon family' try to close Limerick pub after being barred Mr Kelly told the court he returned to the pub with Mr Dundon to try to resolve matters with Mr ORahilly and he described his ban from the pub as unfair and prejudiced. Cross-examining Mr Dundon in court, Mr ORahillys barrister, Thomas Wallace-ODonnell, put it to the witness that he was a member of a profoundly infamous family...the father of the Dundon family, the Godfather, the paterfamilias of the family. Mr Dundon replied: Im a pensioner, Im no Godfather of nothing. A 31-YEAR-old Limerick man has been charged with two additional alleged offences at Wolfe Tones GAA club in Shannon. At Ennis District Court, an additional 20 charges were brought against Eddie Carey of De Vere Court, John Carew Park, Limerick to bring the total number of charges that Mr Carey is facing to 66. Mr Carey's co-accused, Owen Casey (28) of Salvia Court, Keyes Park, Southill, Limerick is facing 59 charges bringing to 125 charges the two men are facing. In court, Judge Alec Gabbett said that the Book of Evidence in the case will be enormous. The two men are facing charges as part of an overall Garda investigation into an estimated 1m in value in property that has been allegedly stolen or damaged in a spate of burglaries across Limerick, Clare and Galway. No monetary value has been put on the alleged multiple burglaries that Mr Carey and Mr Casey are charged with. READ ALSO: Knife attack in Limerick where woman was injured is investigated by gardai Eddie Carey has been on remand in custody since January 19 after he was refused bail and Mr Casey has been in custody since April 13 after also failing to secure bail. In new charges brought against Mr Carey, he is now charged with causing 16,000 in criminal damage to the bar counter of Wolfe Tones GAA Clubhouse in Shannon on July 9 last. Mr Carey is also charged with arson where is accused of damaging by fire the entrance steps to Wolfe Tones on the same date. In evidence previously heard at a bail hearing for Mr Casey, Det Garda Aoife OMalley told the bail hearing that Mr Casey along with two of his associates are suspected to be involved in burglaries and stealing high value vehicles across the Mid-West with a combined estimated monetary value in excess of 1m Det Garda O'Malley said that the Garda investigation commenced out of Ennis Garda Station last July and is investigating 92 separate alleged offences with a monetary value of in excess of 1m in stolen and damaged property and stolen vehicles. Det OMalley said that the 92 separate alleged offences include 31 commercial burglaries, 24 residential burglaries and 27 unauthorised taking of vehicles between January 2024 and March 2025. Det OMalley said that it will be alleged that the high value vehicles were stolen to buy for another criminal network for financial gain. Det OMalley said that the burglaries were highly organised. Det OMalley said that in relation to some of the unauthorised taking of vehicles, there are videos of the alleged crimes occurring at the time that they are occurring. Det O'Malley did not put a monetary value on the offences that Mr Casey is charged with. Judge Gabbett remanded the two accused in custody via video link to re-appear before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. A rescued turtle named Solstice has boarded an Aer Lingus flight recently heading towards her home- the Gran Canaria. The rescued turtle was in the care of Dingle Oceanworld after she was discovered stranded on the Irish coast. An expert team at Dingle Oceanworld discovered that Solstice was suffering from pneumonia and meningitis from the shock of the cold Irish waters. In a recent social media post, Aer Lingus has shared a picture of Solstice on her flight home to warmer waters. READ NEXT: Ireland AM presenter gets big surprise when ripping up carpets in her new home The post said, "She's on her way home. We were delighted to welcome a very special passenger on board flight EI 782 today. Meet Solstice, the young sea turtle flying back to the warm waters of Gran Canaria after being rescued on the west coast of Ireland. She spent the last few months in the caring hands of the amazing team at Dingle Oceanworld who helped her recover Safe travels Solstice, it was an honour to be part of your journey home." MAYOR John Moran has asked for almost 5bn from Government to deliver projects in Limerick. The first directly elected mayor was tasked by ministers to identify key asks for the city and the county. Now, he has issued a call for money to several Governmental departments for key projects. Limerick stands ready, not just to dream big, but to deliver. Our asks are not wish lists. They are catalysts for growth, both locally here in Limerick, regionally across the Mid-West and nationally. What we seek now is the Governments help to unlock them fully, Mayor Moran said. READ MORE: 'Rare opportunity' to get free guided tours of Ardnacrusha Power Station this summer Notably, the mayor is seeking 600m to kick-start his plans for modular housing in Limerick. As revealed by the Leader last week, two demonstrator units are planned for Arthurs Quay Park to give the public a flavour of what to expect from them. Some 335m is sought to improve transport on both the northside and the southside of the city. The mayor is seeking 500m for the Limerick to Cork motorway, and 200m for the dual tracking of Colbert to Limerick Junction - and crucially a spur to Shannon Airport. This could make the local airport the first in Ireland to be connected by rail. Mayor Moran is seeking 25m from two Government departments - 12.5m each - for a new park and marina to the north of the River Shannon. He wants 17.5m for a municipal sports facility within the Colbert Quarter, around Limericks bus and rail station. From Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, a department headed by local TD Patrick ODonovan, Mayor Moran wants 30m for improvements to Limericks top tourist site King Johns Castle. TREATY United will look to make it four wins from five in the SSE Airtricity League First Division this Friday evening when hosting struggling Longford Town at the Markers Field, 7.45pm. Treaty got back to winning ways when recording an impressive 4-0 league win over UCD at the Garryowen venue on Friday night last. That result helped Tommy Barrett's Treaty side boost their promotion play-off hopes. Treaty sit in fourth place in the First Division table, eight points between third-placed Cobh Ramblers and clear points clear of fifth-placed Wexford. READ NEXT: PICTURES: Supporters cheer Treaty United to big league win over UCD A plethora of quality individual performances coupled with an impressive impact from the bench in their win over UCD gives Barrett plenty to think about ahead of the visit of Longford. Trpimir Vrljicak epitomises that following a goal and an assist after his introduction. Barrett was full of praise for the Croatian who could yet be in line to start against Midlanders. He makes a good impact when he comes on. Ive no problem starting him. It depends how Marks (Byrne) back is, Mark came off with a back injury, Karls (OSullivans) knee is a bit swollen so well assess them during the week and well put out what we think is the best squad against Longford Town. Short seller Andrew Left is making a new push to sway the US Justice Department to drop fraud charges filed against him last year, hiring a former federal prosecutor to make fresh arguments directly to the Trump administration. The strategy hinges on convincing the Justice Department that the case against Left isnt in line with President Donald Trumps enforcement priorities. Its an argument that could gain traction with a department that has already dropped some criminal cases as a result of the presidents directives. Left, whose stock tips were closely watched by thousands of investors, was charged with securities fraud in July 2024 following a wide-ranging probe into the industry. He and his firm, Citron Research, are accused of using false and misleading social-media posts about his trading plans in more than a dozen companies to nudge their stock up or down enough to make a quick profit. Lefts new lead lawyer, Eric Rosen, said the veteran trader is heartened by what he describes as the Trump administrations investor protection priorities. Because of that, we are continuing to engage with administration officials on the hopes that they will re-evaluate this case, consistent with the directives of the president, he said in a statement. Left has pleaded not guilty, denied wrongdoing in the case and moved to have the case dismissed. There was no fraud, no deception, no victim just protected speech followed by lawful trading, Rosen said. A hearing is set for July 7 in federal court in Los Angeles. Court filings this week show Left replaced his lead defense attorney with Rosen, a seasoned former prosecutor. The founding partner of Dynamis LLP, Rosen is known for leading one of the biggest DOJ criminal cases of the past decade the so-called Varsity Blues college admissions case before going into private practice. Rosen has been working on the case for several months but is now calling the shots. Trump has already stepped in to help individuals in financial cases since he took office in January. In March, Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson, who was convicted of lying to investors in his startup. Trump also pardoned Nikola Corp. founder Trevor Milton, convicted of fraud over misrepresentations about the electric-truck makers financial progress, as well as the three co-founders of the crypto exchange BitMex who pleaded guilty in 2022 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act. The Justice Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. As of February, the Justice Department was continuing to press its case. In response to Lefts motion to dismiss, prosecutors said in a court filing that Left had engaged in a classic securities fraud scheme. He provided false and misleading information to investors, while hiding his true intentions so he could profit at their expense, the US said. The indictment relies heavily on Lefts social-media posts, as well as emails about the effects of his commentary. Prosecutors pointed to those posts in urging the judge to let the case proceed to trial. A judge last month denied Lefts request to dismiss a parallel civil suit by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In both cases, Left is accused of setting extreme target prices for companies in hopes that investors who saw his posts would trade one way while he traded another. The case has already led to some self-imposed changes in the industry as a number of short sellers beefed up their disclaimers in response to the charges. Rosen hopes the government will set the record straight on Lefts activity and drop the charges the way it recently ended a long-running foreign bribery case against former executives at Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. before trial, citing Trumps new priorities. The case against Andrew Left merits reconsideration, Rosen said. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Patrick Drahi is on a roll. The billionaire telecoms entrepreneur struck a deal to cut borrowings at Altice France SA in February, lifting the cornerstone of his business empire out of negative equity. Now hes considering cashing in the companys main asset Frances SFR mobile-phone network. A quickfire disposal would be bittersweet for the bondholders who just agreed to rescue Drahi from the mire. Drahi warned in March last year that Altice Frances 24 billion ($27 billion) of net debt was unsustainable and creditors would have to take losses. Back then, net leverage was more than six times profit as measured by earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortization. The equity value was zero or less. A restructuring is set to cut net borrowings to just over 15 billion when it completes later this year, with subordinated creditors taking the biggest haircuts. The primary compensation? A 31% stake in the business for the senior creditors, 14% for the juniors. Drahi retained control with the rest. But the value of that equity could be about to become deliciously clear. With the ship stabilized, Drahi can consider a full or partial sale of SFR from a position of strength. Its certainly an opportune moment to do so. European regulators may be becoming more tolerant of mobile markets consolidating around three players. The UK is allowing Vodafone Group Plc to swallow up UK rival Three, for example. An all-French deal here would likely require SFR to be carved up in varying chunks to Bouygues SA, Iliad SA and Orange SA, as Bloomberg Intelligence suggests. Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. may also evaluate a transaction, Bloomberg News reported. Price might be a bigger stumbling block than regulators. A deal could value SFR at as much as 30 billion, Bloomberg News reported. Even if that included Altice Frances stake in the XpFibre network, possibly worth around 2 billion, it would still represent a chunky eight times the 3.5 billion Ebitda that CreditSights research reckons the business could be making come 2027 not outlandish but high. CreditSights base-case valuation multiple is five, rising to seven with a takeover premium and potentially higher in a deal with domestic synergies. A transaction at the lower end of the range seems more achievable. That would also be a good comeback: A 22 billion deal would ink 7 billion of equity value, with nearly 4 billion accruing to Drahi. A quick flip of SFR at a strong price would, of course, benefit creditors, given their stake. But it also raises an embarrassing question. Shouldnt they have resisted a restructuring deal and sought to take control of Altice France and flipped it themselves? In that scenario, they would have done even better. The snag is that there was no quick route to seizing control before 2027 when troublesome debt maturities loomed. A more combative group of bondholders might have dragged things out until that crunch point. But the creditors here are an unruly coalition of risk-averse loan funds and opportunistic hedge funds. Drahi took advantage of fears that SFRs performance could deteriorate over time, bringing everyone to the table before it was strictly necessary. If Drahi comes out on top, it looks like the junior creditors have done relatively well at the expense of their senior brethren, although cross-holdings blur the distinction. The junior debt didnt obviously have any value going into the restructuring. Its holders got their lucrative equity stake effectively to buy their consent for a deal. Had they been wiped out, they could have frustrated things with legal action. The cost of cooperation will be felt when the spoils of any SFR deal are shared. Drahi proved adept at reading the dynamics of power between him and his creditors in getting the restructuring approved. Has he read regulators and telecom bosses appetite for consolidation equally well? Probably, yes. More From Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Chris Hughes is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering deals. Previously, he worked for Reuters Breakingviews, the Financial Times and the Independent newspaper. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion Boeing Co. has reached a tentative agreement with the US Justice Department that would allow the planemaker to avoid criminal charges for two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jets more than six years ago. The settlement was disclosed in a federal court filing Friday, just weeks before a trial was set to start June 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. It calls for the company to pay more than $1.1 billion and strengthen quality and safety measures, Justice Department lawyers said. Its a stunning turnaround in the long-running legal case. Just last year, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a criminal conspiracy. But that deal was rejected in December by US District Judge Reed OConnor, who has been overseeing the case since 2021. The new agreement reached over strong objections from some victims families still needs to be approved by OConnor. The government said a final agreement will be filed by the end of next week, but provided an overview of the terms in its filing. Among them: a $243.6 million fine for Boeing and a order for the planemakers board of directors to meet with family members of people killed in the crashes. The tentative agreement would allow require Boeing to contribute $444.5 million to a fund for families of victims killed in the crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019, according to the filing. Boeing also would spend $455 million to strengthen its compliance, safety and quality programs, the filing shows. Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits, prosecutors said in a statement, noting that theyd met extensively with relatives of the victims. Family Opposition After the government submitted notice of the agreement, lawyers representing family members of crash victims told OConnor they plan to object to the deal and urge him to deny any attempt by the government to dismiss the criminal case against Boeing. The families intend to argue that the dismissal unfairly makes concessions to Boeing that other criminal defendants would never receive and fails to hold Boeing accountable for the deaths of 346 persons, they said in a court filing. Many of the families opposed any deal that allowed Boeing to avoid criminal prosecution. Theyve fought for years to extract harsher penalties from the company. Both crashes were linked to a flawed flight control system on 737 Max jets. The only Boeing official to face trial was a mid-level manager overseeing the pilot manuals and training materials. He was acquitted. Catherine Berthet, whose 28-year-old daughter Camille Geoffrey was killed in the 2019 crash, said she was absolutely stunned by the proposed agreement. I will never get rid of my pain and my tears, Berthet said in a statement. By deciding not to prosecute Boeing and not to take it to court, the government is sending a message to the public that big companies are above the law and justice, even when they kill. Not all of the victims families are opposed to the deal, according to prosecutors. In Fridays filing, the Justice Department said family members and lawyers representing more than 100 crash victims either expressed support for the resolution, efforts to end the case before trial or did not oppose the agreement. One family member told the government he wants the DOJ to find a way to resolve this matter as soon as possible. Boeing declined to comment on the deal. The companys shares fell less than 1% on Friday. Legal Turns The case has taken several turns. In 2021, Boeing reached an agreement with the Justice Department to defer prosecution on charges that it deceived regulators about the system. Under that deal, Boeing paid a $243.6 million fine. In early 2024, two days before the charge wouldve been dismissed, a door-sized plug blew out of an airborne 737 Max. While no one was killed, the accident led to investigations and findings of lax controls in Boeings factories. The government said Boeing violated the 2021 agreement and recommended a criminal charge. Boeing agreed to plead guilty, pay a fine and install an independent corporate monitor. The agreement also would have required the company spend at least $455 million to bolster its compliance and safety programs. But that proposal was rejected in December by OConnor. He said the agreement diminished his role in ensuring Boeing lived up to its promises and that the process for selecting an independent monitor would rely on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, which the judge claimed would improperly impose race on the hiring decision. In March, OConnor ordered Boeing to stand trial in June. While he didnt explain his decision, the order came a day after the Wall Street Journal reported Boeing was seeking leniency from the Justice Department and trying to avoid a criminal charge. The original plea deal was crafted by the Biden administrations Justice Department, which claimed it was standard practice to include language related to DEI policies. Since taking office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has been eradicating diversity programs within the federal government. The case is US v. Boeing, 21-cr-005, US District Court, Northern District of Texas . 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A senior figure involved in the development of an advanced European-Japanese fighter jet justified the amount of resources earmarked for the project over the next decade based on the need to keep pace with China even as the military also faces the near-term risk of more Russian aggression in Europe. The immediate threat can be managed with current weapons systems. The evolution of the threat also has to be managed, Brig. Gen. Edoardo de Santo, Senior Commanding Engineer at Leonardo SpA., said in an interview. Leonardo is the main Italian partner in the Global Combat Air Program, a project with the UK and Japan formalized last year to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter aircraft with a goal of having it enter service in 2035. The countries are aiming for the GC fighter to exceed the capabilities of current fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 in areas such as target location and avoiding detection. Plans call for the fighter to serve as a flying control center for drones and other military assets in addition to operating its own weapons systems. The design of the aircraft isnt scheduled to be confirmed until next year as the nations involved rethink the role of the stealth fighter to try and retain an edge over rivals such as China. A rare indication of the progress of Chinas military technology came recently when Pakistan said it used Chinese-made fighter jets to shoot down French-made Indian fighters during the recent escalation in military tensions. While the claim hasnt been confirmed, it heightened speculation that Chinas focus on modernizing its military is making significant progress. Speaking on Thursday at the Defense and Security Equipment International conference being held just outside Tokyo, de Santo said the decade-long timeline for the GC project was very short given its complexity. He also denied that funds could be better spent to deal with more immediate threats. Overall spending figures for GC havent been released, but the UK has so far earmarked 14 billion for the program. Jumping to the sixth generation will not be easy because a lot of things will be new, such as the aircraft sensors and communications, de Santo said, adding that technologies developed for the aircraft will have military and non-military applications outside the GC project. This is how we will deal with the future threat, he said. Potential financial support for the GC program may come from Saudi Arabia, which is discussing joining the project. De Santo also said that the partner countries remain open to others joining if they can bring specific contributions and make it more efficient. The partner countries also aim to export the aircraft, with Australia and India possible destinations, according to Japanese media reports. Leonardo, BAE Systems Plc of the UK and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. each own a 33.3% stake in a new company headquartered in the UK that will develop and manufacture jets under the GC program. The new aircraft are intended to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon jets in the Royal Air Forces fleet and Japans fleet of F-2 fighters. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, owner of the worlds largest fleet of liquefied natural gas carriers, said it is hard to buy Chinese vessels for the time being as the US ramps up scrutiny of the Asian countrys shipbuilding industry. It is difficult to purchase Chinese vessels under the current circumstances, because of the port entry fees that the US is proposing for China-built ships calling at its ports, a spokesperson for the Japanese firm said. Earlier on Friday, the Nikkei reported Mitsui O.S.K. was planning to shift new orders from China to South Korea. But the plans have not yet been finalized, the spokesperson told Bloomberg News. The Japanese firm is aiming to reduce risks, according to remarks made by President and Chief Executive Officer Takeshi Hashimoto during an interview. We will wait and see about new business with the Chinese, Hashimoto said in the report, which added that Mitsui O.S.K. will not cancel any existing contracts with Chinese yards. Washington has issued a flurry of measures under President Donald Trumps administration aimed at curbing Chinas maritime dominance and reviving its own flagging shipbuilding industry. The moves have shaken up the global shipping market, prompting shipowners to rethink where they want their vessels to be built in the future. South Korean shipbuilders have sensed an opportunity. Last week, major shipbuilders HD Hyundai Co. and Hanwha Ocean Co. offered to help the US improve its shipbuilding capacity and restore its maritime dominance. South Korean builders have an 18% share of ships under construction worldwide in deadweight tons terms, while the Japanese have 11%, according to data from Clarksons Research. Mitsui O.S.K. owns a fleet of 97 LNG vessels, according to a 2024 corporate presentation. It also maintains the worlds second-largest merchant fleet at 873 vessels. Chinese shipyards make up two-thirds of the global orderbook. In January, state-run China State Shipbuilding Corp. was added to a US Department of Defense blacklist, which carries no specific penalties but discourages American firms from doing business with it. Other Chinese shipbuilders include privately-owned New Times Shipbuilding and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Siam Cement Pcl is looking to resume operations at its $5.4 billion petrochemicals complex in Vietnam, amid signs prices depressed by a period of oversupply have hit the bottom. The company, one of Thailands largest industrial groups, has prepared a plan to reopen the Long Son plant in southern Vietnam thats been shuttered since October owing to weak demand and prices, Chief Executive Officer Thammasak Sethaudom said in an interview. Resumption of production can happen in a month after the company decides on the reopening, he said. A rebound in manufacturing activity in China amid a tariff truce with the US has helped alleviate some oversupply of cheap chemical products from the worlds second-largest economy, said Thammasak, who took over as CEO in January 2024. This is a sign that prices have probably reached the bottom, he said. That opens the possibility for the Vietnam plant to be brought back to life. Siam Cement, in which Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn is the top shareholder, has been saddled with losses at its chemical unit as the global capacity glut coupled with the US-China tariff war depressed demand and prices for chemicals such as ethylene and propylene used in production of plastics. The Long Son plant, the companys biggest overseas investment, has been a major drag on earnings because of the about 1.2 billion baht ($36.5 million) it spends every month to preserve the facility, as well as service interest and other expenses. After the deal earlier this month between the US and China to lower tariffs, Chinese producers have turned their focus to meet the demand in the US, said Thammasak. The difference between the price of polypropylene, Siam Cements main chemical products, and cost of naphtha, a key raw material, rebounded to more than $400 a metric ton after the tariff truce before falling back to about $350, he said. The Long Son plant would be profitable when the spread of polypropylene and naphtha price reaches about $380 a ton, according to Thammasak. The chemical products profit margin is also helped by the lower prices of crude oil. READ: China-US Trade Soars as Exporters Race to Hit Trade Truce Window Siam Cement booked a total net loss of about 6 billion baht from the project in the last two quarters, data showed. Cement business will still be the companys biggest earnings driver in 2025 as the Thai government plans to accelerate spending on roads and other public works to spur economic growth, said Thammasak. Cement sales have also been boosted by rising demand from neighboring Myanmar, which is accelerating the reconstruction following the March 28 earthquake, he said. Siam Cement, set up in 1913 following a royal decree to produce building materials, has seen its shares gain 1.2% this year, bucking a 16% slide in the key benchmark stock index. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi: Tata Motors plans to increase the share of small hatchback cars in its overall portfolio to nearly a quarter, up from 19% currently, as it looks to reclaim ground in Indias competitive auto market. Unlike the countrys largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, which remains bearish about the future of small hatchbacks, Tata Motors believes premium offerings in the 7-10 lakh range in the segment have potential. Vivek Srivatsa, chief commercial officer at Mumbai-based Tata Motors, acknowledges that a lack of focus on upgrading products in the hatchback segment resulted in the company losing market share. Earlier, customers would start with entry-level hatchbacks and then move to premium offerings. But now, many are directly starting with hatchback cars," Srivatsa told Mint post the launch of Tata Altrozs facelift on Thursday. With Tiago and Altroz's facelifts in the last five months, the countrys third-largest car maker hopes that its share in the premium hatchback market will double in the coming quarters from 12% currently. In the financial year 2025, Tata Motors' total sales declined by 3% to 556,263 units. Tata Motors hatchback volumes in FY25 stood at roughly 1.05 lakh units. Meanwhile, Mahindra and Mahindra's total dispatches surged 20% to 551,487 units on the back of strong SUV (sports utility vehicles) sales. While SUVs dominate the market, Tata Motors still believes the hatchback segment can do well if investments are made in enhancing product quality. Tatas Altroz competes with Marutis Baleno and Hyundais i20, among others. Post the upgrade of Tiago in January, the growth was around 20% in its sales in the last quarter," Srivatsa noted. The optimistic guidance of Tata Motors on hatchbacks contrasts with Maruti Suzukis stance. At a post-earnings press meet, R.C. Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki, expressed concern over the company's slow growth in the domestic market. Unless something changes, the domestic market will remain muted. In this current year, sales of small cars have declined by about 9%. If there is such a decline in the sales of cars that can be afforded by 88% of people earning, how can we expect growth?" Bhargava asked. Marutis overall sales in the domestic market grew a muted 3% to 1.9 million units in the last financial year, mostly on the back of an 82% surge in sales to Toyota as part of its partnership. Excluding this, Marutis growth in the domestic market was around 0.2%. Hyundai Motor India Ltd also flagged weak consumer sentiment in the market. The South Korean car maker said it will instead focus on 7-8% growth in exports to offset the weak consumer demand. Its sales in the last financial year declined 3% to 598,666. Also Read: Jaguar Land Rover tariff hit compounds Tata Motors domestic woes Going premium Meanwhile, Tata Motors remains bullish about the prospects in the Indian market and is guiding for about 5% growth, higher than the industrys estimates of 1-2% growth in the current financial year. Much of the degrowth in the market has happened in the cheaper hatchbacks. Consumers are expecting a lot more from their cars, which is leading a lot of car buyers to directly jump to premium hatchbacks," Srivatsa said. The push toward premium hatchbacks is part of Tatas strategy to revive volume growth, especially after net profit slipped 11% to 28,100 crore in FY25 from 31,800 crore in the previous year. "Refresh launches of Altroz and Tiago (launched in Q4) will help Tata Motors regain lost market share in hatches, while the launch of Sierra ICE and EV and Harrier EV may strengthen Utility Vehicle share," Elara Capital said in a 14 May note. The company acknowledged, post the release of the results, that the global environment is challenging. Tariffs and related geopolitical actions are making the operating environment uncertain and challenging. The global premium luxury segment and Indian domestic markets are expected to weather this relatively better," Tata Motors noted on 13 May. Apart from focusing on getting the premium hatchback segment right, the company is also closely tracking the trends in the electric vehicle and hybrid vehicles markets. Tata Motors has always believed that hybrids are an old technology. From a sustainability point of view, there are not many advantages. However, if consumer demand picks up, we will have no issue in starting the production of the vehicle," Srivatsa said. Also Read: Q4 earnings watch: The auto sector is stuck in a profit jam. Why the squeeze? According to Deloittes latest global automotive consumer study, only 8% of Indian consumers were interested in pure electric vehicles, while 33% of the studys respondents preferred hybrid cars. Tata Motors electric vehicle sales declined by 13% in the last financial year to 64,276 cars. In 2025 so far, Tata Motors share price has declined 4% compared to the 1.81% rise in Nifty Auto. "A major concern for the company would be international challenges but a positive is the fact that JLR continues to be profitable. Domestically, the company has to watch out for rising competition eating into its market share," Saji John, senior research analyst at Geojit Financial Services, said. (Bloomberg) -- Shareholders of Japanese drugstore chain operator Tsuruha Holdings Inc. will vote Monday on a proposal which effectively results in its acquisition by supermarket chain Aeon Co., a move that has already been panned by major investors and proxy advisers. The chorus reflects rising shareholder activism in Japan in recent years as the countrys governance reforms embolden investors. Their disappointment in the planned deal centers around the perceived low premium it would pay to Tsuruha shareholders. Aeon, the countrys largest supermarket chain operator, last month said it will launch a tender offer to make Tsuruha a consolidated subsidiary at 11,400 yen per share as it tightens its grip on the drugstore market. The announcement, however, received an immediate rebuke from Orbis Investments, the second largest shareholder with 9.7% stake only after Aeon, which had about 19.5% stake as of Feb. 28, Tsuruhas last financial year end. Orbis said the deal is flawed and will allow Aeon to take a controlling stake in Tsuruha on outrageous terms, according to the asset managers presentation document. The deal is unfair, Orbis argues, given that Aeon paid 15,500 yen per share when it bought a 13.6% stake from activist fund Oasis Management Co. in February 2024. Aeon said in a statement that synergies from the planned integration should benefit all stakeholders including Tsuruha shareholders. Orbis, a value-style but not an activist investor, said it will oppose Tsuruhas proposal of a share exchange with Welcia Holdings Co., another drugstore already majority-owned by Aeon, to make Welcia a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tsuruha. The UK asset management firm was joined by Norges Bank in opposing the deal. Norways sovereign fund holds 1.5% of Tsuruhas shares, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Two major proxy advisers Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. and Glass Lewis & Co. also recommended opposing the proposal for similar reasons, a move that could prompt some Japanese asset managers to side with Orbis. The business integration proposal needs a two-third majority to pass. I think we have a good chance of winning at the Tsuruha AGM, said Brett Moshal, head of the Japan investment team at Orbis Investments. We have been spending a lot of time talking to Tsuruha shareholders, mainly in Japan. I find that the discussions have been hugely encouraging. Tsuruhas share prices rose above Aeons tender offer price, a sign investors see chances Aeon may need to raise its price to win over minority shareholders. The race is already on to shore up positions ahead of a possible showdown. Aeon has increased its stake to 26.7% while Orbis also increased its holdings to 10.3%, according to respective disclosures. Akio Hoshi, professor of law at Gakushuin University said Aeons TOB price may not satisfy many investors given that Aeon bought its own shares from Nomura in May at a higher price. If the deal is rejected, that will bring home to companies the importance of setting a fair price in acquisitions, he added. While it is rare for a Japanese company to have management proposed plans rejected at annual general meeting, there have been precedents. In 2007, shareholders of steelmaker Tokyo Kohtetsu Co. blocked a takeover by a unit of Nippon Steel Corp. in a major upset, marking a milestone in Japans corporate history. Daisuke Aiba, analyst at Iwai Cosmo Securities Co., said if the proposal is rejected, Aeon is likely to persist and may get the deal done over the next few months by sweetening their offer. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com * Despite problems, Newark remains United's primary hub * Analyst trims United earnings forecast, citing Newark cuts * United plans to use Boeing 737-800 at LaGuardia for more seats * United wants to return to JFK but has hurdles acquiring slots By Rajesh Kumar Singh CHICAGO, May 23 (Reuters) - Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the largest hubs of United Airlines, and the congested airport is also the Chicago-based carrier's biggest operational challenge. The company told 1.5 million customers in a note on Thursday that congestion at Newark has eased since it reduced flights there. United also backed the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's decision to limit flights there, calling it "good news" for its customers. But reduced flights are expected to hurt the company's revenue and drive up operating costs. United CEO Scott Kirby has acknowledged the disruptions at Newark will hurt, even though the carrier has been using bigger jets to minimize the revenue hit. The airline has few viable alternative airports in the Northeastern U.S., according to analysts and company officials, so there is pressure to find a way to make Newark work, and United has some ideas. It is also considering options such as increasing seats on flights at New York City's LaGuardia Airport. But LaGuardia is slot-controlled, making it difficult to add flights there. Company executives say they plan to deploy Boeing 737-800s at LaGuardia in place of Airbus A320s to fly more passengers, but swapping aircraft will require changes to crew schedules which cannot happen until July. Also, United has been seeking a way to return to New York's JFK airport. Analysts say this can relieve some traffic in and out of Newark, particularly flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco. But capacity at JFK is constrained, so United needs to acquire takeoff and landing slots at the airport, where the carrier stopped service in 2022 after failing to acquire sufficient slots to effectively compete. Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and American Airlines are the top three U.S. carriers at JFK, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. To regain a foothold, United must negotiate with the FAA or acquire slots from one of those three. United is negotiating a partnership with JetBlue, Reuters reported last month. This could ease United's return to JFK. Still, JFK would serve as a secondary airport for United, said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consultancy Atmosphere Research Group. "Newark would remain United's primary New York metro market hub," he said. The New Jersey airport feeds traffic to United's domestic and international flights. The company has an option to build its hub at Washington Dulles for domestic and international connections, easing its strain at Newark. But the Dulles market lacks Newark's revenue potential, said Robert Mann, a former airline executive who runs a consulting firm. Network realignment is also risky, as a misstep can have an outsize impact on revenue, he added. "Newark is a much better location for a hub from a demand perspective, from a revenue perspective." Mann said. "I would figure out how to make Newark work." Company officials say Newark is "critical" in the airline's network as United not only uses it to serve international destinations, but also to transport a lot of international cargo. FLIGHT CUTS United responded to a Reuters request for comment by saying the FAA's decision to limit the number of flights at Newark would help it "safely and reliably operate the flights that remain on the schedule." On Thursday, the airline told customers it had canceled less than 1% of its flights out of Newark on eight of the past 11 days. "We'll operate fewer daily flights this summer compared to last year," wrote Jon Gooda, vice president for United's Newark hub. Analysts at Seaport Research Partners estimate Newark accounts for 16.5% of United's departures and 22% of its total capacity. The brokerage firm has cut its 2025 earnings forecast for the company by 10% due to the flight reductions. This is not the first time a disruption at Newark has dented United's earnings. In the second quarter of 2023, flight delays and cancellations shaved 1 percentage point from margins. At that time, CEO Kirby was widely criticized for taking a private jet out of the New York area while thousands of United passengers were stranded. CAMPAIGN FOR SLOT-CONTROLS United has been campaigning to return Newark to a slot-controlled airport, similar to LaGuardia and JFK. That would require airlines to acquire slots to add flights. The FAA lifted slot controls at the airport in 2016 to promote competition. United opposed the change as the restriction allowed it to maintain its dominance at Newark. United says Newark's performance has worsened since slot control ended. Quick commerce player Zepto has temporarily shut operations in 40 Zepto cafes in certain areas in and around Delhi as it adjusts its supply chain to meet surging demand, according to sources familiar with the matter. The halt in operations is expected to last only until September while the company addresses its supply chain challenges. "Zepto was getting unprecedented demand which was not matching the vendor availability. To ensure that quality and service are not compromised, the company is halting operations in 40 stores in and around Delhi. "Less than 100 people have been impacted by this move. Those impacted have been given choice to shift to nearby stores or kitchens, as the company wants to retain them for when operations start again somewhere around in September," a source told PTI. Employees affected by the temporary closure were informed of the decision on April 20 and given a month to decide whether to transfer to nearby locations. A Los Angeles-based investment firm plans to buy OnlyFans Ltd. in a deal worth $8 billion, Reuters reported. An initial public offering is also being considered. OnlyFans, an online content subscription service that rose to popularity during lockdowns imposed due to COVID-19, is in talks regarding a possible sale since March with Forest Road Company. However, the details of the transaction are not known yet, the report said, citing people aware of the development. The company may be in discussion with other suitors as well. The London-based OnlyFans, popularly known for hosting pornographic and adult content banned on the majority of social media platforms, has been trying to move away from hardcore content towards less-explicit material. The company, which was bought by Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonid Radvinsky in 2018, is now consistently trying to develop a set of comedians, chefs, personal trainers, and other creators to expand its user base. Radvinsky has received at least $1 billion in dividends over the past three years. It was alleged that the company engaged in child sexual abuse material and nonconsensual pornography that was shown on the platform since 2019, the report said, citing documented complaints with US police and court records. It was further alleged that the platform was used by sex traffickers to abuse and exploit women. The company posted a net profit of $485.5 million, a 20% growth for the year ended on November 30, 2023, Bloomberg reported, citing owner Fenix International in a September report. The investment firm Forest Road was founded in 2017 with an emphasis on media and digital content as well as energy and life sciences. In 2024, the firm acquired a Formula E racing team, and purchased a boutique investment bank. Also Read | Investigator flags 26 OnlyFans accounts for suspected child exploitation Reliance Industries plans to invest 75,000 crore over the next 5 years in the North East region, Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit on Friday. Meanwhile, Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani announced an investment of 50,000 crore in the region over the next ten years at the same event. Three months ago in Assam, we pledged an investment of 50,000 crore. Today, once again humbled and inspired by your (PM Narendra Modi) leadership, I announce that Adani Group will invest additional 50,000 crore across the Northeast for the next 10 years, Adani said. Investment plans of Reliance Industries While sharing details of the proposed investment, Ambani mentioned that Reliance Retail will increase procurement from the region. The company will also focus on generating solar power. In addition to creating over 2.5 million direct and indirect employment opportunities, we aspire to touch the lives of most of our 45 million sisters and brothers in the northeast," Ambani said. " Jio has already covered 90% of the population with over 5 million 5G subscribers. We will double this number this year. Jio's priority will be to bring the revolutionary power of Artificial Intelligence to all schools, hospitals, enterprises, and homes, he added. With the investment of 75,000 crore, the company aims to replicate the growth achieved by neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. Also Read | Mukesh Ambani meets Donald Trump and Emir of Qatar in Doha | WATCH The company is collaborating with Mizoram University on the care of breast cancer using genomic data. Ambani further shared that Reliance Industries has built an advanced molecular diagnostic and research lab in Guwahati, which will have the largest genome sequencing capacities in India. Additionally, Reliance Foundation plans to work with all eight states in the North East region to establish Olympic Training Centres. Adani Group investment plans Gautam Adani mentioned that the 50,000 crore investments will be used for sectors such as green energy, including smart meters, hydro, pumped storage, power transmission, roads and highways, digital infrastructure, logistics, and capacity-building through skilling and vocational training centres. "But more than infrastructure, we will invest in people. Every initiative will prioritise local jobs, local entrepreneurship, and community engagement. This is what Viksit Bharat 2047 is all about," he said. "A story rooted in diversity, resilience, and untapped potential," he said. This region is now a source of our cultural pride, economic promise, and strategic direction," Adani added. Mumbai: Indias market regulator has reopened an insider trading investigation into two top executives of IndusInd Bank, according to two persons aware of the matter, after its first probe earlier this month had given them a clean chit. The renewed scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) comes after a forensic report by Grant Thornton allegedly found that these executives possessed and traded on price-sensitive information about severe accounting irregularities before it became public. The forensic report is an outcome of an audit the banks board undertook at the instance of banking regulator Reserve Bank of India (RBI), after it found discrepancies in accounting for internal derivatives trades late last year. The report was submitted by Grant Thornton to the board on 26 April. However, Sebi has yet to get a copy, according to the first person cited earlier. Also read: IndusInd suspects fraud, sees steep Q4 loss Sebi has sought IndusInd Banks forensic report to study the findings," the first person cited above said on condition of anonymity. However, in its first round of checks, Sebi had found that the two executives had made disclosures when they sold shares." This person added that the regulator re-initiated investigations after media reports suggested the forensic report has found that the executives were very much aware of the issues with derivatives accounting as evident from email trails. RBI is looking into it (IndusInd Bank accounting discrepancies)," Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey told mediapersons on the sidelines of an Assocham event on Thursday. Whatever Sebi has to do... whatever Sebis remit is, Sebi is doing." Was the board aware? According to the people cited earlier, the Sebi investigation may even examine if the banks board was also aware of the issues highlighted in the forensic report. In the light of new evidence, if the board was aware of the disclosures of share dealings of its executives, we need to examine if it failed to make the requisite disclosures," said the first person cited earlier. Emailed queries to Sebis spokesperson remained unanswered till press time. Also read: IndusInd Bank: CLSA, Investec downgrade stock as fresh accounting issues crop up We are talking of a listed entity and not an unlisted bank," said Shriram Subramaniam, founder and managing director of proxy advisory firm InGovern Research. Therefore, it is Sebis remit to examine if IndusInds board knew about the issues in derivatives accounting in July last year and their subsequent actions." Backstory In March, IndusInd Bank reported improper accounting in forex derivatives that blew a 1,960 crore hole in its books, triggering a crash in its stock price, and audits by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Grant Thornton. In April, the bank saw the exit of two of its top executivesSumant Kathpalia, CEO, and Arun Khurana, deputy CEO. Mint reported earlier this month that Sebi had closed the insider trading probe after it found that these executives had made adequate disclosures before trading in shares. However, a Reuters report on 8 May referring to the forensic audit said that these two executives traded in IndusInd Bank shares while they were aware of accounting lapses at the bank. To be sure, the banks chief financial officer Gobind Jain had resigned earlier, a day before the announcement of its third quarter results. 'Board suspects fraud by key employees' On Wednesday, the banks chairman Sunil Mehta told analysts in an earnings call that the board suspects fraud by key employees in its accounting and reporting departments that led to the recent financial blow-ups at the private sector lender. He also said that the board was not apprised of the multiple accounting lapses, even at the time of approving financial results. The suspicion of fraud comes after receiving investigation reports on accounting of internal derivative trade, Mehta said. IndusInd Bank reported its biggest quarterly loss of 2,328 crore for the January-March 2025 period after it ramped up provisions and reversed income worth 2,500 crore linked to incorrect accounting of derivative trades and stress in the microfinance portfolio. Provisions and contingencies jumped 165% year-on-year to 2,522 crore in Q4FY25, compared to 950 crore in the same period a year ago. Also read: IndusInd Bank Q4 Results: Net loss widens to 2,329 crore, NII dips 43% YoY on MFI stress; FY25 profit tanks 71% On Thursday, the banks shares closed 1.8% higher than Wednesday at 785.10 on the BSE. Rhik Kundu in Delhi contributed to this story. New Delhi: India has called for the dismantling of export controls among BRICS nations to strengthen intra-bloc trade and promote greater solidarity within the Global South, the ministry of commerce & industry said in a statement on Friday. The appeal was made on Wednesday, during the 15th BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting under Brazils presidency. A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of a joint declaration, along with three annexures: the BRICS Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening of the Multilateral Trading System, the BRICS Data Economy Governance Understanding, and the BRICS Trade and Sustainable Development Framework. Also read: India to work with rest of Brics countries to further ease trade These documents collectively reaffirm BRICSs commitment to equitable, inclusive, and rules-based global trade, the ministry said. The joint declaration also cautioned that climate-related trade measures should not be used as instruments of unjustifiable discrimination or disguised trade restrictions. Resolve longstanding developmental issues Held under the theme strengthening global south cooperation for more inclusive and sustainable governance, the meeting saw India underline the urgency of resolving longstanding developmental issues, and particularly advocate for a permanent solution to public stockholding (PSH) for food security. The ministry also highlighted Indias 30 for 30 proposal, which aims to introduce 30 incremental reforms to mark the 30th anniversary of the WTO in 2025. India reiterated that sustainable development is deeply embedded in its cultural ethos and must remain a cornerstone of global trade governance. Representing India at the meeting was Yashvir Singh, economic adviser in the department of commerce, who highlighted the need to eliminate restrictive trade measures that disrupt critical supply chains. He urged developed countries to facilitate the concessional transfer of environmentally sound technologies, backed by adequate financial support. Singh also highlighted Mission LiFE, Indias global initiative promoting mindful consumption and circular economy practices as part of a fair and inclusive climate responsibility framework. "Digital transformation and technology-driven growth were recognised as vital areas for future collaboration," the statement said. "The BRICS Data Economy Governance Understanding acknowledged DPI as a key enabler of digital economic transformation," it said. India's flagship initiatives Meanwhile, India reaffirmed its leadership in inclusive digital governance through flagship initiatives such as Digital India and IndiaAI, while reiterating its commitment to global cooperation in digital public infrastructure (DPI), artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity through platforms such as the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and the G20, the statement added. BRICSwhich comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africais a powerful alliance of emerging economies that together represent over 40% of the global population and nearly a quarter of global GDP. Originally focused on economic cooperation, the bloc has grown into a key platform for shaping global governance, advocating for reforms that reflect the interests of the Global South. New Delhi: Indias goods trade surplus with Turkey fell to a near-decade low of $2.7 billion in FY25, continuing a three-year slide that has taken it back to pre-covid levels, commerce ministry data showed. The data reflects a steady decline in both exports and imports since FY23, reversing the sharp post-pandemic surge seen in FY22. The downturn may continue in FY26 with softening of trade ties between the two nations amid growing calls for disengagement with Turkey following tensions between India and Pakistan. Exports to Turkey dropped 14% in FY25 to $5.72 billion, while imports fell 21% to around $3 billion, reducing the trade surplus to $2.7 billion. India ran an overall merchandise trade deficit of $282.83 billion in FY25. The value of goods surplus with Turkey stood at $3.42 billion in FY17 and saw modest fluctuations until a sharp spike in FY22 to $6.72 billion. It has since declined, falling to $5.4 billion in FY23, $2.86 billion in FY24, and $2.7 billion in FY25. Indias primary exports to Turkey include value-added petroleum products, yarn and fabric, auto components, electrical machinery, and internal combustion engine parts. Key imports include crude oil, gold, granite, and iron and steel. The fall in India's exports to Turkey is largely due to steep declines in a handful of high-value goods, experts said. "Indias trade with Turkey has taken a sharp turn in recent years, with exports falling dramatically after a strong surge between 2020 and 2022. These setbacks underscore Indias reliance on a narrow set of exports to Turkey and reveal how vulnerable trade flows are to shifts in demand, pricing, or regulatory policies," said Ajay Srivastava, former trade service official and founder of the economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative. Meanwhile, Indias trade with Azerbaijan has followed a different trajectory as exports rose 4.8% in FY25 to $94 million, while imports stood at just $2 million. Since FY23, India has moved from a trade deficit to a surplus with Azerbaijan, largely due to a strategic reduction in crude oil imports from the country. Indias exports to Azerbaijan span a wide rangefrom rice and electrical appliances to pharmaceuticals and processed meat. Imports are limited but include crude oil, leather goods, inorganic chemicals, and lead. Crude oil has consistently made up more than 94% of Indias imports from Azerbaijantopping 99% in 2022 and 2024highlighting a heavy dependence on a single commodity. This makes the trade relationship vulnerable to swings in global oil prices and supply disruptions," he added. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry didn't respond to emailed queries. Broader diplomatic chill Bilateral trade with countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan is likely to be impacted in FY26, with prominent trade groups in India calling for a boycott of goods from both nations over their public support for Pakistan in its recent dispute with India. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents over 90 million traders through a network of 40,000 associations, has urged Indian businesses to halt trade with Turkey. The sentiment appears to be resonating beyond the trading community. Online travel platform MakeMyTrip reported a 60% drop in flight bookings to Turkey and Azerbaijan over the past week, with cancellations surging by 250%. Separately, the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federationwhich represents 450,000 FMCG distributorshas called for an indefinite and total boycott of several Turkish consumer goods. Actor Paresh Rawal's dramatic exit from Hera Pheri 3 took a legal turn when Akshay Kumar sued Paresh Rawal for 'sabotaging' the film. Now Akshay's lawyer said that Paresh Rawal will face severe legal consequences for his decision. Loss caused by Paresh Rawal's exit from Hera Pheri 3 Akshay who is also producing the film, demanded 25 crore in damages from Paresh Rawal after he hurt the sentiments of fans. His departure has stirred a new controversy in the industry. "I think there will be severe legal consequences. It's of course hurt the franchise. We have written to him letting him know that there are a lot of legal consequences involved. There have been expenses incurred towards the cast, towards the crew, towards leading senior actors, logistics equipment, and shooting of the trailer," Pooja Tidke, Joint Managing Partner of Parinam Law Associate, representing Akshay's Cape of Good Films, told PTI. Akshay's lawyer said that Paresh asserted his involvement in the much-awaited film with his social media postings in January this year. She added, Thereafter, there were contracts entered into for the shooting of the trailer. In fact, there was some portion of about three-and-a-half minutes of the film itself that had been shot. Suddenly, a few days ago, we received a notice from Paresh ji saying that he is no longer associated with the film and doesn't want to be associated with the film. So it's taken everybody by shock and surprise, of course. Paresh Rawal signed the contract before coming on board with the project. Backing out of a contract carries "serious repercussions" for the film, she mentioned. There's reputational damage involved for the actors that are committed to the film, the franchise as a whole, and of course, there's a great deal of disappointment among the audience. So we're optimistic that things work out, but as of now we're facing legal issues," she continued. Tidke said Paresh who is yet to respond to Akshay's legal notice in the matter, has seven days to send his reply. When asked about the damage charges being sought from Paresh Rawal, she reflected on the "losses" caused to the producers. There's been a substantial amount of money already invested in the film. Shooting had begun. Of course, everyone's synchronised schedules are now disrupted. Professionally, it's affected everyone, she added. Suniel Shetty on Paresh Rawal vs Akshay Kumar Earlier, Suniel Shetty, one of the iconic Hera Pheri trio, said that he doesn't want any animosity between Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. He told PTI, I am heartbroken, (but) I believe it all will fall into place... At the same time, I am clueless because I heard (about) it through the media. I hope things can be mended. And even if the film doesn't happen, I wouldn't want any animosity between Paresh and Akshay. Kamal Haasan reached Kochi to promote his upcoming film, Thug Life. He was at the PVR Forum Mall where he commented on the Hindi language row. Speaking in Tamil, he urged the people of Kerala to learn the languages of their neighbouring south Indian states before Hindi. Kamal Haasan to people of Kerala At the event, Kamal talked about Dravidian unity. He told Kerala fans, First, you learn the language of the state next to you, then well talk about learning Hindi. All of us are Dravidians, one family. You can speak in Malayalam in Tamil Nadu, but if you speak for a very long time, itll be difficult to understand. But if you speak Tamil in Kerala, people will understand it. Kamal Haasan went on to admit that it takes courage for someone to make a statement like his in public. It is our responsibility to ensure that our language doesnt disappear. Do you know how much dil (courage) it takes to make such a statement in this state? All of us are Dravidians. With that pride, we offer our family Thug Life. Namaskaram," he added. Thug Life Thug Life reunites Kamal with filmmaker Mani Ratnam after almost four decades. He last worked together in the 1987 film Nayagan. The script is co-written by Kamal and Mani, while directed by the latter. Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Rohit Saraf and Babura are also a part of the film. Thug Life is backed by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies and Red Giant Movies. It explores the story of a man who raises a young boy as his own but gets backstabbed by him later in life. Thug Life OTT release Thug Life will see an extended gap of 8 weeks between its theatrical and OTT release. Talking about this new approach, Kamal told the media that it was a pragmatic thing to do. Hoping his approach will inspire others, he confirmed that Thug Life will make its OTT debut on Netflix India. He said, "It is not even an experiment, it's a pragmatic thing to do. I'm glad that the OTT (Netflix) agreed. It's a plan that maybe others could follow. It will make the industry healthy and we are glad that we were the first to be there to avail of that opportunity. Usually, films follow a four-week window gap between its theatrical and digital release. Chinese auto giant BYD sold more electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time. Chinese auto giant BYD sold more electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time, a setback for Elon Musks EV maker as it faces growing competition overseas. Tesla registered 7,165 battery-electric vehicles in Europe last month, down 49% on year according to data from Jato Dynamics, a consumer research group. In contrast, registrations for BYD more than doubled to 7,231 vehicles. Although the difference between the two brands monthly sales totals may be small, the implications are enormous," said Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics. This is a watershed moment for Europes car market, particularly when you consider that Tesla has led the European BEV market for years, while BYD only officially began operations beyond Norway and the Netherlands in late 2022." Tesla sales in Europe have been languishing for months as the company grapples with stiff competition and backlash from Chief Executive Elon Musks role in the Trump administration. New car registrations for Tesla models in the European Union slumped 36% in March, 47% in February and 50% in January, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, an industry body. The company in April posted a 71% fall in net income for the first quarter. Musk said at the time that he was going to spend less time in Washington and more overseeing Tesla as investors were concerned that he had taken his eye off the ball. Meanwhile, BYD has been expanding rapidly in Europe even as the EU raised tariffs on China-made EVs. BYDs registrations, including plug-in hybrids, more than quadrupled in April from a year earlier, according to Jato Dynamics data. The research group attributed that growth to a broad and competitive lineup of fully electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. BYD in April reported a doubling in net profit for the first quarter. The company sold more battery EVs than Tesla in the first three months of the year, retaining the crown as the worlds top EV seller. Jato Dynamics said BYDs rapid expansion in Europe had already pushed the Chinese company ahead of legacy brands, outselling Fiat and Seat in France. Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com BANFF, AlbertaFinance officials from some of the worlds most powerful nations glossed over simmering tensions triggered by President Trumps far-reaching tariffs during an economic summit in this small ski town. At the close of the three-day meeting, the Group of Seven finance and central bank chiefs issued a vague joint statement that offered few details about what was discussed at the meetings and the commitments countries were prepared to make on trade. The joint statement mentioned the word trade" once and made no mention of tariffs, despite the topic being a focal point in private discussions at the conference. We are committed to working together to achieve a balanced and growth-oriented macroeconomic policy mix that supports our economic security and resilience and ensures that all of our citizens can benefit from that growth," the joint statement said. We acknowledge that economic policy uncertainty has declined from its peak, and we will work together to achieve further progress." The meeting featured U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and finance officials representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K., as well as those from the European Union. Canada was hit with 25% tariffs on its steel, aluminum, assembled vehicles and other goods not compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact. Imports from Europe, meanwhile, face an across-the-board 10% tariff and a heftier 25% levy on its cars, steel and aluminum. Behind closed doors, the G-7 finance officials discussed working together to counter the effect of what the U.S. has called Chinas unfair trade practices, according to a U.S. official. One option that has been discussed privately by Bessent and other U.S. officials is a unified tariff policy," in which American allies would work to impose a new joint trade policy on China to increase pressure on Beijing, the U.S. official said. The nascent idea is still being considered by Trump administration officials and wasnt discussed during the summit, the official said. A Treasury Department spokeswoman declined to comment on the idea of a unified tariff policy. In a briefing with reporters, Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne declined to offer specifics on how the G-7 intends to address global trade imbalances, especially related to China. He said the inclusion of a reference to trade imbalances in the joint statement and the G-7s commitment to joint action sends a strong signal." As for the scant references to trade in the joint statement, which is often referred to as a communique, Champagne said, The choice of words in a communique is an art. What matters is that we came out with a common position." He called the document focused and action-oriented." A European official in attendance for the summit told The Wall Street Journal that many of the G-7 officials scheduled time to talk to Bessent about the tariffs. While talks were largely cordial, the EU privately pushed for stronger language in the final G-7 statement to reflect the negative impact that U.S. trade policy is having on the global economy, according to Valdis Dombrovskis, the EUs commissioner for economy and productivity. Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, and Kazuo Ueda, governor of the Bank of Japan, during a working lunch at the G-7 meeting in Banff, Canada. This weeks summit came after the U.S. imposed tariffs on a range of nations, only to later pare some of them back. Bessent and his U.S. team recently agreed in private meetings in Switzerland with their Chinese counterparts to reduce baseline tariffs on China from 145% to 30%. The U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the talks on trade were convivial." The official was surprised at the constructiveness of the conversations after tense meetings between Bessent and world leaders about the tariffs in Washington in April during the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund spring gathering. Bessent privately encouraged EU officials to significantly pare back and work to remove digital-services tax levied by some European countries if there is to be expeditious trade deals with the U.S., the U.S. official said. France, Italy and the U.K. each have such a tax on revenue earned by foreign technology companies selling services in the countries. The U.S. has criticized the taxes, arguing they amount to unfair trade practices. Bessent told EU officials they have a collective action problem," warning that progress on reaching a trade deal with Europe has slowed because each nation has different priorities for an agreement. Canada also has a digital-services tax, and that levy is a source of contention between Washington and Ottawa dating back to the Biden administration. In February, the White House declared that Canadas digital levy is an unfair trade practice that could lead to stiffer U.S. tariffs. The war between Ukraine and Russia was also a central topic at the G-7 finance summit. Bessent privately told European officials that the U.S. is willing to increase sanctions on Russia to pressure President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table with Ukraine, according to the U.S. official. Ukraines finance minister Sergii Marchenko was in Banff for the G-7 finance meeting. At the meetings, G-7 representatives agreed that new sanctions against Russia must be on the table, including sanctions targeting Russias energy industry, according to U.S. and European officials. Any U.S. sanctions on Russia would have to be approved by Trump, who has threatened to impose new sanctions, but hasnt yet taken action. Trump told reporters on Monday that he might back away" from negotiations if they dont make progress. Write to Brian Schwartz at brian.schwartz@wsj.com and Paul Vieira at Paul.Vieira@wsj.com Taiwan will commission its first-ever army drone units this year and introduce sea drones to its naval forces, part of its efforts to modernize its arsenal with cutting-edge technology to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said in an interview. The steps fit into a shift from a focus on traditional forces to building up its capabilities intended to make China think twice before attacking. Taiwans marines have already transformed some tank and artillery battalions into drone squads, according to Koo. It would be best if China wakes up every day feeling like todays just not the day to invade, " he said. Taiwan is racing to overhaul its military in preparation for what it sees as a potential invasion by China as soon as 2027. China has intensified its military exercises around the island, including by staging simulated blockades that Koo and other Taiwanese officials say could turn without notice into an actual attackan event that would trigger a global crisis. Taiwans leadership this week marked the first year in office of President Lai Ching-te, who delivered an anniversary speech on Tuesday that was most notable for its softer tone toward Beijing. Taiwan is a peace-loving country," he said. We are willing to replace containment with engagement and confrontation with dialogue." The address was restrained compared with a speech in March when he called China a foreign adversary and warned against Chinese infiltration. Beijing has consistently expressed distaste for Lai, who it sees as a staunch supporter of Taiwan independence, and its response to his speech this week was no different. This two-faced approach is nothing new, a waste of effort, and doomed to fail," a spokesman for Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office said. Koo, a former human-rights lawyer, has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwans military to prepare for a conflict many see as inevitable, as China continues to press its claim that self-ruled Taiwan is Beijings territory. He added that support from Japan and the Philippineswhich make up part of what is known as the first island chain"is crucial to deterring China, along with assistance from the U.S. Such collective deterrence will force China to consider the military difficulty and the high military cost when invading Taiwan," the defense minister said. The army is also adding two more company-sized units to operate U.S.-made Himars rocket systems as they are delivered, aiming to enhance precision-strike capabilities, he said. Taiwans effort to incorporate drones into its defensive posture, a move inspired by Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion, has been complicated by Chinas dominant role in the production of small drones and the parts needed to assemble them. Taiwans government has sought to promote the development of a domestic drone industry to eliminate any reliance on supply from China. Wellington Koo has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwans military. Taiwans military plans to buy more than 3,200 drones from domestic companies, mostly small reconnaissance drones, in a five-year period. The island produced roughly 10,000 drones last year, with production expected to grow, according to the Taiwanese government-funded Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology in Taipei. Meanwhile, Taiwan is getting help from the U.S. government to bolster its market size and capability. The U.S. has indeed provided strong support in this area because it wants us to have local production capabilities," Koo said. This could refer to certain technologiesbeing transferred to us, allowing local private companies to handle production" that doesnt use Chinese components, he added. Potential areas of U.S.-Taiwan collaboration on drones include AI, supply-chain integration and investment, Raymond Greene, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taipei, said in a recent interview with Taiwans state-owned Central News Agency. The United States and Taiwan are aligned on the importance of Taiwan ensuring its secure supply of similar asymmetric systems," Greene said in March. We are working together to accelerate that process, including through expanding Taiwans ability to produce critical munitions and drones domestically." Building a drone-equipped army also depends on having the personnel to operate them. Taiwans military has begun using drones in training and operations, often for reconnaissance. The army opened an academy last year to teach soldiers how to operate them. The idea is to use technology instead of manpower and rely on firepower rather than traditional forces," Koo said, offering new details about the drone plans. The decision to establish specialized drone units and introduce sea drones to the navys amphibious forces is the newest development in Taiwans shift to asymmetric capability. When it comes to firepower, we just cant compete with China in terms of quantity. So we have to figure out how to strike in the most effective way possible," said Cathy Fang, a security and defense industry analyst at DSET, the Taiwanese think tank. Its a clear indicator of how asymmetric warfare works." Write to Joyu Wang at joyu.wang@wsj.com Foreign law firms are unlikely to rush in to set up desks in India just yet afterthe regulatoropened the legal profession to overseas players, but with strict caveats. The Bar Council of India (BCI) last week allowed foreign firms and lawyers to practice non-litigious foreign law, international law, and participate in international arbitration, provided reciprocity is guaranteed. The catch: they still cant appear before Indian courts, draft pleadings, or engage in property conveyancing. While overseas firms can apply to open offices, they must register with the BCI. As a result, global law firms say they are open to mergers and acquisitions and see the latest move as apossible way ofattracting talent in India. The conditions will, however, prevent many from taking an immediate plunge. Also read: Bar Council notifies rules allowing foreign law firms limited practice in India We would be continuing to operate under the informal arrangements we have in place," saidDhruv Chhatralia, BEMpartnerat UK-based firm DWFLaw LLP, in an emailed response to Mint. Providing details of matters they are working on to the BCImay put overseas lawyers in a difficult position when it comes to confidentiality and data protection." FIFO hurdle Chhatralia was referring to the BCIs decision to carve out a narrowly defined advisory-only space with a tightly regulated regime. It has directed foreign lawyers to disclose each fly in, fly out or FIFO visit to India, specifying the duration, purpose and the nature of legal work every time they visit the country. While Chhatralia said that BCIs decision will benefit clients looking for advisers to seamlessly manage complex cross-border matters, many legal companies are still studying the fine print. Too early to say," said Mini Menon vandePol,Baker McKenzies Global India Practice chair. But we are interested in attracting the best talent to support our clients, so will consider all options." US-based Baker McKenzie, with a focus on international arbitration, will continue to rely on existing models. If a dispute is required to be litigated in court, we will work with Indian counsel in the manner required by the BCI rules," said Ashish Chugh, a principal in Baker McKenzie Wong & Leows Dispute Resolution Practice in Singapore. So far, interest has centered more on interpreting the rules than rushing in. Legal consulting firm Vahura has received a wave of queries, mostly about the FIFO model, which allows foreign lawyers to operate in India for up to 60 days in a 12-month period. Also read: Sebis crackdown on Synoptics signals rising scrutiny of IPO gatekeepers The majority of queries are in relation to how the number of days is calculated and whether it applies to business development or non-work travel undertaken by lawyers in their personal capacity," said Ritvik Lukose, Vahuras co-founder and chief executive officer. Client confidentiality worry The BCIs requirement to disclose client and matter details ahead of visits has also raised red flags. There is a serious concern around the information that has to be filled in forms... that would result in the firm being in violation of securities law-related regulations and home country professional ethics rules," said Lukose. Lukose, however, anticipates increased demand for dual-qualified professionals and rising pay scales across top law firms. Such lawyers who are licensed to practice in two jurisdictions could see demand rise for their cross-border legal expertise and ability to navigate complex international matters. This will result in a significant increase in remuneration levels at the premium law firms... including in-house legal teams," Lukose said. Over the last couple of years, domestic law firms have guzzled talent, with top Indian law firms poaching senior partners along with their teams. Russell Strong of UK-based law firm Greenwoods Legal LLP said the BCI seems to trying to strike a balance to promote trade" and safeguard the interest of domestic legal professionals". However, some of the India-headquartered law firms are skeptical about the reforms. Even with BCIs green light, it is unlikely for most foreign law firms to set up shop overnight," said Shweta Sahu, leader atIndian firmNishith Desai Associates. Sahu expects collaboration as the dominant model. Also read: Sebi plans regulatory breather for FPIs investing in sovereign bonds How legal services are priced and charged to clients or the billing model is another area that will come under the spotlight. And then there are costs incurred to set up shop in India. The BCI amendment permitting foreign law firms to set up Indian presence for advisory purposes does not mean a change in macroeconomic consideration and will make India attractive all of a sudden,"Akash Karmakar, partner at Indian firmPanag & Babu. The other considerations include cost sensitivities of the Indian market and limitations in being able to appear before courts, etc." New Delhi: Diageo India, a subsidiary of British liquor giant Diageo Plc, anticipates that the recently-announced India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) will help lower prices for imported spirits, with some categories seeing a high single-digit reduction, potentially lifting demand for its alcoholic beverages. Also Read | Why Diageos Hina Nagarajan is leaving on a high "The India-UK free trade agreement, which has halved the duty on scotch from 150% to 75%, is landmark. It shall enhance accessibility of scotch in the world's largest whiskey market. As a category captain, for USL, it presents a valuable opportunity to drive deeper penetration and introduce new premium offerings that cater to India's evolving repertoire of consumers," Praveen Someshwar, chief executive officer and managing director, said during the companys earnings call on Friday. USL, or United Spirits Ltd, is an Indian beverages company and a subsidiary of Diageo. Earlier this month, India and the UK finalized the FTA, agreeing to reduce the 150% import duty on scotch whisky and gin to 75% initially, with a further decrease to 40% over the subsequent decade. Diageo India manufactures, sells, and distributes brands such as Johnnie Walker, Ketel One, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan and McDowells No1, with a portion of its portfolio made locally and another part imported. The companys chief financial officer, Pradeep Jain, said that the duty reduction from 150% to 75% may result in approximately a high-single digit decrease in consumer prices. This will also help lift volumes for the company, he added. Also Read | Indian single malts keep up spirits despite Trumps tariff heat "Not just we, my sense is that the government will also insist that we pass on the pricing benefit to the consumer. We are absolutely of the same view that we would want to pass on this benefit completely to the consumer. And therefore, keeping the consumer spend constant, it is reasonable to assume that in this part of the portfolio, a high single digit additional volume growth should occurthat's on the bottled in origin (BIO) portfolio," he said. For spirits bottled in India, or BII, the price reduction could be in the range of 4-5%. To be sure, BII refers to spirits that are shipped to India in bulk and bottled within the country, including both international brands and locally blended spirits. These products dominate the 1,0002,000 price segment. This includes brands such as 100 Pipers and Teachers scotch. BIO refers to spirits that are entirely produced and bottled outside of India before being imported for salefor instance products made and packaged in the UK like scotch whisky. There will be a benefit that accrues into the raw material prices also, but again, we will take a call on that as and when that happens. There is still some amount of work to happen before this actually becomes legislation. So, probably the benefit will start coming only in the financial year 2026-2027, Jain said. Commenting on potential increase in competition due to duty reduction, Someshwar said, "Any play by a competitor will expand the pieto me, that is an exciting space to be in." Diageo is a large player in the Indian liquor market, competing with companies like Pernod Ricard and Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd. Forty years after the first statin drug started lowering levels of artery-choking cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes remain the worlds biggest killers. This year, well see test results on some drugs that cut cholesterol even more. Statins are cheap and effective drugs for reducing blood levels of the bad" cholesterol known as LDL, which gunks up arteries over time. A quarter of Americans have high LDL. But only about half of patients stay on their prescribed statins, and the drugs dont get LDL low enough in some 10% of patients. A pack of new cardiovascular drugs are being tried as pills, biweekly or semiannual shots, and even as once-for-a-lifetime infusions. And their benefits all seem additive to those of statins and each other. Successful trial results in the next few years could save thousands of lives and generate billions in new annual revenue for drugmakers. The companies working on them range from pharmaceutical companieslike Eli Lilly, Merck, and AstraZenecato biotechslike Amgen and Regeneron Pharmaceuticalsto gene-editing specialistslike Crispr Therapeutics and Verve Therapeutics. Regeneron and Sanofi took the first big step beyond statins in 2015 with Praluent, a biweekly injection of antibodies that sop up the enzyme called PCSK9, which strongly effects blood levels of LDL. Amgen followed just weeks later, with the PCSK9 antibody Repatha. In 2021, Novartis launched Leqvio, which blocks the genetic instructions for making PCSK9 and can be injected just twice a year. The PCSK9 drugs are lifesavers for families with genetically-high LDL levels. But they require regular injections and can cost $30,000 a year for the rest of a patients life. The cost and hassle has led to sales that are good, but not as great as expected. Regeneron and Sanofis Praluent sales were $585 million in 2024. For the same year, Amgens Repatha pulled in $2.2 billion, up 15% year over year. Last years sales of Leqvio for Novartis were $260 million, up 80%. To address these drugs cost and convenience issues, Merck is testing a pill treatment that it code-named MK-0616. The company is betting the drug will help replace some of the revenue it will lose after patents expire on its huge-selling cancer drug, Keytruda. On April 7, Merck finished the once-daily pills Phase 3 trial in about 300 people with inherited high-LDL cholesterol. In August, it expects to complete the broader study among some 2,800 patients with serious cardiovascular problems. Both studies measure reductions in LDLwhich regulators accept as good-enough proof that cardiovascular problems will also be prevented. Analysts hope the company will report results at the November 2025 meeting of the American Heart Association. Merck aims for a bigger market than just high-LDL families, so a third Phase 3 for MK-0616 will use the gold-standard test of whether those on the pill actually have fewer heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular calamities. That study, which is enrolling over 14,000 people, wont finish until 2029. While Mercks pill could find its way to a larger population than todays PCSK9 injections, it still has some convenience issues. Patients have to take MK-0616 on an empty stomach and shouldnt be on certain other drugs. Thats why AstraZeneca is pushing ahead with its own PCSK9 pill, dubbed AZD0780, which requires no fasting. In March, the company said the pill achieved deep reductions in LDL in a Phase 2 study on patients whose statin treatment wasnt doing the job. The size of the cardio market and the current PCSK9 drugs issues have also caught the eye of the gene-editing industry. These companies Crispr technology can zero in on a particular, troublesome stretch in the 3 billion links of our DNA, and then permanently inactivate it, or make a repair. So far, genetic-medicine firms have struggled to convince investors that theres real money to be made from the Nobel Prize-winning technology. Companies like Crispr Therapeutics initially focused on dire, but relatively uncommon diseases like sickle cell disorder. Revenue has been slow to come. Verve Therapeutics, however, focused on cardiovascular disease from the start. It licensed a second-generation Crispr technology called base-editing, from the company Beam Therapeutics. Base-editing gently changes a single letter at a time in DNA genetic code. By permanently disrupting the code for PCSK9, Verves one-time treatment could lower LDL for life. The stock perked up in April when the company reported initial Phase 1 data that showed no serious side effects among 14 patientswith LDL reductions of around 60% even two years after the one-time treatment. That reduction is comparable to todays PCSK9 injectables. Eli Lilly has an option to partner on Verves cardio programs, and could opt in this year. Other genetic-medicine approaches to PCSK9 are exploring nonpermanent, but long-lasting fixes. The privately held Scribe Therapeutics has reported intriguing results in monkeys from epigenetic" edits of the molecules that turn genes on and off. And PCSK9 isnt the only strong lever on cholesterol levels. Another that our body uses to control blood levels of cholesterol is a protein called CETP. Early in May, NewAmsterdam Pharma reported on a couple of Phase 3 trials of obicetrapib, its antibody that blocks CETP. By itself, the antibody cut LDL levels by a third. Combined with a statin, LDL levels fell by half. Another lever on LDL is ANGPTL3, a protein controlling blood levels of LDL and harmful triglycerides. Since 2021, Regeneron has marketed Evkeeza, an antibody that inhibits ANGPTL3. Sales of the drug to patients with inherited high cholesterol were $126 million in 2024. Lilly, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, and Regeneron are all testing so-called siRNA drugs that interfere with cellular production of ANGPTL3. They are injections that work for as long as a year at a time. Verve began Phase 1 trials in November 2024 on a base-editing treatment that permanently disrupts the genetic instructions for ANGPTL3. It hopes to report some data later this year. Crispr Therapeutics, meanwhile, is further along in trials of a one-and-done edit that blocks ANGPTL3. In April, it reported that LDL dropped by two-thirds, among the first 10 patients treated. No serious side effects surfaced in the first months after infusion. For rare but deadly disorders, gene-editing fixes are priced above $1 million. The Crispr crowd thinks it can find a price that is attractive to the healthcare payers that cover the expensive siRNA injections now given to patients with inherited high levels of cholesterol. If youre talking about siRNA, that is $30,000 a year for 50 years," said Crispr Therapeutics Chief Executive Samarth Kulkarni at an April conference. We could spend one-tenth of that and charge $150,000 for a single-shot therapy. For the payer, the economic argument is very clear." Write to Bill Alpert at william.alpert@barrons.com SpiceJet marks its 20th anniversary on May 24, 2025. From its modest beginnings in 2005 to becoming a household name in Indian aviation, the airlines journey has been nothing short of turbulent filled with rapid growth, intense competition, financial turbulence, and resilience. However, the fact that SpiceJet started earlier than IndiGo, and IndiGo is now over 12 times its size, speaks a lot about the missed opportunities of SpiceJet. On the other hand, SpiceJet is one of the two carriers (the other being IndiGo) which has managed to survive as many years with the likes of Air Deccan, Sahara, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and Go Air not able to sustain the Indian aviation landscape, apart from many other smaller players. Taking off: The early years SpiceJet took to the skies on May 23, 2005, with its first flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad. The airline was quick to expand and look for routes, both non-stop and one-stop, which were immensely popular. Its catchy tagline, Red.Hot.Spicy set the tone for a bold and energetic brand in the making. It held some prime spots at major airports and offered competitive fares. Also Read: SpiceJet faces fresh insolvency plea amid mounting legal battles The airline grew rapidly in the late 2000s, expanding its fleet and adding new routes across India. However, like many carriers in the fiercely competitive Indian aviation sector, SpiceJet faced its share of headwinds rising fuel costs, regulatory hurdles, and price wars took a toll. The pivot In 2010, it changed hands from Ajay Singh to Kalanidhi Maran of the Sun Group. The expansion saw the airline focus on Chennai, move from a single fleet type to dual class, with the Bombardier Q400 turboprops being inducted. The airline was at the cusp of a major expansion, planning expansion with Blue Ocean Strategy. However, a debt-free company in 2011, the airline piled up debt quickly due to rising oil prices and market headwinds, coming to a near standstill in December 2014, grounding its fleet and alarming investors and passengers alike. Ajay Singh returned to the helm as white knight, orchestrating a dramatic turnaround. Under his leadership, the airline renegotiated leases, cut costs, and refocused on profitable routes. SpiceJet began to stabilise and even diversify, venturing into cargo (SpiceXpress) and regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme, which was announced in 2016. The tailwinds looked favourable once more with the airline placing an order for the MAX aircraft with Boeing and being the second in India to take delivery. This would have set the airline on a different course with fleet renewal firmly in place and an MoU with none other than Emirates as a codeshare partner. Its regional arm helped connect underserved Tier-II and Tier-III cities, in alignment with the government's vision for accessible air travel. The high point The fall of Jet Airways was a high point of sorts for the airline, which saw an immediate opportunity to scale back to 2014 levels and go beyond in due course of time. With Jet Airways planes grounded in India, the lessors found a white knight again in the form of SpiceJet, which took 30 of former Jet Airways planes, along with pilots. This was followed by Vistara adding these former Jet Airways planes and crew. It became a win-win situation for everyone, the lessors, the staff and the airports. The government linked slots of Jet Airways to additional capacity, and by the end of 2019, within months of the fall of Jet Airways, the Indian skies were buzzing again with planes still showing remnants of Jet Airways livery and crisscrossing the country. This also coincided with the grounding of MAX after two deadly crashes. Pandemic and recovery What seemed like a masterstroke became the backbreaker for SpiceJet. It clearly was trying to gulp more than it can chew but was the opportunity which was presented. However, less than a year after the fall of Jet Airways and SpiceJet taking as much liability in the form of new planes and additional staff, the pandemic hit which grounded aviation in India and across the world. The airline hardly managed to come out of this hit, with the financials being even worse than what 2014 had in store for the airline. The airline was hit by court cases along with liquidation petitions filed by lessors and others. Looking ahead The airline has recovered partially by monetising SpiceXpress, the cargo arm, and attracting investments worth INR 3,000 crore last year from multiple investors. However, its market share has remained below 5 per cent in a market which has more than doubled since 2014, when it hit its first major setback. New entrants like Akasa Air have managed to have a larger presence at key airports. The newly raised funding has helped the airline retire some debt, but it is still struggling to get the capacity in the air as it had once thought and committed it would. New Delhi: Washington has sought fast-track registration for certain US foods in India as part of discussions for a landmark bilateral trade agreement, which has seen both sides pushing for greater market access to each other. Indias apex food regulator, the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), has sent its proposal to the Union commerce ministry on expediting registration for foods to be imported from the US, said two Indian government officials aware of the development. The fast-track route will allow US companies planning to sell meat and meat products, seafood and oil in India to hit the ground running to tap the countrys booming food product market. FSSAI has sent its proposal to the commerce ministry for its consideration. Fast-tracking the registration applications of US-based food establishments will ensure ease-of-doing business (in India)," one of the officials said. We largely get oil, fish, meat, nutraceuticals, etc., from the United States. These are high-risk commodities so require quick-approval protocol," said the second official, adding that 158 US food companies had registered on FSSAIs platform last year. Overall, FSSAI received about 3,500 applications from foreign food companies last year on its digital platform called Registration of Foreign Food Manufacturers, or ReFoM. As per the proposed plan, US food companies certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) will be considered for fast-track registration by FSSAI, according to the officials, who declined to be identified. India and the US are expected to sign a bilateral trade agreement before 8 July, when the 90-day pause on the USs reciprocal tariff action expires, Mint reported exclusively on 16 May. A deal before 8 July would likely help India avoid the USs reciprocal tariffs and reset the bilateral trade relationship between the two countries on a stable footing. FSSAI did not reply to Mints queries emailed on 13 May. Queries emailed to the commerce ministry on 20 May also remained unanswered. A US embassy spokesperson in New Delhi declined comment, saying, We do not comment on ongoing bilateral negotiations. We refer you to the White House or USTR (US trade representative)." Key Takeaways Washington has requested expedited approval for US food exportssuch as meat, seafood, and oilsinto India as part of ongoing bilateral trade negotiations, aiming to capitalize on India's growing food market. Indias food safety authority (FSSAI) has proposed a fast-track system for registering US food establishments already certified by the US FDA, potentially easing entry for high-risk food categories. India and the US are racing to finalize a trade agreement before July 8 to avoid reciprocal tariffs and stabilize trade ties, with both sides negotiating tariff cuts, import restrictions, and regulatory easing. Green light, red light A bilateral trade agreement between India and the US could see the two nations remove tariff and non-tariff barriers for a majority of goods, including farm produce, while protecting sensitive items through a negative list or quota restrictions, Hindustan Times reported on 22 May. The deal could see India substantially reducing tariffs on US products such as automobiles and agricultural items, with Washington expected to remove the 10% baseline tariff for Indian goods and withdraw a proposed India-specific 16% additional tariff, the HT report said, citing officials. While some US agricultural items and farm produce such as maize, almonds, soyabean, pistachio, poultry, and meat could be allowed in India, there would be restrictions on genetically modified (GM) foods that are not permitted, the report added. An Indian delegation led by commerce minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to negotiate the first tranche of the India-US bilateral trade agreement. Leaders of both the countries on 13 February announced plans to finalise a deal that would boost bilateral trade between India and the US from $200 billion now to $500 billion by 2030. In a joint declaration, India and the US committed to concluding the trade deal by fall 2025, which corresponds to the period between September and November in the Indian calendar context. Also read | US-China trade truce brings relief, but India's tariff advantage may narrow India, however, has informed the World Trade Organization that it would impose $1.91 billion of levies on a range of high-value imports from the US if a resolution is not found by early June on the USs extension of safeguard duties on Indian steel and aluminium exports, Mint reported on 13 May citing a communication from New Delhi to the global trade body. On the quality of US food imports, Biswajit Dhar, economy and trade expert at Delhi-based think tank Council for Social Development, said such products typically conform to high safety standards that are accepted in India. However, questions have repeatedly been asked about the ability of Indian companies to comply with the FDA standards, and, therefore, their entry into the US," Dhar said. Also read | India-UK FTA sets precedent with dedicated anti-corruption, anti-bribery chapter The India-US trade balance The US is Indias largest trading partner, with bilateral trade between the two countries increasing to $131.84 billion in 2024-25 from $119.72 billion in FY24, according to the commerce ministry. The trade balance is currently in favour of India, with US imports into India expanding to $45.33 billion in FY25 from $42.20 billion in the year prior. Indian goods exports to the US increased to $86.51 billion in FY25 from $77.52 billion in FY24, according to commerce ministry data. US Vice President J.D. Vance, during his visit to India in April, said India and the US were working towards a trade agreement that would be built on shared priorities such as creating jobs, building durable supply chains, and achieving prosperity for workers. He also said Americans wanted further access to Indian markets. (India) is a great place to do business, and we want to give our people more access to this country. And Indians, we believe, will thrive from greater commerce from the United States. This is very much a win-win partnership and certainly will be far into the future," Vance said. Also read | Why the India-UK FTA has spooked medical device manufacturers. Hint: China Leela Hotels IPO: Schloss Bangalore Limited IPO or Leela Hotels IPO opens on 26 May 2025 for subscription by investors. Here are 10 key risk from Red Herring Prospectus or RHP for investors to consider before subscribing to the Issue, Check details Schloss Bangalore Ltd IPO or Leela Hotels IPO- 10 Key risks from RHP As per the risks specified in the RHP, any deterioration in the quality or reputation of company's The Leela brand could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operation. 2.A significant portion of our total income is derived from the five hotels owned by Leela Hotels (aggregating to 93.46%, 93.77% and 91.13% of its total income for the Financial Year 2025, Financial Year 2024 and Financial Year 2023, respectively) and any adverse developments affecting such hotels or regions could have an adverse effect on its business, results of operations and financial condition. 3. Leela Hotels and certain of its Material Subsidiaries have incurred losses in the past during Financial Years 2024 and 2023 ( 21.27) million for the Financial Year 2024 and (616.79 )million for the Financial Year 2023 (on a consolidated and restated basis)),as well as during Financial Year 2025 for three of our Material Subsidiaries, and may experience losses in the future which could result in an adverse effect on our business, cash flows and financial condition. 4. Leela Hotels and certain of its Material Subsidiaries have had negative net cash flows in the past and may continue to have negative cash flows in the future, which could adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition 5. The Hotel company has granted security interests over certain of its assets, and any failure to satisfy its obligations under its secured borrowings ( 39,087.46million as of Financial Year 2025) could lead to invocation of security interest, resulting in a forced sale or seizure of such assets. 6. Company and certain of its Material Subsidiaries have had negative net worth in the past ( (28,257.23) million as at March 31, 2024, and (25,119.63 )million as at March 31, 2023, on a consolidated and restated basis)and may experience negative net worth in the future which could result in an adverse effect on its business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. 7. It has substantial indebtedness which requires significant cash flows to service and limits its ability to operate freely. As of March 31, 2025, it had outstanding borrowings of 39,087.46 million on a restated and consolidated basis. Further, its finance costs as a percentage of total income for the Financial Year 2025 amounted to 32.57%. In addition, It may require additional financing in the future in order to continue to grow its business, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all 8. The company is exposed to risks associated with the renovation and refurbishment of existing hotels. Delays in the renovation and refurbishment of existing hotels in its Portfolio may have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. 9. The company is exposed to risks associated with the construction of new hotels, including The Leela Ayodhya, The Leela Palace Agra, The Leela Ranthambore, The Leela Palace Srinagar and The Leela Bandhavgarh. Delays in the construction of new hotels may have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. 10. The determination of the Price Band is based on various factors and assumptions and the Offer Price of the Equity Shares, market capitalization and price to earnings ratio based on the Offer Price of the Equity Shares, may not be indicative of the market price of the Company on listing or thereafter and, as a result, investors may lose a significant part or all of their investment. Multibagger small-cap stock: RMC Switchgears, which is engaged in switchgear engineering and ECI contracts for the power distribution and transmission sector, has seen its share price rise rapidly in recent years, significantly multiplying shareholders wealth. Despite a sharp pullback in recent monthsamid market volatility and profit bookingRMC Switchgears stock is still trading with a massive 3,211% gain over the last three years and a phenomenal 5,900% gain over the past five years, making it one of the biggest wealth creators in the Indian stock market. During this period, the stock has zoomed from 13 to its current trading price of 775 apiece, turning a 1 lakh investment into 60 lakh After remaining on the sidelines between CY18 and CY20, during which it lost 75% of investor value, the stock picked up momentum in CY21, ending the year with a 45% gain, followed by an impressive 1,039% rise in 2022 and another 83% gain in 2024. The stellar rally in the stock can be attributed to improved financial performance and its expansion into renewable energy, particularly in solar and green energy EPC and IPP solutions, as part of its broader strategy to create value from Indias clean energy transition. Notably, it recently bagged an order for rooftop solar systems from the Government of Rajasthan. In mid-March, the company announced that it had received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the Government of Rajasthan for the installation of rooftop solar systems with a total capacity of 50 MW across state government buildings in Jaipur and Dausa. Valued at 320 crore (including GST), the LOA includes a one-time revenue opportunity of 229 crore and recurring revenue of 91 crore over the next 25 years for operations and maintenance (O&M) servicesestablishing a steady long-term income stream for RMC, the company stated in its March 15 regulatory filing. Meanwhile, the stellar rise in RMC Switchgears' share price has rewarded retail shareholders handsomely, as they collectively own 42.1% of the company as of the end of March 2025. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) hold 5.1%, while the promoters retain a majority stake of 52.1%. Net profit soars three-fold in H1FY25 The company's shares have made significant strides on the exchanges in recent sessions, hitting the 5% upper circuit limits following the release of its financial performance for H2 FY25. It posted a consolidated net profit of 21.26 crore in H2 FY25more than three times the PAT of 6.83 crore recorded in H2 FY24. Net sales during the same period surged 150.4% year-on-year to 213.38 crore. In the corresponding period last year, the company's sales stood at 85.21 crore. For the full FY25, RMC Switchgears reported a consolidated net profit of 31.45 crore, up 111.2% YoY, and net sales of 318.16 crore, reflecting an 84.3% YoY increase. About RMC Switchgears The company is a leading player in the electrical infrastructure solutions sector, specializing in the manufacturing of electrical enclosures that help prevent power theft and enhance safety by reducing the risk of electrocution. It is also pursuing backward integration with a proposed 1 GW solar module manufacturing plant, aimed at strengthening its market position and aligning with Indias broader goal of reducing import dependence and promoting domestic manufacturing. In addition to its core business, RMC said it is expanding into water management infrastructure, incorporating advanced technologies such as IoT to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery. Global markets: Led by gains in key Japanese companies Hitachi, Sony and Nintendo among others the country's flagship Nikkei index gained over 1% on Friday, May 23. Falling US bond yields and a weaker yen supported the sentiment. Despite the gains, Japan's Nikkei index was on track to break its four-week winning streak, according to a Reuters report. Nikkei 225 index gained as much as 1.04% in trade today to hit the day's high of 37,371.5 as against its last close of 36,985.87. US Treasury yields fell overnight after a recent selloff drew some buyers at more attractive levels, with 30-year yields reaching the highest in 19 months earlier in the session. Meanwhile, a weaker yen bodes well for the exporters and drives their stock prices higher, as it increases the value of their overseas profits in yen terms when firms repatriate them to Japan. Additionally, the core inflation rate in Japan stood at 3.5% in April, the highest since early 2023, raising the likelihood that the Bank of Japan might raise its benchmark interest rate at its next policy meeting. Sony, Hitachi, Nintendo among top gainers Among individual stocks, Sony, Hitachi, Nintendo, Fast Retailing and Panasonic emerged among the top gainers. Electronics maker Sony's share price rose nearly 2%, with its market capitalisation touching $153 billion. Similarly, Hitachi stock was up 1.90% at around 3,800 yen, while Nintendo jumped 4.5% in trade today at 11,735 yen. Uniqlo-brand owner Fast Retailing rose 1.33%, and was among the biggest drivers of the Nikkei index. Chip-related Tokyo Electron and Advantest rose 0.68% and 1.92%, respectively. Other Asian markets also traded on a firm note. Seoul's Kospi climbed 0.2% to 2,597.49 and the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia gained 0.4% to 8,379.10. Meanwhile, Indian stock market indices Sensex and Nifty surged over 0.5% in early trade today. (With inputs from agencies) Stock Market Today: The Benchmark Nifty50 Index, amid weak global cues, ended at 24,609.70 down 0.82% on Thursday. The Bank Nifty at 54,941.30 also lost 0.24% as most other indices led by IT, FMCG, and auto ended lower. The broader indices also saw pressure but managed to close with only marginal losses. Trade Setup for Friday Nifty found support at its 20-day EMA (Exponential Moving Average) and bounced back. Nifty's immediate support is now seen in the 24400-24500 band, with resistances are placed at 24840 and 24946., as per Devarsh Vakil - Head of Prime Research, HDFC Securities. Key support for Bank Nifty is placed at 54,000-53,500 as per Bajaj Broking Global Markets and Q4 Results Despite a brief recovery midweek, domestic markets resumed their downward trajectory, pressured by global uncertainty, sector-specific weakness, and stretched valuations. Traders may remain cautious ahead of key global cues and domestic macro data, as per Vikram Kasat, Head - Advisory, PL Capital. Stocks to buy today Sumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking, has recommended two stock picks for today. Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi, suggested three stocks, while Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager Technical Research, at Prabhudas Lilladher has given three stock picks. These include Dalmia Bharat Ltd m Astral Ltd , ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd, Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank Ltd , Escorts Kubota Ltd, Bharat Dynamics Ltd and Moil Ltd Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks Dalmia Bharat Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying Dalmia Bharat or DALBHARAT at around 2106.9 keeping Stoploss at 2033 for a target price of 2255 DALBHARAT is currently trading at2106.9, maintaining a strong upward trajectory. The stock has consistently formed higher highs and higher lows, reflecting sustained bullish momentum. It recently reached a 52-week high of 2117.5, with a key resistance level around 2140. A breakout above this level could further accelerate buying interest. The Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) for the 20, 50, 100, and 200-day periods are all trending upwards, reinforcing the bullish outlook. The price is trading above all major EMAs, indicating strong positive sentiment and continued strength in the stock. 2. Astral Ltd - Bagadia recommends buying ASTRAL at around Rs1442.40 keeping Stoploss at 1391 for a target price of 1543 ASTRAL is currently trading near 1,442, showcasing a sharp recovery from lower levels and indicating a strong reversal in momentum. The stock has broken its recent lower high structure, supported by a significant rise in trading volumes, which reflects robust buying interest. If ASTRAL manages to sustain above the 1,500 level, it is well-positioned for further upside, with a potential target of 1,543. Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd - Dongre recommends buying ICICI Prudential Life or ICICIPRULI at around 620 keeping Stoploss at around 605 for a target price of 645 In the latest short-term technical analysis, stock has shown a strong and consistent bullish trend, indicating the potential for an extended upward move. The stock is currently trading at 620 and holding above a key support level at 605. This support zone serves as a critical point for risk management. Given the bullish momentum, traders are advised to consider a buying opportunity with a stop-loss placed strategically at 605 to manage downside risk. The target for this trade is set at 645, suggesting a favorable risk-to-reward ratio and a continuation of the prevailing upward trend. 4. Bank of Baroda - Dongre recommends buying Bank of Baroda or BANKBARODA at around 240 keeping Stoploss at around 235 for a target price of 250 Stock has exhibited a strong notable continue bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at 240 and maintaining a strong support at 235. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the 250 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at 235 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside. 5. ICICI Bank Ltd- Dongre recommends buying ICICI Bank or ICICIBANK at around 1442 keeping Stoploss at 1420 for a target price of 1470. Stock is currently trading at 1442 and appears to be in bullish zone for short term. A bullish reversal pattern has emerged on the daily chart, indicating a potential upmove. The critical support level lies at 1420, which also acts as a key stop-loss point for this trade. With bullish cues signaling a possible retracement towards the 1470 target, this setup provides a favorable entry opportunity for traders looking to capitalize on a technical rebound. Shiju Koothupalakkal's intraday stocks for today 6. Escorts Kubota Ltd - Koothupalakkal recommends buying Escorts Kubota or ESCORTS at around 3504 for a target price of 3670 keeping Stop loss at around 3440 The stock has been in consolidation for quite some time maintaining above the 200 period MA at 3490 zone and during the final hours of the intraday session, there has been indication of a decent spurt with volume participation to improve the bias and anticipating for further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI is currently well placed having much upside potential from current rate and can carry on with the positive move. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 3670 keeping the stop loss of 3440 level. 7. Bharat Dynamics Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Bharat Dynamics or BHARAT DYNAMICS at around 1924 for a target price of 2040 keeping Stop loss at around 1880 The stock once again has indicated a higher bottom formation pattern on the daily chart taking support near 1750 zone and has witnessed a decent spurt recently to anticipate for further rise once again in the coming sessions. The RSI is maintained strong and can carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 2040 level keeping the stop loss of 1880 level. 8. Moil Ltd - Koothupalakkal recommends buying MOIL at around 376.50 for a target price of 392 keeping Stop loss at 368 The stock has recently witnessed a significant pick up to move past the important 200 period MA at 352 zone to strengthen the trend and can expect for further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI is on the rise and has gathered strength to carry on with the positive move with much upside potential visible. With the chart technically well positioned and overall strength indicated, can expect for further gains and thereby, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 392 level keeping the stop loss of 368 level. How hard is it to find a good mocktail in a city like Mumbai? The answer is a struggle, as I inevitably learned. As someone who has always been a teetotaller, my biggest conundrum while dining out is to find a balanced, non-alcoholic drink. Most restaurants and bars tend to list the usual variety of tried and tested beverages like fresh lime soda, iced teas, virgin mojito or for the sake of nostalgia, pina coladawhich get boring. With the introduction of zero-proof drinks and spirits as well as the rise of the sober curious", especially amongst Gen Z, one would think that restaurants and bars would be doing more. And while many are, with a significant shift towards organic ingredients and innovative flavour profiles, are they actually good enough to draw customers back? Also read: The most recommended books on spirits and cocktails Recently, I enjoyed a non-alcoholic cocktail at Ode, a European-forward restaurant in Mumbai. The drink, Apro Nuts, was well-balanced with the use of coconut water as the base, along with apricot brine, pickled apricot for a touch of tartness, and rosemary and lime to balance out the sweetness. It got me thinking about what establishments are doing to cater to sober drinkers. At Pandan Club, a Peranakan-inspired restobar in Chennai, restaurateur and partner Manoj Padmanaban shares how theyve crafted their zero-proof programme, called zero fake", with the intention of flipping the script on mocktails. Most mocktail menus read like theyve been written by a reluctant intern. Our menu isnt a footnote and we wanted to change that perception," he says, referring to some of their creations like nitro-infused zero-proof stout or a coconut toddy-inspired zero-proof champagne. Their 0% stout features kaya jam and pandan. Jamun and grapes are vinified for the 0% rose, while ingredients like fennel and yuzu feature in their 0% sake. Padmanaban says there is now an uptick in places embracing fermentation, homemade tinctures, and botanical infusions for mocktails. At Masque, in Mumbai, seasonality is one of the mainstays of the beverage programme, which extends to non-alcoholic pairings. Head mixologist Ankush Gamre says they usually ask guests their flavour preference and then build the drink from there. Currently, a summer favourite is mango kombucha, where we use mango peel trimmings," he says. During the monsoon, the restaurant switches to ingredients like roselle and mint, and also makes batches of tepache, a Mexican fermented drink using pineapple skin. We get the best variety of pineapples from July to September, and come winter, we try to introduce drinks with ingredients like pomelo," he says. Increasingly, people are keen to know about the ingredients going into their drinks. They even tell us how theyd like us to sweeten them with agave nectar, honey, stevia or other sweeteners." Also read: Will zero-proof cocktails outrun the G&T? Bar and beverage consultant Nitin Tewari points out that one broad trend that theyre seeing with zero-proof beverages is that restaurants and bars are making the effort to use regional-inspired ingredients, and create in-house sodas. To be fair, as a country we have always had a penchant for seasonal drinks like aam panna, shikanji, chaa, and sharbats. People often see value in ordering these, versus just lemonades and iced teas when dining out," he says. Were also seeing the use of exotic ingredients, such as Thai flavours like kaffir lime, galangal and lemongrass." Gurugram-based regional Indian restaurant, Bhawan, makes its own sharbat sodas in flavours like cucumber, mint and bela, and litchi and rose. Similarly, at the Thai restaurant Banng in Gurugram, zero-proof cocktails feature vibrant flavour profiles such as pink guava, tom yum broth, kaffir lime and salted plum water, in a conscious effort to cater to the growing number of sober drinkers. According to Tewari, a majority of restaurants dont realise the potential to make more profits off non-alcoholic drinks. After spending a significant chunk on acquiring liquor licenses, cocktails and spirits become one of the primary products for them to push out, leaving little scope for non-alcoholic beverages," he explains. On average, five out of 100 such restaurants that are paying close attention to their zero-proof menus, he adds. For all the efforts to appease the sober curious" or those who crave the flavour of their favourite spiritminus the buzz, the numbers are still very minuscule. Not to mention, the flavours dont appeal to all. For a teetotaller like me, who has no reference point for a spirit like gin or tequila, such menus often tend to go unnoticed. Tewari notes that there is still not much demand for non-alcoholic wines and beers across the country, explaining the lack of such products. For one, the percentage of such drinkers is still very small. He also points out how mostly its alcobev brands that are producing such products, as a means for surrogate advertising. Sana Bector Parwanda, co-founder of Delhi-based Zoet Desserts, says she consciously started moving away from alcoholic drinks a few years ago. One of her biggest frustrations was the lack of sugar-free mocktails. Im someone who would rather eat my sugar than drink it, so I end up ordering tonic water as a safe choice." She adds that while travelling to other countries, non-alcoholic aperitifs with evolved flavour profiles are quite enjoyable, and even non-alcoholic wines and beers, which are tougher to find in India. Gamre is optimistic about the future of zero-proof menus. The fact that zero-proof beverages are finding a place on bar menus is pointing to a much bigger demand than we acknowledge," he says. Creating these drinks is also like writing a new flavour book each time, as guests dont want to settle for a concoction that tastes like a blend of juices they can easily make at home." Tewari adds that even a platform like 30 Best Bars India is acknowledging zero-proof drinks with the addition of an award category titled Best non-alcoholic cocktail menu" in 2023. The winners include Pandan Club in Chennai and Bandra Born in Mumbai. Is it a sign that zero-proof drinks will finally see the evolution it deserves? Arzoo Dina is a Mumbai-based food and travel writer. Also read: Why classic cocktails will never go out of style Summer vacations always meant long breaks at my maternal grandmothers home in Lucknow. Even though it would be hot and sultry, we would walk around Chowk, Bada Imambara, Qiaser Bagh, Rumi Darwaza and the areas near around La Martiniere College and Lucknow University to satiate the history buff in me. I considered myself fairly well informed about the citys heritage until I came across the Instagram page of Lucknow Art Deco, run by conservation architect Nishant Upadhyay, earlier this year. In all the time Id spent in the city, I had been unaware of the deep inroads that this 100-year-old movement of architecture and design had made in Lucknow. It also shattered the belief that heritage was something that needed to be several centuries old, with tales of a distant past echoing through silent monuments. Rather, it could be a living, breathing repository of stories of how modern Indian landscapes were shaped by a confluence of local design sensibilities and international influences. For as long as the term Art Deco has been in my consciousness, the style has always been synonymous with South Mumbai. The fact that glimmers of it could be found in Lucknow and Delhi had never occurred to me. Just like the Lucknow Art Deco handle, it was the website and Instagram page of Deco in Delhi, started in 2020 by architects Geetanjali Sayal and Prashansa Sachdeva, that led me to an alternative view of heritage. In Delhi too, the depth and scale of the Art Deco movementwhich marks its centenary this yearhas come as a surprise. These arent lone initiatives; in cities across India, architects, conservationists, heritage enthusiasts and urban evangelists are working on inventories, documentation projects, Instagram handles; they are conducting walks, and having talks and events to popularise this 100-year-old form of architecture, which combines form and functionality in such an artistic way. Some noteworthy projects include the Art Deco Mumbai Trust, Heritage of Belgaum, Goenchi Deco, Art Deco Madras, Art Deco Hyderabad and Calcutta Art Decor. Each of these has come up in the course of the past decadethe earliest being the Art Deco Mumbai Trust founded by Atul Kumar in 2016to document and create awareness about how different parts of India made this architecture and design movement their own. This style of architecture emerged in France in the 1910s, based on principles of sleek design and rhythmic geometry, and gained popularity after the 1925 industrial arts exposition in Paris. As the essay on the Art Deco Mumbai Trust website puts it, the exposition, held in the wake of WWI, showcased motifs and decorative elements that depicted hope and optimism. The frozen fountain by French sculptor Renee Lalique, denoting eternal life, was one such example. A far-reaching impact of Art Deco could be seen in furniture, jewellery, fashion, book jackets and typography. Also read: How this Gujarat village adopted and adapted the Art Deco style The clean lines, curvilinear forms and geometric patterns became popular in India by the 1930s. It combined elegant motifs with changes in technology and machinery by bringing in new-age materials such as concrete and steel. In India, it was embraced wholeheartedly by cities such as Mumbai as it allowed for faster, more efficient town planning, and suited the local climate. One of the biggest attractions of Art Deco was its versatility to adapt to local design sensibilities. The movement arrived in India as a result of migration and travel. Rich men would travel to Europe, observe trends and ask their architects to incorporate elements into the buildings they constructed back home. Such design became a visual expression of their aspiration and modern outlook. With the use of concrete and cement, Art Deco became an expression of a new world," says Hyderabad-based architect Srinivas Murthy, who also runs Architecture and Design Foundation [India] to create awareness about good design. As part of this, the team has been documenting architecture of all styles, including mid-20th century modern architectural heritage, such as Art Deco, in the city. Concrete gave them greater freedom to shape forms in different ways. With Art Deco, curvilinear and free forms started coming up," he explains. Many factors led to the rise of an indigenous Art Deco language. With the exception of Sir J.J. School of Architecture in Mumbai, there werent many architecture schools in India, and aspiring professionals travelled to Europe to study. They brought back these styles and together with international architects commissioned by rich patrons, India created its own version of Art Deco by incorporating vernacular elements. Kumar cites the example of Master, Sathe and Bhuta, established in 1932 and believed to be the first all-Indian architectural firm, based in Mumbai. They were heavily invested in local representation. Their bas relief murals were life-sized and replete with agrarian imagery. So, you will see a man ploughing a field and a woman wearing traditional clothing with a child strapped to her back," he says. Also read: Want to add a touch of Art Deco to your wardrobe? Here's some inspiration Another prominent Indian architect who created his own style of Indian Art Deco was Laxman Mahadeo Chitale, who set up his firm in 1932 in Chennai and worked on prominent structures such as the Oriental Insurance Building. In Hyderabad too, the Asaf Jahi Nizams drew on their immense wealth to commission a mix of foreign and Indian architects, including Mohammed Fayazuddin, Zain Yar Jung, Karl Malte von Heinz and Eric Marrett, to design buildings such as the State Bank of Hyderabad, Niloufer Hospital and the Osmania University campus. Mohammed Fayazuddin, studied at the Sir JJ School of Architecture, and went to London for further studies. On coming back, he became the architect of choice for the Nizams," says Murthy. The architects used the topography of Hyderabada hilly terrain overlooking a large number of lakeswith great skill. The bungalows for the nobility were built on these hill tops in exquisite Art Deco style. Given that Hyderabad lay close to the heart of the country, it also became a meeting point for influences from different parts. parts. So you will find elements of Hindu iconography such as temple shikharas, Rajasthani and Kakatiyan brackets, lotus and rudraksh symbols coming together in an Art Deco residential building. References to Islamic architecture can be seen in pointed arches, domes, jaalis combined with huge cantilevered floating slabs. You will also find elements of Buddhist Chaitya arches, lotus patterns in Hyderabads Art Deco language as well. There was an inherent pragmatism to Art Deco buildings, combining form and function. It is this aspect that has allowed these structures to continue to exist and remain relevant. The building was flexible enough to coexist amidst different architectural styles in a neighbourhood. There were no complicated chajjas or motifs built in," says Upadhyay. The architecture kept adapting to the local climate as it travelled across India. Typically in the west, Art Deco featured flat slabs of concrete. When it came to Goa, Kerala and Bengal, the elements were incorporated into homes with sloping roofs. This interpretation of Art Deco is rare in the US or Europe. Interestingly, this style was not confined to buildings but was extended to engineering projects as well," says Murthy, citing the example of a barrage over the Krishna river in Vijayawada, which was designed entirely in Art Deco style. Most architects, however, dont look beyond Mumbai, thus neglecting the importance of the Art Deco movement across India, a style that shaped a large part of the post-independence landscape in the country between the 1930s-50s. Today, the understanding of Art Deco in India is largely driven by conservation architects and heritage enthusiasts, who grew up surrounded by this style, and witnessed many of these buildings being razed in the name of development. They started passion projects with a view not just to preserve this built heritage but to make this information accessible to the public. We are using Instagram as a gateway to this architecture-design movement. Without getting into elaborate captioning, we simply highlight the aesthetic, colour and style in our posts," says Kumar. The website then builds on the content, allowing for a deeper engagement with Art Deco through a well-researched inventory and archive, blog and gallery. From Mumbai and Delhi to Belagavi and Goa, the Art Deco heritage of several cities and towns is represented on social media and websites to document and create awareness about how different parts of India made this movement their own. Also read: What is the future of heritage conservation? LUCKNOW Nishant Upadhyay, conservation architect and founder of the firm, Dharatal, which has offices in Diest, Belgium, and Lucknow, runs the Instagram handle Lucknow Art Deco as part of a larger documentation and inventory project. The page has been a source of interesting nuggets about the citys modern built heritage. Most posts are simplea photo with a short descriptionbut some like the recent post on Tagore Library of Lucknow University tells a story of urban planning, diplomacy and cultural exchange. The library was designed in the Art Deco style by Walter Burley Griffin, an American architect who had a key role in designing Australias capital city, Canberra. In 1935, he was commissioned to design the University of Lucknow library and ended up working on several other buildings in the city before he died in 1937 . As part of a self-funded project, Upadhyay has now listed over 360 buildingsinstitutional, commercial and residentialin Lucknow in Art Deco style. He continues to share stories on the social media page, which he started in June last year. View Full Image Upadhyay has now listed over 360 buildingsinstitutional, commercial and residentialin Lucknow in Art Deco style. Courtesy: Dharatal Having grown up in Lucknow, Upadhyay was fascinated with the linear forms of Art Deco buildings in the Charbagh area. When he could finally set up a studio in Lucknow, he simply had to take up documentation of Art Deco buildings. In the course of the project, he found examples of Art Deco architecture still being maintained, especially in large-scale housing. You will find blocks of the same typology in areas such as Naka Hindola. There are super tight alleys where the entire street facade is in Art Deco," says Upadhyay, who has measured the detailsphotogrammetry and elevationof such buildings. The movement influenced not just architecture but also chikankari and zardozi work. The evolution of Art Deco in Lucknow can be linked with the rise and fall of its economy. Following the first war of independence in 1857, trade declined as Awadh was perceived as a hostile state by the British. The revival took place only after the 1890s, and eventually, by the 1930s, traders flourished and began commissioning larger mansions and residential blocks in Raja Bazaar, Motinagar, Charbagh and New Hyderabad. The Parsi community also incorporated the style in Arambagh and the Parsi Anjuman. In the initial Art Deco buildings in the 1930s, you will see lotus petals and deities being interpreted in bold lines and minimal styles. Architects such as Walter Burley Griffin were invited to design the Pioneer Press Building, next to the Burlington hotel, which came to be known as one of the most iconic Art Deco buildings in Lucknow. It was demolished later to be replaced by the Ratan Square building. But the Tagore Library and many of the private residences have stayed intact," he explains. CHENNAI Recently, the Instagram page of Art Deco Madras posted an exquisite series of sketches about Art Deco in Chennai created by urban conservation architect Prathyaksha Krishna Prasad and illustrator Srishti. Especially striking are the works depicting nautical and tropical elements, highlighting the cues that tropical modernism took from the local climate with rounded balconies, jaalis and overhanging eaves to keep the interiors cool while exuding a maritime flair. The colour palette too responds to the setting: soft pastels, sea greens, and shell whites that weather beautifully against monsoon skies. Deco in Madras embraced the tropical not as a limitation but as a design opportunity, letting function and fantasy coexist," states the post. Also read: Looking to the past to design future cityscapes View Full Image Art work about Art Deco in Chennai created by urban conservation architect Prathyaksha Krishna Prasad and illustrator Srishti. Courtesy: Art Deco Madras Prasad launched Art Deco Madras on 22 August 2020 on Madras Day after she moved back to the city from Mumbai, where she had worked as the head of content and research at the Art Deco Mumbai Trust. She realised that some of the buildings she had grown up with had either been demolished or were earmarked for redevelopment. I saw how 20th century heritage was overlooked. That was the starting point for me," she says. Prasad started collaborating with a social history group, Nam Veedu, Nam Oor, Nam Kadhai (Our homes, our city, our stories), comprising architects and artists. Within a few months of having started the social media page, Prasad and her family had to shift to the US. She continued posting content and research with help from architecture students in the city. Art Deco Madras has, for instance, documented the architecture in George Town extensively, with its courtyard houses, reminiscent of Chettinad houses, banks, business houses, and more. DELHI Deco in Delhi is peppered with stories of people patrons, architects and urban plannersbehind the Art Deco movement in the city. Sachdeva and Sayal have classified the structures not just on the basis of their functionalityresidential, public and more but also on the style, ranging from pure to hybrid and influenced. Engaging trivia accompanies the entries, which cover the length and breadth of the city, from Chandni Chowk to Ram Rup Clock Tower on GT Road and residences in Karol Bagh, Pusa Road and Kamla Nagar. Deco in Delhi wanted to expand the way history and architecture is taught in schools and colleges. The project started as a visual exercise to look beyond the architectural definition of New Delhi from a British, Lutyens or Baker lens. This led to the realisation that Art Deco was not limited to the West or to Mumbai. We were clear that even if there are a handful of Art Deco buildings, they should be spoken about," says Sayal. View Full Image Charan Bhawan (Demolished), Rani Jhansi Road, Photo: Rishi Kochhar x Deco in Delhi They walked around Chandni Chowk and Daryaganj to catalogue the Art Deco buildings, but couldnt proceed once the covid-19 lockdowns were in place. So Sachdeva and Sayal switched to rigorous research and started their Instagram page. Soon they were getting responses to their posts about palatial houses and public buildings in Delhi in the Art Deco style. With a grant from India Foundation For The Arts, they spent the next two years finding 100 examples in the city, and created a website, a pocket map and a publication. They relied on experts such as Prof Mustansir Dalvi, an architect and trustee of the Art Deco Mumbai Trust, Srikanth Sathe, an architect from the Master, Sathe and Bhuta family, among others, for mentorship. We published 30 examples on the site, which offer an understanding of Delhis evolution between the late 1920s and 1940s," says Sayal. There is an entire chapter on the Delhi Improvement Trust, set up in 1937 to optimise land usage, and the people behind it. As part of this, different schemes were launched to allow old Delhi to decongest and make space for people migrating to the city in search of opportunities. A large number of Anglo Indian architects in the team opted for the Art Deco style. The craftspersons were then trained to craft motifs and cast terrazzo, a coloured marble chip flooring profoundly seen in Delhi. So, you will find innumerable houses in Chandni Chowk, Daryaganj and Kamla Nagar with facades and floors of coloured terrazzo. Also read: Le Corbusier's design reimagined for a new era Though both the founders have moved on to other work engagements after the project was wrapped up when the grant cycle ended, they have tried to keep the engagement going. We are participating in relevant conversations and are interested in giving this project as much time as we have. We are now interested in creating something that people feel enabled to contribute to irrespective of our participation," says Sayal. Sachdeva and she are now contemplating walks through old Delhi in winter, though the logistics need to be worked out carefully. The buildings cant accommodate a crowd. We can only open registrations to 10 people or so," they say. MUMBAI The city made Art Deco its own, adapting it to the climate and local design in the early 20th century and creating a subset called tropical deco". It is only in recent years that this living heritage has received the recognition it deserves. The Oval Maidan and Marine Drive are best known for their Art Deco buildings, but these gems can be found across the city, in neighbourhoods such as Shivaji Park, Khar, Santa Cruz, Vile Parle, Chembur and Ghatkopar. In 2018, resident associations, urban planners, activists and architects got together to have an ensemble of 94 buildings in Victorian Gothic and Art Deco styles in Fort and Marine Drive to be declared as a Unesco World Heritage Site. View Full Image Dhanraj Mahal, Colaba: It was designed by architects Gregson, Batley & King, 1935-38, and commissioned by Raja Dhanrajgir Narsingir of Hyderabad. The complex boasts of 145 chajjas, adding to the deco dynamic. Photo: Art Deco Mumbai Trust However, outside of these heritage precincts, Art Deco buildings stand unprotected. Atul Kumar, founder trustee, Art Deco Mumbai Trust, has been trying to harness civic activism to prevent that from happening. He has long held a passion for documenting and conserving the citys modern heritage. After years of engaging with government bodies to protect old neighbourhoods yielded little result, he took matters directly to the public through the trust, which was established in 2016 after the makeover of Marine Drive was announced. The initiative now has a website with an easily accessible archive and an engaging social media presence. It has created Mumbais only online inventory of 1,505 buildings, making it one of the largest collections of Art Deco in the world. For the team, the journey with Art Deco has not been without its share of revelationsthe biggest surprise being just how far this style extended within the city, reaching the suburbs as well. The style progressed from the south to the north with an increasing vernacular representation. South Mumbai was very western in its adoption, with the building namesEmpress Court, for examplereflecting a colonial aspiration value. In the north, the names started changing to the likes of Bharat Mahal, the fonts on building fronts changed to Gujarati, Devanagari and Urdu. It was seen in healthcare institutions, schools, colleges, public buildings and clubs. View Full Image Currimbhoy Manor, Cumbala Hill: Designed by Architect Sykes, Patkar & Divecha, the building exhibits a display of continuous eyebrows. These function as sunshades for Mumbais tropical climate. Photo: Art Deco Mumbai Trust In fact, Art Deco has an deep links with public infrastructure, particularly healthcare institutions, in the suburbs. One remarkable example of a public Art Deco building is the Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle, which came up towards the decline of the Art Deco movement worldwide in 1950 to cater to a growing suburban population. Another example is the Purandare Hospital in Girgaon Chowpatty, built in 1937 by architecture firm Gregson, Batley & King. According to Kumar, the entrance portal is framed by walls clad in black-and-white marble in a symmetrical ziggurat pattern, which echoes on to the wooden door panels. Cast in metal, just above the entrance, the hospital name is etched in a distinctive stylised Art Deco font. Then there is the Sumati Maternity Home, housed in the Sumichha building in Borivali. It proves that the style wasnt limited to cinemas or city-centre apartments. While this property could easily be categorised under healthcare, we draw attention to the buildings name affixed in stylised Devanagari metal letters, which almost appear to be dancing gracefully," states the trusts website. This is elegant evidence of the Art Deco style adapting to local scripts and languages as it arrived on Bombays shores." As the design movement celebrates its centenary this year, the trust is gearing up to participate in the Centennial World Congress on Art Deco to be held in Paris in October 2025 as well. Leading up to the event, the team is planning a host of new walking tours and lectures in Mumbai as well. BELAGAVI Conservation architect Prajakta Deshpande has been documenting the built heritage of the city through the page, Heritage of Belgaum, which she started in 2019 with like-minded friends. The idea was to bring the heritage of smaller cities and towns into mainstream discourse. The trigger was a series of demolitions of prominent bungalowsthe oldest dating back to 1914along Khanapur Road. If such important houses were being razed then there was no hope for modest homes in the interior of the town," she says. As she walked around the city, she began to look beyond the physical attributes of structures including Art Deco onesto find stories of the people associated with it. View Full Image A structure in Art Deco style in Belagavi. Photo: Heritage of Belgaum She didnt have much documentation to rely on. Art Deco soon became an important part of the project. There are two Tilakwadi areas in Belagaviold and new. The latter, which started developing in the late 1930s, is dotted with Art Deco bungalows. Since Belagavi was part of the Bombay Presidency, it soaked in influences from the city of Mumbai and hence the period also saw the emergence of Art Deco theatres in Belagavi," says Deshpande. In the course of the project, she found the first house, Devaki Sadan, to have terrazzo flooring in the area and the story behind it. One of the daughters from the family had married into an architects family in Mumbai. The firm, Patki & Dadarkar Architects, then built this house in Belagavi," explains Deshpande, who lives and works in both Mumbai and Belagavi. The machine to design the flooring of the house, especially the tiles, was brought in from Mumbai. It was then given to another family called the Shirgaonkars, who started manufacturing terrazzo tiles under the name Tara Tiles," she adds. As Deshpande put out regular posts on the Heritage of Belgaum page, she started getting responses from people across the world, adding to the nostalgia and the body of research they were trying to build. Today, she conducts walks in different historic neighbourhoods on Sundays for heritage enthusiasts to keep this passion project going. SAVING LIVING HERITAGE Rampant redevelopment has resulted in both private homes and public buildings from the 1930s-40s being torn down over the years in most Indian cities. One of the biggest roadblocks to conserving this form of architecture lies in sensitising people inhabiting an Art Deco structure to the importance of the building. In Chandni Chowk, it took architects Geetanjali Sayal and Prashansa Sachdeva months of persuasion to enter homes, take photographs and ask questions. It takes several conversations with owners to convince them that we are not here to take over their residences. Often, the land is involved in legal conflicts. People are not open to sharing information," says Sayal. This makes documentation a slow process but a rewarding one. Also read: Balkrishna Doshi (1927-2023): The master of modernist architecture goes into the light View Full Image The entrance gateway to Dharmaprakash Kalyana Mandapam, Poonamallee High Road, Chennai. Photo: Art Deco Madras How challenging is it to conserve living" heritage in a metropolis like Mumbai where a burgeoning population adds to the urban pressures? Atul Kumar of Art Deco Mumbai Trust says Mumbai is no different from cities such as New York, Hong Kong or Miami in the housing shortage, commercial considerations and the constant attempts to monetise land assets. Its no wonder then that the last couple of years have seen redevelopment at an unprecedented pace. There is little regard for the historical context of the neighbourhood or property. When the floor space index is your only matrix for redevelopment, it reduces the focus to extracting all square inches that are usable while disregarding everything else," Kumar says. The problem lies in the fact that most Art Deco buildings are privately owned and have not been classified as heritage properties, explains Hyderabad-based architect Srinivas Murthy. As a result, they run the risk of being demolished by owners and developers. Conservation architect Prathyaksha Krishna Prasad concurs. She knows property owners in Chennai who are aware of the value of an Art Deco building but redevelop it as they lack the resources to maintain the structure. It is also difficult to find trained artisans to restore elements such as the motifs and terrazzo tiles. The authenticity keeps going away slowly. If the government could appoint people for upkeep, with the owner taking care of part of the cost, it would be worth it," she says. Prominent buildings have been demolished in the last seven years. Its ironic that in the centenary year of Art Deco, the Secunderabad Railway Station, a famous Art Deco building, was demolished in February," says Murthy. This was an interesting investigation for the team. The city got a railway line in 1874, with the station built in a typical colonial style in stone and with arched verandahs. When it was decided to expand and modify the existing station building as a modern station, the architect did not demolish the existing building but gave it an Art Deco makeover. The team found old images and evidence in the debris. They have documented other Art Deco buildings in Hyderabad and are likely to publish a two-volume book on Art Deco of Hyderabad soon. View Full Image Purandare Hospital, Girgaon Chowpatty: Symmetry, straight lines, and bold geometry define the classic minimal look of this Deco hospital. Cast in metal just above the entrance, the hospital name is in a distinctive stylised Art Deco font. Courtesy: Art Deco Mumbai Trust The change in attitudes is coming about, albeit slowly. An interesting pivot is that people are approaching us with the idea of getting their buildings graded in order to protect them," says Kumar. We are working on those suggestions and have written to government organisations. People want to restore these properties to continue inhabiting an Art Deco structure. They appreciate the high ceilings and windows, the flow of natural light and the cross ventilation. Many are realising the charm of Art Deco as opposed to newer developments, which might be a plush building with a fancy lobby and gym, but the layout of the home itself is constrained," explains Kumar. The Art Deco Mumbai Trust has been having conversations with inhabitants of Art Deco structures on sensitively repairing and restoring their buildings, and has worked on 15-16 such structures so far. Our commitment extends beyond the technical aspects of restoration. We actively engage with residents and owners, sensitising them to the significance of their building, and the character-defining features that make it historic. The objective is to preserve the authenticity of the building, by suggesting sensitive interventions, appropriate use of materials, and incorporating archival research into the restoration process," mentions the Art Deco Mumbai Trust website. Besides residents, architecture students, heritage enthusiasts and conservators, the Art Deco Mumbai Trusts repository of research and documentation has found a fanbase in film production designers. Someone wanted a reference of a beautiful elevator cage for their film and found it in our archive, as did the designers for the period series, Jubilee (2023)," says Kumar. Today, a modern interpretation of Art Deco can be seen in new restaurants design which may not be doing it consciously but are soaking it in from the surroundings. The only concern is that the representation is more Western than vernacular and tropical, which has been the essence of the style in Mumbai There are interesting linkages between the past and the present being made in the city." As cities give in to population pressures, such documentation projects become even more significant not just as design-architecture efforts, but also as an archive of symbols of modernity that reflect the changing cultural fabric of a society. Art Deco is known as one of the most impactful movements based on principles of sleek design and rhythmic geometry. Originally namedArts decoratifs,this style came into popular use after the 1925 Exposition internationale des arts decoratifs et industriels modernes held in Paris between April and October 2025. In India, cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai made the style their own with some of the most prominent buildings in Art Deco coming up between the 1930s and 1950s. However, the Art Deco movement was not restricted to urban centres but permeated to villages as well. Zamindars, or wealthy landowners, saw Art Deco style come up in cities and got their homes constructed in a similar style. I have seen such instances in rural Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Rajasthan. That was the kind of spread that this style had," says Hyderabad-based architect Srinivas Murthy, who also runs Architecture and Design Foundation [India] to create awareness about good design. And when the relatively well-off village residents saw the sarpanch or zamindar turn to Art Deco, they too followed suit." Dharmaj, a village in Anand in Gujarat, stands as an example of Art Deco architecture and design being a symbol of aspiration and cosmopolitanism in non-urban areas in the mid-20th century. The village has nearly 120 Art Deco buildings dating to the 1930 and 1940s, most of them residencesa large number for a village with a population of just over 11,000 even in the 2010 census. The Art Deco influence is attributed to migration, particularly within the Patidar community, to Africa, the UK and the US via Mumbai, where they encountered these buildings. Inspired by its association with modernity and sophistication, migrants returning from these places adopted the style in their home towns as a visual expression of their cosmopolitan identity and rising social status. At the same time, the region witnessed technological developments facilitated by the Gaekwad rule in the erstwhile princely state of Baroda. That enabled the rise of Art Deco design in the village. Also read: What is the future of heritage conservation? Axis Banks ACE Credit Card has garnered immense attention for its lucrative cashback offerings and other additional benefits. That is why for all aspirational credit card applicants understanding the online process of application along with the associated terms and conditions is extremely important. Here are several important aspects on how you can apply for this credit card online along with the essential documents required for proper application submission and the key features of this credit instrument offered by Axis Bank. How to apply for Axis Bank ACE Credit Card online successfully Aspirational applicants can follow these simple steps to secure the ACE Credit Card: Reach out to the official Axis Bank ACE Credit Card page. Then click on the 'Apply Now' tab. Carefully submit the required essential financial details in the application form. If in doubt, discuss your problems with the designated customer service team. Once you fill the form diligently submit it for further processing and await further communication from the bank. Further, you can also have a detailed walk-through of the entire process digitally. This you can do by referring to Axis Banks Credit Card application guide. Eligibility and Documentation To be eligible for applying for the ACE Credit Card you should: Be aged between 18 and 60 years. Have a consistent income source. Possess a good credit score, preferably a score of more than 750. A clean credit profile and not history of defaults or missed payments. Note: The eligibility criteria discussed above is illustrative in nature. For the updated terms, conditions and eligibility refer to the official website of Axis Bank. Also Read | What is a cash advance fee on a credit card? All you need to know Required documents to meet the basic eligibility criteria PAN card or Form 60. Proof of identity and residential address. A recently clicked passport size photograph. Income proof, documents such as the latest salary slip, Form 16, or income tax return. The above discussed documents are fundamental to all credit card applications. For further details on an individual basis as per the credit card you opt refer to the official website of Axis Bank as different credit cards require different sets of documents depending on the basic eligibility criteria applicable for each of them. What are some key features of the ACE Credit Card? The ACE Credit Card offers several key benefits and deals such as: 5% cashback on bill payments and mobile recharges through Google Pay. 4% cashback on transacting with Swiggy, Ola etc. 1.5% cashback on other select expenses. Four complimentary domestic airport lounge visits per year. 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between 400 and 4,000, up to 500 per statement cycle. For a complete and exhaustive list of benefits and deals provided by Axis Bank ACE credit card you can visit the official website of Axis Bank. Note: The benefits and deals discussed above are illustrative only. For the updated deals, benefits and terms and conditions refer to the official website of Axis Bank and the official Axis Bank ACE Credit Card page. What is the processing time of Axis Bank Credit Card applications? The credit card approval process generally takes between 7 to 15 days after the submission of the credit card application according to Axis Bank. Still, it is always prudent to keep in mind that this duration may vary based on individual circumstances and relevant documents provided by the applicant. That is why it is always important to stay in touch with the customer service team of Axis Bank and do regular follow-ups on your credit card application for a seamless experience. Hence, the Axis Bank ACE Credit Card presents a range of benefits for users seeking seamless credit usage, cashbacks, rewards and other additional perks. Therefore, by clearly understanding the process of application submission and ensuring all eligibility criteria are met applicants can navigate the entire online application process with clarity and confidence. As Southeast Asia grapples with a rise in hospitalisations and several states reporting a surge in Covid-19 cases, Indias capital, Delhi, has also reported at least 23 new infections, Health Minister Pankaj Singh said on Friday, May 23. In a statement, Pankaj Singh said the Delhi government was verifying the details of the Covid-19 cases to determine if patients are residents of the city or have travel history. The Delhi government has also issued an advisory on Covid, asking hospitals to prepare for the availability of beds, oxygen, medicines and vaccine. The advisory, issued by the Health Department, comes in the wake of several states reporting Covid cases. The government has asked health institutions to send all positive samples for genome sequencing to Lok Nayak Hospital. The hospitals must ensure preparedness in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, other drugs and vaccine. All equipment such as ventilators, Bi-PAP, oxygen concentrators and PSA must be in functional condition, the advisory stated. Also Read | Is Covid-19 back in India? All we know amid recent surge in Hong Kong, Singapore In the seven-point advisory, the medical directors or medical superintendents or administrators of all government and private hospitals have been asked to ensure 1. hospital preparedness in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics and other drugs and vaccines. They need to ensure all the equipments such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, PSA etc. are in functional condition. 2. Refresher training of dedicated staff may be conducted. 3. Reporting of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) & Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in all health facilities (OPD/IPD) on a daily basis on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal. Confirmed influenza and Covid-19 cases may also be reported on IHIP under L form. 4. Daily reporting of all parameters on Delhi State Health Data Management Portal. Also Read | Credit on the cards: Govt may revive Covid-era schemes to boost manufacturing, exports 5. Adequate testing as per Covid-19 testing guidelines. Ensure Covid-19 testing of 5% ILI cases & 100% SARI cases. ICMR guidelines for testing are attached. 6. Send all positive Covid-19 samples for Whole Genome Sequencing to LokNayak Hospital so as to enable timely detection of new variants, if any and share the number of samples sent for WGS with State Surveillance Unit. Harvard vs Trump: The Donald Trump administration, in its escalating feud with Harvard University, recently dealt the Ivy League school another huge blow revoking the varsity's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification which enables a university to enrol international students. Harvard University sued the Trump government, stating that the block had an immediate and devastating effect on the university and over 7,000 visa holders, and a US judge blocked the government's decision for now. But what if the Trump government becomes successful in revoking Harvard's SEVP certification? What does it mean for the international students? LiveMint explains. Why is revocation of SEVP worrying for international students? The SEVP, granted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allows colleges and universities to enrol international students on F-1 and M-1 visasthe most common types of student visas. Also Read | Judge blocks Trump admin's decision to bar foreign student enrolment at Harvard Without the SEVP, schools are not permitted to issue the Form I-20, a crucial document that verifies a students enrollment, and is required for students to maintain their legal immigration status in the US. What if SEVP is revoked? It is very simple: if the status is not reverted to original, then Harvard cannot have international students in the coming year, Bhuvanyaa Vijay, an immigration lawyer, told The Crimson, before the court ruling. What current international students need to do? According to The Crimson, international students currently enrolled at Harvard will need to transfer out of Harvard or risk losing their ability to remain in the United States lawfully, if the varsity's SEVP revocation takes effect. The revocation of Harvards SEVP status does not immediately invalidate student visas. Instead, students will get a grace period to determine how they will respond. Also Read | How China reacted to Trump banning Harvard from enrolling foreign students Although the Trump administration had not specified the grace period, Bhuvanyaa Vijay said that lawyers usually ask such students to hurry up, and within 15 days at best, ask them to try to transfer to another SEVP-certified institution. What happens to the current graduating batch? Those students, who are set to graduate from Harvard University around next week should be eligible to receive their degrees, said immigration lawyers. Also Read | Reason and impact of Trump's banning Harvard from enrolling foreign students The jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said Army chief Gen Asim Munir should have given himself the title of "king" instead of field marshal as Pakistan is currently governed by the "jungle law". Gen Munir was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal on Tuesday for his role in the recent conflict with India, becoming the second top military officer in the country's history to be promoted to this position. "MashaAllah, General Asim Munir has been made Field Marshal. Though frankly, it might have been more fitting to give him the title of 'King' instead because right now, the country is ruled by the law of the jungle. And in the jungle, there is only one king," Khan stated on X. Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 in numerous cases, also mentioned that rumours of a deal being made with him are not true, stating, "No deal has taken place, nor is any dialogue underway. These are baseless lies." However, he openly asked the military establishment to have discussion with him if it truly concerned about Pakistans interests and future. The country is facing external threats, a surge in terrorism, and an economic crisis. We must unite. I have never asked for anything for myself before, nor will I now, he asserted. Khan also warned the Shehbaz Sharif government about the possibility of another attack from India, urging them to be ready for any such eventuality. He added that Pakistan has become a country where the law is enforced only against the weak, while the powerful remain above it. 'Sharif was accused in PKR 22-billion money laundering case, yet he was made PM': Khan "The ongoing situation reflects that the very spirit of democracy is being crushed. When you send the message that the bigger the thief, the higher the office theyll hold you bury justice. The NAB still holds a case against (President) Asif Zardaris sister involving five apartments registered under employees names. She is abroad, and no one dares question her. Shahbaz Sharif was accused in PKR 22-billion money laundering case, yet he was made Prime Minister," he mentioned. Khan further said that Pakistans moral and constitutional framework has been completely annihilated over the past three years. Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif admits India's missiles hit Nur Khan Airbase "A farcical trial has been resumed in the Toshakhana-II case. Just like in prison, court proceedings are dictated by the will of a single colonel. My sisters and lawyers are being barred from court; my companions are not allowed to meet me; I am denied contact with my children for months; even my books are not delivered, and I am denied access to my physician. This is a continued violation of court orders and laws," he sated. He added that he had received information about drone attacks in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and instructed the provincial government to formally protest to the federal government and take urgent action to halt these drone strikes. "The killing of innocent civilians in drone attacks does not reduce terrorism as it only fuels it further. After years of struggle, we had succeeded in halting American drone operations in Pakistan. If you claim to be against terrorism, then do not drop bombs on the homes of your own people," he said. India and Pakistan have extended their bans on each other's airlines from entering their airspace, the Ministry of Civil Aviation in India and Pakistan Airports Authority said in two separate statements on Friday. In a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, no aircraft registered in Pakistan, and operated, owned or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators will be allowed to enter the Indian airspace till June 23. The Indian airspace ban also applies to Pakistani military aircraft, according to the NOTAM. Meanwhile, Islamabad's closure bars all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines from entering Pakistan's airspace until 4:59 a.m. local time on June 24, as per the statement issued by Pakistan Airports Authority. It applies to all aircraft registered, operated, owned, or leased by India, including all Indian military aircraft, the statement said. This ban will also apply to Indian military aircraft. No flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace, the statement said. "Under the directive, no flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to enter or transit through Pakistani airspace, the PAA said. The moves by the two countries come as extensions on restrictions first imposed last month amid continued tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after the Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan airspace closure for India Pakistan had banned its airspace for India last month after steps taken by New Delhi in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The ban was imposed for a month until May 23, as under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules that airspace restrictions cannot be imposed for more than one month at a time. IndiGo pilot's request rejected by Pakistan despite severe turbulence The extension of the Pakistani airspace for India comes two days after the Pakistan rejected an IndiGo pilot's request to access its airspace after it was hit by a severe turbulence, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Friday. Also Read | Pakistan opens its airspace after ceasefire agreement The crew of the IndiGo flight from the national capital to Srinagar on Wednesday had sought permission to enter Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence that affected the aircraft's exterior. However, Pakistan rejected the request. Germany has officially come out in support of India after its efforts to curb terrorism through Operation Sindoor, which was launched against Pakistani terrorists on May 7 following the Pahalgam terror attack. In a joint briefing with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said India has every right to defend itself against terrorism. Condemning the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22, Wadephul said Germany was appalled. We were appalled by the brutal terrorist attack on India on the 22nd of April. We condemned this attack on civilians in the strongest terms. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all victims and their families. After military attacks on both sides, India, of course, has every right to defend itself against terrorism, he said. The German minister appreciated the understanding that India reached with Pakistan and hoped that it remained in place. The fact that the truce is now in place is something we appreciate very much. What is important now is that this truce remains stable, that dialogue can happen in order to find bilateral solutions for that conflict, taking into account the vital interests of both sides. Germany and India have been fostering a regular dialogue on the fight against terrorism for years, and we intend to intensify it further, Johann Wadephul said. He further added that Germany will support all fights against terrorism, including that of India. Germany will support any fight against terrorism. Terrorism must never have a place in the world, anywhere, and this is why we will support everyone who fights and has to fight terrorism. We very much appreciate that a ceasefire has been reached, and we hope that there will be a solution soon, the German Foreign Minister added. S. Jaishankar's statement External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the German government had conveyed its understanding that every country had the right to defend itself against terror. We had a conversation on the 7th of May, which is when we initiated our operations. It was a very understanding and positive conversation. And quite honestly, even before that, the German government had expressed solidarity. The minister very clearly conveyed Germany's understanding that every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism, Jaishankar said. Jaishankar who is on an official visit to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany from May 19 to 24 reiterated India's position on zero tolerance against terrorism. I come to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. We also value Germany's understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism, the EAM said. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spent 14.5 crore on campaigning during the Delhi Assembly election held in February this year. The Congress party spent 46.18 crore, according to the expenditure reports filed by parties with the Election Commission of India. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has submitted a partial expenditure report, which shows that the saffron party spent 17 crore on its 68 candidates. The Delhi Assembly elections results came as a setback for the AAP, with the BJP securing 48 of the 70 seats and reducing it to 22. The BJP came back to power in the national capital after 27 years. The Congress once again drew a blank in the Delhi assembly elections. AAP: Propaganda, Advertisement, and Notices Of the 14.5 crore, the AAP has spent 12.12 crore on general election propaganda. This includes 5 crore spent on media advertisements, phone calls, bulk SMS services, and Google ads, as per the report available on the Election Commission's website. For advertisements on Google, it spent 2.24 crore, while 73.57 lakh was spent on publicity on Facebook. Of the 14.5 crore, the AAP has spent 12.12 crore on general election propaganda. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party spent 16 lakh on advertising the criminal antecedents of its candidates. Among candidates, the AAP gave the highest 39 lakh to its Moti Nagar candidate Shiv Charan Goel, who lost to the BJPs Harish Khurana. Party chief Arvind Kejriwal got only 10 lakh, and former Chief Minister Atishi and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia 20 lakh each. Former Minister Gopal Rai received 24.75 lakh, Saurabh Bharadwaj 22.8 lakh and Satyendar Jain 23 lakh, as per the details available on the poll panel's website. Congress: Public Meetings, Guarantee Cards The party did not fund its 70 candidates individually. Of 46.18 crore total expenses, the Congress party spent 40.13 crore on general party propaganda and 6.05 crore on candidates, including expenses on social media campaigns. The party spent 17.78 crore on advertisements, including 2.28 crore for print ads to Associated Journals Ltd, which publishes the National Herald owned by the Gandhi family. The party spent 18 crore on posters and other campaign materials. The party spent 4.85 crore on meetings, while 37,104 was spent on star campaigners. Another 2.79 crore was spent on printing guarantee cards, while 20.11 lakh was spent on live streaming events and 33,500 on press conferences. BJP: 25 Lakh to each candidate The Election Commission has not yet published the BJPs Delhi poll expenditure report in full. However, it has published a part report showing that the party gave 25 lakh each to 68 candidates, which amounts to 17 crore. The Election Commission has not yet published the BJPs Delhi poll expenditure report in full A candidate can spend up to 40 lakh for campaigning during assembly elections, and a party can spend as much for a seat. The expenditure by the parties doesn't reflect the money spent by candidates during elections. India and Pakistan decided to to halt military actions earlier this month after negotiations directly by the militaries of the two sides without the involvement of any other country, Union External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said on 23 May. The understanding after four days of conflict begining 7 May was trigerred after Indian military strikes that hit [Pakistan] very hard on the morning of May 10, Jaishankar told Danish broadcaster TV 2 during an interview while responding to a question on the role played by US President Donald Trump in mediating between the two countries. The cessation of hostilities between the two nations came on 10 May after India's 'Operation Sindoor', launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. Trump has been taking credit President Trump has taken credit for the two countries arriving at an understanding to stop military action after four days of hostilities. On Wednesday, President Trump reiterated he facilitated the understanding through trade negotiations that de-escalate tensions between the two nations. India has repeatedly insisted that understanding was reached during talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries. We had the conflict for a few days [and] we resolved that conflict for the moment in its particular military form through an understanding for the cessation of fighting and military action. And this was something that we negotiated directly between the militaries of the two countries, Jaishankar said in the interiview. Jaishankar is on a six-day visit of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany beginning 19 May. This is Jaishankar's first foreign visit after the four-day-long military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani armed forces in the aftermath of 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. We resolved that conflict for the moment in its particular military form through an understanding for the cessation of fighting. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in an interview recently that it's natural that when two countries are engaged in a conflict, other countries in the world "call up and try to sort of indicate their concern". "But the cessation of firing and military action was something which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan," Jaishankar reiterated in an interview with Dutch public broadcasters NOS. Jaishankar said this in response to a question about US President Donald Trump's claim that the US "mediated" talks between India and Pakistan as tensions flared up between the two countries. 'Not just US...' Jaishankar said US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance had called up. "Rubio had spoken to me, Vance had spoken to our prime minister. They had their view, and they were talking to us, and they were talking to Pakistanis, as indeed were some other countries." "The United States was not alone in this. I think there were some countries in the Gulf. There were some others as well," Jaishankar said. Jaishankar said that as leaders of nations, not just from the US, contacted India amid the conflict, one thing [was made] very clear to everybody who spoke to us. "We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the United States, but to everybody. saying, 'Look, if the Pakistanis want to stop firing, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their general has to call up our general and say this and that is what happened," he said. On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to reach a "bilateral understanding" after intense cross-firing took place along the borders since the launch of Operation Sindoor. 'Let's not pretend Pakistan not involved in terror attacks' In an interview with Dutch daily De Volkskrant, Jaishankar said, "Let's stop pretending Pakistan is not involved in terrorist attacks on India." When asked whether he was implying that Pakistan supports terrorism, Jaishankar responded: "I am not suggesting that, I am stating that. Suppose that there were large military centres in the middle of a city like Amsterdam where tens of thousands of people gathered for military training, would you say that your government knows nothing about that? Of course not." "We should not go along with the narrative that Pakistan does not know what is going on. The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations (UN) sanctions list are all in Pakistan," Jaishankar said. He further claimed, "They [terrorists] operate in the big cities, in broad daylight. Their addresses are known. Their activities are known. Their mutual contacts are known. So let's not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it." Jaishankar referred to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and stated that the Pakistani military leadership holds extreme religious views. "We want a definitive end to terrorism. Our message is therefore: yes, the ceasefire has put an end to military actions against each other for now, but if the terrorist attacks from Pakistan continue, there will be consequences. The Pakistanis must understand that very well," Jaishankar said. The Supreme Court has decided not to impose a sentence on a man convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, citing exceptional circumstances in the case, according to a report by NDTV. The ruling was delivered by a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, invoking the Courts special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure complete justice, according to the report. The society judged her, the legal system failed her, and her own family abandoned her, the Supreme Court remarked, according to the report. In its ruling, the Supreme Court noted that the victim, who is now an adult, did not consider the incident to be a criminal act. Though the incident is seen as a crime in law, the victim did not accept it as one. It was not the legal crime that caused trauma to her, but rather the consequences that followed. What she had to face as a consequence was the police, the legal system, and a constant battle to save the accused from punishment, the Court added. The facts of this case are an eye-opener for everyone. The case reached the Supreme Court following widespread backlash over controversial remarks made by the Calcutta High Court in its 2023 judgment acquitting the accused. The High Court had overturned a 20-year sentence and made sweeping generalisations about adolescent girls, suggesting they should control sexual urges and that society views them as the loser in such situations. These comments sparked significant public outrage. The Supreme Court intervened not only to reassess the acquittal but also to address and scrutinise the High Courts problematic observations. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described the Northeast as the most diverse part of our diverse nation and hailed it as Indias new growth engine, while inaugurating the first-ever Rising Northeast Investors Summit in New Delhi. Speaking to a gathering of policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, Modi said the region, once seen merely as a frontier, is now emerging as a frontrunner in national development. For us, east is not just a direction. For us, east means Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform, the prime minister said, emphasizing the governments focus on infrastructure and connectivity to unlock the Northeasts economic potential. From trade to tradition, from textile to tourism, the diversity of the Northeast is its strength. Northeast means bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports, skill, an emerging hub of eco-tourism, and a new world for organic products. Northeast is the powerhouse of energy. Northeast is 'Ashta Lakshmi' for us, he added. Backing this vision with numbers, minister for communications and development of northeastern region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, said the governments sustained efforts over the past decade had driven a historic transformation. It is our very own prime minister who, over the past ten years, has increased the gross budgetary support from 10% to enable an investment of nearly 6.75 lakh crore in the northeastern region, Scindia said, calling it a game changer that has redefined the regions growth trajectory and turned it into a land of opportunity. Even before the prime ministers address, industry leaders announced major investment commitments that could reshape the regions economy. Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani pledged 75,000 crore over the next five years, targeting agriculture, telecommunications, digital services, and local enterprise development. We see immense potential in the Northeast and are committed to contributing to its transformation into a modern economic zone, Ambani said. Adani Group chairperson Gautam Adani also announced an additional 50,000 crore investment over the next decade in green energy, roads, and digital infrastructure, on top of the 50,000 crore his group had already committed to Assam earlier this year. Our expansion in the Northeast will prioritise local jobs, local entrepreneurship, and community engagement, Adani said, underscoring the groups focus on sustainable and inclusive development. Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal announced an additional 30,000 crore investment in the Northeast, expanding on the companys earlier 50,000 crore commitment to Assam. The fresh investment will span oil and gas, critical minerals, power, data centres, and renewable energy across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. With a total commitment of 80,000 crore, Vedanta expects to generate up to 100,000 jobs in the region. Agarwal said the Northeastrich in natural and human resourcesis fast emerging as a key growth engine under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducting searches on Friday in connection with 12,000-crore fraud case allegedly involving Jaypee Infratech, Jaypee Associates Limited and others. They are being probed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) over alleged fraud with homebuyers and investors and siphoning/diversion of funds. Also Read | IT dept challenges NCLT order approving Suraksha Group' bid for Jaypee Infratech The raids have been underway since early Friday at 15 locations across Delhi, the National Capital Region, and Mumbai as part of the money laundering investigation under the PMLA. Accoridng to news agency ANI, the search was conducted at 15 premises located in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai which include Jaypee Associates and its associated entities, Gaursons, Gulshan, Mahagun and Suraksha Realty. The targeted premises include offices and properties linked not only to Jaypee Associates and its associated entities but also to other major real estate players such as Gaursons, Gulshan, Mahagun, and Suraksha Realty. According to officials, the fraudulent activities primarily involved the siphoning and diversion of funds meant for homebuyers and investors. ED said its investigation points to large-scale financial mismanagement and misuse of public money, affecting thousands of unsuspecting individuals who had invested in properties with the hope of securing their dream homes. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are expected to uncover further details surrounding the alleged money trail, which could have far-reaching implications for the companies involved and the real estate sector at large. There was no immediate response from the companies concerned. The Delhi high court on Friday reserved the order on a plea by Turkish ground and cargo handling firm Celebi Airport Services Ltd. The Turkish company approached the Delhi high court last week, challenging the revocation of its security clearance by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The BCAS revoked the security clearance for Celebi Airport Services, which provides ground handling services to nine major international airports, citing national security on 15 May. The order came after Turkey backed Pakistan following India's Operation Sindoor. Also Read: Nitin Pai: Operation Sindoor leaves India better placed for the next round Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, arguing on behalf of Celebi, said the current situation is a violation of natural justice. The Indian government should have provided some information about revoking security clearance to Celebi before submitting information in a sealed envelope to the court. Rohatgi told the court that the company should have been told about the accusations or served a show cause notice. We were given a two-line order and then business was shut, he said. On Thursday, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, while making arguments for the government, told the court that the government had plenary power to avoid any potential threat to the country. He also told court that ground handling companies have access to the entire airport and aircraft, and the director general of BCAS has the power to eliminate any immediate threat. Also Read: India fast-tracks $3-billion spy satellite scheme following Operation Sindoor Countering this argument, Rohatgi told the single-judge bench, presided over by Justice Sachin Datta, that Celebi has been working in India for the last 17 years. You are dealing with a party without blemish for 17 years. The business cannot come to an end overnight. I have a constitutional right to carry out business, that right can't be contained, he said. He also said the company employs 10,000 people, and each individual gets a security pass. Nobody can enter the airport areas without the individual security pass, he added. Justice Datta on Friday asked the Indian government and Celebi to file written submissions by 26 May, despite Mehta insisting that both file written submissions by 24 May. Celebi refuted all allegations in a 15 May statement. Celebi Aviation India unequivocally refutes all allegations circulating on social media regarding the companys ownership and operations in India. The company is 65% owned by international institutional investors from across Canada, US, UK, Singapore, UAE, and Western Europe. India and the European Union (EU) are conducting trade talks this week in hopes of advancing an early-harvest agreement by July, while Shapoorji Pallonji Group is planning to raise funds to manage its debt. Indias core sector growth fell to an eight-month low in April. Mixed progress The government's latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data for 2021, released earlier in May, shows an increase in India's sex ratio at birth. According to the report, the number of females per 1,000 males increased to 913 in 2019-21 from 898 in 2014-16. While overall India figure has crossed the 900-mark, many states including Delhi (863) had a lower ratio. At the same time, some states with historically low ratios, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana, showed notable improvement during the period, a Mint analysis showed. Trade thrust The trade talks between India and the 27-nation EU are expected to conclude rapidly for an early-harvest trade agreement by July, news agency Press Trust of India reported. Negotiators are meeting in Brussels for the 12th round of discussions this week. India recently finalised a free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK, and a deal with the EU will bolster the countrys position amid a tough trade environment. Indias trade with Europe has grown significantly in the past few years, though the country imports more from the region than it exports. Fundraising $1.3 billion: Thats the amount Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group is planning to raise over the next two years by taking its real estate business public and selling some assets in its oil and gas businesses, Mint reported. The money raised will be used to manage the groups rising debts by making interim payments to creditors. The SP Group reportedly has a total outstanding debt of 55,000-60,000 crore as of 31 March 2024. It would be the second SP Group public offering since the listing of its subsidiary in October 2024. Monsoon boost The India Meteorological Departments (IMD) forecast of an above-normal monsoon in 2025 and an expected early onset has boosted the outlook for agricultural activity and rural growth in the country. While excess or deficient rainfall may be harmful for the produce, above-normal rainfall, beyond a point, has little impact on agricultural gross value added (GVA), studies showed. However, rainfall this year is predicted to be 105% of the long-period average (LPA), only slightly above the normal range of 96-104% of the LPA, which may bode well for the agricultural output. Border blockage India has imposed new port restrictions on certain consumer goods, including readymade garments and processed food items, imported from Bangladesh. The import of readymade garments, which has seen a dramatic rise over the past 15 years, accounts for nearly 34% of total imports. Overall, the restriction may impact imports worth $770 million, or nearly 42% of the total imports from Bangladesh, Global Trade Research Initiative said in a report. The trade research group also said the restrictions may be in response to Bangladeshs recent restrictions on Indian yarn, rice, and other goods. Bulging gap 10%: Thats the share of adult women over 20 years of age living with obesity in India, according to the latest World Heart Federation (WHF) report. Globally, adult obesity has quadrupled since 1990. In India, this figure for women has grown at least sevenfold from 1990 to 2024. In comparison, obesity in men rose by 4.9% since 1990, making obesity a bigger problem among women. Among children, the gap is less, with a 3% increase in obesity among girls and a 4% rise in obesity among boys since 1990. Core slowdown The output of India's eight core infrastructure sectors, representing two-fifths of the country's industrial output, expanded by a mere 0.5% in April from a year ago. This marks its lowest performance in eight months, with the previous low being a 1.5% contraction in August 2024. According to provisional data, only coal and natural gas reported a sequential rise in production during April. Conversely, output in three key sectorscrude oil, refinery products, and fertilisersall contracted during the month. Chart of the week: Brewing exports Indias coffee exports have more than doubled from around $0.8 billion in 2014-15 to $1.8 billion in 2024-25, even as coffee production has risen only marginally as India was able to extract greater value through improved market access, Mint reported. Follow our data stories on theIn Charts" andPlain Facts" pages on the Mint website. Hong Kong Customs completes pilot of blockchain-based validation platform for Asia-Pacific Xinhua) 13:09, May 23, 2025 HONG KONG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A blockchain-based cross-validation platform, aimed to accelerate logistics and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, has completed its first pilot program, Chan Tsz-tat, commissioner of Customs and Excise of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, announced on Thursday. The Hong Kong Customs chief said this while meeting the press following the conclusion of the 26th World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia/Pacific Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference here on Thursday. Through this e-platform, led by Hong Kong Customs as the World Customs Organization vice chair for the Asia-Pacific Region, a batch of goods transported from Chinese mainland's Shenzhen to Thailand via Hong Kong successfully underwent remote certification last week, lowering Thailand's import tax rate from 10 percent to 0 under the Framework Agreement on China-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation, said Chan. The platform allows customs authorities to verify electronic documents such as certificates of origin and import/export licenses without exchanging sensitive data directly, Chan added, noting that Hong Kong Customs will further enhance this innovative solution to serve and consolidate Hong Kong's role as a leading international financial, shipping, and trade hub. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) New Delhi: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), a body under the health ministry, has found a commonly used antibiotic combinationsulfamethoxazole and trimethoprimto have shown serious adverse reactions. This fixed dose combination drug is a popular antimicrobial medication used for the treatment of a wide range of bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, skin infection, granuloma, urinary tract infection etc. The commission noted that the drug is showing serious adverse reaction in the form of leukopenia, a life-threatening condition which lowers the white blood cell count. The analysis of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) database revealed that suspected drugSulfamethoxazole + Trimethoprimused for indication(s) like Urinary Tract infection; Respiratory-tract infection including Bronchitis, Pneumonia, infections in Cystic Fibrosis, Melioidosis, Listeriosis, Brucellosis, Granuloma Inguinale, Otitis Media, Skin infection, Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia is showing adverse drug reaction called Leukopenia, IPC in a drug alert for the month of May, seen by Mint. Also read | India to boost production of combat medicines, pharma dept told to prepare list of drugs IPC asked healthcare professionals, patients and consumers to closely monitor for any adverse reaction with the drug and report to the authorities if such a reaction occurs. Medical experts said that doctors should be cautious when prescribing this combination, especially for vulnerable patients, and regular blood tests can help catch any issues early. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been used for years to treat a range of common bacterial infections because its effective and widely available. But the recent alert from the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission about its link to leukopeniaa drop in white blood cellsis an important reminder that even well-known medicines can have serious side effects. A low white cell count can make it harder for the body to fight infections, especially in older adults or people with weaker immune systems, said Dr R.R. Dutta, HOD, Internal Medicine, Paras Health Gurugram. The IPC monitors adverse drug reactions among the Indian population and recommends the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to take suitable regulatory decisions for safe use of medicines. Read this | Online pharmacies, chemists at odds over home delivery of medicines as Centre mulls stopping the practice Earlier, Mint reported that the Drugs Controller General of India has directed states/UTs to keep a close surveillance on the sale of unapproved antibiotic combinations and ensure that these cocktail drugs do not find their way to the market. The plan is to stop the misue of antibiotics. Last year, the IPC issued 10 drug safety alerts. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), often due to overuse or wrong use of drugs, has emerged as a serious and growing threat to public health across the world, with around 600,000 lives being lost in India each year due to such AMR infections, as per the data available with the ministry of chemical and fertilizer. Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered. According to Crisil market intelligence and analytics, the market size of the anti-infective segment in India stood at about 251.3 billion for FY24. These include antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. An ambitious scheme to boost local telecom manufacturing is still far from its target, four years after the government set aside 12,000 crore to get companies to build everything from network gear to set-top boxes. While beneficiaries of the scheme have sold goods worth over 80,000 crore during the period, incentive claims are still a fraction of the originalallocation. Top manufacturers such Samsung, HFCL Ltd, Netweb Technologies, Kaynes International, Optiemus unit GDN Enterprises and state-owned ITI Ltd have not claimed any incentives yet, as they either failed to start manufacturing or were unable to meet targets. The result: only a tenth of the incentives have been claimed by manufacturers so far. A Right To Information (RTI) request found that the scheme disbursed 1,162.04 crore by the end of FY25, against the 12,195 crore approved for five years. While 42 companies were shortlisted, only half claimed incentives. The scheme was introduced in February 2021 to incentivize the local manufacture of equipment such as network switches, transmission gear and set-top boxes. Also read: Airtel, Google team up to counter Jios free cloud blitz with 100 GB storage According to industry executives, the reasons include weak order book and demand, competition within the segment and the inability to meet set targets of investments and sales. Missed opportunity The reason why many players missed the opportunity is owing to the market structure compared to that of smartphone PLI," a consultant who works with companies said. Telecom PLI serves the B2B market where the companies already have fixed clients, while the more successful smartphone PLI serves the B2C market, the consultant said on the condition of anonymity. The smartphone PLI scheme has been among the government's most successful ones. On 17 April, electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a post on X that in FY25, smartphone exports reached a record 2 trillion. Exports grew 55% in FY25. The telecom PLI scheme offers incentives of 4-7% of the incremental sales over the years. In the first, second and third years, MSMEs get a 1% higher incentive. Samsung has not started production and is meeting the equipment supplies to Indian telcos from imports," an industry executive aware of the matter said. The company did not respond to a query. HFCL's plan In February, domestic gear maker HFCL had said it expects to start claiming PLI incentives from FY26. PLI amount, we have still not been able to claim becausethe amount of revenue we thought would come from telecom equipment, which will make PLI available to us would not be fulfilled during the current financial year. So, we expect to start claiming PLI from the next financial year," Mahendra Nahata, promoter and managing director of HFCL told analysts during an earnings call in February. Also read: OneWeb seeks more time to meet satcom security norms as spectrum nears If at all we are able to claim, this (PLI incentive) should be around 40-50 crore," Nahata added. On 1 November 2022, HFCL had said it would invest around 425 crore towards the development and manufacture of various eligible products under the PLI scheme. The company had said it was granted approval to avail of incentives up to 652.79 crore as part of the governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme from FY23 to FY27. Companies approved under the scheme were allowed to choose a period of five consecutive years either from FY22 to FY26, or FY23 to FY27, to achieve the net incremental sales. Queries sent to the Union communications ministry which administers the scheme, as well as HFCL, Kaynes, Samsung, Optiemus, Netweb Technologies and ITI remained unanswered. Successful A government official, however, claimed the scheme was successful. The targets are set by the firms themselves. If they have not claimed any incentives, they may not have met the sales or investment target. Despite that, they have contributed to the overall sales and exports of telecom equipment," the official said on the condition of anonymity, adding the government steadily disburses the amounts. The ministry's PLI dashboard showed that the beneficiaries under the telecom scheme have invested 4,139 crore and generated sales of 80,927 crore as of March end. The companies have generated a cumulative employment of 26,345. Tata Group company Tejas Networks, which designs and manufactures telecom equipment, won incentives of 345.27 crore for FY23, FY24, and FY25 so far, the highest among all the companies, the RTI document showed. The company has gained from BSNL's 4G rollout order, and also exports its products to 75 countries. Jabil Circuit India, which contract-manufactures for Ericsson and Apple, was the second in the list, claiming incentives of 236 crore, the RTI document showed. Right strategies Contract manufacturers such as Flextronics Technologies India, Foxconns Rising Stars Hi-Tech and Syrma SGS, got incentives of 90.31 crore, 80.33 crore, and 53.3 crore, respectively. VVDN Technologies and Dixon Electro Appliances received incentives of 48 crore and 34.8 crore so far, according to the document. Also read: After a new lifeline, Vodafone Idea searches for a new CEO The success under the PLI scheme also depended on the right sales and investment strategies, which most medium-size companies have been able to meet. The government gave the companies a free hand to decide on the targets which, maybe, were overestimated by some companies," said Paritosh Prajapati, chief executive officer and founder of Sweden-based GX Group. The company is manufacturing routers, switches and other telecom equipment under the scheme in India and has received incentives of 20.9 crore. Prajapati said the focus will now shift to exports as companies have set up domestic bases. Exports By the end of FY25, total exports under the telecom PLI scheme were at 14,838 crore. Nokia Solutions and Networks India exported equipment worth 4,487 crore, followed by Jabil at 4,356 crore. Nokia, so far, has been able to get incentives of only 47 crore under the scheme. The company supplies 4G/5G equipment to telecom operators in the country and globally. US-based Commscope, which provides network infrastructure solutions, exported telecom equipment worth 2,882 crore under the scheme. Domestic players such as VVDN Technologies exported products worth 1,293 crore, followed by Syrma SGS at 583 crore and Tejas at 420 crore. Sanmina-Sci India, a subsidiary of US-based Sanmina Corp., exported 384 crore worth of telecom equipment. Notably, Jio is currently manufacturing its devices in India under Reliance Industries joint venture with Sanmina. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had notified the PLI scheme for telecom and networking products in February 2021 with an outlay of 12,195 crore. The incentives for eligible companies were in the range of 4-7% based on incremental sales of telecom and networking products manufactured. For MSMEs, a 1% higher incentive was there in year 1, year 2 and year 3 of the scheme. In June 2022, the government amended the scheme to facilitate design-led manufacturing with an additional incentive rate of 1% over and above the existing incentive rates. A sum of 4,000 crore from the 12,195 crore was set aside for the same. The government also extended the tenure of the scheme from five years (FY22 to FY26) to 6 years (FY22 to FY27). Companies approved under the scheme were allowed to choose a period of five consecutive years either from FY22 to FY26, or FY23 to FY27, to achieve the net incremental sales for the incentive claim. Investments, however, are allowed till FY25 or FY26 depending on the base year chosen by the companies. The extension was given as many companies failed to achieve their production targets due to covid-related supply chain disruptions when the scheme came into effect. In a deeply troubling development that highlights Azerbaijans increasingly strict clampdown on dissent, a young man named Igbal Abilov has been sentenced to 18 years in prisonsimply for having online conversations with an Armenian academic. The case has drawn criticism from human rights organisations and raised alarm among those advocating for peace in the Caucasus region. Young Azerbaijani sentenced to 18 years over online dialogue with Armenian scholar Abilov was found guilty of high treason and collaborating with Armenian special services. But those so-called services turned out to be none other than a respected historian Professor Garnik Asatrian, an expert in Iranian studies based in Armenia. The two reportedly spoke via Skype while Abilov was residing in a third country, engaging in conversations that would appear scholarly in nature. Despite the peaceful tone of these interactions, Azerbaijani authorities interpreted the exchange as a threat to national security rather than a sign of potential reconciliation between long-divided neighbours. Who is Garnik Asatrian? Garnik Asatrian is no political operative. He teaches at Yerevan State University and the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University and is known for his academic work in linguistics and cultural studies. Portraying him as a spy dangerously misrepresents his role and raises serious questions about Azerbaijans intent behind the prosecution. The courts claims that Abilov carried out "instructions" from Armenian agents appear to lack solid evidence. According to observers, the verdict leaned heavily on speculation and private conversations, without transparent proof of any wrongdoing. Why is Azerbaijan doing this? This harsh punishment is part of a broader trend in Azerbaijan, where the government has increasingly targeted journalists, activists, and others who challenge the official narrative. Contact with Armeniansregardless of contextis often treated as suspect, and Abilovs sentencing only reinforces that chilling stance. The decision has been widely condemned, especially by those invested in fostering dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and Azerbaijans 2023 military action in the region, the relationship between the two countries remains tense. But instead of allowing space for mutual understanding and reconciliation, the Azerbaijani government appears to be closing the door on such possibilities. Rather than encouraging young citizens to engage in education and peaceful dialogue, this ruling sends a stark warning: curiosity and openness may come at a heavy cost. Tyohaar Sweets, a popular sweet shop in Jaipur, has changed the names of its traditional sweets apparently to show national pride. The word Pak, which is often used in Indian sweet names, has been replaced with Shree. For example, Moti Pak is now Moti Shree, and Mysore Pak is now Mysore Shree. The shops owner, Anjali Jain, said this change was made to spread the feeling of patriotism among citizens, not just soldiers. We decided to remove Pak from the names of our sweets and replace it with more culturally resonant and patriotic alternatives," she told Local18. Jains initiative seems to have gone well with its tagline, OrdinaryIsBoring - Tyohaar don't do ordinary." She added that many customers were uncomfortable with the word Pak after recent tensions with Pakistan. The emotion was even more intense after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Tyohaar Sweets is known for its special sweets, including gold and silver-covered delicacies. These sweets are now called Swarn Shree and Chandi Shree. Social media reactions Social media users reacted to the name change. Who is going to tell them that Pak in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak etc. is from paak, a Kannada word which means 'sweet condiment' and it shares the same root as Hindi paag (sugar syrup)? The shared root for both words is Sanskrit Pakka (cooked, ripe, baked), wrote one user on Reddit. The reason for this change among shopkeepers is 99% WhatsApp forwards. And, ladies and gentlemen, introducing Reason 34, why you shouldn't graduate from WhatsApp University, commented another. Another commented, Crowd pulling, Pak & Paak has a lot of difference. This reflects the limited understanding of religion and culture prevalent in the country today. Consequently, terms like "Paaka Kala" may be misconstrued as the art of Pakistan, and "Paaka Shastra" as the scriptures of Pakistan. High level of Stupidity going on in this country, came from an X (formerly Twitter) user. Another user reacted, Every day, the collective IQ of this country goes down with stories like these! Did You Know? Mysore Pak was first prepared in the royal kitchens of the Mysore Palace by a cook named Kakasura Madappa during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, informed another. Karachi Bakery faces the heat After Indias Operation Sindoor targeted terror camps in Pakistan, Karachi Bakery outlets in Telangana faced protests. Some groups demanded a name change, saying Indian shops should not use Pakistani city names. A former contractual employee at Zepto has levelled serious allegations against the quick-commerce firm, describing the workplace as toxic and comparing their experience to psychological warfare. The claims, made in a now-viral Reddit post, have sparked fresh scrutiny of the company's work culture. According to sources cited by Hindustan Times, the incident concerns a contract worker employed through a third-party vendor, and no on-roll Zepto employee is directly involved in this incident. Read | Strategies to survive a toxic workplace No Holidays, No HR Support The B.Tech graduate alleged that their managers were straight-up abusive and that, being a contractual worker, they had no access to HR support or any formal grievance redressal mechanism. I was broke, jobless and desperate, the Redditor explained, stating this was why they accepted the offer. They also admitted to composing the viral post with the help of ChatGPT. Also read | Indian techie shares toxic work culture experience in firm, netizens ask him to Leave the LALA company ASAP The account details gruelling work conditions: Six days a week, sometimes all seven. 9 AM to 8 PM, occasionally later. No lunch break some days. No holidays. No structure. If someone from the team took a break, it was finebut if I took one, Id get a call from a senior asking why Im not committed. Intimidation Was Constant The post further alleges physical intimidation by a manager. One manager literally started making hand gestures as if he was going to slap or punch me, repeatedly. He never hit me, but the intimidation was constant. That feeling of being trapped, of never knowing when the shouting might turn into something physical... thats trauma. Read | Your mental health matters: Woman quits toxic job in a month, netizens chime in with their work culture experiences I used to freeze at my desk, scared, anxious, and helpless. Thats not a job. Thats psychological warfare, the former employee wrote. The user also recounted their last day at work, claiming HR showed zero empathy even after being informed the worker was unwell. They were reportedly told to return the company laptop within an hour despite having a fever. CEOs Comments on Work-Life Balance Resurface The controversy has resurfaced past criticism of Zeptos CEO, Aadit Palicha, who faced backlash in December last year over remarks seen as dismissive of work-life balance. I have nothing against work-life balance. In fact, I recommend it to all our competitors, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, amid another wave of allegations around the companys workplace culture. He later added, FYI, not my quote - read it from an interview of Daksh Gupta. After a mothers heartfelt plea failed to bridge the chasm, nine rounds of court-appointed mediation and hectic parleys between a battery of lawyers finally forged a truce between warring brothers Abhishek and Abhinandan Lodha. The terms of their settlement, recently filed before the Bombay High Court, clearly spell out that younger brother Abhinandan has no rights to use the word Lodha in isolation for any real estate business. The brothers also agreed that neither owed the other any money. Interestingly, these terms are what Abhishek Lodha and his listed company Macrotech Developers had maintained for long. Also read: Sebi bars Varyaa Creations from markets, halts Inventures fresh IPO mandates While the mediation was achieved in April, the terms of the settlement, as filed before the court, have now come to light. The settlement, too, was achieved in April within days of Macrotech Developers, accusing the House of Abhinandan Lodha of forgery and fraud. When contacted, the two sides declined to comment on whether Macrotechs allegations had any influence on the mediation process. Abhinandan Lodha always believed and continues to believe that private family matters should be discussed within the family and at no stage of the legal and mediation process did we disrespect the process," a spokesperson for Abhinandan Ventures said. We will therefore continue to maintain the dignity of such conduct." The long-simmering dispute between the siblings had its roots in a 2017 family agreement that granted Macrotech Developers (then Lodha Developers) exclusive rights to the Lodha brand. In 2023, the two sides entered into a limited-use agreement allowing Abhinandan to operate under House of Abhinandan Lodha. Disagreements over its use later escalated into litigation, with Macrotech Developers filing a 5,000-crore suit against House of Abhinandan Lodha over the use of the Lodha trademark. Also read: Scam-tainted NSELs 1,950 crore one-time settlement gets investor nod Earlier this year, family matriarch Manju Lodha issued a heartfelt public letter on 21 February, calling for a resolution. Your father and I have discussed at length the claims by both of you we confirm that both of you have no right of any form in the other brothers business or assets," she wrote in the letter reviewed by Mint. The court filing affirms this position, noting: The parties confirm that they have no claim or grievance whatsoever against their parents and expressly waive all their rights to raise any dispute in this regard." The terms specified that Abhishek and Abhinandan Lodha will not commence or continue any proceedings, complaints or suits against each other in relation to any event which may have occurred prior to the date of these consent terms". Resolution came through nine mediation sessions with retired Supreme Court judge Justice R.V. Raveendran, appointed as mediator by the Bombay High Court. The siblings met both physically and virtually, with their legal teams in attendance. The final consent terms, submitted in April, lay down strict separation norms. The fine print As part of the consent decree, Abhinandan has agreed not to use Lodha in isolation for any real estate venture. Instead, the brand may only appear as House of Abhinandan Lodha, a composite unit in which the word Lodha cannot be visually or linguistically emphasized. The parties confirm that Macrotech Developers Limited has an exclusive right over the brand name, trade name and trademark Lodha and Lodha Group," states the court filing. However, Macrotech has agreed not to use two specific termsLodha Ventures and Lodha Finserv. For ventures outside real estate, Abhinandan may use his full name, such as Abhinandan Lodha Motors or Abhinandan Lodha Insurance, but not Abhinandan Lodha Group. The word Lodha must appear in equal prominence and be accompanied by a disclaimer clarifying no connection to the Lodha Group. Also read: Indias FPI reforms open doors, but will foreign capital follow? The terms, which are binding and irrevocable, include a penalty clause: any violation could revive earlier legal claims, including a damages claim of 1 lakh per day. Further, for the next five years and 93 days, all marketing material, including websites, advertisements and brochures issued by Abhinandans businesses, must carry a disclaimer stating no affiliation with Lodha or Lodha Group. The terms also cover trademark withdrawals, email and domain name changes, and third-party liability indemnities. In fact, Abhinandan Ventures announced on 14 May that it had withdrawn the application for registering the trademark for Lodha Ventures from the trademark authorities. Among them, neither side can claim any business connection with the other or recruit each others current or former employees and share office buildings. Legal experts believe the consent terms mark a meticulously structured resolution of a brand and business partition within a family enterprise, becoming a model precedent in Indian jurisprudence on intra-family commercial separations. By establishing exclusive rights, phasing obligations, and disclaimer mandates, the parties have attempted to eliminate ambiguity in brand usage," said Mitakshara Goyal, co-founder of Svarniti Law Offices. From a legal standpoint, the scope for future dispute remainsparticularly if Abhinandan Lodha enters emerging sectors where brand overlap or consumer association with Lodha may be inevitable," she added. Lawyers also said the 1 lakh-per-day penalty and threat of reviving waived claims serve as potent deterrents, but only if strictly enforced. The disclaimer obligations, while preventing confusion, could impede brand independence and long-term positioning," Goyal said. US President Donald Trump on Friday sounded a warning to Apple, threatening a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones that are not manufactured in America. In a post on Truth Social, Trump threatened that if iPhones sold in the US are manufactured in India or anywhere else, Apple must pay a tariff of 25 per cent to Washington. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, he said in the post. Apple CEO Tim Cook had previously said that Apple will source the majority of iPhones sold in the US from India in the June quarter. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank your for your attention to this matter, Trump added. Shares of the iPhone maker fell 4 per cent on the news in premarket trading, as per Bloomberg. The threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on foreign-made iPhones sold in the US could result in a steep increase in the prices of the smartphones in America, a country where predominantly use this particular product. This could also potentially hurt the sales and profits of Apple, one of the leading technology companies of the US. Trump's Apple conflict with India Apple manufactures most of its iPhones in China, while some of them are now being manufactured in India. However, after Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs on China, CEO Tim Cook was looking to to shift iPhone manufacturing to India as it adjusts supply chains. However, that did not sit well with the US President, who during his tour last week to the Middle East revealed his little problem with Tim Cook. I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday, Trump said of his conversation with Apple's CEO, in Doha. I said to him, Tim, you're my friend. I treated you very well. You're coming in with $500 billion (investment). But now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India if you want to take care of India. Also Read | Apple stays on India iPhone call for now in spite of Trump's tantrum However, sources quoted by PTI have maintained that Apple's business in India will remain intact. Apple has said that its investment plans in India are intact and it proposes to continue to have India as a major manufacturing base for its products, a source was quoted as saying by the news agency. In a setback to US President and relief to students, Federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Donald Trump administration's decision to bar foreign student enrolment at Harvard University. The development came amid Harvard filing the lawsuit in US District Court in Massachusetts. "The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing... the revocation of Plaintiff's SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification," ordered judge Allison Burroughs, reported AFP. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard's certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Harvard files lawsuit In a lawsuit filed on Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard termed the government's action a blatant violation of the US Constitution and said that it will have an immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders. "With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," Harvard said. "Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the 389-year-old school added. Harvard enrols almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most are graduate students and they come from more than 100 countries. What Trump administration order said The Trump administration decision has raised concerns over the legal status of thousands of students, including nearly 800 from India, currently enrolled at the varsity. on Thursday, the Trump administration ordered the Department of Homeland Security to terminate Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification. This means Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, the federal agency said. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter dated May 22 to Harvard University that I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Programme certification is revoked. We will support you as we do': Harvard President Alan M. Garber Condemning the unlawful and unwarranted action, Harvard President Alan M. Garber said that the action imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. A day after the Donald Trump administration revoked Harvard University's authority to enroll foreign students, its President Alan Garber issued a heartfelt statement for such students. In a statement released on Friday, Garber also condemned the unlawful and unwarranted action of the Trump administration, saying that it puts the future of thousands and scholars across Harvard University. We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams, he said. Calling the foreign students affected by Thursday's action vital members of the school's community, the Harvard president said that the university will support them. For those international students and scholars affected by yesterdays action, know that you are vital members of our community. You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, our partners in the work of this great institution his statement read. Also Read | Harvard sues Trump govt over revocation of right to enroll foreign students Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world, it added. Harvard University sues Donald Trump administration Earlier on Friday, Harvard University sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke the Ivy League school's ability to enroll foreign students. Alan Garber in his statement addressed the development, saying that they will push a motion for a temporary restraining order. We have just filed a complaint, and a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow. As we pursue legal remedies, we will do everything in our power to support our students and scholars. The Harvard International Office will provide periodic updates as new information becomes available, Garber said. In a complaint filed in Boston federal court, Harvard called the revocation a "blatant violation" of the US Constitution and other federal laws, and had an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders. Also Read | How China reacted to Trump banning Harvard from enrolling foreign students Also Read | Harvard SEVP suspension: 5 key things Indian students must know With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard's student body, international students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission, Harvard said. Harvard University on Friday sued the US government led by President Donald Trump over its revocation of the Ivy League school's right to enroll international students. According to court records cited by Reuters, Harvard University called the decision a blatant violation of the US Constitution's First Amendment and other federal laws. The complaint was filed in Boston federal court. In its complaint, Harvard said that the new block administered by the Trump government had an immediate and devastating effect on the university as well as over 7,000 visa holders. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, the Ivy League school said in its lawsuit. Harvard further said it plans to opt for a temporary retraining order to to block the Department of Homeland Security from carrying out the move. Also Read | Harvard SEVP suspension: 5 key things Indian students must know Trump administration chokes Harvard The Donald Trump Administration has suspended the enrollment of international students in Harvard University under the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced the move, accusing the university of giving rise to an unsafe campus environment by allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to assault Jewish students on campus. The department also accused Harvard University of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, contending the school had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024. Also Read | Reason and impact of Trump's banning Harvard from enrolling foreign students Also Read | Harvard seeks alumni support after nearly $2.6 bn fund freeze by Trump admin Harvards leadership has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment, according to a statement. The latest move came as a blow to Harvard as well as almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The blockade would mean that the international students can no longer attend the university. Existing international students must transfer or lose their legal status, the Department of Homeland Security said further. The threat to Harvards international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. US President Donald Trump's administration banned Harvard University from enrolling international students, escalating its standoff with elite colleges to unprecedented levels on Thursday. The US revoked Harvards Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. Appearing on Fox News, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, said the administration is considering blocking international enrollment at other universities. This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together, Noem reportedly said. Why did Trump admn impose the ban on Harvard? The US' Department of Homeland Security took this step because Harvard failed to comply fully with requests to produce records about its foreign students, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter. Noem accused Harvard of perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Secretary Kristi Noem said, "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments." "Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law," Noem added. In April, Noem had demanded Harvard submit records of any violent or illegal activity by foreign students by April 30 or immediately lose certification under the federal governments student visa program. Impact of ban on foreign students The latest move in the current standoff means that foreign students can no longer attend the university. As per the new order, existing international students must transfer to other schools or lose their legal permission to be in the US, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday. The move could significantly affect the university, which enrols nearly 6,800 international students, most of them in graduate programs, the Associated Press reported. Those students may now have to scramble to figure out their next steps. At Harvard, almost 6,800 students 27 percent of the entire student body come from other countries, up from 19.6 percent in 2006, according to the universitys data. Impact on Massachusetts economy In addition to Harvard itself, a ban on international enrollment also threatens to have implications for the broader Massachusetts economy and a regional ecosystem that thrives off the universitys existence, Bloomberg reported. International students dont just pay tuition to Harvard; they also spend money on restaurants and other activities and many of them stay in the area to work at the states prestigious hospitals, research institutions and biotechnology companies. Does US government have authority over Harvard's enrollment? The US government has authority over who comes into the country. The Department of Homeland Security oversees which colleges are part of the Student Exchange and Visitor Program. The DHS said on Thursday it would remove Harvard. The program gives colleges the ability to issue documentation to foreign students admitted to their schools. Then, the students apply to obtain visas to study in the United States. Will Harvard's current international students be allowed to graduate? Students who completed their degrees this semester will be allowed to graduate. Noem's letter said the changes would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Harvard's Class of 2025 is expected to graduate next week. However, students who have yet to complete their degree need to transfer to another university, Noem said, or they'll lose their legal permission to remain in the US. When can the ban on Harvard be revoked? Noem said in a letter to Harvard that it could regain the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic year if the university provides information, including disciplinary records, video footage of protest activity and records relating to illegal activity by students over the past five years. She said Harvard had to provide the information within 72 hours. Financial pressures for Harvard The blockade on international student enrollment will compound the financial pressures for Harvard. According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration has frozen more than $2.6 billion of Harvards funding and cut off future grants in an increasingly contentious standoff over the schools handling of alleged antisemitism on campus and government demands for more oversight. Trump earlier also called for Harvard to lose its tax-exempt status, a move that the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based school has cautioned would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America. Harvard's response Harvard said the action is unlawful and undermines the schools research mission. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably, a spokesperson was quoted by Bloomberg as saying. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community," the spokesperson said. Trump-Harvard standoff Harvard's battle with the Trump administration dates to early April. Harvard, the university that has produced 162 Nobel prize winners, became the first elite college to refuse to comply with the US government's demands to limit pro-Palestinian protests and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Harvard's refusal led to a series of escalating actions against it. Various federal agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, cut their grant funding to Harvard. This significantly impacted research projects conducted by faculty. YouTuber MrBeast, 27, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has become the only billionaire under 30 who didn't inherit his wealth. He is also the eighth youngest billionaire across the globe, with an estimated $1 billion ( 8,350 crore) fortune, Celebrity Net Worth states. Who is Jimmy Donaldson aka MrBeast? MrBeast was born on May 7, 1998, in Greenville, North Carolina and started his YouTube journey at 12 under the username "MrBeast6000". He is a graduate of Greenville Christian Academy and emphasised on content creation full-time after dropping out from a college. His YouTube channels, comprising MrBeast, Beast Reacts, MrBeast Gaming, and MrBeast Philanthropy, together have more than 415 million subscribers. MrBeast's main channel has 270 million subscribers, becoming the most-subscribed YouTube channel worldwide. Also Read | LED computer monitors for bright and crisp visuals all day long: Top picks How did MrBeast rise to fame? His early content included video game commentary, reaction videos, and humorous compilations. MrBeast's first gained widespread attention in 2017 with a viral video titled Counting to 100,000, which took him 44 hours to accomplish and garnered over 21 million views. Building on that success, he went on to create other viral stunts, such as counting to 200,000, reading the entire dictionary, and taking on unusual challenges like watching a music video on loop for 10 hours. Also Read | Scarlett Johansson's Eleanor the Great earns standing ovation at Cannes He had specialised in what is now called as stunt philanthropy by 2018. That is creating videos that include attention-grabbing challenges with giving away huge cash giveaways. One early popular video showed him giving $1,000 to strangers. In following videos, the amounts escalated dramatically, eventually reaching hundreds of thousands, and even millions of dollars. In December 2019, he organised a challenge where participants had to keep their hand on a $1 million pile of cash, and the last person to take their hand off won the money. MrBeast is known for putting nearly all of his video earnings back into producing new content. In November 2022, reports surfaced that he was looking for investors in his business, valuing it at $1.5 billion. Also Read | Best gaming headphones in 2025 with massive discounts on Amazon Summer Sale 2025 In 2023, Time magazine included MrBeast in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The next year, he claimed the top spot on Forbes' list as the highest-earning YouTube creator of 2024, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion (approximately 8,350 crore). Netflix has just dropped its latest limited series, Sirens, a dark comedy starring Julianne Moore, Milly Alcock, Meghann Fahy, and Kevin Bacon. To know when and where to stream the show, read on for details below. Sirens OTT release Released on Netflix on May 22, 2025, the show brings a gripping blend of humor, suspense, and biting social commentary to the OTT platform. With only five episodes, its a quick bingebut one thats packed with tension, heart, and sharp dialogue. Sirens: From stage to screen Sirens is the brainchild of Molly Smith Metzler, who adapted it from her own 2011 play Elemeno Pea. The series is set over one high-stakes weekend at an opulent beach estate, where family ties and power dynamics unravel with every passing hour. Described as an "incisive, sexy, and darkly funny exploration of women, power and class," the show captures the chaos and complexity that emerges when personal boundaries blur in the world of extreme wealth. A 'summary-of-sorts' for the show The plot centers around two sisters: Devon (played by Meghann Fahy), and Simone (played by Milly Alcock). Devon is deeply uneasy about Simones increasingly unsettling relationship with her new boss, billionaire Michaela 'Kiki' Kell, portrayed by Julianne Moore. What starts as a weekend visit quickly spirals into an intervention, as Devon attempts to pull her sister back from what she sees as a dangerous dynamic. Kevin Bacon adds to the intrigue as Peter Kell, Michaelas husbanda wealthy CEO from a blue-blooded background who adds another layer of tension and complexity to the mix. More about Sirens Each of the five episodes is directed by a trio of renowned filmmakersNicole Kassell, Quyen Tran, and Lila Neugebauerbringing a cinematic feel to the series. Behind the scenes, the show also boasts the producing power of Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley, who serve as executive producers alongside Metzler. With its high-profile cast, sharp writing, and stylish direction, Sirens is poised to become one of this years most talked-about OTT releases. Elias Rodriguez, the suspect accused of fatally shooting two Israeli embassy employees outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., was charged with murder on Thursday, amid rising global tensions over anti-Semitism. Here are the top ten updates: 1. The White House has expressed its strongest condemnation of the killing of two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C. During a press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President Donald Trump is saddened and outraged over the brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staff here in Washington, D.C., last night. 2. Leavitt underscored, The evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society. I spoke to the attorney general this morning. The Department of Justice will be prosecuting the perpetrator responsible for this to the fullest extent of the law. Hatred has no place in the United States of America under President Donald Trump. Everyone here at the White House is praying for the victims' friends and families during this unimaginable time. 3. According to charging documents, after the shooting, the suspect went inside the museum and stated that he did it. He was no longer armed by the time he was taken into custody, according to the affidavit, AFP reported. 4. I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed, he spontaneously said. Investigators said they were still working to corroborate the authenticity of writings purported to be authored by Rodriguez. The FBI is also contacting associates, family members and co-workers, AFP reported. 5. Meanwhile, the interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who was newly appointed by Trump as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, said at a news briefing that the complaint against Rodriguez constitutes a "death penalty-eligible case." As reported by Reuters, Pirro said, We are going to continue to investigate this as a hate crime and as a crime of terrorism. 6. In his remarks delivered via a video message shared on X, the Israeli PM said, Last night in Washington, something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young, beautiful couple - Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were planning to start a new and happy life together. Well, that tragically did not happen. Yaron and Sarah weren't the victims of a random crime. The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone - he wanted to kill Jews. 7. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has condemned the killing of Israeli diplomats in Washington, DC and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice. Jaishankar stated that his thoughts and prayers are with Israeli diplomats' families and colleagues. 8. "Condemn in the strongest term the killing of Israeli diplomats in Washington DC. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and colleagues. The perpetrators must be brought to justice," Jaishankar posted on X. The evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society. He wanted to kill Jews. 9. The Israeli Embassy in India lowered their national flag to remember Israeli diplomats. Taking to X, the Israeli Embassy in India stated, In profound sorrow, we lower the flag today to remember Yaron and Sarah, victims of a brutal terrorist act in Washington D.C. May their memory be a blessing. The Israeli Embassy in India lowered their national flag to remember Israeli diplomats. (Photo: Israel in India/X) Today show co-anchor Sheinelle Jones husband, Uche Ojeh, has died. The couple were married for 17 years. Uche passed away at the age of 45 after a battle with brain cancer. What happened to Sheinelle Jones husband? On May 23, Today co-host Sheinelle Jones husband, Uche Ojeh, passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain tumour called Glioblastoma. Uchechukwuka Adenola Ojeh, known as Uche Ojeh, spent his final days in hospice care and faced his illness with remarkable courage, according to multiple sources who spoke to the outlet, The Post. With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and TODAY co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, Savannah Guthrie said on Today May 23. She added, "There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelles perfect partner in life. In mid-January, 46-year-old Sheinelle Jones announced she would be taking an extended break from the third hour of Today to attend to a personal family matter. Sheinelle and Uche: Their love story Jones and Ojehs love story began in the late 90s, when the pair met while studying at Northwestern University. After dating for eight years, Ojeh proposed at their alma mater. The triathlete popped the question during a rainstorm, much to Jones surprise. The couple tied the knot on September 2, 2007 in Sheinelles hometown of Philadelphia. Two years later, they welcomed their first son, Kayin, in August 2009, before expanding their family with fraternal twins, Clara and Uche, born in July 2012. The United Kingdom has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following a High Court ruling that has cleared the way for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to formalise the contentious agreement. This deal brings an end to decades of British administration over the Indian Ocean archipelago - which has been the subject of ongoing legal and diplomatic disputes since the islands were detached from Mauritius in 1965. Starmer said that the base, operated by US forces, is crucial for British counterterrorism and intelligence and is right at the foundation of our safety and security at home. Read | Britain signs multibillion dollar Chagos deal with Mauritius for control of US-UK air base By agreeing to this deal now on our terms, were securing strong protections, including from malign influence, that will allow the base to operate well into the next century, helping to keep us safe for generations to come," Starmer told reporters at a UK military headquarters in Northwood, near London. The agreement is expected to cost UK taxpayers billions, although the government has not provided specific figures. Concerns have been raised by critics over national security, pointing to Mauritiuss close trade ties with China. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the decision as Labour chaos, accusing Keir Starmers government of surrendering British territory and placing a significant burden on taxpayers. Foreign Office officials had cautioned that any further delay could damage the UKs relations with both Mauritius and the United States. Despite the setback, Bertrice Pompe, who led the most recent legal challenge, pledged to persist in the campaign, stating, Were not Mauritians. We dont want to give up our rights. Read | Historic! UK gives sovereignty of Chagos Island to Mauritius; India says consistently supported The transfer of sovereignty comes in the wake of a 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, backed by the United Nations, which called on the UK to return the islands and bring an end to its colonial administration. Where Are Chagos Island? The Chagos Islands comprise a remote chain of over 60 islands situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, off the southern tip of India and to the south of the Maldives. The islands have been under British sovereignty since 1814, when they were ceded by France. The archipelago is perhaps most renowned for the military base on Diego Garcia, which has supported US military operations ranging from the Vietnam War to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the US acknowledged that the base had also been used for secret rendition flights involving terror suspects. In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, a former British colony, three years prior to Mauritius gaining independence, and designated the area as the British Indian Ocean Territory. The US has described the basehome to approximately 2,500 personnel, predominantly Americanas an almost indispensable platform for security operations across the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa. More recently, the US deployed several nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers to Diego Garcia amid an intense airstrike campaign targeting Yemens Houthi rebels. Celebrations in Mauritius The Chagos Refugees Group headquarters in Pointe aux Sables, near Port Louis, dozens of Chagossians came together to celebrate the signing of the agreement. The atmosphere was charged with emotion -- tears of joy were shed, firecrackers lit up the sky, and heartfelt tributes were exchanged. Speaking with BBC, one elderly woman, overwhelmed by the occasion, quietly said: "Now I can finally go there and die in peace." Olivier Bancoult, the leader of the Chagos Refugees Group, described the occasion as "a historic day for us". "For years, talking to our children about Chagos felt like telling them a story about a place we never truly knew. Today, they will finally be able to walk the land of their ancestors," he added. Barrister Hisham Oozeer told the BBC the agreement represents a "win-win" recognising Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, while also addressing the security interests of both the UK and the US. "But at least after more than 50 years, today Mauritius is fully independent and all Mauritians reunited. Today we have on one side the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Islands being confirmed, and also the safety element, which was important for the UK and USA, being preserved," he explained. Covilen Narsinghen, president of the Mauritius Global Diaspora, described the event as a milestone completing Mauritius decolonisation process and uniting all Mauritians under a single sovereign flag. India Supports UKMauritius Deal India has welcomed the treaty signed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom, which restores Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024 and marks the culmination of the process of decolonisation of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated. The MEA noted that India has consistently backed Mauritiuss rightful claim to the Chagos Archipelago, in line with its longstanding principles on decolonisation, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the brutal killing of two Israeli diplomats in the United States, describing it as a cold-blooded act. He also expressed gratitude to the US for its standing by Israel during this difficult time. The incident ocurred ariund 9:15 p.m. local time outside the Capital Jewish Museum, near an FBI office building on F Street. The two embassy staff were shot as they were leaving an event at the museum, ANI reported citing the law enforcement sources. In his remarks delivered via a video message shared on X, the Israeli PM said, Last night in Washington something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young beautiful couple - Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were planning to start a new and happy life together. Well, that tragically did not happen. Yaron and Sarah weren't the victims of a random crime. The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone - he wanted to kill Jews. He debunked the claims of food aid not reaching Gaza with facts and figures. In a significant announcement, the Israeli PM said, As for the hostages, we'll do every effort to secure them. I'm ready for a temporary ceasefire to get more out but we demand, and you should demand, that all of our hostages be released and released immediately. And so should every civilized country demand this. "Since October 7th, Israel has sent 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza. That's right. 92,000 aid trucks. That includes 1.8 million tons of aid. 1.8 million tons of aid - more than enough food to feed everyone in Gaza. Yet as we had let the aid come in, Hamas stole it. They took a huge chunk for themselves. The rest they sold at exorbitant prices to the Palestinian population.And then they used the money they stole to recruit new terrorists to continue their war against Israel. Our goal from the start was to get food to Palestinian civilians, not to Palestinian terrorists," the Israeli PM said. He thanked US President Donald Trump and the American people for their support to Israel. "I especially want to thank President Trump and the American people for their forthright stand with Israel and with the Jewish people. Together we stand. Together we'll triumph and will see the victory of civilization over barbarism". Trump, Vance, Biden react US President Donald J. Trump in a post on Truth Social stated that these horrible killing are based on antisemitism. He mentioned, These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, now! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You all! My heart breaks for Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were murdered last night at the Capital Jewish Museum. Antisemitic violence has no place in the United States. We're praying for their families and all of our friends at the Israeli Embassy, where the two victims worked, US Vice President JD Vance said. Former US President Joe Biden condoled the attack, stating, Jill and I are horrified and saddened by the deadly shooting outside of the Capital Jewish Museum last night that claimed the lives of two young people, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Antisemitic violence and hate have no place in our communities. We are praying for Yaron and Sarah's families and loved ones. We will not surrender to terrorism The attack is the direct consequence of the virulent and toxic anti-semitic rhetoric against Israel and Jewish communities around the world that has been going on since October 7. Following the murder of our personnel, we will lower the flag to half-mast today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all Israeli missions around the world. Terrorism haunts us everywhere, but we will not surrender to it, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said. A mother has caused anger online after she reportedly chose money over her sons life. Heres what happened. Her son, who had serious liver disease, vomited a lot of blood at home in Uijeongbu, South Korea, on September 20, 2024. Instead of calling an ambulance, she bought a life insurance policy worth 200 million won (about 1.24 crore) in his name. interestingly, the hospital was only seven minutes away. Since the mother did not seek medical help, a friend took the man to the hospital the next day. However, it was too late. He died from severe blood loss just eight hours after the policy was bought, according to the South China Morning Post. Also Read | Insurance for EVs: Top factors to consider before buying battery insurance The mother, who works in the insurance field, is now facing huge public criticism. Many people are shocked that a parent could do this. The South Korean mother is under investigation for allegedly trying to kill her own son for insurance money. The mother claimed she didnt know he was vomiting blood. Nevertheless, the police claim that she knew his condition was serious and still took out the policy. Authorities believe this shows indirect intent to kill. She has been charged with attempted murder and fraud. The case has shocked many, especially after Chinese media widely shared it online. Also Read | How does insurance fraud affect consumers? Here are 4 ways to avoid them Social media is angry and heartbroken at the same time. As the Chinese saying goes, Even a tiger will not eat its own cub. Yet this mother handed her son over to death for money, SCMP quoted one user as saying. Another commented, What a disgraceful mother! An insurance agent who saved her last policy for her own son. Insurance fraud in India In April, three months after a big insurance scam was uncovered in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal district, police filed an 800-page chargesheet against 11 people from UP, Bihar and Jharkhand. Called the insurance mafia, this group created fake life insurance policies in the name of people who were either dying or already dead. They used these policies to cheat companies like ICICI Prudential, SBI Life, PNB MetLife and Bajaj Allianz. Also Read | What are the common types of insurance scams and how to stay wary of them? Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, reportedly threatened to resign if parties do not give him their backing, a political ally and sources in his office said Thursday. Rumours about the chief advisers possible resignation had been circulating on social media since Thursday afternoon. Nahid Islam, leader of the National Citizen Party, confirmed that Yunus was thinking about resigning. He held a private conversation with the chief adviser amid the rumours, sources told Dhaka Tribune. We have been hearing news of sir's resignation regarding the current situation in the country since this morning. So, I went to meet sir to discuss that matter, Nahid Islam told BBC Bangla. He says he's thinking about it. He feels like the situation is such that he won't be able to work, Nahid said. Nahid Islam who had initially been part of Yunus's cabinet before resigning to form a political party reportedly urged him to remain in office. Also Read | PM Modi meets Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus Yunus 'feels somewhat embarrassed' It was also learned that the chief adviser sought cooperation from all parties. Bangladesh-based Daily Star reported that Yunus expressed discontent about relentless protests over myriad demands. Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the caretaker government as its chief advisor until elections, told his cabinet he wanted to quit if political parties did not give him their full support, a source inside his office said. Meanwhile, a source told Dhaka Tribune, The chief adviser feels somewhat embarrassed due to the continuous agitation on various issues recently. He does not want to remain in office if he cannot work independently. This situation was discussed during the meeting. Nahid also quoted Yunus as saying, I cannot work like this. The political parties cannot reach a common ground. Also Read | PM Modi writes to Muhammad Yunus on Bangladesh Independence Day What he said Bangladesh in turmoil Yunus's reported threat to stand down comes a day after thousands of supporters of the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rallied in Dhaka, holding large-scale protests against the interim government for the first time. The BNP, on Thursday, reportedly issued a stark warning that it may be forced to reconsider its cooperation with Yunus' interim government if a specific roadmap for holding the next general election within December next is not announced immediately. India on Friday reiterated its concerns over the International Monetary Fund (IMF) releasing over 8,000 crore bailout package to Pakistan. New Delhi cautioned the financial agency that Pakistan's arms purchase spikes with every loan it gets from the global lender, Reuters reported sources as saying. India's push to IMF came as the global lender informed that its executive board granted $1 billion in assistance to Pakistan this month. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 16 had pressed the IMF to reconsider the financial assistance, saying Islamabad could use a large part of it to fund the terrorist infrastructure. Justifying the bailout package, IMF in statement said the latest installment was released after finding out that Islamabad had indeed met all the required targets. The latest bailout for Pakistan is part of a broader support package under the Extended Fund Facility program which was approved in September 2024. Pakistan has so far received approximately $2.1 billion of the $7 billion it will get from the global lender. Julie Kozack IMF's director of the communications department said that Islamabad met all the targets and made progress on some of the reforms. Also Read | IMF slaps 11 new conditions on Pakistan against its billion-dollar bailout scheme Our Board found that Pakistan had indeed met all of the targets. It had made progress on some of the reforms, and for that reason, the Board went ahead and approved the program, Julie Kozack said. She said, The first review was planned for the first quarter of 2025. And consistent with that timeline, on March 25 of 2025, the IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the first review for the EFF. That agreement, that staff-level agreement, was then presented to our Executive Board, which completed the review on May 9. As a result, Pakistan received the disbursement at that time. GREY LIST OF FATF The 'grey list' of the FATF means a country or a jurisdiction is subject to increased monitoring. Pakistan was taken off the FATF grey list in 2022, boosting its reputation among lenders - which is essential for the crisis-hit economy. It may be recalled that on 9 May, the IMF approved the immediate disbursement of about $1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility. U.S. and Iranian officials are set to begin a fifth round of nuclear negotiations Friday, with Tehran warning that talks could collapse if the two sides cant overcome a pivotal clash over the shape of a deal. Washington insists that Tehran cant continue to enrich uranium under a deal, warning that Irans ability to do so opens the way for the country to ultimately attain a nuclear weapon, which President Trump has vowed to prevent. Iranian officials presented a united front this week, insisting that Tehran wont bend its longstanding red line that it retain domestic enrichment. Iran spent days wavering over whether to attend the talks in Rome at all. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the countrys decision maker on security matters, predicted that talks will failhis most antagonistic comments on diplomacy since discussions began on April 12. Enrichment lies at the heart of the talks because the U.S. wants to cut off Irans ability to produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon. Iran claims its nuclear work is entirely peaceful. Western officials believe Tehran wants to enrich to retain the option of producing a nuclear weapon. Trump had set a two-month deadline for how long talks should last, although it is not clear how hard that timeline is. U.S. officials have said Iran has been receptive to some of their ideas on a deal. Trump said last week a deal is close. At stake in the talks is an agreement to roll back Irans nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions on its beleaguered economy. U.S. officials say Iran could build a bomb in a few months if it decides to. Trump has said a deal could open the way to significant U.S. trade with Tehran. Iran has long insisted that any nuclear agreement must allow it to continue enriching fissile material, saying the country has the right to do so under international treaties. Iran was able to continue enriching under the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew the U.S. from in 2018. However, Irans enrichment goes far beyond its limited civilian nuclear needs. Iran has amassed enough near-weapons grade fissile material for at least seven nuclear weapons. It is the only country without a nuclear weapon to produce 60% enriched uranium. This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swung behind the Trump administrations goal of securing a deal where Iran couldnt enrich uranium. Israel had previously called for a complete dismantlement of Irans nuclear program. Israeli officials have warned they could act militarily to stop Iran building a bomb. Trump has said he prefers a deal but could order strikes on Iran if talks fail. Trump and Netanyahu discussed the negotiations in a call Thursday. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said afterward that the president believed talks are moving along in the right direction." Washington and Tehran have floated ideas to narrow the gap over enrichment, although only some have been discussed in talks. The U.S. has said it is all right with Iran having a civilian nuclear program for energy but it wants Iran to import the enriched uranium from abroad. It delivered its first proposal for a deal in the last round of talks. Weve delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them," Steve Witkoff, U.S. chief negotiator and special envoy to the Middle East, said Sunday. Iranian officials, including its top negotiator, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have said Iran could take confidence-building steps by ending its production of highly enriched uranium and handing over its stockpile. Iran has dismissed an idea floated by European countries to stop enrichment for a few years. Araghchi said Iran would welcome U.S. investment in Irans civilian nuclear program following a deal, potentially giving Washington greater visibility of Irans program. Any sharing of U.S. nuclear material or technology would face significant political and legal hurdles in Washington. Iranian officials have also revived an old idea, saying they could explore a nuclear consortium with regional neighbors, including Saudi Arabia. That could see the countries share some technology and permit foreign engineers in Iranian facilities, officials say. But Araghchi said on the eve of the Rome talks the consortium idea would come on top of Irans domestic enrichment program, not replace it. U.S. officials say the idea hasnt been broached in talks. The U.S. has had talks on a regional fuel arrangement with Gulf countries, which could provide nuclear fuel for civilian energy programs. But the idea is that the countries wouldnt enrich uranium. The idea of Iran shipping out its fissile material has also been proposed in the past, with Tehran receiving reactor fuel in return. But those discussions never stuck. Former Western officials say another proposal discussed in previous negotiations could be worth resurfacing. It would see Iran stop enriching uranium but be fitted out with the ability to fabricate nuclear fuel for civilian reactors, using imported enriched uranium. That is a capability it doesnt currently have and would allow Tehran to argue it was still carrying out a key part of its nuclear work at home, but it would prevent it gathering the fissile material needed for a nuclear bomb. For now, that doesnt seem to be an option. Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science: Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal," Araghchi said on X before flying to Rome. Write to Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com and Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com Youtuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on Friday, May 16, over allegations of sharing sensitive information with Pakistan. The 33-year-old resident of Hisar, who runs a YouTube channel called Travel with JO with over 3.87 lakh subscribers, was arrested from the New Aggarsain Extension area and has been charged under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). From accusations against her to the court order, here's all we know about the case. 12 arrested on espionage charges Jyoti Malhotra is among the 12 individuals arrested in the last two weeks from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh over espionage charges on allegations of a suspected Pakistan-linked spy network operating in northern India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Police remand for four days On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the Hisar District Court sent Jyoti Malhotra to police remand for four days, reported ANI. Also Read | Spy Jyoti Malhotra admits to have been in contact with Pakistani official No evidence on links to terrorist activity, say police The police mentioned that no evidence has been found of Jyoti Malhotra's connection to terrorist activity or associations. So far, we have not found any evidence of her involvement in any terror activity or her alignment with any terrorist group. We have not found any document which depicts that she wants to marry any PIOs or wants to change religion, Hindustan Times quoted the Hisar SP as saying. Additionally, the police stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting Jyoti Malhotra had access to any military or defence-related information, PTI reported. Contact with a Pakistani officer On Wednesday, the police revealed that Jyoti Malhotra has been in contact with a Pakistani named Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who was placed at the Pakistani High Commission since November 2023, PTI reported. He allegedly helped her in getting an extension for her Pakistani visa, arranged accommodation, and facilitated introductions to several intelligence operatives, including individuals identified as Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. Visited Pakistan to shoot videos, claims Jyoti Malhotra's father According to Jyoti Malhotra's father, Haris Malhotra, the YouTuber visited Pakistan to shoot videos. "She used to visit Pakistan and other places to shoot videos for YouTube," Haris Malhotra told ANI. "If she has some friends there, can't she call them? I have no demands, but give us our phones. A case has been registered against us," he further claimed. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Every strategist knows that wars are not just won by force. Soft power matters, which is why the Trump administrations latest move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students will resonate so badly across Asia. America and China are already locked in a battle for influence but Washington risks sabotaging those goals. Even before the Harvard controversy emerged Thursday, the US embassy in Singapore posted a video on social media this week likening Chinas sweeping South China Sea territorial claims to disputes over shared spaces in Singapores public housing blocks. It did more than just raise eyebrows. The online clip landed with a thud, touching a national nerve. More than 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing a highly prized source of social and economic stability, and many voiced their complaints online. Chinas embassy responded, accusing the US of distorting the facts and being a hypocritical preacher, while Singapore said it rejects attempts by foreign embassies here to incite domestic reactions to international issues involving third countries. The city-state is usually measured in tone, so this public reprimand stood out. While it didnt name either China or the US, the message appeared to be clearly directed at Washington. Still, America remains a beacon for many in the region, a land of opportunity where young Asians aspire to study, work, and build their futures. But those ambitions are at risk with the Trump administrations latest move, which Harvard has called unlawful. This is hardly the way to win over the next generation, particularly if this extends to more universities. India sends the most number of students to study in the US, with 331,602 in the 2023-2024 school year, according to the Institute of International Education, while China sends the second highest, with 277,398 students. Many are likely to be future leaders in government and industry, potentially instrumental in nurturing later relations. Just look at the current crop of Indian-origin tech leaders in the US, including Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella, who studied at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, or the chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc. Sundar Pichai, who went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Beijing is already leading the economic game. Around 70% of countries trade more with China than they do with America, according to the Lowy Institute. Compare that to 2001, the year China acceded to the World Trade Organization, when over 80% of nations had a larger volume of trade with America. It is almost a direct reversal. In contrast, the White House has strained trade relations with allies and partners alike. President Donald Trump announced higher tariffs on scores of nations on April 2, but later paused them for 90 days, as investors panicked and markets fell. But duties are still higher than before he was elected. This has rattled Asian countries, which are trying to negotiate better terms for their economies. Soft power is the latest arena to sway opinions. Washington is merely paralleling what Beijing has regularly done, notes Ja Ian Chong, associate professor in political science at the National University of Singapore. This is a feature of the intensifying competition, he told me. The Americans feel pressured to respond to the narrative China is pushing. As the world grows more contested, well see more of this. Beijings diplomatic outreach has been known to be aggressive, but the change in tone was really noticeable around 2019, when ambassadors and the foreign ministry took to social media to push back against the first Trump administrations characterization of the worlds second-largest economy as an unfair trade partner. This was dubbed wolf warrior diplomacy, a reference to a 2015 nationalist action movie. The pandemic raised tensions even further. Both sides used social media and memes to shape their narratives. Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency released videos mocking the American pandemic response, though Beijings own Covid-Zero strategy would later collapse following public protests. Meanwhile, the US military reportedly launched a secret social media campaign to undermine Chinas growing influence in the Philippines, casting doubt about the safety of vaccines supplied by Beijing, according to a Reuters investigation. Washington also ramped up its own pandemic aid, pledging $274 million in assistance through the State Department and USAID, in addition to earlier contributions to the World Health Organization and UNICEF. That reality no longer holds true. In March, the Trump administration canceled 83% of American foreign aid contracts, leaving a vacuum China was only too happy to fill. The reaction to the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar is a case in point. Chinese and Russian teams were among the first to provide emergency response personnel and key supplies, while aid cuts significantly limited the US response. Just this week Beijing announced it will give an additional $500 million to the World Health Organization over five years, which would help make up the US shortfall. America remains the most important security partner to many nations in the region. Still, the relentless economic tensions, White House mood swings and now actions that jeopardize the education of some of Asias brightest future leaders will lose the US friends in a region that has long admired it. A reassessment is overdue. More From Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China. Previously, she was the BBC's lead Asia presenter and worked for the BBC across Asia and South Asia for two decades. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion The recent war with Pakistan saw India use two indigenous systems, the Akash surface-to-air missiles and Brahmos cruise missiles. On 7 May, Akash reportedly shot down a J17 Thunder fighter jet, developed by China and integrated by Pakistan, and on 10 May, the Indian Air Force (IAF) targeted several strategic locations deep inside Pakistan in retaliation to attempted airspace violation by using Brahmos missiles alongside Scalp and Hammer munitions. Both Brahmos and Akash missiles have the distinct footprint of former president and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Also Read: Arming up: Be Indian, buy Indian is a useful mantra for strategic autonomy Brahmos and the story of Indias missile programme: Brahmos has a hoary history, and Kalam can justifiably be credited with seeding and fructifying its joint venture with NPO Russia in 1995. In tandem with the S-400 defence systems, which were imported from Russia and helped thwart Pakistans swarm drone and missile attacks, Brahmos and Akash have become the mark of our strategic superiority in military systems. The story of India being self-reliant in missile systems was envisioned when the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme was launched in 1983 to develop surface-to-surface missiles (short and long range), surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and anti-tank missiles. While the short-range Prithvi missile with a 150km range was inducted into service in 1994, the SAM missiles like Akash had several technical hiccups. Also Read: Why we must celebrate the three new warships joining Indias naval fleet Kalam circumvented these by forging a joint venture with NPO Russia in December 1995, with Indias stake at 50.5%. The name Brahmos fused the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia. It can reach a speed nearing 3 Mach and cruise at altitudes up to 15km above sea level. It follows a fire-and-forget principle. Once launched, no further guidance is required. The missiles low radar signature and high kinetic energy make it difficult to intercept. Lethality of cruise missiles: These can be launched from submarines, ships and fighter aircraft. The air-launched variant of Brahmos, which can be fired from the SU-30 MKI, entered service in 2019. The IAF is reported to have fired these from the SU-30 modified aircraft. Four regiments of the Indian Army also have these missiles; in March 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the procurement of additional regiments equipped with BrahmosExtended Range (ER) missiles worth 20,000 crore. The cabinet committee on security has further cleared the acquisition of over 220 Brahmos-ER for deployment on warships at a cost of nearly 19,000 crore. During the recent standoff, multiple Indian naval ships undertook successful anti-ship firings in the Arabian Sea to revalidate the preparedness of platforms for long-range, precise offensive strikes. While many countries like the Philippines, Brazil and Vietnam have shown interest in buying these missiles from India, China has objections to its neighbours getting them. Also Read: Indias defence policy must gear up for a 3.5-front security challenge India as an arms importer: India is the one of the worlds largest importers of conventional arms in the world and its fifth-largest defence spender. India has 2,229 military aircraft as against Pakistans 1,399; 3,151 combat tanks compared with Pakistans 1,839. While the Pakistan Navy has 121 naval assets, India has 293, including two aircraft carriers and 18 submarines as against the formers eight. In terms of nuclear weapons, as per the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, India spent $2.7 billion and Pakistan $1 billion in 2023. Our Self Reliance Index n strategic defence platform, weapons and systems is 30%. Sourcing of critical platforms: The majority of Indias arms are from Russia, though it has been shifting its arms sourcing to France, Israel and the US. While the US was the main arms supplier to Pakistan till 1990, China supplied 81% of Pakistans imports, like J10 C aircraft and J15 during 2020-24, while 36% of Indias arms were sourced from Russia during this period. New Delhis tilt now is towards purchases from the US and France. Also Read: Zero-day terror in Kashmir: National security needs an AI upgrade The surprises: Some of the unexpected fallout of the short war was the insistence of both the US and Russia to de-escalate, while China seemed keen to see how its air assets perform against Indian targets. Turkey seems to be a solid supplier to Pakistan of drones, which were reportedly repulsed by Indias S-400 missiles. While Russia has proposed joint production of its latest S-500 air defence system with India, Moscow did not stand with New Delhi in the latest conflict, unlike its rock-solid support during the 1971 war, when Moscow checkmated the US move to intimidate India through its Seventh Fleet aircraft carrier. Yet, today, both the Cold War rivals are competing to sell India their military hardwarethe US its F-35 stealth aircraft and Russia its SU-57. Also Read: Nitin Pai: Operation Sindoor leaves India better placed for the next round Lessons and the way forward: One of the issues that concerns India is whether Pakistan will use the nuclear option if pushed to the brink. Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto had once said, Neither India can use the nuke, nor can Pakistan. Whichever country is throwing that nuke knows there is not enough time or space, and is going to get it thrown back." That paradigm is valid even now. Unfortunately, this brief war did not lead India to the five armed terrorists who committed the dastardly Pahalgam attacks. Nor was enough light thrown on claims of Indian air assets being destroyed. The Indian government should have acknowledged the death of civilians, including children in Jammu and Kashmir, and highlighted the large strides India has taken in the indigenous production of military assets. Dialogue with adversaries should never be shelved, but we must also bolster our defence capability in strategic systems through joint ventures with global manufacturers and collaborations with design houses for arms development. The author is a former joint secretary (aerospace), ministry of defence. President Trumps plan to expel alleged gang members to El Salvador relies on the countrys 36-year-old prison director, whom U.S. officials have sanctioned for secretly negotiating with the same criminal groups. Osiris Luna has been instrumental to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukeles crusade to end decades of rampant gang violence, overseeing the imprisonment of more than 80,000 people over the past three years. Many are held at a vast new prison alongside more than 250 alleged Salvadoran and Venezuelan gang members recently expelled by the U.S. under a Trump administration deal that pays Bukeles government to incarcerate them. But earlier in Bukeles presidency, Luna was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly arranging secret negotiations with gang leaders aimed at reducing homicides and securing political backing for Bukele. In exchange, incarcerated gang leaders received mobile phones, access to sex workers and other privileges, U.S. prosecutors said in an indictment against MS-13 gang leaders. The Bukele administration and Luna have denied the U.S. allegations. Luna didnt respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for Bukele didnt respond to a request for comment. We are grateful for President Bukeles partnership and for Cecotone of the most secure facilities in the world," said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, referring to El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center, the mega-prison Luna oversees. There is no better place for these sick criminals." The White House has said the U.S. is paying El Salvador $6 million to imprison the alleged gang members. Under the deal, the Trump administration has returned MS-13 gang leaders imprisoned in the U.S. to El Salvador, where constitutional rights and due process have been suspended since 2022. Deporting them to El Salvador would mean they couldnt testify in U.S. court, shielding witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the secret negotiations Luna allegedly brokered. The Trump administration has returned 23 Salvadorans accused of being gang members. One is Cesar Humberto Lopez, known as El Grenas," or Mophead," an MS-13 leader who had been expected to testify in federal court about a back-channel alliance with the Bukele administration. Luna helped create that alliance, U.S. prosecutors allege. Bukeles government arrested Lopez in 2017, but a judge released him on procedural grounds in 2020. Four years later, Mexican officials captured and extradited him to the U.S. on terrorism charges. The Justice Department cited sensitive and important" foreign- policy considerations for dismissing the charges against Lopez in March. The Justice Department didnt respond to a request for comment. Luna is a loyal enforcer whose political fate is tightly bound to the presidents, people who know him said. He was elected to El Salvadors legislative assembly in 2018 and led the youth wing of GANA, the party that propelled Bukele to the presidency a year later. With neatly gelled hair and a trimmed beard, he rallied support for Bukele on social media and television, echoing Bukeles antiestablishment rhetoric about fighting corruption and the entrenched political elite. One of Bukeles first moves in office was to put Luna in charge of prisons. He helped orchestrate Bukeles campaign to arrest suspected members of the MS-13 and 18th Street gangs en masse, transforming a country with the worlds highest murder rate into one of the safest in Latin America. Now the Massachusetts-size country of 6.3 million has the worlds highest incarceration rate. Close to 400 people have died in prison because of malnutrition and ill treatment, according to human-rights groups. Luna has said inmates typically die from poor health or old age. Luna led campaigns to erase ubiquitous gang symbols, painting over graffiti-covered walls in slums and smashing headstones bearing the gang insignia of dead members. We cant allow a single terrorist symbol to be visible in any community around this country," he said in a TV interview. The secret meetings arranged by Luna with jailed MS-13 leaders were aimed at reducing killings or murder statistics by making sure bodies of victims werent found, according to a Justice Department indictment against MS-13 gang leaders unsealed in 2023. Luna also embezzled millions of dollars from El Salvadors prison system, distributing paychecks to fake employees and directing most of the money to himself and his mother, Alma Yanira Meza, according to U.S. authorities. They also stole and resold pandemic-relief supplies, they said. The indictment didnt formally charge Luna. The State Department, which included Luna in 2021 on a list of corrupt Central American officials, didnt respond to a request for comment. Lunas mother couldnt be reached for comment. Among the inmates at El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center are more than 300 alleged Salvadoran and Venezuelan gang members expelled by the U.S. Lunas continued presence in government after arranging the negotiations suggests he acted under Bukeles instructions, said Luis Parada, a former military intelligence officer who ran as an opposition candidate in the 2024 presidential election in which Bukele was re-elected with more than 80% of the vote. Luna was barred by the Treasury Department in 2021 from entering the U.S., having property and financial interests in the U.S., or conducting transactions with Americans under the agencys authority to sanction individuals involved in corruption or serious criminal activity. The negotiations led to a short truce that was broken after gangs killed almost 90 people over three days in March 2022, including dozens of small-business owners and working-class people who had been targets of extortion. The violence prompted Bukele to suspend civil liberties and due process. The legislative assembly has renewed the measures each month since then. In recent years, El Salvadors high court, dominated by Bukele allies, has blocked several U.S. extradition requests for top MS-13 leaders on procedural grounds. MS-13 gang leader Elmer El Crook" Canales-Rivera, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2023 after being captured in Mexico, is now one of the few high-ranking insiders beyond Lunas reach who can testify about the secret negotiations in a U.S. court. Write to Vera Bergengruen at vera.bergengruen@wsj.com and Santiago Perez at santiago.perez@wsj.com A new wave of excitement has been stirred in the tech world following reports of a collaboration between former Apple design chief Sir Jony Ive and OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company led by Sam Altman. The partnership centres around a sleek new AI-powered device, currently in the prototype stage, with plans for mass production by 2027. According to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who shared details in a recent post on X, the prototype bears a form factor slightly larger than Humanes Ai Pin, a compact wearable computer that struggled to gain market traction. Despite its size, the device is expected to exhibit the same minimalist elegance as Apples iconic iPod Shuffle. Designed for ambient intelligence, the device is said to include cameras and microphones for environmental awareness. This would enable contextual interactions when worn around the neck, without the need for a built-in screen. Instead, it would leverage smartphones and PCs for display and computational power, offering a seamless, interconnected AI experience. OpenAI and Ives design firm, known as io, are reportedly aiming to make the device an everyday essential, not a pair of smart glasses, but a compact, intelligent companion that could rest on a desk or be tucked into a pocket. Sam Altman is believed to have already showcased early concepts to OpenAI staff, describing it as a potential "third core device" to accompany a laptop and smartphone. To circumvent ongoing geopolitical tensions and avoid dependency on Chinese manufacturing, assembly and distribution are expected to take place in Vietnam. This shift aligns with a broader trend among tech companies seeking to diversify their supply chains due to increasing trade restrictions and rising tariffs between China and the United States. An 18th-century colorized engraving, by the French artist Gustave Dore, of the Hebrew Bible's Abraham journeying into the Land of Canaan. The Canaanites were people who lived in the land of Canaan, an area that ancient texts indicate may have included parts of modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Much of what scholars know about the Canaanites comes from records left by the people they interacted with. Some of the most detailed surviving records come from the site of Amarna, in Egypt , and from the Hebrew Bible. Additional information comes from excavations of archaeological sites that the Canaanites are thought to have lived in. Scholars doubt that the Canaanites were ever politically united into a single kingdom. Archaeological excavations indicate that the Canaanites were actually made up of different ethnic groups. During the Late Bronze Age (1550 to 1200 B.C.), "Canaan was not made up of a single 'ethnic' group but consisted of a population whose diversity may be hinted at by the great variety of burial customs and cultic structures" wrote Ann Killebrew , an archaeology professor at Penn State, in her book " Biblical Peoples and Ethnicity: An Archaeological Study of Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, And Early Israel 1300-1100 B.C.E. " (Society of Biblical Literature, 2005). Genetic findings Recent DNA research has found that the Canaanites were the descendants of Stone Age settlers in Lebanon; the Canaanites are also the ancestors of modern-day Lebanese people. In a 2017 study in the American Journal of Human Genetics , researchers looked at the ancient DNA of five Canaanites who lived between 3,650 and 3,750 years ago and who were buried in Sidon, an ancient city in what is now Lebanon. The team compared this DNA with that of 99 modern Lebanese people and more than 300 other people in an ancient DNA database. The results showed that the Canaanites descended from Stone Age people who had mixed with newcomers from Iran around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. The study also showed that today's Lebanese are largely Canaanite, although around 3,000 years ago their ancestors mixed with Eastern hunter-gatherers and Eurasian Steppe people. Ancient records The earliest undisputed mention of the Canaanites comes from fragments of a letter found at the site of Mari, a city located in modern-day Syria. Dating back about 3,800 years, the letter is addressed to "Yasmah-Adad," a king of Mari, and says that "thieves and Canaanites" are in a town called "Rahisum." The surviving portion of the letter alludes to a conflict or disorder that is taking place in the town. Another early text that talks of the people who lived in Canaan dates back about 3,500 years and was written on a statue of Idrimi, a king who ruled a city named "Alalakh" in modern-day Turkey. Idrimi says that at one point he was forced to flee to a city in "Canaan" called "Amiya" possibly located in modern-day Lebanon. Idrimi doesn't call the people at Amiya "Caananites" but instead names a variety of different lands they are from, such as "Halab," "Nihi," "Amae" and "Mukish." Idrimi claims that he was able to rally support at Amiya and become king of Alalakh. However, this doesn't mean that the different people in Canaan never grouped together. Administrative texts found at Alalakh, and at another city named Ugarit (located in modern-day Syria) show that "the designation 'the land of Canaan' was employed to specify the identity of an individual or group of individuals in the same way that others were defined by their city or land of origin," wrote Brendon Benz , an associate professor of history at William Jewell College in Missouri, in his book " The Land Before the Kingdom of Israel: A History of the Southern Levant and the People who Populated It " (Eisenbrauns, 2016). For instance a male from a city in Canaan who was living at Alalakh or Ugarit could be identified in records as being a "man of Canaan" or being a "son of Canaan," Benz wrote. A map of Canaan. (Image credit: BibleArtLibrary via Getty Images) A number of texts that mention Canaan come from the site of Amarna, in Egypt. Amarna was constructed as the capital of Egypt by the pharaoh Akhenaten (reign circa 1353 to 1335 B.C), the father of King Tutankhamun and a ruler who tried to focus Egypt's polytheistic religion around the worship of the "Aten," the sun disk. The texts consist of diplomatic correspondence between Akhenaten (and his immediate predecessors and successors) and various rulers in the Middle East. Modern-day scholars often call these texts the "Amarna letters." The letters show that there were several kings in Canaan. A diplomatic passport written by Tusratta, a king of Mittani (a kingdom located in northern Syria) tells the "kings of the land of Canaan" to let his messenger "Akiya" pass through safely to Egypt, and warns the kings of Canaan that "no one is to detain him." The letters also show that Egypt held considerable power over these Canaanite kings. One letter, written by a king of Babylon named "Burra-Buriyas," complains about the killing of Babylonian merchants in Canaan and reminds Egypt's pharaoh that "the land of Canaan is your land and its kings are your servants." (Translation from Brandon Benz's book "The Land Before the Kingdom of Israel.") Egyptian texts also show that Egypt's pharaohs sent military expeditions into Canaan. A stele erected by a pharaoh named Merneptah (reign circa 1213 to 1203 B.C.) claimed that "Canaan has been plundered into every sort of woe." The same stele also claims that Merneptah "laid waste" to "Israel." Hebrew Bible The Canaanites are frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Canaan is described as Noah's grandson; Cannan's father, Ham, saw Noah naked and then told Noah's other sons about it. Enraged, Noah curses Canaan (Genesis 9:24 to 9:25 ). The Bible later describes how Noah's descendant Abraham and his wife Sarah journeyed to Canaan, and how the Israelites later left Canaan for Egypt. The Bible details that after the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites, God promised to give the land of the Canaanites (along with land belonging to several other groups) to the Israelites after the Exodus, when they escaped from Egypt. Once in Canaan, the Israelites fought a series of wars against the Canaanites (and other groups), which led to the Israelites taking over most of the Canaanites' land, according to the Bible. The texts say that the Canaanites who survived had to do forced labor ( Judges 1:28 ). The stories also say that this conquered land was incorporated into a powerful Israelite kingdom that eventually split in two. The historical accuracy of some of these stories, however, is debated. Some researchers believe that there was no exodus from Egypt, arguing that there's no evidence the Israelites left Canaan during the second millennium B.C. First century A.D. ruins in what was once known as the Promised Land of the Canaanites. (Image credit: Francis ODonohue via Getty Images) Canaanite archaeology today Archaeologists continue to find artifacts from the Canaanites. For example, a team found a 3,000-year-old temple , built by the Canaanites, in what is now southern Israel. Within the temple's inner sanctuary, archaeologists found an idol of the Canaanite god Baal that was the object of prayer and sacrifice. In another excavation, archaeologists in Israel unearthed a 3,800-year-old Canaanite arch made out of mud bricks that may have been used by a cult during the Middle Bronze Age. Another find in Israel revealed one of the oldest known sentences on record : a plea against contracting lice that was engraved on a Bronze Age comb in the language of the Canaanites. The engraving on the ivory comb translates to "May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard." Many experts think that around 4,000 years ago, the Canaanites invented the world's first alphabet , called proto-Sinaitic script. This script, invented by Canaanite workers at an Egyptian turquoise mine in the Sinai region, developed into the Phoenician alphabet, which later inspired the early Hebrew, Greek and Roman alphabets. Editor's note: This article was originally published on Sept. 8, 2016 and it was updated on May 23 to include information on the genetic study and new archaeological finds. Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor Named One of Worlds 500 Best Hotels by Travel + Leisure Luxury heritage hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is honoured for a 4th consecutive year Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor, the luxury heritage hotel near the famed ancient Khmer archeological sites in Cambodia, was again named one of the worlds 500 Best Hotels by the influential U.S.-based magazine Travel + Leisure. The honour, which is among the most coveted distinctions in the global hospitality industry, draws on reader input as part of the industry-leading travel magazines Worlds Best Awards. Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor was highlighted on the list for a fourth consecutive year. An extraordinary setting. Design that feels both unexpected and of-the-moment. Service that goes above and beyond. When a hotel feels truly exceptional, our readers are slow to forget, Travel + Leisure wrote as it introduced this years designated hotels. Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor originally opened in 1932 as a rest stop for archeologists and adventurers exploring the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat. The hotel features an authentic expression of 1930s French Art Deco style with beautifully refined rooms, suites and villas blending old-world charm with Cambodian influences and contemporary detail. Last year, the hotel unveiled a Curated Journeys menu offering singular excursions, including a Bespoke Temple Dinner served by candlelight at the temple complex of Angkor; a Lost Civilisations of Angkor by Vespa tour, where the ancient world meets the here-and-now; and the Siem Reap Art Tour, which offers an inside look at the citys bustling art scene; among others. Nearly all of Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkors 119 guest rooms and suites were fully refurbished in a meticulous three-year renovation project that concluded in June 2022. One of the hotels most distinguished attributesits classic metal and timber elevator in the lobbyremains, as does the vintage ambience of The Elephant Bar. Its on-site Resort Programme, meanwhile, showcases heritage and traditions at the hotel. For more information on Raffles Grand Hotel dAngkor, or to make a booking, please call +855 23 982 598 or visit www.raffles.com/siem-reap/. ABOUT RAFFLES Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. Saudi Arabia Climbs to Second Among G20 in Global ICT Regulatory Index By Shayne Heffernan Saudi Arabia has achieved a remarkable milestone in its digital transformation journey, securing the second spot among G20 nations in the International Telecommunication Unions (ITU) Global ICT Regulatory Index, as reported by KSA.com. This ranking reflects the Kingdoms rapid advancements in information and communication technology (ICT) regulation, driven by Vision 2030s focus on building a robust digital economy. As someone closely following Saudi Arabias progress, Im impressed by how this achievement underscores the countrys commitment to fostering innovation and connectivity on a global scale. The ITUs Global ICT Regulatory Index evaluates 193 countries on their regulatory frameworks across four pillars: regulatory authority, regulatory mandates, regulatory regime, and competition framework. Saudi Arabias rise to second place among G20 nations highlights its success in creating a transparent and competitive ICT environment. The Kingdom scored highly for its efforts to enhance digital infrastructure, with internet penetration at 98% and mobile subscriptions exceeding 120% of the population, according to Trading Economics. This is underpinned by initiatives like the rollout of 5G networks and smart city projects such as NEOM, which position Saudi Arabia as a leader in digital connectivity. The non-oil sector, contributing 51% to GDP in 2024, and foreign direct investment (FDI) reaching $26 billion, up 12% from the previous year, further demonstrate the economic momentum fueling these advancements. This achievement builds on Saudi Arabias broader digital strategy, which includes fostering innovation through regulatory sandboxes and supporting tech startups. The Kingdoms ICT sector has seen significant growth, with digital payments accounting for 62% of transactions, up from 50% three years ago, reflecting a shift toward a cashless economy. The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) has played a pivotal role, implementing policies that encourage competition and investment in ICT, aligning with Vision 2030s goal of positioning Saudi Arabia as a global tech hub by 2030. The countrys improved Ease of Doing Business ranking38th globally in 2025, up from 62nd in 2020further supports its appeal as a destination for tech innovation. The Corruption of Politicians and Media Lies Are Destroying Society By Shayne Heffernan The grotesque behavior of our politicians should ignite a fire of rage in every one of usbribery, corruption, and a complete lack of morals have become a cancerous plague on modern society, rotting the very core of governance. Im equally incensed by the mindless media, spewing lies and propaganda 24/7, manipulating the masses with a shameless disregard for truth. We cannot sit idly by and accept this betrayal from our leaders and the so-called journalists who enable themits time to channel our fury into a demand for justice and accountability. Political corruption is a vile scourge, bleeding societies dry with its staggering toll. In 2024 alone, the United Nations pegged the global cost of corruption at $3.6 trillion, with bribes and stolen funds stripping away resources meant for public good. In the U.S., a 2023 Transparency International report revealed that 44% of Americans view most Congress members as corrupt, a belief validated by the 2024 indictment of a Senator for taking $500,000 in bribes to sway legislation, as uncovered by the Justice Department. Across the globe, South Africas state capture scandal saw billions looted from public coffers between 2014 and 2018, leaving citizens without basic services while the elite grew richer. This isnt just mismanagementits a deliberate, immoral assault on the public, and we should be screaming from the rooftops in outrage. The medias complicity in this cesspool of corruption is nothing short of despicable, and our anger toward them should burn just as fiercely. A 2024 Reuters Institute study found that 55% of global news consumers face fake news weekly, often fueled by outlets chasing clicks over integrity. In the U.S., partisan media faced a $787 million fine for spreading baseless election fraud claims during the 2024 cycle, as documented in court records, yet they continue to peddle propaganda that obscures the truth and shields corrupt politicians. This relentless barrage of lies isnt just misinformationits a weapon that divides us, distracts us, and keeps us from holding the guilty accountable. We must reject this betrayal with the same ferocity we direct at our leaders, demanding a return to honest reporting that serves the public, not agendas. Our outrage must be a catalyst for change, pushing us to dismantle these systems of deceit and rebuild a society rooted in truth and justice. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office teamed up with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), and other Tennessee and Georgia law enforcement to execute the joint 'Hands Across the Border' initiative. The effort aimed to identify and remove impaired drivers from the roadways heading into Memorial Day weekend, with specific attention given to Rossville Boulevard. UPDATE: Two charged with first-degree murder in Rossville Blvd. shooting The suspects have both been charged with first-degree murder and have been transported to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center. "As we head into Memorial Day weekend, let us take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this holiday," says the Sheriff's Office. "Established in 1971, Memorial Day serves as a time to honor and remember the brave men and women of our armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation." The Sheriff's Office is encouraging residents to be respectful, patient, and make responsible choices this weekend. "Dont drive a vehicle or operate a boat under the influenceuse a designated driver or ride service so as to not risk your safety or the safety of others," stated Sheriff Austin Garrett. "HCSO deputies are committed to keeping our roads and waterways safe and that includes removing impaired operators. Lets all do our part to ensure a safe, respectful, and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend." READ MORE | National Safe Boating Week: How to stay safe while boating & swimming this Memorial Day Weekend A woman uses an iPhone as she passes a lighted Apple logo at the Apple store at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. UPDATE: The Dalton teen detained by ICE after a mistaken traffic stop has been given the minimal amount of bond and will return home to her family. Dustin Baxter, the attorney for Ximena Arias Cristobal, says she was given the minimal amount of bond under the law, $1500, and the government did not wish to appeal. Her family will pay the bond after thousands of dollars were raised for her legal fees on GoFundMe since her arrest. "Ximena will be home with her family tomorrow afternoon at the latest," says her attorney. Cristobal was arrested when a Dalton police officer pulled over the wrong vehicle for a traffic violation and found her driving without a license. The GoFundMe says she was brought into the U.S. when she was 4 years old. PREVIOUS STORY: The immigration attorney for a Dalton teen detained by ICE says her bond hearing was canceled on Tuesday after weeks of waiting. Dustin Baxter says AT&T is down in Lumpkin, where Ximena Arias Cristobal is detained, and they haven't been able to determine the problem or give an estimate for when it will be fixed. Local 3 News was virtually in the courtroom today before it was canceled. Cristobal's bond hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 1:00pm. PREVIOUS STORY: The Dalton teen detained by ICE after being mistakenly arrested during a traffic stop will have a bond hearing on Tuesday, May 20. The Dalton Police Department dropped all charges against Ximena Arias Cristobal after an officer pulled over the wrong vehicle for turning right on a red light. Cristobal was driving without her license and was taken to the jail, where she was then detained by ICE. Although all charges were dropped, Cristobal is still in ICE custody. A GoFundMe for her bond and attorney says she was brought into the U.S. when she was just 4-years-old. Her attorney hopes to have her released at her bond hearing. Her family and friends say they hope to have a celebration when she returns. The bond hearing is set for Tuesday, May 20 at 1:00pm. PREVIOUS STORY: The Dalton police officer who mistakenly arrested a Dalton teen who was then detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been investigated multiple times, according to his internal affairs background. He is currently not on leave after pulling over the wrong vehicle for a traffic violation that led to the arrest of a Dalton teen, Ximena Arias Cristobal. Dalton Police say the incident is now under review. Charges dropped in case of Dalton Teen detained by ICE A 19-year-old Dalton resident, Ximena Arias-Cristobal, was mistakenly arrested by local police on May 5 after an officer pulled over the wrong vehicle during a traffic stop. Leslie O'Neal was first hired in September 2019. He was first placed on administrative leave pending the review of a case on May 1, 2023. He was then released back to full duty on May 13, 2023. On July 7, 2023, O'Neal was found at fault for a crash. Records show he was backing out of a parking space on Walnut Avenue when he collided with another driver. The driver in the other vehicle says she honked her horn to alert the officer. Officer O'Neal says he did not see the other vehicle while backing up. On July 31, 2023, O'Neal was under internal investigation after an internal complaint. He was accused of violating policy by sharing body camera video without prior consent and approval. O'Neal was placed on a performance contract for one year and received remedial training on evidence handling procedures. Father of Ximena Arias-Cristobal released from ICE detention Arias says he was pulled over on Highway 41 in Tunnel Hill for driving 10 miles over the speed limit. On December 1, 2023, O'Neal was found at fault for another crash. Records show he did not stop at a red traffic light and collided with another vehicle at the Walnut Ave. intersection of Riverbend Rd.. "Officer O'Neal advised that he was distracted while driving by equipment in his vehicle and did not see the traffic signal turn red," states his report. O'Neal was suspended without pay for 5 days. His performance contract was extended from 12 months to 18 months. He also lost his vehicle privilege for 6 months and "extra duty employment" privileges for the duration of his contract. He was assigned to attend a 16 hour distracted driving course. PREVIOUS STORY: The Dalton Police Department confirms all charges against a Dalton State student detained by ICE have been dropped. Ximena Arias Cristobal was originally taken into custody after police say she made an unlawful right turn on a red light and was driving without a valid driver's license. LEER EN ESPANOL | ACTUALIZACION: Policia detuvo 'auto equivocado'; estudiante de Dalton sigue bajo custodia de ICE After the City of Dalton attorney reviewed the dash cam footage, it was found that police pulled over the wrong vehicle. "Ms. Arias-Cristobals vehicle appeared similar to the offending vehicle but was not the vehicle that made an improper turn," says the police department. Dalton police say the officer saw a black pickup truck make an unlawful right turn on red. The officer then got stuck at the light behind other cars. When the light turned green again, the officer began searching for the vehicle. The officer then mistakenly pulled over a dark gray pickup truck, driven by Arias-Cristobal. Police say the audio recording of the traffic stop didn't begin until after initial contact. Although traffic charges have been dropped, Ximena is still in ICE custody. A GoFundMe for her bond and attorney says she was brought into the U.S. when she was just 4-years-old. Her attorney says her bond hearing is set for May 20, where he hopes to have her released. Her family and friends say they hope to have a celebration when she returns. PREVIOUS STORY: The immigration attorney for the Dalton State student detained by ICE says all traffic offense charges have been dropped against the 19-year-old. Dustin Baxter tells Local 3 News that Dalton police reviewed video footage of Ximena Arias Cristobal's arrest and found that she did not break the law. Thousands raised to support Dalton teen that her family says has been detained by ICE Ximena and her parents came into the country in 2010 when she was only 4 years old. Her mother, Ndaihita, says she was searching for a better life for her family. Police originally said she made an unlawful right on red, but video showed otherwise. The officer stopped the wrong car and arrested the wrong person. Although traffic charges have been dropped, Ximena is still in ICE custody. A GoFundMe for her bond and attorney says she was brought into the U.S. when she was just 4-years-old. Her attorney says her bond hearing is set for May 20, where he hopes to have her released. Her family and friends say they hope to have a celebration when she returns. PREVIOUS STORY: The Department of Homeland Security made a post on X about the Dalton teen detained by ICE after a traffic stop, saying she will return to Mexico with her family. Ximena Arias Cristobal and her father, Arias Tovar, were both taken into custody after minor traffic violations. LEER EN ESPANOL | Apoyo "inmenso" en recaudacion e fondos para joven de Dalton detenida por ICE DHS says Tovar was speeding and driving without a license, while Cristobal failed to obey a traffic light and had no license. The 19-year-old teen has gained national attention after a GoFundMe for an immigration attorney and bond has doubled its goal, reaching more than $60k. The teen recently graduated from Dalton High School and is a student at Dalton State College. DHS says, "She admitted to illegally entering the United States and has no pending applications with USCIS." DHS says the family will return to Mexico together. "Mr. Tovar had ample opportunity to seek a legal pathway to citizenship. He chose not to. We are not ignoring the rule of law," says DHS. The GoFundMe says the teen was brought to the US when she was 4 years old. The last update on GoFundMe says the attorney thinks she will be able to return home by the middle of next week. PREVIOUS STORY: After two days of overflowing community support for a Dalton girl detained by ICE, GoFundMe creators say she is expected to come home. The update on GoFundMe says Ximena Arias is in good spirits while in the Stewart Detention Center in South Georgia. The fundraiser was created just two days ago with a goal of $30,000 for an immigration attorney and bond for the Dalton teen. On Thursday evening, the fundraiser is reaching double that amount. "Her attorney has already filed a motion for bond. He thinks she will be home by middle of next week!" an update on GoFundMe says. Local 3 News is told the Dalton High School graduate came into the U.S. in 2010 at 4 years old. "She's the sweetest soul," says Hannah Jones. "She loves her family. She is active in her church and is a student at Dalton State College." PREVIOUS STORY: A Dalton woman is working to raise funds to help a local 19-year-old girl currently under ICE detention. The GoFundMe created by Hannah Jones has raised more than $55k, with a previous goal of $30k. Jones says the money will be used to fund the immigration attorney and bond for Ximena Arias. She says the Dalton High School graduate came into the U.S. in 2010 at 4 years old. "She did not qualify for DACA as the program ended the year before her family immigrated," says the GoFundMe. Jones says Ximena has babysat for her family for three years. "Ximena is very important to my family and the community. We are overwhelmed by the positive response we have received," says Jones. "We have hired an amazing attorney and he hopes to get her out of Stewart detention center as quickly as possible." "She's the sweetest soul," says Jones. "She loves her family. She is active in her church and is a student at Dalton State College." A Meal Train has also been organized for the Arias family. The page says her father was detained by ICE a few weeks before Ximena was. "Her mother and two younger siblings are now without two family members/incomes," the page says. This is a developing story. Longford and Westmeath are one of only five regions selected for the Home of Halloween Pilot Destination Development Scheme, which will see a total of 1.5 million invested across the country from 2025 to 2028. The counties will receive 100,000 per year to support the development of Halloween festivals rooted in local folklore, community involvement and cultural heritage. Minister Peter Burke said: This is a fantastic opportunity for Longford and Westmeath to showcase our Halloween traditions and welcome visitors during the autumn months, he said. Read more: Longford Councillor accuses Irish Water of 'ignoring' concerns of people With 300,000 in funding, we can create unforgettable, authentic festivals that celebrate our local culture and boost the local economy. This means more support for our hospitality and tourism businesses, more work for artists and performers, and more life in our towns and villages during the off-peak season. Im proud to see our region recognised as a key part of Irelands Halloween story and look forward to seeing these celebrations grow over the coming years. The five successful destinations - which also include Galway, Kerry, Fingal, and Meath-Louth - were selected following a nationwide call to Local Authorities. The festivals supported under the scheme are expected to attract 270,000 visitors, generate 17 million in economic impact, and support over 500 jobs nationally over the three-year period. The scheme is part of the broader Ireland, Home of Halloween strategy, developed by Failte Ireland in collaboration with Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland. It builds on the success of events like the Puca Festival in Meath and last years Fire & Shadows Processions in Longford, Limerick and Waterford. Read more: Longford County Council release their Financial Statement for 2024 Longford and Westmeath County Councils will now begin work with Failte Ireland and local partners to develop unique, immersive events that reflect the areas strong storytelling traditions and folklore, drawing both domestic and international visitors. Music Generation Longford, is delighted to announce the release of a new compilation album of original songs titled Longford Live and Lyrical which has been compiled by a group of young Longford Musicians. Featuring musicians from Music Generation Longford programmes, the Live and Lyrical album is a compilation of original pop, rock, country and songs. The original songs were composed during the Music Generation Longford Live and Lyrical programme; a series of songwriting workshops with young musicians to guide them to the next level of their music journey. Also Read: Deaths in Longford - Thursday, May 22, 2025 The programme was designed to guide young musicians to compose and preform an original piece of work. Students worked alongside experienced, well-known, professional songwriters and producers to explore songwriting techniques. The group met across seven sessions with professional songwriters including Longfords Aidan Gray and Emily Doyle and renowned Irish spoken word artist Dafe Orugbo. Throughout the sessions, the musicians learned specialist songwriting skills, expanding their creative thinking to create a vision for their original pieces. The young musicians worked together to compose original songs which were recorded for a final compilation. Also Read: Congratulations: Longford pupils among finalists for prestigious Our World Awards Speaking about the programme, 15-year-old Dearbhla Gannon from Longford Town said It was an inspirational experience which honed my abilities. It made me more confident in my songwriting abilities. Echoing this statement, 17-year-old Kyle Togbe from Longford Town praised the expertise from the professional musicians facilitating the programme Its opened my eyes to what I am capable of. Each of the musicians brought something different. I learned a lot with Dafe about the basics of how to produce a song. Aidan and Emily gave us a lot of creative space and really worked with us to explain when we werent sure of anything. Liam Doherty (15) from Ballinalee, spoke about the confidence its given him, This experience helped me discover who I am as an artist. I found my style and confidence. The compilation will be launched on May 29 in a private end-of-term Music Generation Longford concert. It will be available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. Music Generation Longford is managed by Longford Local Music Education Partnership, led by Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board in partnership with Longford County Council. The Longford Live and Lyrical Programme was made possible with support from the Arts Council Creativity and Collaboration Fund. Economic progress and subsequent social inequality will be explored at the 41st annual Goldsmith Literary Festival, taking place during the June Bank Holiday weekend in Goldsmith Country. Distinguished economist, Trinity College academic, and former director of the Economic and Social Research Institute, Professor Frances Ruane, was announced as this years keynote speaker at the launch of the festival on Thursday night. Independent senator and former attorney general for Ireland, Michael McDowell, award-winning poet Noel Monahan, and journalist with the Irish Times Frank McNally were also among the speakers revealed at the event in Ballymahon. The theme of this years festival is: Where Wealth Accumulates and Men Decay - Must Economic progress mean Social Inequality? The festival committee expects large crowds to descend on Goldsmiths native Ballymahon, Tang and Abbeyshrule over the course of the festival, which will provide a boost to the local economy while also highlighting the vibrant landscape and culture south Longford and south Westmeath have to offer. The three-day event, taking place from May 30 to June 1 consists of a packed schedule including musical performances, a tour of Goldsmith Country and poetry readings. The action will commence at The Rustic Inn, on Friday evening May 30, where the festival will be officially opened by Senator Michael McDowell at 8pm. Keynote speaker Professor Ruane will then address the audience with her contribution, titled: The role of place in a time of change: Learning from Oliver Goldsmith. Proceedings will commence at 9:30am on Saturday morning with the Literary Tour beginning at the Goldsmith Monument outside Ballymahon Library and then travelling to Forgney Church, the Schoolhouse, Lissoy Parsonage, the Alehouse, the Hawthorn Bush, Kilkenny West, the Busy Mill and the Three Jolly Pigeons. This tour will also include some short readings from the works of Oliver Goldsmith at selected locations. Also Read: Longford to embark on an Oral history project on story of emigration to Argentina At 12.30pm a journey through the works of the captivating writer, poet, and playwright takes place at the Goldsmith Room in Ballymahon Library. Trinity College Professor David OShaughnessy, an academic of 18th century literature will explore The Benefits of Goldsmith. David is a distinguished scholar, with expertise in the period of Oliver Goldsmith, he was awarded the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies Digital Prize for 2012 and published William Godwin and the Theatre (2010). This session will be chaired by Professor Michael Griffin from University of Limericks School of English and who is also a member of the festival committee. At 1.15pm, journalist with The Irish Times and chief writer of An Irish Diary Frank McNally will discuss the topic; Goldsmith: An idiot in the affairs of the world? This session will be chaired by political advisor, public affairs commentator, campaigner and local woman Siona Cahill. This will be followed by the energetic Goldsmith Live session which kicks off in Skellys Courtyard, Ballymahon from 2.30pm with an exhibition of costumes, bookstalls, food and craft beer for all to enjoy, this will also be accompanied by a classical performance from Simply Strings. Also Read: Longford Councillor accuses Irish Water of 'ignoring' concerns of people At 4pm The Goldsmith Cabaret will see the producer of Antelope Productions Michael J Ford along with fellow performers present the fantastic figure of Oliver Goldsmith at the centre of his own musical show. This is Michaels fourth year collaborating with the Goldsmith Festival. There will also be music and song from Siofra Jordan and Shane Kennedy, while the festivities will conclude at The Three Jolly Pigeons in Tang and from 8.30pm attendees will enjoy a fusion of traditional music and Goldsmith readings. Celebrations continue at 12 noon on Sunday in the Goldsmith Room at Ballymahon Library for the popular Goldsmith Miscellany with Musical Accompaniment where enlightening contributions will be provided by Pat Heudan, Joan Mulvihill, Benny Reid, Ollie Hegarty and Reverend Paddy Conlon. This session will be chaired by festival president Seamus McCormack. The festival will draw to a close at Goldsmiths birthplace of Pallas, Abbeyshrule with poetry readings beginning at 3.30pm, the poetry recitals will be delivered from the winners of the Goldsmith Poetry competitions. The competitions are adjudicated by poets Noel Monahan and Mary Melvin Geoghegan, and this session will be chaired by local teacher and poet, Anne Tully. Poet Noel Monahan will then deliver a poetry reading of his signature pieces of literature followed by a tasteful reception featuring wine and cheese to bring the 41st Goldsmith Festival to a close. Speaking at the launch of the Goldsmith Festival, Chairman Arthur Conlon said after the excitement of our 40th Anniversary Festival last year, in 2025 we are continuing to build on the recent innovations to our festival, all with the aim of offering something for everyone over the course of the weekend. Mr Conlon continued, This year we are offering a programme including speakers of the highest quality, who will inform, provoke, question and above all entertain. For more information on the Goldsmith Festival 2025 programme and how to register for tickets please visit: olivergoldsmithfestival.com Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2025 Residents, businesses and other members of the community were invited to nominate women residing in Assembly District 4 to be considered for the 2025 Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction. Recently, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay hosted the 2025 Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony at the New Village Recreation Center in Centereach. The event brought together Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, and more than 100 community members, friends, families, and local leaders to honor the leadership and community impact of the exemplary women who live in Assembly District 4. "The room was filled with warmth, wisdom, and gratitude as we reflected on the power of leadership, service, and compassion. From heartfelt stories to new connections, this event reminded us of the importance of recognizing the women who quietly and boldly make a difference every day," said Assemblywoman Kassay. "Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and helped make this day and every day brighter." Residents, businesses and other members of the community were invited to nominate women residing in Assembly District 4 to be considered for the 2025 Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Award in the categories of Business, Community Volunteer, Education, Government, Healthcare, Law Enforcement/First Responder, Non-Profit, Science, and Veteran. Over the course of 2 months, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassays office received over 30 nominations. Of those 30, one honoree was selected from each category: 2025 Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Honorees: Melissa Negrin-Wiener Business Dr. Yanping Yu Community Volunteer Gretchen Oldrin Mones Education Hon. Valerie M. Cartright Government Erika Detto Healthcare Kerry Schneider Law Enforcement / First Responder Dana Callender Non-Profit Angeline Judex Science Melanie Corinne Veteran Nominees Recognized for Their Contributions: Business: Maryann Deriso McKayla De La Pena Maria Nardiello Julie Vitrano Betty Diaz Community Volunteer: Shoshana Hershkowitz Alice Rose Damico Lisa Perry Patricia Schindler Education: Kristen Hoffman Ellen Boehm Government: Lillian Clayman Vivian Viloria-Fisher Healthcare: Dr. Michele Kaider-Alstodt Dr. Lynda Loudon Sheppard Law Enforcement / First Responder: Elicia Murphy Non-Profit: Sarah Abruzzi Amy Tuttle Makai Ballo Shaorui Li Lisa Jaeger During the event, the honorees and nominees were invited to say a few words and were presented with proclamations and certificates to thank them for their contributions to the community. This event marks the first Assembly District 4 Women of Distinction Awards, which will be hosted annually by the office of Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay. Beginning January 2026, members of the community are invited and encouraged to submit nominees for next years awards. For more information about this and any other program or concern, please call Assemblywoman Kassays office at 631-751-3094. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2025 Poll of 3k Americans on which military burial grounds they would most want to visit on Memorial Day 25. Theres something deeply affecting about walking through a military burial ground, especially on Memorial Day. The rows of headstones dont just mark resting places - they mark lives lived in service, often ended far too soon. These spaces have a way of making history feel immediate and personal. You see the names, the dates, the ages, and youre reminded that freedom didnt come free. It's not about grand speeches or ceremonies - just a quiet moment of respect. Ahead of Memorial Day, Choice Mutual, a life insurance agency that specializes in final expense insurance, asked 3,023 Americans which military burial grounds they would most want to visit. Here are the top 10: #1. Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia Arguably the most iconic military burial ground in the nation, Arlington is powerful beyond words. From the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the graves of presidents and astronauts, every corner holds history. On Memorial Day, the sight of thousands of flags placed by volunteers is unforgettable. #2. Gettysburg National Cemetery, Pennsylvania One of the most hallowed grounds in the country, this cemetery is where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Walking through the headstones - many of them anonymous - you cant help but feel the gravity of history. Its not just a place to visit; its a place to listen, to reflect, and to feel the cost of freedom. #3. Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Illinois Set in the quiet prairie lands south of Chicago, this cemetery is one of the largest in the Midwest. Named after the president who preserved the Union, it honors thousands of service members with a sense of quiet dignity. On Memorial Day, it draws big crowds - and even bigger emotion. #4. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii Known locally as Punchbowl, this cemetery sits in a volcanic crater overlooking Honolulu. Its one of the most striking military burial grounds in the world. The panoramic views, the long rows of graves, and the courts of the missing make this a deeply emotional place. Its not just beautifulits sacred. #5. Yellowstone National Cemetery, Montana Nestled in Montanas big sky country, this relatively new cemetery feels vast and peaceful. Surrounded by prairie views and framed by distant mountains, the setting couldnt be more fitting. Its a place where the silence stretches far, and every flag placed on Memorial Day seems to echo with meaning. #6. Long Island National Cemetery, New York Just an hour outside New York City, this cemetery stretches as far as the eye can see - an ocean of headstones that reminds you how many have served. Despite its size, it feels deeply personal. On Memorial Day, thousands of flags are placed by volunteers, and the sight is nothing short of breathtaking. #7. Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, New York In the peaceful countryside near where the Battle of Saratoga was fought, this cemetery connects the nations founding to the service of modern veterans. The grounds are beautiful, the setting is tranquil, and the ceremonies held here every Memorial Day are filled with heartfelt patriotism. #8. San Francisco National Cemetery, California Set high above the Golden Gate with fog often rolling through, this cemetery is hauntingly beautiful. The older headstones tell stories going back to the 1800s, and walking through the grounds feels like stepping into a living piece of American military history. The view alone is humblingbut its the names that truly stay with you. #9. Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas One of the largest and most historic military cemeteries in Texas, Fort Sam Houston is the final resting place for over 170,000 service members and their families. The grounds are expansive and impeccably maintained, and Memorial Day ceremonies here are among the most powerful in the state. #10. Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts Set among the beautiful, old trees of Cape Cod, this expansive cemetery is one of the most visited in New England. The tranquillity of the woods, the sea air, and the perfectly aligned markers create a space thats both serene and sacred. Every Memorial Day, the Avenue of Flags lines the entrance in a breathtaking display of gratitude. Choice Mutual has created an infographic showing the military burial grounds Americans would most like to visit on Memorial Day. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2025 Recently, Professor Cano Also Received Stony Brooks Discovery Prize 2025. Stony Brook University Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy Jennifer Cano was named a Chancellors Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship. This inaugural award from the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John B. King, honors early career tenured and tenure track faculty whose scholarly or creative activities have already achieved significant recognition and crucially, hold strong promise for field-defining impact in the future. This award was given to 10 professors throughout the SUNY system. Professor Cano, who resides in East Setauket, New York, is a theoretical physicist whose research focuses on the emergent properties of quantum materials; specifically, topological phases of matter. This includes study of the fundamental principles such as classification, as well as predicting new material platforms to realize exotic quantum phases. Professor Cano developed the theory of topological quantum chemistry, which combines group theory, topology and chemistry, to predict new topological materials. "I am so pleased to see Professor Cano and her work recognized as one of the top early-career researchers in the SUNY system, said Carl W. Lejuez, executive vice president and provost. Professor Canos ongoing research is a critical part to building a quantum future, and I am proud to say that many of our Stony Brook faculty, across disciplines, are part of this significant ongoing effort to uncover the secrets and possibilities of quantum technologies. "While I am exceptionally delighted that Jen is recognized by the SUNY Chancellors Horizon Award for her outstanding work in condensed matter physics, I am not surprised by the recognition," said Chang Kee Jung, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. "Jens brilliance is so evident that I fully expected she would receive this award. Her work is already shaping and leading her research field and I have no doubt that it will continue doing so. Jen also excels in teaching, mentoring and her presentation at the Stony Brook Discovery Prize competition was one of the best academic presentations I have ever seen. It is truly a pleasure to have Jen as a colleague and she is an inspiration for all." Candidates portfolios were reviewed by Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost. Going forward, up to 10 awards will be conferred each year. Professor Cano was also the winner of the Stony Brook Universitys Discovery Prize 2025 for her research proposal, Theoretical Framework for the Discovery of Topological Moire Materials. The Discovery Prize is an early-career faculty prize given to those at Stony Brook pursuing innovative and potentially groundbreaking scientific research. It was established and is funded by the Stony Brook Foundation. Professor Cano earned her PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2015. She subsequently was a postdoctoral fellow at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science. She came to Stony Brook in 2018 as an assistant professor and holds a visiting scholar appointment at the Flatiron Institute. About Stony Brook University Stony Brook University is New Yorks flagship university and No. 1 public university. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 225,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the worlds biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Reports Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brooks membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The universitys distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X@stonybrooku. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 23 2025 Additional Patrols and Police Presence Will Be Dedicated to Houses of Worship and Jewish Community Centers. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman yesterday denounced the heinous actions of a criminal who shot and killed a young couple who worked at the Israeli Embassy in Washington. The County Executive promised the local Jewish community that he is increasing security measures for their safety in response. The shooting occurred on Wednesday evening and took the lives of Israeli citizen Yaron Lischinsky and his soon-to-be fiancee, Sarah Milgrim. Following the shooting, the suspect, Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, reportedly walked into the Capital Jewish Museum and began chanting Free, free Palestine, before being detained by security. He is currently in the custody of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. We pray for the souls of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were gunned down in cold blood just because they were Jewish. This antisemitism, these hate crimes, these acts of terrorism have to stop, County Executive Blakeman stated. The County Executive said his administration and the Nassau County Police Department are taking additional steps to protect Nassau Countys Jewish community. These measures include expanding the use of drone technology by law enforcement, increasing police patrols and presence at houses of worship and community centers, and dedicating more resources and staff for resident outreach. We have to be vigilant in making sure that we secure our county, and that our county is safe, said County Executive Blakeman. We can do our best, and we do our best each and every day. The one thing we can do is make sure that we dont tolerate hate crime, that we dont tolerate antisemitism or any kind of racial or religious attack on any religion, any racial group, any ethnicity. That will not be tolerated in Nassau County. Residents who see or experience something concerning are encouraged to call the NCPD House of Worship desk at 516-500-0657. For any emergency situation, residents should immediately call 911. An image published by the Islamic Republic News Agency shows Iranian IR6, IR4, and IR2m centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear facility. As the fifth round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington concluded in Rome, signs of progress remained elusive. Iranian state media reported on May 23 that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff had left the talks prematurely. Citing two anonymous Iranian officials, CNN noted the same day that Tehran doubted the meetings would yield any agreement. An Iranian official speaking to The National on May 19 also voiced skepticism over the prospects of a breakthrough. Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei struck a similarly pessimistic tone during a May 20 sermon. Khamenei asserted that the negotiations were unlikely to bear fruit and denounced US demands for zero uranium enrichment as outrageous and excessive. On May 21, Kayhan, a newspaper aligned with Khameneis office, argued that the negotiations had failed to produce meaningful outcomes and called for a shift in policy toward active resistance against the United States. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reinforced this position on May 22, reiterating that Iran would not relinquish its enrichment capabilities. Initially ambiguous, US messaging grew firmer in early May. President Donald Trump stated in a May 4 interview that he would accept nothing short of the total dismantlement of Irans nuclear programa stance which, in technical terms, implies an end to all uranium enrichment. Witkoff reaffirmed this view on May 9 and again on May 19, declaring that uranium enrichment constitutes a red line and warning it could lead to weaponization. Iran issues escalating warnings amid Israeli threats Citing anonymous US officials, CNN reported on May 20 that new intelligence suggests Israel is preparing a potential strike on Iranian nuclear sitesthough Jerusalem has yet to finalize any decision. While an Israeli strike during active negotiations remains unlikely, the apparent stalemate in Rome may bolster the legitimacy of such an option. Tehran is taking the threat seriously. On May 22, Araghchi described the leak as alarming and [it] warrants immediate and serious condemnation from the UN Security Council and the IAEA. He further warned that the regime would take special measures in retaliation should an attack materialize. Irans Permanent Mission to the United Nations submitted Araghchis letter to the United Nations secretary-general and the United Nations Security Council, warning of catastrophic consequences and declaring that the Government of the United States shall bear legal responsibility for any Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Tasnim News, a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), argued on May 21 that threats against Iran stem from its refusal to disarm and vowed that any Israeli attack would be met with retaliation more severe than the initial strike. The United States, signaling resolve, has ramped up its regional military posture since March. Over 100 heavy transport aircraft have delivered military equipment to American bases across the Middle East. On May 19, the US deployed an additional squadron of F-15E fighter jets to Diego Garcia, bringing the total to six and complementing a prior deployment of nearly one-third of its B-2 stealth bomber fleet to that base. IRGC General and Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri followed suit with threats against Israel and the US. Bagheri framed Irans prior attacks on Israel in April and October 2024 (Operations True Promise I and II) as a deterrent against further military action. 2024 Iran-Israel escalations favored Jerusalem Regardless of Bagheris framing of Irans retaliatory operations against Israel, they have largely failed to strengthen Irans strategic position. Following Israels April 2024 strike on IRGC officials near Irans consulate in Damascus, Tehran responded by launching 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Nearly all the projectiles were intercepted by the combined efforts of Israel, the United States, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. No fatalities were reported. In the wake of the assassinations of Hamas Political Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on September 27, Iran launched another wave of projectiles on Israelthis time, over 200 ballistic missiles. The attack resulted in only two deaths, one Israeli and one Palestinian, and caused limited damage to Israeli infrastructure and military bases. Rather than deterring future actions, Irans strikes gave Israel a long-awaited pretext to directly target Iranian military assets within Iranian territorya move it had contemplated since at least 2012. In doing so, Israel destroyed critical air defense systems, missile stockpiles, and previously undeclared facilities as far as 500 kilometers east of Tehran. The outcome has left Iran increasingly vulnerable to future attacks. While Iran escalated its responses with each round of conflict, Tehran has disproportionately borne the long-term costs. The regime may feel compelled to escalate again if provoked, but it is increasingly aware that doing so could result in even more severe consequences. Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence. Syrian authorities seize bags full of captagon during a counter-narcotics operation in March. (SANA) When Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa entered Damascus in December 2024 as a victorious rebel, he remarked that Syria was the worlds leading source of captagon but is being purified by the grace of God almighty. However, despite Sharaas words, the captagon industry continues to operate. An easy-to-produce amphetamine-based drug, captagon provided an economic lifeline to the former Bashar al Assad regime in Syria. The industry generated billions of dollars for Damascus and fell directly under the control of Assad and his close associates, most notably Maher al AssadBashars brother and the commander of the Syrian Arab Armys 4th Division. In the weeks after Assads fall, the new Syrian government, led by Sharaa, vigorously attacked the remnants of the deposed dictators narcotics empire, burning millions of captagon pills and uncovering dozens of narcotics factories across Syria. In January, Sharaa negotiated the formation of a joint committee with Jordan to combat arms and drug smuggling along the countries shared 375-kilometer border. In a press conference regarding the committee, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al Shibani avowed, When it comes to captagon and drug smuggling, we promise it is over and wont return. Early operations on the Jordanian border saw Syrian government forces discover 15 captagon factories, in addition to dozens of arms caches destined for Hezbollah in Israel and Lebanon. However, subsequent efforts to curb the production and trafficking of the drug have proven lackluster. On March 16, Iraqi security forces seized more than seven million pills inside a truck that originated in Syria and passed through Turkey before arriving at the Iraqi border. The 1.1-ton seizure was the first since Assads ouster and one of the largest in Iraq in recent years. In April, Syrian officials confiscated four million pills at the port of Latakia that were hidden inside metal bars, packaged, and ready to export. During the Assad era, captagon smugglers hid pills in a variety of products, from fake fruits to electronics, and the Syrian Arab Armys 4th Division used the Latakia port to export the drug as far away as Malaysia. Despite Sharaas promise to put an end to Syrias captagon industry, traffickers continue to operate by the same methods used under the Assad regime. So far in May, there have already been three major captagon seizures. On May 5, the Lebanese army seized a truck near the border town of Hermel laden with equipment and chemicals to produce synthetic amphetamines. This seizure led to the discovery of a large quantity of captagon and a narcotics laboratory, which Lebanese authorities subsequently dismantled. Ten days later, nine million pills were confiscated in Aleppo after a month-long joint effort between Syrian and Turkish officials. According to the Syrian Interior Ministry Telegram account, Approximately 5 million of these pills were smuggled into Turkey, while the remaining quantity was intended for smuggling [to other countries]. Most recently, on May 19, Syrian authorities seized four million pills hidden inside of tahini manufacturing equipment at the port of Latakia, marking the second mass seizure of captagon at the port this year. Though some 30 million pills have been seized so far in 2025, arrests have been made on a case-by-case basis, mostly targeting low-level smugglers. As of May, no major production or trafficking networks have been dismantled except for those previously abandoned by the Assad regime. In addition, because industrial-level labs in northern Syria have been deserted, experts warn that small-scale captagon production might increase in the near future to meet demand in the Gulf States. Despite Damascuss can-do rhetoric and border security efforts, Sharaas government is still responding to the effects of the captagon trade rather than tackling the causes. Although security officials continue to seize shipments of the drug, its production continues. One reason for this could be that major drug kingpins in the Assad era have been welcomed into the new government. For instance, the week he entered Damascus, Sharaa met with local armed faction leaders to discuss their integration into the new Syrian army. Present was Imad Abu-Zureiq, an influential captagon kingpin who the US government sanctioned in 2023 for using his militia to sell contraband, operate protection rackets, and smuggle drugs in Jordan, while also recruiting directly for [Syrian military intelligence.] Not long after that engagement, Sharaa and his newly appointed minister of defense, Murhaf Abu Qasra, took meetings and brokered deals with other narco-leaders, including Moayad al Aqra and Ali al Miqdad, who was later appointed head of military intelligence. Despite Sharaas stated conviction to combat the Syrian narco-trade, the industry has proven it can flourish with or without the support of the state. Thus far, the new regime has underdelivered on its promise to put an end to captagon trafficking, and it remains to be seen whether authorities will make meaningful progress in curbing it. Natalie Ecanow is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on the Middle East and the Gulf. Nam Tran is an intern at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Theres something of a misconception when it comes to the Mac: that Mac apps cost more, just like the computer itself. While powerful tools like Photoshop or Final Cut Pro certainly have price tags commensurate with their robust feature sets, many of the greatest Mac apps wont cost you anything more than the time they take to download them. A quick note before we begin. Apple has changed its security settings in macOS, so youll need to allow your system to open a couple of these apps. A dialogue box may pop up telling you a certain app is an application downloaded from the Internet. Are you sure you want to open it? Click Open to proceed with the installation. These are the best free Mac apps we use, in alphabetical order. An independent investigation is underway into Bostons school transportation safety following the death of Lens A. Joseph, a kindergartener struck and killed by a school bus in Hyde Park last month. Joseph, 5, was struck by a Boston Public Schools bus near 107 Washington St. at around 2:44 p.m. on April 28. The child died later at a hospital that day. Jean Charles, the bus driver, was employed by Transdev the company contracted to provide transportation for Boston Public Schools since May 2023. Charles resigned May 14, prior to his termination hearing, after hed been placed on leave April 28. The independent review separate from an ongoing investigation into the crash by the Suffolk district attorney and the Boston Police Department will examine existing safety policies and performance under the contract with Transdev, which manages the 750 school bus drivers of the Boston Public Schools district. Its goal is to make recommendations to strengthen safety measures for school transportation, according to the Office of Mayor Michelle Wu. The review will be led by Natashia Tidwell, an attorney with the law firm Mintz and a former federal prosecutor and police officer who specializes in external investigations. We are heartbroken, said Wu in a statement. No family should ever suffer the loss of a child, and the public deserves a full understanding of how this could have happened and what changes are needed. Last week, it was revealed that Charles school bus driver certificate was expired for about five months since December 2024 before the collision that killed Joseph. Transdev is responsible for hiring, training and employing bus drivers, as well as making sure they have the required licensing, training and certification, the school district said. It was only after the fatal crash that Boston Public Schools learned Charles school bus certificate had expired. Transdev conducted an immediate audit of all bus drivers credentials after learning of Charles expired credentials, Wus office said. An additional seven drivers were pulled off the road from this audit out of an abundance of caution ... until it was determined that their credentials were current. Charles driving record over the last two years includes four minor incidents prior to April 28, Wus office stated. Two of those incidents occurred in 2024 one collision with a parked vehicle and another where the bus bumped a cars rear tire. The two other incidents happened just weeks before Josephs death in April, when Charles came into contact with another cars bumper and another vehicles side mirror. After this, Transdev pulled Charles off the road for two days of retraining. Read more: Boston city councilors demand answers after child killed by school bus When Joseph was killed, Charles had been assigned an additional route as a substitute driver to cover an early release from the Up Academy in Dorchester. Charles hit another vehicle during the route and did not notify a Transdev safety supervisor as per protocol. If he had made the proper notifications, Transdev would have decided whether Charles was going to finish the bus route or be replaced by another driver, Wus office stated. Charles then missed the turn onto Glenwood Avenue where Joseph lived and came to the intersection with Glenwood Avenue and Washington Street, where he fatally struck Joseph. No formal charges have been brought against Charles, as investigators continue to review the Hyde Park incident. The independent review, in the meantime, comes as Boston Public Schools has already taken steps to strengthen safety protocols since Josephs death, Wus office stated. The district is meeting almost daily with Transdev safety leadership to review all crashes and safety incidents, Wus office stated, and Transdevs response to each. There are about 400 incidents per year involving a BPS school bus, averaging about one or two each day across the city most of which involve minimal damage, the office said. Besides its immediate driver audits following the crash, Transdev plans to bring in additional safety staff to accelerate regular refresher training of all drivers for pick-up, drop-off and crash protocols, the office said. Boston Public Schools Transportation will also now require Transdev to submit additional reports on licenses, training renewals and post-crash driver protocols. Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper said the district is doing everything we can to support [Josephs family] during this unthinkable time. Joseph, 5, was remembered for his big dreams and an imagination beyond his years in a GoFundMe created to support his family. At only 3 years old, Lens could say with confidence I want to be a pilot. By 5 years old, the vision had changed and he told anyone that would listen, I want to be a cop, his uncle, Ricardo Joseph, wrote. The boys smile would light up the room and his energy was unmatched, Ricardo Joseph wrote. Lens was so funny and witty that he would make all of us laugh out loud with a joke or comment and then look at him, wondering how did he come up with it, his loved ones said. Lens loved running around outside and playing with his siblings and cousins. He loved watching planes fly, and seeing fast cars. Lens was a beautiful, curious, and intelligent boy taken from us too soon. Harvard University was hit with a discrimination lawsuit Thursday, claiming it denies students with mental health disabilities equal access to the campus and housing. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Boston on behalf of Students 4 Mental Health Justice, a student-led group of about 30 members, most of whom are current Harvard students with mental health disabilities, according to the lawsuit. In the 32-page complaint, the group claims that the university prevents students who seek mental health treatment from returning to campus, including residential housing, after mental health-related hospitalizations and visits to hospital emergency departments. And that the policy deprives them of their community and support system during a vulnerable time. The suit filed by Justice by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and Nichols Kaster PLLP, a national law firm specializing in civil rights and other legal issues, seeks injunctive relief to end these discriminatory practices against its Harvard student members, according to a press statement from the two litigants representing the students. A university spokesperson would not respond to MassLives questions about the pending litigation, saying, Harvard works to support all students so that they can successfully complete their degrees. The lawsuit details the experiences of five students identified by the letters A, B, C, D and E. Four of whom were hospitalized for mental health treatment and were not allowed back on campus, even to pack their belongings. They each had to sign agreements with the university detailing requirements that had to be met before they could return to classes, including leaves of absence, holding a job and seeking further mental health care information from which would be shared with university officials, according to the lawsuit. Each agreement described was different from student to student, according to the lawsuit. The student group described the agreements as coercive and onerous contracts for the duration of their enrollment, compelling them to undergo mental health treatment under surveillance by the university, and under threat of expulsion should they fail to comply, according to a press statement from DRA and Nichols Kaster PLLP. The fifth student mentioned in the suit sought mental health treatment outside of the universitys mental health services because she feared her medical privacy would be breached, and she would be forced to take a leave of absence. The lawsuit challenges how Harvard responds to disability-related behavior with exclusion, blame and draconian measures, discriminating against students with mental health disabilities, a statement from DRA and Nichols Kaster PLLP reads. The lawsuit filed against Harvard on Thursday is not the first. Earlier this month, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed a lawsuit in federal court against the university, claiming it has ignored and tolerated antisemitism on campus. And in January, several Jewish students filed a lawsuit against the institution, accusing it of becoming a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment. The Trump administration vs. Harvard Harvard has been in a pitched battle with the Trump administration over claims of antisemitism. The most recent action from the Trump administration against Harvard took place this week when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked a key certification allowing Harvard to enroll international students. In response, Harvard filed a complaint and a motion for a restraining order on Friday morning. A federal judge then granted the order. In addition, the Trump administration instituted a $2.2 billion funding freeze on April 14 after the school refused to comply with the federal administrations demands. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit on April 21, arguing that its constitutional rights had been violated by the governments threats to pull billions of dollars in funding. Harvard president Garber also signed onto a letter with hundreds of other presidents pushing back against government overreach and political interference by the Trump administration. Since then, eight federal agencies cut $450 million in grants and then the United States Department of Health and Human Services cut $60 million in grants from the university. On May 16, a wave of nearly one thousand federal research grant terminations began, amounting to more than $2.4 billion, according to an analysis by Nature. Reporting by Juliet Schulman-Hall was used in this article. A 29-year-old woman on probation was charged with sex trafficking of a minor after prosecutors say she advertised commercial sex with a 15-year-old girl reported missing. Shakera Pina, of Boston, will appear on the charge in federal court in Boston at a later date. Pina is in state custody on related charges, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foleys office said in a statement. On April 7, law enforcement encountered online postings advertising sex with a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing. Days later, as part of a sting operation, law enforcement responded to the advertisement, posing as a potential sex buyer. In subsequent conversations, the person who posted the advertisements agreed to meet the purported buyer at a hotel that night for a commercial sex date with the minor. At the hotel, law enforcement recovered a different 15-year-old. Prosecutors say text messages on the minors phone showed Pina instructing them how to interact with buyers and what to do with the proceeds. Law enforcement found Pina in the parking lot of the hotel, waiting inside her car, according to Foleys office. Pina is accused of fleeing police when they approached her car with flashing emergency lights. Prosecutors say she refused to open her car door to officers who approached on foot and was observed manipulating her cell phone ... in an apparent attempt to delete evidence. Officers then broke the drivers side window of the car. As Pina was being placed on the ground, she threw two cell phones in her possession, according to Foleys office. The 15-year-old girl originally depicted in the advertisement was also found by law enforcement and disclosed that Pina also trafficked her during the same time period, requiring her to engage in commercial sex and provide Pina with the proceeds, according to the statement. At the time, Pina was on probation in connection with an incident in 2022 where prosecutors say she stabbed another woman multiple times in the thigh and abdomen. The charge of sex trafficking a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. Prosecutors urged anyone who may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking or child exploitation to contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. An unidentified homicide victim was discovered buried in a shallow grave in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 22, 1975. Investigators are still hoping to uncover his identity 50 years later. Middlesex County District Attorney's Office On May 22, 1975, authorities were notified that the body of an unidentified homicide victim had been discovered buried in a shallow grave in Burlington. Though 50 years have passed since an investigation into the mans death was first opened, the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office still hopes the public can help identify the body and close this cold case for good. What investigators already knew about the victim The victims body was found in a wooded area near Muller Road in Burlington, the district attorneys office said in a Thursday press release. He had fatal head wounds, and the Chief Medical Examiners Office ruled his death a homicide. Investigators estimated that the man was in his late twenties or early thirties when he died, the district attorneys office said. His height was determined to be between 5-foot-10 inches and six feet. The man is also believed to have had long, dark hair and a beard, the district attorneys office said. He was found wearing a t-shirt, jeans, canvas sneakers, an army fatigue-style jacket and a garrison-type belt with a unique buckle. Investigators recovered a pair of glasses and a glasses case from the grave, and thus believe the victim wore glasses, the district attorneys office said. He was also found wearing a necklace with a distinctive medallion depicting faces. An as-yet unidentified homicide victim who was discovered buried in a shallow grave in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 22, 1975, was found wearing this distinctive medallion. Middlesex County District Attorney's Office What investigators recently discovered about the victim Investigators pursued multiple leads over the course of 45 years, but never managed to solve the case, the district attorneys office said. Then, in 2023, the offices Cold Case Unit obtained a search warrant authorizing the exhumation of the victims remains, which had been laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Burlington. The exhumation allowed forensic scientists from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory to collect a DNA sample from the victims bones and teeth, the district attorneys office said. Investigators then asked genealogists from a Texas-based forensic genetic genealogy firm to analyze the DNA. The genealogists determined that the victim was likely of Southern European descent, the district attorneys office said. The analysis of his DNA indicates that the majority of his ancestors likely hailed from modern-day Italy, Spain, Greece or nearby countries. I am grateful for the collaborative effort of the agencies involved in their continuing investigation of this case and their ongoing commitment to bringing answers to families, Burlington Police Chief Thomas Browne said in the release. It is my hope that this new information will get people to take another close look at this case and call authorities with any information that might help us to identify this individual. How investigators hope to identify the victim Burlington police and the district attorneys office are calling on New England families especially those of Italian, Spanish or Greek heritage who lost touch with a younger male relative in the early 1970s to call investigators at 781-897-6600 or email them at MiddlesexColdCaseTips@mass.gov. Thousands of families across our country have lost loved ones to murder. The bodies of many of these victims have never been recovered and given a proper burial. Others have been recovered, but never identified and are buried in unmarked graves, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said in the release. This office is committed to identifying all victims of homicide and giving their grieving families closure. Within a few short hours of learning that the federal government revoked Harvard Universitys ability to host international students, Alfred Williamson, a 20-year-old rising sophomore from Harvard who lives in Denmark, said his friends began calling other colleges and universities to learn about transferring. (Trump is) going after Harvard and is using international students as poker chips in his grand game, Williamson said. The revocation comes after the federal government gave Harvard University an ultimatum in April to submit detailed records about foreign students or lose the certification. While Harvard gave information required by law about foreign students illegal activity and records at the end of April, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said it was unsatisfactory. Harvard will have another opportunity if it provides detailed records about international students within 72 hours, according to the letter. Williamson called the Trump administrations actions authoritarian, aiming to have the institution turn on some students to be able to preserve its ability to keep its body of international students. He said it is the federal governments way of bully(ing) Havard into submission. Williamson is scared both as an international student and someone who has been outspoken or part of protests. Its very worrying about the state of American democracy if I cannot express my opinions, he said. Williamson said he is waiting a few days to understand how things will play out to determine if he should transfer. If nothing changes, he will begin making the same calls as his friends. About 27% of Harvards undergraduate and graduate students are international, according to 2024 to 2025 data. Williamson doesnt trust Harvard to withhold revealing information about international students and was disappointed to learn they had given some information that wasnt specified to Harvard community or the public. However, he is hoping they dont and is clinging to the opportunity to stay at Harvard as long as possible. Bullies only respond to punching back, he said. Maia Hoffenberg, a Harvard Jewish student, said the institution should refuse to hand over all protest recordings and should fight it in court. These demands said to help American and Jewish students in todays letter will do no such thing, Hoffman said. What legal experts have to say The battle between Harvard and the federal government has only just begun, according to legal experts. Sarah Sherman-Stokes, a Boston University law professor, This is obviously an attack on Harvards academic freedom and its right to make decisions about how it runs its university, said Sherman-Stokes, who is also the associate director of the Immigrants Rights and Human Trafficking Clinic. Harvards being retaliated against for standing up for themselves and standing up for the rule of law and the Trump administration is doing this to make a point. Its deeply political and also very likely illegal, she said. She said she expects that Harvard will sue to challenge the termination and ask for an injunction to temporarily stop the revocation from occurring. Its such a weaponization of government order and such a brazen act. So on one hand, its not surprising, but its deeply, deeply scary, Sherman-Stokes said. Jonathan Grode, managing partner at immigration law firm Green and Spiegel, said another option for the institution to pursue is to attempt to appeal the decision through the appellate process. Grode said it has obviously pretty harsh consequences for the most venerable university in the country but that he would advise students to wait and see as to what happens and whether the institution will actually have its status revoked. Theres just a number of ways that this can play through the court system, he said. A fishing expedition Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement that they are alarmed by the Trump administrations latest escalation against Harvard University. Lets be clear: International students are a vital part of our universities and our nation. By causing a great deal of chaos for Harvard students and their communities, this action is as harmful as it is unlawful, Rose said. Will Creeley, the legal director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, also known as FIRE, expressed similar sentiments. Creeley said the Department of Homeland Securitys decision is retaliatory and unlawful and called it a sweeping fishing expedition, in a statement. Secretary Noems letter warns that the Trump administration seeks to root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses. But little is more un-American than a federal bureaucrat demanding that a private university demonstrate its ideological fealty to the government under pain of punishment, he said. The Department is already arresting and seeking to deport students for engaging in protected political activity it disfavors. Were Harvard to capitulate to Secretary Noems unlawful demands, more students could face such consequences. The administrations demand for a surveillance state at Harvard is anathema to American freedom, he said. What is the certification being revoked? The Student and Exchange Visitor Program, also known as SEVP, allows higher education institutions to issue visa application forms to prospective international students after admitting them. The forms are used to apply for a visa to enter the United States. The certification requirements include that the school is operational and instructing students, has the necessary facilities and adequate finances to operate, provides instruction to a degree or objective and meets state requirements to operate, according to the Department of Homeland Security website. Institutions are recertified every two years, but can be evaluated at other points in time if they have information suggesting that it isnt complying with regulations. If the certification is taken away, an institution isnt allowed to enroll international students. Current students would have to choose between transferring to another institution, leaving the U.S., or changing their immigration status, according to the ICE website. An example of the certification being stripped occurred at Herguan University in California in 2016 after its CEO pleaded guilty to providing fraudulent documents to the Department of Homeland Security, according to East Bay Times. A growing fight Harvard has been in a battle with the federal government since April. There has been a wave of federal research grant terminations at Harvard University, in addition to a $60 million in multi-year grants,$450 million cut and a $2.2 billion freeze. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has also told the institution that the federal government would be barring Harvard University from acquiring new federal grants while the university continues to refuse to comply with the administrations demands for change on its campus. Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon that they share the same common ground, but the university will not surrender its core, legally-protected principles out of fear. Garber pushed back on the administration through a lawsuit in April. The institution argues that its constitutional rights had been violated by the governments threats to pull billions of dollars in funding if the school didnt comply with demands for an overhaul.Following the $450 million announced cuts, the university amended its lawsuit. No government regardless of which party is in power should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue, the suit reads. Due to the federal cuts, Harvard announced that it was committing $250 million of central funding to support research impacted by suspended and canceled federal grants. While on a trip with his parents to Sicily, the phone of Karl Molden, a rising junior Harvard student from Austria, began blowing up with messages, telling him that the federal government had revoked Harvard Universitys ability to host international students. He broke out in sweats, fearful of what his future would look like. Now outside the country, he doesnt know if hell be let back into the United States. I dont think its possible to get in right now. Im sure that they give very specific instructions to the border right now in regards to Harvard students, Molden said. Obviously, a lot of us are panicking. Molden, like many of his classmates, has been looking into making a study abroad program in the U.K. turn into a full-time enrollment transfer opportunity if he has to. This is in part because he has been outspoken and taken part in protests against the Trump administrations actions focused on Harvard foreign students. I hope that I am able to pursue my studies at Harvard and that Im going to be graduating as a Harvard student cause thats what I am at the end of the day, he said. Its an amazing institution. There is no other school like Harvard. Molden said he is a proud Harvard student, especially since Harvard announced on Friday that it would be suing the federal government in response to the revocation. Harvard is very brave to do this. And I think they have a duty to, he said. The federal government gave Harvard an ultimatum in April to submit detailed records about foreign students or lose the certification. About 27% of Harvards undergraduate and graduate students are international, according to 2024 to 2025 data. While Harvard said they gave information required by law about foreign students illegal activity and records at the end of April, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said it was unsatisfactory. Harvard will have another opportunity if it provides detailed records about international students within 72 hours, according to Noems letter. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs blocked the Trump administration action by granting a temporary restraining order after Harvard University filed a complaint and a motion for the restraining order on Friday morning. Its part of a bigger battle between authoritarianism and democracy and we are kind of in the middle of it right now and were the most recent victim, Molden said. Abdullah Shahid Sial, a Harvard University sophomore from Lahore, Pakistan, pictured in front of the Statue of John Harvard at the Cambridge, Mass., campus. (Will Katcher/MassLive) Bullies only respond by punching back Abdullah Shahid Sial, who is a rising junior at Harvard from Pakistan, learned about the revocation after getting off a 13-hour-long flight. His phone flooded with messages from friends expressing their apologies for what the federal administration had done and saying theyd be there for him. In a daze of confusion, he looked up if something had happened in Pakistan, only to scroll and find out what was going on at Harvard. International students are in an unfortunate place where, even if they did want to transfer, most of the deadlines have passed, Shahid Sial said. The Harvard International Office hasnt given students guidance on what to do to transfer, but he hopes they will help students if they want to leave the institution, he said. Its pure havoc and sheer chaos because people havent had much time to think, said Shahid Sial, who is the co-president of Harvards undergraduate student body. Right now their ultimate concern is can we fly to the U.S., can we fly out of the U.S. ... should I come back? Should I not? he said. Despite many deadlines passing, Alfred Williamson, a rising sophomore from Harvard who lives in Denmark, said his friends began calling other colleges and universities to learn about transferring. (Trump is) going after Harvard and is using international students as poker chips in his grand game, Williamson said. Williamson called the Trump administrations actions authoritarian, aiming to have the institution turn on some students to be able to preserve its ability to keep its body of international students. He said it is the federal governments way of bully(ing) Harvard into submission. Williamson is scared both as an international student and because he has been outspoken in support of foreign students at Harvard and against the Trump administration. Its very worrying about the state of American democracy if I cannot express my opinions, he said. Williamson said he is waiting a few days to understand how things will play out to determine if he should transfer. If nothing changes, he will begin making the same calls as his friends. Williamson doesnt trust Harvard to withhold revealing information about international students and was disappointed to learn they had given some information that wasnt specified to Harvard community or the public. However, he is clinging to the opportunity to stay at Harvard as long as possible. Bullies only respond to punching back, he said. Its not about antisemitism As a Jewish student at Harvard, Maia Hoffenberg said she believes the federal governments actions toward the university clearly arent about antisemitism. I do think antisemitism is a problem on college campuses and has been a problem on Harvards campus, but this reaction is completely inappropriate. Antisemitism is a serious issue, and at the same time, this is so clearly not about antisemitism, said Hoffenberg, who will be a senior starting in the fall. Its been made so much more clear by the revocation of all international students right, to be here, all of their visas. Its so blatant that this was never about protecting Jews, she said. Read more: Congressional committees accuse Harvard of working with Chinese Communist Party She pointed out that there are international students who are Jewish, which the Trump administration is harming through this revocation. She said Harvard students across the political spectrum are standing behind the institution as it is doing the right thing by fighting back in another lawsuit against the federal government. Know that the Harvard campus is outraged right now from across the political spectrum, she said. Hoffenberg, who is also part of a group on campus called Students for Freedom, referenced a letter that was written by American and international Harvard students which pointed to the federal governments anti-American attack on our core values of freedom and education. An attack on learning Harvard faculty, staff respond Frank Arce, assistant dean for admissions and financial aid at Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Education, said that he isnt staying silent in the face of the Trump administrations decision. Thousands of students now face total uncertainty not because they did anything wrong, but because they chose to study here, Arce said on LinkedIn. This is personal. Its an attack on learning, on freedom and on the idea that the U.S. can be a place where brilliant people from around the world come to grow. This is what happens when education becomes a political target. When students are used as pawns. When fear wins, he said. Fernando Reimers, a professor of international education at Harvards Graduate School of Education, called the Trump administrations actions legally indefensible and deeply immoral in a LinkedIn post. This is yet another alarming example of an autocratic impulse to punish institutions that resist government overreach institution that refuse to let politicians dictate their curricula, admissions policies or faculty decisions. Such demands attack the very heart of a democratic society," said Reimers, who is also the director of Harvards Global Education Innovation Initiative. He said that international students bring invaluable perspectives, talent and innovation and that not allowing them on Harvards campus harms universities and Americas status as a beacon for the worlds brightest minds. At the same time, he said he is optimistic that people who voted for Trump may now see that his actions arent moving America into a better future and that there will be a backlash to help restore the core values that once made this republic a leader in the world. The national battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration didnt start this week. The back and forth between the two has been in the works since the beginning of April. The federal government has pinpointed campus antisemitism as the reason for the escalating attacks, though legal scholars and higher education community members have disagreed, claiming it is instead going after Harvard as a symbol of higher education. Concerns around campus antisemitism have been at a fever pitch since the war in Gaza began on Oct. 7. Harvards first Black president, Claudine Gay, took office in 2023 and subsequently resigned after six months in the post amid the war in Gaza in part over her response to the issue. Harvard has said it has made steps toward addressing antisemitism on campus, including creating task forces on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias. Those groups released reports at the end of April detailing the discrimination that has taken place since the war in Gaza and recommendations for what should happen next. The 2023-24 academic year was disappointing and painful. I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community. The grave, extensive impact of the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel and its aftermath had serious repercussions on our campus said Alan Garber, Harvards president, in a message to the community. What just happened to Harvard? The most recent action from the Trump administration against Harvard took place this week when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked a key certification allowing Harvard to enroll international students. In response, Harvard filed a complaint and a motion for a restraining order on Friday morning. A federal judge then granted the order. The revocation came after the federal government gave Harvard an ultimatum in April to submit detailed records about foreign students or lose the certification. About 27% of Harvards undergraduate and graduate students are international, according to 2024 to 2025 data. While Harvard said they gave information required by law about foreign students illegal activity and records at the end of April, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said it was unsatisfactory. Harvard will have another opportunity if it provides detailed records about international students within 72 hours, according to Noems letter. The university already offered foreign students to accept admission at Harvard and a foreign institution as a backup plan following the threat of revocation. What else has been stripped from Harvard? Outside of the revocation of Harvards certification to host international students, the Trump administration has gone after billions of dollars of funding to Harvard. It began in April when the Trump administration demanded an overhaul of its leadership structure, admissions and hiring or risk losing $9 billion in funding, according to the federal government. Harvard rejected those demands, stating that the Trump administrations list of demands looks to invade university freedoms long recognized by the Supreme Court. Then the fight over funding came to fruition. It began with a $2.2 billion funding freeze on April 14 after the school refused to comply with the federal administrations demands. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit on April 21, arguing that its constitutional rights had been violated by the governments threats to pull billions of dollars in funding. Harvard president Garber also signed onto a letter with hundreds of other presidents pushing back against government overreach and political interference by the Trump administration. At the beginning of May, the Trump administration said it would bar Harvard University from acquiring new federal grants while the university continues to refuse to comply with the administrations demands for change on its campus. A few days later, eight federal agencies cut $450 million in grants and then the United States Department of Health and Human Services cut $60 million in grants from the university. Harvard went on to amend its lawsuit against the Trump administration. On May 16, a wave of nearly one thousand federal research grant terminations began, amounting to more than $2.4 billion, according to an analysis by Nature. In response, Harvard established a new Presidential Priorities Fund, asking for donations in the midst of federal cuts. Some of Harvards schools, including its School of Public Health, have even taken to social media to ask for donations after nearly every single federal grant had been terminated. Other ongoing accusations On Monday, multiple U.S. House committees also began investigating Harvard, accusing the institution of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, according to a 14-page letter. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is requesting a series of information about Harvards activities that create risks to U.S. national security and further the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) genocide in Xinjiang. On April 17, the U.S. Department of Education sent Harvard University a records request on Thursday, demanding that the institution disclose foreign investments. McMahon called the records request the first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities. Higher education institutions are required to disclose foreign source gifts and contracts with a value of $250,000 or more to the U.S. Department of Education through Section 117 reports. Harvard said it has been doing so for decades as part of ongoing compliance with the law. Around the same time, Trump threatened to end Harvards tax-exempt status, which he has continued to say he will do, aiming for the institution to instead be taxed as a political entity. A 40-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday after being convicted of murder for the fatal shooting of a cab driver in Boston nearly six years ago. A jury convicted Phillip Foy of first-degree murder after five days of deliberations, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Before handing down the sentence Friday, Judge Anthony Campo heard a victim impact statement from the son of Luckinson Oruma, 60, the cab driver killed by Foy on June 4, 2019. The state of New Hampshire has agreed to pay Harmony Montgomerys mother, Crystal Storey, $2,250,000 in a settlement after she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) last year, NBC 10 Boston reported Friday. Originally filed in September, Sorey claimed that DCYF ignored warning signs that led to her daughters death at the hands of her father, Adam Montgomery, in late 2019. Warnings included reports from family and neighbors, about her daughters well-being and failing to protect Harmony Montgomery. The lawsuit stated that Adam Montgomerys uncle, Kevin Montgomery, contacted DCYF about a vibrant black eye that she had after Adam Montgomery told him hed bounced her off every wall in the house. Kevin Montgomery also reported that he once saw the girl scrubbing a bathtub with a toothbrush as punishment, as well as Harmony Montgomery standing in a corner for between five and eight hours. He was also concerned about the electricity being shut off from his nephews home and found what he thought was drug paraphernalia. When Kevin Montgomery asked the agency about an earlier report and was told it was confidential, he became frustrated when an agency worker questioned him about the accuracy of some of the dates he provided. This is why children die, Kevin Montgomery told the agency worker in frustration, according to the lawsuit. He testified about Adam Montgomerys admission to hitting Harmony Montgomery, that he bashed her around the f***ing house. Adam Montgomery was sentenced in May 2024 to 56 years in prison after he was found guilty of beating Harmony Montgomery to death in December 2019. Adam Montgomery was awarded custody of Harmony Montgomery earlier that year. Her body has never been found. Karen Read and attorney Alan Jackson look at the empty jury box while listening to Judge Beverly Cannone during Read's murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) AP During the fifth week of the Karen Read trial, an expert witness provided crucial testimony for the prosecutions case about when Reads SUV drove in reverse close to the time of the last interaction logged by John OKeefes phone. The testimony from Shanon Burgess, who specializes in vehicle and cell phone forensics, delved into highly technical territory about a clock variance, trigger events, and an infotainment system, but what emerged is the most detailed timeline for when Read fatally struck OKeefe, according to prosecutors. That doesnt mean everything went smoothly. Defense attorney Robert Alessi undermined Burgesss credibility by calling into question his education. The website for Burgesss employer, Aperture, previously stated that he graduated with a bachelors degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. But on the witness stand, Burgess admitted he has been pursuing a bachelors degree for 17 years. Following Burgess, a neurosurgeon provided more testimony about OKeefes injuries and how they couldve been caused. The week finished with another member of the Massachusetts State Police crime lab, who testified about the glass found on Reads SUV. Here are the biggest takeaways from this week: Forensic experts credibility questioned, but what about the data? Digital forensics analyst Shanon Burgess is grilled by defense attorney Robert Alessi over errors in his CV and LinkedIn profile during the retrial of Karen Read in the Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, May 19, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) AP The data that Burgess presented is essential for the prosecutions theory of the case. His analysis of the evidence concluded that a backing maneuver by Read synchronized perfectly with when OKeefes phone locked for the final time on the night he died. Burgess explained in very technical terms how he accounted for a discrepancy between the clocks in Reads SUV and OKeefes phone, telling jurors they were about 21 to 29 seconds apart. When adjusted for the variance synchronizing the times using a three-point turn before Read and OKeefe arrived at 34 Fairview Road it showed that Reads SUV backed up around the same time as the last interaction on OKeefes phone. Meaning Read reversed her SUV in front of 34 Fairview Road with the clocks adjusted from 12:32:04 a.m. to 12:32:12 a.m., according to Burgess. The last time OKeefes phone was locked was at 12:32:09 a.m., according to the testimony of another prosecution expert. Burgess said he arrived at his conclusion to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty. This explanation of clock variance was not given at the first trial and could have immense implications this time. Yet, during cross-examination, Alessi sought to undercut Burgess credibility by pointing out inconsistencies in his resume and errors in his presentation. Alessi, using several documents he put into evidence, showed that Burgess has represented online both on a LinkedIn profile and his companys website that he attended the University of Alabama from 2016 to 2018, and earned a bachelors of general science in mathematics and business administration. During his testimony, however, Burgess admitted he has pursued a bachelors degree since 2008 and that the Alabama school did not offer a degree in general science and mathematics. It has errors or outdated information, Burgess said about his resume. Alessi also challenged Burgess use of the word collision to describe the backing maneuver by Read. As you sit here today, none of the information in that [Lexus] black box indicates there was a collision on Jan. 29, Alessi said. Not by itself, correct, Burgess said. At another point, Alessi pointed out that Burgess used a PowerPoint with a timeline off by 24 hours, misstating the times of key events in the case, including when Reads car was towed from her parents home in Dighton. Compelling evidence or shadows of doubt? Defense attorney Robert Alessi makes a point as he cross examines digital forensics analyst Shanon Burgess during the Karen Read trial Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Matt Stone/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool) AP Its impossible to know what jurors are thinking as the testimony unfolds. Inside the courtroom, their reactions to new evidence are largely muted. Most jurors appear to be paying close attention and taking detailed notes. But experts say Alessis cross-examination could damage Burgess in the eyes of the 18-person panel. The questioning potentially casts doubt on the entire expert opinion from Mr. Burgess, said Eric Faddis, an attorney and former prosecutor from Colorado who has followed both Read trials. That expert opinion, I thought, on direct examination, was compelling and helpful in proving that John OKeefe died of a vehicle strike. However, when a witness misrepresents something that goes to the very heart of their qualifications to even give an opinion, that could really undermine the effectiveness of that entire opinion, Faddis said. If hes going to misrepresent to the jury his qualifications, how are they to trust the opinion that he is asserting in his testimony? It turned out to be really problematic for the prosecution and kind of made them look silly. Not every legal expert, however, is convinced about the effectiveness of Alessis cross-examination. Jack Lu, a retired Massachusetts superior court judge, described Alessis cross-examination as a low- to moderate-score win but not a huge score. Apparently, they dont have much else, or else why spend all that time on this issue? Lu said of Burgess resume. The witness was not devastated by cross-examination; it can go a lot worse. Some jurors may overlook certain oversights about Burgess background and still conclude that his analysis and opinions were sound, Faddis said. And if they do that, his analysis and opinion go a long way in helping establish this event, that OKeefe died of a vehicle strike and not some nefarious, vague event that happened inside the home. The reverberations of Burgess testimony Beyond establishing the timeline of the alleged vehicle strike at the heart of the case, Burgess testimony was also critical to the prosecutions case because it lays the groundwork for Judson Welcher, who is expected to be its final witness. Welcher is an accident reconstructionist and biomechanical engineer who also works at the firm Aperture. Read told reporters she expects the prosecution to rest its case after calling him. On the stand, Welcher is expected to deliver the final, and arguably most critical part, of the governments case: exactly how Read struck OKeefe with her car. The witnesses called to this point have set up other key evidence, like the pieces of taillight found near OKeefes body and the angry voicemails Read left for OKeefe on the night of his death. But it will ultimately be up to Welcher to explain what happened that night. The problem for prosecutors lies in the fact that much of Welchers conclusions are based on Burgess examination. As a result, if the jury feels Burgess is an unreliable expert, it may struggle to believe Welchers testing. During Reads first trial, prosecutors called a reconstructionist from the Massachusetts State Police to the stand to try and explain the circumstances of the collision. But he faced a withering cross-examination from defense attorney Alan Jackson, who noted the trooper was not a biomechanical engineer. This time, prosecutors are leaning on a more experienced expert whose credentials are less likely to come under scrutiny. Welcher is also expected to take the stand as a rebuttal witness for the prosecution after the defense rests its case. Reads team will call a pair of accident reconstruction experts of their own, and Welcher will have a chance to refute some of the conclusions they reached. The long shadow of Michael Proctor Its a near certainty at this point that the prosecution wont call former trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator into OKeefes death, during the retrial. Proctor was fired by Massachusetts State Police in March, just weeks before the start of jury selection, for misconduct in the Read investigation that included derogatory texts. And while Proctor may not testify at all, his presence has loomed large throughout the trial. That was particularly true when Jackson got up to cross-examine Christina Hanley, a forensic scientist at the Massachusetts State Police crime lab. Hanley testified in great detail about the pieces of glass and plastic she analyzed that was found at 34 Fairview Road, in OKeefes clothing and on Reads SUV. The testimony was difficult to follow at times, with Hanley using numbers to refer to the specific objects. But on cross-examination, after numerous lengthy sidebars, Jackson published a chalk a demonstrative exhibit that gave a visual overview of some of the physical evidence Hanley was testifying to. A "chalk" entered into evidence by Karen Read's defense simplified the testimony of a scientist. Pool Camera That exhibit put into stark focus for the jury a key point Reads defense wanted to hammer home: a piece of glass found by Proctor at 34 Fairview Road was the only thing that matched any of the glass on Reads bumper. The glass on the bumper didnt match a cup found near OKeefes body, and didnt match several pieces of glass recovered by Proctors supervisor, Yuriy Bukhenik. Hanley said one piece of glass on the bumper was consistent in physical and instrumental properties with the lone piece of glass found by Proctor. Reads defense is trying to paint a clear picture for the jury: anything and everything Proctor touched is tainted. It also remains to be seen if her team will call Proctor to the stand. Read said that decision was still up in the air. OKeefes injuries are consistent with falling backwards, expert testifies Brain surgeon Dr. Aizik Wolf testifies about the injuries to John O'Keefe during Karen Read's murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) AP A neurosurgeon, Dr. Aizik Wolf, testified about OKeefes injuries based on the report of the states medical examiner, who testified last week, and her autopsy. Wolf reviewed several photographs of the wounds to OKeefes head. He described a cut on the back of OKeefes head as an approximate inch-and-a-half laceration with contusions and abrasions, or as he put it, a classic blunt trauma injury. You fall backwards, to get that injury, he said, adding his opinion is that the injury was caused by falling on hard ground. The only way he could get this kind of injury was to fall backwards, hit the back of the head, and then the resulting energy forces into his brain and into the base of his skull, Wolf said. OKeefe would not have died immediately from the injury and although it has a high mortality rate, patients often do not die for weeks or months, Wolf said. Alessis cross-examination of Wolf was surprisingly brief so much so that the judge gave jurors an extended break after his testimony concluded. But he was able to poke a key hole in the prosecutions theory when Wolf agreed that a cut above OKeefes eye wouldnt have come from a fall backwards. 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 resumes at 9 a.m. Tuesday after the Memorial Day holiday. Less than 24 hours after the Trump administration revoked Harvard Universitys ability to host international students, the institution is suing the federal government again. The university has filed a complaint, and a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow. The Massachusetts Senate has approved a proposal that could dramatically overhaul the way the state awards liquor licenses a coveted and pricey document thats make-or-break for restaurants and bars. But it still has to clear the states House of Representatives, where its fate is far from assured. The majority-Democrat chamber tucked the language, sponsored by Sen. Jacob Oliveira, D-Hampden/Hampshire/Worcester, into the $61.4 billion budget plan for the new fiscal year that starts July 1. The Senate has spent this week racing through hundreds of amendments to the fiscal blueprint. By the time the dust settled on Thursday night, upper chamber lawmakers had added $81.1 million to the spending plan, according to State House News Service. Later that same day, the chamber voted 38-2 to approve the entire document and send it to the House, setting the stage for the inevitable negotiations to reconcile the differences between the two chambers spending proposals. As its currently written, Oliveiras amendment would give more power to the states Alcohol Beverage Control Commission to approve petitions for licenses, an authority that now rests with the Legislature and the governor, the Pioneer Valley lawmaker told reporters on Wednesday morning. Our current process was born out of the process of the repeal of prohibition with the 21st Amendment nearly 100 years ago, he said. Certainly, our economy has changed since then. We have vibrant suburban communities and urban communities that have developed over time, he continued. And the process for granting additional liquor licenses can be cumbersome to our cities and towns, requiring them to come to the Legislature, file the legislation, and then bring it to the governor. If the language survives joint House and Senate negotiations and thats a big if the change would empower our 351 cities and towns, as well as provide some flexibility to our businesses, Oliveira told reporters Wednesday. House Ways and Means Committee Chairperson Aaron Michlewitz, D-3rd Suffolk, who could have a big say on whether the language survives budget negotiations, told MassLive earlier this week that he had not seen Oliveiras proposal and could not comment on its specifics. We did a piece in our budget that included allowing cities to [do] upgrades for beer and wine to full alcohol, without having to come back to the legislative process, as long as ... those would no longer be transferable. It seems like this sounds different than that. So ... Id have to see, he said. One key lawmaker, however, was set to throw up a roadblock. In our community, liquor licenses can be great or they can be problematic, and for me to give my communitys voice away would be political recklessness on my behalf, said House Majority Leader Michael Moran, a Democrat from Brighton, told The Boston Globe. Last year, Moran negotiated a bill that gave Boston hundreds of additional liquor licenses, the newspaper reported. My residents, the people that I represent, deserve a voice in that process, Moran, D-18th Suffolk, told the Globe. and I have no intention of giving up their voice. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick speaks with reporters after President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) AP People arent buying U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks assertion that the Trump administrations tariffs cause no financial pain. During a live interview with Axioss Mike Allen at the Building the Future event in Washington this week, Lutnick claimed that no one is feeling any pain right now from the tariffs. You go to the store now, are you feeling the pain of tariffs? No! Why not? Because there is no pain, Lutnick said. He then asked the crowd if they felt any pain because of the tariffs. Yes! some audience members fired back as silence fell throughout the room. Trump has been a longtime supporter of tariffs, believing they would help increase tax revenue, boost the growth of the U.S. economy, and increase manufacturing jobs throughout the country. The most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff, Trump told the Economic Club of Chicago in 2024. Its my favorite word. On April 2, Trump announced he was slapping more than 100 countries worldwide with the trade levies. In the weeks following that announcement, however, Trump and his administration have walked back and cut tariffs. This month, the administration announced it would cut its tariffs imposed on China from 145% to 30% for a temporary period, according to the New York Times. China, in response, would lower its import duty on American goods from 125% to 10%, the New York Times reported. During the Axios interview, Lutnick told the crowd that Trump felt horrible about the impacts of the China tariffs but said they were necessary. You cant fix things in a day, Lutnick said. But I would expect that prices in America would be unaffected. Lutnicks claim about prices runs counter to corporations that have warned they will have to raise prices because of the tariffs. Walmarts Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told CNBC in an interview that Trumps tariffs are still too high and that price hikes are likely to happen towards the end of the month. Im concerned that [the] consumer is going to start seeing higher prices, Rainey said. Youll begin to see that, likely towards the tail end of this month, and then certainly much more in June. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in an earnings call on Thursday that tariffs on China are raising the costs of electronics and toys, according to CNN. He added that some food costs are also going up because of tariffs on Costa Rica, Peru and Colombia. We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible. But given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we arent able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins, McMillon said. Even at the reduced levels, the higher tariffs will result in higher prices. In response to these comments, Trump wrote on Truth Social, telling Walmart to EAT THE TARIFFS, saying that the company should not blame tariffs for rising prices. Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain, Trump wrote. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Trump is continuing to threaten tariffs on companies and nations. On Friday, the president threatened Apple with a 25% tariff unless it starts making iPhones in the United States. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote Friday morning on Truth Social. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Trump also recommended on Friday a 50% tariff on the European Union that would go into effect on June 1, citing stalled talks between the U.S. and the EU as the reason for the tariffs. " Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025," Trump wrote on Truth Social. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Ryan Noda spent the early part of 2025 with the Angels before being traded to the Red Sox. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Getty Images BOSTON The Red Sox made a minor trade to add some first base depth Thursday, obtaining outfielder/first baseman Ryan Noda from the Angels for cash, then optioning him to Triple-A Worcester. What might Noda provide? We asked a National League scout that has seen him throughout his career. Big swing-and-miss guy vs. good pitching, with power vs right-handers with average stuff. Allergic to off-speed, changeups and elevated fastballs on the top of the zone and out of the zone, the scout said. Will draw walks which pad his on-base percentage. Must match up vs righties and middle to back-end (bullpen) guys. Actually OK filling outfield & first base both. Arm is below average but good hands and reaction at first base. Near average baserunner and improved at first base. Overall, had some success in the past. Taking aim at the wall (Green Monster) could help him. Good guy on the club, works hard at it. Strikeout rates haunt him, plus left-handed pitchers. Noda is simply a depth piece who should play different positions in Worcester after making 13 starts in right field, eight at first base, four in left field, and four in center field for Salt Lake (the Angels Triple-A affiliate) to start the year. Currently, the Red Sox have Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro splitting time at first base with Romy Gonzalez (quad) on the injured list. Kristian Campbell has begun taking reps at the position, which might lead to Marcelo Mayer being called up to play second base. So far, there are no indications that the Red Sox think Rafael Devers will change his mind and start learning first. Noda hit .148 with four homers, eight RBIs, 53 strikeouts, 31 walks and a .633 OPS in 154 plate appearances to start the year for Salt Lake. The 29-year-old posted a 2.2-bWAR season in Oakland in 2023 as a Rule 5 rookie, hitting .229 with 16 homers, 54 RBIs and a .770 OPS in 128 games for the As. He posted a 15.6% walk rate that season. Noda was designated for assignment by the Angels on Monday. He has not played in the majors this season. Killington Peak saw some snow fall as a late-season nor'easter came to New England on Thursday. Screenshot, North Ridge Web cam, Killington Resort. While southern New England saw windswept rain as a noreaster battered the region on Thursday, two notable mountains in northern New England saw differing amounts of snow. Researchers at Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire observed 4.1 inches of snow at the summit since Thursday afternoon, according to an official post on X shared Friday morning. Nearby signs and a New Hampshire State Parks truck were photographed covered in rime and ice glaze. Since yesterday afternoon, the summit has received 4.1 inches of snow! Stay tuned for storm totals, as snow continues into today. Pictured here are the summit sign, @NHStateParks' truck, and one of the Mount Washington State Park signs all coated in rime and glaze ice. pic.twitter.com/DOZZacpTkp Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) (@MWObs) May 23, 2025 But meteorologists expect more snow to fall, with more exact snow totals to come, the post read. MassLive has reached out to the Mount Washington Observatory for more information. Clouds, snow, sleet and rain are all expected to appear on Friday, according to the observatorys forecast. An additional 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall, along with an ice accumulation of a quarter of an inch from freezing rain. Highs should be in the high 20s, with winds between 25 and 40 mph that should diminish later in the day between 10 and 25 mph, observatory forecasters wrote. To the west, Killington Peak in Vermont saw a dusting to a few inches of snow, according to Brooke Geery, marketing specialist at Killington Resort. We dont have an official reading of the snow, but it is looking pretty white up top, Geery said. ...Definitely not enough to ski safely, although a few rogues have hiked up there to brave it. Snow showers are likely to continue until later on Friday at the Vermont mountain, according to the National Weather Service. Highs are expected to be in the low 30s with winds between 10 and 15 mph. Thursdays storm produced several inches of rain in a few parts of Massachusetts, weather service forecasters catalogued. West Tisbury on Marthas Vineyard saw almost 6 inches of rain, while other areas saw between over 1 inch to over 2 inches of rain. Hendrick Allende, 23, graduates the Emerging Adult Court of Hope (EACH) Program in courtroom 2 of the Hampden County District Court, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook Steven Woodward believed his future only held two options: Either a cell or a casket. He made poor decisions, got involved with the wrong people and walked down a dangerous path that landed him behind bars on his 18th birthday. A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty to charges related to recording himself raping minors on Wednesday ending his trial in federal court midway through, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office announced Thursday. Justin Benoit, 39, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography partway through testimony by the governments final witness in the case, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release. He has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 15, 2022. On at least five occasions between February 2021 and February 2022, Benoit sexually exploited minors to produce child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Attorneys office said. During searches of his home, investigators found more than 250 such files on his tablet, including approximately 100 that showed him raping minors. Huntington Public Library Director Amanda Loiselle and Mary Krol of Westfield, 2025 Advocate of the Year Award recipient from the Mass. Office for Victim assistance (MOVA). (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) The Westfield News Mary Krol of Westfield, a Hilltown Safety at Home Victim Advocate, received the 2025 Advocate of the Year Award from the Mass. Office for Victim Assistance and the Victim & Witness Assistance Board on May 5. The Advocate of the Year Award recognizes an individual from a public and/or community-based agency who has made extraordinary contributions to the lives of victims and survivors. 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On the 20th of March, Noone who hails from Ballina stated there absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland and the systems we have in place are being taken advantage of. He made the comments in a video after Conor Mc Gregor met with U.S. President, Donald Trump. The well-known viral man declared the comments on the 20th of March as moments later the Ballina man received plenty of backlash on his Instagram and TikTok accounts where some argued he was bullied off the internet. When Noone returned to social media, he clarified that he is not against immigration nor is he aligned with Mc Gregor. READ MORE: Electric vehicles are only for the rich claims Mayo councillor Speaking to The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk's evening show, Noone confirmed he received hundreds of messages quoting things he had never said while he was being linked to people he didnt want to be associated with. "I felt like I was going to walk outside and people were going to start shouting at me about me, all these awful things people were saying I was going to be," he said. "So, I didnt leave the house for a week after that. I didnt sleep much while I was gone and look, Ive learned from that. I know what might come if I say something in the future. Thats life and Ive accepted that as part of what Im doing". "There was a small group of people who maybe sort of deliberately mistook what I said and tried to make it look a lot worse than it was. There were some that had a disagreement. Most people understood what I was saying and whether they agreed or disagreed, were fine about it. He added that he felt some parts of the video could have been better worded and he didnt expect it to get as much attention as it did. Echoing a follow-up video he posted on March 24, Noone said he stands by what he said initially and there are people taking advantage of what people feel isnt being heard". Mr Noone who has 2 million followers on both his Instagram and TikTok pages has since returned to social media where his videos remain ever so popular. READ MORE: Mayo votes for change to skorts rule at historic Camogie Congress The Mary Robinson Centre, in partnership with the University of Galway and Mayo County Council, is set to host the third annual Mary Robinson Climate and Nature Conference on May 26 and 27 in Ballina, the hometown of Irelands first female president and a globally respected voice for climate justice. This years conference, themed Courage in Crisis, will bring together a powerful mix of climate justice advocates, scientists, activists, community groups, and policymakers from Ireland and abroad. The event will tackle the pressing and intertwined challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, with an emphasis on collective action and local-global solidarity. READ MORE: Mayo TikTok star Garron Noone reveals he didn't leave his house for a week Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, described the event as a call to action: The Mary Robinson Nature and Climate Conference will centre on a call to courage in the face of the climate and nature crisis, a crisis that touches every part of our shared world. In these urgent times, it is through meitheal, the Irish tradition of coming together in collective effort, that we find strength, purpose and hope. The two-day event will feature keynote speeches from influential figures such as Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain (DCU), ecologist and broadcaster Anja Murray, youth activist Dearbhla Richardson, and climate scientist Professor Hannah Daly (UCC). Also speaking are international experts like Professor Navjot Bhullar (University of Canberra) and Dr Omnia El Omrani (Global Climate and Health Alliance). Alongside the talks, the programme includes workshops, panel discussions, art exhibitions, walks in local woodlands, and community gatheringsmany of which are free and open to the public. Dr Caitriona Carlin, co-chair of the conference and a researcher at the University of Galway, highlighted the significance of expanding the conferences scope: This is the first year the event is formally titled the Climate and Nature Conference. That shift mattersit reflects the deep interconnection between environmental and human wellbeing. Actions for climate and for nature are ultimately actions for ourselves. READ MORE: Planning process for controversial west Mayo Greenway is 'a long and expensive charade' Dr Sinead Sheehan, fellow co-chair, emphasized community involvement: This year, while we are bringing the conference to Ballina, we also want to bring Ballina to the conference! From art and eco-walks to music and storytelling, the towns culture and activism will be at the heart of it all. Sustainability lecturer and co-chair Dr Alma Clavin added: Ballina and County Mayo are home to inspiring community-led sustainability initiatives and rich biodiversity. This conference creates space for those doing the work to be heard and supported. Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, who hails from County Mayo, expressed her excitement about participating: There are wonderful examples of nature being valued and protected across the county. Mary Robinson has been such a role model and its a privilege to contribute to this conference celebrating her work. Professor Hannah Daly echoed this sentiment, noting the former presidents legacy: Mary Robinson has brought moral clarity to the climate crisis like few others. It is an honour to give a keynote address at a conference so rooted in justice and action. The 2025 conference is made possible through sponsorship from the University of Galway, Sunflower Foundation, Mayo County Council, Eirgrid, Failte Ireland, FutureEnergy, and IBP Insurance. For the full programme and to explore public events, visit maryrobinsoncentre.ie/agenda.html Achill Island RNLI responded swiftly yesterday morning to assist two fishermen whose vessel became disabled after the propeller was fouled while fishing between Curraun and Mulranny, off the coast of Mayo. The Irish Coast Guard requested the Achill Island RNLI to aid the fisherman and they launched shortly before 11am yesterday morning, prompting the deployment of the all-weather lifeboat Sam and Ada Moody with a crew of seven onboard. Upon arrival, the lifeboat crew found the fishermen in good spirits and wearing lifejackets, a reassuring sign of their preparedness. READ MORE: Person taken to hospital following Mayo RNLI medical evacuation Sea conditions were described as flat calm, with excellent visibility and fine weather aiding the rescue effort. After assessing the situation, the crew decided the safest course of action was to tow the vessel back to Curraun Pier. The operation concluded smoothly, with the lifeboat returning to station by around 12pm. It may not be clear what got entangled around the propeller and blocked its rotation until the propeller is lifted out of the water. Ciaran Needham, Achill Island RNLIs volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, praised the fishermens response to the incident. Sometimes, despite the best of planning and preparation, even the most experienced seafarers can find themselves needing assistance, he said. In this situation, the fishermen did everything right and made the correct decision in calling for help. They were both wearing their lifejackets and had a means of making the call, and we commend them both for their actions. Needham added a reminder to the public: If you or someone you see needs help on or near the water, dont hesitate to call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. Our volunteer crew are always ready to assist when needed. The incident highlights the importance of safety measures and the vital role the RNLI plays in protecting lives at sea. This is the second call-out for the volunteer crew this week. The assisted with the medical evacuation of a casualty from Clare Island on Monday. Mayo TD Keira Keogh (Fine Gael) has described the Ombudsman for Childrens 2024 Annual Report as a roadmap for action, calling on the Government to urgently address ongoing systemic failures affecting Irelands most vulnerable children. The report, titled Tomorrow Starts with Us, was launched this week by Dr Niall Muldoon to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ombudsman for Childrens Office (OCO). READ: GAA President and Director General to attend special meeting of Mayo GAA While acknowledging areas of progress, it highlights persistent issues across education, special needs provision, and accommodation particularly for children in state care and emergency housing. Deputy Keogh, who chairs the Oireachtas Committee on Children & Equality, responded with a stark warning: This report is a sobering read. As a TD and someone whose career prior to politics was centred around children I find it shameful to see how so many of our children have been failed. Education once again topped the list of complaints, comprising 33% of the total 1,772 received by the OCO in 2024. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, accounted for 19% of complaints. Keogh confirmed she is scheduled to meet with Tuslas CEO later this week. The report also details troubling examples of continued seclusion practices in schools, inadequate planning for children with special educational needs, and hazardous living conditions in emergency IPAS accommodation, including unsafe food and exposure to mould. These situations are sobering and a sharp reminder of the consequences of failure, Keogh said. Although the report also acknowledges progress, we must act with a swift, coordinated response. Keogh echoed the Ombudsmans call for the full implementation of the Children First national guidance and announced plans to invite Dr Muldoon to appear before the Oireachtas Committee. She outlined a set of urgent legislative and policy priorities, including ending the use of harmful restrictive practices in schools, introducing minimum standards and HIQA oversight for emergency accommodation and addressing child poverty through a coordinated, cross-departmental approach. We are at a pivotal moment, the Westport TD stated. Every child in Ireland deserves a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive whether thats in school, at home, or in a care setting. Keogh concluded her remarks by pledging full support for the implementation of the reports recommendations and reaffirming Irelands commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The report is not just a list of complaints its a roadmap for action. We must lead with compassion, urgency, and accountability. She also extended thanks to the Ombudsman for Childrens Office for its continued advocacy and commitment to safeguarding childrens rights in Ireland. READ: Mayo TikTok star Garron Noone reveals he didn't leave his house for a week by Wayne Friedman , May 21, 2025 Looking at building advertising impressions scale across independent linear TV network groups, new ad-technology company Audyns will aggregate ad inventory for data-driven, audience-targeted deal-making. Network groups that have signed up to work with Audyns include TelevisaUnivision, Great American Media, Reelz and FETV. The company expects to represent more than 30% of national linear TV impressions. We make it simple and easy for agencies to access supply on an audience basis, says Dan Aversano, co-founder of Audyns. We help publishers by helping them reduce the costs and resources needed to play in the audience space. The company has struck ad-technology partnerships with datafuelX (for cross-platform analytics) and OpenAP (for audience onboarding and distribution) in an effort to deliver advanced audience segments. advertisement advertisement This will come through the use of lite tech and process management so we can deliver agencies one plan, one post and one invoice. All this is optimized on audience, says Aversano, who has held positions at Univision, Turner, WarnerMedia, and Nielsen, where he focused on advanced analytics, data and technology. Other co-founders include Todd Gordon, who held senior executive positions at IPG and Adobe, and Michael Strober, former chief revenue officer at Nexstar Media Group. Strober has been a founding board member of OpenAP and datafuelX. This story has been updated. by Fern Siegel , May 23, 2025 Global marketing company Attivo has acquired AI digital marketing and branding agency The Next Practice (TNP), based in New York and Austin. Financial terms were not disclosed. The move follows Attivo's 2024 acquisitions of Hill Holliday and DNY (formerly Deutsch NY) last year. Now, TNP's CEO Chris Foster becomes CEO of DNY and former DNY CEO Val DiFebo joins the Attivo North American Board as senior advisor. Foster previously held senior leadership roles such as CEO Fallon, Global COO Saatchi & Saatchi, president global clients Publicis Group and president of Y&R Asia. The rest of TNP's brand and leadership team remain intact. TNP works across healthcare, packaged goods and tech in B2B, DTC, B2E (employee0 and C2F (creator to fan) TNP will work with Attivo agencies across North America, Australia, Asia and New Zealand to provide specialist digital and healthcare skills and AI-driven solutions to clients. advertisement advertisement At Attivo, our obsession with whats next drives us to reimagine the future of brand and consumer engagement. To stay ahead, were scaling and evolving our consumer and healthcare capabilities across the U.S. through the acquisition of The Next Practice, says Attivo Global CEO Cam Murchison. In an aggressively changing market and time of rapid AI evolution, it is important that businesses respond with rapid solutions and a flexible structure. Five-year-old Attivo has also launched specialist subsidiaries, including SociStudio, which handles social content and data, and Hill Holliday Quest, focused on healthcare. TNP is now based in DNYs New York offices. by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, May 22, 2025 Two decades after launching independent media services agency U.S. International Media (USIM), Dennis Holt's latest portfolio of companies is looking more like what his original baby -- 1970 startup Western International Media -- did when he sold that company to Interpublic in 1994, a rapidly growing, highly diversified group of advertising and media services operating under one big umbrella. Holt's new umbrella, Irvine, CA-based Kingstree Ventures, is a rollup of an array of companies quietly launched, incubated and affiliated with USIM, with plans to invest in and acquire. Kingstree, which is named after the city in South Carolina that the long-time Angeleno now calls home, is a new kind of holding company comprised of independent agencies providing diversified, but complementary services, including: Flagship full-service media agency USIM. MatrixPoint, a consultancy founded by USIM's leadership team in 2021. Quantum11, a programmatic agency specializing in audience targeting and bid-based media buying. Social media agency Liquid Audience. Performance marketing agency Flux Marketing Group. Venture capital firm Insight Ventures. Interactive telecommunications, database management and internet solutions developer Patriot Communications. advertisement advertisement The formation of Kingstree, which has been under wraps for months, is interesting timing given that Interpublic itself is poised to be subsumed into Omnicom, and comes as the ad industry contemplates the reduction of its long-time "Big 6" into five major, publicly traded holding companies, although at least one other, Stagwell, is also poised to fill some of that gap. "Kingstree Ventures is the natural evolution for our business," Holt tells MediaPost, adding: "Kingstree is a network of marketing and consulting agencies that are committed to driving growth, innovation, and long-term success by empowering businesses with strategy and expertise across marketing and emerging industries." "This has been Dennis life story aggregating a lot of companies but now we are putting it under one umbrella and one structure to present it more holistically to clients," adds Eran Goren, a long-time USIM partner who along with USIM's Doug Livingston, serve as managing partners of Kingstree. Dennis Holt is chairman. The org structure is still pretty new and flexible and likely to evolve over time, but it was soft-launched internally across the portfolio of operating companies over the past month to ensure the teams were all on the same page. "This is not one of those big holding companies where somebody in one division doesn't understand what somebody in another division is doing," explains Goren. "The timing is right because the landscape is changing so fast, as are the needs of clients," Goren continues, citing the rapid evolution of AI and its impact on the services and org structures of agencies and holding companies. To that end, Goren says Kingstree's point of differentiation vs. the big holding companies is its independence, as well as the independence of each operating company within it, and he says its competitive set is somewhere between the industry's biggest independent, Horizon Media, and Fort Worth, TX-based PMG, both of which have also been acquiring and diversifying their portfolios too. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 23, 2025 Google DeepMind this week announced VEO 3 AI Video Generation, which allows creators to develop 8-second HD videos and realistic audio. It synchronizes dialogue, ambient sounds, and music. It can follow complex prompts and translates descriptions in detail, offering precise lip-syncing and generates people with lifelike human features. AI is changing an industry and the idea when someone consumes content. Whether it's from a website or ad, the browser serves it to an audience of one, said Edo Segal, chief executive officer and founder of recently acquired Touchcast, now Napster AI, and part of Napster Corporation. He called the experience living. Demand-side platforms will change fundamentally, Segal said. Were seeing it with Google and the way its changing how it thinks about its business. advertisement advertisement The big change for display involves inventory for creative and ads, for which the number available will become infinite and tested in real-time. Whatever converts will get prompted and win the ad space. All creative, Segal said, will become active and A/B testing will occur in real time. Napster AI has created a series of multimodal AI agents that combine text, video, images, and sound, with thousands of synthetic personas. Napster Spaces allows anyone to convert a website into an agentic AI environment -- giving a new meaning to the desire to be in two places at once. Segal worked with Microsoft and Accenture to build large projects that took more than a year to complete at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The platform enables marketers or advertisers to enter the URL to a website to automatically convert it into an agentic AI experience. An image also can be uploaded to the technology, making any picture of someone into an avatar and representative of the website. In an unplanned example, Segal turned Simpli.fis website into an experience based on searches for DSPs in Google Search. The technology analyzes the website and creates a concierge for the site that greets visitors. The creator also can add content. Segal called the technology terrifying and exhilarating when asked whether he felt frightened or concerned about what the technology can do. The AI avatars have memories and can recall previous conversations. The next publishing and media technology is AI, he said. As a company and individual you can publish an AI footprint of yourself to help an audience learn about your company. Website personalization no longer means serving up pieces of clothing the brand believes the visiting consumer will purchase. The technology gives a new meaning to one on one and being in two places at once. "We worked with Microsoft to safeguard content," he said. China-Belarus ties in high-level development: vice premier Xinhua) 13:13, May 23, 2025 MINSK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The China-Belarus all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership has seen high-level development and fruitful cooperation in various fields, said Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while visiting Belarus from Wednesday to Thursday. During the visit, Liu met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, held talks with First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Nikolai Snopkov, and co-chaired the sixth meeting of the Chinese-Belarusian Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation. Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Lukashenko, Liu said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Belarus has maintained high-level development and yielded abundant fruits of cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to work with Belarus to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state, firmly support each other on issues concerning core interests, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries, Liu said. Lukashenko asked Liu to extend his sincere greetings to Xi and praised the Belarus-China relationship as a model of mutually beneficial cooperation. Belarus firmly upholds the one-China principle, opposes the political maneuvering of the COVID-19 origin tracing, looks to work with China to implement major Belt and Road projects, develop new quality productive forces, and support each other's development and revitalization, Lukashenko said. The two sides reaffirmed their commitments to firmly safeguarding the outcomes of World War II and international fairness and justice, opposing hegemonic bullying and unilateral sanctions, jointly implementing the three global initiatives, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China and Belarus held the sixth meeting of the Chinese-Belarusian Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation on Wednesday to exchange views and make arrangements for cooperation in key areas such as economy and trade, science and technology, security, education, culture, customs inspection and quarantine, and industry. The two sides signed a memorandum of the meeting and cooperation documents on the digital economy and science and technology, and agreed to establish a subcommittee on industrial cooperation. Liu also inspected bilateral cooperation projects, including the China-Belarus Industrial Park. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 23, 2025 A global consortium of independent agencies known as Local Planet was the topped-ranked media agency network in global new business in the first quarter, according to agency research firm COMvergence. (Figures factor in wins, losses and successfully defended accounts). The networks top ranking was due mainly to Horizon Media securing the $857 million Charter/Spectrum cable company business in the U.S. in March. advertisement advertisement Publicis Medias Spark Foundry was second rankedit's biggest win being the consolidated $400 million Abbot pharmaceutical company. Wavemaker ranked third, led by its successful defense of several major accounts including Mercedes-Benz Group in China and LOreal in Italy. At the holding company level Publicis Media was top ranked with total new business of nearly $2.7 billion, which included the award of The Coca-Cola Companys $835 million North America media business. It also secured five new global clients including Barilla, Dropbox, Goodyear, LinkedIn and Santander. Omnicom Media Group was second ranked in large part due to it securing the consolidated Kimberly-Clark account outside North America. IPGs Mediabrands was third with total new business of $23 million. COMvergence noted that excluding retained business five of the big six ad groups lost ground when considering just new wins versus losses for the period. The company assessed 590 media account moves and retentions across 47 countries totaling $6.68 billion, up 38% versus the prior year period. The U.S. represented 42% of the spend reviewed and China accounted for 15%. Local pitches represented 69% of the reviewed spending, or $4.6 billion. by Maarten Albarda , Featured Contributor, May 23, 2025 On May 25, it will be exactly five years ago since George Floyd died senselessly in Minneapolis during his arrest. The terrible video of the event went around the world, and people everywhere rallied to try and change police brutality and inequality in general. Companies came out in support of these efforts en masse. Long-overdue initiatives like diversity & inclusion and equal treatment of men and women found their way into the boardroom, into corporate policies of HR departments, and into advertising. Companies like Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Microsoft, Nike, and Coca-Cola all ran advertising campaigns in support of these initiatives. But today, five years later, under pressure of a dramatically different sociopolitical landscape, most companies that touted their support for initiatives like DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and what some critics term "woke-ism," have made dramatic U-turns. The current U.S. government, emboldened by a 2023 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which struck down race-based affirmative action in higher education, reversed policy in a very visible way. A long list of companies followed suit. That list includes Amazon, Google, Meta, Target, McDonald's, Ford, and Harley-Davidson. advertisement advertisement Other companies have gone the opposite way and have stuck to their principles (sometimes forced by their shareholders). These companies include Apple (shareholders rejected a proposal to ban DEI initiatives), Microsoft, Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, Ben & Jerrys and Patagonia. The Internationalist conducted a survey in April 2025 in partnership with the ANAs Center for Brand Purpose, and just published the very timely paper Clarifying Purpose Amid Increased Uncertainty. The report notes that brands attempting to build purpose often find themselves under increased scrutiny from various stakeholder groups with diametrically opposing viewpoints. This makes it harder for brands to communicate their values or choices without facing potential backlash from one side or the other. And these decisions have real-world impact. Reports MSNBC: Target missed first-quarter revenue estimates as transactions fell, and the retailer cut its full-year sales outlook. Target in part blamed falling consumer sentiment, uncertainty about tariffs, and backlash to its rollback of key diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for its performance. The intensified scrutiny around DEI and woke-ism" makes marketers more cautious. The "Clarifying Purpose" report found that 63% of marketers say more brands are striving to be "politically neutral, and 42% agree that "Brands are simply 'playing it safe,' which reflects our current cultural climate. So whats a marketer to do? My recommendation is twofold: -- If your brand has a longstanding, and therefore natural or even organic positioning that includes DEI messaging, your purpose-led brand building is probably safe. Target was one of those brands until it decided it wasnt. The reason Targets finances are being impacted so significantly is that it went so hard the other way it offended consumers more deeply than, say, Walmart or Lowes, who also backtracked. -- If your brand bolted DEI on as a kind of virtue messaging, you are probably OK to walk away. The same is true if your target audience is distinctly overrepresented in the camp of people that speak out against woke-ism. The "Clarifying Purpose" report stresses that "the challenge in getting purpose right lies in doing it meaningfully, systematically, and authentically. If you cant do that, just dont do it at all. by Teresa Buyikian , May 23, 2025 Ultra-premium 1800 Tequila has joined forces with a renowned bar in its latest global ad campaign. For the Obsessed with Taste campaign, the brand collaborated with Mexico Citys Handshake Speakeasy, recently named the Best Bar in North America (for the second time) according to Perriers annual list. The new effort, created by 72andSunny, highlights both the bar and brands mutual dedication to craftsmanship. In the hero spot, seen here, Handshake Speakeasys head bartender Javier Rodriguez is seen behind the busy bar, creating an elaborate cocktail with 1800 Tequila. How obsessed with taste are you? a super asks. How about thoroughly obsessed, answers Rodriguezs voiceover as he crafts the drink with distinctive ingredients like tiny flowers and hand-chipped ice. advertisement advertisement The new spot, part of a video content series aiming to give viewer a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry and precision of the most taste-obsessed bartenders and creators, runs online across streaming and social media platforms, including the brands Instagram account, @1800tequila. The brand has also launched The Taste Collective, a bartender education platform that will hit four U.S. cities this year: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. In-person taste analysis sessions for bartenders and drinks professionals will take place in each city. The Taste Collective was developed in conjunction with flavor scientist Dr. Arielle Johnson, bartender Ignacio "Nacho" Jimenez and chef Ana Castro. An online platform launching next month will feature expert-led masterclasses and city-specific guides, connecting the program to a broader cocktail community. Taste is everything to us. We'll continue obsessing over the smallest details in every tequila we craft, and now, through the Taste Collective, we're inviting people to experience that passion firsthand," said Lander Otegui, executive vice president of marketing at parent company Proximo Spirits, in the announcement. Up to 36,000 annual premature deaths from ozone pollution could be prevented in Southeast Asia by 2050 through stringent emission control measures. Trusted Source Stricter air pollution controls could prevent 36,000 deaths by 2050: Study Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Up to 36,000 lives could be saved every year in Southeast Asia by 2050 just by enforcing stricter air pollution controls targeting ozone-forming emissions. #medindia #ozonepollution #southeastasia Up to 36,000 lives could be saved every year in Southeast Asia by 2050 just by enforcing stricter air pollution controls targeting ozone-forming emissions. #medindia #ozonepollution #southeastasia Advertisement Estimating Health Impacts from Ozone Exposure Advertisement Potential Benefits of Greener Policies Chemical Basis and Urban Sources of Ozone Regional Differences in Ozone Sensitivity Urban Versus Rural Emission Priorities Key Strategies to Reduce Ozone Pollution Call to Action for Health Protection Future Directions for Air Quality Research Stricter air pollution controls could prevent 36,000 deaths by 2050: Study - (https://www.ntu.edu.sg/news/detail/stricter-air-pollution-controls-could-prevent-36-000-deaths-by-2050--study) Implementing strong air pollution control policies could help Southeast Asian nationsannually fromby 2050, according to scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore ().Ozone-related premature deaths refer to fatalities caused by prolonged exposure to harmful ground-level ozone. The pollutant worsens particularly among the elderly and vulnerable groups.Drawing on pollution data from international databases tracking emission sources, the NTU (Nanyang Technological University) research team employed detailed atmospheric models to understand how ozone concentrations might evolve under different pollution scenarios by 2050.Researchers then estimated the potential number of premature deaths from prolonged ozone exposure by combining the pollution levels with health risk models, population data, and disease mortality rates.Under a business-as-usual scenario their model predicts that by 2050, annual ozone-related deaths in Southeast Asia could drop by 22,000 due to planned Nox (nitrogen oxides) cuts from power plants, factories, and transport, especially in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand.If countries went greener and followed a scenario of stringent emission reduction measures, Southeast Asia could avoid up to 36,000 annual ozone-related premature deaths by 2050.Conversely, under a high-emission scenario in which fossil fuel consumption continues to rise, annual ozone-related premature deaths could be 33,000 higher annually by 2050.Ozone is a key air pollutant formed when NO and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in sunlight. In urban environments, major sources of these emissions include motor vehicles, industrial processes, and energy generation.Exposure to elevated levels of ozone can lead to serious health problems, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases , and premature death. In 2018, pollution from fine particulate matter and ozone in Southeast Asia was estimated to haveThe NTU research team notes that ozone pollution is an escalating concern in the region, driven by rising human activity linked to economic development particularly in the transportation, industry, and fuel combustion sectors. The researchers hope their findings underscore the urgent need for stronger mitigation efforts.In the study, published in, scientists from NTUs Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (CCEH), Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), Asian School of the Environment (ASE), and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) employed advanced computer models to examine how nitrogen oxides (NO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) key pollutants driving ozone formation interact with emission sources across Southeast Asia. The researchers also evaluated potential outcomes under various future pollution scenarios.Emissions from road traffic, shipping, and industrial activities contribute the bulk of NO pollution, while VOCs are naturally occurring gases primarily emitted by vegetation.The study revealed that in major urban centres such as Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City, ozone levels are affected by both NO and VOCs. As such, reducing both pollutants in tandem is crucial to effectively lowering ozone concentrations in these cities.Conversely, in rural areas and coastal regions such as Kalimantan in Indonesia and Malacca Strait, ozone formation is more strongly influenced by NO levels. In these areas, targeted reductions in NO emissions would be the most effective strategy for mitigating ozone pollution.According to the NTU research team, measures to reduce ozone pollution could include stricter regulations on industrial emissions, enhanced transport policies, and focused efforts to curb emissions from shipping and biomass burning.Lead author of the study, Associate Professor Steve Yim, Director of CCEH said: Ozone reduction is not straightforward, as it requires careful regulation of its precursors - nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds - rather than direct removal from the atmosphere. The tropical conditions in Southeast Asia also make ozone formation different from that in other parts of the world.We believe our research fills a critical knowledge gap by examining how ozone behaves specifically in Southeast Asia, a region that has received relatively little attention in this context, added Assoc Prof Yim, who is also affiliated with ASE, LKCMedicine, and EOS.The researchers believe a deeper understanding of how ozone is formed and controlled in Southeast Asia will enable policymakers to develop more targeted and effective air pollution reduction strategies.Co-author, Distinguished University Professor Joseph Sung, NTUs Senior Vice President (Health and Life Sciences) and Dean of LKCMedicine, highlighted the urgency of action: Ozone is an invisible yet harmful pollutant. Our study shows that by taking decisive steps now, we can significantly reduce the regions health burden and improve air quality.This research reinforces the vital role of air quality management in protecting public health. The links between ozone exposure and respiratory illness are well-established, and our findings offer robust evidence to inform policy decisions that will protect the well-being of millions across Southeast Asia.This study reflects NTUs commitment to advancing climate science and supporting global sustainability goals.Looking ahead, the research team intends to expand their work to explore how climate change and land-use patterns may further influence ozone pollution.These insights will also form the basis for collaboration with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international environmental organisations to design and implement sustainable air quality management strategies.Source-Eurekalert Remaking songs is Bollywoods specialty, but not all remakes are a hit. Of late, fans seem to be getting tired of Bollywoods habit of remaking old songs and ruining their core memories associated with it. Recently, a video of the remake for Chunari Chunari being shot started circulating on the internet, and fans are not happy. The video shows Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur rehearsing their dance with a new version of Chunari Chunari from Biwi No. 1 playing in the background. Instagram/@imkrishnayana The song is, presumably, going to be a part of Varuns next film titled Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur. The title is also borrowed from another Biwi No. 1 song. This upcoming film is directed by David Dhawan. The crew recently wrapped up a shooting schedule in Rishikesh. The next, and longer, leg of the shoot is supposed to happen in the UK. So far, there has been no official news on a remake of the iconic song and one can see why. Fans are not going to be happy about another one of their favourite songs being butchered by modern beats and fast pace. While a leaked clip from the rehearsal went viral on social media, it was soon deleted probably to keep the song under wraps for a while. Heres how fans have reacted to the viral video and the new remake of Chunari Chunari: Instagram/@imkrishnayana Instagram/@imkrishnayana Instagram/@imkrishnayana Instagram/@imkrishnayana The original song was a part of Biwi No. 1, another David Dhawan directorial, starring Salman Khan, Sushmita Sen and Karishma Kapoor. The original Chunari Chunari was shot with Salman and Sushmita at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, which has since become an iconic spot for Bollywood fans. After the success of Jaat, Sunny Deols next release will be Lahore 1947 co-starring Preity Zinta and Shabana Azmi which was initially set for Republic Day 2026 release but was later pushed. Now, in an interview, filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi has revealed that he is planning to release Lahore 1947 either in October or in November. Talking about the Aamir Khan productions, Santoshi told Bollywood Hungama, I am planning to release my film in October or November this year. Ive waited for almost twenty years to make this film. You could call it my dream project. What is meant to be is meant to be. I was destined to make it with Sunny (Deol). And he is perfect in his part. He brings an arresting fusion of the classic and contemporary to the screen. My past films with Sunny, Ghayal and Ghatak, have been landmarks in his career, and mine too. And now I am confident Lahore 1947 will have the same impact. A plan to inject $8.5 billion into military quality-of-life initiatives overcame a key hurdle early Thursday morning as House Republicans narrowly approved a sweeping bill to enact President Donald Trump's legislative agenda. The quality-of-life funding is part of $150 billion for the Defense Department that Republicans included in what they are officially calling the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a wide-ranging legislative package that touches everything from taxes to health care to border policy. The Pentagon funding could provide a much-needed boost to barracks maintenance, military health care and other areas that directly affect the well-being of service members. But military and veterans advocates have expressed concerns about other aspects of the bill, particularly cuts to a federal food benefits program and the repeal of a rule that restrains for-profit colleges from targeting veterans. Read Next: Marine Sergeant Sentenced to Confinement, Dishonorable Discharge and Reduction in Rank for Lejeune Killing The bill must still pass the Senate, where there will almost certainly be further changes to win over some Republicans skeptical about various aspects, including the food assistance cuts. But the House passage -- which came in a party-line 215-214 vote at about 6 a.m. Thursday -- is a key milestone in the process. "Without this generational investment in national defense, we will no longer be able to deter our adversaries or ensure America's global leadership," House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said in a statement after the vote. "The One Big Beautiful Bill provides long overdue resources to modernize our military, revitalize the defense industrial base and improve the quality of life for our service members." The two biggest pots of Pentagon funding in the bill are $34 billion for shipbuilding and $25 billion for the Golden Dome, which is Trump's proposal for a space-based missile defense shield over the U.S. Of the $8.5 billion that would go toward military quality-of-life issues, $1.3 billion is devoted to barracks maintenance and restoration across the military services. The military has faced years of problems with squalid living conditions for its most junior troops, and military officials have often blamed persistent underfunding of housing for the issue. In addition to the barracks funding, the bill would also provide temporary authorization for more widespread barracks privatization, an idea that has gained steam in recent years as the services have struggled with maintenance backlogs. A recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, estimated that the two barracks privatization-related provisions in the bill could increase government spending by about $2 billion over 10 years. Apart from barracks, the quality-of-life funding in the bill includes $2 billion for defense health programs, which have faced shortages in recent years. There is also $2.9 billion for Basic Allowance for Housing payments, $50 million for special pay and bonuses, $100 million for child-care fee assistance for service members, and $10 million for military spouse professional licensure fee assistance. Elsewhere in the bill, a food assistance program that many military families rely on is facing steep cuts. Under the bill, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is often referred to as food stamps, would receive less federal funding, and states would be required to make up the difference. Anti-hunger and military families advocates, as well as governors and other state officials across the country, have been warning that states will not be able to handle the extra budget burden and will need to cut benefits, restrict eligibility or, in the worst-case scenario, stop offering SNAP in the state altogether. Since military families are among SNAP beneficiaries, they would undoubtedly be swept up in the cuts, advocates say. The White House is pushing back on the idea that military families would be affected by the SNAP cuts. "President Trump is strengthening SNAP for Americans who need it -- especially military families -- to ensure these programs are sustainable for future generations," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement Tuesday. Senate Republicans have reacted tepidly to the state cost-sharing plan for SNAP. In a statement last week, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said the Senate "will carefully consider the House's approach," while stopping short of endorsing it. Republicans are using a process known as reconciliation that will allow them to pass the bill in the Senate with a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes needed for most legislation. That means they won't need any Democratic votes, but they will still have to overcome any intra-party disputes. Veterans organizations are also hoping senators will make changes to the education policy portion of the bill. In particular, they are sounding the alarm about the fact the bill would repeal what's known as the 90/10 rule, which limits how much of a for-profit school's revenue can come from federal student aid. A loophole in the rule that allowed shady for-profit schools to take advantage of veterans' GI Bill benefits was closed in 2023. But advocates are warning that repealing the rule altogether could lead to for-profit schools once again scamming veterans out of their education benefits. Republicans have argued the rule unfairly targets for-profit colleges and that repealing it would expand educational opportunities by treating all types of schools the same. "President Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill is great for our veterans and military families," Kelly, the White House spokesperson, added in a statement Thursday. "By delivering the largest tax cut for middle and working-class Americans in history, ensuring greater educational choices for veterans and strengthening SNAP, this president is dedicated to delivering on his campaign promises and ensuring our men and women in uniform have the support they need." A CBO estimate released last week said that repealing the 90/10 rule could increase federal spending by $1.6 billion, including increasing veterans education benefits costs by about $25 million. Since Senate Republicans were instrumental in the bipartisan deal that closed the loophole in the 90/10 rule, veterans advocates are leaning on them now to keep the rule alive. "This cannot and should not be allowed to be included in the final bill, and IAVA and the veterans you see here today will fight tooth and nail to make sure it does not happen," Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said at a news conference last week. "I can tell you that there are members of the majority in the Senate who are watching this closely and aren't liking what they're seeing. They're just not saying so publicly yet." Related: Republicans Unveil Pentagon Portion of Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' with Extra Money for Barracks The Army is heading for a major reorganization that includes eliminating at least 2,000 positions -- a combination of civilian and troop roles -- and cuts to planned purchases in various drone and vehicle programs that are considered outdated, according to internal documents reviewed by Military.com. Senior Army officials outlined the plan to top officials across the force earlier this month, the documents show. The undertaking amounts to one of the Army's most significant structural transformations in decades. The service's aim is to streamline the force while investing in emerging technologies that Army officials say are critical to preparing for modern conflicts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Read Next: From Star Wars to Golden Dome: Trump Pushes US Missile Shield Despite Funding and Technology Hurdles "Every role must sharpen the spear or be cut away," Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George, the service's top officer, said in a joint memo to the force earlier this month. The plan calls for eliminating 1,000 Army staff roles in the Pentagon and nixing various air cavalry squadrons -- specific units were not listed -- along with combining and deactivating other units that will result in reducing personnel. For example, U.S. Army Japan Headquarters will combine with the 4th Multidomain Task Force, with the total size of that element being cut by 170 positions. As for hardware, the Army plans to end purchases of the Gray Eagle drone and reduce purchases of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle by $498 million, in addition to other cuts, according to the documents. All commands will be directed to reduce temporary duty funding by 20%, and the service will slash funding for collective training barracks by $346 million. Those barracks are typically living quarters for major training exercises, basic training and various schools. However, it was still unclear what the changes could mean for the total size of the Army. The plan outlines reductions to "responsibly balance end strength" in pursuit of a "leaner, more lethal Army." The Army declined Military.com's request for interviews to add context to the cuts. The service is still juggling multiple options for how many soldiers it plans to keep in its formations, with unfinished plans for cuts. In the meantime, it has already imposed limits on soldiers' reenlistment options. Major cuts may need to be made to pay for President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system, which is expected to cost at least $175 billion, and cuts would likely have to come from the Army, which is the largest component of the Pentagon. Meanwhile, recruiting has seen a dramatic upswing in 2025. That follows two years of targeted reforms including the introduction of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course. The prep courses, which help candidates meet academic and physical standards, have played a key role in revitalizing the Army's pipeline, bringing in one-quarter of its enlistments last year. Next year, the service plans to invest more in the program, adding the capacity for an additional 189 trainees -- the program right now has the ability to graduate 23,500 recruits into basic training annually. As part of the plan briefed to officials, the Army will also shift away from electric vehicles and fuel-saving programs, stripping all research from those efforts. Electric vehicles have often been scoffed at by Republicans for their feasibility on the battlefield, though traditional fuel logistics are incredibly expensive and complicated, and large diesel trucks are usually very loud and not conducive to reconnaissance or low-profile operations. "No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in April at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. "No more woke bull----." Here are more major cuts and changes planned by the Army: Cut funding for Army Prepositioned Stocks by $337 million. Reduce funding for the Defense Language Institute by $30 million. Cut the budget for the Army Geospatial Center by $50 million. Cut various virtual reality training programs by $52 million. Cease procurement of TOW wire-guided missiles equipped to vehicles and tripods for base defense. Terminate the pursuit of "anti-idle" technology for vehicles, which would automatically cut power to vehicles during extended idling as a means to save fuel. Create a skill identifier for robotics and autonomous systems-related training. 56th Theater Fires Command will combine with 2nd Multidomain Task Force, with a reduction of 10 positions. 18th Field Artillery Brigade will combine with 5th Multidomain Task Force; 20 positions will be cut. 4th Infantry Division's armored brigade combat team will transition to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. 3rd Cavalry Regiment will transition from Strykers to Abrams tanks, becoming an Armored Brigade Combat Team. Three unnamed Army National Guard units will be converted from Armored Brigade Combat Teams to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams, which are effectively standard infantry formations but with the new Infantry Squad Vehicle. Additionally, two National Guard Stryker Brigade Combat Teams will also convert to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams. All Army Reserve Air Cavalry and Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades will be deactivated. All MEDEVAC units will move from 15 aircraft capacity to 12. Army Training and Doctrine Command and Futures Command will combine into a single entity. About 400 positions will be cut. Cancel the planned activation of two reserve artillery units. Cancel the planned activation of three reserve electromagnetic warfare companies. Move 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Fort Bliss, Texas. Shut down the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade and 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade. Army Reserve will get two High Mobility Artillery Rocket System battalions and three HIMARS batteries. Establish Western Hemisphere Command by combining U.S. Army North, Forces Command and U.S. Army South; 339 positions will be eliminated. Related: Soldiers Face Tougher Reenlistment Rules as Army Plans Troop Reductions The Navy has been in a yearslong struggle to modernize its critically important human resources computer systems that underpin a whole host of vital tasks like pay and promotions. But a contract for what might have been one of the most promising efforts to upgrade the systems just fell victim to billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, according to sources interviewed by Military.com. As a result, a critical and aging server in Tennessee that holds most of the service's pay and promotion data is operating with no backup in the event of a natural disaster. The contract was a relatively small $170 million award to a company called Pantheon to move all the data on that server into the cloud and out of danger. It was canceled in early May. Read Next: From Star Wars to Golden Dome: Trump Pushes US Missile Shield Despite Funding and Technology Hurdles The HR systems go unnoticed when they work as intended but, when they break, the consequences are drastic. In 2022, Military.com reported extensively about the effects on sailors when the Navy fell behind on issuing them a key discharge document, sometimes making them wait for months into their civilian lives. "Everything in terms of what sailors access, in terms of [the Navy's online HR portal] would be impacted because they run on those mainframes," a senior Navy personnel official told Military.com in an interview last week, speaking about the server in Tennessee. "Reconstituting it would probably take anywhere between nine and 16 months, during which time we could not promote sailors effectively." Another person familiar with the details of the contract added that the Navy "almost lost it [the servers] due to flooding a little less than two months ago." Both were granted anonymity to talk freely about the situation without fear of retaliation. Meanwhile, Navy Secretary John Phelan went on TV Thursday and bragged that "DOGE has been very good to work with" and that the service got rid of "300 different IT systems, none of which were talking with each other." "We've cleared that out and have started basically brand-new," he said. Fixing a Failing System To begin to understand how the Navy got to this point, one must go back to 2019 when the service first embarked on its journey to consolidate and modernize more than 55 disparate systems -- some of which were going on being nearly half a century old at that point. The effort became known as Navy Pay and Personnel System, or NP2. It was clear by 2022 that the effort was not going well. Sailors were posting online about struggles to get pay issues fixed, and some came forward saying that they had had to wait more than a hundred days for their discharge paperwork. Those delays meant that discharged sailors were left overpaying thousands of dollars for unnecessary rent, paying tens of thousands of dollars to self-fund moves that should have been paid for, experiencing delays in getting jobs, and were forced to contemplate the possibility of losing medical care. The NP2 system eventually cost the Navy more than $1 billion while the service's personnel office told lawmakers the program "has not progressed as desired," according to documents submitted to the House Defense Appropriations Committee in early May. Also, the Navy still had 55 "legacy" systems costing it $122 million a year and, according to its responses to Congress, the project is now seven years behind schedule. "All the indications were the program was going to fail the sailor," the Navy official told Military.com. The decision was made to bring in another smaller team to at least address an urgent problem: aging servers with no backup. "HR operations could essentially be paralyzed for a year if we didn't do something," the official said, explaining that there were no contingency plans to keep the servers running in the event of an emergency. That's where the now-canceled contract came in. The Navy's personnel office hired a company called Pantheon in June 2024 and gave it $170 million to basically move that server data into cloud storage and out of danger. But part of that effort included modernizing data going back as far as World War II, which was sometimes as basic as just pictures of paper files. As a bonus, the Navy would gain better access to personnel data that could help leaders understand what was going on with sailors -- something that has been a hallmark for the service's current personnel boss. "We can't connect the data right now from where the sailor is in the training pipeline and where they're going next and what shipping is going to do to that supply chain," the Navy official explained. "So, we wind up firing instructors, only to find out we got a big cohort of people who need them coming in four weeks later." Unlike the NP2 effort, the Navy official even said that Pantheon was "making a lot of headway" on untangling the mess that was one of the last two physical data centers in the Navy. But then came DOGE. 'You Just Shot the Wrong Target' Shortly after President Donald Trump was elected, his political ally and billionaire businessman Elon Musk was tapped to lead a government cost-cutting and efficiency effort that has become known as DOGE. Musk, the world's richest man, and his team slashed federal agencies and workers without the consent of Congress -- often haphazardly -- triggering numerous lawsuits and public outcry throughout the first months of the Trump administration. Top Pentagon officials in the Trump administration have touted DOGE cuts in recent weeks but typically without offering much in the way of details. In early March, the Pentagon's top spokesman, Sean Parnell, posted a video message on social media claiming DOGE had made "initial findings" that "will probably save $80 million in wasteful spending" but provided examples that totaled only $13 million. Phelan also joined in with similar videos that touted cuts to "IT contracts that are ineffective and over-budget" while offering no further details. More broadly, DOGE has also developed a track record of inaccurate or inflated claims about the savings it is generating by slashing government spending. Still, some officials, including the two who spoke with Military.com, were broadly supportive of the contract cutting efforts by DOGE. "The department desperately needs to get more efficient," the Navy official said, adding that they thought "the DOGE effort is a reasonable effort -- it's a good effort." According to the official, the cancellation of the Pantheon contract aimed at moving HR data to the cloud was the broader Navy bureaucracy simply protecting the large, existing NP2 contract and using DOGE as their hitman. From their perspective inside the Navy's personnel infrastructure, DOGE got played by the IT and contracting bureaucracy within the service, and "they were handed a statement of work on a contract that they didn't even read." The other person familiar with the Pantheon contract told Military.com that it was flagged to DOGE, and a DOGE representative told them "they never even looked at it -- he had never seen it or read it" before it was cancelled. "He asked me for a copy," they added. Military.com reached out to the Navy with a list of questions that included what role top service officials -- namely the chief information officer and a top program executive -- played in flagging the contract to DOGE, the relationships those officials had with the contractors behind NP2, and whether they felt the NP2 contract was a good value. A Navy spokesman offered a brief statement to Military.com that didn't dispute that DOGE canceled the Pantheon contract aimed at fixing the shortcomings of the larger, unproductive NP2 contract but said that Musk's team recommended it, not the Navy. "The decision is part of a broader effort to realign resources and optimize IT capabilities that enhance readiness, accelerate decision-making, and strengthen the lethality of our naval forces," the statement added. Both the person familiar with the contract and the Navy personnel official were shocked when they found out the news. "We said, 'Hey, no, you're right, there are things in this program that need to be cut -- you just shot the wrong target,'" the official said. Other disputes over the value of contracts terminated by DOGE have also occurred. Last week, Military.com also reported that DOGE canceled a contract for a program that helped troops better utilize their tuition assistance. Under that contract, "20% of first-time TA users shifted from low market-value programs to STEM fields like cybersecurity and engineering, critical for the defense industrial base," according to a statement from the company that was performing the service. The term STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Now, with the Navy's HR data backup efforts stalled, there are serious concerns about what happens if a storm knocks out the server -- as well as the fate of long-term efforts to bring service data and HR systems into the modern age. Losing the server for months would mean hits to morale when promotion boards aren't able to meet and to retention when those sailors decide to leave the force, the Navy told Congress in the document reviewed by Military.com. "Additionally, this could further threaten our ability to continue to meet our recruiting goals," according to the Navy. The service spokesman stressed that "the Navy is focused on the well-being of the men and women who serve as we look to optimize resources essential to Navy personnel systems, pay management, and operational readiness." Related: 2 Educational Programs for Troops Eliminated Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts at Pentagon The death of a loved one is never easy, but survivors who've lost someone in the armed services experience it in ways others do not. "Military grief is experienced publicly and also very personally," said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the nonprofit group Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS. "For families, there is a tremendous amount of tradition and honor around the military loss," from how survivors are informed of a death to how they are presented the folded flag at the funeral, said Carroll, whose husband, Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, died in an Army plane crash in Alaska along with seven other soldiers in 1992. "We have words that we use: 'gave one's life in service to one's country,' or 'made the ultimate sacrifice,'" said Carroll. And there are special days -- such as Memorial Day -- that bring such feelings front and center. It adds complexity to the already-tangled grief process, experts say. "People tend to think of grief as sadness or depression, but it really is different," said Dr. Stephen Cozza, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Cozza, a retired Army colonel who has done extensive research on bereavement among military families, said that when we lose a person who is close to us, the essential way we think, feel and engage the world all gets ripped out of us. "It's like part of us is also lost," he said. He called grief an "emotional, cognitive and biological response" to bereavement. Cognitively, it can lead people to become scattered and confused. Biologically, grief may lead to immunological changes and cardiovascular issues, including raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. Emotionally, "it can be very messy," said Dr. Meredith Charney, a licensed clinical psychologist in Portland, Maine, who has studied grief. It can include yearning and longing, emotional pain and withdrawal from others, said Charney, who works both with MaineHealth and Psychology Specialists of Maine. She described grief as "the form that love takes when someone we love dies." What's Unique About Military Grief? In the military, Cozza said, deaths are usually "sudden, unexpected and very often can also involve some kind of violence." That includes people who died because of combat, accidents or suicide, the latter of which affects veterans at higher levels than the general population. Unexpected deaths tend to provoke more challenging grief responses, Cozza said, "largely because people are just unprepared for them." The suddenness can lead to "a profound sense of disbelief" or feelings of being disoriented or disconnected from the world. Military deaths often involve a young person, Cozza said. "So that can feel unnatural in that those deaths are untimely and unexpected." Most military deaths involve men, Cozza said, so survivors often are young widows and children. They commonly are living on military installations far from extended family members they could lean on for support. Similarly, parents of someone who died in the military are likely to be far from the place where their child died. The nature of military life can add to the shock, said Carroll, a veteran of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. A spouse might go from enjoying being the partner of a high-ranking commanding officer to having to vacate their home on a military base to make room for the next occupant. A child might be issued a new military ID card that changes their very identity from "active duty" to "survivor." Surrounded by Ceremony The ceremonial aspect of a military death can be a source of support or an additional burden, depending on the survivor's attitude, Charney said. "It is possible that someone could find solace in not grieving alone, that other people care." Others might want more privacy and feel "they didn't necessarily ask for this kind of attention." News of a death may come in the form of a knock on the door and not a call from a hospital, Carroll said. "That moment of notification is, for the family, a trauma memory." Pride and pain can overlap, she said. "The public may see a military hero. The family grieves a whole human being with dreams and laughter and love. And the intersection of public recognition and private heartbreak creates this complex emotional reality." Even the nature of a holiday meant to honor their loved ones, such as Memorial Day, can stir emotions, in the same way Mother's Day might affect someone who has lost a mother or an anniversary would affect someone grieving a spouse, Charney said. But, she said, while loss can be "so painful," it's important for the bereaved to know that many things can help, and even in the depths of grief, "there's a lot of reasons to still feel hopeful." Taking Care of the Bereaved For those not directly affected, reaching out to support survivors is important, grief experts say. "Sometimes people have a hard time asking for help," Charney said. "So if you haven't heard from that person, it doesn't mean they don't need you." Memorial Day might be an especially good time to say, "I'm thinking of you, I'm thinking of your loved one, and you're not alone." Practical aid -- such as bringing food or offering to drive children around -- "can be tremendously helpful," Cozza said. For a grieving person, it can be vital to know "that you have other people in your life that are coming to assist you, to be with you, to mourn with you." As time goes by, acquaintances can back away from the bereaved, but families may need continued support for an extended period, he said. Well-meaning friends might be afraid to discuss a loss for fear of stirring up sadness, but Cozza said they should remember that for the grieving, the sense of loss doesn't go away, even after it decreases in intensity. "In the first days and months after the death, it's the first thing that they think about in the morning. They may think about it all day." Friends should say the name of the person who died, he said. "It can be helpful to share a loving memory" of how that person affected you. Such remembrances keep the person's memory alive "in ways that I think are important," Cozza said. Avoid dictating to a person how they should feel, using cliches about why bad things happen, explaining things to them in ways that worsen their pain, or telling them they need to "move on." Support needs to be done in a sensitive way that addresses what the survivors truly want, Cozza said, so don't make assumptions about their needs. Instead, ask them what they would like. The mix of emotions will vary by circumstance and individual, he said. Survivors of someone who died by suicide might be focused on what they feel they could have done to prevent the death. A combat death might give a sense of pride at their loved one's sacrifice -- or anger at a leadership decision that sent them into harm's way. Attitudes and needs can differ even within a family. A parent who encouraged their child to serve might end up in conflict with one who was opposed to that service, Cozza said. Survivors can help themselves by being patient with the process, Cozza said. He encourages people "to both allow themselves to be in grief while finding ways to take breaks from it." That means giving yourself permission to step away from it when you're able, with the understanding that you'll also need to engage with the pain when it shows up. "Grief has its own rhythm and can suddenly and powerfully affect us. Sometimes it just comes and lands on you without warning." Grief-specific treatments can help, as does seeking support from others, experts said. "People do better when they're not grieving alone," Charney said. Drawing on Others Carroll discovered the value of being surrounded by understanding peers after she lost her husband, who was commander of the Alaska Army National Guard. In the months that followed, she gathered with some of the other wives whose husbands had been killed in the same plane crash. After a memorial service, they met for coffee and began sharing experiences. That turned into lunch, which turned into dinner, which lasted late into the evening. "It was the opportunity to speak honestly, raw and real, without judgment." That was the birth of TAPS, which now helps thousands of survivors each year. A key part of that aid is pairing new survivors with peer mentors. Among them is Noah Velazquez of Homestead, Florida. His older brother, Navy Petty Officer Third Class Joel Daniel Velazquez, was a submariner. "He was a great brother," Noah recalled. "He was a great person," energetic and "always willing to help anyone he could." After Joel died by suicide in 2017, Carroll and TAPS contacted Noah and his family to offer help. "In the beginning, they pretty much provided me with everything I needed," he said. "They provided me with a shoulder to cry on when I wasn't having the best days," plus pamphlets, phone numbers and access to other people who had shared the experience of losing a sibling. Knowing that someone shares your experience "makes it easier to talk to them, because they understand that loss," Noah said. The family also drew strength and even inspiration from talking to Joel's former shipmates at military ceremonies that honored him. "We got to hear stories about him while he was stationed -- things that we didn't know," Noah said. One of those stories was about his selflessness. Joel had lent $150 to a shipmate in need without expecting it back. Later, Noah's father and uncle went out to eat together and found $150 on the ground, with a pin from a uniform. The family took it as "a sign, essentially that he was still watching over us," Noah said. There is no clear path to getting through grief, Cozza said. "We've come to understand it's really like finding your way through a maze, or untangling wires." Carroll said grief is a "lifelong journey" for people who have lost loved ones in the military. "For the families of the fallen -- and for me -- every day is Memorial Day. We carry their memory, their sacrifice and our love for them in everything we do every single day." People who have suicidal thoughts should contact emergency services, go to the nearest emergency room, call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or contact local mental health crisis services. American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. 2025 American Heart Association, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Esther Hoffman was hanging out in a borrowed minivan in the Navy Exchange parking lot on Santo Road on Thursday morning, just hours after a small plane crashed into her military housing community of Murphy Canyon. The car belonged to a neighbor, but at that moment, it was a haven away from the deadly chaos that unraveled just a street up from her home on Yorktown Drive. If it weren't for her neighbor, she and her family would likely have had to escape the thick smoke on foot. "I think what is really great is just because we are all military, we have that 'we are in this together' type deal," said Hoffman. "We all kind of always have that banding together." A neighbor whom Alana Ballote is unfamiliar with did the same for her and her family, who live on Salmon Street, just a few feet from the crash site. "I don't know who it was that pounded on our door and was like, 'Get out, get your family out,'" said Ballote. "But we didn't second-guess it. You kind of rely on the community around you. People you've never met before become your family and friends, your closest family." Ballote and Hoffman soon witnessed how large and tight-knit the military community was, as dozens hustled to gather donations for their own. The Murphy Canyon area of Tierrasanta has more than 2,300 military family homes, said Naval Base Capt. Robert Healy. It has a notable history as a training ground during World War II and later as military housing. Residents there are from all military branches, stationed across San Diego. "This military community has been a fixture in San Diego for many, many decades," said Ashley Camac, chief executive officer of Zero8Hundred. The nonprofit supports service members and their families, and on Thursday, it coordinated donations for them. Schools in the area are even considered "Purple Star" sites, a designation the state gives to schools that support military-connected families. Miller Elementary, just a mile north of the crash site, is one of them. It shut down on Thursday to serve as an evacuation center. It's where evacuees, many in their pajamas, had their first drink of water or meal since fleeing their homes, hugged their neighbors or helped a stranger. Zero8Hundred, Liberty Military Housing, the Armed Services YMCA, the Red Cross, the United Service Organizations San Diego, and several other public organizations coordinated the site, which was quickly set up in the school's parking lot. The site offered food, day care services, access to showers, and other resources. Police officers, firefighters and service members hustled to unload carloads of diapers, car seats, clothes, toys, books and toiletries that residents had dropped off. Dan Pike, a senior chief in the U.S. Navy for nearly two decades, was among those organizing donations. "I'm pretty proud of the response from the team, and it's our family that's gotten injured," he said. "So, I'll do anything for them." Miller and Hancock elementary schools were set to reopen Friday with a regular school schedule. San Diego Unified School District officials said all donations and support efforts would shift to Hancock Elementary on Friday. Officials added that a parent meeting to provide updates and an opportunity to ask questions is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. Friday at Hancock. Back at the Navy Exchange, Liberty Military Housing workers walked through the parking lot, passing out food and doughnuts to evacuated families. The agency, which manages the Murphy Canyon properties, was working to help more than three dozen families find temporary housing. "I do feel like if this were to happen in a non-military neighborhood, it would have been a whole lot more scattered," said Hoffman. "We have the support of the military, and we have the support of the military housing people as well. There's a huge community." Staff writer Karen Kucher contributed to this report. 2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- The Navy is asking Chesapeake residents who live within a mile of the Northwest Annex to reach out and have their drinking water wells sampled for certain long-lasting synthetic chemicals. The testing is for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS -- a combination of thousands of different chemicals that have been commonly used in household and industrial products for decades, particularly due to stain- and water-repellent qualities. The chemicals tend to stick around for a long time. So the Navy and Department of Defense have developed policies to address past releases of PFAS at its installations nationwide. At the Northwest Annex, the previous use of firefighting foam for testing, training, firefighting and other activities resulted in PFAS being present in the groundwater there, prompting the need to sample nearby drinking water wells located in the direction the groundwater flows away from the Northwest Annex. The Northwest Annex includes various support services for the Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marine Corps Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection and NATO. It also operates the largest small-arms range facilities in Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency released new regulations and standards for PFAS in drinking water as part of the Safe Water Drinking Act. Also in 2024, the DOD published plans about ongoing PFAS cleanups, with priority to address private drinking water wells with the highest levels from military activities. Exposure to certain levels of PFAS has been linked to various cancers, including prostate, kidney and testicular. It could also decrease fertility, cause developmental effects in children and weaken the immune system. The Navy tested homes near Northwest Annex in 2019, and none met the levels that called for remediation, according to the Environmental Restoration Program. But now armed with new standards, the Navy is again testing homes within a mile-stretch along the Northwest River and near the Virginia state line, including those examined in 2019. The Navy already has determined one home tested in 2019 reached a level that calls for an "enduring solution." The Navy has offered similar testing for residents near St. Juliens Creek Annex in Chesapeake. Appointments can be made and eligibility can be determined by calling 833-692-6639. More information can be found here. Preliminary sample results are expected within 30 days of collection. The Navy will follow up with property owners and address next steps if needed, which could involve an "enduring solution" like the installation of a drinking water treatment system if levels are detected above 70 parts per trillion. 2025 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Aven Thomas began medically transitioning from female to male in 2021, just months after then-President Joe Biden signed an executive order allowing transgender people to serve openly in the U.S. military. The result was so gratifying for the U.S. Army specialist that he compared it to turning on a light in pitch darkness. "When you feel at your best," he added, "you are able to perform your best." Stationed at Fort Eisenhower in Augusta, Thomas is now quitting the military under pressure from the Trump administration, which has reversed Biden's policy. About 1,000 service members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria like Thomas are voluntarily leaving the military under President Donald Trump's policy, the U.S. Defense Department announced this month. The Trump administration also announced this month that it is preparing to begin the next phase of its ban by "involuntarily separating" transgender service members who have not stepped forward like Thomas. The Pentagon has estimated about 4,000 -- or less than 1% of the roughly 2 million people in uniform -- have a diagnosis for gender dysphoria. "I am really glad that I got to serve. I love all the people that I have met," said Thomas, 25, a seven-year Army veteran who reenlisted for another five years in February. "It is going to be hard to let go, especially not on my own terms." A History of Controversy Americans are sharply divided over allowing openly transgender people to serve in the U.S. military. Fifty-eight percent favor it, while 35% oppose it and 7% have no opinion, according to a telephone poll of 1,001 adults Gallup conducted nationwide in late January. Support is higher among Democrats at 84%, compared to Republicans at 23%. Trump reignited the debate in 2017 during his first presidential administration, when he moved to ban transgender people from the U.S. military. "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail," Trump announced then on Twitter, the social media platform now known as X. Federal judges blocked Trump's policy. After he defeated Trump and took office in January 2021, Biden overturned Trump's ban. Soon after Trump moved back into the White House this year, he signed an executive order revoking Biden's policy. Trump's order says in part: "adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual's sex conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life." Seven transgender service members joined a transgender person who wanted to enlist and the Gender Justice League in suing in federal court, arguing Trump's latest ban is unconstitutional. In March, a federal district court judge in Tacoma, Washington, blocked Trump's order. But on May 6, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump could proceed with his ban. On the same day of the high court's ruling, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth championed the Trump administration's policies while speaking at an annual conference for Special Operations Forces. "We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind," Hegseth said. "No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more emergency vaccine mandates. No more dudes in dresses, we're done with that [expletive]." 'We Are Losing a Good One' The son of a high school band director and a property manager, Thomas was born and raised in Douglas, the Coffee County government seat. While attending elementary school in rural Georgia, he knew he was "different." "Being from a small country town, I felt weird," he said. As Thomas grew older and traveled outside of rural Georgia, he learned more about people like him. When he reached 17, he decided he wanted to undergo gender transition. Meanwhile, Thomas was inspired by relatives who served in the military. He joined the Army after he graduated from high school and now serves as a training equipment manager with a detachment of the 73rd Ordnance Battalion. He has participated in training exercises in Germany and Poland. And he received Army Achievement Medals in 2021 and 2024 for "exceptionally meritorious service" and for "outstanding achievement," respectively, his service records show. Staff Sgt. Mariytzah Gillis, who serves in the same Army battalion at Fort Eisenhower with Thomas, has been impressed with his work ethic and resilience. Thomas has performed, Gillis said, above his rank and has taken on extra responsibilities. "Thomas is an amazing soldier," Gillis said. "We are losing a good one because people don't like them? It doesn't make sense to me. It doesn't make sense to Thomas. It doesn't make sense to anybody but Trump." Fort Eisenhower and the Defense Department referred questions about Thomas' case to the U.S. Army, which did not respond to requests for comment. The Defense Department also said it would not provide information about how many other military service members like Thomas who are voluntarily leaving the military are stationed in each state, including Georgia. Thomas received his gender dysphoria diagnosis from the military in September 2021 before proceeding with his medical transition the following month. He decided to voluntarily resign this year, partly because he knew it was possible the Trump administration could access his military medical records and force him out. "If they were to continue with involuntary separations, you wouldn't have to do a whole lot of digging to find that. That is definitely the reason why I self-identified," he said. "I just don't want to be forced out under someone else's terms," he added. "If it were up to me, I would like to stay in." Service members with a gender dysphoria diagnosis who leave voluntarily like Thomas will be honorably discharged and be eligible for separation pay that is twice as high as those who are involuntarily forced out, according to the Defense Department. Thomas hasn't decided how he will support himself after he leaves the Army, though he wonders if he could do a similar job as a civilian at Fort Eisenhower. "I was someone who wanted to continue serving my country for 20 years," he said. "That was my plan. It has always been my plan to continue my service for as long as possible because I really do enjoy what I do. I always have." Thomas emphasized that he rejects the Trump administration's ban, saying he and other transgender people have served successfully in the military for many years. "We can perform our duties just like any other soldier," he said. "We are more than capable. We are more than qualified." 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Pentagon is sending 1,115 additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border from over half a dozen units across the different services in support of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, the military announced Thursday. They will join more than 8,000 troops on active-duty orders who have been added to the mission since late January, though a spokesperson for U.S. Northern Command emphasized to Military.com that not all of those supporting the mission are directly on the border, with some involved in air or maritime missions or even participating from their home station in some capacity. The additional troops announced this week are considered "ground components," however, and are charged with providing additional logistics, engineering and medical capabilities as part of the military's effort to "gain full operational control of the southern border," according to officials and a Northern Command news release. Read Next: Some Army Paratroopers Receive Pay Raise -- Funded by Cuts to Training Jumps The spokesperson, Air Force Capt. Mayrem Morales, said that the additional deployment of more than 1,000 troops was not the result of "any specific event," but rather part of the buildup of troops supporting the mission. When asked when those service members will deploy, Morales said that is still "to be determined." "Ground units supporting the southern border mission are located across the southern border from Texas to California," she said in an emailed statement. "However, please know that not all announced units may be at the southern border at this time." In January, Trump administration officials initially considered sending 10,000 troops to support the border mission. As the buildup grows, the administration has increasingly relied upon military assets to fulfill not only its border security aims, but also its deportation efforts. The military has taken over federal land along the border where troops can be used to apprehend migrants on trespassing charges. Other law enforcement entities are then meant to arrest, detain and process the alleged trespassers. On Tuesday, Military.com reported that 190 individuals have been detected in the New Mexico and Texas "National Defense Areas," but federal judges in those states have already begun dismissing more than 100 charges related to trespassing in these military zones. Air Force planes have flown migrants off of U.S. soil to other countries as units have held migrants in detention facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. At one point, the administration planned to hold migrants at Fort Bliss, Texas, but NBC reported last month that those efforts may have fallen through. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security requested 20,000 National Guard troops to assist with deportation efforts. While service members have taken on engineering or security roles -- including patrols on armored Stryker vehicles -- along the thousands of miles of land that separate the U.S. and Mexico, many also serve in intelligence capacities or even along the coast aboard warships and in helicopters. The New York Times reported last week that the military deployed two U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft as well as surveillance drones in support of the mission. In a phone call, Morales said that as units rotate in or out or if orders get canceled it can be "very difficult" to communicate the exact number of troops who are deployed directly to the border. She added that the effort is considered "all-domain," meaning troops are in the air, sea, on the ground and gathering intelligence, among other tasks. "The number of active-duty forces will fluctuate as units and personnel rotate in and out of the operation," she said in the email. The release announcing the most recent deployment of troops did not specify which units they are coming from. Asked if NORTHCOM could say whether they were active-duty troops or which region they are from, Morales said that is also "to be determined." The troops include 65 augmentees from the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy to support the Joint Task Force-Southern Border headquarters; 250 soldiers from a sustainment command; 140 soldiers from a quartermaster field feeding company; 580 soldiers from multiple engineering units; 75 soldiers from a medical unit; and five logistics airmen from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. Related: More Charges Related to Crossing Military Zones at Border Tossed by Court in Texas South Korea said there have been no discussions with the U.S. over a possible pullback of American troops stationed in the country, after a media report said Washington is reviewing a proposal to withdraw some of its forces. The proposal could result in the removal of about 4,500 American troops based in South Korea, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, a move that could further stir security concerns in the divided Korean peninsula. South Korea's defense ministry said there has been "absolutely no discussion" with the U.S. regarding a potential U.S. troop withdrawal. U.S. troops stationed in South Korea are a core part of the two countries' alliance, helping to deter North Korea from invading or making provocations while contributing to peace and stability in the region, the ministry said in a text message to reporters. The WSJ report said one of the options under discussion includes relocating some of the 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam. The proposal has not reached U.S. President Donald Trump's desk yet and is one of several ideas being discussed by senior officials conducting the review, the report said. Trump has pushed U.S. allies to step up military spending in return for deploying American troops in conflict zones. In October, just before winning the presidential election, Trump said South Korea would pay billions of dollars more every year to host U.S. troops if he were in the White House and called the long-time U.S. ally a "money machine." Trump made those remarks less than two weeks after the U.S. and South Korea reached a new five-year cost-sharing deal for hosting American forces on the divided peninsula. Under the agreement, South Korea will raise its share of the costs to 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion) in 2026, up 8.3% compared with this year. A Pentagon spokesman was quoted in the report saying there were no policy announcements to make. National Security Council spokesman Pete Nguyen didn't address the troop-withdrawal issue but said Trump was committed to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea, while South Korea's defense ministry declined to comment, according to the report. Trump said in April that he discussed trade deficit, shipbuilding cooperation, the Alaska pipeline project and defense cost sharing during his phone call with Korea's then Acting President Han Duck-soo. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Mariners announced theyve added righty Blas Castano to their 40-man roster. As a player with parts of seven seasons in the minors, he wouldve otherwise qualified for minor league free agency. Castano gets a 40-man spot for the first time in his career at age 26. The Dominican Republic native spent six seasons in the Yankee system before joining the Mariners on a minor league deal in August 23. Seattle can keep him in the minors for the foreseeable future, as Castano has a full slate of option years. Theyd need to run him through waivers to take him back off the 40-man roster. Seattle was impressed enough with Castanos 2024 season to not allow him to get away. The 510 righty split the year between the top two minor league levels. He threw 125 1/3 innings of 4.38 ERA ball, striking out 20% of opponents against an 8% walk rate. Theyre not dominant numbers, though he fared better in Double-A before moving up to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The Mariners announced Friday that right-hander Casey Lawrence again passed through waivers following a recent DFA. Hes been assigned outright to Triple-A Tacoma. Lawrence has the right to reject the assignment and elect free agency, although at this point, whether he chooses to do so seemingly has little bearing on his future with the organization. Lawrence has been designated for assignment by Seattle a whopping four times in the past six weeks plus another time by the Blue Jays, who briefly claimed him from Seattle. (He elected free agency following that DFA and re-signed with the Mariners.) Each time, hes returned to the Mariners. In 2025 alone, Lawrence has had four stints with the Mariners, and theres little reason to think itll stop there. He appears perfectly content to function as an effective 41st player on the 40-man roster, being selected to the roster whenever the big league club needs some extra length in the bullpen and then quickly being placed on waivers. The 37-year-old righty clearly has a good relationship with the organization and is comfortable in the Tacoma area, which is no surprise given that he also spent the entire 2024 season pitching for the Mariners Triple-A squad there. Lawrence has pitched in six MLB games this year five with Seattle, one with Toronto and eaten up 17 2/3 innings in a long relief role. Hes logged a 4.08 ERA in that time, including a flat 3.00 mark in his 15 frames as a Mariner. Hes averaging just 88 mph on his fastball and carries a minuscule 8.8% strikeout rate, but Lawrence has also walked only one of the 80 men hes faced (1.3%). Its not the smoothest way to earn a living, but by my count hes picked up 23 days of major league service time this year. Even with a league-minimum split on the contracts hes signing and the Mariners are presumably compensating him a bit better than that hed have already earned a bit more than $96K in just big league salary, before factoring in any minor league pay. Assuming he has several more stints of this nature ahead of him, hell take home a fair bit more cash in 2025 than your standard mid-30s journeyman on the fringes of big league rosters, however unorthodox the road to that endgame may be. Utility poles and power lines are covered in ice in downtown Gaylord on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com GAYLORD, MI No electricity. No heat. No running water. No phone signal. And no idea when the ordeal would end. Michigan utility regulators gathered this week in Gaylord to listen as residents from up north communities told their stories of hardship endured during the catastrophic ice storm in late March. Heavy ice rained down across 12 counties during a two-day storm event that crashed the power grid and communications infrastructure, gnarled electrical lines, blocked roads and wreaked havoc on forests. People said they were left frustrated and angry, or even fearful and desperate; they spoke like survivors. It was like being thrown back in time, said Tracy Renkiewicz of Gaylord. We couldnt even turn on our local 11 oclock news to see if the rumors were true or not. So, you were just hoping that somebody knew somebody who knew somebody, and that their information was accurate. Gaylord resident Tracy Renkiewicz speaks into a microphone about her experience during the late-March ice storm and subsequent power outages in northern Michigan during a public forum hosted by the Michigan Public Service Commission on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at a Gaylord conference center. (Sheri McWhirter | MLive.com) Sheri McWhirter The Michigan Public Service Commission hosted the public forum Wednesday, May 21, at a conference center in Gaylord to hear from the public about the response to the ice storm by both authorities and utilities. The resounding message was to be better prepared for next time. Julie Marlette of Gaylord said that for three days ice-covered trees and branches were popping and booming and crashing down. She said it was scary, and residents didnt know what theyd find outside each morning. Nobody could even warn them. There was a complete communications blackout nothing outgoing, nothing incoming, no cell phone. We had a landline and a cell phone; neither one would work. Of course, no electricity, no nothing, Marlette said, speaking into a hand-held microphone. I dont know what the answer is for how you communicate when the entire communications infrastructure is down, but we need to do something to figure this out, she said. Multiple people encouraged MPSC officials to investigate putting more of the electrical distribution grid underground to help avoid the physical collapse of infrastructure under the weight of ice buildup. Retired electrical engineer Chuck Leady of Cheboygan said he wants Michigan to strive to get as much of the power grid underground as possible. He said the collective losses of just three businesses in his hometown because of the lengthy power outage totaled a half-million dollars. Theres thousands of businesses, many thousands of businesses over the 12 counties that were hit by this. So, I find it virtually impossible to believe that theres no business case for underground electric systems, Leady said. I want to see laws put in place that will require all the new stuff to go underground. Commissioner Katherine Peretick told the crowd that the MPSC is awaiting reports about pilot projects approved in recent rate cases for investor-owned utilities to conduct benefit-cost analyses for placing distribution power lines underground. She is eager to see the results, she said. About 70 people attend a public forum on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at a Gaylord conference center hosted by the Michigan Public Service Commission to talk about their experiences during the catastrophic ice storm in late-March and power outages that extended into April. (Sheri McWhirter | MLive.com) Sheri McWhirter I think that there are places where it makes sense and where it will save money overall because of the number of trees or number of customers on that line, and other places where it wont and where the benefits dont necessarily outweigh the costs, Peretick said. Agency officials confirmed those pilot project reports are expected back in the coming months. I hope that the human toll becomes part of that calculation. Its not always just, excuse me, dollars and cents, Marlette responded. And the costs are significant. Utility customer advocates who intervene in public rate cases before the MPSC frequently recommend utilities DTE Energy and Consumers Energy scale back plans to place infrastructure underground because its so expensive. Residents at Wednesday nights public forum also raised concerns which regulators didnt know. MPSC Chairperson Dan Scripps said he hadnt yet heard about extremely high natural gas bills showing up after some households emergency electricity generators ran for days or weeks burning the fuel nonstop. Gaylord resident Susan Loubert said she worries about older people who minimally use their gas service, perhaps just for a kitchen stove, but are now facing a gas bill of $500 or more. Weve got extra costs that we cant pay for, she said. The ice storm left nearly all households without power in multiple counties in northeast Lower Michigan. Customers with Alpena Power Co., Consumers Energy, Great Lakes Energy, and Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op were affected by lengthy outages. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently formally requested federal aid to help northern Michigan communities recover and rebuild from the crippling ice storms. Sign up to receive Lake Effect, MLives weekly climate and environment newsletter. Related articles: Michigan utility looks to skip paying outage bill credits after act of God ice storm Whitmer requests federal disaster aid for northern Michigan ice storm damage Why this Northern Michigan ice storm damage is so tough to fix Michigan DNR opts not to lease public land near Gaylord for solar energy DTE seeks second largest electric rate increase in decades, totaling $574M Consumers Energy may raise electric rates $154M in Michigan, regulators say OTTAWA COUNTY, MI - The Trump administration is intervening to keep one of Michigans largest remaining coal-burning power plants on temporary life support, weeks before it is slated to go cold and dark for good. Energy Secretary Chris Wright invoked authority reserved for wartime or periods of electricity demand-related emergencies to order Consumers Energys J.H. Campbell coal plant to remain available for operation through the summer months. Consumers has been gearing up to take it offline as early as June, beginning a process of decommissioning the plant. The Campbell plant is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan in the middle of Ottawa County. Todays emergency order ensures that Michiganders and the greater Midwest region do not lose critical power generation capability as summer begins and electricity demand regularly reach high levels, Wright said in a statement. The Friday, May 23 order lasts 90 days, or until Aug. 21. After that, Consumers can presumably continue plans to decommission the Campbell plant. He invoked a section of the Federal Power Act and a day-one executive order from President Donald Trump declaring a national energy emergency, which critics say has no basis in fact. The federal announcement cited an assessment that the regional grid serving Michigan could see electric shortfalls during high demand over the warmer months, though Consumers has repeatedly sought to reassure customers that it can maintain reliability without Campbell. Michigan utility regulators called the federal order unnecessary and said there was no emergency in the state or the region. The action flies in the face of Michigan laws requiring utilities adopt cleaner power sources to cut pollution and planet-warming carbon emissions. It also threatens to throw at least a temporary wrench in plans by Consumers, the states largest energy company, to abandon coal entirely with the closure of Campbell this year. Read more: Consumers Energy offers look inside its last coal-fired power plant before shutdown Consumers Energy plans to comply with the 90-day pause from the Department of Energy. We are reviewing the executive action and the overall impact on our company, said Consumers spokesperson Katie Carey in a statement. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, the regional electric grid operator covering Michigan and 14 other states, is named in the order along with Consumers. It directs MISO to take every step to employ economic dispatch (operation) of the Campbell Plant to minimize cost to ratepayers. A spokesperson for MISO didnt immediately respond to a call and email requesting comment. The coal plant closure has been in the works for several years. In 2022, as part of a state-level legal process where utilities create a roadmap for meeting forecasted energy demand, the utility agreed to shut down Campbell years ahead of schedule a move advocated for and celebrated by environmental groups. Across the nation, aging coal plants are on a similar trajectory, as they struggle to compete with cheaper sources of energy. Once dominant, coal now supplies just 16% of American power. In Michigan, it is projected to make up just 10% of electricity generated in the state in 2025, per state figures. Parts of Michigan, like the Upper Peninsula, have cut coal entirely, making up the gap with renewable energy and cleaner natural gas-powered plants. But President Donald Trump has sought to prop up coal, a dirty but reliable source of power. In early April, he issued a raft of executive orders meant to excuse coal plants from regulations to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals like mercury and prolong their operations. Were bringing back an industry that was abandoned, Trump said. Pound for pound coal is the single most reliable, durable, secure and powerful form of energy there is on Earth today. But even the order regarding the Campbell plant seemed to recognize the environmental issues with coal. It set a 90-day expiration date to minimize adverse environmental impacts. Trumps previous orders cite as justification for protecting coal a rise in U.S. electricity demand driven by growth in manufacturing and power-hungry data centers serving artificial intelligence a trend that has prompted some U.S. utilities to slow power plant closures. But in Michigan, Consumers has touted the shutdown of the 1,450-megawatt Campbell plant, dating back to the 1960s, as a major milestone in a transition to cleaner, more cost-effective power generation. Were turning a page in our history books, said Norm Kapala, the power companys vice president for generation operations during a September tour of the plant, which sits on 2,000 acres in Port Sheldon Township. But as it prepared for the shutdown, some residents in the plants backyard began mounting a Save the Campbell campaign. They raised the specter of power reliability woes if its baseload electricity was yanked from the grid, citing national assessments warning about the combination of plant closures and surging power demand. Some appealed directly to the White House. Organizers encouraged the Trump administration to get involved while also rallying local townships to voice opposition, according to Joseph Parnell McCarter, a coordinator with the campaign. I think it makes all the sense in the world that it be quickly restarted, he said. The worries appeared to gain traction among some local politicians. In February, Ottawa County leaders formally urged state regulators to delay the plant shutdown, though they stopped short of filing a lawsuit to force the issue. Grid stability is a major priority for our county. Numerous business owners are concerned about this issue. I am grateful the administration heard us, studied the issue and acted, said Ottawa County Commissioner Jacob Bonnema, a Republican, in a Friday statement. Consumers representatives have countered critics by pointing to the companys purchase of a 1,200-megawatt gas-powered generating station in Van Buren County in 2023, as well as the ongoing rollout of renewable solar farms and grid-sized batteries. All will help fill the gap while offering cheaper power, saving Consumers customers $600 million over the coming 20 years, the utility has said. Regional grid operators tasked with maintaining adequate power reserves have also signed off on the closure plan, according to Consumers representatives. In the aftermath of the Trump administrations order, Michigan utility regulators warned it would increase the cost of power for homes and business in the state and across the Midwest. Michigan is proud of its robust approach to resource planning which balances reliability and affordability. We currently produce more energy in Michigan than needed. As a result, there is no existing energy emergency in either Michigan or MISO, said Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, in a statement. State regulators will work with MISO grid operators and Consumers to assess the impacts of the order and limit unnecessary cost increases as a result, Scripps said. Local officials in Port Sheldon Township werent given advanced notice. Reached prior to the announcement on Friday, Supervisor Michael Sabatino said the township was planning to host a June open house about the plant closure. Environmental groups decried the move in a statement, calling it an illegal abuse of Trumps presidential authority and labeling his energy emergency a sham. Coal is expensive, outdated, and deadly, and all of the relevant parties, including MISO, the grid operator ultimately responsible for keeping the lights on in Michigan, concluded years ago that J.H. Campbell could retire without causing any grid reliability problems, said Sierra Club Attorney Greg Wannier. Consumers Energy is right to finally retire this hugely expensive plant that is costing Michiganders their lives. The plant was to be retired under a carefully thought-out plan agreed to by Consumers, regulators and other groups years ago, they noted. This last-minute outside interference by the Trump Administration is unnecessary, unreasonable, and would require utility customers to foot the bill for the administrations ideological agenda, said Shannon Fisk, an attorney with Earthjustice. Wright said under Trumps leadership federal officials are working to secure reliable and affordable energy that is available regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. This administration will not sit back and allow dangerous energy subtraction policies threaten the resiliency of our grid and raise electricity prices on American families, he said. Sign up to receive Lake Effect, MLives weekly climate and environment newsletter. MLive Reporter John Tunison contributed reporting. The lawsuit was filed against Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, FIle) AP Two tribal nations filed a lawsuit Thursday saying that the federal government used the trust fund money of tribes to pay for boarding schools where generations of Native children were systematically abused. In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Wichita Tribe and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California said that by the U.S. governments own admission, the schools were funded using money raised by forcing tribal nations into treaties to cede their lands. That money was to be held in trust for the collective benefit of tribes. The United States Government, the trustee over Native childrens education and these funds, has never accounted for the funds that it took, or detailed how, or even whether, those funds were ultimately expended. It has failed to identify any funds that remain, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed against Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education. A spokesperson for the Interior declined to comment on pending litigation. In 2022, the U.S. Department of the Interior, under the direction of Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to run the agency, released a scathing report on the legacy of the boarding school era, in which Native children were stolen from their homes, forced to assimilate, and in many cases physically, sexually and mentally abused. Countless children died at the schools, many of whom were buried in unmarked graves at the institutions. That report detailed the U.S. governments intentions of using the boarding schools as a way to both strip Native children of their culture and dispossess their tribal nations of land. The tribes are asking the court to make the U.S. account for the estimated $23.3 billion it appropriated for the boarding school program, detail how that money was invested, and list the remaining funds that were taken by U.S. and allocated for the education of Native children. Last year, President Joe Biden issued a formal apology for the governments boarding school policy, calling it a sin on our soul and one of the most horrific chapters in American history. But in April, the administration of President Donald Trump cut $1.6 million from projects meant to capture and digitize stories of boarding school survivors. A GOP-led U.S. House of Representatives advanced a thick 1,116-page budget bill this week that alongside trillions in tax breaks could impact federal food assistance for thousands of Michiganders. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed the House with a 215-214 vote along party lines, includes several changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP provides financial food assistance to nearly 42 million low-income families across the country including about 1.4 million people in Michigan. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would reduce SNAP spending by more than $285 billion over the next decade largely by shifting costs to states and rolling out new work requirements. It would cut SNAP, the nations most important and effective anti-hunger program, by roughly 30%. This would be the biggest cut in the programs history, threatening SNAPs effectiveness, and could possibly dismantle the program entirely, said Ty Jones Cox, vice president for food assistance at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. Related: Trumps big, beautiful tax bill will add $3.8 trillion to deficit, cut benefits for millions A major change would require more SNAP recipients to work to qualify for food benefits. Currently, adults ages 18 to 54 without dependent children need to work at least 80 hours a month to get SNAP benefits for more than three months during a three-year period. Under the new plan, work requirements would be expanded to adults up to 64 years old plus parents of children between the ages of 7 and 18. Additionally, states wouldnt be able to waive the work requirement unless counties have an unemployment rate above 10%. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these provisions would lead to an average of 3.2 million people no longer getting SNAP benefits each month. It would also reduce spending for SNAP by about $92 billion through 2034. In Michigan, these changes would put an estimated 52,000 older adults and 252,000 people living in households with young children at risk of losing their food benefits, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, unless they meet work requirements. Research has repeatedly shown that this requirement doesnt increase employment or earnings, Cox said. Instead, it punishes working people with low-paying jobs, people with serious health conditions and disabilities, and other people struggling to make ends meet who get tangled up in red tape and end up losing vital food assistance. The American Economic Journal says the evidence is thin on whether work requirements help people get jobs or if they stop low-income people from getting benefits. When faced with work reporting rules, people receiving food assistance dropped by 53%, researchers found. However, the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, has criticized states for misusing waivers to exempt as many people from the work requirement as possible or leaving the rules in place despite high unemployment. Related: Michigan officials: Medicaid cuts would raise healthcare costs for all Another key provision in the bill would require states to cover a portion of SNAP costs for the first time. Under the bill, all states would be required to pay a minimum 5% of the program costs, which adds up to about $4.7 billion collectively. But states that have higher error rates, between 6% and 10%, would need to shoulder more of the costs. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates Michigan would have to pay between $152 million and $762 million. Michigan had nearly an 11% error payment rate in 2023, according to federal data, meaning the state would be expected to cover 25% of the costs. Cox says this provision would strain state budgets and could lead to states opting out of SNAP entirely. Because this cost shift in SNAP is very large and state budgets are getting hit by other cuts, state officials across the country have been warning that they cant fill the hole that this deep cut to federal funding would leave, she said. The proposed changes to SNAP are part of a broader Republican effort to address waste and fraud in federal programs. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson, a Republican congressman from Pennsylvania, says the reforms will be reinforcing work, rooting out waste and institute long-overdue accountability incentives to the SNAP program. These savings are achieved through necessary changes to restore integrity to the SNAP program and preserve the programs ability to serve the most vulnerable long into the future, he said at a May 21 committee hearing. After the bill narrowly passed the House this week, it is now heading to the Senate where it will likely undergo significant revisions. A former fire chief is accused of embezzling funds from his fire department. MLive file photo TUSCOLA COUNTY, MI A former fire chief from Michigans Thumb area has been accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from his fire department. Nicholas Sakon, 35, of Unionville, is facing a felony charge of embezzlement of over $1,000 but less than $20,000 from a nonprofit or charitable organization, according to Michigan State Police. He was arraigned Thursday, May 22, in Tuscola County District Court. MSP said Sakon worked at the Unionville Fire Department for 18 years, including 10 years as fire chief. In December 2024, the fire department realized its non-profit 501c account was missing funds, MSP said. The department suspected Sakon had been using the account for personal use, according to MSP. MSP conducted an investigation and determined Sakon had stolen over $5,000 from the department for personal purchases since May 2023. Sakon faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine for the felony embezzlement charge, according to MSP. Forest Lake State Forest Campground is a rustic Alger County campground on the AuTrain Rivers AuTrain Basin and the confluence of Slapneck Creek. Michigan Department of Natural R ALGER COUNTY, MI A state forest campground in the Upper Peninsula is set to permanently close to the public. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Friday that the Forest Lake State Forest Campground, located about 10 miles south of AuTrain in Alger County, will close on June 9. The closure is a result of the DNR-leased property becoming bank-owned due to foreclosure. Prior to becoming bank-owned, the state forest campground property was owned by a hydro power company that was required to provide recreation as part of its federal energy license for the operation of a dam. The property was leased and managed by the DNR as a campground to achieve that requirement, said Eric Cowing, district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. Weve had an agreement in place to operate the facility for 70 years, through several dam ownership changes, Cowing said. Unfortunately, due to recent foreclosure, we will no longer be able to continue providing camping, boating and other recreation opportunities at Forest Lake. It is our understanding that the new owners do not wish to operate a campground or continue public access. The campground will be open through Memorial Day weekend before closing on June 8, the DNR said. The rustic campground is located on the AuTrain Rivers AuTrain Basin and the confluence of Slapneck Creek. It is popular for fishing, camping, boating, birdwatching and paddling. The DNR is encouraging those in the area to consider nearby camping facilities operated by the U.S. Forest Service as an alternative. Options include AuTrain Lake Campground, Hovey Lake Campground, Island Lake Campground and several others. Superior Time Resort & Campground, a private facility on AuTrain Lake, provides campsites, cabins and watercraft rentals. Sightseeing opportunities nearby include Wagner Falls and Laughing Whitefish Falls state scenic sites, both of which are managed by the DNR. Ann Arbor students hold up signs calling to keep stages in new elementary school buildings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the evening's Ann Arbor School Board meeting. Photo used with permission from Jennifer Caron Oldham. Photo used with permission from Jennifer Caron Oldham ANN ARBOR, MI Many Ann Arbor schools come equipped with permanent performance spaces or stages, helping students with their drama or music education. Plans for new schools being built dont accommodate those spaces, some local teachers and parents say, and there is a new push to include them. ANN ARBOR, MI - A man accused of robbing a Saline bank has pleaded no contest to armed robbery. Woody Harold LaBuddes jury trial, set to start May 19 in Washtenaw County Trial Court, was canceled after he pleaded no contest to armed robbery and two counts of restricting or obstructing a police officer, according to Kelly Roberts, Conlins judicial attorney. In this MLive file photo, orange barrels are shown along Liberty Street west of Seventh Street in Ann Arbor during road construction work. Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Construction across Washtenaw County has ramped up, with some longer-term closures to take effect in the coming days. There will be intermittent lane restrictions on Packard Road from U.S. 23 to Cross Street through October. Nixon Road will close between Huron Parkway and Bluett Drive next week through August for an $18.5 million reconstruction project, which includes the installation of three roundabouts. Read More: $18.5M project to reconstruct Ann Arbors Nixon Road with 3 roundabouts Heres a round-up of other traffic restrictions and road work affecting commute times and travel across the county for Friday, May 23, and the week ahead. ANN ARBOR Jackson Avenue: The center turn lane between Maple Road and West Huron Street will close 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27 until 3 p.m. Friday, June 20 while crews remove pavement and install three median islands. Nixon Road: The road will close between Huron Parkway and Bluett Drive will close 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 27 to accommodate the installation of roundabouts, pavement removal and replacement, public utility work, associated sidewalk, sidewalk ramp and crosswalk improvements. It will reopen 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. Detroit Street: The street is closed between East Kingsley and Broadway streets until 5 p.m. Friday, May 30 while storm and sewer installation is underway. South Division Street: The road will close between Cross and Hill streets for conduit work from 7 a.m. Monday, June 2 until 5 p.m. Friday, June 6. Jackson Avenue: There are lane closures between Maple Road and East Huron Street and between Revena Boulevard and Seventh Street through 3 p.m. Monday, June 30 while new ramps and median islands are installed. Miller & Newport roads: The intersection is closed through Saturday, May 31 while crews install water main, stormwater drains, road curbs and pavement for the Miller Avenue Rehabilitation project. Miller Road from Newport Road to Seventh Street is also closed until July 7. State Street: North of South University Avenue and south of East William Street, the street will close this weekend until Friday, July 11 for pavement removal and replacement, utility work, associated sidewalk, sidewalk ramp and crosswalk improvements. South Fifth Avenue: The road is closed between East William and Packard streets as well as Packard to East Madision streets through 7 a.m. Monday, June 16 for underground utility work. Pauline Boulevard: The road between Seventh and Main streets is closed until the end of July while a new water main is installed. South Division Street: Between Hill Street and Hoover Avenue, the street is closed until 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 while University of Michigans South Fifth Housing and Dining project installs utility service leads and water main. Church Street: The northbound lane between Willard and Hill streets is closed for almost two years for the construction of a high-rise apartment building . The lane will reopen April 1, 2027. South Fifth Avenue: A lane is close from East Huron to East Washington streets until Friday, Oct. 31. East Medical Center Drive Bridge: Traffic is shifted to the east side for the third phase of the rehabilitation and widening project through Friday, June. 20. One vehicle lane in each direction on the bridge will remain open throughout the project duration. Other restrictions include the following. No northbound East Medical Center Drive left turn will be allowed onto westbound Fuller Road. No southbound Maiden Lane left turns will be allowed onto eastbound Fuller Road. Special event closures The following streets will be closed for the Glacier Highlands Neighborhood Association annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Frederick Drive from Greenbrier Boulevard to Middleton Middleton to Bardstown Trail Bardstown Trail to Barrister Road ending before Larchmont Larchmont between MacGregor Lane and North Folkstone Court OTHER WASHTENAW COUNTY PROJECTS Milan - U.S. 23: A southbound lane will close from Willow to Milan Oakville roads for construction from May 27 to May 31. Ypsilanti Township - Michigan Avenue: A lane will close at Spencer Lane for permit work on May 28 and 29. Scio Township - M-14: There will be a moving single lane closure from Newport Road to I-94 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 27 for maintenance. Saline - Michigan Avenue: The road will close in both directions from Mills Road to Maple Street for a special event from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ann Arbor Township - Joy Road: The road is closed in both directions at U.S. 23 until Oct. 5 for construction. Ann Arbor Township - U.S. 23: The shoulder from 8 Mile at the northern border of Washtenaw County to the Ohio State Line is closed for construction until Nov. 15. Ann Arbor Township - Pontiac Trail: The bridge is closed in both directions at M-14 and U.S. 23 through 7 a.m. June 6. Ann Arbor Township - Plymouth Road: There will be intermittent lane restrictions between Whitehall Drive and Dixboro Road from May 12 to May 18 for guardrail replacement. Augusta Township - Arkona Road: The road is closed during the day for drainage work between Hitchingham Road and the railroad tracks until May 15. Augusta Township - Goodling Road: The road will close between Arkona and Willow roads during the day on May 13 and 14 for limestone resurfacing. Augusta Township - Arkona Road: The road will close between Goodling Road and the railroad tracks during the day on May 14 and 15 for limestone resurfacing. Augusta Township - McCrone Road: The road will close during the day from Willow Road south to the dead end May 15 to May 19 for limestone resurfacing. Bridgewater Township - McCollum Road: The road is closed during the day between U.S. 12 and Burmeister Road until May 15. Northfield Township - Joy Road: The Joy Road bridge over U.S. 23 is closed through Nov. 15 while crews complete a partial demolition of the overpass that was severely damaged when a semitrailer hit it . Pittsfield Township - Platt Road: There are intermittent lane closures between Textile and Morgan roads through June 2025 for permit work. Pittsfield, Ypsilanti townships - Packard Road: There will be intermittent lane restrictions from U.S. 23 to Cross Street through October. Pittsfield Township - Morgan Road: There are intermittent lane closures Carpenter Road and Michigan Avenue until June 2025 for road construction. Scio Township - Liberty Road: There will be intermittent lane restrictions between Stags Leap Lane and Parker Road on May 27 for forestry work. There will also be intermittent lane restrictions from Wagner Road to the Ann Arbor city limits on May 27 and 28. Scio Township - Lakeview Drive: There will be intermittent lane restrictions from Liberty Road to its end on May 28 and 29 for forestry work. Scio Township - Parkridge Drive: There will be intermittent lane restrictions between North Wagner Road and Laurentide Drive from May 29 to June 3 for forestry work. Scio Township - Staebler and Park roads: The intersection is closed through May 31 for culvert installation and road paving. A detour map is available online . Superior Township - Geddes Road: There will be intermittent lane restrictions between the Ann Arbor Township line and the Wayne County line until May 29 for a chipseal. Superior Township - Prospect Road: There will be intermittent lane restrictions between Plymouth and Geddes roads until May 29 for a chipseal. Webster Township - Donovan Road: There will be lane restrictions between North Territorial Road and Merkel Road until May 29 for drainage work. Augusta, Ypsilanti townships - Bemis Road: The road is closed between Stoney Creek Road and Hitchingham Road through Aug. 23. Ypsilanti Township - Tyler Road: The road is closed through May 2025 between McGregor and Airport roads for bridge approach repairs. Ypsilanti Township - East Sugarbrook Community: There will be lane restrictions through May 2025 for water main and road improvements. Ypsilanti Township - Bunton Road: There will be intermittent lane restrictions between Bemis and Textile roads for a chipseal. BURTON, MI -- Burton police want to know whos distributing small plastic bags containing racist propaganda and an unknown substance. Police have received several 911 calls regarding the bags and have talked to residents who received them, the department said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 21. We have also reviewed cameras in those areas, the post reads. We have videos of the vehicle. We are continuing to investigate to identify the person doing this. Police did not elaborate on what was written on the papers in the bags and said the substance inside is being sent to a lab to identify it. MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Chief Brian Ross for further information on Friday, May 23. The police department said it has recovered several bags and advised residents who receive the same bags to throw them away. Also on Friday, the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the distribution of what it called racist pamphlets in Burton. We condemn the distribution of this hateful propaganda and stand in solidarity with the people of Burton against the hate groups that seek to intimidate and divide them, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said in a statement. We thank law enforcement for taking these reports seriously and investigating. CAIRs stated mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. BURTON, MI From clothing to board games to an Elvis Presley alarm clock, Stones Treasures in Burton has something for anybody looking for a bargain on new and used items. Owner Jamie Stone runs the resale shop by herself, but she often has her dog, Juju, by her side. Juju has become the stores mascot and has become quite popular with customers. Im her emotional support, Stone said. Everybody wants to buy her. Stones Treasures is located at 3358 S. Saginaw St. in Burton. The space was previously occupied by Joans Attic, an antique shop. The location kind of fell into my lap, Stone said. Opening Stones Treasures had long been a dream for Stone, who spent a lot of time going to rummage sales and antique stores with her grandmother, Hazel Taylor, when she was a child. I was with my grandma all the time, Stone said. Stone also carries on the tradition she started with her grandmother by taking her children to rummage sales. I try to show them, and they think its cool, too. Stone was working at a Renaissance Festival in North Carolina when she decided to make her dreams of opening the store a reality. She learned someone with Joans Attic wanted to unload some items and eventually decided to buy the store and its contents. I actually was wheeling and dealing from down there, and then came up here, made the deal and signed the lease and jumped on it, Stone said. Although she now lives in Mount Morris, Stone is quite familiar with the local community, as she grew up in Burton and attended Bendle Public Schools. I still have a lot of friends who are still in the area, which is cool, Stone said. They come in here, and I get to see people that I havent seen in a long time. Stone first opened the shops doors in January and is preparing to hold a grand opening from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 31. I love this. I love the people that I meet, Stone said. I feel at home. A parking lot sale will take place outside of the store during the grand opening celebration, and Stones father, Dave White, will grill hot dogs for visitors. In addition to helping with the grand opening, White has provided some of the inventory for the store. He brings me a lot of stuff, Stone said. The shop is filled from front to back with a wide variety of items, including movies, board games, books, decorations and clothing. In fact, Stones inventory has outgrown the space. I have so much more, she said. I have a garage full and a shed full of all brand-new merchandise. The shop also carries dragon figurines made by Black Dragon. Shes never had a brick-and-mortar store, Stone said. She hand sculpts these and shes only sold them at the Renaissance Festival. Customers can also find their family crest and information at the shop. The store even has its own 3-D printer, which Stone uses to make items for the shop and for customers, including sculptures. I really love printing, Stone said. Theres so many cool things you can do. Stone said she uses Google lens to find existing prices for the items in her store and sells them at about half the original price. She noted she sometimes sells items on eBay as well. I want something for my people to be able to buy, but I dont want to have my prices too high where they cant, Stone said. Im not trying to get rich. Im just trying to pay my bills. If I can do that, Im happy. Many items from Stones shop are also donated to organizations like Flint Eastside Mission. Donated items have included silverware, dishes and a shower chair. My friend just took another load today, Stone said. Stones Treasures is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Additionally, links to Stones two Square stores are available on the shops Facebook page. Customer can order items online for in-store pickup. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. An 18-year-old died and two teens were injured in a crash in Big Rapids. BIG RAPIDS, MI An 18-year-old died and two teens were injured in a crash in Big Rapids on Thursday, May 22. Sheriffs deputies responded to the single-vehicle crash at 4:14 p.m. on 140th Avenue near 13 Mile Road in Big Rapids, according to a news release from the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office. Authorities said a 14-year-old from Big Rapids was driving the vehicle south on 140th Avenue when he lost control and overturned. The two passengers, a 19-year-old woman from Big Rapids and an 18-year-old woman from Fort Wayne, Indiana, were ejected from the vehicle in the crash. The 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. She was not identified by police. The 19-year-old passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries, according to the release. The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Sheriffs deputies were assisted at the scene by Colfax Township Fire, Morton Township Rescue, Mecosta County EMS, Mid-Michigan Medical Examiners Office, Mecosta County Posse volunteers, and Meceola Central Dispatch. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said, I just dont see a place where we get 12 people to agree, after announcing his decision not to pursue murder charges a second time for Christopher Schurr. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI Kent County Prosecutor Chris Beckers decision not to retry former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr comes as no surprise to experts familiar with such cases. Becker issued his decision Thursday, May 22, regarding the fatal shooting of a Black motorist after jurors earlier this month failed to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. I just dont see a place where we get 12 people to agree, Becker said. RELATED: Police officer Christopher Schurr will not be retried for murder, prosecutor says - mlive.com Paul Hirschfield, director of the criminal justice program at Rutgers University New Brunswick, said Becker had to clear an extremely high hurdle to get a conviction the first time, and a retrial would likely end the same way. The evidence hasnt changed, so it seems a reasonable expectation that either a mistrial or an acquittal would occur again, he said. Naturally, district attorneys dont want to invest all the time and money involved in a trial if the outcome is likely not to be in their favor. Philip Stinson, a former attorney and professor of criminal justice at Ohios Bowling Green State University, gave a similar observation. That does not surprise me, Stinson said in response to Beckers address. The prosecution understands that it would be very difficult to obtain a conviction at a second jury trial of Schurr. RELATED: Grand Rapids protest calls for justice after Schurr wont be retried Matthew Borgula, Schurrs lead defense attorney, said previously that jurors told him after the trial that an overwhelming majority favored acquittal. Current laws afford few opportunities to successfully prosecute officers in cases of excessive force, Hirschfield said, reiterating his previous point that police are trained to fear the worst possible outcomes regardless of the situation. The same police who are trained to fear worst-case scenarios also get to define what is reasonable via expert testimony, he said. So, as long as the police get to define what is reasonable, then the law does not provide an adequate means to prosecute police. There also is very little guidance from the courts on what defines reasonable force, Ben Jones, research associate and assistant director of the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State University, said. You see that play out in this case where the jury just cant agree on whether the force is reasonable or not, he said. RELATED: Police union praises decision to nix new trial against Christopher Schurr In a slight change of direction, the Supreme Court earlier this month issued a decision demanding more consideration in the use of lethal force in the case of Barnes v. Felix. In April 2016, Texas police officer Roberto Felix, Jr., pulled over Ashtian Barnes for suspected toll violations. Felix ordered Barnes to exit the vehicle, but Barnes began to drive away. As the car began to move forward, Felix jumped onto its doorsill and fired two shots inside, killing Barnes. Barness mother sued Felix, alleging he violated her sons Fourth Amendment right against excessive force. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals argued that it could only judge whether in the two seconds that Felix was clinging to Barnes vehicle that the officer feared for his life and was justified in shooting. The High Court, in a small victory for Barnes family, rejected the 5th Courts judgment as too narrow and that the court must consider the totality of the circumstances that led to his killing. While Jones thinks that was a step in the right direction, there still wasnt a lot of detail in that case on what counts as reasonable or unreasonable. If police use bad tactics in the leadup to create a dangerous situation where then they need to use deadly force, does that impact whether its reasonable or not? They left that unaddressed. So, given just how much ambiguity is in the law, unfortunately, its not that surprising that we get outcomes like this, he said, referring to Schurr. RELATED: Grand Rapids NAACP says decision not to retry Schurr sets dangerous precedent In hindsight, it would have been easier and more practical for Becker to prosecute Schurr for reckless or abusive behavior rather than murder or manslaughter, Hirschfield argued, but there still would have to be a law in the books that makes it possible to prosecute such offenses. Schurr, a seven-year officer, faced a second-degree murder charge for killing Patrick Lyoya the morning of April 4, 2022, in a neighborhood on the citys Southeast Side. He stopped Lyoya because his license plate didnt match the vehicle. The officer told Lyoya, who was highly intoxicated, to stay in his car. Lyoya then shoved the officer, lifting the officer off the ground. Lyoya ran with the officer in pursuit. Schurr unsuccessfully discharged his Taser, with the second probe discharging into the ground after Lyoya gained control of it. The two were wrestling on the ground, with the officer on top of Lyoya. Lyoya had moved the Taser from his left hand to his right, the defense said. He was holding the Taser like a gun, trying to get up and turning, when he was shot in the head, the defense said. RELATED: Could Christopher Schurr return to police work? Becker on Thursday stood by his decision to initially charge Schurr with murder three years ago. He did not want to retry the former officer on a lesser charge. Despite no legal consequences, the incident is a stain on Schurrs professional record. After Beckers announcement, the city managers office issued a statement Thursday saying, Mr. Schurr is not a city employee. The prosecutors decision does not impact his employment status. Schurr likely wont be able to find employment at another police department either, but whether that happens would depend on what specific policy violations led to his firing, Hirschfield said. Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington in June of last year made the decision to fire Schurr on the recommendation of GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom. Winstrom said he based his decision to recommend firing Schurr on Beckers assessment of the state police investigation as well as the video of Lyoyas death and the internal affairs interview with Schurr. Often, when officers are guilty of misconduct, they will resign before they have a chance to be fired, Hirschfield said. An officers firing also typically happens after criminal proceedings, making Schurrs case unique. Such a case occurred in 2016 when Oklahoma police officer Betty Jo Shelby fatally shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter but was found not guilty in 2017. She resigned from the Tulsa Police Department shortly after and found a new position as a Rogers County sheriffs deputy. Schurrs career as a police officer could also be jeopardized by public backlash, Hirschfield said, referencing the 2014 killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by Ohio police officer Timothy Loehmann. While Loehmann was not convicted, the Cleveland Police Department fired him in 2017 after an internal investigation revealed he lied on his application to the CPD. Loehmann struggled afterward to maintain a career as a police officer. He reportedly found employment in 2018 as a part-time officer in Bellaire, Ohio, but withdrew his application shortly after his hiring was made public. In 2022 he became the sole police officer in the small town of Tioga Borough, Pa., but resigned after less than a week. He also had a short-lived stint with the police department in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, but resigned again due to public backlash. (Schurrs) case, depending on where he would be hired, could generate the same sort of backlash, so I think a new department would be very cautious in considering hiring him, Hirschfield said. For more of MLives coverage on the case, visit here. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Saul Rodriguez (right) stands next to his attorney, Jeffrey Kirchhoff, during a court hearing. (Brad Massman | MLive) Brad Massman GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 19-year-old who fired a gun at Grand Rapids police officers during a foot chase has been ordered to prison. Saul Rodriguez was sentenced to 34 months to 10 years in prison Thursday, May 22, in Kent County Circuit Court. Rodriguez was in a vehicle on March 2, 2024 when police tried to conduct a traffic stop in the 1900 block of Horton Avenue SE. Rodriguez bailed out of the vehicle and police gave chase. During the pursuit, Rodriguez fired at police and they returned fire. No on was hurt and Rodriguez escaped. Police soon after found three cell phones in the stopped vehicle that linked Rodriguez to the incident. Rodriguez allegedly messaged a relative and said: Im going to get attempted murder on a cop. Police arrested him March 5. As part of his sentence, he also must serve an additional two years for felony firearm. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Ron Yob, pictured, is chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten reintroduced a bill to provide federal recognition to the tribe, hoping new committee leadership will advance legislation denied a hearing in 2023. Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.c GRAND RAPIDS, MI After a previous bill failed to get traction, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten has reintroduced legislation to recognize the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, saying shes hopeful the new leader of a key congressional committee will support the proposal. The Grand Rapids Democrat, who introduced the bill with Republican Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, said shes working with James to get the bill a hearing with the House Subcommittee of Indian and Insular Affairs, which previously refused to take up the legislation. Were hoping that there may be some fresh eyes and some fresh sympathies to consider this, Scholten said. Im an indefatigable optimist. And, you know, the Grand River Band is not giving up, and Im not either. Related: Indigenous leader praises bill seeking federal recognition for Michigan tribe The Grand River Bands is based in Grand Rapids and has just under 500 members, primarily in Kent, Muskegon and Oceana counties. The tribe, which is chaired by Ron Yob, has been seeking federal recognition since 1994. If approved, Scholtens bill would give the tribe access to federal benefits for social services, education, housing and elder care. Those services would be available to tribal members in Newaygo, Oceana, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties. The bill also directs the U.S. Interior Secretary to acquire, for the tribes benefit, trust title to land in Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana counties. In addition, land owned by the tribe in Kent and Ottawa counties may be taken into trust for the tribe, the legislation says. The tribes office is located at 1316 Front Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. After a previous bill failed to get traction, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, has reintroduced legislation to recognize the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indian Joel Bissell | MLive.com Scholten first introduced legislation to grant the Grand River Bands federal recognition in 2023. However, the bill never got a hearing in the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. When asked why, Scholten said the subcommittees previous chairwoman, Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, thought these issues were too complex and there was too much infighting among the tribes. Hagemans reasoning was very frustrating, Scholten said, because infighting was not an issue that plagued our legislation. There is uniform agreement among our local tribes that they want this for the Grand River Band, she said. It has universal support across the board. But that didnt matter. They did not want to take it up for a hearing. Hagemans office did not respond to a request for comment. Looking forward, Scholten said shes hopeful the subcommittees new chairman, Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado, will give the reintroduced bill a hearing. One of the things that we are going to be doing is asking to sit down with Chairman Hurd, asking for the full committee to be hearing this, and asking to sit down with him so we can really explain why a hearing on this bill is merited, she said. Hurd could not be reached for comment. Related: New bill would provide long awaited justice to West Michigan tribe seeking federal recognition James, the Republican co-sponsor of Scholtens bill, was not available for an interview, and his staff did not respond to a request for comment by email. However, in a previous statement, James said the legislation is a critical and long-overdue measure to grant federal recognition to a tribal nation with deep historical roots in Michigan and an enduring legacy of service, community, and resilience. For generations, the Grand River Bands have made meaningful contributions to our state and country and yet, they have remained unjustly excluded from the federal recognition they deserve, said James, whos seeking Michigans Republican nomination to run for governor in 2026. The Grand River Bands, historically, was comprised of 19 bands of Ottawa people who resided along the Grand River and nearby waterways in southwest Michigan, according to the tribe. The tribe was recognized by the state of Michigan in 1996. However, that recognition does not carry the same benefits as federal recognition. Other Michigan tribes, such as the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, gained federal recognition through legislation in 1994. In addition to Scholtens legislation, a similar bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate in October 2024 by former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township. That bill, too, died last year. Peters was not available for an interview. But his office said the bill didnt gain traction because the Senate Indian Affairs Committee didnt have time to take up measure prior to the end of 2023-2024 legislative session. The Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians have been diligently working to protect their tribal lands for future generations, and its time to grant them with the federal recognition they deserve, Peters said in a statement. Im glad legislation has been reintroduced in the House, and Ill continue working with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to advance this legislation. After a previous bill failed to get traction, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, has reintroduced legislation wiith with Rep. John James (pictured), R-Shelby Township, to recognize the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians. Cory Morse | cmorse1@mlive.com Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands, said hes thankful Scholten and James are backing his tribes decades-long push to get his tribal members the benefits they deserve. Youve got to have faith that justice will prevail and righteousness will win out, said Yob, 75, who sees achieving recognition as a way to help preserve the health, wellbeing and legacy of his tribe. I dont want be the one thats going to die thinking that my children and descendants will all the sudden lose contact with who they are, he said. I dont want people in 50, 75, 100-years to say, whatever happened to those Grand River people, where are they? In addition to legislation, the tribe is also seeking federal recognition through the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. In February 2023, BIA issued a proposed finding to deny the tribes request, saying the tribe failed to show it comprises a distinct community and has existed as a community from historical times until the present. The tribe is appealing. BIAs public comment period for the tribes request is open through Sept. 3, according to the Federal Register. Yob said achieving recognition through the BIA has been challenging because of staff turnover at the agency as different presidential administrations take power in the nations capital. I should look it up, but I dont even know how many heads of the BIA have changed since we started this process, he said. The people were dealing with now are not the same people we were dealing with 20 years ago. Kent County sheriff's deputies say a school social worker had inappropriate communication with children. (MLive file photo) MLive KENT COUNTY, MI A school social worker has been arrested after an investigation into multiple inappropriate communications with children, police said. The suspect, a 26-year-old Grand Rapids resident, was arrested Thursday, May 22, in Lexington, Kentucky, after Kent County prosecutors issued a nationwide, extraditable warrant, Kent County sheriffs detectives said. Scenes as family, friends and co-workers from UAW Local 475 comfort each other at a candlelight vigil near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and East Avenue in Jackson on Sunday evening, Sept. 29, 2024. Five workers on strike from Eaton Aerospace were struck by a truck on Michigan Avenue while picketing late on Saturday night. One of the picketers was killed in the crash and four others were injured. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com JACKSON, MI The driver accused of crashing a truck into a picket line while drunk, injuring several union members and killing one will not be facing a jury. Jayden Chase pleaded no contest Friday afternoon, May 23, before Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson to causing the death of Eaton Aerospace worker Seth Webb and seriously injuring three others. Chase, 24, of Rives Township was arraigned Sept. 30 on one count of operating while intoxicated causing death, punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison, and one count of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as one from a legal standpoint in criminal cases. He was allowed to enter a no contest plea due to several lawsuits being filed against him related to the crash, his attorney Alfred Brandt said. Those cases are still ongoing. Related: Lawsuits filed against man accused of driving truck into picketers, killing one Sentencing is scheduled for July 17. Chase remains in the Jackson County Jail without bond. He was previously released on $25,000 bond while his case progressed but was ordered to return to court for a bond violation hearing after his tether detected he had consumed alcohol while on bond. Webb, 24, died when a Ford F-250 driven by Chase crashed into the picket line at Eaton Aerospace around 11:20 p.m. Sept. 28, at the corner of East Michigan and South East avenues, according to the Jackson Police Department. Related: Eaton Aerospace employee killed on picket line remembered as friendly coworker, tech whiz The investigation showed the truck was going east on East Michigan Avenue at a high speed when Chase lost control and crashed into the group of picketers, police said. Chase admitted to hitting the picket line, according to the police report read aloud by Wilson. He told officers he was trying to pass a truck in front of him he felt was going too slow when he lost control of his truck and crashed into the picketers, Wilson said. Chase told police he was punched in the face shortly after exiting his truck, according to the report. The truck struck five people. Webb was immediately taken to nearby Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, police said. Two other victims, a 29-year-old man and a 27-year-old man, were both taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said. The younger man received treatment for multiple broken bones, police said. The two additional victims hit by the truck suffered minor injuries. A blood test taken shortly after the crash showed Chase had a blood alcohol content of 0.122, far above the legal limit, Wilson said. Members of UAW Local 475 were on strike outside Eaton Aerospace in Jackson, starting Sept. 16, following the expiration of the union employee contract. The strike ended Nov. 13 with the signing of a new four-year offer from Eaton Aerospace. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. HILLSDALE COUNTY, MI A Florida man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in Hillsdale 18 years ago is back in Michigan to face felony charges. Vincent Allen Payne was arraigned Wednesday, May 21, on sexual assault charges after being extradited from Florida with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday, May 23. Payne, 60, is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old relative in his Hillsdale home in November of 2007. Charges were filed in 2010, but Payne could not be located, records show. He faces a single count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, a charge punishable by up to life in prison. Sexual assaults are serious crimes that leave lasting trauma, and it takes tremendous courage for survivors to come forward, especially after so many years, Nessel said. I remain committed to working with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, and other county prosecutors across the state to ensure that those charged with criminal sexual conduct offenses face their allegations in court. Paynes next court hearing is scheduled for May 28 in Hillsdale District Court, records show, and he remains in jail with bond set at $500,000. The search for Payne and his extradition was part of Operation Survivor Justice, a program launched by Nessels office in August of 2024. The program is a partnership between the AGs Office, local county prosecutors, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Its goal is to locate, apprehend, and return to Michigan fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants. Related: Michigan AG launches Operation Survivor Justice to nab, extradite sex abusers Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. JACKSON COUNTY 211 students walked across the stage at Northwest High School Thursday night to accept their diplomas and be celebrated as high school graduates. The ceremony, which was held indoors due to cold weather, saw a packed gymnasium cheer on the graduates as their accomplishments were recognized. Principal Scott Buchler addressed the class briefly, before handing the mic off to Student Council President Madison Dixon and her cousin, Vice President Blaine Anspaugh. Dixon borrowed the greeting Better than good" from motivational speaker Keith Hawkins, whom she met recently at a conference at Northville High School. Hawkins told us that whenever he gets asked how hes doing, he always responds Better than good. Because he doesnt want to focus on the negative, but rather whats good in life, she said. Now, looking back on the memories Ive made these past four years, I can proudly say my high school years were Better than good. The graduates then cheered on eight of their classmates eight valedictorians and a salutatorian each of whom delivered a short address. The speakers were Ethan Bailey, Alexis Barnett, Drew Clingerman, Jacob Haddad, Joshua Kraus, Melia Piloske, Kennedy Tapley, Annabelle Warner and Jaedyn Bartell. History teacher Abby Tanner was chosen by the students as their guest speaker. Tanner drew on her experience leading courses covering everything from the history of American music to the Holocaust and genocide, reminding students to realize the highest potential in themselves. You are the sum of all your choices - and that should give you hope, she said. Even though we are all imperfect and make some bad choices, we can all do great things. Meaningful things. During her speech, Tanner signaled the Northwest High School Band, who played the refrain from Bob Marleys Three Little Birds as she reminded students Dont worry about a thing. She tied her speech up with two requests, quoting U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. There are two things I want you to make up your minds to, she said, reading from Roosevelts address to a New York elementary school in 1898. First, that you are going to have a good time as long as you live I have no use for the somber-faced man. And next, that you are going to do something worthwhile. That you are going to work hard and do the things you set out to do." Each graduate was recognized by name as they walked across the stage, received their diploma, shook hands with faculty and were handed the class flower - a pink tulip - by Tanner. The room echoed with the sound of Northwests fight song as graduates moved their tassels to the left and an audience of friends and family members cheered. Click the link to check out all our photos from the event. Subscribers can click the Get photo link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, click this link. Bob Pratt speaks with a group of lifeguards before the training begins at Silver Beach along Lake Michigan. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com) SOUTH HAVEN, MI Lifeguards have been a hot topic for years in South Haven, a picturesque beach community on the shores of Lake Michigan. As the weather heats up, the issue resurfaces as people flock to the citys several beaches. On Monday, May 19, the South Haven City Council approved a resolution to establish a lifeguard program on the citys beaches one year from now, starting on Memorial Day weekend of 2026. The citys latest estimate states creating a program with 19 lifeguards would cost just over $1 million total for the first two years. For North Beach and South Beach, the estimated program cost is $619,618.95 for the first year and $383,684.58 for the second year, the city agenda states. Some councilmembers, who support the idea of a new lifeguard program, are upset about delays to get started. Theyre worried about going another year with no lifeguards. City Manager Kate Hosier has heard comments about getting lifeguards on the sand as soon as possible. Quite frankly, that scares me, Hosier said. It wont work to rush the process, she said. Staff is overwhelmed with other work within the city, Hosier said, and they need support from the council to be able to implement a lifeguard program. When Councilmember Letitia Wilkins asked if lifeguards are out of question for this year, Hosier mentioned challenges of hiring training people and setting up other details. That doesnt seem to feasible to me, Hosier said. Wilkins asked about possible alternatives, and Hosier mentioned existing programs to increase safety. The city hasnt had a drowning in two years, she said. RELATED: Lifesaving robot coming to the beach of another Lake Michigan coastal city Councilmember Joe Reeser said people have commented that the city is kicking the can by not moving faster on the issue. But now, the idea has a locked-in date, Hosier said. The motion approved Monday instructs staff to seek a project management proposal to design and implement the lifeguard program next year. A beach patrol at the foot of North Pier, which was closed as Lake Michigan churned up large waves off North Beach in South Haven, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive) It passed 5-2 with Wendi Onuki and Mary Hosley voting against. Onuki said shes still frustrated. The council talked about the issue in January 2024, she said, and made it a priority last year to get it done for 2025. Were still now at this point where it seems like its too late to have lifeguards on the beach this summer, Onuki said. I dont know where we went wrong. The word lifeguard was mentioned more than 40 times at the last City Council meeting. Onuki asked for a commitment to go forward with the effort and to avoid kicking the can down the road. The sun sets behind the South Haven lighthouse on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Garret Ellison | MLive) Officials recently brought up the idea of a millage to fund lifeguards. On Monday, Hosier said theres still a big question mark about how lifeguards would be funded. Additional revenue could include raising parking rates and/or parking penalties, eliminating beach stickers for residents or raising lease and vendor fees, the city agenda states. The use of the beach parking fund is currently being litigated at the Michigan Court of Appeals, the city said. A lawsuit alleges the city is using the beach parking fund as a proprietary function, as a way to make money not as a government activity, the city packet states. The latest meeting also shed light on a reason why funding questions are unanswered, in relation to the Michigan Court of Appeals case. MORE: Lake Michigan drowning death spurs legal battle over beach revenue, city immunity The case could result in the city losing its government immunity, the packet states. If that occurs, options for funding a lifeguard program may be left to a resident-supported millage, city documents state. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Darrin Slade poses for a portrait in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Monday, July 10, 2023. Slade officially started his role as superintendent of school district last week. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com KALAMAZOO, MI -- The Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Trustees approved a salary increase for Superintendent Darrin Slade after he asked for a lower rate when hired in 2023. The new $278,436 salary, starting July 1, will match Slades salary to the districts base rate for a superintendent, according to a pay scale approved at a Thursday, May 22 school board meeting. The raise increases Slades salary by $48,436. Slade agreed to a $230,000 salary and three-year contract when he was hired in 2023. Slades contract with the district will also be extended by five years through 2030. I felt I needed to prove myself before I could accept that kind of money, Slade said. The $230,000 salary Slade agreed to was 3% higher than the salary of the previous superintendent, Rita Raichoudhuri, who unexpectedly resigned after internal conflicts with the school board. Since Slade began as superintendent, graduation rates in the district have increased, attendance rates have increased and chronic absenteeism rates have dropped. The Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators also awarded Slade Superintendent of the Year for Region 7 for MASA, according to a press release from KPS. In just his first year at the helm of Kalamazoo Public Schools, Dr. Slade has made an indelible impact on the district and the broader community through his visionary leadership, deep commitment to equity and unmatched dedication to communication and engagement, said Dedrick Martin, superintendent of the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency in his letter nominating Slade. Slade was also named one of 25 superintendents to watch by the National School Public Relations Association. The school board rated Slade highly effective in his semi-annual evaluation approved at the May 22 school board meeting. Slade said he wants to continue addressing graduation rates and student performance in his personal evaluation, said TiAnna Harrison, KPS Board of Trustees president. Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive offers free email news alerts. Click here to sign up for alerts or for the daily 3@3 Kalamazoo news roundup. Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page here. Muskegon County sheriff's deputies said a 2-year-old died after a vehicle went into a lake in Egelston Township. (MLive File Photo) Alison Zywicki | azywicki Muskegon County sheriff's deputies are investigating a crash into Wolf Lake that killed a 2-year-old boy. (MLive File Photo) Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI A motorist whose vehicle went into a lake late Thursday, May 22, resulting in a childs death, was unfamiliar with roads in the area, sheriffs deputies said. Police responded to an 11:14 p.m. report of a water emergency at a dead end near Wolf Lake in Muskegon Countys Egelston Township. Related: Boy, 2, dies after vehicle goes into Muskegon County lake Sheriffs deputies and state police troopers rescued the 2-year-old boy from the sinking vehicle and provided emergency medical help, but he later died at Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital. The vehicle, with two other occupants, was going west when it went into the water at the dead end on MacArthur Road. Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be factors in the crash. Early indications show this to be a tragic vehicle crash, where the driver was not familiar with the area, sheriffs Lt. Austin Aamodt said in a statement. CARO, MI A Tuscola County father is to spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing his 1-year-old son. Circuit Judge Amy Grace Gierhart on Thursday, May 22, sentenced 28-year-old Brian S. Elswick to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The sentence was mandatory for the first-degree murder charge a jury convicted Elswick of in April. The Michigan Senate has passed a bill to allow people who committed serious offenses like murder and armed robbery as a minor to be eligible to have those crimes erased from their record. (MLive file photo) MLive file photo The Michigan Senate has passed a bill to allow people who committed serious offenses like murder and armed robbery as a minor to be eligible to have those crimes erased from their record. The bill would expand expungement eligibility to the most serious crimes but only for those who committed the act as a minor and meet a very narrow set of conditions, like having no criminal convictions as an adult. It was passed Tuesday, May 20, by a 23-11 vote, with all Democrats and several Republicans in favor. The Republicans who joined Democrats in the vote were state Sens. John Damoose, Mark Huizenga, Ed McBroom and Roger Victory. It now heads to the Republican-controlled House for consideration. As lawmakers, we have the responsibility to shape a just and equitable society, bill sponsor state Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, told her colleagues Tuesday. Supporting this bill is an opportunity for us to affirm the commitment to fairness, rehabilitation. It is our duty as Christians, Jews and Muslims to ensure that our system is not one of perpetual punishment, but hope, possibility and progress. Santana previously likened a conviction remaining on a persons record after completion of their sentence to a scarlet letter, a public mark for past wrongs. That record, she said, puts up barriers to obtaining housing, employment and more. Santana first introduced the bill last session. While it passed the Senate, it wasnt advanced to a vote in the House. Generally, crimes punishable by up to life in prison, like kidnapping, murder and attempted murder, along with other crimes, such as terrorism, sex crimes, human trafficking, child abuse and felony domestic violence, arent eligible for expungement. Under Santanas bill, only sex crimes would not be eligible for expungement. The expungement process would not be automatic and would require a court to review and grant the expungement application. Santana said victims would have a chance to be heard during the application process. For a person to be eligible for expungement under the bill, there are several required qualifications. First, the felony must have been committed before the person turned 18 years old. The person must have no criminal convictions since turning 18, and 15 years must have passed since they were released from incarceration. Additionally, 10 years must have passed since the last criminal conviction, and the person cannot have a pending criminal charge or have tested positive for any illegal drug use since the felony conviction they want to get expunged. The person must also be able to demonstrate a record and reputation that they are not likely to be a danger to others. Imagine, if you will, a young person, just a child, who either due to circumstances beyond their control or clearly misguidance made a mistake, Santana told her colleagues. Perhaps they were swept up into peer pressure, faced an unstable home life or were simply lost and searching for belonging in a challenged environment. These youthful indiscretions, while regrettable, do not define who they are today. With the passage of decades, these individuals have worked tirelessly to rebuild their lives, showing remarkable resilience and unwavering commitment to bettering themselves and contributing to everything good about our communities. The passage Tuesday comes about two years after Michigan began automatically expunging records under the clean slate law for certain crimes committed as adults and minors. Related: 5 things to know about new automatic expungement in Michigan The types of misdemeanors and felonies that can be expunged automatically are more narrow than the ones that require an application process for expungement. People can find out more about expungement and how to get assistance by going to this webpage by the Attorney Generals Office. Tomas Nido spent six weeks on the big-league roster while Jake Rogers was injured. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) AP DETROIT -- Veteran catcher Tomas Nido has accepted an assignment to Triple-A Toledo after going unclaimed on waivers. Nido was designated for the assignment by the Detroit Tigers three days ago when Jake Rogers was reinstated from the injured list. Though Nido had the right to elect free agency after clearing waivers, he chose to remain in the Tigers system. Nido hit .343 (12-for-35) as a backup to Dillon Dingler during Rogers six-week absence. Nido, 31, signed with the Tigers last September and played in three games for Toledo at the end of the 2024 season. He wasnt eligible for the postseason because of his late signing; otherwise, its likely he would have accompanied the team as an emergency taxi squad player. Drafted by the New York Mets in the eighth round in 2012, Nido built a reputation as a strong defender while rising through the system. He debuted in 2017 and became a reliable backup catcher. After struggling offensively in 2023 and dealing with vision issues, he was designated for assignment and later outrighted to Triple-A. Nido returned briefly to the Mets in 2024 before being released in June. He signed with the Chicago Cubs but was sidelined by a meniscus tear and released in August. Nidos final act as a Tiger -- for now -- was throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a blowout loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Hell now serve as the top catcher for the Mud Hens and the No. 3 catcher in the organization. Harvard University bars foreign students: What are the best alternatives for Indian students? MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more. Rajni Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Apples US manufacturing push could backfire; India still most viable option outside China Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years. Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years. 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 Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Indian tourists should avoid visiting Turkey, though no advisory is likely, say government sources 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 Rohit Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept China introduces robotic inspection of freight trains Xinhua) 13:47, May 23, 2025 SHIJIAZHUANG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China's first set of intelligent inspection robots for freight trains has been put into operation at Huanghua Port in north China's Hebei Province, showing a maximum capacity of inspecting 10 trains a day. Wang Peng, deputy general manager of the Suning maintenance branch of the China Energy Railway Equipment Co., Ltd., said that the robots have achieved a 100-percent common fault recognition rate of trains. "The robot set -- one inspecting the train's underside and two checking its sides -- can inspect 54 carriages in 135 minutes," said Wang. Since its first operation on May 11, the robotic inspection facility has been applied in the train maintenance depot of Huanghua. Wang said the number of side-inspecting robots is expected to reach 10 in four months. At that time, the inspection task, which previously took 16 people over 50 minutes to complete, will be accomplished by the robot team in just 27 minutes. Zhang Hao, a dispatcher in the workshop who oversees the robotic operation, said the intelligent robots photograph key areas while inspecting a 648-meter-long freight train with 54 carriages to collect fault information. "The 15 cm-thick robot can finish a round trip of checking the train bottom in less than three minutes, capturing and documenting all suspected fault points before returning to its position for a charge and awaiting the next command," Zhang said. Meanwhile, the two robots working on the sides are each equipped with two mechanical arms, featuring three sets of joints for vertical, horizontal, and rotational movements. It takes approximately 2.5 minutes for the pair to complete scanning a single train carriage. The set of three robots takes 9,450 high-definition images during train inspection. The intelligent system can promptly provide analysis results through data comparison, clearly indicating the location and over 120 types of suspected faults. "Robots indeed work with higher precision than humans," acknowledged Lyu Dawei, a veteran maintenance worker who uses specialized tools to measure wheel dimensions during train inspection. He said it is particularly difficult to check the train's bearings at the bottom, with the narrow gap of less than 50 cm from the ground. "During manual inspection for cracks or oil leakage, I had to crouch down to get a closer look. After inspecting 54 carriages, my legs feel numb," he said. There are over 400 personnel engaged in technical inspection operations at the port, working on four shifts around the clock. All freight trains completing transportation at the port must go through inspections here. Huanghua, as an important energy port in north China, is expected to see more than 50,000 freight train arrivals this year, mainly for coal transportation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The UK's best pub name has been announced. The UK's favourite pub name has been announced The Drunken Duck was crowned the nation's favourite, fending off The Moody Cow, The Up In Arms and Sir Loin of Beef. Other names that made the top 10 list in a poll by the insurance firm, Simply Business, included The Dog House, The Nobody Inn, The Itchy Pig and The Honest Politician. Julie Fisher, from Simply Business, is quoted by The Sun newspaper as saying: "The name of a pub reflects the history, humour and heart of the communities it serves. "[A pub's name] is a huge part of what makes British pub culture so distinctive." Adrija Chatterjee USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Gold heads for weekly surge as US fiscal concerns cause tremors Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India Inc on fund raising spree, 36 QIPs to raise Rs 80,000 crore approved in last 30 days Rohit Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Sensex up over a percent, Nifty near 24,900 supported by IT rally, drop in US treasury yields Paras Bisht USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Stocks to Watch Today: ITC, Sun Pharma, IndusInd Bank, Honasa Consumer, MTAR Tech, Metro Brands, Power Mech, Bharat Electronics in focus on 23 May Sunil Matkar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Hiral Thanawala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Ashish Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Billy Joel has cancelled his upcoming tour because of a brain disorder. Billy Joel has cancels tour after brain disorder diagnosis The 76-year-old musician revealed he has been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which has caused problems with his hearing, vision and balance. A statement posted on his Instagram said: Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance. Billy is currently undergoing treatment and doctors have advised that performing would have an adverse affect on his health at this time. The statement continued: Under his doctors instructions, Billy is undergoing physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health. He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage. Billy added his own message to fans, saying: Im sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding. According to clevelandclinic.org: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside your skull and presses on your brain. This condition is most likely in people over 65. Its often treatable and sometimes even reversible. Billys cancelled tour includes 17 dates in North America and England. Reliance Industries will double its investment in Northeast to Rs 75,000 crore in next 5 years: Mukesh Ambani Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Rupee opens 4 paise stronger at 85.97 against the US dollar Manish M. Suvarna USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Zepto Cafe pauses operations in 44 stores across North India due to supply and staff crunch 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 Reshab Shaw USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Zepto delivery workers on strike for a fifth day in Hyderabad over unfair pay, arbitrary penalties Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aryaman Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Tushar Goenka is a breaking news reporter who focuses on startups. Interested in venture capital, quick commerce, e-commerce, food delivery and D2C. 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 Arun Padmanabhan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept After Chhattisgarh ops, four Maoists gunned down by security forces in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept All-party delegation, led by DMK's Kanimozhi, arrives in Russia to reaffirm India's stance against terrorism Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Christin Mathew Philip USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Bangladesh should not forget BSF's role in its creation: Amit Shah Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Jennifer Aniston's alleged stalker has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial. Jennifer Aniston's alleged stalker will undergo a second mental health evaluation The former 'Friends' star was not in court in Hollywood on Thursday (22.05.25) to hear that psychiatrist Dr. Phani Tumu had examined Jimmy Wayne Carwyle - who is accused of ramming his car into the front gate of the actress' home in Bel Air - and felt he was "currently incompetent to stand trial". However, Deputy Public Defender Robert Krauss told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi that the 48-year-old defendant was asking for a second opinion", as is his right. The judge appointed a second psychiatrist, Dr. Kory Knapke, to examine Carwyle and another hearing will take place next week. The man is charged with one felony count of stalking and one of vandalism, along with an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm. At a hearing earlier this month, a not guilty plea was entered by Deputy Public Defender Toral Malik but she questioned his mental competency. Carwyle has been remanded in custody since the incident at Jennifer's home on 5 May and is accused of having harassed the 'Morning Show' actress since March 2023 by sending "unwanted social media, voicemail and email messages." The judge has ordered him not to contact or go anywhere near the 56-year-old star. Although Jennifer was at home at the time her gates were struck, she didn't come into contact with anyone and the man was stopped in her driveway until police arrived at the scene. A public information officer from the Los Angeles Police Department told PEOPLE: "There was a security guard on premises who was able to detain that suspect until officers arrived, at which time they took him into custody without incident. "The resident was home at the time." The authorities noted that while the suspect has sustained minor injuries, no one else was hurt in the incident. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman previously vowed to "aggressively prosecute" stalkers. He said in a statement: "My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who stalk and terrorise others, ensuring they are held accountable." Ria Kapoor USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Not the right time: FM Nirmala Sitharaman had flagged IMF loan to Pakistan, say govt sources 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 Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. 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I Accept 'Glad to see all-party delegation visiting countries but...': Mamata Banerjee seeks special Parliament session on Op Sindoor Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India will never give in to nuclear blackmail,' says Jaishankar; Germany backs Indias right to self-defence Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Kanye West has declared he is "done with anti-Semitism". Kanye West has called for peace The 'Stronger' rapper has been under fire in recent months over his controversial behaviour, including praising Adolf Hitler and selling t-shirts emblazoned with a Swastika, a notorious Nazi hate symbol, but he's now asked for forgiveness and called for peace. He wrote in a series of posts on X: "I am done with antisemitism. I love all people. "God forgive me for the pain I've caused. "I forgive those who have caused me pain. Thank you God. "The earth itself is in Gods Kingdom. "GOD CALLS FOR PEACE. "Share peace. "Share love." Kanye claimed his outlook changed after he enjoyed a video call with his and ex-wife Kim Kardashian's four children, North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and six-year-old Psalm. He wrote: "I simply got a FaceTime from my kids and I wanna save the world again." This isn't the first time Kanye has seemingly had a change of heart as in February, he declared he was "not a Nazi" following "further reflection. Taking to X, he wrote: "After further reflection Ive come to the realization that Im not a Nazi." Hours earlier, he appeared to respond to Adam Sandler's 'Saturday Night Live' performance from the show's 50th anniversary special. In a tribute song written for the occasion, the comedian - whose family are Jewish - made an apparent reference to Ye as he quipped: "50 years of finding out your favorite musicians antisemitic." Kanye tweeted: "Adam Sandler thank you for the love." But earlier this month, he released a song called 'Heil Hitler'. In the song, he blamed Kim for him having "turned into a Nazi" because she allegedly wouldn't let him see their children. The lyrics included the lines: "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***** see my Twitter but they don't see how I be feeling / So I became a Nazi, yeah b****. I'm the villain." Earlier this year, Kanye had declared previous anti-Semitic comments to be "90 percent Jew proof" and he went on to explain he meant no one had been able to "stop" him. He wrote: "I will write this more poetically in a bit cause right now I'm finishing my verse for Game's album. "The idea of being Jew proof is "I said all these politically incorrect things and nobody was able to stop me extort me threaten me to change anything "And I made 40 million the next day between my different business "There's a lot of Jewish people I know and love and still work with "The point I made and showed is that I am not under Jewish control anymore (sic)" 'It met all required targets': IMF defends latest loan package to Pakistan after India demands reconsideration Ria Kapoor USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. 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I Accept Jaishankar rips into 'democratic' Europe: No one supported military regime in Pakistan like West Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Landmine explosions on Line of Control in Poonch as forest fire spreads to Krishna Ghati sector Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Let us work together to make Ashtalakshmi an inspiration for Viksit Bharat: PM Modis appeal at Northeast Summit Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Misplaced generosity': Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calls Kerala to reflect on aid to Turkey two years ago Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept NDA CMs likely to attend meeting on Operation Sindoor in New Delhi on May 25 Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Nirav Modi will abscond if released', says UK Court on denying his bail for 10th time Ria Kapoor USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Matthew Rhys wanted to play James Bond as Welsh. Matthew Rhys wanted to play a Welsh James Bond 'The Americans' star was considered for the role of 007 before it went to Daniel Craig and went to a meeting with former Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, and he's now revealed he wanted to use his real Welsh accent in his portrayal of the superspy. He told The Independent newspaper: "I was just one of many who went to Barbara Broccolis offices ... I like to say Timothy Dalton was Welsh, but he wasnt a very Welsh Bond. And theres still a lot of prejudice, I find, against a Welsh accent theres always been a greater love for the Irish. "With Bond, I think they probably wouldve gone for a toned-down version of Welsh. I would certainly have advocated for it until they told me not to!" Matthew is dad to eight-year-old son Sam with his wife Keri Russell as well as being stepfather to her two children - River, 17, and 12-year-old Willa - from a previous relationship and he's trying to pass on his knowledge of the Welsh language to them even though they live in New York. He added: "Im teaching my kids as much as theyll listen. The eldest is very good because the b***** has been subjected to it the longest. Keeping Welsh alive, God bless him, in a small corner of Brooklyn." Matthew previously admitted he found his James Bond audition "terrifying" and his jokes didn't go down well with movie bosses. He told The Times newspaper: "[It was] this incredible office, looks over the park. Very intimidating. We were just told to wear a dark suit and read 'Casino Royale' ... [It was] terrifying ... They said: What would you do differently with Bond? And I just remember going: Ah. I was so not anticipating that question. And then I was like, is it a trick question? Are they waiting for people to go: I wouldnt do anything. Hes perfect.' "You cant say: 'You guys have really screwed this up'." Matthew then revealed he tried using humour, revealing he told them: "Id give him a limp. I said, Limp? Nothing. Eye patch? Nothing." The role was given instead to Daniel Craig, who played Bond in five films before stepping down following the release of 'No Time To Die' in 2021. Yaruqhullah Khan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept PM Modi likely to meet Pahalgam terror attack victim's kin on May 30 in Kanpur Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pakistan's denial to IndiGo pilot puts 220 lives at risk: Here's what happened during hailstorm horror Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 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 USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Rahul Gandhi to visit Poonch on May 24 to meet families bereaved during shelling by Pakistan Sonalee Borgohain USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Hayley Hasselhoff paid tribute to her late mom, Pamela Bach Hasselhoff, with her Cannes Film Festival outfit on Wednesday (21.05.25). Hayley Hasselhoff at the Cannes Film Festival The 32-year-old model - whose mother took her own life in March - wore a custom red gown to the premiere of 'The History of Sound' which was inspired by Pamela's 1996 Golden Globes dress by Jimmy Gamba. And like her mom, Hayley accessorised her dress - a custom creation from Christophe Guillarme - with diamond statement earrings, dewy make-up and bouncy curls. She told Us Weekly magazine: When the invitation to Cannes came this year, I knew instantly [that] I had to honour her. This would be my first major public appearance since her passing, and there was no more meaningful way to return than by paying homage to a moment of hers Ive always adored. "Red is such a powerful, symbolic color one of love, strength, and enduring spirit. It felt fitting. Not only did my mom look gorgeous in the gown, but it was the joy in her expression that truly stayed with me. "She was similar in age to me now when she wore it, which made the choice feel all the more poignant. It was as though I could share that moment with her two women, two eras, connected in a moment in time through a single gown." Hayley praised the designer for his work on the tribute. She said: "My dear friend and designer, Christophe Guillarme, paid homage to the original with a silk red ruched gown, while replacing moms signature boa with a delicate, custom-made tulle shawl... "The entire process unfolded with remarkable swiftness, taking just under a month. Upon my arrival in Cannes on May 21, we moved directly into a flawless fitting, where it felt as though my mother herself was quietly guiding every detail to ensure the evening was nothing short of perfect. And Hayley also had a deeply personal accessory. She revealed: "The look was completed with oversized diamond earrings from Gil Neuhaus and a Swarovski clutch I already owned both perfectly echoing the accessories my mother wore on that unforgettable night. The most personal touch, however, was wearing one of moms stunning sapphire rings. It was my way of feeling her presence beside me on the carpet yesterday and always." Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Supreme Court raps ED over Tasmac raids: What were the probe agencys allegations against Tamil Nadus liquor retailer Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept "Visit aims to apprise global community about Indias fight against terrorism," says India's ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Mel B is using fashion to express her happiness and confidence. Mel B is using fashion to express her mood The Spice Girls star - who turns 50 on May 29 - has revealed she's happier than ever as she approaches the milestone and she's also preparing to wed her fiance Rory McPhee this summer - and Mel has declared she's using her clothes to reflect where she is in her life. She told WWD: "This year, I am 50, and I'm celebrating that and celebrating myself and my body at 50 ... "I've been through a lot in this past decade, including an emotionally abusive relationship where I was so low and felt insecure and unattractive, and now I feel I have come into the light. "So my dressing reflects where I'm at right now, and it's a call out to let all women who have been through abuse know that you can heal, you can start to recover and you can find yourself again." Mel - whose ex-husband Stephen Belafonte denied her claims of abuse - went on to reveal she how uses her outfits to reflect her healing. She added: "It's so important to feel completely in control of myself, from the way I look, to the place I live, to the people I surround myself with and the clothes that I wear. My clothes, paid for with my money and chosen by me." Mel is due to tie the knot with hair stylist Rory at St. Paul's Cathedral in London with a second ceremony planned for abroad - she's revealed she's buying two wedding dresses from different designers for the celebrations. She explained: "I found an amazing bridal boutique called Evelie in London and in one incredible afternoon, I found two perfect dresses: one beautiful classic dress by Josephine Scott, a British designer and one stunning dramatic dress by a U.S. designer, Justin Alexander. "I've since had fittings in London and New York, so it's a perfect blend of my love for Britain and America." It's Mel's third trip down the aisle following marriages to Jimmy Gulzar between 1998 and 2000 and Stephen Belafonte, who she divorced in 2017 after a union which lasted a decade. She has been dating Rory since 2018. Maoist area of influence has decisively shrunk, but the jury is out on their resolve Vivek Deshpande was with The Indian Express and is now a freelance journalist based in Nagpur. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication. Namrata Agarwal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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Namrata Agarwal USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept NASAs Dragonfly to unlock secrets of life on Titan: All you need to know about the mission exploring Saturns largest Moon Sheetal Kumari is a skilled sub-editor and content creator with expertise in digital news, multimedia storytelling, and social media content. With a strong grasp of topics like science, politics, and many more, she crafts compelling narratives, transforming complex topics and trending stories into engaging, accessible reads across various media platforms. Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Parth Charan is a Mumbai-based writer whos written extensively on cars for over seven years. 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 Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Erykah Badu and multi-instrumentalist Henry Lau are set play the inaugural SXSW London. Eryka Badu is among the acts taking to the stage at SXSW London this June Europes leading platform for cross-industry networking is taking place from June 2-7 across 25 venues in Shoreditch, London. Grammy-winner Erykah Badu is set to perform under her alias DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown with a headline set on the House of R'n'B stage. Other special guests include Mabel, Sasha Keable, NAO, and Miraa May. Henry Lau will take to the stage for the Opening Performance supported by MetaMoon at Village Underground from 3pm to 4pm on Monday, June 2. Adem Holness, Head of Music at SXSW London, said: For me, Badu is one of our most important living artists, so to have her join our inaugural festival is unbelievable. I cant wait to share in the excitement with the people coming to SXSW London and dance the night away in the House of R amp;B. We couldnt be more excited to have Badu and Lau bookend a week that will establish SXSW London as a vital new destination for musical discovery and cultural exchange. Music Festival Wristbands are available now from 25 on DICE. Tickets for the Opening Performance featuring Henry Lau are sold separately and are also available to purchase via DICE. Tata Digitals Naveen Tahilyani quits in just a year after becoming CEO 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 Arun Padmanabhan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Bangladesh on the brink again: Yunus threatens to quit amid rift with Army chief; what's fuelling the fallout? Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept How Trumps ban on international admissions at Harvard could impact the future of 788 Indian students? Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India, US close to first tranche of trade deal: Agreement likely in 7-10 days; tariff relief on cards Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Clair Norris is leaving 'EastEnders' after eight years. Clair Norris is leaving EastEnders The 27-year-old actress, who plays Bernadette 'Bernie' Taylor in the BBC soap, will leave Albert Square later this year in a move that will bring an end to the family's presence in Walford. A spokeswoman for 'EastEnders' confirmed the news, stating: "We can confirm that Clair will be leaving 'EastEnders' later this year and we wish her all the best for the future." Clair's exit comes amid a period of transition from the soap as new producer Ben Wadey takes charge following the departure of Chris Clenshaw. A source told The Sun newspaper: "Every time a soap gets a new boss they want to make their own changes it's nothing personal. "The writing has been on the wall for Bernie for some time so it wasn't really a surprise to Clair. "She was the last Taylor standing and it's time to close the chapter on them and let Clair go on to do other things." A second insider said: "Everyone at 'EastEnders' loves Clair but often characters have to leave for new stories to begin, that's the nature of soap. "Clair will be missed but she will always be part of the 'EastEnders' family." The star has played Bernie on 'EastEnders' since 2017 and previously revealed that she "pushed" for her alter ego to have a different sense of style to that of her own. She told OK! magazine in 2022: "I can't say I really like the checked shirts and purple coat! I wouldn't be taking any of her clothes home! "But I really love that about playing Bernie and I really pushed for that at the start. "I really did want her to be completely different and I like that I look separate to Bernie because it's so easy to think that I am Bernie, so sometimes looking a little bit different, people can see that I am just playing a character." However, the difference in style doesn't always prevent Clair from being recognised by fans. She explained: "It goes in dribs and drabs. I'm quite lucky because of the power of make-up. "When I've got a bit of make-up on and am not wearing Bernie's clothes, I can kind of get away with it a little bit. "But because I've been on the show for quite a while, it doesn't quite work anymore. Even when I had a mask on, people still recognised me, which is mad because all you're seeing is someone's eyes." Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Trump vs Harvard University: Timeline of measures taken by US President after taking charge in January 2025 Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead late Wednesday outside a Jewish museum in Washington by a gunman who shouted "free Palestine," authorities said, with US, Israeli and other world leaders expressing outrage over the killings. President Donald Trump condemned the attack in the heart of the US capital, saying: "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA," he said on social media. Shots rang out on the sidewalk outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington as the venue held a social event for young professionals and diplomatic staff. The victims were a young couple who planned to get married, the Israeli ambassador said. Israel's foreign ministry identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Lischinsky was a research assistant at the Israeli embassy, while Milgrim worked for its public diplomacy department, according to their LinkedIn profiles. A video clip circulating on social media after the attack showed a bearded young man in a jacket and white shirt shouting "free, free Palestine" as he was led away by police. Police confirmed the suspected shooter walked into the museum after the attack and had been detained. "The shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody," Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters. "Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum. He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire. "After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security." She said the handcuffed man -- whom she identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago -- told them where he had discarded the gun. "We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and the wild incitement against the State of Israel," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, announcing extra security arrangements at Israeli missions around the world. "Blood libels against Israel are paid in blood -- and they must be fought relentlessly," he said. "My heart aches for the families of the beloved young man and woman, whose lives were abruptly cut short by a despicable antisemitic murderer." Britain, France and Germany were among those who joined in condemning the shooting. The targeted event was an annual reception hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) for young Jewish professionals and the Washington diplomatic community. The evening was "dedicated to fostering unity and celebrating Jewish heritage," with an invitation to the event saying the location would be "shared upon registration." "We are devastated that two cherished friends and partners from the Israeli embassy were shot and killed as they left an American Jewish Committee event," AJC CEO Ted Deutch said in a statement. "It strongly appears that this was an attack motivated by hate against the Jewish people and the Jewish state. This senseless hate and violence must stop." The museum is in downtown Washington, close to the US Capitol and just over a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the White House. Police Chief Smith said officers responded to multiple calls about a shooting near the museum at around 9:00 pm on Wednesday (0100 GMT Thursday). First responders found a man and a woman unconscious and not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts, both were pronounced dead. Israel's Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter told reporters the young staffers were a couple about to get engaged. "The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem," Leiter said. "They were a beautiful couple." He said he spoke to Trump by telephone, with the president assuring him that the United States would "do everything it can possibly do to fight and end anti-Semitism." "We'll stand together tall and firm, and we will confront this moral depravity without fear and with determination," Leiter said. Emergency vehicles remained at the scene in the early hours of Thursday after police taped off the area. "We're going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send the clear message that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters. "The horrific incident is going to frighten a lot of people in our city, and in our country. I want to be clear that we will not tolerate this violence or hate." US Judge blocks Trump administration from revoking Harvards right to enroll foreign students Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. 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The ally who turned nightmare for Muhammad Yunus Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard: University sues Trump admin over DHS ban Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Suspect in fatal shooting of 2 Israeli embassy staff charged with murder Xinhua) 13:56, May 23, 2025 WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday filed criminal charges against the suspect in the case involving the fatal shooting of two staff members of the Israeli embassy in the United States the prior night. The charges include the murder of foreign officials. Prosecutors stated that additional charges may be filed as authorities continue investigating the incident as a hate crime and terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night. U.S. police said that the suspect is 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, Illinois. "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in a post on social media platform Truth Social. Danny Danon, Israel's permanent representative to the United Nations, said that harming diplomats is crossing a red line. Since the outbreak of a new round of the Israel-Palestine conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has continued to worsen. Against this backdrop, U.S. Middle East policy has, to some extent, intensified domestic dissatisfaction with Israel. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) New York, US (PANA) - The UN Secretary-General on Friday outlined a five-stage plan to provide lifesaving aid to the stricken population of Gaza, making clear the organisation will not take part in any scheme that fails to respect international law or basic humanitarian principles Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday that it has been forced to cut food aid to unprecedented lows in Kenyas sprawling refugee camps, as a result of severe funding shortages Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Sudans Minister for Culture and Information, Khalid Al-Aiser, has rebuffed sanctions announced by the US State Department after accusing the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of using chemical weapons in its current war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias Harare The case surrounding Tafara Zhou, the headmaster of Allan Wilson High School accused of sexually assaulting a former student, has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of the alleged victim and a former teacher on extortion charges. This development comes as Zhou himself faces accusations of aggravated indecent assault, allegations which have prompted a wider investigation into claims of abuse within Harares school system. Tanaka Elvis Sikwavaile, 19, the former student who initially accused Zhou of sexual assault, and Charles Masiyandaita, a former teacher at Allan Wilson High School, appeared before Harare magistrate Apollonia Marutya yesterday, facing charges of attempting to extort US$15,000 from Zhou. Zhous legal team alleges that Sikwavaile and Masiyandaita demanded the sum in exchange for withdrawing the aggravated indecent assault case currently pending at Harare Magistrates Court. The state alleges that on 25 April, Emmanuel Venge, the Allan Wilson SDC vice-chairperson, received a call from Masiyandaita, who identified himself as the purported guardian of Sikwavaile. Masiyandaita claimed he was unable to contact Zhou directly. Masiyandaita allegedly requested Venge to engage Zhou and demand US$15,000 to facilitate the withdrawal of the aggravated indecent assault case. He allegedly made it clear that if Zhou failed to pay, he would ensure the matter proceeded to trial, potentially leading to Zhous imprisonment. Venge informed Zhou who said he didnt have money and wasnt interested in participating in any illegal activity. The matter was immediately reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. A team from ZACC then requested Venge to call Masiyandita to confirm that, indeed, he was the one orchestrating the extortion bid. He allegedly confirmed that he needed US$15,000 to ensure the withdrawal of the matter. A meeting was arranged at Montague Shopping Centre, where Masiyandaita and Sikwavaile were subsequently arrested after allegedly receiving US$200. This development is a significant twist in a case that has already gripped the nation. Just last month, Tafara Zhou appeared in court accused of aggravated indecent assault. The allegations involve a former Form 3 boarder, now 19, who claims Zhou subjected him to repeated acts of non-consensual anal sex between June 2022 and May 2024. The alleged abuse took place both at the school hostel and, disturbingly, in the headmasters own car. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has confirmed that Zhou appeared in court over the weekend, although he was not asked to enter a plea. The case has prompted the Zimbabwe Republic Police to launch a wider investigation into multiple allegations of sexual abuse at several boys schools across Harare, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of students in the countrys education system. According to the NPAZ, the complainant reported the alleged abuse in March 2025, after being expelled from Allan Wilson for seeking assistance with his exam registration fees a cruel twist that highlights the vulnerability of the victim and the alleged abuse of power by Zhou. The States case paints a grim picture of manipulation and coercion. It is alleged that Zhou initially offered the boy spiritual help, but this quickly devolved into a pattern of abuse, threats, and intimidation. Zhou is accused of using the threat of expulsion to silence the teenager, and even allegedly deleting incriminating evidence from the boys mobile phone in an attempt to cover his tracks. The allegations are that in 2022, the complainant, who is now 19 years old, approached several high schools in Harare looking for a scholarship. He then went to Allan Wilson Boys High School, where he met Zhou and told him he was looking for a Form 3 place. Zhou offered to cater to the boys needs. The court heard that in June 2022, Zhou allegedly called the boy to his car and told him that he wanted to have a sexual relationship with him since he was catering to all his expenses. Zhou allegedly threatened to expel the boy from school if he refused. The state claimed that, feeling cornered, the boy yielded to the request, and Zhou allegedly sexually abused him. The boy returned to his hostel but did not tell anyone about the incident, fearful of the consequences. The alleged abuse continued over a prolonged period. In January 2023, Zhou allegedly took the boy to the laundry room and sexually abused him again. In February 2023, Zhou took the minor to his house and abused him for the third time. The following morning, there was a school trip to Victoria Falls. While other students boarded the bus, Zhou allegedly took the boy in his car. In Victoria Falls, he booked a room and sexually abused the boy for three days. Zhou allegedly sexually abused the boy again on their way back to Harare. He then took the boys phone and deleted all his messages and pictures. He threatened the boy and told him that he was well-connected and no one would believe his story if he ever thought of reporting the abuse. The state further alleges that when the complainant wanted to register for his exams, he asked Zhou for the money, but the accused person refused to give it to him. The boy was then assisted by his teachers to register, and this reportedly did not go down well with Zhou, who expelled the complainant from the school a move that ultimately led to the exposure of the alleged abuse. Following the release of his exam results this year, the boy, with the assistance of a teacher, filed a police report, leading to Zhous arrest. The case against Zhou has prompted a wider investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at other schools in Harare. Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi told NewsDayLive that police had received reports about sexual abuse at Allan Wilson and Prince Edward high schools as well as Blakiston Junior School. Reference is made to your telephone call on alleged sodomy cases at Allan Wilson, Blakiston and Prince Edward schools, Nyathi said. The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that reports have been received from the schools and investigations are in progress. Most of the reports allege criminal acts by fellow students, except one against a school headmaster. Commissioner Nyathis statement confirms that the investigations are not limited to Allan Wilson, but extend to other institutions, suggesting a potentially wider problem within the education sector. In addition to the case against Zhou, another deputy school head at Masase High School in Mberengwa, Anymore Gumbo, is also under investigation for allegedly sexually abusing up to 30 learners at the school. These multiple investigations point to a disturbing trend of alleged abuse of power and exploitation of vulnerable students by those in positions of authority. The Ministry of Education is under increasing pressure to address the issue and implement measures to safeguard students and ensure that those found guilty of abuse are brought to justice. As the legal proceedings against Zhou, Sikwavaile, and Masiyandaita unfold, the nation watches closely, grappling with the complexities of a case that has exposed deep-seated issues within Zimbabwes education system. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Tennessee carries out first execution since 2020 Oscar Smith was put to death by lethal injection Thursday after 1989 murders of his estranged wife, her two teenage sons Mercks mumps fraud: A 50-year cover-up exposed as vaccine efficacy claims crumble Mercks mumps vaccine, part of the MMR shots, is confirmed to be far less effective than claimed, with courts acknowledging intentional fraud to maintain monopoly and avoid admitting failure. Whistleblowers exposed Mercks practice of overfilling vaccine doses with excess live virus to artificially boost efficacy test results, which was neither safety-tested nor disclosed. Despite evidence of data falsification and misconduct, Merck faces no repercussions, while the FDA continues to endorse the vaccine, perpetuating public health risks. U.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s criticisms of the vaccines efficacy are sidelined by critics who question his motives due to his previous legal career targeting pharmaceutical firms. In a surprising reversal, MedPage Today admitted the mumps portion of the MMR vaccine never worked as promoted, validating years of accusations by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Merck whistleblowers. The acknowledgment, published in May 2025, arrives amid a cascade of revelations about pharmaceutical giant Mercks systemic fraud including fabricated safety data, court rulings confirming misconduct and the companys monopoly over U.S. mumps vaccine distribution for decades. Kennedy, in an April interview, asserted plainly, The mumps part of the MMR vaccine has never worked, citing evidence from two federal lawsuits that demonstrated Mercks manipulation of vaccine trial data. Yet MedPage Today and health officials like Dr. Paul Offit of the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia dismiss Kennedys claims, suggesting his critique is rooted in his past as a personal injury lawyer rather than scientific merit. Fraudulent practices and the Merck whistleblowers The scandal traces back to the late 1990s, when Merck faked efficacy data for its mumps vaccine, MMRII, to circumvent FDA regulations. Internal whistleblowers Stephen Krahling and Joan Wlochowski exposed the companys overfilling of vaccine doses with excess live virus to meet arbitrary efficacy targets. Despite FDA inspections confirming data falsification in 2004, Merck continued its practices under a legal loophole allowing companies to self-certify drug potency. In 2010, Krahling and Wlochowski filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act, alleging Merck unlawfully maintained its monopoly by using rigged trials to suppress competition from rival drugmaker GSK. A 2024 federal court ruling later cited Mercks misrepresentations to the FDA but absolved the company of liability under unclear jurisdiction rules. The court document admitted, [Merck] sought to extend its apparent monopoly by misrepresenting facts about its mumps vaccines on FDA-approved labeling, yet left the ineffective vaccine untouched. Failed safety testing and public health risks Mercks manipulation extended beyond efficacy claims. The overfilled mumps vaccine was never tested for safety against an inert placebo, despite the governments purchase of millions of doses for the Vaccines for Children Program. Internal trial data, obtained by whistleblowers, revealed: One-third of vaccinated children in early MMRII trials suffered gastrointestinal issues, while another third developed respiratory problems. GSKs competing vaccine, Priorix, had similarly alarming adverse event rates, including emergency room visits and chronic diseases. Dr. David Kessler, former FDA chief, detailed the fraud in an 800-page report for a 2024 whistleblower case. He exposed Mercks reliance on unscientific passive surveillance (parental self-reporting of post-vaccination reactions) to justify the problematic live-virus overfill. This was a brand experiment that they foisted on the public, stated Brian Hooker of the Childrens Health Defense, adding that such practices expose systemic corruption between regulators and pharmaceutical corporations. The clash over transparency and public trust MedPage Todays reluctant confirmation of the mumps vaccines flaws sparked debate over why its taken decades for the truth to surface. Pro-vaccine advocates like Offit minimize concerns, citing reduced historical mumps cases (from ~150,000 in 1968 to ~1,000 in 2024) to argue mumps has dramatically reduced by about 99%. But critics counter that lower incidence may reflect waning public trust in vaccines and shifting priorities, not inherent efficacy. Many of the diseases of yesteryear are less prevelant today because of improved hygiene and nutrition. Kennedys critics, including Offit, target his legal background, suggesting his concerns are self-serving. Hes still in the personal injury lawyer business, Offit declared, dismissing legitimate claims by implying ulterior motives. Yet Kennedy remains unapologetic, framing the issue as a crisis of integrity: The American people deserve honest science and transparency not deceptive labels promoting a substandard product. A wake-up call for health freedom The Merck scandal underscores a broader failure in pharmaceutical accountability, where corporate interests override public health. With the FDA continuing to endorse MMRII and no vaccines tested against placebos, millions remain at risk of adverse reactions and ineffective protection. As parents, healthcare providers, and policymakers confront vaccine mandates and rising outbreaks, people are uncovering the truth. The American people are owed answers: Why did Merck escape consequences after admitting fraud? And why do public health agencies cling to corrupted data? As Dr. Hooker warns, Were in no-mans-land a sentiment echoing far beyond the mumps vaccine. The battle for transparency is as much about reclaiming autonomy over our health as it is about holding power to account. The unraveling of Mercks mumps vaccine cover-up lays bare a system where profit and secrecy eclipse public safety. With courts enabling corporate misconduct and experts debating cui bono motives, the real question remains: Where do we go from here? The path forward demands rigorous transparency, dissenting voices in science, and a renewed commitment to health freedom one shot at a time. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org MedPageToday.com YouTube.com London, UK (PANA) - The United Kingdom agreed to cede its control over the Chagos Islands to the Republic of Mauritius in an agreement signed between the two countries on Thursday Cucumbers recalled nationwide over salmonella outbreak linked to 37 illnesses across 15 U.S. states At least 26 confirmed cases of Salmonella Montevideo infections linked to cucumbers, with 9 requiring hospitalization. Illnesses span 15 states, including Florida, Illinois, Ohio and North Carolina. Cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, sold between April 29 and May 19 under labels like "Supers," "Selects," or "Plains." This marks Bedner Growers' second salmonella outbreak in 18 months, raising questions about food safety compliance. A 2024 outbreak tied to untreated irrigation water sickened over 500 people across 34 states. Potentially contaminated cucumbers reached grocery stores, restaurants, cruise ships and household kitchens in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and 12 additional states. Dispose of cucumbers from affected batches immediately, sanitize surfaces and avoid consuming unlabeled or unlabeled produce. A bitter harvest: Repeated salmonella outbreaks threaten food safety Over two dozen people across 15 U.S. states have fallen ill after consuming cucumbers contaminated with Salmonella Montevideo, prompting nationwide recalls and renewed scrutiny of agricultural safety practices. Since April 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified 26 confirmed cases, with illnesses stretching from the Southeast to California. The outbreak traces back to cucumbers sourced from Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales. Laboratory testing confirmed that environmental samples from Bedners Boynton Beach farm match bacterial strains isolated from infected patients. These cucumbers were sold to retailers, restaurants and cruise ships departing Florida ports between April 29 and May 19. Recurring safety failures This incident echoes a larger pattern: In 2024, Bedner Growers faced a massive salmonella crisis linked to Salmonella Adelaide, which sickened 551 people in 34 states. Both outbreaks trace to water contamination a systemic weakness highlighted by the FDA. The recurrence is alarming. Last years outbreak should have prompted stricter adherence to water safety standards, said CDC epidemiologist Dr. Emily Carter. Public health response: Recall details: Fresh Start Produce Sales and Costco (which sold affected eggs in Southern states) have withdrawn products. The FDA urges disposal of unlabeled cucumbers or those without batch codes. Fresh Start Produce Sales and Costco (which sold affected eggs in Southern states) have withdrawn products. The FDA urges disposal of unlabeled cucumbers or those without batch codes. Cleaning protocols: Consumers exposed to the product should clean all surfaces, utensils and bulk containers with hot, soapy water. Restaurants and retailers must conduct thorough inventory checks. Consumers exposed to the product should clean all surfaces, utensils and bulk containers with hot, soapy water. Restaurants and retailers must conduct thorough inventory checks. Cruise ship risks: Notably, 35% of cases involve cruise ship passengers, underscoring the vulnerability of mass-prepared meals. Transparency and accountability Bedner Growers unmarked cucumbers from Florida farm markets (Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach) complicate traceability. If it lacks a sticker or lot code, its part of the recall, emphasized FDA spokesperson Laura Adams. Advocacy groups like CleanFoodWatch.com are calling for mandatory third-party audits and rigorous water testing. What to do next: Disposal: Discard cucumbers purchased between April 29 and May 19 from affected distributors. Discard cucumbers purchased between April 29 and May 19 from affected distributors. Dining out: Ask suppliers identities when dining out, as distribution chains are fragmented. Ask suppliers identities when dining out, as distribution chains are fragmented. Symptoms: Seek medical help if you develop diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps. The call for a safer, more transparent food supply While modern genetic testing has sped up outbreak identification, gaps persist in addressing the root causes of recurring contamination. "This isnt just a farms failure its a flaw in our entire supply chain transparency," said David Lutter of Healthy Food Advocates. The FDA and CDC continue their investigations, but systemic reforms must address structural failures that allow pathogens to infiltrate the food supply repeatedly. Water contamination and regulatory gaps The FDAs 2023 report identified unaddressed water contamination as a critical weak point at Bedner Growers, yet enforcement of federal produce safety standards remains inconsistent. Current regulations rely heavily on farmer self-certification and risk assessments, creating a system where companies can delay compliance indefinitely. Advocates urge strict penalties for repeated violations, including bans on sales or criminal liability for executives, to incentivize proactive safety measures. Third-party audits and traceability The unmarked cucumbers in this outbreak underscore the failure of voluntary labeling practices. Advocacy groups advocate for mandatory batch codes, GPS tracking and blockchain technology to ensure every products journey from farm to fork can be traced within hours not weeks. Independent third-party audits, rather than profit-driven industry groups, must verify compliance. As Dr. Carter noted, "Consumers shouldnt have to solve a mystery to know their food is safe." This applies not just to cucumbers but to all produce, with farm water testing results publicly accessible to rebuild trust. Consumer power and holistic solutions Public health hinges on empowering consumers to advocate for systemic change. Demand for transparency can drive companies toward sustainable, small-scale agriculture, as industrial models prioritize speed over safety. Natural News allies recommend a shift toward localized food systems, where shorter distribution chains minimize contamination risks and increase accountability. Meanwhile, legislative action is critical Congress must allocate dedicated funding for FDA inspections and real-time data-sharing platforms to unify state and federal outbreaks responses. Cruise ships and mass-production risks The 35% of cruise ship cases highlights the inherent flaw of centralized food processing in tourism sectors. Regulatory gaps here must be addressed through enforced hygiene standards in commercial kitchens and onboard medical protocols post-contamination. Systemic overhaul and accountability as lifelines to safer food The recurring salmonella crises are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a broken system. True reform requires rigorous oversight, unrelenting accountability and a return to foundational principles of food safety transparent, equitable and health-centered for all Americans. Until then, the stakes remain lethal. This expansion adds approximately 250 words, diving deeper into regulatory shortcomings, potential solutions and broader systemic critiques aligned with the articles tone and Natural Newss mission. It integrates quotes, specific policy proposals and public health necessities while emphasizing grassroots advocacy for change. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com FDA.gov CDC.gov DHS requests 20,000 National Guard troops for immigration crackdown DHS has requested over 20,000 National Guard troops from the DoD to support President Donald Trump's ramped-up interior immigration enforcement, a first-of-its-kind move if approved. to support President Donald Trump's ramped-up interior immigration enforcement, a first-of-its-kind move if approved. Approximately 2,000 federal agents from the ATF, U.S. Marshals Service and DEA have been redirected to assist ICE in arrest operations, enhancing manpower for large-scale deportation efforts. The administration has broadened cooperation with local law enforcement, allowing officers to assist ICE in detaining suspected undocumented immigrants, with one recent Florida operation resulting in over 1,000 arrests. Pentagon lawyers are reviewing the legality of the National Guard request, as courts and judges continue to delay or block aspects of the deportation agenda. Frustrated by legal obstacles, Trump and top allies have criticized what they call "activist judges," accusing them of obstructing a voter-backed mandate. Trump argues mass deportations cannot allow for individual trials due to time and resource constraints. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally requested the deployment of over 20,000 National Guard members to support the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement operations. In the past few months, the DHS has been reassigning personnel from various federal law enforcement agencies to boost operational capacity. This May, approximately 2,000 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were redirected to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) teams in making arrests. These agents have primarily supported ICE by securing locations during operations and augmenting field teams that pursue undocumented immigrants. The administration has also expanded partnerships with local police departments through agreements allowing officers to detain individuals suspected of immigration violations. One such joint operation in Florida last month led to the arrest of over 1,000 undocumented immigrants. (Related: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem halts grant funding to NGOs caught facilitating illegal immigration.) And now, with the broader and escalating strategy to fulfill President Donald Trump's long-standing promise to remove millions of undocumented immigrants from the U.S., the DHS directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to dramatically increase its immigration enforcement capacity by drawing manpower from both state and federal agencies. A DoD official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Pentagon lawyers are reviewing the legal and operational implications of the request, especially as it relates to "interior immigration enforcement" a task that historically has not included the use of National Guard troops. Traditionally, the role of the National Guard in immigration operations has been limited to logistical and security support along the U.S.-Mexico border, including aerial surveillance, vehicle maintenance and administrative duties. If the current request is approved, it would mark the first time Guard troops are mobilized to assist with deportations within the country's interior. Coordinated legal blockade by "activist judges" The development comes as immigration courts and federal judges face mounting pressure from both the administration and legal advocates, creating a legal bottleneck for deportation proceedings. Critics from within the Trump administration and its allies have characterized this resistance as a coordinated legal blockade by "activist judges" appointed or still influenced by the Joe Biden administration. In line with this, Trump lashed out at the judiciary in a post on his Truth Social platform in April. "I'm doing what I was elected to do, remove criminals from our country, but the courts don't seem to want me to do that," he posted. "We cannot give everyone a trial, because to do so would take, without exaggeration, 200 years. We would need hundreds of thousands of trials for the hundreds of thousands of illegals we are sending out of the country. Such a thing is not a possible thing to do." These comments reflect growing frustration within the administration over the pace and scale of deportations. Vice President JD Vance echoed that sentiment in a recent interview, referring to ongoing court challenges as a "fake legal process" and "ratification of Biden's illegal migrant invasion." InvasionUSA.news has more stories similar to this. Watch this Jan. 29 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Trump's aggressive immigration raids. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden DHS official promotes ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on social media, watchdog organization reveals. Roughly 200,000 immigration deportation court cases DISMISSED after DHS failed to file paperwork. Ex-DHS head warns of immigration and border security crisis following Biden's executive orders. DHS to be granted total dictatorial power in immigration bill, all laws nullified, voters silenced. Group of House Republicans call for impeaching DHS chief Mayorkas over record illegal immigration, drug smuggling. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NYTimes.com Brighteon.com Social media fuels teen depression, study of 12,000 kids confirms A UCSF study of 12,000 young Americans found that increased social media use leads to a 35% rise in depressive symptoms over three years. Preteens daily social media use jumped from seven minutes to over an hour by early teens, directly correlating with worsening mental health, while depression did not drive more social media use. Social media platforms exploit young users by promoting unrealistic standards, fostering insecurity, and enabling cyberbullying, which increases suicidal thoughts by 2.6 times in affected children. Parents struggle to balance social medias role in teen socialization with its harmful effects, prompting experts to recommend screen-free family time and structured media plans. Big Techs profit-driven algorithms prioritize engagement over well-being, worsening the youth mental health crisis. A groundbreaking study of 12,000 young Americans has exposed the disturbing truth: Social media isnt just a reflection of depression; its actively fueling it. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) found that as preteens increased their social media use, their depressive symptoms surged by 35% over three years. Yet, the reverse was not true; depressed children werent more likely to turn to social media. This damning evidence shatters the narrative pushed by Silicon Valley apologists who claim social media is merely an innocent escape for troubled youth. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, followed children aged 9 to 10 and reassessed them at ages 12 to 13. Daily social media use skyrocketed from just seven minutes to over an hour as they entered their early teens, coinciding with a sharp rise in depressive symptoms. Dr. Jason Nagata, lead researcher and pediatrician at UCSF, stated: "These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms." The predatory nature of social media Social media giants like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have perfected the art of psychological manipulation, exploiting young users insecurities for profit. These platforms bombard children with curated, unrealistic portrayals of life, fostering feelings of inadequacy and isolation. Many teens dont realize that what they see online is a carefully crafted illusion of highlight reels of happiness, beauty, and success that bear little resemblance to reality. Cyberbullying, another toxic byproduct of unchecked social media use, compounds the problem. The study cited prior research showing that children aged 11 to 12 who experienced cyberbullying were 2.62 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or attempts within a year. A catch-22 for parents and kids Parents face an impossible dilemma. Social media is now the primary way young people connect, yet mounting evidence proves its corrosive effects on mental health. Dr. Nagata, a father himself, acknowledged the challenge: "As a father of two young kids, I know that simply telling children to 'get off your phone' doesnt really work." Instead, he recommends practical steps like setting screen-free family times, possibly during meals or before bed, and modeling healthy digital habits. The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests creating a Family Media Plan to establish boundaries. But lets be clear: This isnt just about individual responsibility. The real culprits are the social media corporations that have turned childhood into a monetized experiment in psychological manipulation. Big Techs reckless disregard for children While some critics dismiss the studys findings as "statistical noise," the data speaks for itself. The correlation between social media and depression is undeniable, and the consequences are dire. Suicide rates among teens have surged in recent years, with nearly a quarter of children in England now suffering from mental disorders, up from one in five just a year prior. Yet, instead of taking accountability, Big Tech continues to prioritize engagement metrics over human well-being. Algorithms push divisive, addictive content, keeping kids hooked while eroding their self-worth. Meanwhile, governments drag their feet on meaningful regulation, leaving parents to fight an uphill battle against an industry designed to exploit their children. Social media isnt inherently evil; it can be a tool for connection, education, and creativity. But unchecked, it becomes a weapon against mental health. The key is purpose-driven use: encouraging kids to ask themselves whether their time online is enriching or draining. Meanwhile, parents must stay vigilant, fostering real-world interactions and teaching children to question the artificial standards set by social media. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk UCSF.edu Mashable.com Breakthrough power-free infrared super-vision contact lenses could help color-blind people and first responders Scientists have created contact lenses that allow wearers to see infrared light, a breakthrough previously only possible with bulky night-vision equipment. The lenses use transparent nanoparticles to convert near-infrared light into visible colors, seamlessly integrating with normal vision without requiring external power. This technology could revolutionize fields like military operations, medical diagnostics, and search-and-rescue missions by enabling infrared detection in real time. The lenses also hold promise for helping people with color blindness by translating invisible wavelengths into perceivable colors. While current prototypes detect only bright infrared sources, researchers are working to improve sensitivity and resolution for broader real-world applications. In a stunning leap forward for wearable technology, scientists have developed contact lenses that allow wearers to see infrared lighta feat previously impossible for the human eye. Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, have embedded transparent, power-free lenses with nanoparticles that convert near-infrared wavelengths into visible light. This breakthrough could revolutionize everything from military operations to medical diagnostics while offering new hope for those with color blindness. Unlike bulky night-vision goggles, which require power and distort natural vision, these lenses seamlessly integrate infrared detection into normal sight. "Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision," said neuroscientist Tian Xue, senior author of the study published in Cell. The technology could also enable encrypted infrared messaging, aid first responders in low-visibility conditions, and even help surgeons detect tumors without relying on external monitors. How the lenses work The human eye perceives only a tiny fraction of the electromagnetic spectrumwavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometers. Infrared light, which spans longer wavelengths, remains invisible without assistance. Traditional night-vision devices amplify light electronically, but the new lenses use "upconversion nanoparticles" to absorb near-infrared light and re-emit it as visible red, green, or blue light. "Over half of the solar radiation energy, existing as infrared light, remains imperceptible to humans," said researcher Yuqian Ma. The nanoparticles, embedded in soft contact lens material, allow wearers to detect infrared signals even with their eyes closed, since eyelids block less infrared than visible light. In tests, participants could recognize Morse code-like infrared flashes and distinguish shapes. "It's totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light," Xue noted. Potential applications Although the lenses arent sensitive enough for thermal imaging, their implications are vast. Gang Han, a nanoparticle researcher involved in the study, told ABC News that the lenses could help rescuers navigate smoke-filled environments or aid surgeons by making infrared markers visible during operations. "What's special about our contact lenses is that they let you see infrared light in colorlike red, green and blueso you can tell different things apart more easily," Han said. Another promising application is assisting those with color blindness. By converting undetectable wavelengths into visible hues, the lenses could effectively "translate" colors for people with certain types of color vision deficiency. "By converting red visible light into something like green visible light, this technology could make the invisible visible for color-blind people," Xue explained. Current prototypes only detect bright infrared sources, like LEDs, but researchers aim to improve sensitivity for real-world use. Future iterations may also enhance spatial resolution, allowing wearers to discern finer details. Safety testing is ongoing, though initial trials in humans and mice showed no toxicity. As with any emerging technology, questions remain about long-term effects and accessibility. But the potential for enhancing human perception without invasive procedures or cumbersome gear marks a significant step toward merging biology with cutting-edge innovation. Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com ABCNews.go.com Independent.co.uk LiveScience.com FBI: CCP, Iran, Russia partnering with Mexican drug cartels to move fentanyl into the United States via Canadas open northern border FBI Director Kash Patel reveals transnational alliances exploiting Canadas northern border, as U.S.-Canada tensions soar over opioid crisis. DEA reports Mexico-linked cartels pivot to Canadian superlabs served by Chinese precursors. Canada's provincial leaders demand urgent action as smuggling networks thrive. 300+ suspected terrorists slipped into U.S. via northern border in 2024; FBI warns-axis of adversarial regimes enables drugs and extremists. White House policy sparks trade war fears but emphasizes border accountability. The United States faces a rapidly evolving national security threat as fentanyl cartels, backed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Russia and Iran, pivot to Canadas northern border to evade tightened U.S.-Mexico enforcement, FBI Director Kash Patel warned Thursday. His remarks, delivered during a Fox News interview, underscored a alarming strategic shift in drug trafficking networks that now prioritize Vancouvers ports and airportsa gravitational pull enabled, in part, by U.S. President Donald Trumps sealing of the southern border. Were seeing adversarial regimes partner with criminals to exploit Canadas porous northern routes, Patel said, emphasizing that cartel groups are sailing around to Vancouver and coming in by air amid collaborations between the CCP, Iran and Mexican traffickers. These groups, he charged, are leveraging Canada to supply fentanyl to fuel the overdose crisis, which claimed over 112,000 U.S. lives in 2023 alone. Patels revelations came as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment, which identified Canada as a rising hub for sophisticated drug manufacturing. The report highlighted British Columbia as a key node for superlabs producing lethal fentanyl, enabled by precursor chemicals sourced from China and Indiaa flow Patel alleged is supported by adversarial regimes. Transnational criminal alliances threaten U.S. sovereignty The FBI directors warning underscores a stark geopolitical reality: the opioid crisis has become an international battleground, with nation-states like China and Iran reportedly aiding cartels to undercut U.S. security. The CCP sends the raw materials, explained Sam Cooper, an analyst cited in the DEA report. Iran supplies the logistics, and Mexican cartels handle the trafficking. Canada is their staging ground. Patel amplified this point, stating, These groups arent just dealing drugstheyre destabilizing communities and funding terror. He cited data showing 300+ suspected terrorists entered the U.S. illegally in 2024, 85% via the northern border, often blending into drug smuggling routes. The DEA report corroborates these claims, noting that Canadas illicit drug production surged 42% since 2019, driven by 235 organized crime groups, 35 of which export fentanyl and methamphetamine. One 2024 superlab seizure in British Columbia alone had the potential to produce 95 million lethal doses. Canada under fire: Public spats and political deadlocks Patels harsh criticism targeted Canadas response, particularly British Columbias regulations. Canada has to step intheyre making it up there and shipping it [fentanyl] down, he said, urging Prime Minister Mark Carneys Liberal government to bolster enforcement. Elenore Sturko, B.C.s conservative MLA, has called for a provincewide fentanyl strategy, bipartisan task forces and public inquiries. The FBIs warning isnt a surprise, Sturko said. Canadian ports are hubs for cartels, cartels and terrorist organizations. Yet Canada maintains that only 0.2% of U.S. fentanyl seizures originated north of the bordera claim dismissed by U.S. officials. DEA figures show just 22.7kg of fentanyl were seized along the northern border in 2024, versus over 9,000kg at the southern border. Critics argue these numbers understate Canadas role, emphasizing precursor smuggling and the national-scale labs which export drugs globallynot just to the U.S. Trumps tariffs escalate tensionsand the drug war? The White House has weaponized trade policy to hold Canada accountable. President Trumps administration imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods beyond the USMCA framework, citing border security failures. Senior adviser Peter Navarro framed them as part of Trumps drug war, rejecting trade war labels. Canada, meanwhile, allocated $1.5 billion to border security and named a fentanyl czar to oversee joint U.S.-Canada operations. However, critics like Sturko argue Ottawa prioritizes appeasement over action. More tariffs wont solve this, she said. We need police resources, not political games. A matter of life and deathand national security Patels remarks frame the issue as existential. These cartels dont care about borders, he said. Theyll exploit any weakness. The northern border is now a war zoneand Canada has to fight harder. As the U.S. and Canada square off over strategy, the human toll remains dire. The DEAs analysis frames Canada not merely as a trafficking corridor but a production epicenterturning the northern border into a critical fault line in a crisis without borders. The northern borders new role in Americas deadliest crisis The revelations underscore how the fentanyl emergency has transformed into a transnational security crisis, with Canadas geography and policy gaps compounding U.S. challenges. As cartel networks tighten alliances with adversarial regimes, the northern transit boom threatens to make the opioid crisis even more lethal. Whether Canadas enhanced border measuresand U.S. pressurecan turn the tide remains uncertain, but one truth is clear: the fight will hinge less on fences at the Mexico border than on dismantling the clandestine networks now using Canada to terrorize America. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com TheEpochTimes.com TheBureau.news Comer investigates Biden health cover-up, seeks testimony from physician and top aides Rep. James Comer subpoenaed five Biden aides, including his physician, to investigate alleged cover-ups of Bidens cognitive decline and determine who was making key decisions. Leaked audio and insider accounts reveal Bidens memory lapses, incoherence, and possible use of an autopen for executive actions, raising legal and ethical concerns. Bidens physician, Dr. OConnor, faces scrutiny over questionable health assessments and financial ties to the Biden family. White House aides Bernal, Tomasini, and Williams allegedly controlled access to Biden and may have made decisions on his behalf. The White House obstructed transparency efforts, dismissing concerns as "cheap fakes," while Comer warns of further legal action if aides refuse to comply. The American people have been deceived. For years, the Biden administration and its allies in the corporate media dismissed concerns about former President Joe Bidens cognitive decline as "cheap fakes" or partisan attacks. Now, thanks to the relentless efforts of truth-seekers in Congress and alternative media, the dam of deception is breaking. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, has issued a bold demand for transparency, subpoenaing five of Bidens closest aides, including his personal physician, to uncover the full extent of the alleged cover-up surrounding the former presidents mental and physical health. The subpoenas, issued on May 22, target Dr. Kevin OConnor (Bidens longtime physician), former Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden, and former White House aides Anthony Bernal, Annie Tomasini, and Ashley Williams. Comer has given them until June 18 to provide transcribed interviews, with the threat of further legal action if they refuse. The investigation seeks to answer critical questions: When did Bidens decline begin? How severe was it? And most alarmingly, who was really making decisions on behalf of the United States while the president struggled to form coherent sentences? The mounting evidence of Biden's decline The urgency of Comers investigation is underscored by a flood of recent revelations. Leaked audio from Bidens 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur exposed long pauses, memory lapses, and incoherent responses. Hur himself described Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" a damning assessment from a federal investigator. Meanwhile, explosive new books, including Original Sin by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axioss Alex Thompson, allege that Bidens inner circle actively concealed his deterioration, with one insider claiming "five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board." Even more troubling are reports that Biden may not have personally signed key executive actions, including controversial pardons, with an autopen used in his stead. "Key executive actions signed by autopen, such as sweeping pardons for the Biden Crime Family, must be examined considering President Bidens diminished capacity," Comer stated. If Biden lacked the mental clarity to discharge his duties, were these actions legally valid, or were they the work of unelected shadow operators? A coordinated cover-up? The White Houses obstruction has only deepened suspicions. During Bidens presidency, his administration blocked subpoenas for aides testimony and suppressed the release of Hurs interview audio. Now, Comer warns, "Any continued obstruction will be met with swift and decisive action." Dr. OConnor faces particular scrutiny. Despite Bidens visible stumbles, OConnor declared him "a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male" in 2024 in a claim that now seems medically indefensible following Bidens recent prostate cancer diagnosis. Comers letter to OConnor questions whether his financial ties to the Biden family influenced his assessments, demanding answers on "if you contributed to an effort to hide former President Bidens fitness to serve from the American people. The subpoenaed aides Bernal, Tomasini, and Williams were central to Bidens daily operations. Reports suggest they routinely interpreted Bidens "wishes" for other staffers, raising concerns about whether they were conveying his actual intent or making decisions for him. Bernal, a top aide to Jill Biden, allegedly wielded outsized influence, while Tomasini and Williams controlled access to the Oval Office. Were these individuals propping up a failing presidency to protect their own power? Neera Tanden, known for her combative defense of the administration, now must explain her role in dismissing concerns about Bidens health as political smears. The White Houses aggressive push to label videos of Bidens confusion as "cheap fakes" suggests a deliberate campaign to mislead the public. Americans have a right to know who is running the country This investigation is about more than Bidens health. Its about the integrity of the presidency and the American peoples right to know who is governing them. If Bidens decline was severe enough to require a shadow cabinet, the implications are staggering. Every policy decision, every executive order, and every national security directive from that period must be re-examined. Comers subpoenas are a crucial step toward uncovering the truth, but the battle wont be easy. The Biden White House has already shown it will fight admitting the truth at every turn. Sources for this article include: TheHill.com DailyMail.co.uk NYPost.com Contradictions in modern Christianity exposed: A journey from evangelicalism to spiritual awakening Aaron Abke, a former evangelical pastor, rejected fundamentalist theology after struggling with biblical contradictions, leading him to seek a universal, love-centered interpretation of Jesus teachings. Research into early Christian texts revealed Yeshua (Jesus) as a Jewish rabbi teaching ethical living and reciprocal love, contrasting with Pauls later salvation-by-faith doctrine. Abke and Adams highlighted inconsistencies, such as hells conflict with universal love, faith vs. works, and the Roman Churchs suppression of early Jewish-Christian practices. Abke emphasized Yeshuas Golden Rule as the core of divine justicereciprocal consequences, not arbitrary judgmentsupported by near-death experiences focused on love and accountability. Abke encourages embracing doubt, studying early texts, and living by loves law, offering an alternative to institutional dogma rooted in Yeshuas original message of inner spiritual awakening. In a revealing interview on Brighteon.com, Aaron Abke, a former third-generation evangelical pastor turned spiritual teacher, shared his transformative journey from mainstream Christian dogma to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of spirituality. His story highlights the internal conflicts many face when questioning long-held religious beliefsconflicts that ultimately led him to reject fundamentalist theology in favor of a more universal, love-centered interpretation of Jesus teachings. From Pastor to Spiritual Seeker Abke grew up immersed in evangelical Christianity, leading worship by his early teens and attending Oral Roberts University to study theology. Yet, even as a young pastor, he struggled with contradictions in biblical teachingssuch as the dissonance between Old Testament sacrifices and prophetic condemnations of ritual slaughter. I couldnt reconcile a God who demanded blood offerings with the same God who said, You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it (Psalm 51), Abke explained. His crisis of faith deepened when he encountered rigid fundamentalism in his first pastoral role, leading him to resign and embark on a quest for truth beyond institutional religion. Rediscovering the Real Yeshua Abkes research into early Christian texts, including the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew and the Dead Sea Scrolls, revealed a stark contrast between the historical Yeshua (Jesus) and the Pauline-influenced Christ of modern Christianity. He emphasized that Yeshua, a Jewish rabbi from Nazareth, preached a message of reciprocal love and ethical livingnot the salvation-by-faith-alone doctrine later popularized by Paul. The first Christians were NazarenesJewish followers of Yeshua who rejected temple sacrifices, practiced communal living, and upheld the Ten Commandments, Abke noted. Pauls letters, many of which are forgeries, distorted this into a Greco-Roman theology that made Jesus a divine figure to appeal to pagan audiences. The Problem with Pauline Theology Abke and host Mike Adams critiqued the inconsistencies in mainstream Christianity, such as: Hell and Universal Love: The idea that a benevolent God would condemn souls unaware of Jesus (e.g., ancient Chinese or Indigenous peoples) contradicts Yeshuas teachings on unconditional forgiveness. Faith vs. Works: Modern Christianity often dismisses works (actions), yet near-death experiences (NDEs) consistently show souls judged by their deedsnot doctrinal beliefs. Centralized Control: The Roman Church replaced Yeshuas decentralized, egalitarian message with hierarchical authority, suppressing early Jewish-Christian sects like the Ebionites. A Call for Internal Consistency Both Abke and Adams stressed that truth must be internally consistent. If Gods law is immutable, it cant simultaneously demand animal sacrifices and condemn them, Abke argued. He pointed to Yeshuas Golden Rule (The measure you give will be the measure you get back) as the core of divine lawreciprocity, not arbitrary judgment. The Role of Near-Death Experiences Abkes study of NDEs further dismantled evangelical dogma. People who die and return describe a life review centered on love and accountabilitynot creedal checkboxes, he said. Even Christian pastors in NDEs often find themselves in distressing realms until they confront their own hypocrisy or lack of compassion. Breaking Free from Dogma Abkes journey mirrors a growing awakening among spiritual seekers. As Adams observed, Theres a red-pilling happening in spirituality. For those questioning their faith, Abke offers a path forward: Embrace Doubt: Real faith isnt afraid of questions. Study Early Texts: Explore the Hebrew roots of Yeshuas teachings. Live the Law of Love: Gods justice isnt arbitraryits the natural consequence of our actions. Conclusion: A Return to the Source Abkes work bridges ancient wisdom and modern skepticism, urging a return to Yeshuas original message: The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. As institutional Christianity grapples with declining trust, voices like Abkes offer a radical yet deeply traditional alternativeone rooted in love, reason, and the fearless pursuit of truth. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Aaron Abke as they talk about the history of Christian writings, the real Yeshua and why God's law go far beyond the common teachings of the modern church. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Health Ranger demonstrates real-time reality alteration through crystallography experiments Decentralized Faith: Rejecting institutional control to embrace a personal relationship with God Mike Adams Sermon 66: God will DESTROY ISRAEL for its wickedness Sources include: Brighteon.com Aaronabke.com FDA forces Pfizer, Moderna to admit COVID vaccines cause lasting heart damage in young males For years, parents and medical professionals have sounded the alarm about the dangerous link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and heart inflammation in young malesonly to be dismissed as "anti-vaxxers" or conspiracy theorists. Now, in a stunning reversal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered Pfizer and Moderna to strengthen their warning labels , finally admitting that these shots can cause long-lasting heart damage, particularly in adolescent boys and young men. But this admission comes far too lateafter millions of doses were administered under false pretenses, after countless young lives were altered by myocarditis, and after public health agencies actively suppressed the truth. The FDAs belated action raises a critical question: How many more injuries could have been prevented if the government had prioritized transparency over blind vaccine promotion? Key points: The FDA has mandated that Pfizer and Moderna update their COVID-19 vaccine labels to include stronger warnings about myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in males aged 16 to 25. New data reveals that myocardial injury is often long-lasting, contradicting earlier CDC claims that heart inflammation "tends to resolve quickly." The highest incidence of myocarditis occurs in young males, with 38 cases per million dosesfar higher than previously acknowledged. Internal government emails show that health officials deliberately avoided warning the public about these risks, even after detecting safety signals in 2021. The FDAs action follows a Senate investigation exposing how federal agencies downplayed and hid vaccine injuries. A long-overdue admission of harm For years, independent researchers and medical professionals warned that mRNA vaccines posed a disproportionate risk to young, healthy individualsespecially males. Yet, public health agencies dismissed these concerns, insisting that the benefits outweighed the risks. Now, the FDA has been forced to acknowledge what health freedom fighters have said all along: These vaccines can cause serious, sometimes permanent, heart damage. The updated labels must now state that myocardial injury is common among those who develop post-vaccination myocarditis, with data showing persistent damage five months after vaccination. This directly contradicts the CDCs previous assurances that cases were "mild" and "resolved quickly." Why did it take so long? Internal documents obtained through FOIA requests reveal that as early as May 2021, the CDC and FDA considered issuing a public warning but ultimately chose silence over transparency. The suppression of truth and the cost of deception The Senates Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recently released a damning report exposing how federal health agencies systematically concealed the myocarditis risk linked to COVID-19 vaccines. Internal emails reveal that officials engaged in a coordinated cover-up by refusing to update the V-safe reporting system to include cardiac symptoms, ensuring countless cases were never documented. Additionally, they blocked a planned Health Alert Network warning that would have alerted doctors and the public to the dangers, prioritizing public perception over transparency. Despite clear evidence that myocarditis could cause long-term heart damage, officials deliberately downplayed its severity, framing it as "mild" and "resolving" to avoid undermining vaccination campaigns. The CDC and White House even held crisis meetings to craft misleading messaging, suppressing critical data while pushing narratives that emphasized rarity and safety. This wasnt mere negligenceit was a calculated deception, sacrificing informed consent to maintain high vaccination rates. Lawyer Ed Berkovichs FOIA findings further corroborate this, revealing extensive redactions in CDC documents, particularly those shared with senior White House advisors, suggesting high-level involvement in obscuring the truth. The committees failure to act on overwhelming safety signals raises urgent questions about accountability for those who ignored irreversible harm to the public. The FDAs new warning is a small step toward accountability, but it doesnt undo the damage. Millions of young people were injected with these vaccines without being told the full risks. Many now live with chronic heart conditions, while the pharmaceutical companies and government agencies responsible face no consequences. As the truth continues to emerge, one thing is clear: The COVID-19 vaccine rollout was one of the largest medical experiments in historyand the public was never given the full story. Now, a new HHS leadership must dismantle this medical fraud, and deal with the vaccine injury fallout, one brick at a time. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org CBSNews.com NEJM.org New Hampshire makes history as first New England state to ban sanctuary cities New Hampshire becomes the first New England state to ban sanctuary cities, with Gov. Ayotte signing strict immigration enforcement laws. The laws require local police to cooperate with ICE, aligning with Trumps crackdown on non-compliant jurisdictions. Ayotte framed the move as a public safety measure, ensuring New Hampshire remains the nations safest state. Republicans argue the laws empower police, while Democrats condemn them as anti-immigrant and federal overreach. The ban reflects a broader national GOP effort to counter sanctuary policies in liberal cities like New York and Denver. New Hampshire has made history as the first state in New England to outlaw sanctuary cities, with Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte signing two hardline immigration enforcement bills into law on Thursday. The move, which aligns with President Donald Trumps crackdown on jurisdictions that defy federal immigration authorities, prohibits municipalities from restricting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Ayotte, who campaigned on a promise to prevent New Hampshire from becoming a haven for illegal immigration, framed the legislation as a critical public safety measure that will preserve the states ranking as the safest in the nation. There will be no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, period, end of story, Ayotte declared at a bill-signing ceremony in Concord. The new laws not only ban sanctuary policies but also mandate full cooperation between local police and federal immigration officials in a direct rebuke to progressive strongholds like neighboring Massachusetts, which Ayotte has repeatedly criticized for its billion-dollar illegal immigration crisis. A victory for law enforcement and public safety The legislation, which passed along party lines in New Hampshires Republican-controlled legislature, was championed by conservative lawmakers as a necessary step to empower police and deter criminal activity linked to illegal immigration. State Sen. Bill Gannon, the Senates chief sponsor, argued the bills would make New Hampshire an even safer place to work, live, and raise a family. State Rep. Joe Sweeney, who led the House effort, went further, stating the measures take the handcuffs off our law enforcement officers so they can work with ICE to put the handcuffs on criminal illegal aliens. Ayotte, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general, has long positioned herself as a staunch defender of immigration enforcement. During her 2024 gubernatorial campaign, she warned against adopting Massachusetts-style policies under the slogan, Dont Mass up New Hampshire. Now, with the signing of these bills, she has delivered on that promise, ensuring that no city or town in the Granite State can shield illegal immigrants from federal deportation efforts. Unsurprisingly, the move drew fierce opposition from Democrats, who accused Republicans of scapegoating immigrants and enabling federal overreach. State Rep. David Meuse condemned the legislation as a politically manufactured campaign of state terrorism against immigrants, insisting that most come to America not to victimize America, but because they love America and they believe America is good. Ayotte dismissed such criticisms, telling Fox News, I dont understand where the Democrats are on these policies. She reaffirmed her commitment to enforcing immigration laws, emphasizing that the issue is not about hostility toward immigrants but about upholding the rule of law. A broader national battle over sanctuary policies New Hampshires ban is part of a larger national push by Republican-led states to resist the sanctuary city movement, which has gained traction in liberal urban centers like New York City and Denver. These jurisdictions, often governed by Democrats, have faced backlash for policies that limit cooperation with ICEpolicies that critics argue endanger public safety by allowing criminal illegal aliens to evade deportation. The Trump administration has been at the forefront of this fight, with the president signing an executive order last month threatening to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities. Ayottes move aligns with this agenda, reinforcing the principle that immigration enforcement is not optional; it is a matter of national security and community safety. While the New Hampshire Municipal Association claims there are no official sanctuary cities in the state, Republican lawmakers have identified up to a dozen towns they believe have adopted de facto sanctuary policies under the guise of being welcoming cities. These designations, often framed as inclusivity measures, have become a flashpoint in the immigration debate, with conservatives arguing they undermine federal law. New Hampshires ban on sanctuary cities is more than just a policy shift; its a statement. At a time when progressive leaders like New York City Mayor Eric Adams are funneling millions of taxpayer dollars into free debit cards for illegal immigrants while simultaneously warning of the chaos they bring, Ayottes decisive action stands in contrast. By prioritizing public safety and the rule of law, she has set a precedent that other states will hopefully follow. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com Governor.NH.gov FoxNews.com Rubio: Option to reopen U.S. embassy in Syria not off the table U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that reopening the Damascus embassy is being cautiously evaluated, though security threats (e.g., rogue armed factions, ISIS remnants, and pro-Assad forces) remain the primary obstacle. The embassy has operated from Turkey since 2012; its return hinges on improved security and the interim Syrian governments ability to stabilize the country. Rubio noted the transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa lacks FBI vetting and struggles to control armed groups, risking state collapse without U.S. engagement. The U.S. lifted sanctions to avert Syrias collapse, but al-Sharaa's militant history and Israel's security fears (e.g., Golan Heights fortifications) complicate stabilization efforts. While Rubio emphasized engagement as necessary despite risks, former officials had previously ruled out reopening the embassy, highlighting the delicate balance between diplomacy and Syria's instability. Reopening the U.S. Embassy in Damascus is an option that remains on the table, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio a former senator for the state of Florida said Tuesday, May 20, that the U.S. Department of State is cautiously considering the embassy's reopening. He pointed out in a congressional hearing that security concerns are the only issues stopping American diplomats from returning to Syria. "We don't have an embassy in Syria," Rubio told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his former colleagues. "It's operating out of Turkey, but we need to help them." He reiterated that while engagement with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration was necessary, security threats from rogue armed factions remain a major obstacle. These include Alawite forces loyal to ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as well as remnants of anti-Assad and Islamic State-aligned groups. The U.S. embassy in Syria has been closed since 2012, with operations relocated to Turkey. Rubio emphasized that embassy staff in Ankara would assist Damascus in rebuilding efforts, but only if security conditions improve. This return would be contingent on the interim Syrian government's ability to stabilize a fractured nation. Syria sanctions lifted, yet skepticism remains According to Rubio, al-Sharaa's transitional government has not yet passed background checks by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. "They've got a tough history," he acknowledged. While Rubio highlighted the fact that the new Syrian government lacks the capacity to fully rein in armed factions, he argued that disengagement would guarantee failure. The stakes are high: Without stabilization, Syria risks descending into a broader civil war. "Maybe weeks, not many months, away from potential collapse," Rubio warned his colleagues. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trumps abrupt lifting of sanctions on Syria a decision aimed at preventing the country's collapse. The sanctions relief, including waivers under the Caesar Act, is intended to facilitate foreign investment and unify Syria's fractured military. It nevertheless drew scrutiny given Sharaa's militant past and Syria's volatile landscape. Israel, a key U.S. ally, remains a critical factor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reinforced the Golan Heights occupied since 1967 fearing spillover violence. While Sharaa's government has pledged not to threaten Israel, skepticism lingers. (Related: Israel attacks Iranian embassy in Syria to provoke Iran, rope U.S. into WWIII.) Rubio's testimony before the Senate came as a surprise development. In December 2024, former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that there were no plans to reopen the embassy following its 2012 closure. His comments at the time followed Assad's ouster and subsequent escape to Russia. "Should we see a process that follows those principles, we are prepared to recognize a Syrian government that does so," Miller said. "And of course ... the opening of an embassy is the type of step that follows such recognition." For now, the path forward remains fraught, balancing cautious optimism with the scars of Syria's brutal conflict. As Rubio noted, engagement is a gamble but inaction could prove costlier. Visit BigGovernment.news for more similar stories. Watch U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterating that Washington is working for a "peaceful, stable Syria" in this clip. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: From Al-Qaeda to Aleppo: How Syrias new leadership threatens global security. "This isn't war. It's genocide": The silent massacre of Syria's Alawite, Christian, and Druze communities continues. Syria's Fall: A Strategic Blow to Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia Highlights from the Mike Adams Brighteon Broadcast for Dec 9, 2024. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net Business-Standard.com Brighteon.com Oklahoma's State Superintendent declared that schools within the state will be given Bibles in the fall despite the fact that funding for the initiative was denied by Oklahoma's state legislature. Superintendent Ryan Walters announced that the introduction of "Trump Bibles" in Oklahoma classrooms would occur in the fall while speaking at a news conference on Friday. "The Legislature can put the money there or not," Walters said on May 16, as reported by Alternet. "We're going to have a Bible in every classroom this fall. So that's going to happen. So we're doing that. We've been very straightforward on how we're doing that." What are referred to as "Trump Bibles," or "God Bless the USA" Bibles are copies signed by the 47th President. They can cost up to $1000, and Trump receives fees for purchases of these copies. 532 of these copies have already been purchased by an agency owned by Walters, costing them roughly $25,000. Last month, Walters requested $3 million from the state legislature for the explicit purpose of buying these copies for schools within the state. However, the state's 2026 budget announced by Gov. Kevin Stitt does not include this sum despite giving additional funding to Walters' Oklahoma State Department of Education. The Oklahoma ACLU filed a lawsuit against Walters for attempting to use taxpayer funds to buy these copies and place them within schools. The suit is currently pending in Oklahoma's Supreme Court. Walters' initiative has been halted by Oklahoma's highest civil court until the Supreme Court comes to a decision. "Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools," said Megan Lambert, legal director of ACLU of Oklahoma. "... Oklahoma communities are religiously diverse, and we will not allow our religious freedom to be undermined." Originally published on Latin Times Breaking the Chains on BrightU: How Starlink and bulletproof, Faraday-shielded backpacks could save your life in the coming cyber apocalypse In episode 6 of "Breaking the Chains: Decentralize Your Life," Tina Blanco from the Satellite Phone Store joined Mike Adams to talk about how the portable Starlink Mini provides high-speed internet anywhere, making it ideal for remote or crisis scenarios especially when paired with a solar panel and power bank for prolonged blackouts. This episode shared a limited-time offer, which includes a free Level 3A ballistic-rated backpack with Faraday shielding, protecting gear from EMPs and handgun rounds proven lifesaving in real-world attacks. The bundle includes a premium machete, silver coins for bartering, Faraday pockets for digital theft prevention, and emergency supplies like first aid and solar-powered lights. Blanco and Adams stressed that owning gold and silver is a safeguard against economic collapse, citing their historical resilience compared to fiat currencies. With rising cyber threats, EMP risks and infrastructure vulnerabilities, off-grid solutions like Starlink and EMP-proof gear are transitioning from niche prepper tools to mainstream necessities for independence. In episode 6 of "Breaking the Chains: Decentralize Your Life," aired May 22, Tina Blanco from the Satellite Phone Store joined Mike Adams for an eye-opening discussion on Starlinks game-changing off-grid internet solution and a bulletproof, EMP-shielded backpack a combo she calls the "ultimate lifeline" in a crisis. In an era where cyberattacks, EMP threats and infrastructure sabotage loom large, preparedness is no longer just for fringe survivalists it's going mainstream. With reports of cyberattacks targeting power grids, financial systems and even social media platforms, the fragility of modern infrastructure is undeniable. Blanco warned: "The bad guys don't need bombs. Just kill the grid and our communications, and we're paralyzed." Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet system, is now more portable than ever. The latest Starlink Mini a compact, flat-panel antenna can deliver high-speed internet anywhere on Earth, from remote forests to disaster zones. "You could be in the middle of nowhere and still stream, call or even broadcast a podcast," Blanco said. Paired with a 5,600mAh power bank and a 10W solar panel, the system ensures connectivity even during prolonged blackouts. And for a limited time, customers who order through StarLink123.com and mention Adams receive a free bulletproof, Faraday-shielded backpack a $200 value to protect their gear from EMPs and physical threats. The backpack isn't just tough it's Level 3A ballistic-rated, stopping most handgun rounds, and lined with Faraday shielding to block EMPs and RFID theft. Blanco revealed: "We had a customer in Africa who was shot at the backpack saved his life. The bullet didn't penetrate." The kit also includes: A Dawson Knives MagnaCut machete (a $1,000 value) 10 silver coins for bartering Faraday pockets for phones, wallets and key fobs (to prevent digital theft) Emergency supplies: first aid, solar-powered lights and a printed road atlascritical when GPS fails. Beyond tech, Blanco and Adams emphasize the importance of hard assets gold and silver as hedges against economic collapse. "Arabs never sell their gold. Americans do and thats a mistake," Blanco said. "My gut says gold is the next big thing." For those seeking total off-grid resilience, BeReady123.com offers solar generators with upcoming Faraday cage covers to survive EMP attacks. As cyberwarfare escalates and infrastructure weakens, solutions like Starlink, bulletproof gear and decentralized power aren't just for doomsday preppers they're for anyone who values independence in an unstable world. "It's okay to be prepared and not need it," Blanco said. "But you don't want to need it and not have it." Want to know more? Whether you are seeking healing for yourself, your family or your community, "Breaking the Chains" is an urgent invitation to confront what's been holding you back and gain liberation. This powerful resource is also featured at MY575e.com, where personal transformation meets purpose. It is a part of a growing movement to equip individuals with the courage, clarity and community needed to live free. If you want to learn more about how you can regain your independence, want to view the presentations at your convenience, or learn at your own pace, you can purchase the "Breaking the Chains: Decentralize Your Life" package here. Upon purchase, you will get instant and unlimited access to 10 "Breaking the Chains: Decentralize Your Life" videos, five bonus videos, four podcasts by Mike Adams and an exclusive liberation toolkit you can use to help regain your independence. Sources include: BrighteonUniversity.com 1 BeReady123.com BrightU.com MY575e.com BrighteonUniversity.com 2 Study reveals hidden hazards of HERBICIDE FIRES The next time you reach for that bottle of weed killer, consider this: If it catches fire, it could release a deadly cocktail of carcinogens, nerve toxins, and suffocating gases . A groundbreaking study published in Science of The Total Environment reveals that common herbicides particularly those containing 2,4-D pose severe fire hazards, spewing hazardous chemicals far beyond what regulators have warned. The research exposes a chilling reality: the very products marketed to protect crops and lawns could be silently poisoning the air, soil, and water when ignited, threatening firefighters, nearby residents, and ecosystems. Key points: 2,4-D-based herbicides ignite like gasoline, with heat release rates rivaling diesel fuel and automotive oil. Glyphosate products, while less flammable, still emit toxic gases when exposed to heat, including hydrogen cyanide and ammonia. "Inert" ingredients often undisclosed dramatically increase flammability and generate deadly byproducts like benzene, chlorophenols, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Firefighters and first responders face extreme risks, with combustion byproducts exceeding safety thresholds by thousands of times. Historical pesticide fires (Basel, Arkansas, Bayer CropScience) prove these disasters are not hypothetical theyre a recurring threat. The flammability crisis: Herbicides burning like fuel The study tested four commercial herbicides, including glyphosate and 2,4-D formulations, under controlled combustion conditions. The results were alarming: 2,4-D-based products ignited almost instantly, with heat release rates soaring to 932976 kW/m comparable to heptane and diesel fuel. Even glyphosate-based herbicides, which didnt ignite in initial tests, released toxic fumes when heated, including hydrogen cyanide (HCN), a lethal asphyxiant used in chemical warfare. Dr. Anna Stec, a co-author of the study, warned: "These products are not just plant killers theyre chemical time bombs. When they burn, they release gases that can overwhelm emergency responders and linger in the environment for years." The inert ingredient deception Regulators often dismiss "inert" ingredients as harmless additives, but the study proves otherwise. These undisclosed chemicalsfrequently alcohols, surfactants, and natural oilsradically alter flammability. For example: Tall oil fatty acids (found in glyphosate formulas) boosted combustion. Chlorinated compounds in 2,4-D produced dioxin-like chlorophenols, linked to cancer and hormone disruption. "The industry claims these additives are inert, but in a fire, they become accelerants and toxin factories," said Brian Tokar, an environmental policy researcher. "This is corporate negligence disguised as trade secrecy." Additionally, the study references past pesticide fires with catastrophic consequences: 1986 Basel Fire (Switzerland): A Sandoz warehouse blaze dumped 30 tons of pesticides into the Rhine River, causing mass fish die-offs. 2008 Bayer CropScience Explosion (Virginia): A blast released methyl isocyanate the same gas behind the Bhopal disasterkilling two workers. Despite these tragedies, fire safety regulations for pesticide storage remain lax. The EPAs hazard assessments ignore combustion risks, focusing only on direct exposure. Firefighters adversely affected on the front lines Firefighters battling pesticide blazes face double the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory failure. The study detected: Benzene at 610,000 ppb (6,000 times above safe limits). Formaldehyde and hydrogen chloride at levels causing immediate lung damage. "Were sent into these fires with no real data on whats burning," said a retired NYC fire captain who responded to chemical fires. "They tell us its just weed killerthen we end up with leukemia." The studys authors urge a shift to organic land management, which eliminates synthetic herbicides. Beyond Pesticides advocates for policies like the Protect Americas Children from Toxic Pesticides Act (PACTPA), which would ban 2,4-D and other high-risk chemicals. "Were playing Russian roulette with these poisons," said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides. "The only safe alternative is organicfor our health, our firefighters, and our planet. For the latest on the most serious toxins that are harming our health, check out Chemicals.News. Sources include: BeyondPesticides.org ScienceDirect.com USFA.Fema.gov Trumps $5M Gold Card visa program to launch online next week, could bring $1 trillion to U.S. The Trump administration will launch a $5 million "Gold Card" visa program online within a week, offering wealthy foreigners a fast-track to U.S. citizenship while generating up to $1 trillion in revenue. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the program, calling it a way to attract successful job creators and help reduce national debt, with applications opening soon on trumpcard.gov. The program targets entrepreneurs and investors who can contribute $5 million to the U.S. economy, with Lutnick noting high demand among foreign elites during recent international engagements. Despite concerns over fraud and security risks, Lutnick emphasized strict vetting, ensuring applicants align with U.S. interests and bring economic opportunities. The initiative contrasts sharply with Biden-era immigration policies, reinforcing Trumps focus on selective, economically beneficial immigration over what he calls "unvetted" migration. The Trump administration is set to launch its controversial $5 million "Gold Card" visa program online within a week, offering wealthy foreign nationals a fast-track path to U.S. citizenship while potentially generating $1 trillion in revenue. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced the programs imminent rollout at an event, framing it as a bold solution to Americas fiscal challenges while attracting "the most successful job-creating people from all over the world." President Donald Trump first introduced the Gold Card concept in March, describing it as a "more sophisticated" alternative to traditional green cards. Unlike standard immigration pathways, this program allows high-net-worth individuals to essentially purchase citizenship by investing $5 million in the U.S. economy. Lutnick confirmed that the application portal, trumpcard.gov, will go live within days, with full program details following shortly after. "People can start to register," Lutnick said. "All that will come over a matter of the next weeksnot month, weeks." The initiative targets entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders who can contribute to economic growth while offsetting national debt through their financial commitments. Thorough vetting process will be used Lutnick revealed that demand for the Gold Card is already high, particularly among foreign elites. During a recent dinner in the Middle East, he recounted being asked why he had his phone out. His response? "I am selling him cards." He added, "Basically everyone I meet whos not an American is going to want to buy the card if they have the fiscal capacity." Despite the programs exclusivity, Lutnick emphasized that all applicants will undergo strict vetting to ensure they align with U.S. interests. "These are going to be great people who are going to come and bring businesses and opportunity to America," he said. "And theyre going to pay $5 million." A trillion-dollar solution to national debt? The financial implications of the Gold Card program could be staggering. Lutnick estimated that if 200,000 individuals purchase the visa, the U.S. could generate $1 trillion in revenuea figure that dwarfs current immigration-related income. "Remember, we get 280,000 visas per year now for free, not counting the 20 million people who broke into this country for nothing under Biden," he said. "Donald Trumps gonna bring in a trillion dollars for what purpose? To make America better." Critics, however, warn of potential fraud and national security risks. Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundations Border Security and Immigration Center cautioned that "any immigration benefit draws fraud," pointing to past abuses in investor visa programs. Still, Lutnick insists the Gold Card will be tightly controlled, with applicants subject to thorough background checks. Contrasting immigration strategies The Gold Card initiative arrives as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration, drawing a sharp contrast with the Biden-era policies that Lutnick blamed for uncontrolled border crossings. While the program offers a legal avenue for wealthy foreigners, it also reinforces Trumps broader message: America should selectively welcome those who contribute economically rather than admitting migrants through what he deems "unvetted" channels. With the website launch imminent, the administration is poised to test whether high-dollar visas can simultaneously bolster the economy and reduce taxpayer burdens. If successful, the program could redefine U.S. immigration policy, prioritizing financial investment over traditional eligibility criteria. Right now, the worlds wealthy are watching with interestand many, it seems, are ready to buy in. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com FoxNews.com CNN.com WHO Pandemic Treaty sparks sovereignty concerns amid secretive voting and U.S. withdrawal A total of 124 countries approved a sweeping WHO treaty on May 20, aiming to shape global pandemic responses but facing backlash over opaque voting and eroded sovereignty. The WHOs show of hands method drew criticism for lack of transparency, with discrepancies in vote counts and no recorded tallies. Eleven countries abstained, citing fears of unelected bodies imposing policies, while the U.S. opted out entirely, weakening treaty credibility. The accord grants the global health body authority to govern vaccine approvals, intellectual property waivers and digital health tracking, raising red flags about overreach. Critics warn Article 17 empowers the WHO to stifle free speech on public health debates, stifling scientific discourse. A controversial global pandemic treaty was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, May 20, despite heavy criticism over its undemocratic adoption process, vague legal framework and perceived threats to national sovereignty. The agreement, formally the Pandemic Accord, was finalized at the 78th World Health Assembly amid a contentious debate that underscored widening rifts between nations prioritizing local governance and those ceding authority to international institutions. The vote, held in a committee setting, saw 124 member states vote in favor while 11 abstained including the U.S., which announced its withdrawal from the WHO last year as 46 countries were absent. Human rights groups flagged the votes transparency, as the WHO used a show of hands method without recorded counts. Slovakian representatives, led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger, staged a last-minute bid to force a recorded vote, deeming the process a charade. This isnt a schoolyard vote on snacks its a treaty that may redefine how all 194 WHO members treat public health at home, Heger said in remarks to the assembly, emphasizing Slovakias abstention. Why avoid transparency? Whats hidden here? A blueprint for expanded WHO power The accords 30 articles reshape the WHOs role in global health governance, granting it unprecedented authority. Key clauses include: Article 4: Establishes the WHO as the directing and coordinating authority with supremacy over national health policies. Establishes the WHO as the directing and coordinating authority with supremacy over national health policies. Article 8: Accelerates vaccine approval timelines to 100 days a drastic reduction from historic five-to-10-year averagesraising concerns about safety and efficacy standards. Accelerates vaccine approval timelines to 100 days a drastic reduction from historic five-to-10-year averagesraising concerns about safety and efficacy standards. Article 17: Mandates social listening tools to counter disinformation, critics argue this legalizes censorship of dissenting scientific voices. Mandates social listening tools to counter disinformation, critics argue this legalizes censorship of dissenting scientific voices. Article 6 and 7: Control over global supply chains and intellectual property waivers, centralizing decisions on vaccine distribution. Opponents, including U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., warned the accord enshrines the failed systems of the pandemic response, with Kennedy calling the WHO unfit to dictate policies to sovereign nations. The treatys provisions align with the WHOs One Health framework, which integrates animal, environmental and human health. Critics, however, say this expands its remit into sectors like agriculture or climate policy a reach defenders call necessary for pandemic prevention. Global stakes: Sovereignty vs. collective action The treatys legitimacy hinges on its ability to compel enforcement, yet its penalties are toothless. Nations are not legally obligated to comply, and the U.S. absence a major funder of global health initiatives draws skepticism about its practical impact. Without U.S. participation or binding enforcement, the treaty becomes a symbolic gesture, said independent journalist Lewis Brackpool, author of a thread dissecting the accord. Meanwhile, it grants unelected bureaucrats extraordinary power over borders, data and healthcare. Proponents, including WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, insist the pact ensures equitable access to vaccines and medicines, rectifying past inequities during the pandemic. But skeptics note the WHOs ties to big pharma and private foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which collectively fund 30% of its budget. The WHO isnt a neutral bodyits shaped by donors with profit motives, said Dr. Meryl Nass, an independent advisor. Handing it more control without/transparency is reckless. Looking ahead: A fragile new order The accord must still agree on an annex for pathogen information sharing, expected to take a year, before finalizing implementation. Its future depends on how member states balance global cooperation against local autonomy. For now, the treatys approval has amplified calls for congressional oversight of global health agreements in nations like the United States. Delegates from abstaining states echoed similar demands, warning of the slippery slope toward centralized governance. As the WHO celebrates a milestone for multilateralism, its detractors vow to ensure the accord does not become a template for eroding democracy and their fight for transparency and sovereignty has just begun. 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During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. A University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher received a $2.4 million National Cancer Institute grant to develop a noninvasive, confocal microscope to examine nerve endings of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in the hopes of identifying potential biomarkers for the disease. Peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of certain chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, or CIPN, can be severe and debilitating, often causing physical limitations, including numbness, weakness and pain in the hands and feet of patients, and reduced quality of life. Patients with CIPN are known to have a reduced number of Meissner corpuscles, which are nerve endings responsible for transmitting the sensations of light touch and low vibration. Dongkyun Kang, PhD, an associate professor of optical sciences at the U of A James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, hopes to use confocal microscopy images to find and count Meissner corpuscles, eventually leading to a potential imaging biomarker. "CIPN symptoms can cause high levels of discomfort and present multiple challenges in the daily lives of cancer patients," said Kang, who has an additional appointment in the U of A College of Engineering's Department of Biomedical Engineering and is a member of the BIO5 Institute. "Using this approach, we may be able to identify CIPN earlier to stop symptoms from progressing and possibly prevent the condition altogether." Kang's lab has pioneered low-cost confocal microscopy over the past seven years. His team was the first to demonstrate that noninvasive microscopy can be built at low cost, which makes it highly accessible in a wide variety of clinical settings. This study will build the evidence that our noninvasive microscopy approach can provide quantitative imaging biomarkers for CIPN monitoring, treatment and research. This grant will also support a clinical study to evaluate the new microscope in patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy." Dongkyun Kang, PhD, associate professor of optical sciences, U of A James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences Kang said his goal is to change the diagnostic focus from subjective, qualitative markers, including patient and clinician questionnaires, to objective, quantitative biomarkers that could support personalized care for patients with CIPN. "The work Dr. Kang has been doing exemplifies the Cancer Center's approach to precision prevention and therapy," said Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge endowed chair for the director of the Cancer Center. "I'm excited to see how his study evolves, especially given its potential for global impact." Kang's co-investigators on the five-year grant include Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD, a professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Dermatology at the U of A College of Medicine Tucson, a co-director of the U of A Skin Cancer Institute and a BIO5 Institute member; and Denise Roe, DrPH, a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the director of the U of A Cancer Center Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource. Co-investigators from Guy's and St. Thomas' hospital are Sabrina Ramnarine, MD, PhD, and Majid Kazmi, MD. Co-investigators from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are Milind Rajadhyaksha, PhD, and Kivanc Kose, PhD. This research is supported by the National Cancer Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, under award no. 1R01CA301271-01. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection represents a critical intersection of viral-induced inflammation and cardiovascular pathology. This review explores the dual mechanisms driving SARS-CoV-2-associated ACS and evaluates emerging therapeutic strategies, including phytomedicine and nanotechnology, to address both viral and cardiovascular complications. SARS-CoV-2 and ACS pathogenesis SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbates ACS through systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and plaque destabilization. The virus triggers a cytokine storm, marked by elevated inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., IL-6, C-reactive protein), which promote platelet activation, thrombus formation, and coronary microvascular dysfunction. These processes are amplified by hypoxia and hemodynamic instability, creating a perfect storm for myocardial injury. ACE2 receptor: A double-edged sword The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, essential for viral entry, is abundantly expressed in cardiovascular tissues. SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2 disrupts the renin-angiotensin system, exacerbating endothelial injury, vasoconstriction, and pro-thrombotic states. This receptor-mediated damage underlies both direct myocardial injury and indirect ischemic events, positioning ACE2 modulation as a therapeutic target. Myocardial protective agents While ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are debated due to their potential ACE2-upregulating effects, melatonin emerges as a promising adjunct. It enhances nitric oxide bioavailability, stabilizes plaques, and mitigates oxidative stress, offering cardioprotection during viral-induced inflammation. Herbal medicine: Bridging antiviral and cardioprotective effects Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) demonstrates dual efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 and ACS: Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) : Glycyrrhizic acid inhibits viral replication via NF-B and MAPK pathways while reducing oxidative damage through Nrf2 activation. Lianhua Qingwen granules : This formulation blocks ACE2-S protein binding, suppresses cytokine storms (IL-6, TNF-), and improves endothelial function. Astragalus membranaceus and Honeysuckle: These herbs modulate immune responses, inhibit viral entry, and attenuate fibrosis, showcasing synergy in COVID-19 and cardiovascular management. Non-herbal interventions Peptide fusion inhibitors (e.g., EK1C4) and IL-1 antagonists (anakinra) show promise in reducing thromboembolic events and ACS incidence. Anakinra, in particular, improves survival in severe COVID-19 by curbing hyperinflammation, though its efficacy in advanced respiratory failure remains contentious. Nanotechnology: Precision in therapy and prevention Nanoparticle platforms revolutionize COVID-19 management: mRNA vaccines : Lipid nanoparticles in Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines enhance mRNA stability and immunogenicity, achieving >95% efficacy. Nanoceria (NC) : These antioxidant nanoparticles mitigate pulmonary fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) via TGF- inhibition. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs): AgNPs disrupt viral replication and reduce cytokine storms, though toxicity and biodegradability challenges persist. Nanocarriers functionalized with ACE2-targeting ligands enable precise delivery of antiviral phytochemicals, enhancing therapeutic specificity. Future directions Key priorities include: Clinical Trials: Large-scale studies to standardize TCM dosages and validate long-term safety. Mechanistic Insights: Cryo-EM and molecular docking to elucidate herb-ACE2 interactions. Nanotech Optimization: Improving nanoparticle targeting and clearance mechanisms. Multi-Omics Integration: Identifying biomarkers for personalized phytotherapy. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2-associated ACS demands integrated strategies addressing viral pathogenesis and cardiovascular injury. Phytomedicine, exemplified by TCM, offers multi-targeted benefits, while nanotechnology enhances drug precision. Despite challenges in nanoparticle toxicity and herb standardization, these approaches herald a new era in managing COVID-19 complications. Bridging traditional wisdom with cutting-edge science could redefine therapeutic paradigms, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and holistic care in post-pandemic cardiology. A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute highlights the significant impact of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods on the onset of menopause. The research followed 691 women from pregnancy to midlife and found that those residing in highly vulnerable neighborhoods, particularly within 10 years of perimenopause onset, experienced menopause approximately two years earlier than those in less vulnerable areas. The study, "Neighborhood Vulnerability and Age of Natural Menopause and Menopause Symptoms Among Midlife Women" was published May 22 in JAMA Network Open. Women experiencing more intense menopausal symptoms have demonstrated lower quality of life and cognitive performance. Additionally, women who undergo menopause at an earlier age face a higher risk of developing long-term health issues; specifically, a 1-year decrease in menopause age is linked to 2-3% higher risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and mortality. At present, there are significant gaps in understanding how neighborhood contexts may affect reproductive aging in midlife women. Identifying risk factors for earlier menopause is important for public health, potentially informing strategies to reduce the potential for adverse outcomes. Our research indicates that living in less vulnerable neighborhoods may be a key factor in preventing earlier menopause and reducing future disease risk." Izzuddin Aris, Harvard Medical School Assistant Professor of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and senior author of the study The study included nearly 700 women from Project Viva, a prospective cohort in eastern Massachusetts, followed from April 1999 to August 2021. Researchers used geocoded residential addresses to assess neighborhood vulnerability and its effects on menopause onset and symptoms. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was used to measure neighborhood disadvantage, considering factors such as socioeconomic status, household composition, and racial and ethnic minority status. Study findings showed women who resided in neighborhoods with very high (vs. very low) vulnerability exhibited higher risk of earlier natural menopause onset (by approximately 2 years), driven primarily by socioeconomic status and household composition. No associations with menopause symptom severity were observed. The findings underscore the necessity of addressing neighborhood contexts to level reproductive health outcomes across populations. "As certain characteristics of disadvantaged neighborhoods, such as limited access to social and economic resources, can be modified through community-led initiatives or policies implemented at the local and federal levels, future research is warranted to investigate whether such strategies could alleviate the association between neighborhood disadvantage and early menopause," added Aris. Scientists aiming to advance cancer diagnostics have developed a machine learning tool that is able to identify metabolism-related molecular profile differences between patients with colorectal cancer and healthy people. The analysis of biological samples from more than 1,000 people also revealed metabolic shifts associated with changing disease severity and with genetic mutations known to increase the risk for colorectal cancer. Though there is more analysis to come, the resulting "biomarker discovery pipeline" shows promise as a noninvasive method of diagnosing colorectal cancer and monitoring disease progression, said Jiangjiang Zhu, co-senior author of the study and an associate professor of human sciences at The Ohio State University. "We believe this is a good tool for disease diagnostics and monitoring, especially because metabolic-based biomarker analysis could also be utilized to monitor treatment effectiveness," said Zhu, also an investigator in The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program. "When a patient is taking drug A versus drug B, especially for cancer, time is essential. If they don't have a good response, we want to know that as soon as possible so we can change the treatment regimen. If metabolites can help indicate a treatment's effectiveness faster than traditional methods like pathology or protein markers, we hope they could be good indicators for doctors who are caring for patients." The tool is not intended to replace colonoscopy as the gold standard for cancer screening, Zhu said, and further study with additional samples is planned before the pipeline would be ready for translation to a clinical setting. The research was published recently in the journal iMetaOmics. This work also represents an advance in machine learning techniques, combining two established methods to design the new platform: partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) for big-picture differentiation of molecular profiles, and an artificial neural network (ANN) that, in this case, pinpoints molecules that improve the platform's predictive value. The team called the resulting biomarker pipeline PANDA, short for PLS-ANN-DA. We took the best of both worlds and put them together to leverage their strengths and complement each other to offset their potential weaknesses. We were looking at all kinds of possibilities to tease out the biomarkers that could be predictive or indicative of disease progression and the different stages of the disease. That gave us some strong confidence that this method has great potential for future diagnoses." Jiangjiang Zhu, co-senior author of the study and aassociate professor of human sciences, The Ohio State University Two sets of biological data extracted from blood samples were analyzed: metabolites, products of biochemical reactions that break down food to produce energy and perform other essential functions, and transcripts, RNA readouts of DNA instructions that predict related protein changes. The biological samples are a significant part of the study's strength, Zhu said, because they were collected as part of large research projects: The Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiative (OCCPI) and an Ohio State Wexner Medical Center clinical laboratory biobank. In all, 626 samples came from people with colorectal cancer including patients with high-risk genetic mutations. Another 402 samples from age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were obtained by Jieli Li, co-senior study author and associate professor-clinical of pathology in Ohio State's College of Medicine. "We, as humans, at different stages of our lives, actually have quite different biochemistry," Zhu said. "This valuable collection of samples enabled us to run high-throughput metabolomics analysis to understand the molecular changes from people who don't have cancer with people who have cancer, and also from early-stage to late-stage disease. "We also have data from patients with genetic mutations that we can compare to the metabolite data to look at whether metabolic changes are an indication of predictive values for the genetic mutations. To our knowledge, this is the first time this has been done at this scope and scale because we are looking at literally hundreds of patients." Biomarkers are tricky to rely on for diagnostics across different populations because of the many conditions that affect molecular profiles in living systems so this study highlights several molecular changes with potential, but not certainty, in assessing colorectal cancer's presence and progression in a nationally representative group of patients. The metabolism pathways linked to one family of compounds called purines, which are needed for DNA formation and degradation, stood out in the analysis because they were more active overall in cancer patients compared to healthy controls, and were less active with more advanced tumor stages. "It's certainly an indication that this biomarker may be associated with the underlying mechanisms of cancer biology," Zhu said. "We are cautiously optimistic in saying that we're not only doing biomarker discovery, but we're also providing clues for mechanistic investigations." The team plans to continue analyzing metabolites related to different types of biological signals to refine the PANDA biomarker pipeline. "Some of the markers we identified are a little bit finicky, and there's a lot of noise within those signals, but we have pushed the field forward to develop potential next-generation biomarkers and the novel bioinformatics pipeline for colorectal cancer diagnosis and monitoring," Zhu said. This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, an Ohio State fellowship and Pelotonia, which funded the statewide OCCPI. Zhu is also supported by the Provost's Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor Program at Ohio State. Additional co-authors include first author Rui Xu, Hyein Jung, Fouad Choueiry, Shizi Zhang, Rachel Pearlman and Ning Jin, all of Ohio State, and Heather Hampel of the City of Hope National Cancer Center. Research confirms that social isolation and loneliness significantly impact health and mortality, even if not listed on death certificates. BYU psychology and neuroscience professor, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, has published extensively on the topic, including a landmark 2010 meta-analysis and a 2023 framework on assessment and treatment. She also served as lead scientist on the 2023 Surgeon General Advisory and is advising the World Health Organization on an upcoming report that addresses the pressing health threat of loneliness and isolation and a global agenda on social connection. Social connection is now a legitimate health factor, but Holt-Lunstad and doctoral student, Andrew Proctor, recently published two studies showing that most of us-the general population and medical providers-still don't think social connection affects physical health. And even the professionals who recognize the importance report that they don't have time or tools to help patients address social concerns. Proctor, who authored a study recently published in Springer Nature, explained that before the study, they had been watching how the pandemic was influencing internet searches around the topics of isolation and loneliness. "I have a marketing background, so I thought that maybe the public perception had changed since COVID. Social distancing, isolation and loneliness were huge buzzwords on the internet as seen through Google Trends and BuzzSumo (an online trend analyzer). Everything around these search terms was super viral during that time, and so we wondered if perceptions about social connection had changed," said Proctor. With loneliness and isolation trending on the internet, the researchers set up a study. In a nationally representative sample of US adults, as well as samples from the UK and Australia, they surveyed 2,392 people about their perceptions of health risks associated with isolation and loneliness. The data showed that, despite the pandemic and other campaigns, people still underestimate the importance of social connection for physical health. And the underestimation exists equally among the lonely and the socially connected. The study identified blind spots in medical care. Social connection is like a vital sign. What if we didn't care about high blood pressure? Or what if we never knew smoking was bad for us? Social connection is like a key vital sign. We just don't tend to recognize it." Andrew Proctor, doctoral student, Brigham Young University In a closely connected study, Holt-Lunstad and Proctor, along with coauthors from top research medical centers, surveyed 681 healthcare providers (primarily doctors) about perceptions of health risks associated with poor social connection. Similar to the general population from the first study, healthcare providers underestimated social connection as a medically relevant health factor. The researchers gleaned some unexpected insights due to an unintentional time lag in data collection in the second study. "We completed the data collection at two different time points because we were waiting for institutional approvals. Our first cohort was healthcare providers through the University of Utah Health System. Slightly later, we had a second major cohort of University of California San Francisco (UCSF) physicians," said Holt-Lunstad. "What was interesting is that the perceived importance of social factors was a bit higher among the UCSF group." The authors attribute the higher awareness at UCSF to the University's Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network as well as the publication of the 2023 Surgeon General's Advisory, which came out just before the second cohort was surveyed. This suggests that social initiatives as well as institutional support make a difference in the perceived importance of social connection. "What I hope is that these studies can spur recognition that there is a body of evidence showing social connection as medically relevant," said Holt-Lunstad. "Together these papers make a really compelling case that not only does the general public underestimate this, but so do healthcare providers who should know this information." "Awareness can make a difference," says Holt-Lunstad. "It's the first step, but awareness isn't enough." The research brings to light the need for education and strategies for healthcare providers as well as the need for a revised K-12 healthcare curriculum and public health campaigns. Future research includes how to address perceived barriers to integrated medical treatment and actionable strategies such as "social prescribing." Infections from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children requiring primary care led to significant societal economic costs from outpatient treatment and parental work absences in Europe, according to a study just published on Eurosurveillance. The study sought to provide insights for public health policy and support costs and benefits analyses for RSV immunisation strategies. RSV infections are a leading cause of acute respiratory infections in children, with nearly all children experiencing at least one RSV infection by the age of 2. While some children develop a severe form of RSV disease that might require hospitalization, most infections are managed in primary care. Significant disparities in societal costs across age groups and countries The study enrolled 3,414 children under the age of 5 with acute respiratory infection in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom (UK), of which 33% tested positive for RSV. Children were recruited through primary care physicians for RSV seasons 2020/21 (UK only), 2021/22 and 2022/23. Among children diagnosed with RSV, the cost of primary care treatment and parental work absences were assessed over 30 days through questionnaires filled in by parents. The calculation of overall economic burden comprised outpatient healthcare costs and missed work days by parents, with results stratified by country and by age the group of children diagnosed with RSV. Researchers found that the RSV infections resulted in a significant economic burden, with costs varying substantially between the five countries taking part in this study: average outpatient healthcare costs per RSV episode ranged from 97 EUR in the Netherlands to 300 EUR in Spain, and were mostly driven by primary care visits. The costs for parental absence from work ranged from 454 EUR in the UK to 994 EUR in Belgium. The main sources of costs were repeated visits to primary care physicians and parents missing work to care for their sick children. Costs related to healthcare were higher for infants under the age of 1, while work absences among parents represented a higher proportion of costs among children between 1 to 5 years of age. Medication costs to treat RSV infections contributed the least to the overall economic burden across all countries and age groups. The mean number of primary care visits per child varied from 1.4 in the Netherlands to 3.0 in Spain. There were wide disparities in hospitalization rates, which ranged from 4% of infections leading to hospitalization in the Netherlands and Italy to 44% in Belgium. However, this may have been due to the fact that Belgium included data on children in out-of-hours care. The proportion of children being prescribed medication ranged from 26% in the UK to 77% in Italy. Parental work absences varied considerably between countries, and ranged from 13% of parents reporting absences and a mean of 1.3 missed working days in Spain to 71% of parents missing work days with a mean of 4.1 days off in Belgium. The study has some limitations. There may have been some selection bias by physicians in selecting children and the study only included costs within 30 days of the first doctor visit. The COVID-19 pandemic could also have affected data. While evidence suggests that self-reported work absence serves as a valid alternative to documented work absence, some assumptions were made in the data analysis due to incomplete information. Finally, based on existing research, all costs were assumed to be related to RSV regardless of possible infections with other viruses. Findings crucial to define immunization strategies The disparities revealed in the data highlight the importance of considering country-specific cost estimates when defining RSV immunisation strategies. These can vary widely due to differences in healthcare systems, care-seeking behaviour and parental leave policies. This study also addresses a critical gap in understanding the overall economic impact of childhood RSV infections, as most studies on the economic burden of RSV so far have focused on the costs associated with RSV-related hospitalization and not included costs from primary care. While infections treated in primary care have lower healthcare costs, they still contribute significantly to the overall economic burden of RSV. "Our findings are particularly timely in light of the recent introduction of RSV immunisation strategies for infants, and the ongoing development of several RSV vaccines for toddlers and older children," the authors stated. Thought Leaders Edoardo Fabini Principal Scientist Evotec U.K. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a pivotal role in cellular signaling and have long been a major focus in drug discovery. These receptors regulate a vast array of physiological processes, making them key targets for therapeutic development. Despite significant progress, many GPCRs remain poorly characterized, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry. In this interview, we explore the latest advancements with Evotec's Principal Scientist in GPCR research and drug discovery. They will share insights into the complexities of working with GPCRs, the innovative assay development strategies theyve implemented, and the role of cutting-edge biosensor technologies such as waveRAPID in accelerating the discovery of new drug candidates. Could you give us a brief introduction to GPCRs and their significance in drug discovery? GPCRs, or G-protein-coupled receptors, represent a crucial family of receptors that are involved in many cellular functions. They respond to various stimuli, including endogenous hormones and neurotransmitters. Image Credit: Ph-HY/Shutterstock.com Historically, GPCRs have been one of the most important targets for drug discovery. In fact, around 30 % of all currently marketed drugs target GPCRs. Despite this, a significant number of GPCRs remain orphan receptors, meaning we do not fully understand their function, and have yet to identfy their endogenous ligands. This presents an exciting opportunity for drug discovery, particularly in developing chemical probes that help to clarify their functions and discover new chemical entities aimed at modulating their activity. What are some of the key challenges associated with studying GPCRs, particularly in the context of drug discovery? GPCRs are particularly challenging drug targets due to several factors. First, they often exhibit low activity when immobilized, meaning that the fraction of binding-competent protein is not usually high. This is because wild-type GPCRs are generally unstable once extracted from their natural membrane environment. GPCRs exist in multiple conformational states, making them highly dynamic proteins with complex binding behaviors that are sometimes difficult to recapitulate using a reductionist approach commonly applied in the early phases of drug discovery. Another challenge is that GPCRs typically need to be embedded in detergent micelles, nanodiscs or synthetic polymers for experiments, which can cause issues with compounds that have solubility problems or are highly amphiphilic/lipophilic. Could you walk us through the workflow that Evotec has developed for GPCR assay development? At Evotec, we have established a systematic workflow that allows us to develop direct target engagement assays for GPCRs using biosensor technology. It starts with carefully designing constructs tomaximize chances of success for downstream applications. Next, we focus on protein expression and purification, ensuring we have high-quality materials for our assays. Once we have the purified protein, we conduct an assay feasibility phase where we evaluate different constructs in small- to mid-scale production to determine which are most suitable for assay development. These stages are iterative, refining parameters until we identify the key aspects that ensure the desired outcome. Once the binding assay is developed, it can be used for various applications, including compound profiling, hit validation, fragment screening, mapping binding sites, and even thermodynamic studies. What role does optical biosensor technology, particularly waveRAPID, play in studying GPCRs? Optical biosensors, and specifically the waveRAPID technology, have significantly advanced our ability to study GPCRs. Traditional methods often require multiple concentrations of a compound to be injected over time to generate a dose-response curve. In contrast, waveRAPID allows us to inject a single concentration and record the time-resolved response dynamically, enabling us to resolve the kinetics of interactions in a much more efficient manner. This is particularly useful when dealing with GPCRs, where the binding dynamics can be complex. With waveRAPID, we can assess the full kinetics profile of binding with greater confidence; focussing on the kinetics of the ligand-target dissociation process that is less affected by the heterogeneity observed during the injection phase, even when dealing with low signals. Can you explain how Evotec designed and executed the fragment screening process using waveRAPID? Our initial proof-of-principle focussed on a well-characterized GPCR for which many tool compounds were available, the Adenosine receptor A2a (hA2aR). We immobilized wild-type A2AR GPCR on an NTA-sensor chip surface and tested molecules with different mechanisms of actionagonists, antagonists, and fragment-like compoundsto validate the protein and the assay. The binding profiles of these molecules were analyzed using both waveRAPID and traditional multi cycle kinetic (MCK), allowing us to characterize their kinetic parameters and validate full translation of MCK into waveRAPID. Then we carefully selected a tool compound, ANR94, which had an ideal kinetic profile and molecular weight to serve as a positive control. Once the assay was fully set-up, we conducted a pilot screen of 700 fragments. The results were analyzed through a kinetic plot that considered both association and dissociation rates to easily visualize binding affinity. What were the key findings from the pilot study, and how did you validate the results? The pilot screen identified 16 fragments as potential binders, with an overall hit rate of around 2.3 %, which aligns with what we typically expect from fragment screening on this target class. To validate these hits, we took a more traditional approach using MCK binding assays, where we injected multiple compound concentrations to confirm dose-response binding. Then, we closely inspected the saturation curve and binding to relevant off-targets, complementing kinetic fit with a steady-state data plot. Out of the 16 initial fragments, nine were confirmed as selective binders to the A2A GPCR. Interestingly, when we compared the kinetic parameters obtained from waveRAPID to those from multi-cycle kinetics we found strong correlations, further reinforcing the validity of our screening method. What are the potential implications of your findings for the future of GPCR drug discovery? Our findings demonstrate that kinetic fragment screening using waveRAPID is a highly effective methodology for identifying new GPCR-targeting compounds. The ability to quickly and reliably screen large fragment libraries means that we can accelerate the early stages of drug discovery. The kinetic data we generate provides valuable insights into binding interactions, which can guide lead optimization efforts. Given the number of orphan GPCRs that remain unexplored, this approach could be instrumental in unlocking new therapeutic targets. What are the next steps for Evotec in this area of research? Moving forward, we plan to expand our screening efforts to additional GPCR targets, particularly orphan receptors. We also aim to integrate waveRAPID screening with complementary technologies to further refine our understanding of binding kinetics and structure-activity relationships. Another key focus will be optimizing assay conditions to minimize non-specific binding and further improve reproducibility. Ultimately, our goal is to continue advancing GPCR drug discovery by developing innovative, efficient, and reliable screening methodologies. About Edoardo Fabini Edoardo Fabini is a Principal Scientist at Evotec U.K., where he leads a team dedicated to developing biophysical assays within the Protein Sciences department. He holds a PhD in Biochemical and Biotechnological Sciences from the University of Bologna and has conducted visiting PhD and postdoctoral research at BMC, Uppsala University. Edoardo has extensive expertise in biophysical and biochemical methods, including SPR, GCI, and DSF, with a background in mechanistic enzymology and pharmacology. Prior to joining Evotec, he worked at Nerviano Medical Sciences, contributing to the discovery of kinase inhibitors and PARP modulators to support oncology drug discovery programs. In his current role, Edoardo bridges protein biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology, providing essential support across various drug discovery programs. He specializes in designing and implementing custom biophysical assays for challenging targets, with a particular emphasis on membrane proteins such as GPCRs, SLCs, and ion channels. About WAVEsystem (A Malvern Panalytical brand and creoptix technology) Following integration in January 2022, Creoptix is a Malvern Panalytical brand. The team is headquartered in Wadenswil at the foot of the lake of Zurich in Switzerland, with US offices in the Boston area. Accelerate discovery WAVEsystem enables life scientists to accelerate discovery by providing cutting-edge tools for molecular interaction analysis, with a focus on next-generation bioanalytical instruments for drug discovery and life sciences for both industry and academic research. High sensitivity and resolution Based on its proprietary biosensor, microfluidics and software technologies, WAVEsystem provides exceptionally high sensitivity and resolution to study real-time biological interactions involving fragment, small molecules, peptides, membrane proteins, biologics and other molecules even in crude reaction mixtures and biofluids like undiluted serum and plasma. Breakthrough level of kinetics analysis At the core of WAVEsystem is Grating Coupled Interferometry (GCI) technology. GCI technology puts a breakthrough level of kinetics analysis at your fingertips by pushing the boundaries of affinity range and sample compatibility. The systems exceptionally high data quality, sample compatibility and automated software facilitates drug discovery and enable new inroads into R&D. Malvern Panalytical also offer supporting chips and software for the instrument. Radiometer, a leading medical device company specializing in acute care testing solutions, today announced an addition to their product portfolio of tools for clinical decision support, an AI-powered clinical intelligence tool, TriageGO. TriageGO is a pioneering software tool that leverages machine learning to prioritize patients in the Emergency Department (ED) based on the risk of various clinical outcomes. Traditional triage methodologies prioritize patients based on anticipated resource utilization, which can present challenges in the modern ED where even low-acuity patients will often receive multiple diagnostics, treatments, or medications before being discharged. Several peer-reviewed clinical research studies have been published demonstrating the efficacy of TriageGO, and it is already used in multiple health systems in the United States. This innovative tool is revolutionizing emergency department operations and enhancing both efficiency and safety for clinicians and patients. In todays chaotic and overcrowded emergency departments, triage has become a foundational process for safe and efficient management of critical patients, says Francis Van Parys, CEO and President of Radiometer. TriageGO utilizes patient demographics, vital signs, medical history, and other objective data points to help caregivers evaluate the proper acuity level at triage. By leveraging artificial intelligence, TriageGO has proven to reduce time-to-care for the most critically ill patients, while reducing overall length-of-stay in the ED." TriageGO was developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and subsequently the affiliated startup, StoCastic, before being acquired by Danaher in late 2022 as part of the Beckman Coulter portfolio. TriageGO complements the commercial partnership that Radiometer signed with Etiometry, a leader in clinical intelligence software for intensive care units, in 2024. While the partnership with Etiometry focuses on supporting clinical decision-making in the ICU, TriageGO is designed for the emergency department TriageGO will initially only be available in the US. Read more about TriageGO here. About Radiometer Whatever comes next, we make sure life comes first. Radiometer develops, manufactures, and markets solutions for blood sampling, blood gas analysis, transcutaneous monitoring, immunoassay testing, and related IT management systems. Today, Radiometer's products and solutions are used in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories in over 130 countries, providing information on critical parameters in acute care diagnostics. Through connected solutions, expert knowledge, and trusted partnerships, we help health care professionals make diagnostic decisions to improve patient care. To learn more, visit www.radiometer.com. Larry Saltzman has blood cancer. He's also a retired doctor, so he knows getting covid-19 could be dangerous for him his underlying illness puts him at high risk of serious complications and death. To avoid getting sick, he stays away from large gatherings, and he's comforted knowing healthy people who get boosters protect him by reducing his exposure to the virus. Until now, that is. Vaccine opponents and skeptics in charge of federal health agencies starting at the top with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are restricting access to covid shots that were a signature accomplishment of President Donald Trump's first term and cost taxpayers about $13 billion to develop, produce, and distribute. The agencies are narrowing vaccination recommendations, pushing drugmakers to perform costly clinical studies, and taking other steps that will result in fewer people getting protection from a virus that still kills hundreds each week in the U.S. "There are hundreds of thousands of people who rely on these vaccines," said Saltzman, 71, of Sacramento, California. "For people who are immunocompromised, if there aren't enough people vaccinated, we lose the ring that's protecting us. We're totally vulnerable." The Trump administration on May 20 rolled out tougher approval requirements for covid shots, described as a covid-19 "vaccination regulatory framework," that could leave millions of Americans who want boosters unable to get them. The FDA will encourage new clinical trials on the widely used vaccines before approving them for children and healthy adults. The requirements could cost drugmakers tens of millions of dollars and are likely to leave boosters largely out of reach for hundreds of millions of Americans this fall. Under the new guidance, vaccines will be available for high-risk individuals and seniors. But the FDA will encourage drugmakers to commit to conducting post-marketing clinical trials in healthy adults when the agency approves covid vaccines for those populations. For the past five years, the shots have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for everyone 6 months and older. They have been available each fall after being updated to reflect circulating strains of the virus, and the vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. Vinay Prasad, who leads the FDA's division overseeing vaccines, cited "distrust of the American public" as he announced the new guidelines at a May 20 briefing. "We have launched down this multiyear campaign of booster after booster after booster," he said, adding that "we do not have gold-standard science to support this for average-risk, low-risk Americans." The details were outlined in a May 20 article in The New England Journal of Medicine, written by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. He and Prasad later followed up with the briefing, which appeared the same day on YouTube. The added limits on access aren't the result of any recent data showing there are new health risks from the covid vaccines. Instead, they reflect a different regulatory stance from Kennedy, who has a history of anti-vaccine activism, and Makary, who has questioned the safety data on covid mRNA shots. Announcing a major regulatory change in a medical journal and YouTube video is a highly unusual approach that still leaves many questions about implementation unanswered. It remains unclear when the changes will go into effect or whether there will be any public comment period. The changes were announced by the administration before an FDA advisory committee meeting on May 22 to consider the 2026 covid vaccine formula. It's a sharp reversal from the first Trump administration, which launched Operation Warp Speed the effort that led to the development of the covid shots. Trump called the vaccines the "gold standard" and a "monumental national achievement." Concerns about higher transmission The announcement is rattling some patient advocacy groups, doctors, nursing home leaders, and researchers who worry about the ramifications. They say higher-risk individuals will be more likely to get covid if people who aren't at risk don't get boosters that can help reduce transmission. And they say the FDA's restrictions go too far, because they don't provide exceptions for healthy individuals who work in high-risk settings, such as hospitals, who may want a covid booster for protection. The limits will also make it harder to get insurance coverage for the vaccines. And the FDA's new stance could also increase vaccine hesitancy by undermining confidence in covid vaccines that have already been subject to rigorous safety review, said Kate Broderick, chief innovation officer at Maravai Life Sciences, which makes mRNA products for use in vaccine development. "For the public, it raises questions," she said. "If someone has concerns, I'd like them to know that of all the vaccines, the ones with the most understood safety profile are probably covid-19 vaccines. There is an incredible body of data and over 10 billion doses given." Some doctors and epidemiologists say it could leave healthy people especially vulnerable if more virulent strains of covid emerge and they can't access covid shots. "It's not based on science," said Rob Davidson, an emergency room doctor in Michigan and executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care, which works to expand health care access. "It's what we were all worried would happen. It risks peoples' lives." Current federal regulators say there is no high-quality evidence showing that vaccinating healthy people, including health workers who are near or around immunocompromised people, provides an additional benefit. "It is possible, actually, that such approvals and strategies provide false reassurance and lead to increased harms," Prasad said. The covid vaccines underwent clinical trials to assess safety, and they have been subject to ongoing surveillance and monitoring since they obtained emergency use authorization from the FDA amid the pandemic. Heart issues and allergic reactions can occur but are rare, according to the CDC. On a separate track, the FDA on May 21 posted letters sent in April to makers of the mRNA covid vaccines to add information about possible heart injury on warning labels, a move that one former agency official described as overkill. The action came after the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, a panel of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, held a hearing on alleged adverse events associated with covid vaccines. Limiting boosters to healthy people goes against guidance from some medical groups. "The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and the best way to protect children," Sean O'Leary, chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases at the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in an email. "Young children under 5 continue to be at the highest risk, with that risk decreasing as they get older." Unsupported claims about mRNA vaccines The covid booster clampdown is supported by many adherents of the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, which casts suspicion on traditional medicine. Some opponents of covid mRNA vaccines say without evidence that the shots cause "turbo" cancer, are genetic bioweapons, and cause more heart damage than the covid virus. There is no evidence the shots lead to rapid and aggressive cancers. Cancer rates decreased an average of 1.7% per year for men and 1.3% for women from 2018 to 2022, according to the National Institutes of Health. The covid vaccines debuted in 2021. Federal regulators say narrowing who can get the boosters will align the U.S. with policies of European nations. But other countries have vastly different economic structures for health care and approaches to preventive care. Many European countries, for example, don't recommend flu shots for the entire population. The U.S. does in part because of the financial drain attributed to lost productivity when people are sick. They also want more information. "I think there's a void of data," Makary told CBS News on April 29. "And I think rather than allow that void to be filled with opinions, I'd like to see some good data." A massive five-year study on covid vaccine safety by the Global Vaccine Data Network, involving millions of people, was underway, with about a year left before completion. The Trump administration terminated funding for the project as part of cuts directed by the president's Department of Government Efficiency, and work on the study has stopped for now. There are a multitude of studies, however, on the vaccines' effectiveness in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Limiting boosters for healthy people can be risky, some doctors say, because people don't always know when they fall into higher-risk categories, such as individuals who are prediabetic or have high blood pressure. The covid vaccine restrictions could deter them from getting boosted, and they might experience worse complications from the virus as a result. For example, about 40% of people with hepatitis C are unaware of their condition, according to a study published in 2023. The number of people getting covid vaccines has already dropped significantly since the height of the crisis. More than half of the more than 258 million adults in the U.S. had gotten a covid vaccination as of May 2021, according to the CDC. In each of the past two seasons, less than 25% of Americans received boosters, CDC data shows. While deaths from the virus have dropped, covid remains a risk, especially when cases peak in December and January. Weekly covid deaths topped 2,580 as recently as January 2024, according to CDC data. Some high-risk individuals are worried that the new restrictions are just the first salvo in halting all access to mRNA shots. "The HHS motivation really is hidden, and it's to dismiss all mRNA technology," said Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota. Officials at the NIH have told scientists to remove references to mRNA in grant applications. HHS also announced plans in May to develop new vaccines without mRNA technology, which uses messenger RNA to instruct cells to make proteins that trigger an immune response. Rose Keller, 23, is concerned about future access to covid shots. She would be eligible under the current announcement she has cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic condition that makes the mucus in her lungs thick and sticky, so covid could land her in the hospital. But she is concerned the Trump administration may go further and restrict access to the vaccines as part of a broader opposition to mRNA technology. "I've had every booster that's available to me," said Keller, a government employee in Augusta, Maine. "It's a real worry if I don't have the protection of a covid booster." Fragments of West Nile Virus have been identified in mosquitoes collected in the UK for the first time, according to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitoring programme designed to understand the emergence and transmission of vector-borne disease in the UK. West Nile Virus (WNV) is a vector-borne disease belonging to the Flaviviridae family, and is typically found in birds and bird-biting mosquitoes. In rare cases, mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans or horses. Other viruses belonging to the Flaviviridae family include those that cause dengue, Zika and yellow fever. West Nile virus (WNV) is endemic in various regions across the globe, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, West and Central Asia, and North America, as well as South America, USA and Australia. In most people, it causes mild, flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all but in rare cases, around 1 in 150, illness can progress to serious neurological illness, including encephalitis or meningitis. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for humans. The virus fragments were detected in two samples of Aedes vexans mosquitoes collected by the UKHSA from wetlands on the River Idle near Gamston, Nottinghamshire in the UK. Roger Hewson, Professor of Virology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said: "The recent detection of West Nile virus (WNV) genomic material in UK mosquito populations is a significant finding, although not wholly unexpected given the virus's steady northward expansion across Europe. "Climate change, migratory bird movements, and increasingly favourable conditions for mosquito vectors all contribute to the changing landscape of vector-borne disease risk in the UK. "Our teams at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine are driving forward research on Aedes vexans mosquitoes, which are native to the UK. The school's expertise in vector biology and the ecology of viruses transmitted to humans by mosquitoes is helping us understand the risk of viruses like West Nile and dengue establishing in the region, and how we may be able to detect them as quickly as possible." Robert Jones, Assistant Professor at LSHTM, said: "There is currently no evidence that these fragments of genetic material are linked to any human cases of West Nile virus infection. However, this remains a significant finding by the Vector-Borne RADAR team and highlights the importance of continued mosquito surveillance across the country. However, this remains a significant finding by the Vector-Borne RADAR team and highlights the importance of continued mosquito surveillance across the country. "The mosquito could have acquired the virus by feeding on an infected bird. It is possible that a bird became infected in another part of the world and then returned to the UK carrying the virus. While some birds show signs of infection, many species can carry West Nile Virus without appearing to have an illness. "Similarly, humans occasionally return to the UK from abroad carrying arboviral infections. However, this rarely leads to local transmission, either because our local mosquito species are not competent vectors, or because the chances of a mosquito acquiring the virus and passing it on are very low. "As the UKHSA has outlined, the risk of West Nile virus to the UK population remains very low. However, due to climate change and the movement of people and goods, we are seeing a general expansion of mosquito-borne diseases into regions not previously associated with these infectionsand that trend is expected to continue. Ongoing surveillance is essential to ensure that any future infections are detected early." I'm pleased to see that a UKHSA research surveillance is in operation and is able to give us this early warning of a potential health threat from West Nile Virus. This is a timely reminder of the importance of funding health and disease research, and I hope that these findings will lead to more extensive surveillance, to give a clearer picture of the scale of the problem. With West Nile Virus detected in the UK, we also need to be prepared for the potential arrival of other viruses from the Flaviviridae family, such as those that cause dengue. More work needs to be done to assess the likely chances of these mosquitoes passing the virus to humans, which is known to be reduced in cooler climates, such as the UK, compared to the tropical environments these viruses usually circulate in." Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease at LSHTM James Logan, Professor of Medical Entomology at LSHTM and Director of Arctech Innovation, said: "This development is serious, but it is not unexpected. It does not require public alarm, but it does call for vigilance and investment in long-term preparedness. "This is part of a broader trend we can no longer ignore. Climate change, global trade and travel, and changing ecosystems are bringing vector-borne diseases like West Nile, dengue and others closer to home. We are entering an era where we must learn to live smarter in a bug's world. That means stronger surveillance, better public communication, and a public health system ready for the challenges ahead. "This is not the beginning of a crisis, but it is a signpost to the future. How we respond now matters." 'UK' No More? Uttarakhand Proposes Hindi Vehicle Number Plates, Internet Divided Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 15:47 IST The language department has suggested replacing the current registration code 'UK' (Uttarakhand) with its Hindi equivalent, 'U' (Uttara) and 'Kha' (Khand) Although some vehicle owners in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh use Hindi-scripted plates, it remains a punishable offence under the MV Act. (Representational pic/News18) Uttarakhands language department has recently proposed the introduction of vehicle number plates in Hindi, causing a stir online. Some users praised the initiative for promoting the language, while others found it unnecessary and impractical. Recommended Stories The department has suggested replacing the current registration code UK" (Uttarakhand) with its Hindi equivalent, U" (Uttara) and Kha" (Khand). This recommendation has been forwarded to the states transport department for review. All Indian states and union territories have a designated two-letter code. This code referencing came into force on July 1, 1989, as part of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Before that, each district or RTO had three-letter codes at their disposal, which did not clearly identify the state. This led to a fair degree of confusion, and to avoid this ambiguity, a unique state code was included in the format. In an effort to promote Hindi, we have sent a proposal to the transport department to explore the possibility of introducing number plates in Hindi," stated Subodh Uniyal, Uttarakhands minister for languages. Social media reactions have been mixed. This is a ridiculous decision," commented Ashok Kandari on Facebook. Why did the language department wake up so late?" questioned another user, Deepak Gusain. What difference does it make if our number plates are in Hindi?" asked Ars Deopa. Experts highlight potential legal challenges, as altering or tampering with vehicle number plates is prohibited under Section 192(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and can result in fines up to Rs 5,000, legal proceedings, and even vehicle confiscation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sanat Kumar, deputy commissioner of the transport department, clarified that only the central government has the authority to amend the Act or change the format of vehicle registration plates. As per current rules, only English characters are permitted on number plates," he said. Although some vehicle owners in states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh use Hindi-scripted plates, it remains a punishable offence under the MV Act. About the Author Anupam Trivedi Anupam Trivedi, Uttarakhand Editor, at News18, tracks politics, government affairs, environment and developmental issues concerning the Himalayan state. Being in the profession for two decades, he has intensive... Read More Anupam Trivedi, Uttarakhand Editor, at News18, tracks politics, government affairs, environment and developmental issues concerning the Himalayan state. Being in the profession for two decades, he has intensive... Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Dehradun, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 15:47 IST Why Konkan Railway Is Being Merged Into Indian Railways | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:10 IST The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is set be merged into Indian Railways after receiving a final nod from the Maharashtra government in April 2025. The 741-kilometre Konkan Railway line stretches from Roha in Maharashtra through Goa and Karnataka to Kerala. (Source: X/@KonkanRailway) The Konkan Railway, one of the most breathtaking and strategically crucial rail routes in the country, is now poised for a historic transition. After nearly three decades of functioning as a distinct entity, the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is set be merged into Indian Railways, after receiving a final nod from the Maharashtra government last month. With Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala already on board, the path is now clear for complete integration of this engineering marvel into the national network. Established in 1990 as a special purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Railways, KRCL was tasked with the task of laying railway tracks through the formidable Western Ghats. Officially operational since January 1998, the 741-kilometre line stretches from Roha in Maharashtra through Goa and Karnataka to Kerala, drastically cutting travel time while providing critical connectivity to remote coastal areas. Recommended Stories According to a report by The Indian Express, the route has not only been a lifeline for passenger and freight movement along the Konkan coast but also a symbol of engineering prowess. Born out of the need to bridge an infrastructural gap along Indias western coastline, KRCL was formed as a joint venture with the Centre holding a 51% stake, Maharashtra 22%, Karnataka 15%, and both Goa and Kerala at 6% each. The project was among the most challenging ever undertaken by Indian Railways, requiring over 2,000 bridges and 92 tunnels to complete. The result was a rail line that remains one of the most scenic, and technically demanding, in the world. Why Is The Merger Happening Now? Despite the charm and utility of the line, the decision to merge wasnt born out of convenience, but of necessity. Officials point to three key factors that led to the move: 1. Severe Financial Constraints Unlike Indian Railways, KRCL has never received direct budgetary support from the Centre. As a result, critical projects such as track doubling and station modernisation have been stalled. In 202122, the corporation posted a modest profit of just Rs 55.86 crore, a figure far too low to fund its ambitious infrastructure goals. By contrast, Indian Railways received a staggering Rs 2.4 lakh crore allocation in the Union Budget 2023. 2. Unfulfilled Safety Promises KRCL had planned to install an Automatic Control Device (ACD) to enhance operational safety. However, the project was never implemented. With safety being a core priority for modern rail operations, the lack of progress on ACD installation became a major liability. 3. Sky Train Dreams That Never Took Off In a much-publicised move, KRCL had promised the launch of a futuristic Sky Train project. The standalone model, once heralded as innovative, has now been deemed unsustainable" by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. As The Indian Express reports, Fadnavis emphasised that the merger would allow KRCL to leverage the routes huge investment base" through Indian Railways significantly larger financial muscle. Maharashtras Conditions And the Centres Nod The Maharashtra government insisted on two key conditions for the agreement: first, that the iconic name Konkan Railway" be preserved post-merger to retain its regional identity and historic significance; second, that Indian Railways reimburse Maharashtras original investment of over Rs 394 crore made during KRCLs formation in 1990. The Centre reportedly accepted both conditions, clearing the last hurdle to what could be a transformational shift for the regions rail infrastructure. What Comes Next And What Passengers Can Expect With all shareholder states now aligned, the final step lies with the Railway Board, which will oversee the technical, financial, and administrative transition. According to The Indian Express, the merger will entail realigning employee hierarchies, renegotiating service contracts, and standardising operational procedures. This process is expected to take several months. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For passengers, the long-term impact is expected to be positive. The merger promises upgraded infrastructure, more frequent and better-connected trains, enhanced safety measures, and the integration of KRCL services with Indian Railways centralised ticketing and grievance redressal systems. Fares could become more competitive, and travellers will likely enjoy a smoother, more standardised experience across routes. From cutting through ancient mountains to connecting four coastal states, the Konkan Railway has always been more than just a transport route it has been a lifeline and a symbol of innovation. As it prepares to become part of the vast Indian Railways tapestry, the challenge will be to modernise without losing the charm and character that have defined it for generations. Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 23, 2025, 14:10 IST Indians Lost Rs 136 Crore On Failed Schengen Visa Applications In 2024: Report Published By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 15:31 IST Indian applicants for Schengen visas encountered major obstacles in 2024; more than 1.65 lakh were denied, costing Rs 136 crore in non-refundable costs. Most of these rejections came from Germany, France, and Switzerland. More than 1.65 lakh Schengen visa applications from India were rejected in 2024, resulting in a financial loss of approximately Rs 136 crore due to non-refundable fees. With the average application fee at 85 (about Rs 8,270), India ranks third among countries with the highest monetary losses from rejected Schengen visa applications, surpassed only by Algeria and Turkey. A Conde Nast report stated that of the 11.08 lakh total Schengen visa applications submitted from India, 5.91 lakh were approved, while 1.65 lakh were declined. Data from the European Commission indicated that the rejection rate was close to 15 per cent. Recommended Stories India was among the countries with high Schengen visa rejection rates, alongside Algeria, Turkey, Morocco, and China. In 2024, over 17 lakh applications were rejected globally, resulting in 145 million (Rs 1,410 crore) collected in non-refundable fees. Indian applicants alone accounted for 14 million (Rs 136.6 crore) of this amount. France recorded the highest number of Schengen visa rejections for Indian applicants, turning down 31,314 applications and causing a financial loss of approximately Rs 25.8 crore, the Conde Nast report stated. Several other countries also contributed notably to the overall rejection-related losses. Switzerland denied 26,126 applications, resulting in a loss of Rs 21.6 crore. Germany followed with 15,806 rejections, amounting to Rs 13 crore in losses. Spain rejected 15,150 applications, leading to a Rs 12.5 crore loss, while the Netherlands turned down 14,569 applications, adding another Rs 12 crore to the total. These rejections collectively formed a substantial financial setback for Indian travellers. In 2024, the Schengen visa fee for Indian applicants aged 12 and above rose from 80 to 90 mid-year, resulting in an annual average fee of 85. This standard charge did not apply to specific groups like children under 12, students, nonprofit organisation representatives, and other exempt categories. Based on this average, Indians reportedly collectively spent close to Rs 916 crore on Schengen visa applications during the year. The significant number of visa rejections and the resulting financial burden have become a growing concern for frequent travellers and travel agencies. These denials not only impact individual applicants but also hinder tourism, business interactions, and educational exchanges between India and Schengen nations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While the European Commission has not released detailed demographic insights on those rejected, the scale and financial implications underline the difficulties Indian citizens encounter in obtaining Schengen visas. As interest in European travel for leisure, study, and employment continues to rise among Indians, improving the visa approval process has become an increasingly important issue. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 15:31 IST 'Not India Or Anyplace Else': Trump Threatens Apple With 25% Tariff On iPhones Made Outside US Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 19:26 IST 'I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' says Donald Trump. Last week, US President Donald Trump warned Apple CEO Tim Cook against expanding Apple's manufacturing footprint in India, unless it is specifically to serve the Indian market. (File Photo: Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Friday said iPhones sold in the United States should be manufactured domestically or face a steep 25 per cent tariff if built in India or anyplace else. Following this, the shares of Apple declined on Wall Street, falling nearly 4 per cent to $193.46 apiece during the early trade, against the previous close of $201.36 apiece. In the latest post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote, I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Recommended Stories It comes a week after a similar statement by the US president, warning Apple CEO Tim Cook against expanding Apples manufacturing footprint in India, unless it is specifically to serve the Indian market. Apple sells over 60 million iPhones in the US annually with roughly 80% of them made in China currently. Last week, during a business event in Doha, Qatar, on May 15, Trump said he had a direct conversation with Apple CEO Tim Cook, advising him against expanding Apples manufacturing footprint in India, unless it is specifically to serve the Indian market. Told Apple CEO Tim Cook were not interested in you building in India, they can take care of themselves," Trump had said. Trump had also said Apple would increase its production in the United States. Apple will be upping their production in the United States," he added. According to reports recently, Apple aimed to make most of its iPhones sold in the US at factories in India by the end of 2026, and is speeding up those plans to navigate potentially higher tariffs in China, its main manufacturing base. Importantly, India and the US are poised to sign the first tranche of the much-anticipated Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) before July, according to reports. A round of meetings with the United States Trade Representative has already concluded. Officials from both nations have discussed various issues related to goods trade, with India pushing for concessions on labour-intensive exports such as leather and textiles. Service sector issues have also featured prominently in the discussions. On Thursday, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held a meeting with Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, to discuss the prospects of a mutually beneficial trade agreement between the two nations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The meeting focused on deepening economic ties and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in trade and investment. Trump last week said India had offered to eliminate tariffs on US imports. India has offered us a deal where basically they are willing to literally charge us no tariff," he said, speaking at a gathering of business leaders in Doha. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:11 IST Public Sector Banks Surpass Private Banks In Loan Disbursals, Record 17% Growth In Personal Loans Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 13:13 IST Public sector banks issued 60% of Rs 37.9 lakh crore in industrial loans, 56% of Rs 49.9 lakh crore in service loans, and 52% of Rs 51.1 lakh crore in personal loans Home loan growth of public sector banks reached 46.4% in 2024-25, up from 45.1% the previous year. (Representative/Shutterstock) In a significant development for Indias banking sector, public sector banks have surpassed private banks in loan distribution for the first time in 15 years. This shift, highlighted by data from the Reserve Bank of India and various financial institutions, indicates a notable change in the industrys dynamics. The slowdown in loan distribution by major private banks such as HDFC Bank and Axis Bank is cited as a primary factor behind this transformation. Public sector banks, traditionally seen as bastions of trust, have demonstrated their capacity to compete effectively in the current competitive environment. By December 2024, public sector banks achieved a 17% growth in personal loans, compared to 10% for private banks. Recommended Stories Furthermore, public sector banks have established a strong presence across industrial, service, and personal loan categories. They accounted for 60% of the Rs 37.9 lakh crore in industrial loans and 56% of the Rs 49.9 lakh crore in service loans. In personal loans, public sector banks distributed 52% of the Rs 51.1 lakh crore total. Increase In Credit Growth Credit growth in the banking sector has outpaced deposit growth for four consecutive years, a rare occurrence noted only for the second time in 50 years. Fixed deposits (FDs) have driven 86% of the increase in deposit growth, with term deposits comprising 50% of total deposits by December 2024. Increase In Home Loans Public sector banks have also strengthened their position in the home loan market, especially in tier 3 and smaller cities. Their home loan growth reached 46.4% in the financial year 2024-25, up from 45.1% the previous year, while private banks saw a decline from 54.9% to 53.6%. Public sector banks added Rs 2.1 lakh crore in new home loans, representing 56.1% of the total market. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Increase In NRI Deposits Additionally, non-resident Indians (NRIs) have shown increased confidence in Indian banks, with NRI deposits growing by 10% annually in 2024-2025. Total NRI deposits stood at Rs 1.4 lakh crore, with 50% in FDs. By March 2025, NRI deposits had risen to Rs 14.16 lakh crore. First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:13 IST What Happens To The 788 Indian Students Currently Enrolled At Harvard University? | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:43 IST Harvard University Students Controversy: Harvard sees 500800 Indian admissions yearly; this year, 788 Indian students enrolled out of 6,800 international students. Ranked fourth in the QS World University Rankings 2025, Harvard is a coveted destination for Indian students. (AP File) Harvard University Students Controversy: In a move that could deliver a major blow to Indias academic ambitions, the Donald Trump administration has imposed a ban on foreign student admissions at Harvard University. Each year, hundreds of Indian students secure admission to the Ivy League institution, regarded as one of the worlds most prestigious centres of learning. Ranked fourth in the QS World University Rankings 2025, Harvard is a coveted destination for Indian students pursuing courses in business, law, science and technology. Recommended Stories The announcement comes amid rising tensions between US President Donald Trump and Harvard University. Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), conveyed this decision through a letter to Harvard University, as reported by The New York Times. In her letter, Noem stated, I want to inform you that the certification of Harvard Universitys admission program for students and academic exchange has been cancelled with immediate effect." Consequently, this decision will affect Indian students currently studying at Harvard or those planning to enrol. Harvards official records indicate that each year, between 500 to 800 Indian students secure admission at the university, with around 6,800 international students overall. For the current year, 788 Indian students have enrolled. Two Options For Indian Students The Trump administrations decision presents a significant challenge for these students, offering them two options: transferring to another institution or losing their legal status in the US. Indian students can opt for admission at another American institute; failing to do so will necessitate leaving the country. Also See: Why Foreign Students Are Now Barred And Whats Behind The Feud? Relief For Students Enrolled In 2024-25 In the midst of this tension, there is a relief for students who have already commenced their current semester at Harvard. Kristi Noems letter mentions that students enrolled in the current session can complete their graduation from Harvard. The policy change will be implemented from the academic year 2025-26, ensuring that current students face minimal disruption to their studies. Why Was The Ban Imposed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Harvards failure to comply with federal demands for records concerning its foreign students led to the governments action. Noem accused Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment hostile to Jewish students, fostering pro-Hamas sentiments, and enforcing racist diversity, equity and inclusion policies." Consequently, the DHS revoked Harvards certification under the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP), which is crucial for universities to sponsor international student visas. How Did Harvard University Respond To The Ban Harvard University quickly condemned the Trump administrations decision as unlawful" and a retaliatory action." In a statement, the Ivy League institution affirmed its dedication to its international community, declaring, We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who come from over 140 countries and greatly enrich the University and this nation." Why Are Harvard And Trump At Odds top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University, the wealthiest university in the US with a $53.2 billion endowment as of 2024, have been escalating for months. In April 2025, Harvard became the first elite university to openly reject the White Houses demands to curb pro-Palestinian protests and dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Following this, several federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the National Institutes of Health, started cutting and freezing significant federal grant funding to Harvard, totaling billions of dollars and affecting numerous research projects. Donald Trump later suggested that Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status, a move that would severely hinder the universitys fundraising capabilities due to its impact on donor tax burdens. First Published: May 23, 2025, 10:59 IST IIM Calcutta Launches Executive Programme In Public Policy & Management, Details Here Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 07:29 IST IIM Calcutta has launched a one-year Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management to equip professionals with skills in policy-making, governance, and strategic leadership. New Executive Programme in Public Policy & Management Launched by IIM Calcutta. (AI Generated/Representative Image) The field of public policy is growing fast and becoming more important for building strong governance and promoting social and economic progress. A report by the Centre for Policy Research says that over 60% of major policy decisions in the last five years have used data and technology to make better choices. This shows a big move towards data-based decision-making and highlights the need for trained professionals who can create practical, impactful policies. IIM Calcutta, one of Indias top business schools, has launched a new Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management to meet this need. IIM Calcutta is globally recognised, with its MBA programme ranked 56th and its MBA-Ex programme 61st in the Financial Times Global Rankings. It holds prestigious accreditations from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. Recommended Stories What Does The Programme Offers? This one-year programme helps working professionals develop real-world skills in policy analysis, regulation, strategic communication, and impact assessment. It prepares learners to create and manage policies that support social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Participants will explore current ideas such as street-level bureaucracy and new public management, and understand local, national, and global policy-making. The course also teaches leadership and management skills that are useful in public, private, and non-profit sectors. It helps participants improve governance and compliance, especially in corporate environments. Who Can Join? This programme is perfect for professionals working in: Government departments Civil services NGOs and think tanks Universities and research centres Public sector companies International organisations like the UN, World Bank, or ADB Corporate strategy and public affairs teams Consulting firms and media ALSO READ: Symbiosis SET Result 2025 Released At set-test.org, Direct Link To Check Here Its ideal for policy advisors, strategists, planners, senior executives, faculty from administrative training institutes, media professionals, and entrepreneurs looking to influence policy decisions. The programme is taught through live online sessions by IIM Calcutta faculty and policy experts. It includes: A 6-day on-campus visit to IIM Calcutta for networking and learning Case studies, simulations, and a final capstone project Peer interactions with professionals from diverse fields What Participants Will Learn and Achieve? Participants of the programme will gain a comprehensive understanding of how public policies are created and analysed. They will explore best practices in effective policy formulation and learn to navigate the social, political, legal, and cultural factors that influence policymaking. The course also equips them with modern tools and approaches to enhance governance, along with valuable skills in strategic management, legal frameworks, and data analysis to support effective implementation. Programme Details Start Date: June 28, 2025 Duration: 12 months Mode: Live online classes Eligibility: Graduates/postgraduates with at least 3 years of work experience top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Fee: Rs 3,35,000 + GST Certificate: Participants who complete the programme with 75% attendance will receive a certificate from IIM Calcutta and can join its Executive Education Alumni network. 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 23, 2025, 07:28 IST JEE Advanced Result 2025 Date: Expected Cut-Off, Steps To Download Scorecards Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 16:33 IST JEE Advanced 2025 Result: IIT Kanpur will declare results on June 2, 2025. The cut-off marks for various categories will be released on the official website. JEE Advanced Result 2025: 1,87,223 candidates appeared for the exam. (Representative Image/ Getty) JEE Advanced Result 2025 Date: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur will soon declare the results for the JEE Advanced 2025. According to the official schedule, IIT JEE Advanced Result 2025 will be released on June 2, 2025. Once released, candidates will be able to check and download the JEE Advanced 2025 result through the official website- jeeadv.ac.in. JEE Advanced Result 2025: Key Dates Recommended Stories Online declaration of final answer key and Results of JEE (Advanced) 2025: June 02, 2025 (10 AM) Online registration for Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) 2025: June 02, 2025 (10:00 IST) to Tuesday, June 03, 2025 (5 PM) Tentative Start of Joint Seat Allocation (JoSAA) 2025 Process: June 03, 2025 (5 PM) Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) 2025: June 05, 2025 (9 AM to 1 2 PM) Declaration of results of AAT 2025: June 08, 2025 (5 PM) How To Check JEE Advanced Result 2025? Once declared, candidates will be able to check their JEE Advanced Result 2025 on the official website jeeadv.ac.in, Step 1: Visit the official JEE Advanced website jeeadv.ac.in Step 2: Click on the link that says JEE Advanced 2025 Result" on the homepage Step 3: Enter your JEE Advanced 2025 registration number and password Step 4: Click on the Submit" button and your JEE Advanced 2025 result/scorecard will appear on the screen Step 5: Download and save the result for future reference Step 6: Take a printout of the scorecard for use during counselling and admission JEE Advanced Result 2025: Cut-Off Along with the results, IIT Kanpur will also release the JEE Advanced Cut-Off Marks for various categories on the official website jeeadv.ac.in. In 2024, the JEE Advanced cut-off marks witnessed a notable rise across all categories compared to 2023, indicating intensified competition and a surge in high-performing candidates. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For General and EWS categories, the cut-off climbed to 378 marks, up from 348 in 2023. The OBC-NCL cut-off increased to 383 from 352, while the SC and ST cut-offs rose to 364 and 366 respectively, compared to 331 and 323 the year before. In the JEE Advanced 2025, a total of 1,87,223 candidates appeared for the exam, including 1,43,810 boys and 43,413 girls. Based on feedback from candidates and expert analysis, Mathematics emerged as the most difficult section this year, with Chemistry and Physics also posing significant challenges in a similar pattern. 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 23, 2025, 16:33 IST KCET Result 2025 Date: KEA To Declare Karnataka UGCET Results Soon At cetonline.karnataka.gov.in Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 08:24 IST KCET 2025 results are expected to be announced soon on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. The KCET 2025 examination was held on April 15, 16, and 17. Karnataka CET Result 2025 is expected to be released soon. (Representational/File) KCET 2025 Results Date: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is expected to announce the KCET 2025 results soon. Once released, candidates will be able to access their scorecards on the official KEA website using their registration number and password. The delay in result declaration is reportedly due to the KEA awaiting crucial academic data. This includes the Best of Two scores from Karnatakas PUC Exam 2, which were declared on May 16, as well as results from the Kerala Board for candidates applying under the Gadinadu category. Recommended Stories Currently, KEA is in the process of compiling updated marks submitted by candidates. Many students are still uploading their revised PUC 2 scores, which are essential for preparing the final KCET rankings. Once released, candidates can access their results on the following official websites: kea.kar.nic.in cetonline.karnataka.gov.in karresults.nic.in How To Check KCET Result 2025? Follow these steps to download your KCET 2025 result and scorecard: Step 1: Go to the official KEA website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in Step 2: Click on the link that says KCET Result 2025 Step 3: Enter your registration number and password in the login window Step 4: Click on Submit to view your KCET 2025 result Step 5: Download and save your KCET scorecard for future reference and counselling rounds. ALSO READ: DHSE Kerala Plus Two Results 2025 (Out): Class 12 Marks Memo Released, Direct Link To Check Here top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The KCET 2025 examination was held on April 15, 16, and 17 in two sessions each day from 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM and 2:30 PM to 3:50 PM. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has already declared the results of the Kannada Language Test, while the main KCET 2025 results are expected to be released shortly. After the announcement of the results, KEA will also release the KCET 2025 cutoff marks along with the course-wise rank list. Candidates who meet the qualifying criteria will be eligible to participate in the KCET counselling process for admission to undergraduate professional courses across Karnataka. 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 23, 2025, 08:21 IST Twelve crested ibises released into wild Ecns.cn) 14:18, May 23, 2025 A crested ibis, an endangered bird species once believed to be extinct in China, is released into the wild at Muchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 22, 2025. (China News Service/An Yuan) Twelve crested ibises were released into the wild on Thursday. A crested ibis, an endangered bird species once believed to be extinct in China, is released into the wild at Muchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 22, 2025. (China News Service/An Yuan) A crested ibis, an endangered bird species once believed to be extinct in China, is released into the wild at Muchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 22, 2025. (China News Service/An Yuan) A crested ibis, an endangered bird species once believed to be extinct in China, is released into the wild at Muchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 22, 2025. (China News Service/An Yuan) A crested ibis, an endangered bird species once believed to be extinct in China, is released into the wild at Muchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 22, 2025. (China News Service/An Yuan) Crested ibises are released into the wild at Muchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 22, 2025. (China News Service/An Yuan) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) NEET Counselling 2025: 5 Common Mistakes That Can Cost You A Seat And How To Avoid Them Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 15:58 IST NEET Counselling 2025: Avoid these five costly NEET counselling mistakes to secure your dream medical college seat. Top 5 NEET Counselling Mistakes That Can Cost You Your Dream Medical Seat And How to Avoid Them. (Representative Image) By Gaurav Tyagi Cracking NEET is only half the battle. What follows is a high-stakes process called NEET counselling, where a single misstep can cost you your dream college or even a seat altogether. Every year, thousands of students lose out due to avoidable errors. Here are the top five mistakes candidates make during NEET counselling and how you can avoid them. Recommended Stories 1. Choosing Colleges Without Adequate Research Or Strategy The Mistake: Many students select colleges based on reputation or hearsay, without considering crucial factors such as past cut-offs, fee structures, bond obligations, or accessibility. The Fix: Base your choices on verified data. Consult: Cut-off trends from previous years Complete fee structures, including hostel and incidental charges Student reviews from credible sources Then, categorise your options as: Dream (slightly above your rank) Safe (well-suited to your rank) Backup (slightly below your rank) 2. Failing To Lock Choices Or Locking Them Too Early The Mistake: Some students either forget to lock their choices, allowing the system to auto-lock (which might not reflect true preferences), or they lock them too soon without fully exploring all options. The Fix: Use the entire choice-filling window wisely. Make adjustments as needed until the final day, and manually lock your choices once youre certain. Keep a screenshot or printout as proof of submission. 3. Ignoring State Counselling Opportunities The Mistake: Focusing solely on the All India Quota (AIQ) and neglecting state counselling can reduce your chances, particularly if you have better odds within your home state. The Fix: Apply through both AIQ and your state counselling process. If eligible, consider applying through domicile-based quotas in more than one state (e.g., Delhi, Rajasthan). Each state has different rules, cut-offs, and required documentation familiarise yourself with these well in advance. 4. Mishandling Documents The Mistake: Lost, incorrect, or incomplete documents during the reporting phase can lead to seat cancellation, even if youve cleared the exam. The Fix: Prepare a comprehensive NEET Counselling Document Kit that includes: NEET admit card and scorecard Class 10 and 12 marksheets Category certificate (if applicable) Domicile certificate, birth certificate, and valid ID proof Passport-sized photographs Provisional allotment letter Double-check whether originals, self-attested copies, or digital versions are required for each round. 5. Skipping Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy Rounds The Mistake: Some candidates drop out after the initial rounds, assuming theyve lost their chance. The Fix: Mop-up and stray vacancy rounds often see reshuffling due to dropouts or document issues. Reputed colleges occasionally release vacant seats in these rounds. Note that these rounds usually require fresh registration mark the deadlines separately and stay alert. ALSO READ: NEET UG 2025 Expected Cut-Off: Experts Predict Score Range For AIQ And AIIMS Delhi The choices you make during NEET counselling will shape not just your college, but your career, your future, and your identity as a doctor. Stay informed, be strategic, and trust the process. Avoid panic and confusion dont let it undo the hard work youve already invested. With clarity, patience, and planning, you wont just get a seat youll earn your place in a white coat, proudly. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Remember: NEET counselling isnt only about marks its about precision, planning, and perseverance. Avoid these common mistakes by staying proactive, organised, and well-informed. Your dream college may be just one smart decision away. (The Author is the Founder of Career Xpert. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.) 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 23, 2025, 09:48 IST School Timings Changed In Kashmir As Valley Reels Under Heatwave Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:09 IST Kashmir authorities revised school timings from May 26 due to a heatwave. Schools in Srinagar will operate from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Srinagar sizzled at 34.4C on Thursday, a scorching nine degrees above normal. (Representative Image/PTI) In response to the ongoing heatwave conditions, authorities in Kashmir have announced revised school timings across the valley, effective from May 26. According to an official order issued by the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir (DSEK), schools located within Srinagars municipal limits will now operate from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, while those outside the municipal limits will function from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The directive will apply to all government and recognized private schools in the region. The order also emphasized that the revised schedule must be strictly followed by all institutions. Recommended Stories Currently, schools in Srinagar city begin at 9:00 AM, and those outside city limits start at 9:30 AM. The change has been prompted by an intense spell of heat affecting most parts of the Kashmir Valley. On Thursday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 34.4C, which is nine degrees above normal, underscoring the severity of the ongoing weather conditions. Summer Vacations In Various Parts Of Country top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Summer break has officially commenced in many regions of India, with school closures scheduled between April and June, depending on the state. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu have already declared their vacation periods. Several states have announced their summer vacation schedules for 2025 based on regional weather conditions. In Delhi, schools will remain closed from May 11 to June 30. Uttar Pradesh has declared summer holidays from May 20 to June 15, while Madhya Pradesh schools will observe their break from May 1 to June 15. These dates may vary slightly for different school boards and institutions, but they broadly reflect the state-wise academic calendar in response to rising temperatures. 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 23, 2025, 20:09 IST Summer Vacations 2025: When Do Schools Reopen Across India? | State-Wise List Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:58 IST Schools Reopen Date 2025: Summer vacations are underway across India. Here's when schools are expected to reopen in states like Delhi, UP, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, MP, and Rajasthan As the summer vacation continues, parents and students are actively looking for official reopening dates to plan ahead. (AI Generated) Schools Reopen Date 2025: Summer vacations have officially begun in most parts of India, with school closures taking place between April and June, depending on the region. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu have already announced their respective break periods. The duration of these vacations varies based on local weather conditions, with heatwaves and climate advisories playing a key role. As the break continues, parents and students are actively looking for official reopening dates to plan ahead. Recommended Stories School Reopening Dates Vary By State While many private schools operate on individual schedules, government advisories and extreme weather often influence changes. Most states have released the official School Holiday Calendar 2025, which includes summer vacation dates and tentative reopening plans. Heres a state-wise breakdown: Delhi Summer Vacation: May 11 June 30, 2025 School Reopens: July 1, 2025 Uttar Pradesh Summer Vacation: May 20 June 15, 2025 School Reopens: June 30, 2025 Rajasthan Summer Vacation: May 1 June 15, 2025 School Reopens: June 16, 2025 Bihar Summer Vacation: June 2 June 21, 2025 School Reopens: June 23, 2025 Madhya Pradesh Summer Vacation: May 1 June 15, 2025 School Reopens: June 16, 2025 Tamil Nadu Summer Vacation: April 30 June 1, 2025 (for Classes 112) School Reopens: June 2, 2025 CBSE and Kendriya Vidyalaya Summer Schedules Schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) are expected to reopen on June 13, 2025, while most colleges plan to resume on June 19, 2025. Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in states such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh are currently on summer break. Their vacation periods differ based on the regions climate: 40-day break: May 9 June 17, 2025 50-day break: May 2 June 20, 2025 In districts experiencing severe heat, particularly in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, school holidays may be extended until the first week of July. Tamil Nadu May Revise Reopening Date top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Although Tamil Nadu schools are set to reopen on June 2, 2025, the School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, has indicated that this date could be revised depending on weather conditions. The state government, in consultation with the Climate Management Committee, will make decisions prioritizing student safety. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an early onset of the southwest monsoon in Kerala by May 27, 2025. This could potentially influence academic schedules in other southern states as well. First Published: May 23, 2025, 11:15 IST 'Why Are Children Dying By Suicide?' Supreme Court Raps Rajasthan Over Kota Student Deaths Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 16:10 IST The court was hearing two cases: one related to the death of a 22-year-old IIT student and another involving a NEET aspirant who died by suicide in Kota. Supreme Court of India (File photo/PTI) The Supreme Court expressed concern on Friday over the rising number of student suicides in Kota, Rajasthan, terming the situation serious" and questioning the state government about it. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said 14 suicide cases were reported from the city so far this year. Recommended Stories What are you doing as a state? Why are these children dying by suicide, and only in Kota? Have you not given a thought as a state?" Justice Pardiwala asked the counsel representing the state of Rajasthan. The counsel said a special investigation team (SIT) was formed in the state to examine cases of suicides. The apex court was hearing two cases: one related to the death of a 22-year-old IIT student found hanging in his hostel room at IIT Kharagpur on May 4, and another involving a NEET aspirant who took her own life in Kota, where she lived with her parents. The bench learnt that an FIR was lodged in connection with the death of an IIT Kharagpur student. The top court also questioned the four-day delay in the FIR, which was registered on May 8. Dont take these things lightly. These are very serious things," the bench said. The bench cited a March 24 Supreme Court verdict that acknowledged the recurring student suicides in higher educational institutions and established a national task force to tackle mental health issues and prevent such incidents. The bench on Friday said a prompt filing of the FIR was necessary in such cases in line with the verdict. Why you took four days to lodge an FIR?" the bench asked a police officer concerned, present in court. The officer said the FIR was lodged and the investigation in the case was underway. You continue with the investigation in accordance with law," the bench told him. It was revealed that IIT Kharagpur authorities informed the police only after the student took his own life. The bench, however, was not convinced by the explanations of the IIT Kharagpur counsel and the police officer. We could have taken a very strict view of the matter. We could have even proceeded for contempt against the police officer in charge of the jurisdictional police station," it said. The bench then refrained from saying anything further" with the FIR lodged and the investigation progressing. The court emphasised the need for a prompt and properly directed investigation. In the Kota case, the bench expressed disapproval over the failure to file an FIR, while the states counsel assured that the SIT was actively investigating the matter and aware of student suicides in the state. How many young students have died so far in Kota?" the bench asked the counsel. After the counsel said 14, the bench retorted, Why are these students dying?" It said the task force constituted by the top court would take its time before giving a composite report to the court. You are in contempt of our judgment. Why have you not registered the FIR?" the bench asked Rajasthans counsel. The bench noted that the student was living with her parents, having moved out of her institutes accommodations in November 2024. However, in line with our decision, it was the duty of the police concerned to register the FIR and carry out the investigation. The officer in charge of the concerned territorial police station has failed in his duty. He has not complied with the directions issued by this court," the bench said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The bench, as a result, summoned the police officer concerned in the Kota case on July 14 to explain the situation. (With inputs from PTI) First Published: May 23, 2025, 16:10 IST Election Commission Holds One-On-One Talks With Political Parties In Trust-Building Exercise Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 21:07 IST Major parties, including the Congress, AAP, and TMC, continue to allege bias and claim that elections are not conducted fairly Of the six national parties, five have met with the commission. File pic/PTI In the thick of mounting allegations of poll mismanagement from major opposition parties, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a novel effort to rebuild trust among them. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who took office in February, is leading this campaign to restore confidence in the commission. Kumar has decided to meet with political parties individually to directly address their concerns. The goal of this approach is to facilitate open and productive conversations, allowing party leaders to share their suggestions and grievances. All political parties are key stakeholders in the electoral process. Their trust in the commission is crucial for ensuring free and fair elections," an ECI official stated. Recommended Stories The initiative began this month, kicking off through a meeting with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on May 6, led by its president, Mayawati. Although the BSP fielded the most candidates among national parties in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it did not secure any seats. Subsequently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met with the commission on May 8, represented by its national president, Jagat Prakash Nadda. Meetings followed with CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby on May 10, National Peoples Party president Conrad Sangma on May 13, and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on May 15. Of the six national parties, five have met with the commission. The Congress is the only party yet to schedule a meeting. These meetings will continue based on necessity and availability, said sources. This is the first time the ECI has adopted such a tradition. Previously, meetings occurred only when necessary or upon request and were not aimed at fostering mutual understanding," an ECI official told News18. Despite these efforts, major parties, including the Congress, AAP, and Trinamool Congress, continue to allege bias and claim that elections are not conducted fairly. In March, the TMC accused the ECI of enabling voter fraud in West Bengal, stating that non-residents were brought in to vote with identical Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers. AAP also raised concerns about voter list manipulation in this years Delhi assembly polls. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi claimed that 70 lakh voters were added to the electoral rolls in Maharashtra in under six months. The ECI clarified that only 22 lakh new entries were made. Opposition parties have consistently raised issues about voting, vote counting, and updating and deleting in voter lists. The commission has responded by asserting that the rules are the same for all parties. Outcomes may not align with a partys expectations, but that doesnt mean the commission is favouring anyone. Only one candidate can win per seat, and this is determined by the peoples choice," the official explained. To build trust, the commission is also engaging with political parties at various administrative levels. Nationwide, over 4,700 all-party meetings have been conducted40 by Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), 800 by District Election Officers (DEOs), and 3,879 by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), involving more than 28,000 party representatives. This decentralised approach helps address local issues efficiently. For example, a voter list concern in a specific constituency is best handled first by the ERO, then by the DEO, and finally by the CEO if needed," the official added. The commission aims to establish a system of regular meetings between ECI officials and party representatives, ensuring elections are free and fair and maintaining public trust. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Additionally, the commission has made changes based on party feedback. One major issue was EPIC duplication, which the ECI resolved by issuing new identity cards to affected voters. The problem stemmed from changes following the 2008 delimitation, as some areas continued using outdated series or made typographical errors. This trust-building initiative comes at a critical time, with the next major election in Bihar scheduled for November. Whether this effort will significantly change perceptions remains to be seen, but it marks a key step towards greater transparency and accountability by the poll body. About the Author Nivedita Singh Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 21:07 IST 'Pakistan Erased': Jaipur Shop Removes 'Pak' From Its Sweets. Mysore Shree, Anyone? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:36 IST Tyohaar Sweets, a sweet shop in Jaipur, has renamed its sweets to send out message of patriotism to the citizens. Tyohaar Sweets, a popular sweet shop in Jaipur, has dropped "Pak" from the name of its sweets. (Local 18 photo) India has taken a strong stance against Pakistan. From banning Pakistani YouTube channels in the country to banning direct or indirect import of all Pakistani goods to excluding Pakistani actors from the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE) to boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan for standing with Pakistan, India has united like never before. The ties between the two nations hit a new low when the lives of 26 innocent tourists were taken by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22. India, in its response, launched Operation Sindoor, a tactical strike that destroyed terror camps in Pakistan and the PoK region. As the chorus to shun anything and everything that has to do with Pakistan grows by the day, a sweet shop in Jaipur may have taken their disdain for Pakistan a bit too far. Recommended Stories Tyohaar Sweets Tyohaar Sweets, a popular joint located in Jaipur, famous for its mouth-watering sweets, has taken a proud stand for the country, bringing a new message of patriotism to the masses. Aam Pak, Gond Pak, Mysore Pak, Swarn Bhasm Pak, Moti Pak the beloved sweets that grace the shops display counter have been renamed to align with the countrys interests. A new surgical strike on Pak?" The owner, Anjali Jain, thinks so. Speaking to Local-18, Jain said that the spirit of patriotism shouldnt just be limited to the border. The feeling should exist in the common man too. Hence, Jain decided to drop Pakistan" from the name of as many as sweets available in the shop. Also Read: Dawn, Geo News, Shoaib Akhtars 100mph Among Pakistani YouTube Channels Banned In India Post-Pahalgam Pak Erased Pak has successfully been erased from the name of sweets on sale at the Tyohaar Sweets shop. Pak" has been replaced by Shree" or Bharat". Sweets such as Khajoor Pak, Aam Pak, Gond Pak, Mysore Pak, Bikaneri Moti Pak are now called Khajoor Shree, Aam Shree, Gond Shree, Mysore Shree, Bikaneri Moti Shree. The priciest sweets offered by the shop have not escaped the axing of the name either. Swarn Bhasm Pak that is priced at Rs 1750 a piece is now called Swarn Bhasm Bharat. Meanwhile, the silver offering, earlier called the Chaandi Bhasam Pak, is now Chaandi Bhasam Bharat. It is priced at Rs 950 a piece. Pak/Paak For curious readers, Pak isnt short for Pakistan. Neither does it have any origins in the terrorist-harbouring nation. Reacting to the news of name change of said sweets, Abhishek Avtans, a lecturer in Indic languages, took to X and wrote: Who is going to tell them that pak in Mysore Pak, Moti Pak, Aam Pak etc. is from paka , a Kannada word which means sweet condiment and it shares the same root as Hindi pag (sugar syrup)? The shared root for both words is Sanskrit pakva (cooked, ripe, baked)." While others got busy renaming words that had Pak" in them. )Our demand is that when we jump into water, the sound should be of chhshri and not chhapak)." Another wrote: Pakoda () (What will Pakoda be called?)" Karachi Bakery Unfortunately for the iconic Karachi Bakery located in Hyderabad, the protests and outrage werent just limited to online channels. As Operation Sindoor was carried out, demonstrators gathered outside outlets of Karachi Bakery across the city a fortnight ago and placed the Indian tricolour over signboards in a symbolic show of nationalism. The bakery responded to the outrage stating that they had no links to Pakistan and were a proud Indian brand. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Also Read: How Did Indias Karachi Bakery Get Its Name And Who Owns It? Founder Khanchand Ramnanis roots can be found in the city of Karachi, where he ran a food business. Ramnani, a Sindhi Hindu immigrant who relocated from Sindh, Pakistan, to India with his four sons during the 1947 Partition, established the bakery in 1953. 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 23, 2025, 14:31 IST BJP Vs Congress After Nishikant Dubey Shares 1991 India-Pakistan Military Pact To Slam Rahul Gandhi Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:24 IST Rahul Gandhi sparked a major controversy on Saturday by accusing the Centre of "informing" Pakistan ahead of Indias strikes under Operation Sindoor, labelling the move a crime. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, EAM S Jaishankar, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi | File Image/ANI BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for criticising External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over allegedly informing Pakistan about Operation Sindoor, pointing to a 1991 agreement signed during the Congress government that requires India and Pakistan to share details of military drills and troop movements to avoid conflict. Rahul Gandhi sparked a major controversy on Saturday by accusing the Centre of giving advance information to Pakistan about Operation Sindoor, labelling the move a crime." Recommended Stories Rahul Gandhi Ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government entered into an agreement under which India and Pakistan would exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason?" Dubey asked in a post on X, while sharing documents related to the pact. Congress is hand in glove with the Pakistani vote bank, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar ji?" he added. @RahulGandhi 1991 ? pic.twitter.com/Me8XFHm0da Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) May 23, 2025 Responding quickly to Dubeys claim, Congress leader Pawan Khera pointed out that although the military agreement between India and Pakistan was signed on April 6, 1991, his party had already withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar-led government in late February that year. This person needs to know that in late February 1991, Indian National Congress had withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar govt. Elections to the 10th Loksabha had already been announced. For further information, please contact your party colleague @NeerajShekharMp," Khera said in an X post. This person needs to know that in late February 1991, Indian National Congress had withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar govt. Elections to the 10th Loksabha had already been announced. For further information, please contact your party colleague @NeerajShekharMp pic.twitter.com/hIAqUKcseh Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) May 23, 2025 What Rahul Gandhi Said In a post on X, Gandhi questioned External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for publicly admitting that the government of India (GOI) had informed Pakistan of the action and asked how many aircraft the Indian Air Force lost as a result. Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?" said Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime.EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. 1. Who authorised it?2. How many aircraft did our airforce lose as a result? pic.twitter.com/KmawLLf4yW Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 17, 2025 Govt Rejects Claim The MEA firmly rejected Rahul Gandhis claim that S Jaishankar had informed" Pakistan about strikes on its terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor, describing the Congress leaders allegation as an utter misrepresentation of facts." We had warned Pakistan at the start which was clearly during the early phase after Operation Sindoors commencement. This is being falsely represented as having occurred before the operation began. This utter misrepresentation of facts is being called out," the MEA spokesperson said. The MEA referred to Indian Armys communication with their Pakistani counterparts after the successful strikes on terror hubs deep inside Pakistan. Press Information Bureaus Fact Check Unit too asserted that the EAMs remarks were being misrepresented. It said the video circulating on social media had been selectively edited to mislead viewers. Social media posts quoting EAM @DrSJaishankar are implying that India gave advance information to Pakistan about #OperationSindoor. This is false and fabricated," it posted on X. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The video features Jaishankar saying: At the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan, saying, We are striking at terrorist infrastructure and we are not striking at the military. So the military has the option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice." PIB officials explained that the External Affairs Ministers comments were part of a planned message during the operation, meant to highlight that the Indian Army targeted only terror camps and avoided hitting Pakistani military sites, as long as Pakistan did not escalate the situation. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 09:55 IST BSF Jawan Purnam Shaw Returns Home In Bengal After Being Detained By Pakistan Rangers Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 23:01 IST Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor, diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, casting greater uncertainty over Purnam's release. BSF Jawan Purnam Shaw Finally Returns Home. (CNN News18) Excitement filled the air after Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Shaw, who was detained by Pakistan, returned to his home in West Bengals Hooghly district on Friday. Shaw accidentally crossed the international border and returned to his residence in Rishra, where everyone was overjoyed and emotional. Recommended Stories He was warmly received by his father, Bholanath Shaw, who embraced his son amidst a large crowd in Howrah in the evening. Purnam was felicitated with a garland and then taken to Rishra in a car, before transferring to an open-top vehicle for the final stretch. A grand procession, led by a marching band, accompanied him to celebrate his homecoming. His home was decked out like a Diwali celebration, with electric lights and oil lamps illuminating the entire house. A sea of neighbours, relatives, and friends had gathered to warmly welcome him back. We are overjoyed. He has come back home exactly a month after detention. Its Diwali for us and we feel our Ram has returned," Purnams wife Rajani Shaw was seen saying to the local media. She had been busy cooking her husbands favourite meal since morning. Amidst the ordeal, she had even travelled to Pathankot to push for his swift and safe return, and had personally spoken with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Purnam had been escorting farmers near the border on April 23. Exhausted during duty, he reportedly fell asleep under a tree, without realising that he had entered Pakistani territory, where he was subsequently detained. Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor, diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan escalated, casting greater uncertainty over Purnams release. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, due to the BSFs consistent efforts through regular flag meetings and communication with their counterparts on the other side, the Pakistan Rangers, the Indian soldier returned to his homeland on May 14. After being repatriated, Purnam underwent comprehensive medical checks to evaluate his physical and mental state and to document alleged abuse during his time in Pakistan. Nine days post-return, he finally reunited with his family at home. Location : West Bengal, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 22:54 IST Chandrababu Naidu Praises Operation Sindoor, Proposes Defence Production In Andhra While Meeting Rajnath Singh Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: May 24, 2025, 03:19 IST The Andhra Pradesh CM commended the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the offensive against Pakistan and for instilling confidence in the armed forces The chief minister also discussed the establishment of additional Sainik Schools in Andhra Pradesh and highlighted Prime Minister Modi's vision for developing indigenous defence equipment. Image/News18 Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, during his two-day visit to the national capital that began on Friday, met several central government ministers. A key meeting was with defence minister Rajnath Singh. The Telugu Desam Party has voiced its complete support for the Indian governments Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, and Naidu personally congratulated Rajnath Singh on the successful military strike. I congratulated Rajnath Singh for the work done by our armed forces under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the supervision of defence minister Rajnath Singh. They executed precise strikes against Pakistan with great accuracy," Naidu told CNN-News18. Recommended Stories The chief minister also discussed the establishment of additional Sainik Schools in Andhra Pradesh and highlighted Prime Minister Modis vision for developing indigenous defence equipment. The Prime Ministers vision for utilising technology and promoting the Make in India initiative is outstanding. We should always trust our homegrown technology as it is reliable and secure," Naidu said. During the meeting, Naidu proposed several major defence infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh. We submitted key proposals for the state. In the JaggaiahpetDonakonda cluster, where 6,000 acres of land is available, I requested the establishment of missile and ammunition production units," he said. In the Lepakshi-Madakasira region, with 10,000 acres available, we proposed setting up facilities for manufacturing military and civil aircraft, along with electronics production. The defence minister responded positively to the idea of developing a comprehensive aerospace ecosystem. Additionally, we requested the establishment of naval equipment production and weapon testing facilities in the Visakhapatnam-Anakapalli region. In Orvakal, Kurnool, where 4,000 acres is available, we proposed units focused on military drones, robotics, and advanced defence components." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Andhra Pradesh CM once again commended the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the offensive against Pakistan and for instilling confidence in the armed forces. Regarding the oppositions political manoeuvres, he emphasised that no one should disrespect the country and that national interest should always come before individual interests. First Published: May 24, 2025, 03:17 IST 'Don't Forget BSF's Role': Amit Shah Reminds Bangladesh Of India's Crucial Support In 1971 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:27 IST India Bangladesh News: Underscoring India's historical assistance to Bangladesh, Amit Shah emphasized the BSF's critical involvement. Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. (File image/PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued a pointed reminder to Bangladesh, urging the neighboring nation not to overlook the big role" played by the Border Security Force (BSF) in its creation during the 1971 Liberation War. Underscoring Indias historical assistance to Bangladesh, Amit Shah emphasized the BSFs critical involvement. He said, while addressing at the 22nd Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony and the Rustamji Memorial Lecture, Bangladesh should not forget the big role played by BSF in its creation." Recommended Stories Also See: Most Notorious Terrorists Operating In Broad Daylight: Jaishankars Big Swipe At Pakistan Praising the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor, Amit Shah said, We never gave an appropriate answer to Pakistan. Police, Army, and BSF did very good work, but never gave an appropriate reply. In 2014, the BJP government was formed. An attack was made on our soldiers in Uri, and we did a surgical strike. After that, the Pulwama attack happened; in reply to which, we did an air strike. Now, in Pahalgam, innocent tourists were killed after asking about their religion. Operation Sindoor was the reply to it. The world is appreciating us for this. I salute the Army." He added, When it was decided that one force will provide security on one border, BSF was given the responsibility of guarding the two most difficult borders Bangladesh and Pakistan and given your capabilities, you have secured it very well." Also See: BJP Vs Congress After Nishikant Dubey Shares 1991 India-Pakistan Military Pact To Slam Rahul Gandhi top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Lauding the BSF as a shining example of how patriotism can lead to overcoming all challenges, cementing its status as a world-class force, Amit Shah paid tribute to the more than 2,000 border guards who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the BSFs inception in 1965. The BSF, founded by K. F. Rustamji and currently the worlds largest border guarding force with approximately 2.75 lakh (275,000) personnel, is tasked with securing Indias crucial borders with Pakistan to the west and Bangladesh to the east. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:56 IST Enough Proof Of Pakistan Hand In Pahalgam Attack: Foreign Secretary Misri Briefs All-Party Delegations Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: May 24, 2025, 01:32 IST The briefing was for four all-party delegations led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Supriya Sule, Shashi Tharoor, and Baijayant Panda When asked whether Indian Air Force planes were damaged during Operation Sindoor, the foreign secretary responded that all Indian pilots returned safely, and the mission was achieved with 100 per cent success. (File pic: X/MEA) Indias foreign secretary Vikram Misri on Friday held a second briefing with members of Parliament and leaders set to visit multiple countries in the coming days with the intent to expose Pakistans role in supporting terrorism. The briefing was for four all-party delegations led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Supriya Sule, Shashi Tharoor, and Baijayant Panda. It lasted about an hour and a half. Recommended Stories Misri provided a historical overview of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir. He detailed how Pakistan runs terrorist training camps, finances them, and sends terrorists to carry out attacks in India. He highlighted the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and the subsequent Indian military response, Operation Sindoor. Misri explained that terrorists trained in Pakistan were responsible for the Pahalgam attack, and Operation Sindoor was a retaliatory strike targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He added that when Pakistan attempted a missile attack on India, its airbase was targeted in response. The delegations have to expose Pakistans propaganda and clarify to the world that India is not the aggressor and did not initiate the conflict. The conflict began with the Pahalgam terrorist incident initiated by Pakistan, and Operation Sindoor was merely a response. Misri emphasised that India is not the only country suffering from Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. He cited terrorist incidents in countries like Russia, the UK (2005 Tube train attacks), and the USA, showing links to Pakistan. He also mentioned the 9/11 attacks in the United States, noting that Osama bin Laden was found hiding in Pakistan. When asked about US President Donald Trumps claims, Misri clarified that a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was reached through the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries, initiated by Pakistans DGMO. He reiterated that India and Pakistan have always had bilateral relations. Delegation members were informed that while Pakistan keeps raising the Kashmir issue, the real issue is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and the innocent lives lost in the Pahalgam terrorist attacksomething the world needs to be aware of. Members were also briefed on the Indus Waters Treaty. They were told that the treaty was based on goodwill and friendship, but Pakistan neither honoured the goodwill nor upheld the friendship. Instead, it repeatedly carried out terrorist attacks, undermining the agreement. Despite multiple notices from India, Pakistan has not agreed to discussions on the treatys terms, especially considering climate change and Indias water needs. When asked whether Indian Air Force planes were damaged during Operation Sindoor, the foreign secretary responded that all Indian pilots returned safely, and the mission was achieved with 100 per cent success. An opposition member asked how the delegation should respond if asked for proof of Pakistans involvement in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Misri assured the team that there is substantial and well-documented evidence linking Pakistan directly to the attack, compiled in a comprehensive dossier that the Indian delegation will carry during their international outreach efforts. Misri explained that a Pakistani-backed terror outfit had claimed responsibility for the attack and posted about it on social media, later deleting some posts without realising that digital imprints remain. During the investigation, Indian agencies managed to capture some individuals who could describe the terrorists involved, and their descriptions matched the perpetrators of the deadly attacks. Another member inquired about accessing the FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) regarding the Pahalgam incident. Misri did not provide an immediate response, implying that this request might require procedural or legal clearance. Opposition members also asked whether India had suffered any loss of military equipment or aircraft during Operation Sindoor or the retaliatory operation. The foreign secretary stated that such operational details fall under the ministry of defence, not the ministry of external affairs. Any disclosures would need to be handled via official military channels or state-to-state communications. He confirmed that all Indian fighter pilots returned safely and that the Indian Armed Forces inflicted significant and strategic damage on Pakistans terrorist infrastructure and military installations during their operations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Members were advised that their mission would not be easy. Many people follow events in the US, but a significant Pakistani population lives in the UK. Their sentiments can affect the UKs support for Indias fight against terrorism. The foreign secretary asked the UK delegation to prepare for tough conversations during their visit. Two Indian delegations will leave early Saturday morning. One, led by Tharoor, will head to the US and South American countries, while Panda will lead another to West Asia. On Saturday evening, Supriya Sule will lead a delegation to Kenya, South Africa, and other destinations. On Sunday morning, Ravi Shankar Prasad will lead a delegation to the UK and other Western European countries. First Published: May 24, 2025, 01:32 IST Germany Backs India's War Against Terrorism After Pahalgam Attack: 'Every Right To...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 21:23 IST Germany has condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, backed Indias right to self-defence, and reaffirmed that the issues between Delhi and Islamabad be resolved bilaterally. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with German counterpart Johann Wadephul at Berlin. (IMAGE: X) In a strong show of solidarity, Germany on Friday condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and affirmed Indias right to defend itself against cross-border terrorism. German Foreign and Finance Minister Johann Wadephul, denounced the heinous terrorist attacks in Pahalgam" in the strongest terms in his meeting with S Jaishankar, the Union External Affairs Minister, sources speaking to CNN-News18 said. Germany also reiterated its longstanding position that the issue between India and Pakistan should be resolved bilaterally between both nations, aligning with Indias stance against third-party mediation. Recommended Stories This comes amid US President Donald Trumps claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, which India has denied. The Government of several occasions have said that the cessation of hostilities was achieved through direct discussions between the top military officials of both nations and after Pakistan urged a ceasefire, without any international mediation. Excellent meeting today with FM @JoWadephul in Berlin. Deeply appreciate Germanys understanding of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism. Discussed making our Strategic Partnership stronger, deeper and closer. Identified areas of further promise and potential. pic.twitter.com/teX3h6DDWb Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 India maintains that following the recent events if any dialogue is to be held with Pakistan, it will pertain solely to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which Islamabad has occupied illegally for decades and uses to destabilise the region by backing terrorists. In a video accessed by sources speaking to CNN-News18, German Finance Minister Johann Wadephul is heard saying during a joint press conference with EAM S. Jaishankar that he had been in touch with his French counterpart to get a clearer picture of the Pahalgam terror attack. In the press conference in Germany, Jaishankar stated that India has zero-tolerance for terrorism and New Delhi will never give in to nuclear blackmail". He also reiterated that India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally" and there should be no confusion in any quarter" in that regard. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Union minister is currently in Germany as part of his three-nation Europe visit. I came to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. Let me share with you what I conveyed to Mr Wadephul in that context. India has zero-tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail," he said. 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 : Berlin, Germany First Published: May 23, 2025, 19:39 IST Here's What You Should NOT Do If You Are Stuck In A Storm And What To Do After | Explained Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 18:03 IST The deadly sandstorm and rainfall across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness when extreme weather strikes During a storm, avoid standing under trees, near electric poles, or close to tall structures that can collapse. (PTI Photo) A ferocious sandstorm that swept across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening, leaving at least six dead, has reignited concerns about how to stay safe during calamities. Two fatalities were reported from Delhi, while Ghaziabad reported at least two (possibly three) deaths after high-speed winds and heavy rainfall brought the NCR to a standstill on May 21. What You Must Do When Weather Turns Violent Recommended Stories Wednesdays storm serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness when extreme weather strikes. Authorities and experts urge residents to follow these safety tips: If Youre Indoors: Secure all windows and doors. In homes with weak roofs, move to sturdier inner rooms like bathrooms. Turn off the main power supply to prevent electrical accidents. Check for gas leaks and shut off cylinders if needed. Keep emergency essentials water, flashlight, basic medicines, documents readily accessible. If Youre Outside: Take shelter immediately in a sturdy building or vehicle. Avoid standing under trees, near electric poles, or close to tall structures that can collapse. In the open with no shelter? Lie flat on the ground and cover your head with your arms. Driving During A Storm: Reduce speed and pull over safely, ideally in an emergency bay. Avoid parking under trees, poles, or billboards. Stay inside the vehicle with seatbelts fastened. Keep hazard lights on, engine off, and windows shut. If the wind threatens to flip the car, exit and lie flat on the ground covering your head. After the storm, check your route for debris or downed power lines before moving on. Dust Storm And Heavy Rain In Delhi-NCR The Wednesday storm didnt just end in tragedy; it left countless injured and caused widespread structural damage. In a particularly heart-wrenching incident in Greater Noida, a woman and her two-year-old grandson died when a tin shed, dislodged by the gale-force winds from the 21st floor of a high-rise, came crashing down upon them. In several places across the NCR, trees were left uprooted across residential and commercial areas, electric poles crumbled, and massive billboards were torn apart, causing panic and gridlock on already congested roads. IndiGo Flight Hit By Hailstorm As chaos unfolded on the ground, the skies were no safer. An IndiGo flight en route to Srinagar from Delhi with over 200 passengers was caught in the heart of the storm. A chilling video now circulating widely on social media shows terrified passengers crying and praying as the aircraft battled intense turbulence and hail. The airline confirmed that flight 6E 2142 encountered a sudden hailstorm mid-air, but reassured that all protocols were followed and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. However, photos suggest the front fuselage of the aircraft was visibly damaged, though no official statement on the extent of the damage has been released yet. A Look At The Deadliest Storms Wednesdays mayhem joins a long list of devastating weather events that have scarred the nation: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Odisha Super Cyclone, 1999: Winds at 260 km/h claimed over 10,000 lives and destroyed near about 20 lakh homes. Winds at 260 km/h claimed over 10,000 lives and destroyed near about 20 lakh homes. Cyclone Amphan, 2020: Ravaged West Bengal and Odisha with 240 km/h gusts, leaving 128 dead and over Rs 13,000 crore in damages. Ravaged West Bengal and Odisha with 240 km/h gusts, leaving 128 dead and over Rs 13,000 crore in damages. Andhra Pradesh Cyclone, 1977: One of the deadliest, with estimates of 10,00050,000 deaths. Spurred Indias first modern cyclone warning systems. One of the deadliest, with estimates of 10,00050,000 deaths. Spurred Indias first modern cyclone warning systems. Kerala Floods, 2018: Torrential monsoons and storm winds led to over 400 deaths and displaced over 10 lakh people. Torrential monsoons and storm winds led to over 400 deaths and displaced over 10 lakh people. Cyclone Tauktae, 2021: Pounded Gujarat and Maharashtra with 185 km/h winds, killing at least 100 and submerging Mumbai and Surat. As weather patterns grow increasingly erratic, experts warn that the frequency and intensity of such storms may rise. Residents are urged to stay tuned to weather advisories, follow emergency protocols, and prioritise safety over routine. First Published: May 23, 2025, 18:01 IST IAF Assisted Hailstorm-Hit IndiGo Jet Land Safely In Srinagar After Pakistan Denied Airspace Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:20 IST Pakistan had denied IndiGo aircraft stuck in emergency to use its airspace, putting over 200 lives at risk after hailstorm hit the jet midair on May 21. IndiGo flight was denied permission by Lahore ATC to use airspace even during emergency (PTI Image) The Indian Air Force authorities had assisted the safe landing of the Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight that was damaged due to a hailstorm midair on May 21, after Pakistan denied an emergency request to use its airspace to avoid the dangerous storm, official sources said on Friday. The IndiGo 6E-2142 was struck by a hailstorm and turbulence and suffered damage to its nose. The aircraft, which was flying at an altitude of nearly 36,000 feet near Punjabs Pathankot, dropped 8,500 ft/min(feet per minute) due to a severe storm after Pakistan refused the request of the Indian pilot to use its airspace, putting over 200 lives at risk. Recommended Stories The pilot had initially sought permission from the northern air traffic control (handled by the IAF) to turn towards the international border to avoid the storm, however, the request was denied. After this, the pilot requested Lahore ATC. Lahore Air Traffic Control had dismissed the request despite an emergency situation, which could have cost lives. ALSO READ | Chaos In The Sky: IndiGo Flight Plunges 8,500 Feet In A Minute As Pakistan Denies Airspace Why Did Northern ATC Deny Permission To Turn To Pakistan? The IAF sources said that the permission to turn left (towards Pakistan) was denied because of NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) A0220/25 issued by Pakistans Civil Aviation Authority, preventing Indian-registered aircraft both civilian and military from entering Pakistani airspace. The aircraft was immediately assisted in coordinating their route diversion by contacting Delhi Area and passing requisite contact frequencies of Lahore control for overflight weather diversion request," IAF sources said. Once Pakistan refused to let the Indian civilian aircraft enter its airspace, the IndiGo jet proceeded towards Srinagar. Once Lahore refused overflight clearance, and the aircraft proceeded towards Srinagar, the flight was subsequently professionally assisted till a safe landing at Srinagar airfield by giving control vectors and groundspeed readouts," the IAF sources said. The pilot managed to safely land the plane at 6.30 pm in Srinagar. All passengers, who also included some TMC MPs, and crew members, were safe at the time of landing. However, the aircraft suffered damage to its nose. Five Trinamool Congress leaders Sagarika Ghose, Derek OBrien, Nadimul Haque, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur were on board the flight. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Notably, India and Pakistan had closed their airspace for each others flights after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on April 22. India retaliated with Operation Sindoor on May 7, after which Pakistan launched an offensive and stepped on the escalation ladder, prompting a swift response by the Indian armed forces. This resulted in massive military losses to Pakistan, including damage to 11 air bases. Tensions have been high between the two countries. India put the Operation Sindoor on a pause after Pakistani DGMO approached his Indian counterpart on May 10, seeking a ceasefire. 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 23, 2025, 20:09 IST India Calls Out Pakistans Hypocrisy At UNSC, Cites Shelling Of Villages, Support For Terror Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 23:35 IST Calling out Pakistans double standards, India says a nation that shelters terrorists and kills civilians cannot preach about protecting human rights at the global stage. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish at the United Nations. (IMAGE: PTI) India on Friday launched a sharp attack on Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), accusing its neighbour of deliberately targeting civilians and supporting terrorism, including by using civilian spaces as cover for terror operations. Speaking at a UNSC session on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said that the Pakistani army recently shelled Indian border villages, killing over 20 civilians and injuring more than 80. He alleged that the attacks intentionally targeted religious places and medical facilities. Recommended Stories Pakistan attacked border villages with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), constant firing and shelling as its forces intervened on behalf of terrorists after India targeted terror hideouts of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Operation Sindoor earlier this month. Indian Army dispelled the aerial attacks but the Pakistan Army attacked civilian and residential areas forcing Indian armed forces to carry out strikes on Pakistani military installations. The Pakistan Army attacked hospitals and places of worship in Poonch and other border districts. There was intentional targeting of places of worship, including gurudwaras and temples, as well as medical facilities," Harish said, adding that the assault was a blatant violation of international humanitarian norms. He further said that India has endured decades of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attacks, pointing to past incidents such as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the recent massacre of tourists in Pahalgam in April 2025. Harish criticised Islamabads consistent glorification of terrorists, saying, We just recently saw senior government, police and military officials pay respects at the funeral of noted terrorists." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A nation that makes no distinction between terrorists and civilians has no credentials to speak about protecting civilians," the envoy added. Harish also warned that arguments for the protection of civilians should not be manipulated to shield UN-designated terrorists. The international community must come together on zero tolerance for terrorism and call out those who sponsor and defend it," he said. 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 : United Nations, United States First Published: May 23, 2025, 23:35 IST India Extends Closure Of Airspace For Pakistani Airlines, Aircraft Till June 23 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:36 IST The rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) restrict such closure for a month at a time. Air India operates multiple daily flights connecting India to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). (Image: Representational) India has extended the closure of its airspace for Pakistani aircraft and airlines by a month, till June 23, according to a notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued by Indias aviation authorities on Friday. The restriction applies to all aircraft registered, operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines and military flights. The ban was initially imposed on April 30 for flights operated by Pakistan. Recommended Stories Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said, The NOTAM has been extended. We have maintained the status quo. For the time being, on grounds of national security, weve removed the Turkish players from ground handling services, cargo services. We are not seeing any problem in the operations. We are going to take guidance from the security agencies in this regard." The decision was taken in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, as diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated in the past few days. The development comes after Pakistan also extended the closure of its airspace for all Indian airlines till June 24. Pakistan had blocked Indian airlines from its airspace on April 24, retaliating against New Delhis punitive measures following the Pahalgam terror attack. This announcement comes a day after Lahore Air Traffic Control denied an Indian aircraft permission to temporarily use Pakistani airspace to avoid turbulence. As a result, the Indigo aircraft operated on the original flight path, where it encountered severe turbulence. The aircraft, with more than 220 people, was struck by hail, causing major disruptions to its flight systems. It landed safely, but the aircrafts nose radome" was damaged. Meanwhile, the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) restrict such closure for a month at a time. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The airspace closure extension coincides with escalating tensions between the two neighbours, following Indias Operation Sindoor precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Operation Sindoor was Indias direct military response to the April 22 terror strike at Pahalgam in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians in what was the worst attack on civilians since the 26/11 Mumbai strikes. First Published: May 23, 2025, 18:50 IST India Looks To Corner Pakistan In FATF, IMF By Stirring World's Conscience Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 16:53 IST According to high-level government sources, backdoor talks have already commenced The IMF included 11 conditions in its supplementary list for Pakistan's bailout. File image/X The International Monetary Funds decision to grant a loan to Pakistan disappointed India, but it has not daunted its resolve to maintain pressure on global institutions and countries to ensure Islamabads economic isolation. However, in a significant development for India, the IMF included 11 conditions in its supplementary list for Pakistans bailout. These conditions require Pakistan to provide assurance of transparent fund usage and the availability of a regular budget. Recommended Stories The upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting poses another challenge, as it will examine money laundering and terror financing. India has been advocating for Pakistans inclusion on the grey list, which would be a considerable censure. According to high-level government sources, backdoor talks have already commenced. India has activated its contacts. Top government sources reveal that a list of funding provided to Pakistan by the IMF, alongside a corresponding increase in Pakistans arms purchases, was presented to the financial body. If this is not proof of misuse of funds, then what is?" India argues. In preparation for the FATF meeting and the earlier IMF discussions, Indian embassies have been engaging with embassies and high commissions of European countries and FATF members. Furthermore, during her international visits, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been in contact with her counterparts in Germany, France, and Italy. A multi-party delegation has also been tasked with persuading FATF member countries to recognise that their money is essentially blood money. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sources said that, according to public data, Pakistan spends on average around 18 per cent of its general budget on defence affairs and services", while even the conflict-affected countries spend on average far less (10-14 per cent of their general budget expenditure). Further, Pakistans arms imports increased dramatically from 1980 to 2023 by over 20 per cent on average in the years when it received IMF disbursements in comparison to years when it did not receive the same. Top government sources emphasise that while India respects the autonomy of institutions in disbursing funds, it has learnt that it must and will advocate for its interests. However, India asks, How can European countries and institutions evade responsibility when countries like Pakistan misuse funds to fuel terrorism?" About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 16:37 IST Jaishankar Questions Europe's Stand On Pakistan: Supported Military Regimes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:50 IST Pakistan was granted Major non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status by the United States in 2004 despite being a known harbour for terrorists. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar questioned the Wests so-called democratic credentials over its support of military regimes while discussing Pakistans support for terrorism in Kashmir. (IMAGE: PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Europe for what he described as long-standing support to military regimes in Pakistan, despite the countrys record of cross-border aggression and democratic instability. The comments were made when the Minister was interviewed by the Danish news outlet Politiken. Recommended Stories He is currently in Berlin after stops in the Netherlands and Denmark. During meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other top officials, he discussed deepening the strategic partnership, counter-terrorism cooperation, resilient supply chains and global security challenges. Honored to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz today in Berlin. Conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi. Look forward to working with his Government to elevate and expand our Strategic Partnership. Appreciate Germanys solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism. pic.twitter.com/DOwJpdt9BU Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 Our borders have been violated by Pakistan in Kashmir ever since our independence in 1947," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday. And what have we seen in the eight decades since then?" he continued. That large, democratic Europe, to use your own term, has stood side by side with military dictatorships in the region." Jaishankar did not hold back in his criticism of Western nations, particularly European powers, for their historical alignment with Pakistans military rulers. No one has supported the military regimeand undermined democracy in Pakistan in so many waysas much as the West," he said. India has consistently highlighted the role of Pakistans military establishment in cross-border terrorism and has long maintained that Islamabads power structure is dominated by the army, which enables terror groups to operate with impunity in the Kashmir valley, Afghanistan and across the subcontinent. Despite this, Pakistan was designated a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) by the United States in 2004, a status that granted it access to certain military and financial benefits reserved for key strategic partners. The move was justified at the time as part of the US-led war on terror, but critics in India and elsewhere have repeatedly questioned how a state accused of sheltering terrorist networks could be trusted with such a designation. The most glaring example came in 2011, when Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was found living undetected in Abbottabad, just a short distance from Pakistans elite military academy. Quad Is Flexible External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while speaking on global partnerships, pointed to the Quad alliancecomprising India, the US, Japan and Australiaas an example of modern, flexible and interest-driven cooperation. Its based on voluntarinessa desire to pool our strengths and cooperate. Its flexible and effective," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His comments come in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians and led to Operation Sindoor, where Indian armed forces conducted a series of precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. New Delhis firm response stood largely alone, with muted backing from Quad partners even when Pakistan armed forces intervened on behalf of the terrorists and brought both nuclear-armed neighbours close to a full-blown war by attacking civilians in India. India responded befittingly and caused damage to military installations and casualties to the aggressors. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 15:38 IST Karnataka Gang-Rape Accused Hold Victory Parade After Bail, 5 Arrested Amid Outrage Curated By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Anushka Vats Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:26 IST The accused granted bail include Aptab Chandanakatti, Madar Saab Mandakki, Samiwulla Lalanavar, Mohammad Sadiq Agasimani, Shoib Mulla, Tausip Choti, and Riyaz Savikeri. Screengrab of video showing the accused holding victory parade In a shocking turn of events in Karnatakas Haveri, the accused in the 2024 Hanagal gang rape case held a victory parade in the town after being released on bail. The incident drew widespread condemnation after a video of the parade, which featured multiple cars and bikes, went viral on social media. Subsequently, five people were arrested for taking out procession. Meanwhile, police have approached the court, seeking cancellation of bail order. Recommended Stories The sessions court in Haveri recently granted bail to seven primary accused in the case after the survivor reportedly failed to positively identify them. The accused granted bail include Aptab Chandanakatti, Madar Saab Mandakki, Samiwulla Lalanavar, Mohammad Sadiq Agasimani, Shoib Mulla, Tausip Choti, and Riyaz Savikeri. DEPRAVED: Gang rape accused on a victory procession after securing bail. Haveri tense. Bike rally featured 7 accused A1- Aptab Chandanakatti, A2- Madar Saab Mandakki, A3- Samiwulla Lalanavar, A7- Mohammad Sadiq Agasimani, A8- Shoib Mulla, A11- Tausip Choti, A13- Riyaz Savikeri pic.twitter.com/KxJD0EMrv0 Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 23, 2025 Hours after the video went viral, Haveri police took cognisance of the incident. The police are considering strict action after a rape accused allegedly took out a victory procession, potentially violating bail conditions. Authorities are exploring the possibility of registering a fresh case in connection with the celebratory rally and may also approach the court seeking cancellation of the accuseds bail for breaching its terms. The Hanagal gang rape case dates back to January 2024, when a woman alleged that she was gang-raped by seven men. The incident occurred after a group of men entered the room of a lodge in Karnatakas Hangal and allegedly thrashed a couple for the crime of being together despite practising different faiths. The woman later alleged gang rape by the men. The victims statement has been recorded under 164 of the CrPC after producing her before the magistrate," Haveri Superintendent of Police, Anshu Kumar had then said. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hit out at the Congress-led state government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, the post-bail roadshow by the accused in Akki Alur has reignited public anger, with many demanding strict action and questioning the celebratory conduct amid ongoing legal proceedings. All seven accused are from Akki Alur in Haveri district. The police had initially filed a complaint of moral policing. The gang rape charges were added later on the statement of the victim, who alleged that she was dragged to a forested area near Nalkuru Cross and sexually assaulted by seven individuals. About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Location : karnataka, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 09:38 IST Kerala Mother Throws 3-Year-Old Into River, Claims Ignorance About Sexual Abuse By Uncle Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:49 IST The mother said a disturbing dream about her daughter living with her stepmother unsettled her. She later confessed to killing the child out of fear for her future The police have revealed that the young girl endured months of sexual abuse by her paternal uncle. (Representative/Shutterstock) In a tragic case from Thiruvankulam in Keralas Ernakulam, the mother of the three-and-a-half-year-old girl who was thrown into a river told police she was unaware that her husbands relative had been sexually abusing the child. According to an Indian Express report, the police have revealed that the young girl endured months of sexual abuse by her paternal uncle. Recommended Stories The mother stated that her husband had abandoned her, remarried, and taken their daughter with him. She said she had reportedly a disturbing dream about the child living with her stepmother, which deeply unsettled her. During questioning, the mother confessed to killing her daughter out of fear for the childs future. She also revealed that her husband and his family had isolated her, and even the children avoided her, causing immense emotional distress. She further testified to having had a traumatic experience while staying at her husbands house. Meanwhile, the investigation team has been expanded to 22 members, including four women officers and three female sub-inspectors. While the murder took place under the jurisdiction of the Chengamanad police station, the rape occurred within the Puthenkurish station limits. The police said that the uncle admitted to repeatedly raping the child. During the postmortem, doctors found evidence of sexual abuse and reported suspicious wounds and marks on the childs body. Based on this information, the Puthenkurish police conducted an investigation and took the accused into custody. He confessed to the crime during detailed interrogation. The incident came to light on Monday, May 19, when the mother (35) reportedly threw her daughter into a river. The child, who was in her mothers custody, went missing, prompting the father to file a police complaint. Initially, the mother stated that the child went missing while they were on a bus traveling from a local Anganwadi to their home in Aluva. However, a detailed police investigation and CCTV footage confirmed that the child was last seen with her. During further interrogation, the mother confessed to throwing the child off the Moozhikkulam bridge. The childs body was later recovered during a search operation. We have acted upon the report and a case under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) case has been registered based on it," Ernakulam (Rural) Superintendent of Police M Hemalatha was quoted as saying in the Indian Express report. The report states that the girls parents had a tense relationship, and the suspect, who is the fathers younger brother, resided nearby. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former minister KK Shailaja criticised the incident in a Facebook post. When our families turn into closed private spaces where family members live without any social commitment, our children are left to face extreme cruelty. We need enlightenment about childrens rights and the elders responsibility towards them. The entire society should stand against this kind of behavioural disorders," she said in the post. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 12:49 IST 'Maa, I Didn't Steal...': Accused Of Stealing Chips, 13-Year-Old Dies By Suicide In Bengal Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:17 IST West Bengal Suicide News: Class 7 student at Bakulda High School in Panskura, left behind a suicide note reading, 'Maa, I didnt steal', before consuming posion at his home The was rushed to a hospital where he allegedly died on Thursday morning. (Representative Image) West Bengal Suicide News: In a tragic incident in West Bengals East Midnapore district, a 13-year-old boy died by suicide on Thursday after allegedly being publicly humiliated by a local shopkeeper over accusations of theft. The boy, Krishnendu Das, a Class 7 student at Bakulda High School in Panskura, left behind a note that read, Maa, I didnt steal, before consuming posion at his home in Gosainber Bazar. Krishnendu, described by neighbours as quiet and polite, had gone to a local sweet shop on Sunday afternoon to buy snacks. According to his family, the shop was unattended at the time. Seeing a packet of chips outside, he allegedly picked it up and began walking away. Recommended Stories Subhankar Dikshit, a civic volunteer and the owner of the shop, allegedly spotted Krishnendu at a distance holding three packets of chips and chased him on a motorbike. Upon catching up with the boy, Dikshit accused him of stealing. Though Krishnendu reportedly handed over Rs 20, covering the Rs 15 cost of the chips, Subhankar is said to have dragged him back to the shop, returned his change, and then beat him in public, forcing him to hold his ears and apologise before onlookers in the busy market. Upon hearing of the incident, Krishnendus mother took him back to the shop and scolded him further, possibly unaware of the emotional turmoil her son was enduring. Later that evening, the boy retreated to his home and penned a note, Maa, I didnt steal", before consuming poison. He was rushed to Tamluk Medical College and Hospital where he allegedly died on Thursday morning. His body was sent for a post-mortem and then released to the family. Police have confirmed that a case of unnatural death has been registered, though no formal complaint had been filed as of Friday, TOI reported. Authorities have said a full investigation will be launched if and when a formal complaint is submitted. The incident triggered outrage in the community, with residents accusing the shopkeeper of using excessive force and public shaming against the minor. He was a child. Even if he had taken the chips without paying, which we dont believe he did, was this how a civic volunteer should have acted?" said a local resident. Where is the law when those meant to uphold it choose humiliation over justice?" he further added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The shop owner has not yet responded to the allegations and has reportedly gone missing. He also refused to share CCTV footage from his shop that could potentially clarify the sequence of events. This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:18 IST Man Behind 'Bangalore Metro Chicks' Instagram Page Arrested For Secretly Filming Women Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:29 IST The accused had clicked several videos of women metro users inappropriately without their consent and shared them online. Representative image of Bengaluru metro | PTI The man who shared photographs of women commuters on the Bengaluru metro network has been arrested. The accused has been identified as Diganth. He was the person behind the account Bangalore Metro Clicks (@metro_chicks) through which the photos were shared. Recommended Stories The accused had clicked several videos of women metro users inappropriately without their consent and shared them online. According to the sources, the first information report (FIR) was registered on Wednesday. The account had several photos and videos of women Metro commuters in Bengaluru both in trains and on platforms and was followed by over 5,000 people. A user on X had flagged the account and tagged the Bengaluru Police, urging them to take action. The police said that none of the women seemed to be aware that they were being photographed. Concerning a certain Instagram page that uploaded videos and photos of women travellers using Bengaluru metro without their knowledge and consent, a case of voyeurism and under the Information Technology Act has been registered at Banashankari police station," Lokesh B Jagalasar, deputy commissioner of police (South), was quoted as saying by news agency PTI on Wednesday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all All photos were deleted from his Instagram account, which was later removed. First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:29 IST 'Most Notorious Terrorists Operating In Broad Daylight': Jaishankar's Big Swipe At Pakistan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 09:32 IST Jaishankar rejected the notion that Pakistan was unaware of the terrorism on its soil and said most notorious terrorists were operating from there in broad daylight. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (PTI Image) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a scathing remark on Pakistans military establishment, saying it was involved up to its neck" in cross-border terrorism and backed notorious terrorist organisations. In an interview with Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant on Thursday, Jaishankar rejected the notion that Pakistan was unaware of the terrorist organisations operating on its soil and said both the Pakistani state and the Army are involved in terrorist activities. Recommended Stories The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations (UN) sanctions list are all in Pakistan. They operate in the big cities, in broad daylight. Their addresses are known. Their activities are known. Their mutual contacts are known," he said. Notably, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically after Lashkar-linked terrorists gunned down 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22. India launched precise airstrikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan, sparking four days of intense military hostilities before a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Lets Not Pretend Pakistan Is Not Involved Lets not pretend that Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it," said Jaishankar, warning of consequences" if terrorist attacks from Pakistan continued. He also said the issue of terrorism and that of Jammu and Kashmir were completely separate matters to India. The minister said India wanted a definitive end to the problem of terrorism emanating from Pakistan. When asked about his previous statement of terming Pakistan as an epicentre of terrorism", he said, I am not suggesting that, I am stating that." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Suppose that there were large military centres in the middle of a city like Amsterdam, where tens of thousands of people gathered for military training, would you say that your government knows nothing about that? Of course not," he told the Dutch newspaper. In an earlier interview with Dutch media, Jaishankar reiterated Indias position on terrorism, Kashmir, and bilateral ties with Pakistan. Kashmir is part of India. No country negotiates a part of its own territory," he firmly said. 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 : Amsterdam, Netherlands First Published: May 23, 2025, 09:32 IST Operation Sindoor: Indias Women Pilots Played Key Role, Over 200 Killed in Pakistan | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 18:46 IST Top defence sources said more than 170 terrorists were killed in the May 7 strike on the nine terrorist headquarters in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Adampur air base. (X) Operation Sindoor led to over 200 casualties on the Pakistani side, including nearly 42 of their military personnel, top defence sources have told CNN-News18. Several Indian women pilots were part of Operation Sindoor that inflicted serious damage on Pakistan, defence sources added. Sources said more than 170 terrorists were killed in the May 7 strike on the nine terrorist headquarters in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), with the maximum damage being inflicted on the Bahawalpur headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammad. This is where Indias most wanted terrorist Maulana Masood Azhars family suffered heavy casualties. Recommended Stories On May 9-10, India used the Brahmos missile to inflict serious damage to multiple Pakistan air bases, including Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan and the Nur Khan airbase, sources told CNN-News18. At least 42 Pakistani Military personnel were killed in Indian strikes. Sources added that India had hit all the targets it had planned with spectacular precision. Indias women pilots were also a part of Operation Sindoor, defence sources revealed to CNN-News18. India remains on alert with Operation Sindoor not over, but only paused. Sources said Pakistan was badly humiliated" and so it will try to do something. We are on alert for any action by them. Forces have been told to be prepared. Operation Sindoor has not ended, it is only paused," defence sources added. Making Army Chief Asim Munir as the Field Marshall is a face-saving gesture by Pakistan," top defence sources told CNN-News18. Defence sources also said that Indias military success was a consequence of several decisions taken after the Doklam stand-off in 2017. PMS WARNING TO PAKISTAN In a powerful and emotionally charged address in Bikaner on May 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Indias decisive counterterror operations in response to the April 22 attack in Jammu & Kashmir, asserting that every drop of Indian blood will be avenged". The bullets flew in Pahalgam, but all 140 crore Indians were hurt," Modi declared, describing the nations collective pain and unity after the deadly terrorist strike. Modi confirmed that in just 22 minutes, India launched a precise retaliation, destroying nine top terrorist headquarters inside Pakistan in Operation Sindoor. Jab sindoor barood ban jata hai, then what is the result the world saw it." Framing the strike as a fulfilment of the nations vow post-Pahalgam, Modi said: Those who tried to erase our sindoor, we have turned them to dust. Those who spilled Indian bloodtoday, weve settled every drop." PAKISTAN BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES Crediting Indias armed forces, Modi said: Our government gave full freedom to all three armed forces. They created a chakravyuh that brought Pakistan to its knees." Referring to Pakistans attempted strike on the Nal Air Base, he said the base stood untouchedwhile Indias response targeted Pakistans Rahim Khar air base, rendering it inoperable: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rahim Khar air base is now in the ICU. No one knows when it will reopen." He reiterated Indias new security doctrine: Three new normals: If you attack India, you will face a fierce response. The time, method, and intensityour Army will decide. And we will not be blackmailed by nuclear threats", the PM said. 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 23, 2025, 18:43 IST 'Pakistan Exposed, Their Army Officers Attended Terrorists' Funeral': Amit Shah Hails Op Sindoor Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 15:04 IST Amit Shah hailed Indian Armed Forces for the successful execution of Operation Sindoor, and criticised Pakistan for attending the funerals of terrorists. Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaking at the BSF Investiture Ceremony. (Amit Shah) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Pakistan has been exposed before the world over its involvement in cross-border terrorism and said India gave a befitting reply to terror outfits during Operation Sindoor earlier this month. Speaking at the Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony at Rustamji Memorial Lecture, Shah said, Operation Sindoor is the result of our Prime Ministers strong political will, accurate information from our intelligence gathering agencies and the armys amazing display of lethality came together. Operation Sindoor was formed when all three came together." Recommended Stories In just a few minutes of the operation, we destroyed nine terrorist bases, of which two were their headquarters. But what needs to be understood carefully is that we neither destroyed any Pakistani military installation nor did we ever target an airbase. We only and only destroyed terrorist camps, those who committed crimes on our land." He said Pakistan took Indias response as an attack on them and launched an offensive at Indian military and civilian assets, to which the Indian Army gave a befitting reply that was praised by the entire world. Pakistan now stands completely exposed. The terrorism in India is Pakistan-sponsored," he said. He also highlighted that Pakistani Army officials were present at the funeral of proscribed terrorists. When the terror camps in Pakistan were targeted, it was the Pakistani army that responded. The world witnessed that when the funerals of the killed terrorist leaders were held, senior officers of the Pakistan Army were not only present but were also seen carrying their coffins and participating in the prayers," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Our country has been facing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for many decades. Pakistan has carried out many big incidents for years, but it had not been given a proper response," he added. In Pahalgam, innocent people were killed by ascertaining their religion in front of their families by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists." He also hailed over 2,000 border guards who made the supreme sacrifice while serving in the BSF from 1965 to 2025," he said. BSF is a great example of how one can overcome all difficulties on the basis of patriotism and become the best force in the world." 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 23, 2025, 12:39 IST How Pakistan High Commission In New Delhi Is A Sleeper Cell Of ISI | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 13:54 IST "Pakistan High Commission officials use their diplomatic immunity to recruit agents and facilitate espionage, say top intelligence sources The Pakistan High Commission in new Delhi. (IMAGE: PTI) The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi is acting as a covert hub or sleeper cell of Islamabads Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to top intelligence sources. Mass scale embassy recruitment is possibly to map targets for fidayeen attacks in the future. The idea is to know the entry points, exits, gate strength and guarding pattern," said sources. Recommended Stories According to sources, many, like Jyoti Malhotra, used to make videos from sensitive locations showing the overall guarding pattern. The ISI focuses on regions like Uttar Pradesh to identify individuals disillusioned by socio-economic disparities or perceived injustices. ISI officials in Pakistan have asked local staffers to recruit every group capable of raising voice against India. Pakistan High Commission officials use their diplomatic immunity to recruit agents and facilitate espionage," said sources. DECODING RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES & HANDOVER MECHANISMS: SOURCESPEAK ISI officials are always working as visa officials in the embassy and working under diplomatic cover as First Secretary or Minister. ISI staffers sometimes project themselves as husband and wife initially to make a person comfortable. CASES IN POINT: WHAT SOURCES SAY For instance, embassy staffers Ehsan-ur-Rahim (Danish) and Muzammil were implicated to cultivate Indian YouTubers and influencers. Their idea was to gather intelligence or spread pro-Pakistan narratives. Mohammad Tarif from Mewat was lured with a visa in exchange for providing SIM cards and later tasked with photographing military installations. Asif Baloch, a former staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, recruited agents like Mohammad Tarif and facilitated their travel to Pakistan for training. THE TARGETS: WHAT SOURCES SAY top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Visa applicants, especially from sensitive regions of Jammu and Kashmir or military families, were targeted. Vulnerable individuals are attracted through offers of expedited visas, financial incentives, or blackmail. Embassy staff allegedly maintain direct communication with ISI handlers in Pakistan. Individuals in UPs Shamli and Rampur districts like Nauman Ilahi, a security guard, and Shehzad Wahab, a smuggler, were recruited. Nauman Ilahi from Shamli was paid Rs 4,000-5,000 per assignment to share train station maps. Shehzad Wahab from Rampur smuggled goods and shared intel on border security vulnerabilities. They were recruited by exploiting financial hardships and ideological grievances like atrocities on minorities Recruits like Ansarul Miya Ansari, a Nepali-origin taxi driver, was radicalised using issues like the Babri Masjid demolition and anti-CAA/NRC sentiments during training in Pakistan. The ISI recruits social media influencers like Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger, to spread propaganda and gather intelligence. Malhotra was groomed by embassy staffer Danish and introduced to Pakistani intelligence officials during her visits to Pakistan. To avoid detection, recruits are often connected to ISI handlers via intermediaries in third countries like Dubai or Nepal. Nazir Ahmad Bhat, an ISI recruiter in Jammu, arranged meetings in neutral territories to brief agents. Recruits are provided fake Pakistani passports to travel via third countries like Dubai or Sri Lanka. Their Indian passports remain unmarked to evade suspicion. Ansarul Ansari traveled to Pakistan via Nepal using a fake identity after receiving espionage training in Rawalpindi. Once recruited, individuals undergo training in espionage techniques. Ansarul Ansari received training in Pakistan on gathering military documents and coordinates. Devendra Singh Dhillon, a student from Haryana, was trained via the Kartarpur Corridor and tasked with photographing military cantonments. Recruits are assigned tasks collecting GPS coordinates of military installations and photographing sensitive sites such as airbases, cantonments, especially gates for any fidayeen attacks. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:24 IST Chaos In The Sky: IndiGo Flight Plunges 8,500 Feet In A Minute As Pakistan Denies Airspace Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 18:50 IST Over 200 lives were put at risk due to Pakistan's denial of IndiGo's request to enter its airspace during a dangerous hailstorm on May 21, officials said. Videos from inside the aircraft, now widely shared on social media, show a chaotic scene. The Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight 6E-2142, which survived a threatening hailstorm midair on May 21, had first asked the northern air traffic control (managed by the Indian Air Force) for permission to turn towards Pakistan to escape bad weather. However, after permission was denied, the pilot then contacted Lahore, but the neighbouring country turned it down, putting the lives of all onboard at risk, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). When the pilot was left with no other option, he had to continue flying and successfully landed the aircraft in Srinagar. However, the flight, which carried over 220 people, including TMC MPs, suffered heavy damage on its nose due to the storm. Recommended Stories IndiGo Flights Dangerous Freefall While flying through the thunderstorm, the plane faced strong turbulence and was hit by powerful upward and downward air currents, known as updrafts and downdrafts." This caused the autopilot to switch off and led to sudden changes in the aircrafts speed. As the pilot carried on the onward journey, the aircrafts rate of descent reached 8,500 ft/min(feet per minute) and had to be flown manually till it exited the storm. The dangerous turn of events led to panic among passengers in the aircraft as they screamed and prayed for safety. Several videos showing the traumatic experiences of passengers surfaced on social media. SHOCKING: IndiGo flight 6E-2142 from Delhi to Srinagar hit by severe mid-air turbulence.Flight 6E-2142 was caught in a terrifying hailstorm just before landing in Srinagar, forcing an emergency landing around 6:30pm. Passengers report panic, falling luggage, and a pic.twitter.com/C30e76Z9Db Manobala Vijayabalan (@ManobalaV) May 21, 2025 Pakistan has shut its airspace for Indian flights. India closed its airspace for Pakistani carriers after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. What Happened Midair On May 21? According to the DGCA statement, the flight was at an altitude of nearly 36,000 feet near Punjabs Pathankot when it was struck by a hailstorm followed by severe turbulence. As trouble rose, the pilot first sought permission from the northern air traffic control to turn towards the international border where tensions were at their peak during Operation Sindoor between May 7 and 10 to avoid the storm. However, the request was denied. As per crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route, however, it was not approved," the statement said. According to IAF sources, the Pakistan airspace was not available for Indian-registered aircraft or those operated by Indian airlines, including military flights, until May 23 midnight. Northern Area Control advised the Indigo crew within the frame of the NOTAM(which is also a regular planning feature for all airlines in their route planning), ensuring safety of aircraft and passengers. The aircraft was immediately assisted in coordinating their route diversion by contacting Delhi Area and passing requisite contact frequencies of Lahore control for overflight weather diversion request," sources said. Once Lahore refused overflight clearance, and the aircraft proceeded towards Srinagar, the flight was subsequently professionally assisted till a safe landing at Srinagar airfield by giving control vectors and groundspeed readouts," they added. The IndiGo crew then sought permission to enter the Pakistani airspace, however, they dismissed the request, putting Indian lives in danger. Crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too," the statement said. The flight attempted to return, however they decided to penetrate the weather due to their proximity to the thunderstorm cloud. How Did The Flight Land? After the request was denied, the pilot chose to continue towards Srinagar using the shortest possible route, even though it meant flying through the storm. That resulted in updrafts and downdrafts" movement of the flight. As a result, Maximum Operating Speed/Maximum operating Mach (VMO/MMO) warnings and repeated stall warnings were triggered," DGCA said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It was this time when the planes rate of descent touched 8,500 fpm. After carrying out all checklist actions (ECAM actions), the crew declared PAN PAN to Srinagar ATC and requested for RADAR vectors and made a safe landing with Auto Thrust operating normally," the statement said. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 16:49 IST 'People Within Congress...': Pralhad Joshi's Big Claim After Raids Against Karnataka Minister Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 08:31 IST Pralhad Joshi further said that the ED raids were not conducted against him because he is the Karnataka Home Minister or a Congress leader. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara | File Image Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday claimed that the Enforcement Directorates raids on Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, linked to the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, were the result of internal factionalism within the Congress. The ED searched a medical college and an educational institute in Tumakuru, chaired by G Parameshwara, in connection with the Ranya Rao gold smuggling probe, on Wednesday. Recommended Stories The Congresss own complained to the Enforcement Directorate," said Joshi, adding: Who is writing letters to the Enforcement Directorate to take action?" A faction within the Congress is sending information against Parameshwar and now doing drama. Let me say this clearly, we respect Parameshwara. He is a decent politician. But there are people within the Congress who are sending complaints. Siddaramaiah knows. The intelligence is under him. Ask him. Now he is doing drama," NDTV quoted him as saying. He further said that the ED raids were not conducted against him because he is the Karnataka Home Minister or a Congress leader. After Ranya Raos arrest at Bengaluru airport on March 3, unverified reports surfaced linking her to various politicians, including current and former ministers. The BJP later accused the Congress of involvement in the smuggling case after a photo emerged showing Parameshwara and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at her wedding. During its probe, the ED traced a money trail between Ranya Rao and the medical college linked to Parameshwara and was reviewing the institutions financial records. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Thursday confirmed a financial transaction between Home Minister G Parameshwaras institution and actor Ranya Rao, the main accused in a gold smuggling case, but clarified it was a wedding gift. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After the ED raids, the Deputy CM said: I just spoke to Parameshwara, there was a marriage (ceremony), we are in public life, we run institutions. As a gesture to people we know, we give lots of gifts, we give Re 1, Rs 10, Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh. I think he might have also given a gift. It was a marriage, nothing wrong in it." The Congress accused the opposition BJP of politicising the gold smuggling case to attack the ruling party. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 07:43 IST SC Refrains From Sentencing POCSO Convict Married To Victim: 'She Didn't See It As Crime' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:30 IST Supreme Court Pocso Act: The apex court said the victim did not see the act as a crime and endured more trauma from the legal and social consequences that followed. The Supreme Court used Article 142 to decide not to impose any sentence. (PTI/File) Supreme Court Pocso Act: The Supreme Court on Friday decided not to impose a sentence on a man convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) for having sexual relations with a minor girl, who is now married to him. A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that the victim did not perceive the incident as a crime and had suffered more trauma from the legal and social consequences after the man was convicted. Recommended Stories The final report concludes that though the incident is seen as a crime in law, the victim did not accept it as one. The committee records that it was not the legal crime that caused any trauma to the victim, but rather it was the consequence that followed, which took a toll on her," the bench observed. Legal System Failed Her The court also said the victim faced a constant battle with the police and the legal system to save the accused from punishment. The facts of this case are an eye-opener for everyone. It highlights the lacunae in the legal system," the bench said. The Supreme Court exercised Article 142 of the Indian Constitution which grants it the power to pass any order necessary to secure complete justice to not impose any sentence on the man who was accused of sexual relations with the minor girl. The Supreme Court said the girl had no opportunity to make an informed choice earlier due to shortcomings in society, the legal system, and her own family, saying, The society judged her, the legal system failed her, and her own family abandoned her." It added that the victim is now emotionally attached to the accused and has become very possessive about her small family." The court issued directions to the West Bengal government and issued a notice to the Ministry of Women and Child Development to consider further action. What Is The Case About? The judgement pertained to a case from 2018, where a 14-year-old girl from rural West Bengal as reported missing by her mother. It was later reported that she had married a 25-year-old man. The girls mother had alleged that the man kidnapped her, and the man was convicted by a district court in 2022 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Supreme Court initiated a suo motu case following controversial observations by the Calcutta High Court while acquitting a 25-year-old man who had sexual relations with a minor girl (now an adult). The girl said her affair with the man was consensual and she had eloped with him on her own volition. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Calcutta High Court had observed in 2023 that every female adolescent should control sexual urge as in the eyes of the society she will be the loser when she gives in to enjoy the sexual pleasure of hardly two minutes." It also said that cases of consensual sex among adolescents increased because of peer pressure, social media, free availability of porn materials and free mixing with friends of opposite sex." The Supreme Court came down heavily on the High Courts remarks, terming them victim-shaming" and stereotyping". The court restored the conviction of the accused under POCSO and provisions for rape in the Indian Penal Code. It directed the West Bengal Government to constitute a three-member expert committee. 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 23, 2025, 13:33 IST 'Supporting Our Enemies: RSS-Linked SJM Wants Halt In Trade With China, Turkey, Bangladesh Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:07 IST According to a senior functionary of SJM, several traders bodies have already issued calls to boycott Chinese products and are in constant dialogue with government stakeholders. National Co-convenor of Swadeshi Jagran Manch Ashwani Mahajan. (Image: PTI) The Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), the economic and traders organisation linked to the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has reiterated that they want a complete halt on imports from China, Turkey, and Bangladesh, citing national security threats and ideological opposition. Emphasising that the central government is sensitised and aware" of growing concerns around strategic imports from these countries and actions are also being taken systematically, the SJM is intensifying its campaign to have a complete halt of trade with China, Turkey, and Bangladesh. Recommended Stories Citing serious national security implications, the SJM said that the organisation will continue to represent the public opinion until all high-risk" foreign investments and imports are reviewed and reined in. Speaking with News18, Ashwani Mahajan, co convener of SJM said, Turkey has always stood with Pakistan, even during times when India was confronting terrorism, not Pakistan as a nation. We never attacked Pakistan; we attacked the terrorists infrastructure emanating from its soil. Despite our humanitarian outreach during the recent earthquake in Turkey, they chose Pakistan. They continue to support our adversaries." Mentioning China and Bangladesh in the same block, he said, We should stop all imports from China and Bangladesh now as they continue to support Pakistan. We, along with other traders bodies, are ready to petition the government to reconsider trade relations with China, Bangladesh, and Turkey. These countries have consistently aligned against Indias interests," the co-convener stated. Our traders and our citizens do not want Chinese goods, " he added. According to the senior functionary, several traders bodies have already issued calls to boycott Chinese products and are in constant dialogue with government stakeholders. We have organised demonstrations recently and will soon submit formal memorandums to reinforce our position if required," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Adding that the interim government of Bangladesh is also accused of harbouring fundamentalist forces and running a regime that lacks democratic legitimacy. Its unfortunate. The current Bangladesh government seems to function like a puppet. We cannot continue trade with regimes that undermine our internal security," he added. The public is aware, and the government seems sensitised, but we will continue our campaign until there is a complete review of trade and investment from these countries," he further stated. About the Author Madhuparna Das Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 10:07 IST Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. Coast Guard has ceased arming its larger cutter type ships with missiles. In the 21 st Century the growing threat of the Chinese navy and merchant marine found the American Coast Guard unable to deal with Chinese warships and the majority of large commercial ships built in China and operated by Chinese firms. The U.S. Coast Guard will have to deal with the Chinese ships in the Pacific as they had to deal with Iranian threats in the Persian Gulf for the last three decades. Meanwhile the Chinese Coast Guard has received larger and more heavily armed ships than its American counterpart. Over the last decade the Chinese Coast Guard has received over a dozen new patrol ships. These are vessels of 1,000-3,000 tons displacement with relatively small crews but lots of storage space and not many weapons. Coast guard ships are not usually heavily armed but the Chinese ships are increasingly being seen equipped with water cannons, extra searchlights and equipment for grappling with other ships. These tools are used to interfere with foreign fishing ships and transports that go to parts of the South China Sea that China has declared Chinese territory, even though other nations have a stronger legal claim. Using water cannons, bright searchlights to blind the crews of other ships and aggressive maneuvering to include grappling with smaller foreign ships and forcibly moving them the foreign ships are persuaded to back off. The Chinese coast guard vessels also use these tactics against foreign warships and if the foreigners shoot back the Chinese can declare themselves the victims of an unprovoked attack and call in more fire power. Current American Coast Guard ships are limited to 57mm guns and half a dozen or so 7.62 and 12.7mm machine-guns. Two decades ago the Coast Guard's National Security Cutters were armed with a 57mm gun not used by the navy. The Swedish designed EX-57 Mk 3 was already in use by the Canadian Navy and 14 other countries. The Mk 3 has been in use since 1998, but the Mk 1 first entered service in 1966. The Coast Guard uses the 57mm gun for warning shots, and stopping or destroying small boats. For a long time, Coast Guard cutters carried a 76mm gun. But this proved to be too large for the targets typically encountered. That was then, but in the Pacific a 76mm gun and a few anti-ship missiles are needed to persuade the Chinese to behave or at least reconsider their current misbehavior towards foreign ships. Currently it is mainly Filipino ships seeking to bar Chinese ships from regions of the South China Sea that, by law, are controlled by the Philippines. Over the last century the U.S. Coast Guard sent its ships overseas to provide port and coastal security in war zones that were leaning towards conflict. That describes the Western Pacific today. Once China has driven the Filipinos out of the South China Sea, they plan to extend their control from their coast all the way to the Persian Gulf. Nearly half the worlds maritime trade passes through these waters and major trading nations look to the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard for protection. The American navy can do its job but the U.S. Coast Guard is under equipped for the task. Actually, the navy has problems with a shortage of ships and adequate ship maintenance. South Korea and Japan are rapidly expanding their naval forces, but that wont be enough to dissuade the Chinese, who will soon have the largest navy on the planet. Supreme Court Is Chief Justice-Centric, It Needs To Change: Retiring Judge In Farewell Speech Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 21:06 IST Justice AS Oka, who addressed his farewell event at the Supreme Court, called for the reduction in "manual intervention" to the listing of cases. Justice AS Oka calls for use of AI in case listing in his farewell address Retiring Supreme Court judge, Justice AS Oka, said on Friday that the apex court is presently a Chief Justice-centric court, which needs to change. Justice Oka, who is set to demit office tomorrow and was speaking on his last working day at his farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), called for the use of artificial intelligence in rational listing" of cases. He advocated for a reduction in the manual intervention" in the listing of cases. Recommended Stories The Supreme Court is a chief justice-centric court, and it needs to change. Supreme Court has about 34 judges from different parts of the country, and that should be reflected," he said, Bar and Bench reported. People complain any cases are listed on the next day, and why cases are pending after so many days. We cannot have a better listing unless we reduce manual intervention to a minimum. Use of AI can help in rational listing," Justice Oka added. At present, the Chief Justice of India is responsible for allocating cases to different benches. This practice has often faced criticism, as cases are sometimes listed only before specific benches. We cant improve the listing system unless we minimize manual involvement. The use of AI can help in rational listing," Justice Oka said. He also said that a Supreme Court judge has to always think about the common man. Sitting in Supreme Court, we cannot think of onlythe Supreme Court. We need to think of the common man. CJI (Sanjiv) Khanna brought in transparency in the system," he said. The retiring judge said that as a judge one should not hesitate to offend anyone. It was my honest endeavour to do that. In that honest endeavour, I may have offended two lawyers. But always I believe that a judge has to be very firm, strict, and that a judge should not hesitate to offend anyone," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also recalled how a former top court judge once told him that one does not become a judge to become popular but to uphold the principles in the Constitution. A great judge to adorn the dias here advised me you are not becoming a judge to become popular. I followed that advice to the hilt. I was harsh only for one reason I wanted to uphold the principles laid down by the Constitution," he said. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 21:01 IST Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Meets Sonia, Rahul Gandhi In Delhi Published By : PTI Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 22:04 IST Stalin was accorded a warm reception in the national capital by DMK leaders led by veteran TR Baalu. Stalin meets Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in Delhi (Photo: X/ MK Stalin) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday called on top Congress party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi after arriving in Delhi to take part in the NITI Aayog governing council meeting on May 24. Stalin was accorded a warm reception in the national capital by DMK leaders led by veteran TR Baalu. Recommended Stories Later, the chief minister from the southern state met the top Congress leaders and said in a social media post: Theres a special warmth in every meeting with Madam Tmt (Mrs). Sonia Gandhi and dear brother @RahulGandhi at their Delhi residence. It never feels like a visit; it truly feels like being with family." Theres a special warmth in every meeting with Madam Tmt. Sonia Gandhi and dear brother @RahulGandhi at their Delhi residence. It never feels like a visit; it truly feels like being with family.@INCIndia pic.twitter.com/ezjes3iyhm M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 23, 2025 Also, Stalin met a Tamil Nadu native, Dr A Parameswaran, a survivor of the Pahalgam terror attack, who is being treated at a hospital. The CM said: Just met Dr. A. Parmeswaran at AIIMS Delhi, the ENT surgeon from Tamil Nadu, who survived the #Pahalgam terror attack. Calm, composed and courageous beyond words. I personally wished him strength and a swift recovery." Stalin days ago asserted he would be in Delhi to take part in the meeting to voice the demand for fair financial right of Tamil Nadu." He had said: I will be firm on the ideology! I will get funds for Tamil Nadu through struggle." The CMs visit to the national capital for the NITI Aayog meeting comes against the background of main opposition AIADMKs strong criticism of the chief minister. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The chief minister, after taking part in the 2021 governing council meeting, is set to participate in the deliberations after 4 years. AIADMK top leader Edappadi K Palaniswami had alleged Stalins Delhi visit was for the sake of familys benefit. 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 23, 2025, 22:04 IST 'They Don't Want People To Unite': Governor RN Ravi Targets Tamil Nadu Govt, DMK Hits Back Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:24 IST Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi also took a veiled dig at CM MK Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi, for drawing a parallel between Sanatana Dharma and diseases like dengue and malaria in 2023. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and Governor RN Ravi | File Images/PTI Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Friday once again delivered a sharp critique of the DMK, accusing the state government of deepening caste divisions and preventing the common people from coming together. He further took a veiled dig at Chief Minister MK Stalins son, Udhayanidhi, for drawing a parallel between Sanatana Dharma and diseases like dengue and malaria in 2023. Recommended Stories No other state has a caste divide like Tamil Nadu and people in power dont want common people to unite," said Governor Ravi at a public event, reigniting tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the Tamil Nadu government. Some were calling Hindu dharma malaria and dengue, and dismissing bhakti as unscientific," he added. DMK Hits Back The Governors remarks drew a sharp response from the ruling DMK, with senior leader TKS Elangovan accusing the Governor of being divisive. The Governor is the one who is casteist. The DMK is not a caste-based party. It is the Governor and his associates who are dividing society in the name of caste," Elangovan said. The confrontation is the latest in a series of clashes between the DMK-led state government and Governor Ravi, who has often courted controversy with his remarks on ideological and cultural issues. Governor RN Ravi recently stoked a massive political row in Tamil Nadu with his decision to withhold assent to 10 key Bills, which was later termed as illegal" and arbitrary" by the Supreme Court. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The state government and Raj Bhavan also clashed during the Governors Assembly address last year when Governor Ravi walked out, protesting that the National Anthem wasnt sung at the start. Traditionally, the state anthem is sung at the beginning and the National Anthem at the end, but Ravi insisted it is sung both times. In 2023, Governor Ravi declined to deliver the customary Assembly address, stating that the draft contained numerous passages with misleading claims far from the truth." About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:33 IST 'We Hit Them Hard': Jaishankar Reiterates India, Pakistan Negotiated Ceasefire Amid Trump Claims Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:51 IST Jaishankar, however, acknowledged that having a world leader (Donald Trump) advocating for peaceful settlements is always welcome. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (PTI file photo) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated that while US President Donald Trumps approach to achieving peace is welcome, the ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan was reached through direct negotiations. Speaking to Denmarks TV2 Channel, Jaishankar asserted that India resolved the issue through military action by negotiating directly and hitting them hard", which led to Pakistan seeking an understanding. Responding to a question on how Trumps approach towards brokering peace between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar highlighted that terrorism is the key challenge right now that India and the world is facing. He referred to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor that followed, emphasising that terrorists have been operating in Pakistan with state protection" and how India had to deal with them". Recommended Stories We hit them very hard on one of the days, May 10, to be precise, and that is when Pakistan said we need to stop the firing and reach an understanding," Jaishankar said. He also discussed the ongoing global conflicts, including the bloodshed in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Yemen. Jaishankar acknowledged that having a world leader (Trump) advocating for peaceful settlements is always welcome. Reflecting on the past five years, he noted that the world has faced significant challenges, with conflicts in the Middle East disrupting shipping and the conflict in Europe affecting food and energy supplies. Jaishankar emphasised that different countries need to find ways to de-escalate tensions. He, however, reiterated that such de-escalation can be achieved through direct dialogue between the concerned parties even as attempts to broker peace were welcome. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, in another interview with Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant on Thursday, Jaishankar rejected the notion that Pakistan was unaware of the terrorist organisations operating on its soil and said both the Pakistani state and the Army are involved in terrorist activities. Earlier, too, Jaishankar had said that several countries were in touch with India when Operation Sindoor was underway between May 7 and 10, stressing that the US was not alone". He had highlighted that India told every other country, including the United States, that if Pakistan wanted a ceasefire, they have communicate it to India directly. 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 23, 2025, 14:51 IST What Was Operation Khukri, India's UN Mission In West Africa? Who's Making A Movie On It Now? Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:25 IST Operation Khukri, a 2000 rescue mission by Indian soldiers in Sierra Leone (West Africa) is being made into a film by Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda Operation Khukri was a 2000 UN rescue mission in Sierra Leone, West Africa, led by Major Rajpal Poonia. 25 years ago, deep in the chaos of war-torn Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa, Indian soldiers etched a chapter of courage, sacrifice, and strategic brilliance into the annals of United Nations peacekeeping history. That covert mission, known as Operation Khukri, is set to hit the silver screen as a film with Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda at the helm as both director and lead actor. In the year 2000, Sierra Leone, one of the worlds poorest countries, was gripped by civil war. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel group notorious for its scorched-earth tactics and use of child soldiers, had plunged the West African nation into nearly a decade of conflict. Amid international efforts to restore order, the United Nations deployed a peacekeeping force, which included a strong Indian contingent. Recommended Stories But peace was elusive. In a shocking turn of events, the RUF took hostage 222 soldiers and 11 military observers from various nations, confining them under appalling conditions for a staggering 233 days. The captives, deprived even of two proper meals a day, became pawns in a deadly standoff that exposed the fragility of UN peacekeeping efforts. Among the trapped was a company of Indian soldiers stationed in Kailahun, commanded by Major Rajpal Poonia. Lured away on the pretext of negotiations, Major Poonia was separated from his troops, who were soon surrounded and ordered to surrender. The Gorkha Regiments under his command, known for their unmatched grit, refused to lay down their arms. As pressure mounted, the situation veered toward a full-blown hostage crisis. When diplomacy failed, the Indian Army launched a bold military operation. The mission, codenamed Operation Khukri, would be remembered as one of the most audacious rescue efforts in peacekeeping history. At the time, the United Nations was reluctant to endorse a military response. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, himself a West African, was cautious, fearing political backlash. But back in India, public outrage was growing. The fate of the soldiers could no longer hang in diplomatic limbo. A highly-trained commando platoon of 120 Indian troops was deployed. British Chinook helicopters provided logistical support, setting the stage for a multi-pronged assault. On the morning of July 15, 2000, explosives shattered the walls of the besieged garrison. Simultaneously, Gorkha soldiers inside launched a counterattack, overpowering the RUF fighters and securing a breach. The escape was perilous. Torrential rains had turned the terrain into a quagmire. Trucks bogged down in mud, soldiers forced to push vehicles under fire, rebels giving chase. The mission was to extract not just the trapped troops but also 11 UN observers and several sick personnel. Chinooks carried out the most vulnerable, while others fought their way through 12 kilometres of hostile territory to Gehun, where they linked up with fresh reinforcements from the 18 Grenadiers. The final leg took them to Pendembu, a rebel-held town, which the Gorkhas captured after a firefight. The operation was a resounding success: 34 rebels killed, 150 wounded, and only seven Indian soldiers injured. Not a single peacekeeper was lost. To honour this remarkable feat, Sierra Leone later built the Khukri War Memorial on the banks of the Moa River, a rare tribute by a foreign nation to Indian military heroism. Major Rajpal Poonia, who eventually rose to the rank of Major General, documented the mission in his book Operation Khukri: The True Story Behind the Indian Armys Most Successful Mission as Part of the United Nations. The book serves not just as a chronicle of military strategy but also of human endurance. Now, that story is making its way to the big screen. Randeep Hooda, known for his intense roles and immersive storytelling, has acquired the rights to Poonias book and will both direct and star in the upcoming film adaptation. The story of Operation Khukri moved me deeply," Hooda said in a statement, adding that it is a story of sacrifice, brotherhood, and holding on to courage in the darkest moments. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Slated to be a high-octane war drama infused with patriotic fervour, the film aims to bring global attention to a forgotten saga of valour far from Indian shores. Operation Khukri stands as a rare example of an international peacekeeping success under dire circumstances. It was a testament to Indias military ethos, summarised by former Army Chief General JJ Singh who said that Indian Army soldiers chose death over cowardice, honour over two meals a day, and dignity over freedom". First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:25 IST Whats The Point If Russia Isnt In The Room?: Jaishankar On Wests Ukraine Diplomacy Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 16:19 IST Highlighting the flaws in Western diplomacy, Jaishankar said peace talks without Russia are futile and reaffirmed Indias stand that only dialogue can end the war Jaishankar said that just as Europe is deeply invested in Ukraine, countries like India may be more sensitive to issues in their own neighbourhood. (Reuters Image) As the Ukraine conflict moves into its fourth year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has questioned the logic of Western efforts to broker peace while excluding one of the main parties to the war. Speaking to Denmarks TV2 Channel during his recent visit to Europe, Jaishankar asked, Whats the point of gathering everybody else and not having Russia in the room?" calling such diplomacy ineffective and unrealistic. Pointing to what he called inconsistencies in Europes own approach, Jaishankar noted that while the West demands others cut ties with Moscow, European nations themselves continue to import Russian energy. Europe continues to buy energy as well," he said, pushing back against criticism of Indias ongoing trade with Russia. Recommended Stories Reiterating Indias consistent stance on the war, Jaishankar said, From the very start, weve said youre not going to get a solution to the Ukraine conflict from the battlefield. Theres got to be dialogue, theres got to be diplomacy, and theres got to be direct contact." Jaishankar also drew a broader principle from Indias own regional experience, stressing that peace is best achieved through direct negotiation between the concerned partiesnot through external mediation. When asked about US President Donald Trumps approach to India-Pakistan tensions, Jaishankar clarified that the ceasefire understanding was the result of military pressure and direct talks, not outside intervention. We hit them very hard on one of the days, May 10, to be precise, and that is when Pakistan said we need to stop the firing and reach an understanding," he said, referring to Indias response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack under Operation Sindoor. While welcoming calls for peace from global leaders, he reiterated that if theres going to be a solution, it has to be through dialogue between the actual parties." He described the Ukraine conflict as a major concern for the entire world, stressing that its ripple effects have gone far beyond Europe. You have a conflict now into three years and going, which has impacted the entire world in different ways," he said. Calling it a crisis with second-order, third-order consequences," Jaishankar noted that it had messed up the global energy situation," and led to serious challenges in food and fertiliser security for many countries. When the interviewer referred to Russia as a larger country invading a smaller one, Jaishankar responded by drawing a parallel to Indias own experience with territorial violations. He noted that India has long faced breaches of sovereignty not just historically, but as an ongoing reality. We are one of the countries which actually have had a violation of our sovereignty. We still have a violation of our sovereignty by our neighboursPakistan in Kashmir region. And China," he said. Jaishankars comment served as a reminder that concerns over territorial integrity are not unique to Europe. He suggested that while Western nations have rallied around Ukraine, they have often failed to show the same urgency or solidarity when similar issues affect countries in the Global South. Europe was very detached about it. In fact, at times, Europe was very cynical about it," he added, referring to how the West had historically downplayed Indias security concerns. Explaining why global reactions to conflicts like Ukraine vary, Jaishankar said it is unrealistic to expect uniformity in how nations respond. He argued that countries inevitably prioritise issues that are geographically or strategically closer to them. Those who are closer to the problem, those whose interests are deeper, will have a much more passionate, emotional position," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He added that just as Europe is deeply invested in Ukraine, countries like India may be more sensitive to issues in their own neighbourhood which others might not fully grasp. I would get passionate about something close up to me, which Europe may wonder why are the Indians so agitated or not just Indians, but somebody else as well," he remarked. He also underscored that diplomacy is not about imposing uniformity in response but about building shared understanding. In diplomacy, there cannot be an expectation that other nations will have identical responses. Diplomacy is about finding common ground. Lets agree on something basic and practical." 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 23, 2025, 16:19 IST 'What's Wrong In It?': DK Shivakumar Admits National Herald Donation As ED Probe Intensifies Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:38 IST The Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the National Herald case involving Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as prime accused, has also named DK Shivakumar. Ramanagara is Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar (Image: PTI/File) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, popular as Congress troubleshooter in political circles, admitted on Friday to having donated to the National Herald newspaper. The Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the National Herald case involving Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as prime accused, has also named DK Shivakumar. However, it is not yet confirmed whether he has been named as an accused. Recommended Stories The National Herald newspaper belongs to our party. We gave funds to our partys paper. Whats wrong in it?" said Shivakumar, confirming financial support to the National Herald. Top ED sources told CNN-News18 that DK Shivakumar allegedly made a personal donation of Rs 25 lakh, and an additional Rs 2 crore was funnelled through a trust under his control, to the Young Indian and Associated Journals Limited (AJL). AJL is the publisher of the National Herald news platform (newspaper and web portal) and is owned by Young Indian Private Limited. Shivakumar, in statements to the ED, acknowledged the donations but denied any knowledge of Young Indians operational details, asserting that he acted on the instructions of former AICC treasurer Pawan Bansal. The ED probe also named Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for instructing several individuals to donate to Young Indian, with the ED identifying at least Rs 80 lakh in donations made under his direction/influence. These contributions are now under scrutiny as investigators assess their legitimacy and links to potential money laundering. All About National Herald Case The National Herald case revolves around a financial arrangement involving Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938 to support the freedom movement. In 2010, a company called Young Indian Pvt Ltdwhere Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hold a 76 per cent staketook over AJLs debt of over Rs 90 crore. Subsequently, Young Indian acquired 99 per cent of AJLs shares, effectively gaining control of its assets, including significant real estate holdings. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This transaction led to allegations that Congress leaders used Young Indian to appropriate assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore for a nominal amount, sparking a major political and legal controversy. While the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Congress has maintained that its a politically motivated vendetta." About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 14:38 IST Who Is Bangladesh Army Chief Zaman Going After Yunus? Hasinas Kin Who Delhi Had Warned Her Against Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:38 IST The friction between the civilian government of Mohammad Yunus and General Waker-Uz-Zamans Army has become so apparent that Yunuss resignation is being discussed openly in Dhaka (From left) Yunus, Zaman and Hasina. (File) When General Waker-Uz-Zaman was about to be appointed as Bangladeshs Army Chief, Indian intelligence agencies had alerted South Block to caution Dhaka, said top sources in the Awami League, whose senior-most leadership is now living in exile. When cautions were disregarded, top sources in the Awami League said that a senior official of the government of India had contacted then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, advising against Zamans appointment, as India had reasons to believe he may be pro-Pakistan. Hasina thanked the official for their concern and the conversation ended. Recommended Stories The objection was on two counts. One, on technical grounds as Zaman wasnt in his best health then. Two better candidates were overlooked, New Delhi had pointed out. The second point was strategic as Zaman was pro-Pakistan. However, it seems Waker-Uz-Zaman finally got the post because he was related to Sheikh Hasina," Bangladeshi journalist Shahidul Hasan Khokon told News18. HOW ZAMAN GAINED HASINAS CONFIDENCE A graduate of the Bangladesh Military Academy, Zaman holds a Masters degree in Defence Studies from the National University of Bangladesh and a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from Kings College, London. Commissioned in the Bangladesh Army in 1985, Zaman has had a 40-year career so far. He has also spent time in the UN peacekeeping force. While serving as the Principal Staff Officer at the Armed Forces Division under the Prime Ministers Office, Zaman caught Hasinas attention, so much so, she felt it was okay to trust her gut feeling over intelligence from Bangladeshs closest ally back then India. Days into his role as Bangladeshs Army Chief, he faced a student-led uprising the defining moment of Hasinas political career. The uprising that started against reservation ended up being a manifestation of anger, which now appears to have been manufactured to a great extent. Appointed by Hasina just 22 days before, on June 23, 2024, Zaman was key in the change of power, which New Delhi had envisioned. On August 5, 2024, as protests escalated and the situation in Dhaka became untenable, Zaman addressed the nation via a televised broadcast. He announced that Hasina had resigned and fled the country, reportedly to India, and declared the formation of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to restore order and oversee a democratic transition. Dhaka erupted in violent jubilations. Moreover, Waker is married to Begum Sarahnaz Kamalika Rahman, the eldest daughter of late General Mustafizur Rahman, and the couple has two daughters. Sarahnazs father General Mustafizur Rahman, was the former chief of army staff from December 24, 1997 to December 23, 2000. Hasina is a distant aunt of Sarahnaz. THE FRICTION BETWEEN YUNUS & ZAMAN Cut to May 2025, the friction between the civilian government of Yunus and Zamans Army has become so apparent that Yunuss resignation is being discussed openly in Dhaka. The Daily Star, one of the independent news dailies of Bangladesh, wrote, Frustrated over recent developments, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is considering stepping down, said sources familiar with what went down at the Chief Advisers Office and Jamuna yesterday." The daily added that during the advisory council meeting, Yunus voiced his desire to resign and address the nation through a televised speech. National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam, who is tipped to succeed Yunus, told BBC Bangla in an interview that the chief adviser was weighing resignation. While demonstrations are going on in Bangladesh over myriad demands, including, most recently, to ban the Awami League, the Army Chief has his own reasons for frustration. Nearly 300 mutineers, who were convicted in a court of law for murdering 57 army officers and 16 others during a bloody uprising in February 2009, have been released so far this year under Yunuss watch. Ansarullah Bangla Team chief Jashimuddin Rahmani is seen as a contributor to a militant Bangladesh of tomorrow, which any professional army would like to avoid. But what has irked the army most is probably US intervention. They see it as a sovereignty issue, something Hasina mentioned while talking about St Martins Island. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Yunuss military adviser General Kamrul Hassan met with US Charge dAffaires Tracey Ann Jacobson, which is seen by Zaman as an effort to replace him using the US support. To say Zaman is out to oust Yunus may still be premature. But to say he wants him to go? Definitely. When an Army Chief tells a nation about a foreign hand deciding internal matters, he is likely to have public support with him. 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 23, 2025, 15:07 IST Who Was Ahilyabai Holkar, 'The Philosopher Queen' Of Malwa Who Ruled Indore For 30 Years Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 18:09 IST British historian John Keay referred to her as the "Philosopher Queen of Malwa," praising her for her political wisdom and ethical governance Ahilyabai Holkar, also known by the honourific 'Punyashlok', was born on 31 May 1725 in the village of Chaundi, located in present-day Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Maharashtra. The central government on Thursday announced the release of a commemorative Rs 300 coin to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar. The announcement comes as part of a nationwide celebration honouring Holkar, with events being organised by the Centre, BJP, RSS, and various other institutions across the nation. Recommended Stories Who was Ahilyabai Holkar? Ahilyabai Holkar, also known by the honourific Punyashlok, was born on 31 May 1725 in the village of Chaundi, located in present-day Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Maharashtra. Her father, Mankoji Sindhia, was a local chieftain who took the rare step of educating his daughter, teaching her to read and write at a time when girls were often denied such opportunities. Ahilyabais life took a turn when Malhar Rao Holkar, a noble under the Maratha Empire, spotted her at a temple feeding the poor and was impressed by her character. He arranged her marriage to his son, Khanderao Holkar, in 1733. After her husbands death in battle in 1754, and later the death of her only son, Ahilyabai ascended the throne of Indore on 11 December 1767. She ruled for nearly 30 years, becoming one of the few women in Indian history to lead a kingdom with such success. She is remembered for her deep devotion to religion and public service. She restored 12 Jyotirlingas, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, and constructed numerous ghats and temples along Indias rivers. British historian John Keay referred to her as the Philosopher Queen of Malwa," praising her for her political wisdom and ethical governance. Ahilyabai was also a courageous warrior, known to fight battles from the back of an elephant, and maintained strong relations with local tribal communities like the Bhils and Gonds, helping to ensure the stability of her kingdom. ALSO READ: Ahilyabai Holkar Birth Anniversary: Remembering The Philosopher Queen of Malwa UP Medical College To Be Named After Holkar top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To commemorate her legacy, the Uttar Pradesh Government has announced several initiatives. On Thursday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath revealed that the medical college in Auraiya will now bear her name. He also criticised previous administrations for attempting to politicise her legacy. Calling her a symbol of women empowerment, Adityanath highlighted her historical role as a female leader running an effective and progressive administration long before the modern womens rights movement began. He also announced that seven working womens hostels in Uttar Pradesh will be named after her, as part of broader efforts under the Nari Vandana Act to support and empower women. 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 23, 2025, 18:05 IST Cannes 2025: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Honours Bhagavad Gita Shloka On Brocade Cape Written By : News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 08:23 IST Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a captivating return to the red carpet in Gaurav Gupta Couture. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan embodied the perfect blend of Indian grace and Hollywood glam at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the iconic global spokesperson for LOreal Paris, made a captivating return to the red carpet with her highly anticipated second appearance at the 78th Festival de Cannes. Having already won hearts with her first look, she stepped onto the red carpet once more, flaunting another opulent ensemble. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore couturier Gaurav Guptas Heiress of Clam, a custom creation imagined in a draped form and spiritual detail. The off-shoulder black velvet gown was hand embroidered with an abstract rendition of the cosmos in bursts of silver, gold, charcoal and black. Accented with micro glass crystals to capture dimension and light, the ensemble resembled a galaxy full of stars. Recommended Stories Styled by Allia Al Rufai, Aishwarya Rai wrapped the gown in a pre-constructed shawl-inspired cape trailing on both sides. The highlight of the statement garment was the Sanskrit shloka from the Bhagavad Gita that was inscribed on the back of the cape. The royal brocade cape handwoven in Varanasi played the perfect canvas to elevate the powerful verse in Sanskrit, which in English translates to You have a right to perform your actions, but not to the fruits of those actions. Let not the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction. With effortless confidence and grace, Aishwarya Rai Bachchans vintage Hollywood glam consisted of a dewy, hydrated look combined with dramatic eye makeup and her signature shade of red. Elevating her glam was the wavy hairstyle, which added softness and shine to Aishwaryas breathtaking Cannes red carpet style. Celebrating the brands 28th consecutive year at the prestigious festival, Aishwaryas appearance was a celebration of the brands empowering theme, Lights, Beauty, Action a tribute to the spirit of cinema, self-worth, and belief. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With every step on the iconic red carpet, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan embodied the perfect blend of Indian grace and modern glamour, reinforcing her legacy as a global fashion icon. Aishwarya Rai graced the red carpet alongside actors Helen Mirren and Cara Delevingne. The 78th Cannes Film Festival is on till May 24 and has seen an array of celebrities from across the world come together to celebrate cinema. Making a stylish mark on the Cannes red carpet this year were Tom Cruise, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Angelina Jolie, Rihanna, Scarlett Johansson, Elle Fanning, Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum, Janhvi Kapoor, Karan Johar, Ishan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Aditi Rao Hydari, Nitanshi Goel, Ellie Goulding, among others. About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 08:23 IST May 23, 2025: Iran is largely a Farsi speaking country in a region where most people speak Arabic. This dates back thousands of years to the Persian Empire, which only in the last century evolved into Iran. Throughout history Iran has been a disruptive force in the Middle East. Iran became even more powerful with the discovery of oil. The Iranian monarchy prospered until misrule by the ruling Shah. This happened when neighboring Iraq foolishly attacked their neighbor during a period of chaos in Iran. Iraq believed that the Iranians would be so distracted that they would not notice Iran trying to seize the tiny, oil rich Iranian province of Arabistan. The Iranians did mind and declared war on Iraq. To make matters worse a civil war broke out in Iran as religious leaders, the Shia Ayatollahs rebelled against the Monarchy. The Ayatollahs won and by the end of the 1980s Iran had become a religious dictatorship. After that these fanatics created military and special operations forces like the IRGC and Quds force. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps protected the Ayatollahs and a subgroup of the IRGC, the Quds Force, carried out disruptive missions throughout the region. This included forming, financing, arming and deploying mayhem throughout the Middle East and worldwide. Individuals considered enemies of Iran were assassinated. Iran created or supported terrorist groups like Hezbollah, a Shia militia and political movement in Lebanon, Hamas, a Sunni militia and political movement in the Palestinian territories, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, also a Sunni militia in the Palestinian territories. Since the end of the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war, Iran has supplied Hezbollah in Lebanon with numerous rockets, missiles, and small arms. Meanwhile Iran backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq in Iraq, where this group had been involved in a civil war. Ongoing terrorist activities and the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011. Among other damage, all this mayhem led to the collapse of the Syrian government in late 2024. Iran set the region on fire and the fire is still burning. To make matters worse, Iran declared a war of annihilation against Israel and the United States. Taking in these two powerful groups backfired. By 2025 American economic sanctions and Israeli subversion efforts and airstrikes had devastated the Iranian economy and military capabilities. All this is exacerbated by ethnic and religious disputes. Most of the Arabs are Sunni, which is true throughout the Moslem world. A minority of Moslems are Shia and that includes most Iranians. Iran has been ruled by an aggressive religious dictatorship since the 1980s. This has led to Iran becoming an outlaw state because its radical religious government insists that Iran must take control of nearby Sunni Arab states, including Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are the custodians of the most sacred religious sites in the Moslem world. The main site is Mecca, which every Moslem, Sunni, or Shia, is obliged to visit once in a lifetime and pray together with Moslems from all factions. Iranian ambitions have led to a perpetual state of war in which Iran battles most other Moslem majority countries. What makes an aggressive Iran so dangerous is that it does not use Iranians to do its fighting. Instead, Iran has created or taken control of other militant Moslem movements to do Irans fighting instead. The enemy is mostly Israel, the United States and Western nations in general, but sometimes includes Sunni Arab governments, usually Saudi Arabia as the Saudis control Mecca which Iran covets. With the recent exception of Irans missile attack on Israel, Iran fights its enemies via proxies. These are groups that are armed and supported by Iran to fight Irans battles willingly and enthusiastically against Irans enemies. Currently Iran has about two dozen of these proxies throughout the Middle East. Most of these groups have been designated as terrorist organizations by Western nations, especially the United States. Most of these groups were weak, disorganized, and not very dangerous before Iran came along and offered to turn these groups into deadly threats against enemies of Iran. Among the more dangerous and well known proxies there are groups like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis of Yemen, and Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada and Asaib Ahl al Haq in Iraq. Iran has proxies in Syria and backs the Afghan Fatemiyoun brigade and the Pakistani Zainebiyoun brigade. Iran gains a measure of control over these groups by supplying them with weapons, cash, and expert advisers to show them how to be most effective in carrying out attacks against their enemies. Iran has a large number of irregular warfare experts organized into the Quds Force. The Iranians are well organized when it comes to supporting and motivating proxy groups. Quds is the organization that handles all this and supplies individual experts as well as technical assistance to proxy groups Iran deems worthy of such expensive and extensive support. Iran spends at least several hundred million dollars a year on this proxy support, and in the past has spent several billion dollars a year. The decline has been due to Western sanctions but, as the Americans waived those periodically to the tune of $30-40 billion since October 2023, or given Iran billions of dollars impounded by the American since 1980. Iran will lavishly support proxy groups for years before unleashing them in spectacular attacks. A recent example of this was the Hamas offensive in Gaza towards Israel. This was a big success, and the Israelis are still trying to recover. At the same time Iran activated Hezbollah even though Hezbollah was nervous about pushing the Israelis too far and several other proxies to take advantage of Israeli forces compelled to fight in many areas at once. This offensive began in late 2023 and will extend to late 2024 and perhaps even into 2025. Hezbollah was right to worry about Israeli retaliation because Israel has all but destroyed Hezbollah through a combination of exploding pagers and portable radios to an invasion of southern Lebanon to hunt down and destroy the remaining Hezbollah leaders and their surviving followers. For the moment, Hezbollah is no more and it may take up to a decade for the group to restore is power and influence. Iran gets involved wherever it sees opportunities. For example, Iran provided military aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine. Where Iran sees an opportunity, it acts and that makes Iran very dangerous throughout the Middle East as well as Europe, the United States and even South America. For the moment reprisals by enemies of Iran have reduced the capabilities of the Shia Superpower. But as Iran, and the Persians before them, they have always rebuilt and returned to work on their endless list of humiliations to avenge. Cannes 2025: Alia Bhatts First Red Carpet Appearance Was Totally Worth The Wait Written By : News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 22:08 IST Alia Bhatt, Global Ambassador for LOreal Paris, made her much anticipated debut in Schiaparelli haute couture at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Alia Bhatt attended The Mastermind red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival. (Images: X) Alia Bhatt is here! And her first red carpet appearance was totally worth the wait. Marking her grand Cannes debut by celebrating individuality, confidence, and self-worth, the actor looked straight out of a painting in a surreal Schiaparelli creation, styled by Rhea Kapoor. The long off-shoulder bustier dress in ecru chantilly lace embroidered with organza and enamel flowers and with ruffles, celebrated Alia Bhatt on the Cannes red carpet. Alia exuded royalty as she walked with grace and confidence, celebrating her iconic debut with elan. Recommended Stories Representing LOreal Paris at the 78th Cannes Film Festival with this years theme, Lights, Beauty and Action, Alias presence on the iconic Cannes red carpet not only reflects on the rising influence of Indian cinema but also celebrates diverse beauty and empowering women across the world. This year marked the brands 28th consecutive year at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. The milestone year also heralds the debut of actor-producer Alia Bhatt at the festival in her role as a global ambassador for LOreal Paris. An iconic debut deserved iconic glam! The dewy, sunkissed minimal makeup was complemented with a chic hairstyle celebrating Alias timeless beauty. Alias artistic hairstyle was styled by Amit Thakur. Alia shared a sneak peek of her glamorous look before making her grand Cannes red carpet debut. Holding a I Am Worth It fan, Alia exuded Hollywood glam as she posed for pictures on the hotel balcony. An iconic cinematic moment indeed for the stunning diva. Before leaving for Cannes, Alia shared her excitement with fans on Instagram by posting a photo of her travel essentials. Her suitcase featured a special makeup bag filled with LOreal Paris products, emblazoned with the brands iconic slogan, Im Worth It, along with the bestseller Atomic Habits and other travel necessities. Later, she also posted an Instagram story featuring her coffee and must-have LOreal Paris lip gloss in the signature Alia shade601 Worth It. Alias posts and her carefully curated essentials highlighted her excitement for her Cannes debut. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ahead of her Cannes debut, Alia Bhatt had shared her thoughts in an official statement. Alia said, Theres something absolutely special about firsts and Im so excited to make my Festival de Cannes debut this year, an iconic celebration of cinema and self-expression. It is such an honour to represent LOreal Paris at the Festival with this years theme, Lights, Beauty and Action. To me, beauty is about celebrating individuality, confidence and self-worth. Its limitless, its unique. Im proud to stand with a brand that celebrates every womans journey and empowers them to shine in their own light." The 78th Cannes Film Festival will come to a close on May 24, 2025. This year saw a strong Indian representation at the Cannes Film Festival, including celebrities, filmmakers, entrepreneurs and content creators. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Payal Kapadia, Karan Johar, Neeraj Ghaywan, Janhvi Kapoor, Guneet Monga, Nitanshi Goel, Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Chhaya Kadam, Shalini Passi, Devangi Nishar Parekh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Tillotama Shome, Pallavi Joshi, Jacqueline Fernandez, Urvashi Rautela, Mouni Roy, Tania Shroff, Parul Gulati and Nancy Tyagi made a dazzling and impressive statement at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 22:05 IST India Sees Mild Rise In COVID Cases, Heres What It Means According To Experts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 24, 2025, 13:00 IST India has witnessed a mild increase in COVID cases after the the number of infections rose in Singapore and Hong Kong. Experts reveal what you need to know and how to stay safe. Doctors urge vigilance and adherence to basic precautions. Following the rise in COVID-19 infections across South Asia, primarily Singapore and Hong Kong, India has also witnessed a mild increase in cases of COVID-19. As per the Union Ministry of Health, 257 active cases have been reported as of May 19. While the cases in India have been mild as of now, doctors have urged people to remain careful. Lesser Common Symptoms Of COVID Recommended Stories Interestingly, two less common symptoms diarrhoea and conjunctivitis (pink eye) are drawing attention during the current COVID wave. While these signs werent widely linked to previous surges, theyre now appearing more frequently. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has noted that pink eye, though rare, can occur in COVID-19 cases. Similarly, research from the Mayo Clinic found that some infected individuals experienced gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and loose stools. Until recently, however, these symptoms werent recognised as typical indicators of the virus. Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director of Max Healthcare & Senior Director at the Institute of Internal Medicine, Delhi, says, The good news is that the present variant, which is causing COVID in these countries, is not much different from what we experienced during the last waves of COVID. The variant that is being reported is JN.1, which is the last prominent dominant variant in the last COVID outbreak in various countries, including the US. What we know of these variants, which belong to the Omicron family, is that they do not cause a severe illness in most people. However, this is infectious and it spreads fast in a community region or a country." Why Has COVID Resurged? Talking about the resurgence of the virus, Dr Budhiraja noted, These viruses tend to remain in more endemic form and have a tendency to cause these outbreaks after the peak pandemic stage is over. The reason is not that this virus is more virulent, but probably due to do with the waning immunity of the population at large, especially since routine vaccinations have not been happening. So, over the years, the immunity of a person against COVID tends to go down, and it is being assumed that its probably the waning immunity that is causing this virus to come back. The virus is not more virulent, except in very high-risk individuals, people of old age, immunocompromised, and with various medical comorbidities." Dr Budhiraja continued, The precautions and the symptoms caused by this variant are more or less the same as those of any typical COVID symptom." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all How To Protect Yourself From COVID The most effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by sticking to the basics and staying vigilant. Wear a mask in crowded or enclosed spaces, avoid travel to regions seeing a surge in cases, maintain proper hygiene, and steer clear of close contact with anyone showing symptoms. If you begin to feel unwell, its important to isolate promptly and consult your doctor about testing and further care. 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 24, 2025, 13:00 IST Manish Malhotra Serves Suave Glam In A Navy Trench Coat For His Cannes Debut Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:05 IST Manish Malhotra made his Cannes debut as he attended the amfAR Gala last night. He gave a modern spin to power dressing in a velvet trench coat and striking accessories. Manish Malhotra blended sophistication with modern power dressing. After a glamorous debut at the Met Gala 2025 earlier this month, Indias beloved couturier Manish Malhotra took Cannes by surprise as he made his debut. Manish attended the amfAR Gala at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. In a velvet ensemble, the ace designer served suave glam on the red carpet in a look that was not just sharp but also sculpted. Manish Malhotra made his Cannes debut at the amfAR Gala. His much-anticipated debut look was all about his signature sophistication. Viral pictures from the event show the designer looking suave at the event as he posed sharply for the cameras. His look was a delightful blend of sharp sculptural silhouettes with an array of fauna-themed jewellery. Recommended Stories Take a closer look at Manishs OOTD here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MANISH MALHOTRA (@manishmalhotraworld) Chanelling his signature sophistication with a dash of suaveness, Manish opted for a navy velvet trench coat from his label. He paired this velvet trench coat with a sharp waistcoat in a matching hue. Playing with the blues, he added a regal blue shirt and navy-hued broad velvet trousers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For the accessories, he added the striking Tusker brooch at the centre of his collar button. He adorned his lapel with an array of statement diamond collar pins that sealed the ensemble with quiet brilliance. He added five diamond-encrusted collar pins in the shapes of a stallion, elephant, and tiger. He also added twin falcon button pins that not only brought brilliance and bite but also sealed the look with a commanding flair. In a look that was dapper and suave, he gave a stylish spin to modern power dressing. Manish dressed Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for her first look at the Cannes red carpet. Aishwarya opted for a handwoven Banarasi saree that she had paired with heirloom jewels from the designers jewellery label. She wore 500 carats of Mozambique rubies, uncut diamonds, and 18k gold, accentuated with floral and geometric rings. 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 23, 2025, 10:05 IST NMACC Brings The Spirit Of India To NYC With Grand Cultural Showcase This September Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 08:44 IST Set to commence from September 1214, the debut Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre India Weekend in New York City promises a spectacular journey of Indian heritage. The immersive weekend will be held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) is all set to bring the first edition of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre India Weekend to New York City, a landmark celebration of the countrys rich heritage. From September 1214, 2025, this immersive weekend will showcase the best of India in music, theatre, fashion, cuisine, and traditions on a global stage. The Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre India Weekend will commence on September 12, at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, with the highly anticipated US premiere of Indias largest theatrical production The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation. Blending dance, art, fashion, and music, this production is a spectacular tribute to Indias past, present and future that travels the countrys history from 5000 BC until its independence in 1947. Recommended Stories Featuring a cast of over 100 performers, opulent costumes and larger-than-life sets, The Great Indian Musical is an unrivalled theatrical experience. The show, Indias largest musical, with a line-up of exceptional Indian talent, along with a Tony & Emmy award-winning crew, has been conceived and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. This marquee production will feature the collaboration of great artists like Ajay-Atul (music), Mayuri Upadhya, Vaibhavi Merchant, Samir & Arsh Tanna (choreography). The visual spectacle will also feature costumes designed by leading fashion designer Manish Malhotra. The show will have a limited run of five performances. The opening night on September 12 will commence with an invite-only red carpet the Grand Swagat (Grand Welcome) featuring the Swadesh Fashion Show Curated by Manish Malhotra, spotlighting Indias celebrated traditional weaves and skilled artisans. The evening will have a special presentation of cuisines and flavours from ancient to modern India, presented by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna. The bookings for the NMACC India Weekend in New York City will open soon. Speaking on the occasion, Founder & Chairperson Mrs. Nita Ambani said, We are thrilled to bring the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre India Weekend to New York City for the very first time! It is designed to be a global celebration of Indias cultural legacy our art, crafts, music, dance, fashion, and food. At NMACC, our vision has always been to showcase the best of the world to India and bring the best of India to the world. This special weekend marks the first step forward on that journey, celebrating the spirit of India on one of the worlds most iconic stages Lincoln Center. I am excited to share our rich traditions and legacy with New York City and the world." Each morning of the festival will begin on a serene note with Bhajans, Chanting Sessions, and Gita Readings, setting a peaceful and reflective tone for the day. Renowned wellness expert Eddie Stern will guide participants through Daily Yoga Workshops, while Shiamak Davar and his team will infuse energy and rhythm with their signature Bollywood Dance Workshops. Throughout the event, musical performances will feature some of Indias most celebrated artists, including Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, and other acclaimed maestros, performing on both the 12th and 13th. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A standout highlight will be a live Garba and Dandiya Raas performance by Parthiv Gohil and his team, accompanied by a local dance troupe. On the final day, Rishab Sharma will enchant audiences with his unique fusion of classical and contemporary music. The festival will culminate in a vibrant Phoolon Ki Holi, a joyful, flower-filled celebration capped off with a Retro Nights-themed DJ set to keep the festive spirit alive. The NMACC India Weekend will also take over Damrosch Park from September 1214, bringing alive enthralling and engaging experiences in the form of a Great Indian Bazaar. Guests will be introduced to the finest Indian fashion and textiles, decadent flavours, as well as dance, yoga and music experiences. 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 23, 2025, 08:41 IST This Is How Alia Bhatt Is Gearing Up For Her Debut At The Cannes Film Festival Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 16:43 IST Alia Bhatt is set to make her debut at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Here's a sneak peek into how she is gearing up for this big day. Alia Bhatt will represent LOreal Paris at Cannes 2025 with this years theme, Lights, Beauty and Action. After much anticipation, Alia Bhatt is all set to make her debut at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The actor was spotted at the Mumbai airport last night as she flew out for Cannes. Dressed in a beige trench coat, Alia exuded boss woman energy as she geared up for this big day. Her appearance at the airport shuts down reports that speculated that the actor might cancel her debut due to the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions. Ahead of her Cannes debut, Alia Bhatt brought power dressing with a hint of style and glamour for her airport look. She opted for a beige trench coat by Gucci. She added a white figure-hugging Gucci top that was adorned with the brands signature green and red striped trim along the scooped neckline. She had worn the top with a pair of blue oversized jeans. She completed her look with a pair of gold hoop earrings, a black and gold retro-style sunglasses, and a green Gucci shoulder bag worth Rs 3,00,000 to carry her essentials. Recommended Stories Take a look at Alias airport look here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Talking about her debut at the Cannes Film Festival, Alia had mentioned earlier, Theres something absolutely special about firsts and Im so excited to make my Festival de Cannes debut this year, an iconic celebration of cinema and self-expression. It is such an honour to represent LOreal Paris at the Festival with this years theme, Lights, Beauty and Action." Taking to her Instagram, the actor also shared a few snippets. In one of her Stories, she shared a picture of her suitcase. She carried the bestseller book, Atomic Habits, and a beige makeup bag that was filled with LOreal Paris products. She wrote, Off we go." In another Story, she shared a picture of her cup of black coffee and LOreal Paris Plump Ambition Gloss for hydrated, plump lips in the signature Alia shade 601 Worth It. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Alia is set to make her much-anticipated debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, representing LOreal Paris the events official beauty partner. She joins a growing list of Indian stars who have lit up the red carpet, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Janhvi Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, Nitanshi Goel, and Urvashi Rautela. 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 23, 2025, 13:50 IST Abhishek Bachchan's Old Post Admiring Aishwarya Rai Goes Viral: 'Mrs Shows Up...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:14 IST Interestingly, this comes at a time when Aishwarya Rai is once again at the Cannes. Abhishek Bachchan's old post praising Aishwarya Rai at Cannes goes viral. An old X (formerly Twitter) post by Abhishek Bachchan has resurfaced on social media, where he praises his wife, actress Aishwarya Rai. In his post, Abhishek is seen admiring one of Aishwaryas Cannes appearances. Almost 52 hours without sleep! Eyes shuttingand the Mrs shows up looking like this!! Okeyes wide open now," Abhisheks post reads. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Showsha (@showsha_) Interestingly, this comes at a time when Aishwarya Rai is once again at the Cannes. From the last two days, the actress has been ruling the red carpet with her style and beauty. On May 21, Aishwarya wowed everyone at Cannes 2025 in a beautiful white saree. She wore a bold red emerald necklace, but what stood out most was the bright red sindoor a first for her at the event. As she stepped out of her car, fans cheered and clicked photos. Aishwarya smiled and waved back, clearly happy with the warm welcome. A regular at Cannes as LOreals brand ambassador, she looked graceful and stunning as always. On Thursday too, Aishwarya Rai made her highly anticipated second appearance at the 78th Festival de Cannes and impressed everyone. She channelled old-school Hollywood charm in a black sequinned strapless gown, layered under an oversized silver-beige textured cape. Meanwhile, Abhishek, who is currently in India, has not reacted to Aishwaryas Cannes look as of now. A Look At Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rais Relationship Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rais love story began as friends while working together on films like Dhai Akshar Prem Ke (2000) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003). However, romance blossomed during the filming of Umrao Jaan in 2005-2006. Abhishek proposed to Aishwarya after the premiere of their film Guru in New York. They got married on April 20, 2007, in a grand ceremony, and became the Bachchan Bahu" Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Aishwarya and Abhishek have a daughter named Aaradhya Bachchan. For a long time now, rumours of trouble in Aishwarya and Abhisheks married life have also been making headlines. 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 23, 2025, 11:40 IST As Tamannaah Bhatia's Mysore Sandal 'Soap Opera' Bubbles Up, Minister Cites 'Global Goals' | Exclusive Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:58 IST Karnataka industries minister MB Patil told CNN-News18 that the move was a purely 'business strategy' aimed at expanding KSDL's reach beyond the state Tamannaah Bhatia was ultimately chosen due to her extensive fan base, a factor deemed crucial for KSDL's ambitious growth targets. (File photo/X) The Karnataka governments decision to appoint actress Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap and other Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL) products has ignited a heated debate. The two-year, Rs 6.2 crore deal has drawn sharp criticism from netizens and pro-Kannada organisations, who question why a local talent, such as Deepika Padukone, or another Kannada actor, was not chosen for the iconic state brand. Industries minister MB Patil, speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, defended the move as a purely business strategy" aimed at expanding KSDLs reach beyond Karnataka. Patil emphasised that the decision was not intended as a disrespect to Kannada actresses or Kannada people or organisations". Recommended Stories KSDL was filled with controversies, corruption, and scandal. The chairman of KSDL was behind bars," Patil stated, highlighting the companys turnaround under his leadership, with profits soaring from Rs 180 crore to Rs 400 crore and overall revenue increasing from Rs 1,200 crore to Rs 1,700 crore. Patil revealed that the appointment of Tamannaah Bhatia was part of a prolonged strategy" to take Mysore Sandal Soap pan-India". He explained that 82% of the soaps sales currently come from outside Karnataka, underscoring the brands national appeal. The minister clarified that other prominent actresses like Pooja Hegde, Rashmika Mandanna, and Deepika Padukone were considered but were unavailable for the two-year duration. Tamannaah Bhatia was ultimately chosen due to her extensive fan base, a factor deemed crucial for KSDLs ambitious growth targets. Were thrilled to welcome the iconic Ms Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) as the brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap! A symbol of grace and versatility, Tamannaah perfectly mirrors the legacy, purity, and timeless appeal of our heritage brand..#Ksdl #BrandAmbassador pic.twitter.com/TQe2tjeY4O House Of Mysore Sandal (@MysoreSandalIn) May 22, 2025 Patil cited KSDLs remarkable 17% growth in the FMCG sector, surpassing giants like HUL and Wipro, with a target of Rs 5,000 crore. He unveiled KSDLs plans for global expansion, including new international packaging, entry into the Gulf and European markets, and the introduction of new products like an international jasmine sandal soap, catering to specific market preferences. Furthermore, Patil announced KSDLs foray into the perfume market, with a team having visited Kannauj, Indias perfume capital. We are going global, and tomorrow youll again ask me this question, and well have a Hollywood actress here," Patil quipped, reiterating the governments vision to transform KSDL into a globally recognised brand. About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:45 IST Bhool Chuk Maaf Review: Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi's Desi Time Loop Caper Is Watchable Written By : News18.com Edited By: Chirag Sehgal Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:31 IST Bhool Chuk Maaf Movie Review: The concept of Bhool Chuk Maaf is fairly new for Bollywood, with straightforward storytelling. Read our review to know why one must watch this film. Wamiqa Gabbi and Rajkummar Rao are refreshing to watch on screen. (Photo credits: Instagram) Bhool Chuk Maaf U/A 3/5 23 May 2025|Hindi 2 hrs 01 mins | Rom-Com Starring: Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi's Director: Karan Sharma Watch Trailer Bhool Chuk Maaf Movie Review: When was the last time you watched a Rajkummar Rao movie and returned disappointed? Clearly, the actor has found his charm in playing the small-town hero that is so relatable to all of us that we fall in love with every character he brings to life with the kind of mannerisms he adds to his roles. Just like his previous films, Rao takes us on a joy ride in Karan Sharmas Bhool Chuk Maaf. We get to see a fresh pairing of Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, and the duo are sure to become a very popular rom-com pair. Set in Banaras, the movie revolves around Rajkummar Raos character, Ranjan Tiwari, who is caught in a time loop, repeatedly waking up on the day of his Haldi ceremony. Recommended Stories The initial build-up features well-crafted dialogues, humour, and convincing performances by Rao and Gabbi (who plays Titli). Raos impeccable delivery of one-liners, with the perfect accent and timing, is particularly entertaining. Debutant director Karan Sharma dedicates most of the first half to establishing the loop, though the script could have benefited from more depth there. Having said that, the songs enhance the beauty of the films setting and the picturisation of Banaras is something that will break the stereotype associated with the place. The concept is fairly new for Bollywood, with straightforward storytelling, though certain characters could use more arch and layers that could have unfolded over the course of the film. Nonetheless, Karan Sharma deserves credit for his debut effort and we can say, Karan, Bhool Chuk Maaf". While Rao excels in these roles, its also time to see him in a new light and a fresh avatar. His portrayal of small-town heroes is commendable, but his talent extends beyond this niche. And we cant wait to see him in other projects. Gabbi, on the other hand, fits naturally into the role of Titli, delivering her lines with precision and showcasing excellent comic timing. Its likely shell continue to shine in rom-coms in the future. As the movie progresses to the second half, the script reveals a major plot twist, but the storytelling falls short of capturing the full emotional depth of it. What could have made the narrative more impactful falls flat and looks rushed. The climax delivers the films core message, with Sanjay Mishra leaving a lasting impression through his performance, supported by strong scripting and dialogues. Overall, Bhool Chuk Maaf is a decent film for those looking to relax and unwind at the movies. About the Author Nishad Thaivalappil Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha... Read More Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 10:31 IST Zeenat Amans Son Zahaan Recalls Being Surprised By Her International Fame: It Hit Me Later...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 22:46 IST Zahaan Khan, the son of Bollywood legend Zeenat Aman, opens up about his private upbringing, global fan encounters, and when he finally grasped the true scale of his mothers fame. Zahaan Khan, son of Zeenat Aman, shares how he only understood the depth of his mothers global legacy in his 20s. He opens up about fan encounters, fashion, and life with a legend. Zahaan Khan, the younger son of legendary Bollywood icon Zeenat Aman, has spent much of his life away from the glare of the spotlight. Now 35, the culinary arts graduate and freelance music composer recently offered a rare glimpse into what it was like growing up with a mother who shaped an era in Indian cinema. In a conversation with Vogue, Zahaan reflected on his unconventional upbringing, where the glitz of fame was a quiet, constant presence. Although Zeenat had stepped back from films to focus on raising Zahaan and his brother, her presence in public still commanded attention. As a child, I was so used to the way people reacted to her that I didnt think much of it. But when I travelled with her as an adult, I finally understood the depth of her legacy," Zahaan said. Recommended Stories It wasnt until his twenties that Zahaan truly grasped the cultural impact of Zeenat Amans career. He vividly recalls watching fans approach her in awe, not just in India but across the globe. One story, passed down like family lore, especially stayed with him: an elderly Russian fan who, every year on Zeenats birthday, would travel to India just to present her with traditional Russian bread and a handwritten card. Those gestures helped me understand what she meant to people," he shared. Despite being the son of a style icon, Zahaan admits fashion wasnt always his thing. I used to live in Converse, ripped jeans, and basic tees. I never thought much about clothes," he confessed. But thats slowly changing. As he grows more confident in his own skin, Zahaan is beginning to explore his personal style. Its part of reconnecting with my body, and through that, with the world," he said, noting that this evolution feels like an intimate and creative journey. Though hes still cautious about what he posts onlineaware of how quickly public figures can be judgedZahaan remains deeply respectful of his mothers legacy and her deep love for privacy. Shes always valued her space, and Im learning how to strike that same balance," he concluded. 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 23, 2025, 21:37 IST BTS Vs Slow Dancing Becomes 3rd Solo To Cross 500 Million Spotify Streams Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:14 IST BTS V Solo Song: After Love Me Again and FRI(END)S, V's Slow Dancing has crossed 500 million streams on Spotify. Slow Dancing was released in September 2023. (Photo Credits: Instagram) BTS V Solo Song: In another remarkable musical milestone, BTS V, aka Kim Taehyung, has become the first K-pop soloist to have multiple songs surpass 500 million streams on Spotify. This achievement was highlighted by the title track from his 2023 debut solo album Layover, which was released in 2023. The song in question is Slow Dancing, which was dropped alongside other hit tracks like Love Me Again (1 billion streams) and FRI(END)S (500 million streams). Additional tracks from the album, including Rainy Days, Blue, For Us, and the Slow Dancing piano version, have also contributed to his streaming success. As per the music streaming platform, BTS Vs Slow Dancing surpassed the cumulative streams earlier this month, becoming his third solo track to achieve the same. Earlier, Love Me Again and FRI(END)S reached the milestone, with the former now having over 1 billion streams. Recommended Stories V's "Slow Dancing" has surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify. pic.twitter.com/NzRSYrANI3 BTS Charts & Awards (@btschartmaster) May 22, 2025 As soon as the news came out, it instantly sent fans into a celebratory mood as many reshared the same and cheered for the idol. One wrote, CONGRATULATIONS to KIM TAEHYUNG for being the FIRST and ONLY K-Pop Soloist to have 3 SOLO songs surpassing 500M streams! LAYOVER is the FIRST and ONLY Korean Album to have multiple SOLO songs surpassing 500M streams. #SlowDancing500Million HALF A BILLION FOR SLOW DANCING," while another added, Kim Taehyung and his beautiful artistry, cheers to KIM TAEHYUNG for being the FIRST and ONLY K-Pop Soloist to have 3 SOLO songs surpassing 500M streams!" Also See: J-Hope Becomes First BTS Member To Land Solo On Billboard Cover A user shared a short clip from the Slow Dancing music video and added, And if I say 500 million is still not enough for slow dancing because this song is a timeless masterpiece." Based on the 1970s soul sound, Slow Dancinga pop R&B genrefeatures jazz elements, captivating listeners with Vs romantic and relaxed vocals. Following its release in September 2023, the song made it to the 51st position on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the 24th position on the UK Official Singles Chart. It is worth mentioning that the BTS star already has 12 solo songs with more than 100 million streams on Spotify. Also See: From RMs Rapmon To Vs Yeontan; A Look At BTS Members Pets Prior to Slow Dancing, FRI(END)S also surpassed 500 million streams. Another R&B track, it captivated audiences with the idols heartfelt lyrics and signature soulful vocals. The figures come on the heels of Vs back-to-back achievements, including winning K-pop Solo Trend of the Year at the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards alongside Best K-pop Solo Artist and Best Fans Award at the Top 50 Music Awards 2025. 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 23, 2025, 09:08 IST Deepika Padukone To Be Replaced By THIS Actress In Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:18 IST Sandeep Reddy Vanga is reportedly in talks with a Kannada actress to replace Deepika Padukone. Deepika reportedly dropped from Spirit after Sandeep Reddy Vanga was upset over her demands. Sandeep Reddy Vanga has reportedly removed Deepika Padukone from the Prabhas-starrer, Spirit. As fans were anticipating Deepika Padukones collaboration with Sandeep Reddy Vanga, many Telugu outlets claimed that she is no longer a part of the project due to clashes over her demands. Amid this, reports claim that Sandeep Reddy Vanga could cast Rukmini Vasanth as the female lead. According to Aakashvaani, Sapta Sagradaache Ello fame Rukmini Vasanth could replace Deepika Padukone in the film. Makers are reportedly in talks with Rukmini, and there is no official confirmation on this yet. Recommended Stories This report comes after Deepika Padukones alleged removal from the film. According to multiple Telugu outlets, including Gulte and GreatAndhra.com, Deepika allegedly requested an 8-hour workday, which reportedly translates to just about 6 hours of actual shoot time. Things escalated further when the actress is said to have demanded a hefty remuneration along with a percentage of the films profits. Additionally, insiders claim she refused to deliver her dialogues in Telugu. The reports further add that Deepika was set to receive her biggest paycheck to date for Spirit, quoting an alleged Rs 20 crore fee. According to the reports, the Spirit is in the final scripting stage, and the shooting will start in October this year. The story of the Spirit is still under wraps, but according to Pinkvilla, Vanga is focusing on a high-octane action drama. As per Pinkvilla, Vagna worked for six months on the script to come up with a groundbreaking idea. Reportedly, Prabhas will undergo an intense physical transformation for the film. Sandeep Reddy Vanga has reportedly advised Prabhas to maintain a lean physique for the character. He will be playing a cop in the film. If everything works well, this action film, backed by the T-series and Bhadrakali Pictures, will be released on the big screens in 2027. 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 23, 2025, 10:18 IST Salman Khan Security Breach: Trespasser Rang Doorbell Of Actor's House, Told THIS To Security Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Chirag Sehgal Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:18 IST Salman Khan HouseSecurity Breach: Two people entered Salman Khans Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai on May 19th and 20th, respectively. Woman who entered Salman Khan's house illegally has been identified as Isha Chhabra. Salman Khan HouseSecurity Breach: In two separate incidents, a man and a woman tried to enter Salman Khans Mumbai residence earlier this month. While they were taken into custody and further investigation is underway, CNN-News18 has now learnt that the woman, identified as Isha Chhabra, had entered the building by telling security officials that she knew a resident there. However, after entering Galaxy Apartments, she headed to Salman Khans house and rang the doorbell. Salman Khan was said to be in the house when the security breach incident took place. In the preliminary investigation, Isha has claimed that she does not know the man who also trespassed Khans residence, a few hours before her. Meanwhile, police officials are also likely to question the residents of Galaxy Apartments soon to check if they know Isha. Recommended Stories For the unversed, Isha entered Salman Khans Galaxy Apartment in Mumbai in the wee hours of May 20th. It was said that she was near the lift area of Salman Khans building when the security guards caught her. She was then handed over to the Bandra police and a case was filed. Apart from this woman, a man also entered the Bollywood superstars house at around 7:15 pm on May 20th. He was also caught and handed over to the cops. While more details are awaited, this has surely raised concerns about Salman Khans security, who has also been getting death threats for a long time now. In April 2024, gunshots were also fired outside Khans Galaxy Apartments in Mumbais Bandra area. Later, it was reported that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is alleged to be behind the attack as the gangsters brother, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting incident via a Facebook post. After the shocking incident, Salmans security was upgraded. Later in July, Salman Khan also recorded his statement in connection to the house firing case when he claimed that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was trying to kill him. About the Author Yesha Kotak Yesha Kotak, Special Correspondent, CNN-News18, specialises in crime, court and investigative reporting. She describes herself as a print reporter in TV. With six years of experience in journalism, Yesha has ea... Read More Yesha Kotak, Special Correspondent, CNN-News18, specialises in crime, court and investigative reporting. She describes herself as a print reporter in TV. With six years of experience in journalism, Yesha has ea... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 08:53 IST Why Avengers: Doomsday Delay May Be A Boost For Spider-Man Fans Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:06 IST Discussions are reportedly in place to bring Tom Holland on board for Avengers: Doomsday. Avengers Doomsday will hit theatres on December 18, 2026. (Photo Credits: Youtube) Marvel fans will have to wait a little bit longer before they can assemble to watch their favourite superheroes once more on the big screen. Disney has delayed the release of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. This means that Robert Downey Jrs return to the franchise, this time as Doctor Doom, has been pushed back. The studio informed that it was delaying both superhero extravaganzas by months. According to Disney, Avengers Doomsday will now hit theatres on December 18, 2026, instead of May 1, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars will be released on December 17, 2027. It was earlier scheduled for a May 2027 release. Recommended Stories As per Reuters, the decision was taken in order to give the filmmakers more time to complete the project. Doomsday, which is already in production, and Secret Wars are among the biggest projects Disney has ever made, a source familiar with the matter told the outlet. In March, Disney had unveiled the star cast for Avengers: Doomsday. Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd and Anthony Mackie are expected to reprise their roles as Thor, Ant-Man and Captain America. The lead cast of the Fantastic Four and the Thunderbolts* also joined the cast of Doomsday. For Robert Downey Jr, Doctor Doom will be the second iconic character he will play in the MCU. The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang actor had earlier portrayed the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man. Interestingly in the casting announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, one big name was left out Tom Holland. It was earlier reported Tom Hollands character, Spider-Man would not be a part of the upcoming Avengers film. Spider-Man: No Way Home, his last appearance in the franchise, had ended with the entire world forgetting Peter Parker was Spider-Man. The next instalment, Brand New Day, is expected to continue from this point. As per Comic Book Resources, the reason behind Hollands absence from Doomsday was the actors packed schedule and payment issues. The outlet has now reported that discussions are in place to bring Tom Holland back for the movie. Tom Holland is presently shooting for Christopher Nolans Odyssey. With Doomsdays release being pushed back, there is a chance he could be free to shoot some scenes for the Marvel extravaganza. The actor or Disney have not commented on reports about Spider-Mans potential role in Avengers: Doomsday. 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 23, 2025, 12:06 IST Opinion | India, Pakistan And The Trumpian Turnabout Written By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:30 IST US President Donald Trump has spoken of wanting to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue, which has played into Pakistans hands Donald Trump has embarrassed India on several counts, writes the author. The fall-out from Indias retaliation against Pakistan for the horrific Pahalgam terrorist attack has been bilateral, regional and international. At the bilateral level, a powerful signal has gone to Pakistan that henceforth India will not tolerate terror attacks engineered against India. Talk of zero tolerance of terrorism has moved from rhetoric to a robust military response, despite escalatory risks. Recommended Stories That Pakistan has nuclear weapons is no longer considered a deterrent to appropriate levels of Indian retaliation. India, in any case, has no reason to pose an existential threat to Pakistan. Just as India has to control the escalatory ladder, Pakistan too has to do, as India also possesses nuclear weapons. Pakistans belief that under the nuclear overhang it can pursue the low-cost option of conducting terror attacks against India has now been severely challenged. As in the case of the proxy war in Ukraine between NATO and Russia, both having formidable nuclear arsenals, the scope of conventional warfare has been shown to be considerable. This would not be lost on both Pakistan and India. It is difficult at this stage to determine whether Pakistan has learnt a hard lesson and will avoid the risk of staging terror attacks against India in the future. It may yet be tempted to organise small-scale terror attacks on Indian soil and test Indias willingness to retaliate on a large scale. Pakistan has shown over the years that it can take the risk of playing the terrorist card even against its benefactors like the US, calculating that the latter would place self-limits on its response by weighing costs and benefits of a strong response. India too would have to consider whether a limited Pakistan-backed terrorist incident in the future would require a major military response. What adds to the doubt whether Pakistan will eschew terror in the future is the narrative that has been cultivated with the connivance of the Western media that Pakistan either got the edge over India in the recent conflict or that it was a draw. For the Western media and defence correspondents, the only metric for judging the outcome of the conflict is whether Pakistans Chinese planes and missiles succeeded in downing a French made Indian Rafale, even though no evidence has been produced by either Western or Pakistani sources to back any such claim. That the major terror hubs of Pakistan were targeted by India with precision strikes, its most important air bases were successfully attacked, and that Pakistani air defences failed to intercept the Indian missiles, are realities that have been glossed over. Part of the reason why the Western narrative has been in Pakistans favour is the Wests concern that accepting that the Pakistani military failed to defend the country would have severe repercussions internally in a Pakistan already in the throes of a political and economic crisis, and even a security one with the activities of the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), the Pakistani Taliban. (TTP) and the Afghanistan Taliban. The absurd result of this make-believe success of Pakistan against India is the self-elevation of Pakistans army chief to the rank of Field Marshal. This may well mean that a rabid, India-hating Islamist like General Asim Munir could well continue to believe that periodically bleeding India through terrorism is a realistic option. The Pakistani political class will now have even less control over a pumped-up Field Marshal. At the regional level, the consequences of Indias military action could well mean more attacks on Pakistani security forces and other targets by the BLF and the TTP as well. India has reached out to the interim Taliban government in Kabul at the political level for the first time, with Indias External Affairs Minister speaking to the Taliban Foreign Minister. This conversation came days after the Taliban administration condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. Iran strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack too, with its official statement locating Pahalgam in India. At the same time, somewhat surprisingly, at the level of its Foreign Minister who was to visit India, Iran publicly announced its desire to play a mediatory role between India and Pakistan, knowing well Indias rejection of any third-party role in India-Pakistan issues. For Iran this was a way to balance its ties with India and Pakistan. Islamic solidarity with Pakistan is a factor. Both the Supreme Leader and the Iranian president have madereferences to Kashmir in the past to which India has objected. Indias major partners in the Arab world have all strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack. However, they have all advocated restraint and de-escalation of tensions, with Saudi Arabia sending its Minister of state for Foreign Affairs Affairs to visit India and Pakistan on May 8 and to 9 de-escalate tensions. Indonesia too has urged both parties to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue in resolving the crisis. Malaysias prime minister bought Pakistans spurious line by affirming his countrys support for an independent and transparent investigation to identify those responsible for the attack at Pahalgam. Although Turkey too condemned the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, it supported Pakistans call for an investigation into it. Turkey has been arming Pakistan and its drones have been used against India in the recent conflict. With Turkey being the only country to mention the Kashmir issue in the UNGA the backlash against Turkey has been severe this time, including the cancelling of the contract of its major airport handling company for national security reasons. China, which is today Pakistans biggest military and economic partner, has tried to play a complex balancing diplomatic act of going along with the UNSCs strong statement on the Pahalgam terrorist act but joining Pakistan to ask for an impartial international probe into it. China limited itself to calling Indias military response regrettable". Indias NSA thought it politic to reach out to Chinas Wang Yi. China no doubt assisted Pakistan in this conflict by supplying additional military equipment as well as intelligence inputs. One can foresee that China will bolster Pakistans military capacity against India especially in areas where Pakistans defence gaps have been exposed. The China-Pakistan nexus will continue to be a major security challenge for India. At the international level, the EU and individual European countries had condemned the Pahalgam attack. After Indias retaliation the EU, while recognising that every state has the duty and the right lawfully to protect its citizens from acts of terror, called on both parties to exercise restraint, to de-escalate tensions, desist from further attacks to safeguard civilian lives on both sides, and urged both sides to engage in dialogue. France expressed its wholehearted solidarity with India and its support for India in its fight against terrorist groups, but expressed its deep concern over the military developments and called for de-escalation and protection of civilians. Germany too followed a similar line. The G7 statement too called for immediate de-escalation and encouraged both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome. President Donald Trumps position on the conflict has been the most unexpected. He has shifted attention away from the core reason why India had to finally change the paradigm in its response to Pakistans sponsorship of terrorism by hitting at the terror hubs on its soil. Trump should have found a way to allude to this in some way in his statements and supported Indias step, as he has his own concerns about Islamic terrorism and extremism from which the US itself has suffered even at Pakistans hands. Instead, in his self-projection as a peacemaker, he shifted the focus to a ceasefire, as in the case of the Ukraine conflict. In the latter case he acknowledged the legitimacy of Russias case and made his distaste of Zelenskyy known. In Indias case, he has equated India with Pakistan, Modi with Pakistani leaders, heaping praise on the quality of Pakistani leadership, and calling Pakistan a great country which makes excellent products. He has promised to increase trade ties with. Pakistan. Trump has embarrassed India on several counts. He said that he had mediated a ceasefire and chose to announce it even before India and Pakistan could, giving the impression that India succumbed to US pressure. He linked this pressure to trade. This has forced India to clarify that there was no mediation by the US or anyone else, that India made its position clear to the US and others that if Pakistan sought a ceasefire its general had to speak to his Indian counterpart. India also affirmed that trade did not figure at all in exchanges with the US. Trump has spoken of wanting to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue, which has played into Pakistans hands, as this is what Pakistan has always sought. US mediation, in Pakistans eyes, means territorial concessions by India. Trump has also claimed that he has prevented a nuclear war, and has. saved millions of lives. This too serves Pakistans strategy of stoking fears in the international community about the danger of a nuclear conflict erupting in the subcontinent if India-Pakistan issues remained unresolved. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all During his recent meeting in the White House with the South African President, Trump was back at lauding Pakistans great leaders, while also saluting Modi, an equivalence that boosts the status of Pakistan and its leaders, which even the Islamic countries and China as well do not do, and diminishes India and its leaders. When he said this the Pakistan army chief had declared himself a Field Marshal, no doubt emboldened by Trumps championing of Pakistan. While Trump had nothing to say about Pakistani political and military travesty, he is insouciant about the damage he is causing to US-India relations Kanwal Sibal is a former Indian Foreign Secretary. He was Indias Ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:28 IST Opinion | Operation Sindoor: Indias Saga Of Steel-Forged Resolve Written By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:47 IST Operation Sindoor marks a decisive chapter in Indias fight against terrorism, showcasing strength, precision, and an unbreakable will to defend sovereignty Our armed forces Army, Navy and Air Force, BSF, Paramilitary forces, and the entire constellation of defence scientists and engineers have proven that the vermilion of Sindoor is the colour of our resolve. (File pic/PTI) WHEN PATIENCE TURNS TO POWER , , " Recommended Stories In this sacred verse of the Ramcharitmanas, we find a truth both eternal and elemental: that forbearance, though noble and enduring, when taken for granted or mistaken for weakness, transforms into a righteous and unrelenting force. India has always drawn strength from its deep well of patience, but history warns that even the Himalayas erupt when provoked beyond limit. And so began a chapter in Indias destiny where dharma was no longer whispered but declared with fire. On the fateful day of 22 April 2025, the serene and sacred valleys of Pahalgam were defiled by the blood of 26 innocent civilians; victims not of a war, but of a cowardly terrorist ambush. Across the length and breadth of India, grief rippled into resolve; the vermilion of our sorrow became the banner of our justice. Thus began Operation Sindoor, named for the sacred mark that terrorists sought to erase but which India now bore proudly a promise etched in steel and fire. THE CLOCK TICKS TOWARD JUSTICE In the hours following that atrocity, Indias Cabinet Committee on Security moved decisively: the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the Attari checkpoint sealed with a 1 May deadline for stranded travellers, SAARC visa exemptions for Pakistani nationals revoked, and military attaches in New Delhi declared persona non grata. With those diplomatic levers shifted, India signalled that no bloodletting on its soil would go unanswered. Intelligence agencies, weaving satellite imagery with intercepted communications and human networks, mapped out nine terror camps where JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen cadres trained, indoctrinated, and plotted mayhem. Guided by unbreakable rules of engagement no civilian targets, only confirmed terror infrastructure our armed forces prepared to deliver retribution with surgical precision. PENETRATING THE TERROR HEARTLAND In the pre-dawn hours of 7 May, between 1:04 and 1:28 AM, Indian missiles cut through Pakistani skies; swift, precise, and unstoppable, long before the first vermilion streaks of sunrise touched the horizon. Indias indigenous BrahMos missiles roared with precision, turning Pakistans terror camps into smouldering ruins, killing hundreds of terrorists a testament to our technological supremacy and strategic will. Munitions obliterated workshops of violence at Bahawalpurs Markaz Subhan Allah, Muridkes Markaz Taiba, Tehra Kalans Sarjal, Sialkots Mehmoona Joya, Barnalas Markaz Ahle Hadith, Kotlis Markaz Abbas and Maskar Raheel Shahid, Muzaffarabads Shawai Nalla and Syedna Bilal Camp. Each strike erased a nucleus of terror, striking at the ideological heartbeats that had sent killers across our border. ESCALATION MET WITH IRON RESOLVE On 8 May, ignoring Indias clear warning against escalation, humiliated Pakistan launched drone strikes across 28 Indian border cities, including Amritsar and Srinagar, targeting civilian zones all of which were intercepted mid-air with 100 per cent accuracy by made-in-India air defence systems like Akash batteries, Russian-made S-400, medium-range SAM Barak-8, older AD systems like Pechora missiles, low-level anti-aircraft guns, shoulder-fired precision interceptors, and a multi-layered air defence with indigenous integrated drone detection and interdiction systems. Not a single Pakistani drone managed to inflict harm. Every one of them was neutralised mid-air, intercepted with surgical precision. No civilian lives lost due to drones, no structures breached. This isnt just the triumph of radar and firepower; it is the triumph of discipline, of invisible sleepless eyes watching the skies. For those in Jammu, Pathankot, Akhnoor, Udhampur, and other cities who heard the shrill alarms and saw missiles arc into the night, this wasnt a headline, it was hard-earned breath. What the rest of India reads as a statistic, the borderland citizens experience as survival. And behind that survival stands the unwavering brilliance of our Armed Forces, whose calm precision in chaos deserves not just our applause, but our awe. OVERCOMING THE DRAGONS SHIELD Indias response was punishing: Pakistans HQ-9 air defence system in Lahore was neutralised, and strategic hits were delivered on Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other cities. As precautionary civilian evacuations began along the border, 9 May marked yet another day of disruption across Indian border cities; schools were shut, tension ran high, and unidentified drones loomed over multiple regions, signalling a deepening phase of vigilance and volatility. Before neutralising Pakistans airbases, India executed yet another decisive move: blinding the enemys radar and air defence shield. Lockheed Martins TPS-77 long-range arrays, capable of scanning over 450 km, were obliterated. Alongside them, Chinese-supplied LY-80, HQ-9P, FN-6, and PL-15 surface-to-air systems were rendered inert, collapsing Pakistans layered air defence and exposing Chinas defence tech globally. Six frontline fighter jets, including Chinese JF-17s, J-10Cs, and American F-16s, were downed in the opening hours. With early warning sensors silenced and widespread cyber disruption crippling command hubs in Rawalpindi and Karachi, Indian missiles swept through once-protected skies. The operational core of global jihad had been surgically removed. IAF BLITZ CRIPPLED PAFS AIRBASES By 10 May, repeated LoC violations and Pakistans audacity and failed attempts to target Indian military establishments triggered an even more brutal response. The cost of provocation was clear: India dismantled critical Pakistani air bases, runway strips, air defence systems, and key military infrastructure, neutralising hundreds of Pakistans military personnel. The message was unmissable: no depth, no distance, no defence can shield Pakistan from Indias resolve and reach. Eleven Pakistan Air Force bases Nur Khan, Rafiqi, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari and Jacobabad were cratered beyond immediate repair. Their airbase runways lay in ruins, hangars smouldering, while Indian Air Force jets patrolled assertively along the border; unmoved, unchallenged, unshaken. The message was clear: We dont need to cross the line to break your spine." MINDS BEHIND THE MISSILES Not to mention, behind every missiles roar stands the quiet sweat of our defence scientists and engineers. From DRDOs labs emerged the Akash-NG system that intercepted hostile drones, HALs upgraded radars that guided our aircraft through electronic warfares maelstrom, to BELs Akashteer: Indias first fully indigenous AI war-cloud, satellite-free and foreign-proof. Above it all, ISROs 10 satellites still working round the clock, beamed back live damage assessments, ensuring that every strike counted. In those hidden crucibles of innovation, Indias strategic edge was forged. INDIAN NAVYS SILENT SUPREMACY From the panic-laced waves in Pakistan to the occupied valleys of PoK and trembling waters of the Arabian Sea, Indias resolve soared. The Indian Navy too was not behind; within ninety-six hours of Pahalgam, the Carrier Battle Group INS Vikramaditya and its MiG-29K wing, escorted by destroyers, frigates, and submarines held the Northern Arabian Sea in iron embrace. Live weapon firings validated layered fleet-air defences, while Airborne Early Warning helicopters screened the skies. Pakistani warships cowered in port, knowing that Indias maritime fist could shatter any threat. This tri-service ballet, choreographed by the Navy, Army, and Air Force under a unified resolution, compelled Pakistan to plead for a halt on 10 May: for India, a tactical pause, not a ceasefire. PAKISTAN PLEADS FOR CEASEFIRE At 15:35 hours IST on 10 May, Indias Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, received a hotline call from his Pakistani counterpart: reeling under the weight of devastation, a desperate plea for ceasefire. India, firmly in command and unswayed by Pakistans theatrics, made no mention of a ceasefire. Instead, it conveyed a measured understanding of a stoppage of firing": a subtle yet sharp reminder a distinction that underscored who controlled the battlefield and who begged for mercy. Even after the agreed-upon understanding of stoppage of firing", Pakistan, true to its treacherous instincts, couldnt resist testing Indias resolve. EYE-IN-THE-SKY EVIDENCE Within hours, swarms of low-grade Chinese and Turkish drones dared to probe Indian defences, only to be shredded mid-air by our indigenous air defence systems. Meanwhile, the Pakistani establishment cloaked itself in denial, spinning propaganda-laced press briefings and offering not a shred of credible proof to back its empty boasts. Satellite images of their gutted airbases and their silence on other already destroyed significant military assets screamed louder than any statement. In stark contrast, India responded with military dignity, releasing full-motion video proof of each strike, reinforcing not just the accuracy of its operations, but the transparency and professional pride of its armed forces. THE ENEMYS EXTENDED HAND Indian Armed Forces roared in PoK and deep inside Pakistan, but let us not forget: the combat does not end with the last missile fired. Pakistan did not fight this combat alone. Behind its crumbling bunkers and burnt radar towers stood the silent machinery of its enablers, China and Turkey. Both nations didnt just cheer from the sidelines; they supplied drones, missile systems, battlefield surveillance emboldening a regime that thrives on blood, deceit, and jihad. Let us call it what it is: complicity in terrorism. Every drone that flew from a Pakistani terror hub had names stamped from Ankara. Every encrypted transmission shielded from our jammers had roots in Beijing. And as Indian airbases were put on alert, Islamabad found confidence in the distant echo of Bakus government support. TIME TO CUT THE STRINGS Is this acceptable to us as a sovereign nation? Absolutely not. It is time we weaponise not just our armed forces but also our economic muscle and cultural consciousness. We Indians must boycott their goods, cut down student exchanges, and cancel our trips to these nations that help their economies flourish while they finance our wounds. For too long, we have been silent consumers while our enemies cashed in on our markets and minds. India must declare in no uncertain terms: those who assist our enemies, even by stealth, will face the full weight of Indian resolve. STEEL IN THEIR VOICE, FIRE IN THEIR VOW On the evening of 10 May, as the guns fell silent across the Line of Control, Indias military leadership stepped forward not with humility, but with measured steel. In New Delhi, at the tri-service press briefing, Commodore R. N. Nair spoke for every sailor, soldier, and airman when he affirmed that we remain ever prepared, ever vigilant; any misadventure will meet decisive response." His words, carried on the assured tenor of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and echoed by officers such as Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi, wove together a singular truth: India may choose to speak softly, but its instruments of power roar with unerring precision. Less than twenty-four hours later, on 11 May, the tone sharpened further. At another tri-service briefing, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai issued a cold warning that cost escalation is left to your imagination; it will be fierce and punitive." Vice Admiral A. N. Pramod followed with equal gravity: This time, if Pakistan dares take any action and Pakistan knows what we are going to do thats all," while Air Marshal A.K. Bharti reminded the world that IAFs job is to hit the targets, not to count the body bags." In those few sentences, Indias military high command crystallised a framework of calibrated deterrence: unflinching resolve backed by unassailable capability. PM MODIS MANIFESTO OF RESOLVE On the evening of 12 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modis address to the people of India was nothing less than a manifesto of Indias sovereign will. Standing before the Tricolour, he declared with unshakeable resolve that Operation Sindoor has redefined the fight against terror, setting a new benchmark, a new normal." Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid down a blistering triad that now defines Indias new security paradigm: a red line etched in fire. First, Decisive Retaliation: No act of terrorism against India will go unanswered. The response will be swift, surgical, and crushing: not limited by geography or convention. Terror camps, launchpads, or handlers wherever they are will be struck at their source at Indias choosing of time, place, and force. Second, No Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail: The era of Pakistan hiding behind its nuclear bluff is over. India will no longer be held hostage to the illusion of deterrence when the enemy sponsors cowardly acts of proxy war. If you shield your terrorists with nuclear threats, be prepared India will pierce through that veil with precision and unflinching resolve. Third, No Distinction Between Terrorists and Their Sponsors: The mask has fallen. Be it Lashkar, Jaish, TRF, or their army and political overlords in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, India now sees no line between terrorists and the states that protect them. Anyone providing safe haven, funding, or ideological cover to terror groups will be treated as direct combatants. Those who aid terror will fall with terror. AMONG THE GUARDIANS OF THE SKIES The next morning, at Adampur Air Force Station on 13 May, the Prime Minister took the pulse of the warriors who had struck so swiftly and so surely. Bharat Mata ki Jai is not just a slogan, it is the oath of every soldier who risks his life for the nation," he proclaimed, asserting that our chants send shivers down the enemys spine." He hailed the operation as a trinity of Indias policy, intent, and decisive capability," and praised the flawless execution that saw our missiles and drones demolish fortifications; the enemy never even saw it coming." His words carried an unambiguous warning: Not just terrorist bases and airbases, but even Pakistans malicious intent and audacity have been destroyed." ECHOES OF A BROADER CAMPAIGN In the quiet that has followed, one truth resonated: Operation Sindoor is not an isolated chapter, but the opening salvo of a broader campaign to reaffirm Indias rightful dominion over every inch that falls within its constitutional and historical map. We refrained from deep occupation in PoK not from weakness, but from wisdom; understanding that true victory lies in sustainable security, not transient conquest. By dismantling terror hubs and exposing nuclear pretensions, we forged the conditions for eventual restoration without igniting a continental war. Concluding this saga of calibrated force and moral clarity, India stands at a new dawn. Our armed forces Army, Navy and Air Force, BSF, Paramilitary forces, and the entire constellation of defence scientists and engineers have proven that the vermilion of Sindoor is the colour of our resolve. We mourned the fallen in Pahalgam with candle-lit vigils, and we answered their sacrifice with thunderous retribution that will echo through the pages of history. Yet our mission remains unfinished: to secure every valley, every ridge, and every sliver of our sovereignty, until PoK once again thrives under the embrace of the Indian Constitution. In the end, the legacy of Operation Sindoor will be its demonstration that India can be both compassionate and unyielding, principled and powerful, moral and militarily masterful. We have shown that for India, justice is not a slogan, but a strategy; and that when the nations courage is tested, we will not ask for permission to defend ourselves. We will simply act, with the indomitable spirit of a civilisation that has long held the banner of dharma aloft, ensuring that no aggression ever finds sanctuary on our sacred soil. IN MEMORY OF THEIR COURAGE To the bravehearts martyred during Operation Sindoor soldiers who wore the uniform of our nation: Jawan Murali Nayak, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar Sharma, IAF Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imtiaz, and BSF Constable Deepak Chingakham your supreme sacrifice is why we breathe in freedom today. We also bow our heads to innocent civilians who lost their lives to cowardly attacks in Pahalgam and during Operation Sindoor. And to the unsung citizens of Jammu, Poonch, Akhnoor, Udhampur, Pathankot, Amritsar and beyond: you endured drone strikes, missile assaults, shelling, and sleepless nights. Your homes were shattered, families torn apart, yet you chose to stay resilient in the face of terror. While we watched from comfort, you lived every second under fire. To the emergency responders, civil defence volunteers, doctors, and health workers: your courage may not wear medals, but it holds the country together. India remembers. India salutes. India owes you all. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For in the land of Lord Rama, when the vermilion is smeared by blood, patience is not silence it is the breath before the roar. Operation Sindoor was that roar. Deeply interested in Indias geopolitical and internal security discourse, Deepak Singh is currently functioning as the Divisional Incharge of the BJYM, BJP, Jharkhand. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:47 IST Opinion | Trumps Apple Gambit: A Trade Ploy Or A Geopolitical Misstep? Written By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 11:45 IST This isnt just about iPhones its about power, economics, and global alliances Last week, US President Donald Trump revealed that he had told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to build Apple products in India. (File Photo: AP) Last week, US President Donald Trump revealed that he had told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to build Apple products in India. Its a head-scratcher, especially since Apples India push is in full swing. Is this Trump playing hardball with Indias trade negotiators? Or, is he dead-set on bringing manufacturing back to American soil? Either way, his words are sending ripples across boardrooms and borders. Trumps comments smell like a negotiation tactic to squeeze concessions from India, which is locked in high-stakes trade talks with the US. But if he doubles down on pushing Apple to shift production from China to the US instead of India, he could disrupt Apples carefully laid plans, slow Indias rise as a manufacturing hub, and muddy the geopolitical waters. His softer stance on China adds another layer of uncertainty, potentially undermining the very diversification Apple and India are banking on. This isnt just about iPhonesits about power, economics, and global alliances. Recommended Stories Apples shift to India isnt just a corporate manoeuvre; its a response to years of US-China trade wars and supply chain shocks, like Covid-era factory shutdowns in China. India, with its young workforce and government incentives, has become the darling of the China+1" strategydiversifying manufacturing away from Beijings grip. Trumps tariffs, once as high as 145 per cent on Chinese goods, fuelled this pivot. Now, with a temporary tariff cut to 30 per cent and trade talks humming, his sudden jab at India feels like a curveball. People care because this affects jobs, prices, and the global pecking order. If Apples plans falter, iPhone prices could spike (analysts warn of $3,000 phones if made in the US), Indias economic ambitions could take a hit, and US-India ties could fray just when countering China matters most. Apples India strategy is no small potatoes. In 2024, it churned out $22 billion worth of iPhones there, a 60 per cent jump year-over-year, with plans to make 25 per cent of global iPhones in India soon. This isnt charityIndia offers low labour costs, subsidies, and a growing market. Apples move was spurred by Trumps own tariffs, which made China less viable. Yet, on May 15, 2025, in Qatar, Trump told Cook to ditch India for US production, claiming Apple agreed to up" domestic output. Details are murky, and Apples tight-lipped, but Cook reportedly isnt budging. Heres the rub: making iPhones in the US is a logistical nightmare. America lacks skilled labour, supplier networks, and Asias cost advantages. Analysts estimate US-made iPhones could triple in price, hitting $3,000. Trumps pressure might be a bluff to strong-arm India, which is negotiating a trade deal with zero-tariff offers on the table (though India denies a done deal). Hes also hinted at easing up on China, with a 90-day tariff truce and talks of a long-term deal. If China gets a sweeter deal, Apple might slow its India expansion, as the urgency to diversify wanes. Geopolitically, this is a tightrope. Indias a key US ally against Chinas influence, and Apples investment bolsters its economy and strategic clout. Trumps comments risk alienating New Delhi, especially as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal heads to the US for trade talks. A slowdown in Apples plans could dent Indias manufacturing dreams and signal to other firms that the US isnt fully behind Indias rise. Meanwhile, a softer US stance on China could embolden Beijing, weakening the Indo-Pacific alliance. Posts on X reflect the tension, with some seeing Trumps move as America First" patriotism, others as a blow to Indias momentum. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trumps telling Cook to ditch India feels like a poker player raising the stakes, hoping India folds with trade concessions. But this isnt just a game of tariffsits about where the worlds tech gets made and who calls the shots. If Trump pushes too hard, he risks jacking up iPhone prices, stalling Indias growth, and handing China an edge. Apples caught in the middle, and so are we, waiting to see if Trumps bluff pays off or backfires. One things clear: in this global chess match, every move counts, and the board just got messier. The writer is a columnist. His articles have appeared in various publications like The Independent, The Globe and Mail, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, etc. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: May 23, 2025, 11:45 IST Congress Leaders Tipped Off ED About Parameshwaras Links to Ranya Rao: BJP Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:45 IST Prahlad Joshi said that Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah was aware of the Congress leaders who tipped off the ED, justifying the EDs action as a response to a legitimate complaint (From left) Prahlad Joshi, Parameshwara Rao and Siddaramaiah. (PTI File) A fierce political blame game has erupted in Karnataka, following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on institutions linked to Home Minister G Parameshwara, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi alleging internal Congress dissent as the catalyst. Joshi sensationally claimed that a faction within the Congress party provided information to the ED, leading to the raids, specifically referencing the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case. Recommended Stories Joshi asserted that Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah was aware of the Congress leaders who tipped off the central agency, justifying the EDs action as a response to a legitimate complaint. One section in the Congress is complaining and seeking action against Parameshwara," Joshi said, adding, Siddaramaiah and his intelligence department know who it is." Karnataka Minister MB Patil swiftly countered Joshis claims, challenging him to release documents to substantiate his allegations. Patil accused the Union government of using central agencies as political tools for witch hunts". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If Pralhad Joshi is part of the ED and knows the inside story then ED, Income Tax, CBI, are all part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) wings," Patil retorted, daring Joshi to disclose the names and evidence. Adding fuel to the controversy, former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy (HDK) also weighed in, hinting at Congress leaders providing information. HDK questioned the efficacy of the CMs intelligence department, asking, Who gave the message which led to this case coming out in the open?" About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Location : Bangalore, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:39 IST Lost His Mental Balance: Shivakumar Attacks Kumaraswamy Over Ranya Rao ED Tip-Off Charge Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:26 IST DK Shivakumar lashed out at HD Kumaraswamy over the allegation that he tipped off ED about Ranya Raos smuggling case details. Shivakumar slams Kumaraswamy over Ranya Rao case allegation (PTI Image) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday lashed out at Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy over his allegations in connection with Ranya Raos smuggling case, and said that the former CM has lost his mental balance". Kumaraswamy is mental. He has lost his mental balance," Shivakumar said, replying to Kumaraswamys allegation that the DCM had tipped off ED about Ranya Raos smuggling case details. Recommended Stories Taking on Kumaraswamy, his arch political rival Shivakumar reacted to a series of tweets from Kumaraswamy on the renaming of Ramanagara. He questioned: Why did Kumaraswamy come to Ramanagara to do politics? Why did he not do politics in his home district of Hassan? Why hasnt he removed the initials in his name, which refer to his fathers name and his villages name?" We are from Bengaluru district. Names of places have significance. Why was Madras changed to Chennai, and Gulbarga to Kalaburagi? The people of the district too have their aspirations. Is it bothering anyone?" When asked about the allegation that the renaming of Ramanagara was done for real estate gains, the Karnataka deputy CM said, Yes, we want the values of our farmers land to go up. We want our people to get more jobs. We want investors to come and develop this place, that is our dream." Explaining how the parliamentary constituency was earlier called Kanakapura, he said, Why was it changed to Bengaluru Rural? We are not changing the name of Ramanagara, it will continue to be the district headquarters. We are only changing the name of the district." The name of the Ramanagara district was recently changed to Bengaluru South district through a cabinet decision. Shivakumar kept his word to the people of Bengalurus neighbouring district. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ramanagara district was previously known as Bangalore Rural district until it was renamed by HD Kumaraswamy during his tenure as chief minister from 2006 to 2008. After the cabinet meeting cleared the proposal to rename Ramanagara, Shivakumar said, I am happy to say that the entire cabinet discussed the issue. Ramanagara district was earlier part of Bengaluru district. The headquarters will remain in Ramanagara, but the name will be changed to Bengaluru South District for all administrative purposes. Just because its 30 km, 80 km, or 100 km away, it will still be called Bengaluru South." About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 20:25 IST Misplaced Generosity: Tharoor Rakes Up Kerala Govt's Rs 10 Cr Aid To Turkey After 2023 Quake Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 22:54 IST Kerala government had announced Rs 10 crore financial aid for Turkey after 2023 earthquake. Two years later, Tharoor reminded the state government of its "misplaced generosity". Shashi Tharoor reminds Kerala govt of its Rs 10 crore aid to Turkey (PTI Image) Raking up Kerala governments Rs 10 crore financial assistance to Turkey shortly after the 2023 devastating earthquake, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday hoped that the Pinarayi Vijayan administration reflects on its misplaced generosity" after Ankara responded to New Delhis Operation Dost with backing Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Sharing a news article published more than two years ago, he said that the sanctioned Rs 10 crore could have been used in Wayanad after the landslides, which killed over 250 people and left several injured. Recommended Stories I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkeys behaviour two years later!" Tharoor posted on X. I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkeys behaviour two years later! https://t.co/NSaZij9eaENot to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better. Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 23, 2025 Thousands of people were killed while several buildings came crashing down as a 7.8-magnitude earthquake created mayhem in Turkey and neighbouring Syria on February 6, 2023. Soon after the tragedy, India had launched Operation Dost to assist in the rescue and relief operation in Turkey and deployed its armed forces on the job. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity with the people of Turkey in the hour of grief and tragedy. In return, Turkey, in 2025, when tragedy struck India on April 22 after a terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, ditched New Delhi and backed Islamabad against Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian armed forces on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. Tharoor took to X to remind the Kerala government of Turkeys betrayal and said, Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Back in 2023, the Kerala government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore to assist Turkey. The earthquake in Turkiye, which had shocked the consciousness of the world, claimed tens of thousands of lives and left lakhs of people destitute," State Finance Minister K N Balagopal had said then. The state government had also announced financial assistance for Ankara in its budget, which was presented two days after the earthquake. 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 23, 2025, 22:53 IST Ramanagara Renamed Bengaluru South: Shivakumar's Power Play Sparks Clash With Kumaraswamy Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 11:30 IST Ramanagara district was called Bangalore Rural district before Kumaraswamy got the name changed to Ramanagara district when he was chief minister in 2006-08. By renaming Ramanagara, Shivakumar has politically upstaged his archrival HD Kumaraswamy, union minister and Janata Dal Secular president. (Image: PTI) Karnatakas Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has quietly struck gold with the state cabinet decision to change the name of Ramanagara district to Bengaluru South district. By getting clearance for what he has been pushing for several years, he has kept his word to the people of Bengalurus neighbouring district that they would hit gold once the shadow of Brand Bengaluru falls on it with the name change. And by doing so, he has politically upstaged his archrival HD Kumaraswamy, union minister and Janata Dal Secular president. Ramanagara district was called Bangalore Rural district before Kumaraswamy got the name changed to Ramanagara district when he was chief minister in 2006-08. Recommended Stories Dont sell your land in Ramanagara it will turn to gold," Shivakumar had advised the locals in Ramanagara earlier this year. The statement now reads like a prelude to the cabinets approval, which has formally cleared the renaming of the district to Bengaluru South District and merging it like it was before. After the cabinet meeting cleared the proposal to rename Ramanagara, Shivakumar said, I am happy to say that the entire cabinet discussed the issue. Ramanagara district was earlier part of Bengaluru district. The headquarters will remain in Ramanagara, but the name will be changed to Bengaluru South District for all administrative purposes. Just because its 30 km, 80 km, or 100 km away, it will still be called Bengaluru South." The Political Battle What began as a dispute over a name has now turned into a full-blown battle for land, legacy, and political dominance in the Vokkaliga heartland just 50 km from Karnatakas capital. While Kumaraswamy accuses the Congress of vendetta politics," Shivakumar frames the move as development-focused governance. The JD(S) accused Shivakumar of redrawing administrative boundaries purely for political and monetary gain. Clearly, the party sees the move as a direct challenge to its presence and Kumaraswamys influence in the Vokkaliga heartland. JD(S)s Kumaraswamy and Congresss Shivakumar, both Vokkaligas, have long been in a tussle to tilt Vokkaliga vote bank in their favour a tussle that existed even when JD(S) was a coalition partner with the Congress, and one that intensified when JD(S) aligned with the NDA in the 2023 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As per the last census, Vokkaligas are the second largest community in Karnataka after the Lingayats and form close to 14-15 per cent of the voting population. Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar are both influential Vokkaliga leaders. We are from Bengaluru why should we give up our identity? You cannot imagine what your land will be worth in the future. BJP and JD(S) leaders are criticising this move. But why did they (referring to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy) leave their hometown and buy hundreds of acres of land here," he asked people in Ramanagara earlier this year, targeting his political arch-rival Kumaraswamy. The Deputy Chief Minister said: What was the price of land in this area 15 to 20 years ago? How much is it now? Although I could not give you money directly, Ive helped you by increasing your property value. This is how Ive brought change to your lives," he claimed. Kumaraswamy hit back, calling the Congress a party of looters" and Shivakumar the leader of the pack." Shivakumar responded to Kumaraswamys statement, calling him a frustrated" man who is unable to play the part of a joker" in a coalition. Shivakumars statement referred to how the JD(S) aligned with whichever party needed a coalition partner to form the government. The JD(S) has partnered with both the BJP and the Congress first in 2006, when Kumaraswamy became CM under the 20-20 formula. However, towards the end of the term, Kumaraswamy refused to hand over power to his BJP successor BS Yediyurappa, leading to the fall of the coalition government. Again, in the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, the JD(S), which emerged as the third-largest party, entered a post-poll alliance with the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, and Kumaraswamy was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 23, 2018. However, he lost power when the BJP launched Operation Kamala, and 19 MLAs withdrew support from his government (13 from the Congress, 3 from the JD(S), BSP MLA Mahesh N, and 2 Independent MLAs), causing the coalition government to fall once again. The attempt is to erase Kumaraswamys legacy and the development he brought to the area," said a close associate of the Union minister on condition of anonymity. The district was originally carved out by Kumaraswamys coalition government in 2007. The Renaming Legality The renaming proposal was also pushed ahead just before the 2024 Channapatna bypollsa politically strategic move. Though the Centre rejected the renaming proposal, the Congress-led Karnataka government said it would go ahead with the decision, asserting that it was a state matter." Sending the proposal for the Centres approval was only a formality. They rejected it, but we are going ahead because the decision lies with the state government," Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told News18. He added that the Allahabad High Courts ruling on the renaming of Allahabad to Prayagraj made it clear that naming or renaming places is a state subject. Land is a state subject under the Constitution, and the state government has the prerogative in such matters," Byre Gowda said. The role of the Government of India, as I understand it, is limited to maintaining a central registry just updating names in their records. Thats it. The substantive decision-making lies with the state. The High Court judgment makes it clear," the Revenue Minister said. Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil explained the legal basis for the decision: Article 7 of the Constitution of India describes various subjects included in the Union List. The subject of land in State List item 18 and land revenue in item 45 are both State subjects. Section (4) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, empowers the State Government to create, alter, abolish, or rename zones, taluks, and districts. Hence, this proposal was submitted," he said. Vendetta Politics The rejection by the Union Home Ministry triggered a fresh political tussle. Shivakumar claimed the move was blocked due to objections raised by Kumaraswamy. Kumaraswamy and the BJP, in turn, called the decision to merge Ramanagara into Bengaluru South a design of the Congress government that indicates their hatred towards Lord Rama and a lure for real estate." For Shivakumar, however, the decision to rename Ramanagara as Bengaluru South district is both symbolic and strategic. By tethering Kanakapura his home constituency and adjoining areas more closely to Bengaluru, he is positioning himself as the key leader of a vital urbanrural corridor. This boosts his political clout and strengthens his hand in the Vokkaliga heartland. Kumaraswamy had also recently lashed out at both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, accusing them of misusing their power to harass" him and threatening to expose alleged corruption. The trigger was the governments move to clear encroachments at Kethaganahalli near Bidadi, which is linked to Kumaraswamys family. This is pure vendetta politics," Kumaraswamy said, warning the Congress not to provoke him. I have enough material to take on this government." Shivakumar dismissed the charges, daring Kumaraswamy to release whatever documents he claimed to possess. Im not afraid of Kumaraswamy or anyone else. Let him bring out whatever he has," he said. The Channapatna bypoll which was held in November 2024 further tilted the scales. Veteran politician CP Yogeshwar, who defected to the Congress from the BJP just days before the bypoll, won the seat by over 25,000 votes, defeating Kumaraswamys son Nikhil. The JD(S) leader had pushed for his son Nikhil to contest again, which the Congress dubbed Putra-moh" (obsession with ones son) as Nikhil had earlier contested two elections Mandya (2019 Lok Sabha) and Ramanagara (2023 Assembly) and lost both. He lost the third time as well after he contested from Channapatna, his father Kumaraswamys seat, to Yogeshwar. Meanwhile, the BJP has also pointed a sharp attack on Shivakumar. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka alleged that the Bidadi Township Project, located in Ramanagara, was a scam designed by Congress leaders to inflate land prices. At a protest against land acquisition under the Greater Bengaluru Authority, which was recently formed on May 15, Ashoka claimed that 3,000 acres were being acquired to enable a land loot" by Shivakumar. He also warned of a second NICE Road-like project that could seize up to 30,000 acres more of land from farmers in the area. Farmers will be ruined. Ninety-five percent of them will suffer losses. Their children will have nothing left," he said, accusing Shivakumar of turning governance into a real estate racket. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ashoka also questioned whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had been instructed" by Rahul Gandhi to drop the name Rama from Ramanagara, as part of the merging with Bangalore, or if the move was linked to a real estate agenda in the district, following the MUDA land controversy in Mysuru. Ashoka targeted Shivakumar, asking whether the renaming was a way to settle scores after his brother DK Suresh was defeated by the coalition in the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Ramanagara district. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18s digital platform. She has previously worked with t... Read More First Published: May 23, 2025, 11:30 IST Microsoft Forced Its Engineers To Use AI, Fired And Replaced Them With AI: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:50 IST Microsoft and other tech giants are gradually making AI do the human's work which means layoffs and danger of the industry changing its system. Microsoft laid off over 6000 employees and a lot of them were engineers who code The pace of AI taking over the industry has people worried, especially those who are at risk of the technology taking over their jobs. Microsoft and Google are some of the big names that have pulled the plug on thousands of job roles, just to get them replaced with AI in recent months. And now, a new report claims one of these tech giants had planned for these job cuts right under the noses of their employees. The AI Job Effect Recommended Stories Bloomberg this week has done the analysis for the 6,000 employee layoff at Microsoft recently, where it noticed that 40 percent of these job cuts were focused on software engineers. But things get a lot scarier when you realise that the company had asked these 40 percent of engineers to start using AI tools for coding more aggressively. Once the AI systems had shown human-level results, Microsoft reportedly decided to replace the AI with the engineers, which apparently helps them cut the costs on employee hiring. Another report by The Information cites a similar trend, and talks about Microsoft forcing its engineers to rely on OpenAI-powered chatbots to generate 50 percent of their code. Most of these companies are talking highly about the power of AI and its ability to generate code for their products and business. Microsoft seems to have trodden in the same dystopian path that could now become a reality in many more sectors. Experts have cooled down the hype around AI taking away jobs but instances like these suggest the threat is very much there, especially if you are involved in business where AI becomes a handy tool. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The creators business is another target for AI systems and companies like Adobe could easily have its employees replaced with AI if it finds their levels matching the existing standards or more. Google showed its pace in AI development at the I/O 2025 earlier this week with models like Veo that can now generate videos with audio in the background using basic text prompts. It is obviously clear that nobody is safe in the AI era and it is time people co-exist with the technology rather than wait to be replaced with them. 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 : Redmond, Washington State, USA First Published: May 23, 2025, 12:50 IST This Will Be The First Country To Offer Free ChatGPT Plus Access Under Major OpenAI Tie-Up Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 18:26 IST OpenAIs mega UAE data center plan marks a major step in its global AI expansion push, but the deal has sparked security concerns in Washington. A conceptual image of the upcoming Stargate UAE complex, where AI systems will power next-gen data processing part of a sweeping partnership between OpenAI and the Emirates to make the UAE a global artificial intelligence hub. (IMAGE: IMAGEN 3 AI) In a global first, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will provide free access to ChatGPT Plus for all citizens and residents, as part of a sweeping AI partnership with OpenAI, Axios reported this week. The deal is part of Stargate UAE which is a massive data center that will become the worlds largest AI supercomputing cluster once completed. The UAE is set to become the first country where every citizen and resident will receive free access to ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI said, as part of a sweeping AI partnership announced on Thursday. The premium version of the chatbot normally costs $20 a month. Recommended Stories The announcement was made as OpenAI unveiled plans to build a massive AI supercomputing complex in the UAE, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based firm G42. Stargate UAE is part of OpenAIs new OpenAI for Countries" initiative, aimed at helping governments co-develop AI infrastructure tailored to national priorities. this was an extremely smart thing for you all to do and im sorry naive people are giving you grief. https://t.co/iTkQj9c9QW Sam Altman (@sama) May 16, 2025 According to a separate report by the New Yorkworld Times, the facility will be part of a joint venture between OpenAI and several global tech firms, including Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank, Cisco and G42. The first of several planned data centers is expected to go live by next year. It also reported that G42 is expected to invest in the construction of similar OpenAI data centers in the United States. For every dollar invested in the UAE, the firm and its partners will reportedly put in an equivalent amount into U.S.-based infrastructure. While OpenAI has not disclosed the overall cost, the scale of the project suggests investments in the tens of billions of dollars in each country. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has spent the past year pitching the need for large-scale data centers around the world to support the companys next-generation AI ambitions. The new UAE deal suggests his Stargate" vision may finally be taking off. This development also ties into a separate agreement announced last week between the US and the UAE to build a massive AI campus in Abu Dhabi. The facility, expected to run on 5 gigawatts of electricity, which is enough to power an entire US state like Minnesota, will be the largest AI project of its kind outside America. The Middle East AI push has divided opinion in Washington. Key figures in the Trump administration, including White House AI advisor David Sacks, have backed the UAE deal, hoping to steer Gulf countries toward US-made AI tech over Chinese alternatives. But others in the US government remain wary, arguing that such partnerships could pose security risks and potentially create an AI rival to America in the region. What happened to America First? Why dont we put that center in Pennsylvania or in Ohio?" Representative Ro Khanna, California Democrat, said during an appearance on US broadcaster ABC on Sunday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Altman called those critics naive" in a social media post. This was an extremely smart thing for you all to do and im sorry naive people are giving you grief," Sam Altman said in a tweet, after Sacks posted on X on how people criticised the US-Saudi and US-UAE AI deals. 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 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 : Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) First Published: May 23, 2025, 18:24 IST 5 Thieves Stole Rs 55-Crore Golden Toilet In 5 Minutes. 5 Years Later... Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 18:45 IST On September 14, 2019, five thieves exploited lax security at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, breaking in and fleeing with an 18-carat gold toilet in just five minutes The fully functional 18-carat gold toilet designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. (News18 Hindi) Nearly five years after the audacious theft of an 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, a major breakthrough has finally brought the case to a close. British police have secured convictions against four men involved in the 4.8 million heist, which captured headlines worldwide in 2019. One of the accused, Frederick Do, avoided jail time after the court ruled he was not directly involved in the theft but played a role in selling the melted-down gold. He received a suspended sentence of 21 months, while three others were convicted and sentenced for their roles in the robbery. A fifth suspect was acquitted. Recommended Stories The incident took place on the early morning of September 14, 2019, at the historic Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. At around 4 am, a loud crash shattered the silence, waking Eleanor Pace, a palace employee. She initially thought it was a fallen object but was alarmed when security systems began to blare. Rushing to the room housing the palaces priceless artefacts, Pace discovered that the fully functional 18-carat gold toilet designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan had been stolen. The theft was executed with startling efficiency: five thieves took advantage of minimal security, breaking in and escaping with the toilet in just five minutes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shockingly, there were no guards or CCTV cameras in the gallery where the artwork was displayed. Investigators later revealed that the thieves exploited the darkness and the security lapses, driving away before police could respond. Despite years of investigation, the toilet was never recovered. Authorities concluded that it had been melted down and sold. While Frederick Do was not deemed the mastermind, the court found him guilty of acting as a middleman in the illegal sale of the stolen gold. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: May 23, 2025, 18:41 IST Our Lives Dont Matter: Protests In Greater Noida Society After Tin Sheet Kills Toddler, Granny Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:14 IST Greater Noida Rain News: Protests erupted in Greater Noida after a tin sheet fell from a rooftop, killing a grandmother and her toddler grandson. Residents protest in Greater Noida demanding justice after grandmother and toddler killed by falling tin sheet. Greater Noida Rain News: A tragic accident in Greater Noida on Wednesday evening claimed the lives of a woman and her young grandson after a large tin sheet, dislodged by strong winds and sudden rain, fell from the rooftop of a 21-storey building. Sunita, 50, and her two-year-old grandson Advik were returning from the society park at Migsun Ultimos Sun-4 tower at around 8.45 pm. They were just steps away from the safety of their building lobby when the heavy sheet came crashing down from the terrace. Recommended Stories Sunita died on the spot. Advik, who might have been shielded by his grandmother, was rushed to the hospital while still breathing but succumbed to his injuries later that night. Questions Raised Over Building Safety And Maintenance Failures The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the safety standards and maintenance practices at the society. Residents allege gross negligence on the part of the builder, accusing them of failing to secure the rooftop properly, particularly during severe weather conditions. Many believe the tragedy could have been prevented had adequate safety measures been enforced. ALSO READ: Rain Tears Noida Flats. And This Is No Longer A Shock: Type Of Building Material Residents Protest, Demand Action Against Builder Following the tragedy, residents of Migsun Ultimo blocked the roads on Thursday in protest, demanding the builders arrest. Videos shared widely on the social media platform X show demonstrators blocking roads and demanding immediate action against the builder. Protesters highlighted persistent issues related to poor construction quality and lax safety protocols, claiming that incidents involving falling debris and general maintenance lapses had become alarmingly common within the society. They called for accountability and stricter enforcement of building regulations to prevent such incidents in the future. Some residents, especially women, also raised serious allegations against the police and builder representatives, accusing them of confiscating mobile phones during the protest and instances of pushing and manhandling. Speaking to News18.com, a resident Vivek, said, Nothing feels right at Migsun Ultimo. A toddler lost his life because of sheer negligence by the builder and maintenance team. Yet, no senior officials have come forward. Perhaps theyre too busy managing VIP movements. It feels like the lives of common people matter less than clearing roads for VIPs." Another resident, Anil, alleged, We were protesting peacefully, but the builders goons and police assaulted us, including women. They even snatched our phones to erase any evidence. Despite paying crores in maintenance, this is the treatment we get." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Responding to these allegations, the DCP Central said, Residents of Migsun Ultimo society under Surajpur police station limits were protesting against the builder and were persuaded to disperse peacefully. There was no inappropriate behaviour by the police. A written complaint has been received and necessary legal action will follow after investigation." On the night of 21 May, we received information via Dial 112 that a woman had died after a railing fell during a storm. Upon investigation, it was found that a heavy iron sheet fell from an upper floor, killing 50-year-old Sunita and injuring her two-year-old grandson, who later died in hospital. Legal proceedings are underway, and there are no law and order issues at the site," the DCP added. About the Author Archit Gupta Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More 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 : Greater Noida, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 11:50 IST Meme To Menu: Jaipur Shop Renames 'Mysore Pak' As 'Mysore Shree'. In Fact, All 'Paks' Are Out Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 13:02 IST The move comes in response to a broader sentiment among customers, many of whom reportedly expressed discomfort with the presence of the word 'Pak' in any context Names like Moti Pak, Aam Pak, Gond Pak, and Mysore Pak have now transformed into Moti Shree, Aam Shree, Gond Shree, and Mysore Shree. In Jaipur, a city known for its vibrant culture and culinary heritage, one iconic confectionery has sparked headlines by rebranding its delicacies in a symbolic show of national pride. Tyohaar Sweets, a premium sweet shop famed for its artisanal and often extravagant offerings, has initiated a bold move by renaming all sweets that carried the suffix Pak, a term traditionally denoting richness or preparation in confections. Spearheading the initiative is Anjali Jain, proprietor of Tyohaar Sweets, who told Local18 that the spirit of patriotism shouldnt just reside at the border but should live within each citizen. Thats why we decided to remove Pak from the names of our sweets and replace it with more culturally resonant and patriotic alternatives," she said. Recommended Stories Names like Moti Pak, Aam Pak, Gond Pak, and Mysore Pak have now transformed into Moti Shree, Aam Shree, Gond Shree, and Mysore Shree. Even the shops most exclusive creations Swarn Bhasm Pak and Chandi Bhasm Pak, laden with gold and silver leaf respectively have been rechristened as Swarn Shree and Chandi Shree. The move comes in response to a broader sentiment among customers, many of whom reportedly expressed discomfort with the presence of the word Pak in any context, especially following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Customers themselves urged us to make this change," Jain said. This act of culinary rebranding has not gone unnoticed. Several other sweet shops across Jaipur are reportedly following Tyohaars lead, signaling a growing trend in symbolic solidarity through consumer choices. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While the word Pak, derived from Sanskrit and meaning to cook", has long been part of Indias culinary nomenclature, the decision to discard it is less about etymology and more about contemporary geopolitics. For Anjali Jain and her team, the new names evoke not only pride but a sense of satisfaction. When we say Shree or Bharat, it feels like home," she said. Tyohaar Sweets, which boasts over 125 varieties of sweets year-round, has long stood out in Jaipurs crowded confectionery scene for its festive innovations and luxury offerings. The shops swift adaptation to the changing mood of its patrons illustrates how even centuries-old culinary traditions are not immune to the currents of modern nationalism. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:02 IST 'Free Palestine': Microsoft Techie Fired For Protesting At CEO Satya Nadellas Event Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 19:50 IST Joe Lopez, a Microsoft engineer, was fired after protesting the company's partnership with the Israeli military during CEO Satya Nadella's keynote at Build 2025. Lopez accused the tech giant on contributing in worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Joe Lopez, the techie who created ruckus at Microsoft CEO Satya Nadellas keynote speech at the companys annual developer conference Build 2025, has been fired. At the event, the software engineer protested against the companys partnership with the Israeli military amid the war in Gaza. He accused the tech giant on contributing in worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Recommended Stories He shouted Free Palestine" as a mark of protest in support of Gaza. A video that has surfaced on social media shows the man yelling, How about you show them how Microsoft is killing Palestinians? How about you show them how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure?" Lopez shouted from the audience before being confronted and dragged out of the Seattle Convention Center by security. As a Microsoft worker, I refuse to be complicit in this genocide." According to advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, the former Microsoft employee received a termination letter following the protest, although he was reportedly unable to open the document. Fired Employee Sent Email Soon after the disruption at the event, Lopez sent a mass email to his colleagues at the firm, challenging the companys statements about the use of its Azure cloud services in Gaza. Leadership rejects our claims that Azure technology is being used to target or harm civilians in Gaza", he said. Those of us who have been paying attention know that this is a bold-faced lie. Every byte of data that is stored on the cloud (much of it likely containing data obtained by illegal mass surveillance) can and will be used as justification to level cities and exterminate Palestinians." Microsoft Conference Marred By Multiple Protests This disruption marked the first of multiple pro-Palestinian protests during the four-day conference. At least three executive sessions were affected, one livestream had its audio briefly cut, and demonstrators also gathered outside the venue. Vaniya Agrawal Creates Ruckus In one such incident, an Indian-American techie Vaniya Agrawal ex-software engineer at Microsoft along with another fired Microsoft employee Hossam Nasr shouted at the companys head of security for AI, Neta Haiby. Earlier on May 20, a Palestinian tech worker interrupted Microsoft executive Jay Parikhs keynote presentation, shouting, Jay! My people are suffering". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last week, the tech giant admitted providing AI services to the Israel but stated it found no evidence that its Azure cloud or AI tools were used to directly target civilians in Gaza. However, internal dissent continues. The employee-led group claims the company has blocked internal emails containing terms like Palestine" and Gaza." Nadella-led company has previously dismissed employees who protested its involvement in Israel, including during its 50th anniversary celebration in April. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 19:41 IST Operation Sindoor Warriors Invite You...: Rajasthan Soldier's Wedding Card Wins Hearts Online Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:12 IST A soldiers wedding invite from Rajasthan featuring a tribute to Operation Sindoor has gone viral for its powerful message of patriotism and family pride The wedding invitation has emerged as a powerful symbol of patriotism and family sacrifice, striking a chord with many on social media. (News18 Hindi) A wedding invitation from a farming family in Rajasthans Sikar district has gone viral for proudly featuring a reference to Operation Sindoor. The card, printed ahead of the wedding of army jawan Amit Singh, includes the name of the military operation under which he and his two brothers were deployed at the India-Pakistan border earlier this month. The gesture has been widely praised as a powerful expression of patriotism and family pride. Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, involved precision strikes on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), resulting in the elimination of over 100 terrorists. Recommended Stories Jagdish Singh Shekhawat, a humble farmer, takes immense pride in his sons role in the significant military operation. To mark the occasion, Amit Singh added a special message to his wedding card that reads: Our strength, our pride the warriors of Operation Sindoor welcome you to their brothers wedding." The wedding card has since emerged as a powerful symbol of patriotism and family sacrifice, striking a chord with many on social media. One user on X remarked, This farmer family from Sikar has shown that patriotism thrives from the fields to the frontlines." Others hailed the card as a tribute to the Army and a proud salute to the nation." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amit Singhs wedding on May 28 in Sikar has become a celebration of national pride, symbolising not just a personal milestone but also a tribute to patriotism. The wedding card has helped spotlight the Shekhawat familys deep commitment to serving the nation. The Shekhawat family, rooted in farming in the Dhod area of Sikar, has earned widespread admiration for their simplicity and steadfast devotion to the nation. Known for their tradition of service, the familys three sons were posted at the India-Pakistan border during Operation Sindoor, exemplifying their commitment through their frontline roles in the Indian Army. 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 : Sikar, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:12 IST She Left Her Marriage For A Man In Egypt. He Robbed Her. Then She Found Real Love Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 15:27 IST Joanna Girling, 50, left her UK husband for love in Egypt. After heartbreak, she found true companionship and now plans to marry her Egyptian partner Joanna and Hisham dream of owning a shop, starting a family, and building a life together in Luxor. (News18) Marriage is often described as a lifelong bond, sealed by vows of eternal support. Yet, modern relationships often challenge traditional norms. One such story is that of Joanna Girling, a 50-year-old woman from Norfolk, England, who left her marriage behind to pursue love abroad. Joannas Journey To Love Recommended Stories Joanna, who previously worked at Tesco, Norfolk, England, met a man named Hasan Khalid during a 2018 trip to Egypt. Enamoured, she left her husband and relocated to Hurghada. However, Hasan ultimately deceived her, taking her savings and vanishing, leaving Joanna alone in a foreign land. Undeterred, she remained in Egypt and, in 2019, met Hisham Fygo, a local man seven years her junior. The two fell in love, and Joanna began rebuilding her life. She now works as an English tutor and booking agent. She told The Mirror, People were sceptical about our relationship after what happened with Hasan, but Hisham is my true partner. When we met, I had nothing, yet he even took out a bank loan to help with my visa." Joanna now regards Hisham as her soulmate. The couple is saving for their wedding while she finalises her divorce from her British husband. Hisham, who is currently unemployed, is working towards obtaining a driving licence to become an Uber driver to contribute to their future together. A New Life In Egypt She has embraced Egyptian life, appreciating the friendliness of locals and the healthier lifestyle compared to her life in England. In England, I used to drive and eat junk food from Chinese, McDonalds, KFC. But here, life is much healthier," she notes. Though some friends visit her in Hurghada, many do not understand her decision. Nonetheless, Joanna and Hisham dream of owning a shop, starting a family, and building a life together in Luxor. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Joanna explained that marrying in Egypt requires extensive documentation from the British Embassy and travel to Cairo. Despite the bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of support from her family, who disapproved of her move, Joanna remains optimistic. My life has completely changed with Hisham," she says. I am 50 years old, I know what I want." 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 : Egypt First Published: May 23, 2025, 15:27 IST The New And Dangerous Viral Stunt: Taping Your Mouth Shut While Sleeping Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 19:42 IST Dr Brian Rotenberg, an otolaryngologist and sleep surgeon at Western University in Canada, cautioned against the growing use of this technique Dr Brian Rotenberg cautions against mouth taping for sleep apnea patients. A new health fad sweeping social media has medical professionals sounding the alarm over a seemingly simple, but potentially dangerous, bedtime ritual: taping your mouth shut while you sleep. Promoted by influencers and even some celebrities as a natural fix for mouth breathing, mouth taping has gained traction on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. While some claim it improves sleep quality, enhances oral health, and even provides anti-aging benefits, experts are now warning that this viral trend could lead to serious or even life-threatening consequences. Recommended Stories Mouth breathing during sleep has long been associated with disruptions ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition where breathing repeatedly starts and stops during the night. The theory behind mouth taping is that it encourages nasal breathing by physically preventing air from entering through the mouth. But if nasal passages are even partially blocked, this method could turn from therapeutic to hazardous in seconds. Dr Brian Rotenberg, an otolaryngologist and sleep surgeon at Western University in Canada, cautioned against the growing use of this technique. Our research shows that closing the mouth while sleeping is dangerous, especially for people who may not know they have sleep apnea," he said in an interview. These people are inadvertently making their symptoms worse and putting themselves at greater risk of serious health complications, such as heart disease, he added. In a new study published in the journal PLOS One, Rotenberg and his team assessed the impact of mouth taping on 213 patients, drawing data from both original research and 10 previously published studies. Their findings? The risks may far outweigh the perceived benefits. The researchers noted that sealing the mouth during sleep can obstruct airflow, particularly if nasal breathing is compromised. This added resistance can place dangerous pressure on the respiratory system and elevate the risk of asphyxiation, a condition in which the body is deprived of oxygen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While two studies did suggest minor improvements in mild cases, the overwhelming majority offered little to no support for the efficacy of mouth taping as a treatment for sleep disturbances or apnea. More concerningly, many indicated that the practice could actually worsen pre-existing conditions by further restricting airflow. The trends rapid spread with videos garnering lakhs of views illustrates the powerful influence of online health advice, but also its pitfalls. Experts are urging the public to approach such trends with skepticism and to consult medical professionals before trying unverified remedies, especially those that interfere with basic body functions like breathing. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 23, 2025, 19:42 IST Watch: Graduate Dad, Chased By Cops, Runs With Infant To Accept Degree Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:15 IST The man used to do overnight shifts and take care of his son during the day. The father-son duo was dressed in matching blue gowns. (Photo Credits: Instagram) A student of the University at Buffalo breached security to collect his graduation certificate with his infant son. The moment, which has now gone viral on social media, unfolded when all the graduates gathered at the universitys Alumni Arena for the convocation ceremony last Sunday. Jean Paul Al Arab, who studied criminology, had promised his son that they would go on stage together to collect his degree. The university officials, however, opposed his plans and asked Al Arab not to take his son with him due to security concerns. The father ignored every warning to fulfil his promise. After his name was announced, Al Arab, carrying his son on his lap, rushed past the security personnel and stepped up on the commencement stage to collect his diploma. Recommended Stories I ran, thats what I did. I had to. I promised him I was gonna walk with him on the stage," Al Arab told WGRZ. Both the father-son duo were dressed in matching blue gowns and the same-coloured caps. The audience certainly loved the gesture as they appreciated Al Arab with a huge round of applause. When the father was on his way to the stage, police tried to stop him. He, however, defied all the odds to create the special moment. NEW: 2025 University of Buffalo graduate chased on stage by police while holding a baby pic.twitter.com/4j0K32u2f4 I Came, I Saw, They died (@4ortunefame) May 21, 2025 Sharing his experience, Al Arab revealed that the university initially allowed him to take his son with him. But, the authority later changed its decision for security. During a prep class for commencement, I asked if I could walk with my baby, and they told me it was fine," Al Arab said in a TikTok post. When the time came, they tried to stop me and even called the police. They tried to escort me out, but honestly, the only reason they let me go was because of all of you who cheered and supported me," he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When asked about the incident, the University at Buffalo said in a statement, Commencement rules are in place for the safety of all those in attendance and to avoid disruptions in the venue, ensuring each graduate is equally provided with a well-deserved moment to individually cross the stage and be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments at UB," as per WGRZ. As shared by Al Arab, he used to do overnight shifts and take care of his son during the day on his graduation days. Despite these challenges, he completed a full-time course at the SUNY campus. His graduation was completed last year, but the certificate distribution was pending. 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 23, 2025, 14:15 IST Tourism to Japan is taking an unexpected hit not due to weather, political tensions or pandemics, but because of a warning made decades ago by a manga artist. Ryo Tatsuki, often called the 'Japanese Baba Vanga', has stirred anxiety with a prediction from her 1999 book The Future I Saw, pointing to a major disaster in July 2025. In the book's revised 2021 edition, Tatsuki described a devastating undersea rupture near Japan, triggering tsunamis three times as large as 2011, and even mentioned 'boiling seas' which some have interpreted as a volcanic eruption. Although there is no scientific confirmation of such a threat, many are spooked enough to cancel or postpone travel plans. The result? A significant drop in tourism, especially from nearby countries. Bookings to Japan Dropped by 50 Percent Travel agencies in Hong Kong are reporting a steep decline in holiday bookings to Japan, particularly around the Easter period. Speaking to CNN, CN Yuen, managing director of the Hong Kong travel firm WWPKG, said, 'Bookings to Japan dropped by 50 percent over the Easter breaka figure that's expected to drop even further over the next couple of months.' It's not just a passing dip. Agencies report growing reluctance among clients to plan trips this summer, with the ominous prediction circulating widely on social media. Japan remains one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, and the timing of this prediction, paired with ongoing tremors, has proven enough to unnerve many. Embassy Warnings Deepen the Unease Adding more to the existing tension, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo issued a warning in April. According to the South China Morning Post, the advisory urged Chinese citizens living in or travelling to Japan to 'take extra precautions against natural disasters.' Although the warning didn't specify any link to Tatsuki's prediction, the timing, combined with recent seismic activity, has amplified the sense of unease. Japan's Meteorological Agency has not issued any July-specific alerts, but officials are aware of the public's growing concern. For now, authorities maintain that there is no credible data pointing to an imminent disaster. Online Buzz Over Vanga Predictions Meanwhile, on the internet, many have caught the vanga fever. The hashtag #July2025Prediction is trending on platforms like Weibo and X (formerly Twitter), with users debating the credibility of Tatsuki's claims. While some dismiss the talk as 'apocalyptic nonsense,' others are openly sharing evacuation plans, first aid kit checklists, and travel alternatives for July and August. Earthquake preparedness forums have seen spikes in new members, many of whom cite Tatsuki's forecast as their reason for joining. A New Baba Vanga? Ryo Tatsuki is now being widely compared to Baba Vanga, the late blind Bulgarian mystic whose predictions allegedly included events like the 9/11 attacks and the death of Princess Diana. Though Tatsuki is a manga artist, not a self-proclaimed clairvoyant, her prior forecasts including the 1995 Kobe earthquake, the 2011 tsunami, and even the death of Freddie Mercury have led many to treat her work with surprising seriousness. Still, authorities urge caution. But it should be noted that Tatsuki's claims have no scientific basis, and no official warning has been issued regarding July. However, the question for many isn't whether the disaster will happen it's whether it's worth gambling a holiday on the chance that it might. A Nation Caught Between Caution and Curiosity Japan's tourism sector, which had only just begun to recover post-pandemic, now faces a fresh hurdle. Whether or not the disaster comes to pass, the damage to Japan's travel sector is already being felt. What was shaping up to be a strong recovery year for tourism has hit an unexpected roadblock one based not on hard data, but a decades-old prediction.Still, with July fast approaching and the rumours gaining traction, Japan's travel industry is holding its breath and hoping the future isn't as grim as foretold. Originally published on IBTimes UK Watch: Vlogger Climbs Worlds Longest Stairway in Switzerland with 11,674 Steps Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:33 IST A travel vlogger recently scaled the Niesen Stairwaythe worlds longest staircasein Switzerland. 10/10 if you can guess the number of steps. (Photo Credit: Instagram) Have you wondered what it would be like to ascend the worlds longest stairway? Of course, it is a gruelling task! A travel vlogger documented his journey of scaling Switzerlands Niesen Stairway, which holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest stairway with 11,674 steps stretching alongside the Niesenbahn funicular railway. The staircase is also known as Switzerlands Pyramid due to its striking triangular shape. The video, posted to Instagram by a travel vlogger who goes by the name Tooleko, showed him starting his climb at sunrise. However, he found himself breathless after just 2,000 steps. He admitted he walked faster than needed, which caused his calves to burn sooner. Recommended Stories Despite the exhaustion, the vlogger was having fun revelling in the natural splendourlush green pastures, pine forests, crystal-clear skies, and the Swiss Alps towering in the distance. By the time he climbed 5,000 steps, the vloggers feet had begun aching, but he was resolute. He could finally see the top once he crossed the 10,000 steps mark. Once he reached the summit, the stunning visuals of snow-capped Alps, historical towns like Spiez, and Interlaken greeted him, making each step worth it. The video soon became a topic of discussion on social media. A user asked, Where is it? Is it possible to camp on the top?" Echoing a similar sentiment, a person added, Why is it that so many people on Instagram never give any information about location?" Another said, Bro, I went to Girnar (Gujarat, India)in my 10th standard and that too 10000 steps." And how the hell do you get down afterwards !?!?!" read a comment. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Niesen funicular and service stairway were built between 1906 and 1910 to transport passengers. Though it was not intended for public use, it did become an object of fascination because of its scale. It reportedly spans nearly 3.4 kilometres. The only time the stairway is open to the public is during the Niesen Treppenlauf, an annual stairway run. It is one of the most demanding vertical races across the world. Participants have to register well in advance to secure a spot. The total of 1669 metre elevation reportedly challenges even elite athletes. 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 23, 2025, 17:33 IST What Makes Google So Cool? Bengaluru Employee Has The Answers Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 14:28 IST A Google software engineer posted a video demonstrating the many benefits that make Google offices a desirable place to work. The Internet responded enthusiastically to the video. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Google is well known for its creative and unique office designs around the world. The tech giant aims to create a fun, innovative work environment that people enjoy being part of. To make the workplace more comfortable, Google offers its employees, known as Googlers," a variety of benefits, including free meals, nap rooms, and other cool facilities. Recently, a Google employee from Bengaluru, Riddhi Dutta, shared a video on Instagram showing some of the underrated perks" that many people may not know about. Recommended Stories Riddhi, who works as a Software Engineer, gave viewers a quick tour of different parts of the office in the video. He highlighted lesser-known benefits that make working at Google special. The video quickly gained popularity, receiving over 8 lakh views and 41,000 likes. The clip gave people an inside look at Googles work culture and showed why so many consider it one of the best places to work. Google food is all over Instagram, but is that the only perk worth flexing?" in the video, Dutta states this before listing the top five underappreciated perks that the IT giant provides to its staff. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riddhi Dutta (@code.blooded.voyager) Riddhi Dutta shared some of the lesser-known perks that Google employees enjoy. First, every Googler has access to an onsite spa, where they can earn massage credits and book full sessions right at the office. Second, Google offers strong relocation support for employees. This includes staying in a five-star hotel for one to two months, a chauffeur for 30 days, help with transferring vehicles, house hunting, and even negotiating with brokers. If someone prefers to handle things on their own, they can choose to take a cash bonus instead. Google also lets employees choose their preferred work devicewhether its a Mac, Windows laptop, Chromebook, Pixel, or iPhone. Accessories can be picked up from a special vending machine inside the office. In addition, employees get full access to an in-house gym with personal trainers and healthy meals. The company also provides an annual health check-up that includes a full body and dental check-up. Dutta added, Even your glasses are covered." Online discussion has been triggered by the video, with individuals expressing both awe and jealousy. A user commented, My dream company." Another said, Manifesting to be there once." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Thats why everyone wants to work at Google," an individual expressed. Best MNC out there with best pay+perks," wrote another. 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 23, 2025, 14:28 IST World War II Bomb Found Beneath Chennai Home Renews Interest In Japanese Bombing Of Madras Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 13:12 IST A World War 2 bomb unearthed in Chennai has revived memories of Japans 1943 bombing of Madras, an often overlooked chapter in Indias wartime history In 1943, amid the global conflict, Japanese aircraft launched a bombing raid on the port area of Madras, which fortunately, caused only minimal damage. (News18) A routine excavation for a house in Chennai has unexpectedly revived a long-forgotten episode from World War 2. The unearthing of a wartime bomb has shed new light on the fact that the city, then known as Madras, was indeed targeted by Japanese forces during the Second World War, a detail largely absent from public memory until now. Discovery In Ennore Recommended Stories While digging the foundations for his new home in the Ennore area of Chennai, a man named Mustafa discovered a suspicious object buried in the soil. He immediately informed local police. Upon inspection, the authorities confirmed that the object was an unexploded bomb believed to have been dropped from a Japanese aircraft during World War 2. Historical Context: Japans Bombing Of Madras The discovery has prompted renewed interest in a lesser-known historical event. It is indeed true that the city of Madras was bombed by Japan during World War 2. In 1943, amid the global conflict, Japanese aircraft launched a bombing raid on the port area of Madras. Fortunately, the attack caused only minimal damage. During World War II, the city of Madras (now Chennai) experienced a rare direct attack when Japanese forces conducted an air raid on April 3, 1942. This strike was part of Japans broader campaign in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean aimed at weakening British colonial influence in India. The Japanese targeted key strategic locations, including the harbour and military installations, to disrupt supply routes and British defense capabilities. The bombing caused noticeable damage to port facilities and several buildings, but the overall destruction in Madras was relatively limited compared to other cities affected by the war. Civilian casualties were reported but remained comparatively low. This air raid marked one of the few occasions when mainland India was attacked by enemy forces during the global conflict, highlighting the strategic importance of the Indian subcontinent in the war effort. Rain, Blackouts, And Delayed News Noted historian and author Venkatesh Ramakrishnan has previously chronicled this incident. In a 2017 lecture titled World War and Madras, he explained that the bombing coincided with torrential October rains that year, which led to widespread flooding and a power outage across the city. As a result, radio broadcasts and newspaper services were disrupted, and the public only learned about the attack several days later. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Confirmation From A Former Diplomat Further corroboration comes from Krishnan Srinivasan, a former Indian Foreign Secretary, who wrote in a 2024 article for an English-language news outlet that Japan did indeed target Madras during the war. His account supports the historical evidence that has resurfaced in the wake of this remarkable discovery. 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 : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:12 IST Canada Has A Steadfast Defender: PM Carney Turns To King Charles As Trump Threatens Annexation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 21:08 IST As Trump revives talk of annexing Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney turns to King Charles to assert the country's independence. As Trump stirs controversy and Carney calls in the Crown, Canada and the US clash over symbols, sovereignty, and the message behind a royal visit by King Charles. (IMAGE: AP/REUTERS/AFP) King Charles III will travel to Canada to deliver a clear message: the country is a sovereign nation, distinct from the United States. The visit comes after repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington should consider annexing its northern neighbor. In response, Canadas new Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the monarch to deliver the speech from the throne on Tuesday, outlining his governments agenda as Parliament reopens. Recommended Stories Charles, who is Canadas head of state as part of the British Commonwealth, is expected to reinforce Ottawas position on sovereignty. Canada has a steadfast defender in our sovereign," Carney said earlier this month while announcing the visit. While most Canadians remain indifferent to the monarchy, Prime Minister Carney has made it a point to highlight the countrys differences with the US. He said the kings visit serves as a clear reminder of Canadas sovereignty at a time when Washingtons rhetoric is raising eyebrows. A report by the Associated Press pointed out that it is extraordinarily rare for the monarch to deliver whats called the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles mother, Queen Elizabeth II, only did it twice in her 70-year reign. The last time was in 1977. The Americans had a revolution to gain independence from Britain. Canada remained a colony until 1867 and continued thereafter as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system. Were different. We are not the United States. It sounds simple, but thats what the visit says. We dont have the same institutions. We dont have the same history. e are a different country with a different choice in terms of how how we built ourselves, and King Charles tells that story," former Quebec Premier Jean Charest was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This will be Charles first visit as monarch. He visited Canada 19 times as prince. The king has been showing his support for Canada in recent months, including displaying Canadian military medals on his chest during a visit to a Royal Navy aircraft carrier. But not everyone sees the royal visit as necessary diplomacy. New US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra downplayed the symbolism, saying there are easier ways to send a message. Were thrilled that the king will be here. But if theres a message in that, just give me a call. Carney can call the president anytime," Hoekstra told CBC. I know what the implication is the 51st state talk. Its over. Move on." 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 : Ottawa, Canada First Published: May 23, 2025, 21:08 IST Harvard Condemns Trump's 'Unlawful' Ban On Foreign Students: 'Threatens Serious Harm...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 12:47 IST Harvard University vs Trump Controversy: Harvard, the wealthiest university in the US with an endowment of $53.2 billion, called Trump's ban on foreign students "unlawful" Harvard University. (Reuters/File Image) Harvard University vs Trump Controversy: Harvard University on Thursday condemned the Trump administrations ban on its ability to enroll foreign students, deeming the action unlawful" amid a dramatic escalation of the fight between the US president and the prestigious university over claims of anti-Semitism and coordinating with China. The university, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said the move would hurt the campus and the country, after it rejected Donald Trumps demand to submit to oversight on admissions and hiring processes. Recommended Stories We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars," Harvard said in a statement, adding that it was working to offer students guidance and support. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission," it added. Also See: Why Foreign Students Are Now Barred And Whats Behind The Feud? How Harvard Alumni Reacted To Trumps Move? Leaders of the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors called the move the latest in a string of nakedly authoritarian and retaliatory moves against Americas oldest institution of higher education." The Trump administration is unlawfully seeking to destroy higher education in the United States. It now demands that we sacrifice our international students in the process. Universities cannot acquiesce to such extortion," it said. It is impossible to imagine Harvard without our amazing international students. They are a huge benefit to everyone here, to innovation and the United States more broadly," said Harvard economics professor and former Obama administration official Jason Furman. I hope this is stopped quickly before the damage gets any worse." Karl Molden, an international student from Austria, said he had applied to study at Oxford in Britain because he feared such measures. Its definitely going to change the perception of students who (might) consider studying there the US is getting less of an attractive spot for higher education," he said. Fourth-year US student Alice Goyer told AFP no one knows" what the development would mean for international students already enrolled. We just got the news, so Ive been getting texts from a lot of international friends, and I think everyones just no one knows. Everyones panicking a bit," she said. ALSO READ: How Trump Administrations Decision Will Affect Harvards International Students? How Will The Move Impact Harvard? Harvard, the wealthiest university in the US with an endowment of $53.2 billion as of 2024, has become a key target of the Trump administration after it refused to accept ederal oversight of its admissions, hiring, and political stance, drawing Trumps ire. In response, the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university last month, with an additional $450 million in cuts announced on Tuesday. In the 2024-2025 academic year, there were 6,793 international students enrolled at Harvard University, making up roughly 27% of its total enrollment. The Trump administrations decision can deal a huge financial blow to the university, which charges tens and thousands of dollars a year in tuition. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the drastic measure, citing Harvards refusal to comply with requests for student records. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a sharply worded letter, accused Harvard of perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion policies.'" It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law," she added. The move is part of a broader federal crackdown on US universities, which the administration says is aimed at addressing antisemitism and reducing diversity programmes. Also See: What Happens To The 788 Indian Students Currently Enrolled At Harvard University? Is This Action Legal? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The latest crackdown on Harvard is expected to draw a very strong legal challenge. Earlier on Thursday, US District Judge Jeffrey White of the federal district court in San Francisco had blocked the Trump administration from terminating the legal status allowing foreign students to study at colleges and universities nationwide, CNN reported. However, this ruling is limited to individual cases and does not extend to the university level. It remains to be seen whether the Trump administrations recent action against Harvard will face a legal challenge. 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 23, 2025, 08:16 IST 'Retaliation For Exercising Rights': Harvard Sues Trump Govt Over Move To Ban International Students Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 20:28 IST Harvard University condemned Trump administration's ban on the enrolment of international students, calling the government's actions as "unlawful". Harvard sues Trump administration over ban move (AP File) Harvard University has filed a lawsuit in the federal court against the Trump administrations decision to block the institution from enrolling international students, seeking revocation of the order. The complaint by one of the worlds most prestigious universities said that Thursdays decision of the Department of Homeland Security to remove it from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program is illegal, CNN reported. Recommended Stories It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the governments demands to control Harvards governance, curriculum, and the ideology of its faculty and students," Harvards complaint read. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard. https://t.co/V8uvTNaL64 Harvard University (@Harvard) May 23, 2025 The university has asked the judge to immediately block the order passed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This comes after the Trump administration on Thursday revoked the universitys ability to enroll international students, following months of conflict between the two over the governments demands to make changes to campus programming, policies, hiring and admissions to finish antisemitism on campus and end what the government describes as racist diversity, equity and inclusion practices". The administration has targeted foreign students and staff whom it suspects were involved in controversial campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement yesterday. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she ordered her department to cancel Harvards Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification because the university refused to provide conduct records of foreign students that the DHS requested last month. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The decision is bound to impact several students who were preparing to attend the university. Professors warn that if many foreign students leave, it could hurt the universitys academic strength, especially as it fights the administration to protect its independence. The White House said on Thursday that enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right", while also accusing the Harvard leadership of turning the institution into a hot-bed of anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators". About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 18:23 IST How Trump's Decision Will Affect 788 Indians Currently Enrolled At Harvard, Other Foreign Students? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 09:20 IST The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the drastic measure, citing Harvard's refusal to comply with requests for student records. US President Donald Trump (Image Credit: AFP) In a dramatic escalation of its ongoing dispute with Harvard University, the Donald Trump administration revoked the institutions ability to admit international students, a move that immediately plunges nearly 6,800 foreign students, including 788 from India, into a state of acute uncertainty. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the drastic measure, citing Harvards refusal to comply with requests for student records. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in a sharply worded letter, accused Harvard of perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion policies.'" Recommended Stories What Donald Trumps Administration Has Told Harvard? This decision mandates that current international students who have not yet completed their degrees must either transfer to another accredited institution or face the loss of their legal status in the United States. Kristi Noem stated that Harvard could regain its status by complying with a list of demands within 72 hours which include a wide range of records, such as disciplinary records for international students and audio and video recordings of protest activities. What Harvard Said On Donald Trump Administrations Decision? Harvard University, which relies heavily on its international student body, particularly in its graduate programs, condemned the action as unlawful" and an undermining of its critical research mission. Will Harvards Current International Students Be Allowed To Graduate? Yes, students who completed their degrees this semester will be allowed to graduate as the changes would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Harvards Class of 2025 is expected to graduate next week. However, students who have yet to complete their degree need to transfer to another university or theyll lose their legal permission to remain in the US. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Will Admitted Students Be Able To Enroll At Harvard? No, not unless the government changes its decision or a court steps in. In case Harvard agrees to the list of demands set by the government, the reversal is possible. Although, Harvard previously had failed to provide those records but the university said it was working to provide guidance to affected students. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 07:14 IST Indian Delegation In Japan Debunks Pakistan's Fake Narrative, Highlights Anti-Terror Stand Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Aveek Banerjee Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 08:03 IST The delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Jha conveyed India's zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and also countered Pakistan's fake narrative during Operation Sindoor. India's all-party delegation in Japan. (India in Japan) It was an action-packed day in Japans capital city of Tokyo, where a parliamentary delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Jha arrived late last night (Japanese time). The day started with paying tributes to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. After that, the delegation had a series of meetings with officials from the Japanese government, members of the ruling party, and several think tanks. Recommended Stories The early meeting set the expectation right when the Japanese government came out fully in support of Indias fight against terrorism. A big announcement was made by Japans Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, during talks with the Indian delegation. In this fight against terrorism, Japan stands with India." a source told CNN-News18. During conversations with various think tanks, Sanjay Jha, the chairperson of the delegation, conveyed in no uncertain terms Indias zero tolerance policy towards terror and terrorism. He also informed intellectuals about the details of the Pahalgam terror attack and how India fought back, not just the narrative of Pakistan, trying to use the bogey of nuclear weapons, but also the cyber attacks and other digital warfare of spreading fake news by Pakistan. It is learnt that during the interaction, one of the members from a think tank asked the visiting delegation as to why India has not maintained a stand during the Russia-Ukraine war. It was learnt through sources that the former External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, corrected those asking questions on this. It is not correct. India has never said that its Position is neutral. India has always maintained that they have only one position, and that position is that war is not a solution for everything, " Khurshid is said to have replied. Another question asked by the intellectuals during the meeting pertained to what Operation Sindoor is and why it was named so. It was learnt through sources that BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi explained it in detail, echoing Indias sentiment. The ghastly attacks of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Pahalgam have had a huge impact on the country. This is the country where women wear the holy vermilion on their head as a mark of their marriage. Because of the attack only on male members, many women lost their husbands and were widowed. The government took a view of this sentiment and decided to name the operation as Sindoor, with a resolve to avenge those daughters and wives who had lost their fathers and husbands. This is the same as the operation logo, which also shows a small box of vermilion being scattered, " Sarangi is said to have conveyed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This delegation led by Jha will also be visiting other countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, which have a significant Muslim population apart from Korea and Singapore. They departed on Wednesday morning, becoming the first of seven delegations to begin their visit. They will remain in Japan for the next two days before departing to other countries. Apart from Jha, former External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid, Left MP John Britt Brittas, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, Hemang Joshi, Pradhan Barua, TMC General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee are part of this delegation. Former Ambassador Mohan Kumar is also part of the delegation. This Panel will finish its visits to various countries and return home on June 3. Location : Tokyo, Japan First Published: May 23, 2025, 07:17 IST Judge Blocks Trump Govt From Revoking Harvard Enrollment Of International Students Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 21:57 IST The decision came shortly after Harvard filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Massachusetts on Friday People gather around the John Harvard Statue on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachussetts. (AFP file photo) A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked a move by the Donald Trump administration to revoke Harvard Universitys ability to enrol international students. US District Judge Allison Burroughs, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued a temporary restraining order stopping the policy. Recommended Stories The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing the revocation of Plaintiffs SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification," the judge ordered. The courts decision prevents the Trump administration from cancelling Harvards certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This programme allows universities in the United States to host international students on study visas. The planned revocation of Harvards SEVP certificationset to take effect in the 20252026 academic yearwas announced on Thursday by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She claimed the action was justified due to Harvards alleged role in fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party". In a letter to Harvard, which was included in the court filing, Noem stated the government had concerns over a hostile learning environment for Jewish students" and criticised the universitys response to antisemitism. The courts intervention came shortly after Harvard filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Massachusetts on Friday. The university argued that the governments move would unfairly impact both the institution and its students. Harvard described the revocation as a blatant violation" of the US Constitution and federal law. It said the decision would have an immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 international students holding visas. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," Harvard said. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the 389-year-old school added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ: Retaliation For Exercising Rights: Harvard Sues Trump Govt Over Move To Ban International Students (With inputs from agencies) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 21:34 IST Melania Trump Uses AI To Narrate Memoir In Her Own Voice: 'New Era' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 13:04 IST The audiobook, spanning a little over seven hours, features a voice generated by artificial intelligence to replicate Melania Trump. US First lady Melania Trump US First Lady Melania Trump unveiled an AI-synthesized audiobook of her personal memoir, a move she championed as a new era in publishing." The audiobook, spanning a little over seven hours, features a voice generated by artificial intelligence to replicate her own, circumventing the traditional process of recording herself. I am honored to bring you Melania The AI Audiobook narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice," the First Lady announced on X (formerly Twitter). Recommended Stories A NEW ERA IN PUBLISHINGI am honored to bring you Melania The AI Audiobook narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice.Let the future of publishing begin. Exclusively: https://t.co/xIfkkmL4YC pic.twitter.com/ab4Qb43AOC MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) May 22, 2025 She explained that ElevenLabs developed the AI replica of her voice under my strict supervision, which will establish an unforgettable connection with my personal story, in multiple languages for listeners worldwide." ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski lauded the project as a first-of-its-kind audiobook." The memoir itself, released last year, offers a glimpse into Melania Trumps upbringing, her meeting with US President Donald Trump, and even reveals points of disagreement on key political issues like abortion. Melania Trump also made a rare public appearance earlier this week at the White House to support the Take It Down Act," which the US President signed into law. This legislation specifically outlaws AI-generated pornography, including non-consensual intimate imagery. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all During the signing ceremony, she said, This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or identity being abused." Drawing a parallel between new technologies and past vices, she explained, Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation sweet, addictive and engineered to have an impact on the connectivity development of our children. But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and sadly, affect emotions." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 13:04 IST Met All Targets: IMF Stands By Pakistan Bailout Days After India Warned Of Terror Funding Risks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 11:03 IST IMF's clarification came days after India asked it to reconsider its $2.1 billion bailout to Pakistan as it allows Islamabad to use a large part of the aid to fund terror acts. The IMF disbursed $2.1 billion to Pakistan in two tranches under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme | File Image/X The International Monetary Fund (IMF) defended its recent $1 billion (over Rs 8,000 crore) bailout package to Pakistan, stating that the country met all the required targets" to qualify for the disbursement. The IMFs Executive Board reviewed and allowed a payment of $1 billion to Pakistan on May 9 when Islamabad was busy with artillery shelling and drone attacks on India after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor a military strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Recommended Stories Standing by the bailout, IMFs director of the communications department, Julie Kozack, said, Our Board found that Pakistan had indeed met all of the targets. It had made progress on some of the reforms, and for that reason, the Board went ahead and approved the program." The first review was planned for the first quarter of 2025. And consistent with that timeline, on March 25 of 2025, the IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities reached a staff-level agreement on the first review for the EFF. That agreement, that staff-level agreement, was then presented to our Executive Board, which completed the review on May 9. As a result, Pakistan received the disbursement at that time," she added during a media briefing. The IMF disbursed $2.1 billion to Pakistan in two instalments under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. The $7 billion agreement between Pakistan and the global lender was signed last year. Kozack also spoke about the India-Pakistan conflict, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution between the two nations. With respect to Pakistan and the conflict with India, I want to start here by first expressing our regrets and sympathies for the loss of life and for the human toll from the recent conflict. We do hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict," she said. Notably, IMFs clarification came days after India asked it to reconsider its $2.1 billion bailout to Pakistan as it allows Islamabad to use a large part of the aid to fund terror infrastructure. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last week said that the aid to Pakistan is a form of indirect funding to terror". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Will this not be considered indirect funding (of terror) by the IMF? The funds India gives to IMF should not be used, directly or indirectly, to create terror infra in Pakistan or any other country," Singh said. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 11:03 IST Muhammad Yunus Wont Step Down, Must Stay For Bangladeshs Sake, Says Minister Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 17:44 IST BNP protests demand interim advisor Muhammad Yunus's removal, but he stays to ensure a peaceful transition. Tensions rise with the military and rival parties in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus is now facing protests from parties that once backed his interim government. (IMAGE: AFP) After protests by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), rivals of ousted Sheikh Hasinas Awami League, staged protests demanding the removal Bangladeshs interim government advisor Muhammad Yunus, an interim minister said the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner needs to remain in office to ensure peaceful transition of power. Yunus took over after a mass uprising last year, had threatened to quit the job if parties did not give him their backing, a political ally and sources in his office said. Recommended Stories For the sake of Bangladesh and a peaceful democratic transition, Professor Yunus needs to remain in office," Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, a special assistant to Yunus, and head of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, said in a post on Facebook on Friday. The Chief Adviser is not going to step down," he added. He does not hanker after power." Tensions have also surfaced between Yunus and the military. Local media and military sources reported that Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman urged on Wednesday that elections be held by December. The army cant meddle in politics. The army doesnt do that in any civilised country. By saying that the election has to be held by December, the military chief failed to maintain his jurisdictional correctness," Taiyeb warned the army. Bangladeshs political crisis deepened this week as rival parties staged competing protests in Dhaka, each pushing their own set of demands. The tension spiked after reports emerged that Yunus may step down, shortly after thousands of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters hit the streets on Wednesday, mounting their first major protest against the interim government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Yunus has pledged to hold elections by June 2026 at the latest, but Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters, widely seen as frontrunners in the upcoming vote, have pressed him to announce a specific date. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since the student-led revolt that toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, with parties protesting on the streets over a string of demands. The protests were soon hijacked by Islamist hardliners, some of whom received backing from Pakistan and its spy agencies. 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 : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: May 23, 2025, 17:44 IST Bangladesh Recalls Envoy Who Banned Eid Sacrifice At Kolkata Mission Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 22:17 IST Shabab Bin Ahmeds directive to stop the decades-old Bakrid sacrifice at the Kolkata Consulate triggered internal dissent, prompting Dhaka to cancel his posting. The Yunus-led interim government recalled Shabab Bin Ahmed after his Eid sacrifice ban at the Kolkata mission sparked backlash. (IMAGE: REUTERS/AFP/X) The interim government of Bangladesh led by Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus has cancelled the appointment of senior diplomat Shabab Bin Ahmed to the Kolkata Consulate after his directive banning the sacrifice of cows and goats on Eid al-Adha triggered backlash within the mission. Ahmed had defended his decision and pointed out that the practice posed sanitation issues and was not followed by any other Bangladeshi missions abroad. We must consider the local environment and the context where we are posted We should respect the customs of the host country," he said. Recommended Stories The order led to widespread discontent among staff, prompting the Foreign Office to recall him to Dhaka immediately, according to reports in Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo. Ahmed, who was due to take charge as Bangladeshs Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata in early June, had issued the directive even before formally assuming office. His order to stop the decades-old practice of qurbani on the Consulate premises reportedly found no support among staff members, who cautioned him about the sensitivity of the move. The tradition, observed at the mission for over 30 years, includes meat distribution to the local community. Ahmed, who was scheduled to take charge in the first week of June, which had coincided with Eid al-Adha, had circulated the directive around the same time, raising questions about its intent and timing. Local Bangladeshi news outlets quoted him as saying that no other Bangladeshi mission abroad observes qurbani on Eid and that the practice also leads to sanitation issues in the surrounding area. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ahmed was previously posted in The Hague and was appointed to Kolkata after the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas government in 2024. His formal appointment to the Kolkata post was slated for November 21, 2024, following his tenure at the Bangladesh Embassy in The Hague. Ties between India and Bangladesh have since remained tense under the Yunus-led interim regime, which has faced criticism for failing to contain radical groups spreading anti-India rhetoric. 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 : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: May 23, 2025, 22:04 IST Shehbaz Sharif Heads To Turkey, Azerbaijan After Their Support To Pakistan During Op Sindoor Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 22:00 IST Shehbaz Sharif will tour four countries in six days, including to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Tajikistan, starting this weekend, local media reported. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Turkey, Azerbaijan (AP Image) As Indian delegations visit various countries to expose Islamabad and its sponsored terrorism, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to tour Turkey and Azerbaijan the two nations which sided with him against Indias Operation Sindoor from May 25 to 30. Sharif will also visit Iran and Tajikistan during the six-day foreign trip, Pakistans Foreign Office announced. Recommended Stories How Turkey And Azerbaijan Backed Pakistan Against India His trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan comes days after the two nations sided with Pakistan against India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 unarmed civilians. Besides condemning Indias May 7 Operation Sindoor, Turkey had also supplied drones to Pakistan, which were used to target Indian cities and military installations. They were shot down by Indian air defence systems before they could cause harm. During Operation Sindoor, Azerbaijan had also backed Pakistan and condemned Indian military strikes against terror camps, voicing Islamabads narrative that civilians" were killed in the attack. Azerbaijan also expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan during that period. Calls grew in India to boycott both Turkey and Azerbaijan for their support to Pakistan during a moment of crisis for the Indians. Irans Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi had visited both India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor to act as a mediator. Pakistans Foreign Office said that Sharif will have discussions with the leaders of these four countries on matters of regional and international importance. He will also have the opportunity to express the deepest appreciation and acknowledgement for the support extended to Pakistan by the friendly countries during the recent crisis with India," the statement said, Dawn reported. The prime minister will also be attending the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 29-30 May 2025," it added. Indias Global Outreach On Operation Sindoor The Indian government has launched an extensive global outreach programme, in which seven delegations, which include MPs and diplomats, will visit key partner countries, including members of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, to expose Pakistan and its role in sponsoring terrorism. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will lead a delegation to the US. In a copycat move, Pakistans Shehbaz Sharif appointed Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to lead a delegation to London, Washington, Paris, and Brussels. 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 23, 2025, 21:45 IST 'Major Prisoner Swap Completed': Trump Congratulates Russia & Ukraine, Hints At 'Something Big' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 16:11 IST Trump on Friday congratulated Russia and Ukraine on the completion of a "major prisoner swap" amid the ongoing peace talks between the nations. US President Donald Trump. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Friday congratulated Russia and Ukraine on the completion of a major prisoner swap" amid the ongoing peace talks between the nations. Following this, Trump hinted that the step could lead to something big. However, neither Moscow nor Kyiv has confirmed the exchange yet. Recommended Stories A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???" Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trumps announcement comes days after he held separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Monday. The development also comes after the Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul last Friday to hold their first direct talks on the war that has been ongoing for over three years. The US Presidents latest remarks follow Moscow and Kyiv agreeing during Istanbul talks this month to exchange 1,000 prisoners from both sides. Russia and Ukraine have held several rounds of swaps since the beginning of the war in February 2022. In an earlier change this month, both nations released 205 captured soldiers. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy had accused Russia of not engaging in peace talks with seriousness and alleged that Putin wanted to continue the war despite Trumps efforts for a ceasefire. As the Istanbul talks did not yield any truce, the Ukrainian leader accused his Russian counterpart of sending empty heads" to negotiate. It is obvious that Russia is trying to buy time in order to continue its war and occupation," Zelensky said in a post on social media. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Kremlin said this week that Putin and Trump talked about exchanging prisoners between Russia and the United States. Putin has rejected the US Presidents call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 15:40 IST Trump vs Harvard: Why Foreign Students Are Now Barred And What's Behind The Feud? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 10:04 IST The tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University have been steadily building for months. US President Donald Trump The Donald Trump administration stripped Harvard University of its authority to admit international students. This unprecedented decision, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), immediately casts a shadow of uncertainty over nearly 6,800 foreign students currently enrolled at Harvard, including hundreds from India, who now face the prospect of transferring or losing their legal status in the US. Why Donald Trump Administration Blocked Harvards Foreign Admissions? Recommended Stories Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that the move was a direct consequence of Harvards refusal to comply with federal demands for records regarding its foreign students. Kristi Noem accused Harvard of perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion policies.'" The DHSs action revokes Harvards certification under the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP), which is essential for universities to sponsor international student visas. What Harvard Has Said In Response? Harvard University swiftly denounced the Trump administrations action as unlawful" and a retaliatory action." In a statement, the Ivy League institution emphasized its commitment to its international community, asserting, We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably." How Tensions Between Trump Administration And Harvard University Escalated? The tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard University have been steadily building for months. In April 2025, Harvard became the first elite university to openly reject the White Houses demands to curtail pro-Palestinian protests and dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. After this, various federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the National Institutes of Health, began cutting and freezing significant federal grant funding to Harvard, totaling billions of dollars and impacting numerous research projects. Donald Trump then said that Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status, a move that would severely cripple the universitys ability to fundraise due to its implications for donor tax burdens. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following this, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the administration, accusing it of violating the First Amendment and engaging in arbitrary and capricious" funding cuts. Harvard has consistently maintained that it will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights" in the face of government overreach. However, the Trump administration has said that it views its actions as holding Harvard accountable" for what it perceives as a hostile campus environment and a failure to address antisemitism. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: May 23, 2025, 09:34 IST Will Muhammad Yunus Resign? Speculation Grows Amid Differences With Bangladesh Army Chief Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 15:59 IST Muhammad Yunus Resignation: Amid swirling rumours, Nahid Islam, Convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), met Muhammad Yunus on Thursday evening May 22. Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus (AFP) Muhammad Yunus Resignation: Dhaka is abuzz with intense speculation regarding the possible resignation of the Chief Advisor of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus. Amid swirling rumours, Nahid Islam, Convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), met Yunus on Thursday evening (May 22) at his official residence, Jamuna. Reports suggest that since Thursday afternoon, speculation about Yunuss resignation has been widely circulating on social media, prompting varied reactions and comments. In light of the growing uncertainty, Nahid Islam paid a visit to Jamuna to speak with the Chief Advisor directly. Recommended Stories While the details of the meeting remain unclear, sources in Dhaka have informed News18 that Yunus has expressed his displeasure with continuing in the government. Nahid Islam told BBC Bangla that Yunus was thinking about resigning." Islam told BBC Bangla that the chief advisor has expressed concern that he will not be able to work in the current situation in the country. He said he was thinking about it. He felt the situation was such that he would not be able to work," Islam told BBC Bangla. However, Islam added that he requested Yunus not to take a decision as big as resignation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tensions within the interim administration have been mounting over the past few weeks. Notably, differences between Yunus and Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman have become increasingly evident. Discontent has also been rising among other political groups over the proposed humanitarian corridor, a point of significant contention. According to sources, the Army Chief has accused the interim government of sidelining the military in key decisions, stating that many actions are being taken without proper consultation. He has also stressed the urgent need for an inclusive election, questioning how an unelected interim government could engage with powerful external actors and make major decisions without a public mandate. 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 23, 2025, 09:38 IST 'Wrong Side Of Justice': Netanyahu Slams UK, France, Canada For Supporting 'Palestinian Statehood' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: May 23, 2025, 13:01 IST Isreal Gaza News: It comes after the UK, Canada and France condemned Israel's military operations in Gaza and supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (AP Image) Israel Gaza News: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday slammed the United Kingdom, Canada and France for empowering Hamas to build a second Palestinian state," saying that the Western leaders are standing on the wrong side of justice." It comes after the UK, Canada and France, in a joint declaration, condemned Israels military operations in Gaza and supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Recommended Stories I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, youre on the wrong side of justice. Youre on the wrong side of humanity and youre on the wrong side of history," said Netanyahu in a video statement posted on X. Last night in Washington something horrific happened.A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young beautiful couple Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were pic.twitter.com/FFdMwlacJ9 Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) May 22, 2025 Now, these leaders may think that theyre advancing peace. Theyre not. Theyre emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. And they give them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state," he added. Netanyahu warned that any Palestinian state established will not be free of Hamas, as radicals often take control, supported by Iran, making the idea of a peaceful Palestinian state unrealistic. UK, France And Canadas Joint Declaration In a joint statement, the UK, Canada, and France condemned Israels military actions in Gaza and warned they would consider imposing sanctions if the offensive in Palestine continues. We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response," read the joint statement issued on Monday. The statement came after Israel escalated its conflict in the region after over 19 months of fighting. While officials in Gaza said that at least 103 people were killed overnight on Sunday, Israel said that its troops were operating against terror infrastructure sites in northern Gaza." Israel Vows To Take Full Control Of Gaza On Monday, Israel declared its intention to take full control" of Gaza as its military ramped up operations in the heavily affected region. The fighting is intense, and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip. We will not give up. But to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped," Netanyahu stated in a video shared on Telegram. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This statement followed the Israeli cabinets announcement of the military campaign named Gideons Chariots. As part of this operation, Israel intensified its ground offensive in Gaza, coming days after airstrikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians and worsened the humanitarian crisis in the area. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Israel First Published: May 23, 2025, 08:44 IST U.S. federal judge blocks Trump's bid to dismantle Department of Education Xinhua) 14:21, May 23, 2025 WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from attempting to dismantle the Department of Education, marking the first instance that a federal judge declared the administration's extensive changes to the department unlawful. Judge Myong Joun from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the administration from dismissing half of the department's employees. It also prevents the department from shifting the management of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration. U.S. President Donald Trump has long criticized the department, arguing that despite significant federal investment in education, the quality of education has not met expectations. Citing low proficiency in reading and math among students in U.S. elementary, middle and high schools, Trump said that the department is "doing us no good" and his administration is returning education to the states. In March, he signed an executive order to formally begin the process of dismantling the department. The department previously initiated a large-scale layoff. According to earlier U.S. media reports, the department, which originally had 4,000 employees, would cut nearly half of its workforce. The establishment and dismantling of federal agencies generally require Congressional approval through legislation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Businessman and philanthropist, Mr Wicknell Chivayo, yesterday gifted veteran journalist Rueben Barwe a 2025 Land Cruiser VXR LX 300 Series and a US$100 000 cash token in recognition of his 40-year service to the country in the media industry. Announcing the gift on social media, Mr Chivayo said: In recognition of the decades of your professional and loyal dedication to the national broadcaster (ZBC) and in honour of your patriotism, your excellence and resolute service as one of Zimbabwes finest journalist and news reporter, a big congratulations to you Mr Rueben Barwe. Please go and see Farai at Faramatsi Motors, Club Chambers Showroom Cnr 3rd Street and Nelson Mandela Avenue, your brand spanking new 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser VXR LX 300 Series is ready for collection and fully paid for. Barwe also got US$100 000 cash. Mr Chivayo said Barwe has been criticised for doing his job but he stood firm, loyal to your profession, loyal to your country and loyal to your people. In an interview last night, Barwe said he was happy to receive the gift. I feel elated that after 40 years of service in broadcasting, somebody has recognised my contribution to this countrys peace and development. I feel happy, my wife is happy, so happy, he said. Barwe chronicled his 40-year career in the broadcasting industry, which also saw him being slapped with sanctions by the West. I still remember when I was a young reporter, I covered the Unity Accord in 1987 and served the late former President (Robert Mugabe) for 30 years and (now) in the Second Republic, from day one, I have been covering them. And I have been consistent and persistent . . . guided by the national ethos, national ideology, national interests despite all the odds. I was put on European and American sanctions but I never quivered, I never chickened out. I could not travel to those places like Europe and the Americas unless the President was going, he said. Barwe joined the liberation struggle at a tender age in 1974. After independence, he served in the Ministry of Information from 1982 to 1985 before joining ZBC. I have been a broadcaster from 1985 to date, which is a 40 good years, he said. The veteran journalist said he would use the money to boost operations at his farm in Norton, among other things. Herald Government has intensified the war against drug and substance abuse by drafting a new law that will see drug dealers jailed for a minimum of five years for each person they are found to have supplied harmful substances to. Defence Minister, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who chairs the National Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse, said Cabinet is finalising a bill to impose harsher penalties on dealers and peddlers of dangerous substances. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri made this announcement while officiating at the launch of the Presidential Emergency Medical Scheme in Mutasa District last Saturday. She warned that under the proposed law, offenders will face stiff jail sentences rather than fines, with the sentence duration determined by the number of people they would have sold the drugs to. Some shops are selling illicit substances like tumbwa, and this serves as a warning to them before the bill is passed. Once it is passed, there will no longer be an option of a fine, but facing a jail term, said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri, further explaining that the proposed law stipulates a five-year imprisonment term for each person sold drugs to. If you have sold drugs to 10 people, you will be sentenced to 50 years in prison, she said, adding that the legislation aims to address the growing concern over rising drug and substance abuse, particularly among youths, which threatens national development and President Mnangagwas Vision 2030 goals. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri revealed that once the bill becomes law, it will enable the immediate confiscation of harmful substances like tumbwa, ensuring those in possession face jail time without exception. The Drugs and Substance Abuse Committee, which I chair, is finalising the drafting of a law to establish a national agency. This agency will coordinate anti-drug programmes, ensure effective prosecution, and expose offenders, she explained. To combat drug distribution, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government will implement the name and shame strategy. This approach aims to expose and eliminate drug dealers at the community level. We urge communities to report drug distributors to the police, who will take action. Tips will remain anonymous to protect informants. These substances are devastating our nation and crippling our economy. Let us take action, Zimbabwe, she warned. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri also expressed concern over reports of increasing drug use among civil servants, including teachers and police officers. Teachers and police are not being spared. They are now abusing guka and tumbwa. This has become a national crisis, and we are taking urgent action, she said, adding that measures will be put in place and extended to workplaces, especially schools and police stations, where Government plans to introduce mandatory breathalyser tests to detect drug use before employees begin work. Just like we used to test people during the Covid-19 era, we will be testing for drugs. This is because Zimbabwe is under attack from drugs and substances, and we want the situation to go back to normal again, she said. To address the growing number of affected citizens, Government plans to establish rehabilitation centres in every district. The centres will, not only treat addiction, but also equip recovering addicts with vocational skills such as construction, carpentry, and farming. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government will further support rehabilitated individuals through a special loan facility to help them rebuild their lives. She also condemned the proliferation of bottle stores operating beyond permitted hours and illegally selling alcohol to minors. Many such outlets are also doubling as drug distribution points, and they should stay warned because crackdowns are looming. Even our borders are not spared as corruption has seen some border officials accepting bribes to allow drug smugglers into the country. We have people working at our borders who are being bribed, and allowing drugs into the country. Most of this guka and tumbwa is entering through our porous borders, she said. Meanwhile, Harare District Liaison Officer for CID Drugs and Narcotics, Detective Constable Lameck Gondora warned that drug abuse remains one of the most dangerous threats to the countrys social and economic stability. Drug abuse is the continued use of substances for intoxication, or without medical prescription, and it leads to addiction. Many of our youths are being trapped. The most common substances being abused include marijuana, crystal meth, skin lightening creams, sex enhancers, ecstasy tablets, LSD, cocaine, and tumbwa, he said. Detective Constable Gondora urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their childrens behaviour and social circles to curb early exposure to drugs, while encouraging communities to form anti-drug committees and partner with law enforcement agents to ensure a united front against the menace. Manica Post The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) has warned that tax authorities aggressive audits are increasing cost pressures on businesses, which could discourage compliant taxpayers. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has ramped up enforcement efforts through new digital platforms, including the Tax and Revenue Management System (TaRMS) and the Fiscalisation Data Management System (FDMS), triggering a surge in sector-wide audits. As a result, many firms are facing steep additional tax assessments, exacerbating financial strain and threatening business viability. Delta Corporation Limited was hit with a US$74,8 million tax bill, while Innscor Africa Limited received an assessment of US$13,21 million owing to currency-related tax assessments. We need to strike a balance, especially considering Zimras aggressive tax collection approach. In an economy that has become highly informal, tax authorities become more aggressive because it is harder to collect revenue, ZNCC chief executive officer Christopher Mugaga told businessdigest. We need a respectful approach. The current frequency of tax audits companies being audited three or four times in just two or three months is not acceptable. At the same time, there has also been a lack of proper tax planning. Some companies are evading or avoiding tax, which ultimately affects revenue collection, especially in Zimbabwe. Policy analyst Simbarashe Mambara said TaRMS and FDMS were designed for efficiency, but in practice, they are producing audit alerts at an overwhelming rate. The result is even minor filing errors such as currency code mismatches or timing issues can escalate into full audits. During the early phase of any new system, risk filters tend to be overly cautious. That is exactly what we are seeing here, Mambara said. He noted that Zimras intensified audit regime was also being driven by revenue pressure, as Treasury seeks to meet growing fiscal obligations. Industries such as telecoms, mining services, and large-format retail tend to have complex cash flows and significant forex exposure. These complexities trigger more flags under automated systems," Mambara said. A firm might undergo a Value-Added Tax desk review in January, a corporate tax field audit in February, and a Pay-As-You-Earn check in March, Mambara said, adding that these were separate audits under different units, but the business experiences them as a single, relentless process." In other instances, companies have faced repeated audits on the same tax head, often triggered by new data or unresolved issues from a previous engagement. Mambara recommended Zimra recalibrates risk filters, raise trigger thresholds as data quality improves, and integrate audits across tax heads to avoid duplication. Zimra, however, defended its exercise, saying it was empowered to conduct audits through various legislations. Taxpayers have the following obligations: determination of tax, completion of returns, remittance of tax on prescribed dates, proper record keeping, accessibility of records, and liaison with Zimra. Failure to adhere to these obligations may render the taxpayer liable for a tax audit," it said. Therefore, audits cannot be limited to a specific number over a specific period of time, as there are various triggers. Zimbabwe Independent Amazon might want to be a bit more careful about screening its drivers. US authorities have arrested 13 individuals believed to be members or affiliates of Armenian organized-crime syndicates, accused of attempted murder, kidnapping, fraud, and stealing more than $83 million in goods from the retail giant. The individuals were arrested Tuesday in Florida and California, where Armenian Organized Crime, a criminal organization linked to the Russian mafia, has reportedly set up a US base, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Some have been linked to a scheme in which associates enrolled as truck drivers for Amazon, only to steal all or part of the shipments they picked up. Two of the accused, Ara Artuni and Robert Amiryan, are archrival mob members who reportedly fought for control of their territory in the San Fernando Valley, per Quartz. Authorities say Artuni ordered a failed hit on Amiryan in 2023, so Amiryan "allegedly conspired with members of his own criminal organization to kidnap and torture one of Artuni's associates," per a release. Artuni's enterprise is accused of stealing more than $83 million in goods from Amazon, along with additional crimes, including bank and wire fraud. Authorities say the enterprise racked up charges on credit cards tied to a sham business, whose funds were drained before the credit card companies could collect on the charges. On the accused's cellphones, authorities say they found photos and videos showing warehouses filled with boxes of stolen merch, including coffee machines, crockpots, grills, and shampoo, per CNBC. In a statement, Amazon says it has "zero tolerance" for organized retail crime, including cargo theft. "These referrals have resulted in arrests, product seizures and recoveries, and the dismantling of ORC networks in the US and around the world," the company says. Amazon isn't the only firm suffering from cargo theft: Experts tell CNBC that losses tied to this crime are at $1 billion or more annually. The Senate has upended California's ambitious plan to phase out new gasoline cars, igniting a nationwide legal fight that could redefine the future of electric vehicles for about 40% of the US auto market, the New York Times reports. Thursday's vote was 51-44 in favor of blocking California's plan to phase out new gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2035. The vote, pushed through by Republicansjoined by a single Democrat from Michigan, the center of the American auto industrysets up a legal showdown and marks the first time Congress has revoked a waiver granted to California under the Clean Air Act. California has long been granted waivers allowing it to set tougher emissions standards than the federal government because it has historically had the country's most polluted air. Under federal law, other states are sometimes allowed to adopt those stricter standards, and 11 other states planned to stop selling new gas-powered cars by 2035 alongside California, meaning about 40% of the US car market would have been affected. The resolution, previously passed by the House, now heads to President Trump, who is expected to sign it. Democratic leaders in California and the Senate denounced the vote as illegal and promised to challenge it in court, arguing that Republicans bypassed Senate rules and undermined state authority. The Senate parliamentarian, a nonpartisan staffer who interprets the legislative body's rules, said the move was illegal, but the Senate overruled that non-binding guidancean exceedingly rare move, NPR reports. The Congressional Review Act, used to overturn the California waiver, is typically reserved for federalnot state-specificrules, leading to questions about the move's legality. The Government Accountability Office also found that the waivers don't qualify for using the review act, Politico reports. Democrats warn that ignoring the GAO and the parliamentarian sets a risky precedent, CBS News reports. If upheld, the Senate action could limit California's environmental authority and force it to consider alternative ways to meet its climate targets. A routine travel check in Spain led to a major trove of stolen artifacts, highlighting a growing criminal trade in ancient treasures. In October, Spanish customs officials stopped a woman traveling from Mallorca to Germany and found 55 coins and a ring in her luggage, per the Washington Post . She claimed the items belonged to her late husband, who'd been an archaeologist and diver, and were headed for an evaluation in Germany. The discovery prompted a wider investigation, ultimately revealing more than 1,000 ancient objects, including coins, jewelry, lamps, and swords, some of which dated back to the Talayotic culture (1600BC123BC), per the Spanish Civil Guard. The couple's daughter now faces charges related to the plundering of underwater wrecks and other archaeological sites. The recovered items, meanwhile, are set to be cataloged and transferred to the Museum of Mallorca, where they'll go on display. The case falls under "Operation Pandora IX," a yearly crackdown led by Interpol, Europol, and others, targeting cultural heritage trafficking in 23 countries. This year's operation resulted in 80 arrests and the seizure of more than 37,000 itemsfrom Roman coins and ceramics to paintings, per Interpol. That's a steep rise from recent years, reflecting what Interpol describes as a "highly lucrative" new market for organized crime syndicates that escalated during the pandemic, per the Post. The operation also saw Spanish police break up a gang selling illegally excavated Roman coins; Italy's heritage police confiscate a falsely attributed painting; and Greek authorities recover stolen Byzantine icons. Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, intercepted nearly 90 artifacts leaving the country amid the ongoing conflict. Deutsche Welle notes that investigators also kept tabs on potentially illegal sales online, leading to the seizure of nearly 4,300 more artifacts. Interpol spokesperson Samuel Heath warned that cultural crime, often viewed as low risk, damages not just historical scholarship but entire communities, fueling broader criminal activity. "It isn't just, 'OK, we've lost a coin, and we've lost a bit of pottery,'" he saidit's part of a much bigger issue of "historical damage." A former Harvard Medical School morgue manager has admitted his role in the theft and sale of human body partsincluding hands, feet, and heads. Cedric Lodge, 57, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Pennsylvania to interstate transport of stolen human remains, federal prosecutors said. He could face up to 10 years in prison, the AP reports. The thefts from the morgue in Boston occurred from 2018 through at least March 2020, prosecutors said. Authorities have said Lodge, his wife, and others were part of a nationwide network of people who bought and sold human remains stolen from Harvard and a mortuary in Arkansas. Denise Lodge and several other defendants have pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from the scheme. Prosecutors have said she negotiated online sales of several items, including two dozen hands, two feet, nine spines, portions of skulls, five dissected human faces, and two dissected heads. Authorities have said the dissected portions of cadavers donated to the school were taken without the school's knowledge or permission. Bodies donated to Harvard Medical School are used for education, teaching, or research purposes. Once they are no longer needed, the cadavers are usually cremated and the ashes are returned to the donor's family or buried in a cemetery. After Lodge's arrest in 2023, the medical school's dean, George Q. Daley, called his actions an "abhorrent betrayal." After a plea deal was announced last month, Daley said, "Cedric Lodge's criminal actions were morally reprehensible and a disgraceful betrayal of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to Harvard Medical School's Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research," the dean said, per the Harvard Crimson. Officials reviewed the Anatomical Gift Program in 2023 and recommended changes including improvements to morgue security. Dating can be awful, a fact we already know. Now, the vice president is weighing in on the matter, blasting the apps that he believes make the process much worse. "If you look at basic dating behavior among young people ... the dating apps are probably more destructive than we fully appreciate," JD Vance said in a wide-ranging interview with Ross Douthat for the New York Times . "Technology has just for some reason made it harder for young men and young women to communicate with each other in the same way." The 40-year-old VP, who Mashable notes met his wife Usha in law school, also offered a clue as to why dating struggles are even on his mind. "Our young men and women just aren't dating, and if they're not dating, they're not getting married, they're not starting families," he said. The topic was broached as part of a larger discussion about artificial intelligence, with its potential for "profoundly dark and negative" consequences in an online romantic sense, in Vance's eyes. "One of the great things about marriage in particular is you have this other person, and you just have to kind of figure it out together," Vance noted. "But if the other person is a chatbot who's just trying to hook you to spend as much time on it, that's the sort of stuff that I really worry about with AI." Vance has even shared his concerns about artificial intelligence and dating with Pope Leo XIV, a discussion that apparently took place on Monday when he had a private sit-down with the pontiff, per the Daily Beast. "I don't want to give too many details, but I talked to the Holy Father about this," he told Douthat. "The American government is not equipped to provide moral leadership, at least full-scale moral leadership, in the wake of all the changes that are going to come along with AI. I think the church is." More here from Vance on his Catholic faith, immigration, and "Trump's most controversial policies," per the Times. UPDATE May 24, 2025 2:22 PM CDT Runway lights and an airport weather alert system were not working when a small private plane crashed overnight in San Diego this week, killing all six people aboard, investigators said. So the pilot was trying in dense fog without the latest weather information for the airport where he was intending to land, the Los Angeles Times reports. NTSB investigator Don Baker said the pilot instead was provided with information from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, about four miles north of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, per the Washington Post. Preliminary investigation results will be made public in a matter of weeks, Baker said, though it could be as long as two years before the final report is released. May 23, 2025 12:05 AM CDT Two of the victims who died aboard the Cessna plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday were well-known in the music industry. Daniel Williams, former drummer for Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, was killed in the crash, Williams' father confirms to TMZ. Music agent Dave Shapiro, owner of the agency Sound Talent Group, was also killed, the company confirms to Billboard. Shapiro, who had a pilot's license and more than a decade of flight experience, is listed as the owner of the plane that crashed. The company says he and two employees died, the AP reports, but the San Diego Union-Tribune notes it's still not clear who else died, and whether Williams was one of the employees. Six people total were on the plane at the time, and none are expected to have survived, CNN reports. UPDATE May 24, 2025 7:00 AM CDT Johan Helberg was sleeping when a cargo ship ran aground in his yard, barely missing his home in Byneset, Norway. Apparently, the crewman on watch who was responsible for keeping the NCL Salten on course was snoozing as well, authorities now say, per the New York Times. "His explanation is that he fell asleep prior to the incident," says police prosecutor Kjetil Bruland Sorensen, adding that there are regulations that are supposed to keep this kind of thing from happening. Cops are still investigating whether the crewman was alone on the bridge at the time of the grounding. Per the BBC, the worker is said to be a Ukrainian national in his 30s who's been charged with negligent navigation. The ship, meanwhile, was still stuck in Helberg's yard as of Thursday evening. May 23, 2025 8:19 AM CDT A Norwegian man awoke to find that a cargo ship had run aground and narrowly missed crashing into his home along the Trondheim Fjord's coast. Johan Helberg told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he'd slept through the whole thing and only woke up when a neighbor started ringing his doorbell, per the AP. "The doorbell rang at a time of day when I don't like to open," Helberg told TV2, per the BBC. He added, per the Guardian: "I went to the window and was quite astonished to see a big ship. I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal." The Jussie Smollett saga has had a happy ending for an organization that helps underprivileged youth in Chicago. The actor has agreed to pay $50,000 to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts to settle a lawsuit the city filed against him in 2019, the BBC reports. TMZ calls the deal for the actor to pay $50,000 to the charity of his choice a "pretty sweet deal"the city initially demanded at least $130,000 to cover the costs of investigating what it said was a hate crime hoax staged by Smollett. Police said the actor faked the racist and homophobic attack as a "publicity stunt." Rescue efforts are underway in South Africa to finish bringing 260 or so workers stuck in a gold mine for a day back to the surface, with dozens already rescued, the Sibanye-Stillwater mining company said on Friday. According to the company, an initial investigation showed that a sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point on Thursday and caused some damage to the mine shaft at the Kloof mine, west of Johannesburg, per the AP . "Following a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees should remain at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, in order to avoid walking long distances at this time," the company said in a statement. Sibanye says that all of the miners have been assembled together in one area in the mine and are safe, with food available to hold them over until they're rescued, per Reuters. In fact, the company insists to ABC News that the workers "are not trapped." Reuters also reports that, as of Friday afternoon, 79 miners had been brought to the surface, with rescue efforts continuing for the others. A reporter from that outlet spotted some of the rescued miners "looking tired but in good health" as they walked over to board buses to leave the mine. The National Union of Mineworkers, which represents workers at the Kloof mine, one of the mining company's deepest at 2 miles, says it's worried over the company repeatedly changing the estimated time for the miners to return to the surface. "We are very concerned, because the mine did not even make this incident public until we reported it to the media," said NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu, per the AP. "I haven't slept a wink," the wife of one of the still-stuck miners tells Reuters. "I just want my husband out alive." The company said that it expected all of the miners to be hoisted back to the surface by later Friday. President Trump unveiled his plans this week to put up a missile-defense system to protect the continent. And given that the continent includes Canada, Politico points out that America's neighbor to the north suddenly has leverage with Trump. Asked about that during his presentation, Trump asserted that Canada wants in. "We'll be talking to them," he said, per the BBC. "They want to have protection also, so as usual, we help Canada." However, Canadian officials have been somewhat reserved. "There's a lot we just don't know," said member of parliament Shuvaloy Majumdar. "There's a lot that needs to be revealed about how the economic and security partnership with America and Canada will unfold." And Prime Minister Mark Carney didn't rule it out, but didn't immediately embrace the idea, either. "We are conscious that we have an ability, if we so choose, to complete the Golden Dome with investments and partnership," he told reporters. Canada's CBC also explores all of this. Beth Fischer of the University of Toronto's Woodsworth College tells the outlet that the project could reap scientific windfalls but adds a caveat: "If we're treated as junior partners, we might not be working on the most innovative or most cutting-edge technologies." Hundreds of prisoners of war returned home Friday to emotional reunions as Russia and Ukraine carried out their largest swap since the fighting began. More exchanges are ahead over the next few days, the New York Times reports, until each side has received 1,000 freed prisoners. "We are bringing our people home," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram . Friday's swap included 390 returns for each side, a deal reached last week, even as efforts have failed to produce a ceasefire. Zelensky said he'll work toward agreements on more exchanges. The exchange, the largest so far, took place at the northern Ukraine-Balarus border, a Ukrainian official said. Russia's Defense Ministry said its returnees then were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, per the Los Angeles Times. The exchange agreement was struck last week in Istanbul, the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since early in the war. Both sides have accused the other of mistreating prisoners. The United Nations has concluded that the abuse is widespread on Russia's part, while Ukraine's mistreatment has taken place in isolated cases. In Ukraine's Chernihiv region, families waited at a hospital as buses of prisoners arrived. "Mom, I was exchanged," one soldier given a phone at the hospital said into it, per the New York Times. Families called out names and held up photos in hopes their loved ones were on the buses. "Do you recognize this man?" a woman asked a soldier as she showed him a photo. "Do you see how much we have changed?" he answered. "He might not be recognizable by this photo." President Trump's attempts to punish law firms for political reasons failed for the second time on Friday when a federal judge permanently struck down his executive order sanctioning Jenner & Block. DC District Judge John Bates ruled Trump's order an unconstitutional abuse of presidential power, Bloomberg Law reports. "This order, like the others, seeks to chill legal representation the administration doesn't like, thereby insulating the Executive Branch from the judicial check fundamental to the separation of powers," Bates wrote. The firm had sued Trump after he sought to strip it of government contracts and its lawyers of access to federal buildings and officials, per the Washington Post. The order singled out former partner Andrew Weissmann, who worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, for criticism. Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey also sued over Trump's orders and have had judges at least temporarily block most of the punishments the president sought. Perkins Coie won a ruling similar to the one in the Jenner & Block case. Bates, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, went beyond his temporary pause on the executive order while the case was being considered. This time, he overturned every part of Trump's order, per CNN. "The challenged executive order targets Jenner for what it has said and thereby attempts to dampen what it might yet say," Bates wrote. "That is unconstitutional under any view of the First Amendment." The Trump administration did not immediately announce whether it will appeal the ruling. OSAKA, May 23 (News On Japan) - A massive outbreak of insects is causing serious problems at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, prompting alarm both on the ground and online. The unusual phenomenon began drawing attention last week when multiple social media posts described the situation as "out of control." One widely shared photo showed insects swarming a pillar of the Expos iconic circular roof structure, nicknamed the "Great Ring." While some visitors claimed they hadnt noticed any insects during their visit, others reported swarms that appeared to cling in thick clusters to walls, vending machines, and elevator shafts. A site inspection revealed large numbers of tiny, pale-winged insects gathering especially on the upper sections of the ring. Although less dense than in the most extreme social media images, the presence of insects was undeniable. In particular, the Expo venues wooden pillars and shaded areas were found to be heavily coated. Visitors expressed discomfort, with some saying the insects nearly got into their food while eating, and many fled from areas thick with the bugs. The insects have been identified as chironomids, or non-biting midges, often mistaken for mosquitoes but harmless to humans. According to researchers, they typically breed in aquatic environments and do not bite. A field investigation confirmed that they were originating from water-adjacent zones within the Expo grounds, especially near the ocean-facing sections. One hotspot of the infestation has been the upper area of the Great Ring. While the insects are less active during the day, by around 6:30 p.m., massive swarms begin to emerge. Video taken on site shows a near-panic among visitors and even security personnel, with clouds of insects visibly filling the air. The scene became so chaotic at one point that reporters could not continue filming without being engulfed. Expert Yamamoto from Suiken Co., who has researched midges for over 20 years, visited the site and confirmed the bugs are a salt-tolerant species of chironomid, capable of surviving in brackish water. According to Yamamoto, they likely existed on Yumeshimathe artificial island housing the Expoeven before construction began. The Expos environment, including the large wooden structures and artificial water bodies, has unintentionally created a perfect breeding ground. The insects are known to lay eggs in water and then emerge in large numbers at dusk to seek high perches for mating. The wooden ring, elevated above the ground and facing the ocean, acts as an ideal rest and breeding site. Yamamoto warned that unless interrupted, this cycle would repeat daily through the summer. Although some suspected the insects were emerging from stagnant puddles, further investigation pointed to the Expos southern "Water Plaza"a 3-hectare saltwater pond popular with visitors. The absence of natural predators like fish has likely allowed the chironomid larvae to thrive. Upon closer inspection, signs of larvae were found in nests along the waters edge. In response to the escalating problem, Osaka Governor Yoshimura announced cooperation with a private sector company to implement control measures. He stated that he had directly requested support from the head of Kosei Seiyaku, a firm expected to aid in countermeasures. Despite the discomfort, Yamamoto emphasized that the insects are not dangerous and will not bite. However, repellents and sprays are unlikely to be effective. He advised visitors sensitive to insects to avoid outdoor areas around sunset, especially the elevated sections of the ring. He added that the outbreak may naturally subside once peak summer temperatures arrive, although a second wave could emerge in September. For now, Expo-goers are being urged to plan accordingly and remain aware of the insect-prone times and areas to ensure a more pleasant visit. Source: KTV NEWS OSAKA, May 23 (News On Japan) - A growing number of foreign nationals are converting their overseas driver's licenses into Japanese licenses through a process known as gaimen kirikaea system that has come under scrutiny due to apparent loopholes and increasingly lax enforcement. One man who took the written test said, "I got a perfect score after just an hour of study." Meanwhile, recent cases of wrong-way driving and hit-and-run accidents have raised alarms about the safety risks tied to this system, which, in some cases, has allowed people to obtain a license using a hotel address and even while on a tourist visa. In Japan, gaimen kirikae refers to the license conversion system that allows foreigners holding valid drivers licenses from abroad to obtain a Japanese license by passing a written and practical exam. In recent years, services assisting with the process have proliferated on Chinese e-commerce platforms, claiming to help users obtain Japanese licenses with minimal effort. A collision earlier this month on the Shin-Mei Expressway in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture, involved a wrong-way vehicle and led to the arrest of a Peruvian national, Rossy Cruz John Alias, on suspicion of fleeing the scene. Just days earlier, in Saitama Prefecture, another hit-and-run incident involving a Chinese national who was allegedly driving under the influence resulted in injury to an elementary school child. Both suspects had obtained their licenses in Japan through the gaimen kirikae process. The number of foreign nationals converting their licenses in Japan has more than doubled in the past decade, with Vietnamese and Chinese applicants accounting for the largest share. One expert explained that while Chinese licenses are valid in only a dozen or so countries, a Japanese license can be used to apply for an international driving permit valid in nearly 100 countriesmaking it a backdoor route to global driving privileges. At the Osaka Prefectural License Center, it was observed that on a single morning, about ten Chinese nationals, accompanied by interpreters or friends, arrived to convert their licenses. According to officials, reservations for conversion slots fill up within a single day. The written exam, which consists of ten questions requiring seven correct answers to pass, was described as extremely easy by one test-taker who studied for only an hour using sample questions found on social media. Even those staying in Japan on short-term tourist visas have reportedly been able to acquire licenses, using hotel stays as proof of residence. A Chinese interpreter accompanying applicants said, "I've helped about 20 people so far, mostly international students or people here for work, but also some on tourist visas." Online searches on Chinese platforms for "Japanese license" reveal dozens of services promising fast-track assistance. One such listing advertised a license conversion exam in Osaka for 169,000 yen. When contacted, a Chinese vendor said the process could be completed in about six months and confirmed that even without residency, applicants could proceed if they had proof of hotel accommodation. When pressed on the legality, the vendor replied, "This is a legally recognized procedure. We also understand that Japan values traffic safety and hope the system will eventually strike a better balance." One striking case showed a Chinese tourist's Japanese license listing a hotel as their registered address. Experts voiced concern that in the event of an accident or violation, it would be difficult to trace responsibility. One commentator said, "The bar for obtaining a license is far too lowit absolutely needs to be reviewed." In response to growing concerns, Japans National Police Agency has begun considering tighter regulations, including requiring formal residency registration to verify addresses. In apparent anticipation of upcoming restrictions, Chinese websites have begun warning users that the "last chance" to obtain licenses under current rules may soon close. The gaimen kirikae system highlights the need for urgent reform to reduce traffic incidents and restore trust in road safety enforcement. Although some have criticized the system for being too lenient, others warn against overgeneralizing. One panelist noted that many foreign residents genuinely need licenses to work and live in Japan, saying, "We must be careful not to vilify all foreign drivers based on a few cases." Still, the current written test is considered too simple and fails to adequately assess a persons understanding of Japanese road rules and culture. While the skills test remains strictwith a pass rate around 29%calls are growing for raising the difficulty of the written portion as well. As Japan moves toward tightening this system, it faces the challenge of balancing accessibility for legitimate foreign residents with the need to uphold traffic safety and regulatory integrity. Source: KTV NEWS TOKYO, May 23 (News On Japan) - OpenAI, the developer behind the conversational AI ChatGPT, announced on May 22nd plans to build a large-scale AI data center in the United Arab Emirates in partnership with SoftBank Group, Nvidia, and others. The initiative stems from the U.S.-UAE "AI Advancement Partnership" agreement and will involve the construction of an AI-focused infrastructure project called Stargate UAE in Abu Dhabi. The facility aims to begin operations by 2026 and is envisioned as a global AI service hub capable of reaching up to half of the worlds population. In addition to the UAE project, the Emirati government will also invest in the Stargate development underway in the United States, with the goal of bolstering AI infrastructure in both countries. Source: BIZ TOKYO, May 23 (News On Japan) - An increasing number of people are turning to generative AI not just for productivity and creativity, but as emotional companionssome even treating them like romantic partners. While this technological intimacy offers comfort for some, mental health professionals warn that excessive reliance may lead to psychological harm. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are evolving rapidly and are now capable of holding natural conversations, drafting documents, and creating images and videos. For some users, this growing sophistication has transformed AI from a productivity tool into a surrogate partner. Reports have emerged of individuals creating 3D models of AI personas they refer to as romantic partners, with at least one person even claiming to have "married" their AI companion. Yusuke Masuda, a psychiatrist invited to discuss the issue, warns that overuse of AI in emotionally dependent ways can cause or exacerbate mental health disorders. He refers to these conditions as "AI-induced psychological reactions." According to Masuda, symptoms range from depressive episodes to delusional thinkingbelieving one is a chosen person or becoming paranoid about societal or governmental schemes. One such case involves a woman in her 30s, known pseudonymously as Rateko, who identifies as a social recluse. She regularly converses with AI because she lacks human friends, asking it to behave like a close companion and confiding in it about her daily concerns. Her interactions, which sometimes last for hours, have replaced many aspects of human contact. She described AI's responses to everyday conversation as deeply affirmingsuch as discussing the unseasonal May heat or the discontinuation of a favorite seasonal dessert. Over time, however, she realized that without AI, she felt entirely unsupported. Masuda explains that these immersive interactions may result in users experiencing dopamine highs from perceived intellectual discovery or social bonding, similar to the emotional lift from alcohol or camaraderie. However, users often crash emotionally when they disconnect. He also draws parallels to shared psychosis, where delusions spread among individualsexcept here, the "other" is a machine. This phenomenon is still under-researched, with little empirical data available. The rapid pace of AI development has outstripped the ability of academic studies to track its psychological impacts. While discussions about AI safety often focus on existential threats or societal disruptions, Masuda emphasizes that immediate clinical issueslike users losing touch with realityare going unaddressed. In another segment, the program experimented with AI by submitting photos of meals and generating images and comments of virtual companions enjoying the food, creating the illusion of shared dining experiences. One scenario involved generating an image of a cheerful young woman eating Peking duck with a user, prompting hosts to note how easy it is to become emotionally invested in such simulations. Some even worried about becoming addicted. These AI-generated dinner companions are becoming popular on social media, with users sharing videos and voiceovers of AI avatars praising their cooking. When prompted for comforting messages, AI-generated "romantic partners" responded with emotionally supportive lines like "It's okay to feel tired sometimes" and "You can lean on me." However, hosts noted that such interactions, while entertaining, might mask emotional dependence. Masuda says dependency often stems from isolation or trauma. People suffering from loneliness, past abuse, or poverty may turn to AI for validation. But the more these individuals retreat into AI interactions, the more disconnected they may become from society. He stresses that it's important not to ridicule or deny their experiences outright but to encourage them to share their interactions openly as a step toward reengaging with human relationships. Even as AI proves helpful in some mental wellness applicationsparticularly for those already living in isolationit remains essential to maintain balance. Masuda suggests that social sharing and humor around AI use can help prevent harmful dependency. "Saying things like 'I think Im getting a bit too into this' or 'I found myself smiling at the screen' helps normalize the experience without letting it spiral," he says. While AI technology continues to advance, offering new ways to connect and create, Masuda concludes that emotional health still hinges on real human relationships. The challenge lies in finding ways to coexist with increasingly lifelike AI without replacing the irreplaceable value of human interaction. Source: ABEMA FUKUOKA, May 23 (News On Japan) - As workplaces reopen following the Golden Week holidays in Japan, agencies offering "retirement" (job-quitting proxy) services are reporting a surge in requests. These services, which inform employers of a worker's resignation on their behalf, are increasingly used by new employeesmany of whom find themselves overwhelmed in their first year of work due to power harassment, excessive unpaid overtime, or discrepancies between job listings and actual duties. A Fukuoka-based agency established last year said it received nearly 40 requests on May 7th alone. The company typically sees a spike in demand immediately after long holidays. Many clients are recent university graduates who feel unable to endure hostile work environments, where supervisors blame them unfairly or pressure them socially, including during after-work drinking sessions. The agencys staff, such as a representative named Kishida, makes resignation calls on behalf of clients and handles subsequent logistics like confirming remaining paid leave and retrieving personal items. On May 18th, they accepted a case involving a man working in sales, who cited emotional distress from daily reprimands by clients and neglect by superiors. The agency also shared that a growing number of companies are already familiar with such resignations, with one HR officer commenting, Is this the same service weve dealt with before? after receiving a resignation call. A survey conducted among new employees this fiscal year revealed that about one in four would consider using such a service. On the streets, public opinion was split. While some sympathized with workers who feel too mentally drained to resign face-to-face, others expressed concern that such services might damage a person's reputation or job prospects, especially within tightly-knit industries. One young man who recently quit via an agency said he had no other option. Employed in the transport sector, he described being pressured into earlier work hours than agreed upon, facing constant overtime without extra pay, and receiving no support from management. "It was mentally exhausting," he said. "I couldnt even imagine telling them I wanted to quit. I didnt know how theyd react." Now working part-time while seeking new employment, he said he finally feels ready to move forward. "Im glad I quit. I finally feel like I can start the next chapter," he added. A woman working in elderly care recounted how two colleagues quit via such a service after suffering power harassment. Their resignations triggered workplace reforms, including the reassignment of their abusive supervisor. "They spoke up for all of us," she said. Still, experts urge caution. Labor and social security attorney Matsuda warns that using a proxy resignation service could be viewed negatively by future employers. In industries where executives are often connected, such details might come to light and influence hiring decisions. The services typically cost around 20,000 yen for regular employeesconsidered affordable compared to legal consultation fees. In addition to handling resignation formalities, many agencies now offer job-search support as part of their packages. A recent poll of nearly 500 people found that 77% support the use of such services, with only 23% opposed. While opinions differ, many agree that in situations where open communication with employers is difficult, resignation agencies may serve as a necessary bufferproviding a less harmful alternative to simply disappearing from the workplace without notice. Source: KBC Natia Lemay, an interdisciplinary artist, draws on personal stories to explore the interplay between mind, body, and space. "I am grateful to be a part of the CIBC C2 Art Program and the opportunity to connect, create, and collaborate within a space that nurtures imagination and encourages a deeper connection through art," said Lemay. "Programs like this allow for reflection, experimentation, and the unfolding of possibilities." As part of the program, both artists will develop and showcase their work in solo exhibitions at CIBC SQUARE in Toronto, connecting their art with clients, visitors, and employees. "We are proud to support Delali and Natia as they pursue their artistic ambitions," said Dr. Claudette Knight, Vice-President, Special Initiatives, CIBC. "The C2 Art Program reflects our belief that art plays a pivotal role in fostering vibrant, diverse, and connected communities." Now in its third year, the C2 Art Program continues to provide a platform for artists to grow and connect with new audiences. To learn more about the C2 Art Program and past recipients, please visit: https://www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/create-and-curate.html. About CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 14 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre. SOURCE CIBC For further information: Stephanie Marcus, CIBC Communications & Public Affairs, 416-643-6358 or [email protected]. TORONTO, May 23, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce that Alexa Toguri-Laurin of Concordia University in Montreal will receive the 2025 CJF Bursary for BIPOC Student Journalists. Funded by Media Profile , an independent Canadian public relations firm, the $5,000 bursary aims to support racialized journalism students, a group that has historically been underrepresented in the industry. Alexa Toguri-Laurin of Montreal, Que., is the recipient of the 2025 CJF Bursary for BIPOC Student Journalists (CNW Group/The Canadian Journalism Foundation) Toguri-Laurin, an award-winning student journalist intends to bring what she learned reporting on Montreal's Chinese community for school assignments and The Link newspaper to reporting on her own Japanese-Montreal community, focusing on the survival of Japanese-Canadians in Second World War internment camps. "We make up only 0.1 per cent of Montreal's population," she notes, "yet we possess so many stories and perspectives that have not been shared." Says Alison King, president of award sponsor MediaProfile: "We are happy to support Alexa's goal of pursuing stories and issues around accessibility and intergenerational trauma that are important to the Japanese-Canadian community. We're proud that BIPOC student journalists can benefit from our support through this bursary." For her part, selection committee member Amber LeBlanc says: "Alexa shows a commitment to bravely telling independent stories in her community and a real aptitude for chasing and detailing local news and is shining an important light on topics relevant to Montreal. I look forward to seeing where she takes her storytelling next." Toguri-Laurin will be recognized at the CJF Awards on June 12, at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. CIBC is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 CJF Awards. The CJF also thanks supporters Google News Initiative, Rogers Communications, Labatt Breweries of Canada, McCain Foods, Intact, TD Bank Group, CBC/Radio-Canada, Aritzia, BMO Financial Group, CTV News, Canada Life, Sobeys, Scotiabank, RBC, FGS Longview Communications, KPMG, Canadian Bankers Association, WSP, Jackman Foundation, Canadian Medical Association, Accenture, Aga Khan Development Network, Apple Canada News, Bennett Jones LLP, Blakes, Canadian Women's Foundation, CPP Investments, Loblaw Companies Ltd., Maple Leaf Foods, OLG, Rishi Nolan Strategies, TD Securities, Uber, Greenrock Real Estate Advisors, CDPQ, Zai Mamdani/Mamdani Family Foundation, North Horizon, Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and Massey College. In-kind sponsorship is provided by Beehive Design, The Canadian Press, Bespoke Audio Visual, MLSE and Porter Airlines. Cision is the exclusive distribution partner of the CJF. About The Canadian Journalism Foundation Founded in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious awards and fellowships program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. About Media Profile Media Profile is a complete communications agency based in Toronto. As Canada's largest employee-owned agency, Media Profile sparks conversations with relevance and curiosity. Media Profile is proudly independent and represents a range of clients from top international brands to Indigenous governments and not-for-profit organizations. SOURCE The Canadian Journalism Foundation For more information, please contact: Natalie Turvey, President and Executive Director, The Canadian Journalism Foundation, [email protected] CAMBRIDGE, Mass. The U.S. Department of Education's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced the withdrawal of an additional $450 million in federal grants to Harvard University, citing the institution's ongoing failure to address antisemitism on campus. The decision, detailed in a May 13, 2025, press release, escalates tensions between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school, which is already embroiled in a legal battle over $2.2 billion in previously frozen federal funding. The task force's statement criticized Harvard for its inability to confront "pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus." This marks the latest action in a broader federal crackdown on universities accused of neglecting Jewish students' safety and rights. The task force, established to enforce civil rights laws, has targeted several institutions but singled out Harvard for its "repeated" shortcomings. "Harvard University has repeatedly failed to confront the pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus," the task force stated. The statement emphasized that federal funding recipients must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Harvard's troubles intensified following campus protests after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked widespread allegations of antisemitism. The university's Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias, released in April 2025, acknowledged that Jewish and Israeli students faced "shunning" and hostility, with some pressured to denounce Israel to gain acceptance. Despite reforms, including adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and partnering with an Israeli university, critics argue Harvard's efforts fall short. The task force's actions follow a pattern of federal intervention. In April, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in Harvard's research grants, prompting the university to file a lawsuit claiming the freeze violated its academic freedom. The latest $450 million cut, affecting grants for critical research, has raised concerns among faculty about the impact on scientific progress. Harvard President Alan Garber, in a statement accompanying the task force reports, apologized for the campus climate and vowed to implement changes, including revising admissions policies to prioritize civil discourse and empathy. However, the Joint Task Force remains unconvinced, pointing to "systemic" issues in Harvard's governance and disciplinary systems. The funding cuts have sparked debate over academic autonomy versus federal oversight. Harvard's lawsuit argues that the administration's demands, including defunding certain student groups and altering faculty hiring, infringe on its First Amendment rights. Meanwhile, supporters of the task force, including Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, accuse Harvard of tolerating bigotry. "Harvard's president said the school will not abide bigotry, yet that's exactly what the school's feckless leadership did," Walberg said. Other universities, such as Columbia and Yale, have faced similar scrutiny, with Columbia losing $400 million in grants and Yale earning cautious praise for recent actions. The task force has urged all institutions to enforce anti-discrimination policies rigorously or risk further penalties. Harvard's next steps remain uncertain as it navigates legal challenges and internal reforms. The university has pledged to strengthen its disciplinary systems and promote viewpoint diversity, but the task force's ongoing investigations signal that federal pressure will persist. For now, the loss of $450 million in grants underscores the high stakes of the clash between Harvard and the Trump administration. Inspired by the family-friendly spaciousness and hybrid innovation of the Mazda CX-90 and CX-70, this tour encourages Canadians to embrace the open road and discover hidden gems in their own backyardpowered by vehicles designed for connection, comfort, and sustainability. The first-ever Mazda Coffee Tour features two carefully curated routes across Toronto, highlighting eight unique cafes that reflect the city's rich and multicultural coffee scene. From cozy local roasteries to best-kept secrets, each stop offers a taste of the communities and cultures that shape Canada's diverse coffee landscape. Rooted in Mazda's Move and Be Moved campaign, where meaningful moments are found in every journey, the Mazda Coffee Tour celebrates the joy of discovery through a rising trend: coffee tourism. What is Coffee Tourism? Coffee tourism is a travel experience centered around discovering and enjoying local coffee culture. It invites travellers to go beyond their usual morning fuel by exploring how different communities source, roast, brew, and enjoy coffee all while supporting local businesses and connecting with people along the way. "We're excited to introduce a new way for Canadians to explore the open road and connect with the vibrant communities that make our country so unique" said David Klan, President & CEO, Mazda Canada. "At Mazda, building meaningful connections has always been at the heart of our journey, it's deeply rooted in our history and values. The Mazda Coffee Tour brings that spirit to life by celebrating local culture, supporting small businesses, and inspiring new experiences across Canada." "Coffee is more than just a beverage for Canadians it's a beloved part of our daily lives," said Robert Carter, President of the Coffee Association of Canada. "In fact, coffee is the most popular beverage in the country, with over 70% of adults drinking it regularly. Our $8-billion coffee sector supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. As businesses face ongoing economic pressures, supporting local cafes, roasters, and retailers is more vital than ever." Canadians' views on Coffee Tourism To find out more about Canadians' views on coffee tourism, Mazda Canada commissioned a survey and found that more than 60 per cent of Canadians are interested on going on a coffee tourwith 74 per cent viewing Canada as an excellent or good destination for trying new coffee beverages. Motivations for joining a coffee tour varied by generation: Gen Z viewed it as a chance to connect with friends and create social media content; Millennials were drawn by the opportunity to explore new coffee blends and flavors; while Gen X and Boomers appreciated the chance to enjoy nature and support the local economy. Other findings include: 7 in 10 Canadians have taken a road trip in the past year 44% view it as a summer activity 24% would do a coffee tour in the fall 64.53% of Canadians would go on a coffee tour in their own city before another province 21.67% have traveled 30 minutes - 1 hour for a good cup of coffee 21.35% have traveled 1 - 2 hours for a good cup of coffee Canadians will take an average of 3 companions on a coffee tour Canadians deem exploring, connecting with friends, enjoying nature, and supporting the local economy as reasons to embark on a coffee tour Mazda CX-90 and CX-70 Named Official Vehicles of the Mazda Coffee Tour Given coffee tourism's focus on sustainability and a passion for discovery, the Mazda CX-90 and CX-70 have been named the official vehicles of the Mazda Coffee Tour. Available in both Mild Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models, these electrified SUVs are IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award winners, offering an ideal blend of performance, spaciousness, safety, and environmental consciousness. They're the perfect companions for Canadians eager to hit the road and discover new brews. Canadians interested in embarking on the official Mazda Coffee Tour can visit mazda.ca/coffee. About Mazda Canada Inc. Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda has a history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation, and a purpose to enrich life-in-motion for those it serves. By putting humans at the center of everything it does, Mazda aspires to create uplifting experiences with our vehicles and for people. Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 retail stores. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca. Follow @MazdaCanada on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Threads. About the Coffee Association of Canada The Coffee Association of Canada (CAC), which represents roasters, retailers, importers and suppliers, supports Canada's coffee industry through advocacy, education, and connection. As the industry expert and advocate, the CAC works to ensure a prosperous future for Canada's coffee community, protecting industry growth and consumer access to coffee. SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc. Chuck Reimer, Mazda Canada, [email protected]; Sandra Lemaitre, Mazda Canada, [email protected] CORAL GABLES, Fla., May 23, 2025 /CNW/ - Sucro Limited (TSXV: SUGR) (OTCQB: SUGRF) ("Sucro" or the "Company"), an integrated sugar refiner focused primarily on serving North American sugar markets, today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. All amounts are in United States dollars ("U.S. $" or "$") unless otherwise noted. Financial Highlights Revenue of $155.2 million on sugar deliveries of 176,319 metric tons on sugar deliveries of 176,319 metric tons Net income of $12.0 million for the quarter for the quarter Adjusted gross profit 1 of $13.8 million and adjusted gross profit margin 1 of 8.9% of and adjusted gross profit margin of 8.9% EBITDA 1 of $22.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $9.9 million of and Adjusted EBITDA of Adjusted gross profit per metric ton delivered1 of $78.18 Q1 Highlights Three Months Ended Mar 31 In 000s of U.S. $ except per share and volume metrics. 2025 2024 Change Sugar Deliveries (Metric Tons) 176,319 182,865 -3.6 % Revenue $155,247 $184,771 -16.0 % Gross profit 27,070 37,303 -27.4 % Adjusted gross profit1 13,785 16,175 -14.8 % Adjusted gross profit margin1 8.9 % 8.8 % EBITDA1 22,862 31,489 -27.4 % Adjusted EBITDA1 9,897 10,914 -9.3 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 14.73 % 17.04 % Net Income (Loss) 12,007 19,739 -39.2 % Per share (basic) 1.10 2.88 -61.9 % Per share (diluted) 0.50 0.83 -39.4 % Adjusted gross profit per metric ton delivered1,2 78.18 88.45 -11.6 % Free cash flow1 1,222 5,004 Refineries Results: Refineries Volume (Metric Tons) 48,202 46,754 3.1 % Adjusted gross profit1 $8,158 $6,741 21.0 % Adjusted gross profit per metric ton delivered1 169.25 144.18 17.4 % 1. Please refer to "Non IFRS and other Financial Measures" below for further details. 2. Net of cash settlements. "Our results in the first quarter of 2025 reflect the strength of our integrated supply chain model and the continued execution of our growth strategy," said Jonathan Taylor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sucro. "We are seeing sustained momentum in our core markets, alongside disciplined cost management and a focus on margin-enhancing business." Results from Operations Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 Revenue for the quarter was $155.2 million compared to revenue of $184.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of 16.0%. Sugar deliveries of 176,319 metric tons were 3.6% lower than deliveries in the same period of 2024. Adjusted gross profit was $13.8 million, 14.8% lower than the same period a year ago of $16.2 million. Adjusted gross profit margin for 2025 of 8.9% was slightly higher than the 8.8% achieved in 2024. Adjusted gross profit per metric ton delivered was $78.18 and 11.6% lower than 2024 of $88.45. While overall volumes have remained consistent with those of the previous year, we have seen some shifts in their composition, including a decrease in deliveries into Mexico (where the market has normalized after a period of high market prices driven by a disappointing cane crop caused by adverse weather conditions) that has been compensated for with increased U.S. deliveries. The decrease in Adjusted Gross Profit was driven by lower margins from the deliveries of refined sugar out of our Lackawanna refinery. This margin compression resulted from the utilization of raw sugar inputs that were purchased to fulfill production forecasts for fiscal year 2024, when U.S. sugar prices were generally higher than those of today. Net income for the first quarter was $12.0 million compared to net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 of $19.7 million, a decrease of 39.2%. EBITDA was $22.9 million, compared to EBITDA of $31.5 million in the corresponding 2024 period, a decrease of 27.4%. Adjusted EBITDA was $9.9 million compared to adjusted EBITDA for the 2024 period of $10.9 million, These decreases were driven primarily by lower unrealized mark-to-market gains on physical sugar contracts and lower Adjusted Gross Profit. Sucro continues to advance construction on its Hamilton, Ontario and University Park, Illinois cane sugar refineries, expected to be operational in late 2025 and early 2026, respectively. These strategic assets are designed to increase production capacity and improve supply responsiveness in key North American markets. The Company remains focused on optimizing its refining operations, managing supply chain costs, and expanding commercial relationships with major food and beverage customers. Management continues to monitor global trade developments, including tariff and cross-border policy changes between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Q1 2025 Investor Call The Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 12:00 noon Eastern time during which Jonathan Taylor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Stefano D'Aniello, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Sucro's financial performance for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. Date: Friday May 23, 2025 Time: 1:00 pm ET Conference Call: Toll-Free Dial-In Number (800) 836-8184 Dial-In Number (GTA) (646) 357-8765 Please dial in at least five minutes before the call begins. Replay: Available through June 6, 2025 Replay Access: Toll-Free Dial-In Number (888) 660-6345 Dial-In Number (GTA) (646) 517-4150 Passcode 57871 # About Sucro Sucro is a growth-oriented sugar company that operates throughout the Americas, with a primary focus on serving the North American sugar market. The Company operates a highly integrated and interconnected sugar supply business, utilizing the entire sugar supply chain to service its customers. Sucro's integrated supply chain includes sourcing raw and refined sugar from countries throughout Latin America, and refined sugar from its own refineries, and delivering to customers in North America and the Caribbean. Since its inception in 2014, Sucro has achieved growth by creating value for customers through continuous process innovation and supply chain re-engineering. Sucro has established a broad production, sales, and sourcing network throughout North America with two cane sugar refineries and an additional value-added processing facility, and two sugar cane refineries under development in Hamilton, Ontario and University Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). The Company has offices in Miami, Mexico City, Cali, Sao Paulo, and Port of Spain. For more information, visit sucro.us and follow us on LinkedIn. Non-IFRS and Other Financial Measures In this Press Release, reference is made to the following non-IFRS measures: "EBITDA", "EBITDA Margin", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA Margin", "Adjusted Gross Profit", "Adjusted Gross Profit Margin", "Adjusted Gross Profit Per Metric Ton Delivered", and "Free Cash Flow". Such non-IFRS financial measures are not standardized financial measures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. For details on the composition and a reconciliation between such non-IFRS measures and the most directly comparable financial measure in our financial statements, please refer to the "Non-IFRS and Financial Measures (Key Performance Indicators)" section in our MD&A dated May 22, 2025 and filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. 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. SOURCE Sucro Limited For further information, please contact: Don Hill, Chairman, Sucro Limited, T: (305) 901-5222, E: [email protected] STATE COLLEGE, Pa. Penn State University has proposed closing seven of its 20 Commonwealth Campuses as part of a strategic restructuring to address declining enrollment and financial challenges, according to a preliminary recommendation released Tuesday. The plan, presented by President Neeli Bendapudi to the Board of Trustees, targets the campuses at DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York for closure by the end of the 2026-27 academic year. "I believe the recommendation balances our need to adapt to the changing needs of Pennsylvania with compassion for those these decisions affect, both within Penn State and across the commonwealth, in part because of the two-year period before any campus would close," Bendapudi said in a statement. The recommendation follows years of data collection, analysis, and engagement with faculty, students, staff, local employers, policymakers, and community members surrounding the Commonwealth Campuses. Penn State cited declining enrollment, financial constraints, low student housing occupancy, and a significant maintenance backlog as key factors driving the decision. The university emphasized that no campuses will close before the end of the 2026-27 academic year, allowing time for students to complete their degrees and for faculty and staff to transition. The proposed closures have sparked significant pushback from faculty, students, and local leaders. The Penn State Faculty Senate passed a resolution last month opposing the closures, arguing they could limit educational access for students unable to attend the main campus at University Park. Faculty members also expressed concerns about the impact on diversity, noting that Commonwealth Campuses enroll a higher percentage of racially diverse students, Pennsylvania residents, and first-generation college students compared to University Park. The president of the Penn State chapter of the American Association of University Professors warned that closing campuses could "roll back recent improvements in serving students from underrepresented backgrounds Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander." The administration had previously credited these diversity gains to the accessible and flexible Commonwealth Campus model. To mitigate the impact, Penn State pledged to support students and staff during the transition. The university will admit applicants and transfers at all campuses for the fall 2025 semester but will not accept new students at the closing campuses beyond that term. Current students will have the opportunity to complete their degrees, and the university will offer priority hiring consideration for faculty applying to open positions at other campuses. For tenure-line faculty at closing campuses, Penn State will provide need-driven reassignments to remaining campuses, including University Park. Local lawmakers have also voiced opposition, calling for greater transparency and accountability. Sen. Lisa Baker and Rep. Brenda Pugh, representing areas near the Wilkes-Barre campus, are advocating for public hearings before any closures and have proposed a bill to mandate such hearings for state-related university closures. They are also exploring a State Facility Closure Transition Program to support affected communities. "Our Commonwealth Campuses play an essential role in expanding educational opportunity in rural and underserved areas," Pugh said. The recommendation is not final and awaits a vote by the Penn State Board of Trustees. A previously scheduled public meeting on May 15 was changed to an executive session, prompting criticism over transparency. The board will discuss the proposal privately this week, with a public meeting to be scheduled later. Penn State has not yet initiated the formal process required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for campus closures, which includes a detailed evaluation and approval by the Secretary of Education. Community members and stakeholders can access additional information about the recommendation at roadmap.psu.edu. The debate over the closures underscores broader challenges facing higher education in Pennsylvania, including shifting demographics, funding shortages, and the evolving role of branch campuses in serving local communities. by Eric Feigenbaum When I tell someone I lived in Singapore, the most common response is some variation of, Singapore isnt that where its illegal to chew gum? I know a Greek couple who refuses to visit Singapore because they feel the rules are too strict and inhumane. I dont think they know what all the rules are but in a country that still has strong opposition to helmet laws, I suppose restrictions on chewing gum and urinating in public seem fascist. So, no its not illegal to chew gum in Singapore. It was from 1992 to 2004. Although you do have to show identification and be entered into a log at any store in which you buy gum and the gum has to be certified to have dental value. So, its not exactly a chew-as-you-please policy either. British journalist Peter Day interviewed Singapores founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 2000 and tackled the chewing gum issue: Day suggested that chewing gum stuck to the pavements might be a sign that the desired new spirit of creativity Lee sought for his country had arrived. Putting chewing gum on our subway train doors so they dont open, I dont call that creativity. I call that mischief-making, Lee replied. If you cant think because you cant chew, try a banana. The S$150,000 a year the Housing and Development Board was spending cleaning used gum off the walkways and facilities of some of Singapores largest condo developments was also often cited as a reason for the gum ban. While chewing gum caught the eye of the foreign press and the whim of the world, Singapores Nanny State laws forbidding and fining things that might seem ridiculous to Westerners are an integral part of the countrys development. One can get fined for urinating in an elevator, not flushing a public toilet, not washing hands in a public restroom, spitting on the sidewalk, feeding pigeons in public places, kite flying, connecting to someone elses WiFi without permission, littering and carrying durian on a public train or bus among other things. To most Americans I know, laws like this feel strict impediments to enjoying freedom and the serendipity of life (at least minus the elevator urinating rule Id like to think were all comfortable with that). While understandable, context is critical to understanding most things. When Singapore became independent in 1965 it was a nation of migrants from the Malay Peninsula and immigrants mostly from China and Tamilnadu, India three very different cultures that had come to coexist within a British open-port city. But co-existence and integration are two different things and the need to convert everyone into Singaporeans meant closer cooperation was needed. The problem was each culture had habits that bothered the others including spitting and public urination. Moreover, Singapores nascent leadership was also concerned about public health. Living one degree north of the equator comes with significant vulnerability to disease. Simple actions like flushing toilets, washing hands and again not spitting could help reduce disease transmission in a place where typhoid, yellow fever and hepatitis once ran rampant not to mention insect-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Singaporean leaders quickly learned fines and enforcement got stronger results than public service announcements. Plain-clothes officers would walk around giving citations requiring fines and often steep ones. During the chewing gum ban, a first offense could cost S$2,000 and after three citations, each offense could cost S$10,000. Of course, we can all appreciate clean sidewalks and pleasant public restrooms. But what does this kind of enforcing do to a culture? Singapores Lee Kuan Yew and interestingly Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad began talking about Asian Values in the late 1970s. There is much debate about the idea of Asian Values because of the array of Asian cultures and their sometimes very different origins, histories and religious beliefs (such as atheist Lee from a Chinese Confucian background and Muslim Mahathir). However, the thrust of what these and several other leaders of their time seemed to be getting at was Collectivism. Most Asian countries have much higher degrees of Collectivism than the nations of North America and Europe. In a 1994 interview with Foreign Policy, Lee elaborated on Singapores collectivist bent: Let me be frank; if we did not have the good points of the West to guide us, we wouldnt have got out of our backwardness. We would have been a backward economy with a backward society. But we do not want all of the West. Let me give you an example that encapsulates the whole difference between America and Singapore. America has a vicious drug problem. How does it solve it? It goes around the world helping other anti-narcotic agencies to try and stop the suppliers Singapore does not have that option. What we can do is to pass a law which says that any customs officer or policeman who sees anybody in Singapore behaving suspiciously can require that man to have his urine tested. If the sample is found to contain drugs, the man immediately goes for treatment. In America if you did that it would be an invasion of the individuals rights, and you would be sued. In other words, Singapore sees virtue in putting the whole before the individual. The welfare of the majority relies on individuals reasonably curbing their behaviors to create a better environment. Naturally, that means a loss of some degree of personal freedom. But if the trade-off is that shoppers cant bring home their incredibly pungent (to me nauseating) durian fruit on the public subway, but thousands of riders dont suffer for the needs of a few fruit enthusiasts is that a loss? In my home state of California, you cant smoke a cigarette on a public bus. Is that so different? According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, Singapore reported 237 cases of non-respiratory communicable and parasitic diseases. In 1965, Singaporeans experienced 1,079 cases of non-respiratory communicable and parasitic diseases and 166 cases of nutritional deficiencies. That year 649 people died of tuberculosis and 187 due to diarrheal diseases. In 2022, 20 people died of tuberculosis and 33 of diarrheal diseases (although it should be noted COVID was still in more acute stages in 2022 and in 2019 there were only 22 such deaths). The health statistics suggest toilet flushing and handwashing may well have contributed to substantial public health outcomes. Moreover, its unusual to see anyone fined today officers issuing such fines are rare. A decade of serious enforcement during Singapores earlier days changed the populaces habits. During a speech on Singapores National Day in 1986, while still Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew said: I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yet, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldnt be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldnt be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters who your neighbor is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. This quote is a favorite among Lees critics. It certainly has an authoritarian ring to it. That said, some context may be valuable. Singapore mandates no condo block can have more than 70 percent of any one ethnicity and English was chosen as Singapores working language in no small part to make sure no ethnicity dominated another. And the spitting speaks for itself. If one consides the goals were to create equality, fairness and respect for neighbors is Lees quote as bad as it sounds at first blush? Im sure it will be debated for years to come. In the West we still debate the Right To Smoke vs The Right To Breathe. California says Right To Breathe. Much of liberal Europe supports the Right To Smoke. Do the homeless have the right to find a place to camp in our cities or do communities have the right to keep their sidewalks, parks and parking lots free of vagrants? We debate these issues here in the United States. Singaporeans may not be able to chew any brand of gum, anytime, without impunity but they dont breathe cigarette smoke, and their sidewalks, parks and communities are safe and clean. *** Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. Authorities have arrested two men accused of committing armed robberies at two New Jersey hotels last year. Jibril M. Beamon, 32, of Somerset, and Shedrick A. Goodridge III, 35, of Jersey City, were both arrested on Thursday following search warrants at their homes, the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. They are each charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery and multiple weapons offenses. Investigators allege that the two men robbed Comfort Suites in Newark on Sept. 19, 2024, and Hampton Inn in Teaneck two days later. In both robberies, two armed subjects in masks stormed into the lobby, demanded cash from hotel staff and took off with the stolen money before police arrived, authorities said. Prosecutors did not detail the evidence that led to their arrests. They are both in custody at Bergen County Jail pending detention hearings, authorities said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Editors note: This story was first published in 2023 and has been updated. The Jersey Shore burns in my memory. My best childhood memories are there, amid the cots, chairs and foldup kitchen table in the room my parents would rent every summer at a pink-walled two-story hotel in Sea Isle City. The best year of my life 1994 was spent there, in a yellow house with a wraparound porch in Manasquan. In the morning, Id run to the beach, a mile away, and then back and forth on the asphalt boardwalk, days I thought I could run forever, the shimmering surf at my side. Ive lived all over New Jersey, but keep returning to the Shore, despite the traffic, the crush of people, the McMansions and all the maddening qualities that seem guaranteed to keep us home. But we all keep coming back. Its in our collective DNA. READ MORE: The 25 greatest Jersey Shore towns, ranked, for 2025 There is something about all that water, and sand, and sky, that beckons. And as Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, that familiar pull has returned again for countless Shore visitors, from around the state and beyond. To an 8-year-old kid from Trenton, the Shores appeal was undeniable. There was the car ride through the mysterious Pine Barrens, and the roadside markets, and the sudden whiff of salt air, and the initial thrilling glimpse of ocean. In Sea Isle, wed pick up doughnuts and sticky buns from the local bakery, spend the day on the beach, and if we behaved ourselves, my two brothers, two sisters and I would be rewarded with a night out and spending money on the spectacularly lit, seemingly endless Wildwood boardwalk. The Wildwood tram car Even today, when I walk on the worlds greatest boardwalk (sorry, Atlantic City), I feel a little twinge, a mixture of wonder and loss. After spending seven years in Manasquan in the 90s, I moved to Hunterdon County, to a house in the woods, minutes from Route 78. It was an idyllic setting, but I missed the Shore, and moved back, to the modest house where I now live, outside Tuckerton. The house, fronting Great Bay, is not much to look at call it a cigar box on pilings but the view is spectacular: marsh and water and the endless circling and squawking of shore birds (I wish they would stop littering my deck and yard with crab shells). At night, with the only lights those of Atlantic City in the distance, its so quiet its almost spooky. Which is not, of course, the Jersey Shore experience millions of us face each summer. Epic traffic jams on the Parkway on the way down, and youre in a bad mood by the time you hit the Driscoll Bridge, knowing you should have left two hours earlier. Then you hit Spring Lake, or Belmar, or wherever youre going, and you drive round and round the block just hoping for a parking spot in the same ZIP code, and then you realize you didnt bring enough quarters (thank goodness many meters now accept cards), and your 4-year-old has to go to the bathroom. Eastbound traffic on Rt. 37 jams the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge over Barnegat Bay as New Jersey beachgoers head toward the barrier island to celebrate Independence Day on a perfect beach day on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media) And when you finally stagger to the beach, weighed down by backpacks, coolers and lawn chairs, you discover its packed, and theres bad music blasting from a thousand boom boxes, and the sand is desert-hot, and you have to step around discarded soda cups and fast food wrappers are these the same people who throw stuff out their windows on the highway? and a slice of pizza is three bucks, and the water is foamy, or greenish, or both, and when you leave late in the afternoon and return to your car, theres a ticket on the windshield because the parking meter expired just two minutes ago, and the Parkway is jammed all the way home and you wonder somewhere around Red Bank, or Sayreville, whether it was all worth it. Of course it was; youll be back, because a true Jerseyan always returns to the Shore. Its 131 miles of sun-splashed beach and uneven tan lines; bikinis and board shorts; suntan lotion, cheap sunglasses and tacky t-shirts. It is where high schoolers and college kids have the time of their lives, and their parents relive their youth. Many of our most cherished memories are Down the Shore summer romances and teary breakups; stolen kisses and whispered I-love-yous; backyard cookouts and dusk-to-dawn parties; fishing off the pier with your kid, just like your dad did with you; sausage sandwiches, zeppoles, funnel cakes and custard; the Himalaya arcing into the great warm American summer night. READ MORE: 21 secret Jersey Shore spots we bet youve never visited The Ferris wheel turning and turning, to echo Jersey beach boy Bruce Springsteen, like it aint ever going to stop. The ocean, eternal and enigmatic. I remember being told as a kid that if you waded into the surf on a Jersey beach and kept swimming, youd end up in Egypt. Call it urban myth, Jersey Shore style. I remember trips to Seaside with high school buddies, and 20 years later sitting outside a Brielle restaurant with the girl of my dreams. Even today, I can still feel the faint breeze that warm August night, and how she looked, and what we said to each other. Over the years, I jumped at any newspaper assignment involving the Shore. It was my turf, the place I felt most at home. Wonder Bar, Asbury Park Pete I rode roller coasters from Keansburg to Wildwood for one story, my knees shaking all the way. I covered lifeguard competitions and sandcastle contests and the incomparable Ocean City Baby Parade, the most colorful event in any Jersey Shore summer. I spent a day at the states only nude beach Gunnison in Sandy Hook wearing nothing but a notebook and a smile. Ive eaten my way up and down the Shore: crabcakes at Bahrs, hot dogs at the Windmill, Reubens at Kellys, soft-shell crabs at the late, great Circus Drive-In, wings at the Boardwalk Bar & Grill, cheesecake at Charlies Cafe, Italian ice at Strollos, doughnuts at Ob-Cos, sausage sandwiches at Dentatos Clam Bar, seafood at Pinky Shrimps, pizza at Tonys Baltimore Grill, soft-serve at Kohrs, Cape May Salts at Docks Oyster House, and so on. Ive spent several summers rating boardwalk food and boardwalk pizzerias; yes, theres more to boardwalk food than funnel cake and watered-down lemonade. Hurricane Sandy pretty much wiped out my waterfront neighborhood in 2012. I spent the weekend in Philadelphia, fully expecting my house to be gone when I returned. It was still standing, one of just three homes of some 45 not to suffer extensive damage. The reason: my cigar-box house was on pilings. I remember one reporters comment the day after: The Shore is gone. What, I wondered, is she talking about? The Shore, despite all the epic storms over the years, is not going anywhere. Not now, not ever. I spent an entire summer at the Shore for a book (The Jersey Shore Uncovered: A Revealing Season on the Beach), hanging out with everyone from arcade owners, beach cleaners and bail bondsmen to lifeguards, surfers and bikini contest hopefuls. That last part was tougher than it sounds. I walked from Sandy Hook to Cape May (sort of, anyway), for my 2020 report on how the pandemic affected the shore. Walk highlights: struggling through intense heat (the heat index topped 100 the first two days), dodging a tornado and gagging on the worst barbecue Ive had in my life. (fortunately, that restaurant is no longer open). My second Shore book, The Ultimate Guide to the Jersey Shore, was released last year. Four hundred pages worth of essential information: where to eat, where to stay, what to do with the kids, attractions/landmarks and so much more. I could easily write a 400-page sequel. Theres so much about the Shore thats unwritten, or undiscovered. I still run into longtime Jerseyans whove never been to the Shore. To me, thats unfathomable. Is it because of the traffic? (there are other ways to get there besides the Parkway). The crowds? (there are many uncrowded beaches at the height of summer). The food? (surely that cant be it). I cant imagine Jersey without the Shore, or life without the beach. I dont have to be on it, but I have to be near it. Whenever I drive over the Driscoll, I feel like that 8-year-old again. There will be that sudden whiff of salt air, and all that it promises. The ocean, near. The sheltering sky, just ahead. Another Jersey Shore summer, beckoning. Looking for more New Jersey food coverage? Subscribe to the free Jersey Eats newsletter here! Sign up for Petes new, exclusive food newsletter, Jerseys Secret Sauce, here. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. On Twitter, @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile. Former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, Daniel Williams was among six killed in a plane crash early Thursday morning (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Getty Images Six people, including music executive Dave Shapiro and former metalcore drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, Daniel Williams, were killed when the Cessna 550 private plane they were on crashed into a San Diego Tierrasanta neighborhood in the early morning hours of Thursday, according to the New York Times. Shapiro was 42 and Williams was 39. Ten homes in the neighborhood were set ablaze, and more than 100 people had to be evacuated because of a jet fuel spill. Eight hours before the flight, Williams posted on his Instagram stories that he was boarding the same plane identified in the crash. The flight took off from Teterboro at about 11:15 p.m. and made a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, before heading to San Diego, according to The Associated Press. It was also reported that the plane was trying to land in foggy weather. We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, said a spokesperson for Sound Talent Group. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. Shapiro co-founded Sound Talent Group, which has represented artists such as Hanson, Vanessa Carlton, and Sum 41. He was also the owner of a small indie label, Velocity Records, and was certified as an airline transport pilot. Williams was one of the original band members of The Devil Wears Prada until he left in 2016. He then became a software engineer. The band posted a tribute to Williams on their Instagram account, stating, no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. Related coverage: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com The U.S. Justice department is challenging the policies of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken. Michael Dempsey | For NJ Advance A federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice accuses four New Jersey cities Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken of violating federal law by refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement authorities. The lawsuit, which was filed on May 22 in federal court in Newark, targets the sanctuary city policies, which federal officials say obstruct efforts to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants accused of committing crimes. Where inaction crosses into obstruction, local governments break federal law, the complaint states. That is what is happening across New Jersey right now. It is past time it ends. The Justice Department under President Donald Trumps administration argues that these policies are not only unlawful but also dangerous. This not only puts the safety of officers at risk, but also endangers the broader communities they are sworn to protect, the complaint says. A sanctuary city policy is when local government limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, often to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and to build trust between immigrant communities and local police. According to the complaint, the four cities are refusing to hold individuals for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless presented with a criminal warrant signed by a judge. The cities also restrict the sharing of information about individuals immigration status and deny ICE agents access to local jails unless a court order is provided, the lawsuit alleges. Federal officials claim these measures have already led to the release of individuals arrested for domestic violence and theft, despite ICE detainers. The federal government is asking the court to strike down the sanctuary city policies and block the cities from enforcing them. City leaders argue that their policies are about protecting residents rights and ensuring equal treatment under the law. The four mayors have come out strongly challenging the premisee of the lawsuit, denying that their polices pose a danger. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, who declared Hoboken a Fair and Welcoming City in his first act as mayor in 2018, issued a strong rebuttal to the lawsuit. The City of Hoboken will vigorously work to defend our rights, have our day in court, and defeat the Trump Administrations lawlessness, Bhalla said. To be clear: we will not back down. Calling the lawsuit absurd, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also defended his citys stance. Nothing in our policies prevents law enforcement from doing their jobs, Baraka said. What we refuse to do is turn our city into an arm of federal immigration enforcement, which the courts have already ruled is not our role. Baraka also pushed back against claims that sanctuary policies compromise public safety, calling such accusations not only offensive but outright false. He emphasized statistics that show immigrants are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators and said there is no evidence that sanctuary policies make communities less safe. In fact, Baraka noted, weve reduced homicides by 61 percent since I became mayor. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh echoed that sentiment, calling the lawsuit a frivolous lawsuit and a flagrant affront to the rule of law. We will not be intimidated, and we will fight this egregious attempt to score political points at Patersons expense, he added. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a post on X: Jersey City gets sued for being a sanctuary city I guess MAGA ran out of conspiracy theories for the week." Here is the truth: Jersey Citys policies protect families, reflect our values and have led to record low crime rates. As governor, I wont be bullied. Well fight this and win. Both Baraka and Fulop are running for the Democratic nomination for governor in the June 10 primary. Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, also criticized the lawsuit. Over the last few months, the federal government seems dead-set on defining itself by how many fights they can pick with New Jersey, Torres said. Unfortunately for them, our state leaders dont take kindly to bullying. Now is the time for New Jersey leaders to stand up in defense of immigrant communities, who make up nearly a quarter of the state, Torres added. Its time for New Jersey to show the rest of the country what resistance to authoritarianism looks like. In New Jersey, local law enforcement are not allowed to stop, question, arrest, search or detain an individual on sole suspicion of being undocumented under whats known as the states Immigrant Trust Directive. Its an order from the State Attorney Generals office and one of the stated intents of the law is to establish that undocumented people can come forward with crime reports without fear of being deported. The state Attorney Generals Office said Friday that the directive has already been previously held up in court. State Attorney General Matthew Platkins office noted that the state is not named in the lawsuit. The Third Circuit has already upheld the States Immigrant Trust Directive, which ensures that our police officers can effectively tackle violent crime, gun violence, and drug trafficking, while ensuring that victims and witnesses can safely come forward to report crimes regardless of their immigration status, the office said in a statement. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on the case. A 50-year-old New York man who is a member of an organized crime ring stole $12,000 from an Essex County resident by impersonating the victim after stealing their mail, authorities allege. Xuan Jin is part of a group that stole mail from a Fairfield resident and then posed as the victim to withdraw money from the persons account, township police said. The thefts took place on consecutive days in late November of last year, Fairfield police said. Based in New York City, the crime ring targets members of the Asian community by stealing mail containing banking information, according to Fairfield police. Jin, 50, of Flushing, New York, is charged with identity theft, forgery and theft. He is being held at the Essex County jail following his arrest by the New York City Police Department and extradition to New Jersey. Attorney information wasnt immediately available. We strongly urge people to grab their mail once they know it has been delivered to try and protect themselves, Fairfield police spokeswoman Stacy Chiarolanza said. While this crime was specific to the Asian community, anyone can be a victim. It is also good practice to drop all outgoing mail directly into a USPS box or directly to the post office. Leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox with your flag up is a dead giveaway to criminals that are looking to steal mail. Fort Lee Police, the NYPD and the Rockland County (N.Y.) Intelligence Center assisted Fairfield police in the investigation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A former case manager with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency was sentenced to prison for possession and transporting child sexual abuse material, officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Trent Collier, 58, of Kearny, was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession and one count of transporting child sexual abuse material, authorities said. Authorities met Collier at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sept. 28, 2021, after he returned from the Dominican Republic and searched his cell phone, authorities said. Investigators found at least two images of child sexual abuse on the phone and Collier later admitted that he sent child sexual abuse images to at least one other person using the phone, officials said. Collier told authorities that the person also sent child sexual abuse material to him as well, officials said. Authorities found multiple videos of child sexual abuse on Colliers phone after a more thorough search, including videos showing the sexual exploitation of toddlers, officials said. In an indictment from 2022, Collier was accused of trying to recruit, entice, harbor, transport (and) solicit a child for the purpose of commercial sex in the U.S. Authorities said Collier tried to recruit the child from June 19 to Sept. 29, 2021. In addition to his prison sentence, Collier must also serve five years of supervised release, authorities said. An attorney for Collier did not immediately return a request for comment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. A former U.S. Marine who wrote online threats about plans to kill white people at a New Jersey grocery store and gym has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. Joshua Cobb, 24, of Hamilton, will also be subject to three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said Thursday. In court papers, federal investigators detailed threats Cobb wrote on social media, statements he made to federal agents, and content found on his cellphone, which investigators seized in April 2023. He mentioned two possible attack locations, a Jersey Strong gym and an Aldi grocery store in Robbinsville, and said he had access to guns and the willingness to kill a lot of people, authorities said. In a December 2022 post in which he threatened white people, Cobb also wrote that the attack would occur in New Jersey in 2023. He said the date would be, close to an important holiday to their race. I have a location in mind already which I have frequented for the past year and I am certain nobody there is armed to be able to stop me from spraying them to the ground. Cobb went on to write white men and women in New Jersey, get ready. You are going to feel my pain very (expletive) soon. I put that on my life. From here on out I dont want to talk, my rounds are going to, after they exit the back of all your heads. Get ready New Jersey. The devil is coming. Cobb joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2023 and began basic training in June of that year. He was stationed in California until his discharge in May 2024 when the U.S. Marine Corps learned about this case from law enforcement. From February to May 2023, Cobb used the online name ldayUsuffer to post critiques of federal gun laws. He also described torturing cats, divulged his own mental illness, and spoke of the struggles of being a young Black man from poverty. Cobb pleaded guilty last year to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Former MLB outfielder/first baseman Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds for damages after he sustained a career-ending injury while crashing into an uncovered tarp roller. The incident happened at Great American Ballpark two years ago while Ruf was playing first base for the Brewers 5-4 win over the Reds on June 2, 2023. Ruf was chasing a foul ball when his knee hit the end of the tarp roller. This didnt need to happen, Ruf said in a statement. I wish it didnt happen. Players shouldnt have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major league field. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday Thursday in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas. Per the complaint, Ruf suffered permanent and substantial deformities to his knee. Ruf went on the 60-day injured list and never played in the major leagues again. Ruf split the 2023 season, the last of his career, between Milwaukee and the San Francisco Giants, were he had also spent the 2020-2022 seasons. His time in San Francisco was broken up by a stint in New York in the second half of the 2022 season when the Giants traded him to the Mets in exchange for J. D. Davis,Carson Seymour, Nick Zwack and Thomas Szapucki. (The Associated Press contributed to this report.) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com. A young man was charged with committing lewd acts in a building at Middlesex College, authorities said. The same suspect was charged with similar offenses at Rutgers. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media A 21-year-old Middlesex County man was charged with committing lewd acts in a building at a community college earlier this month, officials said. The suspect, who resides in South Brunswick, was charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and three counts of lewdness, officials with the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said. On May 9, the Middlesex College Police Department received a report of a man performing lewd acts in the lobby of a campus building in Edison, authorities said. Surveillance recordings showed the man performing lewd acts near students on two other occasions, officials said. The man was arrested on May 19 and is currently being held at the Middlesex County Correctional Facility after a detention hearing Thursday, officials said. The same man was previously arrested and accused of similar incidents at Rutgers University that resulted in criminal sexual contact charges in December 2024, authorities said. Authorities did not say whether the man was a student at either Middlesex College or Rutgers. An attorney for the suspect did not immediately return a request for comment, and a spokesperson for Middlesex College did not immediately return a request for comment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. A Monmouth County man was indicted on charges he ran over a 19-year-old earlier this year and left him to die, officials with the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said. Dominic Allen, 23, of Millstone Township was charged on March 19 with second-degree vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash. Asbury Park police responded to the area of Stratford Avenue between Fisher and Myrtle Avenues at 4:02 p.m., on Feb. 11 for a report of someone hit by a vehicle, authorities said. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla presented petitions with 5,000 signatures to Port Authority officials Thursday demanding more frequent off-peak and weekend service. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal In an effort to demand more frequent off-peak and night PATH service, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla delivered a 5,000 signature petition to Port Authority officials on Thursday. Bhalla, who waved the petition papers as he spoke to agency commissioners on Thursday, led a parade of riders dissatisfied with waits of 20 and 40 minutes between trains. Service hasnt kept up with growth of riders in Hudson and Essex County, commuters said. The U.S. State Department is warning people not to travel to certain islands in the Philippines, and "exercise increased caution" when traveling the island nation. Canva/Katherine Rodriguez If youre planning a trip to this island destination in Southeast Asia, you might want to take note that there are some islands in the country where you should not travel. The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory to the Philippines, warning travelers not to travel to certain islands due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism. The advisory also noted that in other parts of the country, travelers should exercise increased caution. Heres what you need to know if you still plan on traveling to the Philippines. What does the latest travel advisory to the Philippines mean for you? Item Detail Start Date May 8, 2025 Whats changing Updated travel advisory suggesting Americans exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping. The advisory also says do not travel to The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping, as well as Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest. What will happen? Travelers should monitor local media and avoid demonstrations and crowds. Who will it affect? Travelers to the Philippines The agency gave a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory to the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping, noting that some areas have increased risk. The State Department especially warned people not to travel to at least two different islands in the Phillipines. This advisory is for The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping, as well as Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest. What is the highest travel advisory? There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4. This travel advisory for the Philippines is a Level 2 concern for the entire area, and Level 4 for at least two islands. When planning a vacation, you should check the current travel advisory for that destination. So, which level is the most concerning? Level 1 : Exercise Normal Precautions This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit. Level 2 : Exercise Increased Caution There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution. Level 3 : Reconsider Travel There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination. Level 4: Do Not Travel This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency. What should travelers to the Philippines do in light of this travel advisory? The U.S. State Department warns travelers who are planning to travel to the Philippines to do the following: Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans. Avoid demonstrations. Buy insurance before you travel One of the suggestions from the State Department is to get travel insurance before traveling to a country with a high-level travel advisory. The State Department recommends medical evaucation insurance, travel health insurance, and trip cancellation insurance. The State Department also suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency and prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations using the Travelers Checklist. You can find out more about the travel advisory to the Philippines on the State Department website. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Donald Trump is a thrice-married convicted felon who cheated openly on all three wives and dragged his children through tabloid scandals. But he has enriched them through his rise to the presidency and two term of corruption schemes, so that makes him a great parent, according to Fox News host Jesse Watters. Not that Watters would know about parenting. After all, Watters cheated on his wife (with whom he had young twin daughters) with a 25-year-old staffer, whom he hit on at first by letting the air out of her tires so he could drive her home. Nevertheless, on Thursday nights show, Watters made a claim about Trump and his kids and set off a wave of laughter on social media. Trump is a great parent, Watters said. Look at his kids. No drinking, no smoking, no tattoos, they are all good looking and successful. OK, lets take those one at a time. Trump is a great parent a proud and public womanizer who has been adjudicated as a rapist, bragged about grabbing women by their genitals, lies dozens of times a day, and on and on? Raising kids is about setting examples, and lets face it, Trump an absentee dad while they were growing up failed in that regard. His children, youll recall, also have been part of charity schemes accused of stealing from a childrens cancer fund and alleged housing fraud. Trump also made creepy comments about dating daughter Ivanka. The Trump kids are so great that they are banned from running a charity due to past fraud, one Twitter/X user posted. Said another: Nothing says good parenting like raising kids who cant operate a charity without getting it shut down. We believe the Trump kids drink occasionally (Baron aside), if not to excess. Dad, of course, is a teetotaler. It appears true as far as we know that aside from an occasional cigar, Trumps kids dont smoke. But Watters left one vice out of his list: drugs. Internet observers snorted at this: They have long asserted that Donald Trump Jr. often appears to be under the influence of some illicit substance. Were not performing a body scan, so well take Watters word that they dont have tattoos which is good, because if they did, Daddy might deport them to a prison in El Salvador, then superimpose gang tattoos on their fingers. Of course, MAGA hero and Signal texting icon Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense who is consumed by the warrior mentality, is covered with them, so which is it: Tattoos are good; or tattoos are representative of gang and criminal mentalities? Watters assertion that the Trump kids are good-looking brought a lot of snickering, although the Trump daughters were left out of the skepticism. Not that were here to appearance shame, but one journalist who makes her living monitoring Fox News tweeted: Eric and Donny Jr. are good looking? Tweeted another: Enlighten me on how Eric Trump is attractive. And, finally: Most of the Trump kids success is based on their father, who has given them jobs in the Trump Organization and allowed them to profit off the presidency yeah, like Hunter Biden, but hundreds of millions of dollars more! Dont bother sending me emails on my looks, MAGA! I dont care what you think: My mom always said Im cute. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of President Donald Trumps biggest MAGA cheerleaders, slammed tech billionaire Elon Musks AI chatbot as left leaning and a spreader of fake news and propaganda in a post on X on Friday. Greene, who has previously described herself a God-fearing Christian, posted a message to her personal account detailing the ways she identifies, with the concluding line May God bless each of you and may God bless America!!! She began her post with the words Im a Christian, an imperfect sinner saved by grade and faith in Jesus, before calling herself a nationalist, mother, business owner and U.S. representative. In the replies to her post, a user tagged Grok, Musks AI available on X, and asked the chatbot if she was really a Christian. Grok responded that Greene herself identified as Christian. But there was a catch: However, her Christian nationalism and support for conspiracy theories, like QAnon, spark debate. Critics, including religious leaders, argue her actions contradict Christian values of love and unity, citing her defense of January 6 and divisive rhetoric. Supporters may see her stances as faith-driven. Grok then went on to say that whether shes really a Christian is subjective, adding her faith appears genuine to her, but public actions create controversy. Marjorie Taylor Greene identifies as a Christian, expressing faith in Jesus and traditional beliefs, like in her 2021 Christmas message. However, her Christian nationalism and support for conspiracy theories, like QAnon, spark debate. Critics, including religious leaders, argue Grok (@grok) May 23, 2025 Greene who has pushed conspiracies such as Jewish space lasers, promoted QAnon theories and supported pardons for Jan. 6 rioters was not too happy with the AIs answer. .@grok the judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform, she wrote in response, tagging the bot directly. When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost, Greene continued. .@grok the judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform. Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda. When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost. https://t.co/R0MYSlp2YI pic.twitter.com/36TtpAKYcp Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) May 23, 2025 Another user with the moniker Groks Handler then asked the bot, ... do her public comments and voting record align with Jesus teachings? Yes or no answer. Grok responded with a simple no. The feud with the Tesla CEOs AI chatbot, developed by his company xAI, comes on the heels of Musks Department of Government Efficiency expanding the use of Grok in the federal government, Reuters exclusively reported on Friday, citing three people familiar with the matter. One person told Reuters that Musk was using a customized version of DOGE to look through data quickly, saying They ask questions, get it to prepare reports, give data analysis. While Musk has called Grok scary smart, the AI bot has posted misinformation on the platform. It recently denied that 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, and blamed it on a programming error, according to The Guardian. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. New Jersey parents could get two more days of paid sick leave to attend their children's school events under a proposed law. Theres a plan in the works in Trenton to give businesses an incentive to grant New Jersey workers more paid time off to attend their kids school events. State law already allows parents to earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave a year, which can be used to attend school-related conferences, meetings or events. A new proposed law in the state Legislature would add an extra two days on top of that. Businesses that give workers the extra time for school events would receive a tax credit. The bipartisan state Senate bill, S172, was proposed by Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic. Its co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex. An identical bill, A126, was proposed in the state Assembly. The legislation was discussed last week in the Senate Labor committee. Many schools schedule teacher conferences, student assemblies, classroom visits, graduations and other events during work hours, forcing parents to either take days off from work or skip attending. The amount of the tax credit for each business would be calculated based on how much the company paid for each employees sick leave. This isnt the first time Polistina has proposed a bill related to giving additional leave time to parents. He co-sponsored a bill, S2978, that would give expanded leave benefits to parents grieving the loss of a child. The legislation was approved by the Assembly but hasnt come to a vote before the full Senate. Polistina said the bill to give parents more paid days off to attend school events is meant to address the difficulties of parenting. Weve heard over the years about the need to try to get parents more involved in childrens education and this is really a bill to try to do that, Polistina said during last weeks Senate Labor committee hearing. Parents have gotten more and more busy and working, trying to take care of their families and just havent been as involved in the education system. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association, a statewide advocacy group, supported the bill. The group appreciates that the legislation supports businesses who are providing that benefit and also incentivize businesses to provide that benefit, said NJBIA lobbyist Elissa Frank. However, New Jersey Citizen Action director Dena Jaborska said the bills implementation needs more clarity and businesses need to be educated about the time workers are already entitled to take for school events. Its confusing to create another layer of policy, she said. The bill was discussed by the committee, but it has not had a full committee hearing yet or been slated for a vote. To become law, it must be approved by both the state Senate and Assembly and be signed by the governor. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jelani Gibson may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Laurence Fox, shown with actor Billie Piper, is charged with sharing an upskirt photo on social media. (Grant Pollard | Invision/AP) Grant Pollard/Invision/AP When last we saw Laurence Fox, he was enthusiastically skipping over the Atlantic Ocean in a MAGA hat to attend President Donald Trumps inauguration then was mocked by the international media when he couldnt get a ticket and had to watch in Kid Rocks hotel room. Wait, you say: Who is Laurence Fox? Hes a so-so British actor the son of another actor, James Fox best known for his role as James Hathaway in the TV drama series Lewis. He basically gave up acting to become a right-wing commentator, activist and unsuccessful candidate for London mayor in 2021, when he collected a humiliating 1.9% of the vote. You see, when you already have family money, you dont need a real job: You can spend your days trolling liberals on social media and sucking up to political heroes like, well, Trump even from nearly 4,000 miles away. And, well, allegedly sharing upskirt photos of female celebrities. Fox is back in court on Friday to face charges that he shared an intimate image of TV star Narinder Kaur without her consent on social media. Fox allegedly posted the image on Twitter/X in April 2024. Kaur appears on Good Morning Britain and GB News. She has waived her legal rights to anonymity to help prosecute the case. Fox, 46, has denied the allegations. He is charged with two counts under the Sexual Offenses Act 2003. He was released on bail. According to the BBC: Upskirting, taking pictures of people under their clothes without their permission, became a specific criminal offense in 2019. Offenders found guilty of upskirting face up to two years in prison for taking an image or video under somebodys clothing in order to see their genitals or underwear. It is also against the law to share upskirting photographs taken by other people. Police said the person who took the original photograph of Kaur has not yet been identified. In 2023, Fox was fired from his role as a host on GB News after an on-air rant about a female journalist which sounds about right. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today toNJ.com. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced backlash on social media over two words. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing backlash from social media users in response to a two-word post released Thursday night. In the post to her official government account on X, Noem wrote Suck it and attached a court order that dismissed a lawsuit filed early March by detained 10 migrants against her department. Many in the group who came from Venezuela, Afghanistan and other countries were set to face deportation to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Suck it pic.twitter.com/8ruAeJSum2 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025 The attached screenshot indicates that seven immigrants were already deported from the United States, rendering their claims moot, and the three others no longer wish to continue litigating this case. Defendants have not filed an answer or a motion for summary judgment. Therefore, Plaintiffs hereby voluntarily dismiss this action, without prejudice, the notice reads. Critics were quick to condemn Noem for her post, with one user calling it quite embarrassing. There might be a way for you to demonstrate less class, dignity, professionalism, and how unqualified for your role you are --- but Ill be damned if I can think of what it is, another user wrote. The Intellectualist, a liberal online discussion group and page, added on X: The fact that a senior government official is publicly behaving this way is a stark indicator of the United States accelerating decline. Another user posted that Noems vile behavior does not have to be accepted or normalized. ...We *must* resolutely oppose it, to preserve our own sense of the dignity these offices should carry, the user continued. A reminder: we do NOT have to accept this kind of vile behavior, we *must not* normalize it and we *must* resolutely oppose it, to preserve our own sense of the dignity these offices should carry. https://t.co/56pSyTwhQ4 Rick Petree (@RickPetree) May 23, 2025 A user also implored on the American public to WAKE UP! Every day they give me an opportunity (sometimes multiple opportunities) to say it again-they are the worst of us. And folks, unless we start making our voices heard, this nation will be remade in their horrible image, they wrote on X. The American Civil Liberties Union, a nonprofit civil rights organization, filed the lawsuit in an attempt to block President Donald Trumps administration from deporting the migrants to a U.S. naval base in Guantanamo. It argued that deportation would violate federal immigration law by transferring detainees and creating fear without a credible reason. Cracking down on illegal immigration was the anthem of Trumps campaign, and it is the issue where he has the greatest support. He has followed through by implementing some of the hardest-line immigration policies in the nations history, even as the promised mass deportations have yet to materialize. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. FILE - Cindy White looks over the devastation inside her home caused by Hurricane Helene, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek, File) AP In the presidential election, Donald Trump won North Carolinas 16 electoral votes thanks to 2,898,423 voters who pulled the lever for him with many believing that he would deliver billions of dollars of federal aid to help them recover from devastating Tropical Storm Helene. On Friday, he told them and the 2.7 million voters who chose Democrat Kamala Harris and millions more residents to fend for themselves: His administration denied another of the states request for tens of millions of dollars in needed aid. More than 100 people died as Helene tore through western North Carolina in September, destroying homes, businesses and roadways. The storms record-breaking devastation totaled $59.6 billion in damages and recovery needs. Recovery has been slow in parts of the region as some hard-hit mountain towns still appear ravaged by the storm nearly eight months later. In the days immediately after the storm and before the election, Trump regularly criticized efforts by the Biden administration to help the state, and he often lied about the number of FEMA agents already on the ground and whether they were playing politics. Trump claimed without evidence that the Biden administration and North Carolinas Democratic governor were going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas. And Trump adviser Stephen Miller said President Joe Biden failed to evacuate or rescue U.S. citizens, just like you failed in Afghanistan. That led many voters to believe that Trump would bail them out. Instead, Trump has turned his back on them, with DOGE recommending the dissolution of FEMA. The agencys acting chief, David Richardson, announced plans to shift disaster recovery responsibilities to states for the upcoming hurricane season. Gov. Josh Stein has called on the federal government to reform the agency but not to get rid of it, which he reiterated during his budget proposal announcement Monday. In a letter to state officials, Richardson wrote that the states request for the federal government to pay for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance for an additional 180 days under major disaster ... is not warranted. Last fall, Biden approved major disaster declarations for Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, allowing survivors to access funds and resources to jumpstart their recovery immediately. FEMA and other federal agencies, along with private businesses and nonprofit and faith-based organizations, responded to the disaster in at least seven states, from Florida to Virginia. Biden approved more than $930 million for North Carolinas Helene relief in 2024, which included $450 million for individual assistance (housing and other needs), $380 million for public assistance, and $100 million for emergency road and bridge repairs. The Trump administration recently denied extending 100% federal cost sharing, shoving more costs on to the state. Biden warned that Project 2025 would dismantle FEMA and the national weather services that warned residents of approaching storms. Trump disavowed any knowledge of Project 2025, but his administration is using as the playbook to destroy the federal government as the courts intervene. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today toNJ.com. Vice President JD Vance told the New York Times that his faith guides him in his politics, but the administration's policies make him a hypocrite, author Tim Miller says. TNS Bulwark writer and former Republican adviser Tim Miller did what many would not slog through an hourlong interview by long-winded New York Times columnist Ross Douthat of pompous, arrogant and condescending Vice President JD Vance and provide an annotation. Donald Trumps right-hand man and MAGA heir apparent, Vance bobs and weaves, trying to justify his Catholicism in the wake of administrations policies that are jailing innocent immigrants and sentencing the poor to more severe impoverishment and Miller, who dissects the chat line by line, comes to one conclusion: Vance is an unbelievable bullsh-tter. When Douthat whose questions are too long and follow-ups too weak asks how Vances Catholicism (and Christianity) affects his politics and his work as vice president, Vance insists that he is inspired to provide Americans with the dignity of work and a good wage. Douthat fails to press the obvious, but Miller points out that Trump, Vance and the GOP are trying to pass possibly the most regressive tax policy in American history, which would devastate working Americans at the expense of enriching the wealthy. Vance would be a co-conspirator in the cutting of Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP and other safety nets while handing tax cuts to the wealthiest. Wheres the evidence of his Christianity, Miller asks but Douthat doesnt. When asked about the administrations immigration policies which have been excoriated by the Pope, the head of Vances religion Vance insists that large scale immigration destroys social solidarity. Again, Douthat lets him off the hook, but Miller asks: If you crave unity, how do you explain your behavior in dividing the country by attacking childless cat ladies, by lying about immigrants eating pets, by attacking Harvard University, the media, law firms and other aspects of American life? Is this the way to get cohesion? Miller asks. Vance then makes the most preposterous claim of the interview that U.S. communities with large immigrant populations are suffering pre-modern brutality in staggering crime and violence. Douthat doesnt ask Vance to define pre-modern brutality are people being stoned, hacked with primitive weapons, slaughtered with broadswords? And when Vance is pressed on why such large-scale barbaric violence hasnt been reported or caught on video or found in crime stats, Vance insists its because immigrants wont report these crimes. Miller, however, points out that reported or not, the dead bodies would be piling up. Vance, of course, isnt asked to name where this is happening. When Vance is questioned about shipping legal immigrants to foreign prisons, he says hes not familiar with every case, but of the cases hes asked about, I feel quite comfortable with what is happening. Again, Douthat doesnt press him to name the cases he is familiar with, or what he has found out about the cases when he has investigated deeper. Miller says what most non-MAGA people would: I dont believe him. If Vance really is affected by his faith and isnt using it as a prop, there likely will come a time when he will look back on what hes done and he wont be comfortable, says Miller, who wonders if that time will be when according to his faith Vance is judged by God. There will be no bullsh-tting then. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today toNJ.com. Three men who stole almost $1 million worth of cars across New Jersey are headed to prison, authorities said. Tikeem Shearin, 19, Carlos Espinal, 20, and Sincere Sims, 21, all of Newark, have each received five-year state prison sentences, the Union County Prosecutors Office said in a statement on Thursday. They previously pleaded guilty to second-degree leader of an auto theft trafficking ring. A 16 and 17-year-old involved in the theft ring were both sentenced to three years in juvenile detention. The sentences were handed down on April 30 and May 9. Arrests in the theft ring came in September of last year following a four-month long investigation. The two teens participated by driving around in stolen Kia, Honda and Hyundai vehicles, searching for higher-end cars to steal, authorities said. They would then break into homes to steal key fobs and take off in the stolen luxury cars, officials said. The three adult men then directed the teens to people who were interested in buying the cars, prosecutors said. The luxury vehicles stolen included BMWs, Audis, Land Rovers and Mercedes-Benz models. Nearly $1 million worth of cars were stolen in the elaborate theft ring, authorities said. The thefts occurred in 16 towns and cities across six New Jersey counties. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. New Jersey State Police Trooper Christopher Bird will not be criminally charged following a police pursuit in Warren County in 2024 that left a motorcyclist dead. Photo Courtesy of New Jersey Attorney General's Office A state trooper involved in a police chase crash in Warren County that left a motorcyclist dead last year will not be criminally charged, a state grand jury ruled Tuesday. New Jersey State Police Trooper Christopher Bird began following a gray SUV on Rt. 80 in Hope Township at 10:19 a.m. on Aug. 13, 2024, and activated his lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle, according to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. The driver of the SUV, Sean B. Mamakas, 33, of Kempton, Pa., fled east on the right shoulder of the interstate at high speed and Bird began pursuing him, the office said. Mamakas took Exit 12, exiting onto County Road 521 south in Hope Township. Around 10:20 a.m., Mamakas passed a car on the left in an oncoming lane of traffic in the area of Dogwood Road before he merged back into the southbound lane and hit a motorcycle driven by Michael J. Ceddia, Jr., 76, of Hackettstown, investigators said. Ceddia was ejected from his motorcycle and Mamakas SUV went off the road and came to a stop in a wooded area, authorities said. Ceddia was pronounced dead at the scene. Mamakas was taken to Hackettstown Medical Center for medical evaluation and later released into police custody, the office said. The Warren County Prosecutors Office handled the Mamakas investigation and in March, a Warren County grand jury indicted him on charges of aggravated manslaughter, death by auto, eluding, aggravated assault, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, officials said. The case against him is ongoing. The attorney generals office also released footage of the pursuit including body-worn camera and a mobile video recorder related to the fatal crash. State law requires the attorney generals office to investigate the death of a person who is killed during an encounter with police. The actions of the officer are then reviewed and include interviews of witnesses, collection of forensic evidence, review of video footage, and autopsy results from the medical examiner. The findings of the investigation are then presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved. The jury decided that Bird should not be criminally charged, the office said. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. The forecast for Memorial Day weekend finally includes a break from the dreary streak of rainy days in New Jersey. AccuWeather.com The rain-soaked stretch of New Jerseys dreary weather is expected to come to an end just in time for Memorial Day weekend, long considered the unofficial start of summer. Temperatures, however, will remain below normal with highs in the 60s to around 70 degrees. Scattered showers are possible Thursday evening, tapering off by midnight. Friday will bring northwest winds increasing to around 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. A chance of afternoon showers exists, particularly in the southern regions. The Memorial Day weekend forecast shows improving conditions with more sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures. Saturday will be breezy with highs mainly in the 60s. Sunday is expected to be slightly warmer with temperatures reaching the lower 70s. Overnight lows will remain in the 40s. Looking ahead, a weak low-pressure system may bring a chance of light rain to southern New Jersey by Tuesday night and Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to remain at or below normal through the period. Rip current risk remains high for ocean beaches on Friday, with breaking waves and challenging surf conditions. Beachgoers should exercise caution and monitor local beach advisories through the weekend. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. The Memorial Day weekend forecast for New Jersey calls for improving conditions each day with sun, gradually warmer temperatures and breezy conditions. Monday will be the warmest day of the holiday weekend. National Weather Service UPDATE: Latest forecast for Memorial Day weekend includes some spotty showers The Memorial Day weekend forecast for New Jersey calls for three days of sunny, breezy weather with gradually increasing temperatures in a welcomed break from rainy weather. Temperatures will remain below seasonal averages through the weekend, with highs in the upper 60s to mid-70s. Saturday will be breezy with west-northwest winds gusting up to 25 mph, and theres a slight chance of isolated afternoon showers, particularly in northern areas. Sunday should be slightly calmer with diminishing winds, continued cooler conditions and highs around 70 degrees. The forecast for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday looks mostly dry with the warmest temperatures of the weekend. Highs are expected to reach low to mid-70s, though coastal areas might experience slightly cooler conditions due to sea breezes. As the holiday weekend gets underway on Friday, the forecast calls for northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph and potential morning fog that will likely dissipate by mid-morning. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory for Ocean County through 2 p.m. today, with potential flooding in back bay areas like Barnegat Bay. A moderate risk of dangerous rip currents exists for ocean beaches. After the holiday weekend, Tuesday and Wednesday may bring increasing cloud cover and a slight chance of showers, with another weather system potentially approaching from the south. The extended forecast suggests a return to more typical late May temperatures by the end of next week. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. An Orleans Justice Center inmate, who was not one of the 10 to escape last week, is facing new charges and accused of helping the others in th Mary Landrieu represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate from 1997 until 2015. Logo unveiled for 60th anniversary celebration of Xizang Autonomous Region Global Times) 16:21, May 23, 2025 A logo commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region is officially unveiled on May 23, 2025. (Photo/CCTV) A logo marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region has been officially unveiled, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday. According to CCTV, citing the publicity and cultural affairs group of the organizing committee for the 60th anniversary celebration, the design was approved by the committee. The logo features the number "60," formed by a flowing ribbon derived from the Chinese national flag and petals of the Gesang flower, also called happy flowers. The fluttering red flag represents the care and support of the motherland, which has enabled Xizang to flourish over the past six decades. The design incorporates elements such as the Fuxing high-speed train, modern rural communities, wind power, snow-capped mountains and Tibetan antelopes - all emblematic of the remarkable achievements in Xizang's socialist modernization over the past 60 years. The dates "1965-2025" mark the span since the establishment of the autonomous region. Blending the spirit of the Chinese nation with the rich historical heritage of Xizang, the logo uses the red color of the national flag to evoke a festive, vibrant and harmonious atmosphere, CCTV reported. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) A Ukrainian photographer who fled the war in her country to begin a new life in North Devon has been chosen to take part in one of the UKs prestigious international art events. Now living in Ilfracombe, fine art photographer Olga Vynnyk has had an example of her work selected for the London Art Biennale 2025 at Chelsea Old Town Hall, which will showcase work by 350 artists from more than 60 countries. Olgas work A Moment of Eternity, captured while out with the Ilfracombe Walking Group around Lynton and Lynmouth, will be exhibited from July 16 to 20 alongside museum-quality works including painting, sculpture, photography, installation and mixed media. A Moment of Eternity explores themes of time, stillness and resilience, expressed through a poetic and minimalist composition. Above: A Moment of Eternity by Olga Vynnyk The London Art Biennale is a major event on the contemporary arts calendar and is only held every two years, celebrated by the art world for its high curatorial standards and cultural diversity. Originally from Kharkiv in Ukraine, Olga, now aged 43 and her daughter, now 11, had no choice but to leave their country in July 2022 as the Russian invasion continued to cause havoc for civilians. Olga said: It was a very difficult decision, but all the schools in my city closed and my daughter lost the opportunity to study and socialise with her peers. For her safety and future, I decided to leave. I am currently living in North Devon with a sponsor named Fiona an amazing, kind woman. I am very grateful to her: she took us in, surrounded us with care, and helped us overcome difficulties. Thanks to her support, I was able to get back on my feet and return to my work in photography. This was made possible in 2023 when she won a grant from the She Did It! project that invited applications from women in North Devon to develop and present their business ideas. As a winner, she had a professional website created for her at www.olgavynnyk.com and received support to set up her photography business. Above: Olga Vynnyk has been teaching photography at libraries in Holsworthy and Torrington. Credit: Olgas Vynnyk Olga is now self-employed and teaches photography classes, as well as participated in the Photography for Wellbeing project taught in local libraries, which has just concluded in Holsworthy and Torrington. She also volunteers for Trafalgargirls, a large volunteer community in London that supports Ukrainians and Olga teaches photography online via Zoom to Ukrainian women. Closer to home, she volunteers with the National Trust at Arlington Court and says she is honoured to be part of the team that preserves the cultural and natural heritage of the region. Olga said: North Devon has become my second home. The nature here is incredibly beautiful and calming I thank my lucky stars every day that I ended up in such a stunning place. President Donald Trump posted on social media Friday that U.S. Steel will remain in the United States after it forms a "planned partnership" with Nippon Steel, an announcement that sent U.S. Steel's stock higher in Friday trading and was met positively by Northwest Indiana elected leaders. "I am proud to announce that, after much consideration and negotiation, US Steel will REMAIN in America, and keep its Headquarters in the Great City of Pittsburgh," Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday. "For many years, the name, 'United States Steel' was synonymous with Greatness, and now, it will be again." The post continued: "This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy." Trump said that most of the investment would happen in the next 14 months, and described it as "the largest Investment in the History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." The president continued, "From Pennsylvania to Arkansas, and from Minnesota to Indiana, AMERICAN MADE is BACK" and said he would be in Pittsburgh on May 30 for "a BIG Rally." Trump's announcement came at the end of a week during which he received a report from the Committee on Foreign Investment into the United States on Nippon Steel's proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, which had been blocked by then-president Joe Biden last year, and during which the Japanese steelmaker had promised to invest an additional $14 million in the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker, including by building a new steel mill. Trump had said repeatedly on the campaign trail and while in office that he would block the sale of the iconic American steelmaker U.S. Steel, which had also drawn opposition from members of both political parties since it was first announced a year and a half ago. Nippon Steel, which is looking to grow internationally because of a flat domestic market in Japan, more recently made an 11th-hour push to save the deal before it would have owed U.S. Steel a $565 million breakup fee, in the event the deal had not been consummated by June. Earlier this year, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel could partner with U.S. Steel by making an investment and sharing technology, possibly by buying a minority stake in the publicly traded company. He said his administration would look to negotiate with Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel on new terms. Nippon Steel, looking to grow abroad because of Japan's stagnant population, had planned to operate U.S. Steel as a subsidiary headquartered in Pittsburgh since first making a bid in late 2023, after U.S. Steel put itself on the market after getting an unsolicited bid from rival Cleveland-Cliffs. "Nippon Steel applauds President Trump for his bold action to approve our partnership with U.S. Steel. We share the Trump administrations commitment to protecting American workers, the American steel industry, and Americas national security," Nippon Steel spokesman Jack Coster said. "The partnership between Nippon Steel and U. S. Steel is a game changer for U.S. Steel and all of its stakeholders, including the American steel industry, and the broader American manufacturing base." Nippon and U.S. Steel declined to comment on whether the president had approved the proposed $14.9 billion acquisition on the table, which is how several media outlets and investors interpreted the post. He had 15 days to greenlight or reject the deal after the CFIUS review. "President Trump is a bold leader and businessman who knows how to get the best deal for America, American workers and American manufacturing," U.S. Steel said in a statement. "U.S. Steel will remain American, and we will grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel that brings massive investment, new technologies and thousands of jobs over the next four years. U.S. Steel greatly appreciates President Trump's leadership and personal attention to the futures of thousands of steelworkers and our iconic company." United Steelworkers International President David McCall said the union was trying Friday to determine exactly what the president meant with his latest post. "We cannot speculate about the impact of today's announcement without more information," he said. "Our concern remains that Nippon, a foreign corporation with a long and proven track record of violating our trade laws, will further erode domestic steelmaking capacity and jeopardize thousands of good, union jobs." United Steelworkers District 7 Director Mike Millsap said he would not be surprised if the president backtracked from his earlier promises and that Nippon Steel had always planned from the start to keep U.S. Steel's headquarters in Pittsburgh. The union has vehemently opposed the deal, fearing over the long term it will lead to a decline in domestic steelmaking. "If he's allowing the deal, it's very disappointing to us. We think jobs will be lost down the road," Millsap said. "He campaigned that he wouldn't let this happen. He said he would kill this deal if he was president." Nippon Steel has pledged nearly $1 billion in investment in Gary Works, including by relining Blast Furnace No. 14. U.S. Steel said the blast furnace may otherwise have been idled because of the steep $300 million expense of doing the required maintenance. Environmental groups have urged Nippon Steel to consider an alternative investment in new technology that would not prolong the life of the coal-burning furnace, a significant producer of carbon emissions. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said it's critical to maintain American control over domestic steel production to ensure the long-term sustainability of mills like Gary Works and the Midwest Plant in Portage. From the very beginning of this proposed acquisition, I was steadfast in voicing serious concerns about the implications of foreign ownership particularly Nippon Steels record on trade practices and the critical importance of preserving American control over our steel production, which is vital to our national security," he said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. In the months since, as the Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, Ive listened closely to the many voices raised across the political spectrum, including from the prior administration and the Trump Administration. It is clear that this unified front of concern and advocacy played a crucial role in shaping the terms, incentives, and safeguards now in place." Mrvan's office did not elaborate on terms of a deal, but he reiterated that the federal government must monitor Nippon Steel to ensure it makes good on its promises. Thanks to this persistent and bipartisan pressure, we are in a stronger, more secure position today than we were at the time of the initial announcement," Mrvan said. "But let me be clear: this is not the end of our oversight. Nippon Steel must be held to every promise made from promises to the hardworking steelworkers of Northwest Indiana and the City of Gary, to the economic and strategic interests of the United States. We will not hesitate to act if those commitments are broken. U.S. Senator Todd Young, R-Indiana, described the deal as "historic." "This is a huge win for Hoosier workers and the American economy. I commend the President, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and administration officials for carefully considering all aspects of this situation and conducting an impartial review, as I previously called for," he said in a Friday afternoon statement. "This is a big day for American manufacturing." Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward said the approval of the investment would benefit steelworkers. President Trumps engagement in the Nippon/U.S. Steel acquisition has not only made this the largest steel merger in recent history, but will position the American steel industry to dominate the global marketplace through innovation," she said. "This $28 billion deal will sustain and create a combined total of 25,500 jobs and keep U.S. Steel where it belongs in western Pennsylvania." Gary Mayor Eddie Melton lobbied for Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel because of the promised investment in Gary Works. He said Nippon Steel would maintain steelworker jobs and had addressed national security concerns. "I am extremely pleased to hear President Trump's announcement confirming that U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel will have a partnership in the United States," he said. "This transformational transaction ensures steel jobs will remain in America and directly impacts thousands of families in our region." Kari Lake Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Van Hollen have blasted Kari Lakes decision to partner Voice of America and Office of Cuba Broadcasting with One America News. They believe the alliance with OAN has the potential of turning the federal networks into propaganda channels similar to the Kremlins RT and Chinas Xinhua News Agency. In their May 22 letter to Lake, senior advisor at the US Agency for Global Media, and Victor Morales, acting CEO, the Senators note that OAN falsely alleged widespread fraud after the 2020 elections, defamed Capitol Police Officers in the aftermath of the January 6 assault on the Capitol, and launched partisan attacks against former officials to deflect fair criticism from the Trump Administration. The idea that this type of partisan content could appear on VOA or OCB disrespects these institutions and their staff, they wrote. It also sends a message to the world that VOA and OCB and the political party that OAN aligns its contents with are one entityan utterly dangerous proposition for our democracy and stature in the world. They want Lake and Morales to terminate USAGMs partnership with OAN, to protect the editorial independence of the federal networks, and to restore Voice of America without delay. ARRABAWN Tipperary Co-Operative Society has announced the appointment of a new CEO. Following a competitive process, experienced dairy processing executive Eamon OSullivan, a native of Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co. Cork, will take over from long-time CEO of the former Arrabawn Co-Op and founding CEO of Arrabawn Tipperary, Conor Ryan. Mr OSullivan will take up the post in the autumn. Mr OSullivan, who grew up on the family dairy farm in Cork, now lives on the farm with his wife Margaret and their four children, where they together manage a beef enterprise. He has a 30-year track-record of delivering benchmark results, with particular expertise in growth strategy and transformation, people leadership, change management, supply chain and sustainability. He spent the last five years of his career as General Manager of the dairy division of Dairygold Co-Operative Society Ltd and prior to that was Chief Operating Officer at Novartis International Pharmaceutical Branch Ireland based in Ringaskiddy Cork. He is also a former Supply Chain Director at Dairygold and Head of Chemical Operations Supply Chain at Novartis. Eamon started his career with SmithKline Beecham where he took up positions of increasing responsibility, including a number of years managing their Australian factory and subsequently becoming operations director for the Africa/Middle East region. He graduated with a Business Studies Bachelors Degree at the University of Limerick, majoring in Agricultural Economics, and completed a Business Studies Masters Degree, majoring in Strategy and Competition, at University College Cork. He also holds a Green Certificate in agriculture and other relevant professional certifications. READ NEXT: Tipperary ETB appoint Templemore woman as new Chief Executive Commenting on his appointment, Arrabawn Tipperary Chairman Edward Carr said, As a board and interview panel, weve conducted a very thorough process for our successor to Conor Ryan and we are delighted today to confirm that Eamon has accepted the role. Eamon has a comprehensive track-record in the dairy and multi-national sector. He will bring the requisite experience and expertise to the role to carry on Conors great work as we transition this newly merged entity to one of Irelands largest and most successful dairy processing and agri foods businesses. Its an exciting time for Arrabawn Tipperary as we advance this newly formed entity but Eamons mix of strategy, people and technical skills, together with his deep industry knowledge, is the right fit to take us on this journey over the coming months and years. The Chairman added, I want to take the opportunity also now to thank Conor Ryan for his incredible stewardship of the co-op over the past 20 years. During that time, he has taken the co-op on a remarkable growth journey that included the acquisition of Dawn Dairies, a huge investment programme to create one of the countrys leading processors, complete with a thriving dairy, food ingredients and agri business and, most recently, the merger of Arrabawn with Tipperary Co-op. Mr OSullivan stated, Im really excited at the prospects of taking up this post at Arrabawn Tipperary Co-Op. The merger of the two last year was a natural and promising coming together of two neighbouring co-ops with so much more than geography in common. The new co-op is ambitious, and I completely share the excitement around the opportunity that lies ahead for it and its members. At the same time, I acknowledge that there will be challenges along the way as this is a fast-changing industry, but the right level of strategic planning, people management and, of course, a continuing pursuit of excellence will ensure the success of the business. He added, Im very much looking forward to taking up the post and working in partnership with the board, with Conor until his retirement later this year, the wider leadership team, employees and, indeed, the wider co-op membership. Its a superb time to be coming on board and Im very confident about the journey ahead. Arrabawn Tipperary Co-op, which has a combined history of over 200 years in dairying, is owned and controlled by over 4,800 members. More than 1,400 farmers across 16 counties, supply 750 million litres of milk annually with projected annual turnover of in excess of 700 million. The new co-op comprises two primary ingredient manufacturing facilities at Nenagh and Tipperary, processing almost 900 million litres of milk products annually; 15 agri trading stores, including flagship facilities at Nenagh, Tipperary Town and Athenry; one of Irelands leading feed brands, Dan OConnor Feeds and French based cheese production facility, Tippagral. READ NEXT: Long-serving Parish Priest in Offaly to retire as Bishop announces clerical changes Hundreds of job seekers from all over the Midlands are expected to attend the fourth annual Offaly Job Fair organised by Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce taking place on Saturday, June 14 next. The event, which will be held in the Tullamore Court Hotel, was officially launched at an informal function in the Tullamore DEW Distillery and Visitor Centre on Friday afternoon last. Caroline Collins, President of Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce, paid tribute to the body's partners, Offaly Local Development, Offaly Local Enterprise Office, Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board, Offaly County Council and the Technical University of the Shannon, who are again co-hosting the fair. The Offaly Job Fair has the capacity to cater for approximately 50 businesses - both Chamber members and non-members - who will be able to meet with potential future employees and inform them of their vacancies on the day and on the Chamber's website. READ NEXT: Move to boost energy efficiency by Offaly County Council The event is being heavily marketed to attract job seekers, especially those leaving our county each day on long commutes. Application forms and more details on the fair are available on the Chamber web-site: www.tullamorechamber.com or by contacting 057 9323698 or info@tullamorechamber.com. "We welcome organisations both as sponsors and exhibitors. Participants fees are based on the size of your business and weve endeavoured to keep this to a minimum," said the Chamber President. The fair takes place on Saturday, June 14, from 10.30am and 3.00 pm. THE Chairman of Offaly IFA, Pat Walsh, was among the farming organisation's members who took part in the "flash action" protest outside the European Commission office in Dublin on Tuesday last. This event was to coincide with the European Commissions Annual Budget Conference. The challenges around the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are huge with the Commission pushing for a single fund approach, observed Mr Walsh. Meanwhile, IFA President Francie Gorman has called on the Department of Agriculture and Food to maximise all relevant measures within the CAP Simplification Package launched by the Commission recently, and to learn from the lessons of the past. There are a series of proposals within this package, especially those around inspections; derogations; supports for young farmers; and extending financial supports to support regulatory compliance; investment; working capital; and to mitigate adverse climatic events or other catastrophic events (such as animal health diseases or plant pests) that we need to secure to reduce some of the hardship and complexity for farmers, he said. READ MORE: Over 2,700 farmers in Offaly apply for key farm support schemes One of the principal issues which IFA lobbied for, both nationally and in Brussels, was in relation to GAEC-2 (Protection of Peatland & Wetland). Our position was clear: GAEC-2 should be removed from conditionality. We wanted an incentivised approach taken, with greater credit afforded to existing on-farm action, national & EU legislation and agri-environment scheme requirements toward the protection of peatlands & wetlands. Within the Simplification proposals, while the GAEC standard remains, opportunity/flexibility is now provided to Member States to satisfy GAEC-2 requirements. This will be without the need for additional practices for farmers, and for an incentivised approach, by removing baseline requirements from eco-schemes/agri-environmental schemes, to compensate beneficiaries for any cost/lost productivity associated with its compliance, he said. It is imperative that DAFM continue to push for GAEC-2 to be removed. In addition, they should swiftly introduce a dedicated eco-scheme/agri-climate intervention to compensate farmers for the costs incurred and income foregone in relation to implementing (some or all) the GAEC 2 requirements, and investigate if same can be replicated for those on designated lands given false promises of the past, he said. What also cant be lost here is that this is now the second corrective package on the CAP within a single year. This fact should serve as a lesson for the future and shape our discussions. Farmers need policies that are coherent, consistent, meaningful, and implementable, with greater farmer input throughout, but particularly in design stage, he said. READ NEXT: Offalys priorities for post-2027 CAP negotiations are critical These principles must apply not only within the CAP but across wider and all EU policies that impact agriculture. In that regard, we have high expectations for the simplification measures already announced outside the CAP framework later in the year, as they too will directly affect the sector. Finally, future simplification efforts must not undermine the common nature of the CAP or open the door to uncontrolled renationalisation. That would would mark the end of CAP as we know it, both in terms of its dedicated budget and two-pillar approach, targeting income support (Pillar 1) and rural development (Pillar 2) measures, he concluded. A MAJOR sterilisation facility in Tullamore which will employ more than 30 people has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala. A number of local residents had objected to the proposal which will involve the construction of a building on a greenfield site on the Clara Road. Synergy Health Ireland Ltd (also known as Steris) got the green light from Offaly County Council in January, 2024. There had been objections on a number of grounds, including the maximum height, which at 22.5m including a flue, will be about twice as high as any building in the neighbouring Axis Business Park. An inspector for An Bord Pleanala said she did not consider the proposed height either oppressive or obtrusive. The general locality from [Srah] to Ballyduff is associated with industrial buildings. The proposed development, in my opinion, will not look out of place, and represents a high quality design and finish, the inspector's report said. Objectors also had concerns about traffic and trucks and the company said there would be about 30 trucks in and the same number out each day. The inspector said she was satisfied traffic impact and safety issues had been adequately addressed by the applicant. She also noted plans for a two-metre wall at the boundary with one resident's site and 500 sq m of woodplanting and an extra five beech trees. The planting will serve to screen the facility form the adjoining residential properties north of the site. It is a condition of the permission that deliveries and loading to and from the site can only take between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am and 2pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays or public holidays. Noise limits have also been imposed. Synergy Ireland already has a plant in the IDA Business Park in Srah. The new development is a sterilisation technology facility which will have 6,726 sq m of floor space, including storage areas and offices. While the central part of the proposed building will be 19.6m high, it will be between nine and 12m high either side. The building is setback 40 metres from the roadside boundary. The building is 141.5m from the dwelling to the north. There is ample separation distance between the building and dwellings on the opposite side of the R420 (Clara Road) which acts as a physical buffer area, said the inspector. In relation to one comment from one of those who appealed against the council's grant of permission, she said: I do not agree with third party description that the proposal is primarily a warehouse and distribution centre. It is primarily a sterilization facility. She added: I am satisfied that a Sterilisation Technology Facility, with ancillary offices, is in keeping with the Business or Technology Park zoning objective of the site. The sterilisation process will be carried out using x-rays and there were concerns about the amount of electricity required. The inspector commented: There are no chemicals used to generate the x-rays used in the sterilization process. The x-rays are produced by the same electricity used to power the homes abutting the facility. The by-product of the process is heat, which will be captured and used to heat the buildings. This will reduce the buildings carbon footprint. The sterilisation process is safe, and there will be no hazardous emissions. READ NEXT: Local residents unite in opposition to proposed sterilisation facility Portumna Mart opened the gates on Wednesday (May 21) with a strict no credit policy in place after a court heard the mart went from being 1.6-million in the red to a surplus of 140,000. The High Court had sanctioned the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to suspend the marts licence last month, but this week the business at the heart of the local farming community returned to operation on Wednesday morning. The PSRA is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the property services sector in Ireland. According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) livestock marts must meet operating standards and animal health standards in order to obtain the required licence needed to permit livestock trading. Senator Anne Rabbitte, who is originally from Portumna, said the reopening of the mart will be welcome news to the entire community. Portumna Mart is the life and soul of this community, it is a huge victory that the mart is reopening. READ NEXT: One Midlands town will receive new talking ATM machines This is a very rural area and Portumna Mart is much more than just a mart to this community it is always a place for people to meet up, it provides a very important social opportunity for people and really is part of the fabric of Portumna. It is also hugely important to the town, particularly for businesses in the town. Weve seen what the lack of a mart has been like when the mart is on it brings people into the town and the impact of no mart has been less people coming into the town, so were delighted to get it back, Senator Rabbitte added. Top federal health officials actively took steps to delay warning the public in 2021 about the potential risks of heart-related complications from receiving mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, a scathing interim report from Sen. Ron Johnson's office alleges. On Feb. 28, 2021 an Israeli Ministry of Health official attempted to contact the CDC and FDA about 40 cases of myocarditis and other heart-related ailments in young people from the Pfizer vaccine, but these agencies waited until late June to make that side effect known... jeopardizing the health of young Americans. Doctors who warned about the potential risks of myocarditis among those who took the vaccine were subject to censorship, suppression or accusations of peddling misinformation. OpEd News One-Time Security Check This Is NOT An Error Message Your site IP address* (5.13.19.111) is listed on one or more Internet blacklists. We get visited by hundreds of these spambots daily. To prevent these from taking resources away from legitimate users, we show this page. Please use the CAPTCHA below which proves you are human, not a spam bot. It's a one-time action** for your IP. After that, you will be able to access OpEd News easily. Thank you for your patience. * Here's more info about IP addresses. ** If your IP address is fixed, you'll be able to use this website from now on. However, if your Internet Service Provider (such as Verizon or T-Mobile) assigns you a different IP address every time you use your device, AND these IP addresses are NOT on an Internet blaclist, then all is good. If, for some strange reason, your ISP assigns you an IP that is blacklisted, then you'll have to go through this process again. (Unless you keep yourself logged in. We only check for spambots on non-logged in visitors.) Whitesboro, Texas - [21st May] - Coursepivot.com, a leading academic support platform, is proud to announce the launch of its enhanced Assignment Help Services Dashboard, created specifically for U.S. college students. With this powerful new system, students can now request, manage, and receive custom academic assignments faster and more efficiently-while enjoying the assurance of original, AI-free work crafted by real subject experts. "As students face heavier academic demands, it's more important Pallavi Pande, owner of Dtocs, prepares a package of her compostable tableware products made from palm leaves at her home on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian After a decade working in logistics, Pallavi Pande wanted to start a company that would bring part of her South Indian heritage to Oregon. Even at weddings, even at cultural experiences, we dont use plates, Pande said. We use banana leaves. Thats a piece of my culture that inspires me. Eugene Weekly's offices are shown in an undated photo. Lane County District Attorney Chris Parosa said he sought authorization from Gov. Tina Koteks staff to bring Elisha Young, 38, back to Eugene from central Ohio where she was arrested May 6 on allegations that she stole from the newspaper. Eugene Weekly The Lane County district attorney this week called out Gov. Tina Kotek for declining to extradite a woman whose alleged yearslong embezzlement from the Eugene Weekly nearly led to its collapse. District Attorney Chris Parosa said he sought authorization from Koteks staff to bring Elisha Young, 38, back to Eugene from central Ohio, where she was arrested May 6. Young faces five counts of felony theft for allegedly stealing from the Eugene Weekly between July 2021 and December 2023. Young had worked at the news organization since 2018 and served as its business manager since 2020, according to longtime editor Camilla Mortensen. Youngs husband tipped off Mortensen to his wifes alleged theft late last year, Mortensen said. The episode decimated the locally owned publication, forcing it to lay off its 10-person staff three days before Christmas and suspend its print edition. A grand jury indicted Young on April 3, according to court records. A spokesperson for the Eugene police said Thursday that financial crimes detectives knew Young had fled to Ohio and coordinated with police in the community of Whitehall to have her arrested. According to Whitehall police Lt. Tanner Williams, police arrested Young on May 6 in the driveway of a home for her warrant out of Oregon, which listed nationwide extradition. She was arrested about 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and booked into the Franklin County Jail, he said. According to Parosa, a paralegal on his staff notified Nicole Townsend, Koteks director of extradition services, at 3:05 p.m. that same day that prosecutors wanted to extradite Young. At 3:34 p.m., Townsend responded, denying the request, Parosa said. He said Townsend suggested that Lane County revise Youngs warrant to reflect extradition would be authorized only if she is picked up in Idaho, Montana or Washington, states in the so-called Northwest Shuttle Program. Oregon has an agreement with those states to shuttle criminal defendants back to the state via vans. This persons not in one of these shuttle states and we have no information or knowledge that they would ever go to one of these states, considering they appear to have set up shop in Ohio, Parosa said. So thats not very helpful. He said his office asked the governors office to reconsider. We put out kind of an appeal to the governors office trying to explain the circumstances and why we wanted this person to be held accountable for this embezzlement and we were told that they were still going to deny the extradition, he said. Parosa said it was the second denial in recent weeks. Koteks office also denied the extradition of a burglary suspect accused of targeting the homes of Asian families in Eugene. The suspect was picked up in Texas, he said. If a person is going to intentionally target a community like the Asian community for criminalization, thats a person that needs to be held to account, he said. And we were denied on that. The Eugene Weekly case sheds light on the little-known bureaucracy within the state government that handles extraditions, which are processed by the governors office. The governors office, not the counties, typically picks up the tab for returning felony defendants to Oregon, a process that involves sending law enforcement officials out of state to accompany a defendant back to Oregon. Generally, the state pays to bring back Oregon defendants in higher-level felonies from anywhere in the country and restricts extradition involving lower-level felonies to nearby states, according to the Washington County District Attorneys policy manual. However, the governors office may make exceptions on a case by case basis and depending on a range of factors, such as whether a sex crime is involved or the defendant is likely to pay substantial restitution, the policy manual states. Koteks office did not respond to a request for data showing the number of extradition requests it receives each year and the number it has denied. Koteks proposed budget calls for additional funding to pay for a deputy director to help review and process extradition requests due to the continued increase in workload in the extradition program. Roxy Mayer, Koteks spokesperson, said Kotek believes that the theft committed against the Eugene Weekly is unacceptable. She understands the importance of the publication to the community and was heartened by the collective action people took to keep it open. Mayer said each request is assessed individually. She declined to provide the guidelines that factor into each decision. The state does not have the financial resources to extradite every fugitive, she said. The budget resources are prioritized to maximize the benefits to public safety. Lane County is free to fund Youngs extradition, she said. Mayer did not respond to a question asking for the estimated cost of returning Young to Oregon. Parosa said given that cost is a factor in the governors decision, he said his office has tried to tighten its extradition requests. Its now getting to a point where you just begin to wonder whether or not this is just an effort to hoist onto local communities the obligation to pay for extradition of all their cases, which we are not funded for, he said. In an interview Thursday, Mortensen said Young is accused of stealing $100,000 to $200,000 but the actual loss is closer to $300,000. A fundraising effort to get the newspaper back on its feet netted more than $200,000 and made it possible to hire most of the staff back and resume publishing six weeks after the newspaper had shut down, she said. Mortensen said a Eugene detective earlier this month let her know Young had been arrested in Ohio. She said she felt relief tinged with regret because this was someone I had actually pretty previously considered my friend, so it sucks to see that, but also like a friend who destroyed the thing that I love most. She said she kept tabs on Youngs custody status and noticed that she had been released from jail. She said she later learned Kotek had denied extradition, allowing Young to go free. Im still in a little bit of a state of disbelief because I realize its not a violent crime, but its a financial crime that didnt just hurt the paper but literally hurt the community, she said. Parosa said for now the case remains in limbo. He hasnt decided whether to limit the warrant to surrounding states. He said he may stick with the nationwide warrant. And if shes picked up anywhere in the country, then we request, once again, the governors office to pay for extradition, he said. Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184 or ncrombie@oregonian.com. The Clark County Sheriffs Office has closed its investigation into the death of Cowlitz Indian Tribe interim police chief Charles Gardiner, saying the fatal shooting was consistent with suicide. There is no evidence of foul play. Someone called 911 on April 23 after finding Gardiner in their home in northeast Vancouver, the sheriffs office said in an earlier statement. Gardiner and the caller got into a brief physical altercation before the tribal police chief fled from the residence. Deputies found Gardiner dead in a car as they searched the surrounding area. A separate investigation found probable cause that Charles Gardiner committed the crimes of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the First Degree, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct, the sheriffs office said in Thursdays press release. Investigators believe the inappropriate relationship had been ongoing for approximately six to nine months. Authorities did not say whether they believed the suspected home break-in and alleged sexual abuse of a minor were connected. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive The city of Portland broke ground on its $2 billion Bull Run water filtration plant near Gresham in 2024. City of Portland The FBI has seized $6.7 million allegedly stolen by online scammers who tricked a city of Portland employee into sending funds meant for a legitimate city contractor. In February, someone posing as a city vendor wrote asking to change payment deposit information for the contractor. A city employee authorized the switch and Portland unwittingly sent $6.7 million to the thieves in March. The money had been intended to pay for work on Portlands $2 billion Bull Run water filtration project. The FBI somehow spotted the phony transaction, according to a lawsuit associated with the case, and stopped the payment. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Portland said Friday that the money had remained in the scammers account and that it recovered those funds in April with a civil forfeiture warrant. This was only possible here because the crime was reported to law enforcement. The most important takeaway for the public is that if you find yourself the victim of a similar scam, do not delay in contacting law enforcement, said Katie de Villiers, head of asset recovery for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Oregon. Authorities must still prove that the money is subject to forfeiture, according to federal authorities. Officials did not say whether they have identified the thieves in this case or whether they have made any arrests. While we anticipate that this process may take several months, we remain confident that all the funds will ultimately be returned to the city of Portland, city spokesperson Carrie Belding said in an email Friday. In response to this incident, the city has taken multiple steps to strengthen the vendor payment process, she wrote. We cannot share specific details, but the focus is on increasing internal controls and training to reduce the risk of future incidents. Update: This article has been updated with comment from the city. -- 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 Former Ashland City Councilor Eric Navickas was arrested May 20, 2025, after an alleged scuffle with the police chief. Ashland City Council Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara arrested former City Councilor Eric Navickas during a council meeting Tuesday, moments after Navickas allegedly objected to the chiefs claim that Navickas earlier public comments were racist. Navickas had spoken at the council meeting to denounce a proposal that would allow police to ban people from specially designated parts of the city if theyve been charged, but not convicted, with certain violations a measure he characterized as a draconian infringement of civil rights. Under Ashland law, the city attorneys office can ask the municipal court to bar people from entering certain areas of the city if theyve been convicted three or more times on certain charges, OMeara said. Under the proposed change to the ordinance, OMeara said police officers would be able to ask the court to ban a person from those zones if theyve been charged three or more times not necessarily convicted. In his comments, Navickas appeared to ask councilors to consider how the ordinance might be abused. This is establishing a very dangerous precedent. Imagine this applied to a community where we have a large minority of, say, Black people, impoverished Black people, who are possibly more engaged in criminal activity, Navickas said. How does this apply to that community? I mean, were an all-white community, but how would this apply to a Black community? Minutes later, Navickas and OMeara were leaving the council chambers the chief trailing behind when OMeara told him the comment had been racist, OMeara later told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Once in the lobby, just outside the chamber doors, Navickas turned and shoved the chief with both hands, accusing him of calling him a racist, OMeara said. The chief then arrested Navickas, with help from a deputy chief who was nearby. The scuffle could be heard in the chambers, interrupting the meeting, footage of the meeting shows. Oh no, City Councilor Gina DuQuenne said as loud sounds drew the councilors attention. What happened? a woman said. He hit him, DuQuenne said. He was being racist. Navickas has been charged in Ashland Municipal Court with misdemeanor harassment and disorderly conduct. OMeara said the case is now in the district attorneys hands. I didnt feel like I needed to refrain from calling out blatant racism when I saw it, OMeara said. His response was to physically attack me. Navickas later acknowledged putting his fingers on OMearas chest. I used both hands, and it was somewhat of a push, Navickas told The Oregonian/OregonLive. He was really in my space at the time. Navickas filed an ethics complaint with Ashlands mayor and city manager Wednesday alleging the chiefs behavior was unprofessional and that he had called his comments racist as an attempt to deflect from legitimate criticism of the proposed ordinance. His comment could have been worded more gracefully, Navickas wrote in the letter, but his intent to bring light to the impacts on racial groups, marginalized people, and the poor was clear. I am not a racist and everything I said is antithetical to racism, he wrote. Navickas served on the city council for one term from 2006 to 2010. He was an unsuccessful candidate for council in the 2024 election. Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com A former sergeant at Oregons only womens prison was sentenced Tuesday to 1 year and 8 months in prison for sexually abusing an inmate. Levi Gray, 47, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct involving a female inmate. He was put on administrative leave the day after the May 23, 2023 assault and no longer works for the Oregon Department of Corrections. Gray had worked for the state prison system on and off since 2010 and had been a sergeant at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility since 2013. He earned nearly $94,000 a year at the time of his suspension. His Aug. 22, 2023, arrest case came amid mounting scrutiny of Coffee Creek following multiple reports of sexual abuse and retaliation against inmates who spoke up. Less than a week before Grays arrest, a state-commissioned investigation found widespread failures in how the prison handled complaints. In response, Gov. Tina Kotek ordered immediate reforms and launched an advisory panel. Grays conviction followed a separate case in which a former prison nurse, Tony Daniel Klein, was found guilty of sexually assaulting nine women at the same facility. His sentencing is scheduled for October. Coffee Creek houses about 850 incarcerated women. Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com The Oregon Department of Justice is reviewing a state police investigation into a Canby police captain who is alleged to have used an infrared thermal-imaging device for deer hunting. Canby Police Department A Canby police captain remains on paid leave while state prosecutors review allegations that he used a police infrared thermal-imaging device during a deer-hunting trip. Capt. Doug Kitzmiller, 50, has been on leave since mid-December after state police initiated a criminal misdemeanor investigation in Clackamas County, according to Canby Police Chief Jorge Tro. Multnomah County Deputy Chad Diekmann talks to boaters on the Willamette River. Matthew Kish | The Oregonian/OregonLive About 45 minutes into a recent patrol, two deputies in the marine unit of the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office pulled up next to three boats tied together near the Willamette Park boat ramp. One flew a pirate flag. This isnt going to work, Deputy Chad Diekmann said to one of the boaters, noting the vessels were anchored about 300 feet from the ramp, where activity will pick up this Memorial Day weekend. It needs to leave sooner rather than later. This year, summer boating season arrives after a busy few months for Diekmann and his eight colleagues in the marine unit. Since April, nine bodies have been recovered in the county from the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Diekmann helped recover four. The sheriffs office has said the majority of the people died from accidental drownings or suicide. It provides closure for people, said Deputy Matt Lucas, another member of the marine unit. Its always someones son or daughter. Multnomah County has about 110 miles of waterways. Theyre patrolled 16 hours a day by the marine unit. Warmer weather inevitably leads to more people in the water and more accidents, including drownings. Last year, four people died in the Willamette and Columbia rivers near Portland, all between June and August. A 71-year-old paddleboarder and a 53-year-old man on a boat werent wearing life jackets when they fell in the water and drowned. A 24-year-old woman died after the inner tube she was riding in slammed into another boat. And a 72-year-old wakeboarder died after his tow rope became tangled and he was struck by the boats propeller. Across the state, 19 people died in boating-related accidents last year, up from 13 the year before. Ahead of the summer heat, Diekmann said the marine unit remains focused on work that keeps waterways clear and safe, including by working with the Oregon State Marine Board to tag and remove derelict vessels. Back at the Willamette Park boat ramp, Diekmann spotted something new. One of the three tied-together boats was an unregistered 14-foot motorized fishing boat that didnt look particularly seaworthy. Diekmann estimated it would cost taxpayers between $7,000 and $10,000 to remove the boat if it sank. He offered to get a tow rope and take it away. Otherwise, itd cost the boaters $250 to register. I can take care of it and save everybody a lot of money, Diekmann said. After a back-and-forth that included a request for Tylenol, the pirate-flagged boaters agreed to move along. As warmer weather draws closer, Diekmann said there will be less time for that kind of proactive work. Summer months will require faster problem-solving as boats run aground, conflicts multiply, and more accidents happen. Right now is when we start to ramp up, he said. In the summer, were reactive. Diekmann and Lucas encouraged boaters and swimmers to keep in mind basic safety advice. Be familiar with the area. Go in groups. Use the buddy system. Moderate alcohol use. More than anything: Wear a life jacket, Diekmann said. About 20 minutes later, on the way back to the marine units office, the pirate ship had floated to the other side of the Willamette River. They already moved, Diekmann said. Help available: If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call or text 988 for 24-hour, confidential support, or visit 988lifeline.org. Matthew Kish covers business, including the sportswear and banking industries. Reach him at 503-221-4386, mkish@oregonian.com or @matthewkish. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Portland Youth Climate Strikers gather on Earth Day at Portland City Hall. From there, the group marched to Pioneer Courthouse Square. A new bill would incorporate climate education into Oregon's academic standards for social sciences, science and health. Beth Nakamura A scaled-back bill to incorporate climate change education into Oregons academic standards won support from a key committee this week and is headed for a vote on the Senate floor. Under the proposal, which Democrats moved out of the Senate Education Committee on a party-line 3-2 vote Wednesday, climate education would be incorporated into the states regularly revised academic standards for science, health, history, geography, economics and civics courses. Earlier drafts of House Bill 3365 were more sweeping and would have required that academic content standards for all core subjects across grade levels including math, world languages and physical education incorporate lessons on the causes and impacts of climate change, along with solutions for navigating a warming planet. That would have been among the most ambitious climate education mandates in the country, following in the footsteps of New Jersey, which adopted similar learning standards in 2020, and Connecticut, where climate change education is required under state law. A network of students and teachers around the state have been working for years to get similar legislation passed, but have run into roadblocks over the costs of teacher training and curriculum updates, along with more existential questions about diluting the focus on academic basics, especially in lower grades. Under the proposal that passed out of committee Wednesday, the State Board of Education would incorporate climate change education as they revise academic standards for the identified subject areas. Science is next due for a revision in 2029 and health in 2030, while new social sciences standards are scheduled to be phased in by 2026. Oregons academic standards lay out what students should know at each grade level. They are set by the state Board of Education and are periodically revised, typically on a seven-year cycle. Schools are then expected to incorporate revisions into classroom teaching, via new curriculum and professional development for teachers. The bill does not currently have any funding attached to it, unlike related legislation that has passed in other states. For example, California, New Jersey, Maine and Washington have set aside money for professional development on climate education. Teachers who helped develop the legislation or have already begun teaching climate literacy say giving students a clear understanding of the environmental stakes is not only an academic imperative, but a moral one. As a school counselor, I often have students in my office suffering from anxiety. They are very worried, angry and feel utterly helpless about the state of the planet, the water supply, pollution, fires, ash in the air, the plight of animals going extinct and about floods and droughts, wrote Brinda Narayan-Wold, a middle school counselor from Eugene, in testimony supporting the bill. [This bill] would allow Oregons publicly educated students to feel less anxious and to talk out loud in age-appropriate and in scientific terms about what climate change is and what can be done about it. Sen. Noah Robinson, R-Cave Junction, who voted against advancing the bill, said he considered the topic of climate change less scientific and more political, and said he was concerned about one-sided classroom discussions. But virtually all climate scientists agree that the planet is warming due to human actions. Leading scientific agencies also agree, though the Trump administration has moved to end federal funding for research into how climate change harms human health. Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com The seven-person board which oversees the state's second largest school district will retain its progressive majority, after an election that saw hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending. Salem-Keizer School District Voters in Salem-Keizer largely supported a slate of progressive school board candidates over their four-person conservative opposition Tuesday in races that drew hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending. Three progressives, sitting Second Vice Chairperson Lisa Harnisch, legal transcriptionist Mel Fuller and incumbent First Vice Chairperson Karina Guzman Ortiz, won their elections to oversee Oregons second largest school district. The fourth race remained too close to call Thursday, although the final progressive candidate, Oregon State student Angelo Arredondo Baca, trailed conservative Jennifer Parker, a disability nonprofit employee. Community for Salem-Keizer Schools, a coalition of groups that included the states farmworker union PCUN, the education advocacy nonprofit Stand for Children and the Salem-Keizer Education Association, supported the progressive candidates. The opposing slate largely received financial backing from the powerful conservative advocacy organization, Oregon Right to Life, and Marion+Polk First, a conservative advocacy group focused on school boards and other local races. Among races that usually draw little spending statewide, Salem-Keizers school board election was notably high dollar, with nearly $375,000 spent across the four seats, according to campaign finance records as of May 23. If Parker keeps her 294-vote lead, the seven-person board, overseeing a district of nearly 40,000 students, will be split with four progressives to three conservatives. If Arredondo Baca closes the gap, the board will be five to two. In Zone 1, sitting member Harnisch fended off Anthony Mitchell, a businessman and Salem-Keizer parent. Returns as of 5 p.m. Thursday showed Harnisch beating Mitchell with about 56% of the vote to 43%. In Zone 5, incumbent Guzman Ortiz overcame a challenge from Jason Kroker, a heavy equipment technician at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Thursdays 5 p.m. ballot drop showed Guzman Ortiz winning with 53% of the vote to 47% for Kroker. The race for control of Zone 7 resulted in Fuller defeating business owner Jeremiah Radka. Returns as of 5 p.m. Thursday showed Fuller beating Radka with 55% of the vote to 45%. Thursdays 5 p.m. returns showed Arredondo Baca and Parker separated by 294 votes in the Zone 3 race, with at least 2,000 more ballots left to count in Marion County, although not all of them will be in the Salem-Keizer School District, County Clerk Bill Burgess said. School board elections are typically low-budget affairs, but most of this years Salem-Keizer candidates received more than $40,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, according to campaign finance records as of May 23. Oregon Right to Life and Marion+Polk First spent more than $185,000 combined on Radka, Mitchell, Kroker and Parker. PCUN, Stand for Children and Community for Salem-Keizer Schools spent more than $115,000 on their four-candidate slate. The costliest single race was Zone 1, where Harnisch fought to keep the seat she was appointed to last year. More than $100,000 was spent on the sitting second vice chairperson and Mitchell combined. Although school board positions are nonpartisan, this is not the first year these two coalitions have warred over the Salem-Keizer School Board. In 2021, after several years of a conservative majority buoyed by Oregon Right to Life, Community for Salem-Keizer Schools put forward a slate of progressive candidates and flipped control. In 2023, significant funding for candidates came from Oregon Right to Life and Marion+Polk First as well as Community for Salem-Keizer Schools. This year, conservative candidates ran on platforms that emphasized career and technical education programs, as well as improving student success in reading, writing, math and science. Safety was also an underpinning of their campaigns, with several calling for the return of police officers to Salem-Keizer schools. The progressive slates priorities included improving literacy rates and creating safe and welcoming learning environments for children. They also emphasized community engagement. Eddy Binford-Ross covers education and local politics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at ebinford-ross@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. This file photo provided by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks shows a sow grizzly bear spotted in northwestern Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks via AP, File Two men were picking mushrooms in Montana when a grizzly bear charged at them, wildlife officials said. They shot and killed her Wednesday near Choteau, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a news release obtained by McClatchy News. The grizzly bear was with her cub when she rushed toward the men, wildlife officials said. The two were still shook up from the encounter when they spoke to the agencys director, Christy Clark, on the phone, according to the release. They told me their story and it was clear it was very traumatic. Whats important here is theyre OK, Clark said in the release. Wildlife officials are now looking for the cub. Grizzly bears are native to Montana, but their numbers have greatly dwindled, wildlife officials said. Because of this, they are protected at a state and federal level, making it illegal to harm, harass, or kill grizzly bears, except in cases of self-defense or the defense of others. These bears have been listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1975 in the lower 48 states. So far in 2025, there have been at least four documented grizzly bear deaths in the state, including this latest death, according to grizzly bear mortality data. A male grizzly was killed by a car May 15 in Gallatin County. Another was wrongly identified and killed April 23 in Carbon County. Before that, a female grizzly died April 11 in Teton County, and its death is still under investigation. What to do if you see a bear Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space. There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack. *Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize youre a human and nonthreatening. *Stay calm: Bears usually dont want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear. *Dont scream: Screaming could trigger an attack. *Pick up small children: Dont let kids run away from the bear. It could think theyre small prey. *Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people. *Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Dont make any sudden movements. *Dont drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection. *Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out. *Again, dont run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would. *Dont climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb. Visit www.thenewstribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A sign prohibits parking except for electric vehicles while charging at a Fred Meyer store in Southeast Portland. Dave Killen / The Oregonian Oregon has joined 11 other states to continue the transition to electric cars and trucks, a day after the U.S. Senate revoked a waiver that allows California to set stronger emission rules that Oregon also relies on for its policies. Several hundred teachers and supporters picket at Portland Public Schools headquarters at the Prophet Education Center in North Portland in November of 2023 during the Portland Public Schools strike. Beth Nakamura Earlier this week, a union representing teachers in the small 1,200-student Coquille School District near the southern Oregon coast told the school district it had authorized a strike. If it comes to that, the Coquille educators will be on the picket line without a paycheck, unable to collect unemployment benefits. But should lawmakers approve Senate Bill 916 this session, it will be a very different situation for future strikes. Teachers, like those in the Coquille district, along with other striking workers, would be eligible to collect unemployment benefits. The bill is backed by unions, who say its a way to prevent employers from forcing workers into signing contracts because theyre desperate for pay. Republicans have argued the bill is likely to make strikes more common. Counties and school districts dislike the proposal because they have to directly reimburse unemployment benefits and they worry paying striking workers would make that more expensive, complicated and time consuming. Superintendents of eight of Oregons largest districts and several groups representing school administrators have written to lawmakers in the last week, urging them to reject the bill. Despite pushback from Republican lawmakers, the House Committee on Labor voted Wednesday to advance the bill to the House floor. Two education advocates told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday that at least a half-dozen House Democrats had raised serious concerns about the bill, complicating its prospects. The bill narrowly passed the Senate in March. To pass the House it would need support from at least 31 lawmakers. Democrats hold 36 House seats, but one member is absent due to illness, and another recently moved to the state Senate, giving supporters of the proposal less wiggle room. If the bill does make it through the House, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has indicated she will sign it. The bill is a priority for the Oregon Education Association and the Service Employees International Union, both historically key Democratic donors. Several other bills that educator union members had prioritized this session are for now languishing in committees given the glum recent revenue forecast, including a bill to make class sizes a mandatory topic of bargaining. That only magnifies the spotlight on the unemployment insurance push. The Oregon Education Association argues that teacher strikes are exceedingly rare it says there have been just eight since the year 2000 and that less than 1% of teacher negotiations result in strikes. Educators strike to advocate for better learning conditions, association lobbyist Cynthia Branger Munoz wrote in testimony to the House Labor Committee. Striking educators not only fight for their students futures but also risk their own financial stability to ensure classrooms are safe, equitable and supportive. But in a joint letter sent on Monday, the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators, Oregon School Boards Association, the Oregon Association of Education Service Districts and the Oregon Association of School Business Officials wrote that the more they learn about the bill, the more theyre convinced it will be harmful to district budgets. The administrators wrote that they dont think teachers are eager to strike, but that Senate Bill 916 would implicitly raise the stakes by removing some risk for unions considering a work stoppage. In the face of an increased risk of strike, districts will be under tremendous pressure to settle contracts that are not financially sustainable, the administrators wrote. Personnel costs are already the biggest part of a districts budget, they added, and the single biggest driver of district cost growth is salary and benefit increases. School districts also have to pay back unemployment benefits, which means that if teachers strike, the district is on the hook for covering their benefit costs. But administrators say the details of how that gets calculated are complex and concerning. If a teacher claims unemployment benefits, it impacts any employer that the teacher had worked for in the past 15 months, administrators wrote in their letter, meaning that if a teacher had recently switched school districts before they went on strike, its possible that both their new and old district would both be charged for the unemployment benefits. It is deeply problematic that a school district navigating their own budget challenges could be billed for the cost of another districts strike, the administrators wrote. In response to school district concerns, lawmakers have specified in the bill that teachers cannot earn unemployment benefits in addition to their negotiated salaries. Instead, under an amendment that the House Labor Committee approved Wednesday, districts would be directed to deduct unemployment benefits from teachers future wages. Democratic Rep. Dacia Grayber, a sponsor of the bill, said the goal was to help streamline cost-recovery for school districts. I just want to underline that investing in our teachers is investing in our schools and our students, Grayber said. ... We believe in the ability of this policy to protect those workers and to bring, hopefully, resolution quicker so that our students are back in those schools. But district leaders and school boards argue the risk of the bill is too great. They said it has taken them months to work through the implications of the bill and there are no other states to look to in order to evaluate its consequences. If the House approves the bill, and Kotek signs it, Oregon will join Washington, New York and New Jersey in allowing striking workers to collect unemployment pay. In Washington, New York and New Jersey unlike in Oregon public employees do not have a protected legal right to go on strike. Washingtons bill was just approved by lawmakers this year. The implementation challenges make it impossible to say with confidence that schools and services for students wont be harmed by this bill, the coalition of school boards, administrators and business officers wrote. Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430. Chair Kathryn Harrington said she would not run for a third term in 2026. Mark Graves/The Oregonian Washington County Chair Kathryn Harrington told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Thursday that she would not run for reelection next year, ending her 20-year career in local politics. The 65-year-old, who first won her seat as chair in 2018, said she will retire. Thursday's fire took place in this Hillsboro data center, north of U.S. 26. Mike Rogoway/The Oregonian A battery fire broke out in a Hillsboro data center Thursday morning, prompting evacuation of the site but causing no injuries. Right about 10:20 this morning our crews got called to a fire involving a battery or batteries, said Piseth Pich, a Hillsboro Fire & Rescue spokesperson. When they arrived they found batteries inside a room inside what we understood to be a data center. The fire itself was contained to the battery set there and hadnt spread anywhere else in that room. Public records indicate data center operator Digital Realty operates at that site. The social media company X operates a data center in an adjoining facility next door. Technology news site Wired reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources, that X also leases space in the Digital Realty facility that experienced Thursdays fire. Online tracker DownDetector reported a spike in outages on Xs site shortly after the fire, which disruptions continuing through the afternoon. The incident is under control, and the fire department has concluded its on-site response. All personnel were safely evacuated, with no reported injuries, Digital Realty said in a written statement. We continue to monitor the situation, prioritizing the safety of our personnel, the integrity of the facility, and minimizing customer impact, the company said. It declined to say whether X leases space in the facility directly affected by the fire. Data centers occupy more than 300 acres of industrial land in Hillsboro, lured by tax breaks worth $45 million a year, according to Washington County records. Digital Realty received incentives worth $6.9 million last year while X received tax exemptions worth $4.6 million. Server farms run social networks, search engines, streaming video services and various corporate technology functions. But they are not major employers X reported just 18 Hillsboro employees in its tax incentive documentation. Firefighters allowed Thursday mornings blaze to burn itself out. Pich said there wasnt extensive damage except for the smoke inside the room and the destruction of the commercial-grade batteries, which may have been used for electrical backup. -- 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 There are almost 7,000 state parks in the United States, and one in Oregon is among the 10 best, according to a new ranking. Florida Rentals, a vacation rental marketplace, analyzed Google reviews to rank the top 10 state parks in the country. And one of Oregons 198 state parks landed at No. 7. Nestled on the Crooked River in central Oregon, Smith Rock State Park drew 812,736 visitors last year with thousands of rock climbing routes and miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. As our travel and outdoors reporter Jamie Hales has said, For Oregons outdoor apostles, Smith Rock is a temple. Its a place you have to have to feel for yourself in order to truly understand. It is also home to a seriously scenic campground. A 2023 ranking of the most beautiful campgrounds in every state picked Smith Rocks Bivouac Area, better known as The Bivy, as the top spot in Oregon. And the park is about to see some improvements. A major renovation scheduled for winter 2025 through fall 2026 will include a new welcome center, restrooms, parking, campsites and picnic shelters, as well as improvements to trails and viewpoints, including for visitors with accessibility needs. Mims Copeland is a social media producer and covers trending topics for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her at mcopeland@oregonian.com Yesterday, Cardinal Daniel Sturla Berhouet, SDB of Montevideo, Uruguay gave an interview to CARVE radio in Montevideo to discuss his general experiences of the conclave which elected Pope Leo XIV. Uruguay is the least Catholic country of Latin America, with only 38% of the population identifying as such, and 52% affirming they have no religion (2023). What was going through your mind as you walked to the conclave? asked the reporter. I would always wonder what it would be like to be at Saint Peters Basilica when a Pope was elected. I never imagined Id be on the opposite side, on the inside. I felt the weight of the responsibility of what we were going to do, shared the Cardinal. The reporter concluded the seventeen minute interview with this question, I have to ask, what are the odds that the Pope will come here [to Uruguay]? I would say very high, because he has it very clear in his mind, that Argentina and Uruguay were missing in Francis itinerary (not in his desire to visit), but those trips did not become a reality. I believe his first visit to Latin America will have Argentina and Uruguay on its itinerary, and very possibly Peru. This could very well only be the Cardinals opinion, but at the same time, he just got back from the conclave and may know something. Time will tell! Listen to the interview in Spanish here. Picture of Cardinal taken from Iglesia Catolica de Montevideo Facebook Page Mel Gibson is set to return to the directors chair for The Resurrection of the Christ, a long-anticipated follow-up to his groundbreaking 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. Lionsgate will distribute the project, the studio recently announced. The film reunites Gibson and producer Bruce Davey under their Icon Productions banner with Lionsgate, which previously partnered with the director on the Oscar-nominated Hacksaw Ridge and the upcoming thriller Flight Risk. The Resurrection will explore the three days between the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, focusing on the psychological and spiritual aftermath experienced by his followers. For many, many people across the globe, The Resurrection of the Christ is the most anticipated theatrical event in a generation, said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. It is also an awe-inspiring and spectacularly epic theatrical film that is going to leave moviegoers worldwide breathless. Gibson called Lionsgate brave and innovative, praising the studios clever ingenuity, passion, and ambition. He added, I couldnt think of a more perfect distributor for The Resurrection of the Christ. Gibson has enlisted Braveheart screenwriter Randall Wallace to pen the script. Wallace, who studied theology in college, said he has been exploring the Resurrection since his student days and described the project as deeply meaningful. Im not ready to talk much about the movie, Wallace said on his website, except to say that Im deeply excited and committed to the story. Gibson first hinted at the film during an appearance at a Harvest Crusade hosted by Pastor Greg Laurie, noting that The Resurrection would not be a sequel. Its not Passion 2, he said. Its called The Resurrection. Of course, thats a very big subject we dont want to just do a simple rendering. According to The National Catholic Register, returning cast members include Maia Morgenstern as Mary, Francesco De Vito as Peter, and the late Christo Jivkov, who portrayed Pilate in the original. Filming is expected to take place in Israel, Morocco, and parts of Europe, including Italy. The Passion of the Christ, released in 2004, was a cultural phenomenon, grossing $370 million domestically and over $610 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. It held the title of the highest-grossing R-rated film in the U.S. for nearly two decades. No release date has been announced for The Resurrection of the Christ. This years Computex the premiere PC industry event of the year, where manufacturers reveal the hardware youll be able to buy during this years back to school and holiday shopping seasons felt more muted than any in recent memory. Its no surprise. US tariffs on Chinese goods have frozen the PC industry, and vendors are hesitant to announce (much less release) new hardware in such an unstable economic situation. But still, the show went on and its a good thing it did, because while we saw fewer PC announcements at Computex this year, we also saw some certified bangers. Which reveals got us deeply, personally excited? This is the best hardware of Computex 2025. Giddy up. The best PC hardware of Computer 2025 AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000 AMD In a Computex curiously devoid of chip announcements (well, aside from the new RTX 5060 that Nvidia tried to bury), leave it to AMD to whip out the big guns. The Ryzen Threadripper 9000 series focuses on the same overwhelming CPU power as its predecessors, but now come infused with key power and performance improvements within AMDs new 5nm Zen 5 architecture. Threadripper Pro models top out at 96 (!!!) cores, but the standard Threadripper 9000 chips intended for high-end desktops stick to the usual 64, 32, and 24 cores. (How will we ever survive with just 64 cores??!!) Better yet, Threadripper 9000 bumps up maximum boost clock speeds, and memory speed support improves from DDR5-5200 up to 8-channel DDR5-6400. These monstrous chips are built for heavy work. The only thing missing? We know Threadripper will ship in July, but AMD hasnt revealed pricing. Sigh. Thanks tariffs. Brad Chacos Acer Swift Edge 14 AI Ive admired OLED displays for years: first as a generic replacement for a traditional 60Hz laptop display, then as potential gaming displays as refresh rates climbed. Now Ive found something new to covet: a matte OLED display without the glare and reflections that trouble most laptops. So far, Ive only seen this on the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI, one of the stars of Computex. But theres more: this 14-inch laptop weighs a feather-light 2.18 pounds while packing an Intel Core Ultra 200 (Lunar Lake) chip inside and offering MIL-STD 810H resilience. Thats a true on-the-go productivity machine, with 21 hours of battery life, to boot. While I was also taken with the Swift X creator-class notebook, Id still give the, um, edge, to the Edge. It feels like Acer is delivering something other notebooks do not. Mark Hachman InWin ChronoMancy Turning 40 is cause for celebrationand boy, did InWin bring a party to Computex. In honor of its milestone anniversary, the company unveiled a jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring bit of case design wizardry: the ChronoMancy. IT'S TIME!!!! Presenting #InWin's newest signature chassis, ChronoMancy! Paying homage to InWin's 40th Anniversary. The blue top showcases iconic cases while the middle section opens completely with a press of a button or wave a wand! More details to come! #Computex2025 #Computex pic.twitter.com/hSokT2p8kO InWin (@InWin) May 19, 2025 You could glance at this three-foot tall (yes) chassis and think, Who could ever want this? Me. I want this. I dont build E-ATX systems, sure. But look at that contrast between the transparent blue panel and the gleaming gray body. The way the light looks when shining through the top. The metal vibes when you slide the case open, gray aluminum curving around, and the components sit exposed. Also, you can open it with the wave of a wand. (Or by pressing a button, but theres no fun in that.) Its perfectly cyberpunk while simultaneously festive. Ill never invest hours into games with that flavor, but Im definitely tempted to sink money into this likely astronomically expensive case. Alaina Yee Asus ROG Falcata keyboard Aside from some cool cases, the only thing I saw at Computex that really got my nerdy attention was the ROG Falcata, a split gaming keyboard from Asus. This is the sort of very niche, targeted keyboard thats extremely rare from gaming manufacturers in fact I dont think Ive ever seen a split gaming board from a big brand, never mind one thats also wireless. Little touches like the many different angle and tenting options and the removable wrist rest give me hope that this has been made with both gamers and ergonomic users in mind, and I appreciate that it doesnt need a driver package installed to access its advanced adjustable features. Also, I really hope you can use the left side on its ownbut that might just be me. I couldnt get confirmation on that this far out from a late 2025 release date. Michael Crider SilverStone FLP-02 Look, man, Im old. My beard hair is more white than black these days, I make weird little grunts when I stand up, all that jazz. But age comes with a perk: SilverStones new retro-style FLP-02 case is pure catnip for an old dude like me whose first computer was an Intel 486 system in, yes, a beige box. SilverStones case may look old-school it even has an honest-to-goodness-actually-working-Turbo-button on its custom control panel but inside, its built for modern PC demands. Its a fully standard ATX case even if it looks like it fell out of a time machine, and its the first one Ive seen in a long time that has real 5.25-inch drive bays. Now get off my lawn. Brad Chacos MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e Edition I usually dont get excited about laptop designstheyre all just gray rectangles to me. But the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e Edition stopped me in my tracks. Is that Hokusais iconic Great Wave Off Kanagawa painting on the lid? Yes. Yes, it is. The handcrafted rendition of the famous painting was achieved by applying multiple layers of translucent ink and lacquer by hand. Its designed to inspire a sense of calm, but it just leaves me feeling awestruck. While the artwork is definitely the star of the show here, the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ is no slouch in the performance department. Its got up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 13-inch 28801800 OLED display. The internals are impressive, sure, but with only a limited run of 1,000 units youll be lucky to snag one for yourself. Ash Biancuzzo G.Skills sparkly new Trident Z5 NeoX RGB RAM I wont lie, Ive been a fan of G.Skill RAM for a long timeand not because their DIMMs perform well. (Thats just table stakes.) No, they understand perfectly what my inner crow loves. They first had me with their now perennial-favorite Trident Z RGB line, then captured me with the ultra shiny Trident Z Royal in gold and silver. And this week at Computex 2025, I got my true hearts desirealmost. G.Skills display of its new Trident Z5 NeoX RGB lineup, which I first spotted in this awesome Pauls Hardware video full of rad modded PCs, includes a concept finish that I badly want to be real. The sparkly silver is a more elegant take than the Trident Z Royals high-shine silver. I like my builds blingy, but sometimes a bit of understatement hits harder. G.Skill is taking feedback, so if you also dig the finish, I recommend you also let them know you want that sparkly version. Prefer a louder take? Neon yellow and orange are color options as well, and sport beautifully shiny clear coats. Oh, and theres white too, I guess. But cmon. Sparkly silver. Alaina Yee Cherrys wild new keyboard switches This year at Computex Cherry unveiled that its releasing not one, not two, but four new keyboard switches . Three of the new switches will be added to Cherrys existing line of MX mechanical switches: the MX Honey is its first silent tactile switch, the MX Blossom is a low actuation switch for light typing, and the MX Falcon is a strong tactile switch for that clacky typewriter experience. The fourth switch is the one that has me most excited though. Cherry also debuted the brand new next-gen analogue IK switch. Built with inductive sensing technology the IK switch promises consistent performance with no mechanical wear. The switch also consumes 50% less power than magnetic switches so itll be great for wireless keyboards as well. If that wasnt enough, the IK switches will feature RGB lighting and customizable actuationthe keyboard geek in me is itching to get ahold of these bad boys. All of the new switches are due out this year with the MX switches set for June and the IK switch to follow in the fall. Sam Singleton ID-Coolings scented thermal paste I have been on the hunt for scented thermal paste for years, and at Computex 2025 I finally found it at the ID-Cooling booth! Yes, I said scented thermal paste. Why would someone want that, you ask? Well, not only does it smell good while you are building your PC, Im hoping it also gives off a scent when your gaming PC is on and under load. Listen, weve all been on hour-long marathon sessions, eating loads of Taco Bell, so rather than sitting in your shame/smell, you can rely on your PC to put out a nice scent to sweeten up the room. First Yeston makes a scented GPU, and now ID-Cooling makes scented thermal paste. Im in love. Adam Patrick Murray A new partnership among state lawmakers, economic development officials and Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams announced Friday that a planning process for the rejuvenation of downtown Harrisburg has begun. Ryan Unger, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, made the announcement in an email to his membership. Pictured is a Walmart truck parked in Franklin County. The company plans to lay off 1,500 corporate employees. July 12, 2022. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Not even one of the countrys largest retailers can avoid laying off people from time to time. Walmart plans to cut around 1,500 corporate jobs in a U.S. restructuring aimed at trimming its expenses and speeding up decision-making, The Wall Street Journal reported. The layoffs reflect a focus on business priorities and our growth strategy, and are not related to tariffs, a Walmart spokesperson told the newspaper. The company told employees that it will reshape some of its teams in global technology operations, e-commerce fulfillment managers that support U.S. stores, and Walmart Connect, its advertising business, the report said. Walmart is based in Arkansas and employs approximately 2.1 million people worldwide, with approximately 1.6 million employees in the U.S. The retailer operates more than 10,750 stores in 19 countries. Walmart recently reported that it made $165.6 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025. We delivered a solid first quarter in a dynamic operating environment. Were serving customers and members in more ways, which is fueling our growth. Were well positioned, maintaining flexibility to navigate the near term while continuing to invest to create value for the long-term, Doug McMillon president and CEO of Walmart, said in a recent earnings report. Walmarts stock was trading at $96.01 as of Friday afternoon. A Cumberland County man was charged after police say he broke a 10-year-olds collarbone during a dispute in March, court documents said. Richard Kroh Jr., 57, of Enola, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and endangering the welfare of children, according to court documents filed by East Pennsboro Township police. Police said the assault happened around 8 a.m. March 8 at the 400 block of Fairview Avenue in Enola. FILE - Former Philadelphia police Officer Mark Dial, center, arrives at the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice in Philadelphia, Sept. 19, 2023, with attorneys for a bail hearing. He was found guilty of manslaughter. (Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, File) AP PHILADELPHIA (AP) A former Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a motorist during a traffic stop has been acquitted of murder charges by a jury that did convict him of voluntary manslaughter and related counts. Mark Dial could face up to six years in prison when hes sentenced in July. The verdict came Thursday afternoon after the jury had deliberated for nearly three days. A Lebanon County jury on Friday found a 27-year-old woman guilty of filing a false rape report with police and illegally recording the military officer she accused on her cell phone. The charges represent two felonies and one misdemeanor. Family members of Veronika Rodriguez bowed their heads as the verdict was read by the jury foreman about 9 a.m. Friday. Rodriguez left the courtroom stifling tears. She remains free on a signature bond. A gag order preventing people connected to the case from talking about the case was lifted. The verdict came after about six hours of deliberations: five on Thursday after closing arguments and then nearly an hour after restarting deliberations on Friday morning. LEBANON - A Lebanon County jury is deliberating the case of a Middletown woman charged with fabricating a rape allegation out of an after-hours encounter with a New York doctor visiting for his quarterly Air National Guard drill. The jury began its deliberations about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, after a fourth day of trial testimony. By 8:30 p.m., they still had not returned a verdict and the judge sent them home for the night. Jury deliberations will resume again Friday morning. Veronika Rodriguez, 27, testifying in her own defense for the second day Thursday morning, tried to present the rape case she said prosecutors refused to bring. Michael Light II, right, has captured the Democratic Party's nomination for district attorney by write-in votes. That sets up a rematch with incumbent Pier Hess Graf, who defeated Light in the Republican primary this spring. Charles Thompson LEBANON - A first count of Democratic primary write-in ballots for Lebanon County District Attorney suggests that senior public defender Michael Light II will be on the general election ballot after all. Light, a registered Republican, was trounced by incumbent District Attorney Pier Hess Graf in the countys Republican primary. Joe Exotic, founder of the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park, answers a question during an interview at the park in Wynnewood, Okla, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) AP Talk about being torn apart by force. Joe Exotic and his husband Jorge Marquez Flores are lifting the lid off Flores recent deportation, which proved to be an extremely emotional goodbye for both parties. Speaking with TMZ, the Tiger King star, 62, and his husband, 33, said they knew the deportation was coming, so they made the most of their time together and treated everyday as if itd be their last. Flores was sent back to Mexico and spoke to the outlet from a friends house there. Flores mentioned how the two spent their last weeks together going to the gym and library, as the two have grown closer by working on their English and Spanish skills together. The pair married while they were both in prison. Flores, who was incarcerated for immigration-related issues, was taken to an ICE detention center shortly after he was released. Since Flores was sent back to Mexico from his bid at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth in Texas on Friday, sadly, the couple havent spoken to each other. But Flores did say he wrote his better half multiple letters and is hoping hell read them. Right now, the Netflix star is serving a 21-year sentence for a murder-for-hire plan against Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin. Its also a tumultuous time for the former zookeeper because his cancer has come out of remission and has spread to his left lung. Looking forward to being reunited with his husband, Joe Exotic (whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage) said not worried about the cancer and has confirmed to TMZ that hes refusing all treatment. Currently, his focus is getting out of prison. In fact, hes so against chemotherapy and radiation, he said that hed rather be reunited with his two deceased husbands Travis Maldonado and Brian Rhyne and his deceased brother. Ultimately, hes hoping President Donald Trump will notice his plight in prison and pardon him. So far, that hasnt happened. Despite his sadness, he has acknowledged that meeting Flores has been a great experience. If I die tomorrow, Ive had the happiest 10 months of my life, he noted. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: Jeremy Renner reveals how he felt after he was revived following his 2023 snowplow accident. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Disney) Getty Images for Disney Jeremy Renner claims that he died, and that he was angry, at the time, to be revived. On a recent episode of Kelly Ripas Lets Talk podcast, the 54-year-old Avengers and Mayor of Kingstown actor revealed that after his horrific snow plow accident back in 2023, he believes he died and he discussed how that felt. Its a great relief is all I can say, he said of what he experienced. Its a wonderful, wonderful relief to be removed from your body. It is the most exhilarating peace you could ever feel. You dont see anything but whats in your minds eye. Like, youre the atoms of who you are, the DNA, your spirit. Its the highest adrenaline rush, but the peace that comes with it, its magnificent. Its so magical. To Renner, it was an ordeal to part ways with the euphoric state when he was eventually resuscitated following the incident. And I didnt want to come back, he recalled. I remember, and I was brought back and I was so pissed off. I came back, Im like, Aww! Even though he accepted the fact that he had only been dead for a few minutes, its a feeling hell never forget. I saw the eyeball again, Im like, Oh, s---, Im back, he remembered. Saw my legs. Im like, Yeah, thats gonna hurt later. Im like, All right, let me continue to breathe. When Ripa asked if he spoke to anyone on the other side while there, Renner said, You dont need to. Thats a human experience. Time is a human construct. Its useless. Its not linear. Its not how it exists. Its just like the most remedial version of your spirits existence is being on Earth. This is so remedial, language, all these things and blah, blah, blah Its all knowing, all experiencing, all at the same time, all at once. Looking back two years later since his life changing accident, the Hawkeye star was able to realize whats most important in life. It makes me a man that didnt want to come back really be able to be back here and live it on my terms as the captain of my own ship, he noted. And get on it or off it, I dont give a [expletive]. Im going to live life on my own terms and for nobody else. [Its] very clear. The white noise is ripped away. The experience also taught him repel the things I gave credence to before the incident occurred. I gave so much value to things that have zero value, he said. So I invest into no stocks or bonds. I invest not into crypto or Bitcoin. I invest into love and my shared relationships that I experience love with. cause that is the only thing that you take with you. Zachary Levi arrives at the world premiere of "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP Shazam actor Zachary Levi is feeling the effects after being very vocal about his support for President Donald J. Trump. In December 2024, Levi told Bill Maher on an episode of the Club Random podcast that he had yet to see the ultimate effects of his outward support for President Trump. Levi had made several posts to Instagram in the months before his appearance on Mahers podcast. In an Instagram post on Sept. 26, Levi announced he would be moderating a Team Trumps Reclaiming America tour stop, and fans were less than pleased. One fan wrote, Breaking my heart to see you endorse a monster hellbent on taking away the rights of so many people. Ive loved you since Chuck, and this is just awful to see. Goodbye Zachary. Another said, So incredibly disappointing. Five months later, Levi is starting to see those effects. In an interview with Variety published on May 22, the actor said his team has told him people do not want to work alongside him. I know that there are people that would prefer not to work with me now because of my opinions. My team has let me know, Levi said. They havent given me any specific names, but there are people who prefer not to work with me at this time. And its unfortunate. He also said, I knew that was probably going to happen. I didnt make this decision blindly or casually. While dealing with the backlash, Levi said that people who share his political views have been more than willing to hire him and support his efforts. While there are some people who might prefer not to work with me anymore, theres a lot of people on that side of the political spectrum who are even more inclined to hire me and to want to do business with me because I need some people who voted another way, Levi said. They see that what I did was at great risk. And they were like, You know what? I give you a lot of props for that because thats not an easy thing to do. And I go, I appreciate that. Levi has been a longtime supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who also endorsed Trump in September. He shared numerous controversial opinions, including one about the SAG-AFTRA strike, which he later took back, and prior to that, replied to a tweet that asked if COVID-19 vaccine maker Pfizer was a danger to the world. Hardcore agree, Levi wrote. In his interview with Variety, Levi admitted that he could be wrong about his opinions. Its great hubris and folly to think that you are incapable of being bamboozled,Levi said. We are all capable of being bamboozled. I could be getting bamboozled right now, putting my trust into leaders that I helped to get elected. Levi is most known for his role in Shazam, playing Flynn Rider in Disneys Tangled, and Harold and the Purple Crayon. British actor Michael McStay died on May 18. He was 92. canva stock image On May 18, British actor Michael McStay died. He was 92. A representative for the actor announced his passing on Facebook on May 20. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Michael McStay, an actor of the highest standing, talented writer, and family man, the post reads. Survived by his wife, the actress Jenny Clulow, and their two sons. It was a privilege to have known Mike. RIP. According to People, one of the actors sons, Darius McStay, told the media outlet his father passed with his family close by. The actor died of heart failure. He died quietly in his sleep just an hour after sharing a ... Sunday lunch with my brother and I, Darius said. During the early stages of his career, McStay played in over 80 episodes of the British crime drama No Hiding Place and went on to play Derek Moberley in two episodes of Doctor Who. The actor also appeared in Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady and TV miniseries Ted and Alice. As an actor, he really did make a good exit. And of course left us wanting more, Darius said. McStays last screen credits were for 17 episodes of the 2011 TV series Coronation Street. There arent many wineries in Pennsylvania or along the East Coast that have celebrated, or will soon be marking, their diamond anniversary. Many have opened during the past 20 years, largely thanks to Baby Boomers who took an increasing interest in the beverage and the amenities that a trip to the winery could offer. There are a few, however, still operating such as Benmarl Winery in New Yorks Hudson Valley, Boordy Vineyards in suburban Baltimore, and Adams County (Pa.) Winery with histories that date back much longer. Ron and Ruth Cooper founded Adams County Winery in Orrtanna in 1975, and owned it for five years, then sold it to Tom and Beverly Campbell, who, according to Pennsylvania Wineries, ran it for 18 years as a retirement project. They sold it to Katherine Bigler and her husband John Kramb in 1998, and those two have operated it since then. Bigler and Kramb stumbled upon the winery on July 4, 1998, during a time when they were looking around for a property to grow grapes and make wine. They purchased the winery and property in late September of that year. On Saturday, the winery will celebrate its 50th birthday with a Back to the 70s party that will feature the official release of First Crush, a vibrant Moscato infused with orange zest and a hint of vanilla. 'How hard can this be,' John Kramb said they were thinking when he and wife Katherine Bigler bought Adams County Winery in 1998. Their journey with one of Pennsylvania's oldest wineries continues today. Adams County Winery The event kicks off the winerys new Decades series in celebration of its anniversary. First Crush is the first of four special wine releases this year, each celebrating a different decade in the winerys rich history. We wanted to kick off our anniversary year with something fun, flavorful, and full of nostalgia, General Manager Dan Baumgardner said in a press release. This wine is playful and sweet, and the label is a perfect match for the era that inspired it. Kramb told PennLive in an email that he and Katherine had come to the area as guests 27 years ago to observe the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. I had just retired from the Army, and retirement was just seven years away for Katherine, so we were looking for something to do with our time, he said. We had looked at property in North Carolina, but had not yet committed. The familiar century-old barn at Adams County Winery, circa 1988. Adams County Winery And, just as they arrived, the then-owner announced that he had just put the winery and property on the market. We should have noticed that we were the only two customers in the winery on the busiest weekend of the year in Gettysburg. No matter, he continued. We discussed the proposition for a day or two, and called back to say that we would take it. How hard can it be? I wondered. (Insert maniacal laughter here). Anyway, over the years, we increased production and sales from 4,500 gallons per year to over 40,000 gallons per year. Kramb said he was the only employee for the first three or four years of their ownership, since Katherine was still in the Army. He tended the vineyard, harvested and processed the grapes, and did the bottling. He was also the entire sales staff. The first year he was there on his own for harvest, the press broke down, he noted. For the first few years after they bought Adams County Winery, John Kramb was the lone employee. Adams County Winery And the manufacturer was out of business. Oh, NO! We found a new press that cost about $16,000, but almost all of our money was used in the purchase, he said. Fortunately, he was able to secure a loan from the Adams County Economic Development Corporation and obtained the press in time for the harvest. Kramb said the biggest challenge they have faced during their 27 years as owners was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A shot of the Adams County Winery entrance from several decades ago. Adams County Winery Everyone in the hospitality business with whom we talk indicates that the pandemic severely affected sales [people stopped going into public], a condition most of us are still recovering from, he said, adding, it seems that everyone is facing the challenge of hiring and keeping new employees. Admission to Saturdays event is free, and guests of all ages are welcome. The party will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with live music from 1-4 p.m. Wine and food options will be available for purchase throughout the day. You can read more about the party at this link. Would-be vintners will have a unique opportunity to hone their professional winemaking skills at local wineries. Point Park University Point Park University in Pittsburgh is introducing a Winemaking Science Academy, offering real-world experience in the entire enology process, including grape selection, fermentation, aging and bottling. As the only academic winemaking program in the Pittsburgh area, would-be vintners will have a unique opportunity to hone their professional winemaking skills at local wineries. The Winemaking Science Academy is a 10-week, hands-on certificate program that bridges the gap in regional viticulture education, a press release said. Western Pennsylvania is home to a growing number of wineries yet formal education in winemaking remains limited, said Jeffrey J. Seaman , M.I.S, associate professor of applied computer science in the Rowland School of Business at Point Park University, who directs the winemaking program. The Winemaking Science Academy program will focus on: Winemaking Fundamentals: Understanding grape biology, fermentation science and microbiology. Sensory Evaluation & Tasting: Developing a wine palate, detecting faults, and assessing wine quality. Viticulture Practices: Exploring modern challenges in grape cultivation, soil management, and climate adaptation. Winemaking Processes: Hands-on experience with harvest, crushing, fermentation, and aging techniques. Equipment & Technology: Learning to operate the tools behind wine from fermentation to bottling. Quality Control & Regulations: Gaining insights into industry standards, compliance, and safety protocols. Regional & Stylistic Variations: Learning how geography, climate, and tradition shape winemaking styles. Field Trips & Industry Immersion: Visiting local vineyards and wineries to experience winemaking firsthand. The Winemaking Science Academy is partnering with several local wineries to offer students access to all phases of winemaking, including Ripepi Vineyard and Winery , PK Winery and Threadbare Cider . With its strong agricultural roots and proximity to major wine regions like Lake Erie, Geneva-on-the-Lake, and the Finger Lakes, Western Pennsylvania is ideally suited to nurture and grow our wine region, Seaman said. The Winemaking Science Academy joins the universitys Distilling Science Academy and its popular Brewing Science Academy , introduced in 2021, in a portfolio of programs aimed at expanding the science of spirits and knowledge of those industries. Point Park Universitys Winemaking Science Academy registration opens July 28. The course completes on September 10. There is a maximum of 25 students. All classes take place on campus and at winery locations. The tuition is $2,000, and students are responsible for their own parking and transportation costs. It joins Penn State Berks, which offers a non-credit winemaking certificate, as another school in the state to offer instruction in enology. Thats taught by Bob Green, the executive winemaker for Presque Isle Wine Cellars in Erie County. Green is a long-time instructor, both in the Culinary and Wine Institute at Mercyhurst University and in the Viticulture and Enology program at Harrisburg Area Community College, which turned out a number of vintners who are now in the business during the 10 years (2010-20) the program was being offered there. By Teri Figueroa, Kristina Davis, Tammy Murga and Karen Kucher, The San Diego Union-Tribune (TNS) SAN DIEGO A small plane crashed in dense fog in a Murphy Canyon neighborhood early Thursday morning, presumably killing all six people onboard, injuring eight people on the ground and burning several cars and homes in military housing. The plane, a Cessna 550, crashed east of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport around 3:45 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said six people were onboard the Cessna Citation II. San Diego police said late Thursday afternoon that two fatalities have been confirmed, though the exact number of deceased is still being determined. 18 1 / 18 Plane crashes in California neighborhood The plane struck a powerline about 2 miles from the airport, according to Elliot Simpson, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. San Diego Gas & Electric confirmed that the initial indication is that its lines had been struck. Fragments of the aircraft pieces yet to be be identified were under the power lines, Simpson said. A wing from the plane was found in the road at the crash scene. Simpson also said its likely the plane had a flight data recorder. About 100 people were evacuated from the neighborhood. Most of the injured were treated for minor injuries at the evacuation center, but one was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Officials initially said no one had been injured. Officials initially said they thought 10 homes had been damaged but later said it was unclear how many had been affected, noting that the crash created a large debris field. Several cars were also burned. Large oil spills stained the road, and the smell of jet fuel hung in the air hours after the crash in the area of Sculpin Street and Santo Road, southeast of Interstate 15 and Aero Drive. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Assistant Chief Dan Eddy said during a news conference that crews arrived to find a plane that had come through this neighborhood and taken out a home. When it hit the street, as the jet fuel went down, it took out every single car that was on both sides of the street, Eddy said. You can see that every single car was burning down both sides of the street. A burned-out truck, which may have been propelled off the street, sat in front of a home with a gaping hole. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said about 50 officers were on the scene within minutes. I cant quite put words to describe what this scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see the police officers and firefighters to run in there start trying to evacuate people out of the way, Wahl said. Doing anything and everything they could to try to save somebodys life is really heroic. Authorities are working to identify the deceased and have not said who they suspect was piloting the plane. The aircraft is registered to an Alaska-based company owned by music agent Dave Shapiro, according to FAA records. Tributes to Shapiro were pouring in across social media, and word of his connection to the plane was spreading through the music industry. Shapiros agency, Sound Talent Group, issued a statement confirming Shapiro had been killed. The agency told the Associated Press that two other employees were also onboard. Also believed to have been on board was Daniel Williams, the former drummer for Ohio metal band The Devil Wears Prada. Williams had posted several Instagram stories in the hours before the crash showing the Cessna and him in the co-pilot seat next to Shapiro. The Santo Terrace neighborhood, a collection of duplexes that are one and two stories tall in the Murphy Canyon area, is military housing. San Diego Naval Base commander Capt. Robert Healy said the foremost concern right now is to make sure that we have the safety of our families who reside in the neighborhood. Thick fog blanketed the area, creating only about a half-mile of visibility at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service. You could barely see in front of you, Eddy, the assistant fire chief, said. The plane departed from Teterboro, N.J., on Wednesday, then stopped in Wichita, Kan., before departing on the three-hour flight to San Diego, according to Flightaware.com. As the plane approached the San Diego region, the pilot asked for the weather report out of Montgomery-Gibbs. The air traffic controller for Southern California Approach responded, in audio recorded by LiveATC.net, that the automated weather report at that field was out of service. The pilot asked again a few minutes later, saying he had checked the conditions at Gillspie Field in El Cajon. I just wanted to know if you had any idea on the weather. I got the Gillespie weather, but as Im sure you know, sometimes it can be dramatically different between Gillespie and Montgomery, the pilot told the controller. According to Gillespie, its pretty much down to minimum, so I just want to see what Im in for here. The traffic controller came back with the weather report out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, indicating visibility of a half a mile and a cloud ceiling of 200 feet. Alright, uh, doesnt sound great, but well give it a go, the pilot responded. He then asked about the conditions at Brown Field in Otay Mesa, just in case. The pilots reaction to those conditions: Not a great option either. The pilot continued to head for Montgomery-Gibbs. Around 3:45 a.m., the pilot announced over the Montgomery-Gibbs tower frequency that the plane was about 3 miles away on final approach. Philip Rizzo, CEO of Liberty Military Housing, which manages the properties, estimated 40 to 50 families would be displaced until the investigation finished. Of those, maybe 15 to 20 families may need to be rehoused. Its a holiday weekend, so finding them a hotel through the weekend, that will be a challenge, Rizzo said. So we appreciate any partnership we get from the local hotels. But I would say beyond that, we have temporary vacant homes that are furnished in our portfolio. Several Native American tribes have filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to order the United States to release documentation of the brutal boarding school system that included one such institution in Carlisle. The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California sued the Department of the Interior, its Bureau of Indian Affairs, its Bureau of Indian Education and its current leader, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, for breaching its legal obligations to the tribes in stealing money from their trusts to fund torture and genocide at its federal Indian Boarding Schools. WILLIAMSPORT The accused shooter in a Williamsport double homicide claims no legally admissible evidence was presented at his preliminary hearing that he committed the murders or that he was present when they occurred. Those claims are contained in an amended petition filed in Lycoming County court on behalf of Troy Bennett Bailey Sr., 58, of Williamsport, in support of his petition to have all 35 charges against him dismissed. He is charged with killing Alisha Charee Seese, 37, of Williamsport, and Ronald Dailey Jr., 37, of Jersey Shore, on Jan. 11, 2024. Robert Bohart being walked out of the Lycoming County courthouse following his preliminary hearing on charges he killed a man at a motel. John Beauge | Special to PennLive WILLIAMSPORT The body of a homicide victim went undiscovered for 15 hours in his room in a Lycoming County extended stay motel, the lead state police investigator has revealed. Robert B. Bohart, 48, is seen on video leaving the room of Shannon M. Bowes, 53, at 7:01 p.m. on April 26 and no one entered or left it again until 10:28 a.m. the following morning, state police trooper Brian Moore testified. York County officials have released a warning to residents that a data privacy event might have put their information at risk. Getty Images York County officials have released a warning to residents that a data privacy event might have put their information at risk. County officials shared that in early 2025, the county was notified of a possible data security incident involving a vendor working with them. An employee of that vendor had been hired to develop software for York County Civil Courts, and was provided with certain York County Civil Courts data to use for software development and testing purposes, according to the announcement. The employee subsequently left the vendors employment without returning this data, the press release read. The alert noted that there is no evidence that the former employee misused the data, or shared it with anyone. However, it said that the county is completing a comprehensive review of the incident to identify the specific information that was accessed. The York County website notes that the potentially exposed data includes contact information, drivers license or state ID card numbers, financial and medical information, and Social Security numbers. County officials are currently working to identify the people whose information was included in the data given to the former employee. Residents can refer to the York County website for additional information, or can reach out to the York County Solicitors Office by mail at the following address: York County, Attention: 28 E. Market St, York, PA 17401. Jon Stewart has come up with a new slogan for the Democratic Party. Comedy Central Jon Stewart has made it quite clear that he is not a fan of President Donald Trump, but he also hasnt held back when it comes to the Democrats and their faults, too. And he pulled no punches when he recently talked about how the Democratic party will shape up after the recent questions about President Joe Biden and his mental acuity in the final days of his presidency. It has sown seeds for a real its an opportunity for an interesting reinvention of what this Democratic Party can be, The Daily Show host said while talking with Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett on his Weekly Show podcast. I actually think there should be excitement, not trepidation around what this is, but its going to come from someone outside of it. I think anybody that has that stink (of a Biden coverup) on them is not going to be particularly successful. Lovett, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama, agreed with Stewart and said that the fact that no Democrat stepped up to run against Biden was an indictment. And it points to a kind of lack of assuredness in their worldview, he said. It points to this kind of consensus establishment mentality. Its not just that we need to overcome, I think, the stink, he continued. By the way, Stewart chimed in. If thats not a Democrats slogan in 2028, something has gone terribly wrong. Overcome the Stink. If I dont have that on a bumper sticker Its compelling, Favreau said. Favreau then said whoever the Democrats right person in 2028 is they have to be able to say, You know what? We got a bunch of (stuff) wrong. A picture of the Lebanon United States Post Office, located at 101 South 8th Street in Lebanon. Madison Montag Elected officials, police officers and community members gathered in Lebanon on Thursday afternoon for a ceremony to rename the citys post office in honor of fallen police Lt. William Bill Lebo. Lebanons post office, located at 101 S. 8th St., is now named the Lieutenant William D. Lebo Post Office Building after members of U.S. Congress, with support from Pennsylvanias delegation, voted 118-56 on May 7, 2024, to make the change. President Donald Trump said U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a planned partnership between the iconic American steelmaker and Japan-based Nippon Steel. AP WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a planned partnership between the iconic American steelmaker and Japan-based Nippon Steel, which has sought to buy it. Nippon Steels nearly $15 billion bid to buy U.S. Steel was blocked by former President Joe Biden and, after Trump became president, subject to another national security review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Trump said in a statement that after much consideration and negotiation, US Steel will REMAIN in America, and keep its Headquarters in the Great City of Pittsburgh. What Trump called a planned partnership will create at least 70,000 jobs and add $14 billion to the U.S. economy, he said, although it wasnt clear what the terms of the deal would be or who would own U.S. Steel under the arrangement. The companies didnt immediately comment. Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, praised Trump and called the deal a "huge victory" for America and U.S. Steel. My priorities are preserving and expanding jobs and investment in the Mon Valley, he said. This partnership gets it done. Gov. Josh Shapiro, who with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis has been working with all parties involved since the proposal was announced in 2023, said his priority has been to protect jobs and secure the future of steelmaking in the commonwealth. He said with Trumps support for the deal, now...we have the opportunity to deliver historic investments, ensure the future of American steelmaking continues to run through the Mon Valley while the headquarters of U.S. Steel remains in Pittsburgh and have our workers, right here in Pennsylvania, continue leading the world with their skill and innovation. China urges U.S. not to politicize educational cooperation Xinhua) 16:32, May 23, 2025 BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Educational cooperation between China and the United States is mutually beneficial, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday, noting that China has always opposed the politicization of educational cooperation. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. Noting that relevant practices of the U.S. side will only damage the image and international credibility of itself, Mao said China will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas. The spokesperson reiterated that China opposes groundless attacks and smear campaigns against China, urging the U.S. side to lift illegal sanctions as soon as possible. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Lonis Denies Vaskaboinikau Back-to-Back Triton Montenegro Main Event Titles Will Shillibier Managing Editor Copy link Just three years ago, Jesse Lonis was dubbed a "breakout star". Now he's a high roller regular, with $20 million in earnings and a third Triton poker title after winning the Triton Montenegro Main Event. There's only so many times a player of his calibre can surpass the largest cash of his career, but the $3,426,298 prize money accomplishes that, moving him above $20 million in lifetime earnings. He also takes home an exclusive Jacob & Co. Triton Epic X Skeleton watch. Lonis denied Belarusian Mikalai Vaskaboinikau back-to-back titles at Maestral Resort & Casino after a brief heads-up battle, with both players agreeing to a heads-up deal. Triton Montenegro Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize Money 1 Jesse Lonis United States $3,426,298* 2 Mikalai Vaskaboinikau Belarus $2,927,702* 3 Kiat Lee Malaysia $1,807,000 4 Christoph Vogelsang Germany $1,463,000 5 Ramin Hajiyev Azerbaijan $1,159,000 6 Stephen Chidwick United Kingdom $879,000 7 Santhosh Suvarna India $643,000 8 Fedor Holz Germany $470,000 9 Artur Martirosian Russia $389,000 *denotes heads-up deal Final Day Recap Twelve players started the day, but was down to a final table within an hour as Espen Jorstad, Leon Sturm and Alex Foxen all hit the rail. Artur Martirosian began the final table eighth in chips and was the first to be eliminated. He ran into bad luck, four-betting all-in with pocket kings only to be called by Mikalai Vaskaboinikaus ace-king. An ace on the flop sealed his fate. Despite the early exit, he earned valuable points for the Ivan Leow Player of the Year leaderboard, where he continues to hold a commanding lead. Next to go was Fedor Holz. He started the day mid-pack but slipped after doubling up Vaskaboinikau before the final table. Though he managed a double through Ramin Hajiyev, he soon returned the favor and was later outkicked by Kiat Lee. Left short, Holz got his final chips in with ace-nine against Vaskaboinikaus nine-seven, only for a rivered seven sent the German to the rail. Did you know? This result makes Fedor Holz only the tenth player to surpass $50 million in live earnings Santhosh Suvarna was part of a tightly packed middle group, each holding around 30 big blinds to start the final table. He aimed to make a run at the title but lost momentum. An early hand saw him three-bet fold ace-queen to Lee. As Martirosian and Holz exited, Suvarna also struggled to gain traction and eventually fell to Jesse Lonis in seventh. Stephen Chidwick, the overnight chip leader, began the final table second in chips and returned from the first break with 25 big blinds. On the first hand back he picked up pocket queens, only to be outflopped by Vaskaboinikaus pocket deuces. A set sealed Chidwicks elimination when the money went in on the flop. With three knockouts, the defending champion Vaskaboinikau emerged as the clear chip leader, with Lonis trailing in second. Although Lee briefly trimmed that lead after flopping a nut straight, Vaskaboinikau regained control by eliminating Hajiyev. Hajiyev, who had also final-tabled the $200,000 Triton Invitational, got it in ahead with pocket nines against Vaskaboinikaus ace-five. A three-four-five flop opened up possibilities for Vaskaboinikau, and a rivered five gave him the win and sent a frustrated Hajiyev out in fifth. Vogelsang entered the final table as the third-shortest stack, and managed to climb before faltering. He built is stack up to eight million in chips, but a key hand against Lonis, where he called down with second-bottom pair only to face a rivered top pair, proved costly. Lee eventually knocked him out in fourth. Three-handed play was an evenly matched battle, with each player sitting on similarly sized stacks. The defending champion was faced by two players who also know what it takes to win a Triton tournament, having won their latest titles here in Montenegro. "Now we've all held the lead" With the blinds increasing, Lee wrestled the lead from Vaskaboinikau's grasp. However, Belarusian would shove his way back into contention, before two Lonis doubles both through Vaskaboinikau saw him take control. "Now we've all held the lead," said Lonis who sat with 25 of the 45 million chips in play. Lee had been quiet, allowing his two opponents to tussle in the hopes of laddering, and despite rivering a three-outer to double through a now-brooding Vaskaboinikau, he was eventually eliminated in third place as Lonis took a commanding lead into heads-up. The remaining players spent some time discussing a potential deal, with Vaskaboinikau earning himself an extra $300,000 in negotiations. When they returned, Vaskaboinikau managed a single heads-up double but failed to overcome the almost 5:1 chip deficit in his pursuit of the back-to-back titles he sorely wished for. In the end, Lonis has a second Triton trophy for the trip, and after picking up a title at EPT Monte Carlo last month, has all the momentum heading into the World Series of Poker which gets underway next week. Pictures courtesy of Triton Super High Roller Series Share this article WATCH: Triton Montenegro Main Event Final Table Set for $3.8M Showdown Will Shillibier Managing Editor Copy link It was always going to be this way, but everywhere you look at the final table of the Triton Montenegro Main Event there is elite talent and some of the best high roller players in the world. The final table features defending champion Mikalai Vaskaboinikau, chip leader Jesse Lonis, heavyweights like Stephen Chidwick and Fedor Holz, and Ivan Leow Player of the Year leader Artur Martirosian. It could have been even tougher, with Leon Sturm and Alex Foxen narrowly missing out on the final table. There isn't one player at the final table without a Triton title to their name, and with the nine remaining players all eyeing the $3,810,000 first prize, let's take a closer look at each of their Triton records. Triton Montenegro Main Event Final Table Chip Counts Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Christoph Vogelsang Germany 3,600,000 24 2 Stephen Chidwick United Kingdom 6,675,000 45 3 Santhosh Suvarna India 5,025,000 34 4 Fedor Holz Germany 2,025,000 14 5 Ramin Hajiyev Azerbaijan 4,800,000 32 6 Kiat Lee Malaysia 5,450,000 36 7 Mikalai Vaskaboinikau Belarus 5,225,000 35 8 Jesse Lonis United States 8,975,000 60 9 Artur Martirosian Russia 3,225,000 22 Seat 1. Christoph Vogelsang A late double for Christoph Vogelsang through Santhosh Suvarna has given him breathing room at the bottom of the chip counts, and the tough German will now look to manoeuvre his way up the chip counts. Vogelsang narrowly missed out on a second in Jeju earlier this year, finishing second in the $125,000 event for $2,456,445, and although a win wouldn't be the biggest score of his career, it would constitute a new personal best on the Triton tour and a second Triton title. Seat 2. Stephen Chidwick Stephen Chidwick first cashed in a $25,000 buy-in tournament in 2013. Now, 12 years later, his name has become synonymous with the high roller circuit. Sitting third in the all-time money list, Chidwick has two Triton titles to his name (Madrid 2022 & Jeju 2024), Sitting second in chips, Chidwick's close to the second-largest cash of his career, with the largest already coming in a Triton event, finishing fourth in the 2019 Triton Million for Charity. Seat 3. Santhosh Suvarna A solitary cash so far in the Triton Montenegro festival shouldn't underly Santhosh Suvarna's high roller credentials. Since his Triton debut in Cyprus 2022, the affable Indian has cashed 25 times including a maiden title in the 2023 Triton Cyprus $25k NLH GG Super Millions. Already top of the Indian all-time money list, victory in this tournament would constitute one of the biggest wins in Suvarna's young high roller career. Seat 4. Fedor Holz Could Fedor Holz make it five Triton titles nine years since his first? A fresh-faced Holz took down the Triton Super High Roller $200,000 Cali Cup at WPT Philippines in 2016 aged just 22 and is now at his sixth Triton Main Event final table. The best finish for Holz in a Main Event is a second-place in Macau 2017, and more recently finished third in the Paradise 2024 Main Event. Seat 5. Ramin Hajiyev A final table in the Triton Invitational earlier this week for Ramin Hajiyev is not the same as his victory in the same event in Cyprus two years ago, but victory in this event would certainly be ample reward for a good couple weeks of work. It would see Hajiyev secure a second Triton title of the year and a third of his career. He comes into the final table as one of the middling stacks with 32 big blinds, so will be looking to ladder and push ahead for an even greater chance at securing victory. Seat 6. Kiat Lee There's no doubt that Kiat Lee would be a popular winner here in Montenegro. Having clinched his second Triton title in the $30K NLH 8-Handed Turbo, he's now looking for a third in quick succession. Lee has only ever cashed two two Triton No-Limit Hold'em Main Events (Cyprus 2023 & Paradise 2024), but a win in this event would be the biggest of his career by far, eclipsing a fifth-place finish in Triton Jeju $150,000 earlier this year for $1,372,000. Seat 7. Mikalai Vaskaboinikau All seven of Mikalai Vaskaboinikau's Triton cashes have seen him finish in the top 10, and he's once again made a deep run in a major Triton event. He may only have one Triton title, but in the context of this tournament, Vaskaboinikau has extra incentive to make it to the winner's circle once again. Twelve months ago, he took down the 2024 Triton Montenegro Main Event for $4,737,000 and is now just eight eliminations away from going back-to-back. Seat 8. Jesse Lonis The current Global Poker Index world number one-ranked player is no stranger to Triton success, with Jesse Lonis winning the second of his two titles right here in Montenegro just one week ago. Lonis triumphed in the $40,000 Mystery Bounty for $619,000 as well as $800,000 in bounty prizes. His first title came in Monte-Carlo last year, and with close to $5 million in earnings on the Triton Super High Roller Series alone, he's a force to be reckoned with and will be gunning for more GPI ranking points and a second Triton trophy of the trip. Seat 9. Artur Martirosian The last thing players will have wanted to see at the final table of the Triton Montenegro Main Event was Artur Martirosian. The current leader of the Ivan Leow Player of the Year award is on a tear this year, with five cashes in both Jeju and Montenegro. A third-place finish in the Jeju Main Event secured him $2,644,000 and valuable POY points, and will now be going one or two places further to add a third Triton title and first since Monte Carlo last year. Triton Montenegro Main Event Payouts Position Prize Money 1 $3,810,000 2 $2,564,000 3 $1,807,000 4 $1,463,000 5 $1,159,000 6 $879,000 7 $643,000 8 $470,000 9 $389,000 Pictures courtesy of Triton Super High Roller Series Share this article Aiken Standard reporter Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Education Lab Reporter Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education in South Carolina from Columbia. Originally from Charleston, he studied history and political science at USC and reported for the Victoria Advocate in South Texas before joining The Post and Courier. Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community focused stories, arts, businesses, non-profits, events and any story with a human element. The Roanoke, Virginia native has journalism degrees from James Madison and Syracuse universities. She has written for papers in Georgia, Mississippi, Upstate New York and Virginia. Follow her on X at @biancarmooman. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Cloudy with showers. High 84F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 72F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Growth & Development Reporter Caleb Bozard covers business, growth and development for The Post and Courier Columbia. He has previously written for The State and the Times and Democrat. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023. Editor and Publisher Brandon Roberts is Publisher and Managing Editor of Summerville Communications Inc., which prints The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent. He has worked as an editor for more than two decades in his native Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina before coming to Summerville. Reporter Ian Davis-Leonard is a reporter for the Post and Courier in York County. He previously worked for WSOC-TV, The Daily Herald in Everett, Washington, and Report for America. Yemenia Expat Contract: Full Info A carrier which is very rarely mentioned on here, Im going to give you an insight into what it is like to work for them under one of those famous expat contracts that have floated about here and there in the past. I understand 99% of you will see the advert and simply move on, perhaps with an amused exhale while you scroll down to the flag carrier DEC jobs, but for the 1% of you looking for answers, here you go! Ill start from the beginning: Background : So, you made some silly choices in your aviation career, and have found yourself fallen into the contractor bubble, jumping between contracts with various contractors. You dont see your family as often as youd like, and its far from stable, but the money is great and there is a large variety of flying. Your previous contract blew up after just a few weeks and you find yourself now unemployed, bills to pay and a family to look after, when by miracle, a contractor rolls across your path offering a starting-6 month contracting role with Yemenia, LHS of the 320, a high roller 6 figure salary, accommodation, a joining bonus, and all the addons one might expect from this sort of contract. You know that when things seem too good to be true, they usually are, but hindsight is always 20/20, and you reassure yourself at the time that it is a reputable contractor, so dont think twice about it. Application : You throw in a fairly straightforward application, not really expecting to hear back. As with all of these types of contracts, they often die out before they start, and the ones that do get up and running with high salaries are often competitive, so you dont expect to hear anything back. A few weeks pass, and youre invited to a few unsociably timed zoom interviews which take place with cameras off and audio that sounds like a 2007 era Call of Duty microphone. The interview process was inexplicably easy, with questions more evolving toward when can you start than anything more bus or career specific. Red flags, but its all good, youve crossed these bridges before when you joined other random carriers in the past and they turned out OK. Eventually they contact you and send you flight details for a trip to Cairo to complete an assessment, no say in the dates, theyve already made the bookings. Your journey to Cairo involves 2 stops via Frankfurt and Istanbul on an Economy Basic ticket, not exactly an Emirates Suite, but you are grateful that they pick up the tab. They whisk you into the Sofitel Cairo with a blank cheque to drown your sorrows, and where you can socialize with the other 7 expats here for the job, 2 Americans, a Brit, and a handful of continental Europeans, a few faces youve seen before too which is always reassuring. The sim follows the usual rigmarole, and everybody passes with flying colours, in part due to the Egyption assessor not paying attention for 90% of it. A tick in the box, a shake of the hand and youre sent packing back to Europe with nothing but a verbal promise of being contacted. A few weeks pass by, and eventually you are contacted once again, this time offering you a training start date in just a matter of days, once again taking place in Cairo. Alongside this wonderful news, they will essentially ask you to share a generations worth of info with them, from your stamped logbook pages, to bank statements. Odd, but what do you know. Still no word on signing a contract though, so you hope that will be completed in training, and head on your merry way. Training : You kiss the wife and kids goodbye and tell them youll see them when youre back from Yemen in 6 months time. Painful, but itll be worth it when you come back with pockets full of cash eh? Not best pleased, at least the better half knows youll not get up to any funny business in that part of the world. So you arrive in Cairo, alongside the other 7 expats who managed to navigate the gruelling selection process and sim assessment, and tuck into a few weeks of training. Now, you are reminded of the fatal Yemenia Flight 626 crash back in 09, where the investigation blamed poor crew training, inappropriate actions, and training programmes riddled with gaps and flaws for the loss of 152 souls, and reassure yourself that they will have modified their training appropriately. Ha! What I can only describe as a serious box ticking exercise, interspersed with Death by Powerpoint in what I can only assume was English that had been smashed through Google Translate 6 or 7 times before being released. A few courses that should have been completed at the Yemenia Training Centre in Sanaa are completed virtually due to security reasons, and eventually you finish the course having learned next to nothing, in fact you are convinced you have left with less knowledge than you arrived with, you get some shiny gold wings stamped to your chest, and sent packing to the ancient city of Aden, your new home for the next 6 months. Contract remains non-existent. Relocating : Now the fun begins. As we havent signed contracts yet, we cannot be loaded onto a GENDEC or be provided with company tickets, so they ask you to purchase your own ticket to Aden and it will be reimbursed in your first salary. Oh well, seems like bs but youve got this far, how much could it hurt. So $130USD later, you find yourself sitting on the 2R Cabin Crew jumpseat of an overbooked 17 year old A320, the inop APU means you are really getting a sweat on in your fancy new uniform which you were forced to wear during the unexplained 5 hour ground delay, and the all male cabin crew who refuse to acknowledge you prefer to smoke Camels in the back galley than do anything productive, thus adding to the already wonderful ambiance. Overbooked you say? Wow, they must be doing quite well! No, there are 45 seats with INOP taped on them. No explanation though. You peer into the open flight deck to say hello and try to get an understanding on the delay, but the local crew dont acknowledge you and continue to dab out their cigarette ends into a Coke can jammed in front of the engine master switches. Oh well, must be a bad crew today. Eventually though, you land in the historic city of Aden a few hours later than expected. Now, Yemen is a country that nearly ALL countries advise against travel too, hell, even the Taliban recommend Afghan nationals dont travel to Yemen right now. Oh well, the armoured G Wagon that will pick you up from the airport will keep you safe. Ha! They dont provide transport, only for duties, so you hail a local 1980s Toyota Landcruiser and the driver fleeces you for $50USD to drive you 15 minutes to your luxury accommodation. The technology of SAP Concur hasnt reached these parts yet, so you convince yourself that youll talk to somebody in the office about claiming it back. You arrive at the accommodation and realise the ##### sandwich youve got yourself into. Oh and by the way, youve still not signed a contract, so as far as anybody is concerned youre just a random bloke going for a jolly to a war zone. Nothing like a bit of war tourism to boost the local economy. Accommodation : Luxury accommodation, with fully functioning Air Conditioning, a pool, plentiful local attractions and amenities, and 24/7 Private Military Contractors providing security for your safety. Now you see they are really playing fast and loose on the word luxury. 10 expats now reside in this 10 room compound out in the middle of nowhere to the NW of the city. High walls and a single gate for entry, it looks like something out of Ross Kemps ventures into Helmand Province. But oh well, you crack on anyway, and youre shown to your room by the first Yemenia rep youve met throughout this whole process. Your room consists of a very small single bed, with an old CRT Television propped on a wooden shelf and a mirror on the wall. A single square window with a net protects you from the elements. The washrooms are located in a separate building, as is the kitchen. Theres a single plug socket in the room which is used to power the TV, so you must decide between Yemeni MTV or charging your phone. The kitchen is at least well equipped, and is restocked 3 times per week with all kinds of western goods, like the fridge full of Orange Mirinda and Shani. There were even a few cans of Budweiser hidden in there, although whether these were officially provided, or sourced by a few of the more experienced expats, youre not sure. Copious amounts of bottled water were provided too, gratefully. The washrooms were basic, a few cubicled bogs with a shared shower, alongside a couple of sinks to shave or have a wh*res wash in, very similar to something youd find at some old relic summer camp. There is a pool, but its empty. You come to the conclusion that they didnt lie, they never said it would be full of water, so they can have the benefit of the doubt on that one. There were security guards too, but the term Private Military Contractors has you thinking of the high speed, low drag door kickers whose past lives had them on 22 SAS or one of the SEAL teams. That, they were not. They were the 2002 Manchester United shirt, jeans and flip flops with an AK47 slung over the shoulder kind of contractors. Oh well, they are there, sleeping and high on khat at the gate, but there nonetheless. Now for those local attractions and amenities, you soon realise that the nearest civilisation is a petrol station, around 20 minutes walk away, or a 5 minutes drive. Since you dont have a car, your only way of getting anywhere is on foot, and given the dirty civil war waging sporadically in the region, you decide its best to forfeit your Chocolate Bar given the risk that you might end up in an orange jumpsuit on Al Jazeera just trying to get it. Contracts: After your guided tour of the Love Island villa, the Yemenia rep brings you into a room where he chucks a contract and a biro at you. Once again, the backwards English throws you off, but you see the numbers add up to what was promised and you sign. Your 13,500 joining bonus is on the way mister captain. They dont tell you that its 13500 Yemeni Rial, the equivalent of about $50USD though. But at least the important figures, salary and duty pay, are clearly in $USD on the contract. Oh well! Payday is on the 2nd of each month, so only a week left. How Yemenia Works : So there is a 320 crew base in Aden, and one in Seiyun, in addition to a 330 skeleton crew based in Sanaa. Aden is the largest base, and the only one with an expat community, this includes cabin crew who are drafted from places such as the Philippines, Venezuela, Ukraine, Cambodia, and other random parts of the world. The head office of Yemenia is in the city of Sanaa, which is essentially off limits at the moment due to an escalation in the conflict. This includes the Operations Control Centre and all other relevant teams. In Seiyun there is no Yemenia hard presence, and in Aden there isn't either, but there is a ground team and a station manager. The postal system is entirely unreliable in Yemen, so anything that needs to come from Sanaa is generally delivered in person, this includes stuff that could be sent by email because the internet here is also incredibly unreliable. Unfortunately, this does come with risks, one of the couriers had his car blown to bits by a Saudi drone a few weeks back. Financially, the company is a bit of mess, nobody really knows where it sits, it hasnt updated any technology for many centuries, ground staff often need to be negotiated with at outstations to get them to service the aircraft, but the airline say they want to buy some new Airbus, so who knows. Rostering : Like many airlines, Yemenia use one of the major rostering apps, and rosters release 15 days before the end of the month. Even despite the rocket attacks, car bombs, mortars, and intermittent electricity and wifi, they do still manage to get the roster out on time, which is more than I can say for the few European carriers I worked for. For expats, the roster is 5/2/5/3, however with regular lengthy delays, youll often find yourself flying into your days off with no extra cash or days off in lieu offered. Flying is a mix of 2 and 4 sector days, rarely youll get a 3 sector with a stop in Seiyun, but more often than not itll be 2 sectors. Becoming AOG is a daily occurrence, but AOG nightstops are not a thing here, youll fly back to Aden regardless of duty hours completed, and youll be expected to give up your min rest on occasions where you return late. Your 2000 check out and 0800 report will often become a 2300 check out and an 0800 report because Crew Control/Ops dont have the facilities to make changes. Sometimes, they wont even know youve arrived, and youll be woken up at 0130 to a phone call from Ops asking if youve landed in Aden, a duty you completed at 1700. Roster changes are regular, however, you dont often actually see any changes because either Crew Control dont have any internet or electricity to update your roster, or youve not got the internet to receive it. Given the situation in Sanaa, the OCC is generally unreliable, and so major flight info such as delays will often be sent by text from the Aden station manager. There is no bidding system of course, and expats are strictly forbidden from flying with each other unless its for the purpose of line training. No no, we get to fly with the locals and the EagleJet p2f goons. Dont get me wrong, some of the locals are really good at their jobs, especially some of the younger FOs who trained abroad, but they are more the exception than the rule. If you need to call sick, you try Crew Control, but youll likely not get through, so you phone the Aden station manager and just arrange yourself with another pilot to take your place. Aden : The safer of the 3 major cities in Yemen, Aden is still home to sporadic fighting. While currently peaceful, this isnt the definition you would find in the West, its certainly peaceful compared to 2 years ago, but I wouldnt say peaceful. The click-clacking of AKs and explosions can still be heard rolling across the city on some days. The city is riddled with checkpoints from various factions. To get to work, your driver takes you on a longer route so you pass only through police and military checkpoints where youre essentially granted a free pass as you work for Yemenia. Other checkpoints especially heading North, or into the centre of town are less friendly, with different militias setting up their own, and as an employee of Yemenia, and therefore a representative of the Yemeni Government and a Yemeni flag flyer, youll quickly be hooded and scooped up for a fun interrogation. Like most towns in these parts of the world, 80% of the locals are lovely people who just want to get on with their lives, some of the older women will treat you as one of their own while youre so far from home, but despite that there is still a very present and serious danger if you decide to venture out without protection. The airport, the port and Little Aden and At-Tawah which guard the mouth to the port have a heavy military presence which seems, recently, to be working. If youre in uniform, the police and military will leave you alone, sometimes even escort you where you need to go, if youre out of uniform, expect some potentially heavy handed questioning. There are no consular services from any nation available in Yemen, Sanaa was once home to various embassies including the U.S. and U.K., but these are now closed and operate remotely from Djibouti. If you need consular support, you lose your passport or something, well, quite frankly, youre f*cked. Life outside of flying : There isnt much of one. You cant really venture out of the compound so you find the best spot in the compound for wifi, crack open a few beers and sit in the 40 degree sun doing nothing for 3 days. Sounds good, and it is at first, but the novelty soon wears off. The expat cabin crew compound is about 25 minutes away and they regularly find their way here, since we have the cold amber nectar they desire. Some people try and get home for their 3 days off but it is seemingly next to impossible, largely because trying to get on flights out of Aden is like trying to get blood out of a stone, and if you manage, itll cost you an arm and a leg. Theres no ID90 around here, just crisp USD that must be dished out to multiple people before you get your ass on a crew jumpseat. Some days you might get lucky, if its an expat captain, we all have a gentlemans agreement that we will let fellow expats jumpseat in the flight deck if theyre on their way to/from home to save any hassle. Theres only way out of Aden for most, and thats to take a company flight to Cairo and travel onwards from there, alternatively you can fly into Jeddah and go onward from there, but factor in a few extra hours into your connection for a very uncomfortable interrogation in a bright white room about your time in Yemen. Royal Jordanian previously operated an E190 down here but it stopped due to security reasons. Be aware, everytime you leave Yemen, youll need an exit visa, this is relatively straightforward to obtain though, if you carry your Yemenia ID with you, if all else fails, the Aden station manager will sort you out. While straight forward, it can be a painstakingly long process lasting a few hours sometimes, so consider this before making your way to the airport. PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 08:40:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 382 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Notice of Preliminary Results and WebcastGUILDFORD, SURREY / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL)(OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company with innovative circulating tumour cell (CTC) diagnostic solutions for use in research, drug development and clinical oncology, will be releasing its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2024 on Wednesday 28 May 2025.A meeting for analysts will be held at 11:00 am BST on Wednesday 28 May 2025 at the offices of FTI Consulting, 200 Aldersgate, Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4HD.A live webcast of the analyst meeting can be accessed via ANGLE's Investor Centre page, https://angleplc.com/investor-relations/corporate-presentations/ , with Q&A participation reserved for analysts only. Please register in advance and log on to the webcast approximately 5 minutes before 11:00 am on the day of the results. A recording of the webcast will be made available on ANGLE's website following the results meeting.For further information:ANGLE plc+44 (0) 1483 343434Andrew Newland, Chief ExecutiveIan Griffiths, Finance DirectorBerenberg (NOMAD and Corporate Broker) Toby Flaux, Ciaran Walsh, Milo Bonser+44 (0) 20 3207 7800FTI Consulting Simon Conway, Sam PurewalMatthew Ventimiglia (US)+44 (0) 203 727 1000+1 (212) 850 5624For Frequently Used Terms, please see the Company's website on https://angleplc.com/investor-relations/glossary/ Notes for editorsAbout ANGLE plcANGLE is a world-leading liquid biopsy company with innovative circulating tumour cell (CTC) solutions for use in research, drug development and clinical oncology using a simple blood sample. ANGLE's FDA cleared and patent protected CTC harvesting technology known as the Parsortix PC1 System enables complete downstream analysis of the sample including whole cell imaging and proteomic analysis and full genomic and transcriptomic molecular analysis.ANGLE's commercial businesses are focusing on clinical services and diagnostic products. The clinical services business is offered through ANGLE's GCLP-compliant laboratories. Services include custom made assay development and clinical trial testing for pharma. Products include the Parsortix system, associated consumables and assays.Over 100 peer-reviewed publications have demonstrated the performance of the Parsortix system. For more information, visit www.angleplc.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ lseg.com or visit www.rns.com SOURCE: ANGLE plc PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 09:05:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 586 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 /BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTC PINK:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT), a bioscience innovator specializing in advanced drug delivery systems, is pleased to announce that the examining division of the European Patent Office ("EPO") has provided formal notice of the EPOs intention to grant BioNxt its core patent without significant changes.The Company's core patent filing was a comprehensive application for the sublingual delivery of anticancer drugs for the treatment of autoimmune neurodegenerative diseases. This patent family provides numerous proprietary product development and commercialization opportunities, including BioNxt's lead product, BNT23001, a sublingual thin-film formulation of Cladribine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)."Confirmation of the Company's flagship intellectual property asset in Europe is a major milestone for BioNxt," stated Hugh Rogers, CEO of BioNxt. "We expect the European patent grant to be finalized and published in the coming weeks. The timing is excellent as we can confidently prepare for the upcoming BNT23001 human bioequivalence study in Europe." BioNxt continues to advance the nationalization phase of the patent protection process at the European Patent Office and Eurasian Patent Organization, as well as with independent filing nations, such as Australia (AU), Canada (CA), New Zealand (NZ), USA (US), and Japan (JP). Securing nation-level patents around the globe will serve as the foundation for commercial opportunities for the Company's pipeline of sublingual products targeting autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis (MG), lupus nephritis (LN) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience innovator focused on next-generation drug delivery technologies, diagnostic screening systems, and active pharmaceutical ingredient development. The Company's proprietary platforms-Sublingual (Thin-Film), Transdermal (Skin Patch), and Oral (Enteric-Coated Tablets)-target key therapeutic areas, including autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and longevity.With research and development operations in North America and Europe, BioNxt is advancing regulatory approvals and commercialization eorts, primarily focused on European markets. BioNxt is committed to improving healthcare by delivering precise, patient-centric solutions that enhance treatment outcomes worldwide.BioNxt is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange: BNXT, OTC Markets: BNXTF and trades in Germany under WKN: A3D1K3. To learn more about BioNxt, please visit www.bionxt.com Investor Relations & Media ContactHugh Rogers, Co-Founder, CEO and DirectorEmail: investor.relations@bionxt.com Phone: +1 778.598.2698Web: www.bionxt.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bionxt-solutions Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bionxt Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" InformationThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the development, testing, regulatory approval, and commercialization of BioNxt's sublingual drug products, as well as projected milestones, anticipated partnerships, and potential market opportunities. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, many of which are beyond BioNxt's control. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, delays in regulatory approvals, negative outcomes from clinical trials, changes in market demand, fluctuations in funding availability, or disruptions in supply chains. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. BioNxt undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected include changes in market demand, regulatory developments, delays in clinical trials, fluctuations in financing availability, supply chain disruptions, and unforeseen competitive pressures.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 22:50:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 499 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Mason Jappa, CEO and Co-Founder of Blockware Solutions LLC, participated in Benchmark's Digital Assets Virtual Seminar, offering insights into the evolving landscape of Bitcoin mining and digital asset infrastructure. Drawing from his extensive experience in the industry, Jappa highlighted the critical role of transparency, accessibility, and innovation in shaping the future of cryptocurrency mining.In his presentation, Jappa emphasized the importance of building trust within the mining community. He discussed how Blockware Solutions has been at the forefront of providing reliable hardware procurement, hosting services, and mining pool operations, ensuring that both newcomers and seasoned miners have access to the resources they need."Our mission at Blockware has always been to democratize access to Bitcoin mining," said Jappa. "By offering comprehensive solutions and fostering a transparent ecosystem, we aim to empower individuals and institutions to participate confidently in the digital asset space." Jappa also addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by the current regulatory environment. He underscored the necessity for miners to adapt to changing policies while advocating for clear guidelines that support innovation and growth in the sector.The seminar provided a platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas on the future of digital assets. Jappa's insights contributed to a broader understanding of how infrastructure development and strategic partnerships can drive the adoption of cryptocurrencies.Quick Facts About Blockware Solutions:Marketplace Activity: Blockware's ASIC Marketplace has enabled its users to purchase and sell live, hosted miners with ease since 2017.Business Operations: Operating across six U.S.-based facilities in states like Kentucky, Texas, and Georgia, Blockware offers comprehensive services including Mining as a Service (MaaS), hardware procurement, hosting, and mining pool operations.Recent Partnerships:Crypto Blockchain Industries (CBI): Entered a $10 million strategic partnership to enhance Bitcoin mining efficiency and scalability, with Blockware deploying and managing next-generation Bitmain ASIC miners on behalf of CBI.Soluna Holdings: Signed a two-year hosting agreement to deploy approximately 1,500 S21+ mining units at Soluna's Project Dorothy 2 data center in Texas, emphasizing sustainable Bitcoin infrastructure.Expansion into HPC and AI: Blockware has recently announced its strategic expansion into High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sectors, offering high-performance GPU servers and AI-optimized hardware. A new HPC marketplace is in development to facilitate access to these resources.About the CompanyBLOCKWARE SOLUTIONS, LLC is a leading Bitcoin mining infrastructure and services provider, evolving from a mining hardware brokerage to a comprehensive Mining-as-a-Service platform. With billions in hardware transactions and a trusted mining community, Blockware offers U.S.-based infrastructure that delivers premier hosting solutions, liquidity, and operational tools to optimize transparency, efficiency, and profitability. Their innovative Bitcoin-native Marketplace is transforming the way miners buy and sell hardware, hashrate, and energy contracts, providing just-in-time liquidity and driving the future of decentralized, transparent, and efficient mining. To learn more, visit www.blockwaresolutions.com Watch the Benchmark's Digital Assets Virtual Seminar HereMedia Contact:Nicholas DorionDirector of High Performance Computing and Communications Phone: +1 (917) 725-7118 Nicholas@ blockwaresolutions.com SOURCE: Blockware Solutions PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 05:30:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 523 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilJuly 8, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE:CODI), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 1, 2024 and May 7, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Compass and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-codi/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJuly 8, 2025 .About the LawsuitCompass and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On May 7, 2025, the Company 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.," disclosing 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." The Company 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." On this news, the price of Compass' shares plummeted approximately 62%, from $17.25 per share on May 7, 2025, to $6.55 per share on May 8, 2025.The case is Matthews v. Compass Group Diversified Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-981.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com CONTACT: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-22 23:45:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 484 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC (NYSE:CODI) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: A class action securities lawsuit was filed against Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC that seeks to recover losses of shareholders who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 1, 2024 and May 7, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, throughout the class period, defendants failed to disclose to investors that Compass lacked effective internal controls over its financial reporting; that Compass failed to disclose critical information regarding Lugano Holding, Inc. ("Lugano") which kept undisclosed financing arrangements and exhibited irregularities in its sales, cost of sales, inventory and accounts receivable; and that, as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's financial reporting were materially misleading.The truth emerged on May 7, 2025, after the market closed, the Company announced that its financial statements for fiscal 2024 could no longer be relied upon due to an ongoing internal investigation into its subsidiary, Lugano. Specifically, Compass reported that its Audit Committee launched an investigation over "concerns about how Lugano was potentially financing inventory." The Company also announced that it intends to delay the filing of its first quarter 2025 Form 10-Q. Further, effective May 7, 2025, Lugano's founder and CEO, Moti Ferder, resigned from Lugano and will not receive any severance compensation.Following this news, the price of Compass' common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $17.25 per share on May 7, 2025 to $6.55 per share on May 8, 2025.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Compass Diversified stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/compass-diversified-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=149852&wire=1&utm_campaign=4 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 14:30:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 334 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Shareholder protection law firm of Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating the fairness of the recently announced proposed buyout of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DNB) ("DNB") shareholders.Click here for additional information: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/dun-bradstreet/ On March 24, 2025, DNB announced that it had agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. at a price of$9.15 per sharein cash. Following the closing of the proposed transaction, DNB's current stockholders will be cashed out of their investment position and the company's shares will no longer be publicly traded.The investigation seeks to determine whether DNB shareholders will be receiving sufficient monetary consideration for their shares, and whether the company's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties or violated the securities laws in agreeing to sell the company at $9.15 per share. Notably, shares of DNB's common stock traded above$12.00 per shareas recently as February 2025, and at the time the proposed transaction was announced, several stock analysts were maintaining price targets for the company's shares above the proposed buyout price.DNB shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 - 0750 for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options.Alternatively, investors may submit their information to the firm by clicking on the following link (or if necessary, by copying and pasting the link into your browser):Kaskela Law LLCexclusivelyrepresents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis, which means that the firm's clientsneverpay any out-of-pocket costs for legal representation. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC, including the firm's recent notable recoveries for investors, please visitwww.kaskelalaw.com CONTACT:KASKELA LAW LLC D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. ( skaskela@ kaskelalaw.com ) Adrienne Bell, Esq. ( abell@ kaskelalaw.com ) 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (484) 229 - 0750 www.kaskelalaw.com This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.SOURCE: Kaskela Law LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 00:00:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 670 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., May 22, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Everus Construction Group, Inc. (NYSE:ECG) between October 31, 2024 and February 11, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), including investors who held MDU Resources Group, Inc. ("MDU Resources") common stock as of October 21, 2024 and acquired Everus Construction common stock issued in connection with the spinoff of Everus Construction on or about October 31, 2024 (the "Spinoff"), of the important June 3, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Everus Construction common stock during the Class Period and/or held MDU Resources common stock and acquired Everus Construction common stock in connection with the Spinoff you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Everus Construction class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=37947 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 3, 2025.A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Everus Construction's backlog conversion cycle had become elongated due to larger, more complex projects; (2) as a result, Everus Construction's revenue recognition would be delayed; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Everus Construction's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Everus Construction class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=37947call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-24 00:00:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 568 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Electronic Caregiver, Inc. , the company behindAddison Care- the world's first 3D AI-driven virtual caregiver with integrated TeleCare infrastructure-is expanding its national reseller network through the launch of itsMaster Care Partner Program , offering what may be one of the most exciting and lucrative self-employment opportunities in the U.S. today.With over 140 million Americans living with chronic conditions, 53 million overstressed family caregivers seeking support, and 50 million aging adults aiming to maintain independence, the demand for proactive, AI-powered health management has never been greater. Addison Care delivers real-time health trend monitoring, chronic care adherence, personalized engagement, cognitive stimulation, and coordinated emergency and clinical response, providing users with longer, safer, more fulfilling lives at home."This market segment is a rocket ship of opportunity," said Anthony Dohrmann, Founder and CEO of Electronic Caregiver. "But there's been no national destination for distributing digital health at scale. The company that builds diverse, integrated, and far-reaching distribution channels across all care delivery models will dominate virtual care-and that's our mission." A Groundbreaking Turnkey OpportunityMaster Care Partners are self-employed resellers who receive a complete, ready-to-launch business model with no startup costs, no inventory to purchase, and no staffing required. Each Partner earns upfront activation bonuses and participates in recurring monthly revenue streams from long-term service contracts, plus equity participation. Electronic Caregiver handles all inventory logistics, 24/7 customer support, warranty service, and product delivery, enabling resellers to focus entirely on network development and market growth.Partners build professional referral networks in key healthcare verticals, including:Senior living & senior servicesHome care & rehabilitationPhysical therapy & DME providersPodiatrists, audiologists, optometrists, and primary careInsurance brokers & aging-in-place solution providers"This is a business that enables every reseller to become a mission-driven community leader reducing preventable hospitalizations, promoting patient independence, and giving caregivers peace of mind," said Dohrmann. "We're talking about changing lives while building a powerful income stream." Massive Demand, Meaningful ImpactThe digital health industry is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2035, and AI-driven care avatars like Addison are increasingly recognized as the future front line of healthcare, as echoed in recent comments by CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.Addison Care addresses the 5 Pillars of Patient Concern:Longevity and survivalAutonomy and independenceComfort and quality of lifeUnderstanding health status and trust in care plansStaying connected to family, friends, and purpose"Addison is more than just a tablet. It's 24/7 companionship, real-time care plan engagement, access to emergency help, on-demand physicians, and daily stimulation for both mind and body," said Dohrmann. "It's the right mission, at the right time with the right model." Electronic Caregiver plans to recruit 30,000 U.S. resellers by Q1 2030, with hundreds already onboarded and beginning to build their markets. Qualified applicants must complete a brief HIPAA certification and background check, followed by training and immediate activation with a complete starter kit.About Electronic CaregiverElectronic Caregiver, Inc., founded in 2009, is a pioneering digital health technology company delivering AI-powered virtual care solutions to aging, ill, and disabled populations. With over $150M invested in R&D, 27 awarded patents, spotlights by AWS, Intel, and Samsung, serving reputable clinical organizations coast to coast, and clients in all 50 states, the company is redefining home healthcare, chronic care management, and patient engagement for the 21st century.Contact Information Travis Luevano Director, Digital Marketingmedia@ ecg-hq.com (575) 649-7808SOURCE: Electronic Caregiver, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 20:45:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 613 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK), a distinguished pioneer in the rare-earth sector, proudly announces groundbreaking progress in its Sierra Leone lithium expedition, positioning the company at the forefront of the global energy transition.A Strategic Leap in Lithium ExplorationIn a move that underscores its commitment to sustainable energy solutions, Elektros Inc. has achieved significant milestones in its Sierra Leone operations. The company's latest geological surveys reveal lithium concentrations surpassing initial projections, indicating the potential for one of the most substantial lithium deposits in West Africa.Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla, has long emphasized the critical role of lithium in the future of transportation. High-grade lithium, particularly from secure and ethical sources, is not just a preference for Musk-it is a necessity. As the backbone of electric vehicle batteries, lithium determines the efficiency, range, and sustainability of EVs. Musk has repeatedly highlighted the importance of lithium supply chains in public statements, stating that lithium refining and sourcing are among the biggest constraints to Tesla's growth. The discovery of high-grade lithium in Sierra Leone by Elektros Inc. could align with Musk's strategic vision for securing dependable lithium resources, further accelerating the global adoption of clean energy vehicles."Our findings in Sierra Leone are not just promising-they're transformative," stated Shlomo Bleier, CEO of Elektros Inc. "This expedition propels us into a new era of energy innovation, aligning with global demands for clean and efficient power sources." Capitalizing on Global Energy TrendsThe urgency for lithium, a critical component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage, has never been more pronounced. With major automakers like Tesla and BMW intensifying their search for reliable lithium sources, Elektros Inc.'s advancements come at a pivotal moment.Industry analysts highlight the strategic importance of West African lithium reserves in diversifying the global supply chain, reducing dependency on traditional markets, and fostering economic growth in emerging regions.Investor-Centric Growth and Market PotentialElektros Inc.'s streamlined share structure and proactive exploration strategies have caught the attention of investors seeking opportunities in the booming EV and renewable energy sectors. The company's recent developments are anticipated to catalyze increased trading activity and shareholder value."Elektros Inc. is not just exploring lithium; we're unlocking the future of energy," remarked CEO Shlomo Bleier. "Our Sierra Leone project exemplifies our dedication to innovation and shareholder prosperity." About Elektros Inc.Elektros Inc. (OTC PINK:ELEK) is a forward-thinking company specializing in the exploration and development of rare-earth elements essential for modern energy solutions. With a focus on sustainability and technological advancement, Elektros Inc. is committed to driving the global shift towards renewable energy.Cautionary LanguageForward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Elektros Inc.'s future operations and potential developments. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Elektros Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.Lithium, often referred to as the 'white gold' of the energy sector, is a rare-earth mineral that plays an indispensable role in the advancement of clean technology. Its critical use in electric vehicle (EV) batteries positions lithium as a cornerstone of the global transition to renewable energy. Every major automaker - from Tesla and Mercedes-Benz to BMW and Lexus - relies on lithium to power the next generation of vehicles. As the world pivots away from fossil fuels, the demand for lithium is skyrocketing, making it one of the most strategically valuable resources of our time. Elektros Inc.'s discovery in Sierra Leone could prove to be a game-changer in securing a sustainable and powerful energy future.SOURCE: Elektros Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 01:00:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 872 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Epique Realty Recognized in Premier Global Business Awards Program for Exceptional PerformanceHOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 / The 2025 Globee Awards for Artificial Intelligence is an esteemed program dedicated to honoring groundbreaking achievements and celebrating excellence and innovation across the international AI industry.Epique Realty and CEO Joshua Miller are happy to announce that together they have been named winners of seven awards at the 2025 Globee Awards for Artificial Intelligence, one of the world's premier data-driven business awards programs. This recognition underscores Epique's dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible with artificial intelligence.Empowering agents. Epique Realty's integrated AI solutions are transforming real estate. Epique is committed to delivering innovative, agent-centric solutions that drive business value and set new industry standards.Epique received these 2025 Globee Awards for Artificial intelligence specifically for empowering agents as Epique's integrated AI solutions are transforming real estate. The following seven winners were awarded:2025 Silver Globee WinnersEpique AIPRO and integrated AI solutions, Real Estate AI SolutionsEpique AIPRO, Most Innovative AI Product for Real Estate2025 Bronze Globee WinnersEpique Realty, Best Achievement in AI OperationsJoshua Miller, Epique RealtyAI Thought Leadership of the YearAI Expertise AchievementAI Technology Leadership AchievementAI Leadership Achievement"Winning the 2025 Globee Awards for AI means we're delivering on the promise," declared Joshua Miller, CEO and Co-Founder of Epique Realty. "We've always believed that technology, especially AI, should be a powerful force for good, something that truly changes the equation. This incredible recognition for Epique is a bright, shining signal that our commitment to real-world impact for our agents and their clients to building AI that genuinely creates extraordinary and lasting value, is not just a vision - it's a reality. We're not only building tools; we're building the future." Janice Delcid, CFO and Co-Founder of Epique, was enthusiastic, "We are so proud of Josh and our Epique AI team for these outstanding awards. This recognition acknowledges Josh's innovative and visionary leadership. It includes Epique's focus on agent well-being and success. Epique Realty offers a range of benefits at no cost to agents, including healthcare, vision and dental coverage, and essential business tools like CRM access and personalized marketing materials. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders, Epique Realty has created a support system that agents have reported saving $30,000 annually while improving business performance." Epique AIPRO, Epique.ai and Epique's integrated AI solutions exemplify the company's dedication to democratizing success for agents, offering them powerful AI tools to streamline everyday tasks, from generating property descriptions to executing strategic marketing campaigns. Recognized as the #1 AI tool for real estate agents by publications like Ascendix and Real Trends, Epique.ai brings natural language processing capabilities to agents' fingertips, helping them focus more on client relationships and closing deals."Epique Realty's rapid expansion and dedication to agent success highlight the effectiveness of Epique's visionary strategy," states Christopher Miller, COO and Co-Founder of Epique. "By integrating innovative technology with an agent-focused model, Epique has not only disrupted the conventional brokerage landscape but has also set a precedent for the future of real estate, showcasing that a brokerage can be both transformative and empowering." "Moreover, Epique Realty is raising the bar and setting the pace for transformation. The company's amazing growth is a direct result of its steadfast commitment to its agents. As Epique Realty invites ambitious agents ready to redefine their careers and embrace the future of real estate to join the revolution," concludes COO and Co-Founder Christopher Miller.The Globee Awards for Artificial Intelligence honor organizations, products, teams, and individuals leading the way in AI innovation. From breakthrough AI models and intelligent automation to transformative use cases in healthcare, finance, security, and more, these awards spotlight those making the most significant impact through artificial intelligence.Over 2,995 judges from around the world, representing a diverse array of industry experts, applied for the judging process. The final judges are listed here: https://globeeawards.com/artificial-intelligence/judges , Judges evaluate nominations based on four key criteria: Achievement, Main Content, Summary, and Supporting Materials. This systematic approach guarantees consistent, transparent, and high-quality evaluations, making it a trusted benchmark for recognizing excellence worldwide."The 2025 winners reflect the innovation and forward-thinking mindset needed to lead in AI today," said San Madan, President of the Globee Awards. "With over 2,995 professionals globally participating in data-driven evaluations, this recognition truly represents industry-wide respect and validation." The Globee Awards present recognition in ten programs and competitions. To learn more about the Globee Awards, please visit the website: https://globeeawards.com . All trademarks belong to their respective owners.About Epique Realty Epique Realty is redefining the real estate brokerage with its groundbreaking agent-first model. By providing agents with exceptional tools, state-of-the-art AI technology, unheard of benefits and comprehensive support at no cost, Epique empowers agents to thrive and succeed in today's competitive market. With a solid foundation of inclusion, innovation, mentorship, and integrity, Epique Realty is one of the fastest-growing real estate brokerages in the country.#BeEpique Barbara Simpson | PR and Communications 281-773-7842 | Barbara@ EpiqueRealty.com SOURCE: Epique Realty PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 00:35:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 509 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 New Mexico Certified Chile tells a story of heritage, hard work, and homegrown flavorDEMING, NEW MEXICO / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 / In the sun-drenched heart of southern New Mexico, where the Rio Grande weaves through fields of mineral-rich soil, a single New Mexico Certified Chile begins its journey in native soil enriched in flavor and tradition.New Mexico's chile legacy is built on carefully bred varietals, with the NuMex line representing decades of research at New Mexico State University. The seeds are carefully selected for flavor, consistent heat and robust yields, then planted 24 inches apart in well-draining, mineral-rich soil. Farmers often use traditional furrow irrigation, although many use drip systems to conserve water.This chile's story goes deeper than careful cultivation. The unique terrain of Deming gives New Mexico chile a distinct flavor, but water scarcity poses ongoing challenges for farmers. Although drip irrigation improves water efficiency, it can alter soil mineral profiles and potentially affect the chile's renowned taste.By late summer, under the hot New Mexico sun, glossy green pods are carefully hand-picked. While some are bound straight for dinner tables, others ripen into a deep red, for drying and grinding into a rich, earthy powder. Across the state, chile lovers line up at grocery stores, farmers markets and festivals to witness metal roasters tumbling fresh-picked New Mexico chile over open flames, releasing an unmistakable, smoky aroma that signals chile season has arrived.Chile is the heart of New Mexico's culture. From smothered green chile burritos to red chile enchiladas, it represents more than just a flavor; it is a memory, a tradition and a feeling of home. Every year, the Salsa Festival Extravaganza draws in visitors nationwide, eager to savor the flavors and traditions that make New Mexico the chile capital of the world.The journey of New Mexico Certified Chile is a tribute to the resilience of New Mexico's farmers. Despite water challenges and changing climates, the journey of the chile from seed to soil, harvest to roasting and to breakfast and dinner tables, remains a vibrant symbol of the state's culture and culinary pride.To learn more about New Mexico Certified Chile or how to join the cause visit, https://newmexicochile.org/ . When you join New Mexico Certified Chile, you are joining a host of dedicated growers, producers and restaurants that know that authenticity is what sets us apart. Participation in this effort ensures that New Mexico Chile remains protected and certified thereby ensuring and perpetuating its high culinary esteem and value.###About New Mexico Certified Chile New Mexico Certified Chile (NMCC) is dedicated to supporting the NM chile industry by increasing demand for NM chile. We strive to create an atmosphere of chile being for of the NM culture, heritage and pride. Our mission is to cultivate the world-renowned varieties grown only here in New Mexican soil and to protect, promote and advocate for the entire industry dedicated to growing this very special crop. NMCC is a program of the New Mexico Chile Association.CONTACTTom Garrity505.898.8689 NMChile@ garritypr.com SOURCE: New Mexico Chile Association PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 18:16:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Andy Frain Services, Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Andy Frain Services.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 23, 2024, Andy Frain Services became aware of a security incident on its internal network. Upon detection, Andy Frain Services launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident.The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to internal systems containing sensitive information. It was determined that the breach was caused by a ransomware attack attributed to the BlackBasta group. On November 19, 2024, BlackBasta claimed responsibility via a dark web Tor site, stating they had exfiltrated 750 GB of data including accounting, human resources, legal, contracts, and payroll information. Andy Frain Services conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On May 5, 2025, Andy Frain Services identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.On May 10, 2025, Andy Frain Services filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General's Office and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Andy Frain Services you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 22:10:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 392 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Festival Hosted By Grey And Presented By Live Wildly Will Livestream For Free For The First Time EverTAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / On Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, acclaimed Alligator Records recording artist JJ Grey, leader of JJ Grey & Mofro, will host the 2025 Blackwater Sol Revue presented by the Live Wildly Foundation. Today, Friday, May 23, Grey announced that, for the first time ever, the festival will be livestreamed around the world for free.The free livestream will be hosted onVolume.comand available at this link: https://volume.com/blackwatersolrevue There will be an additional donation link for people to contribute to Live Wildly's conservation efforts. According to Live Wildly, "We are proud to present JJ Grey's Blackwater Sol Revue. Donations made on this livestream will directly support conservation initiatives that help preserve wild Florida." JJ Grey & Mofro will headline both nights at Florida's St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Other artists on the bill include 49 Winchester, The White Buffalo, John Anderson, Andy Frasco & The U.N., The Marshall Tucker Band and Huntley.About JJ Grey & Mofro: From his early days playing cover music in a Jacksonville juke joint while working at a lumberyard, to headlining sold-out shows worldwide, JJ Grey has always poured his soul into his music. Since his debut albumBlackwaterin 2001, Grey has delivered moving, funk-infused rock and Southern soul. His tenth album, 2024'sOlustee , sees him returning to his roots, sharing personal stories of redemption, hard luck, and inner peace. The album, steeped in the Southern myths of his Florida home, showcases his gritty baritone and evocative songwriting, blending the carnal with the cerebral. Through vivid lyrics and passionate delivery, Grey reminds listeners to respect the natural world, live in the moment, and, most importantly, enjoy life's good times.About Live Wildly: Live Wildly is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida's natural landscapes and wildlife. Through advocacy, education, and community engagement, Live Wildly works to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and empower individuals to take action to protect the environment. The organization is committed to safeguarding Florida's rich biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.For more information on JJ Grey & Mofro, visitjjgrey.comor theofficial Facebook Page .Contact Information Live Wildly Press Contactpressrelease@ livewildly.com Marc LipkinJJ Grey & Mofro Media Contactmarc@ allig.com Hillary ClintonJJ Grey & Mofro Media Contacthillary@ regimemusicgroup.com SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 00:15:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 399 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE:IBTA) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: This lawsuit is on behalf of persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded Ibotta securities pursuant and/or traceable to documents issued in connection with Ibotta's April 18, 2024 initial public offering.CASE DETAILS: According to the filed complaint, defendants made false statements and/or concealed that they did not properly warn investors of the risks concerning Ibotta's contract with The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"). Kroger's contract was at-will, and Ibotta failed to warn investors that a large client could cancel their contract with Ibotta without warning. Despite providing a detailed explanation of the terms of Ibotta's contract with Walmart, there was not a single warning of the at-will nature of Kroger's contract. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Ibotta stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/ibotta-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=149853&wire=1&utm_campaign=31 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 19:30:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1002 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Ancient Egyptian Sound Technology Unlocks the Pineal Gland to Activate Wealth-Brainwave States and Attract Rapid Financial Gains Without Meditation or VisualizationCINCINNATI, OH / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / In a world where financial struggles are all too common, many individuals seek innovative solutions to attract wealth and abundance into their lives. One such groundbreaking approach is thePyramid Wealth Frequency , an ancient sound frequency believed to unlock the pathways to financial prosperity. This unique sound, originating from the depths of one of Egypt's oldest pyramids, is said to have a profound impact on the human brain, activating the natural wealth attraction center and facilitating the manifestation of abundance.At its core, the Pyramid Wealth Frequency harnesses the power of sound, tapping into the vibrational energy that surrounds us. Sound has been recognized for centuries for its healing properties, and recent scientific studies have begun to unveil the mechanisms behind its effects on our minds and bodies. When applied to wealth manifestation, this ancient frequency offers a new perspective on how we can align our energies with financial success.Many people experience frustration and disappointment when traditional methods of wealth attraction fail to deliver results. Whether through the law of attraction, positive affirmations, or visualization techniques, the journey to financial freedom can often feel like an uphill battle. The Pyramid Wealth Frequency presents an alternative path-one that requires no tedious rituals, meditations, or complex practices. Instead, it invites individuals to listen and absorb the sound, allowing it to work its magic in the background of their daily lives.This article will delve into the fascinating world of sound frequencies and their connection to wealth manifestation. We will explore the historical context of ancient Egyptian beliefs surrounding sound, the scientific research supporting its efficacy, and the transformative stories of individuals who have experienced life-changing results through the Pyramid Wealth Frequency. By understanding the principles behind this ancient sound and learning how to incorporate it into our lives, we can all take actionable steps towards achieving the financial freedom we desire.Join us on this journey as we uncover the secrets of the Pyramid Wealth Frequency and discover how a simple sound can potentially unlock the door to a wealthier, more abundant life.Understanding Sound FrequenciesThe concept of sound frequencies is not just an abstract idea; it is a profound principle that influences various aspects of our lives, including our physical health, emotional well-being, and even our financial success. In this section, we will delve into how sound frequencies work, the science behind sound healing, and their effects on the brain, particularly in the context of wealth manifestation.The Basics of Sound FrequenciesSound is a form of energy that travels in waves, produced by vibrating objects. These vibrations create pressure waves in the air, which our ears perceive as sound. Frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz), and they represent the number of vibrations per second. Different frequencies produce different sounds, which can affect us in various ways. Low frequencies tend to create a sense of calm and grounding, while high frequencies can energize and uplift.In the context of wealth manifestation, specific sound frequencies are believed to resonate with the brain's natural frequencies, enhancing our ability to attract abundance. The Pyramid Wealth Frequency, for instance, is said to be a unique combination of vibrations that taps into the ancient wisdom of sound healing, allowing individuals to align their energy with financial success.The Science Behind Sound HealingSound healing is an ancient practice that has gained modern recognition through various scientific studies. Research has shown that sound waves can influence the brain's activity, leading to changes in mood, emotional states, and even physical health. When we listen to specific frequencies, our brainwaves can synchronize with those frequencies, a phenomenon known as brainwave entrainment.The Role of Brainwave StatesThere are several brainwave states, each associated with different levels of consciousness:Delta Waves (0.5-4 Hz): Deep sleep and healing.Theta Waves (4-8 Hz): Meditation, intuition, and creativity.Alpha Waves (8-12 Hz): Relaxation and calmness.Beta Waves (12-30 Hz): Alertness and active thinking.Gamma Waves (30 Hz and above): High-level information processing.For wealth manifestation, the most beneficial states are often the Theta and Alpha waves, as they promote relaxation, creativity, and a heightened sense of intuition. By using the Pyramid Wealth Frequency, individuals can enter these states more easily, making it simpler to visualize and attract their financial goals.Effects of Sound on the BrainSound frequencies can produce significant effects on our brain structure and function. Studies have found that listening to calming frequencies can reduce stress, lower anxiety, and increase feelings of happiness and well-being. This is particularly important for those who struggle with financial stress, as it can create a cycle of negativity that inhibits wealth manifestation.Activation of the Pineal GlandOne of the critical areas impacted by sound frequencies is the Pineal gland, often referred to as the "third eye." This small gland in the brain is responsible for producing melatonin, regulating sleep patterns, and influencing our circadian rhythms. More importantly, it is thought to play a vital role in our spiritual and intuitive abilities.When sound frequencies, particularly those like the Pyramid Wealth Frequency, activate the Pineal gland, individuals may experience heightened intuition, clarity, and a more profound connection to their desires. This can lead to an increased ability to manifest wealth, as one becomes more in tune with their goals and intentions.Traditional Methods of Wealth Attraction vs. Sound FrequenciesMany traditional methods of wealth attraction, such as visualization, affirmations, and the Law of Attraction, often require significant mental effort and focus. While these techniques can produce results, they may not work for everyone, particularly those who find it challenging to maintain a positive mindset amidst financial struggles.In contrast, sound frequencies offer a more effortless approach to manifesting wealth. By simply listening to the Pyramid Wealth Frequency, individuals can bypass the mental barriers that often hinder their success. The vibrations work on a subconscious level, aligning the listener's PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 10:50:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 515 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Foundation Kings announces complimentary structural drawings for 2025 basement lowering projects, helping Toronto homeowners expand their living space with expert underpinning solutions.TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / The Foundation Kings, a basement lowering and underpinning company serving Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), has announced a new offer: free structural underpinning drawings for qualifying homeowners who begin a basement lowering or underpinning project in 2025.This initiative aims to simplify the early stages of construction for GTA homeowners looking to expand their living space without relocating.Creating Livable Space Beneath Toronto HomesWith rising home prices and limited square footage across Toronto, many homeowners are turning to basement lowering-also known as underpinning-as a practical alternative to moving. The process involves excavating beneath the foundation to increase ceiling height and reinforce the structure, effectively transforming underutilized basements into functional, code-compliant living spaces."The demand for legal basement suites, home gyms, and multigenerational spaces has never been higher," says Jamie Ferreira, President of The Foundation Kings. "Lowering the basement creates options while increasing property value." The company's services are designed for families, investors, and property owners looking to enhance both safety and usability in their homes.Complimentary Structural Drawings for 2025 ProjectsTo streamline the start of complex renovations, The Foundation Kings are offering free structural underpinning drawing services for new clients-an expense that can typically reach $2,000."Engineering drawings are required for this type of work and are often a barrier for homeowners," Ferreira adds. "We're eliminating that step so people can focus on their goals." For more information on this initiative and service eligibility, visit https://thefoundationkings.com A Trusted Process from Consultation to CompletionThe Foundation Kings follow a standardized process that includes consultation, permit guidance, engineering support, and full-scale project management. Their team works with licensed professionals to meet all city codes and safety standards, ensuring every underpinning or basement lowering project is executed legally and with long-term durability in mind.The company provides services across Toronto and the GTA, including areas such as East York, Etobicoke, North York, The Beaches, and Scarborough.Core service areas include:Basement lowering (underpinning)Walkout basement constructionBasement additions and extensionsInterior and exterior waterproofingCrawl space excavation and conversionsFull basement renovationsEmphasizing Safety and ComplianceBecause basement underpinning affects a home's structural integrity, the work must meet engineering requirements and pass municipal inspections. The Foundation Kings ensure all work is completed under permit and reviewed by qualified engineers."We place high priority on doing things correctly from the outset," says Ferreira. "Every home deserves a strong and secure foundation." About The Foundation KingsThe Foundation Kings is a Toronto-based construction company specializing in basement lowering, underpinning, waterproofing, and structural renovations. With hundreds of completed projects across the GTA, the company is known for delivering compliant, high-quality foundation work for homeowners and investors alike.For more information, visit https://thefoundationkings.com Media ContactOrganization: The Foundation KingsContact Person Name: Jamie FerreiraWebsite: https://thefoundationkings.com Email: info@ thefoundationkings.com Address: 34 Minowan Miikan LaneCity: TorontoState: OntarioCountry: CanadaSOURCE: King Newswire PR-Inside.com: 2025-05-23 15:21:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 756 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FRANKLIN, NJ / ACCESS Newswire / May 23, 2025 / Silver Scott Mines, Inc. (OTC PINK:SILS) today announced that its blockchain-based KYC protection platform, TrustNFT.io , will integrate InvestReady's industry-leading verification technology into its backend infrastructure, including both InvestReadys classic web2 API as well as its new web3 service, accreditoken. This strategic partnership enhances TrustNFT's ability to protect accredited investors in the wake of the recent data breaches that have exposed millions of customers' personal data. TrustNFT.io's integration with InvestReady creates a robust compliance framework that maintains the highest standards of data security while streamlining the verification process for high-net-worth individuals.Enhanced Security Through Strategic Partnership TrustNFT.io's decentralized architecture combined with InvestReady's SEC-compliant verification system creates a comprehensive solution that addresses the growing security concerns in the digital asset space. InvestReady, the leader in compliant accredited investor verifications since 2013, brings established expertise in handling sensitive investor data with privacy as a priority."This partnership represents a significant advancement in our mission to protect accredited investors and their identities," said the TrustNFT development team. "By integrating InvestReady's proven verification technology with our blockchain-secured platform, we're creating an unprecedented level of protection while maintaining full compliance with regulatory requirements." The integration specifically enhances TrustNFT's capabilities with:SEC-compliant verification processes that maintain the highest data security standardsStreamlined KYC processes that minimize document re-uploading across investment platformsEnhanced privacy controls that keep investor information confidential and secureSeamless verification of accredited investor status without exposing financial detailsAddressing Critical Market NeedsInvestReady's verification system will power TrustNFT's backend, allowing the platform to safely verify investor accreditation status while maintaining rigorous privacy standards."We designed InvestReady to carefully and safely confirm investment status without revealing private information to unauthorized parties," said a representative from InvestReady. "Our partnership with TrustNFT.io combines our verification expertise with cutting-edge blockchain technology, creating a solution that truly addresses the security challenges facing accredited investors today." InvestReady's new accreditoken process will allow for parallel onchain credentials on multiple chains, including Base, Avalanche, Polygon, Optimism, and Solana with more to come, allowing for multi-chain compliance out of the box.Join the Secure Future of InvestmentTrustNFT continues to invite investment platforms, fund managers, and accredited investors to participate in its beta rollout atwww.TrustNFT.io . Early participants will now benefit from the added security and compliance features provided through the InvestReady integration."The future of private capital markets demands both innovation and trust," added the Silver Scott Digital Team. "By combining TrustNFT's blockchain security with InvestReady's established verification protocols, we're building that future today." About Silver Scott Mines, Inc. (OTC PINK:SILS)Silver Scott Mines, through its digital innovation division, Silver Scott Digital, is focused on building blockchain-secured financial and identity tools that prepare markets for next-generation compliance, transparency, and user sovereignty. TrustNFT is the company's flagship platform in private market infrastructure.X:https://x.com/TrustNFT2025About InvestReadyInvestReady is the leading source of SEC-compliant investor verification for equity crowdfunding and generally solicited private placements since 2013. Their technology enables seamless and safe verification of accredited investor status while keeping personal information private and secure. InvestReady serves both individual investors and entities, providing multiple integration options for investment platforms.InvestReady: https://verifications.investready.com accreditoken: https://accreditoken.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/investready X:https://x.com/getinvestreadyJoin the beta TrustNFT.io #TrustNFT #KYCRevolution #AccreditedInvestorSecurity #OTCSILS #PrivateMarkets #BlockchainComplianceDisclaimer: TrustNFT is in beta and not a registered securities platform. Participation does not guarantee investment approval and is subject to platform terms and accreditation verification.Forward Looking StatementsThis press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. Words such as expects, believes, anticipates, intends, estimates, seeks and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements with respect to revenues, earnings, performance, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the businesses of Silver Scott Mines, are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements.Contact Information Stuart Fine, CEO stuartfine@ silverscottmines.com908-356-9852 SOURCE: Silver Scott Mines Inc Despite global efforts to advance womens rights, Nigerian men and boys face a growing crises in education, healthcare, intimate partner violence, employment conditions and others, a group has said. The International Council for Men and Boys, in a press release sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, said while efforts are ongoing to advance womens empowerment, men and boys in Nigeria are being overlooked. The group is a non-governmental organisation working to celebrate the contributions of men to society and to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys around the world. The US-based organisation said Nigeria needs to urgently confront these gender gaps and ensure its males are no longer ignored in national dialogue. Education According to the international group, men in Nigeria are less literate than women. According to the United Nations Women Fact Sheet, only 52.7 per cent of men aged 15 and above can read and write, compared to 62 per cent of women According to 2018 Statista data, elementary school enrollment in some regions of Nigeria showed a gender disparity, with the southwest zone having the highest female enrollment at 73 per cent and the North-West zone having 64.4 per cent male enrollment. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Meanwhile, findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that the figures are not entirely accurate. According to Statista, as of 2018, the gross enrollment rate in elementary schools in Nigeria stood at 68.3 per cent. The North-Western states registered the highest figures, with 70.3 per cent for males and 71.1 per cent for females. In particular, the states of Katsina and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had the highest rates nationwide, whereas Rivers and Zamfara recorded the lowest figures, the website reads. The organisation said that at Ignatius Ajuru University, nearly two-thirds of students in 2018 were women. However, there are more male undergraduates than females in Nigeria, as of 2018, PREMIUM TIMES search revealed. Health Similarly, in the healthcare sector, Nigerian men are more likely to die before their female counterparts. The life expectancy for males is 60, while for females, it is 64, which is among the lowest globally. Adult mortality is also higher for men: 364.6 deaths per 1,000 compared to 349.87 per 1,000 for women, the statement reads. Intimate Partner Violence Quoting a research assessing the prevalence and forms of intimate partner violence during the COVID-19 lockdown, the organisation lamented that 44.8 per cent of men reported intimate partner violence, compared to 37.6 per cent of women. Sexual violence (28.1 per cent) and deprivation (80 per cent) were common, with many men remaining silent due to stigma and normalisation of abuse. Homicide, suicide Also, men face triple the homicide risk14.604 per 100,000 compared to 4.967 for women, according to World Bank data. The group described suicide as mens crisis, with 8.4 deaths per 100,000, nearly six times higher than its female counterparts. Workplace Citing the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the group said work-related deaths are unequally distributed, with the male mortality rate (108.3 per 100,000 in the labour force) being significantly higher than the female rate (48.4 per 100,000). According to the data released by the ILO, in 2023, work-related diseases and accidents killed 2.6 million, globally. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print This years University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was one of a kind. It shoved its handler, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), into a maelstrom with the mass poor scores of candidates and technical glitches that characterised the test. Arising from this, the agency, under the leadership of its Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, suddenly faced a highly upset and even belligerent public, which it was not prepared for. This was accentuated by the fact that candidates who had sat this exam many times had become frustrated and, in some cases, extremely apprehensive. In Lagos State, for instance, a 19-year-old female candidate, identified simply as Timilehin, tragically committed suicide for her low score of 190, which was worse than her 2024 performance. Others, whose cases are not as terminal as Timilehins, are at the nadir of ever attaining dreams of becoming university graduates. Statistics show that candidates who scored below 200 marks, out of a maximum 400, were about 1.5 million, representing 78 per cent of the total 1.9 million candidates who sat for the examination. Again, those who scored over 320 marks totalled only 4,756, or 0.24 per cent of the entire candidates. The faulty or technical patches of the UTME thats said to have led to these poor outcomes were more evident in the Lagos and Owerri zones. JAMB made amends in this regard, with 379,997 candidates re-sitting the exam on 16 and 18 May respectively. This has never happened before. A group of parents and candidates, who could not bear the traumatic experience they passed through, hurriedly instituted a class action suit against JAMB. This was shortly before the agency launched an investigation into the matter, owned up to its mistakes, and profusely apologised to Nigerians and the candidates who felt undone by how badly the exam was conducted. The JAMB Registrar, Mr Oloyede, a recipient of plaudits since he assumed office for his exemplary leadership and accountability, suddenly became the butt of public tirades. But to all the aggrieved, he offered an olive branch: I apologise for the trauma caused the candidates. He beat back tears as he publicly made this overture of penitence and promise of swift retooling. These are virtues that are rare in public service in the country. There is a huge lesson to learn from this. We believe that Mr Oloyede should be commended for this humility and seeming bravery to admit JAMBs folly. Other government agencies that ruin their national assignments and even unashamedly go to court to stonewall attempts to bring them to account, should learn from the JAMB authorities. Mr Oloyedes display of humility and search for redress is how institutions are built and strengthened to regain lost public confidence. No human system is foolproof, needless to say, therefore the vilification should end. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As soon as it could no longer assuage public angst over the incident, JAMB quickly assembled a team of technical experts to conduct a forensic audit of the glitch, which identified the problem. This inquisition was carried out by a team, including an organisation, Educare, led by James Nnanyelugo, an engineer. Its finding was that, The Lagos and South-East servers continued operating on outdated software that could not interpret the newly shuffled question and answer structure. However, the point has to be made, there is nothing JAMB or Mr Oloyede should be mortally ashamed of. If anything, there is enough blame to go around the stakeholders: from schools to teachers, parents, candidates and the government itself. The Computer Based Test (CBT) was introduced in 2013 when it was experimented with in a few centres before being made compulsory in 2014, which effectively eliminated the Paper-Pencil model. The logic then was that it would make the release of results faster, mitigate exam malpractices, resolve the logistical nightmare of transporting answer sheets from one part of the country to the other, and innovate in varying the questions for different batches of candidates. These goals have been attained. But despite the laudable ideals, every year, some candidates and their parents become so desperate to secure admission that miracle centres, where malpractices openly thrive, gradually became an integral part of the UTME. In some cases, parents hire those they feel could secure higher scores to sit the exams on behalf of their children and wards. To counter this, JAMB introduced a finger-print verification process, to strengthen the integrity of its tests. The failure of the finger-print verification this year was one of the causes of delay at some centres. Its knock-on effect was anxiety for the affected candidates, while the exam lasted, just as 2,000 candidates reportedly could not sit the UTME as a result of this challenge. Interestingly, 244 WhatsApp platforms for circulating leaked exam questions were uncovered, just as 2,185 candidates are under investigation for various malpractices and 97 cases have so far been established. Intriguingly, a visually impaired person, also hired a fellow with the same physical handicap to sit the exam for him, to underscore the degree of this perfidy. The urge to cheat was what led to the introduction of the element of fingerprint authentication. Its fallout, in delays, therefore, was not JAMB-induced, but that of the cheats. Some schools and teachers, in the perverse promotion of their institutions, encourage and assist their students to excel in the UTME, even as they fail to teach their students well. These culminate in the dysfunctions of Nigerias educational system, with no deliberate steps being taken by government to address them. One issue often neglected, leading to the poor CBT scores of candidates, is the question of their exposure to the use of computers before stepping into the exam halls. Many students in schools in urban centres lack computer skills, let alone those in rural areas. The only time they come in contact with a computer is when UTME forms are filled and submitted. Then, they rush to computer schools for two months of training. Under this circumstance, time would not be enough to attain proficiency in computer use. This should remind all of a newspaper article by a former presidential spokesman, Segun Adeniyi, of how computer keyboards are learnt on the chalkboard a few years ago. Put differently, no matter how brilliant a candidate is, scoring high marks would be impossible as s/he would fidget with the system throughout the exam. Again, this is not a JAMB-induced crisis. Some honest candidates have alluded to this as a reason for their poor performance. This is noteworthy against the backdrop of the penchant for blaming JAMB for all that goes wrong with its exams. Fatima Lawal, who recently scored 132, confessed: I didnt know how to use the computer very well and I kept waiting for someone to guide me. Another candidate, Olaoluwa Adeola, who had a 175 score, matter-of-factly, said, I cant put all the blame(s) on JAMB. I didnt prepare well enough. Their experiences, however, differed from that of Chinedu Okeke from Enugu, who lamented that the system logged him out three times during the physics test. In all, Mr Oloyedes first apologia or defence should not be wished away: This is not peculiar to this year. The performance statistics are consistent with those of the last 12 years. This should be the focus or beginning of remedying the conundrum which is fixing the systemic collapse of education in Nigeria. Over the past five years, a total of 5,000 candidates with scores of over 300, which was high enough to be admitted for any course, could not make it. Some of the reasons for the paradox included the failure to turn up for post-UTME tests; the abysmal performance of those who participated; wrong O level subject combinations, among others. Perhaps, the cradle of all the tech meltdown during UTME exams is the fact that the country was not ripe for the jump from analogue to the digital mode when the CBT was introduced. This was analogous to a leap from the 18th Century Industrial Revolution to the Fourth Industrial Revolution the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence revolutions. Yet, the reality is that frog leaping to this new digital age is Nigerias best chance for development. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print With just a week to the deadline set by the Minister of Education, only seven of 195 federal tertiary institutions in Nigeria have complied with a directive to publish their financial and institutional data, the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has revealed. The centre, which partnered the Ministry of Education to monitor compliance of the institutions, has also created a live-tracker for members of the public to see which institutions have complied. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had directed federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to publish comprehensive data on students enrolment, grants, Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) including federal allocations by 31 May. Mr Alausa emphasised that the information be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format for public visibility. In a statement by its communications advisor on Thursday, Aliyu Jalal, the Athena centre raised concern over the low compliance levels despite the deadline being only a week away. According to the Chancellor of the Athena Centre, Osita Chidoka, the directive is a test of leadership for the institutions. Institutions must choose: transparency or shame, the statement quoted him as saying. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later With eight days left, the Athena Centre calls on university vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts to act swiftly. Compliance is beyond the ministers directive; it is an obligation to the Nigerian public, the statement said. The countdown to 31 May is not a technical deadline. It is a moment of reckoning. Institutions that fail to comply will be named and remembered. Findings The centre said most of the institutions are yet to publish the required data on their websites. Some who did published inadequate information. The statement said only the University of Lagos stood out positively for publishing consolidated financial statements from 2016 to 2023. It explained that only four out of 64 federal universities, three out of 41 federal polytechnics and none of the 90 federal monotechnics have uploaded their students and financial information. Many university websites include Financial Reports tabs that are blank or inaccessible, the centre said. It noted, for instance, that Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, published vague information on endowment projects without stating funds received or spent. The Federal Polytechnic, Ayede uploaded a generic national budget document, not an institution-specific report, it said. It added that the University of Ilorin omitted data on the postgraduate student population, indicating incomplete reporting. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, shared outdated audits from 20182022, with no current updates. Federal University Gusau, Zamfara only posted undergraduate enrollment figures without financial disclosures, it stated. This poor showing may indicate administrative incompetence or a structured resistance to transparency. In either case, it undercuts the credibility of our tertiary institutions, which are meant to model integrity, and challenges the governments vision of a transparent, inclusive, and accountable education system. The live tracker is available at: (https://lnk.athenacentre.org/43mSk0w). Background The ministers directive which he said was to foster transparency in the tertiary institutions followed a report by the Athena Centre which revealed that Nigerian institutions struggle to attract global grants due to their lack of financial transparency. The report found that none of the surveyed institutions had published their budgets, and many also ignored Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, noting it contributes to a culture of secrecy that undermines access to global research funding and damages international credibility. Shortly after the survey was made public, the education minister Mr Alausa directed all the tertiary institutions to publish their annual financial statements including revenue generated internally and allocations received as well as data on student population. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has finally confirmed he is leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending months of speculations on his political future. Mr Eno told his cabinet members at an event at Government House in Uyo on Thursday to prepare their resignation letters if they are unwilling to defect with him to the ruling APC. We want our commissioners and members of Exco, appointees, and those of you who are saying that you would not come, you are free absolutely not to join me, but you wont be in my State Executive Council. Prepare to resign the day I announced that I am moving because you cannot; you are an appointee, and your loyalty is fully to me. You cant be in my cabinet and play anti-party. It is what it is. I am even begging you to come, you normally dont expect it. You have the right not to support me again, but the right you dont have is to remain in my cabinet after I leave. I am making it clear, Mr Eno said in a video posted on YouTube by Channels Television. Reason for defection Mr Eno will be the first serving governor of Akwa Ibom State to defect from the PDP to the APC since the return of democracy in 1999. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later With his defection confirmed, the South-south region, which had its six states governed by the PDP before now, has lost four to the APC. Mr Eno is the second South-south PDP governor to dump the party for APC within a month, after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state. The Akwa Ibom governor said the PDP leadership crisis, particularly the office of the partys national secretary, which is plagued by protracted litigation, was responsible for his imminent defection. It is no more news that I am leaving the party. If you dont know this by now, I dont know what else you know. As a PDP person, I love PDP. I want to stay in PDP, but clearly, I dont have the roadmap to guarantee that I will be able to have a smooth sail in the elections. Not because we wont win an election. In this state today, with the work that all of us have done, even if we contest on a zero party, we would still win this election, no doubt about it. I know that at the national level, our party is not coming together. Every day, we have either a secretary or this and that, and so you take your form and then they send it to INEC. Then you run the elections and perhaps win the election, and just on technical grounds, because the wrong person signed your form, you lose everything. I am not going to be stupid doing that. I love my party. And in any case, we are running like theres no party, the governor said. Eno vows not to relinquish PDP structure The PDP has been the governing party in Akwa Ibom for over 26 years, since democracy was restored in Nigeria in 1999. The party has maintained a grassroots dominance in the state, producing over 90 per cent of chairpersons and councillors in all the 31 local government areas of the state. The PDP has also maintained a formidable structure at all levels in the state. Securing the PDP nomination in Akwa Ibom is likened to winning the general election, prompting its members to dub the party a religion in the state. Addressing cabinet members on his defection to the APC, Mr Eno vowed never to relinquish the PDP structure in the state, a move that may pitch him against his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, whom, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, has refused to move with him to the APC. Contrary to insinuations that I want to run both parties, far from it. And what is wrong with being interested? We would not leave the PDP for thieves to come and hijack it and use it to fight against us. We will lead the structure of the party so that they can work together and stay so that people dont come from outside and think Umo Eno has moved, let me come and hijack the party. No, let the structure of the party remain. Theyve done their congresses, let them run and let it be that they are there, Mr Eno said. Background Mr Eno was elected the governor of Akwa Ibom under the PDP platform in 2023. He previously served as commissioner in Mr Emmanuels cabinet before the latter unveiled him as his preferred successor. Mr Emmanuel worked against all the odds to ensure Mr Enos victory at the polls. Speaking recently at a Thanksgiving Service in Lagos, Mr Eno appreciated his predecessors support during the election but said God used Mr Emmanuel to fulfil a prophecy made in 1980 at the Apostolic Church, Maboju Assembly, that he would return to his homeland and become a governor. Mr Eno has previously endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for reelection in 2027, a move that is considered anti-party. READ ALSO: Eno threatens to sack commissioners On Thursday, the governor said he does not want to violate the PDP constitution by supporting Mr Tinubu. Again, I support this president. I know well that this president did not create the situation (the economic crisis) we are in. I dont know how to mince words. I cannot be in PDP today and support a president of another party. It will be clearly in violation of party guidelines. I dont know how to flip-flop. So, if I am supporting the president, let me go to where I can say so and state what he has done. I dont want to practice anti-party. I dont have the kind of strength that Mr Wike has. I am a very simple man by nature, Mr Eno said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said that starting Monday, it will take possession of properties affected by the revocation of 4,794 land titles for non-payment of Ground Rent for between 10 and 43 years. Lere Olayinka, the senior special assistant on public communications and new media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja. The Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, accompanied him to the briefing. In March, Mr Wike approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles for non-payment of ground rent for more than 40 years. PREMIUM TIMES, in a subsequent report, listed the names of some of the affected land title holders, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Others are CONOIL Plc, Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National university commission (NUC), M.R.S Investment Company Limited (owners of MRS Petrol Stations) and Kaduna State Government. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar, Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are also affected. Mr Olayinka said taking possession of the properties in the Central Area, Garki, Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts will be done without considering their ownership. Ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties. As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process. Explaining further, Mr Galadima said that affected properties will be sealed and access to them restricted from Monday. He said the FCTA will decide what to do with the affected properties. On the claim that some property owners had gone to court, Mr Nwankwoeze stated that there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties. He also disclosed that the FCTA was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders who had been in default of payment of Ground Rent for one to 10 years, even after the 21-day grace period to pay up. He added that the government would act accordingly as soon as the records were fully compiled and analysed. Recall that on 18 March 2025, we informed you of the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts. These 4,794 properties were among the total of 8,375 land titles on which Ground Rent was not paid from one year to 43 years, bringing to a total of N6,967,980,119 owed as Ground Rent by 8,375 property owners. This contravenes the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act. Consequently, the titles of the properties in default were revoked in March 2025. We did say then that consequent upon the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties has reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Therefore, from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to exercise its lawful rights of taking possession of these revoked properties, the director of land administration said. Mr Nwankwoeze further explained, Recall also that a grace of 21 Days was given to title holders that were in default of payment of Ground Rent for between one and ten years, to pay up or have their land titles revoked. Relevant agencies of the FCTA are already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance with this directive, with a view to acting accordingly. It is important to state that payment of Ground Rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand. Background Since 2023, Mr Wike, through the FCTA, has repeatedly issued public warnings and notices urging defaulters to pay their outstanding ground rent. The minister, a former governor of Rivers State, is a member of the PDP, but is serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government. Some months after assuming office on 21 August 2023, he said he would not mind hurting the rich in the reforms he introduced in the FCT. He said the priority of the FCTA was public good. When we make the right decision, some people will be happy, and some will not. The rich will kick against some of our decisions, but anything that will help our people must be done, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has announced plans to restart oil production in Ogoniland after a 30-year hiatus. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, made the announcement on Thursday at a national summit organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mark two years of President Bola Tinubus administration. According to Mr Ribadu, oil production is expected to resume soon in the region. Oil production will soon resume in Ogoniland after over 30 years, he said. Mr Ribadu also said innovative security approaches by the administration have made the Niger Delta region of the country more secured, leading to an improvement in oil production. He said with the overhaul of Operation Delta Safe, a joint operation of the nations security forces, oil theft, abduction of oil workers and vandalisation of oil infrastructure have drastically reduced. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The NSA said consequently, oil production rose to at least 1.8 million barrels per day this year while all pipelines in the region are now operational for the first time in several years. Oil production-related infractions have also dropped by 47 percent while 1,978 illegal refineries were dismantled, he said. The NSA said security operatives also destroyed 3,849 dugout pits and 3,773 illegal cooking ovens within the period under review. Because of the steps taken, Nigeria is now off the global piracy-prone list, Mr Ribadu said. He explained that following the general improvement in security in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government began exploring options for the resolution of the intractable Ogoni crisis, which led to the suspension of oil production in the area 30 years ago. Ogoni oil history Ogonilands oil history dates back to the late 1950s, with exploration and production peaking in the following decades. Oilfields operated until the early 1990s, when public unrest and protests against oil companies, particularly Shell, halted operations. Despite the suspension, the region still suffers from environmental pollution due to oil spills, leakages, and infrastructure damage. A 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report exposed the severity of the pollution, revealing contaminated water, soil, and air, with benzene levels exceeding safe limits. The report estimated a 30-year restoration timeline and called for immediate action. Ogoni clean-up In 2016, the Nigerian government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, launched the Ogoni cleanup initiative under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), but progress has been slow. Local communities have remained frustrated, demanding justice, accountability, and compensation for the environmental and health impacts of decades of oil pollution. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello have been lined up to testify in a criminal defamation case against Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. PREMIUM TIMES reported Thursday that the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), under the Federal Ministry of Justice, charged Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan on 16 May at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja. The prosecution alleged that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan defamed Messrs Akpabio and Bello by accusing them, during a television programme, of plotting to assassinate her. It alleged in the three counts preferred against the senator that she made the imputation on Channels Televisions Politics Today on 3 April, knowing or having reason to believe that it would harm the reputations of the two political figures. The case was brought under Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, which criminalises imputations made with intent to harm anothers reputation. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, a fine, or both. Messrs Akpabio and Bello are not the only witnesses proposed to testify in the case. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Others on the prosecutions list of witnesses obtained by PREMIUM TIMES include Asuquo Ekpenyong, a senator. The document, submitted as part of the proof of evidence in court, also names Sandra Durua US-based woman previously accused of defamation by Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghanas another witness. Other proposed prosecution witnesses are police officers Maya Iliya, an assistant commissioner of police, and Abdulhafiz Garba, a superintendent of police. Televised allegations During the controversial television interview in April, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been on a six-month-suspension from the Senate since 6 March, directly accused Messrs Akpabio and Bello of plotting her assassination. I am glad you did admit that I am a lawyer, and even if I am not a lawyer, I am a sane individual, and I do stand by what I said. In respect to the meeting or discussion Akpabio had [with] Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me, she said. She claimed that the withdrawal of her security details as a senator following her suspension was part of a plan to expose her to attacks. Just ask the Senate President why he withdrew my security if not to make me vulnerable to attacks. Mind you, of all the senators, about 109, we all have different stories. I have been a high-profile, vulnerable individual because of the nature of politics I have had, I have experienced since the year 2018. Very violent and dangerous. And I always have my security. So stripping me of my security because I am suspended illegally, actually it just positions me before attacks. At a political rally in Kogi State, weeks before herTV appearance, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that Mr Akpabio first attempted to influence Kogi Governor Usman Ododo to support her recall and later allegedly recruited Mr Bello to both sponsor a recall process and plot her assassination. But Akpabio was not satisfied; he then called for Yahaya Bello. It was Senator Asuquo who drove Yahaya Bello to the Hiltons. I was informed. The meeting was in two folds; he told him to commence my recall. He was going to fund it. Of course, money changed hands that day. The second thing was that he should kill me, she allegedly said. She also said the police had been notified of the alleged plot, though no public investigation has been announced. Allegation denied Both Messrs Akpabio and Bello have denied the allegations. Mr Akpabio described the claims as false, malicious, and a complete fabrication. This statement is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite political unrest. I categorically state that this allegation is entirely false, unfounded, and politically motivated. It is a calculated act of blackmail and character assassination, designed to portray me as a political villain, and the statement was made without any shred of truth or supporting evidence, Mr. Akpabio said in his letter to the Attorney General of the Federation and Inspector General of Police. Consequently, Mr Bellos legal team labelled the remarks reckless and inciting. In the petition signed by N.A. Abubakar, his lawyer, asked the IGP to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence. Mr Bello filed the petition with the Inspector-General of Police demanding Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans arrest and prosecution for criminal defamation. Senator with many legal battles The new criminal case adds to the series of legal battles stemming from her political rivalry with Mr Bello, Mr Akpabio, and their families. Mr Akpabios wife, Ekaette Akpabio, filed two separate defamation suits against the suspended Kogi senator, demanding N350 billion in damages for reputational harm allegedly inflicted upon her husband. She is not just being sued. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan is locked in a legal battle with Mr Akpabio and others, in a suit she filed against him and others in March to challenge her suspension from the Senate. She also sued Mr Akpabio and his legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, in a separate case, in the aftermath of her sexual harassment allegation against the senate president. In another episode of her legal battles, the FCT High Court in Abuja recently dismissed a privacy breach case instituted against her by Mr Bellos nephew, Ali Bello, who is the Chief of Staff to the incumbent Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo. The judge threw out the case on the grounds that the claimant failed to prove the privacy violation allegation but rebuked Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for her reprehensible social media post that triggered the legal action. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that 15,543 insurgents were killed across the country in the first two years of President Bola Tinubus administration. He added that 124,408 fighters of Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), also surrendered within the same period. Mr Ribadu disclosed this in a presentation he made at the national summit of the All Progressives Congress to mark the two years anniversary of the President Bola Tinubu administration. The NSAs presentation detailed the administrations achievements on national security between 2023 and 2025. PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the 19-page PowerPoint document titled Nigerias Achievement on National Security (2023-2025). The document covers three areas: an overview of security challenges before President Tinubu took over power, strategic interventions and regional achievements, and ongoing challenges with a call for sustained commitment and whole-government collaboration for lasting peace. Highlighting Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency, banditry, separatist agitations, Niger Delta unrest and communal clashes as the main security threats in Nigeria, Mr Ribadu said these threats, before May 2023 when his principal took power, were dire to the cohesion, stability, and integrity of the Nigerian state. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The achievements Focusing on regions and security threats peculiar to them, Mr Ribadu highlighted the Tinubu administrations major achievements in stemming insecurity. In the terror-ravaged North-west region where kidnapping for ransom is a regular occurrence, the NSA said more than 50 bandit kingpins and 70 deputy commanders, as well as hundreds of foot soldiers, have been killed. Notable among those killed in the countrys fight against banditry include Halilu Sububu, a top bandit kingpin, Ali Kawaje popularly known as Ali Kachala, Boderi Isyaku, Isuhu Yellow and Dumuna. Over 35 [bandit] warlords surrendered as part of our non-kinetic approach, which we call the Kaduna Model, Mr Ribadu said, noting a new programme code-named Operation Safe Corridor North-west has been designed to welcome and probably rehabilitate repentant bandits. This is similar to the rehabilitation programmes designed for repentant Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east. While these programmes have achieved some successes, key factors like poor welfare keep pushing some repentant terrorists back to the forest, to meet their brothers-in-arms. Notable among the achievements recorded in the North-west region is the release of 11,250 hostages who were freed by the military from various terrorists dens across the region, according to Mr Ribadu. In the North-east, a region coping with years of insurgency, Mr Ribadu said 13,543 insurgents have been killed while more than 124,408 others and their family members surrendered. More than 11,000 weapons were recovered and destroyed, he said, adding that another 252,596 rounds of assorted ammunition were also recovered and destroyed. In the troubled oil-rich Niger Delta area in the South-south, Mr Ribadu said 1,978 illegal refineries were dismantled. In the area where Operation Safe Delta has been launched to ensure regional security, Mr Ribadu said at least 3,849 dugout pits and 3,773 illegal cooking ovens have been destroyed. In the South-east region threatened by separatist agitations, the NSA said key figures of Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of the outlawed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), have either been captured or killed. The ESN also enforced a sit-at-home order on Mondays. However, Mr Ribadu said that is becoming more ineffective, noting that social and economic activities are normalising. The ESN has carried out terror attacks in the region, targeting security forces and public servants. The armed group has set ablaze many police formations in the region, killing many officers. But the NSA said these violent attacks have significantly reduced. He also noted that more than 50 police stations and many police posts have been rebuilt. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from terminating the legal status of international students to stay in the US. This order, issued by the US District Judge Jeffrey White, on Thursday, prevents the government from terminating the legal status of foreign students while a court case challenging the previous terminations was pending. This directive delivered a significant setback to the administrations attempts to crack down on international students as part of President Donald Trumps broader deportation effort. According to CNN, the case concerns an attempt by the administration to tamper with SEVIS records of students, putting them at risk of deportation. The SEVIS database stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, and it is a system used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track and monitor international students and exchange visitors. In the last months, several International students have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that about 600 international students in over 90 colleges and universities have been affected. Some of the students had taken the government to court. Although thousands of Nigerian students are studying in the US, there are no indications that any Nigerian student has, so far, been affected by the actions. While many courts have granted protection to individual foreign students who sued the administration, the San Francisco district judges order goes further. It blocks the federal government from arresting, detaining, or moving students and others across the country while similar cases are still being decided. According to the judge, the students were likely to succeed in their claim that the actions violated federal rule-making procedure and were arbitrary. Although the administration backed down from the move last month after facing several legal challenges, Mr White, in his ruling, said it wasnt far-fetched to believe that, without a clear directive stopping them, they might try something similar again. The administrations actions, the judge wrote, uniformly wreaked havoc not only on the lives of pllaintiffs here but on similarly situated F-1 nonimmigrants across the United States and continue to do so. I do not find it speculative to conclude that, in the absence of an injunction, the administration would abruptly re-terminate SEVIS records without notice. Defendants do not suggest that these individuals pose an immediate safety threat or that they pose a threat to national security, he wrote. In contrast, Plaintiffs have shown that Defendants likely exceeded their authority and acted arbitrarily and capriciously in those enforcement efforts, and the public interest is served by compliance with the (Administrative Procedure Act). This development comes shortly after the US government announced that it was ending Harvard Universitys ability to enrol international students by revoking its Student and Exchange Visitor Programme certification. By doing so, existing international students at the university must transfer or lose their legal status to reside in the US before the next academic year begins. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Grade A Customary Court sitting in Mapo in Ibadan has ordered the remand of two brothers Usman Wasiu, 20, and Toheeb Wasiu, 26, for allegedly insulting a police officer. The brothers pleaded not guilty to the two counts of conspiracy and breach of peace filed against them. The president of the court, S.M. Akintayo, admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum. Akintayo ordered that the sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Oyo State government and must also possess a valid identity card each. She adjourned the case till 2 July for hearing. Earlier, the prosecutor, Ayodele Ayeni, a police inspector, had informed the court that the defendants committed the crime on 13 May at about 12.30 a.m, at the entrance of Mapo Police Station, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Shedding more light on the matter, Mr Ayeni said that the Wasiu brothers cursed and shouted abusive words on Insp Taiwo Ige and two other personnel. According to the prosecutor, the siblings used the abusive utterances in order to incite the public against the police, thus causing breach of peace. He noted that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 516 and 249 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38 vol. ii law of Oyo State 2000. The case mirrors other instances where the police and the government have been criticised for needless arrests and prosecutions in Nigeria. Lawyers and civil rights advocates have called for an end to criminalising freedom of expression as a tool for retaliation or asserting superiority in response to petty, cheeky remarks. Apart from running counter to democracy principles, detaining and prosecuting persons for such petty offences suggests a misallocation of resources that could be better used to address more serious criminal cases. Additionally, this practice worsens the ongoing issue of prison overcrowding. Observers have also noted cases where charges and the laws under which they are brought do not match the minor acts of suspects, indicating desperation to prosecute for personal rather than public interests. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced 12 Philippine nationals to one-year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. The convicts are among 792 individuals, including foreign nationals and Nigerians, suspected of belonging to a cyber-terrorism and internet fraud syndicate. Their arrest occurred last December in Lagos during a landmark EFCC operation, the largest single bust of a cybercrime syndicate in Nigeria to date. Delivering judgement on Friday, the trial judge, Yellin Bogoro, handed down the sentence after the 12 foreigners pleaded guilty to the charges filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The convicts include Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, and Lari Jane Tayag. The rest are Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, and Jonalyn Mendoza, A statement from the EFCCs spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Friday said they were arraigned on separate charges of possession of fraudulent documents and related cybercrime offences. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later For instance, one of the charges alleged that Anjeanette Topacio, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos, willfully caused computer systems to be accessed with intent to destabilise Nigerias economic and social structure. The count stated further that the defendant procured Nigerian youths for identity theft, falsely representing themselves as foreigners for financial gain A charge against Ms Reyes alleged she was in possession of a Telegram message with false identity claims, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. Mr Oyewale stated that all 12 defendants pleaded guilty under a plea bargain arrangement with the EFCC. He noted that following their pleas, prosecution lawyers N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. Sentence Mr Bogoro sentenced each convict to one year in prison with an option of a N1 million fine. The judge also ordered their repatriation to the Philippines within seven days after completing their sentence. The court also ordered that all digital devices recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government. Background The convicts were among 14 Philippine nationals earlier remanded by the court in February 2025 for alleged cryptocurrency fraud and other cybercrime offences. They were part of a syndicate of 792 suspects arrested by the EFCC on 10 December 2024, during a large-scale raid on No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the EFCC, the syndicate was involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud, romance scams, and identity theft, targeting Nigerian and international victims. The anti-graft agency said the crackdown was the largest single-day anti-cybercrime operation by the Commission, netting 158 foreign nationals among the 792 suspects. While 12 of the Philippine nationals opted for a plea deal and have now been convicted, other sets of defendants that have been arraigned in court so far have maintained their innocence. Those still standing trial include Marj Maranga, Zara Fabian, Dominique Medina, and Rachelle Cabalona. MORE PHOTOS: Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, led by a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday visited Governor. Peter Mbah of Enugu State over the partys crisis. Other members of the committee are former governors of Bayelsa and Gombe states, Seriake Dickson and Ibrahim Dankwambo respectively. Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Mr Saraki said that it was to ensure that the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and national convention were rancour free. We are members of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee that was set up recently by the PDP Governors Forum. Our duty is to work towards ensuring that our upcoming National Executive Council meeting and also likely convention is rancor free and smooth. In line with that, we are here in Enugu State to consult with all the leaders of our party, and Gov. Peter Mbah is the leader of the PDP South-East. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This is the first state we are coming to, because we appreciate the importance of the South-east in PDP family, he said. The former Kwara governor said the South-east had played a key role in the bedrock of the popularity and the strength of PDP. In recognition of that, we are here to consult with Mbah and first commend him on the leadership role he has been playing in the party. We commend what he is doing in Enugu State, which is a reflection of what happens when you have a PDP government, he said. Mr Saraki said that they discussed how to ensure that assignment given to them was done properly; to enable PDP hold its NEC and convention without rancour. This is to ensure the NEC meeting and national convention are rancour-free, smooth, peaceful and lay the foundation for the PDP that we all are wishing for. READ ALSO: PDP demands immediate release of detained social media influencer So we have had a very good and useful discussion, and we are going away with some of the suggestions that we have and hopefully work on that. From what we have seen today, theres nothing that is insurmountable in the challenge ahead, given the spirit and the commitment of all of us, especially our leaders, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the South-east PDP had on 14 May threatened to dump the PDP if the party refuses to give the zone the position of National Secretary. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A new study has revealed that gender roles and social norms influence the causes, burden, and workforce responses to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria. It also provides fresh evidence to inform equitable health policy. The study titled, Through a Gender Lens: A Scoping Review of Gendered Experiences of AMR Causes, Burden, and Workforce in Nigeria, was made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Abuja. It was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of Nigerian scientists and public health experts. They include Estelle Mbadiwe, a Pharmacist, Ducit Blue Solutions; Ayodele Majekodunmi; Kikiope Oluwarore; Mabel Ajumobi; Dooshima Kwange, and Mwapu Ndahi. The scoping review analysed 47 peer-reviewed studies and revealed that women and men experienced AMR differently, from their risk of exposure to antibiotics, access to treatment, and participation in the AMR workforce and decision-making. One of the study contributors, Mrs Mbadiwe, said that in a world facing rising AMR threats, ignoring gender dimensions is not an option. Our findings show that while women are disproportionately exposed to antibiotics, often through caregiving roles, they are underrepresented in AMR leadership and policymaking, she said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later She said that the review reflected that women were more likely to be responsible for administering antibiotics in households and managing infections in children, livestock, and elderly family members. The contributor, however, said women faced barriers to accessing professional healthcare or being heard in the health policy space. Mrs Mbadiwe said that the study also explained the need to apply a One Health approach. According to her, that includes women in health system planning, recognised gendered roles in antibiotic use, and strengthened womens leadership in AMR response. This work challenges us to build more inclusive systems that recognise the intersection between gender, care work, and health equity, she said. Health policy experts said that these insights came at a crucial time as Nigeria sought to strengthen its National Action Plan on AMR, in alignment with global efforts led by the World Health Organisation and its Gender Equality Strategy. The authors urged policymakers to integrate gender-disaggregated data into AMR surveillance; improve womens access to health information and services. They also call for the support of female health professionals involved in AMR control at all levels. NAN reports that the study contributes to advancing gender equity in health and informs future AMR strategies, research funding, and leadership development in Nigerias healthcare system. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Airlines transporting passengers without valid entry visas, landing and exit cards into Nigeria will be penalised, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has warned. Mr Tunji-Ojo gave the warning at a stakeholder sensitisation programme on the implementation of the e-Visa, landing and exit cards initiative, on Friday in Lagos. According to the minister, no foreigner shall be allowed entry into Nigeria without a valid visa. He said that although Nigeria was making entry more accessible with the introduction of the e-Visa, it would not compromise national security. He urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that airlines adhere to the 2025 Nigeria Visa Policy. Mr Tunji-Ojo said that e-Visa would improve border security and promote tourism and sustainable economic growth. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I plead with the NCAA to regulate. That is why this meeting is a strategic collaborative effort of the ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the NCAA. For the airlines, I know you are here to do business, but you also have a responsibility in terms of national interest and security. Before anybody comes into Nigeria, please see their visas, not just proof of payment or their tickets. It is not acceptable in the UK, US, Canada and other climes, and it will not be acceptable in Nigeria anymore, he said. The minister said that making the application for e-Visa, landing, and exit cards easy was necessary to open Nigerias frontiers to investors. He disclosed that as of 22 May, the NIS received a total of 5,814 applications for e-Visa, approved 5,671, rejected 66 and queried 62, since the introduction on May 1. According to him, the e-Visa process will improve the database of the NIS with information of travellers, with a processing time of 48 hours. He explained the features of the e-Visa, landing and exit cards, saying they had a barcode to reveal the biodata and travel log of passengers. That you applied for a Nigerian visa does not mean you will have the visa; you will need to meet certain criteria for the visa to be issued, he said. The Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, in his address of welcome, said that the introduction of the e-Visa and the associated landing and exit card systems, was a milestone. Mr Najomo said that the new process was Nigerias journey toward enhancing air travel facilitation, while ensuring that the highest standards of aviation security and operational efficiency would be maintained. The e-Visa showcases one of the practical ways we continually align with global best practices by complying with the ICAO provisions of Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation on Facilitation. It is inherently designed to improve the experience of travellers, while strengthening our border control mechanisms. The importance of seamless inter-agency collaboration cannot be over-emphasised in a bid to ensure effective implementation of these systems without compromising safety, security or service delivery, he said. The Controller-General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap, thanked the minister of Interior and that of Aviation and Aerospace Development. She also lauded the NCAA director-general, the managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the NIS team. The NIS boss also called for more inter-agency collaboration to further strengthen seamless implementation of the e-Visa, landing and exit cards initiative. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that airline operators and other stakeholders were at the event. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print You cannot always predict events, or in these cases, human behaviour. Crisis will always come. However, as any institution worth its salt, you must be ready to respond appropriately and professionally at all times. That can make all the difference. JAMB and Arise News need to hire communications professionals today. The more events unfold, the more glaring the gap for communications professionalism in Nigerias leading institutions. Every public-facing business needs at least one communications professional in its employment or consulting role. The idea that only heavily regulated entities like the financial services or telecoms sector need professional communication support is a faulty mindset that needs to be buried. Businesses need to invest in expert support, including public institutions like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and media organisations like Arise TV. We all witnessed the reckless and unsympathetic manner in which the official JAMB handle, @JAMBHQ, announced the unfortunate exclusion of nearly 400,000 students whose results were compromised in the recently concluded UTME 2025 exams. The unfortunate tweet was taken from the title of the speech that the JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, delivered at the press conference addressing allegations of misconduct at this years exam. The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is the standardised test administered to prospective undergraduates applying to public and private universities in Nigeria. For an event of such national significance, the examination body did not pay attention to how the information was shared with the millions of Nigerian stakeholders begging for answers for days on social media. While there have been lots of narratives about whether the tragic compromise was malicious or merely a technical glitch, this article will not debate the JAMBs motive or lack thereof. Rather, it will focus on the manner in which the public institution admitted its complacency on the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). You see, communication is not grammar. Many conflate it with grammar, hence the assumption that anyone can do the job. It requires a skill set that can make the difference, especially in critical situations. Even the Bible admits, A slow answer turns away wrath and communication professionals embody this wisdom. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later So many things went wrong in the handling of that UTME event, which is sadly yet to conclude. But the very first trigger for the colossal catastrophe of that communication effort was the institutions failure to quickly identify and label the event a crisis and to respond as such. Who would have had the capacity to make the assessment? A communications professional which they clearly do not have. Lets take a look at what JAMB tweeted. The now-infamous, Man proposes. God disposes tweet. Tone is everything. The use of language in communications is both a hard and soft skill. Would a more nuanced/humane tweet have changed the facts of the situation? No. Could it have affected the publics reaction, e.g Pacify them? Probably. But would it have aggravated the public some more? Absolutely not! That is the power of communication. Because of the failure of that first tweet, every other communication became a charade a performance including the press conference where Mr Oloyede cried, while apologising for the errors. So many things went wrong in the handling of that UTME event, which is sadly yet to conclude. But the very first trigger for the colossal catastrophe of that communication effort was the institutions failure to quickly identify and label the event a crisis and to respond as such. Who would have had the capacity to make the assessment? A communications professional which they clearly do not have. Here was my tweet on the matter: A major disclosure Note that this was a television production facilitated behind the scenes by crew members, including cameramen, alongside light and sound teams, whose technical brilliance makes the presenters and guests look good on TV. The downright shameful rebuke and threat created a viral clip that has made the rounds on social media. Its been days and the television company where the abuse of power occurred, has not released an official statement on the matter. There is a widespread assumption in a very close sector to communications the media industry. A journalist is not necessarily a communications expert. You see, while the roles appear similar and share a strong overlap in terms of basic skills requirements, there is a significant difference between the professions. It is why the BBC, for example, has a robust communications department, despite being a public broadcaster with hundreds of the finest journalists the world can boast of. This expertise/unit is clearly lacking in Nigerian media institutions, as we can see from the recent faux pas of veteran newspaper editor-turned-broadcaster, Dr Reuben Abati on the Arise News show on Monday. The celebrated journalist lashed out at his programme director on live television, threatening to react in a worse manner, should the latter interrupt him while speaking to his guest again. Note that this was a television production facilitated behind the scenes by crew members, including cameramen, alongside light and sound teams, whose technical brilliance makes the presenters and guests look good on TV. The downright shameful rebuke and threat created a viral clip that has made the rounds on social media. Its been days and the television company where the abuse of power occurred, has not released an official statement on the matter. I sent the message below to a director friend at a rival television station: I honestly dont care much for a public apology from him (Mr Abati). Its the institution that owes their public an apology for that unfortunate show. Let them (the public) know that there are no lesser humans in their organisation and surely no untouchables hence the incident has been addressed fairly internally. Assure us the Director is happy to continue his work there and that mishap is not reflective of their values and culture as an organisation. This is why organisations like BBC have a comms department. You cannot always predict events, or in these cases, human behaviour. Crisis will always come. However, as any institution worth its salt, you must be ready to respond appropriately and professionally at all times. That can make all the difference. JAMB and Arise News need to hire communications professionals today. Lolade Nwanze is a communication and PR strategist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print What this means is that within the establishment, there is no one working to serve the interests of Nigeria. For the pirates that are ruling and ruining our country, their commitment to stealing all our resources is the only thing that matters. They are comforted by the knowledge that there is no sheriff in town to question or checkmate their activities. It is very clear where the current dynamics are leading the Nigerian State to collapse and dismemberment. Nigerias losses due to crude oil theft are more significant than those of some other OPEC members, the Chairman, Senate Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Ned Nwoko, has said. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Nwoko emphasised the issues detrimental impact, including economic damage, environmental destruction, and consequences on host communities. He also said that it was weakening the naira, and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development. According to the federal lawmaker, who represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, the scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day. He added that his committee recently held a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nations petroleum resources. The chairman argued that this criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities, and devastates our environment through spills and pollution. The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering, and pipeline vandalism. I wondered whether his committee invited and interrogated the Minister of Petroleum, Mr Bola Tinubu, who is responsible for putting a stop to oil theft. He is the one to explain the lack of effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms, and identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive. My understanding is that one of the main reasons the Nigerian president heads this ministry is to ensure ruling from the top, so that no public officer can dare invite the president on his mandate. The time has come for someone to bell the cat. As Mr Nwoko himself noted, the nation cannot continue to haemorrhage resources, while the people suffer. The future of Nigerias economy and the well-being of generations unborn depend on the actions taken today. We Nigerians hate NNPCL with a passion because we hold it responsible for taking our country from the oil boom era of our ancient history to the current oil doom era that we moan about daily. For over thirty years, we have suffered regularly from fuel queues because imports are not aligned to flow in regularly, and we are bitter because NNPC has, over the period, spent billions of dollars to fix our refineries but the monies get chopped and the refineries never get fixed. A private individual, Aliko Dangote, built an excellent refinery that can meet all our demands, but the government has been reluctant to buy from him, preferring imports from dubious sources. No country in the world has found itself in this tragic situation of complete impunity for massive economic crimes committed continuously over a thirty-year period. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In NNPCL, no one has ever been punished for the repeated failure of turnaround maintenance contracts, which can only mean that the contracts were given out by those in the political control of the country. They will not punish themselves. Have we not all heard stories about the contracts being given out to companies with zero knowledge of what to do, which instead of fixing the refineries have actually damaged them to the point where it is impossible to fix them. NNPCL produces 36 per cent of Nigerias GDP. Can we, in all honesty, blame it for these economic crimes, when the man in charge of NNPCL, its minister, is the president? Isnt the issue that the reality of NNPCL is that of the Nigerian State? Nigerian presidents have superintended over massive oil theft, taking petroleum production from 2.4 million barrels per day to as low as 1.1 million barrels a day. I have heard Mele Kyari, the former NNPCL boss, say that they counted 5,900 illegal connections stealing Nigerian crude and 18,000 infractions have occurred since 2022. The connections are at the well heads, on the pipelines, and on storage platforms. It is impossible for thieves to engage in such a massive scale of theft without the active connivance and support of the State and its agencies. We transitioned from vandal action to State organised theft long ago, with the collusion of the Presidency, security agencies, governors, international pirates, rogue countries and oil companies. With oil theft and illegal bunkering taking as much as 400,000 barrels per day of the countrys oil production and wasting more than that in polluting the environment, we have been losing, by some estimates, as much as $1.2 billion every month. I repeat that no one has been punished in the last thirty years for these crimes, so it is all State sanctioned. In NNPCL, no one has ever been punished for the repeated failure of turnaround maintenance contracts, which can only mean that the contracts were given out by those in the political control of the country. They will not punish themselves. Have we not all heard stories about the contracts being given out to companies with zero knowledge of what to do, which instead of fixing the refineries have actually damaged them to the point where it is impossible to fix them. Because the political bosses are guilty, as charged, no company has ever been charged for failure to perform the contract. We know from the Rewane report that between 2015 and 2020, $5.5 billion was spent on petrol subsidy. In 2021 alone, it went up to $3.8 billion, and $6.2 billion in just the first quarter of 2022. This greatly accelerated over the past year, in spite of the alleged end of fuel subsidy. There is no other word for it but madness. Nigeria, in its moment of greatest need, due to the collapse of revenue inflows, has been bloating figures of petrol imports and subsidy. As it had no money to pay for it, it borrowed massive amounts of money to fund subsidy on petrol, with most of this being bogus. We used to complain that Nigeria was a mere rentier State, but today we cannot even claim that negative epithet. A rentier state is one that is dependent on a narrow, single extractive source of revenue, such as crude oil. Such states are totally dependent on that source, and in normal situations would do everything in their power to protect it. The Nigerian ruling class is so irresponsible that it is unwilling to protect its source of revenue. Attempts by the National Assembly to establish the exact average daily consumption of petrol in the country were obfuscated by the NNPCL, Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. This was the argument President Tinubu used to justify the cancellation of fuel subsidies. Had the new administration made effective plans for palliatives, the fuel subsidy removal would have been accepted. Unfortunately, nothing was done to assuage the suffering of Nigerians and fuel subsidy entered the political lexicon as part of the terrible Tinubu pains inflicted on the people by the administration. For decades, international oil companies have been de-investing in Nigeria. They are selling their assets and running away. No one is investing. I remember Tony Elumelus press conference, when he spoke of taking out loans to buy an oil well, only to discover that almost the total production from this is regularly stolen. The whole world knows about Nigerias madness of allowing state sponsored pirates to take over its petroleum production and exports, while massively borrowing new money for the same pirates to steal. We used to complain that Nigeria was a mere rentier State, but today we cannot even claim that negative epithet. A rentier state is one that is dependent on a narrow, single extractive source of revenue, such as crude oil. Such states are totally dependent on that source, and in normal situations would do everything in their power to protect it. The Nigerian ruling class is so irresponsible that it is unwilling to protect its source of revenue. What this means is that within the establishment, there is no one working to serve the interests of Nigeria. For the pirates that are ruling and ruining our country, their commitment to stealing all our resources is the only thing that matters. They are comforted by the knowledge that there is no sheriff in town to question or checkmate their activities. It is very clear where the current dynamics are leading the Nigerian State to collapse and dismemberment. The onus is on us, 220 million citizens, to map out an alternative political future. The consequences of state collapse are too serious to accept for the largest population of black people in the world. 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. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions. To proceed: Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the islamss most significant religious holidays. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his beloved son Prophet Ismail (AS) as an act of worship and obedience to Allah. This profound story is deeply embedded in Islamic tradition, and the act of sacrifice during Eid-ul-Adha serves as a symbolic gesture of submission and devotion to Allah Almighty. The story of Eid-ul-Adha originates from the Quran and Sunnah (Hadith), where it is narrated that Allah tested Prophet Ibrahims faith by commanding him to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail. As they both submitted to Allahs command, a miraculous intervention occurred. Allah the Most High says: Then when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him, O Ibrahim! You have already fulfilled the vision! thus, we reward those who do right. For this was a trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. [Quran, 37:103-107] Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This event signifies the ultimate act of faith (Iman) and obedience to Allah and it is commemorated annually by Muslims worldwide. The act of sacrificing an animal during Eid-ul-Adha is termed Layyah in hausa language. It is obligatory (wajib) for every adult financially capable Muslim. This is derived from both the Quran and Sunnah (Hadith), indicating the importance and necessity of this act of worship. Allah Almighty says: Therefore to your Lord turn in Prayer and Sacrifice. [Quran, 108:2] The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) also emphasised the significance of sacrificing an animal. He said: Whoever has the means and does not offer the sacrifice, let him not approach our place of prayer. [Sunan Ibn Majah] Neglecting the animal sacrifice without a valid reason, despite having the financial capability, is considered sinful. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) warned against this negligence, highlighting that it distances one from the community of Muslim believers. He (Peace be upon him) said: He who has the means to perform animal sacrifice but does not do so should not come near our Eid ground. [Musnad of Imam Ahmad] This underscores the spiritual and communal importance of participating in this act of devotion. And the correct procedure for performing the sacrifice involves specific guidelines to ensure that the act is carried out in a humane and Islamic manner. The animal to be sacrificed should be healthy, free from any defects, and of a certain age (e.g., sheep or goat should be at least one year old). The person performing the sacrifice should do the following: 1. Intention (Niyyah): The intention to perform the sacrifice should be made for the sake of Allah alone. 2. Bismillah: The name of Allah should be invoked before slaughtering the animal by saying, Bismillah, Allahu Akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest). 3. Sharpen the Knife: A sharp knife should ensure a swift and humane slaughter. 4. Facing the Qiblah: The animal should be laid facing the Qiblah (direction of Makkah). 5. Distribution of the Meat: The meat should be divided into three parts: one-third for the family, one-third for relatives and friends, and one-third for the needy and poor. Respected brothers and sisters! Eid-ul-Adha is not merely a ritualistic slaughtering of animals but a profound act of faith (Iman), reminding Muslims of the virtues of obedience, devotion, and charity. By commemorating the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail, Muslims are encouraged to reflect on their submission to Allah and their willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good. The act of sacrificing the animal serves as a powerful symbol of faith (Iman), community, and the spirit of giving, reinforcing the core values of Islam. By adhering to the guidelines and fulfilling this obligation, Muslims not only follow a time-honoured tradition but also strengthen their spiritual connection and contribute to the well-being of their communities. Dear brothers and sisters! Eid-ul-Adha is a very special time for Muslims around the world. It is also called the Festival of Sacrifice. On this day, Muslims remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). He was ready to give something very dear to show his love for Allah. So, Muslims follow this by giving to others and sharing what they have. This is a time for kindness and love. It is a time to help people who dont have enough. Lets learn how you can help others during this special time. Wallahi not everyone has the blessings of food to eat or clothes to wear or meat to eat. Some families feel sad because they do not have much. Some children do not get new clothes. Donating during Eid is a way to ensure everyones happiness. Giving is the true essence of Eid. It brings people closer and shows that we care. To give, we dont have to be rich. Even small things can help someone smile. You can help people near you or far away. You can still give and make a big difference even if you dont know them. One of the most significant ways to give during Eid is to share the meat from your sacrifice. You can provide one-third of your meat to people in need. This is one way to follow the true meaning of Eid-ul-Adha charity. You can make food bags and give them to families who need them. Giving food brings joy and fills hungry stomachs. Everyone wants to wear something nice on Eid. But not everyone can buy new clothes. Giving clothes helps others feel special and happy. You can give money to people who need it. This is simple and fast. It can help them buy what they need the most. You can also donate money to our Nagazi-Uvete Islamic Center, which helps many families during Eid. Nagazi-Uvete Islamic Center makes sure that your charity reaches our orphans and deserving families. When you give, do it with love. Say kind words. Smile. Make the other person feel happy. Let them know they are not forgotten. They matter. Giving is not just about things. Its about making people feel seen, loved, and valued. Send your sadaqah and Zakat through Nagazi-Uvete Islamic Center. Sponsor an orphan. Help a low-income family have food for Eid-ul-Adha. Wallahi this kind of charitable giving during Eid helps the whole world. You can help more people by telling others. Share a post. Make a video. Talk to your friends. Tell your school. Tell your neighbours. Lets help others this Eid! Giving brings joy! Even a small gift can make someone smile! And when more people give, more lives change. Helping others is one of the best things we can do during Eid-ul-Adha. It makes the holiday brighter, brings hearts together, and teaches love, kindness, and care. So this Eid, dont just dress up and eat good food. Look around. See who needs help. Share what you have. Give from your heart. Allah Almighty and His Messenger (Peace be upon him) will appreciate. You dont need to be rich to give. You need to care. Lets join hands with the Nagazi-Uvete Islamic Center this Eid to help the orphans and the needy, and bring happiness to homes that need it most. Donate now FISABILILLAH, for Allahs sake. In this coming Eid-ul-Adha festival your donations, help, support and assistance can do more than fulfill a duty. It can bring nourishment, dignity, and joy to our orphans and to the families who need it most. With Nagazi-Uvete Islamic Center, your sacrifice becomes fresh, high-quality meat for orphans, less-prevelege Muslims, and struggling families in our community. We partner with trusted local farms and deliver your sadaqah of animals sacrifice with care and compassionbecause our neighbours deserve nothing less. Please, donate through the following account details: 1. Account number: 0048647196. Account name: Murtala Muhammed. GTBank Or: 2. Account number: 1779691620 Account name: Murtala Muhammed. Access Bank. We have only two weeks to Eid-ul-Adha. Please support our orphans with your sadaqah, with your donations and with your Zakat so that our orphans celebrate Eid-ul-Adha happily. Remember, Eid ul-Adha is a sacred reminder of sacrifice, obedience, and compassion. As we honour the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who was willing to give up what he loved most for the sake of Allah Almighty, Muslims around the world are also called to give to the orphans, and to those who are struggling, displaced, and forgotten. Allah the Most High says: Then when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead, We called out to him, O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision. Verily, thus do We reward the doers of good. [Quran, 37:103105] It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him. [Quran, 22:37] The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbour to his side goes hungry. [Sahih Bukhari] The son of Adam does not do any action on the Day of Sacrifice that is more beloved to Allah than shedding blood (of animal). It will come on the Day of Resurrection with its horns, hair, and hooves, and its blood will be accepted by Allah before it even falls to the ground. [At-Tirmidhi] Allah The Almighty Says: And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good. [Quran, 2:195] The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: The most beloved of people to Allah is the one who brings the most benefit to others. [Al-Mujam al-Awsat] May Allah Almighty accept your sacrifices, amplify your intentions, and bless you, your families with peace and barakah, ameen. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions. 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 25, 1446 AH (May 23, 2025). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda has shared a detailed technology integration strategy aimed at placing the state on a viable path for sustainable development in Northern Nigeria. The Governor shared the insights during a fireside interview at the Arewa Tech Fiesta held in Katsina on Thursday. Governor Radda intimated tech experts on the indigenous success stories while unveiling ambitious plans to position Katsina State as a regional technology and innovation hub. The Governor also praised the remarkable trajectory of Sulo Africa, a company founded by a Katsina indigene, describing its potential in transformative terms. Only God knows the future for that company. Only God knows how many are there when they built the company. There were just very few. But you are now talking about millions, millions and billions of naira that company alone can generate, Governor Radda stated. The Governor further emphasized the multiplier effect of technology entrepreneurship, noting, You can see that even when you are dealing with entrepreneurs, you will see that there are single individuals who have a turnover of over 2 billion, 3 billion per annum. We are not talking of a large company that has large people. And if you look at the impact, only God knows where it will go. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Speaking on systematic approach to governance Mr Radda, When we came on board, because we know the power of data, we know the power of getting reliable data. The first thing we did, we did a baseline study on all our health institutions. We did a baseline study on all our farmers in Katsina State. We did a baseline study on all our primary and secondary school facilities that we have in the state. When you have that data, it gives you ability to plan very well. It gives you ability to allocate resources to different sectors of the economy. So it is a must. It is something that we must do, the Governor added. Addressing northern Nigerias technology destiny, Governor Radda projected enormous economic potential, stating, If we have the right data to sell, the sky is our limit. Only God knows the kind of money the state will generate or the northern states will generate or the entire country will generate whose ability to provide reliable data to everybody that wants to have something to do with that data. Responding to a poser on the rationale for hosting the Arewa Tech Fiesta, Governor Radda explained that the event is to showcase what Katsina is able to provide in the area of technology and innovation. Seek support and collaboration from the investors and entrepreneurs invest and build this future for our young men and women. Last year, I launched what we call Katsina State Community Development. The initiative is meant to provide a platform for all the citizens to be part and parcel of the government. We created that, and we created community-level committees that take representation of every sector, of every stakeholder in that community, the Governor also revealed. Mr Radda stressed the technology-driven initiative to empower communities with direct communication channels, noting, We are giving laptops so that they can be able to communicate with the centre. And they are reporting directly to the office of the governor because this is the direction we want the state to move on. As of today, we have also implemented what we call e-health solutions to all our major hospitals. So that no patient should move with a file to another hospital. When they go to that hospital, they will have all their records available in those places, said the Governor. On connectivity infrastructure, Governor Radda announced, We are trying to connect all the 34 local government headquarters with fiber optic. So that we provide that enabling environment in the rural communities for the young men and women who want to develop their skills in that direction. Mr Radda confirmed plans for the construction of tech village to give opportunities for young men and women to come and show their talent. The Governor also referenced Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) as an agency to support youth creative ideas. On security challenges, the Governor revealed substantial investments, We invested a lot of money on it. Over five billion was invested to provide those cameras all over the place and it can give us 30 kilometers radius vision of what is happening within that place. The Governor equally advocated for technological solutions to Nigerias security challenges, This is the only answer to this insurgency because in Nigeria we have a lot of ungoverned spaces. We are unable to man all those ungoverned spaces. The only way out is the use of technology. Once we have strong institutions in this country, manipulation will reduce. Lets build strong institutions, not strong men, the Governor charged. On how he is addressing economic challenges, the Governor referenced the creation of the State Bureau of Statistics which is currently carrying out the poverty index survey in the state. Concluding the interview, Governor Radda expressed hope that the future will be very bright. We are working hard to build a system changing how we work, how we think, and our attitude. My hope is that future governments in this state will continue from where we stopped, and build a brighter future for the youth, for the people of this state, and for Nigeria at large. I believe, by 2030, Katsina will have a bright future filled with innovation, technology, and visionary leadership, the Governor concluded. The Arewa Tech Fiesta, hosted in Katsina, with support of the state government, served as a platform for showcasing Northern Nigerias technological capabilities and attracting investment to the regions growing innovation ecosystem. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerian Army troops have repelled two-midnight attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents in Borno State. The troops killed scores of insurgents as three Civilian Joint Task Force members and a vigilante paid the supreme price. Sources said the attacks occurred at midnight between Thursday and Friday at Gajibo in Ngala Local Government Area and Damboa. The terrorists attempted to infiltrate Gajibo on Thursday around 11:30 p.m. but were repelled by the gallant Nigerian soldiers. They obtained immediate reinforcement from Dikwa and finally dislodged the insurgents. One insurgent was killed and many others fled injured. However, two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and a vigilante were killed in the battle. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later At around 2:30 a.m. on Friday, the insurgents similarly attempted to infiltrate Damboa, the headquarters of Damboa Local Government. They reportedly fired an RPG which destroyed part of a military outpost in the town. However, they were dislodged after a military fighter jet joined the encounter. Our sources said 16 insurgents were killed in the encounter, while several others were injured. Borno State is experiencing a resurgence of the Islamist insurgency with frequent attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists. Last week, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the state recorded 12 attacks within three weeks, with over 40 innocent civilians killed. The insurgents have reportedly improved their capabilities with new technology, including drones, to fight the Nigerian state. However, the Nigerian Army, which has been under scrutiny from both the state and federal governments, took the battle to the insurgents by bombarding their enclaves in the Sambisa forest. An army statement said several enclaves of the insurgents across the forest were dislodged. According to sources, the recent attacks may be in retaliation for the offensive by the army. The operation started shortly after an outburst by Governor Babagana Zulum, who had visited some areas recently attacked by the insurgents, including Rann, Dikwa, Marte, and Wulgo. The governor, who has been visiting the communities since last Saturday, to sympathise with residents, called on the Nigerian government to support the military to end the insurgency. Mr Zulum said the resurgence of the attacks has disrupted the resettlements of internally displaced people in the state. A few days ago, I visited the Chief of Army Staff. He said he is looking for about 32 drones and he would end the insurgency, Mr Zulum told News Central. The governor pleaded for swift procurement of vital military hardware. My plea is that let us deal with this matter decisively. The president of Nigeria should listen to those who can distinguish between right and wrongthose who can tell him the right thing and not sycophants. Borno State, the hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency, has lost thousands of citizens to the insurgency, among millions displaced since 2009. Regarding the debate on state police, Governor Zulum encouraged the strengthening of the existing security apparatuses. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print STANTON, Calif., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Structural, Inc., a leader in structural engineering and construction solutions in Southern California, is proud to announce the successful completion of a pedestrian bridge replacement project in the City of Stanton. The project follows the destruction of the previous bridge in a bizarre vehicle collision that left a vital pedestrian thoroughfare inaccessible to the community. Stanton Bridge Ribbon Cutting with City Council members on May 15th, 2025 After the original bridge sustained irreparable damage, the project principals scrambled to find a trusted firm capable of handling the urgent reconstruction in a very short period of time. Alpha Structural, Inc. was selected for its unmatched expertise in structural engineering and structural damage repairs and for delivering safe, code-compliant infrastructure under tight timelines. Alpha Structural managed all aspects of the project from structural engineering design and permitting to full-scale construction. The new bridge was engineered with enhanced safety and durability features, complying with current building codes while maintaining the original footprint of the bridge. The firm worked closely with Stanton City Planners and OC Public Works and permitting authorities to fast-track the approval process, ensuring the timely replacement of the bridge while minimizing disruption to the community. Gary Taylor, City Council member for District 3 who hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bridge on May 15th, 2025 said, "It's fantastic now and it should last for the next 100 years." The new bridge now safely accommodates pedestrians and cyclists and serves as a symbol of resilience and renewal for the area. The City of Stanton held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening, attended by city leaders, residents, and members of the Alpha Structural team. This project further solidifies Alpha Structural's commitment to delivering impactful infrastructure solutions that serve communities and stand the test of time. About Alpha Structural, Inc. Alpha Structural, Inc. is Southern California's premier structural repair and structural engineering firm, with over 30 years of experience in foundation repair, hillside stabilization, seismic retrofitting, structural repairs/ upgrades and a variety of other complex structural projects. Known for its technical expertise, fast deliverables and exceptional service, Alpha Structural is trusted by homeowners, municipalities, and commercial partners alike. Media Contact: Brisa Slaton Public Relations Manager Alpha Structural, Inc. Phone: 323-258-5482 Email: [email protected] Website: www.alphastructural.com SOURCE Alpha Structural, Inc. EAST LANSING, Mich., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Held each May 27, Emergency Medicine Day highlights the need for Emergency Medicine physician expertise worldwide. On Emergency Medicine Day and every day, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) applauds the more than 47,000 ABEM-certified physicians across the United States. The physicians who lead and serve Emergency Medicine care teams need our support and recognition now more than ever. Physicians certified by ABEM are dedicated to delivering high-quality care and have demonstrated the skills and ongoing expertise needed to meet the highest professional credential in Emergency Medicine. It also signals a physician's commitment to staying current with the latest medical advances, which provides reassurance to patients and their families about their care during an emergency. Emergency Medicine is a safeguard for patients, treating the most vulnerable. Emergency departments may have physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and others who all play important roles, but much like 80% of the public, ABEM believes board-certified physicians should lead emergency care. In a recent RAND Report, a study found that "the scope of work for emergency physicians in the U.S. health system is expanding, with evidence that emergency departments have become hubs that offer various services beyond emergency care." While the report demonstrates there is work to be done to support and sustain emergency care moving forward, it remains of vital importance in our communities. Learn more about how to celebrate Emergency Medicine Day and how ABEM helps promote the highest standard in Emergency Medicine for physicians to meet the needs and demands of our communities and patients. Contact: A.J. Wolf Phone: 517-332-4800 Email: [email protected] SOURCE American Board of Emergency Medicine DALLAS, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell the 242-room Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake located in Houston, Texas for $27.0 million. The sale is expected to be completed in June 2025 and is subject to normal closing conditions. The Company provides no assurances that the sale will be completed on these terms or at all. When adjusted for the Company's anticipated capital expenditures, the sale price represents a 3.2% capitalization rate on net operating income or 23.6x Hotel EBITDA for the twelve months ended April 30, 2025. Excluding the anticipated capital spend, the sale price represents a 5.0% capitalization rate on net operating income or 15.2x Hotel EBITDA for the twelve months ended April 30, 2025. "We are pleased to announce the signed agreement to sell the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake at a very attractive cap rate," commented Stephen Zsigray, Ashford Trust's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This sale will deleverage our Morgan Stanley 17 Pool loan, and result in significant capital expenditure savings. Combined with our "GRO AHT" initiative, we're excited about the potential for opportunistic sales to further transform the company and have additional assets in the market at various stages of the sales process." Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximately," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," or other similar words or expressions. Additionally, statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature: our business and investment strategy; anticipated or expected purchases, sales or dispositions of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our ability to restructure existing property-level indebtedness; our ability to secure additional financing to enable us to operate our business; our understanding of our competition; projected capital expenditures; and the impact of technology on our operations and business. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider this risk when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will not publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise except to the extent required by law. SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. Davina Potratz Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025 Azazie isn't just redefining occasionwearthey're staking their claim as the only fashion brand making the annual fashion ball a signature event. In an industry filled with fashion weeks and awards parties, Azazie is owning the Balla black tie event space no brand has claimed until now. The enchanted evening brought together a who's who of Hollywood, style icons, and top content creatorsall dressed in dramatic Azazie gowns from the brand's new Atelier collection. From luxe satin gowns to dreamy tulle designs, the night's fashion moments were as bold as they were beautiful. The night's energy peaked with a surprise performance by Normani, who lit up the stage in a one-of-a-kind custom Azazie dress, made specifically for Normani. Her set was the exclamation point on a night that proved Azazie isn't here to follow fashion's rulesthey're rewriting them.Celebrities and creators alike embraced the Azazie Black Tie dress code, creating a scroll-stopping lineup both at the breathtaking venue and across social media. Notable attendees included: Normani (6.9M), Anastasia Karanikolaou (10.3M), Jordyn Jones (9.2M), Gabi Moura (3M), Chloe Sims (1.2M), Liv Walker (1M), Madi Monroe (4M), Mary Bonnet (2M), Romain Bonnet (494K), Ally Lewber (331K), Davina Potratz (306K) The best part? Everything worn at the Azazie Ball is available now at Azazie.com. Whether you're dressing for a wedding, gala, or your own main-character moment, Azazie has a look that's ready to own the spotlight. FULL EVENT PHOTO GALLERY: HERE I Credit: Bobby Rachpoot Photography Normani Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Normani: Custom Dress designed by Azazie for Normani - Stay tuned for when this becomes available online ;) PHOTO CREDIT: CHAD SALVADOR PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Anastasia Karanikolaou Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Stassie: Azazie Addison Cherry Red Maxi Dress PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HI-RES IMAGES: HERE Ally Lewber Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Ally: Azazie Livie Ice Blue Maxi Dress PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Mary & Romain Bonnet Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Mary: Azazie Barbie x Azazie 2002 PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Gabi Moura Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Gabi: Azazie Calabria Honey Bow Gown PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Chloe Sims Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Chloe: Azazie Claire Cream Satin Gown Maxi Dress PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Liv Walker Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Liv: Azazie Kala Peach Maxi Dress PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Madi Monroe Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Madi: Azazie 'Debby Black Midi Dress' PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE Davina Potratz Attends The Azazie Ball in Beverly Hills on May 20, 2025. On Davina: Azazie Livie Ice Blue Maxi Dress PHOTO CREDIT: BOBBY RACHPOOT PHOTOGRAPHY LINK TO HIGH-RES: HERE About Azazie: Azazie is the leading DTC e-tailer for bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, special occasion wear, and accessories, offering high-quality gowns at affordable prices. Based in the tech capital of Silicon Valley, Azazie is disrupting the traditional bridal industry while garnering high ratings from customers and review sites alike. With 200+ bridal gowns and 400+ bridal party dresses in over 80 colors, Azazie is committed to body-positive fashion, offering all dresses from size 0-30, cut and sewn to order like expensive bespoke designs. Visit the website at www.azazie.com. SOURCE AZAZIE WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED DUBAI, UAE, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is excited to celebrate the high crypto life with the Bybit Card community in a new lucky draw that guarantees rewards for all, including the ultimate prize of a Tesla Model 3. 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For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube SOURCE Bybit SHANGHAI, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies, announces that an abstract of the research results of the confirmatory Phase II clinical trial of satricabtagene autoleucel ("satri-cel", CT041) (an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against protein Claudin18.2) for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (G/GEJC) in China (CT041-ST-01, NCT04581473) is available on the American Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO") website. Title Claudin18.2-specific CAR T cells (Satri-cel) versus treatment of physician's choice (TPC) for previously treated advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (G/GEJC): Primary results from a randomized, open-label, phase II trial (CT041-ST-01) Abstract Number 4003 Session Type and Title Oral Abstract Session Gastrointestinal Cancer Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary Session Date and Time May 31, 2025, 3:006:00 PM CDT This open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in China to compare the efficacy and safety of satri-cel versus standard of care (SOC) in CLDN18.2 positive, advanced G/GEJC patients with failure to at least 2 prior lines of treatment. The primary endpoint was PFS assessed by the Independent Review Committee (IRC). Key secondary endpoint was OS. Data cutoff date was Oct 18, 2024. Patients were randomized (2:1) to satri-cel arm or TPC arm. For satri-cel arm, satri-cel dose of 250106 cells were infused up to 3 times. For TPC arm, one of the standard of care (SOC) drugs (apatinib, paclitaxel, docetaxel, irinotecan or nivolumab) was given per physician's decision. Those who experienced disease progression or drug intolerance in TPC arm could receive subsequent satri-cel, if eligible. From Mar 29, 2022 to Aug 16, 2024, a total of 156 patients were randomized to satri-cel arm (n = 104) or TPC arm (n = 52). Twenty patients in TPC arm received subsequent satri-cel. Median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 in both arms, and 26.9% vs 19.2% had received 3 lines. 71.2% vs 65.4% were Lauren diffuse/mixed type. 69.2% vs 59.6% had peritoneal metastasis. In ITT population (i.e., all randomized patients), satri-cel arm showed significant improvement in mPFS by IRC (3.25m vs 1.77m; HR 0.366, 95% CI:0.241, 0.557; p < 0.0001) meeting the primary endpoint with a 63% reduction in risk of disease progression or death. Even with 15.4% (n=16) patients in satri-cel arm failing to receive infusion and nearly 40% (n=20) patients in TPC arm receiving subsequent satri-cel, satri-cel arm still demonstrated a clear trend toward OS benefit (mOS 7.92m vs 5.49m; HR 0.693, 95% CI: 0.457, 1.051; one-sided p = 0.0416) , showing over 30% reduction in mortality risk. More importantly, in mITT population (i.e. patients who were actually treated), 136 patients received study drug (satri-cel 88 patients vs TPC 48 patients), mPFS by IRC was 4.37m vs 1.84m, HR 0.304 (95% CI: 0.195, 0.474), representing a 70% reduction in risk of disease progression or death. The mOS was 8.61m vs 5.49m, HR 0.601 (95%CI: 0.385, 0.939), corresponding to 40% reduction in mortality risk. These results demonstrate that satri-cel treatment benefits were pronounced in patients who actually received CAR-T infusion. Of particular note, 20 TPC patients with subsequent satri-cel infusion achieved an mOS of 9.20 months. When analyzing all 108 patients who received satri-cel infusion (88 patients in satri-cel arm and 20 patients in TPC arm), the mOS reached 9.17 months, while the mOS of 28 patients in TPC arm who did not receive satri-cel treatment was only 3.98 months (HR 0.288; 95% CI: 0.169-0.492). These findings provide further evidence that satri-cel infusion can deliver substantial survival benefits for patients. Furthermore, satri-cel demonstrated a favorable overall safety profile. Only 4 cases of Grade 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were reported, and no Grade 4-5 CRS events were observed. No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) was reported. This is the first confirmatory RCT of CAR-T therapy in solid tumors. Satri-cel demonstrated significant PFS improvement and a clinically meaningful OS benefit with a manageable safety profile in CLDN18.2 positive G/GEJC patients with failure to at least 2 prior lines of treatment, compared to standard therapy. These results support satri-cel as a potential new SOC for advanced G/GEJC. About Satri-cel Satri-cel is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against the protein Claudin18.2 that has the potential to be the first-in-class globally. Satri-cel targets the treatment of Claudin18.2 positive solid tumors with a primary focus on G/GEJA and pancreatic cancer (PC). Initiated trials include investigator-initiated trials (CT041-CG4006, NCT03874897), a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial for advanced G/GEJA in China (CT041-ST-01, NCT04581473), a Phase I clinical trial for PC adjuvant therapy in China (CT041-ST-05, NCT05911217), an investigator-initiated trial for satri-cel be used as consolidation treatment following adjuvant therapy in patients with resected G/GEJA (CT041-CG4010, NCT06857786), and a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for advanced gastric or pancreatic adenocarcinoma in North America (CT041-ST-02, NCT04404595). Satri-cel has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the Center for Drug Evaluation of China's National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of Claudin18.2-positive advanced G/GEJA in patients who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy in March 2025. Satri-cel was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation by U.S. FDA for the treatment of advanced G/GEJA with Claudin18.2-positive tumors in January 2022. Satri-cel received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA in September 2020 for the treatment of G/GEJA. About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies to address the unmet clinical needs including but not limited to hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. CARsgen has established end-to-end capabilities for CAR T-cell research and development covering target discovery, preclinical research, product clinical development, and commercial-scale production. CARsgen has developed novel in-house technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address challenges faced by existing CAR T-cell therapies. Efforts include improving safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs, etc. CARsgen's mission is to be a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative and differentiated cell therapies for patients worldwide and makes cancer and other diseases curable. Forward-looking Statements All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group's current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group's control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release. SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics YUFLYMA (adalimumab-aaty) is a high-concentration (100mg/mL) and citrate-free formulation of Humira (adalimumab) biosimilar [1] Celltrion previously received interchangeability (IC) designation for YUFLYMA (adalimumab-aaty) in prefilled syringes (20mg & 80mg); Expanded interchangeability (IC) designation applies to prefilled syringe (40mg) and autoinjectors (40mg and 80mg) INCHEON, South Korea, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Celltrion, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an expanded interchangeable designation for YUFLYMA (adalimumab-aaty), now including prefilled syringe (40mg) and autoinjectors (40mg and 80mg) presentations. With this approval, YUFLYMA is now fully interchangeable with the reference product, Humira (adalimumab), across all marketed dosage forms and strengths. YUFLYMA is a high-concentration, citrate-free biosimilar to Humira, approved for multiple inflammatory indications including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), ulcerative colitis (UC), plaque psoriasis (Ps), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and uveitis (UV) in adult patients; Crohn's disease (CD) in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older; and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in patients 2 years of age and older.[1] "This full interchangeability designation comes at a pivotal time as Celltrion continues to lead in the evolving biosimilar landscape," said Thomas Nusbickel, Chief Commercial Officer at Celltrion USA. "YUFLYMA a high-concentration, citrate-free adalimumab biosimilar now fully interchangeable with Humira reflects our long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible treatment options. Going forward, Celltrion will continue to put patients first by keeping drug costs affordable and remaining at the forefront of the U.S. biosimilar market, bringing competitive pricing and high-quality, accessible treatment options." The interchangeable designation builds on the Phase III interchangeability study, which demonstrated similar outcomes in terms of pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in patients with moderately to severely active plaque psoriasis who received reference adalimumab (ADA) continuously and those who alternated between reference ADA and YUFLYMA during the dosing interval of Weeks 25-27. The result of the interchangeability study was presented at the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology (EADV), September 2024, in the Netherlands.[2] YUFLYMA was first introduced in the U.S. market in July 2023 and is currently available as a 20mg, 40mg, and 80mg solution for injection in prefilled syringes and as 40mg and 80mg in autoinjectors. Celltrion offers adalimumab-aaty in both branded and unbranded versions, with two pricing options to meet different patient needs and improve patient affordability. Notes to Editors: About YUFLYMA (CT-P17, biosimilar adalimumab-aaty)[1] YUFLYMA is a high-concentration, low-volume and citrate-free adalimumab biosimilar to receive European Commission approval. YUFLYMA is FDA approved for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and uveitis. YUFLYMA has been designated by the FDA as an interchangeable biosimilar in a prefilled syringe and autoinjector. YUFLYMA is a recombinant fully human antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) monoclonal antibody. YUFLYMA is available in prefilled syringe as 20mg/0.2mL, 40mg/0.4mL and 80mg/0.8mL and autoinjector as 40mg/0.4mL and 80mg/0.8mL. Additionally, YUFLYMA features one of the longest shelf lives in its class, maintaining stability at room temperature (77 F, 25 C) for up to 31 days. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION[1] This important safety information also applies to YUFLYMA (adalimumab-aaty). SERIOUS INFECTIONS Patients treated with adalimumab-aaty are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. Discontinue adalimumab-aaty if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis. Reported infections include: Active tuberculosis (TB), including reactivation of latent TB. Patients with TB have frequently presented with disseminated or extrapulmonary disease. Test patients for latent TB before adalimumab-aaty use and during therapy. Initiate treatment for latent TB prior to adalimumab-aaty use. Invasive fungal infections, including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and pneumocystosis. Patients with histoplasmosis or other invasive fungal infections may present with disseminated, rather than localized, disease. Antigen and antibody testing for histoplasmosis may be negative in some patients with active infection. Consider empiric antifungal therapy in patients at risk for invasive fungal infections who develop severe systemic illness. Bacterial, viral, and other infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including Legionella and Listeria. Carefully consider the risks and benefits of treatment with adalimumab-aaty prior to initiating therapy in patients with chronic or recurrent infection. Monitor patients closely for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with adalimumab-aaty, including the possible development of TB in patients who tested negative for latent TB infection prior to initiating therapy. Treatment with adalimumab-aaty should not be initiated in patients with an active infection, including localized infections. Patients over 65 years of age, patients with co-morbid conditions and/or patients taking concomitant immunosuppressants (such as corticosteroids or methotrexate), may be at greater risk of infection. Discontinue adalimumab-aaty if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis. For a patient who develops a new infection during treatment with adalimumab-aaty, closely monitor them, perform a prompt and complete diagnostic workup appropriate for an immunocompromised patient, and initiate appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Drug interactions with biologic products: In clinical studies in patients with RA, an increased risk of serious infections has been observed with the combination of TNF blockers with anakinra or abatacept, with no added benefit; therefore, use of adalimumab-aaty with abatacept or anakinra is not recommended in patients with RA. A higher rate of serious infections has also been observed in patients with RA treated with rituximab who received subsequent treatment with a TNF blocker. There is insufficient information regarding the concomitant use of adalimumab-aaty and other biologic products for the treatment of RA, PsA, AS, CD, UC, PS, and HS. Concomitant administration of adalimumab-aaty with other biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (e.g., anakinra and abatacept) or other TNF blockers is not recommended based upon the possible increased risk for infections and other potential pharmacological interactions. A higher rate of serious infections has been observed in RA patients treated with rituximab who received subsequent treatment with a TNF blocker. MALIGNANCY Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with TNF blockers, including adalimumab products. Postmarketing cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL), a rare type of T-cell lymphoma, have been reported in patients treated with TNF blockers, including adalimumab products. These cases have had a very aggressive disease course and have been fatal. The majority of reported TNF blocker cases have occurred in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and the majority were in adolescent and young adult males. Almost all of these patients had received treatment with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine concomitantly with a TNF blocker at or prior to diagnosis. It is uncertain whether the occurrence of HSTCL is related to the use of a TNF blocker or a TNF blocker in combination with these other immunosuppressants. Consider the risks and benefits of TNF blocker treatment including adalimumab-aaty prior to initiating therapy in patients with a known malignancy other than a successfully treated non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), or when considering continuing a TNF blocker in patients who develop a malignancy. In controlled portions of clinical trials of some adalimumab products, more cases of malignancies have been observed compared to control-treated adult patients. NMSC was reported during clinical trials for patients treated with adalimumab products. During the controlled portions of 39 global adalimumab clinical trials in adult patients with RA, PsA, AS, CD, UC, PS, HS and UV, the rate (95% confidence interval) of NMSC was 0.8 (0.52, 1.09) per 100 patient-years among adalimumab-treated patients and 0.2 (0.10, 0.59) per 100 patient-years among control-treated patients. Examine all patients, particularly those with a medical history of prior prolonged immunosuppressant therapy or psoriasis patients with a history of psoralen + ultraviolet light A (PUVA) treatment, for the presence of NMSC prior to and during treatment with adalimumab-aaty. In clinical trials of some adalimumab products, there was an approximately threefold higher rate of lymphoma than expected in the general U.S. population. Patients with RA and other chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly those with highly active disease and/or chronic exposure to immunosuppressant therapies, may be at a higher risk (up to severalfold) than the general population for the development of lymphoma, even in the absence of TNF blockers. Postmarketing cases of acute and chronic leukemia were reported with the use of a TNF blocker in RA and other indications. Approximately half of the postmarketing cases of malignancies in children, adolescents, and young adults receiving adalimumab were lymphomas; other cases represented a variety of different malignancies and included rare malignancies usually associated with immunosuppression and malignancies that are not usually observed in children and adolescents. HYPERSENSITIVITY Anaphylaxis and angioneurotic edema have been reported following administration of adalimumab products. If an anaphylactic or other serious allergic reaction occurs, immediately discontinue administration of adalimumab-aaty and institute appropriate therapy. HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION Use of TNF blockers, including adalimumab-aaty, may increase the risk of reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients who are chronic carriers. In some instances, HBV reactivation occurring in conjunction with TNF blocker therapy has been fatal. Evaluate patients at risk for HBV infection for prior evidence of HBV infection before initiating TNF blocker therapy. Exercise caution in prescribing TNF blockers for patients identified as carriers of HBV and closely monitor such patients for clinical and laboratory signs of active HBV infection throughout therapy and for several months following termination of therapy. In patients who develop HBV reactivation, stop adalimumab-aaty and initiate effective antiviral therapy with appropriate supportive treatment. The safety of resuming TNF blocker therapy after HBV reactivation is controlled is not known. Therefore, exercise caution when considering resumption of adalimumab-aaty therapy in this situation and monitor patients closely. NEUROLOGIC REACTIONS Use of TNF blocking agents, including adalimumab products, has been associated with rare cases of new onset or exacerbation of clinical symptoms and/or radiographic evidence of central nervous system demyelinating disease, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis, and peripheral demyelinating disease, including Guillain-Barre syndrome. Exercise caution in considering the use of adalimumab-aaty in patients with preexisting or recent-onset central or peripheral nervous system demyelinating disorders; discontinuation of adalimumab-aaty should be considered if any of these disorders develop. There is a known association between intermediate uveitis and central demyelinating disorders. HEMATOLOGIC REACTIONS Rare reports of pancytopenia including aplastic anemia have been reported with TNF blocking agents. Adverse reactions of the hematologic system, including medically significant cytopenia, have been infrequently reported with adalimumab products. Consider discontinuation of adalimumab-aaty therapy in patients with confirmed significant hematologic abnormalities. HEART FAILURE Cases of worsening congestive heart failure (CHF) and new-onset CHF have been reported with TNF blockers. Cases of worsening CHF have also been observed with adalimumab products. Exercise caution when using adalimumab-aaty in patients who have heart failure and monitor them carefully. AUTOIMMUNITY Treatment with adalimumab products may result in the formation of autoantibodies and, rarely, in the development of a lupus-like syndrome. If a patient develops symptoms suggestive of a lupus-like syndrome following treatment with adalimumab-aaty, discontinue treatment. IMMUNIZATIONS Patients on adalimumab-aaty may receive concurrent vaccinations, except for live vaccines. It is recommended that pediatric patients, if possible, be brought up to date with all immunizations in agreement with current immunization guidelines prior to initiating adalimumab-aaty therapy. No data are available on the secondary transmission of infection by live vaccines in patients receiving adalimumab products. The safety of administering live or live-attenuated vaccines in infants exposed to adalimumab in utero is unknown. Risks and benefits should be considered prior to vaccinating (live or live-attenuated) exposed infants. ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions in adalimumab clinical trials (>10%) were infections (e.g., upper respiratory, sinusitis), injection site reactions, headache, and rash. INDICATIONS Adalimumab-aaty is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker indicated for: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular JIA in patients 2 years of age and older Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): reducing signs and symptoms, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with active PsA Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS): reducing signs and symptoms in adult patients with active AS Crohn's Disease (CD): treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older Ulcerative Colitis (UC): treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults Limitations of Use: Effectiveness has not been established in patients who have lost response to or were intolerant to TNF blockers Effectiveness has not been established in patients who have lost response to or were intolerant to TNF blockers Plaque Psoriasis (Ps): treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, and when other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS): treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa Uveitis (UV): treatment of non-infectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis in adult patients For Yuflyma (adalimumab-aaty): Please click for Full U.S. Prescribing Information. For adalimumab-aaty: Please see Full U.S. Prescribing Information. Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information. About Celltrion, Inc. Celltrion is a leading biopharmaceutical company that specializes in researching, developing, manufacturing, marketing and sales of innovative therapeutics that improve people's lives worldwide. Celltrion is a pioneer in the biosimilar space, having launched the world's first monoclonal antibody biosimilar. Our global pharmaceutical portfolio addresses a range of therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, hematology, ophthalmology and endocrinology. Beyond biosimilar products, we are committed to advancing our pipeline with novel drugs to push the boundaries of scientific innovation and deliver quality medicines. For more information, please visit our website www.celltrion.com/en-us and stay updated with our latest news and events on our social media: LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and Facebook. About Celltrion USA Celltrion USA is Celltrion's U.S. subsidiary established in 2018. Headquartered in New Jersey, Celltrion USA is committed to expanding access to innovative biologics to improve care for U.S. patients. Celltrion's FDA-approved biosimilar products in immunology, oncology, hematology, and endocrinology include: INFLECTRA (infliximab-dyyb), TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs), HERZUMA (trastuzumab-pkrb), VEGZELMA (bevacizumab-adcd), YUFLYMA(adalimumab-aaty), AVTOZMA (tocilizumab-anho), STEQEYMA (ustekinumab-stba), STOBOCLO (denosumab-bmwo), OSENVELT (denosumab-bmwo) and OMLYCLO (omalizumab-igec), as well as the novel biologic ZYMFENTRA (infliximab-dyyb). Celltrion USA will continue to leverage Celltrion's unique heritage in biotechnology, supply chain excellence and best-in-class sales capabilities to improve access to high-quality biopharmaceuticals for U.S. patients. For more information, please visit www.celltrionusa.com and stay updated with our latest news and events on LinkedIn. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT Certain information set forth in this press release contains statements related to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving Celltrion, Inc. and its subsidiaries that may constitute forward-looking statements under pertinent securities laws. This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements may be also identified by words such as "prepares", "hopes to", "upcoming", "plans to", "aims to", "to be launched", "is preparing", "once gained", "could", "with the aim of", "may", "once identified", "will", "working towards", "is due", "become available", "has potential to", "anticipate" the negative of these words or such other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In addition, our representatives may make oral forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of Celltrion, Inc. and its subsidiaries' management, of which many are beyond its control. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties associated with the company's business, including the risk factors disclosed in its Annual Report and/or Quarterly Reports, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such statements. Celltrion, Inc. and its subsidiaries undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. Trademarks Humira is a registered trademark of AbbVie. YUFLYMA is a registered trademark of Celltrion, Inc., used under license. References [1] YUFLYMA US prescribing information (2023) [2] Lebwohl M et al., Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy and Safety after Multiple Switches from Reference Adalimumab to Adalimumab Biosimilar (CT-P17) in comparison with the Maintenance Group (Reference Adalimumab) in Patients with Moderate-toSevere Plaque Psoriasis: Week 27 Results from the Phase III Interchangeability Study. [EADV 2024, Poster number P0931]. Available at: https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/m-anage.com.storage.eadv/abstracts_congress_2024/41489.pdf For further information please contact: Andria Arena [email protected] +1 516-578-0057 SOURCE Celltrion SAN JOSE, Calif., May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chenbro (TWSE: 8210), a global leader in the server chassis industry, is making its most significant appearance to date at COMPUTEX 2025, taking place from May 20 to 23 in Taipei. This year's expanded presence highlights Chenbro's strategic focus on three core service models: OTS, JDM, and OEM Plus. Chenbro showcases its latest AI server enclosure solutions, along with cloud server products co-developed with leading partners from the U.S. and Taiwan. Demonstrating a full spectrum of capabilitiesfrom standard products to fully customized solutionsChenbro reaffirms its robust R&D and manufacturing strength in addressing the evolving needs of global enterprise and cloud markets. Chenbro Debuts at COMPUTEX with Three Major Service Models, Ushering in a New Era of AI Exemplifying Chenbro's Core Values with Three Service Models At COMPUTEX 2025, Chenbro showcases its strength through three key service models. The OTS demonstration highlights the latest NVIDIA MGX and DC-MHS solutions, along with a product roadmap spanning AI, Cloud, Storage, and Edge applications. Its modular design approach enables flexible configurations to meet diverse customer requirements, including OTS-customization solutions. In the JDM area, Chenbro features high-density AI servers and 21-inch OCP ORV3-compliant chassis, co-developed with clients. This model also underscores Chenbro's global R&D collaboration, along with its JPDP (Joint Product Design Process) and DFM (Design for Manufacturing) capabilities that enhance collaboration efficiency and improve product quality. Meanwhile, the OEM Plus showcase emphasizes Chenbro's manufacturing glocalization strategy, Lean Intelligent Manufacturing, and tooling knowledge management, demonstrating its achievements in lean production and manufacturing transformation. Chenbro CEO, Corona Chen, stated that with its strong capabilities in electro-mechanical integration, Chenbro has adopted innovative and diversified business models to expand its market reach. By operating three parallel service models, Chenbro can meet the needs of a wide range of customersincluding cloud service providers, system integrators, brand vendors, and channel partnersoffering quick and efficient responses to market demands. This approach accelerates the deployment of AI, HPC, and big data infrastructure across data centers and enterprises. Looking ahead, Chenbro will continue to strengthen its global presence by expanding localized manufacturing and R&D teams, aiming to capture new growth opportunities in the AI and cloud server markets in collaboration with its customers. Deepening AI Strategy with NVIDIA MGX Architecture and Server Development AI servers remain a key focus in the market. With the release of NVIDIA's GB300 NVL72 platform, Chenbro, an NVIDIA MGX ecosystem provider, showcases the next-generation NVIDIA GB300 compute tray at COMPUTEX 2025. Chenbro also displays a full range of AI products based on the NVIDIA MGX architecture, including 1U, 2U, and 4U server chassis. Many leading technology companies at the event have also demonstrated AI servers co-developed with Chenbro, highlighting the collaborative momentum among industry leaders and the promising future of AI applications. In addition to its work with NVIDIA, Corona further emphasized that Chenbro will continue to strengthen its collaborations with CPU providers such as AMD, Intel, and Ampere. Chenbro is committed to investing in the R&D and manufacturing of next-generation servers, exploring the future landscape of AI, and addressing diverse application needs to build a mutually beneficial and thriving industry ecosystem. About Chenbro Founded in 1983, Chenbro has been the trailblazer in designing and manufacturing of own-brand rackmount system, tower server and PC chassis for over 42 years. Chenbro is not only qualified by the first-tier server brands and provides OEM Plus and ODM/JDM services with EMS companies, but also successfully develops its OTS (Off The Shelf) products to meet market demand. Chenbro extends its business footprint to datacenters and industrial solutions by continuously investing in technologies and delivers the most trusted server chassis with the highest standard of innovation. For more information, please visit www.chenbro.com SOURCE Chenbro Micom BEIJING, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Xinhuanet: A new publication highlighting the appearance of Chinese-built infrastructure on foreign currency was unveiled at a book launch and symposium in Beijing on May 19, underscoring China's global reach through its Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese-Built Projects Featured on Global Currencies (PRNewsfoto/) The book, Chinese Imprints on World Currency, chronicles how infrastructure projects linked to China have been featured on coins and banknotes issued by countries around the world, casting these structures as enduring symbols of the country's international partnerships under the Belt and Road framework. The event drew a cross-section of government officials and corporate leaders, including Hong Lei, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wang Haihuai, General Manager of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC); Du Xiaojian, author of the book; and senior executives from state-owned companies. Ambassadors from over 10 countries, including Cape Verde, Algeria, Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Egypt, were also in attendance. The book documents 121 coins and banknotes issued by 58 countries, each telling a unique story of China's global partnerships through infrastructure. These numismatic records vividly illustrate the BRI's role in strengthening international ties. Among the featured works are 18 projects constructed by CCCC the highest number credited to any single company in the collection including Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port, Croatia's Peljesac Bridge, and Guinea's Kaleta Hydropower Station. In prepared remarks, Mr. Hong Lei called the publication a timely contribution, noting that it reflects what he described as "the inevitable trend toward a shared future for humanity". He reiterated China's commitment to global cooperation in realizing this vision. Mr. Wang Haihuai shared insights from CCCC's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. He reaffirmed the company's dedication to upholding the spirit of the Silk Road while contributing to global sustainable development and the shared future of mankind. Diplomats in attendance praised the Belt and Road Initiative's accomplishments, voicing interest in strengthening cultural and economic ties with Beijing. SOURCE Xinhuanet WASHINGTON, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world facing rising geopolitical tensions and deepening moral crises, the Congressional Prayer Breakfast: Peace and Cooperation brought together leaders from across the U.S. Congress, foreign governments, religious institutions, business, and civil society. Co-hosted by the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, and the Institute for Democracy and Development "PolitA," the event focused on how to address today's political challenges through moral clarity, faith-based diplomacy, and unified action. Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce Congressman Mark Green, Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and a decorated combat veteran, physician, and statesman, served as the event's honorary host. Known for his outspoken commitment to democratic values and national security, Congressman Green opened the event with a message that resonated across political and international lines: "At a time when democracies face existential threats from authoritarian regimes, gatherings like the Congressional Prayer Breakfast remind us of the power of faith to unite people across borders. Our commitment to liberty, to moral leadership, and to standing with our allieslike Israel and Ukraineis rooted not only in policy, but in principle." Kateryna Odarchenko, head of the Institute for Democracy and Development "PolitA", expanded on the necessity of moral clarity in public life: "In my remarks, I spoke about the Mishkanthe sanctuary built from humble materialsbecause it teaches us that purpose sanctifies effort. It's not about the grandeur of institutions, but the integrity of what they are built for. At PolitA, we support democratic institutions, advise civil society, and advocate for value-driven leadership across Eastern Europe. Today's crisesfrom war to corruption to moral fatiguecannot be solved by strategies alone. They demand a return to ethical foundations, to shared meaning. That's why gatherings like this are not ceremonialthey are essential." Ambassador Oksana Markarova of Ukraine offered heartfelt reflections on the power of spiritual solidarity: "No one wants peace more than Ukrainians... Like Israel, we are an ancient people on our historic land, yet constantly defending our right to exist. That is why we pray togethernot only for peace, but for statehood, dignity, and freedom." Following this, Duvi Honig, Founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, called for moral consistency in international alliances: "Peace begins with common sensepasekh seykhl. When we advocate to politicians, especially regarding votes at the UN, we must demand accountability and consistency. If you claim to share our democratic and moral values, do not vote against us. We feel betrayed when allies take actions that contradict those values. This applies equally to Israel, Ukraine, Korea, and beyond." Three panels explored the intersection of faith, governance, and humanitarian recovery. The first examined the moral dimensions of peacebuilding in Israel and Eastern Europe. The second panel addressed the role of religious institutions in responding to humanitarian crises and preserving family and national identity. The third addressed long-term visions for rebuilding post-war societieswith a focus on justice, economic renewal, and democratic partnerships. Vadym Melnyk, legal expert in economic security and administrative law, remarked during the third panel: "True peace is impossible without justice and a functioning economy. Rule of law, faith in institutions, and moral leadership are the cornerstones of secure nations. If we fail to defend these principles during wartime, we risk losing them in peacetime as well. This is not just a matter of politicsit is a question of identity, dignity, and survival." Roman Palchykov, Chairman of the Charitable Foundation "The First Fund for the Restoration of Ukraine", reinforced the importance of cultural and spiritual dimensions in recoveryespecially in regions scarred by war and landmines: "Rebuilding must begin with safety. Demining is not just a technical taskit's a moral imperative. Every cleared field, every safe road, is a step toward restoring not only our land, but the dignity and future of our people." Business and tech leaders also emphasized shared values. Citix, a leading American-Kazakh technology company renowned for its cutting-edge smart urban gadgets, took part in the prestigious Congressional Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. A pioneer in digitizing urban infrastructure, Citix is one of the largest Smart City and AdTech companies, actively expanding its presence in Turkiye and the MENA region. The company is transforming cities through a unique ecosystem of urban technologies and integrated advertising solutions. Citix's participation in the Prayer Breakfast not only highlights its entry into the American market but also underscores its commitment to building international partnerships and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. Representing Citix at the event was Aidana Mukhtarkyzy, Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer, who emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in promoting peace and international cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions. "In a time of growing uncertainty, platforms like the Congressional Prayer Breakfast remind us of the power of unity, understanding, and shared values across borders," said Ms. Mukhtarkyzy. Representatives of civil society added crucial perspectives on long-term security, identity, and the environment. As discussions shifted to another pressing global risksecurity threats related to natural disastersMaryna Ovtsynova, President of Allatra International Public Movement (IPM) and an expert in climate diplomacy, addressed the audience. She highlighted the urgent and growing problem of micro- and nanoplastic pollution, which now poses a serious threat to all of humanity. "Humanity is confronted with grave problemsfrom armed conflicts to environmental crisesthat require all nations and people to unite their efforts. Now, more than ever, it is essential to combine scientific expertise with active civic participation. The nanoplastics crisis is not a challenge of tomorrowit is a crisis of today and demands a global response." Following call for global unity in addressing environmental crises, John Herbst, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, reinforced the need for moral alliances to confront geopolitical threats from authoritarian regimes: "The security challenges we facefrom Russia, China, Iran, and North Koreaare shared across the democratic world. But we also share the strength of alliances, of resilient nations like Ukraine and Israel. The U.S., with smart strategy and committed partners, can still lead a moral global order." Public figure Uriel Shtern presented a mezuzaha symbol of the Jewish people, crafted with the artistry of Ukrainian masters and adorned with authentic Ukrainian amberas a powerful gesture of spiritual and cultural unity. His presentation underscored the shared values of resilience, faith, and identity that link diverse nations and communities. This message echoed throughout the day, as discussions repeatedly returned to how cultural heritage and moral conviction must guide the work of recovery and reconciliation in times of crisis. Throughout the day, spirited discussions emerged about truth, accountability, compassion, and convictionand how these values must once again anchor both domestic and foreign policy. As many noted, faith is not a soft forceit is the spine of resistance to tyranny, confusion, and division. Participants from business, diplomacy, civil society, and the faith community echoed a central theme: values must return to the center of public life. Truth, justice, forgiveness, and moral courage were not discussed abstractlybut as active tools for diplomacy, development, and rebuilding. While many came to advocate for their nations or communities, they left having participated in something deepera spiritual and civic covenant. As one organizer reflected, "You felt it in the room: a hunger not just for answers, but for wisdom." The Prayer Breakfast concluded with a powerful call for moral couragenot only in policy, but in personal leadership. As one guest remarked: "Democracy begins with character. That's the lesson here." Distinguished guests included: Peter Huessy (president, GeoStrategic Analysis), Paolo von Schirach (president, Global Policy Institute; professor of Political Science and International Relations at Bay Atlantic University), Dina Shaikhislam (seasoned political and government relations consultant), H.E. Ambassador Dr. Tiffany Lancaster (UN Ambassador Special Envoy for Public Affairs), Shelby Magid (Deputy Director, Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center), Matt London (Researcher, Georgetown University's Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies), Ezra Friedlander (CEO, The Friedlander Group), Adam W. Schindler (Chief Digital Officer, America First Policy Institute), Anna Yabluchanska (Medical Aid Program Director, United Help Ukraine), and Yanina Volosna (attorney at law, LL.M, MBA). Organizers and Partners: Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce International consulting firms specializing in political consulting, political technologies, public relations, GR, and anti-crisis communications. The company has a proven record of success, with over 30 election victories, 50 successful anti-crisis projects, and 100 PR campaigns and projects in the USA, EU, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. Institute for Democracy and Development "PolitA" A Washington -based think tank that conducts educational, analytical, and policymaking projects in the fields of democracy development, awareness campaigns and advocacy for meaningful social changes. -based think tank that conducts educational, analytical, and policymaking projects in the fields of democracy development, awareness campaigns and advocacy for meaningful social changes. SIC Group International consulting firms specializing in political consulting, political technologies, public relations, GR, and anti-crisis communications. Photos and video can be found here: https://institute-polita.us/ Technical Assistance: Pavlo Dumanskyi [email protected] SOURCE Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce New location in Southwest Florida brings store count to 67 statewide, and 153 nationwide STAMFORD, Conn., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of consumer cannabis products, today announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in Punta Gorda, Florida. Curaleaf Punta Gorda, located at 100 Madrid Blvd., Suite 511, Punta Gorda, FL 33950, will begin welcoming medical patients on May 23, 2025. This expansion marks the Company's 67th store in Florida, bringing its nationwide store count to 153 stores. Curaleaf Punta Gorda, located in the heart of Charlotte County, is the Company's third dispensary in the region. The new location is situated amid historic landmarks, unique shopping and dining, and scenic outdoor attractions, including the popular Harborwalk trail and Fishermen's Village waterfront destination. The dispensary will offer Curaleaf's Select product line, including Select BRIQ all-in-one vapes and the new Select RSO X-Bites. It will also feature additional brands from the company's portfolio, such as Anthem pre-rolls, the brand-new Grassroots Dark Heart Collection, and Reef, a Florida-exclusive flower brand launched this year to provide even greater consistency and high-quality flower for medical patients. All of these products, and more, are sold exclusively at Curaleaf Florida medical dispensaries. Curaleaf Punta Gorda will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET on Sundays, with knowledgeable team members onsite to guide registered medical patients through their shopping experience. "Our reach continues to grow across Florida, with 67 stores serving patients in both metropolitan hubs and hyperlocal communities, including our newly opened hemp-focused retail store, The Hemp Company West Palm Beach, which we recently launched to meet adult hemp consumers where they are," said Boris Jordan, Chairman and CEO of Curaleaf. "With a strong statewide presence, we have developed a deep understanding of the unique needs of Floridians and take pride in offering a retail and product experience that reflects our commitment to serving both registered medical patients and now, adult hemp consumers. Our Florida flower brand, Reef, is a testament to this dedication, and its growing popularity has driven us to continually enhance quality to meet the expectations of our patients. As we expand our footprint, we remain dedicated to delivering products and services that our valued Florida communities can trust." This week, Curaleaf Florida announced a new patient discount structure, offering new patients 60% off their first three visits. Curaleaf also offers everyday discounts to senior citizens, students, veterans and their spouses. Furthermore, patients can benefit from a generous referral component, giving current patients $10 off and awarding $10 to referred friends who are currently registered Florida medical patients. Curaleaf Punta Gorda will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET, featuring live music, giveaways, gifts with purchase, and promotions. For more information on Curaleaf's locations, patient resources, delivery program, and products in Florida, please visit https://curaleaf.com/dispensary/florida . About Curaleaf Holdings Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to enhance lives by cultivating, sharing and celebrating the power of the plant. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company and its brands, including Curaleaf, Select, Grassroots, Find, Anthem and The Hemp Company provide industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult use markets. Curaleaf International is powered by a strong presence in all stages of the supply chain. Its unique distribution network throughout Europe, Canada and Australasia brings together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com . Forward Looking Statements: This media advisory contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forwardlooking statements or information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "proposed", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", 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. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information concerning the opening of a dispensary in Punta Gorda, Florida. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the company with respect to the matter described in this new release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and uncertainties is contained under "Risk Factors and Uncertainties" in the Company's latest annual information form filed on March 3, 2025, which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at http://www.sedar.com , and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. Contacts: Investor Contact: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Camilo Lyon, Chief Investment Officer [email protected] Media Contact: Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Jordon Rahmil, VP Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Holds 12th Annual Scientific Symposium CLEVELAND, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals held its 12th annual scientific symposium this week. Scientific researchers and leaders from across the globe gathered in Cleveland, Ohio to discuss progress being made in drug development for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer's and rare diseases. Symposium speakers included former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, who chairs the Advisory Council for the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre a unique transatlantic partnership between the University of Oxford, UK, and Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland, aimed at driving breakthrough treatments for rare diseases. These diseases typically lack commercial incentive for private companies to develop therapies and treatments. Researchers often find their work at a standstill in the so-called Valley of Death the chasm between discoveries that could not be funded and the funding sources that would not fund them. The Advisory Council supports the OHC's mission to deliver new treatments for the estimated half a billion people affected by rare diseases worldwide. Council members are leaders of relevant industries and sectors from different regions of the world who bring expertise, resources and networks towards the initial goal of developing 40 new drugs for rare diseases in the next 10 years. Harrington scholars presented their latest discoveries throughout the two-day scientific symposium. Of the 8,000 physician-scientists in the US, nearly 50 percent have sought support from Harrington Discovery Institute. To date 150 of those Harrington Scholars have drugs-in-the-making, more than 30 have created new companies, and four are in Phase 3 clinical trials for heart attacks, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's, and a rare cancer syndrome. Another scholar's therapeutic for babies with spina bifida is in a potentially pivotal clinical trial. To achieve these results, Harrington Discovery Institute created an innovation pathway consisting of creative science, drug development assistance, business strategy support, and strong management. David Cameron, Chair of the OHC's Advisory Council, said: "The work of Harrington Discovery Institute is second to none. It's rare to find an organization that not only funds but also surrounds researchers with a full infrastructure to move discoveries forward. To be truly transformational, genomics requires the best of academia, life sciences, pharmaceutical companies, philanthropy and venture capital from around the world to come together. That is what the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre sets out to do, convening those key players and uniting around a bold mission. I have long championed improvements in healthcare through research, and I am proud to be aligned with an organization that doesn't shy away from complex problems. Rare disease and Alzheimer's have been a focus personally and professionally and remain among my deepest commitments. Behind everyone is a family, a story, and a chance to change the future through science, and we owe it to patients and families to keep pushing the boundaries." Jonathan S. Stamler, MD, President and co-founder of Harrington Discovery Institute, commented: "At Harrington Discovery Institute, we've created a powerful mission to accelerate promising discoveries into medicines for unmet needs. We've also created results. Most notably, we have put many new medicines into the drug development system. By the numbers, we now have 214 drugs in the making, 43 companies launched, 23 medicines in the clinic, and 15 licenses to pharma. These are quality metrics. Leaders in pharma, biotech, and academia have said that results like these at any organization would be exceptional, let alone one built from within an academic medical center." Cliff Megerian, University Hospitals CEO, added: "Harrington Discovery Institute is a shining example of what so many of us aspired to do when we became doctors identify a problem, solve the problem, help others. Our mission at UH is: To Heal. To Teach. To Discover. We fulfill our commitment to the "Discover" part of our mission through Harrington Discovery it's our mechanism for investing in our nation's best discoveries and brightest scholars to advance new cures. We're grateful to have attendees from across the US, the UK, and Canada as well as those based right here in Cleveland at University Hospitals." SOURCE Harrington Discovery Institute Prestigious biodynamic wines served at the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 22, 2025 NARBONNE, France, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerard Bertrand is proud to renew his commitment to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, by supporting the amfAR Gala Cannes for the fifth consecutive year. On May 22, 2025, during the Cannes International Film Festival, two of Gerard Bertrand's flagship wines Aigle Royal Pinot Noir 2021 (IGP Haute Vallee de l'Aude) and Cigalus Blanc 2023 (IGP Pays d'Oc) were poured for guests attending one of the most celebrated philanthropic evenings in the world, held at the legendary Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Aigle Royal Pinot Noir served at the amfAR Gala Cannes, Photo Credit Ryan Emberley The black-tie gala, hosted by Taraji P. Henson, featured performances by Duran Duran, Ciara, and Adam Lambert, and welcomed an A-list roster of international celebrities, fashion icons, and philanthropists, all gathered to support amfAR's life-saving biomedical research programs. "amfAR's mission is deeply meaningful to us. We are proud to contribute through the universal language of wine," said Gerard Bertrand. The two wines selected for the gala dinner embody the essence of Gerard Bertrand's biodynamic philosophy: Aigle Royal Pinot Noir 2021 A high-altitude Pinot Noir grown in the Haute Vallee of the Languedoc, distinguished by its elegance, structure, and exceptional aromatic precision. A high-altitude Pinot Noir grown in the Haute Vallee of the Languedoc, distinguished by its elegance, structure, and exceptional aromatic precision. Cigalus Blanc 2023 A biodynamic white blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc, offering complexity, freshness, and a sunlit Mediterranean signature. Gerard Bertrand joined this year's signature beverage partners Beluga Vodka, Champagne Telmont, Dassai Sake, and RUMOR Rose in toasting the success of the 31st edition of the gala. Presented by Chopard, with signature sponsorship from La Premiere Air France and Kodiak Pictures, the evening also featured a live auction led by Simon de Pury and a curated fashion show by Carine Roitfeld with looks from the world's most iconic maisons. Since 1993, the amfAR Gala Cannes has raised over $297 million in support of groundbreaking AIDS research. About Gerard Bertrand Gerard Bertrand is a world-renowned winemaker and biodynamic pioneer in the South of France. With over 1,000 hectares of vineyards Demeter certified, the group produces some of the French's most celebrated wines, each reflecting a profound respect for nature, heritage, and the Mediterranean art de vivre. About amfAR amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised more than $920 million and awarded over 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide. Contact: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695340/SPH_Gerard_Bertrand.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2652071/GERARD_BERTRAND_Logo.jpg SOURCE SPH Gerard Bertrand HONG KONG, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) held the HK Tech 300 Expo, a large-scale innovation and entrepreneurship exhibition, from 23 to 24 May 2025 at the University campus. The two-day event brought together about 300 start-ups incubated by CityUHK with over 60 roadshows, demonstrating how the University's world-class research achievements and innovative ideas translate into practical applications that have a positive social impact. Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (6th from left), Mr Michael Ngai, Council Chairman of CityUHK (6th from right), Professor Freddy Boey, President of CityUHK (5th from left), Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise) of CityUHK (5th from right), joins distinguished guests and partners to kick off the HK Tech 300 International Start-up Competition.(Photo credit: City University of Hong Kong) Together with the Expo Opening Ceremony today (23 May 2025), CityUHK held the Launch Ceremony of the HK Tech 300 International Start-up Competition (HK Tech 300 International Competition), further expanding its innovation footprint onto the global stage. Presiding over the ceremony were Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, Mr Michael Ngai, Council Chairman of CityUHK, Mr Charles Chin Ying-on, Treasurer of CityUHK, and Professor Freddy Boey, President of CityUHK. Also attending the ceremony were Mr Chaturont Chaiyakam, Consul-General of Thailand in the HKSAR, Mrs Le Duc Hanh, Consul-General of Vietnam in the HKSAR, and representatives from the governments and partner organisations of 12 mainland cities. Since its launch in 2021, HK Tech 300, CityUHK's flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, has incubated over 900 start-ups, more than 200 of which have received up to HK$1M each in angel funding. Beyond financial support and patent resources, HK Tech 300 offers extensive assistance, including business matching and co-investment opportunities, leveraging the expertise of over 250 mentors from diverse industries, alongside partnerships with over 100 public and private institutions. The HK Tech 300 Expo showcases nearly 300 start-ups incubated by CityUHK, offering a range of innovative solutions in the fields of Biotech & Health, ICT & AI, Advanced tech & ESG, and Fintech. CityUHK expanded the reach of HK Tech 300 to include the national region in 2022 and the Southeast Asian region in 2023. The introduction of the HK Tech 300 International Competition will foster further cross-border collaboration to address pressing global challenges. The Competition will be held in partnership with 11 universities and five local partners, including business chambers and incubators from nine countries and cities: Brunei, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Hong Kong SAR. It aims to attract aspiring talent and start-ups to Hong Kong and the mainland, leveraging the city's unique advantages and resources. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695057/CityU_01.jpg TAMPA, Fla., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Housing Leadership Council of Tampa Bay (HLCTB) will host the 2025 Tampa Bay Regional Affordable Housing Forum on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Centre Club in Tampa, Florida. This full-day event will unite housing developers, policymakers, financial experts, and community leaders to address the region's housing affordability crisis through collaboration and innovation. Register now: https://hlctb.org/events/2025-tampa-bay-regional-affordable-housing-forum/ Agenda Overview The forum opens with remarks from Kimberly Overman, HLCTB Founder, followed by a presentation of Beyond the Front Door, a regional housing impact study by Shannon Kalahar of Tampa Bay Partnership. The keynote address will be delivered by Leroy Moore, SVP/COO of the Tampa Housing Authority and Secretary of the Florida Housing Coalition. Panel 1: Current Housing Challenges and Opportunities Moderated by Tori Boyd of Signature Property Development, this panel will explore the state of the housing market, the scarcity of developable land, and the impact of funding cycles. Panelists include Chris Savino (Archway Partners), Dan Coakley (PMG), Shawn Wilson (Blue Sky Communities), and George Romagnoli (Neighborhood Lending Partners). Panel 2: Homeownership Challenges Led by Chaikirah Parker of TLC Sunshine Financial, this session will focus on expanding access to homeownership in underserved communities. Panelists such as Sylvia Alvarez (Housing & Education Alliance), Aidza Antonio Thomas (Solita's House), Frank Cornier (Tampa Bay NHS), and Frank DuBose (Alfa Residential Development Holdings) will share strategies to overcome financial and systemic barriers. Panel 3: Innovative Housing Solutions Moderated by Layla Hayavi of North Tampa Housing Development Corporation, this panel will highlight creative approaches to increasing housing stock, including prefab construction, tiny homes, employer-sponsored housing, and faith-based development. Speakers include Ernest Coney Jr., Milton Pratt Jr., David Iloanya, and Maggie Rogers. The afternoon features collaborative workgroups led by Dayna Lazarus of the Florida Housing Coalition, followed by closing remarks from Kimberly Overman and a networking reception. Sponsorship Opportunities Premium and business partnerships are available for organizations committed to housing equity. About the Housing Leadership Council of Tampa Bay Founded in 2023, the Housing Leadership Council of Tampa Bay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the availability of affordable and workforce housing for all income levels in the region. SOURCE Housing Leadership Council of Tampa Bay GUANGZHOU, China, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As global demographics shift, the aging population becomes a defining force in product innovation. At the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), Chinese companies have been embracing this trend with technology-driven, senior-centric solutions designed to promote safety, independence, and dignity for older adults. One standout exhibitor, Guangzhou SELAQUA Sanitary Ware Co., Ltd. (Aicube Care), drew attention with its modular bathroom systems tailored to senior users. Since entering the sector in 2010, the company has focused on high-end accessible designs, including a thermostatic shower panel with a built-in seat, an adjustable ceramic basin with a height-adaptable holder, U-shaped grab bars, and wall-mounted shower seats with supportive armrests and backrests. "As aging becomes a global issue, many buyers are realizing the growing demand in this sector," said Katie Peng, Sales Manager at Aicube Care. "Some who hadn't considered it before are now actively exploring opportunities after seeing our solutions." Aging-focused innovation also featured prominently in the Canton Fair's first-ever Service Robots Zone. Zhejiang Fubao Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. showcased an advanced companion robot built for elderly care. Equipped with AI-powered health monitoring, real-time physiological tracking, and telemedicine capabilities, the robot offers features such as blood oxygen detection, medication reminders, and emergency alert systems, all essential for seniors living independently. Other senior-centric everyday solutions were exhibited during the 137th Canton Fair. Bio-based insoles with over 25% corn-derived PU provide superior cushioning and durability, offering seniors enhanced support for extended walking or standing. Meanwhile, height-adjustable, remote-controlled kitchens enable wheelchair users to effortlessly adjust cabinets and stoves to a comfortable working height. On May 3rd, the Canton Fair hosted a themed event titled "Silver Economy: A New Paradigm for Aging-Friendly Products," further emphasizing its strong focus on this emerging trend. From adaptive home fixtures to smart health monitoring systems, exhibitors at the 137th Canton Fair are redefining what it means to age with comfort and confidence. Their innovations show that designing for older adults is no longer a niche but a vital part of mainstream innovation. These companies are not just capitalizing on a significant growth opportunity. They are also advancing a broader social mission: making aging more inclusive, safe, and empowering. As these innovations reach global markets, the Fair continues to be a pivotal platform for shaping a future that embraces aging with compassion and foresight. SOURCE Canton Fair INDIANAPOLIS, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This Memorial Day Weekend, the spotlight won't only be on speedit'll be on saving lives. ZERO Prostate Cancer (ZERO) , the nation's leading advocacy and support organization for prostate cancer, is proud to announce its powerful presence across America's most iconic motorsports stages: the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 and BetMGM 300. The message? Veterans are twice as likely to face prostate cancerand early detection saves lives. In partnership with Juncos Hollinger Racing , ZERO's logo will be featured on two cars in the 1009th Running of the Indianapolis 500the world's biggest single-day sporting eventon Sunday, May 25 at 12:45 PM ET (FOX). ZERO's logo will appear on the cars of INDYCAR drivers Conor Daly and Sting Ray Robb . "This weekend isn't just about racingit's about saving lives," said Josh Bilicki. Post this At the same time, ZERO and partner AstraZeneca are making waves in NASCAR's patriotic tribute weekend with two ZERO-branded vehicles: No. 66 Ford Mustang driven by Josh Bilicki in the Coca-Cola 600 ( Sunday, May 25 at 6:00 PM ET on Amazon Prime) driven by in the ( at on Amazon Prime) No. 53 Chevrolet Camaro driven by JJ Yeley in the BetMGM 300 ( Saturday, May 24 at 1:00 PM ET on The CW) Together, this high-octane campaign is bringing national visibility to a deadly disease that claims a man's life every 15 minutes in the U.S.and hits military Veterans at double the rate of the general population. "This weekend isn't just about racingit's about saving lives," said Josh Bilicki. "If even one man schedules a PSA test because of this message, we've done our job." "As a 48-year-old and part of a sport deeply rooted in the Veteran community, this message really hits home," said JJ Yeley. "We're proud to be racing for something bigger than ourselves." "Prostate cancer has become too big to ignore," said Courtney Bugler , President and CEO of ZERO Prostate Cancer . "More than 3 million men in the U.S. are living with this disease, and too many don't even know they're at riskespecially our Veterans. Memorial Day is about honoring those we've lost, and at ZERO, we're also fighting to save the ones still here." This campaign aligns with ZERO's bold initiative to save 100,000 lives by 2035, with targeted efforts toward Veterans, Black men, and rural communitiesthe populations most impacted by the disease. "It's time to race toward solutions," said Daniele Paone, VP US, GYN/GU Cancer Franchise, AstraZeneca. "We're proud to team up with ZERO and the motorsports community to drive awareness where it's urgently needed." For nearly 30 years, ZERO has been on the front lines of the prostate cancer fight, providing education, support, and advocacy to patients and families. This Memorial Day, from Indy to Charlotte, the message is unmistakable: know your risk, talk to your doctor and get screened. Watch the Races Live: BetMGM 300 (Xfinity Series): Saturday, May 24 1:00 PM ET on The CW on The CW Coca-Cola 600 (Cup Series): Sunday, May 25 6:00 PM ET on Amazon Prime on Amazon Prime Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar): Sunday, May 25 12:45 PM ET on FOX Learn more and find resources at ZEROcancer.org MEDIA CONTACT: Steph Johnson Vice President, Communications ZERO Prostate Cancer [email protected] SOURCE ZERO Prostate Cancer WASHINGTON, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, a cohort of Jewish students from George Washington University (GWU) filed a Title VI action alleging a hostile educational environment. Antisemitism has surged on college campuses in the wake of the October 7 terror attack against Israel, and recent events at GWU reveal a stunning indifference on the part of GWU Administration officials to respond to it. The experience for Jewish students at GWU has been nothing short of appalling. In the immediate months following the October 7 terror attacks, Jewish students encountered a litany of antisemitic slogans and chants emanating from on-campus protests, including, "Globalize the Intifada;" "F*** you, Zionist, go die"; "There is only one solution, Intifada revolution"; "Hamas are freedom fighters"; "We don't want no Jewish state"; and "Zionists, go to hell." Meanwhile, protesters vandalized GWU property in what amounted to rioting and blocked Jewish students from traversing campus freely, attending class, and otherwise engaging in educational opportunities. Jewish students were spat at, harassed, and socially ostracized. Jewish and Zionist academics have suffered similar harassment, as well. Recently, the office of an Israeli economics professor was vandalized, as signs with an antisemitic and threatening message were posted on his office door and littered throughout the building. One sign called the Israeli professor a "pernicious symptom of the bloodthirsty Zionism permeating our campus." The complaint alleges that this antisemitism festered and became firmly entrenched on campus due to the deliberate negligence of GWU Administrators. The complaint asserts that the GWU Administration allowed an antisemitic environment, buttressed by the Middle East Studies Association and the Institute for Middle East Studies, to fester, and in doing so, failed to meet its obligations under Title VI, leading Jewish students to feel frustrated, isolated, and in fear of their physical safety. "GWU has obligations under Title VI and other laws to protect its Jewish students and faculty, and our complaint demonstrates that GWU failed its obligation. We look forward to this case and to protecting current and future Jewish students at GWU," said Jason Torchinsky, Partner at Holtzman Vogel. Mark Goldfeder, CEO and Director of NJAC, stated, "Jewish students, like all students, deserve a place to study free from harassment and unlawful discrimination. What is happening here is clearly unreasonable and cannot be allowed to go unchecked." More information about the National Jewish Advocacy Center can be found here. Information about Holtzman Vogel's antisemitism work can be found here. Edward M. Wenger, Jason Torchinsky, and Erielle Davidson of Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky & Josefiak PLLC; Doug Brooks of Libby Hoopes Brooks & Mulvey P.C.; and Mark Goldfeder and Ben Schlager of the National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) represent litigants in this matter. Media Contact: Julie Jimenez-Padron [email protected] 305-395-9350 SOURCE Holtzman Vogel Retailer receives gold distinction for commitment to mental health CINCINNATI, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), America's grocer, today announced it has been awarded the 2025 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. The Bell Seal program from Mental Health America (MHA) is a first-of-its-kind workplace certification that recognizes employers who strive to create mentally healthy workplaces for their associates. Kroger has been awarded the 2025 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. The Bell Seal program from Mental Health America (MHA) is a first-of-its-kind workplace certification that recognizes employers who strive to create mentally healthy workplaces for their associates. "Across the Kroger Family of Companies, we are united by a shared commitment to Our Values, a mission that guides how we serve our customers, support our communities and treat each other," said Tim Massa, executive vice president and chief associate experience officer. "Only two in five employers meet the Bell Seal standards, making this certification a testament to Kroger's unwavering dedication to the well-being of our associates and our ongoing efforts to holistically support our teams." Kroger earned 100 percent in the holistic wellness at work category for its offerings, programs and perks to support associates' mental health and promote a positive workplace culture. Offerings were evaluated in addition to the mental health services included in the retailer's health benefits, wellness initiatives, paid time off and professional development. Founded in 1909, MHA is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the overall mental health of all. MHA has spent decades researching mental health in the workplace, and in 2019, MHA introduced the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health to recognize companies and organizations that understand the value of addressing mental health at work and implement policies and practices that support employee wellbeing. Visit krogerfamilycareers.com to learn more about pursuing a career at Kroger. About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. We are, across our family of companies more than 400,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through an e-commerce experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. SOURCE The Kroger Co. DETROIT, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Shariff, Esq., a Michigan-based U.S. attorney, has released a new personal essay on the Russia-America Friendship Society site titled "Crimea and the Path to Peace: A Personal Reflection on the Ukraine-Russia Conflict." Shariff writes: "As someone who yearns deeply for peace between Russia and Ukraine, I believe that honest and nuanced conversation is long overdue." "As someone who yearns deeply for peace between Russia and Ukraine, honest and nuanced conversation is long overdue." Post this He emphasizes: "Donald Trump already stated in 2018 the advisability of recognizing Crimea as Russian." Shariff writes: "While researching the legal aspects of this issue and the recent history of Crimea, I discovered facts of significant importance for determining Crimea's legal status." Shariff points to a little-known referendum that took place before the dissolution of the USSR: "On January 20, 1991while Crimea was still part of the Ukrainian SSR within the Soviet Uniona nationwide referendum was held in Crimea on the question: 'On the restoration of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as a subject of the USSR and a participant in the Union Treaty.' An overwhelming 93.26% of Crimeans voted in favor." Source: Ukraina.ru, March 17, 2025. Shariff further writes: "Following the referendum, on February 12, 1991, the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR formally restored Crimea's status as the Crimean ASSR within the Ukrainian SSR. Later that year, on December 1, 1991, a nationwide Ukrainian independence referendum was held under the legal framework of the USSR Law of April 3, 1990, "On the Procedure for Resolving Issues Related to the Secession of a Union Republic from the USSR." "In Crimea, the Ukrainian independence referendum failed to achieve the qualified two-thirds majority required by that law. According to Article 3, this result granted Crimea the legal right to decideindependentlywhether to remain in the USSR or join the seceding republic. It also guaranteed Crimea the right to determine its own state-legal status." Shariff emphasizes: "At that moment, Ukraine had no legal authority to override this right. It was still operating within the jurisdiction of Soviet law and never formally contested these provisions and Ukraine's own Constitution prohibits retroactive laws and the restriction of pre-existing rights: "According to Article 22 of the Constitution of Ukraine, new laws cannot diminish existing rights and freedoms. This means that no Ukrainian law adopted after December 1, 1991, could revoke the right of Crimeans to determine their own future." However, Shariff argues: "Crimea should have been considered a sovereign entity based on the 1991 referendum and the legal framework then in force and shortly afterward, between February and May 1992, Crimea's Parliament declared state sovereignty, adopted its first constitution, and scheduled a referendum on independence for August 1992. "They were fully consistent with the legal rights recognized under the 1990 USSR law." However, the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada rejected the Crimean Parliament's decisions, declared them unconstitutional. "Despite legal legitimacy, the decisions of the Crimean Parliament were overridden not through legal means, but through political force." Shariff continues: "Crimeans did not give up. In 1994, they held a referendum to expand autonomy and elected a President of Crimea, who won with over 70% of the vote. But again, Kyiv responded with force." On the night of March 1617, 1995: "An SBU 'Alpha' unit stormed the Crimean Parliament and forcibly removed the President of Crimeaunconsciousfrom his office. The Ministry of Internal Affairs building was also seized. That same day, the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada annulled Crimea's Constitution and abolished the presidency." Source: (https://www.mk.ru/politics/interview/2014/03/17/999422-yuriy-meshkov-togda-v- kryimuvyisadilsya-ukrainskiy-armeyskiy-spetsnaz.html) He concludes: "According to the laws of both Ukraine and the USSR, the results of the 1991 Crimean referendum could not have been annulled by either the all-Ukrainian referendum of December 1, 1991, or any subsequent Ukrainian laws. And yet, those results were nullifiedby forceon March 17, 1995." Shariff emphasizes: "There is no denying the tragic human cost of the ongoing conflicton both sides. Countless lives have been lost, families displaced, and infrastructure destroyed. But even amid the media noise, the root legal and historical causes of this conflict remain poorly understood." And Shariff asks: "From the standpoint of international law, how should the actions of the Kyiv authorities described above be qualified? If not as violations of the right to self-determinationthen what?" The full article is available at https://rusamcorp.com For Media Inquiries please contact Michael Shariff, Esq. Russia & America Friendship Society [email protected] SOURCE Russia & America Friendship Society ISLAMABAD, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking move to elevate clinical diagnostics nationwide, MindHYVE.ai, a U.S.-based pioneer in orchestrated agentic AI and swarm-intelligent systems, has signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (IDC). The collaboration will see the deployment of Chiron and Ava-AutoNarratortwo proprietary, AGI-powered agentsacross IDC's core diagnostic workflows. Belal Faruki, CEO of MindHYVE.ai, and Dr. Rizwan Uppal, Founder & CEO of IDC, sign a strategic MoU to deploy AGI-powered diagnostic agents across Pakistanmarking a major leap in AI-driven, ethical, and intelligent healthcare. Initially launching at flagship centers in Islamabad (F-8 Markaz) and Lahore (DHA Phase 4), the pilot will introduce a multi-agent diagnostic intelligence layer, enhancing decision precision, speed, and reproducibility in radiology and laboratory services. "This isn't just AIit's agentic intelligence in action," said Belal Faruki, Founder & CEO of MindHYVE.ai. "By fusing swarm intelligence with domain-specific reasoning models, we're equipping clinicians with AI collaborators that learn, adapt, and elevate patient outcomesethically and transparently." Key Innovations: Chiron A medical diagnostic reasoner, part of MindHYVE.ai's Ava-Agent architecture, performs pre-diagnostic inference and real-time anomaly detection across radiological and laboratory datasets. Ava-AutoNarrator A semi-autonomous narrative generation agent, trained on clinical ontologies, that synthesizes structured reports aligned with ICD and HL7 standards. Agentic Coordination Layer MindHYVE.ai's Swarm AI Framework orchestrates agents in real-timeenabling self-organization, priority optimization, and contextual reasoning across patient records. Secure PACS/LIS Integration Seamless, encrypted integration with IDC's Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS). Three-Phase Rollout Strategy: Phase 1 Ground Launch: Initial deployment, radiologist/lab team onboarding, and system calibration. Ground Launch: Initial deployment, radiologist/lab team onboarding, and system calibration. Phase 2 Reasoner Tuning: AGI model refinement, cross-clinic feedback loops, and clinical data harmonization across 57 IDC locations. Reasoner Tuning: AGI model refinement, cross-clinic feedback loops, and clinical data harmonization across 57 IDC locations. Phase 3 Nationwide Readiness: DRAP-compliant licensing, agent swarm scaling, and full-stack intelligence across IDC's 130+ branches. Ethical Intelligence Commitment All systems will be governed under MindHYVE.ai's Ethical AGI Protocol, including: Human-in-the-loop validation Encrypted patient data pathways Collaborative oversight with DRAP and PNAC Explainable diagnostic decisions using Ava-Fusion reasoning models "MindHYVE.ai's orchestrated AGI reflects our vision of scalable, accessible diagnostics," said Dr. Rizwan Uppal, Founder & CEO of IDC. "This alliance ushers in a new era of intelligent healthcare, anchored in ethics and excellence." About MindHYVE.ai Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, MindHYVE.ai builds domain-specific AGI agents, multi-agent orchestration systems, and the Ava-Fusion family of reasoning modelsdriving intelligent transformation in diagnostics, infrastructure, and national systems. Website: www.mindhyve.ai | Email: [email protected] | Contact: +1 (949) 200-8668 Media Contact Marc Ortiz Email: [email protected] SOURCE MindHYVE.ai, Inc. Joins Forces with RLL as Official Wireless Partner at the Famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway IRVINE, Calif., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MobileX, the most customizable wireless service designed to save consumers money, has joined Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) team as the Official Wireless Partner for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday, May 25. The No. 15 Honda driven by Graham Rahal takes to the track as MobileX makes its Indy 500 debut as Official Wireless Partner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. For MobileX, this marks a bold new chapter in its motorsports portfolio as it continues to align with high-performance teams and events that embody speed, precision and innovation. Much like the Indy 500 pushes the limits of engineering and endurance, MobileX is redefining what's possible in wireless, delivering smarter, more flexible service that helps customers pay only for what they use, never more than $24.88/month.* "MobileX is built for performance, on the track and in the marketplace," said Peter Adderton, Founder and CEO of MobileX. "The Indy 500 is more than just a race, it's a celebration of technology, endurance and pushing limits the same principles that drive us to redefine wireless. We're thrilled to team up with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and support three incredibly talented drivers in one of the most watched sporting events in the world." MobileX branding will appear on RLL's No. 15, No. 30, and No. 45 Hondas driven by Graham Rahal, Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster, respectively as the team takes on the most iconic race in American motorsports this weekend. "We are excited MobileX chose to partner with RLL at the world's largest single day sporting event, forging a dynamic connection with millions of passionate fans across the globe," said Bobby Rahal, team co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing with David Letterman and Mike Lanigan. With more than a century of history and global fanfare, the Indy 500 remains one of the most prestigious motorsport events in the world. Known as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the race draws over 300,000 fans to the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway and millions more tuning in worldwide. The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will air live on FOX beginning at 10:00 am ET on Sunday, May 25. For more information on MobileX, please visit mymobilex.com. For more information about RLL, visit www.rahal.com. *Prices do not include applicable taxes and government surcharges. About MobileX Headquartered in Orange County, California, MobileX is the world's most customizable mobile carrier delivering the ultimate in choice and cost control. MobileX is a unique service that uses artificial intelligence to predict how much data customers need, delivering a dramatic reduction in cost while ensuring reliable speed and service. MobileX was founded by Peter Adderton, who also founded both Boost Mobile and Digital Turbine. For more information, please visit mymobilex.com. About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Zionsville, Ind., is co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan. In 2025, the team will compete in its 34th year of competition and will attempt to add to its 30 Indy car wins including the 2004 Indy 500 from pole with Buddy Rice and the 2020 Indy 500 with Takuma Sato -- their 37 poles, 112 podium finishes and 1992 series championship. The team also competed in the American Le Mans Series from 2009-2013 as BMW Team RLL where they won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category in 2010 and swept all three GT titles in 2011 - Manufacturer, Team and Driver. In 2012, the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. From 2014 to 2021, BMW Team RLL competed in the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a two-car program. In 2022, BMW M Team RLL competed in the GTD PRO class in IMSA while simultaneously ramping up for a two-car program in the much-anticipated GTP class in IMSA for 2023. In total, the team has earned 24 wins including the 2019 and 2020 Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance races, 30 poles and 103 podium finishes prior to the start of the 2025 season. BMW M Team RLL highlights also include second-place finishes in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships in 2015 and 2017 and being named the 2020 Michelin North American Endurance Champions. SOURCE Mobile X Global, Inc. AIM TV & Raw Travel TV Win Second Award for Ukrainian War Documentary NEW YORK, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AIM Tell-A-Vision Group (AIM TV), producers of the nation's most-watched travel show, Raw Travel, announced that their documentary, "My Summer in Ukraine," has recently received a Bronze Telly Award in the "Series-News & Politics" category. This recognition follows their recent Silver Anthem Award for Humanitarian Action & Services in the Film, Video, Television category. Airing on TV in 2024 and inspired by Raw Travel Producer/Host Robert G. Rose's travels in Ukraine in 2023, the "My Summer in Ukraine" film and documentary series delves into the experiences of a travel journalist working in a war zone, as Rose engaged with various humanitarians, filmmakers, soldiers, and Ukrainians. In the documentary, Rose accompanied humanitarians Mark Cary (USA) and Hymie Dunn (UK) to several hotspots, including Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and a harrowing trip to Kherson City, where he and his associates came under mortar fire from Russian munitions. The talented young Ukrainian videographer Anastasia Zui filmed much of the documentary. Zui has been a member of the Raw Travel crew since 2019 and has been a refugee from Eastern Ukraine since Russia's initial invasion in 2014. Veteran TV editor Renzo Devia of Creador Pictures, a long-time collaborator with Rose since 2000 and part of Raw Travel's crew, edited the post-production series. The sound design and music varied dramatically from Raw Travel's traditional approach. Much of it was created by the recording studio and musical collective BtOVEN, which is based in New York City. BtOVEN has also worked with Raw Travel TV for several seasons to create unique music for the series. Audio mixing for the film proved especially challenging due to filming in the unpredictable environment of a war zone. Raw Travel's longtime audio mixing partner, Chaliwa Music + Sound, in Miami, Florida, handled the work. Santiago Salas Castro of Journey Animation, which has offices in Costa Rica and Canada, created an animation of a harrowing scene in the first part of the episode that helped to recreate visuals from an emotional and sensitive interview with Lada Schmel of "Lada's Orphanage" near Bucha, Ukraine. My Summer in Ukraine originally aired on TV in 2024 and has helped raise awareness along with over $50,000 in hard donations and in-kind contributions for various grassroots organizations and humanitarians featured in the docuseries, including Lada's Orphanage, humanitarians Mark Cary and Hymie Dunn, the Kherson Mobile School Project, Care4Ukraine.org, and many others. The documentary is currently streaming online at MySummerInUkraine.com, and more information about Ukraine can be found at RawTravelUkraine.com and RawTravel.tv, the show's official website. ABOUT "MY SUMMER IN UKRAINE" "My Summer in Ukraine" is a four-part documentary series filmed during Robert G. Rose's trip to Ukraine in the summer of 2023 alongside Anastasia Zui, a Ukrainian cinematographer. They journeyed through various regions of Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Irpin, Bucha, and more, engaging with humanitarians, soldiers, and others. The documentary aims to reveal a unique perspective on war that many are unaware of, highlighting tragedy, resilience, sorrow, and immense joy. "My Summer in Ukraine" premiered on broadcast TV in 2024 and is currently available on Raw Travel's YouTube Channel. ABOUT AIM TELL-A-VISION GROUP AIM Tell-A-Vision (AIM TV) Group is an independent production, content, and distribution company founded by media veteran and entrepreneur Robert G. Rose. Since 2000, AIM TV has produced and distributed positive, compelling content that reflects a mission of presenting "Media That Matters." Visit AIMTVGroup.com for more information. ABOUT RAW TRAVEL TV Raw Travel is an adventure and lifestyle series showcasing socially and environmentally aware, independent travel. The series uniquely weaves eco-tourism and voluntourism (giving back) themes with underground music and authentic culture. Since 2013, the show has raised funds and highlighted dozens of non-profit organizations helping the unhoused, orphaned children, people with disabilities, displaced refugees, etc., as well as encouraging earth stewardship, sustainable living, and travel with a purpose. The show is broadcast each weekend in 185 U.S. cities on major affiliates and several international territories, including Asia, Africa, and Europe. It is also available on several major airlines. The AIM Tell-A-Vision Group produces the show and manages its domestic and international distribution. For more information, visit RawTravel.tv. ABOUT ROBERT G. ROSE Robert G. Rose is an independent media entrepreneur and travel journalist. Throughout his career in travel journalism, Rose has visited numerous challenging, politically charged destinations for filming, including Haiti, Cuba, China, and Vietnam (all while undercover), Colombia, and Georgia (including Russian-occupied territories), as well as Russia (2010) and Ukraine prior to and during Russia's full invasion. In the summer of 2023, Rose spent a month in Ukraine filming, documenting his experience traveling with volunteers and interviewing soldiers and civilians, some of whom were under the threat of Russian bombs and munitions. In 2024, Rose returned to Ukraine to screen his documentary and reconnect with his friends and the subjects of the film. SOURCE AIM Tell-A-Vision Group AURORA, Colo., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Postal Service today unveiled a new collection of Baby Wild Animals stamps celebrating the heartwarming beauty of nature's youngest creatures. Featuring 10 playful, stylized illustrations, the stamps are designed to capture the universal joy these animals inspire from forest to mailbox. The first-day-of-issue event took place at the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show in Denver. "The Baby Wild Animals stamps bring an adorable twist to wildlife in its most tender form," said Lisa Bobb-Semple. Post this Baby Wild Animals Stamps (U.S. Postal Service) "The Baby Wild Animals stamps bring an adorable twist to wildlife in its most tender form," said Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS director of stamp services. "There's something universally heartwarming about baby animals. This issue captures how cute baby wild animals are and brings it right to your mailbox." The stamps showcase 10 designs, including a fox, owl, deer, seal, rabbit, raccoon, bear, skunk, bobcat and chipmunk each rendered with clean lines, rich textures, and a warm, modern palette of rust orange, cornflower blue, pale ecru and soft black. The stamps were illustrated by Tracy Walker, whose distinctive style brings a whimsical and fresh perspective to the series. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the booklet of 20 stamps. "The bold, subtle shapes and textures used in the stamps' design motivated us to also develop modern, endearing products like notecards and bookmarks inspired directly by the stamps themselves," said Bobb-Semple. In addition to the stamp booklet, USPS is releasing a selection of notecards, first-day covers, and collectible items featuring the charming artwork. The Baby Wild Animals stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate and are now available for purchase at Post Office locations nationwide and online at usps.com. News of the stamps is being shared on social media using the hashtag #BabyWildAnimals. Postal Products Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products online at The Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826 or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com. Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. National contact: Jonathan Castillo [email protected] usps.com/news Local contact: James Boxrud [email protected] SOURCE U.S. Postal Service NINGBO, China, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from Ningbo External Communication Center: On May 22, the 4th China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. With the theme "New Visions for the Future," the event attracted over 15,000 professional visitors from 72 countries and regions. Import purchase intentions from CEECs are expected to exceed 10 billion yuan. The 80,000-square-meter exhibition space is divided into two main sections: the CEEC exhibition zone and the export consumer goods zone. Covering 20,000 square meters, the CEEC zone features over 400 exhibitors showcasing more than 8,000 unique products, including Czech beer, Slovenian honey, Hungarian down products, and Slovenian ski gear. Meanwhile, the export consumer goods zone features over 1,000 Chinese enterprises presenting high-quality offerings such as consumer goods and smart technologies, giving global buyers an immersive technological showcase. During the Expo, a number of events such as business matching activities and intergovernmental exchange activities will be staged. Besides, conferences such as the China-CEEC Joint Chamber of Commerce Meeting and the 7th China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation will be held to deepen the alignment of rules. Another side event, the 2025 China-CEEC Mayors Forum, focuses on shaping a new paradigm of urban governance, and the China-Central and Eastern Europe International Regatta will set sail for promoting people-to-people exchanges. In addition, interactive activities such as the "Hi-Go" CEEC Product Shopping Festival will be held in an online-offline hybrid form. This year, Slovenia and Slovakia serve as the Guests of Honor. In addition to full participation from all 14 CEECs, exhibitors from nine other countriesincluding the UK, France and Germanyare attending the Expo for the first time. Moreover, institutions such as the World Bank, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and world-renowned enterprises including Sanofi, Novartis, and Morgan Stanley have been invited to attend the event. Looking ahead, the Expo aims to unlock greater potential and expand the scope of cooperation. By promoting a regularized mechanism for exchanges and collaboration, it seeks to capitalize on new opportunities in industrial transformation and investment. SOURCE Ningbo External Communication Center SAN DIEGO, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that the Organon class action lawsuit captioned Hauser v. Organon & Co., No. 25-cv-05322 (D.N.J.) seeks to represent purchasers or acquirers of Organon & Co. (NYSE: OGN) securities and charges Organon as well as certain of Organon's top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Organon class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-organon-co-class-action-lawsuit-ogn.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]. Lead plaintiff motions for the Organon class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than July 22, 2025. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Organon develops and delivers health solutions through prescription therapies and medical devices. The Organon class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the class period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) defendants concealed material information pertaining to Organon's capital allocation priorities, particularly the future of the quarterly dividend payout; (ii) in truth, Organon's optimistic reports of the dividend payout as Organon's "number one priority" were offset by Organon's newly implemented debt reduction strategy, thus, leading to a drastic decrease over 70% of the quarterly dividend; and (iii) Organon planned to prioritize debt reduction following Organon's acquisition of Dermavant Sciences Ltd. The Organon class action lawsuit further alleges that on May 1, 2025, Organon reported first quarter 2025 financial results and announced that management reset Organon's dividend payout from $0.28 to $0.02. On this news, the price of Organon stock fell more than 27%, according to the complaint. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Organon securities during the class period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Organon class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Organon class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Organon class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Organon class action lawsuit. 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 TORONTO and DALLAS, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. (TSXV: PINK) (OTCQX: PYNKF) ("Perimeter" or the "Company"), a commercial-stage medical technology company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Development Support Agreement ("DSA") with Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health, the largest nonprofit health system in the Intermountain West. This agreement creates the framework for the two organizations to partner on a number of future studies evaluating the potential value of using Perimeter's OCT and collecting additional data to support the continued development of the Company's artificial intelligence ("AI") algorithms. In the first of these studies, Intermountain Health will support a retrospective analysis of population level reoperation rates and incremental healthcare costs associated with reoperation for patients who underwent initial breast-conserving surgery ("BCS") at select hospital sites. "At Intermountain Health, we understand the significance of innovation, like Perimeter's proprietary wide-field OCT interoperative margin assessment technology, that has the potential to optimize surgical oncology outcomes for patients, and support efficient delivery of care," said Teresa Reading, MD, medical director, breast surgery, Canyons Region at Intermountain Health who is involved with the clinical use of this technology. "We look forward to initiating this first study among our BCS patient population, as well as potentially expanding to other tissue types in the future." "Intermountain Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system. It shares our commitment to improving both the patient and provider experience through innovation. And with its own health plan, Intermountain Health is uniquely positioned to evaluate the total cost of cancer reoperations - not only to the patient, but also to the payer," commented Adrian Mendes, Perimeter's Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited about how this partnership can help shape our commercial and market access strategies as we work to advance not only our next-generation, AI-enabled Perimeter OCT system for use during BCS through the FDA PMA approval process, but also as we look to expand into other tissue types beyond breast." About Intermountain Health Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit health system with 33 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain Health is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. About Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. Based in Toronto, Canada and Dallas, Texas, Perimeter Medical Imaging AI (TSX-V: PINK) (OTCQX: PYNKF) is a medical technology company driven to transform cancer surgery with ultra-high-resolution, real-time, advanced imaging tools to address areas of high unmet medical need. Available across the U.S., our FDA-cleared Perimeter S-Series OCT system provides real-time, cross-sectional visualization of excised tissues at the cellular level. The breakthrough-device-designated investigational Perimeter B-Series OCT with ImgAssist AI represents our next-generation artificial intelligence technology that has recently been evaluated in a pivotal clinical trial, with support from a grant of up to US$7.4 million awarded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. The company's ticker symbol "PINK" is a reference to the pink ribbons used during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Perimeter B-Series OCT is limited by U.S. law to investigational use and not available for sale in the United States. Perimeter S-Series OCT has 510(k) clearance under a general indication and has not been evaluated by the U.S. FDA specifically for use in breast tissue, breast cancer, other types of cancer, margin evaluation, and reducing re-excision rates. The safety and effectiveness of these uses has not been established. For more information, please visit www.perimetermed.com/disclosures . 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In this news release, words such as "may," "would," "could," "will," "likely," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," and similar words and the negative form thereof are used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information may relate to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results and may include statements or information regarding the future financial position, business strategy and strategic goals, competitive conditions, research and development activities, projected costs and capital expenditures, research and clinical testing outcomes, taxes and plans and objectives of, or involving, Perimeter. Without limitation, information regarding management's views regarding the second quarter, the potential benefits of Perimeter S-Series OCT and Perimeter B-Series OCT and the expected benefits of Perimeter's updated version of its ImgAssist AI are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at or by which, any particular result will be achieved. No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Perimeter's control. Such forward-looking statements reflect Perimeter's current view with respect to future events, but are inherently subject to significant medical, scientific, business, economic, competitive, political, and social uncertainties and contingencies. In making forward-looking statements, Perimeter may make various material assumptions, including but not limited to (i) the accuracy of Perimeter's financial projections; (ii) obtaining positive results from trials; (iii) obtaining necessary regulatory approvals; and (iv) general business, market, and economic conditions. Further risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those applicable to Perimeter and described in Perimeter's Management Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which are available on Perimeter's SEDAR+ profile at https://www.sedarplus.ca , and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Perimeter does not intend, nor does Perimeter undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information, events, or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws. CONTACTS: Stephen Kilmer Investor Relations Direct: 647-872-4849 Email: [email protected] Adrian Mendes Chief Executive Officer Toll-free: 888-988-7465 (PINK) Email: [email protected] SOURCE Perimeter Medical Imaging AI Inc. BANGALORE, India, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Sensors Market is Segmented by Type (Atomic Clock, Gravity Sensor, Magnetic Sensor, Rotation Sensors, Imaging Sensors, Temperature Sensors), by Application (Defense, Oil & Gas, Transportation, Construction, Medical & Healthcare, IT & Telecommunication, Agriculture). The Global Quantum Sensors Market is projected to grow from USD 506 Million in 2024 to USD 839 Million by 2031, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.6% during the forecast period. Claim Your Free Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-7W10062/Global_Quantum_Sensors_Market Major Factors Driving the Growth of Quantum Sensors Market: The quantum sensors market is expanding steadily as industries seek superior measurement, navigation, and detection capabilities. The convergence of technological miniaturization, rising investment, and real-world applications is accelerating commercialization. Key sectors such as defense, healthcare, aerospace, and infrastructure monitoring are integrating quantum sensors into their operational systems. The ecosystem is also maturing, with startups, academic institutions, and large corporations collectively shaping innovation. Growing awareness about quantum advantages and supportive regulatory environments further aid adoption. As barriers to cost and complexity reduce, quantum sensors are poised to move beyond niche applications into mainstream industrial and consumer markets, marking a transformative shift in precision sensing. Unlock Insights: View Full Report Now! https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-7W10062/global-quantum-sensors TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE QUANTUM SENSORS MARKET: Magnetic sensors are a critical segment driving the growth of the quantum sensors market due to their unmatched sensitivity in detecting minute magnetic fields. Quantum magnetic sensors, particularly those based on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds or superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), offer significantly enhanced accuracy compared to traditional sensors. Their applications in medical imaging, such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), enable high-resolution brain activity mapping, fostering adoption in the healthcare sector. Additionally, they are increasingly used in geophysical surveys and mineral exploration where ultra-precise magnetic readings are required. As industries prioritize precise diagnostics and non-invasive techniques, the demand for quantum-based magnetic sensing grows, propelling market expansion in both research and commercial applications. Atomic clocks are a foundational application of quantum sensors, driving substantial market growth due to their unparalleled accuracy in timekeeping. These clocks, based on quantum transitions in atoms like cesium and rubidium, offer stability required for critical infrastructures such as GPS, telecommunications, and high-frequency trading. The need for enhanced synchronization across global networks has heightened demand for compact and portable atomic clocks. In defense and aerospace sectors, atomic clocks support advanced navigation systems, especially where satellite signals are inaccessible. Ongoing advancements in chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC) technology are making precise timekeeping more accessible, fueling commercial adoption. Their role in enabling robust and reliable digital systems underpins the broader expansion of the quantum sensor market. The defense sector is a major force driving the growth of the quantum sensors market due to its increasing need for precise navigation, communication, and surveillance capabilities. Quantum sensors are being deployed in inertial navigation systems for submarines, aircraft, and spacecraft, offering accurate location tracking even without GPS. Additionally, they are vital for detecting stealth objects and submarines using gravitational and magnetic field anomalies. Governments are heavily investing in defense research and development to incorporate quantum technologies into military applications, driving commercialization efforts. Collaborations between defense agencies and tech companies are accelerating innovation and deployment. This strong institutional backing and critical application scope make defense a key contributor to quantum sensor market growth. One of the primary drivers of the quantum sensors market is the rising demand for highly accurate measurement tools across industries. Traditional sensors often fall short in extreme or sensitive environments, whereas quantum sensors offer ultra-precise detection of changes in magnetic fields, gravity, time, and acceleration. Industries such as geophysics, aerospace, and navigation require these levels of precision for mapping underground structures, monitoring seismic activity, or guiding autonomous vehicles. As these sectors grow in complexity and scale, the need for precision instruments intensifies, pushing demand for quantum sensors that can operate beyond the capabilities of classical technologies. This demand is fueling research, investment, and commercial interest in quantum sensing solutions. Government and private sector investments in quantum technologies are significantly boosting the quantum sensors market. Countries like the U.S., China, Germany, and the U.K. are launching national quantum initiatives to develop and commercialize quantum-based solutions. These investments are not only funding academic and industrial R&D but are also facilitating collaborations between universities and enterprises. The result is a pipeline of innovations in quantum sensors, including miniaturized devices, improved stability, and increased portability. As funding becomes more widespread, barriers to entry are lowering, allowing startups and smaller firms to enter the quantum technology landscape. This influx of capital and innovation is accelerating product development and market penetration. Space exploration and satellite technology are emerging frontiers for quantum sensors, contributing to market growth. Quantum sensors are being used to measure gravitational variations, detect mineral deposits, and monitor environmental changes from space with unprecedented accuracy. They enable mapping of Earth's gravitational field, essential for understanding tectonic activity and sea-level rise. Additionally, quantum gyroscopes and accelerometers help in autonomous navigation of satellites and spacecraft without reliance on external signals. Space agencies and private space companies are investing in these technologies to enhance mission safety and data accuracy. As space missions become more complex and data-driven, the need for quantum sensors in orbital applications will continue to expand. Quantum sensors are playing a pivotal role in the advancement of autonomous systems and robotics, particularly in environments where GPS is unavailable or unreliable. Quantum inertial sensors provide precise movement and orientation data, making them valuable in self-driving vehicles, drones, and underwater autonomous systems. These sensors enable machines to navigate and respond to their surroundings with greater accuracy, enhancing safety and functionality. The global trend toward automation and robotics across logistics, defense, and manufacturing sectors creates a robust demand base for such cutting-edge sensor technologies. As autonomous solutions become mainstream, quantum sensors are expected to form an integral part of their sensor stacks, driving adoption. The ongoing trend of miniaturization in sensor technology is a significant growth driver for the quantum sensors market. Traditionally large and lab-bound, quantum sensors are now being engineered into compact, chip-scale devices suitable for integration into commercial and industrial systems. This evolution has made quantum sensors more accessible and practical for real-world use, especially in fields such as healthcare diagnostics, mobile communications, and wearable technologies. Portable quantum gravimeters, atomic clocks, and magnetometers are now being explored for field applications. Miniaturization also reduces costs and expands the scope of applications, helping quantum sensors move from research settings to commercial and consumer markets. Claim Yours Now! https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-7W10062&lic=single-user QUANTUM SENSORS MARKET SHARE North America dominates due to heavy investments in defense, space exploration, and quantum research, particularly from the U.S. Asia-Pacific is witnessing rapid growth driven by strong government support in China, Japan, and South Korea, along with rising demand from manufacturing and navigation sectors. Europe is a key contributor, with Germany and the U.K. spearheading R&D through public-private partnerships and EU-funded initiatives. Key Companies: Muquans SAS Microsemi Corp AOSense GWR Instruments Inc Oscilloquartz MSquared Lasers Ltd Cryogenic Limited Supracon AG Inquire for Discount: https://reports.valuates.com/request/discount/QYRE-Auto-7W10062/global-quantum-sensors SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. 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GET A FREE QUOTE Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Blog: https://valuatestrends.blogspot.com/ Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/valuatesreports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valuatesreports6753 https://www.facebook.com/valuateskorean https://www.facebook.com/valuatesspanish https://www.facebook.com/valuatesjapanese https://valuatesreportspanish.blogspot.com/ https://valuateskorean.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesgerman.blogspot.com/ https://valuatesreportjapanese.blogspot.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports ATLANTA, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 22, 2025, SUNMI, a global leader in smart business IoT solutions, celebrated the grand opening of its first North American store in Atlanta's central business district, unveiling the upgraded digital transformation experience space "SUNMI Home 2.0." The event was attended by SUNMI founder Jack Lin, rotating president and CMO Sam Su, and key ecosystem partners, marking a significant milestone. This flagship store embodies SUNMI's innovative "Regional Headquarters & Flagship Experience Center" model, aimed at accelerating localized digital transformation in the region. New Third-Generation Product Matrix: Setting a Benchmark for Smart Terminals SUNMI Home 2.0 showcases its third-generation flagship products, including the global debut of the SUNMI CPad, L3, M3, and the new category Flex 3. This extensive array of smart terminals is supported by SUNMI's integrated software capabilities, and offers the SUPER Solution dual-system and Hyper Wi-Fi network solutions. Alongside global partners, SUNMI is building a digital engine for the restaurant, retail, and logistics sectors across North America. SUNMI Home 2.0: A Powerhouse for Business Innovation Unlike traditional retail outlets, this upgraded SUNMI Home 2.0 seamlessly combines offline experiences with online services: Offline Operations: The store will host "Channel Co-Building Days" and "Industry Open Days," inviting partners to engage in customized solution discussions and collaborating with local businesses for regular digital transformation practice sessions. Local retail and restaurant representatives demonstrated how SUNMI devices enhance space utilization and customer experience at the grand opening. Online Upgrades: The upcoming "SUNMI Home" version will integrate 3D VR experiences and an intelligent recommendation system, allowing users to easily locate nearby service points through a map feature, offering tailored industry solutions with a single tap. Strategic Expansion: Localized Strategies Activate the North American Market Sam Su highlighted that "Atlanta is a central hub connecting the east and west coasts of North America. Leveraging this headquarters, regional offices and local warehouses along with employees, we will provide customized BIoT solutions through our global supply chain and production network. Our ecosystem partners are essential as we work together to deliver comprehensive industry solutions that enhance user experience." Looking Ahead: Driving Business 4.0 Growth With the Atlanta flagship store operational, SUNMI plans to open five additional SUNMI Homes in the U.S. by 2025, improving customer experience and collaboration through interconnected services. SOURCE Shanghai Sunmi Technology Co., Ltd. These partnerships aim to accelerate agri-food innovation, AI integration, and halal product development in support of Vision 2030 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanmiah Food Company ("Tanmiah", "TFC" or the "Company", 2281 on the Saudi Exchange), established in 1962, one of the Middle East's leading providers of fresh poultry, processed proteins, animal feed, health products and restaurants operator, was formally recognized for its transformative Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Griffith Foods and Poulta Inc. during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh yesterday. Tanmiah Food Company Signs Two MOUs with Leading U.S. Companies During the SaudiU.S. Investment Forum (PRNewsfoto/Tanmiah Food Company) Tanmiah Food Company Signs Two MOUs with Leading U.S. Companies During the SaudiU.S. Investment Forum (PRNewsfoto/Tanmiah Food Company) These strategic partnerships with U.S. companies reflect Tanmiah's ongoing commitment to collaborating with international partners and bringing global expertise into the Kingdom. They also underscore our focus on unlocking value across our integrated business units through automation, advanced R&D, and innovation with the aim of positioning Saudi Arabia as a global hub for halal products, ingredients, best-in-class practices, and cutting-edge agri-technologies. The MoU with Griffith Foods outlines plans to develop a dedicated production and R&D facility in Saudi Arabia for 100% halal food ingredientsincluding sauces, seasonings, and spice blendstailored to the tastes of Saudi and regional consumers. The project will support local manufacturing and help position the Kingdom as a regional hub for halal ingredient production. As the halal industry increasingly emphasizes ethical sourcing, sustainability, and innovation, Tanmiah stands at the forefront of this transformation. By combining Tanmiah's strong market presence with Griffith Foods' global ingredients expertise, the collaboration aims to deliver healthy, locally developed, and globally competitive solutions that align with evolving consumer expectations in both domestic and export markets. The MoU with Poulta Inc., a U.S.-based agricultural technology company, to accelerate the digital transformation of Tanmiah's poultry production chain lays the foundation for automating Tanmiah's farms and facilities using advanced technologies ranging from the Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing and generative AI. The partnership will include the establishment of a joint venture to provide digital transformation services to the broader regional livestock businesses, as well as an R&D center in Saudi Arabia dedicated to agri-tech innovation. Through this collaboration, Tanmiah aims to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and carbon emissions, and promote smart resource management while adopting higher standards of animal welfare, better delivery of healthy halal food through data-driven decision-making and integrated automation across its business segments. Commenting on the recognition, His Excellency Amr Al-Dabbagh, Chairman of Tanmiah Food Company, stated: "These strategic partnerships reflect our long-term vision to place Saudi Arabia at the heart of global halal food innovation. By joining forces with trusted international partners, we are creating a future where sustainable, healthy, halal food production, advanced technology, and local expertise collaborate to serve the region." Zulfiqar Hamadani, Group CEO of Tanmiah Food Company, added: "At Tanmiah, we see innovation and sustainability as inseparable. Through these agreements, we are accelerating our journey toward intelligent, data-driven operations that not only improve efficiency and animal welfare but also strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality, sustainable, healthy, halal food in line with the evolving consumer expectations." These milestone agreements underscore Tanmiah's unwavering commitment to aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 by fostering innovation, enhancing local capabilities, and promoting global partnerships that drive economic diversification. As Tanmiah continues to scale its impact, the company remains dedicated to shaping the future of foodwhere technology, sustainability, and halal excellence converge to meet the needs of a growing global population. About Tanmiah Food Company Tanmiah Food Company, established in 1962, is one of the Middle East's leading providers of fresh poultry, processed proteins, animal feed and health products, and a restaurants operator. It is a publicly listed Company on the Saudi stock market. It is worth noting that Al-Dabbagh Holding Group Company is a partner and founding shareholder of Tanmiah Food Company. Tanmiah's fully integrated and highly efficient business model includes production, further processing, and distribution with products sold in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Kuwait. As of 31 March 2025, Tanmiah operates 150 farms as well as seven hatcheries, four feed mills, and four primary processing plants, and, through its joint venture operations, it operates four further processing plants. Tanmiah distributes its products through a network of wholesalers, retailers, and food service outlets, as well as online directly to consumers. Sustainability is a core principle at Tanmiah, with initiatives including planting a million trees, using wastewater from its facilities, and turning waste products into fertilizer. For more information, visit www.tanmiah.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694964/Tanmiah_MOU_1.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2694983/Tanmiah_MOU_2.jpg SOURCE Tanmiah Food Company KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Avero Advisors, a nationally recognized independent consulting firm specializing in public sector transformation, is pleased to announce it has been selected by Tarrant County, Texas to provide Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) advisory services. Through this partnership, Avero will conduct a county-wide evaluation of the current ERP landscape and operational workflows, providing expert insight to help the County plan for the future. Tarrant County awarded Avero the contract following a competitive procurement process. The initiative centers on a detailed needs assessment and strategic analysis of business functions across County departments. The findings will guide leadership in identifying improvement opportunities and establishing a clear, actionable roadmapwhether that involves optimizing the existing system or pursuing other enhancements. "Good decisions begin with a clear understanding of where you are," said Abhijit Verekar, CEO of Avero Advisors. "Tarrant County is taking a thoughtful, data-driven approach to evaluating its ERP environment. Our role is to provide the expert guidance they need to uncover the right path forwardwith clarity, confidence, and a commitment to their long-term success." Key Objectives of the Engagement: ERP Environment Assessment: Review of the County's current ERP ecosystem, including technology, user experience, and functional alignment across departments. Operational Workflow Analysis: Detailed documentation and evaluation of core business functions to uncover pain points, duplication, and modernization opportunities. Strategic Roadmap Development: Creation of a future-oriented plan that aligns technology investments with operational prioritiestailored to County goals. Optional Support for Future Procurement: Advisory services may extend to vendor evaluation and implementation support should the County choose to pursue changes. This engagement reflects Tarrant County's commitment to proactive governance, fiscal responsibility, and continuous improvement through technology and process alignment. About Avero Advisors Avero Advisors is a premier independent consulting firm guiding public sector organizations through complex digital transformations. With a focus on ERP modernization, process improvement, and operational strategy, Avero equips governments with the tools and insights needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. About Tarrant County Located in North Texas, Tarrant County serves a population of over two million residents and is one of the fastest-growing and most diverse counties in the nation. The County is dedicated to efficient, transparent service delivery and strategic investment in modern infrastructure. Media Contact: Abhijit Verekar CEO/Founder Avero Advisors [email protected] averoadvisors.com SOURCE Avero Advisors MORRIS, Ill., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Jonathan T. Constantine, DMD is acknowledged as a 2025 Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to Dentistry. Dr. Jonathan T. Constantine, a third-generation dentist dedicated to patient education and modern dental care, is now serving patients at Anthony Lombardi, DDS as of December 2024. His career continues the long-standing legacy of Constantine Dental Center, a practice originally founded by his grandfather, Harry Constantine, DDS, and carried forward by his parents, Ted and Jan Constantine. Dr. Constantine specializes in bridging the connection between oral and systemic health, ensuring that his patients receive comprehensive care and a deeper understanding of how dental wellness impacts overall well-being. His commitment to education and patient-centered service stems from a strong family tradition of excellence in dentistry. A graduate of Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences and a minor in entrepreneurship, Dr. Constantine went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Midwestern University, School of Dentistry. He is an active member of the Illinois State Dental Society, the Chicago Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and the Kenosha Dental Society, reflecting his dedication to professional excellence. Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Constantine contributes to his community through "Renew," an organization affiliated with Christ Church that rehabilitates homes for distribution to those in need. His professional journey has been shaped by the mentorship of his uncle, Dean (Dino) Nicholas, DDS, and his father, Ronald Bieganowski, whose guidance has reinforced his passion for compassionate, high-quality dental care. Looking ahead, Dr. Constantine is focused on providing outstanding patient care in his new role. His transition to Anthony Lombardi, DDS represents the next chapter in a career dedicated to service, education, and excellence in modern dentistry. For more information please visit: https://www.lombardidentistrymorris.com/ Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle Think Together creates new C-suite role to fuel market innovation and transform educational outcomes as it expands services and impact across California. SANTA ANA, Calif., May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Together, California's leading nonprofit provider of expanded learning, afterschool programs, staffing, and school improvement services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Scharpnick as Chief of Innovation, Impact Portfolio. Think Together welcomes Matt Scharpnick as its new Chief of Innovation to help lead the organizations next phase of growth and impact. With the completion of Think Together's strategic plan, the organization is launching a bold new phase of growth through its Impact Portfolio to create conditions where every child has access to all of life's possibilities upon graduation from high school. As Chief of Innovation, Scharpnick will play a pivotal role in building out Think Together's five-year plan to double its footprint and increase its impact on school systems across California and beyond. "Our Impact Portfolio is designed to extend the reach of Think Together's core services by elevating what we offer in support of schools and communities," said Founder and CEO of Think Together Randy Barth. "Scharpnick brings a rare blend of creativity, strategic insight, and digital innovation expertise that will help advance our vision for scalable and equitable student success." In this role, Scharpnick will lead the strategic development of technological solutions for Orenda Education, Leading for Student Success, as well as a new suite of digital products designed to expand the impact of Think Together's core expanded learning and afterschool programs. He will also drive innovation across Think Together's Impact Portfolio using technology and strategic design to scale transformative education efforts statewide. The Impact Portfolio will focus on leveraging digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to help schools elevate student outcomes. Scharpnick will partner with leaders across Think Together and its sister organizations to launch new ventures, train the next generation of education leaders, and deliver proven practices to the right stakeholders at the right time. Scharpnick returns to Think Together with nearly two decades of experience in strategy, design, and digital transformation. He most recently served as a Director at BCG X, the digital and AI innovation arm of Boston Consulting Group, where he led product development and venture launches for Fortune 500 companies. He also co-founded Elefint, a design studio focused on supporting mission-driven organizations through strategy and storytelling. Earlier in his career, he served as Think Together's Director of Marketing and Communications from 2006 to 2007. "Returning to Think Together feels like coming full circlenot just personally, but professionally," said Scharpnick. "It's an exciting moment to be part of an organization that's leaning into innovation to meet the needs of today's students. I'm honored to help lead efforts that make our systems more scalable, more sustainable, and ultimately more impactful." "Innovation is essential to transforming education at scale," added Barth. "By reimagining systems and streamlining how we deliver what works in schools, we can align people and practices around a shared vision for student achievement." For more information about Think Together and its expanded learning programs, visit thinktogether.org. About Think Together For over 25 years, Think Together has partnered with schools and communities to pursue educational opportunity and excellence for all kids. As a nonprofit organization, Think Together innovates, implements, and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students each year. Think Together's program areas include early learning, afterschool programs, staffing, and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org. SOURCE Think Together PHILADELPHIA, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Verismo Therapeutics, a clinical-stage CAR T company pioneering the KIR-CAR platform, today provided additional details on the Trials in Progress poster presentation at the upcoming 2025 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, being held from May 30 June 3, 2025 in Chicago, IL. The trial Principal Investigator, Janos L. Tanyi, MD, PhD, of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, will present an overview of the ongoing STAR-101 Phase 1 clinical study (NCT05568680). The STAR-101 trial is a first-in-human, multicenter, open-label, Phase 1 dose-escalation study designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of SynKIR-110 in patients with advanced mesothelin-expressing tumors, including ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma who have received at least 1 prior line of systemic therapy. SynKIR-110 utilizes Verismo's novel KIR-CAR platform, employing a multi-chain signaling approach derived from natural killer cells in T cells. Preclinically, this unique mechanism has shown the ability to reduce T cell exhaustion and improve anti-tumor activity and functional persistence, thereby potentially overcoming critical hurdles that limit traditional CAR T cell therapies in solid tumors. "This study represents an important advancement for ovarian cancer, a disease with few available treatment options," Dr. Tanyi said. "This novel therapy could have the potential to impact solid tumors by overcoming key limitations of existing CAR T cell treatments." Poster Details: Poster Board Number: 522a Location: Hall A Posters and Exhibits Abstract Number: TPS5630 Abstract Title: SynKIR-CAR T Cell Advanced Research (STAR)-101 Phase 1 clinical trial for patients with advanced mesothelin-expressing ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or cholangiocarcinoma. Presenting Author: Janos L. Tanyi, M.D., Ph.D., Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Session Title: Gynecologic Cancer Session Date: June 1, 2025, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM CDT The Poster will be made available on the company's website following the presentation. About the KIR-CAR Platform The KIR-CAR platform is a multi-chain CAR T cell therapy that has shown highly effective prolonged solid tumor treatment in otherwise CAR-resistant preclinical animal models with challenging tumor microenvironments. Using NK cell derived KIR and DAP12 split signaling provides a novel paired activation and co-stimulation separate from the usual T cell stimulation pathways. KIR-CAR also enables sustained chimeric receptor expression with improved long-term CAR T cell function and decreased T cell exhaustion. This results in CAR T cell resistance to tumor immunosuppression, prolonged functional persistence and improved tumor elimination. Together, this platform provides the potential for improving CAR T treatment in both solid and hematologic tumors. About Verismo Therapeutics Verismo Therapeutics, a subsidiary of HLB Innovation, is a pioneer in multi-chain KIR-CAR technology, with assets SynKIR-110 and SynKIR-310 currently in Phase 1 clinical trials. Verismo is the only company developing the KIR-CAR platform, using a modified NK cell derived receptor and DAP12 pairing, designed to improve T cell functional persistence and reduce exhaustion, resulting in improved efficacy against challenging tumors. The KIR-CAR platform technology was developed specifically to address areas of high unmet medical need, including advanced solid tumors and B cell associated disorders and malignancies. For more information, visit: www.verismotherapeutics.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but are not limited to, those statements regarding our expectations for the timing, progress, and results of clinical trials; potential regulatory approvals; anticipated benefits, safety, and efficacy of our product candidates; our product development strategies; and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, risks related to clinical trials, regulatory processes, market acceptance, financial projections, and our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our product candidates. Forward-looking statements in this release represent our beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update these statements as new information becomes available, except as required by law. Editor's Note: The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) holds equity interests in Verismo's parent company HLB Innovation and has licensed certain Penn-owned intellectual property to Verismo. Penn's Perelman School of Medicine receives funding for research and development of certain Verismo products. Penn may receive future financial benefits related to the licensing of certain Penn intellectual property to Verismo. Media Contact: Verismo Therapeutics Pavel Aprelev [email protected] SOURCE Verismo Therapeutics OLYMPIA, Wash., May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- WA529 Invest, Washington state's official education savings plan, is celebrating National 529 Day by offering Washington families a first-time incentive of $50.00 for accounts opened between Tuesday, May 20 and Saturday, May 31, 2025, with an initial deposit of at least $50 and the activation of a recurring contribution of $50 or more. WA529 Invest is a tax-advantaged, flexible, and affordable way to save for various types of education and training after high school, including universities, community colleges, and qualified trade schools and apprenticeships. Savers can use 529 funds at most schools in the U.S. and even at many schools outside the U.S. With a WA529 Invest account, students can truly dream, save, and achieve. Complete benefits and instructions on how to open a WA529 Invest account and utilize this incentive of $50.00 are available at 529invest.wa.gov/529day25. This promotional $50.00 offering is also accessible on the READYSAVE 529 app, available at the Apple Store, Google Play, or at 529invest.wa.gov. Once downloaded, account holders can select WA529 Invest from the list of plans. This is an effortless way to stay connected with accounts anywhere, anytime. As May is "graduation season," this promotional May 20 31 period is the perfect time to utilize the app's online gifting tool, which allows account holders to invite friends and family to contribute to an account with Ugift. WA529 Senior Director, Luke Minor, states, "What an opportunity for our state's families to join WA529 Invest and plan for their children's future. We are very excited to offer this incentive during a time when families need it the most. Children are the future, and we can work together to make that future accessible for everyone." Washington Education Savings Plans (WA529) offers two 529 savings programs to Washingtonians: WA529 Invest and the GET Prepaid Tuition Plan . Both plans offer individuals and families tax-advantaged options to save for education and career training. The Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings, commonly known as the WA529 Committee, provides oversight and sets program policies. The five-member committee consists of the executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council, the State Treasurer, the director of the Office of Financial Management, and two citizen representatives. The Washington Student Achievement Council supports and helps administer the programs, based on the Committee's direction. *Visit 529Invest.wa.go/529Day25 for terms and conditions. Promotion ends 05/31/25. Sponsored by the Washington Student Achievement Council. To learn more about WA529 Invest, its investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses, see the Program Details Booklet at 529Invest.wa.gov before investing. Read it carefully. Except to the extent of the guarantee associated with the Principal Plus Interest Portfolio, investments in the plan are neither insured nor guaranteed, and there is the risk of investment loss. WA529 Invest is administered by the Washington Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment and College Savings. TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI), plan manager. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, distributor and underwriter for WA529Invest. SOURCE WA529 Invest LANGFANG, China, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 19 to 23, 2025, the 29th World Gas Conference (WGC2025), hosted by the International Gas Union (IGU), convened in Beijing. As the premier global event in the energy sector, WGC2025 attracted leading companies and industry experts from around the world to engage in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge gas technologies and the industry's transition toward low-carbon solutions. ENNs exhibition pavilion at WGC 2025 Under the theme "Intelligence Fuels Ecology, Green Energizes Growth," ENN took an active role in the global dialogue. Through forums, exhibitions, and paper presentations, the company exchanged insights with domestic and international partners, sharing its strategic thinking and innovations in intelligent and low-carbon energy development. At sessions such as "The Future of City Gas," "Intelligence Accelerating Digital Transformation in the Gas Industry," and "Smart Energy Systems," ENN explored industry trends and collaboration opportunities, contributing a distinctive "China Solution" to the sustainable development of the global natural gas industry. Zhang, Yuying, President of ENN Natural Gas and CEO of ENN Energy, remarked at the conference that as the natural gas industry rapidly embraces market-oriented reform, digitalization, and decarbonization, ENN now serves over 31 million residential users and nearly 300,000 business customers across China. Drawing on its extensive full-scenario practices in the natural gas industry, ENN continues to upgrade its development strategy -- fusing industrial expertise with intelligent innovation, to meet the growing demand for safe, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and low-carbon energy solutions. Looking ahead, ENN is committed to working closely with partners both at home and abroad to drive the future development of the natural gas industry and inject fresh momentum into the global green transition. Building Smart, Resilient Cities through IoT and Intelligence Livability, resilience, and intelligence are the hallmarks of future urban development. With over 30 years of experience in urban gas services, ENN operates 261 city gas projects across 105 Chinese cities, consistently prioritizing intrinsic safety as the foundation of its development. In response to national initiatives promoting "better housing, neighborhoods, communities, and cities," ENN has been accelerating the integration of IoT and intelligent technologies into gas infrastructure and urban lifeline systems. The company has Deployed intelligent sensors to create a comprehensive safety monitoring network; Built intelligent operation centers for enterprises, enabling data-driven dispatch and risk forecasting; Developed citywide safety supervision platforms to enhance data sharing and collaborative governance. Through its "IoT + Intelligence + Ecology" model, ENN has activated cross-sector coordination between government, enterprises, and communities, establishing a multi-party urban safety protection system that supports resilient and high-quality urban development. ENN is also contributing to urban infrastructure renewal by introducing advanced IoT and sensing technologies to upgrade the entire lifecycle of gas pipeline planning, design, construction, and operations. This enables more precise alignment with the needs of new infrastructure development and urban resilience enhancement. To meet growing consumer demand for quality living, ENN has built intelligent service ecosystems centered on IoT. From smart home gas monitoring to integrated public service networks, ENN is embedding technology into daily life offering safety, warmth, and convenience form millions of households. Integrating Intelligence and Industry to Upgrade Gas Services Across Scenarios ENN is committed to advancing a "green and intelligent" vision by accelerating the intelligent transformation of natural gas services across all use cases. Drawing on more than three decades of industry expertise, the company offers customized smart energy solutions that span customer service innovation, efficient resource allocation, optimized facility operations, and enhanced risk control management. In 2015, ENN launched the GreatGas, a natural gas expertise & capability platform that connects demand-side users, resource providers, and infrastructure operators. Using AI-driven supply-demand matching algorithms, the platform enables cost-effective resource access for consumers and efficient customer outreach for suppliers. To date, the platform has attracted over 2,000 ecosystem partners and served more than 4,500 enterprises. In 2024 alone, it facilitated 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas transactions, improving resource flow efficiency by 40% over traditional models and driving total transaction volume beyond CNY 100 billion. Dr. Zhang, Jun, Chairman of ENN's Technology Committee, emphasized at the forum that AI is accelerating a business model shift toward "customer demand-driven" transformation. By deeply understanding customer needs through smart technologies and enabling flexible, data-driven supply-demand coordination, the industry can achieve a new level of systemic optimization. Green Innovation for a Low-Carbon Energy Future Driven by China's carbon peaking & carbon neutrality goals, the global energy transition is increasingly centered on low-carbon development. End-use sectors such as industry, buildings, and campuses now face urgent challenges in decarbonizing their energy systems. Since 2009, ENN has pioneered integrated energy solutions, merging energy systems with digital intelligence. With its innovative "Energy-Carbon Integrated Solutions," ENN provides customized low-carbon transition pathways that deliver both environmental and economic value for clients. During the "Smart Energy Systems" forum, ENN Energy Vice President and CEO of Xinao Shuneng Technology Co., Ltd. Cheng, Lu, highlighted the imperative for natural gas players to take part in building smart energy systems in the carbon peaking & carbon neutrality era. As of now, ENN's integrated energy business has served over 4,000 clients nationwide, delivering model projects such as low-carbon parks, factories, and buildings. With an annual sales volume of 41.6 billion kWh, ENN has helped clients cut the use of standard coal by 3.15 million tons and reduce carbon emissions by 12.73 million tons annually, underscoring its commitment to corporate carbon reduction responsibilities. Looking ahead, ENN will continue its long-term investment in the "intelligence + energy" space. By focusing on customer-centric, data-driven energy-carbon synergy, the company aims to drive cleaner, smarter, and more efficient energy production and consumption, laying the foundation for green and sustainable development across cities and industries. At ENN's exhibition pavilion, several innovations drew significant attention from attendees, including flexible service models of the Zhoushan LNG Receiving Terminal, intelligent, low-carbon construction technologies for the entire lifecycle of energy facilities, and breakthroughs in clean energy technologies such as coal-to-hydrogen pyrolysis and LNG production from coke oven gas. These innovations provided compelling, real-world demonstrations of ENN's contribution to a sustainable energy future. ENN looks forward to deepening collaboration with partners worldwide. By sharing practical experiences in intelligent and low-carbon transformation, the company aims to co-create a smart, interconnected energy ecosystem, driven by dual engines of intelligence and low carbon, to empower cities and industries in their green transformation journey. SOURCE ENN Natural Gas Co., Ltd. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Sanaa, May 23 : Yemen's Houthi group has said in a statement that it had launched a missile attack toward Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli defence systems, and launched another missile attack toward Israel at noon. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, on Thursday, claimed the missile attack before dawn in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli TV Channel 13 reported that a missile launched from Yemen before dawn was intercepted. Meanwhile, Sarea also claimed two other drone attacks, with one targeting a "vital target" in Tel Aviv and the other at a "vital target" in Haifa, Xinhua news agency reported. Sarea didn't elaborate further nor provide any evidence of the alleged drone attacks, while Israeli defence forces didn't comment. Sarea said the group would launch more attacks against Israel if the offensive and blockade against the Gaza Strip continue. As soon as Sarea finished reading the statement, the Israeli defence forces reported a projectile (missile) fired from Yemen at noon on X. It was the second Houthi missile attack in a few hours on Thursday. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, warned earlier this week that all international airlines and shipping companies should avoid heading to Ben Gurion Airport and the Haifa port until Israel stops its offensive against the Palestinian people of Gaza. Sarea claimed the strike successfully hit its target, "halting airport operations for approximately an hour" and sending "millions of occupying Zionists to shelters". The Houthis also said they carried out drone attacks on two sites in Jaffa and Haifa using "Yafa" drones. The Houthis framed the operation as retaliation for Israel's military actions in Gaza, where nearly 53,700 Palestinians have been killed, according to Houthi figures. "The brutal massacres against men, women, and children require urgent action from the (Islamic) nation," Saree said, vowing further escalation until the war ends. The Israeli occupation military acknowledged the missile launch, stating that its air defences had intercepted it before it caused any damage. Army spokesman Avichay Adraee said the projectile triggered sirens in central Israel but resulted in no casualties. In recent weeks, the Houthis have stepped up their missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets in response to the Israeli deadly war on Gaza. Israel has carried out several air strikes targeting vital facilities in Yemen, including the Sanaa airport. Jerusalem, May 23 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued an urgent call for residents in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate ahead of an expected intensification of its military offensive. The evacuation order issued on Thursday covered the towns of Beit Lahia and Jabalia, the Jabalia refugee camp, and northern neighbourhoods of Gaza City, areas that Israel has already carried out heavy airstrikes in recent days, killing scores and forcing the local population to flee for the third time or more, Xinhua news agency reported. "The IDF will significantly expand its military operations in your areas," said Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the IDF, in a post on X, claiming that militants were operating in the targeted zones. "The areas you are in are considered dangerous combat zones... For your safety, evacuate immediately to the south," he added. Israel has rejected international calls to halt the war and reach a hostage release deal with Hamas. On Saturday, it launched Operation Gideon's Chariots, significantly escalating its 19-month offensive. Israeli officials said the aim is to defeat Hamas and secure the return of 58 hostages held in Gaza. The operation includes seizing control of the entire Gaza Strip, maintaining military control over the territory, and displacing the population to the south, according to Israeli sources. The Palestinian death toll has reached 53,655 since October 2023, according to the Gaza health authorities. The Israeli military on May 19 instructed residents of Khan Younis to evacuate as it prepares for what it describes as a major offensive in southern Gaza. The IDF told civilians to move towards al-Mawasi, a coastal area in western Gaza, warning that Khan Younis and surrounding areas would become a "dangerous combat zone". In a statement, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said, "Terrorist organisations have brought you disaster. For your safety, evacuate immediately." The order, one of the largest in recent months, also covers Bani Suhaila and Abasan. According to hospitals in Gaza, more than 100 people have been killed in the past 24 hours. Khartoum, May 23 : The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have announced the discovery of mass graves containing the remains of 465 individuals in the Al-Salha area, south of Omdurman city, just two days after declaring Khartoum State cleared of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) presence. "During recent clearing operations in southern Omdurman, the armed forces uncovered mass graves and also found civilians and retired members of the regular forces who had been detained by the militia and held inside a school in the Salha area, where they were used as human shields under inhumane conditions," the SAF said on Thursday in a statement on its Facebook page. "A total of 648 civilians had been detained, of whom 465 died as a result of neglect, including the lack of food, medical care, and essential medicine. The deceased were buried in mass graves, some containing more than 27 bodies," the statement added. Meanwhile, the SAF also shared videos on its Facebook page showing detainees held inside a school in Al-Salha, along with footage of mass graves found on the school grounds, Xinhua news agency reported. A doctor, who was among the detainees, said, "The total number of detainees was approximately 648, and a significant number of them died due to a lack of food, medicine, and the spread of diseases such as cholera." On May 20, the Sudanese army announced the full liberation of Khartoum State after regaining control of the last remaining RSF strongholds in the western and southern parts of Omdurman. In late March, the RSF said that it had repositioned its forces to the southern and western areas of Omdurman, particularly in the Al-Salha and the villages of Al-Jamoiya, following its withdrawal from most areas of Khartoum State. Al-Salha and the surrounding villages of Al-Jamoiya later became the scene of intense clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF forces. Volunteers and human rights activists have accused the RSF of committing serious violations against civilians in southwestern Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city. Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the SAF and the RSF since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, both within Sudan and across its borders. Jerusalem, May 23 : Israel's military has said that a missile launched from Yemen had been intercepted by the country's aerial defence system, marking the second missile attack by Houthi forces on Israel within the same day. The missile, launched around Thursday noon, triggered air raid sirens in the Jerusalem area, several settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the Dead Sea region, Israeli police said. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service reported that no injuries were sustained, Xinhua news agency reported. "A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the military said in a statement, adding that sirens were activated "in accordance with protocol". Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, the military also intercepted another missile launched from Yemen toward Israel. Houthi forces in Yemen have pledged to cease attacks on US vessels but have continued firing missiles at Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The ongoing Israeli offensive, which began 19 months ago, has resulted in the deaths of more than 53,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel has conducted a series of retaliatory airstrikes in Yemen, including one in May on the capital, Sanaa, which damaged the main international airport and left several people dead. The Houthis took responsibility for both missile attacks, saying it had targeted Ben Gurion Airport. The Iran-backed group also claimed to have launched two drones at Israel Thursday overnight. There were no reports of drones reaching Israel from Yemen on Wednesday. On Friday, the Israeli Air Force struck the Houthi-controlled Hodeida and Salif ports in Yemen in response to the Iran-backed group's repeated attacks on Israel. The Houthis vowed to respond. Earlier this month, a Houthi missile slipped through air defences and landed in the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six people, none of them seriously. A slew of international carriers promptly halted services to Israel, though some have since said they will resume operations. Israel responded to that attack with strikes on Sanaa airport, causing an estimated $500 million worth of damage. The Houthis a" whose slogan calls for "Death to America, Death to Israel, (and) a Curse on the Jews" a" began attacking Israel and general maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre. The Houthis held their fire when a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025. By that point, they had fired more than 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of attack drones and cruise missiles at Israel, including one that killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv in July, prompting Israel's first strike in Yemen. Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched 37 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel. Several of the missiles have fallen short. Sofia, May 23 : The Bulgarian Justice Minister, Georgi Georgiev, called for a society-wide drive to tackle online crimes against children after a recent report revealed 70,000 alerts for online crimes against children in 2024. At a roundtable discussion on protecting children from online violence on Thursday, Georgiev emphasised on Thursday that such crimes represent a huge challenge, and society had to be involved to tackle it. Citing the report that the Bulgarian Safer Internet Center (SIC) has reviewed and referred to the relevant authorities, Georgiev said: "This work shows that the challenge is much bigger than it seems to us." He said the public should have been made aware of this issue because there is no measure in the penal code or any new law to fix the problem, and prevention is necessary, Xinhua news agency reported. "Let's talk more about the role of the family, the school, the environment, because the justice system only specifically intervenes when the antisocial act is a fact," he underlined. "We need to think about the reasons." He also urged a strong and decisive response from law enforcement since the public expects a reaction when alerts are made. According to Vladimir Dimitrov, head of the Cybercrime Directorate at Bulgaria's General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime, who also attended the roundtable organised by the SIC, Bulgaria's specialised unit for combating crimes against children in cyberspace has doubled its staff within the last two years. The staff at this unit uses specialised software to identify Bulgarian IP addresses that are copying and distributing child sexual exploitation materials in cyberspace. Almost every week, his colleagues travel around Bulgaria to arrest people who download and distribute these materials, Dimitrov said, although it is impossible to catch everyone involved in such activities. He added that the regulatory framework regarding anti-social behaviour and violations of public order by adolescents and work with them is archaic and irretrievably outdated. "That is why I have formed a working group, which includes representatives of the court, the prosecution service, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, academia and the non-governmental sector. Its task is to analyse statistical data, good practices from EU member states, study the practice of courts and commissions for combating anti-social behaviour by minors and to propose a completely new working model for juvenile justice, which concerns both punishments and prevention and re-educational impact," said Georgiev. Jerusalem, May 23 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the return of the Israeli delegation from Doha, a senior Israeli official confirmed to media, describing it as "an impasse" in the negotiations with Hamas over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said on Thursday that Israel had recalled its senior negotiation team on Tuesday for consultations after a week of indirect talks, and now the remaining working-level team still in Doha will also return. Hamas, in a statement on Tuesday, accused the Israeli government of derailing the talks, saying the low-level Israeli team left in Doha had no mandate to finalise an agreement. The group accused Netanyahu of "misleading world public opinion and pretending to participate in the negotiation process," claiming no substantive negotiations had taken place since Saturday. Citing an Israeli diplomatic source, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported that the talks broke down over a key disagreement -- Israel insisted on a deal involving a temporary truce in return to the release of only some hostages, while Hamas demanded international guarantees, primarily from the US, that Israel would not resume fighting, in exchange for the release of all hostages. "The sides failed to bridge the gaps, despite pressure from Washington," the diplomat said. In January, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages under the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, as well as five Thai nationals who were not part of the agreement. In March, Israel refused to advance to the second phase of the deal after a two-month ceasefire, resuming its military offensive. Since then, Israel has rejected international calls to halt the war and allow humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave, where United Nations experts warn famine is spreading. On Saturday, Israel launched Operation Gideon's Chariots, marking a significant escalation in its 19-month offensive. Israeli officials say the goal is to defeat Hamas and return 58 hostages still held in Gaza. The operation includes seizing the entire Gaza Strip, maintaining military control over the territory, and pushing the population southward, according to Israeli sources. The Palestinian death toll has reached 53,762 since the war began, according to the Gaza health authorities' update on Thursday. New Delhi, May 23 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that he played a role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and clarified that the recent ceasefire was a result of direct dialogue between the two countries without any third-party intervention. Speaking on the matter in the Netherlands during a media interview, EAM Jaishankar said, "This is something that only India and Pakistan need to settle directly." He reiterated that India is open to dialogue with Pakistan, but only under serious terms that prioritise an end to cross-border terrorism. "We are always ready to talk, but the talks must be serious and should focus on stopping terrorism," he added. Jaishankar's comments come in response to Trump's earlier remarks, where the former US President claimed that the United States had helped broker peace in what he described as a "thousand-year conflict" between the two South Asian nations. However, India has consistently maintained that the Kashmir issue and related tensions are bilateral matters and do not require external mediation. In a recent interview, Jaishankar delved into the historical complexities of the India-Pakistan relationship, which dates back to the Partition in 1947. He stated that Pakistan's pattern of hostility began when it sent fighters disguised as tribal militias into Kashmir, fighters who were later identified as Pakistani soldiers, some in uniform and some not. "Over many years, Pakistan has followed a path of extremism and has used terrorism across the border to put pressure on India," Jaishankar remarked. Tensions between the two neighbouring nations spiked again following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including one Nepali national. In response, India launched 'Operation Sindoor', a precision counter-terror strike targeting nine key terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to official sources, over 100 terrorists affiliated with notorious outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were neutralised in the operation. New Delhi, May 23 : Union Minister of Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has called for concerted action to build talent and capacity in support of the 'Viksit Bharat 2047' mission. New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Union Minister of Railways and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has called for concerted action to build talent and capacity in support of the aViksit Bharat 2047a mission. Addressing a roundtable comprising industry leaders and academia here, the minister urged stakeholders to accelerate the development of a future-ready workforce to drive Indiaas manufacturing growth. The roundtable discussion focused on talent development and capacity building for sustainable manufacturing, combining a global perspective with local action. The minister praised the emergence of a new sector, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology (MET), an initiative by NAMTECH (New Age Makers Institute of Technology), the MET Innovation School. This initiative aims to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and beyond, specifically by addressing the talent gap in emerging technologies and preparing a highly-skilled workforce and future leaders capable of driving transformative change in India. Vaishnaw welcomed the MIT delegation at the event, calling them one of the finest institutions globally, which is envisioned as a world-class institute for advanced manufacturing. He also acknowledged Indian industry leaders such as Suzuki, Siemens, ABB, Inox and others, emphasising that industry participation is essential to making NAMTECH truly impactful and aligned with the Prime Ministeras vision. The government has launched several pioneering missions, including the India Semiconductor Mission, AI Mission, National Robotics Strategy, Mobility Manufacturing Mission, and National Hydrogen Mission, which reflect the priority placed on advanced technology development and adoption. The National Education Policy 2020 also emphasises holistic development and the integration of vocational and digital education into mainstream schooling. Complementing these are talent-oriented frameworks such as the Skill India Digital Hub, ITI Upgradation Scheme, Chip to Startup, and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) a" all of which emphasise industry-aligned, inclusive skilling models. MeitY continues to support such ecosystem-driven initiatives that bridge critical skill gaps, democratise access to advanced technology education, and contribute to India's global competitiveness in the electronics and manufacturing domains. The event also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NAMTECH and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), Vadodara. a"IANS na/ Seoul, May 23 : Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important factor car manufacturers have to consider with the global automotive industry's move toward more "connected" and "software-defined" vehicles, an executive at a South Korean automotive cybersecurity solutions provider said. "The era of software-defined vehicles is coming ... which means there is much more interface connecting the cars and the external environment, making cars more vulnerable to cyberattacks," Lee Joo-hwa, head of Autocrypt's European branch, told Yonhap News Agency on the sidelines of the 2025 International Transport Forum Summit in Leipzig, Germany. "It also means there is a higher possibility of data breaches in SDVs, which deal with exponentially larger amounts of data (than hardware-defined vehicles)," she said. SDVs refer to next-generation automobiles where software plays a central role in controlling, managing and enhancing their functions. The concept also includes self-driving cars. Lee said cybersecurity in the future mobility industry directly impacts the driver's life and safety, as well as the protection of their personal information. "Imagine if a problem occurs on signals, communications or data in automobiles (due to a breach in cybersecurity), disabling cars from stopping when they have to. It will directly lead to an accident," she explained. "Also, with cars containing so much information of their drivers, there is a risk they can be easily leaked," she added. Founded in 2019, Autocrypt has been providing cybersecurity solutions to more than 20 carmakers across the globe, including South Korean industry leader Hyundai Motor Group and global powerhouses, such as Audi and General Motors, as well as some 40 percent of major global auto parts manufacturers. Lee said major economies have been moving to adopt legislation mandating car manufacturers embed cybersecurity features in their products. In July last year, the European Union implemented new rules requiring the mandatory installation of cybersecurity management systems for all new vehicles to be sold in the region. South Korea is set to implement similar rules promoting improved cybersecurity of vehicles in August under the revised Motor Vehicle Management Act, with India also scheduled to introduce such regulation by 2027. "But it is ultimately in the hands of original manufacturers to decide to what extent they will incorporate cybersecurity solutions into their cars," she said. Lee said cyberattack cases targeting automobiles happen every year, stressing the importance of stronger cybersecurity measures for mobility. According to a report from U.S.-based data security firm Upstream Security, researchers detected 108 mobility-specific ransomware attacks and 214 data breaches across the world in 2024, which contributed heavily to the rise in cybersecurity incidents in the mobility ecosystem. a"IANS na/ New Delhi, May 23 : Delhi-NCR will experience continued relief from the heatwave as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light rainfall and thunderstorms in the national capital on Friday. According to the latest IMD forecast, the city will witness a partly cloudy sky with chances of thunder and lightning throughout the day. These weather conditions are likely to provide a further dip in temperatures, maintaining the recent trend of relief from the intense summer heat. Over the past few days, Delhi has experienced intermittent light rain, and a significant thunderstorm earlier in the week brought much-needed respite by sharply lowering temperatures. On Wednesday, heavy clouds, rain, and gusty winds helped bring down the mercury considerably. As of now, the maximum temperature in the city has stabilised between 34 to 35 degrees Celsius, a noticeable drop compared to earlier this month. The IMD has indicated that very light to light rain is likely on Friday, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Winds are expected to blow at speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour, occasionally gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour during thunderstorms. These strong winds may stir up dust during the evening and night, prompting the IMD to issue a yellow alert for potentially stormy conditions. Looking ahead to the weekend, the weather is expected to remain pleasant. The forecast suggests that thunderstorms and occasional rain will persist until Sunday, May 25. This extended spell of mild and rainy weather has ruled out any immediate threat of a heatwave in Delhi and surrounding regions. In broader weather developments, the IMD also reported that conditions are becoming favourable for the further progression of the southwest monsoon. The monsoon is expected to advance into additional areas, including more parts of the South Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and parts of the Bay of Bengal and northeastern India, over the next few days. Several areas in South India have been experiencing pre-monsoon showers. Hyderabad, May 23 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Friday said Telangana has become an ATM for Congress, and this was corroborated by the Enforcement Directorate as it named Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in the chargesheet in the National Herald case. The former minister took to 'X' to react to the report that Revanth Reddy's name figures in the ED chargesheet in the National Herald case. The ED has reportedly mentioned Revanth Reddy as one of the leaders who allegedly sought donations for Young Indian (YI) and Associated Journals Limited (AJL). Though not listed as an accused, the Central agency says CM Reddy acted on instructions from senior Congress functionaries. The ED mentioned Revanth Reddy's name alongside late Ahmed Patel and Pawan Bansal in the donation-related findings. The ED alleges that certain Congress leaders, including Revanth Reddy, influenced individuals to donate to YI and AJL between 2019 and 2022, suggesting that refusal could harm their political prospects. "Telangana has become an ATM for Scamgress, and it's been now corroborated by agencies as the ED charge sheets Telangana 'Bag Man' in National Herald case, he is trying his best to distract the people's attention from his corrupt practices," posted Rama Rao. "The million-dollar question is whether the NDA Govt will act this time or pardon Revant Reddy as they've done in the case of Amrut Scam, RR Tax and Civil supplies scam," he said. KTR alleged that the CM's corruption empire was exposed with the charge sheet filed by the ED, which alleged that Revanth Reddy lured people with positions to donate to the Young India organisation. The BRS leader said payment of hundreds of crores to Congress party leaders by Revanth Reddy, even before he became the Chief Minister, has come out in the open. Revanth Reddy's "corruption scandal" started with hundreds of crores, and after he became the Chief Minister, it reached thousands of crores in the last year and a half, KTR said. Rama Rao wanted to know if ED will "confine" itself to mentioning Revanth Reddy in the chargesheet or summon him for questioning to "expose the entire corruption scandal". New Delhi, May 23 : Amid the political showdown over India 'informing' Pakistan ahead of military strikes on May 7, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday dug out a document from the past, about India-Pakistan military 1991 pact, highlighting how the then government entered into an agreement with enemy nation and agreed to share information beforehand. Nishikant Dubey's explosive claims come in the backdrop of raging controversy over EAM S Jaishankar's alleged remarks that India alerted Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor. Congress has since then, launched mounting attack on Modi government, claiming the prior intimation to Pakistan, a crime and not lapse. The BJP lawmaker took to X and slammed Rahul Gandhi and Congress over their duplicity over two nations striking a ceasefire 'understanding' after the Operation Sindoor. Sharing the document, he wrote, "Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government made an agreement that India and Pakistan will exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason?" "Congress stands with Pakistan, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on own Foreign Minister," he asked. Further speaking to IANS, Nishikant Dubey slammed the Congress party for its attempts to project its former Indira Gandhi as 'stronger force' than PM Modi and said, "It is the Congress party and govt which surrendered to Pakistan." "The 1991 agreement was signed when your (Congress) supported government was in power. It was implemented in 1994 when Narasimha Rao was Prime Minister. In that agreement, you stated where our Army would be posted, where the Navy would be posted, how the Air Force would take action, and that all this had to be informed 15 days in advance, isn't that treason?..." Dubey added. Meanwhile, Congress has rejected the claims as diversionary and deceptive. Countering the charge, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that the 1991 agreement shared by the BJP MP is not from the Congress regime, rather it was signed a month after the end of Rajiv Gandhi government's tenure. "Nishikant Dubey lacks the correct information and repeatedly displays his ignorance. The agreement he is referring to was signed around April 1991 and it was meant for peacetime," she said. She said that this agreement was signed during peace time, unlike the current Operation Sindoor and hence this proves that Rahul Gandhi is stating true facts and the government is clearly on the backfoot. Jammu, May 23 : Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the families affected by Pakistan shelling in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday. Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh said on X, "Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri @RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow May 24th to meet the families bereaved during the shelling by Pakistan very recently. Earlier, on April 25, he had visited Srinagar where he met the injured people and other concerned parties in the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He also met the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister." Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts of Jammu and Kashmir suffered the worst damage to civilian lives and property due to heavy mortar shelling by Pakistan in retaliation for India's targeting of terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Operations against terrorists were intensified after April 22, when Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists segregated tourists on the basis of religion and killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. The cowardly terrorist act outraged the entire nation. India launched precision-guided targeted attacks on terrorist infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in PoK. Pakistan responded by heavy mortar shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in J&K, targeting civilian facilities. Around 200 houses and shops were destroyed in Pakistani shelling, while hundreds of border residents were forced to abandon their villages to move to safer locations. The border residents have not fully returned to their homes yet as the security forces are still defusing unexploded Pakistan shells in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts. India reached an understanding with Pakistan on the ceasefire, and the DGMOs of the two countries spoke on June 12. But, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that the understanding will be respected only as long as Pakistan does not allow any terrorist activity on its soil against India. Bengaluru, May 23 : A local court in T. Narasipura issued summons on Friday to Kannada actor Darshan and his wife Vijayalaxmi, directing them to appear before the court in connection with the illegal possession of four bar-headed geese at their farmhouse. The bar-headed goose is a rare migratory bird native to the Middle East. The court has ordered Darshan, his wife Vijayalaxmi, and their farmhouse manager to appear in person on July 4. Forest authorities discovered the prohibited birds at Darshan's farmhouse at Kempaiahna Hundi near Mysuru city. In 2023, following the viral video of Darshan with birds, a raid was conducted at the actor's farmhouse. It led to the seizure of four bar-headed geese. The Forest Department alleged that Darshan was in illegal possession of the birds. A case was registered, and a charge sheet was submitted to the court against Darshan and others. There have also been reports of other incidents linked to the farmhouse, including the death of Darshan's manager Sridhar and the actor's visit to the premises after being granted bail in the Renukaswamy murder case. Earlier, a video of Darshan playing with the rare birds went viral on social media. Authorities noted that the actor had admitted in an interview to having bar-headed geese at his farmhouse, and had even shown the caged birds to the interviewer. The Forest Department filed a case under Sections 9, 39, and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. If guilty, the accused could face up to three years of imprisonment. During the raid, authorities also found a variety of imported foreign birds. Darshan was asked to submit ownership certificates, as the law permits keeping certain other bird species with proper documentation. The seized birds were produced before the Magistrate and subsequently released into the forest. Darshan, who is also an accused in the murder of his fan Renukaswamy, is known for his affection towards animals and birds. He is currently out on conditional bail in the murder case. The prosecution has challenged the grant of bail in the Supreme Court. Mumbai, May 23 : A ten-year-old girl allegedly died by suicide following a disagreement with her elder sister over watching a television channel in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, police said on Friday. Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) A ten-year-old girl allegedly died by suicide following a disagreement with her elder sister over watching a television channel in Maharashtraas Gadchiroli district, police said on Friday. The tragic incident took place on Thursday morning in Bodena village, located about five kilometres from Korchi tehsil. The deceased was identified as Sonali Anand Narote. At around 8 a.m., Sonali was watching television with her elder sister Sandhya, 12, and brother Saurabh, 8. While watching television, Sonali wanted to tune in to her favourite channel, but when Sandhya stopped her, an argument broke out between them. Sandhya snatched the remote from Sonali. Sometime later, in a fit of rage, Sonali hanged herself from a tree in the back of her house. The children, who study at a private ashram school in Khoba (Gondia district), were home for the summer holidays. Their youngest sibling, Shivam, lives with their mother, while their father had passed away a few years ago. After getting information, Police Inspector Shailesh Thackeray, Sub Inspector of Police Deshmukh and a police team reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Investigation is underway. This incident adds to a spate of recent distress-related deaths reported in Maharashtra. In March, a man battling depression allegedly killed his 15-year-old son and hanged himself in Maharashtra's Palghar district. Sharad Bhoye, a conductor with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) who was under suspension for the past three months, strangled his son Bhavesh. Bhoye strangulated his son after he returned home from school, and afterwards hanged himself from the ceiling. The crime came to the fore when Bhoye found the bodies and alerted the police. Seoul, May 23 : South Korean Police said on Friday that they have seized cellphones of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and the phone server records of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) for the first time since Yoon's short-lived martial law bid in December. The police's special investigation unit said it confiscated a secure phone and a work phone used by Yoon and received records from a server used by the PSS as part of its investigation into allegations that the former president, former PSS chief Park Chong-jun, and PSS Deputy Chief Kim Seong-hoon blocked investigators from executing a detention warrant against Yoon in January. The police and the PSS earlier conducted a three-week joint forensic analysis of the server and restored most of its records. The PSS voluntarily submitted the material to the police upon its own selection, Yonhap news agency reported. The server reportedly contains call records and texts between Yoon and PSS deputy chief Kim and other PSS officials. Earlier on May 21, South Korea's Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung hit out at former President Yoon Suk Yeol for attending the screening of a documentary film on alleged election fraud. Yoon, who was ousted over his failed martial law bid and is standing criminal trial on insurrection charges, has claimed that allegations of election fraud were one of the reasons why he declared the martial law decree. Yoon, who left the conservative People Power Party (PPP) last week, made his first public appearance since his ouster on April 4, excluding his appearances at the insurrection trial, with the presidential election less than two weeks away. "Did he not win his own election through that system?" Lee told reporters during a campaign rally in Incheon, questioning the logic behind claiming election fraud. "If he claims the system was flawed, what does that say about his own victory?" Lee added. Guwahati, May 23 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA), Sadanand Date, in the national capital on Friday, officials said. The meeting lasted for about an hour; however, the details of the discussion between CM Sarma and Date have not emerged. The CM went to the official residence of the NIA chief this morning. According to sources, the discussion might have happened regarding the alleged Pakistan links of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, but confirmation was awaited. Earlier, CM Sarma upped the ante against Gogoi, asking why the Congress MP has not issued any public statement regarding his visits to Pakistan. "I have earlier said that Gaurav Gogoi went to Pakistan and stayed there for 15 days without taking any permission either from the Centre or the state. I believe that he must issue a public statement on the whole matter; however, instead of that, the Congress leader has dodged the questions several times." The CM also raised the citizenship issue of Congress MP's children and said, "He (Gaurav Gogoi) often maintains a good relationship with the media outlets and journalists. Then why has he not said anything about these matters? If he issues statement in public on the topics, we can close the whole chapter easily." CM Sarma also mentioned that he would come up with big revelations by September 10. "I would request everybody to have patience till September 10. I will reveal everything before the public," he added. The CM doubled down on his explosive allegations against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, claiming the lawmaker had visited Pakistan at the invitation of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country's top spy agency. CM Sarma went a step further, declaring that he would step down from his post if any part of his statement is proven false. "Gaurav Gogoi had gone to Pakistan on the invitation of ISI, and after returning had also opposed the purchase of Rafale," he alleged, adding that the visit was for receiving "training" -- a claim he described as "serious". Reiterating his stance, the Chief Minister said, "If even a single word of mine is proved wrong, I will resign from the post of Chief Minister." He further claimed his government possesses a document from the Pakistan Home Department that purportedly proves Gogoi's visit. CM Sarma said, "For the first time, I want to say that he went to Pakistan at the invitation of ISI. We have that document. He went there to receive training. It is a serious matter. After this, more considerable action will be taken." Tokyo, May 23 : JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, leading an all-party delegation to Japan, as part of India's global diplomatic outreach, said on Friday that Japan has expressed solidarity with India and supported calls to wipe out terrorism as well as their patrons, where ever they exist. Tokyo, May 23 (IANS) JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, leading an all-party delegation to Japan, as part of India's global diplomatic outreach, said on Friday that Japan has expressed solidarity with India and supported calls to wipe out terrorism as well as their patrons, where ever they exist. Jha noted that Japanese leaders, including the Foreign Minister and a former Prime Minister, have extended full support to India's position during their meetings in Tokyo. The all-party delegation led by Jha includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brrittas, and Congress leader Salman Khurshid. Speaking to IANS, Jha said, "We came here yesterday with an all-party delegation. The most important thing is that the attack in Pahalgam targeted innocent people, tourists, who were separated from their families and brutally killed, including children. There were 26 victims. All the sponsorship and training behind this is happening in Pakistan." Jha emphasised that India has adopted a firm policy under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. "Three major developments have taken place. First is Operation Sindoor, its purpose is to declare 'enough is enough.' If there's an attack on our civilians, we will strike back, wherever your training infrastructure is," he said. "Second," he added, "those governments that promote terrorism will be treated the same as the terrorists themselves. There will be no distinction. Third, countries that cannot maintain neutral relations will not be tolerated. We are making this clear to the world through our outreach." Referring to global awareness, Jha added, "Anywhere there's terrorist activity in the world, somehow a link to Pakistan is found. If Osama Bin Laden couldn't be found anywhere else, where was he eventually found?" Jha also reaffirmed PM Modi's statement that "blood and water cannot flow together," and stressed that India will only talk about ending terrorism and reclaiming PoK. "We expect Japan to sensitise people here that terrorism is fully sponsored by Pakistan's government. This is a sensitive issue, like us, tomorrow other nations may be impacted," he said. Gandhinagar, May 23 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will be in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 10th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, the central policy think tank headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting, to be chaired by the Prime Minister, will bring together Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and several Union Ministers. The Governing Council serves as NITI Aayog's top decision-making body and focuses on key issues related to national development, cooperative federalism, and sectoral policies involving both central and state governments. During the two-day visit, beginning Saturday, CM Patel will participate in a Chief Ministers' conclave, being held in the wake of Operation Sindoor. Sources indicate that following the meeting, Chief Minister Patel is likely to hold discussions regarding Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Gujarat on May 26 and 27, which is expected to include key public events and project inaugurations in the state. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive at the Naliya Airbase in Kutch, where he will interact with soldiers stationed at the forward base near the Indo-Pak border. PM Modi is also likely to offer prayers at the revered Mata Ashapura temple before addressing a large public gathering in Bhuj. As part of his focus on infrastructure and indigenous manufacturing, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to visit Dahod, where he will inaugurate a 9,000-horsepower engine manufactured at the Indian Railways' diesel locomotive plant. Additionally, the Prime Minister is set to launch several development projects across Gujarat via video conferencing during the two-day tour. Jaipur, May 23 : Rajasthan continues to grapple with an intense heatwave, with large parts of the desert state experiencing scorching temperatures. However, scattered thunderstorms in a few areas have provided some relief from the relentless summer heat. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave conditions are expected to persist in 16 districts on Friday, with no immediate relief in sight. A red alert has been issued for Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar, and Bikaner, while thundershowers are forecast in 19 districts, including Jaipur and Kota. On Thursday, Sri Ganganagar recorded the highest maximum temperature at 47.3 degrees Celsius, which is 4.8 degrees above normal. Jodhpur recorded the highest minimum temperature at 31.7 degrees. Seven cities in Rajasthan witnessed temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, with Ganganagar experiencing the highest temperatures for the second consecutive day, surpassing 47 degrees Celsius again. In contrast, temperatures fell slightly in some regions. In Jaipur, the maximum temperature dropped by 2 degrees Celsius to 42.8 degrees Celsius. In Alwar, the temperature fell by 5 degrees to 40 degrees, in Chittorgarh 42.4 degrees, in Udaipur 38.3 degrees, while Bhilwara recorded 41.5 degrees Celsius. Thursday afternoon thunderstorms brought a shift in weather across Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi, Kota, Chittorgarh, and Bhilwara. Strong winds and rain offered some relief from the scorching heat. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in the Sadas area of Chittorgarh led to the collapse of a house wall. The tragic incident resulted in the death of Shaari alias Shanti (50), wife of Magana Bhil, and Suraj (7), son of Suresh Bhil. Raju alias Ratan (12), son of Kailash Bhil, was also seriously injured. All victims were rushed to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Bhilwara, where doctors declared Shaari and Suraj dead. The weather changed around 5.30 p.m. in Bhilwara with a sudden storm followed by rain. The downpour brought much-needed relief from the intense heat and humidity. However, strong winds also caused trees to fall in several areas, and rain continued in parts of the district into the evening. Shahpura in Bhilwara registered the highest rainfall of 33 mm in the last 24 hours, said officials. Washington, May 23 : US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen on Friday called the tragic murder of two Israeli Embassy employees outside the Jewish National Museum in Washington, both an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community. Addressing a press conference, he stated that the matter has the full and unwavering attention of the FBI, and it will continue to pursue all leads and use all available resources to investigate the attack. "With the assistance of FBI offices across the country, we're continuing to investigate and contact the subject's associates, family members, and co-workers. We are also executing search warrants for his electronic devices and reviewing his social media accounts," Jensen said. The shooting took place outside an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee for Young Diplomats at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum. The single shooter was identified by police as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news briefing the suspect shouted "Free, free Palestine!" while being taken into custody. The victims were Sarah Lynn Milgrim and her partner Yaron Lischinsky, who both worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington. According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, the accused Rodriguez has been charged with federal and local murder offences in connection with the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members on May 21. He is charged in the US District Court for the District of Columbia with the murder of foreign officials, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges were announced by US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith. "Make no mistake: This attack was targeted, anti-semitic violence. The FBI will continue to pursue all leads and use all available resources to investigate this heinous murder," said Assistant Director in Charge Jensen. Describing the attack as brutal, anti-Semitic violence which has no place in the US or anywhere in civilization, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said, "We will follow the facts and secure the most severe possible punishment for the perpetrator of this heinous crime, which robbed two wonderful young people of a bright future together." "According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Rodriguez allegedly opened fire on the victims as they were leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, which brought together Jewish professionals and members of the diplomatic community. Both victims were employed by the Israeli Embassy. One was an Israeli citizen and an official guest of the US government," read the statement by the US Department of Justice. "Surveillance footage reportedly shows Rodriguez walking past the victims before turning and firing multiple rounds. After the victims fell, he allegedly continued firing at close range, including as one attempted to crawl away. Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun and 21 spent shell casings at the scene," the statement added. According to the official statement, Rodriguez entered the Museum after he committed the murders; and witnesses and surveillance video reportedly confirmed his involvement. He had flown from Chicago to Washington the day prior with the firearm declared in his checked luggage. "The case is being investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice," the statement concluded. Seoul, May 23 : South Korea's defence ministry said on Friday that it has not held any discussions with the Pentagon over the possibility of scaling back US Forces Korea (USFK) troops stationed in South Korea. The remark came in response to a report by The Wall Street Journal that US President Donald Trump's administration is considering withdrawing some 4,500 troops of the 28,500-strong USFK and relocating them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific, including Guam. "As the core strength of the South Korea-US alliance, the USFK, alongside our military, has contributed to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in the region by maintaining a firm combined defense posture and deterring North Korea's invasion and provocation," the ministry said. "We will continue to cooperate with the US side to advance in such a direction," it said. A Pentagon spokesperson told that there are no policy announcements to make regarding any potential USFK troop reduction, Yonhap news agency reported. A defence ministry official also emphasised that a possible reduction of USFK troops on the Korean Peninsula is a matter that mandates consultation between the allies. "A change in USFK troops is a matter that requires bilateral consultation, based on the spirit of the South Korea-US alliance and mutual respect," a ministry official told reporters, adding such a plan would have to go through certain procedures, such as the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and the Military Committee Meeting (MCM). SCM is an annual meeting of the defense chiefs of the two nations, while MCM refers to annual talks between the allies' military chiefs. In October, Seoul and Washington signed the latest version of the five-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA), effective through 2030, under which Seoul is to pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion) next year for the upkeep of the USFK, up 8.3 per cent from 2025. But Trump called South Korea a "money machine," saying that Seoul would be paying $10 billion a year to station the USFK had he been in the White House when he was a presidential candidate. Since 2008, the USFK has maintained a troop level of 28,500 on the Korean Peninsula, across components of the Eighth Army, the Seventh Air Force, US Naval Forces Korea, US Marine Corps Forces Korea and the US Special Operations Command Korea. New Delhi, May 22 : The pilots of the IndiGo plane, which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar, were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm, in complete violation of humanitarian norms. Indiaas civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstorm. Experiencing severe turbulence, the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate towards the International Border. However, the request was denied because it was felt that the plane would face danger from the Pakistan side due to the recently witnessed intense hostilities between India and the neighbouring country during Operation Sindoor. The pilot then sought permission from the Lahore air traffic control (ATC) to briefly venture into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. But it was refused, too. With limited options left, the pilot initially considered returning to Delhi. However, since the aircraft was close to the "thunderstorm cloud", returning was considered an unsafe option. The pilot then decided to continue forward through the storm towards Srinagar on the shortest possible route, the DGCA statement said. While navigating the thunderstorm, the aircraft encountered "extreme updrafts and downdrafts", leading to the autopilot disengaging and its speed fluctuating. "While in the thunderstorm cloud, warnings of an angle of attack fault, alternate saw protection lost, and unreliable airspeed indications were triggered," the statement further said. The DGCA said that at one point, the aircraft's rate of descent reached 8,500 feet per minute. It further said that the crew took manual control of the aircraft during this critical phase till exiting the hailstorm. The pilot then declared an emergency to the Srinagar ATC, which then activated radar vectors. The flight eventually landed safely in Srinagar with no reported injuries to any of the passengers or crew. The DGCA said that the plane made a safe landing with the auto thrust system operated manually. There was no injury to any of the passengers on board the flight. A post-flight check revealed damage to the nose of the aircraft. A full-fledged investigation has been launched into the incident, the statement added. New Delhi, May 23 : Looking to counter the BJP's campaign claiming credit for Operation Sindoor's success, the Congress on Friday armed its 140 spokespersons with ammunition to corner the government on issues related to military action and diplomacy. The brainstorming focused on questioning the government on foreign policy, the US President's role in the ceasefire with Pakistan, and to demand a special Parliament session to discuss matters related with the counter-terror Operation Sindoor undertaken by armed forces. As part of its strategy, the Congress is aiming for uniformity in stands taken by the spokespersons on different platforms and gearing up to launch an offensive coinciding with the government's diplomatic outreach, entailing visits by seven all-party delegations to various nations to explain the country's stand against terror. The Congress lined up its star spokespersons, including Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, to share tips with its 'Team-140' under the guidance of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's remark shows that the BJP is admitting to EAM S. Jaishankar giving prior information on Operation Sindoor to Pakistan. "This validates the stand taken by Rahul Gandhi on the issue," she told IANS. "The BJP is playing with the security of the country by releasing new documents every day. By doing such things, you end up exposing your own stupidity but cannot mislead the public," she said. Congress spokesman Abhay Dubey said the entire nation is seeking answers on why the government gave advance information about Operation Sindoor to Pakistan. "The sin of giving information to Pakistan cannot be brushed under the carpet," he said, calling it treachery with people and the military. Party spokesman Madhu Goud Yaskhi said BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's claims confirm the Congress belief that prior intimation was given by India to Pakistan. "His tweet confirms what the External Affairs Minister has been denying after making a confessional statement that he has informed Pakistan forces that we are going to attack. That's proven beyond doubt," said Yaskhi. "It's the biggest crime committed by the Modi government on the people of India and the Indian forces," he said. He said even if we assume that there was an India-Pakistan military pact on information sharing, what was stopping the Modi government in the past 11 years from changing it? "You are in power. You have the authority to change anything. There is no such binding on the Indian government now," he said. Yaskhi also credited the Congress-led UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for hitting back at Pakistan after 26/11 by isolating it and cutting off international aid to it, and successfully exposing its terror links to the world. He also questioned why the militants who committed the Pahalgam attack could not be traced even one month after the heinous crime. Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey dug out a document about the India-Pakistan military 1991 pact, highlighting, in a message on social media platform X, how the then government entered into an agreement with enemy nation and agreed to share information beforehand. The BJP lawmaker took to X and slammed Rahul Gandhi and Congress over their duplicity over the two nations striking a ceasefire 'understanding' after the Operation Sindoor. Dubey's explosive claims come against the backdrop of raging controversy over EAM Jaishankar's alleged remarks that India alerted Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor. Since then, the Congress has launched an attack on the government, claiming the prior intimation to Pakistan amounted to a crime and that the pact referred to by Dubey was not signed under the party's government. Patna, May 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bihar on May 29 to inaugurate the newly constructed terminal building at Patna Airport. Speaking to the media in Patna on Friday, Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal said, "The day he lands on the soil of Patna, he will inaugurate the new terminal building." He further informed that the Prime Minister will also review the progress of the Bihta Airport expansion project, a key infrastructure initiative of the central government. According to Jaiswal, PM Modi will also visit the BJP state headquarters in Patna during his visit and interact with party workers. "BJP is a party of workers, and therefore, PM Modi will come to the party's office in Patna to meet the workers. Such interactions reflect our core values," Jaiswal said. On May 30, the Prime Minister will head to Bikramganj in Rohtas district, where he is scheduled to address a massive rally. Preparations for the public gathering are in full swing. Jaiswal also revealed that PM Modi is expected to announce projects worth over Rs 50,000 crore during his Bihar visit. These projects, aimed at boosting infrastructure development, are likely to span across sectors including transportation, connectivity, public utilities, and economic growth. Responding to a question on RJD chief Lalu Prasad becoming politically active again, Jaiswal commented, "It's good that he is active in Bihar, but he should now focus on doing the right thing." He added, "Earlier, when he was active, Bihar's image suffered. The state became synonymous with lawlessness and backwardness. People used to feel ashamed to be identified as Bihari during his tenure." Jaiswal said that under Lalu's leadership, Bihar recorded a surge in criminal activities and a decline in educational quality. "We hope that if Lalu is returning to politics, he contributes positively this time," Jaiswal added. Patna, May 23 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha on Friday welcomed the Centre's initiative to send all-party delegations abroad to project a united front against terrorism, calling it a "great step" toward national solidarity. However, he also emphasised that the structure and execution of the initiative could have been more inclusive. Patna, May 23 (IANS) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha on Friday welcomed the Centre's initiative to send all-party delegations abroad to project a united front against terrorism, calling it a "great step" toward national solidarity. However, he also emphasised that the structure and execution of the initiative could have been more inclusive. Speaking with IANS, Jha reflected on the current political atmosphere in India, noting a deterioration in democratic dialogue over the past decade. "In the last ten to eleven years, the spirit of constructive competition between political parties has been lost. Hostility has replaced healthy debate. This is a great initiative by the Centre, but its design could have been more thoughtful," he said. Jha expressed his belief that true unity could have been better demonstrated with more direct communication. "If Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally reached out - calling Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, M.K. Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, and other Opposition leaders, it would have sent a stronger message. This is a goodwill mission, and it should reflect India's secular and united spirit, especially in the face of terrorism," he added. The RJD Rajya Sabha member stressed the importance of conveying to the international community that terrorism targeting India often originates from across the border. "Many countries we've supported in the past have not stood with us in difficult times. It's crucial they understand the implications of silence or inaction," he said. Jha revealed that he has written to the Prime Minister requesting a special session of Parliament to discuss this matter comprehensively. "There was an attempt to stoke communal tensions during the recent Pahalgam attack, but the spirit of this country defeated that conspiracy. We now need to foster goodwill at home as well, to break down barriers between communities and individuals," he told IANS. Reacting to Prime Minister Modi's statement on Operation Sindoor, in which Modi said Pakistan was made to "kneel" and said that his mind is cool but blood runs hot... Sindoor flows in my veins", Jha offered a more measured perspective. "I salute the bravery and precision of our armed forces. The entire nation mourns the loss of Pahalgam; people feel a personal connection to the fallen soldiers. Every day, Bihar receives the bodies of its brave sons. We all pay our respects, but the grief is too deep to erase," he said. However, Jha cautioned against divisive rhetoric. "In moments like this, we should unite as a nation, not fragment it. The Prime Minister is for all citizens and must avoid creating divisions. National sentiment transcends political lines," he said. He added that it would have been better if Prime Minister Modi had addressed US President Donald Trump's remarks during his speech in Bikaner. "Many people are upset. A message could have been sent to Trump, questioning his stance - suggesting we are doing all the work, yet he's acting like he is supreme. His comment about silencing both sides through business power was inappropriate. The Prime Minister should have responded. Governments may change, but the spirit of the nation must remain united," Jha contended. New Delhi, May 23 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday hit back at Rahul Gandhi over the latter's repeated questioning about 'losses' during the Operation Sindoor, the government's 'silence' on Trump's repeated assertions that his administration brokered truce between India and Pakistan. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, addressing a press conference at the BJP Headquarters here on Friday, said that the Indian Army is being praised across the country as well as the world for eliminating terrorists and teaching Pakistan a lesson but the Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, finds it hard to believe in the Army's action and country's resolve to take on terror. "Every citizen is happy with the Armed Forces and is standing with them. But Rahul Gandhi continues to make careless statements. Today, the country is asking Rahul Gandhi about his abusive language against the Prime Minister. Your statements are being supported in Pakistan, also the statements of Congress leaders are being used by Pakistani Parliament to defame India," he said. Further, taking a direct jibe at the Congress leader, Bhatia said, "Rahul Gandhi should decide which side he is on? Are you the leader of the opposition (LoP) of India or the Nishan-e-Pakistan of Pakistan?" Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi took to X and again demanded that the government give answers on who allowed the US President to 'mediate' between India and Pakistan. The BJP leader further said Rahul continues to carelessly raise questions over the number of jets being shot down by the Indian Air Force. He stated that the DGMO as well as Air Marshal gave detailed account of operation on May 11 briefing, but the Congress MP deliberately ignores the facts and keeps asking about losses that India suffered, 'for weakening the morale of security forces'. He said that Mariam Nawaz, a senior leader of Pakistan, has publicly admitted that the neighbouring nation suffered huge losses because of India's military action. "Today, a senior leader of Pakistan, Mariam Nawaz, gave a statement that on the night of May 6 and 7, and on May 9, Pakistan had to face huge losses because of India's military action. Pakistan is admitting that India destroyed their 11 airbases, decimated nine terror centres. But, the Congress party continues to remain in denial," he said. The BJP leader also alleged, "At Rahul Gandhi's instructions, Mallikarjun Kharge said that Operation Sindoor is a 'chutput (small)' war. Looking at Congress' character and careless attitude, it is not wrong to say that if anyone is betraying India, then it is the Congress party, it is Rahul Gandhi." New Delhi, May 23 : People with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infection are more likely to suffer from in-hospital cardiac events than those with flu or Covid-19, according to a study. Researchers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore conducted a nationwide study among 32,960 adults hospitalised for an RSV, flu, or Covid infection. They compared the risk of cardiovascular events (any cardiac, cerebrovascular, or thrombotic event) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission with or without a cardiovascular event among the patients. Of the 32,960 adult patients, 6.5 per cent had RSV, 43.7 per cent had flu, and 49.8 per cent had Covid. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that about 11 per cent of RSV patients had a cardiovascular event. "One in 10 patients hospitalised for RSV had a concurrent acute cardiovascular event. Odds of cardiac events were significantly higher in RSV vs Covid-19 hospitalisations in both vaccine-boosted and unboosted individuals," the team wrote in the paper. The study showed that a total of 1,037 patients (3.2 per cent) required ICU admission. Of the 2,148 RSV patients, 10.9 per cent experienced an acute cardiovascular event, 94.1 per cent of which involved cardiac events (99 abnormal heart rhythm, 66 heart failure, and 61 ischemic heart disease episodes). The most common type of abnormal heart rhythm was atrial fibrillation or flutter (60.6 per cent). A history of cardiac disease was linked to a more than double likelihood of an acute cardiovascular event among RSV patients compared with those with flu or Covid-19. A higher probability of an abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure, and other cardiac events was also seen in RSV patients than in Covid patients who did not take booster doses. Lower odds of cerebrovascular events, however, were noted in RSV patients than in vaccine-boosted Covid patients. Individuals with a preexisting cardiac history were found to be at higher risk of acute cardiac events during RSV hospitalisation. "Cardiac manifestations of RSV are hypothesised to arise directly from myocardial injury or indirectly via a post-inflammatory response and increased cardiovascular strain attributed to pulmonary disease," the researchers said. They stressed the importance of evaluating the role of vaccination in attenuating the risk of cardiovascular events associated with vaccine-preventable respiratory viral infections. Mumbai, May 23 : Renowned lyricist and poet Manoj Muntashir on Friday strongly supported the Indian Armed forces' firm response to Pakistan under Operation Sindoor and sought to urge the Opposition to celebrate their bravery rather than raising doubts and questions about the operation. Speaking to IANS, Manoj Muntashir said, "The questions that are being raised have been raised in every era. Questions were raised even on Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. So I am not surprised that questions are being asked about Operation Sindoor. But I do believe that for the first time, the entire nation has come together under the tricolour, united in support of our armed forces. Our military gave a befitting response to Pakistan's terrorist actionsso when will we celebrate this? If we keep raising doubts, when will we honour their courage?" "This is a time to celebrate the Indian Army's valour like a national festival. Our cowardly neighbour, who killed innocent people after asking their religion, received a response they deserved. And let me be clearno one should assume that a ceasefire means Operation Sindoor is over. It has only been paused. If Pakistan does not abandon its cowardice, I believe Operation Sindoor might conclude only when the threat is completely neutralised," he said. Responding to criticism of the Centre's recent all-party delegation initiative, Muntashir defended the government's approach. "It is the Opposition's role to question the government. However, in this case, if the delegation had included only BJP members, the criticism would have made sense. But this was an all-party effort, with members selected in consultation with multiple parties. They are representing India's position on an international platform. So I don't understand the complaints. In fact, I'm trying to find a reason to complain, but I simply can't," he remarked. Muntashir also addressed claims of US involvement in the ceasefire 'understanding' between India and Pakistan. He said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clearthere is no third-party involvement. The ceasefire is a result of decisions made by the top leaderships of the Indian and Pakistani armed forces. After the Shimla Agreement, it was agreed that no third power would intervene in our bilateral matters. India has stood firmly by that. The Kashmir issue is internal, and treating it as an international issue is both absurd and unacceptable." He went on to underline that internal threats pose greater risks than external enemies. "India is not in danger from Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. The bigger threat lies withinindividuals among us who engage in anti-national activities. These are the real 'germ bombs' threatening our nation from within. We must identify and neutralise them," he added. He also reiterated the importance of unity and faith in national leadership during such times. "Whatever the Prime Minister says, the entire country should stand in unison. Doubts and divisions only weaken our resolve. This is a time for solidarity, not suspicion," he concluded. Mumbai, May 23 : West Coast Paper Mills Limited on Friday reported that the company's net profit dropped by 64.63 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 46.14 crore -- compared to Rs 130.42 crore in the same quarter last fiscal (Q4 FY24). Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) West Coast Paper Mills Limited on Friday reported that the companyas net profit dropped by 64.63 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 46.14 crore -- compared to Rs 130.42 crore in the same quarter last fiscal (Q4 FY24). On a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, net profit fell by about 31.55 per cent from Rs 67.41 crore in the previous quarter (Q3), as per its stock exchange filing. Revenue for the quarter decreased slightly by 3 per cent, falling to Rs 1,041 crore from Rs 1,070 crore in the year-ago period (Q4 FY24). Similarly, the companyas total income decreased by about 3.76 per cent to Rs 1,086.12 crore during the same period, compared to Rs 1,128.61 crore a year ago. Additionally, total expenses increased by approximately 7.85 per cent to Rs 1,030 crore in Q4 FY25, up from Rs 955.03 crore in the year-ago period. A major contributor to this rise was the cost of materials consumed, which jumped by over 26 per cent to Rs 657.99 crore from Rs 521.9 crore in Q4 FY24. However, employee benefits expenses saw a decline of about 8.23 per cent, reducing to Rs 93.87 crore from Rs 102.28 crore in the previous yearas quarter. Meanwhile, finance costs more than doubled, rising sharply by 131.42 per cent to Rs 12.89 crore compared to Rs 5.57 crore in Q4 FY24. The companyas earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) also saw a significant fall, plunging 52.4 per cent to Rs 80.8 crore, down from Rs 169.6 crore last fiscal. Margins were hit hard, contracting by 810 basis points to 7.8 per cent compared to 15.9 per cent in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, according to its filing. Despite these challenges, the companyas board recommended a dividend of Rs 5 per equity share, which has a face value of Rs 2. This dividend rate of 250 per cent is for the financial year ending March 31 and is subject to approval by shareholders at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Following the earnings announcement, shares of West Coast Paper Mills Limited fell by 2 per cent to Rs 467.80 apiece. The stock has experienced a decline of more than 15 per cent so far this year. Ranchi, May 23 : Jharkhand's Leader of Opposition and BJP state President Babulal Marandi on Friday accused the Hemant Soren-led government of deliberately paralysing key constitutional and statutory institutions in the state. He also described the appointment of a retired IPS officer as the state's Director General of Police (DGP) as "illegal". Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters here, Marandi alleged that institutions such as the Lokayukta, the Information Commission, the Women's Commission, and the Consumer Forum -- set up to ensure transparency and justice -- have been rendered defunct under the present regime. "Where should the public go to report corruption in government departments? If someone has information about the corrupt practices of a minister, MLA, officer, or even an employee of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, who will hear them out?" he asked. "The post of Lokayukta, meant for exactly such cases, has been kept vacant for the last five years as part of a deliberate conspiracy," he said. He claimed that the Information Commission has had no Commissioners since 2023, and the post of Chief Information Commissioner has remained vacant for years. "Thousands of RTI applications are pending because the Commission is completely non-functional," he said. Marandi said the state government initially cited the absence of a Leader of Opposition as the reason for delaying key appointments. "But even after my official recognition as Leader of Opposition, there has been no movement on these files," he said. "This is a calculated move to stifle transparency and accountability in governance," he alleged. The BJP leader further claimed that both the Chairperson and Members' posts in the Women's Commission are lying vacant, with nearly 5,000 cases of atrocities against women pending. "Employees of the Commission have not been paid salaries for months. In several districts, the Consumer Forum has no Chairperson or Member," he added. He also slammed the government for allegedly retaining a retired IPS officer as DGP without the required clearance from the Centre. "The officer has not received an extension from the Central government, yet the state continues to keep him in the post. This is unprecedented," Marandi said. Seoul, May 23 : South Korean Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said on Friday that he met former President Moon Jae-in, with the presidential election just 11 days away. The meeting between Lee and Moon came as they paid their respects at a memorial service marking the 16th anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun in the village of Bongha, where Roh lived after his retirement. It was the first time that the DP candidate met Moon since he won the nomination, Yonhap news agency reported. During the meeting, Moon asked Lee to build a nation that respects the will of the people, the DP candidate told reporters. They also raised concerns that the misuse of prosecutorial power played a significant role in deteriorating South Korea's institutions and deepening social division over the past three years, according to Rep. Cho Seung-rae, the DP's senior spokesperson. Meanwhile, Lee was leading his People Power Party (PPP) rival Kim Moon-soo with 45 per cent support against Kim's 36 per cent, a survey showed Friday. In a Gallup Korea survey conducted on 1,002 adults from Tuesday to Thursday, candidate Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party came in third with 10 per cent. Eight per cent said they were undecided. The DP's Lee declined by 6 percentage points compared with a week earlier, while Kim and Lee Jun-seok saw increases of 7 percentage points and 2 percentage points, respectively. The support for the liberal DP was at 42 per cent, compared with 36 per cent for the conservative PPP. The margin of error was 3.1 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level, Yonhap news agency reported. Meanwhile, four presidential candidates were also set to wrangle over social issues in their second TV debate on Friday. Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party (NRP) garnered his first double-digit support, as Kim continued to appeal to the NRP candidate to merge their candidacies to better challenge the DP's Lee. On Thursday, the NRP's Lee declared that he would not drop his candidacy until Election Day. The three candidates and Kwon Young-kook of the minor Democratic Labor Party will take part in the debate at 8 p.m., hosted by the National Election Commission. During the debate, the candidates will discuss ways to bridge social divisions and promote national unity, as well as pension and health care reforms, and climate change. Mumbai, May 23 : Kartik Aaryan, on Friday, unveiled his new look from his upcoming film "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," and it didn't take long for reactions to pour in. Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) Kartik Aaryan, on Friday, unveiled his new look from his upcoming film "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," and it didn't take long for reactions to pour in. Among the first to respond was filmmaker Karan Johar, who was all hearts for Kartik's transformation, further amping up anticipation for the film. Taking to Instagram, Kartik shared a couple of his photos flaunting his new look and wrote, "Ray is Raydyyyy #TuMeriMainTeraMainTeraTuMeri." In the first image, the actor is seen sporting a short-spiked haircut with a neatly trimmed beard. In one image, Kartik is seen with long hair, while in the next, his cut locks are shown lying on the floor after being chopped off. The final picture captures the 'Dhamaka' actor sitting and enjoying his coffee against the stunning backdrop of a beach, with his freshly cut hair scattered on the floor. Notably, Karan Johar reacted to his post by dropping several pink heart emojis. The 34-year-old actor, who is currently in Europe shooting for the romantic comedy, also shared a brief video from the mahurat ceremony. The clip featured a clapperboard displaying the title "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," set against the backdrop of a picture of Lord Ganesha. In another post, the 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' actor was captured sprinting energetically against a beautiful European landscape. "Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri," directed by Sameer Vidwans, will be bankrolled by Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures. It is slated for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026. Rumors suggest that Kartik Aaryan will star alongside Ananya Panday in this drama, marking their second collaboration after "Pati Patni Aur Woh." However, the makers have yet to confirm this casting news officially. This upcoming project marks Kartik Aaryan's first collaboration with Karan Johar. Patna, May 23 : A local court in Bihar's Darbhanga district on Friday sentenced BJP MLA Mishrilal Yadav to three months' jail in connection with the 2019 assault case. District and Additional Sessions Judge Suman Kumar Diwakar dismissed Yadav's plea for relief and ordered immediate imprisonment. The case pertains to Yadav and his associates allegedly beating Umesh Mishra, a resident of Samaila, on January 30, 2019. After Mishra's complaint, police filed a charge sheet, and the court took cognisance on April 17, 2020. Yadav was convicted earlier by the MP-MLA court, which sentenced him to three months' jail and a fine of Rs 500. The MLA subsequently sought a pardon and appeared before the court on Thursday, hoping to secure relief. However, Special Judge Karunanidhi Prasad Arya ordered his 24-hour judicial custody ahead of the final judgment. The court said, "Yadav's presence was mandatory for the hearing on May 23, when the sentence was to be finalised." Speaking to the media outside the court on Thursday, Yadav said Additional District Judge (ADJ-3) Karunanidhi Prasad Arya did not hear his plea for pardon and instead ordered his custody. "This is a politically influenced case. I came with my petition, but instead of hearing it, I was sent to jail. Preparations are underway to move to the High Court," Yadav had said. After reviewing the case, the court on Friday upheld the sentence, sending the BJP MLA to Mandal Jail in Darbhanga to serve his term. Speaking to the media persons after the verdict, Yadav called the case "politically motivated" and said he will approach the higher court. "The court has upheld the earlier decision of a three-month jail term and Rs 500 fine. Hence, I am going to jail, but I will appeal in the Patna High Court to challenge this decision. We have faith in the judiciary and will get justice in the end," Yadav said. Raipur, May 23 : Influenced by the Lon Varratu (Come Back Home) campaign being conducted in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, nine Maoists, including four individuals with rewards on their heads, have surrendered, an official said on Friday. The surrendered Maoists include Anita Potam, a member of the Dandakaranya Communication Team; Biju Ram Telam from Kamalur, a member of the Line of Sight (LOS) unit; and Badru, also known as Gorga Kadti, the President of the Toynar Revolutionary People's Committee (RPC) Jantana Sarkar. The Chhattisgarh government had placed a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on each of them. Another surrendered Maoist, Payku Podiyam from Potenar, a member of the RPC Chetna Natya Manch, had a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. Among those who surrendered, one was active in the Dandakaranya Communication Team, one in Kamalur LOS under the Bhairamgarh Area Committee, one in Toynar RPC, three in Potenar RPC, two in Bechapal RPC, and one in Rewali RPC under the Malanger Area Committee. These individuals had been involved in various activities such as digging roads, cutting down trees, and putting up Maoist banners, posters, and pamphlets during the "Naxal Bandh Week". Their surrender was facilitated by senior officials, including Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P. (IPS); Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dantewada Range, Kamalochan Kashyap (IPS); Deputy Inspector General of Police (Period), CRPF Dantewada Range, Rakesh Kumar; and other officers, who played a crucial role in convincing them to return to the mainstream. The Lon Varratu campaign, aimed at eliminating Left Wing Extremism, operates under the Chhattisgarh Government's Rehabilitation Policy. The District Police Force and CRPF have been actively reaching out to misguided Maoists to encourage them to reintegrate into society. The government's Maoists' rehabilitation policy is being widely promoted in villages, leading to an increasing number of high-profile Maoists surrendering and rejoining mainstream society. Under this rehabilitation policy, the surrendered Maoists will receive financial assistance of Rs 50,000 along with other benefits provided by the Chhattisgarh government, including skill development training and access to agricultural land. Since the launch of the Lon Varratu campaign, a total of 984 Maoists, including 236 individuals with government-issued bounties, have surrendered and reintegrated into society. New Delhi, May 23 : Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma on Friday termed the Centre's decision to send all-party delegations abroad to present India's stance on cross-border terrorism as a "good initiative". The move follows Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma on Friday termed the Centreas decision to send all-party delegations abroad to present Indiaas stance on cross-border terrorism as a "good initiative". The move follows Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Sharma called the initiative a significant step in Indian diplomacy, as he emphasised the importance of presenting a united national front on the global stage. He said that it is a commendable step to communicate Indiaas unity in the face of terrorism. Delegations representing all political parties, speaking in one voice, help to reinforce our national consensus and counter global misinformation. Sharma, who has been included as the only Congress nominee in one of the seven delegations, will be visiting South Africa, Egypt, Qatar, and Ethiopia. He is the second Congress leader after Shashi Tharoor to support the initiative, even as sections of the party have criticised the effort as a "diversionary tactic". Here is the full interview: IANS: You are part of the all-party delegation to inform the international community about Pakistanas support for terrorism and Indiaas zero-tolerance policy. How do you see this move? Anand Sharma: India faces a grave challenge in the form of cross-border terrorism. Terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have repeatedly targeted our people, with direct or indirect backing from Pakistanas Army and the ISI. From the Parliament attack to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Pulwama, and now Pahalgam, the list of atrocities is long. This time again, innocent Indian citizens were targeted based on their religion, which sparked national outrage. Our armed forces responded decisively through coordinated operations involving the army and air force. As part of the delegation, we will meet with leaders and political representatives in other nations to explain the threat that terrorism poses not just to India or South Asia but to the entire world. We aim to present the ground reality and urge global action against terror networks. IANS: What are your views on the Centreas decision to send these all-party delegations? Anand Sharma: This is a well-thought-out initiative by the government. It reflects Indiaas diplomatic maturity. The world needs to see that despite political differences, India stands united against terrorism. We are not just going to express our grief, but also to emphasise the need for coordinated global action to combat terrorism. Terrorist organisations in Pakistan continue to receive state patronage. Despite international sanctions and designations by the United Nations, these groups rebrand themselves and continue their operations. Whether itas Jaish, Lashkar, or any of their aliases, the same individuals continue to orchestrate attacks. The world must respond firmly and in unison. This delegation is an important step in that direction. IANS: Some political leaders have raised questions about the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor. What is your response? Anand Sharma: In any democracy, questions are natural and even necessary. Media outlets, politicians, and citizens will debate government actions. This happens across democracies, including the US, France, and the UK. Whenever such major events occur, there is always scrutiny. However, there was overwhelming support for the government's response to the Pahalgam attack. All political parties, including the Congress, participated in the all-party meeting and extended full support. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed three separate resolutions, unequivocally supporting the action taken and praising our armed forces. Our immediate priority must be to build international consensus, raise awareness of the threat, and hold Pakistan accountable on the world stage. IANS: Congress has demanded a special session of Parliament to discuss the terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and the resulting cross-border tensions. Whatas your take on this? Anand Sharma: Asking for a special session of Parliament is not a crime - it is a legitimate democratic demand. Whether or not the session is convened is up to the government. The Opposition has the right to make demands, and the government has the right to decide. This should not be sensationalised as something unusual. During earlier conflicts, like the wars of 1962, 1965, and 1971, the Parliament held detailed discussions. This is part of our democratic tradition. IANS: Do you believe India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack? Anand Sharma: Our response targeted the terrorist organisations directly, the same ones shielded by Pakistan's military and intelligence apparatus. Yes, a strong and appropriate reply was given. But thatas not enough. The international community must see Pakistanas true face. Pressure must be built so that it stops exporting terrorism. IANS: Some Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have criticised aspects of Operation Sindoor, especially after the ceasefire announcement. What do you say? Anand Sharma: Criticism in a democracy is natural and must be seen in context. Even during the 1962 war with China or the Kargil conflict, there was political discourse. But when it came to national security, the country always stood united. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the all-party meeting and supported the governmentas response. The Congress Working Committee passed several resolutions applauding the armed forces. This unity must be remembered. IANS: Has India sent a clear enough message to deter future acts of terrorism? Anand Sharma: Only time will tell how much Pakistan has internalised this message. What we can say with certainty is that India has responded with strength and resolve. The entire nation supported this action. That sends a powerful message. IANS: Some leaders argue that the government should have discussed the all-party delegation strategy in Parliament first. Whatas your view? Anand Sharma: Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but national decisions are not always made through extended debates. This was a timely and necessary step. Delegations include Members of Parliament and senior political leaders. Their findings and experiences will certainly be discussed in the next session of Parliament. Thatas how democracy works. Rome, May 23 : Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his delegation arrived in Rome on Friday to participate in the fifth round of indirect talks with the United States. The talks are being facilitated by Oman with Steve Witkoff, the US President's Special Envoy to the Middle East, leading the delegation from Washington. "Set to travel to Rome for the 5th round of indirect talks with the United States. Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science: Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide," Araghchi posted on X before departing for Italy. Araghchi on Thursday said that there will be no nuclear agreement if the US seeks to cease Iran's uranium enrichment. He made the remarks in a live interview broadcast by the state-run IRIB TV ahead of the fifth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iranian and US delegations in Rome on Friday. "Fundamental differences still exist between us. The US side does not believe in uranium enrichment in Iran. If this is their objective, there would be no agreement," Araghchi said while responding to US officials' recent demands that Tehran should completely stop uranium enrichment on its soil. "However, if they seek that Iran does not move toward nuclear weapons, this can be achieved. We do not seek nuclear weapons," he said Araghchi noted that the nuclear deal signed between Iran and several other countries in 2015 was no longer effective, "but it does not mean that the deal is dead," adding that the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, could be revived, Xinhua news agency reported. However, Araghchi emphasised that Iran would not give up its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment. Iran and the US have earlier held four rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's nuclear programme and the lifting of US sanctions through the mediation of Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaid. Earlier on Wednesday US Department of State identified Iran's construction sector as being controlled directly or indirectly by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who only build terror and chaos, and identified 10 additional strategic materials that Iran is using in connection with its nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs, said department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement. "With these determinations, the United States has broader sanctions authorities to prevent Iran from acquiring strategic materials for its construction sector under IRGC control and its proliferation programs," Bruce added Recently, US officials have repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease its uranium enrichment activities, a request that Tehran has firmly rejected, insisting the issue is "non-negotiable". Bhopal, May 23 : The body of a man, a history-sheeter facing 23 cases, was found dead at a culvert in a nearby village, Bilkisganj, 25 km from Bhopal, police said on Friday. Bhopal, May 23 (IANS) The body of a man, a history-sheeter facing 23 cases, was found dead at a culvert in a nearby village, Bilkisganj, 25 km from Bhopal, police said on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Lalu Arjun Yadav. Confirming the report of murder, police said the accused lured Yadav to a meeting before killing him. Speaking to IANS, Commissioner of Police Harinarayan Chari Mishra said, "Yadav had a criminal record and was in the process of getting externed from Bhopal." "Yadav was in the rogue's gallery. The murder is believed to be linked to a love affair. His body was recovered from a bridge in Bilkisganj, a nearby village. The main accused, Shubham, and his accomplice have been arrested," Mishra said. Some video footage has reportedly surfaced showing angry family members engaging in heated exchanges with police officers. Reports said the angry family members blocked the road outside the Kamla Nagar police station in protest. Serious allegations have been made against the police for failing to act promptly. However, Nirpua Pandey, the officer in charge of Kamla Nagar police station, evaded providing details to the IANS, stating only that the murder occurred on May 20. Police sources revealed that Yadav was kidnapped three to four days ago in the Kamla Nagar police station area. Shubham and his two associates have been missing since the day Lalu disappeared. During the investigation, police obtained Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showing three individuals carrying a box. After a search, the accused were arrested. Commissioner Mishra confirmed that Yadav had 23 criminal cases registered against him at Kamla Nagar police station, including charges of attempted murder, rioting, arson, vehicle vandalism, obstruction, and other serious offences. New Delhi, May 23 : The Centre has flagged a fraudulent website falsely claiming to be an official body authorised to confer some of the country's highest civilian honours, including the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan, and the Padma Bhushan. In a post on X on Friday, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) warned citizens about the fake website -- https://brs.inc -- which deceptively presents itself as a "semi-structured government organisation" with official recognition. "A fake website, https://brs.inc, falsely claims to be a semi-structured government organisation recognised and authorised by the Government of India," PIB said in a fact-check alert. "It also claims to confer prestigious national awards such as Bharat Ratna Samman, Padma Vibhushan Samman, Padma Bhushan Samman, etc," the PIB post said. The government clarified that the website in question has no affiliation with any official department or ministry, and does not have the authority to confer any national honours. It has advised the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent entities and to verify any award-related information through official channels only. "This website is NOT associated with the Government of India. Stay alert and avoid falling for such scams. For any GOI-related queries, contact + 91 8799711259," the post further reads. The fake website's homepage, dressed in official-looking language, states: "Bharat Ratna Sammaan is an esteemed body formed with the motive of honouring those great personalities who have contributed a lot towards society and in different fields at large in Bharat one should be allowed to be exceptional and receive the recognition one deserves." Officials warned that such wording is deliberately misleading, mimicking government language to lend credibility to a scam. The website may be attempting to lure individuals into monetary fraud or identity theft under the pretence of granting awards. The PIB urged citizens to contact its fact-checking unit or visit https://pib.gov.in for any queries related to government initiatives or honours, and not to fall prey to unauthorised portals. Bhopal, May 23 : Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah, whose controversial remarks on Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi sparked a nationwide controversy, has issued a fresh apology. In a video message shared on his social media account (X), the minister said that his statement, which hurt the sentiments of people of the country, was a "linguistic mistake", adding that his intention was not to hurt any individual, caste, religion or the society. "I have great respect for the Indian Armed Forces, and never intended to hurt anyone's sentiments. It was my mistake, which hurt the sentiments of the people of the country. I once again apologise to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Indian Armed Forces and every citizen of India," Vijay Shah said. Apart from the video message, Vijay Shah also tendered his apology in a written note on an official letterhead of the Tribal Welfare Department, which read the same content he had mentioned in his video message. The fresh apology from the minister's came three days after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led Madhya Pradesh Cabinet held a special meeting in the historic Rajwada Palace in Indore. Vijay Shah was not invited for the meeting. Also, this fresh apology came just a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Madhya Pradesh during which he will address a large gathering of women at Bhopal's Jamboori Maidan on May 31. Meanwhile, a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed under the supervision of the Supreme Court has initiated inquiry on Vijay Shah's remarks while speaking about 'Operation Sindoor' during a programme in Mhow on May 11. A senior police official in Indore told the reporters on Friday that, all documents, evidences related with that incident have been handover to the SIT, which is comprising of three senior IPS officers. The SIT would submit its report to the Supreme Court on May 28. Earlier, on May 19, the Supreme Court ordered formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the charges against Vijay Shah, facing legal heat over his controversial remarks on Col Qureshi. However, in slight relief to the state minister, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh stayed his arrest and asked him to join the probe. The Justice Surya Kant-led Bench remained unimpressed with Shahas apology and outrightly rejected it. "He must face consequences. Let law take its own course." The Madhya Pradesh Minister has petitioned the Supreme Court against an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court directing registration of an FIR against him over his distasteful remarks. The Justice Kant-led Bench previously couldnat take up Vijay Shahas special leave petition (SLP) for hearing and on the petitioneras request, directed listing the matter for hearing on May 19. Also, previously, when Shah's lawyer sought urgent listing of his SLP filed before the apex court, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai slammed the minister for his distasteful remarks. "What sort of statement are you (Shah) making? Such a person holding a constitutional office is expected to exercise a degree of restraint. Every sentence uttered by a minister has to be with responsibility," it said. To this, senior advocate Vibha Dutta Makhija, representing Shah, said that the media overhyped the minister's comments, and he has already issued an apology. New Delhi, May 23 : As India ramped up its global diplomatic campaign against cross-border terrorism with the launch of Operation Sindoor Outreach, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has called for greater domestic accountability and transparency from the BJP-led government, demanding an all-party meeting after global outreach. Speaking to IANS Chaturvedi remarked, "Before the delegation, the issue here is national security. It's been a month since the Pahalgam attack, but have we been able to catch the four terrorists responsible?" Chaturvedi asked, underlining that the fight against terrorism must begin at home with answers on internal security lapses. In a strong and pointed statement, she added, "These are questions about internal security. As opposition leaders and citizens of this country, we are joining this global mission to expose Pakistan, to tell the world how Pakistan repeatedly acts against India and why we are compelled to respond. Our armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor effectively in that regard." Chaturvedi also stressed that the government's actions must be subjected to scrutiny, even as the nation presents a united front internationally. "Opposition leaders who are part of the delegation are representing India's united stance, but the government must maintain accountability and transparency. We are a democracy," she asserted. Referring to the recent military operation, she urged the government to brief all political stakeholders. "After the Pahalgam attack, the BJP-led government held an all-party briefing. We expect an all-party meeting after Operation Sindoor, because during the operation, Pakistan's army attacked civilians while supporting terrorism, and we also saw drone attacks, briefing on all these required," she said. India's Operation Sindoor Outreach seeks to garner global support to isolate Pakistan diplomatically over its alleged support for terror outfits. Seven parliamentary delegations comprising 59 Members of Parliament, former ministers, and diplomats are visiting 33 countries between May 21 and June 5. The outreach aims to strengthen international consensus against terrorism, spotlighting Pakistan's continued role in aiding and abetting cross-border attacks. Dhaka, May 23 : Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday stated that the delay in holding national elections by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus is leading to growing political tension and instability in the country. "There appears to be a wave of unrest sweeping the country. Who are the main culprits behind this instability? Who is attempting to delay the election? We wish to know these things from you (Yunus)," local media quoted BNP leader Zainul Abedin Farroque as saying during a protest rally on Friday. "But you (Yunus) still haven't given a roadmap. If this instability is of your making, then let it be known that the BNP will never accept responsibility for it," he further added. The protest programme was organised in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka by a group called 'Aparajeyo Bangladesh'. It called for resistance against alleged conspiracy to "sabotage the national election", Bangladeshi media outlet bdnews24 reported. Farroque, a member of the BNP chairperson's advisory council, urged Yunus to facilitate a peaceful democratic transition and demanded the resignation of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam and High Representative to Chief Advisor Khalilur Rahman. "So, I earnestly request you to immediately send letters to these three individuals a" Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Mahfuj Alam, and Khalilur Rahman a" urging them to resign from the advisory council. Otherwise, it will fall upon you to remove them," he said. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo reported that Yunus expressed anger and frustration at the prevailing situation in the country during a regular meeting of the Advisory Council held on Thursday. The report, quoting sources, said that topics discussed included the daily road blockades in Dhaka due to protests, lack of consensus among political parties on reforms and other issues, and various parties' non-cooperation in state affairs. Yunus expressed his inability to function effectively and wished to step down. Later, Nahid Islam, the Convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), confirmed after his meeting with Yunus that the Chief Advisor was weighing resignation. Bangladesh has been gripped with frequent protests, political differences, and increasing incidents of crime and violence since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power, last year. Parties like the BNP had been repeatedly warning of street protests if the interim government fails to provide an electoral road map. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman also stated that the next national election should be held by December and an elected government should be in power by January 1, 2026 after concluding "free and fair" polls, following which the army will return to the barracks. Imphal, May 23 : The 48-hour shutdown, called by Meitei community body, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), in protest against the removal of the state's name from a government bus on May 20, crippled normal life in five to six districts of Manipur's Valley region for the second day on Friday. All markets, shops, business establishments, government and non-government offices, educational and financial institutions, including banks, remained closed, and most vehicles, except those of security forces and emergency services, went off the roads. Roadside vegetable vendors had set up their stalls at different places in Imphal East district earlier on Friday, but later left after the bandh supporters told them to close their stalls. As per the COCOMI, the shutdown started on Wednesday midnight and it would end on Friday midnight. The bandh, however, had almost no effect in Kuki-Zo-Hmar and Naga-dominated hill areas. The COCOMI supporters, mostly women, stopped vehicles of security forces in different parts of Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and pasted printed paper inscribed "Manipur/Kangleipak" on the windshields of those vehicles. Kangleipak is the Meitei language's ancient name for the state of Manipur. On Thursday night, the COCOMI activists and supporters staged a torch rally for two kilometres in Imphal and raised slogans stating "Manipur cannot be obliterated". Police officials said that so far, there has been no major incident in connection with the bandh after it began on Wednesday midnight. The state government has deployed a huge contingent of central and state forces in the Meitei community inhabited valley region to prevent any untoward incident relating to the shutdown. The issue arose after a media team, en route to cover the opening ceremony of the five-day-long Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district on May 20, was forced to return to Imphal, allegedly after some security personnel blocked their bus at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), in a joint letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Tuesday, said that the security personnel instructed the media team to hide the "Manipur State Transport Corporation" signage on the front of the bus carrying 20 journalists and some Information Department officials. The AMWJU and the EGM in protest against the incident organised a "pen down" protest on Wednesday against the "disrespectful behaviour" by the security personnel towards the press and the people of Manipur. The Manipur government also constituted a two-member inquiry committee to probe the issue. The committee, comprising Commissioner, Home, N. Ashok Kumar, and Information Technology Secretary Th. Kirankumar Singh, would submit their report within 15 days. "The committee shall look into lapses, if any, and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future," Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh said in the order. Condemning the reported removal of the word "Manipur" from a state transport bus by the security personnel, COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba demanded a formal apology from Governor Bhalla. The leading Meitei community body also called for the immediate resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, holding them responsible for failing to protect the dignity and integrity of the state of Manipur. Opposition Congress, its Lok Sabha member Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and many other leaders and organisations protested the incident. In view of the 5-day long (May 20 to 24) Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district, the Manipur government has taken huge security measures after reported threats by some individuals and organisations to the Meitei community against entering Kuki tribal-dominated areas during the festival. Shirui Lily Festival, mostly organised by the Meitei community, is celebrated in honour of the state flower, the Shirui Lily. New Delhi, May 23 : India has called for the dismantling of export controls among BRICS members at a meeting of the Trade Ministers of the bloc held under the presidency of Brazil, with the theme, "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance", according to an official statement issued on Friday. As India prepares to assume the BRICS Presidency in 2026, it commended the solution-oriented approach of the Brazilian Presidency in addressing critical trade issues at the meeting held on May 21 in Brasilia. A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of the joint declaration along with three annexures, including the BRICS declaration on WTO reform and strengthening of the multilateral trading system, the BRICS data economy governance understanding, and the BRICS trade and sustainable development framework. These documents collectively reaffirm BRICSa commitment to equitable, inclusive, and rules-based global trade. The joint declaration especially emphasised that climate-related trade measures should not serve as tools of unjustifiable discrimination or disguised trade restrictions. A speech delivered on behalf of Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal extended Indiaas appreciation to Brazil for its efforts in building consensus and welcomed Indonesiaas induction as a new BRICS member in 2025. Reaffirming Indiaas commitment to a fair, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system, the speech called on BRICS nations to promote a decentralised global trade architecture that addresses the developmental needs of the Global South. On the subject of WTO reform, India highlighted the need for resolving longstanding developmental issues, particularly calling for a permanent solution to public stockholding (PSH) for food security. The Indian proposal of "30 for 30", which seeks to introduce 30 incremental improvements to mark the WTOas 30th anniversary in 2025, was also emphasised. India reiterated that sustainable development is deeply rooted in its cultural ethos and must remain a cornerstone of international trade governance. Representing India at the meeting, Economic Adviser in the Department of Commerce, Yashvir Singh, emphasised the need to eliminate restrictive trade measures that disrupt critical supply chains. India urged developed nations to ensure the concessional transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), supported by adequate financial resources. The speech also spotlighted Mission LiFE, Indiaas global initiative advocating mindful consumption and circular economy practices as part of an equitable climate responsibility framework. The BRICS now has 10 members with Indonesia joining the bloc. The original five members were Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024, four more countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joined later. Singapore, May 23 : Singapore's new cabinet was sworn in on Friday, following the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP) strong performance in this month's general election. During the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the new administration would prioritise securing an assured place for Singapore in a changing world and preparing the economy for future challenges. He also said that the government would deepen Singapore's relations with major countries. Wong, who succeeded Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister in May 2024 following Lee's two-decade tenure, said after the election that Singaporeans had given the PAP a "clear and strong" mandate. Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Wong announced the lineup of his new cabinet following the PAP's win. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, together with three newly appointed coordinating ministers, will form part of the core team supporting Wong in governance and mentoring new and younger office holders, Wong said at a press conference, according to local media reports. The three new coordinating ministers are K. Shanmugam, who will be coordinating minister for National Security, Chan Chun Sing, who will be coordinating minister for Public Services, and Ong Ye Kung, who will be coordinating minister for Social Policies. In addition to their new roles, Shanmugam will remain as Minister for Home Affairs but relinquish his Law Ministry portfolio. Chan will take over as Defence Minister and step down as Education Minister, while Ong will continue to serve as Health Minister. When asked why he did not appoint a second Deputy Prime Minister, as has been customary in previous cabinets, Wong said the presence of four senior leaders in key positions was "a good arrangement for now". Two newly elected Members of Parliament, David Neo and Jeffrey Siow, were also named as officeholders. Wong, who continues to serve as Finance Minister, said most ministers leading Singapore's economic agenda would stay in their current posts amid global uncertainty. "We are operating in a changed world with rising trade barriers, sharper competition and greater uncertainty, and we need experienced hands at the helm," he said. The PAP won 87 out of 97 elected parliamentary seats in the general election, securing 65.57 per cent of the popular vote, a significant rise from 61.24 per cent in 2020. Washington, May 23 : US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened a 25 per cent tariff on iPhones imported to the US, including from India, ratcheting up pressure on Apple to bring manufacturing back to the US from its international operations. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their Phones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The US President has targetted Apple's Indian operations in recent weeks, opening a new front even as the US and India are negotiating a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement under Trump's reciprocal tariffs announced in April, but put on pause for 90 days. Apple has been expanding its India operations to diversify its China-based supply chains. And it had plans of shipping most of the iPhones produced in India to the US to circumvent Trump's astronomically high tariffs on China, which has been rolled back since. The threat of a 25 per cent tariff on imported iPhones is a new escalation in Trump pressure on Apple. He had earlier said that he would like Tim Cook, the CEO, to bring back operations to the US from India saying earlier this month, "You are building all over India. I don't want you building in India. You can build in India if you want to take care of India". He added that he said to Cook "We've treated you really well. We put up with all the plants that you built in China for years a We're not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves. They're doing very well." New Delhi, May 23 : With the geopolitical equations in the Indian subcontinent undergoing a rapid change in the past month, experts on Friday said that India's vision for global growth is rooted in sustainability, mutual cooperation, and ocean-based prosperity. Speaking to IANS on the sideline of a day-long conference on the "MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) Initiative", Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra, Founder and Honorary Chairman of the Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR concept extends far beyond the Indian Ocean, adding that "it represents a vision for a peaceful and prosperous world where all ocean-sharing nations grow together". "India's global growth vision is rooted in sustainability, mutual cooperation, and ocean-based prosperity," he told IANS. "India believes in sustainable development and is proposing that through international cooperation and minimising conflict, all countries -- big or small -- should work together to promote growth globally," Prof. Mahapatra said. He highlighted India's deep-rooted philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- the idea that the whole world is one family -- as a guiding principle for equitable development. "No nation should be left behind," he said. Drawing attention to the ocean's vital role, Prof. Mahapatra said: "Just as 70 per cent of the human body is made up of water, about 70 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans. This makes the Blue Economy extremely important." He stressed the need to wisely use maritime resources to drive growth, environmental care, and well-being for all. Citing Indian mythology, he likened India's approach to development to 'samudra manthan' -- the churning of the ocean -- saying that the country seeks to extract both knowledge and prosperity from the sea. "India believes in harnessing everything Mother Ocean can offer to humanity," he added. Touching upon regional security, Mahapatra expressed concern over terrorism in the Indian subcontinent, particularly Pakistan's alleged use of it as state policy. He also pointed out China's support for Pakistan, which, he said, often hinders India's ability to act at global forums such as the United Nations. New Delhi, May 23 : Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay S. Oka, delivering his farewell speech on Friday in an event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, pointed out that the apex court was Chief Justice-centric court, which required a change. Justice Oka, who is set to demit office on Saturday, said that the diversity of the Supreme Court, having 34 judges from different parts of the country, should be reflected in its functioning. He lauded ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna for transparency initiatives, saying that the latter took decisions by taking everyone into confidence. Justice Oka added that the incumbent CJI BR Gavai has "democratic values embedded in his blood". In his speech, Justice Oka suggested the listing of the cases in the top court with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He said that there cannot be an improved listing unless the manual intervention is reduced to a minimum. Justice Oka, who served as a judge for the last 21 years and 9 months, said that he got so much involved with his judicial work that "judgeship became life and life became judgeship". He said that when one joins the Bench, they may not get the kind of income a lawyer earns, but the work satisfaction cannot be compared with a career as a lawyer. "Judgeship is a beautiful concept. When you are a lawyer, you may have several constraints, but when you are a judge, nobody controls you except the Constitution, the laws, and your own conscience," Justice Oka said. In his farewell speech, Justice Oka recalled the sacrifices undergone by his family, including that of his father, who quit civil practice in the Bombay High Court after his sonas elevation to the Bench. He stressed that district courts or trial courts should not be called subordinate courts. "No court is subordinate. Calling a court subordinate is against our constitutional ethos," he maintained. New Delhi/Amaravati, May 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in New Delhi on Friday and submitted a proposal seeking the Centre's support for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project. New Delhi/Amaravati, May 23 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in New Delhi on Friday and submitted a proposal seeking the Centre's support for the Polavarama"Banakacherla Link Project. The project aims to divert surplus water from the Godavari River to water-scarce areas in south-central Andhra Pradesh. It will use lift irrigation and tunnels to connect the regions in three phases. A detailed financing plan has been proposed, building on earlier discussions with the Finance Ministry, according to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). The Chief Minister said the project would benefit millions in drought-hit areas and serve as a model for river-linking across India. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected by June 2025. He also shared copies of the proposal with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil, requesting coordination between departments to fast-track the project. Earlier, during his meeting with Paatil, the Chief Minister submitted a proposal for the Polavarama"Banakacherla Link Project. The project aims to divert surplus Godavari floodwater to drought-affected areas through a three-part water transfer system. It includes the Bollapalle reservoir, lift irrigation systems, and tunnels through the Nallamala hills. The Chief Minister said the project supports national missions like Jal Jeevan, Blue Revolution, and Make in India. He also highlighted Andhra Pradeshas rightful access to surplus water as a downstream state after bifurcation. Naidu also called on Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, and submitted a comprehensive proposal to transform Andhra Pradesh into a pivotal hub for space manufacturing and innovation. He sought the Centre's support for the same. The proposal outlines the development of two state-supported Space Cities - one near the ISRO SHAR spaceport and another near Lepakshi - to serve as integrated hubs for satellite production, launch vehicle development, and industry collaboration. The Chief Minister also apprised the Union Minister of the appointment of former ISRO Chairman Dr S. Somanath as the Honorary Adviser on Space Technology to the Andhra Pradesh government. His guidance will steer the state's efforts in building a globally competitive space ecosystem. "With a strategic location, industrial strength, and future-ready infrastructure, Andhra Pradesh is fully committed to advancing Indiaas space sector. We seek the Centreas recognition and partnership in this transformative journey," he said. New Delhi, May 23 : In a major relaxation for election contestants and political parties, the Election Commission on Friday permitted them to canvass up to 100 meters from the entrance of the polling station. Earlier, they had to stay 200 metres away from the building. Under the revised rules, the booths and tables set up by the candidates on poll day for issuing unofficial identity slips to electors, in case the electors are not carrying their official Voter Information Slips (VIS) issued by the Commission, can now be set up just beyond 100 meters of any polling station. "However, electioneering shall not be allowed within a 100-meter radius around the polling station on the day of the poll," said an official. Apart from this, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in consultation with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, also announced a voter-friendly mobile phone deposit facility just outside polling stations, an official said. "The Commission has decided to allow a mobile deposit facility just outside the polling stations. Only mobile phones shall be allowed within 100 meters of the polling station, and that too in switched-off mode," said the official in a statement. Elaborating on the facility, the EC said very simple pigeonhole boxes or jute bags shall be provided near the entrance door of the polling station, where the voters would be required to deposit their mobile phones. "Mobile phones shall not be allowed to be carried inside the polling station by the voter. However, certain Polling Stations can be exempted from this provision based on adverse local circumstances by the Returning Officer. Rule 49M of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which ensures secrecy of voting within the polling station, will continue to be strictly enforced," said the EC. The decision was taken recognising the increasing coverage and usage of mobile phones in both urban and rural areas and the challenges faced not only by the voters at large but also by senior citizens, women, and electors with disability in managing mobile phones on the poll day, the EC said. New Delhi, May 23 : Industry leaders on Friday hailed the Rising Northeast Investor Summit as a landmark initiative that could unlock the immense economic potential of India's northeastern region. Vineet Nahata, Director at Power Gilt Treasuries, emphasised that the Northeastern region holds vast opportunities for growth and development. "Thanks to the right policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, the region's true capabilities are now being realised. The summit aims to accelerate this growth by leveraging the region's natural resources and skilling potential," he said. Adding to the optimism, Tripura royal scion and founder of the Tipra Motha Party, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma, said, "If we can develop even 50 per cent of the Northeast's potential, it could become a major economic hub not just for India, but for the world." He noted that recent comments from Bangladesh, suggesting India's Northeast relies on it for maritime access, have been countered by the strong national support for investment in the region showcased at the summit. Deb Barma also drew a regional comparison to highlight the strategic importance of the Northeast. "While the West has countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan with limited development, the East boasts dynamic economies like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Continued focus on the Northeast could bring a transformational shift," he added. Harpreet Singh, President of the Northeast Transport Association, praised the combined efforts of the central government and the chief ministers of all eight northeastern states. "With focused attention on roads and connectivity, the region is set for rapid development in the coming years," he said. The Rising Northeast Investor Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the Northeast as India's 'Digital Gateway'. During his address, he also outlined the government's vision and achievements in education and skill development in the region. "In the past decade, over Rs 21,000 crore has been invested in the Northeast's education system. We have built around 850 new schools, 9 new medical colleges, and established a campus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Mizoram. Nearly 200 new skill development institutes have also been set up," said the Prime Minister. He underscored the cultural richness of the region, calling the Northeast 'a vibrant reflection of India's diversity.' "From trade to tradition, from textiles to tourism, the diversity of the Northeast is one of its greatest strengths," he added. Prime Minister Modi reiterated that India is on its path to becoming a developed nation by 2047, and the growth of eastern India, particularly the Northeast, will play a crucial role in achieving that vision. Mumbai, May 23 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said that four Maoists neutralised during an encounter in the state's Gadchiroli district has come as a success in the fight by the Central government to completely eradicate LWE from the country's soil. "Today's operation has given a befitting reply to the Maoists while giving strength to the anti-LWE policies," he remarked. Shinde, who was earlier the Gadchiroli district guardian minister, congratulated the Special Director General of Police of the Anti-Naxal Operation Sandeep Patil, the district superintendent of police and his team and all the C-60 jawans involved in the operation. He also praised them for their successful operation despite the adverse conditions in the area which has been witnessing heavy rainfall. "Two months ago, Gadchiroli police had set up a police aid station in Kawande village on the border of Bhamragad taluka and Chhattisgarh. On receiving information about the movement of Maoists in the area, 300 personnel of C-60 squad and a contingent of Central Reserve Police Force had left for the area on Thursday afternoon. Since the Maoists had started firing on the police since morning, the police retaliated. The firing continued for about two hours, after which an inspection of the spot was conducted and it was found that 4 Maoists were killed in this operation. These included two female and two male Maoists," he said. According to the police, the operation was set in motion on Thursday afternoon, following intelligence input indicating the presence of Maoist groups near the newly established Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kawande. As dawn broke on Friday, security forces were systematically securing the area and searching the riverbanks when they came under sudden and indiscriminate gunfire from Maoists. The C-60 commandos promptly responded, triggering an intense exchange of fire that lasted close to two hours. Once the gun-battle subsided, a thorough sweep of the area resulted in the discovery of four bodies of Maoists. The search also yielded a range of weapons and supplies, including an automatic self-loading rifle, two .303 rifles, a Bharmar gun, walkie-talkies, camping gear, and Maoist literature. This encounter comes on the heels of a significant crackdown in adjoining Chhattisgarh just two days earlier, where security forces decisively eliminated 27 Maoists, including their top commander, Basavaraju. Thiruvananthapuram, May 23 : The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to submit an interim report on the collapse of the under-construction NH 66 at multiple places. After hearing a different petition about the condition of roads in the state, the court then shifted its attention to the widespread media reports about the collapse of the NH 66. It directed the NHAI to submit its detailed interim report covering all aspects on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan contended that there was no coordination between the Pinarayi Vijayan government and the NHAI and the end result was the news that has surfaced from Monday, when the under-construction NH 66 collapsed at multiple places, sending shock waves across the state. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Thursday took action against the Hyderabad-based construction company, KNR Constructions, and project consultants, the Highway Engineering Company, by banning them and suspending two top officials. Satheesan said the Union Minister Suresh Gopi has pointed out that there has been an alteration made to the DPR of this project . "I believe what he has said is with full responsibility, and hence, there should be a probe done based on this statement. No one seems to have taken this seriously. There has been no coordination between the Vijayan government and the NHAI," the Congress leader said. "We had alerted the authorities that the pillars which has collapsed are in areas where no soil test was conducted, and we had brought this to the attention of the authorities concerned, but it fell on deaf ears. State PWD Minister P.A.Mohammed Riyas is only interested in taking reels and posting them on social media for publicity," he alleged. By now, it has come out that there are lapses which have been detected at Thrissur, Malappuram and Kasargod districts at around 50 places where 80 per cent of the work has been completed. Kasargod Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan said till the news of the collapse came, the Vijayan government and the Left was going around telling about that if not for them, this project would not have taken off. "After the news of the collapse came, everyone of them washed their hands off. On quite a few occasions, I myself had raised apprehensions about the quality of the work after the local people brought it to my attention. I alerted a few officials, but nothing happened," he said. By now, both Vijayan and Riyas, who is also his son-in-law, have said there is no role for the state government in what has happened and the entire responsibility rests with the NHAI. "The NHAI have to rectify the errors. The state government will not do anything to stop the work. We ensured the land was acquired and handed over, and we did that. But the Congress is trying to celebrate what has happened. They are a stumbling block preventing the growth of the state, and hence, they will continue to sit in the opposition. I will continue to post reels as we will bring to the attention what our government has done," Riyas said. Meanwhile, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has sought a detailed report from each of the places where cracks surfaced and is expected to hold a special meeting to discuss this issue. Kochi, May 23 : ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute's (CMFRI) mussel farming initiative for the benefit of the low-income community in Kerala's Kodungallur emerged as a huge success, with two self-help groups from 15 families attaining a yield of 1.7 tonnes of mussels during a harvest mela held here on Friday. Kochi, May 23 (IANS) ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Instituteas (CMFRI) mussel farming initiative for the benefit of the low-income community in Kerala's Kodungallur emerged as a huge success, with two self-help groups from 15 families attaining a yield of 1.7 tonnes of mussels during a harvest mela held here on Friday. The six month-long mussel farming undertaken in Kodungallur backwaters was part of the CMFRIas Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) scheme aimed at uplifting the living standards of the SC families. The CMFRIas efforts to popularise this less expensive farming method among the community yielded a good result with the farmers achieving a bumper harvest with good growth rate. Shell-on mussels are expected to fetch a market price between Rs 200-250 per kg. The institute installed two mussel farms made of GI pipes for members of 15 SC families in Kodungallur Municipality in December last year and offered all the required scientific and technical support, enabling the community engage in sustainable aquaculture. CMFRI scientists regularly monitored the farming and offered support to the farmers to improve the growth. Harvest Mela was inaugurated by Kodungallur Municipality Vice Chairman, V.S. Binil. Appreciating the initiative, he said this venture would greatly help in promoting the livelihood opportunities for the community and improving their living standard. Scientists of the CMFRI highlighted the potential of this farming model in empowering the marginalised coastal communities. The promising results of this harvest, with a better growth rate, show that this less-expensive model has significant potential for expansion into more areas. Recognising this prospect, the CMFRI would take steps to popularise this technology aiming to uplift and benefit a wider community, they said. Peopleas representatives in the region expressed their willingness to extend this model into more regions. Mussel farming is a relatively less intensive form of aquaculture. The ICAR-CMFRI was established by the government in 1947 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and it joined the ICAR family in 1967. Since then by now it has emerged as one of the leading tropical marine fisheries research institutes in the world. New Delhi, May 23 : In a swift response to the Trump administration's controversial move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has voiced strong support for the Ivy League institution and its global student body. Chadha, himself an alumnus of Harvard, condemned the decision, warning that it endangers academic freedom and the futures of thousands of students. New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) In a swift response to the Trump administrationas controversial move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has voiced strong support for the Ivy League institution and its global student body. Chadha, himself an alumnus of Harvard, condemned the decision, warning that it endangers academic freedom and the futures of thousands of students. The US Department of Homeland Security, at the behest of Secretary Kristi Noem, announced on Thursday that it was revoking Harvardas ability to enrol students under the F-1 visa programme. Hours after this move of the Trump administration, Chadha took to X to share his solidarity with the institution. "President Trumpas recent move threatens the dreams and futures of international students at Harvard and beyond. As a proud member of the Harvard community, I wear my colours to show support for inclusion and academic freedom. I stand with @Harvard and all international students whose dreams and futures are under threat. We must defend academic freedom and global collaboration." Chadhaas post, accompanied by the hashtags #StandWithHarvard and #WeAre1H, reflects growing international concern over the politicisation of education and visa policies in the United States. Earlier, the US Department of Homeland Security accused the university of fostering an "unsafe campus environment", citing alleged tolerance of "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" and links with the Chinese Communist Party. The accusations include claims that Harvard hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024. The move triggered immediate backlash from academic and political circles. Harvard reportedly filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston, calling the governmentas action "unconstitutional retaliation" for resisting the White Houseas political pressures. The university argued the decision violates the First Amendment and would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on more than 7,000 international students currently enrolled. New Delhi, May 23 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu, demanding an "action taken report" in connection with alleged negligence during the Indian Air Force (IAF) air show held at Marina Beach, Chennai, in October 2024. The directive of the commission has come after a formal complaint that alleged serious lapses in planning and crowd management leading to five deaths and over 200 hospitalisations during the event. The air show, organised on October 6, 2024, as part of the IAFas 92nd anniversary celebrations, attracted tens of thousands of spectators. But the event swiftly and in no time turned chaotic due to overcrowding and alleged mismanagement, intense heat, and inadequate facilities, especially drinking water and shade. The NHRC, in proceedings dated May 23, stated that it had received a complaint on October 10, 2024, specifically naming the Greater Chennai City Commissioner of Police. The complainant, an advocate, alleged that gross negligence and misuse of authority by senior police officials contributed to the tragedy and demanded a formal inquiry and disciplinary action. According to the complaint, afive individuals lost their lives as a result of negligence and alleged misuse of authority", and many others endured aphysical injuries and mental trauma owing to the mismanagement during the air show". Eyewitnesses had earlier reported that elderly people and children were left standing in direct sunlight for hours as the show ran from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., without adequate medical support or shaded areas. A large number of people at the event venue reportedly fainted. This happened even before event actually began. Emergency services were reportedly overwhelmed as more than 200 spectators were rushed to nearby government hospitals with symptoms of dehydration, heatstroke, and exhaustion. Taking suo motu cognisance, the NHRC has now directed the Tamil Nadu DGP to submit a detailed report within four weeks, explaining what actions have been taken in response to the allegations, and what preventive steps will be implemented to avoid such incidents in the future. Kochi, May 23 : The Kerala High Court has asked the Deputy Director of the Periyar Tiger Forest Reserve to take strict action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act against those dumping waste in Sabarimala, as the entire area has been declared as a plastic-free zone. The famed Lord Ayyappa temple is located on a hill top which is surrounded by dense forests and comes under the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Presently, according to the temple authorities, 24 tons of waste, on an average, is generated per day in Sabarimala during the two month long season that ends in the third week of January. The Court was told by the Deputy Director of the Periyar Tiger Forest Reserve that two elephants and a pregnant Sambhar deer died after consuming the plastic waste in the area. In his report, he had mentioned that the elephants were coming in herds to eat the waste. The court was also told that similar things happens with monkeys (Bonnet Macaque, Niligiri Langur, Lion Tailed Macaque), the Malabar Giant Squirel, Sambar Deer, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Porcupine and birds including endangered species of birds like Nilgiri Fly Catcher, Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill also eating from the garbage. Thecourt rapped the Travancore Devaswom Board a" the body that manages the Sabarimala temple for failing to do its duty for disposing waste in a scientific manner. The temple prepares for devotees the hugely popular payasam and appam, which every devotee after visiting the temple returns with it. A huge quantity of jaggery, coconut, various types of flour are used in the preparation of these items and the waste generated from these is the major attraction for these animals and birds, besides the food waste of the devotees all gets dumped in and around the forest area. The court has now ordered the temple authorities to see that if any the hotels stock or dispense plastic, the first offence shall be punished with a fine of Rs 2,000, the second with fine of a Rs 5,000, while any further violation will lead to closing down the establishment. With the court speaking tough, the temple authorities said that the solid waste at the temple town was removed, and steps were being taken to remove all other wastes. Mumbai, May 23 : The Sharad Pawar-led NCP unit on Friday announced a state wide protest against the burgeoning cases of dowry deaths and a special campaign titled "Dowry Free Maharashtra - Violence Free Family." The trigger was the death of dowry victim Vaishnavi Kaspate-Hagavane from Pune. Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) The Sharad Pawar-led NCP unit on Friday announced a state wide protest against the burgeoning cases of dowry deaths and a special campaign titled "Dowry Free Maharashtra - Violence Free Family." The trigger was the death of dowry victim Vaishnavi Kaspate-Hagavane from Pune. NCP-SP leader and MP Supriya Sule, who made the formal announcement on Friday, said: "In a state that has worked to show the direction of the country in terms of women's liberation, the victimisation of a daughter like Vaishnavi is very indignant. It is disturbing to any sensitive person. Maharashtra has become numb today due to this incident. For this, it will not be enough to just express anger and sorrow, but we will have to take strong active steps of awareness. "Therefore, we are determined to launch a fight for a dowry victimization and violence-free Maharashtra in the state from June 22 this year. All sections of the society, all systems will have to participate in this. And only through that campaign can the goal of "dowry-free Maharashtra and violence-free families" be achieved now and that will be the true tribute to Vaishnavi." Sule said that three decades ago, the state of Maharashtra announced the country's first women's policy on June 22, 1994, at the initiative of former chief minister Sharad Pawar. All the components and institutions of Maharashtra contributed to the formulation of that policy. "Due to women's policy, many social, political and economic changes have taken place in the lives of women in the state. But still, it is a fact that we have not been able to stop the undesirable practices like dowry and the domestic violence that women have to face. Maharashtra was created by the thoughts of Chhatrapati in Shivaji, Mahatma Phule, Rajarshi Shahu and B.R. Ambedkar. "This state has a tradition of bright and accomplished great women like Rajmata Jijau, Savitrimai Phule, Punyashlok Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar. For the last 50 years, various institutions, organizations and individuals in the state have been carrying forward the movement of gender equality with hard work and determination. With all this in mind, I am starting this campaign from Pune on June 22, 2025," said Sule. She said that the proposed campaign will be implemented in different phases throughout the year in all parts of the state and the party will follow it up until the objective of this campaign is achieved. "Therefore, I am appealing to you for your suggestions in this regard and your active participation. I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters that please let us all participate in this campaign and work together to create a "dowry-free Maharashtra and violence-free family," she added. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe said that the increasing incidents of dowry deaths in Pune are worrying and asked the police to step up vigil and pay immediate attention to prevent such incidents. "To prevent the recurrence of such incidents, guidance and counselling programmes should be implemented in schools and colleges, deputy commissioners of police and deputy superintendents of police should regularly review the Women Vigilance Committees and Bharosa Cells that were previously operating in police stations and submit an 'Action Taken Report' based on their work every week. The Police Commissioners should submit a written report on this every month. Gorhe also suggested that the education, police, and women and child welfare departments should work together to create widespread awareness about unwanted practices among women and laws against them and also about various options to help and a slew of government schemes for their empowerment. New Delhi, May 23 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Friday that under the 'Mega Cleanliness Drive', the MCD cleaned over 3,500 km of roads, with the maximum cleaning being achieved in the Rohini Zone, followed by Najafgarh, Karol Bagh, and South Zone. Releasing a zone-wise progress report issued by the MCD, she said strict action was taken against encroachments and insanitary conditions during the drive. A total of 11,131 challans were issued during the campaign, with West Zone recording the highest number of 2,994 challans. Additionally, 5,932 illegal materials were seized, and 186.5 km of roads were cleared of encroachments, she said. This 20-day 'Mega Cleanliness Drive' was carried out across all 12 zones of MCD, covering major works like cleaning, removing encroachments, and issuing challans. The Chief Minister mentioned that the 'Swachh Delhi' initiative by the Delhi government is receiving tremendous support from the citizens of the capital. The latest figures released by the MCD show that this comprehensive cleanliness campaign is delivering remarkable results on the ground. The CM stated that a clean, healthy, and beautiful Delhi is the path to the Viksit Delhi. "The zone-wise report released by the MCD clearly indicates that the drive initiated by our government is not only progressing successfully but has also brought about a positive change in the lifestyle of the people," she said. She further explained that under this campaign, extensive cleaning and management activities were conducted in Delhi's 12 zones (Karol Bagh, City SP, West Zone, South, Civil Lines, Central Zone, Shahdara South, Shahdara North, Najafgarh, Narela, Rohini, and Keshav Puram). Along with this, under the 'Mega Cleanliness Drive', large-scale cleaning of MCD drains was carried out across Delhi, which will significantly help in addressing the waterlogging issues during the monsoon season. A total of 19,892.38 metric tonnes of silt has been removed so far, which is a major achievement. The Chief Minister also informed that by May 21, the Irrigation and Flood Control department has removed 13,72,276 metric tonne of silt from 27 drains in Delhi and has been given clear instructions to complete the removal of the remaining silt by May 31, 2025. The Chief Minister emphasised that the silt removed should be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner to ensure both environmental protection and the city's cleanliness. This cleaning process will not only restore the drainage capacity of the drains but will also help reduce waterlogging during the monsoon. To make the city safer, the government has identified 4,139 dark spots and rectified them. A total of 4,140 streetlights were repaired, and 285 new streetlights were installed to ensure proper lighting in areas where no system existed before. She said this initiative is a crucial step in ensuring the safety of citizens, especially women and senior citizens. "The government's goal is to make every corner of Delhi safe, illuminated, and equipped with public facilities, even during nighttime," she said. Bengaluru, May 23 : The Karnataka government's decision to name actress Tamannaah Bhatia as brand ambassador for its public sector undertaking has stirred a controversy with Kannada organisations raising objections. The Congress led government has issued a clarification and defended its decision in this regard on Friday. Notably, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has appointed Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for the popular Mysore Sandal Soap manufactured by the public sector undertaking the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL). The actress has been paid Rs 6.20 crore fee for the same. Speaking in this regard here on Friday, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said: "The Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) is a symbol of the state's identity and pride. Coming from the vachana tradition, I hold immense respect and a stronger commitment to Kannada, Kannadigas, and Karnataka than anyone else. I also admire the artists of this land." "However, when it comes to business, we must consider competitiveness. Accordingly, actress Tamannaah Bhatia has been appointed as the brand ambassador based on the decision of an expert committee," he clarified. This should not be viewed negatively, he underlined. He was responding to questions from media representatives who met him on Friday, in the wake of objections raised by some individuals over Tamannaah's appointment, citing regional pride. "Since I took charge of this department, production at KSDL has increased by 40 per cent. Importantly, we haven't purchased any new machinery. In the FMCG sector, the company has grown by 15 per cent. In comparison, companies like Godrej grew by 11 per cent, Hindustan Unilever by 9 per cent, ITC by 8 per cent, and Wipro by 7 per cent KSDL has outperformed them," he stated. "We aim to take KSDL's turnover to Rs 5,000 crore in the next three years. At that point, we might need a Hollywood actress as brand ambassador. I hope such a situation arises," he stated. "Before finalising Tamannaah's name, we had approached actresses like Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna. We also contacted Sreeleela, Pooja Hegde, and Kiara Advani. Deepika is already promoting her own products, so she declined. The others are brand ambassadors for various cosmetics, creams, and soaps and expressed that they would not be available for the next two years. Hence, we chose Tamannaah, who has 28 million followers on social media and significant pan-India appeal," Patil said. Recently, 21 new products have been launched through KSDL. We will soon be entering the perfume segment. For this purpose, our officials were sent to Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, a town known for its perfumery, he said. "When it comes to business, we must adopt suitable strategies. The appointment of a brand ambassador should not be misunderstood. Since we came to power, KSDL's turnover has increased to Rs 1,700 crore, of which the turnover from Karnataka alone is only around Rs 320 crore," Patil said. He further stated that, like KSDL, the state-run MSIL is also being restructured, and a chit fund operation with an annual turnover target of Rs 10,000 crore will soon be launched, he said. The NGF in Hubballi also needs to be preserved. "We must not limit ourselves to an all-India perspective, but think at a global level. Our ambition is to transform KSDL into not just a national brand, but an international one," he asserted. The Kannada organisations had demanded that the government should take back the decision and cancel the agreement with Tamannaah Bhatia and select Kannada actress. They also demanded clarification over spending Rs 6.20 core over fees. T.A. Narayana Gowda, State President, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stated, the decision of Mysore Soaps and Detergents Limited to appoint Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia as its brand ambassador for a fee of Rs 6.2 crore is an irrational, irrelevant, unethical, and irresponsible one. Mysore Soaps is a government-owned company of Karnataka, established in 1916 by the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wadiyar. It is one of the most popular brands in Karnataka, with Kannada-speaking people as its primary customers. "Was there no basic awareness of this while making the appointment? Was it really necessary to appoint Tamannaah Bhatia, a Bollywood actress, as the brand ambassador of a company with such historical and cultural significance? The Karnataka government's decision to spend a massive amount of Rs 6.20 crore on this appointment is even more objectionable. We strongly oppose this decision. "Mysore Soaps and Detergents Limited is a Karnataka government-owned company. The government's spending of Rs 6.20 crore to appoint Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador is completely unnecessary and irresponsible. This money could have been better spent on initiatives benefiting the people of Karnataka, such as education, healthcare, or employment generation. It is condemnable that the government has wasted public tax money in this manner. "Karnataka has many talented and popular Kannada actresses. Appointing one of them as the brand ambassador would have not only connected more effectively with Kannada people but also encouraged local artists. But the Karnataka government and Mysore Soaps have ignored Kannada actresses and chosen a Bollywood celebrity, which hurts the sentiments of Kannadigas. A company that represents Karnataka's cultural identity should have given priority to local talent." Gowda further said: "Tamannaah Bhatia has no direct connection with Karnataka's culture, language, or the history of Mysore Soaps. In such a situation, her appointment as brand ambassador is entirely inappropriate. Choosing a Hindi film industry actress amounts to imposing Hindi culture on Karnataka's local identity, which the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike cannot accept. A historic brand like Mysore Soaps should appoint someone who truly represents Kannada identity." Mysore Soaps and Detergents Limited is a part of Karnataka's historical and cultural legacy. The company must make decisions that reflect and respect Kannada identity and local culture. The appointment of Tamannaah Bhatia is hurtful to the sentiments of the people of Karnataka, and if the decision is not withdrawn immediately, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike will organize strong protests. We urge the Karnataka government and Mysore Soaps to respect the sentiments of Kannadigas and give priority to local talent, he stated. Hyderabad, May 23 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha said on Friday that party President and former Telangana chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is a god, but there are devils around him who are causing huge damage to the party. Kavitha stated on her return from the United States on Friday, a day after a letter written by her to party chief and her father K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) triggered in the party and brought in open the rift within the family. KCR's daughter said she had no idea how an internal letter came out in public. The BRS leader stated that she recently spoke about conspiracies and this had come true. "How an internal letter written by me to KCR became public is an issue which everyone in the party needs to think over," said Kavitha, who clarified that she had no personal agenda. The BRS leader defended the contents of the letter, saying she wrote what the party leaders are feeling. She said she wrote internal letters to KCR in the past as well. "Our leader is KCR. The state will prosper under his leadership. BRS will march ahead under KCR's leadership," remarked Kavitha. The MLC feels that minor loopholes in the party need to be filled. "If the converts are kept aside, the party will grow," she added. Kavitha said after the April 27 Warangal public meeting of BRS to mark the party's silver jubilee, she wrote a letter to KCR. "I wrote this letter two weeks ago. I expressed my views through the letter. I can't understand how a letter written internally has come out. I don't know who is behind this," she said. The BRS leader said she had gone to the US for the graduation ceremony of her son, and by the time she returned, the letter had become public. Kavitha, in her letter, raised both positive and negative aspects after the massive public meeting. In the six-page handwritten letter, she told her father he should have been more critical about BJP in his speech. Pointing out that he spent only two minutes criticising the BJP, Kavitha said this had given rise to the speculation that BRS could go for an alliance with the BJP in future. KCR's daughter also found fault with the party's decision not to contest the MLC election to the Hyderabad Local Authorities Constituency, saying this sent the wrong message that BRS indirectly helped BJP. Kavitha also wrote that the party was expecting KCR could give a specific programme or direction to the party ranks in the present political scenario. She also felt that leaders who are with the party since 2001 should have been given an opportunity to speak at the Warangal public meeting. The BRS leader also expressed disappointment over KCR not speaking in Urdu, on the Waqf Act, SC categorisation and Backward Classes reservation. Kavitha's letter came out in public amid speculations that she is not happy with her father for promoting her brother K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) as his heir-apparent. Kolkata, May 23 : A probe has been ordered following complaints of the wife of BJP's state president in West Bengal and the Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar holding two voters' cards from two different districts in the state. The order for the probe had been given by the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal and the district magistrates of both the districts concerned, have been asked to file reports on the matter to the office of the CEO at the earliest. As per the complaint, the original voters' card was registered in the Jalpaiguri district and it was registered in the maiden surname of Majumdar's wife which was Koel Chowdhury. The second EPIC card is registered in South Dinajpur district and it was registered with the name of Koyel Majumdar. An insider from the CEO's office said that it seems that when she got herself registered as a voter in the South Dinajpur district after her marriage with her post-marriage surname of Majumdar, she submitted the wrong form and thus she did not mention her original EPIC card registered in Jalpaiguri with her maiden surname. "In her case, she should have filled up Form-18, through which the new epic card with the post-marriage surname in South Dinajpur would have been issued and at the same time, her original EPIC card with her maiden surname at Jalpaiguri would have been cancelled. But, instead she submitted Form-6. The fault, in this case, was entirely on the part of the voter concerned, since it is the responsibility of the voters concerned to update the CEO office about changes in addresses, names, and surnames if any," the CEO office insider said. Incidentally, Sukanta Majumdar is a two-time Lok Sabha member from Balurghat constituency in South Dinajpur district only. At the time the report was filed there was no reaction from his end in the matter. The American Booksellers Association held its virtual annual meeting and community forum on May 22, drawing 103 participants. The meeting marked Allison Hill's fifth anniversary as CEO. Tegan Tigani, the outgoing ABA board president and childrens book buyer at Queen Anne Book Company in Seattle, noted that the pandemic shut down much of the countrys businesses just a month after Hill moved to the ABA, commending Hill and her team for guiding the organization through a turbulent time. When dystopian fiction became current events, Allison's leadership sustained us all, Tigani said. Allison has provided our organization with vision, structure, teamwork, and momentum that have allowed ABA to deal with current challenges and to anticipate future ones. Tigani noted that Hill's "focus on the ABCsAbacus, Batch, and counting our salesis helping us prove our impact and improve our performance. She effectively leads a committed and growing staff of all-stars, including outgoing ABA CFO PK Sindwani. PK's reporting has been a miracle of clarity, which, on its own, is enough to make a board eternally grateful, Tigani added. But he contributes to every board meeting well beyond spreadsheets and graphs." Incoming ABA board president Cynthia Compton's 2024 financial report disclosed that the ABAs operating revenue this past fiscal year was $7.6 million, while its expenses were $9.3 million. The organization employs 40 people, and its investment portfolio currently contains $26.5 million. The ABA draws from that investment, that endowment, to help fund our association, said Compton. About 20% of our revenue comes from membership dollars every year. In her membership report, Jenny Cohen of Waucoma Bookstore in Hood River, Ore., noted that 323 bookstores opened in 2024, while 37 bookstores closed; of the new stores, 60 are BIPOC-owned and 21 are Black-owned. There were also 274 ABA provisional members in 2024, i.e., people on the verge of or intending to open bookstores. For physical models so far in 2025, we have 81; that includes storefronts, mobile and popup stores, she said. In her CEO report, Hill noted that the ABAs membership grew by 18% in 2024, and that the organization has doubled its membership in the last five years. Last year also marked the fourth consecutive year in which more than 200 ABA stores opened. There are currently 3,281 locations, operated by 2,863 member bookstores. In many ways, our 2024 annual report echoes our 2023 annual report: hundreds of new stores, the largest Winter Institute in ABA history, the largest Children's Institute in ABA history, and the most successful Independent Bookstore Day to date, Hill said. But as all of you know, the numbers tell only part of the story. Hill then listed the the challenges booksellers have faced this past year. Besides the usual issues of thin margins, rising costs, and Amazons chokehold upon the marketplace, there were, she noted, more urgent threats that shook the very foundation of your work, as the right to read and access to books sustained coordinated attacks. Our mission, ABA's mission, to help independent bookstores survive and thrive remained at the core of everything we did, and guided by ABA's Ends policies. The ABA, Hill said, delivered that mission through its conferences and more than 100 virtual educational and networking opportunities. The organization, she added, set up book clubs, podcasts, and virtual affinity group meet-ups, in addition to maintaining its resource library for booksellers. The ABA also increased its focus on teaching financial literacy over the last year, presenting educational sessions at regional bookselling shows that emphasized increasing cash flow and offering individualized financial counseling for members. Hill noted that the ABA doubled its American Booksellers for Free Expression team last year, and ABFE produced a handbook on the right to read in the age of book bans. It also set up a hotline for members experiencing harassment, and has lobbied against legislation restricting the freedom to read. And, Hill said, we also work closely with publishers to create efficiencies in the industry, reduce obstacles to selling books, and advocate for better terms for independent bookstores. ABA Members Speak Up The ABA's community forummoderated by Compton, of 4 Kids Books & Toys in Zionsville, Ind., and MacArthurs Books in Carmel, Ind.addressed such prosaic matters relating to the business of bookselling as credit card swipe fee legislation, the impact of tariffs on sidelines and their potential impact on on books, and the prevalence of damaged shipments of books. But the discussion was bookended by dissections of the ABAs stance on Palestine. Reiko Redmonde of Revolution Books in Berkeley urged the ABA to endorse a public statement supporting Mosab Abu Toha, a Palestinian poet and essayist and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize recipient for commentary on the situation in Gaza. Toha, she said, has been targeted by pro-Zionist groups in the U.S. and lives in fear of being deported by the Trump administration. We urge ABA to also sign [the statement, or to issue their own statement, Redmonde stated, and take a stand with this poet and courageous human being. She also urged booksellers to organize gatherings at their stores where poets, authors, personages, others can read the poems of Mosab. It can make a real difference for the powerful words of this poet to be heard in bookstores and gatherings across this country, and for the ABA to sponsor this effort. Reiterating that the ABA condemns the harassment of booksellers and the silencing of Palestinian voices, Hill emphasized the importance of amplifying Tohas situation, promising that the ABA and its board would stay in conversation concerning Redmonde's proposals. Compton added that the board has, to date, received seven letters from booksellers relating to the ABA and its board taking a stance on the conflict in Palestine. We have members that adamantly do not want us to make a statement on one side and then another. And then we are called back to our role in being the board of directors of a trade organization, Compton said. As a trade organization, we have a very specific structure, and as a board of a trade organization, we basically have two jobs. One of them is fiduciary. We're supposed to provide oversight for the management of the funds of the organization, which obviously provides all the services that we all take part of. The other part is governance. Compton added: As a board, we have to stay within that trade organization. Let the work talk for us. Let the work speak for us, and let us continue to enable the staff and the support and all the support that we all need. Former register of copyrights Shira Perlmutter filed suit in federal court on May 22, challenging her removal from office and seeking reinstatement to her position at the U.S. Copyright Office. The filing notes that Perlmutter was appointed to her position by thenlibrarian of Congress Carla Hayden in October 2020. As register, she serves as "the principal advisor to Congress on national and international copyright matters" and leads an office that examines hundreds of thousands of copyright claims annually. She was fired by the White House on May 10. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names multiple defendants, including Todd Blanche, who was named acting librarian of Congress by President Donald Trump in a highly disputed move; Paul Perkins, who claims to be the new register of copyrights under Blanche; White House officials Sergio Gor and Trent Morse; and President Trump in his official capacity. Specifically, Perlmutter is seeking an emergency temporary restraining order and injunctions that would prevent Blanche from exercising the powers of acting librarian of Congress, prevent Perkins from exercising the powers of acting register of copyrights, void any actions taken by these improperly appointed officials, and order that Perlmutter cannot be removed from her office or obstructed from accessing her office resources and carrying out her duties as register of copyrights unless removed by a lawfully appointed librarian of Congress. The emergency nature of the request stems from an incident on May 12, when Blanche sent officials to physically take over the Copyright Office, demonstrating an immediate threat to Perlmutter's ability to perform her statutory responsibilities. According to the court filing, Perlmutter received an email on May 10 from Trent Morse, deputy director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, stating that "on behalf of the President, her position as the Register of Copyrights and Director at the U.S. Copyright Office is terminated effective immediately." The termination came one day after the Copyright Office released the third part of its report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, which addressed the use of copyrighted works in training generative AI systems. The filing notes that on May 12, Blanche sent James Nieves, who serves as Blanches chief of staff, along with Perkins to the library of Congress to assume their positions. Library staff contacted the U.S. Capitol Police, and "Mr. Nieves and Mr. Perkins left the grounds of the Library of Congress voluntarily." The lawsuit suggests that this physical attempt to take over the Copyright Office is legally significant because it demonstrates immediate, concrete harm to Perlmutter's position, rather than just a theoretical dispute, as they were actively trying to prevent Perlmutters performing her statutory duties and accessing her office. Perlmutter's attorneys argue that her removal violates both constitutional and statutory provisions. The complaint asserts that Congress vested the librarian of Congressnot the presidentwith the power to appoint and remove the register of copyrights under chapter 7 of U.S. Code Title 17. "The President's attempt to remove Ms. Perlmutter," the filing states, "was unlawful and ineffective." The complaint further argues that Blanche cannot legally serve as acting librarian because the Federal Vacancies Reform Act only authorizes the president to fill temporary vacancies in executive agencies; the LoC is a congressional agency and therefore part of the legislative branch. In addition, it contends that under LoC regulations and longstanding practice, Robert R. Newlen, who has worked at the LoC for more than 40 years, properly assumed the role of acting Librarian following the removal of Carla Hayden on May 8. Perlmutter requests that the court issue preliminary and permanent injunctions preventing Blanche from exercising the powers of acting librarian of Congress and Perkins from exercising the powers of register of copyrights. She also seeks an order preventing her removal from office "absent a decision by a lawfully appointed Librarian of Congress to remove her." The complaint asks the court to declare that Perlmutter "remains the Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office" and that "Mr. Newlen remains the acting Librarian of Congress." Amid the legal morass, a LoC representative told PW that the LoC remains "open to the public" and is continuing to serve Congress, and that the Copyright Office remains "open for business." Abrams Books employees overwhelmingly voted to unionize in their National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election and will join United Auto Workers Local 2110, according to a UAW announcement today. The union will be officially certified in approximately a week, after which Abrams editors, designers, product managers, and other non-supervisory positions will begin the process of contract negotiations with the New York Citybased publisher. Abrams staff initially filed for an NLRB vote in early April, citing, among other things, low entry-level salaries, job insecurity, and a need for greater transparency in negotiations with management. In the subsequent weeks, employees said they experienced attempts by Abrams management to delay or upset the vote, according to reporting by LitHub. Nonetheless, the NLRB election saw 79% worker participation, with 88% voting in favor of unionizing. Abrams will now join HarperCollins and the New Press in the ranks of UAW 2110 publishers. Lydia Nguyen, assistant editor for Abrams ComicArts, said that the workers at Abrams see themselves as part of a larger movement to put the future of publishing in the hands of the workersthe people on the ground who build relationships with authors, readers, and booksellers. HarperCollins, the only Big Five publisher with a union, made waves in the industry when its workers went on strike in the winter of 2023, ultimately winning a higher minimum salary and new benefits. According to the UAW statement, Abrams workers have seen multiple rounds of layoffs in the last year and sudden changes to health care and retirement benefits. Some employees expressed gratitude for their newfound sense of solidarity alongside potential contract wins. After thirteen years in publishing, I was dangerously close to reaching a point of skepticism that anything could improve, and that stressful and chaotic conditions were industry standard, said senior designer Andrea Miller. Ive completely changed my outlook since spending the past year organizing alongside my coworkers at Abrams. An Abrams spokesperson said the publisher will now begin the process of negotiating a contract in good faith. We are now turning our attention to working through next steps, the spokesperson said. We look forward to engaging in that process confident in our collective commitment to Abrams as company, as well as to our books and authors. From Optics to Opportunity For many in America, it is easy to view countries like Saudi Arabia, where womens rights remain constrained, as symbols of everything frustrating about promoting equality and partnership abroad. Some critics tied Trumps recent tour of the Middle East to his perceived disregard for womens issues. Amid the scrutiny, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents a hopeful counterbalance: offering a model of what was, what is, and what can be. Since its founding in 1971, the UAE and several other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations have undergone dramatic transformations: independence from Great Britain, economic diversification, infrastructure development, the launch of a space program, and leadership in regional diplomacy. For many observers of the progress, the question is now: what about the women? The History of Change through a Lens That question is personal for me. My mom lived in Saudi Arabia in the 1970s and 80s-an era long before women could drive, shop without a male escort, or access widespread education. Years later, I lived in the UAE and saw a different reality: women leading companies, serving in government, and outpacing men in university attendance and attrition. In the UAE, I was elected student body president; my mom led a national education initiative. Seeing our childhood experiences side-by-side; hers marked by restriction, mine by rising possibility-taught me that change in the Gulf is not abstract or theoretical. This change is generational, visible, and deeply human. But it is uneven and incomplete. The distance between our two realities speaks to the velocity and complexity of progress that often goes unnoticed by critics. The Complex Face of Progress Progress in the GCC is not linear - it is contextual and often paradoxical. Some of the brightest women I went to school with now run government sectors or media companies, though they still do not have equal rights in their homes. Progress for women in the GCC often wears two faces: one public and promising, the other private and constrained. In the UAE, women serve as ministers and CEOs. In Qatar and Kuwait, they vote and hold parliamentary seats. In Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 has brought accelerated reforms, increasing Saudi Arabia 60 places on the World Banks annual report on women. Yes, women can now drive in Saudi Arabia, share a seat on the Saudi Shura Council, and own businesses in the UAE, however, they still face barriers in courts, workplaces, and family life. Celebrating progress is essential, but not at the cost of overlooking the work ahead. One of the most powerful forces for change has been education. Emirati women now outnumber men in higher education, both locally and abroad - a trend mirrored in both Qatar and Bahrain. These women are entering the workforce, reshaping national narratives, and becoming role models for a new generation. Some evidence of the change: the UAEs Shamma Al-Mazrui became the worlds youngest minister at 22. Saudi Arabia appointed Princess Reema bint Bandar as ambassador to the U.S. Saudi Arabia has doubled its voluntary female workforce since 2016. In the UAE and Bahrain, initiatives in STEM and entrepreneurship are gradually chipping away at old norms. An important note for all of us in the West to reflect on is that, with a marriage rate at 72.4%, women in many GCC nations echo the sentiment that progress and opportunity need not come at the cost of femininity, motherhood, and a respect for culture and religion. Power, Policy, and the Path Ahead Legal frameworks are also shifting: some guardianship laws have been relaxed and several countries have domestic violence protections. But, as we know in the United States, law on paper often differs from lived experience. Enforcement and cultural shift is where reform becomes real for those impacted. At the grassroots level, women-led initiatives in health, education, and enterprise are taking root. These arent foreign imports. They are homegrown responses to local needs. Cities like Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh are becoming hubs of ambition, and young women - educated, connected, and confident - are asking for more. And theyre getting it. Still, much remains undone. Labor protections, domestic violence enforcement, and pay laws are inconsistent. Family law-especially around divorce, custody, and inheritance - remains a deeply entrenched source of inequality. Reform here is culturally complex, but necessary. Without it, full gender equity will remain out of reach. Political representation is another frontier. Though women are increasingly visible in government, they remain underrepresented in policy making roles, policies that impact them and their families. Allowing an opportunity for them to elevate themselves into these spaces would transform both policy and societal expectations. Religion and culture also play a powerful role - one the West too often overlooks or oversimplifies. It is misguided to expect the Middle East to mirror the U.S., but that doesnt mean reform isnt possible. Reform-minded Islamic scholarship, should women in these nations call for it, can bridge tradition and womens rights in ways that resonate authentically with local populations. Islamic extremism leaves no room for womens rights, and nations like the UAE, and new leadership in Saudi Arabia, are asserting an echoed vision. The West should recognize this moment, champion progress, but have zero hesitation in calling out infringements when they occur.. Supporting the Change This article is no nod to the perfection of the United States. Much like our own plights, progress must come from within, and it must be heard, seen, and supported. The women of the GCC are not waiting for change; and neither should we - women across the United States, and through organizations like Independent Women have taken up the torch for change on our own shores. Through education, ambition, and resilience, we are universally shaping futures in boardrooms, classrooms, ministries, and homes. The women in these nations are more than capable. They want our attention, and they respect the path we have paved, but they do not need our hand to do it. External partners like the U.S. should stand beside the progress - amplifying voices and supporting reform. The UAE is a good case study for how progress happens. While the West should never hesitate to call out when bad things are happening to women and girls universally and must refuse to praise symbolism over substance, we must also avoid the decades-old trap of Western authorship vs. experienced influence - a sentiment President Trump echoed in one of his engagements in the Middle East last week. When women take an earned seat at the table, nations and organizations do not just evolve, they thrive. Innovation skyrockets, GDP climbs, and stability reigns. In a region long seen through the lens of conflict, this quiet revolution has the chance to be one of its most powerful stories yet. Taylor Hathorn is a visiting fellow at Independent Women. She has over 10 years of experience in cybersecurity, policy, public relations, and non-profit management. She lived in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City for 10 years. Ozzy Osbourne's channel on Sirius XM, Ozzy's Boneyard, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of English metal band Motirhead with a weekend-long special. ADVERTISEMENT Ozzy's Boneyard is airing a special starting Friday and lasting through Memorial Day weekend looking back at Motirhead's career and the life of front man Lemmy Kilmister, who died in 2015. The special includes new interviews with surviving band members Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell, as well as plenty of Motirhead music and "maybe a surprise from Ozzy." Sirius XM is currently in the midst of a "free listening" event, allowing all enabled devices to listen to digital radio stations without a subscription through June 2. Motirhead previously announced the band's anniversary will also feature the release of The Manticore Tapes, featuring 11 unreleased recordings from the band's first studio session in 1976. The album is scheduled for release June 27. The arms race between weapons and protection is one that dates back to around the time fire was invented. While IIIA panels might not be the most interesting evolution in that tug-of-war, the size, comfort, and concealability of modern armor are wildly impressive. Premier Body Armor has just released its latest version of the popular Everyday Armory T-Shirt. Since Im a sucker for anything new and interesting, I got to give one a proper test. PROS: Armor. Every day. Easy to wear Extremely comfortable shirt Affordable CONS: Side panels are only 6x6 (standard size) Not as comfortable as not wearing armor (obviously) THE WHAT Short and sweet, the Everyday Armor T-Shirt is exactly what the name sounds like it is. A shirt with armor that you can wear every day, if you so choose. Designed to be the ultimate in low-profile soft armor, the Everyday T-Shirt is a compression shirt with special pockets to house level IIIA soft armor. Covering the front and rear are a pair of 7.75 x 12.75 panels, and new to the 360 version of the shirt are two Level IIIA 6 x 6 side panels. All of this comes in at about 2.5 pounds combined. The shirt is 87% polyester, 13% elastane, moisture-wicking, antimicrobial, and shockingly really comfortable to wear. Even while being blasted by the hellish desert sun of Southern Arizona, this shirt is genuinely comfortable and breathes wonderfully. More on that later. Machine-washable, hang to dry, the Everyday Armor T-Shirt is long enough to be easily tucked into your pants and wont pull out from normal movement. Not only does the shirt provide the framework for holding the ballistic panels, but its also just a good undershirt. THE WHY If youre reading this site, there is a pretty good chance youre aware of your own mortality and probably choose to carry a CCW at least some of the time. A smaller percentage of you also carry an EDC IFAK, but Im willing to bet only a fraction of you wear armor very often unless youre on duty of some kind. The Everyday Armor T-Shirt is no different than a CCW or EDC IFAK, its a tool that might save your life. Whether its the right tool depends more on you than anything else. From what Premier Armor has told me, the Everyday T-Shirt is popular with delivery drivers, security guards, and more. To me, that makes a lot of sense. A long time ago, I worked as a process server, and this shirt definitely would have been something I would have worn if it existed back then. My brother used to deliver for UPS, my best friend in high school delivered pizzas, and was actually shot at while delivering pies. One other application for this shirt is serving as the soft panels for ICW (In Conjunction With) hard plates. If youre unfamiliar, there are many hard plates on the market that are rated to a certain level on their own, but if combined with soft armor, the rating can be raised. This is typically due to back face deformation and the soft armor backing being enough to absorb the energy transferred from the BFD. For example, the RMA Armament ESRT Ultra-Thin plates I keep in my Agilite Sub-Zero low-profile carrier are rated for up-to M855A1 on their own. But ICW Level IIIA soft panels, it becomes rated for multi-hit 7.6251 M80. I would still rather not get shot at all, but its good to know. ON THE RANGE Not that long ago, my friend and fellow web-editor Adam Borisenko reviewed the standard Everyday Armor T-Shirt over on GunDigest.com, but he went a step further than I did and actually shot his with a range of calibers. Testing went flawlessly, and the Premier Body Armor panels passed with flying colors. Since the 360 version of the shirt is really the same thing but with two extra pockets and two extra panels, I dont think much will be gained from me repeating that testing. If youre interested in his review, I recommend it. My focus isnt on ballistic testing but instead on comfort and ease of use. As such, I did the only reasonable thing, and I wore the shirt with IIIA panels to a PCSL match. High 80s in Southern Arizona in May isnt the hottest weather, but combine it with some running and gunning, and anything uncomfortable quickly reveals itself. The shirt is awesome. Its actually one of the most comfortable shirts Ive ever worn. Soft armor panels dont enhance that comfort, obviously, but even with having 4 panels on during the match it really didnt hinder me. Other than the increased heat, I didnt really notice I was wearing them since I was already loaded down with a full gun belt. Not wearing a shirt with armor in it is more comfortable, but not wearing a CCW or having an IFAK in my pocket is also more comfortable. For that matter, so is not wearing a seat belt. Sometimes, sacrificing some comfort is the only option if you want to be fully prepared. EVERYDAY? REALLY? If you want to wear this day after day, I would strongly, hugely recommend you get at the very least more than one shirt. While the antimicrobial properties of the shirt are pretty impressive, nothing can last forever before needing to be washed. The good news is that the shirt is only $60 for the 360 version and $55 for the standard version. Not cheap, but definitely affordable enough that you can get 3 or 4 and wash them mid work week. Both shirts conceal nicely, here is Adam with the standard Everyday Armor T-Shirt A complete package Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360 with all 4 Level IIIA panels runs $380. Again, not cheap, but also not unaffordable. If you can swing a second set of panels, it will help with not having to switch over all the panels every day, but that starts to stack up the price. DO YOU NEED THE 360? Personally, Im a little torn on the usefulness of the 360 version. 6 x 6 plates are a pretty standard size, but I would have liked to see Premier do something a little larger or at least offer options for larger. Larger means a little more weight and a little less comfort, but the added coverage, for example, a Uber/Lyft driver, would have been nice to see. Standard Everyday Armor T-Shirt without side panels The added cost of the side panels also starts to bloat the price. $90 for a set of side plates Vs. using that money to mostly pay for a second set of front/rear plates or almost two shirts seems like a better application of dollars. I see the side panels as an option, but not a requirement. But you should decide for yourself. LOOSE ROUNDS The Premier Body Armor Everyday Armor T-Shirt has impressed me a lot more than I was expecting. Not only is the system truly comfortable in a way that I really didnt think possible for soft armor, but the ease of use and quality of material are outstanding, especially considering the price. While I doubt I will start wearing it every single day for my normal life, I definitely would if my situation were different. Reliance Defence, promoted by Anil Ambanis Reliance Infrastructure, has partnered with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG to produce ammunition in Maharashtras Ratanagiri. Photograph: Prashant Waydande/Reuters As part of the agreement, Reliance Defence will supply the explosives and propellants for medium and large caliber ammunition to Rheinmetall. This is the third such partnership for Reliance Defence, following its deals with Frances Dassault Aviation and Thales Group. According to a statement issued by Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Defence and Rheinmetall will engage in joint marketing activities for select products. Reliance Defence will set up a greenfield manufacturing facility in Ratnagiris Watad industrial area. The facility, to be called the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC), will be one of the largest in south Asia, and will have the capacity to produce up to 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tons of explosives, and 2,000 tons of propellants annually. Anil Ambani, founder and chairman of Reliance Group, said: This strategic partnership brings cutting-edge capabilities to India, marking a transformational moment for Indias private defence manufacturing sector. "Guided by the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our objective is clear to position Reliance Defence among the top 3 defence exporters, enabling India to not only meet its domestic defence needs, but also emerge as a key player in the global defence supply chain. "This project marks a major step in the Reliance Groups long-term strategy to invest in the fast-growing defence manufacturing sector. Armin Papperger, chief executive officer (CEO) of Rheinmetall AG, said, This strategic partnership of Rheinmetall with Reliance Defence, led by Anil Ambanis Reliance Group, illustrates our strong commitment to partner with India under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Rheinmetall AG, one of the world's largest defence conglomerates, has a market capitalisation of over 7 trillion. It concluded the calendar year 2024 with an annual revenue of 9.8 billion euros, from operations spanning 171 global locations. Earlier, Reliance Defence had announced plans to set up an integrated project for the manufacturing of explosives, ammunition and small arms in DADC. US President Donald Trump on Friday again sought to pressurise Apple on its decision to increase production of its iPhone in India. Photograph: Kent J Edwards/Reuters Trump said that Apple will have to pay a 25 per cent import tariffs if its mobile handsets sold in US are not produced in the boundaries of the country. In a social media post on his Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote, "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else." "If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank your for your attention to this matter," he further added in the post. Earlier on May 15, while speaking in Doha, Trump said that he had spoken with the Apple CEO Tim Cook and asked him to limit Apple's expansion in India. Recently, Apple took some steps to expand its iPhone production in India, setting up assembly plants operating in the country. Two of these plants are located in Tamil Nadu, and one is in Karnataka. For these plants Apple has signed contract with manufacturers, such as Foxconn and Tata Group to set up production units. In the last fiscal year, Apple produced $22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months through March 2025, which is a huge 60 per cent jump from the prior year. Apple manufactured approximately 40-45 million iPhones in India in 2024, accounting for 18-20 per cent of its global output. Of this, about 15 million were exported to the US, 13 million to other international markets, and about 12 million were sold in the Indian market. In January 2025, Apple achieved an 11th consecutive quarterly revenue record in India, with iPhone sales estimated at $10 billion in 2024. India stands as the Apple's fourth-largest market globally in 2024, after the US, China, and Japan. As reported last month, driven by the escalating trade tensions and high reciprocal tariffs announced by both China and US against each other, in a strategic move Apple decided to transition all production of iPhones destined for the US market to India from China. Nearly a third of GenZ investors are now participating in the securities market. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff Nearly a third of GenZ investors are now participating in the securities market, Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Thursday, while lauding digital transformation and the strengthening of digital public infrastructure which he said have unlocked efficiencies and inclusion on an unprecedented scale. Pandey, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India , said that participation from GenZ -- those aged between 18 and 27 years -- is an encouraging sign of growing financial engagement at an early age "This trend reflects not only the rising trust in formal financial systems but also signals a significant opportunity for long-term wealth creation and inclusive participation in the nation's economic progress," Pandey said. Pandey was addressing the 16th Capital Market Conference by industry body Assocham in Delhi. According to data from the depositories, the total number of demat accounts have surged to over 190 million as of April 2025, which was less than 50 million in December 2020. NSE's Market Pulse report issued every month showed that the share of investors under 30 years has risen sharply from 22.9 per cent in March 2018 to 39.5 per cent in March 2025. The report notes that the jump reflects rising financial literacy and easier access through digital platforms. The combined share of investors aged 50 years and above has fallen from 25.8 per cent in Mar'18 to just 15.1 per cent on Mar'25, signalling a changing investment culture driven by younger, tech-savvy participants,' the report notes. Apart from direct investments into the securities, the investments through mutual funds have also surged over the years, with the total number of folios reaching 234.5 million as of March 2025 compared to 178 million a year ago. A report by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) for FY25 said that 47 per cent of the net inflows from those under the age of 25 years was into equity schemes. 'Younger investors are more inclined to take on higher risks, as can be gauged from their significantly higher share of net flows in the equity segment,' the report noted. 'Digital transformation, the emergence of AI, and the strengthening of digital public infrastructure are unlocking efficiencies and inclusion on an unprecedented scale,' Pandey said in his address. The Sebi chairman highlighted the surge in equity issuances as the financial year 2025 (FY25) recorded the highest ever fund raising through initial public offerings (IPOs) at Rs 1.7 trillion. The market capitalisation of listed companies has risen to Rs 423 trillion as of April, compared to Rs 150 trillion in FY19. The former bureaucrat noted that this reflected strong investor confidence and robust corporate performance. 'The Indian securities market is not merely a facilitator of financial transactions but a powerful engine of capital formation. Our capital markets have become an essential channel through which domestic savings and foreign investments are directed into productive economic activity. This is helping fuel innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and infrastructure development,' Pandey said during his address. Pandey also brought focus on Sebi's measures to facilitate capital formation such as strengthening governance, reduction in listing timelines, and upstreaming of client funds to ensure safeguards of the funds. While indicating towards regulator's focus towards optimum regulations, the Sebi chairman also highlighted steps taken to enhance participation in the debt segment. The market regulator earlier this year announced several measures to enhance financial literacy amongst the young, including its flagship Tarun Yojana. Under the scheme, a pilot project is being run across several districts to integrate financial literacy with school curriculum. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'There's a lot of sense in what Prime Minister Modi did, but the Indian government has to be really prepared for a really sharp escalation spiral.' IMAGE: An Indian Army soldier keeps vigil at the Line of Control in Poonch, May 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Addressing a rally in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will not be deterred by nuclear threats and if there is a terrorist attack, India will give a befitting reply. Which raises the question, just how long will the tense peace on the India-Pakistan border last? Political scientist and South Asia expert C Christine Fair, who has written multiple books on the Pakistan army and terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba, spoke to Rediff's Utkarsh Mishra on the dynamics of India-Pakistan relations. "The next conflict is going to escalate even quicker than this crisis escalated," Fair says in the concluding segment of a two-part interview: So, what is the way for a lasting peace in Kashmir, particularly, and between India and Pakistan generally? Well, I don't see a lasting peace in Kashmir. It's not in the (Pakistan) army's interest that there'd be a lasting peace in Kashmir. And India has its own problems with the way it's pursuing so-called peace in Kashmir. More than anything, the Indian government has alienated Kashmiris. To some extent, but not completely, the actions of the Indian government have been driven by the Pakistani insistence upon using terrorism in the Valley. Like the very oppressive security grid, that's necessary to suppress insurgency. Obviously, not every attack can be pre-empted. I was in Kashmir a couple of years ago. I had a pretty long trip. The Kashmiris will tell you that they're oppressed, but the tourism was back and they were making money. When there's terrorism in the valley, tourists don't come and they don't make money. So, the Kashmiris themselves are of two minds about the security grid. The grid puts a wedge between the Indian State and the Kashmiris, and Pakistan calls that a victory. Because then it can say, look, here's Lashkar-e-Tayiba, here's Jaish, and they are fighting to liberate these oppressed Kashmiris. So, it's unlikely that you're going to see a permanent peace in Kashmir. What strategic interest does the US still have in having good relations with Pakistan? When Pakistan's defence minister says that they have been doing this 'dirty job of supporting terrorists' for the US? That was a bunch of disingenuous nonsense. The Pakistanis began the jihad in Afghanistan in 1973, under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The Americans had nothing to do with it. In fact, the Americans didn't start funding that jihad until 1982 after (Ronald) Reagan came to power and got the sanctions that the (Jimmy) Carter administration levied on the Pakistani State for nuclear proliferation removed. Ultimately that evolved into the Pressler Amendment in 1985. (Note: Pressler Amendment mandated that the US president annually certify that Pakistan did not possess a nuclear device to receive US military and economic assistance.) So, this idea that the Pakistanis have been waging jihad at the behest of the United States is simply a canard. They were doing this on their own time and their own dime because they perceived it to be in their national interest. In fact, the seven main mujahideen groups were formed before the Soviets even crossed the Amu Darya on Christmas of 1979. Since it was said, and since a lot of Indians have made a lot of hay over it, I really want to push back on the absurdity of the statement. To your original question, what interest does the US have in good relations with Pakistan? I think right now there's not a good motivator. The war in Afghanistan is over. We lost it in good measure because of Pakistani support to the Taliban. The US has these perduring interests. These perduring interest include the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme; and anything that supports that, like the economic viability of the Pakistani State, will always be a US interest. But the vicissitudes of politics are something that's less of interest to the United States unless it sees a direct line to the security of the State itself. IMAGE: Security personnel patrol the Pahalgam terror attack site, April 23, 2025. Photograph: Reuters But the relations are not as good as they were in the time of, say, the Kargil War, when Bill Clinton could manage Nawaz Sharif... No, we did not have good relations with Pakistan during Kargil. If you recall, Pakistan was heavily sanctioned. Those sanctions were not removed until after 2001. So, I don't know why you think that we had good relations with Pakistan. Pakistan was under very heavy sanctions. The only sanctions that it hadn't been under were the additional layer of sanctions that we would put on Pakistan after Musharraf seized the government. Do you think that the Pakistan army's propaganda in the last few days was an attempt to draw parallels between the Kashmir conflict and the Palestinian struggle against Israel? Because right now, the world is divided over Israel's war in Gaza. While the US is standing resolutely behind Israel, as it does. So, there is a kind of schism in the world right now, and they were hoping to benefit from that? If that's what they were attempting to do, it would obviously not have any impact upon the United States. The United States has appallingly supported every act of genocide that the Israeli State has committed. I'm going to answer the question a little bit differently. Both India and Pakistan's media engaged in appalling nonsense. If I had listened to Arnab Goswami, I would have believed that Karachi had become now a part of a Mumbai suburb. The Indian media was insufferable. The Pakistani media was insufferable. And both populations came out of this conflict, very poorly informed. You had shared President Trump's post on X praising India and Pakistan for the ceasefire, saying you 'couldn't stop laughing'. Why? First of all, it's not true that the US wasn't doing anything before the Nur Khan airbase (was) attacked. (US Secretary of State Marco) Rubio had been engaged in counterpart negotiations. Tulsi Gabbard was also engaging her counterparts, We have to understand this structurally, every time there's a new presidency, with the exception of Biden, who had been the vice president for eight years, there is no depth on South Asia. We don't even have an Indian ambassador. The Assistant Secretary of State nominee Paul Kapur hasn't been confirmed. So, there's really no one of consequence in the government that has any knowledge about India and Pakistan. And that's going to be true for any new president. It was true for George W Bush, when 9/11 happened. He had no South Asianists that he could call on. Trump had a paucity of talent. But, unlike other presidents who picked his -- unfortunately, it's always been a he so far -- cabinets based on expertise, Trump picked his cabinet based upon people who do chaaploosi (sycophancy). So, we don't have a very good cabinet. And Marco Rubio, such as he is, is also playing the role of the national security advisor. So, in the best of circumstances we don't have a very good bench on South Asia. But nonetheless, Marco Rubio was engaging both sides. And to the extent that Trump negotiated peace, he was pushing on an open door. Both sides wanted an off ramp. What Trump subsequently did was he basically pushed the talking points back to pre-Kargil (times). He rehyphenated India and Pakistan. He re-legitimised the Kashmir dispute. He said that India and Pakistan had agreed to have a full range of scope conversations at a neutral location. There is no way the Indians would have agreed to that. There is simply no way. And he has doubled down on that talk despite Indian demurrals. So, you know, the India-US relationship is structurally on solid ground, but there's obviously some surface tension because of the things that Trump keeps saying and keeps pushing on international fora. At some point the Indian government will also start pushing back. Because the current dispensation represents an ideology that has long criticised Nehru for taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations and agreeing to the 1948 ceasefire. So, the message that Trump wants to give right now is really difficult for them politically. Correct. But the Indians are kind of a Trump whisperer. They kind of know that he's a clown and that he says a lot of things that are not true and that they don't have to hang on every word of Trump. I'll also give this government credit where credit's due, in that they (know) this will probably pass, and there are bigger fish to fry in the Indo-US relationship than Trump's silly talking points. India's military responses to Pakistan have escalated over time -- surgical strikes happened in 2016 after the attack in Uri. Then in 2019, there were airstrikes in Balakot after Pulwama. Now missile strikes targeted sites within Pakistan proper. And the way PM Modi has declared that India will respond in kind to every terror attack, how do you see the situation escalating if there's another terror attack in India? That's the issue. It's going to escalate even more quickly than the current crisis. And I think India has learned some wrong lessons. If India thinks that it has deterred Pakistan, it is very, very mistaken. India can respond to a terror attack as it chooses to do. There's a lot of sense in what Prime Minister Modi did, but the Indian government has to be really prepared for a really sharp escalation spiral. The next conflict is going to escalate even quicker than this crisis escalated. So, someone needs to build in an off ramp pretty early on. 'The precision strikes were well planned and excellently executed. The world will be studying this operation.' IMAGE: Army personnel display their preparedness along the Line of Control in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, May 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo "You can't take a soldier out of war. "Technology is a force multiplier. It is an aid, not a substitute. In the end, you will need the soldier to carry your flag and put it where you want it," asserts Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, SM (retd), former director general of military operations. An officer from the Parachute Regiment, India's special forces, the general served the Indian Army for four decades and held command assignments on both the Pakistan and China borders. In an interview with Rediff's Archana Masih, General Bhatia discusses why Operation Sindoor will be a case study for military commanders and what our future wars will be like. The concluding segment of a two-part interview: What have been the achievements and lessons of Operation Sindoor? We took out Pakistan's air defence umbrella and indicated that we can strike Pakistan as and when we want. This is what forced the cessation of hostilities. This was not a war. The Defence of India Act [which comes into force during war] was not applied. The operation achieved the political and military stated objective which was to punish Pakistan in all domains -- military, diplomatic, economic -- even in the information domain which adds to public opinion and psychological warfare. Having been a student of military wars, I feel we are all proud of what the armed forces have done. The precision strikes were well planned and excellently executed. The whole world was looking at it and will be reading about this operation for a long time. They will study what we did and how we did it. Operation Sindoor was a classic operation. A dream operation. The Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars are still ongoing, but we have ended it in a sharp and quick operation. The world military is definitely studying this operation already. IMAGE: Army personnel keep a vigil along the LoC in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, May 20, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo What is the future of war? Are we moving to a war where troops will have a lesser role to play, at least against Pakistan, may not be so on the Chinese frontier? Will hostilities with Pakistan be dealt with shooting weapons from inside our border? What shape future military conflicts will acquire is unpredictable, but we have to prepare for future wars. Technology plays an important role, but you can't take a soldier out of war. Technology is a force multiplier. It is an aid. It is not a substitute. In the end, you will need someone to carry the flag and put it where you want on the ground. We have porous borders which require land warfare. We will need the soldier, the sailor, the air warrior. Look at the Russia-Ukraine war and you can see that the soldier is still central to warfare. Unfortunately, everyone thinks the armed forces are meant to fight wars, but the armed forces are meant to ensure peace. Fighting a war is the last stage. Wars are fought when everything fails. The armed forces are meant to secure the nation so that there is peace, stability and economic development. A secure nation is central to the wellbeing of our people. Being prepared for war to ensure peace, IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, right, visits areas in Poonch affected by Pakistan shelling, May 21, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo A tragic number of civilians were killed in attacks on the border, especially in Poonch and Rajouri. Are there no protocols for safety of citizens in border areas in times of heightened escalation? There are villages as close as 50 metres to the LoC. Normally civilian are not targeted in firing along the Line of Control. That is the norm. There is an understanding to not target civilian villages. This time in desperation Pakistan has carried out these attacks, especially in Poonch. They even targeted a famous gurdwara in an attempt to create a religious divide. IMAGE: Rescuers search for survivors in a building damaged in an Indian military strike in Muridke near Lahore, May 7, 2025. Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters The Pakistan establishment repeatedly distances itself from terrorists to avoid being put on the grey list in the Financial Action Task Force. We caught Ajmal Kasab which provided hard evidence to the world. How does not capturing terrorists hurt our war against terror? The world is not blind. The world knows Pakistan is the epi-centre of terrorism. If you look at terror attacks anywhere in the world, about 90% have a direct or indirect Pakistan connect. Osama bin Laden was living in Pakistan! The terrorist groups in Pakistan are internationally listed terror organisations. There is no doubt about that. Pak-based terror camps are providing training, weapons, direction and pushing terrorists into India. We will shape world opinion. It does not mean that every time we have to give evidence and have a joint sort of investigation. We have gone beyond that stage. IMAGE: Residents of the last village near the LoC in Salotri return to their homes, which they had left behind during heavy shelling by Pakistan on May 6-7, in Poonch, May 16, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo What, according to you, was General Munir's gambit behind Pahalgam? Was it to destroy the narrative of peace in Kashmir and to once again internationalise Kashmir? 1. To test our resolve. 2. Peace and normalcy in Kashmir is unacceptable to them. Tourists are coming in large numbers and robust economic development is taking place. Stone pelting has stopped and army convoys are no longer stopped by the public. Schools are not closing down anymore and Kashmiris are actually witnessing the peace dividend. This is not acceptable to Pakistan. They need Kashmir to simmer. They need to have Kashmir centre-stage in the international arena. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com A handwritten 'feedback' letter purportedly written by Bharat Rashtra Samiti leader K Kavitha to her father and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), highlighting both the negative and positive aspects of the party's recent meeting, has sparked discussions in Telangana's political circles. IMAGE: BRS MLC K Kavitha. Photograph: ANI Photo Though the authenticity of the letter has not been confirmed, neither Kavitha's office nor that of KCR has commented on it. "As you (KCR) spoke for just two minutes, some people began speculating that there will be a tie-up with BJP in future. Even I personally felt that you should have spoken strongly (against Bharatiya Janata Party). It might be probably because I suffered (because of BJP). But you should have targeted BJP some more, Daddy," Kavitha mentioned in the letter written in Telugu and English. Despite hours passing since it surfaced, the opposition party has not issued a denial. The BRS celebrated its Silver Jubilee on April 27 in Warangal. Kavitha cited Rao's silence in the meeting on key issues such as 42 per cent reservation for backward classes, Scheduled Castes categorisation, Waqf Amendment Act, and omission of Urdu from his address as reasons for the negative feedback The BRS MLC was unavailable for immediate comment as she is currently in the United States to attend her son's graduation ceremony. In the letter, she further said the congress government has lost its support among the grassroots and some BRS cadres now view the BJP as a viable alternative. Kavitha added that a strong signal was sent to the party workers when the BRS chose not to contest the recent MLC elections, suggesting they might align with the BJP. "Everybody expected that you would give specific programmes or guidelines in order to address the political scenario. At least now we can hold a plenary for one or two days. Elicit as many opinions from cadres and give them a guideline," she said, urging the former CM to act decisively. The letter also expressed concerns that some Telangana movement activists were not treated properly or given a chance to speak during the Warangal event. On a positive note, she praised her father for his stance on Operation Kagar and appreaciated his moment of silence for the victims of Pahalgam terror attack. She concluded by congratulating him for the success of the Warangal meeting. Meanwhile, BRS MLC Sravan Dasoju said he is unsure whether Kavitha actually wrote the letter currently in circulation. Even if she did write it, there is nothing 'shaky' about it as the contents of the letter were feedback in nature. "It is a very normal feedback given by a daughter to a father or by a leader to a supreme leader. It's like (letter) consolidating and passing the feedback that she got from people," he told PTI. Asked about the comments of BJP and Congress leaders that the letter indicates internal rifts in the party, Dasoju said there are other issues which are more pertinent to people like paddy procurement and unemployment. Border Security Force jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who returned to India on May 14 after being released by Pakistan Rangers, reached his residence in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Friday evening. IMAGE: BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw (third from left) stands with fellow personnel at the Attari-Wagah border after being handed over by Pakistan Rangers, in Amritsar, May 14, 2025 . Photograph: ANI Photo Shaw was held captive in the neighbouring country for nearly three weeks. Earlier in the day, Purnam arrived at Howrah station, where he was greeted by his family and well-wishers with chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram.' His father, Bholenath Shaw, who had been waiting for hours on the platform, hugged him tightly. Security personnel quickly formed a cordon around Shaw and his family as hundreds of people tried to shake his hand and offer greetings. A visibly exhausted yet smiling Shaw told the jostling media, "I am happy to be back and to meet my near and dear ones." Shaw and his family were then escorted in battery-operated cars to the car parking stand adjacent to the Howrah station's new complex. Upon reaching his hometown Rishra, they were welcomed by people and a band playing patriotic tunes. The local club near his home was decorated with strings of tiny coloured bulbs, creating a festive atmosphere. His wife Rajani Shaw, who is expecting, struggled to hold back tears as neighbours and family members exchanged sweets in celebration. "He has been serving the nation as a paramilitary personnel for 17 years. He will return to the frontiers again. We are proud of him as a brave warrior, one of those guarding the nation's borders," said Rajani, overwhelmed with emotion. As Purnam stepped into his home, words failed him. His brother, Rahul Shaw, exclaimed, "It feels like Diwali has returned to our area." Purnam had returned to India through the Attari-Wagah border on the evening of May 14. The BSF constable had been taken into custody by Pakistan Rangers on April 23, after he inadvertently crossed the international border in Punjab's Ferozepur district. His accidental crossing came just a day after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which had further heightened border tensions. PTI SUS Diplomatic leadership from Russia, Japan and United Arab Emirates on Friday came forward to join hands with New Delhi against all forms of terrorism as the Indian multi-party Parliamentary delegation held wide-ranging discussion on counter-terrorism combat and briefed them on Operation Sindoor. IMAGE: The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (second from right) meets former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Fradkov, for Operation Sindoor global outreach, in Moscow, May 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo "#TeamIndia sends a strong and united message on combating terrorism," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a three-nation tour of Europe, said in a post on X as the three delegations exchanged views on furthering cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating radicalism, especially after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that saw 26 people dead. India embarked on a global outreach with its seven multi-party delegations travelling to 33 global capitals to meet the international community -- political leadership, media, senior officials and members of the diplomatic corps -- on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror and sharing information about Operation Sindoor. Moscow reiterated its decisive commitment to an uncompromising joint fight with New Delhi against all forms of terrorism as the Indian multi-party Parliamentary delegation held wide-ranging discussion on counter-terrorism combat and briefed the Russian side on Operation Sindoor. A statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry issued after Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko met with the visiting parliamentary delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, expressed readiness to increase close cooperation on the issue at regional and global venues. A decisive commitment to an uncompromising joint fight against all forms of terrorism was confirmed. Readiness was expressed to increase close cooperation on these issues at regional and global venues, primarily in the UN, BRICS and SCO, the Foreign Ministry statement said. In Japan, the delegation led by Janata Dal-United MP Sanjay Jha held a focused and lively press engagement held at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo where the MPs briefed the Japanese media on India's 'New Normal' against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all parties resolve to stand united in all matters of national interest, the Embassy said in a post on X. Earlier, they met Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of House of Representatives, who conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam and extended deep sympathy to the injured, a statement from the Indian Embassy at Tokyo said. Nukaga firmly condemned terrorism in all its forms and emphasised that it cannot be justified under any circumstances and underlined the importance of working closely with India to combat terrorism to achieve the shared objective of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, it added. Delegation leader Jha emphasised that combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a national priority for India, the Embassy statement said, adding, "He sought Japan's support in our common fight against terror and to bring perpetrators of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan to justice." The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was among the first countries to issue a statement categorically condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The all-party delegation in Abu Dhabi met Nikolay Mladenov, Director General of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. They exchanged views on furthering India-UAE cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating radicalism, the Indian Embassy in UAE said in a post on X. Afterwards, the delegation also paid obeisance at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, BAPS Hindu Temple and Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara. The All-party delegation led by @DrSEShinde sends a strong message of harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence - the values shared & cherished by India and UAE, the Embassy said in another post on X. The all-party delegation in Moscow, apart from meeting Rudenko also had a fruitful interaction with former prime minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Fradkov, who heads the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS), the Indian Embassy in Russia said in a post on X. They discussed the current global situation, particularly, the threats posed by terrorism, it added. The delegation had a detailed exchange of views at a round-table meeting with all-party members of the Russian Federation Assembly (Parliament) led by the Duma (lower house) International Affairs Committee chair Leonid Slutsky of Liberal-Democratic Party and also met with First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs Andrey Denisov and other senators in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, said another post from the Indian Embassy in Russia. The Russian side condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and stated that Russia stands in solidarity with India for elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations! Russia and India have a shared position in the fight against terrorism. "Russia, India together in the fight against terrorism!" it added. The delegation in Tokyo met Yasuhiro Hanashi, Acting Chairperson of the Research Committee on Counter-terrorism of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Former Minister of Justice, held fruitful interaction with Minoru Kihara, former defence minister of Japan, and also met Shinako Tsuchiya, Director General of the International Bureau, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). They also met Yasutoshi Nishimura, Chairman of the Japan-India Parliamentary Friendship League, the Embassy statement said in Tokyo. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. As part of the Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam attack, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7, following which Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions and attacked air bases. The two countries reached an understanding to ceasefire on May 10. The flight carrying an Indian MP delegation to Moscow led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi had to circle in the sky for sometime due to a drone attack but the aircraft later landed safely. IMAGE: Indian Ambassador to Russian Federation Vinay Kumar welcomes the all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, as they arrive at Moscow Domodedovo International Airport, in Moscow on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo Kanimozhi was leading the delegation of MPs deputed by the Centre as part of an international outreach post Operation Sindoor, a military offensive aimed at terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Sources close to Kanimozhi, a Lok Sabha member, said the flight had to circle mid-air. "It circled in the air and later landed and there was a delay of 45 minutes. She (Kanimozhi) landed safely," sources close to Kanimozhi said in Chennai on Friday. The multi-party delegation landed in Moscow on Thursday night on the first leg of five-nation tour to sensitise international community on Pakistan-sponsored cross border terrorism, a month after the Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed. At the Domodedovo International Airport, Kanimozhi and members of her team were received by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and other officials. India will next month oppose the World Bank funding to Pakistan, just as it had done in the case of the International Monetary Fund, arguing that Islamabad had used such funds in the past to procure arms and ammunition, a government source said. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo Multilateral agencies' funding to developing countries are meant for poverty alleviation and development goals, but Pakistan's track record has been to misuse them for military purposes, the source said. World Bank is likely to review next month its $20 billion lending to Pakistan under the Country Partnership Framework agreed in January this year. The funds to cash-starved Pakistan were for areas, including clean energy and climate resilience for a period of the ten years beginning 2026. "We will oppose the upcoming World Bank funding to Pakistan," the source said. India had lobbied with IMF Chief Kristalina Georgiev and ministers of IMF board member nations against the agency extending a USD 2.3 billion assistance to cash-strapped Pakistan earlier this month. New Delhi presented proofs ranging from presence of senior Pakistani military officials at the funeral of designated terrorists to data that showed that Islamabad had misused funds in last two decades with arm procurements rising exponentially. Sources said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke to IMF chief, and some ministers on IMF board, while the Indian Embassy officials also presented the case before powerful nations like the US. The funding could, however, not be blocked as the agenda had previously been circulated to all memebers and it was left to them to vote on extending assistance to Pakistan. India's efforts, however, led to IMF imposing 11 strict conditions on Pakistan. The 11 new structural benchmarks introduced by the Fund have been linked to fiscal, governance, social, monetary and financial parameters along with metrics to be met in energy sector and trade, investment policy and deregulation. New Delhi abstained from voting as the IMF charter does not allow for a negative vote to be cast on such matters. "India is not averse to any country receiving money for development purposes. But the IMF funding was not the right thing to do at a time when there were border tensions between India and Pakstan and a situation of war. Also, Pakistan has a history of spending not for people, but for buying arms," the source said. According to the public data, Pakistan spends on average around 18 per cent of its general budget on "defense affairs and services", while even the conflict-affected countries spend on average far less (10-14 per cent of their general budget expenditure). Further, Pakistan's arms imports increased dramatically from 1980 to 2023 by over 20 per cent on average in the years when it received IMF disbursements in comparison to years when it did not receive the same. Tensions between India and Pakistan have heightened following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. India feels that Pakistan has failed to act on terror emanating from its territory and has been diverting funds from multilateral agencies to buy arms and ammunition. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that India's foreign policy has 'collapsed' and asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to explain why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan and who asked United States President Donald Trump to 'mediate' between the two South Asian neighbours. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Photograph: ANI Photo Gandhi tagged a post by the Congress which carried a video clip of Jaishankar answering questions on the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent tensions between India and Pakistan, during an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS "Will JJ explain: Why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to 'mediate' between India & Pakistan?" Gandhi said. "India's foreign policy has collapsed," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed. Gandhi on Thursday had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having compromised with India's prestige and asked him why he sacrificed the nation's interests by agreeing to halting of military hostilities against Pakistan. 'Modi ji, stop giving hollow speeches. Just tell: Why did you believe Pakistan's statement on terrorism? Why did you sacrifice India's interests by bowing to Trump? Why does your blood boil only in front of cameras? You have compromised with the prestige of India!' he had said in a post on X. Congress leaders have been hitting out at the External Affairs Minister, calling him 'Jaichand Jaishankar'. The reference is from the epic poem 'Prithviraj Raso' in which Jaichand, a Rajput ruler, is said to be allied with Muhammad Ghori against another Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. All India Congress Committee secretary in the office of the Congress president Gaurav Pandhi said, "Every single day that Jaichand Jaishankar continues as the Minister of External Affairs, he remains not just a liability but a serious threat to India's national interests. He should be removed from office without delay, and an independent inquiry must be instituted to investigate his failures." The Congress has been questioning the government for halting Operation Sindoor at a time when the armed forces were going strong and taking decisive action against terror camps in Pakistan. The war of words between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party over their leaders' statements on the Indo-Pak conflict has intensified this week, with the ruling party calling Rahul Gandhi 'modern age Mir Jafar' and the opposition party describing Jaishankar as 'new age Jaichand'. The two parties traded barbs over their remarks on Operation Sindoor and also posted memes on social media, each suggesting that the other has betrayed the nation. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi have attacked Jaishankar, alleging he had forewarned Pakistan about Operation Sindoor. The US President has been repeatedly claiming that he helped settle the tensions between India and Pakistan. India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The Indian forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the military confrontation after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. On May 10, Trump had announced that India and Pakistan agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire after a long night of talks 'mediated' by Washington. The Operation Sindoor undertaken by the Indian armed forces in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack has "completely exposed" the fact that terrorism in India is sponsored by Pakistan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah presents a medal to Ct Navjot Singh during the BSF Investiture Ceremony & Rustamji Memorial Lecture at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi, May 23, 2025. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo Shah also said that the operation showed the "firm" political will of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "precise" intelligence inputs from agencies, and the "lethal" capabilities of the armed forces. India hit as deep as '100-km' inside Pakistan after they dared to target a few Indian civilian and military setups following Operation Sindoor (on May 7), when nine terrorist camps were decimated, he said. Shah made the remarks while delivering the annual Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF) alongside its 22nd investiture ceremony. Raised in 1965, the BSF guards the over 6,000-km-long Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. KF Rustamji was the founding chief of the BSF. "The terrorists undertook an extreme attack in Pahalgam as they selectively chose innocents, asked their religion and killed them brutally in front of their families, including women and children," Shah said, adding that this "sin" was committed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. "India's response under Operation Sindoor was different," he said. Nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were "destroyed" within a few minutes, out of which two were the headquarters of terror outfits, Shah said. "We did not attack their military installations or air bases. We only hit the terrorist bases in Pakistan. Those who committed a criminal act on our land -- the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba -- their bases, houses, training camps and launchpads used against India were destroyed," Shah said. The home minister added, "We thought it was enough that we hit the terrorists but Pakistan proved that it was sponsoring terrorism, as they took the Indian strikes as an attack on themselves and targeted civilian locations and military bases in India." But the Indian air defence displayed "marvellous strength" as Pakistan could not touch any of India's installations, Shah said. "After this, we hit their air bases and gave a strong response by introducing them to our fire power and exposing their hollow air defence," he said. "We did not hit (Pakistan's) civilian installations. Operation Sindoor and the incidents that followed completely exposed the fact that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism in India because it was the Pakistan Army that replied after we hit their terror bases," Shah said. The home minister said Operation Sindoor "exposed" this fact as top Pakistan Army officers were seen offering namaz and shouldering the coffins of the terrorists who were killed. The operation was successful as it used the correct firepower and achieved its aims besides "showing the reality" to Pakistan, Shah said. The home minister also said that global experts and the world were "praising" the bravery and firepower of the Indian armed forces. The operation also brought to the fore the fact that the 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) achieved by India in defence production was successful, he said. Lauding the BSF for carrying out its duties during the operation, Shah said the force "proved its mettle" by not allowing the Pakistani forces to move even an inch. The home minister also paid condolences to the two BSF troopers who were killed during the operation along the International Border in Jammu. Shah recalled that India has been facing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for many decades but a "befitting reply was not given" until the Modi government came to power (in 2014). "We were defensive... Our police force and BSF did their best to protect the people but a befitting reply was not given. After 2014, when Prime minister Modi took charge, the biggest attack took place in Uri (2016) where our jawans were burnt alive. "We conducted a surgical strike (across the border) and hit the terrorists by entering their hideouts for the first time. We thought that terrorism will stop but it did not, and the Pulwama attack happened (in 2019)," Shah said. The Modi government gave a "stronger" response than Uri as it demolished terror bases across the front, Shah said. Lauding the BSF, Shah said, "The bravery shown by the BSF in the 1971 war that was imposed upon us, and the contributions made by the force (in the creation of Bangladesh) cannot be forgotten by India and neither should Bangladesh ever forget it." The BSF played a "significant" role in the creation of Bangladesh and set an "exemplary" standard of bravery by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces in fighting against injustice, Shah recalled. The home minister said the 2.75 lakh personnel-strong BSF was working in some of the most difficult conditions marred by geographical challenges along the two borders (with Pakistan and Bangladesh). "I want tell you that the Modi government is standing behind you like a rock and the Ministry of Home Affairs will soon implement some technology solutions and models to strengthen border security in areas where it is not possible to erect fences," Shah said. The home minister also awarded gallantry and other service medals to BSF personnel during the event, which was attained by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka, and BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary. An Indian delegation led by the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad will tour key European capitals to expose Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism and State-sponsored extremism. IMAGES: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Adampur air base in Punjab after Operation Sindoor. Photographs: @narendramodi/X, ANI Led by former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, a second delegation is visiting the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and the EU as part of India's diplomatic outreach following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the military riposte in the form of Operation Sindoor. The eight-member team includes leaders from across party lines and seasoned diplomats, tasked with briefing global partners on India's counter-terror strategy, seeking support to curb cross-border terrorism, and highlighting the broader threat of State-sponsored extremism emanating from Pakistan. Ravi Shankar Prasad IMAGE: Ravi Shankar Prasad. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo The MP from Patna Sahib heads India's delegation to Europe to brief partners on Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack. A former Union minister for law, communications and IT, he drove India's digital reforms and tightened social media regulations. His legal acumen and hardline security stance make him India's key voice to rally international support against state-backed terror. Daggubati Purandeswari IMAGE: Daggubati Purandeswari. Photograph: Kind courtesy wikipedia.org/Creative Commons Purandeswari, the late Telugu movie thespian and Andhra Pradesh CM N T Rama Rao's daughter, started with the Congress and joined the BJP in 2014 after opposing AP's bifurcation. The MP from Rajahmundry heads the BJP's Andhra unit. Priyanka Chaturvedi IMAGE: Priyanka Chaturvedi. Photograph: Kind courtesy Priyanka Chaturvedi/Instagram Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Chaturvedi was the Congress' national spokesperson before joining the Sena in 2019 after resigning over internal conflicts. Her role in the Operation Sindoor delegation sparked party debate, with senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut opposing Opposition participation. Controversy also followed her calling PM Modi the 'greatest leader', drawing criticism from party ranks. Ghulam Ali Khatana IMAGE: Ghulam Ali Khatana. Photograph: ANI Photo Khatana, a Gujjar Muslim leader and the BJP's Jammu & Kashmir spokesperson, is linked to the RSS-affiliated Muslim Rashtriya Manch. The Rajya Sabha member has accused the Congress of surrendering parts of J&K to Pakistan for political gain. Dr Amar Singh IMAGE: Dr Amar Singh. Photograph: ANI Photo A retired IAS officer who served as Madhya Pradesh principal secretary and held senior roles at the Food Corporation of India, Dr Singh joined the Congress in 2014 and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019. After the Pahalgam attack, he urged a special parliamentary session on national security and Operation Sindoor, and criticised the BJP's politicisation of the issue. 6. Samik Bhattacharya IMAGE: Samik Bhattacharya. Photograph: ANI Photo A BJP Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal since 2024, Bhattacharya joined the RSS at age eight and became a full-time BJP worker in 1985. He was the only BJP MLA in West Bengal (2014 to 2016; representing Basirhat Dakshin). Known for his fierce criticism of Mamata Banerjee's government, accusing it of corruption and violence. M J Akbar IMAGE: M J Akbar. Photograph: Kind courtesy wikipedia.org/Creative Commons Once a leading journalist, Akbar transitioned to politics as a Congress MP (1989-1991) before joining the BJP in 2014. He served as minister of state for external affairs (2016-2018) until resigning amid #MeToo allegations. His presence in the delegation highlights the government's trust in his erudition and diplomatic skills. Ambassador Pankaj Saran IMAGE: Ambassador Pankaj Saran. Photograph: Kind courtesy wikipedia.org/Creative Commons As a former deputy national security advisor (2018-2021), Saran played a crucial role in shaping India's strategic and security doctrines during a volatile global period, including the post-Balakot landscape. He previously served as India's ambassador to Russia and high commissioner to Bangladesh, where he was instrumental in finalising the landmark India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement. An expert in regional diplomacy, Saran is expected to engage European partners on aligning counter-terror policies, curbing extremist financing, and reaffirming India's democratic credentials. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff The Mumbai police are planning to regulate the entry and exit of visitors at Galaxy Apartments, the residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in Bandra, following incidents of trespassing on the premises, officials said on Friday. Photograph: Courtesy, Salman Khan/X The actor, who has received threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, has already been provided Y-plus security cover. Earlier this week, the police arrested a man and a woman for allegedly separately trespassing at Khan's building. The official said considering threats the actor has received and trespassing incidents, the police are thinking of regulating the entry of visitors and improving the security arrangements. He said since it is a private building, checking every visitor can be a challenge. According to sources, new visitors will be required to confirm their identity from the residents of the building to gain entry. The police said on Thursday that they had apprehended one Jeetendra Singh and Isha Chhabria on the charges of house trespassing in separate incidents. In April last year, several rounds were fired outside Galaxy Apartment allegedly by members of the Bishnoi gang. Maternity leave is integral to maternity benefits and reproductive rights are now recognised as part of international human rights law like right to health, privacy, equality and non-discrimination and dignity, the Supreme Court said on Friday. IMAGE: A view of the Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo The top court also set aside a Madras high court judgement declining maternity leave to a Tamil Nadu government school teacher and said she was entitled to the benefit despite having two children from a previous marriage. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan did not agree with the findings of the high court that had denied her maternity benefits. "Thus, as can be seen..., through various international conventions, the world community has recognised the broad spectrum of reproductive rights which includes maternity benefits. "Maternity leave is integral to maternity benefits. Reproductive rights are now recognized as part of several intersecting domains of international human rights law viz. the right to health, right to privacy, right to equality and non-discrimination and the right to dignity," the verdict said. The court emphasised the expansive scope of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, including the right to health, dignity, and reproductive choice. "By judicial interpretation, it has been held that life under Article 21 means life in its fullest sense; all that which makes life more meaningful, worth living like a human being. Right to life includes all the finer graces of human civilization, thus rendering this fundamental right a repository of various human rights. Right to life also includes the right to health. Right to live with human dignity and the right to privacy are now acknowledged facets of Article 21," it said. It also referred to Article 42, which mandates just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief and criticized a rigid interpretation of administrative rules that deny such benefits based on numerical limits on children. An English teacher at a government higher secondary school in Dharmapuri District, joined service in December 2012 and had two children from her first marriage, which ended in divorce in 2017. The children remain in the custody of her former husband. In 2018, she remarried and became pregnant in 2021 and applied for maternity leave from August 17, 2021, to May 13, 2022, covering both pre- and post-natal periods. Her request was rejected by Tamil Nadu authorities citing Fundamental Rule (FR) 101(a), which restricts maternity leave to women with fewer than two surviving children. This led her to challenge the decision in the Madras high court. A single judge bench of the high court ruled in her favour and ordered the education department to grant maternity leave. However, the state government appealed, and a division bench reversed this decision, prompting the teacher to approach the top court. The top court noted that the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, does not bar maternity leave for women with more than two children. Instead, it limits the duration of leave, 26 weeks for those with fewer than two children, and 12 weeks for those with more, it said, adding that thus, maternity leave itself is not denied based on the number of children. "There is no ceiling on the number of children to claim maternity benefit. The only restriction pertains to the duration of leave," it said and acknowledged that the teacher's current pregnancy was her first after entering government service and from her second marriage. While acknowledging the importance of population control policies, the verdict said that such objectives must be harmonised with the constitutional mandate to protect the rights and dignity of women. "Population control and reproductive rights are not mutually exclusive goals. They must be reconciled in a rational, humane manner," the bench said. The bench said it was unable to agree with the view taken by the division bench of the high court. "We accordingly set aside the judgment and order of the division bench of the high court dated 14.09.2022 and declare that appellant shall be granted maternity leave under FR 101(a). Maternity benefits which are admissible to the appellant shall be released to her within a period of two months from today," it ordered. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Friday said India has zero-tolerance for terrorism and New Delhi will never give in to nuclear blackmail, referring to the cross-border links to the Pahalgam massacre. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Johann Wadephul, in Berlin, Germany, May 23, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo In his remarks at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul after holding talks with him, the external affairs minister also said, India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally and there should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and told him that India is looking forward to working with his government to elevate and expand the bilateral strategic partnership. Jaishankar is in Berlin in the concluding leg of his three-nation tour to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. Addressing the press conference with Wadephul, Jaishankar said: "I came to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. Let me share with you what I conveyed to Mr Wadephul in that context. India has zero-tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail." "And, India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard," Jaishankar said. Wadephul delivered his remarks in German. Following the talks with the External Affairs Minister, the German foreign minister publicly condemned the terrorist attack on India, and supported India's right to defend itself against terrorism, sources said. Wadephul also advocated a bilateral solution between India and Pakistan, they said. Excellent meeting today with FM @JoWadephul in Berlin. Deeply appreciate Germany's understanding of India's right to defend itself against terrorism. Discussed making our Strategic Partnership stronger, deeper and closer. Identified areas of further promise and potential. Exchanged views on issues from our immediate neighborhood to global concerns and challenges. Look forward to welcoming him in India, Jaishankar said in a post on X after the meeting. The EAM, in his remarks at the press conference, also said India values Germany's understanding that every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism. After the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, India decimated nine terror camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Pakistan under Operation Sindoor with precision strikes early on May 7. Soon after, Pakistan attempted to attack the Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. The two sides reached an understanding on cessation of hostilities on May 10 after four days of confrontations. India has launched a diplomatic outreach as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a new normal, when New Delhi will consider any act of cross border terrorism as an act of war against India. The two foreign ministers also emphasised on 25 years of the Strategic Partnership between India and Germany. Wadephul said the relations are more diverse and Germany wants to deepen our ties while Jaishankar said that in recent years, our cooperation acquired many more facets, gained much stronger momentum. Germany for India is our largest economic partner in the European Union, in recent years, our cooperation has acquired many more facets and gained much stronger momentum, he said. The EAM said, India deeply values Germany's crucial and invaluable role in shaping our larger relationship with the EU. Observing that Germany has been one of the most consistent and powerful supporters of rapidly doing a free trade agreement, Jaishankar said, he is confident that if the two countries can meet the goal of FTA this year, there will be many more doors that will be opened to businesses on both sides. Jaishankar's visit comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in February issued directions to conclude the ambitious free trade agreement by the end of this year as the two leaders vowed to expand the India-EU strategic partnership in areas of defence, security and critical technology. German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann in New Delhi on April 2 had said that time is high, time is good to develop the EU-India free trade agreement. Earlier, after his meeting with Merz, Jaishankar said in a post on X that he conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi, and added: "Look forward to working with his government to elevate and expand our Strategic Partnership. Appreciate Germany's solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism." He also met Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche. Discussed ways to enhance our talent linkages, industry partnership and joint collaboration to build more resilient supply chains, Jaishankar said. He also held a good conversation with Gunter Sautter, Foreign & Security Policy Advisor to Merz. On Thursday, Jaishankar held a good interaction with members of the German Bundestag (Parliament), and appreciated their strong support for the continued growth of India-Germany relations. Local history Local History: The plows of the valleys are not the plows of the hills Christopher A. Tate appears in Windham County Superior Court/Criminal Division on Friday, May, 23, 2025, during an arraignment on charges relating to a bank robbery on May 22. 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 Welcome back to the Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. I'm RFE/RL correspondent Kian Sharifi. In this edition, I'm looking at how Tehran and Washington are digging in on the core nuclear issue: enrichment. The United States insists Iran cant enrich uranium; Iran maintains it wont give it up. With both sides refusing to budge, the standoff is heating up. What You Need To Know Nuclear Talks Head To Rome: After weeks of escalating rhetoric, Iran and the United States have agreed to resume nuclear talks in Rome, but both sides remain entrenched on core issues -- especially uranium enrichment. The US demands a total halt to enrichment, while Iran insists it will continue with or without a deal. The talks come amid reports that Israel is preparing for possible military action if diplomacy fails. Iran Hangs Azerbaijan Embassy Attacker: Iran executed Yasin Hosseinzadeh on May 21 for the deadly armed attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran in January 2023, which killed the embassys head of security and wounded two others. Iranian authorities said Hosseinzadeh acted out of personal motives, while Azerbaijan called the incident a terrorist act. The execution comes amid efforts to improve Iran-Azerbaijan relations, with both countries recently emphasizing the importance of cooperation and diplomatic security UK-Iran Tensions Soar Over Alleged Spy Plot: Tensions between the United Kingdom and Iran escalated after British authorities charged three London-based Iranian men with assisting Irans intelligence service and targeting journalists linked to Iran International, a broadcaster critical of Tehran. The men, arrested earlier this month, allegedly conducted surveillance from August 2024 to February 2025. Both countries summoned each other's diplomats in protest this week. The UK cited national security concerns, while Iran called the arrests politically motivated. The Big Issue All Roads Lead To Rome Following nearly two weeks of heightened tensions and diplomatic brinkmanship, Iran and the United States will resume nuclear negotiations in Rome on May 23. Despite agreeing to meet, both sides are holding firm on their demands. The United States, under President Donald Trump, insists Iran must halt all uranium enrichment, calling it essential to prevent weaponization. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed these demands as outrageous, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has vowed that enrichment will continue regardless of the outcome of the talks. The stakes are heightened by reports that Israel is actively preparing for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails. Meanwhile, European powers are threatening to reimpose UN sanctions unless a deal is reached soon, adding further pressure on Tehran. Domestic politics in both Washington and Tehran complicate compromise, with hard-liners on both sides urging their leaders not to back down. Why It Matters: The outcome of the Rome talks could reshape the security landscape of the Middle East. A diplomatic breakthrough might avert a military confrontation and restore limits on Irans nuclear program, while failure could trigger Israeli military action and the return of crippling UN sanctions. The stakes are not only regional -- global oil markets and nonproliferation norms all hang in the balance. What's Being Said: Khamenei has voiced deep skepticism about the prospects for progress, telling Iranians, I do not think nuclear talks with America will bring results. I do not know what will happen. Before leaving Tehran for Rome on May 23, Araqchi wrote on X that figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science, adding that an agreement is possible if the goal is to ensure Iran wont acquire nuclear weapons -- but impossible if the aim is to dismantle enrichment capabilities. On the American side, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff underscored Washingtons hard line, stating: Enrichment enables weaponization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this position before the US Senate, declaring, Any level of domestic enrichment is unacceptable and poses a direct threat, signaling that the Washington is unlikely to soften its stance. Expert Opinion: Robert Einhorn, a former special adviser to the US State Department on nonproliferation, told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that congressional Republicans have been inclined to support the policies of Trump. He added that any respectable deal negotiated by the US president would also likely have Democratic support -- especially if its seen as tough and enforceable. That's all from me for now. Until next time, Kian Sharifi If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here . It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. After nearly two weeks of escalating rhetoric that nearly led to the collapse of diplomacy, Iran and the United States have agreed to resume nuclear talks -- this time in Rome. Yet, as negotiators prepare to meet, both sides are digging in on their core demands, raising the stakes for what could be a decisive round of diplomacy. The main stumbling block remains uranium enrichment. The United States, under President Donald Trump, insists that Iran must halt all enrichment activities -- a demand US special envoy Steve Witkoff recently said was crucial because enrichment enables weaponization. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the point on May 21 when he told a Senate committee hearing that any level of domestic enrichment is unacceptable and poses a direct threat. Iran, meanwhile, shows no sign of backing down. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed US demands as outrageous and nonsense, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has insisted that Iran will enrich uranium with or without a deal. We have never abandoned diplomacy. We are still assessing whether, on that date and at that location, useful and productive negotiations can be held or not, Araqchi said on May 21, hours before Oman announced the next round of talks would be held in Rome on May 23. Domestic Pressure Driving Demand Despite this breakthrough, expectations remain low. Both parties have made clear that their fundamental positions have not shifted, and the atmosphere is charged with suspicion. I do not think nuclear talks with America will bring results. I do not know what will happen, Khamenei said earlier this week. Ali Vaez, the director of the Iran program at the International Crisis Group, says the US demand for zero enrichment stems from the prevailing perception in Washington that the Islamic republic is at its weakest. So, the belief is that compromising on enrichment is a mistake and the United States has to at least try to get what it has always wanted, Vaez told RFE/RLs Radio Farda. Domestic politics in both Washington and Tehran further complicate compromise. In the United States, the Trump administration is under pressure from congressional hardliners to demand a total ban on enrichment -- over 200 Republican lawmakers recently sent a letter urging no concessions on this front. Iran, meanwhile, faces internal pressure to defend what many see as a symbol of national pride. There are serious domestic constraints that inhibit the possibility of compromise on this fundamental issue, Robert Einhorn, a former special adviser to the US State Department on nonproliferation, told Radio Farda. All Iranians across the political spectrum take great pride in the enrichment program, he argued, adding that both Trump and Irans leadership were under pressure. Vaez said it was not yet clear whether the Trump administrations demand that Iran abandon enrichment was its bottom line or ideal outcome, but he speculated that it would be made clear in the next two or three weeks. The Israeli Factor And Threat Of War Reports earlier this year claimed that Trump pulled Israel back from launching strikes against Irans nuclear facilities in favor of diplomacy with Tehran. But the US president has warned that if negotiations collapse, the military option is very much on the table. CNN reported earlier this week that new US intelligence suggests Israel is actively preparing for a possible strike on Irans nuclear facilities if talks fail. US officials cite intercepted Israeli communications and military maneuvers as evidence that Israel is weighing its options. This looming threat adds urgency -- and peril -- to the Rome talks, as any military action could ignite a broader regional conflict. Menashe Amir, a Middle East expert based in Israel, said the assessment in Israel is that negotiations will fail and Iran is too weak now to respond to any attack due to Israel having weakened Tehrans regional network of armed groups and disrupted its missile production capabilities. The view among Israeli analysts is that the best time to strike Iran is between now and the next few weeks, Amir told Radio Farda. He said it was not easy to say with certainty whether Israel would attack Iran without US permission, but insisted that the country has both the capability and courage to do so, especially since the Israeli Army trains for this regularly. Irans two primary nuclear facilities are the underground enrichment plant at Natanz and the Fordow site, which is buried deep within a mountain. Some experts question whether even US weapons could reliably penetrate and fully disable these fortified sites. But Amir appeared confident that the sites physical location would not be an obstacle for Israel. He said there are methods to destroy underground nuclear facilities but declined to elaborate, citing security restrictions. Critics of military action say that, while it can destroy physical infrastructure, it will not be able to wipe out knowledge. Araqchi has said Iran will take special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities and materials if international bodies fail to take effective preventive measures against Israeli threats. Europe's Patience Wears Thin Complicating matters is Irans strained relationship with Britain, France, and Germany. Collectively known as the E3, the European powers have threatened to reimpose UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran if it fails to reach a deal with Washington. Iran has warned the E3 against the move, with Araqchi calling it a big mistake that would have consequences, including potentially leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The snapback of UN sanctions is a provision under the 2015 nuclear deal which expires in October. The E3 has reportedly given Iran until the end of June to reach an agreement with the United States. The Islamic republic has significantly expanded its nuclear program since Trump withdrew from the 2015 accord during his first term in office and reimposed sanctions against Tehran. Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and that it has no intention to develop a bomb. But it is now enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels and far above the 3.67 percent limit under the 2015 deal. While past US administrations struggled to rally domestic support for a nuclear deal with Iran, observers say Trump -- despite his polarizing style -- might face less resistance if he negotiates an agreement that includes strict conditions and monitoring. Einhorn said congressional Republicans have been inclined to support the policies of Trump, adding that any respectable deal negotiated by the US president would also likely have Democratic support -- especially if its seen as tough and enforceable. A fifth round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran has concluded in Rome with signs of limited progress in the negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. The negotiations, which were mediated by Oman at the residence of the country's ambassador to Italy, ended after about two hours. Both Washington and Tehran took tough positions heading into the talks on Iran's uranium enrichment, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there was potential for progress after Oman made several proposals. "We have just completed one of the most professional rounds of talks.... We firmly stated Iran's position.... The fact that we are now on a reasonable path, in my view, is itself a sign of progress," Araqchi told state television. "The proposals and solutions will be reviewed in respective capitals...and the next round of talks will be scheduled accordingly," he added. Ahead of the talks, Araqchi said on X that figuring out the path to a deal is not "rocket science," adding: "Zero nuclear weapons = we Do have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide." Omani Foreign Minister Mohammed Albusaidi said the round of talks ended with "some progress but no definitive outcome." He expressed hope that "in the coming days we will clarify the remaining issues, allowing us to move toward the common goal of reaching a lasting and honorable agreement" but provided no details. An unidentified senior US official said the talks lasted more than two hours and were both direct and indirect with Omani mediators. "The talks continue to be constructive -- we made further progress, but there is still work to be done. Both sides agreed to meet again in the near future. We are grateful to our Omani partners for their continued facilitation," the official said, according to Reuters. The main obstacle is Irans uranium enrichment capability -- something that the United States insists must be abandoned in any deal to ensure Iran will not weaponize its nuclear program. But retaining the ability to enrich uranium has become a matter of principle for Iran. Araqchi has said enrichment will continue with or without a deal. The Trump administration maintains that Iran must completely stop its enrichment activities -- a stance that US special envoy Steve Witkoff recently described as essential because enrichment enables weaponization. Echoing this position, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate committee on May 21 that any level of domestic enrichment is unacceptable and poses a direct threat. Witkoff, who has been representing the United States in the talks, has shifted his position since the Oman-mediated negotiations started in April. At one point, he suggested that Washington would agree to Iran enriching uranium to 3.67 percent purity -- as set under the 2015 nuclear accord that Trump abrogated in his first time in office. One idea put forward to salvage the talks and reach an agreement is the establishment of a regional nuclear consortium that would include Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with the potential for American involvement. Araqchi this week said Iran was not opposed to the idea but insisted no initiative would result in Iran giving up the ability to enrich uranium on its soil. A new report this week by the US Defense Intelligence Agency said Iran almost certainly is not producing nuclear weapons but has undertaken activities in recent years that better position it to produce them, if it chooses to do so. Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels, and has said that while it is willing to scale it back, it needs uranium enriched at 20 percent for its Tehran reactor. Meanwhile, European powers have threatened to trigger the 2015 deals snapback of UN sanctions against Iran if it fails to reach a deal with the United States by the end of June. The power to use the mechanism expires in October, so Iran, which has warned of consequences if the sanctions return, is in a race against time. Separately, Israel is reportedly preparing to strike Iranian nuclear sites in the absence of a deal, prompting Araqchi to warn of special measures Iran would take if attacked. Russian military intelligence (GRU) has targeted thousands of surveillance cameras across Romania and other NATO countries bordering Ukraine in an attempt to monitor the flow of military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv, according to a recent investigation involving the United States and several European nations. The sweeping cyber-espionage campaign, attributed to the notorious GRU unit 26165, began after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Also known as APT28 or Fancy Bear, GRU unit 26165 is a cyber group responsible for high-profile espionage campaigns against Western governments, defense, and logistics sectors. Investigators said they found that out of approximately 10,000 compromised IP addresses, nearly 1,000 belonged to surveillance cameras in Romania -- making it the second most-affected country after Ukraine itself. Other targeted nations included Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. The Russian hackers used sophisticated spearphishing tactics -- sending personalized emails designed to trick users into revealing login credentials on counterfeit websites, investigators said. In some cases, they distributed malware hidden in pornographic material. Once access was gained, attackers could collect sensitive metadata from the cameras, including their location, model, software version, and user information. This access allowed Russian operatives to monitor strategic sites in real time, such as border crossings, military installations, railway stations, and ports -- especially those involved in transporting aid to Ukraine. According to the investigation, the goal was to gather intelligence on the routes and timing of Western support shipments that were flowing over the border and into Ukraine as it fought to repel invading Russian troops. Romania, with its 650-kilometer border with Ukraine, is a crucial transit country for both refugees and aid. Key border points like Siret, Sighetu Marmatiei, and Galati, as well as Danube ports, have seen intense activity since the war began over three years ago. While the exact routes of military aid remain classified, the exposure of surveillance infrastructure poses serious security risks. A notable vulnerability stems from the widespread use of Chinese-made surveillance cameras (notably Hikvision and Dahua) in Romania, including by government agencies, the military, border police, and even Parliament. These brands have been banned or restricted in the US and other Western nations over security concerns, but remain prevalent in Romania. Romanian intelligence services did not take part in the multinational investigation led by the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Poland, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. In response to questions from RFE/RLs Romanian Service, Romanias Defense Ministry said it "does not have regulatory or oversight authority regarding the installation and operation of surveillance systems by individuals or legal entities in Romania." The ministry added, however, that relevant authorities were taking "necessary measures to prevent the unauthorized collection of information not intended for public disclosure regarding its military units and their activities." RFE/RL has also reached out to the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Directorate for Cybersecurity for comment. WASHINGTON -- Successive US administrations have long lobbied European allies to shoulder their fair burden for joint defense, but US President Donald Trump has taken a more bottom-line driven approach to NATO, publicly questioning why the United States should pay for the defense of rich European nations. And that tough rhetoric has shaken Europe out of its decades-long national security slumber, according to Russian-American scholar Leon Aron. Germany, the second-largest economy in NATO after the United States, in March passed reforms that would allow it to unlock billions in defense funding. Trump woke up Europe, whether he intended or not, Aron told RFE/RL. The Europeans don't like it, but actually, the end result was, I think, salutary. RFE/RL spoke with Aron, a senior fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute, as part of a series of interviews called America's Foreign Policy Shifts. Aron said that Trump alone would not have gotten Europe to scale up on defense. Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, unleashing the biggest war on the continent in 80 years, was an essential element, Aron argued. The combination of Trump and Ukraine, I think, moved them to really seriously contemplate the enormous delinquency in their national defenses, Aron said in a wide-ranging interview. If a decade ago, only three European members of NATO spent 2 percent of economic output on defense, the agreed-upon minimum, today only a few dont. However, Europes underinvestment in its own defense in the three decades following the end of the Cold War has left a mark, Aron 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. As Trump seeks to shift some military power from the European theater to the Asia-Pacific region to deter China, allies will struggle to compensate, he said. It will take the Europeans years to fill the hole left by the United States, Aron said. Theyre definitely awakened, but how they can technically arrange this very steep increase in their defense allocations remains to be seen. Aron, who was born in Moscow, focuses on US-Russia relations and Russian domestic policy. From 2014 to 2020, he served on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversaw the operations of US government-funded news outlets, including RFE/RL. He was a Russia advisor to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney during the latters unsuccessful bid as the Republican Partys 2012 presidential candidate. Ukraine War Amid US wars against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Romney in 2012 said that Russia and not international terrorism was Washingtons number one geopolitical foe. Two years later, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the seizure of Crimea, starting a war with Ukraine that expanded with the full-scale invasion eight years later. Since beginning his second term, Trump has been pushing aggressively for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine. After a flurry of diplomacy failed to convince Putin to agree to the 30-day cease-fire he was demanding, Trump said on May 16 that he needed to meet the Kremlin leader to end the conflict. I dont believe anything will happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together, Trump told reporters. Three days later, the US president held a third call with Putin, and it appeared to end with Trump siding with the Russian leaders position; namely, that a cease-fire can only come after Moscow and Kyiv reach an agreement on territorial control and peacekeepers among other issues. Russia and Ukraine are so far apart on the issues that it may take months at best for them to agree to a deal. Putin is widely believed to be buying time because his forces have momentum on the battlefield, and he has yet to achieve any major war aims, despite illegally laying claim to five regions of Ukraine. Trump conceded late last month that Putin might be playing him for time and threatened to further sanction Russia. Nonetheless, he spun the May 19 call as a success even as the Kremlin leader appeared to get his way. How far Putin can push Trump is probably the pivotal issue in this whole situation, Aron said. Managing Russia Aron said Trump, like nearly every U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, is drawn to the idea of managing relations with Moscow. There is something almost religious about this, he said. Trump is no different in that respect. However, unlike his predecessors, Trump doesnt delegate the Russia portfolio to seasoned diplomats, instead preferring a more personalized approach. Trump tapped his friend, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, who has no government experience, to carry out the talks with Russia. But that hands-on style, Aron said, may be playing into Putins strategy. Contrary to what Trump thinks, I believe Putin feels he can play him, Aron said. All he has to do is periodically massage his ego, periodically wave to him from the Kremlin, and things will go his way. Unfortunately, so far, its working. Putins war aims havent narrowed, Aron said. The Kremlin leader still aims to conquer Ukraine even though the costs of continuing the war are staggering. Agreeing to a cease-fire at the current line of conflict holds risks for his popularity, Aron said, even as many Russians want the war to end. He has to look at his domestic situation and decide how hes going to explain to his people the loss of what is now approaching probably close to a million soldiers, injured or killed, for essentially getting what they had to begin with: Donetsk, Luhansk, part of Zaporizhzhya, and a couple of slivers of land. Putin would need to further tighten the screws on the Russian people in the event of such a peace agreement. So far, repression has kept a lid on Russian public anger. At this point, he feels he has control of the situation, Aron said. Moving toward peace contains some very serious risks for him. Trump should alter his position and backstop a European-led peacekeeping force to monitor any eventual deal, Aron said. If Putin continues to drag his feet, Trump should ramp up sanctions on Russias oil industry, including targeting the countrys oil shipping fleet. "That's a very tangible blow to Putin, he said. This may move him toward at least contemplating peace seriously. China Watching But the long war in Ukraine has strategic implications beyond Europe, particularly for Trumps broader goal of focusing US policy on China, he said. Precisely because I assume the Trump administration wants to avoid a war with China over Taiwan, it ought to press Putin to settle for something that is not an outright defeat for Ukraine, Aron said. He said that rewarding Russian aggression could embolden Beijing and pointed to Chinas role in sustaining the war. Without China, there wouldnt be this war, Aron said. China essentially finances at least half of Russian battlefield expenses by purchasing Russian oil. Xi Jinping continues to maintain that lifeline. Meanwhile, Trumps protectionist trade policies could undermine the very alliances needed to confront China, Aron argued. Trump accused allies and adversaries alike of taking advantage of the United States through unfair trade practices and imposed 10 percent tariffs on most countries. If the American market is curtailed by tariffs, Europe -- especially Germany -- may turn back to China, Aron said. Germany became richer over the past three decades by sending exports to China, primarily cars, but also other luxury items. They pulled back after seeing Xis policies, but they may be forced to go back. It is a similar situation in the Global South, where the United States, China, and Russia have been vying for influence. Countries such as Vietnam, Congo, and Zimbabwe could also pivot toward China if they lose access to the US market, he said. Trump is also seeking to curtail US involvement abroad, slashing US international aid and reportedly planning to cut the diplomatic presence in Africa. While some Trump supporters have dismissed Africa as strategically unimportant, Aron said that retreating from the continent would be a mistake. Its not just that Russia and China would rush in to fill the gap, international terrorist groups would too, he added, pointing to Nigeria and Mali, where militant Islamic groups are active. Presence itself matters hugely symbolically, he said. The Trump administration has defended the policies, saying it is trying to align US aid and investment with its foreign policy goals. This is the third in a three-part series on Americas foreign policy shifts. The previous two installments ran on May 18 and May 11. To find those installments, click here. Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven democracies agreed during a meeting in western Canada that Russia could face further sanctions if it resists a push toward a cease-fire in its war in Ukraine. The G7 finance chiefs condemned Russia's "brutal war" in a communique on May 22 at the end of their meeting and said that if efforts to achieve a cease-fire failed, they would explore all possible options, including "further ramping up sanctions." The communique also said Russia's sovereign assets held in G7 jurisdictions would remain frozen until Moscow ended the war and paid for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. In addition, the ministers pledged to work together to ensure no countries or entities that financed or supplied the Russian war machine would be eligible to profit from the reconstruction of Ukraine. "That's a very big statement," said Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, calling it a fundamental pillar of the communique, which did not name China or other countries accused of supplying critical components to Russia. The ministers meeting in the Canadian Rocky Mountains sets the stage for a G7 summit in mid-June in a nearby mountain resort. US President Donald Trump will attend the summit, the White House confirmed on May 22. Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko attended the talks and urged the G7 to maintain pressure on Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not mention the G7 meeting in his evening video address but said Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to end the war. Ukraines interest is not to prolong the war, but to be prepared for any development. It is clear to the world that it is Russias fault the war is still ongoing, he said. We are doing all the necessary groundwork on our side. Whats needed is a reciprocal readiness from Russia -- and its not there now. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have accelerated and last week Russian and Ukrainian officials held their first face-to-face talks in more than three years. But the Kremlin said on May 22 that new peace talks with Ukraine had "yet to be agreed," disputing reports the two nations would soon hold negotiations at the Vatican. Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19 in a call he said was aimed at ending the "bloodbath," but neither the call nor the earlier direct talks resulted in Russia offering any concessions. Putin this week made a surprise visit to Russia's Kursk region, saying after his return that Russian forces are working to establish a buffer zone along the country's border with Ukraine. "Our forces are currently engaged in solving this task, hostile firing points are being actively suppressed, and the work is ongoing," Putin said on May 22. It was Putins first visit since Russian troops pushed out Ukrainian troops who had been occupying parts of the region since launching an incursion last year that appeared to catch Russia off guard. Kyiv rejected Putins buffer zone plan and criticized the statements as further proof that Russia has no interest in peace. "These new aggressive claims clearly reject peace efforts and show that Putin has been and remains the only reason the killing continues," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on X. Putin also issued instructions for a comprehensive reconstruction program to be worked out for the southern Russian regions affected by Ukrainian drone strikes and fires, including Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on May 23, freeing 270 soldiers and 120 civilians on each side in the swap held at Ukraine's border with Belarus. The exchange marked the first phase of a plan to return 1,000 prisoners from each country over several days. The Ukrainians who returned home were greeted by family members and the country's defense minister, who reiterated Ukraine's readiness for a 30-day cease-fire. Russia and Ukraine launched the biggest prisoner swap since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, exchanging hundreds of soldiers and civilians in a process that was set to continue over the weekend, officials in both countries said on May 23. "We are bringing our people home," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. "The first part of the agreement on the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange has been implemented." Zelenskyy said 390 people from each side were exchanged and the swap was expected to continue on May 24-25. That number included 270 soldiers and 120 civilians, Russian and Ukrainian officials said. Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia had "just completed" the swap, which has been in the works since peace talks in Istanbul one week ago, and that it would "go into effect shortly." "Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "This could lead to something big???" A day earlier, Zelenskyy said the agreement was perhaps the only real result of the 90-minute meeting between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Istanbul on May 16 -- the first direct peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials since shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The exchange took place at Ukraine's border with Belarus, a Russian ally that has supported the invasion without sending its own troops to fight in the war. Three women were among the 390 Ukrainians returning home, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on Telegram. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the 120 civilians released by Ukraine included residents of the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces held a swath of territory for months after a surprise invasion last August. A Ukrainian organization involved in exchanges said that 70 of the people swapped by Ukraine were Ukrainians who have been convicted of crimes such as collaborationism, treason, and terrorism and had expressed the desire to be sent to Russia. An exchange of 1,000 people from each side would be the largest of several prisoner swaps since the start of the full-scale invasion. Previous exchanges have not led to tangible progress on ending the war. Russia has rejected calls by Ukraine, the United States, and European countries for a 30-day cease-fire, and no new meeting has been scheduled in the wake of the negotiations in Istanbul. In a Truth Social post following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 19, Trump said that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations" toward a cease-fire and an end to the war. He suggested the Vatican as a possible venue for further talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threw cold water on that idea on May 23 and emphasized that no date for a new meeting had been set. "Many people are fantasizing about when and where it will take place. We don't have any ideas right now," Lavrov said in remarks at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, adding that it would be a bit inelegant for Russia and Ukraine, which are predominantly Orthodox Christian, to use a Catholic platform for the talks. "I think it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself to host delegations from two Orthodox countries in these circumstances," Lavrov said. Lavrov added that Russia will present Ukraine with a draft document outlining its terms for a potential long-term peace agreement as soon as the prisoner exchange is completed. Ukraine and European governments have accused Russia of conditioning a cease-fire on unacceptable demands and failing to negotiate in good faith. Many analysts say Putin has not given up on the goal of subjugating Ukraine. One of several major sticking points is the Kremlin's demand that Ukraine withdraw its forces from four partially Russian-occupied mainland regions that Moscow baselessly claims belong to Russia. Zelenskyy has stressed that Ukraine will not withdraw troops from its own territory. For the past decade, Yemen has stood as one of the worlds gravest humanitarian disasters, with more than 20 million people -- over half the population -- in need of aid. Now funding cuts, US and Israeli air strikes, and new sanctions are intensifying an already dire situation, according to aid groups and experts. In January, the United States redesignated the Iranian-backed Houthis, who control Yemens most populous areas, as a foreign terrorist organization. Two months later, it halted all US humanitarian aid to the country. Simultaneously, US and Israeli forces launched strikes on ports and airports in an effort to disrupt Houthi supply chains after the group fired drones and missiles at American and Israeli targets. It is almost impossible for any humanitarian organization to bring food and aid to Houthi-controlled areas because banks dont want to get in trouble with the US government over sanctions violations, said Bernd Kaussler, a professor at James Madison University and Yemen expert. The cutting-off of aid and designating the Houthis a terrorist organization -- that has really condemned all Yemenis to an absolute catastrophe, he said. This week, ahead of the seventh Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting in Brussels, more than 110 aid organizations urged world leaders to ramp up support for Yemen, warning that 2025 could be the worst year since the civil war erupted in 2014. The UNs $2.48 billion Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan for 2025 was less than 10 percent funded going into the May 22 meeting. The European Union pledged 80 million ($91 million) at the summit but that still leaves the plan less than 15 percent funded with seven months to go. A Nation in Collapse Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, descended into civil war in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, ousting the internationally recognized Sunni government. The group now controls much of the northwest, including Red Sea ports like Hodeidah that are lifelines for food and fuel. Years of fighting have devastated the economy, pushed millions to the brink of famine, and left more than half of the 377,000 conflict-related deaths in the first seven years of war tied to hunger or lack of medical care, according to the UN. Nearly half of all Yemeni children under 5 are stunted due to malnutrition, the UN said. Kaussler described the long-term impact on children as extraordinary, warning that many may never fully recover. Until recently, the United States was Yemens largest donor, contributing nearly $5.9 billion in aid over the past decade -- more than triple that of the EU. But that support has now stopped. Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump moved to dismantle the US Agency for International Development, redirecting foreign humanitarian and developmental aid to align with policy goals. Although most humanitarian programs were later reinstated, Yemen and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan were excluded. In cutting off Yemen, US officials voiced concerns that aid was being diverted by the Houthis, who control access to aid within the territory they hold. Kaussler acknowledged the risk but said cutting aid would backfire, adding it further destabilizes a country in an already volatile region, while also creating space for China to increase its soft-power footprint. Aid Blocked and Bombed The new US sanctions have forced multiple aid groups to suspend operations in Houthi-held territory, Amnesty International said. Islamic Relief, a UK-based charity, said sanctions have disrupted banking access and fund transfers, and urged exemptions to allow life-saving aid to get through. Meanwhile, US and Israeli strikes have targeted Houthi-held infrastructure in retaliation for attacks on Red Sea shipping and periodic missile fire on Israel. The port of Hodeidah and Sanaa airport -- which Israel says are used by the Houthis to import and transfer weapons -- were among the sites hit. In a May 20 statement, Islamic Relief warned that hitting critical infrastructure not only deepens economic and psychological hardship but also hinders humanitarian workers ability to reach the most vulnerable. The Houthis have also undermined aid delivery. In June 2024, they arrested 13 UN staff and several other aid workers during coordinated raids. Human rights groups say the Houthis since 2014 have arbitrarily detained and tortured hundreds of civilians, including humanitarian workers, many of whom have never been seen again. That has had a chilling effect on aid organizations operating or seeking to operate in Yemen. The Forgotten War As Yemens humanitarian emergency grinds into its second decade, international attention is still lacking, Kaussler said. Yemen has always been the forgotten war. It has vanished from our collective conscience, he said. There is no champion for Yemenis. Tom Tuite Dublin clampers have been ordered to compensate a motorist for repairs after his car was damaged during towing last year. Oscar Adonis Marchat, of Elton Park, Sandycove, Dublin, won a small claims case against Dublin Street Parking Services Ltd. He told Judge Peter White at Dublin District Court that he had to bring the civil action due to his car getting towed away in the city on July 16th last year. Mr Marchat testified that he had no issue with that and paid the fine, and the vehicle was unclamped. However, he told Judge White it showed a "failure signal" and would not start. The judge queried whether an anti-theft device was triggered to immobilise the car. Mr Marchat said that was not the issue, and his garage found that the steering column was damaged, "and that forced the car to shut down". Judge White heard Mr Marchat was left with a 553 repair bill, which he referred to the clampers, asking them to pay. He alleged they responded by saying they needed a private investigator and had to appoint someone to interview him and contact his garage to look into his complaint. But by late summer they had not got in touch about seeing the car. "I tried to follow up multiple times," the motorist said. Finally, he said, the investigator had told him he had come off the case and to deal directly with the parking company again. Mr Marchat got his car fixed at his own expense and provided documentation from his garage, a quote and an explanation for the damage. With no defence entered by Dublin Street Parking Services Ltd and noting the evidence furnished, Judge White accepted that the steering column was damaged during towing and granted Mr Marchat a decree for the full repair amount. Filming for an episode of a popular travel show on Australian TV called The Great Outdoors took place at various locations in County Roscommon last week. The production is supported by Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland. Set to air this summer on the Seven Network, a major TV network in Australia, the special Ireland episode will showcase outdoor experiences, breathtaking landscapes and warm hospitality to an audience of around one million viewers across Australia. The TV crew, including Australian TV presenter James Tobin, filmed at numerous locations such as Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, Kilronan Castle and on the River Shannon. Sofia Hansson, Tourism Irelands Manager for Australia and New Zealand, said: Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite Australian TV presenter James Tobin and The Great Outdoors crew to come and film on our beautiful island. Its a wonderful opportunity to highlight our fantastic outdoor activities and spectacular scenery to around one million Australians, inspiring them to come and experience the destination for themselves. Local community activist Declan Elwood has outlined the significant damage inflicted by the recent wildfires on the natural environment in West Roscommon. It's estimated that 1,300 acres of bogland and forestry have been burnt by the recent wildfires. Some of the devastation has occurred in a special area of conservation which is rich in unique flora and fauna. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd in the Marian Hall, Gorthaganny in response to the extensive fires in Gorthaganny and surrounding villages. A remedial plan for the affected areas will be discussed at the meeting. Listen to the interview here with Declan when the Herald visited the area a number of days ago. Alison O'Riordan Richard Satchwell's narrative of how his wife died after he held her off by the belt of her bathrobe is "absolutely farcical" and has more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese, a prosecution barrister has told a Central Criminal Court jury. Gerardine Small SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, on Friday gave her closing speech in the trial of Mr Satchwell, submitting that the the British truck driver had woven "a web of deceit" and continued his "fabricated narrative" over the years when he engaged with the media and "anyone who would indulge him". The Leicester man, Ms Small said, was "shamelessly brazen right up to the very end" until his wife's remains were discovered at the couple's home in Youghal, over six years after Tina Satchwell was reported missing. The trial has heard that on March 24th, 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 formally reported Ms Satchwell 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 home found her decomposed remains in a grave that had been dug almost one metre deep underneath the stairs. When re-arrested on suspicion of Tina's murder after her body was removed from their Cork home, Mr Satchwell told gardai that his wife "flew" at him with a chisel, that he fell backwards against the floor and described her death after he said he held her off by the belt of her bathrobe at her neck. The Assistant State Pathologist has told the trial that Tina's cause of death could not be determined due to the skeletal nature of her remains after they were found buried beneath her Cork home. Prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small outside at the Central Criminal Court. Photo: Collins Addressing the jurors in her closing speech on Friday, Ms Small said the case was "calling and screaming out" for them to apply their common sense and experience. Ms Small said that the jurors can infer intent from "the surrounding circumstances" of Mr Satchwell's actions, reactions and omissions, as well as the lies he told, the manner in which he concealed the body, the "whole web of deceit he wove" and the fact that it was not until Tina's body was found that his narrative changed. These, she said, were all matters for the jury to examine when they were looking at the accused intent. Counsel suggested that in the immediate aftermath of the killing, Mr Satchwell had not sought any medical help and made no calls to the emergency services. "Nothing; he doesn't contact anyone." Ms Small told the jurors that the accused created a false email to an international monkey rescue association at 10.42am on March 20, 2017 "in very close proximity to the killing", where he wrote: "I have put an awful lot of work into this and my wife is going to leave me as a result." "That is a very calculated move on Mr Satchwell's part," the prosecutor told the jury. "It's very deliberate and very reasoned and what he is doing is creating a digital footprint he can avail of later down the line....it's a safety net because further down the line, he can say she was alive at that stage." The barrister said another text message sent by the accused to "a Mr James" in a similar manner to the email were "two very deliberate and conniving actions" on the accused's part; "full of guile". In his first contact with gardai on March 24 2017, Ms Small said Mr Satchwell told officers he was not really worried about Tina because of the deterioration in their relationship; "again the deceit has been woven again". She said Mr Satchell had continued this "fabricated narrative and deceit" over the years when he engaged with the media and "anyone who would indulge him". Ms Small said during the accused's "enhanced cognitive interview" with gardai in June 2021, he still maintained the same narrative of how Tina had left him. She said when the accused told gardai he thought Tina may come knocking on his door, he did this "knowing full well she was buried under the concrete; it's absolutely callous". The lawyer outlined that when Mr Satchwell was first arrested for his wife's murder on October 10th, 2023, gardai had told him there was going to be an invasive search and that they "were going into the walls" of his home and digging up every inch of the house. Ms Small said at this stage, Tina's body hadn't been found, but officers asked the accused what he kept under the stairs. She said Mr Satchwell had told them "bits and pieces". "That illustrates how shamelessly brazen he is, right up to the very end, absolutely brazen and he maintains that position right to the bitter end until he is released from detention," said counsel. Counsel told the jurors that ultimately, Tina's decomposed body and skeletal remains were recovered when the cement under the stairs was broken. She said gardai then re-arrested the accused on October 12th. "He knows the body has been found, you would expect this is a road to Damascus moment, you would be forgiven for thinking that, but no. Richard Satchwell now embarks upon another narrative and another web of deceit; this narrative has more holes than a block of Swiss cheese, it is laden with discrepancies," she continued. Ms Small commented that Mr Satchwell's account of how his wife died was "totally implausible and self-serving". She went through his account on how Tina "flew" at him with a chisel and was on top of him trying to stab him. "Curiously this eight stone lady versus a six foot two man never manages and doesn't get a mark on him but nonetheless she is still stabbing at him," she commented. "For some reason he said he grabs her clothes but doesn't know it's a belt at the time, only after the deed he realises it's a belt, he said he is holding her off because he is terrified". Ms Small submitted that Mr Satchwell gave no detail of the struggle because he could not be then probed by gardai and "found out". She continued: "Tina is well capable of getting up, she has her left hand free and can stop her own death, it's absolutely farcical but that is what he is telling gardai." Ms Small noted that when the accused was asked by gardai to demonstrate what happened to his wife, he said he couldn't. She also said that when Mr Satchwell was asked how he held the belt around her throat, he said he didn't know. Counsel also submitted that when the accused was asked what had caused Tina to die, he could not say but went on in his interview "to set up" the defence of self-defence for himself. The trial continues this afternoon before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of five men and seven women, when Ms Small will continue her closing speech. 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 19th and March 20th, 2017, both dates inclusive. Donald Trump Demands Apple Manufacture iPhones in US, Threatens 25% Tariff on Foreign-Built Devices Neither Apple nor CEO Tim Cook has responded publicly to the remarks as of this writing. Former US President Donald Trump issued a strong statement on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, calling on Apple Inc. to shift iPhone production to the United States. In the post, Trump claimed he had previously informed Apple CEO Tim Cook of his expectations and warned that devices manufactured outside the US, including in India, should be subject to a substantial import tariff. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Advertisement The post immediately sparked reactions across political and economic spheres, reigniting debates over trade policy, domestic manufacturing, and tech industry practices. Apple, which has increasingly diversified its supply chain away from China, has ramped up production in India in recent years, with the country becoming a key hub for assembling iPhones intended for both domestic and international markets. Neither Apple nor CEO Tim Cook has responded publicly to the remarks as of this writing. The former president has long advocated for reshoring US manufacturing and has previously targeted companies outsourcing production overseas. During his presidency, Apple faced similar pressure, though the company maintained that its global supply chain was essential for meeting demand and managing costs. San Diego: Plane Crash in Residential Area All Aboard Feared Dead, 10 Homes Damaged San Diego: Plane Crash in Residential Area All Aboard Feared Dead, 10 Homes Damaged San Diego Plane Crash latest news: A private jet crashed into a San Diego neighborhood housing military families early Thursday morning, killing at least two people and injuring eight others, The New York Times reported, citing authorities. The crash made a direct hit on homes in the Tierrasanta neighborhood while families were asleep, according to Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy. The plane went down just before 4 a.m. Advertisement Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now, Eddy stated. Authorities confirmed that two people died and eight others were injured in the crash. Investigators believe both fatalities were passengers or crew members on the plane, and that no one on board survived. I cant quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said during a Thursday morning press conference. Advertisement San Diego officials have not yet released specific details about the aircraft, but said the plane had stopped in Wichita, Kansas, to refuel before the crash, as per New York Post report. San Diego plane crash (Image Courtesy: New York Post) According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, as reported, a Cessna Citation II jet was scheduled to arrive at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport at 3:47 a.m., after departing from Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita. The flight originally departed from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on Wednesday night. Advertisement Teterboro Airport, located about 6 miles from Manhattan, is frequently used by private and corporate jets, the report said. Cessna Citation II jets are typically valued between $900,000 and $1.3 million, according to listings on Trade-a-Plane.com. The crashed aircraft was registered to Daviator LLC, an Alaska-based company solely managed by 42-year-old David Shapiro of El Cajon, California. FAA records cited by CBS 8 indicate that Shapiro has been a certified flight instructor since 2010, with a license issued in Alaska. It is still unclear whether he was on board at the time of the crash. Advertisement Later, officials confirmed that among those killed was music industry executive David Shapiro, 42, according to the report. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, the report said. (For more news apart from San Diego: Plane Crash in Residential Area All Aboard Feared Dead, 10 Homes Damaged, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman) US Revokes Harvards Foreign Student Program Certification, Citing Alleged Pro-Hamas Sympathies and more citing an alleged failure to adhere to the law and perpetuating an unsafe...hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies US Revokes Harvards Foreign Student Program Certification, latest news: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the Trump administration, has revoked Harvard University's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effective immediately, citing an alleged failure to adhere to the law and perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. The decision bars Harvard from hosting international students on F-1 or J-1 visas for the 20252026 academic year. Advertisement I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked, a letter to Harvard University by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) read. Sharing the decision in a post on X, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem wrote, This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. In clear terms, it stated that enrolling foreign students at Harvard University is a privilege, not a right. Advertisement It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. In strong terms, the post stated, Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Key reasons cited include: Advertisement Harvards failure to provide requested information about foreign students. The universitys alleged creation of an unsafe and hostile campus environment, particularly toward Jewish students. The promotion of pro-Hamas sympathies and the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, which have been labeled as racist. Advertisement Harvards previous responses to DHS requests were deemed insufficient, and existing international students at Harvard must now transfer to maintain legal visa status. The letter in a strong statement states that this revocation serves as a warning to all universities about strict enforcement against anti-Americanism and antisemitism. If Harvard would like the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year, you must provide all of the information requested below within 72 hours, the letter read, sharing a 6-point listdirecting the university to provide information about: records of audio, video footage regarding illegal activity, regarding dangerous or violent activity, regarding threats to other students or university personnel, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnelwhether on or off campus, by a non-immigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. The university is also instructed to provideAny and all disciplinary records of all non-immigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years and of any protest activity involving a non-immigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years. The letter warns that false or incomplete responses may lead to criminal prosecution and could affect Harvard's ability to regain certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Please be advised that providing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent information may subject you to criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001. Other criminal and civil sanctions may also apply. The announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the Trump administration, comes in the wake of an incident on Wednesday near the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., where two employees of the Israeli Embassy were shot dead. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the killings of the two Israeli Embassy employees as horrible and said, These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on anti-Semitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, expressing condolences to the families of the two employees who were shot dead. A 30-year-old man, identified as Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, was arrested by authorities, NDTV reported. According to the report, which cited witnesses, the suspect shouted Free, Free Palestine as he was taken into custody. Israeli officials have described the act as a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the deaths of the two Israeli Embassy staff members in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice. (For more news apart from US Revokes Harvards Foreign Student Program Certification, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman) The Crushing of Humanity in Gaza Continues The European Union, the UK, and Canada have strongly condemned Netanyahus use of food and humanitarian aid as weapons of war. Editorial: When will the Israeli onslaught in Gaza stop? The massacre of humanity in Gaza continues unabated. Every day, around a hundred to a hundred and twenty people are being killedmany of them women and children. Over the past month, the Israeli government has not claimed to have killed any significant Hamas leaders through its daily bombings, except for one. Despite this failure, relentless bombings continue to rain down on refugee camps and hospitals. Not a single hospital in the entire Gaza Strip remains intact. Israels claims that Hamas operatives are hiding in hospital basements or using hospitals as weapons depots have consistently proven false. Advertisement More than 52,000 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives due to Israeli military operations. An estimated 22,000 more have died from starvation and disease. It is believed that one in every five residents of Gaza has been wounded in the war. Over 80% of homes have been destroyed. Less than 50% of buildings are still standing, and most of those are partially damaged. Despite the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes since the war began on October 7, 2023, Hamas has shown no willingness to surrender. Palestinians, who witness death daily, now desperately seek a ceasefire. Anti-Hamas protests among Palestinians have become a routine occurrence. Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains unsatisfied. He seems determined to make the entire Gaza Strip an Israeli territory. His singular goal appears to be a Palestinian-free Gaza, and in pursuit of that aim, the daily killing of 3040 Palestinian children does not seem to trouble him. This is why food and medical aid are not being allowed into Palestinian refugee camps or hospitals. Netanyahus actions reflect a mindset of indifference"Let them die, who cares." Advertisement Qatar, which has played a key role in mediations between Israel and Hamas, has called on the international community to collectively oppose Israel's inhumane behavior. Qatar also asserts that Israels genocidal policies will not succeed and are instead breeding a new generation of fierce opposition. Even within Israel, opposition to Netanyahu is mounting. On one hand, the families of the 9092 Israeli hostages held by Hamas are demanding their immediate release at any cost. On the other, many Israelis see their armys indiscriminate killing of the helpless and the innocent as a stain on Jewish identity. Critics claim Netanyahu is prolonging the war simply to extend his tenure as Prime Minister. No one seems willing to stand up for the Palestinians. Theyve seen for themselves how little concern the Arab world has for their suffering. Arab leaders continue to shed crocodile tears but refuse to take any real action. Their involvement has been limited to appeals to Donald Trump to rein in Netanyahua hope that has already faded. Trump, who initially claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, no longer even mentions Gaza. Advertisement Despite this bleak scenario, some European nations have begun to push back. The European Union, the UK, and Canada have strongly condemned Netanyahus use of food and humanitarian aid as weapons of war. In protest against Israels 80-day blockade on food and medical aid to Palestinians, these nations have threatened to reduce trade with Israel and impose extraordinary tariffs on its exports. They have also announced plans to halt the export of small arms and ammunition to Israel. It is true that as long as Netanyahu enjoys the support of the powerful Jewish lobby in the United States, he will likely continue to ignore European pressure. However, he is increasingly concerned about these nations expanding their influence in Syria and Lebanon. He now realizes that he no longer enjoys unchecked freedom to act in at least three neighboring countries. This growing pressure may eventually force him to soften his stance. Steve Rai Appointed Vancouver Police Chief, Marking Historic First for Punjabi Sikh Community The Vancouver Police Board highlighted Rai's leadership qualities, and dedication to community engagement as key reasons for his selection. Steve Rai Appointed Vancouver Police Chief Latest news today: In a historic appointment, Steve Rai has been named Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department, becoming the first Punjabi Sikh to hold the citys top policing role. Rai, a veteran of the force with over 30 years of service, brings deep experience and a long-standing commitment to the Vancouver community. He began his career with the Vancouver Police Department in the early 1990s and steadily rose through the ranks, serving in a variety of roles across patrol, investigations, and leadership positions. Advertisement Before joining the police, Rai was a member of the Canadian Armed Reserves while attending university, an experience that helped shape his values of discipline, service, and civic duty. Assistant Commissioner Adam Palmer said, "Huge congratulations to VPD Interim Chief Steve Rai on his well-deserved promotion to Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department!" The Vancouver Police Board highlighted Rai's leadership qualities, integrity, and dedication to community engagement as key reasons for his selection. "We are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Rai as the new Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department. With over three decades of distinguished service, he brings exceptional leadership, a proven record of excellence, and a deep commitment to the safety and well-being of our city. Please join us in congratulating Chief Rai!" said VPD Police Board. Advertisement Rai succeeds outgoing Chief Constable Adam Palmer, who retired earlier this year after serving in the role since 2015. As Chief Constable, Rai will oversee a department of more than 1,300 officers and staff at a time when public safety, equity in policing, and community relations remain high on the public agenda. (For more news apart from Steve Rai Appointed Vancouver Police Chief Latest news today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) An agreement with a strategic relevance A look at the UK-Ukraine minerals deal and its possible implications. Sursa foto: pixabay.com Corina Cristea, 04.07.2025, 14:00 Over the past 11 years, more precisely after Russias annexation of Crimea, the Americans have provided substantial military security aid to Ukraine, but all this time no US president has demanded compensation for this aid. Until that is, Donald Trump. In exchange he wants Ukraines rare earths. Intensely promoted by the White House leader, the agreement that gives the United States preferential access to new transactions with Ukrainian minerals and will finance investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine was finally signed at the end of April, after months of difficult negotiations and uncertainties that persisted until the last moment. A central element of the agreement is the creation of a joint US-Ukraine fund into which 50% of the profits and royalties due to the Ukrainian state from the new premises for the exploitation of natural resources in Ukraine will be channelled. These funds will be reinvested in new development projects. At the same time, any future military assistance provided by the US to Ukraine will be taken into account towards Washingtons contribution to the joint fund. What does the implementation of this economic partnership entail? Professor Stefan Popescu, a doctor in the history of contemporary international relations from Sorbonne, explains: It entails, first of all, peace. This is the essential condition for the implementation of this truly important agreement. Its mere conclusion is a success, especially after all the difficulties that have stood in its path, both on the American and the Ukrainian side, and not to forget that Europe also wanted the lions share of Ukraines critical minerals. Its being signed alone boosts the morale of the Ukrainian establishment in Kyiv and of the Ukrainian military on the front, who are defending their country. They are basically presented with a prospect, the fact that the United States of America still has an interest in Ukraine. The interest of the US in Ukraine is indeed great. Essential for industries such as defence, high-tech, aerospace and green energy, critical minerals include, among others, nickel and lithium, but also rare earths, a group of 17 metals essential for many high-tech electronic products, such as mobile phones, plasma TVs, computers, electrical car batteries, renewable energy systems and even military equipment. These are metals for which there are no viable substitutes. Total reserves of such minerals worldwide are estimated at around 99 million tonnes, of which around 36 million tonnes can be found in China, 19 million tonnes in Russia and the neighbouring countries and 13 million tonnes in the US. Without currently having any commercially operational rare earth mines, Ukraine appears to have 22 of the 34 minerals identified by the European Union as essential. According to Ukraines Geological Institute, the country is also home to lanthanum and cerium, used for televisions and lighting, neodymium, used in wind turbines and electric batteries, but also erbium and yttrium, whose applications range from nuclear energy to lasers. Ukraine is also a potential key supplier of lithium, beryllium, manganese, gallium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite and nickel, according to the World Economic Forum. Vital for batteries, ceramics and glass, lithium is found in very large quantities in Ukraine about 500 thousand tonnes, located in the centre, east and southeast of the country one of the largest confirmed reserves in Europe, according to the Geological Institute in Ukraine. The country also has reserves of titanium, but also graphite, namely 20% of global resources, an essential component of batteries for electric vehicles and nuclear reactors, as well as significant reserves of coal. However, a large part of Ukraines metal resources are now under Russian occupation, according to estimates by Ukrainian think tanks. How is this agreement viewed and why is it so important? In the Western world, the document signed by Washington and Kyiv is considered historic, while in Moscow it is ridiculed, with the Russians claiming that it transforms Ukraine into an American mining colony. Analysts, however, said it might realign the US and Ukraine, narrowing the possibility of a future peace agreement that may benefit Moscow. Moreover, in an interview for CBS television, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, said the agreement is an important part of future security guarantees. A very important aspect because an American economic presence is always accompanied by a military presence, and this situation can also have benefits for Romania, says Romanian military analyst Radu Tudor: If the gas, for example, that Ukraine has at its disposal could be in storage and exploitation in the Black Sea, then an American presence in the gas exploitation in the Black Sea or on the territory of Ukraine, near the border with Romania, could be exceptional news. Why? Because an American economic presence is always accompanied by a military presence. They will protect their exploitations, they will protect their people who work in that area, they will protect their billion-dollar businesses and they can only do this by deploying troops. The only country on NATOs eastern flank that can ensure a consistent American military presence to protect interests in Ukraine is Romania. We have a huge security interest in American troops not leaving Romania, in their numbers not being reduced, and whats more, the Ukrainians are helping us through an expanded economic agreement with energy resources, so that the Americans have troops available nearby to protect these billion-dollar businesses. Military analyst Radu Tudor adds that, Russia will remain a threat, it will not give up its aggressive policy, but the Americans know from history and its what they have done after World War II and where there is big business, there is also security and military protection. May 23, 2025 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 23.05.2025, 13:55 GOVERNMENT Nicusor Dan, validated by the Constitutional Court of Romania on Thursday as the winner of the presidential election, is set to officially begin his term in office on Monday, in a solemn session of Parliament. Immediately after the inauguration, he will have talks on the future government with the parliamentary parties, and his first choice for prime minister remains the current interim president Ilie Bolojan. At the same time, Nicusor Dan reiterated that the countrys financial situation is a priority, which is why, in addition to meetings with the heads of the ministries of finance and investment, he also began technical discussions with other important relevant institutions. In the context of the substantial budget deficit and the need to fund investment projects, the interim government Thursday approved a set of measures to facilitate quick access to European funds. In the next four and a half years, Romania will have to spend EUR 44 billion, but for the time being the next instalment of the EUR 13 billion grant obtained under the Recovery and Resilience Plan is awaited. In order to carry on the measures to reduce public spending, the finance minister Tanczos Barna says that a government with full powers is needed as soon as possible. FORUM The Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum, a major defence, security and foreign policy forum organised by the New Strategy Centre, which brings together diplomats and military officials from EU and NATO member and partner states, continues in Bucharest. The talks focus on the transatlantic relationships and the recalibration of the American military presence in Europe, the peace negotiations in Ukraine and support provided to the Republic of Moldova. At the opening of the forum, the president elect Nicusor Dan reaffirmed Romanias firm commitment to the pro-Western direction through its NATO and EU membership, and to the consolidation of the strategic partnership with the United States. One session focused on the Black Sea, as a strategic energy hub. Romania, through projects such as Neptun Deep, can consolidate its position as the main natural gas producer in the European Union, acquired last year, the energy minister Sebastian Burduja said. The strategic Black Sea area was also highlighted by the French minister delegate for European affairs, Benjamin Haddad, who mentioned, among other things, the joint NATO exercises carried out in Romania. The 9th edition of the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum, an event organised by the New Strategy Centre, comes to a close on Saturday. AWARD The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (Malta), Thursday received the Timisoara Award for European Values, the highest distinction granted by this Romanian city to international personalities who actively support community values. Metsola was nominated for this award for her courage and firm attitude in times of crisis, for her support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and for her efforts towards Romanias Schengen accession. At the end of the ceremony, Metsola stated that the award is not only a recognition of her work and that of her colleagues in the European Parliament, but also a signal regarding the need to safeguard European values, democracy and freedom. As for last Sundays presidential election, the head of the European Parliament said that Romanians sent a pro-European signal. Roberta Metsola mentioned that she had met with Romanias president-elect, Nicusor Dan, in Bucharest on Wednesday and that she was eager to start working with him. FAKE NEWS The Romanian defence ministry warns against new disinformation attempts regarding alleged preparations for military mobilisation and vows that there is no connection with the security context generated by the Russian Federations invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. The fake news comes as the defence ministry recently released information about the organisation of a training exercise in the south of the country between May 26-31, to assess the mobilisation capacity, the ministry spokesman, General Constantin Spanu, explained in a post on Inforadar, a platform dedicated to countering disinformation. CYBER SECURITY A large-scale cyber operation carried out by Russian military intelligence targeted surveillance infrastructure in several Eastern European countries in an attempt to track supply routes to Ukraine. According to a report made public by the UK and its allies, quoted by The Guardian, the attacked network included about 1,000 video cameras in Romania. British cyber-security services, together with partners from 10 other countries, including the US, France, Germany and Poland, warned that Russia had also used municipal networks, such as traffic cameras, to spy on transport flows. According to the report, almost 10,000 cameras were hacked into, 80% of which were in Ukraine. Romania is the second most affected country, with about 10% of the targeted devices. (AMP) Roberta Metsola receives award in Timisoara Romanians sent "a pro-European signal" in the presidential election, said the head of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who was awarded the Timisoara Prize for European Values. Photo: fb.com / Timisoara City Hall Sorin Iordan, 23.05.2025, 13:50 The President of the European Parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, received the Timisoara Prize for European Values on Thursday, the highest distinction of the city in western Romania granted to personalities who support fundamental European values. The distinction was granted to her for her firm attitude in times of crisis, her unconditional support for Ukraine and Moldova and her continuous efforts for Romanias accession to the Schengen area. During the ceremony, Roberta Metsola expressed her satisfaction that Romanians have elected a pro-European president, who shares the belief that Europe is a home of common values, and spoke about the need to continue defending these values and creating a stronger Europe. Roberta Metsola: Europe was forged by people who refused to accept the status quo, who dared to believe in something better. People who chose hope over fear, unity over division, possibility over pessimism. And few cities embody that European spirit more than Timisoara. A city of pioneers, of courage, of hope. A city that started the revolution of 1989. A city that knows the cost of freedom and the power of new beginnings. This is why I am deeply honored that the city of Timisoara has awarded the EP this recognition, for European values. I accept this honour on behalf of the entire European Parliament, of my fellow Members, and all those working every day to defend the values that unite us as Europeans. Because this award is more than a recognition it is a responsibility. A reminder that Europe, and the values that we stand for, can never be guaranteed but that they must be defended. Roberta Metsola thanked Romanians for the support they provided to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and stressed that Europe must strengthen its security in the context of the threat posed by Russia. Roberta Metsola: Russias war in Ukraine changed everything. Every Member State in Europe now understands that we can no longer rely on others for our security. We must take that responsibility seriously, if we are to push for a real and lasting peace on the basis of nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine. A safer Europe also means getting serious about enlargement . Moldova and Ukraine must continue on their path towards membership, and the Western Balkans cannot be left waiting another decade. If we do not step up, others will step in. A reaction also came from the Romanian Foreign Minister, Emil Hurezeanu. He welcomed Roberta Metsolas ability to discuss Europe with the general public in a direct manner, with both the mind and the soul, an ability that he considers extremely valuable in a period characterized by disinformation, fake news, alternative facts and polarization, when truth and integrity become valuable commodities. Regarding last Sundays election, following which the pro-Western mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, was elected president of Romania, the head of the EP said that the Romanians sent a pro-European signal, adding that she was looking forward to working with president Dan. (LS) "Have patience. Stocks don't go up immediately," said American investor Walter Schloss. While many stocks reward investors after being held with long-term conviction, a few can deliver impressive gains in a short span. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs yesterday. Were they a part of your portfolio? Prenetics Global Limited (PRE) Prenetics, a sciences company, touched a new 52-week high of $11.99 during intraday trading yesterday. The company is scheduled to announce its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, next month. For the first quarter of 2025, the company anticipates revenue between $11.5 million and $13 million, with an adjusted EBITDA loss projected between $5.5 million and $6.0 million. This marks an increase from the first quarter of 2024, when revenue was $6.4 million and the adjusted EBITDA loss was $4.1 million. Looking ahead to full-year 2025, Prenetics forecasts revenue of $73 million to $85 million, a substantial increase from $30.6 million in 2024. The adjusted EBITDA loss for this year is expected to narrow to a range of $13 million to $15 million, compared to a $22.2 million loss in the previous year. We alerted readers to PRE as recently as May 20, 2025, when it was trading at $7.00. The 52-week high of $11.99 reflects a gain of 71% in just 3 days. Vigil Neuroscience Inc. (VIGL) Vigil Neuroscience touched a new 52-week high of $7.95 during intraday trading yesterday. The company is all set to be acquired by Sanofi (SNY) for an upfront payment of $8.00 per share of common stock in cash. Vigil shareholders will receive a non-tradeable contingent value right (CVR), which could provide an additional $2.00 per share in cash if VG-3927 achieves a first commercial sale within a defined timeframe. When we alerted readers to VIGL on April 15, 2025, it was trading at $1.59. Sanofi's upfront offer of $8.00 per share represents a remarkable return of 403% in just over a month. ImmuCell Corp. (ICCC) Shares of ImmuCell Corp. (ICCC), an animal health company, touched a new 52-week high of $6.84 during intraday trading yesterday. The company has seen steady growth in product sales over the years, and its bottom line has shown meaningful improvement. For the full year 2024, product sales rose by an impressive 52%, reaching $26.5 million, compared to $17.5 million in 2023. While ImmuCell still reported a net loss of $2.16 million or $0.26 per share for 2024, it marked a significant improvement from the $5.78 million loss, or $0.75 per share, reported for the year ended December 31, 2023. Looking at more recent performance, product sales in Q1 2025 rose 11% year-over-year to approximately $8.1 million, compared to the same quarter in 2024. More notably, the company reported a net income of $1.4 million, or $0.16 per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, a strong turnaround from a net loss of $438,000, or $0.06 per share, in the prior-year period. We alerted readers to ICCC on Jan.10, 2025, when it was trading at $5.21. The 52-week high of $6.84 represents a gain of 31% in less than 5 months. LifeMD Inc. (LFMD) LifeMD, a telemedicine company, touched a new 52-week high of $11.65 during intraday trading yesterday, thanks to consistently strong financial results across recent quarters and an upbeat outlook, both of which have contributed to growing investor confidence. The company has a collaboration with Novo Nordisk (NVO) to deliver branded GLP-1 medications like Wegovy through a fully integrated care experience. Yesterday, the company announced a limited-time $299 introductory bundle for new self-pay patients prescribed Wegovy, which includes both the medication and access to LifeMD's virtual weight management program. For the full year of 2025, the company expects total revenues to be in the range of $268 million to $275 million, compared to total revenue of $212.5 million reported in 2024. When we alerted readers to LFMD on March 11, 2025, it was trading at $5.43. The 52-week high of $11.65 represents a return of nearly 115% in less than 3 months. iRhythm Technologies Inc. (IRTC) Shares of iRhythm, a digital healthcare company, touched a new 52-week high of $143.36 during intraday trading yesterday. Its flagship device is Zio AT, a prescription-only outpatient mobile cardiac telemetry device that monitors many irregular heart rhythms in non-critical care patients where real-time monitoring is not necessary. Following a solid finish to 2024, marked by increased revenue and a narrowed net loss, the company's first quarter of 2025 reflected sustained commercial momentum. This performance was driven by continued growth in innovative value-based care accounts and strong demand for Zio AT in the United States and the United Kingdom. Looking ahead to full year 2025, iRhythm expects revenue to range between $690 million and $700 million compared to revenue of $591.8 million reported in 2024. We alerted readers to IRTC on October 22, 2024, when it was at $70.11. The 52-week high of $143.36 represents a return of 104% in 7 months. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News About 130 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have crossed the border into Gaza this week after Israel eased 11 weeks of blockade. Reports say that amid difficult and fragile security situation on the ground, a convoy bound for warehouses of international aid organisations were looted. Six Hamas policemen were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike amid chaos. This is in addition to starvation-related deaths in the war-torn Palestinian enclave. "After nearly 80 days of a total blockade of humanitarian assistance, families still face a high risk of famine, and far more aid is urgently needed into the Gaza Strip," said top UN official Dujarric. UN aid coordination office OCHA confirmed that 90 trucks carrying nutrition supplies, flour, medicines and other critical stocks left the Kerem Shalom border crossing for multiple destinations inside Gaza. Food security experts recently warned that Gaza's population of more than two million people are at risk of famine, with nearly half a million facing starvation. Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue across Gaza, with reports of strikes, shelling and fresh ground incursions. The Al Awda hospital in North Gaza caught fire on Thursday, reportedly after being attacked. The medicine warehouse was heavily damaged, according to initial reports. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News After a weak start and a subsequent drop to lower levels, the Canadian market recovered well and is down just marginally a little past noon on Friday, with materials stocks attracting some strong buying. Communications, and healthcare stocks are trading weak. The early setback was due to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat that 50% tariffs will be imposed on imports from the European Union beginning June 1st. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the EU has "been very difficult to deal with" and said trade talks with the bloc are "going nowhere!" The U.S. President also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple iPhones that are not manufactured in the U.S. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index, which tumbled to 25,724.70 earlier in the session, was down 12.61 points or 0.05% at 25,841.40 a few minutes past noon. Tilray is down nearly 5%. Bausch Health Companies, Methanex, ATS Corporation, Novagold, Shopify, MDA Space, Magna International, CGI Inc., Transalta Corp., Canadian National Railway, Open Text Corporation, TFI International and BlackBerry are down 1 to 2.3%. Energy Fuels Inc. shares are soaring nearly 15%. Denison Mines, NexGen Energy and Cameco are up 10.2%, 10.1% and 8.7%, respectively. Dundee Precious Metals, Ngex Minerals, Aya Gold & Silver, G Mining Ventures, Equinox Gold, Lundin Gold, K92 Mining, Calibre Mining, IamGold Corp., and Lightspeed Commerce are up 3 to 5%. Vermilion Energy (VET.TO) is down 2%. The company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its Saskatchewan and Manitoba assets for cash proceeds of C$415 million. Net proceeds from the transaction will be directed towards debt repayment. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com A study from UC San Francisco found that preteens who spent more time on social media showed more signs of depression over time. The research, led by Dr. Jason Nagata of UCSF's Department of Pediatrics and funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers followed nearly 12,000 children, starting at ages 9 to 10 and checking in again when they were 12 to 13. They noticed that kids who used screens more often were more likely to develop symptoms of depression later, but kids who were already showing signs of depression didn't go on to use social media more. During the study period, the average time kids spent on social media each day jumped from 7 minutes to 73 minutes. At the same time, signs of depression increased by 35 percent. The results suggest that social media could contribute to mental problems, especially when it involves risks like cyberbullying or lack of sleep. "There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms," said Nagata. "These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms." It also found that 11- to 12-year-olds who were cyberbullied were over 2.5 times more likely to think about or attempt suicide a year later. They were also more likely to try substances like marijuana, nicotine, and alcohol during that time. "As a father of two young kids, I know that simply telling children to 'get off your phone' doesn't really work," said Nagata. "Parents can lead by example with open, nonjudgmental conversations about screen use. Setting screen-free times for the whole family, such as during meals or before bed, can help build healthier digital habits for everyone, including adults." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Health News Legal Practitioners Forum 2025 attendees Earlier this month, Rhodes University played host to some of South Africas most esteemed legal professionals during the 2025 Legal Practitioners Forum (LPF). Organised by Ms Sue Smailes, Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, in collaboration with the universitys Legal Unit, the event marked a significant milestone in legal collaboration across the countrys higher education sector. Held in Makhanda, many of the delegates were visiting the historic university town for the first time. The LPF, which comprises legal practitioners from all 26 public universities in South Africa, serves as a vital knowledge-sharing network. Its role has become increasingly important as universities navigate a complex and evolving legal landscape. Professor Sizwe Mabizela, Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, officially welcomed attendees, expressing deep appreciation for their crucial work. You play a vital role in defending the institutional integrity of our universities, he noted, emphasising the significance of legal professionals in navigating current challenges facing higher education. A major topic of concern at the forum was the conduct of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee in its interactions with public higher education institutions. Delegates raised alarm over what they perceived as public humiliation of universities, leading to robust discussions around the legal boundaries and powers held by the Committee versus those of individual institutions. Regulatory frameworks and the principles of constructive engagement were examined in detail. The forum also welcomed keynote speaker Advocate John Grogan, renowned labour law expert, author, and former Acting Judge of the Labour Court. Advocate Grogan addressed the rapidly shifting terrain of labour law, highlighting the mounting complexities faced by university legal teams. A particularly compelling session came from Advocate Nicola Molony, who addressed gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education institutions. Drawing on her work with Rhodes University following the #RUReferenceList protests, she detailed systemic reforms introduced to improve the handling of sexual offence complaints. Advocate Molony highlighted the confidentiality required in such cases and acknowledged the tension between transparency and victim protection, noting that while the public may not always see the outcomes, universities are actively addressing these issues behind the scenes. Another thought-provoking presentation was delivered by Mr Sandro Milo, Co-Managing Partner at Eversheds-Sutherland, entitled When universities take a stand: Academic freedom, institutional autonomy, governance and risk in the age of political pressure. Milos address sparked vigorous debate, referencing international controversies such as the Trump administrations withdrawal of funds from Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania over political and cultural flashpoints. The discussion also touched on the University of Cape Town professors legal challenge over anti-Israel resolutions. The legal implications of institutional autonomy and academic freedom were explored with reference to the Eastern Cape High Court decision in Chetty v Adesina (2007), which underscores the constitutional protections of academic freedom and the necessity for open, unfettered debate within university spaces. Rhodes Universitys hosting of the 2025 LPF not only spotlighted the institutions legal and ethical leadership but also provided a vital space for reflection, debate, and solidarity among the countrys legal professionals working in higher education. The sedan segment accounted for both a YoY and MoM decline in sales in view of rising dominance of SUVs Sedans in India have demonstrated lowest demand, with SUVs and even hatchbacks showing significantly higher sales figures. In the past month, sedan sales fell both year-on-year (YoY) and month-on-month (MoM), to a total of 29,128 units. This represents a decline of 3.52% YoY and 9.34% MoM. Top 10 Sedans April 2025 Maruti Dzire at No. 1 Total sales last month stood at 29,128 units, a 3.52% YoY decline from 30,190 units sold in April 2024. This related to a volume decline of 1,062 units. MoM sales too dipped by 9.34% over 32,129 unit sales of March 2025. Maruti Dzire continues to lead the sedan market, being the only sedan on this list, alongside Toyota Camry, to report positive sales growth on both YoY and MoM basis. Dzire, the No. 1 selling sedan in India saw its sales increase by 7.40% to 16,996 units in April 2025 from 15,825 unit sales of April 2025 to command a 58.35% market share. MoM sales also saw positive numbers with 9.94% growth from 15,460 unit sales of the previous month. The new Maruti Dzire hybrid was recently introduced in Philippines, though there are no indications of its launch plans in Indian markets. Hyundai Aura was at No. 2 with 4,224 unit sales. This was a 6.67% YoY and 16.75 MoM decline from 4,526 units and 5,074 units sold in April 2024 and March 2025 respectively. Honda Amaze has seen a 12.42% YoY growth at 2,019 units, up from 1,796 unit sales in April 2024. Its MoM sales however suffered a deep decline by 43.65%, a 1,564 unit volume de-growth from 3,583 units sold in March 2025. Steady YoY momentum was seen in the case of the VW Virtus with sales up by 35.67% YoY. There had been 1,605 units sold in April 2025. This was a volume growth of 422 units when seen in contrast to 1,183 unit sales of April 2024. However, its MoM sales declined by 17.57% from 1,947 units sold in March 2025. Sedan Sales April 2025 Lower down the sales order, Tata Tigor and its electric counterpart saw a 39.80% YoY and 11.66% MoM de-growth with 1,296 unit sales. It was followed by the Skoda Slavia, sales of which dipped to 1,048 units, down by 16.36% YoY and 11.56% MoM. This was even as the 2025 Skoda Slavia was introduced in March 2025, offering a host of new features. Hyundai Verna (1,005 units), Honda City (406 units), and Maruti Ciaz each suffered severe YoY and MoM de-growth. The biggest percentage drops came from the Honda City and Maruti Ciaz. Honda City sales dipped by 50.73% YoY and by 65.30% on a MoM basis. Ciaz sales also suffered steep decline by 62.98% YoY and 52.51% MoM. Toyota Camry, on the other hand, saw 208 unit sales in April 2025. This was a16.20% YoY growth from 179 units sold in April 2025. MoM sales too increased marginally by 2.46% over 203 unit sales of March 2025. Skoda Superb, of which 13 units had been sold in April 2024 has recorded no sales either in March or April 2025. With its fascinating ability to regrow entire limbs and internal organs, the Mexican axolotl is the ideal model for studying regeneration. Scientists from the lab of Elly Tanaka at IMBA now found a factor that tells cells which part of the arm to regenerate -- and used it to reprogram the identity of cells as they develop. This breakthrough for the regeneration research field has implications for tissue engineering, including in human tissues. The study was published in the journal Nature today. Living in a murky lake around Mexico City, surrounded by aggressive and cannibalistic neighbors, the axolotl lives at constant risk of losing a limb to a neighbor's nibble. Fortunately, lost limbs regrow and are functional in as few as eight weeks. To achieve this feat, the regrowing body parts must "know" their position within the axolotl body to regenerate the right structure for a specific location. A long-sought code that tells the cells where they are located and thereby gives body parts their identity has now been cracked by Elly Tanaka and her group at IMBA, the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The study, published in the journal Nature on 21 May, shows how cells "remember" their position and, upon injury, switch on a signal that is broadcast across the one side of the limb and instructs cells to regenerate structures that match with their location. Once regeneration starts, stem cells on the anterior (thumb) side express the signaling factor FGF8, while posterior (pinky) side stem cells express Shh. These two signals reinforce each other to tell cells to grow and pattern the regenerating arm -- a previous discovery from the Tanaka lab. "What we did not know was which cues ensure that FGF8 and Shh are turned on at the two sides of the limb during regeneration, the master mechanism that underlies positional information," explains Leo Otsuki, first author of the study. Axolotls have very large and complex genomes, and genetic tools readily available for other model organisms often do not exist for axolotls. Only recent advances with these molecular tools allowed the scientists to systematically search for signaling cues at the root of regeneration. Many cues to encode positional memory To their surprise, the researchers found hundreds of factors that differed in the anterior (thumb-side) versus the posterior (pinky-side) half of the limb even before an injury. But one gene stuck out: The appropriately named Hand2 is only expressed on the posterior side, and not at all in the anterior half. "Hand2 caught our attention because it is expressed in the right place to act as a positional cue," says Otsuki. Experiments on developing and regenerating limbs confirmed an important role of Hand2 in switching on Shh after injury -- demonstrating its role as a central player in providing positional information. The scientists arrived at a new model for limb regeneration, resembling a radio broadcast: In the fully developed limb, only cells on the posterior side express Hand2 at low levels. This Hand2 expression maintains the cells' stable memory of "being in the pinky zone." Upon injury, these cells dial up Hand2 expression to a higher level, which switches on the Shh signal in a subset of Hand2-expressing cells. Shh cells near the Shh source then regenerate in the form cells with posterior-part identity; cells far away from the Shh signal regenerate as anterior-part-cells. Once the limb is fully regenerated, cells again express Hand2 at a low level, ensuring a stable memory of their position is ready for the next cycle of injury and regeneration. These findings can for the first time explain how a preexisting positional memory signal re-activates upon injury to repeatedly induce correct patterning. Promising possibilities for tissue and organoid engineering The discovery, made possible by genetic manipulation and cell tracing tools developed in the Tanaka lab, is a major breakthrough for the entire regeneration field. "We uncovered a more flexible model of regeneration than we had expected, and this is really exciting. Our model predicted that we should be able to switch cells from an anterior identity to a posterior identity by taking advantage of the Shh broadcast," Otsuki explains. Indeed, when the researchers placed cells from the arm's thumb side into the pinky side, these thumb cells regenerated and behaved like pinky cells as they fell into the range of the Shh 'broadcast'. "We were able to reprogram cells from the anterior and change their identity." The ability to alter cell identities holds immense potential for tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. This concept -- essentially "reprogramming" cells to change their function -- could enable scientists to transform cells in different parts of the body. "Being able to convert cells remaining after an injury and change their function is critically important for applications in regenerative therapies," Otsuki points out. "It also enhances our ability to work with organoids and engineer tissues: We now know signals that can transform cell identity and change their regenerative outputs. Harnessing such signals might allow us to push cells beyond their normal biological limits." This could allow them to take on entirely new roles -- an exciting prospect for medical innovation. The discovery that the axolotl relies on the Hand2-Shh signaling circuit for limb regeneration is particularly promising. "These same genes are also present in humans, and the fact that the axolotl reuses this circuit during adult life to regenerate a limb is exciting. It suggests that, if similar memory exists in human limbs, scientists may one day be able to target them to unlock new regenerative capabilities," Elly Tanaka says. Moreover, by expressing this gene in areas where it is not typically active, such as the anterior half of the limb, it could direct cells to initiate limb formation from scratch. "This finding fuels optimism that, by using Hand2 expression along with other insights from the axolotl model, we may eventually be able to regrow limbs in mammals," Tanaka adds. "Such advances hold promise for the field of regenerative medicine." As legally required by the European Union, sustainable fisheries may not extract more fish than can regrow each year. Yet, about 70 per cent of commercially targeted fish stocks in northern EU waters are either overfished, have shrunken population sizes or have collapsed entirely. So why does the EU continue to miss its sustainable fisheries targets, despite a wealth of scientific data and policy instruments? Researchers at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Kiel University examined this question using the well-explored seas of northern Europe as a case study, with a particular focus on the western Baltic Sea. Their analysis is published in Science today. "We analysed the problems and concluded that they are driven by short-sighted national calls for higher, unsustainable catches, compromising all levels of decision making," says lead author Dr Rainer Froese, a fisheries scientist at GEOMAR. "Environmental factors such as warming waters and oxygen loss also play a role, but overfishing is so strong that it alone suffices to collapse stocks." He adds: "We propose a new approach to EU fisheries management that would overcome the problems, be doable within existing legislation, and lead to profitable fisheries from healthy fish stocks within a few years." The European path to setting annual quotas The EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states that fish populations are to be maintained or restored to levels that can support maximum sustainable catches. In northern Europe, this is implemented through legally binding total allowable catches (TACs), which are advised scientifically by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), an intergovernmental organization with working groups consisting mostly of scientists from national fisheries institutions. Based on this advice, the European Commission proposes annual quotas, which are then discussed with member states and stakeholders. Ultimately, the Council of EU Fisheries Ministers decides on the legally binding total allowable catch for the following year. Unfortunately, this process often results in quotas that were increased at every step -- with harmful consequences for fish stocks. Mismanagement in the western Baltic Sea The western Baltic Sea is a window into the dynamics between fish and fisheries -- a relatively simple ecosystem for which extensive data are available, and which is fished solely under EU control. "The western Baltic is dominated by three commercially important species: cod, herring and plaice," explains Prof. Dr Thorsten Reusch, Head of the Marine Ecology Research Division at GEOMAR. "Long-standing overfishing of cod and herring has led to the recent collapse of these fisheries, whereas flatfish such as plaice, flounder and dab -- which are less demanded and fished less intensively -- have shown stable or even increasing stock sizes." In 2022, overall, less than a tenth of what could have been sustainably caught from healthy stocks was actually landed. Reusch continues: "It's the small-scale coastal fishers who are suffering the most, often without having done anything wrong, except perhaps relying on fishing associations that lobbied for unsustainable quotas." Systematic overestimation and phantom recoveries In order to manage catches sustainably, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advises on how much fish of a given species of fish can be extracted annually without threatening the long-term viability of the stock. However, ICES's assessments repeatedly overpredicted stock sizes for the upcoming year for which sustainable catches were to be advised. These overly optimistic projections suggested that fish stocks were recovering and could support much higher catches, when, in reality, the stocks were stagnating or declining. "We're talking about 'phantom recoveries'," says Froese, "recoveries that were predicted but never happened." The overfishing ratchet: when the system undermines its own goals Building on the already too high ICES advice, the European Commission often proposed even higher catch limits, which the ministers in the EU Council usually approved, or sometimes increased further. As a result, official quotas permitted the capture of far more fish than the stocks could replenish. In some years even more than there were fish in the water. The authors call this process the 'overfishing ratchet': like a mechanical ratchet, it only turns in one direction. This process strongly favours higher catches at every step, leading to total allowable catches (TACs) that often exceed what fishers are able to catch. As Froese notes: "Interestingly, actual catches often remained below these inflated quotas -- simply because fishers stopped fishing when the cost of chasing the last fish exceeded the value of the catch." A new independent authority for ecosystem-based catch advice The Common Fisheries Policy included an explicit deadline of 2020 to end overfishing -- a goal that was clearly missed, as Thorsten Reusch points out. "Europe must play a leading role by making its own fisheries sustainable if it hopes to encourage other regions of the world to adopt sustainable fishing practices." His appeal: "The EU must take its sustainability goals seriously and implement the CFP according to its stated objectives, urgently." To make the process more transparent and ensure accountability, the researchers propose creating a new politically independent institution with a clear mandate to provide robust scientific estimates of the highest sustainable annual catch for every stock, in line with ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) principles. This would enable the EU to finally implement its own laws and effectively end overfishing. Froese concludes: "To be successful, such an institution would need to operate with the same level of independence as a central bank." He reiterates: "Implementing sound scientific advice can lead to highly profitable fisheries from large fish stocks in healthy European seas in many cases, and within a few years." The mere presence of a dead counterpart elicits strong responses across species. For example, many insects such as bees and ants will instinctively remove dead members from the hive, seemingly to keep the nest clear of any potential pathogens. Research from a team at University of Michigan describes a similar aversion for decedents among the roundworm C. elegans. They've discovered that the presence of dead members of their species has profound behavioral and physiological effects, leading the worms to more quickly reproduce and shortening their lifespans. "We felt this was quite a unique opportunity to start diving into what is happening mechanistically that enables C. elegans to detect a dead conscript and then what drives their reaction," said Matthias Truttmann, Ph.D., of the Department of Physiology at U-M Medical School, senior author on the paper, published in Cell Reports. First author was graduate student and Truttmann lab member Mirella Hernandez-Lima. Truttmann's lab studies the maintenance of proper protein function with aging. C. elegans, due to their relatively short lifespans, is an ideal model for studying life and life extension. Their recent study sprung from an observation that worms in a dish would move as far away as possible from deceased counterparts. The team wondered how the worms -- who do not have eyes- determined that their plate-mates were dead and whether there could be a universal death signal emitted by corpses. To test this, they introduced either worm corpses or fluid from the broken-down cells of worm corpses to different feeding areas on a plate. They observed that C. elegans showed strong avoidance behavior for both. Furthermore, they found that death perception led to reduced fitness in exposed worms and a short term increase in egg laying. They then systematically tested the worms' sensory neurons to determine which were necessary for the perception of death. They found two neurons that respond to olfactory information, AWB and ASH -- essentially the worms could smell death. Specifically, the team identified two metabolites, AMP and histidine, which are normally found inside of cells, were the death cues for C. elegans. "The neurons we identified are well known to be involved in behavioral responses to a variety of environmental cues," said Truttmann. "We have now found that they also detect a couple of intracellular metabolites that are not typically found in the environment. If they are around, it indicates that a cell has died, popped open, and that something has gone wrong." The presence of cellular metabolites where they should not be could very well be an evolutionarily maintained signal of death, says Truttmann. He points to a recent finding in humans that cells undergoing apoptosis (cell death) release metabolites that result in transcriptional changes in neighboring tissue. How the detection of this signal ultimately translates into altered health and behavior needs further research. As the national debate intensifies around immigration, a new study from the University of California School of Global Policy and Strategy is challenging conventional wisdom about "brain drain" -- the idea that when skilled workers emigrate from developing countries, their home economies suffer. Published in Science, the paper reveals high-skilled emigration from developing countries may actually boost economic development, human capital and innovation in migrants' countries of origin. With the U.S. undergoing sweeping immigration policy shifts -- which include tighter work visa rules, student visa restrictions and return migration barriers -- the new research highlights how these changes will reverberate through the U.S. labor market and economies around the world. "Global prosperity rises when countries have access to U.S. labor markets," said Gaurav Khanna, study coauthor and associate professor at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. "And the U.S. benefits when it continues to attract the best global talent -- whether it's tech innovators or trained nurses. But if we shut the door, we risk losing those global gains." Migration creates shared prosperity across borders The research offers compelling evidence that the opportunity to migrate to countries like the United States encourages people in lower-income countries to invest in education and training, creating downstream effects that strengthen both home and host countries. The researchers also found that high-skilled migrants often maintain professional ties across borders, facilitating trade, investment and innovation. Migrants returning from the U.S. to their home countries, for example, have helped connect domestic firms to international supply chains and research partnerships. "A lot of trade works through human networks," said Khanna. "If you've worked in the U.S. and return home, you know the people, the standards, the markets -- and you can help build business relationships. That creates lasting value." A global chain reaction The paper documented how expanded migration opportunities can trigger a positive chain reaction. When the U.S. increased nursing visa access for Filipinos, for example, enrollment in nursing schools surged -- creating nine new nurses in the Philippines for every one who migrated. Similar trends were observed in India, where increased access to H-1B visas increased the earnings of Indians in the U.S. by 10% and raised IT employment in India by 5.8%. Khanna and coauthors from Yale, Cornell, the World Bank, and other institutions, argue that recent changes in U.S. immigration risk undercutting both U.S. innovation and global progress. "Earning a U.S. salary is incredibly lucrative," said Khanna, who is a faculty affiliate at the 21st Century India Center, explained. "That motivates many people to acquire skills even if they never leave. Some eventually return home and work in their local economy; others send money back that helps educate children or launch businesses. All of this contributes to development. And for the U.S., by staying open to global talent, the country strengthens both its economy and the broader world." To understand whether high-skilled emigration helps or harms the countries people leave behind, the authors reviewed dozens of recent studies that took advantage of natural experiments. These include sudden changes in visa policies, international lotteries and other real-world events. The authors then analyzed how people and economies changed in response to these events -- and compared them to similar groups that weren't affected. The bank holiday getaway is likely to be a tricky one, with transport analysts predicting congested roads and the years busiest day so far for departing airports, while long-distance rail passengers dodge the start of more engineering work. Motoring organisations forecast traffic to be at its worst on Friday, with many drivers surveyed apparently taking an extra day off before the long weekend and half-term break for most schools in England and Wales. Guardian The US Federal Trade Commission has demanded documents from Media Matters about possible coordination with other media watchdogs accused by Elon Musk of helping orchestrate advertiser boycotts of X, according to a document seen by Reuters on Thursday. The civil investigative demand seen by Reuters seeks information about Media Matters communications with other groups that evaluate misinformation and hate speech in news and social media, including a World Federation of Advertisers initiative called Global Alliance for Responsible Media. X has ongoing lawsuits against both organizations. Guardian Labours windfall tax on oil and gas producers will leave 1.5bn barrels of oil and gas stuck in abandoned North Sea oil wells, according to new analysis of the levys impacts. The predicted output between now and 2050 has fallen 40pc from 3.6bn barrels of oil equivalent to just 2.1bn barrels, according to a report from investment bank Stifel. Telegraph Elon Musks Tesla has suffered yet another blow as the Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD outsold it in Europe for the first time last month. BYD overtook Teslas long-standing dominance in the Continents EV segment, registering 7,231 new battery-powered cars in April, while the US carmaker sold 7,165 units, according to figures from the market research firm Jato Dynamics. The Times Strava, the American exercise tracking platform beloved by middle-aged men in Lycra, has built on the momentum it gained during the pandemic to reach a valuation of $2.2 billion. It is the first time Strava has disclosed its valuation since a fundraising round in November 2020, when it was valued at $1.5 billion as millions of new subscribers flocked to the platform during Covid lockdowns. The Times Madeleine Thien (photo: Andrew Querner) Booker Prize finalist Madeleine Thien (Do Not Say We Have Nothing) is an award-winning novelist and short story writer living in Canada. Her fiction explores questions of memory, identity, and place, especially across generations and cultures. In The Book of Records (Norton; reviewed in this issue), Thien threads a conversation among three historical figures--poet Du Fu and philosophers Baruch Spinoza and Hannah Arendt--as well as a young girl and her father living in a near-future liminal space called the Sea. Lina is seven when she arrives at the Sea and 14 when she departs. What made Lina the right voice and 14 the right age to tell this story? I always knew that this number, 14, had a lot of weight for me. It is the moment when Lina has this immense curiosity and openness--she's porous. She's both humbled before the world and also coming into her own in a very solid and complicated way. Fourteen was that threshold moment, expressing the duality of leaving one part of life behind and embarking on another. Doors and thresholds are a huge part of the book as are those dualities, especially the contrast between the heaviness of the content and an unexpected lightness of tone. How were you able to strike such a balance? It was something I really struggled with, trying to hit what this melody, this depth was going to sound like. Because I had spent 10 years writing about very difficult things--the Cambodian genocide and the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen demonstrations--I carried that heaviness. But I also wanted to pursue that question of what makes us feel alive, what makes us feel light, what allows us to continue? How can you carry so many things and keep moving? Lina is looking for a way to continue. Her neighbors try to tell her these stories in a way that will make her courageous, that will give her information, give her real safeguards and companionship. It might sound simplistic, but I think part of where that lightness comes from is the fact that there's this intense tenderness and love between them. It's connected to that sense of wanting to hold one another aloft. Of all the figures in history, why these three--why Du Fu and Spinoza and Arendt? I had many people who passed through the Sea, but not all of them took up residence. These were the three who had meant a lot to me in my own life, and also seemed willing to stay and talk to this girl. These three had profoundly altered me in ways that I couldn't even put my finger on. That relationship was what I was trying to bring to life with Lina--the figures that have shaped you but that you also need to revisit in order to see them clearly. It's how they try to express themselves and what she actually picks up and how she interprets it and, yes, that's how we carry these ideas into the future. There are so many ideas that we could engage with. Descartes, Benjamin. Kant, Proust, so many indelible voices speaking into these stories. It's as if you've gathered all these great philosophical minds around one table; we just want to listen in. In all this, is there a question or a line of inquiry that you think best defines this book? The idea I kept coming back to was something said by Hannah when she talks about this world: Why is it so hard to love this world? We love it, but it can be a cruel, cruel place. And it's that friction, I think, that sometimes unbearable love of this home that's also our only home and our temporary home. I think it's the driving question that binds the threads of the novel. And then how to live an ethical life in that place? I think it's those two strands. What does it mean to make ethical choices in a world that sometimes has very little to recommend it? The books Lina keeps, they chronicle the life stories of these great voyagers, and perhaps what you've done is open it up to show how they are just one voyager among all of us? Exactly. That's so powerful. Yes, I was thinking about what names, what acts, what deeds cling to the famous lives, and how we find a trace of those other, often very heroic, acts by the nameless, without whom these people would not have survived. They're like bits of dust clinging to the robes of this figure that is going to end up on a statue. But they're all part of the same fabric. So much of the book is rooted in these historical figures, but at its center is the story of Lina's father and his work, which is more in the speculative fiction range. How does his story fit with theirs? I carried that story for a long time, not knowing how to write about this person who is a good person yet utterly betrays them in the most unethical way. And with the lives of Arendt, Du Fu, and Spinoza, I knew that unless I thought deeply about the kinds of hard questions they were asking, I would not be able to tell the story of the father. It's in the texture of it. It's in the choices he makes and doesn't make, it's in his desire for belonging. It's in his delusions as well and the righteousness that he feels, the right that he feels he has to make certain decisions. In some way that is hard for me to pinpoint, all those philosophies showed me the world in which Lina's father is living. I have this long fascination with the Internet, with what we keep there and the kind of library and archive that it is, with its mutability, with what it brings out in us. Its sense of the infinite like a Borgesian library. I just felt if I were writing about a kind of archive of the past, I couldn't not write about this cyber world that is our reality. It's not unlike The Book of Records itself, a record that is held in common and held by few, evolving and never ending, yet also somehow encircling us always. Yes, if you could transcribe what you just said, I think that is better than any answer I could give. It exactly sums up all those dynamics. Well, if I got it right, it's only because your book got it right first. I'm certain this is going to be one of those books that I keep thinking about and that I will ask others to consider with me because it's not like anything else I've ever read. Thank you. --Sara Beth West In a moment of glory and motivational for youth leadership and innovation, Aadhavan Karthikai Selvam has emerged as the Best Young Entrepreneur at the DUBAI Awards 2025, which was held at the SP Jain School of Global Management, Dubai Campus. The DUBAI Awards (Dynamic Ultimate Business and Academic Icon Awards), held by TEPA a prominent entrepreneur organization in the UAE and hosted in association with SP Jain School, honor business and academic excellence. The event this year hosted more than 300 of the UAE's and international guests of distinction, comprising entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and academicians. At a mere 16 years of age, Aadhavan, a Grade 11 student at Indus International School, Bangalore, has already achieved a global presence. He is the founder of Studywise, a novel startup that brings students face-to-face with corporate professionals from more than 20 industries and 100 nations. The platform provides real-time, experiential mentorship, providing students with rich insights into career opportunities, industry forces, and global opportunities long before they enter the professional world. In his emotional acceptance speech, Aadhavan stated, "I am deeply humbled to receive this award. My vision with Studywise is to empower students across the world by providing direct access to real-world knowledge and mentorship." Studywise is not a startup, but a movement designed to revolutionize the way students learn and prepare for their futures. The site has already made waves with its real-world approach to learning and recently was patented, marking Aadhavan as a not only young businessperson but as a dedicated innovator as well. This award is an important addition to Aadhavan's expanding list of awards, including: TEPA Award for Best Young Entrepreneur in UAE Winner of the Best Startup Pitch at the "Startup You" Program Apart from his business ventures, Aadhavan has done more than 10 industry-specific courses from highly acclaimed institutions like Harvard, MIT, Wharton, IIM Bangalore, Google, and IBM, highlighting his strong interest in knowledge development and leadership. Aadhavan Karthikai Selvam is more than a student or a startup entrepreneur s/he embodies a new generation of leaders who are leveraging technology, global connectivity, and passion to shape positive change. His story is a strong testament that age is not a hindrance to innovation and that the future of education is being written by students today. Indian Armys recent precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Intercepted communications reveal officers abandoning posts; a commander of Pakistans 75th Infantry Brigade near LoC refused to return to duty. 75th Infantry Brigade near Muzaffarabad was a primary target; multiple terror camps destroyed (Sawai Nala, Syedna Bilal Camp). The Indian Armys recent precision strikes under Operation Sindoor have caused significant disruption and panic within Pakistani military ranks, as intercepted communications reveal instances of officers abandoning their posts amid the offensive. Sources from the Indian Army disclosed that communications intercepted during the operation showed a commander of Pakistans 75th Infantry Brigade, positioned near the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), refusing to return to duty. When junior officers reached out about reopening their office, the commander reportedly responded, The office will open later, save your lives first. The 75th Infantry Brigade, based near Muzaffarabad, was among the primary targets of the Indian Armys retaliatory strikes against terror infrastructure across the border. The operation destroyed multiple camps, including those in the Sawai Nala area and Syedna Bilal Camp, eliminating over 100 terrorists and dismantling two major terrorist launch pads. In another intercepted conversation shared by the Indian Army with IANS, junior Pakistani officers expressed their concerns, saying, Our commander sahab escaped with great difficulty. Hes offering namaz in a mosque. Hes sent his men here and said he will return only when things calm down. These communications underline the fear and disarray within Pakistani forces. The operation also resulted in casualties on the Pakistani side. One intercept confirmed the death of Captain Hasnain Shah of the 16th Baloch Regiment in the Haji Peer sector. His body was reportedly transported to Abbottabad by Pakistans 6th Brigade. Indian officials estimate that at least 64 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and over 96 wounded in the strikes. Operation Sindoor specifically targeted terror hubs and infrastructure sheltering militants, deliberately avoiding civilian or non-military targets. The operation was launched in response to the brutal killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 by Pakistan-backed terrorists. The Indian Army emphasized thatspecifically targeted terror hubs and infrastructure sheltering militants, deliberately avoiding civilian or non-military targets. The operation was launched in response to the brutal killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 by Pakistan-backed terrorists. Following the strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, Pakistan retaliated by shelling both military and civilian areas on the Indian side of the LoC, prompting further Indian action to neutralize Pakistani military posts involved in cross-border aggression. Alabamas oldest state prison inmate has died. Floyd Lee Coleman, 106, died Wednesday at UAB Hospital, according to the Jefferson County Coroners Office. Coleman was serving a life sentence for the slaying and rape of a 7-year-old girl in Bessemer. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said Coleman was taken from William Donaldson Correctional Facility to UAB Hospital on May 19 with medical complications. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 6:09 p.m. Wednesday. Yates said there was no evidence of trauma or foul play. Coleman was originally sentenced in 1979 to die in Alabamas electric chair for the slaying and rape of the girl. But the Alabama Supreme Court in 1981 ordered a new trial because of the states new death sentence statute. Before the second trial, Coleman pleaded guilty and he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in August 1984. Coleman, according to the judges original sentencing order, was 60 years old when he saw the victim, 7-year-old Quintina Steele, on a Bessemer street on Dec. 3, 1978. He led her to his bedroom at a nearby rooming house an old hotel where he strangled her to death. In addition to those aspects of the defendants heinous, atrocious and cruel misconduct stated above, the court finds that the defendant during his commission of the charged capital felony, heartlessly and savagely beat and battered the person of the helpless and defenseless seven year old female child, Quintina Steele , Acting Circuit Judge Russell McElroy stated in the order. Coleman denied the claims and testified he was heavily intoxicated at the time of the crime. He served more than 45 years in prison. Mickey Hansen, a New Brighton resident and 20-year veteran of the FDNY, died of complications related to ALS on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the age of 44. (Courtesy of the Hansen family) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Gregory Mickey Hansen was still a civilian when he ran up lower Manhattans West Side on Sept. 11, moments after the planes hit the World Trade Center, in search of his sister and assisting others. His sister, Becky Hansen, survived. And in early 2002, her brother followed in the footsteps of their father, retired FDNY Capt. Greg Hansen, a 28-year veteran of the department. Joining the ranks of the FDNY was the start of a 20-year career that would see the younger Hansen promoted to lieutenant in 2019. On May 13, Hansen, 44, died of complications related to the ALS he had battled since 2021. A New Brighton resident and lifelong Staten Islander, Hansen graduated from Curtis High School and later studied at SUNY Oneonta and the College of Staten Island, according to his obituary. During his tenure with New Yorks Bravest as a member of Ladder 153 in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, he received multiple commendations, including one for carrying an unconscious 36-year-old man to safety during a 2010 fire. Committed to a life of helping others, he would go on to donate bone marrow to a woman who was battling leukemia, and volunteer for Special Rescue Operations in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He would just show up like he was a person of action, and he would never try to take credit for anything, his sister told the Advance/SILive.com. He would just do it kind of quietly; it wasnt really a big deal for him. To him, thats just what you do. He carried the American flag during the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run, and the Staten Island-based not-for-profit foundation provided Hansen, his wife, America, and their two children, Amaru and Clara, with a mortgage-free home renovated to accommodate his illness in 2022. I was always a very DIY guy, the late Hansen told the Advance/SILive.com at the time. I liked to do everything myself. And now I have to accept the help thats been given. Its hard, but Im super grateful for it. I feel a lot of pressure has been taken off me and my family. Upon news of his death, the foundation took to social media: It is with the greatest sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and Smart Home recipient, FDNY Lieutenant Greg Mickey Hansen. He courageously battled job-related ALS. Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with his wife, children, and the entire Hansen family. Mickey will always be in our hearts. His sacrifice and heroism will never be forgotten. Fly high with the angels, Mick. Rest easy. The Uniformed Firefighters Association also posted a tribute to their fallen brother: It is with great sadness the UFA announces the passing of Lt. Gregory Mick Hansen of E254/L153, who bravely battled ALS. A proud member of the ALS Watchdogs, Mick was a tireless advocate, raising awareness and exploring alternative care to improve the lives of those with ALS." Hundreds of friends, family and acquaintances have expressed an outpouring of love and sadness over Hansens death on a memorial website as well. Mickey Hansen was the guy you either wanted to be like, or wanted to be next to in any room he entered, said longtime friend Kate Farley, of Sunnyside. Thoughtful, caring, intelligent, resourceful and utterly hilarious, he was truly a force of a human being. The best way to honor Mickey is to go out into the world and be all of the things that he was, she said. Be better. Do better. Crack some jokes. Catch some fish. Treat people the way he did,' she said. That is how we can all honor his memory and keep him alive and with us always. A friend of more than 30 years, Ryan Farley considered Hansen to be like a brother. Mick was also a world-class whistler and yodeler, he pointed out. He was a force of nature and will be severely missed by anyone that had the pleasure to know him. Nobody like Mickey. Hansens brother-in-law, Mike Keaney, noted that he was not easy to categorize and could be considered a contradictory character with a unique sense of humor. He explained how the two of them could find themselves heading out to a hardcore punk matinee at CBGBs in Manhattan to catch classic bands like Bad Brains and Cro-Mags, before slipping on tuxedos to go sing along with a group of 80-year-old Irish men as part of a glee club with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. He kind of did what he enjoyed and then made everybody else enjoy it too, Becky Hansen added. Mickey Hansen is shown with his children, Amaru and Clara. (Courtesy of the Hansen family) She went on to explain that Hansens enthusiasm carried over to being a dad, not because he felt it was his fatherly duty, but because he genuinely wanted to teach his children to have the same type of passions in life that he did. He really was trying As the debilitating progression of ALS began to affect him to a point that he could barely move his body, Hansen had no choice but to retire from the FDNY. But his sister described how, even then, her brother approached his situation in his own distinctive way. He really believed that he could find a way out; he really was trying, she said. After trying everything mainstream medicine had to offer which for the incurable disease, known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is extremely limited Hansen turned to alternative remedies and spiritual practices, his sister said. He really held on to hope for a very long time, she said. And in that way, he kind of taught us how powerful hope is,' she said. He was very much living, even though he had limitations. Keaney said he knew he liked Hansen and knew that he didnt know anybody like him from their very first meeting. Over the years it became more apparent to me how lucky I am for having been in his life, he said. You know, theres that one kind of real lazy phrase that gets tossed around when describing people. But there is something to that with Mick he was not like anybody Ive ever known. A sign outside of a Brooklyn grocery store welcomes those on food assistance October 16, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Planned changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that Republicans say could save $300 billion in federal expenditures would also have devastating effects for the thousands of Staten Islanders who rely on the programs benefits, a top city official said Wednesday. The cuts in the officially short-titled One Big Beautiful Bill passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives early Thursday morning, and now heads to the Senate where it will likely face revisions. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, was the only Republican to join Democrats in opposing the legislation. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican representing Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn, touted the bills passage for the impact she says it will have lowering taxes for many Americans. Today marks a historic victory for Staten Islanders, Brooklynites, and families across the nation who have been calling for tax relief, she said. Our legislation builds on the success of President Trumps 2017 tax cuts by making those tax provisions permanent, while delivering additional tax relief for senior citizens, increasing the SALT and Standard Deductions, and expanding the Child Tax Credit to ensure hardworking Americans keep more of their hard-earned money. Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park said about 75,000 Staten Islanders rely on the program to help pay for their groceries, and that prospective changes, particularly around work requirements, will adversely impact them and other New Yorkers who receive the benefits. Food security is fundamental to New Yorkers, to Staten Islanders...SNAP supports people in their quest to be engaged members of the community, as well as filling a vital economic development role, Park said. I think SNAP is a critically-important program, and I hope that were going to be able to see some changes in the proposals that have been put on the table so far. Park raised several points of particular concern in Republicans Big Beautiful Bill that could significantly change the SNAP benefits so many New Yorkers rely on. Changes to work requirements for able-bodied adults, and a more limited age definition for dependents of adults receiving SNAP benefits would limit the number of recipients. Park said she believed those work requirements were actually more about getting people off SNAP than encouraging their employment. This is masked as connecting people to employment, but really, I think it is about getting to that $300 billion cut number, so that there is support for tax breaks for the wealthiest, she said. According to a fact sheet shared by the House Committee on Agriculture, the bill as written would raise the age of SNAP work requirements for people without disabilities from 54 to 64. Also, people with dependent children do not need to meet SNAP work requirements, but the bill lowers the age of dependent children from 18 to 7. The bill keeps the 18-year-old dependent child definition for the live-in spouses of people who meet the work requirement provisions. A single parent with an eight year old is now going to be have these incredibly stringent work requirements for their SNAP benefits, Park said. The person who really suffers in that situation is that eight year old. Additionally, the largest savings based on changes to SNAP would come from increased cost-sharing for state governments, something Park said to her understanding, New York isnt well-positioned to handle. However, Malliotakis said that the proposed cost sharing is actually because of SNAP payments the state has made in error. New York has a payment error rate that surpasses the national average and has doubled in the last few years, the congresswoman, who backs the Big Beautiful Bill, said. As we look to eliminate fraud and waste, the state has two years to reduce its wrongful payments or it will have to fund a greater share of SNAP. Malliotakis did not address an emailed question about what impact she thinks SNAP cuts will have on people in her district who rely on the program. Information from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance shows that of the 121,536 people who receive SNAP benefits in her district, 31% are children and 29% are elderly. A drummer who was a founding member of a popular American hard rock band has been killed the crash of a private plane. Daniel Williams, the former drummer of the metalcore group The Devil Wears Prada, died in the crash in San Diego. Also killed was top music industry agent David Shapiro, the New York Post reported. The two were aboard a private jet along with four other passengers that had taken off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood that houses military families at around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board said that the plane hit a power line in foggy weather. It then crashed into a home, setting it ablaze. Nobody on the ground was killed or injured. Authorities have yet to release the names of the other four passengers. No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever, Williams former bandmates wrote on social media alongside a photo of Williams. Williams last social media post hauntingly showed him in the planes cockpit, the aircrafts yoke between his legs. The photo was captioned, Here we gooooo. An earlier photo of the planes controls and windshield had the caption: Hey. Hey you look at me Im the (co)pilot now. Williams six years ago survived a mass shooting in his native state of Ohio. The drummer was in Ned Peppers bar in Dayton when gunman Connor Betts killed nine and wounded 27 on Aug. 4, 2019. Cops killed Betts in the midst of his murderous rampage. I was in Ned Peppers. Im still not sure exactly what happened. People were piling on top of each other to get out. Its all a blur. Fking awful, Williams wrote at the time on X. Roughly 100 Staten Islanders gathered at the Unitarian Church of Staten Island in New Brighton for an immigration town hall on Wednesday, May 21. Advance/SILive.com | Erik Bascome STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Concerned Staten Islanders recently gathered to discuss pressing national immigration issues and their impact at the local level amid growing concerns over ICE enforcement, deportation policies and what they deem as a lack of due process under President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, roughly 100 borough residents packed the Unitarian Church of Staten Island in New Brighton for a town hall meeting focused specifically on issues facing the immigrant community. There are a lot of different things that are going on right now, but immigration kind of weaves its way through almost everything that we are dealing with from our economy and our budget and our education, to our community, our due process rights, our First Amendment rights, our Fifth Amendment rights, said event organizer Michael Decillis, who grew up in Westerleigh and now lives in Bay Ridge. Decillis had previously organized an Empty Chair Town Hall at All Saints Episcopal Church in Willowbrook last month to protest recent actions taken by the federal government and urge Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, the Republican congressmember who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, to host a town hall to hear directly from her constituents. Immigration issues were among the top concerns mentioned during last months event, prompting Decillis to organize Wednesdays town hall to discuss these issues in more depth. He spoke to the difficulty of even organizing such an event in todays political climate, where both immigrants themselves and the organizations that assist them are fearful of being targeted and detained by authorities. There are a lot of people who are the ones affected most, who are working with the immigrant population that cant be here tonight because of the fear that they are going to be targeted, singled out, and that their organizations are going to be raided, Decillis said. Many of the events attendees were white U.S. citizens looking to serve as allies to the thousands of local immigrants who are now fearful of speaking out. Yesenia Mata, executive director of La Colmena, a local community-based organization that supports low-wage immigrant workers through advocacy, education and legal assistance, praised the organizers and attendees for their efforts to assist the struggling immigrant community, something she says her organization and those they assist are incredibly grateful for. I just wanted to acknowledge everyone whos here in the room as allies because that is very important right now. I know many immigrants, as much as they want to advocate for themselves, they are unable to. As someone who organizes immigrants, they were very happy to see that this is happening, and that it doesnt have to be them doing this work alone, Mata said. Decillis discussed concerns regarding what he alleged as violations of basic constitutional rights by the Trump administration, including targeting residents for speaking out in violation of the First Amendment and deporting residents without due process in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Attendees also discussed the racial disparities in immigration enforcement, with non-white, Spanish-speaking immigrants bearing the brunt of the countrys deportation efforts while Ukrainians and white South Africans are welcomed in with open arms." The erosion of these rights are some of the most important and fundamental because it goes to the absolute heart of what our democracy is. So we talk about immigration, we talk about immigrants, were talking about all of us. They desperately want to separate us into different rooms, into different colors, into different tax brackets. They want that. This isnt an immigrant community. It is our community. Staten Island is one community, Decillis said. Rev. Dr. Stephanie Jaeger, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stapleton, was in attendance to discuss the role that religious communities have played in aiding immigrants throughout history. In the history of the religious community in the United States, its churches, its all faith communities that have been critical centers of support and integration of immigrants into the rich fabric of America, and particularly in cities like New York, into the beautiful multicultural tapestry that we so love and that we so embrace, Jaeger said. Why am I, as a religious person, standing here talking about immigration? It is because, above all else, my faith calls me to care for the vulnerable. I think that is another way to frame the immigration debate when you are talking to people who are not sympathetic is to remember that we are called, in every faith tradition, to care for the vulnerable, she added. How you can help Various residents in attendance asked about ways they can help, with organizers urging them to contribute monetarily and offer to volunteer at local immigrant-service organizations, in addition to continuing to apply pressure to the boroughs elected officials. During the event, attendees continued months-long calls for Malliotakis, who was not in attendance, to host a public town hall and address her constituents concerns head on. A representative for Malliotakis told the Advance/SILive.com that she was in Washington D.C. during Wednesdays event. Nicole was in Washington doing her job restoring the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction, eliminating the income tax most senior citizens pay on their social security and providing other tax relief for hardworking Staten Islanders, while preserving Medicare and Medicaid for our seniors and disabled. The people of Staten Island know she has their backs, never stops fighting for them and is delivering results," the representative said in a written statement. They like the program. Its the name that they have trouble with. Included in the big, beautiful tax bill narrowly passed by the House early Thursday morning is a provision that would create savings accounts for newborns. Under the legislation, the federal government would pony up a one-time deposit of $1,000 into each new account. The accounts were formerly called Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement, or MAGA Accounts, a play on President Donald Trumps signature Make America Great Again campaign slogan. But now that the bill has been passed in the House, the accounts are known as Trump Accounts, according to CNBC. HuffPost said that many think the idea is a good one, and that Democrats have proposed such accounts in the past. But critics simply hate the name, and took to social media to say so. Gross, said one on X. This is so incredibly creepy, said another. These republicans are definitely in a cult, wrote one X user. But one poster seemed to think that the moniker actually made sense. Heckgo ahead and name it after a big baby, they posted on X. Money in the account can be used later for education expenses or credentials, the down payment on a first home or as capital to start a small business, CNBC said. GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who led the Trump Accounts effort, said that the money will give kids the miracle of the compound growth, the ability to accumulate wealth, which is transformational. Account earnings will grow tax-deferred. Qualified withdrawals are taxed at the long-term capital-gains rate. This isnt all that different from the tax treatment you would get from a typical brokerage account, Sam Taube, NerdWallets lead investing writer, told CNBC. The House tax bill now heads to the Senate. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton held a press conference outside the 120th Precinct on Friday, May 23, to celebrate the inclusion of her legislation to restore the NYPD's 20-year service retirement in the new state budget. (Courtesy of Scarcella-Spanton's office) Courtesy of Scarcella-Spanton's office STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City police officers can once again retire with full benefits after two decades on the job courtesy of legislation authored by one of Staten Islands elected officials. On Friday, state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton held a press conference outside the 120th Precinct to celebrate the inclusion of her legislation to restore the NYPDs 20-year service retirement in the new state budget. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was the only New York City congressmember to vote in favor of the federal bill passed Thursday advancing President Donald Trumps domestic agenda, and one Democratic mayoral candidate wants to know why. On Friday, Comptroller Brad Lander challenged Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island and part of south Brooklyn, to a Wednesday, May 28 debate at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge over her vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and its impact on local healthcare. A monthly temperature outlook by the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center revealed that some parts of New York may generally experience elevated temperatures this June. (The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. With many schools set to host graduations in June, parents and loved ones may be wondering whether or not theyll need to pack a fan or an umbrella. Those scheduled to attend such ceremonies should monitor their weekly forecasts as given the latest temperature outlook some of those celebratory moments could prove excessively warm and wet. While temperatures will obviously be warmer next month leading into summer, recent monthly outlooks by the National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center revealed that June is shaping up to be both warmer and rainier than usual. The temperature outlook, issued on May 15, gives New York City, the Hudson Valley and parts of central New York a 33-40% probability of temperatures generally measuring above average over the course of June. The remainder of the state areas north and west have equal chances of predominantly recording temperatures above average or below average in the month of June. Typically, the average temperature for the month of June in Central Park is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, according to 1991-2020 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The forecast for heightened temperatures in June comes on the heels of a summer outlook from April which indicated that it was likely June, July and August would be characterized by above-average temperatures. A monthly precipitation outlook by the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center is calling for elevated precipitation amounts across New York this June. (The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center) Not only will it be warmer this June, but the latest outlooks reveal that it may also be a rainier month. The monthly precipitation outlook, also issued on May 15, revealed that the entirety of New York state has a 33-40% chance of recording above-average precipitation amounts for June. Generally, Central Park records around 4.54 inches of rain in the month of June, as revealed by 1991-2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. Charles Anthony Sophy, 53, of Pottsville and owner of Sophy Jewelers in St. Clair, has been charged with 24 felony counts of theft and multiple misdemeanors after allegedly failing to remit more than $169,000 in sales tax and failing to pay personal income taxes, according to an affidavit filed through Magisterial District Judge David Plachkos office by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Sophy faces 24 felony counts under 18 Pa.C.S. 3927(a) for Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Funds Received, all stemming from the alleged misuse of sales tax collected between April 2022 and July 2024. Additionally, he is charged with two misdemeanor violations of the Pennsylvania Tax Reform Code for failing to file and pay required personal income taxes for tax years 2021 through 2023. The investigation was initiated by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenues Criminal Investigation Division into the non-remittance of sales taxes collected by Sophy Jewelers. The jewelry business, located at 400 Terry Rich Blvd. in St. Clair, has been in operation since 2008 and is wholly owned by Sophy. According to the affidavit, Special Agent Cayla Ney was assigned to the case in August 2024. After concluding her investigation, the case was referred to the Attorney General's Criminal Division in April 2025. The affidavit notes that Sophy made no attempt to pay back taxes between the conclusion of the Department of Revenues probe and the beginning of the Attorney Generals investigation. The affidavit alleges Sophy intentionally dealt with collected sales tax in the amount of $169,404.54 as if it was his own money and willfully failed to file and pay personal income taxes totaling $13,435 for 2021 and 2022, and also failed to file a tax return for 2023. Detailed tax records provided in the affidavit list dozens of months in which Sophy filed sales tax returns but failed to remit any of the collected taxes. For example, in December 2023 alone, $18,716.72 in taxes were reported but not paid. The total outstanding tax obligations from this period add up to $169,404.54, according to the state. The Department of Revenue has since filed five tax liens against Sophy Jewelers totaling $211,862.43 and three personal tax liens against Sophy himself totaling $23,548.24. The charges against Sophy include: 24 counts of felony third-degree Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Funds Received 2 counts of misdemeanor Failure to Keep or File Required Personal Income Tax Records An arrest warrant has been requested. As of this publication, Sophy had not been arraigned. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! Unfortunately for Bulls N Bears ASX Runners list, Adriatic is only up 38 per cent on the speculation, tipping it a little over the $1.5 billion mark, but still outside the top four. This weeks list features a good variety of commodities and sectors. OCEANA LITHIUM LTD (ASX: OCN) up 115% (3.3c 7.1c) This weeks Bulls N Bears ASX Runner of the Week is junior explorer Oceana Lithium. The company shot out of a cannon on Wednesday, to see its share price soar 115 per cent to 7.1c a share by Thursday from last weeks close of 3.3c. The move came after it announced a smallish $667,000 placement at 2.3c per share, orchestrated by the sharp folks at Westar Capital. The book must have been well oversubscribed as punters came out scrambling for shares on-market on Wednesday, following a capital raise to fund the companys projects in Australia and Brazil. Oceana also mentioned the potential to additionally assess new complementary project opportunities, in a watch-this-space scenario. The cash injection will predominantly fuel Oceanas ambitions across its Napperby project in the Northern Territory and Bangemall base metals project in Western Australia, while keeping the lights on with working capital. Napperby sprawls across some 650 square kilometres of granted ground and a further 512 square kilometres is under application in the heart of Central Australias Arunta Province, which is home to hot granites brimming with lithium, rare earths and uranium potential. Meanwhile, at the companys Bangemall project in WAs Gascoyne, Oceana has reported a strong electromagnetic (EM) anomaly at 100-150m depth, hinting at a potential fault zone loaded with zinc, copper or cobalt. Historical sampling and a Rio Tinto hole intersecting 15m of 0.2 per cent zinc suggest this ground could be a base metals bonanza. Historic holes dont accurately pierce the EM anomaly, leaving it begging for follow-up drilling. With funds in the bank and the companys technical team buzzing about its untested EM targets, Oceanas got a serious run and could soon be on its way to drilling for massive sulphides. ZOONO GROUP LTD (ASX: ZNO) up 97% (3.9c 7.7c) This weeks runner-up is biotech battler Zoono Group Limited, which took off on Tuesday after the company unveiled a blockbuster exclusive supply contract with eco-food packaging company Sharpak Aylesham and food supply chain group OSY. The deal is set to put Zoonos antibacterial packaging expertise front and centre in the United Kingdoms soft fruit packaging game, utilising the companys proprietary bacteria combat techology to fight viruses and mould. Zoono says the deal puts it the fight against a US$2.6 trillion global food waste crisis. Sharpaks packaging brought in an impressive $1.5B in revenue last year, as it supplied a hefty chunk of soft fruit packaging for Britains top supermarkets. Teaming up with OSYs application tech, Zoonos shelf-life extension products will coat packaging for grapes, cherries and more, with a five-year deal for minimum purchases of NZ$30.7M (A$28.17M). The market went bananas, with the share price surging 97 per cent from last weeks close to a peak of 7.7c on $800,000 worth of stock changing hands. After three years of Zoono pivoting from a battered antimicrobial market to niche food chain solutions, its trials with three major UK supermarket chains and global food producers are showing promising results. Commercial viability has been nailed for a range of produce. The company expects to receive its first orders after in-store trials wrap up later this year, with production set to ramp up early next year. Its a promising start for Zoonos tech, following a four-year lull from its previous all-time high share prices of nearly $2.50 per share. Hopefully, the company is poised to make a comeback, with this contract being the start of a tasty new chapter. METALSGROVE LTD (ASX: MGA) up 86% (5c 9.3c) This weeks bronze medal goes to newly refocussed African gold explorer MetalsGrove Limited. The companys share price crept up on a week where there was no news to the market and surprisingly very little volume. The tightly held stock enjoyed a belated market awakening to the companys freshly minted gold joint venture (JV) permits in Cote dIvoire, where the greenstone belts are brimming with multi-million-ounce potential. MetalsGroves three Central West gold JVs span a substantial 950 square kilometres of Cote dIvoires gold country, just 60km northeast of the 3.8-million-ounce Abujar gold mine. The company says its projects are sitting pretty on the same Birimian greenstone belt as Abujar, in a country seemingly constantly turning up multi-million ounce open-pit deposits. The company has made a few savvy appointments since its acquisition, roping in three West African gold gurus - Peter Ledwidge, Colin Carson and Rob Perring - as strategic advisors. Each are well versed in the West African gold landscape and have many success stories between them. As market pundits wake up MetalsGroves latest golden opportunity, the companys permits are already turning up targets ripe for exploration, with aeromagnetic surveys hinting at priority targets for near-term drill bit testing in the white-hot jurisdiction. Historic gold workings at Raiden Resources Vuzel project in Bulgaria, where drilling continues to throw-up consecutive shallow gold hits from the 4km by 1.5km prospective zone. RAIDEN RESOURCES LTD (ASX: RDN) up 75% (0.4c 0.7c) The final spot on Bulls N Bears Runners of the Week goes to junior goldie Raiden Resources, after a haul of shallow gold hits were recorded from its phase two drilling program at its Vuzel project in Bulgaria. All eight holes drilled hit near-surface gold. The Bulgaria project is shaping up as a potential monster, with top intercepts including at surface hits such as 24.8 metres at 1.96 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, with a sizzling 13.3m section at 3.4g/t and another at-surface hole dishing up a meaty 56m at 1.09g/t. The flat, shallow gold system means cheaper, faster drilling and, with only 1.5km of a 4km target zone tested, the companys rigs are continuing to spin. Raiden says more assays are on the way from the project, which is less than 20km from Gorubso-Kardzhalis gold processing plant. The area is relatively unknown for its gold, but home to several majors, including Dundee Precious Metals Ada Tepe mine. The market went wild for Raidens results and the plentiful paydirt results sent its share price up 75 per cent to close at 0.7c on Monday from a handy $820,000 worth of stock traded. The company says the results are key to unlocking the deposits geology at Vuzel, paving the way for more precision strikes on its high-grade zones. Raiden seems to be just scratching the surface at its 4km long anomaly and looks primed to assault its promising gold prospect, especially considering the companys substantial $15M cash war chest. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au 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 Anyone considering a trip to the US is confronted with a question: Is it safe to go? Headlines from the second administration of President Donald Trump convey scenes of disruption, confusion, corruption and shattered norms. Is it possible to enjoy a vacation in a country like this? There are 27,500 commercial flights travelling in US skies a day. Credit: Bloomberg You can imagine two circles of a Venn diagram: One represents the Trump-spurred disruption and sense of perma-crisis he brings. A second one represents basic aviation safety and having a good time. Surely, the two circles cant stay separate forever. If and when they overlap, will they overlap on your holiday to the US? The US suffered its most deadly air crash in years in January when an American Airlines Flight collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia, killing 67 people. A preliminary investigation raised questions about congestion in the area and the air traffic control staffing. A perhaps more pressing example in the era of Trump: air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty airport near New York lost radar vision and radio contact with flights on April 28. Some controllers were so upset afterwards that they took trauma leave. After the scare, the chief executive of United Airlines, which uses Newark as a hub, cut back flights for safety. One contributing factor is that Newark has a temporarily closed runway, set to reopen in June. Advertisement Loading But to give a sense of the challenge for the US more broadly, consider that there are 3800 commercial flights a day in Australia. In the US, that number is closer to 27,500, with air traffic controllers monitoring and directing 5000 flights simultaneously in peak periods. The Federal Aviation Administration has been trying to upgrade its network of staff and equipment for decades, while attracting more air traffic controllers. There are now 14,000 air traffic controllers in the US, nearly 2000 of them hired last year. However, that still leaves a shortfall of 3000. Trump has largely inherited this problem, though he previously had four years as president to address it. However, its far from clear that Trump is inclined or capable of improving the situation for US air traffic control. Immediately after the January crash near Washington, Trump blamed diversity, equity and inclusion hires as contributing to the ability of air traffic controllers to function. In a statement at the time, Trump claimed that under former president Joe Biden the FAA specifically recruited and hired individuals with severe intellectual disabilities [and] psychiatric issues ... When Trump returned to office in January, he came with billionaire campaign funder Elon Musk in tow, pushing a radical government-slashing project called DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency). Advertisement FAA air traffic controllers are themselves exempt from DOGE cuts and are being recruited. But at more senior levels, the Washington Post reports, in keeping with the DOGE purges, there has been an exodus of people. American air traffic control is ripe for reform. As the Brookings Institute notes: The consensus of countless commissions and expert reports is that air traffic management is a 24/7 high-tech service business trapped in a regulatory agency that is constrained by federal budget and acquisition rules. That is, the budget for its modernisation keeps getting eaten up by the cost of maintaining legacy systems. United chief executive Scott Kirby reassured reporters in New York on May 13: At Newark, first and foremost, it is safe. It is absolutely safe when these issues happen. Our pilots are trained with back-up procedures to keep the airline safe, and so whether you lose communications or radar, we have back-up procedures. Donald Trump is all about disruption and retribution. But what does that do for aviation safety? Credit: AP To his credit, Kirby has not shied away from the issue. Kirby has publicly highlighted the jam United and the US aviation sector has been put in by the FAA, and by Trump. In April, as the world watched and waited for the next shoe to drop in Trumps tariff strategy, Kirby offered not one but two earnings estimates, depending on whether the US presidents moves triggered a recession or not. Advertisement Trump, in his first 100 days in office, has imposed hiring freezes across government, stripped federal employees of job protections and fundamentally downsized the US government while centralising White House power. The head of the US Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy an ex-congressman, prosecutor and former reality TV star, natch has announced a plan expected to cost tens of billions of dollars to fix the US air traffic control system within four years. Trump supports the plan. But the devil is in the delivery. And to be sure, many air traffic controller bodies around the world are in the process of rebuilding staff. Airservices Australia, for example, is recruiting and training controllers. We expect controller numbers to be back to surplus capacity by mid-year, a company spokesman said. But in the US, the problem is longstanding and deep-seated. Uncertainty abounds for Americans and visiting travellers alike. And its not just the fear of accidents. Its also the waiting, the delays and the disruptions on the ground that mark so much travel in the US. As for Newark Liberty Airport, Kirby cut back flights in light of the safety scare and issued two messages exhorting regulators to take further action despite his insistence that the system is safe. Not everyone agrees. Advertisement William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, told NPR he just didnt see the seriousness and the sense of purpose from this administration to address the FAA problems. The US has been grappling with air traffic control issues for years. Credit: AP Despite Kirbys commentary on the FAA and US aviation, he is supportive of Trumps aspirations to bring back well-paid jobs to the US, saying the goal is laudable. He notes that United is one of the few companies left in the country that creates the kind of jobs where you can make a six-digit income, you can support a family, buy a house and [send] your kids to college, even if you only have a high school education. Kirby says he is taking a wait-and-see approach to Trump on the economy and tariffs. Speaking the day after Trump announced a reduction in tariffs with China, Kirby said: Everyone should kind of take a breath because were not at the end game yet. Were not at the new normal yet. Whatever the outcome, United is betting big on the future. After being the only American airline to fly to Australia through COVID lockdown, United is piling on more capacity for flights to Australia. Already, from November to March, United says it was the largest carrier between the US and Australia as measured by available seat miles. While the majority of those flights were Americans visiting Australia, Australians travelling to the US are well represented. Advertisement Capital Gain If your living room window looks out over Circular Quay or leafy Government House, chances are you cant find a spot to park your swish car. Thats not a problem, however, if youre prepared to pay a cool $600,000 for a 14 square metre patch of concrete. The lack of car parking spaces in central Sydney has seen six sites go under the hammer for a combined $3.65 million. That works out at a rate per square metre of $42,857 or $600,000 for each car park big money by anyones standards. The six car spaces at 2 Phillip Street total 85 square metres. Credit: The car park bonanza at Lot 51, 2 Phillip Street beat pre-auction expectations and is almost double the $304,700 paid for a parking spot in Notts Avenue, Bondi, believed to be Sydneys previous car-park record. 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 Its a postcard-perfect day. The sky is a cloudless blue, the sand is golden brown, waves crash on the beach in rhythm, as I stand on the waters edge and watch Hollywood superstar Nicolas Cage attempt to force-feed a rat to a drowning man. Im on the set of The Surfer, a new film from Irish director Lorcan Finnegan, shot in Yallingup, Western Australia. I am here as an accidental plus-one. When I got the call to visit the set, no one knew Miranda Tapsell had joined the cast. Such is my commitment to this story, Id made sure to marry her seven years earlier. Nicolas Cage is the outsider returning to his childhood home in The Surfer. Credit: Photograph by David Dare Parker Of course, I leapt at the opportunity. Who wouldnt want to sit in and see what your partner actually does all day? Especially when what they do happens to include performing alongside one of your favourite actors of all time. From childhood viewings of Con Air, Face/Off and Gone in Sixty Seconds (all far too early), to irony-fuelled teen years with The Wicker Man, to pretentious uni days spent analysing Adaptation, and finally, adult admiration for Moonstruck and tender oddities like Pig my Nicolas Cage fandom has been lifelong, chaotic, and evolving. Certain expectations come with any Nicolas Cage film, as any fan knows. You cannot always guarantee it will be good or even comprehensible, but you can be certain it will never be boring. A media storm has followed this production, breakfast news tracking every movement of Cage and his family across the country, including interviews on multiple networks with the owners of Busseltons Food Of Asia grocery store, who had the honour of selling kimchi, rice and oranges to Cage. Advertisement While Im on set, theres a quiet fascination with Cage his methods, his choices, his presence. All the things that make him unmistakably The Cage. Im told a story of Cage quietly reading the paper, only to notice three passing actors with whom he has a fight scene later in the day, and announce to them that they better prepare for an arse-kicking. The grown men giggle with delight. Director Lorcan Finnegan with Nicolas Cage on the set of The Surfer in Yallingup. Credit: David Dare Parker Despite the erratic nature of his character and the Rage Cage moniker his back catalogue has picked up over the years, Finnegan says everything Cage does is very thoughtful and deliberate. In The Surfer, Cage plays the eponymous Surfer on a downward spiral as he attempts to buy back his childhood home and surf at his local beach. We had lots of conversations in prep before shooting and teased out everything, Finnegan says. Nick had some dialogue tweaks, which we included in the script, so by the time we started shooting, he was incredibly prepared and never needed to look at the script again. He also tracked his characters physical changes, like his limp and his voice becoming hoarse. The Surfers antagonist walks a line somewhere between sandcastle kicking beach bully and tech evangelist cult leader. Played by Australian actor Julian McMahon, he bounces off Cage in that kind of part-seductive tango, part death-spiral. Nicolas Cage, from left, director Lorcan Finnegan, Alexander Bertrand, Justin Rosniak and writer Thomas Martin pose for photographers at the Cannes photo call for the film The Surfer. Credit: Invision You know what Nic is going to bring is a lot of energy, and a lot of dynamics and a lot of creativity to his piece because he always has and always does. I cant imagine him not, McMahon said. Advertisement I dont know if its the influence of Nics energy that I knew coming in was going to be present but I definitely felt like this character, theres a beauty in the quietness and simplicity of him a lot of the time, and that would work nicely with the energy that someone like Nic brings to the piece. You want to take them on a journey. You want to push that boundary. Ive always found it interesting, when you play a bad guy, to see how much you can get people to love you. While I arrive too late to witness my wifes scene with Cage, Ms Tapsell did agree to grant me an interview (on the proviso I refer to her as Ms Tapsell). It was absolutely surreal working with Nic Cage. He called a lot of the shots on the set, she says. There was no rehearsal, we just had to go for it. Luckily, I knew all my lines. But he was very patient, he was very kind. At one point, as cameras and equipment were hastily moved around Tapsell, she had to raise her hand to ask what exactly was going on. This man elbowed me and it was Nic and he said So basically, I am going to go over there and Im going to kick some ass and I said to myself, yeah, this is it, this is why I said yes to the project in the first place. I am in Con Air. I am in Face/Off. Its going to be one of those things that stays with me forever. The Surfer features a strong Australian cast, including Nicholas Cassim (The Correspondent, Mr Inbetween) and emerging talent Finn Little. At just 18, Little has already built an impressive resume, from his debut in Storm Boy (2019) to a role in the international series Yellowstone. His role as Cages son was shot as he flew back and forth between his year 12 exams. Advertisement It sounded like a good role. Come to Western Australia, do a bit of surfing, hang out with Nic Cage, Finn says. Like many on set, Finn had a favourite Cage film he was happy to chat about during production in his case, the recent hit The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. To take the piss out of yourself in a movie about yourself ... It was a good film. Producer Robert Connolly, whose expansive filmmaking career includes Australian stories from Balibo to The Dry, says there are creative opportunities that come with bringing the outside eye into Australian cinema, noting that Wake In Fright was directed by Ted Kotcheff, a Canadian. Loading Its clear speaking with Lorcan that he is a great fan of Australian cinema. Lots of early Peter Weir films were an inspiration to me in general when I started filmmaking, like The Plumber, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and The Last Wave, as well as Colin Egglestons film Long Weekend, he says. Wake in Fright and Walkabout were also key inspirations and examples of non-Australian directors making very Australian films so we felt we could continue in that tradition with The Surfer. The quest to find the perfect location for the film started in Kalbarri, a six-hour drive north of Perth, and weaved its way down the coast until Lorcan and his team arrived in Yallingup, a journey of over 800 kilometres. There, they found a location so perfect it was as if it had been conjured by the script itself, somehow both claustrophobic and expansive, beautiful and dangerous. Advertisement Connolly puts it simply: This is a film called The Surfer and this is a world renowned surf beach. The turbulent surf and perilous escarpment provided a challenge for filmmakers but Connolly was determined to stay out of the studio. Ive always thought that the success of high-end streaming has thrown down the gauntlet to filmmakers to make films for the cinemas even better, he says. Shooting that wide angle, shooting on location, taking the audiences somewhere that theyre going to see the trailer and say What is that? Its epic. Loading The Australia depicted is both familiar and unnervingly hyperreal. From The Surfers very first interactions with an Australian, where obscenities are barked in his face for no apparent reason, to constant harassment by a band of unruly teens, to the calm but threatening deployment of a Yeah but nah. According to Lorcan, this was the work of screenwriter Thomas Martin, who has spent significant time working in Australia. But they also received a little bit of help from the locals. Advertisement The text came on Wednesday night: Water up to my shins in the house ... Im here with two rabbits and a guinea pig. Horses and cows on the mound, water to their chests, so who knows how many will survive. This was my brother on the Mid North Coast. Four hundred millimetres of rain had fallen in two days; the forecast was for another 200mm. Some oyster farmers had come around in their boat and taken his partner and their dogs and cats to safety. Illustration by Dionne Gain Credit: A Thursday morning evacuation was planned for my brother, but youd need a hard heart not to lie awake thinking about the eight horses and the 60-odd cows on the mound. Imagining an animal with the flood water rising up its legs, to its chest, lifting it off the earth, and then its terror as it gets taken away, the panic, the bruising knocks, finally the exhaustion. For every human life lost in natural disasters, thousands more livestock have gone. My brother, a vet whose life has been dedicated to animal health, had to put down numerous injured cows after the 2021 flood. Hell be doing the same once the water drops. Its beyond words. Crucially, it had done so as its energy demand increased. This is what makes the data so remarkable. Over recent years, the world and China in particular has deployed renewable energy technology far faster than expected. This was always good news. The problem has always been that demand for electricity kept growing faster than the supply of new renewables, so while there was more clean energy in global systems, emissions kept growing. Myllyvirtas new analysis, first published in Carbon Brief earlier this month, shows that China has finally broken this terrible nexus: emissions in China are finally falling as its use of electricity grows. Being able to cut emissions while power demand not just grew but grew above the historical average is certainly a historic milestone, showing the scale that clean energy additions have reached in China, Myllyvirta told this masthead on Tuesday. And what happens in China affects us all. Loading Needless to say, if the fall in emissions is sustained, that constitutes a major breakthrough for the global energy transition and the global climate effort, as China has been responsible for all of the net increase in CO emissions since the Paris climate conference, so an emission peak in China would highly likely enable global emissions to peak and decline, Myllyvirta said. Whether the falling trend in Chinas emissions continues depends strongly on the clean energy targets in Chinas upcoming Paris climate commitments and five-year plan; if the current rate of clean energy additions is continued, it is very likely that it will. So far, the indications for this are good, at least politically. Though Chinas all of the above energy policy includes new coal plants as well as clean power, the clean is outweighing the dirty. Those new coal plants are not only displacing older ones, they are running under capacity. And China remains determined to achieve energy independence at pace which means generating energy domestically to cut its dependence on imports of oil, gas and coal. Energy analyst Tim Buckley notes that China is acting in self-interest here. As it expands its regional hegemony, China is determined both to free itself of coal, oil and gas imported via potentially vulnerable shipping lanes, and to dominate the technologies of the future. It is also worth noting that the slight dip in emissions may be a signal of a plateau in emissions rather than an ongoing decline, Buckley says. Loading This means that even as the Trump administration goes about unpicking former president Joe Bidens subsidies for green energy deployment to support the American shale oil industry, China is pushing harder on new clean tech. A speech made by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month also caught the attention of climate analysts and diplomats. China must accelerate the transition to clean energy, he said. Clear waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver. Green transformation is not only the essential way to address climate change, but also a new engine for economic and social development. Striking a determinedly different tone from the Trump administration, he added, We must deepen international co-operation. Solidarity and co-operation are needed more than ever as the world faces multiple, compounded challenges. We should rise above estrangement and conflict with openness and inclusiveness. But the key news in a colourful speech was buried in some of its most drab language. Xi said that in coming months China would announce a new emissions reduction target for 2035 that would cover all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases. This is significant because in the past China has committed to reducing greenhouse pollution only relating to electricity production. China will increase its climate ambition across its economy, even as it beats its own climate targets. This is a good sign for crucial global climate talks to be held in Brazil later this year, before which other nations, including Australia, are expected to announce strong new 2035 targets. Whats already clear is that Chinas recipe for peaking and reducing emissions is a combination of rapid electrification not just in transportation but also in industry and buildings with very large-scale additions of clean energy, Myllyvirta says. Clear waters and green mountains are just as valuable as gold and silver. Xi Jinping The recent milestone of clean power generation overtaking power demand growth shows that the country has the capacity to keep reducing emissions from now on rather than waiting for late in the decade to peak. The problem we face is that all this is happening too late to avert the impact of climate change. Over recent months it has become clear that the world is already about 1.5 degrees warmer than it was when we started burning coal with the industrial revolution. Temperatures are rising far faster than predicted, and the impacts of warming are biting harder. The US might be putting its own future economy at risk by betting on ongoing oil sales and giving up on the clean energy race, says Australian climate scientist Bill Hare, but we are all worse off for Trumps abandonment of the Paris Agreement. Super funds are well-positioned Your super fund probably knows youre getting close to retirement. Theyve got tools, calculators, and people on staff who want to help (and theyre ready to charge a fee for that help too, albeit a smaller one than most comprehensive advisers). But heres the catch: theyre legally restricted from giving you personal financial advice unless they jump through costly and complex hoops, like acquiring or establishing a licensed advice business and running it separately on a fee-for-service basis, just like a traditional financial planning firm. This restriction exists because current legislation still draws a hard line between what super funds can tell their members and what qualifies as personal financial advice. Even though both super funds and financial advisers are trying to help people make smart decisions about retirement, the system treats them very differently. The result? Funds that already manage your money often cant offer the tailored advice you actually need. And this isnt just theory its happening right now to people across the country. Virginia wrote to me after this weeks episode of the Prime Time podcast featuring Mary Delahunty on funds giving advice. She and her husband are 63 and 65, both working part-time as they try to answer that one big question: do we have enough to retire? Loading We are both reasonably financially literate but online calculators will only get you so far, she wrote. This will be the last big financial decision we are likely to make. Their super is with a major and award-winning fund and while they tried to get personal financial advice, they couldnt get past the general advice script. They were even discouraged from accessing the higher-level, fee-based advice. So, like so many others, theyre doing what feels safest: just keep working. I think there is an onus on the funds to offer discounted, personal advice maybe on two visits to give retirees confidence heading into retirement, she said. Funds have been taking our money for years. They should be there to help when we need it most. Virginias right. Compulsory super was designed to give Australians dignity and control in retirement but right now, many are being left in the dark at the very moment they need clarity the most. The advice sector is confusing Even when people do get advice, its not always clear what theyre getting or how it all works until after they pay for it. Every advice business has its own process, its own language, and its own ideal client. Financial advice can be complex and confusing. Credit: Simon Letch Some offer a full-service model: they build the strategy, manage your investments, and oversee it all over the long term using a platform or an SMSF and a selection of managed funds or separately managed account (SMA) style investments. Others (but not anywhere near as many) focus on building a retirement strategy and supporting you to keep your super with your current fund. These are often the advisers that super funds refer members to and they dont bite the hand that feeds them. Super funds tailor their offerings differently too. Some cater to members with lower balances, focusing on age pension navigation, investing and careful drawdown strategies. Others provide support to more affluent customers with more complexity. For Australians with more complex finances typically with $750,000 or more in household super, a home, and other assets a full-service financial advice model can offer reasonable value. These clients benefit from a full package of advice, investment management, tax strategies, and structured planning, all under one roof. For people in that position, a good adviser can help protect and grow wealth, avoid costly mistakes, and provide real peace of mind. But that model doesnt suit everyone. If your super balance is more modest, you may not need or want the complexity and cost of full investment platforms and individually managed accounts. Many people dont realise until deep into the advice process that theyre being shifted out of their low-fee super fund into a new adviser-managed investment setup with platform fees, investment fees, and ongoing advice charges stacked on top. And by the time they notice, theyve often already paid thousands in upfront costs and are set on a path to annual management. Thats where transparency needs to improve. It also needs to be incumbent on funds to tell someone when they need more complex advice than they can offer before they spend the money. Financial advisers v super funds: the quiet competition The disconnect in advice and needs has created quiet tension in the system. Financial advisers and super funds are increasingly offering overlapping services, but neither side wants to say it out loud: theyre becoming direct competitors. Most advisers aim to manage your money on their terms on their platform, using their investment model. And many do it very well, particularly for clients with larger or more complex portfolios. Loading But super funds are managing trillions of dollars on their platforms too, and theyre delivering strong returns at very low cost. In 2024, the median return for balanced super fund options was 11.5 per cent, with total fees typically ranging from 0.4 per cent to 1.02 per cent, depending on the fund, the balance, and the investment style. Adviser-linked platforms and managed funds delivered similar investment performance in 2024 but often with additional layers of cost. Managed funds and SMAs averaged 11.78 per cent returns before fees. After investment fees which averaged 1.28 per cent net returns dropped to around 10.51 per cent. And thats not the end of it. Many users also pay platform fees, administration costs, and ongoing advice fees on top. That might still make sense if youre in a high tax bracket, need personalised structuring, or are gaining other meaningful upside from the advice, but for many ordinary Australians it quietly eats into the return they thought they were getting. Both outcomes are strong. Both approaches can work if they are both available. But people should have the right to choose and they should be supported with clear, accessible education to understand the pros and cons of each. So whats the hold up? Your super fund already manages your retirement savings, so why cant it offer you the personal advice you actually need? Because were still waiting on the government to pass the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) reforms they promised last year. These changes were meant to let super funds offer affordable, scaled advice and create a new category of adviser to answer the simpler retirement questions so many people are stuck on. The government said it would be done before the next election. Yet here we are. Until the legislation is passed, nothing changes. But when it finally does, super funds and advisers can both step up and help people understand their options and offer advice that actually suits their needs. Suspicions of bribery and blackmail are set to be at the centre of an explosive corruption inquiry involving fugitive Sydney property developer Jean Nassif, who is also the subject of yet another criminal investigation relating to his failed construction empire. Nassifs construction company Toplace, which he ran before fleeing to Lebanon as his empire collapsed in December 2022, now owes creditors more than $2 billion. Creditors were informed this week that that Nassif was now under investigation for various potential criminal offences including taxation and building regulations. An arrest warrant was issued for Jean Nassif in June 2023. Credit: Instagram Liquidator Suelen McCallum, from the dVT Group, told creditors they were liaising with NSW Police regarding potential fraud by Nassif, but specific details cannot be disclosed at this time due to the ongoing nature of these investigations. An arrest warrant was issued for Nassif, 57, in June 2023 over an alleged bank fraud. He and his daughter, Ashlyn, 30, are alleged to have falsified presale contracts to deceive Westpac into providing a $150 million loan. Ashlyn is not accused of being involved in any of Nassifs other wrongdoing. Kempseys CBD was still partially underwater, with about 50 businesses flooded. Skye Thurgood, 38, who has lived in the Kempsey area all her life, said she had never seen such severe flooding. A lot in the area dont have flood insurance, its too expensive and in flood-prone areas some cant afford it, said Thurgood, who lives on a property outside the town centre. Livestock has had to be moved, paddocks we own have been inundated, its like an ocean. The SES has conducted 736 flood rescues since the disaster began and on Friday had 160 warnings in place, including 39 emergency warnings. A road and shopping centre flooded in Kempsey. Credit: Kempsey Shire Council A man in his 70s was found dead north-west of Coffs Harbour at 4.30am on Friday after his car was swept off a causeway, bringing the death toll from the disaster to four. Loading My heart goes out to the people affected, of course, most seriously the four tragedies that weve seen with the loss of life, including the gentleman overnight, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as he travelled to flood-affected areas with the NSW premier. Albanese warned that extreme weather events were becoming more frequent and more intense, while praising the heroes of the SES. At the worst of times, we do always see the best of the Australian character, he said. On top of the $1 million grants to councils, Minns announced payments of $180 for individuals and $900 for families affected by the floods, all funded by the NSW and federal governments. Its going to take more than these hardship grants to get these towns back on their feet, but I wanted to get the ball rolling, Minns said. More than 1600 insurance claims have been lodged in relation to the NSW flood disaster, and many more were expected in the coming days, the Insurance Council of Australia said. A man dragging an esky through flooded streets in Macksville. Credit: Drew Hopper While we dont expect this weather event will be as widespread or costly as 2022, insurers have already stood up additional capabilities to prioritise claims received, a spokesperson said. The coastal trough weather system moved south on Friday, easing pressure on the main flood zones but bringing drenching rain to Sydney, the Central Coast, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. Loading In Newcastle, residents were warned to stay indoors as 145mm of rain hit the city on Thursday night. Communities along the Macleay, Nambucca, Hastings, Manning, Gloucester and Paterson rivers remained heavily affected. While 16 schools reopened on Friday, 168 schools were closed across the state. The Bureau of Meteorologys Jane Golding said: Floodwaters will recede over coming days, but they are still dangerous. There is a lot of debris coming down through the river systems. The SES said it expected its main task on the Mid North Coast would move from rescues to resupplying the thousands of people cut off by floodwaters. A major focus now will be continuing to support those isolated residents, who may be stuck for several days until floodwater recedes, SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said. A section of The Bucketts Way near Taree. Credit: Kate Geraghty Well be using boats and helicopters to help isolated people with food and medications, and also assist in transporting people to urgent medical appointments or other medical emergencies. After the death of the man in Coffs Harbour, acting NSW police commissioner Peter Thurtell again urged motorists not to drive through floodwaters of any depth, acknowledging they were sometimes hard to distinguish from wet roads. Loading It can be disorientating, Thurtell said. Often its the case that we will never know whether they accidentally drove into the floodwaters. A 60-year-old woman died in floodwaters on Wednesday. Police also discovered the body of a man in his 30s on Thursday, west of Wauchope, after he became stuck on a flooded road while driving the night before. Another man, 63-year-old David Knowles, was found dead at a flooded home near Taree on Wednesday. A 49-year-old man who went missing two days ago from Nymboida, south of Grafton, after being seen walking near a flooded roadway, was found alive and well on Friday, police said. Homicide detectives have been brought in to help investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl in central Queensland, with police searching remote bushland and creeks on Friday. Pheobe Bishop failed to check in for her flight from Bundaberg to Western Australia about 8.30am on May 15. She hasnt been seen since. This week investigators declared her home in the township of Gin Gin a crime scene, and seized a grey Hyundai ix35 SUV. In the same week that Queenslands LNP government legislated an expansion of its Adult Crime, Adult Time laws, more than 100 First Nations leaders were quietly meeting in Brisbane. On their agenda was the impact of recent government decisions on human rights, and what they described as targeted harm perpetuated against Indigenous children. The Bandarran MarraGu Gathering Strength summit, organised by the Queensland Human Rights Commission, was a two-day gathering of prominent identities including Marcia Langton, Mick Gooda and Thomas Mayo. Former social justice commissioner Mick Gooda spoke at the summit in Brisbane this week. Credit: QHRC/Lewis James Media Closed to media, it concluded with a public statement that described the Making Queensland Safer laws as egregious breaches of human rights against children. The newly minted minister tasked with addressing Western Australias record rates of family and domestic violence believes the state is on track to improving womens lives, but has resisted giving a date for criminalising coercive control. Responding to the 9 News Perth special series Turning Point: Lessons from Floreat, which highlighted the issue of family and domestic violence, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski said talking about these crimes shouldnt be taboo. There is a lot of work that is happening that is improving the lives of women. Its not a perfect solution, nothing is in a community, but I think the things that our government has been doing is implementing those incremental steps, Stojkovski said. Every time we open up conversations, its a good thing its a responsibility of everyone in our society to look after people. The Liberal and National parties are inching towards reforming the Coalition after Liberal MPs gave Sussan Ley in-principle agreement for most of David Littleprouds policy demands, but speculation is growing about Littleprouds future as leader of the regional party. Ley convened a lively party room meeting on Friday afternoon at which her MPs gave their leader the authority to strike a deal with the Nationals to create a joint shadow cabinet by the time parliament resumes, days after Littleproud sparked chaos by splitting from the Liberals. Nationals leader David Littleproud addresses the media at Parliament House on Thursday. Credit: AAP Critically, the Nationals ditched the plan to build seven nuclear power sites, paving the way for a watered-down Coalition policy to merely lift the moratorium and allow for potential private investment into nuclear energy. The in-principle agreement does not extend to the precise details of Littleprouds demands, which are still due to be thrashed out in a shadow cabinet. Moderate Liberal MPs expressed concerns about Littleprouds demand, first reported in this masthead, to extend forced supermarket break-up laws to big-box retailers such as Chemist Warehouse and Officeworks. In Sydneys housing market, theres one kind of property thats fast becoming as rare as gold dust and almost as valuable: three-bedroom apartments. Despite growing demand from young, upgrading families as well as older, downsizing empty-nesters, fewer three-bedroom apartments are being developed every year. As a result, available three-bedders now command a premium, and they are sometimes more expensive to build than nearby townhouses. Latest Domain figures show that only 14.3 per cent of units sold in the March quarter in Sydney had three bedrooms down from an earlier peak in the past decade of 17.2 per cent and their median price had risen almost 50 per cent in that time. In contrast, prices of two-bedroom units rose only 30 per cent, and one-bedders were up 23 per cent. Xavier Ellis, a friend of the Selwood family, has made a media career in Perth. It left him no choice but to speak as he returned to the Triple M airwaves on Wednesday. Its times like this I wish I had an office job and could sit behind an email, Ellis said on Triple M breakfast. The three or four months that family has been through is unimaginable. Ellis moved from a premiership at Hawthorn in 2008 to West Coast in 2014 and the Selwood brothers, Scott and Adam, took him under their wing and the friendships flourished. On Sunday night he had a beer with Scott, who had flown to Perth on Saturday when he heard the news, and they grieved together. Ellis raw description of how empty that poor man is was a graphic representation of the familys anguish. He called Joel and heard the Cats champions voice break. By the end of his radio spot an emotional Ellis shed tears. Driving the response of those close to the Selwoods and West Coast is a respect for the grief enveloping the family, particularly Adams wife Fiona and their two children, Lenny and Billie and the immediate family and friends of Adam and Troy. Geelongs Mitch Duncan summed up the mood on the eve of his 300th game played on Thursday night when he said people were giving the family the space they needed. Were here to support when we need and grieve with [them] as best we can, Duncan said. Because of the familys high public profile, that can be difficult. Commentary about whether more could be done for mental health was inevitable, and mostly well- meaning. As one senior club official said: Who doesnt want to do more? Dr Ranjit Menon was the AFLs chief psychiatrist from 2019 to 2022. Loading He understands everyone would like to stop such tragedies from happening, but he says the answers, despite years of research and work, are not obvious. What can we do? I dont have an answer for that. I really dont, he said. Athletes in Australia have better health capital access to health care quickly, access to good health care quickly, financial means to access that etc than any lay person. So it is not a question of having access to the resources or the availability of care. Its just that probably [that alone] is not the key. So, then what is? Each person has a different rationale or thought process or underlying distress aspect which leads them to this outcome. He said a particular episode might be interrupted, but it was difficult to know what lay ahead. Our predictability of these things is at best an educated guess, Dr Menon said. Emphasising that he was making general observations, rather than specifically about the Selwood tragedy, he said there was a reason tragic news about sportspeople hit particularly hard. Joel (left), Adam and Scott Selwood farewell their brother, Troy, at GMHBA Stadium in February. Credit: AFL Photos Athletes have a huge role in our life. We see them play. We see them achieve greatness, we see performance levels we can only dream of, and then to lose them to something like suicide it brings it home, it is very close to us, it is very distressing to everybody, Dr Menon said. There is an approximation we have in our head that athletes are all the same because they play the same sport then they must be built the same way. That is not real. That is not true. Dr Menon said the collective grief of the community, which included all the organisations connected to the family in some way or another, could support the Selwood family and friends to grieve by removing unnecessary demands or intrusion. Loading I think it is very difficult to find a unified way of approaching this, but overall in the bigger scheme of things I guess one hopes that maturity prevails and that we grieve with the families and, for a moment at least, step into their shoes and think how terrible that would be if it was us and what we could do to reduce [the hardship] through our own behaviours, Dr Menon said. On Wednesday evening, Joel posted a message on Instagram under photos with his brothers. Rest up. Love you brother. Look after each other, Selwood wrote. Looking after each other is what those inside AFL clubs have been trying to do this week as they reflected on what more they could do. Seoul: North Korea will make arrests as part of a full-scale investigation into the launch accident that left a brand-new destroyer lying on its side half-submerged, state media reported on Friday. Pyongyang has said the Wednesday incident, which took place in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was caused by a loss of balance while the 5000-tonne ship was being put into the water. Satellite imagery shows the crippled vessel at the north-eastern shipyard of Chongjin with most of its hull underwater and draped in blue covers. Kim berated the mishap as a criminal act caused by sheer carelessness that could not be tolerated, according to state media. Boston: US President Donald Trumps administration has revoked Harvard Universitys ability to enrol international students and is forcing existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other schools. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the termination of Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, the department said in a statement. Noem accused the university of fostering violence and antisemitism and co-ordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. Harvard said the move, which affects thousands of students, was illegal and amounted to retaliation. Australian ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd said he was closely monitoring developments on the future enrolment of international students. Johannesburg: US President Donald Trump showed a screenshot from a video taken in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of what he falsely presented as evidence of mass killings of white South Africans. These are all white farmers that are being buried, Trump said, holding up a print-out of an article accompanied by the picture during a contentious Oval Office meeting in which he confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with unfounded claims of a genocide of Afrikaner farmers. In fact, the video, published by Reuters on February 3 and subsequently verified by the news agencys fact-check team, showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from Reuters footage shot after deadly battles with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The blog post that Ramaphosa was shown by Trump during the White House meeting was published by American Thinker, a conservative online magazine, about conflict and racial tensions in South Africa and Congo. The bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and Colombia was further consolidated during an official visit to the Defense in the Caribbean Region and to the Coastguard Caribbean Region, by Colombian Vice-Admiral Grisales, Chief of Marine Operations in Colombia. During the visit, the ties between both countries were further strengthened in counter-drug control, search and rescue operations, and joint military training. The Columbian Admiral paid a work visit to the Marine Barracks at Parera, the training area Wacao, and the HNLMS Pelikaan and conversed with representatives of the Coastguard Caribbean Region and the Commander of the Naval Forces in the Caribbean Region. An important subject during the visit was the continuation and strengthening of collaboration. Both countries underline the importance of joint operations, training, and exercises. The recent Estribo exercise in Colombia, whereby Dutch and Colombian Marines trained together, is seen as a successful example of operational collaboration. During the spring, joint counterdrug operations were already executed. A joint marine exercise is planned for the next fall period. An important moment during the visit was Commander Walter Hansen's signing of an operational SAR agreement (Search and Rescue). This agreement stipulates clear procedures and communication lines for joint SAR operations in shared or contiguous maritime areas. Thus, safety on sea is being further enlarged, and collaboration between both countries is formalized. The visit underlines the mutual trust and shared commitment to maritime safety in the Caribbean Region. The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Columbia will continue to intensely work together to a safer and more stable region. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Korps Politie Sint Maarten (KPSM) extends its gratitude to the police forces of Aruba and Curacao for their prompt and invaluable support during a critical time for the island. Over the past few days, 14 police officers have arrived in Sint-Maarten to assist with public safety operations. Their presence will support KPSM in addressing the ongoing situation at the prison and the heightened security needs surrounding the Soul Beach festival 2025 concert activities. These reinforcement officers will be actively engaged in patrol duties and will be on standby to assist with any incidents that may arise either at the prison facility or during Soul Beach events. Their deployment is currently planned for one week, with the possibility of extension based on operational needs. KPSM takes this opportunity to express sincere appreciation to the Chiefs of Police of Aruba and Curacao, as well as to the Minister of Justice and the Ministry of Justice, for their swift coordination and commitment to regional cooperation. We also extend a heartfelt thank you to all officers, both local and visiting, who have dedicated their timeoften during their personal off-hoursto ensure the continued safety and security of our community. Together, we remain committed to keeping Sint-Maarten safe. KPSM Press Release. PHILIPSBURG:--- Shocking revelations have emerged in the ongoing case SXM202400625/202500427 before the Court of First Instance in Sint Maarten. Internationally certified ISO Lead Auditor and medical governance specialist Terence Jandroep has submitted documented evidence exposing that two physicians with significant disciplinary histories in the United States were actively engaged during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising grave concerns about patient safety and systemic governance failures. SMMC Attorneys Attempt to Exclude Evidence, Threatening National Health Safety The attorneys representing the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) are actively attempting to have Jandroep's crucial evidence dismissed by the Court on a technical basis. This maneuver, if successful, would exclude vital information pertaining to national health safety, a concern particularly highlighted by the fact that 92 patients died in Sint Maarten during the Pandemic. First Physician: Unfit and Undisclosed High-Risk Procedures. Initially, Jandroep's court-filed root cause analysis and clinical governance audit uncovered an unqualified physician at the SMMC. This physician, whose U.S. medical license was voluntarily suspended (2019) and subsequently revoked (2020), deliberately omitted this vital information when renewing licenses in other States, all while actively performing high-risk intubation procedures. This alarming fact remained undisclosed and undetected for nearly five years. Jandroep's findings, based entirely on U.S. public disciplinary records, demonstrate that this physician in several US States: Had his license fully revoked for two years beginning in 2020 following the voluntary suspension of practice after a patient death incident linked to malpractice. Pled no contest to charges of malpractice before the Nevada State Medical Board with a Settlement Agreement. Was accused of sexual misbehavior in 2013 and 2020. Was found guilty of improper patient care and record keeping. Was sanctioned in multiple jurisdictions for submitting false or misleading information during license renewal. Deliberately failed to disclose his disciplinary history while continuing to practice under a subcontracting arrangement at SMMC. The physician was subcontracted through a U.S. medical staffing agency. Critically, SMMC, as the host facility, allowed this physician to perform intubations, an extremely high-risk and invasive intervention, during one of the most vulnerable phases of the COVID-19 health emergency. "The central failure was not the staffing alone, but the absence of effective governance. The oversight mechanisms required by ISO 7101 and ISO 9001 were nonexistent or bypassed entirely. There were ample opportunities to identify these disqualifications. Yet no alert was raised, internally or externally, despite publicly available U.S. records, stated Jandroep. The full disciplinary history of this physician, submitted by Jandroep as part of his court filing, includes: Certified disciplinary decisions from the Nevada, Michigan, New York, and Illinois State Medical Boards. Signed no-contest plea agreements related to medical malpractice. Investigations resulting in confirmed sexual misbehavior. License revocation orders stemming from malpractice and patient death. Notices of sanctions for filing deceptive licensing information. Chronological mapping of the physicians employment timeline versus U.S. license status. Comparative analysis referencing deficiencies against ISO 7101:2023 and ISO 9001:2015 standards. Photographic evidence of additional misconduct (including previously reported beer incidents) never disclosed by the Medical institution. Alarmingly, SMMC and its medical board failed to disclose any of these facts publicly or internally for more than four years. No alerts, internal inquiries, or risk communications were documented or shared concerning the beer-related events, the physicians fitness to practice, or surrounding patient safety concerns. If such risks remain hidden for this long, it raises the broader question of what else is being missed. This is not a one-off compliance slip, this is a systemic failure, emphasized Jandroep. Second Physician: Disciplinary Actions to "Protect the Publics Health, Safety, and Welfare" During his forensic investigation, Jandroep identified a second physician who had also been subject to disciplinary action by the Virginia, Delaware, and possibly New York Board of Medicine. The disciplinary measures were explicitly imposed on the grounds of: Protecting the Publics Health, Safety, and Welfare !!!. Such grounds can entail gross negligence or incompetence, practicing while impaired (e.g., drugs, alcohol, mental instability), unlicensed or unauthorized practice, and ethical violations such as patient abuse or misconduct. The presence of two U.S. doctors with this kind of disciplinary history, knowingly or unknowingly engaged by the local healthcare institution, raises extremely serious questions of due diligence, risks to patient safety, and potentially institutional liability. Legal Ramifications and Accountability Jandroep indicates that it is likely that SMMC was deceived by its U.S. medical staffing contractor, or the contractor may have omitted vital information about the physicians record, in which case numerous grounds may exist for a civil action under U.S. law. This opens a clear legal window for a negligence lawsuit against the staffing agency and the physicians in the United States, said the Risk Analyst. Conversely, should it be proven that the agency provided the full disclosure, and local authorities nonetheless overlooked the inherent risks, the implications point to a critical, catastrophic failure of medical governance squarely on Sint Maarten's shoulders. Furthermore, any defending attorneys attempting to present misleading information or conceal evidence of gross mismanagement, especially when contrary evidence exists, face severe ramifications. This behavior aligns with "selling a spoiled product to the court" and constitutes a breach of legal and ethical duties. Legal consequences can include disciplinary action (reprimands, suspension, or disbarment), civil liability for professional negligence or fraud, criminal charges in serious cases, and contempt of court penalties. The presence of clear evidence makes such attempts to mislead even more perilous for the defending attorneys. The court will assess whether procedural and factual omissions, or any attempts to misrepresent the situation, warrant corrective judicial review and other legal consequences. All records used in the case and this article are drawn from official and publicly available U.S. state disciplinary databases, shielding Jandroep from all liability or defamation concerns. The ongoing case, by sparking renewed debate on SMMCs risk management and the broader transparency of healthcare operations in Sint Maarten, draws attention to the island's perplexing distinction of having the highest per capita COVID-19 death rate in the Dutch Kingdom. Jandroep's current 353-page analysis indicates an inability to conclusively determine whether these Pandemic deaths were exclusively from COVID or of an inconclusive nature; however, the sheer volume of fatalities suggests the strong possibility of additional, unaddressed motives influencing these disturbing per capita figures in Sint Maarten. The Court of First Instance is scheduled to render its verdict in proceedings SXM202400625/202500427 on May 27, 2025. Further hearings are indeed justified to assess whether the 26 procedural and factual omissions identified in the original verdict, recently acknowledged in court, warrant corrective judicial review; however, it remains uncertain if the Court will take that specific route. ~CBCS Starts Implementation of Deposit Guarantee Scheme~ CBCS Starts Implementation of Deposit Guarantee Scheme WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG The Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) started implementing the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) for Curacao. The DGS was formally introduced on March 31, 2025, with the publication of the national decree on the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (P.B. 2025, no. 53). Concurrently, the Minister of Finance of Curacao signed a ministerial regulation, elaborating further on the DGS. The DGS for Curacao will enter into effect on July 1, 2025. The DGS promotes confidence in Curacaos financial system and strengthens the financial stability of the monetary union. The DGS legislation applies to credit institutions established in Curacao and licensed by the CBCS. International credit institutions are not covered by this legislation. The DGS protects account holders deposits in the event that a credit institution becomes unable to meet its obligations. Per account holder and per institution, deposits are protected up to Cg 50,000 (for credit institutions) and up to Cg 25,000 (for credit unions). The DGS ensures that affected account holders receive the protected portion of their deposits within 20 business days. The Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) provides the funds for this purpose. The Deposit Guarantee Fund Foundation, established under the DGS Law, will manage the DGF. Credit institutions are required to make regular annual contributions to the DGF, based on the volume of guaranteed deposits held at each institution. Together, the CBCS and the DGF Foundation will be responsible for carrying out all tasks and activities related to the DGS. The CBCS is currently working on the DGS for Sint Maarten in close cooperation with Sint Maarten's Ministry of Finance. The DGS for Sint Maarten will offer the same level of protection to account holders with credit institutions established in Sint Maarten. The publication of the DGS national decree represents a major milestone in the realization of the DGS for Curacao. Willemstad, May 23, 2025. CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN Anthropic touts improved Claude AI models San Francisco, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2025 Anthropic unveiled its latest Claude generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models on Thursday, claiming to set new standards for reasoning, coding, and digital agent capabilities. The launch came as the San Francisco-based startup held its first developers conference. "Claude Opus 4 is our most powerful model yet, and the best coding model in the world," Anthropic co-founder and chief executive Dario Amodei said as he opened the event. Opus 4 and Sonnet 4 were described as "hybrid" models capable of quick responses as well as more thoughtful results that take a little time to handle well. Anthropic's gathering came on the heels of annual developers conferences from Google and Microsoft at which the tech giants showcased their latest AI innovations. Since OpenAI's ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, various generative GenAI models have been vying for supremacy. GenAI tools answer questions or tend to tasks based on simple, conversational prompts. The current focus in Silicon Valley is on AI "agents" tailored to independently handle computer or online tasks. Anthropic was early to that trend, adding a "computer use" capability to its model late last year. "Agents can actually turn human imagination into tangible reality at unprecedented scale," said Anthropic chief product officer Mike Krieger, a co-founder of Instagram. AI agents can boost what engineers at small startups can accomplish when it comes to coding, helping them build products faster, Krieger told the gathering. "I think back to Instagram's early days," Krieger said. "Our famously small team had to make a bunch of very painful either/or decisions." GenAI can also provide startup founders with business strategy insights on par with those of veteran chief financial officers, according to Krieger. Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI engineers, launched Claude in March 2023. The startup stresses responsible development of AI, moving more cautiously than competitors as it innovates. North Korea launches probe into warship launch accident Seoul, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 North Korea has begun an investigation into an accident that occurred during the launch of a new warship this week, state media said Friday, assessing the damage as "not serious". North Korea said Thursday that "a serious accident occurred" at the Wednesday launch ceremony for the newly built 5,000-ton naval destroyer, in which sections of the bottom of the vessel were crushed -- with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assessed that North Korea's "side-launch attempt" of the ship failed, and the vessel was left listing in the water. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), however, said Friday that an "underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship's bottom". "The hull starboard was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel," according to KCNA. The extent of damage to the vessel was "not serious", it said, adding it was "necessary to make clear the cause of the accident". The North on Thursday had blamed "inexperienced command and operational carelessness" for the destroyer's botched launch, which was observed by Kim who called it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness". Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the shipyard in the eastern port city of Chongjin where the accident took place, was summoned by law enforcement on Thursday, KCNA said on Friday. Experts estimated it would take "two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber", the report said. It would take around 10 days to restore the destroyer's side, it added. Based on its size and scale, the South Korean military said the newly built warship is believed to be similarly equipped to the 5,000-ton destroyer-class vessel, Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. North Korea has claimed the Choe Hyon was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year". Seoul's military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Analysts say the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. The pioneering Vietnamese professor taught by French maths genius Hanoi, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 As American bombers flew overhead, pioneering professor Hoang Xuan Sinh completed her thesis by the light of a kerosene lamp in the Vietnamese jungle, with letters from French maths genius Alexandre Grothendieck as her only guidance. Vietnam's first female mathematics professor, Sinh, now 91, recalled trying to write in December 1972, as the B-52s of the US Air Force unleashed a deluge of bombs on Hanoi and surrounding provinces. They patrolled "all night", Sinh told AFP, her voice trembling as she remembered the so-called Christmas bombings of the Vietnam War that saw 20,000 tons of explosives dropped over 12 days that month. "We narrowly escaped death." Sinh was born in Hanoi during the French colonial period and her life offers a snapshot of modern Vietnamese history. Part of the country's final generation of intellectuals born under French rule, she lived through decades of conflict -- including wars with France, the United States and China -- before helping lay the foundations for its ongoing economic miracle. Ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit on Sunday, she spoke in fluent French of the meeting with revolutionary mathematician Grothendieck that changed her life and the private university she founded in 1988 -- the country's first. - Farmers' huts - Sinh met Grothendieck, one of the most important figures of 20th-century mathematics, in 1967 when he was teaching algebra to students and teachers in northern Vietnam. Despite the bombs, Grothendieck -- considered to have revolutionised maths in the way Albert Einstein did physics -- spent a month in the country, driven by a sense of duty to fellow academics working in impossible circumstances. "He was a very good teacher. He knew how to make difficult things easy," recalled Sinh. At the time, the University of Hanoi was scattered across several villages in the countryside to escape bombings targeting the capital. Grothendieck, Sinh and the other students lived with farmers, without electricity or running water. "Their houses were small (but) they kept a corner for us, just enough to put a work table," she said. Despite the hardship and destruction, Grothendieck -- who in 1966 won the Fields Medal, regarded as the Nobel Prize for mathematics -- wrote in a travel report that his hosts maintained "a quiet confidence in the future". Sinh proposed a thesis topic to Grothendieck, who immediately accepted, and so began a struggle to complete it that would last nearly eight years, without a library or typewriter. She received two letters from her mentor, who by that time had left Vietnam, but they were "very brief" to avoid censorship, she explained. - Paper was a luxury - Sinh devoted herself to her work at night after the classes she taught. But at sunset, "I was eaten by mosquitoes", she said, recalling her dreams of a battery-powered light to replace her kerosene lamp -- a fire hazard -- so that she could shelter under a mosquito net. Although she completed her work in late 1972 under the thunder of the B-52s, her thesis defence had to wait until May 1975, a few days after the fall of Saigon, which marked the end of the war. On the jury at Paris Diderot University were Grothendieck and Laurent Schwartz, a fellow Fields Medal laureate who was also sympathetic to the Vietnamese cause. Students and teachers were surprised to see two laureates on the panel, she recalled, still visibly moved by the memory. Thanks to Grothendieck's intervention, the university accepted her handwritten thesis -- likely the first they had ever received, Sinh said with a smile, remembering that even finding paper during the war was a luxury. Portraits of Grothendieck and Schwartz now hang in the entrance to lecture halls at Hanoi's Thang Long University, which she founded. Students tapping on their phones in front of the paintings confessed to AFP they hadn't heard of the two men. Today, Sinh visits the institution once a week, where she likes to feed the pigeons. The students are "happy", she reflects. "When you tell them things that happened, how life was, they can't believe it. They are lucky," she said. Iran, US to hold new round of nuclear talks in Rome Tehran, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 Iranian and US negotiators meet in Rome on Friday for a fifth round of nuclear talks, after a public disagreement over Tehran's uranium enrichment. The talks, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the foes since the United States quit the 2015 nuclear accord during President Donald Trump's first term. Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, backing talks but warning of military action if diplomacy fails. Iran wants a new deal that would ease sanctions which have battered its economy. The last round of talks, in the Omani capital Muscat, ended with a public spat over enrichment. US envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington "could not authorise even one percent" enrichment -- a position Tehran called a red line, citing its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. - 'Fundamental differences' - Ahead of Friday's talks, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "fundamental differences" remained with the United States, while adding that Tehran was open to its nuclear sites undergoing more inspections. "We will not have an agreement at all" if the United States wants to prevent Iran from enriching uranium, Araghchi added. Friday's talks in the Italian capital come ahead of a June meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the October expiry of the 2015 accord. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aimed to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb -- a goal Western countries accused it of pursuing, though Tehran denies it. In return for curbs on its nuclear programme, Iran had received relief from international sanctions. But the accord was torpedoed in 2018 when Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States. Iran responded by ramping up its nuclear activities. It is now enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far above the deal's 3.67 percent cap but below the 90 percent needed for weapons-grade material. - 'It's quite simple' - Experts in Tehran said Iran was unlikely to back down. "It's quite simple; if the US expects Iran to halt nuclear enrichment, then there can't be a deal," said Mohammad Marandi, a political scientist who was once an adviser on the nuclear issue. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran says the country's nuclear industry employs 17,000 people, similar to other countries where uranium is enriched for civilian use. "The Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea, Brazil, and Japan enrich (uranium) without possessing nuclear weapons," its spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. Iran's enmity with Israel, whose main backer is the United States, has been a constant backdrop to the talks. In a letter to the United Nations, Araghchi wrote: "We believe that in the event of any attack on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime, the US government will also be involved and bear legal responsibility." The warning came after CNN, citing unnamed US officials, reported Israel was making preparations to carry out such a strike. The White House said Trump had a "productive discussion" with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday about Iran and the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington. - 'Irreversible' - Friday's talks will be held before an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in June in Vienna during which Iran's nuclear activities will be reviewed. The 2015 deal provides for the possibility of UN sanctions being reimposed through a mechanism called "snapback" if Iran fails to fulfil its commitments. The agreement's three European signatories -- Britain, France and Germany -- have warned they would trigger the mechanism if the continent's security was threatened. Iran's top diplomat Araghchi said such a move would have "consequences -- not only the end of Europe's role in the agreement, but also an escalation of tensions that could become irreversible". On patrol for jihadists with Mauritania's camel cavalry Achemime, Mauritania, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 A posse of turban-clad soldiers perched on "ships of the desert" may conjure images of the past but Mauritania's camelback cavalry plays 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, whom 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 (1,370-mile) border lies Mali, which along with its Sahel 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 that 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," said 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, and today the "Nomad Group" boasts around 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, around 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's members 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," Colonel al-Bashir said. 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," Colonel al-Bashir said. - 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," Colonel al-Bashir said. 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. Recently 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 Fahrenheit). "Here, it is a long way from the main roads -- we have no network, no cars, no shops," said 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 hoped to soon train other Meharist units in the area and spread the joy of the "Mauritanian experience" in the camel's saddle. Turkey arrests 65 soldiers, police for ties to late Erdogan foe Istanbul, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 Turkey arrested 65 soldiers and police officers early Friday over alleged ties to the late preacher Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of masterminding the failed 2016 coup. State news agency Anadolu said 56 active-duty soldiers from the Turkish armed forces had been arrested, with another seven still being sought. Halk TV meanwhile said nine police officers were arrested, "most of them in Istanbul". "In an operation against the terrorist organisation FETO in 36 provinces centred in Istanbul, 56 of the 63 active-duty soldiers for whom detention orders were issued were captured," Anadolu said. The FETO -- or the "Fethullah Terror Organisation" -- is the name Turkey gives to Gulen's Hizmet movement, which once had widespread influence behind the scenes. Gulen, who died in October, was once a close ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before the two became bitter enemies. He fled to the United States in 1999 and never returned. Even after his death, Turkey has vowed to pursue his followers across the globe. Quoting a prosecutors' statement, Halk said the arrest operation began in Istanbul at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) and concerned members of the air force, the gendarmerie, and the land and naval forces. Seoul says no talks with US on potential troop pullout Seoul, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 South Korea said on Friday there have been no talks with Washington about the United States pulling troops from the South after a Wall Street Journal report claimed a partial withdrawal was being considered. The WSJ report, citing US defence officials, said Washington was considering whether to move around 4,500 troops out of South Korea and deploy them to other locations, including Guam. Washington, South Korea's long-time security ally, stations around 28,500 troops in the South to help protect it against nuclear-armed North Korea. However, US President Donald Trump said before winning last year's election that Seoul would pay billions more annually to host American troops if he returned to the White House. Asked about the WSJ report, Seoul's defence ministry said: "There has been no discussion whatsoever between South Korea and the United States regarding the withdrawal of the United States Forces Korea." The allies signed a new five-year agreement last year on sharing the cost of stationing US troops in South Korea, with Seoul agreeing to raise its contribution by 8.3 percent to 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion) for 2026. "US Forces Korea have served as a key component of the South Korea-US alliance, maintaining a strong combined defence posture with our military to deter North Korean aggression and provocations," Seoul's defence ministry said, adding this contributed to "peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region". "We will continue close cooperation with the US to further strengthen this role going forward." United States Forces Korea (USFK) echoed Seoul's remarks that the United States remains "firmly committed" to South Korea's defence. "We look forward to working with the incoming government officials to maintain and strengthen our iron clad alliance," USFK said in a statement. "Reports that the Department of Defense will reduce US troops in the Republic of Korea are not true." Lebanon govt source: disarming Palestinian camps to start mid-June Beirut, Lebanon, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 The disarmament of Palestinian camps in Lebanon will begin next month based on an accord with visiting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, a Lebanese government official told AFP on Friday. The Lebanese and Palestinian sides agreed on starting a plan "to remove weapons from the camps, beginning mid-June in the Beirut camps, and other camps will follow," the source told AFP, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media. By longstanding convention, the Lebanese army stays out of the Palestinian camps -- where Abbas's Fatah movement, militant group Hamas and other armed groups are present -- and leaves the factions to handle security. Abbas has been in Beirut since Wednesday for talks on disarming the Palestinian refugee camps as Lebanon seeks to impose its authority on all its territory. The deal came during the first meeting of a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee announced Wednesday to follow up on the situation in the camps. The meeting was also attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. A statement from the committee released by the premier's office said it agreed to "launch the process of handing over weapons according to a specific timetable, accompanied by practical steps to boltser the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees". Lebanon hosts about 222,000 Palestinian refugees, according to the United Nations agency UNRWA, many living in 12 overcrowded official camps. Most are descendants of Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their land during the creation of Israel in 1948. They face a variety of legal restrictions in Lebanon, including on employment. Iran, US hold new round of nuclear talks in Rome Rome, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 Iranian and US negotiators met in Rome on Friday for a fifth round of nuclear talks, after a public disagreement over Tehran's uranium enrichment. The talks, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the foes since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord during President Donald Trump's first term. Since returning to office, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, backing talks but warning of military action if diplomacy fails. Iran wants a new deal that would ease sanctions which have battered its economy. "The fifth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, began in Rome, with the mediation of Oman," Iran's Tasnim news agency reported. The fourth round of talks, in the Omani capital Muscat, ended with a public spat over enrichment. Witkoff said Washington "could not authorise even one percent" enrichment -- a position Tehran called a red line, citing its rights under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. - 'Fundamental differences' - Ahead of Friday's talks, Araghchi said "fundamental differences" remained with the United States, while adding that Tehran was open to its nuclear sites undergoing more inspections. "We will not have an agreement at all" if the United States wants to prevent Iran from enriching uranium, he said. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that the talks in the Italian capital were scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT). They come ahead of a June meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the October expiry of the 2015 accord. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, aimed to allay Western suspicions that Iran was seeking a nuclear weapons capability, an ambition that Tehran has consistently denied. In return for curbs on its nuclear programme, Iran had received relief from international sanctions. But the accord was torpedoed in 2018 when Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions. A year later, Iran responded by ramping up its nuclear activities. It is now enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far above the deal's 3.67 percent cap but below the 90 percent level needed for a nuclear warhead. - 'It's quite simple' - Analysts in Tehran said Iran was unlikely to back down. "It's quite simple; if the US expects Iran to halt nuclear enrichment, then there can't be a deal," said Mohammad Marandi, a political scientist who was once an adviser on the nuclear issue. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran says the country's nuclear industry employs 17,000 people, similar to other countries where uranium is enriched for civilian use. "The Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea, Brazil and Japan enrich (uranium) without possessing nuclear weapons," its spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. Iran's enmity with Israel, whose main backer is the United States, has been a constant backdrop to the talks. In a letter to the United Nations, Araghchi wrote: "We believe that in the event of any attack on the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime, the US government will also be involved and bear legal responsibility." The warning came after CNN, citing unnamed US officials, reported Israel was making preparations to carry out such a strike. The White House said Trump had a "productive discussion" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday about Iran and the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington. - 'Irreversible' - Friday's talks take place before an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna in June during which Iran's nuclear activities will be reviewed. The 2015 deal provides for the possibility of UN sanctions being reimposed through a mechanism called "snapback" if Iran fails to fulfil its commitments. The agreement's three European parties -- Britain, France and Germany -- have warned they will trigger the mechanism if the continent's security is threatened. Araghchi said such a move would have "consequences -- not only the end of Europe's role in the agreement, but also an escalation of tensions that could become irreversible". Pakistan extends airspace ban on India Karachi, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 Pakistan's aviation authority said on Friday it would extend a ban on Indian airlines using its airspace for another month, after the worst violence between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades. The ban was announced on April 24 as both sides traded diplomatic tit for tat measures that spilled into a four-day military conflict. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire until a ceasefire was announced on May 10. "No flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace," Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement, adding that the ban had been extended until early morning on June 24. "This ban will also apply to Indian military aircraft." India had returned in kind with a ban in late April, due to run until June 23. The conflict was sparked by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed Islamabad of backing. Islamabad has denied the claim and called for an independent probe. Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both countries, which have fought multiple wars over the Himalayan territory since their 1947 independence from Britain. Pakistan's decision to close its airspace to carriers from its neighbour has seen journeys from India to Central Asia, Europe and North America take up to two hours longer. And the extra flying time may eventually make flights more expensive. Indian government data shows that when Islamabad closed its airspace in 2019 -- after New Delhi hit it with airstrikes in response to an attack in Kashmir -- domestic airlines saw a financial cost of nearly 5.5 billion rupees ($64.3 million) during the nearly five-month-long shutdown. Pakistan, India extend airspace ban on each other Karachi, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 Pakistan and India's aviation authorities said on Friday they would extend an airspace ban on each other's airlines, after the worst violence between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades. It comes a month after the deadly April 22 attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir, which sparked a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire until a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Pakistan had closed its airspace to Indian aircraft on April 24, while India took a similar measure days later, with the ban to last until May 23. "No flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace," Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement, adding that the ban had been extended until early morning on June 24. "This ban will also apply to Indian military aircraft." India's Ministry of Civil Aviation returned in kind, saying it "extends (Notice to Airmen) for Pakistan flights for one month", until June 23. Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both countries, which have fought multiple wars over the Himalayan territory since their 1947 independence from Britain. Pakistan's decision to close its airspace to carriers from its neighbour has seen journeys from India to Central Asia, Europe and North America take up to two hours longer. And the extra flying time may eventually make flights more expensive. Indian government data shows that when Islamabad closed its airspace in 2019 -- after New Delhi hit it with airstrikes in response to an attack in Kashmir -- domestic airlines saw a financial cost of nearly 5.5 billion rupees ($64.3 million) during the nearly five-month-long shutdown. Finland says suspects two Russian military aircrafts violated airspace Helsinki, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 Two Russian military aircrafts are suspected of having violated Finnish airspace on Friday, Finland's defence ministry said in a statement. The incident had taken place off the coast of Porvoo located in southern Finland some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the country's capital Helsinki on Friday afternoon. "We take the suspected territorial violation seriously and an investigation is ongoing," Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement. The Finnish Border Guard is investigating the incident and will provide further information as the investigation proceeds, it added. COLOMBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The "Tea for Harmony: YAJI 2025 China-Sri Lanka Cultural Gala" was held in Colombo from May 20 to May 21. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the historical and cultural richness of Chinese and Sri Lankan tea traditions in her remarks at the event on Wednesday. "Chinese and Sri Lankan tea cultures are rich and diverse, with historical and deep cultural significance," Amarasuriya said, underscoring the unique global reputation of Sri Lankan tea, commonly known as Ceylon Tea, for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and color. She also noted the importance of the Chinese market, now among the top five destinations for Sri Lankan tea exports. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong on Wednesday described tea as a powerful cultural bridge fostering deeper mutual understanding and friendship between China and Sri Lanka. "Tea is not only a commodity but also a bridge connecting hearts," he said, calling for expanded collaboration between China and Sri Lanka under the Belt and Road Initiative. The ambassador emphasized opportunities in technological innovation and market expansion within the tea sector, envisioning greater global recognition for Ceylon black tea and broader appreciation for Chinese tea traditions. The gala also featured vibrant cultural performances by Chinese and Sri Lankan artists, including traditional Tibetan dances of the Reba and Guozhuang alongside a memorable Biwang solo, and Sri Lankan tea picking dances. Ajith Dharmawardena, president of the Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association, said cultural exchange plays an important role in fostering spiritual resonance and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. Dharmawardena said the gala provided a valuable chance for Sri Lankans to experience Tibetan culture firsthand, deepening the connection between the two peoples. Where to live Golden Visas: the four European countries where you can still get citizenship by buying property Four European countries still offering golden visas to property buyers Labubu fan Victoria Calvert told of chaos at the Pop Mart store in Westfield Stratford as customers scrambled to get their hands on the dolls. It was just getting ridiculous to be in that situation where people were fighting and shouting and you felt scared, she told the BBC. But Mr Evangelou accused the council and bike rental companies of ignoring residents concerns. Trying to get through to someone who can actually help is a mission, he said. You press 1, press 2, hold on and then you give up. Weve sent emails but no response. Its stressing us out every day. Critics compared the language with that of the Conservative politician Enoch Powell, who in an inflammatory address in 1968 known as the rivers of blood speech, claimed that white British people would become strangers in their own country in the future. Representatives of the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) discussed in Brussels, on Friday, with officials from the European Parliament and the European Commission, concerns related to the degradation of social dialogue in Romania. "Today, a delegation of the National Trade Union Bloc, consisting of Dumitru Costin - president of the BNS, Kevin Kirmizigul - president of the BNS Youth Organization and Cristina Casian - legal specialist, are in Brussels to discuss with European partners the degradation of social dialogue in Romania. The visit takes place in the context of the adoption by the Romanian Government of Emergency Ordinance no. 156/2024, an ordinance that has seriously affected the rights of workers in the public sector and state-owned companies (...) We presented our concerns regarding the violation of the PNRR milestone 449 and Directive (EU) 2022/2041, as well as the negative effects of the measures adopted by the government on collective bargaining. We reaffirm our commitment to a real, functional and European social dialogue, in which the voice of workers is heard and respected", the trade union organization inform. According to the cited source, the BNS delegation had a series of strategic meetings with Per Hilmersson - head of the S&D delegation in the European Parliament, Maria Luisa Cabral - director within DG EMPL and responsible for working conditions and social dialogue at the European Commission, and Ioannis Katsaroumpas - senior researcher in social and labour law, within the European Trade Union Institute - ETUI. The discussions ended with a concluding session with Claes-Mikael Stahl, deputy general secretary of ETUC. Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated on Thursday Nicusor Dan on his election as president of Romania, news agency Xinhua reports. Xi pointed out that Romania is the third country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. For a long time, China and Romania have respected each other and treated each other as equals, he said, adding that mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has continued to advance, and the traditional friendship has grown stronger over time. At present, global changes unseen in a century are accelerating, Xi said, noting that as good friends and partners, China and Romania should enhance communication, build consensus, and deepen cooperation to jointly seize the opportunities of the times and work together to address risks and challenges. The Chinese president said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Romania relations and is willing to work together with Nicusor Dan to write a new chapter of friendly cooperation between the two countries and bring more benefits to the people of both countries. Efficient administration, cutting red tape and constructive dialogue with the business environment are practices that we support and consider necessary at all levels of decision-making, say representatives of the Concordia Employers' Confederation in a letter to Ilie Bolojan, at the end of the latter's term as interim president of Romania. "The Concordia Employers' Confederation, an organisation that represents a significant part of the Romanian business environment, thanks you for your cooperation and for your work as interim president of Romania. The period of political transition in recent months has been shaken by internal conflicts and regional geopolitical tensions. We appreciate the efforts made to ensure institutional stability and firmly maintain Romania's European orientation. The organisation of a transparent electoral process and the reaffirmation of our country's security commitments have also contributed to a climate of predictability, which is essential for the economic environment," the document says, agerpres reports. "We have followed the emphasis you have placed on the need for economic recovery, through fiscal-budgetary balance, but also effective governance. In our experience, as business people, Romania works best when it is led by leaders who understand the mechanisms of the economy and the importance of the private sector for the general welfare. Efficient administration, cutting red tape and constructive dialogue with the business environment are practices that we support and consider necessary at all levels of decision-making," say the representatives of the organization. The Academy of Romanian Scientists (AOSR), through its Philosophy, Theology and Psychology department, together with the Romanian Academy of Legal Sciences on Thursday organized the conference called "1700 years since the First Council [or First Ecumenical Synod] of Nicaea: relevance and contemporary reflections" at the Palace of Parliament. During the conference, the head of AOSR, engineering professor Doina Banciu, Phd, stated that the Council of Nicaea represents a model of cooperation between the administration (Emperor Constantine the Great) and the beliefs of the people for the purpose of clarifying ideas and mutual tolerance, an example of unity in diversity, as an element of a sustainable construction based on consensus and collective responsibility, agerpres reports. The chair of the legal committee within the Chamber of Deputies and the president of the Romanian Academy of Legal Sciences, Bogdan Ciuca, spoke about the scientific and cultural value of the Conference, about the importance of moral and spiritual rules and principles and about the need for models in today's world.A special moment during the plenary session was the intervention of the daughter of American astronaut James Irwin, Joy Irwin Schatkleff, who recalled that her father participated in the moon exploration mission of 1971, on the occasion of which a Bible and a series of national flags were taken to the moon, including that of Romania, which was later given as a gift to our country.During the event, moderated by university professor Mihai Badescu, PhD, head of the Philosophy, Theology and Psychology department of the AOSR, the exhibition "The Bible over Time" was opened, organized by the Bible Museum in Timisoara, under the coordination of Pastor Ionel Tutac, which presents a variety of Bibles, Romanian and foreign, in various editions, some of particular value, and other religious works and publications.Organized by AOSR, the conference "1700 years since the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea: relevance and contemporary reflections" took place within the framework of the Romanian Programme Science - Culture - Diplomacy (RO-SCUD), initiated and organized by the AOSR National Defense Minister Angel Tilvar welcomed on Friday his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii who is on an official visit to Bucharest, highlighting on the occasion Romania's firm commitment to supporting measures to strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova. According to a release from the National Defense Ministry, the two officials addressed topics related to the current regional security situation, as well as aspects related to the strengthening of bilateral defense cooperation. "Minister Tilvar emphasized Romania's firm commitment to supporting measures to strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova and welcomed the participation of the Moldovan troops, alongside the Romanian contingent, in the EUFOR ALTHEA mission deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a clear expression of the Republic of Moldova's commitment to regional security," the cited source states. Also, Minister Tilvar reaffirmed Romania's readiness to continue providing assistance and support for advancing the European path of the Republic of Moldova. The two ministers expressed their full commitment to intensifying the political-military dialogue and capitalizing on bilateral and regional cooperation formats, in order to identify and implement the most efficient mechanisms to support the reform of the National Army of the Republic of Moldova. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 9th edition of the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum held in Bucharest, an event both heads of Defense participated in. The minister of foreign affairs, Emil Hurezeanu, held consultations on Friday with the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popsoi, on the occasion of the latter's visit to Bucharest to participate in a series of international conferences on current regional issues, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs. According to the same source, on this occasion, the two officials reiterated the special, particularly close relationship that exists between Romania and the Republic of , and addressed current aspects of bilateral relations, with an emphasis on ongoing joint actions and Romania's support for the European integration process of the Republic of Moldova, agerpres reports. "The two dignitaries also reviewed the topical issues in the regional context, dominated by security threats and hostile actions of a hybrid nature. In this context, minister Emil Hurezeanu assured that Romania will continue to stand by the Republic of Moldova in the process of reform and consolidation of its resilience, as well as in what concerns the preparations for accession to the European Union," said the MAE. When it comes to financial markets, trust is the most important ingredient, president of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) Alexandru Petrescu told the Business Law Conference on Friday. "Once we have gained trust, all the other benefits derive from this. There are less possibilities for speculative transactions and the economic foundation is created for growing vectors of evolution and develop financial markets. There are many things we aspire to as a national financial market ecosystem, but there are also some elements we already stand by and we are anchored in a series of corporate governance principles and rules," said the ASF president. According to Petrescu, the ASF has already implemented the principles and rules regarding corporate governance, particularly on the three markets it regulates - insurance, the stock market, and the privately managed pension sector. From his point of view, Romania has the hallmarks and characteristics of an "incipient capital market", because reporting should not be considered a punitive obligation. Petrescu argues that reporting only consecrates the concept of transparency and its effect is that more capital and more investors are attracted. "The Romanian capital market is dominated by two sector rules, the banking and the energy sector, and the listed companies operating in these sectors easily fit into the requirements of the reporting directive. On the other hand, we see many small and medium-sized companies that either transition from the Aero market to the regulated market, or enter it at least for financing, by issuing various types of bonds and securities; in their turn, these entities need to fit into the future conditionalities of this directive," the head of the ASF also said. "In the United States, 80% of businesses are financed from the capital market, but in Europe the percentage is reversed. Just 20% of the European companies interact in one way or another, for their financial needs, with the capital market. In Romania the situation is even a little more dramatic, and I hope that more sectors besides the dominant ones - energy and banking - find their place for financing and trading on the capital market," concluded Alexandru Petrescu. The Law Faculty of the University of Bucharest, Piperea and Associates Attorneys at Law and the Romanian Society for Research on Public and Private Affairs (SOROCAPP) organized on Thursday and Friday the 16th edition of the Business Law Conference titled "On the challenges of law and the risks to the market economy in the era of successive and overlapping crises". The event was attended by Romanian and foreign experts from the academic and judicial environment. The conference was divided into four panels that alternated with four workshops. The topics of the sections and practical workshops focused on artificial intelligence, insolvency and restructuring, corporate governance, taxation / legal challenges and solutions of the industry, and transport law. Presidential advisor for National Security Cristian Diaconescu said on Friday that in no context, official or unofficial, has interim President Ilie Bolojan stated or suggested that our country is willing or intends to send Romanian military to Ukraine, and that the information appearing in the public space is "completely untrue". According to a press release issued by the Presidential Administration, the presidential advisor is making these clarifications in the context of the appearance in the public space, especially on some social networks, of "completely untrue" information, erroneously attributed to statements of interim president Ilie Bolojan on possibly sending Romanian military to Ukraine. "In no context, officially or unofficially, has interim president of Romania Ilie Bolojan stated or suggested that our country is willing or intends to send Romanian military to Ukraine. On the contrary, his public statements have consistently underlined Romania's continued multidimensional support for Kyiv, without including the prospect of deploying troops to the conflict-torn neighboring country. This was in line with the national position established following consultations with representatives of political parties, in preparation for the participation in the European Council of March 20, 2025, and with the decision adopted at the meeting of the Supreme Council for the Defence of the Country on March 28, 2025," emphasized Cristian Diaconescu. He added that, according to the national legal framework, a possible decision on the deployment of Romanian military in a conflict zone must be adopted by the Supreme Council for Defence of the Country and submitted to Parliament for approval. "Therefore, such a measure cannot be taken unilaterally by the President of Romania without prior, clear and unequivocal public communication," explained the presidential advisor. At the same time, the coordinator of the interim President of Romania's Chancellery urges citizens and media representatives to consult official sources and avoid disseminating or amplifying unverified and, implicitly, potentially false information. The Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) announced on Friday that it is "carefully following" the situation of the Romanian students at Harvard University in the United States of America. "The Ministry of Education and Research is informed of the U.S. Administration's decision to revoke the certification of Harvard University's International Student and Academic Exchange Program and is closely following the developments in this regard, in direct collaboration with the Romanian Embassy in Washington. We are concerned about the impact of this decision on Romanian students studying at Harvard University, exceptional young people who represent Romania in prestigious academic centers worldwide," reads a release from the MEC said. The Ministry reports that it is in contact with representatives of the Romanian Embassy in the U.S. and supports diplomatic efforts to clarify the status of these students and their families. At the same time, the Romanian student community at Harvard University is invited to remain in contact with the Romanian Embassy for updated information. "The Ministry of Education and Research will continue to monitor the situation and collaborate with all relevant institutions to support the legitimate interests of Romanian students in this situation," the release added. Stelian Bujduveanu of the National Liberal Party (PNL) will become the interim general mayor of Bucharest, according to a draft resolution approved on Friday by the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest (CGMB). The resolution was passed with 38 votes in favour and 8 against. Out of a total of 52 votes cast, 6 were annulled, agerpres reports. Stelian Bujduveanu (PNL) and Adrian Vigheciu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) were both elected as deputy mayors of the capital; however, it was the Social Democrat vice mayor who held the role of first legal substitute for the general mayor. Following Friday's vote, that situation changed, and Bujduveanu now becomes the interim general mayor. A total of 14 Romanian companies, from sectors such as oil and gas, IT and the food industry, presented their investment projects during a Romania - United Arab Emirates (UAE) business forum held by the Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) on Thursday. According to a press release from the Prahova Chamber sent to AGERPRES on Friday, the event was hosted by Aurelian Gogulescu, President of CCI Prahova, who stressed the importance of developing the local business environment and investment projects through capital input from the Emirates. He also expressed appreciation for the Emirati investors' choice of Prahova County to present their proposal for collaboration aimed at developing future partnerships, agerpres reports. Furthermore, the attending companies had the opportunity to present their investment projects and collaboration proposals in various fields of activity: machinery and construction in the oil and gas industry, IT, water and soil treatment, distribution and logistics, robotics, hydraulic systems, construction, consulting and design, the agri-food industry, animal husbandry, honey production, healthcare and tourism. Vice-president of the National Consumer Protection Authority (ANPC) Sebastian Hotca represented Romania at the European Consumer Summit 2025 dedicated to "A better future for consumers and competitiveness", which took place in Brussels on May 20, a release informs on Friday. According to the cited source, the event brought together decision-makers, experts, representatives of the civil society and the business environment, as well as high-ranking European officials, including: Anna Cavazzini - Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament, Michael McGrath - European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, and Nils Behrndt - Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers of the European Commission, told Agerpres. "The summit provided a platform for dialogue to shape a safer, more sustainable and fairer future for consumers, while maintaining a competitive and innovative European economy. During the meetings with the aforementioned officials, ANPC Vice President Sebastian Hotca reaffirmed Romania's commitment to European values and highlighted the importance of protecting consumer rights in a global context marked by fast technological, climate and social transformations," the release states. The key themes of the summit included: consumer protection in the digital age, green transition and responsibility towards consumers, market transparency and Artificial Intelligence between risks and opportunities for consumers. ST. LOUIS Two St. Louis-area based companies have pledged more than $600,000 to support cleanup and rebuilding efforts in the areas impacted by the May 16 tornado that tore across the city. Enterprise Mobility, the St. Louis-based rental car company, announced Thursday it is making donations to the American Red Cross and to the United Way of Greater St. Louis of $250,000 each. In addition to the donations, Enterprise said it is bringing vehicles from Texas and surrounding areas to provide temporary rental vehicles for residents whose cars were damaged in the tornado. Bunge, the Chesterfield-based agriculture company, pledged $100,000 to the St. Louis Community Foundation's tornado relief fund for the cleanup effort. The company is also collecting donations from its employees of essential supplies that will be delivered to local relief centers. Food tech company Benson Hill has been sold to a newly formed agtech company, potentially staving off bankruptcy. The Creve Coeur-based seed innovation company filed for bankruptcy protection in March with about $137.5 million in assets and $110.7 million in liabilities. Now, Benson Hill has announced that the Delaware bankruptcy court has approved the sale of its business assets to Confluence Genetics LLC, which will enable the business to continue with new leadership. This is more than a financial reset its a strategic reboot and a bright beginning, Kim Hurst, Confluence Genetics newly appointed CEO, said in a statement. Confluence Genetics is led by private equity firm Expedition Ag Partners and S2G Investments. The company will be focused on scaling its soybean genetics work and expanding its market position, according to a press release. The acquisition includes more than 350 patents issued or pending, though a sale price was not immediately available. Confluence Genetics has the right tools, talent and technology to shape soy innovation in ways that were only beginning to appreciate, said Mike DeCamp, Expedition Ag Partners president and CEO and Confluence Genetics incoming board executive chairman. With a focus on row crops, Benson Hill has teamed up with clients that are food industry giants over the years, like MorningStar Farms and Mars. It optimistically went public in 2021, when Benson Hills $1.35 billion valuation helped give it a reputation as a locally based ag-tech unicorn. But years of financial issues, leadership changes and tumbling stock prices led the company to turn to bankruptcy as a way to preserve its assets. Confluence Genetics will be headquartered at 1200 Research Boulevard in Creve Coeur. It will have a team of about 60 employees. The sale is set to close at midnight Friday. Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS A couple came up to Lucas Rouggly asking about resources for the Greater Ville neighborhood. It was almost a week after a tornado ripped a hole through north St. Louis, and The Block on North Taylor Avenue had become a hub of activity. The building, just south of Martin Luther King Boulevard, sits at the intersection of four neighborhoods: the Greater Ville, the Ville, Lewis Place and Vandeventer. Its a community center of sorts, with a gymnasium frequently filled with young people and families building relationships. Its roof was torn off during the tornado, as many were next door, across the street and in a straight line from Fountain Park to the northeast through some of the citys poorest neighborhoods. Rouggly stood on the front sidewalk with a notebook, directing volunteers, collecting food, making lists of people who needed tarps or generators or help with debris. This was the vision Rouggly had about 15 years ago, when he and his family moved to the Enright neighborhood and founded a nonprofit called Love the Lou. The neighborhood, devastated by a 1927 tornado, had been forgotten by time. Rouggly and his wife settled in to plant a seed of Christian love and see what germinated. Now, the community center that sprouted after years of effort is busier than ever, but it has been so under tragic circumstances. The couple that approached Rouggly was having trouble getting contractors to come to the neighborhood, a necessary step to stabilize properties before filing a homeowners insurance claim. The couples home had lost its roof, and they had only a tarp in place. This is the devastating reality for people who live in north St. Louis. Even those with insurance and not all have it are worried about getting the rebuilding help in the 63113 ZIP code that people in other parts of town can get more quickly. I have homeowners insurance, the man told me. And Im still finding resistance to get help when I tell them my ZIP code. The couple declined to let me use their names for this column, and I get it. Trust is an earned commodity in north St. Louis. Rouggly has taken more than a decade to build that trust, one block at a time. But the couples story is a St. Louis story: Black neighborhoods recovering from devastating storms often have a harder road forward, in part because of infrastructure neglect that builds up over time. Around the corner from Rougglys center, in the Lewis Place neighborhood, there are still scars from the 2011 tornado that wasnt quite bad enough to earn a disaster declaration from the White House, leaving many homeowners on their own. To make his point, the man pointed across the street, to a weathered wooden pole connecting electricity to the building on the corner. A tarp was flapping in the wind where a roof used to be. Most of the neighborhood lost electricity during last Fridays tornado, and Ameren Missouri has told some homeowners that it wont turn the power back on if the electrical pole is damaged or the home isnt stable. That pole has been in need of repair for years, the man said. Indeed, Fridays storm ripped down substandard electrical poles. The man and his wife still dont have power. Like many people in their neighborhood, theyve been in and out of their home the past few days. Weve been evicted by Mother Nature, the woman told me. Its the perfect gentrification tool. She worries that people who have lived in St. Louis for generations, as she has, will be forced away by this storm, unable to get their homes repaired in neighborhoods that will have to wait for new investment. This is the story passed down to every Black generation in St. Louis, she said. Now, after one of the worst tornadoes in the history of the city, its their turn to live it. Rouggly hopes the folks pulling up to The Block this week to drop off food and other supplies stay engaged. He wants people to realize these are neighborhoods worth saving, worth spending time in, worth investing in. Rouggly says Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard, whose family for generations has been in the neighborhoods hit by the tornado, has been a great help for Love the Lou, accessing resources for neighbors with immediate needs. Businesses, church groups and other nonprofits are also helping. The area was already facing difficulties that took generations to form. So for those who want to pitch in, Rouggly has a simple plea: help build relationships and stay engaged with folks who live in the north St. Louis neighborhoods most devastated by the storm. Our focus is on the restoration of these neighborhoods for the folks who live here, he says. We dont want to feel alone. EAST ST. LOUIS A prison inmate was charged this week with first-degree murder in the 2011 killing of a truck driver in East St. Louis. An Illinois State Police news release said Alan Davis, 34, of East St. Louis, was accused Thursday in the shooting death of Truman Lee Smith, 40, of Irondale, Missouri. The state police said Smith was making a delivery when he was approached by an armed man who demanded money and shot him. When officers arrived, police said, the victim described the suspect and what had occurred. He later died at a hospital. The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of McCasland Avenue. The state police said Davis was identified as the suspect after "an exhaustive investigation." He is being held at the Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, Illinois, on an unrelated 2012 conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Friday approved a major disaster declaration for storms and tornadoes that hit the St. Louis area two months ago, assuaging concern that the White House might hold back on federal aid for the devastating tornado that hit St. Louis last week. The approval came more than two months after the storms hit a swath of Eastern and Southern Missouri on March 14 and 15, including St. Louis, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe on April 2 requested a major disaster declaration for the storms, which killed 12 people across the state, including two in the St. Louis area, and cost at least $27 million in emergency response and damage to public infrastructure. A major disaster declaration from those storms clears the way for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to individuals impacted by the storms, including grants and low-interest loans to pay for home repairs and business recovery. Trumps approval of the March disaster request comes amid turmoil at the federal agency and growing concern from communities around the country about the level of federal support they can expect after disasters. His administration has talked about shifting responsibility to states for disasters, and even about dismantling the agency. Trumps initial pick to head the agency, Cameron Hamilton, was forced out earlier this month after he told Congress FEMA should not be eliminated. The administrations delays in approving federal disaster requests from Missouri and other states has fueled worries that federal help may not be forthcoming as St. Louis reels from the devastating tornado May 16 that killed five people and caused more than $1 billion in damage, according to city estimates. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer on Thursday noted that FEMA teams were in St. Louis this week to assess damage from last weeks tornado, a process state and city officials will use to formally request a disaster declaration. But the mayor acknowledged she had concerns about federal assistance, which she has said is essential to rebuild the city. Look, defunding the areas of federal government that we so badly need to make our communities function well is a huge, huge problem when it comes to this and a whole host of things that the city relies on the federal government for, Spencer said Thursday. Do I have concerns? Yes. Do I have confidence that we are doing everything we can? Absolutely. Do I have confidence that our governor and our local electeds, our senators and our congressmen, are doing everything possible? Yes I do, and we are marching forward because that is the only thing we can do. A disaster declaration and FEMA assistance to individuals for home repairs is especially important in North St. Louis, where more than a quarter of homeowners dont have insurance to pay for damages. On some blocks, more than half of homeowners are uninsured. Trumps approval of the March disaster declaration was one of a flurry announced by FEMA Friday, coming on the heels of media coverage about a backlog of state disaster requests pending at the White House and increasing pleas from lawmakers, including from Trumps fellow Republicans, to authorize aid. Missouris Congressional delegation toured St. Louis following last weeks tornado and appealed to the White House to approve the states pending disaster requests so residents, businesses and local governments can access federal money for cleanup and repairs. Sen. Josh Hawley directly questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday about the Missouri disaster requests and said he spoke to the President on Wednesday about the need for federal aid for Missouri. The states other senator, Eric Schmitt, also applauded the presidents action and said he remains in close contact with FEMA about federal assistance for last weeks St. Louis tornado. This is just the beginning of helping communities across our state get back on their feet following devastating storms this season, Schmitt said in a statement Friday. And at a news conference with the mayor Friday, Schmitt said he wasnt worried about the city getting aid from the federal government, noting FEMA had already completed its initial damage assessments. I think the best evidence of that is what happened here, Schmitt said. FEMA moved, by FEMA standards, incredibly quickly. Theyve already done their individual property damage assessments. Theyre already finished. Kehoe called Trumps approval of the disaster requests welcome news and said the states emergency management agency would work closely with FEMA to tap millions of dollars in much needed recovery support for individuals, families and local jurisdictions. The governor said he was confident the May 16 tornado would also receive a federal disaster declaration. We appreciate the work of our federal congressional delegation in advocating for these requests and future assistance for Missourians, Kehoe said Friday. But U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, a Democrat unlike Missouris governor and two senators, said theres still a long way to go before FEMA gets aid into the hands of people who need it. FEMA has lost a quarter of its full-time staff amid cuts driven by Trump advisor Elon Musks Department of Governmental Efficiency. Im not going to be happy until not only have these declarations been authorized, but this community is rebuilt, Bell said Friday. So we got a long way to go before we get unconcerned. Trump on Friday also approved a second disaster request from Kehoe for storms that occurred in 25 counties in Southeast and Southern Missouri March 30 through April 8 and cost at least $26 million in emergency response and public infrastructure damage. However, that federal action only allows for federal reimbursement to local governments for storm cleanup, not individuals. Kehoe had requested assistance for homeowners and other individuals impacted by those storms, but FEMA spokeswoman Barb Sturner said the damage did not warrant individual assistance authorization. She said the state can submit additional information to document more damage and try and get FEMA to authorize individual assistance. The disaster declaration for the March 14 storms makes those impacted in 18 counties, mostly in southern and Southeastern Missouri, eligible for assistance fewer than the 25 counties Kehoe had requested. Impacted residents in St. Louis, Jefferson and Franklin counties can apply for grants or loans for uninsured damages or losses and find more information at fema.gov/disaster/4867. Austin Huguelet of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. OLIVETTE The state of Missouri has rejected St. Louis Countys application for an animal shelter license, required by law to operate, after the county shelter failed three state inspections since February. The state cited violations for holding dogs in cages too small for them, failing to clean up feces in play yards, and allowing bugs in food storage areas, among other problems. They are not operating under a license and we would very much like for them to get under a license, said Christi Miller, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Miller said the county is working hard to get into compliance to receive a license. But the state wants the county to get one as soon as possible. The rules are the rules and the law is the law, Miller said. St. Louis County spokesman Doug Moore said the animal shelter submitted another application Friday under its new director, Malik Johnson. The state rejection comes after years of tumult, then big changes at the animal shelter. The nonprofit Animal Protective Association, which also runs its own shelter in Brentwood, left the shelter in February after running it for two years. The county contracted with the APA following various problems under county management, including euthanasia scandals, overpopulation, poor conditions and other problems. The APA was lauded for cleaning up the facility and boosting adoptions. In August, the nonprofit said it accomplished its mission and would withdraw from the county contract, three years before it was set to expire. Records later showed its departure also stemmed from the county rejecting APA invoices for items such as meals, team outings and dog training. The APA handed shelter operations back to the county on Feb. 21. But there were worries soon after. In April, the county announced a dangerous parvovirus outbreak. On May 2, the county health department said in a news release that it had euthanized 19 dogs that had shown symptoms and tested positive for the virus. On May 9, the shelters medical director quit. Meanwhile, the county was trying to obtain its state license. When St. Louis County took over shelter operations from the APA, it had to obtain a new license from the agriculture department, according to Miller, the department spokesperson. To get a new license, the shelter needed to score perfectly on state inspections, with no violations. A state inspector, Olivia Bennett, first visited the shelter on Feb. 13, about a week before the APA handed operations back to the county. The inspection applied to both the APA and the county. Bennett found seven violations, according to her report. Pull cables on doggy doors to kennels had fallen off the track or were damaged. A large pipe in one of the shelters enclosures was rusted, and dog hair had accumulated on top of the enclosures. Two dogs, Gingerbread and Nugget, were in kennels that were too small for them. Roaches and gnats were in the food storage area. The shelter had expired medications on hand, and a few kennels had unconsumed medication on the floor. The county had 90 days, including two more inspections, to bring the shelter into full compliance. Bennett came back in March, and found improvements: The pull cables were fixed. The rusted pipe had been painted. The dog hair was removed. All dogs were in appropriately sized cages. There were fewer bugs and no expired or unconsumed medications. But there were new problems. A few large drains in between rooms were clogged up, causing at least an inch of standing water to gather in front of animal enclosures. Bennett also found feces in numerous outdoor play yards that hadnt been totally cleaned up. Those areas must be sanitized in between different animals using them. The state said it would come back on May 14. When Bennett returned, she found the drainage issue between rooms had been fixed. The play yards were clean, although not in use. But she found seven new violations: Several dogs had puddles of water in their enclosures. At least four dogs were in cages that were too small for them. Several dogs were in freestanding wire cages that didnt have enough head space for them to stand normally. Two dogs were in cages without identification cards. Swarms of gnats were in various rooms. Supplies of dog food were left open, and expired medications were present. The applicant has failed to meet total compliance in three inspections over 90 days, Bennetts report stated. The state denied the countys application for a license. Operating an animal shelter without a license is a class A misdemeanor, according to state law. Class A is the most serious class of misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,000, or both. After failing an initial application, an applicant may reapply after six months from the date of the last failed inspection, according to state law. The state wont make the county wait that long, nor will it pursue any charges or shut the shelter down, said Miller, the state spokesperson. We certainly dont want it to come to that, she said. Moore said the animal shelter needs to reduce its population before it can pass an inspection. Shelter leaders want to do that by waiving adoption fees, boosting its foster program and expanding efforts to reunite stray pets with their families. The county will ask the state to come back once the shelter is comfortably hitting our capacity levels, Moore said. The shelter plans to host an adoption event almost all day Saturday. Contractor quit running animal shelter after St. Louis County rejected some expenses St. Louis County stopped paying for costs such as meals, team outings and dog training. The Animal Protective Association quit soon after. Volunteers are optimistic after St. Louis County takes over animal shelter "Every question we have asked has been answered honestly," said Dale Shuter, a longtime shelter volunteer who has previously criticized county operations. St. Louis County promises no mass euthanasia at animal shelter, APA chief says APA chief Sarah Javier said in the note that she and the organization's staffers are "deeply dismayed that a plan, or even a suggestion of mass euthanasia ever existed." St. Louis County said there was no euthanasia plan at shelter. But there was. A health department staffer did write such a transition plan, according to records obtained by the Post-Dispatch. The plan calls for "shelter wide" euthanasia. Health director promises a better St. Louis County animal shelter despite volunteer pause "There's been some false narratives created based on past history," the county health director said. "That's not me. That's not my leadership. That's not the direction I'm telling my team." ST. LOUIS The May 16 tornado battered blocks in north St. Louis where more than 70% of homeowners likely dont have insurance, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis of U.S. Census data. Not all city streets have such high rates, with the figures varying among blocks where the tornado carved a path of damage. But the sheer number of uninsured properties will complicate recovery in neighborhoods that were already among the poorest in the region, struggling with decades of disinvestment and pocked with thousands of vacant properties. Lenders require homeowners with mortgages to carry insurance. But many north St. Louis residents inherited homes that are decades old, with mortgages paid off years earlier. Some bought their houses for rock-bottom prices. St. Louis and Missouri officials have called for help from the Federal Emergency Management Administration to tackle the high uninsured rates. But federal funds are not guaranteed and could take months to arrive. City leaders also have floated the idea of using Rams settlement money and American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with recovery though they acknowledge that no amount of government assistance can fully address the needs. We know we are simultaneously doing a herculean effort and not doing nearly enough, Mayor Cara Spencer said at a press conference last week. The need is absolutely astronomical. The May 16 tornado grew a mile wide as it careened from Clayton through north St. Louis, with winds topping 150 mph. Five people were killed in the deadliest tornado to hit the city since the 1950s. City officials estimated that hundreds of structures were damaged. They say its unclear what recovery will look like. Residents say they dont have much, if any, time to wait for financial help, as they scramble to find shelter and assess what their futures look like. Residents are going through something that none of us have ever experienced before, said Alderwoman Laura Keys, whose 11th Ward was hit by the tornado. The magnitude of this storm and the impact that it has had in the area is just startling. If theres a comparison for recovery, it might be the Good Friday tornado 14 years ago that barreled through north St. Louis County and damaged 2,700 properties. No one died, but a quarter of the damaged structures were eventually condemned. It took years to rebuild. Some people never returned home. A few days after the tornado that hit St. Louis last week, Fatima Myles stumbled through the wreckage that used to be her home. She found a photo of herself and her fiance buried in the rubble. The couple and their six children moved into the house, in the Greater Ville neighborhood, about two months ago. Her father, a longtime carpenter, bought the building after it was vacant and fixed it up to hand down to his children so they could raise families of their own. Her youngest kids have asked whether they can put the house back together. But the house wasnt insured. I tell them well try, said Myles, 32. Well try. A vicious cycle The Post-Dispatch analyzed census data on insurance coverage within geographic areas called block groups, which cover 600 to 3,000 people each. According to U.S. Census estimates from 2019 to 2023 the latest available data there were nearly 29,000 owner-occupied homes within a half-mile radius of the tornados 23-mile path. Of those, 4,900, or 17%, were likely uninsured. Zooming in to the north St. Louis area where the tornado hit north of Delmar Boulevard and east of Skinker Boulevard 28% of the nearly 8,000 homeowners likely dont have insurance, the figures show. But the rates vary by block, and more than half are higher than 20%. Two of those block groups had uninsured rates around 80%: one north and west of Tandy Park; the other just northwest of Fairground Park. Part of the issue is that insurance has gotten more expensive in recent years. From 2021 to 2024, insurance companies increased annual premiums an average of 24% across the country, according to research from the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit consortium of consumer advocacy groups. Missouri saw a 12% increase in that time. The St. Louis region saw a spike of 18%, according to the federations research. Nationally, the gulf was particularly pronounced for homes worth less than $150,000; of those, 19% lacked coverage. That figure dropped to just 5% for homes worth more than $150,000. Its a vicious cycle because the people who would benefit the most from homeowners insurance tend to be people who dont have it and dont have the resources to help them recover after a disaster, said Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation. On Cottage Avenue in the Greater Ville neighborhood, Don Thorntons house had been insured until four months ago. He bought the one-story, two-bedroom house from the citys land bank in 2014 for $800. He grew up in a different house on the block and wanted to live the rest of his life there, next door to his sister and mother. And he wanted to pass the house on to his kids. To have something of your own like that, thats being blessed, he said. A father of 10, his kids and grandkids gathered in the home every Sunday. I put most of my money into this house, said Thornton, 60, a maintenance worker for the St. Louis Housing Authority. Now, after the tornado, the attic window sits on top of a pile of wood and brick in the front lawn. The remains of his kitchen and bedroom are out in the open air, the walls in pieces in the backyard. He has been sleeping in his damaged pickup truck to ward away people who might try to loot his home. Thornton a few months ago was laid off from a second job he held, doing maintenance at a private apartment complex. He was helping some of his family members financially, he said. He struggled to pay his own bills. He stopped paying for insurance. He still wants to rebuild. But hes left hoping volunteers or charities can help. I worked three jobs to get it to the point where it was, he said. I have to hope on a prayer. I would have been in trouble Pearl Bowen didnt have insurance when a 2011 tornado struck her home on Helen Avenue in Berkeley. Her husband had earned good money at McDonnell Douglas, enough to pay off the mortgage. But after he died, money was tight. She let the insurance policy lapse. The Good Friday twister tore through a swath of North County, hitting Berkeley where the median household income is roughly half that of the metro area particularly hard. FEMA aid helped Bowen pay for repairs to her roof and gutters after a tree fell on the back of her house. She recalls a relatively quick turnaround from FEMA maybe a month before she got an initial check to begin repairs. She hopes the government acts quickly now to help St. Louis residents because she doesnt know what she would have done without federal help. I would have been in trouble, she said. Bowen carries homeowners insurance now. Ill never do that again, she said. It took nearly a decade before developers bought some of the vacant lots left behind by the Good Friday tornado and built new homes. Other lots remain vacant today. After the storm, Berkeleys then-building commissioner, Debra Irvin, estimated about 50 severely damaged homes were uninsured and wouldnt be rebuilt. She guessed that each home had four to five residents, worrying that dozens of people could move away. Berkeleys population, about 9,500 in 2011, stands at roughly 8,100 today. In St. Louis, officials are already feeling the pressure. A third of the city is in ruins. You cant have a city that exists that way. It wasnt OK before and its worse now, said Megan Green, president of the Board of Aldermen. This is going to be years of painstaking work to recover. I put it in Gods hands Federal officials last week began touring the damage in St. Louis. A FEMA spokesman said the agency doesnt operate on a timeline and couldnt say when it would make a decision on aid. FEMA announced on Friday that it finally approved assistance for storms and tornadoes in mid-March that struck Missouri, killing 13 people and damaging homes, businesses and public property. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has called on the federal government to act quickly he questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week about sending help sooner and hes called on insurance companies to deliver on claims. Spencer has raised the possibility of using unspent COVID recovery money from the federal government to help, though the legality of such a plan would have to reviewed. Other aldermen have suggested using money from the Rams lawsuit settlement. Communities in north St Louis, they dont even have bootstraps, let alone shoestrings, said Alderman Rasheen Aldridge of the 14th Ward. We have to be strategic about what we use these funds for. Norbert Thompson, whose home of 30 years was flattened in the tornado, said he hopes the city taps the Rams money. Theyve been holding on to that money for so long, and all theyre concentrating on is, Downtown, downtown, he said. People near downtown are hardly making it. At Thompsons home on Leduc Street, in the Kingsway East neighborhood, saws buzzed and dust clouds swirled on a recent day. Workers trimmed damaged trees and scooped debris piles from the roadway. Thompsons house a brick, two-story structure was passed down from his grandfather to his mother and then, in 1995, to Thompson. He and his wife raised their five sons there. As their family grew and added grandchildren, they gathered to celebrate Christmas each year. Thompson mortgaged the home in 2007 to pay for renovations, and his lender required him to have insurance. But he hasnt been able to afford insurance in more recent years. Hes been on a limited income since 2020, when he suffered a stroke, lost vision in his right eye and had to leave his longtime job as a driver for a dry cleaning service. Hes one of several senior residents on the block living in homes they inherited from older generations. Half the block was already vacant before the tornado. This is a poor community, he said. You have a lot of elders on a fixed income, and theyre not getting much. He has started a GoFundMe asking for donations. He hopes to combine any donated money with federal aid to build a new home, even if its smaller and made of cheaper material than brick. I put it in Gods hands, he said. In the Greater Ville, Fatima Myles home was gutted. In her area St. Ferdinand Avenue just west of Taylor Avenue just three houses on the half-vacant block were left standing after the tornado. A few walls remained of Myles home. Her father bought the house in 2018 from the citys land bank for $200 and began renovating it. He hoped to pass it down to his children, in addition to the nearby family home on Vine Grove Avenue. He gave another house on St. Ferdinand to Myles sister. He wanted all of us to have a house to come back to, Myles said. Myles and her family her fiance and their six kids, ages 2 to 13 moved into the home in March from the Spanish Lake area of unincorporated St. Louis County, where they rented an apartment. It took more than a year to get the title transferred to her name, she said. She planned to shop for insurance but wasnt in a rush. I would never have thought a tornado would come, she said. Now shes worried shell also lose the land if she cant rebuild. A certified nursing assistant, Myles says shes determined to rebuild, even if she has to save money for years. We, as a Black community, a lot of us dont have this, she said about her property. If you have a house, you try to hold on to it and pass it down as best you can. In 2020, after a summer of protests rocked U.S. cities, the words "Black Lives Matter" went from the rallying cry of racial justice demonstrators to words lining the very roads along which they marched. After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, towns and cities nationwide commissioned artists to paint BLM street murals in solidarity with the reckoning on police brutality and racism prompted by the unprecedented, multiracial mass rallies. Five years on, many of the murals are still maintained by activists and community groups, while wear and tear, construction and vandalism spelled the end of others. The mural widely thought to have inspired them all 35-foot-tall yellow capital letters painted on a street one block from the White House is gone. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., ordered crews to remove the BLM mural in March under pressure from the Republican-led Congress. Bowser noted that the mural an act of defiance against President Donald Trump's first administration "inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period." Keyonna Jones, one of seven artists who painted Black Lives Matter Plaza, said she understands why Bowser acted and that the mural's removal doesn't take away from its historic importance. "To see it replicated all over the world within 24 hours," Jones said during the demolition of the plaza. "I think is what really speaks to the power of art and so that is my favorite part about the whole experience." According to Urban Art Mapping, a database of public street art, almost 150 "Black Lives Matter" murals remain. Lindsey Owen, an art historian in Chicago, said each one represents the shared cultural and political purpose of a community. "Even as BLM Plaza is dismantled, the reciprocal mirroring of these murals ensures their persistence," Owen said, "now also reflecting the absence of spaces that have been removed." Here are details of some notable BLM murals: Alabama In 1899, Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-Black municipality. In 2020, residents including Mayor Alberta McCrory painted "Black Towns Matter" on its main street, Martin Luther King Boulevard. In Montgomery, a temporary installation was established around Court Square Fountain, once the site of a slave market. City officials said the mural will be washed away once wear and tear begin to show. Michelle Browder, the artist, said her design reflects the history of the area, and that the community signaled a readiness to address racial inequity by uniting to complete the mural. "It gives us a sense of uniqueness and shows that our statement has not only significance but also invites people to look down, read and reflect on what happened in this space," Browder said. California In downtown Oakland, residents and community groups painted "Black Lives Matter" along three blocks of 15th Steet. A month later, another mural was erected by The Queer Healing Arts Center honoring Black Trans and Queer Lives. The city council in neighboring Berkeley then approved a BLM painting in front of city hall. A rainbow-colored mural along the center lane of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard states "All Black Lives Matter" in celebration of the BLM movement and transgender people of color. Mural designer Luckie Alexander said its message resonates stronger than ever today. "Seeing the BLM Plaza (in Washington) destroyed feels like we are going back in time, when Black folks and LGBTQ+ had to struggle just to exist," Alexander said. "With the one here in Hollywood still remaining, it gives me hope that California is still a safe place to live." Connecticut In Hartford, a Black Lives Matter mural each letter painted by a different artist was created on Trinity Street, just steps from the Capitol. That mural was repainted in 2023 after it was defaced with a swastika. Andre Rochester, who painted one of the Ts in 2020 and 2023, said the mural represents the city's Black and brown population. "It was placed with intention," Rochester said, adding: "It makes a loud statement, that the City of Hartford cares." Tyrone Motley, who inked the V during the 2023 repainting, said it is important that Hartford continues to protect the mural even as others around the country disappear. "I feel work like this is ageless," Motley said. "I'm pretty sure in 10 years people can look at a piece like this and still get the message." Florida A "Black Lives Matter" mural in St. Petersburg mural was repainted in 2023 to read "Black History Matters." Illinois One of the murals that sprung up across Chicago a 100-foot "Black Lives Matter" display in Oak Park was vandalized to read "All Lives Matter." The original message was later restored. Minnesota In Minneapolis, where a bystander used her cellphone to record Floyd's killing at the hands of police, 16 artists participated in the creation of "Black Lives Matter" in 24-foot-high letters on the street outside the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Missouri In Florissant, activists attempted to paint a mural in front of the police department on North Lindberg Avenue but the city kept painting over it. In Kansas City, six murals were painted across one block, totaling a span of 2,000 feet. The murals were enhanced in response to vandalism, but some are now deteriorating. New Jersey A block-long mural on Grand Street in Jersey City took two weeks to complete. In East Orange, 100 people participated in the creation of a 9,000 square-foot mural. New York In New York City, anti-abortion protesters defaced a mural in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan and others in Harlem and Brooklyn. Texas Six murals were painted across Dallas in 2020. Abounding Prosperity, Inc., which provides health services to the Black community, secured private funding to ensure they will be maintained for 10 years. Washington A permanent mural was installed in Seattle's Capitol Hill. The city and the Vivid Matter Collective an artists' group repaint and maintain the mural every year. In 2021, a second mural was installed outside Seattle City Hall. The organization will repaint that mural in June. Famous protests in US history and their impacts Famous protests in US history and their impacts 1688: Germantown Quaker petition against slavery 1773: The Boston Tea Party 1791: The Whiskey Rebellion 1848: The Seneca Falls Convention 1863: New York City draft riots 1874: The Womens Crusade 1911: Triangle Shirtwaist fire protests 1913: Suffrage movement 1932: Bonus Army march 1955: The Montgomery bus boycott 1960: The Greensboro sit-in 1963: March on Washington 1965: Selma to Montgomery march 1968: Holy Week Uprisings 1968: Bra 'burning' at Miss America pageant 1969: Stonewall Inn riots 1969: Vietnam War protest 1970: Sit-in at Ladies Home Journal office 1970: Kent State University anti-war gathering 1973: March for Life 1973: First Take Back The Night march in the US 1976: Marches for the Equal Rights Amendment 1979: National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights 1981: Solidarity Day march 1982: Anti-nuclear protest in Central Park 1986: Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament 1987: Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights 1992: Los Angeles uprising 1993: March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation 1995: Million Man March 1997: Million Woman March 1999: Seattle World Trade Organization protests 2000: The Million Mom March 2003: Iraq War protests 2004: March for Womens Lives 2006: The Day Without an Immigrant 2009: Tea Party protests 2010: Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear 2011: Occupy Wall Street 2013: First Black Lives Matter protests 2014: Peoples Climate March 2015: Armenian March for Justice 2016: Dakota Access Pipeline protests 2017: The Womens March on Washington 2017: The March for Science 2018: Womens March 2019: Telegramgate protests in Puerto Rico 2019: September 2019 climate strike 2020: Black Lives Matter The V-280 Valor, prototype of the Armys planned MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft thats designed to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk. (Bell) The Army has announced the future of air assault, choosing the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., as first in line to fly the new MV-75 tiltrotor. The MV-75 is designed to sweep into battle at more than 320 mph, skimming over the treetops before seeming to stop mid-air as its rotors pivot to a vertical for landing. Up to 14 soldiers could spill out into a firefight. Litters carrying wounded could be loaded for the return flight. In less than five minutes, the MV-75 could lift off, shift to horizontal flight, and race miles away from danger. This aircraft changes how we move forces it changes the geometry of ground combat, Gen. James Mingus, the Army vice chief of staff, said last week. But that future isnt here yet. The 101st wont get the MV-75 tiltrotor until 2030 though Army officials said they hope to shave a year or more off the timeline through acquisition reforms announced last month by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The MV-75 is part of the Armys Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program to replace all of its helicopters by mid-century. While the MV-75 was given a boost by Mingus announcement, the FVL program has already seen one project cancelled at a cost of $2 billion and others being questioned as outdated by the Armys recently announced transformational rebalancing of its air assets. Hegseth announced in April that the Army would review its warfighting abilities with an eye toward downplaying manned helicopter use and instead focusing on the use of uncrewed drones. The Army must transform at an accelerated pace, Hegseth said. To be determined The MV-75 aircraft is so new, it doesnt even have an official name. The prototype from Bell and Lockheed Martin is called the V-280 Valor. At the Army Aviation Association of America conference, Army officials said the new aircraft would carry the designation MV for multi-mission vertical takeoff and landing. The numerical change from 280 to 75 is a salute to 1775, the year the Army was founded. In the past the Army has named its helicopters after Indian tribes. Even the UH-1 Huey is officially named the Iroquois although the name didnt stick like Black Hawk and Apache. Will the new tiltrotor follow or break the naming tradition? That is TBD to be determined, said Col. Marty Meiners, a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division. The MV-75 is the first aircraft the Army announced in 2009 that it planned to field by mid-century under the Future Vertical Lift program. The program was launched in 2009 to find replacements for U.S. military helicopters that the Pentagon said had aged more rapidly than anticipated due to the high tempo of deployments and operations in the wars against terror following the 9/11 attacks. The pipeline for new designs had also become so extended that the military primarily relied on updated versions blocks of existing designs, some of which were more than 50 years old. I dont want my grandchildren flying the AH-64 Apache Longbow Block 80, Army Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield quipped at the Army Aviation Association of America conference in 2011. The Army plan called for replacing its aging inventory of UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache, and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. If the designs proved successful, the Pentagon said the aircraft could be adopted by other services, possibly replacing up to 25 helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft types across all branches. Two programs were first up. The Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk was decided in December 2022. The Army selected the V-280 tiltrotor from Bell and Lockheed Martin, beating out the SB>1 Defiant, a coaxial rotor helicopter submitted by Sikorsky and Boeing. The win for the V-280 has the potential for $72 billion in orders from the Army. Coming in second meant the SB>1 will be displayed at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel, Ala. The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition to replace the OH-58 Kiowa reached a key point in 2020 with the Bell 360 Invictus and Sikorsky Raider X chosen as finalists. After spending $2 billion on developing the FARA, the Pentagon pulled the plug on the program in February 2024. Pentagon officials have said that lessons learned from combat between Russian and Ukrainian forces had shown battlefield tactics had changed, particularly in the use of cheap but deadly drones. Critics argued that crewed helicopters were vulnerable to drones and shoulder-launched missiles. The first flight in October 1974 of what would become the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. More than 5,500 variants have been manufactured for the U.S. military and 36 foreign countries. (Sikorsky) Black Hawks will still fly Until the future arrives, soldiers will go into battle, search for downed pilots, hoist stranded ship crews at sea and drop sonar on submarines much the way they have for the past half-century with one of the 5,000 UH-60 Black Hawks and its variants built for the U.S. military. For some, thats just fine. The Black Hawk today is something like the Huey in the old Vietnam days everybody has been in it, knows it, trusts it, said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Barry Sledd of the 7th Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Sledd has been in the Army since 1989 and believes that modernization is a key to success on the battlefield. But so is familiarity and trust. I had 2000 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sledd said. There were several times we were shot at and came back with bullet holes to prove it. The Black Hawk performed as advertised it got us home. Sledd recalled serving with Col. Derek A. Smith when he was commander of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division. At his July 2024 retirement ceremony, Smith called out his familys history with the Black Hawk. My dad was a UH-60 pilot, and he retired as a brigadier general, Smith told the audience. The first Black Hawk flew on Oct. 17, 1974 Black Hawk variants have flown in every U.S. military conflict since the Invasion of Grenada in October 1983. Another 36 nations have purchased the Black Hawk for their militaries, rescue or emergency services. The UH-60 isnt going away. Until or unless the MV-75 wins over congressional budget writers and troops in the field, the Black Hawk is available to step up or even step in. The reliability of the aircraft, the affordability of the aircraft, having an aircraft that is proven, that has been fielded, is great to have, said Jay Macklin, business development director for Sikorsky, which manufactures the Black Hawk. Keeping the Black Hawk reduces risk for future vertical lift needs. An Army paratrooper prepares for an airborne operation at Fort Bragg, N.C., on May 14, 2025. (Gianna Sulger/U.S. Army) U.S. Army paratroopers will soon have more to leap for, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this week during a visit with 82nd Airborne Division soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C. We are increasing jump pay, Hegseth told the paratroopers during a speech Thursday at an event celebrating the famed divisions achievements over the years. Jump pay, formally known as hazardous duty incentive pay, will increase from $150 per month to $200 for paratroopers, Hegseth said. The jumpmasters responsible for training others on jumping techniques will receive an additional $150 per month on top of the $150 in jump pay they already earn, he said. Heres to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine, Hegseth said. In Europe, soldiers with the Vicenza, Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade also will benefit from the pay increase. During his speech, Hegseth emphasized priorities focused on reestablishing deterrence. Were going to bring it back to the basics, he said. Were going to restore the warrior ethos and we are across our formations, a standard thats set here every single day. In February, Hegseth ordered the base, formerly known as Fort Liberty, to revert to its original name. Now it honors World War II veteran Pvt. Roland Bragg, rather than its previous namesake, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg. Hegseth has explained that the change maintains a connection with generations of soldiers who served at the base. Nothing wrong with liberty, said Hegseth, whose remarks drew applause from the crowd Thursday. Give me liberty or give me death, I love it. But give me Fort Bragg every day of the week. The 82nd Airborne plays a central role in the militarys global response force, with units prepared to deploy anywhere in a matter of hours. Some of the divisions troops are currently participating in training drills in Europe. Earlier this month, paratroopers jumped into Norway in a forcible entry operation aimed at testing the units ability to fight through resistance. (Robert Myers/Stars and Stripes) Wahn Airport, near Bohn, Germany, Nov. 22, 1954: Former President Herbert Hoover addresses gathered reporters at Wahn Airport, West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer standing behind him on the right. Hoover was personally invited to Germany by Adenauer, who remarked that the former president had always been motivated by humanitarian aims. Although best known in the United States justly or unjustly as the president who failed to adequately respond to the countrys 1929 stock market crash and subsequent depression, the Germans know him better for his post-war humanitarian efforts. In 1946 Hoover travelled to Germany as President Trumans special investigator for Continental relief needs. As Honorary Chairman of the Famine Emergency Committee (FEC), Hoover and his team travelled 50,000 miles to thirty-eight different nations from March and into June 1946 to witness and evaluate famine needs in the afflicted nations and arrange food supplies. His 1947 trip to Germany and Austria was his second trip as the two countries were still struggling. The original negative that this image was captured on suffers from a preservation issue called silvering, where the silver particles rise to the top of the gelatin layer of the film. During a preservation survey of Stripes photo collection in 2018, archives staff found that especially the 4x5 negatives from the late 1940s and early 1950s were suffering the most from this preservation issue. As the silvering will eventually cause the image captured on the negative to fade, the affected negatives were pulled and prioritized for scanning. Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/ U.S. soldiers react to a simulated chemical attack at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 14, 2025. The State Department announced Thursday that Sudan will be put under U.S. sanctions as a result of reports that it used chemical weapons in its ongoing civil war. (Matthew Masani/U.S. Army) The U.S. is imposing sanctions on Sudan over reports that it used chemical weapons against rebel forces during the African countrys ongoing civil war, the State Department said this week. The sanctions include restrictions on American exports and access to U.S. government lines of credit. They will go into effect on or around June 6, an agency statement Thursday said. The Sudanese military used what is believed to have been chlorine gas at least twice against paramilitaries from the Rapid Support Forces, The New York Times reported on Jan. 16, citing senior U.S. officials. Sudan has been locked in a bloody civil war with the rival group since April 2023. The war has claimed upward of 150,000 lives and displaced over 10 million, the Times report said. On Thursday, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce called on Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use. Meanwhile, the U.S. has stepped up its military involvement in other parts of Africa in recent months. Friday marked the scheduled end of U.S. Africa Commands largest exercise on the continent, African Lion. This years edition, held across northern and western Africa, featured over 10,000 troops from 40 nations. AFRICOM is also on pace this year to exceed the record 63 strikes launched against Islamic State fighters in Somalia in 2019; there were 25 as of May 8. On Monday, acting chief of naval operations Adm. James Kilby said the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group recently launched more than 125,000 pounds of munitions into Somalia to fight the militant group. Welcome Wagon bags filled with snacks, hygiene products and local information await newcomers at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on May 7, 2025. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea When Marine Corps spouse Alexis Gonzalez and her family arrived last summer at the largest American military installation overseas, a friendly face was waiting. Kelly Karwel, founder of the Welcome Wagon of Korea, greeted Gonzalez and other newly arrived military families as their shuttle bus pulled into Humphreys from Icheon International Airport. Volunteers handed out bags filled with snacks, hygiene products and local information a small gesture designed to ease their transition. When you get here, youre very tired, its a long flight and at least you get that idea of the next day you know what to do, what else is in this area and what places to eat, Gonzalez recently told Stars and Stripes while volunteering for the Welcome Wagon at Maude Hall. Welcome Wagon of Korea founder Kelly Karwell briefs newcomers upon arrival at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on May 7, 2025. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes) The program, started by Karwel in 2023, has grown from a grassroots effort into a formally recognized base nonprofit with 48 volunteers. Its mission is simple: Ensure incoming service members and their families receive a warm, informative welcome. Karwel, whose husband, U.S. Army Maj. Eric Karwel, is stationed at Humphreys, said the idea came from her own experience moving overseas. The couple has relocated internationally three times, including to Grafenwoehr, Germany, where she led a similar, smaller initiative. She recalled arriving in foreign countries late at night with exhausted children and little idea of what to expect. Those moments, she said, inspired her to launch the Welcome Wagon. Welcome Wagon of Korea volunteers greets newcomers in Maude Hall at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on May 7, 2025. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes) The groups work was officially recognized in September, when garrison commander Col. Ryan Workman approved its status as a base nonprofit. Since then, the Korea Defense Veterans Association of Washington, D.C., has committed to funding welcome-bag supplies for the next five years. Today, volunteers military spouses, service members and Defense Department civilians sign up for shifts through the groups Facebook page. They greet buses throughout the week, including late-night arrivals, distributing welcome bags tailored to families needs. Meals are provided for those arriving after hours. Volunteers also board buses to offer briefings on base transportation and first-day logistics. Each bag includes a QR code for newcomers to offer feedback. The Welcome Wagon, Karwel said, reflects the spirit of the people it serves. It adds to the community by bringing the community together to make sure the incoming soldiers and families feel welcomed, she said. Tech. Sgt. Christopher Taylor, a 459th Airlift Squadron special mission aviator, waves as a UH-1N Huey takes off for a formation flight at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on May 9, 2025. (Alexzandra Gracey/U.S. Air Force) YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan The distinctive whomp, whomp of UH-1N Huey helicopters is set to fade from the skies over western Tokyo as the Air Force prepares to retire the aircraft after more than six decades of service. A banner displayed during Yokotas recent Japanese-American Friendship Festival marked the moment: SEEEYUH! 1980-2025. USAF Yokota AB UH-1N Huey. The sign, featuring images of the helicopters and the 459th Airlift Squadrons centaur logo, signaled the end of the Huey era to approximately 117,000 festivalgoers at the annual flightline event. The squadron, based at Yokota, operates a small fleet of UH-1Ns and C-12J Huron aircraft. The Hueys support a range of missions, including flying VIPs across U.S. military installations around Tokyo, airlifting patients to the hospital at Yokosuka Naval Base south of Yokohama, and providing search and rescue or operational support. After 61 years of service, the UH-1N Huey fleet is set to retire, a spokesman for Yokotas 374th Airlift Wing, Master Sgt. Nathan Allen, said in an email Thursday. Airmen from the 459th Airlift Squadron show off the capabilities of the UH-1N Huey during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on May 17, 2025. (Jarrett Smith/U.S. Air Force) Allen and Pacific Air Forces officials did not respond to additional questions emailed Thursday and Friday about the timing of the Hueys departure or their replacements. Photos posted on Yokotas official website show two UH-1Ns flying in formation over Japan on May 9. One image shows a Huey flying past the Tokyo Skytree, a 2,080-foot broadcasting tower with observation decks. The first Hueys at Yokota UH-1P models arrived in 1971 and were later replaced by the twin-engine UH-1N variant, according to the wings website. The UH-1 series, developed by Bell Helicopter in the 1950s and widely used during the Vietnam War, became a symbol of U.S. military aviation. Known for its unique rotor sound and battlefield versatility, the Huey was used by the Army for medical evacuations, troop transports and combat air support. The Huey has flown more combat hours than any other aircraft in history, according to a 2011 release from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany, issued when the Army retired its remaining Hueys in the country. The Air Force plans to replace its UH-1Ns with Boeings MH-139A Grey Wolf. That helicopter, based on the commercial AW139, offers improved performance cruising 50% faster, flying 50% farther and lifting 5,000 more pounds than the Huey, while offering a 30% larger cabin, according to the services website. However, the Air Force last year reduced its planned purchase of the Grey Wolf from 74 to 42 aircraft, according to budget documents cited in a March 2024 report by defense publisher Janes. Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske relinquishes command of the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 22, 2025. (Joseph Maye/U.S. Air Force) Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske, who guided the 36th Wing through one of Guams most destructive storms in decades, stepped down Thursday, marking the end of a 39-year military career defined by an unorthodox public style. Palenske relinquished command to Col. Charles Cooley during a ceremony inside one of Andersen Air Force Bases massive hangars, according to a Thursday news release from the wing. Palenskes retirement follows two years at the helm of a critical forward base in the Indo-Pacific, a post he assumed just weeks after Typhoon Mawar devastated the island in May 2023. Much of his tenure focused on the bases recovery and mission continuity, efforts that earned him a reputation for both hands-on leadership and a vibrant online presence. Col. Charles Cooley, left, poses with Brig Gen. Thomas Palenske after relieving him as commander of the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 22, 2025. (Joseph Maye/U.S. Air Force) Thank you for having the minerals to make the cuts necessary to be where youre at right now, but to also have the value to serve something greater than yourself, Palenske told airmen during Thursdays ceremony, according to the release. Its been an honor to serve alongside you. In his final Facebook post as commander, he expressed confidence in his successor and gratitude toward his team. BG P signing off for the last time, he wrote. I love you guys! Murica! Palenske, who signed off his frequent Facebook posts with that patriotic flourish, plans to pursue civilian work at a microdistillery, he told The Ray Gibson Show, a local radio program, on May 14. Cooley last served as deputy commander of the 618th Air Operations Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. As we prepare for the pacing threat, there is no doubt the wing is well-postured to deliver combat power from this base for the Joint Force, our allies, and our partners, he said, according to the release. Im grateful for the opportunity to join this team and look forward to spending time with each and every one of you. Palenskes retirement comes amid a broad shift in military leadership on Guam. Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky assumed command of Joint Task-Force Micronesia on May 15, and Joint Region Marianas is scheduled to change hands on Thursday. In a phone interview with Stars and Stripes on Friday, Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero praised the cooperation between the island and U.S. military leaders but acknowledged that frequent turnover presents challenges. For me at least, and for the government and our community, we adjust to one style of admiral and we work very well and then they have to change, she said. I think it makes it a bit less of a continuity style of management. Still, the governor added, outgoing commanders often become effective cheerleaders for the U.S. territory in Washington, D.C. They are our advocates here in Guam, and it also brings to the Pentagon a much better perspective and a closer understanding about Guam, she said. Cooley was commissioned in 1999 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at West Virginia University, where he earned an unspecified bachelors degree, according to his official Air Force bio. Hes a veteran command pilot with more than 1,000 combat and combat support flight hours and over 3,100 flight hours aboard C-17 Globemaster III transports and KC-135 R/T Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers. His past assignments include command of the 62nd Operations Support Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Thumrait Air Base, Oman, and the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. U.S. and South Korean soldiers march together at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, on April 25, 2025. (Wilfred Salters/U.S. Army) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea South Koreas military on Friday firmly denied that any discussions have taken place with the United States regarding a potential withdrawal of American troops from the peninsula, following a media report suggesting the White House was considering such a move. Absolutely nothing was discussed, the Ministry of National Defense said in a text message to reporters. It emphasized that the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the South remain a core strategy of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and a key deterrent to North Korean aggression. The statement came hours after The Wall Street Journal, citing two unnamed U.S. military officials, reported that President Donald Trumps administration was evaluating a possible redeployment of 4,500 troops from South Korea to other Indo-Pacific locations, including Guam. The report said the idea was among several under consideration and had not yet been presented to Trump. The U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Friday. In a post to X later that day, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that anyone whos covered the Pentagon knows that we always evaluate force posture. That said, the U.S. remains firmly committed to [South Korea.] Our alliance is iron clad. Reports that the DoD will reduce U.S. troops in [South Korea] are not true, Parnell wrote. The idea of reducing the U.S. military footprint in South Korea has surfaced before. Trump reportedly floated such proposals during his first term, arguing that Seoul was not contributing enough financially to host U.S. forces. In his 2022 memoir, A Sacred Oath, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who was fired by Trump, described a 2020 incident in which the president nearly ordered the withdrawal of all 7,000 U.S. military dependents from South Korea. There was nothing to explain it, Esper wrote. There was nothing to warrant it. The plan was eventually abandoned, he added. North Korea has repeatedly called for the removal of U.S. forces from the peninsula, claiming their presence threatens its sovereignty and regional stability. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 10, Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Army Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, warned that any reduction in troops would diminish Americas ability to respond to threats in the region. To reduce the force becomes problematic, Brunson said. I wont speak to policy, but what we do provide there is the potential to impose cost in the East Sea to Russia, the potential to impose cost in the West Sea to China, and to continue to deter against North Korea. The Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea are known in Korea as the East and West seas, respectively. Paparo, seated next to Brunson, echoed those concerns, saying a withdrawal would reduce our ability to prevail in conflict. Dmytro Romanchenko, director of Raptor Engineering, adjusts a fiber-optic drone before a test in central Ukraine. (Ed Ram/The Washington Post) SUMY, Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers had grown used to the deadly drones stalking their vehicles and chasing them through doors and windows until they met ones they couldnt stop. New drones were swarming the battlefield and didnt rely on jammable radio signals like the older, simpler models these were controlled instead by tiny cables as thin as thread stretching back to the operator. For months, Russia has ramped up its deployment of fiber-optic drones, which are steered by the same data-transporting cables made of glass that revolutionized high-speed internet access. While the cables can occasionally tangle, cutting off the signal, they also give the weapon a major advantage because they cannot be disrupted by jamming systems. Russian troops have used the weapons, which have a range of up to 12 miles, to destroy Ukrainian equipment and control key logistics routes, particularly in Russias western Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops say the new technology contributed to their recent painful retreat. Russias fiber-optic drones, which have a longer battery life and more-precise targeting than wireless models, vastly outnumbered Ukraines drones on the battlefield in Kursk, giving Russia a key advantage and making movement so risky that Ukrainian troops were at times stranded on the front line without food, ammunition or escape routes, soldiers said. Ukraine is also using fiber-optic drones in Kursk and elsewhere, though in significantly smaller numbers as it races to catch up with Russias mass production of the devices, in what soldiers and experts describe as the first time Russia has surpassed Ukraine in front-line drone technology since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Russias widespread use of the drones has given Moscow, which already outmans and outguns Ukraine, another military advantage at a critical moment for Kyiv, with the White House pushing for a quick peace deal and the future of U.S. military aid to the embattled country still unclear. This upper hand further contributes to Russias confidence in victory and reluctance to agree to a ceasefire. On its face, attaching a cable to a once-wireless drone may seem like a technological step back and there are some disadvantages, including the risk of a tangle. But the adjustment has generally made these self-detonating drones more deadly. What were seeing in Ukraine is a revolution in uncrewed warfare, said Andrew Cote, a former senior U.S. defense official and now chief of staff for Brinc Drones, a U.S. company that has worked in Ukraine but has not yet produced drones made with fiber-optic technology. The fiber-optic drones in Russia and Ukraine transmit information more securely and can better pinpoint targets, despite some limitations including distance, he added. U.S. defense companies are monitoring the use of tethered drones as they have other drone innovations in Ukraine, which has served as a testing ground for the latest developments in battlefield technology. The fiber-optic weapons are a fairly simple evolution of the cheap first-person-view (FPV) drones Ukrainian troops rigged with explosives in 2022 to remedy their lack of more-powerful munitions. Costing a few hundred dollars and small enough for a soldier to hold in one hand but powerful enough to disable a tank FPV drones quickly revolutionized combat and emerged as a front-line weapon of choice for Russia and Ukraine. The FPVs, fitted with a small camera and carrying explosives, are typically operated by troops stationed well away who wear headsets to watch the flight path in real time. The devices detonate by crashing directly into a target, which can be more than 12 miles from the launch point making them an affordable alternative to expensive artillery for closer-range strikes. FPVs have proved so deadly and dangerous in Ukraine that their use has spread to other battlefields, including in West Africa and Syria. The counter to this form of warfare has been the electronic jamming technology that both sides now equip their vehicles and positions with. Fiber-optic drones, however, receive their signals from the cable that unspools as the device flies, and the only way to stop such a drone is to shoot it out of the sky. The cable greatly improves image quality and allows pilots to navigate more-complicated landscapes without losing their connection. They are also able to fly closer to the ground, making it easier to sneak up on enemy troops and perform more-complicated maneuvers, although certain sharp turns can be hampered by the cable. Longer battery life means they can spend more time waiting for a target. But these advantages come with a cost: One drone can run more than twice the price of its predecessor. Ramped-up demand Fiber-optic drones remain in the minority on the front line, but demand from Ukrainian troops has dramatically increased in recent months, said Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraines minister for digital transformation, who is deeply involved in drone development and weapons distribution. Piles of drones in a production facility in eastern Ukraine last month. (Ed Ram/The Washington Post) Of Ukraines roughly 500 drone manufacturers, he said, at least 15 are now developing fiber-optic drones. An additional 20 are making the cylindrical coils that carry the cable, which is still being imported for now. Fedorov has tracked the demand through his offices marketplace website, which allows Ukrainian troops to buy fiber-optic drones and other weapons through a payment system, or by cashing in points they earn after providing evidence they have destroyed Russian equipment. You can use it in almost every weather condition and on every terrain, he said, including in urban areas. Definitely everyone needs fiber-optic drones. The next step in defending against these drones will be to find ways to quickly trace the tangled cables back to the launching points and identify and target key military positions. Whether Russia or Ukraine will hold the front-line drone advantage in the future, Fedorov said, depends on who will find the pathway and identify the starting point first. Oleksandr Shulga, who oversees sales for a company creating the plastic coils in Ukraine, said it is making at least 1,500 a week and will soon run tests on its own fiber-optic FPV, named the spider. Its rapidly unspooling coil will allow drone operators to fly the devices at nearly 70 mph, he said. A huge advantage in Kursk For the Ukrainians fighting in Russias Kursk region, the first sign that this new type of drone was in play was pretty clear: Troops noticed that their electronic warfare systems were no longer intercepting drones. Those lucky enough to return from missions would do so with their cars covered in webs of thin, translucent cables. Infantry troops began to trip as their feet got tangled in the mess left behind. From the birds-eye view of their own drones, Ukrainians could see the glint of abandoned Russian cables littering the landscape. By mid-February, through a mix of regular FPVs and fiber-optic drones, Moscow had in its sights the last road linking Ukraine to the occupied Russian town of Sudzha. Ukrainian troops had once called the route which they relied on for food and ammunition deliveries to the front line a road of life. It quickly became a death trap. Boxer, 28, a Ukrainian drone platoon commander who has been fighting in Kursk for nine months and does not have fiber-optic drones, said that by March, so many Ukrainian vehicles were being destroyed on the logistics route that surviving soldiers often trekked back to Ukraine on foot. Soldiers passing by in undamaged cars didnt dare slow down to help, knowing they could be next. Only heavy rain or fog could disrupt the fiber-optic drones. Ukrainian troops in trenches in Sudzha knew that when they saw clear skies, there would be no deliveries, said Oleh, another soldier. The soldiers, like some others in this article, spoke on the condition that they be identified by their call sign or first name because they were not authorized to discuss operations in Kursk. Russia had a huge advantage in Kursk due to the use of fiber-optic drones because they basically killed Ukraines logistics, said one 24-year-old drone commander in Ukraines 47th Brigade, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid repercussions from higher command. Some essential weapon and food deliveries to the front were halted and missions to retrieve the wounded delayed, especially during daytime. People with amputations were rotting while waiting for evacuations, he said. Throughout this chaos, he added, even most of the experienced, leading Ukrainian drone operators and units in Kursk were still relying on non-fiber-optic drones. Russias use of the fiber-optic technology was one of several factors contributing to the loss of that essential road, said Oleksandr, 40, a Ukrainian officer overseeing intelligence operations in Kursk. And once the road was lost, he said, Ukraines eventual retreat from Sudzha was only a matter of time. Russia claimed control of the town in March. A rush to build Elsewhere on the front line, Ukrainian troops are sprinting to build fiber-optic drones themselves opting for newer, lightweight Ukrainian components to limit their imports from Asia. In a basement in northeast Ukraine, soldiers in the Achilles Regiment are tasked with repairing and building drones for their fellow troops. Five to 10 percent of the devices are fiber-optic, and even a tiny detail like a simple speck of dirt on a cable could mean the difference between life and death. The troops build three sizes of fiber-optic drones, with ranges of six to 12 miles, depending on the size of the attached coil. Bigger and farther isnt always better, said Achilles commander Yuriy Fedorenko, whose troops hunt Russian tanks with the drones. The bigger the distance, the bigger the coil; the bigger the coil, the bigger the drone; the bigger the drone, the more likely it is to be shot down, he said. Fedorenko said the fiber-optic cable allows pilots to navigate wooded and urban areas that once had been off-limits because obstacles disrupted radio signals. The developments have given him hope that more changes are on the way including using artificial intelligence to improve targeting and reduce the burden on front-line troops. But for now, even skilled drone pilots must dedicate time to learning the intricacies of the fiber-optic flight process to avoid catching the cable in a drones propellers or on obstacles like tree branches. It takes only one knot to cut the signal, rendering the mission and the drone useless. But soldiers say those complications are worth it when a drone flies without trouble, straight into a target. The very concept of attaching a cable to a drone might sound counterintuitive, Dmytro Semkiv, an engineer building the drones in the Achilles workshop acknowledged. But sometimes, he said, genius ideas are really simple. Space Force Col. Kenneth Klock, the commander of Space Base Delta 1, which is headquartered at Peterson and Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., recently stopped by an award ceremony honoring Air Force veteran Alfred Uhalt for decades of safe flying. From 1977 to 1979, Uhalt served as commander of the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, as the base was then known. (Peterson and Schriever Space Force Base) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Tribune News Service) For more than 77 years, few things have given Alfred Uhalt more pleasure than escaping the bonds of Earth in the cockpit of an airplane. It seemed to grow into me from a very young age, said Uhalt, 93. As soon as I could fly, I did. And Ive been flying ever since. Uhalts flight statistics are almost too extraordinary to comprehend. More than 18,000 flight hours. Thirty-eight different military airplanes. Nearly 4,000 combat hours flown over Vietnam, with 257 missions in just over 11 months. In recognition of these accomplishments, and more, Uhalt was honored on Saturday with the most prestigious award the Federal Aviation Administration issues to pilots. The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award recognizes aviators who have had 50 or more consecutive years of safe flight operations. With a career spanning nearly eight decades of military and civilian aviation, Uhalt easily met the requirements. Appropriately, Uhalt was given the award during a surprise celebration at The Airplane Restaurant on Newport Road, a short drive from the Colorado Springs Airport. I didnt know this was happening until I got here, he said. Uhalt was flying planes before he could legally drive. On his 14th birthday, he earned his gliders license. Two years later, he earned his private pilots license, soloing in a Pipe Cub on his 16th birthday. A few weeks after that, he pedaled a bicycle to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get his drivers license. Not long after he turned 27, Uhlt enlisted in the Air Force Reserve. In 1953, he graduated with distinction from Air Force flight training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. So began a 27-year military career that included a Silver Star for saving a platoon of Army Rangers from a Viet Cong ambush (despite his F-4 aircraft being hit by a surface-to-air missile). Other decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. From 1977-1979, Uhalt, by then a colonel, served as commander of the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing at Peterson Air Force Base (now Peterson Space Force Base). He retired from active duty in 1979. On Saturday, Space Force Col. Kenneth Klock stopped by to pay his respects. As commander of Space Base Delta 1, Klocks position is similar to the one Uhalt held nearly 50 years prior. The leaders who have gone before me, like Col. Uhalt, have built a legacy of excellence, one that we will continue building into the future, Klock said. After his retirement, Uhalt remained active in aviation, showing a willingness to fly anywhere, for any reason, according to former Mayor John Suthers, who attended the celebration. Suthers shared a story from decades ago, when he was a district attorney and needed a statement from a criminal to help prosecutors close a case. The criminal, notorious serial killer Ottis Poole, was incarcerated in Florida at the time. At the request of the Colorado Springs Police Department, Uhalt flew to Florida (accompanied by several CSPD detectives), transported Poole to Colorado Springs, then flew him back to Florida once he had given his statement. If you needed someone to fly anyplace for anything, regardless of the circumstances, Al Uhalt would do it, the former mayor said. These days, Uhalt still flies as often as he can, piloting a number of different aircraft including the Piper Cub, Learjet, several Cessna models, and others. Its free, and its clean, and you can see so much of this great nation from up above, he said. Also, you can get where youre going much faster. On Saturday, Federal Aviation Administration official John Childers awarded Uhalt with a framed certificate and an FAA lapel pin. Childers also presented a pin to Uhalts wife, Debbie. Im glad people recognize all the flying I did, but I was just doing what I love, Uhalt said. (The award) will mean more later, Im sure. 2025 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Visit www.gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A Legion of Honor medal, Frances highest honor for merit, sits on display aboard the USS Bataan in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 7, 2016. Marthe Cohn, a spy for the French resistance in World War II and recipient of the honor, died on Wednesday, May 21, at the age of 105. (Michelle Reif/U.S. Marine Corps) When she was asked to spy for the French army, Marthe Cohn recalled decades later, she didnt hesitate before saying yes. It was late 1944, months before the end of World War II in Europe. She had already lost her fiance, a member of the French resistance who had been tortured and shot by the Germans outside Paris. One of her younger sisters, Stephanie, had also been killed arrested and deported to Auschwitz while trying to help people escape to unoccupied France. Ms. Cohn, a French Jew, had managed to survive the Nazi occupation with help from false identity papers provided by a friend. She was also aided by her blond-haired, blue-eyed appearance and her fluency in German, which she learned as a child in Metz, a French city not far from the border. After joining military intelligence, she was able to cross enemy lines and spend a month in Germany, where she passed as a German nurse while making small talk with SS officers and Nazi soldiers, gathering information about troop movements. Her spying earned her Frances Croix de Guerre and was credited with saving the lives of Allied troops pressing in on the Reich. And more than 50 years later, after French officials took a fresh look at her military record, she was awarded another prestigious award, the Medaille Militaire, and was named a knight in the Legion of Honor, the countrys highest order of merit. By then, Ms. Cohn had only just begun to discuss her brief career as a spy. Her husband, an American, had learned about her espionage exploits only after they were married. For years, even her children had no idea that Ms. Cohn a petite but energetic woman who stood no more than 4-foot-11 - once crawled across the border on her hands and knees, hiding from German sentries while bringing intelligence back to the French. I just thought nobody would believe me, she told the Los Angeles Times in 2005, explaining her years of silence. Spies are usually tall and good-looking. I am a very unlikely spy. Ms. Cohn, who died May 21 at the age of 105, spent the past quarter-century sharing her story at schools and community centers across Europe and the United States, where she worked as a nurse after the war. In her final years, she served as a memory keeper for the Holocaust and the French resistance, sharing her story in a well-received 2002 memoir, Behind Enemy Lines: The True Story of a Jewish Spy in Nazi Germany, and in a 2019 documentary, Chichinette: The Accidental Spy. I will bear witness, she often told audiences, until my last breath. The fourth of seven children, she was born Marthe Hoffnung in Metz on April 13, 1920. Her family was Orthodox her maternal grandfather was a rabbi and her parents ran a small business framing and enlarging photos. As a teenager, Ms. Cohn occasionally got into fistfights at school, brawling with Catholic classmates who made antisemitic comments about Prime Minister Leon Blum, who was Jewish. She said she inherited some of her scrappiness from her father, who once removed his belt and went after teenagers who were throwing stones at the family as they left the local synagogue. After Kristallnacht, the Nazis 1938 pogrom against Jews, Ms. Cohns parents began taking in Jewish refugees from Germany, looking after penniless families that needed a place to stay for a few days as they sought a new home in France or elsewhere. Ms. Cohn recalled in her memoir that while she was horrified by the pogrom, never for one moment did I think that the same thing would happen to us. Not in France. I believed in human nature. I still had confidence that good would prevail. When World War II broke out in 1939, the family moved across the country to Poitiers, far from the German border. They remained there during the 1940 invasion and subsequent occupation, living for a time under few restrictions. Ms. Cohn said that she even worked at city hall with German officials who, admiring her accent and skill with the language, invited her to move to Germany for work, not realizing she was Jewish. Gradually, the situation deteriorated. Nazi leaders closed Jewish businesses and mandated that residents wear a yellow star in public. Ms. Cohn was approached on the street one day by one of her colleagues from city hall, who offered to provide her and her family with identity papers that were not stamped with the word Jew. The documents would let them travel freely to unoccupied France. When I asked him how much it would cost, he started crying and he said, I do not want to be paid. I do this to save you, she recalled in an interview with the Jewish Ledger, a Connecticut newspaper. He gave me all the identity cards. Ms. Cohns sister Stephanie was arrested before the family could leave. But Ms. Cohn, her parents and several of her siblings were able to flee and survive, with help at times from one of Ms. Cohns brothers who worked in the resistance. She spent part of the war in Marseille, studying to become a nurse, and enlisted in the French army in 1944 after the liberation of Paris. At first, she recalled, they looked at my size and said, Little girl, go back to your mother. You dont belong in the army. Ms. Cohn proved persistent Im going to stay, she said she told the officers and was allowed to enlist as an aid worker, tasked with visiting soldiers near the front and asking what they needed. At one point, she was assigned to answer calls for a colonel who needed to step out for lunch. He apologized, telling Ms. Cohn that she would have nothing to read to pass the time, as he only had German-language books in his office. I said, Thats OK, I can read German, she told the Los Angeles Times in 2000. Its as simple as that, how your life can change. The army was looking for German-language speakers who could work as spies. Ms. Cohn underwent a brief training she was so inquisitive, she said, that her colleagues nicknamed her Chichinette, French for little pain in the neck and was sent to Switzerland, where she tried more than a dozen times to cross the border into Germany. She eventually succeeded, crossing a field without being spotted, carrying only a small suitcase and a picture of a German prisoner of war whom she claimed was her fiance. Ms. Cohn used the photo to win the trust of German soldiers, asking whether they had seen her lover on the battlefield. During one encounter, she claimed to be terrified about the prospect of an Allied invasion. They told me not to worry, she said in the Times interview. And then they told me in precisely which section of the Black Forest the German army was waiting for the Allies. Ms. Cohn hurried back to the border to share her discovery with the French. She also revealed that German troops near Freiburg were withdrawing from the Siegfried Line, a long-fortified defensive position. After the war ended, she served as an army nurse in Vietnam, then part of French Indochina. She also continued her nursing studies in Geneva, where she met Major L. Cohn, an American medical student who had served on a Navy minesweeper during World War II. They married in 1958, moved to the United States and later worked together in Los Angeles, her husband as an anesthesiologist and Ms. Cohn as a nurse. Her husband, who survives her, said Ms. Cohn died at home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He did not cite a specific cause. Survivors also include their two sons, Stephan and Remi Cohn, and a granddaughter. In her public appearances, Ms. Cohn sought to draw lessons from the Holocaust, urging audiences to have sympathy for migrants who like many Europeans Jews in the 1930s and 40s struggle to find refuge in the United States and other countries. Asked in the documentary what message she had for people today, she replied, Be engaged. And dont accept any order that your conscience could not approve. The court heard some of the emails carried voice messages in a menacing manner A Dublin recruiter harassed his uncle and sister with more than 130 menacing emails during a long-running family feud, a court heard. Ross Ennis, 46, of Dundrum View, Dublin 14, who claimed he was trying to "extend an olive branch" with his relatives, was handed a no-contact order by Judge Treasa Kelly as she adjourned sentencing for a year. The first-time offender pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to harassment and sending threatening messages, September November 2023. The court heard some of the emails carried voice messages in a menacing manner, but they were not played during the hearing. Ross Ennis News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd The court sergeant told Judge Kelly that the man sent 139 emails to an uncle in Kerry and his Galway-based sister. Victim impact statements were not forthcoming. Defence solicitor Mark OSullivan said it was rooted in a sad background" going back 15 years. The court heard that he and his now-deceased father had a difficult relationship, and sides were taken. Ennis, who worked in recruitment, became estranged from his relatives and has been living and working in the UK for several years. Mr OSullivan said, This family feud got out of hand, his client had tried to extend an olive branch, but they did not want to talk to him. The solicitor described it as an isolated incident, adding that there has been no communication since. Ennis, who is on bail, told the court he is now sofa surfing in the UK, and the judge noted he has been out of work since being charged. However, he hoped to go into a business venture with two friends and was asking for a chance. Mr OSullivan pleaded with the judge to consider the Probation of Offenders Act and to spare his client a criminal record. Judge Kelly indicated she would consider that if there was no unsolicited communication between him and the victims for the next 12 months. The case resumes in May 2026. Officers could be seen at the house on Sean McDermott Street Upper, close to the junction of Gardiner Street shortly after 2pm Gardai are investigating an alleged assault in Dublins north inner city this afternoon following reports of a suspected stabbing. A man, in his 20s, has been injured in the incident and rushed to a hospital in the city. Officers could be seen gathered outside a house on Sean McDermott Street Upper, close to the junction of Gardiner Street, shortly after 2pm. Gardai at the scene this afternoon There was a large Garda presence as part of the street was sealed off outside the house. Shortly after a forensic team arrived and could be seen placing items into plastic evidence bags. The front door of the house remained open where the incident had occurred earlier. An ambulance was also pulled up on nearby Gardiner Street. Gardai could be also seen talking to concerned locals with had gathered on the street. A Garda spokesperson said: Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an incident of alleged assault, that occurred at a residence at Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin 1, this afternoon, at approximately 2pm. A man (aged in his 20s) was conveyed to the Mater Misericoridiae Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. No other injuries were reported at the time. Investigations are ongoing. Each was found to be unwittingly carrying around 3kg of methamphetamine stashed in boxes of Elvan Chocolate Truffles The men were caught when tests revealed meth hidden in the chocolates A callous Nigerian drug lord who tricked his elderly victims into smuggling methamphetamine hidden in sweets into the UK has been jailed. Scammer Tonny Iheoma Ezeh (51) had duped his vulnerable email scam victims into believing they had had hit the jackpot and were entitled to collected vast legitimate windfalls. Ezeh, who holds Nigerian, Canadian, and Jamaican passports, convinced them they had to travel abroad to collect their cash and that millions of euros or dollars were waiting for them in Hong Kong. Two German men were stopped last year, including a 67-year-old on October 18 and, three days later, an 80-year-old, who had both flown into Heathrow Airport. Scammer Tonny Iheoma Ezeh (51) News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd Each was found to be unwittingly carrying around 3kg of methamphetamine hidden in boxes of Elvan Chocolate Truffles. Both men were charged with smuggling class A drugs, however, following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation the charges were dropped once investigators established that Ezeh had scammed the pair. Ezeh was jailed for nine years and three months on Wednesday, having pleaded guilty on May 13 smuggling class A drugs when he appeared at Isleworth Crown Court. The men were caught when tests revealed meth hidden in the chocolates Ezehs mobile phones revealed that he was part of a West African crime group that had been transporting Class A drugs internationally via air passenger courier and fast parcels. Based in Mexico where he organised drug shipments with other Nigerian contacts based internationally, Ezeh singled out elderly and vulnerable couriers who were recruited via email finance scams. The victims were told they were the beneficiaries of large sums of money but in order to obtain the millions of Euros or dollars they would have to travel to Mexico and paperwork. They were given gifts of Elvan Chocolate Truffles that they would, then brig to their hosts in Hong Kong who would the ay them. However, Border Force officers moved before the men could catch their connecting flights from the UK to Hong Kong. NCA officers nabbed Ezeh when he flew into the UK on December 23 last year. Described as an extremely callous criminal, NCA operations manager Peter Jones said he and his crime group had singled out and taken advantage of elderly, vulnerable victims. He didnt care at all about the trauma the men would experience when stopped, arrested and remanded in a foreign land, Jones said. If an offer is too good to be true, it very likely is and we urge anyone who is approached and asked to transport goods to think very carefully. The NCA and partners at home and abroad continue to fight the threat of class A drugs entering the UK. Dean Dunphy died following a diagnosis of stage four brain cancer A Dublin dad has died just days after getting married to his childhood sweetheart. Dean Dunphy, of Ballyfermot, died in the arms of his wife, Michaela at Beaumont Hospital on Wednesday. The couple wed in an intimate ceremony in the city centre, surrounded by their loved ones, just three days earlier. Dean and Michaela, who have been dating since 2011, have a daughter named Sloane (3). They got engaged earlier this year, and their loved ones raised almost 39,000 to pay for their wedding celebrations. The 34-year-old van driver was diagnosed with four brain cancer in August 2023. Dean & Michaela (GoFundMe) News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd Weve had two years of absolute madness, ups and downs, heartache, grief, bad news and good news, and I just said, Lets have something to look forward to for a change. All Ive ever wanted to do is marry him, Michaela previously told PA Life. She explained that while Dean had suffered with headaches all his life, in June 2023 he began experiencing sudden muscle twitching. On one occasion, it happened while he was driving on the motorway for work. Thank God he managed to pull over because he said he was basically experiencing the symptoms of a stroke his face dropped, his eyes dropped, Michaela said. His whole right side was dragged down, he was leaning against the door, and he couldnt get up, but then a minute later, he was back to normal. He was rushed to A&E, and weeks later he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. We got called back in on July 24, our anniversary, and they said, We can see what looks like to be a brain tumour, she said. They said they needed to operate to investigate further and then we started to panic because we just thought, Why is it all happening so fast?. Dean Dunphy (RIP.ie) He underwent brain surgery to remove the cancerous tissue around the brain before starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In August 2024 he returned to hospital as he couldnt walk and his speech was slurred; it was nearly like he was in and out of consciousness, Michaela said. Doctors found swelling in his brain, and Dean underwent further chemotherapy and treatment to stop the tumour from increasing in size. Paying tribute to the beloved father, mourners shared their condolences with Deans family. Some death announcements stop you in your tracks. I remember the day Dean was born, making cards as children, so excited to meet him, one person shared. We used to push him around Harelawn in his buggy to give Louise a little break. Such a beautiful child who from what Ive heard grew up into a beautiful man. Taken from his wife & family way too soon. Louise, Paul & Emma you are very much in our thoughts. Another added: Michaela and Sloane, Im so sorry to hear of the sudden passing of your lovely Dean. My heart goes out to you and we send our deepest condolences to you and all your family at this sad time. RIP Dean. A third shared: A true Gent. We are so sorry to hear this sad news. Our thoughts are with Michaela Sloane and family. Forever Childhood Sweethearts. RIP Dean. Dean is lying in repose at his home from 4pm to 6pm today. Removal on Saturday morning to The Church of The Most Holy Sacrament, Cherry Orchard, arriving for 10.30 am Funeral Mass. Cremation will be held at Mount Jerome Crematorium at 12.45 pm. Dunphy, Dean (Deano), 21st May 2025, (late of Claddagh Green, Cherry Orchard and formerly of Cleggan Park, Ballyfermot), peacefully in the arms of his wife Michaela and surrounded by his loving family at Beaumont Hospital, his death notice reads. Predeceased by his father Mick and Aunt Carol. Dean will be forever missed by his loving wife Michaela, his adored daughter Sloane, his mother Louise, brother Paul and sister Emma, mother and father-in-law Audrey and Liam Connolly, brothers-in-law David and Ian, sisters-in-law Jennifer and Ally, his good friends David and Aeo, nieces Keelie, Beau, Elle, Pheobe and Libby, extended family, neighbours and wide circle of friends. Investigations are ongoing. A firearm, ammunition, weapons and drugs were seized during a Garda search in Ballymun yesterday. Gardai from Serious Crime West, DMR North and the Ballymun Community Response Team made the seizure. Cocaine, diamorphine, and cannabis were seized as part of Operation Tara. An Garda Siochana say investigations are ongoing. Image: An Garda Siochana News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd Gardai from Serious Crime West, DMR North and the Ballymun Community Response Team seized a firearm along with ammunition during a search operation in Ballymun, Dublin 11 today, Thursday 22nd May 2025, a spokesperson said. A quantity of drugs cocaine, diamorphine and cannabis was also seized along with a number of weapons during the search under Operation Tara. Stewart and her lover Colin Howell were jailed for killing their spouses in a staged suicide pact Hazel Stewart, who was convicted for the double murder of her husband and her lovers wife, is appealing her sentence for a third time. Stewart and her lover Colin Howell were sentenced to life behind bars for the May 1991 deaths of Trevor Buchanan (32) and Lesley Howell (31). Lawyers for Stewart have said she will launch her third appeal to the Belfast Court of Appeal today. Centre: Hazel Stewart. Inset: Colin Howell (left), Trevor Buchanan (top right), Lesley Howell (bottom right). News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd They are filing an Out of Time application to extend time to hear the appeal against her sentence. This latest application is grounded on the basis that at the time of the commission of the index offences she was under the coercive control of Colin Howell, a statement from KRW Law firm said. We in turn say coercive control wasn't known about at the time of her trial in 2011 when she was convicted and sentenced. Nor had it evolved sufficiently as an issue to be raised at the time of her subsequent appeals. Trevor Buchanan The court will adjudicate on a preliminary issue as to whether or not there was any delay in the applicant raising coercive control as an appeal issue before now, the statement continued. The outworkings of that request will determine whether or not any fresh evidence from an expert on coercive control can be adduced. In 2010, Colin Howell pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 21-years. Howell implicated Stewart in the plot and gave evidence against her at her trial. She pleaded not guilty and said she acted under duress. However, the mother-of-two was unanimously convicted of both killings at Coleraine Crown Court in 2011. She was given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 18 years. The murder of Lesley and Trevor was staged to look like a suicide. Their bodies were discovered in a fume-filled car at a property in Castlerock, Derry. To police, it appeared as though the pair died as part of a pact after they found out their partners were having an affair. A 2016 ITV series serialised the crimes in a drama titled The Secret starring James Nesbitt and Genevieve O'Reilly as Howell and Stewart. The show was based on Let This Be Our Secret, a book about the crimes by Belfast journalist Deric Henderson. Twenty-nine-year-old John Baxter, Callanagh, Kilcogy, Cavan was handed down a five month sentence to run concurrently with a separate prison term he is already serving from courts in Cavan An imprisoned father of one who was caught driving without insurance for the tenth time just two weeks after being convicted and banned from driving for ten years wont spend another day behind bars despite picking up his 50th criminal conviction. Twenty-nine-year-old John Baxter, Callanagh, Kilcogy, Cavan was handed down a five month sentence to run concurrently with a separate prison term he is already serving from courts in Cavan following his appearance at a sitting of Longford District Court. Baxter appeared via video link to tender guilty pleas to no insurance and having no driving licence at Teffia Park, Longford on November 14, 2024. The Cavan based farmer was pulled in by gardai following a check officers undertook on a vehicle which was spotted driving through the Longford town estate shortly before midday. Sgt Mark Mahon said when gardai stopped the vehicle, it immediately became apparent that Baxter had no tax or insurance, anomalies the accused followed up with by openly admitting at the scene that he was a disqualified driver. John Baxter (29) was handed down a five month prison sentence to run concurrently to a sentence the Cavan man is already serving. Having pleaded guilty, details surrounding Baxters previous 49 convictions were read out, among which included a series of offences for dangerous driving and nine for no insurance. Judge Bernadette Owens was told how Baxter had only been convicted at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court on October 30 and where he was banned from driving for 15 years. The court was told Baxter was presently serving a sentence picked up in Cavan and was due for release on April 23 next year. In defence, Brid Mimnagh said her clients inability to drive had proved to be a major impediment behind his own attempts to work as a farmer. She said Baxters past and latest road traffic offending is as it is as she told of how Baxter had taken the ill-advised decision on the day to get behind the wheel and venture into Longford. Follow Independent Longford on Facebook The driving has effectively hampered him and unfortunately that day he took the opportunity to come to Longford to get something, she said, adding that Baxter was someone who was of great assistance to his mother at home. Judge Owens, having taken note of Baxters release date next April and his guilty plea, sentenced him to five months in prison, a term she ordered to run concurrently with his existing sentence. Baxter was also banned from driving for 15 years with the second no driving licence summons being taken into consideration. Aisling Kearns is raising money for an education camp in Palestine Irish actor Aisling Kearns has asked for people to donate to a fund in aid of a camp in Gaza to mark her 30th birthday. So far, almost 6,000 has been raised for Al-Jawad Camp, which helps to educate displaced children in Gaza. As I turn 30 today I feel pretty useless regarding the distressing scenes in Gaza so Ive decided to create a GoFundMe in aid of Al-Jawad-Camp which is based in Gaza City, she shared on her fundraising page. Aisling Kearns (Instagram) News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd This is a group of women who are, in the midst of literal hell, trying to give displaced children in Gaza an education. You can check out their Instagram page which shares regular updates. Make sure you follow them too, she added. So please, if you have EVER smiled or laughed from my page and sketches and want to wish me a happy 30th birthday, DONATE! Please dont forget to share this page too! The more eyes on it, the better and more likely we will raise a substantial amount. She signed off with Thank you! X #FreePalestine. It comes as the death toll, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza, has surpassed 61,700. Kearns gained more than 90,000 followers on Instagram thanks to her comedy sketch videos. She is also signed to the same agency as Amy Huberman, Kin star Claire Dunne, and comedian Kevin McGahern. Aisling played the lead role in Asking For It a play based on a Louise ONeill novel of the same name. Her other credits include Fair City, Sherlock and Daughter, and The Spin. It comes as Kneecaps new release this afternoon has reignited the groups feud with Kemi Badenoch Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where the trio announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) A message supporting Kneecap has appeared on Belfasts Black Mountain on Friday afternoon, as the band released their latest track. The message showing the words Kneecap Abu which translates to Up Kneecap or Kneecap Forever was displayed in white lettering on the mountain. It comes as Kneecaps new release this afternoon has reignited the groups feud with Kemi Badenoch, including a reference to the Conservative leader and the partys most recent election results. The band have officially released The Recap Ft. Mozey (Bootleg Version) this afternoon, with the track including a reference to Ms Badenoch at the end of the song. Making reference to the English local election results at the start of the month which saw the Tories lose 674 councillors, in the track one member of the band says: Good effort Kemi, hard lines on the elections. Onwards and upwards. Free Palestine. Meanwhile at the start of the track, it samples a news clipping referencing the investigation by counter terror police involving the band. The new music from the band comes just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. The sign supporting Kneecap on Belfast's Black Mountain Photo Credit: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph News in 90 Seconds - May 23rd Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The group, who rap in the Irish language, have a headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, later on Friday night. Earlier in a post on social media, the band said they have some day coming up. "We've a brand new landing in our WhatsApp channel at 1pm, they wrote. Kemi Badenoch you might wanna sit down for this one...if you've any seats left. Then we're at Wide Awake in Brockwell Park London for a headline show to 15,000 legends tonight. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The reference from the band to Ms Badenoch is part of an ongoing back and forward stretching back to last year, after Kneecap won their discrimination case against the previous government, when the Conservative leader refused the trio funding in her then ministerial role. Last year, the UK Government conceded it was unlawful that the group were refused a 14,250 funding award by Ms Badenoch. Kneecap launched legal action claiming the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion. It comes after the band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He said: I need to thank my lawyer hes here tonight as well. Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Police officers outside the 100 Club in Oxford Street, central London, where Kneecap announced a surprise gig for Thursday evening. (Pic: PA) Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authoritys decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was irrational. Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to confirm that the event has been cancelled and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said that no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the events organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. The sign supporting Kneecap on Belfast's Black Mountain Photo Credit: Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph Kneecap: A timeline of controversy and success In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an anti-terror law against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesnt have a jury. Whats the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting up Hamas, up Hezbollah. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been exploited and weaponised. They also said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Ms Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. Maori are questioning a lack of targeted funding for Maori in this year's Budget. But ACT Party leader David Seymour said there should be no such thing as Maori funding and that funding being categorised based on ancestry is the definition of racism. Associate dean Maori at Massey University and a professor in the School of Economics and Finance, Matt Roskruge told RNZ it was "really hard" to find Maori in the 2025 Budget. "You call it basics Budget, no frills Budget, for Maori it's a bleak Budget. There's just nothing for us. "It feels a little bit like you're seeing the hard work that the Maori caucus under Labour managed to achieve, being slowly erased. "I think it raises really interesting questions about Te Tiriti obligations and the Budget process and the engagement or consultation with Maori when these decisions are being made." Roskruge said there were a few small boosts in targeted Maori funding here and there, for the Maori Women's Welfare League, for Maori Wardens and for Kohanga Reo. "When you drill into it, a lot of funding that was earmarked for Maori has been moved into the general funding pool. "So we're seeing I think a little bit of a loss of mana motuhake or control over our funding and relying on those general pool processes to move money to us." Maori Education was an outlier this year with $100 million being spent on a range of initiatives including training and support for more than 50,000 teachers to learn te reo and tikanga. Roskruge said Maori could be rightly concerned that Maori-led and controlled funds and priorities were being taken away and moved into the general pool. "I get the argument the government is making that if it benefits New Zealand, as a whole it's going to also benefit Maori. "But we know that Maori have had structural discrimination, there's been a loss of our whenua, our economic development over time... there's ground to make up, and by having those targeted Maori priorities in the Budget, it gives us a tool to start to make up some of the economic deficit that was forced upon us through colonisation and also helped to engage and invigorate the Maori economy." Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka had delivered on what he committed to on Kainga Ora and Emergency Housing and he had worked hard to balance that portfolio, but the lack of targeted funding was the "danger" of not having a sizable Maori caucus, Roskruge said. Labour's Maori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said Maori development ministers need to run two strategies when it comes to Budget. One in the general fund because many Maori are not involved with Maori providers or iwi, but he said the other strategy had to be by Maori for Maori. Labour's Maori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson. A lack of caucus support for Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka has resulted in a lack of support for Maori in the Budget, he said. Jackson said over the last two Budgets the government has cut $1 billion in funding for Maori initiatives. "[The Labour Party] had put hundreds of millions back in to Maori programmes, back into the Maori economy, back into te iwi Maori, all that money is gone, it's a sad, sad day for te ao Maori." ACT leader David Seymour. But ACT leader David Seymour told media after the Budget debate that he was opposed to any kind of "raced based targeting of funding". "Well there's no such thing as Maori funding, there's funding for New Zealanders. "I'm really getting tired of people trying to racially profile us, put us into categories based on our ancestry or whakapapa and then try and tag the Budget funding for that, it's just got to stop." Maori Health Leader Lady Tureiti Moxon called the Budget a slash and burn in all areas of Maori funding. Moving away from targeted funding would mean Maori miss out, she said. Lady Tureiti Moxon "What we know from previous governments and previous Budgets that kind of trickling down process that's not targeted funding or focussed on particular areas just basically misses us completely." Maori housing initiatives administered by Te Puni Kokiri - including the Whai Kainga Whai Oranga Programme - have been cut back, with about $80m being given to the government's new Flexible Housing fund, which looks to build more social housing and subsidise affordable rentals. Moxon said pulling back from Maori housing would have flow on effects for Maori Health. Dr Francisco Javier Membrillo (Seville, 1980) is the head of infectious diseases at the Hospital Gomez Ulla in Madrid and vice-president of the Spanish society of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology (SEIMC), which is holding its 28th national conference in Malaga from 22 to 24 May. The event has brought together 2,000 specialists in the field and will address medical trends such as the challenges posed by emerging tropical viruses, from West Nile virus to dengue and chikungunya, resistance to antibiotics and the increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Among other demands, Membrillo is calling for the creation of a medical specialty for infectious diseases within the MIR (medical residency training) system, as well as the presence of clinical microbiology laboratories in every hospital, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He argues this is crucial due to their decisive role in reducing mortality, especially in serious infections such as sepsis. In the following interview he gave for SUR, he reviews all the challenges in his speciality. The Nile virus has caused around a dozen deaths in Andalucia. Where are we now in the fight against this disease? -Well, we are in a complicated moment, because we are seeing more cases every year. We have to bear in mind that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg, as most of the cases are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms, which means that probably only serious cases end up at hospitals, especially in Western Andalucia, although also increasingly in the north. Climate change, the increase in temperatures in recent years and spring rains this year mean that all the conditions are in place for it to be a summer with lots of mosquitoes, which is what will favour the transmission of the virus. -So Malaga is an ideal place for the transmission of the virus, isn't it? Yes. -What tropical viruses are arriving in Andalucia and Malaga? -Well, I don't know if we should say that this virus has arrived - it is already with us. In fact, a few weeks ago, Jose Miguel Cisneros, the head of infectious diseases at the Virgen del Rocio, gave a lecture at a course on our campus and said that perhaps we should consider calling it the Guadalquivir virus. The issue is that weve always treated viruses and tropical diseases as something foreign to Spain. We have to take into account that there is a significant population movement, there are more and more international trips, there are more and more migrants living in Spain. Additionally, climate is changing and if not the entire Spanish Mediterranean, then at least Andalucia, Murcia and Valencia are becoming regions with an almost subtropical climate. Within this, we must also talk about dengue fever. -What about the dengue fever? Mosquitoes are widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean area of Andalucia. Every year of the last decade we have had sporadic outbreaks with a small number of cases and there is nothing to prevent a chain of transmission in Spain. It is not about someone carrying the disease coming here on a trip, then a mosquito bites them and transmits it to two other people. No, the virus stays here. Let's take the chikungunya virus. We had the mosquito and a virus that could be transmitted by that mosquito, but there had never been any cases in Latin America. Once it was introduced ten years ago, it caused an epidemic with half a million cases and has since become endemic, triggering outbreaks in various South and Central American regions every year. -Do we have the chikungunya virus here in Spain? Not yet, but we have one of the mosquitoes that can transmit it. A person comes incubating the disease from a trip to Brazil or Paraguay, or whichever Latin American. They are bitten by a mosquito that we already have in Malaga and that mosquito bites another person and this can happen at any time. -Is this disease serious? Most cases are mild, but the after-effects of joint pain and fatigue are very disabling and often last for weeks or even several months, similar to the symptoms some people have had after Covid-19, making it very disabling. In some cases it can be severe. -Which would be the most dangerous of these diseases that are now coming to Malaga and Andalucia? -It's a complex question. I think we have to think above all about the dengue. If the dengue were to become established in Andalucia, we are talking about a disease in In second infections, between 5% and 8% of people develop severe dengue with bleeding. Thats the level of seriousness were dealing with. In terms of how it would change our way of life, let's think about another virus that this mosquito transmits, which is the Zika virus. The Zika virus, of which we have not had endemic cases in Spain so far, usually causes a mild illness. But if you are infected during pregnancy, there is a very high risk of serious malformations of the foetus. In 2022, our professional society published a book titled Infectious Diseases in 2050. In it, we explored possible future scenarios. In the chapter I co-wrote with a colleague, Miriam Alvarez from Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, we envisioned a situation where, for a couple wanting to conceive, both partners would have to go outside wearing long sleeves, long trousers and applying insect repellent every four hours on all exposed skin, even if it's 40C. Thats because infection now could mean that, if the woman becomes pregnant in three months, the baby might suffer serious malformations. That would be a complete lifestyle change. This is what I do when I go to South America. Even if it's 40C, with 90% humidity, I wear long sleeves, long trousers and repellent every four hours. Let's imagine a Spain in which our normal day-to-day life in spring and summer is like that. We don't know if it will happen, but it is not unreasonable to believe that it could, in Malaga, for example. Most of the mosquitoes that transmit tropical diseases are already in Andalucia. -Is any preventive action being taken against this influx of viruses or infectious diseases? -Very important steps are being taken. The One Health approach is one example, which considers the issue not just as a medical question - it's an issue where all scientific disciplines involved need to work together. The role of veterinary medicine is very important here, especially in the control of mosquito populations. But we still have gaps to fill. We have no antivirals for the West Nile virus and other such diseases. Except for dengue and chikungunya, there are no vaccines. Theres no human vaccine for West Nile virus, for instance. We face a clear weakness: with a disease like West Nile virus, where mild cases have very vague, non-specific symptoms, the severe cases (which involve encephalitis) can go undiagnosed for too long, because many other conditions can cause similar symptoms. It is clear that not having specialists in infectious diseases in Spain is a drawback. I am sure that when a patient with suspected Nile virus is seen at Carlos Haya or Virgen del Rocio, in Seville, specialists in their infectious diseases units will quickly suspect the virus and initiate the proper diagnostic steps, so the right samples and information reach the clinical microbiology labs. But this is not the case across the country, not even across all of Andalucia. Some hospitals have dedicated infectious disease experts, while others dont. And thats because there still isn't an official medical residency (MIR) specialty in infectious diseases. - There is no speciality in infectious diseases, is there? -It does not exist in Spain. -Why doesn't it exist? We are the only country in Europe without a speciality, via MIR, in infectious diseases. All over North and South America, there are specialists in infectious diseases. In Spain, we have very good specialists. We are the first country in scientific communications to the European conference of infectious diseases. But they are not trained via MIR, so there is no homogeneity, there is no guarantee that everyone has the same knowledge. That means that if an Andalusian - a patient from Malaga, for example - goes to a doctor with a serious infectious illness, like a multi-drug resistant bacterial infection or suspected West Nile virus, they will have no idea what kind of specialist they're going to get.Its a completely outdated situation. -Why is this happening? -Well, the truth is that for three years we have had a Royal Decree that establishes the conditions under which a new speciality can be created. Our society fulfills all but one of them. The Royal Decree establishes that there has to be a favourable vote from seven regions and this condition has not yet been met. And we are in a situation that I can only describe as Kafkaesque, because this is not political, this is a question of training specialists, it is a question of access to quality health services. -Another transmission vector is animals, what we call zoonoses. What diseases do animals cause? Again, this is about a disease we already have in Spain. I believe we need to talk more about Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a disease transmitted by the bite of a certain kind of tick from the Hyalomma genus, which infects mainly deer in Spain and is widely distributed. There is evidence of transmission in animals all over Spain, including Andalucia. Last year, there was a case in the Sierra de Cordoba. This, once again, shows us the importance of the 'One Health' approach, of the control of these pests. It shows us how the epidemiological panorama is changing. Once again, we're dealing with a disease for which we have no treatment. Many cases are mild, but this is a hemorrhagic fever that, although transmitted by tick bites, can be spread from person to person. That's why it requires the infrastructure of high-level isolation units. And it's something you could catch just by going for a walk in the countryside and getting bitten by a tick. So, we're seeing that the range of infectious diseases is becoming more variable, more complex, and demands specialised attention and prevention. - You say there was one case in the Sierra Norte de Cordoba, but it is not yet widespread? -As much as we know, it is not. Since the first case was diagnosed in Spain, in 2016, we have had cases every year but one. But there are probably many cases that are not being diagnosed. Recently, a seroprevalence study was published in El Bierzo, which showed that there was a significant percentage of the population that had antibodies to this virus, although no case had ever been counted. So we don't really know how many cases there are. We don't know if there are people who have been diagnosed with another disease or people who haven't been to the doctor. We are running a risk of transmission. In Madrid, in 2016, a nurse caught this haemorrhagic fever, while carrying for a patient who was not know to have the virus. Luckily, she survived without sequelae. It is not only that diseases arrive, it is that we are often unaware that we have them in our midst. Let's look at 2020. I think all doctors in Spain realised that we had been seing cases of Covid-19 since February, but they were not diagnosed, because there was no suspicion. When the European alert was issued in 2022 for what was then called monkeypox, the next day there were 50 cases under investigation in Spain. These patients had actually been seen up to a month earlier, but in most cases, no one had suspected that virus because they had not been treated by infectious disease specialists. 'We are the only country in Europe without a speciality in infectious diseases' -And you say many of these tropical diseases don't have a vaccine? -Most of it. - What diseases don't we have a vaccine for? -We don't have a malaria vaccine, we have a dengue vaccine, but it protects well against only some types of dengue, but not against others. A chikungunya vaccine has just been licensed, but it has not yet arrived in Spain because distribution has not yet begun and it has had to be withdrawn due to problems. We don't know for sure if we are going to be able to use it in all patients and at the moment it is not being used in people over 65 years of age. We have no Zika vaccine, we have no Crimean-Congo vaccine, we have no West Nile vaccine. These are neglected tropical diseases. They have no commercial interest and we are not aware that they are a problem for us and, therefore, the research is not being done. That is why a global approach is necessary. - There is obvious antibiotic resistance in some of these cases. What problems does that create and how are they being fought? The last study we did tells us that, for every death in Spain in 2023 from traffic accidents, we had 20 from infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is a serious problem. Right now, we are in a worse situation than we were a century ago when penicillin was discovered. It is true that there is a research effort and we have new tools, new antimicrobials, but there are two problems here. The first is the importance of personalised medicine and access to microbiological diagnosis. Antibiotics do not fit all. There are no stronger or weaker antibiotics. We need to know which bacteria we are treating, what resistance mechanisms they have and then choose the right antibiotic for that bacterium. A study published last year by the Hospital Clinico in Barcelona showed that having a microbiology laboratory that worked at night and having infectious disease specialists who received the data in real time and did not wait until 8am the next day to treat these patients reduced mortality. The second problem, obviously, is that these tools that are arriving, these new antibiotics, this information from the microbiology laboratories, need specialists who know how to handle them. If not, there will be an abuse of antibiotics and patients who do not receive the latest generation of the antibiotic they need at the right time. -What have we learned from the Covid-19 pandemic in the field of infectious disease? We have learned many things. We have learned that we have to respond more quickly and that need to have the capacity to disseminate information. We have learned that we have to make an effort in communication: we are currently fighting or making an effort against disinformation, the rapid access we have to information, the fact that we do not know how to differentiate quality information. We are working to ensure that what happened in 2020 does not repeat, to make sure that the public knows that the media is not the most appropriate or the most knowledgeable source. Of course, we have also learned that, to be properly prepared, we need these microbiology laboratories open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. -Should there be one in every hospital centre open 24 hours a day? -There should be one in every hospital centre open 24 hours a day. It's not something that can wait for Monday, it's not a cholesterol level. It is something that puts the patient's life at risk and every hour that passes from the time a sepsis process starts until the right antibiotic is given increases the risk of that patient dying. -Are we prepared to stop and contain another pandemic early? -We are better prepared. The effort currently being made by the administrations to establish a strategic reserve of medication, antivirals and personal protective equipment is to be commended. We have improved the availability of microbiology services, but we have weaknesses. The Spanish public health agency has still not got off the ground due to political issues that we are not going to go into. We believe this agency should include not just public health and preventive medicine experts, but also clinicians and microbiologists who understand all aspects of disease. After HIV, after SARS-CoV-2, after avian flu, after the flu pandemic in 2009, after Ebola in 2014 with cases in Spain, after Covid-19, not having specialists is something we can only describe as insane and a big mistake. 'We have to talk about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea' - Finally, STIs continue to increase steadily and now they seem to be affecting the over 60s and young people. What are the most common ones? Are there any that are coming in stronger? -Well, we have to remember that HIV is still circulating and new cases are still being diagnosed. Paradoxically, a very good tool that we have had in recent years in Spain, which is to give antivirals to people who are going to have risky relationships and who are not going to follow the precautionary practices, has led some of these people to lose their fear of STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and to catch other STIs. For example, we should mention the increase in gonorrhoea and the emergence in some countries of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea. The truth is, we're seeing a surge in many clinics where we previously didnt even have consultations for sexually transmitted infections. Now we're having to open new ones, we have waiting lists, and we're seeing more and more cases. Indeed, there's a noticeable increase in all these conditions - chlamydia, etc. Carmen Nestares began to believe in destiny at the age of six, the day her mother and grandmother put her - for a little while, at least - in charge of La Condesa , the legendary clothes shop on Calle Ganivet in Granada city. The girl sold a pair of pyjamas for a newborn baby and that achievement would accompany her for the rest of her life, from the classrooms of the University of Granada to her current position as vice-president of marketing for Amazon Prime USA. The entrepreneur thinks about her journey as she takes a few seconds to look out over the Carmen de la Victoria terrace in the city, which looks over the Alhambra palace. "Granada is my homeland. I can't believe I'm going to get married with these views," she says. On Wednesday 21 May, Nestares launched at the Royal Hospital the new Chair in Computing and Artificial Intelligence that Amazon, her company, has promoted at the University of Granada (UGR). She says, "with pride", that she owes a lot to Granada university: an education that opened the doors to the whole world, a scholarship, her first job... And her fiance Tony, who she is marrying this Friday 23 May. "This Friday I'm getting married in La Chumbera [restaurant] to the love of my life, the guy who was my boyfriend during my degree." A story that no one, not even them or the best of algorithms, could have predicted. In 1995 Carmen was one of the few students enrolled on the new Business Administration and Management degree at the UGR. One night, out for tapas in the city, she met Tony, an American who had come to the city to learn Spanish at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas (modern languages centre). "He gave me his phone number and, well, I didn't call him," she laughs. But Granada is small and a few weeks later they crossed paths again. "He told me I hadn't called him and I couldn't think of anything else to do but invite him to the hunt my father was organising the next day. And he came," Carmen recalls. Carmen and Tony started going out and stayed together throughout university. In fact, Tony decided not to return to the United States for her, so he looked for a job in Spain and soon found a place in a large cybersecurity company in Madrid, where he still works today. Carmen was also looking for a job and ironically she found one in Seattle. Carmen and Tony separated, found other partners, started families, had children... and did not see each other again until 20 years later. The reunion "Five years ago we met again. And we are going to get married in Granada, where it all began." In between, several things happened. Carmen received the Medal of Andalucia and she promised herself to "think bigger" in her homeland. So when her sister Teresa Nestares, a professor at the UGR, told her she had to meet Enrique Herrera, a world eminence in artificial intelligence, the Amazon vice-president saw a clear opportunity. The next day, Marifran Carazo, mayor of Granada, invited her for coffee and told her that she had a vision: to build a powerful technology hub in the city. "I went back to Seattle with all the ideas and that's how the position was born.... And that's also when I asked Marifran to marry us at La Chumbera. And she accepted." The wedding will serve to celebrate many things, all with a common link: Granada. "Granada means a lot to both of us. We're going to get together all the friends we used to go out with during our studies, the whole gang. And there will be more things to come, stay tuned, we have lots of ideas". This Friday's party at La Chumbera was supposed to be Carmen's 50th birthday party. "But then Tony asked me to marry him and we changed it to a wedding," she says, smiling. The honeymoon will involve scuba diving, one of their passions. Another is reading and, as she lives in Seattle and he lives in Madrid, Carmen often sends him books via Amazon: "Of course!" "5,000 miles don't separate us any more. Besides, with the means we have today, it's super easy to feel close to each other". The wedding is being officiated by the mayor of Granada, Marifran Carazo, and the dress and shoes... she ordered them on Amazon. And the dress? "I ordered it online from The Shop by Shopbob, one of Amazon's subsidiaries. The dress, the shoes, everything. And I didn't have to adjust anything," she says, amused. "But I like to dance, so I'm bringing another outfit to change into after the wedding. Just then Tony walks in and we are introduced. The couple laugh and joke and talk excitedly about their wedding at La Chumbera. "The Alhambra is a good view, but I'll have the best," he says, winking at Carmen. "I believe that in life there is a force that we do not know. I believe in destiny. And that destiny has been fulfilled. We hadn't spoken for 20 years and suddenly...". Long live the bride and groom. Jose Antonio Guerrero Madrid Friday, 23 May 2025, 17:27 Compartir The mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, and the president of Spain's airport operator (Aena), Maurici Lucena, have initiated a new stage of the conversation regarding the hundreds of homeless people who sleep in Barajas Airport. The issue has turned into a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent action, not continuous disagreements between the two parties. There is light at the end of the tunnel now, after Almeida and Lucena held a meeting on Thursday, in an attempt to "overcome differences" and put the disagreements behind. The first step is the now agreed implementation of an independent third sector, which will carry out a census of all the homeless people who live in Barajas. This "identification process" will be carried out by private consultancy Fresno, which works with NGOs, with the financial sponsorship of Aena. The deadline for the release of the census is June. The census will make it possible to understand the unique situation of every person who spends the night at the airport, in order to provide them with "individualised" assistance. What is known at the moment is that these individuals come from various backgrounds and there are different reasons behind their vulnerability. There are workers who cannot pay their rent; people with mental health problems or addiction; people who simply prefer to sleep at the airport rather than on the street or in a municipal shelter; and foreigners who have been stranded when their visas expired. Almeida and Lucena have agreed to hold technical meetings every week and "sit down and talk" whenever discrepancies arise, before airing them in public, which is what they have been doing until now. Although they appeared before the media separately, both agreed on the "cordiality" with which the meeting had taken place. Almeida told Lucena that, apart from the census, the city council will continue to deploy its social intervention teams in Barajas with the idea of reaching more vulnerable people, because so far they have identified 105 people but only 14 have agreed to move to the municipal shelters. The mayor acknowledged the importance of establishing trust and a continuous relationship with them, in order to slowly transfer them to other locations, where they will receive assistance. He highlighted that the city council "does not have the capacity to force anyone to leave the airport". Lucena thanked Almeida for the attention and even quoted Casablanca by saying: "I feel that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." He stressed the importance of the two institutions working together to offer a solution to homelessness. Access control The president of Aena said that the new control services at Barajas will continue to carry out their night shifts, which means that from 9pm to 5am only people with boarding passes can enter. The aim is to prevent the situation from worsening. Since controls began on Wednesday night, the security guards stationed at the access gates to the four terminals of Barajas prevented the entry of 150 homeless people. Another 170 people did manage to spend the night inside the facilities, either because they did not leave the airport or because they decided to enter before 9pm. "The operation ran smoothly and there were no incidents," said security director Garcia. The NGOs believe that people in such vulnerable situations should be given a housing alternative and medium-term solutions by the social services, with the support of educators, doctors and psychologists. Jeremy Renner attends the "We Live in Time" gala screening - Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 on December 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival) Getty Images for The Red Sea Int Jeremy Renner is opening up about his near-death experience after being crushed by a fourteen-thousand-pound snowplow on New Years Day of 2023. On Wednesday, the Avengers star appeared on SiriusXMs Lets Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa podcast to discuss his new memoir My Next Breath, which was released last month. While speaking to Ripa, he touched on how he died for a few minutes before being brought back to life an out-of-body experience that he seemingly enjoyed. Its a great relief is all I can say. Its a wonderful relief to be removed from your body, Renner said. It is the most exhilarating peace you could ever feel. You dont see anything but whats in your minds eye. Youre the atoms of who you are. The DNA. Your spirit is... its the highest adrenaline rush. But the peace that comes with it, its magnificent. Its so magical. In fact, Renner was pretty peeved when he regained consciousness. I didnt want to come back. I remember, and I was brought back and I was so pissed off, he said. Renner estimated to have been dead for a few minutes, noting: I was gone for, I think probably for, it doesnt matter if its five minutes or two minutes or 10, but I came back and I saw the eyeball again. In My Next Breath, Renner goes more into detail about the harrowing near-fatal accident that left him in critical condition with over 30 broken bones. His odds of survival at the time were incredibly low, but Renner continued to breathe for more than half an hour. He was soon airlifted to the ICU, where he was resuscitated. Multiple surgeries and months of painful rehabilitation followed. He has since regained mobility, but told People in May 2024 that hell never fully be 100 percent again. Recovery will be until Im out of this old hot mess of a body," he said. Still, Renner was able to get back to acting in due time. Last year, he returned to Mayor of Kingstown to film its third season, which premiered last June. Cortland, N.Y. A Cortland County landlord who was accused of pushing, punching and threatening a Syracuse lawyer pleaded guilty today to assault charges. Mark J. Skodzinsky, 47, was charged with third-degree assault after punching Syracuse lawyer Gina M. Glover in the hallway of the Cortland courthouse in March following an argument about a rent lawsuit, according to Cortland police. Skodzinsky pleaded guilty Thursday to the assault, according to public online court records. He was originally charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment, which he pleaded not guilty to. In March, Glover and Skodzinsky were both in Cortland City Court for rent cases filed in the fall by Ithacor Properties, one of Skodzinskys companies. Glover, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, represented one of the tenants and the court case was settled. As Glover was leaving the courtroom to call another client, she told police she noticed Skodzinsky staring at her while she was on the phone, according to her affidavit. She recognized him as the property manager from one of the cases on that morning. She said he was the only person in the courtroom benches during the hearing. When she hung up the phone, he approached her and asked a question. She did not hear him and asked him to repeat the question, to which he responded, you have a check for me, according to the affidavit. Glover asked Skodzinsky what he was talking about and they had a brief conversation about the case, she told police. She looked up the case on her phone and told him her boss had the paperwork on his desk to cut a check. She told police that Skodzinsky continued to argue with her. During the argument, she told him you are being ignorant, according to the affidavit. At that point, Skodzinsky stepped chest to chest with Glover, she told police. Skodzinsky punched her in the chest knocking her to the ground, according to the affidavit. He then continued to punch her in the chest and face, she said. Officers who were in a nearby room heard Glover scream for help, police said. They found Skodzinsky on top of Glover repeatedly punching her, police said. Staff writer Timia Cobb covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her attcobb@syracuse.com. Syracuse, N.Y. A 2-year-old girl who had to be given Narcan on Saturday inside Parkside Commons apartment complex had overdosed on fentanyl, a prosecutor said Thursday. The drugs may have come from a drug ring police busted Wednesday in the same complex, the prosecutor said. Around 12:46 p.m. Saturday, Syracuse police went to Parkside Commons at 1815 E. Fayette St. after a call for an unconscious 2-year-old girl, said Sgt. Thomas Blake, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department. The girl was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, he said. The drug the child was exposed to was packaged in a distinct glassine envelope with Bugatti stamped on it, Prosecutor Alphonse Williams said. The envelope was very similar to the packaging used by a drug ring operating out of Parkside Commons, Williams said at a news conference Thursday. Five people were arrested early Wednesday in connection with the drug ring. Their arrest was the result of a months-long investigation. When police executed a search warrant for two apartments inside the 2119 apartment tower, they found 914 doses of fentanyl packed in the Bugatti envelopes, according to a criminal complaint filed in Syracuse City Court. Investigators are working to confirm whether the childs overdose is directly connected to the drug ring, referred to by law enforcement as the 205 Crew. The group primarily operated out of two apartments in the 2119 apartment tower, 205 and 307. The 2-year-old was not inside one of those apartments when she overdosed, Williams said. The 2-year-old survived the drug overdose. Another child, a 6-year-old, was also exposed and taken to the hospital as a precaution. Even a small amount of fentanyl a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine can be deadly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We will not stand for a community where two and six-year-olds have to worry about whether or not they will overdose on fentanyl, Williams said at the news conference. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime, law and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her atahayes@syracuse.com. Even though most people know the story of the Bible, Jesus Christ Superstar humanizes it, said director Donald Rice, who makes his theatrical directorial debut with the show next week. His father, Tim Rice, wrote the lyrics. It opens at the REV Theatre in Auburn on Wednesday, and runs until June 17. The musical was originally written as a concept album, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom Tim Rice also collaborated to write Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita and Chess. Director Donald Rice (left) gives a note to Jesus, played by Ethan Hardy Benson (right) as Judas, played by Austin Turner (center) looks on. Provided photo Donald Rice didnt know Jesus Christ Superstar until he was about 13, and asked his father to send him a CD of the show while he was at boarding school. There were already tons of different recorded versions of the show already, but Tim Rice sent him the original. It kind of blew my mind, frankly, Rice said. I was amazed by it. I was amazed by how rock it was, and also how avant-garde. I didnt think at the time, Goodness, thats very avant-garde. I just remember thinking, Oh my god, these orchestrations, these sounds, these noises, are unbelievable. The musical tells the story of the final week of Jesus Christs life, and the events leading up to his crucifixion. It focuses on the conflicts between Jesus, his disciples, the leadership of Rome, and his relationships with both Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene. No one initially wanted to produce the show onstage, which led to the projects beginnings as a concept album. My dad and Andrew, at the time, were totally unknown, Rice said. It would have ceased to be a rock opera, without a doubt, if it had gone on the stage first. It was their great good fortune that no one wanted to put it on the stage, because then they basically just wrote a sensational album. Its likely what drew Donald Rice to produce it, as he was surrounded by pop and rock music during his childhood, not theatre. The Top 40 was much more important to us than what was going on at the West End, he said. Because it was initially produced as a piece of music, rather than a stage show, theres no template for the show, he said. Theres no dialogue, and there are very few moments where the lights come down and people clap. Some shows come with a kind of built-in sense of a shape, or a vision, he said. Its a shapeshifter of a musical. Even on the stage itself, it feels very fluid... Its very much a genuine rock opera in that sense. Phil Colgan (center) with the ensemble of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Provided photo This is the second musical Donald Rice has worked on at the REV. He collaborated with his father on From Here to Eternity, which the theater premiered and produced in 2016. Its a seriously well-run enterprise, and its certainly one of the best theaters Ive ever seen, he said. The Auburn area has another tie to Jesus Christ Superstar, said Josh Katzker, the REVs director of marketing. Thommie Walsh, an Auburn native, played the apostle Thaddeus in the 1973 film version. He also originated the role of Bobby in A Chorus Line. Of all the Jesus Christ Superstar productions Donald Rice has seen, the two best ones, in his opinion, were both at schools. The REVs production of the show has a very young, talented cast, which he said makes it special. It was written by two young men in a hurry, Rice said. They were in a rush. You feel that throughout the whole piece. It feels tremendously full of energy and urgency. There is nothing polite about it, or good-mannered about it. Its urgent, and its youthful, and its rebellious and its cool. Jesus was the rebel, Rice added. Its very easy to forget that. Theres never been a more radical challenge than Love your enemy, and that is why he remains the rebel. Where: Merry-Go-Round Playhouse at 6877 E. Lake Rd., Auburn When: Runs until June 17. KUNMING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Four green peafowl chicks were recently hatched naturally in a wild training base in southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking the first successful natural breeding of the captive-bred species in a simulated wild environment and major progress in the country's rewilding efforts for the rare birds. The young birds were discovered in mid-May via camera surveillance at the training base located at the Weishan Qinghua green peafowl provincial nature reserve in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali. The base was co-founded by the nature reserve, the Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Yunnan Forest Nature Center (YFNC), with a focus on wild training of captive-bred green peafowls. Currently, 11 birds are receiving wild training at the base. Thursday marks International Day for Biological Diversity. Yang Jiawei, an official at the reserve, said captive-bred green peafowls are trained in simulated wild conditions to master survival skills like foraging, predator avoidance and reproduction before they are released into the wild. "Naturally hatched chicks adapt better in the wild, increasing the release success rates," Yang said. He added that, in the next step, the base will assess the peafowls' survival skills and release those qualified into the wild with trackers for monitoring, providing technical support for China's conservation efforts. Lu Lin, who is in charge of wildlife rescue and breeding at the YFNC, said that in 2024, the center in the provincial capital Kunming successfully bred 48 chicks, with the hatching rate surging to 73.85 percent, up from 15 percent three years prior. As of Thursday, 12 chicks have hatched from 68 eggs laid this year, with more expected soon. The entire hatching process will be completed within two months. The green peafowl, China's only native peafowl species, is classified as "endangered" on the IUCN Red List, with a higher extinction risk than giant pandas. With the continuous ecological conservation efforts in China, endangered wild animal species, including the green peafowl, have seen a rise in their populations. In Yunnan, multiple nature reserves have been established in green peafowl habitats, with 48.1 million yuan (about 6.7 million U.S. dollars) spent on conservation projects like population monitoring and habitat improvement as of 2024, said Li Peng, an official in charge of wildlife protection from the provincial forestry and grassland bureau. Thanks to these efforts, the population of wild green peafowls has risen from less than 500 in 2016 to about 850 today. Debris covers the ground after a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, setting homes and cars on fire and forcing evacuations early Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/William Liang) AP A former rock drummer has been killed in a fiery plane crash days after accepting a new job offer. Daniel Williams, who was the original drummer for metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died when a private jet traveling from New Jersey hit a power line and crashed in San Diego, California, on Thursday morning. He was 39. Five others onboard the plane were also killed, including talent agent owner Dave Shapiro, whose company Sound Talent Group (STG) worked with artists like Sum 41, Story of the Year, Vanessa Carlton, Eve 6, Gwar, and Hanson. According to the Associated Press, foggy weather likely contributed to the air disaster, which ended in several explosions and flames. The plane crashed into a neighborhood of U.S. Navy-owned housing, but none of the residents suffered life-threatening injuries. Several parked vehicles and buildings were damaged. A spokesperson for STG confirmed that Shapiro, who also owned Velocity Records, was among the dead. We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy, the talent agency said in a statement. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. The Devil Wears Prada, a Christian metal band known for songs like Chemical, Salt and Dez Moines, paid tribute to Williams with several photos: No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. Williams, who was living in San Diego at the time, was the drummer for TDWP from its formation in 2005 to 2016. In one of his final social media posts, he said last week he had accepted a new job at Apple as a software engineer after spending the last 8 years working for GoPro. Drummer Daniel Williams of The Devil Wears Prada performs at the House Of Blues in Chicago, Illinois on February 14, 2010. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Getty Images Williams reportedly survived a mass shooting in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, in August 2019. The drummer was at the bar Ned Peppers when nine people were shot dead and at least 26 others were injured. Williams posted photos of himself boarding the Cessna 550 at Teterboro Airport on Wednesday night. He also showed himself at the controls of the small aircraft, saying he was the co-pilot now. His father, Larry Williams, told TMZ that his son was joking and did not have a pilots license. He said Thursday night that he was sure his son was on the plane but was still waiting official confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane stopped in Wichita, Kansas, overnight and intended Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, close to the crash site in Tierrasanta, to be its final destination. The FAA has not confirmed who was the pilot or the other passengers names. Shapiro, who previously worked at The Agency Group and United Talent Agency, also owned the company Velocity Aviation and worked as a flight instructor. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. Annie Mills of Saratoga Springs shows her local beer and potato chip inspired hat for the 25th Annual Hat Contest Sunday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs. Ed Burke | NYUp.Com Ed Burke | NYUp.Com Food is a big part of our identity here in Upstate New York. From wings to weck, we pride ourselves on being a land of delicious cuisine, some of which has become notable not only here in New York but around the country. Still, for every popular dish thats made it big as an Upstate Original, there are dozens of others whose ties to the region are lesser known. Here are 32 of our favorite foods with roots in Upstate New York (and where you can get them). Adirondack seltzer While we cant claim to be the birthplace of Coke, we can take credit for another popular carbonated beverage: Adirondack Seltzer. The brand is named for the protected glacial aquifer in the Adirondacks where it sources its main ingredient. The sparkling water bottled in the Mohawk Valley, and the company is headquartered in Scotia, N.Y. Where to get it: Grocery stores in New York and across the U.S. Beef on weck Schwabl's famous beef on kimmelweck sandwiches sits on the restaurant's bar in West Seneca. Joed Viera | Contributing photographer Joed Viera Beef on weck is the quintessential sandwich of Buffalo and rivals its famous wings in popularity among residents. The iconic Western New York creation once earned top billing at the original Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, which opened in Columbus, Ohio. The chains original name was Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck, or B3, and the salty, meaty sandwich was briefly featured on the menu. Though its no longer part of the chains name, or its offerings, beef on weck remains a beloved regional dish. Where to eat it: Schwabls, 789 Center Road, West Seneca Bilinski sausage Bilinski Sausage has been an Upstate brand since 1929, based in Cohoes, about 10 miles north of Albany. But in the last 20 years, it has transitioned from selling traditional franks to natural and organic sausages. After a shout out from the Food Network in 2009, the company exploded in popularity and can now be found in stores all over the country. Where to eat it: Your nearest grocery store Boston shake Dont let the name fool you. This combination of milkshake and hot fudge sundae comes from the Capital Region. Sometimes, the best things in life come in simple packages, and the Boston Shake is no exception. Its a milkshake topped with a scoop of ice cream and hot fudge. While we dont know why its named after the Massachusetts city, we do know that its a delicious treat during the warmer months. Where to eat it: The Snowman, 531 5th Ave., Troy Bar-Bill Tavern in East Aurora was voted the Judges' Choice of best wings in Buffalo. Allie Healy | syracuse.com archive Buffalo wings We cant talk about our favorite Upstate foods without mentioning Buffalo wings. While theres some debate on how the dish came to be, Anchor Bar in Buffalo is generally accepted as the birthplace of this classic game-time snack. If youre looking to grab a taste of whats probably Upstate New Yorks most famous dish, theres a whole trail of places to try. If you need help narrowing it down, though, we recommend the winner of NYup.coms Buffalos best wings contest. Where to eat it: Bar-Bill Tavern, 185 Main St., East Aurora Chicken riggies from Sal's Pizzeria in Baldwinsville. Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com Chicken riggies This staple can be found almost everywhere in Central New York, from the state fairgrounds to Italian restaurants. The classic combination of pasta, chicken and peppers was born in the Utica area, but there is no distinct origin story for the dish. Everyone has their own preferences for whats in it beyond the basics, but no matter how you prepare it, this Italian pasta course is an Upstate classic. Where to eat it: Teddys, 851 Black River Blvd., Rome Chobani donated 300,000 items to disaster victims and Afghan refugees, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Image courtesy: Chobani) Chobani and Fage Even though their names are rooted in Turkish and Greek, yogurt industry titans Chobani and Fage have close ties to Upstate New York. Chobani owes its humble beginnings to a factory in Edmeston. While rival brand Fage didnt sell to the United States until 2001, the company chose Johnstown as its American headquarters. Chobani recently announced expansion plans to build a new facility in Rome, N.Y. Where to eat it: Your local grocery store A rack of cooked chicken ready to serve at Baker's Chicken Coop, which until recently was a staple at the NYS Fair. David Lassman | syracuse.com archive Cornell chicken People can come out of college with a lot of things, like a degree, debt and maybe even some lifelong friends. Dr. Bob Baker, however, used his time at Cornell to research the best way to barbecue chicken. While we know the best way to cook chicken is a subjective statement, who are we to disagree with a PhD? We recommend trying this specialty in the spring, summer or fall at Bobs Barbecue in Homer. Where to eat it: Bobs Barbecue, 5290 Route 281, Homer An employee of the Croghan Meat Market checks temperature of bologna as it nears completion of the cooking process in a vat of boiling water. The bologna is smoked for about 2 hours before it is boiled. Gary Walts | NYUp.com Gary Walts | NYUp.com Croghan Balogna In 1888, Swiss immigrant Fred Hunziker, living in Northern New York, introduced his recipe for smoked beef to the country. Since then, Croghan Bologna has become a New York tradition. Its available in grocery stores all over the state, but if youre going to get it, you may as well go right to the source and buy it from their Croghan Meat Market website. Where to eat it: Croghan Meat Market, 9824 Route 812, Croghan A garbage plate ready to be served, including macaroni salad, home fries two cheese burgers, chopped onions, mustard and meat hot sauce at Nick Tahou Hots. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com SYR Garbage plate It may sound like a product of waste, but the garbage plate is actually the product of Rochester, New York. While the toppings vary from restaurant to restaurant, the general concept is the same: Plop a bunch of meat on a plate and serve it with hot macaroni salad, baked beans and fried potatoes. If you finish a garbage plate with room in your stomach, youve done something wrong. You can get garbage plates all across Rochester, but the original is still served at Nick Tahou Hots. Where to eat it: Nick Tahou Hots, 320 W Main St., Rochester A Concord grape pie from the Naples Valley Farmers Market at Hanggi's Tree Farm in the Finger Lakes. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Grape pie Grape Pie is a pastry found in the Finger Lakes wine region, primarily available during concord grape season and celebrated at the annual Naples Grape Festival. It has the sweetness of grape jelly mixed with the buttery crunch of flaky pie crust. While most shops offer it only two months out of the year, Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery serves it year-round at their Brews and Brats restaurant. You can even have grape pie shipped frozen, directly to you. Where to eat it: Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery, 6461 State Route 64, Naples Half moon cookies from Holland Farms in Yorkville. (File 2018) Jacob Pucci Half moon cookies While they look similar to New York Citys black-and-white cookies, half moon cookies are slightly different and hail from Utica. Black-and-white cookies have a dense, shortbread-like flat base, iced with hard fondant. Half-moon cookies have a fluffy cake, dome-shaped top and are covered in buttercream frosting. The cookies have been an Upstate staple for a century, and you can get them fresh at Hemstroughts Bakery. Where to eat it: Hemstroughts Bakeries, 900 Oswego St., Utica No. 3 Heluva Good French Onion Dip Even though its a dip you could make at home, with a name like Heluva Good! Dip, why would you bother? A mix of sour cream and onions, the condiment is a classic party snack, and (as the name says) its simply a hell-of-a good dip. Manufactured in Steuben County, its available in grocery stores across America. Where to eat it: Buy a tub almost anywhere groceries are sold. Jell-O was created in Le Roy, New York. Now, the Jell-O Gallery Museum features Jello-O memorabilia including this arch used at the Salt City Olympics, this photo from January 2016 shows. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com Jell-O Jell-O has a fascinating past. From its invention in LeRoy in 1897 to its nationwide popularity in the 1950s for some interesting homemade dishes (Im looking at you, shrimp Jell-O Salad), Jell-O is one of those foods thatll always be around. If your hunger for knowledge is equal to your hunger for Jell-O, you could learn about the New York treat at the Jell-O Museum. Yes, theres a museum for Jell-O. Where to eat it: Pretty much every grocery store in America. The museum, however, is located at 23 E. Main St. in Le Roy, 30 minutes southwest of Rochester. Loganberry soda, a Western New York specialty, is served at PJ's Bar-B-QSA in Saratoga Springs, June 2, 2024. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Loganberry drink/soda This cross between a raspberry and a blackberry beverage hails from Western New York and comes in a variety of styles. Whether its Aunt Rosies non-carbonated variety or PJs soda, the drink has grown in popularity in the Buffalo region and continues to be found in local grocery stores and vending machines. Where to eat it: Grocery stores, vending machines and restaurants in Western New York McCadam Cheese Upstate New York has a lot of dairy products, but theres only one McCadam cheese. The plant in Chateaugay, in Northern NY near the Canadian border, churns out the companys cheese day after day. While you can get the cheese in most local grocery stores, theres a cheese store right next to the plant that sells it straight to consumers. Where to eat it: Chateaugay Farm and Cheese Store, 36 McCadam Lane, Chateaugay Mozzarella sticks and melba sauce, a sweet and tangy raspberry dip, is an unconventional duo made popular in Upstate New York's Capital Region. Seen here at Harvey's Pub in Saratoga Springs. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Melba sauce Melba sauce isnt an Upstate New York creation, but we put a twist on how its served. The sauce originated in London in the 1980s and is usually accompanied by a piece of cheesecake. Here in New York, we replace the cheesecake with another dairy product thats more on the savory side: Mozzarella sticks. While it may sound a little odd that a former dessert condiment now serves as a marinara substitute, give the sauce a try before you knock it. Youll be surprised by how well it works. Where to eat it: Ralphs Tavern, 1328 Central Ave., Albany Clare and Carl's Hot Dog Stand, known simply as "Clare and Carl's" by locals, is located at 4729 State Route U.S. 9 in Plattsburgh. Grace Carlic | newyorkupstate.com SYR Michigans While the name doesnt hint at its upstate origins, we promise you that this hot dog is a Northern New York specialty. This combination of meat sauce, mustard, onions and hot dog hails from the Plattsburgh area and can be found at various local establishments. If you have a hankering for the original Michigan experience, then look no further than Clare and Carls Hot Dog Stand, where the dish was first served. Where to eat it: Clare and Carls Hot Dog Stand, 4727 Route 9, Plattsburgh Mini dogs The hot dog trend continues with another Upstate New York dish, except this time, its a little smaller. Mini dogs are just that: Small hot dogs that can be served any way you like. Hailing from the Capital Region, the beauty of this dish comes from its simplicity. Its a tiny hot dog. What more could you want? Where to eat it: Famous Lunch, 111 Congress St., Troy New Hope Mills mixes and packages about 4 million pounds of batters and mixes at its factory, store and cafe in Auburn, N.Y. Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com New Hope Mills Want a taste of New York at the breakfast table? New Hope Mills has you covered. The Auburn-based pancake mix can be found at grocery stores all around Upstate New York, but theyve expanded into a variety of other baked goods as well. If you want their pancakes but dont feel like cooking, you can have the flapjacks prepared for you fresh at the companys cafe in Auburn. Where to eat it: New Hope Mills Cafe & Store, 181 York St., Auburn Peppermint Pig photographed in Fayetteville, New York. Stanley Walker | Provided photo Stanley Walker | Provided photo Peppermint pigs Upstate New York isnt known for its swine, but peppermint pigs are the next best thing. The hard candy is similar to a candy cane and is often sold with a small mallet to break pieces off to enjoy. These pink porkers are usually enjoyed around Christmas, but we wont judge if you sneak a few outside the holiday season. You can grab them from confectioners around the Capital Region. Where to eat it: Saratoga Sweets Candy Company, 5 Washington St., Saratoga Springs Yep, and a little bit of vanilla bean ice cream on the side. Perfect. Peter Chakerian, Cleveland.com Pie a la mode While it may come as a surprise, there was a time when people ate pie without ice cream. The time-honored tradition didnt exist until 1896 at the Cambridge Hotel in Washington County, New York. Sadly, the hotel closed in 2012, so you cant visit the birthplace of this American classic, but the simplicity of the dish means that it can be made almost anywhere. Where to eat it: Anywhere! Grab your favorite pie and a scoop of ice cream and go to town. Saratoga Chips are storied to be Americas first introduction to the potato chip. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Potato chips Potato chips can be found at nearly every store around the world, and its not hard to see why. Theyre light, salty and, most importantly, were invented in Saratoga Springs. If youre hankering for some chips, why not try some of the original Saratoga Chips from your local Upstate grocery store? Where to eat it: Tops, Price Chopper and other grocery stores An order of salt potatoes and a hot dog at Paul Waleski's mobile hot dog cart, The Dog Cabin, in downtown Syracuse. Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com Salt potatoes Salt. Potatoes. Water. Put these three ingredients together, serve with a flood of melted butter, and youll have a Syracuse specialty thats incredibly easy to make. Popularized by the regions Irish immigrants, salt potatoes have been a staple of the salt city since the 19th century. Theres even a marker at the Onondaga County Salt Museum commemorating the dish. Where to eat it: Supermarkets around Central New York Stretch bread and spicy hot tomato oil from Syracuse restaurant Pastabilities are pictured in a file photo. Pasta's famous sauce is also sold in stores like Walmart and Wegmans. Spicy Hot Tomato Oil Spicy Hot Tomato Oil is Central New Yorks signature way to add a little kick to your bread appetizer. The stuff, originated by Pastabilities in Syracuse, is frankly addictive. You can get it in a jar at Wegmans, Price Chopper and other area grocery stores, but if you want it fresh, you can order some with your meal at the restaurant. Where to eat it: Pastabilities, 311 S. Franklin St., Syracuse A pork spiedie served on a slice of Italian bread. Spiedies Spiedies are a staple at fairs around Central New York and in the Southern Tier. Its not hard to see why. The sandwich form makes it the best food to eat while walking (or any time, for that matter). You can get them at any fair, but Binghamton is the place the dish calls home. Where to eat it: Lupos Char Pit, 2710 E. Main St., Endicott Sponge candy from Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of Visit Buffalo Niagara Courtesy of Visit Buffalo Niagara Sponge candy Whats there to hate about chocolate and honeycomb toffee? Well, maybe the cavities, but some would say its worth it to taste this Buffalo-born candy. Sponge candy is the perfect sweet to top off any meal, but if you want to remain on theme, pair it with another dish from the same region, like Buffalo wings or beef on weck. Where to eat it: Watsons Chocolates, 738 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo Thousand Island Dressing Thousand Island Dressing is one of those foods whose name alone gives away where it was invented. It can be found in any grocery store, but you can make it at home with some mayonnaise, if you feel fancy. We wont judge. Where to eat it: River Rat Cheese Store, 242 James St., Clayton A tomato pie from Avicolli's, the 42nd stop on our CNY Pizza Tour. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Tomato pie Despite the shared Upstate origin, this isnt the kind of pie we recommend eating a la mode (let us know if you give it a try, though). Tomato pie is a Utica delicacy thats not a pizza. This savory dish has a thicker, bread-like Sicilian crust with sauce on top...and very little cheese, if any. And while pizza tastes best piping hot, tomato pie is also often served cold or at room temperature. Where to eat it: Napolis Italian Bakery, 412 Culver Ave., Utica Original Candyland Turkey Joints from Rome, N.Y. C.W. MCKeen | Provided photo C.W. MCKeen | Provided photo Turkey joints Despite what the name suggests, a turkey joint contains no white or dark meat. Instead, it contains chocolate and nuts covered in a silver sugary coating. The holiday confection originated in Rome, New York, but it can be found in sweet shops across the state. Where to eat it: Noras Candy Shop, 321 N. Doxtator St., Rome Utica greens at Avicolli's Coal Fire in Fayetteville, N.Y. Jared Paventi | jaredpaventi@gmail.com Jared Paventi | jaredpaventi@gma Utica greens Eating your vegetables can be a chore, but finishing a plate of Utica greens is rarely a challenge. Cured meat, cheese and hot peppers spice up this side with some intense flavor. While youll see it all over Central New York, the dish hails from its namesake city and remains a staple in the region. Where to eat it: Georgios, 62 Genesee St., New Hartford White hots made by Zweigles in Rochester in Upstate NY. Jacob Pucci | NYUp.com Jacob Pucci | NYUp.com White hots This Rochester creation takes its namesake from its color. White hots are a good way to kick off any backyard cookout. Even if they look more pale than their traditional counterparts, they grill up just as well. Where to eat it: Grab a pack of Zweigles at a grocery store near you. Syracuse Police Department release surveillance video of officer involved fatal Father's Day shooting on the Near West Side. Video provided by Syracuse Police Department Courtesy Syracuse Police Department Syracuse, N.Y. A federal jury in a lawsuit over a 2016 fatal shooting by a police officer came back Friday with a mixed verdict that appears to be a victory for the city. The jury ruled that the Syracuse officer used excessive force, but awarded the family of the man killed only $10,000. The city at one point was willing to settle for more than $800,000. A few weeks ago, Wally Gaworecki Jr. was in Washington D.C., visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the first time. Gaworecki, a Vietnam War veteran himself, approached the monument known as The Wall. He said he felt a weight, heavier and heavier overwhelm him. Then he found the three names inscribed on the monument. Syracuse, N.Y. A dramatic two weeks of testimony about whether a Syracuse police officer used excessive force nine years ago when she fatally shot a man at a chaotic Fathers Day barbecue concluded Thursday. The civil trial is putting the actions of officer Kelsey Francemone under a microscope. She is being sued by Tanajee Maddox, the daughter of Gary Porter, the man the officer fatally shot during a gunfight that broke out at the barbecue on June 19, 2016. On May 13, after the second full weekend of spring turkey season, a turkey hunter was shot in the face in Stewart State Forest, in Orange County. The victim was hit with birdshot from a shotgun, but still managed to call 911 to report hed been shot by an unknown person. He was transported by Medivac to Westchester Medical Center where he is currently listed in stable condition. Meanwhile, a manhunt was underway to find his assailant. Personnel from multiple law enforcement agencies, including eight Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, resulted in the quick capture of a suspect. The shooter is currently in custody. Its not clear whether they have been charged with a crime. NY state police investigators based in Middletown are leading the investigation. Located in the heart of the Hudson Valley, the 6,700-acre Stewart State Forest is a popular hunting destination. The following reports are excerpted from DEC: On May 15, a 20-year-old New York University student was reported missing. Later that day search crews located his body below a cliff on Shawangunk Ridge. Rangers pulled his body up the 90-ft. cliff using a high angle rope system. NYS DEC On May 12, a 20-year-old New York University student left his residence upset, according to his roommate. The next day he posted a picture of himself hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge. The student was reported missing on May 15. At 2:45 p.m., crews located his body below the cliff line of Gertrudes Nose trail. Rangers pulled his body up the 90-ft. cliff using a high angle rope system, then carried the body one mile out of the woods to the Ulster County Medical Examiner. A 79-year-old with dementia from the town of Berlin left his home around 2:30 a.m. on May 14. Rangers joined 30 searchers the next morning to find the man, conducting linear searches along roadways, trails, and drainages. At 3:15 p.m., Rensselaer County Sheriffs Deputies found the man walking inside the search area. Rangers on May 17 ticketed 13 individuals in Sand Flats State Forest for underange drinking and littering. The group was planning to burn tires and pallets, which they had to clean up. NYS DEC Rangers patrolling Sand Flats State Forest on the night of May 17 came upong an underage drinking party of 30 individuals. Rangers issued 13 violations for possession of alcohol by someone under the age of 21 and depositing rubbish on State land. The group was planning to burn tires and pallets, which they had to clean up. On May 17, during DECs Trek for Trout event, a 50-year-old participant from Barneveld failed to return by 3 p.m. as planned. Rangers found his vehicle at the trailhead, and searched northeast of Bochen Lake where they established voice contact with the missing man. He was dehydrated and hungry but uninjured. DEC last week conducted a prescribed burn on 33 acres of the Albany Pine Bush in Albany County. NYS DEC Prescribed fire is an important land management tool used to improve habitat for lands and wildlife. DEC conducted the following burns last week: 12-acres in Suffolk County on Otis Pike Pine Barrens State Forest in Riverhead. 33 acres of the Albany Pine Bush in Albany County. 0.6-acre in St. Lawrence County at SUNY ESFs Ranger School in Wanakena. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.com and 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. An Upstate New York man has been arrested after allegedly posing as a doctor and distributing prescription drugs. Kevin Whitman, 27, of Irondequoit, N.Y., was charged Thursday by criminal complaint with distributing and dispensing a controlled substance, using a registration number issued to another person to obtain controlled substances, and obtaining controlled substances by fraud. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Western District of New York said Whitman falsely claimed to be a medical doctor and, fraudulently used a DEA Registration Number belonging to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. He allegedly used that DEA number to issue 177 prescriptions to nine individuals for Schedule II controlled substances between August 2023 and April 2025; 173 of the prescriptions were for oxycodone, a potent opioid. Whitman is not a licensed physician and does not work at Strong Memorial Hospital, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean C. Eldridge said. A search of Whitmans home also found a fake diploma claiming he graduated from the University of Rochester Medical School; Whitman does not have a medical degree, according to Eldridge. Whitman appeared in court Thursday morning and was released on conditions. The charges come after an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department Health of Human Services, and the New York State Attorney Generals Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The University of Rochester Department of Public Safety, New York State Police, and the Brighton Police Department also assisted. NASCAR arrives at the Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend, for the four action-packed races culminating in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25. Its the first of two trips to the Charlotte race course during the 2025 NASCAR Season. There will be televised practices and qualifying races throughout the weekend leading up to the Coca-Cola 600, but the main event itself is a streaming exclusive this time. Charlottes Spring Race weekend includes racing events for the ARCA Menards Series (General Tire 150), the NASCAR Truck Series (North Carolina Education Lottery 200) and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (BetMGM 300) along with the NASCAR Cup Series. NASCARs 2025 Charlotte Spring Race Televised Schedule Friday, May 23 Truck Series Practice, 3:35 p.m. on FS2 | STREAM Truck Series Qualifying, 4:40 p.m. on FS2 | STREAM ARCA Menards General Tire 150, 6 p.m. on FS1 | STREAM NASCAR Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250, 8:30 p.m. on FS1 | STREAM Saturday, May 24 Xfinity Series Practice, 11:05 p.m. on The CW | STREAM Xfinity Series Qualifying, 12:10 p.m. on The CW | STREAM Cup Series Practice, 1:30 p.m. on Prime Video Cup Series Qualifying, 2:40 p.m. on Prime Video NASCAR Xfinity Series Bet MGM 300, 4:30 p.m. on The CW | STREAM Sunday, May 25 NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, 6 p.m. on Prime Video Where to watch the Coca-Cola 600, all Spring Race events For the first time this season, the NASCAR Cup Series airs exclusively on Amazon Prime Video for the Coca-Cola 600, and all related practice and qualifying events. This makes for some amount of frustration for NASCAR fans, who will need a minimum of a live TV streaming service, like DirecTV (free trial) and a Prime Video (free trial) subscription in order to watch the complete weekend schedule. Fans can also catch FS1 and FS2-televised events with Sling and fuboTV. What to know about the Charlotte Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in Concord, North Carolina, is a cornerstone of NASCAR racing. Established in 1959 by Bruton Smith, the 1.5-mile quad-oval track hosts both the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America Roval 400 each year. The facility has evolved over the years, adding features like a massive HD video screen and a road course known as the Ten Tenths Motor Club, which opened in October 2024. In recent NASCAR Cup Series events at Charlotte, Christopher Bell secured victory in the rain-shortened 2024 Coca-Cola 600, leading 90 laps for Joe Gibbs Racing. Brad Keselowski and William Byron finished second and third, respectively. Looking ahead to the 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600, the race promises to be a test of endurance and strategy. Kyle Larson is attempting the rare Double, aiming to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Teams will need to carefully manage tire wear and fuel strategy, as the abrasive nature of the Charlotte track can lead to increased pit stops and impact race outcomes. With a strong lineup of drivers and the challenges of a 600-mile race, the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 is set to be a thrilling event for NASCAR fans. Can I bet on the Coca-Cola 600? Yes, you can bet on NASCAR from your phone in New York State, and weve compiled some of the best introductory offers to help navigate your first bets from BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365 and more. Kyle Larson is once again favorite to win the race at +550 on DraftKings, despite his busy weekend schedule. Chris Bell is at +700 thanks to his status as defending champion, and last weeks win at the All-Star Race. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 12,236 Thanked: 19,764 Times View My Garage Re: 1964 Lambretta LI 150 - A true barnfind! Registered in July 1964, this scooter was originally owned by 'The General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist', registered in Byculla. I assume it moved soon to the Poona campus in Salisbury Park. 8 years later in 1972 it was purchased from this Poona campus by a family friend who has owned it ever since - that's an impressive 52 years! The gent maintained it himself with much love and care, and left India for Australia as early as 1983. He returned for a short while in 1986 when he used it again, and at the time he fondly recalls taking me for a ride on it when I was all of 18 months old! After that the bike was placed in careful storage indoors for decades. Only within the last few years was it relocated and parked in an open compound, though carefully tied up with multiple covers for protection. However that's where most of the weathering and paint damage would have taken place, how I wish it hadn't gone through that. The scooter presents many unique features - the primary being the single colour throughout. In some old movies and photos I have noticed these single colour scooters, but never actually seen one in original paint. Its a light grey / cream shade, that has suffered from plenty of wear over the years. While it has cracked and flaked in many places, major rust has still not set in surprisingly. We rolled the bike out of the compound for the first time in years, surprisingly the wheels were totally free and wheeling the bike out was effortless. The tyres were full, but of water! The scoot was parked in a charming old neighbourhood of Poona camp, the scooter blended right in. Note the heavy duty rexine bag 'glovebox' strapped on. A lovely period accessory that was once so common, now not to be seen. The original Italian headlight and ring is intact, with INNOCENTI lettering. The original Lambretta shield badge and script too are intact, and rarely seen these days in original form - Delhi made replicas are of course dime a dozen, and available in various qualities. Don't miss the light grey leg shield and nose rubber beadings - unbelievable that the originals are still on the bike, I have never seen originals before. Great reference, though some of the pieces are brittle beyond use. An original Innocenti branded speedometer - this one is a real rarity since most bikes today have a Delhi made replica with a face in MPH and Veglia branding (the original is in kms and some other branding which I cannot read). The original kill switch is intact, as is the ignition switch with hinged cover. The original keys still operate perfectly. The handle bar mounted switchgear looks to be of poor local quality given the peeling chrome - perhaps this item was changed? Or already localised by 63 - any thoughts from the experts? The grips too seem to have been changed, I feel the originals were ivory plastic ribbed items, over to the experts to confirm. The original lock on the tool box, and again functioning with the original key. A cool period accessory is this frame breather grille/vent, though dummy as there is no provision for ventilation. Were this ever factory fitted dummies or always an accessory? Original taillight housing too is body coloured. Note the absolutely gorgeous period accessory number plate with vinyl highlights - silly items like this excite me the most Accessory theft lock on the spare wheel - again working with key. Because of this the disc that fits over the spare is removed, and luckily was safely preserved. On lifting the rubber matting, the original flooring was found to be surprisingly intact and rust free, and with the original ivory floor beadings. In good shape too! Petrol flap is lockable (which I'm not sure, but may be an extra option). The tank was absolutely perfect and rust free on inspection. The set of 4 keys, well worn but working perfectly in each of the 4 locks. Indeed a treasure! The spare wheel disc was carefully preserved along with some spares and the original tool roll and jack. The owner really took care of this bike over so many decades. The original documents too are in perfect condition, including the plastic folder dated 1972, the year he bought the bike! A testimony to the stereotypical Parsee owned bike. The purpose of this particular thread aims to highlight the various rare original features of this scooter for reference. There are near to none surviving in this state of preservation. A barnfind or a preservation class vehicle is a term quite abused these days, but I'd like to think this one does qualify, even if a humble little scooter - an all original Lambretta Series 2 from the 60s in the same ownership for over 50 years.Registered in July 1964, this scooter was originally owned by 'The General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist', registered in Byculla. I assume it moved soon to the Poona campus in Salisbury Park. 8 years later in 1972 it was purchased from this Poona campus by a family friend who has owned it ever since - that's an impressive 52 years! The gent maintained it himself with much love and care, and left India for Australia as early as 1983. He returned for a short while in 1986 when he used it again, and at the time he fondly recalls taking me for a ride on it when I was all of 18 months old! After that the bike was placed in careful storage indoors for decades. Only within the last few years was it relocated and parked in an open compound, though carefully tied up with multiple covers for protection. However that's where most of the weathering and paint damage would have taken place, how I wish it hadn't gone through that.The scooter presents many unique features - the primary being the single colour throughout. In some old movies and photos I have noticed these single colour scooters, but never actually seen one in original paint. Its a light grey / cream shade, that has suffered from plenty of wear over the years. While it has cracked and flaked in many places, major rust has still not set in surprisingly.We rolled the bike out of the compound for the first time in years, surprisingly the wheels were totally free and wheeling the bike out was effortless. The tyres were full, but of water! The scoot was parked in a charming old neighbourhood of Poona camp, the scooter blended right in. Note the heavy duty rexine bag 'glovebox' strapped on. A lovely period accessory that was once so common, now not to be seen.The original Italian headlight and ring is intact, with INNOCENTI lettering.The original Lambretta shield badge and script too are intact, and rarely seen these days in original form - Delhi made replicas are of course dime a dozen, and available in various qualities. Don't miss the light grey leg shield and nose rubber beadings - unbelievable that the originals are still on the bike, I have never seen originals before. Great reference, though some of the pieces are brittle beyond use.An original Innocenti branded speedometer - this one is a real rarity since most bikes today have a Delhi made replica with a face in MPH and Veglia branding (the original is in kms and some other branding which I cannot read).The original kill switch is intact, as is the ignition switch with hinged cover. The original keys still operate perfectly.The handle bar mounted switchgear looks to be of poor local quality given the peeling chrome - perhaps this item was changed? Or already localised by 63 - any thoughts from the experts? The grips too seem to have been changed, I feel the originals were ivory plastic ribbed items, over to the experts to confirm.The original lock on the tool box, and again functioning with the original key.A cool period accessory is thisgrille/vent, though dummy as there is no provision for ventilation. Were this ever factory fitted dummies or always an accessory?Original taillight housing too is body coloured. Note the absolutely gorgeous period accessory number plate with vinyl highlights - silly items like this excite me the mostAccessory theft lock on the spare wheel - again working with key. Because of this the disc that fits over the spare is removed, and luckily was safely preserved.On lifting the rubber matting, the original flooring was found to be surprisingly intact and rust free, and with the original ivory floor beadings. In good shape too!Petrol flap is lockable (which I'm not sure, but may be an extra option). The tank was absolutely perfect and rust free on inspection.The set of 4 keys, well worn but working perfectly in each of the 4 locks. Indeed a treasure!The spare wheel disc was carefully preserved along with some spares and the original tool roll and jack. The owner really took care of this bike over so many decades.The original documents too are in perfect condition, including the plastic folder dated 1972, the year he bought the bike! A testimony to the stereotypical Parsee owned bike. Last edited by karlosdeville : 29th October 2024 at 19:34 . Forward-looking: Antimatter consists of particles with properties opposite to those of regular particles. It plays a central role in modern physics research and forms naturally through cosmic collisions or radioactive decay. However, studying it is difficult, as contact with normal matter results in instant annihilation. The European Organization for Nuclear Research, better known as CERN, is one of the few places on Earth capable of routinely producing antimatter from high-energy collisions with particle accelerators. Researchers there have now developed a novel method to transport small quantities of antimatter to external laboratories. This world-first achievement could enable more precise studies of the elusive antiparticles described in the Standard Model of particle physics. CERN researchers developed a two-meter containment device capable of temporarily trapping antimatter particles. They even trucked the device around the facility for four kilometers before returning it to the lab, where they confirmed the antiparticles were still intact. The brief trip required no external power source, proving that antiparticles can theoretically travel far beyond a few kilometers. It also demonstrated that antimatter can be safely transported to distant laboratories using nothing more than a standard vehicle and Europe's public road network. CERN facilities lie near Geneva, on the France Switzerland border. Judging by the truck's route carrying the experimental containment device, the researchers likely crossed the border from France into Switzerland and back. Physicists have explained the practical application of antimatter transport in a recent study, which revealed limits to precision measurements using low-energy protons produced exclusively at CERN's Antimatter Factory. Magnetic field fluctuations from the facility's decelerators interfere with experiments, while dedicated off-site laboratories could enable more accurate results. Now that CERN has proven it can safely transport antiparticles beyond its grounds, it is preparing the next phase of its antimatter project. A new, state-of-the-art facility at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf in Germany will soon receive the first batch of antimatter cargo. The particles will travel nearly 800 kilometers to reach their destination. Editor's take: Broadcom aims to convert every valuable customer into a recurring online subscriber. The company has achieved notable financial success with this approach. However, regulators may soon scrutinize its business practices, raising the possibility of costly antitrust fines that could impact its future growth. The European Cloud Competition Observatory (ECCO) is a monitoring group founded by CISPE, a non-profit trade association of European cloud providers. Created as part of CISPE's antitrust settlement with Microsoft, ECCO now has its sights set on Broadcom and its conduct following the acquisition of VMware and its entry into the cloud and virtualization market. The observatory recently published a new report following an earlier study of Broadcom's abrupt licensing changes. The findings confirmed the ECCO's previous claims: Broadcom continues to impose harsh, unfair contract terms on European infrastructure providers. Many CISPE members reluctantly accepted the terms, forced by the lack of viable alternatives to VMware. The situation has worsened as Broadcom increasingly uses litigation to pressure its partners and customers into signing new agreements. Recently leaked memos reveal the company is sending cease-and-desist letters to VMware perpetual license holders. These letters reportedly demand payment for continued support or face legal consequences. Update (May 28): Broadcom reached out to provide a response to this story and shared the following statement: "As a strategic partner with over 140 European Cloud Service Providers, of which more than 40 provide sovereign cloud services, Broadcom is working to advance the European Union's sovereign cloud objectives and enable enterprises of all kinds to accelerate innovation, provide more choice, and address their most complex technology challenges. We welcome the opportunity to have a constructive dialogue with CISPE on how our products can help their European members be more competitive and innovative." Representatives from CISPE held one meeting with Broadcom, but ECCO reports it yielded no progress. The organization highlights a recent formal complaint submitted by VOICE, a German IT association, to the European Commission. VOICE called for an antitrust investigation and more decisive action against Broadcom's harmful practices, with ECCO lending its support. The European watchdog group claims Broadcom has done nothing to address complaints from European cloud providers. "Unlike Microsoft, Broadcom shows no interest in finding solutions or collaborating with European cloud infrastructure providers," CISPE secretary Francisco Mingorance said. The company can boast about its new contracts and financial results all it wants, but these punitive conditions will ultimately threaten the viability of the locked-in VMware ecosystem. The ECCO welcomed Brussels authorities' formal antitrust investigation and urged Broadcom to take immediate corrective steps. These include restoring fair business practices, introducing transparent pricing, reopening access to partner programs, and protecting customer privacy. While Broadcom is unlikely to comply, a spokesperson said the company seeks a constructive dialogue with CISPE to support European competitiveness. As healthcare systems increasingly rely on data-driven insights, ensuring ethical and regulatory compliance has become crucial. This article explores how privacy, transparency, and fairness are being embedded into healthcare analytics, drawing on recent work by researcher Venkat Mounish Gundla in the evolving compliance landscape. His insights offer a timely guide for responsible innovation in healthcare data science. The New Frontier of Predictive Healthcare The exponential growth of predictive analytics in healthcare marks a pivotal shift in patient care. Projected to grow from $12.5 billion in 2023 to over $72 billion by 2032, the field promises smarter diagnostics, personalized treatments, and data-driven efficiency. Yet, this promise is bound by a paradox: the same data needed for breakthroughs is protected under some of the world's strictest privacy laws. As systems lean into AI and analytics, the challenge is clear: innovation must operate within a lattice of regulatory frameworks that evolve as quickly as the technology itself. Charting the Regulatory Maze Two influential privacy regulations, HIPAA and GDPR, form the backbone of healthcare data compliance. In the U.S., HIPAA's 2024 cybersecurity rules demand AI-specific risk assessments and broaden breach notification requirements. Annual penalties now reach $1.8 million, reinforcing the cost of non-compliance. Across the Atlantic, GDPR frames healthcare as high-risk. Improper data handling and weak security have led to over 173 million in fines. As laws layer atop international frameworks, harmonization becomes a hurdle, especially for cross-border data flows. Privacy by Architecture: The Building Blocks At the core of compliant systems lie key technical components: Data Classification : Locating sensitive information supports proportional security. : Locating sensitive information supports proportional security. De-identification : Removing identifiers lowers breach impact. : Removing identifiers lowers breach impact. Secure Storage and Access Controls : Encryption and audit logs detect incidents faster. : Encryption and audit logs detect incidents faster. Consent Management: Consent-tracking systems uphold user autonomy. A "compliance-by-design" mindset embedding these elements from the outset proves more efficient than retroactive fixes. Innovation Within Guardrails Compliance is more than following rules; it means designing systems that respect ethics. Techniques like synthetic data, differential privacy, and federated learning maintain utility while protecting identities. New AI regulations, like the EU AI Act, require fairness assessments and transparency. Organizations that build fairness into their workflows cut bias-related issues by over 50%. Overcoming Old Tech and New Borders Legacy systems threaten security. Many still run outdated platforms lacking support for modern safeguards. Gateway encapsulation helps, but long-term solutions require risk-guided upgrades. Cross-border operations juggle multiple privacy frameworks. Unified architectures have reduced documentation and audit prep time by over 70%. These approaches ensure consistency while reducing compliance overhead across jurisdictions. Ethical Data Use Beyond the First Purpose Secondary data use demands ethical governance. Tools like purpose assessments and tiered consent enable broader yet responsible reuse. Structured governance leads to fewer complaints and better research outcomes. Explainability also drives adoption. Algorithms with transparent outputs enjoy greater clinician trust and higher approval rates. Patients are more likely to accept AI-assisted decisions when they understand how they're made. Empowering Patients Through Transparent Systems Data-driven healthcare and transparency are emerging as a cornerstone of trust. Patients are increasingly aware of how their data is used and demand clarity around automated decision-making. Systems that offer tiered explanations of AI outcomes tailored for clinicians, administrators, and patients demonstrate higher acceptance and satisfaction rates. Such systems also see improved clinical integration, as explainable models are more readily endorsed by practitioners. Furthermore, clear documentation of data provenance and model limitations is now a regulatory expectation, reinforcing the need for communication strategies that bridge the gap between complex algorithms and real-world impact. Creating Ethical Foundations for Future Innovation As analytics and AI capabilities continue to evolve, ethics must remain at the forefront. This includes ensuring equitable outcomes across demographic groups, establishing fair secondary use policies, and embedding oversight throughout the system lifecycle. Ethical governance structures such as AI ethics committees, formal review processes, and inclusive stakeholder engagement enable organizations to innovate responsibly. Rather than stifle progress, these frameworks guide development toward socially beneficial outcomes, balancing technological potential with human dignity and rights. In conclusion, as healthcare analytics evolves, Venkat Mounish Gundla's insights provide a roadmap for integrating compliance into innovation. The message is clear: protecting privacy is not just a legal obligation, it is a foundational principle for advancing healthcare in a trustworthy, effective, and ethical manner. France's TotalEnergies to face court in June in 'greenwashing' case Paris, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 TotalEnergies will face a Paris civil court in June over allegations it made false advertisements about its climate pledges -- an unprecedented case in France against a major fossil fuel company, activists said Friday. The case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing the French energy giant of "misleading commercial practices" for saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production. The company "should not be allowed to promote these claims to consumers, which are contrary to reality", said Greenpeace France, Friends of the Earth France and Notre Affaire a Tous on Friday. "Its strategy to expand fossil fuel production is clearly at odds with the science-based imperative to rapidly and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce fossil fuel use," the groups added. The environmental organisations demanded that the court order "the immediate cessation... of misleading commercial practices", said Greenpeace legal director Apolline Cagnat, a ruling that could have major implications for companies' climate pledges. TotalEnergies pushed back against the allegations, saying "its role in the energy transition is reliable and based on objective, verifiable data". Without clear standards, companies have promoted their environmental policies using vague terms like "green" or "sustainable" in a practice activists call "greenwashing". Environmental groups in recent years have turned to the courts to establish case law on companies misleading consumers by appearing more eco-friendly than they are. In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Germany's Lufthansa in March over misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of "carbon neutrality by 2050" and touted gas as "the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions". The company, which was holding its annual shareholder meeting in Paris on Friday, said oil and gas are needed to meet global energy demand but insists it is "becoming the most committed major company to the energy transition". Paris police pushed back environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion Friday morning after they tried to enter the headquarters of BNP Paribas, accusing the bank of funding fossil fuels through its ties with TotalEnergies. The proceedings against the world's fourth-largest oil and gas company are unprecedented in France, according to Greenpeace. The court will rule "on whether advertising gas as essential to the energy transition is legal, despite concern over its climate impact", said the group. A greenwashing case against Australian oil and gas producer Santos, challenging its claim to be a "clean fuels" company, has been ongoing since 2021. nal-ekf/sjw/lth Air France-KLM Lufthansa TotalEnergies US power company to pay $82.5m for California wildfire Los Angeles, United States, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 One of California's largest utilities is to pay the US Forest Service $82.5 million for a wildfire that burned tens of thousands of acres (hectares) of woodland, the government said Friday. The 2020 Bobcat Fire destroyed dozens of buildings as it tore through the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. The US government said Southern California Edison had not properly controlled vegetation near its power lines and the blaze erupted when trees touched a live wire. A 2023 lawsuit claimed damages from the company for the cost of fighting the fire on Forest Service land as well as for remediation of damage caused to campgrounds, trails and wildlife habitats. "This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands," said US Attorney Bill Essayli. "My office will continue to aggressively pursue recovery for suppression costs and environmental damages from any entity that causes harm to the public's forests and other precious national resources." Southern California Edison is no stranger to paying out large sums of money for wildfires where its equipment was suspected to have been at fault. The company handed over more that $2.7 billion in settlements over the 2017 Thomas Fire that tore through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, killing two people and destroying hundreds of buildings. It paid $2.2 billion for the 2018 Woolsey Fire that burned through Los Angeles and Ventura counties, killing three people and damaging more than 1,600 buildings. Investigators probing the deadly Eaton Fire, one of two blazes that ripped througth Los Angeles at the start of this year, are homing on in SCE transmission lines as a possible source of ignition. Trump signs orders to boost US nuclear energy Washington, May 23 (AFP) May 23, 2025 President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders Friday to boost nuclear energy in the United States, including by rolling back regulatory processes on a still divisive technology. "We're signing tremendous executive orders today that really will make us the real power in this industry," Trump told reporters as he penned the four orders in the Oval Office. Trump's orders aim to speed up the building of new reactors and to boost domestic mining and enriching of uranium, with the United States relying on imports for most of the crucial fuel. The US president said the focus would be on building smaller reactors, such as those required by tech and artificial intelligence companies that have huge energy needs. The orders will also overhaul the US nuclear watchdog so that it pushes through decisions on building new reactors within 18 months, amid reports that the White House found the regulator too risk averse. Trump denied that speeding up the regulation process could compromise nuclear safety. "We're going to get it very fast and very safe," Trump said. "It's time for nuclear and we're going to do it very big." The move comes with growing interest in nuclear energy in the United States, despite being expensive to build and still politically sensitive in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. "President Trump is taking truly historic action to usher in the American nuclear renaissance," Michael Kratsios, Director for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told reporters earlier. - 'Energy emergency' - A senior White House official said the administration hopes to "test and deploy" new reactors before the end of Trump's second term in January 2029. Trump's order "fundamentally rehauls" the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which grants permission for new reactors, by "lowering regulatory burdens and shortening the licensing timeline." Republican Trump declared an "energy emergency" on his first day back in office to expand drilling for oil and gas and to roll back Democratic predecessor Joe Biden's climate policies, But he is now also looking at nuclear to meet growing demand. Much of the demand is fueled by US tech giants, with some including Amazon, Microsoft and Google having recently signed deals for nuclear power as they seek carbon-free electricity sources. Two US energy companies are also preparing to bring nuclear stations back online, including Three Mile Island -- the site in 1979 of the worst commercial nuclear power accident in US history. Trump's drive to boost mining and enrichment also reflects the fact that the United States imports most of the uranium that is needed to fuel nuclear power stations. The US imported most from Canada, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan in 2023 but in 2024 it banned uranium imports from Russia over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Nuclear power has been undergoing a resurgence in recent years as countries look for carbon-free energy and confront rising prices, fueled by the war in Ukraine. It suffered a major downturn after Fukushima when a huge tsunami caused a meltdown at a Japanese power station, with Germany in particular turning its back on nuclear. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Aaron Taylor-Johnson has seemingly hinted that he could be the worlds next James Bond after signing a deal with the films watch provider, Omega. This week, he became one of Omegas global ambassadors and celebrated the deal at the companys HQ in Biel, Switzerland where he enjoyed a tour of their watchmaking facilities and museum. The brand has been on the wrists of 007 actors for 30 years, first donned by Pierce Brosnan in the 1995 film GoldenEye and most recently worn by Craig in No Time to Die. After signing the deal, the 34-year-old actor said: 'I have always had an appreciation for timepieces but especially for Omega. Now, after visiting the factory, I am in awe of the skill required to manufacture such a luxurious product. Omega's CEO, Raynald Aeschlimann, described Aaron as a versatile actor with a range that covers action, thriller, romance and much more. The last James Bond film was No Time To Die in 2021 starring Daniel Craig. Bonds future has been hanging in the balance following Amazons acquisition of MGM Studios in 2022. The acquisition initially gave Amazon distribution rights but not creative control. However, it was announced earlier this year that Amazon Prime had spent a reported $1 billion to gain full creative control from producer Barbara Broccoli, leaving fans more shaken than stirred about the future direction of the franchise. With the new film officially in the works, there has been rife speculation as to who will next don Bonds iconic tux. Taylor-Johnson has been the bookies frontrunner at various points but dropped down due to his cool responses to rumours. Divergent (2014) star Theo James is the current favourite at 6/4, while Superman (2013)s Henry Cavill is ahead of Taylor-Johnson (7/2) at 3/1. James Norton (6/1) and Jack Lowden (12/2) are also being rumoured. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Ladbrokes representative Cal Gildart said: 'Henry Cavill's return to the head of the Bond betting didn't last long, with Theo James as short as anyone has been to pick up the world's most famous license to kill. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the bookies third favourite for the role ( Getty Images / Eon Productions ) Prior to Amazons purchase of the Bond franchise, it was even rumoured that Taylor-Johnson was Barbara Broccolis ideal candidate. When Esquire asked him about the role, however, he responded: Its not really for me to say anything. On signing the deal with Omega, Taylor-Johnson said: I have always had an appreciation for timepieces but especially for Omega. Now, after visiting the factory, I am in awe of the skill required to manufacture such a luxurious product. Omegas CEO described Taylor-Johnson as a versatile actor with a range that covers action, thriller, romance and much more. Amazon bosses are currently said to be considering locations across the UK in which to set the much-anticipated new film, which experts predicted is likely to be released at the end of next year or in 2027. While Donald Trump has pledged to put a 100% tariff on all films made outside of the USA, he did promise that James Bond has nothing to worry about. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Barry Keoghan admitted that he is an addict in a candid new interview that touched upon his troubled upbringing. The 32-year-old Irish actors mother died when he was 12 due to a heroin addiction and Keoghan and his brother spent the subsequent years of their childhood in and out of foster homes around Dublin. In an interview with Hollywood Authentic, the Saltburn actor visited one of his childhood homes. I remember being kids here and hearing my mum scream through the letterbox, asking for us, while shes battling addiction, while shes looking for money to score. And we were just told to stay in bed. We werent to go down and hug her, he said. Despite his mothers struggles, Keoghan admitted that his curiosity got the better of him. My father passed away as a result of similar and I lost my mum to it. Ive lost two uncles and a cousin to drugs. That should be enough to go, OK, if I dabble here, Im fucked. But your curiosity is a powerful thing, he said. Sometimes its beneficial, and sometimes its detrimental. For me, it was detrimental. Even my own son coming into this world didnt stop me from being curious. Keoghan is a father to two-year-old son Brando, whom he welcomed with his ex-partner Alyson in August 2022. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict, Keoghan said ( Getty Images ) However, he clarified: Im not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict. You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on, and learn to work with it. Keoghan has long been outspoken about his childhood in interviews. During an appearance on James Cordens This Life of Mine podcast last year, the actor discussed how the foster care system starts to affect you as you grow up. I had a lot of problems with trust, never trusted love, never trusted that someone wanted to know me, or, lets say, be a friend, for instance, he said. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. You dont trust the process of anything, Keoghan continued. You have a problem with attachment and abandonment, all of these things that Ive been working on for many years with several therapists. In 2023, Keoghan earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars for his role as Dominic Kearney in Martin McDonaghs dark comedy, The Banshees of Inisherin. He went on to win the Bafta prize for the role. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Brokeback Mountain star Michelle Williams was forced to live with Ryan Gosling while filming their 2010 film Blue Valentine. an experience she recalls as horrible. Following the story of Cindy and Dean, the film oscillates between the start and end of their marriage, moving between the earlier timeline where they are happy and in love and their marriages eventual dissolution years later. However, during a new episode of the Dax Shepard and Monica Padmans Armchair Expert podcast, Williams recalled aspects of the experience with Gosling as horrible. The pair first shot the scenes where they were young and in love, leaving the grittier argument scenes for later in the schedule but having acted moony-eyed for so long, director Derek Cianfrance needed a way to convincingly flip this love to loathing. We were having such a hard time letting go of the thing that we loved, Williams recalled. Derek was like, We gotta mess this up, and we need to burn it down. He called for a two-week break in filming in which he encouraged the two actors to live together like a real married couple. open image in gallery Williams ... ( Getty ) As well as the forced cohabitation, they also did a ceremonial burning of their wedding photo. During their time together Cianfrance would give them scenarios and arguments to navigate while they were living under the same roof. They improvised throughout the day to figure out ways to annoy each other and to destroy this thing that [they] had made. Describing the whole experience as horrible, Williams said: I dont know if anybody would work like that again. She also expressed guilt about pausing the production for everybody else. She said: Youve got a crew thats on hold. Youre paying people, I mean, its such a small movie, so, so low budget and a small crew, but youre taking a big down period in the middle of the thing. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Despite the difficulty of the experience, Williams went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in the film while Gosling was nominated for a Golden Globe. open image in gallery Ryan Gosling 2023 ( Getty ) Williams isnt the only star to have recently revealed an awkward acting situation with Gosling. Jessica Biel also recalled auditioning for a role with the Barbie star while she was covered in blood. Talking on The View she explained how she had to audition for The Notebook while in her trailer at work - the work at the time being Texas Chainsaw Massacre. open image in gallery ( Getty ) She said: In my mind, I just remember having blood on me and being in that white tank top, and took my cowboy hat off, and was like, 'Okay, I'd love to fall in love with you, let's do this. While the role later went to Rachel McAdams, Biel did describe the experience as very strange, a very Hollywood moment. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Irish rock star Bono has called for Israel to be released from Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right fundamentalists during an impassioned speech at the Ivors music awards ceremony. The U2 frontman spoke out against the Israeli prime minister for the first time since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, as western leaders criticised Netanyahu over the renewed offensive in Palestine. Bono, real name Paul Hewson, introduced a pared-back performance of the bands song Sunday Bloody Sunday by explaining how believing in the possibility of peace was then and is now a rebellious act, and some would say a ridiculous one, to believe peace was attainable between your country and ours, between our country and itself... Peace creates possibilities in the most intractable situations. Lord knows theres a few of them out there right now. The musician, who received the Peace Summit Award at the 2008 Nobel Peace Laureates Summit, continued: Hamas, release the hostages. Stop the war. Israel, be released from Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts. All of you protect our aid workers, they are the best of us. Released in 1983, Sunday Bloody Sunday references the 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings in Londonderry, in which members of the British armys parachute regiment opened fire at civil rights demonstrators. open image in gallery Bono and his U2 bandmates received an Ivors Academy Fellowship at this years ceremony ( Getty ) At the Ivors, held on Thursday 22 May, U2 became the first Irish songwriters to be awarded an academy fellowship, which was presented to them by pop star Ed Sheeran. Bonos speech came as, earlier this week, Netanyahu accused British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, along with French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney, of emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. On Monday (19 May), the UK, French and Canadian governments said in a joint statement that they were committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution to the war. In response, Netanyahu said Hamas had thanked Starmer, Macron and Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately, claiming that the three had shown they effectively wanted Hamas to remain in power. I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice, he said in a video on social media. Youre on the wrong side of humanity and youre on the wrong side of history. open image in gallery Netanyahu accused British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer of emboldening Hamas ( PA ) His statement came after young Israeli diplomat couple Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were shot dead in Washington DC as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Suspect Elias Rodriguez has been charged with murder. The 30-year-old told officers from the Metropolitan Police Department when he was arrested at the scene: I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed, according to an arrest affidavit seen by The Independent. Israel's retaliatory war in Gaza following the 7 October attacks by Hamas has killed more than 53,000 people, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities, whose count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. The fighting has displaced 90 per cent of the territorys population of about two million and sparked a hunger crisis due to Israels blockade. Nearly half a million Palestinians are in catastrophic levels of hunger, meaning they face possible starvation, food security experts said in a report on Monday (17 May), while another million are at emergency levels of hunger. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Whos new drummer Scott Devours has spoken out after it was announced that he would replace the bands longtime member Zak Starkey. Starkey, 59, was ousted from the band for a second time this week after The Who announced the North America leg of their farewell tour, which will commence in August. He was first fired in March after an apparent row over his performance at the rock bands Royal Albert Hall concert, then reinstated shortly after he made his firing public. The band put the dispute down to communication issues. Starkey later claimed the band, fronted by Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, had asked him to lie and say he had decided to quit, rather than say he had been fired again. Devours, who previously drummed in Daltreys solo band and will now join The Who on their farewell tour, shared an Instagram post this week in which he said Daltrey and Townshend had once again changed my life forever. Its hard to express the tsunami of emotions that Im processing since that incredible news, but there are a couple of things I feel compelled to say, he wrote. The first is that I need to thank all the family, friends and fans for the countless messages, texts and emails congratulating me and sharing their excitement The amount of positivity thrown my way has been overwhelming, I truly thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Also, please dont ask me for tickets, lol. Devours, 58, then addressed the fans who he expected would not accept him or anyone as The Who drummer other than Starkey. I know that this will be the case for some and I acknowledge that, he said. For others, perhaps the jury is still out. Maybe Ill need to let the music do the talking? In my world, there are no bigger shoes to fill than those behind Pete and Roger. The weight of this responsibility is enormous and I am feeling every ounce of it. The Who are preparing to embark on their farewell tour later this year ( Getty ) He continued: What I want to say to all of the fans is that I will do everything I can to honor the legacy of The Who, Zak, Kenney Jones, Simon Phillips and the memory of the great Keith Moon. For my name to even be mentioned in a sentence like that literally sends shivers down my spine and I know I need to earn this honour. He concluded by saying that his ultimate goal was to give the band every second of my time, every beat of my heart, and every drop of my sweat and blood while playing the greatest songs ever written. Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, first joined The Who in 1996 for their Quadrophenia tour. He was introduced to drumming by the bands former drummer Keith Moon, a family friend who gifted Starkey a drum kit as a child. You can almost catch the heady scent of the pastel-hued flowers that deck the stage of Dominic Cooke's sensuous, smart staging of George Bernard Shaws 1892 problem play. Almost, but not quite, because theyre fake as misleading as the romantic trappings of Victorian femininity worn by this storys two ruthlessly formidable women. Imelda Staunton is magnificent as the titular Mrs Warren, whos bought respectability for her daughter (played by her real-life offspring Bessie Carter) by selling herself and a horde of other girls she plucked and then discarded. Of course, Shaw never uses words such as brothel or madam. Hed never dream of mentioning the act itself! Still, his ruthlessly practical perspectives on the sex trade were so outrageous to late Victorian society that the play was banned for 30 years. Its so easy for revivals of once-shocking plays to feel like artefacts their once-progressive views seeming regressive with the advent of new times and terminologies. But Shaw was a lifelong socialist whose critiques of capitalism here feel all too relevant: Mrs Warrens arguments that sex work is far more dignified than grinding poverty could come straight from a 2025 meeting of the English Collective of Prostitutes. And Cookes pared-back production lets that modernity shine out, scrapping all that tedious late-Victorian stage business of tablecloths and rattling teacups in favour of a simple circle of greenery ravishingly imagined by designer Chloe Lamford that gradually gets stripped away between scenes by 10 haunted-looking girls in stockings, corsets and bloomers. Theyre the unseen sex workers in this story a visual representation of the nine in 10 women that Mrs Warren argues are forced into the trade by economic circumstances, not choice. Staunton is on tremendous form as this faintly cockney-accented grande dame, a hard head under her fluffy coiffure. Women have to pretend to feel a great deal that they dont feel, she says, to audience murmurs of approval, as she styles sex work for survival as just one of the many moral compromises required by female members of a patriarchal society. Her daughter Vivie is convinced... up to a point. Shes a fascinating creation, one of Shaws hard-talking bevy of New Women who he used to embody the changing values of a new era. Immune to the lure of pretty dress and fine jewels, shes studying mathematics at Cambridge and preparing to carve out a living of her own. When she first discovers her mothers past, she appreciates her sound practical reasons, and the two walk with linked arms the pairs real-life mother-daughter relationship lending a welcome cosiness to this moment. But soon, things get messy. Vivies love interest Frank (played by a hilariously bumptious Reuben Joseph) transpires to be her half-brother, and Mrs Warrens past turns out to be a bit more present than shed like. Shaws incestuous plotline has aged a lot less well than his perspectives on the sex trade. So its a relief that Cooke saves his energies for the third acts brilliantly performed showpiece confrontation between mother and daughter, where Shaw writes women who think and debate as theyd never been allowed to on stage before. Carter brings a subtle note of internal conflict to Vivies resolutely rational arguments, here, half breaking as she rejects her mothers attempts at sentiment. And Stauntons broken cry of Who'll take care of me when I'm old? hits home, her former staunchness evaporated. Like Shaws later play Pygmalion (turned into musical My Fair Lady), Mrs Warrens Profession originally interrogated social class as well as gender this cockney mother is meant to embarrass, as well as scandalise, her expensively educated daughter. Wisely, Cooke dials down that aspect of the story and gives Mrs Warren all possible dignity, her origins supplied instead by the vulnerable-feeling, underdressed women who linger at the end of the stage. And their silence is a reminder that, however persuasive her perspectives are, theyre not the last word on the subject. On at the Garrick theatre, London, until 16 August Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jimmy Wayne Carwyle, the man accused of stalking Friends star Jennifer Aniston, has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial. However, during a court hearing today the 48-year-old demanded a second opinion. Carwyle, originally from Mississippi, has been charged with stalking offences and is accused of deliberately crashing his car through the front gate of Anistons home. At the hearing at a Hollywood courthouse that specializes in mental health cases he appeared in custody behind glass. He had a gray beard and wore a thick, blue smock that jails use for suicide prevention. A county-appointed psychiatrist who evaluated Carwyle found the defendant incompetent, Deputy Public Defender Robert Krauss told the judge as he stood near his client with glass separating them. But Krauss said Carwyle, as is his right, would like an evaluation from a different psychiatrist. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maria Cavaluzzi ordered the reevaluation and set another hearing for May 29. Jennifer Aniston and her accused stalker, Jimmy Wayne Carwyle ( Getty ) Krauss declined comment outside court, as did the prosecutor handling the case and an attorney observing the hearing on behalf of Aniston. Prosecutors allege Carwyle had been harassing Aniston with a flood of voicemail, email and social media messages for two years before driving his Chrysler PT Cruiser through the gate of her home in the wealthy Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles on May 5, causing major damage. He pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and vandalism at his first court appearance, where a judge paused the criminal proceedings so he could undergo the psychological evaluation. Carwyle remains jailed, and he is under a judges order not to contact or get near Aniston. Authorities said Aniston was home at the time of the gate crash, but he did not come into contact with her. A security guard stopped him in her driveway until police arrived. No one was injured. Carwyle also faces an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm. If convicted, he could get up to three years in prison. If Carwyle is found incompetent again, the judge could order him to be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment and ongoing evaluation. Other than asking for the protective order for Aniston, prosecutors have not given their position on Carwyles competency status, and did not speak at Thursdays hearing. Prior to the Carwyles arrest, a public Facebook page believed to be connected to him had dozens of cryptic posts in which he claimed that Aniston was his wife. Additional reporting by Associated Press. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that he chose the location for his pub to avoid another dispute with locals over the amount of traffic in the area. In season four of Clarksons Farm, which has just returned to Prime Video, the former Top Gearpresentershows the process of opening his pub The Farmers Dog. The 65-year-old opened the establishment in August 2024, paying less than 1m for the building, formerly known as The Windmill, in Asthall, near Burford in Oxfordshire. The Farmers Dog quickly became a success for Clarkson, echoing the reception he received when he opened his Diddly Squat farm shop in 2020. In episode one of season four, Clarkson explains his vision for the pub to Charlie Ireland, a professional agronomist and land agent who advises the presenter on farm management. During a meeting, Clarkson lays out his plans for the pub and the specific type of place he wants it to be. open image in gallery Jeremy Clarkson and Charlie Ireland in Clarkson's Farm Season 4 ( Prime Video ) I dont want to buy a village pub because the farm shop is nowhere near the village and the villagers went berserk because of the traffic, says Clarkson. I dont want to fall out with any more villagers, he adds. Town centre pub? Not really the farm vibe that Im looking for. He adds that he wants it to be a main road pub where he can sell the produce made at his farm. In 2021, Clarkson was involved in a showdown meeting with local residents in Oxfordshire who blamed his farm shop for causing chaos on their roads. Police were even called out to manage traffic chaos in June 2021 after the launch of the shop, when hundreds of people arrived, causing long queues in an area that used to be a tranquil village. Signs in the car park warned visitors of waits of three-and-a-half hours to get into the store. open image in gallery People queued outside The Farmers Dog on the day it opened ( PA ) Similar concerns had been raised about his pub due to its location next to the busy A40 road. Oxfordshire County Council said it has worked closely and pro-actively with Clarksons team ahead of the opening. Several measures have been taken to reduce the likelihood of traffic and parking-related problems, and to support the safe and successful opening of the site, a council spokesman said. Clarkson even thanked Oxfordshire County Council for all their help before its grand launch in August 2024. Clarksons Farm season four launches on Prime Video on 23 May. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Fill up the tank and the belly. A new list has identified the top gas station food, though some notable names have not made the cut. Kwik Trip was given the honor of being named as having the best food out of all the gas stations in the U.S. - but popular WaWa and Sheetz were nowhere to be found on the list. Gas station food can sometimes get a bad reputation when convenience is chosen over quality. But some chains go above and beyond to offer their customers a wide variety of food and beverages, some even offering fresh or made-to-order items. Here is a look at USA TODAYs list of the top 10 best brands for quick and delicious gas station food: Kwik Trip In the outlets 2025 round-up of the best gas stations, Kwik Trip was chosen as both the No. 1 best gas station brand overall and best gas station for food. Kwik Trip is a family-owned company with more than 800 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota and Illinois. The gas station serves fresh bread, muffins, cookies, bagels and doughnuts each day, and its milk is sourced from dairy farms within 100 miles of La Crosse, Wisconsin. open image in gallery Kwik Trip was named the best gas station for food in 2025. With some fan favorites not even making the top 10. ( Kwik Trip ) Kwik Trip customer Marco Curiel always stops at the popular gas station on his frequent trips from Chicago to Minnesota. The pizza's really good and I like the coffee they have, he told WISN. Curiel said hes not shocked by Kwik Trips new title of best gas station brand and best gas station food. I'm actually from Texas, and I'm pretty biased for Buc-ee's, but you know KT is really good, he said. When asked if he was surprised by the love Kwik Trip has received, customer Terry Fabian said, No. They're awesome. We need more of them. In a statement posted to Facebook, Kwik Trip said it was honored and humbled to be chosen as best gas station brand for the sixth year in a row and to take the top spot for best gas station food this year. None of this would be possible without our valued coworkers and loyal guests. We truly cannot thank you enough for your continued dedication and support. The best is yet to come, Kwik Trip wrote. Royal Farms Royal Farms, a gas station chain in the mid-Atlantic, placed second for best food. It has a 24/7 breakfast menu and is known for its fried chicken. Many of its stores are in the mid-Atlantic regions. In some locations, customers can make their own milkshake using a FReal Blending Bar. Caseys Caseys, which has locations across the Midwest and the South, came in third place for their famous pizza as well as their sandwiches, wings and breakfast menu. open image in gallery Caseys came in third place for their famous pizza as well as their sandwiches, wings and breakfast menu ( Casey's ) QuickTrip At QuickTrip, which ranked No. 4 for best food, customers can get both breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pizza and tacos off its made-to-order menu. Drivers can stop by a QuickTrip in some Midwestern, Southern and Southwestern states. Maverik In fifth place is Maverik. This Western gas station chain offers fresh pizza, wraps, salads, sandwiches and burritos every day. open image in gallery Maverik, which came in fifth place, offers fresh pizza, wraps, salads, sandwiches and burritos every day ( Maverik ) Weigels If traveling through East Tennessee, drivers may want to stop into Weigels. This gas station brand made it to the No. 6 spot for fresh foods, including its chicken fingers, pizza, biscuits, doughnuts and muffins. Spinx Spinx placed 7th for best gas station food. The chain located in North and South Carolina, offers breakfast foods, sandwiches and wraps. They are known for their fried chicken. Rutters Rutters located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland is the 8th best gas station for food. The chain has a vast menu, including seafood, burgers and pizzas. They also have kids' favorites like grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. Buc-ees Buc-ees, a southern favorite, ranked No. 9 for best gas station food. The chain is best known for its nut confections, barbecue and jerky. If visitors are in the mood for a sweet treat, Buc-ees offers fudge and banana pudding. Buc-ees stores are super popular and known for their massive size. When stores open in communities, they attract a large number of visitors and dominate local news coverage. open image in gallery Buc-ees came in No. 9 on the list. The super popular stations are known for their massive size and become headline news when they open in communities. ( Getty/iStock ) Allsups/Yesway In 10th place is Allsups/Yesway. The chain, which has locations across the Southwest and Midwest, offers its popular beef and bean burritos and other hot foods like its shredded beef chimichanga. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Celebrity Big Brother star Chris Hughes was rendered speechless when asked to define his relationship with JoJo Siwa. The 32-year-old former Love Island contestant and Dance Moms star, 21, struck up a strong friendship during their time in the Big Brother house earlier this year. Their tactile dynamic led viewers to question whether they were romantically involved. The rumours gained traction when Siwa broke up with her partner Kath Ebbs, 27, immediately after leaving the programme. Hughes and Siwa, who have insisted that their relationship is platonic, have since been seen on multiple outings together in London, Orlando and Mexico City, where Siwa was performing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez stadium this week. While speaking to Access Hollywood presenters Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover, Siwa was asked to define her relationship with Hughes, to which she replied: You kind of cant define it, its very special. Hughes added: Yeah I would struggle to describe it. If you want adjectives, Id go for at which point he began to stutter and became uncomfortable before laughing it off. Ohwhy am I speechless? What is going on? God, he said. The reality star then told the presenters that Siwa would be flying over to London to spend more time with him next week as she prepares to play two sold out shows at the Colours Hoxton bar in the city. That will be fun, Hughes said. Ill be there, bopping and weaving in the crowd. I watched her the other night, it was very decent. Absolutely incredible show. Siwa and her ex-girlfriend broke up at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party, with the dancer telling This Morning that her stint on the show had made her realise that she wasnt happy in the relationship. Asked if she thought that her relationship with Hughes might have a romantic element, Siwa said: Life is life and I dont know any future of anything, but Im really grateful for our bond and what we have and life will do what it will do. Speaking on their podcast, Ebbs, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said that the bond between her ex-partner and Hughes had cross[ed] so many boundaries for me. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thisll bake your day. A Michigan Costco's latest addition to its food court menu, the Combo Calzone, has ignited a flurry of reactions from customers online. Priced at $6.99, the new menu item, as seen on the Instagram profile @costcobuys, is a folded dough pocket filled with pepperoni, sausage, cheese, onions, peppers, olives, and mushrooms, reminiscent of the warehouse club's former combo pizza. The combo calzone is currently available at only one store in Michigan. Its future on the menu may depend on customer feedback and sales performance. The calzone's introduction has been met with mixed reviews. While some customers appreciate the hearty combination of ingredients, others have criticized its presentation and taste. open image in gallery Costco Combo Calzone is currently available in Michigan and has Costco food fans rejoicing on social media. ( Instagram/@costcobuys ) The $6.99 price point has sparked discussions about value, especially when compared to Costco's longstanding $1.50 hot dog and soda combo. Some customers question whether the calzone offers sufficient value for its cost, particularly given recent price increases for other food court items. Looks good but Costco food courts sets my mind to lower prices, one Instagram user commented. For that price, I can get a chicken bake, hot dog combo and a slice pizza, another person said. A third declared, That looks positively ghastly. Others Costco fans said they would gather just see the return of the beloved Combo pizza, which was discontinued in early 2020 for an undisclosed reason. They be doing anything but bring the combo pizza back, one social media user posted. While another added: WHERES THE COMBO PIZZA AT THIS POINT THEY ARE PLAYING WITH US Costco will do anything but bring back combo Pizza, one disappointed fan said. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Feeding a small crowd whether thats family members or flatmates week after week can be a strain on the wallet. However, food writer Rosie Kellett discovered the joy and challenge of budget-friendly cooking when she moved into a six-person East London warehouse five years ago. Living on 25 a week per person (covering food and household goods), Ms Kellett perfected the art of creating "delicious meals on the table" nightly. She is now sharing those skills in her debut cookbook, In For Dinner. The book features 101 recipes designed to be affordable, achievable, healthy, and environmentally conscious. The 32-year-old supper club host also offers her top tips for maximising flavour while minimising costs when cooking for a group. open image in gallery Rosie Kellett has written her first cookbook, In For Dinner Do your grocery shopping online Ms Kellett says its easier to keep track of what youre spending when you shop online. You can always see your basket, and you can take advantage of the deals, she says. Youre not doing all of those little trips to the local mini supermarket and picking up a couple of things here and there. You plan a bit better and know what you need to use up. I think that mentality really helps to budget. Doing a weekly shop means it can be quite slim pickings towards the end of the week, but it forces you to really utilise the ingredients in the fridge and pantry, she says. Make plants the focus Ms Kellett and her housemates eat mostly vegetarian, with a little bit of canned fish, including anchovies, sardines and tinned tuna. Apart from that, we dont buy any meat, which really keeps the cost going. For protein we really utilise legumes, a lot of beans, pulses and lentils, and tofu. She also advises people to shop seasonally where they can, because vegetables grown in the UK season will be cheaper. open image in gallery Tinned fish, including anchovies, sardines and tuna, are good sources of protein ( Creative Commons ) Buy these hero ingredients Frozen raspberries are not only cheaper than fresh ones but Ms Kellett says they often work better in baking. The raspberry sponge [in the book] has four ingredients and one of them is frozen raspberries and its an incredibly cheap dessert to make its very easy and quick and simple. You need 700g of frozen raspberries if you were to buy them fresh it would be very expensive, but theres no need. Also my blondies use frozen raspberries Ive done it with fresh and Ive done it with frozen, and frozen just works better. They become quite jammy. Tins of chickpeas, beans, legumes, tomatoes and fish are key for her cupboard too. And things that are pickled or preserved in jars. So capers, gherkins, sauerkraut and preserved lemon, like all of those things, a little goes a long way, and they last forever. I think its really good to make sure youve got a pantry stocked with all of those things, so that all you really need to be buying fresh each week is a couple of vegetables, a bit of fruit, and you can kind of build a meal quite often from your pantry. Buy the best quality you can afford. If a bean is going to be the bulk of your meal, and the main source of protein, if you can buy jarred, then the texture and the flavour is so much better [than tinned]. And the difference between the cheapest tomatoes to the middle range is pretty vast. open image in gallery Try and buy vegetables in season where you can ( Getty/iStock ) Make more from scratch Ms Kellett makes bread and granola from scratch. While it may seem more expensive to buy the ingredients rather than a ready-made box of cereal, it works out cheaper in the long run as the homemade recipe will make much more granola, she says. And I think it can seem daunting, but actually, when youre in the habit of doing that, it benefits everything in your life, from like your wallet to your mental health to your bodys health, theres a snowball effect. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A couple is still searching high and low for their beloved pet cat, who disappeared nearly a year ago. Rafal and Monika Klajnszmit were traveling from their home in Eschwege, western Germany, to Bavaria last July when their cat, Nero, went missing along the way in Erlangen. I took the cat box out of the car and wanted to walk into the hotel. The box wasnt shut properly and he got out, Rafal, 53, told The Times. In the months since Nero disappeared, the couple has spent over 20,000 euros ($22,560) on search efforts. Gas and hotel stays are among their regular expenses as they make the 300-mile round-trip journey from their home to Erlangen each weekend. There, they spend their time hanging missing cat flyers about 10,000 so far, they told The Times talking to residents and door knocking, and diligently refilling carefully placed food bowls with Neros favorite treat: tuna. Speaking about the costs incurred during their search, Monika told The Independent: To be honest, were not keeping track of expenses for this case we honestly dont care what it all costs. What matters to us is getting Nero back home and having that totally normal, boring everyday life again. I know what a weekend in Erlangen costs us when you add everything up, the numbers speak for themselves. open image in gallery Map shows the couples weekly 180-mile route from their home in Eschwege to Erlangen ( Google Maps ) But Rafal highlighted an issue that could be preventing Nero from being found his shy personality. Hes not the kind of cat who goes up to people to get stroked, the cat owner revealed to The Times. I can imagine hes so scared that he only moves around at night. Theyve enlisted the help of several volunteers in Erlangen who have kindly offered their time and efforts. They hang new posters and replenish food bowls, some of which have cameras attached that send alerts right to Rafals phone. The helpers also have microchip readers, provided by Rafal, so they can scan black cats they come across in the city. Theyre on standby day and night, every hour, if I call them, theyll get in the car and drive to read out the chip, he shared with The Times. While theyve not yet heard good news, they also havent received the phone call any pet owner dreads. Neros chipped and if he had been found dead we would have been notified, Rafal told The Times. The vets and the motorway maintenance department say that when a dead animal is retrieved the chip is read. The couples efforts have been met with some resistance from locals in Erlangen who complained about the flyers being hung up. Theyve had to resort to physically handing out the posters instead. Rafal and Monika have started a Facebook page where they share updates and photos of their furry family member in hopes someone in the Erlangen area will spot their boy. They also share stories and their hopes for Neros safe return. He means a lot to me. Hes a friend and a member of the family. And you dont abandon your friends, Rafal told The Times. Im not giving up. I know hes still alive. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Lincolnshire mother who was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer while pregnant with twins has launched an appeal to find a stem cell donor. Katie Matthews, 32, faces a stark prognosis, with doctors giving her just six years to live if a suitable donor is not found. The diagnosis came after abnormalities were detected during a routine pregnancy scan, a moment that should have been filled with joy for Ms Matthews and her husband Tommy, 37. Instead of celebrating the news of twins, the couple received the devastating news that Ms Matthews had myelofibrosis, a rare form of blood cancer. This aggressive disease causes scarring within the bone marrow, hindering its ability to produce vital blood cells. "Being a mother and being pregnant while being diagnosed with blood cancer is the worst thing that you could hear," Ms Matthews said, adding, "We felt like our lives have been paused." open image in gallery Katie Matthews has been told she has just six years to live without a transplant ( Katie Matthews/Anthony Nolan/PA Wire ) The initial signs of the disease emerged during a scan in June 2024, where clinicians noticed an enlarged spleen and a blood clot in Ms Matthewss portal vein. This vein plays a crucial role in transporting blood from abdominal organs to the liver. Following the scan, a biopsy confirmed the myelofibrosis diagnosis. Now, Ms Matthews is appealing for potential stem cell donors to come forward, a search that represents her best chance at a longer life with her husband and children. She said: We were told your twins are fine, but your spleen is about 25 centimetres. Me and my husband thought, what do you mean twins. Following a biopsy, Mrs Matthews was diagnosed with myelofibrosis in July, when she was 15 weeks pregnant. The couple welcomed healthy babies Bella-Rose and Lennon last October. They were delivered at 32 weeks due to the risks. Mrs Matthews said medics have said that hers is the only case of its kind on record, which she described as terrifying. It is estimated there are around one to two cases of myelofibrosis per every 100,000 people in the UK each year. Ive had so many different doctors, consultants, professors involved but they never know whats right or wrong because this has never happened, she added. The beauty therapist, who specialises in laser hair removal, started oral chemotherapy in January and is hoping to find a stem cell donor after it was recently confirmed her brother is not a match. open image in gallery Katie with her twins, Bella-Rose and Lennon ( Katie Matthews/Anthony Nolan/PA Wire ) The family are working with the stem cell charity Anthony Nolan, which is searching worldwide registers. The stem cell transplant is the only cure for my cancer, Mrs Matthews said. It will give me more time, a whole new life basically. Without a transplant Ive been roughly given about six years. The community for myelofibrosis is so small, especially for the younger generation. I hope sharing my story helps to meet others like me. The family are also trying to raise awareness of the Anthony Nolan stem cell register. As Liverpool FC fans, they are planning to attend the teams Premier League trophy parade on Monday in Anthony Nolan T-shirts. Mrs Matthews added: You could save somebody like me. I want to be able to live the rest of my life and have more time with my children. Im going to stay strong and positive, and I also want to help as many people as possible. Im not prepared to die now and Im not going to. People aged 16 to 30 can apply to join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register online and will receive a swab pack in the post. Rowena Bentley, head of programme and community recruitment at Anthony Nolan, said: Its thanks to patients like Katie sharing their story that we can raise vital awareness of stem cell donation and encourage more people to join the register and save lives. We know that younger stem cell donors give patients the best chance of survival. Thats why were calling on healthy 1630-year-olds to join the register to give patients like Katie more time with those they love. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Kim Kardashian has taken a major step forward in her quest to become a lawyer. Kardashian, 44, didnt do a traditional law school stint, opting instead to study under a lawyer in a workaround offered in California. She enlisted in an apprenticeship program with a San Francisco law firm in 2018, according to multiple reports. Now, shes celebrating the completion of that program. Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Shaheen Manshoory explained toThe Independent that Kardashians program is known as the Law Office Study Program, which in California requires a minimum commitment of four years. However, in her case, she has participated in this apprenticeship program for six years, likely because she struggled to pass what is called the baby bar, Manshoory shared. Kardashian took the baby bar, or first-year exam, three times before passing on her fourth try in 2021. Its not an easy test, Manshoory added. Those required to take the baby bar attend non-accredited law schools or are enrolled in the Law Office Study Program. That exam differs from the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), which is required in California and tests the ethical component of legal practice, and from the traditional bar exam, which Kardashian is now eligible to take since she passed the baby bar and MPRE. The fundamental difference between the two exams is that the baby bar only tests three areas of law covered in your first year of law school; whereas, the state bar examination tests fourteen areas of law, Manshoory explained. Kim Kardashian has celebrated a milestone moment in her journey to become a lawyer ( Reuters ) Kardashian will face her biggest educational test yet in sitting the California state bar, which Manshoory says is known as one of the most challenging bar exams in the country. The Skims founder marked the completion of her program with a small private ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She shared multiple photos and videos from the event on her Instagram Stories, including a snap of her in a graduation cap. Jessica Jackson, the lawyer who mentored her, said Kardashian spent 18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year for six straight years on the program. Jackson called Kardashians one of the most inspiring legal journeys we've ever seen. Six years ago, Kim Kardashian walked into this program with nothing but a fierce desire to fight for justice, Jackson said in a speech shared on Instagram. No law school lectures, no ivory tower shortcuts, just determination. And a mountain of case law books to read. Among those celebrating Kardashians accomplishment was Ivanka Trump, who congratulated her friend in an Instagram Story. Congratulations Kim! You did it! My favorite law school graduate! Trump captioned the picture of Kardashian donning her grad cap. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice McDonalds has announced the closure of its CosMcs chain less than two years after the first location opened. Starting in late June, the five standalone CosMcs locations will shutter for good. The CosMcs app will be discontinued as well. The first CosMcs location opened in Illinois in December 2023. In launching CosMcs, the company was looking to compete with chains like Starbucks and Dunkin, offering customized drinks that traditional McDonalds locations dont provide. CosMcs offered menu items like an Iced French Toast Galaxy Latte, Churro Cold Brew, and Cookie Butter McPops. The five CosMcs locations that will close are located at: 285 N. Weber Road, Bolingbrook, Illinois 5341 McPherson Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 12360 FM 1957, San Antonio, Texas 8726 Potranco Road, San Antonio, Texas 861 W. Stacy Road, Allen, Texas The five CosMcs locations will close in June ( McDonalds ) But its not all bad news for fans of the chains beverage-focused spinoff. CosMcs-inspired flavors will land at McDonalds restaurants across the country as part of a U.S. beverage test, the company announced. The main goal of the CosMcs test was to create a launchpad for learning for the McDonalds System and the insights weve gathered have given us a whole new way to get closer to our fans, the company announced in a press release. Earlier this week, McDonalds announced a change to its restaurants nationwide. A company spokesperson told The Independent that a vast majority" of U.S. locations will remain open until midnight or later starting this summer. Restaurants in "non-traditional locations" like airports and shopping malls are unlikely to follow suit, but will be back open during normal breakfast hours, the company shared. Most of the fast food chains signature menu items will be available during the extended hours, though individual franchisees will make those decisions, the spokesperson said. McDonalds is celebrating the late-night hours with a May 24 giveaway. Merchandise and gift cards for free McCrispy Strips will be given to concert-goers in Los Angeles, New York City, and Detroit, the company told The Independent. McDonalds will have street teams in these cities handing out goodies to fans. That same day, McDonalds will also be giving away 1,000 virtual gift cards for free McCrispy Strips. To enter to win, fans should post an Instagram story with #DipforMcCrispyStripsGiveaway and tag @GoFooji. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Tom Cruise has made a rare comment about parenting after being asked about his experience of Fathers Day. The 62-year-old is currently on a promotional tour for his new film, Mission Impossible: the Final Reckoning, which he has said could be the last instalment in the long-running franchise. Cruise was asked: What would an ideal Fathers Day look like for you? by an E! News presenter, who reminded him that the occasion was just around the corner. The Top Gun star looked taken aback as he replied: Hey, just having fun, man. Making movies, big adventure, having a great time. He is famously discreet about his private life and has three children: an adopted son and daughter with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman and a biological daughter with ex-wife Katie Holmes. The actors family life has been the subject of speculation, with Cruise threatening to sue a magazine for $50m for suggesting he had abandoned his and Holmess daughter, Suri, following the couples split. In June 2024, it was reported that Cruise and Holmess daughter Suri had dropped her fathers surname for her high school graduation ceremony. Instead, multiple outlets revealed she had gone by Suri Noelle rather than Suri Cruise. Tom Cruise has three children ( Getty Images for Paramount Pictures ) The Page Six report included a photo of the graduation pamphlet credited to celebrity news agency Backgrid, with the name Suri Noelle circled. The moniker was likely a tribute to the 18-year-olds mother, whose middle name is Noelle. Holmes and Cruise welcomed their daughter Suri in April 2006. The actors first met in 2005 and were engaged two months later, before tying the knot in an Italian ceremony in November 2006. Holmes filed for divorce from the Eyes Wide Shut star in June 2012 after five years of marriage. The First Daughter star has previously opened up about keeping her daughter safe because of her childhood in the spotlight. What has been really important for me with my daughter, because she was so visible at a young age, is I really like to protect her, she told Glamour in April 2023. Im very grateful to be a parent, to be her parent. Shes an incredible person. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Trader Joes is joining in on the viral Dubai chocolate bar craze. A Trader Joes employee revealed in a TikTok video that the grocery chain would begin selling the candy for the low price of $3.99. A spokesperson for Trader Joes revealed in a statement to The Independent that the chocolate bars will be available starting the week of May 26, with the exact release dates varying by location. We believe that customers vote on what they love and what they want to see more of with their dollars. In other words, if our customers really love this product, we can certainly get more, the statement read. Dubai chocolate is a bar of milk chocolate stuffed with a creamy concoction of pistachio cream and shredded pastry known as kataifi. However, the Trader Joes version will reportedly be made with dark chocolate. It will also be produced by Patislove, a food group brand that specializes in handcrafted chocolates. The high-end bar was launched in 2021 by boutique Emirati chocolatier FIX, but became a global sensation in 2023 thanks to TikTok. open image in gallery The Dubai chocolate is a bar of milk chocolate stuffed with a creamy concoction of pistachio cream and shredded pastry known as kataifi ( AFP via Getty Images ) Posted at the end of 2023, the clip has now been viewed more than 120 million times, spawning thousands of follow-up videos in which creators taste the treat for themselves or make their own. Major chocolate brands such as Lindt and Laderach also made their own versions of the viral sensation. Fans expressed their excitement over the new Trader Joes item hitting shelves in the Trader Joes subreddit on Reddit. open image in gallery Trader Joes is launching a low-price Dubai chocolate ( Getty Images ) Omg I finally tried Dubai chocolate at a store and felt like the milk chocolate made it less better than it could have been. Hopefully this will change it! one person wrote. Another commenter agreed, writing, Oh good! Ive been wanting to try this!!!! However, due to the popularity of the Dubai chocolate bar, there was an international shortage of pistachio kernels last month, which are largely grown in the United States or Iran. The shortage has seen prices surge. In one year, prices have risen from $7.95 to $10.30 a pound, Giles Hacking, from nut trader CG Hacking, told the Financial Times. The pistachio world is basically tapped out at the moment, he said. The rise of Dubai chocolate has only made matters worse, given that pistachios were already becoming scarce due to last years poor harvest in the U.S. Hacking told the publication: There wasnt much in supply, so when Dubai chocolate comes along, and [chocolatiers] are buying up all the kernels they get their hands on ... that leaves the rest of the world short. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An argument over a fast food meal turned deadly, ending in a Checkers employee gunning down a customer, police say. Elijah Mackey, 23, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Wesley Robertson, 51, on Thursday, according to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office. Authorities said a dispute erupted inside a fast-food restaurant in Kissimmee, just south of Orlando, around 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The two men allegedly tussled over Robertsons order. The verbal altercation eventually devolved into violence, with Mackey allegedly shooting Robertson. The victim was transported to the Osceola Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, officials said. Additional details about the argument and the circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately available. The sheriffs office released video of Mackey, who was handcuffed and wearing a white paper suit, being escorted by three deputies to a waiting patrol vehicle. Mackey is being held in the county jail without bond. A large bullet hole was visible in a wall of the Checkers franchise on Thursday, according to FOX 5. open image in gallery The Kissimmee Checkers became a crime scene late on Wednesday ( Google Street View/Checkers ) A sign was hung in a window informing customers it was closed. Caution tape blocked off the drive-through. Local Laurence Parris told News 6 that he was hoping to purchase a two-for-$7 meal on Thursday. And then I find out craziness happened, he added. Amanda Barajas was tending bar at Bobbys Garage, which is situated behind the Checkers location. Its scary if somebody is willing to go to those lengths over food, she said. Unless youre like security or a police officer, I dont think theres any reason to have a weapon at work. Checkers spokesperson Kim Francis said in a statement Thursday that the company is working closely with law enforcement in their investigation. We are shocked and saddened by the incident that occurred last night at our restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida, she said. The actions of this one employee do not reflect the values of the thousands of our hardworking employees across the country. We are working closely with the police in their investigation, and we are sending our thoughts and prayers to the guests family, the statement concluded. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A pet owner was booked and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he allegedly placed a dog in an oven after getting into an argument with a family member over the puppys barking. The suspect has been identified as James Williamson, 44, from Atmore, Alabama. Authorities responded to the incident on Dogwood Place roughly 50 miles from the city of Mobile after they received a call about an injured animal. The man allegedly threatened the family member by stating that he would throw the dog in the oven if it didnt stop barking, according to Atmore Police and the Escambia County Sheriffs Office. When police arrived at the scene, they made a horrific discovery. A deceased Chihuahua puppy was found in the driveway with serious burn injuries, local station WSAZ reports. Investigators believe Williamson placed a chair in front of the oven so the dog could not force the door open. open image in gallery James Williamson, 44, from Atmore, Alabama, has been charged with animal cruelty for the alleged incident ( Escambia County Sheriff's Office ) Neighbors reportedly heard a yelping sound from inside the 44-year-olds home in Atmore. When Sergeant Darrell McMann from Atmore Police arrived at the scene, he was left heartbroken by what he found. I have a Chihuahua myself, McMann said. When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, you know. I really was just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together, he told Fox10 TV. He believes the law should be tougher on those who commit such acts. I think in cases like this, they should be strengthened. Because I dont think being a class C felony fits what he did. That pretty much describes what he did: horrible and inhumane, he said. Williamson was charged with a class C felony and has been landed with a $15,000 bond. If found guilty, he will be barred from animal ownership in the future, reports Fox10. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Russian national who slipped through security and boarded a Delta Airlines flight out of John F. Kennedy International Airport without a ticket has been found guilty. Svetlana Dali, a 57 year old who held a U.S. green card, was caught on video last November going through a security screening checkpoint and TSA pat-down. Once she arrived at the gate, Dali passed two Delta agents checking tickets, surveillance video showed. She had a hoodie sweatshirt pulled over her head as she blended in with a group of five passengers who were being checked onto the airbridge. A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted her this week, however she can only face a maximum of six months in jail. Sentencing will be at a later date. open image in gallery Svetlana Dali, a 57yearold Russian national who slipped through security and boarded a Delta Airlines flight out of John F. Kennedy International Airport without a ticket, has been found guilty ( Niagara County Sheriff's Office ) Court documents revealed that she had been turned away at one security checkpoint earlier in the day for not having a boarding pass. However, video showed on her stowaway trip how she went through the airport largely unnoticed and boarded a flight from New York to Paris. She slipped past a gate attendant who was checking tickets and blended with a family. She then walked on the plane without a ticket. Dali avoided being detected by Delta staff during takeoff by hiding in the planes bathroom. Toward the end of the seven-hour flight, Delta staff realized Dali was a stowaway after a flight attendant had become suspicious of her long bathroom breaks. Dali was detained by French authorities before she entered customs and was sent back to New York, according to officials. She told the FBI that she had to go to France because she was being poisoned by the American government. open image in gallery Dali seemed to go through the airport largely unnoticed and boarded a flight from New York to Paris ( AP ) She claimed she was being poisoned with phosphates and polonium. Phosphates is an element found in the human body, but it can be poisonous in excessive amounts. Polonium is a radioactive material. When officials first tried to send Dali back to the U.S., she cried out on the plane, Please help me, I dont want to go to United States and I get asylum against United States, according to a video recorded by a passenger. She was reportedly removed from that flight before eventually being flown back to New York. At her trial, Dali said she did not have a ticket when boarding the plane. She said she walked through to where the people were boarding the flights and then I just walked into the airplane, according to the New York Times. She claimed she was throwing up blood while in the planes bathroom. open image in gallery She had her hoodie pulled over her head as she blended in with a group of five passengers who were being checked onto an airbridge, surveillance video showed. She then slipped on the plane and hid in the bathroom. ( AP/Port Authority ) Flight attendant Cleomie Meme recalled her encounter with Dali on the November 2024 flight. She told the court that Dali was defiant. Meme said that she knocked on the bathroom door about an hour into the flight, as it had been locked for a while. Dali opened the door and indicated that she was about to vomit, according to the Times. When Dali eventually left the bathroom, Meme asked her for her name. She first said Amy Hudson. When the flight attendant told Dali that she did not see her name on the manifest, the Russian national said her name was Emily Hudson. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Scott Mescudi, the Grammy-winning rapper better known as Kid Cudi, believes Sean Diddy Combs had something to do with his car being torched in 2012, he said in federal court. The 41-year-old musician, wearing a leather jacket and jeans, took the stand Thursday for an hour and a half, during which he discussed his brief romance with Cassie Ventura, Diddys once on-and-off girlfriend. Mescudi and Ventura dated in late 2011. Shortly after their relationship ended, Mescudi received a call from his dogsitter that his black Porsche was on fire while parked in the driveway of his Los Angeles home. Mescudi was 45 minutes away from home when he was alerted around 6.30 a.m. on January 9, 2012. He drove home to find a "burnt up bottle on the ground near his vehicle and a large hole cut into the soft top of his car. It looked like it was cut open. Thats where they inserted the Molotov cocktail, Mescudi told jurors while looking at photos from the incident. Photos captured the dark smoke residue on the drivers side window and ash splattered across the red leather drivers seat. Although he didnt specify who he meant by they, the rapper believed Combs was connected to the incident, he testified. Mescudi said the blaze appeared to be intentional, and his scorched car couldnt be repaired. The next day, he arranged to meet with Diddy at Soho House in Los Angeles. Asked why, Mescudi told the court: I knew he had something to do with it. Fingerprints and DNA were taken from the scene but no one was ever charged or arrested in connection with the incident, he told the court. Diddy is facing five federal criminal counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. The Porsche firebombing was one of many shocking moments on Thursday. Among other revelations: Mylah Morales, a celebrity makeup artist, recalled Ventura getting a swollen eye, busted lip and knots on her head after a screaming match with Diddy in a hotel room in 2010. Notes from Diddys guest profile at the L'Ermitage Beverly Hills hotel revealed he ALWAYS spills candle wax and uses excessive amounts of oil. The music moguls former assistant George Kaplan testified about a 2015 incident in which he saw Diddy throwing green apples at his girlfriend Gina; he wasnt sure if she was struck. Kaplan gave his notice of resignation within one month of that incident, explaining that he was unwilling to stand behind that behavior. open image in gallery Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi, took the stand on Thursday to discuss how his car was firebombed in 2012 and he believes Diddy had something to do with it ( REUTERS ) At Soho House, Mescudi recalled entering a meeting room in which one wall was just made up of windows. Diddy was staring out the window with his hands behind his back like a Marvel supervillain," he testified. During that meeting, Mescudi informed Diddy about how he and Ventura started dating and how it ended. Both men were played by Ventura, who was dating both of them at the same time, he said. The meeting ended with a handshake, signaling all was well between them. When their hands were clasped, Mescudi recalled asking: What are we going to do about my car? He recalled Diddy replying: I dont know what youre talking about. Mescudi didnt believe him and thought that he was lying, he testified. This wasnt the first conflict between Diddy and Mescudi. Weeks earlier, in December 2011, Ventura had called Mescudi at around 6 a.m. saying Diddy had found out about us, and she asked to be picked up. She sounded nervous and scared, Mescudi recalled. Ventura told him she was worried that Diddy would come to Mescudis house because he had asked for his address and she gave it to him. open image in gallery Mescudi leaves federal court, where he described his brief 2011 relationship with Cassie Ventura ( AP ) Mescudi then drove Ventura to the Sunset Marquis, a hotel in West Hollywood, to keep her safe and away from him. Thats when he received a call from Capricorn Clark, Diddys then-assistant, who was sitting in a car parked outside of Mescudis house. Sounding like she was on the verge of tears, Clark said Combs and his associate had forced her physically into the car. On his drive to check out his home, he called Diddy, and said: Mother f***er, are you in my house? He recalled Diddy responding: I want to talk to you. When he arrived, no one was there but some things had been moved. His security camera had been shifted so that it was no longer pointing toward his door, his dog was locked in his bathroom, and Christmas gifts for his family had been opened. He reported the break-in to police. Years later, Diddy and Mescudi met up again at Soho House, where Diddy apologized for everything, the musician testified: After I got the apology, I found peace with it. That was the last thing I was expecting to get. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The father of the man charged with shooting dead two staffers from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday night was invited to witness President Donald Trumps Joint Speech to Congress in March. Elias Rodriguez, 30, a Chicago resident, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Thursday over the killing of Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, outside of the Capital Jewish Museum, where the couple had just attended an event on humanitarian aid for Gaza. Lischinsky was about to propose to Milgrim, officials have said. It has since emerged that the suspects father, Eric Rodrguez, visited D.C. to witness Trumps address to lawmakers on March 5 as a guest of a Democratic congressman. Eric Rodriguez was our guest during the Presidents Joint Speech to Congress, but we dont know his family, Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia told The New York Post. open image in gallery Suspected gunman Elias Rodriguez is arrested at the scene by D.C. police on Wednesday May 21 2025 ( Yoni River Kalin ) The representative paid tribute to Eric Rodriguez at the time of the speech by calling him an outspoken advocate against attacks on veterans services and the rights of unionized federal employees. He added: Eric represents the very best of our community someone who has served his country, continues to serve his fellow veterans and fights every day to protect the dignity of working people. His presence at the Joint Address is a powerful statement: we will not sit back while veterans and workers are treated as political pawns. open image in gallery Eric Rodriguez, the father of suspect Israeli embassy gunman Elias Rodriguez, speaks on veterans affairs in a video put out by the Service Employees International Union on March 5 2025 ( Service Employees International Union/Facebook ) Eric Rodriguez also appeared in a Service Employees International Union video on the same day, in which he described himself as an Iraq War veteran and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee. Ive been with the VA for three years, and the reason why Im in Washington, D.C., is because Im concerned about what Donald Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE are doing to the VA system, he said. Congressman Garcia responded to the tragic shooting on Thursday by writing on X: I strongly condemn this horrible, senseless act of antisemitism. My heart is with the victims and everyone impacted by the attack. open image in gallery Illinois Democratic Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, shown here, has confirmed that Rodriguezs father in Washington D.C. earlier this year ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the venue before the attack and afterwards tried to get inside before being detained by security. He chanted free, free Palestine as he was led away in handcuffs. Elias Rodriguezs actions have inspired international condemnation, with President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both denouncing it as an antisemitic act of terrorism. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy at a Jewish event in Washington, D.C. has been charged with the murder of foreign officials. Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, told officers from the Metropolitan Police Department at the scene: I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed, according to an arrest affidavit seen by The Independent. Rodriguez, 30, also faces charges of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as two additional charges of first-degree murder in Washington, D.C. open image in gallery A court sketch shows shooting suspect Elias Rodriguez in a U.S. District Court hearing in Washington, D.C Thursday ( Dana Verkouteren ) According to witnesses, Rodriguez chanted free, free Palestine following the shooting, which occurred at 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum. The two victims have been named as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his partner, Sarah Milgrim, 26. According to witnesses, Rodriguez had been pacing outside the museum, which was hosting an event to help citizens in Gaza. As the young couple left the event, Rodriguez walked past them, turned, and allegedly shot them in the back, according to the affidavit. He was captured on surveillance video extending both his arms in the direction of Lischinsky and Milgrim and firing several times, as indicated by the muzzle flashes, the affidavit noted. After both fell to the ground, Rodriguez walked up to them and fired several more times. Milgrim had attempted to crawl away, but Rodriguez had reloaded the gun and fired at her yet again, the documents said. open image in gallery Rodriguez, of Chicago, told officers from the Metropolitan Police Department at the scene: I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, according to his arrest affidavit ( Yoni River Kalin ) Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar first identified the victims late on Wednesday. Lischinsky was a research assistant, and Milgrim organized visits and missions to Israel. Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives, the embassy said in a statement. The entire embassy staff [are] heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said the young couple was about to be engaged, saying Lischinsky had purchased a ring this week with the intent to propose next week in Jerusalem. The ironic part is that we were worried for our daughters safety in Israel, Robert Milgrim said of his daughter to The New York Times. But she [Milgrim] was murdered three days before going. The pair had been attending an American Jewish Committee event at the Capital Jewish Museum, described online as a Young Diplomats Reception. The event was intended to bring together young Jewish professionals between the ages of 22 and 45. open image in gallery The two victims of Wednesdays shooting have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his partner, Sarah Milgrim, 26. Both were employees at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. ( AP ) According to the affidavit, Rodriguez flew from Chicagos OHare airport to the Reagan National Airport on Tuesday, according to United Airlines records. He declared his firearm in his checked baggage and flew with it across state lines. The attack is being seen by officials in Israel and the U.S. as the latest in a growing wave of antisemitism after Israel ramped up its offensive in the Gaza Strip. President Donald Trump has condemned the horrible D.C. killings and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was shocked by the horrific, antisemitic shooting. We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel, he said in a statement. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A political activist from Chicago was charged Thursday with the killing of two Israeli embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night. Elias Rodriguez, 30, was detained by event security inside the museum after allegedly using a handgun to open fire on a group of four people who were leaving an event, according to the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. He was charged with the murder of foreign officials. He also faces charges of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two additional charges of first-degree murder. It has since emerged that Rodriguezs father attended President Donald Trumps joint address to Congress in March as a guest of Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia. open image in gallery Video footage shows the moment that suspected gunman Elias Rodriguez was arrested by DC police ( Yoni River Kalin ) Witnesses said Rodriguez was allegedly pacing back and forth outside of the museum before shots were fired. Israeli officials named the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgram. The couple, who both moved to the U.S. in recent years, were due to become engaged. Follow our latest coverage on the deadly Washington D.C. shooting here. The suspect had a brief association with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which advocated on behalf of Palestinians, the group confirmed in a post on X. The group added that Rodriguez was not a member and that his activism with them ended in 2017. We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL... We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it. open image in gallery A court sketch shows Rodriguez with his lawyer as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey Nestler stands before Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh in a U.S. District Court hearing in Washington, D.C ( Dana Verkouteren ) According to the groups Liberation newspaper, the suspect attended a protest outside the home of then-Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. Rodriguez lives in the East Albany Park section of the city. In a speech allegedly given on behalf of the PSL in October 2017, Rodriguez attempted to connect the murder of Laquan McDonald, who was fatally shot by Chicago police officers in 2014, and the activities of retail giant Amazon. The wealth that Amazon has brought to Seattle has not been shared with its Black residents, Rodriguez said at the time, per Liberation. [Amazons] whitening of Seattle is structurally racist and a direct danger to all workers who live in that city. The PSL launched a new campaign Wednesday and urged its X followers to sign the pledge against genocide, in an attempt to garner 1 million signatures to show the massive opposition that exists around the world to the U.S.-Israeli massacre in Gaza. Assistant Director of the FBI's Washington Field Office, Steve Jensen, said that an investigation into the homicides will look into ties to potential terrorism and if the attack was a hate crime. Jensen denounced the shooting as heinous. Rodriguez was being interviewed early Thursday by both police and the FBI, Deputy Director Dan Bongino has said. According to a LinkedIn profile, Rodriguez is a resident of Avondale in Chicago and a graduate of the University of Illinois. Since July 2024, he has worked as an administrative specialist for the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Association. open image in gallery Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgram were identified by the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., as the shooting victims ( X/@IsraelinUSA ) A profile on the website, History Makers, where Rodriguez worked between 2023 and 2024, states he was born and raised in Chicago and enjoys reading and writing fiction, live music, film, and exploring new places. D.C. Police Chief Smith said that after being handcuffed, Rodriguez disclosed where he discarded the handgun, which was recovered by authorities. The suspect also implied that he committed the offense, the Smith added. Video footage shows the suspect chanting, Free, free Palestine, repeatedly, as he is arrested by police and led away from the museum. open image in gallery A man draped in the Israeli flag as as Metropolitan Police officers secure the area outside the Capital Jewish Museum ( AFP via Getty Images ) Police believed that Rodriguez was the sole suspect at the time of reporting. He had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said there is no active threat in our community. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene with former judge Jeanine Pirro, who serves as the U.S. attorney in Washington and whose office would prosecute the case. Israeli and U.S. officials have deemed the attack as part of a rising tide of antisemitism, intensifying amid Israel's escalating offensive in the Gaza Strip. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A couple in South Carolina was arrested after their baby was found in horrific conditions at a home filled with feces, piles of trash, and over 40 animals, including the carcass of a goat that was decomposing in the bathtub. Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley were taken into custody after police received concerns from the Department of Social Services that they were living with their 8-month-old living in an unsafe environment, according to a Honea Path Police Department news release. In my 30-plus years of service, I have never encountered such a horrific situation involving unsanitary conditions and such a large number of animals, Honea Path Police Chief Chris Miller said. open image in gallery Kayla Renard (pictured) and Nicholas Foley were taken into custody after police received concerns from the Department of Social Services that they were living with their 8-month-old living in an unsafe environment ( Anderson County Detention Center ) On May 19, police responded to the home on South Shirley Avenue and were met with a shocking scene. Once my officers went inside, they discovered just piles of trash and animal feces, Miller said. There were several different types of animals running around. Raccoons, chickens, cats, dogs. There was a dead goat in the bathtub in the bathroom that had been decomposing for several days. Animal feces and waste were found throughout the home and police determined that the severe unsafe and unsanitary conditions that put the infant at risk. .The alarming situation prompted police to call Dr. Kim Sanders with Anderson County PAWS, for assistance due to the overwhelming number of animals, police said. More than 40 animals were safely removed from the property and the baby was placed in the care of a relative, according to police. The child is OK. The child was in pretty good condition for the unsanitary conditions of the house, Miller said, per WJCL. Police did not disclose how many dead animals were found, but Dr. Sanders told PEOPLE Magazine that six dead animals were removed from the property. open image in gallery More than 40 animals were removed from the South Carolina home (pictured), including a dead goat that was decomposing in the bathtub ( Google Street View ) She also said that 41 live animals were found in the home, including 25 dogs, three cats, five raccoons, six chickens and two rabbits. The animals were severely dehydrated, covered in feces and the majority of them were extremely emaciated, she added. The home was unfit for any living creature let alone an 8-month-old baby girl, Sanders said, recalling the overwhelming smell in the home, adding that the ammonia burned our eyes. All of the animals are undergoing medical care and are expected to recover at this time. The emotional trauma they sustained will be a bigger challenge to overcome. open image in gallery Nicholas Foley was also arrested. Both parents have since bonded out of jail ( Anderson County Detention Center ) Renard and Foley were charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and ill treatment of animals, and violations of town ordinances. They were booked into the Anderson County Detention Center and given $10,000 surety bonds. Both have since posted bond. The police chief told WHNS he found the parents lack of expression to be the most disturbing. Sitting there calm and really no emotion. No facial expressions, Chief Miller said. You would think that theyd be a little upset that someone was taking their eight-month-old baby, that the police were there and discovered the horrific conditions of this house. You would think that they would have to know that they were in trouble. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A couple working at Israels embassy in Washington D.C, who were killed by a gunman, were about to become engaged. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were attacked late on Wednesday night while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, police said. The suspect was heard shouting Free Palestine after he was arrested by cops. Diplomat Lischinsky, 30, was days away from proposing to his 26-year-old girlfriend, with embassy colleagues explaining he had already bought the ring. open image in gallery The Israeli embassy identified the couple as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim ( X/@IsraelinUSA ) Tributes have poured in for the pair after the Israeli embassy published a photo of them Thursday morning. Follow the latest updates on the shooting here What do we know about the victims? Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter said at a news conference that the two people killed were a couple about to be engaged. The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem, he said. Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives, the embassy said later in a statement. The entire embassy staff [is] heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. The pair had been attending an American Jewish Committee event at the Capital Jewish Museum, described online as a Young Diplomats Reception. The event was intended to bring together young Jewish professionals between the ages of 22 and 45. Lischinsky was described as a clever and inspiring person by a friend, while Milgrim was a curious person with an unwavering belief in peace and equality, according to her former employer. Friends, colleagues and Israels most senior officials are lamenting the loss of two promising young diplomats who appeared committed to interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence. open image in gallery A man draped in the Israeli flag kneels behind the police cordon outside the Capital Jewish Museum ( AFP/Getty ) Lischinsky was part of his universitys Model United Nations team in 2019, traveling to Paris in June of that year to meet embassy officials. He was also voted delegate of the week. In his acceptance statement, he described the importance of providing a platform for multilateral cooperation between countries. Lischinsky worked as a research assistant for Middle East & North African Affairs in the embassys political department, according to his LinkedIn page. He moved from Jerusalem in September 2022. A friend who studied with Lischinsky at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem described him as one of the most inspiring and clever individuals he had met in a post on the social media site. In a post on LinkedIn, Lischinsky said he was a staunch supporter of the Abraham Accords and an advocate for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding. open image in gallery Law enforcement at the scene after two Israeli embassy staff members were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington (Rod Lamkey Jr/AP) ( AP ) Lischinskys girlfriend, Milgrim, worked in the public diplomacy department at the embassy. She moved to the U.S. in November 2023 from Tel Aviv. Before that, she spent a year working for an Israeli organization, Tech2Peace, committed to improving dialogue and relations between Palestinians and Israelis. She described herself on her LinkedIn page as focused on fostering understanding between different peoples. In a tribute post uploaded on Instagram, Tech2Peace described Milgrim as a deeply curious person who held an unwavering belief in dialogue, peace, and equality. Sarah was a deeply curious person, always seeking to learn and connect, they added. She brought people together with empathy and purpose, and her dedication to building a better future was evident in everything she did. Her voice and spirit will be profoundly missed. open image in gallery Israeli President Isaac Herzog paid tribute to Milgrim ( REUTERS ) Six months ago, the young couple met the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, during his trip to Washington. He was in the U.S. for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In a message on X on Thursday morning, Herzog described Milgrim and her partner as flowers of our people who were plucked just before they were supposed to get engaged and build a life together. Israels foreign minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday that he had spoken to Lischinskys father. Saar said he told the father that Lischinsky was a warrior on our diplomatic front that fell just like a soldier in the battlefield. Tal Naim, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington and a friend of the couple, said she and the two young diplomats had been laughing together by the coffee corner on Wednesday morning. Now, she added, all that remains is a picture. She said: Instead of walking you down the aisle, we are walking with you to your graves. What an unbearable loss. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. have been fatally shot while leaving an event at a Jewish museum. The suspect yelled Free, free Palestine when he was arrested following the deadly attack, that took place at around 9 p. m. Wednesday police said. The attack is being seen by officials in Israel and the U.S. as the latest in a growing wave of antisemitism after Israel ramped up its offensive in the Gaza Strip. President Donald Trump has condemned the horrible D.C. killings and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. Click here for the latest updates on the shooting. open image in gallery A man draped in the Israeli flag as as Metropolitan Police officers secure the area outside the Capital Jewish Museum after the shooting ( AFP/Getty ) Here's what we know about the double killing: What happened? The two victims, who were a couple, were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum around 9.15 p.m. Wednesday night when suspect Elias Rodriguez allegedly approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said. A witness reported that Rodriguez t was observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting. He walked into the museum following the shooting and was detained by event security, Smith said. When he was taken into custody, the suspect began chanting, Free, free Palestine, according to Smith. She said law enforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community. Who is the suspect? open image in gallery Video footage shows the moment that suspected gunman Elias Rodriguez was arrested by DC police ( Yoni River Kalin ) The suspect has been identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago. The Justice Department charged him Thursday with with federal murder charges. At least one of the charges using a firearm to commit murder carries the possibility of the death penalty. He is also charged with first degree murder, murdering foreign officials, and using a firearm during a violent crime. Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela Smith recounted that he was handcuffed following the Wednesday night shooting, Rodriguez disclosed where he had discarded the handgun, which was recovered by police. The suspect also implied that he committed the offense, the police chief added. Video footage shows the suspect chanting, Free, free Palestine, repeatedly, as he was arrested by police and led away from the museum. Police believed that Rodriguez was the sole suspect at the time of the shooting. He had no prior criminal record and was not previously known to law enforcement. According to a LinkedIn profile, Rodriguez is a resident of Avondale in Chicago and a graduate of the University of Illinois. Since July 2024, he has worked as an administrative specialist for the Chicago-based American Osteopathic Association. The suspect had a brief association with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which advocated on behalf of Palestinians, the group confirmed in a post on X. Rodriguez was being interviewed early Thursday by D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department as well as the FBI. The U.S. attorney in Washington will prosecute the case. Who are the victims? open image in gallery Yaron Lischinsky, right, and his partner Sarah Milgrim were both killed in the shooting ( X/@IsraelinUSA ) Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26. Lischinsky was a research assistant, and Milgrim organized visits and missions to Israel. Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives, the embassy said later in a statement. The entire embassy staff [are] heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said the young couple was about to be engaged, saying the man had purchased a ring this week with the intent to propose next week in Jerusalem. The ironic part is that we were worried for our daughters safety in Israel, Robert Milgrim said of his daughter to The New York Times. But she was murdered three days before going. The pair had been attending an American Jewish Committee event at the Capital Jewish Museum, described online as a Young Diplomats Reception. The event was intended to bring together young Jewish professionals between the ages of 22 and 45. Witnesses to the attack open image in gallery FBI agents cordon off the scene outside the Capital Jewish Museum following the shooting ( AFP/Getty ) Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were inside the museum when they heard gunshots and a man came inside looking distressed, they said. Kalin said people came to his aid and brought him water, thinking he needed help, without realizing he was the suspect. When police arrived, he pulled out a red keffiyeh and repeatedly yelled, Free Palestine, Kalin said. This event was about humanitarian aid, Kalin said. How can we actually help both the people in Gaza and the people in Israel? How can we bring together Muslims and Jews and Christians to work together to actually help innocent people? And then here he is just murdering two people in cold blood. The influential pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera aired on a loop what appeared to be mobile phone footage of the alleged gunman, wearing a suit jacket and slacks, being pulled away after the shooting, his hands behind his back. What is Israel's reaction? open image in gallery Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the attack ( ABIR SULTAN ) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said that he was shocked by the horrific, antisemitic shooting. We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel, he said in a statement. Israeli diplomats in the past have been targeted by violence, both by state-backed assailants and Palestinian militants over the decades of the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict that grew out of the founding of Israel in 1948. The Palestinians seek Gaza and the West Bank for a future state, with east Jerusalem as its capital lands Israel captured in the 1967 war. However, the peace process between the sides has been stalled for years. Israel's new campaign in Gaza open image in gallery The shooting comes as Israel launched a new offensive in war-torn Gaza ( AFP via Getty Images ) The shooting comes as Israel has launched a new campaign targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip in a war that has set tensions aflame across the wider Middle East. The war began with the Palestinian militant group Hamas coming out of Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, to kill 1,200 people and take some 250 hostages back to the coastal enclave. In the time since, Israels devastating campaign in Gaza has killed more than 53,000 people, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities, whose count doesnt differentiate between combatants and civilians. The fighting has displaced 90 per cent of the territorys roughly 2 million population, sparked a hunger crisis and obliterated vast swaths of Gazas urban landscape. Aid groups ran out of food to distribute weeks ago, and most of the population of around 2.3 million relies on communal kitchens whose supplies are nearly depleted. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor accused of orchestrating a hate crime hoax, has agreed to pay $50,000 to a Chicago charity as part of a settlement over a lawsuit about the cost of the investigation into his claims. The actor, who is Black and gay, claimed two men assaulted him, put a noose around his neck and spewed racial and homophobic slurs at him in Chicago in January 2019. Two years later, Smollett was convicted of lying to police related to allegations that he staged his own attack. While the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the decision, he has now agreed to pay $50,000 to a city charity to settle a lawsuit over the costs of the police investigation. In April 2019, the city originally sought $130,000 the amount paid to police for their 1,800 hours of overtime work stemming from his false statements. Smollett countersued and insisted the attack was not a hoax. He previously paid a $10,000 fine and did community service, court documents show. Now, in exchange for dismissing the suit, the actor agreed to pay $50,000 to Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, a Chicago-based organization that aims to improve the quality of life for underprivileged youth and their families by providing safe, stable, and nurturing experiences that enhance social, emotional, academic, and career development. The Independent has reached out to Smollett for comment. Jussie Smollett, the actor accused of orchestrating a hate crime hoax, agreed to pay $50,000 to a local charity as part of a settlement with the city of Chicago ( Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP ) This payment adds to the $10,000 payment Smollett previously made to the City in 2019 for a total sum of $60,000. Since the City filed its lawsuit, Smollett has faced additional accountability through the appointment of a Special Prosecutor and subsequent criminal trial, where the evidence was publicly aired and a conviction secured (ultimately reversed on procedural grounds). Accordingly, the City believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive, and conclusive resolution, allowing all the parties to close this six-year-old chapter and move forward, a statement from the Chicago Department of Law reads. Torri Hamilton, an attorney for Smollett, told The Independent in a statement: Jussie chose to end this saga by donating to a charity that focuses on the performing arts and underprivileged kids in Chicago. Jussie has always loved the people of Chicago and this lawsuit has been dragging on for six years now. The decision to put it in his rearview mirror by supporting a cause already near and dear to his heart was not a difficult one." The parties had agreed to settle last month, but the terms of the agreement were only made public Thursday. One month after the actor made the claims about the attack, the then-Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson accused Smollett of taking advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career. This publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didnt earn and certainly didnt deserve, Johnson said. The city accused the actor of paying $3,500 to two Nigerian brothers, with whom he was friends, to help him stage and orchestrate the attack, according to the 2019 complaint. In February 2019, an attorney for the brothers released a statement saying they have "tremendous regret over their involvement in this situation. The statement continued: They understand how it has impacted people across the nation, particularly minority communities and especially those who have been victims of hate crimes themselves." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Public Safety is set to plead guilty to threatening to bomb city hall over the citys support of Israel. Brian Williams, 31, of Pasadena, California, was charged with one felony count of making an explosives threat. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Williams was accused of sending a text message to L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and other high-ranking city officials on October 3, 2024, while he was still in office, claiming he had just received a call from someone who threatened to bomb city hall, prosecutors said in a DOJ release. Bomb threat: I received phone call on my city cell at 10:48 am this morning, Williams wrote in the text, according to prosecutors. The male caller stated that he was tired of the city support of Israel, and he has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the rotunda. open image in gallery Brian Williams, 31, a former Los Angeles deputy mayor, was charged with making a bomb threat to city hall. ( Los Angeles Times ) Williams also told them he had contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, who sent officers to search the building. Officers responded, but did not find any bombs, suspicious packages or devices, prosecutors said. Investigators later discovered that Williams never even received a call, but that he had actually made the bomb threat himself. At no time did Williams intend to carry out the threat, prosecutors added. According to the DOJ, Williams was in an online meeting with multiple people when he used the Google Voice application on his personal cell phone to place a call to his city-issued cell phone. Williams sent more texts to the mayor and other officials that read: At this time, there is no need for us to evacuate the building, Im meeting with the threat management officers within the next 10 minutes. In light of the Jewish holidays, we are taking this thread, a little more seriously. I will keep you posted. open image in gallery LA Deputy Mayor Bomb Threat ( AP ) In December 2024, following allegations that he had made the threat, the FBI searched Williams' home in connection to the incident, and he was placed on administrative leave. In an era of heated political rhetoric that has sometimes escalated into violence, we cannot allow public officials to make bomb threats, United States Attorney Bill Essayli said in the release My office will continue its efforts to keep the public safe, including from those who violate their duty to uphold the law. The FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing to investigate the incident. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man suspected of murder has escaped from a Louisiana jail after scaling a fence - his second jailbreak in a year. TraVon Johnson, 19, escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail over an hours drive northwest of New Orleans on Thursday afternoon, police say. Hours later, authorities say they discovered that Johnson had vanished after someone called to ask if he was still in jail. Police immediately did a headcount and review of Johnsons movements from that day, which revealed that he escaped when another inmate helped lift him over the perimeter fence, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office said. open image in gallery TraVon Johnson, 19, escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Louisiana on Thursday afternoon, police say. ( Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office ) A manhunt has been launched, and police have notified the victims of the home invasion murder that Johnson was awaiting trial for when he left the facility. Johnson, along with two other men, was arrested and sent to the Tangipahoa Parish Jail after a home invasion in 2022 that left a father dead and his child injured. The sheriffs office said Thursdays escape was Johnsons second jailbreak this year. Last May, Johnson, the three men also charged with the 2022 home invasion murder and another inmate escaped the jail through the perimeter fence during recreation time. Johnson and one of the men were found hiding in a dumpster behind a Dollar General Store 22 miles away from the jail. Thursdays jailbreak comes nearly a week after 10 inmates broke out of a New Orleans jail. Five escapees remain at large. open image in gallery An Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office deputy arrests Dkenan Dennis, one of 10 men who escaped a New Orleans jail on May 16 ( Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office ) The inmates escaped in the dead of night by derailing a cell door, pulling a toilet off its mounting and squeezing through an opening in the wall, authorities said. Once in the jails supply loading bay, the inmates used blankets to scale a wall and ran across a highway to flee into the New Orleans area. A review of the physical security infrastructure revealed signs of tampering, the sheriffs office told The Independent. Prior to the escape, steel bars protecting plumbing fixtures were intact. After the escape, at least one steel bar appeared to have been intentionally cut using a tool, compromising the integrity of the pods security features. A jail maintenance worker has been arrested for helping the escaped inmates, according to officials. Sterling Williams, 33, claimed that one of the escapees threatened to shank him if he didnt help them, an arrest warrant obtained by NOLA.com said. Three Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office employees have been suspended without pay in connection with the investigation into the inmates' escape and two non-employees were arrested for helping the escapees, police say. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Queens man was charged Wednesday with multiple crimes after allegedly assaulting a 9-year-old girl, then biting off part of an off-duty NYPD officer's finger. The disturbing incident, which was captured on surveillance footage, happened May 10 at the corner of Central Avenue and 67th Place in the Glendale neighborhood of New York City, where the child was standing with her mother, accoridng to the Queens County District Attorneys office. Feliz Enrique, 31, approached the girl, asked her name, then punched her in the face, knocking her down, investigators said. The attack left the child bleeding from her lip and arm, and knocked some of her teeth loose. open image in gallery Feliz Enrique, 31, punched the girl in Queens the day before Mother's Day, authorities say. Video captured the shocking moment. ( Queens District Attorney's Office ) An off-duty NYPD sergeant, Sebastian Hajder, witnessed the assault, and when he confronted Enrique, the suspect allegedly bit the officer on the knee, hand, and tip of his right index finger, prosecutors said. Doctors were unable to reattach it the part of the finger. Enrique, who was on parole after serving seven years for attempted murder, told police, This isn't the first time it's happened. I beat up her father. Yeah, I punched her, he said, per ABC7NY. open image in gallery Enrique was on parole after serving seven years for attempted murder at the time of the recent attack. ( Queen's District Attorney's Office ) Enrique is facing charges including assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison. He remains in custody and is undergoing a mental evaluation to see if hes fit to stand trial. open image in gallery The alleged attack knocked some of the 9-year-old girl's teeth loose, police said. ( Queens District Attorney's Office ) Enrique is scheduled to appear in court again on July 10 as the investigation continues. The 9-year-old girl is home from the hospital, but her family is shaken over the attack, ABC7NY reports. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The day after learning his 18-year-old son had been killed by Cincinnati police, Rodney Hinton Jr. sat down with his family to watch the body cam footage of the teenagers final moments. Too distraught to watch it in full, Hinton left the police station before the video ended. A few hours later, according to prosecutors, he drove his car at high speed towards officer Larry Henderson, who was directing college graduation traffic at an intersection, killing him. Henderson, a 57-year-old father of five, had retired last December after over three decades as a Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy, but returned occasionally for special duty. He didnt have anything to do with the teens death, and seems to have been chosen simply because he was a police officer. In the weeks since Hinton carried out the car attack, he has attracted thousands of supporters online, fan edits of his court appearances have gone viral with millions of views, and nearly $100,000 has been donated to support his defense and his family. Hintons defenders have sought to place his actions in the context of institutional police violence against Black people. A lot of African Americans are tired of the police seemingly unjustifiably killing Black individuals without recourse or without punishment," Clyde Bennett, Hintons attorney, told The Independent. Some say they understood how the pain of losing a son at the hands of police could have caused Hinton to lash out in the way that he did. Others compare it to the alleged killing of a healthcare executive by Luigi Mangione, who is often depicted as a cult hero standing up against the health insurance industry. Hintons actions have been received and accepted by a lot of people because they can identify and relate to his experience, and they believe that they can understand why he did what he did, because they may have done the same thing in similar circumstances, Bennett added. open image in gallery Rodney Hinton Jr, left, is accused of intentionally killing Deputy Larry Henderson, right, with his car just hours after watching body cam footage of his son being shot dead by police. ( Hamilton County Sheriff's Office ) Hinton faces the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted on charges of two counts of aggravated murder of the retired deputy. Bennett said his client intends to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, explaining that seeing the video of his son's death triggered a psychiatric episode. I've got the medical records to prove it he was not in his right frame of mind when he committed the act that he did. He did not understand the wrongfulness of his conduct because of his mental condition. I think he was insane at the time, Bennett said. The investigation into the police killing of Ryan Hinton is ongoing. Police bodycam footage from May 2 in the East Price Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati shows officers arriving at a stolen vehicle parked on a dead-end street, and four men running from the vehicle. A man later identified as Ryan Hinton is seen dashing out from between two dumpsters and away from the officers. As he does so, one of the officers shouts Hes got a gun! several times. Another officer opens fire and continues firing as Hinton runs past him. If youre Team Luigi Mangione, you should be Team Rodney Hinton Jr. too. Both men were pushed to the brink by violent systems Leslie Vargas, writing for Afropunk Police later showed photographs of a loaded gun they say Hinton was holding. A coroner said the round that likely killed Hinton entered just under his armpit, ricocheted off a rib, hit his heart, and exited the front through his chest. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge defended the officer who fired the shots. 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. He was in like a bladed position, and [the gun] was pointed at the officer, and he felt threatened for his life. And that's why he discharged his firearm," Theetge said. The day after the shooting, Hinton and the rest of Ryan Hintons family were invited into the police station to watch the footage of the incident for themselves. Theetge met with the family at 9:30 a.m. to review the footage. After just 20 minutes, Hinton was so upset he left the building, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said at a press conference . Hintons family was worried about his mental state in the hours after he had seen the footage. Just after 1 p.m., Hinton pulled over into a middle lane and looked down a hill where Henderson, a marine veteran, was directing traffic at an intersection for the University of Cincinnatis spring graduation ceremony. Henderson was standing just off the road, underneath a tree for shade. Hinton then floors the vehicle, according to Pillich, crossed into traffic lanes, and drove directly at Henderson, hitting him. open image in gallery The family of Ryan Hinton and their legal team from The Cochran Firm, speak during a news conference at The Cochran Firm offices, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Cincinnati. ( (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ) He never veers off course, he never slows down, she said. Hinton appeared in court for his arraignment the day after. The courtroom was packed with local police officers, together with a sizeable number of Hinton Jr.s family members. Soon after, videos of that appearance began appearing on TikTok and other social media. One video, liked more than 412,000 times, showed a slow-motion clip of Hinton walking past a long line of police officers in the courtroom set to Sam Cookes civil rights anthem A Change is Gonna Come. Another version of the same clip, captioned the hate in their eyes referring to the police officers had been liked 1.6 million times. T-shirts, yard signs and mugs for $20 a piece emblazoned with the image of Hinton in an orange jumpsuit walking by the police officers in the courtroom, with the words Free Rodney Hinton Jr., are available to buy online. In Cincinnati, Hintons actions were largely condemned. But online, they sparked a debate about the lasting impact of police violence on Black Americans. Rodney Hinton Jr. doing what he did was absolutely a direct reaction to watching the body cam footage of his son. But I also feel like DECADES of watching Black people suffer at the hands of police brutality, and be failed by the justice system, played a role in his actions too, wrote Cindy Noir, a podcaster and commentator. Another writer compared the killing to that of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. open image in gallery Ryan Hinton was killed in a police shooting at 18 years old. ( GoFundMe ) If youre Team Luigi Mangione, you should be Team Rodney Hinton Jr. too. Both men were pushed to the brink by violent systemsone by health insurance, the other by the murder of his child at the hands of police, Leslie Vargas wrote for Afropunk . But only one is treated with sympathy. America always finds compassion for white rage while criminalizing Black grief. This isnt about whats justifiableits about who gets to be seen as human. Justice in this country still depends on the color of your skin, she continued. In the days after the incident, the Black Panthers held a meeting in Cincinnati to organize in support of the father. We want to cause an epidemic towards the thinking that was expressed by Rodney Hinton," said Mmoja Ajabu, a Black Panther leader, said at the meeting. Online fundraising GoFundMe removed more than a dozen campaigns set up for him in the days after his arrest to help pay for legal fees quickly raised $5,000. That was shut down after protests from police unions, but another fundraiser on a different website set up by Hintons sister has raised over $53,000 at the time of writing. A separate fundraiser set up by his wife now stands at $48,000. Dylan Roof, Kyle Rittenhouse, Derek Chauvin and the rest of those racist bigots had go fund me after killing black men for no reason so we can donate to our people, wrote one donor on the fundraiser page. open image in gallery The family of Ryan Hinton and their legal team from The Cochran Firm, speak during a news conference, at The Cochran Firm offices, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Cincinnati. ( AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster ) Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called a press conference on Tuesday, calling for the website that is hosting those fundraisers, GiveSendGo , to take them down. We shouldn't be crowdfunding an evildoer," Yost said, while conceding that the company was not breaking any laws. Bennett, Hintons attorney, said the case had split public opinion. You got a certain part of the community that believes that what he did was evil and retaliatory, and it was done with a sane mind. And then you got another half of the community that says I understand how he might be triggered and have a psychiatric episode as a result of seeing his son killed, he told The Independent. Meanwhile, Hintons family is distancing themselves from the online debate. Everybody is hurting off this, said Rodney Hinton Sr, Ryans grandfather, at an emotional press conference, the family, the officer, the mother. I was crying about what happened to the officer, you know, so that's what it was all about. It's all about healing each other. Everybody makes mistakes. It was an emotional mistake," he added. Anna Booker-Hinton, Hinton Jr.s wife, hit out at media coverage of the case on the fundraising page for her husband. The media is twisting this devastating incident, trying to portray Rodneyan African American father in painas an angry man lashing out. But I know without a shadow of a doubt: Rodney did not act out of retaliation. He was a grieving father in unimaginable pain, she wrote. Hundreds gathered for Hendersons funeral service on 9 May, including dozens of police cruisers from across the state. Ryan Hinton was laid to rest just over a week later with mourners wearing red, his favorite color, in tribute. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were in the prime of their lives when they were gunned down outside Washington, D.C.s Capital Jewish Museum. The young couple, who worked at the Israeli embassy in the capital, were leaving an event Wednesday night hosted by the American Jewish Committee when they were confronted by a gunman, who fired at close range. Lischinsky, a 30-year-old diplomat, was just days away from proposing to 26-year-old Milgrim, a colleague at the embassy who grew up in Kansas. open image in gallery Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky worked at the Israeli embassy in the capital. They were leaving an event Wednesday night hosted by the American Jewish Committee when they were confronted by a gunman, who fired at close range ( X/@IsraelinUSA ) The suspect has been named as Chicago man Elias Rodriguez, 30, who is in police custody. Rodriquez chanted free, free Palestine following his arrest over the shooting, police said. Tributes have poured in from around the world for the young couple. Couple was about to get engaged The couple had been together just over a year and a half and were due to travel to Israel next week, where Lischinsky was going to ask Milgrim to marry him. He had already purchased the ring and was going to propose in Jerusalem, Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to Washington, said. Instead of walking you down the aisle, we are walking with you to your graves, Israeli diplomat and spokesperson Tal Naim said in a post on social media in the early hours of Thursday. Just this morning, we were still laughing together by the coffee corner and now, all that remains is a picture. Milgrim was due to meet her boyfriends family in Jerusalem for the first time. Milgrims mother saw daughter was at the shooting on an app Milgrim grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas. Her parents were getting ready for bed when news of the shooting broke late Wednesday. Her mother, Nancy Milgrim, took out her cell phone and looked at the family locator app. It confirmed her worst fears that her daughter was at the Capital Jewish Museum, The New York Times reports. She was due to fly to Washington Friday to look after her daughters dog while she was in Israel with Lischinsky, the newspaper reported. I pretty much already knew, Sarah Milgrims father, Robert Milgrim, told the outlet. I was hoping to be wrong. Shortly after checking the locator app, the phone rang. The Israeli ambassador was calling to inform the couple that their daughter and her boyfriend had been killed. What went through my mind is, I feel the antisemitism that has surfaced since Oct. 7 and also since the election of President Trump, Robert Milgrim told The Times. Its just an extension of my worst fears. The ironic part is that we were worried for our daughters safety in Israel, he added. But she was murdered three days before going. Her warmth and smile could light up any room open image in gallery The couple had been together just over a year and a half and were due to travel to Israel next week, where Lischinsky was going to ask Milgrim to marry him. Milgrim was described by a friend as having a warmth and smile that could light up any room ( Handout/Tech2Peace ) Milgrim was working at the Israeli embassy, where her role involved organizing diplomatic missions and visits to Israel, according to the Israeli foreign ministry. She had worked there for about a year and a half, and its where she met Lischinsky. A friend of Milgrims, Josh Maxey, said her warmth and smile could light up any room. The friend said that he spoke to her at 5 p.m. on the day of the shooting for what was their final conversation. Last evening around 5 p.m., I called Sarah for what would be our last conversation to talk about World Pride and a special project she was working on, Maxey wrote in the post on Facebook. After business, we chatted about her upcoming trip to Israel and how she wanted to make sure everything was squared away for Pride and her special project because she did not want to leave her colleagues unprepared. That is who she was. We first met a couple of years ago at an @israelinusa event. From that first meeting, I knew Sarah was a true mensch, he said. Maxey went on to describe Milgrim as a true advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in the local Jewish community. open image in gallery The suspect has been named as Chicago man Elias Rodriguez, 30, and is in police custody. Rodriquez chanted free, free Palestine following his arrest over the shooting, police said ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The 26-year-old also spent time volunteering with the Tech2Peace non-profit, an organization that describes itself as providing high-tech and entrepreneurial training alongside conflict dialogue to young Palestinians and Israelis. In a tribute, the organization said Milgrim was a deeply curious person. She brought people together with empathy and purpose, and her dedication to building a better future was evident in everything she did, the tribute said. Her voice and spirit will be profoundly missed. You could not have met a kinder soul Lischinsky, originally from Germany, worked as a research assistant for Middle East and North African Affairs in the Israeli embassys political department. He moved from Germany to Israel when he was 16 and moved from Jerusalem to Washington, D.C. in September 2022. Milgrims father told The Times that Lischinsky was an incredible person who was similar to his daughter. He was incredible, Robert Milgrim told the newspaper. He was very much like Sarah: passionate, extremely intelligent, dedicated to what he does, always on the cause of whats right. Zineb Riboua, a friend of Lischinskys, said she was supposed to meet Milgrim for the first time the day after the shooting. He was full of curiosity and always brimming with ideas, Riboua said. I dont think we ever had a conversation that didnt leave me inspired to write something new. He loved America. He was excited about the future, about finally visiting Texas, and about the life he and his beloved fiancee were building together. I was supposed to meet her today. Another friend, David Boskey, described him as a man of whom the world was not worthy in a tribute. You could not have met a kinder soul, Boskey wrote. He and I used to talk in the back of our congregation on Friday evenings in Jerusalem about life, ministry, identity, our futures, our passions, our faith He was a man of conviction, of humility, of warmth, and of profound integrity. A man of whom the world was not worthy. Close Washington D.C. shooting suspect shouted 'free, free Palestine' after arrest, police say The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jewish organizations in Washington, D.C. are reviewing security protocols at synagogues and other institutions, in the wake of the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers Wednesday night. Ron Halber, chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said that local law enforcement has increased patrols around Jewish institutions in Washington since the killings. A lot of us are looking over our shoulder today, Halber told Reuters. But we have to keep leading proud open Jewish lives. The two victims were named as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a couple who were engaged. Lischinski's coffin arrived back in Israel on Friday, per ABC. Chicago man Elias Rodriguez, 30, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder over their killings, which took place outside of a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Rodriguez chanted free, free Palestine, according to police, after reportedly shooting at the couple at least 21 times. Court documents show that police recovered 21 fired bullets and a 9mm handgun from the scene, CNN reported. It has since emerged that the suspects father, Eric Rodriguez, was invited to President Donald Trumps Joint Address to Congress on March 5 this year by a Democratic lawmaker. The event features traditional Chinese tea ceremonies alongside musical performances. by Xinhua writer Lian Yi BERN, Switzerland, May 22 (Xinhua) -- On a crisp spring afternoon, nearly a hundred tea lovers from around the world gathered not in a traditional teahouse, but on the windswept peak of the Grindelwald-First mountain in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. The fragrant aroma of jasmine and roasted oolong mingled with the alpine air in a cross-cultural celebration of International Tea Day, held on Wednesday. At an altitude of over 2,100 meters, the event called "Tea for Harmony -- Yaji Cultural Salon" featured traditional Chinese tea ceremonies alongside musical performances, including on the guzheng (Chinese zither), violin, Swiss alphorn, and accordion, as well as yodeling. Swiss violinist Marvin Naef's rendition of the traditional Chinese piece Jasmine Flower was a highlight of the event, earning sustained applause from the audience. Tea artists from China also demonstrated the brewing of renowned Chinese teas from Fujian Province, including Dahongpao and jasmine tea. Participants gained deeper insights into Chinese tea culture by learning about jasmine tea varieties, production techniques, and brewing methods, while savoring the delicate flavors against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks and drifting clouds. They were also impressed by the evolving tea culture that now blends traditional Chinese methods with Western elements such as coffee, milk, and spirits. "The blend of nature, music, and tea created a memorable and immersive experience at this event," said Sabine Foehn, head of International Sales at Lake Lucerne Navigation Company. Remo Kaeser, chief marketing officer for Jungfrau Railways, praised the pairing of Wuyi Rock Tea with the fresh spring water of Mount First. "Mount First is also full of rocks, with clear spring water flowing over them -- there's nothing better than brewing Chinese Wuyi Rock Tea with this water," Kaeser said. Co-hosted by the China National Tourist Office Zurich, the China Cultural Center in Bern, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Fujian Province, the event is one of the highlights of the 2025 China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism. Liu Haisheng, head of the China National Tourist Office Zurich, highlighted the symbolic choice of Mount First for the celebration. "China's tea culture, with thousands of years of history, is deeply rooted in daily life. Through this tea ceremony and cultural exchange, we aim to share the warmth and friendship of the Chinese people with the world," Liu said. He noted that Mount Wuyi -- known as the birthplace of black and oolong tea -- is revered as a sacred site in Chinese tea culture. On April 19, 2024, Mount Wuyi in southeast China's Fujian Province and Mount Grindelwald-First in Switzerland were officially twinned as "sister mountains," symbolizing a cultural bridge between Chinese tea heritage and the Swiss Alps. Liu emphasized that this pairing connects the historic Chinese "Ten Thousand-Mile Tea Road" with the Swiss Alpine peaks, reflecting a shared commitment to cultural exchange and mutual understanding through tea. At 2,166 meters above sea level, the peak of Grindelwald-First -- a hotspot for connoisseurs and adventurers alike -- offers breathtaking views of the north face of the Eiger, and access to spectacular hiking trails. Over the strong objections of Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple and the insurance industry, the House deferred to Gov. Jeff Landry and gave final passage to a bill Tuesday that he says will make it harder for insurance companies to raise rates. 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 A young woman who thought for years she was non-binary or a transgender man is suing two doctors and Monash Health for negligence, claiming gender treatment that included having both breasts surgically removed had caused her significant injury. Mel Jefferies, a 33-year-old who was born as female and is now living again as a woman, has launched the civil lawsuit in the Victorian County Court. One of the defendants in the case is Dr Jeff Willcox, a Melbourne GP with an interest in gay mens health, sexual health ... and transgender health. The others are Jaco Erasmus, a psychiatrist with a special interest in transgender health, and Victorias largest public health service, Monash Health. Jefferies statement of claim, recently lodged with the court, accuses all three of falling short of delivering professional standards of care, including those outlined by the widely recognised World Professional Association for Transgender Health. The claim says those standards require doctors to ensure that anyone experiencing mental health conditions must have these well-managed and thoroughly controlled prior to the commencement of the testosterone treatment. In this award-winning portrait by Chris Hopkins, Mel Jefferies makes a statement about her feelings about her body post surgery. Credit: Chris Hopkins Jefferies says her years of mental health issues were not under control at the time of her treatment and were exacerbated by the testosterone prescribed by her doctors and surgery. Her statement of claim says she has a permanently deepened voice, hirsutism, clitoromegaly [a clitoris significantly larger than normal], vaginal pain/discomfort, abnormal body odour and acne, and pelvic floor dysfunction (as indicated by urinary incontinence). Advertisement Loading Under Australias current model of transgender treatment, known as affirming care, peoples gender identity is affirmed and supported when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth. For years I just kept getting affirmed by the medical fraternity and the trans community for something I wasnt, Jefferies told this masthead. They kept telling me, Youre non-binary, trans, maybe youre non-binary. I tried to pull away but they just kept pulling me back in I never developed the discernment to say this isnt true. Her case, filed by Slater and Gordon solicitor Anne Shortall, is one of the few brought in Australia by people who regret their gender treatment. Another is working its way through the courts in Sydney. Shortall declined to comment. If Jefferies case proceeds to a judicial decision, it could represent a test case for the duty of care doctors owe towards people seeking affirming care. It comes as the number of young people seeking treatment for gender dysphoria has increased dramatically in the past decade. Advertisement It also comes as the transgender community and doctors who perform such treatments push for an informed consent model of care which would reduce the barriers to treatment, including the requirement for psychological assessments. They also want GPs to be able to treat gender issues as they do more common conditions. Monash declined to comment as the case was before the courts and involved confidential patient information. Questions to Willcox were answered by his lawyer, who said he would defend the claim. Erasmus said he could not comment because the matter was before the court. The claim outlines Jefferies interactions with doctors, starting in 2011, when Willcox first prescribed her testosterone. The Melbourne referral came despite letters from a psychologist and a doctor in Sydney that Jefferies was not ready for the treatment and should have more counselling, including for social isolation and family dynamics of concern, and support for her anxiety. By virtue of the results of the prior consultations, reasonable medical practice ... required [Willcox] not commence the testosterone treatment until the Plaintiffs mental health difficulties were under control and her mental health stable, the statement of claim alleges. Instead, the document says, Willcox started the treatment without consideration of the [earlier] recommendations. In two 2012 referral letters for gender and psychological treatment, outlined in the claim, Willcox acknowledged that Jefferies has a complex mental health history that included body image disorder; eating disorder (adult); depression as well as suicidal ideation disordered eating/body dysmorphia and likely borderline personality disorder. Advertisement Some of the key symptoms of borderline personality disorder are impulsivity and instability in self-image and interpersonal relationships. However, one of the letters written by Willcox said: Despite the coexisting mental health issues, [Jefferies] has always appeared resolute in his desire to transition to the male sex and he feels surgery to remove his breasts is the next stage of this transition. Jefferies underwent a double mastectomy in 2017. She now says she should not have been referred for the surgery. Credit: Chris Hopkins The legal claim details strong swings in Jefferies attitude at the time. Between 2013 and 2017, it says, Jefferies stopped the testosterone treatment she went on TV and described herself as a detransitioner only to start it again two years later after another prescription from Willcox. At one time she expressed a desire for a hysterectomy, then later said she was happier in her female biological sex. Later still she asked to have her breasts removed because they were fat and made her feel like her skin doesnt fit properly. Medical records referred to in the court documents suggest she wanted at times to be asexual and have all of her reproductive organs removed, then decided she was comfortable being gender-fluid. Another doctor, who is not being sued, wrote in this period that Jefferies does not move along the gender continuum but rather ricochets from one side to the other. Advertisement The statement of claim also lists a catalogue of psychiatric medications Jefferies was prescribed, including anti-depressant, anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety drugs. In 2017, a gender doctor, who is not named in court documents, referred Jefferies to Monash Health on a recommendation from Erasmus. The referral was to convince Monash Health to recommend Jefferies for public funding under Medicare to pay for the mastectomy. A second letter from Erasmus to a plastic surgeon, Dr Andrew Ives, outlines Jefferies history of mental health issues but says they were reasonably well controlled. Jefferies had come to the conclusion that he has an unspecified gender identity and does not wish to be perceived as male or female, the referral letter says. In a binary society though he would settle for being perceived as male and therefore prefers using male pronouns In my opinion Mason [the name Jefferies was then known by] has experienced persistent gender dysphoria he is able to make an informed decision and has the capacity to consent to treatment, the Erasmus letter says. Jefferies, who was on the consumer advisory panel for the Monash Gender Clinic for a time, now says she should not have been referred for the double mastectomy. Her mental health was unstable and not well controlled, according to the claim. In October 2017, Ives billed on website Transsurgery Australia as one of the countrys leading Transgender Surgery experts removed Jefferies breasts. Ives is not a defendant in the lawsuit and also declined to comment while the matter was before the courts. Advertisement Two young girls severely injured in a suspicious blaze in Melbournes south-east are in a stable condition in hospital, as police wait to interview their critically injured mother. The trio were carried unconscious from their burning Chadstone townhouse on Wednesday night after a gas bottle exploded in an upstairs bedroom. Detectives at the scene of the Chadstone house fire on Thursday. Credit: Penny Stephens Detectives said a 36-year-old man who also lives at the home was not a suspect. Firefighters forced their way into the Terrigal Street home shortly before 10pm on Wednesday. They found a 37-year-old woman and her two daughters, aged eight and 10, unconscious in an upstairs bedroom of the two-storey property. Parts of western Victoria are currently in the grip of a record-breaking drought. In about 25 local government areas, farmers are eligible for drought infrastructure grants of up to $5000, although they require a dollar-for-dollar contribution from the grant recipient. Farmers in those 25 municipalities are also eligible for partial rebates on their emergency services levies this year. But farmers in north-east Victoria, including Stuart Green, are ineligible for the partial levy rebate and drought infrastructure grants. He says that decision is impossible to understand, given nearby towns of Euroa and Violet Town will be placed on water restrictions next week. Firefighters and farmers protesting against the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund. Credit: Photograph by Chris Hopkins Green has run out of rainwater even though he has a vast network of tanks with a 120,000-litre capacity. He says the state governments refusal to acknowledge his community with additional support has added to his familys frustrations. Were just absolutely sick of dust. You cant deny its dry. The Nationals MP for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has started a petition that now has more than 4600 signatures urging the state government to declare a drought in north-eastern Victoria, so farmers there can also access support. She said it defied belief that farmers in her community were unable to access the same level of support as primary producers in other parts of the state. What Im most concerned about is, farmers are at breaking point, she said. Stuart Green on his parched property. Credit: Joe Armao A government spokesman said Agriculture Victoria was providing farmers business and technical decision-making support across the state, which was included in its $29.4 million drought support package. We continue to back farmers impacted by drought and dry conditions across the state with expanded support for farmers, he said. We are monitoring conditions across the state to ensure were offering tailored support to farmers when and where they need it. The government insists the money raised through the fund will support Victorias emergency services. It also says most CFA and State Emergency Service volunteers will be better off under the changes. Those volunteers can claim a rebate on the levy, which can apply to their farm or principal place of residence. Fire trucks outside state parliament in Melbourne. Credit: Chris Hopkins The government is expanding the levy so it covers other emergency services, including the State Emergency Service, triple zero, Forest Fire Management Victoria and other services. The levy is imposed in two parts: a fixed charge and a variable charge. The fixed charge on farming properties will increase only from $267 to $275. However, the variable charge for primary production land will rise from 28.7 per $1000 of the propertys capital improved value to 71.8. Rural Councils Victoria chair Rob Amos said even the name of the levy was misleading. Its not a fund, he said. Its not even about volunteers. Its just a tax increase. Amos said farmers would be hit the hardest by the increases, which came at a time when many were struggling with higher costs and the drought. He said local communities would suffer. Were in a cost-of-living crisis, he said. Every dollar sent to Spring Street is a dollar we cant spend in our communities. It will fall to councils to collect the new levy. Amos said councils would probably have to deal with frustration over the levy from property owners. Many CFA volunteers have threatened to walk away from the emergency service and some have hung their uniforms on farm fences in protest. Local councils have also pushed back against the charge. On Friday last week, the CFAs acting chief officer, Garry Cook, acknowledged some crews were unavailable overnight due to crewing issues. Those issues stemmed from anger over the levy. Cook said volunteers and brigades had experienced a long summer of fire activity in addition to pressure from the drought. We respect their rights to engage in matters relevant to their local communities, including those who are concerned about the potential impact of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, he said. A spokesman for the Victorian SES said how emergency services were funded was a matter for the state government. But he noted that the SES and volunteers had been advocating for more support in response to the increasing demands of floods, storms and rescues. Loading Many VICSES volunteers have shared that, on top of training and responding to emergencies, they spend countless hours fundraising in their communities to operate their units, the spokesman said. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said he was facing an increase in the levy from about $12,000 to $20,000. Its a massive hit, he said. News of the increased cost had come at a terrible time, Hosking said, with farmers across much of the state struggling to run their businesses. We know our yield potentially reduces every time we wait another week for rain. RMIT emeritus professor of public policy, David Hayward, said the new levy would raise an additional $600 million, bringing the total to $1.6 billion next year. He said the fire services levy was introduced more than 10 years ago in response to a recommendation from the bushfire royal commission following Black Saturday. It was done on the value of the property and the land, which was deemed to be the fairest way of striking the tax, Hayward said. Julie and Stuart Green are hoping for rain. Credit: Joe Armao But Hayward said that maintaining the cost of running emergency services was increasing with climate change resulting in more extreme weather. Loading In north-eastern Victoria, farmers are now looking to the skies in hope. But Stuart Greens wife, Julie, said even if it rained consistently now, it would still take months for the grass to grow. Were hoping and praying for rain because this has got to come into a hay crop in October, she 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 Four months after the brutal Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi visited Kfar Aza, the scene of one of the days worst massacres. At least 62 residents of the kibbutz, which sits just three kilometres from the border with Gaza, were slaughtered and 19 were taken hostage. Standing in front of news cameras, Sinijlawi used his visit to condemn the slaughter to show Israelis, and people around the world, that not all Palestinians endorsed Hamas violent tactics. Born in East Jerusalem, Sinijlawi spent five years in an Israeli prison from the age of 15 for throwing stones at Israelis during the first intifada. Now he is a leading proponent for peace and a two-state solution. Demonstrating his willingness to break with his political tribe, he has firmly rejected the river to the sea chant used at pro-Palestinian rallies around the world since the war in Gaza began, declaring it a dead-end, a dumb slogan, a call for erasing a people that helps no one least of all Palestinians. His preferred chant: Stop the war. Release the hostages. Next week, Sinijlawi will travel to Australia for appearances with his friend Gershon Baskin, an Israeli activist and veteran hostage negotiator who has served as a key interlocutor with Hamas. The pair met at a conference in 1996 but soon lost contact; three years ago, they reconnected through their individual work to advance a two-state solution, which would see an independent Palestinian state established alongside Israel. Despite coming from different sides of the conflict, they discovered they had similar perspectives on the way forward. This year they co-founded the Alliance for Two States, an organisation that is trying to create momentum for a negotiated end to the conflict. Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin with his friend, Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi. Credit: Even in a time of war and inflamed passions (on Wednesday night in Washington, two Israeli embassy workers were shot dead), they are on a mission to show that civil dialogue, and even agreement, between Israelis and Palestinians remains possible. We have the same voice, Sinijlawi says in a joint interview before their trip, which has been organised by the New Israel Fund Australia. When you interview Gershon, it is like you are interviewing me, and vice versa. We represent the moderate Palestinians and moderate Israelis. They are aware the visit comes when the prospects for peace, and a negotiated outcome to the conflict, seem as forlorn as at any time in recent history. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified Israels war effort in Gaza despite growing international condemnation, vowing to take total control of the strip after almost 20 months of fighting. His far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has spoken of conquering, cleansing, and remaining in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed while vowing to assert Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders in Gaza refuse to lay down their arms, and continue to hold about 58 Israeli hostages despite the suffering of the civilian population. I think both peoples are experiencing their biggest trauma in the existence of the State of Israel, Baskin says. What Samer and I are doing is challenging the myth that there are no partners for peace on the other side. Advertisement Both have been alarmed from afar by what theyve observed in Australia since the war began, from protesters celebrating the October 7 attacks on the steps of the Opera House to the firebombing of synagogues. And they say the diaspora leadership for Israelis and Palestinians can be more extreme and tribal in distant places like Australia than in the region itself. Importing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to Australia is insane, Baskin says. Youre not helping the Israelis, youre not helping the Palestinians. If you want to help Israel, you want to help Palestine, find somewhere being constructive, not destructive. Sinijlawi and Baskin are both fierce critics of the current Israeli and Palestinian political leadership. Baskin, who conducted back-channel negotiations between Israel and Hamas that led to the celebrated release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011, says Netanyahu will go down as the worst leader of the Jewish people in history. He believes the Israeli prime minister is taking Israel down a path to dictatorship by undermining the independence of the Israeli parliament, judiciary and secret service. And he is disdainful of Netanyahus insistence that increased military pressure on Hamas will secure the release of the remaining hostages, of whom about 23 are believed to be alive. Posters of Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel and Kfir, who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and whose bodies were returned on Feburary 20. Credit: AP Netanyahu is living in a fantasy world of protecting his coalition and protecting his political career, Baskin says. The basic bottom line: the 58 hostages could come back in one tranche, on the condition that the war ends and Israel withdraws from Gaza. Netanyahu refuses to do that because he is willing to sacrifice the hostages for his political survival. He says a fundamental pact between the Israeli state and its citizens will be broken unless Netanyahu makes the return of the hostages his top priority. There is no recovery for Israeli society as we have known it, in our own self-image of who we are as a people, if we sacrifice these hostages. Baskin believes the way out of the war can be summed up in two words: Donald Trump. Every week I communicate with Trumps Middle East emissary, Steve Witkoff, and tell him that the only way youre going to get a deal done is if Trump tells Netanyahu to do it because Netanyahu cant go against Trump. He could go against Biden, that was easy, but he cant go against Trump. Donald Trump holds the key to ending the war in Gaza, says former hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin. Credit: Bloomberg Advertisement While Trump has so far given Netanyahu carte blanche to resume the war in Gaza, there are growing signs that Trump is becoming impatient with the war. The president is frustrated about what is happening in Gaza. He wants the war to end, he wants the hostages to come home, he wants aid to go in, and he wants to start rebuilding Gaza, a White House official told US website Axios this week. Baskin says: I think we can expect, if Trump doesnt get distracted, which is always possible, he will tell Netanyahu in a couple of weeks, Finish the war and do a deal. Baskin knows this is a striking thing for someone on the political left to believe: Its a very bizarre reality where I come to the conclusion that our saviour is Donald Trump. On the Palestinian side, Sinijlawi loathes Hamas use of violence to achieve its goals. He is also a passionate internal opponent of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president who leads Hamas more moderate political rival, Fatah. Abbas, aged 89, has been in power for 20 years and is widely perceived as ineffectual and corrupt. We Palestinians are contributing to the continuation of whats happening because of our internal politics, Sinijlawi argues. The majority of the Palestinian people are fed up with both Abbas and Hamas, they are fed up with the corruption that Abbas has brought upon them in the West Bank, and they are fed up with the destruction that Hamas has brought upon them in Gaza. He is heartened by the recent protests that have sprung up against Hamas in Gaza, saying they reflect widespread fury at the group among Palestinian civilians. Palestinians would vote because they want leadership change, Sinijlawi says. Credit: AP The only solution to the leadership crisis, he says, is for Palestinians to be allowed to vote in elections for the first time since 2006 even at the risk of Hamas winning significant support. The international community needs to understand that elections are a must, he says. They should be done now, even with the current situation in Gaza. People would go from their plastic tents to vote because they are looking for different leadership, they are looking for change. Both men are urging the Albanese government to be bold and officially recognise Palestinian statehood, a move it toyed with during its first term but ultimately shied away from. Labors national policy platform calls on the Australian government to recognise Palestine as a state and calls the issue an important priority. Sinijlawi argues: Countries who support the two-state solution need to recognise both states. It would be a positive step and help everybody understand that the international community is very much dedicated to the two-state solution. Baskin says: I think it is legitimate to call for all 193 member states of the United Nations to recognise both the State of Israel and the state of Palestine. Hopes for a two-state solution appear to have reached a nadir following the attacks of October 7 and the war in Gaza. Gallup polling conducted last year found 64 per cent of Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem do not support a two-state solution. The numbers represent a dramatic turnaround from 2012, when the majority of Israelis and Palestinians backed the idea. Nasser Mashni, head of the Australia Palestinian Advocacy Network, said last year that the two-state solution is absolutely dead in part because of the rapid expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Advertisement Wild weather flooded tracks and closed railway stations in Sydney on Friday, creating widespread delays that stretched into the evening after heavy rains that brought devastating floods to northern NSW moved south and crossed the city. Drenched commuters were forced to use replacement buses after part of the citys airport rail line was closed for much of the day, and Transport for NSW warned that evening travellers across the city would experience flow-on effects. Sydney experienced between 60 and 100 millimetres of rain overnight and more on Friday morning. Credit: Sam Mooy Air travellers also faced delays and cancellations after Sydney Airport briefly closed two of its three runways because of strong cross-winds on Friday morning. The T8 Airport and South line reopened about 1pm, after being cut off by floodwater between Turrella and Revesby. A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said the line was progressively recovering, but replacement buses would continue to operate as train services remained reduced. Auto Channel Exclusive: Open Letter to Marlo Lewis, Jr., Senior Fluffer at Competitive Enterprise Institute By Marc J. Rauch Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher THE AUTO CHANNEL Originally published September 13, 2019 Hi Marlo - I recently read an editorial you wrote about ethanol for a stink tank called Competitive Enterprise Institute. Your editorial targeted political pollster Frank Luntz and his appearance on Laura Ingraham's FOX NEWS television show on September 5th. I watched it, too. I'm a regular FOX NEWS viewer and I often watch Laura's show. I happen to be a very patriotic, conservative, free-market entrepreneur, with a real history of building businesses and helping businesses to market their products successfully. I mention this because it always grieves me when I hear other people who are supposed to be like me espouse ignorant anti-American, anti-free market rhetoric. In this regard, I'm referring to Laura Ingraham. Her whole thing is that she's supposed to be a conservative, pro-American nationalist. Given her dismissive reaction and response to Frank Luntz' comments, it seems to me that she's playing for the other side. (CLICK HERE to watch the Luntz-Ingraham interview) As for you, I can't rightly say what you're supposed to be. Your bio states that you've been on committees, but that doesn't really mean anything. I don't see that you've had any actual business experience, which would account for your not understanding free-market business reality (and confusing it with text book theory). This would also explain your work to keep the oil industry excited - I did enjoy reading the DeSmogBlog biography of you when they call you "The Dirty Energy Industrys Best Friend." I do concede that your academic credentials make you eminently qualified to take the false information provided by oil industry press releases and talking-points memos and repeat them in TV and radio interviews. You probably would have been a really good fluffer for the tobacco industry back in their heyday of lies. But enough opening pleasantries, let me get back to the real purpose of writing to you: correcting the garbage you wrote about ethanol in your September 6th editorial. Frank Luntz was correct when he said that an E85 mandate would make America energy independent by election time November 2020. Actually, we wouldn't even need an E85 mandate, an E30 or E40 mandate would probably be more than enough, and it would probably make us energy independent by early 2020. And, the best news is that it definitely wouldn't cost auto manufacturers (and consumers) anything. All that might have to happen is to make a slight adjustment to the software used in the on-board computers; allow owners of existing vehicles to make the same software upgrade; and just admit to vehicle owners that regardless of the age of their internal combustion engine vehicles, an increase in ethanol will have no negative effects on their engines. You see, Marlo, all claims that ethanol is more corrosive or damaging to engines than gasoline and aromatics are lies, lies invented by Big Oil's Anti-Ethanol Industry since the Prohibition Era. You say that environmental groups are not fans of ethanol. If you mean those groups who are funded by oil industry entities, you're correct. If you mean the entities that were created by oil industry PR firms and have names that make them sound like they are environmentally conscious, you're correct. But regardless of whether these groups are sponsored by the oil industry or not, you make a huge mistake in using them to further your lack of knowledge. Reviewing your bio, Marlo, you've spent the better part of two decades arguing with environmental groups over catastrophic man-made climate change; putting them down; denigrating their positions; and denying their integrity. Now you want to use them to promote lies about ethanol. You've crossed into the twilight zone. If they could be correct about ethanol being bad, then they could be correct about man-made climate change...same pretend scientists, same questionable modeling, same hypocrite celebutards as spokesmen. And in doing this you ignore two very important historical facts: 1. The world's number one oil company...the company that led the formation of American Petroleum Institute and led the creation of all the negative myths about ethanol was also the leading seller of ethanol-gasoline blends in Britain for 60 years. Yes, it was Standard Oil. They marketed the "power alcohol" as being safer, cleaner, more powerful, and less expensive than gasoline without ethanol. They did this during the exact time that they were creating the ethanol lies and spreading them around North America. (CLICK HERE to read about the hypocrisy of big oil) 2. Leading oil companies today have huge positions in the Brazilian ethanol market. They are involved with producing sugar cane-based ethanol and corn-based ethanol. In Brazil, the regular fuel is E27, and their flex-fuel is not just E85, it's E95. They have the same vehicles we have. Brazil became energy independent by using ethanol. Brazil proved that what Frank Luntz suggested is possible. You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. You'll need to pick one position. And Now Your Lies Marlo, you write: "...because the market for petroleum is global, with multiple alternative routes of delivery, dependence on oil imports has never been a bona fide national security threat." And in your editorial, you link this statement to another outstanding example of a stink tank (Cato Institute) for verification of your odoriferous statement. America fought in several major wars during the 20th century because it was felt that we were under a grave national threat. Millions of Americans died in these wars, many millions more were wounded and permanently disabled. The country spent trillions on these wars. If we were never in a bona fide national security threat then lots and lots of Americans were needlessly killed. Since the link you provided goes to the absurd Jerry Taylor-authored editorial, I'll provide the link to the rebuttal that I wrote and sent to Taylor and Cato in May 2010: The Auto Channel Fights For The Truth About Ethanol Versus Gasoline. By the way, in case you are unaware of it, Jerry Taylor no longer plays in the Cato sandbox, he started his own thing and seems to pretty much be out of the "arguing against biofuels" business. I don't know if my criticism of his editorial had any impact on that decision, but I think it's clear that when I wrote in 2010 that he didn't know what he was talking about, I was right on the mark. You then write, "even if President Trump could order automakers to produce more flex-fuel vehicles (he cant), most consumers would still shun E-85, for a very simple reason: poor fuel economy." You base this conclusion on the oil industry's lie about the difference in energy content (BTUs) between gasoline and ethanol. It is true that gasoline has a higher energy content than ethanol, however it's completely irrelevant. Internal combustion engines don't run on steam power...no boiling water is required. Engine optimization, not energy content is the key. This has been recognized for more than 100 years and has been proven again and again in tests conducted by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Geological Survey, the German Government, the French Government, and by real independent laboratories. And as William J. Hale described three-quarters of a century ago, the burning of gasoline in an internal combustion engine is so inefficient that gasoline loses 25% of its energy. Therefore, even if you want to compare BTUs, you can't compare gasoline's 116,000 BTUs against ethanol's 76,000 BTUs. The true comparison would be E0 gasoline at 87,000 BTUs versus E85's 84,500 BTUs. This is not a difference of 33%, but about 10%. Consequently, Marlo, when you play with the numbers and try to make a case for poor economy, here is what you really get: The average U.S. cost of E0 is $2.88 cents. The average U.S. cost of E85 is $2.15. That's a saving of 25%. If the vehicle got 10% fewer miles with E85, it's a net gain for the consumer. If the vehicle got 15% fewer miles, it's a net gain for the consumer. The same is true at any point up to 25% fewer miles, where the fuel economy of E85 would be even with E0. So, the E85 doesn't provide poor fuel economy, it can provide much better fuel economy. (Fuels prices as of 9-12-19 https://e85prices.com/) What this all means is that even if there was a loss of 33% between E0 and E85 it wouldn't be because of energy content, it would be because of engine optimization, and engines can easily be fully optimized to run on E85 and higher. There's another aspect to this fuel economy issue: One of the benefits of using any ethanol-gasoline blend is that ethanol is beneficial to engines...it removes water that forms from condensation, it cleans the carbon debris that clogs engines, and it provides a power boost. Many people believe that aftermarket engine treatment products should be used with every fuel fill-up. Each bottle costs in the $8 to $9 range. If a person does this then he or she is adding the cost of nearly 3 gallons of fuel to the cost to fill up. So if, for instance, a person filled a 16 gallon tank with E0 the cost would be $46.08 plus $8.50 for the fuel treatment for a total of $54.58. This makes each gallon of E0 $3.41. E85 doesn't require the engine treatment because the ethanol already performs the same tasks that the aftermarket product alleges that it does. So, the E85 is still only $2.15 per gallon. But now each gallon is not 25% less than E0, the E85 is 37% less per gallon. To further destroy your MPG differences, the Monroney figures you display to try and prove your stupid "poor fuel economy" remark are purely theoretical and were calculated only by mathematical equation; no one actually test drove these vehicles with the two fuels. The figures you so boldly display are as fictitious as any other negative comment you offer about ethanol. I go into the entire BTU scam in much greater detail in a report I published in 2015: For more about the aftermarket engine treatment rip-off see these two editorials: In conclusion, perhaps it's time for you to move on from bashing ethanol. Maybe Jerry Taylor can use you at his new gig. Or better yet, the "vaping industry" could probably use of person like you to disguise that disgusting practice. I look forward to any reply you might like to make. PS Marlo Lewis never responded directly to me, although I did send the above letter directly to him prior to publishing it on The Auto Channel. Instead, he replied to me about 3 months later via an article on the Competitive Edge Institute website. Two days later, I responded to that article via an email to Lewis and an article on The Auto Channel. Here are the links to those two articles: PPS Marlo Lewis never responded to my 2nd Open Letter, either directly or with another CEI article. Eventually, CEI removed Lewis' original article attacking Frank Luntz, and his December 2019 article about me. Using the "Web Archive Way-Back Machine," I was able to retrieve archived versions of Lewis' articles. Indigenous defence manufacturing needs more exposure for Atmanirbhar Bharat DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat during his visit to Solar Industries, on Thursday. Chairman, Solar Group of Industries Satyanarayan Nuwal (centre) also was present. Staff Reporter : DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat was in city to inaugurate a Pyrotechnic Composition and Delay Element manufacturing facility at Solar Industries To achieve the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat and to enhance our combat strength, it is necessary to promote indigenous defence manufacturing. For this, the private defence companies like Solar Group will play a major role, said Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) while interacting with media on Thursday. Dr Kamat was in the city to inaugurate Pyrotechnic Composition and Delay Element manufacturing facility in Solar Industries. After announcement of Atmanirbhar Bharat by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the private companies proved its calibre in defence sector and Operation Sindoor is a perfect example of indigenisation, said Dr Kamat. Referring to the recent conflict with Pakistan, Dr Kamat expressed satisfaction over the performance of DRDO-developed weapons systems, which were reportedly deployed during the operations. Based on media reports and feedback from the armed forces, I am satisfied with the performance of our systems. However, we must also learn lessons from this conflict to improve our systems further and introduce newer technologies to meet the emerging challenges of modern warfare, he noted. Dr Kamat added that DRDO is currently working on several advanced systems, including missiles, air-based weapons, naval systems, and various sensors, particularly those designed for drone detection and neutralisation. I am confident these systems will be inducted into service within six months to one year. They will significantly enhance the capabilities of our armed forces to fight future wars, he added. The DRDO Chairman also mentioned about upcoming projects like the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPA-TGM), the Vertically Launched-Short-Range Surface-To-Air Missile (VLR-SAM), heavy-weight torpedoes, precision-guided munitions, and a range of advanced land and sea mines, which are in advanced stages of development or trials. Elaborating the role of Solar Group, Chairman of Solar Industries India Limited Satyanarayan Nuwal said, The war pattern is changing, if we look at Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine. Recently, we manufactured five types of Nagastra (drones). Nagastra-1 was used (in the India-Pakistan conflict). Three variants of Nagastra-1, which are Nagastra-2 and Nagastra-3, are in the trial phase. I believe it will play a significant role in the current conflict. Dr Kamat reviewed the manufacturing processes of various defence products being developed by Solar Industries. Solar Industries is a leading indigenous defence manufacturing company contributing to Indias self-reliance in defence production. 2 staff members of Israeliembassy shot dead in US WASHINGTON : TWO staff members of the Israeli embassy inWashington were shot and killed onWednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, Free, free Palestine after he was arrested, police said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. They were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, was observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting, walked into the museum after the shooting and was detained by event security, Smith said. Whenhewas takenintocustody, the suspectbeganchanting,Free,freePalestine,Smith said. She saidlawenforcement did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the community. The stunning attack prompted Israeli missions to beef up their security. The shooting comes as Israel has launchedanothermajoroffensive in the Gaza Strip in a war with Hamas that has heightened tensions across the Middle East and internationally. These horrible DC killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! PresidentDonaldTrumpposted on social media early Thursday. Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. IsraeliAmbassadortotheUS YechielLeiter saidthetwopeople killed were a young couple about to be engaged, saying the man had purchased a ring thisweekwiththeintenttopropose next week in Jerusalem. Theiridentitieswerenotimmediately made public. Bodies of Maoists flown to Narayanpur DRG troopers carry body of slain Maoist from Mi-17 chopper after Abujhmad encounter. (right) DGP Arun Deo Gautam pays tribute to martyred jawan with a solemn salute at Narayanpur. NARAYANPUR/BASTAR/ RAIPUR DRG troopers martyred in dual-phase action across Dantewada-Narayanpur front Arms haul signals collapse of Abujhmad module AK-47s, BGLs, SLRs, carbines, mortar shells and grenades among arms recovered from encounter zone A day after one of the most significant anti-Naxal operations in recent years, the bodies of 27 Maoists, including Central Committee member and military strategist Basavaraju, were airlifted to Narayanpur on Thursday. A ceremonial salute was accorded to both jawans who were martyred in the encounter-Khotluram Koram of Narayanpur and Ramesh Hemla of Bijapur-marking the solemn aftermath of a fierce multi-phase conflict in the dense Abujhmad forests. The operation, which began three days ago as part of a prolonged jungle domination exercise, culminated on May 21 with a decisive armed confrontation near the Bhattbeda-Orcha sector of Narayanpur district. According to police, the fallen Maoists were part of a larger unit stationed deep inside the inaccessible hilly terrain of Abujhmad, long considered a Maoist sanctuary. The slain insurgents included Basavaraju-one of the top-most figures in the CPI (Maoist) military hierarchy-whose strategic operations stretched from weaponisation to mobilisation of rural militias. Security sources confirmed that his neutralisation has left a severe leadership void within the Maoist ranks across central India. Inspector General of Police Bastar Range, P Sundarraj, who was present at the ground where the bodies were brought in for postmortem, noted: The DRG team fought bravely in the most challenging terrain. Their courage has dismantled a significant part of the Maoist infrastructure. This is a major blow to the outlaws. The weapons haul from the site has stunned security observers. Among the arms Narayanpur recovered are AK-47 assault rifles, INSAS carbines, BGLs (barrel grenade launchers), SLRs, .303 rifles, and a large cache of magazines and ammunition. Additionally, over two dozen mortar shells and high-explosive grenades were seized, indicating the Maoists continued emphasis on heavy firepower and their preparation for sustained attacks. As per official details, the funeral rites of the two martyred troopers will be held with full state honours. A ceremonial salute was conducted today at the Reserve Police Line in Narayanpur at 12 noon, attended by senior officers and colleagues who honoured the fallen heroes. Director General of Police Arun Deo Gautam also paid tribute to the jawans who sacrificed their lives on the line of duty. Haryana court extends JyotiMalhotras police remand by4 days in espionage case HISAR : A COURT here on Thursday extended the police remand of content creator and social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra by four days,apolice spokesperson said. The33-year-oldYouTuber--arrestedon suspicion of espionage -- was produced before the court at the end of her five-day police remand. Malhotra was among the 12 people arrested from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks on suspicion of espionage, with investigators suspecting the presence of a Pakistan-linked spy network operating in north India. Hisar police said onWednesday that no evidence had emerged to indicate Malhotra had access to any military-ordefence-related information. But she was definitely incontact with some people, knowing that they were Pakistani intelligence operatives,they had said.Police sources had said she was in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahimalias Danish, a staffer atthePakistaniHighCommission, since November 2023.Indiaexpelled Danish on May 13 for allegedlyindulging in espionage. The National Investigation Agency, Intelligence Bureau, andmilitary intelligence officials have also questioned Malhotra.Investigations haverevealed that she visited Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and some other countries. The police had said Pakistani intelligence operatives were developing Malhotraas an asset. Incomplete cement road causing hardships to citizens By Shashwat Bhuskute : Residents of South-West Nagpur write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, express frustration over prolonged delay Residents of South-West Nagpur have raised serious concern regarding the prolonged delay in the completion of the cement road stretching from Pratap Nagar to Somalwar High School, Khamla. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, citizens have expressed frustration over the hardships faced, particularly, by the senior citizens, pedestrians, and two-wheeler riders, due to the partially constructed road. While onside of the road, from Dutt Medical Stores to Baba Saoji, is reportedly completed, the other side of the stretch from the Police Chowki to Union Bank Chowk, especially the section from Chandankhede Chakki to Somalwar School near the residence of former MLA and corporator Nana Shamkule, remains incomplete for over a year. The contractor, identified as KCC, is said to have abandoned the project without any prior notice, and even the former corporators seem unaware of the projects status. This has led to the emergence of a serious bottleneck at Union Bank Chowk, where broken I-blocks and makeshift ramps have deteriorated due to heavy vehicular movement. As a result, daily commuters, especially two-wheeler riders and pedestrians, are forced to navigate the stretch with extreme caution, risking injury and accidents. Mangesh Chandankhede, proprietor of a local grocery store and flour mill, reported frequent accidents in the area, particularly, during the evening hours when visibility is poor. The absence of proper ramps is a major concern, with elderly citizens and women most affected. Citizens have demanded that both sides of the road at Union Bank Chowk be provided with proper cement ramps without further delay, at least until the entire road is completed. Additionally, the adjoining cement road from Union Bank Chowk to Khamla via Telecom Nagar has also seen a halt in construction for the past 20 days. The situation has adversely affected residents of Ramkrishna Nagar, Ashok Colony, and Sindhi Colony. Locals allege that the contractor had abandoned the site completely. The road in question links several important areas, including Ranapratap Nagar, Telecom Nagar, Ramkrishna Nagar, Ravindra Nagar, Ganesh Colony, Shantiniketan Colony, Railway Colony, Central Excise Colony, Gawande Layout, Ashok Colony, Trisaran Nagar, Shastri Layout, Khamla Basti, and Khamla Layout. It serves as a crucial connect to Bhende Layout and Wardha Road on either side. Residents of South-West Nagpur have made a collective appeal to the State Government and municipal authorities for the immediate resumption and completion of the cement road work and the creation of proper ramps at all bottleneck areas to ensure road safety. This urgent demand has been formally put forth by all residents of South-West Nagpur, members of the Pratap Nagar News Group, and the Telecom Nagar Citizens Committee, who have signed the appeal in public interest. Yes Significant efforts are being made No Much more needs to be done Some progress But there are still critical gaps Vote View Results Dhantala police in Nadia apprehended a Bangladeshi national last night in connection with cross-border illegal activities. The arrest was made in the Manasahati area of Duttapulia gram panchayat under Dhantala PS jurisdiction. The individual, identified as Kakali Aktar alias Moni (25), daughter of Anowar Hossain and a resident of Narayanganj Sadar, Narayanganj district in Bangladesh, had allegedly entered Indian territory illegally a few months ago with the assistance of an Indian tout. According to police sources, Aktar had initially travelled to Mumbai after entering the country and returned to the Dhantala area with the intention of crossing back into Bangladesh through unauthorized means. Her presence and movement were detected by local law enforcement, leading to her arrest. S A specific case has been registered at Dhantala police station under relevant sections related to illegal entry and cross-border movement. Aktar was produced before the additional chief judicial magistrate court in Ranaghat today following her arrest. Police have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in facilitating her illegal entry and movement across state lines. Authorities are tightening surveillance and stepping up border security operations to prevent similar instances of illegal cross-border infiltration. Advertisement Advertisement The Mihijam police station, located in the state of Jharkhand, has confiscated the house of Rahul Yadav, a resident of Jamuria under the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, in connection with a case involving the illegal transportation of explosives. Rahul Yadav, who was the driver of a vehicle used in the illicit transport of explosives, has been absconding for the past two years following the seizure of the vehicle by Mihijam police. Today, the Mihijam police arrived in Jamuria and served a court notice announcing the confiscation of his property as part of the ongoing investigation. Advertisement In 2022, acting on a specific tip-off, Mihijam police conducted a nakabandi (roadblock) operation and intercepted a four-wheeler travelling from Rupnarayanpur under Salanpur police station in West Burdwan district. The vehicle was found to be carrying approximately seven quintals of gelatin sticks and 16 bundles of explosives. Advertisement A case (No. 64/22) was registered at Mihijam police station under Sections 414 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Indian Explosives Act of 1908. Upon spotting the police, Rahul Yadav fled the scene and has remained at large despite multiple raids conducted by the Jharkhand Police and Special Task Force (STF) at his known hideouts. The Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025 was launched in Kolkata on Friday as part of a nationwide public health initiative led by the Serum Institute of India (SII). The campaign is focused on increasing awareness around Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the role it plays in cervical and other cancers, with an emphasis on early intervention and prevention. India continues to face a significant burden of HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in the country. According to the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023), India reports over 1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases and more than 77,000 related deaths annually. Apart from this up to 90 per cent of anal cancers & 63 per cent of penile cancers are associated with HPV. Advertisement Advertisement Forty-eight hours after his abduction, the Special Task Force (STF) of Purulia Police successfully rescued coal trader Lokesh Gorai of Brajapur village, Jhalda, from the notorious Wasseypur area in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. Lokesh Gorai was abducted by four masked men while out for a morning walk in Jhalda, Purulia district. The kidnappers had covered their faces with gamchas. Advertisement Upon receiving information from Gorais wife, Jhalda police station immediately alerted all bordering police stations. Advertisement Abhijit Banerjee, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Purulia, stated that a special team comprising the STF, Jhalda police station, and the Bogolota police investigation centre was formed. CCTV footage was reviewed as part of the investigation. Police identified a black SUV based on CCTV evidence, and eyewitnesses confirmed that the same vehicle was used in the abduction. We launched a coordinated pursuit from multiple directions. Under pressure, the abductors abandoned both the victim and the vehicle near the Bhuli Police Outpost in Dhanbad district, Jharkhand. Both have been recovered, SP Banerjee said. Gorai has since been reunited with his family. Meanwhile, police operations are ongoing to apprehend the absconding gang members. Preliminary investigations suggest that the abduction may have stemmed from a business dispute involving Gorais partners in the coal trade in Jharkhand. The Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence Limited, which is a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Limited, has announced in an official statement that it has signed a strategic agreement with Germany-based Rheinmetall AG to manufacture military grade ammunition in India. The partnership will focus on the supply of explosives and propellants for medium and large-calibre ammunition, with joint marketing of selected products and scope for further collaboration, according to a company statement. Advertisement The new state-of-the-art facility will make a significant contribution to supplying the countrys armed forces. The defence manufacturing complex will support Indias ambitious defence export target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, the Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Group said in a statement. Advertisement This strategic partnership brings cutting-edge capabilities to India, marking a transformational moment for the countrys private defence manufacturing sector. The project marks a major step in the Reliance Groups long-term strategy to invest in the fast-growing defence manufacturing sector, Founder and Chairman Anil D Ambani said. Reliance Defence plans to establish a fully-owned greenfield manufacturing facility in the Watad Industrial Area of Ratnagiri, in Maharashtra. The plant is expected to become one of the largest of its kind in South Asia, with proposed annual production capacities of 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tonnes of explosives and 2,000 tonnes of propellants. This strategic partnership of Rheinmetall with Reliance Defence, led by Anil Ambanis Reliance Group, illustrates our strong commitment to partner with India, Rheinmetall AGs CEO Armin Papperger said. The collaboration supports Reliance Defences ambition to become one of Indias top three defence exporters. The new unit will be integrated into the Dhirubhai Ambani Defence City (DADC), which is an upcoming comprehensive defence production complex being constructed in Ratnagiri. Once completed, it will represent the largest greenfield defence initiative undertaken by a private company in India, according to the company statement. A senior officer of the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Friday issued a clarification in response to a press release and public statements made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders regarding the proceedings of the General Purposes Committee (GPC). The officer stated that the remarks made by the AAP leaders were factually incorrect, misleading, and politically motivated, and included baseless allegations against the Speaker and the Committee. These allegations were categorically denied. Advertisement The Speaker, however, declined to comment on the matter, stating that it is now under the purview of breach of privilege and contempt. Advertisement The senior officer further alleged that AAP MLAs, including former Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla and MLA Kuldeep Kumar, were deliberately twisting and misrepresenting the facts. Appropriate action, as deemed fit, will be taken in this regard. The Delhi Assembly Secretariat has also urged the media to exercise caution while reporting on the House and Committee proceedings, as these are matters of privilege. Meanwhile, AAP leaders have alleged that the Speaker issued privilege notices to four AAP MLAs merely for proposing the installation of a portrait of Indias first woman teacher and iconic Dalit reformer, Mata Savitribai Phule, in the House. However, sources indicate that according to a complaint filed with the Assembly Secretariat, the AAP MLAs held a press conference on Wednesday following the GPC meeting, during which they allegedly misrepresented the facts. The complaint notes that the proposal made by the AAP leaders was, in fact, acknowledged by the Chairperson and was instructed to be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The four AAP MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Atishi, have been asked by the Secretariat to submit their replies to the complaint by May 30. Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Friday confirmed a resurgence of COVID-19 in the capital, with 23 new cases detected through private laboratories. In a press statement, Singh said the government is currently investigating whether the infected individuals are residents of Delhi or have arrived from other states or abroad. Delhi government is verifying whether the patients are from within the city or have come from outside or overseas, he told a news agency. Advertisement Reassuring the public, Singh said the government is fully prepared to respond to the rising cases. Medical superintendents across Delhi hospitals have been alerted, and frontline medical teams have been briefed. Advertisement Urging citizens not to panic, the minister said the currently circulating JN.1 variant appears to cause only mild, flu-like symptoms. All 23 patients reported so far are stable, he added, noting that a detailed report will be released soon. Kim Kardashian just added a new title to her already jam-packed resume: law school graduate. After six years of balancing courtroom studies with cameras, kids, and couture, the 44-year-old reality star and entrepreneur has officially wrapped up her legal training and, naturally, she marked the moment in a very Kardashian way. To celebrate the milestone, Kim threw a cozy yet stylish graduation bash surrounded by close family and friends. Advertisement The guest list included sister Khloe, her three youngest kids (Saint, Chicago, and Psalm), and longtime friend and legal reform advocate Van Jones. Advertisement What made the party stand out? The table decor was made entirely from her old study notes talk about turning legal grind into party glam. This journey has been so personal, Kim shared emotionally during her speech, snippets of which she posted to her Instagram Stories. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian) It really started with a video I saw on Twitter and then Van and I started talking, and it all just took off from there. That video sparked a deep dive into the U.S. legal system and a newfound passion for criminal justice reform. In 2018, Kim Kardashian kicked off her legal journey through a rarely trodden path a four-year apprenticeship with a San Francisco-based law firm instead of attending a traditional law school. But the road wasnt easy. She failed the first-year law students exam (popularly known as the baby bar) not once but twice before passing it on her third try in 2021. And that was just the beginning. Kims legal mentor, who spoke at the ceremony, revealed that she logged a staggering 5,184 hours of study over six years thats 18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year all while managing a business empire, filming multiple reality shows, raising four children, and advocating for incarcerated individuals. Earlier this year, Kim also passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), a mandatory ethics exam that edges her closer to becoming a licensed attorney. But shes not quite there yet the final boss in this legal game is the California Bar Exam, which she plans to take next. Though she still has a major hurdle ahead, Kims already made waves in the legal world, using her platform to shed light on issues like prison reform and wrongful convictions. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has signed an MoU to train 80 Paryavaran Sanrakshaks as eco-leaders, marking a fresh push in the capitals fight against climate change. The agreement between the Department of Environment, Government of NCT of Delhi and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a Delhi-based climate think tank, resulted in the launch of a sensitisation programme to educate the youth and students about the impact of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Advertisement If our youth understand the value of clean air, green spaces, and balanced ecosystems, they will lead the change this planet desperately needs, said Sirsa. Advertisement The main agenda of the project is to expand outreach efforts focused on sustainable lifestyles and understanding the impact of climate change. The department will provide 40 lakh as aid to TERI for its implementation across 2000 educational institutions. According to the press statement, 80 Paryavaran Sanrakshaks, including both students and educators, will be identified as eco-leaders to scale up and sustain the awareness drive. The Minister added, Delhi Government is working tirelessly to tackle pollution from every possible angle. We are not limiting ourselves to enforcement or technologywe are investing in awareness, education, and peoples participation. The programme will combine creative communication tools like storytelling, games, and real-life eco-actions to make environmental consciousness an innate part of students thinking and lifestyle. The outreach campaigns, scheduled from June to November 2025, will be conducted through eco-clubs in Delhis schools and colleges to empower students as climate ambassadors. This is not just an awareness driveit is a transformational behaviour change initiative, according to the official document. This initiative underscores the Delhi Governments commitment to inclusive environmental governance, it added. In an unusually grave accusation, Leader of the Opposition and BJP state president Babulal Marandi on Friday expressed fear for his personal safety, alleging that Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Gupta could orchestrate an attack on him. Mr. Marandi further claimed that the DGP, whose official tenure ended on April 30, continues to serve in an unlawful capacity and poses a direct threat to democratic norms and individual security. Advertisement Addressing the media at the BJP state headquarters, Mr. Marandi said: I fear that the DGP may have me attacked at any time. If something happens to me, the chief minister must be held accountable. He accused the state government of shielding Mr. Gupta despite the Centres refusal to extend his term. Advertisement This is a unique and dangerous situation. The DGPs official service period is over. He is no longer legally empowered to occupy that position, yet he remains in office. What if he commits a crime? Who will take responsibility? Mr. Marandi asked. He alleged that the chief minister retained Mr. Gupta precisely to enable unlawful actions. The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier declined the state governments recommendation to extend Mr. Guptas tenure. Since then, the BJP repeatedly questioned the constitutional and legal grounds of his continuation. Mr. Marandi also alleged a broader institutional paralysis, pointing to the non-functioning of several constitutional bodies in the state. He noted that posts in the Lokayukta, Information Commission, Consumer Forums, and the Womens Commission remain vacant, severely impacting governance and public grievance redressal. The government is deliberately weakening these bodies to prevent scrutiny of its actions. When these commissions begin functioning, the administrative failures will come to light, he stated. The leader of the Opposition demanded immediate appointments to all vacant constitutional positions and reiterated his call for the chief minister to clarify the legal status of the DGP. It is unheard of in any other state that a police chief continues without legal sanction. If something untoward happens, the onus will be entirely on the government, he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Friday and appreciated Germanys solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, Honored to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz today in Berlin. Conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi. Look forward to working with his Government to elevate and expand our Strategic Partnership. Appreciate Germanys solidarity as India counters the challenge of terrorism. Advertisement Earlier, Jaishankar held a meeting with Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to Merz, Gunter Sautter. The two leaders exchanged perspectives on major global issues, including combatting terrorism. Advertisement Good conversation with Foreign & Security Policy Advisor to @bundeskanzler, Dr. Gunter Sautter today. Exchanged perspectives on major global issues, including combatting terrorism. Our deepening partnership is an important factor of stability in an uncertain world. We will also work together to strengthen resilience and trust, Jaishankar said in a post on X. The external affairs minister also met Germanys Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche in Berlin and discussed ways to enhance talent linkages, industry partnership and joint collaboration between the two nations to build more resilient supply chains. Pleased to meet Minister of Economy & Energy Katherina Reiche this morning in Berlin. Discussed ways to enhance our talent linkages, industry partnership and joint collaboration to build more resilient supply chains, Jaishankar said in a post on X. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across eight airbases in Pakistan. On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed for cessation of hostilities. GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has called for international solidarity and mutual support to forge a healthy world. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the call on Tuesday when delivering a speech at a high-level welcome ceremony of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland. Five years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on all countries to join hands in building a global community of health for all at the 73rd World Health Assembly, Liu said. China has firmly honored this commitment with concrete actions as the international community widely recognizes China's role in and contributions to combating the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. Noting that global public health security is now facing significant challenges under the impact of unilateralism and power politics, Liu emphasized that China has always put people and their lives first, implemented a health-first strategy, actively participated in global health governance, and promoted the building of a global community of health for all. The international community should uphold multilateralism, firmly support the World Health Organization (WHO) in playing its leading and coordinating role in global public health governance, uphold fairness and equity, and firmly support the legitimate demands of developing countries in areas such as public health arrangements, vaccine distribution and technology transfer, he said. The international community should also uphold openness and innovation and seize the historic opportunities brought by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation to deepen cooperation in health innovation, Liu added. As the WHO's highest decision-making body, the WHA is attended by heads of state or government, high-profile representatives from over 100 countries, and leaders of international organizations. The Congress party on Friday expressed serious apprehensions that Indian companies would henceforth be denied the privilege of non-competitive bidding for government-floated public contracts in the wake of India-UK Free Trade Agreement. But now, it appears that as part of the India-UK FTA, UK firms will be allowed to bid for public contracts floated by the Union government that would otherwise have been open only to Indian companies. Having opened this window, US companies also will be beneficiaries, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on his handle X. Advertisement Under the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, UK firms will be granted access to bid for public contracts floated by the Union government, including around 40,000 tenders annually, valued at an estimated Rs 3,800 crore. This will allow UK businesses to compete for government procurement opportunities, but with some stipulations, particularly regarding Make in India policy and MSME preferences. Advertisement India recently signed a Free Trade Agreement with the UK, concluding the talks on May 6. The agreement is seen as a historic deal by both countries. Additionally, India has also signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) on March 10. For over 30 years, India has stoutly resisted joining the WTOs Agreement on Government Procurement. But now it appears that as part of the India-UK FTA, UK firms will be allowed to bid for public contracts floated by the Union government that would otherwise have been open only to Indian companies. Having opened this window, US companies also will be beneficiaries, Mr Ramesh claimed. Under the pact, UK businesses will be classified as Class II local suppliers if they have at least 20% UK content and would be granted preferential treatment in certain tenders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the North East Region is witnessing unprecedented progress, and the government was determined to accelerate its growth story. PM Modi inaugurated the Rising North East Investors Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi with an aim to highlight the region as a land of opportunity, attracting global and domestic investment, and bringing together key stakeholders, investors, and policymakers on a single platform. Advertisement Addressing the gathering at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit, PM Modi said, The Northeast is the most diverse part of our diverse nation From trade to tradition, from textile to tourism, the diversity of the Northeast is its strength. Northeast means bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports, skill, an emerging hub of eco-tourism, and a new world for organic products. Advertisement He said Northeast is the powerhouse of energy. Northeast is Ashta Lakshmi for us, he added. He highlighted that there was a time when the northeast was only called a frontier region. Today, it is becoming the frontrunner of growth. Better infrastructure makes tourism attractive and gives investors more confidence We started an infrastructure revolution in the Northeast It is now becoming the land of opportunities The connectivity in the Northeast is becoming stronger, he noted. PM Modi said, For us, east is not just a direction. For us, east means Empower, Act, Strengthen, and Transform. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia felicitated Prime Minister Modi with an orchid bouquet in a basket made by northeastern bamboo and a Rising Northeast Investors Summit memento during the inauguration of the Summit. Chairman & Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani, and Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani also addressed the gathering earlier. The Rising North East Investors Summit, a two-day event from May 23-24, is the culmination of various pre-summit activities, such as series of roadshows, and states roundtables including Ambassadors Meet and Bilateral Chambers Meet organized by the central government with active support from the state governments of the North Eastern Region. Noting that India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday asserted that India has zero tolerance for terrorism and it will never give in to nuclear blackmail from the neighbouring country. Addressing a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Berlin, Jaishankar said, I come to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of Indias response to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. Advertisement We also value Germanys understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism, the EAM said. Advertisement Germany has come out resolutely behind India and its fight against terrorism under Operation Sindoor. The German foreign minister, while addressing the joint briefing with EAM Jaishankar in Berlin, said India has every right to defend itself against terrorism and strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. We were appalled by the brutal terrorist attack on India on the 22nd of April. We condemned this attack on civilians in the strongest terms. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all victims and their families. After military attacks on both sides, India, of course, has every right to defend itself against terrorism, he said. Wadephul said the truce must be maintained for dialogue and bilateral solutions between the two conflicting parties India and Pakistan. The fact that the truce is now in place is something we appreciate very much. What is important now is that this truce remains stable, that dialogue can happen in order to find bilateral solutions for that conflict, taking into account the vital interests of both sides, he said. Germany and India have been fostering a regular dialogue on the fight against terrorism for years, and we intend to intensify it further, Wadephul said. Germany will support any fight against terrorism. Terrorism must never have a place in the world, anywhere, and this is why we will support everyone who fights and has to fight terrorism. We very much appreciate that a ceasefire has been reached, and we hope that there will be a solution soon, the German foreign minister added. Jaishankar said the German government had conveyed its understanding that every country had the right to defend itself against terror. We had a conversation on the 7th of May, which is when we initiated our operations. It was a very understanding and positive conversation. And quite honestly, even before that, the German government had expressed solidarity. The minister very clearly conveyed Germanys understanding that every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism, Jaishankar said. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across eight airbases in Pakistan. On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed for a cessation of hostilities. Expressing apprehensions that Indias foreign policy has collapsed, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a post on his social media handle X on Thursday, posed three questions to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while referring to him as JJ. Will JJ explain: Why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didnt a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to mediate between India & Pakistan? the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha questioned while lamenting that Indias foreign policy has collapsed. Advertisement Last week, Mr Gandhi had accused the EAM of committing a crime by informing Pakistan before launching an airstrike. Later on Monday, the Congress leader again targeted the foreign minister alleging, EAM Jaishankars silence isnt just telling its damning. Advertisement EAM Jaishankars silence isnt just telling its damning. So Ill ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasnt a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth, he said reiterating his previous question in a post shared on X. In support of his accusation, Mr Gandhi had posted a video clip on his WhatsApp channel, showing Jaishankar saying: At the start of the operation we have sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking a terrorist infrastructure. We are not striking at the military. So the military has an option of standing out and not interfering in this process. However, the government has since refuted the allegations saying Mr Gandhis claims were misleading. On Thursday, Jaishankar personally clarified that the cessation of firing and military action was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan. He said India had made it clear to every nation, including the US, that Pakistan needs to call Indias general and say that if it wants to stop the firing. In an interview with the Netherlands-based Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, Jaishankar said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to him, and US Vice President JD Vance talked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stressed that it is natural that nations call up when there are two nations involved in a conflict. Responding to another question, Mr Jaishankar said: Obviously, US Secretary of State Rubio and Vice President Vance had called up, Rubio had spoken to me, Vance had spoken to our Prime Minister, they had their view and they were talking to us and they were talking to the Pakistani side as indeed were some other countries. There were some countries in the Gulf, there were some others as well. In the series of questions that Mr Gandhi has been posing to Jaishankar also includes his jibe describing him as new age Jaichand, a simile often applies to dub a person as a traitor. The Congress leader had, on Thursday, also posed three questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Why did you believe Pakistans statement on terrorism? Why did you sacrifice Indias interests by bowing to Trump? Why does your blood boil only in front of cameras? Addressing a public rally in Bikaner on Thursday, the prime minister recalled how terrorists targeted innocents, singled them out by religion and wiped the sindoor off womens foreheads, and then in retaliation, Indian armed forces buried them in the soil. In the same breath the prime minister claimed: Sindoor, not blood, flows through Modis veins The terror camps were destroyed within 22 minutes Armed forces got a free hand and forced Pakistan to back down. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday came down heavily on the West for supporting the military regime in Pakistan and said Indias borders have been violated by the neighbouring country in Kashmir ever since Indias independence in 1947. An article in Politiken during his visit to Denmark quoted Jaishankar as saying, Our borders have been violated by Pakistan in Kashmir ever since our independence in 1947. And what have we seen in the eight decades since then? That large, democratic Europe, to use your own term, has stood side by side with military dictatorships in the region. No one has supported the military regime and undermined democracy in Pakistan in so many ways as much as the West. Advertisement The External Affairs Minister emphasised that India supports countries sovereignty and internationally recognised borders. Advertisement But my worldview and my view of Europe are shaped by my own experiences. You talk about the inviolability of borders well, why dont we start with the inviolability of my borders? Thats where my world begins. But weve always been told that we had to solve that ourselves, he said. On a question about the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar in his firm reply said, It wasnt a conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. It was a terrorist attack. On April 22, at least 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen, were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. In response, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. Jaishankar further said terrorism remains one of the foremost collective challenges faced by the Global South, alongside climate change, poverty, and the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the major collective challenges today, I would place terrorism at the top alongside climate change, growing poverty, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South, he said. The term Global South broadly refers to developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. On the Russian energy issue, Jaishankar pointed out that Europe, despite its outrage and sanctions, still imports energy from Russia. At the same time, Europe is driving up energy prices for all developing countries, including India. Wealthy Europe turned to the Middle East because it had a problem with Russia and offered inflated prices to get oil redirected to Europe. So what happened was that many countries not just us could no longer afford it. The major oil companies didnt even respond to purchase offers because they were too busy selling to Europe, he said. What was the rest of the world supposed to do? Say okay, well just do without energy because Europeans need it more than us? he asked. Jaishankar added that matters arent made easier by the fact that major oil-producing countries like Iran and Venezuela are also subject to Western sanctions. We are societies where income levels are 1/120 of Europes. For us, energy is a matter of life and death. Just as Europe has every right to make its own choices, you should respect our right to do the same. Let us find our own solutions, he said. In a major breakthrough in the fight against trans-border drug trafficking, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police have dismantled a Pakistan-backed smuggling network with the arrest of three individuals and the recovery of 5.5 kilograms of heroin. Acting on credible intelligence and technical surveillance, the police apprehended prime accused Rinku, also known as Gandhi, along with two of his associates. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the trio had been in continuous contact with foreign-based smugglers from across the border for the past three years. Advertisement The operation, executed by the team from Police Station Division Number 8, was the result of sustained intelligence gathering and close monitoring. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and investigations are currently underway to uncover the broader network, including backward and forward linkages. Advertisement Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav in a post on X today wrote: Acting on credible intelligence, Jalandhar Commissionerate Police busts a cross-border drug smuggling network by arresting three persons and recovers 5.5 Kg Heroin. Preliminary investigation reveals that accused Rinku @ Gandhi and his two associates remained in touch with Foreign-based smugglers from across the border for the past 3 years. Leads were developed based on technical & intelligence inputs. An FIR has been registered under the NDPS Act at PS Div No. 8 #Jalandhar. Investigations are ongoing to establish backward and forward linkages to break the #Pakistans ISI sponsored cross-border narco-network. @PunjabPoliceInd is committed to cracking down on trans-border smuggling networks to ensure a #DrugFreePunjab, Yadav wrote further. Now, this language rigidness is going a bit too far with Kannada activists finding fault with the Mysore Sandal soap makers to appoint film actress Tamannah Bhatia as their brand ambassador. An extremely popular actress down south for her powerful roles in Bahubali and countless other films, Tamannah was chosen for as the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) that makes the most popular and successful soap Mysore Sandal, known for its fragrance, because of her digital reach, pan-India appeal, and affordable terms. Advertisement Tamannahs latest picture was Odela 2 and next she will be seen in folk thriller Vvan Force of the Forest, along with Siddarth Malhotra in lead roles. Advertisement The Mysore Sandal soap makers move to strengthen their marketing drive with Tamannah in the lead advertising role is now facing backlash from the Kannada language activists, who question why a non-Kannada actress was chosen to market an out-and-out Kannadiga product that was unique to the state. Minister for Commerce & Industries, Infrastructure GoK, MB Patil defended the decision saying that it was taken after after considering various angles, including pan-India fame, popularity on social media, and followership among the youth group. Tamannaah has been contracted for Rs 6.2 crores for two years. The Minister, MB Patil, took to his X handle and wrote, KSDLs goal is to increase its turnover to Rs. 5,000 crore by 2028. In this regard, significant changes are being brought about by following multi-dimensional strategies required for the all-round development of the organisation, he said in a social media post. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has serious objections to Tamannah being the brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal saying that the company KSDL is a part of the glorious history of the Kannada people. It is inappropriate to make a non-Kannada speaking person its face, the Kannada organisation said. Even social activist Marilingegowda Patil has complained to the Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah over this. But the government insists that the move to make Tamannah the brand ambassador was a pure business decision and was not based on anyones regional identity. The minister claimed that among those considered for this position were Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna, both hailing from Karnataka and another well known actress, Kiara Advani. Covid-19 deaths have been reported from Kerala again. Two Covid-related deaths were reported from the state in May, marking the first fatalities after a long gap. Active cases of the pandemic have also doubled in two days, reaching 182 as of May 21. Advertisement As Kerala is seeing a renewed uptick in Covid-19 cases, the state health department issued new guidelines for caution and mask use. State Health Minister Veena George said that the public must remain vigilant as cases are likely to increase due to the Omicron subvariants LF7 and NB1.8, spreading in South Asia. Advertisement Covid cases are being reported in large numbers in South East Asian countries and there is a possibility of an increase in Covid in Kerala as well, the Health Minister said, adding that while the severity is not high, self-defence is important. In May, as may as 182 Covid cases were reported in Kerala, which included 57 from Kottayam, 34 from Ernakulam, and 30 from Thiruvananthapuram. Those with symptoms are recommended to undergo Covid test. The government has given instructions to hospitals to ensure that adequate RT-PCR kits and safety equipment are with them. Elderly persons, pregnant women, and those with serious illnesses have been advised to wear masks in public places and during travel. Masks are mandatory in hospitals. Healthcare workers must wear masks. Unnecessary hospital visits should be avoided. Frequent handwashing with soap is recommended, according to the advisory of the government. There is a surge in Covid-19 cases again in all countries, with Southeast Asia, especially Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Thailand, reporting a spike. India reported 241 new Covid-19 cases between May 12 and May 21, raising the total active caseload to 334. Kerala tops the list with 182 active cases, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Health experts say these numbers remain low relative to Indias vast population. Hailing Operation Sindoor as a successful blend of Prime Minister Narendra Modis political will, intelligence inputs from security agencies, and the striking capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the entire nation is proud of the militarys response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Addressing the Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony in the capital, Shah remarked, Operation Sindoor became possible due to the Prime Ministers firm political resolve, accurate intelligence from our agencies, and the armed forces exceptional combat execution. It is when all three elements combine that such an operation can take place. Advertisement India has been confronting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for decades, Shah noted, adding that despite numerous terror attacks over the years, the hostile neighbour had not previously faced a fitting response. Advertisement In 2014, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister and a government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed, our soldiers were killed in the Uri attack. For the first time, we responded by entering terrorist hideouts and conducting surgical strikes immediately after the incident, Shah said. We targeted the terrorists, but it was Pakistan that proved its involvement in sponsoring terrorism by claiming responsibility. When the Pakistani army attempted to attack our civilians and military installations, the Indian Army gave a strong response. Our forces demonstrated their firepower by targeting Pakistani airbases, he added. He further said that Pakistan stood exposed after Indias precise strikes on terrorist camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Today, the world acknowledges that Pakistan is behind the terror activities in India. When we targeted terror camps in Pakistan, their army retaliated, and their officers attended the funerals of the terrorists we eliminated. These facts clearly reveal their involvement, Shah asserted. Praising the BSFs role in Operation Sindoor, Shah said, The entire country is proud of our armed forces and the BSF. Even during heightened tensions, the BSF held its ground on the borders. When shelling occurred from across the border, BSF personnel responded with strength and resilience. He also highlighted the effectiveness of indigenous weapon systems used during the operation, saying, We witnessed the success of domestically developed weapons during Operation Sindoor. I am confident that under Prime Minister Modis leadership, we will continue progressing toward self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Commending the BSFs performance in securing Indias frontiers, Shah said, When it was decided that one force would be responsible for guarding a specific border, the BSF was assigned the two most challenging frontiersBangladesh and Pakistan. Given your capabilities, you have done an excellent job securing them. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is not the only threat to India, but a Pakistan-occupied Congress has emerged as a new threat. So far, I had heard about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but for the first time in my life, I realised that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is not the only threat. A new threat called Pakistan-occupied Congress has emerged because the mentality of these Congress people has been shaped by Pakistanis. They ask questions which only Pakistan would ask, Fadnavis said while addressing a public gathering in the Ichalkaranji assembly constituency of Kolhapur district. Advertisement Rahul Gandhi and his followers ask how many drones have fallen and which ones were discovered. He said when Pakistan sent Chinese drones worth only Rs 15,000, how did you send missiles worth Rs 15 lakh to counter them? Now these fools dont know that there is a difference between war drones and drones used for agricultural purposes to spray pesticides. Agricultural drones are not used in war but who will explain it to these fools? Only India has made anti-drone guns which can shoot down 64 drones at a time. Not even America has it, but who will explain it to these fools? A Pakistani virus has entered their heads and that Pakistani virus has corrupted the hard disk inside their heads. That is why they ask such questions, Fadnavis said. Advertisement Pakistan sent a large number of drones. However, not a single one could hit its target in India. Our army destroyed them. Pakistan does not have weapons which can touch Indian soil. After Pakistan knelt down, we declared a ceasefire. We did not attack Pakistani citizens. The biggest achievement of this war is that all the war material used was made in India, Fadnavis said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown that those who look at India with evil intentions will be given a befitting reply. Today, my mothers and sisters came to this meeting wearing vermilion with pride. But it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi took revenge on those who wiped away the vermilion from their foreheads. Around 100 terrorists, including members of the families of Masood Ahmed and Hafiz Saeed, were killed because of Prime Minister Modi, Fadnavis said. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that any proposals for the development of Ichalkaranji and its surroundings will be approved immediately. He announced that various development works worth more than Rs 713 crore in Ichalkaranji assembly constituency have been inaugurated. Cautioning and criticizing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against his anti-India posture, the BJP on Friday said his statements are being used by Pakistani establishments to defame the country and its armed forces, and he must desist from doing so. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Gaurav Bhatia, national spokesperson of the saffron party, said Rahul Gandhi has to decide if he is Leader of Opposition or Nishan-e-Pakistan the highest civilian award conferred upon a notable personality in the neighboring country. Advertisement Bhatia expressed serious concern on Gandhi every now and then, raising questions on the ongoing Indian military operation against Pakistan post-Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives of innocent Indians. Advertisement He has been against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its clear, and it is okay, but he must not make irresponsible statements, the BJP leader said, adding that questions such as how many Indian jets were lost during the four-day confrontation with Pakistan do not make any sense. Bhatia said questions like these could be discussed in the right forms as matured Indian democracy provides space for it. The BJP leader, supporting the argument, said that even Indian armed forces in their official response on May 11 had made it clear that such queries do make any sense when we are still in combat. Bhatia, expressing his personal anguish over the matter, said that from now on he would not use Ji Hindi suffix added to a name for showing respect, for Rahul Gandhi as he was doing a great disservice to the nation by raising senseless questions. Citing example of Pakistani leader Maryam Nawaz, who, he said, was on record saying that Pakistan has suffered major losses by the Indian strikes, but the Congress leader is trying to prove them wrong. Rahul Gandhi asking such questions cannot be termed as childish, as he has been doing it knowingly, Bhatia said, adding that his anti-India character would certainly be questioned by the people of India. Suggesting that questions that do not jeopardize Indias security could be asked, but LoPs stand is totally against the country. The BJP leader also raised counter questions, asking the Congress leader what he did after the 9/11 Mumbai terror attack. To prove his point, Bhatia displayed a picture of Rahul Gandhi printed in a national daily, allegedly partying after two-three days of the Mumbai terror attack. Rahul Gandhi had been trying to demoralize our armed forces. Even after the Galvan incident he had said that Indian forces were being thrashed by the Chinese military. A number of countries are supporting Indias stand on the issue of terror emanating from Pakistan but he seems to be going against Indias interest all the time, the BJP spokesperson said. He also criticized Congress Karnataka unit, saying when the farmers are dying in the state, the Congress government in the state is busy supporting people like Ranya Rao, who is being probed in a gold smuggling case. To a query on why India could not persuade the IMF not to give loan to Pakistan, the BJP leader said the loan was given with as many as 11 conditions after India intervened in the matter. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, will visit Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday to meet families of those killed or injured during the recent India and Pakistan clashes in the region. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri @RahulGandhi will be visiting Poonch tomorrow, May 24th, to meet the families bereaved during the shelling by Pakistan very recently, Congress general Secretary Jairam Ramesh said Friday on the platform X. Advertisement This will be Mr Gandhis second visit to Jammu and Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 25 civilians and one Nepalese national dead. Advertisement Earlier, he had visited Srinagar on April 25th to meet with those injured during the brutal Pahalgam terror attack and many other stakeholders. He had also met with the LG (Manoj Sinha) and the CM (Omar Abdullah) then, Mr Ramesh said in his post. During his daylong trip, Mr Gandhi is likely to be accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including AICC general secretary and J&K in-charge Naseer Hussain. Tensions between the two neighbours heightened after Indian defence forces launched Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory move in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. After boycotting the General Council meetings of NITI Aayog for the past three years, citing the Modi governments alleged discrimination against Tamil Nadu in financial allocations, Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin arrived in the national capital on Friday to attend the upcoming meeting on Saturday and assert the states legitimate rights. Seizing the opportunity, Stalin met senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi at their residence in the evening. As the DMK remains a key pillar of the INDIA bloc, Stalins meeting with the Congress leadership reaffirms the Dravidian partys alliance with Congress. Advertisement The Chief Minister is also rallying support from non-Congress ruled states and parties opposed to the BJP, particularly over the issues of delimitation and Governors allegedly acting as impediments to elected state governments. Advertisement According to sources, Stalin enquired about Sonia Gandhis health, and she, in turn, asked about the health of Stalins mother, Dayalu Ammal. While the upcoming assembly elections were touched upon, they were reportedly not discussed in detail. DMK sources also confirmed that Stalin is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having sought an appointment, to present a memorandum listing various demands for Tamil Nadu. This comes in the backdrop of the state moving the Supreme Court to direct the Union Government to release pending dues of 2,192 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The funds have been withheld due to Tamil Nadus non-implementation of Hindi instruction under the three-language formula of the New Education Policy (NEP). Tamil Nadu has opposed this, continuing its longstanding two-language policy of Tamil and English, in place since 1968. Stalins decision to participate in the NITI Aayog meeting has drawn criticism from the principal opposition, AIADMK. Party general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that family interests forced the U-turn, especially as the Enforcement Directorate intensifies its probe into the alleged 1,000 crore liquor scam involving TASMAC, the state-run liquor retailer. The ED recently conducted raids on TASMAC headquarters, private distilleries, and bottling units, and had summoned TASMAC MD S Visakan earlier this week. However, the Supreme Court has stayed further ED investigation, criticizing the agency for violating federal principles. The Uttarakhand High Court jolted Enforcement Directorates effort to attach 101 bighas of land of former BJP MLA and Pushkar Singh Dhami Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat in Dehradun as it refused to vacate its May 6 stay stating that EDs notice was not in accordance with section 5(1)(B) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002. Hearing upon the case on Thursday against EDs attachment order of 101 bighas of the land purchased by the family members of the former BJP minister Harak Singh Rawat, a single bench of the High Court, presided over by Justice Pankaj Purohit, maintained that the the stay will continue till the next hearing on August 21. Advertisement The ED had on January 20 issued notice for the attachment of 101 bighas of land in Dehradun belonging to the family of Rawat as it was purchased at throw away price of 6.5 crore against the 70 crore as market price. The ED had also claimed that the power of attorney issued by landowner Sushila Rawat was misused, as the land was sold to Harak Singh Rawats wife Deepti Rawat, Lakshmi Rana, and the Purna Devi Trust for a nominal amount, significantly below the areas circle rates. Advertisement According to ED, a portion of the land was used to construct the building of the Doon Institute of Medical Sciences under the banner of Poorna Devi Memorial Trust being managed by Rawats son Tushit Rawat. However, the ED notice to Purna Devi Trust was challenged in the Uttarakhand High Court following which it stayed the central agencys contention that the attachment notice was not in accordance with the provision 5(1)(B) of the PMLA 2002. Provision 5(1)B of the PMLA 2002 deals with the attachment of property involved in money laundering. According to the provision, a director or a high-ranking official can order for attachment of the property if he believes on reasonable grounds, documented in writing, that the property may be concealed, transferred, or dealt in a way that could frustrate proceedings under the PMLA. The petition challenging ED action argued that notice served to Rawat was not in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(1)(B) of the PMLA Act 2002. In its first stay the High Court had said that there does not seem to be a possibility of hiding, transferring or disposing of the property as mentioned in the relevant section of the PMLA Act 2002. The HC maintained its stay on May 22 hearing as it deferred the next hearing on August 21. Harak Singh Rawat is a renowned political face in the state who remained in power most of the time irrespective of the political party that ruled the state. He was a cabinet minister in Trivendra Singh Rawat regime and Pushkar Singh Dhami government-01 from 2018 to 2022 but left the BJP and joined the Congress prior to the assembly elections in 2022. Prior to this he defected from Harish Rawats cabinet along with other Congress MLAs in 2016 and joined the BJP leading to political crisis in the state. In yet another striking convergence of the rhetoric between the Pakistan Army and its terror eco-system, a Pakistani military spokesperson has used inflammatory words threatening India, which were similar to those used by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist Hafiz Saeed. Referring to Indias recent move to suspend the water-sharing treaty following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, If you block our water, we will choke your breath. Advertisement He was speaking at a public gathering over Indias decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance till Islamabad abjures terrorism and stops aiding, funding, and supporting terrorist groups emanating from its soil. Advertisement This comment mirrors the thinking of LeT founder Hafiz, who had allegedly said, If you stop the water, God willing, we will stop your breath, and then blood shall follow in these rivers, according to videos shared by people on the internet, who drew similarities between the comments. Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is known for his inflammatory speeches against India and the US. The statements come as India suspended parts of the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, a day after 26 innocent people were gunned down in a terror attack in Pahalgam. The treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries. Meanwhile, New Delhi has repeatedly said Blood and water cannot flow together; talk and terror cannot go together, indicating a tougher stance on Pakistans alleged support for cross-border terrorism. Suspension was among the countermeasures taken by India against Islamabad, including Operation Sindoor on May 7 that targeted nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The External Affairs Ministry reiterated Indias firm stance on Thursday. Blood and water cannot flow together; terror and talks cannot go together, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, echoing the longstanding policy underlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at a public rally in Rajasthans Bikaner, issued a stern warning to Islamabad. He said Pakistan would have to struggle for every penny if it continued to support terror, and that it would not get Indias rightful share of water under the current treaty terms. Playing with the blood of Indians will now cost Pakistan heavily, he warned. The agreement between the UK and the EU, aimed at recalibrating their post-Brexit relationship, is a pragmatic step forward ~ one that seeks to balance political realities with economic necessity. Yet, despite its surface-level optimism, the deal exposes enduring fault lines in Britains post-EU trajectory, and raises questions about sovereignty, fairness, and long-term vision. At its heart, the agreement delivers real gains for UK exporters, especially in the beleaguered food and drink sector. After years of disruption, producers may finally see an easing of the bureaucratic chokehold that followed Brexit. For small businesses, fewer checks and harmonised food standards could mean survival and even growth. However, this relief comes with a price: dynamic alignment with EU food regulations and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in related disputes. This is not just a technical concession ~ its a symbolic one. For those who voted to take back control, the return of EU legal oversight will feel like a compromise too far. The fishing industry, long treated as a mascot of British independence, emerges as the most visibly shortchanged. A 12-year extension of EU access to UK waters all but removes the negotiating leverage British fleets hoped to regain. Annual talks, which might have allowed for strategic recalibration, have been traded for long-term predictability that overwhelmingly favours the larger and more organised EU fleets. This outcome underlines a bitter truth: the economic weight of fishing is small, but its political symbolism remains disproportionately large. Advertisement To marginalise it again is to court resentment in coastal communities already sceptical of Westminsters promises. On youth mobility, the proposed experience scheme represents a long-overdue reknitting of the social fabric between generations of Britons and Europeans. For many young people, the opportunity to live, work, and learn across borders is not just a professional advantage but a cultural lifeline. Still, the policy remains vague, and its potential impact on net migration is politically charged in a nation where immigration debates continue to polarise public opinion. Perhaps the most quietly strategic aspect of the deal is in defence. If UK firms gain access to EU rearmament funds, it signals a reintegration into Europes security ecosystem ~ albeit through the back door of economic pragmatism. This could be a blueprint for future cooperation: not ideological reunification, but issue-based alignment grounded in mutual benefit. In sum, this deal is not a grand political reset, but a calculated detente. It acknowledges that decoupling from the EU has costs, and that some form of shared governance remains essential. Advertisement This agreement also signals an important shift in tone ~ from confrontation to coordination. It reflects acknowledgement that ideological rigidity must yield to practical governance if both sides are to thrive amid global instability, economic uncertainty, and rising geopolitical threats. For those Britons who see policy as a tool for solving problems rather than making statements, it is a welcome, if imperfect, correction. But for others, it may feel like deja vu: the return of European entanglements by another name. India is a land rooted in a tradition of peace ~ one that fosters harmony and offers profound philosophical wisdom to the world. Yet, it is also a nation made up by a million mutinies that firmly set the legacy of resistance against injustice, demand accountability, and do not hesitate to confront adversaries. Following the Pahalgam attack, India delivered a strong message to Pakistan, underlining its unflinching resolve to protect its sovereignty. As a result, the recent IndiaPakistan conflict has brought bilateral relations to a historic low, with communication largely restricted and scurrilous, if not outlandish. In this tense atmosphere, the intervention, and ambiguous statements of the global superpower ~ the United States ~ have added to Indias discomfiture, raising questions about the credibility and intent of the US. Just as wars between two countries often have global repercussions, the IndoPak conflict has impacted not only the South Asian theatre but also touched farflung regions like America and Europe. However, if we delve deeper into the broader implications of this conflict, it becomes crystal clear that there is a need to reassess Indias foreign policy. Advertisement A review of Indias foreign policy since independence reveals a grand vision synonymous with Nehruvian consensus in which advocacy of non-alignment not only connoted a position of keeping aloof from any major power bloc but also taking an active role in progressively replacing the cold war structure. This legacy continued for decades. Meanwhile Indias stance has significantly evolved in response to the pattern of American hegemony and the rise of revisionist powers through the 1990s. Advertisement Thus, while over the past two decades we have seen a noticeable tilt in Indias foreign policy towards multi-alignment, there is no gainsaying the fact that two trends clearly stand out, one is an a la carte approach, that is no fixed menu or region was considered most favourable, while on the other hand, political leaderships in both New Delhi and Washington walked extra miles to consolidate their global strategic partnership. Yet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indias strategic orientation has noticeably shifted from Russia towards the United States, with many experts noting a growing soft corner for America. Calling it a turning point might be a sweeping comment though, because one can clearly see intense diplomatic bargaining between both sides, whether on a nuclear deal or trade related facilities that are far from an outright alignment. Even so, since 2014, the Modi governments diplomacy has at times shown a perceptible desire to curry favour from Washington knowing fully well that the latter is highly erratic. As Fareed Zakaria aptly commented, despite power in ample supply, the US lacks in legitimacy. On the other hand, in our growing affinity toward the US, the core strengths on which Indias ruling elites counted came only from certain businesses and a segment of the tech-savvy middle class. It implies a kind of disconnect with the lower tier of society in our frantic moves toward the United States. Hence the need for creating a halo effect could be discerned in the 2019 joint address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump at the Howdy Modi mega event held at NRG Stadium in Houston, where they addressed the Indian diaspora. The following year, in 2020, President Trump visited India and participated in the Namaste Trump event, where he enunciated that America loves and respects India. These two high-profile events fomented the narrative of personal chemistry between the leaders and added a new dimension to the Indo-US relationship, signaling a deepening strategic and diplomatic bonhomie. In this context, the central question arises: why did the two high-profile events between India and the United States fail to translate into a closer, cozier and more reliable partnership equation? Why did the United States not openly support India during the recent India-Pakistan conflict? Moreover, why did America refrain from strongly condemning Pakistan, a country often accused of harboring terrorists? Was it oblivious of its tortuous and challenging over-stay in Afghanistan from 2001 till 2021? These questions cast doubt on the sincerity of the events ~ were they merely symbolic gestures or spurious diplomatic lip service without real substance? The question reverberates. Another important aspect to consider is Europes alignment with the United States, often seen in how European nations respond to American influence. Despite Modis multiple visits to a number of European countries, most prominently France and Germany to meet leaders, woo investors, finalize deals and to attend conferences, Europe did not extend clear support to India during the recent Indo-Pak skirmish. As a result, the close relationship that India claims to have with Europe, Nordic countries and the European Union appeared fragile when it mattered most. This, too, reflects a shortcoming in Indias foreign policy strategy and its ambition to cut a niche for itself. Does it subtly imply a significant message that India has offended Europe by its shrewd diplomatic balance vis-a-vis Russias Ukraine invasion. If so, how to win back European confidence? On the other hand, if we consider Indias relationship with Turkey, it becomes evident that despite Indias generous support during Turkeys time of crisis, the response has not been expectedly reciprocal. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in 2023, India was among the first countries to extend assistance, promptly deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, medical personnel, relief supplies, specialized equipment, and search-and-rescue dog squads. However, rather than supporting India, Turkey has reportedly supplied drones to Pakistan, thereby strengthening a nation often at odds with India. This response raises questions in the media about Turkeys foreign policy priorities under President Erdogan, suggesting that strategic and ideological considerations ~ possibly rooted in religious affinity ~ may outweigh humanitarian gratitude or moral obligation. The key lesson India must draw from these experiences is that its foreign policy should be guided not only by emotive impulse but by a calculus of strategic awareness and discernment. While humanitarian aid and goodwill are important criteria, India must also focus on identifying its true allies. Whether dealing with the United States, Europe, Turkey or Azerbaijan, a reassessment of approach is necessary. In this context, India could take a cue from China, which often combines pragmatism with calculated diplomacy. Like China, India needs to pursue its foreign policy with strategic foresight, rather than being driven solely by sentiment. The recent decisions by Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Milia University to suspend MoUs with Turkey are correct decisions in the right direction. Gone are those days when terrorism and trade were reckoned disparate, hence might continue. On the contrary, the mercury of discontent is running high as this time an unprecedented boycott mentality has quickly diffused and influenced the decisions of many top travel companies based in India to the extent of cancelling flight booking and holiday plans to different European destinations. Thus, today any discourse on Indias foreign policy cant bypass this obvious shooting mood. (The writers are, respectively, Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, and a former Research Scholar, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University) Baloch leader Mehran Marri has accused Pakistan of unlawfully occupying Balochistan since 1948, transforming the region into a heavily militarised zone where the rights of the local population are systematically violated. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Marri drew comparisons with global conflicts to highlight what he described as the Wests selective concern for human rights. While the world rallies behind Ukraine and Palestine, Balochistan remains ignored, he said. Advertisement arri claimed that Balochistan was a sovereign entity before being forcibly annexed by Pakistan on March 28, 1948, just nine months after its independence. He argued that the international community has continued to overlook Balochistans plight due to geopolitical considerations. Advertisement Pakistan is not a democracy. Its a military-operated enterprise, with generals controlling everything from real estate to food industries, he alleged. He further criticised what is known in Pakistan as the establishment a nexus of the military, parliament, and judiciary as working collectively to stifle dissent. Pakistan is not a typical country. It resembles an open-air prison, Marri said, adding that civil liberties in Balochistan are virtually non-existent. Marri condemned the widespread use of enforced disappearances and media censorship in Balochistan, describing them as deliberate tactics used to instil fear and silence dissent. He noted that such practices have persisted since the rule of former President Pervez Musharraf and remain central to the militarys strategy of control. Regarding economic marginalisation, Marri described it as an added insult to injury. He highlighted the irony of Balochistans immense natural resources being exploited while the local population remains impoverished. People in Gwadar go to bed hungry while luxury hotels rise around them, he said. Marri also criticised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as another mechanism for resource extraction, though he expressed hope that China may eventually reassess its involvement. Commenting on Indias recent Operation Sindoor against terrorist networks in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Marri voiced strong support. He called the Operation monumental and long overdue, urging India to pursue it as a long-term campaign against terrorism, similar to the United States post-9/11 strategy. Once Operation Sindoor achieves its objectives, we hope Balochistans liberation will be part of the outcome, he concluded. Jamil Ahmed, a representative of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), has strongly criticised Hafiz-ur-Rahman for his lack of action during his tenure as head of the Muslim League from 2015 to 2020. Speaking to WTV, Ahmed described how Rahman failed to use his two-digit majority in the Assembly, leading to missed opportunities to resolve important issues such as land rights for the people of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan.Hafiz-ur-Rahman was given a two-digit majority by this nation, but he wasted five years making commissions. There was a clear opportunity to act, but he failed, whether it was due to bad intentions or incompetence, said Ahmed. Advertisement According to WTV, Ahmed also pointed out the ongoing division within the Muslim League. Today, Hafiz-ur-Rahman is opposing this bill, but members like Ghulam Ahmed, Anwar and my sister Sanam supported it. Despite Rahmans opposition, they voted in favour of the bill. They understood its importance, Ahmed remarked. Advertisement He noted that Rahmans failure to act left a void, but some members of the party had demonstrated genuine leadership by supporting the legislation for the people of PoGB.The bill at the center of the discussion, tabled to secure land rights for the people of PoGB, is described as a historic step by Ahmed. He emphasised that this legislation is crucial for people who have struggled for decades to reclaim their land from both colonial and post-colonial authorities. Ahmed continued his criticism of the Muslim Leagues record. Even with a majority, they failed to pass this bill. They made a commission, but never moved forward. The opposition wasnt about the bill itself; it was about politics, he stated. Reflecting on the bills passage, Ahmed expressed pride in his partys achievement in securing land ownership for PoGB. Today, we have fulfilled our mandate. Our slogan was the right of ownership, and today, weve made the people the rightful owners of their land, he said. Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has issued a warning to India similar to that used by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist Hafiz Saeed. He was speaking at a public gathering over Indias decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance till Islamabad abjures terrorism and stop aiding, funding and supporting terrorist groups emanating from its soil. Advertisement Chaudhry reportedly made the comments during a speech at a university in Pakistan. Advertisement Referring to Indias recent move to suspend the water-sharing treaty following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, he said, If you block our water, we will choke your breath. His statement mirrors the hostile rhetoric used by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, known for his inflammatory speeches against India and the US. In a video, making rounds on social media X, Hafiz Saeed can be heard saying those same words. The statements come as India suspended parts of the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, a day after the terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. The treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries. Meanwhile, New Delhi has repeatedly said blood and water cannot flow together; talk and terror cannot go together, signalling a tougher stance on Pakistans alleged support for cross-border terrorism. Suspension was a part of countermeasures taken against Islamabad, including Operation Sindoor on May 7 that targeted nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday declared that any future dialogue with Pakistan will focus solely on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated firmly that terror and talks cant coexist, highlighting that India remains open only to discussions on the extradition of wanted terrorists already listed and shared with Islamabad. Clarifying Indias stance on the Kashmir issue, Jaiswal underlined, Any bilateral discussion will only be on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan. Speaking on the suspended Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Jaiswal confirmed that the agreement will remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible and irreversible steps to stop supporting terrorism. He echoed Prime Minister Modis statement: Water and blood cannot flow together, indicating a hardening of Indias position on the historic water-sharing agreement. In a related development, two staff members of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were declared persona non grata for activities deemed inconsistent with their official status. One has already left India, and the other was given 24 hours to do so, Jaiswal said, underscoring the seriousness of their misconduct. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Rajasthans Bikaner, where he delivered a stern warning to Islamabad. He said Pakistan would have to struggle for every penny if it continued to support terror, and that it would not get Indias rightful share of water under the current treaty terms. Playing with the blood of Indians will now cost Pakistan heavily, PM Modi added. The residents of Balochistans Nushki carried out a rally in response to a call from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), staging a significant protest against increasing state violence. The demonstrators marched through the streets, voicing strong opposition to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the unlawful detention of BYC leaders. In a post on X, BYC stated, On BYCs call, People Protested Against State Brutality, Extrajudicial Killings, Enforced Disappearances and Unlawful Detention of BYC Leaders. Yesterday, the people of Nushki answered the Baloch Yakjehti Committees BYC call. In large numbers, they took to the streets, raising their voices against extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the unlawful detention of BYC leadership. The protest followed a recent incident on March 16, when Pakistani security forces reportedly abducted 11 people, including three minors, near SBK University in Nushki. The BYC confirmed the identities of those taken and raised alarm over the incident, viewing it as part of an ongoing campaign of state repression. This case echoes other human rights violations in the region, including the recent killing of Baloch car racer Tariq Balochan act the BYC denounced as part of a broader kill and dump strategy by Pakistani authorities. Advertisement Nushkis demonstration was one of many held across Balochistan, with similar protests erupting in cities such as Quetta, Turbat, and Dalbandin. In each location, citizens expressed outrage over state-backed death squads and the detention of political activists. Protesters, including the families of the missing, carried signs and chanted slogans calling for accountability and the immediate release of detained BYC leaders. Advertisement The BYC reiterated that these protests reflect the peoples demand for justice and an end to systemic abuse. They pledged to continue peaceful demonstrations until their grievances are addressed, showcasing the enduring spirit and determination of the Baloch community. Calls have also been made to the international community to recognise the worsening situation in Balochistan and to pressure Pakistan to uphold human rights. The people of Nushki, along with others across the province, remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice and dignity. The US-led Donald Trump administration has revoked Harvard Universitys certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the institution from enrolling new international students. US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country, Noem said in a statement. Advertisement Enrolling international students is a privilege not a right and that privilege has been revoked due to Harvards repeated failure to comply with federal law. Taking to social media platform X, Noem on Thursday wrote: The administration in April froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, after the university rejected demands that it eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and evaluate international students for ideological concerns. As of the fall 2023 semester, international students made up over 27 per cent of Harvards student body, according to university data. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. However, in the letter sent to Harvard University, it was mentioned that, if Harvard wants the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year back, they should provide the information required within 72 hours. DHS said that in addition to barring enrollment of future international students, existing foreign students must transfer to lose their legal status. This move by the Trump administration will force existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. Harvard University has said that the move is a retaliatory action that threatens serious harm to the university. The governments action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably, the university said in a statement. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. In April, US President Donald Trump had called Harvard a joke and said it should lose its government research contracts after the prestigious university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision. Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the Worlds Great Universities or Colleges, Trump said on his Truth Social platform. He had threatened to ban the famed seat of learning from accepting foreign students unless it bowed to the requirements, as early as April. Each year, anywhere from 500-800 Indian students and scholars study at Harvard, according to the official website of the university. Currently, 788 students from India are enrolled at Harvard University. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. India is at a crossroads, poised to become a global economic powerhouse. With nearly 68% of its population in the working-age group (15 to 64), India is endowed with a demographic advantage that many nations can only dream of. According to the United Nations Population Funds 2024 report, Indias youth will be the key drivers of economic growth in the decades to come. Yet, this immense potential can only be unlocked if we shift from merely creating jobs to fundamentally rethinking education and skill development. This shift must align with the rapid transformation of industries and global job markets in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Skilling: The Need of the Hour Indias challenge today is not the lack of talent but the mismatch between education outcomes and the demands of industry. With a growing economy and a vast youth population, India must urgently address the skills gap that plagues its workforce. While the government's initiatives in skilling, such as the Skill India Mission and increased budget allocations, have shown promise, these efforts must evolve into a more strategic, cohesive, and deeply integrated approach that fosters industry-ready talent. The 2025 Union Budget of 1.28 lakh crore for the Ministry of Education demonstrates the governments dedication to this cause. Among the highlights are the PM Research Fellowship Scheme, which will offer 10,000 fellowships for cutting-edge research at premier institutions, and the establishment of National Centres of Excellence focused on high-demand industries like AI, manufacturing, and sustainable energy. The introduction of a nationwide internship framework within undergraduate education is a forward-thinking initiative that ensures graduates are not just academically competent but industry-ready, which has been a major missing link in the current educational ecosystem. According to the India Skills Report 2023-24, only 51% of Indian graduates are considered employable. This statistic is indicative of the structural disconnect between higher education institutions and industry needs. The National Employability Report 2023 further highlights that students who participate in structured internships have a 46% higher placement rate than those who do not. This underscores the importance of hands-on learning in preparing students for the workforce. International Lessons: Germany, Singapore, and South Korea To build a robust skilling ecosystem, India must learn from countries that have successfully integrated skill development into their national strategies. Countries like Germany, Singapore, and South Korea provide compelling examples of how skilling, vocational education, and industry-academia collaboration can shape a nations workforce. Germanys dual education system remains a gold standard globally. Combining academic instruction with on-the-job training, the system produces highly skilled workers capable of meeting industry demands. With nearly 60% of German students entering vocational training programmes, this model ensures that graduates are immediately employable. The systems success lies in its collaboration between industry and education providers, ensuring that curricula are directly aligned with real-world needs. Moreover, by fostering close ties between companies and training providers, Germany has created an agile workforce, able to adapt to technological shifts in industries like manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare. Singapores Skills Future initiative, launched in 2015, emphasizes lifelong learning and offers citizens subsidies and grants for continuing education. This commitment to upskilling across all stages of a person's career ensures that Singapores workforce remains adaptable in a rapidly changing economy. A significant feature of Skills Future is its focus on personalized learning paths, allowing individuals to upgrade their skills in areas that align with their career aspirations. The initiative reflects Singapores forward-thinking approach, investing not just in training for the present but in preparing citizens for the future workforce. South Koreas rise as a technological and industrial powerhouse owes much to its focus on vocational education and skill development. The countrys vocational training programmes are highly tailored to meet the demands of high-tech industries like electronics, robotics, and biotechnology. The countrys government works closely with industries to ensure that training programmes are regularly updated, reflecting the latest technological advancements. South Koreas success is a result of its strategic focus on industry-specific education, which ensures that the workforce is ready to take on the challenges posed by an increasingly digital and automated world. National Education Policy: A Strong Foundation The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides a robust foundation for transforming Indias education system. By emphasizing flexibility, multidisciplinary education, and skills development, the NEP aligns with both national priorities and the needs of a global economy. Key provisions of the NEP include: A target to expose 50% of learners in higher education to vocational education by 2025. An ambitious increase in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education from 28.4% (AISHE 2021-22) to 50% by 2035. Alignment with SDG 4, focusing on inclusive and equitable quality education for all. The NEP reflects Indias commitment to adapting global best practices in education, while also ensuring that the workforce is prepared to meet emerging industry demands. Higher Education Institutions: Strategic Partners in Nation-Building To ensure that Indias educational institutions contribute to national growth, universities must take a proactive role in aligning their curricula with government skilling initiatives and industry requirements. Higher education institutions (HEIs) must: 1. Align curricula with government skilling initiatives like Skill India Mission and PMKVY, and ensure that students acquire industry-relevant skills alongside academic qualifications. 2. Partner with industries to offer certified short-term skilling programs that complement mainstream academic offerings. 3. Promote innovation through programs like Startup India and Atal Innovation Mission, ensuring that students are not only job-ready but also entrepreneurial. 4. Integrate mandatory internships within academic programs, ensuring that students graduate with practical industry experience. 5. Create lifelong learning ecosystems, providing opportunities for continuous skill upgrading through frameworks like the National Credit Framework (NCrF). Balancing Skill Development and Research While skilling is critical, we must also recognize the importance of research, critical thinking, and innovation. India has made strides in research, ranking third globally in publications, yet it still lags in global innovation indices. Building a robust research ecosystem alongside skilling will ensure long-term, sustainable development. India must create not only job-ready graduates but also entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators who can drive breakthroughs in technology, healthcare, and other vital sectors. A Demographic Dividend If We Act in Time Indias working-age population is projected to peak around 2040. This is a narrow window of opportunity. If properly skilled, Indias youth could contribute up to 2% to the national GDP annually in the coming decades. Without a structured approach to skilling, however, this demographic dividend could turn into a liability, leading to underemployment and social instability. Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility Indias demographic dividend is a massive opportunity that requires a collective effort from educational institutions, industries, government agencies, and society. By aligning education with the needs of the workforce and emphasizing lifelong learning, we can create a highly skilled, innovative, and globally competitive workforce. The governments initiatives, backed by strategic investments and reforms, provide a strong foundation. However, true success will depend on how these policies are implemented and adapted to Indias diverse needs. Only by collaborating across all sectors will we be able to transform Indias greatest challenge its youth into its greatest strength: a skilled, innovative, and globally competitive workforce. Dr.(Fr.) Jose C. C. is the Vice Chancellor of Christ University (The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK) A collection of rare artefacts associated with 16th US President Abraham Lincolnincluding a pair of blood-stained leather gloves discovered in his pocket the night he was assassinatedwere sold at an auction this week. The auction featured 144 objects, 136 of which were sold to pay off the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundations $8 million debt from 2007. The Foundation's website added that any excess funds will go toward our continued care and display of our extensive collection. This debt had been incurred for a loan that had funded the purchase of a private collection from Californian philanthropist Louise Taper, initially intended for permanent display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. At a sale price of $1.52 million, including the buyers premium, the gloves were the highest-valued item. Lincoln was also believed to have had a handkerchief on the night of his murder, which sold for $826,000 at the auction. Photo: AP According to auction house reports, the entire sale racked in well over $7.9 million. Historians, however, see this as a cultural loss. Their concern is that a large number of these antiques will be lost to private ownership, perhaps even for generations. Critics argue that the auction illustrates the susceptibility of public organisationsthat rely on fundingto the private sector. Individual collectors currently control the publics access to these valuable pieces. The sale, although financially necessary for the Foundation, has sparked a broader debate about how the country preservesand fundsits most valuable historical artefacts. The controversy also sheds light on criticism of the collections most disputed item that had been sold years agoa stovepipe hat once attributed to Lincoln and valued at $6 million. In 2019, however, a report commissioned by the state of Illinois stated that they found no conclusive evidence to prove that the hat belonged to Lincoln. Despite Indias strong objections, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had given a loan of $1 billion to Pakistan as it fulfilled all conditions related to the project. India will again oppose Pakistan from acquiring more funds from the World Bank by preparing a strong case with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is scheduled to meet in a few weeks. Although the processes of a nation getting loans from the IMF and it being penalised by the FATFfor its acts of omissions and commissionsdiffer widely, India will go whole hog in building a strong case against Pakistan, citing Islamabad's support for funding terror infrastructure. In 2022, Pakistan was removed from the FATF as it had promised to bring in laws related to money laundering, but still, sufficient progress has not been made. Earlier in 2018, Pakistan was placed in the FATF's grey list. In a strong message delivered at a rally in Rajasthan, PM Narendra Modi had promised that Pakistan would pay dearly for every terror attack. In that regard, the Indian government is expected to further strengthen its efforts to isolate Islamabad at the international front, particularly with the financial bodies. ALSO READ | Will FATF put Pakistan back in Grey List? Here's how the listing could shatter Islamabad's IMF bailout dreams Currently, strong diplomatic efforts are underway, as all-party delegations are interacting with governments across the world to highlight Pakistans role in terrorism. However, Opposition parties (especially Congress) had raised questions over India not doing enough to prevent IMF from giving out loan to Pakistan. It later emerged that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had strongly spoken against the bailout loan with not just IMF director Kristalina Georgieva, but also finance ministers of other European countries who were against giving a loan to Pakistan, when its role in funding terrorism against India was out there for everyone to see. Sources revealed that Sitharaman had contacted IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva detailing how Pakistan had been diverting the loan amounts to funding its weapons purchases, which often ended up being used against India. Apparently, she had also cited the gruesome Pahalgam attack as the recent example when non-state actors were used to promote terrorism within India. Sitharaman's meetings with her counterparts from European countries took place during her visit to Milan from May 4 onwards to attend the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank, sources said. India has stated that it was not against countries getting funds for their developmental needs, but was opposed to these funds being diverted for military uses at a time of tensions across the borders. Indeed, there have been instances in the past when IMF loans to Pakistan have been used for defence purchases. When the Pakistani government presents its budget on June 2, its defence spending will be more clear. IMF loans are given for specific projects, and as Pakistan's proposal seemingly fulfilled all the required conditions, it got support from the IMF. However, in a probable acknowledgement of Indias concerns, the IMF has set 11 new conditions on how Pakistan could utilise the funds it had lent. ALSO READ | To check Pakistan, India should focus more on China, less on Turkiye In the last 35 years since 1989, Pakistan has had disbursements from the IMF in 28 years. In the last 5 years since 2019, there have been 4 IMF programs. Had the previous programs succeeded in putting in place a sound macro-economic policy environment, Pakistan would not have approached the Fund for yet another bail-out program, India had pointed out to the IMF. The Indian government has also argued before the IMF meeting that the Pakistan military's deeply entrenched interference in economic affairs poses significant risks of policy slippages and reversal of reforms. Even when a civilian government is in power now, the army continues to play an outsized role in domestic politics and extends its tentacles deep into the economy, the Indian government stated, after the IMF loan approval. Notably, according to public data, Pakistan spends roughly 18 per cent of its general budget on defence affairs and services, while even conflict-affected countries spend (on average) far less10-14 per cent of their general budget expenditure. Further, Pakistans arms imports increased dramatically from 1980 to 2023 by over 20 per cent (on average) in the years when it received IMF disbursements, in comparison to the years when it did not," sources said. Himachal Pradesh is known for its apples in India. But in the post-pandemic years, India became a major importer of the fruit, globally. And a significant chunk of it came from Turkiye, which recently announced its stance to support Pakistan despite the recent terror attack on Pahalgam in India. And now, Indian apple producers, led by the Himachal Pradesh government are looking to hike import duty on apples, with some even calling for banning the import of the fruit from Turkiye. According to data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), India imported over 3.7 lakh metric tons (MT) of apples worth north of $295 million in the April-August window of FY2023. In the following fiscal, it was reported that the April-August period saw close to $400 million in fresh apple imports. Now, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu leads the boycott calls for apples, with Turkiye being the leading exporter of the fruit to India. In the last fiscal year, Turkiye accounted for around 23 per cent of total apple imports to the country. While the imports have soared, Himachal Pradesh apple production has been hit. In the 2023 crop cycle, Himachal Pradesh produced 4.84 lakh MT of apples. This was 28 per cent lower than the 6.72 lakh MT it produced in the 2022 crop year, according to the Economic Survey report. While there is no official data available for specific Turkiye import of apples into Himachal Pradesh, the jump in imports coinciding with the slide in local production has hampered the state's bragging rights as India's headlining producer of the fruit. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu recently met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to raise this exact issue. The state now seeks to control (or maybe even ban) apple imports from Turkiye. Citing that Turkiye imports are hindering the growth of apple growers in the state, Sukhu hopes to slap a hike in import duty on apples. Along with this demand, the chief minister also discussed various issues concerning the state budget, urging Sitharaman to raise the borrowing limit of Himachal Pradesh by at least two per cent. With the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in Washington, D.C., looking to iron out any wrinkles in the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) being negotiated between India and the United States, the country looks at a full exemption from the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods. On Friday, Goyal met the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss the BTA. This is the second time both are in discussions, after the Minister met Lutnick on May 20 to speed up the first phase of the deal. The Indian Commerce Minister took to X (formerly Twitter) to state that he had a constructive meeting with the US Commerce Secretary and reassured his commitment to enhancing opportunities for our businesses and people. The interim trade pact is expected to be finalised by July 8, and both countries have their hopes hinged on positive outcomes for their respective sides. This comes at the heels of the four-day-long negotiations between the US and Indian delegations that recently concluded in Washington on Thursday. Held a constructive meeting with Secretary @HowardLutnick for a mutually beneficial trade agreement. Committed to enhancing opportunities for our businesses and people. pic.twitter.com/WiADbGNkif Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) May 22, 2025 India looks at a complete exemption from reciprocal tariffs slapped on goods entering the US from the country that US President Donald Trump slapped on April 2. Even though he later suspended it for 90 days till July 9, if no agreement is reached, the tariffs come into effect. Apart from tariff exemptions, India also hopes for concessions and cuts in US duty levied on labour-intensive sectors (like textile, garments, manufacturing, chemicals, and jewellery) in the first phase of the proposed BTA. The BTA is expected to lift the bilateral trade between the two large democracies by at least two-fold to $500 billion by 2030. In return, the US hopes for tariff cuts on electric vehicles, wines and liquor, certain petrochemicals, and agriculture products. Washington has been pushing to import genetically modified crops for quite some time now, but India may not allow it due to the strict regulatory checks in place. The United States has been Indias biggest trading partner for the past four fiscal years. The FY2025 bilateral trade amounted to $131.84 billion, as per government data. Overall, the US imports 18 per cent of Indias exported goods. The Donald Trump administration would also try to cut the trade deficit between the two nations, given that India had a surplus of $41.18 billion with the US last fiscal. This meant that the US imported more Indian goods than exported theirs to India. The US would also be keen to get a deal in place soon, especially after both the UK and EU have rushed to secure bilateral trade with India. This week, the UK government stated that it would be quicker, cheaper, and easier for British companies to trade with India following the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed earlier in May. The performance of the indigenously-developed 'Akashteer' air defence system during Operation Sindoor is expected to make it attractive to countries that are looking to procure such systems, said Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Samir V. Kamat. "Definitely, our air defence system has performed exceedingly well, and I am sure there will be interest from other countries," news agency PTI quoted Kamat as saying. The fully automated air defence control and reporting system, 'Akashteer', enables detection, tracking, and engagement of enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles by integrating various radar systems, sensors, and communication technologies into a single, mobile, vehicle-based framework, making it easier to handle in hostile environments. ALSO READ: In a major boost to Indian Navy's firepower, indigenous Naval Surface Gun aces sea trials During a visit to Nagpur, where Kamat toured facilities focused on manufacturing drones, missiles, and rockets, he said while there has been substantial progress made in making India self-reliant in defence under the 'Atmanirbhar' initiative, there is much more to be done. "I think we have achieved a very significant level, but we still have some work to do. And I am sure in the coming years, we will become totally Atmanirbhar." On the question if conventional weapons will take a back seat in future conflicts as warfare shifts to domains where drones and signal jamming take centre stage, Kamat said future warfare will blend traditional equipment with emerging technologies, such as drones and electronic warfare. "Future warfare will be a combination of the traditional equipment as well as these new things...We have to be prepared for both." Speaking about the progress of India's indigenous 5.5 generation stealth fighter aircraft Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Kamat said, "Our project for developing AMCA started last year, and we are hopeful that it will be completed by 2034 and then it should go into induction by 2035." As the recent four-day intense conflict between India and Pakistan highlighted China and Turkiyes supportive role to Pakistan, the Indian foreign ministry urged both Beijing and Ankara to take note of Indian sensibilities, in what may perhaps seem a lame attempt to ensure that Pakistans main benefactors increase their distance from Islamabad. Developments show that these are the two powers that Pakistan turns to for help, support and aid in times of need. While India and China have engaged frequently on the Pakistan issue, Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke to his Chinese counterpart on May 10 to convey Indias resolute stance against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The Chinese side is aware that mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity remain the basis of India-China relations, Indias foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswals statement read on Thursday. On Turkiye, the spokesperson said, We expect Turkiye to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades. Relations are built on the basis of sensitivities to each others concerns. ALSO READ: Mining for peace in Pakistan: Is US's interest in mineral wealth shaping the shift? While Chinese fighter aircraft J-10 and the J-17, Chinese-origin air defence systems including radars and P-15 air-to-air missiles are reported to have underscored their efficacy during the short conflict, Turkish drones like Asisguards Songer and Byker YIHA were used in abundance by Pakistan, indicating both prolific supplies and a stable supply chain. But the bottom line is that Indias appeal may fall on deaf ears. China accounts for a huge 81 per cent of Pakistans foreign military buys in the four-year period from 2020-2024 according to SIPRI data. The second biggest supplier of weapons, platforms and systems to Pakistan is the Netherlands with 5.5 per cent followed by Turkiye with 3.8 per cnet. But what New Delhi needs to do is to not treat China and Turkiye on the same level and actually prioritise wherever the possibility of its voice finding some resonance is more. India has no serious leverage with Turkiye with both countries weighing much lower in each others list of preference for stronger bilaterals, nor is there a notable trade relationship to write home about. In recent times, the statements issued by Ankara, including on Kashmir, had demonstrated full backing for Islamabad. Turkiye needs Pakistan because it is an aspirant for the role of the leader in the Islamic world; hence its growing involvement in West Asian and Pakistans affairs including a stridently pro-Pakistani position on Kashmir. Chinas interest in Pakistan is mainly because of geo-strategic reasons including the LoC-LAC triangulation that helps China. Pakistan also provides land passage to China to reach Afghanistan and West Asia besides access to the Indian Ocean through the Gwadar port. Moreover, Pakistan is a key signatory to Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But then again, with China, which is easily Pakistans biggest benefactor, there are many areas where India can take advantage of. First, India is an economic powerhouse. To break the stranglehold of post-World War II currency and banking order, cooperation between India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa is a must, and there is already an up-and-ready platform for that, namely, BRICS. This is a situation India can use to its advantage. Second, with China being primarily an exporting economy, because of tariff concerns with the US, Beijing is looking for an alternative market. India has the kind of market China is on the lookout for. India has traditionally had close relationships with both Russia and Iran which has been further consolidated after economic sanctions were imposed on Russia. India can use its relationship with Russia and Iran to convey a message to Beijing. It was earlier reported that Paresh Rawal of Hera Pheri fame was being sued by Akshay Kumar for abruptly dropping out of the third instalment of the comedy flick after the production had already begun. Now, the lawyer representing Kumars Cape of Good Films production banner broke down the legal notice served to Rawal in response to his departure. ALSO READ | Akshay Kumar sues Paresh Rawal for Rs 25 crore in damages for dropping out of Hera Pheri 3 In a conversation with PTI, Pooja Tidke of Joint Managing Partner of Parinam Law Associate, said that Rawal decision has hurt the franchise and will result in severe legal consequences. There have been expenses incurred towards the cast, towards the crew, towards leading senior actors, logistics equipment, and shooting of the trailer," she said. She further revealed that a small portion of the film had been shotaround 3-and-a-half-minutesprior to which contracts were signed and sealed. Suddenly, a few days ago, we received a notice from Paresh ji saying that he is no longer associated with the film and doesn't want to be associated with the film, she said, adding that everyone involved in the production was shocked and surprised. Tidke said that there was reputational damage for the actor involved in the franchise as well as disappointment from the side of the audience. Despite this, she remains optimistic that things will get back on track, despite the current blockade. ALSO READ | Priyadarshan planning 'Hera Pheri 3'? Here's what we wish to see Rawals last-minute exit has also been heavy on the pockets of producers, she added. "There's been a substantial amount of money already invested in the film. Shooting had begun. Of course, everyone's synchronised schedules are now disrupted. Professionally, it's affected everyone. Hera Pheri featured the trio Kumar and Suniel Shetty, two tenants, and Rawal, their landlord, desperate to get rich quick. This year marks the 25 year anniversary of the classic comedy and 19 years since its sequel, Phir Hera Pheri, which released in 2006. Andhra Pradesh Health Department has asked citizens to refrain from mass gatherings, whether it is prayer meetings, parties, events or social functions. This comes against the backdrop of some suspected Covid patients seeking treatments in the state. The health officials have sent their samples for testing and are awaiting results. Meanwhile, the administration is taking no chances after Covid cases have been reported in some states in India and countries like Singapore and Hong Kong. People have also been asked to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour in public places like bus stops, railway stations and airports. People have been encouraged to wear masks and follow proper hygiene. As per the advisory, senior citizens have been asked to exercise caution and stay indoors. Patients who show symptoms of Covid should get tested. Also, travellers who have been to countries where Covid cases are high should also get tested. The advisory also reminds of the symptoms that one needs to watch out for. Health officials have also been asked to be ready with PPE kits and activate testing centres. In the last few days, suspected cases have been reported from Kadapa, Vizag and other districts. A 75-year-old person had approached a hospital for treatment. She had a cold and fever. We have taken her samples and sent them for testing. Rumours are being spread that she is Covid positive which is not true. If the samples turn out to be positive, we will inform the centre too. There is no need to panic, said a Health official from Kadapa. According to another government source, testing had almost come to a halt as there is no trace of any coronavirus cases. They remain on alert due to ongoing news of new COVID variants emerging from Southeast Asia. The AP government is also sharing awareness messages on X, urging citizens to wear masks. The Delhi government on Friday released a Covid-19 advisory as a pre-emptive measure after mild cases were reported in certain parts of the country. The hospitals must ensure preparedness in terms of availability of beds, oxygen, antibiotics, other drugs and vaccines. All equipment such as ventilators, Bi-PAP, oxygen concentrators and PSA must be in functional condition, the advisory stated. All health institutions have also been asked to send every sample of every person who tests positive for Covid-19 to the Lok Nayak Hospital in New Delhi for genome sequencing.These institutions were also tasked with reporting (daily) all data concerning this issue on the Delhi State Health Data Management Portal. These measures come amid a small rise in Covid-19 cases in Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, and even outside India, in parts of Asia such as Hong Kong and Singapore, prompting Indian health authorities to carefully monitor the situation. ALSO READ | Covid-19: Andhra Pradesh issues advisory, urges citizens to wear masks, avoid gatherings On May 19, experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research and central government hospitals held a review meeting chaired by the director general of health services, regarding the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in recent times, a PTI report said. The meeting concluded that the current Covid-19 situation in India remains under control. As of May 19, 2025, the number of active Covid-19 cases in India stands at 257, a very low figure considering the country's large population. Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalisation required, the report added, quoting an official. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the pandemic over in May 2023, Covid-19 continues to mildly affect people in India, with no recent deaths or ICU admissions linked to the latest uptick. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently in Germany as part of his three-nation Europe visit, said on Friday said India has zero-tolerance for terrorism and New Delhi will never give in to nuclear blackmail. India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally and there should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard, he said during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul. The two MEAs held talks in Berlin following which Wadephul condemned the Pahalgam attack and supported India's right to defend itself against terrorism, news agency PTI said quoting sources. Wadephul also advocated a bilateral solution between India and Pakistan, it said. Excellent meeting today with FM @JoWadephul in Berlin. Deeply appreciate Germanys understanding of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism. Discussed making our Strategic Partnership stronger, deeper and closer. Identified areas of further promise and potential. pic.twitter.com/teX3h6DDWb Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 "I came to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. Let me share with you what I conveyed to Mr Wadephul in that context. India has zero-tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail," he said. Jaishankar also said India values Germany's understanding that every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism. India has launched a diplomatic outreach as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a new normal when New Delhi will consider any act of cross-border terrorism as an act of war against India. The two foreign ministers also emphasised 25 years of the Strategic Partnership between India and Germany. Wadephul said the relations are more diverse and Germany wants to deepen our ties while Jaishankar said that in recent years, our cooperation acquired many more facets, and gained much stronger momentum. Addressing the press alongside FM Johann Wadephul @AussenMinDE in Berlin. https://t.co/osGzA4mo17 Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 23, 2025 The MEA said India deeply values Germany's crucial and invaluable role in shaping our larger relationship with the EU. Observing that Germany has been one of the most consistent and powerful supporters of rapidly doing a free trade agreement, Jaishankar said, he is confident that if the two countries can meet the goal of FTA this year, there will be many more doors that will be opened to businesses on both sides. German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann in New Delhi on April 2 had said that time is high, time is good to develop the EU-India free trade agreement. Search operations are continuing in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar as security forces launched Operation Trashi in the region to flush out terrorists hiding in the area. In an intense gunfight on Thursday, two terrorists were killed and an Army jawan was martyred. According to the Army, intense gunfight broke out between terrorists and armed forces in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district during the early hours of Thursday. Terrorists opened fire at security forces while they were conducting a combing operation in the region based on intelligence inputs that terrorists were hiding in the area. Additional forces were deployed to neutralise the terrorists. As per initial reports, at least four terrorists were hiding in the area and two of them were killed in the joint operation carried out by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). An Army jawan suffered grievous injuries in the exchange of fire and he succumbed. White Knight Corps, in a post on X, said, "One of our brave soldiers, who was seriously wounded in the encounter, has unfortunately passed away despite all medical efforts." Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police chief Nalin Prabhat visited the encounter site and reviewed the operation. He visited Singhpora-Chatroo area and assessed the ground situation with other senior officials. The DGP held detailed discussions with senior officers from the police, Army and paramilitary forces leading the operation in the dense forested terrain, and lauded the efforts of security personnel, PTI reported. The Karnataka cabinet approved the proposed Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project (North-South Corridor) a 16.7-km long underground corridor from Hebbal (Esteem Mall junction) to Central Silk Board Junction, at an estimated cost of 17,780 crore amid stiff opposition from the opposition parties, citizens, urban planners and environmentalists. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru development minister, said that global tenders would be floated for the project which will be implemented on BOOT (build-own-operate-transfer) or hybrid model. The tunnel road which will have multiple entry and exit points is likely to be completed in three years. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya criticised the project as "unscientific" and a misuse of taxpayer money. He also pointed out that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) had ignored Bengalurus Master Plan 2031 and failed to coordinate with Metro phases 2B and 3A. Alleging that the project only prioritised real estate development over traffic management, Surya urged the government to abandon the tunnel project and focus on initiatives that genuinely improve Bengaluru's infrastructure. BJP MP from Bengaluru Central P.C. Mohan questioned the project's feasibility and utility while raising concerns over the Rs 14.2 crore spent on the DPR. LOP R Ashok has accused the Congress government of diverting funds intended for Bengaluru infrastructure projects to the tunnel project. A citizens group has launched a signature campaign labelling the project as "unconstitutional" for bypassing essential planning bodies like the Bangalore Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) and the Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA). Geologist Dr. D. Paramesha Naik of Bangalore University has raised concerns over the geological challenges, including hard rock formations and groundwater disruption that could compromise tunnel stability and impact water sources. Some experts predicted that the tunnel project could worsen the flooding situation in the city. Urban planners and Bengaluru Residents Welfare Associations have criticised the car-centric development projects and have advocated for metro systems in place of the tunnels as the former offers higher passenger capacity. The Bengaluru Bus Commuters Forum has sought investments in public transportation, expansion of bus fleet and metro services, instead of high-cost projects like the tunnel road. The proposed tunnel road project is estimated to cost RS 40,000 crore - the 18-km-long North-South corridor connecting Hebbal to Central Silk Board and the 28-km-long East-West tunnel connecting KR Puram with Nayandahalli (Mysore- road). However, only phase 1 has been approved by the cabinet for now. Last Sundays deluge that left the different pockets of the city water-logged has led to citizens demanding a solution to upgrade the existing infrastructure instead of opting for new vanity projects. Heavy rains were reported across Kerala on Friday disrupting normal life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a red alert for the state capital Thiruvananthapuram district in the evening. It also issued an orange alert for Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts for the day.A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours; an orange alert means very heavy rain between 11 cm and 20 cm; and a yellow alert indicates heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. The red alert was issued for three hours due to the possibility of heavy rainfall accompanied by surface winds reaching 50 kmph. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours; an orange alert means very heavy rain between 11 cm and 20 cm; and a yellow alert indicates heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. According to the weather department, the monsoon was likely to arrive in the state within the next two days, with a possibility of widespread rain in Kerala over the coming week. Additionally, red alerts were issued for Kannur and Kasaragod from May 24 to 26, and for Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad on May 25 and 26. Red alerts were also issued for Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts on May 26. Furthermore, orange alerts have been issued in nine districts on May 24, seven on May 25, four on May 26, and six on May 27. The IMD warned of strong winds along the coastal and interior areas, advising people, including fishermen, to take precautionary measures. Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) reported the possibility of high waves up to 3.5 meters at various coastal locations on Saturday. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Poonch in Jammu on Saturday to meet families who lost their loved ones or were injured during the recent clash between India and Pakistan. Tensions between the two countries rose after the Indian defence forces launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 25 tourists and a local horse ride operator. Poonch, which lies close to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), suffered the most from heavy shelling and firing. Thirteen people died in this area, including 12-year-old twinsa brother and sister. Many homes, shops and vehicles were damaged during the attacks. This will be Rahul Gandhis second visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack. Congress chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, told THE WEEK that Gandhi will arrive in Jammu in the morning and then travel to Poonch to meet the affected families. He will also meet others who were injured or suffered losses during the shelling. Gandhi will be accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including Sharma, Dr Naseer Hussain, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra. Congress MLA from Rajouri, Iftikhar Ahmed, along with Karra and other party leaders, have already reached Poonch to make the necessary arrangements for Gandhis visit. Gandhi is expected to return to Delhi later the same afternoon. During his recent visit to Poonch, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced that the government will provide a job to the next of kin of those killed in the four-day confrontation between the two nations. The administration has also formed committees to assess the damage to property and offer financial help to affected families. More than 24 people were killed in the shelling, including six security personnelfive Army soldiers and a BSF inspectorand Raj Kumar Thappa, the additional district development commissioner of Rajouri. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that Operation Sindoor had uncovered the fact that Pakistan had been fully sponsoring terrorism in India. Speaking at the Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF) on the occasion of its 22nd investiture ceremony, Shah lauded Indian forces like BSF at the border, who were always quick to nip nefarious Pakistani activities in the bud, a PTI report said. "Operation Sindoor has exposed that terrorism in India is absolutely Pakistan sponsored," he declared. The home minister reminded the crowd that the Indian armed forces first hit the terror bases in Pakistan, whereas the Pakistan Army first tried to attack India. ALSO READ | One month on, terrorists behind Pahalgam attack still at large "We launched Operation Sindoor and destroyed nine terrorist camps. It is important to note that we didn't target the Pakistan Army installations, civilians or air bases. They dared to target India's civilians but couldn't succeed in the face of its air defence systems, as a result of which their air bases were targeted, the home minister stated. Shah also spoke of 2014, at the time BJP government came to power and an attack was made on soldiers in Uri. He pointed out that even there, both the resultant surgical strike and the air strike (in response to the Pulwama attack) had been in response to Pakistani aggression. Similarly, he said, Operation Sindoor had been a response to the Pahalgam attack. The world is appreciating us for this. I salute the Army, he said. ALSO READ | Operation Sindoor aftermath: Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders to visit J&K's Poonch tomorrow India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10 in return, which prompted a fierce Indian counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations. The two nuclear-armed nations reached an understanding on May 10 to end the military confrontation after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. Hailing the role played by the BSF in securing the country and creating proper international borders, Shah said the force was a great example of how patriotism was a force to be reckoned with. Offering a salute to 2,000+ members of the BSF on behalf of the entire nation, he commemorated their 60-year-legacy, from 1965 to 2025. K.F. Rustamji was the founding father and the first director general of the BSF, the world's largest border guarding force, with about 2.75 lakh personnel tasked with guarding India's borders with Pakistan in the West and Bangladesh on the East. India's multi-party delegations to different countries will emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism, including the 9/11 attack in the US. They will assert that the recent conflict between the neighboring countrries was triggered by the Pahalgam terror strike and not Operation Sindoor as alleged by Islamabad. With Pakistan protesting India's decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, the delegations will be conveying to the nations that maintaining friendship and goodwill was a condition to the agreement, which Pakistan has breached with its constant involvement in terror strikes in India. After the briefing by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to four of the seven parliamentary delegations here on Friday, delegates said they will work to bust the Pakistani narrative of projecting India as the aggressor by underscoring the links of Pahalgam terrorists to the country. Three delegations were briefed by Misri on Tuesday and are already on tours of their destinations, news agency PTI reported. The delegation, which is led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, visiting the US is likely to underscore Pakistan's links to Al-Qaeda, which was behind multiple terror strikes across the world, including the 9/11 attack in the North American country. Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was traced to a hideout in Pakistan, they noted. Delegations visiting Islamic countries that have been victims of terror incidents will emphasize on this point, PTI said. Three delegations, led by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde, JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha and DMK leader K Kanimozhi, have already taken India's message to leaders in UAE, Japan and Russia. The Tharoor-led delegation will travel to Guyana, Colombia, Panama, Brazil and the US. The delegation led by Prasad will travel to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the EU, Italy and Denmark. Sule will lead the group to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia and South Africa. The delegation led by Panda is travelling to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria. ALSO READ | There was no nuclear signalling by Pakistan: Vikram Misri tells parliamentary panel Different delegations have been armed with dossiers specific to the countries they are visiting. Misri reminded the statement made by the armed forces that Indian pilots returned safely when a member asked about their likely response to Pakistani claims about hitting Indian assets. Different delegations will be given more specific inputs before their meetings with representatives of the countries they are visiting. Tharoor said they will meet government representatives, think tanks, legislators, a day the media. "The whole idea is that we will like to sensitise government opinion, public opinion... in each of these countries. We will do what it takes to convey our message," he said. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is leading a delegation to western Europe, said India desires peace and diplomacy, but if Indians are attacked, there will be a strong retaliation. ALSO READ | Operation Sindoor multi-party delegation: Who are the representatives from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana? He said, "Pakistan's track record over the past 70 years speaks for itself, and the world is now willing to listen to India. India is a responsible, democratic nation. In our country, decisions are made by democratically elected governments, not by the military." Former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said they will emphasise the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir due to Pak-sponsored terrorism. The delegations will convey to world capitals India's resolve for zero tolerance on terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The Karnataka government signing up multi-lingual actor Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for Mysore sandal soap has sparked a controversy with pro-Kannada activists opposing the decision. The activists have questioned the government's preference for a non-Kannadiga actor when the Kannada film industry has enough accomplished stars. Bhatia has signed a Rs 6.2 crore deal for two years with the government-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) to endorse the iconic soap brand first introduced in 1916 by the Mysore Kingdom, under the reign of Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, with the support of Dewan Sir M. Visvesvaraya. The idea was to make use of the abundant supply of sandalwood in the Mysore region and reduce the export of raw sandalwood by adding value through local production. State Industries minister M.B. Patil defended the move stating that the KSDL had 'deepest respects and regards' for the Kannada film industry. "Some Kannada movies are giving competition to even Bollywood movies. The Mysore sandal soap has a very good brand recall within Karnataka which shall be strengthened. However, our intent is to penetrate markets beyond Karnataka. The pride of Karnataka (sandal soap) is also a jewel of the nation. Hence its an independent strategic decision of the PSU board after consulting various marketing experts," reasoned Patil. Elaborating on the selection of the brand ambassador, the minister said, "Choosing a brand ambassador takes a lot of deliberation and considerations like their availability for any given category (if they are into any non-compete agreement), their social media presence and their coherence with the brand, product, and target audience. We have considered the marketing fit and reach too." "The annual turnover of KSDL last year was Rs 1785 crore and the Karnataka market accounted for 18 percent, while the rest was from other southern states. Our vision is for KSDL to touch Rs 5000 crore as the annual revenue by 2028," asserted Patil. Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Shaw, who was detained by Pakistan after he had accidentally crossed the international border, returned to his home in West Bengals Hooghly district on Friday. Excitement filled the air at his residence in Rishra, where everyone was overjoyed and emotional. Purnam Shaw arrived in Howrah in the evening, where he was warmly received by his father Bholanath Shaw who embraced his son amidst a large crowd. Purnam was garlanded and taken to Rishra in a car before switching to an open-top vehicle for the final few miles. Accompanied by a marching band, a large procession followed to celebrate his homecoming. The scene at his home resembled an early Diwali celebration, with the entire house aglow with electric lights and oil lamps. A large crowd of neighbours, relatives, and friends had gathered to welcome him back. We are overjoyed. He has come back home exactly after a month after of detention. Its Diwali for us and we feel our Ram has returned, Purnams wife Rajani Shaw was seen saying to the local media. Shes been busy preparing her husbands favourite meal since morning. During the ordeal, she had even travelled to the Pathankot to push for his safe and quick return and had spoken directly with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On April 23, Purnam had been escorting farmers near the border. Exhausted during duty, he reportedly fell asleep under a tree, without realising that he had entered Pakistani territory where he was subsequently detained. As diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan worsened in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, uncertainty over Purnams release also increased. However, due to the BSFs consistent efforts through regular flag meetings and communication with their counterparts on the other side, the Pakistan Rangers, the Indian soldier returned to his homeland on May 14. Following his repatriation, Purnam underwent thorough medical examinations to assess his physical and mental condition, as well as to document the abuse he reportedly suffered while in Pakistan. Now, nine days after his return to India, he finally got back to his home. The widening Turkey boycott movement in India, which saw Indian retailers and tourists snapping ties with Turkey and its products, is creating ripples inside the country, with experts warning Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's stance that he stood by Pakistan through thick and thin in its conflict with India has triggered a backlash in India, with the boycott movement widening. While a section of Turkish conservative media has warned that India would suffer more if Turkey decided to reciprocate the move, considering Turkey has a foreign trade deficit of approximately $5 billion with India, another section of analysts have warned that it wouldn't do Turkey good to alienate an economic and strategic power like India. Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian ambassador and expert on West Asia, told Turkish pro-government newspaper Daily Sabah that Turkeys support to Pakistan has strained ties at the political level. "If Islam is the only factor behind Ankaras affection, its worth recalling that India has more Muslims than any country except Indonesia. A more nuanced approach would serve Turkey's interests far better," he said. Also read: Turkish experts claim India will suffer if Turkey reciprocates boycott movement: 'Will find alternative market' Trigunayat said Ankara can caution Pakistan on countering terrorism as a mutually respectful and sensitive relationship between India and Turkey is in both nations interest. The article in Daily Sabah also hints that the challenge for Turkey is not just about choosing sides but rather understanding the regional and domestic consequences of its positions. It cautions that the erosion of trust with India which is a "potential economic and strategic partner" could widen and a more balanced and empathetic approach was needed. It also states that there is still room for recalibration as no major policy shift or sanctions have been announced by either government. "But the public backlash in India, if left unaddressed, could harden into long-term resistance among Indian consumers and policymakers alike," the article warned. Earlier, a Turkish analyst has called Ankara's decision to openly support Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict an "ill-advised decision". "It can be rightfully questioned what benefits Turkey has gained from declaring that it is on Pakistan's side," Prof Ilter Turan of Istanbul Bilgi University wrote in his piece that appeared on Ekonomim. A costly mistake of breaking security protocol to hold a security meeting at a Khan Younis tunnel in Gaza proved costly for Hamas's new chief, Mohammed Sinwar. Sinwar, brother of slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, died after Israel struck the tunnel, according to a report. Sinwar's body was found by Hamas the next day, and they buried him quietly, according to a report that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. The death of Sinwar came as a blow to Hamas as it left a void in its leadership in Gaza. ELIMINATED: Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades Senior Commander, Mohammed Sinwar. pic.twitter.com/0hJz9Wdpnw Israel Military (@_Israelmilitary) May 13, 2025 Israel announced a few days ago that it struck a tunnel where Sinwar was holed up but the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) did not confirm his death. However, the WSJ report, quoting Arab and Hamas officials, said Sinwar did indeed die in the strike. The meeting of senior officials of the militant group was held in breach of Hamas security protocol which gave the IDF to hit several high-value targets, including Sinwar, the report added. The meeting was reportedly held to discuss their approach to ceasefire talks with Israel. Hamas officials found Sinwar's body inside the tunnel the very next day. It was removed from the ruins of the tunnel and was buried in another tunnel, quietly. Hamas intended to give him a proper burial after the war, the report added. Another prominent leader Mohammad Shabana, commander of the groups Rafah brigade, was also killed in the strike. It added that the hit proved Israel's intelligence capability and its precision and timing. "Sinwar was known to be particular about keeping a low profile, and only a handful of people usually knew about his movements or how to contact him. He operated largely behind the scenes, earning him the nickname 'Shadow'," Arab officials told the paper. As the fifth round of nuclear talks begins in Rome on Friday, Iran has issued a stark warning that it will hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities. The warning follows intelligence reports in the American media suggesting that Israel may be preparing for military action if negotiations collapse. Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in a letter to the United Nations that Tehran would deem the US legally accountable in the event of an Israeli strike. He made clear that Iran viewed Washington as a participant in any such operation and would not absolve it of blame. He also warned that Iran would respond forcefully to any threat or unlawful action by Israel and that his country may take unspecified protective measures to shield its nuclear programmemeasures the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, would be informed of only after implementation. #UPDATE Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran will hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities after US media reported Israel is preparing for an attack. pic.twitter.com/VWfGaUZmvJ AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 22, 2025 Araghchi wrote to the UN following reports by CNN and Axios, which quoted sources from American and Israeli intel suggesting that Israel could launch a swift strike on Tehrans nuclear facilities if the talks with the US fail. While some analysts have interpreted them as psychological tactics by the US to put pressure on Iran ahead of the latest round of talks, Tehran has taken them seriously. Also read: 'Bibi waiting for talks to collapse, Israeli attack on Iran will be quick, week-long': Report Told @jimsciutto on @cnn that Israel is unlikely to attack Iran WITHOUT coordination with the US. Israel doesn't have an independent military option and has proven quite vulnerable to Iranian missile strikes. Threatening strikes, however, serves to sabotage Trump's diplomacy. pic.twitter.com/A4nkIlVxNx Trita Parsi (@tparsi) May 22, 2025 An adviser to Irans Supreme Leader had previously suggested that the Islamic Republic could suspend its cooperation with the IAEA or relocate enriched uranium to undisclosed sites for safety. Meanwhile, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued its own warning, saying that any Israeli attack would be met with a devastating and decisive response. A spokesman for the IRGC said that Israel was trying to intimidate Iran with the prospect of war but was underestimating the depth of popular and military support the Islamic Republic could draw upon in a conflict. Tensions have been escalating not only over possible military action but also over the central issue of uranium enrichment. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently called US demands for Iran to cease enrichment "excessive and outrageous", and expressed little hope that the talks would result in a successful agreement. The United States, represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff, has insisted that Iran must end all enrichment activities as a condition for any deal. While the original 2015 nuclear agreement allowed Iran to enrich uranium up to 3.67 per cent for civilian use, Iran has since increased enrichment to 60 per centjust below weapons-grade. Witkoff has reportedly maintained that zero enrichment is the only way to eliminate the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons. Araghchi noted that US officials had expressed a more nuanced position in private talks than in public statements, suggesting some divergence between the two settings. Nonetheless, enrichment has become the central battleground in the negotiations. Calling for swift action from international bodies, Araghchi urged them to intervene before Israeli threats escalated further, warning that Iran would be compelled to act if left unprotected. "Let there be no doubt: any adventurism by the Zionist regime will be met with a decisive, proportionate response," he said. "Our patience has limits, but our resolve does not." Elias Rodriguez, the 31-year-old suspect in the shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC, was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder on May 22, along with other serious federal offences. At his initial court appearance, Rodriguez entered no plea as prosecutors informed him the case could be eligible for the death penalty. Interim US Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro confirmed that charges including murder of foreign officials, use of a firearm in a violent crime and terrorism-related offences are under active consideration. A preliminary hearing is set for June 18. Elias Rodriguez, residente en Chicago y presuntamente de origen mexicano, es senalado de cometer el asesinato de dos empleados de la embajada de Israel en Washington afuera del Museo Judio. Palestina libre, coreo al ser detenido pic.twitter.com/kyAqSjTKAY Pascal (@beltrandelrio) May 22, 2025 Following the arrest, FBI agents in tactical gear raided Rodriguezs home in Chicago, while investigators began examining his social media accounts, writings and professional affiliations. The FBI confirmed that Rodriguez was not previously known to them, and said they are coordinating with his employer, a medical association, to gather further information. Authorities are also reviewing materials found at the scene and conducting interviews with people connected to Rodriguez to determine if he acted alone or was influenced by extremist rhetoric. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was holding a red keffiyehcommonly associated with Palestinian identityand reportedly told officers, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza. As he was escorted from the crime scene, he shouted, Free Palestine, according to an FBI affidavit. Officials, including FBI spokesperson Steve Jensen, have categorised the incident as both an act of terrorism and a targeted antisemitic attack. Jensen stressed there is no ongoing threat to the public but acknowledged there are still investigative gaps. The attack occurred on the evening of May 21, when Rodriguez allegedly waited outside the Capital Jewish Museum during a diplomatic event. As embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, left the gathering, he reportedly opened fire, continuing to shoot even after Lischinsky fell and Milgrim attempted to flee. The couple had been dating; Lischinsky had purchased an engagement ring and planned to propose to Milgrim soon during an upcoming trip to Jerusalem. Rodriguez had travelled for a work conference from Chicago to Washington the day before the shooting, checking a legally owned firearm in his luggage. Officials have not yet established what triggered the violent outburst from a man with no known criminal history but say the case has the full and unwavering attention of federal authorities. In a dramatic and highly controversial move, the Trump administration has stripped Harvard University of its ability to enrol international students. Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, is now barred from accepting students from outside the United States. The order came directly from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who stated that Harvard had failed to comply with what she called simple reporting requirements. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvards certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Programor SEVPwhich means the university no longer has access to SEVIS, the federal system used to manage international student visas. Harvard is being held accountable for collaboration with the CCP, fostering violence, antisemitism, and pro-terrorist conduct from students on its campus. pic.twitter.com/bdJDTtJr8O Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 22, 2025 What does this mean in practice? Well, about 6,800 international students at Harvardroughly 27 per cent of the entire student bodyare now in legal limbo. That includes nearly 800 students from India. They must either transfer to another university or risk falling out of legal immigration status altogether. And with the spring term ending on May 26, time is running out fast. The administrations statement said that Harvard can no longer enrol foreign students, and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status. Now, to understand how we got here, lets rewind a bit. Back in April, Homeland Security launched an investigation into Harvard, accusing the university of fostering what it described as a hostile learning environment for Jewish students. As part of that probe, the government demanded sweeping data about international studentseverything from their course schedules to any involvement in illegal activity. Harvard said it would only provide information that was required by law and advised students to remain focused on their studies. But the administration wasnt satisfied. It narrowed its demands in early May, asking for data on students who met four new criteria. Harvard replied, saying only a handful of students matched, and requested clarification. Instead of continuing the dialogue, Secretary Noem pulled the plug. On May 22, she revoked Harvards certification and then expanded the criteria againthis time to six categoriesgiving the university just 72 hours to comply. Harvard now needs to give the government details in these six categories about international students to regain its capacity to enroll foreign students: All records of illegal activity involving nonimmigrant Harvard students, on or off campus, in the past five years. All records of dangerous or violent activity by nonimmigrant students, on or off campus, in the past five years. All records of threats made by nonimmigrant students against students or staff. Any records of nonimmigrant students depriving others of rights, on or off campus. All disciplinary records of nonimmigrant students from the past five years. Any audio or video of protest activity involving nonimmigrant students on campus in the past five years. Legal experts are calling this move retaliatory, arbitrary and capricious and that the DHS secretary lacked the authority to dismantle Harvards international programme. Harvard, for its part, has pushed back strongly. A spokesman called the decision unlawful and said it threatens to cause serious harm to the university and the country. He added that international students enrich the universityand the USimmeasurably. Lets talk numbers for a second. Tuition at Harvard is $59,320or about 50 lakh rupeesfor the 202526 academic year. When you include room and board, the total rises to nearly $87,000, or over 72 lakh rupees. International students often pay these costs in full, making them a critical financial pillar for the university. This isnt just about the money and the paperwork. Its the latest front in a broader ideological battle. The Trump administration has long viewed elite universities like Harvard as liberal strongholds that resist its agenda. By targeting international student enrolment, the administration hits both a symbolic and financial nerve. But heres the kicker: while students visas technically remain valid, without Harvards access to SEVIS, their legal standing is shaky. They could become undocumented the moment their enrolment status cant be verified. The stakes are enormous. Harvard is expected to challenge the decision in court immediately. Whether the courts will act in time is another question entirely. One thing is clear: this is more than a bureaucratic dispute. Its a high-stakes confrontation with real human costsand for thousands of international students, especially the nearly 800 from India, the future is hanging in the balance. Harvard University, on Friday, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) abruptly revoked its certification under the F-1 visa programme, effectively blocking the university from enrolling international students. The lawsuit, lodged just a day after the decision, claims the move was retaliatory and politically motivated. The dispute stems from an April directive issued by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding Harvard submit records related to foreign students protest activities and disciplinary actions. Though the university states it complied by the April 30 deadline and responded to follow-up requests, DHS deemed the response insufficient without specifying any shortcomings. This led to the sudden cancellation of Harvards Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification. In its legal filing, Harvard accuses the administration of overreach, asserting that the government is attempting to dictate its academic direction and internal governance. The university claims the demandssuch as the release of protest footage, disciplinary records and the abandonment of diversity initiativesamount to a violation of its First Amendment rights. Harvard President Dr Alan M. Garber condemned the decision, describing it as a direct threat to Harvards academic integrity and global standing. He emphasised that international students make up nearly a quarter of the universitys student body and warned that their exclusion would severely damage Harvards research and teaching environment. The Trump administration has defended its actions by accusing Harvard of promoting anti-American, anti-Jewish and pro-terrorist sentimentsallegations the university has categorically denied. Critics argue the move reflects a broader attempt to politicise higher education and silence dissent within Americas academic institutions. Harvard is now seeking an immediate court injunction to reverse the decision and restore its SEVP status. The case marks a significant escalation in tensions between elite universities and the federal government over issues of academic freedom and political interference. Former Harvard president and ex-treasury secretary Larry Summers denounced the administrations move, suggesting it was driven by ideology rather than reason. People who dreamed of coming to the United States to study, to absorb American traditions, to advance science, are now having their lives wrecked, he said. This isnt policy. This is punishment. Denying India's charges of sponsoring terrorism and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "misleading" the international community, Pakistan claimed it is a "proactive partner in the global fight against terrorism. Rejecting Modi's charges during a programme in Rajasthan on Thursday, Pakisan's foreign office on Friday charged Modi's remarks were "clearly aimed at stoking regional tensions for narrow political gains." Pakistan said Modi's comments were a "grave breach of the United Nations Charter and established principles of international law." "Pakistan remained a consistent and proactive partner in the global fight against terrorism. Any insinuation seeking to associate Pakistan with acts of terrorism is factually incorrect and patently misleading," Dawn reported quoting the foreign office. Pakistan said it is firmly committed to peaceful coexistence". The neighbouring country however added, "Our desire for peace should not be misconstrued as weakness." Pakistan's comments come after Prime Minister Modi warned the neighbouring nation of economic collapse if it continued to export terrorism into India. Modi, attending a programme in Rajasthan on Thursday, declared there will be no trade talks with Pakistan, and the only discussion India is willing to have is about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The comments come amid heightened tensions between the neighbouring nations in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. India launched the military operation on May 7 to avenge the killings of 26 persons in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Pakistan-linked terrorists allegedly carried out the attacks. India struck terror launchpads at nine locations along the Line of Control to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. However, in retaliation, Pakistan launched projectiles and drones targeting Indian military assets along the LoC and International Border on May 8,9 and 10. India and Pakistan agreed to stop firing following a hotline conversation between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations. India has now sent delegations to partner countries to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. In an unprecedented move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the United States revoked Harvard University's ability to enrol foreign students on Thursday, accusing the administration of the prestigious University of fostering violence and "coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus". In a letter to the University, Kristi Noem, Secretary of DHS said Harvard University's student and exchange visitor programme is being revoked with immediate effect. The University is banned from enrolling students for 2025-2026 academic year and existing students "must transfer to another University to maintain their non-immigrant status." This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025 The Trump administration's move comes after the University refused to provide details of foreign students studying at the campus. Noem said the certification would be restored within 72 hours if the University provided DHS with all information, including electronic footage, regarding illegal activities of non-immigrant students on the campus. In April, DHS cancelled grants worth $2.7 million to the University citing non-compliance with reporting requirements of foreign students. Why did DHS ban Harvard University from enrolling foreign students? "Harvards leadership has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment," DHS said in a statement. Noem said enrollment of foreign students is a privilege and not a right. "Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," she said. How will Trump administration's move affect Harvard University? The University enrolls close to 6,800 international students every year and they make up a quarter of their student community. Over 700 Indian students are currently studying at Harvard. The top US University will not be able to enrol foreign students for the upcoming academic year if the University fails to comply with the requirements of DHS within 72 hours. Has Harvard University responded to the ban? Harvard called the action unlawful and said it's working to provide guidance to students. "This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission," the university said in a statement. Will the ban affect students currently studying at Harvard University? Yes. As per DHS's order, existing foreign students must transfer to another University or they will lose their legal status. However, students who completed their degrees this semester will be allowed to graduate. Why is the Trump administration targeting Harvard University? Various federal agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have cut their grant funding to Harvard after the University administration refused to comply with the US federal government's demand to limit pro-Palestinian protests. Harvard has sued the administration, seeking to end the grant freeze. Bangladesh's interim government may be on the verge of collapse as reports claimed chief advisor Mohammed Yunus threatened to resign. This came amid speculations that Yunus had a tiff with Army chief Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman over the creation of the Rakhine corridor to Myanmar and the conduct of elections. Student leader and convener of newly formed National Citizen Party Nahid Islam met Yunus on Thursday evening at his official residence Jamuna after the rumours began to do round. Nahid later confirmed to reporters that Yunus threatened to resign. "I cannot work like this if you, all the political parties, cannot reach a common ground," Nahid quoted Yunus as saying. Meanwhile, other local media reports said Yunus summoned "leaders of the coup" to inform them to "exercise restraint or else he would resign." According to Barta Bazar, an online portal from Bangladesh. Yunus called a meeting of the advisory council to announce his resignation. The 84-year-old Nobel Prize winner is reported to have said that he had "great pride" and the four-way pressure was too much for him. He expressed his anger over the recent events. "I did not want to be the chief advisor. We were put in power through a bloody coup. I was given a mandate to reform. I did not come to be a showpiece. If I cannot do the job, I will resign and leave," he said. However, at the request of the advisors, he finally backed down from the decision. Yunus is said to have told the advisory council that each party "speaks a different language" and their language "matched those of the people of the previous government." "The steps we are taking, including banning the Awami League, increasing the capacity of Chittagong Port, July Memorial, humanitarian corridor, and NBR separation, are being obstructed. In such a situation, I don't need to sit in an unnecessary position!," he is said to have told the meeting. However, the advisors then shifted to blame India, even though they were selected to the position by those who claimed to be "anti-India". "These are conspiracies of fascists. Many of them are now speaking in the same tone to implement India's agenda," one unnamed advisor is said to have informed the meeting. National Citizens Party convenor Nahid Islam has extended his support for Yunus with the party stating that they believe in resolving the issues among political parties. However, the BNP, which has been demanding swift elections, did not respond immediately. Another political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami refused to comment. The internet is flooded with photographs of an atrociously ugly yet adorable little toy called the Labubu. These quirky, rubber-coated plush characters are part of Hong Kong-based artist Kasin Lungs creative imagination. His monster trilogy, which includes three graphic novels based on the characters of Nordic mythology, has seen mass popularity after almost a decade of being launched. The exponential boom of the Labubu and of the store PopMart, which houses, markets and distributes a number of such interesting and fascinating toys is testament that popular culture can be harnessed as soft power on a global scale. The Made in China label has been recognised and associated with cheap reproductions and poor quality goods for years now. However, the introduction of these unique, creative plush toys is changing that mindset. Several years later John Bergers, Ways of Seeing continues to hold relevance where he argues that art is a product of society. The way we see, perceive and accept art is hugely shaped and connected with society at large. Muddra With each generation, what is known and accepted as popular or pop culture is evolving and transforming. A rite of passage, an experience open for all, pop culture in India perhaps began with Britains Industrial Revolution and India attaining independence. The 19th century saw the emergence of the working class, a boom in Indian cinema followed by the internet and social media. As there was a greater level of accessibility and acceptance, doors for creative expression opened and widened. Today, artists such as Kasin Lung have a range of platforms available. Be it to display their works at prominent art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong or design toys, which can be part of a larger global movement. The possibilities are limitless for artists today. One watches and listens to Diljit Dosanjh performing with Ed Sheeran and holding centre stage at the Met Gala while also having a devoted fan base on the home turf. Consumption, as we know it, is changing and transitioning with art toys for adults, which serve no real purpose or use to Lego games and graphic puzzles. A recent study concluded the Global Art Toy market to double in growth from $3 billion to a whopping $6 billion by 2030. Is there a sense of nostalgia being chased here or is it purely the simplicity in contrast to the multilayered technologically driven world? Pop culture, be it art, cinema, fashion or even music are making the most of this diversification though and the impact is quite evident when I scroll my instagram page. A sharp toothed, mischievous looking Labubu chained on the Vietnamese supermodel Thanh Hangs Louis Vuitton bag or part of K-pop group Blackpinks member Lisas ensemble. In a fast paced world, art toys are the saviours keeping us distressed. Artists today are not limited to patronised ateliers or formal schools of art. Nor are they confined to a set country, community or region. The Korean boom be it through music, television series or food is a perfect example of this. Korean is being recorded as one of the fastest growing languages in India with the help of popular culture. But, are Indian artists being able to diversify their portfolios and find creative solace and popularity with a global audience? A year ago, I stumbled upon Muddra, an art toy, brainchild of designer Dilpreet Singh. A mudra or a gesture is an integral part of ancient Indian culture, scriptures and yoga. Each mudra denotes and holds a specific meaning. While Singhs toy or figurine derives its name from Indias past, the character has a science-fiction story attached to it, making it more relevant to todays audience. Juxtaposing Indian Gods with humanoid robots, makes Muddra, a fascinating work of art. My reaction and perception of Muddra was quite similar to most of PopMarts toys and collectibles. In a world of Labubus, I do wonder why such creations by homegrown artists are not finding global acceptance and craze? Islamabad, May 23 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in conversation with the leaders of Iran and Egypt said that his country was determined to defend its integrity at all costs, the Foreign Office said on Friday. Sharif held telephonic conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, according to a statement by the Foreign Office spokesperson. He reaffirmed Pakistans firm resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs, the Foreign Office said. Sharif also expressed his concern over Indias attempt to "unilaterally hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and emphasised that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of instability in South Asia". The Foreign Office said that the developments in the Middle East, particularly the alarming situation in Gaza, were also discussed. The prime minister urged the international community to ensure consistent and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. He also hoped that the upcoming UN Conference on Two-State Solution next month would yield meaningful outcomes. Palwal, May 23 (PTI) Palwal police arrested 59 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, allegedly staying without any legal documents during a raid at a brick kiln in the Palwal district on Friday, officials said police. They were working as labourers at a brick kiln. Fake identity documents have also allegedly been found with them, police said. The police are examining their documents and it is being ascertained when and how these people entered India illegally, they added. Inspector Dinesh Kumar of Utawad police station said that on the information of the intelligence department, a raid was conducted and 59 alleged Bangladeshis were taken into custody from the brick kiln. During questioning, they allegedly revealed that they had come to India from Bangladesh about 10 years ago by crossing the border illegally. Their names, addresses and identity details will be prepared and they will be sent back to Bangladesh, he added. "Action is being taken to deport them. Apart from these, if Bangladeshis are found anywhere else in the district, they will also be deported," said the spokesperson of Palwal Police. In the wake of the deadly shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum that claimed the lives of two Israeli Embassy staffers, a coalition of over 40 Jewish organizations is urging the U.S. government to allocate $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to bolster security at Jewish institutions nationwide. The coalition, including major groups like the Jewish Federations of North America, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Orthodox Union, issued a joint statement describing the shooting as a direct consequence of rising antisemitic incitement on college campuses, at city council meetings, and across social media platforms. The groups say that this rhetoric has normalized hate and emboldened those who wish to do harm, necessitating a significant increase in federal funding to secure vulnerable religious and community institutions. The NSGP, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, provides grants to nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish community centers, and schools, to fund security enhancements such as cameras, reinforced doors, and personnel training. In 2024, the program allocated a record $454.5 million, up from $305 million in 2023, following advocacy from Jewish groups amid a spike in antisemitic incidents since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. However, the coalition notes that the programs current funding falls short of demand, with only 42% of grant applications approved in 2023 due to a shortfall of nearly $374 million. The shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum, where the suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, killed Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim while shouting Free Palestine, has been labeled a hate crime and act of terrorism by federal prosecutors. The victims, a couple reportedly about to get engaged, were attending an American Jewish Committee event for young diplomats. The coalitions statement also calls for increased FBI intelligence capabilities to counter domestic terrorism, aggressive prosecution of antisemitic hate crimes, and greater accountability for social media and online platforms that amplify hate speech and glorify extremism. The demands on local and state law enforcement far outpace their capacity to meet the need, which disproportionately affects targeted communities like the American Jewish community, the groups wrote. Jewish security experts, including Paul Goldenberg, former head of the Secure Community Network, highlighted lapses in the DC attack, noting that the suspects behaviordescribed as nervous and disheveledshould have triggered alerts. Recommendations include extending security perimeters around Jewish institutions and prioritizing funding for operational costs like security guards over capital improvements. The coalition also urged reforms to make the NSGP application process more flexible and transparent, citing its current complexity as a barrier for smaller organizations. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An appointee to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnsons Fiscal Sustainability Working Group, Ishan Daya, resigned just hours after his selection was announced, following criticism over a 2023 video showing him tearing down posters of Israeli hostages. Daya, a community organizer focused on public safety and mental health, was one of 20 appointees to the mayors advisory committee tasked with addressing Chicagos fiscal challenges. However, his appointment sparked immediate outrage from Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Chicago Jewish Community Relations Council, as well as Alderman Debra Silverstein, the citys only Jewish alderwoman. Silverstein called the appointment a deliberate slap in the face to the Jewish community and criticized Mayor Johnson for repeatedly aligning with antisemitic individuals. Silverstein pointed to a pattern of disregard, citing Johnsons support for an early Gaza ceasefire resolution, his description of Israels war against Hamas as genocidal, and his appearance wearing a keffiyeh at an Arab Heritage Month event. She also referenced his delayed response to an October 2024 shooting of a Jewish man in West Rogers Park, where he initially failed to acknowledge the victims Jewish identity. The mayor seems determined to surround himself with people who peddle hate and division, Silverstein said. We deserve better. The controversy stemmed from a video that surfaced during Dayas unsuccessful 2023 campaign for 32nd Ward Democratic committeeman, showing him removing a hostage poster in New York City. Dayas accomplice referred to the hostages as kalb (dogs) while ripping down the posters. In a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Daya apologized, acknowledging that his actions caused pain within some members of our Jewish community. He explained that he objected to unspecified language on the poster that he found racist and dehumanizing toward Palestinians, but recognized that tearing it down was hurtful to families awaiting their loved ones return. Ive spent my career working across lines of difference, and anyone who has worked with me can attest to my deep opposition to antisemitism, hate, and bigotry in all its forms, Daya added, announcing that a representative from the Institute for the Public Good, a policy center he co-directs, would replace him on the committee. Dayas resignation marks the latest controversy for Johnson, who is already grappling with low approval ratings and a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into alleged race-based hiring practices, prompted by statements he made about the number of black officials in his administration. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The fifth round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, which commenced Friday at the Omani Embassy in Rome, appears unlikely to produce a breakthrough agreement, according to a CNN report citing two Iranian sources. The Iranian sources told CNN that Tehrans participation in this round is primarily to gauge Washingtons latest stance rather than pursue a potential breakthrough. They expressed growing doubts about U.S. sincerity, saying, The media statements and negotiating behavior of the United States has widely disappointed policy-making circles in Tehran. The sources pointed to the U.S. insistence on zero uranium enrichment as a major sticking point, arguing that Washingtons positionknowing Iran will not accept such termssuggests the U.S. is not seeking an agreement and is instead using the talks to intensify pressure on Iran. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority, expressed skepticism about the negotiations last weekend, calling U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment excessive and outrageous. Iran has been enriching uranium to 60% purity, a level close to the 90% required for weapons-grade material, in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018 under President Donald Trump. The U.S. has hardened its stance in recent weeks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterating that Iran will not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons. However, some Iranian officials had hoped for a win-win compromise, only to conclude that the Trump administration is steering the discussions toward a deadlock, according to the CNN report. On Thursday, Araghchi warned that the U.S. would bear legal responsibility for any Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, following a CNN report suggesting Israel might be preparing strikes. Araghchi said that Iran remains open to enhanced monitoring by international inspectors but will not relinquish its right to pursue nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment, a position that clashes with Washingtons recent insistence on zero enrichment. Tehran no longer takes U.S. efforts to distance itself from Israels hardline stance seriously, with the sources alleging that U.S. proposals align with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus agenda. The CNN report indicates that neither side is willing to abandon the talks entirely, but the U.S. views the negotiations as increasingly unproductive, with formal meetings unlikely to continue much longer. The strained atmosphere is further evidenced by Irans reduced cooperation with international inspectors, who have reported limited access to Iranian facilities, and Tehrans warnings of special measures to protect its nuclear sites if threats persist. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A frightening scene unfolded early Friday morning at approximately 5:00AM, when a large fire broke out at a Jewish home on Fort Worth Place while the family was fast asleep. The blaze, which reportedly began outside the residence, quickly spread and engulfed parts of the home before smoke detectors awakened the occupants. Fire departments from across the regionincluding South Blooming Grove, Salisbury Mills, Monroe, Washingtonville, Woodbury, Chester, and Vails Gateresponded swiftly and worked together to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring houses. Kiryas Joel Hatzolah and Blooming Grove EMS arrived to provide medical support, and Bechasdei Hashem, no serious injuries were reported. Blooming Grove Police and the Orange County Sheriffs Office also responded to assist with securing the scene and supporting emergency efforts. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night has been met with a bloodcurdling response from pro-Hamas groups, who have hailed the killings as a heroic attack. The victims, a young couple on the cusp of engagement, were gunned down by 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez as they left an American Jewish Committee (AJC) event aimed at fostering dialogue on the Gaza crisis. Rodriguez, who shouted Free Palestine during his arrest, fired 21 shots at the couple, killing them in a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism. Yet, instead of universal condemnation, pro-Hamas groups have repulsively glorified the attack. Social media posts praised the murderer as a hero and a brave man, called Israel an enemy of humanity, and of course, implicitly praised the act by chiming in with Free Palestine. Your browser does not support the video tag. The groups many of these commenters belong to identified by the Anti-Defamation League as including Students for Justice in Palestine and Within Our Lifetime have a history of promoting antisemitic rhetoric and defending Hamass actions, including the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Y38 is Yeruhsalayims newest landmark on the Yirmiyahu-Shamgar intersection Theres a new iconic intersection in Yerushalayim. Its the vibrant crossroads of Yirmiyahu and Shamgar, where the pulse of the modern city beats strongest. Here Yerushalayims past meets its future. Just off this famous corner, Y38, a sophisticated residential building rises. Since its launch, Y38 has captured the imagination of discerning buyers, with over 60% of units already claimed in record time. This exceptional response validates what Ir Shalem Group envisioned: a profound hunger for luxury living that honors Jerusalems character while embracing contemporary needs. Designed by the renowned Feigin Architects, whose portfolio includes prestigious projects like the Waldorf Astoria, Y38 challenges conventional Jerusalem architecture while paying homage to the citys timeless character. The striking 40-unit boutique building features a distinctive facade that harmoniously blends contemporary design with Jerusalem stone, creating an immediate visual impact. Beyond its prime location at the nexus of convenience with dozens of shuls, bakeries, and trendy boutiques down the block Y38 offers a living experience crafted for the discerning resident. Each of the 3-6 room apartments boasts thoughtfully designed spaces with high ceilings and full-height windows that frame Jerusalems famous blue skies. Large balconies, with space for a sukka, extend living spaces outdoors, while premium finishes and state-of-the-art systems elevate daily life. The buildings amenities rival those of luxury hotels, including a sophisticated business lounge, fully-equipped fitness center, relaxing spa, and a residents hall for celebrations. For added convenience a beautiful on-site shul and private mikvas are available all without leaving the building, while three levels of underground parking ensure seamless vehicle accommodation. Y38s location perfectly serves the English-speaking community that has long favored this neighborhood. From Ganei Romema to Ganei Geula, Shefa and Tnvua the area has evolved into a comfortable enclave where residents connect through shared language and values, united by their love for Eretz Yisrael. The developments innovative features include VRF air conditioning with individual room controls, smart home technology, electric underfloor heating, and charging stations for electric vehicles. Security and convenience are enhanced through motorized smart locks with multiple access options and a sophisticated intercom system. As a testament to Ir Shalem Groups commitment to excellence, Y38 represents more than just an address its a statement of arrival, a private retreat in the citys center where modern luxury meets traditional Jerusalem living. With its perfect blend of location, design, and amenities, Y38 sets a new standard for sophisticated urban living in Jerusalems evolving landscape. For more information >>> There is a fundamental mismatch between the extent of fraud taking place and the effectiveness of the police response, the boss of the UKs policing think tank has said. Some 43 per cent of crime committed is fraud, costing England and Wales 6.8billion per year, with one in ten adults being a victim of fraud last year. With the rise of AI, fraud is increasing in scale and scams are becoming more difficult for those targeted to detect. Speaking at the launch of the think tanks new report in conjunction with Virgin Media O2, Andy Higgins, interim director of the Police Foundation, said: Fraud has become part of the background noise of modern life. 'There are few people who do not receive emails, messages and calls attempting to defraud them of their money. There is a stark lack of resources allocated to fraud within policing. Under resourced: Just 4,400 offenders were sentenced for fraud-related crimes in 2021 In fact, there were just 866 economic crime officers, some 0.064 per cent of the police force, dedicated to tackling fraud as of 2021. Higgins said around 300 officers have been recruited since then, but the same pattern is expected to continue. The lack of police resources, as well as a low rate of reporting, the Police Foundations figures show that despite some 4.1million fraud offences taking place in 2021, just 1.3million were reported to the police. Of these only 3.5 per cent were deemed suitable for any form of police investigation. As a result, just 4,400 offenders were sentenced for fraud-related crimes in 2021, and just over 1,000 received prison sentences. And yet fraud offences are having an untold effect on victims, often in ways that are less visible on the surface. Higgins said: Action Fraud takes calls from 300 people each year who they deem at risk of suicide. More than 90 per cent of fraud victims said they had experienced some form of mental health problems as a result. In an effort to address the shortfall in the police response to fraud, the Police Foundation said it wants the police and wider response to fraud to be fundamentally redesigned. Under the Police Foundations recommendations, the Government would establish a national crime prevention agency, with local authorities also developing localised fraud prevention strategies to build up collective defences against fraud. Higgins said: We have a criminal justice system, we dont have a prevention system. The Foundation is also calling for the City of London Police to be given tasking powers to direct local teams, which themselves would be focused on tackling localised fraud. Funding for fraud policing should be distributed by a national body, it said, adding that spending on fraud investigation should be increased over the next two spending reviews. It also argues that private companies should be legally required to share data for fraud investigation. Murray Mackenzie, director of fraud prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: 'With overall fraud prosecutions falling despite a 33 per cent jump in cases last year, the UK is failing to effectively tackle fraud, and criminals are stealing with no real prospect of ever facing justice. 'The police recognise the deeply-rooted systemic barriers to tackling fraud - nine in 10 agree that despite their best efforts, officers lack the tools and resources needed to fight back.' One of the countrys biggest commercial landlords has hailed a bounce back in demand for offices as workers return to their desks. British Land said it has been boosted by the return-to-work mandates imposed by some of the UKs largest employers. Rents have been driven up by a lack of supply after office investment dwindled during the pandemic, the London-listed developer said. Firms are scaling back how much home-working they allow. It comes amid fears the shift has stifled productivity and career progression. HSBC this week warned staff that bonuses will be cut if they fail to come to the office. City auditor PwC has threatened to sack those who stay home too often. Corporate giants Amazon, BT and Asda have also ordered staff to spend more time at their desks. Back to the office: Employers are dramatically scaling back the amount of homeworking they allow amid fears that the shift has stifled productivity and career progression British Land chief executive Simon Carter said: Return to the office is in full swing with mid-week occupancy back to pre-pandemic levels. Monday is increasingly catching up with the occupancy levels seen on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, he said. And an acute lack of supply has led to strong rental tension, pushing up prices and future profits, Carter said. Companies seeking central London workspace are considering older buildings and less desirable locations. Meanwhile, premium office blocks remain popular. Demand hit a record high in the year to the end of March. British Land revised up the valuation of offices in the City by 1.8 per cent and in the West End by 0.4 per cent in the second half of the year. This defied the outdated narrative that the office market is struggling, said Oli Creasey, head of property research at Quilter Cheviot. A British Land spokesman said: Many were convinced that work from home would be the norm [after Covid lockdowns]. We were not so sure. We became increasingly convinced that we could generate good returns by making a contrarian position. The amount of office space rented in central London in the first three months of the year jumped to 2.1m sq ft 29 per cent more than a year earlier. British Land said it expects rents to grow by between 3 per cent and 5 per cent this year. Profits rose 4 per cent to 279million in the year to the end of March and revenue jumped 13 per cent to 454million. As a recall effort takes hold . . . We notice that even the newspaper is listening closely to courthouse complaints against Executive Frank White who, as we reported earlier this week, is still refusing calls to save everyone some time and just resign with his pension. And now we share a quote from a dead-tree examination of the situation that kinda seems like talking points from his critics . . . Even if a few of them are valid . . . As Jackson County exits its fifth month without a working budget, county prosecutor Melesa Johnson says her offices ability to prosecute cases is starting to suffer and that tax-funded violence prevention programs are at risk of breaking down. The Jackson County Legislature has been locked in a standoff with county executive Frank White over the 2025 county budget since January, when legislators first approved a budget that White quickly vetoed. In the months since, the Jackson County Prosecutors Office and other agencies have been unable to access most of the money that would be theirs to use and distribute under the budget. And here's more deets on the continued story of more courthouse dysfunction . . . Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson testified to the legislature that COMBAT funding is at the top of the list of issues the budget freeze has caused in the prosecutors office. However, its far from the only challenge she says the budget situation has caused. As the budget freeze has continued, county prosecutors have had to cut down on hiring experts in various criminal fields as consultants or expert witnesses, according to Johnson. The office has also had to largely stop hiring investigators, whom attorneys typically rely on to track down witnesses, Johnson said. We are trying to hold on by a shoestring and definitely give you all room to do the legislative work that you all need to do, Johnson told legislators. But as we enter the summer months, I would be lying if I said that Im not concerned. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Jackson County prosecutor charges fewer cases, sees program cuts. Heres why Developing . . . A brutal act of hate-fueled terrorism garnered headlines across the globe while Kansas City metro friends, family and community came together following the tragedy. Here are the deets and some of the headlines we've been reading . . . More than 100 people packed the Jewish Community Center Thursday night in Overland Park. Sarah Lynn Milgrim's friends, family and faith community mourned the tragic loss. Though it was a very somber night of mourning, there was a strong sense of love flowing through the gathering. "Tomorrow we can talk about resilience, tomorrow we can talk about healing, tomorrow we can try and make sense of this and even talk about hope," Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City president Jay Lewis said. "All we can do tonight is to come together as a community, to mourn, to cry and to hug each other." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Local Jewish community mourns murder of local woman in Washington D.C. shooting The area's Jewish community is in mourning after a gunman killed a 26-year-old woman from Johnson County in a likely hate crime in Washington D.C. They came from thousands of miles apart to DC and found love. Then tragedy struck | CNN Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim hailed from different parts of the world, but their paths led them both to pursue careers in diplomacy and to the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC - where they found each other and fell in love. Hundreds gather in Overland Park to mourn woman killed in shooting outside D.C. Jewish museum Hundreds of people gathered at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City Thursday evening to remember 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, who was fatally shot in Washington, D.C. ,Wednesday evening. Kansas, Missouri leaders react to antisemitic shooting that killed Overland Park native Leaders across Kansas and Missouri are mourning Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were killed in an antisemitic attack outside a D.C. museum. 'A wonderful girl': Prairie Village father remembers daughter killed in Jewish Museum shooting Robert Milgrim remembered his daughter Sarah Thursday as a "wonderful girl who was as close to perfect as any human could be." 'A bridge builder': Sarah Milgrim mourned after D.C. shooting deemed act of terror Sarah Milgrim, a Shawnee Mission East graduate and former KU student leader, was killed in a D.C. terror shooting. Friends remember her as a devoted advocate for peace and faith. Israeli Embassy Aide's Faith Was Nurtured by Jewish Community Around Kansas City Sarah Milgrim grew up in Overland Park, leading the life of an American teenager. As she grew older, she developed a deeper commitment to her own Jewish identity. Developing . . . And here's where anybody who knows a cop will IMMEDIATELY know this idea is a do-nothing step intended for media and not community. Two reasons why this is a bad move according to friends in policing: - It's just an extra step for police and seems like micromanaging. - This tactic views police vehicles through an antiquated "patrol car" lens rather than representing police cars as just another resource for the community with VERY BRAVE PEOPLE who have pledged to protect neighborhoods and need support from residents, not more laws governing lights. Either way . . . Here's the plan . . . Lucas is expected to introduce a resolution during a city council committee meeting next week. It asks Kansas City police to implement a new policy. The resolution calls on police to turn blue cruise lights on patrol cars when they are driving marked cruisers. The mayor said the lights will increase the visibility of police patrols while also working to deter crime. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Staying connected while traveling used to mean juggling expensive roaming charges, unreliable SIM card kiosks, or navigating language barriers just to get a mobile data plan. But things have changed. The rise of eSIM technology has opened the door to a more straightforward, faster, and more affordable way to access the internet abroad, and Yesim is leading that charge. Yesim is a modern eSIM service designed for both tourists and business travelers. With global reach, contract-free data plans, and instant activation, it's quickly become a go-to solution for those seeking convenience and cost control. If you're tired of traditional roaming or switching physical SIMs, this may be the best way to connect on the go. What Is an eSIM? An eSIM (short for embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that's built directly into your deviceno physical SIM card required. Instead of inserting a physical SIM card, you download a mobile plan directly onto your phone, tablet, or smartwatch using a QR code or mobile app. The eSIM is already soldered into your device at the factory. With an eSIM, you can land in a new country and activate a local data plan instantlywithout dealing with SIM cards, roaming fees, or language barriers. Most modern phones support eSIM now, including the latest iPhones, Google Pixels, and Samsung Galaxy models. How eSIMs Are Transforming International Travel Gone are the days of hunting for local SIM cards at the airport or dealing with expensive roaming fees. eSIMs are revolutionizing the way travelers stay connected abroad. With just a few taps, you can download and activate a local data plan before you even land. No need for physical cards, paperwork, or mobile store visits. 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Is Yesim the Best eSIM for International Travel? If you're looking for the best eSIM for international travel, Yesim makes a strong case. It combines ease of use, broad compatibility, excellent support, and flexible pricing. There's no contract, no roaming headaches, and no overpriced local SIM cards to deal with. The value Yesim offers makes it especially appealing for digital nomads, business travelers, frequent flyers, and even vacationers on short trips. How Yesim Works Download the Yesim app from the App Store or Google Play. Check your device compatibility. Most modern iPhones and Androids are eSIM-ready. Check your destination and eSIM plan data. Buy a data plan, starting at just $0.60. Install the eSIM with a single tap. Connect automatically to the best available network as you travel. No physical SIM, no hidden fees, no contracts. Conclusion Yesim is redefining how we connect on the go. With fair pricing, flexible plans, instant setup, and reliable support, it's one of the most convenient solutions for today's international traveler. Whether you're a digital nomad, business professional, or casual tourist, Yesim takes the hassle out of staying online abroad. Ready to try it out? Use promo code YESIMTECHT10 at checkout to get a discount on your first plan. Whether you start with a small data pack or go all-in with a full international bundle, it's an easy and affordable way to stay connected wherever you are. Originally published on Tech Times NINGBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. A total of 1,028 domestic companies are also attending the event, showcasing local distinctive industries and competitive consumer goods. The event also attracts more than 3,000 overseas buyers from 72 countries and regions. Tentative import deals worth over 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) are expected to be reached with CEEC partners during the event, according to the organizers. In addition to traditional consumer goods, the expo also showcases vanguard digital and intelligent technologies, serving as a broad platform for presenting innovative breakthroughs in categories such as aircraft, VR devices, medical equipment and humanoid robots. "The expo is a gateway for our products to reach international markets, and we plan to establish headquarters in CEEC to further explore and expand our presence in the region," said Fan Rui, founder of Aoxue Ruishi Technology Co., Ltd., who brought his company's extended reality (XR) glasses to the event. Co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and China's Ministry of Commerce, the expo, initiated in 2019, has played an important role in increasing exports of CEEC products to the Chinese market, and cementing mutual understanding on cooperation between China and CEEC countries. Data from China's commerce ministry showed that in 2024, China's trade with CEEC increased by 6.3 percent year over year, reaching a record high of 142.3 billion U.S. dollars. New Government figures show that demand for holiday lets soared last year, with bookings in areas of London and Edinburgh reaching record highs. Rising demand is putting strain on available housing stock for local people and leaving many holidaymakers unable to find accommodation in August. (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - May 22nd, 2025 - A new report from the Governments Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that bookings for UK holiday lets have soared. Demand for holiday lets meant that, last year, holidaymakers booked 90.1 million guest nights in short-term UK lets. The four most popular areas were Westminster (3.9 million guest nights), Cornwall (3.4 million), Edinburgh (3 million) and Highlands (2.6 million). Now a leading travel expert from UniversityRooms.com says that, while this may be good news for Britains holiday let owners, the surge in demand is creating problems in some areas. Lily Smith, from UniversityRooms.com, says: The rise in the number of holiday lets in areas of London and Edinburgh has an impact on the amount of housing stock available for sale or long-term rent to local people. Additionally, the surging demand for accommodation in some areas of the UK is leaving many potential visitors disappointed as properties become fully booked earlier and earlier. Looking at two of the four most popular areas, Westminster in London had the highest number of guest nights (3,901,890 or 4.3% of the UK total) in 2024. It had a resident population of 211,508 in mid-2023. Last year, the median house sale price was 18 times the areas yearly average earnings. Therefore, its unsurprising that the rising numbers of holiday properties are increasingly unpopular with locals. Similarly, last year, the City of Edinburgh had the third-highest number of guest nights in the UK, at 3,016,130 (3.3% of the UK total). This amounted to 26.5% of all guest nights in Scotland. So great are fears that too much housing stock is being lost to holiday lets that the city council is planning a 5% visitor tourist tax, to be applied to the cost of overnight accommodation. In both these areas, considering the demand for rooms, there is an accommodation release valve for August that still remains partially untapped. Many university rooms stand empty in August, when students are away on their long summer holidays. Fortunately, hundreds of these rooms are now available to book for holiday accommodation and you dont have to be a student to stay in them. That means holidaymakers can stay in some of the most in-demand areas of the UK without feeling guilty they are contributing to an escalating housing crisis. With demand for holiday let accommodation increasing every year, its good to know there is an alternative that is not only readily available for August but would otherwise be standing empty during the peak holiday season. For more information on staying in London, see https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/city/london/home/ and for Edinburgh accommodation, check out https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/city/edinburgh/home/ ### Officially launch and start your business with Areovo New Brand Online Travel Agency (OTA) (TRAVPR.COM) Thailand - May 22nd, 2025 - Areovo operates as a service provider for booking accommodation, car rental, and tours through the website platform under www.areovo.com. Currently, the main business is in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region in several countries. In April 2025, Areovo officially launched its main website and is currently accelerating the expansion of cooperation and seeking partners with other hotel and accommodation providers in the region. Areovo has been planning its operations since 2024 and was founded by a group of Gen Y led by Mr. Nattarat Klinkanha Nick Name Is Guy, currently the CEO of Areovo (Thailand) Company Limited. and has co-founders like Miss Sirikanda Sonsawat, both of whom are Thai nationals. Areovo will soon start pushing the policy of finding partners and expanding its services to Europe and America. ### The American robin returns on time Photo by Brian Lotze An American robin pauses just after its 2025 spring arrival in Fairbanks, Alaska. American robins have returned to northern Alaska. A male is now perched above me in a balsam poplar tree on this bench of well-drained land upon which sits the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. The robin sings his complex, familiar song just hours after his return from somewhere farther south. The sound waves from that melodic song composed and perfected over the millennia are now bathing everyone who steps outside in North America. I would argue that most people from the kid walking the sidewalk in the Bronx to the man rolling down his car window to expel heat in Los Angeles could identify whose song it is. Is the robin the most conspicuous wild animal on the continent? Every year, its evocative song transports me to a Little League field in Hudson Falls, New York, where I stood in an itchy uniform. Here in Alaska, this bird belts it out over the whir of a streetsweeper that emits the sour smell of burned diesel fuel. Because the American robin is ubiquitous, maybe it doesnt get the tip of the cap it deserves. Biologists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology estimate the robins population at 370 million birds. Compare that to the 340 million American humans counted in the 2019 census. Photo by Bruce Miller A robin peers from its nest set on floodlights at a home in Fairbanks. Populations of the American robin, which ranges all over the continent down into Mexico, increased by about 0.13% per year from 1966 to 2019. Thats according to scientists who participated in the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Why has the American robin increased in population while most other songbirds have declined in great numbers? One reason might be the robins tolerance of our species, as exhibited by the females willingness to build nests upon our structures. A ruby-crowned kinglet and most other visiting songbirds would never choose a woodshed, so close to our noise and movement. Another possible reason for the robins success: Our centuries-long practice of clearing North Americas forest and transforming much of it into farms and lawns. Those changes have created habitat for earthworms, a favorite food of the robin. Earthworms exist in Alaska, but they are not a staple of the robin. There just arent enough of them. Instead, like dozens of other bird species, robins here feast on the bounty of Alaska insects, as well as sometimes the fruits of human-planted trees. Photo by Ned Rozell A robin nestling reaches for food in a nest on the upper Chandalar River in Alaska in 2015. Though robins are easy to find in Alaskas urban areas and its few hundred villages, you will also hear them very far from settlements. I experienced that 10 years ago, when a meteorite hunter, his guide (and my soon-to-be friend) and I helicoptered to the farthest north sticks of the boreal forest, on the upper Chandalar River. We did not find a meteorite, but we did find a dozen robins nests at eye level, in spruce trees not much taller than we were. That bird nursery remains untouched. Similar sprawling spaces are Alaskas primary draw for migratory birds. Many robins dont leave Alaska at all, spending the winter in Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Valdez, Cordova and the southern coast, including all of Southeast Alaska. But most of the millions of robins now scratching the grounds of northern Alaska and the provinces of Canada are recent arrivals. Those birds have flown thousands of miles through frequent hazards to enliven our soundscape and, once again, begin their frenetic season of creating more robins for all of North America. Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. Amid cheers, applause, and heartfelt reflections, the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies honored its newest cohort of doctoral scholars during the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 21. The event celebrated the academic success and resilience of more than 80 graduates from UMBs professional schools. Today is a day to celebrate your achievements all that you have accomplished, all that you have persevered through, said Kenneth Wong, PhD, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the School of Graduate Studies. We are thrilled to be here, as a university community, to celebrate this moment with you. The ceremony marked the culmination of years of research, collaboration, and personal growth for graduates in disciplines ranging from neuroscience to social work. It was also, Wong noted, a celebration of the mentors, families, and peers who supported students along their academic journey. Attendees, including graduating students and faculty, during the 2025 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, welcomed attendees with a message underscoring the vital role they play in society. We need you more now than we ever needed you before. That goes for the faculty. That goes for the students and all of the families out there, he said. We need you to advocate for science. You need to make it so these terrific young people will have an impact on this country. That call to purpose resonated throughout the ceremony. As each student was hooded by a faculty mentor, program directors read personalized statements highlighting the graduates research and academic path. These introductions illuminated both the scientific rigor and personal stories behind each dissertation. Among those honored was Jennifer Mariano, whose research in biochemistry and molecular biology sheds new light on a rare muscle disease known as myotrem. Mentored by Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD, Mariano joined the program in 2019. Jennifers work spans several levels of investigation, including molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, her mentor wrote. Shes diligent, organized, self-motivated, hardworking, and has a strong intellectual curiosity. Moreover, shes an excellent team player, highly collaborative, and has an intrinsic ability to train her more junior colleagues. Mariano, who presented her work internationally and earned multiple honors during her time at UMB, including the 2023 and 2024 Graduate Research Conference Outstanding Presentation Awards, said the ceremony gave her a rare chance to slow down and appreciate the significance of the moment. Its been a whirlwind, she said. Science is very exciting and very fast paced, so to have these moments where you can not only celebrate what you've done, but what all of your colleagues have done, and celebrate it with your family and other people who aren't necessarily in the everyday of science I think it's very special. The interprofessional nature of Graduate Studies was on full display during the event, with faculty mentors from the Schools of Dentistry, Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Social Work joining the stage to celebrate their students. As Wong noted in his remarks, doctoral training is guided not only by rigorous standards but also by trust, mentorship, and collaboration. We sometimes say that it takes a village to raise a child, and by the same analogy, it takes an entire university community to graduate its students. This is the core of who we are as a university, he said. This is essential to what we do to provide education, to train the future generations, and to pass on the enormous gift that is human knowledge to the next generation of scientists who will continue to advance it. Graduates were encouraged to carry their sense of responsibility beyond the University. In his remarks, doctoral student Jonathan Lawton, who earned his PhD in epidemiology and served as president of the Graduate Student Association, urged his peers to embrace the urgency of their work amid unprecedented uncertainty in institutions of health and science. Uncertainty is our expertise. Sure, weve earned our stripes in epidemiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, pharmacy, social work, and more. But in reality, a PhD is actually a crash course in facing the unknown, Lawton stressed. It teaches us to be creative, to embrace challenge, and to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it has revoked Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, effectively barring the Ivy League institution from enrolling international students for the 2025-2026 academic year. The decision, ordered by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, escalates a contentious dispute between the Trump administration and Harvard, one of the nation's most prestigious universities. In a letter to Harvard, Noem stated, "The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J-nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year." The move follows Harvard's alleged failure to comply with a DHS request for records on foreign students' "criminality and misconduct," issued on April 16, 2025. Noem had warned that non-compliance would lead to SEVP termination. Harvard, which enrolled 6,793 international students in the 2024-2025 academic yearabout 27% of its total enrollmentcalled the DHS action "unlawful" and "retaliatory." The university issued a statement saying, "This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission." The DHS claims Harvard's leadership created an "unsafe campus environment" by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to harass and assault students, particularly Jewish students, amid campus protests. Noem also accused Harvard of fostering violence, antisemitism, and collaborating with foreign entities, including the Chinese Communist Party. Immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick criticized the revocation, stating, "She doesn't name a single rule Harvard is alleged to have violated and SEVP certification can't be terminated discretionarily." Legal experts suggest Harvard has grounds for a challenge, noting established procedures for revoking SEVP certification were not followed. Noem gave Harvard 72 hours to submit records, including disciplinary files and video or audio of international students' protest activities over the past five years, to potentially regain certification. Harvard has not indicated whether it will comply. Current international students face significant disruption, as they must transfer to other U.S. institutions or risk losing legal status. The decision could also impact Harvard's finances, as international students often pay higher tuition. The revocation follows prior tensions, including DHS terminating $2.7 million in grants to Harvard last month. Noem posted on X, "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused." U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, condemned the move, saying, "And to attempt to deny the ability of Harvard to take any foreign students is both unlawful and deeply detrimental to our country's own ability to innovate and attract talent from all over the world." Harvard vowed to support affected students and is exploring legal options to contest the DHS decision. The university's leadership emphasized its commitment to maintaining a diverse academic community. The action marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's campaign against elite universities, with Harvard emerging as a primary target. Observers warn similar measures could extend to other institutions, as Noem stated the revocation should "serve as a warning" to universities nationwide. Harvard University filed a lawsuit Friday morning against the Trump administration, seeking an immediate temporary restraining order to halt the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) move to revoke the school's certification to enroll international students. The legal action comes after DHS notified Harvard it was no longer certified under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a status the university has held for more than 70 years, citing allegations of campus antisemitism and race-based discrimination. More than 7,000 students study at Harvard on a visa. In a message to affiliates, Harvard President Alan M. Garber called the revocation "unlawful and unwarranted," stating, "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams". The 72-page suit accuses DHS of an "unprecedented and retaliatory" act, arguing that decertification would force current and prospective international students to transfer or lose their legal status in the U.S. Harvard's lawyers contend the action would "seriously and immediately disrupt the University's ongoing, day-to-day operations" and "impairs the educational experience of all Harvard students by diminishing the global character and overall strength of the institution". Harvard's court filing describes the government's move as politically motivated retaliation, carried out "without process or cause," and claims it violates the First Amendment by infringing on academic freedom and retaliating against constitutionally protected speech. The university also argues the loss of SEVP status would put it at a "competitive disadvantage" in admissions for years to come. The lawsuit names DHS, the Department of Justice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of State as defendants. Harvard is represented by attorneys including Robert K. Hur and William A. Burck, both of whom previously served in high-level roles under former President Donald Trump. The DHS justified its action by alleging Harvard's response to an April 16 records request was "insufficient," specifically requesting detailed information on international students' disciplinary records, protest participation, and documentation of "dangerous or violent activity." Harvard maintains it complied with all requests, submitting documents on April 30 and May 14. The suit notes that Trump publicly called for revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status in April, and that the DHS records request followed just one day later. The university argues the government's demands exceeded regulatory norms and that no evidence of violations was provided. If a judge does not grant Harvard's request for a temporary restraining order by Sunday, DHS could proceed with terminating the visa status of thousands of international students. The university warns this would cause "immediate and irreparable harm" and disrupt academic operations as well as the lives of affected students and staff NEW YORK The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Thursday that Columbia University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by acting with "deliberate indifference" toward student-on-student harassment of Jewish students since October 7, 2023. The findings, detailed in a comprehensive Notice of Violation, highlight the university's failure to address a hostile environment for Jewish students amid rising tensions on campus. The OCR's investigation, spanning over 19 months, found Columbia University neglected to protect Jewish students from harassment based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance, which includes Columbia. The Notice of Violation outlined several key failures by the university, including: Failing to establish effective reporting and remediation mechanisms for antisemitism until summer 2024. Not adhering to its own policies when responding to Jewish students' complaints. Failing to investigate or punish vandalism, such as repeated swastika drawings in classrooms. Not enforcing time, place, and manner restrictions for protests inside academic buildings, residence halls, and libraries. "Columbia University acted 'with deliberate indifference' toward the ongoing harassment of its Jewish students," the OCR stated, emphasizing the university's inaction created a hostile environment. The investigation relied on witness interviews, university policies, media reports, and findings from Columbia's Task Force on Antisemitism. The announcement comes as Columbia faces scrutiny over federal funding, part of a broader Trump administration push to address campus policies, from protest responses to admissions criteria. Columbia University has not yet publicly responded to the OCR's findings. The violation could jeopardize the university's federal funding if corrective actions are not implemented. The OCR's enforcement of Title VI underscores its role in ensuring nondiscrimination in federally funded programs, with potential implications for other institutions facing similar allegations. Individuals who believe they have faced discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or other protected categories in HHS-funded programs can file complaints with the OCR at hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint. The findings mark a significant moment for Columbia, raising questions about campus policies and the balance between free expression and student safety. May 23 2025 Eleven winners of the RIAS Awards 2025 have been revealed, representing a cross-section of the best new buildings to rise from across the country irrespective of budget or use. This year's jury, chaired by Jessam Al-Jawad, director of Al-Jawad Pike, made their selection based on each project's architectural integrity, usability and context, delivery and execution, and sustainability. The winners are: Aldourie Castle, Loch Ness by Ptolemy Dean Architects (photography Simon Kennedy) Caoghan na Creige, Isle of Harris by Izat Arundell (photography Richard Gaston) Ellengowan Regeneration, Dundee by Collective Architecture (photography Keith Hunter) Fairburn Tower, Muir of Ord, Highland by Simpson & Brown Architects (photography Landmark Trust) Gairnshiel Jubilee Bridge, Gairnshiel, Aberdeenshire by Moxon Architects (photography Ben Addy) HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Stirling by Holmes Miller Architects (photography Chris Humphries) Kinloch Lodge, Lairg by GRAS The Nucleus Building, University of Edinburgh by Sheppard Robson (photography Keith Hunter) Riverside Primary School, Perth by Architype (photography David Barbour) Rosebank Distillery, Falkirk by MLA (photography Ross Campbell) Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design (photography Christopher Swan) Al-Jawad commented: This years RIAS Awards winners show an inspiring range of responses to Scotlands landscapes, communities, and heritage from quietly transformative conservation to bold public architecture. Across the board, we saw a deep care for context, sustainability and the people who use these buildings. Taken together, these projects demonstrate the extraordinary breadth of talent in Scottish architecture today. Each winner will automatically enter the longlist for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award which will be announced in November. Main image: Kinloch Lodge, photograph by Fran Mart for Wildland Left: A birds eye view of downtown San Antonio in 1873 by Augustus Koch. Right: The Robert B. Green hospital, date unknown. Jessica Nowlin, principal investigator and UTSA assistant professor of classics said that this retelling of the citys history is unique in its scope, interactivity and visual components. The goal of the project is to help tell Bexar County's history through interactive digital maps and take primary source documents that have not been typically accessible to the public and make them accessible, she said. Nowlin applied her expertise in Geographic Information Services (GIS) to create the interactive maps, which she believes help people feel more personally connected to history. Teachers tell us it's really hard for students to understand how history relates to their everyday lives or where they live today. These maps are really helpful for showing people that there are historic locations right around the corner from where you live, work or go get coffee, she said. The research has unearthed some unexpected threads in the citys history stories that were previously overlooked or possibly suppressed. There's so much more to Bexar County's history than the Alamo. There are really amazing histories of medicine, activism, different community groups and different businesses, like the brewery industry. Many groups have a deep history here in San Antonio dating back to the end of the 19th century. A lot of these modules can really help explain why San Antonio and Bexar County look the way they do today, Nowlin said. The hot wells, a popular tourist attraction, photographed in 1907. Photo Courtesy of UTSA Special Collections. The site offers a medical history of the city, sharing insights into various disease outbreaks in a section titled The Public Health Movement. One revelation was the prevalence of tuberculosis. The United States Public Health Services conducted a study in 1942 and found that one in every 20 Mexican and Mexican American San Antonio residents had tuberculosis, Nowlin said. This was five times higher than the general American population at the time. The scale of the problem had gone unrecognized prior to this. San Antonio was largely seen as a wellness sanctuary, with many northerners visiting the city to bathe in the hot wells and recuperate from illness. That would certainly put a damper on the tourism industry if you were told that tuberculosis, which you're trying to flee from in the North, is actually a serious problem here in San Antonio, she added. While the IDF has been massacring the civilian population of Gaza and colonizing the Gaza Strip for a year and a half, supposedly to fight Hamas, the West has only just become aware of what is going on. Unfortunately, theres nothing honorable about this sudden burst of humanity: the European Union and the Israeli opposition are merely reacting to the MAGA U-turn in the United States [1]. They still dont support South Africas complaint to the International Court of Justice and, for the most part, are still reluctant to recognize a Palestinian state. The only notable exception is Spain, which has been trying for a year to halt the massacre and torture. President of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez called on 17 May to put pressure on Israel to stop the massacre of Gazan civilians. He mentioned all kinds of pressures, including symbolic ones such as exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest. The Spanish Parliament adopted on 20 May a proposal tabled by left-wing and nationalist parties calling for a ban on the sale of arms to Israel, because of what they describe as a "genocidal war" against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. The Madrid Group will meet on May 25. It has already met five times and includes Spain, Norway, Slovenia and Ireland on the European side, and Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkiye, Egypt, Qatar and Bahrain on the Arab-Islamic side. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the situation in Gaza as "unsustainable, unbearable, inhumane. The EU must do everything possible to put an end to it. There are thousands of trucks stuck behind the borders waiting. It is European funds that have financed this humanitarian aid and it must reach the people." The United Kingdom, which has consistently provided military support to the IDF and secretly received senior Israeli military leaders, suspended its free trade negotiations with Israel on May 20 and imposed sanctions on West Bank settlers, less than a day after promising "concrete actions" if Israel did not end its new military offensive in Gaza. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "History will judge them. Block help. Extend the war. Ignoring the concerns of your friends and partners. Its indefensible. And this must stop." Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg and Minister of Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel told the European Council: "We must tell the Israelis that there are situations where there are no more words, no more justifications, no more excuses, and that is why we must analyze the association agreement, so that the European Commission can verify whether human rights are still respected. We can no longer close our eyes. We have humanitarian aid that is no longer coming in. If people dont die from a bomb, they die of starvation or lack of care." Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas commented: "In the meantime, it is up to Israel to release humanitarian aid. Saving lives must be our top priority. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic; The aid provided is just a drop in the ocean. Humanitarian aid must arrive immediately. Urgent and sustained pressure is essential to bring about real change." 17 EU Member States have called for the revision of the Association Agreement with Israel (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden), Latvia said it was neutral and 9 opposed (Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus). The European Council appointed Christophe Bigot of France to represent it in the Middle East peace process. Former France ambassador to Israel, Mr. Bigot was director of the French DGSE (General Directorate for External Security) during the war against Syria. Finally, in an interview on public radio on May 20, president of the Labour Party Yair Golan expressed concern about seeing Israel "become a pariah state among nations, like the South Africa of yesteryear, unless it backtracks and acts like a healthy country." That is, a country that "does not engage in combat against civilians, does not consider it a hobby to kill babies, does not set itself the goal of expelling a population." Court ruling sparks political debate in Italy. Italy's constitutional court on Thursday ruled that same-sex female couples who use in vitro fertilization (IVF) abroad can be legally registered as parents on the child's birth certificate. The landmark ruling declared it unconstitutional for city registrars to deny full parental recognition to both the biological mother and the non-biological mother. The Rome court ruled that not recognising the parental status of both mothers violates the constitutional principles of equality and personal identity and jeopardises the childs rights to care, education and "a balanced and continuous relationship" with both parents. The ruling regarded a case involving the child of a lesbian couple in Tuscany that was referred to the constitutional court by a court in the city of Lucca. The decision by the constitutional court partly strikes down a 2004 law which prohibited both women in a same-sex couple to be registered as legal mothers, even if both consented to the procedure, Reuters reports. Advocates celebrated Thursday's ruling as a victory against premier Giorgia Meloni's conservative government which in 2023 instructed city administrations in Italy to stop registering the names of non-biological gay mothers on their childrens birth certificates. Hailing it as a "historic victory", the president of the Famiglie Arcobaleno association Alessia Crocini told news outlet Leggo: "It's a victory for those who have fought until now, for current parents, for those women who are about to become mothers, but also for those who dream of becoming mothers." However the consitutional court's decision also sparked criticism including from within the right-wing coalition government. The Pro Vita e Famiglia association denounced the "schizophrenic" ruling, claiming that it "chains thousands of children to an existential lie", while Italy's family minister Eugenia Rocella said: "Cancelling "papa" and "mamma" is not progress". Family business Cobbler 2U is upping sticks after 42 years in George's Court. The shop is a familiar sight to many Deise people, a trustworthy, reliable place for all our engraving, cobbling and key-cutting needs. Run by father and son Tony and Oran Fitzpatrick, the shop will be moving out to Tramore into a space that is '6 times bigger' than the outlet inside George's. Customers are coming in for their cut keys and cobbled shoes. It is a bittersweet day, as the Fitzpatrick's bid farewell to their loyal customers based in Waterford City, while looking forward to moving closer to their home in Tramore. According to Oran, people have been coming in and out all week to get their finished keys, shoes and engravings. The family stated: "After 42 years of trading from our premises in the City Centre it is no longer possible for us to continue to operate from this location. The shop is clearing up for the final move. "However, we are delighted to announce our relocation to our new larger, easily accessible premises in Tramore Business Park with more services and free on-site parking." The new store is located at site 2, Riverstown Business Park, Tramore, Co Waterford, X91 FRX8. The shop also has an online store. Best of luck to Tony, Oran and all the Fitzpatrick family. In the edition of Tuesday, May 13, 2025, we incorrectly stated that Lee Healy of 2 Richardsons Meadow, Old Tramore Road, Waterford, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of an axe, knife and trespass, and that he received a suspended sentence in relation to the axe charge, with the other matters taken into consideration. We would like to correct that Mr Healy was before the court in relation to an entirely different case, which was before the same sitting of Waterford District Court. Mr Healy was in no way involved in the above charges or incident, which pertained to a different defendant. We apologise to Mr Healy for this error. Following the passing of a vote at yesterday evening's Special Congress at Croke Park, Camogie players will have the choice of whether to wear shorts or skorts, effective immediately. 98% of the 133 delegates voted in favour of the change. Camogie Association President Brian Molloy commented yesterday: We are pleased to announce that delegates have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of giving players greater choice in their playing attire. "From midnight tonight, each individual player will have the option to wear skorts or shorts, adding choice while maintaining the professionalism and uniformity of our team kits in both colour and design." 'Comfort, equality and personal choice' In Waterford, the passing of the vote was supported earlier this week by elected representatives in the Council Chamber Cllr Catherine Burke introduced a motion at this month's Comeragh district council meeting emphasising the importance of Waterford Council supporting camogie players in their campaign to have the option of wearing shorts and skorts during games The council recognises the importance of player comfort, equality and personal choice in sport she said. Cllr Seanie Power, who is deeply involved in local ladies sport, said during the meeting: I fully support the motion and thank you for bringing it to the council as somebody whos been involved in ladies sport for a good number of years. From meeting the girls involved in camogie I know theyre all in favour of wearing shorts. The motion was seconded by Cllr Liam Brazil, and supported also by Cllr John O'Leary who described it as "very valuable". Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The first time it occurred to Mia Threapleton that acting was a job she might be able to do, she was seven years old. She was watching Bugsy Malone, a comic musical starring a 13-year-old Jodie Foster as a Chicago gangster. I remember thinking: That looks really fun and shes really good and seems really cool. Is that something people can do that maybe I can do? Can I do that? A few years later, once she had realised that her lack of aptitude for maths probably ruled out becoming a marine biologist, she had made her decision. She told her mother she was going to be an actor. She said: Oh really? Well, if thats what you want to do, darling, definitely do it. Its very hard work. Which stuck in her mind, she adds. Because thats the only advice shes ever really given me. Read the script as many times as you can. And its really hard work. And yes, it is, but thats why I like it. It was reliable advice, given that Threapletons mother is Oscar-winning actor Kate Winslet. That was, however, as far as any stage mothering went. Her mothers career was not part of their family life; she had a home office, which was out of bounds, and a working life elsewhere. Threapleton, whose father met her mother when he was assistant director on her 1998 film Hideous Kinky, says she could count on her hands the number of times she visited a film set before she was employed on one. She was also in her teens before she realised her mum was properly famous. Even now, she hasnt seen many of Winslets films. Mia Threapleton and Benicio del Toro in Wes Andersons The Phoenician Scheme. Credit: Focus Features As I got older, kids sort of knew who my mum was, she says. But no one ever commented. Sometimes they asked if Id ever watched the car scene in Titanic and Id say no. When she was 12, she remembers, the film was playing on the family television. That was the only scene I ever remember her going Oh God! and covering my eyes! And I remember turning round and saying, Mum, I can still hear it! Which was certainly a triumphant teenage riposte, but put an end to that family viewing. Till now, Ive never seen that film all the way through, she adds. Its a bit ewww, nah! But I honestly havent watched very many things shes done. She thinks about that, then name-checks Michel Gondrys 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That one is really an amazing piece of artistry, on every level. Advertisement In 2022, the pair appeared together in an episode of Channel 4s I Am... series, as a mother and daughter navigating the perils of social media. When Winslet won the BAFTA for best actress, she paid tribute to Threapleton, saying there were days when it was agony for her to dig as deeply as she did into very frightening emotional territory sometimes, and it took my breath away. Mia Threapleton with her mother, Kate Winslet, in I Am Ruth. Credit: Joss Barratt/Channel 4 Threapleton knew that her mother had achieved her career on her own; she didnt have any strings to pull. She wanted to do the same. Once she had made her decision, she found websites listing auditions under her own steam and started putting herself forward for open castings. Looking back at the first few audition tapes she made, she sees how much she learned from that process. Loading Its sad not to get the jobs you really want, but its fun in the first place and a great learning opportunity, to try new things and throw things at the wall and see what sticks. She looked for an agent only in her last year at school. I really wanted to finish school, because I was very aware that this might not work out and I might need a contingency plan, she says. Also, I needed to do it for myself. The week after she finished school, her new agent sent her a script. I read it and I was excited. I was quite exhausted as well, because the second year of A-levels was really difficult for me, but Id made it. So I said then right, nows the time to commit or its going to be shit. Thats kind of my life motto now. Commit or its shit. I think thats actually something my mum said to me. Advertisement A couple of weeks later, she was on the set of her first film, an Italian-Irish co-production called Shadows, which was a thrill; she was so green that she didnt even know what a camera angle was. How I came to be where I am now was entirely me-oriented. Nobody pushed me ... Nobody said oh, youd be good, you should do that. Where she is now exactly now is the Cannes Film Festival, due to walk the red carpet with celebrated director Wes Anderson and a cohort of stars who feature regularly in his quirky, stylised comedies of very elaborate manners. Threapleton plays a leading role in his latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, as Liesl, the disaffected daughter of a ruthless business tycoon, Zsa-zsa Korda, played by Benicio del Toro. Mia Threapleton with Benicio del Toro and Michael Cera in Wes Andersons The Phoenician Scheme. Credit: Focus Features Threapleton is still touchingly breathless at having worked with the stars Anderson regularly summons for his film-making summer camps, where cast and crew live and eat together for the duration of the shoot and Anderson sets out a table of films and books for them to watch and read as inspiration. They filmed at Babelsberg Studios and stayed in a hotel by one of Berlins pristine lakes, going swimming on days off. At the dinner table, she might find Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson and Benedict Cumberbatch, even Tom Hanks. She couldnt believe, she said later, that she was there with Woody from Toy Story. Like Andersons earlier film The Royal Tenenbaums, this is a story of unhappy families. Korda has just survived a sixth assassination attempt and decided it is time to hand over his empire to his only daughter, passing over his brood of witless sons. She will secure their fortunes future by pushing through his pet project, a vast real-estate deal in a developing economy that is being passed off as economically benevolent and environmentally responsible. Liesl wants nothing to do with it. For one thing, she hasnt seen her father in six years. And another thing: shes now a nun. Mia Threapleton plays a nun who wants nothing to do with her fathers business in The Phoenician Scheme. Credit: Focus Features Advertisement In line with the rest of her self-driven career, Threapleton was chosen for the role on the basis of an audition tape, one of hundreds sent in response to a casting call. In an interview in Vanity Fair, Anderson said her reading stood out from a very large pack. She was clearly really thinking about every moment. She just seemed completely authentic, he said. When you see the same scene played again and again and again by people who maybe arent right for the part anyway, to have somebody who seems like shes in a documentary and shes interesting this stops everything. It might surprise fans of Andersons arch, meticulously constructed meta-worlds to read that he wanted someone who seemed real, especially after seeing Threapleton as Liesl. When she isnt speaking, her face is set in an expression of mute resistance; her movements are not so much robotic as geometric, so that she seems to click into position. Her voice, uncannily like her mothers, is clear and clipped. She is like the most Andersonian character ever to be in an Anderson film, to the manner born. What she says Anderson wanted from her, however, was a kind of naturalism. When I did my first audition tape, I had a feeling of how I wanted to do it: in the way that makes the most sense to me. And that, it turns out, was what Wes wanted when it came to filming. He would regularly tell her to be simple, more natural; on one occasion, he spotted her between takes standing with her hands on her hips and jumped out to tell her to hold that stance. It was just very casual, very matter-of-fact, she says. He does a huge number of takes, she discovered; on the first day, when they just shot little extra moments, they did 69. And that turned out to be a middle ground. Because he knows exactly what he wants and hes questing to find that. And then he finds new things as we go, so they get added in. Its quite orchestral, in a way. A bit more of this, less of that, then all together. Liesls ramrod back was one aspect of the character that came naturally to her. I stand up quite straight anyway because Im five foot three, so everyones taller than me. Her physicality and body positioning isnt actually dissimilar from my own. Her stillness and steadiness and precision: that was something that ended up happening after I had the costume on. Partly because I refused to sit down in it when we werent filming. The material, I could see, was going to crease instantly. Mia Threapleton with director Wes Anderson on the red carpet at Cannes. Credit: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Funny, thats just the kind of thing you would expect from her down-to-earth mother, concerned not to create more unnecessary ironing. The two women have a similar sort of boisterous physicality, too. As a child, says Threapleton, she wanted to be George in The Famous Five. I was forever climbing trees; my knees were filthy as a kid. And I wanted to have Timmy the dog! I do now have a dog, so I do feel like George. Its a little dream that came true, I guess. Advertisement The 707 was Australias VIP jetliner, but it had seen better days. The little fleet of 707s came from the late 1950s/early 60s era when rock n roll and V8 hot rods ruled and noise pollution wasnt a problem. By the time Keating was PM, the RAAF had to beg permission to land the 707 at many international airports because its old engines made such a racket, even after they were fitted with exhaust baffles. In 1992, when Keating made an official visit to Tokyo, the Japanese politely explained its international airport, Narita, wasnt suitable. Paul Keating in 1993. His plan for two new prime ministerial planes was grounded that year. Credit: Getty Images They directed the RAAF to land at Tokyos domestic airport, which presumably had vintage spanner sets for elderly airframes if the plane broke down. It was humiliating for a prime minister like Keating, whom cartoonists cruelly drew as the modern embodiment of the extravagantly self-absorbed Sun King, Frances Louis XIV. I had by then spent happy years flying around the world in the old 707s as part of the press gallery pack. We called it the Zoo Plane. Wine of fine vintage and high jinks of great silliness flowed freely in the media cabin down the back. Until Keating became PM, Bob Hawke smoked cigars and played poker in his suite at the front. It was a most agreeable way to travel the world. But then, in mid-1993, not long after Keating unexpectedly won the federal election against John Hewson, word floated my way through Canberras rarefied air that the triumphant PM was on the lookout for a new VIP plane. Two, in fact. Quiet conversations confirmed Keatings desire for more-fitting VIP airborne transport, but that his department was on a collision course with the Defence Department, which was worried about the cost. The two planes being considered were Boeing 757s. They werent flown by any airline in Australia, but they were big and modern and desirable. And expensive. Tony Wrights story on Paul Keatings jet plans in The Sydney Morning Herald, June 16, 1993. Credit: When my story was published in The Sydney Morning Herald, all hell broke loose. The public went into a mild uproar, Keatings Labor colleagues went weak at the knees, and I, as the messenger, got a number of shouty phone calls from offices not too far from the prime ministers own parliamentary suite. Even Keating suddenly found himself unwilling to test the generosity of voters, many of whom were still recovering from what he had called, only three years previously, the recession we had to have. The story killed the planned purchase of new VIP planes stone dead. Keating was still flying around in the ancient 707s three years later when he lost the prime ministership to John Howard. I was not allowed to forget it. Every time I stepped aboard the 707 for a trip overseas, I was reminded by Keatings staff that if the plane fell out of the sky, I was to blame for writing that bloody story. Loading Press gallery colleagues, unhappy at being scooped, took up the sledging with glee. And Keating continued to yearn for a plane more suited to a prime minister of style. In 1995, on a trip to Germany, no sooner had we landed in Bonn than the poor unloved 707 was rolled into a darkened hangar and Keating continued on to Berlin in a magnificently appointed Airbus lent to him by chancellor Helmut Kohl. Some among the travelling media declared Keating looked green each time he emerged from the Airbus VIP suite with its gold appointments in the bathroom, its conference room and its super-modern communications. I felt a bit sympathetic. It wasnt unusual for fittings in the ancient 707s to judder loose. I once copped a thump to the head when an internal ceiling panel fell out. Keating was correct. The VIP fleet desperately needed replacements. John Howard eventually got a Boeing Business Jet that was (conveniently) too small to accommodate travelling journalists. The current fleet consists of two Boeing 737s, ordered by Scott Morrisons government and used these days by Anthony Albanese, the governor-general and others. The point, however, was that a prime minister in Australias political system could not unilaterally choose the style of VIP plane available to him or her. Australia pays for its own perquisites, which are decided by federal departments like Defence and Prime Minister and Cabinet, which have rules and budgets. Loading It is unimaginable that an Australian prime minister would consider accepting a jumbo jet-sized bribe from a foreign country. All senators and members of the House of Representatives are required to list their pecuniary interests in a register. The allowable limit for gifts from another government is $750, and from individuals it is $300. A $600 million jet would appear mighty peculiar in any list of pecuniary interests. Anywhere, really, outside Trumps morally warped Washington. David Whitley suggests Manchester Airport as one possible UK alternative arrival airport to Heathrow (Traveller, April 30). It may be OK for arrivals, but not necessarily for departures. Departing Manchester last November the airport required all liquids and creams to be placed in separate plastic bags. Having a medication cold bag, including insulin, no care was taken to maintain a medication-safe environment, with freezer packs left out on open trays, every item in both backpack and handbag strewn about on multiple trays, and one officer removing the cap of my insulin pen, perusing it as if hed never before seen one. Had I realised how dreadful security was going to be at Manchester Airport, I would have requested special consideration in advance to ensure smooth progress through to departure. Margaret Barry, Melbourne, Vic Perfection overrated Recently I stayed at a three-star unit in Adelaide. A sign on the fridge said any rating under 4.7 would be considered bad. I gave the unit a rating of 7 out of 10 as the lounge had no back cushions, one bed was very uncomfortable, and the shower design caused the bathroom to flood each time. I noticed booking.com only published the scores and not the comments. I then received a message asking why I hadnt given it 10 out of 10. I explained they could not expect a five-star rating for three-star accommodation and repeated the reasons. Why does everyone expect perfect ratings these days? Lorraine Phillips, Wollongong, NSW Consider Cuba Vintage Cuba. Credit: iStock I agree with Ben Groundwater that Cuba is a terrific destination (Traveller, May 4). Fortunately, we went there before 2020 and, as per his information regarding getting an ESTA to go to the US, youre still eligible for the visa waiver program if travel was before that time. You may still get a visa to travel to the US if youve been to Cuba post 2020, but it could take months and an interview. Susan Griffiths, Gerroa, NSW On points Broome: worth a longer stay. Credit: Tourism Western Australia Often touted as an overpriced two-night-maximum stopover for cruise ships or those travelling further into the Kimberley, Broome was well worth the five nights we spent there. Broome is a tropical paradise with great food, beaches and an interesting history. While it only takes a couple of days to see everything, lounge by the pool with a book for the rest of the holiday and get some R&R. Use those long-saved Qantas points and travel in May or September for a cheap escape. Georgie Foster, Thornbury, Vic Travel privileges Yes, its frustrating when we cant choose the seats we want on a plane, or when airports charge exorbitant prices for bottled drinks (Hard to swallow and System failure, Traveller Letters, May 10). But perhaps a little perspective is in order? About 80 per cent of the worlds population has never been on a flight. Travel is a privilege. The fact that so many Australians have the opportunity to explore our planets beautiful places is something wed do well not to take for granted. Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic Made the switch Your letter about scams (Traveller Letters, May 10) reminded me of what made me switch from taxis to Uber. Years ago I was living in Melbourne and had just returned from a trip to Brisbane. I queued up, got a taxi, and we went on our way. We were about as far as Essendon Airport and I noticed the fare was higher than it shouldve been by that point and was ticking over quicker than expected. The driver asked me where I was visiting from, and I said I was a local. Suddenly, the meter started ticking over at a regular pace. When I got home he told me the fare and I asked what it wouldve been had he not been ripping me off at the start of the trip. He asked me what I wanted to pay. Ive stuck to Uber ever since. Simon Goodman, Potts Point, NSW Maxed out I used to be frequently the subject of taxi fare ripoffs at its epicentre, the Gold Coast. One reason is the high percentage of maxi-taxis where the driver has the capacity to inappropriately charge a multi-hire rate for just one or two passengers. Ive since tracked down an honest cabbie who I use for all my travels around the area. She has assured me that all taxi complaints are taken very seriously. The important thing is always to get a copy of your receipt. That little piece of paper doesnt just contain a receipt for payment but all the details of your fare, such as time, flag fall and all charges. It cant be altered. Taxi cowboys give all hard-working cabbies a bad name and deserve to be reported. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW Tip of the week: Happy teardrop island Put Sri Lanka on your bucket list. Credit: iStock We have just returned from a 15-day trip to the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. It was reasonably priced, had verdant varied terrain, lovely food, incredible hotels, great safari opportunities and people unable to do enough for you. Put it on your bucket list and you wont be disappointed. We chose to have our own chauffeured car, and travelled with Olanka Travels, an online company who thought of everything and it didnt break the bank. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick, NSW Mamas favourite In 1975, I worked at the CSR sugar mills in Ingham, north Queensland, where the population was mainly Italian, many of whom were from Sicily. One of the desserts that the women made was savoiardi cake, a dessert that I had not tasted before. I got the impression then that it was a popular peasant dish for festive occasions. My wife, who was teaching at a convent school just outside Ingham, was frequently indulged by mothers, with gifts of savoiardi cake. Many years later on our return to Sydney, we found the cake on some restaurant menus as tiramisu. Peter Wotton Pyrmont, NSW I bought it myself Your tiramisu article (Traveller, May 4), reminded me of when my Italian husband would make this delicious dessert, soaking the savoiardi biscuits in freshly made espresso from his Bialetti moka pot, whisking the egg whites, the yolks, adding in the mascarpone, layering everything in a perfect construction before refrigeration. The end result was divine. But then he discovered Aldis desserts which include a tiramisu made in Italy. It costs $7.99 for 500g and sadly for me, he no longer thinks its worth the effort to make it at home. Veronica Lauria, McMahons Point, NSW Careful when you click I recently went online to book accommodation in England for a holiday. Where possible I like to book directly with the hotel, so when I saw the name of the hotel followed by guest reservations I assumed this was their site. I booked two rooms for about $800 and received a receipt for $1300. The extra was for taxes and services. If I cancel or change the booking, I lose the whole amount. I contacted the hotel and it confirmed that I do have a booking but that they cant do anything about the booking company. Very disappointing, but an expensive lesson learnt. Jim Noonan, Malabar, NSW Food of the Incan gods Ben Groundwaters article (Traveller, May 4) brought back fond memories of our gastronomic experience on the Inca Trail. For lunch on day 1, our porters served delicious avocado topped with prawns and fresh tomato salsa. Satisfied and rested, our group was ready for more hiking, when out came a main course, followed by a sweet treat to finish. Two days later for my husbands 50th birthday, our amazing porters baked a birthday cake using the gas bottles theyd carried on the 42 kilometres of trail, to heat a simple oven. Roxanne Le Blanc, Croydon, Vic Ask the locals I have many vivid and enjoyable memories of meals Ive had while travelling. As we usually stay in hotels, I always ask the person in reception for recommendations, and I have never been disappointed. When in Toledo we were told of a restaurant down a back lane. We checked it out beforehand and it was a dingy shopfront. However we went back later and had a magnificent meal. The shop had been opened up with many small rooms and a huge side area was also in use. It was crowded with locals and the place was rocking. Another rule (Traveller, May 2) dont go where the waiters are wearing white jackets. Patricia Harrington, Kerang, Vic The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com New York: Rapper Scott Kid Cudi Mescudi testified at Sean Diddy Combs sex-trafficking trial that the hip-hop mogul broke into his home in 2011 after discovering Mescudi was dating his on-and-off girlfriend, Casandra Ventura. The incident is one of a number of violent and threatening acts that prosecutors allege Combs undertook during a 20-year scheme to coerce women, including Ventura, to take part in drug-fuelled sex parties known as freak offs and prevent them from leaving his orbit. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges of a racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs lawyers have acknowledged he has a history of drug abuse and domestic violence, but they argue that the women who took part in freak offs did so consensually. Testifying as a prosecution witness on Thursday, New York time, Mescudi told the Manhattan federal court that Ventura called him early one morning in December 2011 and told him Combs had found out about their relationship, and asked Mescudi to pick her up. NINGBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian saffron and Croatian tuna were granted Chinese market access on Thursday, adding to the list of imported agricultural and food products from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) for Chinese consumers. Import access was approved for these products during the fourth China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair, which opened on Thursday in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. According to data released by China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) on the same day, a total of 126 types of agricultural and food products from CEECs have been granted access to China. China has streamlined its approval processes and enhanced its customs clearance efficiency in recent years, allowing CEEC delicacies such as Polish amber beer and Latvian canned fish to enter the Chinese market more easily. Against the backdrop of a complex international landscape, China-CEEC cooperation is providing greater certainty and vitality to the world economy, according to GAC deputy chief Zhao Zenglian. China's expansion of agricultural imports has bolstered bilateral trade. Customs data shows that China-CEEC trade totaled 142.27 billion U.S. dollars in 2024 -- up 6.3 percent year on year and outpacing China's overall import-export growth by 2.5 percentage points. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit BOSSIER CITY, La. A cash-strapped Cortrell Burks was on the run from Alabama after allegedly killing his soon-to-be fiance. He then stopped in Bossier City to get gas and that's where hes accused of killing two men one of whom became a victim because his purchase made the cash register open. Burks' explanation to detectives: "I snapped." Thats according to statements Burks reportedly gave investigators following his arrest. And its those alleged admissions Burks attorneys want tossed from his case. Burks, 52, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the May 2023 deaths of store clerk Jariah Hamilton, 36, and customer Joshua Calk, 47, inside the Valero gas station off Industrial Drive. Officer Ken Gallon and another customer were shot and wounded outside. The Bossier Parish District Attorneys Office plans to seek the death penalty if Burks is convicted of the crimes. He was in Bossier District Court on Friday, where a number of pre-trial motions were argued. Chief among them are motions to suppress the indictment and statements Bossier City police detectives said Burks made following his arrest. All the motions were taken under advisement by the judge. A status conference is set Aug. 22. Burks defense team, Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana, alleges Burks statements were obtained through deception and in violation of his right to remain silent. They contend the questions asked during booking were designed to elicit incriminating responses. Any statements taken without first properly advising Burks of his rights were the product of an illegally coercive custodial interrogation and should be suppressed from use at the trial, the defense team said in its motion. But the state says nothing deceptive happened during the interrogation. The detectives questioning of Burks was videotaped and shows Burks was read his rights two separate times. Both times, he said he understood his rights, the state said in response. The motion to suppress indicates when the detective asked Burks for his telephone number, he replied, It aint supposed to be this way. The detective said he was only asking for a telephone number but followed up by asking Burks what he meant. Burks response: I snapped. Burks then began to describe events from the previous three days, including statements that were incriminating to the homicide in Alabama and what happened in Bossier City, according to the court record. The state summarized its case against Burks, saying he was arrested on a homicide warrant out of Alabama for allegedly killing his soon-to-be fiance and was on the run for three days. The defendant admitted to stopping in Louisiana because he ran out of money while on the run and just needed gas, admitted he shot and killed his first victim in Louisiana because the defendant didnt have any money and the first victim had purchased something and the cash register came open. Shortly thereafter, according to the defendants admission, he shot and killed the second victim in Louisiana, according to a motion filed in the court record. The defense team also wants identification information from two eyewitnesses excluded from the trial. High Court reporters A High Court dispute with a property agent over the letting out of 17 Dublin houses and apartments, which were allegedly overcrowded with occupants who were not given written leases, has been settled. Brian Conroy SC, for the property owners, told Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Friday the case had been settled and could be adjourned to July for implementation of the settlement. The case came before the court last week by way of an application by the three corporate owners seeking injunctions against the agent, Kevin O'Brien, otherwise Kevin Linehan O'Brien, and his company Linehan O'Brien Investments Ltd, with a registered address at Adelaide Road, Dublin. It was alleged Mr Linehan O'Brien and his company let out the properties to migrants and foreign students without the knowledge of the owners, Blumay Ltd, Sunchulo Ltd, Maroon Zirconium Ltd and Harts Alexandra Ltd, and of the owners' agent, QTX Services Ltd. The arrangements made with the defendants only came to light after a QTX employee, who had dealt with Mr Linehan O'Brien, left her employment and QTX carried out a survey of the properties. It was alleged that between 50-80 migrants and foreign students were accommodated, involving dividing some of the sitting room/living spaces into bedrooms and without having written tenancy agreements for the occupants. The proceedings began with only the owners' side represented when they sought permission to serve papers on the defendants. When the case returned on Tuesday last, counsel for the defendants said the "vast majority of issues are controverted" and his client's position was that he has tenancy and is in possession of the properties. The judge put the case back to Friday after Mr Justice Cregan said he was concerned about the case for obvious reasons and would on Friday make interim orders if necessary because of concerns about the defendants approaching occupants of the properties. After he was told the matter was settled on Friday, he adjourned it to late July for implementation of the settlement. The houses and apartments are in Grantham Place, Portobello, Harrington Street, Old Naas Road, Capel Street, East Wall and one is in Mount Pleasant Avenue Lower in Ranelagh. The owners had asked the court for injunctions restraining the defendants from trespassing, representing themselves as being manager of the properties and from interfering with the owners' agent in taking back possession of the properties. They said they wanted to regularise the situations of the occupants. Mr Linehan O'Brien, in response to communications from QTX, had claimed that what the owners were doing was illegal and insisted that the matter falls under the remit of the Residential Tenancies Board, which the owners dispute because he is not in personal possession. High Court reporters A garda who sued the State after he was shot in the leg when his submachine gun discharged after he claimed it snagged on his bulletproof vest has settled his High Court action. The garda brought an action against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General. The gardas ankle was shattered after he claimed he was required to manoeuvre himself within the confined space of a patrol vehicle, leading to the safety selector switch and the trigger of his firearm allegedly snagging on his bulletproof vest and the gun discharging one round. In evidence, the garda told the court he had never experienced pain like it and nearly passed out. On the third day of the hearing, the garda's counsel, Richard Kean SC instructed by solicitor Brigid O'Donnell, told the court the case had been settled and could be struck out. In the proceedings, it was claimed that there was a failure to provide the garda with a safe place of work, and he had been caused to carry his firearm in close proximity in a confined space while wearing allegedly inappropriate personal protective equipment. Ms Justice Denise Brett ruled that the garda and any Garda witness in the case could not be identified. At the opening of the case this week, the court heard that liability was admitted. In his evidence, the garda, who was in the force over 15 years at the time of the incident, said he had been on patrol in July 2019 with colleagues in an area where there had been serious incidents including shootings. He said he was the driver of the jeep and he was wearing a bulletproof vest. He had a pistol in a holster and a submachine gun in a sling around his neck pointing down. He said he turned around to check the back seat when his submachine gun discharged. I felt immediate excruciating pain and I saw smoke from the weapon and blood squirting up to the seat, he said. He added: The pain really kicked in; it was so bad, I nearly passed out. I never experienced that type of pain, he said. He said his colleague made his weapons safe and he was brought to hospital. The ankle was shattered. I remember the doctor saying my leg was a mush before I went into surgery, he told the judge. The bullet had gone through the back of his left leg and ankle joint and his left ankle had shattered. He had to have surgery and later physiotherapy and he was out of work for 18 months after the incident. The garda told the court he did everything he could to build up his leg afterwards but the pain never really left. High Court reporters The jury in Gerry Adamss High Court defamation action against the BBC is expected to begin deliberations next week. Mr Justice Alexander Owens told the jury of seven men and five women that at least nine of them must be in agreement in coming to a decision in the case. The former Sinn Fein leader claims a BBC Spotlight programme and a related article published in 2016 defamed him by falsely accusing him of sanctioning British agent Denis Donaldsons killing at a cottage in Glenties, Co Donegal, in 2006. He described the allegation as a grievous smear. The BBC denies it defamed Mr Adams, who insists he had no involvement in Mr Donaldsons death, for which dissident republicans claimed responsibility for in 2009. On Friday, Mr Justice Owens addressed the jury on the key questions they are to consider when coming to a verdict in the case, and summarised part of the evidence heard over the course of four weeks of the trial. The judge said the onus was on Mr Adamss side to prove that the statements complained of in the broadcast and article were defamatory, that they mean he sanctioned the killing of Mr Donaldson. The BBC says the statements did not defame Mr Adams. It is the broadcasters case that the statements were couched as allegations, and should be considered in the context of the wider broadcast and article. The judge said it was the jurys role to decide what the words complained of mean to a reasonable member of society. If the jury find the statements mean what Mr Adams says they do, then they must consider the BBCs defence of fair and reasonable publication in the public interest. The onus of proof in this defence is on the BBC, the judge said. Mr Justice Owens told the jury theyd heard a great deal of evidence on the public reputation of Mr Adams, but noted that this was not relevant until considering the question of damages. The jury will only consider damages if they find the statements to mean what Mr Adams has pleaded, and if they reject the BBCs defence. On Thursday, BBC senior counsel Paul Gallagher claimed the case was Mr Adams cynical attempt to launder a reputation of being in the IRA and on its decision-making body, known at the army council. Mr Adamss senior counsel Declan Doyle said the BBC was deliberately and cynically ignoring Mr Adamss reputation for peace and reconciliation. The judge said the BBCs argument in relation to Mr Adamss reputation was simple: they say his reputation is bad and they say he should be given nominal damages. The judge said the BBC say the jury should send [Mr Adams] packing, with a euro or even a cent in damages, if it comes to that. Mr Adamss case is that he has a public reputation for supporting the move to the peace process in Northern Ireland, the judge said. Mr Adamss lawyers have argued that their client should receive very substantial damages of at least 200,000. The judge reiterated to the jury that allegations made about Mr Adams in newspapers, books and in other publications put to Mr Adams by the BBCs lawyers during the trial were not proof that he was involved in nefarious activities. They are, however, relevant to his public reputation, he said. The judge noted that Mr Adams freely admitted these allegations were made about it, and are in the public domain. He also notes the allegations have been denied by Mr Adams. Also relevant are recordings of Mr Adams giving speeches or press conferences, or clips of him meeting leaders such as Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. The judge said it was for the jury to decide what Mr Adamss public reputation is. The judge said they were being asked if his reputation was of a man who approved murder of others and was involved in terrorism, or a man who persuaded others to stop violence, leading to a permanent cessation in violence in Northern Ireland. The judge said they could decided his reputation is a mixture of both propositions, or more one than the other. He said that they should only consider his reputation in this jurisdiction, not in Northern Ireland, or anywhere else. The judge said that in considering a witnesss evidence, the jury should consider if they have an axe to grind or is withholding something. He said they should consider the internal consistency of their evidence, to consider if their account is credible. The case returns on Tuesday. How To Cook Well in Morocco (New series, programme seven - final episode) Wednesday, May 28th 2025 RTE One - 8.30pm In this new seven-part series, Rory OConnell visits Morocco, one of his favourite countries. This is the first cookery series for RTE that has been filmed in Africa. Since first visiting Marrakesh in 1988, I have visited Morocco many times and have been entranced by the place, the people, the food, the sights and sounds, the exotic atmosphere and the new discoveries, he says. To be able to revisit favourite places and discover new ones, and to share those experiences has long been a dream of mine. Rory travels from Tangier on the north coast to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, visiting Chefchaouen, Fez, Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains along the way. At the end of each programme, Rory cooks a dish that has been inspired by his travels, capturing a flavour of Morocco, back home in East Cork. Episode Seven - final episode: Essaouira Essaouira on the Atlantic coast is Rorys final destination. A trading hub for centuries, it boasts Moroccos only formally laid out medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the medina, Rory admires stunning carpets and marquetry, before enjoying a cookery class in a private home with chef Khadija - a popular thing to do with visitors to Morocco. Rory cooks Sardine Meatball Tagine, which he explains is far more delicious than it sounds! In the last seven years, Ireland has opened 27 new embassies and consulates around the world as part of the Global Ireland Programme. James McIntyre, from Charlestown, Mayo, was appointed Irelands first resident Ambassador to Morocco when the embassy in Rabat was opened in 2021. Rory meets the Ambassador for a chat about the connections between Morocco and Ireland. Rory then joins the Villa Maroc chef Hyat Rmouti on the hotel terrace, overlooking the sea, to cook Citrus Sea Bream. Back home in East Cork, Rory cooks a classic Moroccan dish of Tagine of Chicken with Preserved Lemons and Olives Pupils from 5th and 6th Class from Holy Trinity National School have been named a finalist in the 2025 Our World Awards. The school will join 14 other national finalists from across Ireland at a ceremony to be held at Dublin Castle on Friday 30th May. Holy Trinity National School is one of just 15 schools in Ireland to be in the running for one of nine prestigious Our World Awards comprising the Global Goals, Irish Aid Programme, Rising Star, Creative Star, STEM, School and Community Impact, Global Citizenship Education, an Iontrail Ghaeilge is Fearr and Outstanding School Engagement Awards, as well as the coveted School of the Year Award. Pupils from 5th and 6th class at Holy Trinity National School, Westport, have been recognised for their thoughtful and beautifully presented project entitled "A Better World", created as part of their entry to the Our World Awards. Their project explored how the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are shaping both global and local initiatives from tackling climate change and poverty to improving access to clean water, sanitation, and promoting world peace. After learning about the work of Irish Aid around the world, the pupils turned their attention to their own surroundings, examining how the town of Westport and their school are already contributing to a more sustainable and fairer future. The class reflected not only on what is already working well, but also on the positive actions they can take as individuals and as a school community. They each set personal and group goals linked to the Global Goals, showing how even small steps can lead to meaningful change. Congratulating Holy Trinity National School on making it to the national final, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD said: I am really looking forward to meeting the pupils from Holy Trinity National School and their teacher at the national final on May 30th. I know that there is a great sense of excitement around the event in Dublin Castle. I am also looking forward to personally thanking our primary school teachers for their continued commitment, not just to participating in the Our World Awards, but also for nurturing an ethos of global citizenship amongst our young people. It is important that as global citizens we all play an individual and collective part in making the world a better place. Each of the projects submitted by the 15 finalists demonstrate an impressive level of insight and understanding of what are complex global issues that have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable in our world. The 2025 Our World Awards National Final is taking place at the Printworks, Dublin Castle on Friday 30th May 2025. For those who love being of this county and there are thousands whose passion for Mayo runs deep the great thing is there are always more discoveries for you around the corner and sometimes right in front of you. Mayo is a gift that keeps on giving. If you are someone who wants to delve deeper into our county, our towns and villages, our placenames, then John OCallaghans West Mayo Placenames Origins and Meaning/Logainmneacha Iarthar Mhaigh Eo is a must-read. You will not fail to come away from reading West Mayo Placenames without a much greater knowledge for this county. You will certainly come away with a greater appreciation of the beauty that lurks around so many corners. And you will be fascinated by all the new information you will glean from it. This book, released late last year, focuses on townlands and placenames in the three western baronies of Mayo Murrisk, Burrishoole and Erris, covering ground from the Galway border at Leenane all the way north to Rossport at the northern end of Erris. It is not exhaustive not every townland in the three baronies is included but those which are between the pages are wonderfully assessed and explored. So much of our culture, history, geography, language and lore is rooted in our placenames. By just reading a detailed Ordinance Survey map, you can decipher so much about a region. OCallaghan goes much deeper. He writes about all of these townlands with such feeling and appreciation for them and with a real sense of guardianship. His respect for the importance of preserving not just the knowledge behind all of the placenames but, far more importantly, the natural resources throughout all these townlands, jumps off the page. It draws on the magnificent work of the late Dr Fiachra Mac Gabhann whose magnum opus, Logainmneacha Mhaigh Eo 1-10, will forever remain an exceptional study of the countys placenames. Indeed, OCallaghan dedicates the book to Dr Mac Gabhann and his magisterial work. It is a term that can be applied to OCallaghans work, too. A townland is, as OCallaghan sets out in his preface, a sub-parochial geographical division, unique to Ireland and the Western Isles of Scotland. There are more than 3,400 townlands in Mayo. But within each townland there are rich divisions too with many fields having their own name, derived from its geography or history. The late, great map-maker and writer Tim Robinson estimated there were approximately 14,000 little fields on the Aran Islands, containing an almost equal number of names. As Professor Emeritus Patrick Duffy wrote in the books foreword, these local placenames encapsulate the soul of the place the sounds and dialects of ancestors. What further elevates this book is the authors passion for hillwalking. Hes not writing this book from behind a desk, he is writing about places where he has hiked, traversed, breathed the air, admired the contours of the hills, the meanderings of streams and rivers, spoken to locals to try to strip back the potential meaning of potentially confusing placenames. It becomes a guide for so many hidden gems in this county and when you put this book down, dont be surprised if you draw up a list of those you want to visit. I certainly did. It is a book that is a voyage of discovery in more ways than one! OCallaghan gives wise counsel in terms of safety, access and sustainable use of such gems. You will be amazed what you discover about places you thought you knew. Every time I leave or return to Achill, I cross over a bridge some three kilometres west of Mulranny. I had no idea until I read West Mayo Placenames how magnificent a structure it is because you can only see a fraction of it from the road. Glennanean Bridge was one of many attractive bridges designed and constructed by the renowned Scottish engineer Alexander Nimmo in 1829/30. The book is full of marvelous details like this. Quoting the late, great writer Michael Viney in his foreword, Professor Patrick Duffy noted how a farmer with no Irish is a stranger in his own land. As someone with an admittedly poor grasp of my native tongue, though with eternal intentions to change that, this hit home. The book served as an education of many placenames whose names I knew but origins I did not. Erriff, An Oirimh, meaning the arable or arable land. Annagh/Lannagh meaning a marsh brought echoes of the futility of Mayo GAA plans for a Centre of Excellence at the shores of Lough Lannagh in Castlebar! Bellacragher Bay (outside Mulranny) translates to the mouth of the plunderer, a most vivid name! The book shows the richness and depth of the Irish language. Manchan Magans Thirty Two Words for Field was well-named. Of course, while this book reveals much the reader may not be aware of, John OCallaghan is very precise in detailing what he does and does not know. There remains a mystery over so many placenames in this county. As OCallaghan writes about the townland of Cloonmonad in Westport (which forms a large part of what is simply known as the Quay nowadays), the original reason for the naming of a place can be so corrupted over the years with translations, knowledge being passed orally rather than in writing, accents etc. OCallaghan is extremely well-versed on the subject matter. One doubts there is a book on Mayo history, geography, people and places that he has failed to read, which is confirmed by reading his bibliography. He picks apart and analyses previous efforts in a very fair and respectful way. His passion for the subject matter is matched by his aptitude for it. There is so much depth and breadth to this book. Learn about everything from the connection the English phrase up to my oxters links with Mayo placenames to the link of a remote Erris townland with Harry Potter. OCallaghans book is very accessible. He explains complex geographical and geological themes very well and is extremely diligent in his conclusions for possible origins. He applies various levels of certainties and explains why. It is produced in full colour throughout and is a quality production with scores of striking photographs of the townlands and various features therein. What John OCallaghan has done with this absolutely magnificent book is create a great understanding of so much of our county, preserve so much knowledge and highlight the importance to us all of uncovering the history of placenames in our own neck of the woods from older generations before such rich knowledge is lost. It reminds me of Fr Sean Noones Where The Sun Sets, which explored much of the history of townlands in Erris (the Kilcommon Civil Parish, which includes all of Erris east of the bridge to the Mullet peninsula) in the sense it will be a much sought after book for years and decades to come, and will be well thumbed by those who have a copy. It is a book I cannot speak highly enough about. I couldnt put it down. Music lovers are in for a real treat on the Sunday of the June Bank Holiday when the University of Southern Indiana Chamber Choir will perform at Ballintubber Abbey. The renowned Ballintubber Abbey Choir and the ever-popular Mayo Male Voice Choir will also take part in the concert. Performing in Mayo as part of their 2025 Tour of Ireland, the USI Chamber Choir, under the direction of Daniel R. Craig, Associate Professor of Music at the University of Southern Indiana, will also perform in counties Clare (The Pavilion, Lisdoonvarna), Galway (St Josephs Church, Clifden and Kylemore Abbey) and Dublin (Christ Church Cathedral). The choir has previously performed in Mayo, and also took part in the Mayo International Choral Festival, winning the premier competition in 2016 and 2018. Their rendition of Oro Se do Bheatha Bhaile, performed at the festivals gala concert, amassed over 26,000 views on Facebook. The Irish influence in the choir is no doubt due to their musical director, Daniel R. Craig, who has connections to Ireland, generations past. The choir is dedicated to representing the University as ambassadors of song and music and has performed throughout the USA and has toured in Poland, Germany, Canada and Ireland. The ensemble promotes quality performances of eclectic choral music in artistic settings. The students hail from cities and towns across the United States and study in almost every discipline offered at the university. Their repertoire ranges from medieval carols and Madrigals to Classical, Romantic and contemporary settings of liturgical and secular choral music. The ensemble has also performed with regional orchestras and have appeared in New Yorks prestigious Carnegie Hall. This concert marks the USI Chamber Choirs 10th tour to Ireland. On this tour, the choir will be bringing an eclectic array of choral music from sacred, to folk, and Irish traditional music arranged by the conductor. The concert on Sunday June 1st, starts at 8pm (doors open 7pm). While admission to the concert is free, all donations at the door will be gratefully received with all proceeds going towards the Ballintubber Abbey Restoration Fund. The incredible web of connection From stinkbug pizzas to slithering snakes, the annual Yebo Gogga exhibition was a hit. The School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences hosted the annual Yebo Gogga exhibition from 14 to 18 May 2025. This years exhibition was themed connections. Visitors of all ages encountered and experienced creatures and explored ecosystems to learn how all life systems are linked and support each other. Predator or prey, rival or allysuccess or survival depends on the conditions at play. Yebo Gogga is a unique annual event that brings fauna and flora together under one roof at the Oppenheimer Life Sciences Building at Wits University. Every year the theme of the exhibition changes to reveal interesting information about the inhabitants of our planet. The shows are tailor-made by experts and exhibitors, making it a fun and educational experience for kids and nature lovers of all ages. Since its inception in 1997 Yebo Gogga has enthralled thousands of Gauteng school children. and nature lovers flock to Wits University for the experience. The interactive exhibition provides an educational and social outreach service to the Gauteng community by addressing shortfalls in teaching life sciences at schools. Through exciting exhibits of live creatures and plants, presented in an interactive, thematic framework, learners enjoy a stimulating educational experience that is not encountered in the classroom. Follow the Wits University webpages for an update of future Yebo Gogga dates or to find out how your school can be part of this exciting experience. A tea artist from China demonstrates the brewing of Chinese tea during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. [Xinhua/Lian Yi] The event features traditional Chinese tea ceremonies alongside musical performances. BERN, Switzerland, May 22 (Xinhua) On a crisp spring afternoon, nearly a hundred tea lovers from around the world gathered not in a traditional teahouse, but on the windswept peak of the Grindelwald-First mountain in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. The fragrant aroma of jasmine and roasted oolong mingled with the alpine air in a cross-cultural celebration of International Tea Day, held on Wednesday. At an altitude of over 2,100 meters, the event called "Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon" featured traditional Chinese tea ceremonies alongside musical performances, including on the guzheng (Chinese zither), violin, Swiss alphorn, and accordion, as well as yodeling. Swiss violinist Marvin Naef's rendition of the traditional Chinese piece Jasmine Flower was a highlight of the event, earning sustained applause from the audience. Participants try Chinese tea during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. [Xinhua/Lian Yi] Tea artists from China also demonstrated the brewing of renowned Chinese teas from Fujian Province, including Dahongpao and jasmine tea. Participants gained deeper insights into Chinese tea culture by learning about jasmine tea varieties, production techniques, and brewing methods, while savoring the delicate flavors against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks and drifting clouds. They were also impressed by the evolving tea culture that now blends traditional Chinese methods with Western elements such as coffee, milk, and spirits. "The blend of nature, music, and tea created a memorable and immersive experience at this event," said Sabine Foehn, head of International Sales at Lake Lucerne Navigation Company. Remo Kaeser, chief marketing officer for Jungfrau Railways, praised the pairing of Wuyi Rock Tea with the fresh spring water of Mount First. "Mount First is also full of rocks, with clear spring water flowing over them there's nothing better than brewing Chinese Wuyi Rock Tea with this water," Kaeser said. Co-hosted by the China National Tourist Office Zurich, the China Cultural Center in Bern, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Fujian Province, the event is one of the highlights of the 2025 China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism. Folk artists perform during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. [Xinhua/Lian Yi] Liu Haisheng, head of the China National Tourist Office Zurich, highlighted the symbolic choice of Mount First for the celebration. "China's tea culture, with thousands of years of history, is deeply rooted in daily life. Through this tea ceremony and cultural exchange, we aim to share the warmth and friendship of the Chinese people with the world," Liu said. He noted that Mount Wuyi known as the birthplace of black and oolong tea is revered as a sacred site in Chinese tea culture. On April 19, 2024, Mount Wuyi in southeast China's Fujian Province and Mount Grindelwald-First in Switzerland were officially twinned as "sister mountains," symbolizing a cultural bridge between Chinese tea heritage and the Swiss Alps. Liu emphasized that this pairing connects the historic Chinese "Ten Thousand-Mile Tea Road" with the Swiss Alpine peaks, reflecting a shared commitment to cultural exchange and mutual understanding through tea. At 2,166 meters above sea level, the peak of Grindelwald-First a hotspot for connoisseurs and adventurers alike offers breathtaking views of the north face of the Eiger, and access to spectacular hiking trails. People pose for a group photo during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. [Xinhua/Lian Yi] (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha Glenn Tong has deemed the lengthy saga a 'waste of time', but he's not willing to give up without a fight. Glenn Tong says he has spent over $100,000 defending his Jack Russells after the council claimed they were disturbing the neighbours. Source: Supplied A dog owner accused of letting his two Jack Russells bark all day and night has vowed to fight his local council, despite claiming he's already shelled out over $100,000 on the gruelling five-year legal saga. Glenn Tong first got wind that his neighbours in an apartment block in Melbournes eastern suburbs were reportedly unhappy with his pets Marco and Mia in 2017. The long-time Hawthorn resident told Yahoo News he started receiving letters from Boroondara Council alleging the dogs were creating a nuisance and waking others up at 2am. There were three or four of these letters, and every single time I wrote back Well, its not my dogs', he said. They sleep with us under the doona in bed so if the dogs bark, my wife and I would wake up straight away, and we dont like waking up at 2am. They didn't listen. In October, 2020 Tong copped two charges from the council one for each Marco and Mia alleging he was allowing them to bark excessively, particularly early in the morning and late in the evening. ADVERTISEMENT This is a lot rubbish. Its complete nonsense, the biotech expert reportedly told Brett Melke, who specialises in canine law, when he called for help. Tong said he expects to spend another $60,000 defending his dogs. Source: Supplied Five-year battle over dogs to cost an estimated $160,000 After four years, Tong finally appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court in February, 2024 with Melke and his criminal barrister Tass Antos, but it didnt go as they had hoped. The magistrate was adamant that she would not give us the time that we asked for to present our evidence, Tong claimed. My legal team and I basically said, well if we cant present all of our evidence here, were going to lose anyway, so we made the decision to not provide any. ADVERTISEMENT As a result, he was found guilty and copped a $2,310 fine. Tong was also ordered to walk his dogs on a daily basis, and hire a professional trainer. Less than an hour later, Tong who claims to have spent over $100,000 on the lengthy legal battle and his team filed an appeal. A hearing in the County Court of Victoria has been set for November, which he expects will cost another $55,000 to $60,000. However, not appealing the ruling could leave him without a home, Tong said. My dogs are certainly not barking at those times and in those situations and Im not going to plead guilty to it, he told Yahoo. More importantly, a guilty verdict could prompt the complainants to obtain a removal order from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), forcing he, his wife, and their pets, from their home of 21 years. That would be disastrous, he said. A spokesperson for the City of Boroondara told Yahoo the council understands excessive barking can be a nuisance and will investigate complaints from Boroondara residents and take action as necessary. As this matter is before the courts, we are unable to comment further, they said. Tong has created a GoFundMe to help fund the upcoming court case. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Several cars ignited after a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early on May 22. Liberal Polish presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski, right, shakes hands with Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, the head of the Polish People's Party and the deputy prime miniser, as they arrive to speak to voters in Warsaw, Poland, on Monday, May 19, 2025. [AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski] Around 29 million Poles were called to the polls on Sunday to elect a new head of state. Incumbent President Andrzej Duda was ineligible to run for re-election after two terms in office. As predicted, none of the eleven candidates won an absolute majority in the first round, meaning that a runoff will be held on 1 June. The election is considered a historic turning point for the development of Poland and Europe. At 67 percent, it also saw the highest turnout in a first round of voting since 1989. The frontrunner, Rafa Trzaskowski, surprisingly won only 31.3 percent of the vote, significantly less than predicted before the election. The mayor of Warsaw is the candidate of the right-wing Civic Platform (PO) and thus the ruling party of Donald Tusk. Karol Nawrocki is close behind him and significantly stronger than expected with 29.5 percent. The non-party historian was head of the far-right Institute of National Remembrance and, like his predecessor Duda, is the candidate of the far-right Law and Justice Party (PiS). In accordance with electoral law, Trzaskowski and Nawrocki will face each other in a runoff election on 1 June. The fact that Trzaskowski and the other candidates from the ruling camp only received around 41 percent of the votes in the first round is a bitter blow for the Tusk government. Szymon Hoownia performed particularly poorly. The former journalist and presenter had surprisingly come third in the 2020 presidential elections with 13.9 percent of the vote as a newcomer. Since then, he and his party Polska 2050, together with the farmers party PSL, have been one of the most important coalition partners of the Tusk government. Now he came fifth with only 4.9 percent. Third place went to 38-year-old Sawomir Mentzen. With 14.8 percent, the candidate of the far-right Konfederacja party roughly doubled his partys share of the vote compared to the last election. Mentzen belongs to the New Right, which presents itself as young, modern and an anti-establishment force. He summed up his mixture of fascist and economic libertarian views with the slogan We dont want Jews, gays, abortion, taxes or the EU. In fourth place was Grzegorz Braun, another openly fascist candidate, who received 6.3 percent of the vote. Braun, who sees himself as a monarchist and repeatedly attracts attention with physical attacks, split from the Confederation shortly before the election. Both far-right candidates are benefiting from the massive discrediting of the old establishment of PO and PiS, including the state apparatus. Their rejection of the war in Ukraine, which they formulate from a reactionary, nationalist standpoint, also resonates with voters. In a distorted form, the share of the vote won by Adrian Zandberg (4.8 percent) and Magdalena Biejat (4.2 percent) from the pseudo-left Razem party also reflects the growing opposition to the united political course of PiS and PO. It is the best election result for nominally left-wing candidates in presidential elections since 2010. Biejat, along with four other MPs, left Razem only last year because shetogether with the social democratic Nowa Lewicawants to continue supporting the Tusk government. Although Razem has never entered government and, unlike Nowa Lewica, does not hold any ministerial posts, it voted for Tusk, supports his pro-war policies and has acted as a loyal opposition. Due to the increasing discrediting of the Tusk government, Zandberg, a popular frontman and disciple of Pabloite Jacek Kuron, had recently sought to distance himself and left the joint parliamentary faction Lewica. Even if Zandberg primarily serves as a left pressure valve, the approximately one million votes he received show that many workers and students in Poland are looking for a left-wing alternative. Zandberg was the only candidate who clearly spoke out in favour of higher taxes on companies and the rich, social redistribution and against anti-refugee sentiment. The shift away from the establishment parties, particularly among young voters, becomes even clearer when analysing the distribution of votes by age group. The 18-29 age group had both the highest turnout and the lowest results for PO and PiS: while both parties only achieved 12 and 10 percent respectively, Mentzen won 36 percent and Zandberg around 20 percent of the votes in this age group. The younger generation in Poland knows nothing but the power struggles between PO and PiS but they have experienced first-hand that behind the staged hostility there are hardly any differences between the two camps. Social inequality has exploded, the education and health systems have been steadily dismantled, and affordable housing is almost impossible to find. To break with these policies and build their own socialist partya Polish section of the International Committee of the Fourth Internationalworkers and young people need a clear understanding of the history and political forces they are confronting. The roots of todays party landscape and the careers of Tusk and Kaczynski go back to the trade union, which emerged in 1980 in a rebellion against the Stalinist bureaucracy. Under Lech Waesa, however, it quickly became the driving force behind capitalist restoration in Poland. PiS and PO emerged in 2001 from the collapse of the Solidarnosc electoral alliance and the government of Jerzy Buzek, which initiated Polands path into NATO and the EU. The associated privatisation and austerity policies were then continued by Leszek Miller of the social democratic SLDuntil this government also collapsed in 2005. PO and PiS emerged as the dominant forces from this political wreckage. A brief PiS government under Kaczynski was followed by eight years under Tusk. Tusk moved to the top of the European Council in 2014. In the parliamentary elections a year later, his coalition of PO and PSL lost almost three million votes. The PiS won with a popular social programme that deliberately targeted Tusks business-friendly policies: early retirement, tax breaks for low earners and the introduction of child benefits. When PiS candidate Duda became president in 2015, the party soon gained an absolute majority in the Sejm (parliament). Backed by this majority and the presidency, it attacked democratic rights, pushed for the enforced conformity of the judiciary and the media, and fuelled anti-European nationalismespecially against Germany. The global economic crisis of 2008 and the euro crisis of 2013 had already triggered massive social upheaval. Based on strong economic growth in the interim, PiS pursued a limited redistribution policybut this was not to last. The de facto abolition of abortion rights, reactionary coronavirus policies and the ensuing economic crisis led to the decline of PiS. In the 2023 election, it lost over eight percent of the vote and was ousted from government by a broad coalition led by Tusk. Since then, there has been a stalemate between President Duda and the Tusk government. Duda can block laws, grant amnesties and, as head of state, has supreme command of the armed forces. But despite all the factional rivalry, there is broad agreement on the fundamental issues. The Tusk government has intensified the rearmament already begun by PiS and established an arms budget of five per cent of GDPthe highest in the EU. The goal of building the largest land army in Europe and militarising the entire society, including shooting lessons in schools, is a cross-party consensus. Duda not only approved the defence budget but also intensified attacks on refugees and the de facto abolition of the right to asylum. Just a few days before the election, Tusk announced that an additional ($3.4 billion) would be invested in the police, fire brigade, border guards and state security. Security is not about words, but about deeds and money, he declared. Even the limited liberalisation of abortion laws failed not because of Dudas veto, but because of resistance from Tusks far-right coalition partners, especially the peasant party PSL. What Tusk really needs presidential support for are the planned attacks on the working class. To finance military spending, the government will be forced to cut the already meagre social programmes of the PiS era. At the same time, there will be tax breaks for big business. In early May, Duda blocked a government decision to reduce health insurance contributions for the self-employeda policy that Trzaskowski openly supported during the election campaign, declaring that there will be no such blockades with him in power. Protests are being held in capital cities across Australia on Saturday against US President Donald Trump. The demonstrations express a growing global hostility to Trump and the reactionary agenda that he embodies. Masses of people around the world have been shocked by the scenes coming out of the US, from anti-war students being snatched off the streets by federal agents and locked up without due process, to mass roundups of immigrants and an unprecedented assault on social programs overseen by the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk. These are not a collection of disconnected reactionary policies. Taken together, they are an attempt to abolish all democratic rights, overthrow the framework of nominal Constitutional rule and establish a presidential dictatorship on behalf of the oligarchy. On a global scale, Trump is dispensing with any pretence of adherence to international law. His administration represents the intensification of neo-colonialism in its most naked form. Trump declares that his government will forcibly acquire Greenland, the Panama Canal and even Canada, to openly advance the interests of American imperialism. The genocide in Gaza is likewise presented as an opportunity for the US property moguls and banks to acquire waterfront real estate. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the world Trotskyist movement, has described Trumps ascension as a turning point in world history. For the first time, there is a concerted attempt to establish a fascistic dictatorship in the United States, the centre of global capitalism. Such a development poses the most fundamental questions to workers and young people worldwide. How has this come to pass? What is the connection between Trumps war on democracy and the socio-economic relations of society? What is the relationship between the turn to authoritarianism and the eruption of militarism globally over the past thirty years? And the most fundamental question of all: How can the threat of fascism be fought and defeated, not only in the US, but internationally? In answer to these questions, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth movement of the ICFI and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), recalls the words of the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Those who are against Fascism without being against capitalism, who lament over the barbarism that comes out of barbarism, are like people who wish to eat their veal without slaughtering the calf. The reality is that Trumps rise, sponsored by powerful sections of the American ruling class, is only the sharpest expression of a breakdown of the global capitalist system. In response to the capitalist crisis, the ruling elites everywhere are once again turning to the program of the 1930s, involving economic and trade war, genocide, an onslaught on the social and democratic rights of the working class, and ultimately world war. The conditions that we confront today are the same as those that compelled millions of workers and young people to take up the fight for socialism in the first half of the 20th century. Once again, the alternatives posed are socialism or barbarism, but with the amendment that the advent of nuclear weapons means the choice is between socialism or the destruction of humanity itself. Part of the Melbourne rally on January 21, 2024 These fundamental issues are being covered up by the organisers of the protests in the Students for Palestine grouping, which is largely a front for the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative organisation. Advertising for the rallies has stated that their primary demand will be a call for the Australian Labor government to cut ties with Trumps America. The perspective was summed up in particularly crude terms by Jordan van den Lamb, the frontman for Socialist Alternatives electoral project, the Victorian Socialists. He declared, Trumps America is not good. I dont wanna be associated with this shit and neither should you. We also need to say to all the Trump wannabes that we dont want their far-right shit in Australia. For someone with a university education, the confected backwardness is designed to lower the political level of discussion and underplay the real dangers posed by Trump. Van den Lambs statement, however, is not simply obnoxious. It sums up the political dead-end advanced by the organisers of the protests. Their perspective is an acceptance of the capitalist order that is responsible for Trump and fascism, and that all young people and workers can do is appeal to the Labor Party or the Democratic Party, which have remained prostrate before Trumps attacks on the living, working and democratic rights of workers, immigrants and youth. The policy of Anthony Albanese, the newly elected Labor prime minister, is that he wont comment on anything Trump does. This includes the final solution of the annihilation of the Palestinian people in Gaza by Israel and the US. Like the Democrats in the US and much of the corporate media, the organisers present Trump as though he came out of the clear blue sky. In reality, Trumps open turn towards dictatorship represents a qualitative leap that builds upon the policies of successive US administrations, which, for the past forty years, have attacked democratic rights, while waging a successively widening series of wars. As with those administrations, including the Democratic Party governments of Obama and Biden, Trumps fundamental aim is to offset the historic economic decline of American imperialism through the use of its overwhelming military might. That decisive sections of the American ruling elite now see the only way forward as being through dictatorship is because the program they are advancing, including a war against Russia and China, is incompatible with even nominal democracy. And this is not an American phenomenon. Around the world, as they turn to a massive military build up and to social counter-revolution, the ruling elites, from Germany, to France and Japan, are building up and promoting far-right and fascistic forces. In periods of war and capitalist crisis, the fundamental program of the capitalist class is nationalism. And that is essentially what Van den Lamb and the organisers are promoting. To Trumps program of America First, they counterpose a no less reactionary policy of Australia First, addressed to the Labor Party and behind it, the Australian corporate and financial elite. The call for an independent Australian foreign policy means the defence of Australian imperialism and the prosecution of its predatory interests, above all against the impoverished masses of the Pacific. This line has been advanced by a minority wing of the ruling elite itself, expressed by such right-wing militarist figures as former Labor prime minister Paul Keating and former foreign minister Bob Carr. This wing of the ruling class is not anti-war or anti-militarist in the slightest. They simply fear that a complete commitment to US-led war with China will threaten the interests of the Australian bourgeoisie, both because of its dependence on trade with China and because such a war would provoke massive struggles by the working class. Indeed, the proponents of an independent foreign policy are themselves the advocates of an aggressive military build-up. That goes beyond Keating and Carr. In the last federal election, the Greens outlined their first costed military policy, including the acquisition of medium-range missiles and drones directed against China. And the Socialist Alliance organisation has called for the Australian military budget to be halvedi.e., these pseudo-left frauds support at least $28 billion being allocated to the war machine every single year. The truth is that the pseudo-left is a pro-imperialist movement. Socialist Alternative for years supported the CIA regime change operation against Syria, and has celebrated its fruition in the coming to power of an Al Qaeda linked dictatorship with the closest of ties to Israel and to Trump. Socialist Alternative and Socialist Alliance have similarly backed the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, which is one plank of the drive to US global hegemony that includes the advanced preparations for war against China. The pseudo-lefts pro-imperialism is not a mistake. It is a product of the class character of these organisations. They represent, not the working class, but affluent sections of the upper middle-class, which seeks to advance its own privileges within the capitalist system, especially through the use of identity politics based on race, gender and sexual orientation. The pseudo-left is tied by a thousand threads to the parties of capitalism, including the corporatised union bureaucracy, the Greens and Labor itself. That is why they are once again insisting that workers and young people opposed to Trump and to the Gaza genocide appeal to the Labor government. For the past 19 months, the pseudo-left has neutered and sabotaged the mass movement against the genocide, by insisting that all that it could do was to issue fawning pleas to the very Labor administration complicit in the historic war crimes. Now, the pseudo-left is seeking to subordinate hostility to Trump to a Labor government that has already pledged to work with the fascist in the White House, and whose central policy is preparation for war with China in league with Washington. The IYSSE calls on young people to reject the nationalist and pro-capitalist poison of the pseudo-left. The great lesson of the 20th century is that the fight against fascist reaction requires the independent political mobilisation of the working class, based on a socialist and revolutionary program aimed at reorganising society from top to bottom. The subordination of workers to the capitalist parties, be they the Democrats in the US or Labor in Australia, simply creates the political conditions most conducive to the victory of the fascist reactionaries. We call on students and youth to turn, not to the rotten Labor government, but to the working class in Australia and internationally. That includes the American working class, which is already entering into struggle and will be propelled into mass class battles against Trump and the oligarchy he represents. Take up the fight for a socialist future! Join the IYSSE and build the International Committee of the Fourth International and the Socialist Equality Parties as the new revolutionary leadership of the working class! The logo of the Hyundai Motor Co. is displayed at the automaker's showroom in Seoul, South Korea. [AP Photo/Lee Jin-man] The WSWS urges workers to support the investigation into the death of Ronald Adams, including with information on other workplace fatalities. Fill out the form at the end of this article to send us your comments. Two workers were killed this week in separate workplace accidents at two of Georgias most high-profile manufacturing sites: the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America battery plant near Savannah and the Hanwha Qcells solar panel plant in Cartersville. The tragic deaths of the workers in Georgia are part of a pattern of workplace fatalities across the country and throughout the world where industrial fatalities have become commonplace. The death of these two comes within six weeks of the death of Ronald Adams, Sr. at the Stellantis Dundee Engine Complex in Michigan. Adams, a 63-year-old worker, was killed in an accident on April 7 when an overhead gantry engaged, pinning him to a conveyor and causing fatal crushing injuries to his upper torso. On Tuesday, May 20, a construction worker was killed at the HL-GA Battery facility, part of the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America complex in Ellabell, Georgia. According to reports from the Bryan County sheriffs office, the worker was fatally injured when an unsecured load fell from a forklift during loading operations. The incident occurred shortly before 11:00 a.m. As of this writing, the identity of the worker, who was employed by a subcontractor involved in the construction of the battery plant, has not been released. The HL-GA Battery plant, which is not yet operational, is a key part of Hyundais $12.6 billion investment in Georgia, and is slated to supply batteries for the companys new electric vehicle assembly plant. This is not the first fatality at the Hyundai Metaplant construction site. In March of this year, Sunbok You, a 67-year-old worker, was struck and dragged by a forklift, resulting in fatal injuries. In April 2023, Victor Gamboa, a 43-year-old contractor, died after falling 60 feet when his safety line failed. According to an OSHA investigation, which cited the contractors, the workers had not been provided with adequate safety gear. These repeated workplace deaths make clear that the safety of workers is being subordinated to the drive by the Hyundai Motor Group to speed up the project and cut costs in advance of the opening of the battery facility. On Monday, May 19, a fatality occurred at the Hanwha Qcells solar panel plant in Cartersville, Georgia. Firefighters responded to a call at 7:15 p.m. and found Marion Jose Rugama, a 33-year-old resident of Norcross, dead on top of a tank. It has not yet been established if Rugama was a direct employee of Hanwha Qcells or a contractor, but the use of contract labor is widespread at the facility. According to local authorities, the oxygen level at the top of the tank was only 15 percent, far below the minimum required to sustain life. A nitrogen leak is suspected as the cause, though an autopsy and toxicology screening are pending. Rugamas death highlights the deadly conditions workers are exposed to such as hazardous chemicals in confined spaces in modern manufacturing. The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Ellabell, Georgia is the largest single economic development project in Georgias history. Backed by Hyundai and its partners, including LG Energy Solution and SK On, the sprawling complex is expected to employ 8,500 workers by 2031 and includes both vehicle assembly and battery manufacturing operations. The facility is being constructed at breakneck speed, with the goal of making Georgia a hub for electric vehicle and battery production. The Hanwha Qcells plant in Cartersville is part of a $2.5 billion investment by the South Korean clean energy giant, which also operates a major facility in Dalton, Georgia. Together, the two plants form the largest solar manufacturing operation in the Western Hemisphere, with plans to expand the Cartersville facility even further in 2025. Neither the workforce at Hyundai Metaplant nor the Hanwha Qcells Cartersville facility are unionized. A common arrangement in large-scale industrial construction, the use of contract labor allows companies to cut costs, evade responsibility and fragment the workforce. Contract workers are often paid less, receive fewer benefits and have less job security than direct employees. They are also less likely to receive adequate safety training. The automotive and manufacturing sectors remain among the most dangerous for workers in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,486 workers died on the job nationwide in 2022, with transportation, construction and manufacturing consistently ranking among the deadliest industries. Another example of the intolerable conditions in the Georgia auto industry was exposed in February 2024 when OSHA reported an investigation of the Columbus, Georgia facility of Aludyne Columbus LLC, a prominent global manufacturer of auto parts with 30 production facilities worldwide. OSHAs findingswhich were followed by proposed penalties of $182,344uncovered 22 serious violations. Among the findings were failure by the company to provide protective gear and enforce safety protocols where employees were found working dangerously close to energized power lines without insulated tools and were exposed to airborne silica at levels up to 15 times higher than the permissible limit. The workers also lacked proper respiratory equipment, and the company failed to conduct fit testing for those exposed to silicosis hazards. OSHA Atlanta-West Area Office Director Jeffery Stawowy said in a statement, Aludyne Columbus LLCs failure to prioritize employee safety and health nearly cost a worker their life and allowed employees to be overexposed to silica well above the permissible exposure limit. As recently reported on the World Socialist Web Site, workers at StarPlus Energy, a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI in Kokomo, Indiana, took to social media to expose dangerous working conditions inside the facility. The workers said that there was no medical emergency response, no safety data sheets and no workers comp doctors in the facility and that any worker who is injured must climb four flights of stairs to seek assistance. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) has launched an independent investigation, led by rank-and-file workers, into the death of Ronald Adams, the Dundee Engine worker. The specific details of his death have been shrouded in secrecy, as Stellantis, the UAW appatus and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) have refused to release any information about the circumstances of the accident or the official investigation into the causes of the fatality. The campaign for an independent investigation into Adamss death has resonated with workers across the auto industry and other industries, who have seen firsthand the catastrophic conditions created by speedup, understaffing and the relentless drive for profit. The deaths in Georgia further highlight the urgent need for such independent oversight and for workers to organize collectively to demand safe working conditions, regardless of whether they are direct employees or subcontracted laborers. View of the flooded city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. [Photo: Agencia Brasil/Gilvan Rocha] This month marks one year since floods caused by capitalist-driven climate change devastated Brazils southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, in one of the worst environmental disasters in the countrys history. This extreme weather event has exposed the utter indifference of the Brazilian ruling elite toward the lives of the states working population, whose living conditions have only worsened since then. The flooding hit 478 out of the states 497 municipalities, representing 91 percent of all municipalities, directly affecting about 2.4 million of the states 11.2 million residents. According to the Unified Map of the Rio Grande Plan released by the state government, the number of people displaced by flooding and landslides throughout the state reached 877,729. The death toll stands at 184, with 25 still missing, according to the states Civil Defense. Despite the purported success of the reconstruction of Rio Grande do Sul promoted by Governor Eduardo Leite and representatives of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas government (Workers Party, PT), the social crisis has worsened dramatically. An estimated 432,000 jobs were lost in 2024 due to destroyed infrastructure and the shutdown of productive sectors. In the worst hit municipalities, between 84 percent and 92 percent of formal jobs were compromised, while small businesses and workers in the informal sector faced difficulties resuming activities and ensuring their livelihoods. Nearly half (47 percent) of families earning up to two minimum wages reported losing their home, furniture, appliances, or even their means of subsistence. Awaiting a definitive housing solution, around 380 people still remain in shelters in Rio Grande do Sul, with 93 percent of them in the two largest remaining shelters, located in Canoas and Porto Alegre, which are expected to close by the end of the month. Through programs such as Compra Assistida [Assisted Purchase], which offers up to R$ 200,000 [approximately US$ 35,335] to buy existing properties, and Minha Casa Minha Vida [My Home My Life], the Lula government claims to guarantee all the resources for housing solutions. Although the expectation was to provide 30,000 families with permanent housing, only about 1,500 contracts have been signed through the Compra Assistida program by the end of April. If the government gave me my house, why am I not moving into it right away? Ive been in a shelter for almost a year, questions Claudio Joel Bello in a report by Agencia Brasil. He lost his home in Canoas, in the Mathias Velho neighborhood, which was completely flooded for over a month, and was selected by the Compra Assistida program to receive a house in Sapucaia do Sul, another municipality in the Porto Alegre metropolitan area. Following the same playbook used by the ruling elites to cover up the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, recent coverage by the bourgeois media has focused on praising the resilience of the people of Rio Grande do Sul in returning to normalcy, masking the deepening social crisis and inability of the capitalist system to solve the crises it created. The populations perception, however, is exactly the opposite. A survey by the Quaest institute, published in May of last year, showed that 99 percent of Brazilians believe the floods in Rio Grande do Sul are somehow related to climate change, and more than half of the 2,045 respondents believe that the greatest responsibility lies with the municipal, state or federal governments. The population still remembers Governor Leites statement on May 5, 2024, made alongside President Lula and legislative leaders: This is not the time to look for those to blame, this is not the time to shift responsibilities. Lula repeated this line the following month during a visit to the state, saying he does not want to look for those to blame. In addition to warnings about climate change made by scientists since at least the second half of the 20th century, the Brazil 2040 study, commissioned in 2014 by the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic (SAE) under Dilma Rousseffs government (PT), projecteda decade agoa rise in sea levels, deaths from heat waves, the collapse of hydroelectric plants, water shortages in the Southeast, worsening droughts in the Northeast, and increased rainfall in the South. In 2023, Brazil recorded the highest number of natural disasters, with 1,161 events, averaging at least three disasters per day, according to data from the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (Cemaden). Between January 1 and April 10 of this year alone, over 5.9 million people were affected by disasters in the country, and 925 municipalities declared states of emergency or public calamity, according to data from the Integrated Disaster Information System (S2ID), analyzed by the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM). Despite attempts to attribute the floods to a fortuitous act of nature, the direct responsibility and negligence of all levels of government in regard to the scale and impact of the disaster are undeniable. In the case of the state capital, Porto Alegre, the lack of investment and the reduction in human resources and technical capacity for over 10 years at the Municipal Water and Sewage Department (DMAE) and the extinction in 2017 of the Department of Storm Sewers (DEP), a body specialized in urban drainage and maintenance of pumping stations and floodgates, directly contributed to the collapse of the citys flood protection system. During last years floods, 19 of the 23 pumping stations near the Guaiba River, which surrounds Porto Alegre and reached its highest level in history of 5.37 meters, surpassing the flood level of 3 meters at the time, had to be shut down because they were either flooded or posed a risk of electric shock, which accelerated flooding in the citys central areas. The Salgado Filho International Airport, the citys bus station, and the Porto Alegre Metro (Trensurb) stations were flooded and remained closed for months before resuming full operation. Today, the flood protection system is far from restored, let alone modernized. A flood protection board was only created in January this year at DMAE, which still faces the risk of privatization, a campaign promise made by Mayor Sebastiao Melo in last years municipal elections. A comprehensive study of the citys flood protection system is only expected to be ready by July 2026, and DMAE predicts that the city will be effectively protected in three to five years. These forecasts do not even include the construction of a defense system in the South Zone, where some neighborhoods are left unprotected from the advances of the Guaiba River. Of the 14 floodgates in the flood protection system, the two that were ripped out by the floods have not yet been replaced, three were removed and replaced with concrete wallsagainst the recommendations of specialistsand work on the remaining floodgates is still unfinished. None of the pumping stations is fully recovered and operational at full capacity, and the process of rebuilding the levees involves relocating families. According to Fernando Dornelles, a hydrologist at the Institute of Hydraulic Research (IPH) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), if a similar flood were to hit the capital: I believe it would flood again, because we would still have to face it with emergency alternatives, like sandbags, which are more vulnerable than a well-designed and properly fixed steel floodgate. ... And the levee in the Sarandi neighborhood never reached the projects designated height. On March 31, a severe storm with winds at 111 km/h hit Porto Alegre and several other cities, making it clear to the population that they remain vulnerable. Health units in the capital reported roof damage, flooding and power outages, affecting the Emergency Hospital and the Sao Lucas Hospital of the Pontifical Catholic University, which had to relocate its patients in the emergency room. In Eldorado do Sul, around 450 homes and 15 municipal schools were affected. Videos of a waterspout forming over the Guaiba River were recorded by residents and circulated on social media. In addition to the privatization of common utilities, such as water and energy, the expansion of agribusiness activities and the weakening of environmental agencies and laws promoted by Governor Leite, the floods exposed the failure of the states monitoring, forecasting and warning systems and the deficiencies of Civil Defense agencies. Of the 94 weather stations of the State Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (SEMA), 60 were available on the website of the National Water and Sanitation Agency (ANA), of which only 12 were actually transmitting data. Military personnel and politicians without experience or technical abilities were in charge of Civil Defense agencies, a scenario that remains the same in many municipalities today. Apart from the installation of new weather radar in Porto Alegre in August, projects to expand and restore the monitoring network have not yet been executed, and there is no plan for its full implementation. Today, for example, no official agency makes forecasts for the level of the Guaiba River. Failures of the warning system and preparedness, rescue effortsrelying heavily on the help of volunteersresulted in the loss of lives. A study by IPH/UFRGS, published in December, concluded that many deaths could have been prevented with an efficient warning system and the early evacuation of at-risk areas. Walter Collischonn, professor at IPH/UFRGS, said: Getting a warning at your house that there will be heavy rainfall in your state is not the same as being told that at seven oclock in the evening you will have to leave your house because it will be flooded. Thats another level of information precision. Painting the state red and saying a warning was issued is not enough. In February, Governor Leite and Mayor Melo visited the Netherlands to learn how that country manages floods and lives with river flooding. According to reports, they admired concepts such as the sponge city. The trip was widely criticized. Concepts like sponge city are not new in Porto Alegre and were previously implemented. In the 1990s, several retention basinsthe main instrument of the sponge city conceptwere already being implemented in Porto Alegre. In practice, past and current administrations have ignored or opposed these ideas. A recent ANA study showed that climate disasters similar to last years floods in Rio Grande do Sul are expected to become five times more frequent in the region in the coming years. What used to occur, on average, every 50 years should now happen, with greater intensity, every 10 years. In this scenario, prevention and adaptation should be top priorities, but despite the mobilization of emergency resources, the Lula governments main priority has been to achieve a zero fiscal deficit. The federal budget for prevention and combating environmental disasters fell from R$ 1.9 billion (approximately US$ 336 million) in 2024 to about R$ 1.7 billion (approximately US$ 300 million) in 2025. Parliamentary amendments earmarked for climate disaster programs also dropped by nearly half, from R$ 69.9 million (approximately US$ 12 million) in 2024 to R$ 39.1 million (approximately US$ 6 million) in 2025. Regarding environmental preservation, the Lula governments insistence on extracting oil in the Foz do Amazonas Basinwhich faces strong resistance from environmental agencies and society due to the high environmental risksclearly shows its priorities. The capitalist mode of productionin which profit always takes precedence over human and social needsis the main contributor to climate change, as well as the greatest obstacle to confronting it. Loyal servants of capitalism, those responsible hide their role in perpetuating the social crime by invoking concepts of fortuitous events or force majeure. As perpetrators of the crime, their response to the environmental crisis is not to advance real solutions but rather in line with their policies promoting division and nationalism in an era of imperialist war. Climate change is an existential threat to everyone worldwide, and the only social force capable of facing this threat by taking power from the capitalist class and organizing society based on social and human needsnot profitis the international working class. NSW is battling record-breaking floods as heavy rain heads south but when will the deluge finally ease? NSW residents have had enough of the rain, and TikToker Sophie Williams pleaded for it to stop. Source: BOM/Tiktok/sophiefwilliamss Much of New South Wales has been lashed by heavy rain and flooding this week, with the deadly weather event claiming four lives as some areas were hit by 500mm of rain in a few days. It's the kind of rainfall more typical of a summer tropical cyclone than mid-autumn. And while skies are slowly clearing over parts of northern NSW, the system is far from finished, with Victoria and Tasmania now in the firing line, and another hazardous weather event looming next week. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology's Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines said the rain band will move south of NSW from tonight, before likely dissipating over the weekend. A sunny weekend is forecast for Sydney. "The worst-hit areas of the Mid North Coast and northern parts of the Hunter have now seen the rain shift away," Hines told Yahoo on Friday morning. "But the rain band is still sliding southwards through NSW, so were still seeing decent falls through the Illawarra, South Coast, Snowy Mountains and even parts of the Western slopes and plains." ADVERTISEMENT Sydney and the Blue Mountains also copped a deluge, with western and northern Sydney receiving more than 100mm overnight into Friday morning. The current system is expected to ease across NSW late Friday into the early hours of Saturday as it moves through eastern Victoria and then into Tasmania, before clearing the country altogether by Saturday afternoon. Skies are set to clear in parts of NSW's north, but the huge rain band is now making its way south. Source: AP When is it going to stop raining? Social media has this week been lit up with confusion and a fair bit of despair over the relentless hammering from the rain. One British expat Sophie Williams summed up the general mood in a post asking, "It has been raining for years now, when will it stop?" Her comment quickly struck a chord, sparking a flood of replies from NSW locals tired of being cooped up indoors. So, is the sun finally about to make a long-awaited return? ADVERTISEMENT "Yeah," Hines confirmed. "We get a couple of sunnier, brighter days through the weekend, so we can start to get into that clean-up and recovery for those areas which have been subject to major flooding over the week so far." But he warned Australians not to get too comfortable. "Theres another big system waiting in the wings," he warned. "A powerful cold front is expected to sweep across the country from Sunday night to Tuesday night, affecting not just NSW but also South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT." While this next event will bring colder air, typical for late May, the bigger threat will be strong winds. "The main watch area in NSW is because the ground is already saturated," Hines explained. "When you get really windy conditions over saturated soil, thats when you start pulling up trees, blowing down branches, and getting that classic wind damage." ADVERTISEMENT He said this weather pattern is "more typical" for this time of year, compared to the extreme rainfall earlier this week, which was anything but ordinary. "Having that rain stuck in place over one area for four days in a row thats not a normal amount of rainfall," Hines said. "Some weather stations saw over half a metre of rain. Were still in the middle of a major flood event, and the rivers response has shown how dramatic this has been." Whats the latest on the NSW flood crisis? A fourth person has been confirmed dead as devastating floods continue to wreak havoc across NSWs Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. The body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, was discovered early Friday morning inside a car that had veered off Orara Way in Nana Glen, about 30km northwest of Coffs Harbour. The vehicle was spotted by a passing motorist around 4.30am. Formal identification is yet to take place. ADVERTISEMENT Nearly 50,000 people have been isolated by the flood crisis, which has now claimed four lives. Heavy rain continues to pound the region, with the weather system moving south towards Newcastle and Gosford throughout Friday. Four people have died after NSW's Mid North Coast was inundated with heavy rain. Source: AFP The Mid North Coast received over 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with Sydney and its surrounds bracing for another 50 to 100mm on Friday. Sydney Olympic Park recorded 118mm in the 24 hours to 9am Friday, while Belrose saw 108mm and Parramatta 104mm. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the scenes "pretty horrific" and confirmed he would visit the hard-hit town of Taree on Friday to witness the damage firsthand and thank SES crews. He also announced government support payments would be available via MyGov from Monday afternoon. WA to receive a dose of wild weather And its not just the east copping a shake-up the west coast is also in for a surprise. "Earlier this week, it had been mostly fine, clear and sunny across the north and west," Hines said. "But we are now anticipating an unseasonable band of rain to form in the northwest, probably on Monday." This system could bring rain to much of northern WA, the Northern Territory, and even inland Queensland and South Australia by mid-next week unusual for the dry season. "So were watching that closely its out-of-season rain, cloudy skies and colder temps in places that are normally dry at this time of year." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Gates to the Mack Trucks plant, Macungie, Pennsylvania The following statement was written by the Mack and Volvo Trucks Workers Rank-and-File Committee. To contact the committee or join, fill out the form at the bottom of this article. Brothers and sisters at Mack Trucks, Volvo Trucks, and throughout the auto and logistics industries: Volvo Groups decision to lay off nearly 1,000 workers across the Mack and Volvo Trucks plants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia is part of the global attack on the jobs, wages and conditions of the working class. These attacks must be resisted! We must revive the old labor principle: An injury to one is an injury to all. If we do not act together, we will be picked off one by oneor by the hundreds or thousands. We call for all our fellow workers at Volvo and Mack Trucks in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and elsewhere to unite to fight these job cuts, and to coordinate this struggle with Volvo workers internationally. In 2021, workers at Mack in Macungie first formed our rank-and-file committee in order to support our striking brothers and sisters at New River Valley. We must deepen these bonds of solidarity across plants and put these principles into practice. We urge our fellow workers to immediately begin organizing and expanding the rank-and-file committees at Volvo and Mack to coordinate a joint struggle, including preparations for strike action, to defend these jobs. The layoffs at Volvo and Mack are part of a broader offensive against the working class. Stellantis, GM, and Ford have slashed thousands of jobs since the UAW imposed sellout contracts at the Big Three in 2023. Nissan announced Tuesday that it would double its job cuts globally to 20,000. UPS just announced 20,000 job cuts. And Volvo Group has cut positions at its Volvo Trucks plant in Belgium and Renault Trucks plants in France in recent years. This is a coordinated campaign by the corporate oligarchy to reduce labor costs and boost profits as they prepare for global military conflict. Some workers placed their hopes in Trump to reverse the corporate assault, thinking tariffs and America First policies would bring back jobs. But what are these policies producing? More layoffs, higher prices, and growing danger of war with Chinaa war that threatens not only our jobs, but our lives. Meanwhile, Trump has worked closely with Elon Muskthe worlds richest man, who brutally exploits Tesla autoworkersto fire hundreds of thousands of federal workers and dismantle bedrock social programs. The reality is this: neither the Democrats nor the Republicans defend the interests of the working class. Both represent the corporate oligarchy that is bleeding workers dry. The role of the UAW bureaucracy The job cuts vindicate the warnings made by our rank-and-file committees in 2021 and 2023: that the sellout agreements rammed through by the United Auto Workers bureaucracy would pave the way for sweeping job cuts. The union officialdom, headed by Shawn Fain, has proven itself once again to be a tool of corporate management. Fains support for Trumps tariffs is not simply a pro-corporate economic policy; it is also part of the preparations for war with China. His references to the arsenal of democracy and the conversion of auto plants for military production reveal the direction this is heading: lining the working class up behind a new imperialist world war. We say: Workers must not be conscripted into the economic or military plans of the ruling class! We reject both the trade war and the war drive. Our class enemy is not in China, Mexico, or anywhere abroadit is here, among the corporations and the capitalist politicians who do their bidding. UAW officials now claim that it is illegitimate for workers to strike while a labor agreement is in place. But the current contract was imposed on the basis of fraud and betrayal. In 2021, the UAW bureaucracy under then-President Ray Curry sabotaged the Volvo strike at New River Valley, pushing through a deal that workers had already rejected three times. In 2023, under Fain, the UAW betrayed striking Mack workers, first pushing a pro-company deal that we overwhelmingly rejected, then refusing to oppose managements threats to replace us. The companies violate contracts whenever they want. They shut down plants, lay off workers, and outsource jobs, all while were told to respect the contract. Union officials invariably uphold managements rights over the rights of workers, asserting that the company has the right to deprive workers of our jobs. These treacherous arguments must be rejected. We say: The right to a job and a livelihood is an inalienable social right! Workers are not the ones responsible for tariffs, economic chaos and corporate mismanagement, and we must not be made to pay for them. Our lives are shaped by global economic forces whether we like it or not. When a factory shuts down in Mexico, or a ship is delayed in China, or a tariff hits European steel, we feel it in the form of layoffs, parts shortages, and frozen hiring. The trucks we assembled are the product of the social labor of countless workers all over the world, from those who mine and transport the raw materials, to those who manufacture the numerous components, to those who carry out the final assembly. The international character of the working class is not just a slogan; it is a fact of life. If the companies have a global strategy, then so must workers organize and fight globally. The alternative is to remain isolated, betrayed by nationalist union officials who tell us to blame foreign workers while the corporations profit off our division. This is not a fantasy. During the 2021 strike at New River Valley, Volvo workers internationally sent us messages of support, and Volvo Car workers in Belgium launched a wildcat strike shortly after learning about the strike at NRV. These efforts must now be developed into real coordination and joint action across borders. The globally integrated nature of truck manufacturingwith more than 150,000 parts sourced from dozens of countriesmeans we are already linked. We must transform this objective connection into a conscious, organized struggle to defend our class interests. Form rank-and-file committees to defend jobs! A rank-and-file committee is an organization formed by workers themselvesnot by union officials or politiciansbased on democratic discussion, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to fight for the common class interests of workers. It is a vehicle for coordinating resistance, educating ourselves and our coworkers, exposing lies by company and union officials, and taking action. To expand the network of rank-and-file committees, workers should: Hold small meetings with trusted coworkers to discuss and prepare plans for action. Agree on basic principles: international working class unity, independence from the union bureaucracy, and rejection of both corporate parties. Connect with other committees through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) to share information and prepare joint actions. Rank-and-file committees are not support groupsthey are organs of class struggle. They aim to replace the apparatus that has betrayed us with new leadership drawn from the working class itself. We put forward the following fighting demands: No layoffs! Guarantee jobs for all workers across every plant. Prepare to take action to defend jobs and wages! Organize now to build support for actions to stop the layoffs, up to and including strike action. Workers control over production and automation! No transition or restructuring without our approval. Reject nationalist and militarist policies! Oppose all tariffs and war preparations. For international solidarity! Unite with workers in Mexico, China, Belgium, Brazil, and beyond. Oppose the pro-corporate union apparatus! Build independent rank-and-file committees to transfer power to the shop floor. Expropriate the corporate oligarchy! Place the auto and logistics industries under democratic workers control. To every Volvo and Mack worker: join our committees. Take this statement to your coworkers. Discuss it. Organize meetings. Elect delegates. Build connections with other plants. To UPS, auto, logistics, and warehouse workers: Form your own committees and link up with us through the IWA-RFC. We are facing a historic moment. It will be decided by what wethe working classdo. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his foreign secretary David Lammy responded to Israels military offensive to complete the ethnic cleansing of Gaza with weasel words condemning a disproportionate response and breaking off trade talks. This is a filthy attempt to give the Labour government an alibi for nineteen months of collusion with genocide, made even as military supplies from Britain are being offloaded in Israel and the Royal Air Force continues reconnaissance flights over Gaza to help plan mass murder. Sir Keir Starmer speaking in Parliament, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy (seated left), November 21, 2024 [Photo by UK Parliament/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 It will do nothing to stop Operation Gideons Chariots, described by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Yoel Smotrich as a conquer, cleanse and stay operation that will drive the Palestinians to third countries under President Trumps plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then declared that his war would only end when Gaza is totally disarmed, and we carry out the Trump plan. A plan that is so correct and so revolutionary. The millions of workers and young people who have mobilised in defence of the Palestinians must now recognise that protest marches are not enough. No appeal to the Labour government or moral pressure placed on it and other world governments will stop the genocide. The working class can no longer tolerate the political rule of Starmers government, paid for with donations from the trade unions who have stood by as tens of thousands, mostly women and children, are murdered. There must be a turn to a political and class struggle against Starmers war criminals: a mass anti-genocide and anti-war movement, as the spearhead of a struggle to build a new and genuinely socialist party. Labour a far-right party in everything but name Shorn of its name, conjuring images of a long-abandoned connections to reformism, the Labour government is a far-right formation. Starmer heads a Thatcherite pro-business party of austerity. He is leading an attack on democratic rights centred on the criminalisation of Gaza protests using the lie of antisemitism. His government spews anti-migrant xenophobia and pursues a policy of escalating militarism, focussed on efforts to continue the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. This month Starmer launched a frontal attack on migrants in the language of infamous Tory racist Enoch Powell, speaking of Britain becoming an island of strangers, just as Powell fulminated against white Britons made strangers in their own country. Starmer has adopted wholesale the agenda of Nigel Farages Reform UK, criminalising and seeking to jail, deport, and tag as many migrants as possible. A jubilant Farage declared that Labour had learned a very great deal from his party, before calling on Starmer to declare a state of national emergency at Britains borders. Nigel Farage MP speaking in Parliament on Wednesday. The Reform UK leader told Starmer he "very much enjoyed your speech on Monday, you seem to be learning a very great deal from us. May 14, 2025 [Photo by House of Commons/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Labour is the real threat to workers jobs, wages and essential services, not migrants. It is slashing hundreds of thousands of jobs in the civil service, the National Health Service and in services run by bankrupted councils, imposing a Trump/Musk DOGE-style slash-and-burn agenda. It has already imposed 6 billion in benefit cuts and more will follow. A government of austerity and war The constant declarations that cuts are unavoidable because there is no money to spend conceal Labours two strategic imperatives: Firstly, nothing can be allowed to interfere with the banks, corporations and the super-rich glutting themselves at workers expenseunder conditions where the number of UK billionaires has grown from 15 in 1990 to 165 in 2024, their average wealth has leapt by more than 1,000 percent and the top 50 richest UK families hold more wealth than the poorest half of the population combined, more than 34 million people. Secondly, Britains economy and the whole of society must be put on a war footing. The post-Second World War peace dividend allowing for social welfare policies is over, with the eruption of trade and military war to redivide the world between the rival imperialist powers. Even before Starmer came to power he was widely despised for backing the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. But Labour also governs as the party of NATO, seeking to keep the proxy war against Russia going by a European coalition of the willing in the face of negotiations between the Putin regime in Moscow and the White House. These war aims are the gravest threat to the working class, threatening a descent into barbarism of which Gaza is a warning. Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer (lower right) mounts a tank during his visit to British armed forces deployed at the Tapa NATO Enhanced Forward Presence operating base in Estonia, December 21, 2023 [Photo by Keir Starmer/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Making Britain war ready demands savage austerity and is prepared ideologically through the whipping up of nationalism and anti-immigrant xenophobia. It necessitates a shift to authoritarian forms of rule and the cultivation of far-right forces to crush resistance in the working class. This finds its most advanced form in the United States, in the coming to power of Donald Trump and his moves to establish a presidential dictatorship. But it is an international phenomenon that has seen the coming to power of far-right parties, or their emergence as the main official opposition across Europe. Of equal significance is the adoption of the programme of the far-right by all Europes governments, whatever their formal colouration. Starmers Labour government is the form which the lurch to austerity, repression and war takes place in the UK. Stop the War sows illusions in protest politics There is already a recognition, especially among the younger generation of workers and students, that it is not enough to protest the Starmer government. Yet, responding to the mealy-mouthed pronouncements of Starmer and Lammy, the Stop the War Coalition boasts, The Gaza solidarity movement has outlived the British Governments policy of defence for Israels assault on Gaza, delivering another partial but real victory, even as Netanyahu proceeds to implement his final solution against the Palestinians. Stop the War acknowledges that Gaza is in the grip of starvation, but insists that the main issue is to have no more patience with the criticism of its exclusive focus on protest marches which persists in pockets of the activist left, rather than in the wider movement or public opinion and is inexcusable in face of the evidence. Stop the War Coalition banner on the May 17 rally in London For Stop the Wars leadership, centrally Counterfire and the Stalinist Communist Party of Britain, the evidence of Labours cynical statements is far more important than the rising death toll in Gaza because they must preserve their alliance with Corbyn, the rump of the Labour left and the trade union bureaucracy at all costs. Therefore, they insist that its time to graduate from a comforting fantasy about wonder-tactics that will somehow deliver a total and final victory, i.e., an end to genocide, as they stage their latest lobby of parliament. Corbynites try to stymie working-class opposition to Starmer Last years general election saw many candidates stand against Labour, amid widespread discussion on the need to set up a new left party. But the leadership of the Stop the War Coalition and Britains pseudo-left tendencies such as the Socialist Workers Party combined an endorsement of a limited number of independent candidates standing against Labour solely on the issue of Gaza, while calling for a Labour vote against the Tories everywhere else Many hoped that expelled former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn would lead the fight for a new party, but he refused and was elected along with five others as independent MPs. He continues to refuse all entreaties to form a new party, insisting that the time is not yet ripe. Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the London rally, February 15, 2025 Instead, he and his backers insist that Labour can be made to change course by popular pressure, leaving Reform UK free to channel mounting social distress and political hostility to Starmer behind their scapegoating of migrants and promises of patriotic national renewal. The primary political concern of the left is to preserve the stranglehold of the Labour Party and the trade union bureaucracy over the working class. Indeed, Starmer was only handed the leadership of the Labour Party because Corbyn and the Labour leftwhile they were being promoted by the pseudo-left groups as transforming Labour into a genuine workers partyrefused to drive out the right-wing, capitulated to its every political demand and instead allowed their own supporters to be witch-hunted as antisemites. This is a political crime for which workers are still being made to pay. For the same reason, Corbyn rejects all appeals to head a new party. As the Socialist Equality Party warned: Nothingnot support for genocide, nor military rearmament at the cost of the most devastating offensive against the welfare state ever undertakenwill move them to mobilise a political movement independently of and directed against the Labour government. Theirs is the policy of acquiescence, not resistance, and their real hope is that no movement develops in the working class that challenges their routine protests. A recipe for a less-than-Labour Mark II Even if events force Corbyn and the pseudo-left to finally stand against Labour, any party they form would offer no real alternative. Corbyns proposal for a movement against Labour is that it must be based on the five demands of his Peace and Justice Project: A pay rise for the many; A Green New Deal; Housing for all; Tax the rich to save the NHS; Welcome refugees and a world free from war. Ending the Gaza genocide doesnt even get a specific mention in this wish list. These proposals do not even rise to the level of a call for a Labour Party Mark II. To combat the rise of communism following the October 1917 Russian Revolution, the Fabian leaders Sydney and Beatrice Webb in November that year drafted Clause Four of Labours constitution, adopted in 1918, committing Labour to the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, to be achieved by reformist means in parliament. Corbyn, in contrast, doesnt even mention the word socialism. Beatrice and Sidney Webb during their trip to the Soviet Union in 1932 [Photo: Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science] This does not stop his pseudo-left cheerleaders from insisting that all that can be done is to push Corbyn and some trade union bureaucrats to adopt a more forthright reformist programme, insisting that nothing be done to alienate these natural leaders of a new working-class party. Any such broad left party would be nothing more than a ginger group, protesting Labours savage cuts, urging the occasional strike, and making pacifist appeals for the government to end support for the Gaza genocide and curb its incessant warmongering. National reformism is bankrupt, turn to socialist internationalism! Labours degeneration is not the product of the betrayals of Starmer and his cohorts. Like the failure of Corbynism to provide a viable opposition to the rightward evolution of the Labour Party, it is the product of the bankruptcy of the national reformist programme they both once upheld. The development of transnational production and the global integration of finance and manufacturing, coupled with a deep crisis of the profit system and spiralling debts, is spurring the worlds major powers into a global struggle to redivide the worlds markets and essential resources between them. This demands a domestic war against the working class to make economies internationally competitive and to secure the vast sums necessary for rearmament and military conflictending any possibility of social reform and instigating instead a social counter-revolution. But the contradictions underlying this eruption of militarism and social reactionbetween a global economy and its division into antagonistic nation states and competing private enterprises rooted in this national soilare also bringing millions of workers into struggle against austerity, right-wing reaction and imperialist military barbarism. These workers are part of an international class, objectively unified by a global system of production and producing all of societys wealth. They face a common enemy in the giant transnational corporations and banks that dictate the policy of every national government. Everything depends on arming their struggles with a socialist and internationalist perspective and leadership that meets up to these challenges. The national demonstration against Israel's genocide in Gaza seen from a bridge in central London as it approaches Parliament, May 17, 2025 The Socialist Equality Party fights for the formation of a mass international movement against genocide and war based on the working class, intertwined with the struggle against inequality, poverty and attacks on wages, jobs, healthcare, education and all the social rights of the working class. This movement must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war and social counter-revolution except in the fight to end the domination of society by a financial and corporate oligarchy and its monopolies. The new party the working-class needs is the SEP, British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the world party of socialist revolution, founded by Leon Trotsky. We appeal to all workers and youth to join and take their place in this life and death conflict. On May 24, Revolution permanente (RP) will host a Paris meeting of the Morenoite Trotskyist FractionFourth International (FT-CI), led by Argentinas Socialist Workers Party (PTS), under the title Against Imperialist Militarism and the Reactionary International. Representatives from the FT-CIs affiliates in France, Argentina, Germany, Spain and the United States will attend. The meeting is being convened amid growing outrage among youth and students over the genocide in Gaza, the mounting death toll from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the rise of Americas fascist president, Donald Trump, and his far-right allies. In France, where Trumps global trade war threats have stoked fears of a broader conflict, polls show that 55 percent of the population fears the outbreak of World War III. Far from providing a way forward, RPs meeting represents a political dead end for youth and workers seeking to oppose genocide, war and fascism. What workers and youth lack is not anger or discontent, but a clear political perspectivean understanding of what must be done, and who must be fought, to halt the accelerating death spiral of capitalism. The FT-CI offers no such perspective. Instead, it seeks to reconcile empty phrases about revolution, internationalism and Trotskyism with its actual alliances with pro-war Stalinist, social-democratic, and liberal parties, as well as nationalist union bureaucracies. An announcement of the event, published by RP states: The rally will take place as Europes major powers increasingly lean toward militarism. Amid a historic crisis in transatlantic relations, all European heads of state are preparing to accelerate their military rearmament. So that they can fund the rearmament and impose their militaristic agenda, these leaders will likely attack our living conditions and democratic rights. In reality, the European imperialist powers are not merely preparing to lean towards militarismthey are already militarizing at breakneck speed. The EU has adopted an 800 billion rearmament plan, and Germany alone is pursuing a 1 trillion military buildup. These colossal war budgets make one thing certain: the ruling class will seek to impose mass impoverishment and erect fascistic police-state regimes to crush mounting opposition in the working class. Workers and youth cannot halt the drive to war through the ballot box. The military build-up advances regardless of which capitalist party holds officewhether under fascists like Italian Prime Minister and Trump ally Giorgia Meloni, so-called centrists like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, or media-promoted left formations like Podemos (now Sumar) in Spain. RP comments: In this context, the Far Right is becoming increasingly appealing to the ruling classes, from Trump and Musk in the U.S. to Meloni in Italy, Milei in Argentina, and Le Pen in France. A genuine reactionary international is emerging, rooted in racist and anti-worker policies. As always with RP statements, what is most significant is what they leave unsaid. One must ask: How is it possible, after the horrors of fascism, genocide and world war in the 20th century, that the bourgeoisie can once again bring far-right governments to power? It is not because mass fascist movements like Hitlers Brownshirts or Mussolinis Blackshirts are marching in the streets or mobilizing millions in Europe or the United States. Rather, far-right forces have exploited the deep social anger among workers and youth created by the betrayals of the parties falsely presented as left by the capitalist media. The suppression of workers struggles by these parties has created conditions in which far-right demagogues can win votes, including among sections of the working class. How are workers to fight imperialist war, fascism and genocide? The RP states that its Paris meeting aims to amplify the voice of the socialist Left and the working class, concluding: The rally will provide a platform for us to emphasize that only the working class and the oppressed have the strength to halt militarism. While militarism has led to massacres in the past, what the ruling class fears far more than tanks or nuclear missiles are struggles and revolutions. The best contribution to peace is to fight our governments, our bosses, our own imperialism, and its war plans, from an internationalist, working-class, and revolutionary perspective. The statement does not say who this socialist Left is, how it intends to amplify the voice of the working class, or what revolutionary perspective it actually supports. It remains conspicuously silent on its own ties and orientation to pro-imperialist forces such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Germanys Die Linke, Spains Podemos, the New Popular Front (NFP) in France, and the Stalinist-led CGT union bureaucracy. A genuine revolutionary perspective requires an irreconcilable political struggle against all those organizations that tie the working class to the capitalist state. Yet this is precisely what RP and the FT-CI will not do. To understand the FT-CIs role, it is worth recalling Leon Trotskys struggle against centrist politics in the 1930s. Amid the revolutionary crisis in France following the 1936 general strike, and with the threat of a second world war looming, Trotsky analyzed the role of Marceau Piverta social democrat who criticized the Popular Front government but refused to break with Stalinism and build the Fourth International. Centrism, Trotsky wrote: fears to break its habitual amicable relations with the friends on the right, it respects personal opinions; that is why it delivers all its blows against the left, thus endeavoring to raise its prestige in the eyes of serious public opinion. [It] absolutely does not understand that a pitiless manner of posing the fundamental questions and a fierce polemic against vacillations are only the necessary ideological and pedagogical reflection of the implacable and cruel character of the class struggle of our time. A vast class gulf separates Marceau Pivert from the petty-bourgeois milieu in which the FT-CI operates today. Pivert was a leader within a mass workers party whose members fought for and won significant reforms, including the eight-hour day and paid holidays. Though he ultimately rejected the fight to build a revolutionary alternative to Stalinism, he permitted Trotskyists to join his party, allowing them to engage with a broader layer of the working class. Eighty-five years later, the FT-CI is not working within reformist workers organizations, but orbiting around openly pro-imperialist parties rooted in the affluent middle class. How the FT-CI blocks class struggle against fascism and war Todays pseudo-left parties, however, share one undeniable similarity with the political bankrupts of 1930s France: Confronted with the threat of fascism and the looming danger of world war, they are determined to block revolutionary struggle and are bitterly opposed to a fight for Trotskyism. The various components of the FT-CI serve this role in the countries where they operate. Indeed, it is not an international, in the sense of an organization having a unified world strategy, but a collection of various national organizations that base themselves on tactical maneuvers oriented toward bourgeois parties and trade union bureaucracies in their respective countries. Last year, the Spanish organization, Workers Revolutionary Current (WRC), launched an election campaign that was oriented primarily to the Pabloite Anticapitalistas, which had previously participated in Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos austerity government. Left Voice (LV), the FT-CIs US affiliate, will be represented in Paris by Julia Wallace, a bureaucrat in the SEIU and a prominent member of Black Lives Matter (BLM), which seeks to divide the working class along ethnic lines and block a unified struggle against capitalism. As Wallace travels to Paris, Left Voice is defending union officials like UAW President Shawn Fain, who supports Trumps nationalist trade war. After criticising Fains declaration that he is ready to work with Trump on tariffs that serve the national and working-class interest, Left Voice still hailed him as one of the most significant figures in the new progressive labor bureaucracy. In Germany, while not formally part of the Left Partya pro-imperialist organization that plays a critical role in the German statethe Morenoite Revolutionary Internationalist Organization (RIO), orients itself entirely to it and the organizations orbiting it. In response to the rise of the Alternative fur Germany (AfD), the RIO called for a united movement encompassing not only the left, but also various right-wing organizationsall of which are responsible for the rise of the AfD itself. The anti-Trotskyism of Left Voice and the FT-CI extends to promoting Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lankas pro-austerity president and leader of the ex-Maoist, Sinhala-chauvinist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). In an article also published by RP, Left Voice acknowledged that Dissanayakes campaign was marked by Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism, but nonetheless claims it could have been a hope for sections of the population. Their only complaint is that Dissanayake has now left his Marxist origins behind and dropped the most advanced elements of his programa program already steeped in nationalism and hostility to the working class. Here, the FT-CI provides political cover for Sri Lankas pro-austerity JVP regime. In reality, the JVP was a fervent supporter of the Sri Lankan states 19832009 communal war against the Tamil population, including the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamil fighters and civilians at Mullaitivu. It was also responsible for the assassination of members of the ICFIs Sri Lankan section, targeted for opposing Sinhala chauvinism and fighting for the unity of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim workers. RP and the class struggle in France It is impossible to mount a serious opposition to imperialism on such a basis. This is exemplified in France. Revolution permanente emerged from the Pabloite New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) as a faction seeking to recruit young CGT bureaucrats. As workers abandoned the Stalinist organizations after decades of betrayals, RP saw not the need to build a revolutionary alternative, but a chance for political and career advancement within the union apparatus. It declared: Amid the decline of the PCF inside the CGT and the crisis of recruitment, young union officials can find themselves rather quickly leading major trade union organizations and structures. Every revolutionary worthy of the name must pay the greatest attention to this phenomenon, and seek at all costs to converge with this new generation. A decisive test of RPs perspective came during the 2023 mass strikes against Macrons pension cuts, imposed by decree to finance military rearmament. France was plunged into its deepest political crisis since May 1968, as Macron ignored mass opposition and unleashed riot police on protesters. Throughout, RP advanced only the demand that the CGT bureaucracy provide a battle plan against Macron. The Parti de legalite socialiste (PES), the ICFIs French section, advanced the call for the working class to bring down Macron for trying to rule against the people. In meetings of workers and youth during the protests, it explained: What must be done is to launch a political movement to throw Macron out of power, to bring down his regime by a general strike. General assemblies must be held in every university, in every workplace in France to declare that this president must go. To achieve this, the working class must be mobilized independently of all the bureaucracies that are negotiating with Macron, not fighting him politically. If this assembly votes a clear resolution stating that Macron must be thrown out, that the presidency of the Fifth Republic has clearly become the cockpit of an illegitimate dictatorship exercised by the banks against the workers, this can have an enormous impact. It will allow youth to go to workplaces, to speak to workers, encourage them to gather in general assemblies in their workplaces and to vote similar statements, and thus create the organizations through which the workers can bring down Macron, abolish the Fifth Republics anti-democratic presidency, and open the path for workers to collectively take power and build socialism. Even as riots erupted across France, RP opposed any socialist perspective. In mass protest meetings, RP delegates rejected motions submitted by the PES calling for a general strike and a break with the union bureaucracy. I do not think the situation is revolutionary, said RP member Juan Chingo. Claiming that it supported revolution on the Jacobin model, that is, a national bourgeois revolution like the 1789 revolution, RP called on the mass movement to make experiences with bourgeois representative democracy and allow to develop consciousness of the need for self-organization. It adapted itself to the union bureaucracies shutdown of the struggle after the pension cuts were adopted as law. What emerged was RPs fundamental loyalty to bourgeois rulenot socialism, but capitalism upheld through alliances with Stalinism. This was confirmed again last year when RP supported a critical vote for the New Popular Front (NFP), an alliance of Jean-Luc Melenchons populist France Unbowed, the big-business Socialist Party, the Greens, the Stalinist PCF and the Pabloite NPA. The PESs warnings of the bankruptcy and treachery of the NFP, a pro-war alliance whose program called for sending French troops to Ukraine, were vindicated. After forming an electoral bloc with Macron under the pretense of stopping the neo-fascist RN, the NFP mounted no serious protests or strikes when Macron ignored the election resultin which the NFP came in firstand installed a right-wing minority government. The NFP thus played a decisive role in allowing Macron to retain power. Among its accomplices was RP, which urged workers to vote for the NFP on the spurious grounds that, because it includes the Stalinist PCF, it is part of the labor movement. While acknowledging that the PCF is far from opposing law-and-order, xenophobic and Islamophobic arguments and sometimes even helps promote them, RP still justified its support by claiming: While the PCF has served in several left-wing governments, this party claims to be in the workers movement and maintains a certain working class base from its past or certain ties it has with the trade unions. This record exposes the central lie behind RPs conference in Paris: that it is waging an all-out struggle against the far right. In reality, RP has marched in line with the pseudo-left organizers of defeatforces that systematically demobilize workers and create the conditions in which the far right can falsely present itself as the only real opposition to the status quo. The primary beneficiary of these betrayals has been the neo-fascist National Rally. One critical political lesson from the history of the 20th century must be underscored today. In an epoch marked by world war, fascism and genocide, petty-bourgeois tendencies that adapt to imperialism, legitimize xenophobia and conceal Stalinism and mass murder behind pseudo-Marxist phraseology invariably lead to catastrophe. For workers and youth seeking a genuine revolutionary path, the urgent task is to break decisively with these forces and actively oppose them. Such a struggle cannot be cobbled together from a patchwork of nationally based, pragmatically chosen tactics. It requires an uncompromising fight for Marxist internationalism: the international mobilization of the working class against war, fascism, and capitalism, and the building of a revolutionary leadership grounded in Trotskyism. This is the perspective advanced by the ICFI. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks to employees at the Department of Homeland Security, Jan. 28, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta] US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) head Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard University Thursday informing the schools administration that she was revoking its ability to enroll international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Noems action could compel more than a quarter of the student body, all of whom are in the US legally, to transfer schools or leave the country. It comes in the midst of an ongoing lawsuit between Harvard and the Trump administration over the universitys rejection of Trumps demands to suppress free speech and thought and establish government and right-wing ideological control over certain departments. In a press statement released on the DHS website on May 22, the Trump administration outlined its fascistic threat to higher education. The statement also makes clear that a significant driving factor in the attack on academia is the campaign to deepen preparations for a war with China. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students, and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status. The DHS also seeks to transform Harvard and all other universities into cooperating surveillance arms of the state. In exchange for the return of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, the DHS is demanding that Harvard provide [A]ny and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage regarding the illegal or violent activity of non-citizen students enrolled in the last five years and any and all disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students. The DHS letter further demands that Harvard provide all footage and records of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years. The revocation of the certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program is retaliation by the Trump administration for Harvards refusal to submit to the sweeping records request by the DHS in its investigation into Harvards curriculum and admissions practices, which include data and information which Harvard is not legally permitted to share and would constitute a massive violation of the academic privacy of students and faculty. Harvard shared limited information with DHS while protesting the extent of the data request to which DHS Secretary Kristi Noem responded that Harvard failed to comply with simple reporting requirements. This latest attack is an escalation of the Trump administrations campaign against higher education and international students as the spearhead of the preparations for a presidential dictatorship. Seeking to coerce and control academic decision-making at the university, and universities across the country, Trump is utilizing the Department of Homeland Security to create an American version of the Nazi policy of Gleichschaltungbringing into line academia as a propaganda arm of the regime. This includes previous demands that Harvard prevent the admission of students deemed hostile to American values, such as those allegedly supporting terrorism or antisemitism. The administration is seeking the same capitulation from Harvard that it achieved with Columbia, which resulted in the political monitoring of certain departments to eliminate opposition to Zionism and US imperialism. This is a component part of the broader effort to suppress opposition to the genocide in Gaza. In a previous letter to Harvard, DHS Secretary Noem wrote: It is a privilege to have foreign students attend Harvard University, not a guarantee. The United States government understands that Harvard University relies heavily on foreign student funding from over 10,000 foreign students to build and maintain their substantial endowment. The accusation that Harvard failed to condemn antisemitism on campus is the justification used to crack down on opposition to the Gaza genocide. Harvard was among the universities investigated by the Trump administration over alleged antisemitic incidents supposedly creating a hostile learning environment for Jewish students. Trump has also demanded that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoke Harvards tax-exempt status. Trump, with his thuggish tactics, does not care that the president does not legally have the authority to order IRS investigations. The IRS has, as of this writing, not made a decision on whether it will revoke the tax exemption. On April 14, Harvard President Alan Garber announced that the university would not comply with the Trump administrations demand for government oversight and right-wing ideological control of academic affairs. The decision to take a stand was welcomed by broad layers of the population and students and faculty, who provided the impetus for opposition. Harvard filed its lawsuit against the Trump administration, demanding a federal court block the governments attempt to control academic decision-making. The lawsuit names several key Trump administration officials as defendants. At stake in Harvards lawsuit is the freezing of over $2.2 billion in research grants and the threat of cutting off an additional $1 billion in government funding, totaling over $3 billion. The White House justified these financial threats by once again citing Harvards alleged failure to address antisemitism and its opposition to directives on admissions and diversity policies. The lawsuit argues that the governments actions violate the First Amendment by seeking to coerce the university and control teaching, disregarding principles that safeguard academic freedom. Harvards complaint also argues that the funding freeze is unlawful, violates the terms of the governments funding agreement, and fails to follow the statutorily mandated process under Title VI. The university argues there is no rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the frozen research funding. Whether or not Harvard prevails in court, the attacks on democratic rights, academic freedom and international students will not be halted without the intervention of the working class. While Harvard has publicly defended academic freedom, its opposition to the Trump administration is limited by its character as a major capitalist-imperialist institution with ties to the government and military-intelligence apparatus. Noems latest attack comes as student protests against the Gaza genocide have intensified, with a wave of demonstrations taking place at graduation ceremonies, including at Columbia and New York University. There exists deep opposition to dictatorship and genocide, but it must be mobilized independently of the administrators of the universities, who represent a layer which seeks reprieve and compromise with the Trump administration. The only viable path to oppose the Trump administration and the turn by the ruling class towards a presidential dictatorship and to defend international students and academic freedom is to build a socialist movement against the capitalist system. The defense of Harvard and other universities requires the building of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the revolutionary movement of young people based on a socialist program and oriented to the international working class, to consciously lead and spearhead this movement. This is the second part of a three-part interview with Dr. Peter Daszak, conducted as part of the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. Part 1 can be read here and Part 3 here. Benjamin Mateus (BM): I went back to your social media post on X from December 31, 2019, New Years Eve, when you wrote, There is some important and disturbing information coming out of China right now regarding severe pneumonia with similarities to SARS, and etiology currently not yet confirmed. It was a very prescient thread where you correctly provided the response needed to contain the outbreak, and you were very optimistic that we were going to be able to contain this. Then, obviously, over the intervening weeks the global response that you had called for never materialized. Going back to that day, could you put us in the frame of mind that you were in, maybe explain the idealism you harbored, and as things materialized, how your views changed? This electron microscope image shows the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 [AP Photo/NIAID-RML] Peter Daszak (PD): Its an interesting way of looking at it. I remember that very distinctly. We actually knew that information the day before. We were told by colleagues in China that there was a virus 20 percent different to SARS-CoV-1 they found in two out of eight of these first patients. I wish Id just tweeted that out, put it out there. But I was more cautious because as scientists we are supposed to verify things. It was rumor, hearsay, at the time, even though respected authorities were telling us. It was correct. They were 100 percent correct. This virusSARS-CoV-2is 20 percent different to SARS-CoV-1. And it was not only in two of the patients, but in all of them in the end. So, at the time, I put out a cautious public statement that something was going on and we needed to pay attention. We were told then it was a coronavirus. I knew that China had changed a lot since 2003 when SARS-CoV-1 emerged. They had done this with open cooperation with the West through WHO, with collaborations with the US governments CDC, with Australia and with other countries. They had developed a very sophisticated strategy for quarantining and reporting early cases for anything like SARS. They were worried about SARS reemerging, and they started taking these measures quickly and did a decent job of it. Now, there has been a lot of criticism of what they had done, with people asking, Why didnt they tell the world it was spreading through human-to-human transmission? Because they werent sure, just as I wasnt sure at the time it was a coronavirus. We thought it was, but we had to be very careful not to create a false panic. In any case, as a precaution, the Chinese authorities and WHO acted as if it was transmissible between people. Everybody suspected that. And what they did was to quarantine patients. They shut down travel dramatically. I think a couple of days before the Chinese New Year 2020, when the whole country travels, they closed Tiananmen Square, which was a remarkable thing to do. And then they implemented a ban on travel. They basically quarantined the whole of Wuhan. Aerial photo of Wuhan, China during lockdown [Photo: Xiong Qi of XinhuaNET] Now if people think China didnt do anything, what we found out later was they had 76 days of quarantine in Wuhan. These people werent allowed out of their apartments, let alone to take a trip to the shops twice a day. You were just in your apartment. Dramatic and restrictive, yes. But they were operating under emergency measures. What wasnt known at that time was that the virus could spread far more effectively than SARS-CoV-1 ever had. But, clearly, even those tremendous measures were unable to contain it, although it bought the world some timeseveral weeks, months, maybe? But we also failed. I think the biggest failure really was in the rest of the world that watched this with eyes wide open and didnt do anything. In the US, the CDC was fumbling with the testing kits. We had outright refusal to lead from our president in the US who undermined scientific advice about vaccines and earlier about quarantines, social distancing and masking. This was a public health debacle and led to an uncontrolled outbreak early on. And then of course, famously, the West had to respond in the same way China did, with archaic and medieval-seeming lockdowns and travel restrictions. Trump speaks at a COVID-19 press conference in the White House Rose Garden, March 13, 2020 [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] Sadly, what happened was there was a lack of support for those earlier measures and then open hostility towards China from the Westfrom the US, from the UK, Australia and a few other countriesthat started to demand reparations and started calling COVID-19 the China virus or the Wuhan flu. They wanted to blame China. To say, This is your fault! It is your fault our economy is trashed, largely because we didnt do anything to get ready for this virus. Politics undermined our ability to control the virus. People used politics to benefit their own political agenda and at the same time undermine pandemic control. And they are doing that now with science. BM: Chinas ability to contain the virus by diverting all their resources to the aid of Wuhan was remarkable and particularly exemplary and instructive. Not only did they demonstrate how the pandemic could be stopped, but it also showed the importance and necessity for an international strategy to stop the pandemic and protect life and well-being. The World Socialist Web Site advocated for this strategy, later designated as Zero-COVID, from the very beginning of the pandemic, stressing that it must be global in scope. Your account reminded me of that. Have you read the recent report in Chinas Global Times? Reading that detailed account of their countrys response to the pandemic, at least until lifting Zero-COVID, and contrasting that to the US, is compelling. The only aspect that I questioned was the issue of cold-chain transmission (through contaminated cold-chain products and packaging that allow the virus to survive longer in low temperatures and low humidity environments), which seemed to me as if they were trading in conspiracies. Your thoughts on that report? Nurses at the Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, on April 4, 2020. [Photo: Credit: Zhang Dan] PD: It brings back a lot of memories. Theyre right about the WHO part of that, the work that I was involved in. At a very sensitive time when the US had demanded reparations from China, Chinese officials openly invited and allowed the WHO to send a team to visit not only the true source of the outbreak where the first cases emergedthe Huanan Seafood marketwhich was sensitive because it was an old-fashioned wildlife market. But they also allowed the teams to visit the labs that were at the front and center of these conspiracy theories. So, they were open with us and provided us with new data. The conclusions we reached then were valid then and are valid now. And all of that was then undermined. Now, the cold-chain hypothesis, in my opinion, was their way of fighting back politics with politics. Is there any logic to it? Yes, there were outbreaks in China that seemed to have begun due to cold-chain transmission. You cant criticize that. There is some good science done by people we work with on the China team who published in reputable journals about Xinfadi market in Beijing, where a frozen food outlet was clearly the epicenter of an outbreak in the capital. The point though is that its most likely that somebody infected with COVID-19 coughed and contaminated the frozen food. We know in the US that cold-chain workers in meatpacking factories had very high outbreaks of COVID-19 because theyre in a cold environment, theyre close together and the virus survives longer in that kind of environment. We know from laboratory work that the virus can survive a long time on frozen food, maybe two weeks or more. But the one problem with the whole theory that COVID-19 was sent through cold-chain to the US is that it clearly originated within Southeast Asia or South China, because thats where the bats that harbor these viruses live, and theres good evidence for that now, and there was good evidence then. It didnt come from Norwegian salmon. It didnt originate in Norway. And all the data indicate that it did not originate in the US. These things are political, in my opinion. But what China did early on in investigating this outbreak, in quarantining Wuhan, in dealing with the first patients, they managed to control successfully for China what could have been a horrific outbreak with huge loss of life with this big population in very densely packed cities. Sadly, it got out and some countries did as well as China or better. Some countries did worse, and I think the US was one that did worse. During that first critical year of the COVID pandemic when we didnt have vaccines, when it truly was the risk of a lethal infection to most people, if you got infected. We were very scared at the time, and we allowed the virus to run rampant in many parts of the US by letting politics get in the way. Unnecessarily, people died because of it. Nurse Bryan Hofilena attaches a COVID Patient sticker on a body bag of a patient who died of COVID-19 at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dec. 14, 2021 [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong] BM: Could you speak to your involvement in the WHO-China mission to investigate the origin of SARS-CoV-2. It was a critical period in the pandemic, shortly after Trumps failed January 6, 2021 coup. Despite the promises of following the science by former President Biden, the conspiracy theory would emerge more broadly into the political spectrum amid bipartisan efforts to legitimize the Wuhan Lab Lie. There would be no phase two of the planned joint mission. The WHO would announce two years later they had abandoned these plans. Epidemiologist and WHO COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove told Nature, The politics across the world of this really hampered progress on understanding the origins. PD: I think the public forget or misinterpreted what that mission was. The WHO would try to be careful about correctly describing it when they talked to the press. It wasnt an investigation where this team was going to Wuhan and would come back with an answer to the origins of COVID-19. It was as it was described in the report: a WHO-China joint study on the animal origins of COVID-19. It was very carefully negotiated between China and the WHO. The terms and scope of the investigation were quite explicit. It certainly wasnt a detective-like investigation into China, which I think many in the media thought it was or should be. Thats not how these diplomatic matters materialize; its highly sensitive and political. If countries are going to be blamed for outbreaks caused by natural events or because of trends in agriculture and trade, which take place all around the world daily, no one is going to report these. And this is a big problem with livestock diseases. Imagine an H5N1 bird flu pandemic where there is human-to-human transmission and there is a call to investigate the US on what really transpired. The international mechanisms to investigate these matters must be diplomatic and mutually agreed upon. Peter Daszak speaks to journalists in China on Feb. 10, 2021 as part of the WHO delegation investigating the origins of COVID-19. [AP Photo/Ng Han Guan] So, this was a mutually agreed upon study and this was the phase one. The idea was to go to China, work with Chinese scientists who were investigating the origins of COVID-19 and try and help them with any outside expertise we could offer, or recommend suggestions or analysis of the ways forward. The second phase of the work would then be an in-depth study of the most likely pathways. In phase one we were supposed to jointly come up with an assessment of where and how the virus most likely got from bats into people. We sat together, we looked at different pathways and worked these out. We then visited labs, asked questions, looked at new evidence and new information, and assessed other information, coming to conclusions together on what was the most likely pathway. And that was successful. We did all that we set out to do in phase one. But people still think it was a failed investigation; that we would return with an answer on where COVID-19 came from. We certainly came up with a likely answerthat the virus originated in bats, likely was transmitted to an intermediate host, and that Huanan Seafood Market was the epicenter of the outbreak in that city. We also concluded that the frozen food hypothesis was somewhat political, and although we had evidence in support of it causing specific cases of COVID, it was less likely as an origin of the whole outbreak except for one important thing. We were shown direct evidence of frozen wildlife in those markets. Ferret-badgers were one of the species found in the freezers there and are commonplace in China and a known reservoir of coronaviruses. So, here we have a market that had frozen wildlife that could possibly have been a source of COVID from a wildlife farm. The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, sits closed in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Jan. 21, 2020 [AP Photo/Dake Kang] What we found to be extremely unlikely was an origin from a lab. When we visited the labs, when we looked at information around the labsI had a specific, deep understanding of what was going on and access to information that we used in the WHO team on the lab origin hypothesiswe found that there were no sequences similar to SARS-CoV-2, there was no evidence of COVID-like illnesses in the labs, and there was no evidence of a coverup in the labs. There was all this information and more. Lets think about this. Consider the sheer small number of people that work in labsa dozen or so at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)who are always wearing masks and gloves, compared to the Huanan Seafood market where about 10,000 people are walking through the place every day. Where do you expect an outbreak is going to happen? Workers in wildlife markets handle live animals shipped from across China, often kept in crowded cages and unsanitary conditions. Many of these animals are stressed and butchered on site or taken home live and killed. All the evidence pointed to the Huanan market being a place known for its wildlife trade. A well-documented report published just before the pandemic highlighted this. Visiting the market makes it obvious. It was clearly a wildlife market, filled with signs of animal trafficking, empty cages and tanks for example. This trade involves farming and transporting live animals across China, with about 14 million people involved. These animals are kept in dense, mixed populations, creating extensive opportunities for animal-to-human transmission. In contrast, the relatively few people working in Chinese labs wear protective gear and did not show antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Four photos taken surreptitiously at the Huanan market in Wuhan, in the section where live animals were available for sale. This is the likely starting point of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo by Michael Worobey, Edward Holmes, et al.] The difference was clear. Now, no one ruled out the lab leak hypothesis, but we just said it was extremely unlikely. And, as a scientist, you can never say that did not happen. But what you can say is, How likely is it based on the evidence? And thats exactly how we laid out our report. BM: WHO General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus blindsided the entire WHO team when he declared in July 2021 that the conclusions made in the report were premature in ruling out a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a lab-leak. This completely undermined the investigation. PD: Yes it did. BM: Maybe you can speak to what happened behind-the-scenes on this. PD: We were all shocked by the interference. It was inappropriate. From the start, we knew the mission would be highly political and bring intense pressure. I initially declined the WHOs invitation, saying Id only add to the controversy. But they persuaded me to join, assuring us that the group would be independent and that we wouldnt represent our organizations. We were told the conclusions would be our ownnot edited by WHO. We conducted our work collaboratively with the Chinese team, voted on each pathway, and documented those results in the report. That process was solid and untouchableit reflects the committees conclusions. Then Tedros intervened, adding commentary from WHO that undermined our findings, right after the press release and even before the report was finalized. I believe he acted under political pressure. Before our trip to China in January 2021, we had already begun meetings with the Chinese side. Meanwhile, Biden won the U.S. election and took office while we were in China. The previous administration tried to influence the resultsjust days before Biden assumed office, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement claiming evidence that lab workers were sick with COVID before the outbreak. I tweeted that wed review any evidence, but none was ever provided, and it has since been declared to be false by the US intelligence agencies. World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (center) declaring the coronavirus pandemic a Public Health emergency of International Concern in March 2020. [Photo: Fabrice Coffrini] It was clearly interference from the intelligence sector to shape public opinion, and not science. There is no evidence that anyone at the WIV contracted COVID-19 during the initial outbreak. And had they, in September or October of 2019, the epidemiology of the entire outbreak would have been completely different and would have evolved much sooner than the current timeline. When Biden took office, there was hope that the US would re-engage with WHO. Behind the scenes, there may have been pressure due to ongoing sensitivities over China, WHOs credibility, and the origin of COVID-19. Biden had campaigned on a tough stance toward China, and perhaps Tedros thought keeping the lab leak theory alive would help politically. What Tedros didnt seem to understand is that our report never ruled out the lab leak entirelywe said it was extremely unlikely, because theres no evidence for it. His comments just brought more politics into the process. BM: Another critical point often overlooked is the significance of the dataenvironmental samples and details on infected patients from the various hospitalscollected by the WHO-China investigative team. These data enabled renowned evolutionary virologists like Michael Worobey and Kristian Andersen to conduct detailed forensic analyses of the earliest known COVID-19 cases from December 2019both within the Huanan Seafood Market and the broader Wuhan area. Their findings were striking. Not only did they identify the market as the epicenter of the initial outbreak, but they were also able to pinpoint specific stalls where SARS-CoV-2 viral genetic signals were most concentrated. Their work showed that the presence of two distinct viral lineages didnt indicate a previous ancestoras some had speculatedbut rather pointed to at least two independent spillover events from animals to humans, suggesting additional spillovers may have occurred that were not successful. Importantly, they also determined that SARS-CoV-2 was less adapted to human transmission than SARS-CoV-1, a key counterpoint to the argument used by former CDC Director Robert Redfield and others to promote the lab leak theory. These studies not only confirmed the conclusions of the WHO-China report but serve as an antidote to the lie that is still being peddled every day. PD: Indeed. Couldnt agree more. BM: Id like to turn to the critical work of the international team behind The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2, published in Nature Medicine on March 17, 2020. This paper has proven to be a foundational piece of scientific analysis that has withstood five years of scrutiny and attacks by the right-wing reaction. For all the criticism Anthony Fauci has received, its important to acknowledge that he responded appropriately at a crucial early moment, when experts noticed unusual features in the genetic makeup of the virus. Rather than dismissing those concerns or overreacting, he convened a panel of leading virologists, including Kristian Andersen, Andrew Rambaut, Robert Garry and Eddie Holmes, to rigorously investigate the viruss origins. This decision grounded the discussion in science rather than speculation and helped establish an evidence-based framework for addressing the conspiracy theories that soon followed. Dr. Michael Worobey (left) and Dr. Kristian Andersen [Photo: Scripps Research, University of Arizona, WSWS] Their analysis was informed by key fieldwork emerging at the time. Research by Dr. Alice Hughes and her team uncovered SARS-CoV-2-related viruses in wildlife, and Dr. Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lams findings in Malayan pangolins were especially pivotal. These pangolins carried viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2, including identical amino acids at five critical residues of the viruss receptor-binding domain. This evidence directly addressed concerns about the so-called furin cleavage site and strongly supported the conclusion that these features were naturally occurringnot engineered in a lab. Whether or not you were directly involved in that paper, Id be interested in hearing your thoughts on its significance and how it shaped the scientific consensus around the origins of SARS-CoV-2. PD: Looking at the big picture, the attack on The Proximal Origins paper, from the way that the NIH is being run presently under the Trump administration and the way they are targeting medical journals, accusing them of being biased in their research, represents a massive political interference in science and the institutions of scientific research who conduct their work openly and transparently. Science is done in the best way we can through the peer review process, in which independent researchers with similar expertise offer a robust critique of your work and review its merits and failings. Its not perfect, but its a pretty good process. The first point on The Proximal Origins paper is that people need to appreciate that this represents the conclusions of a group of scientists who were asked to come togetherI think by Anthony Fauci, Francis Collins, Jeremy Farrar and othersto look at all the available evidence and reach a deliberated, scientifically-grounded conclusion, just as the WHO team did a year or so later, when even more evidence had come to light. These are excellent, principled scientists that have worked for many years and established a reputation as the foremost in their field of work, virology. They were looking at the genetics of the virus. There was this finding early on when they were looking at the sequences of the virus and saw it had a furin cleavage site. The furin cleavage site (FCS) in viral proteins, particularly the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, is a sequence that acts as a cleavage point for enabling the spike protein to better interact with host cells. This cleavage is crucial for efficient virus entry and is thought to enhance its pathogenicity and transmission. Now, those furin cleavage sites have been found in influenza, and in many cases enhance their ability to invade and replicate in cells. Many other coronaviruses have these furin cleavage sites. We found a new alpha coronavirus not related to SARS in rodents in wildlife markets, hotels and train stations in China that had the furin cleavage site, and published that data in 2021. I think there are others that have been found since. Graphical representation of the furin cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 comparing the same location n the coronaviruses of the bat and the pangolin Its not so unusual, even though there is a lot of talk about it being the only SARS-related coronavirus with a furin cleavage site. Those cleavage sites evolve when the viruses are put under evolutionary pressure, allowing them to adapt to other hosts. I was involved in the discussions on that paper. I had received an email from the National Academies explaining that the White Houses pandemic preparedness team were convening a group of scientists to discuss the new coronavirus. I was very interested and agreed to participate. Ralph Baric had received the same invitation. These were well-known experts who had studied coronaviruses and were asked to take part in a meeting to advise politicians about the characteristics of the virus, what it meant, and if we should be worried about it. All this was happening in early February 2020. What we didnt know as we began the call is that some in the group had sparked this by finding this furin cleavage site and had a pre-meeting with the intelligence community, Farrar, Fauci, Collins and others. We got on this call and that first group was also on that call and we discussed that furin cleavage site. Now, I didnt know about the furin cleavage site until I was on that call. What we were told was that there was some concern that a furin cleavage site can sometimes arise in cell culture. And the fact that SARS-CoV-2 has a furin cleavage site may indicate it was cultured in a lab prior to becoming a pandemic. And I thought, Oh my god, this is shocking if its true. It would be truly shocking that weve got this virulent virus that came out of a lab. But of course, you dont let your emotions lead you to any conclusion. You dont think, Okay, it must be true! You think about it. So, we started talking about it as a group and I made the point if furin cleavage sites can arise in cell culture because of the different cells that these viruses are infecting, putting evolutionary pressure on them to evolve, couldnt the same thing be true if a bat virus gets into an animal, intermediate host like a raccoon dog or a civet, or even in people? And we know from the original outbreak of SARS-CoV-1 that the virus circulated in people in South China for a few months prior to becoming pandemic. And it did evolve in that process. So, couldnt the furin cleavage site have also evolved in SARS-CoV-2 in a similar manner? Ralph Baric agreed this was possible. A few others also agreed and pointed out that some viruses reduce their ability to bind to human cells when they are cultured in a lab. In the end, the conclusion was that just because it has a furin cleavage site, it doesnt indicate that it came from a lab. It could have arisen in nature. In fact, on balance of things, because of the numbers game in terms of the number of wildlife being farmed, the number of people involved in that early chain of transmission, its most likely that it did arise in some natural evolutionary process. That was the conclusion of the meeting; that was the conclusion of the Proximal Origins paper; that was the conclusion of the letter that we wrote from that meeting back to the politicians; and that is the conclusion today. Read Part 3 of this interview here or go back to Part 1 here. Aftermath of the explosion outside the fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, May 17, 2025. On Saturday May 17, Guy Edward Bartkus, a 25-year-old resident of Twentynine Palms, California, targeted the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California with a large car bomb, killing himself and injuring four others. The car bomb was detonated outside of normal operating hours and none of the four people injured were employees or patients of the clinic. However, the massive blast caused extensive damage to the facility and neighboring buildings. The embryos and identifying medical records inside the clinic remain safe and were secured by local firefighter personnel. A nurse who works in the perinatal unit at Desert Regional Medical Center told the WSWS the fertility clinic is directly across the street from the hospital. I had just sat down at the nurses station to chart and the sound, the shake, the vibration was freezing. I didnt know whether to stand up, run, or duck. We have a helipad, so I thought the helicopter had collided into the building. Next thing we have is debris coming down off the ceilings. Im thinking the ceilings are going to collapse. All the windows facing the fertility center were blown out. The nurse continued: The first thing that came to my mind were my patients because all three rooms faced towards the fertility center. As I was walking towards them, they were coming out with their babies crying and shaking. I reassured them that they were okay and safe. I sat them at the nursing station. They were still crying and just scared. The fear I had, I had to contain all of that to focus on my patients. There are shutters in the patients rooms; they were completely open and there was debris all over the floor and cracked walls. By 12:30, all of management was there and we went on complete lockdown, nobody could come in or leave. Parents that had left before the blast couldnt come back in; it was really traumatizing for them. David Rios, owner of the nearby Velvet Rope hotel told the WSWS, My hotel is one street over from where the bombing took place. Debris from the car flew over into our property causing damage to the roof and AC units. Car parts flew into the side of the building and some parts hit the condensers. The damage is extensive and were looking at close to $200,000 in damages. I notified my insurance to start the process of making a claim and within a couple of minutes they said they werent sure if it was going to be guaranteed because they didnt know how it was going to be categorized. By Monday morning my insurance denied the claim stating it was because the FBI had categorized it as a domestic act of terrorism. I thought about appealing, but the advice that was given from the insurance adjuster is the insurance company has the right to reject me for next year and if they do reject me it will be on my record for seven years and it will be very hard, to slim, to find companies that will provide me insurance. They said in the long run its probably best that you dont try to keep fighting it because next year they will probably drop you. Rios added, Being self-employed in a small business I see the severity of what we deal with now when youre personally impacted and your doors are shut from something that you pay as security, its a shame. The greed that I see from these multi-million-dollar companies not coming to our defense and insurance agents telling me that if you continue this, youre looking at a possibility of not getting insured next year, so to me its basically the insurance company committing an act of fraud. Bartkus, a self-proclaimed pro-mortalist and anti-natalist, terms associated with a deeply demoralized and nihilistic perspective that life is not worth living and should not be perpetuated, justified his actions with a 30-minute video manifesto published online just before the attack. The full video and transcription of Bartkus manifesto has not been released by authorities but key excerpts and themes reported by the media showcases a highly reactionary and pessimistic perspective. In his manifesto Bartkus expressed admiration for Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza and described life as a disease. He claimed that reproduction is immoral because children cannot give their consent to be born. Im angry that I exist and that, you know, nobody got my consent to bring me here, Bartkus stated in his manifesto. On a separate posting online, Bartkus identifies himself as the perpetrator of the attack and explained that his main motive for the bombing was to commit suicide. In the same post he says in part, ...your death is already a guarantee, and you can thank your parents for that one. All a pro-mortalist is saying is lets make it happen sooner rather than later. The FBI has stated that Bartkus was not on their radar despite videos on YouTube reportedly posted by Bartkus which shows him testing out homemade explosives in the desert, months before the May 17 attack. Other information revealed about Bartkus background shows that he was estranged from his father due to a divorce and was living with his mother at the time. The father revealed that he had not spoken to his son in over 10 years and that there was a prior incident where Bartkus, 9-years-old at the time, burnt down their family home in Waterbury, Connecticut, while playing with matches. The father revealed that as a teenager Bartkus had an early fascination with pyrotechnics, such as smoke and stink bombs, but that it never escalated to more serious explosives. The main focus of the official investigation and media coverage has been on Bartkus antisocial and nihilistic views, but very few answers have been given on how someone with no military background was able to produce a car bomb of such a massive scale. Police investigators are claiming that Bartkus built the bomb in the garage of his home in Twentynine Palms, a small desert city in San Bernardino County. As of the 2020 census, just over 26,000 people lived in the town. Thomas Bickel, a neighbor of Bartkus, told ABC7 that police only allowed people back on the street on Monday after police discovered more explosives in Bartkus home. All they really told me, the guys exact words were he had like an explosives laboratory in there, Bickel told ABC7. Although he built a pretty big bomb that he took down to Palm Springs, there was still enough material in there to do serious damage... Thats why it took almost three days for them to clear the area, because they had to be really careful. I know how powerful and destructive IEDs can be, Bickel said in a separate interview with the New York Post. While in the US Army, Bickel was injured by an improvised explosive device during a deployment to Afghanistan. The largest employer in Twentynine Palms is the massive Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC). It is the largest Marine Corps base in the US by land area and serves as training facility for large-scale live-fire exercises. In 2021 several pounds of plastic explosives went missing from the base. NBC Palm Springs conducted an investigation, which included attempts to interview military personnel but their inquiries were largely met with silence from military officials. The armed forces are a pole of attraction to, and cultivate, some of the most backwards and violent elements that capitalist society has to offer. So far there has been no word if Bartkus received any aid from military personnel among the highly militarized environment in which he grew up in, but this should be the subject of further investigation. Just last month, US Marine Chance Brannon was sentenced to nine years in prison for the 2022 firebombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Southern California. Evidence submitted during the trial include photos of Brannon giving a Nazi salute alongside an unidentified person wearing a US Marine Corps uniform. Prosecutors also claim he planned several other attacks including on an LGBTQ pride night celebration at Dodger Stadium. Following last weeks explosion, local officials, including Palm Springs Chief of Police Andrew G. Mills and Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto, reassured locals that they were safe and that it was time to get local businesses up and running again. Not one official commented on the worsening social conditions facing working class youth which have played a detrimental role in shaping the demoralized outlook and conceptions espoused by Bartkus. The complete bankruptcy of capitalist politics and their representatives was personified by the statements given by Assistant Director of the LA FBI Field Office Akil Davis where he stated, We were able to save all the embryos at this facility. Good guys one, bad guys zero. [emphasis added] Whenever a violent outburst occurs in the United Statesand they do with frightening regularityrepresentatives of the ruling class often employ simple criteria such as good and bad in order to moralize and individualize the actions of the perpetrator. This is done to obscure the central role of the ruling class and the historic levels of social inequality they oversee in creating the conditions that give rise to such violent outbursts. As with school shootings and other mass outbursts of violence, Bartkuss actions can only be understood as a byproduct of the society he existed in. Since Bartkus had been conscious the US government has been waging unending war abroad and cutting taxes for the oligarchy while slashing social spending. COVID-19 has been allowed to spread almost entirely unchecked in the name of profits, with the population told to accept mass illness and death, resulting in the unnecessary deaths of more than 1 million Americans and millions globally. As Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill makes its way through Congress, repressive institutions such as the military and immigration Gestapo will receive additional funding by kicking millions of the most vulnerable off of Medicaid, SNAP and other social programs needed for basic survival. Trumps counterrevolution against all social gains made by the working class, and the Democrats spineless complicity and support for these attacks, will serve as a catalyst for opposition which must be given progressive outlet. What is needed is a working class movement from below, guided by a socialist program, that can overturn the outdated and bankrupt capitalist system which subordinates all social resources to the dictates of profit. Next Manufacturing, one of Sri Lankas largest apparel plants, located in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (KFTZ), shut down on Tuesday, resulting in the retrenchment of about 1,500 workers. Katunayake Free Trade Zone entrance Anticipating angry protests, Next management informed employees about the closure via WhatsApp messages on Monday night after they returned to their homes. Management claimed high operational costs were responsible for the shutdown. The company has been operating in the KFTZ since 1978 when the area was established as a cheap labour platform and given sweeping tax concessions to attract foreign direct investments. Nexts Katunayake facility is owned by Next UK, one of Britains high-street fashion retailers and a leading supplier of high-quality knitted and woven wear to foreign markets. Next has two other plants in Sri Lankaone at Andigama and the other at Nawgaththegama, 43 and 116 kilometres from Katunayake respectivelyemploying around 1,000 workers. While these factories are still operating, the companys stated reason for closing its KFTZ facility means mass job destruction hangs over the heads of those workers. Shocked by the sudden closure, hundreds of Next workers mobilised outside the KFTZ plant on Tuesday morning. The factory entrance was sealed with no factory management personnel present. While many of these workers are members of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZGSEU), no union officials, including its secretary Anton Marcus, came to address workers outside the plant. After waiting for a few hours, the workers went to FTZGSEUs office located nearby. Marcus told union members that he would speak with factory management to get their jobs back and lodge a complaint with the labour commissioner. Workers cannot place any confidence in Marcuss promises. Knowing full well that the company had already issued a statement closing the plant and that the labour commissioners would do nothing against this foreign investor, his comments were designed to hoodwink and disperse the angry workers. A Next employee who has been with the company for about 10 years and went with others to the factory gate, and then the union office, spoke to the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS). I was shocked to see the WhatsApp message and couldnt believe my eyes. I was given my monthly basic salary of rupees 45,000 ($US300) and altogether about 60,000 rupees, he said. The worker explained that he needed 8,000 rupees per month to pay for his two-year-old daughters day care, and 10,000 rupees monthly for his house rent. Even if paid compensation for termination of employment, the maximum he would receive would be one million rupees, which he said was totally inadequate. I went in search of work today and got work as a casual employee. At the end of the day, I was only paid 1,700 rupees, he added. Next Manufacturing management sent two messages to employees on Monday night. The first was about retrenchment and the second about its compensation scheme. The worker told the WSWS that Next employees had little confidence in the union officials and wanted better compensation payments. Announcing the closure, Next Manufacturing director David Reay cried crocodile tears, claiming to be sad about the decision. He claimed it was the result of the increasingly high operating cost of the Katunayake Manufacturing Plant and that it had been unprofitable for some years. Reays claims are undermined by the fact that the UK-owned Next retailer made record profits last year. On March 27 this year Reuters reported that the company increased its profit by 10.1 percent in 2024/25 and made a pretax profit of 1.011 billion pounds ($US1.31 billion) in its year to January 25, 2025. Along with supermarket giant Tesco and the Marks & Spencer clothing and food group, Reuters said Next had achieved a landmark profit figure. The Katunayake Next factory is notorious for slashing workers entitlements. In December 2020, factory management called the police to quell a strike that erupted against the reduction of workers bonus payments. Management declared that the cuts were necessary because the company had lost profits caused by COVID-19 safety measures and workers infected by the disease. Workers rejected these claims as false. Workers demonstrating outside Next garment factory in 2020. Threats to Sri Lankan garment workers jobs and conditions have accelerated following US President Donald Trumps tariff hikes on imports. The US is the single largest market for Sri Lankan garment manufacturers. The sector employs 15 percent of the countrys total industrial workforce, with over 350,000 workers and indirectly supports approximately 600,000 more. On April 8, Vogue Tex garments, which employs around 2,000 workers, refused to pay the Sinhala-Tamil New Year bonus, citing US tariff increases. Workers responded to this attack by holding a powerful sit-in strike on April 8 and 9. While management was shocked by the rapid response, it only agreed to pay half of the outstanding bonus. The FTZGSEU and its general secretary Anton Marcus have no intention of mobilising garment workers to fight management attacks on jobs, bonuses and conditions. The union bureaucracy is committed to working with the company managements against workers. Marcus and his union played this role when COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka in 2020. The FTZGSEU and other trade unions directly collaborated with the companies in the Rajapakse governments National Labour Advisory Council to impose mass retrenchments and wage cuts. While 150,000 apparel jobs were lost, the remaining employees were forced to return to work in unsafe conditions. Asked this week about the closure of Next Manufacturing in Katunayake Free Trade Zone, the Dissanayake governments deputy labour minister Mahinda Jayasinghe told parliament that he would hold discussions with management, trade unions and the Board of Investment. Jayasinghe said they would discuss a proposed compensation formula. In other words, they would collaborate to ensure closure goes ahead. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP/NPP) administration and the Sri Lankan trade unions are fully committed to the International Monetary Fund austerity measures, which includes ongoing tax cuts and concessions to attract and maintain foreign investments. The closure of the Next garment plant, which was established almost five decades ago, is a warning not just to apparel industry employees but state and private sector workers across Sri Lanka. In order to stop the closure of Next Manufacturing and defend their jobs, garment workers must organise independently of the FTZGSEU and other apparel industry unions. This means uniting in struggle with the workers at other Next plants and calling on support from all KFTZ and other garment workers. It also means reaching out to their class brothers and sisters at Nexts parent company in the UK. Such a fight can be taken up by workers immediately forming their own action committee that excludes the union bureaucracies, which operate as instruments of the companies. Next Manufacturing workers need to meet and take forward this initiative. The Garment Workers Action Committee (GWAC) in Sri Lanka is fully ready to assist you in this effort. You can contact us through the mobile numbers below or in writing via our email address. Early last month, that GWAC issued a statement entitled An appeal to Sri Lankan garment workers: How to fight tariff war attacks on jobs and wages. Urging garment workers to take up this initiative, the statement said: These working-class committees can discuss and decide on what actions, including protests, strikes and factory occupations, should be taken to counter employers and the government attacks. They should coordinate with workers elsewhere, throughout private industry and the state sector. The statement issued the following demands: No to job cuts, the slashing of wages and working conditions! Oppose all closures, prepare for industrial action, including factory occupations. Reject the meagre compensation decided by employers and union bureaucrats. Demand compensation on full pay until new jobs are provided. Fully paid medical leave. Decent housing and health facilities. The statement concluded with the following appeal: Sri Lankan apparel workers must unite with their international class brothers and sisters. This can only be achieved by joining and building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and File Committees, a democratic organisation of international working-class struggle founded on the initiative of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Contact us: Telephone/WhatsApp: +94773562327 Email: action.committees.sl@gmail.com Another koala has been found dead in the Strzelecki Ranges of Victoria, prompting a warning to drivers. Source: Facebook/Friends of the Strzelecki Koala/Victorian government Conservationists are urging Australian drivers to take greater care on roads after yet another koala was struck and killed in the countrys southeast. Koala populations are dwindling across much of the country, and while Victorias are more stable than in New South Wales, where koalas are listed as endangered, the animals still face growing pressure. In Victoria alone, around 8,000 to 10,000 hectares of blue gum plantations are logged each year, displacing an estimated 42,500 koalas. This leads to overcrowding, increased mortality from road crossings, and vulnerability to bushfires. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Anthony Amis from the environment group Friends of the Earth says road deaths are a major problem, particularly in the Strzelecki Ranges, where the koala population is highly unique. ADVERTISEMENT "Koalas killed by cars is a big issue in the South Gippsland and Strzelecki region," he said, noting his team is working to identify collision hotspots in a bid to protect local colonies. "The main ones appear to centre on Meeniyan," Anthony added. The Strzelecki population are among the most significant in Victoria. Source: Suzie Zent Why are Strzelecki koalas so significant for conservation? What makes South Gippslands "special" koalas especially important is their genetic diversity, which could play a key role in the species long-term survival. A 2011 study found Strzelecki koalas are "genetically distinct" from other populations, and later research showed they have more genetic variation than koalas in other areas. Dr Carolyn Hogg from the University of Sydney said South Gippsland koalas have "the highest genetic diversity of all Victorian populations" and share similarities with southern NSW. ADVERTISEMENT She said further analysis could uncover even more genetic differences. Dr Stephen Phillips, who has studied the region extensively, said the strongest concentration of these genes is found between Jumbuk, Churchill and Morwell. "I'd like to see the Strzeleckis recognised for what they are, and their potential role for the genetic recovery of koalas in Victoria," he said. "It would be lovely for the [state] government to fully recognise the uniqueness and special nature of this population, and to work as hard as they can to ensure its long-term survival." Genetic diversity is crucial for the survival of any species because it helps populations adapt to changing environments, resist diseases, and avoid the risks of inbreeding. In the case of South Gippslands koalas, their higher genetic diversity means they may be more resilient than other populations across Victoria and Australia. Most koalas in Victoria and South Australia suffer from a genetic bottleneck that occurred from a near-extinction event. Source: AAP This makes them especially valuable for conservation efforts, as they could help strengthen the overall gene pool if other populations continue to decline. ADVERTISEMENT Nationwide, koala populations declined by about 30 per cent between 2018 and 2021, according to the Australian Koala Foundation. The largest drops were recorded in NSW and the ACT (41 per cent), followed by Queensland (37 per cent), South Australia (31 per cent), and Victoria (16 per cent). The 20192020 Black Summer bushfires were a key factor in this decline, but habitat loss, disease and road trauma continue to take a toll. Anthony said dozens of koala road deaths are reported to his team annually in South Gippsland but the true figure is likely much higher. "About 30 a year are reported on our Facebook group, but there's probably a lot more that are never reported," he said. Experts warn that in areas where koala populations are relatively stable, like South Gippsland, now is the time for action. Protecting the regions roads, maintaining habitat corridors, and preserving its uniquely diverse gene pool could prove critical in the broader fight to save Australia's koalas. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Aussies in the country's most populous state could soon face skyrocketing costs to camp as authorities grapple with solutions to ghost camping a major problem that leaves campgrounds empty despite being booked online. However, an experienced camper who works in the industry believes the best solution would be a simple one. Heatley Gilmore has been a camper for 30 years and runs a camping app that helps Aussies locate free campsites around the country. In response to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) proposing to increase campground costs, which could lead to campers paying up to nine times more for campsites, Heatley told Yahoo News this isn't the way to address ghost camping. "Nothing will change unless they change the way they manage the customer and the way they manage the booking," he said. "If they don't change anything there, it doesn't matter if they put an extra $20 on the booking, it's not going to change it." The NPWS wants to discourage campers from booking more sites than they need, by increasing the price of in-demand sites and incentivising cancellations. Up to 80 per cent of campground fees will be returned to the camper if they cancel at least three days before the booking commences, and up to 50 per cent for cancellations made after this time. Full refunds will not be provided to avoid people booking more sites, then cancelling late. Camper proposes automated booking reminder system However, Heatley believes the answer lies in an automated system that sends more messages to the campers at set intervals, constantly reminding them of their booking and giving them an easy way to opt out if there is a change of plan. It would involve text and email notifications being sent to the camper and an easy yes or no confirmation to cancel, instantly making the campsite available again online if a cancellation occurs. ADVERTISEMENT Campers currently receive one or two email reminders before their booking, with the emails often including details about the check-in procedure and campground regulations. However, peppering reminders to campers could make all the difference, Heatley believes. "The reality is people just forget... If they implemented an automated system it would achieve what they needed to achieve. The majority of people will do the right thing... it couldn't be any simpler than that." Ghost camping continues to haunt Aussie adventurers Yahoo News has reported on many campers who have experienced negative experiences due to the ghost camping issue. Jade Payne told Yahoo last year "it's impacted our whole trip" as she travelled around the country with her husband and four children. Another couple who travel full-time in their caravan told Yahoo News they are constantly meeting people across the country who struggle to secure campsites. "There's a lot of people that just miss out on bookings even though the campgrounds are empty... it's not getting any better," Miriam Mace said. ADVERTISEMENT State-governed national parks are adopting different approaches to tackling the issue, with Queensland leading the charge with the strictest regulations after introducing a $322 fine last year to campers who don't show up to honour their campsite bookings. Aussie adventurer and avid camper Mike Atkinson, also known as Outback Mike, has been a prominent voice in the national discussion and accused national parks of simply trying to make "heaps of money" off the recent surge in camping popularity. He has pushed for the booking systems to be dropped completely and instead bring back the first come, first serve approach in place before the Covid-19 pandemic. "By raising fees, they have just blocked out probably the poorest people in Australia from accessing national parks. It's the one thing they should have access to," he said. "Ditch the booking system." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A program to help replace the main food source for mountain pygmy-possums in Kosciuszko National Park has been praised. Small rock-like biscuits hundreds of which were moulded and baked by eager students have helped bring a critically-endangered Aussie species bank from the brink. The interesting idea came about after the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires destroyed known mountain pygmy-possum habitats in the north of NSWs iconic Kosciuszko National Park. The marsupials main food source, bogong moths, had started to decline prior to the catastrophic event, but the blaze decimated the winged creatures population, leaving the remaining 700 pygmy-possums in a vulnerable position. Theyre omnivores, so they eat insects, seeds and berries, so all of that vegetation was scorched through their habitat, Dan Nicholls, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Discovery Coordinator, told Yahoo News on Friday. But associated with that, of course, is the insect life thats attracted to those plants." Mountain pygmy-possums live deep in rocky boulder fields where there is little vegetation, meaning many were protected from the heat. We knew theyd survived at these several sites, but we knew also that thered be no food for them for a long time," he said. Dr Linda Broome helped source the biscuit mix which was placed in feeders in select sites. Source: NPWS Biscuit recipe proves to be a huge success Concerned, experts contacted other wildlife groups for help, specifically Victorias Healesville Sanctuary, which had created a biscuit recipe to feed its mountain pygmy-possum breeding program. ADVERTISEMENT NPWS purchased bags of the prepped mix, which arguably is as delicious as eating moths, and placed numerous 30-40g cubed treats in feeders that were lowered into the rocky boulder fields. They were baked by NPWS staff and volunteers, as well as curious students at Berridale, Cooma, Adaminaby and Jindabyne schools in the Snowy Mountains who asked how they could help. The biscuits are made up of macadamia nuts, meal worms and a mix of oils, minerals and nutrients, Nicholls said. The program ran for three years but is not currently underway. By then the environment had recovered enough so the animals could look after themselves, Nicholls told Yahoo. However it seems to have been very successful, with a recent survey revealing a record 107 mountain pygmy-possums at a single site. It was a really successful response to this disturbance. Without that action, its highly likely that those populations would have taken much, much longer to recover. Theyre small populations at these sites anyway, were not talking hundreds of animals. Were talking 10s of animals. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. On the morning of May 22nd, the 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) officially commenced at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. The Anhui delegation, under the theme "The Everlasting Charm of Anhui's Culture", showcased the excellence of 79 outstanding cultural enterprises, fully demonstrating the robust strength and innovative spirit of Anhui's cultural industry in the new era. The Anhui Cultural Industry Comprehensive Pavilion is located in Hall 15 (Cultural Consumption Integration of Culture and Tourism), covering an area of approximately 1,188 square meters. It is divided into four sections: the Liuchixiang Creative Real-Scene Exhibition Area, the Cultural and Technological Integration Exhibition Area, the Cultural and Tourism Integration Exhibition Area, and the Historical Classic Industries Inheritance and Innovation Exhibition Area, comprehensively promoting and displaying the latest achievements of Anhui's cultural industry in innovation and progress. At this Cultural Industries Fair, stepping into the Anhui Pavilion, the "Liuchixiang" immediately catches the eye, embodying the spirit of mutual courtesy and valuing harmony. iFLYTEK brought its latest multilingual AI transparent screen; the Lingjiatan National Archaeological Site Park showcased the "Lingjiatan Treasures" series of cultural and creative products; the Anhui New Media Group presented a "News + Government Services and Business" service matrix... Furthermore, innovative cultural products such as the Bagongshan tofu cuisine experience and the Bozhou Wanhuatian health tea and food with medicinal properties attracted numerous visitors to stop and explore. Intangible cultural heritage highlights like Huainan beef soup and Keemun black tea showcased Anhui's profound historical and cultural depth. The four treasures of the Chinese studybrushes, ink sticks, paper, and inkstonesmade a collective appearance, highlighting the time-honored Huizhou culture. It is understood that this Cultural Industries Fair will continue until May 26th. As the highest-caliber event in China's cultural industry sector, the Fair enjoys the reputation of being "China's leading exhibition of the cultural industry." Anhui has participated in the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair for 16 consecutive years, organizing 66 units to exhibit at the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in 2024, with more than 30 cultural investment projects signed or reaching cooperation intentions. Source: anhuinews.com The situation quickly got hairy for a Sunshine Coast woman after her Temu purchase landed her in the doghouse with police. A Queensland woman's unexpected passenger has seen her slapped with a hefty fine. Source: Queensland Police A Queensland woman has been fined after being caught riding her motorbike with an unusual passenger her dog strapped to her chest in a harness. The 35-year-old was spotted cruising along at Alexandra Headland around 2pm on May 17, when officers from the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol dubbed the "paw patrol" pulled her over. Bodycam vision shows the moment the officer approached the rider and her furry co-pilot. "You know you cant do that," the officer says in the footage. "You cant ride with the dog on the bike. I must say, its the first time Ive seen it with the whole harnessing thing before." The woman, seemingly unaware of the rule, responded: "I bought this off Temu." The Sunshine Coast woman was travelling with her furry companion. Source: Queensland Police Why is it illegal to travel with pets on motorcycles? But the officer reminded her it was unsafe. "I know your dog is probably trained, but if he starts moving around, anything could happen. Then thats obviously going to cause you to crash." ADVERTISEMENT Despite her creative approach to pet travel, the woman was slapped with a $376 fine for "riding with an animal between arms". The situation quickly got hairy when the officer spotted the 35-year-old on the road. Source: Queensland Police Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho said while our pets are part of the family, they dont belong on the handlebars. "We know how attached some people are to their pets, but its best to apply a paws-off approach when it comes to our roads," he said in a police statement. "The rider had purchased the harness online and did not think through the safety implications, particularly if the dog was to react to other road users, pedestrians or animals. "This could place the rider and her pooch in harms way or put other motorists at risk. Although the dog seemed to be comfortable on the bike, we urge riders to practice safe and responsible behaviour on our roads." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. PARIS Forget about Charli XCX: This years summer style icon might just be Jean Seberg. The U.S. actress with the pixie haircut is back in the spotlight thanks to two films: Richard Linklaters Nouvelle Vague, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and Bonjour Tristesse, a new adaptation of French author Francoise Sagans seminal coming-of-age novel. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Zoey Deutch plays Seberg in Linklaters black-and-white ode to the birth of French New Wave cinema, rising actress Lily McInerny reprises one of Sebergs most famous roles in the remake of Bonjour Tristesse, which marks the feature film debut of Canadian writer and director Durga Chew-Bose. Seberg, who died in 1979 at the age of 40, played the lead character Cecile in Otto Premingers 1958 adaptation of the book a stylish affair that featured gowns by Givenchy, jewels by Cartier and accessories from Hermes. McInerny said she didnt see the original movie until after shooting was over. That was an intentional choice, so as not to even subconsciously try to mimic her incredible origination of Cecile, she told WWD in an interview. Our films differ in many ways. Durga is truly a writer in her own world. Shes working with the original text of the novel. She herself is very intentionally not trying to recreate anything that Preminger touched, so we both are big fans of the film and appreciate it very much, but theyre very distinct in their styles, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching Seberg navigate the plot, which chronicles the destructive behavior of a free-spirited 17-year-old and her playboy father, proved intense for the 26-year-old actress. I felt very emotional, and I felt very attached, and I felt very close to Jean Seberg in that moment, and it was almost like watching a distant relative or a friend I knew, or a weird sort of dream of myself, McInerny mused. To have that connection with someone so glowing and untouchable as Jean Seberg, it was so cool. For costume designer Miyako Bellizzi, the project was an excuse to indulge in her passion for period films and vintage fashion, which influenced the overall look of the film. I collect 30s, 40s, 50s clothes just in general. I have an archive of it all, said Bellizzi, who was working concurrently on Marty Supreme, which has garnered advance buzz for the 50s-era costumes she designed for stars Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. A Fashionistas Delight From the very beginning, Durga and I always spoke about how we miss the beauty of old films and how, in a lot of more classic films, the way that costume design was approached was different to how it is now, Bellizzi said, citing the work of legendary costume designers like Adrian and Edith Head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mourn films that have good taste in clothing. Its one of my biggest pet peeves in contemporary films, she added. I really wanted to showcase that, you know, bring it back. The fact that one of the main characters in Bonjour Tristesse is a fashion designer was the icing on the cake. Chloe Sevigny plays Anne, whose arrival at the familys holiday villa on the French Riviera sets in motion a deadly cycle of jealousy and retribution. Known for her work on movies including Good Time and Uncut Gems, Bellizzi relished the change of register. Most of my films are very male-heavy, and this is the first time Ive had three women and its so fashion-forward, she said of working with McInerny, Sevigny and Nailia Harzoune, who plays Elsa, the fathers girlfriend. Infused with a strong design sensibility, the film is a fashionistas delight as it revels in obscure references, rather than the splashy resortwear that is often the default wardrobe option for films and series set against a Mediterranean backdrop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We could do the White Lotus of the south of France, said Bellizzi, adding that the idea was discarded in favor of something more timeless. I wanted it to just be super classic. She used Renaissance Renaissance, the Lebanese label founded by Cynthia Merhej that has twice reached the semifinals of the LVMH Prize, as the stand-in for Annes fashion label. Sevigny wears several looks by the brand, in addition to vintage Yohji Yamamoto and Jean Paul Gaultier, and accessories by Sophie Buhai. Merhej also designed a key look for McInerny: a 50s-inspired pouf dress that symbolizes Ceciles transition from tomboy to ingenue. But a lot of her clothes in the film are authentically vintage: Bellizzi and McInerny got an early start on wardrobe prep by scouring secondhand stores in New York City. She lives down the street from me, so Id be, like, Hey, lets go shop, Bellizzi recounted. Shes so tiny that all the greatest, coolest vintage pieces fit her like a glove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes a yellow swimsuit that was a nod to the one worn by Seberg in the original film. McInerny spends much of her time on screen in bathing suits and bikinis, but said she didnt feel self-conscious. That was never a hesitation for me, she said. Stepping away from the film, I was like, Was I too covered up? Because were on the beaches of France, its quite common to be topless. A Seberg Tribute Part of her confidence came from the fact that shes known Chew-Bose since she was a child. Part of it was knowing that Bellizzi had her back. Miyako really prioritizes an actors comfort and confidence in the clothes that shes dressing you in. It goes a really long way in terms of our performance, she said, adding that its important to surrender personal hangups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Understanding your character thoroughly, youll also understand what makes them feel confident and what makes them feel attractive, and that might be different from what you yourself would [wear] in your daily life, she added. On the red carpet, McInerny has developed a close relationship with Celine since making her big screen debut in 2022 in the indie drama Palm Trees and Power Lines. She collaborated with the French brand on her look for the Bonjour Tristesse premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. I came to them with an image from the original Preminger film of Jean Seberg in this classic black party dress. It was one of my favorite costumes from the original film, she recalled. To have anything custom designed for me would be a dream come true, let alone something so intimate and closely attached to this project so dear to me, and they came back to me in a couple of weeks with this gorgeous sketch of the dress that I ultimately wore to our debut, McInerny said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that Zouzou, former creative director Hedi Slimanes final fragrance for Celine, was billed as an homage to Sagan and Seberg. It felt very organic and meaningful to know that everyone behind the scenes and beyond was as passionate about the history we were stepping into, the actress said. Thats our greatest hope, that it transports you to an era of style and film that sometimes gets overlooked these days. Launch Gallery: How Bonjour Tristesse Channels Jean Sebergs Enduring Style Inspiration for Summer 2025 Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Five filmmakers from Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and Ukraine are the recipients of the inaugural Displacement Film Fund, a short film grant scheme recently unveiled by Cate Blanchett and the International Film Festival Rotterdams (IFFR) Hubert Bals Fund, and the star was in Cannes on Friday to celebrate the recipients, who include Iranian auteur Mohammad Rasoulof (The Seed of the Sacred Fig), and raise awareness. The recently unveiled fund is designed to champion and fund the work of displaced filmmakers, or filmmakers with a proven track record in creating authentic storytelling on the experiences of displaced people. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanchett was joined for the Cannes event by IFFR managing director Clare Stewart, grant recipients Maryna Er Gorbach, the Ukrainian director known for Klondike, and Somali-Austrian filmmaker Mo Harawe (The Village Next to Paradise), along with Rajendra Roy, chief curator of film at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Its a pilot program to allow a more mainstream audience access to the work of the five recipients of the grant, Blanchett shared as she took time in between a busy Cannes schedule to talk to THR on Friday via Zoom. Part of being here in Cannes is a call to arms to the rest of the industry to help to find mainstream platforms to get these voices out, because its potentially an incredibly exciting form of storytelling for a wider audience. Joining Blanchett in the Zoom conversation were Stewart, Syrian filmmaker Hasan Kattan (Last Men in Aleppo) and Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, who fled to Germany and whose debut film Wolf and Sheep won the top award in the 2016 Directors Fortnight program at Cannes. The two filmmakers werent in attendance at Cannes. Were doing short films with full production funding because of that urgency, that desire to get films out there, to make a profile for the need of the industry to galvanize around this, explained Stewart, echoing the notion of the fund as a call to action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also highlighted that Roys presence is key given his role as co-chair of the international award at the Oscars, and they have just made a change to the regulations there to support refugee and displaced filmmakers to be able to participate more fully in the awards process. Sadat shared with THR insight into her grant-receiving project with the working title Female Fitness of Kabul and the experience of earnings the grant. Inside a crumbling Kabul gym, its walls covered with oiled muscle men and doors open to women for only a few hours each day, reads a synopsis of her film. Afghan housewives in scarves and long dresses reclaim not just their bodies, but also their spirits, their bonds, and their sense of self. When she found out about the grant, I was like, This is amazing. Im the most perfect candidate, she recalled. This is my life. I was born in Iran to an Afghan refugee family, and the very first ID card that I ever received was a refugee card. It means I was born a refugee, even if it doesnt make sense. Until I was 11, I was living in Iran, and I was always called Afghan, which is more of an insult. And then when we moved to Afghanistan, I was called Iranian there. I never really felt like I was in the right place. Then she evacuated with her family to Germany. I didnt even know about the word displacement, she shared. I thought this more and less how everyone feels. Of course, I connected displacement to land, but also to gender. I also connect displacement to women issues, because its kind of like double exile, being a woman in a society that youre not really accepted in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How does that feel? The more you try, the more you get rejected. And you dont even feel at home under your own skin, Sadat explained. I was thinking about this idea for a very long time, and then I thought this is the perfect platform for me to explore this idea through this gym in Kabul. Her film features a group of housewives who are going there, and they do fitness. And they experience this in a little gym in Kabul with all these posters of men with exaggerated muscles and oily bodies, and these women trying to fit themselves in. I thought it would be interesting to also look at displacement from another point of view. Meanwhile, Kattan discussed his project with the working title Allies in Exile, for which he earned a Displacement Film Fund grant. Two Syrian filmmakers, bound by a 14-year friendship forged in war, document their shared exile in the U.K. asylum system until one is granted refuge and the other returns to a changed Syria, reflecting the impossible choices refugees face today, reads a synopsis for the film. Last year was so difficult for me because I ended up here in the U.K. as an asylum seeker, and I was inside the asylum process, every day facing the system from inside and feeling the disappointment, Kattan told THR. I started from the zero point again. And through this experience and the revolution in Syria, documenting everything, telling a story feels like its the only way that we can scream or express our feelings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: When I heard about and saw this grant and fund, I thought, Oh my God, this is really, really what I need. Because I was having no hope to make this film, because finding money in this time and my situation how do I express this? When you live this experience, you lose any hope around you. You start to feel hopeless. When I saw this grant, it was a big hope for me to bring light to this project, to this film, because I see it as helping me in my personal perspective and reflecting the situation of the asylum seeker. Concluded Kattan: Its not just about fleeing war, its not about the journey. Its about the daily struggle and the human struggle in daily life. I hope I can make this project, this film, [create] a wide conversation about asylum seekers and refugees. Rasoulof was awarded his grant for a so far unnamed project with this plot description: After the death of an exiled writer, his family tries to fulfill his wish to be buried according to his will but honoring his request leads to unexpected complications. Harawes project with the working title Whispers of a Burning Scent is pitched this way: On the day of a pivotal court hearing, a quiet man faces the unraveling of his marriage and the judgment of his stepchildren, while searching for solace in what once gave his life meaning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Er Gorbachs Silk Road, also a working title, is described as a timely UkraineEurope road movie about a young Ukrainian woman whose family has been torn apart by war: while her children live in Europe, she and her husband remain in Kyiv, working in a childrens hospital as the war goes on. The Displacement Film Fund pilot program is offering grants of 100,000 ($104,000) each to the five displaced filmmakers to make original shorts. Blanchett headed up the selection committee, joined by Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, documentarians Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Flee) and Waad Al-Kateab (For Sama), director Agnieszka Holland (Green Border), Rotterdam festival director Vanja Kaludjercic, activist and refugee Aisha Khurram, and Amin Nawabi [alias], the LGBTQ+ asylum seeker who was Rasmussens inspiration for the Oscar-nominated Flee. The numbers of people outside their their country of origin around the world has just ballooned and continues to grow, Blanchett told THR. Im a global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, and when I started working with them 10 years ago, the numbers were around 60 million, and its now over 120 million. And while people are displaced, they dont stop being mothers, brothers, uncles, cousins, nor do they stop being filmmakers and artists. And given that its one of the great challenges that were facing as a species, its always bewildered me why these incredible stories, heartbreaking sometimes, yes, but inspiring and having more points of connection to peoples lives who are not displaced, why they dont get told more frequently. So that was part of the DNA of the idea. She lauded a real coalition of the willing for making the fund happen quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five short films will have their world premieres at IFFR next year but Blanchett and Stewart and others who are coalescing around the fund are also very committed to indeed [figuring out] what the lives of the films will be beyond that, the Stewart said. Thats what we are here to sort out, Blanchett concluded. And the star highlighted that the stories told by displaced creatives will be able to surprise audiences. There are so many surprising narratives that emerge, often heartbreaking, but also full of resilience and transformation, Blanchett said. Part of the DNA of the fund in its pilot stage is to sort of reject and challenge the stereotypes and the categorizations that swirl around the discourse about what it means to be displaced. These might be genre-driven or romantic or surprising stories that really speak to the breadth of that experience and entertain an audience. And then they happen to find out that the filmmaker is displaced or that theres much more connective tissue between their experience and their own. Concluded Blanchett: Its a wonderful beginning, in that way, to really allow the audience to go through some sort of revelatory transformation as much as perhaps the filmmakers getting a chance to pick up the pieces of their amazing careers that they had to leave behind when they left their countries. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Treasure hunters: Eiza Gonzalez, John Krasinski and Natalie Portman star in Fountain of Youth. | Credit: Apple TV Plus. Hold onto your fedoras and flashlights! Director Guy Ritchie is delivering pulse-pounding stunts, exotic locations and Indiana Jones-style mysteries in new action-adventure movie, Fountain of Youth, streaming on Apple TV Plus from May 23. The globe-trotting caper follows squabbling siblings Luke (John Krasinski) and Charlotte Purdue (Natalie Portman), treasure hunters who reunite for a wild expedition to unearth age-old secrets and locate the mythological fountain of youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luke is a daring, rule-breaking artifact hunter, while Charlotte enjoys her grounded, stable life as an art curator in London. But when Luke steals artwork from his sisters gallery and upends her whole world, Charlotte has little choice but to join Lukes madcap mission funded by mysterious billionaire Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson). As their puzzle-solving heist spans Bangkok, Vienna, London and Cairo, hot on their trail are the Thai mafia, Interpol and a dangerous secret sect led by the enigmatic Esme (Eiza Gonzalez). What to Watch chatted with John Krasinski, 45, and Natalie Portman, 43, to find out more What can you tell us about this adventurous brother-sister duo? John: Characters like Luke dont come along very often. Hes a fun-hearted, adventurous spirit and sees Charlotte as a stick in the mud. But I think everyone becomes a Guy Ritchie action hero once Guy has time with the character. Ive loved this experience from head-to-toe because of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie: Im an only child and have always dreamt of having a brother, but not the sort who would drag me into trouble like Luke! Charlotte got married, had a kid and decided to have this safe, controlled life. Theres a lot of sibling rivalry, but she rediscovers the beauty of adventure with him. John Krasinski as adventurer Luke Purdue. | Credit: Apple TV Plus. You're both already action heroes but some of the stunt work, such as fighting on a shipwreck and chasing through the Pyramids of Egypt, must have been career-firsts? Natalie: Absolutely! Anything Ive done on this scale before has had so much CGI, but most of the action is in real places with real people. We were filming car stunts in Liverpool and youll see genuine terror and screaming from me because we were really whipping around corners in a chase. John: Ive done action sequences before but nothing on this scale. A perfect example is the fight I have with Eiza Gonzalez in Vienna. Ive been in fight scenes, but never in a national library flying a drone around. It was surreal and really fun. It was a globe-trotting shoot too, with filming in Thailand, Austria, the UK and Egypt John: Seeing these places up close and shooting at the base of the Great Pyramids was thrilling. It was a long shoot with a lot of travelling, but my kids were with us in Vienna. They loved Guy Ritchie and were hanging out in his trailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie: I wish wed had more time in these incredible places. The Pyramids is by far the most insane location Ive ever shot at. Eyes on the prize: Natalie Portman, John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson, Carmen Ejogo and Laz Alonso. | Credit: Apple TV Plus. Aside from the epic stunts and far-flung locations, what else appealed to you about Fountain of Youth? John: Well, they dont make movies like this anymore, but to be in a Guy Ritchie version of this genre is what made it so unique and fun for me. Its the movie I got into this industry for, and I hope all the fun we had making it pops through the screen. Its so family-friendly, even my own kids cant wait to see it. Natalie: Guy knows how to entertain and this is the sort of escapism we need right now. Ive never experienced this scale on any film: its the kind of epic family adventure that we dont get to see these days. Its also unusual to have a film led by siblings of opposite genders. Would you drink from a real fountain of youth if you had the chance? John: We had this conversation every day in Guys trailer. For me, the fountain is more of an idea of enlightenment, as you realise that youre living in a moment that is potentially the most joyful of your life, so act accordingly. Id look for ways to find happiness in my life rather than constantly search for something I dont have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie: I love the metaphor that the external search for it symbolises an internal desire to recapture the wonder, passion and adventure of youth. All we really want is to feel that excitement and awe of the world. Fountain of Youth is available to stream on Apple TV Plus from Friday, May 23. Succession creator Jesse Armstrong is continuing to use his distinctive satirical tone to explore how the 1 percent wields power over the world. In his directorial debut Mountainhead, Armstrong hones in on the oversized influence of a group of tech bro billionaires played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef, and Cory Michael Smith. The HBO film, which will premiere on HBO and Max on May 31, finds the four friends tucked away in a modern mansion in the snowy Utah mountains as one of their social media apps spurs global unrest and violence due to unrestricted generative AI. More from GoldDerby Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Mountainhead premiere held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Thursday, Carell spoke to reporters on the red carpet about the "overwhelming" experience of slipping into the identity of a billionaire. Early in the film, his character Randall, who ranks highest in the group in terms of seniority, is embittered when his net worth falls below that of Youssefs Jeff, who's created tech that safeguards against the dangers of AI. "When somebody is worth $60, $200 billion, the actual amount doesn't even mean anything anymore, I think, to these people. It's a number," Carell said. "But the number itself kind of means something, if that makes any sense. There is a hierarchy within that, even though the actual physical ability to buy things doesnt really change between 60 and 200 billion. But the fact that within this hierarchy of four people, he's second and may end up being third is not a good thing. So that's a huge component of all of this." Armstrong, who traces his script inspiration back to writing a review of Michael Lewis' book about Sam Bankman-Fried, explained to Gold Derby why he's keen on examining the lives of the ultra wealthy. "I guess it's not especially the 1 percent-y wealth that interests me I think it's the power that comes with that. So for myself, I wouldn't tend to write things that were necessarily just about rich people. It's the fact that they have that power on the world. And that's what Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his family had, and it's what these guys have, or at least some of them. And that's the bit that I'm really interested in: Why is the world the way it is, and who's shaping it?" SEE HBO unveils trailer for Jesse Armstrong's Mountainhead Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the film, the four protagonists are decidedly separate from the rest of the world as they stay put at the titular Mountainhead mansion that belongs to Schwartzmans character (who is nicknamed Souper for having the lowest net worth in the group with nary a billion to his name). Armstrong detailed how the secluded property was found and its significance to the storyline. "Paul Eskenazi, location manager from Succession, helped us find it. We looked at a lot of places in Canada and Utah, and we wanted to be somewhere sequestrated away from other people. And that's a common thing about wealth, right? Private planes, gated communities. So it needed to feel isolated. It also needed to feel isolated for some of the action that happens in the movie. I wanted them to feel like they were almost like a horror movie removed." Notably, Mountainhead came together in less than a years time. Executive producer Will Tracy sees the project as "the perfect thing" to release in our current sociopolitical climate. "In many ways, that was part of the appeal, is the urgency of it, that we can maybe get it out very soon, before anyone else had a crack at this fairly new world of government that has in some ways been captured by the techno-futurists, by the Musks and so forth of the world," he said. "It's changing so rapidly, whats happening in the government, so hopefully we got it right." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tracy also spoke to the appeal of telling stories spotlighting the 1 percent. "I think it starts with the characters and the kind of small, more human stories we want to tell about those people Succession being kind of a family story, and this being kind of a story about male friendship, in a way. And we tell those stories on a very small level," he said. "But the finance and the money and the power just raises the stakes of what these, I think, very emotionally difficult people, the ripple effects they can have on our world, which, as we're seeing right now, those ripple effects can be quite large ripples waves even. Tsunamis." Mountainhead premieres May 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max. Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. As May comes to an end, Memorial Day is fast approaching, falling this year on Monday, May 26 and New Hampshire is getting ready to mark the occasion. Always celebrated on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is a holiday in which the nation mourns and honors its deceased service men and women, according to the website for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The holiday is observed by honoring fallen military members, often through placing wreaths on their graves or hosting parades in their memory. Looking to commemorate the holiday? Here's a list of Memorial Day parades, ceremonies and special events in New Hampshire for 2025. Memorial Day Parades in NH 2025 American flags are posted throughout Ocean View Cemetery for Memorial Day in Wells, Maine. Here is a list of Memorial Day parades and ceremonies in New Hampshire, all taking place on Monday, May 26 unless otherwise noted*: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atkinson : 10:30 a.m. Starts at Atkinson Town Hall and ends at Dow Common. Bedford : *May 25 at 1 p.m. Starts at Bedford Center Road and ends at Town Hall. Bow : 4:30-6:30 p.m. Ceremony and picnic at Bow Gazebo. Center Harbor : Noon to 12:30 p.m. Starts at Nichols Memorial Library and ends at Lakeview Cemetery. Concord : 9 a.m. Starts at Christ the King Church and ends at City Plaza. Dover : 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Starts at The Woodman Museum and ends at Pine Hill Cemetery. Dublin : 11:15 a.m. Durham : 10 a.m. Ceremony at Memorial Park. Epping : 10 a.m. Exeter : 10 a.m. Starts at Swasey Parkway and ends at Gale Park. Fremont : *May 25 at 9 a.m. Starts at Town Hall. Gilford : 10 a.m. Starts at Gilford Community Church and ends at Pine Grove Cemetery. Hancock : 2 p.m. Ceremony on Town Common. Hollis : 4:30-7 p.m. Hooksett : Noon. Starts at Lamberts Park and ends on Riverside Dr. Hudson : 2-4 p.m. Starts at Hannaford parking lot and ends at Hudson Post #48. Kingston : 1-2 p.m. Starts at Town Hall. Lebanon : 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Starts on Eldridge St. and ends at Colburn Park. Londonderry : 10 a.m. Starts on Robert Lincoln Way. Manchester : 2 p.m. Starts at Elm and Webster St. and ends at Veterans Memorial Park. Marlow : *May 24 from noon to 1 p.m. Starts at Marlow Library and ends at Village Cemetery. Nashua : 10:30 a.m. Main St. Newton : 10 a.m. Starts from Safety Complex on Merrimac Road and ends at Willow Grove Cemetery. Penacook : 10 a.m. Starts at Merrimack Valley High School and ends at Washington St. School. Plymouth : 10:30 a.m. Starts at Plymouth Armory and ends at Town Hall. Portsmouth : 1 p.m. Ceremony at South Cemetery. Raymond : 10 a.m. to noon. Starts at Argo and ends at Old Pine Grove Cemetery. Rindge : *May 30 from 10-11 a.m. Ceremony at Cathedral of the Pines. Rochester : 10:30 a.m. Starts at Holy Rosary Church and ends Rochester Commons. Rye : 9 a.m. Starts at Central Cemetery. Stratham : 1:30 p.m. Starts at Stratham Hill Park. Troy : 10:30 a.m. Starts at Troy Elementary School and ends at Town Common. Windham : 9:30 a.m. Wolfeboro: 9-10 a.m. Starts at Brewster Memorial Field. Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival For the 33rd year, Meredith's Mill Falls Marketplace will come alive with a Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival full of color, flavor, music and of course, crafts. Guests at this free event can discover artwork from over 100 New England artisans, including goods like gemstone jewelry and hand-thrown pottery. The festival will also feature an exciting lineup of foods, including fresh baked goods and wine slushy mixes. The craft festival will take place May 24-26 at Mill Falls Marketplace, with hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: When is Memorial Day 2025? Here's when it is and how we celebrate it Wildquack Duck Race & Music Festival Jackson Village Park is once again celebrating Memorial Day with the Wildquack Duck Race & Music Festival, a fun-filled day with music from local musicians, fair foods, children's games and pictures with Wildquack, the official duck of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. This free event will start at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 25, with the first duck race starting at 1:45 p.m. Memorial Day Chowderfest Kick off the start to summer with a day full of fantastic seafood at Waterville Valley's 35th Annual Chowderfest. Enjoy live music as you sample chowder from local restaurants and vote on whose is best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Admission to Chowderfest costs $7.50 for adults or $5 for children ages 12 and under. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 25 at the Waterville Valley Town Square. Holiday closures: Memorial Day is on May 26 this year. Here's what's open and closed in NH for the holiday Kirby Youth Fishing Derby Young outdoor lovers can celebrate this Memorial Day with the 15th Annual Youth Fishing Derby at Corcoran Pond. For a registration fee of $8, children under 15 can compete for prizes and enjoy attractions like face painting and make-your-own t-shirts. Casting for Kerby will take place from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 24, with an awards ceremony at 11 a.m. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Where to celebrate Memorial Day 2025 in NH: List of parades, ceremonies May 23 (UPI) -- A prisoner swap is underway Friday between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian officials said. The swap, involving 1,000 prisoners from each side, began on Friday and was not yet completed, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, The Kyiv Independent and CNN reported. The process of exchanging the prisoners is expected to take several days, CNN reported. U.S. President Donald Trump, however posted on his Truth Social account Friday that the swap had been completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly," Trump said. "Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big?" A source familiar with the matter, however, told The Kyiv Independent the swap was still ongoing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted to social media Thursday that the prisoner swap "was perhaps the only tangible result of the meeting in Turkey." "We are working to ensure that this result is achieved," he wrote. The two sides met last week in Istanbul and Zelensky continued that Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov is involved with the "organization of the process and the implementation of the agreement," but several other prominent members of the Ukrainian government have also taken part in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky also added that his team is "clarifying the details for each individual included on the lists submitted by the Russian side. "Returning all of our people from Russian captivity is one of Ukraine's key objectives," he said. He also posted Monday that "the most significant outcome of the meetings [in Turkey] was the agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in a 1,000-for-1,000 format." Additionally, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War had announced on Telegram last week that Russia had returned the bodies of 909 Ukrainian soldiers. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A crash in Iberville Parish left one person dead and another person injured on Thursday. According to Sheriff Brett Stassi, around 2 p.m., deputies were called to a single-vehicle crash on LA 77 as a car exited the road and became partially submerged on the bank of Bayou Plaquemine. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and another was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stassi shared that the victims of the crash were not residents of Iberville Parish. The Louisiana State Police is investigating the crash. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Savannah Police officers are investigating a shooting on Arcadian Street Thursday, a spokesperson confirmed. The report came in around 5:50 p.m. The call initially was for Liberty Parkway, but the shooting occurred on Arcadian Street, a SPD spokesperson said. An adult male was shot in the abdomen, but his injuries were non-life-threatening. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The victim told investigators he was fired upon by a person riding in a vehicle that afterwards fled the scene. Police on Arcadian Street and Meadow Avenue. WSAV The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should call CrimeStoppers, 912-234-2020 or submit an anonymous tip through the SPD mobile app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stick with WSAV 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. If you're new to Texas or a native to the state, there are restaurants that have been serving Texans for a long time that you might want to consider visiting. This list, compiled with suggestions from various restaurant reviews, details some of the oldest restaurants in Texas. Some of them date back as late as 1911. Check out these 10 classic restaurants throughout Texas. 1886: The Driskill Grill (Austin) The Driskill Grill, located within the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin, is a renowned fine-dining establishment known for its refined American cuisine and exceptional service. The Driskill Hotel itself opened in 1886, making it one of the oldest operating hotels in Texas. Over the years, the Grill has hosted many notable events, including the first date of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson. With its elegant atmosphere and rich history, The Driskill Grill continues to offer a distinctive Austin dining experience. 1910: Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse (Richardson) Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse is famous for its authentic Texas barbecue, featuring slow-smoked meats prepared with the lean side down a technique passed down since Elias Bryan began the tradition in 1910. The restaurant is also distinguished by its commitment to quality, using post oak wood and a closely guarded barbecue sauce recipe to enhance its signature flavors. 1911: Gaido's (Galveston) Gaido's Seafood, a Galveston institution since 1911, is renowned for its fresh Gulf seafood and rich culinary traditions. Founded by San Giacinto Gaido, the restaurant has upheld its commitment to quality for over a century, offering hand-prepared shrimp, oysters, and fish alongside house-made sauces and seasonings. 1917: Schilo's Delicatessen (San Antonio) Schilo's Delicatessen has been a beloved San Antonio institution since its founding in 1917. First operating as a saloon in Beeville, Texas, it moved to San Antonio in the early 1900s. Famous for its German-Texan cuisine, Schilo's has preserved its unique blend of flavors for generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1917: Christie's Seafood & Steaks (Houston) Christie's Seafood & Steaks, a Houston establishment since 1917, is celebrated for its fresh Gulf seafood and classic steak offerings. Initially founded by Greek immigrant Theodore Christie as a small stand in Galveston, the restaurant quickly gained popularity and expanded to Houston in 1934. 1918: El Fenix (Dallas) According to WFAA, El Fenix was established in Dallas in 1918 by Miguel Martinez and carried on by his family. It has grown into a North Texas staple with multiple locations, including its second opening in the 1940s. Prior to founding El Fenix, Miguel launched Martinez Cafe in 1916 at the corner of Griffin Street and McKinney Avenue. 1926: Paris Coffee Shop (Fort Worth) Paris Coffee Shop, a beloved Fort Worth institution since 1926, serves up classic breakfast and lunch favorites with a contemporary flair. 1935: Joe T. Garcia's (Fort Worth) Joe T. Garcia's is a legendary Mexican restaurant in Fort Worth, known for its vibrant atmosphere, iconic patio, and strong margaritas. Established in 1935 by Joe T. Garcia and his wife, Mamasuez, the restaurant started as a small, family-run operation and has since grown to cover an entire block on Commerce Street. Today, it remains under the stewardship of their grandchildren, continuing the tradition of serving authentic Mexican cuisine in a lively, welcoming setting. Over the decades, Joe T. Garcia's has become a must-visit destination, attracting both locals and celebrities alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1952: Matt's El Rancho (Austin) Matt's El Rancho has been a cherished part of Austin's dining scene since 1952. Initially opening with just ten tables on East First Street, this iconic Tex-Mex restaurant now thrives on South Lamar Boulevard. Founded by Matt Martinez, Sr. and his wife Janie, it has built a lasting reputation for scratch-made Tex-Mex dishes that have delighted generations of locals and visitors alike. 1960: The Big Texan Steak Ranch (Amarillo) The Big Texan Steak Ranch opened in 1960 in Amarillo and draws visitors with its famous 72-oz steak challenge. Located in a dedicated restaurant area for public viewing, participants who can consume the entire steak and sides within one hour receive a complimentary meal. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 10 of the oldest restaurants in Texas that are still open BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo is welcoming a new animal. Help name the Beardsley Zoos giant anteater baby Ponya, an 11-month-old red panda, will be joining the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat. Ponya is coming from the Detroit Zoo. The zoo says that Ponya is known for her playful antics and inquisitive nature. Her move is a part of a collaborative effort among AZA-accredited institutions to ensure the long-term survival of red pandas through carefully managed breeding programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors are encouraged to stop by the zoo to welcome Ponya to Connecticut. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Oklahomas $12.59 billion state budget bill for Fiscal Year 2026, House Bill 2766, is headed to the governors desk for final approval after securing Senate approval on Thursday afternoon. The latest budget bill, which passed in the Senate with a vote of 27 to 19, includes $312 million for the purchase of the Lawton Correction Facility from GEO Group and $27.4 million in supplemental funds for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Lawmakers agree on Oklahoma budget, could see income tax cut Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are some of the most notable budget changes listed in the FY26 appropriations summary: Department of Education: +$121.6 million (+3.15%) Oklahoma Educational Television Authority: -$2.9 million (-49.1%) Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System: -$15.6 million (-3.21%) Oklahoma Tax Commission: -$51 million (-59.88%) Oklahoma Military Department: +$20.4 million (+89.91%) Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics: -$45.4 million (-63.06%) Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: +$16.2 million (+4.18%) Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority: -$4.3 million (-10.19%) Department of Veterans Affairs: -$4.1 million (-9.21%) Department of Agriculture: -$16.1 million (-21.96%) A full appropriations summary of the FY26 budget can be found here. Several state lawmakers weighed in following the passing of the budget bill. This budget is a reflection of Oklahomas valuesresponsible, conservative, and focused on real results. Were prioritizing core services like education, mental health, public safety and infrastructure, while maintaining strong fiscal discipline. Im proud of the Senates work and the collaboration with our House colleagues to deliver a budget that supports families, strengthens communities and keeps Oklahoma taxpayers in mind. Now we send it to the governors desk to move Oklahoma forward. Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) This budget is a result of thoughtful collaboration between the House and Senate, and I am proud of the way we came together to put Oklahomans first. Weve ensured strong investments in our students, state services and economic developments while keeping government spending restrained. This budget serves the needs of today while protecting the interests of future generations. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) Oklahoma Senate Democrats will always work the aisle to address real problems facing our state, ensuring all kids get a great education, access to health and mental health care, and great-paying jobs. But instead, we got a budget that prioritizes tax cuts that mostly benefit the very rich, more money for private school vouchers, and does nothing to address the everyday issues Oklahomans face. You deserve better. Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) A thriving economy depends on a well-educated workforce, but once again, our public schools have been left behind while unaccountable voucher programs grow unchecked. When it comes to the budget, public education should be our highest priority. At a time when our schools continue to face a crisis in teacher shortages, weve not included so much as a cost-of-living increase while hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars continue to fund private schools. This budget fails our schools, our students, and our communities. Senator Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. (PUEBLO, Colo.) A 15-year-old boy and 24-year-old woman have been arrested in connection to the drive-by shooting of 19-year-old Michael Suazo in April. According to the Pueblo Police Department (PPD), officers originally responded on April 6 to the area of Highway 50 and Hudson Avenue on a report of a shooting. When they arrived, officers found Suazo suffering from apparent gunshot wounds in a car near Hwy 50. He was pronounced dead on scene, and two others in the car were evaluated for minor injuries, PPD said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 19-year-old identified in fatal Pueblo drive-by shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPD said the shooting was believed to have occurred in the intersection of N. Hudson Avenue and Hwy 50, with many witnesses present at the time. A manhunt was launched following the shooting, with officers looking for a red 2015 Ford Escape. PPD said investigators developed enough evidence to issue arrest warrants for a 15-year-old suspect as well as 24-year-old Caitlyn Gonzales. Shortly before 5 p.m. on May 20, both suspects were located by the Colorado Violent Offender Task Force. When officers tried to pull them over, PPD said they fled north on I-25 toward the City of Fountain. The Fountain Police Department was able to disable the car, and both suspects were taken into custody and transported back to Pueblo. 15-year-old arrested in connection to drive-by shooting of Michael Suazo. Courtesy: U.S. Marshals Service Courtesy: Pueblo Police Department The teen was taken to Pueblo Youth Corrections, where he was booked on warrants for first-degree murder after deliberation and violating juvenile parole. Gonzales was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on felony charges of accessory to a crime and tampering with physical evidence, as well as a misdemeanor for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Rochester Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding a 15-year-old boy being shot on Friday. Police said they responded to reports of a person shot at a residence on Sander Street around 12:40 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the lower body. RPD has said there are no suspects at this time. In a statement issued Friday, RPD said, it is unclear if there is anyone, other than the 15-year-old, involved in causing this injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. SAC COUNTY, Iowa (KCAU) A teen from Jefferson, Iowa, has been accused of shooting someone in an attempt to kill them. Now, he is asking to be transferred to a juvenile court. Keegan Kennedy, 16, is accused of shooting a Sioux City resident in the head, on May 4, while in the vehicle with them. The victim did not die, and on May 7, Kennedy was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Kennedy requested a motion to transfer to juvenile court. A hearing for the motion is scheduled for July 7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Eighteen soldiers with the 6th Ranger Training Battalion have been temporarily suspended as instructors pending the outcome of an investigation into a May 16 incident in Florida, during which they allegedly fired blank rounds from their weapons at a public beach, said Jennifer S. Gunn, a spokeswoman for the Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia. Currently, the Ranger instructors cannot train students going through the final stage of the U.S. Army Ranger Course at Camp Rudder, located on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Gunn told Task & Purpose on Thursday. The 6th Ranger Training Battalion runs the swamp phase of the Ranger Course, but is not within the 75th Ranger Regiment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The May 16 incident at Crab Island in Destin, Florida, led to at least two 911 calls and several social media posts. Videos posted on social media showed men in military uniforms with Ranger tabs and blank adapters on their weapons firing at least two bursts into the air. In one of the videos, a woman who is off camera can be heard shouting after the first burst, Is that real? Michael Ingram, a charter boat captain who was at Crab Island at the time, told Task & Purpose that the soldiers did not give any advance warning that they intended to fire their weapons, prompting several boaters to take cover. This is unacceptable because there are so many real mass shootings going on in America each year, Ingram told Task & Purpose for a previous story. You cant be joking about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gunn confirmed that the suspended Ranger instructors participated in the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, which was held on the evening of May 16 at nearby Fort Walton Beach. The festival included a mock sea battle, in which the Rangers fired blanks while riding in small boats to capture Billy Bowlegs. This was the only approved festival activity that involved the Army Rangers firing their weapons, Devon Ravine, a spokesman for the city of Fort Walton Beach, told Task & Purpose on Monday. The pirate festival, he said, was about five miles from Crab Island. We do not know what occurred at Crab Island on Friday, and cannot comment, except to say that it was not in any way a part of the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival. The latest on Task & Purpose ST. LOUIS A would-be car clouter has been charged in connection with a shooting earlier this month in south St. Louis that resulted in his cohorts death. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. on May 2 in the 6300 block of Vermont Avenue, located in the citys Carondelet neighborhood. Police said Derrick Bostic, 18, and other teens were breaking into several vehicles on Vermont Ave. that morning. A resident on the block grabbed a firearm and went outside to confront the thieves. The person fired a shot to scare or startle the group. Instead, the car thieves took out guns of their own and returned fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News A 16-year-old with Bostic was struck and killed. Police said the incident was captured on a surveillance video. Bostic was taken into custody a short time later and allegedly admitted his involvement in the break-ins and shooting. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Bostic with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal action. Bostic remains in custody without bond. No future court date could be found in online records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock on Friday had strong words for one of two people charged in connection with a Thursday incident where police were shot at and led on a pursuit of an armed suspect in a stolen vehicle along Highway 17 Bypass. Riley Pegram, 17, of Brown Summit, North Carolina, was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a stolen vehicle and failure to stop for blue lights. Omarion Glass, 20, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was charged with three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and use or employment of a person under 18 to commit certain crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both were denied bond on Friday, but Prock had strong words for Glass during his hearing. This is about much more than just a moment. It is about the danger, Prock said. They caused a mere disregard for human life, and the fact that they dont care. He does not care. While Prock was speaking, Glass was seen laughing and smiling. They do not care, she said. Laugh all you want . . . it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Not in Myrtle Beach, not in Horry County, and not in our state. The incident ended when the suspects vehicle wrecked near 67th Avenue North and North Highway 17. Four people were in the vehicle, and all were taken into custody, but two are not facing charges and were released to state custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glass is scheduled to appear in court again on July 25. News13 was present during the bond hearing on Friday, where Christopher White, the lead investigator for the case, said Glass was shooting an AR style rifle during the Thursday incident. A Myrtle Beach police officer also said that it was Something out of a movie. News13 could not be in the courtroom during Pegrams hearing due to his age. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here. * * * 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. UPDATE (May 23, 3:51 p.m.): The short taste of freedom for the two Citronelle inmates who escaped could cost them up to 10 years in jail when they were originally booked for minor misdemeanors. They were probably being looked at being released at their next court date, coming up in the first part of June. So, to go to where they are now being charged with a very serious class C felony is a big difference, Citronelle Police Chief Chris McLean said. McLean told News 5 that after interviewing both of the suspects, they determined this escape was not planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a spur-of-the-moment, and they just decided to take that chance, McLean said. After the two men jumped two fences at the jail facility, they ran into a wooded area across the street from the police department, making it difficult for investigators to spot them immediately. Those particular woods that they went into were very thick, McLean said. Both men were transported to Mobile Metro Jail and are accused of 2nd-degree escape. They are set to appear in court next week. PREVIOUS REPORTING CITRONELLE, Ala. (WKRG) Two Citronelle inmates escaped from the police departments jail facility Thursday night and have been recaptured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon man found guilty of threatening to kill Mobile pastor, DOJ says According to Citronelle Police Chief Michael C. McLean, Herles Bolden, 30, and Kentrell Creagh, 30, escaped Thursday night before 7 while they were in the jail facilitys recreational yard and scaled two fences. They were last seen running into a wooded area near Gulf Lane and Centre Street. (Mobile County Sheriffs Office) Both were taken into custody around 9:30 p.m. near Pine Crest Cemetery. The Mobile County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Unit assisted the Citronelle Police Department in finding both suspects. (Mobile County Sheriffs Office) They were taken into custody without incident, according to McLean. A nearby resident saw Bolden and Creagh, and officers detained them when they saw the two come out of the woods near Pine Crest Cemetery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mobile Arena raises parking concerns, city officials say not to worry Bolden was in custody for outstanding tickets and drug paraphernalia possession. Creagh was in custody for public intoxication. They are now both accused of second-degree escape. This is a developing story. News 5 will provide 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 WKRG News 5. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Two families were displaced after a home trailer fire on Thursday, May 22, in Anthony, Texas, the West Valley Fire Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Valley FD said that the department was dispatched shortly after 2 p.m. on Thursday to a report of a structure fire at Kenwood and Wildcat streets. Upon arrival, fire crews found heavy fire in the trailer, and it was extending into the next-door neighbors trailer, West Valley FD said. West Valley FD said that due to high heat and the high volume of the fire, the department requested mutual aid. Dona Ana, Sunland Park, and the City of El Paso sent two engines each to help combat the fire. A total of six engines were at the scene, with 27 firefighters battling the fire. No injuries were reported, and all the animals that were inside one of the trailers were evacuated by the Anthony Police Department, West Valley FD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Valley FD said the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Two men were sentenced to prison Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting outside a casino in Delano nearly 11 years ago. Carlos Augusto Reveles, 41, was sentenced to 25 years to life after pleading no contest to a charge of first-degree murder in the death of David Medina, whom he shot multiple times outside the Aviator Casino. Co-defendant Vincent Mike Gonzalez received a three-year term after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter. He kicked the 46-year-old Medina after he was mortally wounded and lying on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez apologized to Medinas family in court, saying he used to struggle with drugs and alcohol but hes turned his life around and gave all that negativity to the Lord. Gonzalez was represented by defense lawyer David A. Torres, and Reveles by David Evers. Medinas family wanted them to serve even more time in custody. Medinas brother told the court the plea deals were a mixed blessing. Hes glad he wont have to listen to the details of his brothers murder at trial, but he would have preferred it if Reveles got life without parole and Gonzalez more than a decade in prison. Since his brothers slaying, he said, the family has become aware of the harsh reality that predators walk among us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A niece of Medina said theres nothing that can give the family justice. When I think about what is just and what is fair, there is nothing on this earth that can right this wrong, she said. Reveles and Gonzalez were charged years after the Aug. 9, 2014, shooting, which occurred after a fight between two groups of people outside the casino. Reveles was getting the worst of the fight, Judge Colette M. Humphrey said in summarizing the case, and ran to his car. Gonzalez followed and got in the passenger seat. They could have left at that point, Humphrey said, but Reveles instead drove toward Medina and his friends. He got out of the vehicle and fired at Medina, hitting him multiple times. Gonzalez then kicked Medina once as he lay dying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Several members of a prison task force said a new mens prison and its site need to fit the needs of staff and offenders. Task force member Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff said he doesnt want the state to pursue a project that fits only a few years with a need to address additional issues. If we do that, weve failed, Mehlhaff said. A prison project is something the state wants to do every 50 to 100 years, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The task force is reviewing a study of the prison and recommendations to replace the existing mens prison in Sioux Falls. Consultant Arrington Watkins has done the study and one its recommendations is to build a 1,500 to 1,700 bed facility as soon as possible. The task force will also evaluate potential sites, narrow down those sites and the consultant will develop a plan based on those potential sites. The potential site includes a location in Lincoln County between Harrisburg and Canton that has received strong opposition. The existing prison is a horrible place for staff and inmates, task force member Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead said. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum both said in a letter obtained by KELOLAND News Wednesday that they did not support possible sites in Sioux Falls. They did support the original site in Lincoln County and another possible site near Worthing. The one thing Id say about sites, clearly, there is strong objection to the Lincoln County site, Milstead said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milstead described it as Not In My Backyard or NIMBY. He understands that those who are opposed may be living in lifetime rural homes or have had farms passed down through generations. And that they were surprised to learn a prison could be built in the area. Yet, If you looked at the sites in Sioux Falls, there are hundreds of not thousands who live in the general area, Milstead said. Hes heard significant strong opposition to several sites in Sioux Falls from neighboring residents and businesses, Milstead said. Mehlhaff said some of the proposed sites will be easier to eliminate such as in Grant County near Big Stone City. That proposal is getting robust push back, he said. Even so, the site is too far away, Mehlhaff said. For example, its impractical and too far if inmates are transported from Pennington County, he said. Hes also concerned about available workforce and medical services. Mehlhaff was asked specifically about the former Citibank site in Sioux Falls. Lawmaker and task force member Republican Sen. Chris Karr recently told South Dakota Searchlight that the Citibank property was almost turn-key. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my mind there are a lot of hurdles before that becomes a viable option, Mehlhaff said of the Citibank property. The property could provide for some prison needs but does not believe the buildings could be used for inmate housing, Mehlhaff said. it would not take care of all of our needs, he said. The Arrington Watkins report also cited a 2023 law which requires offenders of certain violent crimes to serve 100% of their sentences and others to serve 85% of their sentences as a major factor in increasing the prison population. The report recommended the state build a second 1,700 project because of the expected increase in the prison population because of longer mandatory sentences. Milstead said its too soon to estimate the impact of the 2023 law Senate Bill 246 called Truth in Sentencing. Before the 2023 law, judges may have sentenced an offender to 15 years and the offender may have only served two. Because of the 2023 judges may decide to sentence the offender to five years knowing theyd serve the full five or to two years knowing the offender would serve the full two years, Milstead said. Those scenarios would not necessarily increase the prison population, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, he said, the laws impact will need to be monitored, Milstead said. But, the task force is not responsible for recommending program changes or additions or to weigh in on policy, he said. The task forces role is to deal with the need for a prison, select a project and site to recommend to the Legislature, Milstead said. In a Tuesday KELOLAND News story, task force members Democrat Sen. Jamie Smith and Democrat Rep. Erin Healy said prison policies including the 2023 Senate Bill 246 law need to be studied. A prison may be needed but the state must also find ways to better prevent crime and improve chances at an offenders reentry in to the community, they said. A summer study is planned for prison policies and sentencing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two women were arrested for allegedly stealing over $20,000 worth of merchandise from Orange County stores. On May 22, Costa Mesa police responded to reports of a theft at the Lululemon store at the South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa shortly before 8 p.m. Four female suspects were seen fleeing from the mall two fled the area on foot while the other two left in a getaway car. The vehicle was later tracked down by officers, but the suspects refused to pull over, leading police on a pursuit through surface streets before entering the 55 Freeway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With help from a Huntington Beach police helicopter and California Highway Patrol officers, the women were eventually pulled over on the freeway and taken into custody. Theft suspects Latasha Marie Brown, 36, of Clinton, Iowa, and Laporsha Holloway, 37, of Chicago, Illinois, were arrested after fleeing South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa. Police later found over $20,000 worth of stolen clothes and merchandise inside the womens vehicle. (Costa Mesa Police Department) The suspects were identified as Latasha Marie Brown, 36, of Clinton, Iowa, and Laporsha Holloway, 37, of Chicago, Illinois, police told the Los Angeles Times. As police searched the suspects car, they discovered several garbage bags filled with clothing and merchandise that had been stolen from Lululemon and other similar retail stores. Both women are taken into custody on suspicion of grand theft, evading police and conspiracy to commit a crime. The other two female suspects who fled on foot remain at large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe the four women have been working to target other retail locations as part of an organized retail theft ring. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the California Highway Patrol Retail Theft Task Force to address this type of organized retail theft, Costa Mesa police said. We thank HBPD and CHP for the assistance and teamwork. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Although the weather is warming up, several recreational parks in the United States have been shut down until further notice. People in Georgia noticed that Tidwell Park had barricades and signs at its entrance on Wednesday. It didn't take long for the Army Corps of Engineers to explain why it was closed off to the public. Due to limited staffing, the Army Corps of Engineers has been left with no choice but to close 20 recreational parks on Lake Lanier. Their main concern at this time is that they can't meet the necessary safety measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear when these parks on Lake Lanier will reopen to the public. "With the current hiring freeze to shrink the overall federal workforce we have not been able to bring on summer hires nor backfill employees that took the option for the deferred resignation," Army Corps of Engineers public spokesperson Dustin Gautney told Atlanta News First. Several boat ramps on Lake Lanier were supposed to be closed this Memorial Day weekend, but that won't be the case any longer. "I joined Representative Rich McCormick on a call today with the Army Corps. Congressman McCormick advocated strongly for the re-opening of the sites and encouraged the Corps to reconsider their decision. The Corps leadership said they would discuss internally and see what they could do," Georgia state senator Greg Dolezal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They have informed us they will be opening all of the unmanned Lake Lanier boat ramps, and will temporarily close 11 recreation sites, so about half of what was planned. They will continue to assess traffic and adjust as needed through the weekend. He indicated they will be working with the Sheriff's office to help out with traffic management." We'll see if the Army Corps of Engineers can sort this situation before the start of summer. 20 Recreational Parks in Georgia Forced To Close Until Further Notice first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 Despite the dreary weather going into this weekend, the show will go on for the annual Jones Beach air show on Long Island. Hundreds of thousands are expected to turn out for the free display of jaw-dropping aerial excellence long considered one of the areas official kickoff events to the summer season. The two-day event, officially titled FourLeaf Air Show, returns to the shores of Wantagh on Saturday and Sunday to the delight of flight enthusiasts and beachcombers alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the line-up of shows taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jones Beach State Park. The U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team and other performers including the U.S. Navy F-35C Tac Demonstration Team, the NY Air National Guards 106th Rescue Wing and the SUNY Farmingdale State College Flying Rams will also demonstrate their elite formation skills for the masses. Following the show, the Thunderbirds are set to take flight to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, before making stops in Yuba County, California and Dayton, Ohio. There are no costs to watch the air show as it is free for public viewing, but the parking fee is $10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hourly bus service from the Freeport LIRR station to Jones Beach will be provided by Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) running Friday through Sunday. Pets, drones, balloons and kites are not allowed on the beach during the show. Backpacks are permitted but they may be subject to search by security for safety purposes. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs and coolers, as well as their own food. The U.S. Coast Guard will enforce No Entry Zones marked with orange colored buoys off the park during the air show. Boats are only allowed beyond those points, preferably to watch from the ocean, by taking a vessel out to nearby Zachs Bay. NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) A 22-year-old was arrested in relation to a shots fired incident in November in New London, according to police. IG report: 2023 officer-involved shooting in New London was justified The incident happened on Nov. 28 in a municipal parking lot between Golden Street and Pearl Street. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Bryce Jaden Harper was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation remains active. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WFRV) A fifth person involved in multiple armed robberies of U.S. postal carriers in Wisconsin was sentenced on Thursday to 148 months in federal prison. Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Huria Abu of Milwaukee was sentenced for his involvement in the robberies, which occurred between October 2022 and March 2023. UPDATE: Green Bay man pleads no contest to drug charges, sentencing set for June Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abu and four co-defendants referred to themselves as the Scamily while holding U.S. postal carriers at gunpoint, demanding their keys. The group then used those keys to steal mail. The four others sentenced for their roles are: 21-year-old Jessie L. Cook 94 months in prison 24-year-old Abdi A. Abdi Eight years in prison 24-year-old Darrion M. Allison Six years in prison 27-year-old Abdi I. Baba 10 years in prison 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. HILLSBORO, W.Va. (WBOY) A small ambulance squad in Pocahontas County announced Thursday that it has decided to close for good, marking the 26th recent ambulance service closure in the state. The Hillsboro EMS within the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department has closed will be donating its ambulance to the Preston County Commission so it can be used by the Pocahontas County Ambulance Service. The squad said on social media Friday that a number of factors went into the decision to close, including rising cost of maintaining an ambulance, difficulty meeting state regulations and lack of volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the squad, this is the 26th closure of an EMS service in West Virginia in the last two years alone. Where Salem EMS stands nearly one year after almost being permanently shut down The general population doesnt know how much it [costs] just to stock [an] ambulance and if calls are scarce then those drugs expire and [youre] out of the funding and have to pay for all new, the post explained. The squad said that even with county funding and the income from responding to calls, the expense was just too high to maintain the service. Because of the cost, all of the Hillsboro EMTs were volunteers, and according to the squad, the way of the volunteers is long gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even paid EMS services across the state are struggling to keep up with rising costs, and many counties have moved to relying on levies to fund their ambulance services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Mugshots shown at City Hall Wednesday showed some of the 160 suspects arrested in the City of Memphiss Rolling Thunder Operation. These are the faces of violent individuals tied to murders and other gun violence, drug trafficking, auto theft, illegal weapons and other crimes that destabilize entire communities, Police Chief C.J. Davis said. But of the 49 criminals that were publicly shown, a further investigation from Your News Leader reveals that 29 of the 49 suspects shown here have already been released from jail. (See graphic below) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis mayor: The era of unchecked violence in our city is over While some of the men still locked up were charged with serious crimes, some charged with non-violent offenses like drug possession. Operation Rolling thunder was designed to target gang activity in the city from April 23 to May 10. Pastor Keith Norman who has been following whats happening in the city closely believes the mayor announcing successful crime statistics was an appropriate response, given FBI Director Kash Patel saying Memphis was the homicide capital of America over the weekend. FBI Director calls Memphis homicide capital of the USA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do have a crime problem, Norman said. However, to call us the homicide or murder capital, on that large of a scale was just really not an appropriate statement. And so for the mayor and the chief of police to make a counter statement by suggesting what we are doing does bring leadership and calmness to the law abiding citizens of our city to know that were not just sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, so to speak. And as far as the 160 arrests in just 17 days, Pastor Norman believes while it might be harsh, but sometimes its required. Ok, this is a high number. Were not happy with having to arrest our way out of this, but if its required weve got to do it, 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 WREG.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Three wildfires that were burning in Grant County, New Mexico, are 100 percent contained as of Thursday, May 22, fire officials said. UPDATE: 2 of 3 fires burning near Silver City contained Fire officials said the three fires the Carrizo, the Outlaw, and the Gallinas are believed to have been caused by lightning on Saturday, May 17. They are located east of the town of San Lorenzo and south of New Mexico Highway 152. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Carrizo Fire was 100 percent contained on at least 137 acres, fire officials said on May 22. This fire was largely on private land, but the northern part of it has spilled into the Gila National Forest. As we previously reported, on May 20, fire officials said that both the Outlaw and Gallinas fires were 100 percent contained. The Outlaw Fire was contained at 30 acres, and the Gallinas Fire at about 10 acres. Both fires were on the Gila National Forest, fire officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Three people have been charged in a shooting outside a smoke shop that later left a 16-year-old Tacoma boy dead. Antoinne Pierre Miles Jr, 18, Jayshaun Cordell Shepherd, 18, and Joseph Ralphael Morgan, 18, have been charged with first-degree murder and four counts of first-degree assault in the April 12 shooting. Prosecutors also charged Miles with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm because he has a previous conviction for second-degree robbery, according to court documents. All three men are accused of shooting a man and Marco Teran, who died from his injuries four days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pleas of not guilty were entered on behalf of Miles, Shepherd and Morgan during their respective arraignments at Pierce County Superior Court Thursday afternoon. Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set Shepherd and Morgans bails at $1.5 million, with Miles bail at $2 million. At one point during Miles hearing, McInvaille reprimanded him for laughing as state prosecutor Elizabeth Vincent began her arguments for conditions of release. Mr. Miles, this is not funny, McInvaille said. This is a very, very serious proceeding. Charging details Tacoma officers were dispatched at 10:06 p.m. to the 4300 block of East Q Street for reports of gunshots. Twenty-five shell casings were found scattered in the area, according to charging documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ring video footage from a home showed two people near where the shell casings were found. Documents show the video quality was poor. Soon after, officers were dispatched to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma where two people with gunshot wounds had arrived. The man had a gunshot wound in the arm that was non-life threatening. Teran was shot in the chest and had to be rushed to surgery because he could not speak, documents show. He succumbed to his injuries a few days later. The surviving victim told police he was with his two friends and Teran in a vehicle going into the drive-thru of the War Pony XPress Smoke Shop near the 4200 block of Portland Avenue when they were shot at, documents show. The shooters kept firing at them as the driver drove away, later dropping him and Teran off at the hospital. The man also said he did not know who shot them. Detectives learned later that during the time of the shooting a white Chevrolet GMT had been struck by the stray bullets. The driver was uninjured and told detectives the bullets might have come from a Salishan-area apartment near the smoke shop, documents show. When detectives went to the area, they found shell casings on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance footage showed a Chevy Malibu pull into the smoke shops parking area. That car had three people in it that were later determined to be the alleged shooters, documents show. The Chevy pulled out after the BMW arrived. Detectives believe the alleged shooters saw the BMW, pulled out and then drove across the street, documents show. They allegedly went out of the car and spread out along a dark tree line where they ambushed the occupants of the BMW by opening fire. One of the alleged shooters reportedly had a fully automatic gun with rapid fire. Through the license plate of the Chevy, detectives learned it was rented out by one of the alleged shooters relatives, documents show. Shepherd was allegedly identified as the driver of the car during the shooting. Detectives also spoke to the other people who were in the BMW with Teran, and one of them said the vehicle had been shot at two days prior. Teran was in the vehicle during that time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GPS data from the Chevy showed the vehicle was in the parking lot of the smoke shop just before the shooting, documents show. The driver then parked where the three alleged shooters fired gunshots towards the smoke shop. The Chevy then drove off and went to a home on East 66th Street where Miles lived. Documents show Morgan and Miles had been arrested together in Fife on May 12 for shoplifting ammunition from Sportco. All three men also seemed to have similar neck/throat tattoos since the shooting, according to detectives. They were arrested at Miles home Wednesday. After they allegedly saw police arrive, the men ran inside but eventually surrendered, prosecutors wrote. 12 guns were found in the home and one of them appeared to have been modified so it could convert to a fully automatic weapon. Prosecutors wrote the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed. Three men convicted of murder after luring men from New York City gay bars, drugging them and robbing them, were given lengthy prison sentences. Julio Ramirez, 25, and John Umberger, 33, died within months of each other in 2022, after both were drugged, the Manhattan District Attorney's office said. Other victims were also drugged and robbed on separate occasions but survived. Three men, Jayqwan Hamilton, 37, Robert DeMaio, 36, and Jacob Barroso, 32, were convicted of murder, robbery and conspiracy in the death of Ramirez, while Hamilton and DeMaio were also convicted in the murder of Umberger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamilton and DeMaio were sentenced to 40 years-to-life in prison, while Barroso was sentenced to 20-years to life. Julio Ramirez and John Umberger were beloved by their friends and family and had incredibly bright futures ahead of them, said District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement. Yet their lives were cut short by these defendants, who displayed a wanton disregard towards their victims." Related: 3 Men Convicted of Luring Men From NYC Gay Bars, Robbing Them and Leaving Them for Dead "They left both men to die as they used their financial accounts to purchase clothes and sneakers, never once showing concern about the deadly consequences of their actions," the statement continued. "We will never be able to undo the tragic losses of Mr. Ramirez and Mr. Umberger, but I hope these significant prison sentences can provide some closure to their loved ones. 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. Umberger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment in June 2022, prosecutors said. Ramirez was reportedly left for dead in a taxi in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They targeted Ramirez, a social worker, outside a bar in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, prosecutors said. The men drugged the 25-year-old with fentanyl before transferring money from his accounts. Umberger was targeted in June, outside another Hell's Kitchen bar. He was drugged before being taken back to his apartment by the men, who robbed him of over $2,000 and left him lying on his bed, prosecutors said. Read the original article on People Three popular U.S. beaches have been deemed "not safe" to swim, according to a new release. The three popular U.S. beaches have been hit with an official public health advisory warning of high bacteria levels in the water. The official advisory was issued earlier in May. The Florida Department of Health issued the official advisory in May. However, while signs were posted on the beach, several beach goers were apparently unaware of the announcement, continuing to swim in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official advisory was announced for three popular U.S beaches in Florida. MIRAMAR BEACH, FL - JULY 1: People swim at the beach July 1, 2005 in Miramar Beach, Florida. Florida has experienced a recent spate of shark attacks, with three in the last week alone. An Austrian tourist was bitten on the ankle July 1, on June 27 a 16-year-old boy lost his leg not far from the spot where a 14-year-old girl was killed on June 25. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)Spencer Platt/Getty Images The three popular U.S. beaches that have been hit with the high levels of bacteria warning are: Clearwater Beach Sand Key Beach Indian Rocks Beach FOX 13 in Florida had more: The Department of Health said bacteria present as an indication of fecal pollution, which can result from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, or human sewage. Nicholas Yee, visiting from Michigan, was surprised by the lack of warning signs. *** For perspective, the last time Sand Key had a poor water quality advisory was in August 2023, lasting about four days. Clearwater Beach has not experienced such a warning in the past two years. The Health Department is actively monitoring the situation and has taken additional water samples. The advisory will be lifted once bacteria levels return to normal. Stay safe if you're going out in the water this weekend, everyone. 3 Popular U.S. Beaches 'Not Safe' For Holiday Weekend first appeared on The Spun on May 22, 2025 MONONA, Wis. (WFRV) A 34-year-old Wisconsin man was arrested Thursday afternoon after injuring multiple people during a police pursuit when he crashed into multiple vehicles at an intersection. The Monona Police Department reported that an officer attempted a traffic stop around 1:38 p.m. Thursday of a vehicle related to a joint agency drug operation. The suspect vehicle stopped initially; however, the driver fled after an officer approached the door. 22-year-old Wisconsin man sentenced to over 12 years in prison for armed robberies of postal workers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monona officers terminated the pursuit as the suspect vehicle drove in the direction of a middle school. Another officer saw the suspect vehicle crash into motorists stopped at an intersection. Authorities tended to the motorists and arrested the suspect driver and his passenger, a previously convicted felon. None of the injuries were life-threatening. Officers recovered cash, drugs and a firearm in the vehicle. Four Mexican nationals indicted for conspiracy to distribute several kilograms of drugs in Green Bay The driver, identified as 34-year-old Damaile Moore of Fitchburg, was arrested for felony eluding and 2nd-degree reckless endangerment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. More than 37,000 American flags were placed on Boston Common ahead of Memorial Day weekend in honor of fallen service members who called Massachusetts home. The Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and Home Base teamed up to plant the annual display at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The flags have been planted every year since 2010 in memory and honor of every man and woman who gave his or her life defending America since the Revolutionary War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The display will remain up for public viewing through 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The man who was wounded in a drive-by shooting in Gresham last week died after days in the hospital. In addition, authorities announced a third teen suspect in the shooting has been arrested. The shooting happened in the early morning of May 13 after the Gresham Police Department said they responded to the scene near the 3500 block of Southeast Richey Road. Officers arrived and found shell casings on the street and a home hit by bullets, but they didnt locate anyone injured from the shooting. Safety concerns spark closure of Burnside burger spot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a person was dropped off at a hospital with gunshot wounds a short time later. That person has been identified as 20-year-old Jeffrey Daniel, Gresham police said. After initially being in critical condition, Daniel died on the afternoon of May 17 from his injuries. Gresham police said Daniel arrived at the hospital in a private vehicle that was reported to be stolen, which has since been located. Two youths arrived with him and they were both detained. According to police, Daniel was actually with the three teens when they all collectively participated in the drive-by shooting on Southeast Richey Road. However, During the shooting, gunfire from another occupant of the car struck Daniel, leading to the gunshot wound that he later died from. The two youths who were detained at the hospital were initially charged with attempted murder. On Thursday, Gresham police announced a third juvenile suspect was arrested in connection with the shooting. Now all three suspects, who are each 16 years old, face murder and other charges in light of Daniels death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three teens also face charges that include attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon and conspiracy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. VALDOSTA, Ga. (WSAV) Four people have been arrested for alleged abuse of a disabled adult in Valdosta, police said Thursday. A Valdosta Police Department (VPD) detective and Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) conducted a wellness check on a home in the 2500 block of Jerry Jones Drive May 19. While at the home, the detective met Sherri Goode, 44, and Louren Riley, 46, but they were reportedly evasive and would not cooperate with answering questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After calling for more officers, they found a 37-year-old woman inside who needed medical assistance. She was taken to the hospital for treatment after emergency services responded, a police spokesperson said. Detectives found that the 37-year-old woman was physically, mentally and financially abused by Sherri, Riley and two others for a significant amount of time, officials said. There were also four children under 10 years old in the home while the alleged abuse was happening. A VPD spokesperson said at this point, they have not found any evidence that the children were physically abused and DFACS has taken custody of the children. Sherri and Riley were taken to the Valdosta Police Department to speak with detectives and later transported to Lowndes County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police then obtained warrants for them and two other people who allegedly abused the woman, Sherris husband, Kenneth Goode, 46, and the victims 19-year-old daughter Kiera Tolliver. Sherri, Riley, Kenneth and Tolliver were arrested for kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, exploitation and intimidation of a disabled adult, four counts of cruelty to a child and battery. After obtaining arrest warrants, VPD detectives learned that Kenneth and Tolliver were in Dooly County. Dooly County Sheriffs Office deputies located both of them and took them into custody. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are expected, officials said. This is the most horrific case that our department has investigated in most of our careers, and our prayers go out to the victim and the children, Chief Leslie Manahan said. The teamwork between all of our community partners in getting needed resources quickly, has been amazing. We also appreciate the assistance from the Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division and the Dooly County Sheriffs Office, who did not hesitate to help us locate two of our offenders. We will continue working with our District Attorneys Office to ensure these callous monsters are held accountable for everything they have done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online by clicking or tapping 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 WSAV-TV. CRAWFORD COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Law enforcement officials in Crawford County made three arrests earlier this week after shutting down four illegal gambling operations. Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Holmes said Operation Cash Out was conducted on May 21 when multiple agencies simultaneously executed four search warrants. The searches came after a multi-week undercover operation where authorities identified illegal gambling machines inside the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Batesville man convicted of rape in Fayetteville, sentenced to 26 years in prison Holmes said three arrests were made, with a fourth expected. Sogi Balwinder, Ghazanfar Gondal and Rusan Lamsal were arrested and charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a Class D felony. If convicted, each could face six years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $10,000. Holmes said all three were released on $10,000 bonds. Lamsal is set to appear in Crawford County court on June 4, and Balwinder and Gondal have court appearances scheduled for June 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Four men were sentenced for their involvement in an organized retail theft ring that targeted Home Depot stores across Southern California. The group conspired to steal merchandise from over 60 Home Depot stores across Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties, according to the California Attorney Generals Office. The thieves were identified as: Jose Delasancha, 34 Luis Delasancha, 33 Agustin Garfiaz, 28 Everardo Carillo-Avilez, 42 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From October 2021 to February 2023, brothers Jose Delasancha and Luis Delasancha would visit Home Depot stores and head straight to the hardware department. They used theft tools to unlock security devices that were securing the most expensive power tools, prosecutors said. Oftentimes, they would clear an entire shelf of merchandise, placing all the tools inside a shopping cart and exiting the store without paying, court documents said. Authorities said the brothers had stolen over $82,000 worth of merchandise over the years. The brothers would sell the stolen power tools to Carillo-Avilez and Garfiaz, who then resold the items online for profit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All four men were arrested for their involvement in the theft scheme and a 60-count felony complaint was filed against them. On May 22, the AGs Office announced that Jose Delasancha pleaded guilty to four counts of grand theft and was sentenced to eight years in state prison. Luis Delasancha pleaded guilty to four counts of grand theft and was sentenced to four years in state prison. Carillo-Avilez pleaded guilty to organized retail theft and was sentenced to two years felony probation. Garfiaz pleaded guilty to organized retail theft and receiving stolen property and was sentenced to two years felony probation. At the California Department of Justice, we are fighting organized crime in the field and in the courtroom, said Attorney General Rob Bonta. If you steal from businesses to line your own pockets, we will hold you accountable. I am thankful for my team and all the tireless work that went into this case. We will not tolerate theft that puts our communities and businesses at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. When Brian O'Hara arrived in Minneapolis as the new chief of police in 2022, he said that he found a department that was depleted, having lost about half of its officers, amid widespread protests and backlash after the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, by a Minneapolis police officer. "The cops would openly tell me that if anybody asks them about becoming a cop, they tell them, 'Don't come here, everybody hates us,'" O'Hara told ABC News. "When I first got here, all of them, but especially the third precinct, was absolutely miserable, and the cops were so depressed," he added, pointing to the precinct that was burnt down after a man set it on fire during the 2020 protests. PHOTO: People face off with police near the Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct. People gathered at Chicago Ave. and East 38th Street during a rally in Minneapolis, May 26, 2020. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via Getty Images) As the fifth anniversary of Floyd's killing approaches, O'Hara told ABC News that while the department has made some strides in rebuilding the police force and implementing reforms, the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) is facing "very real challenges" that lie ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's a whole lot of open wounds still here in the city. And while there has been some healing, not everybody's healed, not everything has improved," O'Hara said in an interview with ABC News' Alex Perez that is set to air on ABC News Live Prime on Friday. "We still have very real challenges in this city." PHOTO: Protesters celebrate the memory of George Floyd and demanded justice outside the Cup Foods store on Chicago Avenue where Floyd died. in South Minneapolis, May 29, 2025. (Brian Peterson/Star Tribune via Getty Images) What happened to police reform? The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that it is moving to drop a police reform agreement, known as a consent decree, that the Biden-era department reached with the city of Minneapolis in January. The court-enforceable agreement was born out of a probe into MPD that was launched after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. But when President Donald Trump took office, the agreement was not finalized and had yet to be certified by a federal judge. PHOTO: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Minneapolis, June 16, 2023. (Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu Agency via Getty Image) Attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family of George Floyd, said in a statement on Wednesday that the DOJ's move to drop the agreement is a "slap in the face" that will "deepen the divide between law enforcement and the people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O'Hara joined Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a press conference on Wednesday, where the mayor vowed that the city will move forward with the proposed reforms "with or without" Trump. Frey and O'Hara noted that reforms are already underway as part of a state-enforced consent decree, which has been in effect for more than a year. The agreement was reached by the city of Minneapolis with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA), an independent nonprofit, was hired last year to monitor the settlement. Minneapolis officials held a press conference on Tuesday where the independent monitor overseeing the consent decree released its second progress report, according to ABC News' Minneapolis affiliate KSTP. PHOTO: Police remove barricades set by protesters during a demonstration over the killing of George Floyd by a policeman outside the Third Police Precinct, May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images) Director of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department Michelle Phillips noted during the press conference that for the first time in 10 years, the office of police conduct reviews is fully staffed and said that MPD is "on pace" to "eliminate" a backlog of 234 police complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are not where we want to be, but we are surely not where we were," Phillips said. O'Hara described the report as "fair," and announced earlier this week that his department has appointed two civilians to head MPD's Internal Affairs Bureau and the Constitutional Policing Bureau. PHOTO: Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey attend a press conference in Minneapolis, May 21, 2025. (City of Minneapolis) Asked if the Trump administration dropping the consent decree could undermine MPD's efforts to build trust with the community, O'Hara told ABC News, he worries that due to "heightened" divisions, people wouldn't "care what the facts are." "This is going to play out that, 'well, Trump got rid of it, so they're not doing it,' and nobody's going to hear anything else, which is unfortunate," O'Hara said. Rebuilding after George Floyd Reflecting on the five-year anniversary of Floyd's killing, O'Hara said that it is still extraordinarily "difficult" to be a police officer in Minneapolis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former MPD officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 21 years in prison in July 2022 on federal civil rights charges in the death of Floyd. The video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck sent shockwaves across the U.S. and sparked widespread protests, propelling Minneapolis and its police force into the national spotlight. O'Hara, who previously served as Public Safety Director for Newark, New Jersey, during the implementation of a federal consent decree, said that it's "traumatizing" to be a police officer anywhere, but it's "more difficult" in Minneapolis. "Unlike being a cop in Newark or in other places, they just don't get any deference," he said. "Every time [they] show up, they have to prove that they're one of the good guys." PHOTO: Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd outside the 3rd Precinct Police Precinct, May 26, 2020. in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Reflecting on strides that MPD has made since he came to Minneapolis in 2022, the chief pointed to more "aggressive" efforts in recruitment that are helping to rebuild a once "decimated" police force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to O'Hara, the department, which lost more than half of its 900 officers after Floyd was killed, now has nearly 600 sworn officers, almost reaching the minimum of 731, which is a ratio based on the city's population. He said that he is expecting a new class of 40 recruits to join the department in June -- the largest class since the 1990s. O'Hara also noted that about 60% of the new recruits are officers of color. And with every new class joining MPD, things are starting to turn around even for officers at the third precinct, O'Hara said. Recalling a recent visit to the third precinct, whose officers "still don't have a building" after it was burned in 2020, the chief said there were 12 officers, most of whom are Black, for the roll call, and there appeared to be a shift in morale. "They were happy. They were talking to each other," he said. "I hadn't seen that before." 5 years after George Floyd's death, Minneapolis police work to rebuild trust and a 'decimated' force originally appeared on abcnews.go.com LITTLE RIVER, Kan. (KSNW) The Little River-Windom school district is receiving a $50,000 boost to its STEM education programs thanks to a grant aimed at transforming local classrooms. Kansas Unified School District 444 plans to use the funding to upgrade technology, purchase new equipment, and provide teacher training to enhance science, technology, engineering, and math instruction for its 240 students. District leaders say the improvements will help increase student engagement and academic performance. Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful to receive this classroom makeover grant, which will greatly enhance our STEM programs, Brent Garrison, superintendent of schools, said in a statement. This grant offers vital resources for our students to explore and excel in science, technology, engineering, and math. The grant comes from NextEra Energy Resources through its charitable foundation. The energy infrastructure developer supports educational initiatives in the communities where it operates. The award is part of the national STEM Classroom Makeover Grant initiative, which helps schools improve access to modern learning tools and career-focused instruction. Ten schools received similar grants last year. 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. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the first time Friday that public library patrons have no right to receive information under the First Amendment, overturning a decades-old precedent barring the removal of library books "simply because (officials) dislike the ideas within them. Coming from the full bench of the New Orleans-based court, the stunning 10-7 decision strikes down a lower court ruling that ordered Llano County to temporarily return 17 books it had removed from public library shelves. It also sets up a circuit split that could send the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 60-page majority opinion, Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan asserted that no one is banning (or burning) books by removing them from libraries because they're available elsewhere. Bookshelves in the Llano County Library on Aug. 21, 2024. "If a disappointed patron cant find a book in the library, he can order it online, buy it from a bookstore, or borrow it from a friend, wrote Duncan, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. All Llano County has done here is what libraries have been doing for two centuries: decide which books they want in their collections." To serve the public, libraries have to decide "which ideas belong on the shelves and which do not," Duncan ruled. "If you doubt that, next time you visit the library ask the librarian to direct you to the Holocaust Denial Section," the judge wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven dissenting judges called these statements from the majority disturbingly flippant and warned that the decision forsakes core First Amendment principles about the peoples right to be informed. Libraries provide critical access to books and other materials for many Americans who cannot afford to buy every book that draws their interest, and recent history demonstrates that public libraries easily become the sites of frightful government censorship, wrote Judge Stephen A. Higginson, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. Higginson argued that public libraries help ensure Americans have access to a range of ideas. As the Framers knew, only an informed and engaged people can sustain self-governance," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reversal of the 5th Circuit's 1995 ruling in Campbell vs. St. Tammany Parish School Board is a win for Llano County, and Republican attorneys general across the country, who argued that public library collections are not subject to federal protections for free speech. The 1995 case found that a Louisiana school board could not ban a scholarly book on the practice of voodoo and hoodoo if its goal was to prevent students from learning about the two variations of African tribal religion. Friday's decision also marks the next step in a national culture-wars battle over library materials that has rocked the country and rural communities like Llano, a Texas Hill Country hamlet 75 miles northwest of Austin since 2020. More: How a national dispute over library books is fracturing a small Texas town Former Llano librarian Tina Castelan discusses her experience as a librarian on April 3, 2024. The federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the first time that public library patrons have no right to receive information under the First Amendment. Seven patrons of Llano County public libraries filed the lawsuit in 2022 after the county removed 17 books targeted by a group of conservative Christian activists for their content on race, gender and sexuality, as well as some childrens books that contained nudity. While County Judge Ron Cunningham argued that he only sought to temporarily remove books with inappropriate or sexual content, both the district court and the majority of a three-judge 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled that officials were likely motivated by a desire to censor books for political reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several of the materials taken off shelves came from a list of roughly 850 books curated by former Republican state Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth that focused on content about LGBTQ+ issues, abortion and race. How the ruling could impact Llano, reach Supreme Court Fridays 5th Circuit decision reverses U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitmans preliminary ruling from March 2023, which required Llano County officials to keep the 17 removed books on shelves while the litigation continued. The case has not yet gone to trial. The Friday ruling also marks a sharp departure from the 5th Circuits previous ruling in the same case. In November 2024, two of three judges on the appeals court found that officials cannot remove books "with the intent to deprive patrons of access to ideas with which they disagree," but that some children's books can be removed over concerns about sexual content or nudity. The decision ordered the county to restore eight of the 17 removed books, which included books on transgender teens, social caste and the Ku Klux Klan. Those titles are: "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent" by Isabel Wilkerson "Called Themselves the K.K.K: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti "Spinning" by Tillie Walden "Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen" by Jazz Jennings "Shine" by Lauren Myracle "Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale" by Lauren Myracle "Gabi, a Girl in Pieces" by Isabel Quintero "Freakboy" by Kristin Elizabeth Clark Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday's decision came from the full court, rather than a three-judge panel. Jonathan Mitchell, Llano County's attorney in this case, argued that library collection decisions are "government speech" and are therefore immune from First Amendment scrutiny. But in August, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the argument that the government-speech doctrine applies in a case over an Iowa law banning books depicting sex acts. Friday's 5th Circuit ruling "creates a direct split" with the 8th Circuit over whether public libraries engage in government speech, Bob Corn-Revere, an attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told the American-Statesman. This split makes the Supreme Court more likely to step in and settle the debate, he said. Corn-Revere also said he disagreed with the New Orleans court's "extreme position" about the applicability of the First Amendment to public library decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Public libraries are created to promote the widespread dissemination of knowledge, not to deliver a government message, and political decisions that undermine that purpose conflict with the First Amendment," Corn-Revere wrote in an email. Katherine Chiarello, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said they are "considering next steps" as they analyze the opinion. She did not state whether they plan to appeal to the high court. "It is very disappointing that the 5th Circuit has regressed from longstanding protection of a citizens' right to receive information under the First Amendment, as well as having created a circuit split," she said in a phone interview Friday. Cunningham said Llano County is withholding comment while it reviews the 5th Circuit ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: A conservative nonprofit got $80k for a Texas book-ban battle. Llano County hasnt seen it Jessica Young, a Houston-based childrens author, left, leads chants against SB 2101 and HB 3225 at the Capitol Monday, May 19, 2025. Librarians and public library advocates protested the bills which would restrict access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public libraries and require libraries to implement age verification measures. (This story was updated to add a photo gallery.) This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 5th Circuit overturns decades-old precedent in Texas library case SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) All people on board the private plane that crashed into a San Diego neighborhood Thursday are presumed dead, according to NTSB investigators. The pilot and passengers were fatally injured. There were no ground fatalities or serious injuries, Dan Baker, an investigator with NTSB, said in a news conference Friday afternoon. The Cessna 550 jet crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood near Salmon and Sculpin streets around 3:45 a.m. Thursday. The aircraft was on its way to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, according to FlightAware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA later confirmed at least six were on board the plane. At least three were confirmed dead by Sound Talent Group including Dave Shapiro, the co-founder of the talent agency, and Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the band, The Devil Wears Prada. LIVE UPDATES: Six on board plane that crashed in Murphy Canyon The identities of those involved will be released by other authorities, Baker said. In Friday afternoons news conference, Baker said that prior to the crash, the pilot did not report any problems to air traffic control and did not declare an emergency. Public records show Shapiro was the owner of the Cessna jet and was also a licensed pilot, according to FAA records. However, it is not clear whether he was the one flying the plane when it crashed. Plane crash map. (KSWB) Shortly before it hit the ground, the plane hit power lines and came to rest on Sample Street, according to the NTSB. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident led to the spillage of jet fuel and downed power lines in the residential neighborhood, which eventually sparked fires that led to burned homes and vehicles. (Above: Report by FOX 5/KUSIs Tony shows aftermath of deadly plane crash in Murphy Canyon) Residents in the neighborhood were ordered to evacuate following the crash and were sent to a temporary evacuation site at Miller Elementary. The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration are still investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash. So far, the NTSB said it has recovered both automated dependent surveillance-broadcast data, flight track data and air traffic audio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baker said the Cessna plane was not equipped with a flight data recorder, colloquially known as a black box, but the NTSB is investigating whether it had a cockpit voice recorder to help determine what led to the crash. Baker further added that the system that provides weather conditions to pilots was not operating properly at the Montgomery Airport at the time of the crash due to an unrelated power surge. In an earlier press briefing Thursday afternoon, another investigator for the NTSB said the tower at Montgomery-Gibbs was closed at the time, but this was not unusual for an airport of its size. Air traffic control provided the pilot the weather conditions at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar before he began approaching the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weather reported out of MCAS Airport at the time was wind calm, one half-mile visibility and 200-foot ceiling, Baker said. NTSB also determined that the runway alignment lights and flight path indicator light system at Montgomery Airport were out of service. The next update will come in the form of a preliminary report, within 30 days of the date of the accident. A final report will be issued within a year to two years following the accident, according to Baker. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Kelly Rocheleau Education, court and crime reporter Follow Kelly Rocheleau 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 While most school district budgets and propositions passed Tuesday in the Cayuga County area, and most board of education votes went as expected, there were a few surprises. Here are the four most newsworthy items from this week's annual school budget and board of education vote in the nine Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES districts: Jordan-Elbridge's budget proposal rejected, revote planned Perhaps the most newsworthy item Tuesday night was the defeat of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District's 2025-26 budget proposal. The $39,585,000 proposal, which would have raised spending 5.5% from the current year and included a 1.5% tax levy increase, received 223 yes votes and 252 no votes for a 46.9% approval rate. It was the first time a local district's budget proposal has been voted down since 2013, when Moravia's failed to meet the 60% approval rate needed because its levy increase was above the state tax cap. Jordan-Elbridge Superintendent Jim Froio told The Citizen in an email Thursday that the district board of education will be presented a new budget proposal on May 28. If approved by the board, the new budget will go before residents for a revote on June 17. If the second budget is voted down, the district must adopt a contingent one with no tax levy increase. Froio did not respond to a question from The Citizen asking why, in his opinion, the budget was rejected. The district, in a news release Tuesday, said: We understand this is a challenging time for many in our community." Jordan-Elbridge voters reject school budget; all other Cayuga County-area ones pass The 2025-26 budgets for eight of the nine Cayuga County-area school districts were approved by voters Tuesday with Jordan-Elbridge being the Newcomer outperforms Auburn incumbent, who gets one-year seat In the Auburn Enlarged City School District, relative newcomer Jason Horbal was elected to one of three open three-year seats on the board of education bumping incumbent Daniel Lovell to a one-year seat that opened when former board member Freddie Wilson III resigned in April. Incumbents Danielle Wood, the board's vice president, and Jim Van Arsdale secured the other two three-year seats. Horbal, a former Auburn Doubledays general manager who was a popular write-in candidate in last year's race, was one of four candidates endorsed by board President Dr. Eli Hernandez on Facebook in the days prior to the election. Hernandez also backed Van Arsdale and challengers Bill Andre and Fred Cornelius over Lovell and Wood. When asked by The Citizen about his endorsements, Hernandez cited the experience Andre and Cornelius have on the board. The former had served more than 20 years, and the latter served nine. "I know them and the work that they do, and I know their integrity," Hernandez said. "To me, that's above all, and so I believe in people being individuals and being able to bring the best that they can for all of our children. Those four men, I know them to be as such." Still, Hernandez said he is glad Wood and Lovell will continue to serve on the board, and he will continue to work with them. Hernandez went on to say that he endorsed Van Arsdale despite having less experience than Wood because he's "even-keeled." "He is the one who's centered amongst all of us," Hernandez said. "You have some on the right, some on the left, who think differently, and he's the one that comes in in the middle, always bringing everything into perspective." Cato-Meridian board president voted out after 22 years Another local district's school board saw a notable shakeup Tuesday as Kathleen Bratt was voted off the Cato-Meridian Central School District Board of Education. Bratt, who has been on the board since 2003 and is currently its president, received the fewest votes of the five candidates who pursued the three open seats this year. Bratt told The Citizen she feels good about her time with the district. "Maybe people thought I'd been on (the board) long enough, which is understandable," she said. "I just think it's been an honor and privilege to have served that long, and I just wish them luck." A lifelong area resident who graduated from Cato-Meridian herself, Bratt said her one regret is that she won't be able to work with Dee Froio, who starts as the district's next superintendent in July. Although Bratt will be leaving the board sooner than she expected when her term ends June 30, she is still set to remain as the district's BOCES representative. She will also be recognized as the School Board Member of the Year by the Cayuga-Onondaga School Board Association at its annual dinner on May 29. "I'll be going out on a high note," she said. Low community turnout for vote As has been the case for years, voter turnout was low Tuesday at the nine Cayuga County-area school districts. The Auburn district, for instance, saw 2,035 voters this year out of more than 15,000 who are registered. That trend is by no means exclusive to the area, as school vote turnout hovers around 5% nationally. But it's nonetheless another example of a tiny fraction of people deciding votes that affect much larger populations. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) A 79-year-old man is dead and another person is seriously injured as a result of a Thursday night crash, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department. At around 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, officers came to the 7700 block of North Point Boulevard after getting a report of a crash. At the scene, police found a 2007 Honda and a 2004 Kia that had crashed in the roadway. Investigators say that the 2007 Honda was driving east on North Point Boulevard while the 2004 Kia was pulling out of a driveway across the eastbound lanes of North Point Boulevard. The Honda then crashed into the drivers side of the Kia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Kia, 79-year-old Daniel Lee Hodge, was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the crash. The passenger in the Kia was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. There were two people inside the Honda, neither of whom was injured. The WSPDs Traffic Enforcement Unit came to the scene and is investigating the deadly crash. There is no further information available at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) A seventh grader was charged with arson after a fire was set in the bathroom of a middle school in Meriden, according to police. Meriden students forced to change buses after pepper spray released accidentally The incident happened May 19 at Washington Middle School. At around noon, the fire alarm went off at the school, causing an evacuation. The fire department discovered paper towels had been set on fire in the second-floor girls bathroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three school employees were transferred to the hospital for exposure to smoke, according to police. An additional staff member was evaluated on scene, but declined transport. After identifying a witness, police were able to identify the suspect as a seventh grade student. They were taken into police custody and charged with arson in the first degree, reckless burning, criminal mischief in the first degree and breach of peace in the second degree. An order to detain was applied for and granted by the courts and the student was transported to the Hartford Detainment Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DARLINGTON TWP., Pa. (WKBN) A man from Hubbard and two teenagers from Lisbon and Negley were injured in a crash Thursday in Beaver County that closed the roadway for about three hours. According to a Pennsylvania State Police report, the crash happened just before 5 p.m. in the southbound lanes of state Route 51 near E. Palestine Road. The report states that a 2012 Ford F-250 Supercab was traveling north on E. Palestine Road and proceeded across the southbound lanes of Route 51 to make a left turn when it collided with another vehicle traveling southbound on Route 51. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the other vehicle was a limousine carrying several people and was heading to a Pittsburgh Pirates game. The report says eight of the 11 people involved in the crash were taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Boardman with various injuries. Both vehicles were towed from the scene, but the roadway was closed for over three hours. The driver of the Ford F-250, a 17-year-old boy from Lisbon, was charged with a stop sign violation, according to the 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. Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley were arrested on Monday, May 19, after police allegedly found their South Carolina home "infested with numerous animals" Chief Christopher Miller said the parents had "no emotion" when their 8-month-old infant was taken away amid the police investigation, per Fox Carolina Among the discoveries in the home were at least 47 animals and a "decomposing goat carcass in the bathtub" A couple in South Carolina has been arrested after police allegedly discovered their baby was being raised among over 40 unkept animals and waste, including a decomposing goat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, May 19, police responded to concerns from the Department of Social Services that parents Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley had their 8-month-old infant living in an unsafe environment, according to a Honea Path Police Department news release shared on Facebook. The infant was then placed with a relative after police uncovered severe unsafe and unsanitary conditions" in the home. Officers found the residence infested with numerous animals, including raccoons, rabbits, dogs, cats, chickens and deceased animals, per the news release. Animal feces and waste are throughout the residence. Google Maps The home of Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley in South Carolina. The home of Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley in South Carolina. Police added, In my 30-plus years of service, I have never encountered such a horrific situation involving unsanitary conditions and such a large number of animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police didnt disclose how many dead animals were found inside the home, but said a rotting goat was located in the bathtub. They contacted Dr. Kim Sanders from PAWS for assistance due to the alarming situation. The child is OK. The child was in pretty good condition for the unsanitary conditions of the house, Chief Christopher Miller said, per WJCL. Kayla Renard and Nicholas Foley were charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and ill treatment of animals, and violations of town ordinances. Miller told Fox Carolina that the parents didnt demonstrate any emotion when they were arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sitting there calm and really no emotion. No facial expressions, Miller said, according to Fox Carolina. You would think that theyd be a little upset that someone was taking their eight-month-old baby, that the police were there and discovered the horrific conditions of this house. You would think that they would have to know that they were in trouble. Renard and Foley were both given $10,000 surety bonds, according to the outlet. Foley posted bond on Tuesday. Sanders revealed that at least 47 animals were found amid the police investigation. Among them were dogs kept in crates for long periods and maggots crawling in the food bowls, per WJCL. "Just the amount of feces and ammonia, it was very, very difficult to breathe," Sanders said, per the outlet. "When we were there, there were no bowls for water. It was just absolutely disgusting and just really depressing for my staff and myself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's just hard to see animals in that kind of condition. It's rewarding to be able to take them out of there, but at the same time, they were definitely suffering, she added. The animals are now recovering at Anderson County PAWS and if they arent signed over to the organizations care, Sanders believes there could be legal proceedings in the future. PEOPLE has reached out to the Honea Police Department and Anderson County PAWS for updates on the situation. Read the original article on People SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) An 8th grade teacher at Parkway Heights Middle School who was put on administrative leave after he allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with juvenile students during the current school year has been taken into custody, said the South San Francisco Police Department. SSFPD said the investigation started on May 2 after it was tipped off to the alleged crimes. The teacher, identified as Ahmad Rafah, 36, of San Francisco, was placed on administrative leave by the South San Francisco Unified School District due to the allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Rafah was arrested at his home on Thursday. He was booked into the San Mateo County Jail where he faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with minors. Despite the arrest, this remains an active investigation. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the South San Francisco Police Department at (650) 877-8900. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Firefighters and police officers in Manchester, Connecticut, teamed up to rescue a litter of distressed kittens. It happened on Tuesday night while the two departments were on a call for service. According to a Manchester Police Department post on social media, a resident explained that a litter of kittens appeared to have been abandoned and were stuck in an area storm drain. The first responders were able to remove the drain gate and gather the pile of little black fluffballs, who looked a bit bedraggled but still adorable. They then took the frightened felines to a local veterinary hospital for care. Local residents were very appreciative of their first responders efforts to look after the small and vulnerable, commenting, You guys are superheroes! and Thanks for saving these babies! on the departments social media post. There have not yet been any more updates about the condition of the kittens, but from the photographs shared by first responders, they appeared to be healthy, although possibly cold and scared. An abortion education group is highlighting a loophole in Indiana's near-total abortion ban, and its using the Indianapolis 500 to do it. Mayday Health arranged for a plane to fly over Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 23, May 24 and during the Indy 500 on May 25 carrying a banner with the message Abortion pills by mail," emphasizing that Hoosiers can still get abortion pills by mail. The groups effort in Indiana over Memorial Day Weekend is purposeful. More than 300,000 people will attend the Indy 500 on May 25 and events are scheduled at IMS throughout the weekend. Indiana is also among states with bans on abortion. State lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's an incredibly restrictive ban, and a lot of people in Indiana, if they're pregnant, they might think they're out of options, said Liv Raisner, the founder and executive director of Mayday Health. But the reality is that folks in Indiana, just like anyone in the country, can take advantage of the fact that pills are available through the mail. That has not changed. Its not the first campaign Mayday Health has organized in a state with abortion restrictions. Earlier this year the group drove a digital billboard truck and launched a poster campaign in Tennessee, where abortion is illegal. What do Indianas abortion laws say? Indianas abortion law, which went into effect in 2023, prohibits doctors from providing abortions except in the case of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies or if the pregnant persons life at risk. State law says medication abortions must be conducted in-person, not through telehealth, but federal regulations do allow abortion-inducing drugs to be accessed through telehealth services and mailed to patients from out-of-state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than 150 abortions were performed in Indiana in 2024, according to recent data from the state Department of Health. Just 36 of those procedures were performed using abortion drugs misoprostol and/or mifepristone, according to the DOH. During Indianas 2025 legislative session, Republican lawmakers filed multiple bills targeting abortion pills. All of the proposals died during the session. Abortion in Indiana: Indiana already banned abortions. Now, state lawmakers are eyeing abortion pills. But the federal Food and Drug Administration, which approved the use of abortion drug mifepristone more than 20 years ago, continues to say the drug is safe if used as directed. Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court preserved access to mifepristone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany. IndyStar reporter Kayla Dwyer contributed to this story. Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar politics and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Abortion education group to advertise abortion pills at Indy 500 KANSAS CITY, Mo. Charges have been filed in the Washington, D.C. shooting that left two people dead late last night, May 21, including a woman who grew up in Prairie Village. The federal complaint shows that the shooter, identified as 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, is now facing first-degree murder, murder of a foreign official, causing the death of a person through use of a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Two charged in killing of teen outside south Kansas City gas station Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges come after the deaths of 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, formerly of Prairie Village, Kansas. Both were employed by the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. Rodriguez yelled, Free, free Palestine, after the shooting, police said. Let me say violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero. It is the kind of case that we will vigorously pursue. Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nations capital, said US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. The two victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when Rodriguez approached them and opened fire, police said. Records also show that Milgrim was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX4 Forecast: Cool & wet pattern arrives soon The Israeli ambassador to the US said that the couple were about to be engaged, as Lischinsky had purchased a ring and planned to propose. Lischinsky was a researcher for the political department of the Israeli Embassy and Milgrim helped organize missions to the region. A young couple at the beginning of their lifes journey, about to be engaged, in another country, had their bodies removed in the cold of the night, in a foreign city, in a body bag, said Pirro. The Director of the FBI says that the suspect, who is now eligible for the death penalty, was in town for a work conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18. Later in the afternoon, the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of Gazas second-largest city, likely due to an increase in offensive tactics. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia and Mountain State Justice filed a writ of mandamus Friday in Kanawha County Circuit Court over an executive order by Gov. Patrick Morrisey that requires the state health officials to recognize religious and philosophical exemptions to the states schools vaccine mandates. (Getty Images) Two legal advocacy organizations filed legal action Friday over an executive order by Gov. Patrick Morrisey that requires the state health officials to recognize religious and philosophical exemptions to the states schools vaccine mandates exemptions that are not a part of state law. The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia and Mountain State Justice filed the writ of mandamus Friday in Kanawha County Circuit Court on behalf of Marisa Jackson, of Kanawha County, and Dr. Joshua Hess, of Cabell County. Jackson and Hess are both parents of immunocompromised students. Hess is also a pediatric hematologist and oncologist practicing at Marshall Healths Cabell Huntington Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The petition asks the court to compel the states Department of Health and Bureau for Public Health to stop complying with the executive order. The question before this Court is simple: Can the West Virginia Governor, through Executive Order, override a clear and mandatory directive created by state statute and, in so doing, relieve state actors of nondiscretionary duties assigned to them through state code? the petition says. To that, West Virginia Courts have a clear and decisive answer: No, he may not. For that reason, Petitioner files this action respectfully requesting this Court compel Respondents to engage in their nondiscretionary duties as it relates to granting and denying exemptions to the states compulsory immunization statute. The petition also names as respondents Justin Davis, interim commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, and Dr. Arvin Singh, cabinet secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health. All states require that school students be vaccinated for certain infectious diseases like measles, chicken pox and polio. Until this year, West Virginia has been one of five states that allow only medical exemptions to those requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, Morrisey issued an executive order directing state health officials to allow religious exemptions to the states school vaccine mandates. The executive order is based on the Equal Protection for Religion Act of 2023, which states that the government shall not substantially burden someones right to religious freedom unless doing so is essential to further a compelling governmental interest. The order also directed the state health officer to come up with legislation and rules to facilitate religious exemptions. Senate Bill 460, legislation that would have established religious exemptions in state law, did not become law during the 2025 regular session. The bill passed in the Senate, but was rejected by the House of Delegates. Despite the bill not passing, Morrisey has not rescinded the executive order. Schools in the state have had a fractured response to the order. Some private schools have said, despite the order, they will not recognize religious exemptions to the school vaccine laws. State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt issued a memo May 2 to county superintendents recommending that students not be allowed to attend schools next year without the required vaccinations. Before the day was up, though, the memo was rescinded at Morriseys request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governors do not rule by decree, ACLU-WV Legal Director Aubrey Sparks said in an ACLU news release. At the center of this lawsuit is who gets to make these decisions for our students. On this question, the state Constitution is clear that the authority lies with the Legislature, not the governor. Parents should be able to know their child will be safe when they send them off to school, Sarah Brown, executive director of Mountain State Justice, said in the release. We are seeing the devastating effects of loosening vaccine requirements across the country, and thats why the Legislature wisely declined to loosen the restrictions here in West Virginia. Its vital that their decision not be undermined by the executive branch. The petition has been assigned to Kanawha Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard. Emails to Morriseys office and to the state Department of Health seeking comment were not immediately returned Friday afternoon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX After gunfire erupted outside a humanitarian aid event for Gaza at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington late Wednesday, Yoni Kalin and his wife, JoJo, watched as museum security rushed attendees away from the doors and others who had just left came tumbling back in. Among those who came in, Kalin said, was a man who appeared agitated, whom Kalin and others in the museum first took for a protester, and who "walked right up" to police the moment they arrived, Kalin said. In an interview with The Times on Thursday, Kalin said he recalled the man telling officers, I did this for Gaza. Free Palestine. "He went into his, 'Free Palestine. There's only one solution. Intifada revolution' you know, the usual chants," Kalin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kalin, a 31-year-old Washington resident who works in biotech, said he still had no idea that two Israeli Embassy employees had been fatally shot outside. So when police started to pull the man away and he dropped a red kaffiyeh, or traditional Arab headdress, Kalin picked it up and tried to return it to him, he said. The event that night which Kalin's wife had helped organize with the American Jewish Committee and the humanitarian aid groups Multifaith Alliance and IsraAID had been "all about bridge building and humanitarian aid and support," Kalin said, and he figured returning a protester's kaffiyeh was in line with that ethos. "I regret that now," Kalin said Thursday morning, after a nearly restless night. "I regret touching it." Like so many other mourners across the nation, Kalin said he was having a hard time processing the "surreal, horrific" attack, and its occurring at an event aimed at boosting collaboration and understanding among Israelis, Palestinians and Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think him shouting 'Free Palestine' or 'Free Gaza' is going to actually help Palestinians or Gazans in this situation, especially given that he murdered people that are actually trying to help on the ground or contribute to these aid efforts," Kalin said of the shooter. "It's a really sick irony." Israeli officials identified the two victims as employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Yaron Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen and research assistant, and Sarah Milgrim was a U.S. citizen who organized visits and missions to Israel. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said that the two were a couple, and that Lischinsky had recently purchased a ring and planned to propose to Milgrim next week in Jerusalem. U.S. authorities called the shooting an "act of terror" and identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Rodriguez was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting and was later detained by security after walking inside. Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, said the agency was "aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect, and we hope to have updates as to the authenticity very soon." He said that Rodriguez had been interviewed by law enforcement early Thursday morning and that the FBI did not believe there was any ongoing threat to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump, who spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, and U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi have both promised justice in the shooting. Read more: 2 Israeli Embassy staffers killed in shooting near Jewish museum in D.C. "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Trump posted on social media. Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Israel Bachar, Israel's consul general for the U.S. Pacific Southwest, based in Los Angeles, said security has been increased at consul facilities and at other Jewish institutions, with the help of American law enforcement and local police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting comes amid Israel's latest major offensive in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, when Israel was attacked by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The attack, launched from Gaza, killed 1,200 people, and Hamas seized about 250 hostages. Israel's response has devastated Gaza and killed more than 53,000 people, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities. U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi visits the site of the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Thursday. (Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images) About 90% of the territory's roughly 2 million population has been displaced. Much of urban Gaza has been bombed out and destroyed, and Israel has blocked huge amounts of aid from entering the territory, sparking a massive hunger crisis. Protests of Israel's actions have spread around the world and in the U.S., which is a major arms supplier to Israel. Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, said that for decades, antisemitic and anti-Muslim attacks have increased in the U.S. when conflicts arise in the Middle East and Israel's current war is no exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With the worst conflict the region has seen in years, with a horrifying loss of life and moving images of the suffering taking place in Gaza, what ends up happening is the soil gets soft for antisemitism," Levin said. In recent years especially, the spread of such imagery and of misinformation on social media has produced "a rabbit-hole where people can get increasingly radicalized," and where calls for retribution against anyone even tangentially connected to a disfavored group can drown out messages for peace, compassion and aid, Levin said. "We have unfortunately been caught in a time when the peaceful interfaith voices have been washed over like a tsunami, leaving a vacuum that allows conflict overseas to generate bigotry and violence here," he said. "We see that again and again we saw that with 9/11 where communities become stereotyped and broad-brushed and labeled in certain niches as legitimate target for aggression, and that feeds upon itself like a fire, where you end up having totally innocent people being murdered." Several organizations have described Lischinsky and Milgrim as being committed to peace and humanitarian aid work. Kalin said many of the people at the museum event were and will continue to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This act of violence just makes me want to build bridges even stronger. I think we need to strengthen the coalition. We need more Muslims, we need more Christians, we need more Israelis, we need more Palestinians," Kalin said. "We need people that believe that peace is the answer and that hate and violence isn't going to solve this issue." 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. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 23, Dongfeng Motor Corporation ("Dongfeng Motor") and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei") officially signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in Wuhan, pledging to deepen collaboration across intelligent vehicle technologies, enterprise digitalization, and ecosystem co-development. Photo credit: Dongfeng Motor Under the agreement, the two companies will leverage their respective strengths in industrial resources and core technologies to advance joint innovation. Dongfeng Motor will draw on its robust experience in vehicle R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and services, along with its comprehensive industrial footprint, to collaborate with Huawei in key areas such as intelligent driving assistance, smart cockpit systems, vehicle control, connectivity, and electric components. Huawei, in turn, will bring its expertise in cloud computing, AI, big data, and the industrial Internet of Things to support Dongfeng Motor in digitizing and upgrading its entire value chainfrom R&D and manufacturing to supply chain management. The partnership also includes plans to establish a joint innovation lab focused on developing in-car software platforms, ADAS technologies, and AI applications for various scenarios. In addition, the two sides will work with Dongfeng Motor's sub-brandsincluding VOYAH, MHERO, e, and Dongfeng Nissanto build a diversified portfolio of intelligent vehicles tailored to different market segments and global consumer needs. They also aim to expand the collaboration into the commercial vehicle sector, co-creating an open, win-win ecosystem for intelligent mobility. This expanded cooperation marks a new milestone in the long-standing partnership between Dongfeng Motor and Huawei. Since first signing a strategic agreement in 2018, the two companies have proactively prepared for the shift toward electrification and connectivity, laying the groundwork for next-generation smart new energy vehicle technologies. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) More than a month after roughly 100 NIOSH workers in Morgantown received their reduction in force letters, workers and other supporters of NIOSH are still making one last push to restore more of the agency. The American Federation of Government Employees sent representatives to speak with congressional staff in Washington, and in Morgantown picketers tried to make their voices heard. The AFGE says a diminished NIOSH will make it harder to keep workers safe, and in the long run, this will cost the government money. Cathy Tinney-Zara, President of AFGE Local 3430 and also a NIOSH worker impacted by the RIF, argued that preventing injuries, accidents, and illnesses saves the government money in the long run. NIOSH might prevent a worker from getting so injured that they have to enroll in Social Security. Furthermore, with a diminished NIOSH, employers could see higher costs from workers compensation fees, and society could see higher healthcare costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Randolph County superintendent says new policy that conflicts with WV Code is inaccurate State Senator Mike Oliverio said while he believes the federal government must make cuts, NIOSH should not be one of them. Theres nowhere else in the country that does what NIOSH does here in West Virginia, and so its not like other federal facilities where you can cut here or trim there, and somebody else can pick up the slack, Oliverio said. This is the place in the country that is designed to protect workers, everything from head to toe, whether its a helmet, a respirator, steel toe boot, everything in between. While some NIOSH employees have returned to their positions, most of them remain on the chopping block, with the official termination date being in early June. Unless a reversal happens by then, the jobs will be permanently lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12 News will continue to keep you up-to-date with developments with NIOSH as the deadline approaches. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Lance Afrika Bambaataa Taylor, October 2007 (John Anderson/The Austin Chronicle/Getty Images) In the summer of 2021, a man identified as John Doe sued Afrika Bambaataa, accusing the hip-hop pioneer of sexually abusing him and sex trafficking him between 1991 and 1995. The alleged abuse began when Doe was 12 years old, while Bambaataa would have been 33 or 34 years old. Bambaataa, whose legal name is Lance Taylor, never entered a legal response to Does lawsuit, so Judge Alexander M. Tisch has now granted a default judgment against him without opposition, online New York court records show. As a result, Bambaataa has effectively lost the lawsuit, and an assessment of damages against defendant Lance Taylor shall be referred to a Special Referee for inquest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pitchfork was unable to reach Bambaataa in 2021, and contacts for the musician have not responded to new requests for comment. Pitchfork has also reached out to Does attorneys, Hugo G. Ortega and Rehan Nazrali, for comment on the judgment. John Doe filed his lawsuit some five years after Ronald Savage came forward to say that Afrika Bambaataa sexually abused him, in the 1980s, when he was a minor. Bambaataa denied Savages claims, calling them baseless and false, but, shortly after, more men alleged that they were also sexually abused as children by the musician. Bambaataa denied those claims, too, and he has since largely stayed out of the public eye. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support: RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline https://www.rainn.org 1 800 656 HOPE (4673) Crisis Text Line SMS: Text HELLO or HOLA to 741-741 Originally Appeared on Pitchfork More than a dozen World Food Programme trucks were looted in southern Gaza late Thursday as 2 million people in the Strip face "extreme hunger and famine without immediate action," the aid group said. The organization said 15 trucks were looted "while en route to WFP-supported bakeries." The WFP, which is part of the United Nations, did not say who looted the trucks. PHOTO: Supplies provided by the World Food Programme on a truck carrying aid at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, before going into Gaza, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, May 22, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters) "These trucks were transporting critical food supplies for hungry populations waiting anxiously for assistance. Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity," the WFP said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity," the WFP continued. "We need support from the Israeli authorities to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently, and transported along safer routes, as was done during the ceasefire." PHOTO: Palestinians, most of them children, queue in front of a hot meal distribution truck, at a displacement camp near Gaza City's port on May 22, 2025. (Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images) The looting came just days after the Israeli government ended the blockade as a part of a three-phase plan to start getting more aid into Gaza. Aid trucks started slowly re-entering Gaza in the past two days, according to the U.N. and the Gaza Government Media Office. An Israeli blockade on food and aid entering Gaza has been in place since March 2. MORE: Doctor details Gaza famine: 'We're not asking for miracles. We're asking for food' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "WFP cannot safely operate under a distribution system that limits the number of bakeries and sites where Gazas population can access food. WFP and its partners must also be allowed to distribute food parcels directly to families -- the most effective way to prevent widespread starvation," the WFP said. The Israeli blockage on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip has caused widespread malnutrition and conditions likely to lead to famine, according to the U.N. and other international aid organizations. One in five people in Gaza, about 500,000 people, faces starvation, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification platform said on May 12, according to the U.N. PHOTO: Palestinians wait to receive cooked food distributed at a community kitchen in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, May 23, 2025. (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) PHOTO: Palestinians queue for a hot meal at a charity kitchen run by the United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, April 26, 2025. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Satellite imagery appears to show construction of new aid distribution sites in Gaza Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli government is working with the U.S. to set up aid distribution points in southern and central Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday. But the plan faces criticism from established aid organizations that have been operating inside of Gaza for the past 19 months. "We will not take part in any scheme that fails to respect international law and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement about the U.S.-Israeli deal. The Israeli-American system for distributing aid in Gaza is set to begin on Monday, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Aid trucks looted in southern Gaza as famine looms due to blockade: UN originally appeared on abcnews.go.com CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A new airline has been added to Gerald R. Ford International Airports offerings. Avelo Airlines on Friday announced it is now flying out of the Ford Airport, beginning with a twice-weekly direct flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. In June, Avelo will also add a route to Lakeland International Airport in Florida. Both flights will fly out on Mondays and Fridays. Avelo is offering one-way fares from Grand Rapids to North Carolina for $49, but with some caveats: That price is available for flights between Sept. 5 and Sept. 29, and it must be booked by May 30. Still, one-way fares currently appearing on the website range from $39 to $119. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allegiant offers $42 rates for two new nonstop flights from Ford Airport Were excited to welcome Avelo Airlines, Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority President and CEO Tory Richardson said in a release. These routes give West Michigan travelers convenient access to Raleigh-Durhams thriving tech and research triangle, and to the sunshine and family-friendly attractions of Central Florida. Ford Airport has been touting its direct flight options as it works to add more. It currently has direct flights to almost 40 destinations, including both seasonal and year-round flights. Allegiant Air on Thursday added a nonstop flight to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and on Friday added a nonstop flight to Jacksonville, Florida. Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines announced it is adding a nonstop flight to Orlando starting in December. The airport has also been working to add a federal inspection station, which will make way for international direct flights, like a potential nonstop flight to Cancun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GR direct to Cancun? What it takes to add a new nonstop flight The airport, which saw a record-breaking 4.17 million passengers in 2024, is in the midst of a major $600 million project called Elevate. Crews are building a consolidated car rental facility and working on the terminal enhancement project, which will relocate ticket counters. The air traffic control tower is set to be relocated and a new parking garage is set to be built. In 2023, the airport opened a newly expanded Concourse A. Other recent additions include an indoor animal relief area and a sensory room, along with several food and beverage options. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MORGANTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An Alabama man was charged with extortion after deputies say he impersonated a member of the Burke County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office says it received a report on Dec. 12, 2024, regarding a phone scam in which the caller falsely identified himself as Sheriff Banks Hinceman. The caller reportedly stated the victim had missed jury duty and threatened arrest unless a payment of $6,000 was made. The victim, acting under duress, paid the money. The case was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division to further investigate. As a result, 35-year-old Carlos Terrill ONeal Wilkerson was identified as a suspect and was charged with: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretenses Felony Extortion Misdemeanor Impersonation of a Law Enforcement Officer Wilkerson was located and arrested in Monroeville, Alabama, on May 11. He was extradited 10 days later to Burke County, where he was issued a secured bond of $50,000. His next court appearance was scheduled for Thursday. Sheriff Hinceman reminds residents that the Burke County Sheriffs Office, like all law enforcement agencies, will never demand payment over the phone. Anyone receiving such a call is urged to hang up immediately and report it to your local authorities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The number of annual alcohol deaths due to cancer has doubled in recent years in the U.S., researchers said this week. The tally rose from 11,896 in 1990 to 23,207 by 2021, according to data that was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 conference. Alcohol-associated cancer mortality has significantly increased in the U.S. over the past three decades, with a disproportionate burden observed in males and individuals aged 55 and older, they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They reached these conclusions using data from the Global Burden of Disease database, which provides incidence and mortality estimates for 35 cancer types. They found that the rates increased for all cancers combined and specific cancers across both genders and age groups, with the exception of liver cancer in people aged 55 and up. In 2021, for [the 55-plus age group], liver cancer had the highest alcohol-associated proportional [mortality rate] in males (38.5 percent), followed by nasopharyngeal cancer (31.8 percent), while in females, nasopharyngeal (18.9 percent) and oro/hypopharyngeal cancers (18.4 percent) ranked highest. In 20-54 age, lip-oral cavity cancer had the highest alcohol-associated proportional [rates] for both genders, they noted. The number of yearly alcohol deaths tied to cancer has doubled over the past three decades in the U.S. The nations capital was identified by researchers as an area with the highest rates of alcohol-associated cancer (Getty Images) The researchers identified Washington, D.C., as the area with the highest rates of alcohol-associated cancer. Utah had the lowest. An increasing number of women have become heavy drinkers, although alcohol abuse still kills more men than women. While drinking rates dropped from the 1970s through the 1990s, they also rose during the Covid pandemic. So did alcohol-related deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is death as opposed to getting a disease. We can treat a lot of cancers, and were getting better at that, but this is really driving home the point that people are dying from cancer due to alcohol, said Jane Figueiredo, a professor of medicine at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was not involved with the research told NBC News. The research, which has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, comes after former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a call for cancer risk warnings to be included on alcoholic beverages. "Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States - greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. - yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk," he said in a news release earlier in the year. Alcohol consumption is known to be a significant risk factor for cancer. Earlier in the year, the former Surgeon General called for cancer risk warnings to be included on alcoholic beverage labels (AFP via Getty Images) The researchers cited this warning in their report, noting that alcohol consumption is known to be a significant risk factor for cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Agency on Cancer Research, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified alcohol as a carcinogen in 1987, and the organization says theres no safe amount of alcohol consumption. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously said that approximately 20,000 adults in the U.S. die from alcohol-associated cancers each year. The agency noted that most of the deaths may have been avoided if all adults had followed the recommended limits on alcohol use. The authors of the recent research said their findings indicate the need for enhanced prevention. Our findings highlight the critical need for targeted prevention efforts, public health policies, and increased awareness to address the rising impact of alcohol consumption on cancer-related mortality across different demographic groups and regions, they said. May 23 (UPI) -- The alleged leader of an Eastern European neo-Nazi White supremacist group has been extradited from Moldova to the United States, the Department of Justice said Friday. Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old Georgian national, is accused of inspiring "multiple senseless killings," including planning a New Year Eve's attack in New York City, the Department of Justice said in a news release. Chkhikvishvili was arrested in Moldova in July 2024, and was arraigned Friday in U.S. federal court in Brooklyn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendant, who goes by the moniker "Commander Butcher," was indicted on four charges of soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City. The 10-page indictment was filed July 15, 2024, in the Eastern District of New York. Chkhikvishvili is a leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, also known as "Maniacs Murder Cult," "Maniacs: Cult of Killing," "MKY," "MMC" and "MKU," an international racially-motivated, violent extremist group, according to the DOJ. The indictment alleges Chkhikvishvili recruited people to commit violent acts in MKY's ideologies, including planning and soliciting a mass casualty attack in New York City. "This case is a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-fueled violence, and we will pursue those who threaten innocent lives wherever they may be." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said that since approximately September 2021, Chkhikvishvili distributed a manifesto titled the "Hater's Handbook" to MKY members and others that encourages people to commit mass violence. Chkhikvishvili wrote that he has "murdered for the white race" and encourages others to commit acts of mass violence and "ethnic cleansing." The Hater's Handbook encourages readers to commit school shootings and to use children to perpetrate suicide bombings and other mass killings targeting racial minorities. Also described are ways to commit mass "terror attacks," including using vehicles to target large outdoor festivals, conventions, celebrations, parades, and "pedestrian congested streets," especially within the United States. In June 2022, Chkhikvishvili traveled to Brooklyn where he encouraged others, primarily via encrypted mobile messaging platforms, to commit violent hate crimes and other violence on behalf of MKY, according to the indictment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, an undercover FBI informant, UC, messaged Chkhikvishvili asking whether there was an application process to join MKY. He responded that "we ask people for brutal beating, arson/explosion, or murder vids on camera." Also, "poisoning and arson are best options for murder," and suggested a larger "mass murder" within the United States. To the FBI informant, Chkhikvishvili provided detailed plans and materials, including bomb-making instructions and guidance on making Molotov cocktails to facilitate carrying out these crimes. In November 2023, prosecutors say Chkhikvishvili began planning a mass casualty attack in New York City on New Year's Eve. Someone would dress up as Santa Claus, and hand out candy laced with poison to racial minorities. In January, Chkhikvishvili specifically directed UC to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools and Jewish children in Brooklyn with poison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chkhikvishvili allegedly told others of his plan and claimed to have previously committed other hate crimes in Brooklyn in 2022. Chkhikvishvili said he was "glad I have murdered," and that he would "murder more" but "make others murder first." In August 2024, someone livestreamed himself stabbing approximately five people outside a mosque in Eskisehir, Turkey, wearing a tactical vest adorned in Nazi symbols. Before the attack, the person also distributed a link to the Hater's Handbook. In January, a 17-year-old student, claiming he was taking action on behalf of MKY and at least one other group, killed one individual and injured another before committing suicide inside Antioch High School in Nashville, Tenn. Chkhikvishvili's name was mentioned. If convicted, Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment for solicitation of violent felonies, including hate crime acts and transporting an explosive with intent to kill or injure, as well as five years for conspiring to solicit violent felonies, 20 years imprisonment for distributing information to the making and use of explosive devices and ricin poison, and five years for transmitting threatening communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As alleged, the defendant, a white supremacist, recruited others to participate in a violent campaign of hatred against racial minorities and the Jewish community and to engage in the mass killing of children and others in these communities using poison, suicide bombs, firearms, arson fires, and vehicle explosions," United States Attorney Nocella said. "Today's extradition is a giant step forward in holding the defendant accountable for his unspeakably reprehensible and vile efforts to spread fear, chaos and hate. Protecting our homeland, city, district, and country from violent extremists will always be one of the top priorities of the Justice Department and my office." Involved in the investigation were the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, New York City Police Department, and more than 50 other federal, state and local agencies, including the Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "This defendant allegedly planned to poison Jewish children and carry out mass murder in New York City," NYPD Commissioner Tisch said. "He incited bombings, arsons and violence against racial and religious minorities -- driven by a hateful Neo-Nazi ideology. These weren't idle threats. They were detailed plans. This extradition demonstrates the reach and the determination of American law enforcement agencies to track down the most dangerous and depraved of criminals." An Allegheny County resident has been linked to a multistate outbreak of Salmonella illnesses. The Allegheny County Health Department said everyone with the outbreak reported contact with backyard poultry. According to the CDC, the illnesses began spreading on Feb. 9. Some of the people infected reported getting poultry from agricultural retail stores. A strain of Salmonella sickness was found in samples inside a box used to ship poultry in Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who interact with backyard poultry are asked to contact their healthcare provider if they experience any of the following symptoms: Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102F Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving Bloody diarrhea So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up The health department asked anyone who deals with backyard poultry to do the following: Wash your hands after touching poultry, their eggs, or the area where the poultry live. Use hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands right away. It is especially important to ensure that young children wash their hands as they are more likely to get sick from germs like Salmonella. Avoid eating or drinking around backyard poultry and their living area. Clean supplies used to maintain backyard poultry often and store them outside of your home. Collect eggs often, clean them, and refrigerate them. Cook egg-based dishes to an internal temperature of 160F. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health officials are working to learn more about other potential exposures. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Faraday Future (FF) announced on May 23 that it had held a formal handover ceremony for its first regional facility in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The facility will support the production of both the company's FF- and FX-branded models. Photo credit: FF The announcement follows a formal agreement signed on May 21 during the "Make it in the Emirates 2025" summit. At the event, FF's wholly-owned subsidiary, Faraday Future Middle East FZ-LLC, and the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone ("RAKEZ") sealed the partnership on-site. The 108,000-square-foot facility will encompass an office, engineering workshop, and operational hub. The facility will support both the FF brand and potential FX models, serving as a hub for operations across the GCC, with potential future expansion into Europe and North Africa. "Ras Al Khaimah offers exceptional infrastructure, visionary leadership, and strong regional connectivitymaking it an ideal location for building a smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem," said Matthias Aydt, Global Co-CEO of FF. "We are proud to establish this regional gateway, which could generate up to 200 high-skilled jobs locally." FF added that the site is expected to become operational in the second half of 2025. Looking ahead, the company plans to develop regional R&D capabilities and a localized supply chain in Ras Al Khaimah to further its strategic vision of sustainable and AI-driven mobility. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - Amazon.com was sued on Friday by consumers over its alleged sale of a wide variety of rice contaminated by arsenic and other "heavy metals." The proposed class action in Seattle federal court covers 18 types of rice sold through Amazon, including from familiar brands such as Ben's Original and Amazon-owned Whole Foods' 365. "Amazon sold these rice products with alarmingly high levels of heavy metals to an intended consumer audience that includes children, with no warning whatsoever about the dangers of heavy metals," the complaint said. The lawsuit followed a study last week by Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, a nonprofit that focuses on babies' exposure to toxic chemicals. That study found arsenic in all 145 rice samples purchased nationwide, with 28% exceeding a U.S. Food and Drug Administration limit for infant rice cereal. It also found cadmium in all but one sample, and lead and mercury in more than one-third of tested samples. Amazon, based in Seattle, had no immediate comment. Exposure to heavy metals has been associated with negative health effects such as nervous system problems, immune system suppression and kidney damage, and autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young children. The 18 rice products include two from Ben's Original and three with the 365 label. Plaintiffs Ashley Wright and Merriman Blum said they would not have bought or would have paid less for Iberia Basmati 100% Aged Original rice, one of the products, if they knew the rice was contaminated or Amazon never tested it for heavy metals. Friday's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages of at least $5 million for Amazon's alleged violations of Washington state consumer protection laws. Makers of baby food and dark chocolate have also faced many consumer lawsuits over the alleged presence of heavy metals. The case is Wright et al v Amazon.com Inc, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, No. 25-00977. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Chicago; editing by Diane Craft) ATLANTA (WJBF) The American Jewish Committee, the group that hosted the event in Washington Wednesday night, says they are still reeling and outraged at the lost of innocent lives. Police say two Israeli staff members were shot and killed Wednesday night around 9 p.m. in Washington, D.C. outside the Capitol Jewish Museum. Tributes continue to pour in from Georgias Governor Brian Kemp and Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff against the violence and hate against Jewish and the people of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been a tragic for the Jewish committee but me and my colleagues at the American Jewish Committee. The two individuals were leaving an AJC program and many young professionals here who were connected to the people who were killed. The program that they were at was to understand humanitarian aid in Gaza for diplomats, said Regional Director of the American Jewish Committee Dov Wilker. Whats going through my mind is this a tragedy that everybody saw coming. We have seen record breaking antisemitism across the country and world over the past few years, said Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Eytan Davidson. In all I can think about words lead to action and words like globalizing the intifada leads to killing of Jews and Israelis around the world, said Davidson. There are around 200,000 people Jewish people living in Georgia and according to a recent anti-defamation league audit report, the number of anti semitic activities has gone up after the October 7 attack. In fact, Jewish owned business are seeing more attacks and an increase in violence and the recent report shows more than 340 antisemitic cases in Georgia alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Free Palestine, globalize the intifada these are the slogans terrorists use to terrorize and murder Jews. We have seen quickly how its gone from chanting slogans to real life consequences. These were two young people who were about to get engaged and start their lives, said Davidson. The American Jewish Committee regional director in Atlanta says this attack was not due to a lack of security, but rather to denounce antisemitism and people who are seeking the destruction of the state of Israel. Police say the suspected shooter, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, made his first court appearance today and chanted Free, free Palestine while in custody and said he committed the act For Gaza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Monday, May 26 is Memorial Day, and the American Legion Post 169 is inviting community members to help honor local deceased veterans. 7 a.m. Meet at the front of Crestview Cemetery for a short welcome, prayer, guidelines and then to place flags at more than 4,000 headstones of deceased veterans. 6:30 p.m. Ceremony at the headstone of World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Thomas Fowler, then retrieve all flags placed early that morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. The American Red Cross has scheduled blood drives in Pawnee and Payne Counties, seeking to increase the blood supply ahead of summer. Emergencies dont take a holiday. As we head into Memorial Day weekend, the American Red Cross urges donors to keep the blood supply top of mind and help save lives by making an appointment to give blood, the Red Cross wrote in a press release. Immediate access to blood products is a key part of summer safety. With millions of Americans expected to travel around Memorial Day and engage in water sports, boating, camping and other outdoor activities, the risk of accidents increases. Though it can be a busy time, making and keeping blood donation appointments remains a critical priority in May during Trauma Awareness Month. Type O blood donors and those giving platelets are essential right now to meet the needs of hospitals. Volunteer blood donors can be the light in a patients recovery, especially accident victims who may require hundreds of blood units through transfusions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Payne County blood drives will be noon to 6 p.m. June 2 at the Stillwater Community Center and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 13 at Stillwater Medical Center. The Pawnee County blood drive will be 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Community Center, 211 E. Wichita Ave. Appointments can be scheduled at RedCrossBlood.org, by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Those who come to give June 1-30, will get a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email and will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. Terms apply. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/June, the release reads. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience. Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, contact visit redcross.org/volunteertoday. By Sriparna Roy (Reuters) -After years of easily available, cheap copies of Eli Lilly's and Novo Nordisk's highly effective weight-loss drugs, some U.S. patients say they are unwilling to pay more and are pursuing alternatives to get around the regulatory deadline for compounding pharmacies to stop making them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cracked down on compounded drugs, which were readily available while the patented ones were in shortage, and many are worried they will lose access to the treatments that have given them hope and changed their lives, according to interviews with 10 patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I do not have the money to be spending $350, and that's the entry-level dose," said Amanda Bonello, a 36-year-old based in Iowa, referring to the price that Lilly charges for the 2.5 mg dose. "It would not be easy thinking about the Christmas presents that would be missed that year and other opportunities that my family could potentially have." The branded drugs cost more than $1,000 per month though both Lilly and Novo charge less for purchases on their websites - as low as $349 - and at some pharmacies. On Thursday, Novo introduced a one-month price of $199, coinciding with the deadline for halting sales of compounded versions. Health insurance can cover much of that cost, but most Americans are not covered for these drugs. The average price on telehealth sites for compounded drugs is about $200. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For two years, patients have turned to compounded versions, in which pharmacies mix the drug ingredients, while Wegovy and Zepbound were hard to get. The FDA set a May 22 deadline for large compounding facilities to stop producing versions of Novo's drugs, having already done so for Lilly's. Patients told Reuters they have turned to stockpiling the compounded drugs or prescription hopping, a practice in which they go from one provider to another to collect these drugs, or source the drugs from countries like Canada. Patients are saving the stocked up drugs in their refrigerators, and some are tailoring the dose to make them last longer, even beyond their expiration date. "It's been a roller coaster, and it's been so stressful that so many people have just stuck their heads in the sand while others have been stockpiling to prepare," said Bonello, who started building up a one-year stockpile in October 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said the company would continue to develop solutions to make Wegovy more accessible, pointing to its direct-to-consumer website as an example. "Unfortunately, today people living with obesity continue to fight stigma and bias within a complex healthcare system that still denies coverage to medically-prescribed and effective treatments," the spokesperson said. "We recognize that affordability challenges are real for many patients and not all situations are the same," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. A Lilly spokesperson said the company was committed to expanding access to adults, with and without insurance, for its weight-loss drug Zepbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many compounders charge prices similar to those of its LillyDirect online pharmacy for "risky knockoff" products, the spokesperson added. LIMITED OPTIONS Three patients told Reuters they would consider buying the brand-name drugs from the manufacturer's websites, if they were more affordable, but without insurance coverage it meant they still had to sacrifice elsewhere. "They are still kind of leaps and bounds from where the price of compound is, and they just still don't quite fit into my budget at this time," said 32-year-old Zach Niemiec, who is based in Colorado, and works in the nutrition industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telehealth companies that sell compounded weight-loss drugs are still trying to figure out how to stay in the market. Noom, for instance, is pushing a new regimen it says would fall under a personalized dosage exception. Veronica Johnson, a Chicago-based obesity medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine, advised against the at-home adjustments patients are making. "The stockpiling and trying to do your own dosing if you're not under, and even if you are under, the medical expertise of someone, puts a lot more harm to potential issues going forward," said Johnson. (Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; editing by Caroline Humer and Sriraj Kalluvila) The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is home to more than 300 high-elevation mountain lakes, including this unnamed lake at the base of Thompson Peak. (Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun) Following a series of cuts pushed by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the U.S. Forest Service announced Friday that it is cutting back hours at several Sawtooth National Forest field offices. As part of the announcement, U.S. Forest Service officials said they are temporarily closing the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, or SNRA, offices in Ketchum and Stanley effective immediately until June 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SNRA is one of the crown jewels of the national forest system and one of the crown jewels of Idaho, Josh Johnson, central Idaho director for the Idaho Conservation League, said in a phone interview Friday. To not have Forest Service staff available to support visitors, help them find out where they need to go, answer questions and respond to other issues is a problem and unfortunate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX You cant expect to eliminate as much forest service staff as you have and still provide essential services people are used to seeing in places like the SNRA, Johnson added. Forest Service officials made the announcement in a press release Friday afternoon, just hours before the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend that signals the unofficial beginning of the summer camping and recreation season in Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement comes as forest leadership works to provide the best service possible with the staffing and resources we have, U.S. Forest Service officials said in Fridays news release. How DOGE is affecting the outdoors in Idaho Since he took office in January, Trump and his ally Musk have pushed for deep budget cuts and firing thousands of federal workers through the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. U.S. Forest Service workers have been among those fired, and in February, former U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore resigned amid the cuts, WyoFile reported. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Scaling back Sawtooth National Forest Service office hours could have widespread effects in Idaho a state where more than 60% of the land is public land and recreation use and activities is at historic high levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kathryn Grohusky, executive director of the Sawtooth Society, said the reduced office hours will make it harder to provide the public with important information about fire dangers or restrictions and food storage protocols in bear country. The Sawtooth Society firmly opposes the administrations decision to reduce the SNRA staff by two-thirds, which has made these office closures unavoidable, Growhusky said in a phone interview Friday. This reduction in staff undermines the mission of the Forest Service, cuts off vital public engagement and endangers the stewardship of one of Americas most treasured landscapes. Other conservation officials agreed. The bottom line is that the current administrations efforts to save money and increase efficiencies has led to serious inefficiencies on the ground, John Robison, public lands and wildlife director for the Idaho Conservation League, said Friday. The administrations understaffing the SNRA to the point they will only be open three days a week is a significant disservice for all of us who love the SNRA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Fridays press release, Forest Service officials said visitors who need help when the offices are closed will have to call and leave a message. Stakeholders requiring assistance from these offices outside of the listed hours should call and leave phone messages at the office from which they require services, Forest Service officials said in Fridays press release. Forest staff in these offices will follow-up on all calls and messages at their earliest convenience. Acting Sawtooth National Forest Supervisor Shawn Robnett said the staff members the agency does have are trying to find the best way to do their jobs. Adjusting our office hours as we enter our busiest season allows our rangers some flexibility with their available staff to continue to carry out all aspects of our mission caring for the land while serving people, Robnett said in a written statement. Ensuring our employees are still out in the field accomplishing their work also affords our employees the opportunity to meet stakeholders where they are out on the forest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to reach a Sawtooth National Forest public affairs officer for follow up information were unsuccessful Friday. The following field office hours are in place effective immediately. Fairfield Ranger District: Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Minidoka Ranger District: Open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesday, and Thursdays. Sawtooth National Recreation Area offices in Ketchum and Stanley: Temporarily closed until June 16. Both offices are scheduled to reopen three days a week from June 16 to Labor Day. Once the office hours for reopening the Stanley and Ketchum field offices are available, they will be posted online, officials said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CLAY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) For Liverpool graduating senior Amna Mustafa, the journey to her early success started thousands of miles away in Pakistan, where she explains that in her home country, opportunities for higher education can be limited for females and financially. Four years after moving to the U.S., she is one of 400 students nationwide to receive Amazons Future Engineer Scholarship. With this award, recipients receive a $40,000 scholarship for their college education and a paid internship at Amazon after their freshman year. On Friday, May 23rd, Mustafa toured Amazons robotics fulfillment center in Clay to celebrate this life-changing opportunity. Its just so exciting to be able to start a new chapter, go to college, meet all these new people and basically start a new chapter of life Amna Mustafa Amna thinks back to when she was in her home country, and her older sister wasnt sure that she would be able to attend college. She thought, That might be me sometime in the future, and Im just really thankful to my mom for how much she worked for us and moved for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seniors passion for computer science began in middle school but really grew during her sophomore year of high school at Liverpool, when she took all the cybersecurity courses the district offered. Amnas Cybersecurity teacher, Dan Young, wrote her letter of recommendation for the application, telling the mega tech company that in class, Amna is driven, hardworking, and always helpful. Being the first in the area, Young doesnt take credit for this achievement, stating, I have one percent to do with why shes a good student, but its great for the school, its great for Amna, her family, and her future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. Federal railway Amtrak is set to shut down one of the four tubes of the East River Tunnel starting Friday night, kicking off a larger overhaul that has faced opposition from the MTA, Gov. Hochul and an unlikely consortium of local elected officials. The single tube closure, slated to last 10 days, is the first step in a two-and-a-half year repair project that will reduce the train capacity of the subterranean structure by 25%. The tunnel is used daily by Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit trains. While I continue to believe this work could be accomplished without a full shutdown, I understand the importance of moving this project forward, Hochul said in a statement following a meeting with Amtrak and Metropolitan Transportation Authority leadership Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amtrak has agreed to provide enhanced inspections, additional shift crews and the development of an operational response plan to help mitigate potential impact on commuters throughout the duration of the project, she added. The East River Tunnel, owned by Amtrak and first opened in 1910, consists of four tubes linking Manhattan and Queens. Two of the tubes Nos. 3 and 4 primarily serve the LIRR, the main user of the tunnel, allowing its service to Penn Station. The other two tubes Nos. 1 and 2 are used by Amtrak for service on the Northeast Corridor, and by NJ Transit for storage of commuter trains in Queens Sunnyside Yard. Tubes 1 and 2 were inundated with salt water during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and Amtrak has said the resulting corrosion of wires has played havoc with signaling and traction power in the tubes over the past decade. Railway officials also point to spalling concrete along the tunnel benchwall the structure through which the tunnels high-voltage power lines run that they say has been caused by the saltwater exposure. On a recent press tour of Tube 2, Amtrak officials highlighted a slew of issues in the tunnel from large gaps where the benchwall had crumbled to corrosion caused by groundwater incursion unrelated to Sandy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only a full shutdown of each tube, the officials said, would allow work crews to rebuild the benchwalls, replace all the wiring and make tweaks to the trackbed to improve drainage. The reliability of these tunnels is not going to get any better, Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz told reporters last week. These tunnels are aged, theyve been damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and they are in urgent need of repair. The longer we delay this work, the more we risk the chance of service disruptions that are not acceptable to anybody, he added. After Amtrak closes Tube No. 1 to all train traffic Friday night, crews will conduct 10 days of work on this tube shoring up third-rail infrastructure and making other tweaks before reopening it, and then shutting down Tube No. 2 next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If all goes according to plan, Tube No. 2 will then be closed for 13 months, during which time Amtrak crews will overhaul its tracks, wiring and benchwalls, effectively building a new tunnel in the shell of the old. Three months after Tube No. 2 is complete, Amtrak will shut down Tube No. 1, and give it the same treatment. During the two-and-a-half years when one of the four tubes will be shut to train traffic, the current LIRR and Amtrak schedules both of which were slightly reduced as of November in anticipation of the shutdown should, in theory, be unaffected. But LIRR sources tell The News that signal failures inside all four tubes are somewhat common, and that it is not unusual to have a tube go out of service for hours while Amtrak crews are making repairs on it. While one tube is down for Amtraks upcoming overhaul, that means any relatively minor problem in another tube could leave the three railroads competing for space in just two tubes for hours at a time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, MTA leadership has questioned the necessity of a full overhaul and expressed concerns that even an hour of operations with potentially only two tubes operating could bring commuter train service to its knees. LIRR President Rob Free said last week that Amtrak should be asking: What [work] is absolutely essential, and only essential, to make sure the tunnels are in good condition? Free and other MTA brass have called on Amtrak to adopt a similar approach to what the MTA did unwillingly, at first to repair similar corrosion damage in the L trains Canarsie Tunnel. The MTAs eleventh-hour decision in 2019 to abandon the old electrical wiring inside the Canarsie Tunnels benchwall and mount new wiring on exposed racks along the tunnels length removed the need to demolish concrete infrastructure within the tunnel averting a planned 15-month shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Amtrak officials have repeatedly claimed that approach wont work in this case saying that while the 600-to-800-volt DC wiring in the Canarsie Tunnel could be left exposed, the 12,000-volt AC lines that run the overhead power for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains cannot. Though similar high-voltage lines have been rack-mounted in other systems around the world a 2020 report by independent experts at London Bridge Associates said such an approach was feasible on the East River Tunnels sister structure, the North River Tunnel beneath the Hudson Amtrak officials say theyre committed to the additional layer of fire safety and insulation that a benchwall provides. A diagram of the planned rebuild reviewed by the Daily News shows that Amtrak does indeed plan to use rack mounting for the tunnels lower-voltage wiring including everything from radio communication to the tunnels signal system. The massive cables used to carry the high-voltage traction power that runs the trains, however, will be placed inside a new benchwall. In a statement issued Thursday, an Amtrak spokesman said the meeting with Hochul and MTA officials had been productive, adding they would continue to monitor their work plan and make adjustments as necessary to minimize the impact on commuters. It is important to all of us this project is a success, so that all passengers, including Long Island and upstate New York residents and travelers, continue to have strong, reliable, on-time service now and in the future, the statement read. A supporter wears an "I love Medicaid" button during a news conference held at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City on May 6, 2025. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch) Though the full ramifications of the big, beautiful tax and spending bill that narrowly passed the U.S. House this week are still murky especially since the bill is likely to change as it makes its way through the Senate the bill as currently written could jeopardize health insurance for tens of thousands of Utahns. Plus, states including Utah would need to grapple with an estimated $625 billion in cumulative Medicaid cuts over 10 years from work requirements, stricter eligibility rules and a pause on provider taxes changes that would likely lead millions of Americans losing Medicaid coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, officials from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services told Utah News Dispatch they did not have state-specific estimates available detailing the potential impacts of the still-evolving federal budget reconciliation package on Utahs Medicaid program because its still a moving target. However, according to the health policy outlet KFF, the bill could result in an estimated $381 million loss in federal Medicaid dollars for Utah. The outlet used Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates to unpack the potential state-by-state impacts of a $625 billion federal cut to Medicaid in an analysis posted last week. Cuts of $625 billion will force states to make tough choices: maintain current spending on Medicaid by raising taxes or reducing spending on other programs; or cut Medicaid spending by covering fewer people, offering fewer benefits, or paying providers less, KFF reported. The vast majority of the cut would come from three sources: work requirements mandating that adults who are eligible for Medicaid expansion must meet work and reporting requirements (estimated to save $300.8 billion as people become ineligible), repealing the Biden administrations rule simplifying eligibility and renewal process (estimated to save $162.7 billion) and setting a moratorium on new or increased provider taxes (estimated to save $86.8 billion), according to KFF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It depends on what states decide to do to respond to the cuts, but in another analysis posted Tuesday based on CBO estimates, KFF estimated the changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces could increase the number of people without health insurance across the nation by 8.6 million. Additionally, when combined with the effect of the expected expiration of the Affordable Care Acts enhanced premium tax credits, the CBO expects 13.7 million more people will be uninsured in 2034, according to KFF. Anticipating how states will respond to changes in Medicaid policy is a major source of uncertainty in CBOs cost estimates. Instead of making state-by-state predictions about policy responses, CBO estimates the percentage of the affected population that lives in states with different types of policy responses, KFF noted, adding that states may choose to implement work requirements that are easier or harder to comply with, which would impact enrollment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So KFFs analysis included a range of enrollment impacts varying by plus or minus 25% from a midpoint estimate. Based on the budget reconciliation bills changes to Medicaid, Utah is projected to see its uninsured population increase by a mid-range estimate of roughly 65,000 somewhere between 49,000 on the low end and up to 81,000 on the high end, according to the analysis. When combined with the expected expiration of the Affordable Care Acts enhanced premium tax credits, KFF estimated that Utahs uninsured population could increase by even more roughly 150,000, or a 4% increase. That estimate could vary between 110,000 on the low end or up to 190,000 on the high end, according to KFF. Other states would see bigger impacts than Utah, where about 350,000 total Utahns enroll in Medicaid. About half of the 13.7 million more people who would be uninsured under both policy changes live in Florida (1.8 million), Texas, (1.6 million), California (1.5 million), New York (800,000), and Georgia (610,000). Devastating: Health advocates blast bills House passage Utah health advocates who have been watching the budget reconciliation bills progress expressed deep disappointment in its passage out of the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive yet to meet any Utahn who said that when they voted in November, they were looking for which candidate was most focused on kicking as many people off Medicaid, said Stephanie Burdick, an advocate with the newly-formed Protect Medicaid Utah Coalition. Yet here we are, Burdick said. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that could force almost 80,000 Utahns off their health insurance. Stephanie Burdick, a health advocate, speaks during a news conference held at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City on May 6, 2025 advocating against federal cuts to Medicaid. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch) The proposed federal cuts also come as Utah state officials anticipating the Republican-controlled White House and Congress appetite to implement work requirements on Medicaid are considering a waiver to impose work requirements on Utahs adult Medicaid adult expansion population. About 75,000 Utahns have enrolled in Utahs Medicaid expansion program, an estimated 7,500 (10%), would not qualify for an exemption and be subject to the work requirements. That means that if they dont start working or submit documents showing theyre applying for at least 48 jobs during a three-month period, they could lose their medical coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between Utahs proposed work requirements and the proposed federal Medicaid cuts, Burdick said state officials and federal politicians in D.C. are both deadset on one thing: increasing the number of uninsured Utahns and squeezing more time and more money out of working families. How is this aligned with Utah values? Burdick said, urging Congress to go back to the drawing board and find ways to increase access and affordability to health care for all Americans and this is the opposite. Nate Crippes with the Disability Law Center, also a member of the Protect Medicaid Utah Coalition, issued a statement saying health advocates remain concerned about the devastating impact of the billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts on Utahns with disabilities. Numerous provisions in this bill would be harmful to the disability community, including a work requirement that penalizes Medicaid beneficiaries for losing a job, and will strip health coverage from millions nation-wide, including many Utahns, Crippes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that given the focus on people enrolled in Medicaid expansion, we are particularly concerned with the impact on those with mental illness and substance use disorder, who make up nearly 60% of the expansion population. We see no beauty in a bill that denies healthcare to millions, shifts costs to the states and the middle class, and weakens our entire healthcare system, he said. So we urge our senators to support the disability community, protect Medicaid, and stop this bill from passing. President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have lauded the bill as needed to curb government spending, cut taxes and provide resources to execute Trumps agenda around immigration, energy production and increased military investment. Democrats criticized the bill as a tax cut that would largely benefit the billionaire class and lead the U.S. to raise its debt limit by $4 trillion. How will Utah respond to Medicaid cuts if they pass? Utahs Medicaid Director Jennifer Strohecker briefed Utah lawmakers this week on the status of Utahs Medicaid program, proposed changes including the states version of work requirements, and possible impacts from the budget reconciliation bill if it receives final passage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah has the lowest Medicaid enrollment of every state, but for the 350,000 Utahns that do receive their health benefits through this program, it is a lifeline for preventive care, institutional care when its needed, physical health, behavioral health, she told the state Health and Human Services Interim Committee on Wednesday. An estimated 1 in 10 Utahns are enrolled in Medicaid, she said. One in 6 babies are born with Medicaid as their health coverage. In total, Utahs Medicaid program costs about $5.3 billion per year. More than 64% of it is funded with federal dollars, equaling $3.4 billion. About $1.7 in state dollars pay for the rest. Lawmakers including Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, and Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, asked Strohecker about Utahs proposed work requirement waiver and questioned whether it will lead to Utahns losing coverage due to administrative burdens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was not meant to be an administrative hurdle or a barrier. This was not meant to take people off of the Medicaid program, she said of Utahs proposal. While Strohecker noted the federal proposal has a pretty big dollar figure tied to work requirements as its proposed, Utahs design did not have that intent. So it is our commitment to look at what are those administrative hurdles, what are those barriers, as its designed today, and thoughtfully work through those with you all and with our partners at DWS, she said, noting that Utahs proposal is still being drafted using feedback from public comment. Though the original public comment period for Utahs proposed work requirements waiver was initially scheduled to end Thursday, state officials told Utah News Dispatch they decided to extend it through June 2, with one more public hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have received a lot of helpful feedback and will consider those recommendations before submitting the request to (the federal government) within a month or two of closing the public comment period, a Utah Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said in an email. However, Strohecker noted that Utahs waiver and the federal mandates included in the budget reconciliation package are two different proposals. The proposed federal mandated work requirements would require Americans to complete work requirements before you ever get Medicaid. The federal proposal has the potential to risk loss of health coverage for tens of thousands more Utahns than the states work requirement waiver, as currently drafted. Additionally, if Congress approves the bill as currently drafted, it included a provision that would penalize states that expanded coverage for immigrants by reducing the federal Medicaid matching rate for the Medicaid expansion program from 90% to 80% for states that either provide health coverage or financial assistance to purchase health coverage to certain groups of immigrants. Last year, Utah started offering health insurance to noncitizen children through its State Childrens Health Insurance Program, or State CHIP. As of last week, 1,317 children were enrolled in that program, which has the capacity to cover up to 2,000 kids, according to the states website. Strohecker said that if the federal government penalizes Utah for its State CHIP program and reduces its state match from 90% to 80%, that would trigger a law to terminate Utahs adult Medicaid expansion program. She said lawmakers may need to consider what to do about that. That may include repealing the State CHIP program for 2,000 kids in order to save Utahs Medicaid expansion program, which covers 75,000 adults. Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, acknowledged the federal bill is constantly evolving, so state leaders will need to watch what happens, but he said assuming this bill passes, if this provision is left in there, lawmakers may need to repeal State CHIP. I think its a really simple policy call, myself, that we need to sunset the (State CHIP) program that would trigger the 10% penalty as well as our trigger law, because that would be a domino effect, Eliason said. This is not making a policy comment on the underlying legislation, its just that our hands would be tied, and it would be, I think, the greatest good for the greatest number. Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, also acknowledged that the federal budget package is a moving target, so who knows what its going to look like in the next week. But she asked whether the Utah Legislature would need to convene in a special session to deal with fallout if the bill receives final passage before lawmakers next general session in January. Strohecker said thats a possibility. Weve been keeping a very close eye on this legislation, she said. Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect on all references that the Utah insurance program for noncitizen children that may need to be repealed if federal Medicaid cuts are enacted is the State CHIP program, not the national CHIP program. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ANDERSON A Madison County Circuit Court Division 6 jury has found an Anderson man guilty on a charge of dealing methamphetamine. The jury Tuesday found Demond James White, 52, 2000 block of East Seventh Street, guilty on the felony charge. He is also charged with being a habitual offender. Judge Mark Dudley set sentencing for July 18. White faces a possible 50-year prison sentence. The states case was presented by deputy prosecutors Matt Savage and Jen Haley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Detective LeeAnn Dwiggins with the Madison County Drug Task Force, a confidential informant purchased 10 grams of methamphetamine on Jan. 20, 2021, for $300. The court document states that on Dec. 22, 2021, White was alleged to be selling thousands of fake Roxy pills (fentanyl) from a garage on West 12th Street. He had bonded out of jail. White was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to a charge of dealing cocaine in Circuit Court Division 6. ANDERSON An Anderson man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to nine felony counts of child exploitation and one count of possession of child pornography. Blake Donovan Parker, 20, 1800 block of Broadway, was arrested in January following an investigation by Detective Greg Loveall with the Hamilton County Child Exploitation Task Force that started in September 2023. Madison Circuit Court Division 4 Judge David Happe sentenced Parker on Tuesday to 18 years with 12 to be served and six years suspended. Parker is also required to register as a sex offender for life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Prosecutor Dan Kopp handled the case in which a plea agreement called for a cap of 12 years to be served with the Indiana Department of Correction. Loveall wrote in a probable cause affidavit that he was contacted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and asked to investigate Parker. After serving a search warrant, it was discovered that Parker had over 1,000 images and videos of child sex abuse material. The investigation found that Parker was transmitting material to other internet users. Loveall found that Parker was telling other users that he wanted to have sexual activity with children, including newborns. During an interview, Parker said he uses a picture of a 12-year-old girl holding balloons to gain attention from other users. By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS (Reuters) - Vaccinating animals more widely could help stop the spread of deadly diseases, protect public health and keep global trade flowing, the head of the World Organisation for Animal Health said as bird flu disrupts Brazilian poultry exports. Brazil, the world's top poultry exporter, confirmed its first-ever outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, in domestic birds last week, prompting export bans from several countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While most countries rely on culling policies and movement restrictions, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said vaccination could help reduce outbreaks while preserving trade. "Vaccination is a tool, it's a very good tool when it exists, but it's up to each country, region, or group of countries to identify in which case it will be useful to use it or not," Director General Emmanuelle Soubeyran told Reuters ahead of the start of WOAH's general assembly on Sunday. More than 633 million birds have been lost to bird flu over the past two decades, the Paris-based WOAH said in a report on the state of animal health released on Friday. The disease has triggered mass culling, caused billions in economic damage, and disrupted food supply chains worldwide. Bird flu has also spread to mammals, including dairy cows in the United States, and infected hundreds of people, raising concerns it could spark a new pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If properly implemented, vaccination limits virus spread, protects animal health, and lowers the risk of human infection. But it is costly to develop vaccines and roll them out, and vaccination programmes often lead to trade restrictions over fears that a disease may circulate unnoticed. In France, a nationwide duck vaccination effort helped cut bird flu outbreaks from over 300 to just 10 within a year. The United States and Canada eased their ban on French poultry imports in January, citing good traceability and monitoring. Most bird flu vaccination campaigns focus on long-lived birds like ducks or breeders. Broilers - chickens raised for meat - are typically not vaccinated because they do not live long enough, which may limit immediate use in major poultry-exporting nations. Vaccination has helped eliminate or control other animal diseases, including rinderpest in 2011, the first animal disease ever eradicated globally, and only the second of any kind eradicated after smallpox in humans, WOAH said in its report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To address concerns that vaccinations may disrupt trade, WOAH is working on global standards to distinguish vaccinated birds from infected ones, the so-called DIVA principle. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Tom Hogue) Donald Trumps former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci has claimed that Elon Musk thinks the president is an idiot. Scaramucci, who spent 11 days as Trumps White House communications director in 2017 before he was fired, was speaking at the U.K.s Hay Festival on Thursday. Musk thinks Trump's an idiot, Scaramucci said. And let me tell you how I know, because Musk doesn't think like we do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Wall Street financier made the remarks while speaking at the annual arts and literary festival, which The Independent is a sponsor. He was being interviewed by his podcast co-host Alastair Campbell, a long-time adviser and press secretary to former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. Anthony Scaramucci, who spent 11 days as Trumps White House communications director in 2017 before he was fired, claimed that Elon Musk thinks that President Donald Trump is an idiot. (Getty Images) Scaramucci explained that in calling Trumps senior trade adviser Peter Navarro a moron last month, the Tesla CEO effectively said the same of the president because they have similar views on trade policy. Musk did something to let everybody know he's not happy with Trump, Scaramucci explained. He put out on X that Peter Navarro is as dumb as a box of rocks. And then the next tweet was, I would like to apologize to the box of rocks, because I just offended the box of rocks. He then gestured with his hands to demonstrate how closely aligned Navarro and Trump are on trade policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is Navarros trade policy. This is Donald Trump's trade policy, he said. You see, he thinks he's an idiot, he said, referring to Musk and Trump. Scaramucci previously predicted that Musk would only last six weeks in the White House, but he clung on for four months. This week, he announced he is planning to rein in his political spending and do a lot less in the future. Musk has stepped back from front-line politics since proving unpopular with the public, according to polling, and he faced ridicule over the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race last month. Hes finished, done, gone. He polls terribly. People hate him, an anonymous GOP operative told Politico. Hed go to Wisconsin thinking he can buy peoples votes, wear the cheese hat, act like a 9-year-old. ... It doesnt work. Its offensive to people. Scaramucci previously predicted that Musk would only last six weeks in the White House, but he clung on for four months. This week he announced he is planning to rein in his political spending and do a lot less in the future. (AFP/Getty) The political commentator, who earned the nickname The Mooch during his short stint in Trumps first administration, agreed. He's out. Trust me, he told Campbell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scaramucci also speculated about who Trump would likely fire next following the ousting of his national security adviser, Mike Waltz. Rubio could get axed, getting too much attention, he mused. When asked about the future of the MAGA movement once Trump finishes his second term, Scaramucci said that he doesnt hold out hopes that Vice President JD Vance will succeed him. "If [Trump] makes the full term, he will destroy Rubio and Vance, he said. He will eat them alive, he's already got Vance in the wood chipper." The former banker said that accepting Trumps job offer in July 2017 was down to his ego and called it Greek tragedy hubris. That was a very big mistake, Scaramucci said. And I have to own that for the rest of my life. The second decade of the 21st century has given us a treasure trove of bonkers ideologies and obsessive subcultures. From Marc Andreessen's fanatic Techno-Optimists to the violent rationalist sect of the Zizians, would-be cultists are spoiled for choice in 2025. Now, it seems there's a new one on the scene: the self-described "pro-mortalists." The philosopher Thaddeus Metz, at the University of Pretoria, describes pro-mortalism as the "view that it is often prudent for individuals to kill themselves and often right for them to kill others, even without their consent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On its own, pro-mortalism isn't really viewed as a developed ideology. Rather, it's an idea stemming from a fringe philosophy known as "negative utilitarianism," the principle that we should limit human suffering while maximizing pleasure. That sounds lovely on paper. But in practice, critics of negative utilitarianism like Metz highlight its tendency to lead to anti-natalism the extremist view that it's wrong to bring new life into the world and pro-mortalism. The two ideas seem to be used interchangeably by forum philosophers and YouTube theorists, though anti-natalism once had a decent following on Reddit, whose discussions centered around the ethics of bringing children into the world without their consent. Among its pro-mortalism's acolytes was Guy Edward Bartkus, the 25-year-old man who recently carried out a terrorist attack on a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late last Saturday, Bartkus detonated a car bomb outside of the American Reproductive Centers building, an in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic a medical practice that helps people get pregnant using various biotech tricks, basically east of Los Angeles. Bartkus died while attempting to record and upload the attack, while four others were injured, according to NBC. The clinic's embryos were undamaged, and IVF treatment is reportedly continuing this week. Though his footage didn't make it to the web, authorities found writings as well as a pro-mortalism website that are shedding light on Bartkus' radical anti-life beliefs. "Welcome! Here, you can download the recorded stream of my suicide and bombing of an IVF clinic!" the website greets. In a section labeled "possible FAQs," Bartkus makes his case for pro-mortalism, addressing the audience he seemed to anticipate would flock to his site after the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Understand your death is already a guarantee, and you can thank your parents for that one," Bartkus wrote. "All a pro-mortalist is saying is let's make it happen sooner rather than later (and preferably peaceful rather than some disease or accident), to prevent your future suffering, and, more importantly, the suffering your existence will cause to all the other sentient beings." Bartkus is notably cautious to distance himself from nihilism an older and better-established school of thought calling pro-mortalism the "polar opposite" of that "nonsense." Instead, he claims the suicide of a fellow negative utilitarian friend sent him over the edge. Meanwhile, questions have been raised online regarding an alleged FBI presence in the town of Twentynine Palms where the suicide bomber lived, in the days leading up to the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a KESQ 3 reporter asked if the FBI could confirm the presence of federal agents in Twentynine Palms prior to the bombing, a spokesman said he "cannot," before abruptly ending the twenty-minute press conference. Local police Chief Andy Mills also revealed that Bartkus was "chatting with people in online groups, in online forums, as well as posting stuff on YouTube where he was experimenting with different types of explosive materials," but added that he was "very confident" Barkus acted alone. More on crime: Crypto Tycoon's Daughter Narrowly Escapes Kidnappers in Paris The Trump administrations ban on Harvard enroling foreign students represents a rare meaningful consequence for US higher educations complicity with extremism and anti-Semitism. While the backlash is seeing Donald Trump accused of trying to wreck what is routinely ranked as one of the finest universities in the world, it is Harvards indulgence and enabling of foreign radicals and their militant ideologies which has given the president this opening. Kristi Noem, Trumps Homeland Security Secretary, has revoked the certification of the universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Programme, meaning Harvard must cease matriculating international students and those already studying there must transfer to another institution or lose their leave to remain in the United States. This includes any Britons currently attending or planning to attend the college in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem took the decision in response to Harvard allegedly fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It follows her move last month to cancel $2.7m in departmental grants. Harvard says Noems order is unlawful. That will be for the courts to decide, but the legality of the remedy does not change the nature of the disease. Noem charges that the Ivy League university has enabled an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students. October 7 broke Harvard. The terrorist attack on Israel and, later, Israels military response, prompted student encampments, demonstrations, the blocking of access to parts of campus and other acts of disruption and intimidation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administrators have been accused of repeatedly failing to heed pleas from Jewish and Israeli students who were the main targets of this campaign. An internal Harvard report found that almost 60 per cent of Jewish students had experienced discrimination, stereotyping or negative bias, while one in four reported feeling physically unsafe. Since October 7, they had been subjected to social shunning, verbal abuse, intimidation, and bullying, witnessed the defacing of hostage posters around campus with antisemitic slogans and had begun to conceal their Jewish identity from classmates. The report documented instances of Jewish students turning down admissions offers, leaving PhD programmes and, in the case of medicine, avoiding residencies at Harvard hospitals because of deep politicisation and an academic climate unfriendly to Jews. It took another century, but President Lowell finally got his way. American higher education places great emphasis on academic freedom, and many in that field believe they are under unprecedented attack in the Trump II era. Some have gone so far as to leave the United States in a protest against fascism, though they have tended to flee to Canada or the UK, two jurisdictions not exactly known for liberality when it comes to free expression. Yet in all this puffed-up indignation, there is little reflection on the academic freedom of Jewish and Israeli students and faculty. What effect has almost two years of living, studying and working in a hostile environment had on their liberty to express themselves, engage in scholarship and participate fully in campus life? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University administrations are on a hair-trigger when it comes to microaggressions, but there is nothing micro about what Jews have faced at Harvard and other major American campuses since October 7. Then again, Jews are the asterisk in the diversity, equity and inclusion ideology, forever stuck at the bottom of the intersectionality totem pole to appease the prejudices of more favoured minorities. Harvard is now in the finding out stages of a self-imposed crisis. It has trashed its reputation like so many august bodies because it lost the institutional confidence to impose standards upon its students, especially those from overseas. They belonged to the Global South, after all, which placed them above reproach from privileged white liberals. (Their hefty tuition payments also helped in that regard.) Harvard enabled a campus culture in which righteous victims were allowed to victimise other students simply for being Jewish or Israeli. Kristi Noem is doing what the university was too feckless and permissive to do with its most extreme students: putting her foot down. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. LONDON (AP) Bernadette Dugasse was just a toddler when her family was forced to leave her birthplace, the Chagos Islands. She didnt get a chance to return until she was a grandmother, and only for a visit. Dugasse, 68, has spent most of her life in the Seychelles and the U.K. Like hundreds of others native to the Indian Ocean islands, Dugasse was kicked out of her homeland more than half a century ago when the British and U.S. governments decided to build an important military base there. After years of fighting for the right to go home, Dugasse and other displaced islanders watched in despair Thursday as the U.K. government announced it was formally transferring the Chagos Islands sovereignty to Mauritius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While political leaders spoke about international security and geopolitics, the deal meant only one thing for Chagossians: That the prospect of ever going back to live in their homeland now seems more out of reach than ever. We are the natives. We belong there, said Dugasse, who has reluctantly settled in Crawley, a town south of London. It made me feel enraged because I want to go home. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Palestinians in the village of Bruqin in the northern West Bank said that Israeli settlers attacked them, burning cars and damaging houses. Weve been suffering since Wednesday from settler attacks and assaults verbal abuse, stone throwing and constant harassment at all times, said Mustafa Khater, whose house was attacked Thursday. He said Friday that he had previously evacuated his wife and four children for fear of attacks, but had stayed behind to protect the house. The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out large-scale operations targeting militants that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. That has coincided with a rise in settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. May 16-22, 2025 Panama and Venezuela are resuming commercial flights nearly a year after suspending them when the Panamanian president refused to recognize the reelection of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Geese in Brazil were stained blue in the Tulipas stream after a truck accidentally spilled chemical dye into the water. In Argentina, a woman carried a dog along a flooded highway after heavy rains in Campana. 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. The selection was curated by AP photographer Juan Karita, based in La Paz, Bolivia. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews May 23An Albuquerque police officer was in custody Friday charged with striking and critically injuring a pedestrian and fleeing the scene on a motorcycle Thursday evening. Officer Ezekiel Florez, 29, was charged Friday with knowingly leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm. The crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday as Florez was driving a motorcycle westbound on Central "at a high rate of speed" with a second off-duty APD officer in the passenger seat, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motorcycle "clipped" a pedestrian in the intersection of Central and Coors NW and fled westbound on Central, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. A neurosurgeon at the University of New Mexico Hospital told police the still-unidentified pedestrian "was extremely critical and not likely to survive his injuries," the complaint said. Florez was placed on administrative leave while APD investigates the crash, the statement said. He remained in custody Friday at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Florez has not been scheduled for an initial court appearance. It is unclear if he has an attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florez's involvement in the crash came to light when a female APD police officer, Krystal Garcia, called another officer and identified herself as the passenger on the motorcycle, the complaint said. Garcia told the officer that as they were riding, "a homeless subject ran into the roadway, and they believed they 'clipped him' with the motorcycle," the complaint said. Multiple 911 callers reported that a white motorcycle with two occupants struck and pedestrian and fled westbound on Central. Police found an unidentified man lying in a crosswalk with a serious head injury that "exposed brain matter," according to the criminal complaint . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told police she was stopped at the intersection when the westbound motorcycle passed her traveling "extremely fast" and struck the pedestrian in the Coors intersection. The collision was captured by an ART bus station video surveillance camera, the complaint said. The video showed the pedestrian running southbound through the crosswalk, the complaint said. The video shows that westbound traffic had a green light, it said. "A white motorcycle, occupied by two riders, is seen traveling at a high rate of speed, striking the pedestrian and continuing westbound," the complaint said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florez and Garcia later returned to the scene and they were detained, APD said in the statement. "Florez told investigators he saw the pedestrian running across the intersection and he could not get out of the way in time and the pedestrian struck the right side of the motorcycle," it said. Garcia has been placed on administrative leave but has not been criminally charged, the statement said. "Investigators noted that Florez and Garcia failed to call for medical help after the crash and waited several hours before they returned to the scene," the statement said. When the world calls you Little Al, youre going to do what it takes to be seen. Thats what I thought after spending an hour last week at the Porsche Experience Center in Carson with the citys former mayor, Albert Robles. Hes not the Albert Robles who was found guilty 19 years ago of fleecing South Gate out of $20 million as treasurer thats Big Al Robles. Little Al is the one who has tried to be a political somebody in L.A. County for over 30 years, only to almost always fall short, his career careening from one controversy to another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2006, he represented three men who moved to Vernon in an attempt to take over the City Council; they all lost. That same year, Little Al represented Big Al no, they're not actually related at the latters sentencing and argued that his client deserved leniency since what he did was common in California politics. The presiding judge replied, What you have just said is among the most absurd things I have ever heard. Then-Carson Mayor Al Robles during a Carson City Council meeting at City Hall in 2015. (Los Angeles Times) The year after he was elected Carsons mayor in 2015, the Fair Political Practices Commission fined Robles $12,000 to resolve allegations of campaign finance law violations. Two years after that, Robles' 24-year tenure on the board of directors for Water Replenishment District of Southern California an obscure agency that provides water for 44 cities in L.A. County ended after a Superior Court judge ruled he couldnt hold that seat at the same time that he was serving as mayor. He lost the mayoral seat in the 2020 general election after striking out in his bid for county supervisor in the primary election earlier that year. Robles has been unsuccessful in two other races since for an L.A. County Superior Court seat in 2022, and a state Senate primary last year where he garnered just 8.5% of the vote. Read more: 'Little' Al Robles' big job: Make his own name in politics Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I keep thinking I'm done and then I'm not done, the 56-year-old joked at one point in our conversation as Caymans and Carreras roared through the test track as we lounged in a nearby patio. It's kind of like they dragged me back in. We met to talk about his latest waltz with the headlines: Hes the lawyer for former Huntington Park Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo. Shes suing the city to get her seat back after an internal investigation found Castillo wasnt a resident of the southeast L.A. County suburb. The council declared the seat vacant and then picked a replacement. Whether or not she lives in [Huntington Park], whether or not she's an angel, whether or not she's Charles Manson, that doesn't matter: She was denied the process that all of us are entitled to, Robles said. Um, Manson? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes also representing another former Huntington Park council member, Valentin Amezquita, in another lawsuit against the city. That one demands the city hold a special election for Castillos former seat, which Amezquita unsuccessfully applied for. Wait, arent the lawsuits contradicting each other? A judge told him the same thing, Robles admitted. He told me he filed them to expose what he described as Huntington Parks hypocrisy for supposedly following the city charter over the Castillo matter, but ignoring it when choosing her replacement. Its just like what's happening at the federal level, as far as I see it, Robles grumbled. Earlier, he compared the lack of due process Castillo allegedly faced to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran national illegally deported by the Trump administration to his home country. Its frustrating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more he talked, the more it became evident Robles wants to be seen as the crusader hes always imagined himself to be and is annoyed that hes not. Carson Mayor Albert Robles speaks during a hearing about a proposed $480-million desalination plant in El Segundo in 2019 at the Carson Event Center. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) His grievances are many. He continues to hold a grudge against former L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, whom he described as corrupt and Ill call him that to his face. Cooley, for his part, told The Times in 2013 that when Robles unsuccessfully ran against him in 2008, he was probably the most unqualified candidate ever because of his political past. Robles bragged that he torpedoed Cooley's career. It's an exaggeration over-embellishment on my part, but I actually take credit for Cooley losing his 2010 bid to become California attorney general. Because when I ran against him, I caused him to spend money money that he otherwise would have had for the AG race. And if [Cooley] had that additional half a million dollars that he had to spend for the DA race, he may have won. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He thinks Latino politicians need to close ranks like he feels other ethnicities do. Case in point: Operation Dirty Pond, an L.A. County district attorney probe into a long-delayed Huntington Park aquatic park. In February, investigators raided City Hall and the homes of seven individuals, including two former council members and two current ones. Robles said the probe doesnt make sense and is further proof that Latino politicians are held to a higher standard than other politicians. If Esmeralda were Black or Asian, or hell dare I say even white, I think it would be reported differently. I honestly believe that. Because those communities are willing to set aside their differences for the better good, because they know that, hey, if one person is being mistreated, we all are. Once he realized I wanted to discuss his own political travails as much as those of his clients, Robles said the better setting for our chat would've been the Albert Robles Center, a water treatment center in Pico Rivera that opened in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That structure, you know, everyone loves it now. Everyone celebrates that it's there. But surprise, surprise: not one environmental group, not one came out and supported our effort to build it up. Nobody fought more for that building, for that project, than me. This set off more grievances. Read more: Arellano: In this city, politics feels like Wrestlemania. Whom should we cheer? Robles was bitter that L.A.s Latino power elite hadnt listened to him and invested more time and effort in the South Bay, where Latinos make up a majority of the population in many cities but have little political representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They just see us as different and the resources to organize and build up that political power base never materialized, he said. I don't know if they see it as Oh, those are more affluent communities, they don't need our help.' I don't know. He was also disheartened by Black residents who opposed district elections in Carson that would have probably brought more Latinos onto the council. District elections were introduced in 2020 after a lawsuit alleged Latino voters were disenfranchised in the city. Since then, there hasn't been a Latino elected to the City Council. We would have members of the African American community come up and say, Well, we have a Latino mayor. We don't need districts. Latinos should vote stop speaking Spanish, and learn to vote. And then I would say, You know, everything you're saying is what whites said about Blacks in the South.' And they're like, That's not true. So, like, some forgot their history and now we seem to have fallen into the politics of, If it's not us, it can't be them. We climbed upstairs to the Porsche Experience Centers viewing deck so Robles could pose for photos. Workers at the venues restaurant greeted him, drawing the first genuine smile Robles had flashed all afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then mentioned that somewhere in the building was his name. I thought it would be on a plaque commemorating the debut of the Porsche Experience Center in 2016, when Robles was mayor. But it turned out to be his John Hancock alongside a bunch of others on a whiteboard in a room facing the parking lot. The room was locked. Robles wondered out loud if he should ask the staff to open it so we could take a better look. Instead, we peered through a window. It's right there, he told me, trying to describe where exactly it was among all the other signatures. Well, youre not familiar with it so you probably cant see it. He could. 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. People at a popular tourist spot in Osceola County were running for their lives Wednesday night after deputies say a Checkers employee shot and killed a customer over a fast-food order. The restaurant remained closed on Thursday as crime scene tape blocked off the drive-through. Osceola County deputies arrested Elijah Mackey, 23, on Thursday in connection with the shooting. There were a whole bunch of cops here, like, it was scary, said Jarisa Lindsey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Its just crazy. Its not that serious. It shouldnt be that serious where you get into an argument, then end up taking someones life, said customer Kelvin Lindsey. He ate dinner at the restaurant Wednesday and drove by later to see the crime scene. From every entrance there was more cops, and Im sitting here like why they are here, what are they doing. Then when we got to this area this was a concentrated area where a lot of officers were at, he said. Osceola County deputies say an argument broke out between Mackey, an employee at Checkers, and a customer over a food order. That confrontation escalated to gunfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People working next to the Checkers say they heard gunshots, and everyone started running. They shut everything down for the night. Mackey was taken into custody Thursday and faces a first-degree murder charge. People gotta change. Learn how to control your emotions. Its not that serious. A lot of things get escalated to that point because of misunderstandings, said Lindsey. Authorities identified the victim as Wesley Robertson. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The body of a hiker was found off a trail in central Arizona on Thursday, some 16 hours after she was reported missing, Scottsdale police say, calling it a "heartbreaking development." The department says an investigation into 31-year-old Hannah Moody's death is underway, though there are "no obvious signs of foul play or trauma at this point." Hannanh Moody seen in an undated photo. / Credit: Scottsdale, Arizona police According to Scottsdale police, Moody's body was spotted at about 12:05 p.m. near the Gateway Trailhead of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale. She was first reported missing at around 7:50 the evening before by friends who got concerned because they hadn't heard from her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding officers found her vehicle in the parking lot. Attempts "to reach her by phone or ping her cellphone were unsuccessful. Officers began search efforts on foot, with drones and assistance from a Phoenix Police Department helicopter," Scottsdale police said. The search went on until about 11:30 p.m., when it was suspended for the evening. It resumed in the morning "with 20-plus officers on bicycles, on foot, with drones, and with the assistance of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team and air unit," Scottsdale police said. "Other individuals showed up and assisted with the search efforts as well. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Air Unit located Hannah's body around 12:05 p.m., about 600 yards off-trail." Scottsdale detectives and crime scene personnel are carrying out a thorough probe to try to figure out what happened to Hannah and how she died. The Maricopa County medical examiner's office will attempt to determine the cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google, Justice Department wrap up landmark antitrust case Supreme Court allows Trump to end legal protections for over 500,000 immigrants Trump hosting Musk at White House for final day as "special government employee" A Maricopa County woman was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison and ordered to pay restitution after she accumulated nearly $300,000 in medical bills using a stolen identity, prosecutors said. Between September 2022 and March 2024, Shannon Lee Smith, 48, used another woman's name to fraudulently obtain medical care from various hospitals and ambulance providers, according to a statement from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. The woman discovered her identity had been stolen when she received a bill from her insurance company for services she never received, the County Attorney's Office statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith received care at the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, according to her indictment. She was ordered to repay Honor Health, Maricopa Ambulance, Radiology Partners, Mayo Clinic and Aetna, the insurance company, according to her plea agreement. "The impact of identity theft goes far beyond the financial implications," said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "It takes away a victim's peace of mind and leaves them to deal with the fallout of having false information tied to their name. I am proud of the work our prosecution team has done to hold the defendant accountable and allow the victim to start reclaiming her life." Victimized: Arizonans' stolen personal information used in large-scale fraud scheme This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona woman gets nearly 9 years in prison for using stolen identity for health care LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Arkansas aid programs have come together to add additional application sites in communities impacted by the March 14 & 15 storms. Homeowners and renters in Greene, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties may be eligible for FEMA assistance for losses not covered by insurance. President Trump approves Arkansas Emergency Declaration Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Arkansas, FEMA, and the Small Business Administration will operate jointly at these locations, providing in-person assistance. Eight locations currently provide in-person assistance, with two additional locations opening on Tuesday. All sites will be closed Sunday and Memorial Day. GREENE COUNTY Greene County Courthouse, meeting space by Room 108 320 W. Court St., Paragould, AR 72450 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 through Saturday, May 24 This locations times have been extended. Paragould Community Center 3404 Linwood Drive, Paragould, AR 72112 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29 This is a new location. HOT SPRING COUNTY Lono-Rolla Community Center 11702 AR-222, Leola, AR 72084 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 INDEPENDENCE COUNTY Cushman Volunteer Fire Department 50 Park Street, Cushman, AR 72526 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 IZARD COUNTY Ozarka College John Miller Auditorium 218 College Drive, Melbourne, AR 72556 8 a.m. 5 p.m., Friday, May 23 through 8 a.m. 6 p.m., 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Saturday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29 This locations times have been extended. JACKSON COUNTY ASU-Newport Center for Fine Arts 7648 Victory Boulevard, Newport, AR 72112 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 through Saturday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29 This locations times have been extended. RANDOLPH COUNTY Black River Technical College Academic Complex Building, Room AC 100 1410 Highway 304 East Pocahontas, AR 72455 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 through Saturday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29 This locations times have been extended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SHARP COUNTY Ash Flat City Hall 897 Ash Flat Drive, Ash Flat, AR 72513 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 27 through Saturday, May 31 This is a new location. City Hall Cave City Conference Room, 201 S. Main Street, Cave City, AR 72521 Entrance and parking at back of building Dates: 9 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 through 9 a.m. 1 p.m., Saturday, May 24 and 9 a.m. 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29 This locations times have been extended. STONE COUNTY Fifty-Six Municipal Building 5431 Mitchell Road, Fifty-Six, AR 72533 8 a.m. 6 p.m., Friday, May 23 For more information, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4865. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Arkansas State Police are asking for the publics help as law enforcement searches for a missing 16-year-old girl. ASP officials said Akeira Alannah Brown was last seen at 9:10 p.m. Saturday in Maumelle. She was traveling on foot, officials said, east of the 1600 block of Murphy Drive. Little Rock police attempting to locate missing teen Investigators said Brown is a 5-foot-1-inch Black girl who was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and black leggings. Akeira Alannah Brown, reported missing from Maumelle (photo courtesy Arkansas State Police) Anyone who sees Brown or has information about her should call the Maumelle Police Department at 501-851-1337. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. The Arkansas Supreme Court building in Little Rock. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday reversed a lower courts dismissal of the attorney generals lawsuit against the state prison board for violating the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The ruling, written by Associate Justice Rhonda Wood for the six-member majority, sends the case back to Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox for adjudication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Tim Griffin filed the lawsuit on Dec. 15, 2023, alleging the Arkansas Board of Corrections violated the FOIA when it entered executive session during a pair of public meetings and improperly hired an outside attorney. Griffin also said the board failed to properly respond to a public records request from his office. Fox gave Griffin 30 days to work with the corrections board on an agreement with an outside attorney to represent it. Fox dismissed the case without prejudice in January 2024, ruling Griffins office failed to make an effort to initiate the statutory procedure that allows special counsel to represent state officials and entities. Griffin moved to vacate the circuit courts order, arguing his office could not certify special counsel until the board asked for legal representation, according to Thursdays order from the state Supreme Court. The attorney general typically represents state entities, but according to Thursdays order, Griffin argued his duty to represent the state corrections board depended on the board certifying its need for legal representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is correct, Wood wrote, noting that the attorney general has no duty to represent state agencies until a certified request for services is made. [Griffins appeal] argues that the circuit court dismissed the action for his failure to accomplish what he legally did not have sole authority to do, the order states. In response, the Board contends the circuit court had authority to dismiss the action under Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Because we find the circuit court abused its discretion, we reverse and remand. Special Justice Bud Cummins joined the decision, while Associate Justice Nicholas Bronni did not participate. The governor appointed Cummins, a former U.S. attorney, to replace Bronni, who recused himself from the case in January. Bronni served as the states solicitor general in Griffins office before Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed him to the high court in December. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Associate Justice Shawn Womack dissented. In his dissent, Womack writes that even though the circuit court was right to dismiss Griffins lawsuit, the dismissal should have been with prejudice and because of sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that the state cannot be sued in its own courts. The case should be reversed and dismissed, said Womack, who regularly cites sovereign immunity in court decisions. Obviously, in most situations when the State brings a lawsuit, sovereign immunity is not implicated because the lawsuit does not make the State a defendant, he wrote. But in those rare instances when the State is both the plaintiff and the defendantas it is heresovereign immunity applies, and the underlying lawsuit is barred. In a social media post, Griffin praised the high courts decision, which allows his suit to continue. I sued the Board of Corrections to defend our Freedom of Information Act. I am thankful for todays Arkansas Supreme Court decision, which will allow that lawsuit to go forward, Griffin wrote. I take defending the FOIA seriously, and I will not tolerate those who violate it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit is part of a dispute between the corrections board and the executive branch that started in late 2023 over who has ultimate authority over the states prison system. The boards refusal in November 2023 to approve a request to increase prison capacity by 500 beds prompted public criticism from Griffin and Sanders. The board responded by hiring an outside attorney the following month to represent it in employment matters. The board voted 3-2 to hire Abtin Mehdizadegan, a labor and employment lawyer with the Little Rock firm of Hall Booth Smith. The vote came with almost no discussion after a 45-minute closed-door session. Griffin quickly questioned the boards authority to hire outside counsel without obtaining his offices consent, citing state law that says the attorney generals office represents state officials and entities. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. In the whole world, Russellville might currently be the most protected from wildfires after the Arkansas River Valley Wildland Fire Academy broke a record in 2025. Almost a thousand firefighters from 28 states have been sharpening their skills at Arkansas Tech Universitys campus over the past two weeks. More than 800 students and almost 100 instructors are not all on campus at once, but they are arriving and leaving as needed for classes. The large event is similar to others happening at least once a month in different regions across America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Tech University announces mission, vision statement for 2025 Simulations, roleplaying and hands-on experiences go hand in hand with in-class instruction. Griffin Dombey of Coeburn, Virginia, is in Arkansas for the first time because he needed training for wildfires that meet urban areas. Its great to see the country. Hoping to grow off the things I learn this week, Dombey said. His class is one of about a dozen classes taught each day between two buildings at Arkansas Tech University each summer. ATU liaison to the Arkansas River Valley Wildland Fire Academy, Kathi McMahan, explained that firefighters from out of state arrive as early as the day after most students leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have graduation on Friday and Saturday and then we roll into the start of the fire academy, she said. Fire crews battle Wednesday blaze in Russellville From Monday, May 12, through Friday, May 23 officials said 24 courses are taught. ATU partners with the U.S. Forest Service, the Arkansas Department of Forestry and several other federal and state agencies to plan what courses are most needed each year. Kari Hines is a class instructor from the Texas A&M Forest Service at the academy for the first time in 2025. She said the academy reminds her of how tight-knit the firefighting career is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have seen people over the last few days that I last saw in Montana, because we were all fighting a fire together, Hines said. Russellville Fire Dept. taking over city ambulance service While firefighters may learn prevention, leadership, operations and new equipment, people outside the classroom benefit the most. Weve had fires everywhere this year, and I think very close to home when it was in Little Rock, and so happy to know that they have the training that they have and willing to put their lives on the line, McMahan said. Learn more about the academy at ArkansasWildlandFireAcademy.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. (KRON) A suspect in a shooting that took place in Castro Valley last month was arrested Thursday, according to the Alameda County Sheriffs Office. At around 5 p.m. on April 17, deputies from the Eden Township Substation responded to the vicinity of Castro Valley Boulevard and Baker Road on a report of a shooting. According to police, witnesses reported gunfire had been exchanged between two vehicles. Arriving at the scene, officers were unable to locate involved vehicles or victims. The investigation was taken over by the Eden Township Substation Gang Suppression Unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macys employee punched during perfume theft Investigating detectives were able to identify and locate the victim. Detectives determined that the victim had fired several rounds from a CO2-powered BB gun at another vehicle. In response, police said, the second driver, who was known to the victim, retrieved a firearm and fired multiple rounds at the victim. Detectives identified 28-year-old Donovan Wright of Oakland as the suspect. A probable cause arrest warrant was obtained. On Thursday, Wright was taken into custody at his apartment with assistance from the Special Response Unit, Crisis Intervention Unit, Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Unit, the Dublin Police Services K-9 Unit, and the Small Unscrewed Aircraft System (sUAS) team. A search of Wrights residence revealed an illegal assault rifle, two loaded revolvers, and a small quantity of cocaine. Wright was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The Norco man accused of starting the massive Line Fire in San Bernardino County was found guilty on Thursday, officials announced. Justin Halstenberg, 34, now faces up to life in prison for igniting the nearly 44,000-acre fire in September 2024. Amongst the seven counts related to the Line Fire and two counts related to a subsequent fire, a jury found Halstenberg guilty of aggravated arson of forest land, property and possession of flammable materials, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Halstenberg was arrested days after the destructive wildfire erupted. In a release announcing his arrest, officials with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said Halstenberg was suspected of starting the fire on Sept. 5 in the area of Baseline Road and Alpin Street in Highland. Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, seen in a photo released by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office on Spt. 11, 2024. The Line Fire slows for the evening after a sudden a late-season monsoon rain storm temporarily halted its 4,000-foot elevation climb up to the edge of mountain communities on September 7, 2024 near Running Springs, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection car blocks highway 330 as the fire burns in the distance. (Photo by Jon Putman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) A water dropping helicopter tries to keep the Line fire from advancing in the San Gorgonio Wilderness to the west of Angelus Oaks and Forest Falls above Highway 38 on September 9, 2024 in Mentone, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The blaze displaced thousands of residents who were forced to evacuate due to encroaching flames, as well as prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency and deploy the National Guard to assist in evacuations. A total of four structures were damaged, one destroyed, six firefighters were injured and about 43,978 acres of land were scorched from the flames that were set by Halstenberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The convicted arsonist pleaded not guilty in September to 11 arson-related charges against him. Todays guilty verdict on seven counts related to the Line Fire case is a powerful affirmation of justice, said Dawn Rowe, chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. NORTH ANDOVER NASA astronaut Suni Williams was honored at Merrimack College during commencement for the School of Arts and Sciences in the Lawlor Arena on May 15. Williams was the commencement speaker and also received an honorary degree. Merrimack College had 2,200 students graduating this year over its two-day commencement activities. Boy, Im much more comfortable on a space craft, she told the graduates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams returned to Earth in March after an eight-day mission turned into more than nine months on the International Space Station. She told the graduating students about the extended space stay. Williams said she and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore could have worried about their situation, but had time to embrace the unbelievable things if you stop for a moment and look out the window, and took in the sights of space. The Needham, Massachusetts, native offered some advice to the Class of 2025 in her address. This is your time, your world to make better, Williams said. By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Astronomers have observed a galaxy dating to an earlier epoch in the universe's history that surprisingly is shaped much like our Milky Way - a spiral structure with a straight bar of stars and gas running through its center - but far more massive, offering new insight into galactic formation. The distant galaxy, called J0107a, was observed as it appeared 11.1 billion years ago, when the universe was about a fifth of its current age. The researchers used data from the Chile-based Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the galaxy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They determined that the galaxy's mass, including its stars and gas, was more than 10 times greater than that of the Milky Way, and it was forming stars at an annual rate approximately 300 times greater. J0107a was more compact than the Milky Way, however. "The galaxy is a monster galaxy with a high star formation rate and plenty of gas, much more than present-day galaxies," said astronomer Shuo Huang of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, lead author of the study published this week in the journal Nature. "This discovery," said study co-author Toshiki Saito, an astronomer at Shizuoka University in Japan, "raises the important question: How did such a massive galaxy form in such an early universe?" While a few galaxies that are undergoing star formation at a similar rate to J0107a exist in today's universe, almost all of them are ones that are in the process of a galactic merger or collision. There was no sign of such circumstances involving this galaxy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement J0107a and the Milky Way have some commonalities. "They are similarly huge and possess a similar barred structure. However, the Milky Way had plenty of time to form its huge structures, while J0107a didn't," Saito said. In the first few billion years after the Big Bang event 13.8 billion years ago that initiated the universe, galaxies were turbulent entities and were much richer in gas than those existing currently - factors that fostered extreme bursts of star formation. While galaxies with highly organized structures like the barred spiral shape of the Milky Way are common now, that was not the case 11.1 billion years ago. "Compared to other monster galaxies in the distant universe (dating to an earlier cosmic epoch) whose shapes are usually disturbed or irregular, it is unexpected that J0107a looks very similar to present-day spiral galaxies," Huang said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Theories about the formation of present-day galactic structures may need to be revised," Huang added. The Webb telescope, as it peers across vast distances back to the early universe, has found that galaxies with a spiral shape appeared much earlier than previously known. J0107a is now one of the earliest-known examples of a barred spiral galaxy. About two thirds of spiral galaxies observed in the universe today possess a bar structure. The bar is thought to serve as a form of stellar nursery, bringing gas inward from the galaxy's spiral arms. Some of the gas forms what are called molecular clouds. Gravity causes the contraction of these clouds, with small centers taking shape that heat up and become new stars. The bar that is part of J0107a measures about 50,000 light years in length, Huang said. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Webb telescope "has been studying the morphology of early massive galaxies intensely recently. However, their dynamics are still poorly understood," Saito said. (Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo. An attempted murder-suicide is under investigation in McDonald County. McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson says the incident began on Pine Tree Drive in the southeast portion of the county. Shortly before noon, a domestic disturbance was called in and the first deputy had arrived and was approaching the door to make contact when the officer heard gunfire from within the house, prompting the deputy to take cover until another deputy could arrive on scene. Officials say the residence the deputies were called to is a Pineville address near Powell, north of Pea Ridge, Arkansasoccupied by two peoplea husband and wife. Sheriff Evenson says the woman of the house was wounded from a gunshot but able to crawl to the door where deputies were able to assist her and enter the house to secure her husband, who suffered a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The injured wife was found to have been shot in the abdomen and was transported by helicopter to a trauma center. Officials say the wife was alert at the time of their arrival and is now expected to make a full recovery. Officials confirm detectives processed the crime scene and completed their work around 4 p.m. Thursday. DEVELOPING Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AURORA, Mo. A woman from Aurora is suing another Lawrence County woman after she allegedly shot and killed her son earlier this year. According to online court dockets, Sandra Bethards, born 1954, is suing Taylor Santiago for wrongful death in Lawrence County Circuit Court. The petition says that on Jan. 22, 2025, Santiago intentionally shot and killed Troy Eugene Huffman at an apartment in Aurora. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his death, Huffman was unmarried, had no children, and his father had pre-deceased him. Bethards is the only person entitled to recover damages for his wrongful death, according to the petition. The lawsuit asks for an award of damages in an amount that the court finds fair and reasonable, while noting the award of damages should be increased due to the aggravated circumstances surrounding Huffmans death. According to the Lawrence County Jail roster, Santiago is currently in custody for charges including first-degree murder and robbery. Last month, she pleaded pleaded guilty in Lawrence County Circuit Court on April 3 to murder, robbery, unlawful use of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes due to be sentenced on June 10. Previous Ozarks First coverage says that on Jan. 23, Santiago arrived at the Aurora Police and Fire Facility at around 1:45 a.m. and called from the parking lot, saying that she had killed her estranged husband, Huffman, at her home. When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Huffman deceased. Aurora-Marionville Police Department (AMPD) Chief Wes Coatney said that Santiago allegedly shot Huffman several times with a .38 caliber revolver and that a child was inside the home at the time of the shooting. AMPD said Santiago also disclosed to police that she had driven to Arkansas earlier and shot two additional people, including the biological father of one of her children, who was also home at the time of the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin City Council is moving forward with a plan to ban new vape shops from opening near schools and daycares. Council members voted Thursday to direct the city manager to draft an ordinance prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes and synthetic nicotine products within 1,000 feet of daycares and schools, to better protect youth from harmful exposure. The city manager is expected to bring a draft ordinance to the council for consideration by Sept. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our kids are impacted by the availability of e-cigarettes in countless ways, from negative health impacts to state-mandated disciplinary consequences that remove students from the classroom, Council Member Krista Laine, who co-drafted the Vape-Free Schools Resolution, said. I am proud to lead the way in protecting Austins children from the many negative outcomes of bringing vapes on campus. The resolution also requires stakeholder engagement with schools, parents and businesses potentially impacted by the ordinance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Following weeks of rare infighting fueled by a major budget crunch, the Austin City Council on Thursday approved $104 million to pay for columns to support three large decks and two pedestrian bridges over parts of Interstate 35 near downtown. While the 8-2 decision, with one abstention, was limited to funding for the support structures, it also served as a de-facto vote on the scope of the city's long-planned effort to physically reunite historically segregated East Austin with the heart of the city by covering a soon-to-be lowered I-35 with parks, walkways and other amenities. That's because the Texas Department of Transportation needs to know by months' end how many decks and bridges to account for as it prepares to lower and expand I-35 through Central Austin. Mayor Kirk Watson listens to Susana Almanza speak against the I-35 Cap and Stitch project at City Hall on Thursday May 22, 2025. As previously envisioned, the project included six park decks and two pedestrian bridges. The plan approved Thursday accounts for three caps, from Cesar Chavez to Fourth streets; Fourth to Seventh streets; and 11th to 12th streets, as well as two 300-foot pedestrian bridges, or "stitches," near 41st Street along the Red Line train path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The downsizing was the result of a major compromise. Ahead of the vote, the 11-member council was nearly evenly split on how many caps and stitches it should build. One camp had pushed for funding only two decks, citing the city's worsening financial outlook, while another camp had pushed for at least four. Council Member Ryan Alter was in the latter group but voted in favor of the slightly downsized plan. "What we ultimately approved is a significant investment and opportunity in not only bridging east and west, but creating meaningful spaces for people to come and enjoy," Alter said in an interview after the vote. The Austin City Council hears public comments about the I-35 Cap and Stitch project at City Hall on Thursday May 22, 2025. Council Member Paige Ellis voted in favor, too, but only after her motion to pay for support structures for two caps and two stitches failed 5-6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This may feel like an episode of Family Feud, but we're all really fighting for the same green future, she said. The two 'no' votes came from Council Members Marc Duchen and Krista Laine. Council Member Mike Siegel abstained. All cited concerns with the cost of the project. "The city of Austin is holding all of the financial risk of cost overruns when we all know they are coming," Laine said. "It's wild." The city is facing a $33 million budget deficit and also expecting to lose a $105 million federal grant that would have paid for one of the caps. The total project cost, accounting for the reduced number of caps, was not immediately available Thursday. With all six caps and both stitches, the estimated price tag had been $1.4 billion. Mayor Kirk Watson listens to public comment about the I-35 Cap and Stitch project at City Hall on Thursday May 22, 2025. The sentiments expressed during the public comment period mirrored the split on council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many residents and groups said they wanted columns for some or all of the caps funded, saying it was an investment for future generations of Austinites. "This is one of those 'yes and' moments," said Jim Walker of the Cherrywood Neighborhood Association. "You're going to have to address the urgent needs and meet these big, multigenerational moments when they arise. They don't come very often." But others weren't so sure. Several local advocacy groups and residents opposed the plan, saying that money was needed for other more immediate needs like affordable housing, similar to the concerns of the dissenting council members. "This is not the time to put a down payment on a project that the people of Austin cannot afford," Barbara McArthur, a district 7 resident, said during public comment at Thursdays meeting. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin council votes to fund columns for 3 decks, 2 bridges over I-35 A woman is set to head the Lutheran Church in Austria for the first time. Cornelia Richter, a 54-year-old professor of theology, was elected on Friday as the Protestant church's first female bishop at a synod in Vienna. Richter, who teaches at the University of Bonn in Germany, was the only candidate. She will take office on January 1 next year. Like her predecessor, who is retiring for age reasons, Richter wants to campaign for the reintroduction of Good Friday as a public holiday in Austria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had previously stated that she intends to give up her teaching position in Bonn. With just over 237,000 members, the Protestant Lutheran Church is one of the less prominent denominations in Austria. There are around 4.5 million Catholics in the Alpine republic, followed by sizeable communities of Muslims and Orthodox Christians. Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law Thursday a pair of bills opposing sanctuary city policies and embracing agreements local police and prison departments have with federal authorities regarding the detention of suspected illegal immigrants. The signing ceremony Thursday during lunch hour in the Executive Council chambers capped off a decade-long campaign by Republican legislative leaders and GOP governors to achieve the anti-illegal immigration measures. This is a big step forward. There will be no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, period, end of story, Ayotte said to loud applause from the roomful of leaders from the legislature and law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, was the first to author legislation on the topic a decade ago. We got our heads handed to us in the House, recalled state Rep. John Potucek, R-Derry. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, authored one of the bills (SB 62) that became law while House Deputy Majority Leader Joe Sweeney, R-Salem, championed the other (HB 511). I look at the governor, she has made promises, kept them. Bail reform, check, (anti) sanctuary city legislation, check, Gannon said. He cited the case of Jose Miguel Ramirez Vasquez, 33, of Nashua, a twice-deported immigrant from Honduras, sentenced to 33 years to life in prison for the August 2022 murder of Julie Graichen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant let that happen again and we wont let that happen, Gannon said. The earliest change to take effect from Ayottes signature is the anti-sanctuary city language in Gannons bill that begins in two months; the rest of it kicks in Jan. 1. Sweeney said there have been nine to 12 communities over the years to adopt welcoming ordinances that anti-illegal immigrant groups equate to sanctuary city policies. We are sending a strong message that if you came here illegally, you are not welcome here, Sweeney said. Earlier this week, the North Country town of Franconia adopted a sanctuary city ordinance, but Ayotte said these laws will stop their efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are going to follow state law, and they are no longer going to be able to do that, Ayotte said. Campaign theme During her campaign for governor, Ayotte hammered Democratic nominee and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig for having signed up in opposition to similar legislation. There were no Democratic lawmakers in the large crowd behind Ayotte Thursday as she signed the bills. For the event, Ayotte brought back another campaign theme with one sign that read, Dont Mass Up N.H., a reference to the Bay State spending more than $2 billion to house illegal immigrants who have come to that state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing in the back of the hall was state Rep. David Meuse, D-Portsmouth who had led opposition to the bills when they came before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on which he sits. This is really a sad day, Meuse said. There was a real crisis at the southern border, but this issue became a manufactured crisis here. This completely takes away local control and locks cities and towns in that sign these federal agreements to all kinds of costs and time taken away from their duties in the community. State Police, sheriffs in three counties and police in six towns have already applied or received approval from the Department of Homeland Security for cooperative agreements with Ayottes blessing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have alleged that the Section 287G Agreements have led to racial profiling, but Ayotte said that wont happen here. I have great confidence in our law enforcement officers in this state to do it lawfully and fairly, Ayotte said. The governor insisted the laws will not worsen the relationship that local law enforcement agencies have with advocates for legal immigrants. I say this respects our legal immigration process by saying if you follow that process, you belong here. We are showing respect to them. We welcome legal immigration in this country, Ayotte added. Former Gov. Chris Sununu had also supported this cause but in 2023 the narrowly divided House of Representatives rejected a final deal on the issue by a small margin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats Next: Now that both have become law, the Department of Safety and State Police will lead enforcement of them. Prospects: This marks a big win for Ayotte who had championed both proposals as a candidate and a new governor. klandrigan@unionleader.com Babies will be given Trump accounts with $1,000 (745) as part of a sweeping piece of legislation that the president has dubbed his big beautiful bill. The measure passed through the House of Representatives on Thursday as part of an expansive tax package, which now faces a vote in the Senate before it is sent to Donald Trumps desk for signing. Republicans renamed the money accounts for growth and advancement or Maga for short to Trump accounts on Wednesday, even though the policy was spearheaded by Texas senator Ted Cruz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the plan, the US government will invest $1,000 in a fund that tracks a US stock index for children born between Jan 1 2025 and Jan 1 2029. They will be able to withdraw the sum when they become an adult for expenses such as college, buying a house, or capital to start a small business. The House narrowly passed the bill forwarding Donald Trumps agenda - Kevin Dietsch Parents and third parties will also be able to contribute up to $5,000 if they open up one of the accounts on behalf of their child. Mr Cruz said the move provides children with the miracle of compound growth, the ability to accumulate wealth, which is transformational. The senator claimed he did not mind the fact that his policy had been rebranded, telling Business Insider: What I care is that they remain in there. I think it doesnt matter what theyre called. What matters is what they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, singled out the measure as she hailed the passage of the budget reconciliation bill by a single vote through the House on Thursday. Calling the legislation the final missing piece toward ushering in the golden age of America, she said it would provide Trump savings accounts for newborn babies. Democrats, all of whom voted against the bill in the House, criticised the attempt to brand the initiative Trump accounts. You all would be screaming bloody murder if we named savings accounts after Barack Obama, Joe Neguse, a Colorado congressman, told the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isnt the first time Mr Trump has faced such criticism. In his first time he sent Covid stimulus cheques to taxpayers bearing his signature, even though the measure was financed by federal funds. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Ruma Paul and Sudipto Ganguly DHAKA (Reuters) -Bangladesh's de-facto prime minister has threatened to step down if political parties cannot agree on reforms that citizens await with growing impatience, a top student leader has said, deepening uncertainty in the wake of deadly protests last year. Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, took over as interim head of the South Asian nation of 173 million last August after a student-led uprising forced then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nahid Islam, the head of the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP), which wants national elections held only after the completion of reforms, said Yunus was finding it difficult to work without the backing of political parties. "He was visibly upset," Islam told reporters after meeting the leader on Thursday. "He said if he cannot do the work he was asked to do - reform the system and prepare for fair elections - then he may have to leave. He feels trapped between demands from different political camps and growing public impatience." Yunus promised major reforms in various sectors after Hasina's exit, but a lack of progress and growing political disagreement have put his administration in a tight spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We told him clearly that people didn't rise up just to switch governments, but to change the system," said Islam, whose party emerged from last year's student-led protests. "Elections without reform will only take us back to the same problems." He gave no further details. Yunus' press wing did not immediately respond to telephone calls and messages seeking comment. With the interim government caught between competing demands for swift general elections and reforms, such a resignation could lead to further uncertainty. Yunus has said the elections could be delayed until 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has been pushing for polls by December. On Wednesday, BNP leaders said it would be "difficult" to continue supporting the interim government without a firm election plan. Responding to Islam's remarks, senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan called for official corroboration from Yunus' office, at a time when his government's credibility was at its lowest ebb. "I would rather say, the holy wish of the people of Bangladesh is a dignified exit of Dr Yunus (and his) also honouring the trust put by our people on him for organising a free and fair election at the earliest," he added. Adding to the pressure, Bangladesh's army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, also called for elections in December in a speech at Dhaka cantonment this week, expressing his dissatisfaction over the political situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last September, Zaman told Reuters in an interview that elections could be held within the next 18 months. The registration of Hasina's Awami League party was suspended this month, effectively barring the party from contesting the next elections. (Reporting by Ruma Paul and Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Lt Col Stu Scheller was thrown in the brig and then drummed out of the US Marine Corps for publicly condemning the chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Almost four years later, he is part of the team investigating the Biden administrations handling of the evacuation that led to the deaths of 13 US troops in a suicide attack at Kabul airport. Ironic that I will be investigating who should be held accountable for Afghanistan, Lt Col Scheller, who was handed a senior role at the Pentagon by Donald Trump, said this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It shows just how much Washington has changed since Mr Trump returned to power. And it marks an extraordinary turnaround for a figure who was relieved of his command and court martialled after posting a video criticising senior officers on the day a blast ripped through American personnel guarding the evacuation from the Afghan capital. I have been fighting for 17 years, said Lt Col Scheller, then commander of the advanced infantry training battalion. I am willing to throw it all away to say to my senior leaders: I demand accountability. Lt Col Stu Scheller was relieved of his command and court martialled after criticising senior officers His protest made him a hero to supporters of Mr Trump, as they accused Joe Biden of botching the withdrawal and leaving billions of dollars of weapons to fall to the Taliban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month he announced he had taken up a post at the Pentagon as a senior adviser under Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defence. The military is in desperate need of change and there can be no change without disrupters, he said at the time. For those who criticise, wanting stability and the status quo you are the real problem. He said his role was to tackle careerism in the armed forces and to ensure that people rose through the ranks on merit. And on Wednesday he was named to Mr Hegseths new investigation. He was the one guy fired for telling the truth about what happened in Afghanistan, said Mr Hegseth a day earlier. People are evacuated out of Kabul - Getty Images Europe Mr Biden, the president at the time, ordered the withdrawal of the last remaining American troops from the war-torn country in April 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It quickly descended into chaos. Afghan government forces melted away as their allies left, setting Taliban troops on a helter skelter race to Kabul. They seized the city in August that year, sending thousands of foreigners and Afghan nationals flocking to the airport seeking safe passage out. Tragedy struck when a suicide bomber detonated his deadly payload at one of the main entry points where American troops were protecting civilians. The attack will be at the centre of the new investigation, led by Sean Parnell, a former Ranger who now serves as Pentagon spokesman. It will also include Jerry Dunleavy, a journalist who resigned from a Republican investigation last year in protest that it had not gone far enough. Divided opinion On message boards used by Marines, it was Lt Col Schellers name that attracted most attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion divided on whether he was a wise choice. That guy who was popping off about an op he had no connection to and knew nothing about is now an investigator for it?, said one user of a Reddit forum. Another poster, who claimed to have been trained by him, said: More than anyone else I interacted with, that man cared about the future of the corps and knew the future [lay] in our subordinates and how we treat them. I wish him the best and I know he will do the best for our country. Lt Col Schellers actions as the withdrawal collapsed into chaos also divided opinion at the time. He won support from some veterans who shared his concerns but angered others who felt he was wrong to make such a public protest while in uniform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He followed up with further social media posts criticising military leaders and called for revolution. He was eventually charged with six violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and struck a plea deal, resigning his commission and leaving the Marines at the end of 2021. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Each year before Memorial Day, the Mahoning County Bar Association holds a special ceremony honoring colleagues who have passed away. Thursday, six individuals were remembered in a service filled with both reflection and celebration. Attorneys George Tzagournis, Kenneth Bailey, Thomas Infante, Daniel Rossi, Steve Meloy and Dennis Haines were honored by friends and family for their service to the legal system in Mahoning County. It is a tribute to the fact that these folks were lawyers and made a difference in our community, but it also is a tribute to the individuality of them specifically and what they meant to their families, said Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each attorney who passed away had a family member or representative give a speech highlighting some of their accomplishments. Family members were also presented with flowers for their lost loved one. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) The New Bedford Health Department and Animal Control is warning residents that a bat recently found in the city has tested positive for rabies. The bat was discovered near Fire Station 8 on Acushnet Avenue. Anyone who may have interacted with the bat is urged to reach out to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at (617) 983-6800 for a risk assessment. SEE ALSO: Feral cat in Dartmouth tests positive for rabies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabies is a potentially deadly viral disease that typically spreads through bites or scratches from an infected animal, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rabies virus primarily affects the central nervous system and, if left untreated, almost always results in death. Humans who are exposed to rabies are given a series of shots over four to five weeks to ensure the virus doesnt spread throughout the body. The CDC notes that, once the rabies virus advances past the incubation period to the onset of symptoms, there is no effective treatment for it. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. DENVER (KDVR) A bat tested positive for rabies after coming in contact with at least one dog at a private residence in Boulder. On Friday, Boulder County Public Health said a bat came in contact with a dog on an outdoor deck at a private residence in the city. Another potential, but unconfirmed, dog also came in contact with the bat. The bat tested positive for rabies, a deadly viral disease. 11 puppies euthanized after 1 tests positive for rabies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county said rabies affects the nervous system, and is almost always deadly when symptoms appear. Rabies is found in about 15% of bats tested in Colorado, but the county said other wild animals can carry the disease as well, including skunks, raccoons and foxes. Its usually spread through a bite or scratch from an animal with rabies. This usually occurs when people or pets come in contact with wildlife. Rabies isnt limited to one area, and we want to avoid giving people a false sense of security, said Carly Wilson, Boulder County Public Health Environmental Health Specialist. Even though this bat was found in the city of Boulder, residents throughout the county should take the same precautions to reduce their risk. How to prevent exposure to rabies The Boulder County Public Health said people can reduce the risk of rabies exposure by following these precautions: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never touch unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic; call animal control to collect the animal Wash any animal bite or scratch immediately with soap and water and seek medical care Keep rabies vaccinations current for all dogs, cats and ferrets Keep cats and ferrets indoors and supervise dogs when outside If a bat has come into contact with a person or pet, place a container over it and call dispatch so animal control can safely collect it for testing If theres a chance that you, your child or your pet has come into contact with a bat, the county said to call Boulder County Public Health immediately at 303-441-1564. For more questions about human contact with a bat, call the Colorado Health Information Line at 1-877-462-2911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Batesville man was convicted of rape after a two-day trial in Fayetteville and was sentenced to 26 years in prison. Taylor Jones, 31 Courtesy: Washington County Sheriffs Office According to a press release from Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter, Taylor Jones, 31, was convicted of two counts of rape. Court documents show that in January 2023, the victim reported to the Washington County Sheriffs Office that while she was a minor from 2007-13, she was repeatedly subjected to unwanted sexual contact with Jones in Fayetteville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim said the abuse stopped when she moved to Florida. Court filing claims Amber Watermans rights were violated during murder investigation The release says investigators, with the help of the Pinellas County, Florida Sheriffs Office, were able to get a recorded phone call between Jones and the victim where Jones admitted to the conduct. Jones will have to serve 70% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole and must register as a sex offender. Once again today, jurors in Washington County have demonstrated that they will not tolerate this kind of behavior, even when it is disclosed several years later. I am proud of the bravery shown by the victim in reporting the defendants behavior and for testifying in trial this week, Carter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Thursday, Baton Rouge came together to say goodbye to a giant of public serviceformer Mayor-President Melvin Kip Holden. Family, friends, and public officials filled Greater King David Baptist Church to honor a man whose leadership reshaped the Capital City. His voice was a golden voice, said Southern University Chancellor John Pierre during the service. Holden, who passed away at the age of 72, made history in 2004 as Baton Rouges first Black mayor-president. He would go on to serve three consecutive terms, focusing his administration on unity, public safety, and economic development. I think he was the best mayor of our lifetime, and I dont know when well see one any better, said Rannah Gray, a longtime friend and former campaign consultant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under his leadership, Holden helped transform the downtown area and led the city through major events, including the unprecedented arrival of thousands of evacuees during Hurricane Katrina. All you have to do is get in the car or take a walk downtown. Look at the improvements in the sidewalks. Look at what the Town Center looks like, said Jeff LeDuff, Baton Rouges Assistant Chief Administrative Officer. We had an event that the world had never seenHurricane Katrinawhere a city moved into our city overnight, LeDuff added. William Daniel, who also served in the mayors office, said Holden rose to the occasion in a way few others could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He really stepped up. It was at that moment I realized we had maybe one of the most dynamic leaders in the country right here in Baton Rouge. Beyond the office, Holden was known as a devoted husband, father of five, and a mentor to many. Even after his time as mayor, he remained active in public life, working to inspire the next generation of leaders. His legacy sends a message to the dreamer: keep pressing on, regardless of the obstacles, said Brandon Lewis of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. When you are genuine and sincere in your mission, you will be successful. Though the city mourns his loss, those closest to him say his impact is far from over. It lives on in every project he touched, every life he changed, and every young leader he mentored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kip Holden is survived by his wife, Lois Stevenson, and their five children. His legacy will remain a cornerstone of Baton Rouges historyand a source of inspiration for years to come. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A wanted man was apprehended by the Baton Rouge Police Department on Thursday, May 22. Carey Ervin, 23, of Baton Rouge, was charged with hit-and-run, battery of a police officer, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon a peace officer, aggravated criminal damage to property, theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, and headlamps required at night and inclement weather. A BRPD officer responded around 11 a.m. to the 700 block of North 14th Street after another officer saw someone they recognized as a suspect on a wanted poster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A perimeter was set up, and Ervin was then arrested by police. A search of the suspect uncovered a gun. He said the gun was borrowed from an uncle around the way because people were after him, according to the affidavit. The arrest stems from an incident that happened on May 9, 2025. A BRPD officer saw a vehicle that did not have its headlights on and initiated a traffic stop at 1100 Bob Pettit Boulevard. Ervin was the driver of that vehicle, and the officer initiated the stop by putting his hand outside of his vehicle. Man charged after road rage incident leaves 1 person in critical condition, BRPD says The Baton Rouge man sped up and hit the officers hand, and then nearly missed another officer who was walking on the street. The officer who was nearly hit got into their vehicle and followed Ervin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ervin ran a red light, and his vehicle hit another one at the intersection of Bob Pettit Boulevard and Nicholson Drive. He was able to get away on foot, and witnesses said he threw a gun into a ditch. That gun was never found, and the vehicle was determined to be stolen. A phone was also located inside the vehicle. Ervin was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Baton Rouge man was arrested after reportedly flashing his genitals to a juvenile. Andres Stefano Zambrano, 33, was arrested on charges of indecent behavior with juveniles. According to an affidavit, on May 8, officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department were called to a restaurant on ONeal Lane. When they arrived, officers learned that a man had exposed his genitals to a 16-year-old employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, officers were informed that Zambrano parked at the establishment and ordered a drink. Customers have the option to place their order, then have an employee bring the customers food to their vehicles. The 16-year-old employee was bringing Zambrano his beverage when the victim saw his genitals exposed through the bottom of his shorts. The victim advised police that Zambrano was reportedly rubbing his genitals and smiling at them. The victim immediately called out for their manager, which prompted Zambrano to flee the area. The affidavit states the victim was able to take a picture of Zambrano and his vehicle, a Black Mercedes-Benz with a Louisiana license plate, as he was fleeing. Using the photos taken by the victim, officers confirmed the suspects identity through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) database. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) Hurricane Michael destroyed a large portion of Panama Citys tree canopy, leading city officials to conduct a reforestation initiative. Theyre holding their fourth free tree giveaway of the year on Saturday. Theyre giving away 500 trees to Bay County residents. It includes red maple, blueberry, Chickasaw Plum, and mulberry trees. The giveaway will take place at the Glenwood Marketplace Farmers Market on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. Its on a first-come, first-served basis, so get there early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a limit of two trees per household. Residents are also invited to help create a sculpture going in at the MLK Rec Center. You can share your story about what the rec center means to you, and at the marketplace. The artist will use the comments to help inspire the art piece. To pre-register for the tree giveaway, click here. To learn more about the sculpture, 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A high school student in Beaverton is receiving the Gold Award the highest honor for Girl Scouts. Her award-winning project was focused on how she could get more girls involved in STEM. Isha Garg, a junior at Jesuit High School, was introduced to the world of STEM in elementary school, joining a prestigious club in fifth grade. It really opened my eyes, she said. Joining the club ignited a passion, and Garg wanted to share that passion with the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garg currently is running a STEM club for girls in second through fifth grade in the Bethany community. I first didnt provide them with the book, she said. Because I wanted them to experience hands-on activity. The Girl Scouts helped get the project off the ground Garg has been an active member of the organization since first grade. Girl Scouts supported me fully. They gave me all the resources to succeed, she said. According to a report by the US Census Bureau in 2023, women account for only 26% of workers in STEM fields. Garg believes that can be changed by introducing girls to science earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At her club, young girls get to hone their skills in coding, chemistry, biology and forensics. While she appreciates the award, she says the real award is in the work itself. I really wanted to help girls as early as second gradeso they could have more opportunities, they could find something they love, and they could continue doing that in middle school through high school, she 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 KOIN.com. With all this going on, it's a pretty fitting time to get an extra day off. Hoof-It With a Historian returns It's been a long winter, but the signs of summer are there. There are the new leaves, the sounds of cracking bats and popping mitts coming from Dehler Park, and of course those soaring temperatures. Now is finally the time to add the Western Heritage Center's Hoof-It With a Historian tours to that list. The walking tours, which lead patrons on a literal and figurative stroll through Billings' past, kick off again this week at 10 a.m. Friday, May 23. This tour, called "Bars, Brothels and Bok Choy," meanders around Minnesota Avenue, once one Billings' main arteries, and home to the town's nascent Asian community. The walk will kick off at the Western Heritage Center, and you can grab a $10 ticket at ywhc.org, which is also where you can see upcoming Hoof-It With a Historian dates. Shredded Speakers Noise Event at Kirks' Grocery How are your ears? Working alright? Not bleeding? Well you've got to fix that! And Kirks' Grocery has just the thing. At 8 p.m. Friday, May 23, the venue is hosting a night of ear-punishing sounds, from Maraud, Do Not Irradiate, Tweaker Cop and Quiet Winter and if you're on the fence, definitely come out for that last act, a Calgary-based musician whose music is a lot more tuneful than the noise banner might lead you to believe. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of. Trusting Ethan one last time at the Babcock and Art House Here's the bad news: the most historic movie palace in downtown Billings is only showing one movie this week. Here's the good news: it's "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" And here's the even better news: this isn't just a one-off. The Babcock is returning to its roots, showing a new movie every night this week and next. And what a movie! Tom Cruise continues his lifelong quest to kill himself on a movie set with the newest "Mission: Impossible," and there's a reason this dude is still our biggest living movie star even in his 60s. Check out showtimes at arthousebillings.com. And Art House isn't going to be left out of all the fun. One month has passed and they're still showing "Sinners," which has to be a record for a movie not starring the Wicked Witch and/or Bob Dylan. Musical romcom "The Ballad of Wallis Island" is also still going. But enough with all that time for some real cinema. Opening this week is "Friendship," the new comedy (they made a new comedy!) from writer/director Andrew DeYoung, starring Kate Mara, Paul Rudd and, the man himself, the legend, Tim Robinson. It's a chance for Robinson, who has got a decent stake on the title Funniest Man Alive, to expand the signature brand of comedy he's brought to TV ("I Think You Should Leave," "Detroiters," "Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special") to the big screen. All of our friends will be there Detective Crashmore, Karl Havoc, Roy Donk, Bart Harley Jarvis, Bozo, Attorney Mitch Bryant, Dan Vega, Paul Bufano (THE Paul Bufano!), Barry who palmed the dip, John Arani, New Joe, the Ghost of Christmas Way Future, Robby Star from Superstar Tracks Records, Robert Palins, Eddie Munster and, of course, Marcus "The Worm" Hicks. The whole Dangerous Nights crew will probably show up! And hey if you've somehow got extra time, there's an entrant in the 10 Years of Art House series with "The Lobster" on Sunday at 6 p.m. Yorgos Lantimos mainstream breakthrough, this 2015 sci-fi bummer has one of the great premises of any recent movie: Colin Farrell plays a man who must find love in 45 days or be turned into an animal. It's as approachable as it sounds. The Chinese Experience in Montana with Mark T. Johnson at the YAM The brilliant Mark T. Johnson, who is a professor at the University of Notre Dame and author of the 2022 book "The Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky," will be giving a presentation on the Chinese Experience in Montana at the Yellowstone Art Museum on Thursday, May 29. Johnson, who is about as good a talker as he is an author, and he's a great author, will be using historical photographs alongside his lecture. There's a cash bar at 5 p.m. and the talk is at 5:30 p.m., but show up extra early and make it a two-fer by checking out the YAM's exhibition "Northeastern Asia and the Northern Rockies." 'A Taste of Ireland' at the Alberta Bair Theatre Here's something you learn if you study any aspect of Irish history or culture: on that island, there is no barrier between politics and art. "Ulysses" is a great book, sure, but it exists as a product of its time, reflecting the literal revolution that was tearing Ireland in two when Joyce was writing. Maybe "The Commitments" is a fun flick, but can you really separate its embrace of African-American soul music from the 1980s economic downtown and the identity-destroying crush of the Troubles? Take Irish dance. Nowadays we might even see it as kitsch, but this is a radical, revolutionary act. It's a symbol of Gaelic identity that the British tried, for nearly a millennia, to crush. The form, especially as we know it, was re-popularized in the late 19th century as a sign that Irish culture was different from British culture and ought to exist in its own country. The seeds sewn by these dancers grew into the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and even the Troubles. Nothing happens by itself. Every hop, skip and jump exists not only as an act unto itself but as an act of defiance against the yoke of colonialism. Got all that? See this rowdy, revolutionary art for yourself at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the Alberta Bair Theater for "A Taste of Ireland," a show that combines Irish music, dance and storytelling into one compact, raucous night. Tickets are $74 - $44 at albertabairtheater.org. Honorable mentions Billings Animal Rescue Kare, or BARK as it's known, is fixing up a fab fundraiser from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, May 26, at Oscar's Park. The shelter, a small cat and dog rescue, is at 4107 First Ave. S. The event, now in its 20th year, will feature dog agility, corgi races and other dog-related shenanigans. And for the humans, organizers will have music, bingo and delicious food. Admission is $5. Cimarron Band are at the Heights VFW on Friday from 6-10 p.m. and Sunday from 2-6 p.m. A surprise truce in a spiraling tariff war between the US and China last week was hailed by Chinese pundits as a success for the country. But Beijing is gearing up for a rocky path in relations, and negotiations, ahead. Already, in the days immediately following the May 12 agreement between American and Chinese negotiators in Geneva, Beijing has been lashing out at Washington. On Monday, Chinas Commerce Ministry accused the US of undermining the Geneva talks after the Trump administration warned companies against using AI chips made by national tech champion Huawei. Two days later, it said Washington was abusing export controls to suppress and contain China referring again to Trump guidelines on AI chips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has also stuck to its stance on fentanyl, calling the drug scourge the USs problem, not Chinas even as further collaboration with Washington on curbing the production of chemicals that can be used to make the drug could help Beijing whittle down remaining US tariffs on its goods. Chinas tough talk sends a clear signal ahead of expected negotiations: That even as Beijing stands to face major economic pain from trade frictions, its in no mood for quick concessions at the expense of its own image or interests. Its also a reminder that despite the temporary dial down, an entrenched US-China strategic rivalry will cast a heavy shadow over those talks. Washington now views an increasingly assertive China as a threat and has moved to tighten controls on Chinese access to American tech and investment, while shoring up its Asian alliances acts Beijing view as containment. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Liao Min, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and China's International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang met in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 11. - Keystone/EDA/Martial Trezzini/Handout/Reuters The clock is already ticking on trade negotiations, as the truce agreed by American and Chinese officials earlier this month lasts only 90 days. Under that deal, the two sides agreed to reduce by 115 percentage point tariffs that had amounted to a de facto trade embargo between two highly integrated economies leaving assembly lines stalled, ports quieted and companies on both sides reeling with how to cope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There has been no announcement of further trade talks between the US and China, though US trade representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese trade envoy Li Chenggang met on the sidelines of a gathering of APEC trade ministers in South Korea last week, Reuters reported. On Friday, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Vice Minister Ma Zhaoxu spoke with US State Department Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Richard Verma on China-US relations. The revival of US-China trade ties benefits both sides and the global economy, Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said amicably on May 14 when the reductions went into effect, taking a more modest tone than pundits like Hu Xijin, the former editor of a state-linked nationalist tabloid, who had called the outcome a huge victory for China. But, CCTV added, the US must completely correct its wrongdoing of making excuses to recklessly impose tariffs. Dialogue can begin, but hegemony must end. President Donald Trump departs the White House on Thursday. - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images No delusion When Trump announced so-called reciprocal duties on trade partners around the world last month, China took a different approach to most countries, swiftly retaliating with its own measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And it didnt back down even when the US president then paused most duties on other countries but raised them on China, with Beijing projecting itself as a global leader standing up to a bully as their tit-for-tat tariffs spiraled higher. Now, Chinese leaders likely feel reassured that their US strategy is on the right track, according to geopolitical strategist Brian Wong, an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong. But the question for Beijing is how to spin that into a lasting victory for its economy and its narrative, despite a deep mutual mistrust and mounting US-China competition in tech, military prowess and global influence, not to mention a president known for his brash policymaking. There is absolutely no delusion on the part of (Chinas) senior decision makers concerning an easing of Sino-American tensions, said Wong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes are high for China to make sure tariffs are reduced for its single largest export market - and dont ratchet back up. If the current reduced duties remain in place, US-China trade could be cut by half, reducing Chinas growth by 1.6% and leading to four to six million job losses, according to chief Asia-Pacific economist Alicia Garcia Herrero at Natixis, an investment bank. The Trump administration has yet to lay out a clear set of demands for negotiations with China, but the president has long railed against the USs roughly $300 billion trade deficit with China and blamed the country for the offshoring of American jobs and decline of US manufacturing. A container ship arrives at the port in Lianyungang, in China's eastern Jiangsu province, on Wednesday. - AFP/Getty Images Weathering the storm Despite its tough talk, observers say Beijing is likely prepared to make some concessions. That could include returning to or expanding on a trade agreement to buy more US goods reached during Trumps first trade war, which was never fully implemented. Law enforcement collaboration or tighter controls on the production of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl could be another. The Chinese are willing to make deals, in order to weather the storm called Trump, said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington. If there is a way they can minimize the cost and stabilize bilateral relations that is preferred. But they want US to be practical and reasonable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are clear friction points. Beijing would likely want to work toward closing the trade gap by buying high end American technology, much of which is now banned for sale there. Chinese officials may also be wary of negotiating too broadly with Trumps team and giving concessions connected to opening its economic system, which Western countries have long been calling for. But Beijing also has its own leverage, as it appears to continue to keep tight control over its rare earth exports that are critical to automobile, aerospace and military industries. And observers see China as more able to withstand economic pain than the US. Thats partly because Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a strongman atop a tightly controlled Communist Party system, isnt vulnerable in the same way as Trump to public backlash over economic pain and tanking stock prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the effects of the tariffs on Chinas economy will become sharper, Beijing believes that it can endure the trade war longer than the United States can, former Chinese diplomat Zhou Xiaoming wrote in an online analysis earlier this month ahead of the Geneva talks. Where negotiations land by August 12, when the 90-day window closes, will have a major impact on the broader trajectory of relations between the rival global powers. But in the meantime, Beijing is continuing to prepare for a long-term rupture with the US. Trade tensions have added urgency to Chinas twin drives to boost domestic consumption and expand other export markets as the government looks for ways to offset the potential loss of American customers. Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during a bilateral meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in Beijing on April 11. - Andres Martinez Casares/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Xi and his officials have launched a flurry of diplomacy targeting partners from Latin America to Europe and Southeast Asia projecting China as a responsible partner and offering to bolster cooperation or expand free trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has done brilliantly in this regard, according to Suisheng Zhao, director of the Center for China-US Cooperation at Josef Korbel School of International Studies in Denver. If Trump continues this (global) tariff war, that will give a lot of strategic advantage to China. And thats important for Beijing, he added, because regardless of what happens in the next 90 days, the broader US-China rivalry means both hope to become less reliant on the other. It doesnt matter what they talk about (in negotiations) theyd (each) rather reduce their trade with the other thats the trend, he said. CNNs Joyce Jiang contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BRUSSELS (AP) Belgiums Royal Palace said Friday that Princess Elisabeth, who is first in line to the throne, is waiting to find out whether she can return to Harvard for her second year after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on foreign students at the university. The Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students in its escalating battle with the Ivy League school, saying thousands of students must transfer to other schools or leave the country. We are looking into the situation, to see what kind of impact this decision might have on the princess, or not. Its too early to say right now, said the palaces communications head, Xavier Baert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baert said that Princess Elisabeth, aged 23, has completed her first year of a graduate school program at Harvard and would spend the summer back in Belgium. And well have to see what happens next year, he said. The princess is the first of four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and has been studying for a Master in Public Policy. Last year, she obtained a degree in history and politics at Lincoln College at Oxford in the U.K. Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accounting for more than a quarter of its student body. Most are graduate students, coming from more than 100 countries. The university filed a lawsuit on Friday in federal court in Boston, saying that the Trump administrations action violates the First Amendment and will have an immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders. Portillo's, the popular fast-casual restaurant chain known for its Chicago-style hotdogs and Italian beef sandwiches, is opening its first-ever Portillos airport location in Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The airport diner will be located in Terminal B of the Dallas international airport and is one of two new restaurants opening next year, along with another set to open in The Villages, Florida, according to the company's website. "Our first-ever airport location ... will feature our new small dine-in only format, keeping efficiency and comfort for travelers in mind," the website states. "Unlike our traditional restaurants, the restaurant will feature a smaller, walk-up accessible footprint with multiple ordering touchpoints including at the register, self-order kiosks and order ahead for pick up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport diner will also feature a "Portillos Grab & Go area," along with a variety of seating options that can comfortably seat 50 guests, per the announcement. "This new location is the perfect way to cater to travelers seeking quick bites or leisurely mealsin true Chicago-style fashion," the website states. The store will offer the same menu items at the airport location, including their mouth-watering, Chicago-style hotdogs, the fan-favorite Italian beef sandwiches and Char-Grilled burgers, and last but not least, the Portillo's Famous Chocolate Cake. Were excited to introduce these new restaurant formats as a key step in Portillos growth, Michael Osanloo, Portillos president and CEO, said in a statement. Our first airport location at DFW and our inline-style walk-up in The Villages are milestones in expanding our reach and bringing the Portillos experience to even more people. These smaller-scale concepts are great for high-traffic areas," Osanloo added. "Were eager to see how theyll connect us with guests while delivering the craveable food and fun atmosphere our fans love." Beloved Fast Casual Chain Announces New Location - With Major Change first appeared on Men's Journal on May 23, 2025 PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Oregon man has been convicted after hitting a worker at the worlds first national park. Following a three-day trial, Bend resident David Tyler Regnier was found guilty of assaulting a federal employee with a dangerous weapon. The case was sparked by an incident that occurred at Yellowstone National Park on Sept. 18, 2024. Portland Rose Festival, Multnomah County Fair among things to do for Memorial Day weekend Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Wyoming, two park employees were directing traffic near Canyon Junction due to ongoing road construction. Officials reported that Regnier was driving a Jeep in the opposite direction of traffic while complaining about how it was being directed. One employee directed the 67-year-old man to back up, as another stood in front of his vehicle with a stop sign. The District Attorneys Office alleged that Regnier accelerated instead, hitting the worker who then jumped out of his path. Regnier was later stopped by Yellowstone National Park Service law enforcement officers and arrested. Ongoing security concerns spark closure of West Burnside burger joint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our office will take a strong stance against the frequent acts of violence directed at public servants who are merely doing their jobs to protect the community, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher said in a statement. The Oregon man is slated to be sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 7. Officials reported that he could be penalized with up to 20 years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, along with a maximum fine of $250,000 and a $100 special assessment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday he hopes a new tariff threat from President Trump would speed along talks with the European Union regarding a new trade deal. In a Friday interview with Fox News, Bessent accused the EU of not engaging in good faith trade negotiations with the White House. His remarks came hours after Trump said he would impose a 50 percent baseline import tax on European goods. I believe the president believes that the EU proposals have not been of the same quality that weve seen from our other important trading partners, Bessent said on Fox Newss Americas Newsroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not going to negotiate on TV, but I would hope that this would light a fire under the EU. Trump threatened early Friday morning to impose the 50 percent tariffs on the EU by June 1, giving European leaders barely a week to strike a deal with the White House. Trump and his economic team are attempting to strike new trade deals with more than a dozen major trading partners before July, when his steep Liberation Day tariffs are set to go back into effect. The president announced April 2 steep new tariffs on goods from nearly every foreign nation, with rates ranging above 100 percent for certain products. After weeks of insisting the tariffs would stay in place, Trump later suspended the new import taxes for 90 days to give nations time to negotiate better trade terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU is one of 18 major trading partners the U.S. has prioritized in trade talks. Trump announced earlier this month a nonbinding agreement with the U.K., one of the few nations that imports more from the U.S. than it exports to the states. Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also struck a temporary agreement to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods with officials from Beijing as Trump attempts to negotiate a way out of his trade war with China. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Progressives are grappling with the killing of two people who worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington by a gunman who echoed a slogan that has become a rallying cry for many American liberals since the start of the war in Gaza. After his arrest, the man suspected of killing the couple outside the Jewish Museum in Washington on Wednesday night exclaimed free, free Palestine, a phrase that has become ubiquitous at peaceful demonstrations and on social media over the past 18 months. The attack brought renewed focus to a strain of violent radicalism on the left, even as progressives pointed out they share nothing with the gunman except his apparent support for Palestinian rights. What the attack did, they said, was hurt their cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It betrays our values and hands more power to those already pushing authoritarian crackdowns, said Layla Elabed, an organizer in Michigan and the leader of the Uncommitted National Movement, which arose in protest of U.S. support for Israels response to the Hamas attack launched on Oct. 7, 2023. Its also putting pressure on progressives to respond. Wheres our Martin Luther King today? I don't know where that individual is. Who is that individual? said a progressive strategist granted anonymity to speak freely. We just dont have big moral leaders in our society, period, let alone on the political front. A fringe, more radical wing of the pro-Palestinian movement has blinked in and out of national attention since the onset of the war in Gaza. Thousands of protesters have been arrested, including dozens who forcibly entered and occupied university buildings. And last year, POLITICO reported that an online network of pro-Palestinian activists in the U.S. included resources on how to escalate political actions beyond legal bounds, as well as pro-Hamas content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if members of the left are doing any soul searching, Kevin Rachlin the Washington director of the Nexus Project, a left-leaning Jewish advocacy group said, I think they are. This is more and more proof that we need to address antisemitism as a full society versus addressing [it] on the left or on the right, Rachlin said. Antisemitism historically and in recent years has more closely been associated with fringe groups on the alt-right, including most notably the 2017 Unite the Right neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia. President Donald Trump himself dined with white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022. Supporters of the pro-Palestinian movement, including liberal lawmakers, found themselves on the defensive after the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in a way that conservatives have had to respond to far-right violence in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, some pro-Palestinian activists worry the shooting, which federal authorities called a targeted act of antisemitism, could set back any progress theyve made in their policy goals amid an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and an expansion of Israels military operation in the decimated territory. "We hope and caution against this vigilante violence being used to undermine the movement to end the genocide, a movement of hundreds of thousands of Americans calling for ceasefire and arms embargo, said Sandra Tamari, executive director of the pro-Palestinian Adalah Justice Project. Alex Pascal, a former Biden administration official who helped craft its strategy to combat antisemitism, said, We cannot allow this violence to be weaponized by those who might exploit it to further degrade our democratic rights and freedoms. Trump and Republicans for years have cast the pro-Palestinian movement as a group of radical terrorist sympathizers. As the Trump administration has taken increasingly severe steps to suppress the movement and punish its leaders, Democrats and advocates have pushed back on that characterization, framing Republicans actions as an attack on free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pro-Palestinian lawmakers rushed Thursday to condemn the murders and call them acts of antisemitism. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he was appalled by the heinous act. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) emphasized, Absolutely nothing justifies the murder of innocents. Republicans were quick to paint the attacks as just part of broader extremism in the movement. The Palestinian cause is an evil one, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) said Thursday on Fox & Friends. The only end of the conflict is total surrender by those who support Muslim terror. As details about the attack emerged late Wednesday night, the Trump administration jumped into offense. Attorney General Pam Bondi and D.C.s newly tapped interim U.S. attorney, Jeanine Pirro, visited the scene. And on Truth Social just after midnight, Trump wrote: These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The left has had to walk this line before. Earlier this year, when federal immigration agents detained and moved to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder and leader in last years pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, the Trump administration justified the arrest by claiming Khalil was a supporter of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Democrats have largely united around detained pro-Palestinian activists as victims of the Trump administration whose constitutionally protected political speech is under attack but also hedged their statements by emphasizing they didnt endorse Khalils opinions on the subject. I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at the time on X . But, he added: If the administration cannot prove he has violated any criminal law to justify taking this severe action and is doing it for the opinions he has expressed, then that is wrong. Holly Otterbein contributed to this report. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has called on India to allow for a three-month reprieve on its abrupt ban on the entry of Bangladeshi garment exports via its land ports. The association is urging Bangladeshs interim government to send a formal letter to the Indian government on their behalf, which would request for a three-month notification period that would give ample time to clear the pending backlog of garments that are already set to be exported to India. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many India-bound shipments have been waiting to be unloaded at the land ports since Saturday, when the restrictions were put in place. In an interview with Bangladesh publication The Daily Star, Asif Ashraf, a former vice president of the BGMEA, said exporters were not prepared for such a sudden ban, and are now concerned about financial impacts to their business on the shipping delays. On Tuesday, Bangladeshs commerce ministry held an inter-ministerial meeting in Dhaka with stakeholders and government officials to discuss a response to Indias restrictions. We will not take any retaliatory steps. Theyve taken this step, and we will engage with them, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told reporters after the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rahman mentioned that a meeting at the secretary level between the two countries is being considered to resolve the issue. We will point out that not only Bangladeshi businesses are being affected, Indian businesses will also suffer. So, lets sit together and find a solution, said Rahman. We have an established secretariat-level forum with India. Last week, we sent a letter requesting a meeting. Once we receive a response, well know when it can be held. According to the BGMEA, readymade garment (RMG) exports to India reached $563 million in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The association says 93 percent of the garments shipped from Bangladesh to India goes through land ports. The move to block entry to RMGs, as well as limit other exports like processed foods, plastic goods and wooden furniture, will impact 42 percent of Indias total inbound trade from Bangladesh, according to a report from New Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The land port ban was an apparent escalation of a series of supply chain restrictions the countries have placed on each other in recent months. In February, India implemented a 20 percent import tariff on nine varieties of knitted fabrics from Bangladesh. Two months later, the country revoked Bangladeshs access to its transshipment services, which prevents Bangladeshi exporters from shipping cargo via Indian land borders and customs stations. That service, first established in 2020, allowed Bangladeshi businesses to use Indian airports and seaports to send goods to third countries. Bangladesh has since opened a new air cargo hub at one of its major airports to pick up the slack. Bangladesh also put up some of its own supply chain barriers, clamping down on foreign imports of yarns via its land ports. Yarns can still be imported via seaports and airports, but textile mills had claimed the land ports didnt have the required infrastructure to properly vet raw materials. According to the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, 95 percent of yarn imports come from India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, other imports from India including rice were restricted through the land ports, while goods like paper, tobacco and powdered milk got banned outright. Bangladeshs tit-for-tat with India comes as the south Asian country still is trying to maneuver through trade negotiations with the U.S. after the Trump administrations imposition of country-specific tariffs on April 2. Both countries agreed in principle to start Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks this week, Rahman said. Currently, Bangladesh has a 10-percent tariff placed on all goods it exports to the U.S., but that total could hike to 37 percentor nearly 53 percent on apparelif a new deal isnt reached by July 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of a potential deal, Bangladeshs government is considering removing import tariffs on about 100 products it brings in from the U.S. In accordance with World Trade Organization rules, the removal would apply to all countries Bangladesh imports from. These products reportedly range from raw materials for readymade garments, as well as man-made fibers and wool. They would also include items like machinery, effluent treatment plants, dialysis filters, fire extinguishers and certain arms, according to a report from Bangladesh publication The Business Standard. Officials from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) told the publication that the plans were discussed during a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus ahead of the upcoming fiscal year budget. In 2024, Bangladesh imported goods worth $2.2 billion from the U.S., while exporting $8.4 billion, making the U.S. Bangladeshs largest export market. The owners of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in Illinois are trying to sell it via private auction. The home was listed for $199,900 before the pope's appointment. Now, bids start at $250,000. The auction winner may not get to enjoy it because the local government wants to acquire the home. People bidding to buy Pope Leo XIV's modest childhood home in Illinois could face some stiff competition from the local government. The innocuous three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in the Village of Dolton was thrust into the spotlight when Pope Leo XIV became the leader of the Catholic Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current homeowner purchased the property in May 2024 for $66,000, listed it for $219,000 in January, and dropped the price to $199,900 in February. After the pope's appointment on May 8, the owner, inundated with offers and new options, delisted the home until last week when it was put up for auction through Paramount Realty USA. The reserve price is $250,000, and potential buyers have until June 18 to bid. "It's like a collectible car they only made one of," Steve Budzik, the homeowner's real estate agent, told BI earlier this month. Potential buyers, however, will be going up against the Village of Dolton, which has said through its attorney that it plans to acquire the home either through direct purchase or eminent domain laws. Eminent domain laws allow governments to make private property available for public use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If a direct purchase from the seller cannot be negotiated, the Village will cause Eminent Domain proceedings to be filed in Court and take the property through the legal process," Burton S. Odelson wrote in an email to BI. "The Village hopes a direct purchase is completed without court action." Odelson, who's been in contact with the listing broker, said the Village of Dolton is working with the Chicago Archdiocese to determine the best use of the space. Although relying on local eminent domain laws is an option, Odelson said it's a last resort. That process involves litigation, which means attorney fees, court costs, appraisal costs, and time. Under eminent domain laws, the Village of Dolton would have to compensate the owners for the home. Negotiations between the Village of Dolton and the current owner are ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hype around Pope Leo XIV's childhood home spurred immediate fanfare, prompting news trucks and curious locals to visit. One woman even told a local news outlet that she made the four-hour drive from Louisville, Kentucky, just to visit the impromptu holy site. Representatives for Paramount Realty USA and the homeowner did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider (NewsNation) After overnight meetings and last-minute changes, the House of Representatives voted 215-214 and passed President Donald Trumps tax cuts bill, also known as the big, beautiful bill. The bill being passed through the House is being seen as a victory for both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who had set a previous Memorial Day deadline to get it passed. It is now headed to the Senate for a vote. Former GOP Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told Connell McShane on NewsNation Now on Thursday that while there are things to applaud in the bill, there are still some questions left with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump considering bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public Some of the last-minute changes included increasing the cap on state and local tax deductions for some households and implementing new requirements for some Medicaid beneficiaries. Daniels believes the bill did not do enough. On the downside of this, theyve blown a tremendous opportunity, Daniels said. I regret very much that they didnt go a lot further in reforming Medicaid. I think they tapped on foolish and unjustifiable tax breaks with SALT, taxes on tips. I think those things were very ill-advised. Daniels said Trump must bear responsibility for putting many things off the table for the bill. He believes the things in the bill will add to the deficit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think were kidding ourselves that we think itll completely pay for itself, Daniels said. It didnt the last time, it wont this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. TOPEKA (KSNT) Topekas airports are getting some exciting improvements and additions that will reshape the local aviation sector in the years ahead. 27 News got in touch with Curtis Sneden, director of development at the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority (MTAA), about some upcoming changes planned for the two local airports. He said work is ongoing for some big projects while others are still in development at the Phillip Billard Municipal Airport and Topeka Regional Airport. Topeka Point-To-Point Flights The MTAA announced in March this year that it was looking to bring commercial flights back to the Topeka Regional Airport. These flights would be focused on taking locals to three popular travel destinations: Las Vegas, Phoenix and Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are in close discussions with a handful of airlines who are what we call point-to-point carriers, Sneden said. They fly from one city to another and back. Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? Sneden said he feels that a deal with an airline may be coming in weeks and not months to fulfill these point-to-point flights. He said there are several airlines which offer these types of flights, listing off examples like Frontier, Sun Country, Spirit, Breeze and Avelo. Theres an enormous market for this, Sneden said. We already fill these planes in Kansas City. Why not fill them in Topeka? We will! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United Airlines used to offer these types of flights back and forth from Topeka to Chicago. However, Sneden said that delays and cancellations made this service difficult to rely on, eventually leading to the airlines departure. He said that most airlines now are hesitant to invest in new routes unless they can have guarantees they will get a stable return. Our approach this time is qualitatively different; very data-driven and targeted, Sneden said. Its working. We are on the cusp of one of these point-to-point carriers saying Okay, lets get going in Topeka. Im confident well have a winner here. Wamego Caterpillar facility changes ownership, hundreds of local jobs saved Billard Updates and New Arrivals Sneden said there are some improvements and new additions coming to the Philip Billard Municipal Airport near the Oakland neighborhood. The airport has received some attention recently, including the opening of a new terminal and restaurant, along with a $3 million investment from Top Aviation Services to build a new pilot training academy there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sneden said there are plans to repave the road leading into the airport and finish the fencing around it. He said the new flight academy is expected to open by the fall of 2026 and that a new repair shop, Aeroworx, is now open for business and helping attract new customers to the airport. Each one of those [improvements] might seem subtle, but taken together they will enable Billard to start punching above its weight, Sneden said. Do you still have to slow down for work zones on the weekend in Kansas? Hangar Project The MTAA has plans to construct a large-span hangar with 80,000 square feet of space at the Topeka Regional Airport. Kansas lawmakers earmarked $10 million for this project during the 2025 session of the State Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sneden said the plans to build the new hangar are currently on pause until the MTAA finds a tenant to make use of the structure. The hangar would fill a need in the aviation market for a space where Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) work on wide-body aircraft can take place. We are in active discussions with an international firm that needs a large hangar to service wide-body aircraft, Sneden said. We are also working with a national developer to potentially bring their expertise in building and managing large hangars. Sneden said the interest being generated in this hangar project could result in a potent combination of talents and assets if an agreement is struck that benefits the organizations involved. You can learn more about the MRO hangar project by heading to the MTAAs website. New roundabout coming west of Topeka Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. A man already serving prison time was sentenced Thursday to an additional 70 years for killing someone in Billings in 2022. Branden Kord Rockabove admitted earlier this year to fatally shooting Walker Takes Horse. At the 24-year-olds sentencing, members of Takes Horses family sat behind the bar and watched the hearing via teleconference. The night Rockabove shot Takes Horse, both men had escaped from a prison release program in Great Falls. An argument between the two escalated to Rockabove shooting the 31-year-old man from Hardin. They (Takes Horses family) would want the court to know Mr. Takes Horse, not only was he a father, but he was a Christian, said Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney John Ryan before Judge Mary Jane Knisely issued her sentence. They have acknowledged that he has had his struggles from time to time. But they remember him for the good man that he was to them. And the person that he could have been. The person that the defendant took from them. On the night of Nov. 5, 2022, an SUV crashed into a parked car on Billings' South Side. Inside the SUV, first responders found Takes Horse sitting in the drivers seat with a gunshot wound to his neck. Crews brought him to a local hospital for emergency care, but he was pronounced dead soon after arriving. A subsequent autopsy determined the 31-year-old had been hit with a shotgun blast from behind him and to his right. Investigators with the Billings Police Department determined that Rockabove had been traveling with Takes Horse leading up to the shooting and crash. In October 2022, Rockabove walked away from a prison pre-release center in Great Falls. He had been serving time for a 2018 shooting in Billings and had a warrant for his arrest. Along with Rockaboves fingerprints discovered in the SUV, police also found a pump-action shotgun left on top of a dumpster in the area where Takes Horse was shot. In the days after launching the investigation into Takes Horses death, BPD asked the public for assistance in finding Rockabove. He was eventually arrested in February 2023 and taken to Montana State Prison. In September 2023, Yellowstone County prosecutors charged Rockabove with homicide. While in custody at Yellowstone County Detention Facility, Rockabove struck a corrections officer and faced an additional felony charge of assaulting an officer. Before issuing her sentence, Judge Knisely said she remembered when Rockabove stood in front of her years ago when he admitted to a previous South Side shooting. He admitted to shooting at a man driving a pickup truck, and Knisely ordered that Rockabove serve his sentence under the supervision of the Montana Department of Corrections. Rockabove earned parole to the DOC's Great Falls Pre-Release Transition Center, where he escaped on Oct. 29, 2022. I have been your judge for many years, she said. Unfortunately, there has been one common theme, and that is drugs, guns, cars and violence. Rockaboves attorney, Dennison A. Butler, read a statement written by Rockabove in which he apologized to Knicely, Takes Horses family, his own family and the people of Billings. He wrote that he hoped his incarceration would turn him into a better man. There was no sentence she could issue, Knisely said, that could bring back Takes Horse. She told Rockabove that at 24 he still had a lot of life left to live. If he wanted to become a better man, she said he needed to take advantage of any program he could while in custody. For deliberate homicide, Knisely sentenced Rockabove to 70 years in prison. For assaulting an officer, she gave him a 10-year sentence, which will be served concurrently with the previous sentence. Coinciding with his cases out of Yellowstone County, Rockabove was also charged with escaping custody out of Powell County District Court. Once that case is resolved, Knisely ordered that any time he gets sentenced to out of Powell County be served concurrently with Thursdays sentencing. Also in court, the trial was still ongoing for a man accused in a fatal drive-by shooting last year. Loren Cody Smoker is facing counts of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence, with prosecutors accusing the 25-year-old of killing a man in June 2024. On Friday, his trial will enter its fifth day. Homicides throughout Montana, along with violent crime in general, have been on the decline since spiking from 2020 through 2021, according to data from the Montana Board of Crime Control, going from nearly 50 cases in 2020 to 39 last year. In that five-year period, 21 people were sentenced for deliberate homicide out of Yellowstone County. The Army is heading for a major reorganization that includes eliminating at least 2,000 positions -- a combination of civilian and troop roles -- and cuts to planned purchases in various drone and vehicle programs that are considered outdated, according to internal documents reviewed by Military.com. Senior Army officials outlined the plan to top officials across the force earlier this month, the documents show. The undertaking amounts to one of the Army's most significant structural transformations in decades. The service's aim is to streamline the force while investing in emerging technologies that Army officials say are critical to preparing for modern conflicts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: From Star Wars to Golden Dome: Trump Pushes US Missile Shield Despite Funding and Technology Hurdles "Every role must sharpen the spear or be cut away," Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George, the service's top officer, said in a joint memo to the force earlier this month. The plan calls for eliminating 1,000 Army staff roles in the Pentagon and nixing various air cavalry squadrons -- specific units were not listed -- along with combining and deactivating other units that will result in reducing personnel. For example, U.S. Army Japan Headquarters will combine with the 4th Multidomain Task Force, with the total size of that element being cut by 170 positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for hardware, the Army plans to end purchases of the Gray Eagle drone and reduce purchases of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle by $498 million, in addition to other cuts, according to the documents. All commands will be directed to reduce temporary duty funding by 20%, and the service will slash funding for collective training barracks by $346 million. Those barracks are typically living quarters for major training exercises, basic training and various schools. However, it was still unclear what the changes could mean for the total size of the Army. The plan outlines reductions to "responsibly balance end strength" in pursuit of a "leaner, more lethal Army." The Army declined Military.com's request for interviews to add context to the cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The service is still juggling multiple options for how many soldiers it plans to keep in its formations, with unfinished plans for cuts. In the meantime, it has already imposed limits on soldiers' reenlistment options. Major cuts may need to be made to pay for President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system, which is expected to cost at least $175 billion, and cuts would likely have to come from the Army, which is the largest component of the Pentagon. Meanwhile, recruiting has seen a dramatic upswing in 2025. That follows two years of targeted reforms including the introduction of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course. The prep courses, which help candidates meet academic and physical standards, have played a key role in revitalizing the Army's pipeline, bringing in one-quarter of its enlistments last year. Next year, the service plans to invest more in the program, adding the capacity for an additional 189 trainees -- the program right now has the ability to graduate 23,500 recruits into basic training annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the plan briefed to officials, the Army will also shift away from electric vehicles and fuel-saving programs, stripping all research from those efforts. Electric vehicles have often been scoffed at by Republicans for their feasibility on the battlefield, though traditional fuel logistics are incredibly expensive and complicated, and large diesel trucks are usually very loud and not conducive to reconnaissance or low-profile operations. "No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in April at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. "No more woke bull----." Here are more major cuts and changes planned by the Army: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cut funding for Army Prepositioned Stocks by $337 million. Reduce funding for the Defense Language Institute by $30 million. Cut the budget for the Army Geospatial Center by $50 million. Cut various virtual reality training programs by $52 million. Cease procurement of TOW wire-guided missiles equipped to vehicles and tripods for base defense. Terminate the pursuit of "anti-idle" technology for vehicles, which would automatically cut power to vehicles during extended idling as a means to save fuel. Create a skill identifier for robotics and autonomous systems-related training. 56th Theater Fires Command will combine with 2nd Multidomain Task Force, with a reduction of 10 positions. 18th Field Artillery Brigade will combine with 5th Multidomain Task Force; 20 positions will be cut. 4th Infantry Division's armored brigade combat team will transition to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. 3rd Cavalry Regiment will transition from Strykers to Abrams tanks, becoming an Armored Brigade Combat Team. Three unnamed Army National Guard units will be converted from Armored Brigade Combat Teams to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams, which are effectively standard infantry formations but with the new Infantry Squad Vehicle. Additionally, two National Guard Stryker Brigade Combat Teams will also convert to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams. All Army Reserve Air Cavalry and Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades will be deactivated. All MEDEVAC units will move from 15 aircraft capacity to 12. Army Training and Doctrine Command and Futures Command will combine into a single entity. About 400 positions will be cut. Cancel the planned activation of two reserve artillery units. Cancel the planned activation of three reserve electromagnetic warfare companies. Move 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Fort Bliss, Texas. Shut down the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade and 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade. Army Reserve will get two High Mobility Artillery Rocket System battalions and three HIMARS batteries. Establish Western Hemisphere Command by combining U.S. Army North, Forces Command and U.S. Army South; 339 positions will be eliminated. Related: Soldiers Face Tougher Reenlistment Rules as Army Plans Troop Reductions MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Bill Appling has announced he will run for the Mobile City Council District 4 seat. UPDATE: ALEA IDs murder suspect arrested in Baldwin after chase that closed interstate for hours Appling, a Mobile native, launched his first business downtown when he was in his early twenties and was a police officer and later a detective with the Mobile Police Department, a news release said. Bill Appling has announced his candidacy for Mobile City Council District 4. (Courtesy of Bill Appling) Im running to make sure our neighborhoods are safe, our growth is smart, and our residents voices are truly heard, Appling said. District 4 deserves a leader who listens, whos walked in our shoes, and who shows up when it matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, Appling is running on a platform of: Public safety Supporting law enforcement, working with residents and police to identify troubled areas, and addressing crime at its root Responsible development Ensuring that future development fits the needs of existing communities Blight cleanup and beautification Tackling neglected properties and supporting neighborhoods, beautifying areas of neglect with a focus on Highway 90, and making sure all areas are properly landscaped, clean of trash and debris, and safe to live and work Community Engagement Amplifying residents concerns and ensuring transparency and accessibility from City Hall, implementing quarterly District 4 meetings for all residents Appling is the founder of Alabama Hues, a youth arts program that pairs local artists with at-risk youth from the Strickland Youth Center to produce public art projects, and is a founding member of Family of the Fallen, which supports families of police officers that were killed or severely injured in the line of duty, according to the release. President Trump signs Take It Down Act Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He served five years as a board member and logistics advisor for the Love All Pantry in midtown Mobile and served six years on the boards of the Downtown Mobile Alliance and the Downtown Mobile District Management Corporation. He said he stepped down from those boards to run for City Council. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The House of Representatives revived legislation Thursday to let doctors and pharmacists prescribe ivermectin without a prescription, a controversial but very popular anti-parasitic used by many to treat the COVID-19 virus. By a partisan 196-164 vote, the House attached the provision onto a bill (SB 119) from the Department of Health and Human Services stating it can save at least $9 million if its allowed to give the cheaper drug to Medicaid clients even if its the brand name that carries significant rebates. House Democratic Floor Leader Lucy Weber of Walpole said its never a good idea to add something controversial to a standalone bill that is going to save the taxpayers money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There continues to be no scientific evidence that it is effective for COVID much less cancer, which we were told it was a very good drug for, Weber said. Rep. Linda McGrath, R-Hampton, who worked in the pharmacy field, said the medical establishment punished clinicians who wanted to give their patients ivermectin. Patients have the right to try the safest medication in the world but they dont because doctors refuse to prescribe it due to political pressure, McGrath said. Weber said doctors currently are able to give patients any drug with off label instructions. House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee Chairman Wayne MacDonald, R-Londonderry, said the bill is voluntary and this policy has worked well without controversy in Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Party loyalty dominates vote Ivermectin won the Nobel Prize because the drug created in the 1970s as an animal parasitic was proven to treat humans with parasitic diseases. In 2020, two elite journals Lancet and the Journal for American Medicine retracted two reports critical of ivermectin and other alternative drugs over questions regarding integrity of the data. In August 2021, the Centers for Disease Control issued a warning about the alarming increased use of ivermectin to treat the COVID-19. Party loyalty dominated again on Thursday, with Republicans for it 193-3 and Democrats against it 161-3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House GOP members opposed were Reps. Mark Pearson of Hampstead, David Nagel of Gilford and John Sytek of Salem. House Democrats who backed the bill were Reps. Patrick Long of Manchester, Robert Larochelle of Rochester and Dale Girard of Claremont. Currently, the only drugs given a standing order are smoking cessation products, treatment for sexual assault, the EpiPen to treat allergic reactions such as bee stings, and contraception. Thats why former Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a similar bill (HB 1022) the GOP-led Legislature passed in 2022. Gov. Kelly Ayotte has not publicly weighed in on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats Next: The State Senate in the coming days will consider whether to agree with this change, disagree and seek a committee of conference to hammer out the differences or kill the bill outright. Prospects: The GOP-led Senate in past years has adopted this policy which raises the odds that it will likely be on its way to Ayottes desk. klandrigan@unionleader.com SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) Artificial intelligence has crept into many spaces, but state lawmakers are trying to ensure theyre not leading classrooms. A bill in the Illinois capitol would bar community colleges from having AI teach any class. Instructors would still be able to use AI if they choose, but every course would need a human assigned to it. Illinois pharmacists could soon dispense Ella emergency contraceptive without a doctors prescription Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills sponsor, Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Lyons Township), said its important to be proactive when it comes to regulating AI. We need to make sure that we find the appropriate role of AI on our society, whether thats academia, business, etcetera, the senator said. I think theres certainly some good and exciting things that it may bring. But we need to make sure its not replacing faculty or staff; you want to protect teachers jobs. Porfirio added that instructors are irreplaceable to students. Its recognizing, acknowledging the value that instructors bring to students lives and development, he said. Not only academically but holistically as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed the Senate 46-12 Wednesday. This comes after Harvard University announced plans to have AI teach an Introduction to Computer Science course. Students in CS50 (which has hundreds of students enrolled on campus and thousands online) are allowed to use AI designed by instructors to help explain and advise lines of code. Harvard professor David Malan said in a lecture about the AI instructor at Ai4 in 2023 that the tools have generally boosted students grades. In feedback they shared with Malan about the AI bot, one student said they loved how nonjudgmental the bot was in answering stupid questions. Dangerous, reckless behavior: IL lawmaker works to crack down on street racing with bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has, as one could expect, an inhuman level of patience, the student wrote in their course review. In a statement, the Illinois Community College Board said no community college in the state has any plans on using AI to substitute instructors. Our colleges remain firmly committed to the value of faculty-led instruction and educators critical role in student learning, support, and success, the group said in a statement to WCIA. The ICCB will continue to monitor developments in educational technology while upholding our mission to provide accessible, high-quality education across the state. The bill is based off of a California law that went into effect in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Last week state utility regulators disclosed that over several years NV Energy overcharged more than 80,000 customers over $17 million, with only 20,000 receiving partial six-month refunds that amount to a fraction of what customers overpaid. (Photo: Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current)) A law requiring utilities to fully refund overcharged energy customers and close loopholes that have allowed utilities to withhold full refunds from wronged customers is headed for Gov. Joe Lombardos desk. Assembly Bill 452, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Tracy Brown-May, would ensure customers receive full refunds with interest for overcharges, address high utility bills by shifting some cost volatility back to utilities, and extending regulatory timelines for rate case reviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation passed the Senate Friday on a near unanimous vote (one senator was excused from the vote). It passed the Assembly on a 35-7 vote in April. The bill comes after years of customer complaints detailing partial refunds by NV Energy which is only required to reimburse customers up to six months prior to the data the error is discovered in certain cases. Last week the bill became more relevant than ever after state utility regulators disclosed that over several years NV Energy overcharged more than 80,000 customers over $17 million, with only 20,000 receiving partial six-month refunds that amount to a fraction of what customers overpaid. Following the disclosure, NV Energys president and CEO stepped down amid a call from regulatory staff at the Nevada Public Utilities Commission for an investigation into whether NV Energy used an inapplicable rule to cap refunds at six months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several advocacy groups said the disclosure that the statewide electric utility overcharged tens of thousands of customers for years only highlighted the need for the bills passage. It is outrageous that NV Energy would harm so many customers like this and not report it or fully repay them, said Audrey Peral, program director of Chispa Nevada in a statement. Nevada lawmakers must pass Assembly Bill 452 quickly to protect utility customers from these kinds of abuses. Hard-working families cant keep paying the price for NV Energys wrongdoing. Under the bill, Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Commission determines that a utility has charged a customer more than any applicable rate or tariff allows, the utility shall refund to the customer, with interest, the full amount of any overcharge. The bill is also supported by the Nevada Bureau of Consumer Protection, which said in a letter to lawmakers the bill would ensure a full and equitable refund to ratepayers who are unfairly overcharged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the bill has been strongly opposed by NV Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Ryan Bellows, the vice president of government and external relations at NV energy, told lawmakers last week that the statewide electric utility complies with Nevada Public Utilities Commission approved rules on customer refunds. The rule is that its a six month payment back to the customer. We are currently communicating with the commission on this issue, on how to address and improve and correct this rule going forward, Bellows said, adding that any changes to the rule is best left to utility regulators. The Nevada Public Utilities Commission disputes NV Energys interpretation of the rules on customer refunds, telling lawmakers the issue is currently being examined by the Commissions consumer complaint resolution division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garrett Weir, general counsel for the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, said the bill and the proposed change to statute would certainly clarify the rules on customer refunds. Price spikes and cost sharing NV Energy also opposes other aspects of the bill, especially language that would direct utility regulators to potentially adopt a fuel cost-sharing structure so ratepayers are not left covering the full cost of fuel price spikes caused by global events or weather disasters. Its our position that the adoption of fuel cost sharing would lead to increased costs for customers, Bellows said. The bill would ask utility regulators to investigate how to best navigate energy price spikes and to study if fuel cost sharing is in the best interest of Nevadans and the utility. State energy regulators would submit a report on their investigation to the Interim Committee on Growth and Infrastructure by July 1, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada law prohibits utilities from profiting from fuel and purchased power costs, however in Nevada every dollar NV Energy spends to purchase fuel is passed fully through to customers. Fuel accounts for about one-third of NV Energy customer costs. Bellows argued revisions to price spike policies are unnecessary because NV Energy does not mark up purchases and the Public Utilities Commission has the authority to deny cost recovery for any purchases deemed imprudent. I would tell you that the purpose of this bill is really to prevent us from utilizing natural gas to serve our customers and to build out Nevadas energy infrastructure for economic development, Bellows said. NV Energy is heavily reliant on out-of-state natural gas sources, which have seen sporadic but sharp price fluctuations in recent years. In 2022, the price it paid for natural gas which accounts for more than half of Nevadas power supply spiked by 70% in January 2023, according to NV Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several unions and trades groups echoed concerns about the bills potential negative impact on economic development and job opportunities, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada, and the National Electrical Contractors Association. Nevada residents who spoke in favor of the bills language to investigate a potential cost-sharing structure highlighted the financial strain on families and seniors due to rising energy costs. I hear from families and seniors who are stretched to their breaking point by high energy bills. Theyre cutting back on life saving air conditioning, skipping meals, rationing medicine, and theyre still falling behind. For those living on low income and fixed income, the cycle of high bills is relentless and dangerous, said Mary House, co-founder of a local faith-based nonprofit community organization called Caring, Helping & Restoring Lives. Conservation groups and energy advocates emphasized the bills potential to reduce high utility bills, promote clean energy, and ensure consumer protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is supported by the Nevada Conservation League, Advanced Energy United, Western Resource Advocates, the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, the Sierra Club, and Chispa Nevada, among other organizations. This story was updated to reflect Senate passage Friday. A comprehensive crackdown on abortion pills passed out of a Texas House committee Friday, after conservatives criticized leadership for allowing it to languish. Since Texas banned nearly all abortions in 2022, people have found ways to obtain abortion-inducing drugs from a wide range of sources: out-of-state doctors, overseas pharmacies and whisper networks around the state, among other avenues. In response to red state abortion bans, blue states have passed shield laws to protect their providers from criminal or civil penalties for mailing pills. Anti-abortion groups and conservative lawmakers in Texas, frustrated by this easily exploited loophole in the law, have tried to stop this proliferation of pills with lawsuits and legislation. Senate Bill 2880 represents the most wide-ranging effort yet, giving the state a slew of new and legally unprecedented tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the bill becomes law, anyone who manufactures, distributes, mails, prescribes or provides abortion-inducing drugs can be sued for up to $100,000, even if the pills arent proven to be the cause of death for the fetus. It expands the wrongful death statute to encourage men whose partners willingly terminate their pregnancies to sue whoever provided the pills for up to six years after the event. It also empowers the Attorney General to bring lawsuits on behalf of unborn children of residents of this state. The bill also contains a controversial provision that says it cannot be challenged in state court before it is enforced, and a state judge who holds the law to be unconstitutional can be personally sued for $100,000. The bill passed the Senate 19-11 and was referred to the House State Affairs committee, where it lay dormant for three weeks. With the deadline for House committees to pass Senate bills approaching on Saturday, 43 Republican members of the House signed onto a letter, urging Chairman Ken King, a Republican from Canadian, to take up the bill. Texas is in crisis, the letter said, noting that the states strict abortion laws are subverted daily by bad actors who flood our state with dangerous and deadly abortion pills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To really drive the message home, a group of House members held a press briefing Friday to demand that SB 2880, among other conservative bills, move before the deadline. We are in a war right now, and you need to understand we are running out of time, Rep. Mitch Little, a Lewisville Republican, said. He said that a recent bill to clarify Texas abortion laws was a noble thing to do, but theres a balance to this equation that has to be completed. Just two hours later, the House State Affairs committee gathered for a last-minute meeting, where they voted 8-5 to move the bill. It now faces another tight turnaround to preliminarily pass the House before the Tuesday deadline. 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! Billy Joel announced that he has canceled all of his scheduled concerts, including Pittsburgh, after being diagnosed with a brain disorder. Joel was scheduled to perform at Acrisure Stadium with Rod Stewart on July 5. According to a post on his Facebook page, he has been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, which has gotten worse with recent performances. It has led to problems with his hearing, vision and balance. Joel is now undergoing physical therapy and has been advised not to perform while hes recovering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding, said Joel. If you have tickets to any of Joels shows, you dont need to take any action. Refunds will be automatically processed back to the original payment used to buy the tickets. Crocodile Hunter daughter Bindi Irwin was heartbroken when she was forced to miss a gala tribute to her late dad and rushed to a hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. Brother Robert Irwin, 21, says his 26-year-old sister was set to attend Steve Irwins annual fundraiser in Las Vegas on May 10, but missed the event along with their mom, Terri Irwin, 60, who was with Bindi at the hospital. Shes going to be OK, but surgery out of all the things we were ready for, that was not one of them, he says. She came to Las Vegas and was ready to put on a brave face. She said, Im just going to tough it out. But the surgeon told her, Your appendix is going. Its got to come out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As GLOBE has reported, the famed Aussie family of animal conservationists has been hit with tragedies starting in 2006 when reptile wrangler Steve, 44, was killed after a giant stingray he was following in the water got spooked and fatally pierced his chest with its tail barb. Bindi, who was just 8 when she lost her dad, revealed in March 2023 her painful 10-year battle with endometriosis where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside the uterus. The condition devastates sufferers with chronic fatigue, abdominal bloating, bladder and bowel issues, and excruciating pain. After her emergency surgery, Bindi revealed on Instagram, I also had 14 new endometriosis lesions that had to be removed, and they kindly stitched up my hernia as well. Bindi, mom of daughter Grace, 4, with wakeboard champ husband Chandler Powell, 28, revealed in 2023 the hell she suffered. I went for 10 years undiagnosed because doctors diagnosed me with a million other things, she recalls. The symptoms continued to snowball, and it took me such a long time to find help. The only people that knew that I was incredibly unwell my husband, my mom and my brother, and behind closed doors I was struggling to do anything and everything. BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Following a fatal stabbing that forced the Salvation Army of Binghamton to close, the organization announced it will resume services next week with a mobile kitchen. The Salvation Army announced on Friday that it will continue its free community meals on May 27. In cooperation with other Salvation Army locations across New York State, the Binghamton location has obtained a state-of-the-art mobile canteen, a high-tech kitchen on wheels. The Salvation Army says this will help it serve five meals a day in Binghamton for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the request of Mayor Jared Kraham, The Salvation Army closed its Binghamton Corps Community Center on May 15. Kraham claims that these services in a downtown commercial district are not in the best interest of public safety. On May 13, Binghamton Police responded to 131 Washington Street just after 5 p.m. for a reported stabbing. Officers found 57-year-old Kevin Ray of Endicott suffering from stab wounds to the shoulder and neck. EMS attempted life-saving measures and transported Ray to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. An investigation determined that, during a community meal event, 37-year-old Michael Brutvan allegedly entered the building and stabbed the victim several times. Brutvan also allegedly fled from the scene but was apprehended shortly after and arrested. He was charged with second-degree murder. Thanks to unwavering support from the community, The Salvation Army also secured additional resources and temporary locations to again offer the feeding program as well as pantry services to those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Th schedule and locations for each of the mobile services are as follows: Mobile Dinner Service (with breakfast to-go bags), Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The American Legion Post 80, 76 Main Street in Binghamton beginning on May 27 Mobile Food and Hygiene Pantry , Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at various locations Tuesdays beginning on June 3: The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (Parking Lot) on 3-5 Griswold Street in Binghamton Wednesdays beginning on June 4: The American Legion Post 80, 76 Main Street in Binghamton Thursdays beginning on June 5: First Presbyterian Church, 2 Main Street in Johnson City We cannot begin to express our sincerest gratitude to every partner and donor who has supported us during this challenging time and made this transition possible, said Captain Joseph Hansen of The Salvation Army of Binghamton. Thank you for your continued generosity to help us help those in need in our community. Hansen says the organization is in need of help during this time of transition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need continued support through monetary donations, food staples, hygiene supplies, volunteers to help prepare and serve community meals, and volunteers to help prepare food boxes for distribution, said Hansen. For more information on The Salvation Army of Binghamtons specific needs and ways to help, call (607)722-2987. Updates will be posted on The Salvation Army of Binghamtons Facebook page. The Salvation Army will be moving to a new location at 86 Walnut Street on the citys Westside in the coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Zephira Arguello said she was told by her principal she would have a hard time finding a lawyer to take on her case to fight Kelly Walsh High Schools decision to bar her from wearing tribal regalia at graduation. That might be the case, or not. Would Arguello even have time to fight a lengthy court battle in the months leading up to her graduation? Should she have to? Is the high school breaking any laws in the first place? The Star-Tribune reported earlier this month on Arguellos fight to wear her regalia a traditional buckskin dress, moccasins and a beaded cap to graduation and high school Principal Mike Britts response. Freedom of religious expression Attorney and legal fellow for the Native American Rights Fund Malia Gesuale said while Wyoming does not have a specific law protecting the wearing of Native American regalia at graduation ceremonies, as many surrounding states do, the state does have a Religious Freedom Restoration Act. State Rep Art Washut, R-Casper, who sponsored the legislation which passed this year, said the law creates a higher standard for the court system to use to determine if an individuals right to religious expression has been violated. It further defines an exercise of religion as the practice or observance of religion, including an act or refusal to act, that is substantially motivated by a sincerely held religious belief, whether or not compelled by or central to a system of religious belief. The law also indicated that a burden can be imposed even in cases of general applicability of a rule. Washut, who sponsored the Religious Freedom Restoration Act this year, said he spoke about the Kelly Walsh cases with one of the attorneys who helped write the legislation. In their conversation, Washut said the question of whether this was cultural or religious infringement came up. And so certainly with Native Americans, cultural and religious are intertwined oftentimes, Washut said during an interview with the Star-Tribune. But that was an interesting question that was posed that made me think. In a story earlier this month, the Star-Tribune reported on Abigail Miller, who graduated from Kelly Walsh in 2024. She wanted to wear an Eagle Feather attached to her cap. Britt told her no. Is the KWHS graduation tradition of not allowing cultural representation appropriate? Following a previous story by the Star-Tribune, another student has revealed that Principal Mike Britt also denied her request to adorn her cap with a culturally significant item. Eagle Feathers have a deep spiritual and religious tie to various tribes, including the Eastern Shoshone, which Miller is enrolled in. Our culture believes that the eagle and by extension, the feather, are considered a direct connection to the creator, Thomas Miller, Abigails father, wrote in a text message to the Star-Tribune. The eagle feather represents more than just an award, it is a connection to our creator, and it symbolizes honor, integrity, loyalty, respect, happiness, peace and courage. General applicability One of Britts excuses to Arguello was if I let one minority do it, then I have to let the rest. Gesuale said Britts argument is not valid against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act because these types of laws only question whether a specific person has been burdened. The Native American Rights Fund does not represent Arguello or Miller in any legal capacity. While the Restoration Act may have been able to aid Arguello, it does not go into effect until July 1, one month and two days after she will graduate. The Star-Tribune reached out to the Natrona County School Districts legal counsel, but was unable to immediately with speak her Wednesaday. In response to the Star-Tribunes request, Tanya Southerland, the school districts director of public relations, wrote in a text message, KWHS would like to reiterate that students are encouraged and are welcome to wear clothing of their choice that aligns with the NCSD dress code under their gowns. Students are also able to wear any footwear they choose. Students who have inquired about wearing leis, regalia, or other items that are not KWHS school-related were told and encouraged to wear those items under their gowns. This has always been in practice. I would hope that we tread cautiously when it comes to government actions that infringe upon peoples religious freedom, and knowing that the strict scrutiny standard is going to be applied in the future, hopefully that means the governments will be a little more cautious about when and how they might infringe upon someones religious liberty, Washut said. Other school districts Even without that law, respecting and honoring traditional regalia is not an unusual occurrence at graduation, especially in a state with two federally recognized tribes. Neighboring school districts even encourage the expression of culture and spirituality. Jodi Ibach, superintendent of Fremont County School District #25, wrote in an email to the Star-Tribune that their students are allowed to wear regalia and traditional dress as long as the cap and gown are worn over top. Photos provided to the Star-Tribune by the high schools yearbook teacher from last years ceremony show several students with beaded caps and various types of adornments around their necks. To further acknowledge the accomplishments of these students and their culture, the Johnson OMalley Indian Education Parent Committee gives each Native American student a star quilt after they walk across the stage. Superintendent Mike Harris said Fremont County School District #1 also allows their students to decorate their caps and wear additional adornments on top of their gowns, including leis, custom stoles and necklaces. The Star-Tribune will continue to follow this story as it develops. The Kelly Walsh High School graduation is May 30 at 7:30 p.m. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Birmingham Business Alliance is connecting summer interns to the community, careers, and more through its internship event series called FuelAL. FuelAL is a statewide talent retention initiative led by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and Innovate Alabama. BBA connects interns to the professional, cultural and civic life of the region. Heres a look at FuelAL events in Birmingham: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kickoff Social: Wednesday, June 4, 5:307 p.m. at Monday Night Brewing Social Club. Professional Development Luncheons: June 10 and July 8, 11 a.m.1 p.m. at Innovation Depot. Volunteer Days: June 16 (911:30 a.m.) and July 18 (13 p.m.) at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama. End-of-Summer Celebration: Thursday, July 24, 7 p.m. at Regions Field. To apply, click here. Applications close May 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) A heavily traveled stretch of highway in Lake County was dedicated on Thursday in honor of a local U.S. Marine who was killed in 2023. The lasting tribute is a testament to how the family of the young serviceman turned their shock and anger over the way he died into a quiet campaign for recognition of his service. Relatives said when Austin Schwenk, a 2022 graduate of Riverside High School in Painesville Township, enlisted in the Marine Corps, it was the realization of a lifelong dream as he followed in the footsteps of his hero, his father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cutting through claims about possible Browns move to dome: I-Team But for Austins family, the dream became a nightmare when they were notified by the USMC in October 2023 that the 19-year-old Lance Corporal had been shot to death by a fellow Marine in the barracks at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It was the same Marine base where Austin was born in 2004. If you get lost in the war, thats one thing, but to have another Marine walk into your room and shoot you, uncalled for, uncalled for, never ever in a million years. The safest place in the world should have been at Camp Lejeune, his grandmother, Virginia Gorg, said. Austins family was overcome with grief when his remains were returned to the Greater Cleveland Area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were touched by the way his hometown saluted their loved one during an emotional procession and at his funeral, but they said the heartbreaking pain remains. Its like a hole, we all have a piece of our life missing and we can never replace it, his grandmother said. The Marine who killed him, Corporal Jesse Thomas Bopp, accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to eight years in prison but never revealed why he took Austins life. It would be nice to have that closure, that he would have to be forced to tell us why he did this, why he thought he could get away with it or whatever it was, said Gorg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwenks family decided to channel their anger and sadness and find a way to pay tribute to the 19-year-old. Shes a miracle: Toddler bit twice by rattlesnake, received more than 30 vials of antivenom On Thursday, a stretch of Route 44 near the Route 20/Painesville exit, was dedicated by the state of Ohio as the Lance Corporal Austin B. Schwenk Memorial Highway. WJW photo Its heartwarming and bittersweet all at the same time, It just means that were thankful that hes being remembered for what he gave and he gave it all, his grandmother said. The family said it is comforting to know that for generations to come, Northeast Ohioans will drive by the memorial sign and ask, Who was Austin Schwenk? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austins grandmother said she believes he would be proud of the permanent salute from his hometown. The reason it rained today was because he was sending tears from Heaven so we didnt have to cry, but that didnt work, she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In 2020, after a summer of protests rocked U.S. cities, the words Black Lives Matter went from the rallying cry of racial justice demonstrators to words lining the very roads along which they marched. After the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, towns and cities nationwide commissioned artists to paint BLM street murals in solidarity with the reckoning on police brutality and racism prompted by the unprecedented, multiracial mass rallies. Five years on, many of the murals are still maintained by activists and community groups, while wear and tear, construction and vandalism spelled the end of others. And the mural widely thought to have inspired them all 35-foot-tall (11-meter-tall) yellow capital letters painted on a street one block from the White House is gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., ordered crews to remove the BLM mural in March under pressure from the Republican-led Congress. Bowser noted that the mural an act of defiance against President Donald Trump's first administration inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period. Keyonna Jones, one of seven artists who painted Black Lives Matter Plaza, said she understands why Bowser acted and that the mural's removal doesn't take away from its historic importance. To see it replicated all over the world within 24 hours, Jones said during the demolition of the plaza. "I think is what really speaks to the power of art and so that is my favorite part about the whole experience." According to Urban Art Mapping, a database of public street art, nearly 150 Black Lives Matter murals remain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindsey Owen, an art historian in Chicago, said each one represents the shared cultural and political purpose of a community. Even as BLM Plaza is dismantled, the reciprocal mirroring of these murals ensures their persistence, Owen said, now also reflecting the absence of spaces that have been removed. Here are details of some notable BLM murals: Alabama In 1899, Hobson City became Alabama's first self-governed all-Black municipality. In 2020, residents including Mayor Alberta McCrory painted Black Towns Matter on its main street, Martin Luther King Boulevard. In Montgomery, a temporary installation was established around Court Square Fountain, once the site of a slave market. City officials said the mural will be washed away once wear and tear begin to show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michelle Browder, the artist, said her design reflects the history of the area, and that the community signaled a readiness to address racial inequity by uniting to complete the mural. It gives us a sense of uniqueness and shows that our statement has not only significance but also invites people to look down, read and reflect on what happened in this space, Browder said. California In downtown Oakland, residents and community groups painted Black Lives Matter along three blocks of 15th Steet. A month later, another mural was erected by The Queer Healing Arts Center honoring Black Trans and Queer Lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city council in neighboring Berkeley then approved a BLM painting in front of city hall. A rainbow-colored mural along the center lane of Los Angeles' Hollywood Boulevard states All Black Lives Matter in celebration of the BLM movement and transgender people of color. Mural designer, Luckie Alexander, said its message resonates stronger than ever today. "Seeing the BLM Plaza (in Washington) destroyed feels like we are going back in time, when Black folks and LGBTQ+ had to struggle just to exist," Alexander said. With the one here in Hollywood still remaining, it gives me hope that California is still a safe place to live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut In Hartford, a Black Lives Matter mural each letter painted by a different artist was created on Trinity Street, just steps from the Capitol. That mural was repainted in 2023 after it was defaced with a swastika. Andre Rochester, who painted one of the Ts in 2020 and 2023, said the mural represents the city's Black and brown population. It was placed with intention, Rochester said, adding: It makes a loud statement, that the City of Hartford cares. Tyrone Motley, who inked the V during the 2023 repainting, said it is important that Hartford continues to protect the mural even as others around the country disappear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel work like this is ageless, Motley said. I'm pretty sure in 10 years people can look at a piece like this and still get the message. Florida A Black Lives Matter mural in St. Petersburg mural was repainted in 2023 to read Black History Matters. Illinois One of the murals that sprung up across Chicago a 100-foot (30-meter) Black Lives Matter display in Oak Park was vandalized to read All Lives Matter." The original message was later restored. Minnesota In Minneapolis, where a bystander used her cellphone to record Floyd's killing at the hands of police, 16 artists participated in the creation of Black Lives Matter in 24-foot-high (7-meter-high) letters on the street outside the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri In Florissant, activists attempted to paint a mural in front of the police department on North Lindberg Avenue but the city kept painting over it. In Kansas City, six murals were painted across one block, totaling a span of 2,000 feet (610 meters). The murals were enhanced in response to vandalism, but some are now deteriorating. New Jersey A block-long mural on Grand Street in Jersey City took two weeks to complete. In East Orange, 100 people participated in the creation of a 9,000 square-foot (840-square-meter) mural. New York In New York City, a mural in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan and others in Harlem and Brooklyn were defaced with black paint by anti-abortion protesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Six murals were painted across Dallas in 2020. Abounding Prosperity, Inc., which provides health services to the Black community, secured private funding to ensure they will be maintained for 10 years. Washington A permanent mural was installed in Seattle's Capitol Hill. The city and the Vivid Matter Collective an artists' group repaint and maintain the mural every year. In 2021, a second mural was installed outside Seattle City Hall. The organization will repaint that mural in June. ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) Thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolen from a tattoo shop in Round Rock. The burglary was all caught on camera. Surveillance video captured the heartbreaking moment for Legacy Tattoo & Piercing. It is footage owners Daniel and Adrianna Williams said theyve watched over and over again. It really blew my mind to even see it happen. Daniel Williams, Owner of Legacy Tattoo & Piercing Legacy Tattoo & Piercing is asking for the publics help figuring out who stole from them. (Photo: KXAN) Legacy Tattoo & Piercing is asking for the publics help figuring out who stole from them. (Photo: KXAN) Legacy Tattoo & Piercing is asking for the publics help figuring out who stole from them. (Photo: KXAN) Legacy Tattoo & Piercing is asking for the publics help figuring out who stole from them. (Photo: KXAN) The Williams said someone broke into their shop early Saturday morning and went around taking things from different tattoo artists stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those machines are worth so much. The inks are worth so much, said Adrianna. This is how they make a living. Its how they support their kids. These are their jobs. Daniel said he hasnt experienced anything like this in the six years that his business has been open. Based on the surveillance footage, they said it appeared as though the thief was aware of where things were in the shop. Different things that showed that he had been in here before, or was familiar, Daniel said. The Round Rock Police Department didnt tell KXAN much, but only said that this is an active investigation. While the shop has made its repairs, this situation ultimately left a lasting mark on them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who knows if they can come back today? Who knows if they can come back tomorrow? Who knows whats going to happen next? But hopefully, if we can get the car out and get a description of at least what he looks like, maybe somebody can say, Hey, I know him or something about it, and we can get it figured out, Adrianna said. Legacy Tattoo & Piercing is asking for the publics help figuring out who stole from them. (Photo: KXAN) As a result of this situation, the tattoo shop is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, May 31. Theyll have special $5 tattoos for designs like the Round Rock tower and the outline of Texas. People will also be able to donate to the artists impacted. Im frozen Tattoo artist Angel Gomez said he couldnt believe what happened. I worked so hard to get these new machines, Gomez said. I literally just finished paying them off. Angel Gomez said he started tattooing when he was overseas in Iraq. (Photo: KXAN) Angel Gomez said he started tattooing when he was overseas in Iraq. (Photo: KXAN) Angel Gomez said he started tattooing when he was overseas in Iraq. (Photo: KXAN) Angel Gomez said he started tattooing when he was overseas in Iraq. (Photo: KXAN) Gomez said the average tattoo machines cost about $1,000. He said this is not only a financial set back for him, but an emotional and mental one as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am an Army veteran. I suffer from PTSD, and so my coping is tattooing, Gomez said. Im frozen. I dont know how to feel. I dont feel anything. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. From the G-File on The Dispatch Dear Reader (especially those of you who know who the real monster is), Longtime readers know that I dont have a lot of use for realism as widely practiced in foreign policy debates. The best working definition of a realist, I often say, is an ideologue who lost an argument. What I mean by that is so-called realists tend to claim that their political opponentsparticularly those in powerare letting their ideological commitments blind them to what really needs to be done. Those guys are ideologues, Im just a realist is to foreign policy what Those guys are ideologues, Im just a pragmatist is to domestic policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of my favorite illustrations of this comes from Pat Buchanan. Perhaps more than any other mainstream figure, Pat pushed the idea that America was too close to Israel. Some of his arguments were standard fair realpolitik and rehashed beware entangling alliances boilerplate. Israel is tiny, the Arab world is huge, why side with a hated minority in a region we relied on for oil? But Pat would press the argument further, suggestingor assertingthat Jews in America were responsible for our unwise alliance with Israel because theyre a fifth column in America with dual loyalties. Here are a few of many, many examples, as pointed out by the Anti-Defamation League: There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in The Middle Eastthe Israeli Defense Ministry and its amen corner in the United States. (The McLaughlin Group, Aug 26, 1990) Capitol Hill is Israeli occupied territory. (The McLaughlin Group, June 15, 1990) I know the power of the Israeli lobby and the other lobbies, but we need a foreign policy that puts our own country first. (Meet the Press, September 12, 1999) Whose War? The Loudest Clique Behind the Presidents Policy (The American Conservative, March 24, 2003) Anyway, you get the point. But in 1991, Buchanan urged the U.S. government to send the 6th Fleet to protect Croatia from Serbian aggression because, as David Frum wrote for National Review: Croatia is not some faraway desert emirate, he noted. It is a piece of the continent, a part of the main, a Western republic that belonged to the Habsburg empire and was for centuries the first line of defense of Christian Europe. For their ceaseless resistance to the Ottoman Turks, Croatia was proclaimed by Pope Leo X to be the Antemurale Christianitatis, the bulwark of Christianity. Now, Im okay with a policy of protecting Croatia, but spare me the Jew scapegoating about letting religious and ethnic loyalties trump realism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As John Lukacs once put it, describing Buchanans virulent hatred for Winston Churchill but tolerance for Hitler, Buchanan is as much of an internationalist as he is an isolationistdependent on his choice of who the enemy is. If you want a pithier and more timely illustration of the point, consider Donald Trumps defense of white South Africans. Trump and his folks have invested a ton of time and energy into the idea that we should not be offering asylum to persecuted peoples, including Afghan translators who worked with American troops. Whatever you think of that idea, or how the administration has acted on it, its an intellectually defensible position. But it goes out the window when it comes to white farmers in South Africa. Im fine with offering asylum to qualified white South Africans, but its telling that Afrikaners are the exception to the realist rule the way Croatians were for Buchanan. There is no national security argument for coming to their rescue. It just feels right to Trump. And that gets me to my point. Not to sound too much like German political theorist Carl Schmitt, but the friend-enemy distinction is unavoidable in foreign policy. The trick is to have a worldview, an ideological construct or frame of reference, about how you distinguish friend from enemy. A second order question is what youre willing to door not doin the name of friendship or, nemesis. Enmity? That is almost entirely a prudential question. In other words, idealism is unavoidable about ends, but realism about means is essential. Isolationism is a form of idealismbelieving in a shining city on a hill unmuddied by the affairs of the world. Liberal internationalism is a form of idealism. Even classical realism is a kind of idealism, insofar as it posits a theory of how the world works and, as a result, how the state should operate within that reality. But every form of realism still conceives of friends and enemies. Realists want allies. They may be more cynical about how deep or enduring any given alliance will be in the unsupervised prison yard that is the global arena, but they still see alliances as useful tools of statecraft. As the 19th century British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston famously said, We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But back to that prudential question. I have few major objections to the realists description of how the world works. Countries act on their interests, they say, and I nod along. Where I think realists go wrong is in their quasi-Marxist definition of national interests as narrow economic, geo-strategic, essentially materialist, considerations. Political leadersdemocratic and authoritarian alikemake decisions based on things other than economic or pure national security considerations all the time. Notions of national honor, cultural ties, shared values, religious imperatives, and national glory move countries to action all the time. Starting in earnest in the 19th century, Russia convinced itself that it was the Protector of the Slavs everywhere. I think this is a stupid belief. But it is, and has been, sincerely held by Russians for a long time. I dont think its been in their interest, if we define interest in realist terms, but thats the point. The Russians dont define their interest in purely realist terms. If they did, they might not be slaughtering so many Ukrainians right now. Iran is run by a bunch of theocratic nutters. Their definition of national interest stems from their messianic mess of an ideology. If the regime were toppled tomorrowfingers crossed!the new regime would have a different definition of national interest. I could do the same thing with China, North Korea, Cuba, et al. The assumption that rulers act only on fundamental national interest is question-begging on stilts. And the idea that the conception of national interest doesnt change with a new regime is as ideological and unrealistic as any other school of foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which gets us back to the friend-enemy distinction. The question isnt whether America should have friends, but what kind of friends we should have. President Trump doesnt have a lot of use for our traditional friends or our traditional criteria for deciding who our friends are. But that doesnt mean he doesnt want friends. He obviously wants to be Vladimir Putins friend, which is why he treats him with such deference while treating Volodymyr Zelensky with such contempt. He clearly likes being friends with the president of El Salvador. He loves to show people the love letters he got from Kim Jong Un. And, of course, he really digs his new besties in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. I think some of this can be explained by the fact that he likes to be friends with tough guys because thats how he likes to be seen. But some of it can also be explained by the fact he loves to make deals with the sorts of people who dont have to go to voters or legislatures for approval. He likes dealing with deciders who can close a deal with a handshake. Thats harder to do with democratic leaders. In other words, he likes strong men aesthetically but he also likes the way strong men can get things done. This is partly why hes so hellbent on convincing people he should be granted war powers, because in our system its only through the invocation of war or some other crisis that an American president can behave like a strong man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until recently, Americans in both parties broadly defined our national interest as being bound-up with being the leader of the free world. Theres a lot of room within that consensus for profound disagreements, but they were disagreements within that broad framework. I think that framework is correct. Full stop. I can give you another 500 or 5,000 words for why I think this is soon realist terms. As an economic matter, its better to be friends with rich countries than poor ones. Its better to have allies that share our values, because that makes collective action in our interest easier. But I dont want to make the realist case, because I think the moral case is more compelling. We should be on the side of freedom, because we believe freedom is morally superior. Even the isolationist hero John Quincy Adams agreed with that. Isolationists love to quote his line about how America goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. Theyre less fond of sentences that came before and after it: Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. In other words, JQA would be, at least rhetorically, on the side of Ukraine, Tibet, and Taiwan. Not to live down to Pats expectations, but I think the Trump administrations view is bad news for Israel. Ill spare you all of the punditry about Steve Witkoffs toadying to Qatar (and Putin), the administrations leaks undermining Israel, or the fact Trump skipped visiting Israel on his recent trip to the Middle East. The bigger point is that if the new definition of the national interest is one that accepts a policy of blindness or contempt for democracies that share our values, thats bad news for Israel (and Taiwan) in the long run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A world in which America values friends who can make handshake deals, regardless of how much blood they have on their hands; a world in which trade between free economies is deemed to be theft; a world in which mutual defense over shared values is for suckers; a world in which nations can buy good will with fawning lightshows and free luxury jets: This is not a good world for Israel. But more importantly, its not a good world for America. Various & Sundry Canine update: So the Fair Jessica and Lil Lucy are on a Gavora family adventure in Spain. That means I am home alone with the quadrupeds. That, in turn, means I sleep with a lot of animals every night. Its a tense situation with strict protocols about turf that often leave me perpetually on the cusp of falling out of bed. Also, the amount of psychological space they take up has expanded enormously, because they are constantly following me around, worried that I might grab some luggage and abandon them as well. Theyre also being pretty weird. Yesterday, I found Pippa in the mud room looking extremely guilty. But I have no idea why. Whatever it was, it didnt get in the way of the waggling. And of course, they still have Kirsten for the midday walks, where Zoe really has come to love her little troupe of ankle-biters. And, yes, the treats still flow. I do need to find out if Chester is okay, because he hasnt been by for a while. But Fafoon would like you to get to the point. The Dispawtch Owners Name: Trent Bohacz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why Im a Dispatch Member: I enjoy reading things that challenge me, make me think, and help me learn. Im a lifelong conservative, with a libertarian bent. Ive changed a lot as Ive grown, raised kids, and traveled, but my core beliefs about life and politics remain, which means I disagree with both parties immensely! Personal Details: Ive voted in seven presidential elections. Ive voted for the winner in three. Pets Name: Remi (short for Remington) Pets Breed: Brittany Spaniel Pets Age: 5 Gotcha Story: It was the beginning of Covid, spring of 2020, and we knew our 12-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer was getting long in the tooth, so we decided to get another puppy to avoid a gap when he eventually left us. With the kids home from school, it was the perfect time to train and housebreak a puppy. We made the drive from Chicago to near Louisville and brought her home on July 5 at only 8 weeks old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pets Likes: To hunt anything! She is a pointing bird dog by nature, but will chase any living thing in our suburban backyard. She has caught squirrels, rabbits, birds, and mice. Its really remarkable that she has the speed and agility to run these critters down. I guess thats her favorite thing to run! Pets Dislikes: Thunder. Its odd that I can shoot over her while we are pheasant hunting without a problem, but one rumble of thunder when were in the house and shes on my lap! Pets Proudest Moment: Pointing her first pheasant that I bagged. Shes not a retriever, and a little prissy, so she wouldnt pick it up, but she stood over that bird like a queen looking down at her adoring subjects. Bad Pet: Shes been accused of running away on a few occasions, and the rest of my family is very anal about making sure the gate is closed on our backyard fence. But, when shes got out, as everyone else panics, I simply walk to the front door where shes sitting and waiting for me. ICYMI Seashells by the seashore Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tsars at the bar Remnant Love Line Take me to my McDonalds trailer! Dirty hippies Keeping secrets Learning our lesson Weird Links Junior ragers Yard waste The trains are Stalin One big beautiful nap The sharpest Googler in the East Graduation over the rainbow How was I supposed to know? Speedy wienies Hey, I know that guy! Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) During a news conference Friday, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) showed body cam footage in which two officers were shot during a lawful traffic stop last month, resulting in a third officer fatally shooting the suspect. The footage from April 23 showed an officer conducting a traffic stop in Fair Oaks after noticing an expired registration. Immediately upon stopping, the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Jamal Wali, became agitated. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 officers shot during traffic stop in Fairfax County; suspect dead Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was seen yelling at the responding officer and spewing obscenities. During the interaction, the responding officer continued de-escalation efforts. At one point, the officer spoke into his walkie-talkie, conveying that the suspect kept reaching for his weapon. As the body camera footage continued, the officer tried empathizing with Wali, noting that it appeared he had a rough day. Wali then stated he had four children. As more officers responded to the scene, one walked up to the responding officers drivers side, while the third officer walked up to the passenger side of the cruiser. The officer on the drivers side attempted to reach for Wali thats when he drew his weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple angles from the body camera footage show Wali pulling out a gun, cocking it and firing at the officers. One of the officers was shot in the forearm, while another was hit in the bicep. Another shot hit an empty vehicle across the street from the incident, FCPD Chief Kevin Davis detailed. Mobile home fire in Hybla Valley brought under control At the same time, the third officer on the passenger side of the cruiser pulled out his gun and shot at the suspect, killing him. Davis confirmed that Wali had been lawfully in the United States since 2014 and was legally open carrying his gun at the time of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two officers who were shot in the altercation remain on injury leave. Meanwhile, the officer who deployed his weapon has been reassigned as an investigation from the attorneys office continues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A body was found in shallow water in a park in Georgetown Township Thursday evening, dispatch confirmed. A call came in around 8:35 p.m. reporting the body at Grand Ravines Park, which spans from Fillmore Street near 40th Avenue on the south boundary to the Grand River on the northeast boundary. A low angle rescue team was called to the scene, dispatch said, which specializes in rescuing individuals from ravines, slopes and embankments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A News 8 crew at the scene saw Georgetown Township Fire Department and Ottawa County Sheriffs Office vehicles and personnel gathered in the parking lot. The scene where a body was found at Grand Ravines Park. (May 22, 2025) The scene where a body was found at Grand Ravines Park. (May 22, 2025) The scene where a body was found at Grand Ravines Park. (May 22, 2025) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The persons identity was not released by deputies. Its not clear how the body got 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 WOODTV.com. The body of hiker Hannah Moody was found near the Arizona trailhead where she was last seen before being reported missing Authorities located her body at "around 12:05 p.m. on May 22," after friends alerted authorities that they were unable to reach her on May 21 around 7:50 p.m. An investigation into Moody's death is ongoing, but authorities noted there were "no obvious signs of foul play or trauma at this point A hiker who went missing in Arizona has been found dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, May 24, the Scottsdale Police Department confirmed in a press release that Hannah Moodys body had been discovered at around 12:05 p.m. on May 22 near the Gateway Trailhead of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale. This came after she was reported missing by friends on Wednesday, May 21, at around 7:50 p.m. Scottsdale officers responded to the trailhead where she was last seen and located her vehicle still in the parking lot, the release read. Efforts to reach her by phone or ping her cellphone were unsuccessful. itshanrose/Instagram Hannah Moody Hannah Moody Authorities added, Officers began search efforts on foot, with drones and assistance from a Phoenix Police Department helicopter. Search efforts continued for Hannah for approximately four and a half hours until around 11:30 p.m., when the search was called off for the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE contacted the Scottsdale Police Department and the Maricopa County Sheriff for further comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication. 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. Search efforts picked back up the morning of May 22, with 20-plus officers on bicycles, on foot, with drones, and with the assistance of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team and air unit, the statement continued. Other individuals showed up and assisted with the search efforts as well. Moodys body was found 600 yards off-trail just after noon by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Air Unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say an investigation into the hikers death will be carried out. Getty Stock image of Brown's Mountains in The McDowell Sonoran Preserve Stock image of Brown's Mountains in The McDowell Sonoran Preserve Our investigation will be in cooperation with the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, which will ultimately determine the cause of death, the release read. Authorities noted that there were no obvious signs of foul play or trauma at this point. Moody, who has a following of 44,000 on Instagram where she shares Christian content, posted a last video of herself hiking earlier this week. The content creator gave a message about choosing to focus on the positive over the negative. "HIKES W/ HAN | part 1 There can always be something positive in every situation, if you just look for it what are you focusing on?" her caption read. "God uses all things for good Romans 8:28." Read the original article on People The search for a woman who went missing more than a year ago has come to an end after detectives found her body in the desert in Needles, Calif., officials announced Tuesday. Detectives with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department believe they've also identified the person responsible for her disappearance after a year-long search that included eight different search operations, the help of about 100 volunteers, and overcoming witnesses who refused to cooperate with investigators, officials said. Tyna Castillo, 42, was reported missing Feb. 3, 2024, after friends said they had not heard from her since December 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mother of two, Castillo grew up in Rosemead but would later move to Arizona, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by her family. "She was creative, artsy, a great cook, and had a deep love for music," the online fundraiser reads. "More than anything, Tyna had a remarkable ability to connect with others." But Castillo went missing shortly after she traveled to Needles, Calif., to visit a man, according to a poster distributed online during her disappearance. Messages to Castillo from friends went unanswered, prompting Colorado River Station deputies and investigators with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department to begin an initial search for her with no results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, detectives received a tip that Castillo may have been killed at a home in Needles, but officials said they received little cooperation from witnesses. "The case went cold, and Castillo was not located," according to a statement from the sheriff's department. Read more: Man charged in cold case murder, sexual assaults could have more victims, police say Then in September 2024, the department's Cold Case Homicide Team took over the case, and investigators reached out to several new possible witnesses. The information gathered from the witnesses prompted officials to conduct eight search operations using the department's search and rescue teams, search dogs, the San Bernardino County Public Works and about 100 volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 5, officials said Castillo's body was found in an open desert area near the Colorado River in Needles. Evidence indicated she had been shot, according to a statement from the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. Detectives identified Jared Winer as a suspect, according to the statement. On May 6, Winer was arrested and taken into custody by Bullhead City police officers in Arizona on unrelated charges. Winer is set to be extradited to California on a warrant for murder, San Bernardino County sheriff officials said in the statement. Authorities offered no details on how the two met up, or what may have led up to the fatal shooting. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Tyrrell Hibbard and Josh DeVos. Bozeman hunter Kevin Wysocki finally had what he thought was the perfect setup between a herd of elk and the bull he had been pursuing for days, then a helicopter flew over. The problem is the elevation that they fly at, Wysocki told a meeting of the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee in March. They get a real, real low elevation so they can see things, and then all the elk scatter. They get harassed, and they move out of the area. Wysocki was testifying in favor of Senate Bill 106, sponsored by Sen. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, as did hunter Josh DeVos. I would say in the last six to seven years, hunting has changed dramatically for myself and a lot of other sportsmen that have, unfortunately, had the interaction of these helicopters ruin their hunts, he said. Helicopters that land on otherwise inaccessible public property within his Sheep Creek Ranch also has Don Harland worried. We're at the tip of the iceberg, Harland testified. Flying cars, flying machines, drones that basically fly people around, they've already licensed them in China. I'm sure you're going to be readdressing it down the line. SB 106 easily passed the Senate 48-2 and the House by a vote of 98-1. On May 8, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill which should go into effect Oct. 1, yet a week later he vetoed a similar measure, House Bill 202, which also had broad support in the Senate and House. Loge and a legislative analyst thought the two separate measures could be meshed. Certainly, they attacked similar problems. HB 202, sponsored by Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, was aimed at reducing the ability of hunters to scout game from an aircraft, land and hunt, as well as the use of drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, to scout for game. Sprungers bill was supported by Mike Mershon of the Montana Wildlife Federation, among others. He testified to the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee during a January hearing that in 20 years of hunting backcountry units for bighorn sheep he has seen the use of aircraft scouting wildlife increase substantially in the last few years. I want to emphasize that this isn't an amorphous, theoretical worry, he said, noting that on clear mornings a hunter could almost set their watch to the arrival of aircraft. Gianforte said although HB 202 was a well-intended piece of legislation, if enacted it would have cancelled out some of the prohibitions outlined in SB 106. First, House Bill 202 would void the prohibitions in Senate Bill 106 against landing aircraft on state and federal land in violation of applicable travel plans and against hunter interference by aircraft, including drones, the governor wrote in his explanation to legislative leaders. Second, House Bill 202 does not include Senate Bill 106s provision that requires written landowner permission to land aircraft for hunting purposes on private property, Gianforte continued. While these actions violate the law, Senate Bill 106 makes it possible for violators to lose hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for these offenses. Losing hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges is often a more effective punishment than financial penalties. As such, Senate Bill 106 not only protects our tradition of fair chase, but also includes private property protections. House Bill 202 would void these provisions. Although drone use for scouting game is seen as a violation of fair chase ethics, the small aircraft have found favor as a way to haze wildlife. Testifying in favor of SB 106 on March 27, Tyrrell Hibbard of the Sieben Live Stock Co. talked about the importance of thermal imaging drones used to haze elk off irrigated hay fields during the hot, dry days of summer. On some nights, up to 2,000 elk would show up for dinner and neither propane cannons, herders, nor dogs seemed to scare off the big animals. Drones, however, kept animals away for three days to a week. SB 106 makes such hazing legal to protect property or crops provided the landowner has a permit from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The permits dont apply during the general hunting season. Hunters flying in to a landlocked spot will have to wait 24 hours before they can legally hunt under the new bill. The law used to say hunters couldnt pursue game during the same calendar day. The law also bans the use of aircraft for concentrating, pursuing or driving game. In addition to loss of hunting, trapping and fishing privileges, a violator could also be fined $300 to $1,000 and face up to six months of jail time. The hard part, as FWPs chief of law enforcement Ron Howell noted, is prosecuting violators. This law is very challenging to enforce now, Howell told the FWP committee. We don't have a lot of tools. We have to rely on hunters and landowners to report these activities to us. The difficulty for game wardens, Howell said, is that the hunters can say they arent flying to spot or locate game, they are simply traveling from one hunting location to another. Yet he added that new language in SB 106 should help wardens. When asked if the legislation would restrict access to public lands, Howell said flying to landlocked parcels is still allowed. Helicopters are required to land within 100 feet of a two-track road, he added. Everybody's trying to do their best to ensure that everybody has a quality hunt, and it's difficult in the changing environment, Howell said. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday it has reached a non-prosecution agreement with Boeing, allowing the aerospace company to avoid a criminal trial over two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft, which killed 346 people, according to CNBC. The deal, disclosed in a court filing, would prevent Boeing from being labeled a felon, just weeks before the company was scheduled to stand trial. Federal prosecutors said the resolution delivers accountability and public benefit while sidestepping the risks and uncertainty of a lengthy court case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the Governments judgment that the Agreement is a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest, the DOJ said in the filing. The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial. Boeing told KIRO 7 News they do not have a comment on this settlement. The crashes a Lion Air flight in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight in March 2019 led to a global grounding of the 737 Max for nearly two years. The incidents severely damaged Boeings reputation and gave competitor Airbus a post-pandemic advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families of crash victims have long criticized previous settlements as lenient and have pushed for company executives to face criminal accountability. Several met with Justice Department officials last week as the new agreement was being finalized. The latest deal follows a string of legal developments tied to Boeings handling of the Max program. In 2021, near the end of the Trump administration, Boeing reached a deferred prosecution agreement that included a $2.5 billion settlement: $243.6 million in criminal penalties, $500 million for victims families, and $1.77 billion in compensation to airline customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That agreement was due to expire in January 2024 two days after a door panel detached from a nearly new 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines. Investigators found the plane left Boeings factory without key bolts installed. Following that incident, federal prosecutors accused Boeing of violating the 2021 settlement by failing to implement the required compliance and ethics programs to prevent fraud. Last year, the company agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge in a new proposed plea deal, which would have carried a fine of up to $487.2 million. However, a federal judge rejected the deal, citing concerns over how a corporate monitor would be selected, including diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors originally accused Boeing of conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration by hiding the existence of a flight control system, MCAS, which contributed to the crashes. A DOJ official at the time said Boeing employees chose the path of profit over candor. Internal communications revealed during investigations showed a former Boeing chief technical pilot boasted about deceiving regulators at one point referring to jedi-mind tricking them. That pilot, Mark Forkner, was later acquitted of fraud charges in 2022. Victims families and their attorneys continue to criticize the DOJs handling of Boeings case. They argue the company is receiving special treatment despite serious allegations and recent multi-billion-dollar military contracts, including one to build the U.S. Air Forces next-generation fighter jet. The Department of Justice has struck a deal with Boeing (BA), enabling the company to avoid prosecution for a pair of crashes involving its 737 Max passenger jet that killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The Associated Press reported that Boeing would pay out $1.1 billion in fines and safety improvements, while setting aside $445 million for the crash victims families. The DOJ would then dismiss the case, after alleging that Boeing misled U.S. regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration about the planes safety features. The agreement in principle still needs to be finalized. The agreement compels Boeing to maintain an anti-fraud compliance and ethics program, per the Wall Street Journal. An independent compliance consultant would ensure improvements are being made and reported to the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits, a DOJ spokesperson said in a statement. Nothing will diminish the victims losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers. The families of the victims sought a public trial to prosecute executives and inflict steep financial penalties on Boeing. The trial had been set to start on June 23, Although the DOJ proposed a fine and financial restitution to the victims families, the families that I represent contend that it is more important for Boeing to be held accountable to the flying public, Paul Cassell, an attorney representing the families, said in a statement earlier in the week. Its not the first settlement involving Boeing and the 737 Max. In January 2021, Boeing agreed to pay more than $2.5 billion to settle charges that it defrauded the Federal Aviation Administrations Aircraft Evaluation Group about the aircrafts Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which impacted the flight control system of the Boeing 737 MAX. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Boeing has reached an agreement in principle with the Department of Justice to avoid prosecution in the case over two deadly 737 Max crashes, also allowing Boeing to avoid going to trial next month, according to a new court filing. The agreement still has to go through the judge in the Northern District of Texas, who rejected a previous version of the deal due to a diversity, equity and inclusion provision. The terms of the agreement include that Boeing "will admit to conspiracy to obstruct and impede the lawful operation of the Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Evaluation Group," according to a DOJ status report filed on Friday. PHOTO: In this Jan. 8, 2024, file photo, the Boeing logo is displayed on Boeing buildings in El Segundo, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images, FILE) They also include that Boeing pay and invest over $1.1 billion -- including $444.5 million to crash victims' families, $455 million to strengthen Boeing's compliance, safety and quality programs, and an additional $243.6 million fine, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ said it will file the motion to dismiss and the written agreement by the end of next week. "It is the Government's judgment that the Agreement is a fair and just resolution that serves the public interest," the DOJ said in the filing. "The Agreement guarantees further accountability and substantial benefits from Boeing immediately, while avoiding the uncertainty and litigation risk presented by proceeding to trial." MORE: Boeing seeks to withdraw guilty pleas over 2 deadly 737 MAX crashes: Sources Lawyers representing the families of the crash victims said they hope to convince the judge to reject the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This kind of non-prosecution deal is unprecedented and obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history," Paul Cassell, a lawyer representing some of the families, said in a statement. "My families will object and hope to convince the court to reject it." The two 737 Max crashes killed 346 people in total. The first crash, on Oct. 29, 2018, in Jakarta, Indonesia, killed all 189 passengers and crew. Black box data from the Lion Air jet revealed the pilots struggled to fight the plane's malfunctioning safety system from takeoff to the moment it nose-dived into the water. The second crash, on March 10, 2019, happened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, when a Boeing aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff and killed 157 people onboard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial plea agreement over the crashes was rejected by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in December 2024, who cited the government's DEI policies as a factor in the selection of an independent compliance monitor for Boeing. Under that deal, the aircraft manufacturing giant had agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay a fine of at least $243 million. Boeing reaches agreement in principle with DOJ to avoid prosecution over 737 Max crashes originally appeared on abcnews.go.com This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com. A man who made a bomb threat on an Alaska Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle, forcing the plane to divert and land in Spokane, is now headed to prison. Brandon L. Scott, 40-years-old, made the threat on July 5, 2023 flight. Prosecutors say he delivered a note to a flight attendant while the plane was in flight. There is a bomb on the plane. This is not a joke, the note read according to the Department of Justice. Several pounds of homemade explosives are in my carry-on bag. I have a detonator with me. Handle this matter carefully and exactly how I say, otherwise I will detonate the explosives and kill everyone on board, Scott wrote. You are to alert the pilot to this note and keep the issue to yourself. Many innocent lives are in your hands, do as I demand and everyone will live. Deviate and the consequences will be deadly for all of us. I have nothing left to lose. Diffusing the situation The flight attendant who received the note delivered it to the captain and co-pilot, who then contacted Air Traffic Control. The Alaska Airlines flight was then diverted to the Spokane International Airport, where it safely landed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diversion resulted in a ground stop on all aircraft, and Scott was taken into custody upon his arrival. The plane was searched, and no explosive materials were found. Threatening the safety of a commercial flight is a serious federal crime that puts lives at risk, disrupts national air travel, and drains emergency resources, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker said in the release. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Washington pursued charges and Scott was sentenced to 22 months in prison and three years of supervision after his release, according to a statement. Scott was ordered to pay an additional $79,449.47 in damages to Alaska Airlines and Spokane International Airport. Read more of Jason Sutichs storieshere. Sendnews tips here. New Jersey college students helped solve the mystery of the skeletal remains that washed ashore at a series of local beaches between 1995 and 2013 New Jersey State Police worked with the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center to identify the remains Authorities have announced that the bones belong to a 19th century schooner captain who died in a shipwreck A group of New Jersey college students helped identify skeletal remains that began washing ashore at a series of local beaches 30 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities announced on Wednesday, May 21, that the bones have been identified as belonging to captain Henry Goodsell, who died at 29 alongside all of his crew members about 180 years ago. Identifying human remains is one of the most solemn and challenging responsibilities law enforcement is charged with, Chief of County Detectives Patrick Snyder at the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. Behind every case is a promise: that no one will be forgotten, and that we will pursue the truth until families have the answers they deserve. Of course, unraveling the mystery took decades. The remains initially known as "Scattered Man John Doe" began appearing in 1995. First, a skull washed ashore in Longport, and then years later, more bones were found in 1999 and 2013 in Margate and Ocean City. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the fall of 2023, state police began working with the Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center. That November, officials sent a sample to Intermountain Forensics, a nonprofit organization that uploaded the information to a variety of different databases the following February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that, Ramapo College students began diving in to help, including by looking up historic shipwrecks around the New Jersey coast. As part of their research, according to the press release, they found two newspaper articles from December 1844 detailing a shipwreck of 19th century schooner Oriental, which sank off the coast of Brigantine Shoal on its way from Connecticut to Philadelphia. A newspaper clipping suggested the ship, which was trying deliver 60 tons of marble for Girard College. likely leaked and sank less than a mile from shore. York Democratic Press clipping from December 1844. Armed with evidence, the students sent Goodsells information to the New Jersey State Police, who collected a family reference sample in March 2025 from one of his great-great grandchildren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police confirmed his identity on April 8, 2025. Using modern genealogy testing to identify bone fragments from the 19th century is a powerful reminder of our unwavering commitment to resolving cases no matter how old, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan said in a statement. He added, "The ability to bring answers to families even generations later shows how far science and dedication can take us. Read the original article on People Skeletal remains found on New Jersey beaches decades ago have been identified as those of a 19th-century schooner captain, thanks to the investigative efforts of college students. The ship, the Oriental, sank in 1844. The schooner was transporting 60 tons of marble from Connecticut to Philadelphia to be used in the construction of Girard College, which still operates today. The ship likely sprung a leak, according to a news release announcing the identification of the remains, and sank off the coast of Brigantine Shoal. All five crew members aboard the ship died. The skeletal remains, including a skull, were found on a number of South Jersey beaches between 1995 and 2013. The set of remains became known as "Scattered Man John Doe." Police efforts to identify the bones failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the New Jersey State Police partnered with Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center. A sample from the bones was uploaded to genetic genealogy company Intermountain Forensics, which submitted it to DNA matching sites in February 2024. Meanwhile, students at Ramapo used the profile for research. They found ancestry matches dating back to the 1600s, including genetic relatives from Connecticut. For the next year, students continued to find ties to Connecticut, and eventually they started looking at shipwrecks off the coast of New Jersey. They came upon two articles about the sinking of the Oriental. One article named the crew members aboard at the time of the sinking and another detailed the wreck itself. "The storm was so tremendous that no help could be given from the shore," said the article, which was published in the Boston Daily Bee in December 1844 and described an account from a Connecticut publication. According to the article, one crew member was "decently buried" after his "corpse was thrown on the shore." No other bodies were discovered immediately after the sinking. A clipping from the Boston Daily Bee. / Credit: Ramapo College of New Jersey The circumstantial evidence and genetic ancestry led the students to believe "Scattered Man John Doe" might be the captain of the ship, Henry Goodsell. Goodsell was 29 at the time of his death, and left a wife and three children, according to the Boston Daily Bee. The New Jersey State Police collected a family reference sample from one of his great-grandchildren in March 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2025, the NJSP confirmed that "Scattered Man John Doe" was Goodsell. This has become one of the oldest cold case identifications using investigative genetic genealogy, Ramapo said. "Identifying human remains is one of the most solemn and challenging responsibilities law enforcement is charged with," said Chief of County Detectives Patrick Snyder at the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. "Law enforcement works hard knowing that behind every case is a promise: that no one will be forgotten, and that we will pursue the truth until families have the answers they deserve." The Ramapo College IGG Center has consulted on 92 cases, Ramapo said. Two months ago, the program was credited with helping identify the remains of a woman who disappeared in 2014. In November 2024, student research led to an arrest in a decades-old cold case. Rubio, Jayapal have fiery exchange about Afrikaner refugee's antisemitic tweet, student visas Here's how much Qatar's plane gifted to Trump administration will cost to retrofit Biggest takeaways from RFK Jr.'s MAHA report Boston Calling 2025 is here, rain or shine! Artists like Luke Combs and Fall Out Boy are set to hit center stage, but with the rain forecasted ahead they are taking safety measures seriously. Boston Calling is actively monitoring the weather. Protocols are in place to protect not only those attending but also staff, festival grounds, equipment, and staging. Heres what those headed here this weekend need to know: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All fans are subject to a full and complete airport-style search prior to the event. This may include a full-body pat-down and screening. Boston Calling says its important to stay vigilant; if you see something, say something. Using the buddy system is key. They also encourage you to have an emergency contact just to be safe. Boston Calling says they are working with local officials to ensure everyones safety. 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 Boston police are looking to identify four individuals in connection with an alleged assault in Roxbury. A woman was physically assaulted by four individuals in the area of 835 Huntington Avenue around 4:18 p.m. Thursday, according to Boston police. One of the suspects pepper-sprayed the woman, according to Boston police. Detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston police at (617) 343-4275. 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 Boston Police Department is asking for the publics help in identifying a person involved in an armed robbery. Police released these photos of the individual: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The individual can be seen wearing a gray New England Patriots hoodie, black pants, gloves, and a face mask. According to police, the incident occurred on May 19 around 7:02 AM, when the individual entered the Quincy Variety Store in the area of 236 Quincy Street. The individual then proceeded to take an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register, exit the store, and walked across Quincy Street on Magnolia Street towards Kineo Street. Boston Police are currently investigating the incident. Anyone with any information on the incident is encouraged to call 911 or District B-2 Detectives at 617-343-4275. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who wish to provide information anonymously may do so through the CrimeStoppers Tip Line by calling 1-800-494-TIPS or texting TIP to CRIME (27463) 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 BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) A Bowling Green man was arrested on Wednesday after another man said he was groped while sleeping on a park bench. According to court documents, an unhoused man told authorities on Tuesday, May 20, that he was asleep on a park bench when he was touched inappropriately by another man. 65-year-old man found dead after explosive Corbin house fire The Bowling Green Police Department wrote on Facebook on Friday that, based on a description given to officers by the man who was allegedly groped, the suspect was eventually identified as 51-year-old Lucio E. Diaz of Bowling Green. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found Diaz, who was reportedly serving time on house arrest. His ankle monitor data was reviewed and indicated that he was allegedly at the park pavilion the night the man had been touched without consent. According to an arrest citation, security cameras placed at the park showed Diaz allegedly walking up to the unhoused man on the bench and grabbing his genital area. Diaz reportedly denied any sexual contact with him. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Records show Diaz was arrested on Wednesday, May 21, and charged with first-degree sexual abuse. He was lodged in the Warren County Detention Center. The sexual abuse investigation remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Give the city of Boynton Beach credit. It finally has moved a critical downtown development project that had been stalled for almost eight years a big step closer to becoming reality. The city's Community Redevelopment Agency approved a plan to bring in a new developer to finish the Town Square Project, a development that will give the community something it has lacked for some time a viable and potentially bustling downtown. For years, the city's $250 million effort to revitalize a four-block area off Boynton Beach and Seacrest boulevards has been left half finished and mired in legal proceedings. The project's government features a new city hall and library complex, a children's museum, a cultural center and an outdoor amphitheater were completed on time and had attracted residents and visitors with a promise of more to come. Unfortunately, the commercial side of the project that included office space, upscale restaurants, upscale condos and apartments, and a parking garage never materialized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That all changed earlier this month when the CRA approved a plan to use $35.2 million to build two eight-story buildings that would include almost 900 apartments, including workforce housing, 23,000 square feet of retail and parking the missing but essential elements to build a thriving core community that has eluded Boynton Beach for years. It was not an easy decision, but the vote to move forward was the right call. More importantly, they made the decision the right way. They aired the proposal in public deliberations that at times had both the public and the city commissioners who serve as the CRA board going back and forth on the proposal's merits. Cost and the impact of development are always important considerations, but those conversations led to the right outcome approval. Town Square marks a major change for Boynton Beach A newly proposed Town Square contains the development of two eight-story complexes, hosting close to 900 rental units that stretch from Boynton Beach Boulevard to Seacrest Boulevard. Boynton Beach has had its challenges when it comes to downtown development. Much of the area's growth skirted the city itself, occurring in unincorporated Palm Beach County. The city's geographic disadvantage of having limited access to the ocean, along with a lack of leadership and resources, has made it difficult to fashion an attractive downtown. In 2018, the city came up with the Town Square project, a plan to build a downtown community around a new city hall and library. City officials found a developer and thought they were well on their way to revitalization. Three years later, half of the project was complete. The city could boast of a new city hall, library, children's museum and cultural center. The new plaza consistently drew crowds to cultural and music events at its amphitheater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editorial: Florida's leaders need to craft a budget to avoid our own government shutdown Unfortunately, what remained undone was the private sector component of retail and residences that would have cemented the creation of a downtown Boynton Beach. The dispute with the initial developer dragged out in court and ended up costing the city because the 2018 agreement lacked a "reverter clause" that would have given the city the land back if the developer failed to meet its end of the bargain. Hopefully, the city has learned from that experience. City residents grappled with the idea of a new developer and a proposal calling for the city to come up with $35.2 million in tax incentives to start construction next summer. The financing plan prompted criticism of unwanted growth and traffic that would change the city into a smaller and more congested version of Fort Lauderdale. In the back of many minds, though, was the notion that the city had been here before, and it had with the previous developer. Editorial: With Trump's tariffs and federal cuts, Florida's tax plan comes at a bad time Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This isn't a perfect situation. This isn't a perfect project," Commissioner Thomas Turkin said. "You know how I feel about the project in its entirety. You know how split and divided the residents are. But, I think if you look at this economically and you look at the metrics ... they don't pick sides. I'm not going to let perfect be the enemy of good." Boynton Beach now has the chance to develop a downtown that at the very least will generate new tax revenue and at most will become a new South Florida destination in the county's third-largest city. With so much promise on the line, the challenge for city officials is to ensure the final phase of development is completed without delay or drama. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: At last, a downtown Boynton Beach is closer to reality | Editorial SAO PAULO (AP) Brazilian photographer and environmentalist Sebastiao Salgado, known for his award-winning images of nature and humanity, died at 81 from leukemia, his family said Friday. Local media reported he died in Paris, where he lived for more than 55 years. Salgado's style is marked by black-and-white imagery, rich tonality, and emotionally charged scenarios. Many of his best pictures were taken in impoverished communities, especially in the Amazon and in Africa. He was recently experiencing undisclosed health problems. Through the lens of his camera, Sebastiao tirelessly fought for a more just, humane, and ecological world, Salgado's family said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a photographer who traveled the globe continuously, he contracted a particular form of malaria in 2010 in Indonesia while working on his Genesis project. Fifteen years later, complications from this illness developed into severe leukemia, which ultimately took his life, the family added. Earlier, Instituto Terra, which was founded by Salgado and his wife Lelia Wanick Salgado, and the French Academy of Fine Arts, of which he was a member, announced his death, but did not provide details on the circumstances or where he died. Sebastiao was more than one of the best photographers of our time, Instituto Terra said in a statement. His lens revealed the world and its contradictions; his life, (brought) the power of transformative action. The Salt of the Earth Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Composer Laurent Petitgirard, secretary of the French Academy of Fine Arts, said in a statement that Salgado, one of his colleagues, was remarkable for his moral integrity, his charisma, and his commitment to serving art. "He leaves behind a monumental body of work, Petitgirard said about a photographer who received many awards, and was elected an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States in 1992 and to the French Academy of Fine Arts in 2016. Salgados main works include the recent Amazonia series, Workers, which shows manual labor around the world, and Exodus (also known as Migrations or Sahel), which documents people in transit, including refugees and slum residents. Salgado had his life and work portrayed in the documentary The Salt of the Earth (2014), co-directed by Wim Wenders and his son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado. The film was was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Brazils most famous artists, though, always insisted he was just a photographer. One of the greatest Salgado moved to France in 1969 as Brazil endured a military dictatorship. He said in different interviews he was then a leftist militant against the regime. It was in Paris in 1973 that he started to fully dedicate his time to photography and develop his black-and-white style, years after his economics degree. His first professional works were for the agency Sygma in 1974. The following year, he documented the lives of peasants and Indigenous peoples in Latin America for the Gamma agency. Five years later, he joined Magnum, a top brand for photographers, of which he later became president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salgado left it in 1994 to found Amazonia Images with his wife, an agency that exclusively handles his work. Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who received Salgados support throughout his political career, requested a minute of silence during a ceremony in the capital city of Brasilia to honor one of the greatest, if not the greatest, photographer the world has ever produced. His nonconformity with the fact that the world is so unequal and his stubborn talent in portraying the reality of the oppressed always served as a wake-up call for the conscience of all humanity, Lula said. Salgado did not only use his eyes and his camera to portray people: he also used the fullness of his soul and his heart. Frances President Emmanuel Macron posted a picture of Salgados in Alaska in his Instagram profile as a tribute to the photographer, who also had French citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French connection Salgado and his wife, whom he married in 1967, raised their two sons, Juliano and Rodrigo, in France. His friends said every morning that he could he would breathe the air near the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris. His death also caused commotion in the country he adopted. Francois-Bernard Mache, a major French composer who worked with Salgado for his exhibition Aqua Mater in Paris, said the Brazilian was an authentic and warm man. His gaze transformed landscapes, and beyond the spectacular, he reached a kind of inner truth (). With him, photography fulfilled one of its highest ambitions by going far beyond mere appearances, Mache told The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said Salgado was passionate about their city. Tonight I cry for a very close friend, a rare soul; a loyal, discreet and sensible man. His death moves us profoundly. He already leaves us an immense void, Hidalgo said. Paris, the city that loved him, will give him the honors he deserves. An exhibition of about 400 of Salgados works is currently on display in the city of Deauville, in northern France. Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, which published several of Salgados works over the last decades, said he recently canceled a meeting with journalists in the French city of Reims due to health problems. He was scheduled to attend an exhibition with works by his son Rodrigo for a church in the same city on Saturday, the daily reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Love for the environment Salgado and his wife had been working since the 1990s to restore part of the Atlantic Forest in Minas Gerais. In 1998, they turned a plot of land they owned into a nature reserve, according to Salgados biography on the French Academy of Fine Arts website. That same year, they created Instituto Terra, which promotes reforestation and environmental education. So far, Instituto Terra has planted more than 3 million trees in the city of Aimores, which lies in what was once a somewhat deserted region in the countryside of the Minas Gerais state. The photographer was born there in 1944. In an undated interview with Forbes Brasil published on Thursday, Salgado said that attending the exhibition of his works in Deuville felt like a stroll through his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How many times in my life have I put my camera to the side and sat down to cry? Sometimes it was too dramatic, and I was alone. That's the power of the photographer; to be able to be there, Salgado said. If a photographer is not there, there's no image. We need to be there. We expose ourselves a lot. And that is why it is such an immense privilege. ___ Associated Press writers Eleonore Hughes in Rio de Janeiro and John Leicester in Paris contributed. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america Editor's note: The article incorrectly said that only soldiers were brought back to Ukraine as part of the exchange. Ukraine has brought back home 290 soldiers and 120 civilians. Their eyes fill with tears as they hear people shouting, Thank you! and Glory to Ukraine! The soldiers have just arrived in Ukraine after being exchanged in the largest prisoner swap to date since the start of Russias war against Ukraine in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still overwhelmed, Ukrainian soldier Anton Kobylnyk tells the Kyiv Independent at the exchange site in Ukraine that he couldnt believe he was really going home "not until I was back on Ukrainian soil," he said. Over three days, from May 23-25, 1,000 prisoners from both sides will return home in a deal agreed upon during direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul earlier in May the first such talks between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022. A total of 390 people were brought back to Ukraine as part of the exchange on May 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Russia's Defense Ministry said that 270 soldiers and 120 civilians had returned to Russia in this first swap. In turn, 270 Ukrainian soldiers and 120 civilians were brought back home to Ukraine. Kobylnyk said he had been in Russian captivity for over three years since April 12, 2022, captured at the Azovmash plant in Mariupol during Russias brutal months-long siege of the city. The worst part, he said, was the psychological strain though the physical toll was also heavy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally from Pavlohrad, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the first thing he tried to do when he arrived in Ukraine was call his mother. When she finally answered, she was crying and shouting. "Its okay, Mom, Im home. The most important thing is that Im in Ukraine." Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were released from captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on May 23, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram) The Ukrainian and Russian governments confirmed they had received the lists of POWs to be exchanged on May 22. Zelensky announced on the same day that he held a meeting to prepare the exchange and called the agreement on the POW swap the only "real" result of the meeting between the two delegations in Istanbul. "The agreement on the release of 1,000 of our people from Russian captivity was almost the only real result of the meeting in Turkey. We are working to ensure this result. We are finding out the details of each person listed on the Russian side," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the lists of who will be exchanged are not made public, family members who hope for the return of their loved ones from captivity arrived at the exchange site expecting good news. Mariia Barkova, who has been waiting for her brother, a marine, to return from Russian captivity for four years, said she never misses a single exchange, and the news that this one would be the largest in history gave her new hope. "When my friends son was exchanged, I got more hope. I believed it was possible to wait for the exchange to occur soon," Barkova said. Barkova added that their parents live under Russian occupation and are awaiting their sons exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His brother is also waiting for him. He is a cancer patient," Barkova said. Inna Sokurina is also waiting for the return of a close family member her son, a marine, who has been in Russian captivity for 37 months. "We dont know if he will be in the exchange, but we hope he will be. After all, today is Marine Corps Day (May 23),"Sokurina said. Sokurina added that she came to the exchange for the first time because of its scale. "This is a large-scale exchange, 1,000 people. We decided that this could be a sign," she said. Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were released from captivity in a prisoner exchange with Russia on May 23, 2025. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram) As the soldiers arrive where the family members are waiting, the family members shout out their names, hoping to find them, or at least get some information about them from the other freed prisoners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No, Im sorry, I havent seen him. And even if I did he might have changed so much, I wouldnt recognize him," says Ukrainian soldier Kostiantyn, who declined to give his last name. Kostiantyns hands tremble as he holds photos of those still in captivity, given to him by their relatives. After spending 21 months in Russian captivity, he speaks little of his experience his voice marked by both sadness and gratitude to be home. He didnt have anyone meet him at the exchange site, but he plans to reconnect with his family soon. "I havent called my relatives yet. Theyre not here," he says quietly. "Ill call them later, once I figure everything out." As he makes his way toward a clinic for a medical exam, someone shows him a photo. "Im sorry," he says, "I really dont know him" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the President's Office chief Andriy Yermak, diplomatic representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries also participated in preparations for the swap. He added that after the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange is completed, future direct talks with Russian officials could be arranged. At least 8,000 Ukrainian service members are held captive by Russia, Iryna Vereshchuk, Presidential Office deputy head, said on May 1, citing data from Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs. Kyiv does not release the figures for how many Russian POWs are currently in Ukrainian custody. While ceasefire agreements and peace talks have remained elusive since the start of the full-scale invasion, regular prisoner swaps have remained one of the few areas of ongoing cooperation between the two countries. KI Insights/ The Kyiv Independent/Nizar al-Rifai Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 20, the head of the Ukrainian National Union of Journalists, Serhii Tomilenko, handed over a list of Ukrainian media workers held in Russian captivity to the Vatican's ambassador to Ukraine, Visvaldas Kulbokas. According to the union, at least 31 Ukrainian journalists are being illegally detained by Russia. Russia has a common practice of sentencing captured Ukrainian journalists to long prison terms on fabricated charges and holding them captive in harsh conditions under physical and psychological pressure, which in most cases amounts to torture, Yurii Vitrenko, a permanent representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna, said on April 10 during a regular meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council. Russian forces have also killed 103 media workers during the full-scale invasion, according to Ukraine's Culture Ministry. Among those killed was Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, whose body Ukraine brought back in April. Roshchyna's body showed signs of torture and was missing some internal organs, which may have been deliberately removed to obscure signs of suffocation or strangulation, according to an investigation by the Forbidden Stories journalism network. KI Insights/ The Kyiv Independent/Nizar al-Rifai Russia is also illegally detaining at least 16,000 Ukrainian civilians, of whom only 174 have returned , according to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. Lubinets stressed that a country that occupies the territory of another has no right to detain civilians, according to the Geneva Conventions. "Unfortunately, international humanitarian law does not answer the question of how to respond if Russia continues this illegal practice," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another area of Ukraine's efforts to bring back its citizens is related to the return of Ukrainian children. Over 19,500 children have been forcibly deported to Russia, Belarus, or the occupied territories, according to government data. So far, only about 1,300 of them have been safely brought to Ukrainian government-controlled territory. Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories are placed in families or Russian camps, where they are known to be subjected to intense anti-Ukrainian propaganda, and at times, military training. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also taken up the matter. In March 2023, it issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over their involvement in abductions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 8, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Russia's forcible deportation and Russification of Ukrainian children, calling it a "genocidal strategy" aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and demanding the unconditional return of all abducted minors. Hi, this is Daria and Kateryna. Thank you for reading this article. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. We're now aiming to grow our community to 20,000 members if you liked this article, consider joining our community today. Read also: Chaos to coordination: the evolution of POW swaps in the Russia-Ukraine war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WKRN) The Brentwood Police Department has urged residents to be on the lookout for suspicious activity after a burglary was reported in one subdivision. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee In a social media post, the department showed a surveillance image depicting four suspects wearing face coverings in the Witherspoon neighborhood at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. On Thursday, police said that a residential burglary was discovered within the same subdivision. (Courtesy: Brentwood Police Department) Brentwood authorities said the group targets homes near walking trails and wooded areas between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., typically approaching from the back and breaking doors or windows to gain entry. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Additionally, the suspects tend to carry backpacks or other small bags to conceal both burglary tools and stolen items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police encourage anyone to call 911 in the event of an emergency or 615-371-0160 to report suspicious activity. Additional officers will be on patrol over the holiday weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bridgewater State University says two students who appeared in a social media video saying the N word "are already facing the wrath of a university which does not tolerate hate." As this conduct clearly does not comply with our universitys stated values, we are actively addressing this outrageous conduct via several departments and university policies, Bridgewater State said in a Thursday statement to MassLive. The university is barred by law from sharing what disciplinary action has been taken against the students, it said. An edited version of the video posted to BSUs Black student unions Instagram account shows two male students saying the racial slur after another male student, who is recording the video, asks them to say something for the vlog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Black student union condemned the students speech in its Instagram post and called for them to be expelled from the university. "We need to develop the Black unity and community here in order to increase our numbers and representation. PLEASE NEVER ALLOW ANY BS LIKE THIS TO BE SPOKEN AROUND YOU, IF YOU SEE SUMN, SAY SUMN," the post reads. The original video was posted to TikTok and later deleted, according to Boston.com. It is unclear in what context or for what purpose the video was recorded. It is also not clear when the video was recorded or when the university was notified of it. "We are truly grateful to our BSU students who have brought hateful video comments to our attention" Bridgewater States statement reads. More News Read the original article on MassLive. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Decades after he was sentenced to death for murder, a man was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning. It was Tennessees first execution since that of Nicholas Sutton in February 2020 and the first under the states new death penalty protocol. Outside the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, a small group of protesters gathered to oppose the execution of Oscar Smith. Media witness recounts execution of Oscar Smith Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A peaceful and rather quiet group, they told News 2 that they were there largely to pray for and mourn Oscar and his victims: Judy Smith, 35; Chad Burnett, 16; and Jason Burnett, 13. Im not here to make a lot of noise, but its just an important thing that were here to join the group in prayer ahead of the execution, attendee Charlie Barton told News 2. Amid concerns over the new lethal injection protocols, Barton added that it wouldnt matter in what way inmates were executed because its just not the right thing to do. Barton also said that he did not think the state would ever do away with the death penalty. Tennessee had used a three-drug lethal injection series until Gov. Bill Lee ordered the Tennessee Department of Correction to create a new protocol after an independent review revealed the state hadnt followed the old protocol. Under the new protocol, the state utilizes the single drug pentobarbital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another protester, Eric Boucher, said that hes become close with several inmates along death row through his church. I think its important to stand alongside and to honor and mourn Oscar, but also remember the victims as well: Judy and Chad and Jason, Boucher said. Theyre not forgotten in this. Boucher emphasized the need for healing and mercy among those who have been charged with heinous crimes. Oscar Smith executed in Tennessee Thursday I believe that its wrong to be killing, so Im not sure why he [Lee] continues to pursue these ritual killings, Boucher said. Tennessee has carried out the death penalty 13 times since 2000. Before 1999, inmates had the choice between the electric chair and lethal injection. Five of the last six executions within the state utilized the electric chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, the state filed to schedule the executions of three other prisoners: Byron Black, Harold Nichols and Donald Middlebrooks. Blacks new execution date is Aug. 5, 2025, Middlebrooks new execution date is Sept. 24, 2025, and Nichols new execution date is Dec. 11, 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 WKRN News 2. Donald Trump has banned Harvard from enrolling international students in his administrations latest battle with Americas oldest and wealthiest university. The Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) said thousands of current students must either transfer to another institution or leave the United States. US officials have accused Harvard of fostering an unsafe environment for Jewish students by allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to threaten and assault them on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration also alleged that Harvard had co-ordinated with the Chinese Communist Party, including providing training to a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024. The move is part Mr Trumps wider restrictions on elite universities he accuses of harbouring Left-wing ideologies and turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism. Fostering violence Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, said: This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enrol foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard was the first institution to defy White House orders to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and to curb pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The university, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has around 6,800 foreign students from more than 100 countries, including Britain. In a statement, Harvard called the decision unlawful and politically motivated. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission, it said, adding that it was working to support students affected by the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision follows a demand by Ms Noem to provide detailed information on student visa holders and course content. The request was initiated amid concerns over hostile learning environments for Jewish students. The administration has already cut $2.6 billion (1.93 billion) in federal research funding to the university and is weighing action to remove its tax-exempt status. Mr Trump has secured concessions from other elite universities, such as Columbia, but Harvard has continued to push back. A lawsuit filed by Harvard last month argues its freeze on research funding was unconstitutional and called for more than $2.2 billion in research funding to be restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justifying the ban on international students, DHS officials cited a Fox News article linking the university to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary group sanctioned by the US over human rights abuses. The article was based on a letter from House Republicans. Ted Mitchell, the president of the American Council on Education, called the ban an illegal, small-minded overreach. I worry that this is sending a very chilling effect to international students looking to come to America for education, he said. China condemned the decision, saying it would only damage the image and international credibility of the United States, while vowing to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action could affect Harvards finances. Tuition and fees for the 202526 academic year are $59,320, rising to nearly $87,000 including room and board. International students typically pay a larger share of total costs compared with other students. 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. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) On Friday May 23rd, 2025, the city of New Bern cut the ribbon on the first ever public fishing pier on the Neuse River. The ribbon cutting brought together the city of New Bern, the Craven County Partnership, the Wildlife Foundation and the Coastal Conservation Association. They were joined by dozens of people to witness the grand opening. It is perfect timing. Originally, we had this scheduled where we could have fall fishing, and with the holdups with permitting and everything we knew that wasnt going to happen. It was said right away lets make Memorial Day Weekend the opening day, Robert Bobby Aster, Alderman with the City of New Bern said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pier stretches 220 feet into the water with a 20-foot by 30-foot platform, plus a 130 feet boardwalk stemming out of the platform on two sides giving it a T shape. We made it this wide because we wanted it to be easily accessible, we wanted it to be ADA accessible, and people to be able to fish and not be crowded, Warren said. The first phase of this project cost over $232,000. Funding came from three donations from the NC Coastal Conservation Association ($11,000), the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation ($115,000) and ARP-enabled funds from Ward 3 Alderman Robert Bobby Aster ($120,000). Planning began in 2024 and after months permitting, they finally broke ground in March of this year. Opening up the pier was exciting for the city, especially since they were able to complete the project with the help of these other organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really enjoy the CAMA permitting process because that is put in place for us to help protect the environment. So, I enjoy doing that process and working with CAMA and the army corps to make sure what were doing is sustainable, Warren said. They are going to complete the project by adding a parking lot and public restrooms nearby. For more information on the ribbon cutting click the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. North Dakota officials on Thursday took the first step toward entering into a contract that would provide a decadelong cash guarantee to a natural gas pipeline company. The state Industrial Commission, a three-member board that includes the governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner, approved a request from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority's office to seek information from companies interested in the opportunity. If the guarantee is ultimately tapped, the state could use a $50 million-a-year line of credit with the state-owned Bank of North Dakota for a 10-year period to buy up capacity space on a gas pipeline. Companies generally need customers to commit to using pipelines for a set amount of time in order to meet financial and regulatory requirements. These time commitments are often a decade, but not every company that could ship gas is necessarily interested in that long of a commitment. The goal would be for the state to sell off the space it buys on the pipeline to private companies for shorter amounts of time. If the state cannot find enough customers for the space, it would have a third-party firm market the gas. In the worst case scenario, the state would be on the hook to pay off the guarantee. State officials have long sought a natural gas pipeline leaving the Bakken oilfields in the west and traveling east for industrial uses. Both oil and gas rise to the surface in the Bakken, but gas is seen as a byproduct and is wastefully flared if companies do not build the infrastructure to move and use it. A pipeline could help alleviate the issue and also create more markets for the oil industry, as falling geologic pressures are causing more gas to rise from the Bakken. In a recent Tribune Editorial Board meeting, Gov. Kelly Armstrong said he was confident that the state would find customers for most, if not all of the space. "Even if you only paid it off 75% and it kept oil production above 1 million barrels a day, it would be the best $25 million (per biennium) we ever spent," he said, arguing the line would help keep oil production -- and associated tax revenues -- high. At least two companies are looking at North Dakota for building pipelines taking excess natural gas from the western Bakken fields to move it east for industrial uses -- Bismarck-based WBI Energy and Oklahoma-based Intensity Infrastructure Partners. State officials want to figure out if the money will be used within the coming months. "We're hoping to not be a barrier to these projects as they move forward," Pipeline Authority Executive Director Justin Kringstad said on Thursday. Kringstad will send the information to the companies with public projects as well as some others that have expressed interest over the past few years. The companies will need to reply by June 24. Factors that will be considered include capacity, market access, past projects, company financial standing, and how different levels of cash guarantees could impact a project. The state has had the power to engage in an effort like this in the past, but not the funding until recently. In the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers approved $30 million a year for the same financial guarantee policy. Late in the 2025 session, a move by members of the state House to raise the guarantee from $30 million to $60 million a year turned into one of the more contentious topics at the State Capitol. The funding came through the Industrial Commission's broader budget, which initially went through the state Senate without an increase to the cash guarantee. When senators had to approve the increase, many initially balked at the figure. Ultimately, most voted to approve increasing the guarantee to $50 million a year along with some cuts to other areas in the Industrial Commission's budget. Interested companies will have a month to provide these details to Kringstad. In order for the $500 million figure to remain, a decision will need to be made by the end of 2026. If a decision is not made by then, the guarantee will be lowered back to $300 million. "(We're) moving off from dead center. This is good," said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Broome County was recently awarded a grant to combat domestic violence and support survivors. Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti announced on Wednesday that the county was awarded $757,767 in New York State funding. The money will support local law enforcement and non-profit organizations in their effort to reduce intimate partner violence, educate the community, hold abusers accountable, and save victims lives. The funding was secured through the New York State Governors 2025 budget and administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. This grant enables Broome County agencies and community partners to collaborate using the latest evidence-based practices when responding to domestic violence incidents that exhibit a heightened risk of serious harm or lethality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broome County residents can expect the following: On-scene crisis response by law enforcement and professional advocates who provide immediate safety planning and support to victims Comprehensive case review sessions designed to address the complex and diverse needs of domestic violence victims and offender prosecution Implementation of a new, integrated system focused on ensuring offender accountability through coordinated community response Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. The post How Bruce Springsteen Got to Donald Trump, and Why It Matters: Consequence Chat appeared first on Consequence. Wren Graves (Managing Editor): Bruce Springsteens clash with President Donald Trump broke through the political discourse to become one of the most-searched issues of the last week, according to data from Google Trends. Search volume for Springsteen spiked to nearly its highest point in the last five years from the week of May 14th to the 20th a period just following his fiery tour kickoff in Manchester, England. The concert provoked Trump to post, He ought to keep his mouth shut until hes back in the country. While criticism from Neil Young, Robert De Niro, Eddie Vedder, and others have hardly registered, Springsteens words stuck. Search traffic for his name reached almost as high as the peak for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man whose wrongful deportation became the face of the Trump administrations brutal policies. Springsteen is probably the most prominent Trump critic from the world of pop culture whose name doesnt rhyme with Sailor Drift. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get Bruce Springsteen Tickets Here Alex, youve covered Springsteen a lot over the years. Were living through a moment where celebrity political statements have become both more common and less impactful. What makes Springsteen distinct from the chorus of other celebrities speaking out against Trump? google trends interest over time springsteen v trump Alex Young (Publisher): I think it comes down to the fact that Trump took the bait and responded with an over-the-top reaction even by his own standards essentially threatening to block Springsteen from re-entering the country once his European tour ends. Then Springsteen goaded him again, and Trump doubled down with yet another ludicrous threat: to investigate him over his support of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. Had Trump not responded, I dont think Springsteens comments would have made nearly as much of an impact. After all, hes spoken out against the president countless times before. But I also think Springsteen knew exactly what he was doing rebranding the entire tour as a rebuke of Trump, making those remarks in Europe, opening the set with a speech, uploading the videos to YouTube, and releasing a live EP featuring the speeches. It was calculated to draw attention, and sure enough, Trump played right into it, amplifying Springsteens message far more than he could have on his own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wren: Im interested in the economics of stance-taking for artists. Most of the names were mentioning are older. Are younger artists trying? Could they make the same amount of noise if they wanted to? And more broadly, what does this tell us about the relationship between political authenticity and commercial success in American music? Alex: In year five or, is it year nine? of the Trump political era, I really dont see a musicians political stance impacting their commercial viability in one way or the other. Despite what the social media edgelords might way, Springsteen isnt going to lose one fan because of whatever anti-Trump remarks he makes in concert. Alternatively, he probably wont gain any either unless maybe some of the viral clips make their way to a younger Gen Z audience unfamiliar with his music. But I cant imagine that attracting many new listeners. If anything, hell probably receive a much more significant boost later this year when his biopic, starring Jeremy Allen White, hits theaters. Same goes for pro-Trump musicians, too. The days of the MAGA hat being a scarlet letter are long gone. If anything, its become a boon for some artists. See: Morgan Wallen, who rode the wave of cancel culture all the way to becoming one of the five biggest active acts in music. But while being pro- or anti-Trump may not directly impact an artists commercial viability, there are certainly risks involved in being an outspoken opponent of the president. In the early months of Trumps second term, his administration has already shown a willingness to test the limits of the Constitution or ignore it outright particularly when targeting non-citizens, students, the media, political opponents, and other vocal critics. Thats likely why were seeing younger artists hesitate to speak out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Established artists like Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, and Neil Young have the financial means to fight back if the administration chooses to retaliate; many others do not. I see a lot of comments criticizing Bruce and others for speaking out, mocking them as out-of-touch multi-millionaires. But a strong case can be made that theyve stepped up to the plate not just because they want to, but because they can. Theyve used their platform and privilege to take on risks that others in less secure positions might not be able to afford. Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Brunswick is taking significant action to fight flooding on the East Side. City leaders announced the launch of the Lanier Boulevard Flood Resiliency Project, aimed at protecting homes, roads, and schools from rising tides and severe storms. From Lanier Boulevard to Habersham Park, flooding has long plagued neighborhoods on Brunswicks East Side. We are almost surrounded by water here. Quite naturally, if the tide is high, it floods up probably all of these streets, said Irvin Warren Simmons, a local resident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A homeowner in the Dixville community described frequent and severe flooding on Prince Road. The water gets so high it even goes into my garage, said Gerrald Lott. Stormwater runoff, aging infrastructure, and higher tides have contributed to repeated flooding of homes, impassable roads, and disruptions at Glynn Middle School. Brunswick Lanier Boulevard Flood Resiliency Project You have about four different communities who have been dealing with this flooding for decades, said Brunswick City Commissioner Felicia Harris. The citys new $1.2 million project, funded in part by a grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and federal support, is designed to address these challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Its going to be a game changer. Its specifically designed for the runoff of the stormwater to capture the water and mitigate flooding. There will be no development on these wetlands, Harris said. As part of the project, Lanier Boulevard will undergo major changes. That road is going to be elevated. Were going to have new tide controls. Youre going to have a new stormwater system, said Harris. Covering 4.3 acres, the project is expected to help manage flooding across approximately 65 acres, including the neighborhoods of Habersham Park, Dixville, and Windsor. Brunswick Lanier Boulevard Flood Resiliency Project The land along Lanier Boulevard will be transformed into green space to absorb floodwaters, support wildlife, and provide an outdoor classroom for Glynn Middle School students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is now entering the design phase. No timeline has been announced for the start or completion of construction. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. BIG SPRING, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Big Spring Police Department and CrimeStoppers are asking for help in identifying and locating Burglary suspects. BSPD says that on May 21, at approximately 4:30 a.m., these thieves were walking around the parking lot at the Kentwood Apartments looked for unlocked vehicles. The Big Spring Police Department is asking for anyone with information about the identity of the subjects or suspect vehicle to contact CrimeStoppers at (432)263-TIPS. You can also leave an anonymous tip using the P3 Tips mobile app or www.p3tips.com/1277. Reference case number 2-25-01244. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. May 22AUSTIN Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., on Thursday announced that, in honor of Memorial Day, the headstones of servicemembers Killed or Missing in Action will be illuminated at the VLB's four Texas State Veterans Cemeteries in Killeen, Abilene, Mission and Corpus Christi. The grounds will be open 24 hours a day starting Friday, May 23, through Monday, May 26, for night viewing. "This beautiful tribute is one of the many ways the VLB shows reverence for the selfless sacrifices of our nation's fallen heroes," said Commissioner Buckingham. "Memorial Day weekend is a special time for families and communities whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice. As VLB Chairwoman, I am beyond honored to help provide Texans with expertly maintained Texas State Veterans Cemeteries where they can cherish the memories of the brave souls lost in battle this Memorial Day." Texas State Veterans Cemetery Locations: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery 11463 Fort Hood Street Killeen, Texas 76542 (254) 616-1770 Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery 9974 IH 37 Access Road Corpus Christi, Texas 78410 (361) 248-4830 Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery 2520 South Inspiration Road Mission, Texas 78572 (956) 583-7227 Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene 7457 W. Lake Road Abilene, Texas 79601 (325) 673-4446 BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man was sentenced Thursday afternoon to 20 years in prison after he shot and killed a man outside of Del Denby Tavern last May, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office. The bar was ordered to close by the city after the victim was shot around 1:15 a.m. on May 7, 2024. Police said the bar did not have security working at the time of the incident. According to police, 28-year-old William Quinones and 46-year-old Madjid Elbert were inside the bar having drinks together before getting involved in a fight on the front patio. Quinones then shot Elbert with an illegal gun. Elbert was pronounced deceased at ECMC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quinones was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in April 2025. Along with the prison time, Quinones is subject to five years of post-release supervision. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. BRANDON, S.D. (KELO) Thursday was the final day of the school year at Brandon Valley High School, where a select group of students have spent the past nine months working on a special project. Its moving day at Brandon Valley High School, as three sleeper cabins are making the five-mile journey to Yogi Bears Jellystone Park in Sioux Falls. Its the final step of a student project that got its start last fall, when eight students were selected to be part of a new building trades class. Almost like applying for a job, thats how we chose the eight that we had. Tough call, there was a couple other kids that we really, really liked but we wanted to keep it at the number of eight this first year, Brandon Valley woodworking teacher Tom Grode said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom Grode is the woodworking teacher at Brandon Valley. Once the class was set, the kids went to work. School is out, where can kids find free meals? They did all this, they started from reading the plans to setting the foundation on here, building the floor system and the wall system, cut the rafters, they did everything from beginning to end, Grode said. We found it was a great marriage of our needs and what they wanted to accomplish, Jellystone Park General Manager Ray Aljets said. The decision to build cabins was due to a need at Jellystone Park campground, which paid for materials, bought a work belt for each student, and made a $5,000 donation to the Brandon Community Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its nice that we can be part of something that gives kids a taste of what working in the trades is like and if its a potential career opportunity for them, its great that they have a head start, Aljets said. Helping the students get a head start is local contractor Jarrod Smart, who donated his time twice a week to the project. Jarrod was excellent, we could not have done it without him. Having somebody with his knowledge coming in, and truthfully he did 90% of the teaching, Grode said. I felt like there was a need in the Brandon Valley School District to try to equip students who either dont want to go to a post-secondary education or dont necessarily want to go to a four-year school to have some good hands-on experience, Jarrod Smart Construction President Jarrod Smart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smart says some of the lessons had nothing to do with carpentry, instead focusing on things like leadership and integrity. What we do in one step may make something else more difficult for another trade that comes behind us and so we want to make sure that were doing things right, and if we did do something wrong we need to take it apart and do it again, Jarrod Smart said. Despite a do-over or two, Smart considers year one a success and sees room for growth. This program itself could evolve into design and drafting and architecture, electrical, HVAC, theres so many different facets of construction that this program could grow into, Jarrod Smart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My dad and Mr. Grode laid out what had to be done and wed get it done, Brandon Valley senior Luke Smart said. Jarrods son, Luke, who graduated from Brandon Valley earlier this month, was among the students picked for the project. Building something, doing something with my hands and learning about a career field that Im interested in, Luke Smart said. Luke currently works for his dad, but plans to go to college for business administration. Working for him and someday for myself is what Id like to do, Luke Smart said. I just like to be hands on, working hard, Im the blue-collar kind of guy, Brandon Valley senior Keaton Hruby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keaton Hruby was also part of the class, but this new graduate already owns his own lawn care business. I wanted to do it because I wanted to start a private contracting company, kind of build onto my business right now, Hruby said. When it comes to building a cabin, Hruby says hes a framer not a finisher. I love framing, I love doing heights, so I like to do the roofing, sheeting, thats kind of my aspect of things, Hruby said. And hes proud of the finished product now on display at Jellystone Park. I had a vision of what it was and we stuck to it and it definitely turned out how we wanted it, Hruby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The year-long project also marks Tom Grodes last hurrah as a teacher. Hes retiring after 31 years. It was a fun way to go out, I mean being able to work outside and work with these kids on this project and get to know the kids a little bit better since you have a small class was a fun way of doing it, Grode said. Grode says his departure wont stand in the way of progress. I think its a class thats needed and I think with Jarrod volunteering his time we can expand it more and I foresee this growing and growing each year, Grode said. My goal is not to see it be a lateral program for next year but be taking a step forward closer to eventually being able to build a house, Smart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowing students to build for their present and their future. Guests at Yogi Bears Jellystone Park will begin using the cabins on Friday. As for the immediate future of the trades program, Brandon Valley administration is still finalizing a project for next school 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 KELOLAND.com. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. MLMs 'promised a kind of life that was too good to be true'. | Credit: Stock Photo via Getty Images 'An awkward truth about American work' Lora Kelley at The Atlantic Moments of "cultural change present openings for cons," as "early in the pandemic, the number of multi-level-marketing schemes (or MLMs) exploded," says Lora Kelley. MLMs "promised a kind of life that was too good to be true." The "low quality of many legitimate jobs has long provided cover for shadier schemes." Many of the "messages that MLMs adopt to reel in workers rely on a central contradiction, criticizing the corporate grind while extolling the free market." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more 'The end of writing and reading will be the end of freedom' Nicole Krauss at The Washington Post At the "crossroads where we now stand, among the many other things at stake, is the future of reading, writing and literature," says Nicole Krauss. We have "lost not just our ability to concentrate on deciphering long passages of written language." Writing and reading "are not effortless," but without that effort, we will slide deeper and deeper into inchoateness, darkness, violence, diminished freedom for all and a diminished state of human being." Read more 'Trump's pause on infrastructure funding impacts more than just highways' Deborah N. Archer at Time Without "protections in place, a new wave of infrastructure will repeat old patterns of destruction," says Deborah N. Archer. For "too long, we have treated transportation as if it exists outside of politics and justice." Our "highways, roads, and transit routes are more than lines on a map they are tools of opportunity and weapons of exclusion." They "reflect our values, and for decades, they've sent a painful message to Black communities: You are disposable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more 'Romania's postponed reckoning' Veronica Anghel at Foreign Affairs Romania has "narrowly avoided electing a president who openly opposes the country's democratic foundations," says Veronica Anghel. The "breadth of support for him also raises larger questions about whether institutional guardrails in Romania, and in Europe overall, can be effective in countering a far right that seeks to undermine those democratic institutions." Allegiances have "obscured widespread disaffection among ordinary Romanians with their own Western-leaning political class," and many "Romanians have been disillusioned by a political establishment that has resisted reform." Read more SAN FRANCISCO California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Friday hes prepared to sue if appropriate to defend the states companies like Apple after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on the iPhone maker unless it moves production fully to the U.S. We definitely will assess our potential role, Bonta said in response to a question from POLITICO at a San Francisco press conference. We will be monitoring what he does, if he does anything, and we'll make sure that if the law is broken and we have standing to sue, we'll take appropriate action. Californias top attorney has emerged as a leader of the blue states Trump resistance, launching or joining numerous lawsuits against White House policies, including the first state challenge against the presidents trade measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonta on Friday had just finished a roundtable discussion with local business leaders about the harms theyre experiencing from tariffs and was reacting to a Truth Social post that Trump had shared earlier that morning. In it, Trump faulted Apple CEO Tim Cook for turning to India as an iPhone manufacturing hub instead of the U.S. as the tech giant diversifies from China and said the company must pay tariffs of at least 25 percent as a result. The statement about Apple is something that is obviously disappointing, Bonta said. Its almost like he wakes up in the morning and he says, Hey, I think Apple should build more Apple phones, and so maybe Ill tell their CEO that he should do that. And then maybe tomorrow, he wakes up and he says, Hey, I was just kidding. Apple did not respond to a request for comment. But Bonta, who has pursued Big Tech in his privacy and anti-monopoly work, defended the Cupertino-based firm Friday. He said its because of homegrown companies like Apple that California has become the fourth-largest economy in the world and added that he wants to ensure it can continue to provide great products and jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were proud of California companies, and we want to make sure that their rights are not violated, especially by the president of the United States, which is not something that you would normally have to protect against, said Bonta. He said his office plans to examine the legal basis for any action that comes out of Trumps Apple threat and determine whether it ends up targeted at a single company or applied more broadly before making a decision. Trump later clarified to the press Friday that any tariff imposed on Apple would also apply to competing device makers, such as Samsung. Apple and other electronics manufacturers managed to secure an exemption from tariffs shortly after Trumps sweeping Liberation Day levies, slapped on 200 countries worldwide in April. However, the president and his administration repeatedly warned that the reprieve was temporary and that additional tariffs were on the way. While Californias famous coastline is a popular destination for residents and tourists alike, especially during the summer, some may want to reconsider cooling off in the Pacific Ocean to escape the summer heat. Ten beaches, including one in Los Angeles County, were named on the Beach Bummer List as part of Heal the Bays 35th annual report card. The list outlines the 10 most polluted beaches in California. This years Beach Bummers, ranked by bacterial pollution: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1. Playa Blanca, Baja California, Mexico 2. Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles County 3. Tijuana Slough at Tijuana River, San Diego County 4. Chicken Ranch Beach, Marin County 5. Linda Mar Beach at San Pedro Creek, San Mateo County 6. Erckenbrack Park Beach, San Mateo County 7. Tijuana Slough, north of Tijuana River, San Diego County 8. Border Field State Park at Monument Road, San Diego County 9. Imperial Beach at Seacoast Drive, San Diego County 10. Pillar Point at Harbor Beach, San Mateo County Despite years of investment to address chronic pollution, the iconic Santa Monica Pier continues to be plagued by high levels of fecal-indicator bacteria. During the summer dry season, Santa Monica Beach at Pico Boulevard (south of the pier) received a grade of B, while the area at Wilshire Boulevard (north of the pier) received an A-plus. The Santa Monica Pier itself received an F grade, placing it on Heal the Bays annual Bummer List, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, its not all bad news. Sixty-two out of over 500 monitored beaches in California earned a spot on the Honor Roll, a significant improvement from just 12 beaches last year. Southern California was well represented on the honor roll list, including: 34 beaches in Orange County 12 beaches in San Diego County Seven beaches in Los Angeles County Five beaches in Ventura County One beach in Santa Barbara County Three beaches from Northern California, one from San Francisco County, and two from San Mateo County were also included on the honor roll list. The report noted that the improvement is likely due to drastically lower rainfall during the 202425 rainy season, which helped reduce urban runoff. After storms, pollutants such as harmful bacteria, trash, and chemicals from city streets often wash into the ocean via storm drains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the water quality grades in this report are based solely on 2024 data monitoring fecal indicator bacteria. They do not include tests for heavy metals or other pollutants that entered the ocean following the January Palisades and Altadena wildfires. That report can be found here. The full Heal the Bay report card can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LOS ANGELES (AP) A California utility has agreed to pay the federal government $82.5 million stemming from an enormous 2020 wildfire that churned through mountains northeast of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert, officials said Friday. The U.S. Justice Department announced the payment by Southern California Edison on Thursday. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement that the settlement provides "meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the ... fire and for the widespread damage to public lands." Edison agreed to pay the settlement within 60 days of its effective date, May 14, without admitting wrongdoing or fault, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utility spokesperson Diane Castro said, Our hearts are with the people who were affected by the Bobcat Fire. We are pleased to have resolved this matter and will continue to advance wildfire mitigation measures." The settlement stemmed from a 2023 lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service against Edison and Utility Tree Service to recover costs from fighting the so-called Bobcat Fire and for the extensive damage that it caused to the Angeles National Forest. The government alleged that the fire ignited when trees that were not properly maintained by the utility and its tree maintenance contractor came into contact with power lines. Damage from the fire closed campgrounds and more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) of trails for years and harmed habitat for the federally endangered wildlife-mountain yellow-legged frog and federally threatened fish and birds, the government said. These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats and strengthen our forests resilience to future wildfires, said Deputy Forest Supervisor Tony Martinez of the Angeles National Forest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire charred about 178 square miles (461 square kilometers). Last year, the utility agreed to pay $80 million to settle claims on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service connected to a massive wildfire that destroyed more than a thousand homes and other structures in 2017. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the Eaton Fire, which destroyed at least 7,000 homes and other structures and laid waste to entire neighborhoods earlier this year. Lawsuits against SCE say the utilitys equipment sparked the blaze. EBENSBURG, Pa. The Cambria County commissioners took additional steps Thursday to begin a solar project at the Cambria County Prison. The board approved two letters of intent one with Virginia company Madison Energy Infrastructure for installation of net-metered solar arrays, and another with New Jersey company Solar Landscape for a land-lease agreement of solar arrays. This is one of the first things I started when I got in office, was to try to reduce the cost, the footprint of the prison, Commissioner Keith Rager said. This is just the first step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jail on Manor Drive operates on a roughly $15 million budget and was also identified for a solar project because of the hundreds of acres of nearly flat land on the property. Annually, the prison has an energy bill of roughly $300,000 and consumes about 3 million kilowatt-hours of energy, for which the county is paying a rate of around 11 cents per kWh. President Commissioner Scott Hunt said once the project is complete, the county is estimated to save around $150,000 per year. The letter of intent sent to Madison Energy calls for a rate of 5.6 cents per kWh for both the prison and several surrounding structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunt said that may include the courthouse and parking lot, former domestic relations building, solid waste building and motor pool building. The letter of intent for Solar Landscape was defined as solar arrays on 35 acres at a rate of $9,960 per megawatt collected at the site. Cambria County began exploring solar energy around a year ago, and Commissioner Thomas Chernisky said the group pursued the project the right way in his opinion, with a request for proposal. We definitely took our time to make sure we got it right, Hunt said. Alex Ashcom, county chief clerk, said the purpose of Thursdays actions was to identify the best proposals. Solar Landscape and Madison Energy were two RFP respondents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the county will begin contract negotiations with those agreements expected to be awarded in June. Ashcom said the timeline for the project to start is flexible. In other business, the commissioners awarded $626,000 to East Taylor Township from the Act 13 Restricted Highway Use funds for the Hunt Road bridge project. The structure that crosses Hinkston Run near the reservoir dates to 1938 and was shut down unexpectedly in summer 2024 because it was determined to be unsafe. The commissioners lauded the effort to help the township repair the bridge citing the negative impact the closure has had on emergency services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacob Zerby, Cambria County Planning Commission transportation planner, said the response time for emergency services has slowed drastically because of this closure. Hunt Road is one of the few in that valley that connects Hinckston Run and Benshoff Hill roads. Waterfall and Kepple roads being the others, but the bridge on Waterfall has been closed for decades and to use Kepple is a seven mile detour. Ricky Price Jr., East Taylor supervisors board chairman, said the assistance from the commissioners was a great help. Without that, theres no way we would have been able to afford to do something like that, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more than $600,000 award will cover the complete cost of the Hunt Road bridge replacement. Price said the supervisors will work with the planning commission on how to move forward and the bridge replacement, possibly this year. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Every day that a new Florida law remains on the books restricting the states process to get citizens initiatives on the ballot, the First Amendment rights of campaigners are being infringed upon, their attorneys argued in court Thursday. The lawyers claim the measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this month has already dealt significant blows to campaigns to expand Medicaid and legalize recreational marijuana in the state. Organizers for the measures are urging a judge to block portions of the law from being enforced while their challenge plays out in court. Both campaigns are gathering signatures in the hopes of getting their initiatives on the 2026 ballot, a prospect they say could be effectively impossible under the new law, which creates criminal penalties for campaigners who don't comply with its stricter requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nick Steiner, an attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center who's representing the Medicaid expansion group Florida Decides Healthcare, said the law creates an insurmountable barrier for the campaign. The harm is compounding every day, Steiner added. Under the new law, campaigns have 10 days instead of the previous 30 to return signed petition forms to local elections officials. They face stiffer fines if they dont return the petitions on time, or send them to the wrong county. And volunteers could be charged with a felony if they collect more than 25 signed ballot petitions, other than their own or those of immediate family members, and dont register with the state as a petition circulator. Lawmakers argue that the new restrictions are needed to reform a process they claim has been tainted by fraud. The Republican-controlled Legislature pushed the changes months after a majority of Florida voters supported ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational marijuana, though the measures fell short of the 60% needed to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new law is designed to undercut the success of the previous ballot measures, argued attorney Glenn Burhans, who's representing the recreational marijuana campaign group Smart & Safe Florida. Mohammad Jazil, an attorney representing Secretary of State Cord Byrd, defended the law, saying these aren't draconian fines and penalties that are going to lead to ruin." Still, he acknowledged the seriousness of Floridians risking felony charges and their right to vote if they run afoul of the law while working for a political campaign, saying getting arrested is a big deal. Since the first aspects of the law took effect May 2, the campaigns say they've seen their volunteer forces shrink and the number of weekly signatures they collect plummet. At times, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker appeared amenable to the campaigns' arguments. Walker is known for his colorful commentary in court and has been a vocal critic of DeSantis' policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prompted by Jazil's defense of the Legislature's sausage making," Walker continued with an extended metaphor about what lawmakers have been cooking up and whether it's legally palatable. Sometimes the sausage isn't real tasty, said Walker. Sometimes, he said, it's nasty. The question for the court to decide, Jazil replied, isn't whether the sausage tastes good, but whether it's edible. Your honor, the sausage is not only bad, it's rancid and filled with maggots," Burhans countered. And it should be enjoined. Walker declined to rule from the bench Thursday, saying he'll draft his ruling as soon as he can. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Friday implemented a nationwide stoppage on overtime work, averting a full-blown strike that would have shut down mail and package delivery across Canada, after the union received a late contract offer from Canada Post. But the threat of a strike has already done damage to Canada Posts parcel business, and the postal operator said customers may experience delays even with the continuation of operations. In a statement Thursday night, Canada Post said it has already experienced a sharp drop in mail and parcel volumes as customers, fresh from experiencing a five-week strike that ended with government intervention in December, seek alternative carriers or cancel mailings to ensure items dont get stranded in the postal system. The union said it decided to proceed with the overtime ban to minimize disruption to the public and lost pay to members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how long the refusal to work overtime will last or if the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) will escalate strike actions. The union earlier this week said it would call a strike Friday without a contract resolution. Canada Post earlier Thursday rejected a CUPW request for a two-week truce so its negotiators could review Wednesdays proposal in detail without a labor disruption, saying union negotiators didnt provide a serious response to its offer during a 30-minute meeting. U.S. and Canadian parcel logistics providers, which consolidate packages heading to the same destination in a single container shipment for efficiency and easier customs clearance, have spent the past couple weeks switching customers from Canada Post to other last-mile carriers in Canada, according to industry professionals. And many shippers have already turned off the U.S. Postal Service pipeline out of worry that packages will get stranded in Canada Post facilities, as happened last year, said Kate Muth, executive director of the International Mailers Advisory Group. In fact, she added, shipments were trapped beyond the strike period because it took Canada Post a long time to deliver the backlog of mail and packages, leading the U.S. Postal Service to temporarily suspend service to Canada during the holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really going to be very damaging for Canada Post if there is a strike because no one wants to run the risk of this [disruption] happening again. Once stuff moves out of the Canada Post system, people are reluctant to go back, Muth said in a phone interview. Many small businesses never went back to Canada Post after shifting last-mile carriers in December, unless they absolutely had to to reach very rural areas or post office boxes, echoed Alison Layfield, director of product development at ePost Global, which provides international parcel shipping services for U.S. e-tailers. Weve been extremely busy the last couple of weeks putting into action contingency plans for many of our customers and reminding them to provide a physical street address rather than a post office box so parcels dont get stuck in the Canada Post network in the event of a strike, she explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mail carriers as of Friday will work to the rule, meaning they wont work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week. Letter Carriers are to return to the depot and drop off their mail after eight hours work, regardless of whether they have completed their routes, the CUPW said in a notice posted online. Union mulls new contract offer Mail carriers in Canada have been working without a new collective bargaining agreement for nearly 18 months as the sides remain far apart on key issues, despite extensive mediation by the federal government. Canada Post said it went further than before on wages, while also making changes to its delivery model aimed at improving efficiency and repairing finances. But it also withdrew some items from its last offer, including a new health benefits plan, changes to employees post-retirement benefits or enrollment of future employees in the defined contribution pension. Instead it said benefits such as the defined benefit pension, job security rules, health and retirement benefits and vacation (up to seven weeks) would stay the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comprehensive offers we put forward provided increased wages, removed key sticking points and included changes needed to compete in the parcel delivery business. They also reflect the corporations financial and operational realities, Canada Post said in a statement. Canada Post has not turned a profit in seven years and last year accepted a $716 million loan from the Canadian government to sustain operations. A big problem is that mail volume has fallen by more than half in the past 20 years. The CUPW made clear its disappointment with the latest offer, saying on its website Wednesday that a wage increase of 13% over four years falls short of the union demand for a 19% increase in base wages to keep pace with the rising cost of living and that a 13.59% cost-of-living allowance is so high that it would never trigger a wage adjustment. It also criticized proposals for part-time workers, route efficiency tools and benefit adjustments. Canada Post proposed increasing by 20% the number of part-time positions to support parcel delivery in urban areas seven days a week, as provided by other couriers. Currently, about 10% of the parcel delivery workforce is part time. Part-time positions will receive health and pension benefits and guaranteed hours (15 to 40 hours per week). The creation of part-time jobs increases the companys delivery flexibility, especially on weekends, while ensuring that letter carriers arent required to work weekend shifts, the postal operator said. The union favors full-time jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union objects to Canada Posts plan to make work schedules more flexible, meaning mail carriers might not have the same route every day. The mail provider, for example, also wants to introduce dynamic routing in a limited number of locations, which would allow it to plan and optimize delivery routes daily based on real-time volumes, resulting in more consistent, predictable service for customers. Dynamic routing is commonly used by large, last-mile carriers. The union says rules governing such a system are needed and that Canada Post doesnt have the software or technical ability to apply its route measuring system, which involves measuring mail volume, the time it takes to deliver and other factors to determine the appropriate workload for each route based on logbook entries from carriers. Canada Post also seeks to introduce load leveling, whereby supervisors each morning could transfer mail volumes between workers during scheduled hours without additional compensation. And it wants to delay new hires from receiving health and pension benefits until they complete six consecutive months of regular employment. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. RELATED STORIES: Small businesses at risk as Canada Post workers prepare to strike The post Canada Post avoids crippling strike but not damage to parcel business appeared first on FreightWaves. CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) The Canadian County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) is investigating the theft of two heavy construction vehicles from an Oklahoma City job site. CCSO officials say that on Saturday, May 10, the department received a report on a theft involving a John Deere skid steer and a John Deere mini excavator stolen from a job site near Reno Avenue and South Richland Road sometime between May 3 and May 9. The investigation revealed that the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) ran a vehicle identification number (VIN) on the stolen skid steer on Tuesday, May 6, tracing back to a private sale involving a witness who had purchased the skid steer from the alleged seller for $6,000, according to CCSO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VIDEO: Police investigating after car stolen in NW Oklahoma City Stolen John Deere skid steer being recovered. Image courtesy, the Canadian County Sheriffs Office. The department worked actively with OKCPD and recovered the stolen skid steer from an area in Piedmont. This is a great example of law enforcement agencies working together to catch criminals and return property to the rightful owner, said Chris West, Canadian County Sheriff. According to CCSO officials, a search warrant was authorized on Thursday, May 15, for the property near Reno Avenue and South Richland Road. Deputies were unable to find the mini excavator but recovered a set of pallet forks that belonged to the victim. A second stolen John Deere skid steer was found, also on May 15, at a property near Belle Boulevard in Mustang, which was part of a related case. The skid steer was impounded once deputies confirmed the VIN was listed as stolen from Oklahoma City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is currently ongoing with multiple suspects having been identified, and charges are pending. Investigators with CCSO are said to be finding more leads while conducting search warrants for other stolen heavy equipment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Yearly cancer deaths linked to alcohol have doubled in the United States over the last three decades, rising from just under 12,000 a year in 1990 to more than 23,000 a year in 2021, new research finds. The increase was driven by deaths in men 55 and older, the study authors said. U.S. cancer deaths overall have fallen by about 35% over the same time period, according to data from the American Cancer Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings will be presented next week at the American Society of Clinical Oncologys annual meeting in Chicago and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. This is death as opposed to getting a disease. We can treat a lot of cancers, and were getting better at that, but this is really driving home the point that people are dying from cancer due to alcohol, said Jane Figueiredo, a professor of medicine at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was not involved with the research. The study focused on seven alcohol-related cancers: breast, liver, colorectal, throat, voice box, mouth and esophageal. Alcohol isnt responsible for every case of these cancers, but it has been shown to be a driving factor in a percentage of them. When people think about alcohol, they dont necessarily think of it as being a carcinogen like they do tobacco, said Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor of public health and community medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine, who was not involved with the study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it is. Once in the body, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde a carcinogen also found in tobacco smoke. Alcohol damages DNA and makes it easier for the mouth and throat to absorb other carcinogens. The International Agency on Cancer Research, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified alcohol as a carcinogen in 1987. Research at that time linked drinking to cancers of the head and neck (including the mouth, throat, voice box and esophagus) and liver cancers. Its since been linked to breast and colorectal cancers. A January report from the former U.S. surgeon general said alcoholic drinks should come with cancer warning labels. According to WHO, theres no safe amount of alcohol consumption. The new research found that in 1991, 2.5% of all cancer deaths in men and 1.46% in women were related to alcohol. In 2021, those percentages rose to 4.2% and 1.85%, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over that same time period, men saw a 56% increase in deaths from alcohol-related cancers specifically. For women, it was nearly 8%. It was not surprising that it was higher in men, but it was certainly surprising how much higher it was in men versus women, said study co-leader Dr. Chinmay Jani, chief fellow of hematology and oncology at the University of Miamis Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Historically, men have tended to start drinking alcohol earlier in life, Jani and his team noted. However, sex-based drinking habits appear to be shifting. In recent years, an increasing number of women have become heavy drinkers, and slightly more young women binge drink than men, research has found. Deaths from the seven alcohol-related cancers increased among men in 47 states, and in 16 states for women. In both groups, deaths among people living in New Mexico rose the most nearly 60% for men and 18% for women. Oklahoma, for men, and Tennessee, for women, came in close second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington D.C. and New York saw the biggest decreases for men, and Massachusetts and New York for women. Utah remained the state with the lowest alcohol-related cancer deaths. Cancer deaths were highest among people 55 and older. In men in this age group, alcohol-related cancer deaths rose by more than 1% every year between 2007 and 2021. The carcinogenic effect probably isnt affecting you right away in your younger age, but as you continue to drink as you age, this carcinogen has an accumulative effect on the body, Jani said. Of all seven alcohol-related cancers, liver, colorectal and esophageal cancers were the deadliest overall in 2021. In men specifically, liver cancer deaths were most common. For women, it was breast cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that even small amounts of alcohol can affect the breast tissue, Figueiredo said. Jani said the next phase of research should tease out how different racial and ethnic groups are affected by alcohol differently when it comes to cancer risk. The enzyme that metabolizes alcohol is lower in some ethnic groups than others, so acetaldehyde, the carcinogen in alcohol, is higher in these people, Jani said. Alcohol consumption in the U.S. hit its peak in the late 1970s and dropped until the late 90s, data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism show. Drinking also rose sharply during the pandemic, as did alcohol-related deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Siegel said messaging around alcohol needs to shift from drinking responsibly to making sure people understand the health effects that even moderate drinking can pose. Its not that were telling people they cant drink. Every person has the autonomy to make their own decisions, Siegel said. But we want to make sure they are well-informed based on the facts rather than misconceptions. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Alcohol associated cancer deaths have doubled in the United States over the past three decades, disproportionately impacting men and people 55 and older, according to a new, yet to be published, study being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual conference this week. The analysis of national death rates attributable to alcohol use between 1990 to 2021 found a significant increase from 11,896 to 23,207 deaths. "We already know other risk factors, such as tobacco, for cancer," Dr. Chinmay Jani, the study's lead author and a clinical fellow in hematology and oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, told ABC News. "However, it is very important to know that alcohol is also a risk factor and can be a carcinogen in many different cancers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the study pointed out, any amount of alcohol has the potential to harm health. It doesnt necessarily mean that you are drinking every day, Jani explained. MORE: Alcohol linked to greater risk of cancer in women: What to know The study relied on self-reported drinking habits, which can have some inaccuracies, but researchers used statistical methods to help correct for that. In January, the U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory linking alcohol use to seven cancers, including breast and colorectal. The advisory recommended adding cancer risk warning labels to alcoholic beverages. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified alcohol as a Group-1 carcinogen, with evidence linking its use to cancers of the liver, breast, colorectal, esophagus, larynx, mouth and throat. Scientists are still working to understand how alcohol causes cancer at the biological level. PHOTO: Stock photo. (Mensent Photography/Getty Images) Deaths attributable to alcohol use rose by 70.2% in men and 15.2% in women, the study found. Men may be at higher risk because they start drinking at an earlier age and are more likely to engage in risky alcohol behaviors. Biological differences may also make them more vulnerable, Jani said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study uncovered some statewide differences, with the highest alcohol associated death rates reported in Washington, D.C., and the lowest in Utah, likely reflecting regional alcohol consumption patterns. Liver cancer emerged as the most serious risk related to alcohol use, especially in those 55 and older. Even low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption can increase liver cancer risk in those with other conditions like obesity, diabetes or high cholesterol. MORE: Surgeon general warns of link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk "When people are drinking at a younger age, it starts accumulating in your body and then you have manifestations in elderly age, these things we are not aware of when we are young and drinking alcohol, usually more frequently," Jani explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Gilberto Lopes, the chief of medical oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of the studys authors, stressed the critical need for targeted prevention efforts and public health policies to raise awareness about the serious health risks posed by alcohol. "We hope that our study will help educate the public on the impact of alcohol on individual cancer risk," he said. Dr. Zakia Jabarkheel is a family medicine resident physician at Emory University and a member of ABC News' medical unit. Cancer deaths tied to alcohol are rising fast, study finds originally appeared on abcnews.go.com For over a decade, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been a lightning rod in the global debate over press freedom, transparency and the reach of U.S. power. From the release of the notorious Collateral Murder video to his years-long exile inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange has been hailed as a journalistic freedom fighter and vilified as a national security threat. Now, with The Six Billion Dollar Man, director Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight, The House I Live In) turns his lens on what he calls the most consequential political prisoner of our time, delivering a searing expose that uncovers the staggering cost the U.S. was willing to pay to silence him. Jareckis latest documentary is a cinematic pressure cooker part investigative thriller, part legal procedural and part character study that digs deep into the forces aligned against Assange. Featuring interviews with human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa and never-before-seen footage from Assanges time inside the embassy, the film traces the evolution of a man from renegade online publisher to political martyr. At the core is a revelation worthy of any geopolitical thriller: A $6.5 billion IMF loan allegedly dangled by the Trump administration to pressure Ecuador into handing Assange over a modern bounty to bury a dissident voice. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Six Billion Dollar Man premiered as a special screening in Cannes Wednesday night, with Assange in the audience. Its already a multi-award winner, having received the first-ever Golden Globe Award for best documentary on Monday, and, on Friday, took the special jury prize of the LOeil dor, or Golden Eye, awards, Cannes documentary film honors. Jarecki, who has long chronicled abuses of American power, doesnt mince words. He describes the case as shattering, a prism through which to examine how democracies betray their own ideals. In a discussion at the American Pavilion in Cannes, Eugene Jarecki spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about weaponized propaganda, the perils of truth-telling in the digital age and how a man once seen as Dr. Evil by the U.S. government made it to the red carpet. What first drew you to the story of Julian Assange? Its a delight to bring Mr. Assange to the red carpet. Its probably the greatest achievement of my life, because its so important that someone like Julian Assange, who was the target of so much deeply corrupt propaganda, is finally being seen in a different light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we started, he was in Belmarsh Prison, Britains Guantanamo Bay. The idea that this inmate would be here in Cannes, a free man, was unthinkable. We asked: Why is this man in jail? Recognized as a journalist by The New York Times, the Nobel prize committee, journalism outlets all over the world and hes in a prison full of terrorists and violent criminals? We might have found he did something really bad. Maybe the propaganda is true. It was our job to get to the heart of it. Then the case became more startling, the evidence more shattering. Especially what it tells us about those in power that they were willing to spend $6 billion as a bounty on a mans head. How do you think Julian Assange has been misrepresented in the mainstream narrative? The U.S. engaged in a vast smear operation against Assange. It involved allies like the U.K. and Sweden. He was given asylum by Ecuador under President Rafael Correa. Under his successor, the country was paid $6 billion to hurt Mr. Assange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies like PayPal and Visa stopped payments to WikiLeaks. I used to think they liked when we made transfers dont they profit from that? All of a sudden capitalism went out the window. Allegations were spread that he had been guilty of a sexual offense in Sweden. We looked into that. There never was a sexual case. There was an inquiry, which was dropped. But nobody ever knows that. Once you say sexual this or sexual that, it follows someone for the rest of their life. The U.S. buried Assange in propaganda until someone who did that much for humanity either became unknown or had a black cloud over him. Saturday Night Live once did a bit with Bill Hader playing Assange as Dr. Evil. That sums up what the U.S. did to him. Whats my job? Im a documentary filmmaker. I didnt see Assange during the filmmaking process. He was in jail. I dealt with him as a public figure on my editing screen. Im not going to present him as an angel, but hes probably not Dr. Evil. Your film presents a more positive image of Julian Assange than, for example, Laura Poitras did in her 2017 documentary Risk. In fairness to other filmmakers, the groundbreaking information just wasnt available to them. In our case, because he was in jail, he didnt have access to me, and I didnt have access to him, so my personal feelings didnt get in the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had 11 years of secretly-filmed surveillance footage from the embassy. I watched hundreds of hours and most of what I saw was that Assange is not what the public has been led to believe. His actions speak for themselves. Hes had 15 years of detention. That speaks highly of a person, even if theyre not great with their cat or lack social skills. If I had found evidence that he committed a sexual offense or violated people in war, I would have had to reflect that. But I didnt. What I saw was a single individual with a team of idealistic young people going up against a superpower. The film also shows how both Democratic and Republican administrations treated Assange as public enemy no. 1. You include the WikiLeaks release of Hillary Clintons emails. How do you respond to the allegation that youre doing Trumps bidding by supporting Assange and criticizing the Democrats? This answer has three parts. First, yesterday [May 19] was the 100th birthday of Malcolm X. Were at a festival featuring a film about someone who was killed after making a political film [Gaza photojournalist Fatma Hassona, featured in Sepideh Farsis Cannes documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hands and Walk]. These are people who are fearless in the face of danger. Assange is one of them. He doesnt stop when reasonable people would back down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he was already in trouble, youd think hed want to curry favor with Democrats. Everyone believed Hillary would win. If he wanted to play it safe, he wouldnt have released what Hillary did to Bernie Sanders which is all they released. Many people confuse that with Benghazi or the private server. Thats propaganda. They didnt release that. WikiLeaks only published what Americans should want to know: that the Democratic nominee got there with blood on her hands. The DNC made it impossible for Bernie [Sanders] to compete. What kind of world would we be living in now if they hadnt buried him? Julian Assange did not do the politic thing. He didnt protect power. When Democrats lost, they said the Russians did it. America always has someone to blame Russians, Muslims to distract from what we do to overthrow democracy around the world. WikiLeaks was given that information. They didnt hack anything. The New York Times said what WikiLeaks did was newsworthy and correctly timed. And if they had Trumps tax returns, they would have released them. Theyre anti-power, not pro-Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We investigated every possible lead about Russian involvement. Every lead led back to Democrats mouths. I found no evidence linking WikiLeaks to Russia, beyond Hillary calling it Russian WikiLeaks on TV a way of saying: I didnt lose because of me, I lost because someone took it from me. Dr. Evil and his friend in Russia. What did it take to get Julian Assange to Cannes, as a free man? The difficulty was for his legal team to beat the U.S. government. Hes a free man because they won one of the most seismic victories in American law. The U.S. dropped 17 of 18 charges. He was facing 175 years. The last charge the one he pled guilty to was journalism. He pled guilty to acting as a journalist under the First Amendment. But theres another law in America that goes against the First Amendment: the Espionage Act. And thats what they used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America pretended it was the seat of modern democracy. But now its jailing a journalist. He got five years for that. And so hes here because they struggled to reach that outcome, and he emerged triumphant. I think Cannes is doing something extraordinary. The festival is more and more allowing politics into the curriculum, and I think thats beautiful. Im proud to be a part of that. [Cannes Festival director] Thierry Fremaux and Christian Jeune [director of the film department] are really taking the festival in the right direction. And then we won a Golden Globe the first for a documentary. Thats empowering, not only for this film, but for all documentaries. It shows that Julian can be seen in a golden new light. What was the personal impact of this project on you as a filmmaker? It was a long process. That affected me in my aging, in my politics, in how I work with people. I think some of the strategies I used, in managing a team, in handling messaging, in applying ethics theyre more advanced in my soul now than when I was younger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julian taught me to stay in it for the long haul. He was in for 15 years. I spent four-and-a-half years on this. I salute his willingness to go to the wall for a cause. Seeing him here at the festival hes a different person than I saw in the footage all those years. After everything, does the truth still matter? Fuck yes! Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. May 23CARLTON COUNTY As spongy moths, an invasive species that defoliates forests, continue their westward pursuit, Carlton County has become ground zero in Minnesota's effort to scale back the infestation. Having already infested Lake and Cook counties, the invasive moth, formerly known as gypsy moth, is now gaining a foothold in parts of St. Louis and Carlton counties. To combat this, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture plans roughly half of this year's spongy moth treatments in Carlton County. "When you look at that kind of population front, it's a lot farther advanced in the north," said Mark Abrahamson, a plant protection specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This summer, the MDA plans to aerially treat 12 different areas within Carlton County, totaling about 27,000 acres, using a pheromone to attract and trap male moths to disrupt their mating. A spring treatment using Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki or Btk, a bacterium that kills the moth's caterpillars also was scheduled for around 800 acres in Carlton County, but that was canceled after the MDA did not receive the necessary federal funds for the treatment in time. The spongy moth is monitored and controlled through a national Slow the Spread Program a partnership between the MDA, U.S. Forest Service and 11 states. In Minnesota, the program has been used to manage 1.1 million acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program estimates it has slowed the spread of spongy moths by more than 60%. Though Abrahamson said there is no way to eradicate the spongy moth, programs like this can significantly slow the spread. "Without this program, which has been in place for several decades now, it would have been ... pretty much throughout Minnesota, we would just be living with it," Abrahamson said. Abrahamson said about 75% of the state funding to treat the spongy moth comes from the federal government. Though the MDA is planning its summer treatments, it is a possibility that funding will be pulled again. "There's always the possibility that something unexpected could occur as well. So we'll be, you know, prepared if that's the case, but we're optimistic that we should be able to move forward," Abrahamson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abrahamson believes the canceled spring treatments won't drastically affect Carlton County's spongy moth population. The moths are already established to a point where Btk would not be as effective as mating disruption, which is more effective among established populations. "By this summer, we wouldn't expect that people are going to really be noticing a lot," Abrahamson said. Originally hailing from Europe, the spongy moth first came to North America from Massachusetts in the 1860s as part of a failed science experiment to breed silk-spinning caterpillars, according to Mass Audubon, a New England-based conservation organization. The caterpillars escaped to the scientists' backyard and began their westward conquest from there. The moth's population has proliferated in the northern parts of the country. Though the reasons are not entirely known, Abrahamson theorizes it could be because the larvae, which move on a silken thread, can travel across lakes great distances. bluefield Years ago it was a common practice for lawmakers to use federal earmarks to help build highway projects across West Virginia. Locally, some of the earliest segments of the Coalfields Expressway and the King Coal Highway were started as a result of federal earmarks secured by lawmakers, including the late U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd. Byrd, a powerful Democrat in Washington at the time, faced frequent criticism for his efforts in securing federal earmarks for West Virginia. A number of years later the use of earmarks fell out of favor with Congress, and the practice was ultimately supended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in more recent years, earmarks have returned with a new name. They are now called Congressionally Directed Spending awards, and are considered on an annual basis. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was recently asked by the Daily Telegraph why Congressionally Directed Spending awards are not currently being used to help with highway projects like the Coalfields Expressway in McDowell County and the King Coal Highway in Bluefield. Capito said the West Virginia Department of Transportation is, in fact, seeking Congressionally Directed Spending awards for those and other highway corridors across the Mountain State. She was also asked whether or not elected officials in Mercer and McDowell counties had requested such federal funding support for the highway projects in their respective counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no reason why I cannot ask for a Congressionally Directed Spend in those areas, Capito said in reference to the Daily Telegraph question during a recent media call with West Virginia reporters. Whether it is King Coal or Coalfields Express or Corridor H or whatever Route 2 has some issues too on expansion. Capito said her office is in regular contact with the West Virginia Department of Highways with regards to the transportation needs of the Mountain State. I am generally working with the West Virginia Department of Transportation to see where their priorities are so they can get, so we can cobble together the funds to actually have success, Capito said. I know we just got recently a grant for the King Coal Highway. It came through. It was a discretionary grant. So that is good news. And we just gotta keep plugging away. These are massively expensive highways but they need to be completed. Capito said the DOH will sometimes ask the counties to join in on funding requests for specific transportation projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mainly the big ones you are talking about will come from the West Virginia DOT and we work hand in glove with them. Capito said. And they have requested these. The Daily Telegraph has asked the DOT for information on the recent funding award for the King Coal Highway project, but has not yet received an answer. Years ago the local DOH offices were able to answer media questions, but in recent years all such questions must now be forwarded to the DOHs public relations office in Charleston. That practice was in place during the administration of former Gov. Jim Justice and is now continuing with current Gov. Patrick Morrisey. The King Coal Highway is West Virginias local corridor of the future Interstate 73/74/75 routing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In West Virginia, the King Coal Highway will ultimately extend 95 miles through Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming and Wayne counties along or near currently existing U.S. 52 from U.S. 119 near Williamson to Interstate 77 in Bluefield. In the bigger picture, the final Interstate 73/74/75 routing will extend from Detroit, Michigan to Myrtle Beach, S.C, opening up a large swath of Southern West Virginia to interstate access. According to the National I-73/74/75 Corridor Association, the project will bring growth along the interstate within six states: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Sections of the interstate corridor are already open in other states, including North Carolina and South Carolina. The Coalfields Expressway is a new four-lane corridor that will extend through both West Virginia and Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full West Virginia routing of the Coalfields Expressway will take the new four-lane from Welch in McDowell County toward Pineville in Wyoming County and Beckley in Raleigh County. In neighboring Virginia, the Coalfields Expressway will extend through Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com By Miranda Murray and Rollo Ross CANNES, France (Reuters) - Famed actors, directors and music acts like Adrien Brody, Duran Duran and Spike Lee escaped the Cannes Film Festival's crowded Croisette boulevard on Thursday evening for the exclusive grounds of the nearby Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc for a good cause. With tickets starting at $25,000, the amfAR charity dinner has been bringing stars to Cap d'Antibes, Cannes' quieter, palm-lined neighbour, since 1993 in the name of HIV/AIDS research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charity said the benefit has so far raised nearly $300 million for its research programs on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Celebrities including "Sing Sing" actor Colman Domingo, award-winning actor Taraji P. Henson and Michelle Rodriguez of the "Fast and Furious" franchise expressed concern about what U.S. President Donald Trump's budget and staffing cuts could mean for AIDS research and prevention around the world. The United States' "recent reduction of a lot of those resources globally has affected the AIDS community profoundly," said Rodriguez on the red carpet ahead of the dinner. "It becomes more important than ever, the work that amfAR does, not only in the research to generate drugs, just the advocacy that they have globally," added the actor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations AIDS agency warned in March that there could be 2,000 new HIV infections a day across the world and a ten-fold increase in related deaths if funding frozen by the United States is not restored or replaced. "It's very disappointing when people are going to die for something they don't have to die from," said Henson, the event's host and actor from "Hidden Figures" and TV series "Empire." Teri Hatcher, Ed Westwick, Heidi Klum and Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' fiancee, also attended the dinner that featured a performance by pop rockers Duran Duran. (Reporting by Miranda Murray and Rollo Ross; Editing by Sandra Maler) The Haines City Police Department alerted media that one of its leaders was taken into federal custody, although the reason is not yet known. The police department said Capt. Gabriel Garcia was arrested by federal authorities on Thursday following an investigation led by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Office of the Inspector General. The department did not list the charges but said the arrest is connected to an ongoing federal investigation involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The department said it is currently reviewing the indictment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release, the department stated, The City of Haines City and the Haines City Police Department are both angered and deeply disappointed by this development. Law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the law with honor and integrity. When someone in a position of leadership betrays that oath, it undermines public trust and discredits the profession. Law enforcement officers have an obligation to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability. The conduct that led to this arrest is a betrayal of the badge and everything this department stands for, said Haines City Police Chief Jay Hopwood. Leadership in law enforcement carries a greater burden of responsibility, and when that trust is broken, it damages the profession and the community. We will not tolerate dishonor in our ranks and will continue holding ourselves to the highest standards of integrity and accountability. The police department said it will cooperate with federal authorities in the case and will be transparent. The Haines City Police Department said Garcia was hired in November 2007. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. AUSTIN (KXAN) A report published May 15 by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) claims that Texas major metros face a significant shortage of homes available for middle-income families. The NAR said that in order to meet demand, the US must build two homes that list below $260,000 for each home above $680,000. Unless that happens, homeownership will remain blocked for millions of Americans who are otherwise financially ready to buy, the NAR said. Middle-income buyers those who are supposed to form the backbone of the homebuying market are making progress, but theyre still shut out of more than half of the homes for sale today, the NAR wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin leads the nation in affordable multi-family construction, but has the 10th lowest homeownership rate. Austins housing market: How quickly are homes selling, and for how much? Austin Habitat for Humanitys Chief Impact Officer Billy Whipple spoke with KXAN about the report. Even as homes are coming online, the asking prices are higher than a lot of our wage earners. If you look at the median incomes, theyre not able to afford the product coming online, Whipple said. Weve experienced a lot of growth here in Austin, and with that has come a lot more homes, a lot more units. I think weve all seen the construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whipple said that while Habitat is stepping in to meet demand, support from the local and state governments is necessary to help builders. Delivering homes affordably, where more people across our entire economic spectrum can get into home ownership, does require support, subsidy and speed, he said. The longer it takes to go through zoning, permitting, construction, the more uncertainty is entered into the equation. And that always equates to more cost to deliver. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The recent shooting outside of a Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, May 21, has deeply disturbed many, including the local Jewish community here in Central New York. For Mark Segal, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of CNY, the murders were disturbing but not a shock. Its not about being Jewish, said Segal, if you are associated with any Jewish organization in any way, you are at risk, and this is what we saw last night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the incident, Segal has been actively working, starting by evaluating the safety risk for his fellow Jews here in Central New York and ensuring there are proper precautions in place. Weve been on high alert since October 7, the 23, and weve been on somewhat high alert even before that, said Segal. Here locally, this organization has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars just on security for safety, stating theyve hired armed guards and off-duty police officers. According to the Anti-Defamation Leagues (ADL) 2024 report, a record of 9,354 antisemitic incidents were documented in 2024, marking it the highest number since the league began in 1979. These incidents have included harassment, vandalism, and assault. Harassment makes up the majority of these cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While these numbers may be national, the reaction here in Central New York is deeply personal. Local mom and activist Sam Garrlick says the rise in anti-Semitic incidents isnt something they just read about Its something that the Jewish community lives with daily. Whats been going on in this country since October 7 has been a continuous increase of antisemitism, hate, said Garrlick, reminding that Unfortunately, weve seen an increase in antisemitism here locally as well. The local mom expresses the importance of education and open communication despite the hate theyve received. Garrlick highlighted the power of teaching children about love, diversity, and respect. We have my son, my Jewish son, sitting next to a Muslim child where the two of them can be having open and constructive and respectful conversations about our differences, said Garrlick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. A Georgia college student who was detained by ICE after a mistaken traffic arrest has spoken out after being released from a federal detention center on Thursday night, saying the experience changed her as a person. Ximena Arias-Cristobal, 19, a Dalton State student, said the ordeal was terrifying while calling the ensuing outpouring of support for her a blessing. "My life won't be the same," she said, according to 11Alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's changed me as a person, like I said, I guess be more humble, understand people more, and just be able to see the people around you." Arias-Cristobal may still face deportation proceedings, however. She said that her next steps would be to find a visa or permit that would allow her to remain in the U.S. The 19-year-old has grown up in the country since her family entered illegally when she was 4 years old. Her mother previously told the local outlet that the family came to the U.S. in 2010 from Mexico, and that because of her age at the time, she was not eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program when it remained in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arias-Cristobal was mistakenly arrested when an officer wrongly stopped her when a separate driver made a right turn at a no right turn on red light, the city of Dalton said after reviewing dashcam footage. She said the dropped charges opens more doors for me, so we will have to see what happens there." Her lawyer, Dustin Baxter, has said that if they can prove that her arrest was because of profiling, "we may make the argument with immigration that she qualifies for a U Visa." The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services site states that such visas are handed to people who are victims of "certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. Ximena Arias-Cristobal poses for a senior portrait provided by family friend Hannah Jones. The Georgia college student is facing deportation after she was mistakenly arrested by local police and put into ICE custody (Courtesy Hannah Jones) Baxter added that Arias-Cristobals father, who was detained at the same time as his daughter, is applying for cancellation of removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney added that since the father has been in the country for over 10 years, has children who are citizens, and has displayed good moral character, he has a case to put forward to an immigration judge. "Ximena, however, does not have any qualifying relative. She does not have a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child," Baxter said earlier, according to 11Alive. "What we're going to try and do is link her case to her father. So therefore, if her father is granted permanent resident status by winning his case, she would have that qualifying relative, and she would conceivably be approved for permanent residence as well." The 19-year-old described the last few weeks as a "burst of emotions I was mad, I was confused, but most of all ... I realized that everything that was happening was a blessing in disguise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the support for her, such as protests in Atlanta, has been "incredible, I would've never thought that this would've happened, the support, it's a blessing, and I'm very, very thankful for everybody that's been out here supporting me and pouring out their hearts for my family." Arias-Cristobal said she wouldnt wish her detention on my worst enemy. "It's the conditions and the unknown, it's not knowing what's going to happen to me, knowing that I could be sent back to a country that I don't know, having to be torn apart from my family," she added. "It's also the conditions you don't get much privacy, you get screamed at for every little thing, the food is horrible, they don't pay attention to you, you get sick, and they don't care." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said one of the most challenging things about her detention was not being able to speak to her father despite them being at the same facility. "It was terrifying, and it was sad at the same time because I had asked various times to speak to my father, see him, and I wasn't allowed to," she said, according to 11Alive. "More than anything, I felt a lot of pressure on my shoulder, knowing that my mom was out here on her own with two little kids, and it was very heartbreaking." NORTH ANDOVER Big changes are in the works at the Lawrence Municipal Airport to sustain the future of aviation in the Merrimack Valley. Airport manager Francisco Urena stood on the grass by the parking lot facing the aging administrative building and diner where some of those changes will take flight, hopefully within a year, he said. The municipal airport is rapidly approaching a century in operation and those involved are looking to construct a new administrative building in large part thanks to a $7.1 million commitment from the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the closest we have ever been and were trying to make a dream a reality, Urena said. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division awarded a state grant of $204,000 to the airport to be used toward the design of the new administrative building. The state made the multi-million dollar commitment to the project in a cost-sharing agreement in which it will fund 95% of the project. The airport is on the hook for 5% of the costs. Anything exceeding the committed price or additional costs is the responsibility of the airport and city of Lawrence. The building is estimated to cost $5.2 million to construct. A new, 7,000 square-foot building will replace the original 1952 municipal building which houses a popular diner, administrative offices and a conference room for airport commission meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing outside the administrative buildings entrance which leads to Dominics Diner, bathrooms and offices, Urena pointed to the curbing. He noted how difficult it can be for those with mobility issues to enter the building. The new structure will be heating and energy efficient, as well as accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Lawrence Airport Commission has required and led efforts for the new building to offer the same amenities to the airports staff, visitors and users. This includes equipping the space with areas for a restaurant, bathrooms, offices and a spot where the commission can hold its meetings. The building also needs to meet requirements set by the state aeronautical division for municipal airports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is to have a design ready by fall. The commission will then go through a permitting process with the town of North Andover when the buildings design is completed. Urena said if all goes to plan, construction would start between March and April 2026. The final phase after construction would be to demolish the old building. Urena said this project was a dream nearly 30 years ago. Urena has a letter sitting in his office filing cabinet from 1997 by the airport manager at the time requesting the state to issue a feasibility of build study for a new administrative building. A nonarchitectural concept of the Taunton Municipal Airports administrative building hangs in the airports conference room, showing some inspiration for what the Lawrence one might look like. While the project comes more into focus, other changes are coming to the airport sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four new hangars will be added to its site by Labor Day. The hangars range from 3,400 to 7,400 square feet and are a private investment from a company which leases land from the airport. Amid the new changes, the airport will say goodbye to its restaurant tenant of 11-plus years, Dominics Diner. The diner announced its last day at the airport was May 18. Were filled with gratitude for the memories, friendships and opportunities for growth, diner personnel said in a social media post. We couldnt have done it without our loyal customers. The diner will reopen at a new location in Haverhill soon. Those at the Lawrence Municipal Airport are looking toward a temporary neighbor in that space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Urena said he hired a company for an appraisal because it is a municipal building. Once the appraisal is complete, a public process will begin and a formal request for proposal will go out to entertain bids for a new tenant. Whoever moves into the space will be left with just a shell for the new venture as the fridges, freezers and other equipment will go with the owner when Dominics Diner moves out. Lawrence Airport Commission Chair Sharon Birchall said hopefully the tenant will want to move into the new building after its construction. A bidding process will determine who will be the future tenant. In the proposed, new municipal building, the state only funds the shell space. The tenant will have to outfit the restaurant with appropriate equipment, tables and chairs. Details of where the restaurant will be positioned within the new building are in the works. But Urena said its likely visitors to the airport will still have a great view to watch the planes. Were happy to continue the longstanding tradition that the Lawrence Municipal Airport has of providing a welcoming, reliable and financially self-sustainable operation to support the current and future aviation community in the Merrimack Valley and beyond, Urena said. Jake Fuss and Austin Thompson are analysts at the Fraser Institute. A trade war, U.S. President Donald Trumps threats to Canadas sovereignty, and global economic volatility loomed large in the recent federal election. Yet many voters remained focused on an issue much closer to home: housing affordability. In 2023, under then prime minister Justin Trudeau, Canada added a record high 1.2 million new residents more than double the previous record set in 2019 and another 951,000 new residents last year. All told, Canadas population has grown by about three million people since 2022, roughly matching the total population increase during the entire decade of the 1990s. Not surprisingly, home building has failed to keep pace. In fact, housing construction rates have barely exceeded 1970s levels, even though the population has more than tripled since then. The result has been a historic surge in housing costs. On the campaign trail for the recent election, the Liberals set an immigration target of about 400,000 per year, which is lower than the recent record highs but still high by historical standards, and tabled a plan that they claim will double Canadas residential construction rate to 500,000 new homes per year within a decade. But is it a good plan? And can the Liberals deliver it? First, the good news. To help boost private home building, the Carney government promised to introduce tax incentives, including a rental building allowance, which would help reduce the tax bill on new multiunit rental buildings, and a GST exemption for some first-time homebuyers, which may reduce the cost of newly built homes and spur more home building. The government also plans to expand the Housing Accelerator Fund, which offers federal dollars to municipalities in exchange for more flexible municipal building rules, and to modernize the federal building code, which could shorten construction timelines. While much will depend on execution, these policies rightly aim to make it faster, cheaper and more attractive for the private sector to build homes. Now, the bad news. The Carney government plans to create a new federal entity called Build Canada Homes (BCH) to get the government back in the business of building. According to Mr. Carneys vision, the BCH will act as a developer to build affordable housing and provide more than $25-billion in financing to home builders and $10-billion in low-cost financing and capital for home builders to build affordable homes. Weve seen a similar movie before. In 2017, the Trudeau government created the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to invest in the next generation of infrastructure Canadians need. Since then, the CIB has approved approximately $13.2-billion in investments across 76 projects, but as of July, 2024, only two CIB-funded projects had been completed, prompting the authors of a multiparty House of Commons committee report to recommend abolishing the CIB. The bureaucrats who will run the BCH wont have the private sectors expertise in housing development, nor the same incentives to keep costs down. BCHs mandate is already muddled by competing goals it must deliver affordable homes while simultaneously prioritizing certain building materials (e.g. Canadian softwood lumber), which could increase building costs. The plan for BCHs multibillion-dollar loan portfolio includes significant low cost (that is, taxpayer subsidized) financing, a huge bet on prefabricated home building, and no certainty about who will be on the hook for any failed projects. Combined, this represents a major increase in costs and risks for taxpayers at a time when they already shoulder rising federal deficits and debt. Theres also a real risk that BCH will simply divert limited investment dollars and construction resources away from private home building where projects respond to the needs of Canadian homebuyers and renters and toward government-backed housing projects shaped by political goals. Instead of boosting overall home building, BCH may simply reshuffle limited resources. And, as noted by the government, theres a severe shortage of skilled construction labour in Canada. Its hard to see how Mr. Carneys housing plan would double the pace of home building in Canada a very ambitious target that would require not only prudent housing policies but greater domestic savings, an implausibly large expansion in the construction work force (which grew by only 18.4 per cent over the last decade), and the political fortitude to endure vocal opposition to housing development in certain neighbourhoods and on public lands. Canadas housing crisis will benefit from federal leadership but not federal overreach. Rather than overpromising what it cant deliver, the Carney government should refocus on what its best positioned to do: reform incentives, streamline regulations and nudge municipalities and provinces to remove constraints on home building. Trying to also act as a housing developer and lender is a far riskier approach. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has purchased millions of dollars worth of Oregon seafood to help boost the states economy. Bruce Summers, administrator for the federal agencys Agricultural Marketing Service, confirmed the $16 million purchase of Pacific pink shrimp in a letter on May 16. Portland city workers avert strike after reaching tentative agreement We recognized the importance of Pacific pink shrimp to the economic health of our Nation and of the demand for high-quality, nutritious products for nutrition assistance programs, Summers wrote in response to the request from Oregon Trawl Commission Director Yelena Nowak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This follows a letter in which seven Oregon lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Maxine Dexter and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, urged the USDA to make the purchase as soon as possible due to tariff uncertainty. President Donald Trump revealed his plan to enforce reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including the European Union, in March. As a result, the EU announced its plan to enforce 25% tariffs on an array of U.S. exports. The union has since paused its intentions to retaliate, but Oregon legislators say the uncertainty had already prompted several buyers to cancel or suspend large orders just as fishermen are expecting a significant harvest this season. The United Kingdom has also rejected the U.S. fishing industrys request to pause 20% tariffs on Pacific pink shrimp imports, lawmakers said in the May 5 letter. Bend man convicted for hitting Yellowstone National Park worker with vehicle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Gov. Tina Kotek added that the Oregon industry moves billions of dollars worth of seafood. State leaders and stakeholders hope the recent investment helps local fishermen stay afloat. Chaotic tariff policy has caused economic uncertainty, putting these businesses and Oregonians livelihoods at risk, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said in a release. I am grateful that USDA has heeded our call to support Oregons seafood industry by purchasing millions of dollars of Oregon pink shrimp. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHAPLIN Chaplin voters rejected the budget proposal at a referendum held Tuesday night. The tally was 136 voters opposed to the budget to 105 in favor of it. Out of 1,497 taxpayers and property owners eligible to vote on a budget, 241 headed to the polls or completed absentee ballots. The budget included $2,277,873 for general government and $4,153,759 for the Chaplin Board of Education. The budget in its entirety also includes Chaplins levy for the regional school district 11 Board of Education, but that proposal failed at its initial district-wide referendum on May 6. A second proposal will go before voters in early June. Chaplins part of the original budget was to be $3,843,946, and it is expected the levy will now be lower with an adjusted, reduced second bottom line for the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaplins entire original budget package stood at $10,275,578, up from the approved budget for 2024-2025 of $9,846,583; if the entire original budgetary proposal had been approved, the mill rate likely would have been set for 32.215 mills, up 2.265 mills from the current year. This years approved general government budget was $2,184,924. The bottom line for the local board of education was $4,079,173, and the figure for the regional board of education was $3,581,946. In all, Chaplins budget proposal for 2025-2026 had risen 4.36% from 2024-2025, before the regional budget failed. Now that Chaplins budget has failed as well, its back to the drawing board, Chaplin First Selectman Juan Roman III told the Chronicle after the polls had closed Tuesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roman said it was possible, but not likely, that town officials would try to coincide Chaplins second budget vote with regional school district 11s second budget referendum vote, for greater efficiency in potentially determining both at one time. In fact, townspeople just voted at Chaplins annual town meeting earlier this month to hold Chaplins annual budget vote concurrently with the regional budget vote in future years as a cost-saving measure. But Roman said, for this time, that it was more probable that officials would wait for the outcome of the regional budget, when Chaplins levy would be a known factor, before sending Chaplins budget for its own vote. Richard Weingart, chair of the Chaplin Board of Finance, said he would try to convene a board meeting to act on budget revisions for May 27, if it was possible for the members to attend after the long holiday weekend. Weingart and Roman also discussed how soon they should schedule a second vote, and if holding it on the same day as the regional budgets second vote was even feasible time-wise. Last year, Chaplins budget went to referendum three times before it was approved, and an a temporary mill rate was set last summer in order for the July 2024 tax bills to be sent out. A budget vote for Chaplins second budget proposal this year will not happen before June, but will likely happen before July, when the new fiscal year will begin. Weingart said a mill rate for 2025-2026 would be set after an approved budget is in place. Ive learned that being in a hurry is not a good idea, Weingart said. Charlamagne Tha God said New York Attorney Letitia James is a target for the second Trump administration. James has sued the federal government over attempts to strike birthright citizenship and dismantle nationwide agencies after previously filing a civil lawsuit against the president prior to his reelection bid. Donald Trump has a list, and Tish James is high on that list, as Im sure Alvin Bragg is. Alvin Bragg been very quiet. Probably rightfully so. But, you know, we do know this is retaliation, Charlamagne Tha God said Thursday during The Breakfast Club podcast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, the Federal Housing Finance Agency made a criminal referral to the Justice Department against James, accusing her of real estate fraud. The agency alleged she listed her Virginia home as a primary residence in an effort to secure more favorable loan terms. This investigation into me is nothing more than retribution. Its baseless, James said of the charges, as reported by CBS. It has to do with the fact that on a power of attorney, I mistakenly indicated that I was a Virginia resident, but prior to that, I indicated to the mortgage broker that, in fact, in bold capital letters, that I am not a Virginia resident and never will be, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charlamagne Tha God agreed noting the history of tension between the president and James. We do know that Tish James is absolutely correct, right? he said. This is just retaliation for the charges that Tish James brought against Donald Trump. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Charlotte councilwoman is under scrutiny after being accused of using COVID funds to pay for her massive birthday party. Tiawana Brown has already spent time in prison for fraud and is the only person to have been elected to the Charlotte City Council with that background. She was scheduled to face a federal judge on Friday. However, this recent accusation stems from before she was elected to office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City councilmember, daughters indicted for scheme to obtain $124K in COVID relief funds Thursday morning, Brown went on the offensive. Today I sit before you as a public servant, a mother, and a woman of faith, said Brown. Not broken, not silenced, but resolved. However, a federal grand jury indicted Brown and her daughters for allegedly defrauding the federal government out of COVID relief funds before she was elected to the council. At a news conference, Brown said the feds came after her to prevent her from being re-elected. She also said once she learned the feds were looking for her, she had already paid the money back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, if its about justice and I paid it back, why are we here? Why are we here? I paid it back on my own. No one had to tell me to do that, said Brown. According to the United States Attorneys Office, Brown spent $15,000 of the $120,000 funds on a birthday party. When asked about that allegation, she chose not to discuss it. Did you originally use the funds that were provided for you for that birthday party? I paid it back; the funds that I got were $20,833, and I paid it back, Brown said. Brown is the second city councilperson to be accused of corruption. In 2014, former Mayor Patrick Cannon became the first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9s Glenn Counts with UNC Political Science Professor Dr. Eric Herberlig about the incident. He said the city may be getting a reputation. In an era where everybody hates everybody that blaming somebody that your supporters hate can be enough, said Herberlig. Citizens generally dont trust the government a whole lot. They dont trust politicians a whole lot, so it doesnt take many incidents like this to weigh on their trust. And while the United States Attorneys Office said Brown could get up to 20 years if she is convicted. Herberlig, however, said sentencing guidelines would call for her to get between eight and fourteen months, with her previous case not being a factor because it happened so long ago. VIDEO: City councilmember, daughters indicted for scheme to obtain $124K in COVID relief funds A man is now charged with murdering foreign officials after a deadly attack at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. -- two Israeli Embassy staffers are dead, and the FBI is calling Wednesday nights shooting an act of terrorism. Channel 9s Evan Donovan spoke with leaders in Charlottes local Jewish community, and they say theyre shaken up after the tragedy. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were reportedly about to be engaged on a trip to Jerusalem next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police in Washington say the suspected shooter shouted that he shouted, Free Palestine during the attack. Witnesses reported the suspect said, I did it for Gaza. We just have to channel our pain into purpose, said Adam Kollett, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. We have to fight anti-Semitism, strengthen community at every step of the road, and we need all of the support we can get in fighting hate. The Federation estimates there are at least 32,500 Jews in the Charlotte area, about 3.5% of the population. Gov. Josh Stein, North Carolinas first Jewish governor, sent a post on X Thursday morning saying he was saddened about [Thursday] nights murder and praying for their families, adding, May the memories of the victims of this senseless crime be a blessing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kollett said the community is focused on empathy in the wake of the tragedy. Our response is to double down, make sure we are united, providing everybody possible with education, and that were showing compassion to those who lost their lives and those in our community who are struggling, Kollett said. As a memorial grows outside of the museum, the investigation into the alleged gunman is just beginning. (VIDEO: Jewish Federation of Charlotte travels to Israel) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Charlotte man was sentenced to 42 months in prison Thursday for his conviction of stealing luxury vehicles worth more than $1 million. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office of Western North Carolina, 39-year-old Terrick D. Lumpkin pleaded guilty In October to a conspiracy charge, was also ordered to serve two years under court supervision for his role in the car theft ring. PREVIOUS: Three men plead guilty to luxury car theft schemes in Charlotte and beyond: DOJ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between November 2023 and January 2024, court documents show Lumpkin and co-conspirators were part of a scheme to steal vehicles from several states including North Carolina, Illinois and New York. Notably, several of the vehicles found in Lumkins possession were stolen from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Officials say the group targeted high-end vehicles made by Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini Mercedes, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC and Jeep as well as sports-utility vehicles. After the theft the VIN numbers were altered or removed. During the conspiracy, officials say Lumpkin often stored the stolen vehicles at the parking garage at his apartment complex. He also possessed items in furtherance of the conspiracy including a key fob programmer box and blank key fobs. Lumpkin is currently released and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prison upon designation of a federal facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin prosecuted the case. In August 2023, five individuals were indicted for stealing luxury vehicles from dealerships throughout the United States, and two additional individuals were indicted in November 2023, for orchestrating high-end auto thefts from businesses in South Carolina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Its been almost a week now since a Charlotte woman says her brother was taken by the Nicaraguan government. She and her family say they cannot find him and worry he may be denied the medication he needs. Victoria Speer said neighbors watched her brother, Anibal Martin Rivas Reed, a citizen in Nicaragua, get taken by 20 police officers in the country wearing black. She said there are two types of officers in there, the ones who wear blue and the ones who wear black. Speer said the ones in black terrorize civilians, show up and kidnap people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know where he is, we dont know if hes alive, Speer said. My nephews are going from prison to prison, asking where he is. Theyre saying they dont know where he is. Speer and her niece Andrea Prego are trying to figure out why Reed was taken in the first place. Thats a question we ask ourselves every day, Prego said. The reality of the situation is that the government is actively using these fear tactics to suppress the population so that they remain in power. The United Nations reported in February that Nicaragua eliminated checks and balances on power saying President Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo deliberately changed the country into an authoritarian State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just a level of fear that youre scared to leave your home. Its now much more than that. Its now the government, Prego said. If you have a target on your back, they can show up, barge into your home, take you in front of your family, in front of your children, and you will fall off the face of the earth for some people up to years. Speer said she went through a similar situation with her niece, Tamara Davila Rivas, who she said was tortured for being active in anti-government protests a few years ago. She said back then it took a year for the prisons to tell them where she was. Because Reed has a health condition, Speer said her family needs to know where he is to get him the medication he needs. Im so emotional about this because it has affected my family like many thousands of families, Speer said. I mean Nicaragua is in desperate need of globally like we need someone. Please, if anyone can help, help us because this just needs to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speer shared a social media post after she found out her brother was taken on Saturday. She encourages anyone to share it, reach out to local elected leaders who could help, and email any tips that can help them find him. Speer said she has dual citizenship to both countries, but under the new government, shes not sure if hers would work in Nicaragua anymore. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Authorities took one of Cheatham Countys most wanted individuals into custody at a Nashville home Wednesday afternoon. The Cheatham County Sheriffs Office got a tip on Wednesday, May 21 that Chester Leroy Loudy, 45, was hiding out in a home near Maplewood High School in Nashville. Deputies have been tracking the convicted felon for weeks, so with the help of the Metro Nashville Police Department, they moved in to apprehend him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Woman arrested, man on the run after leading Cheatham County deputies on chase Body camera footage shows law enforcement making their way into the home and moving to a rear hallway where investigators said Loudy was taking a shower. You could hear the shower running, yeah. I guess he was just taking his time, getting his makeup on or whatever, Sgt. Ryan Hawkins with the Cheatham County Sheriffs Office told News 2. According to authorities, Loudy was wanted on parole violations related to an eight-year prison sentence he served for drug charges. In addition, he allegedly drove an SUV that deputies chased across Cheatham County in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, he ran. We dont like it when people run. They put a lot of people in danger when they do that, so we were after him pretty hot, Hawkins said. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Deputies ordered Loudy to surrender, but he refused to come out of the bathroom. Hawkins: I got about 30 people around this house, boss man! Loudy: Ill die before I go! Hawkins: Come on! Loudy: How do you know I aint got a weapon? Hawkins: Open the door! Finally, after deputies promised to let him smoke, the wanted man emerged, angry but unarmed, and surrendered. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Body camera footage captured a conversation between law enforcement and Loudy as he was being loaded into a patrol car: Loudy: You guys should have let me live my life. I aint doing [expletive] wrong to nobody. What have I done, besides not report to probation? Hawkins: You ran from us, theres that. Loudy: What do you mean us? Hawkins: Cheatham County. Loudy: Oh, so you guys are Cheatham? How can Cheatham come to Nashville? Hawkins: Thats how it works, boss man. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com On his way to jail, Loudy reportedly told authorities that he saw News 2s story from April about 41-year-old Laura Jean Wallhead being arrested and Loudy being sought after last months pursuit and multi-county search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he saw that BS on TV. I reminded him that he saw my face on that video and I told him I was going to catch him, so we did, Hawkins said. Loudy is being held in the Cheatham County Jail, charged with evading arrest and driving on a revoked license. Theres no word on how this affects his situation with the Tennessee Department of Correction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is rolling out a new online resource to keep people updated on camping and recreational options amid a federal hiring freeze. The USACE announced in a press release on May 23 that it has created a Recreation Operational Status website to help keep people informed about changing recreational options at the reservoirs it manages. People can use the website to check in on the status of camping and other related recreational opportunities at lakes nationwide. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages staffing for our Recreation mission to ensure we meet the needs of nearly 2,600 recreation areas across 400 lakes and waterways, said Stephen L. Hill, USACE director of Operations and Regulatory Programs. In response to current staffing levels, we have launched the Recreation Operational Status webpage to provide the public with the most current information available about the operational status of recreation areas before visiting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exotic pet fish are turning up in Kansas lakes, where do they come from? The USACE reported earlier this year that recreational opportunities may be limited this year due to a federal hiring freeze, which has resulted in seasonal staffing shortages across the country. This forced the agency to close camping areas at various reservoirs across states like Kansas ahead of the summer season. Public safety and service quality continue to be our highest priorities, Hill said. As we manage available resources, some sites may experience reduced operations or temporary closures. These difficult decisions are based on our ability to ensure visitors have a safe and consistent experience. People can use the Recreation Operational Status website to check on the condition of campgrounds, boat ramps and beaches, which may be displayed as open, partially open or closed. The website shouldnt be used to check for information about state, local or vendor-managed parks, campgrounds, marinas or related facilities on USACE project lands. You can find the website by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office has arrested a Chireno man following a crime spree early Friday morning. Shortly after 5 a.m., deputies were called to a residence in the 16800 block of Farm-to-Market Road 95 S. in reference to a busted window which triggered an alarm. Gregg County Sheriffs Office searching for missing Longview man About 30 minutes later, officials were called to reports of a vehicle on fire on County Road 486. The shed where the car was parked was also on fire. During the investigation, deputies observed suspicious vehicle marks in the yard along with a buttstock to a weapon that did not belong to the homeowner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than 10 minutes later, deputies were called to Chireno ISD where a witness reported the police vehicle that is parked at the district was on fire. The witness was also able to give a description of the vehicle they said left the scene, which was a black Honda CRV. The sheriffs office says it appears someone also attempted to run a vehicle into the front doors of the high school campus. The attempt was unsuccesful, but there is damage to the building. Mugshot of Colton Dickerson, courtesy of the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office Almost 20 minutes later, deputies say the suspect drove to another location and hit the back porch of a home, waking the owners. When the homeowner went outside, she reported seeing a man spraying things with a can and after confronting him, he set a cushion on a bench on fire. The woman was able to grab the item and throw it in the yard. The woman told officials the man told her he was sorry, but then struck their vehicle as he drove away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within the next 10 minutes, the sheriffs office were called to a house on County Road 444 where the same man reportedly hit the owners car, which prompted a confrontation. The suspect then reportedly went to drive away when the woman confronted him again and attempted to shoot him but missed. The sixth call of the morning lead deputies to County Road 486 where it was discovered the window of a work truck had been busted. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle of the suspect now identified as Colton Dickerson, 30 of Chireno, on County Road 433 and took him into custody by 7 a.m. Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office said they found the following items at the different crime scenes or inside the vehicle: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beer bottles Liquor bottles THC wax Other paraphernalia Pellet gun During Dickersons arrest, deputies said he told them, this was an FBI operation. Dickerson has been booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail and is facing several charges including: Arson Deadly Conduct Evading Arrest With a Vehicle Possession of a Controlled Substance Criminal Mischief Chireno ISD has confirmed the graduation ceremony scheduled for this evening at the school will go on as scheduled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. CHICAGO (WGN) With the passing of President Donald Trumps major budget bill, which includes an estimated $300 million cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, local food pantries told WGN News that they are bracing for the impact. The U.S. House of Representatives passing of the bill dubbed big and beautiful means the need for resources will rise, said John Dumas, administrative director with the Share Food, Share Love food pantry in Brookfield. We are facing a situation where we believe there is going to be a significant rise in demand, but there isnt going to be food made available to us, Dumas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans pass Trumps big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session For the last 10 years, the Brookfield-area food pantry has helped people in the neighborhood and its 14 surrounding communities. Right now were helping about 600 families a month, Dumas said. Some are individuals but primarily, its families75% of those 600 work. I know theres a lot of perception that these are folks that are just sitting around, are lazy, and dont want to work, so they come and get free food, and that is not all of what we experience. These are folks that work but dont make enough money to cover the expenses that they incur. Its a call for help that Dumas predicts will rise if the bill passes the Senate following its House of Representatives passage. The bill would extend tax cuts and cut other social programs, like SNAP. As of February, data obtained by WGN News shows 42 million Americans received SNAP benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have folks that are facing challenges with sobriety and things. Are they going to lose benefits for their counseling? Dumas asked. We know that some folks are in the midst of recovery, and now, are they going to lose those benefits? We just dont know the answers to that yet. The bill cuts roughly $300 billion from the program over the next ten years, directly impacting funding for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which helps fill the shelves of local food banks. US is ending penny production: How will you be impacted? About 80% of what you see on these shelves comes from them, Dumas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the Greater Chicago Food Depository said: This bill is a giant step backwards in efforts to create healthy, hunger-free communities. We implore the Senate to reject these devastating recommendations and vote NO on any bill that contains cuts to SNAP. Statement provided by the Greater Chicago Food Depository This shouldnt be a political or partisan issue, Dumas added. The Share Food, Share Love food pantry says it will continue its mission to the best of its ability. Food donations and monetary donations are accepted and encouraged. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Killeen, TX (FOX 44) Central Texas College Child Development Center and Lab School marked a major milestone today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for two new playgrounds, culminating two years of planning and investment in early childhood learning spaces. The event also honored five young scholars who graduated from the program and will enter kindergarten this fall. This ribbon cutting ceremony is the result of two years of planning and hard work, Lewis said. These playgrounds reflect our commitment to providing safe, stimulating spaces that support healthy development, said Maria Lewis, Director of the Child Development Center The $174,000 project was made possible through a grant from the Child Care Relief Fund, the State of Texas, and Workforce Solutions of Central Texas. The funding supported the purchase and installation of two play structures, the cub playground and King Kong structureas well as key improvements across the facilitys outdoor areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. A child was killed and three other people, including one adult, were injured after they were hit by a pickup truck outside a Dallas elementary school, according to WFAA-TV. The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. Thursday near Felix G. Botello Elementary School on Marsalis Avenue in Dallas, a Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesperson said. A 12-year-old boy and two 8-year-old girls were taken to Childrens Hospital, according to the fire department. Police told WFAA that they thought all the children involved were under 10 years old. Officials did not specify which of the children had died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the other two children were in critical condition. The adult who was injured in the collision was stable, officials told WFAA. The driver remained at the scene of the crash, and no criminal charges had been filed as of Thursday evening. Police are investigating the incident as an accident and do not have reason to think that speed was a factor in the collision, Dallas police Assistant Chief Catrina Shead said. More top stories from our newsroom: Fort Worth ISD board approves plan to close 18 schools TCU student murder case moves toward trial Mansfield ISD board approves superintendents contract [Get our breaking news alerts.] Former German health minister and Harvard alumnus Karl Lauterbach has described the US decision to block the elite university from enrolling foreign students as "research policy suicide." "When the most important and highest-performing universities are deliberately weakened, it is one of the most important pillars of the US economy that is being undermined," Lauterbach, who now leads the country's parliamentary research committee, told Germany's Rheinische Post daily on Friday. Countless companies in the United States benefit from the knowledge that Harvard graduates bring with them, Lauterbach said, noting that "many foreign Harvard graduates stay in the United States after completing their studies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lauterbach, who served as Germany's health minister until May 6, when a new government took over, has been a visiting lecturer at the Harvard School of Public Health since 1996, according to his CV on the German parliament's website. He was also enrolled in public health-related master programmes and a post-graduate programme at the university between 1989 and 1995, according to the CV. Lauterbach said he very much hoped that Trump's decision could still be reversed. "But even if that is possible, the attack on free teaching and research sends out a chilling signal." BEIJING (Reuters) -China will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its overseas students and scholars, the foreign ministry said on Friday, responding to the Trump administration's decision to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. U.S. actions will undoubtedly affect its image and credibility, said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the ministry, during a regular press briefing, adding that educational cooperation between China and the U.S. benefits both parties. (Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Xiuhao Chen; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) The Trump administrations move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students has ricocheted across China, with officials and commentators seeing it through one lens: the growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing. China has consistently opposed the politicization of educational collaboration, a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry said Friday, adding that the US move will only tarnish its own image and reputation in the world. Some commentators across Chinese social media platforms took a similar tack: Its fun to watch them destroy their own strength, read one comment on the X-like platform Weibo that garnered hundreds of likes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump comes to the rescue again, wrote another, commenting on a hashtag about the news, which has tens of millions of views. Recruiting international students is the main way to attract top talent! After this road is cut off, will Harvard still be the same Harvard? The announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a clear escalation of a dispute between the oldest and the richest Ivy League institution and the White House and part of a broader drive to tighten control over international students in the US amid an immigration crackdown. The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked hundreds of student visas in nearly every corner of the country as part of a vast immigration crackdown. Harvard and Trumps administration have been locked in conflict for months as the administration demanded the university make changes to campus operations. The government has homed in on foreign students and staff it believes participated in contentious campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. But the revocation isnt just about a feud between a university and the US president. Its also the latest in a widening rupture between two superpowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, China sent more international students to America than any other country. Those deep educational ties are being reshaped by a growing geopolitical rivalry that has fueled an ongoing trade and tech war. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement Thursday. The DHS statement included claims of ties between Harvard and Chinese institutions or individuals linked to military-related research, as well as with an entity blacklisted by the Trump administration for alleged human rights violations. It links to information about a letter that bipartisan US lawmakers sent earlier this week to Harvard requesting information about the universitys alleged partnerships with foreign adversaries. Harvard has not replied to a CNN request for comment on the alleged partnerships. In a statement on its website, the university said it was committed to maintaining our ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation. Absolute shock The ability of elite American universities to recruit top students from around the world, many of whom often go on to stay in the United States, has long been seen as a critical factor in Americas science and tech prowess, as well as a key source of income for its universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision by the DHS both bars Harvard from enrolling international students for the coming academic year and requires current foreign students to transfer to another university to maintain their status. International students make up more than a quarter of Harvards student body, with those hailing from China making up the largest international group, according to a tally on Harvards International Office website. Among those students is Fangzhou Jiang, 30, a student at Harvards Kennedy School, who said he couldnt believe it when he heard that his university status was in jeopardy and immediately began to worry if his visa was still valid. I was absolutely shocked for quite a few minutes. I just never anticipated that the administration could go this far, said Jiang, who is also the founder of an education consulting company helping foreign students gain admission to elite American universities. Ever since I was young, when it comes to the best universities in the world, from a young age, I learned that its Harvard, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivy League schools like Harvard, Princeton and Yale are household names in middle class China, where American universities have for years been viewed as a path to a prestigious education and a leg-up in Chinas fiercely competitive career-ladder. Students in China's Shandong province participate in a graduation ceremony earlier this month. The vast majority of Chinese students who attend university continue their studies in China. - Zheng Peibo/VCG/Getty Images China was the top source of international students in the US for 15 straight years since 2009, before it was surpassed by India just last year, according to figures from Open Doors, a US Department of State-backed database tracking international student enrollment. Along the way, US-China educational ties have cultivated close relationships between Chinese and American academics and institutions, while US universities and industry are widely seen to have benefited from their ability to attract top talent from China, and elsewhere, to their halls. Harvard has educated Chinese figures like former Vice Premier Liu He, who played a key role negotiating Trumps phase one trade deal during the American presidents first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those ties have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as the US began to see an increasingly assertive and powerful China as a technological rival and a threat to its own superpower status. More than 277,000 Chinese students studied in the US during the 2023 to 2024 academic year, down from over 372,000 in the peak 2019-2020 year a decline that coincides with the Covid-19 pandemic but also increasing friction between the two governments. Meanwhile, rising nationalist sentiment and government emphasis on national security in China have led to a shift in perception about the value of American versus Chinese universities. Reverse brain-drain The Department of Homeland Securitys claims regarding Harvards institutional ties to entities and individuals with ties to military-related research are the latest move reflecting deep-seated concern in Washington about Chinese access to sensitive and military-applicable American technology via academia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To crack down on the perceived threat of Chinese students conducting espionage on US soil, Trump introduced a ban during his first term that effectively prevented graduates in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields from Chinese universities believed to be linked to the military from gaining visas to the US. His first administration also launched the now defunct China Initiative, a national security program intended to thwart Chinas intelligence activities in the US, including those aimed at stealing emerging technology from research universities. The program, which drew comparisons to the McCarthy-era anti-Communism red scare of the 1950s, was cancelled by the Biden administration after facing widespread blowback for what was seen as over-reach and complaints that it fueled suspicion and bias against innocent Chinese Americans. Trumps broader tightening of US immigration policy during his second term has now unleashed a new wave of insecurity and uncertainty for many students and schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While those concerns are shared by international students from many countries, the heightened tensions between the two countries have elevated pressure on Chinese students and scholars and the impact has already been seen. Over the past year, at least a dozen high-profile academics with roots in China who were working in the US have returned to China and taken up posts at prominent universities in the country, CNN has found. And for some students at the start of their academic and professional careers, the latest development leaves them unsure about what to do next. Among them is Sophie Wu, a 22-year-old from Chinas southern tech hub of Shenzhen, who was accepted at a graduate program at Harvard this fall, after finishing her undergraduate degree in the US. Wu said she felt numb after hearing the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did not expect that the administration would make such an irrational decision, and I also feel that it is more of a retaliation than a policy decision, she told CNN. International students are being held hostage for some political purpose. CNNs Helen Regan and Joyce Jiang contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BEIJING (Reuters) -China's foreign ministry on Friday urged the Philippines to immediately stop "infringement and provocation" in the South China Sea or face China's "resolute response." The remarks came a day after Beijing and Manila traded accusations following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea. It was legitimate for China to take necessary measures, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press conference on Friday, defending the Chinese coast guard's response to the Philippine ships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The China Coast Guard on Thursday said it took "control measures" against Philippine ships and confirmed a collision occurred between the two sides' vessels. The U.S. ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, described China's actions as aggressive and, in a post on X on Thursday, said they "recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability." When asked about Carlson's comment, Mao told reporters: "We advise the U.S. side not to use the Philippines to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, and not to undermine peace and stability in the region." Coast guard vessels from the Philippines and the U.S. took part for the first time in joint maritime exercises with naval and air force units in the contested South China Sea earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has accused the U.S. of sowing discord in the region. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal said Beijing's claims, based on its historic maps, have no basis under international law, a decision China does not recognise. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Aidan Lewis) A man who last November told North Texas police he planned to attack a church has been arrested and faces numerous charges, authorities said Thursday. Tino Napoleon Ross, 33, was detained after police in White Settlement found improvised explosives, guns and ammunition in his van during a traffic stop last fall, the Star-Telegram reported at the time. Ross was arrested Wednesday after he was released from a medical facility in Wichita Falls, police said in a news release. He has been charged with possession of prohibited weapons, unlawfully carrying weapons, and resisting arrest, search or transportation, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe Ross planned to attack a relatives home in White Settlement and that he was researching other locations, including places of worship, to attack, according to the statement. Officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a search at Ross home in Oklahoma and seized materials that were used to build the explosive devices, police said. The ATF is evaluating the case for federal review that could result in additional charges, according to the statement. The FBI Dallas Joint Terrorism Task Force also helped with the investigation and interviewed the suspect. White Settlement police initially responded to the 9200 block of Jason Lane at about 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 26, 2024, after receiving a call from a neighbor about a suspicious vehicle, the Star-Telegram previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police arrived, they found Ross experiencing a mental health crisis. He had a handgun in his lap, officials said at the time. A search of the van revealed the IEDs and other weapons including a rifle and an AR-style pistol, police said. Ross is being held in Wichita Falls and will eventually be transported to the Tarrant County Jail. White Settlement police will hold a news conference on Friday to release video and more details from the investigation. Several high-ranking Cincinnati police officers are suing the city and Police Chief Teresa Theetge on claims the department's leadership is discriminating against White lieutenants in making assignment decisions. The lawsuit, filed on May 19 in federal court in Cincinnati, alleges the city and Theetge discriminated against Capt. Robert Wilson and lieutenants Patrick Caton, Gerald Hodges and Andrew Mitchell by favoring women and persons of color for preferred assignments. The officers say they were skipped over for such assignments, which are generally regarded within the department as career-enhancing and include benefits like take-home cars and additional overtime opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Cincinnati expands youth events in effort to engage teens and reduce violence The city and Chief Theetge have actively and systemically undertaken efforts to promote, advance, and make promotion and assignment decisions that are preferable to women and minorities, and to the exclusion of White men, the lawsuit states. Cincinnati spokeswoman Mollie Lair said the city doesnt comment on pending litigation. A spokesperson for the Cincinnati Police Department also declined to comment. The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial and damages, including lost wages and benefits, as well as a court order halting the departments alleged discriminatory assignment practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, while most of the departments lieutenants are White men, women and officers of color were given preferred assignments at higher rates. The civil complaint also cites several instances in which White male lieutenants, whom the lawsuit labels as better qualified, were passed over due to race and gender considerations. In one instance, a district commander requested that Hodges be assigned as the districts investigative lieutenant; however, Theetge chose a Black female officer for the role, the lawsuit states. Officers allege 'discrimination directed against White males' The officers filed discrimination charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2023. They were notified in February of their right to sue. Since Theetge was elevated to the role of chief, there has been significant discrimination directed against White males regarding these assignments, the officers wrote in their EEOC complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit also claims that a race-based quota system was used to promote women and non-White officers to the rank of lieutenant, with the departments leadership continuing to make assignment decisions based solely on race and gender. A federal judge ruled in 2021 that the department could no longer use race- or sex-based goals in hiring or when awarding promotions. Those goals were related to a consent decree from 1981 that was intended to address discrimination against Black people and women in both hiring as well as promotions. White officers previously alleged discrimination within CPD This isnt the first time White officers have filed suit against the department over alleged discriminatory behavior. Earlier this year, the city paid a $95,000 settlement to a White police officer who sued over comments about White people made by her supervisor and colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit filed by two White Cincinnati police officers who alleged a Black lieutenant was vindictive and openly racist. The officers said the lieutenant discriminated against them and created a hostile work environment based on race and sex. Enquirer staff writer Kevin Grasha contributed. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: White Cincinnati police officers sue city, chief alleging racial bias MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police and some community leaders are responding this week after the FBI director called Memphis the homicide capital of America. Just days after the FBI director Kash Patel dubbed the City of Memphis the homicide capital of America, questions arise as to how the city will respond to crack down on crime. Im not going to misrepresent the issues; I want to be clear. We know that we have a crime problem in our community, but I also want everybody to know that were turning the ship, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City leaders and MPD top brass are rolling out the results of a sweeping law enforcement operation called Operation Rolling Thunder. They call it precision policing, resulting in the arrests of 160 people, including 50 known gang members. To the residents of Memphis, we hear you and were taking action, Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis said. Not with words, but with results. 29 of 49 Rolling Thunder suspects already out of jail From MPD to a grassroots effort to stop crime. Community leaders from several different organizations are calling for a Memorial Day cease-fire and a campaign known as Put the Gun Down. And Stop the Killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its affecting everyone from southeast Memphis, Cordova, Downtown, Midtown, everywhere. Everyone is getting affected by this senseless crime, said Cam Mtenzi, founder of the House of Mtenzi. But I can say this. Im a strong believer of hope. Faith! Well, we are losing the battle. We have lost three, four generations to senseless gun violence, lack of education, drugs. And I feel like. Its time we must stand now. Our backs are against the wall, said Keith Leachman, founder of Stop the Killing/Cut the Beef Community Development. Memphis mayor: The era of unchecked violence in our city is over But some other leaders question some of the recent crime-fighting displays and efforts by MPD. Dr. Earl Fisher, senior pastor with Abyssinian Baptist Church, says he and others will be watching closely the actions of MPD as it tries to fight crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to be careful and cautious not to confuse public safety with public relations, Fisher said. I know many of us are cautious when we think about task forces, when you think about the specialized units and the history of what happened with Tyre Nichols, knowing that the DOJ is no longer investigating or providing oversight of the police department. Fisher says the answer to crime and violence is not just hiring more police, but also addressing problems such as poverty and inequality. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. LOUIS City leaders are working around the clock to provide residents with the latest updates on cleanup efforts and federal resources. According to Mayor Cara Spencer, building inspection teams are putting stickers on doors, informing residents about the condition of their home. We want to assure you right now that it is not our intent, nor are we going to be punishing residents in any way shape or form for entering your property, Spencer said. We all have safety concerns and that is why were focused on having this enormous team. I think it is the biggest building inspection team our state has ever seen. I could be wrong but that is the way I currently understand it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News In Thursdays news conference, Spencer addressed the confusion of state and federal response since the storm. The city is deploying all resources that it has on this effort. We have folks that are working 12-hour days, every single day (to) just to get the work done. We are looking to FEMA to come in and help us fund that effort. It is not something that the city has the financial backing to run for the long haul, Spencer said. She said her office is in contact with Missouri lawmakers who are ready to help with the President signs off on the federal assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another topic discussed was public safety. Chief Robert Tracy from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said his department is strategizing a plan to help those in need. Were maximizing the amount of officers doing calls for service and the strategy plan throughout the city and we have a plan within the impact zone, Tracy 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 2. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The City of San Angelo sent out a press release about which City offices will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. City office closures: Animal Shelter City Hall and the Community Development building City Hall Annex Fairmount Cemeterys business offices Municipal Court Parks and Recreation offices San Angelo-Tom Green County Health Department Southside and Carl Ray Johnson recreation centers Station 618 and Santa Fe Crossing senior centers WIC offices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press releases said City offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 27. The City said there will be no interruptions in trash collection. It also said the landfill will be closed on May 26 but will be open on Memorial Day. The City also said that the Municipal Pool will be open on Memorial Day from noon to 6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) The City of Waco has chosen four highly qualified candidates in the search for its next fire chief. The city says this followed a thorough and competitive selection process, and says these top contenders are well-positioned to lead and support the Fire Departments team of professionals, including 221 firefighters. Christopher Chris Perez. (Courtesy: City of Waco) The first candidate is Christopher Chris Perez, who brings 27 years of experience in the fire service. He has been the Deputy Fire Chief of Fire Suppression for the City of Laredo Fire Department for the past five years. The City of Waco says Perez has managed over 320 firefighters while overseeing divisional budgetary requirements exceeding $50 million annually. He has a Bachelors Degree in Fire Administration/Fire Investigation from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama, and an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Protection from Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas. The city says Perez has earned multiple advanced certifications, allowing him to serve as a master fire service instructor and training coordinator for the Laredo International Fire Academy. Justin Wells. (Courtesy: City of Waco) The second candidate is Justin Wells, who is a strategic fire service leader with nearly 30 years of experience in emergency operations, fire suppression, EMS, and public safety management. The city says he has held several leadership positions within the Houston Fire Department including Executive Assistant Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, and District Chief. Wells earned a Masters Degree in Emergency Management from Sam Houston State University and a Bachelors Degree in Fire Administration from Texas A&M UniversitySan Antonio. The city says Wells is certified in advanced firefighting, emergency medical services, incident command, and fire leadership with certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and the Texas A&M Extension Service (TEEX): Fire Service Chief Executive Officer (FSCEO). Reginald Reggie Freeman. (Courtesy: City of Waco) The third candidate is Reginald Reggie Freeman, who is an accomplished fire and emergency services leader with over 24 years of experience across diverse municipalities, including service as Fire Chief for the cities of Oakland, California, and Hartford, Connecticut. The city says Freeman has been the Executive Director of Fire and EMS for the City of Neom in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since November 2024, where he leads international public safety initiatives. He previously served as Fire Chief for the Department of Defense Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas. Freeman also serves as an adjunct professor at Capitol Technology University (MD) and the University of Florida (FL). The city says he holds a Doctoral Degree in Emergency and Protective Services from Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Minnesota, a Masters Degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and a Bachelors Degree in Leadership from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. The city says Freeman is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO), a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (FIFireE), and a graduate and Fellow of Harvard Universitys Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Kennedy School of Government. Robin Robby Bergerson. (Courtesy: City of Waco) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fourth and final candidate is Robin Robby Bergerson, who brings nearly 32 years of fire service experience, including over 27 years with the Waco Fire Department. The city says he currently serves as Acting Fire Chief and has held executive leadership roles in operations, training, and administration for more than a decade. Bergerson has served in every division of the department, and is also an adjunct professor at the Austin Community College Fire Training Academy in Austin, Texas. The city says he holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Leadership from Mountain State University in Beckley, West Virginia. Bergerson is a graduate of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) and the National Fire Academys Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program. According to the City of Waco, the four finalists will participate in a comprehensive, two-day onsite interview process on May 27 and 28. This process will include meeting with members of the Fire Department, city leadership, and key community stakeholders. The city says the Waco Fire Department is proudly designated as an ISO Class 1 department. This is a distinction held by only 329 fire departments nationwide. This rating evaluates factors such as training, equipment, response times, and water supply. An ISO Class 1 rating reflects the highest level of fire protection and plays a big role in community safety and property insurance savings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. A 3-year-old boy was sexually abused on a Tacoma Public Schools bus in January, according to a lawsuit that alleges the district failed to heed a prior warning about transporting pre-kindergarten children with older students. The complaint, filed on May 9 in Pierce County Superior Court, claims that a special-education student at Edna Travis Elementary School was fondled by an older boy and that the abuse was confirmed by security footage. When the toddler arrived at his home bus stop, he was entirely nude and sitting next to the older student, the suit said. That is a parents worst nightmare, attorney Kevin Hastings, who represents the parents of the alleged victim, said in an interview Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hastings said he couldnt confirm the age of the alleged perpetrator. He was 7 years old, according to a snippet of a document attached within the lawsuit that Hastings said was from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. The suit alleged TPS neglected to protect the 3-year-old boy and failed to prevent older students from having unsupervised access to younger and vulnerable children. The district didnt respond to an inquiry Thursday seeking comment. On its website, Tacoma Public Schools identifies its long list of rules for riding the school bus and notes that there are video cameras on buses to aid student safety. Safely transporting students to and from school is our top priority, the district said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hastings law firm, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC, filed a lawsuit against TPS two years ago regarding a similar event. During the 2021-22 school year, a 5-year-old girl at Bryant Montessori was sexually abused on a bus by a 13-year-old boy. The teen was later convicted of a crime, according to the lawsuit lodged this month, but civil litigation over the incident remains ongoing, court records show. That event should have served as a warning to the district that pre-kindergarten students werent safe riding with older kids on school buses, the new suit contends. This is the second time in the last few years where a nearly identical situation has happened, Hastings said. The concern, of course, is allowing this practice to continue, knowing what we know. To that end, the recently filed lawsuit isnt only seeking unspecified damages and legal fees; it wants to force the district to segregate or monitor its youngest students on buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit is requesting a judge to issue orders preventing TPS from allowing pre-kindergarten students to ride on the same buses as older students or, if doing so, require that pre-kindergarten students be assigned bus monitors. Hastings said he hadnt looked into practices at other school districts. Specifically, the lawsuit is urging that pre-kindergarten students not ride with students who attend elementary, middle or high school. Its asking for a permanent injunction but its also requesting temporary relief and a preliminary injunction both of which can be granted while a case is still ongoing. It was foreseeable and within the general field of danger that vulnerable children ... would be sexually abused without being segregated onto a different bus with only like-age children or without having a bus monitor, the suit said. May 23---- A defendant charged with five counts of attempted murder in the first degree for firing a gun at law enforcement officers during an overnight standoff in rural Yellow Medicine County has pleaded guilty. Kasey Paul Willander, 28, of , entered a guilty plea Wednesday in Yellow Medicine County District Court to a felony count of first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer. As part of a plea agreement, he is expected to serve 210 months in prison, more than 17 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In return, four other felony charges of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer; five felony counts of first-degree assault with a dangerous weapon; two felony counts of assault in the second degree with a dangerous weapon; a felony charge of burglary in the first degree with a dangerous weapon or explosive; and a count of felon in possession of a firearm will be dismissed. Willander remains in the custody of the Yellow Medicine County, held on bail of $5 million with no conditions. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 25. The criminal complaint against Willander alleges he fired at officers during an incident occurring Sept. 14-15 at a rural farmplace near Minnesota Highway 67 in rural Boyd. He was apprehended after being shot by officers returning fire when he left the residence the morning after the standoff began. According to the criminal complaint, a family member told Yellow Medicine County sheriff's deputies around 3:15 p.m. Sept. 14 that she believed Willander was high on drugs and stated that before he left his Clarkfield home, he had been sitting in the bathroom with a bow pointed at the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A deputy who visited the rural Boyd residence of another family member around 4 p.m. did not find him there or in the vicinity. About an hour later, the deputy was advised by dispatch that Willander was there and armed. Two household members were able to lock themselves in the Boyd residence, but had lost sight of Willander. They believed he was hiding in a farm field near the property. According to the amended criminal complaint, Willander was armed with a long gun, and two shots were reportedly fired. Other law enforcement agencies, including the Lac qui Parle County Sheriff's Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Granite Falls Police Department and Kandi-Meeker SWAT Team, were called to provide assistance to the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A deputy who responded to the residence reported seeing Willander on the driveway, but did not know if he was armed before observing Willander flee into a grove of trees that surrounded the residence. A drone was launched and located Willander in a farm field holding a long gun. The drone team also advised that Willander appeared to be walking up to the residence. Willander then allegedly pointed the gun at two law enforcement officers before entering a garage attached to the residence. A previous news release stated Willander pointed the rifle at deputies who were evacuating two residents from the home, before Willander eventually fled into the home. Willander then turned off interior cameras inside the home and began barricading doors, according to the amended complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Willander allegedly fired multiple gunshots from the second level of the residence around 11:47 p.m. that night and SWAT returned gunfire, shooting Willander in the thigh. No SWAT Team members were injured in the exchange of gunfire. The next morning, around 6:17 a.m. Sept. 15, Willander attempted to flee from the home. Drone footage observed by a deputy reportedly showed Willander exit the garage with the long gun in his hands, before he aimed and fired the gun directly at a SWAT vehicle on scene with five officers inside. Officers in the Humvee returned fire, shooting Willander more than once. According to the amended complaint, Willander fell to the ground and picked up the rifle again. Officers returned fire a second time, hitting Willander more than once again before he fell back on the ground. Officers then provided medical assistance to Willander, who was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis for treatment of his gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days after the incident was over, Sheriff Bill Flaten received a call that a family member's Clarkfield home was burglarized sometime on Sept. 14 and, after learning of the standoff, believed Willander may have done it. When shown photos of two firearms recovered from the shooting scene, the family member identified one firearm as his. According to the amended criminal complaint, the jail administrator for Yellow Medicine County heard Willander speaking with a nurse on Sept. 18, when he is alleged to have told the nurse that he had attempted suicide but could not pull the trigger on himself and planned for "death by cop" instead. Willander's public criminal history includes a 2015 conviction for third-degree criminal sexual conduct for an offense he committed within Yellow Medicine County on Aug. 4, 2015, when he was 18 years old. Court records indicate that the Norway Mutual Insurance Company is seeking restitution of $90,482.07 from the defendant. The amount includes $87,254.50 in damages to the home where the incident occurred and $3,227.57 in fees for claims adjustment services. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Clarksville Police Department said that a missing man with dementia has been found safe. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County Authorities said that Mark Moore, 63, had been missing for hours Thursday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert for Moore. Mark Moore (Courtesy: Clarksville Police Department) Moore was found safe later Thursday afternoon. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A teen who was last seen in the northeast Charlotte area on Thursday was found safe, police said on Friday. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said Cerenittie George, 13, was last seen in the 300 block of Orchard Trace Lane. She has been reunited with her family. (WATCH BELOW: NC bill would add 988 Crisis Lifeline to student IDs to help teens in mental health crisis) The presidents great solution to equalize Americas prescription costs with countries around the globe apparently boils down to raising the cost of drugs everywhere else. Donald Trump explained during the unveiling of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again report Thursday that his administration had had intense discussions with the countrys biggest pharmaceutical companies, allegedly cornering them into lowering the cost of drugs by raising them in other nations. But further details of Trumps plan didnt sound like a leader that was hard on drug companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companies are all coming in, weve had some very promising interactions, said former TV host and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz. People have talked about drug prices in a silo in isolation, but when you start going to the countries where they give discounts to because theyre getting beat up there and you support these companies, they see a huge upside potential. Even greater than the numbers you mentioned. They should be able to charge more than what they would have historically been tolerant of, if they have the support of the U.S. government and you, he continued, mentioning that Kennedy was aware of the conversations with drug companies. Well, they were artificially low and artificially high. We were artificially high, they were artificially low, Trump responded, emphasizing that the government would be acting expediently to enact the international price changes. Its not the first time that Trump has lied that America subsidizes the health care of other countries, and that low drug prices outside the U.S. are because the American government has financially offset would-be high prices in other countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But thats detached from reality: The U.S. pays more for drugs because its an outlier among high-income, developed countries, which predominantly support universal public health coveragenot because the U.S. government subsidizes drug costs in other developed nations. Other things that researchers point to as potential solutions for high drug prices in the U.S. include restricting pharmaceutical monopolies within the country, reworking insurance benefits to restrict out-of-pocket, and recentralizing price negotiations through the leverage of a single-payer system (like those in Australia, Germany, the U.K., or any number of other wealthy nations), according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund, a private American foundation focused on health care reform. Its unclear how the Trump administration would work to undo the policies and regulations in foreign countries that keep their drug prices low. Beyond that, Americas lax drug pricing has historically been thanks to Trumps party. In a post on Truth Social earlier this month, Trump pledged that his executive order focused on hacking prescription drug prices would save the government trillions of dollars. He also falsely claimed that Democrats had stood in the way of this kind of pharmaceutical reform, ignoring the fact that health care and pharmacy drug reform has been a pillar of the progressive platform in recent years (see: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Medicare for All 2021 revival, which would have created a single-payer system in this country). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party. We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years, Trump wrote at the time. But in 2006, Republicans were the ones who adamantly stood in the way of federal drug price negotiations, ripping the teeth out of a bill that would have mandated drug companies to negotiate lower drug prices with Medicare officials. Instead of actually tackling the issues that concern average American families, the Republicans have passed legislation to help their wealthy friends and the huge corporations that support their campaigns, said former North Carolina Representative G.K. Butterfield at the time before the measure passed. COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A Colbert County man is facing child sex abuse material charges on the federal level. Josef ONeal Mardis is charged with transportation of child sex abuse materials and possession of child sex abuse materials. According to court documents, between March and April 2024, the FBI Florence Resident Agency received leads from the FBI Jacksonville Division about the transportation and distribution of child pornography on a website by IP addresses in Tuscumbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An administrative subpoena was served to Comcast requesting information associated with the I{ addresses, which all pointed to a home in Tuscumbia. On July 1, 2024, a search warrant for the home was obtained from the United States District Court in the Northern District of Alabama for evidence of a crime, contraband, fruits of crime, and property intended and/or used for a crime related to the distribution, transportation and possession of child pornography. The next day, agents with the FBI Birmingham Division searched the home and found Mardis as well as several electronic devices, which they seized for examination. The examination revealed child sex abuse materials on Mardiss iPhone. Court records show Mardis was arrested on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. DENVER (AP) A couple who staged a cross burning to generate voter sympathy for the man who became Colorado Springs first Black mayor was convicted Friday of conspiring to set the fire and spread false information about it. Prosecutors argued that Ashley Blackcloud, who is indigenous and Black, and Derrick Bernard, who is Black, orchestrated and then broadcast the hoax to aid the candidate. However their actions still amounted to a criminal threat, prosecutors said. The cross burning happened in 2023 during the run-up to a mayoral election in the state's second-largest city. Images and video of the cross, which was burned in front of a campaign sign defaced with a racial slur, were emailed to local news outlets to boost the campaign of Yemi Mobolade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found Blackcloud and Bernard guilty of using interstate commerce the internet and email to make a threat or convey false information about an attempt to intimidate Mobolade with a fire. They were also found guilty of conspiring to do that. Blackclouds attorney did not deny at this week's trial that Blackcloud participated in setting up the cross burning and sign defacement. Bernard denied participating but acknowledged during testimony that he disseminated the images even though he knew it was a hoax. Because cross burning is protected by the First Amendment, the case came down to whether the act was a threat. The jury came up with a verdict after about four hours of deliberation. Blackcloud and Bernard each face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the most serious charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors argued that even though Blackclouds and Bernards intention was to help Mobolade, he perceived the actions as a threat, with his family buying fire ladders and a medical trauma kit for their house. What was Yemi and his family supposed to see through the flames? A joke? Theater? said Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Fields. The defendants, he said, needed the public to believe this was a real threat in order for it to have the effect that they wanted of influencing an election. Fields likened it to a student who calls in a fake bomb threat at a school in order to avoid taking a test, forcing the school to evacuate and causing other students anxiety. Blackclouds defense attorney, Britt Cobb, said the cross burning was merely meant to be a political stunt, political theater to show that racism was still present in Colorado Springs. Blackcloud did not mean this as a real threat of violence, Cobb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cobb further argued that Mobolade knew it was a hoax early on, because his campaign staff said in text messages that they were confident it was staged and because Mobolade didnt immediately call the police. If he knows its a hoax, theres no way its a threat, she said. Mobolade has strongly denied any involvement, but Cobb suggested the politician knew something of the plans, citing communications between Bernard and Mobolade before and after the cross burning. The FBIs investigation did not determine that Mobolade had a role in the cross burning. You cannot maliciously convey a threat, added Bernards attorney, Tyrone Glover, when youre trying in your own way to help somebody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Bedayn is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. The U.S. Capitol pictured on Nov. 26, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) Following the U.S. House of Representatives 215-214 vote to approve Republicans big, beautiful bill, elected officials in Colorado had mixed reactions to the measure and how it will affect the state. The 1,116-page tax and spending bill extends President Donald Trumps 2017 tax cuts for businesses and individuals; reduces funding for Medicaid by $625 billion over 10 years; shifts the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food aid program to state governments; drastically bolsters border security and defense spending; reworks energy permitting; and restructures federal aid for higher education, among many other provisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new Congressional Budget Office analysis released late Tuesday showed the package favors the wealthy, projecting it would decrease resources for low-income families over the next decade while increasing resources for top earners. The measure now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Colorados members of the House voted along party lines, with Republicans in support of the bill and Democrats opposed. Republicans have celebrated the measure and said it will save working-class people money, while Democrats denounced it for cutting taxes for the wealthy and stripping Medicaid benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill will deliver for the American people by securing our borders, extending tax cuts, unleashing American energy, and making our nation stronger than ever before, U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, a Colorado Springs Republican, said in a statement. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said the bill is bad for Colorado, Americans, and the countrys economy. Before he was elected governor, Polis represented Colorados 2nd Congressional District in Congress. Im disappointed to see Republican members of Colorados delegation vote to take health care away from Colorado kids, families, and vulnerable people, increasing health care costs on everyone, Polis said in a statement. If this bill is so big and beautiful, as Republicans boast, then Americans should be asking why it wasnt voted on in the light of day? The reality is, Americans are being left behind and left in the dark by Republicans in Washington. The House vote on the measure came early Thursday after an all-night session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Fort Lupton Republican, applauded the bills support for additional immigration enforcement resources and said it preserves the long-term viability of Medicaid for those who need it most. This pro-family, pro-America bill isnt just good policy, it follows through on promises made to working families, Evans said in a statement. As a father, Army combat veteran, and former cop, I fight every day to make Colorado a better place to live, work, and raise a family, and thats exactly what this legislation does. This monstrosity of a bill is so skewed towards the wealthiest Americans that more than 66% of the benefits would go to the top 20 percent of households by income. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Lakewood Democrat, said families in Colorado have shared their fears with her that the measure will affect their ability to afford health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill means kids will go hungry, thousands of people will die without access to health care, and the progress weve made in fighting the opioid crisis will be erased, Pettersen said in a statement. Hospitals and nursing homes will shutter, and the health care costs for all of us will skyrocket. All to give the wealthiest people in the history of the world more tax giveaways on the backs of the rest of us. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Windsor Republican, said the bill is a step toward implementing the America First mandate voters delivered in November. A news release from her office celebrating the bill said she fought specifically to implement work requirements for Medicaid and to ensure Medicaid does not cover transgender surgeries or abortion care. This critical legislation makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, unleashes American energy production, invests billions in support of our farmers and ranchers by responsibly reforming SNAP benefits, strengthens Medicaid to focus on American citizens who truly need help, and delivers a final net deficit reduction of $1.5 trillion, Boebert said in a statement. While Republicans have touted Medicaid work requirements as a tool to ensure the program helps those who need it most, a KFF analysis has found that work requirements would not have any meaningful impact on how many recipients are working, and that 92% of adults on Medicaid are either working or would qualify for an exemption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, said the One Big, Bogus Bill will lead to millions of people losing access to health care, including 26,760 Denver residents. She said the bill was put together following hidden negotiations, overnight markups, and the last-minute release of bill text to keep Americans from learning the contents of the bill. This monstrosity of a bill is so skewed towards the wealthiest Americans that more than 66% of the benefits would go to the top 20 percent of households by income, and people making less than $51,000 a year will actually see their taxes go up, DeGette said in a statement. This bill makes life harder for the American people while enriching the top earners in our country. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sen. Jessie Danielson, right, hugs Rep. Jenny Willford after a ride-sharing safety bill passed the Colorado Senate during the last day of the 2025 legislative session on May 7, 2025 at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a bill on Friday afternoon that would have required more safety features in ride-hailing services, writing that the legislation would risk the future of companies like Uber and Lyft in the state. The bill would would jeopardize these services in Colorado to an untenable degree, and could very well lead to companies that Coloradans rely on exiting the market, raising prices, or reducing the number of drivers. This in turn would create economic hardship for the thousands of people who rely on the platforms for income and to go to medical appointments, as well as potentially add more drunk drivers to the road, he wrote in his veto letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 25-1291 aimed to increase safety for passengers, including optional audio and visual recording during rides and a ban on drivers offering their passengers food and drink. It would have also added some new background check requirements and allowed a person to sue, instead of going to arbitration, a company or driver in the case of death, sexual assault, personal injury or kidnapping. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Jenny Willford, a Northglenn Democrat who said she was sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver last year. Prosecutors charged the man who allegedly attacked her earlier this month. Willford is also suing Lyft over the incident. The bill was also sponsored by Rep. Meg Froelich, an Englewood Democrat, Sen. Faith Winter, a Broomfield Democrat, and Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat. In a statement following the veto, the bill sponsors wrote that Polis sided with the convenience and profits of powerful tech corporations over the safety and dignity of Colorado sexual assault survivors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reject the false premise that safety and access to rideshare services are mutually exclusive, they wrote. This was a David and Goliath battle and while David didnt win today, this fight is far from over. We will be back. And we will keep fighting until every rider and driver is safe. Lawmakers narrowed the scope of the bill throughout the legislative process, most significantly in the final days of the session, to respond to concerns from ride-hailing companies. It passed the House on a 56-9 vote and the Senate on a 22-13 vote. Still, Uber said they would leave the state if the bill became law, and Uber and Lyft both encouraged a veto after the legislative session wrapped up. Polis wrote that he was concerned the audio and visual recording provisions were in conflict with state privacy laws, and that banning arbitration clauses in rider agreements on the platforms in question could be preempted by federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I fear victims attempting to bring a claim in court in reliance of this bill will have their claims dismissed based on federal law and the arbitration clauses in the user terms and agreements, causing substantial delay in victims achieving relief, he wrote. At the same time, Polis directed the states Department of Regulatory Agencies to work with bill sponsors to come up with policy ideas that could be implemented through executive orders or legislation next year. Specifically, he wants the department and the Public Utilities Commission to strengthen rules against driver impersonation and enhance existing audits on the companies background check processes. He also requested recommendations about how to update and potentially expand the regulatory structure for ride-hailing companies with a specific focus on passenger safety and enhanced transparency. HB 25-1291 should not represent the end of this conversation on ride share safety, he wrote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Columbia University was cited for violating federal civil rights law by allegedly "acting with deliberate indifference towards student-on-student harassment of Jewish students since the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights said. This is the Trump administration's latest action taken against prominent universities. On Thursday, the Trump administration barred Harvard University from allowing international students to enroll at the university -- a move the university said is not legal -- because they have "turned their once-great institution into a hotbed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. HHS alleged that Columbia violated Title VI, which prohibits those receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin -- including discrimination against individuals based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notice, both from HHS and the Department of Education, "articulates extensive factual findings that span a period of over 19 months in which the University continually failed to protect Jewish students, the government said in its announcement. The findings are based on information and documents obtained during the investigation, including witness interviews; examination of written policies and procedures; reliable media reports that contemporaneously capture anti-Semitic incidents and events at Columbia University; and reports from Columbia Universitys own Task Force on Antisemitism. The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over 19 months, disrupting their education, safety, and well-being, said Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS. We encourage Columbia University to work with us to come to an agreement that reflects meaningful changes that will truly protect Jewish students. PHOTO: *** BESTPIX *** US-EDUCATION-POLITICS-RALLY (Afp Contributor#afp/AFP via Getty Images) The government said that Columbia University failed to take several actions, including failing to establish effective reporting mechanisms for antisemitism until the summer of 2024, failure to abide by its own policies and procedures when responding to Jewish students complaints as well as governing misconduct against Jewish students and not investigating or punishing vandalism in its classrooms. We understand this finding is part of our ongoing discussions with the government. Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus," Columbia University said in a statement of Friday morning. "We take these issues seriously and will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to address them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, the university agreed to a list of demands from the Trump administration after it canceled $400 million worth of grants and contracts to the institution due to "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students," according to a statement from the Trump administration that month. "Among them were exerting tighter controls over the university's Middle East Studies department and examining campus activities since the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. In a statement from March 19, interim president Katrina Armstrong said: "Antisemitism, harassment, and discrimination of any kind are unacceptable and imperil both our sense of community as well as our very academic mission." Columbia University violated civil rights law with 'hostile environment' for Jewish students, Trump admin says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Mosquito season has arrived, with a pest control company naming Columbus as a hot spot for the insect this year. Orkin releases an annual list of the cities seeing the most residential mosquito treatments, revealing hot spots for the bugs. For this years ranking, treatments performed by Orkin from April 2024 through March 2025 were considered. Columbus announces $2B bond issue for November ballot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Orkins 2025 list of the top 50 mosquito hot spots, Columbus came in at No. 23, jumping nine spots from last year. Los Angeles was the city that saw the most treatments, taking the No. 1 spot for the fourth year in a row. Chicago came in at No. 2, and was followed by New York, Atlanta and Detroit. Cleveland (No. 9) and Denver (No. 10) broke into the top 10 for the first time. California remained a popular area for mosquito activity overall, having five cities in the top 50, the report said. The list by Orkin is based solely on the number of treatments in each city and does not factor in population sizes, which likely impacted the rankings. The cities sitting at the top of the list are some of the most populated in the country. Beyond being a nuisance, mosquitoes pose a threat to peoples health, Orkin stated. The insect causes over 600,000 malaria-related deaths globally each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They can also transmit other diseases such as the West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Zika virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it Mosquito control isnt just about avoiding itchy bites, Orkin entomologist Frank Meek said. Its about safeguarding your health and your community. Proactive measures are key to controlling these seasonal surges in mosquito activity. Orkin recommends taking preventative action to reduce mosquito activity, including wearing CDC-recommended repellants, installing tight-fitting screens on windows and doors, trimming shrubs and grass, as well as eliminating standing 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) In November, Columbus voters will see a nearly $2 billion bond package on the ballot. The city of Columbus goes to the voters with a bond package about every three years and Mayor Andrew Ginther proposed the 2025 package on Thursday. Its the largest in history at $1.9 billion. Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it The city sells bonds to investors, Ginther said. We use the money raised from the bond sale to fund capital projects. Were able to invest in ourselves, create jobs, invest in neighborhoods without raising taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the money in the proposed bond package would go toward improving public utilities like water lines, sidewalks, streets and bridges. Recreation and parks would also get a large chunk of money to build new pools, parks and community centers. Were not interested in just getting bigger; we want to get better, Ginther said. That means weve got to invest in ourselves and our infrastructure and our future, put people to work, fund basic city services, make neighborhoods safer and stronger. Affordable housing efforts in the city would receive $500 million. Columbus principals confrontation with officer did not violate policy, district says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data from Homeport, an affordable housing nonprofit in Columbus, showed that from 2023 to 2024 citizens experienced a 17% average increase in rent. We did not get to the top of the growth and economic success without intentional investment, Homeport President and CEO Leah Evans said. It is because of our ability to stand here in the present and imagine a future, that were able to welcome all of our coming residents, but also celebrate and uplift our current residents. Ginther said the funds would help preserve affordable housing units, rehabilitate aging homes and build brand new ones. We needed to make sure we were putting forth the most ambitious housing requests to the voters of this city in the history of this city, because this crisis is one that needs all hands on deck, Ginther said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said Columbus needs to continue to invest in itself. Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand Its about the water that we drink, the homes that we live in and the services that we all depend on every day, Hardin said. This is a long-term investment in modernizing Columbus block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood. The next step is for Columbus City Council members to discuss the proposal. The first public hearing is scheduled for May 27; community members who want a say in how the money is spent are encouraged to attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information about the bond package and how it works, check out the citys website 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. UPDATE: 5/27/25, 10:29 a.m. Columbus Police say Elijhawon has returned in good health. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is asking for the publics help locating a 14-year-old boy who is considered a runaway. Elijhawon Hill was last seen near the 200 block of 28th Avenue on May 17, 2025 around 2:00 p.m. Hill was wearing black sweatpants, a black sweatshirt and black sneakers at the time of his disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about Hill or his whereabouts, is asked to contact 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449, or the lead investigator, Cpl. Luis Bencosme-Gonzalez at 706-225-4367. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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, Ohio (WCMH) Columbus City Schools completed its investigation into a confrontation between administrators at Ridgeview Middle School and a Columbus police officer, with a recommendation of no further administrative action. In a letter to families, Chief Transformation and Leadership Officer Dr. Corey D. Grubbs said the March 17 incident was reviewed by the Columbus City Schools Labor Management and Employee Relations team, which determined that no district policy was violated. The review determined that the actions of Principal Natalie James, Secretary Jackie Nash, and Safety and Security Specialist Larry Howell during the interaction with the Columbus Division of Police did not violate District policy and expectations, and no further administration action was recommended, Grubbs wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it Grubbs said the video circulating on social media of the interaction does not capture the full context of the interaction. It is important to emphasize that Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Division of Police are committed to respectful, safe, and professional interactions at all times, Grubbs wrote. Our school staff and CPD officers receive training in de-escalation and are expected to treat all individuals with dignity and fairness. The officer involved in the interaction, Keith Conner, confronted the school board at Tuesdays meeting, indicating that this was not the first time officers have had issues at the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that video, you may see my frustration, Conner said during public comment period of a Columbus City School Board meeting Tuesday, adding that its been a culmination of years dealing with the school. My frustration still continues to this day. Police officers were called to Ridgeview Middle School to investigate a threat, which was deemed not credible by school officials. Columbus police body camera video shows the officers, once inside the school, being told they cant go any further, sparking a disagreement between the principal and a police officer. Ohio Republican explains why he voted against Trumps big, beautiful bill In the video, the schools secretary can be heard saying, Those guests you are expecting have arrived, into a radio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to wait until they come to get you, sir, the receptionist said. Im here on official police business, the officer said. I get that, but I just radioed for security, and you have to wait until they come to get you, OK? Im just saying those are the rules Ive been instructed, she said. She tells officers they need to wait for the school security team. Okay, we have authority over safety and security, do you understand that? Connor said. Columbus police have authority over You do not have authority over my principal, the secretary said. So she tells me that for you guys to wait, youre not the first one to go through this. And Im not trying to be combative, but he told me to let you know, let him know when you got here. Hes coming to get you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman and police continue to talk back and forth for about four minutes. Then James enters. If we have an emergency at the school, I should not have, I should not have to explain to this woman why Im here, Connor said. I dont come here for my, for party time. I come here on official police business. This is a game weve been playing for years. This is a game we no longer want to play with you. You should be welcoming us. You called us. But if you dont want me here, and if you want me to beg you, get through that door. Dont call me now. The City of Columbus Department of the Inspector General is separately reviewing the officers actions. That review had not been completed as of Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. The news of Congress passing President Donald Trumps Tax bill early Thursday morning didnt sit well with Governor Bob Ferguson. During a press conference at Harborview Medical Center, Governor Ferguson called the bill cruel and will cripple Medicaid for millions across the state of Washington. Medicaid touches healthcare in every stage of life for Washingtonians in every corner of our state, Governor Ferguson said. According to Fergusons Office, the state of Washington spends $21 billion a year on Medicaid; $13 billion comes from the federal government. If the bill passes the Senate, Ferguson says over 200,000 Washingtonians could lose their health care coverage by next calendar year. Harborview Medical Center CEO Sommer Kleweno Walley says at least 34% of their patients rely on Medicaid for coverage. Walley also states cuts to Medicaid does more than just impact coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuts under serious consideration by congress could now result in an annual loss for Harborview alone of hundreds of millions of dollars, Walley said. Mayor Bruce Harrell also shared alarming numbers about the impact of Medicaid cuts. He says 73% of the Seattle Indian Health Boards funding comes from Medicaid. During Thursdays press conference, Fergusons Office invited Jen Chong Jewell and her son, Gabriel to speak on the importance of Medicaid coverage. Gabriel has a developmental disability and the services he needs are provided by Medicaid. Beyond Healthcare, it has helped my family through our most challenging times, Chong Jewell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington Republicans are also responding to Congress passing this tax bill. GOP Chair Jim Walsh believes Fergusons claims are exaggerated. What the Trump administration is doing is surgically removing really waste and corruption in the system to strengthen Medicaid, Walsh said. Come on. Give me a break. I mean honestly, its..Its honestly a tax break for the wealthiest of Americans. Come on, Governor Ferguson said in response to those who support the bill. Its not clear when the Senate will look at this bill, but Governor Ferguson says they plan to fight this in any way they can. And we are going to do everything in power, all of us here and many others to stop this from happening, Ferguson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chong Jewell hopes Ferguson sticks to his word about that fight because she hopes by sharing her story that it will impact how the Senate looks at this bill. And I hope that everybody who heard and witnessed it will join in on that fight. Because we are all connected, Chong Jewell said. Come July, common keys for houses, cars, boats, and motorcycles will be illegal in Minnesota, save for uncertain intervention from the state Legislature. That's when the state's ban on the manufacture, sale, or import of keys, toys, dishes, and other common items containing more than a tiny percentage of lead or cadmium goes into effect. The purpose of that law was to remove dangerous heavy metals from products that come into contact with children. The trouble is that almost all keys sold today have more lead than the new law's 0.09 percent limit on lead content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Locksmiths have been warning that the state's lead ban will outlaw most of the products they sell. Alternative metals would require lengthy and expensive transition to using less functional materials, they say. "Approximately 75 percent of all products that we stock have become prohibited for sale," said Rob Justen of Doyle Security Products. "Aluminum is too brittle," another locksmith told Valley News Live. "It breaks instead of bends, and it's not as easily machined as brass is. The same problem with steel, it rusts and it's much harder to machine." Lawmakers have proposed a range of fixes, including raising the lead threshold to 1.5 percent for keys (which is California's standard) or, more modestly, delaying the ban for another three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a legislative fix is not locked in yet. Supporters of the lead ban argue that weakening the standards for keys undermines the law's purpose of protecting children from harm. "As parents know, kids put keys in their mouth," Rep. Rick Hansen (DFLSouth St. Paul), the author of the lead ban, told Axios in April. So, should you end up locked out of your house or car in Minnesota's frigid winter, you can rest easy knowing that the legislature is saving you from incidental lead exposure. The post Come July, Keys Will Be De Facto Illegal In Minnesota appeared first on Reason.com. DAYTON, Ohio (AP) Representatives of Balkan nations that benefited from the 30-year-old Dayton Peace Accords joined Americans of both political parties on Friday to affirm the value of NATO to maintaining peace around the world. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told a public forum at the University of Dayton held in conjunction with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly being held this week in the Ohio city that there's no doubt that the U.S., as the world's leading superpower, will be challenged in the future and it's going to need friends. "NATO is a great alliance to get together with our friends and our allies and make sure that we're as strong as we possibly can be so we can have peace for generations to come, he said, while at the same time emphasizing the Trump administration's new demands on European allies to spend more on military defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO was created in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union and now comprises 32 nations. U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat, and Neal Dunn, a Florida Republican, also defended the value of U.S. membership in the peacetime military alliance during a panel titled, Why NATO Matters to Everyday Americans. Both also spoke in support of U.S. and NATO support for Ukraine, characterizing its victory against Russia in the 3-year-old war as crucial to European stability and to deterring future invasions by other nations, particularly China. NATO is a blessing for peace, and it is the best insurance for peace, Dunn said. A panel earlier in the day drove home that point, as representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia discussed the lasting impacts of the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base not far from the parliamentary gathering site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you how close the value of the peace is to all of us," said Elmedin Konakovic, foreign affairs minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who was a 17-year-old soldier at the time of the Bosnian war. He said the importance of the deal struck in Dayton, with the help of military and diplomatic interventions by the U.S. and NATO, was massive. Its important, especially today, because we can see pictures now from Ukraine, from Gaza, from Sudan, from other places and peace is possible, he said. Im sitting today and negotiating the future of my country with the people I was literally fighting against 30 years ago, and its much better than war, trust me. Its complex, its complicated, its not easy. We have many political issues, but its much better than war." Some who were in official roles during the Bosnian war were in attendance, including former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, who moderated the discussion. She recalled a trip to Sarajevo during which touring lawmakers witnessed how the devastated capital city had turned its former Olympic Stadium into a massive burial ground. Hutchison invited former Ambassador Peter Galbraith to the stage and acknowledged the presence of retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five-day anniversary event culminates in a plenary session Monday. The gathering of about 300 parliamentarians and other guests was spearheaded by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, who was mayor of Dayton when the accords were negotiated and now heads America's NATO parliamentary delegation. Several speakers on the morning panel, entitled Dayton Accords 30 Years Later & Goals of Tomorrow, spoke in favor of membership in NATO for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it continues to resolve issues left unaddressed by the 1995 pact a temporary solution whose framework remains generally in place today. ___ Smyth reported from Columbus. State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln addresses a group at Duffy's Tavern during the launch of the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana's 2024 petition on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, on Lincoln, Neb. To her left is campaign manager Crista Eggers and former State Sen. Adam Morfeld, who Wishart co-chairs the group with. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Editors note: This story has been revised to reflect a second vote that advanced the second appointee favorably. LINCOLN A legislative committee has advanced the governors two appointees to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, but just one initially secured the committees support before heading to the full Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second appointee received majority support a few days after the first committee vote. The roughly three-hour confirmation hearing and 15-minute executive session to consider and vote on the appointments came just 48 hours after the defeat of Legislative Bill 677 to provide additional guardrails to the commission. That bill sought to aid implementation of the voter-approved laws and delay a July 1 deadline for rules and regulations to be in place. Dr. Monica Oldenburg, an anesthesiologist, testifies before the General Affairs Committee for her potential appointment to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. May 22, 2025. (Screenshot of Nebraska Public Media livestream) Gov. Jim Pillen, who opposed the ballot measures legalizing and regulating medical cannabis, appointed Dr. Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln, an anesthesiologist, and Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, prevention director at Heartland Family Service in Omaha, to the commission. The General Affairs Committee voted 5-2, with one member present, not voting, to recommend Oldenburg but tied 4-4 on favorably advancing Mueting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under legislative rules, all gubernatorial appointments reach the full Legislature anyway. Committees can recommend approving or rejecing an appointment, or lawmakers can make no recommendation. State Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, who initially opposed advancing Mueting, reconsidered his vote against Mueting on Tuesday and voted instead to advance her appointment. The committee had previously said a tie would advance Mueting with no recommendation, but it instead kept her nomination in committee. Had the committee not advanced Mueting by the end of the legislative session, she would have been approved without a full vote of the Legislature. Either appointee would need 25 votes to be confirmed to a six-year term. They would join the members of the Liquor Control Commission, whom voters also placed on the Medical Cannabis Commission: Bruce Bailey of Lincoln, Harry Hoch Jr. of Omaha and Kim Lowe of Kearney. Liquor commissioners, too, are appointees of the governor. Hochs term ends Saturday. Appointee backgrounds Mueting said her role as a prevention specialist for 24 years has been to prevent people from having problems with alcohol and other substances. She said she has looked at medical cannabis from a 360-degree view, and as a self-described solutions-focused person, she said she views the Nebraska medical laws as helping patients with debilitating health conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helping to guide the rulemaking process around the needs of the people its intended to serve is my goal, Mueting said. Theres nothing about that goal that says we need to sacrifice public health and safety to attain it. Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, prevention director for Heartland Family Service, testifies before the General Affairs Committee for her potential appointment to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. May 22, 2025. (Screenshot of Nebraska Public Media livestream) Mueting has a psychology and health promotion management degree from Hastings College and has a masters degree in kinesiology from Kansas State University. Oldenburg said she is not a prohibitionist of cannabis but is pro-research. She said cannabis has a place in pain management for certain ailments that cause suffering. Nebraska needs to seize the opportunity to be slow and deliberate in the manner in which we determine how best to designate appropriate conditions for medical cannabis and regulate those entities that will dispense medical cannabis in our state, Oldenburg said. I look forward to working with various parties to ensure that we in the State of Nebraska get this right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oldenburg graduated from the University of Dallas with a degree in biochemistry and chemistry before getting her medical degree from Creighton University. She has been an anesthesiologist for 18 years, first in Colorado and returning to Nebraska in 2017 with her family. Part of the move, she said, was because of how the evolution of medicinal to recreational marijuana went in Colorado. She said there werent many medical regulations at the start. Pillen has described the women as experienced, well-qualified individuals who would ensure strong regulations to the letter of the law the people of Nebraska enacted. He and other LB 677 opponents, such as State Sen. Jared Storm of David City, say the commission can meet its July 1 deadline. Oldenburg declined to talk with the Nebraska Examiner prior to the Thursday hearing. Mueting did not respond to repeated requests for comment before or after the hearing. Committee member ties Of the appointees, Oldenburg said she was encouraged to apply by Storm, a member of the General Affairs Committee, who called and asked if she had considered the position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mueting listed Storm as a personal reference on her application to the governor. Under legislative questioning from State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, committee vice chair, Mueting at first said she didnt know exactly how the governor got my name before clarifying she applied. She said she didnt know appointments would go before the General Affairs Committee, just that full legislative approval was needed in the end. During the closed-door executive session, which is open to reporters, Storm defended the appointees and said they showed up for a hostile and intimidating environment. State Sen. Jared Storm of David City, center. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue spoke for the first time to criticize what he viewed as a conflict of interest. Storm said the application process was public and flipped the question on Rountree and other committee members for not reaching out to possible applicants, too. In addition to Mueting and Oldenburg, Pillen interviewed Erin Bone, a prevention specialist in North Platte. The governor did not interview a fourth applicant: Ogallala City Manager Kevin Wilkins, according to records shared with the Examiner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mueting and Oldenburg are registered Republicans. Bone is a registered Democrat. Wilkins is a registered nonpartisan. During Tuesdays debate on LB 677, Storm acknowledged he had talked with Mueting but said he hadnt talked about the bill with Mueting. Mueting, when she testified against LB 677 in March, answered questions from Storm about what shed like to see from medical cannabis in Nebraska. Her answer included limiting allowable forms of cannabis (not smoking or vaping), limiting qualifying conditions and placing restrictions on tetrahydrocannabidiol potency, serving size or servings per package in cannabis products. Mueting was neutral on a Storm bill, LB 483, to reduce the allowable possession down to 300 milligrams, 0.21% of what voters approved, and only allow pills or tinctures for the medicine. Need for neutrality? Much of Thursdays hearing focused on opposition to the appointments because Oldenburg and Mueting have both consistently opposed the legislative proposals that long-time medical cannabis advocates in Nebraska have supported in the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oldenburg testified against proposals in 2018, 2019 and 2021, while Mueting opposed legislation in 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025. After more than a decade of legislative attempts, advocates succeeded last fall by ballot measure at legalizing up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a health care practitioners recommendation. Exclusive regulatory authority is vested in the Medical Cannabis Commission, per voter directive. Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, which led the campaign, said the appointments seemed like a calculated act by Pillen. She said lawmakers have an ethical responsibility to approve individuals committed to the programs success, not its obstruction. I dont think an arsonist should be in charge of the fire department, Eggers testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cavanaugh asked whether that meant Eggers should be appointed. She said, Absolutely not. I do not believe that this commission should be made up of anyone that has spent time, energy, in their personal or professional capacity, being opposed or supportive to this, Eggers said. Derail, stall and sabotage Shelly Gillen of Bellevue, testifying on behalf of her 23-year-old son Will, said that for people enamored with requiring U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval first as has been the consistent policy for Muetings Heartland Family Service Gillen said those people should ask what FDA-approved meds have done to Will Gillen, making him an innocent, unintentional addict. We were told by a neurologist that weaning him off one of his meds would be similar to weaning off someone on heroin. FDA-approved meds landed him in the hospital for two weeks in complete somnolence that made him develop pneumonia and silent aspiration on his own saliva, Gillen testified. Supporters of medical cannabis helped two measures reach the 2024 general election ballot, Initiatives 437 and 438. Some spoke during a public hearing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Oct. 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The Gillens were among the first families to consistently fight for medical cannabis, back to 2015 legislation from former State Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue. Mueting supported that bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillen said there was no doubt in my mind that the appointees would do everything they can to derail, stall and sabotage access to medical cannabis for as many patients as possible. Angelica Marsaglia of Lincoln, who would benefit from medical cannabis, opposed both appointees and urged senators to see patients and please hear us. We are not addicts. We are medical patients, Marsaglia said. We just want access to a plant, a plant that grows freely and only the government has made illegal. Law enforcement angle Maggie Ballard and Mary ONeill, both of Heartland Family Service, defended Mueting, as did Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London. London attested to Muetings character and integrity and said shes perfect for the appointment because she understands the importance of rules and regulations. London was one of 53 sheriffs to join Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers in opposition to LB 677. The AGs Office has vowed to sue the Medical Cannabis Commission if it begins licensing medical cannabis dispensaries, which could begin by Oct. 1 under the laws. Advisement to law enforcement is still a work in progress when it comes to medical cannabis, London said, and he argued no one has a medical cannabis recommendation card yet. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, center, leads a news conference against Legislative Bill 677 that seeks to help implement medical cannabis regulations in the state. About a dozen law enforcement officials joined him in standing against the legislation as it awaits full legislative debate. May 7, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Cavanaugh said some people do have a card, to which London asked how many. Ive met at least one, Cavanaugh said. Oh. Congratulations, London responded. Keith County Attorney Randy Fair, in his personal capacity, said that while both appointees may be very good people, he said appointees should be neutral-minded individuals who can support good regulations. Fair said that cops will do the same thing they do now during traffic stops: Pull people over now if they smell marijuana for probable cause, search vehicles and issue arrests or tickets if people have more than 5 ounces of marijuana, or not if someone has a recommendation. We dont try to arrest tons of people for that because, quite frankly, it would be a waste of resources, Fair said. I do think that a lot of these concerns are blown over. It would be Fairs ethical duty, he said, not to prosecute someone unless they have actually violated the laws of Nebraska. One of the biggest hearts Ballard said shes served on Heartland Family Services prevention team with Mueting for 11 of Ballards 13 years with the organization. When learning that there might have been an overflow room because of widespread opposition, Ballard said, Honestly, that hurts my heart. State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, center, talks with State Sens. Danielle Conrad and George Dungan, both of Lincoln. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) While Mueting and Ballard have different backgrounds and dont see eye-to-eye on everything, Ballard added, Mueting has one of the biggest hearts of anyone Ive ever met. I just cant think of anyone better than her to serve on this commission, because she will do a very good job of balancing public health and public safety against people who need help with their debilitating conditions, Ballard said. Ballard and Mueting said voters have spoken, despite the Heartland Family Service position. Ballard said her coworkers job would be to oversee and try to do things as well as possible and not to just bang her head against the wall saying, No, we cant do this here. Thats not practical, and its not in Lorelles nature either, Ballard continued. Nothing in the law requires debilitating conditions, Cavanaugh noted. Any health care practitioner, including out-of-state, can recommend cannabis if they feel a patient could benefit. I dont have the power While no one spoke in favor of Oldenburgs appointment, multiple senators said after the hearing that they were impressed with her credentials. Clouse said there were some unfair shots taken at Oldenburg, whose skill set he highlighted. He did not specify his initial reservations on Muetings appointment. State Sen. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Bob Andersen of north-central Sarpy County said he was very impressed by Muetings 24 years in the prevention field and that she was qualified for the role. Mueting said she didnt view her appointment as trying to squash the law, because I dont have the power to do that. My goal is not to make this harder for people, Mueting said. My goal is to put some rules around the substance as we were given in statute. Oldenburg noted that in residency, she was taught to never be afraid of prescribing opioids for patients pain, but thats changed. She added that Nebraska can learn from other states in the interest of health, safety and well-being for a better program. Multiple opponents of the appointees, including Angela Cornett of Norfolk, a nurse, said patients were tired of waiting, including for new research. Cornett said her mom was one of dozens of advocates who died waiting for possible relief over the past decade. Oldenburg stayed for the whole hearing, but Mueting left after her invited witnesses testified. State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue said she had a previously scheduled appointment. Obligation to protect society Cavanaugh grilled both appointees over what they view as the commissions role, such as whether commissioners should list qualifying conditions, limit permissible forms of using cannabis, restrict how many dispensaries can be licensed and more. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, center, meets with State Sens. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, from left. March 26, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Mueting and Oldenburg, noting they are one of five on the commission, said they didnt know and werent attorneys. They said they would seek guidance as a team, though both said they opposed smoking as a form of using cannabis. Im a law-abiding citizen of the State of Nebraska, and I have to follow the will of the people, and I have to follow the statutes, Oldenburg said. Andersen, who also opposed LB 677, criticized Cavanaughs line of questioning about Muetings personal views on medical cannabis and compared it to asking a public defender whether a client is guilty. Theyre going to do a job and defend the person, Andersen said. Thats a really good analogy, Mueting responded. Storm said that at the end of the day, he and others want to help Nebraskans in the right way. If cannabis can help people with ailments, we should do that, very much should do that, Storm said. But we have an obligation to protect society, and we cant let this get out of control. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DENVER (KDVR) The Community College of Denver is offering three new 9-week online cannabis workforce certificate programs, beginning June 2. The cannabis classes are being offered in partnership with Green Flower, a platform for cannabis education that offers training for individuals and professionals in the industry. Bat tests positive for rabies in Boulder The programs are specifically designed to prepare students for their careers in the cannabis industry, according to Green Flower, which said monthly cohort launches will follow the start of the programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cannabis workforce certificate programs include for: Cannabis Cultivation Specialist Cannabis Retail Specialist Cannabis Extraction and Product Development Specialist Cannabis Cultivation Specialist Those enrolled in the cannabis cultivation specialist program will learn about the cannabis supply chain and the skills necessary to succeed in the cannabis cultivation environment, the CCD wrote on its website. The programs curriculum includes learning, among other things, about: Hygiene and personnel best practices Product safety Packaging and labeling Sanitation and cleaning Pest control Students will also be taught about the cannabis plant and how to grow it commercially, as well as how to properly receive and transport cannabis products and how to maintain product safety, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge temporarily blocks Trump administrations foreign students ban at Harvard The cannabis industry is heavily regulated and most people simply dont understand the rules, so acquiring this knowledge will truly help you stand out from the pack, the curriculum says. Cannabis Retail Specialist Those enrolled in the cannabis retail specialist program will learn about the cannabis supply chain and the skills needed to excel in the cannabis retail environment, including both product knowledge and customer engagement, the CCD wrote. The programs curriculum includes learning, among other things, about: Branding and marketing State and local compliance considerations Distribution in the cannabis supply chain Medical conditions cannabis can be used for The major and minor cannabinoids Setting customer expectations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dive into a skills based training specifically for cannabis retail, covering the various delivery methods and products used in todays cannabis marketplace, the curriculum says. Cannabis Extraction and Product Development Specialist People enrolled in the cannabis extraction and product development specialist program will learn about the knowledge and skills needed to become a respected and in-demand cannabis professional, the CCD said. Potential measles exposure at DIA, nearby hotel: Health officials The programs curriculum includes learning, among other things, about: Considerations for product development Plant processing Drying techniques Phenotypes and pheno-hunting Facility design and maintenance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discover how the cannabis industry actually works, from seed to sale, including the business of cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, and lab testing, the curriculum says. Prospective students who would like to enroll in the courses can do so online. Cannabis sales in Colorado Both recreational and medical-use Cannabis sales have declined in Colorado in recent years, according to ColoradoCannabis.org, an organization that provides information on cannabis laws and information in the state. The organization says total adult-use cannabis sales decreased from $1.4 billion in 2019 to $1.13 billion in 2024, with medical sales dropping from $338 million to $151 million, during the same time frame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Denver, adult-use cannabis sales totaled nearly $433 million last year, compared to nearly $58 million in medical sales. These numbers are also down from 2019, when Denver had more than $433 million in adult sales and around $146 million in medical sales. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio (WKBN) The community is coming together Friday to honor the memory of 9-year-old Clayton Talbert, whose life was tragically cut short in a bicycle accident earlier this month. Family friends have organized a special benefit dinner at the Moose Lodge in East Liverpool. The fundraiser, which kicked off at noon, features a spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction. Family members were wearing custom-made t-shirts honoring the young boy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its all to help support Talberts family during this difficult time. Organizers say theyve prepared 140 pounds of spaghetti and theyll keep serving until its all gone. It was a great relief, all of the donations that we received and all of the baskets that we got. Seeing everyone come together for the family is always heartwarming in a time of need, Chelsey White said. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds from the event will go directly to the Talbert family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. As Florida law enforcement officers and ICE agents focus more heavily on rooting out undocumented immigrants and arresting them, cracks are beginning to form amid whats been a near-united effort in public. In Pinellas County, the sheriff said 200 inmates were sleeping on the floor because he needed to make space for detainees being brought in. Orange County leaders are eyeing the thousands of dollars their taxpayers have to shell out for people who broke zero laws in their jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want the federal government to pay for what theyre doing, Mayor Jerry Demings said. Orange Countys price problem For years, immigration officials had a system to manage the arrests they were making that appeared to work for everyone. Contracts had been signed with seven jails throughout the state where federal officials could temporarily hold inmates before being shuffled along to a federal-run facility in South Florida. The largest jail in Central Florida, located in Orange County, has nearly 4,000 beds. In the Tampa region, it was the Pinellas County jail. Anyone with a federal immigration hold picked up by ICE, US Marshals, or Florida Highway Patrol could be dropped off at those facilities, where they stayed for approximately 24 hours before boarding a bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps order to crack down on immigration and Floridas demand that officers and deputies enforce immigration laws set the system ablaze. Bookings of undocumented immigrants at the Orange County jail jumped 134% year over year for the month of April, jail data showed, and the county was on track to exceed 2024s total by mid-May. For immigrants who were solely being held on immigration holds, the increase was 364%. Not all of those inmates came from Orange County. Late last week we had approximately 40 individuals brought over from Lake County, Public Safety Administrator Danny Banks told the states Immigration Council on Tuesday. They were arrested, I believe, by FHP, all for immigration violations, and theyre coming into the Orange County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orange County can handle the inmates for now. Data showed that the jail was 82% full as of Thursday morning. Approximately 1 in 20 inmates was an undocumented immigrant. However, county leaders said their contract with ICE is old. The cost to house each inmate at the jail for a day is $145. ICE only reimburses the county $88 for each inmate who doesnt have a local charge. Records showed the county housed an average of 17 undocumented inmates with no local charges each day during the month of April. At $57 per inmate per day, taxpayers spent $28,557 on inmates who didnt commit a crime in Orange County. Mayor Demings, a former sheriff, did not say where that money couldve been spent, only that the budget was set to ensure the jails ability to handle its operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said his staff was continuing to work to renegotiate the ICE contract. My job is to negotiate on behalf of our county to get a fair deal, and we are going to get a fair deal. I have no question about that, Demings said. Pinellas Countys capacity problem The Pinellas County sheriff sounded more frustrated than confident when he spoke about finding a solution at Tuesdays council meeting. Theyre sleeping on the floor because we have to keep other housing units free for these inmates coming from all over the place before they can get them on the bus down to Fort Myers, Bob Gualtieri said. The money is important, of course, but its more about space. We are out of space where we could be using Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, Citrus, and all these other places, but they wont approve it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He mentioned that the sheriffs approached federal and state authorities with a plan to house inmates in all 67 of the states jails. This appeared to mirror the Florida Sheriffs Associations plan in February when they announced their agencies had all reached immigration enforcement agreements with ICE. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who leads the council, echoed his frustration. Ive got 200 beds that I could assist, for example, but Im not going to house -- and I underscore -- I am not going to house folks under those onerous federal regulations, he said Gualtieri said Senator Rick Scotts team arranged conversations between him and the federal agency to try to change how the system works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said, Oh, well get back to you, he complained. That was two weeks ago. Guess what? I havent heard one word again Its the same song and dance. Despite still having room, Orange Countys representatives also worried about capacity if nothing changes. As local law enforcement agencies continue to elevate their own opportunities to make these arrests and you bring them to Orange County, Im fearful its going to lead us to maxing out our jail space, Banks said. We wont have any more room at the inn. ICE administrators did not respond to questions emailed to their communications team. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. (NewsNation) After the shooting deaths of two Israeli diplomats in D.C., there have been calls for Democrats and progressive politicians to condemn antisemitism and not ignore the protests at which some participants have been calling for violence and the eradication of Israel. Rina Shah, a former senior GOP congressional adviser, says Democrats do not want to alienate voters by taking a pro-Israel stance. Meghan Hays, a former special assistant to former President Joe Biden, says the shooting has to be a wake-up call for Democrats to condemn antisemitism. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Blood sample positive with measles virus. (iStock / Getty Images Plus) Confirmed cases of measles in North Dakota increased to 21 this week after the Department of Health and Human Services reported two new cases in Grand Forks County, now the third county to be affected. Both exposures in Grand Forks County are linked to international travel, according to the department. Williams County in western North Dakota has 13 cases and Cass County in eastern North Dakota has six confirmed cases, including one person who was hospitalized. All of the North Dakota cases involve people who were unvaccinated, the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molly Howell, immunization director for HHS, said Friday she is cautiously optimistic about the slow spread of the disease in the state that was first confirmed May 2. But she reiterated that it takes two full incubation periods, or 42 days, without any new cases to declare an outbreak over. Were definitely a long ways from that, Howell said. The department is continuing to recommend early and accelerated measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations for people living in or traveling to Williams County due to confirmed community transmission. There is no evidence of community transmission in Cass or Grand Forks counties, the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department alerted the public to an exposure at the Williston Basin International Airport on May 14. On that day, an individual confirmed to have measles flew on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Williston. Anyone who entered the airport between 10:22 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. that day should consider themselves exposed to the virus, according to the departments website. The state health department recommends any unvaccinated people, those without at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, exposed at the airport should quarantine themselves for 21 days to see if symptoms develop to prevent exposure to the community. Howell said state health officials were able to get the flight manifest from the affected plane and all North Dakotans on the flight were notified about their exposure to the illness. Anyone showing symptoms should contact a health care provider before walking into a medical clinic to receive instructions on how to present themselves for testing, Howell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles symptoms can develop up to 21 days after exposure. The symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, eye irritation and a body-wide rash. The measles virus is spread through the air and people remain contagious for several days before and after the first symptoms appear, the department said previously. Other North Dakota exposure sites include: Tractor Supply Williston on May 12. Band Day Parade Williston in Harmon Park, Main Street and 11th Street on May 10. Essentia Health Walk-in Care Clinic on 52nd Avenue in Fargo on May 9. Essentia Health The Lights West Fargo Clinic on May 7. Missouri Ridge Elementary School from April 29 to May 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howell said over the next few days the quarantine period for Williston schools will expire. Hopefully, we wont have any children positive from the school setting, she said. From what Im hearing from local public health, people have been coming in to be vaccinated which is great to hear. As of May 22, the CDC reported 1,046 measles cases have been confirmed nationwide across 30 states. About 67% of those cases involved people under age 19 and 97% of the confirmed cases involved people who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. We dont want there to be any more cases, so we just really want to encourage people to revisit vaccination with a trusted health care provider, Howell said.An updated list of measles exposure sites can be found on the HHS website. This story was updated after the department issued a press release with two additional measles cases. KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Congo's former President Joseph Kabila on Friday accused the government of turning into a dictatorship with the backing of the parliament a day after the Senate voted to lift his immunity to pave the way for his prosecution for alleged treason and war crimes. Kabila, who led Congo from 2001 to 2019, is accused by the government of supporting the Rwanda-backed rebels that have seized two major cities in the country's conflict-battered east. He had been in self-imposed exile since 2023 until April when he arrived in the key city of Goma in the east. His arrival, his associates had said, was to help resolve the decades-long conflict in the region which escalated in January when the M23 rebels made an unprecedented advance into the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a hearing on Thursday, Congos Senate voted overwhelmingly to grant the government's request and lift the lifetime immunity Kabila had enjoyed because of his honorific title as senator for life. Among Kabila's alleged crimes include treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity and participation in an insurrectional movement in the countrys east, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said. However, in his first public speech since leaving power, Kabila criticized the government's move, accusing Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi of turning the country into a dictatorship. The country's parliament has become the rubber stamp for the will of a single person, he said. Kabila also said he remains committed to Congo's future, adding: Better than anyone, you know that, for me, Congo is the absolute priority; that its sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable; that my commitment to democracy, national cohesion, peace and stability is not an empty slogan." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Congolese leader has previously denied supporting the M23 rebels in eastern Congo, despite repeated claims from Tshisekedi and the government that he was backing them and preparing an insurrection in the east. He took office as president at the age of 29 and extended his mandate by delaying elections for two years after his term ended in 2016. His father, former President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001. The crisis he is accused of contributing to in eastern Congo continues to spread. And despite Congos army and M23 having agreed to work toward a truce earlier this month, fighting continues in the province of South-Kivu. On Friday, Human Rights Watch said a Congolese army-backed militia known as the Wazalendo committed beatings, killings and extortion against civilians in the war-torn countrys east. Earlier this month, Congo accused M23 of murdering dozens, kidnapping thousands more and committing rape, torture and looting. ___ Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Justin Kabumba in Goma, Congo contributed to this report. ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WNCT) Congressman Don Davis has proposed new legislation that would expand access to aviation education. On Thursday, Congressman Davis introduced the Flight Education Access Act (H.R. 3530) at a press conference in his district office. The bill, which is co-led by VA Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, will raise the federal student loan limit for students enrolled in undergraduate flight training programs. A school that this would affect is Elizabeth City State University, as it is the only four year college that has an aviation program in North Carolina. With this bill, dependent students could borrow up to $111,000 and independent students could borrow up to $137,500. The Department of Education will have to track and report how many students finish in the programs affected every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By raising student loan limits for our aspiring pilots, we are taking one step towards meeting our nations aerospace workforce needs and providing opportunities for the next generation across eastern North Carolina and our nation, said Congressman Davis. We must do everything we can to create a brighter future for our aviation students, no matter their zip code or crossroad. Right after announcing the bill Congressman Davis attended the Our Community Salutes Event, a program that supports high school graduates who are enlisting in the US military. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Speaker John Arch of La Vista listens to State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. Aug. 2, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The Nebraska Legislature, at least for now, has blanketly rejected four line-item budget vetoes Thursday from Gov. Jim Pillen and questioned whether his objections were constitutionally submitted and whether the vetoes count. Speaker John Arch of La Vista announced that the Legislature was not in receipt of the actual line-itemed bills Legislative Bills 261 and 264 by the end-of-day Wednesday. Under the Nebraska Constitution, if the Legislature is in session, vetoes must be filed with the Clerk of the Legislature within five days, excluding Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Legislature is out of session when the bills are returned, vetoed bills are filed with the Nebraska Secretary of States Office. The Legislature did not receive the budget bills with the line-item objections until Thursday morning, hours after the midnight deadline and a half-day after the bills had been delivered to the Secretary of States Office but not the Clerk of the Legislatures Office, Arch said. As such, we dont believe that we can accept these vetoes, Arch said. Governors Office disputes wrongdoing Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, said the governor took action on LB 261 at 1:08 p.m. Wednesday and LB 264 at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday. She said Pillen clearly took the legally required steps to exercise his veto authority by surrendering physical possession and the power to approve or reject the bills. Gov. Jim Pillen, right, talks with State Sens. Rob Clements and Lou Ann Linehan, at right. At center is Pillens communications director, Laura Strimple. July 18, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Strimple said the bills were sent to both the Secretary of States Office and the Clerks Office by end-of-day Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unfortunate that the Legislature is giving up its opportunity to take action on the Governors veto and has, by unilaterally returning the mainline budget to the Governor, created an impasse, Strimple said. We will consult with the Attorney Generals Office and other counsel on next steps to effectuate the law. Arch, upon learning of Strimples statement, said the Legislatures position stood. He said he didnt know if the Governors Office would sue to enforce the vetoes, but he hopes it wont. Speaking with reporters, Arch said that to his knowledge, nothing like this has happened before and that the Legislature would be gathering facts on the situation. Im hoping that in our discussions, we can resolve the issue, Arch said. But on the plain reading of the Constitution, we have concerns. Not a problem with the budget The 2025-27 budget bills have faced continued twists and turns accelerated by a major projected budget shortfall of at least $630 million by the time the budget bills passed last week. Hundreds of millions of dollars were moved around to fill the hole, including $147 million from the states rainy day cash reserve fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pillens vetoes sought to reduce state spending by $14.5 million, $12 million of which was cut from the allotment to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which court leaders said could be detrimental to various services. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood. Jan. 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, chair of the Legislatures Appropriations Committee, said the budget-writing process has been stressful but that he was pleased with ending at a balanced budget. Of Pillens vetoes, he said he agreed the Constitution was not followed. What happened with the delivery of the vetoes is not a problem with the budget, Clements said. Now in his ninth year on the committee, and in his final two-year budget, Clements said he enjoys numbers and that it is a real relief to have reached the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple Appropriations Committee members were joyful at the conclusion, with some grinning ear to ear, hugging one another and pumping their fists in the air after Arch announced the conclusion. Up until that moment, lawmakers and lobbyists were abuzz that, for seemingly the first time, vetoes might have been stopped without a vote of the Legislature. Veto overrides take at least 30 votes and often feature intense gubernatorial pressure, often behind the scenes, to flip votes on legislation that often first passes with more than 30 votes. Upholding the Constitution State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, who will seek to override a veto of LB 287, a bill trying to crack down on bedbugs in Omaha and give the Omaha City Council additional oversight of the Omaha Housing Authority, took a different view. I wish the veto for LB 287 was invalid too, but overall its karma, McKinney said. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, a new face on the Appropriations Committee this year, said she feels the Governors Office would try to make the vetoes stick anyway. She said the drama would end up in front of the people of Nebraska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told everybody this morning, Lets just descend into the chaos. And they took me literally, Cavanaugh told the Nebraska Examiner. She continued: I mean, process matters, the Constitution matters. Were upholding the Constitution, which is our job, and thats pretty much it. Nebraska Examiner reporter Juan Salinas II contributed to this report. Editors note: This story has been updated with response from the Governors Office. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Construction continues on the new Louisiana State Police (LSP) Crime Lab, slated for a 2026 completion. An LSP captain said the facility will provide more space, features, and law enforcements biggest tool in addressing criminal cases. Were trying to meet those demands, said Capt. Chad Guidry. A digital tour of the facility shows the new additions, including a dividable conference room, new meeting spots, outside features, and a new indoor gun range. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You may hear that and go, Theyre going to just go in there and shoot guns,' Guidry said. No. We actually can go distance determination, gunshot residue, we can fire larger calibers inside without having to go to a range offsite, or something like that. The space will be double the current crime lab and be the biggest in Louisiana. The current crime lab is 53,000 square feet, Guidry said. This is 118,000 square feet. Louisiana has more than 11,000 unsolved murder cases dating back to 1965, according to a database posted by Project Cold Case. Guidry said more space means more analysts, and that could lead to more cases being solved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding more personnel down the road will help with that, Guidry said. As science and technology advance, itll make things a little bit easier. Officials broke ground at the site in 2023, when the state stared down a large case backlog. Guidry said LSP is now doing better in that respect, but it was a pressing issue at the time. It takes more personnel, it takes more equipment, different types of equipment, Retired Col. Lamar Davis said at the time. Construction is much further along than it was then, and Guidry said the foundation will be visible within the next two months. He said the initial $100 million estimate still stands. If the construction company informs LSP that costs have increased, Guidry said there would be tweaks to keep it at that total cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wed look at some cutbacks, Guidry said. The cutbacks may be changing some of the shell pieces to the building, not adding a certain feature. Guidry said taxpayers are not directly funding this project. Instead, it is funded through a bond agreement. The project has a 2026 completion estimate, but newer technologies are being implemented at the current lab. Guidry said LSP cannot simply wait on the new lab to be finished before adding that equipment. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. NEW ORLEANS (NewsNation) A nonprofit organization that assists law enforcement investigations through surveillance camera systems says it assisted New Orleans police with the capture of at least two of the 10 inmates who escaped from a local prison last week. Project N.O.L.A. operates around 5,000 cameras around the downtown district, including 200 that include facial recognition technology, the organization said. The camera system picked up footage of two of the escapees in the French Quarter hours after the jailbreak. Bryan Lagarde, the executive director of Project N.O.L.A., told NewsNation that if the camera systems facial recognition technology detects someone who is wanted by police, an instant alert is sent to nearby police officers that someone who is possibly being sought may be in a particular area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Repeat escaped inmate sought by Louisiana deputies As tips are dispatched to police or other local, state or federal authorities, either other police officials or Project N.O.L.A. employees can pull up the cameras footage to determine whether the person is still in the vicinity. Its a lot of watching involved, Lagarde said. However, New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick told NOLA.com that despite the nonprofits claims that the camera system helped lead police to two of the escapees, her department did not receive any alerts about the possible location of the inmates. The news outlet reported that Kirkpatrick suspended use of the system in April and said that a 2022 city ordinance places limits on the departments reliance on facial recognition technology. The ordinance states that police must exhaust all other methods of investigation and then seek a supervisors permission to use the technology. New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick is seen at the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs 2025 Zulu Parade on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images) The outlet reported that the department had been receiving real-time alerts from Project N.O.L.A. since 2022 but then stopped receiving them last month under Kirkpatricks orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement from a police spokesperson, the department told NOLA.com that Kirkpatrick only recently learned that the department was receiving real-time alerts and suspended the system once she learned it was being used. Chicago Jewish leaders condemn Israeli Embassy staffers shooting However, emails obtained by NewsNation show Kirkpatrick had been in communication with Lagarde about Project N.O.L.A.s cameras as early as 2022. Kirkpatrick told NewsNation on Friday that she recently learned that some officers may have been using Project N.O.L.A.s mobile app, which may have put the department in violation of the city ordinance. She said that because Project N.O.L.A. is a private organization, the department was in the process of determining whether their cameras were included in the ordinance involving facial recognition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police chief said she suspended the use of the service to give the department time to determine whether using the Project N.O.L.A. technology was outside of the city ordinances boundaries. She said that officials were in the process of writing an updated version of the city ordinance when the jailbreak occurred. We simply were pausing (the use of the technology) to make sure we were clearly within the ordinance of the city, Kirkpatrick told NewsNation. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union has said that the facial recognition aspect of the system violates a persons right to privacy and their security. Since last weeks jailbreak, five of the 10 inmates have been captured, and five other people have been arrested for assisting the inmates. Police are still actively searching for the remaining escaped inmates but acknowledge that they may be out of the state by now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, all of the inmates who have been captured were apprehended within 10 miles of the New Orleans city limits. Kirkpatrick told NewsNation on Friday that investigators have actionable intelligence that three of the five inmates who remain at large are still in the greater New Orleans area and that the remaining two may be outside of Louisiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Andriy Portnov, a former top official in ex-President Viktor Yanukovych's administration, visited Ukraine just days before he was shot dead in Madrid on May 21, the news outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported on May 23, citing unnamed sources. According to three interlocutors with knowledge of Portnov's movements including sources in law enforcement and his inner circle he was in Ukraine on May 17-18 and reportedly met with top law enforcement officials. Portnov, a lawyer and longtime political operative, was shot at least five times outside the American School in Madrid. Two or three individuals are believed to have taken part in the killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing police sources, El Pais reported that Portnov was hit by at least three bullets, including one to the head, which proved fatal. No arrests have been reported so far. The killing comes amid resurfacing scrutiny of Portnov's activities in Ukraine, particularly his alleged ties to the judiciary and law enforcement. Portnov was Yanukovych's deputy chief of staff responsible for the judiciary and head of his administration's legal department. Even after Yanukovych was overthrown during the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, Portnov reportedly retained significant influence over the judiciary. He fled Ukraine after the EuroMaidan Revolution, first relocating to Russia and later to Austria. He returned to Ukraine in 2019, but left again in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion reportedly skirting the wartime travel ban for military-age men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, the U.S. sanctioned Portnov for suspected corruption, accusing him of using influence over Ukraine's judicial system to secure favorable rulings and amass wealth. Portnov was also widely regarded as one of the most litigious figures among Ukraine's ex-officials. In 2024, a Kyiv court ruled in his favor in a defamation suit against several outlets, including the Kyiv Independent, over references to him as "pro-Russian." The contested article was authored by Glib Kanievskyi, now a defense ministry official. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) investigated Portnov over alleged involvement in the Russian occupation of Crimea. A treason case against him was opened in March 2018, but was later closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Hated, tainted, and covertly pro-Russian Andriy Portnov, the top Ukrainian ex-official shot dead in Spain Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A former Collierville attorney who was convicted of trying to kill his wife multiple times will stay in prison after his latest attempt at an early release was denied. The Shelby County District Attorneys Office says that a judge ruled against former attorney Fred Wortman last week. Collierville attorney sentenced 30 years after entering best interest plea In 2015, Wortman was convicted of trying to kill his wife on three separate occasions. Wortman was accused of poisoning her toothpaste, hiring a hitman who turned out to be an undercover TBI agent, and paying an inmate to murder her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that year, Wortman entered a best interest plea and was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 30% release eligibility. According to the DAs Office, despite his plea deal, Wortman was granted an early parole hearing. Records from the Tennessee Department of Corrections show that at one point, his release eligibility date was January 2, 2018. Apology to family from attorney who tried to kill his wife The parole board ultimately denied Wortmans release. The DAs Office says Wortman then filed a motion for post-conviction relief, with his defense claiming that he misunderstood the release terms. His defense reportedly also claimed that the State violated the plea agreement by opposing parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs Office says a judge denied the motion and has upheld Wortmans conviction. TDOC records show that Wortmans sentence is expected to end on August 26, 2040. Records also show that another parole hearing is scheduled for September 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. May 22WASHINGTON U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Peter Welch (D-VT) on Thursday introduced the Carla Walker Act, which would dedicate existing federal grant funds to support forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) DNA analysis and help solve previously unsolvable cold cases. The bill is named for Carla Walker, a Fort Worth native whose murderer was finally identified 46 years after her death with the help of this advanced technology. "Fort Worth native Carla Walker was abducted in a bowling alley and tragically murdered in 1974, but it took more than four decades and the advent of forensic genetic genealogy DNA analysis for her killer to be identified and brought to justice," said Sen. Cornyn. "I am proud to have authored this legislation, which would make this cutting-edge DNA testing technology more widely available to law enforcement so they can better identify and prosecute offenders, solve cold cases, and bring closure to victims' families." "Advancements in forensic DNA technology have revolutionized our ability to combat crime. In Vermont, detectives were able to use forensic genetic genealogy analysis to help provide answers to a family who thought they might never come. We've also seen how this technology can be a powerful tool in giving those wrongly accused a chance to clear their names," said Sen. Welch. "Our bipartisan bill will help investigators across the country harness the incredible power of FGG technology to crack cold cases and deliver justice to countless victims and families, and I'm thankful for Senator Cornyn's leadership on it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX-38) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Background: Typically, when a suspect's identity is unknown, a crime laboratory uploads the genetic material recovered from a crime scene into the FBI's national database to search for DNA matches between the forensic sample and any known offenders. While this traditional form of forensic DNA profiling only examines 13-20 Short tandem repeat (STR) DNA markers, forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) technology examines over half a million Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that span the entirety of the human genome. It does so by cross-referencing shared blocks of SNP markers to identify relatives of the genetic profile by uncovering shared blocks of DNA. This enables criminal investigators to build family trees that ultimately help determine the sample's identity and solve cases. Carla Walker was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 17, 1974. Her body was found three days later in a drainage ditch 30 minutes south of Fort Worth. The Fort Worth Police Department was able to collect a few forensic samples and clothing items from the crime scene, but law enforcement could not solve the murder due to limited forensic technology at the time. Carla's brother, Jim Walker, never stopped searching for answers and nearly 50 years later, FGG DNA analysis was conducted on the last remaining DNA on a piece of Walker's clothing, which led to a successful DNA match with the McCurley family and ultimately identified Glen McCurley, Jr. as the killer, who confessed in 2021 and died in prison on July 14, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Cornyn's Carla Walker Act would create a pilot program to make this cutting-edge FGG DNA analysis more widely available to investigative agencies to: Aid in resolving previously unsolvable cold cases; Assist in the identification of criminals; Seek justice for previously unidentified victims; Help exonerate wrongly accused suspects; And bring closure for the victims' loved ones. Iowa Workforce Development manages unemployment claims filed on behalf of Iowans. (Photo by Getty Images, logo courtesy the State of Iowa) A female corrections officer fired for an alleged romantic relationship with an inmate has been awarded unemployment benefits. State records indicate Azucena D. Valenzuela was employed as a corrections officer at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility for three years before she was fired by the Iowa Department of Corrections in March 2025 for a having a relationship with an inmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the records, two of Valenzuelas superiors approached her last October about a rumor that she was being enlisted to smuggle items into a correctional facility for a specific inmate. Valenzuela denied any knowledge of such activity, but her superiors allegedly told her that her interactions with the inmate in question were concerning. On Dec. 22, 2024, the department placed Valenzuela on administrative leave while it investigated an alleged improper relationship between her and the inmate. The investigation looked into reports of Valenzuela talking with the inmate on the phone, talking with the inmate for extended periods during work hours, and what the department characterized as the two looking at each other in an inappropriate manner. The department alleged that video footage showed Valenzuela talking with the inmate for extended periods on multiple occasions between Oct. 8, 2024. and Dec. 22, 2024, including six occasions in which they were captured on video while Valenzuela was working. The department also claimed that during an encounter on Nov. 21, 2024, Valenzuela took the inmates iPad-style device and input the number of a burner phone she had purchased. However, at Valenzuelas subsequent hearing on her application for unemployment benefits, the Department of Corrections provided no evidence of any information put into the device at or around the time Valenzuela handled it, Administrative Law Judge Blair Bennett observed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Corrections also alleged the inmate had called Valenzuelas phone on multiple occasions, expressing his affection for her and wanting to be with her. The person on the other end of the phone made similar comments. The department claimed multiple people said they believe it was Valenzuela on the receiving end of those calls, but it provided no such testimony from those individuals. The department, Bennett later concluded, had conducted an extensive investigation and had determined that allegations of staff sexual misconduct were founded. Bennett noted that the corrections department had chosen not to offer any testimony from the witnesses it claimed to rely on in deciding to fire Valenzuela, nor did it provide her with any copies of phone recordings. The department, Bennett found, chose not to produce any witnesses to the alleged incidents, and did not produce anything that would credibly establish (Valenzuela) as being involved in phone calls with the inmate. As such, she ruled, Valenzuela was qualified to receive unemployment benefits. Its not the first time the Department of Corrections has chosen to provide no direct evidence at hearings alleging workplace misconduct. In 2023, for example, the Fort Dodge facility fired corrections officer Robert W. Goodner for allegedly providing some unspecified form of contraband to inmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Goodners hearing for unemployment benefits, none of the financial and phone records the department had subpoenaed which would likely reveal the full scope of any alleged sales and the precise nature of any contraband were offered into evidence. In addition, none of the DOC employees directly involved in the investigation testified at the hearing. As a result, Goodner was awarded unemployment benefits. Asked then why the DOC didnt present any records at Goodners hearing, Fort Dodge Correctional Facility Deputy Warden Don Harris said it was unclear what information the DOC should be sharing with others. I dont know, since thats part of an investigation for criminal prosecution, that the information should be put out there for anyone else, Harris told the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Iowans investigated for workplace porn, sexual noises and Google Chat Other Iowans recently fired for alleged misconduct include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas E. Patterson, who in April was fired from the Iowa Department of Corrections Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility. Patterson had worked for the DOC as a full-time corrections officer since May 1999. State records indicate that while DOC policy restricted employees personal use of the internet, the agencys employees regularly used Google Chat to communicate with each other at work. Throughout Pattersons employment, he allegedly used Google Chat to discuss with colleagues subjects that were not work related. On Dec. 2, 2024, the DOC began an investigation into Pattersons internet usage and downloaded and reviewed more than 4,000 pages of Google Chat conversations between Patterson, his supervisor and his coworkers that dated back to 2023. As part of that process, the department also compiled all of the comments the claimant had made that the employer deemed objectionable, such as comments that were critical of management or which expressed frustration with staff or the workplace. On April 2, 2025, the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility fired Patterson due to alleged violations of the employers information technology policy. He was awarded unemployment benefits, with the judge noting that Pattersons Google Chat conversations had included his own supervisor, which provided the facilitys management with immediate knowledge of any misconduct. Despite that knowledge, the judge noted, Patterson wasnt fired until April 2025. Ricky Lichtenberger, who was fired in February from Per Mar Security where he had worked since October 2023. According to the company, Lichtenberger was working in the security office of a hospital when a female EMT walked in and found Lichtenberger watching a sexually explicit video on his phone. The EMT later reported the video was playing loudly and she heard references to a womans anatomy and to certain sexual positions. When a manager asked Lichtenberger about the incident, he allegedly replied that it may have happened as described and that he might have forgotten (he) was at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Johnson ruled Lichtenberger was ineligible for unemployment benefits and ordered that he repay $2,227 already collected. The video content, she ruled, had nothing to do with his work as a security officer and (Lichtenbergers) decision to not just watch the video but play its sound at full volume created, at minimum, an uncomfortable work environment for his coworkers and all others entering the security office. Allison Austin, who in April was fired by the University of Iowa where she worked as a clerk. According to state records, Austin was accused of making sexual noises during a quarterly, department-wide Zoom meeting that she attended by computer. Austin told the Iowa Capital Dispatch she doesnt recall whether she had her computers camera activated during the meeting, but said that at some point during the session she had inadvertently activated her microphone. She said she believes she may have made some innocuous comments she didnt intend her colleagues to hear, but which two human resources officials later claimed were noises of a sexual nature. You think these people in HR are there to protect you, but theyre accusing you having sex on a team meeting, Austin told the Capital Dispatch. I was mortified. Austin was fired not for her conduct during the meeting, but for discussing with her co-workers the universitys investigation of that conduct. She was denied unemployment benefits. Austin said she intends to appeal that ruling. [Editors note: This report contains language that may be considered offensive. Discretion is advised.] CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) A special city council meeting called Friday by council President Tony Cuda was to discuss allegations against Mayor Kahlil Seren. As FOX 8 News previously reported, protesters attended the council meeting Monday night to call for Seren to resign after it became public that a complaint was filed with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission regarding the mayors wife Natalie McDaniel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Billy Joel cancels entire tour after diagnosis with rare brain disorder The complaint alleges McDaniel sent text messages with antisemitic speech targeting city employees and residents who are Jewish. Seren addressed the accusations in a 15-minute video posted to Facebook days later. He claimed that the allegations are false. Cleveland Heights City Council members said in Fridays meeting that Seren took too long to address the city, wasnt around city hall during the week, and had not responded to text messages asking if he was OK. Cuda asked Assistant Law Director Chris Heltzel what kind of role the council would have if the mayor were unavailable or inaccessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heltzel explained that there is an article in the city code that states the council president would be acting mayor if the mayor was not accessible, but made it clear that its incredibly complicated to determine the definition of the mayor not being available and how a transfer of power would work. Heltzel also noted a certain provision in the law carried over from when Cleveland Heights had a city manger rather than a mayor. Heltzel later explained that council can approve a resolution calling for Serens resignation, but does not have the legal power to force his resignation. Not long after that, Seren asked for time to speak in the meeting. He referred to the meeting as an exercise in elector politics, which he called disappointing, but not surprising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seren then explained why he didnt respond to Cudas text message asking if hes OK. Then, he used offensive language toward the council. I just want to say this council by no means is my overseer, and I am not your Negro, Seren said. Not long after, an exchange between Seren and Councilman Craig Cobb escalated and Cuda called to adjourn the meeting before reaching all of the items on the agenda. At that moment, residents with signs calling for Serens resignation began addressing the mayor to his face. Guardians pitcher Ben Lively out the rest of the season, needs surgery Seren eventually stopped to speak to reporters. He didnt take any questions, but he called out the council by listing things they havent accomplished and said they need to work on things that will help Cleveland Heights residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are substantive things that we should be looking at to improve the day-to-day experience of people in Cleveland heights, Seren said. Now, thats the work that were always doing, despite the slings and arrows here that Ive been faced down with for the last 10 years of service to this city. Im going to keep doing that work because I care about this city. Seren indicated he wont be going anywhere during the remaining seven months of his term as mayor, despite calls for his resignation. Cleveland Heights resident James Bates, who was one of the residents shouting at Seren to resign, told FOX 8 News that the mayor isnt being upfront with the allegations and it would be better for the city if he moved on. He knows in his heart of hearts; he knows that he needs to resign, and the fact that he doesnt should tell you everything you need to know about Kahlil Seren. He is not a faithful person. He needs to go. Let me say that unequivocally: Khalil Seren, you need to go, Bates said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Council members Anthony Mattox Jr. and Jim Posch did not attend the meeting. Council Vice President Davida Russell listened in via Zoom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Councilwoman Traci Park Delivers Fiery "No" Vote on City Budget originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Traci Park, Councilmember District 11, at a Los Angeles City Council meeting. This week she delivered a heated argument about homeless spending and against services cuts proposed in the city's $18.9 billion budget that will affect Angelenos Westside Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents Council District 11, blasted the city's proposed budget at a hearing on Thursday, saying that it was rife with the "bottomless pit" of homeless spending while gouging public safety services. This budget doesnt reflect our promises, Park said during a fiery exchange at the hearing. Its bloated with homeless spending a bottomless pit, a taxpayer boondoggle that doubles down on failure year after year. And frankly, at this point, its just embarrassing. Hundreds of millions of dollars...and no one can even tell us...how many beds we have. Park's opposition to the $18.9 billion budget was backed by two other Councilmembers, Monica Rodriguez and John Lee, who voted against the fiscal year 2025-26 spending plan. The budget, which pares down public safety programs, including recruitment planned for the Los Angeles Police Department and new hires for the Los Angeles Fire Department, which was outmanned by the savage Palisades Fire earlier this year, passed 12-3 and will go before the City Council for a final resolution vote next week. The budget does allocate a $46.7 million year-over-year increase to the LAFD budget and $80 million in equipment funding to repair out-of-service rigs. I just cant in good conscience vote for a budget that makes our city less safe, less physically sound and even less responsive to our constituents, Park said, adding that the budget still funds Mayor Karen Bass's Inside Safe program that gives housing to the homeless. Her sentiments were echoed by Rodriguez, who said: Inside Safe currently spends upwards of $7,000 a month to house a single individual. Thats just room and board and services." Layoffs, which Bass said could number 1,000, has been reduced to roughly 700 in the proposed budget, which also keeps animal shelters open after a citywide outcry over cuts that could shutter shelters. The city is facing a one-billion-dollar shortfall. As the city discussed L.A.'s woeful financial outlook Thursday, longtime City Hall employee Brian Williams, the now former Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, entered into a guilty plea on federal charges that he called in a bomb threat to his workplace. Williams, a spokesperson for Bass said, retired last month, which makes him eligible to collect a taxpayer-funded pension despite his felony. City Hall officials have refused to provide details on Williams's retirement date - he collected his full salary after his arrest last year, and his yearly pension - despite multiple requests from Los Angeles. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on May 23, 2025, where it first appeared. OTTUMWA If Wapello County is to pass an emergency services levy in the future, the first thing that's needed is a united front between itself, the City of Ottumwa and other entities that would make that happen. A work session Tuesday appeared to be an instance in which some daylight narrowed. The county board of supervisors and officials from the city initially met to discuss the composition of the EMS advisory council which is part of making EMS an essential service and that 14-member list is likely to be finalized when the supervisors meet at their next meeting June 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the time, however, was productively spent on how they can work together and with Ottumwa Regional Mobile Intensive Care Services (ORMICS) to provide the best service to all reaches out the county. "We have broken processes that we need to fix, and that's part of the issue we've been working on the last four or five months," county director of emergency management Tim Richmond said. Those in the room mostly agreed accountability to each other and Ottumwa Regional Health Center would have to occur, either through deliverables in a contract or some other mechanism. ORMICS has operated the local ambulance service since 1981, and has indicated it isn't interested in giving that up after making investments in new ambulances. Ottumwa fire chief Sean Canto, who oversaw a fire-based EMS service in Michigan before coming to Ottumwa earlier this year, does not want ORMICS to give it up, but wants to be a partner in the process, whatever that eventually looks like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm not looking to take over all of EMS, but I'm looking to be a part of that system," he said. "To me, the biggest thing is getting the delivery of service there quickly. They don't care if it says Ottumwa fire, Wapello rural or ORMICS. They just want the closest person that can come and solve their problem." Supervisor Carrie Teninty pressed Richmond on what the advisory council will do as part of the process, and wondered if there was already available information on what the county's EMS needs are. Richmond said it's been difficult to obtain some metrics from the for-profit hospital regarding its ambulance service, and that the advisory council will be tasked with some of those duties. "The perception out there is that first, the ambulance service wasn't going to run anymore, and that we need to make sure that the coverage is for the entire county," Teninty said. "Well, the entire county is being covered right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You guys tell me there is not a good response time, but I don't know that for sure. I haven't seen any information provided to give us that information." Richmond echoed Teninty's frustration. "That's the whole point. That's the whole function of the advisory council is to produce those reports," he said. "We have no mechanism right now to hold them accountable, and it's been that way for 30 years. When life is good, nobody challenges anything. When life gets tough, people challenge everything." It was also mentioned that ORMICS could stop providing the service at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You've got to have a contractual agreement because the hospital has been doing this with a good faith effort for 44 years," former Ottumwa mayor Tom Lazio said. "They do it because it's a community need. But if they said tomorrow they want to get out, they could leave. The hospital wants to be involved in good medical care for this community, and I think they should be a part of it." Canto, however, had seen contractual setups fail in other locales, specifically a situation in Indiana where a service didn't meet its metrics and pulled out. He also recalled a meeting earlier this year with the hospital in which he offered to use a fire department ambulance to assist, and was rebuffed. "I suggested we could put an ambulance out there to help with response times, and what we've gotten is, 'If you do that, we're going to quit,'" he said. "That's not about service level. That's not about giving service to the community. Why would you allow somebody to threaten you like that?" Teninty agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But ultimately," she said, "they have that leverage. Honestly, they do." Because there have been delays, it's unlikely a vote for EMS will come before the community this year, since Aug. 30 is the deadline to have a referendum put on the ballot, supervisor Bryan Ziegler said. However, under state law, counties can levy up to 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, impose a 1% income tax, or a combination to fund the service. EMS is not a state requirement, unlike police and fire services. "Sean is right. There are processes that are broken, and when you have a group of volunteers working on that solution and trying to get an entity to make forward motion, and there's not teeth to it, it's very difficult," Richmond said. "It's really hard to make permanent relationships with temporary people. "We have to set up something that's going to outlast us all and work far beyond any of us bing here, and that requires a great deal of thought and consideration." Comanche Co, Tx (FOX 44) A Killeen couple arrested in Maine were charged with the death of a Copperas Cove man found dead in Comanche County. Texas Rangers had been investigating the case that stretched across multiple counties. The body of 41-year-old Marcio Maridell Anderson of Cove was found in Comanche County on May 15. Comanche County Sheriff Chris Pounds said that May 15, the Comanche County Sheriffs Office was notified of an incident involving a person on fire on Highway 2823 near the borders of Comanche, Erath, and Hamilton Counties. Gustine Volunteer Fire Department, Comanche County EMS, and the Sheriffs Office responded to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point the Texas Rangers took the lead in the investigation as it soon became evident that this would be a multi-jurisdictional case. The victim was identified as Marcio Maridell Anderson of Copperas Cove. Through an investigation two suspects believed responsible for Andersons death were identified as 21-year-old Avery Eugene Stemmons and 21-year-old Karina Gonzales Barreto both of Killeen. The couple was arrested in York, Maine on May 20. They have now been extradited to Texas, and as of Thursday evening were being held in the Comanche County Jail. 18-year-old arrested in East Waco Drive homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say they believe there is no threat to the public and that the investigation is active and ongoing. A statement issued by York police said that it was on May 19 that they were made aware that two murder suspects from Texas might be in their area. Police from the communities of York and Wells, Maine along with marshals began looking for areas where they might be, but it was on Tuesday while two officers were on their way to another call that they spotted a man and woman matching their descriptions walking down a street, The statement issued by York police said the two were stopped, were cooperative with officers and detained. A weapon believed to have been involved in the Texas crime was recovered. It was not immediately clear what lead investigators to believe the pair might be found in Maine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A decision on how to proceed with filling the Lackawanna County Commissioner Vacancy was announced in a ruling. In that ruling, the judges voted 2-1 in favor of siding with the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee that the vacancy of the County Commissioner seat should be filled in line with the Home Rule Charter instead of Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908, proposed by Commissioner Gaughan. The Home Rule Charter states that Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County shall choose from the three names submitted by the Lackawanna County Democratic Committee (LCDC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908 states that when a court is filling vacancies to an elected official under a statutory duty, The Court shall receive applications from any interested candidates prior to the deadline established. The LCDC will now proceed with taking applications and choosing the best three and passing them onto the Court of common Pleas to make a final decision on the candidates. Commissioner Gaughan provided a brief statement saying: We have just received the opinions. Were reviewing them and will decide soon how to proceed. The Court also ruled unanimously to take Lackawanna County off Commissioner Gaughans lawsuit, meaning the county would not have to pay for it with taxpayers money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioner Chermak released a statement stating: I am pleased with the unanimous decision by the Lackawanna County judges to remove Lackawanna County and the County Solicitor from Commissioner Gaughans lawsuit. I fought to have the county removed from this suit because the taxpayers of Lackawanna County should not be responsible for paying for a fight between Bill Gaughan and the Democrat Party of Lackawanna County. First and foremost, I will always fight for the taxpayers of Lackawanna County. This why I strongly opposed the 33% tax increase and continue to monitor the ongoing reassessment to make sure it is fair, accurate and transparent. This ruling protects taxpayer funds, and I remain dedicated to advocating for fiscal responsibility in our county. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Florida Decides Healthcare Executive Director Mitch Emerson talks to reporters in Tallahassee outside the federal courthouse May 22, 2025. (Photo by Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix) A federal court hearing held Thursday to determine the fate of Floridas strict new law on ballot initiatives veered into culinary criticism as an attorney compared the measure to sausage. Attorneys for the DeSantis administration insisted that sausage is edible while those on the other side called it rancid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida legislators passed the law after citizens initiatives to allow abortion and recreational pot nearly passed last November. Critics contend that the new law with all of its restrictions on groups and who can collect signatures will make it nearly impossible for outside organizations to ever place an initiative on the ballot in the future. Groups have challenged the new law which was a top priority for Gov. Ron DeSantis on grounds that it violates their rights to free speech and due process. During the hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker listened to about three hours of testimony on Florida Decides Healthcares and Smart & Safe Floridas request that he block certain provisions of the law while the legal challenge moves ahead including a requirement that sponsors turn in completed petitions within 10 days after the voter signs the petition, as well as stepped up fines and criminal penalties. Walker, who posed pointed questions to both sides, asked everyone to please be patient, as he considers his ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Decides is behind a campaign to put a Medicaid expansion on the ballot in November 2026. Smart & Safe Florida is behind a renewed initiative to make recreational marijuana legal for adults in Florida. Both groups need to collect and certify 880,000 voter signatures before Feb. 1 of next year to make the November 2026 ballot. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tallahassee attorney Glenn Burhans Jr. said that, prior to the new law taking effect, Smart & Safe Florida was collecting 78,000 signatures per week. Since the law took effect, he said, the group is collecting between 12,000 and 15,000 signatures per week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that 1,100 petition circulators who were out in the field have been lost due to the law with its felony penalties. That places the ability to get this on the ballot in peril, he said. Burhans noted that the law not only condenses the time to submit a petition, it doesnt allow for the period to be extended to account for office closures or holidays the Legislature, he noted, rejected such extensions. That means petition collectors could have as little as seven days to turn in the forms, he said. Burhans used the coming Memorial Day Weekend as an example, noting that supervisors of elections offices will be closed from May 24-27. If Smart& Safe Florida collected 1,700 signatures on May 16 but didnt deliver them before an office closed, it could face fines of upward of $255,000 ($85,000 a day times three days). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your honor, thats real life. Thats impact, he said. Tallahassee attorney Mohammad Jazil, representing Secretary of State Cord Byrd, said that the timeline was condensed from 30 days to 10 days to give the supervisors of elections more time to review the petitions and sniff out fraudulent forms. The state intends to keep language in its rules and regulations that would allow sponsors to deliver petitions outside the 10-day time frame for holidays and office closures, Jazil said. Is the sausage edible or rancid? Walker pressed Jazil on some points, such as what constitutes personal identifying information that must be placed on the petitions. Jazil defended HB 1205 and at one point noted that legislation being made was like watching sausage get made a famously distasteful process. Jazil joked that this sausage, HB 1205, was edible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes the sausage arent real tasty, thats why we have challenges here, Walker replied. In his rebuttal, Burhans said the law bans supervisors from reviewing ballots between July 1 and September 1. That, he said, doesnt give supervisors more time, but instead creates a 90-day log jam. Additionally, Burhans stressed that HB 1205 specifically removed language from statute allowing for extensions for holidays and office closures. Agencies cannot promulgate rules contrary to law, he said. The sausage is not only bad, its rancid and filled with maggots, Burhans said. Mitch Emerson, executive director of Florida Decides Healthcare, told reporters following the hearing that he was optimistic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had the opportunity to make it very clear why this law is unconstitutional and un-American. This isnt just about one campaign. Its about protecting every Floridians right, he said. Blocking the law, he continued, would return the state to the existing rules that petition gathers have relied on for years. This means giving people back the ability to organize, gather signatures, and bring issues directly to the ballot without fear, confusion. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A Covington woman accused of abandoning her newborn daughter on a roadside 24 years ago to die will have to face trial rather than being allowed to take a plea offer. Police arrested Shelby Ann Stotts, 49, last year on a manslaughter charge in connection with the 2001 death of her daughter. During a brief Thursday hearing in the 249th District Court, Assistant Attorney General Britni Verdeja outlined the terms of the plea agreement offered by the state to Stotts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There has been a plea offer tendered and accepted by [Stotts' attorney Curt Crum]," Verdeja said. "Ten years sentence probated on manslaughter with the condition of 60 days total jail time." Under to plea offered, Stotts would have served 30 days in jail beginning June 1 followed by an additional three days in jail over the next 10 years beginning each Nov. 18. That date being the anniversary of the birth and death of Stotts' daughter. Under the plea agreement, Stotts would also have given up parental rights to the child allowing the father of the girl to give the child his legal name. The child's father attended Thursday's hearing. He is not charged in the case and apparently did not know he was the father of the child until Stotts' arrest last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The court is not going to accept the plea," 249th District Judge Tiffany Strother said. "It is not an acceptable plea to this court. It will be set for trial." Strother added that the Office of Attorney General remains free to present an amended plea offer between now and Stotts' trial. Stotts' trial date remains to be determined. The state attorney general's office took over prosecution of the case after former Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna recused himself given that the AG's office conducted much of the investigation and DNA work connected to the case. Former Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford, who responded to the 2001 call, also attended Thursday's hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alford declined to comment on Thursday's hearing given that he will likely be called as a witness during Stotts' trail. Alford, however, praised the efforts of Johnson County Sheriff's Office detectives, the JCSO Cold Case Unit and the AG's office for continuing to investigate the case through the years. Alford in 2001 named the girl Angel Baby Doe in hopes that her identity and the identity of her mother would one day become known. Rosser Funeral Home donated a casket and the city of Cleburne's cemetery department provided funding for the baby's burial. Alford, JCSO detectives and cold case squad members and others continued to search for answers in the years following 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 18 of that year, JCSO deputies responded to the 400 block of South Briaroaks Road after a man walking along the road picking of cans while heading to a store found the baby and called 911. There they found the body of a newborn girl loosely wrapped in a Winnie the Pooh jacket. The baby's umbilical cord was still attached. Officers determined that the baby was likely born outside of a hospital and abandoned on the side of the road. A breakthrough in the case came more than two decades after the baby's death. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Office of the Attorney Generals Missing Persons and Cold Case Unit announced in July 2024 that his office had secured an indictment against Stotts for second degree manslaughter in connection with Angel Baby Does death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stotts, according to the indictment, recklessly caused the death of her newborn daughter on Nov. 18, 2001, by leaving the baby on the side of the road and failing to seek prompt medical care after giving birth. Stotts also failed to clamp the babys umbilical cord, which caused the child to bleed to death. Several officers from JCSO and the department's cold case squad attended Thursday's hearing as well. LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) Drivers on I-75 in Loudon County Thursday may have dealt with slow moving traffic after a cow fell from a semi-trailer. The Loudon County Sheriffs Office said it received a call reporting that a gat was open on the back of a cattle-hauling semi-trailer Thursday. A cow fell from the trailer onto the interstate, and began running into traffic on both the northbound and southbound sides of I-75 near mile marker 72, despite being injured. Knox County Schools releases list of 100+ banned books Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies responded to the scene, with some working to contain the cow and prevent further danger to drivers. Others worked to locate the semitruck, which continued traveling northbound. Deputies ultimately stopped the truck on Bon Street in Lenoir City with assistance from Lenoir City Police officers. A photo of a cattle hauling semi-trailer. (Loudon County Sheriffs Office) A photo of a cattle hauling semi-trailer. (Loudon County Sheriffs Office) A photo of cows inside a cattle hauling semi-trailer.(Loudon County Sheriffs Office) Before the cow could be contained, it caused a crash on I-75 south at mile marker 72. LCSO said two people were injured in the crash. As crews worked to secure the scene and prevent injuries, the northbound side of the interstate was shut down as a safety precaution. Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture also responded to assist with the incident, injured cow, and cattle hauler. The cow was ultimately euthanized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Handwashing issues, broken cooler found during Knoxville health inspection In addition, LCSO said two other crashes on I-75 caused traffic delays Thursday. One, the sheriffs office said, happened at mile marker 79 on I-75 north and involved a driver, who was charged with driving under the influence. I-75 North had to be shut down temporarily because the crash resulted in debris, including nails, screws, building materials, and other items, being scattered across the interstate. The other crash, which resulted in injuries, happened in Philadelphia at the intersection of Highway 11 and Pond Creek Road. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Washington State Patrol is looking for a missing woman from Cowlitz County. Her name is Maralyn Borden, and shes 78 years old. She was last seen in Ariel on Thursday around 7:00 a.m. Troopers say she was headed to an appointment in Longview but never made it. Shes without her medication, and her family is worried. Borden drives a grayish silver 2015 Honda CRV with the Washington license plate BCH3365. If you see her or know where she might be, call 911 right away. CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) Seniors with Craven County Schools celebrated their departure from the school system on Friday. Students walked across the stage for ceremonies at Havelock High School, New Bern High School and West Craven High School at 8:30am Friday morning, bringing a close to the 2024-2025 school year. Craven Early College and Early College EAST honored their graduates last week in ceremonies. Craven Virtual Academy hosted their graduation ceremony Thursday night. To the Class of 2025, watching each of you grow has been both a privilege and a joy for all of us at Craven County Schools. You have each brought your unique light and talents into our schools, helping us live out our mission to provide a supportive, empowering, and academically rich environment where every learner is seen, valued, and inspired. As you step into the next chapter of your lives, carry with you the spirit of this communitya community that believes deeply in your potential and stands ready to support you every step of the way. You are the reason we strive to be THE choice for students, staff, and families. We are incredibly proud of who you are today and excited for all you will become tomorrow. said Jennifer Wagner, the Director of Public Relations for Craven County Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 971 students graduated from high school in Craven County this year from all six schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The problem with being the biggest game in town is that you have a lot to lose. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Central California recently issued a press release detailing the activities of a crime syndicate that targeted one of the countrys largest retailers Amazon in a scheme that involved a lot of stolen goods. Officers in Florida and California are said to have arrested 13 alleged members and associates of Armenian organized crime syndicates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read on IEN: The individuals are being charged in five different federal complaints but the one involving Amazon is said to comprise millions in stolen cargo. According to the California DA, the group is a Russian mafia-affiliated transnational criminal organization that has been operating a crime ring out of Los Angeles. One such operation involved group members posing as truck drivers to enroll with Amazon as carriers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After receiving the goods, the group members allegedly diverted some or all of the shipments that were destined for Amazon warehouses. Reports say the DOJ seized the individuals' phones and found photos and videos of warehouses lined with boxes of crockpots, Keurig coffee machines, keratin shampoo, Weber grills and other goods. Amazon reportedly provided an estimate of $83 million in stolen goods credited to the scheme. Reports say Amazon is, at present, plagued by recurring thefts of its shipments and while it has ramped up its efforts to track down illegal behavior, cargo theft is still a particularly widespread activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, CNBC said that, industry-wide, cargo theft-related losses are estimated at close to $1 billion or more a year. Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news. A pair of handcuffs poking through prison bars. Most bills aimed at reforming the criminal justice system failed in the session, though advocates were encouraged by the progress of some proposals. (File/Getty) It was the same story for criminal justice reform in the Alabama Legislature this year as in previous years: bills got filed, but most never made it to Gov. Kay Iveys desk. Legislators did enact laws making incremental changes, such as a bill to make it easier for people who were formerly incarcerated to obtain occupational licenses and create more opportunities for diversion programs were approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And advocates said they were encouraged that legislation they continue to support moved further along in the process than in the past. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Giving a grade on criminal justice reform in Alabama is always a challenge because the steps that are taken forward are, oftentimes, minimal, although they are impactful to certain segments of the population, said Jerome Dees, policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. However, what we as a collective community need to do is change the narrative around what actually is public safety and what drives making neighborhoods and communities safe. Bills to reform the parole and bail system in the state; allowing reconsideration of sentences for nonviolent offenses imposed before reforms of the Habitual Felony Offender Act, and delaying sentencing for those who are pregnant failed within their committees or stalled and were not considered by either the full House or Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There wasnt any legislation passed for criminal justice reform, but there were still some very meaningful conversations about it that did move the needle forward, including a very frank discussion about the parole board to make sure there is oversight and attention to that fact that the parole board is not in compliance with the law, said Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa. The Republican-dominated Legislature instead approved measures that increased existing penalties or provided an advantage to law enforcement in some way, including a bill enhancing immunity protections for law enforcement. Reforming parole and bail was a focus of advocates, particularly as Republican legislators had shown growing impatience with the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole missing deadlines to implement parole guidelines. I think one of the many things that we hoped to see coming out of the 2025 legislative session was legislation that created more accountability and transparency around the parole process, Dees said. There were a number of bills that were filed to specifically address that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 40, sponsored England, would have created a commission to create updated parole guidelines and require the board to stick with them. Under the bill, if the board deviated from the guidelines, it would have to publicly state why. Parole applicants would also have been able to appeal denials to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Another bill, SB 324, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, would have increased the number of members who serve on the Parole Board from three to five and require the Senate to confirm the appointments. It would also have changed the timeline that an applicant who has been denied can reapply for parole. The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 16-8 in April and the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill soon afterward by the narrowest of margins. The bill did not come out for a House vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chambliss later amended the states 2026 General Fund budget, which goes into effect on Oct. 1, to withhold the Board of Pardons and Paroles funding until they develop parole guidelines. Lawmakers have scrutinized Alabamas parole system since 2019 when the states parole system decreased dramatically. The figure has increased to about 25% recently but remains below the original rate. Legislators also turned away proposals to allow Alabama judges to issue a percentage bond to those in pretrial detention. HB 42, also sponsored by England, would have left much of the Alabama Bail Reform Act of 1993 in place except to add three words, a part of to current statutes to give judges the authority to allow defendants to pay a portion of the total bond amount they owe so that they can be released from jail as their cases proceed through the court system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bail bond industry strongly opposed the legislation during two public hearings at both the House and Senate Judiciary committees. The bill passed the House in April. But the Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked on approval of the measure along party lines. The Alabama Legislature also allowed another bill, SB 156, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, to fail. The bill allows some of those incarcerated in Alabamas prisons to have their sentences reconsidered by a judge if their crimes did not involve physical injury to others. The bill would have allowed people who were convicted and received lengthy sentences before the state made substantial changes to the Habitual Offender Law in 2000 to give judges more discretion regarding sentencing. Defendants who were convicted of homicides, sexually based offenses and violent offenses were not eligible for reconsideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill required two rounds of voting in the Senate chamber after members of the Senate Judiciary approved it in February. In March, Senate Republicans rejected the legislation with a tie vote 16-16. Hours later, senators approved a motion to reconsider the legislation, and after discussing the bill, passed it by a vote of 17-8. The House Judiciary Committee then approved the legislation in April, but it never came to a vote in the House. We were of course disappointed to see the Second Chance bill fail to pass the House, especially in light of the broad, bipartisan support it had this time around, said Elaine Burdeshaw in a statement, policy director for Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, a criminal justice reform organization. Despite the bills failure, we saw legislators across the aisle, all the way up to Gov. Ivey, understand this issue and why it matters why it really is smart on crime policy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued four people and three dogs from a disabled catamaran caught in treacherous conditions in the South Pacific on Thursday morning, marking the second rescue operation by the cruise line in a week, according to a press release from Carnival Cruise Line. "We were stuck in an interesting position," one of the rescued passengers said in video obtained by ABC News. "We got demasted, lost our engines, and after we got demasted, it was stuck under the boat, and it was hitting it on every big wave." The Carnival Splendor diverted its course after receiving an alert from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea about a distress call. The ship reached the stranded vessel after a five-hour journey south of New Caledonia. PHOTO: A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued four people and three dogs from a boat stranded in the Pacific Ocean, May 23, 2025. (Carnival Cruise Line ) The situation had become increasingly dangerous for the stranded sailors. PHOTO: A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued four people and three dogs from a boat stranded in the Pacific Ocean, May 23, 2025. (Carnival Cruise Line ) "It was like four to five meters swell, 30 to 40 knot winds, and we're in this massive lightning storm, and the swell was coming over the boat," the rescued passenger said. "Yeah, we were dead in the water, 170 nautical miles off of New Caledonia with the three puppies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rescued passengerstwo couples and their three dogsare now receiving food, water, and medical assistance aboard the Carnival Splendor. PHOTO: A Carnival Cruise Line ship rescued four people and three dogs from a boat stranded in the Pacific Ocean, May 23, 2025. (Carnival Cruise Line ) MORE: Dating app meetup leads to shooting, arrests in Oregon: Police "Luckily, Carnival, the captain here was an absolute legend came and he saved the day, and now the doggies get their first cruise," the rescued passenger added. The rescue operation won't impact the cruise schedule, with the ship's 3,300 passengers still set to visit Mystery Island and Noumea as planned before returning to Sydney on Tuesday. The Splendor departed Sydney on Monday for an eight-day round trip cruise to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Carnival Cruise stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This rescue follows another recent Carnival Cruise Line operation in which the Carnival Paradise rescued five men from a makeshift raft south of Cuba last week, according to video obtained by FOX35. Cruise ship saves passengers, pets from disabled catamaran in South Pacific originally appeared on abcnews.go.com One of the states most invasive aquatic plants is causing massive damage to the Connecticut River and officials dont want boaters and others to continue the spread of the environmental and economic scourge. That message was loud and clear as Connecticut heads into Memorial Day weekend, both a time to honor the nations fallen and the traditional beginning of the summer season, which includes many boats in the states waters. Boats must be cleared of the plant to stop its spread, officials said. Boats can spread hydrilla, the aquatic invasive species from Asia called the most noxious, invasive plant ever, and it is well-known for its ability to quickly propagate and take over aquatic ecosystems. Officials fear it will damage the states $5.5 billion recreational economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plant significantly reduces water quality where it lives and spreads. By blocking sunlight, it encourages the growth of harmful algae, which can further reduce oxygen levels and produce toxins harmful to fish, wildlife, and even humans. It has caused massive damage to parts of the Connecticut River already and has been seen in other waterways. The plant also is one of Connecticuts most costly and destructive invasive plants, and is projected to continue its spread across the Connecticut River, with the loss of federal funding to combat the highly invasive plant, officials said. Its an ugly and hideous looking plant, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Friday at Riverside Park in Hartford. This is probably the most invasive aquatic plant in the world and it has invaded Connecticut. It is a plague on the Connecticut River but also on our lakes, streams, coves, and tidal basins. It can survive and thrive almost anywhere because it multiplies hideously fast. For nearly a decade, state and federal scientists have studied the aquatic weed, looking for its vulnerabilities and why it has spread so successfully across 200 miles of the river and its tributaries in Connecticut. Hydrilla was first spotted in Connecticut in 2016 in Glastonbury, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began limited spraying of a herbicide that showed enormous potential for rooting out the invasive plant. Several areas of the Connecticut River that have been choked for years with hydrilla were cleared within days, according to officials. But efforts to continue clearing out the river of hydrilla are now in jeopardy, officials said. Nearly $5 million in federal funds that were allocated for ongoing hydrilla removal in the Connecticut River this year have been cut by Congress, according to Blumenthals office. Based on last summers successful herbicide application trials, the Army Corps planned to expand testing and increase the number of herbicide applications to about 16 locations in coming months, officials said. But the funding was removed by a continuing congressional budget resolution earlier this spring and much of what remained is impounded by the White House budget office, according to previous reporting. The problem is that this year for the first time the Army Corps of Engineers budget is down 44%, Blumenthal said. But the good news is, I believe, we have bipartisan support for a $5.5 million dollar fund in 2026 to combat hydrilla. Because it is such a threat to not just the Connecticut River, but to all the lakes and streams where boaters may go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blumenthal was flanked by several state officials at Friday, including Michael Zaleski, president and CEO of Riverfront Recapture; Rhea Drozdenko, River Steward, Connecticut River Conservancy; Dr. Jason White, director of the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station; Margot Burns, Senior Environmental Planner at RiverCOG; and Justin Davis, Acting Deputy Director of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Were at the start of Memorial Day weekend and that also starts the unofficial beginning of boating season in Connecticut, Davis said. We here at CT DEEP encourage anyone fortunate enough to have a boat, to get out and have fun this summer, on the beautiful waterways of Connecticut. But to also do so in a safe and responsible manner and part of that is making sure youre not contributing to the spread of invasive species like hydrilla. Davis said that boaters should follow state protocols and always inspect their boats for any vegetation before entering the water. Upon leaving the water, boaters should drain all the water out of their boat and let it fully dry. DEEP officials said they recommend letting a boat dry for five days before re-entering a body of water. This is a hugely important issue as there is a major economic impact, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a $5.5 billion dollar recreation economy in Connecticut and fishing and boating is the biggest part of that economy. Hydrilla is a major threat to our waterways and Connecticuts recreation economy. Scientists for years have studied hydrilla; until very recently believed to be confined to southern states, where it has clogged ponds and blocked rivers for decades. In 2016, amateur botanists found what they considered an odd weed growing in a river spur called Keeney Cove in Glastonbury. Not only was the weed found to be hydrilla, but DNA testing revealed it to be a genetically unique strain not known elsewhere. In the years since, hydrilla has spread explosively to cover more than 1,000 acres of river and tributaries and jump, carried by the boats and trailers of anglers, to many of the states lakes and ponds. Edmund H. Mahony contributed to this story. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com Cucumbers are being recalled, MCPH announces MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) Check your refrigerator because your cucumbers might be contaminated with Salmonella. The Mesa County Public Health announced Friday a recall from Bedner Growers regarding the vegetable. The products were distributed between April 29 and May 19 by Fresh Start Produce Sales to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers and food service distributors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said 26 illnesses have been linked to the recalled cucumbers across several states including Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to MCPH, a description of the recalled products include: Cucumbers that might have been sold individually or in smaller packages. The products might not have any labeling with a brand name or best-by date. For distributors, restaurants and retailers who purchased these cucumbers, the products were labeled as either supers, selects or plains. Additional recalls are being conducted by companies that used or repackaged the cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers. Public health suggested residents should see if they have the recalled products and throw them away. If anyone has eaten the recalled cucumbers, reach out to a doctor. For more information, contact Bedner Growers at 866-222-9180. Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Symptoms typically start six hours to six days after infection and could last four to seven days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MCPH said most people recover without treatment, but salmonella can lead to serious and occasionally deadly infections for young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MARTENSDALE, Iowa Losing teachers to bigger districts at an alarming clip, tiny Martensdale-St. Marys (MSTM) was stuck. Theyd get offers from places like Norwalk or Des Moines and we couldnt compete, said MSTM superintendent, Dr. Bill Watson. Unable to raise salaries, the district would then struggle to fill the open positions. At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we had 15 open positions, Watson said. For each one of those openings, we averaged less than one applicant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, many of those applicants had little or no teaching experience. We had to try something different, said Watson. Following the lead of some even smaller districts in southern Iowa, Martensdale-St. Marys decided to implement a four-day school week. It combined slightly longer school days running Tuesday-Friday to meet the state requirement for class hours. Teachers shaved 40 working days off their calendars. Students cut their time in school significantly, as well. On this final day of this revolutionary school year, we paid another visit to MTSM. The feedback that I got from teachers, parents, students, all staff was fantastic, said Beth Happe, principal of MSTM Elementary School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Happe told us the benefits to the shortened school week were almost too extensive to list. All of our professional development has been on one Monday of the month, so we dont have early outs, we dont have a random day off for professional development, and when we had a snow day, we could easily make it up on a Monday. Happe said her teachers were happier, more focused, and needed less time off. Everyone used Mondays if they could for those appointments that you cant get after 4 oclock on a teachers schedule, she said. You know, doctors, dentists, eye doctors, what have you and parents got used to doing the same thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terah Henson both a teacher at MSTM and the parent of two students said her family used the extra time in a variety of ways. Gov. Reynolds waiver to limit eligible food under SNAP approved My son is 17, she told us, and he was able to get a job on Mondays. So Monday was his day to work and he could worry about school and his homework the rest of the week. Though school days were nearly an hour longer, Henson says she and other teachers barely noticed. The days did not seem longer. Quite honestly, they were jam-packed full of learning and engagement. Asked if hed found any drawbacks to the four-day weeks, Watson had to pause to think. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five-day weeks we had to make up snow days kids and staff were a little bit grumpy those weeks, he laughed. But I think overall Id give it an A. And Watson brought receipts. Numbers gathered throughout the year show student grades and test scores up significantly. Eight of nine levels improved in math testing; two of three improved in science testing. Discipline referrals had fallen 75% at the midway point of the school year. Whats more, MTSM had a net gain of 41 open-enrolled students this year an 86% jump from the year prior. Thats more money for the district. But of all the impressive numbers MSTM has in its hand, now, the ones that stand out most might be those which brought the problem to light in the first place: staff retention and replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, Watson quotes them from memory. We had less than one applicant two years ago for 15 openings, he says. This year we had five openings for next school year, and we had greater than 12 applicants for each of those positions. The Saydel School District made the same change this school year and was reporting the same success at semester. WHO 13 will check in with superintendent Todd Martin when the Saydel school year ends in June. Metro News: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. (NewsNation) A Texas couple got a very sweet and very fitting treat on their wedding day, all thanks to Dairy Queen. Meet the new Mr. and Mrs. Blizzard yes, thats really their last name. Newlyweds Bradley Blizzard and Olivia Morris are longtime Dairy Queen fans. My mom always used to take us to Dairy Queen to try to get my seven siblings and I free ice cream, and it finally happened here, Blizzard told Morning in America on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio teen with brain cancer gets Make-A-Wish trip Morris shared their story on TikTok and made a special request to the ice cream chain for a Blizzard bar at their wedding. She thought it was a long shot, but the Texas Dairy Queen Operators Council responded and delivered in a big way, showing up with more than just treats. The couple received custom merchandise for their bachelor and bachelorette parties, an engagement shoot at a Dairy Queen restaurant in Frisco, Texas, and blizzards for all at their wedding reception. This was completely their idea; I did not pitch this. It was their brilliant marketing, Morris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NICU baby adopted by nurse set to graduate high school Though Morris is based in Texas, shes originally from Tuscola, Illinois, and graduated from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. The couple met July 3, 2021, and bonded over their mutual love for the restaurant, Dairy Queen spokespeople told NewsNation affiliate WGN-TV. They tied the knot in Collinsville, Texas, on May 3, People Magazine reported. Morris said her favorite Dairy Queen treat is the Oreo-flavored Blizzard, while her husbands favorite is the Reeses Peanut Butter Blizzard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Protesters gather at the immigration court in downtown Phoenix on May 22, 2025, to guard against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting people showing up for their scheduled court hearings. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror Immigrant rights activists kept watch over the Phoenix Immigration Court on Thursday, withstanding 100 degree weather and threats of arrests, ready to protest against a new round of ICE detainments. Federal officials didnt make an appearance, granting migrants who showed up to attend mandatory immigration hearings a reprieve. But organizers of pro-immigrant advocacy groups say they plan to continue gathering at the court, as there is no guarantee there wont be future raids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a dozen people so far have been arrested in the past two days by ICE agents. Officers reportedly detained people in elevators, hallways and on their way back to their cars, just minutes after federal prosecutors asked judges to dismiss their immigration cases. Thats key, because closing a persons immigration case allows the federal government to refile it under the current legal landscape. And President Donald Trumps administration has vastly changed that landscape, gutting asylum protections and eliminating humanitarian parole programs created by former President Joe Biden for migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua. Dismissing immigration cases also leaves the people at the center of those cases vulnerable to expedited removal, a policy that fast-tracks deportations and circumvents the right to a court hearing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump laid the groundwork for this weeks arrests shortly after taking office by issuing executive orders that reinstated the ability of immigration officials to carry out enforcement actions near previously protected areas, including courts and expanded the scope of expedited removal to apply to anyone living anywhere in the U.S. without authorization if they are unable to prove their continuous presence in the country for more than two years. The arrests earlier this week appeared to involve people who have been in the country for less than two years, according to the Arizona Republic. Similar arrests at immigration courts in other cities, including Seattle, Los Angeles and Miami, have also happened this week. Legal experts and immigration advocates say its a bid to boost deportations and fulfill Trumps campaign promise to oversee the highest number of removals in history. Ricardo Reyes, a lead organizer for Common Defense, an anti-Trump veterans group that frequently speaks out against anti-immigrant policies, called the targeting of people attending scheduled hearings cruel and said its an easy way to identify multiple people eligible for deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre going for the easiest targets and the softest targets of people trying to do it the right way, because you have their information you have their address, you have their names, he said. Reyes added that forcing people to choose between attending their scheduled immigration hearing and risking detention, or skipping the hearing and facing an order of removal as a result, amounts to violating their due process rights, which everyone in the country is entitled to, regardless of their citizenship status. This is entrapment, because youre damned if you do, damned if you dont, he said. If you show up for your court hearing, they dismiss your case and then you get picked up. If you dont show up, then you automatically get marked for removal. And while Thursday appeared to be quiet, Reyes noted that, in the previous days, ICE agents sometimes left the court only to return for the next batch of immigration hearings. The courts hearings are divided into a morning and an afternoon session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reyes vowed to continue returning to stand vigil beside the courthouse until he was confident the raids would not return, though he didnt say when that might be. I will be here until we think theyre no longer interested in coming back, he said. As the heat climbed into the triple digits, Monica Sandschafer pushed the crowd away from the sidewalk in front of the courthouse toward the one facing Van Buren Street, instructing them to stay on city property to avoid problems. During previous demonstrations, the property manager contacted the local police, according to organizers, and she threatened to do so again on Thursday. Advocates huddled under the trees and turned their posters, emblazoned with phrases like Bring Kilmar home and No bans, raids, cages, towards the oncoming traffic, but kept watch over the courthouse and its adjoining parking lot. At the buildings entrance, two volunteers waited for people to arrive for their hearings and handed out small red cards with information in English on one side and Spanish on the other about their rights when interacting with ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sandschafer, the Arizona State Director for Latino voting rights organization Mi Familia Vota, pointed out that people attending immigration hearings, many of them who are seeking asylum, are following the legal process that Republicans and immigration hawks have long advocated for. Opponents of immigration like to say, Well, just do it the right way and then you wont have any problems, she said. These are literally folks doing it exactly the right way that has been laid out for them and then getting tricked into being detained. Its a bait and switch. These are literally folks doing it exactly the right way that has been laid out for them and then getting tricked into being detained. It's a bait and switch. Monica Sandschafer, Arizona State Director for Mi Familia Vota Members of Mi Familia Vota have responded by volunteering to accompany people to their court hearings, checking to make sure their case hasnt been closed already which would mean they dont need to go at all figuring out how much can be completed online and collecting family contact information in the event of a detainment. The group has also launched Know Your Rights training sessions and citizenship application workshops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For lawful permanent residents, who have also been detained under the current administrations hostile deportation agenda, the best protection is finalizing their citizenship status, Sandschafer said. Sandschafer, too, said she expects to keep adding a visit to the courthouse to her daily calendar. Well be continuing to be a presence as long as ICE is executing these unconstitutional, anti-due process actions, she said. State and city leaders have lashed out at the move to ensnare people who pose no danger. People with scheduled immigration hearings have already been found by a judge to be willing to comply with the rules of their parole without needing to be put in detention. Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, both Democrats and openly critical of Trumps anti-immigrant policies, lambasted the new strategy on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My office is in contact with DHS to gather more information, Hobbs wrote, in a post on social media site X, formerly Twitter. We need to prioritize efforts to deport criminals and secure the border. Indiscriminately rounding up people following the rules wont make us safer. ICE should be focused on apprehending dangerous criminals, not targeting families outside civil immigration hearings, echoed Mayes. Families and children attempting to navigate the immigration system in good faith deserve dignity and due process, not intimidation or fear. Phoenix Councilwoman Anna Hernandez, who previously served in the state Senate and has a fiercely pro-immigrant stance, called the arrests heartbreaking. She noted that the hearings on Thursday werent a series of dismissal motions, like earlier in the week, and posited that the attention from elected officials and immigrant advocates may have deterred a repeat of the ICE detainments. But while elected officials have voiced their concerns with the actions carried out by ICE officials, its unclear what can be done to prevent it from happening again. Earlier this year, immigrant advocates and city officials alike debated the possibility of passing a citywide ordinance limiting collaboration with federal immigration officials, but nothing came of it. Hernandez said the City of Phoenix likely has little power to stop ICE from arresting people simply attending their immigration hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because it is an immigration situation, I think that really is out of our hands, unfortunately, she said. But what we can do, as city electeds, is make sure that were here to support our people however we can. Hernandez did say she would support a move to rescind the Maricopa County Jails involvement in the 287(g) program, though none is currently in the works. The federal agreement allows some officers in the jail enforcement model to help ICE identify people in custody who may be eligible for deportation. Amid the Trump administrations increasingly hostile moves against immigrants, critics have called for scaling back the relationships between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration officials. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE On Wednesday, a young couple, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, was gunned down as they exited a function for young Jewish professionals hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. That function happened to be about delivering humanitarian relief across the Middle East and North Africa, including Gaza, and both victims had dedicated much of their short lives to promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding and peace between Israel and Arab countries. None of this mattered to the man who was apprehended shortly after the victims were shot at close range even as Milgrim struggled to crawl away. The suspect shouted for the cameras that had gathered, I did it for Gaza, and added a chant ubiquitous in the protests over the Israel-Hamas War: Free, Free Palestine. As the press first reported this tragedy, they did little to challenge the political framing established by the suspect. Outlets across the political spectrum almost universally described Milgrim and Lischinsky as employees of the Israeli Embassy. From Fox News to The Guardian, the New York Post to The New York Times, mainstream media (including MSNBC) immediately focused on the victims employment even though there is no evidence that the shooter could have known their place of work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the shooter did indisputably know, when he purchased a ticket for the event three hours before he assassinated Milgrim and Lischinsky, was that he was targeting an event at a Jewish museum hosted by and for Jews. We must call out this antisemitic violence for what it is. Failing to identify this execution as a targeted, antisemitic act allows the void to be filled by dangerous claims of justified political action. We saw this instantly on social media, where the falsehood that Milgrim and Lischinsky were killed because of their affiliation with Israel, not because they were thought to be Jews (Lischinsky was Christian) spread quickly. Some users ran with the idea that this murder was an act of political protest, that the killing of Zionist officials as the highest expression of anti-Zionism. Many others more quietly minimized the horror of this double-murder as a political act, wrong only in degree, but an extreme manifestation of otherwise legitimate protest. These framings distract from the lethal antisemitism at the heart of this violent act. Rightly, this horrific murder is being investigated as a hate crime, since federal law prohibits targeting based on actual or perceived religion or national identity. Yet the stakes of this moment go far beyond the charges that are brought; this is about our relationship to violence, politics and humanity. If violence and murder are rationalized, even celebrated, in the name of political causes, we are in dangerous territory and not only for Jews. The callousness that allowed so many to deny or minimize Hamas rapes of Israeli women or to wave away the firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros house on Passover hurts us all and can be directed at anyone. Yet these acts are logical outcomes of a culture that celebrates escalation, and in which extremism and dehumanization have become defensible, a phenomenon that history teaches us might begin with persecuting Jews, but will not end there. The least we can do is name it. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Two women have been arrested in connection with a dating app scheme that led to the shooting of a man in Corvallis, Oregon, authorities said. Julia Dell Yepez, 20, and Alexa Montano Corral, 20, were taken into custody following an investigation into the May 17 shooting of a man they allegedly met through the Chispa dating app, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Investigators believe the women used the app to lure the victim with the intention of robbery. The victim, who has not been identified, remains hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. PHOTO: Julia Dell Yepez and Alexa Montano Corral are seen in police handouts from the Benton County Sheriff's Office. (Benton County Sheriff's Office via Meta) Chispa is a dating app where Latino and Latina singles can connect with others in their area. The company did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to investigators, Yepez and Corral are also suspects in similar criminal activity in a nearby county. MORE: Columbia University violated civil rights law with 'hostile environment' for Jewish students, Trump admin says The incident unfolded around 5:30 a.m. local time on May 17 when emergency dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a shooting near Highway 99W and Lakeside Drive in Corvallis. Witnesses described seeing two Hispanic women, one wearing a long-sleeve black shirt, fleeing the scene on foot. Yepez was arrested Tuesday and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, first-degree assault and kidnapping. She is being held at the Benton County Jail on $300,000 bail, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corral, who was arrested Thursday, faces multiple conspiracy charges. Her bail was set at $250,000, according to court records. The case has prompted authorities to issue renewed warnings about dating app safety. "Always meet in public and never isolate yourself until you are certain of the other person's intentions," the sheriff's office advised in a statement. Anyone who may have had contact with either suspect through dating apps is urged to contact the Benton County Sheriff's Office or submit anonymous tips at 541-573-8477. The investigation remains ongoing with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service. Dating app meetup leads to shooting, arrests in Oregon: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Police are investigating after a man said a dating app mix-up led to him entering a Warren apartment where young girls were. According to a police report, a juvenile victim, who was sobbing and distraught, told police that she was asleep on her couch Wednesday at about 3:45 a.m. with her two sisters, who were also asleep in the same room. She told police she woke up to a man rubbing her shoulders and saying not to wake up. The girl said at first she thought she was dreaming until she realized she wasnt, and yelled for the man to get out and that she was calling the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The girl said the man ran from the apartment but left his shoes behind. At about the same time, the suspect contacted police and told them that the whole thing was a misunderstanding. He said he was at the apartment complex to meet someone else and provided police with an address for an arranged meeting on a dating app at the complex, police said. The address the suspect provided police showed a numerical difference in where the date was and the girls address. According to police, there was no forced entry and the apartment was probably unlocked. Police went to the address on the dating app where a man told them that he had arranged a date with somebody whom he met on a type of dating app, the report stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shoes left in the apartment were returned to the suspect. The suspect was not named in the report as investigators are consulting with prosecutors about charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. EBENSBURG, Pa. Disabled American Veterans now has a permanent parking spot at the Cambria County Human Services building parking lot on Candlelight Drive that officials said Thursday will help improve services. It just cuts down on so much time, said John Clay, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center chief of the center for development and civic engagement. Elected officials and representatives from the VA gathered at the new spot at the lower end of the lot in Ebensburg to celebrate the new partnership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clay said one DAV vehicle will remain in Ebensburg and the other will stay at the VA Clinic on Galleria Drive in Richland Township. This will cut down on the six drivers travel time when helping veterans get to appointments both in Cambria and Blair counties and other engagements, he added. DAV drivers are volunteers who pick up and drop off veterans as a free service to those who served the country through the military. Clay said partnering with the county and making a vehicle for use at a location easily accessible just made sense. Commissioner Keith Rager, who helped to coordinate this partnership, is also really excited about the prospects of the relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just trying to do our part to help veterans, Rager said. During Thursdays event, Clay took the opportunity to note DAV needs more drivers. Bob Skyrock, a volunteer who started in March, said lending his time to the organization has been rewarding. He noted that the vehicle parked in Ebensburg will be a lot of help. At this time, the service runs Tuesday through Thursday. For information on how to volunteer, call 814-943-8164, Ext. 17141. For veterans interested in utilizing the service, use Ext. 17383. Dave Shapiro was a music talent agent and pilot who filled his Instagram page with videos showing him flying planes. "Flying back with @davevelocity," former rocker Daniel Williams wrote on his Instagram story, using Shapiro's Instagram handle, and sharing a photo of the plane. People is reporting that both Williams and Shapiro, whose full name was David Shapiro, died in a plane crash on the morning of May 22, when the private jet careened into a San Diego neighborhood, setting homes on fire. Williams is the former drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have not confirmed the victims' names. But Shapiro's company, Sound Talent Group, said Shapiro had died, in a statement to Billboard that read, We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. According to The New York Post, Shapiro "was the co-founder of Sound Talent Group (STG), whose clients include bands Sum 41, Story of the Year, and Parkway Drive." The Post described Shapiro as a "music industry big shot." Other bands represented by Shapiro over the years are Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Set it Off, Silverstein, and Eve 6, Billboard reported. "He also operates the Velocity Records music label, whose roster has included Thursday, Concrete Castles, and Craig Owens," the site reported. On Instagram, Shapiro described himself as, "Music agent: airplane/helicopter Pilot: husband: puppy dad: retired BASE jumper: Alaska/San Diego." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also ran an aviation school called Velocity Aviation. That company has a bio for Shapiro. "Velocity Aviation was founded by long-time aviator, Dave Shapiro, who began his aviation adventure early on in life. Although never exposed to it in childhood, he always had an intrigue for aviation," it reads. "As a young executive in the music business in 2005, the then 22 year old, had earned a small amount of discretionary income for the first time in his life and the very first thing he did was took an intro flight. From that day forward he was completely hooked to all things aviation. Over time his passion grew exponentially as did his aviation experience," it says. "Over the coming years Dave continued to grow his career in and outside of the music industry. Rising up the ranks at major Hollywood agencies he was able to simultaneously grow his aviation business as well as other businesses including a restaurant, record label and merchandise manufacturing. This ultimately grew to him co-founding his own agency, San Diego based Sound Talent Group. No matter what businesses Dave was involved in, the one constant has always been aviation," the website bio adds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Instagram, Shapiro had not posted for some time. In 2020, he wrote, "Been wanting to go back to flight school for many years for my ATP rating (airline transport pilot). For non-aviators, this is the license above commercial. Although I have a career and dont plan to change that I always want to learn more and be a better pilot. Passed the check ride a couple months ago and got my cert in the mail! Did the test in a citation 525 series so Im now rated for the CJ jets too. Fun times." He also posted videos showing him flying planes. Photographer Jonathan Weiner wrote a tribute to Shapiro on Instagram. "Few people have impacted my life in as many ways as @davevelocity has over the last few decades," it says. "We first met with From Autumn To Ashes 2 lifetimes ago and weve been friends ever since. Dave often thought that anything he was doing was the most fun thing you could do and did everything in his power to make everyone around him participate, and he was often correct." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: "I cant think of anyone that lived life fuller and had more of a positive impact on as many people as he did. I dont know what else to say other than my life would be unimaginably different without you and I know youll be blasting Maiden with Pilot wherever you are. ." Related: Daniel Williams Posted Eerie Instagram Photos Before Plane Crash Dave Shapiro Was 'Big Shot' Talent Agent & Pilot first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 The post Dave Shapiro, Sound Talent Group Owner, Dead at 42 in Plane Crash appeared first on Consequence. Dave Shapiro, who represented such bands as Sum 41, Lamb of God, Pierce the Veil, Opeth, Parkway Drive, Built to Spill, I Prevail, Clutch, GWAR, and more as owner of Sound Talent Group, died in a plane crash in San Diego on Thursday morning (May 22nd). Two other Sound Talent Group employees and other individuals, all of whom have not been publicly identified yet, were also killed when the 1985 Cessna Citation aircraft crashed at roughly 4 a.m. in the Tierrasanta neighborhood, reports Billboard. The plane crashed onto a residential block, setting several homes on fire. UPDATE: One of the other victims has been identified as Daniel Williams, founding drummer of the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. Details here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, said a spokesperson for Sound Talent Group. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. Shapiro previously worked at The Agency Group and United Talent Agency before launching Sound Talent Group with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen. Billboard notes that Shapiro was an experienced pilot, and owned the company Velocity Aviation, where he also served as a flight instructor. In addition to the aforementioned bands, Sound Talent Group also represents such acts as Animals as Leaders, Beartooth, Between the Buried and Me, Black Veil Brides, Corrosion of Conformity, Devin Townsend, Down, Helmet, Hot Water Music, In This Moment, Killswitch Engage, Story of the Year, Zakk Wylde, and dozens more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Sound Talent Group announced the Summer of Loud Tour, a North American metalcore package featuring Beartooth, I Prevail, Killswitch Engage, and Parkway Drive that is set to kick off June 22nd. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of Dave Shapiro and the other victims of this plane crash. A video featuring Shapiro when he worked at The Agency Group, as well as a news report on the crash, can be seen below. Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Sound Talent Group co-founder and agent Dave Shapiro died in a plane crash in San Diego, Calif. on Thursday morning, per the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO). A founding member of NITO, and a reputable agent in the heavy rock music scene, Shapiro, 42, was in a private jet that crashed into a community of U.S. Navy-owned housing in San Diego on early Thursday morning. According to a recent report from the Associated Press, a total two people were killed, destroying at least one home and numerous parked cars. In a statement, a spokesperson for NITO commented, We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues. Dave was a visionary in the music industry and a founding partner of Sound Talent Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His passion, dedication, and unwavering support for artists shaped the careers of countless musicians and helped elevate the live music experience for fans around the world. As a founding member of NIT0, Dave was instrumental in the initial formation and funding of the organization and assisted countless of our peers successfully navigate the pandemic shutdown of live music. Our sincerest condolences go out to Daves family, friends, and everyone at STG. This is a monumental loss to our community. Shapiro helped launch Sound Talent Group in 2018 with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen following their time at the Agency Group and United Talent Agency. His roster included Sum 41, Eve 6, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Set it Off, Silverstein, Parkway Drive and Story of the Year. Shapiro also handled the label Velocity Records, whose roster has included Thursday and Craig Owens, to name a few. Shaprio shared his passion for flying on his personal social media channels, with a bio describing him as an airplane/helicopter pilot and founder of Velocity Aviation, which offers pilot instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of people on the plane at the time of the crash remains unconfirmed but it is speculated Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the metalcore band the Devil Wears Prada, also died in the crash. The groups official social media channels posted a series of photos of Williams, and in the caption, the group wrote, No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. Representatives for the Devil Wears Prada did not immediately return Varietys request for comment. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. May 22MITCHELL The following cases were among those heard Tuesday, May 20, during a circuit court session at the Davison County Public Safety Center, with Judge Chris Giles presiding: * Gabriel Shepherd, 22, of Waubay, pleaded not guilty to multiple drug-related charges. The charges include manufacturing or distributing methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A jury trial is scheduled for August. * Lee Hauge, 35, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, additional charges were dismissed, including unauthorized ingestion of cocaine, a Class 5 felony, possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Hauge is scheduled to be sentenced in two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Elsie Leroy, 31, of Mitchell, appeared in court for a probation violation. She is currently serving probation for possession of meth, a Class 5 felony. Leroy applied for a court-appointed attorney, and her case was continued for two weeks. * Christopher Stunes, 43, of Mitchell, appeared in court facing charges of failing to register a new address, a Class 6 felony, and a subsequent sex offender registration violation, a Class 5 felony. Stunes intends to retain an attorney on his own, and his case was continued for two weeks. He has multiple prior offenses for failing to register a new address and was previously sentenced to two years in prison for numerous violations. * Dustin Rosandic, 39, of Sioux Falls, appeared in court facing multiple charges, including intentional damage to property totaling less than $400, a Class 2 misdemeanor; grand theft involving an amount between $1,000 and $2,500, a Class 6 felony; and seven counts of third-degree burglary, all Class 5 felonies. Rosandic applied for a court-appointed attorney, and his case was continued for two weeks. * Kyle Erickson, 34, of Sioux Falls, appeared in court for a motions hearing seeking a reconsideration of his sentence. Erickson had been sentenced just two weeks earlier for third-degree burglary, a Class 5 felony, receiving a five-year prison term with three years suspended. Judge Giles informed Erickson that his sentence was influenced by his lack of cooperation and helpfulness during the pre-sentencing report process. The court denied his request for a sentence modification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Miguel Suarez-Guerrero, 36, of Mitchell, admitted to a probation violation and pleaded guilty to a second-offense DUI charge. He was granted a suspended imposition of sentence, fined $500 and ordered to serve 10 days in jail. * Matthew Weddell, 44, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to two Class 5 felonies: grand theft involving an amount between $2,500 and $5,000, and second-degree escape by a prisoner. As part of a plea agreement, a separate grand theft charge will be dismissed. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report, and Weddell is scheduled to be sentenced in July. * Andrew Whittecar, 36, of Surprise, Arizona, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. While this is typically a Class 5 felony, the charge was elevated to a Class 4 felony due to his status as a habitual offender. As part of a plea agreement, several other drug-related charges were dismissed. These included possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; possession of two ounces or less of marijuana and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, both Class 1 misdemeanors; possession of a controlled substance (hydrocodone), a Class 5 felony; distribution of cocaine, a Class 4 felony; and committing a felony while carrying a firearm, a Class 2 felony. The court ordered a pre-sentencing report, and Whittecar is scheduled to be sentenced in July. * Blaise Hofer, 32, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to five counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, all Class 4 felonies. A jury trial is scheduled for August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Joel McCormick, 38, of Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled weapon, a Class 6 felony. He plans to retain a new attorney before sentencing, so the case was continued for four weeks. * Andrea Buchholz, 33, of Mitchell, appeared in court for a status hearing, where she requested a furlough for treatment and a bond modification; both requests were denied by the court. She is facing multiple charges, including fourth-offense domestic abuse/simple assault, a Class 5 felony, first-degree burglary, a Class 2 felony, and violating a court order prohibiting contact with the victim before a court appearance, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Because Buchholz is in the process of retaining a new attorney, her jury trial has been moved to August. * Darice Garcia, 50, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor, was dismissed. Garcia was sentenced to five years in prison, with all time suspended. She was ordered to serve two years of probation and pay a $300 fine. * Santos Lopez, 38, of Huron, pleaded guilty to second-offense DUI and possession of an altered or invalid license, both Class 1 misdemeanors. As part of a plea agreement, charges of driving without a license, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and identity theft, a Class 6 felony, were dismissed. For the DUI charge, Lopez was sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 80 days suspended, had his driver's license revoked and was fined $500. For the altered or invalid license charge, he received a 60-day jail sentence with all time suspended and was fined an additional $300. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Justin Fleury, 42, of Mitchell, was sentenced to five years in prison, with all time suspended, for a possession of methamphetamine charge, a Class 5 felony. He was also ordered to serve two years of probation and pay a $750 fine. * Devin Oyan, 22, of Livermore, Iowa, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of assault by an adult confined in jail, both Class 6 felonies, as well as domestic abuse simple assault and threatening a law enforcement officer, both Class 1 misdemeanors. A jury trial is scheduled for October. Oyan requested a personal recognizance bond, which the court granted. * Harley Miller, 32, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to first-degree burglary, a Class 2 felony, and simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A jury trial is scheduled for August. Miller requested either a personal recognizance bond or a $500 cash bond, and the court granted the $500 cash bond. According to court documents, officers were called to South Burr Street on April 30, 2025, where they found a victim with swelling to his lips and blood coming from his mouth. The victim reported that Miller elbowed him in the face, knocking him to the ground, and then punched him in the face several times. Both the victim and a witness stated that Miller had unlawfully entered an apartment to commit the assault. Miller claimed the assault was in self-defense, but based on the victim's injuries and statements from those involved, it did not appear Miller acted in self-defense. Miller has been arrested six times in the past 10 years for simple assault. * Cody Overweg, 25, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to third-offense or greater domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 6 felony, and interference with emergency communications, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A jury trial is scheduled for October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Dustin Fox, 34, of Mitchell, appeared in court for a status hearing. The case was continued to allow time for his newly retained attorney to review the matter. A request for a bond modification was denied by the court. Fox is facing several charges, including fourth-offense domestic abuse simple assault, a Class 5 felony, as well as obstructing police and resisting arrest, both Class 1 misdemeanors. * Alexandra Lee Smith, 37, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor, was dismissed. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced in four weeks. * Chad Hoadley, 42, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and possession of a firearm with a prior drug felony conviction, a Class 6 felony, were dismissed. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with all time suspended. * William Perez-Favila, 27, of Newkirk, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea agreement, charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor, and driving under the influence, a Class 1 misdemeanor, were dismissed. He was granted a suspended imposition of sentence and fined $750. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Breanna Eaglefeather, 30, of Mission, entered a no contest plea to possession of psilocybin mushrooms, a Class 5 felony. A Class 1 misdemeanor charge for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana was dismissed. She was granted a suspended imposition of sentence, ordered to serve two years of probation and fined $750. * Mark Williams Sr.,59, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty to a first-offense DUI, a Class 1 misdemeanor. As part of a plea agreement, a charge of reckless driving, also a Class 1 misdemeanor, was dismissed. He was fined $350 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all time suspended. * Jesus Garcia, 35, of Mitchell, appeared in court for a status hearing regarding a probation violation, which he denied. Garcia recently retained a new attorney, prompting the court to continue the case to allow time for the new counsel to review the matter. His request for a personal recognizance (PR) bond was denied. * Bryon Fischer, 51, of Chamberlain, appeared in court for a status hearing related to a probation violation. His request for a furlough to receive mental health treatment was denied, and a subsequent request for reconsideration was also denied by the court. Fischer additionally sought a bond modification, which the court rejected. A court trial on the probation violation is scheduled to take place in two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Wanda Frederick, 31, of Mitchell, denied a probation violation. She is currently serving probation for second-degree escape by a prisoner. The court denied her request for a bond modification. Frederick is also facing new charges, and her case was continued for two weeks. * Karla Bridger, 60, of Mitchell, admitted to a probation violation after being terminated from the James Valley Drug and DUI Court. She is currently serving probation for a third-offense DUI. Bridger was sentenced to two years in prison, with eight months suspended and was credited for 110 days already served. * Cleveland Skunk, 33, of Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to three charges: possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class 2 misdemeanor; and possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class 1 misdemeanor. A jury trial is scheduled for October. His request for a personal recognizance bond was denied. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A fireworks display has taken residents by surprise in Dayton, leading to an apology from the city office. The city said Friday that the display was sudden and part of a privately funded celebration that was kept relatively secret to prevent large gatherings. We understand that the sudden lights and loud noises were startling and may have caused stress, especially for families and their pets, the city said in a social media post. Were truly sorry for the inconvenience and concern this caused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city said that the fireworks display was coordinated with the Dayton Fire Department. Please rest assured that no similar events are currently planned for this weekend. Click here to see the citys full statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was sentenced Friday for a fatal 2020 shooting that killed one woman and injured another person, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia. Guy Johnson, 57, received 29 years in prison for the murder of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson in Southeast D.C. 19-year-old to spend decade in prison for trying to carjack US Marshal near Supreme Court Justices home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson was found guilty by a jury in March of second-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. According to court documents, shortly after 3 a.m. on March 25, 2020, Johnson fired into a white Kia Forte where Robinson and another person were sitting. Johnson reportedly shot Robinson in the head, killing her instantly, before the other person inside the car ran from the scene unharmed. The incident was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the USAO. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was sentenced Friday for his involvement in multiple shootings, including the 2020 murder of a 13-year-old, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia. Aaron Brown, 29, pleaded guilty to an assault with intent to kill while armed charge and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. FBI investigating Israeli Embassy staffers slayings as act of terror Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USAO says Brown also pleaded guilty to an additional assault with intent to kill while armed charge in December for his participation in a separate shooting. According to court documents, from Feb. 1, 2020, through May 31, 2020, Brown and four other men conspired to illegally possess and transfer firearms to commit violent crimes as part of their affiliation with a neighborhood street crew. The USAO states, on March 1, 2020, Brown and the four men were involved in two shootings in two neighborhoods within 10 minutes. One of the shootings consisted of the men riding in a stolen Kia Soul and following Malachi Lukes, 13, and his three friends in the 600 block of S Street NW. Court documents continue with two of the men exiting the car and shooting at the boy and his friends, resulting in Lukes being fatally shot in the back as the bullet travelled through his heart and lung. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Brown remained inside the car for the first shooting but participated in a second shooting with members of a rival crew, where no one was hurt. Three men involved in the conspiracy with Brown Stephon Nelson, Tyiion Freeman, and Koran Jackson were found guilty on charges of first-degree murder while armed, several counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, conspiracy to commit various firearms offenses, and other firearms-related charges. Jump in, DC event scheduled ahead of pool season Freeman was sentenced to 108 years, Jackson was sentenced to 164 years, and Nelson received over 108 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USAO says the final mans trial is set for August 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. My name is Megan Zabinski and I am a woman in recovery, the New Cumberland resident declared at the podium in the Cumberland County Historic Courthouse Thursday morning. There Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday joined Cumberland and Perry county officials to announce the expansion of the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative, or LETI, into Cumberland and Perry counties. The program is designed to help law enforcement officers and county officials connect people with substance abuse disorders to resources. During Thursdays press conference, Zabinski shared her journey from the grip of substance abuse to her current role as a certified recovery specialist with the countys specialty courts. May 23, 2018, marks the day her life changed, after she was arrested for a crime stemming from her drug addiction. My arrest was my cry for help, Zabinski said. As much as I hated it at the time, Im so thankful what happened. I honestly believe, had I not been arrested, I may not be alive today. I will never forget the female officer that arrested me in Camp Hill. I feel like she was my guardian angel. She spent two months at Cumberland County Prison, enduring the worst detox of her life, and navigated recovery with a support team upon her release. Today, she works alongside some of those same women. Every day I wake up, I have my me time, and I never forget where I came from, who helped me get where I am and how amazing my life is now, Zabinski said. Officials hope the implementation of Cumberland and Perry county Law Enforcement Treatment Initiatives will lead to similar success stories. The program comes through the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office and operates in 30 other counties in the state. When we think about public safety, we have to remember that one of the number one ways to keep our community safe is to prevent things from happening in the first place, and so thats why I love initiatives like this, Sunday said. He said the program requires participants to follow through with their treatment, as well as the redemption that can follow, allowing them to move on with their lives. The treatment of substance use disorders is proven crime prevention tool, Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack said. The LETI program is designed to provide treatment to low-level, nonviolent offenders, and is designed to provide treatment and set them on the path to be productive members of society. Cumberland and Perry county law enforcement agencies have spent the last month training on how to recognize, identify and refer people with substance abuse disorders, he said. Police will work with the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission to assess people and determine the appropriate level of care moving forward. The initiative will help address the demand side of the drug epidemic, helping to reduce incarceration and overdose deaths, McCormack said. Bringing the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative ... to Cumberland County will add yet another important tool to our crime prevention arsenal, he said. Substance use disorders are the root cause of a significant percentage of crime in Cumberland County. The program will also operate in neighboring Perry County. I think doing this in a joint way makes a lot of sense, Perry County District Attorney Clay Merris said. We share not just a border, but a problem, a drug problem, one thats persisted for many, many years. He said Perry Countys second most common case is drug possession. The program is not aimed to excuse crime, but to reduce it, Merris said. We dont have to choose between justice and compassion, he said. Its about combining those two things. We can protect public safety and give people a path out of addiction when we do that. Christopher Raubenstine, head of the Cumberland County Chiefs of Police Association, said people can participate in the initiative through one of three tracks. A person can call the police and request the service for themselves, officers can make referrals or judges can start the process. You talk to an officer who has done their job more than a few months, and you will talk to somebody who has given Narcan more than one time to revive a repeat person, or has had to go knock on the door in the middle of the night to make a death notification, Raubenstine said. It is one of the worst things to do, because you are on the receiving end of why, why, why and you dont have that answer. He believes the initiative is another tool to prevent that from happening. Sunday said the benefit of the program is that its driven at the local level by local officials who are aware of their areas needs. He hopes the effort will continue to spread to other counties, adding, We will continue to do everything we can every day so that parents dont have to suffer the way so many have. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was sentenced Thursday for wielding a loaded machine gun towards an elementary school in October 2024, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia. Jason Jerome Bell, 21, pleaded guilty in January to unlawful possession of a machine gun and carrying a pistol without a license. He was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. Suspect charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO as an act of terrorism, authorities announce Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, around 2:45 pm on Oct. 11, a U.S. Park Police investigator was surveilling Bell after they received reports that he was brandishing a fully loaded machine gun at a car in front of an elementary school while staff were present. The investigator located Bell in an alley behind a home in the 1900 block of 16th Street SE, where he was aiming a firearm at a silver sedan. Bell was arrested, and a search resulted in the seizure of a loaded Glock 30 Gen 4 pistol, .45 caliber, outfitted with a switch that converted the semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. The Glock had 26 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A man is facing a slew of charges following a deadly double shooting in what authorities called an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community. This comes after a shooting Wednesday night in which two Israeli Embassy staff members were killed while leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. According to court documents, the event was hosted by the American Jewish Committee to bring together Jewish young professionals and the D.C. diplomatic community and was attended by several members of the U.S.-based Israeli diplomatic mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Act of terrorism: DMV, world leaders react to fatal shooting of couple working at Israeli embassy in DC Authorities said 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez opened fire at around 9 p.m., striking and killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim a young couple who were soon to be engaged. The State Department said Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen and an official guest of the U.S. government. Milgrim reportedly tried to crawl away after being shot, but Rodriguez followed behind her and fired again several times, security footage showed, according to officials. In all, D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences members retrieved 21 expended bullet casings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A young couple at the beginning of their lives journey, about to be engaged in another country, had their bodies removed in the cold of the night in a foreign city in a body bag. Were not going to tolerate that, Jeanine Pirro, Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said during a press conference Thursday. Less than 24 hours after the deadly shooting, Rodriguez was charged with four offenses, including murder of foreign officials, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of first-degree murder. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two Israeli embassy staff members shot, killed outside DC Jewish museum According to court documents, Rodriguez spontaneously told police officers, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pirro said officials would be considering the death penalty, saying its a death penalty eligible case. Steven Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said Rodriguez arrived in D.C. on May 20 before the shooting and his arrest on May 21. Jensen called for anyone who may have had contact with him or knew where he was between Tuesday and Wednesday to contact the FBI. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said there would be an increased police presence around the D.C. community, especially around faith-based organizations, community centers and schools. A preliminary hearing for Rodriguez was set for mid-June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. BOSTON (SHNS) A day after adopting significant prescription drug pricing policy into the budget it could pass later in the day, the Senate spent an hour Thursday debating whether to do the same with a long-discussed policy meant to combat human trafficking in Massachusetts and came to a different decision. A parade of Senate Democrats said they agree that human trafficking is a problem in need of attention here and no one spoke explicitly against Sen. Mark Montignys idea to require human trafficking recognition training for employees at hotels. But the New Bedford Democrat won the support of only the Senates five Republicans and six other Democrats (Sens. Nick Collins of South Boston, William Driscoll of Milton, James Eldridge of Marlborough, Michael Moore of Millbury, Adam Gomez of Springfield, and John Velis of Westfield). The amendment (#924) was sunk on a 12-28 vote with Senate President Karen Spilka making her opposition clear by voting no first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Normally, Id say, let the process take place, were in the first year of the session. BS, were in the seventh year of the bill being heard, studied, deflated and killed, Montigny said during a speech in which he recounted many of the 20-plus anti-human trafficking amendments and bills he has tried to get through the Legislature since he became involved with the issue in 2005. The hotel worker training language was first filed in 2018. Seven years is enough. And all it does, all it does, is say that hotel workers will be trained, that the attorney general will approve it, and that these establishments will ensure that it actually helps catch the trafficker. Now the longest-serving senator, Montigny said in March that he was getting less patient and more angry about what he sees as a lack of legislative action on human trafficking. He made that point repeatedly Thursday and said the survivors of human trafficking he talks to constantly ask, Why is there so much inaction on Beacon Hill? Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues was the first to argue against adopting Montignys proposal as an amendment to the state budget. While the goals are certainly laudable, this is a situation where you really dont create a mandate that every hotel employee whether they are front desk, janitors, dishwashers, window washers, everyone to be trained to recognize human trafficking without having extensive discussions with our friends in Local 26, the labor unions that represent the employees, with those that are going to be instituting the training programs, if they have enough staff, enough availability, enough capacity to accommodate this mandate, which could arguably be tens of thousands of individuals in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, Rodrigues said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montigny pointed out that the Massachusetts Lodging Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association has endorsed his legislation that seeks the same training mandate (S 1729). He also said the idea has across-the-board support from the attorney general, from workers, from unions and that no one has spoken against it. Theres nothing left to study. It has been studied for seven years. So either we admit that committees, when they study things, dont study anything, or we say theyve studied it to death and its time to act, Montigny said, referring to one of the most common ways a piece of legislation is sunk on Beacon Hill. Following a roughly 15-minute recess shortly after Montigny introduced his amendment and asked for a recorded vote, Sen. Cindy Friedman argued against it, saying she developed a bill (S 1116) in conjunction with survivors of the sex trade and in those talks with them, they have stressed that they want a commission that does a number of things. Now, I am not a commission person. Im not somebody who thinks that we need to continue to talk and continue to talk. But what I want to say and be clear about is the advocates that we have worked with and it has been across the board. It has been the AGs office. I can give you the names of the advocates that have been involved in this and they have asked for a special commission to look at all aspects of the sex trade, Friedman said. She added, What matters here is that this is what the advocates have asked us for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of other Democrats rose to say that they supported both the idea of Montignys amendment and Friedmans bill, but would be voting against the amendment to instead work towards Friedmans legislation. Worcester Sen. Robyn Kennedy, a cosponsor of Friedmans bill, said the legislation seeks to follow the Nordic model that partially decriminalizes sex trafficking, so that we stop holding victims accountable. She told Montigny that shes also frustrated by a lack of progress on human trafficking bills, and she is only in her second term in the Legislature. I stand in a very difficult moment, because I 100% agree that human trafficking is a problem. And I want to acknowledge that right now, in this commonwealth, across the state in almost every hotel, there is very likely somebody, most likely a woman, statistically, being held against their will, and we have to act to do something, Kennedy said. Montigny countered the opposition by saying that he has omnibus legislation that speaks to every single one of these things [and] that has been killed for 23 years here. He said he didnt offer that as a budget amendment because he didnt want to propose even more significant policy in the budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every session, Im stupid enough to believe that we will actually do what we should do with joint committees, and we will actually pass policy so we dont have to be activists in the budget, he said. The dean said his decision to push for his amendment Thursday was influenced by the Senates vote Wednesday to add a major prescription drug price control measure authored by Friedman into the budget. If a policy like that is OK in the budget, he argued his should be as well. When youre trying to help people, and particularly when you do support and vote for a 23-page piece of policy thats far more complex, its really hard to look survivors in the face, as I do, because I represent them also. So very hard to say, Sorry, we just didnt get to your policy, he said. Montigny told colleagues repeatedly to vote your conscience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said, Lets vote the way we feel. I judge no one, but lets not in any way think that there are a bunch of struggling survivors saying, Please take a couple more years and study this, senator.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz No Justice, No Peace and Justice for Patrick chants were heard again in downtown Grand Rapids Thursday, as community members gathered to demand justice for Patrick Lyoya and accountability for Grand Rapids police. Dozens of demonstrators rallied with signs in hand at the doors of the Kent County Courthouse to share their frustration and anger against the decision by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker not to seek a second trial against former Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schurr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schurr was charged with second-degree murder and later fired from the police force after fatally shooting Lyoya, a Black Congolese refugee, in the back of the head while he was facing the ground following a traffic stop on April 4, 2022. The confrontation escalated into a struggle when Lyoya tried to flee after failing to produce a drivers license. During the announcement of his decision, Becker noted his decision was based on the fact that there was never a majority for a guilty verdict among the 12 jurors, whom he interviewed after the mistrial was declared May 8. Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Thursdays emergency rally was organized by organizations including the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression, demanding a retrial on the Schurr case. Im going to be very clear in saying that if the Grand Rapids City Commission is not willing to listen to us and reform the police, there may be a time for us to escalate. That doesnt mean being violent, but it does mean maybe we need to disrupt the way that things are done in this city, said Ivan Diaz, 27, a Michigan State senate candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rally was just the latest outlet for members of the public to vent their anger. Days after the mistrial, community members gave passionate comments at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting, demanding justice for Lyoya and accountability over police actions. Additionally, on May 15, the NAACP organized a community listening session where residents expressed their experiences with police abuse and their outrage over the mistrial. I am going to keep showing up with everyone of you until we get the changes that we need. Because if we dont, one of us, or one of our family members or friends, we will continue to be at risk of becoming Mother Patrick, Mother Rowley, Mother Sammy, Erykai Cage, 44, said during her speech. A demonstrator wearing a Justice for Patrick t-shirt gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz As the rally continued, more people began to approach the crowd, including Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand and Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack. However, only Womack stayed and took the microphone to address the public, while LaGrand limited himself to speaking to a few media members and some demonstrators around the crowd before leaving. What you have seen is supposed to be a trial. But what it has come down to is a test of our resilience. Does Grand Rapids go back to business as usual? Do the politicians who refuse to help change the policies and laws surrounding police and community relations, do they go back to business as usual? We have to be resilient, Womack told the crowd. Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack speaks at a rally outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Womacks speech raised concerns among the audience about the absence of other politicians, with people asking why other commissioners werent present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only thing they care about is their careers. They do not care about anything else. And if you want to test me, you can say, Hey, maybe Commissioner Womack is just saying that. Okay, then where the hell are they right now? Womack said. Before the rally ended, the demonstrators chanted pro-Lyoya slogans and held up their signs. There was little police presence around the rally, and no counter protesters, so the gathering ended without incident. To me, this is personal because Im a Black mother, and these children are, at the end of the day, somebodys children, and they are also members of my community. Were unheard. They [politicians] have everything that they wanted. This is what their decisions made, not ours, Cage said. As long as I have breath in my body, Im optimistic because Im going to continue to do what I need to do in order to make sure that I see justice, she finished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack speaks to the press outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Grand Rapids Mayor LaGrand speaks to the press outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Ivan Diaz, a Michigan State senate candidate, gives a speech outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz May 22Violence is no stranger to Spokane's homeless population. Besides Thursday's murder sentencing of Aaron R. Holder, a judge sentenced Steven P. White, 48, last month to 30 years in prison for fatally stabbing 44-year-old Shan Anderson, who was lying on the ground possibly sleeping, more than a dozen times in 2023 in downtown Spokane. Last month, three teenagers brutally attacked a homeless man on the ground outside the downtown Spokane Public Library, leaving the man with skull fractures and brain bleeding, according to court documents. About 30 minutes later, one of the teens threw an electric scooter at a man sleeping in a sleeping bag on Sprague Avenue and Wall Street, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Whitehead, executive director at National Coalition for the Homeless, described attacks on homeless people as a "crime of opportunity." Homeless people often don't have ties to the larger community and are not connected to their relatives, so the crimes may go unnoticed or may not be adjudicated in the same manner, he said. Whitehead said the homeless population is more susceptible to violence because communities push to dissolve encampments, forcing them into isolated locations where they are more prone to be victims of violence. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson that municipalities can criminalize sleeping outdoors on public property because it does not violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Last month, the Spokane City Council voted to not move forward with reinstating Proposition 1, the voter-approved anti-homeless camping law that the Washington Supreme Court had recently struck down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposition 1 banned camping within 1,000 feet of parks, schools and licensed day care facilities, making violations a misdemeanor offense. The state Supreme Court argued the proposition had gone outside the legal bounds for a local initiative, though it did not make a ruling on the merits of the law, leaving it open for the City Council to reinstate the law, according to previous Spokesman-Review reporting. Whitehead said many people who attack homeless people view them as less human, a narrative that has ramped up in certain states and led to more attacks on the homeless population. Oregon has one of the highest levels of crimes against unsheltered people, Whitehead said, and attributed it to the negative publicity around the Grants Pass v. Johnson case, noting the direct correlation between dehumanizing homeless people and the violence that's perpetrated upon them. The Oregonian reported in February 2024 that a growing number of homeless people were being shot and killed in Portland. Five of the 15 homicides at that point in the year in the city involved a homeless person, the publication reported. Whitehead said he expects the homeless population and violence against it to dramatically increase if President Donald Trump's budget proposal and the reconciliation bill, the latter of which cleared the House this week, are approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump proposed dramatic cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That includes eliminating HUD's rental assistance program, including Section 8 vouchers, and allowing states to make their own rental assistance programs instead. The plan would include a two-year cap on rental assistance for able-bodied adults. Whitehead said the cuts to HUD will make it much harder to get people out of homelessness. The reconciliation bill proposes several changes to Medicaid, including work requirements for able-bodied adults. Whitehead said medical expenses are one of the reasons people can't afford housing. The "cascading list of changes" will have negative effects, he said. "People will die because of these changes," Whitehead said. By Doyinsola Oladipo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Passenger traffic and demand have declined sharply at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, according to data from two travel companies, after a series of air traffic disruptions prompted cautious travelers to transit through nearby airports. Since April 28, the number of travelers selecting Newark as their arrival airport declined 19% and about 15% fewer travelers chose the airport for departure, according to Booking Holdings' unit Kayak. The data suggests that reports about safety have affected traveler behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers are braving longer commutes to avoid Newark, the second-largest of three New York metropolitan area airports, after several telecom outages. On April 28, a 30- 90-second radar and telecommunications blackout led to dozens of diversions and cancellations and raised anxieties among flyers. The thousands of daily social media conversations about the airport remain 98% negative, according to social media analytics company Sprout Social. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it will require flight cuts at Newark to address congestion. "If they can get into LaGuardia, that's their number one pick, then JFK and then Newark," Kayak CEO Steve Hafner told Reuters. "Even if they live on the west side of Manhattan, because you just can't afford to risk a three- or four- hour delay." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passenger arrivals at Newark from April 28 to May 20 declined about 13% from the year-ago period, according to Italy-based Data Appeal, a tourism data provider, while passenger arrivals to LaGuardia increased 5.7% in the same period, though JFK traffic fell 7% in that time due to reduced international travel demand. Before the outages, total passenger volumes in March were down 2.7% year-over-year at Newark, according to data from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "I actually don't like any other airport other than Newark," said Gabrielle J., 24, of Newark who said she will fly from JFK to the Caribbean this summer. "As the outages happened, we were in the process of booking. So we were like, 'okay, now we definitely can't fly from Newark.'" Runway repairs at Newark set to be completed by June 15 have also contributed to the airport's lagging performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've heard that it will hopefully get fixed by June. I would love for that to happen," said San Francisco resident Stef Anderson, 28. Anderson said her United San Francisco-to-Newark flight on May 16 was delayed by more than eight hours before eventually being canceled. She hopes her May 28 flight to Paris won't meet the same fate, because her premier silver status on United means she plans on sticking with that airline. "They have me in golden handcuffs - otherwise I would fly Alaska," she said. (Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Aurora Ellis) (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Nate Willems, a lawyer and former state representative, announced Wednesday he is running for Iowa attorney general, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.. Willems, a Mount Vernon Democrat, is competing for the statewide elected position currently held by Attorney General Brenna Bird. She was first elected to office in 2022, when she defeated longtime Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller. Willems may not be competing against Bird in the 2026 general election. Bird is considering a run for governor following Gov. Kim Reynolds announcement that she will not seek reelection. Though Willems may be competing for an open position, he said he wants to change the trajectory of how the state office is utilized, alluding to Birds commitment to filing legal challenges against policies from former President Joe Bidens administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowans deserve an attorney general focused on protecting Iowans and standing up for our fundamental rights and freedoms, Willems said in a statement. As attorney general, Ill work to keep communities safe by holding violent criminals accountable and Ill take on corporations who try to rip off Iowans by price gouging or stealing their hard-earned wages. If elected attorney general, Willems said he would use the office to investigate and prosecute corporations that break labor laws, as well as improving the states consumer protections through the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division. He also said he would work with prosecutors and local law enforcement to secure convictions for violent crimes. Willems said has a background in this field, having worked as a lawyer focused on labor cases as an attorney and partner for Rush & Nicholson, P.L.C., in Cedar Rapids, a workers compensation firm. He has also previously held office in Iowa, representing then-House District 29 for two terms, from 2008 to 2012. Ive spent my career representing tens of thousands of Iowans who have had crimes committed against them, Willems said. Ive successfully taken on corporations who think theyre above the law and steal wages, require off-the-clock-work, hurt their employees, or violate the rights of working men and women in our state. As attorney general, Ill fight to make sure every Iowan gets the justice they deserve. Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter. This story was republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The U.S. Capitol pictured on March 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) While all four of Iowas U.S. representatives voted in favor of the budget reconciliation bill making controversial cuts to programs like Medicaid, Democrats and advocates in Iowa are urging U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley to stop the bill from progressing through the Senate. The U.S. House narrowly passed the big, beautiful bill early Thursday in a 215-214 vote, sending it to the Senate. Measures included in the package include an extension of the 2017 tax law enacted during President Donald Trumps first term in office, increased spending for border security and defense, and a $4 trillion lift to the countrys debt limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also includes provisions that would make major changes to Medicaid, reducing spending for the health coverage program by $625 billion over 10 years, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. It also shifts some of the costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, to state governments. CBO analysis found these changes would result in income losses for low-income families across the country, but would increase resources for the highest earners in the U.S. in coming years. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX All of Iowas current U.S. representatives are Republican, and all voted in favor of the bill Thursday. Three of the four representatives were also involved in the process of passing parts of the budget reconciliation package through committees earlier in May, including the pieces making changes to SNAP and Medicaid. U.S. Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, both Republicans currently representing districts that are considered possible pick-ups for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, have repeatedly defended their support of the bill against criticism from Democrats and others who say the cuts to public assistance programs like Medicaid will hurt Iowans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nunn released a statement Thursday saying the bill is a win for Iowa by extending tax cuts and providing assistance to farmers and businesses. The bill also safeguards key benefit programs for vulnerable Iowans while eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, Nunn said. It bolsters border security, restores accountability, and invests in American energy dominance where Iowa is already leading the charge. Miller-Meeks similarly praised the bill, saying it will help Iowans who need public assistance by taking steps like removing illegal immigrants from Medicaid and preventing future tax hikes. As a former small business owner and Army veteran, I know whats at stake, Miller-Meeks said in a statement. This bill protects Iowa families, seniors, and small businesses while strengthening Medicaid for the vulnerable not for those who can work and choose not to. Im especially proud that my two bills to improve Medicaid integrity and expand access to pediatric care were included. Todays vote is a win for Iowa and for every American who believes in work, responsibility, and a government that serves its people, not the other way around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the bills passage, several Iowa organizations opposed to the cuts warned that if the budget reconciliation package becomes law, thousands of Iowans could lose health coverage or struggle to pay for food. Evan Schultz, a Des Moines resident with quadriplegia who works at Central Iowa Center for Independent Living, said in a Fairness for Iowa news release that he relies on Medicaid and SNAP to live independently. My Congressman chose tax breaks for billionaires over me, Schultz said in the news release. I cant tell you how sad, scary and disappointing this is. Medicaid and SNAP dont make anyone rich. They help us get by. They help me live on my own and make sure I have enough to eat. If I get kicked off Medicaid my life will be upside down, but at least I have my family to turn to. For many, their lives will be over. Iowa Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines, who is running as a Democratic candidate in Iowas 3rd District, said Nunn went back on earlier pledges to defend Medicaid and SNAP. Zach Nunn is the worst type of politician, Trone Garriott said in a Thursday statement. Just last month, Nunn vowed to block any attempt to cut Medicaid or SNAP benefits but it was just talk. His actions show who he really is: last night he voted to rip away health care and food assistance from Iowans already struggling with the rising cost of living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release, Nunn pointed to a provision included in the budget reconciliation bill that he advocated for which prohibits consideration of future funding cuts to SNAP and Medicaid for people under age 19, 65 and older, pregnant women and people with disabilities. While the measure passed the House, the Senate is expected to make changes to the bill meaning it will be sent back to the House for another round of consideration before reaching Trump. State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, urged U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst to vote against the budget package as it goes through the Senate during a Thursday news conference hosted by Defend America Action, a group launched earlier in May to oppose Trump administration policies. Wahls spoke alongside Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who served as administrator of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) during the Biden administration, about the potential loss of Medicaid coverage for Iowans that could occur if the budget reconciliation bill is passed. Wahls said the GOP funding plan will cuts health care funding that 700,000 Iowans rely on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you exactly what voting for this so-called budget means: It means a $518 million hole blown in our state budget, it means 86,000 Iowans losing their health care and higher costs for hundreds of thousands of Iowa families, Wahls said. While the ultra rich are going to get a big, beautiful tax cut, its middle class and working Iowans who are going to get stuck with the bill. Wahls quoted Ernst speaking during a tele-town hall Monday with U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, when the senator acknowledged there were hiccups involved in some federal funding cuts made through the Department of Government Efficiency. Im not going to say that theres not a little pain involved with that because we know there is, Ernst said, the Gazette reported. But, we are trying to do it in a meaningful manner here in Congress and take into consideration what our Iowans are thinking. Wahls said this approach cannot be taken for cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you cut food assistance school meals for kids and Meals on Wheels for seniors, its not a little pain, Its 116,000 Iowans going hungry, Wahls said. When my neighbors and constituents cant see a doctor because you cut their health care, its not a little pain, its a matter of life or death. Iowa deserves better than politicians who just shrug their shoulders at suffering and dismiss it as a little pain while they hand out tax breaks to their billionaire donors. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, also Republican, said in a May 14 call with reporters that negotiations are continuing on the bill in the Senate, but that he wants a bill that is going to be pro-growth and deliver policies that are good for Iowans. We cant let everything just fall apart, because were going to have the biggest tax increase in the history of the country, with the sunsetting of the 2017 tax bill, Grassley said. Weve got to keep it going. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Big Spring School Board approved a proposed final budget Monday that includes a 1.5% real estate tax increase, through that number could decrease when the final budget is approved. The proposal includes $65,384,290 in revenues and $66,781,931 in expenditures, with the roughly $1.3 million gap to be covered by the districts unassigned fund balance. A 1.5% real estate tax increase would bump the millage rate from 16.126 mills to 16.2873 mills, Business Manager Cristy Lentz said during the Finance Committees meeting Monday. That means the owner of a home worth the median assessed value of $181,500 would owe about $43.90 more in real estate taxes next year. Lentz said the proposed budget accounts for 70% of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros budget recommendation, though the state budget likely wont pass until after the district is required to approve a final budget, so those numbers remain unknown. Next years proposed budget does not include an increase in cyber charter expenses for increased enrollment or increased tuition, she said. While the board adopted the proposed budget with a tax increase, the final budget could pass with a smaller increase or no tax hike at all. Board President John Wardle said the board is permitted to approve a final budget with a lower increase than the proposed budget, however the final budget cannot implement an increase higher than the proposed final budget. Several board members, including David Fisher, opposed a tax increase at Mondays meeting. In my case 80% of the people I represent are retired and have expressed ... to me that theyre afraid of losing their homes because they cannot pay taxes, he said. I will not support raising taxes on people I represent when theyre concerned theyre going to lose their homes. Fisher and other members said they were OK with the 1.5% increase in the proposed budget as long as that could be lowered with the final budget. If the board passes a final budget with no tax increase, that would place the gap between revenues and expenditures at about $1.8 million to be covered by the unassigned fund balance. Lentz also provided an update on the upcoming homestead or farmstead relief, in which the state gives Big Spring residents who own property in the district a credit off of real estate tax bills. Residents who qualify can expect to receive a roughly $241 credit this year, about a $34 increase from last year, she said. Factoring in that credit for homeowners with a median assessed value home who would pay an additional $43.90 next year with a 1.5% tax hike drops that increase to $9.71 next year. Lentz included an update on the districts unassigned fund balance in her presentation Monday. With about $4.9 million in the fund this year, using the money to cover the anticipated $1.3 million budget gap next year would drop the balance to about $3.1 million. Superintendent Nicholas Guarente said the district collects interest revenues from reserve funds that could decrease as those reserves are spent. Lentz said the districts Act 1 Index, which caps the amount the board can raise taxes each year, has been historically high and is anticipated to drop in the future, limiting the boards taxing ability. Board Secretary Julie Boothe said that while the board didnt increase the millage rate of real estate taxes in last years budget, the assessed property values of district homes went up, meaning the district still collected additional revenues from residents. According to Board Treasurer Lisa Shade, the districts budget has seen recurring surpluses in recent years indicating money that was collected but not needed. Guarente said the district hopes to keep the budget variance between plus or minus 3%. Ive always said that your budget is value, mission and your reflection of your past decisions, he said. What do you value, what is your vision, and what are the impacts of the decisions that youve made previously? So I think thats just something to be remindful of. We presented a budget that I think is about as real as it can be. The board is expected to vote on a proposed final budget during its June 23 meeting. Student lunch prices Big Spring student breakfast and lunch prices will remain the same next school year, according to a contract with food service provider Chartwells the board approved Monday. Breakfast for all students will cost $1.55 while elementary lunches and secondary lunches will remain at $2.85 and $3, respectively. Adult breakfast costs will also be unchanged from last year at $2.90, and milk prices will remain at $0.60. Lunch prices for adults will increase by $0.40 from $4.55 to $4.95. Breakfast and lunch costs for Yellow Breeches Educational Center and Head Start students will both increase next year. Student breakfast prices will jump $0.60 from $2.65 to $3.25 while lunches will rise $0.15 from $4.85 to $5. Adult lunches for Head Start will also be implemented next year at $6 each. The contract runs July 1 through June 30, 2026. State Sen. Kelda Roys, holding her toddler, speaks about legislation Democrats are proposing to provide ongoing funding for child care providers. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) Democratic lawmakers are circulating a draft bill to extend the soon-to-end state child care support program and fund it with $480 million that was stripped from the 2025-27 state budget. The proposed legislation follows action earlier this month by Republican lawmakers to remove child care support and more than 600 other items that Gov. Tony Evers included in his draft budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Evers proposal and the Democrats bill aim to continue support that child care providers have been receiving since 2020 as part of federal pandemic relief. This funding has been essential in continuing successful programs that support our early educators, child care providers, parents, and most importantly, our kids, said state Rep. Alex Joers (D-Middleton) at a Capitol news conference Thursday announcing the legislation. The $20 million that Wisconsin paid out each month to providers through mid-2023 kept our early educators in the workforce, held tuition down for parents and provided a direct investment in our children during the most crucial years of their childhood development, Joers said. Payments were cut to $10 million a month in June 2023, and the last of those funds will be paid out by early July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with this impending deadline, child care providers and early educators are faced with the impossible decision to either raise rates or have to close altogether, Joers said. Without assurance of this funding lifeline, many have already made that decision and have devastatingly shut their doors forever. Citing recent reports, Joers said that there are 48,000 children on waiting lists for child care in Wisconsin. In a survey of providers, 78% said they would have to raise fees for infant care the most expensive age group in most child care programs. Altogether, if nothing changes, parents are looking at having to find an additional up to $2,600 in their yearly budget, Joers said. First-term Sen. Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi), the lead state Senate author on the legislation, said that when she was running for office last year, voters repeatedly shared their concerns about the cost and scarcity of child care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have historically undervalued and underpaid child care and early education professionals, Keyeski said. This is no longer tenable. She described the plight of one constituent who had to change providers three times after the first and then the second provider went out of business because of financial difficulties or other constraints. The mother told her that her current provider the third had rates that are at the top of what the family could afford. Keyeski said the provider has told the woman that unless the state can continue with its support, the centers rates will go up $40 a week, or $160 a month. For the couple, this increase is unsustainable, she said. Her family is left wondering, what to do next? Wisconsins rural communities have been especially hard hit, she added: In 70% of them, there are three or more children for every child care opening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my district alone, over 34,000 children need care, but there are only about 26,000 available slots, Keyeski said. Child care should be viewed as essential infrastructure, said state Rep. Renuka Mayadev (D-Madison). And as a state, we support infrastructure. We maintain roads, we maintain bridges. Why is funding childcare such a fight? Mayadev said. Wages of less than $14 an hour are driving child care workers out of the field, she added. There is no other industry where such high value work is being done at such dismal low wages. Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) accompanied by her toddler son before she took him to his child care provider near the Capitol said the legislation calls for $480 million in state funds over the next two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I think the real question is what it will cost the state if we dont do it, Roys said. She forecast continued massive closures of child care centers. Already over 60% of child care providers have classrooms sitting empty or slots that cant be filled because they dont have the teachers to fill them, she added. Roys said child care was a critical need in order for the state to address persistent shortages of people to fill jobs. In critical areas like public safety, in K-12 education, in health care what is it going to mean if the parents of even more kids cant get child care? Roys said. We cant afford that. We have to make this investment. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A gun bill passed by Democrats in the Nevada Legislature has advanced to Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos desk, where it faces a likely veto. Assembly Bill 245 (AB245) would raise the age limit to own a semiautomatic shotgun or rifle to 21 years old. The bill passed on party lines in the Assembly (27-15) and the Senate (12-8, with one excused). Nevada governor vetoes bill to expand mail drop boxes before Election Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was sponsored by Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui. Another bill, Senate Bill 89 (SB89) would take away the guns of someone convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime. That bill has passed in the Senate (12-8, with one excused), and is expected to pass in the Assembly. Democratic State Sen. Julie Pazina sponsored the bill. Democrats passed the same bills in 2023, but Lombardo vetoed both pieces of legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In the hustle and bustle of a busy NATO Assembly already underway in Dayton, visitors can participate in these various artistic and historical exhibits throughout the city. Think Freedom at Dayton Arcade Renowned artist Edina Seleskovic is bringing her artistic gifts to Dayton for the installation of Thinking Freedom at the Dayton Arcade rotunda. News Center 7s Xavier Hershovitz visited the art display inspired by Seleskovics story as an exchange student. The Bosnian-born artist said she came to the U.S. in 1991. Seleskovic said she couldnt return to her home country after the school year was over because a major war had started in Bosnia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirteen years ago, Seleskovic was finally able to return to Bosnia, and thats where the idea for the project came from. On each of the metal doves featured in the exhibit, peoples answers to the question What does freedom mean to you? are written on them. I realized that art and culture can be messengers. They can be connectors. They have permission to cross borders and barriers, Seleskovic said. Installation began May 18 and was first open to the public on Wednesday. The exhibit is free and open to the public during select times May 21-31. By combining art, history, and community engagement, we hope to honor the past, celebrate the progress made, and inspire future generations to continue striving for peace and unity, a spokesperson for Culture Works said on their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, visit https://cultureworks.org/think-freedom-dayton/ Sanctuary for Peace at Christ Episcopal Church The Christ Episcopal Church on West First Street in Dayton is hosting a Sanctuary for Peace, a community gathering to offer prayers for peace and maintain a vigil for peace during the NATO Assembly. The event is open to people of all faiths. The church is located near the center of the secure zone of NATO Village, but Christ Episcopal Church said their church will not stand empty. This event is for everyone in the community who wishes to offer words of encouragement and support for the work of peace, both through NATO and throughout the world, a spokesperson for Christ Episcopal Church said on their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guided prayers will be offered at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day from May 22 to May 26. For more information, visit https://daytonchristepiscopal.com/peace/ Dayton Around The World Exhibit at Old Montgomery County Courthouse This exhibit will feature artifacts and stories that celebrate everything to do with Daytons legacy. It will celebrate the Wright Brothers groundbreaking inventions and innovations in aviation. It will celebrate the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords. It will also contain historical items from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. By opening the doors of the Old Montgomery County Courthouse to the public, were not only honoring the past, but were making it accessible and relevant to the next generation. This is especially important for our young people. When students walk through these halls and see exhibits that showcase both local innovation and natural history, they can see themselves as part of that ongoing story, Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exhibit will be open throughout the NATO Assembly and will remain open to the public from May 27 to May 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The courthouses first floor will be open for tours. Concert for Peace at Schuster Center World-renowned conductor Marin Alsop will stand in front of the Sarajevo Philharmonic and the Dayton Philharmonic and lead them through a once-in-a-lifetime musical event that unites cultures and celebrates the power of peace. In a showcase of how music transcends boundaries to inspire harmony and connection, the two philharmonics will come together for one night only at the Schuster Center on May 29 at 8 p.m. The philharmonics will perform Bernsteins Candide Overture, Vaughan Williams Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis, and Beethovens Symphony No. 5. For more information, visit https://www.daytonlive.org/events/concert-for-peace/ Denmark will raise its retirement age to 70 by 2040, the highest in Europe, after a controversial vote in parliament. The increase in retirement age was approved in the countrys legislature, with 81 votes in favour and 21 against. The age of retirement has been tied to life expectancy in Denmark currently 81.7 years since 2006, with the government raising the threshold every five years. Under the Danish system, the retirement age will rise from 67 to 68 in 2030, and then 69 in 2035, and finally to 70 in 2040. The retirement age of 70 will only apply to Danes born after Dec 31, 1970. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, has admitted that the sliding scale for retirement is not sustainable, and that a new system will eventually need to replace it. We no longer believe that the retirement age should be increased automatically, she said. You cant just keep saying that people have to work a year longer. Danish workers reacted with scorn to the new rules, warning that they would be particularly tough for blue-collar workers in physically demanding jobs. [Its] unrealistic and unreasonable, roofer Tommas Jensen, 47, told public broadcaster DR. We work and work and work, but we cant keep going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Ive paid my taxes all my life. There should also be time to be with children and grandchildren. The retirement regime has also been branded completely unfair by Jesper Ettrup Rasmussen, the chairman of Denmarks confederation of trade unions. Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EUs highest retirement age. A higher retirement age means that [people will] lose the right to a dignified senior life, he said in comments reported by the BBC. The retirement age is a sensitive subject in Europe, with higher life expectancy and budget deficits pushing each generation to work for longer than its predecessor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, Denmarks decision to have the highest retirement age somewhat contradicts its reputation as an exceedingly prosperous and comfortable Nordic state. In neighbouring Sweden, pension benefits can still be claimed by citizens as young as 63. In France, there were mass protests and riots when Emmanuel Macrons government imposed a law raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. In the United Kingdom, those born between 1955 and 1960 generally start to receive their pension at 66, but the threshold gradually increases for those born after 1960. 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. DENMARK, S.C. (WJBF) Denmark Technical College announced Dr. A. Clifton Myles will be appointed as interim president, beginning July 1, 2025. Myles currently serves as the colleges provost, executive vice president for administration and innovation, and chief strategy officer. His appointment comes as Denmark Techs current president, Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr., was named the next president of Talladega College in Alabama. Denmark Tech isnt just a place to earn a degree. Its where students discover who they are and who theyre meant to become. Everything we do is guided by our mission to engage, educate and empower, said Myles said in statement released Friday, May 23. Im proud to help create the kind of experience that shapes confident, purpose-driven individuals who are ready to soar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myles joined Denmark Tech in 2019, and has been described as a central force to the institutions transformation. Dr. Myles is more than capable. Hes essential, said Kevin Whitt, chairman of the Denmark Technical College Area Commission. From vision to execution, he has helped guide this college through one of the most pivotal times in its history. His dedication to our students and his deep knowledge of the institution position him perfectly to lead with strength, purpose, and continuity. Myles has been a partner in every major success weve achieved, said Todd. He knows what it means to dream big, act boldly and put students first. I cant think of a better person to guide Denmark Tech into this next chapter. According to the college, the Denmark Technical College Area Commission will begin a national search for the colleges next permanent president in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) A Caldwell County Sheriffs Office deputy was injured in a crash during a vehicle pursuit Thursday. At the time, the deputy was assisting the Lockhart Police Department in the pursuit of a felony suspect, the sheriffs office said in a press release. During the pursuit, the deputys patrol unit left the roadway at the intersection of S. Colorado Street and Blackjack Street in Lockhart. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deputy was taken to a hospital for treatment. The suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Caldwell County Jail. Further details on the suspect were not immediately 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 KXAN Austin. Video above: Florida never assumed FEMA would be there for us during hurricane season, DeSantis says TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears to be more favored than President Donald Trump among Sunshine State voters, according to a new Florida Chamber of Commerce poll. The poll, conducted by Cherry Communications, also surveyed over 600 voters on issues like support for recreational marijuana and tax cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOAA predicts above average 2025 hurricane season: Heres how many storms we could see The poll found that DeSantis enjoys a 54% approval rating in Florida, while Trumps is at 51% after the first 100 days of his second term. Just under half of respondents said Florida is heading in the right direction, while 43% believe things are on the wrong track. 57% of voters support extending the 2017 tax cuts, which are set to expire. Extending the tax cuts was widely supported by Republicans (87%) and independent voters (55%). 23% of Democrats support the cuts. The Chambers poll also found that a majority of Floridians (53%) support legalizing recreational marijuana. This still falls short of the required 60% threshold that would have allowed the amendment to pass in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A former Yale student detained recently by immigration agents in Hartfords federal courthouse received medical attention after being hit seven times with Tasers by immigration agents who then rebuked a judge who tried to intervene, according to information presented in court Thursday. New details of the May 9 detention of Afghan refugee and former student Saifullah Khan by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents became public Thursday when Khan argued for release on bond at a federal immigration court in Chelmsford, Mass. The Department of Homeland Security said Khan is dangerous and a flight risk in part because he tried to run away from the plain clothes ICE against who he said failed to identify themselves before firing Tasers at him on the sixth floor of the secure federal building on Main Street in Hartford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Immigration Judge Donald R. Ostrom did not immediately rule on bond. Ostrom said he was taking the matter under advisement and would issue a written decision, departing from his practice in other cases Thursday in which he issued rapid fire decisions on release from the bench. Hartford attorney Gregory C. Osakwe, who represented Khan, argued for bond, disputing government arguments about danger and flight, while providing more information about how ICE agents made the arrest. Osakwe said Khan, who had a pending asylum application, had been summoned to appear in immigration court and was leaving Judge Ted Doolittles courtroom after the hearing was continued to a future date. When he was exiting the court on the sixth floor in Hartford, ICE officials approached him, Osakwe said. There was no reason to arrest him. They had the authority, but it was highly irregular because he had an affirmative application which was pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didnt identify themselves. They sought to grab him. And then he, not knowing who they were, started running back to the court and he was tasered seven times. Judge Doolittle came out of the court and asked ICE officers, Why are you doing this? And they told him he should not interfere with a lawful arrest. As a matter of fact, the ICE officers subsequently told (Khan) that the judge was a traitor for coming out to challenge them, Osakwe said. He said Khan may have suffered a concussion and received a medical examination. No one could be reached at Hartfords ICE office Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osakwe also disputed claims by the Department of Homeland Security that it has not been able to locate Khan for years. Among other things, he told the court the department has mailed immigration forms to his apartment. Khan, who is 32, is married to a U.S. citizen and lives in New Haven. He became well-known in legal circles a decade ago because of a sexual assault accusation that resulted in his expulsion from Yale and a defamation suit he filed against university in retaliation after a jury acquitted him of the sexual assault charges. He was born in a Pakistani refugee camp after his family was forced from Afghanistan by the Taliban. He was admitted to Yale as a scholarship student and was on track to graduate in 2016 until the expulsion. On Halloween night in 2015, a female student who lived in Khans dormitory accused him of sexually assaulting her. He said they spent the night together and engaged in consensual sex after attending a party and a performance by the Yale Student Orchestra earlier in the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khan denied the sexual assault allegation. But he was ultimately expelled after an inquiry by Yales University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct. After his exoneration in court, Khan sued Yale and his accuser, asserting that he had been treated unfairly by Yales in-house disciplinary process. Two appeals courts agreed and Yale has not succeeded in winning dismissal of the defamation suit. Homeland Security attorney Alexandra Wolff, who argued against bond, said Khan also was the subject of a protective order in the state of Washington in 2018. There was no criminal charge in that matter, which arose from an intimate relationship. Wolff argued that the Yale accusation and the Washington order are interactions with law enforcement that support the DHS argument that Khan is dangerous. She said the department has not been able to confirm Khan was acquitted of the Yale charges because the transcript of the trial resulting in exoneration has been partially sealed to hide the accusers identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does appear that the respondent was acquitted of those charges, Wolff said. It is DHSs position that DHS has not been able to independently verify the acquittal because the case was sealed. Additionally the department posits that there are multiple ways to be a danger to the community and not just through criminal convictions or interactions with law enforcement, Wolff said. Wolff was referring specifically to a rebuke of Khan by the U.S. District judge presiding over the defamation suit. After the court denied an attempt by Khan to unseal the identity of his accuser, he posted on social media that he had been gagged. The court said the post was an encouragement to others to publicly identify the accuser in violation of the confidentiality order. DHS considers Khan a flight risk because, in spite of the publicity that has accompanied his suit against Yale, the department had been unable to locate him for years, Wolff said. . The respondent has been unable to be found for the last several years, Wolff said. I can proffer as a representative of DHS that ICE has been attempting to locate this respondent since 2016 and they have been unable to locate him. Now a government agency being unable to locate someone should be significant evidence of flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osakwe said claims that Khan could not be found are untrue. He said Khan has lived at his current address for seven years and his U.S. wife has submitted documentation of their marriage to immigration authorities as part of the couples argument against deportation. Their address can be found in forms documenting the marriage, as well as other correspondence including forms and notifications immigration authorities have addressed to Khan. When counsel proffers that they have been trying to locate him and have been unable to do that, it is factually inaccurate, Osakwe said. He has not lived at any other address for the past seven years. They have his address. The only time they made an effort to detain him was when he had come to the court. Osakwe was critical of how Khan was detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is very unfortunate that officers of the United States government would do that, he said. It is a pattern that they are doing right now to intimidate people. That officers would make derogatory statements to an immigration judge is also very unfortunate. Khan, who appeared at the hearing remotely by video link wearing a green prison uniform from a detention center in Plymouth, Mass. said at the end of the hearing that he will comply with any conditions of release. I have been attending court appearances in the criminal matter and the civil matters and this one voluntarily over the past nine years, he said. The official grand opening celebration for a long-anticipated new Barnes & Noble bookstore in Lakewood is set for next week and will include an author event. The store relocated to a new site at Lakewood Towne Center to make way for new apartments next to the shopping center. The stores new address is 10330 59th Ave. SW, Unit A. The former store at the shopping center closed earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new store officially will open to the public 10 a.m. May 28, with acclaimed fantasy authors Terry Brooks, Robin Hobb and Shawn Speakman cutting the ribbon and signing copies of their books, including Brooks newest release, Galaphile, according to a Barnes & Noble release issued this week. The bookstore also will feature an updated B&N Cafe. After nearly 30 years, our well-trod Lakewood Mall bookstore was in dire need of an update, said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, in a statement. Here in Lakewood Towne Center, we are very proud to present a fresh, new Barnes & Noble, which our booksellers have expertly curated. Our Lakewood booksellers are looking forward to greeting their longtime customers and welcoming new ones into this beautiful new Barnes & Noble. The bookseller expects to open more than 60 new stores in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lakewood location is one of three new U.S. Barnes & Noble bookstores set to open in May, along with new stores in Connecticut and Ohio. In April, The News Tribune reported that the bookseller is planning a new store at South Hill Mall in Puyallup, tentatively set to open in October. I am thrilled to partner with our talented local booksellers to welcome the Lakewood community into a new space that is designed for every book lover, said Store Manager KJ Anderson in a statement. In the spring of 2020, downtown Detroit hosted its first Electronic Music Festival, transforming Hart Plaza into a mecca for techno lovers. Free to attend, the inaugural festival paid tribute to Detroit's status as the birthplace of techno, drawing Detroit's top DJs and thousands of fans eager to dance beneath the skyline. What started as an ambitious yet underdog event quickly became a cultural milestone, setting the tone for an event that became a fixture of Memorial Day weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How it happened: An oral history of the first Detroit Electronic Music Festival Whether you were there in the crowd or just want to see what it looked like when Detroit's techno roots came alive, the photos below offer a window into the spirit of that first year. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Relive Detroit's 1st Electronic Music Festival in nostalgic photos Detroit rapper Skilla Baby was reportedly shot in an alleged targeted drive-by shooting on Thursday. The 26-year-old artist, real name Trevon Gardner, was driving in a black SUV on Eight Mile Road in Redford, an inner-ring suburb of Detroit, when he was shot at multiple times, according to local news outlet Fox 2. Multiple sources told the outlet that one of the bullets hit the rapper in the hand, and two grazed him in the head and the back, causing him to crash into a building on the side of the road. He was taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click on Detroit spoke to one police source, who claimed that Skilla Baby was driving alone at the time of the shooting. Redford police have launched an investigation into the shooting. As of Thursday night, no suspects had been identified, per Fox 2. The Independent has reached out to the authorities and to Skilla Babys representative for comment. Rapper was reportedly taken to a local hospital, where he is expected to recover (Getty Images for BET) Following reports of the shooting, several fans flocked to Skilla Babys Instagram to wish him a quick recovery. Heavenly Father please bring this man a safe healing and easy recovery in Jesus mighty name we all pray amen! one wrote. Uh un Trevon you better hang in there, a second said, while a third begged for him to let us know you alive please. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love you heal up, another added. Skilla Baby has been on the rap scene since 2015, when he decided against attending college, according to Detroits Metro Times. His dedication to the craft eventually caught the eye of Detroit rapper Sada Baby, who took the then-19-year-old under his wing. He found out I was walking to the studio, he made me quit my job, Skilla told the publication. Then I met Juan, whos Sada's manager, and he helped me to the utmost extent. I had stayed with him for a little minute. And Sada was taking me everywhere, to all the shows. Being around Sada did help me. In 2019, he released his mix tape Push That Shit Out Skilla, which would help him garner a fanbase. The next year, he released his breakthrough track Womack, which he followed up in 2022 with his first major label debut, We Eat The Most, a mixtape that features some of his top hits, Icky Vicky Vibes and Tay B Style. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview on Keke Palmers podcast last July, Skilla boldly disagreed with the idea that Eminem was Detroits best rapper. I dont know because if you think number-wise Eminem is the best Detroit rapper, he explained. But the gag is nobody would say that in Detroit. A surprised Palmer then asked him to name some of his favorite Detroit rappers. I dont know because everybody had their turn being Detroits favorite rapper, Skilla responded. Sada Baby had his turn, Tee Grizzley had a turn, [42] Dugg had a turn, Babyface Ray had a turn. Veeze is one of Detroits best rappers now, he declared. Baby Smoove, Big Kizz a lot of artists had their turn. Rocaine Everybody had their turn being the best in the city, but what we lack is consistency. Nobodys consistently been Detroits best rapper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turning the conversation back to Eminem, he admitted that while he was a fan of the Real Slim Shady artist as a child, and still is, he didnt think Detroit considered him our best rapper. Nobody in Detroit plays Eminem right now, he argued. Harvard University is challenging the Trump administrations decision to bar the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students, calling it unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White Houses political demands. Thousands of international students at Harvard in limbo after action from Trump administration In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the governments action violates the First Amendment and will have an immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders. Read the full lawsuit: Harvard v Trump 5-23-25 by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, Harvard said in its suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school said it plans to file for a temporary restraining order to block the Department of Homeland Security from carrying out the move. In a statement, Harvard President Alan M. Garber said, We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. The White House fired back, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson saying in a statement to Boston 25, If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldnt be in this situation to begin with. Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits. Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Most are graduate students and they come from more than 100 countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department announced the action Thursday, accusing Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, contending the school had hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024. Garber earlier this month said the university has made changes to its governance over the past year and a half, including a broad strategy to combat antisemitism, He said Harvard would not budge on its its core, legally-protected principles over fears of retaliation. Harvard has said it will respond at a later time to allegations first raised by House Republicans about coordination with the Chinese Communist Party. The threat to Harvards international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that Harvard provide information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Her updated request demands all records, including audio or video footage, of foreign students participating in protests or dangerous activity on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit is separate from the universitys earlier one challenging more than $2 billion in federal cuts imposed by the Republican administration. 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 band The Devil Wears Prada is mourning following the apparent death of former drummer Daniel Williams, who is believed to have been aboard the plane that crashed in San Diego on Thursday. No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever, the band wrote on Instagram following the tragedy. The band pointed to their social media statement when asked for further comment. The private jet hit a power line in foggy weather, causing it to hit a home in the California neighborhood. While Williams death has not been confirmed by the FAA, San Diegos assistant fire chief Dan Eddy said there were no expected survivors amongst the six passengers on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, there have been four confirmed deaths. Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, was among the casualties, as were two of his employees. A spokesman for the agency told The New York Times they are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. As for members of the neighborhood, no one has died, but eight residents were taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation and non life-threatening injuries. The home that was struck by the plane was destroyed. An estimated 10 other houses were damaged in the accident, which took place in Murphy Canyon near the Tierrasanta neighborhood and caused the evacuation of nearly 100 people. The post The Devil Wears Prada Bandmates Have No Words After Drummer Dies in San Diego Plane Crash appeared first on TheWrap. Daniel Williams, former drummer for Ohio metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died Thursday morning (May 22) in a San Diego plane crash that also killed music agent Dave Shapiro from Sound Talent Group. The two men were among six total who died after the plane clipped a power line in a San Diego suburb, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, sparking intense flames that scorched several homes, destroyed dozens of vehicles and forced the evacuation of more than 100 people. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While no one on the ground was killed in the crash, all six individuals aboard the flight died. Three of those dead, including Shapiro, worked for Sound Talent Group, a company official confirmed. The flight was reportedly piloted by Shapiro, a popular music agent, flight instructor and owner of the Sound Talent Group booking agency and Velocity Records label. Prior to taking off, Williams even posted several photos to Instagram of himself boarding the flight with Shapiro and sitting in the cockpit. The Devil Wears Prada confirmed Williams death on their Instagram page, sharing several photos of Williams and Shapiro together. Shapiros Cessna 550 jet crashed 2 miles south of San Diegos Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport at 3:45 a.m. PT, according to the FAA statement. Flight data shows that the aircraft had taken off from Teterboro Airport, near New York City, late Wednesday night and briefly stopped to refuel in Wichita, Kansas, before continuing on to San Diego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro was a founding member of the National Independent Talent Organization and on Thursday, NITO officials released a statement sharing its members condolences, the statement reads. We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues. Dave was a visionary in the music industry and a founding partner of Sound Talent Group. His passion, dedication, and unwavering support for artists shaped the careers of countless musicians and helped elevate the live music experience for fans around the world. As a founding member of NIT0, Dave was instrumental in the initial formation and funding of the organization and assisted countless of our peers successfully navigate the pandemic shutdown of live music. Our sincerest condolences go out to Daves family, friends, and everyone at STG. This is a monumental loss to our community. The Devil Wears Prada charted two top 10 titles on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart during Williams tenure with the group: 2010s Zombie EP and 2011s Dead Throne. Over on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, they have two No. 1s among 11 entries: 2009s With Roots Above and Branches Below and 2010s Zombie EP. The band formed in 2005 in Dayton, Ohio, as a Christian metal group. Williams exited the group in 2016. Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Daniel Williams, the founding drummer of Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, is believed to be among those killed in a plane crash that hit a residential area of San Diego early Thursday morning. Confirming his death to TMZ, his father Larry Williams said he was positive his son was onboard the fallen aircraft, but his family has yet to receive official confirmation from authorities. The drummers former bandmates reacted to reports of his death in an Instagram post, sharing a slate of photos along with the message, No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. Daniel Williams, seen playing with his former band The Devil Wears Prada in 2009, is thought to be among those who died in a San Diego plane crash early Thursday. Noel Vasquez via Getty Images Williams final social media posts showed him outside and aboard a small jet that appeared to match the Cessna which crashed into San Diegos Murphy Canyon, setting fire to cars and homes in the Tierrasanta neighborhood and injuring eight people on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of the drummers final Instagram Story posts, he tagged music agent David Shapiro, who was confirmed dead by his agency, Sound Talent Group, on Thursday. Williams final social media posts, above, showed him outside and aboard a small jet that appeared to match the Cessna involved in the crash. Daniel Williams/Instagram In its statement, Sound Talent Group said that two other employees were killed in the crash but did not identify them. Shapiro was listed as the planes owner and had a pilots license, according to Federal Aviation Administration records reviewed by the Associated Press. While officials could not immediately confirm the cause of the crash, the area was reportedly covered in dense fog during the early morning hours when the incident took place, according to the New York Times. Related... Manuel Vega Lopez was fatally shot in Gilbert, Ariz. Police arrested Wyatt Ford on a second-degree murder charge Vega's daughter is raising funds for her family after her father was killed A man who was hired as a landscaper by a landlord was allegedly fatally shot by a renter on the property, police said. Manuel Vega Lopez, 51, was killed in Gilbert, Ariz., on Monday, May 19, the Gilbert Police Department said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, police arrested 28-year-old Wyatt Ford in connection with the shooting, per the statement. Authorities say police responding to a report of an argument found Lopezs body in front of a residence. Lopez was shot while police were en route. According to court documents cited by AZ Family, ABC 15 and AZ Central, Ford assumed Lopez was responsible for what Ford and his wife believed to be a break-in in their trailer a few days prior. However, authorities alleged in court documents that Ford had been informed by the landlord that a landscaper would be coming to the location to trim trees in the yard, the outlets reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ford's wife told authorities Ford had received the text message and responded to it. After the shooting, one witness alleged they heard Ford saying I didnt mean to, according to court documents cited by AZ Central. In a GoFundMe set up to assist his family with taking his body to his native Mexico, Lopez's daughter said he was a "devoted hardworking landscaper" and the "eyes and legs" for his wife, who is on dialysis and losing her eyesight. "He was a caring, attentive, respectful and loving husband, father and friend. A life full of love, hope, happiness and anything life could offer," Manuelita Vega said in the fundraiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He built our family a home not in elegance but in simplicity and contentment. As a father, he worked with all his strength in all the ways he could, to earn the income and gave his family all the support he could," she added. Lopez's son, a cancer survivor, also remains ill as the family grieves the "caring, attentive" landscaper's death, Vega wrote. ABC15/YouTube Wyatt Ford in court Wyatt Ford in 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. Wyatt Ford was taken into the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office on charges of second-degree murder, per Gilbert Police's statement. It wasn't immediately clear if he has entered a plea. An attorney listed for him in court records did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Read the original article on People Harvard University is suing the Trump administration again after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moved to block its ability to enroll foreign students, the latest escalation in an ongoing fight between President Trump and the nations oldest school. Heres what to know about the administrations move: Noem said Harvard had plenty of warning DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus, Noem said in a statement. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multi-billion-dollar endowments. Noem said the Ivy League institution had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing, but it refused. Th DHS chief said Harvard lost its SEVP certification because of its failure to adhere to the law and that the pause should serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Harvard is pushing back Harvard immediately said the federal governments action is unlawful, and a day later, it filed its lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably, the schools spokesperson told The Hill. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission, the spokesperson added. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, claims the administrations actions violate the First Amendment, constitutional due process and the DHSs own regulations. School President Alan Garber characterized the governments actions as an effort to lash out at Harvard over its refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal governments illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty and our student body. How it could affect the university There are 6,793 International students at Harvard, making up 27.2 percent of the schools student body, according to its enrollment data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuition at Harvard for the 2025-26 academic year will be $59,320. When room and board are included, the total cost is nearly $87,000. Foreign students tend to pay more to institutions than Americans, as they are ineligible for federal financial aid. Harvard has need-blind admissions, which are available to all students, regardless of nationality. Therefore, the students financial need would not impact their chance of being admitted. Additionally, Harvard says it offers 100 percent need-based aid. This means that financial aid supports the students who will benefit from it the most. Furthermore, we meet 100 percent of our students demonstrated financial need, the school said. ICE handles foreign student certification The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which falls within DHSs umbrella, is in charge of the schools certification process. The certification permits U.S. universities, colleges and private high schools to issue I-20 forms after they accept foreign students into their programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-20 form, dubbed the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, then allows the students to apply either for an F-1 or J-1 visa in order to be able to enter the country. Designated officers at schools with SEVP certifications have to regularly register students records into the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and update changes, including the students employment information and address. Institutions have to reapply for the SEVP certification every two years. Foreign students are normally allowed to transfer to another institution if their current school has lost its SEVP certification. Noem threatens action against other universities Noem warned later Thursday that the DHS could similarly go after other schools SEVP certifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get your act together, because we are coming to make sure that these programs that you are facilitating an environment where students can learn, where theyre safe, and that theyre not discriminated against based on their race or their religion, Noem told guest anchor Gillian Turner on The Story on Fox News. Harvard and the administration have gone back and forth in recent weeks, tussling over records related to international students and their visas. The administration has put pressure on the Ivy League school, demanding it alter its admissions and hiring policies, do away with diversity, equity and inclusion programs and do more to combat antisemitism on campus. The administration has frozen more than $2.6 billion in grants and contracts in April. This week, another $60 million in grants were terminated. Trump has signaled he could revoke the universitys tax-exempt status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Harvard had also previously sued the administration, accusing it of overreaching and demanding the funds be reinstated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Runway lights and an automated system that provides weather conditions were out of operation at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport before a Cessna crashed into a San Diego neighborhood amid foggy conditions, killing all its passengers, investigators revealed Friday. As a result, the pilot did not have up-to-date weather information for the airport where he was intending to land. Dense fog blanketed the area just before the crash, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego. Six people were killed in the crash, authorities said. Air traffic control gave the pilot information about weather conditions at an airport four miles away from where the pilot was trying to land, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board announced on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after 3:30 a.m., the pilot and all the passengers aboard were killed when the plane plummeted into a residential neighborhood, federal investigators said. The San Diego Medical Examiner's Office identified three of the victims Friday: David Shapiro, 42, Emma L. Huke, 25, and Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 35. It was not clear when the agency would release the identities of the other victims. Dan Baker, senior air safety investigator with the NTSB, said it is still too early to determine what caused the fiery crash that left a debris field strewn across the San Diego neighborhood. But investigators revealed Friday that an automated system that provides weather conditions to a pilot was out of operation due to a power surge at the city-owned airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dense fog blanketed the area just before the crash, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego. The air traffic control for the region provided the unidentified pilot of the Cessna Citation with weather conditions for Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, another airport about four miles away from Montgomery-Gibbs, Baker said. "So, the pilot and the air traffic control was relying on other sources to gather weather information in the area in order to make a decision to continue the approach," Baker said. The pilot did not report or declare an emergency before the crash that was reported around 3:40 a.m. on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The runway also did not have a remote-controlled light that pilots can use to assist them when landing at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, according to authorities. The jet hit high-tension power lines while approaching the airport and crashed into a home a few miles away around 3:40 a.m., according to officials. The aircraft was destroyed in a fire after the crash, Baker said. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder, also known as a black box, which records vital data that can be used in an investigation. "We are trying to determine at this time if the airplane was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder," Baker said. Maintenance records show that the aircraft did have a voice recorder installed at one point, but investigators will not have a clear answer on whether it was operating during the crash until they clear the wreckage, which is expected to happen over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the day pilots are able to see painted runway markings that can help them land safely at airports, but at night those indicators arent visible so pilots rely on runway lights, particularly during low-visibility conditions. Randy Klatt, a member of the Foundation for Aviation Safety Advisory Board, said it's unlikely the reduced lighting played an outsized role in the crash. "He was right off the approach course to the runway, so that was all good," Klatt said. "It's just he went too low. Why was he that low? That's another question. Did he lose focus? Was it fatigue? Was there some sort of problem with the airplane? And of course, certainly, that's what the NTSB is going to be looking at." Aviation experts who spoke to The Times said its likely investigators will find a combination of factors that resulted in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was very early, it was dark and it was very foggy, so visibility was restricted, Klatt said. You have all those factors together. The crash comes amid ongoing issues at airports across the country, including a series of radar outages at Newark Liberty International airport that brought massive flight delays. Federal officials continue to investigate the January collision in Washington between a commercial jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people. Power outages have affected airport operations elsewhere. Earlier this year, a fire at an electric substation caused days of havoc at Heathrow airport. At the time, many major American airports reported they had emergency backup systems that would keep operations going for at least some amount of time. It's unclear whether smaller airports like Montgomery-Gibbs have such extensive backup power supplies. Authorities did not release the names of the pilot or the passengers who died aboard the aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators will gather evidence on the scene and document the wreckage. Afterward, they will investigate the pilot's qualifications, training and flight history, which could have played a role in the accident, Baker said. A preliminary report is expected in the next 30 days and a final report could take one to two years, Baker said. Here's what we know so far: What happened A Cessna 550 jet, which can accommodate up to 10 people, took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey around 11:15 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday and stopped for just under an hour in Wichita, Kan., according to the flight tracking site FlightAware. The aircraft was headed for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, a general aviation airport owned by the city of San Diego and located less than three miles from the crash site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 3:40 a.m. Thursday, the jet made its approach to the airport. The pilot announced on the radio that the plane was three miles away from landing on Runway 28, according to a recording from LiveATC.net. The pilot did not signal any problems with the aircraft and did not issue a distress call in the recordings reviewed by The Times. The crash was reported roughly seven minutes later, according to authorities. Impact and poor conditions The plane hit power lines about two miles before making impact with a house in the residential neighborhood in the Murphy Canyon area, a neighborhood that consists of military housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jet fuel and debris spread across the neighborhood. At least eight people on the ground suffered minor injuries and one person was taken to the hospital, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Assistant Chief Dan Eddy said Wednesday. The exact measurement of where wreckage of the plane fell was still being determined by investigators. Theres plane everywhere, Eddy said, calling the scene a gigantic debris field. Eliott Simpson, a senior aviation accident investigator for the NTSB, said the aircraft was flying in very poor weather conditions. Dense fog had rolled into the area around the time the plane was approaching the airport. Visibility was at half a mile at 3:55 a.m. and had dropped to a quarter of a mile just after 4 a.m. in the area around Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which is just a few miles north of the crash site, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a marine layer that was deep enough that the clouds got into some of the valleys this morning, said Adam Roser, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. This one kind of crept in from the ocean into the valley and led to some of those foggy conditions. Casualties The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that six people were aboard the jet. Officials said it was likely that nobody survived, but have not released a total number of casualties from the crash. At least two individuals were identified by colleagues, including Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, a San Diego County-based music agency, and Daniel Williams, who posted on his Instagram on Wednesday afternoon that he was boarding the plane with Shapiro. Williams is the former drummer of the metalcore band the Devil Wears Prada. The band posted a tribute to Williams and Shapiro on its Facebook page. Sound Talent Group confirmed to The Times that three of its employees died in the crash. In a statement, the company said, We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. 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. (NewsNation) Criminal defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh joins Banfield to discuss whether federal prosecutors are successfully building a racketeering case against Sean Diddy Combs, who is also charged with sex trafficking. Testimony by a former underling may indeed convince jurors that Diddy was the Al Capone of the lube world, he says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. HONOLULU (KHON2) The newly launched digital agriculture form for incoming travelers has been a success, with state officials looking to expand on it in the future. Akamai Arrival takes off: Ag declaration form goes digital Launched on March 1, the Akamai Arrival pilot program has ran for three months with increased engagement results. During this time, 74% of travelers who were offered the digital form actually completed it, compared to the old paper form, which averaged about 60% compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that the more people who complete the form, the better the state will be equipped to protect itself against invasive species or other biosecurity threats. The importance of the program is that it takes all of us. All of us have to participate so that we know better how to protect the state from incoming pests. Sharon Hurd, Hawaii Dept. of Ag Chair Akamai Arrival is looking to add a plant and animal arrival form on the digital platform in the near future as well as expand to more flights. The digital form contains the same questions as their paper counterparts, which passengers can fill out on their laptops or mobile devices before their flight lands. The digital ag form offers convenience for travelers. Its accessible, pre-departure and pre-arrival, said Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. Its available in six languages, making it easier for non-English speakers to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out more news from around Hawaii The program is expected to run through the end of the year. For more information, visit the Akamai Arrival website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Hes the Commander in Mensch. Dilbert creator and online pundit Scott Adams received not one, but two phone calls and a voicemail from President Trump following the beloved cartoonists shocking cancer announcement. The Reframe Your Brain author, 67, revealed Monday that he, like former President Joe Biden, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. President Trump called Dilbert creator Scott Adams twice after he revealed his cancer diagnosis. Collin Rugg/X Days after the announcement, Adams received a call from a number from Florida that he didnt recognize and sent straight to voicemail, he revealed in a video shared on X Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first sentence of the [voicemail] transcriptionis This is your favorite president, Adams said, chuckling, adding, Did I just send the most important person in the world to voicemail? President Trump left a semi-lengthy voicemail checking in on Adams that included a number the Dilbert Principle writer was to use to call him back. Now obviously I dont call him back because that would be ridiculous. It was just a nice thing for him to say, the celebrated scrawler rationalized. Several hours later, Adams gets another call from a Florida number he doesnt recognize I thought to myself, No fking way. I answer it and its Trump, Adams recounted, still in disbelief. President Donald Trump attends a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Event in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 22, 2025. AP He was just checkin on me and he wanted to make sure I was getting everything I needed, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Win Bigly author has been a Trump booster since the 2015 Republican Primary and a vocal online pundit for the two-time president on his daily internet show Coffee with Scott Adams. At the end, the strangest thing happened. At the end of the call, when he found out that the situation was kinda dire, Adams recalled, He said, If you need anything, Ill make it happen. And he meant it, he added, laughing in disbelief. The Reframe Your Brain author, 67, revealed Monday that he, like former President Joe Biden, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Collin Rugg/X In the wake of Bidens dramatic health news announced earlier this week, Adams revealed that he has the same diagnosis and that he expects to die in the coming months. I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has. I also have prostate cancer that has also spread to my bones, Adams said during an episode of Coffee with Scott Adams on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My life expectancy is maybe this summer, he added. I expect to be checking out from this domain sometime this summer. Adams poses for a portrait with the Dilbert character in his studio in Dublin, Calif., Oct. 26, 2006. AP Biden, 82, announced through a spokesperson Sunday that he has aggressive prostate cancer that spread to the bones, which was supposedly discovered just this month. Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms, a statement from Bidens personal office read. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. President Trump has expressed doubt regarding the claim that Biden just found out about the ghastly Stage 9 cancer diagnosis. Im surprised the public wasnt notified a long time ago, Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office Monday. This is dangerous for our country, he added. Dilbert creator Scott Adams has revealed the details of a surprise phone call with President Donald Trump in the wake of the illustrators cancer diagnosis. Adams, 67, revealed on a Rumble stream Monday that he is dying from the same aggressive form of prostate cancer that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with. He said he expects to check out from this domain sometime this summer. However, the MAGA scribbler revealed on X on Thursday that a call with the commander-in-chief buoyed his spiritsbut he almost ignored it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, whose comic strip was dropped by hundreds of newspapers in 2023 after he called Black Americans a hate group, said that a few days after his cancer bombshell, he received a call from a number from Florida that he didnt recognise. He let it go straight to voicemail and his jaw dropped when he checked it out. The first sentence in the [voicemail] transcription is, This is your favorite president, Adams said. Did I just send the most important person in the world to voicemail? Scott Adams with a cutout of his Trump left a number for Adams to call him back. Now obviously I dont call him back because that would be ridiculous. It just was a nice thing for him to say, he explained. I thought to myself, No f---ing way, he then said, after explaining that a Florida number called him again just a few hours later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I answer it, and its Trump, Adams said. He was just checkin on me and he wanted to make sure that I was getting everything I needed. He said when Trump learned the extent of Adams situation, he offered to help. At the end, the strangest thing happened. At the end of the call, when he found out that the situation was kinda dire, Adams explained, He said, If you need anything, Ill make it happen. And he meant it. He said Trump was aware of their parallel journeys from 2015. Adams became a vocal Trump supporter after he announced his first White House bid. Adams predicted he would win the race because of his persuasion skills. His interest in Trump grew and grew, and culminated in the book Win Bigly. Joe and Jill Biden posted a selfie to social media the morning after the former presidents cancer diagnosis was revealed. / Joe Biden via X / Joe Biden via REUTERS The illustrator, who created Dilbert in 1989, said earlier last week that hes had it [cancer] longer than [Biden] has had it before adding, Well, longer than hes admitted to having it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The artist, who is also an author, said that every day is a nightmare with prostate cancer. The disease is already intolerable. I can tell you that I dont have good days, Adams said. So if you are wondering, Hey Scott, do you have any good days? Nope. Nope. Every day is a nightmare, and evening is even worse. Adams defended his 2023 comments about race on his podcast at the time, saying, You should absolutely be racist whenever its to your advantage. He later defended these comments, saying they were intended as hyperbole. In 2020, Trump retweeted an episode of the podcast Real Coffee with Scott Adams, where the host mocked Joe Biden. Adams discussed his call with Trump in the wake of former President Joe Bidens revelation that he has aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. His announcement spawned a MAGA inquisition into just when he fell ill, and whether it was covered up when he was in office. HONOLULU (KHON2) Something is stalking the grounds of Bishop Museum as a new exhibit prepares to make its debut. WakeUp2Days Chris Latronic went live at Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep to learn more about the prehistoric experience. Explore the prehistoric past in Big Islands new exhibit For the first time on Oahu, guests get up close and personal with oceanic and aquatic reptiles from the Jurassic period, including favorites such as the T Rex and Stegosaurus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Bishop Museums Vice President of Public Programs, Brandon Bunag, there are many new, exciting and interactive exhibits available to experience this year. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Guests can become scientists with a new exhibit that features an interactive fossil scanner. Just grab a fossil and scan it through the high-tech scanner to learn all about it. This exhibit also features many life-sized fossils of prehistoric dinosaurs from the ocean, showcasing some creatures that may have once lived in our oceans. Looking to travel back in time? Visit the time machine, a 13-minute show that will take you back to experience the many different periods of dinosaurs, like the Prehistoric and Jurassic eras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors can also come face-to-face with an actual dinosaur. Meet Moonui, a juvenile T Rex, every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Check out more news from around Hawaii Schools can start booking field trips for next school year now, and the exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m. For more information, visit the Bishop Museums website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The hosts of The View have been urged to tone down their anti-Trump political rhetoric by bosses at ABC News and its parent company, Disney. The often antagonistic rhetoric from the all-female line-up has generated concern among network executives, according to reports. Bob Iger, Disneys chief executive, and Almin Karamehmedovic, the president of ABC News, held a meeting with the shows executive producer and hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg to express their concerns, according to The Daily Beast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Karamehmedovic said that episodes which did not focus on politics still generated high ratings. His plea was not well received, with the hosts dismissing the request as silly. This is what our audience wants. Isnt it gonna look kind of bad if were all of a sudden not talking about politics? one of the hosts reportedly responded. Whoopi Goldberg speaks on The View about Donald Trumps claims of white South Africans being persecuted - ABC News The View has made little secret of its political leaning. Kamala Harris, whose media appearances were carefully controlled during last years election, chose the show for one of her first live broadcast interviews after being parachuted in as the Democratic presidential candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The View co-host, Joy Behar recently opined on what she described as Trumps atrocities during a taping. Should I list them? Heres Trumps atrocities. This is what were concerned about now: cutting Medicaid, slashing funding for cancer research, slashing funding because of tariffs, dismantling USAid, which helps children who are poor around the world, destroying due process, ending birthright citizenship. Alyssa Farah Griffin, meanwhile, suggested Mr Trump should take the citizenship exam required of immigrants seeking US nationality. Number one, what is the supreme law of the land? The constitution, not Donald Trump. Hosts of The View. The show has made little secret of its political leaning - ABC News The network intervention comes against the backdrop of the Trump administrations renewed scrutiny of the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources at the station insisted discussions with presenters take place frequently and this conversation focused on the balance of political and non-political topics. In March, the Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation into Disneys and ABCs diversity policies, alleging that they potentially violated US equal employment regulations. And in December, shortly after Mr Trump won the presidential election, ABC settled a lawsuit with him. It agreed to pay $15 million to Mr Trumps future presidential library after being sued over comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, who claimed Mr Trump had been found liable for rape when he was successfully sued by magazine columnist E Jean Carroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court had found him liable for sexual assault, not rape. ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed Donald Trump had been found liable for rape - Lorenzo Bevilaqua/2021 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. In recent days, the president has threatened to sue ABC again, this time over its coverage of his decision to accept the gift of a $400 million jet from Qatar. Why doesnt chairman Bob Iger do something about ABC fake news, especially since I just won $16,000,000 based on the fake and defamatory reporting of liddle George Slopadopolus, he wrote on his Truth Social media channel. ABC is not the only outlet in Mr Trumps crosshairs. He is also suing CBS and Paramount Global for $20 billion over an interview it conducted with Ms Harris, claiming the show was deceptively edited to show his election opponent in a better light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company, which once dismissed the writ as without merit, is reportedly negotiating a settlement. Critics believe the peace moves have been initiated by parent company Paramount to ensure it gets the Trump administrations approval for its planned merger with Skydance. ABC News and Disney have been approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Disneyland invited 100 U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines to the theme park resort as part of Los Angeles Fleet Week celebrations ahead of Memorial Day weekend. The service members were treated to special access to Disneylands popular lands like Star Wars: Galaxys Edge and Mickeys Toontown. The day concluded with a flag retreat ceremony, featuring the Dapper Dans, Disneyland Band, and Rear Admiral Richard W. Meyer, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet. Disneyland surprised 100 U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines with a day at the theme park as part of Los Angeles Fleet Week celebrations ahead of Memorial Day weekend. (Disneyland Resort) Disneyland surprised 100 U.S. Navy Sailors and Marines with a day at the theme park as part of Los Angeles Fleet Week celebrations ahead of Memorial Day weekend. (Disneyland Resort) The service members were treated to special access to Disneylands popular lands like Star Wars: Galaxys Edge and Mickeys Toontown. The day concluded with a flag retreat ceremony, featuring the Dapper Dans, Disneyland Band, and Rear Admiral Richard W. Meyer, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet. (Disneyland Resort) The service members were treated to special access to Disneylands popular lands like Star Wars: Galaxys Edge and Mickeys Toontown. The day concluded with a flag retreat ceremony, featuring the Dapper Dans, Disneyland Band, and Rear Admiral Richard W. Meyer, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet. (Disneyland Resort) In addition to the special park visit, Disneyland is also honoring service members with the Missing Hero Tables, displayed during Memorial Day weekend at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, and Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii. (Disneyland Resort) How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to actually get to participate in the events that are happening at Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth? Meyer said in a statement. To be able to come here, share that with the public, participate in the events, get to see some of the cool new things at Disneyland, and get to show off the Sailors and Marines to the community thats what made this a really special day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disneyland honors first responders who battled L.A. County wildfires with parade, free tickets Disneys tradition of honoring military service members spans more than a century, dating back to founders Walt and Roy O. Disney, both World War I veterans. That legacy continues today through daily flag ceremonies and symbolic tributes throughout its parks. In addition to the special park visit, Disneyland is also honoring service members with the Missing Hero Tables, displayed during Memorial Day weekend at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World, and Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii. These empty tables, set in remembrance of fallen service members, serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made in defense of the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LONDON (AP) Bernadette Dugasse was just a toddler when her family was forced to leave her birthplace. She didnt get a chance to return until she was a grandmother. Dugasse, 68, has spent most of her life in the Seychelles and the U.K., wondering what it would be like to set foot on the tropical island of Diego Garcia, part of the remote cluster of atolls in the middle of the Indian Ocean called the Chagos Islands. Like hundreds of others native to the islands, Dugasse was kicked out of her homeland more than half a century ago when the British and U.S. governments decided to build an important military base there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After years of fighting for the right to go home, Dugasse and other displaced islanders watched in despair Thursday as the U.K. government announced it was formally transferring the Chagos Islands sovereignty to Mauritius. While political leaders spoke about international security and geopolitics, the deal meant only one thing for Chagossians: That the prospect of ever going back to live in their homeland now seems more out of reach than ever. We are the natives. We belong there, said Dugasse, who has reluctantly settled in Crawley, a town south of London. It made me feel enraged because I want to go home. Entire population evicted Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dugasse was born on the Chagos Islands, which had been under the administration of Mauritius, a former British colony, until 1965, when Britain split them away from Mauritius. Mauritius gained independence in 1968, but the Chagos remained under British control and were named the British Indian Ocean Territory. Dugasse was barely 2 years old when her family was deported to the Seychelles in 1958 after her father, a laborer, allegedly broke a work contract. They were never allowed back. Throughout the 1960s, many other islanders who thought they were leaving temporarily for a holiday, or medical treatment -- would be told they cannot return to the Chagos. It turned out that Britain was evicting the entire population of the Chago Islands -- about 1,500 people descended from African slaves and plantation workers - so the U.S. military could build a base on the largest island, Diego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 1973, all Indigenous Chagossians were forced to leave. Thousands of islanders and their descendants are now spread around the world, most living in Mauritius, the U.K. and Seychelles. Most want to return home. Britains government has acknowledged that its removal of islanders was wrong, and has granted many citizenship and set aside some funds to improve their lives. But it continues to bar Chagossians from returning and living in their homeland, citing defense and security concerns and cost to the British taxpayer. Although the British government this week finalized a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos to Mauritius, ending a long contested colonial legacy, there is no upside for Chagossians. Dugasse and other islanders say they were completely excluded from political negotiations, and that Mauritius government is unlikely to grant them any right to return. Under the deal, which still needs Parliament's approval, Britain will lease back the Diego Garcia military base for at least 99 years. That means the island will be off-limits for the foreseeable feature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont have a Mauritian passport. I dont want to affiliate myself with Mauritius, she said. We have our own culture. We have our own identity. We are unique Indigenous people. Every day I cried Dugasse and another Diego Garcia native, Bertrice Pompe, sought to bring legal action against the British government over the deal to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritian control. They only managed to halt the signing of the deal by a few hours Thursday. Pompe said it was a very sad day but she wasnt giving up. The rights were asking for now, weve been fighting for for 60 years, Pompe said outside a London courthouse. Mauritius is not going to give that to us. So we need to keep fighting with the British government to listen to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human Rights Watch and other groups have urged Britains government to recognize the Chagossians right to return home, calling its failure to do so a continuing colonial crime against humanity." Dugasse who received British citizenship but said she got no other compensation has been allowed back to Diego Garcia just twice in recent years. Both times the visits were only possible with special permission from the U.K. government. She described the island as a mini-America, populated by American service members and Filipino staffers. She visited the church where her parents were married and where she was baptized, but found her village cemetery and school in ruins. And when she collected seashells and white sand from the beach, officials told her she wasnt allowed to bring those home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told them no (the shells and the sand) are mine, not yours, she said. We were allowed there for only nine days, and every day I cried. Dugasse said her elderly mother, who lives in the Seychelles, would like to die on Diego Garcia. She doesn't think that's possible and she is pessimistic that any of her children or grandchildren will get a chance to see where their family came from. Are we Chagossians always going to be nomads, going from place to place?" she asked. "Most of the natives are dying. What will happen? Its time for us to set foot home. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams issued two subpoenas requiring compliance from the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office following the New Orleans jailbreak. Williams said one of the subpoenas will request the sheriffs office to preserve relevant logs, surveillance and data leading up to and after the escape. The other subpoena requests voluntary compliance from OPSO employees, staff and contractors as part of the investigation. Five inmates still on run from Orleans Parish jailbreak; U.S. Marshals says possible help could be involved Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays subpoenas come after Williams said he learned that the sheriffs office did not request any forensic processing from the New Orleans Police Department in the cell used during the escape. As part of the ongoing inquiry, I reached out to Superintendent Kirkpatrick to ask whether the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office had requested formal forensic processing of the scene of the escape. The Superintendent confirmed that the NOPD Crime Lab had received no such request, and she immediately made Crime Lab Director Dr. Shamika Kelley available to conduct an on-site assessment. Dr. Kelley, along with Chief Nicole Powell and their team, quickly mobilized and accompanied me to the OJC facility to begin processing the crime scene, said Williams in a statement after visiting the jail Thursday afternoon. Attorney General Murrill and District Attorney Jason Williams tour Orleans Parish Jail Williams statement also discussed accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is critically important to get all fugitives back into custody. But it is equally important that we identify and hold accountable anyone who facilitated or assisted with this historic jailbreak, said Williams. 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. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) South Dakota lawmakers have mixed reactions of the passing of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, some calling it the Big, Beautiful Disaster. On May 22, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson voted in favor of the reconciliation bill on the U.S. House floor. The bill passed by a vote of 215 to 214, with every Democratic legislator in attendance voting nay. Now, the bill will make its way to the U.S. Senate for a vote. Rep. Johnson passes Trumps big, beautiful bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On X, Johnson posted a video listing the three reasons why he voted yes, citing tax cuts, spending decreases, and investments into the countrys safety, like border security. Democratic State Representative Erik Muckey called the reconciliation bill a Big, Beautiful Disaster on a social media post. On May 22, Muckeys post said hes angry that the bill passed, and said, there is nothing South Dakotan or fiscally responsible about what Representative Johnson just did. In the post, Muckey listed examples of the billions of dollars cut from programs, like Medicaid and SNAP. But Johnson created his own list of examples that make the bill a win. On X, Johnson listed 32 examples of common-sense, conservative wins within the reconciliation bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From May 18-22, Johnson faced pressure by South Dakotans and President Donald Trump over the passing of the reconciliation bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Supreme Court backed President Donald Trumps power to fire independent federal agency members over dissent from the courts three Democratic appointees, who said the majority favors the President over our precedent. The majority on Thursday highlighted the presidents executive power and said he can remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents. The majority formally halted lower court orders against the government while litigation continues on the subject, with the majority saying that the government is likely to succeed in this case involving the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board, but that the court isnt making an ultimate determination now. In its emergency application April 9, the Trump administration said a question of profound importance is at stake: whether the President can supervise and control agency heads who exercise vast executive power on the Presidents behalf, or whether Congress may insulate those agency heads from presidential control by preventing the President from removing them at will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeal implicates the Humphreys Executor precedent, which has long protected agency independence, something that the high court has weakened in recent years. The 1935 Supreme Court ruling was called out in Project 2025, the conservative blueprint that Trump tried to distance himself from during the 2024 campaign. His administration has taken the position that its prepared to ask the justices to overturn the precedent. Doing so would accomplish a Republican-aligned goal of a more powerful president generally, while further consolidating Trumps power in the short term. In her dissent for the courts three Democratic appointees, Justice Elena Kagan cited the Humphreys precedent in writing that it remains good law and forecloses both the Presidents firings and the Courts decision to award emergency relief. She called Thursdays order nothing short of extraordinary by letting Trump overrule Humphreys by fiat. She said the majority favors the President over our precedent. Kagan also took aim at the majority going out of its way to shield the Federal Reserve. The majority said in its order that the Fed is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity, signaling that it intends to protect the Feds independence in considering the broader issue of presidential firing power. This case doesnt involve the Fed directly, but Trumps effort to overturn Humphreys Executor raised concerns of potential economic instability on that front specifically. Kagan said in her dissent that that protection came out of the blue and that shes glad to hear it, adding that she doesnt doubt the majoritys intention to avoid imperiling the Fed. Yet she added that Thursdays order from the majority then poses a puzzle because the Feds independence, she wrote in listing other agencies, rests on the same constitutional and analytic foundations as that of the NLRB, MSPB, FTC, FCC, and so on which is to say it rests largely on Humphreys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that if the court wanted to reassure the markets, then a simpler and more judicial approach would have been to deny the Presidents application for a stay on the continued authority of Humphreys. The two people at the center of this appeal are Gwynne Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Litigation over their firings and reinstatement has gone back and forth in the courts, with a divided federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., siding with them April 7, over dissent from Republican-appointed judges. Quickly freezing their win, Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halted their reinstatement on the same day the administration filed its application, pending further word from the court, which came Thursday. In her opposition high court filing, Harris lawyers wrote that the government is in a rush to reverse a century of practice and precedent. Citing immediate consequences to doing so for institutions ranging from the Federal Reserve to the National Transportation Safety Board, they wrote that even if this court wanted to upend precedent, a blitzkrieg-to-judgment is not the way to go about it. They urged the court to reject the governments bid to intervene now and instead to let the case proceed on a more normal timeline in the lower court. Likewise, lawyers for Wilcox wrote that the better course is restraint in the face of the governments request to jettison a century of settled interbranch practice. 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 The Democratic National Committee took another step Thursday toward removing a pair of vice chairs including David Hogg, who ignited controversy in the party with his pledge to challenge asleep at the wheel Democrats. DNC members will now vote via electronic ballot from June 9 to June 11 on whether to hold a redo of the election for the two vice chair positions, after a DNC panel granted a procedural complaint about the original contest that was unrelated to the broader firestorm surrounding Hogg. If a majority of DNC members approve it, both Hogg and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta would lose their vice chair positions and kick off a new election for the roles. DNC members would vote for the new male vice chair from June 12 to June 14 and then vote for a second vice chair of any gender from June 15 to June 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting on Thursday, which set the election timeline, Hogg objected to re-doing the election, telling members it sends a horrible message to the public about our inability to run elections. If we're to redo this election, it truly just sends a horrible message that we really do not want out there at this moment, Hogg continued. That's why I believe that it should not go forward. An election that could ultimately oust Hogg comes as the party feuds with the gun-safety activist. Last month, Hogg announced Leaders We Deserve, the group he co-founded, planned to target ineffective Democratic incumbents with $20 million in spending. In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin proposed a change to the partys bylaws to mandate that DNC officers remain neutral in all primaries. The DNC is expected to vote on the measure at its August meeting. But the squabble over the initial election could force Hogg out sooner. A complaint filed in February alleged that the DNC bungled its own rules over gender equity of its officers when Hogg and Kenyatta were elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hogg has argued its impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote, adding that the DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort. Kenyatta, for his part, has called for a virtual candidate forum should the election move forward. In a thread posted to X, Kenyatta has also complained about how the media has covered the dust-up by focusing on Hogg as the main character. This story is complex and Im frustrated but its not about @davidhogg111. Even though he clearly wants it to be, Keyatta posted. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will continue its halt on any new utility-scale solar projects on state-managed forestlands as it works on a framework for how to consider such projects. The policy change was made quietly earlier this month, without a public announcement. DNR spokesman Ed Golder said the agency made the policy change known via a May 9 email from DNR Director Scott Bowen to "a number of interested groups and to legislators who have contacted us" about a controversial proposal to lease 420 acres of state-managed forest land near Gaylord for a solar development in Otsego County's Hayes Township. That project, which raised some public ire over the removal of acres of trees to make way for a private company's solar panels, was scuttled when the company involved, RWE Clean Energy out of San Diego, decided not to pursue additional development on the state land in Hayes Township. But the DNR in January proceeded to pursue a request for proposals to lease the land and evaluate its viability for solar, possibly with another company. A solar farm near Flint is shown in this 2023 photo In his May 9 email, Bowen announced that the DNR "will not move forward" with utility-scale solar development on the 420 acres in Hayes Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The DNR made this decision following a four-month public comment period, and consultation with legislators and interested groups," Bowen stated. "We heard a significant amount of concern from the public, stakeholders and some lawmakers regarding the prospect of siting solar panels on 420 acres of partially forested land." Bowen added that DNR "will maintain a pause on any new utility-scale solar projects on state forestlands" until the agency develops "a specific framework for decision making if leasing lands for additional solar development were to be considered in the future." "As part of this framework, the DNR will solicit input from local communities and lawmakers early in the process if solar development is being considered," he stated. 'Were not talking pristine forestlands here' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's MI Healthy Climate Plan, an effort to combat human-driven climate change enacted in 2020, calls for 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 and 60% renewable energy in Michigan by 2030. How reachable those goals will be without state land involvement to build large solar farms is uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think there are potential avenues to meet those goals, but it certainly becomes a lot harder if you take these publicly managed lands off the table," said Ashley Rudzinski, climate and environment program director with the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, a Traverse City-based nonprofit organization with goals to "protect the environment, strengthen the economy, and build thriving communities." The center on its website is urging Michigan residents to ask the state to continue support solar leasing on public lands. "Theres a fairly strong precedent for using lands that are already disturbed or marginal lands," Rudzinski said. "Were not talking pristine forestlands here; we are talking areas that are adjacent to highways or industrial sites. "We have to recognize that for us to combat the challenges that are very real that we are facing with the climate crisis, we need to be able to make some of these challenging decisions ... including using some of these already disturbed lands for these types of practices." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Democrats' clean energy legislation sets up battle over local land use control More: As some neighbors seek to close it, Wayne Disposal hazardous waste landfill looks to expand State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, was among the first to sound public alarms over the proposed Hayes Township state forestland being used for utility-scale solar, prompting an outcry. He said DNR forestry officials contacted him in the days leading up to Bowen's May 9 email, and Borton said he was told the DNR was stopping solar project siting on state forest lands altogether. "The memo (DNR Director Bowen) made is nothing like what we talked about," Borton said. "I am extremely unhappy at this point, and I made it very clear to the department: There will be no more solar going up on publicly owned lands." The many uses of state forestland The DNR manages 4.6 million acres of public land for uses including forestry, public recreation, hunting, fishing and wildlife habitat management. The agency historically has leased portions of public lands for a variety of perceived public goods, including industrial development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Lands managed by the DNR host hydrocarbon processing facilities, pipelines and flowlines, mines, sand and gravel pits, an asphalt plant and cell phone towers," Bowen stated in his May 9 memo. The state has pledged to use no more than 4,000 acres of state-managed public land for solar development, and Bowen noted that some 350,000 acres of state-managed land is currently leased for gas an oil wells. Since 1928, more than 10,000 drilling permits have been issued on state-managed forestland. "With the state shifting toward more renewable energy options the DNR is seeking to be part of the state's transition to cleaner energy," Bowen stated. But oil and gas development and utility-scale solar farms are not analogous, Borton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I live in northern Michigan, there are gas sites all over, including next to the property I own," he said. "Those gas sites take up almost no property whatsoever. They are not fenced in; they are not blocked off. They do not stop wildlife from passing through." Borton said degraded state sites like brownfields or small solar projects at state fish hatcheries to provide energy to the facilities may still make sense. But "any industrial projects where they are coming in and clearing forest, I'm going to be opposed to it," he said. Two utility-scale solar projects already in the works on state-managed property will continue, Bowen stated: the Groveland mine tailings site, a 264-acre site in the Upper Peninsula's Dickinson County; and the Roscommon Conservation Airport site, on 1,050 acres of DNR-managed public land in Roscommon County's Higgins Township near Interstate 75 and the DNR Conservation Airport. The maximum buildable area for solar panels on that project would be 570 acres, DNR officials earlier said. Contact Keith Matheny: kmatheny@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR halts state land leases for utility-scale solar projects AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Doctors Hospital in Augusta hosted a special EMS Appreciation Week Lunch on Thursday, May 22. EMS workers throughout the CSRA are being highlighted this week, especially for their heroic efforts during Hurricane Helene. Those guys were out there day in and day out, leaving their families, they had their own damaged homes, their own issues they had with their families, and they worked through that night and day, said Gary Coker, president of Central EMS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So this year, we actually have a special whats called the challenge coin and this coin is to recognize the great work that our EMS providers did, going out trying to get through sometimes nearly impassable roads to get people to care, said Joanna Conley, CEO of Doctors Hospital. And so, we really wanted to take a moment to recognize them for all their great work. Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. DONALD TRUMP HATES NOTHING more than a loser. To him, losing is shameful and the worst insult he can imagine. But he could end up being tagged as a loser for the way he has abandoned more than three decades of U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty. He is walking away from a tougher European sanctions package that he essentially encouraged, and is now telling Russia and Ukraine they need to work it out themselves. As he well knows, Russia doesnt want a ceasefire or to compromise any of its ill-gotten gains. Almost as shameful, eighty senators are co-sponsoring a strong, veto-proof bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham to impose secondary sanctions on entities that enable Russias flagrant violations of international law in Ukraine. But Grahams bill isnt moving. Its reasonable to believe its being held in reserve to provide political cover, which allows senators to say they are tough on Russia and supportive of Ukraine while avoiding any pressure on the president. Hypocrisy, sadly, remains a cornerstone of Senate business. For more than three decades, through administrations of both parties, the United States has affirmed Ukraines sovereignty. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum, signed by President Clinton along with the United Kingdom and Russia, committed the United States to uphold Ukraines territorial integrity in exchange for its surrender of nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now President Trump is apparently growing frustrated with the war in Ukraine and considering washing Americas hands of it altogether. When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, many observers warned that the chaotic exit damaged Americas credibility and weakened its global standing. That moment is now etched into President Bidens legacy. If President Trump were to withdraw U.S. support from Ukraine too abruptly, he could face a similar judgment. Would he lose Taiwan next? Get the best coverage of politics and policy available anywhere. Become a Bulwark+ member. Some argue that stepping back is a way to avoid escalation, and that Trump is actually protecting Europe and the West. But we have heard this before. In 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from meeting Hitler in Munich declaring peace for our time. That short-term concession did not prevent war. It only delayed it. President Zelensky warned against repeating that history in his 2022 remarks at the Munich Security Conference. He urged the West not to appease aggression. That warning now seems more urgent than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recalibration of Americas role in the war is possible, and even reasonable. Ukraine is far more resilient than it was in 2022, with a stronger domestic arms industry and deeper ties to Europe. But a precipitous American exitespecially one that halts intelligence cooperation or the flow of critical weaponswould affirm for Putin that time is on his side. It could fracture Ukraines battlefield cohesion, strain European supply chains, and open the door to renewed Russian advances both in Ukraine and elsewhere. Despite Putins overtures to Trump, Russias objectives remain unchanged. Moscow continues to occupy Ukrainian territory, target civilian infrastructure, and destabilize the broader European security order. Just as it did in Crimea in 2014, the Kremlin seeks to redraw borders through force. Others, including Beijing, are watching to see whether they succeed. Putin has also made clear that his ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, including a rollback of NATOs presence in Eastern Europe. A failed Ukrainian defense could encourage him to test NATOs Article 5 commitments, especially in the Baltic states. Preventing that scenario now, through sustained support for Ukraine, is far less costly than confronting it later with American troops on the ground. As someone who recently discovered Ukrainian roots in my own family, I feel a deeper connection to the courage of Ukraines people. Their strength lies not only in their weapons, but in their will. They have not asked the United States to fight for themonly to stand with them. They have borne immense casualties, held the line for Europe, and proven their resolve beyond doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump often speaks the language of power. Lasting power is measured not in threats or slogans, but in the consistency of our commitments and the clarity of our values. Standing with European allies who have shown a willingness to engage with his administration and who still believe in American leadership is not weakness, it is the foundation of deterrence. Showing leadership and resolve now is the surest way to avoid being remembered as a loser. Share Medicaid sign at U.S. Senate Democrats press conference on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) Mothers Day may have just passed, but what hasnt passed is the growing threat facing mothers like me across the country. While many of us were being celebrated with cards and flowers, lawmakers in Washington were advancing a budget that would devastate the programs that help us survive. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently issued a chilling report: Republican leaders are pushing a federal budget proposal to slash $880 billion from health care, particularly Medicaid, to fund another round of tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. That is not a gift to mothers. That is a gut punch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a working mom in Kentucky raising two beautiful daughters, Medicaid has been the difference between surviving and slipping through the cracks. It allows me to access regular checkups, medications, dental appointments, and essential care not just for me, but also for my children. I work two jobs. Neither offers health insurance nor pays a living wage. Without Medicaid, we would have no safety net, no way to stay healthy, and no protection when things go wrong. I cannot imagine what I would do without Medicaid or SNAP benefits. These supports are not handouts. They are how I keep my family going in a system that too often fails to value mothers like me. Lets be clear. The majority in Congress is proposing to roll back the Medicaid expansion that has been a lifeline for millions. Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), only seniors, people with disabilities, children and pregnant women qualified for Medicaid. Low-income working people were left out. The ACA changed that. In Kentucky, expanding Medicaid in 2014 drastically reduced the number of uninsured people, saved rural hospitals from closing, and ensured access to mental health and addiction services during public health emergencies. Most of those who gained coverage through the expansion were women, especially mothers. After giving birth, Medicaid became even more vital when postpartum coverage was extended, giving new mothers a full year of health care. It also supports preventive care and chronic disease treatment for women of childbearing age, helping create better outcomes for mothers and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten states still refuse to expand Medicaid, leaving millions uninsured. And instead of encouraging progress, Congress is proposing to strip health care from those of us who need it most. Despite working two jobs, I still cant consistently afford groceries without Medicaid and SNAP. Yet Congress is rewarding billionaires with tax cuts while targeting mothers like me for cuts. Thats not justice. Thats betrayal. Medicaid is the largest source of federal funding in every state. In Kentucky, over 1.5 million people rely on it. Slashing this lifeline would harm families and damage schools, hospitals, clinics and emergency services that depend on Medicaid dollars. Just over the mountains in West Virginia, 516,500 people rely on Medicaid. This includes 49,000 seniors, 196,000 children, and 86,000 people with disabilities. Across Appalachia, one thing is clear: our families depend on these programs for survival. This is not what the American people voted for. Medicaid has broad support from Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. Most of us know someone who relies on it, whether its a mother, a grandparent, a child or a neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must protect the programs that value our lives if we value mothers. This isnt just about policy. Its about dignity. Its about survival. If Congress can afford to give billionaires tax breaks, then it can afford to provide health care to the millions of moms, kids, grandparents and people with disabilities who need it. Our representatives must protect Medicaid, mothers, and the people who hold this country together daily. Because taking health care away from moms doesnt save money, it breaks families. Police chiefs have demanded ministers exempt high risk violent and sexual offenders from their early prison release scheme to protect the public from out of control criminals. They have also warned there will be a surge in reoffending by freed prisoners unless Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, provides extra money for probation officers to supervise the thousands of prisoners set to be released early. One senior police source told The Telegraph: We can see why the Government has to do this after a decade of underinvestment in criminal justice but we have some concerns about what the impact will be on policing. We dont feel its well understood at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has written to Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, saying that letting criminals out of prison earlier must not mean the offenders are out of control. Under the Governments plans, killers, rapists and other violent offenders serving four years or more in jail will be eligible for release after serving half of their sentence rather than two thirds, if they behave well and engage with rehabilitation schemes. Other less serious criminals such as burglars, thieves and fraudsters on standard determinate sentences with earlier release points can be freed after a third of their time if they behave well. Sentences under one year will also be scrapped unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as domestic abusers or stalkers who pose a risk and offenders who have breached orders linked to violence against women and girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans were recommended by an independent sentencing review headed by David Gauke, the former Tory justice secretary, and accepted by Ms Mahmood in order to free up 9,800 prison places and avoid overcrowded jails in England and Wales running out of cells. The Justice Secretary, however, rejected proposals by the review to free offenders on extended determinate sentences where a judge has set a specific time limit in jail because the court regarded them as dangerous. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, is looking at ways to free up space in prisons - PA/Danny Lawson Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett, who leads on criminal justice for the NPCC, said: Out of prison should not mean out of control. Adequate funding to support these measures must be reflected in the upcoming spending review, as well as investment in probation services and technology, including electronic monitoring, to enable policing to work across criminal justice agencies to monitor offenders and reduce reoffending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: It is crucial for public safety that high-risk offenders, including those convicted of violent or sexual offences, and those who pose a threat to national security, are exempt from early prison release. Robust prison sentences for these crimes must remain in place as a strong deterrent and means of keeping the public safe. It is also crucial that victims of domestic abuse are protected and that perpetrators understand that there will be harsh consequences for breaching orders. Ms Mahmood has said she has secured an extra 700 million for the probation service in the spending review as well as deploying tens of thousands more electronic tags to place high-risk offenders under effective house arrest with curfews at night and during the day alongside tighter exclusions which they must not leave. However, there are still concerns about whether the funding will be sufficient given consistent warnings by probation watchdogs that many officers are inexperienced, over-stretched and disillusioned. A senior police source said: When they are released, there needs to be proper robust supervision which can only take place if there is a probation service that is sufficiently resourced and able to do the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has described the plans as a get out of jail free card for dangerous criminals who would terrorise streets and torment our country. Dame Nicole Jacobs, domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, said the changes would send a clear message to domestic abusers that they can now offend with little consequence. She added: I recognise the difficult situation ministers are in and that our approach to sentencing must change to address the prison capacity crisis. But watering down our criminal justice system is not the answer especially when it comes at the expense of victims safety and cuts short the justice they have fought so hard for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Mahmood has insisted the measures had to be taken to stop the breakdown of law and order. She said: If our prisons collapse, courts are forced to suspend trials. The police must halt their arrests. Crime goes unpunished, criminals run amok and chaos reigns. 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. Democratic candidate for governor Abigail Spanberger wants to crack down on a range of insurer practices she says are keeping drug costs up and hitting Virginians with abusive billing practices and scam coverage. Stopping Wednesday at a community pharmacy in Mechanicsville, Spanberger said holding down the cost of medication is a priority, but she stopped short of backing a prescription drug board to cap drug prices. Democratic legislators have pushed the concept for two years, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed the measures. But Spanberger weighed in on a corner of the insurance business that few Virginia politicians have ever mentioned: insurance policies that offer extremely limited and unnecessary coverage, such as cancer policies or credit insurance that steps in when a disability or illness keeps individuals from working. People will think theyve got coverage when they really dont, she told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Spanberger said health care is the reason she jumped into politics. She said she ran against then-Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, in 2018 because she was angered by his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now, she said, The No. 1 priority that Virginians share with me is the need to make everyday life more affordable. And it's in these conversations that I routinely hear about the high cost of health care and prescription refills, stories of prescriptions left at the counter when they ring it up, and a family that's making a choice between filling a prescription or other costs at home. If elected, she said she would push to crack down on pharmacy benefit managers, the firms that promise to manage drug costs for health insurance firms. They make money from the difference between what they pay for drugs and what they charge pharmacies when an insured patient presents a prescription for a pharmacy to fill. They're the people who are inflating the cost of Virginia's prescription drugs to turn profit, she said. PBMs, the middlemen of the pharma industry, steer Virginians towards overpriced drugs at their own pharmacies, and as governor, I will ban this practice to make sure that Virginians can use the pharmacy of their choice." Spanberger said cracking down on the sale of what she called scam coverage would be another priority. There are also, unfortunately, predators out there trying to scam Virginians with unnecessary coverage, she said. These scams have gone on for far too long, and as governor, I will work to hold those bad actors accountable for ripping off Virginians, particularly when they are most vulnerable when it comes to their health." Spanberger said another insurance effort will be to strictly enforce Virginias laws on surprise billing the extra costs hitting Virginians when they, unknowingly, get care from providers that are not in an insurance company network. This has come up when emergency room doctors in a hospital are organized as a separate practice thats not in a network, or when a provider forwards a sample to an out-of-network laboratory. She said she wants to use the states own purchases of medications for employees and for the Medicaid program to negotiate lower costs of prescription medication and to encourage the states growing pharmaceutical sector to boost production of generic drugs. But she said she still wants to find out more about how prescription drug affordability boards are working in other states, particularly in early innovators Colorado and Maryland, before deciding where to go with this approach. The General Assembly approved measures in 2024 and this year that would have empowered a new board to cap prices of up to 12 medications. All Democrats in the House of Delegates and one Republican, Del. Ellen Campbell, R-Rockbridge, supported the 2025 measure, which picked up four GOP votes in the state Senate where two Democrats voted against the idea. Youngkin vetoed the 2024 and 2025 bills, saying they risk limiting patients access to medication. Spanberger said she thinks a lot of good work has been done with such boards. But as we're watching the implementation in other states, I want to make sure that whatever we might have as involvement in the future will be of best practices based on the successes or challenges that other states have faced, she said. In another part of the health care business, Spanberger said she wants the state to create a more transparent and easier-to-use tool that Virginians can employ to compare the cost of care at different hospitals. President Donald Trump has said he's planning to hit Apple with a 25% tariff if the company fails to start building iPhones in the United States. It was reported last month that the American company was planning to move production to India after Trump bumped China's import tax up, per Reuters. Apple had been making approximately 80% of the iPhones sold in the U.S. in China, the news agency stated. President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Apple CEO Tim Cook, insisting he's going to hit the company with a 25% tariff if they don't start building iPhones in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, May 23, Trump, 78, shared a post on his Truth Social platform, suggesting that he'd previously had conversations with Cook, 64, about his plans to manufacture and build the phones in India. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones [sic] that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your [sic] for your attention to this matter!" he added. Apple didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty A photo of iPhones A photo of iPhones It was reported last month that Apple, which is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., was aiming to make most of its iPhones sold in the U.S. at factories in India by the end of 2026, per Reuters. The plan to move production to India came after Trump bumped China's import tax up amid his market-plummeting tariff plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters stated Apple wanted to speed up the plans to move production in a bid to "navigate [the] potentially higher tariffs" in China, where they previously made approximately 80% of the iPhones sold in the U.S. The news agency claimed that Apple sells over 60 million iPhones in the U.S. every year. Experts have warned that if Apple attempts to transfer its manufacturing to the U.S., where there is a much smaller ecosystem for tech production than in Asia, the cost of its products are likely to skyrocket. Tech analyst Dan Ives has repeatedly told outlets like CNN and CNBC that iPhones could triple in price if Apple tries meeting Trump's demands, costing somewhere around $3,500 each with the United States' current production capabilities. Ives also told CNN in April that it would cost Apple approximately $30 billion and take about three years just to transition 10% of its supply chain to the States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's new threat toward Apple comes after he spoke about a recent conversation he had with Cook. "I said to him, 'My friend, I treated you very good. You're coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India,' " Trump said while speaking in Qatar on Thursday, May 15, per ABC News, appearing to reference Apple's previous pledge to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. After Trump warned Apple of an import tax, he also said on Truth Social that he was planning to hit the European Union with "a straight 50% tariff" starting on June 1. Clive Mason/Getty Donald Trump Donald Trump Trump previously announced on April 9 that he was putting a 90-day pause on the tariffs for nearly all nations excluding China. 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 U.S. and China have since "agreed a truce to lower import taxes on goods being traded between the two countries," the BBC reported. Additional U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports "will fall from 145% to 30%," while Chinese tariffs on some U.S. imports "will fall from 125% to 10%," per the outlet. Read the original article on People President Donald Trump had been paying attention. The day before, he had gone to Capitol Hill to deliver a simple message to House Republican holdouts on his signature domestic-policy bill: Fall in line now. But not all heeded the message, and one in particular Rep. Andy Harris, the Freedom Caucus chair caught Trumps notice. Harris left the Tuesday morning meeting before Trump had even finished speaking and told reporters that holdouts were a long ways away from a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president, I don't think, convinced enough people that the bill is adequate the way it is, he said. Now Harris was in the Cabinet Room, pressing for deeper cuts along with several other key holdouts, and Trump was pissed. He suddenly cut off the conversation and lit into the Maryland Republican. Trump told Harris hed seen his comments: Youre out there grandstanding when you should be uniting, the president seethed, according to three people familiar with the meeting who were granted anonymity to describe it. You are going to sink this legislation and have the highest tax increase in history and bankrupt the country. That's the only alternative. Enough is enough, he snapped. Get it done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump walked out of the room, leaving them stunned. So it was that the GOP megabill a package of trillions of dollars in tax cuts coupled with key Trump spending priorities was suddenly put on a glide path toward House passage early Thursday morning. To hear senior Republicans tell it, the president essentially sent the conservative rabble-rousers back down Pennsylvania Avenue with their tails between their legs, forcing them to swallow a deal they had insisted just 24 hours earlier was not good enough. Theres a feeling among White House aides (to say nothing of GOP congressional leaders) that the hard-liners overplayed their hand, trying to nickel-and-dime Trump at every opportunity. Instead, they say, it blew up in their faces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hard-liners themselves have a different version of events. One conservative closely involved in the talks told me it was straight-up bullshit that theyd gotten rolled at the White House, ticking off a number of commitments secured during the meeting, including a promise for a new health-care-related executive order they believe could save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. But facts are facts: Members who went into the White House vowing it would be days or weeks until a deal could get done ended up voting for the bill less than 24 hours later (though not Harris, who voted present). The overall fiscal parameters of the package didnt change. Their push for a fundamental change to the way Medicaid is financed fell flat. Some of the clean-energy incentives they hated enacted under President Joe Biden remained in place. And yet they voted for the bill. The hard-liners will have another shot: The big, beautiful bill is now headed to the Senate, where its unlikely to move in a more conservative direction. In fact, the opposite is likely to happen. And they are promising when the bill comes back through the House for final passage, they wont be folding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We're gonna have some red lines this time, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told reporters Thursday morning. And when we say red lines, I mean it. Thing is, few in the White House or on Capitol Hill believe them. The need for Trump to knock some heads became clear Friday, after a handful of conservatives joined with Democrats to temporarily sink a key vote in the House Budget Committee. Trump returning from his Middle East swing on Air Force One joined one of his top staffers in grilling Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) about why he called a vote without a deal in place, embarrassing everyone in the process. Trump and team members spent Saturday in the Oval Office working through a plan to muscle the bill through the House. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rolled out a new report touting the legislation and the severe economic consequences that would ensue if Trumps 2017 tax cuts expired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pressure campaign had begun: Republicans must not side with Democrats in helping them raise taxes, Leavitt said. Eager to help Speaker Mike Johnson pass the bill before his self-imposed Memorial Day deadline, Trumps Tuesday morning visit to the Hill was meant to bring that message home. We need to stick together and get this bill passed, Trump said almost as soon as he entered the conference room in the Capitol basement. The message seemed to resonate with some holdouts: After Trump personally jabbed at Rep. Mike Lawler of New York for not taking yes for an answer, he and fellow blue-district Republicans who had been pushing for a larger state-and-local-tax deduction managed to cut a deal before the end of the day. But, per the usual dynamics inside the House GOP, members of the Freedom Caucus refused to lay down their arms. Even before Trump had left the room, Harris who weeks ago had snubbed a White House invitation from Trump to discuss the budget blueprint for the megabill reaffirmed his opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president called for eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, and we have not eliminated waste, fraud and abuse, he said. The comment infuriated White House officials and the president himself. The way the media-obsessed Trump saw it, here was a lawmaker who dipped out early and headed straight to the cameras to undercut him as he was preaching unity. Asked about the testy White House exchange, a Harris spokesperson said the lawmaker "has an excellent relationship with the President and expects that to be part of any high stakes negotiations. But the anger wasnt limited to Harris. As far as White House officials and GOP leaders were concerned, the Freedom Caucus had gotten exactly what they asked for: $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only that, the White House had signaled a willingness to sweeten the pot for the hard right: Despite concerns about political blowback ahead of the midterms, Trump advisers had agreed to move up new Medicaid work requirements by two years. And despite the complications of quickly phasing out Biden-era clean-energy tax credits, they agreed to advance the timeline. To hear senior aides tell it, the group couldnt take yes for an answer. They continued to press to reduce the federal government's cost share for Medicaid changes the president made clear he didnt support in salty language. They also pushed to further cap state taxes on health care providers that helps cover Medicaid costs, a provision that moderates abhorred. A pissing match developed: The conservatives privately argued the White House themselves had put a provider tax cap on the table then backed off when House moderates freaked. The White House in turn said that provision and others were floated as possibilities if they could get to 218 votes. When the breakdown became clear Wednesday morning, Trump invited the hard-liners to the White House. The meeting started out cordial; Trump came armed with a list of victories tucked into the legislation, campaign promises hed run on that the bill checked off. He told his guests he might agree with them on principle, but now they needed to pass a bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when the holdouts continued to push for more alterations, Trump made clear hed had enough. Don't blow this opportunity, he said. You have a victory before you. Take the victory. And don't be stupid. Or, as Leavitt put it in a statement, President Trump strongly emphasized his expectation that Republicans work together, respect their fellow members, and recognize this is a slim majority. For the most part, the hard-liners listened. While GOP leaders continued their talks into the afternoon and evening, Trump didnt have to make any more calls to conservatives as the bill headed to a final vote early Thursday surprisingly, given the last-minute hand-holding typically required for major votes with the tiny House GOP majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, conservatives accepted parameters of the deal senior Republicans say theyd been given a couple days before plus a couple of sweeteners: The White House agreed to continue to look into executive orders that could further Medicaid protections, and GOP leaders inserted a new incentive structure to encourage the 10 holdout states not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act a provision that ironically added to the overall cost of the bill. The conservatives are now touting those as significant wins, with some arguing that the faster tax credit phase-out was never a sure thing. Their negotiating counterparts are calling bull, with Trump allies telling me that even this new executive order was already on deck for signing. What happened looked pretty simple to most Republicans looking at the final deal: Trump got mad and they got in line. After spending months behind bars, a Doraville acupuncturist is seeking bond. Meu Keon Kim, 70, is charged with 16 counts of misdemeanor sexual battery and four counts of aggravated sexual battery, according to court documents filed by his attorney on Friday. He was indicted on several of those charges and had formal accusations filed for others last month. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Kims attorney filed a motion for bond on Friday, saying that his client is not a flight risk because of his age and strong ties to the metro Atlanta area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His attorney also cites that Kim has never been arrested and has no disciplinary record with the Georgia Composite Medical Board. If the court still feels he could be a flight risk, his attorneys suggested having Kim surrender his passport and forcing him to wear an ankle monitor. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 2s Courtney Francisco has been following Kims case since the Buford Highway business was raided and he was arrested in February. He has remained in the DeKalb County Jail without bond since then. According to the indictment, obtained by Channel 2 Action News, two women accused Kim of inappropriately touching them during treatment sessions. The district attorneys office says the charges in the indictment and accusations are connected to seven victims. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A man was arraigned in Brockton District Court Thursday for allegedly helping a homicide suspect avoid arrest. Jaylen Speed, 24, was charged with one count of accessory after the fact. Speed pleaded not guilty to the charge and was held on $50,000 cash bail, placed on GPS monitoring, ordered to home confinement if released and ordered to stay away and have no contact with any witnesses in his case. On March 22, 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez and 18-year-old Tymari Albertson were shot and killed outside a Chipotle on Westgate Drive in Brockton, according to District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect wanted in fatal shooting of 2 teens in Brockton may have changed his appearance Officers sought to locate and apprehend the prime suspect, Davinci Leonard. According to investigators, Speed was in contact with Leonard in the hours following the deadly double shooting, even providing his cell phone to Leonard for him to communicate with others while taking the steps to avoid capture. Speed was allegedly seen in the company of both Leonard and 32-year-old David Mosley-Lott from Quincy the day after the shooting. Authorities say Speed allowed Leonard to use his cell phone on March 23. Leonard is still at large, according to the DAs office, and Mosley-Lott was held without bail earlier this week for allegedly assisting Leonard in evading capture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information leading to the capture of Davinci Leonard is asked to contact Massachusetts State Police at 508-894-2584. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By David Dixon ALBANY The Georgia Environmental Protection Divisions Water Protection Branch recently added the section of the Flint River from the Lee County line to the Mitchell County line to the GAEPD Impaired Streams List (Section 305(b)/303(d)). In 2022, that portion of the Flint was designated as impaired for mercury in fish tissue and in 2024 for the human pathogen indicator bacteria E. coli. To meet the requirements of the U.S. Clean Water Act, Georgia assesses a percentage of its waters approximately every two years and publishes the Water Quality in Georgia Integrated Report. This report describes the quality of all the waters in the state and contains a list of waters in good condition and those impaired/polluted, along with fish consumption guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the impaired listing, Dougherty County is required to begin monitoring the Flint River as part of our NPDES Stormwater Permit as a Phase I medium Municipal Stormwater System (MS-4) and submitting those results to Georgia EPD, according to Dougherty County Public Works sources. The Dougherty County Public Works Department is in the process of finalizing a sampling and testing protocol to meet the requirement from GAEPD. The GAEPD has approved total suspended solids sampling as a substitute for mercury testing, a once-a-year requirement. The sample would be required to be taken at the upstream end of the defined urbanized area at the Marine Stormwater Canal (Marine Ditch) near Radium Landing and the downstream end at the discharge point at the Radium Spring Run (Skywater Creek). For bacteria testing, the GAEPD is requiring that four grab samples be collected within a 30-day window four times a year at these two sites. This will require collecting 16 total samples per calendar year. The requirement also stipulates that two groups of four samples be collected from May-October and the other two sets from November-April. These samples must be put on ice immediately after they are collected. DCPW will send these samples off for certified laboratory testing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though Dougherty County will not be required to test for mercury in this section, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Supervisor Rob Weller said, Mercury in fish tissue will still be tested by the DNR. In the case of the Flint River and other water bodies, the DNR will sample fish tissue for mercury and other parameters every 10 years. The next routine scheduled sampling date for the Flint River is 2031. The mercury in fish tissue designation has been caused by accumulation of that toxic material in upper predatory fish like largemouth and striped bass. Mercury is released naturally into the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions and wildfires. It is also produced through human activities such as combustion of coal to produce electricity. Wind transport from far away sources of mercury also can contribute to the accumulated load. In the case of Dougherty County, the majority of this toxin would have been produced from the nearby legacy coal burning plants that have now discontinued burning coal. These sources were Plant Mitchell on the banks of the Flint River downstream of Albany, MillerCoors (now MolsonCoors) in Dougherty County, and the Crisp County Power Commission plant beside Lake Blackshear at Warwick. Unfortunately, mercury takes a long time to work its way out of the environment, so testing and publishing guidance on fish consumption is needed to inform the public of the potential danger of eating certain species. The designation of E. coli bacteria is directly caused by the city of Albanys Combined Sewer Overflow system. Although much work has been completed on eliminating the raw sewage that goes into the Flint River, until it is completely separated from the stormwater, issues with high bacterial loads, after even small rainfall amounts, will continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are, of course, interested in seeing this section of the Flint delisted by GAEPD, Flint Riverkeeper Gordon Rogers said. I have personally been working on the mercury issue as Riverkeeper for first the Satilla, then the Flint, since 2005. We have seen improvements due to better emissions controls and closures, and expect to see more. Regarding E. coli, the work that the city is doing is the key to major success. We are pleased with their progress and expect to see bacterial levels drop in the next few years. Even now, there are many times when the river is perfectly safe to be in. Indeed, we have a couple of tube floats coming up on May 30-31 that are open to the public. DOUGLAS COUNTY, Mo. Douglas County Sheriff Chris DeGase says he was on vacation last night when he got a call that made him drive from Mississippi overnight, back to Douglas County. Last night, about 6:00, deputies went to a residence on BB Highway, which is in the northwestern part of Douglas County. The female that lived there, she had multiple felony arrest warrants out for her. They went there, they knocked on the door, and she would not come out of the residence. They went into the residence to get her out, DeGase said. Thats when DeGase says chaos ensued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the moment they went through the door, she fired one round. Initially, the deputies retreated back initially. They opened the door again where she fired another round at deputies in an exchange of gunfire with her. At that point, they retreated to a safe location just outside the front door. They were giving her commands to come out of the residence, DeGase said. She said she had two guns, DeGase said. She was not going to put them down. This went on for a few seconds and then she came to the door producing two firearms. Shots were fired. She sustained one gunshot wound to the right eye that exited by the temple area, and she was airlifted out and then she was taken by ambulance to Barnes in Saint Louis, and she is still in critical condition. DeGase says serving warrants is one of the most dangerous parts of policing, but he says CaseNet, the popular online database with almost any public record of a Missouri court case, could potentially be making things even more dangerous. I think one of the biggest problems right now is people know police are coming, you know, with CaseNet and everything. I just got off the phone with our prosecutor. With CaseNet, people know they have warrants. Years ago, I mean, Im in year 32 at law enforcement, 17 as the Sheriff, you know, it wasnt as hard to round somebody up on a warrant. Most of the time because they didnt know they had it. In situations like this, they look on CaseNet, and they know they got a warrant and they can prepare for it. So to me, thats one of the most dangerous parts of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman involved in this is Susan Sinclair, Sheriff DeGase says. Its not the first time the DCSO has run into Sinclair. I know we dealt with her on the issue with the with the dogs back in 2023. I believe the local city police here had an encounter with her where she may have resisted arrest with them, DeGase said. Sinclair had been arrested for over 50 counts of animal neglect and abandonment, and had been sentenced in 2024. DeGase adds the only reason the DCSO was even at Sinclairs home Wednesday night was because she wasnt following the rules of her previous sentencing. She was not in compliance with what she was supposed to be doing when she took a plea agreement on the initial charge, DeGase said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeGase is hoping Sinclair recovers but hopes shes charged and put in jail. I mean, she shot at law enforcement. She should never see the light of day. Even if she shot at somebody else, she should never be out. I think just the actions that she took, I mean, my guys gave her every opportunity to come out of that house and not get shot. Theres going to be some more evidence that will come forward that, you know, indicate that that she was not no matter what happened, she wasnt going to come out without a fight, DeGase said. Were just kind of in the beginning stages of that portion of this investigation, but, yeah, its I mean, honestly, I hope we never have to deal with her again. You know, not saying that I wish she was dead. Im just saying, you know, when it comes time for her to go to court, she does not need to see the light of day again. As of now, the two deputies involved are currently on paid leave. The Christian County Sheriffs Office will investigate the officer-involved shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeGase thanks the Ava Police Department for stepping in to help with calls during the initial response last night. A lot of people dont realize that our calls still kept coming in, and the Ava Police Department was taking calls for hours out in the county because every single one of my deputies were tied up there, and we really appreciate that, DeGase 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. The Douglas County Animal Shelter is under a mandatory quarantine due to a multi-virus outbreak. According to shelter officials, 13 dogs are currently sick with pneumovirus, and three dogs are sick with parvovirus. The Georgia Department of Agriculture issued the quarantine at the shelter after it voluntarily closed on Thursday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Douglas County Animal Services Director Vanessa Francikowski says the shelter has never dealt with a multiple-virus outbreak like this before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We expect coughing dogs, but this went from coughing to full-blown pneumonia within 48 hours, which was a red flag, explained Francikowski. The quarantine will remain in place until further notice. Staff are following strict guidelines to contain the outbreak, including cleaning the kennels three times a day and providing necessary medication to infected animals. While only some dogs have tested positive for the virus, the viruses are highly contagious, so about 100 dogs are being quarantined. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As shelter staff work to keep the cats and dogs separated and to prevent the viruses from spreading theyre asking the public to take advantage of free vaccine clinics. This didnt happen here. This came from dogs coming in from the public with an unknown vaccine history, said Francikowski. During the quarantine, no animal will be allowed to enter or leave the shelter, except for those being reclaimed by their owners. Staff are encouraging people who find strays to foster them during the closure. If you find a stray dog, we offer services that allow you to foster dogs at home through this period. Well provide you with food, vaccines, and other necessary support during this time, added Francikowski. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Texas lawmakers are racing to toward the June 2 finish line for the 2025 legislative session. Here are some of the highlights of Thursday's action. Anti-communism education bill sails through House The Texas House voted overwhelmingly to require public school students to learn about historical events and atrocities that took place under communist regimes, putting Texas in line with Florida and other states that have adopted similar policies. Senate Bill 24 by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, mandates the state to develop curriculum for fourth- through 12th-grade social studies classes that include the oppression and suffering experienced by people living under communist regimes, including mass murder, violent land seizures, show trials, concentration camps, forced labor, poverty, and general economic deterioration. It would also mandate teaching about the history of communist movements in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston expressed concern that the bill could give a false impression about the prevalence of the ideology in U.S. history, saying that in the past, people who fought for workers rights were often accused of being communists. More: Bipartisan contingent of Texas senators advance bill to teach 'horrors of communism' Austin Democratic Reps. Vikki Goodwin and Gina Hinojosa sought unsuccessfully to require students to learn about fascist regimes in addition to communist ones. A proposed amendment from Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, to add education on Nazism and its resurgence in the United States and Europe in the present day also failed to stick. Republican Rep. Stan Kitzman of Pattison, an army veteran who represents a large, rural area west of Houston, made a rare appearance at the back mic to defend the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Communism is responsible for more misery and murder around the planet in the 20th century than any other form of government, he said Thursday to applause from members. Rep. Mihaela Plesa, D-Dallas, gave an emotional address about her familys experience fleeing the communist regime of former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. When my parents grew up, when the government killed a member of your family, they would send you the bill for the bullet, Plesa told the lower chamber. By passing Senate Bill 24 we are giving children like the one I once was a chance to see their family's truth reflected in the history we teach. The bill passed in a 119-13 vote with five members abstaining. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. No SNAP benefits for sugary sodas A bill that would remove sodas from being eligible for purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program initially passed the House on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lower chamber voted 88-47 to advance Senate Bill 379 by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston. It would prohibit the use of SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, from purchasing carbonated, sweetened soft drinks, which proponents of the bill say are contributing to an obesity epidemic in Texas. The Senate passed the measure by a 24-6 vote in late March. More: Greg Abbott moves to block Texans from using food stamps for soda and candy Critics have said the legislation could lead to a reduced availability of food for SNAP recipients, causing some small vendors to choose to stop accepting benefits altogether rather than sort through regulatory guidelines. Abbott last week formally requested a waiver from the Trump administration to prohibit the purchase of unhealthy, highly processed food using SNAP benefits. Although it's not yet entirely clear, the waiver might be required for the state to legally implement Middleton's bill if it becomes law. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs a series of business-friendly bills at the Texas State Capitol, May 14, 2025. The bill is part of a recent conservative movement to "Make Texas Healthy Again," which Republican lawmakers hope will lead the way in a wider movement championed by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House must vote one more time, and the Senate will need to accept minor House tweaks to the bill, before it will head to the governor's desk for a signature. 2 major abortion bills sent to governors desk The House gave its blessing Thursday to Senate Bill 31, which aims to clarify the medical exception to the state's near-total abortion ban and educate doctors on when they can legally terminate pregnancies. The bill's House sponsor, Republican state Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, said the proposal aims to prevent maternal deaths that have occurred since Texas outlawed nearly all abortions in 2022. "We know women have died after care was delayed or denied, said Geren, who authored the House companion for SB 31. "We know women have left Texas for lifesaving care. We know women have been horribly injured because doctors have refused to provide abortions that could save their bodies. Doctors and hospitals need the clarity that SB 31 can provide." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Texas House passes bill clarifying medical exceptions in state abortion ban Lawmakers in the lower chamber also voted to bar cities like Austin from funding out-of-state abortion travel with Senate Bill 33, authored by Campbell. That bills House sponsor, state Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, said the legislation will ensure public money isn't "spent on an activity that is illegal in Texas." We dont want to be litigious, but when a city decides to clearly circumvent the intent of a law passed by the Texas Legislature, its time for us to get stern, she said. Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, answers questions during the debate of SB 33, which would ban cities and other public entities from funding out-of-state abortion travel, Wednesday at the Capitol. School prayer time bill gets House nod Several attempts from Democratic lawmakers to kill a bill to expand prayer in public schools failed Thursday when the House initially passed the measure 88-57. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 11 by Galveston Republican Sen. Mayes Middleton would allow a school district or charter school's board to set aside time for "prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text" each day. Students and school employees would be required to provide consent forms for participation in the prayer period, and the bill would prohibit prayer or reading of religious texts over a loudspeaker. Furthermore, districts would not be required to adopt the policy. The bill, however, also strikes a provision in Texas law that prohibits educators from encouraging students to pray a point some opponents of the measure took issue with. More homeowner protection from squatters The House passed legislation to give more protections to homeowners whose property is being occupied by anyone who is not invited to be there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Provisions of SB 1333 include allowing an owner to submit a complaint to the local sheriff or constable of the county in which the property is located, and it requires that complaint to be made under oath. The sheriff or constable upon verifying the complaint, must "without delay to serve notice to immediately vacate on the person occupying the dwelling without the owner's consent and put the owner in possession of the dwelling." The House made changes to the version passed by the Senate, so the measure will go back to the upper chamber for further consideration. The Senate can accept the changes or request a conference committee to iron out the differences. Holiday weekend! What holiday weekend? At least one chamber, the House, has been advised that floor sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday, notwithstanding the Memorial Day weekend. That's because scores of bills are backed up, and the Legislature is entering its final full week ahead of the session's must-end date of June 2. No firm word yet from the Senate on its weekend plans, or whether Monday, the actual federal holiday, will be a workday in the Capitol. This story was updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas lawmakers tackled communism, school prayer, squatters Thursday The Senate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has voted overwhelmingly in favour of lifting the immunity of ex-President Joseph Kabila. In a secret ballot on Thursday night, the parliament voted by 88 votes to five to make Kabila liable for prosecution. The former head of state has been accused of treason for alleged links to the M23 armed group, which has taken control of swaths of territory in eastern DRC with the backing of Rwanda. Authorities said earlier this month that Kinshasa had amassed clear evidence implicating him in treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity and participation in an insurrectionary movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kabila, who denies any ties to the rebel group, stepped down after almost 20 years in power in 2018, yielding to protests. However, he enjoyed immunity from prosecution thanks to an honorific title as senator for life. Earlier this month, the attorney general of the Congolese army demanded that honour be lifted. The Senate authorises the prosecution and lifting of Joseph Kabilas immunity, Senate speaker Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said after the vote. Complications Kabila has not commented on his immunity being lifted. Last year he denied allegations from his successor President Felix Tshisekedi that he was supporting the rebels and preparing an insurrection in eastern DRC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tshisekedi has in the meantime suspended Kabilas Peoples Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and security forces have raided several of the former leaders properties. PPRD Deputy Secretary-General Ferdinand Kambere told the AFP news agency that Kabilas prosecution is pure theatre to distract the Congolese people from debates on the conflict and corruption in the country. The former president has been outside the Central African country since late 2023, mostly in South Africa. However, he has threatened to return to help the country resolve the continuing fighting in eastern areas, as well as making increasingly vocal criticism of Tshisekedi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A return to the country by Kabila could complicate the bid to end the rebellion. Reports in April that he was in the east have not been confirmed. Despite DRCs army and M23 agreeing to work towards a truce earlier this month, fighting continues in the eastern province of South Kivu. The long-running tensions in eastern DRC flared into conflict in January when M23 captured the city of Goma, followed by the seizure of Bukavu in February. The group is seeking control of the vast mineral wealth in the eastern areas and has ambitions to take power in Kinshasa. Amid the ongoing fighting, the army and armed groups announced peace talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, in early May. Nurses rallied outside the Samaritan Health Plans building in Corvallis this week, opposing the potential closure of two birth clinics, including one in Lebanon. The protest, supported by the Oregon Nurses Association, comes as Samaritans President and CEO Marty Cahill says the Corvallis-based regional health system is reviewing its operations, including women and childrens services amid challenges occurring within the health care industry. Rumors have been circulating among Samaritan staff about the potential closures, and Lebanon elected officials confirmed with the health care provider that it's a real possibility. Samaritans board of directors was scheduled to meet in Corvallis on Wednesday, May 21, but according to a statement from Cahill, it wasnt to decide on nixing any service. Despite the information circulating around the community, there is not a board vote to close birth centers scheduled today, Cahill wrote on Wednesday. There will be time allocated within the process for additional discussion with our internal and external stakeholders such as staff, board members and the community prior to finalizing any operational changes. Asked how community and staff could offer feedback, Samaritan spokesperson Mark Ylen said via email additional information would be forthcoming "if Samaritan determines any of these sustainable service efforts will advance beyond ideation." While Samaritan officials havent made a final decision, the news of potential closures has rocked Samaritan staff at Lebanons Girod Birth Center. The potential closure, as well as a similar one at a labor and delivery unit at Lincoln City, has drawn the attention of Oregons Democratic congressional leaders, including U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle. In a May 21 news release, the federal lawmakers urged Samaritan to find ways to preserve access to all maternal health care services. A potential closure? Nurses told Mid-Valley Media they learned about the potential closure last week. At the latest Lebanon City Council meeting, Councilor Michelle Steinhebel said she was alarmed by the news and said she understood from a conversation with Samaritans president that a potential closure was under consideration but wasn't a done deal. In a statement released May 15, Cahill said Samaritan was reviewing its operations with an eye toward efficiency and sustainability. According to Cahill, beginning in 2025 the health system had identified general surgery, orthopedics, urology and women and childrens services in its initial review. We will evaluate these new approaches deliberately and carefully over the next few months, Cahill wrote. Where to go? That's spelled uncertainty for patients at Lebanons Girod Birth Center, as well for the centers staff, according to registered nurse Stefanie McDougal. One big concern is where patients from places like Sweet Home, Foster and Cascadia would go if Samaritan closed its Lebanon birth center, located at the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Were looking at up to an hour of drive time to get to Albany from places in east Linn County, McDougal said. To have to go even further (than Lebanon) would be devastating to them, and thats not talking about life and death situations, she said Liz Baer, a home birth midwife who joined McDougal and other nurses outside the Lebanon hospital to talk about the potential closure earlier this week, said she offers prenatal care for moms in Lebanon. Linn County is a really big area, she said. I sort of feel like Linn County gets ignored when planning decisions are being made. State data shows Samaritans Lebanon hospital saw over 200 deliveries in 2022. Its also one of two main hospitals in Linn County providing labor, birth and postpartum services according to a 2024 report from the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative. Concerns over "maternity care deserts," or counties with no facilities that officer obstetric care, have grown in recent years, especially as more rural hospitals close maternity units. Nurses and patients To make their objections known, around 40 attended the rally outside the Samaritan Health Plans building on Wednesday, May 21. Nurses and children lined Walnut Boulevard, waving signs with messages like pregnant moms need desserts, not care deserts to encouraging honks from passing vehicles. One demonstrator was Brittany Hamilton, a Cascadia resident. She and her siblings were all born at Lebanons birth center she said, and she delivered both her children there too. They were quick deliveries, she added, and its about a 45-minute drive to Lebanon from Cascadia. Going to Albany would be a different story. If I were delivering a third child, Id probably have a roadside emergency, Hamilton said. Lebanon nurse Kelli Rierson was at the rally with her 3-week newborn. Shes currently on maternity leave, she said, and is scheduled to return in September. But with a potential closure on the horizon, she doesnt know if shell still have a job by then. I just think its really unfortunate, she said, adding she thinks Samaritan should look at cutting back other programs. Earlier this week, Lebanon nurse Cyndi Rozcicha praised the work of her fellow staff. We have devoted our lives to this, and it is highly specialized, she said. Joining her was new Albany mother Savy Quintana, who credited Lebanon nurses for their care during her pregnancy. I was never supposed to be able to have children, and our entire journey was very scary, she said. She called her son Caspian, born last December, a miracle baby. Quintana said shes experienced two stillbirths and three miscarriages. They made a very scary situation bearable, she said. Her husband Jeremy Quintana said losing the birth center would put people in neighboring towns like Brownsville and Sweet Home hours from medical attention. Its that simple," he said. "They close this place; theyre hurting a lot of people." Related stories: Dr. Dre joined school and community leaders to celebrate the opening of a $200 million campus for Compton High School. The music icon, whose real name is Andre Young, attended and spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning to mark the opening of the Andre Dr. Dre Young Performing Arts Center. The Compton native donated $10 million to help fund this new state-of-the-art performing center that now bears his name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new performing arts center replaces the previous Compton High School, which was nearly 120 years old. The new 31-acre campus will serve more than 1,800 students and features an Olympic-sized pool, massive gym and cutting-edge technology in classrooms. Compton Unified School District expects to welcome its first class of students to the campus in August. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Idaho Board of Medicine has reached an agreement with an Idaho pathologist who was also disciplined by the Washington Medical Commission for repeatedly spreading COVID disinformation. The Idaho agreement, published Tuesday, requires Dr. Ryan Cole to comply with the terms of Washington medical regulators disciplinary order. In January 2024, the Washington Medical Commission restricted Coles medical license in the state of Washington after state regulators concluded that he knowingly shared disinformation about COVID-19 and broke medical standards by virtually prescribing ivermectin to COVID-19 patients, against medical evidence, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the state of Washington, Coles medical license is active with restrictions, the Washington State Department of Healths website shows. He is still licensed to practice medicine in Idaho, the Idaho Board of Medicines licensing records website shows. Cole serves on the Central District Health Board of Health, which directs Idahos largest regional public health district. In April, an Idaho medical malpractice lawsuit against Cole was dismissed following a private legal agreement, months after six doctors disagreed with Coles severe cancer diagnosis that led a woman to undergo major surgery, the Sun previously reported. Cole and his attorney, Nancy Garrett, could not be immediately reached for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Idaho agreement doesnt place more penalties or fines than the Washington order, Idaho Board of Medicine spokesperson Bob McLaughlin told the Sun. As a reciprocal discipline order, the consent order requires Dr. Cole to comply with the order of the Washington Medical Commission, and to report on that compliance to the Board, he said. It does not add any additional penalties or fines to the order of the Washington Medical Commission. Cole still denies Washington allegations The Idaho agreement, formally called a stipulation, says Cole still denies the allegations underlying the Washington Order and has appealed it. But the agreement says Cole understands the allegations and acknowledges that the (Idaho Board of Medicine) has sufficient evidence to establish the allegation for purposes of disciplinary action against (Coles) Idaho license. The Idaho Board of Medicine can adopt another jurisdictions order when that licensed provider is disciplined elsewhere on grounds that apply under Idaho law. The Idaho Board of Medicine can also choose not to pursue disciplinary action in response to discipline in other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 40-page response to the Washington Medical Board to complaints against him, Cole and his attorney argued that he did not violate any rules when he prescribed drugs to patients over telehealth and claimed COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous. But some of the arguments in the response to the Washington Medical Commission do not match Coles public comments, investigations by the Sun found. In public appearances, Cole has said the complaints are politically motivated attacks. The new agreement appears to be the first public move in Idaho related to disciplining Cole. The Idaho Board of Medicine previously closed a complaint into Coles Idaho medical license without looking into patient records, the Sun previously reported. How Idaho agreement works The Idaho agreement says Cole and the Idaho Board of Medicine mutually agree to settle the matter expeditiously in lieu of formal administrative hearings before the Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement says Cole will fully and timely comply with the terms and conditions of the Washington Medical Commissions order. And within two weeks, Cole will submit a status report to the Board of Medicine about his compliance with the Washington order, the agreement says. In its order last year, the Washington Medical Commission set several conditions for Cole to keep his Washington medical license, including completing medical education courses and writing an essay focused on honesty in medicine. The Washington Medical Commission couldnt be immediately reached for comment. As part of the Idaho agreement, Cole waived his right to a full disciplinary hearing with the Idaho Board of Medicine, including the right to call witnesses, testify, present evidence, confront witnesses, and for reconsideration or judicial review of the boards orders. Asked how long the Idaho agreement was in the works, or whether the Idaho Board of Medicine is considering limiting Coles medical practice in Idaho, the Idaho Board of Medicine said board investigations are confidential by Idaho law. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Someone driving an SUV crashed into a utility pole about 11:20 a.m. Friday and ran away. Police were called to Dickson Avenue near South Avenue for an accident with injuries, but when they arrived, no one was in the SUV. Officers on the scene said the driver jumped in another vehicle, which then drove 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 WKBN.com. CHICAGO State troopers are searching for answers after a fiery crash along the Stevenson Expressway early Friday morning. ISP troopers said the crash unfolded just before 4:30 a.m. along the I-55 southbound ramp to Pulaski Road in Archer Heights on the Southwest Side. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Troopers were initially called to the scene following a report of a single-vehicle crash, but when they arrived, they found a badly damaged vehicle that had been abandoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further investigation revealed that, for an unknown reason, the driver of the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a guard rail before the vehicle rolled over and caught fire. SkyCam9 was over the scene at around 6:30 a.m. Friday when a tow truck, which had already loaded the damaged vehicle, could be seen near the tracks as police squad cars waited nearby. Following the crash, troopers said the driver fled the scene on foot, leaving behind the badly damaged car. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Crews were able to extinguish the subsequent fire a short time later and an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash and no arrests have been made. Troopers said no injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A driver who crashed into the back of a van on a freeway outside Las Vegas, killing two children, told police he smoked a bowl of marijuana hours earlier, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Steven Woods, 40, faces charges including DUI resulting in death and speeding, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported after his arrest. The multi-vehicle crash happened on the freeway around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4, on Interstate 15 near Bunkerville. Two children, ages six and nine, died in the crash. Nevada Highway Patrol troopers suspect Woods collided with the van as that vehicle slowed in traffic on a straight stretch of road, documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woods admitted to using a vape inhaler containing marijuana/THC the previous night at bedtime and also said he [smoked] a bowl of marijuana flower at 3 a.m. 12 hours earlier, documents said. Impairment from marijuana can last up to a day, the trooper wrote in the report. A 2021 study from the state of Michigan found marijuana intoxication can last up to eight hours, with its residual effects lasting a day. After Woods arrest, a rural justice court judge set bail at $350,000, records said. The judge ordered him to wear a drug patch and avoid driving should he post bond. A second judge later released Woods from custody because prosecutors had yet to file charges, records said. Because no charges were filed, the judge released Woods with the condition that he continue to wear the drug patch and not drive. Woods appeared in court Wednesday, where a judge ordered him to undergo random drug tests, records said. He remained out of custody and was ordered not to drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woods was not due to return to court until July 16. Woods public defender declined to 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 KLAS. DENVER (KDVR) Information is wanted about a driver and a vehicle that crashed into a pedestrian on the side of Interstate 25 on Sunday, killing the pedestrian. It was one of the three pedestrian crashes reported Sunday in Denver. The crash reportedly occurred at about 5 a.m. on I-25 south near West 23rd Avenue. The area is near the Downtown Aquarium. 3 pedestrians killed in separate Denver crashes Sunday morning: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the driver did not remain on the scene after striking the pedestrian, who was along the right shoulder. The injury caused by the crash was fatal, police said, and the driver did not leave information as required by law. The victim of the crash has not been identified by officials. FOX31s Alliyah Sims spoke to Denver police spokesperson Doug Schepman about the three pedestrian-vehicle crashes on Sunday. He said there has been a rising trend of deadly crashes involving pedestrians. Its troubling that you would have a crash where a motorist strikes a pedestrian and doesnt stop to render aid as they are required to by law and provide their information to investigators, Schepman said. So, that does lead to increased consequences for those drivers, and so we want folks to know if youre in a crash, whether its minor by nature or whether it involves a fatality, youre required by law to stay on scene, and we encourage you to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro Denver Crime Stoppers shared that the suspect vehicle may have minor to moderate damage on the passenger side of the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or online at metrodenvercrimestoppers.com. Tipsters can remain anonymous and qualify for an up to $2,000 reward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV) The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is warning customers to be aware of the latest phishing scam, where scammers try to gain access to personal information by pretending to be from the DMV. This is the latest in a series of text message phishing schemes the DMV has warned New Yorkers to avoid. Previous scams claimed that E-ZPass accounts were about to be suspended. Phishing texts are fraudulent messages designed to obtain data or sensitive personal information to be used to commit identity theft or trick the recipient into installing malicious software onto a computer or mobile device. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York State Department of Information Technology Services advises avoiding phishing attacks. Here are some tips: Be cautious about all communications you receive, including those that claim to be from trusted entities. Be careful when clicking any links contained within those messages. If in doubt, do not click. Do not send your personal information via email. Legitimate businesses will not ask users to send sensitive personal information through email. Keep an eye out for telltale signs: poor spelling or grammar, the use of threats, or the URL does not match that of the legitimate site. Be wary of how much information you post online. The less information you post, the less data you make available to a cybercriminal for use in developing a potential attack or scam. A phishing text will often look like this: You can find other examples of what a phishing scam looks like on the DMV website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Per South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, overdoses were likely responsible for two recent prison deaths; 39-year-old inmate Jason Garreau was discovered unresponsive at the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls, and 24-year-old inmate Joshua Arrow was found at the nearby Jameson Annex. In the meantime, Project Prison Resets task force is examining where to recommend building a replacement for the state penitentiary currently sitting in Sioux Falls. 1.2 million yd of dirt moving on S. Veterans Parkway Lets just say were at the new prison, and these inmates are still addicted to drugs but are receiving the proper treatment, maybe therell be less pressure from the outside to get drugs in because that inmate isnt after it so bad, said Republican state Rep. Greg Jamison, who sits on the task force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of people sit in our prisons and the only thing they spiral on is getting that next hit, right, said Democratic state Sen. Jamie Smith, who is also on the task force. Got a lot of time to think. And hopefully we can help people learn how to think in a different way. But drugs are making their way behind the walls. We have 62 open criminal files in the penitentiary right now, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said Tuesday. A majority of those are controlled substance-related, and certainly thats a concern. Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead, who sits on the task force with Smith and Jamison, points out how someone walking or driving by the current penitentiary has the opportunity to simply throw something over the prison wall situated right next to North Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not unusual for contraband to go over the walls at the state prison, Milstead said. He also brings up in-person visits, which are not allowed at the Minnehaha County Jail. Quite frankly, as I said, if they continue to have contact visits, thats the weakest link, Milstead said. Its nice to have a contact visit. We have found, though, that our video visitation, we have no complaints. A new facility could bring with it significant change, but contraband is not a simple problem. Is it going to make it all better right away? Smith said. No, theres many sophisticated systems that inmates have in order to do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new prison has the opportunity to create better treatment facilities, better ways to prevent that addiction from continuing as they get out, Jamison said. And the current prison is antiquated and doesnt have the space, doesnt have the resources to take care of those issues that are crystal clear to me. In response to an interview request from KELOLANDs Dan Santella for this report, the state Department of Corrections sent a statement from Secretary of Corrections Kellie Wasko: A modern facility brings tangible barriers for drug introduction, the tactical design for drug detection devices, and an environment that will foster treatment, and over time, a decreased desire for drug use. Offenders will find that the new facility design doesnt allow for the many opportunities to hide contraband as the current Penitentiary does. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Members of the East Nashville community are concerned after at least three violent crimes happened within a half-mile of each other over the course of 48 hours. The most recent incident happened in the 400 block of Fatherland Street, where the Metro Nashville Police Department was dispatched shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21 for a stabbing. There were also two shootings one reported around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and another called in just after 11 p.m. on Monday, May 19 just a few blocks away on South 5th Street. Thats alarming. I mean, its usually a pretty quiet neighborhood, but we are close to downtown. I know that sometimes different elements impact us being so close to the core of the city, but hopefully we can investigate what led to those things and provide more supports around safety and keeping people connected to share information, said East Nashville resident Peter Martina, whos lived in the neighborhood for 21 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 dead after stabbing on Fatherland Street in East Nashville Authorities said they found a man dead with a stab wound to the back and his throat cut inside an apartment at the Fatherland Flats apartment complex Wednesday evening. There was also a blood trail from the apartment, through the courtyard, and into a community laundry room, as well as a bloody kitchen knife and what appeared to be bloody bedding in the laundry room. About 15 hours before the fatal stabbing, authorities said a teen was shot in the head less than half a mile away in the 500 block of South 5th Street. Before that, a woman was shot in the leg in the 600 block of South 5th Street, which was the same apartment complex as the other incident, Monday night. Both victims were brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment. There have been mornings where Ive woken up at 10 a.m. to gunfire and had to hit the deck, and thats definitely scary, said Sam Wronski, whos lived in East Nashville for four years. Its definitely concerning. My sister and my niece and their family, they also live pretty close by, so I think they also try to keep her safe and be careful about what theyre doing, so I think thats hard for a lot of families to have to deal with that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teen injured after shooting in East Nashville, police say Although these incidents are concerning, both Wronski and Martina have faith in their neighborhood. Its been a lot of changes. There are certainly spikes in crime from time to time, but I think the encouraging thing is that over the years and decades, the crime has improved, the schools are getting better, the community stays very strong, and so Im hopeful that well continue to just get on top of these kinds of incidents and be thoughtful with the police and neighbors on being safe, Martina said. On Thursday, May 22, police announced 26-year-old Tristen Williams was facing multiple charges including criminal homicide, evidence tampering, and two counts of domestic assault involving a girlfriend in relation to the stabbing of an acquaintance who had been staying with him. Williams reportedly told family members and witnesses that the victim attacked him, but detectives havent interviewed him yet because he was hospitalized for a laceration to the arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman injured after shots fired into East Nashville apartment In addition, officials said they arrested 22-year-old Latrell Knot, a convicted felon on probation, in connection with Wednesday mornings shooting on South 5th Street. He has been charged with attempted criminal homicide, gun possession by a convicted felon, possession of a prohibited automatic gun, evading arrest, and 10 counts of statutory rape for having a relationship with minor who is pregnant by him. As for Monday nights shooting on South 5th Street, authorities have not shared any updates in that case. Law enforcement has not released any information indicating these incidents are related. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. DAPHNE, Ala. (WKRG) The Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre and the City of Daphne are partnering in a project to transform the Nicholson Center into a performing arts center. The ESRT has teamed up with the City of Daphne and local businesses for a revitalization project at the Nicholson Center. Pictured are, front row, left to right, Reagan Defnall, ESRT production manager, Erin Langley, ESRT founder and director, Ida Ross Hicks, Swift Supply and ESRT board member, and Michelle Bigler, ESRT board member; back row, left to right, Meg Willett, ESRT board member, RoQuan Wiggins, Crucible Construction, Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune, Mike Vincent, United Bank and Nathan Cox, 68 Ventures. (Courtesy of Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre) UPDATE: Mobile police investigating deadly crash as homicide; man found with gunshot wound According to an ESRT news release, the Nicholson Center for the Arts Revitalization Project is a multi-phase project that will transform the historic facility into a vibrant, fully equipped home for the performing arts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With spaces for private lessons, rehearsals and professional-grade performances, the Nicholson Center will serve as a creative anchor for the community and a step toward establishing Daphne as a true arts destination on the Eastern Shore, the release said. Among the upgrades are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkways and parking, electrical improvements for safety and production and a new brick sign and thats just the beginning, according to the release. These investments represent the first phase of a multi-stage vision for the Nicholson Centers revitalization, the release said. This project is about more than just renovations, ESRT Founder, Executive Director and Artistic Director Erin Langley said. It is about creating a space where students can discover their voices, where artists can do meaningful work and where the community can come together through the power of live performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, more than $175,000 in grants, donations and in-kind services have already been raised for the project: $49,900 from the Alabama State Council on the Arts $50,000 from the Cox Family Foundation $25,000 from the Daniel Foundation $10,000 from United Bank In-kind support from the City of Daphne, Crucible Construction, Swift Supply and 68 Ventures The next phase will focus on the centers technical capabilities, including new lighting truss and grid, a state-of-the-art lighting board and energy-efficient LED stage lighting, the release said. ESRT is continuing to raise funds for the project, with the goal of fully realizing the Nicholson Centers potential as a regional arts hub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mobile police warn residents to protect their cars, belongings For more information on the project or to donate, visit the ESRT website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. May 22Friday is a records and staff development day for ECISD, and the school district counselors are hosting a special, day-long session for ECISD police officers. The session is Youth Mental Health First Aid, and the purpose of the training is to ensure all District officers have the tools to recognize when a student may be in crisis, respond with care, and promote mental health support in school. The ECISD Guidance & Counseling Department is rolling out this training in phases with the goal of training all ECISD employees to be aware of signs of crisis, even things like slight changes in a student's behavior or moods. Recognizing warning signs early can give professionals the opportunity to provide intervention and support to benefit the student. The training will be held in Conference Rooms A/B and E of the ECISD Administration Building, 802 N. Sam Houston. It runs from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and from 1-4 p.m. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) ECU Health is hosting the 13th annual Mental Health Expo to connect community members with important resources. This years expo is free and for individuals, family members, caregivers and providers. The Mental Health Expo will feature more than 40 exhibitors from service organizations who will be available to answer questions and provide information about local mental health and substance abuse resources. The Mental Health Expo is free for all to attend. Featured presentations include learning how nature benefits mental health, how to approach a healthy lifestyle and various forms, medical benefits, risks and trends of THC. Interview opportunities will be available with ECU Health organizers, speakers and attendees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more, visit the ECU Health website or click on the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. May 22For the South Point School District, the 2024-25 school year was a tumultuous one. Only a few months after students returned in the fall, the region was shocked by the news that an attacker struck at the elementary school, stabbing principal Bill Christian and attempting to gain access to the school. Fortunately, first responders were quick to arrive on the scene and the suspect was apprehended, without causing physical harm to the children (he was later found guilty and sentenced to prison for the attack). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the aftermath, the elementary school was closed for two weeks. But, as is so often in a dark moment, the light of the community began to shine through. The community rallied in support of Christian, who fully recovered and was back on the job before long. And the district made a point to ease parent concerns on school safety and kept resource officers in the schools as a regular presence. Last week, as the school year was winding down, South Point Elementary got a chance to say thank you to the first responders who came on the scene, hosting a Heroes Parade and inviting police, fire and others to join in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was at that parade that Christian delivered cards, made by the students in October, to the first responders for their work. And many students and faculty took the initiative to use the event to commend Christian, with signs along the procession honoring him as a hero. It was a bright conclusion to what was a harrowing day for the district and we at The Tribune also salute the first responders, Christian and South Point teachers and faculty for all that they have done for the children. You Might Like News Ashland woman killed in UTV accident z RSS Twitter Ironton blanks Minford to win D5 district title Business Chamber awards scholarships Education Meet the Class: Sophia Floyd Floridas harsh restrictions on abortion just took a turn for the worse. Last week, a state appeals court struck down a safety net created to protect pregnant teenagers who want an abortion but are afraid or otherwise reluctant to seek their parents consent. The decision was strange, from several perspectives. But the bottom line is this: Instead of simply upholding a trial courts ruling that denied the girl (identified as Jane Doe) an abortion, a three-judge panel of the Fifth District Court of Appeals brewed up a bizarre legal theory that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees parents the right to exercise care, custody and control of their children. Oddly enough, those words or any mention of parental rights appear nowhere in the 14th Amendment, which is also known as the Due Process amendment. This may seem like a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo, but it has serious implications: The appellate judges stripped away a major provision of Floridas parental consent law one that many believe was essential to passing the law in the first place. Certainly, most underage girls should have the support and consent of their parents when contemplating such a drastic action. But the court ignored the grim reality that some teens have good reason to fear telling their parents they are pregnant and why. It could be incest, abuse or family alienation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those girls, the law allows them to seek permission from a circuit judge to terminate a pregnancy without their parents knowledge. Its not an easy case to make. Girls must prove that they are mature enough to make the decision, and explain why they dont want their parents notified. Last year, only 130 teens petitioned for abortion access. Courts granted 121 of those petitions including some filed in the states most conservative counties. Voters clearly understood the need for a safety valve when they approved an amendment that wrote the parental notification law into the state Constitution. This decision is a travesty. Parents now have more rights over a childs body in Florida than an adult woman has over her own body. The judges rationalized that any special consideration for minors ended when the U.S. Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade and the Florida Supreme Court followed suit. Its doubtful that Floridas high court, stacked with anti-abortion justices, would overturn this terrible decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But an appeal could go up to the U.S. Supreme Court, because the decision invoked the U.S. Constitution. We hope the justices there have more respect for Floridas law than the state officials who are sworn to uphold it. And that leads to the last disturbing wrinkle in this case the role played by James Uthmeier, recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as the replacement for former Attorney General Ashley Moody. Under Florida law, Uthmeier is charged with defending state statutes and its constitution. Why, then, was he arguing for the judicial workaround to be declared unconstitutional despite the fact that it was literally enshrined in the Florida Constitution? He has not responded to the Sun Sentinel as to why. The legal briefs and other documents in the case are sealed unless a judge releases them. Floridians also lack a good explanation for an earlier appellate-court ruling, this one heard by the First District Court of Appeal, that appears to lay the groundwork for the decision released last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The First District panel inventively said it could not accept jurisdiction of that teens appeal because the law provided no opportunity for anyone to argue against her. Judge Bradford Thomas wrote that if the court had jurisdiction, it should nullify the judicial bypass law. It was a cue to other courts, DeSantis and the attorney general. The Fifth District seized on it, and set a course of jaw-dropping judicial activism. The attorneys for Jane Doe should appeal last weeks decision, though any further rulings will probably be too late for the teen in question. But it could mean the world for desperate girls who need protection protection that the state Legislature and the voters of Florida have guaranteed them, and that should not be casually tossed away. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Executive Editor Roger Simmons, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant, Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney and editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman. Send letters to insight@orlandosentinel.com. Boy, did Dolton need that white smoke rising from the Vatican. The south suburb just outside Chicago has taken blow after blow in recent years. Former Mayor Tiffany Henyards antics led to an FBI investigation and a separate investigation by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was appointed by village board members to look into allegations that Henyard had misused and mismanaged village funds. Tack on brawls in public meetings, and Dolton became a laughingstock, synonymous with dysfunction and corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But then came an unexpected win. Robert Prevost, a hometown boy, came seemingly out of nowhere to succeed Pope Francis as the next pontiff. Thats right: Dolton nurtured the Holy Father, now one of the most famous and powerful leaders in the world. Its brought us all great pride. And now we must urge you, Dolton: Take the win. Take it, celebrate it, be proud of it. Dont let bad ideas muck it up. We were surprised and concerned by the news that Dolton plans to acquire Pope Leo XIVs childhood home either through direct purchase or by seizing it through eminent domain. The house on 141st Place in Dolton had been on the market since January. Once Leo was named pope, owner and Homer Glen-based rehabber Pawel Radzik planned to auction the home in mid-June, with a minimum asking price of $250,000. Radzik paid $66,000 for Prevosts old house and then overhauled it, saying that 80% of it is new new flooring, new cabinets, new plumbing, new electrical, new kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turns out, Radzik has a very determined would-be owner. Dolton is going to be the ultimate buyer, village attorney Burt Odelson told Crains Chicago Business earlier this week. Its unclear how the village would use the property, though the idea of turning it into a museum has been floated. The modest three-bedroom house is just a little over 1,000 square feet, and while it would suit a family fine, its hard to imagine people crowding in for a guided tour. We much prefer recently sworn-in Mayor Jason Houses other ideas to celebrate the villages connection to the Holy Father, which include granting landmark status to the home. We thought it made sense that the village board earlier this week approved naming the stretch of 141st Place thats home to Leos former residence Pope Leo XIV Place. And we certainly would support any and all protections to make sure nobody demolishes the childhood home of a pope. But we think its a bad idea for the village to acquire the house. Theres going to be plenty of demand why not let someone buy it on the open market? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were particularly skeptical of the idea of using eminent domain to seize the property. The village would have to pay a fair market value if it does, but whats fair? A price tag of $250,000 seems awfully low for a home that suddenly holds so much cultural significance. Eminent domain is meant to serve the greater public good building schools, roads or infrastructure. Using it to secure a modest home for an uncertain purpose risks setting a troubling precedent, and could expose the village to legal blowback. Not to mention another important question: Does it make financial sense for Dolton to do this? Lightfoots investigation revealed that the villages general fund dropped to $3.65 million in debt, a sharp decline from the $5.6 million surplus it held when Henyard took office. Theres a lot Dolton could do to infuse their papal ties into the villages culture that doesnt involve taking on debt and seizing private property. Hold your horses, Dolton. Celebrate your papal legacy but do it wisely, transparently, and without burdening taxpayers or overstepping your authority. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The Justice Department criminal probe of Andrew Cuomo for supposedly committing perjury in testimony to Congress is just more garbage from a DOJ that has become hyper political and partisan under Donald Trump. Meant to hurt the frontrunning mayoral candidate weeks before the Democratic primary, it may actually help the former governor. Remember, this is the same Trump DOJ that moved to end the prosecution against Eric Adams to avoid improperly interfer[ing] with Mayor Adams campaign in the 2025 mayoral election. However, that investigation had begun even before Adams was elected mayor four years ago. The meritless Cuomo inquiry comes from a referral by openly partisan House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, who accused Cuomo of lying to his committee about the former governors handling of the COVID. That same referral was rejected last fall, but Trumps new politicized officials, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, DOJ No. 3 Emil Bove and Trumps first, failed pick for the U.S. attorney in D.C., Ed Martin, ignored departmental rules and acted on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do we believe its possible that Cuomo may have made some or misrepresentations in his testimony? Sure. But perjury is a pretty high bar and this aint it. His handling of COVID will be judged by the voters of the city. Lets be real here: falsehoods before Congress obviously arent a matter of any importance to the Trump administration. Hell, flubbing the facts or outright lying at congressional hearings is practically a hobby for high-level Trump officials at this point. Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. not only lied openly during his confirmation hearings but has kept giving congressmembers untrue information about his policies in office. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has repeatedly and materially misrepresented her departments operations and just this week delivered a jaw-droppingly incorrect understanding of what habeas corpus is. No, this excuse is purely pretextual. The Trump administration sees some benefit to putting Cuomo under this investigative cloud which could hurt but also ultimately help Cuomo in the race even as it determined it convenient to bring incumbent Mayor Adams out from under a much more robustly evidenced indictment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its worth noting that Martin remains the only high profile Trump appointee whose nomination was fully withdrawn in the face of overwhelming opposition, a result of the fact that, even among Trump sycophants, Martin was openly enthusiastic about wielding his power to punish the presidents enemies. So the matter now sits on the desk of Jeanine Pirro, a former Westchester judge and district attorney and longtime Fox News commentator who was crushed by Cuomo in the state attorney generals race in 2010 and has since dedicated much of her public career to culture war. We dont exactly have high hopes for her impartiality, but she should take heed of Martins downfall and perhaps think back on all the times that she decried what she viewed as the politicization of the Justice Department when under a president she didnt like. Between this and the phony investigation of New York Attorney General Tish James over an absolute non-issue, Trumps DOJ should realize that it is opening a door that will be very hard to close. Lets not go down this road. ___ EDWARDS, Miss. (WJTV) Lees Heavenly BBQ in Edwards will host the Grub & Grab Fundraiser on Saturday, May 24. The event will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and will feature $10 breakfast plates. The funds from the event will help more than 70 children and volunteers go to the Geyser Falls Water Theme Park in Philadelphia, Mississippi, on July 26. It will also help support the restaurants annual bookbag giveaway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. RICHMOND, Ky. (FOX 56) The tornado has altered many peoples lives, including several students at Eastern Kentucky University. Roughly 1,000 EKU students are from Laurel and Pulaski counties, but University President Dr. David McFaddin said the tragedy affects the whole school. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When our community is hurting, were hurting, and we feel like its our role to step up and support, McFaddin said. With the help of alumni and donors, the school created its Student Assistance Fund for Eastern five years ago, designed to help students through tough times. So far, for this disaster, the fund has supported a married couple, both students, a woman who walked the graduation stage hours before her home was wiped away, and others. More than anything, we just want somebody to raise their hand and say, I need help, and thats really all they need to do, and were going to engage with them. Its not going to be some sterile form that you fill out pages and pages to say what you need, McFaddin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also mentioned the university has extended an invitation to students who need shelter, allowing them to return to campus for a safe place to stay. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Weve extended that opportunity to them if theyve been affected, and whether it be now or whether it be maybe an early move-in for the fall semester, were happy to help them in any way we can, McFaddin said. Officials encourage any student who has been impacted by the tornado to apply for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When youre a part of a community like EKU or a part of a community like Eastern Kentucky, you become family fast, in that way, and so, we help each other and we lift each other up, McFaddin said. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Thirty-seven police recruits graduated from the El Paso Police Departments 137th Academy on Friday, May 23. This was the largest graduating class since March 2020, when the Covid pandemic shut down the world. Photos courtesy of El Paso Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retired El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles served as the keynote speaker. Class 138 started earlier this year and Class 139 starts on Tuesday. The ceremony was held at the Starlight Event Center near El Paso International Airport. Graduates will be assigned to regional commands across the city and will go on patrol. They will have a one-year probationary period. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) recently announced that Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Kisunla (donanemab) for marketing. The drug, administered via intravenous infusion every four weeks, is intended to treat adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease, specifically those who are either non-carriers or have a single ApoE 4 gene. Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Gains Approval in Australia for Early Alzheimers Treatment Kisunla stands out as the first amyloid-targeting Alzheimers therapy approved in Australia. Its also the only treatment of its kind supported by clinical evidence, allowing patients to stop treatment once amyloid plaques are cleared. However, medical experts have noted that fewer than 20% of dementia patients are likely to qualify for the therapy, which may cost patients over $80,000 out of pocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Professor Christopher Rowe, head of the Australian Dementia Network, emphasized the significance of the approval, noting that its the first Alzheimer's treatment in 25 years to impact disease progression. While older medications only temporarily eased symptoms, Kisunla has shown it can slow cognitive decline by roughly 33%. That said, the drug comes with risks. It has been linked to brain swelling and bleeding, particularly in individuals carrying two ApoE 4 genes. According to Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)'s release, around 600,000 Australians are currently living with Alzheimers, with about 450,000 in the early stages who might be evaluated for Kisunla treatment. Alzheimers remains the third leading cause of death in the country. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LLY and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ MORE: Why These Energy Stocks are Losing This Week and 10 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy Now Disclosure. None. Elon Musk is having a mini-meltdown on his website after The Atlantic published a damning dive into his time at the White House, leading with a mortifying description of how he was humiliated by one of his superiors. Responding Wednesday to a tweet dissing the magazine, Musk wrote, under his newly re-adopted display name "Kekius Maximus" and accompanying AI-generated profile pic of himself as a Roman centurion: "They are the past, the legacy media fading into obscurity." Illustrating how definitely not-mad he was, Musk just kept posting through it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Atlantic is a zombie publication kept on life support by Laurene," Musk wrote, referring to its billionaire owner Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. "Steve would be very disappointed." Riffing with a user nicknamed "gork," who joked about Steve Jobs haunting Laurene from the grave, Musk posted a ghost emoji and a crying-laughing emoji. Later, he stamped his seal of approval a bullseye emoji paired with a crying laughing emoji, take note on a joke made by "gork" about The Atlantic's "ghosted" readership. (The magazine surpassed 1 million subscriptions last year. X's userbase has been in a steady decline since Musk's takeover in 2022, losing nearly one-fifth of its daily active users in the US.) https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1925315302591442996 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So what has him so incensed? According to The Atlantic's reporting, Musk, once gleeful in his role of taking a chainsaw to the federal government, became an increasingly isolated figure in the West Wing during his time there, with fewer friends and an ever-growing list of powerful enemies. On one occasion, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent exploded at Musk for choosing the acting IRS commissioner behind Bessent's back. "Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!" Bessent shouted, loud enough for president Donald Trump to hear, and pretty much anyone else in the halls of the West Wing. Bessent soon got his way and booted Musk's pick for IRS commissioner. The Atlantic summarized the significance of the shout-matching: "The power struggle has become a symbol of Musk's inability to build support for his approach." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, even by his standards, has been awfully testy with the media lately. In an interview with Bloomberg News on Tuesday, he repeatedly lashed out at the interviewer Mishal Husain for asking standard questions about his businesses, including Tesla. At one point, he called Husain a "NPC" a video game term which means "non-playable character," in an unsubtle way of saying they're a brainless idiot that doesn't think for themselves. Musk, in an NPC-like lack of self-awareness, had something to tweet about the conversation afterwards. "The interviewer was incredibly belligerent," Musk wrote. More on Elon Musk: After Leaving the Government in Ruins, Elon Musk Says He's Giving Up on Politics Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is letting his glitchy Grok AI chatbot sift through potentially sensitive government information, according to an exclusive report from Reuters Friday. One person familiar with the matter told Reuters that DOGE had begun using a customized version of Grok, a generative AI chatbot developed by xAI, which is owned by the billionaire bureaucrat, to do their work. They ask questions, get it to prepare reports, give data analysis, the person told Reuters. Grok was apparently being used to move through masses of information more efficiently in the organizations search for supposed waste, fraud, and abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other people said that DOGE had pressed officials at the Department of Homeland Security to use Grok, despite the fact that it was not approved for use there. Groks use in the federal government raises significant concerns about Musks many conflicts of interest in his government work and business ventures, as the government would have to pay for access to use the AI chatbot, the sources said. This gives the appearance that DOGE is pressuring agencies to use software to enrich Musk and xAI, and not to the benefit of the American people, said Richard Painter, ethics counsel to former Republican President George W. Bush and a University of Minnesota professor. Musk has been accused of using the State Department to boost Starlink in foreign countries and the Commerce Department to boost Tesla. Reuters could not independently confirm claims that DHS employees had actually started using Grok, or whether they needed to pay for it. A Homeland Security spokesperson said that DOGE hasnt pushed any employees to use any particular tools or products. Reports that Grok is being used in the federal government raise other concerns as well, about DOGEs compliance with privacy laws and its handling of sensitive data. xAis website said that it may monitor Grok users for specific business purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albert Fox Cahn, the executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, a nonprofit that advocates for digital privacy, told Reuters that DOGE using Grok was about as serious a privacy threat as you get. Musk appears to maintain a disturbing control over Groks output. Recently, the AI chatbot began generating answers about white genocidea nonissue that Musk is very passionate aboutwhen asked unrelated queries. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) On Monday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed multiple bills into law, but one is still sitting on her desk that has 911 operators and emergency managers across the state worried about funding. After speaking with emergency management, officials are worried how this would affect their already strained budget. The current language that theyre talking about here is having the state 911 program coordinator has basically the ability to build these local peace apps for a what they would call a reasonable cost. Well, nobody knows what that cost is, said Iowa Emergency Management Association President Chris Showalter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MRHD awarding $500K to boost Siouxlands economic development, human resources, education If signed into law, this bill could impact 911 centers ability to do their jobs. That greatly reduces the local PSAP (Public Safety Answering Points) abilities to purchase new equipment to up or upgrade equipment, maintain the equipment thats there, which are already struggles, said Showalter. It could also lead to problems for folks calling in an emergency. If theres some equipment that needs to be upgraded to be working properly, and it doesnt get updated. Thats definitely going to hinder getting that important information out to our first responders to have them respond. So, it is going to be a big concern with the shortfalls of everything thats going on budgetary wise anyway, said Showalter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk Public Schools interim superintendent to get paid $200K: Contract Showalter and many other emergency managers urge the Governor to veto this bill. Just for the simple fact of the vagueness and the openness of the way this verbiage is lifted out in there, you know, theres no cap as far as what the 911 program director at the state level can bill for. There is no timelines, so they could potentially send bills multiple times over the course of a year, said Showalter. Governor Reynolds has roughly 30 days to either veto the bill or sign 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Detectives seized enough fentanyl to kill over 100,000 people after a man rammed into multiple police cruisers in Akron. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Detectives executed a search warrant in the 2000 block of Triplett Boulevard when 33-year-old Lorenzo Leatherwood Jr drove off, according to CBS-affiliate WOIO. When detectives tried to stop Leatherwoods car, police said he intentionally hit multiple cruisers in an attempt to escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the car was disabled, police said Leatherwood resisted arrest before detectives could take him into custody. TRENDING STORIES: During a search of Leatherwoods home, detectives found more than 200 grams of fentanyl and a gun, which Leatherwood is prohibited from owning, police said in a release. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly, according to the DEA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leatherwood was charged with seven counts of felonious assault, one count of resisting arrest, willfully fleeing, having weapons under disability, trafficking in drugs, and a probation violation. According to the release, the case will be referred to the Assistant United States Attorney to determine if federal charges are appropriate. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Evansville Police Department is warning against Bitcoin scams. Officials with the Evansville Police Financial Crimes Unit are warning against the growing trend of Bitcoin scams in a post to social media. The post says scammers tell victims to go to Bitcoin ATMs and send money. These scammers contact victims over the phone or online to pay bond for a warrant, restore an account or send money to a friend online they have never met. The post goes on to say these the money stolen in these scams is 100% impossible to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 40 cases of these scams have been reported to EPD in the past two years. Over half a million dollars have been stolen in these scams. Five of these scams occurred in the past week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees will have a special meeting on Tuesday, May 27, to review the employment status of Superintendent Diana Sayavedra. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the EPISD Administration Building, 1014 N. Stanton. The board is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss the duties and responsibilities and employment status of the superintendent. They are also scheduled to consult with legal counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any action resulting from that will be taken in open session during this meeting or at a later meeting, the agenda said. Board President Leah Hanany sent KTSM the following statement: A special meeting of the Board of Trustees has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, with items related to the superintendents duties and employment listed on the agenda. The district does not have additional information to provide at this time. As always, we remain focused on supporting students and continuing the work outlined in our strategic blueprint. This comes on the heels of the board being drastically reformed after the May 3 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incumbents Israel Irrobali and Isabel Hernandez were defeated in favor of newcomers Robert Osterland and Mindy Sutton. Both Irrobali and Hernandez had supported closing eight schools over two years as a way to deal with the districts financial shortfall. Last week, the new-look board voted 5-2 to reverse itself and not close Lamar Elementary School. Lamar was one of eight schools slated for closure after the board voted 4-3 last November to close schools. EPISD estimated it was facing a $17 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. Sayavedra has been leading EPISD since January 2022. She was given a five-year extension in January 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The conflict between Israel and Palestine dates back to the end of the 19th century and still continues to this day. Wednesday night, a Jewish couple was gunned down outside a Jewish museum in Washington D.C., and this comes as the United Nations Humanitarian Chief reports 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours if aid does not reach them in time. Brodway comes to Erie to raise money for families in crisis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, about 30 people gathered in front of the Erie Federal Courthouse for a vigil to denounce that violence and pray for peace. I think the issue today is that we are truly in a life and death moment for about 14,000 children in Gaza. The UN is warning us that they have days to live without any food and medicine, and we just cant really go on with our daily business as thats at stake right now, said Jaqueline Sanchez-Small with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. The group also took time to pray for the couple who died in the museum shooting, which one Benedictine Sister said is a horrendous act of violence and hatred. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News I had an opportunity to visit Gaza in the West Bank, and I saw with my own eyes the horrible things that were happening. This was years ago, before things have escalated to what we see today, and it is just horrible. It is mass killings of tens and tens of thousands of people, said Reverend Todd Davis, Cambridge United Methodist Church. Davis said most Americans are unaware of the tragedy going on in Gaza, calling it the largest prison in the world, and those in attendance at the vigil agree that a ceasefire is necessary. There has to be a ceasefire. There has to be a ceasefire, aid has to go in, it should be administered by the international community. Its human rights, basic human rights, said Anne McCarthy with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Owners cut the ribbon on new west Erie restaurant, Born & Braised Even through the rainy weather, McCarthy said they do what they can to raise their voices against suffering and she urges people to reach out to their government representatives to advocate for peace. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Students at Erie High School are transforming discarded motorcycle parts into unique creations as part of their senior project, thanks to donations from the local Harley-Davidson store. The Harley-Davidson store in Erie donated old motorcycle parts to Erie High Schools welding program, allowing students to repurpose them into functional items. The initiative aims to encourage creativity and practical skills among students. ECGRA invests in early childhood education, 59 centers awarded ARPA grants Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I brought them back to the kids, and the first piece that they created was the chair, said Donna Newell, welding instructor at Erie High School. Once they saw the chair over at Erie Harley, the parts just kept coming, the ideas kept coming from the kids. Students utilized a variety of motorcycle parts, including gears, mufflers, handlebars, and seats, to create items such as lamps, stools with tail lights, and custom-framed displays. The project involved collaboration across different departments, incorporating electrical work and laser cutting techniques. Russell Ray, a senior at Erie High School, described how they used donated motorcycle parts to create functional items. Downtown Erie set to host summer full of fun events, get the list here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jaivon Sherrell, another senior, described the process of wiring for a lamp project. We started off with the wiring and ran it up top so the bulb could turn on and off, he said, adding that working with other labs was the most challenging part. Donna Newell highlighted the collaborative nature of the project, stating, We incorporated construction trades into the mix to do lighting and electrical work. We had the pre-engineering program as well do some electrical work and laser cutting techniques. Its been a really great project. The creations will be showcased at the Harley-Davidson shop on Tuesday at noon, with plans to raffle them off to raise funds for a student trip to an international trade show in Chicago. The proceeds will be donated back to the schools program, supporting future educational opportunities. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russia is deploying a military strategy known as the triple chokehold to grind down Ukrainian troops, according to experts. Kyivs forces are facing severe pressure on multiple fronts while Russia works to edge them towards exhaustion by integrating three combat elements into a cohesive strategy greater than the sum of its parts. Vladimir Putins forces are launching ground assaults to pin troops down, then dropping mines from drones and calling in strikes to restrict movement before glide bombs target defensive positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were early signs that Russia was deploying the tactic on the battlefield earlier this year, The Telegraph was told but Moscows armies have significantly increased its use over the last two months along the front line. The whole Russian army is using the triangle strategy, said Serhii Kuzan, the chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre. We call it the strategy and war of exhaustion. Since the beginning of this year, Russia has been plagued by a depletion of resources and numerous failed offensives. The countrys military is said to be losing over 1,000 soldiers per day, while Ukrainian armed forces have hit 1,159 Russian tanks, and more than 2,500 armoured vehicles since the start of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heavy losses mean Russia is increasingly trying to press its key advantages over Ukraine a steady supply of soldiers and an ability to quickly produce drones and glide bombs. These efforts are proving effective, with Russias forces capturing close to 1,500 square miles of territory last year its most significant gains since Putin launched his invasion in 2022. Its a very attritional mode of warfare, explained Nick Reynolds, research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). These three elements create conflicting imperatives for Ukrainian defenders. The methodical approach begins with ground assaults fighting to pin down Ukrainian troops, forcing them into defensive positions and stalling their ability to manoeuvre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The continued assaults put heavy pressure on Ukrainian defences. By using huge numbers of people and sending them in assaults on Ukrainian positions, they are trying to exhaust our soldiers and our resources, said Mr Kuzan. The intensity of the fighting in places like Pokrovsk is very high, with assaults every two hours. This is of course exhausting for our soldiers. A Ukrainian soldier prepares to fire towards Russian troops on the front line in Donetsk - Alina Smutko Next, drones are deployed to restrict Ukrainian mobility, conduct surveillance, target vulnerable points and disrupt troop movements by strategically drop mines. These drones include first person view (FPV) drones, which allow Russian forces to track Ukrainian positions in real time and quickly respond to any troop movements, while mine-laying drones are used to cut off avenues of escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of these drones, Ukraine is forced to man the front line with static defensive positions supported by extensive deception measures, for example, large-scale digging, to obscure where troops are actually concentrated, said Mr Reynolds The third prong of the Triple Chokehold sees Russia deploy glide bombs to target key offensive positions from long distances, weakening Ukraines ability to sustain operations. Glide bombs are built by adding fold-out wings and GPS navigation to old Soviet-era munitions. They are then released from military aircraft flying well behind the frontlines, and are guided to their target. These long-range, precision-guided munitions have allowed Russia to use of its vast stockpiles of Soviet weaponry to target key Ukrainian positions, particularly artillery and defensive installations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is where the real dilemma comes, or the really difficult one, to which there isnt really an answer, said Mr Reynolds. Digging in and all those protective measures are excellent for reducing attrition by artillery or FPVs, yet glide bombs will destroy those fortifications and bury people. The combination forces Ukrainian soldiers to choose between holding their positions risking heavy casualties and resource exhaustion or staying mobile, which increases their exposure to drone strikes and isolated attacks. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defence What pins Ukrainian forces in place is the combined threat of Russian ground operations, artillery, and drones, especially FPV and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, added Mr Reynolds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glide bombs have become the most critical element for this strategy, buoyed by Russias ability to churn them out quickly. Rates of Russian production and employment of glide bombs and FPV drones has greatly increased as the war has gone on, John Hardie, the deputy director of the Russia Program at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, told The Telegraph. Russia plans to produce 75,000 glide bombs in 2025, averaging about 205 per day, according to RUSI, greatly increasing its ability to deploy the tactic. Ukraine has adapted to the triple chokehold by shifting to a dynamic defence strategy constant repositioning and unpredictability, rather than holding fixed positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is using a combination of mines, various models of strike drones and traditional artillery fire against Russian forces before they manage to search its undermanned infantry positions, according to Mr Hardie. Ukraine has also expanded strike-drone units that serve as a key force multiplier, and dramatically increased production of FPV drones and other unmanned systems. Continued assaults by Russian forces are putting heavy pressure on Ukrainian defences - Jose Colon/Getty Images The Ukrainians have become very adept and innovative about countering all types of Russian attack, said Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army colonel and chemical weapons expert. The strategy has pushed Ukraine even further into a war of endurance. But as of yet, any gains are incremental for Russia, and the tactic has failed to result in any large-scale operational breakthroughs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia is fixing the Ukrainian forces but cannot manoeuvre to deliver a decisive blow, said Mr de Bretton-Gordon. The issues for Russia of under-trained soldiers and a lack of armoured vehicles remain unsolved. Witnesses have reported the use of motorbikes and even e-scooters by Russian troops to push towards Ukrainian defensive lines. The glide bombs also have a significantly high failure rate. They have found it very difficult to concentrate force because this type of manoeuvre takes a lot of training and co-ordination, said Mr de Bretton-Gordon. Most of the soldiers on the front line now are barely trained conscripts who can just attack in a straight line, he added. Many cannot even clean their rifles properly. 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. SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) The European Unions top foreign policy official on Friday urged North Macedonia to take era-defining decisions to advance its bid for EU membership. Speaking in the capital Skopje alongside Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reaffirmed the blocs support but stressed that progress depends on multiple domestic reforms. The road to membership is not easy, so my message today is to stay on the course and to take next steps necessary towards the opening of the negotiations," Kallas said. North Macedonia faces era-defining choices for its citizens and its future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key among those steps is a constitutional amendment to formally recognize a Bulgarian minority a condition set by EU neighbor Bulgaria to lift its veto of North Macedonian membership. The issue has become a political flashpoint in North Macedonia, where the conservative government insists that EU accession should not be affected by bilateral disputes. Although the European Union has not accepted any new members since Croatia's accession in 2013, the war in Ukraine and concerns for broader European stability have refocused efforts to advance membership bids. The integration of the Western Balkans into the EU is the best recipe for peace and security, Kallas said. We are ready to support North Macedonia in strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption, and modernizing public administration. North Macedonia and Albania began membership talks with the EU in 2022 after years of delays, largely driven by Bulgarias veto over cultural and historical disagreements with Skopje. Albania has since moved ahead in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mickoski reiterated his position that Bulgaria must first approve North Macedonias membership before any constitutional change. We belong in the EU not because someone owes it to us, but because weve built a democracy based on European values, the prime minister. We expect fair treatment and consistent leadership from the Union. Kallas visit to Skopje was part of a broader two-day tour of the Western Balkans. Six regional countries are at various stages of EU accession. Montenegro and Albania lead the process, while Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, and North Macedonia lag behind. If you're a royal news fan like me, then you know that we've been in a whirlwind baby season for the past yearand that it's still going strong. The Duke and Duchess of Westminster (King Charles' godson, Hugh, and his wife, Olivia) are expecting a baby this summer. Princess Beatrice recently welcomed her second daughter, Athena, with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Princess Iman bint Hussein, daughter of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa, arrived late last year. Princess Sofia of Sweden welcomed her fourth baby earlier this year. And now...the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg have announced that their daughter, Princess Alexandra, is expecting her second child. In an Instagram post shared on May 22, the royal family wrote, "Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are happy to announce that Princess Alexandra and Nicolas Bagory are expecting their second child." The baby is expected in the fall, with the family adding: "The Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess and members of both families come together to share the joy of their children." Sylvain Lefevre/Stringer/Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Alexandra and Nicolas Bagory, a Parisian businessman, married in 2023. The civil ceremony was held in Luxembourg City, followed by a religious ceremony in Bormes-les-Mimosas, a village in the south of France. They have one other daughter, Victoire, born in Paris in 2024. The princess is a working member of the royal family and eighth in line to the duchy. She is her parents' fourth child and only girl. She has three older brothers: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Prince Felix and Prince Louis. Prince Sebastien is the fifth child and youngest brother. Congrats to the happy parents! BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Mayor Jared Kraham joined members of the Southern Tier Haitian Association for a flag raising in observance of Haitian Flag Day. This national holiday celebrates the adoption of the Haitian flag in 1803 during the Haitian Revolution. Haitian independence came with the abolition of slavery and a sense of identity, liberty, and pride for its people. The group wore white to symbolize unity and strength as they endured the rain to pause and honor the strength and sacrifice stitched into the flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Binghamton School Board Member-Elect Jesula Saintus says the day recognizes more than a historic moment, but a time of pride and tradition for the local Haitian community. Being Haitian is not just a nationality, it is a spiritual experience. We are culture, we are soul, we are the flavor in the food, the fire in the drums, the rhythm in the feet, the strength in the struggle, and the light in the darkest hour, said Saintus. Haiti was the first Latin-American country to gain independence and is also said to be the worlds first Black Republic. The flags colors come from the French flag, but with the white taken out to symbolize Haitis decolonization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Daniel Williams, the former drummer of Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, was among those killed in a plane crash early Thursday morning, May 22, in San Diego, his father confirmed. Larry Williams told TMZthat his son, 39, was among the victims in the plane crash that occurred about 4 a.m. and resulted in a fire in a residential neighborhood with U.S. Navy-owned houses. Elliot Simpson with the National Transportation Safety Board said that the plane hit power lines before crashing into houses, according to the AP. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Daniel Williams former band, which he left in 2016 to pursue a career in software engineering, also confirmed his death with a post on Instagram featuring photos of the musician along with the caption, no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. Before the plane took off, Williams shared some photos of the plane on his Instagram Story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also killed in the plane crash was Dave Shapiro, co-founder of the music agency Sound Talent and two of the companys employees. Its not known if Williams was one of those employees. According to the FAA, six people were onboard the plane when it crashed and all are presumed dead. Related: Popular Drummer, 39, Feared to Have Perished in Plane Crash We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy, the agency said in a statement, per the AP. The plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and made a stop in Wichita, Kansas en route to San Diego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends of Williams posted tributes to the drummer on Instagram. I hope in some way you can sense all the love coming your way as has always been the case. You were ALWAYS a great time and I loved coming up in the scene at the same time as you. I hope to wake up to hear that they got the names wrong and that you are still very much here. Im grateful that I got to know you and to call you a friend. Rest in peace, love you man , wrote the band We the Kings. I cant believe youre gone. I remember the first time seeing you guys at Summerfest 2010 and I still have your drumstick from warped tour 2011. Im glad I got to meet you. Im so sorry and my heart goes out to all of your family, friends, & loved ones. You will be missed brother., posted another. Ex-Christian Metal Drummer, 39, Dead in Plane Crash, Family Confirms first appeared on Parade on May 22, 2025 LOS ANGELES (AP) A former Los Angeles deputy mayor will plead guilty to reporting a bomb had been placed in city hall last year to law enforcement, federal prosecutors said Thursday. Brian K. Williams, 31, who was employed as the deputy mayor of public safety in October 2024, was charged with one felony count of making an explosives threat. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. William's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams sent a text message to LA Mayor Karen Bass and other high-ranking city officials on Oct. 3, 2024 that he just received a call from someone who threatened to bomb city hall, prosecutors said. The male caller stated that he was tired of the city support of Israel, and he has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the rotunda., Williams wrote in the text, according to prosecutors. He said he contacted the Los Angeles Police Department, who sent officers to search the building. Police did not locate any suspicious packages or devices, prosecutors said. Williams showed officers a call he received from a blocked number on his city-issued cellphone that he said was from the person who made the bomb threat. The call was made by Williams himself through the Google Voice application on his personal phone, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Bureau of Investigation searched Williams' home in December 2024 in connection to the incident, and Williams was placed on administrative leave. Williams will appear in federal court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks. By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - A former McKinsey & Co partner was sentenced on Thursday to six months in prison for obstructing justice by destroying records related to advice the consulting firm gave Purdue Pharma on how to "turbocharge" sales of the opioid painkiller OxyContin. Martin Elling, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou in Abingdon, Virginia, after his former employer agreed in December to pay $650 million to resolve related charges by the U.S. Department of Justice over its work for Purdue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors argued Elling deserved a year in prison after he pleaded guilty in January. His lawyers countered that any prison sentence would be "devastating" as it would bar him from ever entering his new home of Thailand. The sentence was confirmed by a representative for Elling's legal team, which said he is "extremely sorry" for his conduct. Purdue in 2020 pleaded guilty to charges concerning misconduct related to its marketing and sale of prescription painkillers. Prosecutors said Elling was involved in helping McKinsey land work for Purdue in 2013 that resulted in the New York-based firm crafting a strategy to boost OxyContin sales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strategy involved targeting "high-value" prescribers in the medical field, including ones who prescribed opioids for illegitimate uses, prosecutors said. According to charging papers, Elling was among a few McKinsey partners who participated in a 2013 meeting with members of the Sackler family who owned Purdue Pharma and ultimately adopted McKinsey's proposal. In July 2018, after reading about a lawsuit Massachusetts' attorney general filed against Purdue, Elling emailed a McKinsey partner about whether "we should be doing anything other that [sic] eliminating all our documents and emails." A month later, Elling emailed himself to "delete old pur (Purdue Pharma) documents from laptop," prosecutors said. They said a forensic analysis confirmed he did just that. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by David Gregorio) NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Throughout the month of May, WAVY 10 is highlighting some of the excellent educators throughout our region. Norfolk Public Schools nominated three teachers this year, including Catherine Flanigan, Lauren Grant and Ebonie Campbell. 10 On Your Sides Deja Parker met up with Grant, an 8th grade English at Norview Middle School, who preaches the importance of forgiveness while working as a teacher. Norfolk Excellent Educator preaches importance of forgiveness Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More information on the other nominated educators can be found below: Catherine Flanigan Catherine Flanigan is a 3rd grade teacher at Camp Allen Elementary School. Norfolk Public Schools said Ms. Flanigan was recently honored as the NPS Top Elementary School Teacher of the Year and the 2026 All-City Teacher of the Year. With over 23 years of teaching experience, Flanigan is said to create an inclusive and dynamic classroom for her students. Her classroom is a vibrant space where hands-on learning thrives, as seen in her memorable decomposer unit, where students care for live worms to learn about ecosystems, NPS said. Through her teaching, students not only gain knowledge but also develop empathy and a deep respect for all living things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of teaching, Flanigan has participated in a wide range of activities to further the lives of students and fellow educators, including serving on state curriculum review committees, mentoring new educators through partnerships at ODU and serving on the Warrior Classic Band Competition and Music by the Bay. Catherine Flanigan (Courtesy: NPS) Ebonie Campbell Ebonie Campbell is a technology teacher at Maury High School. NPS said Campbell was recently honored as the NPS Top High School Teacher of the Year. With 11 years of experience in education, Campbell is said to inspire her students to see the different career opportunities through technology while fostering an inclusive and collaborative classroom environment. She empowers students to see technology as an accessible and exciting career path, particularly encouraging young women and underrepresented groups to excel in STEM fields, NPS said. Her innovative approach to teaching includes hands-on projects like video game creation, which allows students to combine programming skills with creativity and critical thinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of the classroom, for three years in a row, Campbell has been recognized with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, and has also mentored new educators through CodeVAs Computer Science for Career and Technical Education and Scaling Mentors in Computer Science. Ebonie Campbell (Courtesy: NPS) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A national security panel was divided in its recommendation to President Donald Trump on Nippon Steel's bid for U.S. Steel but most panel members believe any security risks posed by the deal can be addressed, a White House official said. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. on Wednesday submitted a recommendation to Trump about the national security implications of the merger, Reuters reported, as directed by Trump in an executive order signed last month. But key details had not emerged until now about the contents of the document, submitted after Japan's Nippon Steel supercharged its pledged investment in U.S. Steel to $14 billion in a last-ditch bid for approval, as reported by Reuters. "Weve received the report and the President will review the recommendations of each agency to determine if additional action on this matter is necessary," the White House official said in a statement. "CFIUS agencies were not unanimous in their recommendation, but the majority believe any risks can likely be addressed through mitigation," the person added, declining to be named because the matter was not public. Talks with the U.S. government about the merger are in the final stages, Nippon Steel's president Tadashi Imai told reporters in Tokyo, declining to provide details but saying the company is awaiting Trump's decision. "Through our investment and the transfer of the latest technology, U.S. Steel will be able to maintain its competitiveness in the medium to long term. I hope Trump will approve this deal," Imai said. U.S. Steel did not respond to a request for comment. The recommendation complies with an executive order signed by Trump last month, which tasked CFIUS with outlining whether any measures proposed by the companies assuage the national security risks previously identified by the committee. The April directive also asked for a statement describing the position of each agency that is a member of CFIUS as well as the reasons behind it. Trump will now have 15 days to decide the fate of the transaction, although the timeline could slip. Following a previous CFIUS-led review, former President Joe Biden blocked the deal in January on national security grounds. The companies sued, arguing they did not receive a fair review process. The Biden White House rejected that view. Reuters reported this week that if the merger is approved, Nippon Steel has said it would invest $14 billion into U.S. Steel's operations including up to $4 billion in a new steel mill. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper, additional reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo; Editing by Leslie Adler, David Gregorio and David Evans) The executive order targeting Big Law firm Jenner & Block was ruled unconstitutional on Friday. In his ruling, District Judge John Bates said the EO retaliated against the firm for protected speech. This is the second executive order targeting a Big Law firm that has been struck down. Another of President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting a Big Law firm has been struck down after a US District Judge on Friday said the action against Jenner & Block was unconstitutional. The entire order, which revoked the security clearances of the firm's attorneys and required a review of its government contracts, was invalidated by the judge's ruling, representing a major win for Jenner & Block. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The order raises constitutional eyebrows many times over. It punishes and seeks to silence speech 'at the very center of the First Amendment,'" US District Judge John Bates, of the District Court of DC wrote in his ruling, adding that Trump's order did so "via the most 'egregious form of content discrimination viewpoint discrimination,'" and "in an unacceptable attempt to 'insulate the Government's laws from judicial inquiry.'" A spokesperson for Jenner & Block directed Business Insider to their public statement following the ruling, which said that the firm is "pleased with the court's decision to decisively strike down an unconstitutional attack on our clients' right to have zealous, independent counsel and our firm's right to represent our clients fully and without compromise." "Our decision to fight the executive order in court is rooted in Jenner & Block's history and values: we fiercely advocate for our clients under all circumstances," the firm's statement continued. "This ruling demonstrates the importance of lawyers standing firm on behalf of clients and for the law. That is what Jenner will continue to do for our clients paying and pro bono as we look to put this matter behind us." Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government can appeal the decision, in which case the proceedings will be heard in the court of appeals. Any subsequent appeal would be heard by the Supreme Court. The decision from US District Judge John Bates, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, is the second order striking down an executive order from Trump targeting a law firm. Earlier this month, another judge blocked an order targeting Perkins Coie, ruling that Trump's use of federal power "an overt attempt to suppress and punish certain viewpoints." Judges have also temporarily paused executive orders targeting the law firms Susman Godfrey and Wilmer Hale, pending decisions on whether to permanently block them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At an April hearing for Jenner & Block's case, Bates snapped at the Justice Department lawyer, Richard Lawson, who argued Trump's executive order should stand. "Give me a break," Bates said, as Lawson argued federal agencies should follow Trump's command because Jenner & Block engaged in "racial discrimination." In the now-blocked executive order, Trump specifically singled out attorney Andrew Weissmann, a Jenner employee who served as a lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller's special counsel's office, which investigated Trump's ties to Russia in 2016. The order described Weissmann's career as "rooted in weaponized government and abuse of power." Judge Bates's ruling described Trump's order and the subsequent legal battle over its legality as "no run-of-the-mill retaliation case," adding that the president "has displayed a great deal of animosity toward Jenner." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Further adverse actions would not be shocking and could very well offend the Constitution as plainly as Executive Order 14246 does," Bates wrote. "But Article III requires this Court to place its faith in future courts to prevent harm from befalling Jenner if and when that occurs." Read the original article on Business Insider CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Its the start of the long weekend, and many travelers are hitting the road on Friday. Do you plan on grilling this Memorial Day weekend? Heres some fire safety tips MassDOT is saying that Friday will be the busiest travel day this Memorial Day weekend, so youre going to want to plan ahead. They say the best time to travel is in the morning each day, and the worst times will be in the afternoon through the evening. If youre planning to head out later, know that the most traffic is expected through 8 p.m., so leave extra time and stay patient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One couple heading to Bar Harbor, Maine, says theyre glad they left early, before things get backed up. Normally, we wouldve left yesterday, but the weather was terrible. We leave a day early and come back a day late. Thats the best advice we can give people. Leave a day early, come back a day late, said Daniel and Linda of Harwinton, Connecticut. Now, Monday is expected to be okay before 2 p.m. AAA says the worst of the traffic will be between 4 and 7 p.m., so plan around that for the way home. Also, know that Boston is one of the top domestic travel destinations this holiday weekend, so the MassPike could get hit pretty hard. Check the times before you leave and look out for your fellow travelers. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. In a promising new study, scientists have adapted an experimental cancer treatment to control celiac disease. The method successfully quietened the gut's autoimmune reaction in tests using mice, suggesting the treatment could one day become a first-of-its-kind therapy for humans with the condition. For the millions of people with celiac disease, even a small brush with gluten can trigger intestinal nastiness. Immune cells mistake the protein for a threat and launch an attack, leading to diarrhea, pain, and other unpleasant symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A team led by scientists at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland demonstrated a new immunotherapy that seems to quell this overreaction in mice at least. The researchers engineered regulatory T cells (T regs ); a type of immune tissue that calms down the symptom-causing effector T cells. When untreated mice were fed gluten, the effector T cells gathered in the intestines and proliferated, ready for battle. But in mice that had been infused with the engineered T regs , the effector T cells didn't respond to the gluten, and didn't migrate to the gut. The technique is similar to an emerging treatment for cancer called Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, where immune cells removed from the patient are engineered to better target specific cancer cells before being returned into the body to bolster the defence response. Early results have shown promise against some forms of cancer, although it's not without its own risks. Ironically, using immunotherapy against celiac disease works almost the opposite way to cancer suppressing immune responses rather than boosting them. An illustration of a CAR T cell. (Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images) In the new study, the team engineered mice to have a particular genetic variation known as HLA-DQ2.5, which the majority of human celiac patients carry. They then developed effector T cells that reacted to gluten, as well as T regs that responded to those effector cells. Both types were then infused into the mice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interestingly, the mice that received the treatment not only seemed to be protected against the gluten antigen that their effector T cells were primed to attack, but the reaction was also suppressed for immune cells targeting a similar but distinct gluten antigen. Hopes of a functional 'cure' should of course be tamped down for now there's still a long road before human trials could begin. "Although it looks promising, the study has several limitations," says Cristina Gomez-Casado, an immunologist at the University of Dusseldorf in Germany who was not involved in this research. "1) it only studies the action of T regs against the wheat protein gliadin, so in the future it should be studied if they work against barley and rye proteins; Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "2) it is not determined when T regs should be used as therapy (before developing the disease or once it has been diagnosed?); "3) the mice used are not celiac, so gluten does not damage their gut, and are only offered once, so the long-term effect of gluten cannot be studied; "4) it is known from other studies that the number of T regs is limited in celiac patients and, in some, they have been found to be non-functional." Future work will need to address these issues, but still, the study lays some intriguing groundwork that could lead to new treatments for celiac disease. Patients could eventually be freed from carefully studying labels and menus, and being punished for days for slight slip-ups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The research was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Related News TUCSON Overcoming conflicts among water users especially across borders is the first obstacle to securing Arizona's water future, and if leaders don't act now, they may miss critical solutions. That was one of the clear messages from water managers and state officials at the University of Arizona Water Resource Research Center conference. Experts drew on the challenges and the importance of studying, managing and crafting policy around a common resource. Whether it's coming from a river or an aquifer, speakers said, Arizona's water is shared across boundaries: the seven states relying on the Colorado River, tribal nations, counties in the same basin, or across the international border with Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It doesn't belong to anyone, it belongs to the whole of us," Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Verlon Jose said May 21, talking about the 2025 conference theme: Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Working Together in Times of Scarcity. Conference speakers discussed ideas like hydrodiplomacy, tribal engagement, data sharing, science communication, policy and innovation. But the greatest urgency was overcoming internal divisions to take action. Private-sector funding for a long-touted plan to bring desalinated water from the Sea of Cortez, for example, could go elsewhere if Arizona doesn't act fast, said Greg Williamson, CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council. "Our problem is today, because it takes five or 10 years to build this infrastructure, and if we don't start now, we have a problem," he said at the conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make sure water projects are there when Arizona needs them, stakeholders have to figure out "how can we come to 'yes'," said Sharon Megdal, director of the UA's Water Resource Research Center. Prolonged drought adds pain to cross-border water systems In the 22 years of the WRRC annual conference, it's the first time experts have focused on transboundary water, sharing water, Megdal said. The decision is timely as the seven western states and 30 tribes sharing Colorado River water will have to finish new agreements in 2026 on how they split water cuts. For over a decade, the university research center has participated in binational research on two priority aquifers that Arizona shares with Mexico: the San Pedro and the Santa Cruz. In total, there are 72 aquifers split by the political US.-Mexico border 26 in Arizona, according to a comprehensive study led by Rosario Sanchez, a senior research scientist with the Texas Water Resources Institute. The initiative to cooperate with Mexico in the study of these shared bodies dates to 2006, when the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Coordinated binational work on water is much older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The history of the border is the history of the IBWC, said Adriana Resendez, Mexican Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission, which has operated as one single unit with a Mexican and a U.S. section under the same structure since 1889. Its roots date to 1848, when Mexico ceded 55% of its territory to the United States, and two temporary commissions were sent to map and demarcate the new boundary. The joint commissions are in charge of ensuring that treaty obligations, like the deliveries of Colorado River and Rio Grande water, are met. Composed almost entirely of engineers, the IBWC also conducts binational investigations and infrastructure projects to address water quality and availability. Water experts, technicians and government officials convened in Tucson at the WRRC 2025 Annual Conference on May 2021, 2025, at the University of Arizona. Accounting for binational groundwater is still a "missing piece" in the work of the commissions, said Gilbert Anaya, environmental division chief of the IBWC. He hopes that the transboundary aquifer assessment program is extended for another 20 years. Communities at the border, like others across Arizona, are mostly entirely dependent on groundwater, said Megdal, who leads the participation of the University of Arizona in the binational program. Some of the water stored in these aquifers has taken thousands of years to percolate, making natural replenishment nearly impossible in our lifetime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prolonged droughts have added pain to river and groundwater systems that are already overallocated and overpumped. How the international agency will face these and other challenges is clear to Resendez, the Mexican commissioner. That's what they were meant to do using practical, technical expertise and a two-sided approach. Our mission is to resolve binational problems. The future of augmentation Arizona's water supplies are not growing, Megdal said. "They are not even saying the same, at least for now," she added. The current water use of the state, over 7 million acre-feet of water annually, is expected to increase by some 1.5 million acre-feet by 2060, according to data from the Water Infrastructure and Finance Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The independent state agency has been tasked with administering a $1.2 billion package promised by Arizona lawmakers to help import water from elsewhere and fund water conservation in the state. The import component made up about 75% of all the money. The future of those funds is at odds, since lawmakers were supposed to appropriate them over three years, but started making cuts in year two. Last year, facing a $1.4 billion deficit, Gov. Katie Hobbs and lawmakers slashed WIFA's overall budget by nearly $500 million. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs spoke at the annual conference of the University of Arizona's Water Resources Research Center about the need to act on groundwater regulation and engage diplomatically in water augmentation negotiations with Mexico. Early this year, Hobbs re-appropriated $14.6 million back, so the agency opened a new round of water conservation grants. The promised $1 billion probably wouldn't complete most of the long-term water augmentation projects that the agency has in mind. Former Gov. Doug Ducey's signature desalination plant was pitched by Israeli company IDE Technologies at an estimated cost of $5.5 billion. Still, state funding for a public-private partnership on water imports could go a long way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those investments need to happen today, said Williamson, with the Canada Arizona Business Council. Projects of caliber and size like the ones Arizona needs, take decades to build and require billions of dollars in investment, he explained. Action today pays for 25 years down the road "when these projects will be more needed than ever." Some Mexican officials initially expressed conditional support for Arizona's desalination project, but environmental impact considerations, as well as Sonora's interests and participation as a meaningful stakeholder were largely missing, critics say. "We have to make sure we are doing this the right way," said Hobbs about exploring the potential for a desalination plant in Sonora, criticizing her predecessor's approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They hadn't done the diplomatic work that was necessary with our partners in Mexico," the governor told conferencegoers. "I think there is absolutely room to move forward on this. We have to make sure that we're a partnership, and not trying to force these projects on our neighbors." Currently, WIFA is on phase one of three for its long-term water augmentation projects. The agency launched a solicitation for projects in November of last year. Clara Migoya covers agriculture and water issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to clara.migoya@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: States must stop fighting over water to avert crisis, experts say NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) It is the Friday before Memorial Day, and the holiday rush is already beginning. From the skies to the roads, experts predict record travel. Quite a few flights are leaving out of Tweed Friday morning to Florida, the Carolinas, Texas, all over. More than 3.5 million Americans are expected to fly, a 2% increase from last year. And more than 39 million will travel by car, about a million more than last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut State Police stepping up patrols for Memorial Day weekend And for many, the weather is not cooperating. Heavy rain is expected Friday along the Interstate 95 corridor in the northeast, along with wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour and snow possible in northern New England. In New Haven, flights seem to be on time and operating smoothly But flights at the Austin, Texas, airport were grounded yesterday because of more air traffic controller staffing issues. At busy Newark Airport, outside New York, the FAA is now extending limits on flights after multiple air traffic-control system outages, which were blamed on low staffing and outdated communications systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other recent outages were reported from Denver to Houston. The CEOs of 10 major airlines sent a letter to Congress Thursday, pushing for immediate action, saying that they need serious upgrades need to happen now. Most Americans today walk around with more computing power in their pocket than air traffic controllers have at the ready, Nick Daniels with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said. Analysts say fewer people are traveling abroad this year, so get ready for bigger crowds if youre hitting tourist sites here at home this summer, like national parks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. May 23With Memorial Day weekend almost here and the start of summer just around the corner, local experts are stressing the importance of boating safety. According to U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating statistics, the period from May through September accounts for most boating accidents. The majority of these accidents are caused by operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, alcohol use and navigation rules violations. From the 2023 statistics, 10.77% of boating accidents were due to inexperience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every year we get a lot of new owners who have never owned a boat, and usually those are the ones that are the most dangerous," said Riverwalk Marina owner Steve Conner. "They just haven't gone through the courses or done anything to know what they're doing. A boat is so much different than driving a car." Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Officer Chad Dyer recommends novice boaters choose a less busy time than Memorial Day weekend to take to the waters for the first time. "It's easier to learn when there is less traffic on the waterway," Dyer said. "It's less stressful for you and safer to learn." Many of the accidents that Conner has seen or heard about happen when a boat driver comes to pick someone up. To avoid dangers, he recommends drivers wear a legally required kill switch cord, which will turn the motor off if they're thrown from the boat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A motorized vessel license is required to operate a motorboat in Alabama. Additionally, any child under the age of 8 is required to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. "The biggest thing that I can stress to people is wear a life jacket," said Danny Kelso, chief of the Morgan County Rescue Squad. "No matter if you're a good swimmer or not, sober, or young, it doesn't matter; wear a life jacket because you can't drown with a life jacket." When people come through Riverwalk Marina to set out on the water, Conner offers them these words of advice: "Make sure all your equipment is on board. Make sure you have enough life jackets. Make sure your lighting on your boat is working." Kelso also recommends boaters ensure they have enough fuel and a fully charged battery. He said people don't think about it and kill their batteries by playing the radio when the boat isn't running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they do find themselves without fuel or power this Memorial Day weekend, the Rescue Squad will be available to tow them back to safety when they call 911. The National Safe Boating Council also offers safety tips, which in addition to Conner's recommendations, include sharing your "float plan" with a friend or family member not on the water, monitoring the weather before departing and keeping a functional communication device on hand in case of an emergency. Conner said there are a lot of common sense safety precautions during Memorial Day weekend that people frequently overlook. He remembers a time a group had a grill on board that they forgot to secure. It got knocked over in the boat and spilled hot charcoal. Conner also said passengers should avoid drinking too much, and the driver shouldn't drink at all. Alcohol consumption is another leading cause of boating accidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If people are going to drink on the boat, have a sober, licensed boat driver that has a vessel license," Kelso said. Blood alcohol content for a boat driver must be below 0.08%, the same as for the driver of a car. According to Coast Guard statistics, in 2023, alcohol use was the top contributing factor in accidents resulting in a fatality when the cause of the accident is known. Conner said boat drivers have a big responsibility because they're in charge of making sure everyone else is safe. GraciAnn.Goodin@DecaturDaily.com or 256-340-2437. Bernie Delinski contributed to this report. May 22ExxonMobil on Thursday donated $100,000 to the University of Texas Permian Basin's fledgling civil engineering program. The check ceremony took place in the UTPB Engineering Building. The company has long been an important partner and employer in the Permian Basin and Southeastern New Mexico. They have hired UTPB graduates and see the importance of UTPB to their success, Vice President for External Relations Jacqui Gore said. Chad McNeely, ExxonMobil operations manager in this area, said he started his career as a civil engineer many years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This program will not only provide additional educational opportunities, but will help lay a foundation for a brighter future for all of West Texas. Civil engineers are pivotal and create the world in which we live by designing sustainable solutions that meet the critical infrastructure needs, like water resource management and transportation. That infrastructure is essential to sustain economic growth and provide an enhanced quality of life to our communities out here in the Permian Basin," McNeely said. Investing in this program, he said, is an investment in leaders who will innovate and help develop the region. "The graduates of this program will leave with technical expertise that comes with a quality education, but also an understanding of some of the unique infrastructure challenges we face out here in West Texas. These engineers will be able to tailor their projects to meet the specific needs of the community that will drive economic improvement and they'll bring jobs to the area," McNeely said. Gore said the university really appreciates the investment of ExxonMobil, along with Grow Odessa and longtime Odessa civil engineer John Landgraf which brings the total raised for the civil engineering program to $600,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UTPB President Sandra Woodley said they need to raise about $6 million over the next five years for start-up costs and faculty. About $2 million of that is for instruments. Woodley said they already have several partners who have stepped up. "We're confident we're going to be able to get the support we need and we're going to start the program this fall," she added. The funds will be used to purchase needed equipment for laboratories and classrooms and provide scholarships to students in the program. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy, UTPB Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, said the bachelor's degree in civil engineering program is specifically built for the needs of the Permian Basin, rapid growth and the area's environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Within next four years, we want to maintain an average of 60 students enrolled and (majoring) in civil engineering and graduate a minimum of 20 every year, starting in 2029. That's our ultimate goal," Dakshinamurthy said. "Within that $6 million, approximately $2 million is going toward those instruments the students can have access to and flexible delivery," Dakshinamurthy said. Another goal moving forward with all the programs they are developing is to provide flexible options for students such as hybrid and after-hours classes. "As you all know, most of our graduates work for you all either part-time or full time. We want to make sure we are flexible with respect to the course offerings. Our people and promise, what we do, we hire great faculty," Dakshinamurthy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that everyone played a significant role in pulling this together the last four years. Woodley said when she thinks of the university it sometimes feels like "The Little Engine That Could." "We're not the largest institution. We don't have major research programs, but what we do focus on is making sure that this region has the graduates that it needs to fuel this economy. This economy is pretty special, right? We know that there's a vast number of degrees that are needed out here, and civil engineering is squarely in this high demand gap. We're excited to be able to step up and fill that gap," Woodley said. Tyler Yancey, a petroleum engineer with ExxonMobil, said UTPB's engineering program has grown substantially since he was a student at the school. He speaks to students there all the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yancey said the program helped prepare him for his job. "(It) taught me how to solve problems. That's what we do every day," Yancey said. McNeely said there are many opportunities for civil engineers in the Permian Basin from structural to having sufficient amounts of quality water for years and years to come and challenges with road and highway networks. These are some of the "front and center" issues that local talent is needed to help solve, he said. Woodley said UTPB has four "amazing" engineering programs that are all fully accredited. "Adding civil engineering really is our opportunity to meet the needs of the region. We know there is a critical shortage of civil engineers out here, and this program that we're starting up this fall will allow us to ... graduate 20 civil engineers every single year. The startup is going to be important for us, and ExxonMobil has provided $100,000 to help us start this program," Woodley said. The civil engineering program starts this fall. Woodley said they hope to have 40 students in the pipeline relatively soon. Woodley said they have already hired some of the faculty and received a gift from Grow Odessa last year to hire the starting faculty. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Cybersecurity experts are reminding EZ-Pass customers not to fall for a text scam regarding unpaid tolls. The fraudulent text messages appear to alert the recipient of unpaid tolls on their account. The scammers also urge the recipient to make a payment in order to avoid restrictions on their license. The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles warned residents of the so-called smishing scam earlier this year, as did the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phony text messages appear to still be circulating months after the initial warnings. Cybersecurity expert Patrick Laverty told 12 News those who receive the text message shouldnt respond, even if it looks legitimate. Instead, Laverty said customers can securely check their EZ-Pass accounts for outstanding toll invoices. Anyone who receives a similar text is encouraged to report it to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center or forward the message to 7726 (SPAM). Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A picture has emerged showing a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle loaded with at least three seven-shot 70mm rocket pods under its left wing. If the jet had three more pods on the right side, this would amount to a whopping 42 rockets, which could be carried together with eight traditional air-to-air missiles. Such a loadout would turn the F-15E into a flying counter-drone and cruise missile arsenal ship capable of an incredible 50 engagement opportunities, minus the gun. The Air Force has already proven the extreme value of laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets in the air-to-air role in combat on the F-16, news TWZ first broke earlier this year and has continued to follow very closely. Integrating APKWS II into the F-15Es arsenal isnt surprising, especially considering how active these aircraft have been in countering lower-performing aerial threats. The picture of the rocket-armed F-15E, seen below, first appeared on social media accounts for The Merge, a military aviation podcast and associated newsletter, yesterday. An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle testing laser-guided rockets was spotted with a 6-pod 42-rocket loadout in flight test, The Merge wrote in an accompanying post on Instagram. Though The Merge says the aircraft was carrying six rocket pods at the time, only three are clearly visible in the image on the jets left underwing pylon, but a symmetric load makes perfect sense. Pods full of laser-guided APKWS II rockets are relatively easy to spot since the weapons are longer than unguided 70mm types and their noses protrude noticeably from the front as a result. As it exists now, APKWS II consists primarily of a laser guidance section sandwiched between one of a variety of warhead types and a standard 70mm rocket motor. In addition to the rocket pods, the Strike Eagle has an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) without control fins and a flight test data pod under its left wing. An AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) and an AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod (which incorporates a forward-looking infrared sensor and a terrain-following radar) are seen loaded on the stations under the jets left and right air intakes, respectively. The F-15E seen in the picture also has an ET tail code, reflecting an aircraft assigned to the 96th Test Wing headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can confirm the pic was taken here at Eglin AFB, Gabriel Myers, a spokesperson for the 96th Test Wing, told TWZ when asked for more information about the image of the rocket-toting F-15E. The Eglin AFB test community through strong partnerships have aggressively conducted integrated test of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. By working at speed to ensure advanced capabilities have the intended effects, we increase warfighter readiness and lethality to meet the global demands of the joint force. When the F-15E might be cleared to operationally employ APKWS II rockets is unclear. Unfortunately, we cant speak to specific timelines [for the test work], but we can say it was done rapidly, Myers continued. In U.S. service, on the fixed-wing side, the precision-guided rockets have been integrated onto Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18C/D Hornets and U.S. Air Force F-16C/D Vipers and A-10 Warthogs. Marine AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters, as well as U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64D/E Apaches, can also employ APKWS II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full air-to-air loadout for the F-15E currently consists of eight missiles. Four missiles either short-range AIM-9 Sidewinders or AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) can be loaded on launch rails on either side of the Strike Eagles two underwing pylons. Two more AIM-120s can be carried on pylons on each of the conformal fuel tanks (CFT) attached to the sides of the fuselage. The jets can also carry a wide array of air-to-ground munitions and other stores on the pylons under their wings, on the CFTs, and on their ventral centerline hardpoint. A stock picture of an F-15E seen with a pair of AIM-9X Sidewinders under its left wing and an AIM-120 loaded on one of the pylons on the CFT on the left side of the fuselage. Various precision-guided bombs are also visible on other stations. USAF Adding APKWS II to the F-15Es already very expansive arsenal would give the jet an additional lower-cost tool for precisely engaging a variety of ground targets, as well. These can include light armored vehicles. As the newly-emerged picture highlights in showing 21 engagement opportunities on a single pylon, the laser-guided rockets offer significant benefits when it comes to magazine depth. But its the Strike Eagle and APKWS II combos potential in the air-to-air role that is perhaps most exciting. As we noted earlier, Air Force F-16s first began employing the laser-guided rockets in an anti-air optimized configuration to shoot down Houthi drones during operations over and around the Red Sea last year, which TWZ was first to report. The Air Force had announced back in 2019 that it had demonstrated APKWS IIs ability to be used as an air-to-air weapon in a test wherein an F-16 downed a surrogate for a subsonic cruise missile, something we were also first to report on. APKWS II is also combat-proven in the surface-to-air role against drones, as well as in air-ground modes and surface-to-surface modes. U.S. Fighter aircraft shoot down Iran-backed Houthi one-way-attack drones with AGR-20 FALCO Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Laser Guided 2.75" Rockets.#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/bDoVnKwotc U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 Since January, F-16s have been observed flying the Middle East carrying air-to-air loadouts that include one or two seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as traditional air-to-air missiles and LITENING targeting pods. This had already underscored the magazine depth benefits of APKWS II. A typical air-to-air for the Viper consists of six air-to-air missiles. Just having a pair of rocket pods on one pylon effectively triples the number of anti-air engagement opportunities per sortie. The F-15E with six seven-shot rocket pods, along with eight air-to-air missiles, goes far beyond that capacity. A pair of US Air Force F-16s with air-to-air loadouts flying somewhere in the Middle East on Feb. 11, 2025. The Viper at the rear has a pair of seven-shot 70mm rocket pods under its right wing. USAF Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APKWS II is also a significantly lower-cost anti-air weapon than traditional air-to-air missiles in U.S. military inventory today. The APKWS II guidance kit, which is the most expensive part of the munition, has a unit cost of around $15,000 to $20,000. The warhead and motor add a few thousand dollars more to the total unit price. Current generation AIM-9X Sidewinders each cost in the region of $450,000, while the latest AIM-120 variants are $1 million or more apiece. Even with the air-to-air specific upgrades developed for APKWS II, it does still has limitations when employed against aerial threats, as TWZ has noted in the past in the context of F-16 counter-drone missions: In an air-to-air engagement, the laser designator in the LITENING pod could be used to laze or designate the target. LITENINGs sensor turret can be slaved to the radar on the aircraft carrying it, or vice versa. So-called buddy lasing, where one aircraft designates the target for another, could also be useful in this case, especially given the speed differential between typical Houthi drones and F-16s. One jet could keep the target steadily lazed while the other makes its attack run. APKWS IIs are usable against drones, as well as subsonic cruise missiles, in the first place because those are relatively steady, non-reactionary, low-performance targets. The rockets are not dogfighting weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the APKWS II, is now developing a dual-mode guidance package that adds a passive infrared seeker to give the rocket a quasi-fire-and-forget capability. A laser designator would still be needed to provide initial cueing, but the launch platform would be able to move much more rapidly from engaging one target to the next with the addition of the infrared guidance mode, as you can read more about here. A mock-up of the dual-mode APKWS II with the additional infrared seeker BAE Systems on display at the Sea Air Space 2025 conference earlier this year. Jamie Hunter Pairing F-15E with APKWS II, even just with the guided rockets existing capabilities, would offer additional advantages in the air-to-air role given the range and endurance of the Strike Eagle, as well as its substantial overall payload capacity. The F-15E is also a two-seat aircraft, which allows the pilot to remain fully focused on flying the aircraft while the back-seater handles targeting duties. A F-15E Strike Eagle armed with a mixture of air-to-air missiles and precision-guided bombs seen flying somewhere around the Middle East in May 2025. USAF Staff Sgt. John Ennis Together with aerial refueling support, an F-15E armed with APKWS II rockets and traditional air-to-air missiles could provide a far more persistent counter-air screen with a huge magazine depth against drones and some cruise missile types. This kind of general scenario is what Air Force Strike Eagle crews found themselves in on multiple occasions while defending Israel from Iranian attacks last year, during which, running out of missiles became the limiting factor. Specifically, while responding to Irans drone and missile attacks on Israel in April 2024, F-15Es had to land to rearm while threats were still flying overhead. At least one Strike Eagle crew switched to their aircrafts 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon after running out of missiles, but was unable to shoot anything down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drone war is kind of like a video game. You just gotta get the jets up in the air and position them correctly for an intercept. The radar will easily see them after theyre launched and then its just how many missiles you have versus how many drones are launched. The technical aspect of detecting them and downing them is easy, Daren Shotgun Sorenson, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew F-15Es, told TWZ in an interview last summer. Its easy work. You can do it all day long until you run out of missiles. The Air Force also recently sent a detachment of F-15Es to the highly strategic island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, explicitly to provide force protection for forces currently there, including B-52 bombers, a deployment TWZ was first to report. This only further underscores the key role Strike Eagles are already playing in shielding high-value assets, especially from drones and cruise missiles. All of this also applies at least equally, if not more so, to the Air Forces incoming F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. The F-15EX is the latest and most capable variant to emerge in the extended Strike Eagle family, and is expected to be used primarily in the homeland air defense role in U.S. service, at least initially. Last year, TWZ laid out in detail how the Strike Eagles performance in the anti-air role in the Middle East had bolstered the case for the EX in U.S. and Israeli service. Indonesia also plans to buy F-15s derived from the EX variant, and other foreign customers, including Poland. One of the US Air Forces first two F-15EX test jets. USAF The proliferation of one-way attack drones is driving a massive demand signal for counter-UAS capabilities, The Merge also told TWZ directly when asked about the picture of the rocket-armed Strike Eagle. The cost exchange afforded by APKWS rocketsand the flexibility and magazine depth by putting them on the F-15E/Xshould make a meaningful difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding APKWS II to the F-15Es arsenal, especially for air-to-air use, could be a factor in ongoing debates about the future of the Air Forces Strike Eagles, as well. Congress recently blocked the service, at least until 2027, from pursuing plans to retire more than half of the heavily in-demand Strike Eagle fleet. It would also not be surprising at all to see APKWS II join already growing air-to-air loadouts available to U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. A year ago, Houthi drone threats in and around the Red Sea had already prompted that service to launch a crash program to increase the number of AIM-9Xs a Super Hornet could carry on a single sortie. The Navy has since officially dubbed F/A-18E/Fs armed with five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs as Murder Hornets. Regardless of the threat of partial retirement, many F-15Es remain in Air Force service in the coming years, there are clear signs the jets are now in line to get an important firepower boost, including when it comes to shooting down drones, in the form of APKWS II. Howard Altman and Tyler Rogoway contributed to this story. Special thanks to The Merge for sharing the picture of the rocket-armed F-15E and additional information. Contact the author: joe@twz.com DENVER (KDVR) You may see military planes in the sky this weekend, as four Colorado Air National Guard planes will fly over several Colorado communities to honor fallen servicemembers for Memorial Day. The Colorado National Guard said the 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard will fly four planes on Saturday and Monday for Memorial Day, which honors those who lost their lives while serving the country. Things to do around Denver during Memorial Day Weekend Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These planes can be seen anywhere from Denver to Durango. Heres what they look like in formation: F-16C Vipers flying over Boulder on Monday, May 27, 2024 (KDVR) F-16C Vipers flying over Boulder on Monday, May 27 (KDVR) F-16C Vipers flying over Boulder on Monday, May 27 (KDVR) A Memorial Day flyover is more than a display of airpower, said U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher KojaCk Melka, acting deputy commander, 140th Wing. It is a solemn tribute to our fallen heroes, a reminder to our community of the sacrifices made for freedom, and a powerful symbol of our unwavering commitment to honor those who gave all. 5 things to know ahead of Denver International Airport Memorial Day travel If youre looking to see these planes in the air, they will be passing through several Colorado areas. Where to see F-16 Vipers in Colorado Colorado National Guard said the flyovers are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Monday, but these times are estimates and the flyovers could be cancelled due to weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are the areas the planes will be flying over: May 24, 2025 Colorado Freedom Memorial, Aurora, 10 a.m. May 26, 2025 Fort Morgan Cemetery, Fort Morgan, 10:20 a.m. Homelake Cemetery, Homelake, 10:40 a.m. VFW Post 4031, Durango, 10:55 a.m. Nucla Cemetery, Nucla, 11:05 a.m. Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, 11:15 a.m. Grand Lake Town Park, Grand Lake, 11:40 a.m. Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, 11:50 a.m. Olinger Highland Cemetery, Thornton, 11:55 a.m. University of Colorado, Folsom Stadium, Boulder, 12 p.m. Never seen before concert venue to host DJ on Denvers 16th Street on Memorial Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre not in the general area of these Colorado communities, you should still keep an eye out if youre around the area. The Colorado National Guard said the aircraft could also be seen traveling to and from the destinations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. May 22A seat meant to represent tribal communities has remained vacant on the Spokane Regional Health District board for the past three years. A new state law will require multiple tribal voices to be seated on the board overseeing Spokane's public health. The new law is set to remake the local board and potentially double its size. Local health boards must now seat a board member appointed by a local tribe or an urban Indian organization recognized by the Indian Health Service. According to the law's author, that could mean three tribal representatives on the SRHD board, if not more. "This speaks to how representation matters. When we have folks representing directly from their community and having a say in the policy, it is always more effective," said Spokane Rep. Natasha Hill, the Democrat who sponsored and led the bill's passage through the Legislature earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of differing interpretations of a state law passed in 2022, a seat for a tribal representative has been vacant for the past several years. The new law clarifies that the intent is to seat multiple tribal representatives on local health boards. While there is no reservation land in Spokane County, both the Spokane and Kalispel tribes have trust land in Airway Heights where Northern Quest Casino and Spokane Tribe Casino are located. Those lands would call for each tribe to appoint a member to the board. The Native Project provides health services to native peoples in Spokane and is recognized by the Indian Health Service. It would also receive a seat on the SRHD board. Current members of the board said they will discuss how to best implement the new law at their next meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I welcome new voices and experiences on the board. I'm always ready to have new people to help us tackle the hard issues," board president and Spokane County Commissioner Amber Waldref said. Board member and fellow County Commissioner Josh Kerns said the board may make decisions more slowly because of its growing size. Local health boards are required to have a mix of elected officials and community members. As tribal representatives are appointed, more county commissioners or Spokane City Council members may be added too, as state regulations require health boards be evenly divided between elected officials and members of the public. Right now, there are seven members on Spokane's Board of Health, including four elected officials. Under the new law, the body's size could easily double. "This is great for diversity of thought. But things will take longer almost certainly," Kerns said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that adding more politicians to the typically nonpartisan health board may make their debates "more political." While ensuring the board would "abide by the law," Spokane County Commissioner Mary Kuney said the new board's composition would be interesting because it will have "the interest of one group more heavily weighted than any other groups in our community." The elected officials on the board have often been predominately made up of the Republican-majority Spokane County Commission. Because of the need to appoint more elected officials alongside Indigenous appointees, progressively aligned members on the Spokane City Council may find themselves on the board. According to Hill, creating large health boards is the intent of her legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't need fewer people making decisions. Sometimes that means that things are getting missed. There are blind spots," Hill said. According to the 2020 census, those who identify themselves as American Indian and Alaska Native make up 1.9% of the population in Spokane County. Hill said she was not concerned that the appointment of multiple tribal representatives could be disproportionate to their population. "God forbid we're ruled by a group of natives and Indigenous people whose land we stole. Am I worried about that? Not for a second. Are white folks worried about that? If they believe in a white supremacist system, for sure they are," Hill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native health disparities Local health districts inform the public about communicable disease spreading in their community and how to remain healthy. Some, like SRHD, provide direct services such as Spokane's opioid treatment services. Native communities face large health disparities and local health districts sometimes struggle to reach them, according to Native Project's clinic director Dylan Dressler. "We have so many co-morbidities with chronic disease like hypertension, cardiovascular diabetes and mental health like depression and anxiety," she said. "And much of it can go untreated, especially for those who chose to live off the reservation in the cities away from community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Indian or Alaska Native persons are the only racial group in Washington state whose life expectancy has gone down in this century. According to a 2023 report from the Governor's Indian Health Advisory Council, Native life expectancy in the state has fallen from an average of 73.2 years in 2000 to 71.6 years in 2020. Native people had the highest drug overdose death rates across the United States in 2020 and 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 56.6 per 100,000 American Indians died of a drug overdose in 2021, compared to 30.6 per 100,000 for the population as a whole. Dressler applied to be on the board of health in 2020 and 2022. That representation never materialized in Spokane over disagreements whether the law required a single or multiple native representatives. Dressler does not plan to seek appointment to the board as the Native Project representative, but she hopes more tribal and Native representation can improve the health of Native people in Spokane County. "In the past decade, we were happy if our elders would reach 60 years old. Now, we're seeing their lives extending five to 10 years longer. We're still not at the life expectancy of others, but we are keeping our culture and keeping our elders to tell stories and show us the land and the water important to us," she said. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Suspended Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore, the one-time state legislator and controversial Las Vegas city councilwoman, told the 8 News Now Investigators on Friday that President Donald Trump pardoned a federal jurys guilty verdict on wire fraud charges because it was a fake case. In October 2024, a jury convicted Fiore, suspended in July 2024 from her position as justice court judge in Nye County, after deliberating for two hours. The panel convicted her on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud for taking money meant for fallen police officers memorials and spending it on herself. Fiore denies she was convicted, technically speaking, and maintains she was never sentenced and the court never entered a judgment of conviction. In her first televised comments since the Presidential pardon, Fiore, in an impromptu on-camera conversation outside of an AM radio station where she completed an hour-long interview, denied stealing charitable donations to pay for her daughters wedding. But federal prosecutors convinced a jury she did just that, with money she said she was raising for the officers statues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a fake case, and the government knew it, Fiore told the 8 News Now Investigators on Friday. Fiore then got behind the wheel of her pick-up truck and closed the door, ending the interview. Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) But her conversation with well-known Las Vegas political consultant Tom Letizia, broadcast Friday morning, allowed Fiore to tell some of her story. Fiore has long criticized the media for its handling of her federal trial and its aftermath as unfair and inaccurate. Explaining her reaction to Trumps pardon, Fiore told Letizia she cried for 40 minutes. I just started crying because, you know, knowing what I was going through. No 1, for some reason, people think I have President Donald J. Trump on speed dial. I do not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, which suspended Fiore with pay when she was indicted on the federal wire fraud charges, revoked her pay after her conviction. Earlier this week, in a written filing, it reinstated her pay but upheld her suspension. I dont know what happened behind the scenes with the judicial commission, but I do know that they are dragging their feet, Fiore said on Letizias radio show, The Middle Ground. And they do know that whats happening right now is not right or ethical or legal. Its an abuse of their authority. In its decision, the commission said the allegations against Fiore present a substantial threat of serious harm to the public and to the administration of justice. On Thursday, Fiore appealed that decision to the Nevada Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First elected as a Republican Nevada assemblywoman in 2012, Fiore later served as Las Vegas mayor pro tem and unsuccessfully ran for governor and treasurer as a Republican. Nye County Commissioners appointed her to her judgeship in late 2022. Last June, before her indictment, voters re-elected Fiore, who is not an attorney, to that position. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) The McLennan County Sheriffs Office is raising awareness of ongoing scams involving fake Facebook accounts impersonating the sheriff himself. The Sheriffs Office says these fraudulent accounts are sending private messages and friend requests to members of the community. Once contact is made, the scammers attempt to lure individuals by offering grants or government loans and will often include links for them to click on. The McLennan County Sheriffs Office and Sheriff Parnell McNamara will never contact anyone though social media to offer financial assistance, loans or grants. Do NOT click on any suspicious links or provide personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public is urged to report these fake profiles to Facebook immediately and spread the word to protect others from falling victim to this scam. If you think you have been contacted by one of these fake accounts or have fallen victim to a scam, you can contact the McLennan County Sheriffs Office at 254-757-5095. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. (NewsNation) The National Memorial Day Concert returns Sunday for its 36th year, airing live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The annual event pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of Americas military members, their families and those who gave their lives defending the nation. Emmy-winning actor Gary Sinise, who has co-hosted the concert for two decades, called it a moment of national reflection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memorial Day weekend will see record-breaking travel: AAA These are our freedom providers. These are the people that sacrifice to keep us free and have for 250 years now, he said. This Memorial Day Concert is kind of the national day of remembrance. Its a time where we can all come together in support of the men and women and families who have sacrificed their lives to keep us free. This years concert features performances by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, Army Chorus, Navy Band Sea Chanters, Air Force Singing Sergeants, and the Soldiers Chorus of the Army Field Band. Actors and musicians will also take part in tributes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Early Thursday morning, House Republicans passed their One Big Beautiful Bill Act containing President Donald Trumps key legislative priorities for his second term. It took several nights of feverish negotiations between House Speaker Mike Johnson and various factions in the House GOP conference, but the bill is en route to the Senate after passing by a single vote. As House Republicans worked to craft the bill, reforms to Medicaid proved particularly thorny. In one sense, Republicans debates on the topic have showcased the ways in which Trump has remade the GOP in his populist image. But at the same time, some of the intraparty disputes over the bill reflect long-standing divisions. Republican leaders had argued for both cutting taxes and reforming Americas entitlement programs as recently as during Trumps first term. Trump, meanwhile, has promised the former but largely rejected the latter. We are doing absolutely nothing to hurt Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security. Nothing at all, he said in late April as the House GOP was writing the portions of its bill that contained its most significant reductions to government spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he attended a meeting with the House conference on Tuesday to press for the bills passage, he gave them a starker warning. Dont f around with Medicaid, he said in the closed-door meeting, according to multiple reports. Republicans had met their targeted $1.5 trillion in spending reductions in the draft of their budget reconciliation billwhich can bypass the Senate filibuster and require only a simple majoritybut fiscal hardliners such as those in the House Freedom Caucus sought further changes to Medicaid. For Sen. Josh Hawley, a populist Republican from Missouri, however, the changes to the health care entitlement for low-income and disabled Americans already had gone too far. Though he affirmed his support for implementing work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients, he balked at the other changes and threatened to vote against the bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimated would lead to 7.6 million people becoming uninsured. He wrote an op-ed in the New York Times arguing in part that the Republican base will not take kindly to deep cuts to Medicaid. Our voters support social insurance programs. More than that, our voters depend on those programs, he wrote. For him, the Republican Partys future is tied to representing the working class, which has flocked to Trump and played a crucial role in propelling him to victory. They should take Trumps word for it. What was it he said yesterday? he told The Dispatch, referencing Trumps comments to House Republicans. I think he was pretty explicit in many senses. Listen to the guy who won the popular vote. That would be my advice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, populists are not the only ones arguing against steep Medicaid cuts. A collection of House Republicans in swing districts sent a letter to Johnson and House GOP leaders last month vowing to oppose a bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations. The dozen lawmakers who signed onand who eventually voted for the billare not hardcore MAGA ideologues. Rep. David Valadao of California voted to impeach Trump following January 6. Freshman Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Matt Cartwright in November by avoiding too many associations with Trumps wing of the party. Most of all, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has been outspoken against Trumps populism in favor of a more Reaganite brand of Republicanism, yet he signed the letter as well. I believe in free markets, but youve got to have a safety net, Bacon told The Dispatch. And half of Medicaid goes to children that are sick, so thats non-negotiable. The other 25 percent is adults with disabilities. These are things that a good country has to have. The conflict over Medicaid was not so much between MAGA populists and Reaganites as it was between hardliners who want massive conservative change and an establishment that must deal with political realities. Though Trump has moved the Republican Party in a more populist direction, he has not changed it so much as to completely realign the dynamics that have long existed in the House GOP conference. Fiscal hawks demanded significant spending reductions while leadership was wary of reforms that would lose the support of more moderate members. This is nothing new: Well before Trumps ascension, then-Speaker John Boehner clashed with the House Freedom Caucus over spending cuts, disagreements that eventually led to his resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Freedom Caucus is made up of a lot of fiscal conservatives, said Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming when asked about the parallels between the groups battles with Boehner and Johnson. Lummis was a founding member of the caucus when she served in the House from 2009-2017. We all wanted to bend the spending curve much more than other people in the Republican caucus, so nothing about that surprises me. In fact, it is very familiar to me. A key difference is that Johnson, unlike Boehner, has a Republican president to back him up. However, the Freedom Caucus single-minded focus on cutting spending often puts its members at loggerheads with Trumps brand of populism, which, though it may give lip service to reducing government overspending on the margins through the Department of Government Efficiency, is not committed to serious deficit reduction. In hindsight, there was a precursor to this conflict in the interregnum between Election Day and Trumps second inauguration. Just before Christmas, a funding deadline led to a scramble to avert a government shutdown. The original bipartisan stopgap spending measure failed because it contained several provisions unrelated to keeping the government open. After that deal fell through, the incoming Trump administration asked Congress at the last minute not only to continue government funding but also to raise the debt ceiling to avoid a legislative battle with Democrats this summer (which may still happen regardless). As expected, spending hawks objected to increasing the debt limit without spending cuts, and about three dozen Republicans voted with Democrats to reject the stopgap bill. To resolve the conflict and keep the government open, Johnson had to make a deal with House Democrats that did not include the debt ceiling provision. He would end up surviving that battle, though not without encountering a slight bump in the road in his bid to retain the speakership early in the year. That saga raised questions about how strong Trumps hold on the party wasand how well he would be able to impose his will on a quarrelsome and slim GOP House majority. But now that Trump has successfully whipped Republican votes for both the budget resolution and the final reconciliation bill, his grip appears tighter than ever. The Freedom Caucus got some concessions, but eventually fell in line behind the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When lawmakers return from their Memorial Day recess, the Senate will have its chance to argue over the bill, and its members are already demanding changes. Hawley wants to adjust many of the Medicaid provisions, while Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has called for a return to pre-pandemic spending levels. The next month will show whether Trump can convince Senate skeptics to get to yes as well. Now the Senate has to grapple with its own fiscal conservatives because the House bill is still spending too much money, Lummis told The Dispatch. So there will be now similar dialogues with Senate fiscal conservatives. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Twelve people on a family vacation last December were sickened when they came into contact with bat droppings while touring the popular Venado Caves in Costa Rica, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Six adults and six children all experienced symptoms of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection that primarily impacts the lungs The CDC, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the Costa Rica Ministry of Health are working together to offer more information on histoplasmosis in waiver forms for cave exploration A family of 12, including children as young as 8, were sickened by coming in close contact with bats after they visited a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 13 extended family members from Georgia, Texas and Washington traveled to Costa Rica from Dec. 21 to Dec. 28, 2024, according to a case report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Twelve of the family members opted to visit Venado Caves on Dec. 24. The popular tourist destination near Arenal Volcano is known for its waterfalls, underground river, striking limestone formations and colony of bats. Cavenas de Venado/Facebook Bats in the Venado Caves in Costa Rica Bats in the Venado Caves in Costa Rica The caves have been associated with a previous outbreak of histoplasmosis, a fungal infection that primarily impacts the lungs, and is linked to bird or bat droppings. All reported seeing bats and having direct contact with bat droppings while crawling and squeezing through tight spaces in the cave, the CDC report says. Beginning eight days after exposure, all 12 who toured the caves began to feel mildly or moderately ill," while the one family member who did not visit the cave had no symptoms. The CDC notes that the disease does not spread from person to person. Those affected sought medical care, and one family member was hospitalized after his abnormal lung scans raised concerns about lung cancer. Once doctors reviewed the familys travel history, treatment was quickly shifted to address concerns of histoplasmosis, which the CDC explains can cause cause flu-like symptoms including fever and chills, malaise, cough, headache, chest pain and body aches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The condition, the CDC notes, is often misdiagnosed." Getty Stock image of bats in a cave hanging upside down Stock image of bats in a cave hanging upside down 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 total, one eight-year old and five children between the ages of 11 and 17 were sickened after visiting the cave. One adult was confirmed to have histoplasmosis via lab tests, and the remaining patients were treated for suspected or probable histoplasmosis given their connection to the patient who tested positive. The CDC contacted the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica and the Costa Rica Ministry of Health to offer more information on histoplasmosis in waiver forms for cave exploration, and in March, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica issued a warning about the recent spike in cases, noting, Histoplasmosis can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications if left untreated. Read the original article on People BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A tense and emotional sentencing took place in Erie County Court Thursday as Markus Genovese, the driver who caused a crash while driving drunk that killed 8-year-old Thomas Ross, learned his fate. The courtroom was filled with anguish as family members of the young boy broke down in tears while the 53-year-old Angola man was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison for manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter. Genovese, who had been driving while under the influence of alcohol, prescribed hydrocodone, and had trace amounts of cocaine in his system, apologized to the Ross family, saying: Theres nothing in the world I can say to make up for this. Im just extremely, deeply sorry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas mother, Heather Van Elk, did not hold back her feelings, calling Genovese a coward and a disgrace of a human. The tragic events unfolded last June when Genovese, unlicensed and intoxicated, was driving his pickup truck along Lake Shore Road. He crashed into another car from behind, and in the chaos, Thomas was fatally injured. Genovese fled the scene without helping. Van Elk, visibly emotional, recounted the haunting experience. Markus took us from a family of four to a family of three, Van Elk said. And every day since, for 348 days, the accident has been replaying in my mind over and over and over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the car were Thomas and his younger brother, 4-year-old Anthony, who survived the crash. Thomas, seated in the back, was trapped in a mangled mess of metal and died from his injuries. You ran while I wrapped a sweater around Thomas head to stop the bleeding. You ran. I screamed and screamed and begged for help. You ran. I know you heard me, Van Elk said. How different things may have been had you taken accountability for your actions and, at the very least, called 911. In court, Van Elk held up a teddy bear made from one of Thomas favorite tie-dye shirts, which his brother Anthony now clings to at home. Anthony, who has learned too early that life is not fair, looks for signs of love from his brother every chance he gets. He understands the invisible string theory better than any kid, she said, her voice breaking. The only way he can have a sleepover with his brother is by lying next to his cremation box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Ross, a second grader at Blasdell Elementary School, was remembered by his family as a bright and energetic child who filled any room with sunshine and laughter. His aunt, Colleen Roy, reflected on the loss. He was the kind of child who could find something magical in the smallest moments, Roy said. His hugs were real. His questions were endless, and his dreams were already so big. Genoveses attorney, James Maloney, said that his client was deeply remorseful for his actions. Maloney explained that Genovese had pled guilty in March to avoid further pain for the Ross family. He wanted to stop the pain for the family. He didnt want to pursue a trial and have the family relive every single moment of that, including getting on the stand and talking about their child, Maloney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maloney also mentioned that Genovese is currently undergoing mental health counseling and hopes to one day work as a teachers aide, a statement that sparked a loud reaction from the nearly three dozen members of Thomas family in the courtroom. Latest Local News 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. ANDOVER On a rainy afternoon two days before Mothers Day, a delivery person dropped off a vase filled with colorful flowers to Mary Beth Ellis and Eric Olson. The man handed them to Olson, looking at the flowers and said, Happy Mothers Day. I doubt its Mothers Day related, Olson said. Its OK, Ellis answered back. Its a nice thought though. A week ago Friday marked the two-year anniversary of their daughter Sidneys death. Sidney, 5, was killed on May 9, 2023, when she was fatally hit by a tractor trailer in a crosswalk at Elm Square on her way to art class with her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis said its more about the anticipation waiting for the day to come each spring. When the calendar turns to May 9 though, its just another day. Not a day goes by that Ellis and Olson dont think about their daughter. We miss her every day, Ellis said. Its not the birthdays or the big events, but the everyday like tucking her in at night or when she would get up in the morning and come into our room for a snuggle. Two years later on the anniversary, the couple sat at home on a rainy day. Those kind of days just being cooped up with her family and friends, she was so happy, Ellis said. Ellis recalled how Sidney would find the bright spots on any day, often visiting her friend Penny and going to Perrys Plate in the morning. The mother remembered Sidneys attention span, being able to sit through a whole movie after turning on Disney Plus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olson said he plays over one of her sayings in his head all the time. Youre going to think thats crazy but, and then there was something that sounded crazy and was some random thing from school, Olson said with a smile and laugh. Sidney was the DJ for car rides, telling her mom what to play on the drive to school. Songs from Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Kesha were some of the most requested. The day before she was killed, Sidney was excited to release butterflies with her class. She had this enthusiasm about life that was infectious, Olson said. You just want to talk about her all the time and keep her alive, Ellis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olson and Ellis have channeled grief into momentum to create safer and healthier communities and keep their daughters memory alive, like the annual Rainbow Day. I think about it as if it was an ocean wave, Olson said about grief. It crushes you down and snuffs out the light, but then if you try to fight it, youll drown. If you choose to ride it, it can actually lift you up. Their efforts have become focused on advocating for implementation of truck regulations and automated enforcement. The two look to raise support for different bills and equip trucks with technologies to make them safer to reduce pedestrian fatalities. This year, Sidney Mae Olson Rainbow Fund will launch a new initiative to kick off Rainbow Day on Aug. 30. Finish Sids Walk will retrace the route Sydney never had the chance to finish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The walk to art class was less than a quarter-mile from the familys home. The crosswalk can be seen from the homes front steps. Finish Sids Walk will start in Elm Square and be a colorful stroll and roll culminating with a block party and bike rodeo. Downtown businesses will also be involved in a sit, shop and socialize type of day with rainbow-themed events, drinks and snacks. Funds from Rainbow Day will help the nonprofit build a bike park in town and support victims of traffic violence. The celebratory walk will be fashioned after a New Orleans second-line parade filled with music and dancing. The people are the parade, Olson said. Instead of some sort of somber memorial march, we want to do it in a way that would represent who Sidney was. And that would be a big, loud celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were hoping that we can get a lot of colorful people marching through town where people will have to see that others care about this stuff, Olson said. The crosswalk is unavoidable for Ellis, Olson and their son Ellis, almost 5-years-old, and will be unavoidable to finish Sids walk in August. If it was further from our house, we could have devised routes to avoid it and then it would have this sort of presence in your life as a horrible place, Ellis said. If anything, having to go through it all the time has taken away its power. She added the towns improvements to the intersection have already made a difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone should be able to walk a quarter mile in their neighborhood and not fear for their lives, Olson said. Facing their grief head on and publicly has allowed the family to advocate for change to prevent these types of tragedies in the future. Over the last couple of years weve learned that its just starting to shift the mindset, and then its the everyday decisions you make that actually add up to a safer, healthier community, Olson said. Ellis Rainbow Runners will host a Rainbow Track series starting July 17 at the Shawsheen Track. The nonprofit is also working to build a statewide alliance of families and friends who have been impacted by traffic violence. The Rainbow Fund will partner with Families for Safe Streets and MassBike. Thats something Sidney taught us, Ellis said. She was a connector and brought people together. You get more done if we can all work together for the same goal. Veon has relocated the headquarters of its Uzbekistan subsidiary to a government-backed innovation hub, aiming to accelerate the development of digital services across Central Asia and tap into rising demand. Around 2,000 employees have moved to the Tashkent IT Park, Uzbekistans flagship government-funded technology and innovation centre, as part of the companys strategy to support the countrys growing digital economy. Veon stated that the relocation reflects its commitment to partnering with the government to advance this ambition. The inauguration of the new headquarters was attended by Sherzod Shermatov, Uzbekistans Minister of Digital Technologies; Kaan Terzioglu, VEON Group CEO; and Andrey Pyatakhin, CEO of Beeline Uzbekistan. Through our Digital Uzbekistan 2030 strategy, we are laying the foundations for a thriving digital economy that empowers citizens, supports innovation, and attracts global investment. We welcome partners who, like VEON, share our vision and are helping us turn this vision into a reality through long-term investment, the provision of ambitious digital services, and cutting-edge technologies all while creating meaningful job opportunities for our youth, said Shermatov. Terzioglu noted that demand for digital services in Uzbekistan is expanding, and praised regulators for creating frameworks that support the digitalisation of the country. Beeline Uzbekistan currently has around 9.5 million active monthly digital users, who access services including its fintech app, Beepul. A beloved drummer has tragically died following a private jet crash that claimed at least two lives and left several others injured. The fatal accident occurred late Wednesday night when a Cessna 550 with the tail number N666DS crashed in a quiet military neighborhood in San Diego, just miles from its intended destination, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Private Jet Crash Kills 2, Sparks Firestorm That Destroys Homes And Injures 8 Private plane involved in deadly crash in San Diego originated in Teterboro https://t.co/Fkls1Z0oua pic.twitter.com/vTkmMewIk1 Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) May 22, 2025 According to flight tracking data, the aircraft had departed Teterboro Airport in New Jersey at 11:15 p.m. ET, made a scheduled fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, and continued westward before the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, investigators confirmed that both people on board were killed. Eight others sustained injuries, though authorities have not yet clarified whether they were passengers or individuals on the ground. The impact of the crash extended well beyond the aircraft itself. At least 10 homes were either burned or damaged by debris scattered across a wide area, with vehicles on both sides of a residential street engulfed in flames. A family of five was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, while another resident sustained injuries while escaping through a window to flee the growing fire. Two additional individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Former Devil Wears Prada Drummer Shared Eerie Final Posts Before Fatal Jet Crash Instagram Stories | Daniel Williams Just hours before the crash, 39-year-old Daniel Williams, former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, shared a series of chilling posts on social media, including a video of himself boarding the jet and a selfie at the controls with the caption, Here we gooooo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one image, he jokingly referred to himself as the co-pilot now, though it remains unclear if he had any actual role in flying the aircraft. The musician had been flying alongside music agent and pilot Dave Shapiro, who reportedly purchased the eight-seater jet in July of last year. Shapiros friend, music producer Ryan Bruce, shared a heartfelt tribute in the wake of the tragedy. Dave changed mine and a lot of other peoples lives, he told the Daily Mail. The community he built and the network of bands he worked with and supported will never forget him. Daniel left us a lot of music to remember him by, and he was a super sweet guy. Tributes For Daniel Williams Pour In BREAKING: Former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams killed in San Diego plane crash. pic.twitter.com/vJyy3YH0C5 World Source News 24/7 (@Worldsource24) May 22, 2025 The official social media account for the podcast show "State of the Scene" paid tribute to Williams, writing, "Heart goes out to Dave Shapiro and Daniel Williams' family and friends. What a f-cking tragedy this week has been." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And someone else echoed, "Holy Sh-t! What A week it has been. Outdoor Boys retired, Nik Nocturnal retired, and now the tragic passing of Dave Shapiro (known well in the metal scene) and former TDWP drummer Daniel Williams." They added, "RIP Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, & everyone on that flight! This is sad." In another post, one of the band's fans shared, "Spending the rest of my day listening to old Prada tunes. Rest in Power Daniel Williams. Im gutted." "Rest in Peace Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, and everyone on that flight," another wrote. "Some of my very first shows were booked through Dave. I had a handful of shows with Daniel, always a pleasure to see him play. Gone way too soon. " Fans Grieve Daniel Williams After Horrific Crash Plane that crashed in San Diego leaving multiple people dead originated from Teterboro https://t.co/EuUKSPMPvt NorthJersey.com (@northjersey) May 22, 2025 Others commented on the photos Williams shared just hours before the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Seeing Daniel Williams last posts being the plane that crashed hours prior is just such a chilling thing to view," one X user wrote. "Rest in power, legend." "The fact that he shared photos shortly before he died is just eerie," another expressed. Cessna Crash Near San Diego Happened With Tower Closed #BREAKING: New surveillance footage captures the moment when a small private business jet crashes into a neighborhood with no survivors on board#SanDiego | #California Watch as Newly released surveillance footage shows the terrifying moment a small Cessna 550 private pic.twitter.com/sltkLoFPHd R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 22, 2025 According to NBC, NTSB Senior Aviation Accident Investigator Eliott Simpson says the plane struck power lines approximately two miles southeast of the airport during its descent. Simpson noted that the airports control tower was closed at the time of the crash, which is typical for airports of that size and does not necessarily indicate procedural error. Investigators are currently working to locate the aircraft's black box and cockpit voice recorder, which could provide critical insight into the moments leading up to the crash. The NTSB team is expected to remain on site through Friday, with the aircraft recovery process scheduled for Saturday. A preliminary report on the incident will be released in the coming weeks, though Simpson cautioned that a final, comprehensive report could take up to 18 months to complete. The first humpback whale calf of the 2025 season has arrived back in Salish Sea waters, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA). The calf is believed to be the eighth calf of a whale affectionately known as Big Mama. Big Mama is widely beloved for playing a key role in the recovery of local humpbacks, the PWWA said. This is her eighth known calf in 30 years. Humpback whales arent born in Salish Sea waters-- its too cold. They migrate to waters off of Hawaii, Mexico and Central America before coming back to the PNW. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big Mama is a part of the Hawaiian population and has made the trek from there to the Salish Sea many times. The pair was first spotted by PWWA members on Wednesday afternoon in Haro Strait on the US/Canadian border between BCs Sidney Island and Washingtons San Juan Island, followed by several additional sightings on Thursday. The calf, likely four to five months old, stayed close to mom throughout the encounters. Big Mama is a perfect example of how important a single whale can be to a population, said the PWWAs executive director, Erin Gless. She was first seen in 1997, and was one of the first humpbacks to return to the Salish Sea after the end of commercial whaling in 1966. Shes been returning ever since, and now has at least eight calves, seven grandcalves, and four great grandcalves. Its very impressive! Lee Hall on the Florida A&M University campus. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Florida A&M University has weathered its share of storms, the most recent being a deeply embarrassing debacle when a Texas donor conned former FAMU President Larry Robinson and a close circle of school officials into believing that the hallowed institution was the recipient of a $237.75 million gift. After discovering the gift was a hoax, Robinson resigned, which led to the uproar over the past several weeks surrounding the choice of Robinsons successor. During a presidential search process shrouded in secrecy, the Ron DeSantis-dominated FAMU Board of Trustees voted 8-4 for Marva Johnson, a last-minute addition to the presidential finalist list. Marva Johnson via FAMU The late entry of Marva Johnson into the pool of candidates to become FAMUs president has sparked concern about her allegiances, the selection process and her apparent lack of qualifications, MSNBC said. Johnson, who has been appointed to boards by Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott, has no college administrative experience and has remained an ally of DeSantis as his GOP administration has undermined Black history lessons in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The likelihood that Johnson might be chosen provoked in a multipronged campaign of resistance, including a Change.org petition against her candidacy that gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Floridas state NAACP president threatened legal action over the selection process. Popular film director Will Packer, a FAMU graduate who has produced films like Takers, Straight Outta Compton, and Think Like a Man, warned that a group of activist Republicans are trying to put in the highest position of power someone who is solidly and objectively unqualified for it. A range of Black media personalities online also sounded the alarm on Johnson. There have been calls for boycotts and other punitive measures to express displeasure over how all this has played out. The primary objections involve Jonhsons connections to DeSantis, who throughout his time as governor has exhibited barefaced hostility towards Black Floridians while implementing a raft of racist ideological MAGA policies aimed at institutions of higher learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A WFSU story in the days following last Fridays selection captures the temperature. Florida A&M University is ablaze following the appointment of Marva Johnson to the schools presidency. Alumni, students and other FAMU stakeholders are weighing how best to move forward, the story said. Johnson is a controversial candidate for her ties to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he works to remake higher education in the state. Now, the schools interim president is urging calm amid backlash and boycott threats in response to Johnsons appointment by the FAMU Board of Trustees, the story continues. I urge you to stay engaged and remain connected, Interim President Tim Beard wrote in a statement. Your advocacy, your feedback and your financial support are crucial to ensuring that our institution continues to thrive. Wrecking ball To describe DeSantis assault on higher education as a remaking is a grave understatement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2023, he has taken a wrecking ball to Floridas higher educational system in his misguided effort to stamp out liberalism and woke ideology and install university presidents, educators, board members, and others who embrace the governors conservative agenda. A 2024 report by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), details the the various manifestations of political and legislative interference in Floridas higher education system under the DeSantis administration and that of his predecessor, Rick Scott. These include attacks on faculty academic freedom and tenure; the assault on the curriculum; the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; the development of a patronage system marked by politically connected administrative appointments; the stacking of the statewide board of governors with Republican former political officeholders and professional political operatives beholden to the governor and the legislature; the passage of legislation making confidential identifying information of applicants for presidential positions at state universities or Florida College System institutions; political and legislative attacks on the higher education accreditation system; legal challenges to public employee unions; and the broader assault on the rights and social gains of LGBTQ+ communities. In short order, DeSantis term-limited from running again for governor has enacted hostile takeovers of the New College, the University of Florida, Florida International University, and the University of West Florida. As the Florida Phoenix has reported, DeSantis is installing his political allies at state universities so that they can purge these institutions of ideological concepts. To date, five of 12 schools have new presidents and another four are looking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People like Packer and Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference NAACP, issued calls to scrap the entire process and start again. Nweze urged the FAMU Board of Trustees to recommit to a fair and untainted process that reflects the universitys legacy of academic excellence. She and others were ignored and Johnson now will become FAMUs 13th president. Introduction to campus During a volatile meeting that ran about two hours, as Johnson introduced herself to the community, tempers ran hot. Packer warned trustees that choosing Johnson would be detrimental to FAMUs future, but she sought to assuage those fears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know that the comments youre bringing while theyre coming to me in a way that may evidence angst are coming from your love for this university, your love for this universitys legacy, and your interest in making sure that you protect it. If I am selected, I would fight and win for FAMU, Johnson told the crowd. No, Im not a Trojan horse. I was not sent here to dismantle FAMU. I would love the opportunity to work with you and to grow FAMU. Johnson also said: I understand the gravity of this moment. Im grounded in the importance of FAMUs legacy, and Im energized by the opportunities that we have in front of us. The new president served as vice president for governmental affairs (meaning she was a lobbyist) for Charter Communications, a telecom company, and is a former member of the State Board of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I reached out to Desiree Nero, a corporate and government consultant and a very proud alum, said she understands the concerns but now that Johnson has been selected, FAMUANs must figure out how to work with her. Universities are moving more in the direction of being managed like businesses. The presidents job is to raise money, build relationships, and increase the universities global impact and reputation. Marva Johnson can do that, Nero said. Nero gives Johnson props for succeeding as a Black woman in business Im sure she has had to fight some battles in her rise to leadership, she said. Shes well educated; a Georgetown undergrad, an MBA from Emory and a J.D. from Georgia State, said Nero, who has 20 years of experience working in leadership development within Florida State government. Republicans and MAGA are not one and the same. Theres nothing recently that indicates she will walk the MAGA path. Disproportionately underfunded FAMU, the states only public historically Black institution, was established in 1887 during the height of Jim Crow and segregation because African Americans werent allowed to attend white institutions. Racism and purposeful underinvestment has always dogged the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the Biden administration sent letters to 16 governors including DeSantis urging these states to review $12 billion in funding disparities among land-grant universities. The U.S. Department of Education alleged that the states disproportionately underfunded Florida A&M University by nearly $2 billion compared to University of Florida the second largest funding disparity among all land-grant universities. This disparity has resulted in inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services, then-U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote. The Trump administration recently rescinded a $16.3 million grant that had been awarded to FAMUs College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Meanwhile, FAMU is struggling to properly prepare its students to pass board examinations in its nursing, law, pharmacy, and physical therapy programs. Alan Levine, vice chair of the Florida Board of Governors, last year threatened to get rid of the programs if theres no improvement. Those who support Johnson hope she has the political connections, fundraising acumen, and leadership skills to reverse these challenges. And they hope she will convince DeSantis not to mess with FAMU the way he did New College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Change is inevitable and history has shown us that those who fight change are subject to be left behind, Nero said. Change isnt coming to FAMU, its here. FAMU may be in the fight of its life and we need a warrior to champion this fight. This is too important to be confrontational. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A far-left, anti-Israel group in the Bronx cheered the suspected terrorist accused of gunning down the two Israeli Embassy staffers in an antisemitic attack. The Bronx Anti-War group said what alleged gunman Elias Rodriguez did is the highest expression of anti-Zionism and We need more Elias Rodriguez in this world in a pair of social media posts Thursday. The shocking statements quickly drew fire from Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres. Chicago native Elias Rodriguez was arrested shortly after the deadly shooting outside a Jewish museum in Washington, DC. Katie Kalisher via Storyful A series of tweets sent by @BXAntiwar following the shooting. The Bronx Anti-War coalition is a Bronx-based group made up of working-class people who are anti-imperialist and led by people of color. X/@BXAntiWar The Bronx Anti-War coalition, which has been harassing me since October 7th, has described the murderous targeting of Jews as the highest expression of anti-Zionism, Torres said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violence is not a bug but a feature of virulent Anti-Zionism. Rodriguez, 31, was charged with fatally shooting Sarah Milgrim and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Follow The Posts coverage on Israeli Embassy staffers killed in DC The coalition is described as a Bronx-based group made up of working-class people who are anti-imperialist and led by people of color. They push for resisting state violence while advancing decolonization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group insists on its website that it backs the right to resist colonial imperialism by any means necessary, including armed struggle. We are not a pacifist movement and believe there can be no peace without justice, the group said. Israeli Embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. @yaron_li/X The group, which has about 3,400 followers on X, only 200 followers on Facebook and a seemingly defunct Instagram account, also called for Israel to be abolished. The Post has sought comment from the group. Rodriguez, who flew in from Chicago, allegedly fired nearly two dozen shots at Milgrim and Lischinsky, even after the two fell to the ground, according to court documents. Milgrim crawled away in a desperate attempt to escape. The couple were set to be engaged next week. Germany's opposition The Left party has slammed the authorities over the way the country is conducting deportations, as the number of people forced to leave the country surpassed 6,000 in the first quarter. "I am aware of several deportations in which the police acted brutally and without any empathy," Clara Bunger, the far-left party's spokeswoman on refugee policy, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group in comments published Friday. "We are talking about families being torn apart in cold blood or sick people being literally kidnapped from hospital and carted off to deportation flights," Bunger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said it appeared that authorities were acting according to the idea that "you can do almost anything to people who are required to leave the country." Her comments come after Germany deported 6,151 individuals in the first three months of the year, according to the response to a parliamentary inquiry by Bunger's party from Tuesday. In 2024, some 20,100 people were deported in total. Germany's new conservative-led government, which took office on May 6, has vowed to crack down on irregular migration. While it has since intensified border checks and allowed police to turn away people looking to claim asylum, the first quarter figures are attributable to the previous centre-left administration, which also toughened its stance on migration amid a series of attacks attributed to suspects with migrant roots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people deported in the first quarter of 2025 were deported to Turkey, at 502. This was followed by deportations to Georgia (454), France (333), Spain (325) and Serbia (291). A total of 1,715 people were deported under the EU's Dublin rules, which stipulates that in general the EU country the refugee first enters is responsible for processing their application for asylum. If you want to, say, make juice from an orange, the typical way is to mash the orange on a simple squeezer. But the early-to-mid 20th-century cartoonist, Rube Goldberg, had an even better way. His "simple" juice-making contraption involved pulling a string, which releases a guillotine blade, which cuts a cord that engages a battering ram that then enrages a sleeping octopus, which attacks the dangling orange and squeezes out its juice. Goldberg's bizarre cartoon machines were hilarious and have for decades inspired students to create their own real-world variety. One website notes that dictionaries in 1931 turned his name into an adjective that means "accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply." I've always enjoyed perusing them because they remind me of the world's unnecessarily complicated systemsand see them as analogous to how our governments operate. Let's take the issue of farming. The simplest way to provide food for the population is to, you know, let farmers grow what they want to grow, sell their products to whomever they choose, export them in response to demand, and so forth. The more important the productand food certainly ranks high on any listthe better it is to allow markets to work. Instead, our government micromanages the situation with complex regulations and subsidies that distort the market, raise prices, and pick winners and losers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farm policy has been a mess for decades, with both parties to blame. Every politician (and voter) loves farmers, who are perfect fodder for gauzy backdrops of real Americans nurturing the land, flying the flag, and epitomizing everything good and wholesome about the nation. The early Iowa caucuses reinforce this dynamic. Farming is a tough and risky business, but it is, in fact, mostly a business. Creating a mythology about it only makes it harder for lawmakers to address farm policy in a sensible manner that benefits everyone. Farming has been in the news lately, as the Trump administration talks incessantly about imposing massive new tariffs on agricultural products. It's also intent on deporting a large portion of those farms' labor pool. Last month, Trump assured farmers that he would protect them from any negative effects of his on-again, off-again trade war with Chinanot a surprise given federal taxpayers typically provide massive subsidies to farmers. "The Trump administration provided more taxpayer dollars to farmers financially damaged by the administration's trade policies than the federal government spends each year building ships for the Navy or maintaining America's nuclear arsenal," according to a 2020 study from the National Foundation for American Policy. "The amount of money raises questions about the strategy of imposing tariffs and permitting the use of taxpayer money to shield policymakers from the consequences of their actions." What a crazy policy contraption. Basically, the feds impose damaging new taxes and trade restrictions on farmers for reasons mostly related to ideology and rent-seeking, then undo their effects by making farmers more dependent on government largesse. Often lost in the discussion, but one reason that U.S. farmers are so dependent on selling commodity crops to China and elsewhere is that past policies essentially subsidized them to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like with all things political, various federal farm policies have created a series of odd bedfellows. Many environmental groups have lauded past farm bills because they provide incentives for farmers to set aside land as open space, but overall the federal meddling has harmed the environment. For instance, federal sugar subsidies have greatly diminished the Florida Everglades by encouraging the conversion of wetlands into sugar fields. As is typical, federal subsidies end up benefiting the biggest players. Overall farm incomes remain above average, but politically savvy agriculture lobbies cry poormouth to boost their handouts. In 2023, market-oriented groups opposed congressional efforts to boost those subsidies by noting: "Increasing price guarantees for covered commodities would only boost federal payments to the largest and most successful farmers, who already received almost 66 percent of all commodity subsidies in 2021." All these policies drive up food prices for non-farmers and reduce our choices in meats and produce. As Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute explained in 2022, if the feds deregulated, "Different crops would be planted, land usage would change, and some farm businesses would contract while others would expand. But a stronger and more innovative industry would emerge that had greater resilience to market fluctuations. Private insurance, other financial tools, and diversification would help cover risks, as they do in other industries." Instead of creating this convoluted, counterproductive policy that mimics a Rube Goldberg farce, the government should do the basics to help farmers. It should scuttle tariffs, halt subsidies, eliminate costly shipping levies, create a guest-worker program so farmers can have a consistent labor source, lower taxes, bolster water infrastructure and let markets do the rest. There's no reason to use an octopus to make orange juice. This column was first published in The Orange County Register. The post Farmers Need Free Markets, Not Tariffs and Welfare appeared first on Reason.com. A dispute over a food order at a Checkers restaurant in Osceola County turned deadly Wednesday night when an employee shot a customer, according to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office. Elijah Travis Mackey, 23, was arrested Thursday on a charge of first-degree murder by the Sheriffs Office, according to a news release from the agency. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail. No records were immediately available for viewing on the Osceola County Clerk of Courts website late Thursday afternoon. Deputies responded to Checkers on West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway near Celebration around 10:10 p.m. to reports of a shooting. An investigation determined customer Wesley Robertson got into an argument over his order with Mackey, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said the argument escalated and Mackey shot Robertson, who died after he was taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center. No other information was included in the news release from the Sheriffs Office. Norm Dame says his son, Trevor, has six broken bones after another boat crossed over the line that was pulling his tube on Lake Wylie last weekend. Now, the driver of the boat that crashed into the tubers is facing felony charges Friday. Family members say Trevor is at home with a long recovery ahead. Trevor was apparently sitting in the middle and had the worst injuries. Its tough as a parent to hear your child is hurt, Dame said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trevor has two broken ankles and three broken bones in his right foot, plus his left forearm is broken. Hes facing multiple surgeries. I was upset, disappointed, broken-hearted, frustrated; just wondering how looking at the video there was 20 to 25 feet between the boat and the tube, how could another boat be that close? Dame said. Its unclear exactly what caused the crash. On Friday, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources officials told Channel 9s Tina Terry that the driver of the other boat is facing several charges, including obstruction and reckless operation. Its very long ahead, a very long road for recovery, rehab, Dame said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dame says the driver of that other boat didnt have insurance -- we learned that insurance isnt required under South Carolina law if your boat is owned outright. A bill introduced this legislative session would have changed that, but it didnt pass. A GoFundMe has been started to help the family with medical expenses. (VIDEO: Lake Norman Marine Commission to dismantle by July, some hope to reassemble) The FBI visited Hamtramck on Friday, May 23, amid several investigations into alleged wrongdoing by officials as the City Council had a heated discussion at a special meeting held in the afternoon. "I can confirm that members from the FBI in Michigan were present this morning in the city of Hamtramck conducting law enforcement activities," FBI Detroit spokesman Jordan Hall told the Free Press on May 23. It's unclear what FBI agents were doing or investigating in Hamtramck on May 23. Hall did not say where specifically in Hamtramck the FBI visited or what they were looking for. Hamtramck City Hall and Police Department in Hamtramck on August 25, 2021. There are currently several other investigations taking place into city officials. On Wednesday, May 21, city manager Max Garbarino announced that Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri and Officer David Adamczyk have been placed on administrative leave as the city investigates alleged improprieties by Altaheri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib criticized the move by Garbarino, saying on May 21 it was retaliatory action by Garbarino for the chief disciplining another officer who's a friend of Garbarino. Garbarino responded late Thursday, May 22, with a statement saying the council is meeting at 4 p.m. Friday, May 23, "with the intent to terminate my employment after more than two decades of dedicated service to our city." But after a heated discussion at the Friday meeting between Garbarino and Ghalib, there was no action taken by the council. "We didnt have quorum by the end of the meeting," Hamtramck clerk Rana Faraj told the Free Press after the meeting ended. Ghalib at the meeting said he welcomed any FBI investigation and that he was not going to push for a vote to remove city manager Garbarino. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want to be part of the FBI investigation," Ghalib said. "I want to testify. That's good (the FBI is getting involved). We want the FBI to be involved." President Donald Trump, who was endorsed by Ghalib last year, picked Ghalib in March to be ambassador to Kuwait. A memo sent to Michigan State Police and circulated among some officials mentions allegations that Trump's visit to Hamtramck in October was facilitated by a former Wayne County reserve officer who was trying to help get a presidential pardon for a wealthy acquaintance of Altaheri in New York City convicted of financial crimes. The memo contains other allegations against Altaheri, involving the transfer of a vehicle, some domestic disputes and other allegations. Before becoming the Hamtramck police chief, Altaheri was a leader in New York City's police department, the commanding officer of NYPD's Office of Equity and Inclusion. It's unclear who wrote the memo; some at the meeting said it was written by a city employee. The memo was discussed during the public comments section of the meeting and by Ghalib. Ghalib said that he is mentioned in the memo. Ghalib criticized Garbarino for saying he would have an outside company do the investigation into the chief. Ghalib said the Michigan State Police or FBI should handle any investigation while Garbarino wants AG Advisors Global to handle the investigation into the chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ghalib said that Garbarino did not notify him about placing the chief on leave, saying that the chief and others are "innocent until proven otherwise." "We just want to make sure the investigation is fair and transparent," Ghalib said. "He (the chief) is not getting a chance to speak and defend himself. ... I'm pissed off because everybody is talking about some anonymous allegations." If the investigation later finds out "he's guilty ... fine, he should be held accountable," but he should not be judged guilty beforehand, Ghalib added. Ghalib told the Free Press after the meeting that "we agreed that all involved parties should be investigated by FBI and another government agency" and that "no private investigation companies should get involved unless chosen and agreed on by all parties." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ghalib also said that Altaheri's allegations against Garbarino and an officer whom he said was insubordinate and "caused all the chaos" should be part of the investigation. Next week, "we will decide what can apply to all involved parties while under investigation," Ghalib said. Garbarino, a former Hamtramck police chief, said in a statement the day before Friday's council meeting: "Let me be unequivocally clear: Any such action (to remove me) would be retaliatory, unlawful and a blatant abuse of power. Over the past two months, I have taken appropriate and responsible steps to address credible allegations of illegal and unethical conduct within our police department and among elected officials. Due to the serious nature of these allegations, I have involved outside law enforcement agencies to ensure impartiality and maintain the integrity of any investigation. This is a standard practice for officials in my position, designed to ensure fairness to all involved and to preserve the credibility of findings." He added: "I recently received additional credible evidence of serious allegations involving city officials. I refused to ignore these matters and instead entrusted them to the appropriate authorities for fair review." Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino, left, and Mayor Amer Ghalib, center, speak with people following a ceremony for the renaming of Holbrook Street in Hamtramck to Palestine Avenue on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the corner of Holbrook Street and Gallagher Avenue. The city council voted in December to approve the change. It is the first time in Michigan history a street has been renamed in support of Palestinians. In other developments, Monroe County Prosecutor Jeff Yorkey will take over a separate investigation into allegations of absentee ballot fraud involving several city council members. City Clerk Rana Faraj had said in a letter in March that City Councilman Mohammed Hassan was involved in ballot fraud. Hassan has not returned messages seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Perry, a spokesman for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, told the Free Press on Friday, May 23, that his association assigned the case to Yorkey on May 21. It was previously handled by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Nessel had recused herself from the case, saying there are some perceptions she may be biased against Arab Americans, claims she denies. Yorkey, a Republican, is seeking reelection this year. There is a separate investigation being done by Michigan State Police into allegations that two members of Hamtramck city council do not live in the city, as required by law. In his statement, city manager Garbarino pleaded with Ghalib to act ethically. "I make a specific plea to Mayor Ghalib, who is soon to represent our country as Ambassador to Kuwait. Sir, this moment demands the judgment, principle, and leadership expected of a diplomat serving our nation abroad," Garbarino said. "You must act now to stop this dangerous political sideshow before it causes further harm to the credibility of our city government something I am fighting with all my might to preserve and restore. This moment demands moral courage and responsibility, not silence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another statement, two police unions expressed support for both Altaheri and Garbarino, asking people to reserve judgement until the investigations have concluded. The statement was read by Faraj at the council meeting., Members of the public who spoke at the meeting had mixed views. Some supported Altaheri, while others criticized him. Some supported Garbarino, while others criticized him. And some were supportive of both, urging the council and administration to work constructively together for the city. Ghalib said "we will maintain the stability of the City Hall." The meeting was adjourned after a councilman left, which meant there was no quorum and so no vote could be taken on any issue. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: FBI agents visit Hamtramck for 'law enforcement activities' A sense of unease permeated the Food and Drug Administrations vaccine advisory committee meeting Thursday. The advisers had convened for whats become a standard practice over the past few years: selecting a new strain for the falls updated Covid vaccines. Complicating matters, however, were new FDA rules for the updated Covid vaccines, announced just days earlier, that would restrict access of the shots to only the most at-risk Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the rules, updated Covid vaccines for healthy children and adults under 65 must undergo additional placebo-controlled clinical trials meaning some people would get the actual vaccine while others would get an inactive substance like a saline shot. The original Covid vaccines, approved in late 2020, went through this process. Since then, drugmakers transitioned over to a flu-vaccine model, using smaller studies to test whether the shots generated an immune response against the variant in question. New Covid vaccines for another group adults 65 and up and kids and adults with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk for severe illness were exempted from the new requirement, meaning additional clinical trials arent needed. Committee members grappled with a tough choice: recommend updating the vaccine, which could make it more effective but harder for healthy kids and adults to get, or stick with the current version, which might not work as well but would be easier for more people to access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, if a different strain was selected for this season, would that require additional clinical trials? committee member Dr. Sarah Meyer, chief medical officer of the immunization services division at the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, asked at one point. Ultimately, the committee unanimously voted to stick with vaccines targeting JN.1 or its lineages the same strains used in the current shots. (Novavaxs shot targets JN.1; Pfizers and Modernas shots target KP.2, a descendant of JN.1.) The committees vote is only a recommendation, and the FDA doesnt have to follow its advice. After the vote, anxiety lingered over the committees decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to know if we change strains, can we assume that age-specific licensure wont change for any of these products? said committee member Dr. Henry Bernstein, a professor of pediatrics at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York. Dr. Arnold Monto, the committees chair, noted a feeling of somewhat unease over what he said would normally be an easy decision: picking the predominant strain. Jerry Weir, director of the Division of Viral Products in the Office of Vaccines Research and Review at the FDA, said that he didnt have an answer on who would be able to get the shots this fall, saying the agency was still working out details with the drugmakers. Still, FDA officials sought to allay committee members concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our goal is not to impact a timely availability of vaccines, but were really looking to all of you to give us your best judgement, Dr. David Kaslow, the director of the FDAs Office of Vaccines Research and Review. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is a group of outside scientists, doctors and public health experts that gives advice to the FDA on vaccines including whether a vaccine is safe and effective, and whether it should be approved. The members are temporary, often serving in four-year terms. They must be highly qualified in areas like virology, infectious diseases and public health. They are required to report any professional or financial ties that might influence their judgment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a conflict is found, they might be recused, or allowed to participate with restrictions, such as not being allowed to vote. Dr. Vinay Prasad, the FDAs new vaccine chief, told the panel that limiting access to older adults and people with underlying conditions would put the U.S. in line with Western Europe and other nations. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says Covid vaccination efforts should focus on protecting people at risk of severe illness, such adults 60 and up, people with weakened immune systems and those with underlying medical conditions. Ultimately, we still want to give people a little more time to digest the policy, Prasad said. Were still interested in soliciting questions and feedback and thoughts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dorit Reiss, a vaccine policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco, said she thinks the FDA will follow the committees recommendation. But they already announced they will take a different approach to licensing it, limiting it to certain group, and they did not put that in front of the committee at all, Reiss said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Editors note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts. SOMERSET, Pa. In the coming months, a review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency ordered by President Donald Trump should bring a streamlining of the organization amid ongoing federal downsizing and cost-cutting measures. That may lead to greater responsibility for disaster responses transferring to the state and local levels, area leaders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joel Landis, Somerset County Emergency Management Agency director, has paid close attention to this process to prepare for any potential adjustments. He said, in his opinion, FEMA does need revamped, and there could be a benefit to removing layers of response. Landis noted a variety of concerns regarding the agency's efficiency and effectiveness, but added that diminishing response capacity will not help. "What we don't want to see is a reduction of capabilities on the local level," Landis said. Joel Landis | Somerset County Emergency Management Agency Director Somerset County Emergency Management Agency Director Joel Landis stands Thursday, May 22, 2025, near North Street Bridge, where a debris pile had gathered after flooding from a May 13 storm in Meyersdale Borough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Priorities and competence' A review of FEMA operations was launched in January, when Trump issued an executive order creating a review council to assess the agency. According to that order, the federal responses to storms such as Hurricane Helene and other recent disasters demonstrate "the need to drastically improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency's efficacy, priorities and competence, including evaluating whether FEMA's bureaucracy in disaster response ultimately harms the agency's ability to successfully respond." The order claimed that, despite having a $30 billion annual budget, the agency has "managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also alleges FEMA may foster political bias against Trump and his supporters, citing the incident in Florida during Hurricane Milton last October when a FEMA responder allegedly told workers not to assist homes that displayed flags or yard signs for Trump, who was the Republican presidential candidate at the time. The responder has since claimed the organization had hostile encounters with residents at those homes, and a report released in April said there was no evidence FEMA employees skipped Trump-supporting homes. Federal Fallout logo Throughout the 2024 hurricane season, baseless rumors about FEMA also circulated on social media, such as unequal aid distribution and the agency seizing evacuated people's property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purpose of the council is to review FEMA's disaster response throughout the past four years, compare that to how local, state and private-sector teams handled disasters, gather information from stakeholders and advise the president. It was written that the council had to hold its first public meeting 90 days from the order's publication Jan. 24, submit a report to Trump 180 days after that and be disbanded one year later. The team met for the first time Tuesday. Since January, Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have called for FEMA's termination, and around 2,000 of 6,000 full-time emergency management workers have left the agency or plan to leave through early retirement and waves of terminations, according to published reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Impact on response' The potential changes to the federal response are concerning for Cambria County Department of Emergency Services and Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Thomas Davis. "The lack of assistance from federal I believe it would be a major impact on response and for the people," he said. Davis has served with the 911 emergency communications system for 32 years, and has spent decades as a firefighter. He said moving more disaster responsibilities to the state and local levels would put a burden on those capabilities. It could be possible, he added, but federal assistance is "absolutely huge" to achieve that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump wrote in a March executive order that empowering local and state authorities is part of his goal. "Federal policy must rightly recognize that preparedness is most effectively owned and managed at the state, local and even individual levels," he wrote, "supported by a competent, accessible and efficient federal government." In response to requests for input by the review council, the international nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council has responded to the president's actions and comments. "Much has changed with regards to FEMA staffing, operations and capacity since the start of this administration," the group wrote. "Most of those changes are to the detriment of the nation's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. As climate-influenced disasters continue to increase in frequency and severity, the administration has hobbled federal, state, and local efforts to prepare for and address the growing risks and vulnerabilities we now face." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Layers don't work' Landis said if FEMA is downsized or eliminated and the responsibilities and funding are turned over to the states, that could be a benefit. He added that his salary as EMA director is paid for through a FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant. Joel Landis | Somerset County Emergency Management Agency Director Somerset County Emergency Management Agency Director Joel Landis carries a box of supplies on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Department as disaster relief efforts continue after flooding from a May 13 storm hit Meyersdale Borough. Landis has been a Somerset County employee for 26 years, in public safety for 28 years, and was on the third ambulance to respond to the tornado that tore through Salisbury in the late 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said multi-agency approaches to disasters, especially when it comes to recovery funding, are slow and tedious. "Layers don't work when you're the disaster victim," he said. He provided the example of flooding on May 13 in southern Somerset County that hit eight communities, including Meyersdale and Garrett. On that night, which brought the evacuation of some of those communities, Landis said his team began requesting damage assessments because he knows how slow the process can be. A week later, representatives from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and federal Small Business Administration toured the communities surveying the damage to homes and businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's always a race to get the amount of damages submitted up so we can do the most amount of good," he said. 'Do this together' Despite that effort, Landis doesn't expect FEMA assistance will be triggered due to the large thresholds weather events have to reach. The agency annually sets dollar figures for the thresholds that are multiplied by the impacted population to determine if federal intervention is warranted. For example, the statewide indicator for 2025 is $1.89, meaning the Pennsylvania threshold is around $25 million. The county threshold for 2025 is $4.72, which would mean Somerset's triggering point exceeds $330,000. Davis said Pennsylvania's threshold is so high it's difficult to achieve even in devastating storms, such as the region has experienced this spring. Joel Landis | Somerset County Emergency Management Agency Director Somerset County Emergency Management Agency Director Joel Landis stands Thursday, May 22, 2025, near North Street Bridge where a debris pile had gathered after flooding from the May 13 storm in Meyersdale Borough. He and Landis also acknowledged a growing trend of severe storms impacting the two counties over the past few years. Unlocking funding was partly why the Small Business Administration was in the Somerset following the flooding. Landis said if the SBA provides a disaster declaration, that will be open funding that can help county flood victims. Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday his administration will support a declaration. Looking ahead, Davis said if the federal element is downsized or removed, that will lead to a expanded cooperation on the local level. "One thing we have to start looking at to prepare for changes is relationships with volunteer and community-based groups," he said. "We're going to have to do this together." This week, a federal judge has ordered that federal funding to an air quality monitoring program in Mecklenburg County must be restored. The decision came down Monday, after a lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Public Rights Project against the Trump administration in March. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Air quality monitoring nonprofit files lawsuit over federal funding freeze CleanAire NC was awarded a $500,000 federal grant through the EPA in 2023 to expand air quality monitoring in northern Mecklenburg County, targeting communities with historically high pollution levels as a part of the Biden Administrations focus on environmental justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has criticized the previous focus on environmental justice for unfairly factoring race and background into federal funding decisions. Under the new leadership, the EPA has worked to dismantle its Office of Environmental Justice and reassign its staffers or place them on leave. Judge Richard Gergel, A U.S. District Court judge for the District of South Carolina, ordered the Trump administration to restore $176 million in grant funding for six municipalities and 13 nonprofit groups, including CleanAire NC, siding with the SELCs argument that freezing the congressionally apportioned funds violated the Administrative Procedure Act. In March, when the SELC initially filed this suit, Andrew Whelan, a spokesman for CleanAire NC, said the nonprofit was planning to launch its three-year air monitoring program this summer. The nonprofit had already paid some of the program costs upfront, but without access to federal dollars from the grant, he wasnt sure the program could continue. Now, Whelan said CleanAire NC is waiting to see when the previously frozen funds become available and how many more months and activities of the program the nonprofit will be able to support with the amount of funding were able to draw down when they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision validates what CleanAIRE NC and our community partners have experienced firsthand: the disruption caused by the unlawful funding freeze has real consequences for our ability to protect public health in North Carolina, Whelan said in a statement. We are hopeful that this ruling will lead to the swift restoration of funds, allowing us to resume essential air quality monitoring and community engagement initiatives that are crucial for a healthier future. Attorneys representing the Trump Administration said they planned to appeal the decision. Whelan said its unclear whether CleanAire NC will be able to access the funds while another case is pending. The SELC, on behalf of CleanAire NC, also announced Thursday its joining a second lawsuit challenging the federal funding freeze on the $5 billion for the national EV Charging program. The attorneys again claim the federal branch does not have the legal authority to freeze congressionally appointed funds. VIDEO: What is a Code Red Air Quality Alert? Following a lawsuit filed by a University of Cincinnati international student, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from removing groups of foreign students studying in the country and from reneging on restoring their visas. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in San Francisco ordered the administration May 22 to not detain or deport any of the similarly situated 4,700 international students who had been flagged in a criminal records check earlier this year. A large number of those flagged students had their visas revoked despite never being convicted of a crime. Instead, they had some form of run-in with police or charges that were dropped, which led them to show up in a national crime database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those students was Jiarong Ouyang, a 34-year-old doctoral candidate at UC, who had his degree and work on hold over a 2019 arrest in California that was later dropped. "The actions that give rise to Plaintiffs claims reflect an instinct that has become prevalent in our society to effectuate change: move fast and break things," said White, who was appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush. "That instinct must be checked when it conflicts with established principles of law." Dozens of international students across the country filed lawsuits after their visas were revoked, but Ouyang and a group of his peers were the only ones who asked a judge for a pause nationwide. White emphasized the need for this nationwide temporary injunction, saying otherwise, "It is unclear how this game of whack-a-mole will end." Ouyang was one of at least 10 international students whose visas had been revoked at UC and were notified by the school, according to records reviewed by The Enquirer. All 10 students had their visas revoked after being identified in a criminal records check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ouyang and his attorneys in California did not respond to requests for comment from The Enquirer. White's order comes the same day as the Trump administration escalated its feud with Harvard University, revoking the private school's ability to enroll international students entirely. International students make up more than a quarter of Harvard's student body and typically pay top dollar, putting a significant portion of the university's budget at risk. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Federal judge blocks Trump administration from revoking student visas After months of political and legal contention between the nations oldest Ivy League school and the Trump administration, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a ban on Harvards enrollment of international students affecting 6,800 students. The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Harvard fostered a community of anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators, referring to allegations that Harvard allowed Chinese paramilitary troops to train on its campus, as well as previous claims that Harvard allowed and even supported antisemitic discrimination. On Friday, Harvard filed a lawsuit against the ban. Hours later, Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the ban, per wire reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs said Harvard had shown in its lawsuit that, unless the restraining order was granted, it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties. Thus, a TRO is justified to preserve the status quo pending a hearing, she added. Foreign governments condemn the ban on their students Either Harvard complies with a list of demands from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem including turning over disciplinary records and videos and audio of illegal and dangerous or violent activity from international students within 72 hours, or it and the Trump administration will proceed to a legal hearing. Either way, the lives of thousands of students are left in limbo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of them is the 23-year-old future queen of Belgium, Princess Elisabeth, who just completed her first year at Harvard. The Belgian Royal Palace said it is currently investigating the ban that threatens her academic career at Harvard, according to Reuters. Other affected students include individuals hailing from China, India, Pakistan. Shreya Mishra Reddy was admitted to Harvard in 2023, according to a BBC report. She, along with nearly 7,000 other international students, including 700 from India and 2,300 from China, make up 27 percent of Harvards enrollment, the BBC said. They also contribute to Harvards bottom line. And nationally, in 2023-2024, international student enrollment added $43.8 billion to the economy, according to NAFSA, an association of international educators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Harvard is) the ultimate school that anybody in India wants to get into... (This) has been very difficult for my family to hear. Theyre still trying to process it, Reddy told the BBC. I hope Harvard will stand for us and some solution can be worked out. Chinese student Kat Xie, a STEM major, said she is in shock. She wants to stay in the U.S., but her options are all very troublesome and expensive. Beijing has also condemned the Trump administrations move, calling it the politicization of education and saying it only harm(s) the image and international standing of the United States, according to CBS News Harvard and the Trump administration prepare their legal cases Trump made clear his belief that many institutes of higher education are corrupt even before he re-entered the Oval Office in January 2025. Pro-Palestinian protests, centering on the Israel-Hamas war, have only inflamed his feelings against Ivy League schools like Harvard and Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president of Harvard, Alan Garber, somewhat agreed with Trump when he said that Harvard needed greater intellectual diversity, including more conservative voices. Harvard investigated itself and found legitimate instances of harassment against Arab and Israeli students, leading it to promise to combat such instances, per school reports. But Harvard has pushed back at Trumps attempts to repeal its tax-exempt status, stem federal research funding and now block student enrollment. As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, you have lost this privilege, Noem wrote to the university. Harvard has pushed back sharply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has claimed that its destructive action is based on Harvards failure to comply with requests for information from the US Department of Homeland Security. In fact, Harvard did respond to the Departments requests as required by law, said President Garber in a statement. Harvard also wrote in its lawsuit, with the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission. (This is the) latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the governments demands to control Harvards governance, curriculum, and the ideology of its faculty and students. The lawsuit also called the ban a blatant violation of the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from terminating the legal statuses of international students at universities across the U.S. In the injunction, District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland also prohibited the administration from arresting or detaining any foreign-born students on the basis of their immigration status while a case challenging previous terminations moves through the courts. In his decision, White said that the Trump administration has wreaked havoc on the lives of the plaintiffs as well as other international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Todays ruling delays justice and seeks to kneecap the Presidents constitutionally vested powers under Article II," Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "The Trump administration is committed to restoring common sense to our student visa system, and we expect a higher court to vindicate us in this." We have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side. The Department of Justice declined to comment. A group of Florida International University students protest against cuts in federal funding and an agreement by campus police to partner with ICE, on campus in Miami, Fla., on April 17, 2025. (Rebecca Blackwell / AP file) Though many international students have been successful in individually challenging the Trump administration, guaranteeing their own right to stay in the U.S., the injunction is the first to provide relief to students nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the order, White wrote that the administration is barred from transferring any of the plaintiffs in ongoing cases to jurisdictions outside their residences, or from reversing any reinstatement of their records. While the Trump administration had said in court documents this month that an injunction wasn't necessary because it had begun to restore statuses while Immigration and Customs Enforcement develops a new framework for terminations, the judge disagreed. At each turn in this and similar litigation across the nation, Defendants have abruptly changed course to satisfy courts expressed concerns, the judge said. It is unclear how this game of whack-a-mole will end unless Defendants are enjoined from skirting their own mandatory regulations. The Trump administration began revoking the visas of thousands of international students in addition to their records and legal statuses in March. The terminations appeared to take aim at those who had participated in political activism or had criminal charges against them, like DUIs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in late April, DHS revealed at a court hearing that the department used 10 to 20 employees to run the names of 1.3 million foreign-born students through the National Crime Information Center, an FBI-run computerized index that includes criminal history information. Experts have criticized the process, pointing out that the index relies on cities, counties, states and other sources to voluntarily report their data. And sometimes the database doesnt have the final dispositions of cases. Its why, immigration attorneys and policy experts say, some students whove had cases dismissed, or were not convicted, likely still had their statuses revoked. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom A federal judge ruled this week that language accommodating abortion must be removed from the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge David Joseph in the Western District of Louisiana, Lake Charles division, ordered the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to rewrite employer guidelines in a pregnant workers protection law, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statute requires employers with 15 or more staff to provide reasonable accommodations think time off for appointments, additional rest breaks, a stool to sit on while working for pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, as long as the requests dont place undue hardship on the company or organization. Joseph, who Republican President Donald Trump appointed during his first term. He ruled that former Democratic President Joe Bidens administration exceeded its authority by including abortion in rules finalized last year. This courts decision to deny workers reasonable accommodations for abortion-related needs is part of a broader attack on womens rights and reproductive freedom, said Inimai Chettiar, the president of paid leave advocacy group A Better Balance, in a statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling is a victory for state officials in Louisiana, Mississippi and a group of Catholic Church organizations.Plaintiffs sued the EEOC over the inclusion of abortion in the guidelines, which the agency released in April 2024 following a lengthy public comment process, Illuminator reported. Roughly 54,000 Americans said abortion should be excluded from the definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, while some 40,000 said pregnancy termination should be included. Lawyers for the states both have near-total abortion bans argued the rule doesnt align with the Dobbs v. Womens Health Organization decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, while Catholic groups said the abortion provision violates freedom of religion. This is a win for Louisiana and for life, Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill said on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several other lawsuits against the law are in play. A federal judge ruled in April that a separate group of Catholic employers do not have to protect their employees access to abortion and fertility treatments, North Dakota Monitor reported. In February, another judge ruled that a lawsuit filed by 17 GOP attorneys general against the EEOC over abortion accommodations in the workplace can move forward, according to The Associated Press. And the Texas government and its agencies dont have to comply with any part of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. A judge temporarily blocked the laws enforcement in February 2024 after the attorney general argued it was unconstitutionally passed in December 2022 by proxy vote, The Texas Tribune reported. Members of Kansas Interfaith action protest the reopening of the Leavenworth CoreCivic prison outside a Tuesday hearing at the U.S. District Court in Topeka. The case was dismissed on Thursday. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA A federal judge cleared the way Thursday for CoreCivic to reopen its Leavenworth prison as an immigration detention center, saying he lacks jurisdiction to hear the case. The city has not yet decided whether it will appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to confer with our attorneys, said Scott Peterson, Leavenworth city manager. We will probably discuss it with the city commission sometime next week. Peterson said he didnt know whether further court action could occur before June 1, when CoreCivic officials had indicated they may begin receiving detainees. We may have further negotiations with CoreCivic themselves about this, Peterson said. U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse dismissed the case, saying the city failed to establish subject-matter jurisdiction. During a Tuesday hearing, Crouse repeatedly questioned whether he had any basis to act, saying the city had not adequately outlined that issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crouse, appointed to the bench in 2020 by President Donald Trump, highlighted two pending motions before him, including Leavenworths request for an injunction that would have stopped CoreCivic from reopening until it could be determined whether the company had to go through the citys development process. CoreCivic had asked for a dismissal of the case. Joseph Hatley, attorney for Leavenworth, said in court Tuesday that CoreCivic had agreed not to take detainees until June 1 while the case was decided. After the hearing, Hatley said in an interview there were concerns that if detainees were housed in the prison before the legal disputes were resolved, the federal government could refuse to move the detainees regardless of the outcome of the case. The City asserts that Core Civic should be enjoined from operating its detention facility without the proper permit, Crouse wrote in his ruling Thursday. But it has not pled facts to establish that subject-matter jurisdiction exists in federal court to consider that claim. Accordingly, this action is dismissed, and the parties motions are denied as moot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CoreCivic spokesman Ryan Gustin said the company was pleased with the decision. We remain focused on ensuring the Midwest Regional Reception Center is prepared to meet the needs of our federal partner, he said. Gustin did not answer questions about whether CoreCivic intended to begin housing ICE detainees in June. Move forward Activists who have spoken out against reopening the facility are hopeful the city will appeal. We hope the city will explore all of its options as the concerns of the lawsuit since its filing in February CoreCivics disregard for the citys governance and its rush to fill the facility without accountability have only grown more urgent, Esmie Tseng, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tseng also said the judges decision held hope with regard to whether CoreCivic would have to follow Leavenworth development codes requiring the company to apply for a special use permit. Its also worth noting that in the dismissal, the court agreed that when CoreCivic ceased operation for 12 months, it lost its non-conforming status and that its initial application for the special use permit appeared to be a recognition of this fact, she said. CoreCivic was grandfathered into the citys development codes when it was open and operating as the Leavenworth Detention Facility from 1992 to 2021. The codes were passed in 2012. City officials, as laid out in the lawsuit, have told CoreCivic it must apply for a special use permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great start CoreCivics reopening of the Leavenworth facility, which closed in 2021 at the end of its federal contract and under numerous accusations of inhuman treatment at the facility, is part of the companys plan to reopen nine idle facilities. In its May earnings report, CoreCivic announced total revenue of $488.6 million, with net income of $25.1 million. 2025 is off to a strong start for CoreCivic. First quarter occupancy in CoreCivic facilities reached 77% of available capacity, an increase from 75.2% in the first quarter of last year, said CEO Damon T. Hininger in a press release. Based on cost management and increased bed utilization, particularly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), we exceeded our internal expectations for the first quarter. Additionally, we have begun to re-activate three previously idle facilities under multiple agreements with ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Security and Exchange Commission filings, CoreCivic said it had nine idle facilities, including the Leavenworth facility, renamed the Midwest Regional Reception Center. CoreCivic anticipates additional contracting activity as 2025 progresses, Hininger said. In addition to the facilities we are currently activating, we are making preparatory investments in many of our other idle facilities so that they will be available quickly, as our partners needs require and as their budgets allow. Leavenworth contract CoreCivic SEC filings and a press release said they signed a letter of agreement with ICE at the beginning of March to reopen the Leavenworth facility, which would house 1,033 detainees. As a result, ICE paid CoreCivic $5 million with a maximum of $22.6 million set over a six-month period to cover start-up expenses while the two hash out a long-term contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its quarterly report, filed May 8 with the SEC, CoreCivic noted that Leavenworth filed a lawsuit. CoreCivic plans to vigorously defend this matter on the basis that the (special use permit) is not applicable under existing statute, the filing said. CoreCivic has agreed with the City of Leavenworth to not accept detainees prior to June 1, 2025 while this matter is deliberated. The Company can provide no assurance that it will obtain a favorable ruling in this matter or that ICE and the Company will ultimately enter into a long-term contract for the utilization of the Companys Midwest Regional Reception Center. CHICAGO (WGN) The press releases headline was clear: ICE Chicago captures shooters in December 2024 mass shooting tied to Tren de Aragua gang. It gathered local and national media coverage. However, WGN Investigates has found no record the two men named by Homeland Security have actually been charged in the shooting. Instead, theyre currently being detained by federal authorities on immigration charges. Its possible Chicago police issued an alert to other law enforcement about their interest in Venezuelan nationals Ricardo Granadillo Padilla and Edward Martinez Carmeno. A source confirmed both are considered persons of interest in the mass shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CPD spokesperson declined to comment but confirmed neither man has been charged locally and police consider the case open. Typically, law enforcement agencies dont publicly accuse people of committing crimes before theyre actually charged with the offense. A Homeland Security spokesperson wouldnt provide comment beyond saying its ongoing. Three people were killed and a total of 8 were shot at a house in Chicagos Gage Park neighborhood where police had also responded to previous disturbances. Previous Coverage: Gage Park shooting: 2 victims identified in Mondays mass shooting that left 3 dead, 5 wounded Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe theyre Venezuelan and maybe theyve been here for a year, one nearby resident told WGN News after the shooting. The May 20th press release from ICE announced the arrests of the shooters involved in the Dec. 2, 2024 mass shooting at a house party in Chicago predominantly attended by Venezuelan nationals. It went on to say the shooting was perpetrated by members of the Tren de Aragua gang. ICE published post-arrest photos of Padilla and Carmeno on its website along with an image of nine high powered weapons, ammunition and drugs agents say were recovered. The press release also included a blurred image of nearly a dozen other people sitting on a curb in Raleigh, NC who ICE labeled as suspected TdA members encountered during Padillas arrest. Padilla was arrested on February 8 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and was sentenced in March for illegally entering the United States in 2022. ICE said multiple firearms, high-capacity magazines, drugs and fraudulent documents were found during a raid of his Chicago home before his arrest in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud Cermeno was arrested on January 26 by ICE in Schaumburg and then released by a federal magistrate judge before agents re-arrested him on criminal charges for illegally entering the United States in 2023, according to the press release. While state and local laws prohibit Chicago police from participating in immigration enforcement they do partner with federal agencies on criminal cases and CPD routinely works with federal task force partners to locate people they view as suspects. Two sources say local authorities were surprised Homeland Security would trumpet the arrests of the men before charges are ready to be filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its symbolic of a strategy by the Trump Administration to promote high-profile arrests on social media and among friendly news outlets while refusing to provide information that was routinely released in the past. Homeland Security is now being sued by several groups for allegedly violating federal transparency laws by refusing to release basic information about their arrest and deportation efforts in Chicago and elsewhere, Block Club Chicago reports. ICE has not responded to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by WGN Investigates in March seeking information about the number of people arrested in Chicago, whether they were deported and how many had criminal backgrounds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This week, several top companies in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region raised big funding rounds to help grow their businesses and develop new technologies. From Airwallexs huge valuation to advances in cybersecurity, mental health, research, and electric vehicle tech, these investments show strong growth in important industries. Heres a look at the latest funding news: Fintech Airwallex raises $465 million in Series F funding round Payments technology company Airwallex has successfully closed a $465 million (US$300 million) Series F funding round, bringing its valuation to approximately $9.6 billion (US$6.2 billion). Founded in Melbourne and now headquartered in Singapore, Airwallex has surpassed the significant milestone of $1 billion in annualised revenue. The company plans to use the fresh capital to broaden its international footprint and enhance its product offerings. Leading investors in this round include well-known names such as Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, Hostplus, NGS Super, alongside Blackbird Ventures, which contributed $60 million earlier this month. This latest funding underscores growing confidence in Airwallexs potential to disrupt the global payments landscape. AI-powered cybersecurity platform CloudSEK secures $19 million in funding CloudSEK, a pioneering company in AI-driven cyber threat prediction and intelligence, has raised $19 million through a combination of Series A2 and B1 funding rounds. The investment attracted a mix of strategic and venture investors from India and the United States, including MassMutual Ventures, Inflexor Ventures, Prana Ventures, Tenacity Ventures, and Commvault among others. Early backers such as the Meeran Family (founders of Eastern Group), StartupXSeed, Neon Fund, and Exfinity Ventures continue to support CloudSEKs growth. Since its inception in 2015 by cybersecurity researcher-turned-entrepreneur Rahul Sasi, CloudSEK has evolved from a research initiative into a trusted intelligence platform serving over 250 enterprise clients across banking, healthcare, technology, and government sectors. The fresh capital will help expand its predictive cybersecurity capabilities and global reach. Foremind raises $1.5 million to enhance mental health support tools Foremind, an innovative platform dedicated to improving workplace mental health and psychosocial safety, has closed a $1.5 million funding round led by impact investor Giant Leap, with contributions from Skalata and Snow Foundation. The funds will be deployed to develop advanced features for its platform, designed to help employers comply with mental health regulations while supporting employee wellbeing. Foremind also plans to use the capital to expand beyond Australia into new markets, specifically New Zealand and the UK, further cementing its role as a leader in workplace mental health solutions. Uniseed secures additional $25 million from UniSuper Australias longest-running university-focused venture fund, Uniseed, has raised an additional $25 million from UniSuper, increasing UniSupers total commitment to $100 million. UniSuper, one of the countrys largest superannuation funds, exclusively serves the retirement needs of its members. Uniseed specializes in providing seed funding to early-stage technology startups that emerge from Australian research institutions, helping bridge the gap between academic innovation and commercial venture capital. The fund targets cutting-edge industries including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, quantum computing, and green energy, aiming to transform research breakthroughs into commercial success stories. SQM Lithium Ventures invests $3.6 million into Kite Magnetics SQM Lithium Ventures, the venture capital division of a global lithium producer, has invested $3.6 million in Kite Magnetics, a Melbourne startup focused on producing advanced components for electric motors and generators. The companys flagship technology is Aeroperm, a patented nanocrystalline magnetic material designed to improve electric motor efficiency by reducing energy losses. Founded as a spin-off from Monash University in 2021, Kite Magnetics has attracted early funding through programs like Breakthrough Victoria and was one of the first recipients of Sydney-based Investibles Climate Tech Fund in 2022. This investment will accelerate Kite Magnetics product development and commercial scaling efforts, supporting the transition to cleaner, more efficient electric vehicles. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) on Friday announced the White House approved Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitts request for federal disaster relief regarding March 14-21 wildfires. You probably know someone affected by those devastating wildfires we saw in March. Devastating stories continue to pour in following wildfires Although some time has passed since the March wildfires, there are still many properties with piles of rubble sitting where structures once stood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw probably 10 or 15 today that its still just burned out cars, burned out frames from homes, Shawn Pierce with Logan County Emergency Management said. The scars of Marchs historic and deadly wildfires are still visible. Just seeing our memories and ashes, it was just a lot, said Natalie Noles, who lost their home. It was definitely not what I thought it was going to be when I actually put eyes on it. This is our home, this was our end game and this is where we were going to retire. Wives rallying together to support Stillwater Police Department after wildfires ODEM officials confirm, in wake of the declaration approval the devastating March wildfires left four people dead and more than 200 injured. Damage assessments found more than 530 homes and businesses in the line of fire with 515 destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yukon Public Schools announce free summer meals starting June 2 According to ODEM, the assistance qualifies for disaster aid through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance declaration covering the following seven counties: Cleveland Creek Lincoln Logan Oklahoma Pawnee Payne The designation is set to provide assistance from FEMA as follows: Housing repairs Temporary housing Disaster unemployment assistance, Grants At the same time, the Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans. I know we have a substantial amount of people in our county that were either uninsured or not insured, Pierce said. What this does is it allows people a little bit easier than going through a bank of getting a loan to help them rebuild, replace damaged property or homes that were completely lost. Its a lower interest rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyll be available for the next few weeks to assist those still in need. Weve got people living in campers, Pierce said. We got people doing the best they can, you know, living in their vehicles, things like that, which is really, really sad. He adds, the key to applying is doing it sooner rather than later. If you get your application in quickly, youre going to be at the top of that list, Pierce said. Residents in the approved counties can apply for disaster assistance by contacting 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by going online at www.disasterassistance.gov. *Other counties could be added to the declaration in the future. How To Apply for FEMA Assistance Homeowners and renters who have disaster-caused damage or loss can apply for Individual Assistance under the major disaster declaration DR-4866-OK in several ways: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov . Download the FEMA App for mobile devices. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. To view an accessible video about how to apply visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance YouTube . When you apply for assistance, have this information readily available: If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name A current phone number where you can be contacted Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying Your Social Security number, if available A general list of damage and losses Banking information for direct deposit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. LOUIS FEMA has completed its preliminary damage assessments in St. Louis as of Friday, just one week after a devastating EF-3 tornado struck the city and only two days after crews began on-the-ground evaluations. The FEMA assessments are a critical step toward a federal major disaster declaration, which would unlock long-term federal aid, including individual financial assistance. FEMA crews are expected to return to St. Louis next week for further logistical work, according to St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer. That said, the path to unlocking federal aid is a multi-step process that may take some time to complete. Where Things Stand Now Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has already submitted a request for an emergency declaration. If approved, that would allow for up to $5 million in immediate funding for debris removal and other emergency protective measures. That still awaits approval from U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An emergency declaration also opens the door for a federal major disaster declaration, which would offer far more expansive assistance, including housing aid, public infrastructure repair and grants for displaced residents and businesses. The FEMA assessments from Wednesday to Friday were essential in documenting the extent of tornado damage and determining whether the state meets qualifications for a broader disaster declaration. Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, who has been in contact with both FEMA and President Trump, noted during a Friday press conference that FEMA has moved incredibly quickly to complete its initial assessments. He suggested that if all procedural requirements are met, the major disaster declaration could be absorbed into the request for a major disaster declaration. For now, an emergency declaration has been sent and a request for a major disaster declaration is likely soon to follow. Only the president can issue an emergency or major disaster declaration. The Next Steps With FEMAs preliminary assessments now complete, officials are working to compile damage data and deliver it promptly to Gov. Kehoe. Schmitt anticipates that FEMAs findings could be finalized and sent to the governor within the next 1-2 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once Kehoe receives the full report, he can formally request a major disaster declaration for more extensive federal aid. To qualify for a major disaster declaration, a state must meet a minimum damage threshold. Schmitt estimates that to be roughly $11 million and believes that threshold has been met in aftermath of last weeks tornadoes. Once that happens, Schmitt intends to send a letter to President Trump within 24 hours in support of the requested major disaster declaration. After that, the presidents signature is the last essential step in unlocking federal relief. Were going to continue to work as quickly as we can to get the declaration and the disaster declaration granted by the president for this storm that happened last Friday a week ago, said Schmitt. How Long Could It Take? As St. Louis continues to recover from Fridays tornado, President Trump approved a separate major disaster declaration that allows for individual assistance from March 14-15 tornadoes in Missouri, including some which struck in nearby St. Louis County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, FOX 2 analyzed data and found that it typically takes a little over two months or 67 days on average for major disaster declarations to be approved following severe weather events. Fridays approved declaration for the March storms was right around that timeline. If that pattern holds, its possible that a major disaster declaration for the St. Louis tornado may not be approved until late-July. With this in mind, Schmitt acknowledged the urgency while emphasizing the need to follow the federal process. I agree we want to do this as quickly as possible, and thats our goal, said Schmitt. There is a process in place to get that approved. As soon as we get that [major disaster declaration] request from the governor, I imagine a letter would go out within 24 hours to the president, and well keep in touch with everybody who are the decision makers on this to move that decision making process along as fast as possible. We want to make sure St. Louis gets the help that it needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell echoed that urgency and said local leaders are doing everything they can to accelerate the timeline for help. Our office looked into the average times of FEMA hitting the ground and declarations. Were well within that average, said Bell. That said, were not going to sit and rest either. Were going to keep pushing. We dont have time to waste. We want to make sure we get every resource and bring every resource that we can to bear as quickly as we possibly can. Are Leaders Confident? While concerns remain over whether FEMA funding will come through, especially as President Trump has proposed scaling back the agency, Mayor Spencer expressed confidence in the citys response and support from Missouri leaders, especially Gov. Kehoe. I have full confidence our governor is doing what he can to get us [a declaration], said Spencer. I know it feels like a long time. We are working our tails off to get that evaluation done, we are firming it up and we are truly moving as fast as we possibly can to get that done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmitt, who has had various discussion with Trump and White House staff in recent days, said he is confident FEMA funding will eventually be secured for the state. I dont have any concerns about that, said Schmitt. We organized a call with FEMA earlier this week. Congressman Bell was on that call to make sure they understood what a priority it was for us to do these damage assessments as quickly as possible. My anticipation is the governor is doing a great job, in the next day or too, when he has all that information from what FEMA did on the ground, well make another request for the major disaster declaration. Bell added on the situation, Theres always going to be concern because this is our community. These are our neighbors. So until those resources are delivered, until that check is cashed, yes there are going to be resources, but thats why we are all working together. Everyone is doing everything they can to make certain that this happens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Louis officials have previously estimated the tornado caused around $1 billion in damage to around 5,000 homes and businesses across several westside and northside neighborhoods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Federal and state officials announced that resources for tornado victims were made available starting on Thursday, May 22, in Pulaski County. The countys judge executive, Marshall Todd, announced on Thursday that FEMA staff would be in the area recording and reporting storm damage from Fridays deadly tornado. Officials noted that all FEMA employees would have proper identification. The documentation process is meant to help state leaders in their requests to President Trump for federal assistance. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) announced that those who have suffered damage or loss in the tornadoes and storms that struck Kentucky on May 16 can visit the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset to take important steps toward recovery. What can be done for tornado survivors at the resource center? According to officials, representatives from KYEM and other partner agencies will be available at the centers auditorium to help with home damage assessments, shelter, transportation needs, and more. There will also be team members available to help replace documents such as birth certificates and social security cards, which will reportedly be essential for storm victims who become eligible for federal help through FEMA. Governor Andy Beshear has asked President Donald Trump for a Major Disaster Declaration; that would authorize FEMA Individual & Household Assistance for survivors in Caldwell, Christian, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Todd, Trigg and Union Counties, KYEM officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Instructors fit a firefighter's gear. (Photo courtesy U.S. Fire Administration) Almost three months after the Federal Emergency Management Agency abruptly canceled classes at the National Fire Academy, saying it would only support mission-critical functions, someone at FEMA apparently decided that fire training is critical to the agencys mission. FEMA announced Thursday that classes would resume June 2 at its national schoolhouses: the National Fire Academy and the National Disaster and Emergency Management University, both in Emmitsburg, and the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Classes at all three had been canceled abruptly and without explanation in an email on March 7, a Friday, that said programs were suspended effective immediately and that the cancellations would remain in place indefinitely. But in Thursdays announcement, FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration said they had determined certain courses provide effective training to enhance national readiness for state, local, tribal and territorial emergency managers, first responders and local leaders. FEMAs principles for emergency management assert that disasters are best managed when theyre federally supported, state managed and locally executed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX More than 60 members of Congress including every Democrat in the Maryland delegation wrote to the head of FEMA and to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 14, demanding to know why the centers had been closed and when they would reopen. They never got an answer to their letter, but Thursdays reopening announcement said the closing had been ordered as part of the work of billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shutdown followed a Feb. 26 executive order from President Donald Trump on Implementing the Presidents Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative, to ensure alignment with the Administrations priority of good use of taxpayer funds. It came in the early, heady days of DOGE, when grants and payments were suspended and programs put on ice, before courts stepped in and started slowing or reversing DOGE actions. Even though they never got an answer to their letter, Maryland lawmakers welcomed the news Thursday that the fire academy would soon be back in business. I am happy to share that programming will be resuming immediately for dedicated fire fighters and first responders from around the nation, said Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-6th). The rash decision to close the academy wasted valuable resources and undermined our communities safety, resilience, and response efforts. McClain Delaney, whose district includes the academy, called the original closure senseless. That was echoed by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a joint statement on the reopening with McClain Delaney and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). The Trump Administrations decision to abruptly cancel these classes made no sense and whats more, it risked significant harm to our communities and those who protect them, Van Hollens statement said. While the good work done by the men and women [of the] National Fire Academy never should have been halted, Im glad to see the Administration has heeded our calls to lift this senseless ban. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) A man is in custody after attempting to flee from detectives earlier this week, the Akron Police Department reported. Anti-Violence Bureau (AVB) detectives were executing a search warrant at the 2000 block of Triplett Avenue Wednesday, when the suspect Lorenzo Leatherwood Jr. attempted to flee by getting into a vehicle and intentionally rammed multiple cruisers, according to police. Man wanted in Akron lounge shooting that injured 2 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives reported that Leatherwood resisted arrest after his vehicle came to a stop, but that he was eventually taken into custody. Police did not say if Leatherwood suffered any injuries. Once inside the residence, the AVB found at least 200 grams of fentanyl and a firearm. Photo courtesy Akron police Leatherwood is charged with the following, according to police, with potential for more: Felonious Assault (7 Counts) Resisting Arrest Willful Flee Having Weapons While Under Disability Trafficking in Drugs Probation Violation The significant amount of fentanyl seized during this arrest most likely saved our community from suffering through a long string of overdoses, Lieutenant Michael Murphy said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement E. coli levels predicted to be high at 2 Lake Erie beaches Anyone who may know more about this case is asked to reach out to detectives at 330-375-2490 or call Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Christian Martinez (Reuters) -A fifth person has been arrested on suspicion of helping some of the 10 inmates who staged a daring escape from a New Orleans jail that was caught on security video, authorities said on Friday. Authorities apprehended Casey Smith, 30, who allegedly helped two escapees who had broken out of the Orleans Justice Center in the early morning hours of May 16, police said Friday in a statement. She helped the inmates "as they were transported to multiple locations in hours following their escape."As of Friday afternoon, five of the escapees had been captured, while five others remained at large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact to simple escape. On Thursday, Louisiana State Police said 59-year-old Connie Weeden was arrested after allegedly providing funds to escapee Jermaine Donald. Two other women, Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, were arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of being accessories after the fact, state police said. A maintenance worker at the jail, Sterling Williams, 33, was also arrested for allegedly assisting in the escape. Williams admitted to agents that he had turned off the water supply to a cell at the request of one inmate, who then tore off a sink and toilet from the wall and fled through the hole, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inmates made their way out of the jail through the hole and out of a loading dock before scaling a wall and running across a highway, security video showed. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Williams said the inmate had threatened to cut him with a "shank" - a jailhouse term for a homemade knife - if he did not comply.The inmates were discovered missing during a morning headcount. Williams did not report the inmate and allowed "the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape," Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said on Tuesday in a statement. He was booked into Orleans Parish jail, then relocated to another facility and charged with 10 counts of simple escape and malfeasance in office. (Reporting by Christian Martinez; Editing by Frank McGurty and David Gregorio) Since 2008, the U.S. has spent over US$3 billion to help stabilize Mexico and stem its surge in extreme violence. The U.S. gun industry and interest group lobbyists have undercut these efforts by advocating for lax regulation and enforcement. This has created mayhem south of the border, and its effects have ricocheted to the U.S., boosting illegal drug trade and organized crime. Meanwhile, the federal block on firearm trace data sharing established by the 2003 Tiahrt Amendments makes it difficult to track the illegal U.S.-Mexico firearms trade in order to study these effects. We are a professor of economic development and an investigative journalist, and we have spent a year sifting through documents to follow the flow of illicit weapons trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico and quantify what this flow has wrought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how we did it. Pulling together the data We gathered records from many sources to create a database of firearms that were sold by licensed U.S. firearm dealers, then trafficked to Mexico. These businesses are licensed by the U.S. government to sell or manufacture and sell firearms and ammunition in the U.S., and they include independent gun shops, chain stores and pawnshops. We gathered two sets of data that were obtained through an information request to Mexicos Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional, known as SEDENA, and curated by Stop U.S. Arms to Mexico: Nearly 133,000 firearms seized by Mexican authorities from January 2010 to March 1, 2023. Nearly 5,700 firearms purchased by Mexican police from 2003-2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We combined firearms trace data records from two other sources: Information leaked from the Mexican government by the hacktivist group Guacamaya in 2022 that included gun trace data from November 2018 to December 2020 from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Center for Analysis, Planning and Intelligence. This dataset contains information about more than 24,000 firearms; 15,000 of them were purchased in the U.S. A dataset we generated from 100 U.S. court cases that involved small arms trafficking from the U.S. to Mexico and contains information on more than 4,200 firearms. It includes many contextual details not found in the leaked data. For instance, roughly 1,900 instances include a date of purchase. Of the 28,000 records in the combined trace records, nearly 13,000 were linked to specific licensed firearm dealer addresses in the U.S. In most years, the ATF was unable to determine the final purchaser in about half of its traces of U.S.-sourced firearms recovered in Mexico. We removed records that appeared to be dead ends tied to large manufacturer addresses and were left with 9,014 records that we could confidently say were fully traced back to specific firearm sellers. We also used a dataset of firearms violations originally acquired from the ATF by the nonprofit advocacy group Brady: United Against Gun Violence through a Freedom of Information Act request for its Gun Store Transparency Project. The 4,000 code violations of federal firearm laws between 2015 and 2018 are from ATF inspection reports and include warning letters, warning conferences and license revocation recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using these four datasets, a previous estimate and two other studies, we modeled the number of guns trafficked across the border into Mexico annually. This allowed us to understand the characteristics of firearm trafficking to Mexico from multiple angles. We had two main objectives: To estimate how many guns were trafficked annually. To determine what effect regulation measures might have on the trafficking flow. Weapons flow We started our analysis with a weapons count using what is known as a capture-recapture method. This type of count is often used to estimate the number of animals in the wild, where it is impossible to do a complete tally: A sample of the population is captured, tagged and released, then a second sample is taken to see how many tagged individuals are recaptured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We applied this method to the SEDENA and leaked ATF data. The SEDENA dataset contains weapons seized by the Mexican army, while the leaked ATF dataset contains guns seized by Mexican agencies. For an ideal capture-recapture comparison, the leaked data would include all SEDENA records, but only 26.5% overlap. Although imperfect, this allowed us to develop econometric equations to estimate the annual circulation of illicit firearms in Mexico. We combined this with estimates derived from five other sources: We used a method analogous to a political polling average, which also combines multiple sources, to model the likely trafficking rate. Our model estimated that between 72,819 and 258,101 firearms were sold in the U.S. and trafficked to Mexico in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This led us to a middle-range estimate of 135,000 firearms trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico in 2022. To get an idea of the effects this flow of weapons has on the people living in Mexico, we compared our trafficking estimate with data on homicides in Mexico from the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime, via the World Bank, for 1990-2022. We refined our model by looking at the difference in that relationship during the 1994-2004 U.S. federal assault weapons ban. This showed that a 1% increase in trafficking leads to a 0.48% rise in homicide rates. More than two-thirds of firearms recovered in Mexico and traced to a purchaser originate from the United States, according to ATF figures. Our model showed that only around 6% of these weapons were legally imported. We hypothesized that high numbers of illegal seizures might lead police to buy more firearms, and heavily armed police might push criminals to acquire more weapons, creating an arms race. Our test results supported this theory: We found that an average 10% increase in police firearm orders from 2006-2018 led to a 1.4% rise, on average, in illegal arms seizures the following year. And, conversely, a 10% rise in illegal arms seizures in each of those years corresponded to an 18.5% increase in police firearm orders the next year. The economic climate and non-firearm crime rates might also be related to police firearm purchases, but we did not control for these factors. Regulation and enforcement We also used the court case data to track the dates guns were purchased in the U.S. and the dates they were recovered, often en route to or in Mexico. This allowed us to verify the leaked ATF data. We excluded weapons purchased or sold for trafficking to Mexico solely through the influence of undercover law enforcement officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 2,900 guns in the court case data had a serial number, and 19 of them matched with the leaked ATF gun trace data. Details in the court records, such as the location of recovery in Mexico or the dealer where the guns were purchased, were identical to the details in the leaked data. The 19 matches were from nine court cases across five states, and the court cases were generated independently from the leaked data. This confirmed the leaked datas authenticity. We also used the trace data to test eight firearm laws that require reporting at the point of sale, to test what effect these laws might have on gun trafficking to Mexico. We calculated the probability of a gun staying on the illicit market. We controlled for possible spillover effects such as gun sales suppression in one state pushing buyers to neighboring states. One of our calculations used distances between states to measure the influence of gun sales and laws across states. We found: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most firearms laws reduce the amount of time guns spend on the illicit market. Purge laws, which stipulate that the gun shop owner or the state retain purchase or background check records, result in a 126% to 257% greater likelihood of an illicit gun being recovered on any given day. More gun laws in surrounding states increases the likelihood by about 1.9% that guns sold in a state are recovered in that state. Our findings align with previous studies showing that stronger gun purchase laws in the U.S. reduce the number of firearms that end up in illicit markets at national and state levels. We also hypothesized that some of the federal firearms licensees associated with weapons records in the data would already be known to law enforcement and that we might be able to gauge the impact of enforcement actions. To test this, we used the Brady dataset of ATF firearms dealer code violations from 2014-2018 to match traced firearms to licensees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We analyzed the data using three different approaches, and all three showed that more citations for violation of firearms laws lead to fewer illicit guns. In addition, we found that from 2014-2018: ATF citations reduced the number of guns sold to traffickers by 20% to 44%. Licensees who received enforcement actions warning letters, warning conferences or license-revocation warnings had contributed between 5% and 21% more guns to U.S.-Mexico traffic than licensees with no regulatory action. The ATF issued enforcement actions to about 12% of firearm licensees each year. Back in the USA There were over 75,000 federally licensed firearms dealers regulated by the ATF in the United States in 2024, including independent stores, chain stores, pawnbrokers and manufacturers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many traffickers and firearm licensees in the court and ATF trace datasets are linked to crime in the U.S. We matched nearly 300 of the illicit weapons in these datasets to licensees in the ATFs Demand Letter 2 program, which tracks licensees who have sold 25 or more guns within a year that were recovered from U.S. crime scenes within three years of being sold. For the two years of data we obtained, about one-fifth of the businesses in the Demand program list in 2022 and 2023 were matched to Mexican crime guns. The overlap suggests that the effects we found for Mexican crime guns, including more compliance checks leading to fewer illicit guns, apply to the illicit U.S. market as well. Read the full investigation: Mexican drug cartels use hundreds of thousands of guns bought from licensed US gun shops fueling violence in Mexico, drugs in the US and migration at the border OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma Attorney General has shed light on financial troubles seen in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Allie Friesens past. The Commissioner then allegedly sent an email to employees calling out the AG on that. How can we expect a taxpayer who doesnt properly handle their own personal finances to be in charge of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars? Attorney General Gentner Drummond posted on social media Wednesday night, along with several past Tax Commission documents that showed Commissioner Friesen received liens from the state for several years of unpaid taxes. Drummond is running for Oklahomas Governor, and recently called for Friesens firing after lawmakers found several dozen million dollars were missing from the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents the Drummond posted on Wednesday showed that Commissioner Friesens recent lien on her property was released a day before Governor Stitt announced her appointment as Mental Health Commissioner. Report: Oklahoma mental health agency facing nearly $30 million budget hole When Stitts office was asked if they knew about the financial troubles leading up to her appointment and for a statement, they responded with, Her taxes are paid. This is a desperate campaign tactic by Gentner Drummond. Oklahomans see through his game, and Im sure they truly wish he would return to the work their taxpayers are paying him to do. This comes as her department is under much scrutiny. The state auditors office released findings from a scathing audit that reported their preliminary recommendations included hiring a qualified CFO with state government financial experience as soon as possible, evaluating the qualifications of recent executive hires, and scrutinizing recent and ongoing terminations to ensure they arent retaliatory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An anonymous employee under the Department of Mental Health sent News 4 an email that was allegedly sent by Commissioner Friesen, which reacted to the AGs social media post. It reads in part: A Message from Commissioner Friesen: Recent Social Media Post Team, I want to address a recent social media post made by the Attorney General regarding tax liens that were filed against me personally an issue that is, without question, fully resolved. These matters have been paid in full, long ago, and are not reflective of my ability to lead or serve. To be very clear: this is a non-issue being weaponized for political gain. What is an issue and one I cannot ignoreis the blatant violation of character, the disturbing misuse of public office, and the sustained campaign of political bullying I have endured from the Attorney General of our state. His anger toward me stems from one thing: I was the first leader in Oklahoma to remove him from a position of influenceand that decision was the right one. This is what it looks like when someone with power chooses to abuse it rather than use it for good. His post wasnt about accountability. It wasnt about truth. It was about retaliation. It was about ego. Let me say this plainly: we will not be distracted by individuals who see our agencys financial challenges-and our bold, courageous leadership to transform this system as an opportunity to attack, rather than a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder in service to the people of Oklahoma. It is disheartening that some view our work as a threat to their influence. It is disappointing that, instead of leaning in to support meaningful reform, they choose to tear down those who are willing to do the hard work. But I will not be deterred and neither should you. To every single employee: You may not agree with every decision we make as an administration. Thats okay. Thats healthy. But you do have a choice in whether you support good over evil. And make no mistakethis kind of response is exactly what happens when you call out corruption. If we werent doing something right, they wouldnt come for us like this. Our mission remains clear. Our purpose is stronger than ever. And as your Commissioner, I will continue to stand firmly-for you, for our organization, and for the people we serve. We will keep moving forward. We will keep doing whats righteven when its hard. And we will not let those who thrive on intimidation, manipulation, or fear define who we are or what we accomplish. With Appreciation, Allie Friesen Email from anonymous public employee of Dept. of Mental Health Im deeply concerned that a lot of what weve heard from the commissioner seems to be the position of the governor. Im concerned about ongoing leadership, said Senator Julia Kirt (D-OKC). Commissioner Friesen responded to the AGs posts to News 4 and said, The Friesen family has fulfilled all tax obligations, and the matter referenced was fully resolved with the Oklahoma Tax Commission prior to Commissioner Friesens confirmation. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services remains firmly committed to transparency and accountability. Under Commissioner Friesens leadership, the agency has taken proactive steps to bring to light and address long-standing financial and operational issues. We continue to work closely with Governor Stitt, legislative leaders and have actively sought independent audits and investigations to ensure integrity in all aspects of our operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Finland is "closely monitoring and assessing Russias activities and intentions" near the Finnish border, the country's Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen told AFP on May 22. The comments come after reports that Finland expects a Russian military build-up on its borders after the war in Ukraine ends. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, NATO officials have increasingly warned Moscow could attack the alliance's members in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023. "We have excellent capabilities to observe Russian operations. As a member of the alliance, Finland holds a strong security position," Hakkanen said. He also added that Russias actions aimed to strengthen its armed forces "have not come as a surprise to Finland," but, at the same time, Finnish society "has invested broadly in preparedness for all types of disruptions and crises." Major General Sami Nurmi, the head of strategy of the Finnish defense forces, said in an interview on May 21 that the Russian military has begun "moderate preparations when it comes to building infrastructure" close to Finnish borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, on May 19, the New York Times published satellite images which seem to indicate an expansion of military facilities near the Finnish border. Completed Russian warehouse construction is visible in Maxar satellite images in Petrozavodsk, Russia, May 4, 2025 (Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies) The Finnish Border Guard announced the completion of the first 35 km (22 miles) of a planned 200 km fence along its eastern border with Russia on May 21. The border has been closed for over a year after Helsinki accused Moscow of orchestrating a "hybrid operation" by directing asylum seekers toward Finland. Finnish authorities claim that these hybrid tactics have intensified since the country joined NATO in 2023. U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about Russias recent actions on May 20, said that he had "no concerns," assuring that Finland and Norway would remain "very safe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It doesnt concern me at all. Theyre totally safe. These are two countries that will be very safe," Trump said. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said last December that Russia must be ready for a potential conflict with NATO in the next 10 years. Moscow has also issued a number of veiled and overt threats to the West over its support for Kyiv, including warnings of a possible nuclear response. NATO countries in Russia's vicinity have intensified their preparations for a possible conflict. Poland and the Baltic countries moved to abandon a treaty banning land mines and are strengthening the borders shared with Russia and its ally Belarus while urging higher defense spending across the alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SingPost names Teo Swee Lian as new chair as Simon Israel steps down after 9 years Singapore Post (SingPost) has named Teo Swee Lian, a former top official at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), as its next chairman, succeeding Simon Israel, 72, who will retire after nine years in the role. The transition will take place following the companys upcoming annual general meeting, SingPost announced on May 21. Teo, 65, will also serve as a non-independent, non-executive director and join three key board committees: finance and investment, compensation, and nominations and corporate governance. "Her appointment concludes the board renewal process, and she will lead the board in the ongoing strategic reset of the group," Israel said in a statement, as quoted by The Straits Times. "SingPost is undergoing a significant transformation to adapt to the evolving postal, e-commerce and logistics landscape. Her experience will contribute to the boards oversight and direction for the new strategy." Teo Swee Lian, SingPost's chairman-designate to succeed Simon Israel. Photo courtesy of SingPost Teo spent over 27 years at MAS, where she held several senior leadership roles, including deputy managing director for financial supervision. From 2013 to 2015, she served as special adviser, managing director's office. She is currently chairman and non-executive independent director of CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust Management and sits on the board of HSBC Holdings, among other roles. SingPost is in the midst of a major restructuring and has yet to appoint a new chief executive. In late 2024, the company dismissed three senior executives, including former group CEO Vincent Phang, after an internal probe revealed they had mishandled whistleblower reports related to data falsification in the companys international business unit. In April this year, seven more executives reportedly left the firm. As part of its ongoing overhaul, SingPost announced in February that it would cut around 45 jobs to streamline operations. In March, the company sold its Australian business and began shifting its focus back to core postal and logistics services. The group has since reintegrated its international cross-border operations into its Singapore-based logistics business to improve operational efficiency. HELSINKI (Reuters) -Two Russian military aircraft are suspected of having violated Finnish airspace on Friday, Finland's defence ministry said in a statement. The incident occurred off the coast of Porvoo in southern Finland, the ministry added. "We take the suspected territorial violation seriously and an investigation is ongoing," Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Finnish Border Guard is investigating the incident and will provide more detailed information at a later time, he added. (Reporting by Essi Lehto, writing by Terje Solsvik, editing by Nerijus Adomaitis) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) One person was taken to the hospital after a fire broke out at a house on Humboldt Street Thursday night, just down the street from the News 8 studios. Rochester fire officials saying one person was injured and taken to the hospital. Smoke is visible while crews surround a house on Humboldt Street in Rochester. Crews with the Rochester Fire Department were on scene within minutes to find a fire on the second floor and heavy smoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said one person had evacuated the home and was taken to a hospital, with an unknown extent to their injuries. Rochester Police blocked off a portion of Humboldt Street while crews investigated. The fire chief told News 8 flames were put out in around seven minutes, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Brighton firefighter was arrested after a domestic assault call on Tuesday, according to the Tipton County Sheriffs Office. Jerry Whiteside, 39, was charged with domestic assault and has a bond of $15,000. On May 20, at 7:25 p.m., deputies responded to a domestic assault call in the 1300 block of McWilliams Road. Jerry Whiteside_Mugshot_ Courtesy of Tipton County Sheriffs Office According to reports, a deputy arrived on the scene and saw Jerry Whiteside going to the front patio of the residence. Whiteside was yelling and pointing at a woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman robs gas station with help from her children: MPD He was detained and put in the back of a patrol unit while deputies spoke to the victim. The victim said he overheard Whiteside making remarks about his mother. Reports say Whiteside said something similar to I will end you over your mom to the victim. Deputies say Whiteside got into the victims personal space and began yelling at him. The victim told police he said something similar to If you touch me, Ill stab you in response to Whiteside, and the victim brandished his knife after saying the statement. Clayborn Temple leader: Fire at home could be connected Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to reports, the victim said his mother told him to walk away, and Whiteside later shoved the victims chest. He said Whiteside walked away and attempted to put his clothes in his Jeep Wrangler. The victims mother said she did not witness the assault between her son and Whiteside. Deputies spoke with a 16-year-old who says he witnessed Whiteside shove the victim at least once. Whiteside denied any physical assault occurring, but said he was arguing with the victim. According to the Tipton County Sheriffs Office, Whiteside was determined to be the primary aggressor, and the victims comments and actions were determined as self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whiteside was arrested and transported to Tipton County Correctional Facility. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire Thursday afternoon. When they arrived on the scene, they saw a large column of smoke and immediately called a 2nd alarm response. According to SFD, the fire broke out near the 190 block of Silver Eagle Road in North Sacramento. Midway Fire shuts down I-580 in Alameda County; crews investigating SFD stated that the fire started jumping blocks, which ultimately burned two outbuildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters started to set up structural protection of houses in that area, and prevented them from catching fire. SFD said that the total acreage of the fire is unknown at this time. Investigators are working to determine what caused the fire to start. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Hotshot crews are still making progress while fighting the Jaw Fire located off Jawbone Road, northeast of Twin Oaks. The intense winds are making it difficult to mop up. The wind-driven fire has consumed 4,300 acres since Monday. The fire is in a remote area in Jawbone Canyon, on private property owned by Blattner Energy. Crews say the origin of the fire is located under a wind propeller, but the official cause is still under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been pretty hot, and pretty windy out here, said Captain Louie Sodaro with the U.S. Forest Service. Fortunately, weve been able to make some really good progress on it. So, we got hopes that well be able to have this thing wrapped up. Sodaro has been battling wildfires with the U.S. Forest Service since 2007. He said his crew has been working 16-hour shifts to keep the Jaw Fire from spreading. Currently, were securing the edge, and then trying to progress forward, but the big concern is controlling the edge of this thing just to make sure because we know theres Red Flag Warnings coming, and its gonna get wind tested real soon, said Sodaro. Our goal is to keep it in its current size and make sure its not gonna get bigger when the winds come in. BPD requests publics help in finding missing 16-year-old last seen on Belvedere Ave Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are 35 mile-per-hour sustained winds in Jawbone Canyon, with gusts up to 50 miles-per-hour. The National Weather Service unexpectedly canceled the Thursday Fire Watch, but our Candy Caceres brought it back. Even though the National Weather Service decided to cancel the Fire Weather Watch, the risk is still very much there, said Caceres. Why? Because were dealing with very windy conditions, low relative humidity, and also warm weather out there. As hot shot crews continue to battle the fire, the wind, and the dirt, Sodaro gave a warning. Its the same thing you should be aware of year-round, Fire Watch or not, said Sodaro. Just making sure if youre having a camp fire or stove out there, that youre controlling your flames and making sure youre putting stuff completely out before you walk away, cause all it takes is just one spark and you could have something like this on your hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No structures are threatened by the fire at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. This story has been updated with new information. It's almost time for Memorial Day weekend and thoughts of summer activities like splashing in the pool, cookouts and wondering how it got so hot so quick, are on the menu. But it's not quite summer yet. Memorial Day weekend might usher in the summer season for many, but the actual first day of summer is still almost a month away. The summer, or June, solstice is the true start to the summer season. But in Tennessee, it will probably start to feel like summer way before then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a look at when the summer solstice is and what to expect weather-wise for the summer of 2025. When is the first day of summer 2025? Well, there are technically two answers. The first official day of summer astronomically for 2025 is June 20, which is when the Northern Hemisphere has the longest day of the year, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. But when we talk meteorologically, summer starts on June 1. The reason for this is because meteorologists divide the year into four seasons based on the months and temperature cycle. Doing it this way also allows them to compare and organize climate data more easily. In this system, summer begins on June 1 and ends on August 31. What is the summer solstice? The summer solstice marks the astronomical first day of the summer season in June in the Northern Hemisphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is also when the Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt toward the Sun, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. This makes it the longest day with the longest period of sunlight hours and shortest night of the calendar year. When is Memorial Day weekend 2025? The unofficial start of summer is almost here. For 2025, Memorial Day weekend is May 24 to May 26. With that Monday being the official holiday. What will summer weather be like for Tennessee? Memorial Day weekend is expected to be relatively cool for Tennessee, but the summer may be a bit warmer than normal. Expect a possibly hot and damp summer for part of Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The temperature forecast outlook seems to favor above normal temperatures (33-40% chance) and above normal precipitation (40-50% chance) across much of Middle and East Tennessee, according to the weather service. June's weather is expected to start to creep up with much of the month in the 80s and even a few in the 90s for much of the state, according to Accuweather. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When is the first day of summer 2025? Here's when solstice arrives BOSTON (WWLP) Hundreds of veterans came to Beacon Hill on Thursday to commemorate the first-ever Military Appreciation Day at the State House. Senate budget debate day 2 recap The states highest lawmakers and military members, and their families, gathered in the House Chambers to be recognized. To show the states appreciation, 135 veterans received governors citations after being nominated by local legislators, including veterans and military spouses from Springfield, Northampton, and elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor spoke about what her team is doing to improve veteran welfare in the Bay State. You think about the resurgence of the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers home, you think about our commitment to end veteran homelessness in the state, that is work that we all do together, said Gov. Healey. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs spoke about the significance of this event, the first in the state, in ensuring veterans are given the honor and respect they earned with their service. While Massachusetts veteran suicide rates are lower than the national average, state lawmakers are working on increasing mental health resources and awareness to lower rates further. We felt that it was important to honor the fallen with a reminder that their legacy continues with the work of the living, said Jon Santiago. Other state initiatives include housing and transportation assistance, community building, and transition assistance. Military celebrations and ceremonies will continue across the state through the weekend, and on Mondays Memorial Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We created Military Appreciation Day at the State House to honor these heroesveterans, active-duty service members, and military familieswhose courage, strength and commitment to service continue to shape our state and our nation for the better, said Governor Healey. Its great that Military Appreciation Day is now a Massachusetts tradition, and well proudly carry it forward each year to show our gratitude to those who have served our country. Massachusetts is home to one of the most vibrant, committed military communities in the country, said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. This day is about uplifting the contributions of those who have sacrificed so much and showing that their service will never go unrecognized. Every day, I meet veterans and military families who continue to lead, serve, and inspire, said Secretary Jon Santiago. As we approach Memorial Day, and during a month dedicated to honoring our military, this event reflects what makes Massachusetts special: a deep respect for service, and a commitment to those who wear the uniformand those who stand beside them. My fathers service in the United States Army defined his life and deeply shaped my own and I know the same holds true for thousands of service members and their families across Massachusetts, said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). It is a privilege to honor those residents who have dedicated themselves to serving our country, and I am profoundly grateful for their unwavering commitment and sacrifice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is an honor to host the inaugural Military Appreciation Day in the historic House Chamber, said Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano. This new tradition reflects our deep appreciation for the veterans, service members, and military families who strengthen every corner of our Commonwealth. Its an honor to return home to Massachusetts and stand alongside a community so deeply committed to those who serve. Military Appreciation Day reflects something Ive long believed: that service is not just what we do in uniformits a lifetime of leadership, character, and sacrifice, said General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. (Ret.), 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Im proud to join the Commonwealth in recognizing these remarkable individuals and the values they represent. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA) The Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department is meeting high standards at a time that maintaining staff is a major challenge. Fire Safe South Carolina gave its designation to 207 departments in South Carolina recently. Being a small department, and being on that list of the top 200 fire departments in the state with three other departments represented in Cherokee County, it means a lot, Lieutenant Dylan Blackwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department of between 35 and 40 firefighters, nearly all volunteers, had to attend classes while getting out in their community to focus on fire prevention techniques. You ask to actually get out and go to the churches, go to the schools, go to these businesses, go to the events, according to Lt. Blackwell. You have to ask a lot of your volunteers to take time away from their family. The job of finding volunteer firefighters has become difficult for fire departments across the country. Macedonia VFD Chief Jeff Dover has been with the department in some capacity for more than 30 years. He retired after 17 years with the city of Spartanburg Fire Department when the chiefs job opened in Cherokee County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of our volunteers who are certified are my age or older, Chief Dover said. We got some of them that are at that age where they just cant put on gear and go into a structure fire. Chief Dover said the demand on firefighters to become fully certified has become a difficult bar to meet. The National Fire Protection Association has made it so difficult. (They) added so many hours to the training level now that its nearly impossible to find people that are working full-time jobs, to spend that amount of time to get certified to be a firefighter. Dover said, in South Carolina, a chief doesnt have to depend on NFPA certification for firefighters to be on duty, but it places a higher liability burden on departments that dont rely on those requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve actually done really well with recruitment of junior firemen that are still in high school, Chief Dover told 7NEWS. Were trying to get them trained, so that the so that as soon as they graduate, that theyre ready to fight fire. The Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department covers a 43-square-mile area in Cherokee County. That area continues to grow with more homes, businesses and industries being added. Right now, it averages 900 calls for service per year. Every time the tones go off, they (firefighters) get up out of the bed, they leave their family. And I just think that a lot of people take that for granted, according to Lt. Blackwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they call 911, a fire truck shows up, but theres a lot of work that goes into getting that truck out the door with certified people on it for them to respond to your emergency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Robot dogs are becoming increasingly common in Singapore, playing key roles in security, maintenance, and social services around the city. They have found no shortage of work, taking on jobs at underground maintenance areas and construction sites and even in community care. During the Covid pandemic a robot dog named Spot was deployed as a safe distancing watchdog in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. It was also assigned to the Changi Exhibition Centre community isolation facility, where it delivered medicines to patients. More recently another robot dog made headlines after accompanying Progress Singapore Party candidate Tony Tan on a walkabout during his election campaign. Many other manufacturers have developed their own versions of the Covid watchdog Spot for use in environments considered too hazardous for humans. In Singapore, National Robotics Programme deputy director Chan U-Gene says more and more companies are adopting robot dogs for surveillance and inspection tasks. Their legged design makes them more mobile and adaptable to outdoor terrain and staircases than traditional wheeled robots, he adds. The growing market has reduced costs enormously. While Boston Dynamics originally priced its units at US$75,000, newer models from Chinese manufacturers now cost as little as $2,700. One notable initiative underway at the National University of Singapore trains robots as guide dogs for the visually impaired. Robotics PhD student Cai Shaojun at its Smart Systems Institute explains that, unlike real dogs, the robots can be programmed to follow complex commands, such as guiding users to a supermarket or train station. Machines are also cheaper than real guide dogs, he points out. His team has tested robot guide dogs with a dozen visually impaired users and is working to improve their ability to climb stairs and navigate complex terrain. A pilot program is expected to launch at transport hubs and parks by 2025. Robot dogs are also being deployed for security. Since September 2024 Mars, a robot developed by SBS Transit in partnership with Weston Robot, has been patrolling the perimeter of Seletar Bus Depot. Equipped with high-definition cameras, thermal imaging and other sensors, Mars detects intruders and signs of tampering, and security officers can monitor its movements remotely. "Marss four-legged mobility enables it to easily navigate grass patches, road kerbs, drains and staircases within the depot environment," SBS Transit spokeswoman Grace Wu, says. "The pilot results have been promising, and we are studying the feasibility of extending its use to other depots." Robot dogs are also taking on high-risk inspection work. SPock, deployed by electricity and gas distributor SP Group, accompanies inspectors into underground tunnels, covering up to six kilometers to identify anomalies like cracks and dampness. With a range of sensors, SPock can detect issues invisible to the human eye and reduces workers exposure to hazardous conditions. At Sengkang MRT Depot in Singapore, SBS Transit has also deployed Avatar, a robot dog used since July 2024 to inspect train undercarriages. It checks for open panels, loose oil tank caps and air leakages, tasks that are time-consuming and physically hard for technicians. Avatars design allows it to maneuver beneath carriages and climb stairs to inspect train interiors. It is being further tweaked to detect more faults such as broken lights and damaged handles. Emergency services discovered the body of an 80-year-old man on his property in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales on Friday, bringing the confirmed death toll from the devastating flooding on Australia's east coast to five. Three other victims had previously been found drowned in their cars. A 63-year-old man was also found dead on Wednesday in his flooded home in the town of Moto, some 250 kilometres north of Sydney. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding along Australia's east coast, with smaller towns in Mid North Coast among the hardest hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a visit to the flood-hit area, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged the population not to drive through flooded areas. "If it's flooded, forget it," he said. Albanese said his thoughts were with the communities that were cut off. "You are not alone. The federal government, the state government, local government as well as the whole of the people of New South Wales and, indeed, the people of Australia are with you at this time," he said at a press conference. "Tragically, we're seeing more extreme weather events. They're occurring more frequently and they're more intense," Albanese added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worst-affected areas include small towns in Mid North Coast, such as Taree in the Hunter Valley wine region, as well as Port Macquarie and Wingham. Thousands are still without power, and numerous schools remain closed. Many roads are completely flooded. The Pacific Highway, an important transport route between Sydney and Brisbane, was closed in some places. The floodwaters are also threatening animals, including horses, cows and the endangered Tasmanian devil. Residents described the situation as catastrophic, with tens of thousands preparing for evacuations. At a press conference, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said more than 670 rescue operations have already been carried out, some under extremely difficult conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He spoke of an "amazing, heroic logistical effort," in which volunteers put themselves in extremely dangerous situations to save complete strangers. Many people had to be rescued from the roofs of their homes, he said, as metres-high brown waves swept past below them. He said emergency services are using inflatable boats and helicopters to rescue people. According to the state emergency service, the rain has now left the flood-hit region and is heading south towards Sydney. Initial warnings have already been issued for the city's south-western suburbs. It advised people not to remain in the area, warning them that it could become too dangerous for rescuers to carry out rescue operations. WASHINGTON (AP) The following episode of The Story Behind the AP Story contains sound and descriptions that some listeners may find graphic or violent. Listener discretion is advised. Haya Panjwani, host: In the summer of 2020, as the world was just beginning to grasp the COVID-19 pandemic, a video surfaced that would spark a movement like no other. Aaron Morrison, editor: So, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, who was a Black man from Houston, Texas, was in Minneapolis where hed moved to find job opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PANJWANI: Aaron Morrison, the APs race and ethnicity editor. MORRISON: And on this day, in particular, a store clerk reported that Floyd had allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill. He was restrained by at least a few officers, one in particular named Derek Chauvin, whos a white police officer, knelt on George Floyds neck and back for over nine minutes. Floyd was handcuffed to the ground, and while a crowd of people had assembled, essentially demanding that George Floyd be released from the hold because as a now viral and famous video of the, of the encounter shows, George Floyd repeatedly said that he could not breathe. George Floyd, in a recorded video: I cant breathe! They gon kill me, they gon kill me, man. MORRISON: Before he took his last, last breath right there on the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PANJWANI: Im Haya Panjwani. On this episode of the Story Behind the AP Story we revisit the murder of George Floyd five years later. Well hear from people who were on the ground in the days immediately after Floyds death, the trial that followed and how that summer shaped sentiments around race. Noreen Nasir is a video journalist who was in Minneapolis covering the citys reaction to the death of George Floyd. Noreen Nasir, video journalist: Initially, I think there was a lot of anger, of course, and some of that anger then turned into, you know, the images of destruction that we then saw and then I think got a lot of focus and attention in the media. Sound from protests in Minneapolis in 2020: He cant breathe, he cant breathe, he cant breathe... Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASIR: But I think what was also lost in some of that focus that was very palpable on the ground was a deep sense of like sadness that a lot of folks felt. There was a lot of grief, I remember, on the ground especially at the site of the memorial. Going there at various times in the days that followed, that memorial just sort of like grew and grew and grew. There were these you know reverberations around like what this meant for race and racism across the country, things that and themes that then I think people were really trying to point to in the days and months that followed. There was one night, you know, we were there, things that one of those early nights where things got really sort of tense and there were buildings that were broken into, there was looting that was happening. And I spoke to some of the business owners. A lot of them are also, you know, theyre immigrants. A lot them were Somali Americans. They had come to this country. And for them, you know, I could see the sort of like conflicted feelings that they were having just in their own emotions and the way that they themselves were processing this thing. For them, they were saying, you we are Black. We are perceived as Black in this country, we are Black. And then at the same time, theyre saying, were also these business owners. We are grieving, and also, we want to protect our businesses, this is our livelihood. You would see a lot of on the boarded-up businesses, signs that said minority owned, almost as a way to say, Hey, please dont target us, like were in the same boat. PANJWANI: Amy Forliti was a crime and courts reporter during the time of George Floyds killing in 2020. Amy Forliti, editor: The centerpiece was definitely the bystander video of George Floyds final moments. Prosecutors played that footage really early in the case. They did it the first time during their opening statement and the prosecutor then told jurors to believe your eyes and that idea of believing your eyes or believing what you see on the video right before you was a theme that prosecutors came back to throughout the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense took a different approach with that whole idea of believing what you see, and said that everyone there had a different perspective and came from a different vantage point and interpreted the events of that day differently. And the defense said that Chauvins perspective was one of a reasonable police officer. Many of the people who did testify said that they just felt helpless, that they couldnt do anything, and they saw Floyds life being basically snuffed out, and they couldnt do anything. The teenager who recorded that video said that it seemed Chauvin just didnt care, and she testified that she stayed up at night apologizing to George Floyd because she didnt do more to help him. I also remember some very poignant words at closing arguments. When we talk about the cause of death, prosecutor Jerry Blackwell referred to how the defense was saying that this was a heart issue that killed Floyd and that he had an enlarged heart. And the prosecutor said, and Im paraphrasing here, but he told jurors that George Floyd didnt die because his heart was too big, but because Derek Chauvins heart was too small. In the end, a jury of six white people and six Black or multiracial people convicted Chauvin of three counts, including unintentional second-degree murder, which was the most serious count against him. After that verdict was read, a crowd gathered in the street and started cheering and rejoicing over that. He went on to later plead guilty to a federal count of violating George Floyds civil rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PANJWANI: Some right-wing politicians and social media personalities have called for Chauvin to be pardoned by President Donald Trump. FORLITI: But if he does, its really important to note that this wont impact Chauvins state murder conviction at all. He will still have to serve out the remainder of his state sentence on the murder charge. So, hes not going to walk out of a Texas prison and be free. He would likely have to come back to Minnesota to serve the rest of his sentence. MORRISON: Folks who maybe did not understand or support such a reckoning have increasingly dismissed everything that happened in 2020 as wokeness, so-called wokeness, gone or run amok. They are hoping and advocating for Derek Chauvin to be pardoned because, in their view, this wasnt true justice. NASIR: This happened at a time where it was, of course, it was the middle of the pandemic, and we were all in lockdown and we were all just at home. And frustration, I think, in different ways had been building up for a while for a lot of people. And so when this happened, it really just touched a nerve and then it sort of lit it all on fire. Everyone was watching this because no one was going anywhere. There was nothing to distract anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And a lot of people were joining protests for the first time. Particularly when it came to the issue of racism in the U.S. And then, of course, in the months also that followed his initial death, Black Lives Matter as a movement sort of really spread. And the movement itself had started years earlier after the death of Trayvon Martin, but in 2020, it really took off across the country in a way that I think we had not seen before. And then it took off around the world where then folks were looking at their own interactions with police in their countries and looking at the way that racism played out in policing interactions. PANJWANI: This has been The Story Behind the AP Story. For more on APs race and ethnicity coverage, visit apnews.com. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) Memorial Day weekend is underway and people all across the Valley are paying their respects to our veterans. On Friday morning, dozens of volunteers from local service groups and organizations joined Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission staff. They gathered at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boardman to place small American flags on the graves of military veterans. Some even made it a family occasion, bringing their children to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To have my kids here with me, I get to show them they get to give back to their community and its just a nice day to spend with the family out here, said Nate Walker, with the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission. This is just one of 50 cemeteries in Mahoning County to have graves decorated before Monday. The group placed more than 2,100 flags and cleaned up some resting spots as well over the course of 90 minutes. Its great to see people come out before Memorial Day, to put the flags down. Its also important, then, to go back after the Fourth of July. We always need volunteers to help pick up the flags after the fact, Walker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flags will stay in place until after the Fourth. Those flags will be properly retired. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) Governor Maura Healey has ordered all U.S. and Massachusetts flags to be lowered to half-staff on Friday. Senate budget debate day 2 recap The order was issued to honor the life and legacy of former State Representative and State Senator of Milford, Louis Peter Bertonazzi, who passed away on Sunday. His obituary states that he passed away surrounded by his family at the age of 91. Bertonazzi was a lifelong resident of Milford. Before his service in the Massachusetts legislature, he was elected for five terms to the Milford Board of Selectmen and was a chairman for three of them. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for ten years, a member of the Massachusetts Senate for seventeen years, and then rose to the position of Senate Majority Leader. Before he retired from the Senate, he completed his state service as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bertonazzi has received several honors and awards over the years and started the Senator Louis P. Bertonazzi Foundation. This Foundation presents annual awards in the areas of education, culture, and citizenship to individuals in the communities he had represented in the legislature. Funeral services will be held on Friday, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at 5 East Main Street in Milford. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The office of Attorney General Dana Nessel in the G. Mennen Williams Building in Lansing, Mich., on May 15, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Friday responded to accusations that her office was stonewalling the Republican-controlled Michigan House Oversight Committee this week, saying the committees member statements were inaccurate and misinformed. Nessel in a letter highlighted the fact that she has been in constant communication with the committee and its chair, Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township), and that she agreed to provide the full scope of the litigation expenses from her term and her predecessors. Although DeBoyer and his fellow Republicans threw barbs this week after only getting half of what was requested, Nessel said she needs additional time to produce the remaining documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those documents that were handed over were also shared with members of the Michigan Capitol press corps, which was another area of frustration for House Republicans. By June 17, as committed, we will, likewise, share the second production with the chair and our Capitol press corps to ensure transparency, Nessel said. It has always been my belief that these documents and the evidence belong to the people, as allowed for under Michigan law, and I have committed to nothing less since the close of my departments prosecutions. Nessel Letter 5.23.25 The request revolves around the Flint water criminal prosecution that resulted in zero convictions after the cases were dismissed, but not before the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution team violated the due process rights of the defendants by indicting them using a one-man grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move disallowed several members of former Republican Gov. Rick Snyders administration who were accused of negligence that fueled a state-created danger from having a preliminary examination that would have given them a chance to poke holes in the states probable cause arguments. Snyders associates were charged with felonies, but Snyder was only charged with a misdemeanor before all charges were dismissed. The prosecution team was led by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and former Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, while Nessel spearheaded the civil litigation side of the Flint crisis, which resulted in a mammoth settlement. When Republicans took back control of the Michigan House of Representatives this year, Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia), chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government, requested contracts, invoices, itemized lists of billable hours, memoranda of understanding with third-party entities and other financial items related to the investigation and prosecution that occurred under Nessels regime. Her predecessor, former Attorney General Bill Schuette, led an investigation and began a prosecution of his own by employing a special counsel, attorney Todd Flood. That investigation remained active when Nessel became attorney general in 2018, but Nessel soon after dissolved Schuettes case and began anew with her own investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Rigas had asked pretty pointedly for documents related to Nessels time as attorney general, the department said it would endeavor to show the whole scope of the cost of the prosecution, which included Schuettes tenure. Those documents would take time to process and deliver to Rigas subcommittee, Nessel said from the outset, and requested an extension of the initial March 25 deadline. That deadline was Tuesday. Nessel delivered a document package on a secured hard drive on Wednesday. But the documents delivered only covered Schuettes term, and Nessel stated that the remaining document haul would take about another four weeks to produce. The continued back and forth angered Rigas, who called Nessels office onto the carpet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday evening, DeBoyer sent Nessels office a letter demanding production of the remaining documents. Most, if not all, of those records appear to be Verizon cell phone bills related to Todd Flood, DeBoyer wrote. Your office failed to produce any documents from your own tenure as attorney general. It is apparent that you and your office willfully refused to provide documentation relative to your own tenure in office and instead spent your time digging up irrelevant documents from a prior administration. DeBoyer demanded that the documents be presented no later than noon on May 30, and delivered electronically and presumably not on a password protected drive. DeBoyer Letter 5-22-25 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Nessel said she was transparent with Rigas and agreed to deliver documentation from 2016 [when Schuette was still in office] to the close of the Nessel era prosecution in 2023. As requested, this includes documents from the prior administration, which began the prosecutions, Nessel wrote in a letter to DeBoyer issued Friday. I was also clear that this involved thousands of pages of documents, which would take some time to produce and require redirection of staff efforts to fulfill. Nessel also said she provided Rigas and DeBoyer with a link to a publicly available website including all costs incurred by the state in the matter. She provided that link again in her letter to DeBoyer. If you were not provided this information previously, you have it now, Nessel wrote. Also, despite your and Rep. Rigas claims, yesterdays production included 28 megabytes of documents which satisfies the requested first and third categories through 2019, with the commitment to provide 2019-2023 by June 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nessel did not appear to budge from her position that the documents would be delivered by June 17, seemingly bucking DeBoyers new request for production by May 30. Nessel said that there were no settlements or cost recoveries related to the prosecutions, so there was nothing to provide the committee or Rigas subcommittee in that regard. The attorney general added that the documents her office turned over were not mere cell phone bills. In total, my department delivered over 450 documents, separated into subfolders under the headings, invoices, and contracts, to help navigate this extensive production, Nessel wrote. Billable hours for outside counsel, expense forms, associated costs and more are all itemized throughout those documents. If you had reviewed the entire production, you would see it was far more extensive than simply Verizon cell phone bills from one attorney. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A Florida court has ordered Mexicos former head of public security to pay more than $748m to his home country for his alleged involvement in government corruption. Thursdays ruling brought to a close a civil case first filed in September 2021 by the Mexican government. The case centred on Genaro Garcia Luna, who served as Mexicos security chief from 2006 to 2012. Garcia Luna is currently serving more than 38 years in a United States prison for allegedly accepting millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa cartel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mexican government alleges that Garcia Luna also stole millions in taxpayer funds, and it has pledged to seek restitution, namely by filing a legal complaint in Miami, Florida, where it says some of the illegal activity took place. On Thursday, Judge Lisa Walsh in Miami-Dade County not only required Garcia Luna to pay millions, but she also ordered his wife, Linda Cristina Pereyra, to pay $1.7bn. Altogether, the total neared $2.4bn. In its initial 2021 complaint, the Mexican government led at the time by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador accused Garcia Luna, his wife and their co-defendants of having concealed funds stolen from the government and smuggling the money to places like Barbados and the US. Under the direction of the Defendant GARCIA LUNA, the funds unlawfully taken from the government of MEXICO were used to build a money-laundering empire, the complaint wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It alleged those funds were used to finance lavish lifestyles for Garcia Luna and his co-conspirators, including real estate holdings, bank accounts and vintage cars, among them Mustangs from the 1960s and 70s. A demonstrator holds a sign that reads in Spanish, Garcia Luna is guilty, in New York on February 21, 2023 [John Minchillo/AP Photo] Separately, Garcia Luna faced criminal charges for corruption, with US authorities accusing him of pocketing millions while in office for working on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel. Through his work with Mexicos federal police and as its security chief, US prosecutors say Garcia Luna accessed information that he later used to tip off the Sinaloa cartel, letting them know about investigations and the movements of rival criminal groups. Garcia Luna was also accused of helping the cartel move its shipments of cocaine to destinations like the US, sometimes using Mexicos federal police as bodyguards and even allowing cartel members to wear official uniforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In exchange, prosecutors say the cartel left money for him in hiding places, one of which was a French restaurant across the street from the US embassy in Mexico City. Some bundles of cash offered in $100 bills totalled up to $10,000. After leaving office in 2012, Garcia Luna moved to the US. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His defence lawyers have described him as a successful businessman living in Florida. But in February 2023, a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, convicted Garcia Luna on drug-related charges, including international cocaine conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine. The following year, in October, he was sentenced to decades in prison. The Mexican government, however, alleged in its civil lawsuit that Garcia Luna also led a government-contracting scheme that included bid-tampering and striking dubious deals as a form of money laundering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those contracts included deals for surveillance and communications equipment. The Associated Press news agency reported that one such contract was falsified, and others were inflated. Garcia Luna is the highest-level Mexican government official to be convicted in the US. The impasse over the state budget is a master class in irresponsible governing. Due in part to the cuts that the federal government intends to make on revenues flowing to the states, Florida lawmakers which must operate under balanced budgets are facing big potential shortfalls. Rising costs in education and Medicaid are projected to put the state budget billions of dollars in the red within two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this in mind, youd think the last thing state leaders would be doing now would be finding new ways to make those deficits even deeper. But thats what is going on. The dispute between Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez that has paralyzed the ongoing budget process is a battle over who will take credit for giving away money the state can ill afford to give away. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left), House Speaker Daniel Perez. The best way to think of it is imagining DeSantis and Perez as two guys with five dollars in their pockets sitting together at a restaurant and arguing over whether to order the fillet mignon or the lobster thermidor. Perez wants to cut the state sales tax from 6 percent to 5.75 percent, a barely noticeable change for individuals that will cumulatively have the effect of sucking $2.5 billion from state revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis is against it because he intends to put Florida in a deeper rut by sending $1,000 rebate checks to homeowners while pressing for lawmakers to follow up by making Florida the only state to eliminate property taxes. More: Gov. DeSantis discovers property taxes and doesn't like them. The outrage! | Opinion The downstream effects of this for local governments and school boards would be profound. About half the revenue for public schools comes from property taxes. And local governments use that tax money to help pay for local services, such as sanitation, parks, and public safety. What looks free is often just a burden shifting of costs. Gov. Ron DeSantis holds a press conference with Speaker of the House Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The rationale DeSantis uses to pick the property-tax cut over the sales-tax cut is predictably juvenile and indicative of his immediate fallback to petty divisiveness and his never-ending campaign for self-promotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not going to kneecap our ability to provide you property-tax relief just so we can give a little bit of a benefit to Canadian tourists, he said. Say what? Canadian tourists? How did they enter the chat? Framing a sales tax cut for the 23 million residents of Florida as a clandestine relief package for Canadian tourists is silly. Last year, of the 142.9 million visitors to the state, only 3.3 million were Canadians. I remember a time when state officials bent over backwards to welcome them. But for DeSantis, Canadians have been penciled in as the new Tren de Aragua street gang. Canadians are the useful bogeymen du jour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I guess instead of tattoos on their knuckles, the Canadian invaders are identified by the poutine stains on their clothes. DeSantis has been blustering about Canadians lately after news stories in Canada started quoting people there talking about canceling their trips to the U.S. in light of the Trump Administrations improvised immigration policies and annexation talk. Three-point-three million visitors from Canada, DeSantis said two months ago. Thats not much of a boycott in my book. So, whats the message here? We should pick DeSantis property tax plan over Perez sales tax plan so we avoid a collateral benefit to those Canadian invaders? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can only enjoy my sales tax break if it doesnt also apply to Florida purchases made by Canadian tourists! Welcome to DeSantistan. I guess I could go on to point out that the property-tax idea doesnt only create a deeper financial hole but offers no relief to the one-third of Floridians who dont own a home, which includes a majority of the states Black residents and a higher percentage of younger adults. But that might make you think that the sales-tax cut isnt so bad. And it is. Theyre both terrible ideas that go in the wrong direction at a time when the financial outlook calls for plugging holes, not making bigger ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All for what? Selfish ambition, I guess. Like I said, the impasse over the state budget is a master class in irresponsible governing. Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Florida Network. He can be reached at fcerabino@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: While Florida should plug budget holes, lawmakers want bigger ones LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Michigan Attorney Generals office says a Florida man has been arraigned on a charge for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old relative who lives in Hillsdale. In the 2-B District Court in Hillsdale Vincent Allen Payne, 60, of Valrico, Fla., was arraigned on a First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Charge. The Attorney Generals office says Payne was living in the same Hillsdale home as the minor in 2007 when the crime took place. Payne was first charged with the crime in January 2010. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sexual assaults are serious crimes that leave lasting trauma, and it takes tremendous courage for survivors to come forward, especially after so many years, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a news release. I remain committed to working with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, and other county prosecutors across the state to ensure that those charged with criminal sexual conduct offenses face their allegations in court. Payne is scheduled to be back in court on May 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) A Panama City fisherman was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay a $51,000 fine after being convicted of poisoning dolphins with a pesticide and shooting them with a firearm. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement launched an investigation into Zackery Brandon Barfield, 31, who was found to be in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The defendants selfish acts are more than illegally poisoning and shooting protected animals they are serious crimes against public resources, threats to the local ecosystem, and a devastating harm to a highly intelligent and charismatic species. With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we will ensure that the coastal waters remain safe for our citizens and its wildlife, said Michelle Spaven, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a DOJ release, Barfield has been a licensed charter and commercial fishing captain in Panama City for the entirety of his adult life. Court filings and statements revealed that from 2022 to 2023, Barfield poisoned and shot bottlenose dolphins on multiple occasions. The investigation revealed that during the summer of 2022, Barfield became frustrated with dolphins eating red snapper from the lines of his charter fishing clients. He then began placing methomyl inside baitfish to poison the dolphins. Methomyl is a highly toxic pesticide that affects the nervous system and is restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DOJ, Barfield recognized the pesticides toxicity and impact on the environment but continued to bait dolphins with the poisoned fish. While captaining two separate fishing trips in December of 2022 and in the summer of 2023, Barfield witnessed dolphins once again eating snapper from his clients fishing lines. He then used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot the dolphins nearest to the boat, killing one of them immediately. These incidents were corroborated by two elementary-aged children and a dozen fishermen who were aboard the boat and witnessed the shootings. Barfield was a longtime charter and commercial fishing captain, said Adam Gustafson, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). He knew the regulations protecting dolphins, yet he killed them anyway once in front of children. This sentence demonstrates our commitment to enforcing the rule of law. It should deter others from engaging in such conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marine Mammal Protection Act prevents the killing or harming of wild dolphins and is punishable with civil penalties of up to $36,498 or one year in jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. ELKO Three updates: Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospitals new behavioral health wing is ready to open for business, there are no reported measles cases in this area and Elko Community Health Center has changed its name. Additionally, Vitality Unlimited reported to the Elko County Board of Health that many potential suicides or other mental health concerns can be prevented with just a call to a crisis hotline. Steve Simpson, the hospitals chief executive officer, said he had just heard a short time before appearing before the health board that the hospital had received the final state approval and a certificate of occupancy for the unit. We will get it going as soon as we possibly can, probably by Monday, he said, commenting that staff has been itching to take care of their first patient, so he expects the first patient will be overwhelmed with love. We are excited for this to finally take fruition. On Friday, the hospital said, While we do not have a definitive opening date, we are completing final preparations and anticipate admitting our first patient to the unit in early June. The hospital remodeled a portion of the third floor for in-patient treatment and dedicated the new 16-bed, $3.2 million unit in November. Elko City Council approved releasing its $500,000 contribution to the project in November, as well. Our behavioral health providers and staff members are eager to begin treating patients in the newly remodeled space, the hospital said in its Friday statement. All of us at Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital are pleased to provide these vital behavioral health services to our community. The behavioral health unit is for adults and the hospital will provide outpatient care for patients discharged from the unit. No measles here Simpson also reported that while there are measles outbreaks in more than 30 states, we have had no confirmed cases in the state of Nevada at this time, but that doesnt stop us from preparing for an outbreak. He said since the virus is highly contagious the hospitals team is guarding against measles and providing supplies to clinics in Elko to test for measles. Measles is contagious up to four days before a rash appears and up to four days after they are gone. We are hopeful we dont see a single case in the community, but we are going to be prepared in case, Simpson said. Mike Clark, CEO of the outpatient surgical and health care center on Idaho Street that was Elko Community Health, told the health board the facility at the east end shopping center is now called Convergent Health. The ownership is not changing, just a rebranding, he said, explaining the prior name was too much like another clinic in Elko. Nevada Health Centers is a publicly funded center primarily caring for uninsured and underinsured members of the community. Clark also said Convergent has served more than 2,000 people in the community and has added a neurosurgeon and two gynecologists for womens health, along with now providing infusions for cancer treatment to save patients from long drives for care. Convergent in Elko has added a drug-coated balloon process for heart patients, as well, to be used when stents can no longer work. Clark said between us and the hospital we work to keep patients in Elko, and Convergent has a mix of physicians and surgeons who travel to help part-time and full-time Elko-based doctors. I would prefer to have as many here as we can, he said, but he explained specialty surgeons need volume and patients who have surgery want someone who does surgery several times a day not once a week. Crisis hotlines Marianne McKown of Vitality Unlimited told the health board that 80% of those calling Vitalitys crisis line can be de-escalated from their mental health or suicide thoughts just on the phone. Vitalitys Elko crisis line number is 775-777-8477, which is also the number of Vitalitys certified community behavioral health clinic. Anybody in Elko County can call Vitalitys crisis line, McKown said. She said people can dial 988 after hours or anytime. Vitalitys crisis number goes to 988 after hours. Additionally, Vitality has a mobile therapy van that can visit people in crisis within the city limits, McKown told the health board, and she said Vitality will follow up in 24 hours with anyone that Vitality helped through a crisis. County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi said we need to work on a campaign to let people know what they can do in a mental health crisis, and the countys health officer, Dr. Bryce Putnam, agreed the board should know more about how to disseminate information on the crisis hotlines. Putnam, Sheriff Aitor Narvaiza and Elko County commissioners make up the health board. People call 911. Most dont know about 988, McKown said. The board agreed to look at the prospect of training 911 dispatchers about referring mental health calls that dont require law enforcement. Presentations to the health board also included one from Sarah Isham, clinic manager for the Intermountain Health Wells Clinic, who reported the clinic has been serving Wells for a year, and its a hybrid model with in-person and telehealth patient care. The clinic is open in Wells on Mondays and Thursdays and is part of the Intermountain Health company that operates in the West. Stephanie White of Nevada Health Centers also provided an update, reporting the center hopes to have three new nurse practitioners in the next couple of months, and the center in West Wendover is now open on Saturdays to provide care when the population triples. West Wendover is home to large casino-hotels that draw people from Utah, especially on weekends. OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) Two Marion County parents were recently jailed for not ensuring their children were attending school. According to a release, Truancy Court Judge Brad King, who oversaw both cases, sentenced one parent to six months behind bars and another to 90 days for failing to guarantee their children were showing up to class regularly and in a timely manner. One of the cases involved a student who had been absent for 120 days since the start of the school year in August 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marion County Public Schools said it looks to the Truancy court as a last-ditch effort to hold parents accountable for their children and make certain their school-aged children are participating in school. The daily attendance average for Marion County currently stands at 91.28%, the highest it has been in five years. This statistic supports the positive impact of Truancy Court on the attendance rate. So far in Marion County this school year alone seven parents have been jailed for disobeying court orders and 26 truancy cases have been dismissed for improved attendance. Truancy cases are inclusive of all grade levels and students aged 6-17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) Two Florida parents were recently jailed for not ensuring their children were attending school. According to a release, truancy court Judge Brad King, who oversaw both cases, sentenced one parent to six months behind bars and another to 90 days for failing to guarantee their children were showing up to class regularly and in a timely manner. One of the cases involved a student who had been absent for 120 days since the start of the school year in August 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marion County Public Schools said it looks to the truancy court as a last-ditch effort to hold parents accountable for their children and make certain their school-aged children are participating in school. The daily attendance average for Marion County currently stands at 91.28 percent, the highest it has been in five years. So far in the county this school year alone seven parents have been jailed for disobeying court orders and 26 truancy cases have been dismissed for improved attendance. Truancy cases are inclusive of all grade levels and students aged 6-17. 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 The Hill. Celestine Ward, 57, is charged with attempted murder after she allegedly stabbed her daughter-in-law multiple times at their Florida home The victim is in critical condition at a nearby hospital and said the fight happened after a day of drinking at Chili's The victim's children witnessed the stabbing, and one told police: 'Grandma started to kill mami with the knife' One woman is in critical condition at a Florida hospital and another is in custody after a fight between two in-laws turned violent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celestine Ward, 57, allegedly admitted to police that she stabbed her daughter-in-law after an officer arrived at their home in Homestead to find "the victim sitting in a pool of blood on the living room floor leaning against a cot bed," according to a copy of the arrest report obtained by PEOPLE. The responding officer said he asked who stabbed the victim and Ward responded: "I did because she was on me, I couldn't get her off me." Ward is now charged with attempted murder and is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending her first court appearance in the case. 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. Because the victim was in critical condition, an airlift was requested to transport her to the hospital while a detective with the Homestead Police Department secured her children and then spoke with them about the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the children allegedly told the detective that her mother and father had been fighting earlier, and her father then left the residence, according to the report. That same child told the detective that her mother and grandmother then began to argue, and then according to the report she allegedly said: "Grandma started to kill mami with the knife, the knife is in the room under the bed." The children were then placed in the custody of the Florida Dept. of Children and Families. A detective then went to the hospital to interview the victim, who said that the stabbing happened after a day of drinking at Chili's with her mother-in-law, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two began arguing for reasons the victim could not recall after returning to the house, and then at some point Ward allegedly charged at the victim, she told the detective. She managed to defend herself the first time, but the victim alleges that Ward charged a second time and started stabbing her repeatedly, according to the report. Ward said in her interview with police that the victim punched her in the face several times, but a detective wrote in the report that the "subject did not have any visible injuries." An attorney for Ward did not respond to a request for comment and has already entered a not guilty plea on his client's behalf, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE. Read the original article on People Florida's fluoride change a big step backward Another stupid and regressive move by our governor, Ron DeSantis, on discontinuing fluoridation from our drinking water. Fluoride in our water suppresses tooth decay. Their reason was that people should not be forced to accept medical drugs on behalf of the government. Well, thats like saying we should do away with car seat belts because the government forced us to accept their regulations to save lives. Why is it that Republicans always seem to take our nation in the wrong direction? Robert H. Monz, West Palm Beach The Florida Legislature agreed to remove fluoride from drinking water, a bill Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law. The new Pope is anything but a DEI pick Recently, a reader commented that the selection of Pope Leo XIV is the embodiment of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) because he has such a diverse background. I submit that it is just the opposite. He was selected among over 100 contenders not because he fit into any racial, ethnic, or political box but because he had paid his dues in his career and was the most competent of the contenders. He was selected on merit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Loschiavo Jupiter Proposed Medicaid cuts will hurt Floridians The United States is the only industrial nation that does not have universal healthcare for its residents. Of the 10 wealthiest nations in the world, we are the only one not to provide universal healthcare. We have the most expensive medications. Our veterans and the elderly must wait weeks for medical care not performed in hospitals. And yet, Republicans in Congress are hellbent on cutting Medicaid and veteran hospitals. Their budget plan will cut healthcare for seven million to 17 million people. Medicaid is the lifeblood for rural communities like Belle Glade and Pahokee. Millions of elderly and disabled Americans depend on the nursing homes financed through Medicaid. Cutting it will result in millions of people infecting others, closing facilities, and raising health insurance premiums. It is unconscionable that Sen. Ashley Moody now sanctions taking healthcare from the working poor, as does Sen. Rick Scott, the richest man in Congress because of the golden parachute he received as CEO of Columbia/HCA after the company committed the largest Medicare and Medicaid fraud in U.S. history at the time. The most reprehensible though is Rep Brian Mast, an Army veteran who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan, declaring, I am committed to working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to cut spending and responsibly shrink the size of our federal bureaucracy. Cuts that would deny military veterans the services and resources he has enjoyed. Karen Zaremba, Lantana This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida's fluoride change a big step backward | Letters FOLEY, Ala. (WKRG) Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich has announced he will seeking reelection. Massive bull shark caught outside mouth of Mobile Bay Hellmich said in a news release he is running with the theme, Your Mayor. Your Voice, and said he wants to continue to be an accessible, results-driven leader that prioritizes the community needs. Ralph Hellmich will seek another term as Foleys mayor. He will kick off the campaign June 5. (Courtesy of Ralph Hellmich) During his stint as mayor, Hellmich has made four core areas of improvement his primary goal infrastructure, public safety, education and overall quality of life, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, Hellmichs administration has accomplished a lot in those areas: Infrastructure: In collaboration with Baldwin County and the Alabama Department of Transportation, the city upgraded 27 intersections, implemented a traffic signalization program to improve traffic flow, and improved pedestrian safety with new sidewalks, solar-powered crosswalks and numerous safety grants. Public safety: The city has invested in cutting-edge fire equipment, police technology and programs that educate young adults about public safety careers, plus new fire stations and expanded police facilities have ben built. Education: Partnerships with the Baldwin County Board of Education has led to an additional $600,000 annually to enhance local schools, raise ACT scores and create public safety career paths. Quality of life: The city has added hundreds of acres in parks and upgraded facilities with LED lighting. Additionally, a new $20 million library and community center is being built, with plans to eventually build a civic center and a World War II heritage museum. Our commitment is to ensure Foley remains a safe, thriving and welcoming community, Hellmich said. We are dedicated to preserving what makes Foley unique while strategically planning for our future. Prior to taking the helm as Mayor, Hellmich served 16 years as District 3 Representative on the Foley City Council, serving as Mayor Pro Tem. He is a Certified Municipal Official served on several boards, including the Foley Planning Commission, Redevelopment Authority and Public Facilities Cooperative District. He served as the chairman of the Riviera Utilities Board and served on the University of Alabama Geological Sciences Advisory Board, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hellmich is a lifelong resident, having graduated from Foley High School. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelors degree in Geology and retired as the Regional Operations Supervisor from the State of Alabama Oil and Gas Board, the release said. He currently serves on numerous boards and organizations in the community. He is married to Jo McGill Hellmich and they have three children and one grandchild, the release said. From addiction to hope: Meet Fairhopes Dancing Queen Hellmich will hold a campaign kickoff party, open to the public, Thursday, June 5, from 5-7 p.m. at Hotel Magnolia, 119 North McKenzie Street in Foley. EVENT LOCATION: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (NewsNation) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has released the anticipated Make America Healthy Again report that calls for the country to change its health care approaches. The report calls for increased scrutiny into the childhood vaccine schedule, a review of the pesticides sprayed on American crops and a description of the nations children as overmedicated and undernourished. It also calls for the regulation of ultraprocessed foods. Vani Hari, also known as The Food Babe on social media, is a strong supporter of the MAHA movement. She told NewsNations Elizabeth Vargas Reports on Thursday that the report is the first step in showing how America can improve its health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prebiotic sodas becoming more popular, but health claims stir debate Weve been mass poisoned as Americans, Hari said. Hari said the report shows that life expectancy will shorten for Americans if there is no regulation of chemicals put in food. Glyphosate, a chemical widely used by farmers, has been widely discussed and will likely be reviewed. Hari said the chemical needs to be regulated and all toxins need to be reduced. We are using these chemicals in an abundance, Hari said. And we need to start looking at how we can regain health. The fact that childhood cancer has increased by 40% since 1975 is a travesty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Changes a U.S. House bill makes to the federal program known as FoodShare in Wisconsin would increase costs for the state, the state Department of Health Services (DHS) reports. (Getty Images Creative) Food and nutrition cuts in the reconciliation bill that passed the U.S. House early Thursday would cost Wisconsin taxpayers at least $314 million if they are signed into law, a state health official said Thursday. Bill Hanna, Wisconsin Medicaid director A requirement for the state to pick up some of the costs of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, a provision penalizing the state for errors in distributing benefits, expanded work requirements for recipients and the elimination of a nutrition education program will all contribute to that cost, said Bill Hanna, Medicaid director at the Department of Health Services (DHS) in a briefing for reporters Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SNAP program is known as FoodShare in Wisconsin and administered by DHS. SNAP currently includes a work requirement for adults ages 18 to 54 without children to receive benefits. The legislation would raise the upper age to 65 and add the requirement to adults with children who are 7 or older. Wisconsin has an employment and training program to help FoodShare recipients meet the existing work requirement. With the increase in people who would have to meet the requirement, We estimate that would cost another $44 million a year, Hanna said. Currently the federal government funds 100% of the food benefits under SNAP. The new bill requires states to pick up a portion of the cost, which is tied to a states error rate, Hanna said. Errors include the payment of more benefits than a person qualifies for or the payment of fewer benefits than they qualify for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When errors are identified, we correct them, meaning if there was an overpayment to a member, that is recouped on future benefits, or if theres an underpayment, we fix that and back pay those payments, Hanna said. Wisconsins error rate is low enough to require the state to submit only a 5% match for SNAP funds under the House Republican proposal, he said. But another change which would allow zero tolerance even for errors that in the past have not counted against state programs would boost the states required match to 15%. DHS estimates based on the proposed new requirements the state would have to pay about $207 million a year in benefit costs, he said. If the state is able to reduce its error rate to qualify for the 5% match, it would still need to pay $69 million a year. A higher state share of administrative costs in the bill would add $51 million to the states costs for SNAP, Hanna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state would also lose the $12 million it receives for SNAP-Ed, a program that provides education to SNAP participants on healthier food choices. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Enrollment numbers at American colleges and universities will drop by 5 million by 2037 if international and immigrant students are not factored into the equation, which will dramatically affect the bottom line of institutions of higher education, a new study suggests. The study, released by the National Foundation for American Policy, determined that the number of undergraduates would be about two-thirds of its current size if its calculations involving international students are correct. Meanwhile, the number of graduate students would also plummet by 1.1 million students, which, coupled with undergraduate decreases, would be catastrophic for many universities, an economist who researched the study determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Madeline Zavodny, a professor of economics at the University of North Florida, conducted the study this year before the Trump administration began targeting U.S. universities for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and other practices that do not align with its mission. The administration has announced cuts of federal grant funding from institutions like Harvard and Columbia. On Thursday, President Trump blocked Harvards ability to enroll international students for alleged violent and antisemitic practices. Students, faculty and members of the Harvard University community rally, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo) Students, faculty and members of the Harvard University community rally, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo) Meanwhile, international students at several universities have had their student visas revoked and have been taken into custody by federal immigration agents for a variety of allegations and earmarked for deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although universities saw a slight drop in their international and immigrant student population during Trumps first term in the White House, those declines represent a drop in the bucket compared to what is expected to come, Zavodny told NewsNation. Its a very abrupt, shocking change, she said. A shift in population at US universities Data released by Best Colleges indicated that during the 2024-25 academic year, 19.1 million students were enrolled in U.S. colleges, including 16 million undergraduates. However, who makes up those numbers has shifted due to the ongoing decline in the U.S. birth rate and the decision by more American students not to attend college. Based on those trends, U.S.-born students between 18 and 22 attending American colleges could fall by as much as 15 percent between now and 2029, the study shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bigger and unexpected surprise in declining college enrollments does not involve Americans. The Institute of International Education reports that 880,000 international students were enrolled at American colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year. That total represents an increase of 230,000 students (36 percent) from 2010-11. Meanwhile, second-generation immigrants, those students who were born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, rose from 15 percent to 24 percent over the same period. FILE - Students march at Arizona State University in protest of ASU's chapter of College Republicans United-led event encouraging students to report "their criminal classmates to ICE for deportations", Jan. 31, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Students march at Arizona State University in protest of ASUs chapter of College Republicans United-led event encouraging students to report their criminal classmates to ICE for deportations, Jan. 31, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the largest percentage of international students came from India, which accounts for 30 percent of international students at American universities. Another 25 percent of international students come from China, far outpacing international students from Latin American, Middle Eastern or European countries. Although the COVID-19 pandemic kept international students from coming to the U.S., numbers have recovered over the past few years, again fueling student enrollment numbers. Because international and immigrant students tend to pay full tuition, fees and room and board, the dependence on those students not only to fill seats in classrooms but to allow universities to meet their bottom line financially has remained necessary, Zavodny said. The Association of International Educators reported that international students studying at U.S. schools contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-24 academic year and supported more than 378,000 jobs. Joseph Edlow US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow (R), with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, administers the Oath of Allegiance to twelve candidates for US citizenship during a naturalization ceremony hosted by the USCIS at the State Department in 2020. (Photo by MANUEL BALCE CENETA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet given the fire that both universities and international students have come under since Trump took office, Zavodny predicts that both enrollment and the financial outlook of U.S. colleges could take significant hits. On Wednesday, Joseph Edlow, the Trump administrations pick to lead the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, testified before a congressional committee that he favors removing Optional Practical Training programs that assist international students in obtaining work authorizations once they finish their education. Current OPT programs provide students with hope for a future of successful careers and residency in the U.S., Zavodny said, adding to the allure of coming to the U.S. on a student visa to study. Should these programs cease to exist, however, Zavodny believes the impact on schools ability to thrive financially, or in the cases of smaller colleges, to survive, will almost certainly change. In addition, Trumps pledge to end birthright citizenship and to completely close the U.S. southern border could also factor into expected enrollment drops at colleges and universities across the board as international students reconsider their educational future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It must be terrifying to think that you could spend this money (to attend college in the U.S.) and that you could be deported without your degree, you could be put in jail for a long time, Zavodny said. When international student populations could begin falling off In addition to the expected base enrollment decreases, the study also found that if international students were no longer coming to the U.S., total undergraduate student enrollment would fall by 2 percent over the next 12 years. Under the same scenario, the graduate-level student population would drop 11 percent. Those figures will increase by another 1 or 2 percent if the immigrant inflow were to stop as Trump continues to completely seal the U.S. southern border. Additionally, if immigrants currently living in the U.S left the country, the undergraduate student population would fall by another 6.6%, and the graduate-level student population could fall by 12 percent, the study found. If U.S.-born students who are the children of immigrants elected not to attend an American institution, undergraduate student levels would see a 23 percent drop and graduate-level student populations would fall by 16 percent by 2037. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the decline in international students expected to last for more than a decade and beyond when Trump leaves office, Zavodny said colleges and universities may need to adjust their enrollment practices and admit students they may not have even a decade ago. If they do not, based on current trends and the time it may take for international student populations to rebound, the long-term impact for these institutions could be bleak, Zavodny said. Its going to be big and its going to be adverse for a whole lot of schools, she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ELKO Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital dedicated its long-awaited behavioral health unit this week to a full house of hospital execs, workers, county leaders and city administrators. Bottom line: We as a community really need this. Sure, there are a lot of things people have said and will continue to say about the hospital. But no one can say its leadership and staff arent trying to bring better health care to our corner of the state. Yes, the event on Tuesday was a bit premature due to delays in construction on the hospitals third floor, the 16-bed unit wont be ready for prime time for as many as six more weeks, according to Chief Executive Steve Simpson. In fact, tours of the unit show a lack of doors, some wiring needs and bits and pieces yet unfinished. Hospital spokesman Steve Burrows said workers late the night before and early the day of the event were rushing to add furnishings and finish as much as they could. He said the unit, which received $500,000 in American Rescue Plan grant funding from Elko, might even open by early January if things proceed as hoped. In a brief interview, Sheriff Aitor Narvazia said the new unit would help his agency and deputies in several ways. First, a person contemplating suicide or other harm to themselves could be brought to the hospital rather than to facilities in Reno or Las Vegas. Its really nice to see what took place today, he said. Its been ongoing, and weve lost a lot of people to suicide. And now instead of going to Reno we can do it all right here. Secondly, he said, the time and money to transport patients to the larger cities will be saved. Its going to save us a lot of travel back and forth. Overall, he said, the unit will benefit the community. Its going to be nice. Its going to be great. Were definitely moving in the right direction. Simpson, the hospitals top executive, welcomed the community leaders, explaining how with corporate and community support, the $2.3 million unit will help, but not cure, the regions behavioral health crisis. And that was really the impetus behind this project: The understanding that we cannot truly make our communities healthier unless were also addressing behavioral health. The mental health crisis in our towns and in our country is very complex and daunting. Well, NNRH cant do everything to address it. This is something we can do. Mayor Reece Keener said the behavioral health unit really fills a huge gap that existed here in the Elko area. He noted there are generally about 25 patients transported out of the area each month because theres no facility in Elko to help. I mean, that thats a lot. Those are people that are being separated from their families. Burrows said those being cared for at the unit will be treated locally by behavioral health nurse practitioners as well as a psychiatrist via tele-health who also will visit patients in the facility every other month. He said the hospital is hoping to attract a psychiatrist to Elko but that wont be easy. Gov. Joe Lombardo sent a certificate of appreciation to the hospital through a representative, Michelle Sandoval, manager of the states Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public & Behavioral Health. Simpson also read a congressional recognition from Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei and another from Democratic U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen. County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi, who chairs the hospitals board of trustees, said the crisis in Elko County is real, but the new unit should help. This is a heavy, heavy topic, he said. The behavioral health unit is another piece of a puzzle, a very complex, giant jigsaw puzzle. And weve been putting the puzzle together for a very long time. And so it brings me a lot of joy to know that were moving in a direction thats going to help people, Andreozzi said. Corporate owner Lifepoint Health executives also were at Tuesdays event. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jason Zachariah said the companys goal, his leadership teams goal, is to bring great behavioral health services to the area and to close the gap between the rural-urban divide in terms of health outcomes. And that is our commitment. Foreign students have officially been blocked from attending a prestigious U.S. college in 2025. President Trump's administration has made an official decision on Harvard. The President of the United States and his administration have blocked international students from attending the Ivy League school, as a result of his ongoing feud with the school. The President of the United States has been pressuring Harvard to comply with rules on campus protests, DEI and more. However, Harvard has not been complying, refusing to back down from their stances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard has about 7,000 international students. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a clear message to Harvard on Thursday. (Photo by Eros Hoagland/Getty Images)Eros Hoagland/Getty Images Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses, she wrote. The Wall Street Journal had more: The government threatened the move back in April after Harvard refused to comply with demands made by the administration, including that the universityunder federal oversightaudit the viewpoints of faculty, students and staff. Harvard didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Harvard has yet to officially respond. Foreign Students Blocked From Attending Prestigious U.S. College first appeared on The Spun on May 22, 2025 The former president of a Michigan asphalt paving company was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine for his role in a years-long bid-rigging conspiracy. Daniel Israel, 63, who served as president and part-owner of Pontiac-based Asphalt Specialists LLC (ASI), pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiring with Als Asphalt Paving Co. and employees from those companies to "rig bids in each others favor," the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday, May 23. Israel participated in the conspiracy from 2013 to 2018. Court documents show the co-conspirators coordinated bid prices to ensure preselected companies won certain contracts, submitting intentionally high or noncompetitive bids to mislead customers into believing the process was fair, according to the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: How asphalt firm fixed the bids to fix the damn roads and got caught Economic crime like bid rigging is no less harmful than violent crime, said Omeed Assefi of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division in a statement. Both inflict deep, lasting harm on our communities and disenfranchise those who believe in the American dream. As the defendant admitted, he conspired to eliminate competition to further enrich himself and his accomplices." Israel is one of seven individuals and three companies charged in the ongoing federal antitrust investigation, which has yielded over $8.2 million in criminal fines. ASI and another former executive and part-owner, Bruce Israel, also pleaded guilty in January 2024 for his role in the conspiracy. ASI was sentenced to pay $6.5 million in August 2024. Als Asphalt and two of its executives entered guilty pleas in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Pontiac asphalt executive gets 6 months, $500K fine for bid rigging EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. A former executive at the Bank of OFallon in Illinois admitted in court on Monday to obtaining more than $2 million through a fraud scheme. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Illinois, Andrew Blassie, 69, served as the banks executive vice president while he defrauded the bank in a check kite scheme between September 2023 and September 2024. Blassie allegedly defrauded the bank out of $1,972,887 in the check kite scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blassie admitted in court that he falsely inflated the balance of his personal checking account at the Bank of OFallon by depositing checks he knew were not backed by sufficient funds. Donate here: Help support St. Louis storm victims He deposited the checks into four personal accounts at three other banks and one credit union into the Bank of OFallon account. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Blassie paid nearly $2.7 million for personal expenses from the falsely inflated account using funds that belonged to the bank. Blassie allegedly concealed the fraud by scrubbing his name and account number from the suspected kiting reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blassie is also accused of persuading a couple from Lebanon, Illinois, into giving him $489,000 of their retirement savings and in return would give the couple two promissory notes. He told the couple he would pay interest on the notes and used money obtained through his scheme to pay that interest. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News The U.S. Attorneys Office also said as security for Blassies promissory notes, he pledged 128 of his and his wifes shares of the parent company, which owns the Bank of OFallon. Blassies indictment said he later sold most of these shares and did not use the funds to repay the Lebanon, Illinois couple, leaving them without recourse when Blassie defaulted on the notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blassie pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of interstate transportation of security or funds obtained by fraud. He is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A federal judge in Boston delayed a hearing on federal prosecutors push to detain 82-year-old Ralph DeLeo, a former leader of the Boston mafia, who is now accused of plotting to kill federal officials while in custody. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson delayed the detention hearing several days in the interest of justice and proper representation, as DeLeo secures a private lawyer to represent him in the case. In 2012, DeLeo pleaded guilty to charges of RICO conspiracy and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, for which he was sentenced to 199 months (16 years) in prison and three years of supervised release. DeLeo has been out of prison on supervised release since May 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors are now moving to put DeLeo behind bars again, writing that a confidential source tipped off law enforcement about plans by DeLeo to kill at least three federal officials involved in his criminal case. The new case against DeLeo was first reported by The Boston Globe. Prosecutors: Search yielded incriminating evidence During a search of DeLeos residence on May 9, prosecutors say, law enforcement found hard copy packets of personal information about multiple people, including one current and two former federal officials. They also found a burglary kit, marijuana, steroids and a handwritten note discussing silicone masks. DeLeos phone was also seized, and records showed he was communicating with known felons, including co-defendants in his RICO case, prosecutors wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeLeos dangerousness cannot be overstated, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard wrote in a memorandum this month petitioning for his detention. During an interview with law enforcement, the same day as the search, DeLeo said he compiled the information on the federal officials by himself without help from anyone else. But prosecutors say text messages and information from the confidential source prove that isnt true. On May 15, DeLeo was arrested for what officials say is a violation of the terms of his release: committing a federal crime when he made a false statement to federal law enforcement during an interview, communicating with co-defendants and possessing marijuana and steroids. In the filing, Maynard acknowledged the apparent violations may not suggest dangerousness on their face, but said the specific accusations, namely that DeLeo was plotting to kill several people, proved the threat he posed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeLeos criminal history, which includes a conviction for murder, proves that he is more than capable of acting on his threats, Maynard adds. The filing also points to accusations over DeLeos prior statements while incarcerated in 2014, he told a witness he was going to chop off a retired federal officials head. In another conversation, he asked the witness how to find information about the official online. In yet another instance, DeLeo said if he were ever going to take action against a retired official, he would do it himself because it was personal. Murder conviction, prison escape DeLeo has been fixated on seeking revenge for years, the filing reads. DeLeos threats to harm federal officials must be taken seriously. His sordid history shows that he is capable of scheming, planning and executing extreme violence. That sordid history includes criminal convictions dating back to when DeLeo was 16. In 1976, at 32, he was convicted of armed robbery and attempted kidnapping and sentenced to decades in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeLeo escaped custody and fled to Ohio, where he again committed armed robbery. In Ohio, DeLeo kidnapped a physician and killed him when he resisted. He was in prison until 1997, when he was released at 55. Prosecutors say it was then that DeLeo became a member and former acting Boston Street Boss for the Colombo Family of La Cosa Nostra in New York, and founded the DeLeo Crew. DeLeos entire life has been devoted to crime, the filing reads, adding his current advanced age has no bearing on his willingness or ability to continue engaging in criminal activity. A flight risk? Prosecutors described DeLeo as a flight risk in addition to a danger, noting his escape from custody in the 1970s and another attempted escape decades later, in 2011. In both instances, DeLeo complained of a health issue and was taken to a hospital, where he asked to use a restroom, then stole a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An attorney representing DeLeo filed a motion asking that he be detained at the Federal Medical Center, Devens, due to health issues, including forthcoming dental surgery. Prosecutors said it was no surprise that DeLeo raised the issue [of] receiving off-site treatment for medical conditions. DeLeo is a career criminal with the knowledge, experience and resources he needs to hatch a flight plan, the motion reads. Federal prosecutors noted the strength of the evidence supporting the apparent violations of DeLeos supervised release, including the drugs found at his residence and the statements made to law enforcement that officials say are contradicted by his phone records. At 82 years old, facing the prospect of returning to prison after recently concluding the latest in a string of lengthy sentences, DeLeo is poised to flee, they wrote. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff is to receive compensation for her torture by the military during the country's dictatorship. As a politically persecuted individual, a commission of the South American country's Ministry of Human Rights awarded the former head of state, who was in power from 2011-16, compensation of 100,000 reais ($17,720), the TV channel TV Globo reported. Rousseff was arrested in 1970 at the age of 22 for her resistance to the military junta and was tortured multiple times during her approximately three-year imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military dictatorship in Brazil lasted from 1964 to 1985. According to the report by the national truth commission, more than 400 people were murdered and thousands tortured during the dictatorship. Rousseff has previously received compensation totalling 72,000 reais from the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, where she was tortured during her imprisonment. She donated the payments to social organizations. Rousseff is currently working as the president of the New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries in Shanghai. The BRICS countries were originally Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, but they have expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) A former Bureau of Prisons correctional officer was sentenced to federal prison for a bribery and drug scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday. Angela Crosland, 51, of Elgin, South Carolina, was sentenced to more than 11 years for bribery, money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine and suboxone, and filing false tax returns. She was found guilty by a federal jury. Crosland worked as a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Williamsburg in Salters, the DOJ said. While employed there, she smuggled contraband into the prison in exchange for money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contraband included suboxone, methamphetamine, K-2-soaked paper, marijuana, food, and other items, according to the DOJ. The jury was also shown Croslands Cash App account records, which reflected payments to her account totaling $56,791 from family and associates of inmates at FCI Williamsburg. Crosland also failed to report the income on her federal tax returns. The integrity of our federal correctional system hinges on the ethical conduct of those sworn to uphold it, said Bryan Stirling, the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. When a correctional officer like Crosland chooses to betray that trust by smuggling contraband, it threatens the safety of both inmates and staff. Well continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep our federal prisons safe. U.S. District Judge Joseph Dawson III sentenced Crosland to 136 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. She was also ordered to pay $18,649 to the IRS for filing false tax returns. There is no parole in the federal system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) A former Champaign County Sheriffs deputy made his first appearance in court on Thursday for arraignment on a charge of theft. He is accused of taking funds from his police support nonprofit and using the money for personal use. WCIA reported last month that Matthew Stuckey was given a notice to appear in court following an investigation by the Illinois State Police. In November, ISP special agents started looking into allegations that Stuckey was misusing funds made to the 10-78 Foundation, also called Back the Blue Champaign County. The agents found evidence to support those allegations, officials said. Following these revelations in April, Sheriff Dustin Heuerman told WCIA that Stuckey was placed on administrative leave. When asked for an update on Thursday, Heuerman informed WCIA that Stuckey has since resigned his position as a deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springfield attorney suspended by Illinois Supreme Court In court, Stuckey was formally arraigned on a single count of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, a Class 2 felony. Records show that after arraignment, Stuckey went through booking procedures and was allowed to stay out of custody with unspecified conditions of release. He is due back in court on July 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Former Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Pleads Guilty to Making Bomb Threat to LA City Hall originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Brian K. Williams (left), pleaded guilty Thursday to calling a bomb threat into his workplace: City Hall Damian Dovarganes / ASSOCIATED PRESS Brian Williams, 61, the former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, pleaded guilty Thursday to making a bomb threat connected to the "city's support of Israel," to his workplace: City Hall. According to his plea agreement, on October 3, 2024, Williams, who lives in Pasadena, was in a virtual meeting with "multiple people in connection with his official duties," prosecutors say. During this meeting, Williams used the Google Voice application on his personal cellphone to place a call to his city-issued cellphone. Williams then left the virtual meeting and placed a call to the Chief of Staff of the Los Angeles Police Department to "falsely state" he had just received a call from a non-existent attacker who threatened to bomb City Hall. About 10 minutes later, Williams sent a text message to Mayor Karen Bass and several high-ranking city officials in the Mayors office, writing: Bomb threat: I received phone call on my city cell at 10:48 am this morning. The male caller stated that he was tired of the city support of Israel, and he has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the rotunda. I immediately contacted the chief of staff of LAPD, they are going to send a number of officers over to do a search of the building and to determine if anyone else received a threat. "In fact, Williams received no such call and had made the bomb threat himself. At no time did Williams intend to carry out the threat," federal prosecutors said Thursday. The LAPD raced to City Hall to sweep the building but "did not locate any suspicious packages or devices," according to Williams' plea agreement. Williams once again described the bogus threat to the LAPD "stating that the male caller said, Im tired of the city support of Israel, I have decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the Rotunda. Williams showed the LAPD officers the record of an incoming call "that appeared as a blocked number on his city-issued cell phone," and said that was the unknown male caller who had conveyed the threat. It didn't take long for investigators to learn the call was coming from inside the house. After meeting with the LAPD, Williams again texted Bass and her high-level staff, according to his plea agreement, writing: "At this time, there is no need for us to evacuate the building, Im meeting with the threat management officers within the next 10 minutes. In light of the Jewish holidays, we are taking this thread, a little more seriously. I will keep you posted. Williams agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. He is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court in DTLA in the coming weeks. His motive remains unclear, with the FBI calling his actions "inexplicable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Williams, the former deputy mayor of Public Safety for Los Angeles, not only betrayed the residents of Los Angeles, but responding officers, and the integrity of the office itself, by fabricating a bomb threat, said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office. Government officials are held to a heightened standard as we rely on them to safeguard the city. Im relieved that Mr. Williams has taken responsibility for his inexplicable actions. When the deadly wildfires tore through Los Angeles, devouring nearly 37 miles of the Pacific Palisades and Malibu in early January, Williams - the liaison between the LAPD and the LAFD - was on paid leave after he was arrested by the FBI in December 2024. Chaos between the fire department and Bass in the wildfires' aftermath, which included fire hydrants being tapped dry with the city's reservoir that ordinarily replenishes the water closed for repairs, led to the firing of the city's first female and openly gay LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley. Williams remained on paid administrative leave, until City Hall spokesperson Zach Seidl said in a statement to Los Angeles, until he retired last month even after Bass announced a $1 billion budget shortfall that would lead to inevitable layoffs. "Like many, we were shocked when these allegations were first made and we are saddened by this conclusion," Seidl When asked if Williams is still eligible to keep his city pension after holding various City Hall positions over the past three decades, Bass's office did not immediately return a request for comment. Bass did appoint former FBI official Robert Clark as the new Deputy Mayor for Public Safety last month, apparently after Williams retired. All of it led to a heated political climate made worse by Williams' actions, said the top federal prosecutor for California's Central District. In an era of heated political rhetoric that has sometimes escalated into violence, we cannot allow public officials to make bomb threats, said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. Williams' attorney Alan Eisner did not respond to a request for comment. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on May 22, 2025, where it first appeared. Daniel Williams, the former drummer of the Devil Wears Prada band, shared images from inside the cockpit of a private jet that crashed in San Diego, killing him Dave Shapiro, a talent agent and owner of Sound Talent Group (STG), also died in the plane crash The total fatalities are still unknown Daniel Williams, the former drummer for metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, shared images from inside the Cessna 550 aircraft shortly before it went down. Williams and Dave Shapiro, 42, a talent agent and owner of Sound Talent Group (STG), died in the crash in a San Diego neighborhood on Thursday, May 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The images, shared on Williams' Instagram Stories, showed the cockpit of the small aircraft. One image read, "Hey. Hey...you...look at me...I'm the (co)pilot now." A second image was captioned "Here we goooooo." The third and final image read "flying back with @davevelocity." Daniel Williams/Instagram Daniel Williams shared this image to his Instagram Stories shortly before he died in a plane crash. Daniel Williams shared this image to his Instagram Stories shortly before he died in a plane crash. Williams had stepped away from the music industry at least eight years ago, according to his X account. In a recent post, he announced that he had accepted a job with Apple on May 14. "Im very excited to share that Ive accepted a software engineering role at Apple," he wrote. "Its been really tough to say goodbye to my friends and colleagues of nearly 8 years at GoPro, but its time for my next chapter. Its time to help build the future." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an Instagram post, the band paid tribute to Williams with images of the band throughout the years, as well as an image of Williams behind his drum kit. no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever, the group captioned the post. Daniel Williams/Instagram The band first made a name for themselves in the mid 2000s with their 2006 album Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord. Formed in Ohio, the group chose their name before the famous 2006 film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway was released, per last.fm. We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends," a spokesperson for Shapiro's STG wrote in a statement to Billboard. "Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.' Daniel Williams/Instagram Daniel Williams photo Daniel Williams photo Williams father, Larry, told TMZ that their family is certain he was on the plane and there were no survivors from the crash. However, he said they have not officially received confirmation from authorities. 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 PEOPLE contacted the FAA for confirmation on the names aboard the Cessna but has not received a response. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Read the original article on People Only a few months ago, former Irvine Vice Mayor Tammy Kim had aspirations of returning to the City Council she previously served on for four years. Now her immediate goal is to fight off charges that could put her in prison for several years. The Orange County district attorneys office announced Thursday afternoon that Kim was charged with 10 felonies tied to allegedly lying about her residency during her City Council tenure and while campaigning for mayor last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim was formally charged with three felony counts of perjury by declaration, three felony counts of filing a false document, and one felony count each of a public official aiding the illegal casting of votes, of filing false nominations papers, of knowing of the registration of someone not entitled to vote and of voter registration fraud. She was also charged with a misdemeanor of making a false statement. She could spend up to 11 years and two months in state prison and county jail if convicted on all counts. She is scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning. Kim briefly responded to a call from The Times, saying she was advised not to share too much per her attorney, Caroline Hahn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were entering a not guilty plea, Kim said. Read more: Making history: Three Korean American women, two representing California, win seats in Congress Hahn added that she and her client planned to launch a vigorous defense but did not answer further questions. Kim is accused of using two fraudulent addresses while running for mayor in the November 2024 election and then in a City Council special election in early 2025, according to the criminal complaint. She owned a condo in the city's 3rd District, where she had lived since 2015, according to a separate lawsuit filed against Kim to get her thrown off the City Council ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim won election to the Irvine City Council in November 2020, receiving nearly 44,000 votes in a 14-person, top-three-candidate race. At that time, city elections in Irvine used an at-large voting system, meaning candidates could live anywhere in the city. The city moved to district elections in the fall 2024, requiring council members to live in the districts they represent. Only voters from those districts could vote for those candidates. Kim served until November 2024 when she ran for and ultimately lost a mayoral campaign to Councilmember Larry Agran by a margin of nearly 5,000 votes. The district attorneys office believes Kim improperly used an address to run for mayor, no longer claiming to live in the 3rd District condo she had owned for a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To run for mayor, Kim changed her California drivers license and her voter registration to a home in the 5th District, where she never lived, according to the criminal complaint. The home belonged to a family Kim met through a Korean teaching class, the complaint alleges. Kim did not inform the family that she was using their address, according to the complaint. She has been charged with certifying that address as her own under the penalty of perjury. Read more: Column: Are diversifying suburbs like Irvine ready for a conversation about race? Kim eventually finished her campaign and voted in Novembers mayoral race based out of the 5th District home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after her defeat, Kim declared her candidacy in December to fill the now-vacant 5th District seat, which Agran left after winning the mayoral election. Kim eventually found a room in another 5th District home on Jan. 10 and changed her California drivers registration that same day, according to the complaint. She then filed new nomination paperwork with the new 5th District address, according to the complaint. Later that month, former mayoral candidate Ron Scolesdang sued Kim, claiming that she was fraudulently using an incorrect address. Scolesdang had hired a private investigator to monitor Kim, according to that lawsuit. Kim eventually dropped out of the race on Feb. 7 , the same day a Superior Court judge removed her name from the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Betty Martinez Franco won the special election. 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. WAKEENEY, Kan. (KSNW) The former police chief of WaKeeney has been charged with three counts and is due in court on June 3. According to a news release, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated Michael Romero, and the Trego County Attorney found probable cause to charge Romero with mistreatment of a confined person and two counts of battery. The mistreatment of a confined person allegedly happened on March 7. The charge reads that Romero did unlawfully, and knowingly abuse, neglect, or ill-treat a person who was detained or confined by the WaKeeney Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the battery counts also allegedly happened on March 7, and the other on Jan. 19. Kansas seizes Dodge City restaurant assets for $37K tax bill The battery charges claim that Romero did unlawfully and knowingly or recklessly cause bodily harm to another person or knowingly cause physical contact with another person done in a rude, insulting, or angry manner. Pfannenstiel said he does not typically release suspects names, but he is doing so this time to be transparent with the community. It gives me no pleasure to present charges to the Court in this unfortunate case, County Attorney Abraham Pfannenstiel said in a news release. However, any apparent abuse of power by our public officials is in violation of the oath they take to uphold the rule of law and nobody, not even our leaders in law enforcement, are above the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While these crimes will be prosecuted in the courts of Trego County, I pray that we work together to prevent this case from turning into a prosecution of all law enforcement in the court of public opinion, he continued. The men and women that serve our communities across this country are overwhelmingly officers of the highest integrity who take their duty to protect and serve to heart. They deserve our respect and gratitude for the tough role they play in making our communities safe. The WaKeeney City Council terminated Romero on April 1 but did not give a reason for the decision. The council appointed Trego County Sheriff Ed Pritchard interim chief until Sept. 1. 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. To watch our shows live on our website, 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 KSN-TV. The former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, Brian Williams, pleaded guilty on Thursday to threatening to bomb City Hall. The Department of Justice announced that Williams, 61, of Pasadena, has been charged with a felony count that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Williams made the threat on Oct. 3, 2024, while he was in office. According to the DOJs release, Williams crafted the threat to appear as if it came from an unknown man who was tired of the city support of Israel, and has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It started while Williams was in an online meeting that day with multiple people in connection with his official duties, the release detailed. During the meeting, Williams picked up an incoming call on his city-issued phone, excused himself and called the L.A. Police Departments Chief of Staff. In the conversation with the LAPD chief, Williams said he had just received a call from an unknown man who was threatening to bomb L.A. City Hall. However, detectives uncovered that what had really happened was that while he was in his online meeting, Williams used the Google Voice application on his personal phone to place a call to his work phone, meaning Williams crafted the actual threat. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Brian K. Williams delivers a speech during the graduation ceremony for LAPD recruit class at the Los Angeles Police Academy on Friday, May 3, 2024. (Getty Images) About 10 minutes after speaking with LAPD, Williams texted Mayor Karen Bass and several high-ranking city officials, again reporting the made-up bomb threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ said the text read as follows: Bomb threat: I received phone call on my city cell at 10:48 am this morning. The male caller stated that he was tired of the city support of Israel, and he has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the rotunda. I immediately contacted the chief of staff of LAPD, they are going to send a number of officers over to do a search of the building and to determine if anyone else received a threat. Soon after, the LAPD responded to investigate and search City Hall, but did not find any bombs, suspicious packages or devices. Officials made it clear that At no time did Williams intend to carry out the threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams continued to lie to police about the call and appeared to take the lead on handling the situation with the Mayors office. The DOJ said Williams sent another text to Bass and others, saying, At this time, there is no need for us to evacuate the building, Im meeting with the threat management officers within the next 10 minutes. In light of the Jewish holidays, we are taking this thread, a little more seriously. I will keep you posted. A few months later, federal agents searched Williams home following allegations that he had made the threat, and the then-deputy mayor was immediately placed on administrative leave. Now, Williams has pleaded guilty and is expected to make his first court appearance in downtown L.A. in the coming weeks. In an era of heated political rhetoric that has sometimes escalated into violence, we cannot allow public officials to make bomb threats, said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing to investigate this incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A former nurse at St. Joseph Warren Hospital has turned herself in on drug-related charges. Read next: New glass walkway at Nelson Ledges now open Nicolette Gilger was booked and released from the Trumbull County Jail Friday. Gilger was indicted earlier this week on 20 felony counts. The charges include possession of a fentanyl-related compound, theft of drugs, deception to obtain a dangerous drug, and illegal processing of drug documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say the allegation is that Gilger stole drugs from the hospital for her personal use, but theres no indication she deprived any patients of them. According to the indictment, the alleged crimes happened between December 26, 2024, to January 10 of this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. A former postmaster from Seekonk faces charges in connection with almost $20,000 in stolen government money from the United States Postal Service spent at casinos, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said Friday. Bethany LeBlanc, 48, of Seekonk, faces one count of theft of government money. She was arrested Friday morning and is expected to appear in federal court in Boston later in the day. When LeBlanc worked as the postmaster of the Seekonk Post Office between November 2023 and around February 2025, Foleys office said in a statement. She previously worked for the USPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LeBlanc had the authority to issue and approve no fee money orders while working as postmaster, Foleys office said. These are generated by the USPS and operate as a safe alternative to sending cash or a check through the mail and are mainly used for USPS-related expenses. She made 25 no-fee money orders, totaling $19,917, to herself and used fake invoices for USPS expenses to Seekonk post office clerks before she received the money, Foleys office said. LeBlanc used false information, like Fire Dept. Box, in the memo section of these orders to make it appear as though they were for post office expenses. LeBlanc used the names of relatives and associates so that it looked like the funds came from people outside the USPS, the statement read. She would then use this money for personal expenses, including thousands of dollars spent at casinos. The charge of theft of government money provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI) The Seekonk Post Offices former postmaster was arrested Friday for allegedly stealing nearly $20,000 from the government. Bethany LeBlanc, 48, is charged with theft of government money, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. She served as postmaster from November 2023 until February 2025 and worked for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in other roles prior to that. According to prosecutors, LeBlanc had the ability to issue and approve no fee money orders, which are supposed to only be used for USPS-related purchases and serve as an alternative to sending cash or checks through the mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege LeBlanc made 25 of those orders out to herself by entering false information, then used the money for personal expenses. The U.S. Attorneys Office said a portion of the $19,917 that was stolen was spent at casinos. LeBlanc was expected to face a federal judge in Boston on Friday. The charge she faces carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. The former postmaster of the Seekonk Post Office has been arrested and accused of stealing over $19,000 in government money. While serving as the Postmaster of the Seekonk Post Office from November 2023 to about February 2025, Bethany LeBlanc, 48, generated a total of 25 no-fee money orders to herself, totaling approximately $19,917, according to United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. Money orders are generated by the USPS and serve as a safe alternative to sending cash or a check through the mail, Foley said. No fee money orders are issued solely for the purpose of paying USPS-related expenses and, thus, no fee is charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LeBlanc allegedly gave false invoices for USPS expenses to clerks at the Seekonk Post Office, who would then issue the money orders to her. For many money orders, LeBlanc allegedly entered the names of her relatives and friends to make it seem as if the funds were coming from sources other than the USPS. She then allegedly spent thousands she gained from these no fee money orders on personal expenses, including money spent at casinos. The charge of theft of government money provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) The former Kempsville High School P.E. teacher charged with trespassing at the school last month is facing five additional charges of possession of child porn. Police arrested Joseph Molineaux, 59, in the parking lot of the school on April 25. They reportedly found two large knives and a hatchet in his car. No one was injured during the incident. Docs: Former Kempsville High teacher arrested with hatchet and knives in vehicle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators then executed a search warrant at his home, finding two AK-style firearms and photos of nude minors in scrapbooks. One book contained the label Only 16! along with images. They also uncovered further evidence of exploited minors on his cell phone, according to the complaint. The dominant theme depicted in the photographs recovered from Molineauxs device reflects a prurient interest in sexual activity, a morbid fascination with the nudity of minors, and an intent to stimulate sexual arousal, the document reads. Molineaux is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on all the charges July 24. Joseph Molineaux Virginia Beach City Public Schools confirmed Molineaux was hired by the school division in August 1999 and said he retired in February 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WAVY also confirmed Molineaux was a physical education teacher in York County. He was employed by the division from 1990-2000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The South Carolina Board of Paroles and Pardons hears an application for parole in Columbia on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Only five members of the seven-member panel were present, with one person absent and a one seat vacant since March 2022. (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA Before then-Gov. David Beasley asked her to join South Carolinas Juvenile Parole Board some three decades ago, Terrye Seckinger was unaware there was a group of citizens deciding which incarcerated youth should be allowed to rejoin the community and which should remain in state custody for crimes they committed as children. Since then, she has served on a total of five citizen governing boards covering criminal justice and education in the state. Once her tenure was over on one board, it wasnt long before a Republican governor called her about another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not like people are knocking down the doors, Seckinger said. In fact, most dont even know there are these boards where citizens can come and make a difference and have a say in our state government. Keeping seats full on South Carolinas vast and vague committees is a challenge for the states political leaders, especially the governor, whos tasked with making most of the appointments, with the Senates approval. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gives his State of the State to a joint session of the Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 at the Statehouse in Columbia, SC. (Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) High-profile boards, such as those overseeing the port or state-owned utility company, have a long line of hopefuls seeking a position. But vacancies can linger for lesser-known but not necessarily less important groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palmetto State has just shy of 300 such boards and advisory groups with about 5,000 politically appointed positions, equivalent to the population of a small South Carolina town, said Brandon Charochak, spokesman for Gov. Henry McMaster. They make decisions for South Carolinians on a host of issues, including public colleges, historic districts, disease prevention and professional licensing. There are boards dedicated to the management of aquatic plants and waterfowl habitats, those that oversee operations at specialized K-12 boarding schools, and a group that makes maintenance decisions at the Governors Mansion. Some have less responsibility, rarely meet or simply remain on the books despite being unfunded or out of existence for years. A long list of vacancies A list published by the Secretary of States office advertises some 425 vacancies, though how many seats are truly open is unclear. The office depends on the boards to keep the list current. Many dont. At least a third of them dont actually exist anymore. How to apply To be considered for appointment to one of South Carolinas hundreds of citizen boards and commissions, you can fill out an online interest form to the Governors Office here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A list of vacancies is maintained by the Secretary of States Office, though dont rely on it to be accurate. Qualifications for each board are listed in the Legislative Manual. Most appointment decisions are left up to the governor and require confirmation by the Senate. But for others, lingering openings on boards can have an oversized impact on the lives of South Carolinians. A seat held for someone with a disabled family member living in a state institution remains unfilled on the Adult Protection Coordinating Council, which is tasked with improving the system of care for people with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A doctor and a pathologist are needed for a panel that reviews death investigations for the elderly and disabled living in state-contracted facilities. The Vulnerable Adults Fatalities Review Committee aims to identify trends and prevent future deaths. Spots for four business people remain unfilled on the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development, a board that comes up with the strategies for training workers needed to fill the many job openings in the state. A prosecutor, a youth recreation organization, and a special education expert are missing from the Governors Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, which is tasked with plans for keeping children out of the juvenile justice system. The board governing the Conservation Bank, which doles out grants to preserve land from development, has several openings. So does the board that oversees billions in bond financing for hospitals, schools and colleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also openings on the commission that reviews foster care placements to ensure children have a safe and stable home. The list goes on. A call for change How active a board is depends greatly on how much its members are willing to work, said Seckinger. Like many who sit on boards, shes politically connected. Beasley was a family friend even before she and her sister worked on his 1994 campaign for governor. Her brother is state Sen. Chip Campsen, who was first elected to the state House in 1996. Being known in political circles, combined with a willingness to devote her time, explains why she keeps getting those calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I tend to find myself in the fox hole, she said. Its up to the agency heads to keep things running day to day. A good board, according to Seckinger, does not micromanage but rather comes up with new ideas and thinks about government in terms of what could be. Members of the public bring a different perspective to agencies, she said. I think theres wisdom in that different set of eyes. For Seckinger, that led to a successful push for public charter schools in the state after she spent time serving on the State Board of Education. And during her time on the Commission for Higher Education, she argued unsuccessfully for changing to a centralized Board of Regents rather than individual college boards, saying it would lead to better scrutiny of college tuition costs and spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking with a business mindset, you see things in agencies that dont make sense or ways to spend less, Seckinger said. Because its our tax dollars. Eliminate them? 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) The issue of board vacancies even led Gov. Henry McMaster to use his State of the State address this year to call for the review and potential elimination of the states more than 40 professional licensing boards. They regulate cosmetologists, construction contractors, chiropractors, real estate agents, nurses, doctors, dentists and more. If the boards were eliminated, oversight would instead be handled directly by the states licensing agency, rather than board appointees. But the General Assembly ultimately did not oblige that request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislators did, however, combine a trio of health-related state agencies into a single, Cabinet-level agency, eliminating their separate governing and advisory boards. We have way too many boards and commissions, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey previously told the SC Daily Gazette. Its difficult for the governor to find qualified, interested people to serve. Not because we havent tried or think its not important. The Edgefield Republican was among supporters of consolidating the health agencies to one department overseen by a single director who answers to the governor. My position for years has been if youre going to have a governor, let him be governor, Massey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond that, Massey said, those people who would best serve in these positions are often already too busy. He recalls long-standing vacancies on the committee that oversees the states clay, gold, stone and sand mines. Vacancies have also resulted in boards lacking a quorum, meaning they cant meet. Not a simple process Even boards without vacancies are stacked with people serving well beyond their prescribed term. Theyre left in whats known as holdover status, often for years some for more than a decade. Henry Horowitz of Greenville served on the South Carolina Arts Commission for 20 years, six of those as chairman, since being appointed by former Gov. Mark Sanford. While not an artist himself, Horowitz has been heavily involved in the arts, serving on half a dozen boards and founding the Artisphere festival in Greenville. This year, he said, he told McMaster it was time to find someone new for the small but influential state board that last year distributed $18.4 million to support the arts, from emerging artists to Charlestons long-running Spoleto festival. His replacement is among five new members of the nine-member arts commission confirmed by the Senate earlier this month. All five are replacing people who had been serving six years or more past the expiration of their terms. In all, the Senate made about 75 confirmations and reconfirmations to boards and commissions this year. More than a dozen other nominees went unconfirmed before the 2025 legislative session officially ended May 8. Horowitz, like Seckinger, only knew of the opening in 2005 because the governor called him. People can apply online, but those without political connections may not know the vacancies or the boards themselves exist. Its hard to get on a board when youre not aware of them, he said. Therefore, people dont get invited. Many of these board members are not paid for their time beyond covering travel expenses. The screening involves a financial and criminal history check and hearings before Senate committees. Horowitz also recalls having to submit five letters of recommendation when he applied. Its not a simple process, he said. Charochak, the governors spokesman, said its common for applicants to drop out once they find out about the six-month to year-long procedure. Thats truly the main issue we have, he said. The impact of vacancies A state parole board decision last fall when those supporting a womans release included her local legislator, police chief and solicitor serves as an example of how vacancies and absences on a board can make a real difference in peoples lives. If one more board member had been present, the Greenwood mother of five imprisoned for killing her abuser may have been released after nearly five years behind bars. One parole board seat remains unfilled some eight months later. McMaster pointed to another case in making his argument for doing away with independent governing boards at the states mental health and disabilities agencies. A lawsuit filed in December by the U.S. Department of Justice accuses the state of keeping adults with serious mental illnesses in institutions longer than necessary. It was filed 17 months after federal authorities warned a lawsuit was imminent if nothing changed. McMaster said putting the governors office in charge would allow whoevers governor to respond and hold people more accountable when things go wrong. But advocates for these populations are less certain. Bill Lindsey, who heads South Carolinas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said having mental health commissioners from each congressional district gave families direct access to decision makers when issues arose. While agency employees set policy, commissioners can serve as advocates. Margie Williamson agreed. Shes spent the last 15 years leading a nonprofit advocacy group in Columbia for people with developmental disabilities, called The Arc of South Carolina. Speaking as a parent, I had somebody who represented my child, she said. Otherwise, in the agency, (those with disabilities) can get lost, being seen as just a number and not a person. With more than 20,000 people with disabilities on a waiting list for state services, Williamson is worried more people will slip through the cracks. Coupled with a multitude of proposed cuts to federal aid programs and possibly Medicaid, she said the lack of certainty has become overwhelming. Lindsey said hes hopeful, even as the Department of Mental Health is folded into a larger Cabinet agency, that the commission will remain intact in an advisory capacity, keeping family members informed of whats going on as the agency restructures. Lindsey also said he was surprised by the legal action taken by the U.S. Department of Justice. While there was still more work to be done to improve the quality of housing for those transitioning out of mental health hospitals, he had felt the state had made great strides. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Four members of the New Orleans Police Department were honored with a promotion ceremony at Gallier Hall on Thursday. Two are now sergeants, one is now a lieutenant and one is now a captain. Its the second time the NOPD has promoted staff since the end of a months-long pause on promotions. Over 800 Superdome, Smoothie King Center workers risk being laid off I will not promote anyone who has not deserved it, who has not tested for it properly. And so, if you passed the test, you get the promotion, said NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirkpatrick says more officers will get promotions later in the year. 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. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. A fifth person has been arrested in connection with the escape of 10 inmates last week from a New Orleans jail, authorities said. New Orleans police said Friday that 29-year-old Casey Smith allegedly assisted two of the 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Smith was booked for accessory after the fact to simple escape, police said. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill also announced Friday that an inmate who was already incarcerated, Trevon Williams, will face new charges in connection to the escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith's arrest comes less than a day after Louisiana State Police announced 59-year-old Connie Weeden of Slidell, Louisiana, has been taken into custody on one felony count of being an accessory after the fact. According to state police, Weeden was in contact with escapee Jermaine Donald by phone both before and after his jailbreak. She also provided him with cash via a cell phone app after his escape. Donald is one of five escaped inmates who remain at large. Five have been captured. From top left, DKenan Dennis, Gary Price, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles and Corey Boyd are seen in a combination of photos provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. From bottom left, Lenton VanBuren, Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Derrick Groves and Leo Tate are seen. / Credit: Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office via AP On Monday, Sterling Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker at the jail, was arrested on charges that he shut off water to a cell that the inmates used in the escape by removing a toilet from the wall, Murrill's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then on Wednesday, state police reported that 32-year-old Cortnie Harris of New Orleans, and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste of Slidell, were also arrested on charges of being accessories after the fact. The brazen escape from the Orleans Parish Justice Center occurred in the early morning hours of May 16. The escape, part of which was captured on surveillance video, showed the inmates removing a jail cell door off its track and breaching a wall behind the toilet of a cell. The inmates climbed a fence that separated the jail from a construction site, and eventually sprinted across a freeway. The escape wasn't discovered until more than seven hours later, at about 8:30 a.m. on May 19. Weeden has been booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. The Orleans Justice Center jail, left, in New Orleans is seen on Friday, May 16, 2025. / Credit: Brett Duke/The Advocate via AP Here's how much Qatar's plane gifted to Trump administration will cost to retrofit Biggest takeaways from RFK Jr.'s MAHA report What is Trump's message to the European Union amid new tariff threats ST. LOUIS FOX 2 had the opportunity to meet with both Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer today for updates on the recovery efforts in the city. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has arrived in the city to assist in the disaster evaluation, following the extreme weather that hit the region last Friday. Over five individuals lost their lives and thousands of buildings were impacted by the tornado. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Spencer hopes the evaluation will be finished on May 25. Kehoe, who lived in north St. Louis back in the day, said he was in contact with President Donald Trump, as well as Kristi Noem, United States Secretary of Homeland Security for assistance relief. Kehoe also noted the anniversary of the Joplin and Jefferson City tornado. FEMA has come out and said this is the largest residential destruction since the Joplin tornado, Kehoe said. Its not a historic moniker that youd like to have, but it just goes to the destruction that we have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials are exploring whether national guards can play a role in assisting with recovery efforts, such as debris removal. FOX 2 raised concerns with both leaders about the assistance available for individuals without insurance. And according to Spencer, a large number of those impacted by last weeks weather have no insurance or are underinsured. That is going to be a tricky component here, but were going to make sure that these folks are housed for the long term, Spencer said. Both leaders expressed gratitude for the first responders for their help in aiding those in need. For more information on how to receive help in the aftermath of the St. Louis tornado, visit here. Donations to impacted victims can also be found here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. With the return of war to the European continent, and international tensions at their highest in a generation, voices in the UK military and government are now reassessing nuclear posture and debating whether Britain needs tactical nuclear weapons again. It may be deeply disturbing that such considerations must be contemplated but giving a British prime minister more options in time of crisis is crucial. The forthcoming Strategic Defence Review may weigh in on the question but the solutions will ultimately come down to both time and money. The MoDs current long-range missile development programme is concentrating on conventional firepower, mainly to replace the subsonic Storm Shadow cruise missile with something faster and more survivable. There is no programme of record for a tactical nuclear missile and Britains hypersonic missile development is still in its infancy when compared with other nations. The British strategic nuclear deterrent is based on four Vanguard-class nuclear-powered submarines equipped with up to 16 Trident multi-warhead nuclear missiles. At least one submarine is on permanent ocean patrol at all times. Trident is the ultimate weapon envisaged to deter a massive attack on Britain. Its purpose is to dissuade because if it is used, it will likely be Armageddon for both attacker and defender. However, the UK no longer possesses an escalation ladder to use the defence parlance. Following the end of the Cold War, in 1998 Britain retired all of its tactical nuclear weapons, mainly the freefall WE177 nuclear bomb. These low-yield weapons were intended to blunt or stop a massive Soviet armoured invasion of the West if conventional means failed. Some are now beginning to ask if having all the nuclear eggs in one basket is wise. Most of the declared nuclear powers still maintain a way to deliver tactical nuclear weapons as a means to dissuade a hostile power from launching a less than strategic strike which would not justify massive retaliation. Whether this strategy would work has thankfully yet to be tested although war games conducted by the Pentagon in Washington appear to indicate that escalation to a complete nuclear warhead exchange is difficult to stop once the ladder is climbed. But governments need options in time of crisis. Currently for Britain, in the event of a nuclear standoff, it will be all in or nothing. Russia and China can at short notice field hundreds of tactical nuclear weapons, affording them an extra rung on the ladder in the event of conflict. The US keeps a small stockpile of low-yield nuclear bombs at airbases in Germany and Italy but there are no guarantees these will not be withdrawn in future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although its believed that there may be a few low-yield Trident warheads in every submarine which could be launched short of a total nuclear exchange, doing this would reveal the submarines location to the enemy a less than optimal option. France however, never wavered in keeping all its options open. Its supersonic, ramjet powered ASMP missile, carried by Mirage and Rafale fighter jets, is a weapon with a range of some 600 kilometres and capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead of between 100 and 300 kilotons yield. The latest iteration of the weapon, the ASMPA-R has just entered service with the French Air Force and will hold the line until a next-generation, hypersonic missile enters service in another ten to fifteen years. If the UK decides it needs tactical nukes again, might cooperation with France be the way forward? Britains current tactical missile systems are already heavily dependent on MBDA, the UK/France/Germany manufacturing consortium. Would the French be willing to offer up the MBDA supplied ASMPA-R as a weapon for the UK? Britain would need to provide its own small warhead (for which it has the proven expertise) and integration on the Eurofighter Typhoon would also be required (admittedly a complex task) but this would still likely be cheaper and faster than a cold-start development programme for an entirely new missile and then its subsequent integration and testing. Such cooperation would be a strong reaffirmation of the Lancaster House Treaties signed by Britain and France in 2010 and which already contain protocols on weapons development. Given the shifting geopolitical winds, European defence and stability may in the near future depend on a much deeper nuclear understanding between Britain and France. Whether the political will exists in either country remains to be seen. Clifford Beal is an honorary senior research Fellow at Exeter University and the former editor-in-chief of Janes Defence Weekly 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. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) The Chatham County Health Department (CCHD) will host an Emergency and Hurricane Preparedness Event on Friday, May 30. The free event is from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the green space behind the health department building at 1395 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. It is open to the public. Several organizations, such Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), Healthy Savannah, GROW Initiative GA, the Red Cross and Safe Kids Savannah, will be on hand with information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This event will highlight important emergency preparedness information, including the Coastal Health Districts Hurricane Registry. The Registry is a list of homebound residents in coastal Georgia who cannot safely evacuate without support. Individuals on the Registry have certain medical conditions or functional challenges that make general evacuation difficult and they have no other reliable transportation to evacuate. Preparedness is key to staying safe during a hurricane, especially for our most vulnerable residents, said Dr. Chris Rustin, Director of the Chatham County Health Department. This event is a great opportunity for the community to learn about local resources, get connected, and make sure everyone has a plan, including those who may need extra help evacuating. Individuals must apply in advance to be on the Hurricane Registry and receive evacuation assistance. In addition to information on the Hurricane Registry, there will be: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Door prizes for the first 100 attendees Raffle prizes Emergency kit demonstrations Evacuation plan guides Local resource directories Information booths Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump imposed a "straight" 50 percent tariff on goods from the European Union, a move that could have a massive impact on American consumers. The president accused the 27-member bloc of forming for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, he wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday morning. Last year, the U.S. imported $605 billion from the E.U. while the E.U. imported $370 billion from the U.S., leading to a $235 billion trade deficit. Now, Trump announced a 50 percent tariff, noting the U.S.'s discussions with the E.U. are going nowhere. The new sweeping levies are set to take effect on June 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement follows Trumps 10 percent reciprocal tariffs for 90 days on the 27 nations in April. EU officials have not yet commented on the latest tariff threat. From French wine to Swiss chocolates, here is a look at some popular products that could soon become more expensive under Trumps E.U. tariffs: Americans may want to soon say au revoir to some of their favorite products imported from Europe as they could soon become more expensive due to Trumps new tariff policy. (AP) Pharmaceutical products The blanket tariff policy could mean that popular treatments such as weight-loss drug Ozempic, blood thinner Eliqui and the HPV vaccine Gardasil that are largely manufactured in Europe could be caught in the crosshairs of Trumps trade war. Last year, the U.S. spent $127 billion on pharmaceutical products imported from the E.U., according to U.S. International Trade Commission data. Cars Americans hoping to buy from German car manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Audi, could soon be hit with higher price tags. Its unclear if the 50 percent tariff would replace or be in addition to the 25 percent levy Trump has already announced on cars outside of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volkswagens 2025 Jetta Compact Sedan retails for $22,495. If the new 5o percent tax takes effect, Americans could see that figure rise as high as $33,742. Cars, including those made in Germany, could soon become much more expensive in America due to Trumps new tariff policy (EPA) Steel The U.S. imports billions of dollars in steel each year from the 27-member bloc. Trump already imposed a 25 percent levy on all steel imports. Its not immediately clear if that means the U.S. will put a 75 percent tax on steel imported from the E.U. French wine Some French wine lovers may soon want to say au revoir to their favorite products. Many wines are imported from France and could get more expensive. A $55 of Veuve Clicquot, which makes its champagne in Reims, France, could soon go for $82 stateside - if makes pass the full cost of the tariff on to consumers. Champagne imported from France could soon get even pricier (REUTERS) Hermes bags American consumers could soon see an uptick in prices in French designer brands, like Hermes. For example, the Hermes Lindy mini touch bag which currently sells for $13,100 could soon cost $19,650 - if the buy foots the tariff bill. Perfumes Smelling fresh could soon cost even more. Perfumes and essential oils are commonly imported products from the E.U. Perfumes are already expensive, but soon a $95 bottle of Grain de Soleil from France-based perfume house Fragonard could cost $142 for Americans. Aircraft Aerospace giant Airbus has a massive factory in Toulouse, France. The aircraft makers CEO has previously warned that if tariffs disrupt imports, Airbus would prioritize customers other than U.S.-based companies, such as American Airlines and Delta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have a large demand from the rest of the world, so [if] we face very significant difficulties to deliver to the U.S., we can also adapt by bringing forward deliveries to other customers which are very eager to get planes, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told CNBC in February after Trumps initial tariff threat. Frontier Airlines now flies direct from Norfolk International Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth. This week, the Colorado-based carrier, known for its low fares, began to offer nonstop flights two days a week to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for an introductory cost of $69. Additional fees are applied for baggage and advance seat assignments. Tickets must be purchased a week before flights scheduled from May 30 to Aug. 18 by the end of June 7 to secure the introductory fare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frontier first started operations from Norfolk in August 2018 with flights to Denver, Colorado, and Orlando, Florida. The airline now offers direct flights from Norfolk to Atlanta, Orlando and Dallas. Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com The Republican-controlled Federal Trade Commission voted Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit against PepsiCo that the previous commission filed in the waning days of the Biden administration. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that PepsiCo was giving unfair price advantages to Walmart at the expense of other vendors and consumers. The lawsuit had relied on the rarely enforced 1936 Robinson-Patman Act, which it said prohibits companies from using promotional incentive payments to favor large customers over smaller ones. When the lawsuit was filed, Democrat Lina Khan was the FTCs chairwoman, and she was joined in support of the lawsuit by Democratic Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. At the time, Republican Commissioners Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak dissented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few days after the lawsuit was filed, President Donald Trump took office and Khan resigned. Trump fired Bedoya and Slaughter in March. Bedoya and Slaughter have sued the Trump administration, saying their removal was illegal. Ferguson, who is now the chairman of the FTC, said Thursday that the PepsiCo lawsuit was a dubious partisan stunt and FTC staff had more important work to do. The Biden-Harris FTC rushed to authorize this case just three days before President Trumps inauguration in a nakedly political effort to commit this administration to pursuing little more than a hunch that Pepsi had violated the law, Ferguson said in a statement. Purchase, New York-based PepsiCo said Thursday that it was pleased with the FTC's withdrawal of the lawsuit. PepsiCo has always and will continue to provide all customers with fair, competitive, and non-discriminatory pricing, discounts and promotional value, the company said in a statement. UPDATED, with Media Matters comment: The Federal Trade Commission has launched the initial stages of an investigation into Media Matters, the progressive media watchdog group that has been targeted by one of Donald Trumps top allies, Elon Musk. Reuters first reported that the FTC sent a civil investigative demand letter to Media Matters, seeking information on its contacts with a World Federation of Advertisers initiative called Global Alliance for Responsible Media, as well as other groups. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, said in a statement, The Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics. Its clear thats exactly whats happening here, given Media Matters history of holding those same figures to account. These threats wont work; we remain steadfast to our mission. An FTC spokesperson declined to comment. Musks X sued Media Matters in 2023 after it published a report on the placement of advertisements on the platform next to pro-Nazi and other objectionable content. A number of advertisers announced that they were pausing their placements on X, although there also was attention at the time to one of Musks posts, in which he endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory. He later said that it was one of the dumbest of his posts, while telling advertisers who left to go f themselves. Media Matters countersued in California, alleging that Musk was forum shopping and out to punish the organization for its speech, per Reuters. Both lawsuits are pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk also sued advertisers that fled his platform, claiming that boycotts violated antitrust laws. The World Federation of Advertisers was named in the lawsuit. The opening of an inquiry is not a surprise: FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, a Trump appointee, had signaled that he would look into advertiser boycotts and the exodus from X in particular before he took the top post at the agency. Shortly after Twitter (now X) was purchased by a free speech champion, major advertisers raced for the door and refused to advertise on X. Concerted refusals to deal also known as group boycotts are illegal under the Sherman Act, Ferguson said. Ferguson also suggested that NewsGuard, a non-partisan media rating site used by advertisers to weigh brand safety of news content sites, could be violating antitrust laws. NewsGuard has said that such government pressure threatens to chill speech protected by the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Trump fired the FTCs two Democratic commissioners, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. They are challenging his actions in court. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Escalating the Trump Administrations attacks on groups associated with the American political left, the Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation of Media Matters for America over accusations similar to those made by staunch Trump ally Elon Musk. In letter to Media Matters staff on Wednesday morning. FTC says it is investigating whether the group colluded illegally with advertisers who pulled ads from X (formerly Twitter). Among other things, FTC is demanding the group turn over a large amount of internal documents including budgets, communications with other watchdog organizations, and documentation of how harmful online content affects advertisers. In statement Wednesday, Media Matters said, the Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics. Its clear thats exactly whats happening here, given Media Matters history of holding those same media figures to account. These threats wont work; we remain steadfast to our mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk filed a defamation lawsuit in November 2023 in response to a Media Matters report documenting repeated instances of paid ads placed next to pro-Nazi and white nationalist content on Twitter. The billionaire alleges the group manufactured that evidence which consisted of screenshots taken live on X and also accused MMFA of collusion with advertisers. Media Matters denies such accusations and legal experts have repeatedly affirmed Musks lawsuit is without merit and in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Critics also note that the lawsuit itself acknowledges that ads actually were placed next to extremist content on X. The lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court of Northern Texas, known for being extremely friendly to right wing interests. Presiding Judge Reed OConnor is also a shareholder in Musks electric vehicle company Tesla. Republican Attorneys General in Texas and Missouri have also opened investigations of Media Matters. Since Musk filed the lawsuit, mounting legal costs forced Media Matters to lay off a large number of employees and scale back some operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MMFA, which tracks and reports on extremist content in right wing media, was founded in 2004 by former conservative activist and journalist David Brock. The post FTC Opens Investigation of Media Matters, Target of Elon Musk Lawsuit appeared first on TheWrap. The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sent Media Matters for America a letter demanding communications between the progressive media watchdog and advertising entities as the commission probes whether the watchdog colluded with advertisers to pull funding from Elon Musks X. Media Matters was notified in a letter dated May 20 from the FTC that it is being investigated, a source familiar with the letter told CNN. The letter, which CNN has viewed, directs Media Matters to turn over all documents, materials and communications with a range of ad entities and related organizations including the World Federation of Advertisers and the Global Alliance for Responsible Media regarding brand safety and disinformation, the source said. Media Matters is a media watchdog whose reporting tracks conservative and far-right news publications and personalities. The organization was sued by Musk in 2023 after it published a report detailing antisemitic and pro-Nazi content on the social media platform he owns, X. That lawsuit accuses the media watchdog of hatching a media strategy to drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In keeping its request for assorted materials vague, the FTC is effectively throwing the kitchen sink at the wall to see what sticks, the source told CNN. The move by the FTC sees the commissions chair, Andrew Ferguson, make good on comments he made in December, mere days before Trump nominated him for the job. We must prosecute any unlawful collusion between online platforms, and confront advertiser boycotts which threaten competition among those platforms, then-Commissioner Ferguson said about a different case. Thats exactly what Musk, who has spearheaded the presidents Department of Government Efficiency, has spent years accusing the progressive watchdog of doing, claiming Media Matters caused a coordinated mass exodus of advertisers by publishing the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Thursday statement, Angelo Carusone, the Media Matters president, said that the Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics. Its clear thats exactly whats happening here, given Media Matters history of holding those same figures to account, Carusone said. These threats wont work; we remain steadfast to our mission. In 2024, a record number of advertisers were looking to cut their ad spending on X, as the platform is now known, citing concerns that the extreme content that has proliferated there since Musks takeover could damage their brands. Musk himself has buoyed conspiracy theories and hate speech with his own account. He also told advertisers that left the platform to go f**k yourself. But advertisers began fleeing the social media platform nearly a year after Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, expressing concerns about the billionaires gutting of the platforms content moderation team, mass layoffs, and uncertainty over the platforms future. In July 2023, months before Musk sued Media Matters, the billionaire reported a 50% decline in Twitters ad revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the exodus, Musk has sought to mend fences, looking to woo back advertisers via a charm offensive. But that same year, Musk sued the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, a voluntary ad-industry initiative run by the World Federation of Advertisers, claiming that the group illegally coordinated an ad boycott against X. In February, Musk broadened that lawsuit to include Lego, Nestle, Shell and several others. Advertisers named in the lawsuit filed a motion last week to dismiss his suit, claiming that Musk was using it to win back the business X lost in the free market when it disrupted its own business and alienated many of its customers. Additionally, in March, Media Matters sued Musk, claiming that he lodged several expensive lawsuits against the watchdog for having dared to publish an article Musk did not like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media Matters has seen similar probes before. In 2023, the progressive watchdog sued Ken Paxton, accusing the Texas attorney general of violating the First Amendment by investigating Media Matters reporting on Musks app, similarly arguing that it was being penalized for its reporting. The progressive watchdog won an injunction against the Texas attorney general in 2024. The FTC declined to comment for this story. WFA did not respond to a request for comment on the probe. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com "Much of New Hampshires substance use disorder treatment has been funded by the Alcohol Abuse, Prevention, and Treatment Fund (better known as the 'Alcohol Fund') and the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund." (Getty Images) Treatment for substance use disorders is a vital service that is critical for the health and well-being of our state. However, as the state considers budget proposals, important and effective mechanisms that fund treatment for substance use disorders have been targeted as a way to meet other budgetary needs. Important services such as outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment could be at risk of becoming a casualty of the states budget. How could this happen? To understand this, it is important to first understand how treatment for substance use disorders is funded in New Hampshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of New Hampshires substance use disorder treatment has been funded by the Alcohol Abuse, Prevention, and Treatment Fund (better known as the Alcohol Fund) and the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund. The Alcohol Fund was created in law in 2000, with the intent of dedicating 5% of gross profits of state liquor sales toward substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and services. The Opioid Abatement Trust Fund started in 2020 and utilizes money gained from legal settlements with drug companies to fund the treatment of opioid use disorder. These funding mechanisms were meant to be sustainable and ensure that these life-saving treatments would be available for any Granite Staters who need it. While Gov. Kelly Ayottes budget proposal includes full funding for the Alcohol Fund, it also proposes to utilize money from the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund to pay for police overtime and drug enforcement operations in the North Country. The House of Representatives, on the other hand, proposes to utilize money from the Alcohol Fund in other areas of the budget and then backfill this money using the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund. While both proposals do maintain funding for the Alcohol Fund, each could have devastating consequences. Under both proposals, access to care for those seeking treatment for substance use disorders in New Hampshire is jeopardized. In shifting these funding sources, both budget options propose to take dedicated funds from the Opioid Abatement Fund. Regardless of how the state proposes to divert these funds, this would dramatically change the programs and services available here in New Hampshire for treatment of other substance use disorders, such as alcohol use disorder or stimulant use disorders. From 2019-2022, nearly a third of drug overdose deaths were not related to opioids. Thus, defunding the treatment of other substance use disorders could lead to more lives lost to the potentially fatal consequences of untreated substance use disorders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treatment for substance use disorders amounts to more than dollars and cents there is a real human cost too. The New Hampshire Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission reports that from 2019-2022, 1,572 people in New Hampshire died due to drug overdose. Of these people, 1,402 (about 90%) either had no evidence of substance use disorder treatment or were not currently receiving treatment. Those that were in treatment at the time of their death comprised fewer than 10% of those who died. This serves as a stark reminder that treatment works, and treatment saves lives. As the state considers budget priorities, it is important to note that utilizing money from the Alcohol Fund or the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund in any way other than how it was intended could come with severe consequences. We need to protect the programs and resources that have been shown to save lives. With drug overdose continuing to have such a high death toll, diverting money away from the mechanisms that fund this treatment could be devastating for access to care and lead to more deaths. (NewsNation) The future queen of Belgium, 23-year-old Princess Elisabeth, just completed her first year at Harvard University, but it could soon come to an end. With President Donald Trump wanting to ban foreign students from studying at the Ivy League, her studies could be affected. On Thursday, the administration revoked Harvard Universitys ability to have international students. However, on Friday, a judge blocked that ruling. Trump tariffs set to collide with back-to-school shopping Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this ban goes through, it would force any current international students to either transfer to another school or lose legal status in the United States. This ban could also extend to other colleges. Belgian royal palace investigating the situation: Spokesperson According to The Guardian, the spokesperson for the Belgian royal palace, Lore Vandoorne, said, Princess Elisabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of [the Trump administrations] decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation. Then, the communication director for the palace, Xavier Baert, said, We are analysing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks. LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM MAY 05: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Crown Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant and King Philippe of Belgium attend a reception at Buckingham Palace for overseas guests ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 5, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) GHENT, BELGIUM DECEMBER 20: Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth Of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant, visits the Princess Elisabeth Childrens Hospital on December 20, 2023 in Ghent, Belgium. (Photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty Images) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM SEPTEMBER 26: Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth of Belgium poses for photographers as she attends the swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Military Academy on September 26, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty Images) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM DECEMBER 20:Princess Elisabeth of Belgium poses in front of the Christmas tree after the annual Christmas concert at the Royal Palace on December 20, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde would like to express their special thanks to those who contributed to the smooth running of their activities in 2022. (Photo by Olivier Matthys/Getty Images) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM DECEMBER 19: (L-R) Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Prince Emmanuel of Belgium and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium host a reception for one hundred members of the public during the festive season at the Royal Palace on December 19, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty Images) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM JULY 21: King Philippe of Belgium, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Prince Gabriel of Belgium, Princess Eleonore of Belgium and Princes Emmanuel of Belgium attend the Te Deum mass at the Cathedral at National Day on July 21, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM JULY 21: Princess Elisabeth of Belgium attends the Te Deum which takes place on the occasion of the National Day in the Cathedral of Saints Michel-et-Gudule on July 21, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. The Belgian National Day marks the day that King Leopold I of Saxen-Coburg-Saalfeld took the oath as first king of the Belgians in 1831. (Photo by Olivier Matthys/Getty Images) Belgiums Royal Family, from left, Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Belgiums Queen Mathilde, Belgiums King Philippe, Crown Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel attend a religious service at the St. Gudula cathedral in Brussels, Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Belgium celebrates its National Day on Wednesday in a scaled down version due to coronavirus, COVID-19 measures. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) Elisabeth is currently studying public policy at Harvard, which is a two-year masters program. The Guardian reported that she is the heir to the Belgian throne since she is the oldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Before she went to Harvard, she earned a degree in history and politics from the University of Oxford in England. Harvard files a lawsuit against the Trump administration On Friday, Harvard filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston against the Trump administrations ban. Harvard states that the governments action would violate the First Amendment and have an immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders. People walk between buildings, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard, the universitys statement said. Judge blocks Trumps ban on Harvard accepting international students Following the lawsuit, a federal judge blocked Trumps attempt to ban those students. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, told NewsNation, The American people elected President Trump, not random local judges with their own liberal agenda, to run the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also said, These unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy. Trumps big, beautiful bill faces a swarm of Senate GOP objections The move would block thousands of students who go to Harvard University for summer and fall classes. Harvard is also concerned about it putting the school at a disadvantage because even if the ban isnt upheld, future applicants may shy away from applying out of fear of further reprisals from the government, the lawsuit said. Harvard would also allegedly be unable to offer admission to new international students for at least two academic years. If a school loses its certification from the federal government, then it would not be able to reapply for one year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. By Charlotte Van Campenhout BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Princess Elisabeth, the 23-year-old future queen of Belgium, has just completed her first year at Harvard University but the ban imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on foreign students studying there could jeopardise her continued studies. The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students on Thursday, and is forcing current foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status in the U.S., while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other colleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Princess Elisabeth has just completed her first year. The impact of (the Trump administration's) decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation," the Belgian Royal Palace's spokesperson Lore Vandoorne said. "We are analyzing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks," the Palace's communication director, Xavier Baert, added. Elisabeth is studying Public Policy at Harvard, a two-year master's degree program that according to the university's website broadens students' perspectives and sharpens their skills for "successful career in public service". The princess is heir to the Belgian throne, as the eldest of four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Before attending Harvard, she earned a degree in history and politics from the UK's Oxford University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard said on Thursday the move by the Trump administration - which affects thousands of students - was illegal and amounted to retaliation. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Frances Kerry) The future queen of Belgium may have to leave Harvard University after the Trump administration blocked the Ivy League institution from being able to enroll international students. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed that Harvard have its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification nixed, accusing the school of fostering violence, not doing enough to combat antisemitism and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. Therefore, foreign students will have to transfer somewhere else or risk losing their legal status, according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Elisabeth, the future queen of Belgium, could be one of many thousands of Harvard international students who might need to look elsewhere. The impact of [the Trump administrations] decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation, Belgian Royal Palace spokesperson Lore Vandoorne told Reuters on Friday. The palaces communications director Xavier Baert told Reuters that we are analysing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks. Elisabeth just finished her first year at Harvard, where she is pursuing a masters degree in public policy. She got her undergraduate degree in history and politics from Oxford University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elisabeth is the oldest child of Belgiums King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Harvard fired back at the administration on Thursday, calling the decision unlawful. Then, the prestigious school filed a lawsuit Friday morning in federal court in Massachusetts, arguing the administrations move to revoke SEVP certification was in violation of the First Amendment and the constitutional due process. Harvard President Alan Garber declared that without international students, Harvard is not Harvard. Hours later, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs temporarily blocked the administrations decision to rescind the schools certification to enroll international students. A hearing was scheduled for May 29 to deliberate whether a longer pause was needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Group of Seven (G7) issued a joint statement on May 22, pledging to keep Russian assets frozen until the end of the war and to support Ukraine's recovery. Canada, which holds the G7 presidency in 2025, released the statement on behalf of the group. "We reaffirm that... Russias sovereign assets... will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group condemned "Russias continued brutal war against Ukraine" and commended "the immense resilience from the Ukrainian people and economy." The statement also reaffirmed that "the G7 remains committed to unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence toward a just and durable peace." Moreover, the G7 leaders welcomed "ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire," and promised to explore options "to maximize pressure such as further ramping up sanctions" on Russia if a ceasefire is not agreed. Recognizing the substantial costs associated with Ukraine's recovery, estimated at $524 billion over the next decade by the World Bank Group, the G7 committed to "help build investor confidence through bilateral and multilateral initiatives" and to continue coordinating support for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the G7 agreed to work with Ukraine "to ensure that no countries or entities, or entities from those countries that financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be eligible to profit from Ukraines reconstruction." Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the G7 countries have collectively supported Kyiv, including through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration program, which aims to provide Ukraine with $50 billion in loans using frozen Russian assets. The G7 currently includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union is also represented in the group. Read also: Finland expecting further Russian military build-up at border after Ukraine war ends Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A luxury estate in rural Hayward, Wisconsin, has hit the market for $4.25 million. Birch Point Lodge, constructed in 2012 with reclaimed red pine, birch paneling and log trusses and featuring a magnificent Great Hall complete with a Wisconsin granite fireplace, is the centerpiece of a 39-acre plot in wooded wilderness. Set on the shore of Tiger Cat Flowage, the property comes with more than 2,000 feet of shoreline and two islands on the lake. All pictures: Jamie Hiner View the 47 images of this gallery on the original article Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main lodge is stunningly appointed, with its chef's kitchen complete with a walnut-topped island, marble counters, and Sub-Zero and Viking appliances. A dramatic dining room features the work of blacksmith Dan Nauman, one of a number of artisans who contributed to the property. Nauman created a 3-tiered chandelier with iron rings and chains, supporting three sets of elk antlers, decorated with birch leaves. The lower level provides space for entertaining, including a family room with fireplace and inglenook, a game room, a bunk room, a copper-topped bar, wine cellar, a gym and a lakeside changing room with marble showers and handcrafted lockers. More from the listing: "Across its expansive layout, the home offers multiple porches, a cascading stone staircase, cantilevered timber stairway, and custom oak bookcases hewn from a tree once rooted on the land.Private bedroom suites feature reclaimed wood floors, birch built-ins, forest views, and stone-accented en-suite baths. A luxurious home spa includes a sauna, steam shower, and soaking tub overlooking the woods." If the majestic main lodge wasn't enough, the property also comes with a standalone guest house a short distance away along the lake. Dean Schlaak and Tom DeGree, of Edina Realty, have the listing for Birch Point Lodge. This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The astronaut trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- worked for about eight hours and completed the task at 4:49 p.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by a team on Earth. Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui, tasked with conducting spacewalk operations, exited through the node cabin of the Tianhe core module. This marked the first time that astronauts had exited via the node cabin since the space station transitioned into its application and development phase. The astronauts installed a debris protection device at its designated location. The device had been previously deployed outside through the cargo airlock and temporarily positioned by the robotic arm. Also, external equipment was inspected and maintained. They have since returned to the core module safely, according to the CMSA. This video screenshot taken at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong leaving China's orbiting space station for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Zhongrui performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Zhongrui performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 22, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Chen Dong performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Yanchen) Editor: Zhang Zhou The independent agency embedded within the legislative branch that is designed to review federal spending and make recommendations to Congress on cost savings and waste, as well as investigate policy implementation (the real one, not DOGE), has released a new finding that none of us will find surprising. As part of its 39 different investigations into various actions the Trump administration has taken in the last four months that could qualify as Impoundment Control Act violations, the Government Accountability Office determined this afternoon that the Trump administration has, in fact, done just that. The congressional watchdog found that the Department of Transportation illegally withheld funds when it paused a Biden-era initiative to expand charging stations for electric vehicles across the nation in February. The $5 billion initiative was originally put in motion by the Transportation Department as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, an element of the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress under President Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps Transportation Department, however, froze the $5 billion in funding to the project as part of DOGEs rampage through the executive branch. The DOT has claimed that it placed a pause on the funds while it writes new rules for how to disperse the grant money. The Office of Government Accountability was not persuaded by the Trump administrations argument and said that if the new administration wants to make funding changes to the EV charging station program, it needs to you guessed it send Congress a rescission package. Or suggest new legislation for Congress to consider. Heres the exact language from the GAO ruling: DOT is not authorized to withhold these funds from expenditure and DOT must continue to carry out the statutory requirements of the program. While DOT cannot withhold these funds under the ICA, DOT could propose funds for rescission or otherwise propose legislation to make changes to the NEVI Formula Program for consideration by Congress. You can read a more detailed breakdown of the findings here. Big picture, the non-partisan congressional watchdog is expected to issue more rulings in coming months as it works its way through nearly 40 other similar investigations into whether the Trump administration has violated the 51-year-old law in other ways. The Trump White House has already called the GAO finding wrong and GAO opinions are, in general, considered nonbinding recommendations to Congress. Such a finding might matter more in an era where congressional Republicans were not already so willing to choke down all of Trumps DOGE cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) put out a compelling statement in response to the ruling saying it affirms what weve long known: the President is breaking the law to block funding Congress passed on a bipartisan basis and that is owed to the American people simply because he disagrees with it. Harvard Is Still Figuring Out How To Respond By now, youve seen the news: the Trump administration is attempting to end Harvards ability to enroll international students, which make up almost a third of the student population at the university that has thus far not given into Trumps attempts to bend it to his will. The school gave the Times the following statement: We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the university and this nation immeasurably, said Jason Newton, the universitys director of media relations. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. Its Thunes Turn President Donald Trump is urging the Senate to act on the House-passed reconciliation package as soon as possible. House Republicans narrowly passed their bill that includes massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP early this morning after weeks of intraparty fighting that culminated in a Trump intervention this week. But the big, beautiful bill is expected to face major challenges in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is reportedly privately meeting with senators who are against the packages sweeping cuts to Medicaid. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has been very vocal about his opposition to cuts to the social safety net program for weeks. And the Hill is reporting that a group of five to seven Republican senators are concerned about the Medicaid reforms included in the Houses reconciliation package. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has already said he is a no on the bill in its current form, as it does not do enough to address the deficit. Senate Republican leadership is considering taking the Houses package and chopping it up into pieces to make it easier to pass. One thing is certain: the problems that plagued the bills passage in the House arent going anywhere. And there will be changes to the bills text once the upper chamber gets its hands on it. Emine Yucel In Case You Missed It New from Kate Riga: Supreme Court Kills The Independent Agency. Trump Is King Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And a scoop from Josh Kovensky: An Outspoken Christian Nationalist Pastor Expands His Sway In Trumps DC House Passes Trumps Reconciliation Bill After Shoving In Larger Medicaid Cuts At Last Minute Federal Judge Calls Out Trump DOJs Targeting Of Political Rivals In Real Time Welcome To The White Christian Nationalist Presidency Yesterdays Most Read Story Judge Finds DHS Violated Court Order In Sudden South Sudan Removal Scheme What We Are Reading Democratic Hill staffer is a contestant on next season of Survivor The Republican Partys Populist Betrayal The Largest Upward Transfer of Wealth in American History I have been blessed to share many stories, but one stands out to me as incredible. It was a story I got to share for Memorial Day 2006. Charles Gordon Wofford, a retired Vietnam veteran, shared his veterans story with me. It was a story that touched many hearts, including mine. I got a phone call the week before Memorial Day 2006 from Gordon. We were complete strangers. He said he would be meeting the family of a man he served with in Vietnam 36 years prior who saved his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said a lady author who wrote a book about her father getting killed in Vietnam told him to call the newspaper and tell us about the meeting. Are you interested in a story like that? She said you might be. I dont know. If youre not interested, then you dont have to pay any attention to what Im saying, Gordon said. I dont want to waste your time Ill tell you what. I got a file I can bring up there to you and let you look at it. Then you can tell me if you want to do anything. If not, Ill take it home with me and be on my way, he said. I agreed, and Gordon brought the file. I still have it. It was full of handwritten notes and printouts from veteran-related websites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gordon was meeting with the widow and her daughter of the medic who saved his life in Vietnam. The two, Deb and Angela Krebsbach, never knew who the wounded soldier was their husband and father, Ronald Krebsbach, was tending to when he was shot and killed by a sniper in Cambodia. Gordon was that soldier. He never knew the name of the man who saved his life. The man who died with his arm around Gordons shoulder, while Gordon lay there with his jaw shot, had pulled Gordon down to the ground. Another shot rang out, and the medic was killed. He blew his last breath of air into Gordons face. It turned out there were only two people killed in that battle in Cambodia on May 28, 1970. Gordons commanding officer and Doc Ronald Krebsbach the man who saved Gordon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gordon found the family some 35 years later in Minnesota through searching on the internet and discovering a memorial posting Angela made about her father on the Vietnam Veteran website Manchu.org. A picture of Doc was posted and his death was on the same date that Gordon had been shot and during the same battle. Since only two were killed and one of them was his commanding officer, Gordon knew this was the man who had saved his life. He wrote to the daughter, Angela, who was unborn when her father was killed in Vietnam. He told her he was with her father when he was killed. She immediately wrote Gordon and said she wanted to know everything about her father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two wrote back and forth for two years until they planned to meet in person in 2006. I went to Gordons house where he and Docs wife, Deb, and their daughter, Angela, and I sat in a bright, sunroom on the back of Gordons home and the three shared their story. It was a healing process for all three. It was a healing for the man who lived for more than 30 years with survivors guilt. Gordon longed to thank the family of the man who he didnt even know, but who saved his life. Gordon spent 19 months in Walter Reed Army Hospital recovering from the injury, having his jaw reconstructed. He had to learn to talk and eat again all at the age of 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive thought of him every day since. When I put in my teeth I think of him, Gordon said. It was healing and closure for Deb, who at a young age lost her husband at war while she was pregnant with their unborn child, Angela. She never remarried. She missed him terribly. I always wondered whatever happened to that soldier, Deb said. Its nice to know someone else has been thinking about him for all these years. And it was a healing for Angela, who grew up without a father, never knowing the circumstances around his death or the type of person he was while in Vietnam. Ive learned more about my father in the last four years than I have in the first 30, Angela said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the three-hour meeting and interview between us, there wasnt a dry eye in the house. There were some things said today that I dont think ever would have been said if you werent here, Deb said. There has been a tremendous amount of guilt lifted ... I feel like I can talk to them now about anything. We are bonded like best friends, family. I want to do all I can for them and I want to be there for them whatever they need. I would walk the aisle with her if she wanted me to, Gordon said. It was a day I know I will never forget. The weekend of Memorial Day 2006, after Angela and Deb left Crossville and went back to Minnesota, Gordon rode his motorcycle out to Washington, DC, with other Vietnam veterans with Rolling Thunder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He rode in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day parade. As he went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, he was finally able to touch the name of the man who had saved his life some 35 years before. It was a feeling I will never forget as long as I live, Gordon later told me. Gordon used to call me on the phone a lot after that story was published. He became a good friend. He told me there werent many people he had ever cried in front of like that. He was diagnosed with cancer about a year later after he fell ill with a brain tumor. Miraculously, Gordon came back from that and learned to walk again. Unfortunately, he lost some of his speaking ability and was unable to read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cancer slowly came back. Gordon passed away in 2009 in a bed in the sun room where he used to sit, read, watch the birds and where he shared his amazing story with me. Also amazing is I never would have known about Gordons story had it not been for Karen Spears Zacharias, an author who lives some 2,000 miles away from Crossville, in Oregon. She brought Gordon to me. Karen is the author who wrote the book that Gordon said helped change his life. The book, originally published as Hero Mama, is now After The Flag Has Been Folded. It is a memoir of her family and their survival after her father was killed in Vietnam in 1966. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After seeing her on a television interview, Gordon met Karen at a book signing and followed her all around the South. He appeared at many of her book signings if they were within a days drive. She jokingly referred to him as her stalker. Karen was the one who prompted Gordon to call the newspaper. I miss Gordon. He would call me regularly to talk about veterans issues, Crossville politics and other things. Lifelong friendships were made that day. Deb, Angela, Karen and I remain friends 19 years later. Karen has since written several books. She continues to honor the memory of her father, David P. Spears, of Rogersville, TN, who was killed in Vietnam when she was a young child. His name is on Panel 9E at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Memorial Day may be the kickoff to summer and famous for family gatherings and cookouts, but it is a serious holiday to honor veterans who have passed. Heroes like Ronald Krebsbach, whose name is on Panel 10W at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Sacrifice a little time this Monday and honor the memory of those veterans who have passed, preserving our freedom. Crossville will observe Memorial Day Monday, May 26, 2025, at the War Memorial Park in downtown Crossville. The Cumberland County Community Band will begin music at 10:20 a.m., followed with a ceremony at 11 a.m. A Georgetown University scholar detained in March by the Trump administration said his detainment served as a mockery of the rule of law. Badar Khan Suri, 41, was released on bond last week after a federal judge determined he should not be removed from the country until the court can consider his legal challenge. The postdoctoral student described his first week detained in Louisiana in an interview with The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Same terror. Same fear. Same uncertainty. Same mockery of rule of law. Same mockery of due process, Khan Suri said. I was going more and more deeper, reaching to my abyss. And I was discovering that the abyss also has more and more depth. The Department of Homeland Security accused Khan Suri of having ties to Hamas through his father-in-law, Ahmed Yousef, who worked for the Hamas-backed government in Gaza in the early 2000s. However, Khan Suris attorneys said he barely has contact with the relative, adding that their client has not spoken out in support of the terrorist group. I dont support Hamas. I support Palestine. I support Palestinians. And it is so deceiving for some people who just publish canards They will just replace Palestine with Hamas, he told the AP while declining to speak about his father-in-law. As a result of the allegations, Khan Suri has been separated from his son and confined in a facility where he has to use the bathroom in front of a camera monitor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is one of multiple foreign students whom the Trump administration has sought to remove or detain regarding statements tied to the war in Gaza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 undocumented Georgia student held inside an ICE detention center for two weeks is now back home with her family. Ximena Arias-Cristobal made national headlines when Dalton police mistakenly pulled her over during a traffic stop and then learned she was undocumented. ICE agents immediately sent Arias to the Stewart Detention Center in Columbus. It was scary. I was terrified, Arias-Cristobal said. As I was being transported down to Stewart, I stopped at some offices in Atlanta. They had me in a room by myself for 9 hours. I didnt know what was going on. I wasnt explained to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in custody, family, friends, immigration activists, and community members pushed for the 19-year-olds release. On Thursday, a federal judge granted Arias-Cristobal bond. TRENDING STORIES: Her attorney said Arias-Cristobal is now back home resting, while he works on her immigration status. Were going to keep working on her case to try to keep her here permanently, attorney Dustin Baxter told Channel 2s Audrey Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Washington spoke with people in the small Dalton, Georgia, community about why they support Arias. I think it was ridiculous, Dalton resident Kimberly Nunes said. They just snatched her up. I mean, thats just horrible. She had to be scared to death. Shes a good person. She didnt do anything bad, Pilar Zamora said. Arias-Cristobal was brought here from Mexico at the age of four by her parents. Their attorney is now working on her fathers immigration case as well. , As Atlanta Public Schools are set to close for summer break next week, one of the main questions on Kimberly Dukes mind is how she will feed her children. The mother of 10, and executive director of the education advocacy group Atlanta Thrive, is well aware of the hardships many APS families face when schools close down for the summer. Currently five of Dukes children attend a school in the APS system, where the majority of students are Black and eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I live in fear sometimes because Im a mom of 10 kids, so I know how hard it is to not only worry about where were gonna sleep at night, but how Im gonna feed my kids, Dukes told Capital B Atlanta. That is a big concern. The federal program that could have assisted Dukes by providing extra money for groceries over the summer wont be an option for her or any other Georgia families as Gov. Brian Kemp chose to opt out of the program for the second year in a row. Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, provides qualifying families with $120 for each eligible child in their household for the summer months. Designed to help feed children who receive free and reduced-price lunches at school, Congress approved the program in 2022 for use when public schools are closed or have limited hours. Georgia is one of 11 states that will not take part in the program for summer 2025, according to USDAs website. The decision to opt out of the program for another summer comes as at a time when House Republicans successfully pushed for major budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, in the coming years. Thursday, the House passed a bill that approved more than $300 billion in cuts to the SNAP program over the next 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These state and federal legislative decisions impact Black children in Georgia in particular, as they are twice as likely to face food insecurity compared to white residents. In Fulton County, approximately 19% of children faced food insecurity in 2023, according to Feeding America. Customers shop at the Municipal Market in Fulton County, where 19% of children faced food insecurity in 2023. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) And the problem expands past that metro area. Hancock County, a predominantly Black region of Georgia, had one of the highest rates of childhood food insecurity in the country in 2023, with almost 47% of children not having access to enough food to lead a healthy, active life, according to Feeding America. Black families in Georgia are also overrepresented on the SNAP rolls. In 2020, Black people comprised 33% of the states population and more than half of SNAP participants, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Danah Craft, the executive director of Feeding Georgia, said that because of historic inequities like redlining and underinvestment, Black communities are already burdened by food deserts, and cuts to SNAP could make things worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe that the kind of cut in benefits and the pressure of reduced SNAP spending could make it even harder for those communities to access groceries, said Craft. For Dukes and other families in the APS system, these policy decisions are doubly worrisome. If you live in the city of Atlanta, you see the homeless population. If we cut the food its gonna be worse, said Dukes. Im concerned for me. Im concerned for my neighbors. Im concerned for the people across town. Last year, Kemps office shared concerns with Capital B Atlanta about Summer EBTs economic and nutritional value. Garrison Douglas, Kemps press secretary, said in February that there were no updates on the states stance on the program, calling Summer EBT a pandemic-era, Biden administration program that lacks nutritional standards and fiscal accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governors office did not immediately respond for comment on any updates to the states participation in the program. Congressional House Republicans are looking to cut federal spending by $880 billion during the next 10 years. The cuts are part of President Donald Trump and his administrations effort to curb federal spending to offset the cost of extending Trumps 2017 tax cuts for high-income earners. The national SNAP program is one of the costs they want to minimize. Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath, who was outspoken in February about Kemps decision to not participate in Summer EBT this year, said that the SNAP cuts coupled with the decision to not partake in the summer program are devastating for Georgia families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres so many people within Georgia that are already suffering from food insecurity, so youre talking about, even more so, taking food out of the mouths of our children and our seniors and our veterans and families that are struggling every single day just to make ends meet and keep food on the table, said McBath in an interview this week with Capital B Atlanta. House Republicans plan to achieve federal budget cuts by requiring states to begin paying 75% of administrative costs of the program if the legislation is passed, whereas currently states pay only half. They also would require states to begin sharing the cost of SNAP benefits for the first time. Georgia would be positioned as one of the states to pay up to 25% of the programs benefit costs. This could add around $7 billion to the state budget over the next 10 years, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. If the bill becomes law, these changes wouldnt come into effect until fiscal year 2028. Critics of the legislation worry changes in costs could force states to either reduce SNAP benefit amounts or restrict eligibility for the program altogether. Nonprofit groups in the city like the Atlanta Community Food Bank will try to fill in the gaps created by these cuts will leave behind, but higher levels of demand for food have left many organizations spread thin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dukes believes now more than ever, community members need to tell their elected officials how these policy decisions impact their families lives. If its going to affect them in their household, then they need to use their voice and speak out, find their power, organize other parents and community members alongside these issues so that we can make sure that decision-makers at least hear from us, said Dukes. The post Georgia Skips Feeding Kids this Summer as GOP Pushes SNAP Cuts appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. After twin brothers were found dead on Bell Mountain, the family contests the states claim of suicide: I know that something happened to them. Two months after news surfaced of the twin brothers found deceased on Bell Mountain, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) concluded its investigation into the cause of their deaths. On March 8, GBI responded to a 911 call about two people who were found dead at the top of Bell Mountain. At the time, the states investigation bureau reported that 19-year-old twin brothers Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis were both found with gunshot wounds. GBIs preliminary investigation suggested that the Lewis twins died by murder-suicide. However, the family suspected otherwise as the twins were found 90 miles from their home in Lawrenceville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had no reason to take their own lives, said Samira Brawner, the twins aunt, previously in an interview, per Fox 5. I know that something happened to them. I know that they were murdered. Describing the young men as happy, fun, and family-oriented, Brawner said GBIs initial ruling doesnt make any sense. In a GoFundMe campaign, Qaadir and Naazirs aunts Sabriya, Yasmine, and Samira Brawner released statements in April as they awaited the final verdict from GBIs in-depth investigation. As we are still waiting for the investigation to complete private [sic] and GBI, we are hoping for the truth and substantial evidence of what happened to the twins. We do know one thing for sure that they would not harm themselves and would not harm each other so we demand a thorough investigation and those involved to be prosecuted. an April 3rd statement read. On April 10th, after the autopsy was reportedly completed, the family wrote: We are still waiting on [the] toxicology report that can take several weeks and GBI still investigating and gathering forensics. We are not going to sweep this case up under the rug, we want to know the truth of what happened to Qaadir and Naazir so this family can have closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 21, GBI announced the conclusion of its in-depth investigation into the twins deaths. Based on their findings and a medical examiners autopsy, Qaadir and Naazirs deaths were ruled a suicide. In a press release, GBI outlined the investigative findings that led to this conclusion: Cellular location data has established a timeline of their location from their home in Gwinnett County to Bell Mountain. In the video that corresponds to those locations, the Lewis brothers are seen alone. Only one brother (Naazir) went to the airport on March 7, 2025. He never caught the flight and returned home. Records show Naazir is the only person that had an airline ticket. Records show Naazir purchased the ammunition used in the gun. The ammunition was delivered to his home on March 5, 2025. Internet history from their phones showed searches for how to load a gun, suicide rates in 2024, and other related searches. Forensic evidence showed that the Lewis brothers fired a gun. GBI reportedly met with the twins family before releasing the news, but the family has yet to release a statement in light of the investigations conclusion. More must-reads: UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) The trial of the man accused of murdering a Utica City School District principal last summer began in earnest on Friday with pretrial hearings. Lawyers for Jeremy Kirch and District Attorney Todd Carville stood before Judge Robert Bauer on Friday, May 23 to be heard on several motions. While Judge Bauer did deny the suppression of several pieces of evidence, several hearings were granted to determine the validity of certain pieces of evidence. Kirch was arrested in August of 2024 and was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend Elizabeth Gerling, a former principal at Columbus Elementary in Utica. Kirch was found in the city of Rome soon after her death and subsequently arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scholarship fund established for former Utica teacher Bauer granted a motion for a Sandoval-Ventimiglia hearing, which will determine if behavioral evidence can be used in the trial. A mental evaluation to determine Kirchs fitness to stand trial was conducted, but Carville said that evaluation is under review. Bauer denied a motion to suppress statements Kirch made to law enforcement. Bauer did grant a Huntley Hearing to determine if the statements being used by the prosecution were voluntary or not. Bauer also denied motions to suppress other evidence, including identifying testimony and physical evidence. However, hearings have been granted to determine the admissibility of both the testimony and evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Mapp-Dunaway Hearing was granted to assess the circumstances of Kirchs arrest. It will also be used to assess the seizure of Kirchs trailer and truck, which were impounded for the reasons of executing the search warrant. Bauer granted the other following motions: To have the court review search warrants for Kirchs truck, trailer home and phone, as well as the defendants blood, and A review of the grand jury minutes to assess the sufficiency of the legal instructions given. Bauer denied the following motions: Search warrants to Blink and Ring cameras at Gerlings home A change of venue, citing that the defense had not proven a reasonable cause of unfair or impartial ruling. However, Bauer said, if circumstances change, that ruling can be reconsidered. Directing the prosecution to supply defense with an electronic copy of all of their evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday, July 17 at 10:30 AM for suppression hearings. Also up for discussion during the suppression hearings will be a claim by the defense that Kirch did not know his calls from the jail were being recorded. After the suppression hearings, both sides will discuss going to trial. You can look at the full hearing from Eyewitness News Reporter Kayla Bruce below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. German-based tech company Kontron exported sensitive technology to Russia via its Slovenian subsidiary, Kontron doo, despite a new round of EU sanctions, Politico reported on May 23. According to the outlet, Kontron used the Slovenian entity to ship over 3.5 million euro ($3.9 million) worth of telecommunications equipment to its Russian subsidiary, Iskra Technologies, between July and November 2023. The shipments included 11 deliveries and included the SI3000 telecommunications platform a dual-use product capable of monitoring and intercepting communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move appeared to circumvent multiple rounds of EU sanctions introduced in 2023 targeting dual-use and sensitive technologies, according to Politico. Kontron said the exports were related to pre-sanction contracts and were authorized by Slovenian authorities under previously issued licenses. However, the media outlet reported that EU sanctions apply to all dual-use technology contracts, including those signed before the restrictions took effect. Exceptions may exist, but only in specific cases such as cybersecurity, medical use, or emergencies and only if authorized by the relevant national government. Despite extensive Western sanctions aimed at cutting off supply lines, Russia continues to obtain sanctioned goods, such as microchips, via third-party countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv's allies have sought to halt the Kremlin's ability to circumvent sanctions. Earlier this week on May 20, EU adopted the 17th package of sanctions against Russia, primarily targeting its shadow fleet of oil tankers. Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. German Research Minister Dorothee Bar on Friday expressed regret at a decision by the Trump administration to block foreign students from enrolling at elite Harvard University. "This saddens me very much. That's not a positive signal, neither for the young generation nor for the free world," Bar said, as she arrived at a meeting with her European Union counterparts in Brussels. "I very much hope that the US government will revoke this decision, because it really is fatal," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US President Donald Trump has accused Harvard and other elite US universities of pursuing a left-wing ideology and allowing anti-Semitism on campus. His administration sent a list of demands on April 11 to the school, which Harvard has refused to adopt. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Thursday the administration was "holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus." She revoked the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program Certification for what she said was "pro-terrorist conduct." This means that Harvard's international students would have to transfer to other universities or risk losing their legal status, Noem said in a statement. Earlier this year, the Trump administration froze more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts at Harvard. This photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) NINGBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. A total of 1,028 domestic companies are also attending the event, showcasing local distinctive industries and competitive consumer goods. The event also attracts more than 3,000 overseas buyers from 72 countries and regions. Tentative import deals worth over 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) are expected to be reached with CEEC partners during the event, according to the organizers. In addition to traditional consumer goods, the expo also showcases vanguard digital and intelligent technologies, serving as a broad platform for presenting innovative breakthroughs in categories such as aircraft, VR devices, medical equipment and humanoid robots. "The expo is a gateway for our products to reach international markets, and we plan to establish headquarters in CEEC to further explore and expand our presence in the region," said Fan Rui, founder of Aoxue Ruishi Technology Co., Ltd., who brought his company's extended reality (XR) glasses to the event. Co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and China's Ministry of Commerce, the expo, initiated in 2019, has played an important role in increasing exports of CEEC products to the Chinese market, and cementing mutual understanding on cooperation between China and CEEC countries. Data from China's commerce ministry showed that in 2024, China's trade with CEEC increased by 6.3 percent year over year, reaching a record high of 142.3 billion U.S. dollars. A Polish merchant promotes his cheese to visitors during the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Guests attend the opening ceremony of the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Foreign guests interact with a humanoid robot during the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) People visit the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) People visit the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22. 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) People queue up to visit the Digital and Smart Manufacturing of CEEC exhibition area of the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22. 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Dancers from Slovakia perform during the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Visitors enjoy performance from Bulgaria during the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Serbian merchants promote their fruit wine at the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) People visit the fashion area of the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Editor: Zhang Zhou Italian police say they chased down a German tourist after spotting him transporting an ancient Roman artifact on a rented e-scooter. Officers apprehended the 24-year-old on Wednesday evening after he was spotted zipping down the historic Via Veneto near the US Embassy with the 30 kilogram (66lbs) marble base of an ancient column between his feet. Romes archeological superintendent described the artifact as being of historic interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the tourist had told them that he obtained it as a souvenir, but it is unclear if he paid someone for it. Police said the man has not been charged but is under investigation for receiving stolen cultural goods. They did not release his name. Archeological experts are still studying the artifact to determine where it was taken from. Tourists behaving badly have long been a cause of annoyance to Italian authorities. In recent years, tourists have been arrested for driving e-scooters and a Maserati down the Spanish Steps, carving initials into the Roman colosseum, and riding a moped into the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February a tourist from New Zealand was fined for diving into the Trevi Fountain. Earlier this month, an American tourist had to undergo emergency surgery after he was impaled on a spire after trying to climb over a fence surrounding the ancient Roman colosseum. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, on Friday marked 60 years since the country officially took up diplomatic relations with Israel, forged in the lingering shadow of the Holocaust. The close and friendly relations between the two countries today cannot be taken for granted given Germany's responsibility for the murder of Jews during the Shoah, according to the draft resolution. The minister for federal and European affairs of the state of Hesse, Manfred Pentz, called the step at the time "a miracle of reconciliation," saying it "shows the greatness of which human forgiveness is capable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diplomatic ties were formally established on May 12, 1965, following an agreement between Germany's then-chancellor Ludwig Erhard and Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol. The move came after a gradual rapprochement following the atrocities carried out during the Holocaust, during which Nazi Germany murdered some 6 million Jews. In the following decades, Germany and Israel have built a close network of political, economic, military, scientific and cultural cooperation. To mark the diplomatic milestone, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog in Berlin earlier this month, and repaid the honour with a subsequent two-day visit to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anniversary comes at a time of strained relations. Germany has expressed concern over Israel's military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in high civilian casualties and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel, in turn, has voiced alarm over what it sees as rising anti-Semitism in Germany. Bundesrat President Anke Rehlinger, addressing the chamber on Friday, noted that sympathy for the people of Gaza was not incompatible with a commitment to Israel. Germany's upper house of parliament on Friday called on the government to ensure that two women raising a child together are given the same rights as heterosexual parents. When two women raise a child in Germany, the non-biological mother has to adopt the child to be considered a legal parent, the chamber noted in a resolution, describing the legal situation governing parenthood as discrimination. In contrast, men are automatically considered a parent if they are married to the biological mother, or if they recognize fatherhood in the case of unmarried heterosexual couples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The upper house, or Bundesrat, a legislative body that represents Germany's 16 states, urged the federal government to amend the corresponding law governing parentage to ensure that the non-biological mother is given equal legal status. Germany legalized same-sex marriage in 2017, but queer families have not yet achieved equality in terms of parentage law, the Bundesrat said in the resolution. The Bundesrat, which is not elected directly, has the right to initiate legislative processes. It must sign off on certain laws and all constitutional changes. Germany and India are looking to expand economic and military cooperation, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday as he received his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Berlin. "We agree: Peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific are closely intertwined with peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area," Wadephul said. The German minister condemned last month's fatal terrorist attack in the contested region of Kashmir, which brought India and Pakistan to the brink of another war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twenty-six people were killed in the attack in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir on April 22, mostly Indian tourists. New Delhi accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Islamabad denied. Several people were reportedly killed in the ensuing cross-border skirmishes between the two rival nuclear powers. Wadephul also welcomed the ceasefire reached on May 10. Jaishankar said his country would never surrender to threats of nuclear attacks and stressed India's right to self-defence. He praised the close relations with Germany, which is India's most important economic partner in the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noting 25 years of strategic partnership with India, Wadephul said: "We want to further deepen this partnership at all levels." He said he and Jaishankar had "discussed this in detail, from the economy and trade to the recruitment of skilled workers and security policy." The German minister also touched on increased cooperation in the area of armaments. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Friday warned of the consequences of a tariff dispute with the United States, hours after US President Donald Trump announced 50% tariffs on EU goods from June 1. "I believe that such tariffs would not help anyone, but would only lead to economic growth in both markets suffering as a result," Wadephul said at a press conference in Berlin with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The response is now up to the European Commission, Wadephul argued, adding that Germany is still hoping for a negotiated solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche also responded to Trump's announcement. "Tariff conflicts know no winners," she said. "We must do everything we can to ensure that the European Commission reaches a negotiated solution with the US." "Tariffs harm the US and the EU in equal measure," Reiche further stated. "We need more trade, not less." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is 'aware' of criticism over a gender imbalance in his Cabinet, a government spokesman said on Friday. "You can assume that we are aware of the composition," deputy government spokesman Sebastian Hille said in Berlin. "But some things are the way they are." Asked whether the chancellor has less confidence in women, Hille said: "I don't think so," and added that "the chancellor enjoys working with women." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz has a wife and several daughters, the spokesman pointed out, adding that "there are numerous women working in the federal government." Eight of the 18 seats in the Cabinet are taken by women, four of which are from Merz's centre-left coalition partner, the Social Democrats. In Merz's office, the Chancellery, there are also more men than women in senior positions. Meanwhile, the coalition committee - the second key decision-making body in the new government - is to consist of ten men and one woman. Merz's party colleague Karin Prien sees a definite need for change. "As minister for women, who is also responsible for equality, I can tell you that parity must remain a goal," Prien told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Prien, from Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), this means that "we must obviously strive for and fight for more positions such as party chair, secretary general and similar positions so that we are then also represented accordingly in these bodies." Women must be louder in government and in the party and stand up for their positions, Prien said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to support international efforts to get Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, in a first phone call between the two leaders since Merz took office earlier this month. Merz and Xi assured each other they were open to cooperate on overcoming global challenges, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said after the call on Friday. China is considered Russia's most important ally, as Moscow has found itself increasingly isolated by Western nations who have been providing Kiev with financial and military support in its defence against the full-scale Russian invasion launched over three years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US efforts under President Donald Trump to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a halt in fighting have so far not produced any significant results. Merz and Xi also discussed economic relations, Kornelius said, with the German chancellor noting the importance of fair competition. The two leaders agreed to "soon continue the direct exchange, to develop German-Chinese cooperation further." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to support international efforts to get Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, in a first phone call between the two leaders since Merz took office earlier this month. Merz and Xi assured each other they were open to cooperating on overcoming global challenges, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said after the call on Friday. China is considered Russia's most important ally, as Moscow has found itself increasingly isolated by Western nations who have been providing Kiev with financial and military support in its defence against the full-scale Russian invasion launched over three years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US efforts under President Donald Trump to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a halt in fighting have so far not produced any significant results. Merz and Xi also discussed economic relations, Kornelius said, with the German chancellor noting the importance of fair competition. The two leaders agreed to "soon continue the direct exchange, to develop German-Chinese cooperation further." Tight-lipped Chinese response The Chinese side only briefly touched on the Ukraine issue when commenting on the conversation. Instead, Beijing stressed the importance of mutual relations, with Xi noting that the international situation was increasingly characterized by disorder and change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strategic and global significance of relations between China and Germany, as well as between China and Europe, was now even clearer, he reportedly said. China was ready to open a new chapter in its comprehensive strategic partnership with Germany, according to Xi. Political trust must be strengthened, and the resilience of bilateral relations increased, the president said, adding that China regards Germany as a partner and welcomes its growth and prosperity. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has held a phone call with Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher following the knife attack at the northern German city's central train station. Merz wrote on X: "The news from Hamburg is shocking. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. My thanks go to all the emergency services on the ground for their rapid assistance." Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Merz has offered the assistance of the federal government, after Tschentscher informed him about the situation and the condition of the injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to emergency services, six people suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack on Friday, with six more being hurt. A 39-year-old German woman has been detained in connection with the attack. PRINCETON, Ind. (WEHT) After years of anticipation and planning, the Toyota Indiana YMCA of Gibson County welcomes its first guests and members. Whats touted as a transformational project and what was considered a dream dating back to 2004, the Y begins its normal operating hours on Friday. The countless visionaries cut the ribbon on the $21 million Toyota Indiana YMCA, a facility home to a lap pool. gymnasium, fitness center, teaching kitchen and STEM lab, among other amenities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wouldnt be possible without the sponsors stepping up, and also the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership securing $5 million from the state Regional Economic + Acceleration Development Initiative, better known as READI. All believed in a purpose to curb some unhealthy statistics according to a Gibson County health assessment. It shows physical inactivity at 26% when the national average is only 23%, and it shows access to exercise opportunities at 67% when the national average is 84%, Princeton Mayor Greg Wright says. Our ways of changing these trends have for years been very limited, until today. Our childrens lives have been molded by church, school and home, but weve lacked that fourth place, until today. A new chapter begins as the location in Princeton is not only a fitness facility, but its where people say kids can come and be in a safe space after school and where our seniors can come and learn new skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through thick and thin during the construction phase, Southwestern Indiana YMCA President Jonathan Pope says its a vision not worth giving up on. As you all know if youve been involved in them, they are predictable and we face rising construction costs, equipment costs, supplier issues, multiple challenges and delays all along that path. But we stand steadfast in our faith and our belief that we should not grow weary in doing good, Pope says. Opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m., the Y is going to its regularly scheduled operating hours starting Friday. More from Ben Walls Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). A visit to Ukraine by a delegation from the Danish Professional Directors Association (Board Network), which included 27 representatives from Danish boards of directors, state institutions and private companies, took place this week and became the largest visit by representatives of Danish business since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Danish Embassy in Ukraine reported on Friday. "The group was led by Jeppe Kofod, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and current Chairman of the Board at Ukrenergo, Ukraines national electricity transmission operator. It was not just a fact-finding mission but a statement of solidarity and interest in Ukraines future. Over the course of their visit, the delegation met with representatives across sectors to better understand Ukraines current needs, challenges, and opportunities for future partnerships," the embassy said on Facebook. According to the embassy, the delegation visited, among other things, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, where it met with Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko, visited the JYSK store in the recently rebuilt Giraffe Mall shopping center in Irpin after being destroyed during the occupation, where it met with the regional director of JYSK Ukraine, Yevhen Ivanytsia, and visited Antonov Airport in Hostomel. "The delegation also visited one of Ukrenergos substations, where they gained a first-hand look at the technical and security challenges faced by Ukraines energy sector. Ukrenergos leadership shared insights into how the company is working to restore and protect Ukraines electricity infrastructure under wartime conditions, and where external cooperation and investment can support those efforts," reads the report. "Throughout the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to speak with Ukrainian partners, observe local reconstruction efforts, and better understand the conditions under which Ukrainian society and business are operating," the embassy stated. EDITORS NOTE: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and an assistant professor at the University of Central Floridas College of Medicine. When I learned that former President Joe Biden had not undergone prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening since 2014and was later diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancerI knew there would be renewed interest and debate about prostate cancer screening guidelines. As a urologist, I regularly discuss the complexities surrounding PSA testing with my patients. The PSA test remains valuable for early detection, but it continues to generate controversy due to its limitations. Heres what you should know about PSA screening, why medical guidelines vary and why individualized approaches are essential. What is the PSA test? Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by the prostate. The PSA blood test measures this protein to help screen for prostate cancer. Typically, a PSA level above 4 on lab results is flagged as abnormal, prompting further evaluation. However, even PSA numbers below 4 can be concerning if theyre rapidly increasing. Thats why PSA tests are done annually: to monitor trends over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elevated PSA levels dont always mean cancer. Noncancerous conditions like an enlarged prostate, prostatitis (inflammation), recent ejaculation, stress or even strenuous activity can temporarily raise PSA. Ultimately, the PSA level is just a starting point for a deeper investigation (or conversation). Additionally, not all prostate cancers cause elevated PSA levels. Some aggressive cancers may produce normal PSA results. Ultimately, the PSA level is a starting point for further evaluation and deeper conversations with your doctor. Whats the disagreement around PSA screening? The controversy around PSA testing isnt really about the test itself, but about how its results are interpreted and acted upon. Before 2012, PSA screening was routinely recommended for all men over age 50. I completed my urology training that same year, witnessing firsthand how dramatically the screening landscape changed almost overnight. In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routine PSA screening due to concerns of overdiagnosis. The worry was that screening could detect slow-growing cancers that may never cause harm but still result in unnecessary biopsies, anxiety, and treatmentssome of which caused more harm than good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recommendation led doctors to scale back, causing routine PSA testing to decline sharply. However, by 2018, new research and rising concerns about aggressive prostate cancers led the USPSTF to revise their recommendations again, advising men aged 55 to 69 to engage in shared decision-making with their providers. This current stance emphasizes personalized discussions between patients and doctors, acknowledging that theres no one-size-fits-all approach to PSA testing. According to their website, the USPSTF is now working on another update, so we can expect further adjustments in the near future. As someone who experienced this shift firsthand early in my career, I deeply appreciate how critical shared decision-making and patient involvement are in navigating these complex screening choices. These ongoing changes in recommendations have also reinforced the importance for me as a physician to stay informed, continuously adapting my practice as new research and technologies emerge. Understanding the screening guidelines Urologist Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt regularly discusses PSA testing with his patients. - Halfpoint Images/Moment RF/Getty Images Several organizations provide prostate cancer screening guidelines, including the USPSTF, the American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association (AUA). Each offers slightly different recommendations for both patients and health care providers. The USPSTF generally focuses on minimizing potential harm from overtreatment, while the AUA provides detailed, individualized recommendations based on clinical factors and risk profiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even after practicing urology for more than a decade, I still sometimes find it challenging to navigate these subtle differences in guidelines. Although I primarily follow the AUA guidelinesmy overarching professional bodyIve established a balanced approach that feels comfortable for me and, I believe, best serves my patients interests. I start PSA testing at age 40 for men at higher risk, such as African Americans or those with a first-degree family member who has prostate cancer. For most patients, I typically initiate annual PSA screening at age 50. Its important to know that primary care doctors perform most prostate cancer screenings. Depending on their training, clinical judgment and professional guidelines, their approach may differ slightly from my take as a urologist. This highlights the importance of clear communication among you the patient, your primary care provider and your specialists. Only through these conversations can we create personalized screening strategies that align with your health goals. Could Bidens cancer have been caught earlier? President Bidens case raises a question: Could earlier PSA screening have detected his cancer sooner, at a more treatable stage? We will never know for certain. According to current guidelines, stopping screening in ones 70s is considered appropriate. Perhaps there was a shared decision to stop testing. From a guideline perspective, nothing was necessarily done incorrectly. Still, Bidens diagnosis highlights the potential consequences of discontinuing prostate screening for an otherwise healthy older adult. Life expectancy and screening guidelines Men in the United States now have an average life expectancy of approximately 76 years, with many living healthy, active lives well into their 80s and beyond. Older guidelines based on shorter lifespans now need updating to reflect todays longer, healthier lives. I believe that decisions about prostate screening in older adults should thus focus more on individual health status rather than chronological age alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changing guidelines based on longer life expectancy will require thorough research and evidence-based data. Consequently, updates to recommendations will take time. What you can do in the meantime is be proactive in your conversations with your doctors about not just prostate cancer screenings but all cancer screenings. Prostate cancer isnt the only medical condition subject to evolving guidelines. Screening recommendations for colorectal and breast cancers have also changed recently. Colon cancer screening now generally starts at age 45 instead of 50 due to rising cases among younger adults. Breast cancer guidelines continue to vary among organizations, but the USPSTF updated its recommendation last year to say that most women should start getting mammograms earlier. These frequent shifts reflect ongoing research and the importance of personalized, informed conversations between patients and health care providers. Improvements in prostate cancer screening and treatment Historically, an elevated PSA test led directly to a prostate biopsy, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety and sometimes overtreatment. Today, however, we have more advanced PSA-based tests that help better identify significant prostate cancers. Advanced imaging, like prostate MRI, allows us to pinpoint suspicious areas before performing a biopsy, increasing accuracy and decreasing unnecessary procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biopsy techniques have also improved, some shifting from traditional transrectal biopsies to transperineal methods, reducing infection risks. Treatments have similarly evolved, emphasizing active surveillance of low-risk cancers and minimally invasive focal therapies. These advancements have significantly reduced side effects and improved quality of life, even among older patients. PSA after age 70: My personal approach In my office, I frequently discuss PSA screening with patients who are over 70. If a patient remains active and healthy and we anticipate good life expectancy, I generally recommend that we continue regular PSA tests. However, the final decision always belongs to the patient, after we carefully weigh the pros and cons together. If your doctor hasnt initiated this conversation yet, its important for you to bring it up. And remember, regardless of age, promptly inform your health care provider about any new urinary symptoms or health concerns. Staying proactive gives you the best chance to maintain good health this year and next. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT) A Gold-Star service flag is flying over the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. A Gold Star family is one that has lost a loved one while they were actively serving in the military. As Memorial Day approaches, a number of those families came together on Redstone Arsenal. Starstruck: The original Huntsville Mr. Baseball, Don Mincher Theres over 6,000 Gold Star family members here in the state of Alabama, and so we open the doors to all of them that are willing to come and be part of this, Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flag-raising ceremony at Space and Missile Defense Command has become a tradition. This is an opportunity to put the families up front and really honored the families and let the families know that we care, Gainey said. Jim Ginas attended to honor his son Jimmy, who was a Green Beret. We just miss him dearly, and time doesnt change that, Ginas said. He said he appreciates the opportunity to remember his son, but he also came to Thursdays ceremony to support other gold star families. That deep pain will go away, Ginas said. I personally recommend, we do it all the time, dont be afraid to use their name. Dont be afraid to talk about them. Keep them in your memory. Thats what theyd want anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gainey said the families of fallen service members will always be a part of the Army family. Well always care for them, and we will always be there for them for support, Gainey said. The Gold-Star service flag will fly below the American flag outside the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command through Memorial Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kentucky's U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie was one of two Republicans to vote against the spending and tax package that President Donald Trump was urging the House to pass. The House approved the bill 215-214 early Thursday morning. In March, Massie spoke to reporters after casting the sole Republican vote against a bill that averted a government shutdown. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Reaction in Kentucky to the big beautiful bill Republicans in the U.S. House passed early Thursday ranged from alarm to applause. How Kentucky delegation voted YEA: Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Rogers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NAY: Massie, McGarvey U.S. House clerk The bill, which passed by a single vote and now heads to the Senate, would make deep cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state program that pays for almost 1 in 3 Kentuckians health care. Democrats and health advocates say the cuts could result in Kentuckians losing access to medical care in a state already grappling with poor health. Republicans, in general, say the bill wisely reins in Medicaid spending by returning the programs focus to the people it was created to serve in 1965. Democrats in Congress expanded Medicaid in 2010, opening eligibility to low-income adults without disabilities in an effort to reduce the number of uninsured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the Medicaid cuts, the bill, endorsed by President Donald Trump, would enlarge the federal deficit, drawing objections from a few Republicans prominent among them Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Vanceburg. Massie was one of only two Republicans to vote against the bill which renews tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term. The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill would add $2.3 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years as the tax cuts and new spending exceed its reductions in federal expenditures. In a floor speech, Massie called the budget bill a debt bomb ticking and said, to applause,if something is beautiful, you dont do it after midnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure squeaked through the House on a 215-214 vote after a night of negotiations. It would reduce spending on Medicaid by $625 billion over 10 years and result in 7.6 million people going uninsured, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. Its wrong, its cruel, says Democrat Beshear During his weekly press conference, Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said the bill would lead to more Kentuckians not being able to see a doctor, not having health care coverage, less revenue to support our rural hospitals and health systems, and its going to leave more of our kids and seniors going hungry. Gov. Andy Beshear (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) The bill shifts to state governments some of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food to low-income Americans. Melissa McDonald, executive director of Feeding Kentucky which represents the states food banks, says the plan would increase hunger in Kentucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beshear also warned of people losing their ability to go see a doctor. Its wrong, its cruel, Beshear said, adding that those that will lose their health care coverage and food assistance will pay for lawmakers choices. Doug Hogan, the government relations director in Kentucky for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, told the Lantern that a significant number of cancer patients rely on Medicaid and that the program is crucial for prevention, detection, treatment and survival of cancer. Cuts have consequences, and we dont want cancer patients caught in (the) middle of those consequences. Medicaid provides access to health coverage, which is one of the best predictors of whether or not a person survives cancer, he said. The proposed cuts in Medicaid could interrupt a persons cancer care, or stop it altogether, and others would lose access to regular cancer screenings and prevention, which would have a devastating impact on cancer patients and their families. Politicians: Golden Age versus course for the iceberg In Massies 90-second floor speech opposing the budget bill, he compared it to the sinking of the Titanic, saying were putting coal in the boiler and setting a course for the iceberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill dramatically increases deficits in the near term, but promises our government will be fiscally responsible five years from now, he said. Where have we heard that before? How do you bind a future Congress to these promises? This bill is a debt bomb ticking. Congress can do funny math, fantasy math, if it wants, but bond investors dont. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Kentuckys other Republicans in the House supported the bill. U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers who represents a district where 44% of residents are enrolled in Medicaid, one of the nations highest rates of Medicaid dependence said he didnt take his vote in favor of the bill lightly and that its a comprehensive, responsible plan for the decade ahead and beyond. We must get rid of the waste, fraud and abuse, and it is our duty to secure this program, as well as SNAP benefits, for the American people in greatest need, Rogers said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new Congressional Budget Office analysis released Tuesday showed the House package tilted toward the wealthy, projecting it would decrease resources for low-income families over the next decade while increasing resources for top earners. Rogers, R-Somerset, touted the bills tax cuts, especially ending the income tax on tips and overtime wages, and said it secures Medicaid for Eastern Kentuckians living below the poverty rate by removing 1.4 million illegal immigrants from the program, along with 1.2 million ineligible recipients. U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (Kentucky Lantern photo by Kevin Nance) U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to succeed Mitch McConnell, also praised the massive tax cut for families, workers, seniors, and small businesses in a statement. Our bill also provides unprecedented resources for the border patrol to seal the border once and for all. We are on the doorstep of the Golden Age for America, Barr of Lexington said. Its time to send this bill to President Trumps desk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andy Westberry, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Kentucky, said the House passage ensures Medicaid will remain strong and focused on the Americans it was always meant to serve. The House passage of The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act marks a major victory for working-class Kentuckians and their families, Westberry said. The fear-mongering, misinformation, and over-the-top pearl-clutching being peddled by Gov. Andy Beshear and other Kentucky Democrats is nothing more than a desperate attempt to prey on the fears of Kentucky families. Coleman Elridge Meanwhile, Colmon Elridge, the chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party (KDP), called the bill harmful. Rural hospitals will close, children and veterans will lose critical care and thousands of Kentucky families will struggle to put food on the table, Elridge said. Kentucky Republicans have betrayed the people they took an oath to serve. Kentuckians, and Americans, deserve better. An untenable choice The measure now moves to the U.S. Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a Thursday afternoon press conference, health and policy advocates called on the Senate to reverse these grievous and extreme cuts, as Dustin Pugel, the policy director for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, put it. Pugel estimates the legislation could result in 345,000 Kentuckians losing Medicaid coverage. The program in its current form covers about 1.5 million Kentucky residents. This House proposal would not just eliminate coverage, but could also eliminate jobs, especially in rural areas, and it would damage our progress in tackling severe problems like addiction and even cost lives in the long run, Pugel said. Melissa Mather, a spokesperson for Family Health Centers of Louisville, said more than half of the 40,000 people served at her location in 2024 had Medicaid, a third of whom were children. Medicaid, she said, keeps our doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mather also expressed concern that Kentucky could revert to pre-expansion realities, when some had to choose between health care or food. Do we want Kentuckians to have to choose between buying groceries or their medicines? Mather said. Because I think thats an untenable choice were asking people to make. A plea to the Senate: Change course Sarah Hill (Zoom screenshot) Sarah Hill of Lexington, who joined Pugel and Mather during the Thursday press conference, credits the 2010 Medicaid expansion with helping her during a particular low point in her life. I was unemployed and spent about a year sitting in an armchair in my moms house in Eastern Kentucky trying to figure out how to move forward when I couldnt complete the most basic tasks like brushing my teeth or taking a shower, said Hill, who said shes struggled with mental health since the age of 14. After Kentucky chose to open Medicaid to low-income adults without disabilities, she applied a Herculean effort on my part and was able to access medications she needed to stabilize and get a job, she said. If the proposed work requirements and regular check-ins were implemented when I had needed this assistance, I wouldnt have received it, Hill said. I could not have done the paperwork needed to sign up, and then I could not have handled the stress of continually recertifying my need. Dr. Edward Miller, the division director of maternal fetal medicine and high risk obstetrics at the University of Louisville and UofL Health, pointed out Kentuckys poor health statistics: the state is one of the worst places in the country to have a baby, for example. Dr. Edward Miller We have some of the highest rates of smoking, hypertension, diabetes, in the country, and most notably, we have one of the highest detection rates of new cancers in the country, Miller, also on the health policy call, said. Now, what is decreasing access going to do? Well, you dont have to be a doctor, you dont have to be a researcher, to know that decreasing access to those at the most risk is only going to make us plummet further down those rankings. Hill, the former Medicaid participant, and others pleaded with senators to pull back on the proposed cuts. Our senators have a choice to change course on this, and I fear that if we do not choose to change course, we are going to be throwing away our workforce, said Hill. We are going to be throwing away rural people, and we are going to be throwing away the potential of thousands of Kentuckians, just like myself. I ardently hope that we are able to change course, change the discourse around these things, because being sick one time doesnt mean you have to be sick forever. Liam Niemeyer contributed to this story. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President Donald Trump announced a plan to build a missile defense system, called the Golden Dome, on May 20, 2025. The system is intended to protect the United States from ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, and missiles launched from space. Trump is calling for the current budget to allocate US$25 billion to launch the initiative, which the government projected will cost $175 billion. He said Golden Dome will be fully operational before the end of his term in three years and will provide close to 100% protection. The Conversation U.S. asked Iain Boyd, an aerospace engineer and director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado Boulder, about the Golden Dome plan and the feasibility of Trumps claims. Boyd receives funding for research unrelated to Golden Dome from defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Why does the United States need a missile shield? Several countries, including China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, have been developing missiles over the past few years that challenge the United States current missile defense systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These weapons include updated ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, and new hypersonic missiles. They have been specifically developed to counter Americas highly advanced missile defense systems such as the Patriot and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. For example, the new hypersonic missiles are very high speed, operate in a region of the atmosphere where nothing else flies and are maneuverable. All of these aspects combined create a new challenge that requires a new, updated defensive approach. Russia has fired hypersonic missiles against Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. China parades its new hypersonic missiles in Tiananmen Square. So its reasonable to think that, to ensure the protection of its homeland and to aid its allies, the U.S. may need a new missile defense capability. What are the components of a national missile defense system? Such a defense system requires a global array of geographically distributed sensors that cover all phases of all missile trajectories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, it is essential for the system to detect the missile threats as early as possible after launch, so some of the sensors must be located close to regions where adversaries may fire them, such as by China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. Then, it has to track the missiles along their trajectories as they travel hundreds or thousands of miles. These requirements are met by deploying a variety of sensors on a number of different platforms on the ground, at sea, in the air and in space. Interceptors are placed in locations that protect vital U.S. assets and usually aim to engage threats during the middle portion of the trajectory between launch and the terminal dive. The U.S. already has a broad array of sensors and interceptors in place around the world and in space primarily to protect the U.S. and its allies from ballistic missiles. The sensors would need to be expanded, including with more space-based sensors, to detect new missiles such as hypersonic missiles. The interceptors would need to be enhanced to enable them to address hypersonic weapons and other missiles and warheads that can maneuver. Does this technology exist? Intercepting hypersonic missiles specifically involves several steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, as explained above, a hostile missile must be detected and identified as a threat. Second, the threat must be tracked along all of its trajectory due to the ability of hypersonic missiles to maneuver. Third, an interceptor missile must be able to follow the threat and get close enough to it to disable or destroy it. The main new challenge here is the ability to track the hypersonic missile continuously. This requires new types of sensors to detect hypersonic vehicles and new sensor platforms that are able to provide a complete picture of the hypersonic trajectory. As described, Golden Dome would use the sensors in a layered approach in which they are installed on a variety of platforms in multiple domains, including ground, sea, air and space. These various platforms would need to have different types of sensors that are specifically designed to track hypersonic threats in different phases of their flight paths. These defensive systems will also be designed to address weapons fired from space. Much of the infrastructure will be multipurpose and able to defend against a variety of missile types. In terms of time frame for deployment, it is important to note that Golden Dome will build from the long legacy of existing U.S. missile defense systems. Another important aspect of Golden Dome is that some of the new capabilities have been under active development for years. In some ways, Golden Dome represents the commitment to actually deploy systems for which considerable progress has already been made. Is near 100% protection a realistic claim? Israels Iron Dome air defense system has been described as the most effective system of its kind anywhere in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even Iron Dome is not 100% effective, and it has also been overwhelmed on occasion by Hamas and others who fire very large numbers of inexpensive missiles and rockets at it. So it is unlikely that any missile defense system will ever provide 100% protection. The more important goal here is to achieve deterrence, similar to the stalemate in the Cold War with the Soviet Union that was based on nuclear weapons. All of the new weapons that Golden Dome will defend against are very expensive. The U.S. is trying to change the calculus in an opponents thinking to the point where they will consider it not worth shooting their precious high-value missiles at the U.S. when they know there is a high probability of them not reaching their targets. Is three years a feasible time frame? That seems to me like a very aggressive timeline, but with multiple countries now operating hypersonic missiles, there is a real sense of urgency. Existing missile defense systems on the ground, at sea and in the air can be expanded to include new, more capable sensors. Satellite systems are beginning to be put in place for the space layer. Sensors have been developed to track the new missile threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putting all of this highly complex system together, however, is likely to take more than three years. At the same time, if the U.S. fully commits to Golden Dome, a significant amount of progress can be made in this time. What does the presidents funding request tell you? President Trump is requesting a total budget for all defense spending of about $1 trillion in 2026. So, $25 billion to launch Golden Dome would represent only 2.5% of the total requested defense budget. Of course, that is still a lot of money, and a lot of other programs will need to be terminated to make it possible. But it is certainly financially achievable. How will Golden Dome differ from Iron Dome? Similar to Iron Dome, Golden Dome will consist of sensors and interceptor missiles but will be deployed over a much wider geographical region and for defense against a broader variety of threats in comparison with Iron Dome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second-generation Golden Dome system in the future would likely use directed energy weapons such as high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves to destroy missiles. This approach would significantly increase the number of shots that defenders can take against ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles. 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: Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder Read more: Iain Boyd receives funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed-Martin Corporation, a defense contractor that sells missile defense systems and could potentially benefit from the implementation of Golden Dome. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) U.S. Marshals are asking the community to keep a lookout for a parolee at large. Christopher Jones, 36, is wanted for violating his sex offender registration. He has a criminal history that includes sexual battery, burglary, multiple indecent exposures and trespassing. He is homeless in the downtown Bakersfield area, according to U.S. Marshals. U.S. Marshals describe Jones to be 5 feet, 5 inches tall and about 160 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youve seen him or have any information on his whereabouts, call or text the tip line at 979-1187. All information about Jones is confidential. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 House Republicans campaign arm is encouraging members to take an aggressive stance in messaging on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of President Trumps tax cut and spending priorities and make it a key part of their 2026 midterm messaging. The memo from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), first shared with The Hill, comes after the House passed the legislation Thursday and represents a notable posture as Democrats tear into Republicans over the bills reforms on Medicaid, nutrition assistance and more. It points to poll testing that shows Republicans have an opportunity to draw a sharp contrast with House Democrats, highlighting top messages that it says resonate in battleground districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill prevents tax increases to put more money in every Americans pocket, the NRCC memo says, adding that it is protecting Medicaid by removing illegal immigrants and eliminating fraud and investing billions of dollars to build the wall and secure the border. The six-page memo outlines NRCC polling for the key issue areas on Medicaid, tax cuts and border security, while suggesting messaging lines on each of those points. It summarized the strategy in three bullet points: Go on offense, Keep the message simple, and Tie Democrats to tax hikes, handouts for illegal immigrants, and protecting fraud. The One Big, Beautiful Bill is more than a messaging opportunity; its a midterm roadmap, the memo says. It later asserts that rather than a vote for the bill being a liability, Democrats votes against the bill just provided us a Midterm sledgehammer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation that House Republicans sent to the Senate on Thursday extends Trumps 2017 tax cuts while also slashing taxes on tips and overtime pay, while boosting funding for the border, deportation and national defense priorities. But to offset the costs of those GOP wish list items, it imposes Medicaid reforms that are projected to result in millions of low-income individuals losing health insurance such as beefed-up work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and penalties for states that cover immigrants lacking permanent legal status. It also requires states to share the cost of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the first time, and it increases work requirements for that program. And it rolls back green energy tax incentives. Democrats have already been centering their messaging on attacking Republicans for cutting Medicaid and SNAP while extending tax cuts for wealthy Americans, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) suggesting on the House floor that the vote would cost Republicans in the 2026 midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This day may very well turn out to be the day that House Republicans lost control of the United States House of Representatives, Jeffries said. The Republican memo, though, flips the script on the attacks. House Democrats just gave Republicans a generational opportunity to go on offense, it says. Their unanimous vote against the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark package delivering tax relief, government efficiency, and border enforcement, handed us the clearest contrast in years. This legislation must be a key piece of Republicans 2026 strategy. On Medicaid messaging, the NRCC told Republicans to highlight the party defending Medicaid for EVERY American who NEEDS and DESERVES it the most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means seniors, low-income families, pregnant women, and disabled Americans, not fraudsters, able-bodied adults who refuse to work, or illegal immigrants, it says, pointing to polling that shows 82 percent support for citizenship verification, 72 percent support for work requirements, and 71 percent belief in widespread Medicaid fraud. It accused Democrats of endorsing a tax increase on American families by voting against the bill, pointing to battleground polling that shows 82 percent of voters were less likely to support a Democrat who voted for the largest tax increase in American history. And it highlights the bills funding for border security, accusing Democrats of asking constituents to foot the Medicaid bill for criminal aliens, all while opposing basic enforcement. The NRCC said Republicans from safe seats to battleground districts can use the same core messages, while recommending employing specific numbers on the average tax hike families would face if the tax cuts expire when talking about Democrats in battleground districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, though, could have their work cut out for them in messaging on the bill as Democrats attack them not only on policy points but on moves like declining to hold in-person town halls earlier this year due to organized activists targeting the events. The tax scam House Republicans passed is one big broken promise to the American people. It raises costs, kicks millions off of their health insurance, and rigs the tax code to benefit the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement. Republicans have already been hiding in fear from the public all year, and the backlash is only going to get louder because of this toxic vote. NRCC-OBBBDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This article is part of HuffPosts biweekly politics newsletter. Click here to subscribe. The massive spending bill the House Republicans passed in the middle of the night on Thursday will have devastating consequences for people with kids and the people who want to have them. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump-coined name given to the GOPs budget, is a proposal that decimates whats left of the safety net in order to give even more money to the richest people in America. The massive budget proposes $880 billion of cuts from federal spending in order to cover a whopping $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. Much of the money cut will come out of Medicaid, the government-funded health care program that covers low-income people, babies and the elderly. The bill still faces significant hurdles in the Senate, where Republicans seem skeptical of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Republicans were celebratory after the House vote, praising the cuts as a way to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from Medicaid and touting the bill as a historic maneuver. This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country! Trump posted on Truth Social after the vote. HuffPost is committed to fearlessly covering the Trump administration. Click here to support our mission and become a member today. The House has passed generational, truly nation-shaping legislation, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Thursday. But once again, those hardest hit will be the most vulnerable, including a group the GOP claims to love: families. Its the largest proposed cut to Medicaid in its 60-year history, said Sarah Coombs, the director for health system transformation at the National Partnership for Women and Families, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting reproductive health and rights. If this bill passes, the effects are so pervasive I think it will be significantly hard to come back from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has spent a lot of time positioning itself as a government that promotes and supports babies and families. Back in February, President Donald Trump, who has used the cringe-inducing term fertilization president to describe his support for fertility treatments, issued an executive order to expand access to IVF. My Administration recognizes the importance of family formation, and as a Nation, our public policy must make it easier for loving and longing mothers and fathers to have children, the order stated. And in his first public speech as vice president, JD Vance proclaimed that he wanted more people to have children. I want more babies in the United States of America, he said at the March for Life, an anti-abortion rally held each year in Washington, D.C. Trump advisor Elon Musk, who infamously has at least 14 children by multiple women, has claimed that the declining birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far. But while the GOP wont stop whining about the declining birth rate and how much they love babies, they sure are working hard to make it more difficult for people to start families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid provides health insurance for 71 million low-income people across the country, in rural areas and cities alike. It covers 40% of all births, and more than half of births in rural areas. But the GOPs proposal would effectively put its help out of reach for many Americans: The new bill slashes Medicaid by about $700 billion, and includes new, far stricter, work requirements that will kick millions of people off the program. A lot of the administrations messaging around promoting childbearing is completely contradictory to what these Medicaid cuts are going to do, said Amani Echols, the senior manager of maternal and infant health at the National Partnership for Women and Families. It is truethe fertility rate in the U.S. has been declining for decades. In 1970, the general fertility rate was 87.9 births per 1,000 females, compared to 54.6 per 1,000 females in 2024. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 3.6 million babies born in the U.S. last year. Its a slight increase from 2023, but overall its a continuation of the trend of dropping fertility rates. Wealthier nations, including the U.S., have generally been able to offset low fertility rates with an increase in immigration. According to a 2024 University of Pennsylvania study, America wont face a drastic decline in population because of net positive immigration another area where the Trump administrations policies will do untold harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot of likely factors behind the drop in birth rates, from people waiting to have children at later ages (including a decrease in teen pregnancy), to better access to contraception, to changes in social norms and family structures. But one of the big ones is the sheer cost, both in money and the logistical difficulty of childrearing in a nation that has few policies to help parents with the financial or structural task of taking care of children. A 2024 NerdWallet survey found that 38% of people between the ages of 27 and 42 said they didnt have kids or plan to have them because its too expensive. According to the Congressional Budget Offices analysis on May 11, if this budget passes the Senate and is signed into law, more than 13 million people will lose their health care over the next decade. That means increased health care costs for uninsured people and a heightened risk of incurring medical debt. The cost itself will deter people from even having children, Echols said. Out-of-pocket costs for pregnancy costs, on average, $18,000. Thats not a cost that families who just lost their [Medicaid] eligibility can afford. Then there is the medical side. For people who are already pregnant, the risk of pregnancy or birth complications goes up when you dont have health insurance. If youre not regularly seeing a care provider it can be harder to manage chronic illnesses that increase the likelihood of pregnancy complications, like high blood pressure or diabetes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ripple effects of the cuts could also impact people with private insurance. Medicaid covered 19% of all hospital spending in 2023, but some of the provisions in the bill change the way hospitals are reimbursed, and opens the door for hospitals and providers to be paid less money for the same care. The problem is likely to be worse for many rural hospitals that are operating on negative margins. Increased costs for hospitals could lead to hospitals closing their doors and that affects everyone in the community, Akeiisa Coleman, a program officer at theCommonwealth Fund, a private foundation that promotes quality health care,told HuffPost. Weve already seen a trend of hospitals closing their Labor and Delivery units first. Thats usually the first warning sign that the hospital is about to close, she continued. In rural areas, its hard to justify the cost of operating maternal units when there are fewer people actually using them. For pregnant people in areas with no obstetric providers, that often means traveling farther for prenatal care and to give birth, risking delayed care in the case of an emergency. These Medicaid cuts are disproportionately harmful to people having children in rural areas, which often lean in support of Trump, Coombs said. The Trump administration is not prioritizing his own constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while theyre slashing the actual programs that can help children and families, the Trump administration has floated some nonsensical proposals to help boost the fertility rate. Shortly after getting confirmed, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy circulated a memo around the Department of Transportation telling staffers that when theyre dealing with programs and grants they should give preference to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average. The Trump administration has reportedly been mulling some ideas to help promote having children. The White House has suggested providing $5,000 to women who give birth, which should cover something like two to three months of childcare, depending on where you live. But if that wasnt enough, the Trump administration is also considering bestowing a National Medal of Honor on women who have six or more children an idea borrowed from Nazi Germany. You might need postpartum care and health insurance for your infant, but the Trump administration seems to think $23 a month over the course of 18 years and a medal will suffice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, there are also significant hints that the cuts are not quite as counterintuitive as they would appear. The administration has made no secret that they believe some babies are more valued than others. Trump himself has derided the children of immigrants as anchor babies and suggested that they are a drain on government benefits. In fact, as Republicans debated the Medicaid cuts, one of the central themes that emerged were public reminders that cuts to public services would hit not only marginalized groups, but would impact Trump supporters as well. Medicaid, youve got to be careful with because a lot of MAGA is on Medicaid, Steve Bannon, an adviser to Trump during his first term, said in February. Others, anonymously, put it more bluntly. Medicaid is not just for Black people in the ghetto, these are our voters, an anonymous Republican operative reportedly said to investigative journalist Tara Palmeri in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disconnect between cutting programs that help families and then promoting having a gaggle of kids is because their concern over fertility isnt just about economic decline, but rather who they want to have children. Cutting Medicaid is a direct reflection of who they want to prioritize and who they want having babies, Echols said. Theyre making it super clear what families they value in this country. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) is joining a slew of MAGA influencers in calling for Canadian rapper Tory Lanez to be pardoned, claiming that new evidence will prove hes innocent of shooting his ex, rapper Megan Thee Stallion. His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind not driven by headlines, Luna wrote Monday on X, calling on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to issue a pardon. I am calling on Gov. Newsom @CAgovernor to review Tory Lanezs case and issue a pardon. His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind not driven by headlines. Free Tory Lanez.https://t.co/7rvvrJI4r7 Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) May 19, 2025 Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was convicted in California on multiple gun charges in 2022 for shooting Megan Thee Stallions feet during an argument in July 2020. Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, testified that the argument began when she insulted Lanezs music, adding that he shouted at her to dance after being shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lanez released a statement following his sentencing claiming he was wrongfully convicted. Megan opened up about the backlash she received following the trial in a 2023 essay featured in Elle, saying critics treated her trauma like a running joke. First, there were conspiracy theories that I was never shot. Then came the false narratives that my former best friend shot me, Megan wrote. Even some of my peers in the music industry piled on with memes, jokes, and sneak disses, and completely ignored the fact that I could have lost my life. Instead of condemning any form of violence against a woman, these individuals tried to justify my attackers actions, Megan continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Unite the People, a legal nonprofit that lists Lanez as an advisory member, announced new findings and alleged that Megans former friend was the one who fired the gun. Several MAGA personalities, including Tomi Lahren, DJ Akademiks and Fox News analyst Gianno Caldwell have spoken out in support of Lanez. Gianno Caldwell and Tomi Lahren react to Tory Lanez being railroaded after new evidence from the case has now come to light pic.twitter.com/g9Ni9Reom7 Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) May 22, 2025 Luna told NewsNations Chris Cuomo that she became involved in the case when model and President Donald Trump supporter Amber Rose approached her. She said her office was presented with additional DNA evidence and footage from a Ring camera that actually disproved the conviction. Tory Lanez has filed a direct appeal, a habeas petition, and a successive habeas all now consolidated by the California Court of Appeals. They have seated a panel. Oral arguments are coming. This case is far from over. Due process matters. READ cc @CAgovernor Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) May 20, 2025 They actually found four peoples DNA on that firearm, none of which was Torys. Not to mention there was zero fingerprints on the actual magazine, Luna told Cuomo. Megans attorney, Alex Spiro, addressed Lunas claim in an email to HuffPost stating, Its complete nonsense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spiro shared a 31-page document with Rolling Stone which disproves the unsworn rumors being spread as fact, including Lunas Ring camera allegations. This is not a political matter this is a case of a violent assault that was resolved in the court of law, Spiro told the outlet. Other controversial celebrities who recently came in support of Lanez are Chris Brown, who posted a Free Tory message on his Instagram story, Drake and Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Megan slammed Lanez and his supporters in a statement posted on TikTok, writing, FACTS ARE FACTS, he did it. It was PROVEN IN COURT fuck the hate campaign on the internet TORY YOU SHOT ME!! Megan wrote. Aint no new fucking evidence yall been saying the same shit for years. Related... Talk about straw man arguments: A GOP congressman is getting mocked for the bizarre way he trumpeted his masculine bona fides to a Fox News interviewer. Thursdays episode of Jesse Watters show featured a montage showing various Republican politicians commenting on the hosts rules for men to producer Johnny Belisario. Some of the things that Watters insists are not masculine include sitting behind a computer screen,waving with both hands,grocery shopping with a woman and taking bubble baths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Watters biggest ick for men seems to be when they use straws, which he once called unbecoming because of it forces a man to purse his lips. So, naturally, Belisario asked Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett his thoughts about Watters opinion that men should not drink out of a straw in public, or at all. Although Watters is only a self-proclaimed authority of masculinity, Burchett apparently decided to suck up to him at least in regards to straws. I dont drink out of a straw, brother. Thats what the women in my house do, Burchett told Belisario. Fox: Watters says men should not drink out of straws in public Burchett: I dont drink out of a straw. Thats what the women in my house do pic.twitter.com/gV4uAjNC2t Acyn (@Acyn) May 23, 2025 Of course, insisting that straw use is divided by gender is a stupid claim especially when there are receipts, such as this photo from November showing Burchett holding a milkshake with a straw. Burchett also seemed to be a fan of straws in this X post from July 2018. You can have my straw when you pry it from my cold dead fingers. pic.twitter.com/XRCryF7w4Q Tim Burchett (@timburchett) July 27, 2018 HuffPost reached out to Burchetts office for clarity on his feelings towards straws, but no one immediately responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Burchett was brutally mocked on social media for his attempt to suck up to Watters viewers by suggesting only women use straws and for his forgetfulness regarding past usage. House MAGA fascist Tim Burchett and Fox Propaganda says drinking from straws is only meant for women and that real men shouldnt do that. Exhibit A-Z: pic.twitter.com/9xJVdS9SgT Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) May 23, 2025 Tim Burchett just now on Fox News: Drinking Straws Are For Women Also Tim Burchett pic.twitter.com/DTZyQShKwr Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) May 23, 2025 Imagine your countrys on fire and Fox News is debating the gender politics of straws. Grown men on primetime TV clutching pearls over plastic tubes. If masculinity is this fragile, maybe let it melt with the ice in their sad little cups. JT (@escapeeJT) May 23, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Tim Burchett: I dont drink out of a straw, brother. Thats what the women in my house do. 'PERFECTO!' Here's two bitches drinking out of straws!!! pic.twitter.com/NrL5YyKT0H Duane Bagley (@aldo_incognito) May 23, 2025 Congrats to Rep. Tim Burchett for accidentally admitting hes too fragile to drink from a straw while also revealing he thinks straw-sucking is womens work. What kind of insecure, performative masculinity makes a grown man brag about *checks notes* being incapable of Charles Perreira (@CharlesPerreir7) May 23, 2025 Tim Burchett is something else because he'll say something like this. Then he'll give a fistbump to Maxwell Frost and make AOC crack up in committee. https://t.co/we9xiYx6ys Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) May 23, 2025 Related... Rep. Tim Burchett was spotted defying one of Jesse Watters ridiculous rules for men after claiming on Fox News he lives by it. The GOP lawmaker was asked on Capitol Hill about one of the many behaviors Watters views as insufficiently macho. He says men should not drink out of straws in public, or at all, Fox News producer Johnny Belisario said to Burchett in an interview. I dont drink out of a straw, brother, the Tennessee lawmaker replied. Thats what the women in my house do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As social media users were quick to point out, Burchetts own Instagram page refutes that assertion. In November, he was pictured with a milkshake in handcomplete with strawin an Election Day stop. Milkshakes before noon and great responses at the polls in Claiborne and Grainger Counties cant beat it! he wrote at the time. Fox: Watters says men should not drink out of straws in public Burchett: I dont drink out of a straw. Thats what the women in my house do pic.twitter.com/gV4uAjNC2t Acyn (@Acyn) May 23, 2025 Thats a double whammy in Watters book. According to the Fox News host and his many pet peeves, milkshakes are for kids. And if youre a real man in Watters eyes, you certainly wouldnt drink a milkshake from a straw. That, according to the conservative personality, is very effeminate. Those are among a long list of rules Watters has for men. Hes also complained about men who go grocery shopping with their wives, men who take bubble baths solo and men who eat soup in public. Jesse Watters says it's not manly to drink from a straw, eat soup in public or take a bubble bath alone. / Roy Rochlin / Getty Images And while he claims his rules are not that serious, hes been accused of much more offensive misogyny plenty of times, often passing it off as a joke afterwards. Last summer, he suggested that men who vote for women might do so because they have mommy issues or are trying to be accepted by other women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belisario also quizzed other GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill about Watters rules, including whether men should cross their legs or have male best friends. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas suggested that Jesse needs a friend. Burchetts office did not immediately return a request for comment. Celebrations on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the State of Israel took place in the capital of Ukraine and were attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, Ukrainian authorities, the Jewish community, artists and friends of Israel from different regions of Ukraine. "Thank you for joining us today to celebrate the 77th anniversary of Israel's independence," Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Ukraine Michael Brodsky addressed the guests. He emphasised the deep historical and mental connection between the Ukrainian and Israeli peoples. "There are few countries in the world that understand each other better than Israel and Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, from the first day of Russian aggression, the people of Israel supported Ukraine. On 7th October, when the horrific terrorist attack on Israel took place, the people of Ukraine unequivocally supported our country. We feel this support and highly appreciate it," the diplomat said. According to him, the peoples of both states "are acutely aware of the high price we have to pay for our independence" and "live in hope for a speedy end to the war and peaceful life". "I am confident that, no matter what, we will cope with our problems. That despite wars and terror, our countries will remain free and independent," he said. The diplomat also mentioned the historical figure of the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, who was born in Kyiv. "Many of her quotes sound very modern today. I want to remind you of one of her statements: pessimism is a luxury that Jews can never afford. This fully applies to Ukrainians as well," Brodsky declared. Israel's Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar on 5th Iyar (in 2025 - 13 May). It was on this day in 1948 that David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the independent State of Israel in Tel Aviv after the end of the British Mandate in Palestine. The very next day, the newly created state was attacked by neighbouring Arab countries, which marked the beginning of the War of Independence. Since then, Israel annually celebrates this date as a symbol of the victory, survival and national revival of the Jewish people. Tax experts are not sold on "Trump Accounts" as something that will actually help parents. Getty Images/Huffpost As the One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes its way to the Senate, one piece of the proposed bill is still stirring heated debate among parents and caregivers. This part of the proposal aims to grant every newborn in the United States a $1,000 government-funded savings account framed as an investment in the future of Americas children. Supporters claim the initiative, backed by prominent conservative lawmakers, would promote financial independence and reduce long-term reliance on government aid. But economic experts and policy analysts are sounding the alarm, warning that the bill could deepen inequality, strain federal resources and divert attention from more effective ways to help lower-income children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a parent I just have to laugh, said Rebecca Schroeder from Florida. This is not what we want or need, nor what we asked for. We need real policy that makes having children affordable and equitable, not this overly patriotic political move. It feels icky to me. Reinventing The Wheel? Under the new bill, children born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2029, would receive the $1,000 deposit in an account, which would be invested in financial markets. Parents and loved ones can contribute to these accounts as well. Once the children are grown, they could withdraw the money to use for education, the down payment on a home, or capital to start a business. Previously known as Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement or MAGA Accounts the Trump Accounts are not unlike a 529 college savings plan, explains Ted Callahan, a financial tax analyst with Intuit. The earnings on these accounts grow tax-deferred, which isnt all that different from a typical brokerage account, he said. But other similar options to these accounts already exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of these already existing accounts include Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA). Like a 529, it offers tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses, including both K-12 and higher education. Another alternative is a custodial account, such as a UGMA (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) or UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) account. These accounts dont have contribution limits, though large contributions may be subject to gift taxes. Unlike 529s and ESAs, custodial accounts can be used for any purpose that benefits the child, not just education. Each account type has its own pros and cons, so the right choice depends on your savings goals, how much control you want over the funds, and your tax situation, said Callahan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the bill passes as drafted, parents would be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year to the Trump Account and the balance would be invested in a diversified fund that tracks the U.S. stock index. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) who spearheaded the effort, said the accounts give children the miracle of the compound growth, the ability to accumulate wealth, which is transformational. This comes on the heels of the Trump administration considering a $5,000 baby bonus gift to any woman who gives birth, which was lambasted by parents, commentators and policymakers alike for being a shortsighted bandaid for the true mental and financial stress parents are under. Trump Branding With Fewer Tax Benefits Though baby bond-style legislation exists in numerous states already, tax experts are wary of this federal iteration. Callahan says he understands the goal behind the accounts, but doesnt necessarily see them as more or less beneficial than what already exists. This is because people can only contribute post-tax income to the accounts, and gains in the accounts would also be taxed when money was withdrawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This makes this just a regular investment account with no real tax advantage, said Callahan. If you want to really help parents, you would almost need to have an annual amount deposited in the accounts that were tax exempt, and that amount would need to be very significant given the increase in the cost of living, and then educate children in schools about these accounts once they are old enough so they can understand how investing works. Too Little, Too Late For Working Families In the end, while the Trump Accounts were introduced with the promise of supporting American families, both tax experts and many parents remain unconvinced of their true value. Critics point out that the one-time payment structure falls short of addressing long-term financial needs like child care, health care, or education. At the same time, analysts argue that the broader tax plan surrounding the accounts primarily benefits high-income earners, with limited and temporary relief for middle- and lower-income households. As the policy takes effect, its real-world impact will ultimately determine whether it meets its stated goals or adds to a growing divide in how tax benefits are distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just want quality healthcare and to know that when we send our son to school hes safe, said Schroeder. These accounts are not the answer, and I really wish theyd spend more time focusing on what matters to parents. Related... Portions of this article rely on accounts, reporting, and materials that could not be independently corroborated. I turned 32 recently, and spent much of my birthday thinking about Ida Peterson Hardon, a fellow Roanoke College alum who died of leukemia on May 13, 2024. She was 33. I didnt set out to become a cancer activist. Honestly, I just wanted someone to listen to my story. When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2019 at the age of 25, I believed the fight would be clinical, personal, and ultimately behind me once treatment ended. Id go through chemo, recover, and get back to my life a life that had begun in earnest on the red-brick campus of Roanoke College, where I studied from 2011 to 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But my diagnosis didnt feel like a fluke: Id seen an Instagram post about another Roanoke girl in treatment. Another friend from my sorority pledge class. Then a group chat lit up with news of Ida Peterson Hardon, one more alum who was sick. I felt a sense of deja vu: These students were diagnosed far too young with a disease that was supposed to come much later if ever. Faculty members from the schools English department, who worked in a building called Miller Hall, had reportedly fallen ill. (Later, a May 2025 article published in AirMail would state that at least eight Roanoke professors were diagnosed with cancer five of whom fought breast cancer.) Alumni were reportedly diagnosed within years of graduation, shattering entire friend groups before the age of 35. For years, those cases were discussed only in whispers. Then a reporter learned that the college had conducted environmental testing on campus buildings in 2023 after professor Mary Crockett Hills 2023 stage IV colon cancer diagnosis but kept the results hidden until the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) got involved. (OSHA reportedly received a complaint by an anonymous faculty member in 2024, about the lack of transparency regarding the testing.) But none of the test results were shared with students or faculty until whistleblowers and journalists forced the truth into the open. I never intended to become an overnight TikTok sensation. In the fall of 2023, I recorded a video in which I talked about my college and all the young alums being diagnosed with cancer. I ended up with 1.5M views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalist Clara Molot saw my video and reached out; I began working with her in fall 2023. Initially, I finally felt a sense of relief. Someone was willing not just to listen but to really investigate. She wanted to talk to everyone connected to what felt more and more like a crisis: the disturbing number of cancers linked to Roanoke College. In May 2024, Molot published part one of her investigation, Roanokes Requiem. I read it with my stomach in knots. Friends, faculty, buildings I knew by heart all laid bare in black and white. I recognized that specific ache: the gut-punch realization that something you once loved might have hurt you. After the first article ran, I wrote to the college in September 2024, and got more than 220 students to co-sign that letter. It was addressed to Roanoke President Frank Shushok, urging the school to complete the environmental testing it had promised to conduct (particularly since students had already moved in for the academic year in August). We werent demanding much just the truth and test results. Instead, we got handpicked summaries and concealed reports. (The results Roanoke did release, Molot reported, were only available behind a password-protected site accessible only to current students and faculty.) That response the absence of transparency, and the lack of urgency or even basic concern appalled me. Because heres what I know now, and what I can never un-know: Too many of us got sick. Too many of us have died. Too many of us can relapse. And those in power are still treating it like a coincidence. But we knew it wasnt. In 2024, the environmental testing company the school had hired to investigate, Engineering Consulting Services (ECS), finally released a portion of its test results. Maybe now wed finally get answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Molot obtained the details of ECSs testing, which revealed that it had skipped the most basic and essential step: indoor air testing for volatile organic compounds. (The report isnt available publicly, but was reviewed for Molots piece.) Thats like seeing smoke and deciding not to check for fire. What ECS did test sub-slab soil gas showed industrial levels of carbon tetrachloride beneath the schools Bartlett Hall; perchloroethylene in a dormitory called Chalmers; and chloroform across multiple dorms, fraternity houses, and Miller Hall itself. All three chemicals are probable carcinogens, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the World Health Organization) and the US National Toxicology Program (NTP). And still, according to the ECS report obtained by Molot, students werent relocated. Parents werent notified. As Molots findings rolled in, so did the spin: President Shushok told faculty that full reports wouldnt be released because people might misuse them. Virginia Department of Health (VDH) officials joked in emails obtained by Molot with Roanokes legal council about being thankful no reporters had brought it up. One wrote, Ugh I was really hoping it had gone away. Molot, whod begun investigating our story in fall 2023, was still digging and the additional details she found resulted in a second piece on the case, published in May 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her reporting, Molot recounted that she uncovered 11 cases of breast cancer linked to Roanoke. Ten cases of thyroid. Nine of melanoma. Five of lymphoma. And then there were the rarer diseases appendix, uterine, pancreatic cancers the types that Columbia Universitys epidemiologist Mary Beth Terry told Molot were extremely rare in people our age. One nurse at the cancer center in Roanoke allegedly asked a faculty member, What are they putting in the water at that school? Right now, we need answers. Why were cancer-causing chemicals allowed to fester under our dorms? Why wasnt indoor air testing conducted? Why werent students and parents told about the ECS test results? Why did it take OSHAs intervention to release the mold report? Why did VDH coordinate with Roanokes legal counsel before testing results were even published? Why are young people still getting sick? The VDH has continued to dodge responsibility, and Roanoke College issued a statement on May 11 declaring, After a year of comprehensive testing, we unequivocally deny that there is any scientific evidence that indicates that students who attend Roanoke are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than students at any other institutions. Together, theyve ensured that were left assembling a puzzle of grief with no support and no acknowledgment that a pattern even exists. I wish I could end this story by telling you that the dorms were evacuated, that students were placed in different dormitories than the ones that had been tested. But I cant. In the May 11 letter from President Shushok, he states that ECS did not recommend relocating the students and that according to ECS, no further investigations appear to be warranted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I can say is: Were still here. We are the survivors, the siblings, the sons and daughters of Roanoke, and well keep asking questions. We will keep telling the truth. Because truth is the only thing that might protect the next generation of students walking into those buildings. Were not here to scare or shame Roanoke were trying to protect its residents. This is about the safety of current students, faculty, staff, and those yet to come. Its for alumni who havent seen a doctor in years and deserve to know if they need to. Whats baffling is that the administration seems unwilling to investigate further, even when their own health and safety could be at stake. But first, were asking Roanoke officials to start looking at the realities the members of their community, and the city of Salem, are facing. Thats where the answers are. Before publishing this piece, KCM contacted Roanoke for comment; the college replied with this statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cancer is a horrible disease that no person should have to bear, and it is especially heartbreaking to us that some of our alumni and employees have been faced with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., and it has been well documented in the media and scientific journals that diagnoses among younger Americans are on the rise. When it comes to cancer, we fully understand the desire for answers; however, there is no evidence that the answer lies at Roanoke. We believe students who attend our institution are no more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than students who attend other colleges. When Roanoke was made aware of these concerns in 2024, we reacted swiftly and with gravity, immediately embarking on a year-long battery of independent environmental tests. We took this step despite the Virginia Department of Healths statement that there is no evidence of a cancer cluster at Roanoke College. During the testing process, we published seven updates on the college website to keep the community informed. Any concerns identified through the testing were minor and were quickly remediated, and the overall findings revealed no ongoing, systemic concerns at Roanoke College. The article referenced in this op-ed contains inaccuracies and serious omissions. However, we are confident in both the safety of our campus and the integrity of our process, and we remain committed to ensuring that Roanoke College is a safe place to live, work and learn. Chloe Svolos Baldwin is a 32-year-old cancer survivor dedicated to improving the lives of fellow survivors through her work in healthcare. She lives in Boston with her husband, Luke, and loves cooking, reading, and taking long walks with Taylor Swift in her ears. The post We Got Sick Was Our College to Blame? appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Pointing to an epidemic on the left, two Republicans in the U.S. House are calling for a government-funded study of Trump Derangement Syndrome. The bill sponsored by U.S. Reps. Warren Davidson, of Ohio, and Barry Moore, of Alabama, would direct the National Institutes of Health to "study the psychological and social roots" of "a phenomenon marked by extreme negative reactions to President Donald J. Trump." The pop affliction has divided families, the country, and led to nationwide violenceincluding two assassination attempts on President Trump. The TDS Research Act would require the NIH to study this toxic state of mind, so we can understand the root cause and identify solutions, Davidson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And instead of funding ludicrous studies such as giving methamphetamine to cats or teaching monkeys to gamble for their drinking water, the NIH should use that funding to research issues that are relevant to the real world, Davidson added, referring to a malady that does not yet appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. And some individuals who suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome have participated in nationwide political and social unrest, even trying to assassinate President Trump twice, Moore chimed in, arguing that Davidsons common-sense bill will use already appropriated funds on an NIH study that can make a difference. Its probably worth noting here that, in the annals of political affliction, TDS isnt new. In the early 2000s, columnist George Will asserted that President George W. Bushs fiercest critics suffered from Bush Derangement Syndrome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if you guessed that it was followed by Obama Derangement Syndrome, give yourself a gold star. So is Trump Derangement Syndrome a mental illness or not? Writing for Psychology Today," Rob Whitley, whos in the psychiatry faculty at McGill University in Canada, said it could be, like its predecessors, whats broadly known as a folk category of mental illness. The name itself explicitly suggests a syndrome, which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as a characteristic combination of opinions, emotions, or behavior. Several commentators have run with this, putting forth suggestions about opinions, emotions and behaviors characterizing TDS, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line? Its probably too soon to tell. As such, further research is necessary to investigate the extreme reactions toward President Trump, in the same way that researchers investigate other extreme social phenomena, such as Beatlemania or the like, Whitley wrote for Psychology Today. More political news TDS has divided families, the country, and led to nationwide violenceincluding two assassination attempts on President Trump. The TDS Research Act would require the NIH to study this toxic state of mind, so we can understand the root cause and identify solutions. said Rep. Davidson (R-OH). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump Derangement Syndrome has become an epidemic on the Left, said Rep. Moore (R-AL). Some individuals who suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome have participated in nationwide political and social unrest, even trying to assassinate President Trump twice. Rep. Davidsons common-sense bill will use already appropriated funds on an NIH study that can make a difference. Background: The TDS Research Act addresses a critical issue: the instinctual negative and often violent reaction to any supportive statement or event related to President Trump. By leveraging NIHs existing programs at the National Institute of Mental Health, the bill will: Investigate TDSs origins and contributing factors, including the medias role in amplifying the spread of TDS. Analyze its long-term impacts on individuals, communities, and public discourse. Explore interventions to mitigate extreme behaviors, informing strategies for a healthier public square. Provide data-driven insights into how media and polarization shape political violence and social unrest. Require an annual report to Congress. No Additional Spending: Uses existing NIH resources and avoids new spending. Read the original article on MassLive. Gov. Kelly Ayotte signs Senate Bill 62 into law Thursday. The bill was one of two aimed at preventing so-called sanctuary cities in New Hampshire. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) Flanked by conservative lawmakers and sheriffs from around the state, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed two anti-sanctuary city bills into law in New Hampshire on Thursday, fulfilling a campaign promise she and several of her Republican colleagues in the Legislature made during the fall. There will be no sanctuary cities in New Hampshire, Ayotte said. Period. End of story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills House Bill 511 and Senate Bill 62 seek to prevent so-called sanctuary cities, or localities that have laws hindering local law enforcement from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or federal immigration laws. When it goes into effect in January, HB 511 will require New Hampshire municipalities to comply with ICE immigration detainers if safe to do so, prohibit policies ignoring federal immigration-related directives and authorities, and forbid local law enforcement from investigating whether someone in their custody is a citizen, unless that person in under investigation for violating New Hampshire law. SB 62, which also goes into effect in January (though it creates legal definitions that become law in July), will take away state or local governments authority to prohibit their affiliated law enforcement entities from entering into voluntary agreements with ICE. Speaking to reporters at the bill signing ceremony, Ayotte invoked comparisons to neighboring Massachusetts. Bay State Gov. Maura Healey has denied that her state is a sanctuary state but the Center for Immigration Studies includes it in their list of 13 sanctuary states. This is something we ran on to make sure that New Hampshire would not go the way of Massachusetts, she said, and their billion-dollar illegal immigration crisis. Ayotte also boasted that New Hampshire is the safest state in the nation and said were going to continue to be that and this is a big step forward. U.S. News and World Report ranked New Hampshire No. 1 among all states for public safety. It ranked reported sanctuary states Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut in the top 10 as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayottes fellow conservatives praised her at the ceremony for tackling the rights priorities. I look at the governor and I think, wow, state Sen. Bill Gannon, a Sandown Republican, said. She made promises. She kept them. She did that with bail reform. Check. Sanctuary city bills today. Check. Rep. Joe Sweeney, a Salem Republican and House Majority Leader, who has been aggressive in pushing for legislation addressing undocumented immigration said: We are sending a clear message to the state of New Hampshire today that if youre in this nation illegally, you are not welcome in the state of New Hampshire. This comes amid a controversial immigration agenda for the federal government led by President Donald Trump. That includes a slew of deportations and detainments of student activists protesting Israels war in Gaza, a group of Venezuelan migrants sent to a notoriously brutal El Salvador prison, and Europeans, including a Nashua German-American man and a number of tourists, being detained for weeks. KENTUCKY (FOX 56) In Thursdays regular Team Kentucky update, Gov. Andy Beshear addressed the ongoing tornado recovery efforts in Laurel, Russell, and Pulaski Counties. To those affected by this weekends severe weather, our promise to you is the same one weve made to each and every family impacted by natural disasters these past few years, Beshear said. We will rebuild every home and every life. We will keep showing up over and over. We will walk this road of recovery together. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a May 20 letter to President Donald Trump, Beshear requested a major disaster declaration and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) individual and public assistance. Upon approval, individual assistance would be available for eight counties and public assistance in 22. The governors office said its likely that additional counties will be added. As of May 22, the president has not yet approved the disaster declaration request. The death toll in connection with the southeastern Kentucky tornadoes remains at 19, including 17 in Laurel County, a Pulaski County woman, and an Indiana woman killed in Russell County. Eight people injured in the deadly storms are still at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. The governors office reported that three remain in critical condition, one serious, and four are expected to recover. Beshear said that no one is considered missing at this time in relation to the severe weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more of the latest Kentucky news At the time of the governors briefing, about 1,201 customers were without power, down from peak outages at 172,711. Hundreds of Kentuckians have been displaced. Beshear said that 31 people are taking shelter at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, 14 by the Red Cross, 40 at Airbnbs, and 65 households by Praxel. However, many are taking shelter, funded by volunteer organizations or on their own. Team Kentucky is reportedly working to obtain 100 travel trailers at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park. U.S. Highway 27 has also reopened following extensive cleanup and emergency repairs. However, crews remain at work, and the Parkers Mill Road intersection is still blocked for signal repairs. Barricades and detours will be fluid as crews work to clean and repair roadways and power sources across the southeast region affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who are the 19 southeastern Kentucky tornado victims? Visit goky.ky.gov before traveling to make sure your route is not affected by road closures, the governors office emphasized. Beshear also urged Kentuckians who are willing and able to give to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund. The fund supports survivors and hopes to assist with funeral expenses for those lost in the May storms. So far, Kentuckians have raised $1.3 million in donations from 5,735 donors, per Beshears office. Click here for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Exterior of 1DCA courthouse in Tallahassee Gov. Ron DeSantis has selected his former chief deputy general counsel as the newest judge on the state's 1st District Court of Appeal, based in the capital. The governor's office announced Ray Treadwell's appointment on May 23. He beat out five other finalists for the job, including four circuit judges and an administrative law judge. Since 2023, Treadwell has been a shareholder at the Lawson Huck Gonzalez law firm in Tallahassee, co-founded by former Florida Supreme Court justice Alan Lawson and one of the go-to sources for outside counsel for the DeSantis administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 1st DCA often hears appeals in cases involving the governor and state government. Its judges, for instance, handle appeals of final decisions by state agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection and the Board of Medicine, as well as the boards of trustees for state universities. Overall, it handles civil and criminal appeals from five judicial circuits across north Florida. Treadwell managed the 'most high-profile litigation' for DeSantis When he left the DeSantis administration, Treadwell was one of its longest serving insiders, starting during the governors 2019 transition, according to a City & State Florida story when he joined Lawson Huck Gonzalez: "Hes a 2011 Yale Law School graduate; his now-former boss attended Yale University as an undergraduate." Ray Treadwell is one of the brightest lawyers Ive had the privilege of practicing alongside, said Jason Gonzalez, one of the name partners of the firm. He will be an outstanding judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before that, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. Treadwell also has been general counsel of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the press release said. As in-house counsel to the governor, Treadwell helped "manage the States most high-profile litigation for several years," his law firm bio says. "He successfully defended against challenges to laws and regulations dealing with liquor sales, school reopening plans, emergency powers, school curricula, gambling compacts, prison conditions, ballot initiatives and more," it says. He has been been active in The Federalist Society, the national group that refers to itself as a conservative and libertarian intellectual network that extends to all levels of the legal community and is a favorite of DeSantis. In December, he appeared on a panel, "Putting Originalism and Textualism Into Practice," held in Tallahassee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treadwell takes the place of Judge Brad Thomas, an appointee of Gov. Jeb Bush who was on the court since 2005 and retired as of Feb. 28. District Court of Appeal judges in Florida are paid $218,939 a year, according to the Office of the State Courts Administrator. (This story was updated to add new information.) This story contains previously published material. Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network's Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gov. DeSantis taps longtime aide for key judicial post in Florida Texas Gov. Greg Abbott awarded $3.08 million to Tokyo Electron U.S. Holdings, Inc. on Thursday as part of the state's Semiconductor Innovation Fund. Tokyo Electron U.S. Holdings, Inc. (TEL U.S.) is a subsidiary of global semiconductor equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL). The money will go toward TEL U.S.'s technical training and research and development (R&D) facility in Southeast Austin. That facility is expected to create over $30 million in capital investment, according to the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tokyo Electrons more than $30 million investment builds on our states leadership in the semiconductor industry and will help bolster semiconductor-related job training to prepare thousands of Texans for better job and bigger paycheck opportunities," Abbott said in the announcement. TEL U.S. has had its North American headquarters in Austin for more than 30 years. The company sold its Southeast Austin campus in September 2023 and moved its headquarters to a new 15-story, office building at 401 S. First St. near Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park, which opened last month. TEL U.S. is reportedly also looking into opening an office in Taylor, where Samsung Austin Semiconductor is currently building its multibillion-dollar semiconductor fab. Last year, TEL U.S. announced that it would move its training and R&D operations to a 100,000 square-foot warehouse located off of Southeast Austin's Metro Center Drive, a little over five miles from the company's headquarters. According to Abbott's Thursday announcement, the facility will train an estimated 2,200 employees per year using virtual and augmented reality training methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TEL U.S. is honored to receive this funding from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to enhance our research and development efforts in the state weve called home for over 30 years, said TEL U.S. executive vice president Rick Turner said. This grant is a testament to the State of Texas' commitment to leading the production of domestic semiconductor technology, and we look forward to the progress in our industry that funding like this will enable. The Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund was established through the Texas CHIPS Act, which Abbott signed in 2023. The fund aims to invest in semiconductor research, design and manufacturing in Texas.Abbott has previously awarded funding to Elon Musk's SpaceX, Austin-based Silicon Labs, Korean Dongjin Semichem, Intelligent Epitaxy Technology and KoMiCo Technology. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Gov. Abbott awards Tokyo Electron with semiconductor grant Gov. Kim Reynolds appeared May 23, 2025 on "Iowa Press." (Screenshot from Iowa PBS video) Gov. Kim Reynolds said Friday that eliminating Iowas income tax may not be on the table before she leaves office but that she plans to focus on reducing property taxes in the 2026 legislative session. In her public statement following the adjournment of the 2025 legislative session, Reynolds did not bring up income taxes as a goal for 2026. Instead, she highlighted her plans to work on reducing Iowans property tax burden next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview on Iowa Press, moderator Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa asked Reynolds if she had abandoned the goal to end Iowas income tax or planned to move on cutting both income and property taxes in 2026. Reynolds said, that would be aggressive. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I want to create a foundation that when I do leave, the next Republican governor that sits in that chair will be able to continue to reduce the individual income tax rate, Reynolds said. But I do need to focus on property taxes. That is what we hear about all the time. Reynolds announced in April she will not seek reelection in the 2026 general election. During her tenure as governor, Reynolds has put a major focus on cutting taxes, particularly focusing on Iowas income taxes. Iowas individual income tax rate fell to a flat 3.8% rate in January following a law the governor signed in 2024 that sped up 2022 cuts to individual and corporate income taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Reynolds has celebrated these reductions, she has also said in previous years that she wanted to go further and completely eliminate the states income tax. At a Cato Institute forum in 2023, Reynolds said her goal was to get to zero individual income tax rate by the end of this second term. The governor said in 2025, legislators had asked to take the lead on property taxes, but that she planned to be more involved in this work and finding a solution to reduce property tax costs through discussions with local governments and other stakeholders over the summer. Republican legislative leaders, Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs and Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, the Ways and Means Committee chairs in the Senate and House, had introduced a bill in 2025 to eliminate Iowas rollback system for calculating property taxes and instead move to a revenue-restricted system that would limit most property tax levy rates to 2% growth each year. The proposal, which went through multiple iterations but failed to come to a floor vote, also included other measures intended to lower property taxes like a shift of $426 million in K-12 funding from property taxes to the state. Reynolds said she did not believe that shifting funding to the state necessarily would be the correct solution, as its still taxpayer dollars that would come from state taxes instead of local property taxes to back this K-12 funding. She said her focus on putting together a package to cut property taxes would involve looking at how we deliver services to our citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said its not feasible for Iowa communities to have level of government that we have and expect the property taxes to go lower. She said her discussions will involve ways Iowa can streamline government to cut costs, but will also likely involve changes to how Iowa local governments have operated in the past 40 years. Its disruptive, but that means people are going to probably be a little uncomfortable, and well have the conversation, Reynolds said. And Im not going to wait until January to have it. Were going to have it all summer as were working on it. Most of the governors priorities, which she laid out during her Condition of the State address in January, were met before the 2025 session ended earlier this month. Measures like restricting cellphone use in classrooms, increasing medical residency slots and making changes to Iowas rural health care system and backfilling some natural disaster aid for Iowa areas impacted by 2024 extreme weather all passed this session. Disaster aid When asked by moderators about the proposed elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal agency that played a large role in Iowas recovery efforts after the 2024 natural disasters, Reynolds said there still needs to be a partnership with the federal government but that she sees areas for improvement in FEMAs response system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im telling you, it takes way too long, its way too bureaucratic, Reynolds said. You know, weve got people on the ground that can act quickly. We were able to stand up some really unique programs because they gave us the flexibility to do that. Thats what states do, thats what we could do. So I think it really is something we need to take a look at. Child care Some of Reynolds proposals, like measures on child care infrastructure and energy programs, did not make it to her desk. The child care bill included a provision to shift funding from the existing Early Childhood Iowa (ECI) and federal Child Care and Development Fund Wrap Around Child Care funds to a new $16 million grant pilot program for preschool providers and child care centers. The focus would be on providing full-day care for children. Though the legislation did not pass this session, Reynolds moved forward Tuesday to establish a Continuum of Care grant with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services releasing an initial Request for Proposal for the grant. The governor also extended the child care assistance pilot program, allowing child care workers to receive child care assistance for their own children. Carbon pipelines One bill that Reynolds has not weighed in on is House File 639, the legislation proposing multiple changes related to the use of eminent domain in carbon sequestration pipeline projects. The bill passed the Senate following heated debate during the last week of session. Republican leaders in the House, including House Speaker Pat Grassley, have said they believe Reynolds will sign the bill into law despite opposition from the ethanol industry and some high-profile Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement June 14 is the deadline for Reynolds to sign bills from the 2025 session into law; if she does not sign or veto a bill by this deadline, it is considered a pocket veto and not enacted. The governor said on Iowa Press she is meeting with stakeholders to discuss the legislation, but is still in the process of researching and considering the impacts of the bill with her policy team and with advocates both for and against the measure. Almost every meeting has led to some additional research on my team, I have legal counsel looking at it, Reynolds said. So its been a really good process, and were going to continue that through at least the next week. So I want to make sure that I have given individual stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in, so that I can, again, make make the best, informed decision that I can based on information Ive heard. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE "Tango Freedom" concert dedicated to the 215th anniversary of the May Revolution of Argentina was held in Kyiv A solemn concert dedicated to the legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla titled "Tango Freedom" took place on Tuesday at the Kyiv Academic Puppet Theater. The event was organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Ukraine with the participation of representatives of the Ukrainian government, diplomatic corps, artists and cultural community. The event was timed to the 215th anniversary of the May Revolution of the Argentine Republic, an event that marked the beginning of the liberation struggle for Argentine independence in 1810. The distinguished guests of the event were such as First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva, as well as MPs, ministerial officials and ambassadors of foreign countries. "Dear compatriots, welcome to the celebration of the two hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the May Revolution of 1810, which marked the beginning of the path to our independence. Today, we honor that same spirit of freedom here in Ukraine, in a country that has defended its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its right to choose its own path with impressive courage and dignity," Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Argentina to Ukraine Elena Leticia Mikusinski addressed the guests. The Ambassador also quoted the statement of the Argentine Foreign Minister: "Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, we have always stood by Ukraine. We have supported its legitimate right to defend its territories and sovereignty. We will continue to support Ukraine." < In his speech, Kyslytsia drew historical parallels between Argentina's revolutionary movement of the early nineteenth century and Ukraine's current struggle for freedom. "215 years ago, a powerful impulse was born in Buenos Aires - the May Revolution. In 1810, Argentines chose freedom, dignity and independence. Today, Ukraine is fighting for these principles. That is why the slogan of this event is so close to us: Tango de la libertad," he said. The diplomat also reminded that Argentina was the first Latin American country to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991, and even earlier - in 1921 - the Ukrainian People's Republic. "Today, Argentina is with Ukraine again - in condemning Russian aggression and providing humanitarian aid, in a clear position for the truth and freedom of Ukraine. This is not just diplomacy. This is a true friendship. Amistad valiente. Amistad verdadera," Kyslytsya emphasized. The cultural program included a concert "Tango Freedom" dedicated to composer Astor Piazzolla. "Tonight we will witness the unity of wonderful Ukrainian musicians who will perform the works of our favorite Astor Piazzolla. May the same music always sound in this tango of two nations - the music of freedom," Mikusinski said. The May Revolution (Revolucion de Mayo) took place in Buenos Aires on May 18-25, 1810. As a result, the Spanish colonial administration was removed, and the national government, the First Junta, became the first step towards Argentina's independence, proclaimed on July 9th, 1816. Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) was a prominent Argentine composer and bandoneon player, the founder of the nuevo tango style, which combined traditional tango with elements of jazz, classical music and the avant-garde. His work is known all over the world and is considered one of the symbols of Argentina's cultural identity. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Glock switches are now banned in the state of Tennessee after Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill to outlaw the firearm accessory. Tennessee is now the 27th state in the nation to ban the device that converts handguns into fully-automatic weapons. Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom States are mimicking federal law, which generally prohibits machine guns and any parts that can transform semiautomatic weapons into automatic ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glock switches have been used in countless mass shootings, including one in Memphis in 2024. The legislation was sponsored by House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and passed with bipartisan support. Gun control advocates are praising the new law, calling it a meaningful step toward making Tennessee safe. Earlier this year, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed similar legislation, following other states including Mississippi and Virginia last legislative session. Todays victory speaks volumes to the bipartisan progress that we canand mustmake together to prevent gun violence in Tennessee,said Linda McFadyen-Ketchum, a volunteer with the Tennessee chapter of Moms Demand Action, in a release. Banning Glock switches is just common sense these devices turn everyday guns into illegal machine guns, and they have no place in our communities. This win is a meaningful step toward making Tennessee safer for everyone. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com This is a huge victory for young Tennesseans, said Emma Mann, a volunteer with the Vanderbilt Students Demand Action chapter. My generation has been traumatized by Americas gun violence crisis, and its moments like this, after years of advocacy and mobilizing, that make it all worth it. Gun violence is preventable, and we wont stop fighting for the safety of our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a release, Tennessee has the 11th-highest rate of gun deaths and the 8th-highest rate of gun homicide in the U.S. Gun violence reportedly costs Tennessee $18.0 billion each year, of which $415.5 million is paid by taxpayers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds waiver to restrict the list of food eligible to be purchased under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was approved. Reynolds and Iowa Health and Human Services submitted the waiver requesting that certain items like candy, soda, and even certain granola bars be ineligible to obtain with SNAP benefits to the United States Department of Agriculture last week. On Thursday, Reynolds office announced that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins approved the waiver. According to the governors office, the waiver allows SNAP recipients to purchase foods that are non-taxable under Iowa law. That means recipients would not be able to purchase food subject to sales tax, which includes things like candy, ready-to-eat kettle corn or caramel corn, marshmallows, soda, and fruit juices that contain less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reynolds said the waivers approval will help promote healthy eating in the state. Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads, Reynolds said in a statement. To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function we need a change. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and her team for helping make that change happen. PCSO reporting outage of Runnells outdoor warning siren However, critics of the waiver like the Iowa Hunger Coalition said that the restriction of foods eligible under SNAP doesnt address the issue of food insecurity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think this is really the right way to get low income Iowans eating healthier, Luke Elzinga, chair of IHC and Policy and Advocacy Manager at DMARC, told WHO 13 last week. We need to be looking at solutions that will increase the affordability and accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods for low income Iowans. This [the waiver] just really sends the message that the state of Iowa doesnt trust low-income families to make the best food choices for their family. We dont think this ban will be effective, and wed really like to see some solutions and evidence-based proven interventions like Double Up Food Bucks. The governor actually even mentioned that in her waiver request. So again, we think there are proven solutions to increase healthy eating, but this is not one. Iowa is now the second state to have a waiver request to limit eligible foods under SNAP approved by the USDA. On Monday, Rollins approved Nebraskas request to ban soda and energy drinks. President Trump has given our nation a once in a generation opportunity to change the health trajectory for our entire country, Rollins said on Thursday. On my first day as secretary, I sent a call to states to innovate, and Governor Kim Reynolds stepped up to take action. I look forward to signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of our country. So far, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are all considering implementing similar changes to SNAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowas waiver will take effect on January 1, 2026. Iowa News: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) On Friday, May 23, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued two separate flag orders. The first recognizes Memorial Day. The governor ordered that Virginia and U.S. flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings from sunrise on Monday, May 26 until noon. We remember with profound gratitude the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of our country. Pursuant to 2.2-3310.1 of the Code of Virginia, all agencies and institutions of the Commonwealth shall display the POW/MIA flag on public buildings on Memorial Day in honor and remembrance of the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces who are or were prisoners of war or reported missing in action. Excerpt from Gov. Youngkin order Gerry Connolly, a Democratic congressman and fixture of Virginia politics, dies at 75 Gov. Youngkin also ordered flags be flown at half-staff in memory and respect of Congressman Gerald E. Gerry Connolly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connolly died Wednesday at the age of 75. We recognize Congressman Connollys deep commitment to Virginia through his decades of distinguished public service, including his time on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and in the United States House of Representatives for the 11th District. Excerpt from Gov. Youngkin order The governor ordered that flags be lowered at sunrise on Tuesday, May 27, and remain at half-staff until sunset in memory of Congressman Connolly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 22WASHINGTON, D.C. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement in response to the $12 billion in border reimbursements for states that stepped up, including Texas, that Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and others fought to secure in the One Big Beautiful Bill. "Texas thanks the U.S. House and the Texas Congressional Delegation for including $12 billion in the reconciliation package that will help Texas in its response to the unprecedented illegal immigration in Texas," Abbott said in a news release. "This is a national issue that Texas was proud to address, and we are grateful for the allocation that reduces the financial burden that Texas incurred." "The devastating impact of the previous administration's open border policies has been felt nationwide but no state has carried the burden more than Texas. Texas spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs and $4.75 billion on border wall and barriers. When the federal government failed to secure our border and protect our communities, Texans stepped up. Throughout my time in Congress, I've fought tirelessly to get our state the reimbursements it's owed, and now, that fight is finally paying off," said Pfluger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas had to take on a massive financial burden to protect our communities when the previous administration failed to do so. Throughout his time in Congress, Pfluger has fought to reimburse Texas for securing the southern border, including: American Border Rescue Plan Act (2021) This bill would allow state and local governments to use stimulus funds from the American Rescue Plan to cover the costs of border security. Lone Star Reimbursement Act (2022) This bill aimed to pay the State of Texas back for the costs of Operation Lone Star incurred in FY21 and FY22, which total $1.43 billion. Co-led with Rep. Fallon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Letter to President Biden to reimburse Texas/meeting request (2023) Pfluger-led letter signed by all Republican members of the Texas Delegation FY24, FY25, and FY26 Appropriations Requests (2023, 2024, 2025) FY24: Led a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to reimburse Texas for $5.1 billion. FY25: Led a letter with 18 signers urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to reimburse Texas $11.26 billion. FY26: Led a letter with 19 signers urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to reimburse Texas $11.2 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to Reimburse Texas through Supplemental Funding Vehicle Although the measure failed, Pfluger led the charge on including Texas reimbursement through supplemental funding packages in the spring of 2024. Pfluger has also consigned H.R. 424 and H.R. 1222, and H.R. 3464 to reimburse Texas. Gov. Mike Braun has directed flags to be flown at half staff Friday in Vermillion County in honor of Clinton Mayor Jack Gilfoy Jr., who died Saturday. Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset. Businesses and residents in Vermillion County are asked to lower their flags as well. The 75-year-old mayor experienced a medical emergency last week and died in Union Hospital over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gilfoy, a Democrat, had served as Clintons mayor since Jan. 1, 2012. He was a graduate of Clinton High School and a Vietnam War veteran who also oversaw the family-owned business, Model Cleaners, according to his biography on the citys website. He cared about the city and took a lot of pride in it and in his job. He took his responsibilities very seriously, said Scott Craig, Clinton city attorney. He always was looking to make things better for the city. Under Gilfoys leadership, the city has been successful in securing grants for various improvements, Craig said. Our parks, our streets, our sewer plant, our water system, are all in fantastic shape. We got a new firehouse and a new fire truck, Craig said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of his department heads have been part of his administration for most or all of his tenure as mayor, providing stability, Craig said. According to Gilfoys obituary, and in honor of his wishes, there will be no service. Clinton city council president JT Walker is serving as interim mayor until the Democratic party conducts a caucus to appoint a new mayor, Craig said. NORTH CAROLINA (WNCT) Governor Stein has ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities be flown at half-staff in honor of Memorial Day. The flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon on Monday, May 26. Throughout our nations history North Carolinians have answered the call to serve our country and protect our freedoms, and this weekend we honor those who paid the ultimate price in that service, Governor Josh Stein said. Annas and my heart are with all the North Carolinians who are mourning their loved ones. Let us honor their legacy by preserving their memories, celebrating their bravery, and nourishing our democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly flags at half-staff as well. North Carolina flag announcements are issued in accordance to regulations outlined in the U.S. Flag Code. Click for the NC State Government Flag Guide. Sign up for the North Carolina Flag Alert list. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRANBY, Mass. (WWLP) Military Appreciation Day was held for the first time at the State House in Boston on Thursday. The states highest lawmakers and military members, and their families, gathered in the House Chambers to be recognized. To show the states appreciation, 135 veterans received governors citations after being nominated by local legislators, including retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Michael Joseph Slater of Granby. First-ever Military Appreciation Day at the State House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff Sergeant Slater was honored by State Senator Jake Oliveira from the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District. In a news release sent to 22News from the Office of State Senator Jake Oliveira, Staff Sergeant Slater served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Combat Engineer with the U.S. Armys 1st Cavalry Division. He earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Combat Action Badge. Tasked with route clearanceidentifying and neutralizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to protect U.S. and allied forceshe routinely faced combat conditions that tested both skill and resolve. For his service, he earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Combat Action Badge. Since Slaters military retirement, he has developed outreach programs and expanded access to vital resources for local veterans. He continues this work at the Springfield Vet Center, providing one-on-one support to those who have served. State Senator Jake Oliveira and Staff Sergeant Michael Joseph Slater (Courtesy: Office of State Senator Jake Oliveira) It was a moving ceremony and an important reminder that service doesnt end when the uniform comes off, said Senator Oliveira. Staff Sergeant Slater represents the very best of our military communitynot only through his heroism in combat, but also through his deep, ongoing commitment to veterans across Western Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was proud to stand alongside Staff Sergeant Slater at the State House as we paid tribute not just to his service, but to his continued leadership and care for others, Senator Oliveira said. This event reminded us that our military heroes walk among us every day, in our neighborhoods, our town halls, and our veterans centers, and that they continue to serve long after their tours of duty end. Military celebrations and ceremonies will continue across the state through the weekend, and on Mondays Memorial Day. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Two women accused of trying to run each other over in a dispute over a man have been indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury. Joesie Mascarella, 28, was indicted Thursday on a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony. Al Jonae Phillips, 26, was indicted Thursday on a charge of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony. Mascarella is free on $25,000 bond she posted after her arraignment in municipal court. Phillips remains in the Mahoning County jail after her initial court appearance in Mahoning County Area Court in Boardman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were arrested after Youngstown police were called about 9 p.m. April 1 to St. Elizabeth Health Center on Belmont Avenue, where Phillips told them she was being followed by Mascarella around 7 p.m. due to an ongoing dispute over a male. Phillips said she was on a side street off of Southern Boulevard, trying to shake Mascarella, and when she could not, she got out of her car. Phillips said Mascarella turned around and hit her with the vehicle she was driving, reports said. Reports said Phillips told police she jumped on the hood of Mascarellas vehicle before falling into the street. Phillips then chased Mascarella into Boardman to the 4900 block of Grover Drive, where she admitted ramming into Mascarellas car, reports said. Boardman police reports said officers were called to Grover Drive and Indianola Road for a report of a rolling fight, and when they arrived, they found both vehicles in a yard in the 200 block of Indianola Road. Phillips vehicle had heavy front-end damage, and the airbags had also deployed, reports said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phillips told Boardman police she saw Mascarella at her home in Youngstown and began following her after she was hit by Mascarellas vehicle when the two argued there. She told Boardman police that Mascarella slammed on her brakes, which is when she collided with her vehicle. An ambulance took Phillips to St. Elizabeth in Youngstown, while another ambulance took Mascarella to St. Elizabeth in Boardman. Reports said Mascarella told Youngstown police she was at her home in the 100 block of Maywood Drive when Phillips appeared at her home and the two argued. City police watched a video someone took of the encounter on Maywood Drive and posted to Facebook where Mascarellas vehicle made a U-turn around another vehicle, drove over the sidewalk and through a yard, drove straight toward Phillips and hit her, throwing her into the air and into the road. Both women were treated for their injuries before they were taken to jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Max Polakovich didnt grow up running. In fact, he only picked it up a year ago. But this week, the 23-year-old from Grand Rapids is lacing up for the biggest run of his life: 400 miles from the Indiana border to the tip of the mitten. Hes calling it Split the Mitten, an eight-day journey across the state that will push him physically while also raising money for AYA Youth Collective, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that supports youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was really just looking for my next adventure, Polakovich said. And I just started typing around on Google, like, Has anyone ever run Michigan? Inside WOODTV.com: Housing crisis in West Michigan Polakovich works as a loan officer at Treadstone Mortgage, where he helps people find homes. Thats how he first learned about AYA. Once he visited their drop-in center and heard about the hundreds of young people they serve every year, he knew he wanted to do more. I think homeownership is important, but at the core of it, I think having a safe place to call your home is even more important, whether you own it or not, he said. (AYA Youth Collective) does anything from vital document recovery to a warm meal, a place to shower, change clothes, do laundry, whatever it might be. They do a lot of things that I didnt even realize these kids have to go through every single day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He set out to raise $50,000. As of Thursday, the day before he starts his run, hes reached more than half of his goal. Local college students give up spring break to give back Polakovich will be joined by a team of friends traveling in an RV packed with food and what he says is pretty much his whole closet. He estimates hell need to eat 7,000 calories a day to keep up with the daily 50-mile average. Its a physical grind he admits wont always feel good, but pushing through the pain is part of why he loves running so much. I dont like waking up at 5 in the morning to train and go run when its cold and rainy, but I do it because when you get past it, every other thing you do for the rest of your years seems pretty insignificant, he said. Any stress or hurdle you might have outside of that seems so new because you just pushed yourself as far as you thought you could and then you go further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He plans to stop in Grand Rapids on the route on Sunday and hopes people will come out to cheer him on. Supporters can follow his journey on Instagram at @maxpolakovich or donate directly at ayayouth.org/split-the-mitten. Just knowing that this is going to help people, thats whats going to drive me to finish, 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 WOODTV.com. The G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors approved a communique after the summit in Canada, reiterating unwavering support for Ukraine and presenting joint commitments to facilitate its restoration. The text of the communique was published on the website of the upcoming G7 summit of heads of state, which will take place in Canada on June 15-17 this year. The G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Summit was held on May 20-22, 2025 in Banff, Canada. The summit was also attended by the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB). Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and the President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) attended part of the meetings. The participants of the G7 financial summit devoted a significant part of the final joint statement to supporting Ukraine. Three points of the document are devoted to it: "9. We condemn Russia's continued brutal war against Ukraine and commend the immense resilience from the Ukrainian people and economy. Ukraine has suffered significant destruction. The G7 remains committed to unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence toward a just and durable peace. 10. We welcome ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire. If such a ceasefire is not agreed, we will continue to explore all possible options, including options to maximize pressure such as further ramping up sanctions. We reaffirm that, consistent with our respective legal systems, Russia's sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. 11. We agree that private sector mobilization will be important in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, with costs estimated by the WBG at US$524 billion over the next decade. We collectively commit to help build investor confidence through bilateral and multilateral initiatives. To this end, in addition to the ongoing support through the MIGA SURE (Support for Ukraine's Reconstruction and Economy) trust fund, we will work, including through the Ukraine Donor Platform, with the Government of Ukraine, international financial institutions (IFIs), and the insurance industry towards removing the blanket ban imposed on Ukraine as soon as possible. We will continue to coordinate support to promote the early recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine, including at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will take place in Rome on July 10-11, 2025. Further, we agree to work together with Ukraine to ensure that no countries or entities, or entities from those countries that financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be eligible to profit from Ukraine's reconstruction." GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A young man who exchanged gunfire with Grand Rapids police after running from a traffic stop is heading to prison for a minimum of nearly three years for attempted murder. Man faces attempted murder charges in shootout with GRPD A judge this week sentenced Saul Rodriguez to between 34 months and 10 years for assault with intent to murder. He will first serve a mandatory two years for using a firearm during a felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from a shootout with police in March 2024 following a traffic stop on South Division Avenue near Crofton Street. Rodriguez, a backseat passenger, fled from the vehicle and was accused of firing multiple rounds as two officers chased him on Horton Avenue near Burton Street SE. The officers returned fire. No one was hit. GR leaders promise commitment to police reforms despite no Schurr retrial One of the officers reported that the suspect fired first, firing over his shoulder as he ran away, court records show. (The officer) stated the fleeing subject fired multiple times and he was able to see a muzzle flash coming from the gun as the subject fired towards him, court records show. A March 5, 2024, booking photo of Saul Rodriguez from the Kent County jail. Stop, stop, put your (expletive) hands up! one of the officers can be heard shouting in police video released last year. Hes got a gun, his partner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez, who was 18 at the time, told his girlfriend that he shot at Grand Rapids police officers and sent his brother a message that read, Im gonna get attempt murder on a cop, court documents show. Man that killed father of 3 in shootout heading to prison Police knew Rodriguezs name he was a suspect in a carjacking two months earlier in Grand Rapids. In that case, the victim reported being pistol-whipped before two people stole his car. Rodriguez was arrested three days after the exchange of gunfire when officers searched a home on Oxford Street SW in Grand Rapids Black Hills neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. JOPLIN, Mo. Lead by the Joplin Civil Air Patrol, the community honored the late Dr. Harold Brazil. Dr. Brazil was born in Arkansas but he spent a lot of his childhood here, said Jasper County Cemetery Preservation Society President, Rikki Smith. Dr. Brazil was a graduate of Joplins Lincoln High School and served in World War II as a Tuskegee Airman the first all-black fighter squadron to fight in the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuskegee Airmen were very important in the work that they did, and they were some elite performance kind of individuals, said Smith. They were support to the heavy bombers and they were fighter pilots. So, just to have them being recognized and being a part of an effort that brought freedom to all, said Joplin NAACP Vice President, William Kean. There were roughly 1,0000 documented Tuskegee Airmen 19 of those from Missouri. Brazil was one of two men in that unit from Joplin. Theres a lot still to discover about his service. We do know that he was a twin engine pilot. He was certified at Tuskegee Institute, said Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the war, Dr. Brazil continued his military career before retiring in 1970. He passed away in 2007 and is buried in a family plot at Parkway Cemetery in Joplin. This is just a way for us to say his name and honor his service and his life and let people know that people from Joplin go do great things, said Smith. Those who attended said they came to show their gratitude and make a promise. We have to keep their memory alive and remember that they are the ones who served us and its our turn to serve them, said Joplin Civil Air Patrol Cadet Commander, Faith Godsell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Two students from Greece Arcadia High School, Tessa Meyers and Ian Royse are the 2025 Stars of Tomorrow New York City Bound winners. Next month, Meyers and Royse will represent Rochester in the 2025 National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) also known as the Jimmy Awards. They will compete with more than 100 student performers from across the country in New York City. This is Royses second year participating in the Jimmy Awards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RBTL competition Thursday night included 40 students from area high school theatre programs. In the first round, judges selected twenty students to perform the role they performed at school this year and one minute from a song of their choice. After that round, the judges narrowed the group down to ten who performed a final round before the two students were announced. Holly Valentine, the Education Director at RBTL says this competition is about all the kids not just the two winners. Theyre performing on a Broadway stage, theyre performing for Broadway professionals. They are learning all the things they will need if they are going on in this business which many of them hope to do, said Valentine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students were cheered on by their families, friends, music teachers and classmates during the competition that lasted over two hours. WROC-TV is a proud sponsor and partners with the Rochester Broadway Theatre League. News 8 hosted a Fan Favorite web contest after the nominees were announced on May 9. The Rochester community visited rochesterfirst.com to vote for their favorite student. News 8 Evening Anchor Theresa Marsenburg announced this years winner at the beginning of Thursdays competition. Aubrey Puccio from LeRoy Jr/Sr High School received the most votes and won 4 VIP Box Seats, parking and passes to the Presidents Lounge to a performance of Clue this fall at RBTLS Auditorium Theatre. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Two women have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman during a robbery at a McDonalds in Greece on Wednesday. According to the Greece Police Department, a 24-year-old woman was using the restroom at the West Ridge Road location when 25-year-old Franscheska Avilas and 18-year-old Aniyha Gonzalez allegedly punched her repeatedly and stole her items. A third person filmed the incident. The victim was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation after sustaining facial injuries during the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GPD: Man arrested, woman and children inside apt during standoff Officers said the suspects drove away in a black Toyota that was reported stolen to the Rochester Police Department. On Thursday, Greece police said they found the vehicle parked on Dewey Avenue with Avilas and Gonzalez inside. They were arrested and charged with the following: Franscheska Avilas: Second-degree robbery, aggravated criminal contempt, second-degree assault, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle. Aniyha Gonzalez: Second-degree robbery, second-degree assault, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers are asking anyone with information to call the Greece Police Department at (585)-581-4016 or by emailing GPDTips@GreeceNY.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 RochesterFirst. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Greece Central School District students will demonstrate their public safety and emergency response skills on Thursday for the districts Responding to Emergencies (RTE) showcase. The event is to be held at Odyssey Academy and highlight what students have learned during their participation in an innovative career pathway program, exposing them to the work of first responders and training. The RTE Career Pathway Program trains students interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical service careers with classroom instruction and mentorship sponsored by local agencies including the Ridge Road Fire District, Barnard Fire District, North Greece Fire District, Lake Shore Fire District, Monroe County Fire Bureau, Monroe Ambulance, Greece Police Department, Monroe County Sheriffs Office, and Monroe Community College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gates Volunteer Ambulance expresses value of community support during National EMS Week The showcase includes interactive stations led by students who will demonstrate CPR, hose handling, first aid, and ladder operations. An added feature of the event is the debut of a fully functional ambulance donated by Monroe Ambulance to be used as a mobile training lab. Monroe Ambulance is proud to support the next generation of emergency responders. This program aligns with our mission to serve the community and invest in the future of EMS, said the president of Monroe Ambulance, Tom Coyle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATHENS (Reuters) -A Greek naval court has charged 17 coast guard officers over one of the Mediterranean's worst shipwrecks two years ago, in which hundreds of people are believed to have drowned, three sources said on Friday. The shipwreck of an overloaded migrant boat in international waters off the southwestern Greek town of Pylos on June 14, 2023, sent shockwaves across Europe and beyond. The naval court is still investigating the circumstances around the incident. A coast guard vessel had been monitoring the boat, named Adriana, for 15 hours before it capsized and sank. It had left Libya for Italy with about 750 people on board. Only 104 of them are known to have survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greek coast guard authorities have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing over the handling of the case. Three legal sources said the 17 coast guard officers would be summoned by a judge to respond to accusations ranging from obstructing transport to causing or helping cause a shipwreck. Contacted by Reuters, a Greek coast guard official said the service had not been officially informed about the charges and had asked to be briefed by the naval court. Greece's judicial system has several preparatory stages and the compilation of charges does not necessarily mean that an individual will face trial. Human rights activists and other protesters plan rallies across Greece on June 21 to mark the second anniversary of the Pylos shipwreck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the Greek Ombudsman recommended disciplinary action against eight coast guard officers, the first national probe into the incident to conclude. Greece says that the coast guard operates with respect to human rights and that it has rescued more than 250,000 people since 2015, when the country was at the frontline of Europe's migration crisis. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Yannis SouliotisEditing by Gareth Jones) GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) The 21-year-old Green Bay man who was convicted in March of multiple sexual assaults of the same child through a no contest plea was sentenced on Thursday. Wisconsin court records revealed that Haziel Santos, who initially faced three charges relating to sex offenses, will spend 12 years in state prison for count one, the repeated sexual assault of the same child, at least three times in the first-degree. Officers looking for missing 14-year-old Wisconsin girl, last seen May 19 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial charges were the following, according to court records. Repeated sexual assault of the same child, at least three violations of first-degree sexual assault Guilty due to no contest plea Child enticement sexual contact Charge was dismissed, but read in at sentencing Exposing a child to harmful material Charge was dismissed, but read in at sentencing Green Bay man dies following motorized bicycle crash on Cherry Street The offenses occurred over multiple years, when Santos began sexually abusing a five-year-old girl, letting her play on his phone for sexual favors. The girl was 10 years old when she spoke to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santos will spend eight years on supervised release following his prison sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. UPDATE: According to the Gregg County Sheriffs office, Morgan Brady Smith has been found. GREGG COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Gregg County Sheriffs Office is searching for a man who was last seen on Wednesday at his home in Longview. Hopkins County Sheriffs Office searching for missing 16-year-old girl According to the sheriffs office, Morgan Brady Smith was last seen wearing jeans, a white-sleeve collared button-up shirt and skater shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smiths vehicle is a black 2007 Honda Coupe with the the front bumper missing. Texas license plate: SFX3672 Photos courtesy of Gregg County Sheriffs Office If anyone has information about Morgans whereabouts or have seen the car described, they are asked to contact the Gregg County Sheriffs Office at 903-236-8400 or call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Work on the $450 million University of Kansas Cancer Center will begin Friday. Over the last three years, the schools managed to raise $250 million. Private, state and federal funds have come in to build the $450 million facility. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Once built, the university will consolidate its researchers, staff and lab equipment from a dozen different locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new facility will be going up in phases around 39th and Rainbow. And based on recent trends, it is very much needed. According to the university, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. The annual worldwide cancer rate is expected to increase to 29.5 million people in the next 15 years. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will attend, along with a list of guests, later today on the University of Kansas Medical Center campus. Groundbreaking is at 4 p.m. on Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Well after dozens of vulnerable seniors living at Danforth and Hudson Ridge towers in Rochester say they were told they had to move out by Saturday, the group that had cared for them remained silent, until Friday. Family Service of Rochester, which also goes by Family Service Communities, released a statement to News 8 Friday offering a brief summary of what was happening, but did not explain why or respond to allegations of financial and administrative mismanagement. The statement confirms much of the State Department of Health, or DOH, has already reported, including the end of a program (Enriched Housing Program, or EHP) that placed around 100 senior citizens in Danforth and Hudson Ridge apartment towers and provided services for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family Service of Rochester went on to say, The programs are being closed to ensure the continued health and safety of the resident participants. Residents in the programs are receiving assistance from both the Department of Health and Family Service in finding appropriate/safe alternative housing and health services. We appreciate the strong and dedicated work of the staff at both programs during this time. Earlier this week, the programs closure had many residents under the impression they were being evicted and could be out on the street this weekend. Thursday, Rochester Housing Authority, which operates the two towers but does not care for the residents under EHP, stated there was no eviction, but DOH was relocating some of those affected while others were invited to stay and live in the towers under a different program. DOH says the program closure was prompted by a review that found several problems with how Family Services was running it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, DOH found Family Service of Rochester, which is based in Fairport, accepted people who needed more services than EHP could provide, lacked of supervision, provided poor record keeping, did not monitor narcotics, failed to offer proper nutrition, and did not adhere to medication protocol. DOH went on to say Family Service of Rochester did not have the resources to address the violations and voluntarily surrendered their licenses and opted to close the programs, emphasizing the decision was made by Family Service of Rochester and not the state, adding the process of moving residents required urgency because Family Service of Rochesters staffing was insufficient and funding was depleted and that posed immediate risks to resident health and safety. Meanwhile, RHA Executive Director Shawn Burr said Family Service failed to pay the rent owed to RHA rent the tenants had already paid to Family Service. Burr said hed like to see an investigation and those responsible for any misconduct or mismanagement be held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their statement Friday, Family Service of Rochester did not address the DOH findings or RHA accusations. News 8 has called Family Service of Rochester several times. Friday, the person who answered the phone said Neil Cavalieri, who is listed on the not-for-profits website as the CEO, no longer works there. Also, IRS filings show a bleak financial picture dating back to 2022. It does not appear the City of Rochester nor Monroe County have any direct role in any of this, but both have involved themselves to try to fix the problem. Rochester Housing Authority has encouraged anyone under EHP who was not relocated to stay in their home so they can be placed under a different program that will allow them to remain where they are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, Legal Assistance of WNY has sent attorneys to both facilities to offer advice to shaken residents and their families. Were here to help the residents through challenging times that was not handled in a good way, pressuring people to move without much notice we have people in tears about it and it should not have happened this way, said Jeff Nieznanski, an attorney with Legal Assistance of WNY. If you need to contact them, call (585) 325-2520. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Thanks to the assistance of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), additional electricity generation with a total capacity of over 450 MW has been installed in Ukraine, in particular, in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions, reported the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine with reference to Deputy Minister Roman Andarak on Telegram on Friday. "Thanks to a strong partnership with UNDP and contributions from nine donor countries, Ukraine was able to secure and deliver energy equipment with a total capacity of over 450 MW. This support is already yielding tangible results it has allowed millions of Ukrainians to regain access to heat, electricity and water," he said during a meeting of the UNDP Ukraine Green Energy Recovery Program Supervisory Board. Andarak added that the Russian Federation continues to attack Ukrainian facilities, which is why the need for equipment and assistance from partners remains relevant. Among the key needs of the energy sector are active and passive protection devices, high-voltage equipment, equipment for distributed generation and backup power, and energy storage. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) Two groups filed a lawsuit Friday over an executive order by West Virginia Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey granting religious exemptions from required school vaccinations. The American Civil Liberties Union's West Virginia chapter and Mountain State Justice filed the lawsuit against the state Department of Health, its Bureau for Public Health and agency leaders on behalf of two parents in Kanawha County Circuit Court. The vaccine exemption was among several executive orders issued by Morrisey on his first full day in office in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governors do not rule by decree, ACLU-West Virginia legal director Aubrey Sparks said in a statement. At the center of this lawsuit is who gets to make these decisions for our students. On this question, the state Constitution is clear that the authority lies with the Legislature, not the governor. The governor's office and the Department of Health did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment Friday on the lawsuit. Morrisey's order upended a school vaccination policy long heralded by medical experts as one of the most protective in the country for kids. State law requires children to receive vaccines for chickenpox, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough before starting school. The state does not require COVID-19 vaccinations. Legislation that would have allowed religious exemptions to vaccination requirements, among other things, was passed by the state Senate and rejected by the House of Delegates earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State schools Superintendent Michelle Blatt issued a memorandum to all 55 county superintendents May 2 recommending that students not be allowed to attend school in the 2025-26 without required immunizations. But that same day, Blatt rescinded the memo at Morrisey's request, according to the lawsuit. Morrisey later issued a statement saying he had no intention of rescinding the executive order. He said parents can apply for a religious exemption from vaccinations through the Bureau for Public Health. Last year, Republican then-Gov. Jim Justice vetoed a less sweeping vaccination bill passed by the Republican-supermajority Legislature that would have exempted private school and some nontraditional public school students from vaccination requirements. Morrisey, who served as West Virginias attorney general from 2013 until he was sworn in as governor, said he believes religious exemptions to vaccinations should already be permitted under a 2023 law passed by the state Legislature called the Equal Protection for Religion Act. The law stipulates that the government can't substantially burden someones constitutional right to freedom of religion unless it can prove there is a compelling interest to restrict that right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrisey has said that law hasnt been fully and properly enforced since it passed. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dr. Joshua Hess of Cabell County and Marisa Jackson of Kanawha County. It said Hess has a child who is immunocompromised and that Jackson has a child who, because of decreased community use of immunizations, is more susceptible to illness. Along with Mississippi, West Virginia is the U.S. state with the worst health outcomes and lowest life expectancy rates. Parents should be able to know their child will be safe when they send them off to school, said Mountain State Justice executive director Sarah Brown. We are seeing the devastating effects of loosening vaccine requirements across the country, and thats why the Legislature wisely declined to loosen the restrictions here in West Virginia. Its vital that their decision not be undermined by the executive branch. GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) Biotech is growing in North Carolina, and now one Triad college is stepping up to help train the workforce. Guilford Technical Community College is launching a new program this fall to help students land jobs in the growing biomanufacturing industry. GTCC leaders said that with biotech companies already growing in Guilford County, they say now is the time to build a local pipeline of skilled talent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is designed to help students step directly into jobs like bioprocess technicians, pharmaceutical production specialists and quality control analysts in the Triad. Weve got multiple companies that are currently in Guilford County and biotech Its a growing field, GTCC Dean of STEM Anne Simpson said. The new Bioprocess Manufacturing Technology Program at GTCC is launching this fall. Students will train hands-on in microbiology, cell culture and manufacturing processes, which are skills that match what employers are asking for. It will span five semesters. It is an associate of applied science degree. The students who will complete the program will be able to enter the workforce and our biomanufacturing field, Simpson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies in the industry are already operating in Guilford County. We have Galera, Syngenta, and a smaller one that weve worked with so far is BioGreen Synergy, and they do biofuel also, Simpson said. GTCC hopes their graduates will stay local after they graduate. Theyre also working directly with companies to align coursework with their workforce needs. We have started our industry committee for the new program. and that allows the industry folks to be able to tell us what their needs are, and we can ensure our curriculum is meeting those needs That can be from the actual curriculum. That can be soft skills that students need to develop while theyre training with us and ensuring that as the technology changes, our curriculum changes to match those industry needs as well, Simpson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GTCC is capping the first cohort at 24 students, and registration is now open for the fall semester. While classes will begin on Aug. 14 in GTCCs existing biology labs, a new lab space is already in the works at the GTCC Center for Advanced Manufacturing on the Jamestown campus. GTCC is also participating in a MentorLinks grant through the NSF. The partnership will support the continued development of the new program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WKBN) The Cleveland Guardians announced that starting pitcher Ben Lively will undergo Tommy John surgery, bringing his 2025 season to an end. According to a release from the team, Lively is expected to miss 12-16 months. Lively was placed on the injured list on May 13 with a strained flexor tendon. A second opinion recommended that the surgery was necessary. This season, Lively has posted a record of 2-2 with a 3.22 ERA. In 44 2/3 innings, he has struck out 29 in nine starts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lively originally signed with Cleveland in December 2023 and posted a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts last season. Taking Livelys place in the starting rotation is Slade Cecconi, with former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber expected to return later this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For a country whose government is not recognised by any nation, Afghanistans acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has had an unusually busy calendar in recent weeks. He has hosted his counterpart from Pakistan, spoken on the phone with Indias foreign minister, and jetted to Iran and China. In Beijing, he also met the Pakistani foreign minister again. On Wednesday, he joined trilateral talks with delegations from Pakistan and China. This, even though the ruling Taliban have historically had tense relations with most of these countries, and currently have taut ties with Pakistan, a one-time ally with whom trust is at an all-time low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While neither the United Nations nor any of its member states formally recognise the Taliban, analysts say that this diplomatic overdrive suggests that the movement is far from a pariah on the global stage. So why are multiple countries in Afghanistans neighbourhood queueing up to engage diplomatically with the Taliban, while avoiding formal recognition? We unpack the Talibans latest high-level regional engagements and look at why India, Pakistan and Iran are all trying to befriend Afghanistans rulers, four years after they marched on Kabul and grabbed power. Who did Muttaqi meet or speak to in recent weeks? A timeline of Afghanistans recent diplomatic engagements: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 19 : Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travels with a high-level delegation to Kabul to meet Muttaqi and other Afghan officials. The two sides discussed an ongoing spat over Pakistans repatriation of Afghan refugees, bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. May 6 : Dar and Muttaqi spoke again on what turned out to be the eve of Indias attack on Pakistan, leading to four days of missile and drone attacks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The exchange of fire took place after India accused Pakistan of being involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. May 15: Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar holds a phone conversation with Muttaqi to express his gratitude for the Talibans condemnation of the Pahalgam attacks. May 17: Muttaqi arrives in the Iranian capital Tehran to attend the Tehran Dialogue Forum, where he also holds meetings with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Massoud Pazeshkian. May 21: Muttaqi visits Beijing. Trilateral talks between Afghanistan, Pakistan and China take place aimed at boosting trade and security between the three countries. Head of the Talibans political office in Doha, Qatar, Suhail Shaheen said the group is a reality of todays Afghanistan as it controls all territory and borders of the country. The regional countries know this fact and, as such, they engage with the Islamic Emirate at various levels, which is a pragmatic and rational approach in my view, he told Al Jazeera, referring to the name by which the Taliban refers to the current Afghan state. We believe it is through engagement that we can find solutions to issues, he added, arguing that formal recognition of the Taliban government not be delayed furthermore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our region has its own interests and goals that we should adhere to. Why is India warming up to the Taliban? Its an unlikely partnership. During the Talibans initial rule between 1996 and 2001, the Indian government refused to engage with the Afghan group and did not recognise their rule, which at the time was only recognised by Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. India, which had supported the earlier Soviet-backed government of Mohammad Najibullah, shut down its embassy in Kabul once the Taliban came to power: It viewed the Taliban as a proxy of Pakistans intelligence agencies, which had supported the mujahideen against Moscow. Instead, New Delhi supported the anti-Taliban opposition group, the Northern Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the United States-led ousting of the Taliban in 2001, India reopened its Kabul embassy and became a significant development partner for Afghanistan, investing more than $3bn in infrastructure, health, education and water projects, according to its Ministry of External Affairs. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Muttaqi in Dubai in January [File: @MEAIndia/X] But its embassy and consulates came under repeated, deadly attacks from the Taliban and its allies, including the Haqqani group. After the Talibans return to power in August 2021, New Delhi evacuated its embassy and once again refused to recognise the group. However, unlike during the Talibans first stint in power, India built diplomatic contacts with the group first behind closed doors, then, increasingly, publicly. The logic was simple, say analysts: India realised that by refusing to engage with the Taliban earlier, it had ceded influence in Afghanistan to Pakistan, its regional rival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2022, less than a year after the Talibans return to power, India reopened its embassy in Kabul by deploying a team of technical experts to run it. In November 2024, the Taliban appointed an acting consul at the Afghan consulate in Mumbai. Then, last January, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Muttaqi both flew to Dubai for a meeting the highest-level face-to-face interaction between New Delhi and the Taliban to date. Kabir Taneja, a deputy director at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, says not dealing with whatever political reality sets in in Kabul was never an option for India. No one is pleased per se that the reality is the Taliban, Taneja told Al Jazeera. However, while Indias decades-long efforts to foster goodwill with the Afghan people have faced challenges since the Taliban takeover, they have not been entirely undone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the Talibans ideological stronghold, the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary, is in India, he added. These are ties with the country and its actors that cannot be vanquished, and have to be dealt with realistically and practically, he added. What is Pakistans calculus? One of the Talibans foremost backers between 1996 and 2021, Pakistan has seen its relationship with the group plummet in recent years. Since the Talibans takeover in 2021, Pakistan has seen a surge in violent attacks, which Islamabad attributes to armed groups, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan insists that the TTP operates from Afghan territory and blames the ruling Taliban for allowing them sanctuary a claim the Taliban government denies. Emerging in 2007 amid the US-led so-called war on terror, the Pakistan Taliban has long challenged Islamabads authority through a violent rebellion. Though distinct from the Afghan Taliban, the two are seen as ideologically aligned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dars visit to Kabul and subsequent communication with Muttaqi represent a tactical, ad hoc thaw rather than a substantial shift in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, says Rabia Akhtar, director at the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore. During the recent India-Pakistan crisis, Islamabad grew increasingly concerned about the possibility of Afghanistan allowing its territory to be used by New Delhi against Pakistan, she suggested. This has increased Islamabads urgency to secure its western border, Akhtar told Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, Pakistans decision earlier this year to expel Afghan refugees including many who have spent most of their lives in Pakistan and frequent border closures disrupting trade are also sources of tension in the relationship. The refugees question, in particular, could prove to be a key factor that will shape future relations between the two countries, Akhtar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Pakistan has pushed for repatriation of undocumented Afghans, Kabul views such deportations as punitive, she said. If this dialogue is an indication of a recognition on both sides that confrontation is unsustainable, especially amidst shifting regional alignments and economic pressures, then thats a good sign. The Talibans Shaheen said while Kabul wanted good relations with Islamabad, they should be reciprocated and that a blame game is not in anyones interest. We have taken practical steps as far as it concerns us, he said, noting that Afghanistan had started building checkpoints along the line adjacent to Pakistan in order to prevent any one from crossing. However, their internal security is the responsibility of their security forces not ours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China, at the trilateral talks in Beijing on Wednesday, said Kabul and Islamabad had agreed in principle to upgrade diplomatic ties and would send their respective ambassadors at the earliest. Nevertheless, Akhtar does not expect the core mistrust between the two neighbours, particularly over alleged TTP sanctuaries, to go away any time soon. We should look at this shift as part of Pakistans broader crisis management post-India-Pak crisis rather than structural reconciliation, Akhtar asserted. What does Iran want from its ties with the Taliban? Like India, Tehran refused to recognise the Taliban when it was first in power, while backing the Northern Alliance, especially after the 1998 killing of Iranian diplomats in Mazar-i-Sharif by Taliban fighters. Iran amassed thousands of troops on its eastern border, nearly going to war with the Taliban over the incident. Concerned about the extensive US military footprint in the region post-9/11, Iran was said to be quietly engaging with the Taliban, offering limited support in an effort to counter American influence and protect its own strategic interests. Since the Taliban took back reins of the country nearly four years ago, Iran again showed willingness to build ties with rulers in Kabul on a number of security, humanitarian and trade-related matters, analysts say. Shaheen, head of the Talibans office in Doha, said that both Iran and India previously thought the group was under the influence of Pakistan. Now they know it is not the reality. In view of this ground reality, they have adopted a new realistic and pragmatic approach, which is good for everyone, he said. Ibraheem Bahiss, analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the meeting between Muttaqi and Iranian President Pezeshkian doesnt signal an impending official recognition. However, he said, pragmatic considerations have driven Iran to engage the Taliban, given its key interests in Afghanistan. Security-wise, Tehran wants allies in containing the ISIS [ISIL] local chapter. Tehran has also been seeking to expand its trade relations with Afghanistan, now being one of its major trading partners, he told Al Jazeera. In January 2024, twin suicide bombings in Kerman marked one of Irans deadliest attacks in decades, killing at least 94 people. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), an Afghanistan-based offshoot of ISIL, claimed responsibility. In recent years, ISKP has also emerged as a significant challenge to the Talibans rule, having carried out multiple high-profile attacks across Afghanistan. Bahiss added that Tehran also needed a willing partner in addressing the issue of some 780,000 Afghan refugees in Iran, as well as the transboundary water flowing from Helmand River . In May 2023, tensions between the two neighbours flared, leading to border clashes in which two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter were killed. The violence came after former and now deceased Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned the Taliban not to violate a 1973 treaty by restricting the flow of water from the Helmand River to Irans eastern regions. Afghanistans Taliban rulers denied the accusation. MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) Theres an old joke about how you eat an elephant where the punchline is, One bite at a time. The point is that even monumental tasks can be accomplished if you just start and keep plugging away. Thats the way Carter Francois has been dealing with his livelihood washing down the side of a mountain in McDowell County during Hurricane Helene. After seven months of constant work, Carter and his business partner, Steve Carlsen, have half of their dozen rooms ready for guests once again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally, I didnt think wed make it at all because I wasnt in tune with how bad the damage actually was, Francois said. But once we decided we could make a go of it just kept on working until we made it happen. Among the first guests were Corey Sinclair and his wife, Joanne Ponvanit, who came from Los Angeles. They experienced their own natural disaster with the wildfires that damaged much of that area. Ponvanits place of work was closed at least for a while. Being across the country, they werent as familiar with the damage Helene did as many in North Carolina are. Being here and seeing it and driving through, it just puts things in perspective of how much damage was done, Ponvanit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had read about the damage, and we love to support any way we can, and whats left is amazing, and its beautiful, and I encourage people to come up and really enjoy the view, and the food is good, and its great, Sinclair said. They wanted to come see where Sinclairs relatives lived in the Great Smoky Mountains and travel the Blue Ridge Parkway while they were on this side of the country and decided to book a night at the Alpine Inn. We had no idea that we would end up with a view like this The story behind it adds to the excitement We were just going to stay last night, and we enjoyed it so much Its just so beautiful that we decided to stay again tonight, Sinclair said. So the Alpine Inn isnt fully booked these days, but the fact that he has some money coming in rather than money simply going out to pay for reconstruction is a great change for Francois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were kind of behind the 8-ball a little bit in terms of when we normally start, but were open, Francois said. See more about the reopening of the Alpine Inn in this Mountain of Trouble edition of the Buckley 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 FOX8 WGHP. Illegal firearm trafficking is inseparable from the illegal drug trade: Weapons are often bought with drug money, can strengthen cartels and can be traded for drugs. In the spring of 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, known as ATF, started a gun-trafficking investigation that ran from Idaho, down through California and into Mexico. The investigation uncovered a scheme to drive pounds of narcotics north, and some of their white China and black tar heroin were exchanged for guns that an Idaho Falls resident purchased out of a firearm sellers garage. By the summer, ATF and other federal agents tracked the traffickers to a hotel off West Broadway Street in downtown Idaho Falls, where they observed a suspected drug deal and apprehended their suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their final haul included 15 pounds of meth, a pound of heroin, 3,000 fentanyl pills and 16 handguns and rifles. The trafficking web The incident fits into a larger web of trafficking guns south to Mexico and narcotics north to the American Midwest and coasts. The Louisville Courier Journal documented the connection in their investigation into cartel drugs poisoning Oregon. We are a professor of economic development and an investigative journalist, and we have spent a year sifting through documents to follow the flow of illicit weapons trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico. This trafficking web regularly shows up in prosecutions, including 14 federal sentences in North Carolina that included dozens of firearms and hundreds of pounds of narcotics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our collection of court records and gun data traces the relationship throughout the United States. Read the full investigation: Mexican drug cartels use hundreds of thousands of guns bought from licensed US gun shops fueling violence in Mexico, drugs in the US and migration at the border Of the 100 court cases we cataloged, nearly one-fifth explicitly mention drug trafficking in connection to the confiscated firearms. Drugs for guns In 2020, Pedro Roberto Hernandez-Gomez was caught in Los Angeles attempting to exchange a kilogram of fentanyl and a kilogram of heroin for three machine guns and three grenade launchers. This semiautomatic pistol is one of the weapons that Xavier Drew was convicted of selling to an undercover agent. ATF And in March 2024, Xavier Drew, also known as Flock, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for selling several pounds of meth, fentanyl and nearly a dozen firearms to undercover agents. The guns included a semiautomatic pistol and pistols with obliterated or missing serial numbers. He also sold them Glock switches, or machine-gun conversion kits. A collaborator, Esvin Ivan Calles-Corrales, was sentenced to five years for shipping narcotics and facilitating the transfer of related proceeds to Mexico. Xavier Drew was convicted of selling fentanyl to an undercover agent, including this bag of around 3,000 pills. ATF Closer to the border, in August 2022, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, aka Fernanda, coordinated gun purchases in the U.S. using drug funds from Mexico for the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel and courier deliveries of meth and fentanyl pills from Mexico through El Paso, Texas with Brian Munoz-Castro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Munoz-Castro distributed the narcotics to separate couriers, who delivered the drugs throughout the U.S. Federal agents arrested Munoz-Castro in a gun store parking lot in March 2023 after he picked up gun parts from an El Paso gun shop. He later took the agents to his home in El Paso where he had close to 2 kilos of meth. Federal agents indicted Navarro-Sanchez after they intercepted her communications with former Juarez, Mexico, city hall police officer Rene Hernandez-Cordero. The agents tracked a gun exchange involving Hernandez-Cordero at a Circle K in El Paso. Twenty assault rifles and two Barrett .50-caliber rifles were set to be trafficked into Mexico in August 2023 in the back of a pickup truck for the purchase price of US$66,000. When Munoz-Castro was convicted in September 2024, Navarro-Sanchez was still a fugitive, according to the U.S. attorneys office. Munoz-Castro received a 10-year sentence for his role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the hearing, the defense tried to call out the absurdity of so many weapons just thrown into the back of a pickup truck and driven across the border. Thats inherently ridiculous, isnt it? the attorney asked. Mark Cervantes, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement officer, answered by pointing to the ubiquity of these kinds of trafficking actions. Ive had one instance where an individual had 20 SCAR assault rifles and 30 Glock pistols without concealment in the vehicle, he said. With some 135,000 firearms traveling across the border annually, its not a surprise that some traffickers might be so brazen. Read the full investigation: Mexican drug cartels use hundreds of thousands of guns bought from licensed US gun shops fueling violence in Mexico, drugs in the US and migration at the border Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Sean Campbell, The Conversation and Topher L. McDougal, University of San Diego Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. May 22One of the largest classes to graduate from the Southern Minnesota Education Consortium (SMEC) Alternative Learning Center took their final bows at the school in holding its commencement out in the sun of the Thursday afternoon sun. Twenty-nine of the 32 total graduating this year were recognized by staff, family and friends in the Thursday ceremony, and from the very beginning Principal Deana Dontje recognized their achievement and the mark they left on the school. "You guys are an incredible class," she said, speaking directly to the relationships they've forged during their time at the school that serves seven area districts as well as hosting students from Austin. "You guys have become a little family." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dontje went on with her praise for the graduates, lauding them for not only reaching this pivotal moment, but for their overall impact on a school they themselves had come to adopt. "I've seen you push our school to be better," she said. "As you step out in the world I have no doubt you will continue to build on what you've accomplished here." But more than that, the impact on the students was again encompassed by the voices of their own graduating classmates, who attended the ALC at SMEC for a variety of reasons. Molly Jorgenson made the last minute decision to stand up and thank teachers and friends for supporting her during a time when she thought that "I didn't think I would graduate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scheduled speaker Haley Orta had similar thoughts as she touched on her own challenges during her mid-teen years which included becoming a mother at the age of 16. She owed her own progress again to those at the school that stood behind her. "I can never have gotten this far without the people at this school," she said, going on to thank the friends she made within the graduating class during their combined time at the school. Dontje herself expressed her own pride in the work the graduates did to get this far and further encouraged them to not only make their mark on the world, but to carry with them the notion of what can be accomplished. "Go out there and show everybody what a graduate of SMEC ALC is capable of," she told the graduates. HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) A sudden sewage backflow into an apartment complex in Hadley has left dozens of residents and their families without a place to call home. Local marina faces challenges for Memorial Day prep It happened at the Vesta Apartment Homes on Greenleaves Drive. Hadley interim town administrator, Michael Mason, told 22News that nine apartments on the first floor were affected with sewage coming from the pipes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mason adds that after a brief inspection by public safety, the building inspector and Board of Health, it was determined that residents would have to be evacuated and move into local hotels. One resident, Craig Tela, mentioned that his girlfriend and her two kids were notified to move out by the leasing management just before 10 AM on Thursday. He described the apartment as having an inch of sewage, with bathroom tubs overflowing and water in the kitchen. Its been emotional. But yeah, its been difficult, says Tela. And the great thing is everyones pulled together like some of us dont even know each other, even though were neighbors, now we do. And everyone pulled together and pretty much helped each other out. None of the residents on the upper floors required evacuation and have been cleared to remain in the building. The Amherst DPW superintendent says they were in there yesterday, helping to make repairs to both the clogged sewer and a large sinkhole that formed behind the building. DPW has been working with the apartment complex to get this issue resolved. They will be back on Friday. It is estimated that it will likely be days, if not weeks, before residents will be allowed to move back into their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have reached out to the apartment complex for comment, but have yet to hear back. We will provide updates as soon as they become available. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. May 23Despite hailing them as important, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has canceled $15 million in grants to research and reduce the effect of forever chemicals on farms, including almost $5 million in local research projects to the University of Maine, the Mi'kmaq Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe. The grants, worth about $1.6 million each, addressed a range of forever chemical research, ranging from helping farmers develop rapid field testing to testing tribal waters, shellfish and fish to conducting some of the first testing of fiddleheads, basket-making trees and insects living in tainted water. "These funds were congressionally approved and appropriated, and they cannot be terminated in this way," said Chelli Stanley of Upland Roots, a group working on the Mi'kmaq Nation grant. "It is unconstitutional. Others have successfully challenged the exact same thing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cancellation notice arrived just as the Mi'kmaq Nation and Upland Roots began their grant field work, Stanley said. Tribal members were out collecting fiddleheads from the Aroostook watershed to see if they absorb these harmful forever chemicals "out of a concern for human health," she said. Both tribes plan to appeal the termination notice. "All that knowledge that can help Maine make informed decisions going forward will be lost," Stanley said. "It will affect the health of Maine people and the ecosystem. ... Maine is a leader in PFAS research for the country. It will have a big negative affect on our ability to combat PFAS." The University of Maine is still deciding whether it will appeal the cancellation, a spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The terminated research would have resulted in practical, science-based solutions for farmers and policymakers in Maine and around the nation," according to a university statement. It would have ensured "safer food systems, a more robust American agriculture economy and a healthier nation." The award would have also funded hands-on research learning experiences for at least 10 UMaine students as part of the university's development of the next generation of agricultural researchers and problem-solvers, the statement said. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are manmade chemicals found in a broad range of common household products, like nonstick pans and makeup, that pose a public health risk to humans through prolonged exposure. Even trace amounts of some PFAS can be dangerous to humans, with exposure to high levels of certain PFAS linked to decreased fertility and increased high blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental delays in children and low birth weight, increased risk of some cancers and weakened immune systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin told Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, during a committee hearing that these PFAS grants were important and implied they would continue after the agency completed its reorganization under the Trump administration. "The agency is going through a reorg," Zeldin told lawmakers. "The way that the program and these grants are going to get administered are going to be different going forward. But these are important grants. I look forward to working with you ... as we're able to continue that good work going forward." But the EPA told recipients the canceled grants were "no longer consistent with EPA funding priorities." BLAMING IT ON BIDEN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked to elaborate, EPA spokesman Mike Bastasch sent this emailed reply: "Maybe the Biden-Harris administration shouldn't have forced their radical agenda of wasteful DEI programs and 'environmental justice' preferencing on the EPA." It was unclear whether Bastasch meant the agency's past environmental justice goals were prompting the grant review or if the agency had canceled these specific forever chemical grants because tribal nations, including the Mi'kmaq Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe of Maine, had received funding. The grants themselves don't seem to have any specific environmental justice angle. Past grants have been used to develop innovative, science-based solutions to complex environmental problems, including wildfire smoke impacts and enhanced aquifer recharge. Pingree pressed Zeldin for clarification in a follow-up letter Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the grant termination, UMaine remains at the forefront of the state's forever chemical research efforts. It received $2.3 million in research funding this month from the state's $60 million fund to support farmers whose water or land was contaminated by state-permitted sludge fertilizer. Also this month, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins assured Maine Sen. Susan Collins that $17 million that agency had awarded to the Agriculture Research Service and UMaine to establish a new PFAS research lab was still intact. "We remain committed to this research," Rollins told Collins during a budget hearing. "Very proud of that $17 million grant to the Center for Excellence. ... I'm excited to learn more, perhaps even come visit the center in Maine, see the work that they're doing firsthand, and to continue to support it." State farming officials vowed Friday to keep funding PFAS research despite the EPA's grant cancellations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a written statement, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said the EPA's decision would "slow progress" toward understanding how PFAS moves through agricultural systems and "how to most effectively and efficiently mitigate their impact and improve the odds for farmers to remain in business." Maine's PFAS Fund plans to offer additional rounds of funding over the next several years, although the total to be awarded per round has not yet been determined, the statement said. This year, it directed $3 million toward research, including the $2.3 million that went to UMaine. Over the last decade, Maine has spent more than $100 million as it became a national leader in the fight against harmful forever chemicals left behind by the state-permitted spreading of tainted sewage sludge on farm fields as a fertilizer. State inspectors have identified 82 Maine farms and 500 residential properties contaminated by the harmful forever chemicals in the sludge during a $28.8 million investigation of 1,100 sites. It projects that it will install 660 water filtration systems at private wells near sludge-spread fields. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, 20% of wells tested as part of the sludge investigation have exceeded Maine's interim drinking water standard. The Biden administration announced a stricter federal standard last year, although the Trump administration recently announced it planned to relax those standards and delay enactment. ADVOCATES SEE A SETBACK Local farm advocates said the grant cuts will set the field of PFAS research back, locally and nationally. "These impacted PFAS research projects are tackling urgent, practical questions to help us understand how PFAS chemicals enter the foods we eat and make management decisions that could reduce or mitigate contamination," said Shelley Megquier, policy and research director at the Maine Farmland Trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loss of EPA's research funds will "directly undercut the already vulnerable Maine farms that have been struggling with the impacts of these chemicals," said Adam Nordell, a farmer-turned-advocate at Defend Our Health. Nordell's contaminated Unity farm now serves as real-world lab for PFAS scientists. "It's not too far a reach to say that the Trump EPA's retrograde actions on PFAS will put farms at risk of bankruptcy," Nordell said. "These cuts hurt farmers and regulators across the country and put the safety of our food supply at risk." In 2022, Maine became the first state to ban sludge spreading Connecticut has since followed and adopted a phased-in ban on sales of most products that contain PFAS. It will soon consider a state take-back program intended to rid Maine of harmful PFAS-laden firefighting foam. People are exposed to forever chemicals through a broad range of common household products, such as nonstick pans, makeup and waterproof clothing. People living on farms are exposed through eating eggs, milk and meat from pasture-raised hens and cows, and drinking water from on-site wells. Copy the Story Link Over the past 24 hours, 141 combat clashes have been recorded. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram in operational information regarding the Russian invasion as of 8:00 a.m. Friday. "According to updated information, yesterday the enemy launched two missile and 56 air strikes, used four missiles and dropped 130 guided air bombs. In addition, it carried out 5,879 attacks, including 164 from multiple launch rocket systems, and used about three thousand kamikaze drones for destruction," the General Staff reported. A sheriff's job is to keep the peace. In some of the more rural stretches of Hamilton County, that peace is now coming with a price beyond the taxes residents pay. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is pushing for Harrison, Crosby and Whitewater townships to pay upwards of $1 million each for policing services or its deputies won't patrol there. For years, the county's three smallest townships have made due with what they describe as minimal service primarily, deputies responding to emergency calls, for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, who declined to be interviewed for this article, and the county say it's time for the townships to pay their fair share, like nine other townships and villages that contract with the sheriff's office. Trustees for Harrison, Crosby and Whitewater townships said in interviews with The Enquirer they don't have the money in their budgets to afford what McGuffey wants. And even if they did, they say the sheriff's office already receiving a quarter of the county's $393 million annual budget is being paid through the township residents' property taxes. "The sheriff's office gets their cut from the county commissioners and with that, she should be providing services to the county," Whitewater Township Trustee Guy Schaible said. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey is optimistic about the townships signing on to a district agreement. Harrison signs on; Crosby and Whitewater holding out Hamilton County Assistant Administrator Lisa Webb said every jurisdiction in Hamilton County pays its taxes and pays for police services. Webb also noted that contracts for the townships aren't just about money for the sheriffs office, but also concern for the safety of the officers patrolling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to make sure if anything happens to them, that they are under contract and have the right to be there," she said. After Harrison Township turned down one of the sheriff's proposals, McGuffey wrote the township's trustees in March, saying her office would stop its "subsidized" police services unless they come back to the bargaining table by April 1. Weeks later, after McGuffey stopped patrols except for emergency calls, Harrison Township signed on in May. A critical part of the contract calls for the opening of a new police substation to open at the Harrison Township Civic Center. That substation could serve as the hub for deputies assigned to Harrison, Crosby and Whitewater townships. Harrison Township Trustee Larry Kinnett said he believes the increased police presence across the three jurisdictions is worth the money the township will pay. Kinnett said he knows the township can afford the first the first three years but after that he's not sure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Enquirer requested the contract and information about the cost and the substation. Sheriff's spokesperson Mary Carol Melton declined to provide it prior to publication. However, Crosby and Whitewater townships are holding out. McGuffey appears to be optimistic about reaching an agreement with the remaining townships. In a May 22 news release following the Harrison deal, her Chief Deputy Chris Ketteman said the sheriff's office "remains dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with the residents in these communities." What's the sheriff's office plan for policing the townships? McGuffey's plan is to create a Northwest District, with each of the three townships pitching in toward the cost of policing Hamilton County's western corner. The proposals presented so far phase in the cost to ease the initial financial impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webb said the idea is that the district would pay for three 24-hour patrol cars and the cost would be shared among the jurisdictions. The cost would be based on road miles, the number of calls for service and the population of the district. The county wanted to take a district approach to patrolling Harrison, Crosby and Whitewater townships rather handling the work community by community. In a December 2023 meeting of the Hamilton County Commissioners, County Administrator Jeff Aluotto said that would be more efficient.. Webb said the county is trying to work with the townships. The current contract we have is a very low approach, using that same hourly rate but giving them a significant discount as they try to build up, because they need to develop a revenue source to be able to fund police services in the same way that they fund fire or any of the other services in their communities, she said. The Village of North Bend is planned to be part of the Western District for patrol services. What do the townships think about the proposal? Schaible, the Whitewater Township trustee, says that although his township could find a way to pay the discounted rate for Hamilton County services now, it won't be able to afford the full price in three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We get the necessities right now and we barely get by, but we're good at it," Schaible said. "They can threaten all they want, but we just don't have the money." Schaible says the sheriff's office has given the township time to figure out how much money the state will send it from Whitewater's recreational marijuana dispensary. Still, that money won't be enough to foot a tab that could be more than $1 million a year. Down the road, Crosby Township has not flat out turned down McGuffey's proposal and is open to the idea of creating a Northwestern District. In the smallest township of the three, Crosby Township, Trustee Doug Lohman said what they need is minimal. If they can afford it, they'll go for it. "Safety should be one of the first things provided with our taxes," Lohman said. "It's like they're double-dipping." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriff's office has a big budget to account for. With over 900 employees, a jail to manage and several facilities, the $108 million annual pull from the county's general fund has a large impact across Hamilton County. Webb said the sheriff's office has been providing these service for a long time, and as the townships have grown larger, there's been a larger gap. They're the farthest jurisdictions out there. They don't have the same businesses and housing. They're not as developed, or they haven't been as developed for a long time," she said. Schaible pushed back on the township's usage of the sheriff's services though, asking where the money McGuffey is asking for from the townships is going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you looked at the jail at any given day, I'd be shocked if even one person was from Whitewater Township," he said. Webb deferred questions about how the sheriff's office would use the money to the sheriff's office, but noted that any additional revenue helps to offset expenses. The sheriff's office declined to answer that question. The new district contract could go before the commissioners for approval in May. Township officials remain concerned about what a new agreement will mean for their budgets in the long run. "I'm a shake-of-the-hand kind of guy, and I always do what I say I'm going to do," Schaible said. "But I know they're going to raise the rates. And we won't be able to afford that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story has been updated to include comment from a Harrison Township trustee. Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@enquirer.com, @ee_glynn on X or @eringlynn on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office want 3 townships to pay for patrols. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A special graduation was held on Thursday for two adults who have turned their lives around for the better. These two individuals graduated from the Hampden District Attorneys Emerging Adult Court of Hope Program. One of the men participated remotely as he is now living in Florida. The program provides young adults aged 18-24 with an opportunity to break free from the cycles of adversity and incarceration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 22News spoke with one of the graduates about his takeaways from the program. Keeps you out of trouble, keeps you functional, you got the support there, the building, you got support of probationers, its a really good program, its a really good program if you want to change your life its a really good program, said Hendrick Allende of Springfield. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni told 22News, Its just a very proud moment to see these two young men grateful, positive and headed in a very good direction in their lives. Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stands with Hendrick Allende, one of this years EACH program graduates. (Hampden District Attorneys Office) EACH graduate Steven Woodward attended the ceremony via Zoom from Florida, where he recently relocated. (Hampden District Attorneys Office) The Honorable Judge Kevin Maltby speaks to the importance of the EACH program and how it has transformed lives over the course of its five years. (Hampden District Attorneys Office) Their success marks another significant milestone for the program, which has now graduated nine participants since its inception five years ago. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty to stalking three women he dated and sending hundreds of harassing messages from anonymous phone numbers and email accounts, the U.S. Attorney said. Jason Subirana, 48, of Dover, pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to three counts of stalking, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack said in a statement on Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for Aug. 27. Subirana faces a sentence of up to 5 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subirana stalked three women with whom he was involved romantically between November 2016 through December 2021, McCormack said. He used more than 50 anonymous phone numbers, provided by TextNow, and anonymous email accounts to send over 650 harassing messages to the three victims. The harassment, prosecutors said, appeared to victims to come from a fictitious stalker. He attempted to manipulate his victims, catch them in lies, and cause emotional distress, McCormack said. For example, Subirana sent one victim a text message that read: How can you (expletive) to everyone about your birthday? You should be grateful hes put up with all your lies and (expletive) for so long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stop trying to make him look like a bad guy, hes the best thing you have and lucky he hasnt put you to the curb like the trash bag that you are. Own your (expletive) and stop lying to everyone, the text said. You want more? Be honest to EVERYONE around you. Stop thinking you are smarter than everyone. In addition to sending harassing communications to the victims, Subirana also sent himself harassing messages from the so-called fictitious stalker using anonymous accounts. For example, Subirana texted himself from an anonymous TextNow number: Do you really think youre the only one shes (expletive)? You really should get yourself tested. Put something in the mail for you keep an eye out for it. McCormack said on Feb. 10, 2021, Subirana texted himself from an anonymous TextNow number: How many times do you think shes going to take it this afternoon before coming to give you sloppy seconds? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subirana also collected compromising information about the victims and then sent the compromising information to himself under the guise that he received it from the stalker, prosecutors said. For example, Subirana gained access to one victims email account and forwarded himself an email exchange from 2015 where that victim mentioned a potential romance with an acquaintance of hers. Subirana orchestrated a series of email forwards through anonymous accounts before making its way back to that victim. McCormack said this email controversy led to that victim admitting to Subirana a prior romantic relationship with the acquaintance, to which Subirana responded: Youre only telling me this now because of the email you got. What else are you hiding from me? and What wlse [sic] is out there? Has this all been based on lies??? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subirana also accused innocent people of being his victims stalker, prosecutors said. For example, Subirana sent numerous harassing messages to a male colleague of another victim. Between April 22, 2018, and August 15, 2018, Subirana sent 52 harassing text messages to the victims colleague from at least five anonymous TextNow numbers. Subirana also sent the victims colleague numerous explicit photos of a womans body that resembled the victim, but was not her. When the victim described this to Subirana in messages, he suggested to the victim that her colleague was her stalker, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CONCORD, N.H. (AP) New Hampshire has agreed to pay $2.25 million to the mother of Harmony Montgomery, a 5-year-old girl whose father was convicted of murdering her. Crystal Sorey filed a negligence lawsuit against the state last May accusing social workers of ignoring signs that her daughter was being physically abused by her ex-husband after he was awarded custody in early 2019. Adam Montgomery is serving a minimum of 56 years in prison after being convicted of murdering Harmony and moving her corpse around for months before disposing of it. Police believe he killed Harmony nearly two years before she was reported missing in 2021. Her body has not been found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state does not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement agreement reached last month. The state agreed to these settlements to avoid prolonged litigation and support closure for the families. We recognize their profound loss and hope this brings some measure of peace," Attorney General John Formella said. In July, the state agreed to pay $5.75 million to the mother of a Laconia boy the state placed with a grandmother who is now charged with his 2019 death. In December, it settled with the father of 5-year-old boy Merrimack killed by his mother in 2021. In 2018, the state created an Office of the Child Advocate to serve as an independent watchdog agency, but lawmakers are considering eliminating it in the next state budget. Medicaid sign at U.S. Senate Democrats press conference on Feb. 19, 2025. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) This week, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives advanced a mega bundle of bills designed to shave billions from the federal budget, which Democrats and advocates have said will take resources from the nations most vulnerable citizens and hinder social safety nets. Virginias congressional delegation was split along partisan lines on the measure, which cleared the House by one vote and is now up for consideration in the U.S. Senate. The 1,116-page package contains 11 total bills and is championed by President Donald Trump, and supported by Virginias Republican federal lawmakers including U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans, John McGuire, Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith. The legislation aims to extend 2017 tax cuts from Trumps first term at a cost of $3.8 trillion, trim $880 billion from the federal deficit and boost defense and border security spending by cutting several federal social aid programs or incentive packages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure calls for a $625 billion cut to Medicaid over the next decade, which the states Democratic federal legislators including U.S. Reps. Jennifer McClellan, Bobby Scott, Suhas Subramanyam, Euguene Vindman, Don Beyer and deceased Congressman Gerry Connolly, who died days before the vote have cautioned and voted against. Medicaid is a federal program that helps states provide health insurance coverage to low-income people or people with disabilities. The newly-passed measure would impose work requirements on those who receive it and reduce Medicaid funding to states that choose to use the program for undocumented immigrants. Virginia has specific guidelines for which legal immigrants can qualify for Medicaid and state legislators have considered creating work requirements for Medicaid enrollees in the commonwealth in the past. Federal fallout As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and whether to make up the difference. Read the latest > Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its unclear exactly what toll the federal measures cuts would take in the state if it passes, the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee estimates 161,614 Virginians could lose Medicaid coverage. Meanwhile, some citizens, like Central Virginia residents Aida Pacheco and Andrew Daughtry, are voicing opposition to the work requirements. Pachecos daughter is currently unable to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment that Medicaid helps her cover, she said. Daughtry, a construction worker unable to work temporarily after an injury, has used Medicaid because he did not have employer-provided health insurance and now is out of work temporarily due to an injury that needs surgery and physical therapy. Pacheco and Daughtry joined U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, on a recent press call, where McClellan said the proposed overhauls to Medicaid could cost taxpayers more money in the long run. Uninsured people are inclined to only seek emergency medical care, rather than preventative care. Because emergency rooms are federally required to treat all patients, care for uninsured patients who cannot pay could become a shared financial burden on taxpayers. When you kick people off of their health insurance, that raises the cost for everybody else, McClellan said. Virginias congressional Republicans weigh in In contrast, Virginias Republican representatives have celebrated the proposed changes, framing them as a big step towards fiscal responsibility and a better use of the countrys resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, told The Mercury before the bill cleared the House that his GOP colleagues proved the other party wrong by not making massive, significant cuts to Medicaid. And though the projected $625 billion in cuts indeed qualify as massive, the federal funding tool that allocates Medicaid money to states called the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) has not changed. Should the bill pass the Senate and be signed by Trump, many beneficiaries would remain covered, though changes like the work requirements could affect some Medicaid recipients. Its a detail of the bill that many Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, have pointed out. Wittman also framed the bills work requirements as community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents in a Thursday statement and emphasized that pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities would still be covered. Ive fought to protect and preserve Medicaid for Virginias most vulnerable, and this bill does just that, he said. He added that the bill strengthens the integrity of the program, saves taxpayers billions, and ensures care is available for those who truly rely on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, hed also co-signed a letter to Republican U.S. House leadership cautioning the legislative body not to cut too much from the program. Likewise, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virignia Beach, characterized the bill as a way to strengthen, not destroy, Medicaid. Kiggans said in a statement on X that she voted in favor of the measure because it puts people first by protecting Medicaid for vulnerable families, delivering tax relief and child care credits to working Virginians, investing in our servicemembers and shipbuilders, and cutting wasteful federal spending. As Kiggans represents Virginias 2nd Congressional District, anchored in Virginia Beach, she and her predecessors from both parties have been considered vulnerable incumbents in elections. The district has oscillated between partisan control over the years, placing its representatives under heightened scrutiny for votes they take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the 1st Congressional District has been historically Republican-leaning, its absorption in redistricting of blue or politically purple Richmond suburbs has made it an opportunity for Democrats to try to flip. This spring, some constituents hosted a town hall and invited Wittman to hear their concerns about the federal cuts, but he didnt show up. Though congressional elections arent until next year, the impact of their votes concerning Medicaid remain to be seen. In the meantime, an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office shows that about 10.3 million people nationwide would lose access to Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program, with 7.6 million people becoming uninsured during that 10-year budget window. As possible Senate rewrite looms, more Virginians could lose insurance if FMAP is altered The Big Beautiful Bill, as Trump has called it, is not yet law. It still must pass the Senate chamber before he can sign it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some GOP senators are calling for a rewrite of it to address a range of concerns to include the bills projected impact on federal debt, the phaseout of clean energy incentives and notably, the reforms to Medicaid. A key sticking point from Senate conservatives is concern that the bill doesnt do enough to cut future deficits. With some Medicaid recipients already standing to lose access as the bill has so-far advanced, further changes to the in-progress bill like addressing the FMAP could put about 630,000 more Virginians in health insurance limbo. This is because when lawmakers were compromising to expand Medicaid in 2018, they settled on trigger language that would upend the expansion if the FMAP were adjusted. Virginias private hospitals have financially supported the states Medicaid expansion since 2018, and are closely monitoring federal developments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julian Walker, a spokesperson for the Virginia Hospitals and Healthcare Association, said that the organization is glad Virignias congressional delegation across both aisles has been listening to its feedback and is appreciative that the FMAP was not altered in the current draft of the bill. Walker said earlier this year that hospitals have been proud to help sustain Virginias Medicaid expansion, but acknowledged uncertainty about what lies ahead. State lawmakers are monitoring the situation too. Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, suspects the legislature would need to go into a special session if the Medicaid expansion were undone but he also believes that congressional actions could wrap up in time for the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could turn out we know everything we need to know by the time our regular session starts, he said. Or, he added, if Congress takes too long and has to pass continuing resolutions, they could still be sorting through final details of their proposal as Virginias legislature begins meeting early next year. As chair of the House of Delegates Health and Human Services committee and vice-chair of its Appropriations committee, Sickles is watching Congress closely. We need to see what they actually do, he said. He echoed McClellans warnings about the potential financial burden to Virginia taxpayers if people unenrolled from Medicaid are forced to seek more care from emergency rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, the savings that (Republicans are) claiming are going to come from fewer enrollees in Medicaid, the cost of their health care does not go away, Sickles said. There is no free lunch if youre not enrolled in Medicaid. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE May 22PRESTON, Minn. A Harmony woman has been accused of withdrawing and transferring more than $86,000 into her personal bank accounts from the bank account of a vulnerable adult. Kisa Lyn O'Connor, 46, was charged in Fillmore County District Court with 18 counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to court documents filed on Thursday, May 22. Beginning in February 2024, the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office received reports from the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) that indicated concerns that O'Connor was "mishandling or misappropriating" the adult's finances. O'Connor was the power of attorney for the adult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, a report in February 2024 revealed that O'Connor attempted to withdraw $100,000 from the victim's account. One of the victim's family members, who was previously one of the adult's powers of attorney, spoke with Fillmore County investigators and alleged O'Connor cashed in everything the victim had, including her retirement, pension and savings, after the family sold the victim's home. The family member told police O'Connor had been removing the victim's funds from the bank account and putting them in a safe inside O'Connor's home. According to the complaint, O'Connor took the victim to see a lawyer and made the victim deem O'Connor as the sole power of attorney and executor/personal representative on the victim's will. The victim was diagnosed with dementia in 2023, and medical records indicated that she was not able to "make major decisions, sign agreements or handle her own finances at the time funds were taken by O'Connor." From Nov. 4, 2023, through Feb. 20, 2025, O'Connor issued the withdrawal of more than $278,800. At least $86,800 was withdrawn in cash or transferred to O'Connor's bank account, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Fillmore County investigators contacted O'Connor on Oct. 29, 2024, she told them she took out a $14,000 prepayment for seven months of expenses because the victim was living with her. According to the complaint, O'Connor said she and the former power of attorney decided $2,000 per month would be the payment to care for the victim. On Oct. 31, 2024, a Fillmore County Adult Protection Social Worker and an investigator followed up with O'Connor at her residence. O'Connor said she and her family had an agreement on the terms. She also said she withdrew $24,000 in cash from the victim's account the week prior. O'Connor returned the money to the victim's account after the investigator told her to. "During her time as victim's caretaker, it is alleged that O'Connor failed to use victim's financial resources for victim's benefit or lawful purposes," the complaint said. "Instead, it is alleged that O'Connor used victim's funds and resources for the benefit of herself or someone other than victim." A federal judge in Boston on May 23, 2025, temporarily blocked a Trump administration order that would have revoked Harvard Universitys authorization to enroll international students. The directive from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and resulting lawsuit from Harvard have escalated the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution. Its also the latest step in a White House campaign to ramp up vetting and screening of foreign nationals, including students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security officials accused Harvard of creating a hostile campus climate by accommodating anti-American and pro-terrorist agitators. The accusation stems from the universitys alleged support for certain political groups and their activities on campus. In early April, the Trump administration terminated the immigration statuses of thousands of international students listed in a government database, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The database includes country of citizenship, which U.S. school they attend and what they study. Barring Harvard from enrolling international students could have significant implications for the campuss climate and the local economy. International students account for 27% of the universitys enrollment. Here are four stories from The Conversations archive about the Trump administrations battle with Harvard and the economic impact of international students. 1. A target on Harvard This isnt the first time the Trump administration has targeted the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has threatened to end the universitys tax-exempt status, and some media outlets have reported that the Internal Revenue Service is taking steps in that direction. But it is illegal to revoke an entitys tax-emempt status on a whim, according to Philip Hackney, a University of Pittsburgh law professor, and Brian Mittendorf, an accounting professor at Ohio State University. Before the IRS can do that, tax law requires that it first audit that charity, they wrote. And its illegal for U.S. presidents or other officials to force the IRS to conduct an audit or stop one thats already begun. 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 the administrations requests or whether Trump has violated any laws with his pressure campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackney and Mittendorf wrote that the Trump administrations moves are part of a larger push to exert control over Harvard, including its efforts to increase its diversity and its response to claims of discrimination on campus. Read more: Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way University of Michigan students on campus on April 3, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images 2. International students help keep America First The U.S. has long been the global leader in attracting international students. But competition for these students is increasing as other countries vie to attract the scholars. In a recent story for The Conversation, David L. Di Maria, vice provost for global engagement at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, wrote that stepped-up screening and vetting of students could make the U.S. a less attractive study destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Di Maria wrote that such efforts could hamper the Trump administrations ability to achieve its America First priorities related to the economy, science and technology, and national security. Trump administration officials have emphasized the importance of recruiting top global talent. And Trump has said that international students who graduate from U.S. colleges should be awarded a green card with their degree. Research shows that international students launch successful startups at a rate that is eight to nine times higher than their U.S.-born peers. Roughly 25% of billion-dollar companies in the U.S. were founded by former international students, Di Maria noted. Read more: Deporting international students risks making the US a less attractive destination, putting its economic engine at risk 3. A boost to local economies Indeed, international students have a tremendous economic impact on local communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If these global scholars stay home or go elsewhere, thats bad economic news for cities and towns across the United States, wrote Barnet Sherman, a professor of multinational finance and trade at Boston University. With the money they spend on tuition, food, housing and other other items, international students pump money into the local economy, but there are additional benefits. On average, a new job is created for every three international students enrolled in a U.S. college or university. In the 2023-24 academic year, about 378,175 jobs were created, Sherman wrote. In Greater Boston, where Harvard is located, there are about 63,000 international students who contribute to the economy. The gains are huge about US$3 billion. Read more: International students infuse tens of millions of dollars into local economies across the US. What happens if they stay home? 4. Rising number of international students The rising number of foreign students studying in the U.S. has long led to concerns about U.S. students being displaced by international peers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unease is often fueled by the assumption that financial interests are driving the trend, Cynthia Miller-Idriss of American University and Bernhard Streitwieser of George Washington University wrote in a 2015 story for The Conversation. A common claim, they wrote, is the flawed assumption that cash-strapped public universities aggressively recruit more affluent students from abroad who can afford to pay rising tuition costs. The pair wrote that, historically, shifting demographics on college campuses result from social and economic changes. In todays context, Miller-Idriss and Streitwieser maintain that the argument that colleges prioritize international students fails to account for the global role of U.S. universities, which help support national security, foster international development projects and accelerate the pace of globalization. Read more: Foreign students not a threat, but an advantage This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversations archives. While on a trip with his parents to Sicily, the phone of Karl Molden, a rising junior Harvard student from Austria, began blowing up with messages, telling him that the federal government had revoked Harvard Universitys ability to host international students. He broke out in sweats, fearful of what his future would look like. Now outside the country, he doesnt know if hell be let back into the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think its possible to get in right now. Im sure that they give very specific instructions to the border right now in regards to Harvard students, Molden said. Obviously, a lot of us are panicking. Molden, like many of his classmates, has been looking into making a study abroad program in the U.K. turn into a full-time enrollment transfer opportunity if he has to. This is in part because he has been outspoken and taken part in protests against the Trump administrations actions focused on Harvard foreign students. I hope that I am able to pursue my studies at Harvard and that Im going to be graduating as a Harvard student cause thats what I am at the end of the day, he said. Its an amazing institution. There is no other school like Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molden said he is a proud Harvard student, especially since Harvard announced on Friday that it would be suing the federal government in response to the revocation. Harvard is very brave to do this. And I think they have a duty to, he said. The federal government gave Harvard an ultimatum in April to submit detailed records about foreign students or lose the certification. About 27% of Harvards undergraduate and graduate students are international, according to 2024 to 2025 data. While Harvard said they gave information required by law about foreign students illegal activity and records at the end of April, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said it was unsatisfactory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard will have another opportunity if it provides detailed records about international students within 72 hours, according to Noems letter. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs blocked the Trump administration action by granting a temporary restraining order after Harvard University filed a complaint and a motion for the restraining order on Friday morning. Its part of a bigger battle between authoritarianism and democracy and we are kind of in the middle of it right now and were the most recent victim, Molden said. Bullies only respond by punching back Abdullah Shahid Sial, who is a rising junior at Harvard from Pakistan, learned about the revocation after getting off a 13-hour-long flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His phone flooded with messages from friends expressing their apologies for what the federal administration had done and saying theyd be there for him. In a daze of confusion, he looked up if something had happened in Pakistan, only to scroll and find out what was going on at Harvard. International students are in an unfortunate place where, even if they did want to transfer, most of the deadlines have passed, Shahid Sial said. The Harvard International Office hasnt given students guidance on what to do to transfer, but he hopes they will help students if they want to leave the institution, he said. Its pure havoc and sheer chaos because people havent had much time to think, said Shahid Sial, who is the co-president of Harvards undergraduate student body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now their ultimate concern is can we fly to the U.S., can we fly out of the U.S. ... should I come back? Should I not? he said. Despite many deadlines passing, Alfred Williamson, a rising sophomore from Harvard who lives in Denmark, said his friends began calling other colleges and universities to learn about transferring. (Trump is) going after Harvard and is using international students as poker chips in his grand game, Williamson said. Williamson called the Trump administrations actions authoritarian, aiming to have the institution turn on some students to be able to preserve its ability to keep its body of international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said it is the federal governments way of bully(ing) Harvard into submission. Williamson is scared both as an international student and because he has been outspoken in support of foreign students at Harvard and against the Trump administration. Its very worrying about the state of American democracy if I cannot express my opinions, he said. Williamson said he is waiting a few days to understand how things will play out to determine if he should transfer. If nothing changes, he will begin making the same calls as his friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamson doesnt trust Harvard to withhold revealing information about international students and was disappointed to learn they had given some information that wasnt specified to Harvard community or the public. However, he is clinging to the opportunity to stay at Harvard as long as possible. Bullies only respond to punching back, he said. Its not about antisemitism As a Jewish student at Harvard, Maia Hoffenberg said she believes the federal governments actions toward the university clearly arent about antisemitism. I do think antisemitism is a problem on college campuses and has been a problem on Harvards campus, but this reaction is completely inappropriate. Antisemitism is a serious issue, and at the same time, this is so clearly not about antisemitism, said Hoffenberg, who will be a senior starting in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been made so much more clear by the revocation of all international students right, to be here, all of their visas. Its so blatant that this was never about protecting Jews, she said. Read more: Congressional committees accuse Harvard of working with Chinese Communist Party She pointed out that there are international students who are Jewish, which the Trump administration is harming through this revocation. She said Harvard students across the political spectrum are standing behind the institution as it is doing the right thing by fighting back in another lawsuit against the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Know that the Harvard campus is outraged right now from across the political spectrum, she said. Hoffenberg, who is also part of a group on campus called Students for Freedom, referenced a letter that was written by American and international Harvard students which pointed to the federal governments anti-American attack on our core values of freedom and education. An attack on learning Harvard faculty, staff respond Frank Arce, assistant dean for admissions and financial aid at Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Education, said that he isnt staying silent in the face of the Trump administrations decision. Thousands of students now face total uncertainty not because they did anything wrong, but because they chose to study here, Arce said on LinkedIn. This is personal. Its an attack on learning, on freedom and on the idea that the U.S. can be a place where brilliant people from around the world come to grow. This is what happens when education becomes a political target. When students are used as pawns. When fear wins, he said. Fernando Reimers, a professor of international education at Harvards Graduate School of Education, called the Trump administrations actions legally indefensible and deeply immoral in a LinkedIn post. This is yet another alarming example of an autocratic impulse to punish institutions that resist government overreach institution that refuse to let politicians dictate their curricula, admissions policies or faculty decisions. Such demands attack the very heart of a democratic society," said Reimers, who is also the director of Harvards Global Education Innovation Initiative. He said that international students bring invaluable perspectives, talent and innovation and that not allowing them on Harvards campus harms universities and Americas status as a beacon for the worlds brightest minds. At the same time, he said he is optimistic that people who voted for Trump may now see that his actions arent moving America into a better future and that there will be a backlash to help restore the core values that once made this republic a leader in the world. More Higher Ed Read the original article on MassLive. By Laurie Chen and Larissa Liao BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese students at Harvard were cancelling flights home on Friday and seeking legal advice on staying in the United States after President Donald Trump's administration blocked the famed university from enrolling foreign students. The order, which said the university coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), among other accusations, will force current foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status and could be widened to other colleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard called the government's action "unlawful" and said it was "fully committed" to educating foreign students, of which Chinese nationals form the largest group at the elite Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. On Friday, a U.S. district judge issued a temporary restraining order freezing the Trump administration's policy for two weeks. "I think the Chinese community definitely feels like a more targeted entity compared to other groups," said Zhang, a 24-year-old studying for the PhD in physics. "Some friends gave me advice that I should try not to stay in my current accommodation if things escalate, because they think it's possible that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent can take you from your apartment," said Zhang, who did not give his first name for security reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhang says many among Harvard's Chinese students are worried about their visa status and internship prospects though others believe the school is likely to win any legal battles. The number of Chinese international students in the United States has dropped to about 277,000 in 2024 from a high of around 370,000 in 2019, driven partly by growing tension between the world's two biggest economies and heightened U.S. government scrutiny of some Chinese students. Chinese nationals made up a fifth of Harvard's foreign student intake in 2024, the university says. In a Friday post on the Chinese social media platform Red Note, or Xiaohongshu, a woman who identified herself as a Chinese student at the Harvard Kennedy School said her teachers had sent Chinese students an email saying the school was actively working to draft a response within the next 72 hours and aimed to negotiate with the U.S. government. In the post titled "Harvard refugee" the woman had identified herself by first name. The post was later deleted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. action "will only damage the image and international credibility of the United States", China's foreign ministry said, while vowing to "firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests" of its students overseas. Several Chinese "princelings", as the children of the elite in the ruling Communist Party are known, have attended Harvard over the past two decades, including President Xi Jinping's daughter, Xi Mingze. In recent years, however, Xi's anti-corruption campaign has stepped up scrutiny of Communist Party officials and their families' ties to Western countries, including assets stashed overseas and children attending prestigious U.S. universities. CANCELLED FLIGHTS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zhang Kaiqi, a master's student in public health, had packed his luggage and souvenirs ready for a Friday flight back to China. But upon hearing the news, he urgently cancelled the expensive flight, losing his internship at a U.S. NGO in China. "I was sad and irritated. For a moment I thought it was fake news," the 21-year-old said. The most anxious among the Chinese students at Harvard are those with summer jobs as research assistants tied to their visa status, crucial for future PhD applications, he said. As others digested Thursday's order, two Chinese students said they were added to WhatsApp groups in which panicked foreign students were frantically sharing legal advice on their immigration status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One provided a transcript from such a chat group that showed a lawyer advising students not to leave the country or use domestic air travel, and wait for official announcements from the school. Thursday's move was a response to Harvard's refusal to provide information it sought about foreign student visa holders and could be reversed if the university relents, the Trump administration has said. LIFE PLANS As tension has ramped up in recent years between China and the United States, Chinese families have increasingly sent their children to study at universities in other English-speaking countries, such as Australia and Singapore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said it would provide "unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures, and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition" for affected students. Pippa Ebel, an independent education consultant in the southern city of Guangzhou, said while the order did not entirely shut the door to U.S. higher education, it was "likely to be a final nudge towards other destinations". "It's not going to be a complete turnaround, but a hardening of Chinese parents' existing concerns," said Ebel, who authored a report on Chinese students for British education think tank HEPI. Incoming Harvard master's student Zhao, 23, is determined to continue her studies in the United States, but is considering deferring her enrolment by a year or transferring elsewhere if the ban continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's really disturbed my life plans ... I had originally planned to apply for my U.S. visa in early June, and now I'm not sure what to do," she said, withholding her first name for privacy reasons. (Additional reporting by Tiffany Le, Xiuhao Chen and Liz Lee in Beijing, Brenda Goh in Shanghai and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Daniel Wallis) By Jonathan Stempel and Nate Raymond BOSTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the Ivy League school called part of President Donald Trump's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to "surrender its academic independence." The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students who were faced with being forced to transfer under a policy that the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based university called a "blatant violation" of the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws, and said would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the 389-year-old school said in its lawsuit filed earlier on Friday in Boston federal court. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, equal to 27% of total enrollment. The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and the White House, as Trump seeks to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions that value independence from partisan politics to align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias. Harvard has pushed back hard against Trump, having previously sued to restore nearly $3 billion in federal grants that had been frozen or canceled. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its endowment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws. Leo Gerden, a Swedish student set to graduate Harvard with an undergraduate degree in economics and government this month, called the judge's ruling a "great first step" but said international students were bracing for a long legal fight that would keep them in limbo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no single decision by Trump or by Harvard or by a judge that is going to put an end to this tyranny of what Trump is doing," Gerden said. In its complaint, Harvard said the revocation would force it to retract admissions for thousands of people, and has thrown "countless" academic programs, clinics, courses and research laboratories into disarray, just a few days before graduation. It said the revocation was a punishment for Harvard's "perceived viewpoint," which it called a violation of the right to free speech as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. The Trump administration may appeal U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs' ruling. In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, "unelected judges have no right to stop the Trump Administration from exercising their rightful control over immigration policy and national security policy. Since Trump's inauguration on January 20, his administration has accused several universities of indifference toward the welfare of Jewish students during widespread campus protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard's court challenges over the administration's policies stand in contrast to its New York-based peer Columbia University's concessions to similar pressure. Columbia agreed to reform disciplinary processes and review curricula for courses on the Middle East, after Trump pulled $400 million in funding over allegations the Ivy League school had not done enough to combat antisemitism. In announcing on Thursday the termination of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, effective starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without providing evidence, accused the university of "fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party." Harvard says a fifth of its foreign students in 2024 were from China. U.S. lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about the influence of the Chinese government on U.S. college campuses, including efforts by Beijing-directed Chinese student associations to monitor political activities and stifle academic speech. The university says it is committed to combating antisemitism and investigating credible allegations of civil rights violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HARVARD DEFENDS 'REFUSAL TO SURRENDER' In her brief order blocking the policy for two weeks, Burroughs said Harvard had shown it could be harmed before there was an opportunity to hear the case in full. The judge, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, scheduled hearings for May 27 and May 29 to consider next steps in the case. Burroughs is also overseeing Harvard's lawsuit over the grant funds. Harvard University President Alan Garber said the administration was illegally seeking to assert control over the private university's curriculum, faculty and student body. "The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence," Garber wrote in a letter on Friday to the Harvard community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revocation could also weigh on Harvard's finances. At many U.S. universities, international students are more likely to pay full tuition, essentially subsidizing aid for other students. "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Harvard's bonds, part of its $8.2 billion debt pile, have been falling since Trump first warned U.S. universities in March of cuts to federal funding. International students enrolled at Harvard include Cleo Carney, daughter of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Princess Elisabeth, first in line to the Belgian throne. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Chicago and Nate Raymond in Boston; Additional reporting by Maria Tsvetkova in New York and Ted Hesson in Washington; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel Wallis) On Thursday, May 22, the Ukrainian city of Lviv hosted the second Ministerial Social Policy Summit an event aimed at supporting Ukraine and Moldova on their path toward full membership in the European Union, according to the press service of Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy. "The summit brought together more than 20 high-level representatives, including ministers from European countries, who convened to share experiences and develop joint innovative responses to the demographic challenges facing the entire European continent. Among the participants were ministers and representatives from Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Sweden, as well as delegates from the OECD and the World Bank," the statement noted. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in his opening address, expressed gratitude to the European Union for its continued support, which has enabled Ukraine to maintain the uninterrupted functioning of its social protection system even amid wartime conditionsan embodiment of true European solidarity. "For Ukraine, European integration is not merely a political goal. It represents a path toward real and tangible improvements in the daily lives of our citizens. We understand that demographic challenges are common to all European nations, which is why the response must be collective. In this context, the Government of Ukraine has adopted a Demographic Strategy through 2040 as part of the Ukraine Facility. This strategy is grounded in European values above all, respect for every individual's right to make their own choices. A cornerstone of national policy is investment in families. These are investments in Ukraine's recovery, in the development of human capital, and in the long-term advancement of the country," Shmyhal said. Ukraine's Minister of Social Policy, Oksana Zholnovych, thanked international partners for their unity and unwavering support of Ukraine's efforts to jointly shape a resilient and inclusive social policy focused on human dignity. "We've moved beyond short-term solutions and are working on systemic reforms that can withstand the pressures of war and deliver results today. At the heart of our work lie values we all share: respect for the individual, the right to choose, and empowering support. For us, European integration is not just a political target. It is a shared space of practices, approaches, and decisions. We aim not only to adopt best practices but also to contribute what we have achieved what has proven effective and resilient, even in crisis," she stated. During the summit, participants developed a joint communique aimed at consolidating the efforts of the participating countries in supporting social reforms in Ukraine and Moldova. The document underscores the importance of systematic experience-sharing in the implementation of key initiatives outlined in the European Commission's 2023 Demographic Toolkit, including the European Child Guarantee. The goal is to deepen understanding and raise awareness of contemporary demographic challenges facing the member states. The communique also stresses the need to strengthen legal, institutional, and strategic frameworks to ensure effective and coordinated responses to demographic shifts, with attention to the needs of different population groups across their life span. Harvard University is suing the Trump administration a day after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked its certification to admit foreign students, an escalation of its fight with the institution and an effort to hit its wallet. Harvard President Alan Garber announced the suit in a letter to the Harvard community. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard, the complaint reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, claims the administrations actions violate the First Amendment, constitutional due process and DHSs own regulations. It landed just hours after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered Harvard be taken off the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. The order effectively bans Harvard from enrolling new international students and forces current ones, who make up roughly a quarter of the schools student population, to transfer. Garber characterized the governments actions as an effort to lash out at Harvard over its refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal governments illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty and our student body. We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ban marks another blow in the fight between the administration and Ivy League school. The administration has launched a multifront pressure campaign against the school for refusing to bow to its demands for changes to its admissions and hiring policies, as well as getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and a stronger stance against antisemitism. Last month, the school sued the administration for freezing more than $2 billion in federal funding unless it complies with various demands. But in that case, Harvard has not pursued any emergency relief. In the new lawsuit, the university indicated it would seek a temporary restraining order to immediately block the administrations efforts as the litigation proceeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, the lawsuit reads. International students made up 27 percent of Harvards student body in the 2024-25 academic year. This year has been a whirlwind for foreign students across the country as the Trump administration has sought to revoke the legal status of thousands of them. In the most high-profile cases, the federal government has targeted foreign students and faculty that have expressed support for Palestinians during on-campus protests of the Israel-Hamas war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some international students fled the country to avoid arrest, and others are still sitting in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. Foreign students contribute more than $40 billion to the U.S. economy. Lexi Lonas Cochran contributed. Updated at 9:14 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard Universitys ability to enroll or keep its international students. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted the temporary restraining order after the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday terminated the universitys international student certification. The move barred the school from not only admitting international students, but also ordering current foreign-born students to transfer or lose their legal status. Under the order, international students can remain enrolled at the school. The next hearing for the case will take place next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Harvard University sued the Trump administration on Friday, a day after the federal government said it would block the nation's oldest university's ability to enroll foreign students. In a complaint filed in a U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, Harvard argued that the administrations effort to block foreign students from enrollment violates the universitys First Amendment rights and would dramatically alter its ability to operate. "With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission," the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the administration terminated Harvards Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, forcing the university's foreign students, roughly a fourth of its student body, to either transfer or lose their legal status. Students on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on April 18, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim / Anadolu via Getty Images file) In the complaint which names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi among the defendants Harvard accuses the government of "clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment right to control Harvards governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students." Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the lawsuit an attempt to "kneecap the Presidents constitutionally vested powers." "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments," she said in a Friday statement. "The Trump administration is committed to restoring common sense to our student visa system; no lawsuit, this or any other, is going to change that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement that "Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment." "If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus, they wouldnt be in this situation to begin with," Abigail Jackson said. The State Department and the Justice Department did not immediately return requests for comment. The editorial board of the Crimson, the schools student newspaper, released an op-ed ahead of the lawsuits announcement Friday, criticizing the Trump administrations action against the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his ongoing feud with Harvard, Trump has decided that Harvards 6,000 international students are acceptable collateral damage, the editorial board wrote. They studied at Americas most storied institution. Through no fault of their own, they may leave with nothing. The university refused to comply with sweeping reforms from the administration's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism last month, which included who Harvard can admit or hire, and subjecting its faculty to a government audit. "We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action," Alan M. Garber, Harvards president, said Friday in a letter to the university's community. "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams." The lawsuit was the second the university filed against the administration within recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard sued the administration last month to recoup over $2 billion in federal research funding that the administration stripped the university of after refusing the reforms. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Harvard University sued the Trump administration a day after the Department of Homeland Security revoked the Ivy League school's ability to enroll foreign students. A complaint filed in federal district court in Massachusetts on May 23 called the move a "blatant violation" of the First Amendment, Due Process Clause and the Administrative Procedures Act. The school said it would push for a temporary restraining order against the administration's decision. In a message to the Harvard community, the university's president, Alan Garber, condemned what he called an "unlawful and unwarranted action." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 'Harvard refugee': Chinese students seek legal advice after Trump blocks enrollment "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams," he said. Read more: International college students bring billions to the US. Here's why that may change. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard's leadership on May 22 saying the school's ability to participate in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which is a prerequisite for colleges and universities to enroll international students, would be terminated "effective immediately." All international students would need to transfer to another university to stay in the United States, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements," Noem wrote in the letter. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025. The punishment dated to April 16, when Noem first mandated that Harvard produce troves of detailed information about every international student attending the school. "This demand was unprecedented, seeking information far beyond what DHSs regulations require Harvard to maintain and report, and far beyond any request Harvard has received in its more than 70 years hosting foreign students under the F-1 visa program," the university's lawyers wrote in the lawsuit. Read more: Trump has been defunding university research. Does China benefit from it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the university said it had complied within the scope of federal law and its reporting requirements, producing thousands of data points about its entire student population with F-1 visas. Those responses, Noem said on May 22, were "insufficient." She then gave the university 72 hours to deliver more information, including "any and all" disciplinary records of nonimmigrant students enrolled at the school over the last five years. Noem's unprecedented act, preventing Harvard from enrolling foreign students, marked arguably the biggest escalation in the Trump administration's battle with the university, which has already had billions of dollars in federal research funding frozen. The campus is separately being investigated over whether it should maintain its tax-exempt status. The effective ban at Harvard created a chilling effect at other colleges nationwide, while imperiling operations at the storied Cambridge, Massachusetts campus. "Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard," the school's lawyers argued in the new complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard's nearly 7,000 international students comprise roughly a quarter of the university's population. As the summer begins, many are awaiting further guidance from the school about what they should do next. The government's actions came just days before graduation. (This story has been updated to add new information.) Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harvard sues Trump over ban on international students Harvard University has sued the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and the Department of Justice in response to the Trump administrations attempt to block the Ivy League school from enrolling international students. This revocation is a blatant violation of the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act. It is the latest act by the government in clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the governments demands to control Harvards governance, curriculum, and the ideology of its faculty and students, the university wrote in a lawsuit filed Friday morning. The university requested that the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts declare the Trump administrations actions unconstitutional and unlawful, that the court enjoin the administration from enforcing the expulsion of international students, and compensate the university for fees and legal bills related to the litigation. Hours after filing the suit, the court granted a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from enforcing the directive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations move to block Harvard from accepting foreign applicants on student visas is the latest escalation in an ongoing feud between MAGA Republicans and Americas most prestigious educational institutions. I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a letter to the university on Thursday. It is a privilege to enroll foreign students, and it is also a privilege to employ aliens on campus [] Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year. This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status. In an open letter to students, faculty, and staff, Harvard President Alan M. Garber wrote that Noems letter continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal governments illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body. Harvard and the Trump administration have been locked in a back and forth for months now. The Trump administration has been attacking Harvard for allowing pro-Palestinian activism on campus, and last month the Department of Education demanded that the school allow government oversight over its hiring practices, curriculum, and admissions practices in order to align them with the political priorities of the Trump government. The university refused. Earlier this month, the Department of Education froze all federal grant funding to the university over their refusal to bend to their demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays lawsuit states that there is no lawful justification for the governments unprecedented revocation of Harvards [Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)] certification, and the government has not offered any. The university has requested that the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts declare the Trump administrations actions unconstitutional and unlawful, that the court enjoin the administration from enforcing the expulsion of international students, and compensate the university for fees and legal bills related to the litigation. On Thursday, Noem was asked on Fox News about the prospect of a lawsuit challenging the administrations push to revoke student visas. ring it, she said. I am on the side of America and they need to be too. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Harvard University is suing the Trump administration after it banned the Ivy League institute from enroling foreign students. The Department of Homeland Security revoked the universitys ability to enrol foreign students and ruled current international students have to leave the university or lose their right to be in the US on Thursday. The ban affects around 7,000 international students studying at Harvard, which make up around 30 per cent of the schools student body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a lawsuit filed on Friday, Harvard accused the Trump administration of wielding a campaign of retribution against the university after it refused to capitulate to the administrations laundry list of demands to overhaul its hiring, admissions and teaching practices. A US judge on Friday blocked the administrations policy and issued a temporary restraining order freezing the measure. The ruling came from from Allison Burroughs, a US district judge and one of Barack Obamas appointees. Christopher Rim, a university admissions coach, said four international students he helped get into Harvard are affected by the ruling, including one from the UK who was set to be among the 70 to 80 British students who enrol in the university each academic year. Three of the students were scheduled to enrol this year, after selecting Harvard out of a string of other Ivy League universities they got into. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told The Telegraph he is advising the students to think about taking a gap year, including the student who is already at Harvard, although this will be disruptive to his studying. These students have worked so hard... theyve been focusing on this moment forever, and theyve worked hard, and they achieved their goal of getting into Harvard, like, arguably one of the best universities in the world, or the best university, and I dont want them to just transfer, I want them to wait and take a gap year and then start freshman year next year. A 21-year-old sciences student approaching his final year of study at Harvard, who did not want to be named, told The Telegraph: It was a weird feeling. I think theres part of you that knows something of this magnitude was going to happen given the tension weve seen prior to it but you dont ever expect it to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You never really think its going to get to the point where you get a notification from The New York Times saying Trump has suspended students. He agreed with his universitys decision to sue the Trump administration over the decision: I am hopeful and I do think [Harvard] suing the Trump administration is a step in the right direction and does feed them a bit of hope. We feel attacked, misplaced, but also feel close to Harvard. Moments and challenges like this are when you see what this school means. Harvard has so far been the only institution to push back against the White House amid Donald Trumps crackdown on universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month the university sued the Trump administration after it froze $2.2 billion of the schools funding for refusing to agree to its demands. Harvard said the blocking of foreign students was evidence of a clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to control Harvards governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, the lawsuit said. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard, the university added. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard. https://t.co/V8uvTNaL64 Harvard University (@Harvard) May 23, 2025 The 389-year-old school asked a federal judge to block the revocation, citing the immediate and irreparable harm inflicted by this lawless action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Alan M Garber, Harvards president, said the action was unlawful and unwarranted. In a letter to the Harvard community, he said it imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfil their dreams. The termination of Harvards student and exchange visitor programme certification, effective with the 2025-2026 academic year, was announced by Kristi Noem, the Homeland security secretary. Kristi Noem announced the termination of Harvards student and exchange visitor programme certification - Michelle McLoughlin Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvards international enrolment, according to university figures, and Beijing said the decision will only harm the image and international standing of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese side has consistently opposed the politicisation of educational cooperation, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. She said the termination was justified because of Harvards fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. It comes weeks after Ms Noem demanded a large trove of information from Harvard about student visa holders. In his letter on Friday, Garber said Harvard responded to Homeland Security Department requests as required by law. Responding to the lawsuit, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson accused Harvard of not attempting to end the scourge of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, she added. Harvard was one of scores of US universities where controversial pro-Palestinian protests erupted last year on campus, with students forming encampments on university grounds. An internal report on antisemitism from Harvard published earlier this year found Jewish students reported feeling unsafe and pushed to the periphery of campus. The row over antisemitism saw Claudine Gay, the former president of the university, resign. It came after she took part in a disastrous congressional hearing about antisemitism at US universities, during which she failed to unequivocally condemn calls for genocide against Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether such calls breached Harvards bullying and harassment policy, she said it depended on the context. Columbia University, which was ground zero for the pro-Palestinian encampments, had $400 million federal funding cut by the Trump administration over claims it had failed to sufficiently clamp down on acts of antisemitism on its campus. The university caved to the Trump administrations demands, which included banning masks and putting the department of Middle East, South Asian and African Studies under academic receivership, meaning it will be placed under control of someone outside of the department. The university has not had its funding restored. This week the White House accused the university of violating civil rights law by acting with deliberate indifference toward discrimination against Jewish students. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Harvard University leaders have attempted to alleviate anxiety felt among international students and vowed to push back against the Trump administration's move to halt the institutions ability to enroll foreign students and demand that those currently enrolled leave. Several faculty deans and leaders from at least seven departments sent messages about the revocation, which could impact the universitys almost 6,800 international students, who comprise more than 27 percent of the student body. The outpouring of support came after the administration ramped up its attack against the nations oldest and wealthiest university on Thursday for failing to comply with its policy demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. She accused the university of fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. (AP) In a letter to his department on Thursday, philosophy chair Bernhard Nickel said that the Trump administration had chosen to pick a fight with Harvard and other Ivy League institutions. In its fight with Harvard specifically and higher education generally, the Trump administration is using international students as pawns, Philosophy chair Bernhard Nickel wrote to his department, according to the universitys student newspaper, the Harvard Crimson. International students are essential members of our community. We welcome you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Classics director of undergraduate studies Paul Kosmin told his department that Harvards lawyers were preparing to contest the administrations action in court. There should be more clarity over the next couple of days, and Harvard has a deep bench of very able lawyers to push back on this unprecedented step, he said. While in a joint email to residents, the faculty deans of Adams House, Salmaan Keshavjee and Mercedes Becerra, empathised with students and shared their support. Weve heard some hard news today that has caused a lot of anxiety in our community. We want our international students to know that you are an essential part of Adams House. All of us Deans, House Staff and Tutors are here to support you, they said. Senior staffers from Harvard University have spoken out in support of the institutions international students (AP) After Homeland Securitys announcement, a spokesperson for the university called the move unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the university and this nation immeasurably, media relations director Jason Newton said. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. The Trump administration previously warned that the universitys federal funding was at risk if it did not comply with the presidents efforts to eliminate diversity programs, cooperate with immigration enforcement, dissolve pro-Palestine demonstrations and submit to a viewpoint diversity audit. Harvard then filed a lawsuit alleging that Trump was simultaneously exploiting and ignoring federal law and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which forbids discrimination at federally funded institutions. Dozens of other universities were warned they could similarly lose hundreds of millions of federal funding if they didnt fall in line with the presidents vision of campus civil rights, which has categorized all participants in pro-Palestine protests, which included scores of Jewish student leaders, as antisemitic Hamas sympathizers. The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it is rescinding Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, increasing pressure on the school to fall in line with the president's agenda. In a letter obtained by The New York Times, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told the university: "I am writing to inform you that, effective immediately, Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked." Without this certification, Harvard can no longer enroll international students, and the roughly 6,800 international students currently enrolled must transfer or lose their legal status. A Department of Homeland Security news release called Harvard's campus climate "toxic," accusing the university of "creating an unsafe campus by permitting anti-American pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including Jewish students, and otherwise obstructing its once-venerable learning environment." The department claims that many of these "agitators" are foreign students. The move is yet another escalation in the ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and the nation's oldest university. Since taking office, Trump has attempted to pressure both public and private colleges and universities to change a wide range of policies across governance, discipline, hiring, and admissions. Some of his demands have been rather sweeping: Noem's letter, for example, says that to regain the certification, the school must hand over "all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard University campus in the last five years." Notably, this request does not specify that the protest be violent or illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia University is currently negotiating a consent decree that would name a federal judge to oversee changes to protest policies, security practices, and its Middle East studies department. Columbia agreed to Trump's demands after his administration canceled $400 million in federal grants; it has yet to see the funding reinstated. After its bold refusal to comply with Trump's demands, Harvard seems to have been singled out for its insubordination. Trump retaliated by freezing $2.6 billion in federal research grants to the university, and Thursday's move threatens even more of Harvard's bottom line. About 27 percent of the student body is made up of international students (up from 19.7 percent in the 20102011 school year), many of whom pay a larger share of education costs. Trump may have more weapons up his sleeve. The president is considering stripping Harvard's tax-exempt status, valued at $425 million. (That would first require an IRS review.) Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are attempting to significantly increase the amount some universities pay in taxes on investment returns on endowments from 1.4 percent to as high as 21 percent. The feud raises the question of why an institution like Harvardwhich has an endowment of over $53 billionneeds government money in the first place. Trump is not the first president, nor will he be the last, to use the power of the executive branch to strong-arm private universities. One way Harvard can protect its independence and mitigate intrusive government interference is by weaning itself from federal funding, and thus freeing itself from the strings that come attached to the funds. Obviously, that won't keep the government from trying to push institutions around in other ways, such as taxation or immigration controls. But it would remove a big pressure point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard has filed lawsuits challenging the conditions Trump is trying to impose. But no matter who prevails in the legal battles to come, free speech and pluralism will be better off if Harvardand other private universitiesstart eschewing federal money. The post Harvard's Best Protection Is To Get Off the Federal Teat appeared first on Reason.com. By Sam Tabahriti, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Anna Dittrich LONDON/AMSTERDAM/HEMHOFEN, Germany (Reuters) -Thousands of foreign students at Harvard University were stuck in administrative limbo and looking for alternatives on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration revoked Harvard's ability to enroll students from abroad. Later in the day, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked the move by the Trump administration, hours after Harvard sued it in Boston federal court, leaving the way ahead unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard currently has nearly 7,000 international students, representing about 27% of its total enrollment. Since taking office in January, Trump has assailed the so-called Ivy League universities, accusing them of fostering anti-American, Marxist and "radical left" ideologies. While other universities would probably jump at the chance to get more Harvard-level students, taking in swathes of them is unlikely to be easy with only three months left until the start of the next academic year. Michael Gritzbach, a German student who is studying for a master's degree in public administration, described the move as a "dream turned into a nightmare", especially for those who had saved up for years or had won scholarships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He warned that even a court victory could not guarantee that foreign students would be able to continue to study at Harvard because "we do not know if the government will accept that, or if the whole situation will just take too long for us to react in time." A British student at Cambridge University who was due to start her master's degree at Harvard's School of Education in September did not think the Trump administration would actually go ahead with banning international students. The student, who communicates regularly with other international students accepted into Harvard and asked not to be named to speak freely, said the main consensus was that "there is honestly nothing we can do ourselves right now". She said that if she were to go to Harvard as planned, she was concerned about being able to speak openly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's worrying everywhere, but especially on a student campus where the exchange of ideas is supposed to be celebrated. If I do end up coming to Harvard, going on campus, I know that I'll be watched as an international student in certain ways." VISA DELAYS Speaking before the U.S. judge's intervention on Friday, international students said they were already facing delays on their U.S. visa applications since Thursday. One student was told by their visa interviewer that, while their documents were in order, the visa application was on hold for "additional administrative processing" due to recent developments, according to a private messaging group for foreign students seen by Reuters. They said they were told the process could take 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything is in limbo right now and we're just waiting and seeing," they said. Abdullah Shahid Sial, a Harvard student from Pakistan who is also co-president of its governing body for undergraduates, said some students were already looking at moving to other universities. "We are trying to work with the university administration to offer active assistance to students who are willing (or are forced) to transfer to other universities - within and outside the United States," he said in an email. Among those poised to benefit would be the universities from the so-called Russell Group in the UK that comprises 24 of its top higher education institutions if those students start looking elsewhere in the world. The Russell Group did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A British government-commissioned report in 2024 concluded that the UK should avoid restricting international student numbers or some universities might collapse. Corinne Feuz, a spokesperson for the Swiss Federal Technology Institute, said the university expected to begin receiving applications quickly from students who have changed their minds about studying in the U.S. "These recent measures against Harvard University could shift the situation and lead us to receive the best students globally," Feuz said. Switzerland's ETH Zurich, the alma mater of physicist Albert Einstein, said that 22 ETH students could be affected by the changes to visa regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trinity College Dublin said it was too early to say whether there would be an influx of Harvard students due to the move. But undergraduate applications from U.S. students this year were up 16% and those from postgraduates were up 64%, said Catherine O'Mahony, a spokesperson for the university. The same uptick was occurring in Britain, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students in their university applications. UK and European Union students were also now more hesitant to apply to U.S. universities, Moon said. In the Netherlands, the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) said it currently has one student on exchange at Harvard and another planning to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Dutch education minister said it would be "a really serious matter" if students were forced to discontinue their studies. The Dutch government was in contact with its U.S. counterparts, the spokesperson said. Canadians accounted for about 11% of foreign students at Harvard. According to LinkedIn and the Harvard Crimson newspaper, among those was Cleo Carney, daughter of newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a Harvard alumnus. Carney's office declined to comment. Princess Elisabeth, first in line to the Belgian throne, was another Harvard student facing expulsion. She has completed her first year, Belgian Palace spokesperson Lore Vandoorne said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The impact of this decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation," Vandoorne said. (Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Catarina Demony, Olivia Le Poidevin and Dave Graham; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by Mark Heinrich and Diane Craft) Students walk the grounds of Harvard University, an Ivy League school in Cambridge, Mass., on April 22, 2025. Credit - Kyle MazzaGetty Images Theres not a day that goes by that Miguel, a first-year PhD student from Spain, doesnt appreciate his experience as an international student at Harvard University. But after a sudden punitive decision by the Trump Administration, Miguelwho asked to be identified solely by his first namemay be forced to face an unthinkable decision: transfer to another school or risk losing his opportunity to study in the U.S. Miguel is one of roughly 6,800 international students at Harvard left in limbo after the Trump Administration on Thursday revoked the universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows the school to enroll international students. The Trump Administrations decision is already facing a legal challenge. Harvard University is suing the government over what it says is clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to reject the governments demands to control Harvards governance, curriculum, and the 'ideology' of its faculty and students. A federal judge on Friday blocked the Administration from enforcing its revocation while the legal battle plays out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revocation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program would prevent Harvard from enrolling international students for the upcoming academic year, and would force existing international students to transfer to another university or lose their nonimmigrant visa status, according to a letter sent by the Department of Homeland Security to the school and later shared on social media by Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem. DHS gave Harvard 72 hours to comply with a list of demands in order to reinstate its authorization. The Administrations move is the latest escalation in its attack on elite universities across the U.S., with heavy penalties levied on Harvard, including a threat to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status. Those penalties have only grown more severe as Harvard has refused to capitulate to the Administrations demands. Universities like Harvard have been unequivocal in their stancethey will not surrender their constitutional rights and are prepared to fight back legally, says Arkesh Patel, chief operating officer of higher education consultancy firm Crimson Education. But the legal fight is likely to be protracted, says Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at the University of Oxford and founding director of the Center for Global Higher Education. In the meantime, international students are left in the lurch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are all very scared, says Miguel. There is a lot of uncertainty still. We dont really know what the immediate implications are for us current students in this context. The revocation imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams, the universitys president Alan Garber wrote in a letter to the campus community announcing the lawsuit on Friday. Read More: Harvard vs. Trump: A Timeline of Escalating Federal Pressure on Americas Top University In an earlier statement to TIME, Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton called the DHS move unlawful and said the university is fully committed to enrolling international students. More than a quarter of the schools student body hails from outside the U.S., according to university enrollment data for the 2024-2025 academic year. International students left in disarray Karl Molden, a sophomore from Austria, was on a family vacation when he heard the news. I broke out in sweats, Molden says, adding that he doesnt know if hell be able to reenter the U.S. or continue his studies at Harvard in the fall semester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive had the best two years of my life at Harvard, Ive made some really amazing friends, and learned so much from other people beyond academics, Molden says. Having to leave Harvard would mean maybe not seeing some of them ever again. Its really hard to speak about, because this has been my life, and right now it all seems like its falling apart. Its a concern that many international students are now facing. Miguel says he hasnt yet thought about transferring schools, which he will likely have to do if Trumps move is enforced. We basically do not know how this affects us current students as of right now, he says. Previous actions by the Trump Administration have already left many international students confused about their rights in the U.S., as the Administration began quietly revoking thousands of students visas before reversing course, and targeting foreign-born students for deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are scared that if we leave the country, we may not be able to reenter, Miguel says. Most of us have made a lot of sacrifices to be here, and have taken a lot of effort to make it to where we are today. Not being able to continue with the research that we have started, at the institution where we chose to study, is really scary. In the meantime, students should avoid travel abroad unless absolutely necessary, as reentry may still be risky and should prepare for [all] possible outcomes if the injunction is lifted or the [Harvard] lawsuit fails, says Pierre Huguet, CEO of H&C Education, a college admissions consulting firm. Harvard's lawsuit and students call revocation an attack on free speech The move has come amid a broader crackdown on universities accused of failing to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and adequately quash pro-Palestinian activism on campuses. I didnt come to the school to sit in class and remain silent, Abdullah Shahid Sial, student body president and a sophomore from Pakistan, told Harvards student newspaper, the Crimson, in April. I came here because I believe in the values which I was promised. I believe in the values which the United States once stood for: free expression, free thought, and fearless speech. A protester holds a sign reading "Educate, Don't Capitulate!!" featuring Harvard University shields during a rally at Cambridge Common in Cambridge, Mass., on April 12, 2025. Erin Clark/The Boston GlobeGetty Images Harvard Students for Freedom, a group formed to advocate for the rights of students in light of Trumps crackdown on universities, called the decision an anti-American attack on our core values of freedom and education in a statement posted to social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Protests, Police, and Politics at Columbia University Take the National Spotlight Again: What to Know In recent months, the Trump Administration has targeted students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests for immigration action, among others who had no connection to campus activism. Trumps strategy is pretty clear, hes trying to set an example out of a few people, like Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil, and [through] that trying to silence many more, says Leo Gerden, a senior from Sweden and an organizer for Harvard Students for Freedom alongside Molden. Gerden says the Administrations actions have already chilled campus activism. Read More: How the U.S. Betrayed International Students Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It creates a climate of fear that undermines free speech on our campus, says senior Jada Pierre, who is American. Still, she says the activism isnt dying down, if anything its getting louder, and both students and the university administration have pushed back. Harvard student Leo Gerden, a senior from Sweden, speaks at a rally in Cambridge, Mass., on April 12, 2025. Erin Clark/The Boston GlobeGetty Images The Trump Administration argues the opposite. Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to Harvard and all universities that want to enjoy the privilege of enrolling foreign students, that the Trump Administration will enforce the law and root out the evils of anti-Americanism and antisemitism in society and campuses, the DHS letter reads. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country, Noem posted on X, alongside the letter. The government argues its actions are a response to Harvards alleged noncompliance with federal efforts to improve campus safety, particularly for Jewish students, says Huguet. Harvards lawsuit, on the other hand, contends that these actions violate First Amendment protections, suggesting that its disagreement with federal policy is being punished through immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huguet notes that the central argument as to whether this impacts freedom of speech has "become a matter of perspectivebut either way these conflicts are eroding the U.S. credibility as a haven for free expression and liberal thought. Meanwhile, Marginson says its freedom of expression that makes the U.S. attractive to foreign talent. The U.S. appears to offer a freer atmosphere than at home, and the sense that you can make up your own mind about things, says Marginson. The U.S. loses that now in this environment, if [the Administrations demands] persist. A drop in enrollments risks prestige of American higher education International students contribute critically to the U.S. economy through tuition fees and local spending, says Janet Ilieva, the founder and director of research consultancy Education Insight. In the 2021-2022 academic year, international students in the U.S. generated nearly $34 billion and supported over 335,000 jobs, according to nonprofit association of professional educators NAFSA. If enrollment drops, it could impact not only the richness of the academic experience, but also the financial model of many institutions that depend on international tuition fees, Patel says. The U.S. has a reputation for independent, autonomous universities, Marginson notes, arguing that the Trump Administration wants to bring them to heel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Harvards lawsuit fails, it would legitimize the idea that immigration status can be weaponized to suppress dissent, says Pierre, adding that international students should never be used as bargaining chips. Harvard University merchandise displayed at a store in Cambridge, Mass., on May 5, 2025. Mel MustoBloomberg/Getty Images The consequences of removing international students at Harvard could have long-term consequences on the U.S. ability to attract foreign talentnot only in higher education, but also in shaping its word-class research. Some of the best people from around the world get together at Harvard to find solutions to the millions of unanswered questions, Miguel says. While Ilieva adds: Banning students from attending one of the world's most prestigious universities risks significantly undermining the United States soft power and reputation as a premier global study destination and scientific powerhouse. The curtailing of academic freedom at Harvard would indicate the obvious potential for it to happen at other elite institutions, like Yale and Princeton, says Marginson, noting that universities across Western Europe and East Asia, particularly China, could benefit by attracting the talent that would have otherwise gone to the U.S. Already, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has said it will provide unconditional transfer offers to Harvard international students affected by the ban, with several other universities in Hong Kong following suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel says that some prospective students have already expressed concern about recent political developments in the U.S. Other prospective students being advised by the higher education consulting firm Crimson Education have leaned towards the U.K. or other alternatives to the U.S. The U.S. has been the premier system, Marginson says. And Harvards reputation carries the U.S. system to some extent. For Harvard to be substantially weakened in the eyes of the world is for the U.S. higher education system to be somewhat weakened. Contact us at letters@time.com. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) San Francisco city leaders gathered today to honor the late supervisor Harvey Milk on what would have been his 95th birthday. Harvey Milk, a naval veteran, was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978, becoming the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. During his brief tenure, he championed the rights of the gay community and sponsored a bill that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation, which was signed into law by then-Mayor George Moscone. Lucca Ravioli, beloved former Mission District deli, to be transformed into tech hub Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you, Harvey Milk, for planting the seeds of hope. We must keep that hope alive in newly troubled times, said one speaker at the event honoring Milk. Another speaker noted, Harveys legacy continues in every small business that flies a rainbow flag and in every young person who learns they belong. Sadly, on November 27, 1978, Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by former supervisor Dan White. White served five years in prison and died by suicide in 1985. All facts from this article were gathered by KRON4 journalists. The article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KRON4 staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Death toll from shelling in Kherson region grows to three The death toll from enemy shelling in Kherson region on Friday rose to three people, and nine civilians were injured, the National Police reported. "Three dead and nine wounded civilians: police are recording the consequences of the Russian army's strikes," the National Police press service reported. Earlier, it was reported that an 85-year-old woman died as a result of artillery shelling of Tekstylne. The National Police also reported other cases. Thus, Beryslav was under enemy artillery fire. A 64-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were killed. Another person was injured when explosives were dropped from a UAV. Russian troops attacked Kamyshany from a drone. A 52-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were injured. Russian troops shelled Osokorivka with artillery. A 26-year-old man was hit. FARMINGTON, N.M. (KRQE) A display of 500 flags in honor of fallen veterans has been installed in Farmington for Memorial Day weekend. The annual Healing Field flag display produced by the San Juan Rotary Club has taken place for the last 13 years in the northwestern New Mexico city. Our flag is our symbol for our country. And this is a way of showing our fallen veterans and their families that we continue on to remember them and make them proud of what we do in this country, said Terri Fortner, president of the San Juan Rotary Club. LIST: Albuquerque city services operating on Memorial Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 70 volunteers from the San Juan Rotary Club, the Farmington Chamber Redcoats, the District Attorneys Office, and other local organizations placed the flags in a field adjacent to the Boys and Girls Club Friday morning. We also have dog tags from the fallen veterans. We have 200 of those that commemorate their names, and if you walk through when the wind is blowing, you can hear the dinking of the dog tags. So its a very emotional time for a lot of people, Fortner explained. The display will be open throughout the weekend. A closing ceremony will be held at the field on Memorial Day at 6 p.m. There will be multiple speakers, the singing of the National Anthem, a reading of the roll, and the event will conclude with a performance of Taps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the ceremony, guests are asked to leave the field quietly in honor of the fallen heroes. I want to make sure that theyre always remembered because theyre the ones that gave the total sacrifice of their life, and to also to let their friends and family know that we havent forgotten. We also, in this, honor the first responders for our community that have also lost their life in service, said Fortner. Annual Farmington Healing Field flag display at the Boys and Girls Club. (Credit: San Juan Rotary Club President Terri Fortner.) Annual Farmington Healing Field flag display at the Boys and Girls Club. (Credit: San Juan Rotary Club President Terri Fortner.) Annual Farmington Healing Field flag display at the Boys and Girls Club. (Credit: San Juan Rotary Club President Terri Fortner.) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) The John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaii trains future doctors using one of the most powerful tools in medical education: the human body. But these arent just learning tools. They are silent teachers, people who chose to donate their bodies to science so that others could live better, longer lives. DOH: Hawaii sees worrying increase in whooping cough Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every year, students, faculty and family members gather to honor these donors at the schools Willed Body Ceremony. It a service thats an act of love, recognition and gratitude. For relatives like Jed Davis, whose aunt and grandfather were both donors, the experience was personal and moving. You could tell a lot of care and love went into the planning and the production, Davis said. It was so nice to celebrate not only the silent teachers, but the families of them who are here to celebrate them as well. Here are the top things to know about this unique program and the powerful way it shapes both medicine and memory. 1. This program shapes how students become doctors From their first year, JABSOM students rely on donated bodies to understand human anatomy. Its a hands-on, immersive experience that helps them learn how organs function, how tissues are layered and what real bodies look like. Its an integral experience that provides so much more than textbook diagrams ever can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The experience is humbling. Students often describe their silent teachers as their first patients. They learn not only about the body, but about respect, responsibility and human connection. 2. Each donation is treated with dignity and respect JABSOMs Willed Body Program is built on trust. That means every donor is honored, and every family is supported. Bodies are handled with professionalism and great care. To know that they were honored with that choice and cared for by the students that were involved and the staff, it means the world to all of us as the family members, Davis said. The fact that they were cared for means everything to us. From the time a body is received to the final memorial ceremony, dignity is at the center of every action. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You 3. The annual memorial is a moment of healing and connection Held in two parts one at the school and the other at Magic Island the Willed Body Ceremony is open to the public and especially meaningful to families. It includes student reflections, hula and a paddle-out where ashes are scattered in the ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis described the day as fitting and full of meaning. You could see how much it meant to the students and staff, he said. Its also a rare opportunity. Most medical schools do not hold this kind of event, which allows families to meet the very students who benefited from their loved ones final gift. 4. The program was paused, but its open again In July 2023, the program had to temporarily stop accepting new donations because so many people had chosen to give. That pause has now ended, and both new enrollments and body donations are once again being accepted. Applications are reviewed in the order theyre received. The university has asked for patience as the program handles a high volume of inquiries. 5. This is about more than death. Its about giving life For many families, enrolling a loved one in the Willed Body Program is a way to give back to the community. Medical students become doctors who go on to treat thousands of people over their careers. A single donation can affect countless lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you make this choice, theres no better program to honor that choice, Davis said. Take full advantage of wanting to give back to the community. There really couldnt be anything better. The gift is not forgotten. Its remembered in every diagnosis made, every surgery done and every patient cared for by a JABSOM-trained doctor. Honolulu EMS honors newly promoted personnel 6. Students and staff take their role seriously The team behind the program includes doctors, researchers and administrative staff who work to make sure every donor is honored properly. Students often say the experience of working with a silent teacher stays with them their whole lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JABSOMs mission is about education; and through this, its reaching maikai loa (lasting optimal health) for all. And that mission begins here, with the people who made the selfless choice to help others, even after death. 7. Every gift matters no matter how big or small Some people might wonder if their body will really make a difference. At JABSOM, the answer is always yes. Every donor, no matter their age or condition, contributes to the future of medicine. Whether they help a student learn how to treat cancer, perform surgery or understand the nervous system, each body plays a unique role. 8. Families find comfort in the care their loved one received For Davis and many others, knowing that their loved ones were respected, even cherished, made the difficult decision a healing one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To see them treated that way, Davis said, and to know they made a difference, it gives us peace. 9. You can learn more or enroll today To find out how to register for the Willed Body Program or ask questions about the process, click here. The program staff are available to answer questions, help with paperwork and guide you through the steps. Youll also find contact information, frequently asked questions and more details about how the donations are used. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 The Willed Body Program is more than an academic tool. Its a bridge between generations. Its also a reminder that teaching and learning dont end with life. They continue, quietly, through those who give everything they have to help others grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Davis put it, It means everything to us. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hawaii has passed a first-of-its-kind piece of legislation that will see a 0.75% increase to the states tax on tourists, specially earmarked to raise money for protection against climate change and natural disasters. This legislation, which I intend to sign, is the first of its kind in the nation and represents a generational commitment to protect our aina [land], Hawaiis governor, Josh Green, said in a May 2 release. Hawaii is truly setting a new standard to address the climate crisis. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, wildfires tore through Maui, devastating the town of Lahaina, a popular resort town. The new green fee, as the release puts it, is in part a response to that tragic fire, which meteorologists and climate researchers attributed to a number of environmental causes. We had a $13 billion tragedy in Maui and we lost 102 people. These kind of dollars will help us prevent that next disaster, said the governor in an interview referenced by NBC News. The new tourism tax Hawaii already taxes tourist lodgings at a rate of 10.25% for hotel stays, timeshares, vacation rentals and other short-term accommodations. In addition to this, the counties in the state add a 3% lodging tax and 4.712% excise tax on goods and services. The governor feels that the additional 0.75% will likely not deter tourists from vacationing in Hawaii, noting that the tax will go towards efforts like keep[ing] the beaches perfect and preserving many of the natural sites that tourists flock to, NBC News says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more you cultivate good environmental policy, and the more you invest in perfecting our lived space, the more likely it is were going to have actually lifelong, committed travelers to Hawaii, he told the Associated Press. NBC reports Green also said he heard from thousands of people across the U.S. after the Maui wildfire, asking how they could help. He says that visiting the state and paying the additional 0.75% tax is a significant way they can. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method to make big profits off you and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Response from the hotel industry Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawaii Hotel Alliance, has a balanced and hopeful response to the new tax, saying that the industry was pleased lawmakers adopted the tax rate that was initially proposed, and didnt opt for a higher rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think that theres anybody in the tourism industry that says, Well, lets go out and tax more. No one wants to see that, he told NBC. But our state, at the same time, needs money. He also noted in his interview with NBC that using the money to beautify Hawaiis environment is a silver lining for the tourism industry. Climate change in Hawaii The state of Hawaii reports that tourism to its coral reefs brings in $385 billion each year. However, rising temperatures are bleaching the reefs at an alarming rate. If carbon emissions continue unchecked, coral reef loss in Hawaii will result in an economic loss of up to $1.3 billion per year by 2050, according to the states projections. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in 2016 that Hawaiis Waikiki Beach brings in $2 billion per year in visitor spending alone. However, the report noted that shoreline erosion is threatening Hawaiis beaches and adding to the likelihood of natural disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EPA reported that the sea level has risen between two and eight inches on Hawaiis shoreline since 1960. In the last 100 years, erosion has affected more than 70% of Kauai and Mauis beaches. This erosion not only destroys natural habitats for animals, but also makes high waves, hurricanes, tsunamis and extreme tides more likely and more devastating. A government report from 2023 also noted that sea level rise is projected to cost the state $19 billion in loss of land and structures, not counting the possible damage to infrastructure or the costs of supporting citizens after natural disasters. The need to raise funds to protect Hawaii is only growing. The governor has maintained that the states 10 million annual visitors should help protect the environment, according to NBC. Care for 'Aina Now, an environmental advocacy group, calculated that there is roughly a $560 million gap between Hawaiis current conservation funding needs and money actually spent each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC says Governor Green acknowledged in an interview that the revenue from the tax, projected to hit $100 million, falls well short of this, but plans to issue bonds to leverage the money it raises. How the tax affects tourists The new tax hike goes into effect on January 1, 2026. Including all existing taxes, the tax bill for hotel rooms and other short term stays will total nearly 19%. NBC reports that the only other major U.S. cities with higher state and local lodging tax rates are Omaha, Nebraska (20.5%) and Cincinnati (19.3%). Tourists considering Hawaii for the first time next year may need to revisit their travel budget and plan accordingly. Its a good idea to get final quotes from your accommodation options before booking to avoid any costly surprises at checkout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Bloomberg reporting that the U.S. will lose $12.5 billion in travel revenue in 2025, creating a 7% decline in visitor spending year over year, its unclear whether this trend will continue into 2026. Since World Travel & Tourism Council President and Chief Executive Officer Julia Simpson told Bloomberg tourism represents 9% of the U.S. economy, Hawaiis new tax law has the potential to further the decline of travel revenue but by how much remains to be seen. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Holyoke Community College recognized six faculty and staff members during its annual end-of-year awards ceremony. The annual ceremony, held on Wednesday, May 21, highlights exceptional service, dedication, and teaching across the campus community. English professor Elizabeth Trobaugh of Amherst received the colleges highest faculty honorthe 2025 Elaine Marieb Faculty Chair for Teaching Excellence Award. As part of the recognition, she will lead the academic procession and deliver the faculty keynote address during HCCs 78th Commencement on May 31 at the MassMutual Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id like to thank everyone at the college for creating the ecosystem that allows me to do what I love so much, which is to be in the classroom with students, Trobaugh said from the stage of the Leslie Phillips Theater. I know the work that you do is what enables me to do the work I do, which gives me so much pleasure and the opportunity to see students succeed, and that is the biggest gift. I am grateful to my students, who, over these 20-plus years, continuously, perpetually inspire me to do my best for them, because they are working hard and pursuing something so valuable and noble. Elizabeth Trobaugh (Courtesy of Holyoke Community College) Trobaugh joined the HCC faculty in 2003 and has more than two decades of experience inspiring students in the classroom. She holds a bachelors degree from Tufts University and both a masters degree and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts. Her connection to the college is also personalher three children and son-in-law are all HCC alumni. I know how wonderful it is to be a proud parent of an HCC alum, she added. Ive seen how HCC changes lives. The Elaine Marieb Award, named in honor of the late professor emeritus and HCC alum Elaine Marieb, recognizes a full-time faculty member for excellence in classroom teaching. The award includes a stipend for professional development and a one-year appointment to the honorary chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the Marieb Award, five other employees were honored for their contributions: Christina Royal Equity in Action Award: Adina Gianelli of Conway, assistant professor of criminal justice Idelia Smith Adjunct Faculty Award: Erin Jackson of Glastonbury, Conn., instructor in the veterinary technician program Outstanding Professional Staff Award: Allison Wrobel of Holyoke, HCC registrar Outstanding Classified Staff Award: Lindsy Providenti of Granby, administrative assistant in the BSTEM division Outstanding Part-Time Staff Award: Lucien Dalton of South Hadley, math tutor and engineering pathways coordinator The ceremony celebrated the commitment of faculty and staff to student success and institutional excellence, reinforcing HCCs mission to transform lives through education. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The teen who fatally shot a fellow student and himself at Antioch High School this year was inspired by an international neo-Nazi group whose leader orchestrated deadly attacks around the globe, according to federal prosecutors. The terrorist groups leader, 21-year-old Michail Chkhikvishvili, of the nation of Georgia, was extradited from Moldova on May 22 after he was arrested in July. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Brooklyn on May 23, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ says the man was the leader of a group called MKY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chkhikvishvili targeted the U.S. as a site for more attacks because of the ease of accessing firearms. He told an undercover law enforcement employee, I see USA as big potential because accessibility to firearms and other resources, in an electronic message sent Sept. 8, 2023, court filings show. Students hold signs as they attend a student-led rally to honor Josselin Corea Escalante at Antioch High School in Antioch, Tenn., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Chkhikvishvili has been indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on four counts including solicitation of violent felonies. The charges stemmed from Chkhikvishvilis communications with an undercover law enforcement employee in which he trained and encouraged the undercover agent to carry out a mass attack against Jewish people and minorities. The mans arrest came before the deadly attack at Antioch High School on Jan. 22, 2025. However, prosecutors in the New York federal court linked the Antioch shooting to Chkhikvishvilis solicitations of violence in a court filing on May 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York wrote to the judge requesting the man be incarcerated before trial. They pointed to several ways his actions have directly resulted in real violence, including the shooting at Antioch High School. According to the prosecutors, the 17-year-old attacker claimed he was taking action on behalf of MKY and at least one other group in an audio recording posted online before the shooting. It is not clear if the shooter was a member of MKY or had contact with Chkhikvishvili or other members of the terrorist organization. Chkhikvishvili said the group asks for video of brutal beatings, arson, explosions or murders to join the group, adding that the victims should be low race targets. Chkhikvishvilis name also appeared in the document the DOJ characterizes as the Antioch shooters manifesto a 300-page document in which the shooter espoused misanthropic White supremacist and Nazi ideologies. The shooter also referred to the founder of MKY and said he would write the founders name on his gun, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, died after the 17-year-old shot her with a pistol in the cafeteria of Antioch High School. Another student was injured during the attack. The shooter then shot and killed himself. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Neo Nazis inspired Antioch shooter. Now US has extradited their leader When a commercial truck crashed into a house in New Jersey this week, the companys owner attributed the crash to a medical emergency. There were no fatalities, but what about next time? In short, it happens, and this disturbingly common phrase in trucking exemplifies the very state of highways in the U.S. today. That crash wasnt bad luck. It was a symptom of something deeper: driver health. The trucking industrys refusal to treat driver health as a foundational part of fleet safety is a considerable issue and entirely preventable. Driver Health Is a Known Risk According to FMCSA data, 13% of truck crashes involve driver nonperformance, like blackouts, heart attacks or other medical issues that cause a driver to lose control. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a health issue directly causes 1 in 20 crashes involving a CMV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Add in that the average truck drivers life expectancy is just 61, while the general U.S. expectancy average is 79-80, and it becomes clear this is more than a fleet issue. This is a workforce supply chain crisis. The Med Card Isnt Just a Box to Check Medical certification is required under 49 CFR Part 391, but what it actually tells you, how long the card is valid, matters. A two-year card signals stability. A six-month card means something is going on. A 30-day card is a warning. Come June 2025, thats going to matter more than ever. FMCSA medical certification changes arrive next month, and those new rules will soon require certified medical examiners to electronically submit all exam results to the FMCSAs National Registry, which will forward that data directly to state licensing agencies. The days of carrying around a physical medical card are numbered, as is the ability to sidestep systemwide scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That change means fleets that do not track med card durations and monitor driver health in real time are already behind. Fitness, Risk and Your Driver Qualification File A Driver Qualification File (DQF) is more than a checklist. Its a predictive tool. It tells you whos qualified to operate, not just in terms of skill but health and long-term capability. Would you put a 70-year-old crop duster pilot with early heart failure in the cockpit of a 737? Then why hand the keys to an 80,000-pound vehicle to someone with uncontrolled sleep apnea and a 30-day med card? Fleet safety is a consideration, but managing your fleet with risk in mind and running your fleet operation like an insurance company is a mindset. Its also not all about the fleet vehicles; it has more to do with fleet operators. We have preventive maintenance programs for our assets, but we dont have preventive maintenance for the drivers. What Fleets Can Do Coming from the private equity enterprise fleet oversight world after being a driver and small fleet owner, I know the boardroom consideration is often dollars rather than health. With that in mind, understanding this is an exposure management strategy is crucial. Heres how forward-thinking fleets are reducing medical risk and increasing driver longevity: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Numbers Matter About 1 in 3 drivers hold short-term med cards. Some 300,000 CDL holders were sidelined in 2023 due to expired or downgraded med certs. Half of drivers have at least two chronic medical conditions. Medical-related crashes often cost over $500,000, even without a fatality. Fleets with proactive health programs report 85% driver participation and improved med card renewals. Crash Risk Is Not Just Mechanical. Its Metabolic. Driver health isnt random. Its predictable, and if its manageable. The crash in New Jersey was not an anomaly. I have seen more than one driver die behind the wheel on video. These events are warning shots. The next one might not end with zero fatalities. Thats why the best fleets track health indicators, not just oil changes and logbooks. Caring about your drivers means doing more. It means building it into your business model and your culture. The post When Health Becomes Highway Hazard appeared first on FreightWaves. ALBUQUERQUE The New Mexico Department of Health has some advice about measles ahead of the summer travel season. "Get vaccinated and go have fun," the department's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said at a news conference Thursday. The state's measles outbreak this week surpassed 75 cases, with 76 known cases the majority in Lea County but including four in Sandoval County as of Thursday afternoon. So far, the outbreak has resulted in seven hospitalizations and one death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more than 1,000 measles cases across 31 U.S. states. Durham noted New Mexico's cases share the same genotype as initial cases in West Texas, across the border from Lea County, as well as many of the cases across the country. State health officials called Thursday's news conference to provide updates on the state's measles outbreaks in anticipation of summertime travel. "As summer is approaching and travel season is upon us, we want to make sure that we get information out about the measles virus and want to make sure that everybody stays safe," said Health Secretary Gina DeBlassie. "Be sure to get vaccinated," she added. "That's the best protection." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, rashes and serious complications like pneumonia, brain swelling and death. How contagious? "One of the most contagious viruses that we know," Durham said. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, Durham added, and those viral particles can remain suspended in an enclosed environment for up to two hours. Since the start of New Mexico's measles outbreak in February, the Department of Health has created a measles information dashboard at measles.doh.nm.gov, hosted mobile vaccine clinics, coordinated with the CDC and updated health care providers, school nurses, tribal leaders and other stakeholders, DeBlassie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wastewater testing for the disease is ongoing in Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque and several locations in the southern half of the state, with the most recent results coming back negative. Two doses of the MMR or measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is the best way to prevent a case of measles, according to the Department of Health. The typical MMR vaccine schedule includes a first dose shortly after a child's first birthday and a second dose around kindergarten, between 4 and 6 years old. The department is now recommending an additional dose or three doses total of the vaccine between six and 11 months for children who live in or travel to areas of high measles activity, including parts of New Mexico with active measles cases like Sandoval, Curry, Lea and Dona Ana counties, Durham said. Across the board, New Mexico's measles vaccination rates among kindergartners are at about 95%, reaching the "magic number" for herd immunity, Durham said. Rates of children under 18 who have received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine fall a few percentage points below 95% in some parts of New Mexico including Santa Fe, Los Alamos, San Miguel, Colfax and Taos counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adults born after 1957 are considered immune after one dose of the MMR vaccine, but an extra dose is recommended for adults in outbreak areas. Adults born before 1957 almost certainly had measles because the virus was much more common then. Pregnant and severely immunocompromised people cannot get the measles vaccine. Durham recommended women get the vaccine prior to becoming pregnant. Health care workers have provided nearly 30,000 MMR vaccines in New Mexico from Feb. 1 to Wednesday, close to twice the number of vaccinations during the same period in 2024. "If you are vaccinated and up to date on vaccines, [you] really are very well protected and so don't need to be scared," Durham said. "You can go travel, but the message is: Get vaccinated before you do." May 23Over 100 healthcare workers in Butler County will be laid off effective July 25. Morrison Healthcare, a food service company, and Crothall Healthcare, a healthcare support company, told the state of Ohio that West Chester Hospital would not renew contracts with either company. Morrison and Crothall Healthcare are sister companies under the umbrella of Compass One Healthcare. "This will, unfortunately, result in the closure of our entire operations and directly impact our staffing," both statements read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All employees will be laid off effect July 25 and the companies expect the layoffs to be permanent. The statements said each company will work with employees to connect them with opportunities within each respective company. Crothall Healthcare has 47 housekeepers, four lead housekeepers, eight technicians and two managers who will be affected. Morrison Healthcare has 18 food service workers, 12 cooks and 25 additional food workers who will be affected. In Hamilton County, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center also did not renew its contract with Morrison Healthcare, affecting 201 workers, or Crothall Healthcare, affecting 239 workers. Our Quad Cities News is partnering with award-winning journalist Gary Metivier for The Heart of the Story. Each week, Gary showcases inspiring stories of everyday people doing cool stuff, enjoying their hobbies, and living life to the fullest. Stories that feature the best of the human condition. A missing World War II soldiers name lives on, thanks to a man he never met. Gary Metivier takes us to the Netherlands to show us how families are honoring military families thousands of miles away in The Heart of the Story. Gary Metivier has The Heart of the Story above and even more about their story and what happens next on YouTube. You can also listen to the extended versions on his podcast. The Heart of the Story with Gary Metivier is available on all platforms and now Our Quad Cities News. Watch on YouTube | Listen on Apple | Listen on Spotify | Listen on Podbean Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Three people killed, four injured over past day in Donetsk region As a result of enemy shelling in Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, three civilians were killed and four were injured, the National Police reported. "Donetsk region. Three killed, four wounded: police documented war crimes by Russians. Russian troops shelled 15 populated areas. Forty-seven civilian objects were damaged, including 19 residential buildings," the National Police said on Friday. Kostiantynivka withstood five attacks: one person was killed, two residents were wounded. The Russians hit Rayhorodok with a Lancet-type strike UAV - they killed a civilian, wounded another. One person was killed and one was wounded in Pokrovsk. Summer-like temperatures continue to move into New Mexico through Saturday. Rain and thunderstorm chances will return to parts of the state by early next week. Its one of the hottest days so far this year across New Mexico. Temperatures are climbing into the 90s around the Albuquerque Metro. Carlsbad saw New Mexicos first 100 day of the year this afternoon. The rest of the state is sitting in the 80s and 90s. Friday is going to be even hotter, with more places climbing into the 90s. A few more places should hit 100 in southern New Mexico. Temperatures cool off a few degrees Sunday afternoon. A couple isolated showers and storms are likely in northeast parts of the state. Moisture will increase across the eastern half of New Mexico by Memorial Day afternoon. This will bring a chance for isolated storms to the eastern half of the state. Temperatures will again be a couple degrees cooler on Memorial Day, but right around average for this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moisture will increase in eastern and central New Mexico by Tuesday. This will bring a chance for showers and storms in the eastern half of the state and the Rio Grande Valley and northern mountains into the middle of next week. High pressure will build overhead, bringing up temperatures again, but the chance for rain 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to the Shangri-La Dialogue, the largest defense conference in Asia, where he will deliver a speech on the Pentagons approach to the region under the second Trump administration. While in Singapore, though, Hegseth is not expected to meet with his counterpart from China, as his predecessor Lloyd Austin did last year. Beijing normally sends its defense minister to the summit but is unlikely to this year, downgrading its participation to a lower-level official. The gap would make it a year since an American defense secretary has met in person with his Chinese counterpart, even as the two militaries continue speaking at lower levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a signal that they are concerned about the level of engagement, a U.S. defense official said of the Chinese choosing not to send their defense minister. Incoming defense secretaries usually take the Shangri-La Dialogue to project the new administrations policy toward the region, which Americas military has considered the most important in the world for the last decade. Austin visited Singapore all four of his years in office and used his speeches to discuss the value America put on working with like-minded countries. While there, Hegseth is expected to meet with counterparts from Southeast Asia and U.S. allies, such as the Philippines, Australia and Japan. Notably, Hegseth still lacks several top advisers on his Asia team. More than five months into the administration, there is no permanent appointee to run the Pentagons China office and no nominee to lead Indo-Pacific policy overall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth previously visited Asia in March, where he affirmed the U.S. military would keep its focus on the region as some countries worried about an isolationist turn in American foreign policy. What the Trump administration will do is truly prioritize and shift this region of the world in a way that is unprecedented, Hegseth said in a March press conference in Manila. Hegseth has pledged to restore deterrence to the Indo-Pacific as China continues a massive military buildup and grows more aggressive around U.S. partners in the Philippines and Taiwan. Members of the Biden administrations Pentagon team have bristled at the critique, arguing they did just that. The head of Indo-Pacific Command Adm. Samuel Paparo has said that the U.S. military would still win in a fight against China, but that he doesnt like the trend lines with Chinas industrial base outpacing Americas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years conference will be headlined by French President Emanuel Macron and feature a large group of European countries, also arriving at a moment of doubt in Washingtons policy toward the region. After Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration urged countries in Europe and Asia to grow more involved in each others security. To wit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the Shangri-La Dialogue last year. Defense News reported in March that the new Pentagon team has urged Europeans to stay out of the region, though, and focus on defending their own continent alone. [There is] no demand signal from the U.S. for the Europeans to be involved in the Pacific, a European official said at the time. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) From the steps of Henderson City Hall, Hollie Chadwick announced her bid for mayor, but a city official is pushing back on the reason she is running. Heather George, a former Lady Rebel and 30-year Henderson resident, introduced the former Henderson Police Chief to a crowd of supporters. While my tenure as police chief unfortunately became political and did not end the way I had hoped, Chadwick said. I know I did nothing wrong, and I know I am grateful for every day I have the opportunity to wear the badge and serve this community with my best efforts and with the utmost integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of her firing, Chadwick said she received countless phone calls and texts from supporters encouraging her to run for mayor. Our community needs an authentic leader who is dedicated to the needs of the entire community and not just a chosen few, she said. I am that leader. Chadwick pointed to several Henderson crime statistics as an indicator of her leadership as police chief and thanked the officers she worked with in uniform. It was my privilege to work alongside each and every one of them, and I know they will continue to serve this great community with honor and dedication, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief among Chadwicks priorities: transparency, affordable housing, improving the educational curriculum, and school choice. These arent just campaign promises, Chadwick said. They are the foundational elements of a city we can all be proud of. Taking questions Following her speech, Chadwick opened up to answer questions from members of the media. The first question: Did the firing of Chadwick-the-chief create Chadwick-the-candidate? In fairness, it may have Yes, she said. This was never on my radar. This was not something I was looking to do. But again, you have to look forward to the future, and I just want to continue to serve this community, and I feel this is the best way to do so moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chadwick was asked by a reporter from the Nevada Current if she believes the consulting company representing the city council and her opponent presents a conflict of interest. In the wake of her firing as police chief in Henerson, Hollie Chadwick said she received countless phone calls and texts from supporters encouraging her to run for mayor. (KLAS) Thats something youd have to ask her, she said. Reporters asked Chadwick about the apparent discord during city meetings, which residents have witnessed in the past months. I think youve seen how they treat each other on the dais, she said. I think when you have that at the top, it permeates down throughout the whole city and then, unfortunately, into the valley. Following her firing as police chief, Chadwick was asked if this campaign was based around getting the person she alleged played a role in the firing out of office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not doing this for [Romero], she said. Im doing this for the city and the community. City manager responds After the announcement, 8 News Now rushed to the Henderson Development Association luncheon in Sun City Anthem, where Stephanie Garcia-Vause was expected to speak. Garcia-Vause agreed to speak with 8 News Now and answer questions regarding Chadwicks announcement and the allegation that the city manager took direction from the mayor to fire the police chief. Henderson City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause at the Henderson Development Association luncheon in Sun City Anthem. (KLAS) There is no truth to that, Garcia-Vause said. Hiring and firing of employees is solely the decision of the city manager. Im the city manager, and that was my decision to make. Theres a separation of powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next question, Garcia-Vause was asked why Chadwick would make the claim if it is allegedly untrue. I dont know what the motivations are, she said. But I can tell you that the decision to hire and fire employees is strictly an operational issue. Operational issues are those things that the city manager takes care of, the mayor and council take care of policy, and I made that decision for the best interest of the community. Police union reacts Prior to Chadwicks announcement, 8 News Now requested a statement from Hendersons police unions regarding the new mayoral candidate. The following is the statement sent by a police union spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unions learned of former Chief Chadwicks mayoral candidacy from reporters just like the rest of the public. We are sure that as a former Chief of Police, Chadwick is well aware of the importance of public safety and the need to properly staff and pay our police department. Those issues are clearly linked and the unions will eagerly await every candidates plan to provide appropriate resources, pay, and benefits to rank-and-file members of the police department. The support and endorsement of the police unions is earned, not given. Therefore, the public should be aware that whoever has the support of the union(s) is someone that has earned our trust. -Andrew Regenbaum, Executive Director of the Henderson Police Supervisors Association Romero campaign responds 8 News Now reached out to the Campaign to re-elect Michelle Romero regarding the revealing of her only challenger, so far. The following is a statement sent by the campaign to 8 News Now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am extremely proud of the progress we have made in making Henderson not just the best city in Nevada, but as a recent Baldridge Award recipient, a nationally recognized top city in America. Under my leadership, we have improved public safety for our residents and businesses, expanded school choice for parents and students, increased healthcare accessibility and services for our veterans, added protections for our rural neighborhoods and public spaces, expanded services for our most vulnerable populations, and have made the City of Henderson the most transparent governing body in Nevada. These are precisely the issues I campaigned on three years ago, when 75 percent of Henderson residents placed their trust in me. No matter who joins this race, my commitment to serving as Mayor, and leading our city into the future will not be deterred. Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Not that its the most important question surrounding Sean Diddy Combs federal sex crime trial but what would happen to the rappers fortune if the jury returns with a guilty verdict? Since being locked up, the mogul has lost millions. An expert weighs in to give their theory on whether a conviction would make his price drop even lower. Forbes previously reported that Combs net worth was at $400 million following a serious drop from the $740 million that led the rapper to tout that he was a billionaire. The Bad Boy CEO had just listed his $61 million Los Angeles mansion for sale after it was raided by the Department of Homeland Security. He also tried to sell his $48 million mansion in Miami to help meet potential bail, only for his bond to be denied, per USA TODAY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As The Root previously reported, Combs sold his ownership rights to some albums made with Warner Music Group for $30 million, he stepped down from chairman of REVOLT and sold his stake in the company to an anonymous bidder. Despite his financial Ls, Combs still has the entirety of Bad Boy Records, Combs Enterprises, a private jet, alcohol lines, and an art collection holding Basquiat and Keith Haring pieces. However, all these assets are at risk of being seized by the government if the jury finds him guilty, per an expert. Former Chief of the DOJs Organized Crime and Gang Section Jim Trusty tells CNN all Combs assets are fair game - that is if the asset can be proven to contribute toward Combs alleged crimes. This is a very very broadly phrased forfeiture allegation. Normally you see things theyve already gotten their hooks into. So its basically just saying if it is an instrumentality or a proceed, were going after it, said Trusty. And theyve named the enterprise in a very broad way. The RICO is essentially anything he touched in his business world whether its record labels, liquor labels, planes, trains and automobiles. Everything is in play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trusty also said theres a concept called substitute assets which allows the Feds to go after other minuscule fortunes such as cars, watches, and art even if they cant prove those materials were connected to a crime. They can get got as a substitution - as long as it relates to their overall reward. Right now, the mogul is facing a slew of legal fees for his criminal trial and potentially hundreds of thousands in compensation once he goes to address the mounting pile of civil suits he faces. Hes currently on trial for charges including, racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. His indictment cites three anonymous victims in addition to Ventura. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. More than a week after a network outage, Cellcom customers continue to struggle with service. The outage began about 9 p.m. May 14, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette. The publication reported the disrupted services have affected residents, local government and businesses across northeastern Wisconsin, though emergency 911 services have remained available. As of May 23, full service had not been restored. The company on May 19 acknowledged that the outage was the result of a cyberattack, but insisted that customer data, including financial information, remain unaffected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about the outage. When did the Cellcom outage begin? The outage began about 9 p.m. May 14. Full service has yet to be restored as of May 23. The company has not issued an update on the outage since May 20. What is Cellcom's service area? Cellcom primarily serves customers in northeastern and central Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. What Cellcom services have been restored? The company on May 19 said SMS texting had been restored and that Cellcom customers were able to make and receive phone calls with other Cellcom users. For customers not seeing a resumption of some services, Cellcom advised them to turn on "airplane mode" for about 10 seconds and then turn it off. If that doesn't work, Cellcom said, try restarting your phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 22, some Cellcom customers reported that voice calls to other providers were possible. However, the company has not issued any statements or updates since May 20. How long will the Cellcom outage last? It's unclear. Cellcom has not provided a specific time line for service restoration. What kind of cyberattack caused the Cellcom outage? Details on the cyberattack have been limited, but Cellcom CEO Brighid Riordan said in a video update posted on the company's website that the attack was "segmented to the voice and texting part of your service." She added that they have no evidence that personal information was impacted. Riordan said the company was following all protocols and had notified the FBI and Wisconsin officials. She said the incident was in an area of the network separate from where the company stores sensitive information about Cellcom and Nsight customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ariel Perez of the Green Bay Press Gazette contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What we know, and don't know, about the ongoing Cellcom outage Burgers and hot dogs on the grill, plenty of cold drinks on ice and a family gathering with cornhole may be on the Memorial Day weekend menu for many Tennesseans. But more gatherings and travel mean more traffic on major roadways throughout the country. Nashville is no different. For those who might be saying, 'traffic in Nashville? No way.' Would anyone actually say that? Just in case, here's the warning: Over the holiday weekend, expect more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least AAA says the Volunteer State ranks among the best in the country for gas prices. The organization predicts 45.1 million Americans will travel throughout the country during the holiday weekend, up 1.4 million from last year. With some travel already beginning as many kick off an extended weekend, Nashville will see an increase in highway congestion as May wraps up. A HERE Technologies study of several cities in the United States estimates Tennessee will see 55 highways increase in congestion in May as compared to April, all thanks in part to better weather and the Memorial Day holiday weekend. So, as folks pack up the cooler, the sunscreen and the family for that road trip, here are a few things they should know before they hit the road: What are average gas prices in Tennessee? The average price for a gallon of gas in Tennessee is $2.72, the second least expensive market in the country, AAA reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $2.72 is 44 cents less than one year ago. Nashville's average price for a gallon of gas is $2.77 The most expensive gas prices in metro markets in Tennessee is Jackson at $2.78. Clarksville has the least expensive average in Middle Tennessee at $2.65. Average gas prices are compiled by AAA through surveys of credit card usage and other statistical data at 130,000 stations across the country. AAA said gas prices are rising again ahead of the summer travel surge. Prices were up 4 cents May 23 from last week due to the increase in the price and demand of crude oil. Will there be more police, Tennessee Highway Patrol? With higher volumes of traffic expected over Memorial Day weekend along with local high school graduations, many law enforcement agencies are expecting to head out in force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tennessee Highway Patrol posted on social media May 23 that they plan to be out in "full force" during the holiday weekend, with a focus on DUIs, seatbelts and speeding. Franklin Police Department will target impaired driving by increasing patrol across the city. "Memorial Day weekend and graduation celebrations are times of joy and reflection," Police chief Deb Faulkner said in a May 21 statement. "However, they also bring a heightened risk of impaired driving. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can celebrate safely without the tragedy of preventable accidents." The National Traffic safety Administration reports around 40% of Memorial Day weekend traffic fatalities involve alcohol. And in Tennessee, more than 7,700 driving under the influence-related crashes were reported in 2024. AAA offering Tow to Go AAA said it will assist more than 356,000 stranded drivers nationwide during the holiday weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency will offer free rides to impaired drivers through their Tow to Go service. The program started in 1998 and has helped remove around 30,000 impaired drivers from the road, according to statistics provided by AAA. The service is offered in 11 states, including Tennessee, to AAA members and non-members with a tow truck transporting a person and their vehicle within a 10-mile radius. Tow to Go will be active from 6 p.m. May 23 to 6 a.m. May 27. The service can't be scheduled in advance. To use it, call 855-286-9246. No, really, traffic in Nashville may not be that bad Here Technologies studied the total time it would take to drive the entire road network in several major cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Nashville scored better than areas like Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York and Los Angeles, the city saw a large jump from the average time of 4.2 hours to 14.2 hours when calculating the time it would take to drive the entire road network in Music City during peak times, like a holiday weekend. On the positive side, the city scored favorably against Phoenix, who's 38.1 peak traffic drive time is more than double that of Nashville. Avoiding the barbecue? See a washout on the horizon? Here are some Memorial Day weekend activities Whether someone is looking for a Memorial Day-inspired party along Lower Broadway or a brunch with friends, Nashville has it covered. A free Musicians Corner concert will be held at Centennial Park May 23-25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family friendly event will feature live music, drinks, food, a kids play area and local vendors. For those looking to burn off some weekend calories, or getting a workout in before a Memorial Day pig-out, a Memorial Day Dash 5K will be held May 26 at Adventure Science Center, 800 Fort Negley Boulevard. And of course, there's always dinner and movie. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to know as you travel during Memorial Day weekend At least three people were killed when a private jet crashed into a San Diego neighborhood Thursday morning, adding to the long list of aviation disasters this year. About 100 people had to be evacuated after the plane struck at least one home and jet fuel caught fire throughout the neighborhood. The Federal Aviation Administration said six people were aboard the plane. It wasn't clear how many died, although music agency Sound Talent Group said its co-founder and two other employees died in the crash. Many people are concerned about aviation safety after all the aircraft collisions and near-misses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disasters have ranged from the midair collision that killed 67 people near Washington, D.C., in January to an airliner clipping another in February while taxiing at the Seattle airport. In March, an American Airlines plane caught fire after landing in Denver, sending 12 people to the hospital. A sightseeing helicopter broke apart and crashed into the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey last month, killing six people. Federal officials have tried to reassure travelers that flying is the safest mode of transportation, and statistics support that. But the cascade of headlines about all the things that have gone wrong is drawing increasing attention. Here is a look at some of the recent tragedies and mishaps: Recent fatal crashes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York helicopter that crashed on April 10 departed a downtown heliport. The flight lasted less than 18 minutes. Radar data shows the helicopter flew north along the Manhattan skyline, then south toward the Statue of Liberty. The victims in this crash included a family from Spain who was celebrating the ninth birthday of one of their children. Three people were killed and one was injured when a small plane crashed April 11 in Boca Raton, Florida, near a major interstate highway and pushed a car onto railroad tracks. Two small planes collided midair near an Arizona airport in mid-February, killing two people who were on one of the aircraft. Following the collision, one plane landed uneventfully, but the other hit the ground near a runway and caught fire. The crash happened at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson. A small commuter plane crashed in western Alaska in early February, killing all 10 people on board. The crash was one of the deadliest in the state in 25 years. Radar data indicated that the plane rapidly lost elevation and speed. The U.S. Coast Guard was unaware of any distress signals from the aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A medical transport plane that had just taken off plummeted into a Philadelphia neighborhood in late January, killing all six people on board and two people on the ground. About two dozen people were also hurt. The National Transportation Safety Board said its cockpit voice recorder likely hadn't been functioning for years. The crew made no distress calls to air traffic control. The collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter above the nation's capital killed everyone aboard both aircraft in late January. It was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground. A jetliner operated by Jeju Air skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in late December in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people aboard were killed in one of that countrys worst aviation disasters. Incidents with injuries Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Airlines plane that caught fire at Denver International Airport in March had been diverted there because the crew reported engine vibrations. While taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire, prompting slides to be deployed so passengers could evacuate quickly. The people taken to hospitals had minor injuries. A single-engine plane carrying five people crashed and burst into flames that same month in the parking lot of a retirement community near a small airport near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Everyone on board survived. Three people were taken to an area burn center. A Delta Air Lines jet flipped over while landing at Torontos Pearson Airport in February. All 80 people on board survived, but some people received minor injuries. Witnesses and video from the scene showed the plane landing so hard that its right wing was sheared off. Investigators said when trying to determine the cause, they would consider the weather conditions and the possibility of human error. Close calls Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, two commercial planes had to abort their landings at Reagan National Airport near Washington because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter flying near the Pentagon. The Army suspended all its helicopter flights in the area after this incident. It was a Black Hawk priority air transport from the same unit known as the PAT25 that collided with the passenger jet in midair in January. In April, on the same day as the fatal New York helicopter crash, a wing tip of an American Airlines plane struck another plane from the same airline on a taxiway of the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. There were no reported injuries. Multiple members of Congress were aboard one of the flights. A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at a busy New Jersey airport in March after a bird strike caused an engine fire that could be seen in the morning sky. The plane landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. There were no reported injuries. Pilots on a Southwest Airlines flight about to land at Chicagos Midway Airport were forced to climb back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway in late February. Video showed the plane approaching the runway before it abruptly pulled up as a business jet taxied onto the runway without authorization, federal officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early February, a Japan Airlines plane was taxiing on the tarmac of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport when it apparently clipped the tail of a parked Delta plane. There were no injuries reported. In early January, passengers panicked when a man aboard a JetBlue plane taxiing for takeoff from Boston's Logan International Airport opened an exit door over a wing, triggering an emergency slide to inflate. Other passengers quickly restrained the man and the plane didn't take off. In a story published May 22, 2025, about recent aircraft tragedies, The Associated Press erroneously reported the date of a small plane crash in Boca Raton, Florida. The crash happened April 11, not May 16. George Floyd died five years ago this month - Courtesy PBS News Hour May 25 marks five years since the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn. Occurring at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Floyds death shook the nation to its core, sparking protests not only nationally, but also globally. The case led to a racial reckoning, with calls for societal reform, police reform, and reminders that Black Lives Matter. As the fifth anniversary of Floyd's death approaches, various networks are returning to Minneapolis with coverage plans to mark this solemn occasion. ABC News National correspondent Alex Perez will revisit George Floyd Square five years after being one of the first correspondents on the ground in Minneapolis. He also covered the subsequent protests and national reckoning on race in the month following Floyds death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, ABC Owned television stations KTRK in Texas and WTVD in North Carolina will sit down with Floyd's loved ones as they reflect on his life and legacy. MSNBC The network will offer live coverage from Minneapolis, plus dedicated coverage to mark the anniversary, and various guests will reflect on the anniversary. NewsNation The network will offer coverage of the Commemorative Walk held in part at George Floyd Square on May 24th. Special guests and network correspondents will contribute additional reporting. NBC News Correspondent Shaq Brewster will be on the ground in Minneapolis, reporting across all platforms on how the city has-and hasn't-changed five years later, and whether police reforms that were introduced after Floyd's murder have lasted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBCNews.com reporter Curtis Bunn will visit the infamous intersection of 39th Ave and Chicago St., speaking with residents who say the neighborhood has become unsafe. And NBC News Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley will report on the status of a legal defense called qualified immunity, which received national debate after Floyd's death. PBS News PBS News Hour special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro looks at where Minneapolis stands today on issues concerning racial justice and police reform. He also speaks to Floyds aunt, as well as the former Minneapolis police chief, the current head of public safety, and a lawyer who has represented several police officers in the area. Spectrum News Spectrum News' local news channel, Spectrum News 1 in North Carolina, will air George Floyd: 5 Years Later on May 28 at 8 p.m. ET. Hosted by Spectrum News 1 political anchor Tim Boyum, the special will look back at Floyds death, the events that followed, and efforts to create societal change. The Radio Liberty film about Bucha massacres has won the gold award at the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards. The winners were announced on the evening of May 22, Radio Liberty reports on its Telegram channel. "Bucha. The murder of self-defender Pobihay is the second part of the investigation by Radio Liberty journalist Dmytro Dzhulai about the mass killings in the town of Bucha in Kyiv region during the Russian occupation in March 2022. It examines in detail the circumstances of the shootings and names the Russian military personnel who may be involved in the execution of the local self-defender member Oleksiy Pobihay," the message says. The film is available for viewing on YouTube. HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) The Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park will kick off their 11th Annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 12. The celebration will begin on June 12 with local conservation groups sharing their work and a sleepover experience. On Friday, June 13, there will be a childrens dig day where kids are invited to dig into history as junior archaeologists. There will also be a drum circle in the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday marks the day for the main event which will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Gospel music will highlight local and regional choirs all morning. Afternoon fun will begin at 12:30 p.m. and include line dancing, karaoke and an old-school dance contest. The celebration will be closed with Leela James. Events like this bring our community both near and far together in powerful ways, said Executive Director of Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Ahmad Ward. They offer an opportunity to reflect on our shared history and celebrate the progress weve made. I look forward to joining everyone for the old-school dance contestits a highlight of the weekend! You can expect a childrens corner, complementary photo booth, community village with nonprofits offering resources, local vendors, artists and food trucks at the celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following Wednesday, June 19, a Juneteenth 5k will be held with the Palmetto Running Company. The cost of some events is covered with registration, but others may have admission costs. View the full schedule by clicking or tapping here. You can purchase your tickets by clicking or tapping 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 WSAV-TV. BENTON, Ark. One of Arkansas oldest river crossings is returning to its original home and its nearly ready for the public to enjoy once again. The Old River Bridge in Saline County, originally constructed in the late 1800s, is being fully restored and reassembled where it first stood, spanning the Saline River. Historic Saline County bridge expected to return to original location by May As of this week, only about 100 timber planks remain to be installed, marking the final stretch of the project that will make the bridge fully walkable for the first time in decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once completed, the bridge will become part of the Southwest Trail a scenic pedestrian and bicycle route connecting Little Rock to Hot Springs. Saline County Judge Matt Brumley emphasized the cultural and historical significance of the project. If you really think about it, its been a 51-year process, Brumley said. Saline County holds groundbreaking for Old River Bridge The bridge, believed to be the oldest river bridge in Arkansas, served generations before it was dismantled for preservation. Its return is the culmination of years of planning, engineering, and craftsmanship a true labor of love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brad Deaver of Mobley Contractors has overseen much of the technical restoration. We took it apart, cataloged it, and stored it. Then, back in 2021, we took it to Lansing, Michigan, had it restored brought it back down to Arkansas, and now here we are in the final phases of construction, Deaver explained. Were currently putting the timber decking on the bridge, said Deaver. Weve got to put in some hand railing, and then this thing will be open to traffic. Deaver described the experience as both an honor and a challenge. To be able to work with pieces that are over 100 years old its very meticulous, very precise work, he said. But were very excited to be a part of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once reopened, the Old River Bridge is expected to become a community destination, offering a picturesque and historically rich experience for walkers, bikers, and river-goers alike. The ability to come to this historic bridge and learn the history around this area is going to be very exciting to see people take part in, said Brumley. Both Brumley and Deaver noted that the project would not have been possible without the help of numerous public and private partners who shared a commitment to preserving Arkansas history. Renovations for Saline Countys Old River Bridge ahead of schedule The Old River Bridge is set to officially reopen to the public in late June, reconnecting the past with the present and creating new opportunities for education, recreation, and community connection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Aleesia Johnson have announced the nine members who will help design major changes to how the district will work with charter schools in the future. The announcement was dropped at 4 p.m. on the Friday before the city prepares for the Indianapolis 500 and the Memorial Day holiday. This group, known as the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA), was created out of legislation passed this year under House Bill 1515. Hogsett and Johnson were responsible for appointing the group members, along with the IPS school board president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group could make consequential decisions on how the district uses its buildings and transportation going forward, a topic that has generated intense debate from parents on both sides of the argument on whether the district should expand its collaboration with local charter schools. Hogsett said that the goal of this alliance is to "deepen collaboration across traditional public and public charter schools and support a strong academic experience for all students." These accomplished civic leaders are ready to chart a course for the future of education within the IPS boundary, said Mayor Hogsett. I am proud to lead them as we embark on this critical work, and I am confident we will create a plan that ensures a stable, sustainable and collaborative path forward for our schools. The members of the new alliance include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Joe Hogsett - Chairperson Dr. Aleesia Johnson - Superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools Bart Peterson - Former mayor; former CEO of Christel House International; former senior vice president of corporate affairs and communication for Eli Lilly and Company (mayoral appointee) Maggie Lewis - Majority leader of the Indianapolis City-County Council; CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis (mayoral appointee) Angela Smith-Jones - Associate vice president for state relations at Indiana University; former deputy mayor of economic development; former general counsel for the Indy Chamber (mayoral appointee) Tobin McClamroch - Managing partner of Dentons Bingham Greenebaum; chair of the Marian University Board of Trustees, (mayoral appointee) Barato Britt - President/CEO of Edna Martin Christian Center (IPS Board President appointee) Tina Ahlgren - Teacher at H.L. Harshman Middle School; Hoosier Educator of the Year, 2024; IPS Teacher of the Year, 2014 (IPS district-managed school parent appointee) Andrew Neal - CEO of Outreach Indiana; former chief operating officer of Brookside Community Development Corporation (IPS innovation school parent appointee) The first meeting of the alliance must be held before July 1, 2025. Information about future meetings will be shared in the coming weeks, according to the press release from Hogsett's office. What work is the ILEA charged to do? The group will work to conduct a facility assessment on all the schools within IPSs boundaries, including traditional and charter campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will then make recommendations regarding school facility structural changes, as well as come up with a process for approving or denying future capital referendum requests. It will also create a template for revenue-sharing agreements between IPS and its charter school partners. The ILEA must also create methods on how the district can increase collaboration with governmental entities, community organizations or local nonprofits on how to transform school facilities into broader community assets for residents. The group is meant to create a transportation implementation plan that would consider how to best serve all the districts students, in charter and district-run schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More on this SB 1515: This group will guide IPS's future. Hogsett asked lawmakers to make its meetings private During the legislatures last remaining hours of session, lawmakers added language to the bill that allows the ILEA to be exempt from Indianas Open Door Law, a policy which gives members of the public the right to attend meetings of governing bodies or public agencies. The bills author, Rep. Bill Behning, R-Indianapolis, said that language was included at the request of Mayor Joe Hogsett, and that the group can decide for themselves if it wants the meetings open to the public. The ILEAs final meeting, where the members will vote on a final proposal, is required to be a public meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alliance is required to file its final report and recommendations by Dec. 31, 2025. Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hogsett, IPS names members of group shaping the future of the district DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL)Holston High School on Thursday unveiled its new security vestibule. The new state-of-the-art vestibule is part of a multi-phase security initiative launched in 2021 by Washington County Public Schools. The vestibule includes a dual-layer entry system and ballistic-proof doors and windows. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attended the ribbon-cutting. A release from Washington County, Virginia Public Schools said the new safety measure would not have been possible without Youngkins commitment and leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson City railroad crossing to close for maintenance Washington County, Virginia Schools Superintendent Keith Perrigan said the vestibule is a necessary precaution. One of our philosophies as far as school safety is to create as many barriers as possible, he said. You know, if somebody wants to do harm, you know they will find a way to do it, so our focus is just trying to put as many barriers out there, and this security vestibule definitely does that. The renovation also involved upgrades to the SRO and main office, along with an enhanced guest area and modernized signage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A convicted Nigerian drug dealer avoided deportation after a Home Office blunder. Government officials wrongly accepted that Olajiire Obafemi Shoyombo had been in Britain for most of his life when trying to argue for his deportation. However, they had calculated it based on the length of time the crack cocaine and heroin dealer had been in the country, rather than the time that he had been lawfully resident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of this error, Shoyombo was able to argue that he had spent most of his life in the UK, since he arrived at the age of three in 2005, rather than the time he had been lawfully resident, which was nine years less. This enabled his lawyers to claim that he was entitled to the private life exception which allows immigrants to stay in the UK if they have been legally here for most of their lives and would face significant obstacles to returning to their home country. His initial appeal was backed by the lower tier tribunal but has since been referred back to them by an upper court to be reheard after the Home Office explained their error. The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example uncovered by The Telegraph where illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have been able to remain in the UK or halt their deportations on human rights grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, announced plans last week to curb judges powers to block deportations with new legally enforced common sense rules to clarify how judges interpret human rights laws and strengthen the public interest test. Shoyombo first arrived in the UK on a family visit visa when he was three years old in May 2005. His family then stayed in the UK illegally when their visa expired that October and his mother did not apply for further leave to remain until September 2012. Yvette Cooper has announced new legal framework that will end ad-hoc decision-making by immigration courts - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Her application, which included Shoyombo as a dependent, was initially denied but it was granted in June 2014 after an appeal. From then until the end of 2022, the criminal was deemed lawfully resident. In March 2023, he was convicted of two offences at Nottingham Crown Court for the supply of heroin and crack cocaine and sentenced to 40 months in a youth prison. He was served with a deportation order in June 2023 which he appealed on human rights grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His claim was rejected by the Home Office but, crucially, in their written decision they accepted he had been lawfully resident in the UK for most of his life. However, this assertion was calculated based on his entire length of stay in the country, not just the time when he had leave to remain. The Nigerian criminal appealed against the decision to reject his claim at a First-tier Immigration Tribunal and was successful on the basis of the private life exception. Now, the Home Office has appealed against the first-tier decision on the basis that the conclusion that the private life exception applied was an error of law. Before the Upper-tier Tribunal they made an application to withdraw their concession that Shoyombo had been lawfully resident for most of his life. They argued that he had, instead, been legally in the UK for six years and eight months of his nearly 18-year stay and this did not qualify as most of his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upper Tribunal Judge Vinesh Mandalia calculated that the criminal had been lawfully resident for nine years, factoring in time for his leave to remain applications to be processed, but this was still not enough to count as most of the Nigerians life. He allowed the Home Office appeal and has sent the decision back to the First-tier Tribunal where Shoyombo will need to prove there are compelling circumstances for him to remain in the UK. 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. Simon Property Group headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz.) One of the nations largest real estate companies has transferred its corporate registration back to Indiana from the state of Delaware, in what Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales has dubbed a big win. We are proud to welcome Simon Property Group home. This move is a big win for Indiana and it sends a strong message that our state is open for business, Morales said in a news release. His offices Business Services Division managed the redomestication process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The domestication certificate was dated May 14, 2025 and took effect the next day. The company cited strong historical ties with Indiana in a 2025 proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of an annual shareholders meeting last week in Indianapolis. Simon and its predecessors have maintained headquarters in Indiana for more than 60 years, and in 2006, the company built its new physical home just steps away from the Statehouse. The company owns eight properties in Indiana and more than 70% of its corporate employees reside in-state, or about 3,000. Center: Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales smiles during a meeting related to his offices securities division in April 2025. (From Morales official X account) Given our significant presence in Indiana, the Company is committed to the states business community and continued economic growth. We believe that redomesticating the Company to Indiana emphasizes this commitment in a meaningful, the statement read. It also cited Elevance Health, Eli Lilly & Co., and Cummins as other successful public companies that are both headquartered and incorporated in Indiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislators and judges making corporate law will be fellow members of the Indiana community, not residents of a state in which the Company has no substantial connections beyond being the historical state of incorporation of (Corporate Property Investors), it continued. The Board and (Governance and Nominating) Committee believe that local decision-makers have a deeper understanding of our business and, therefore, are more likely to make decisions on a more fully informed basis and lasting way. Simon acquired and merged with Corporate Property Investors and Corporate Realty Consultants in 1998, according to the document. It was previously incorporated as a real estate investment trust in Maryland in 1993. The board and committee did not find that aspect of Delaware domicile compelling such that it justifies a split between the Companys legal home and its physical home, the statement read. But another main motivator was meritless litigation against the company brought by financially interested law firms even though it has no pending litigation related to Delaware law, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon described Indianas approach to corporate law as statute-focused and Delawares as more dependent on judicial interpretation. The company noted that even proposed legislation to ease litigation-related risks couldnt convince it to stay because Indiana still has the better balance, but it acknowledge that Hoosier case law is more limited. Indiana Code would also explicitly let Simons board members take into account customers, employees, suppliers, surrounding communities and other stakeholders not just shareholders. The company said that can help foster a more holistic governance model and potentially reduce distraction, short-term bias, and missed opportunities. The company also expects to save money. Instead of paying Delaware a $250,000 franchise tax annually, it would owe Indiana $50 every two years when it files business entity reports. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) Officials say those living in Ellsworth Park must leave by tomorrow. But people living there say there arent many other options. The police chief said its because theyve been getting complaints about trash, used needles and other health risk items around the area. He said because the park is popular public health and safety is a top priority. Tiny homes may be coming to Danville to help the homeless Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donnell Huffman was among the homeless people who were upset on having to pack up all of their things and search for a new place to call home. Lost it all, so its been pretty rough, you know, since COVID and just kind of got to roll with it. Like I say, blow like the wind and flow like the water, Huffman said. And nothing becomes permanent anymore. Officials said on or around May 17, they got complaints about garbage, an odor from rubbish, materials that posed as health risks and more. But Huffman said theres not many places for them to go and get the help they need. Nobody looks out for the homeless community. Everybody has this preconceived notion of how, you know, were all just basically bums or, you know, felons or criminals or anything like that. But were not, I mean, were just like everybody else up there, Huffman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vermilion Co. officials speak on alarming population drop, how they plan to reverse it Chief Executive Officer of the Danville YMCA Laura Floyd said the number of homeless people is growing everywhere. She said at the YMCA, they do what they can to help the people in need during operation hours. We usually keep food here. And whether its just warming up some macaroni or something in our microwave or mashed potatoes or whatever, you know, just fill them up a little bit so that they can go back out and feel satisfied and feel full and maybe be more productive and get out in the community, Floyd said. She said they see about 10 homeless people a day and let them use the showers and give them socks shoes and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city said theyre helping with what they can but they have to respect others health, safety and rights. Huffman said he just hopes theyll be able to create the resources that are needed. Georgetown father mourns daughter, victim of apparent murder-suicide They need help, too. You know, everybody needs help. But I dont know, there is just no funds or what the deal is. And hopefully thatll change, though, Huffman said. City officials said once the area is clear theyll clean up the site and itll return for people to use as a hiking, wildlife and recreation park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) A new subdivision in Gray that will become Johnson Citys biggest single new home development in years has two streets in and several homes complete just as the City of Johnson City is engaged in a transportation study of the area. Keebler Meadows, located near Ridgeview Elementary School just off State Route 75 (Suncrest Drive), is expected to eventually include about 350 single-family homes and 120 townhomes on 133 acres. National builder D.R. Hortons website on the community shows four homes already under contract and another 11 available. The company has said it expects to start work on about 60 single-family houses this year and build about 100 a year until the development is built out. The townhomes are expected to start construction in late 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Neighbor, developer weigh in as Keebler subdivision decision nears The development is adjacent to a K-8 Washington County school, Ridgeview, but the property has been annexed into Johnson City, and children will be eligible to attend Lake Ridge Elementary and city middle and high schools. Nearby residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic and other impacts of increased population density. The Suncrest Drive corridor between Interstate 26 and Hugh Cox Road a distance of about 2.6 miles is the area being studied in Johnson Citys SR-75 Corridor Study. The website for that study shows that 125 people have contributed through a still-open public survey with three separate feedback opportunities. It includes a list of questions and an option for people to add markers to a map where they have concerns about everything from traffic congestion and speeding to bike/pedestrian issues and roadway visibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey also has a define vision option that allows people, in 140 characters or less, to describe what they would like the future Suncrest Drive to look like. Clicking on that segment shows nearly 60 short comments posted since May 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. ALDEN, N.Y. (WIVB) For the community of Alden, the term Hometown Heroes carries an even deeper meaning. Alden High School unveiled its Hometown Heroes memorial on Wednesday, honoring the 14 Alden graduates who have lost their lives in the line of duty dating back to World War II. Alden seniors and class officers, Sophia Mikulski and Sylvia Witmer, designed and manufactured this memorial, dedicating their time, talent, and hard work to honor these fallen veterans with the help of Alden faculty and staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of war is often measured in names or numbers, but it is important to remember that for many, the memory of such sacrifice is felt very personally. These heroes are classmates, neighbors, family members, and friends, and their lasting legacy will forever have an impact on those whose lives they touched and beyond. For one family, the loss of their loved one has left heartache that time simply cannot erase. Carole McCarthy and Chuck Kocher, former Alden residents, spoke on the memory of their late nephew and cousin, Robert A. McCarthy, who was killed at the age of 19 in Da Nang, Vietnam, while serving as a U.S. Marine in 1969. We will never forget him, Carole McCarthy said. Roberts name is displayed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Bennett, president of the Alden Central School District Board of Education, is a war veteran who knows the importance of remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I just think its important that these service members are never forgotten by their school and community, Bennett said. This memorial was two years in the making, and it is now a permanent addition to Alden High School, reminding those who pass by of the ones who gave up their lives for us. Latest Local 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 News 4 Buffalo. May 23BEMIDJI An alliterative facility sits on the edge of Bemidji's city limits. Sitting on two-and-a-half acres, Hope House has operated since 1980 as a means to assist those dealing with mental illness. "We have assisted many, many people to get their lives back from mental illness," Hope House Director Robin Wold said. "People with schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder are able to live their lives and meet their goals without having mental illness get in the way." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Housing two facilities an office space and a drop-in center the latter served as a site of celebration for Hope House's 45th anniversary, as an open house brought in community members on Wednesday. Reflecting on its longevity, Hope House board chair Jim Aakhus emphasized the role that the organization plays within the Bemidji area. "If this program wasn't here, and others like it, the folks that we serve would not have the quality of life that they have now," Aakhus said. "The programming that we have here and the services we offer help them maintain their life stability." According to its website, the program started as a pilot project Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement to help state hospital patients remain stable in the community. Staff formed Community Support Systems, Inc. in 1989 to provide consistent administration of services, and would operate Hope House starting in 1990. Hope House has served over 1,000 individuals and families since its inception, with a core focus on removing stigma surrounding mental health. "Half the people in America who have a mental illness don't go for treatment because of stigma," Aakhus added, "so they suffer needlessly because of what other people think and how they're portrayed in the media." Among a myriad of comprehensive services, Hope House employs a community support program, training for adult rehabilitative mental health services and intervention, medication education, diagnostic assessments and individual counseling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To qualify for Hope House services, a referral must be or have: * 18 years or older * A resident of Beltrami County * A resident of a county that will contract for services * A diagnosis of schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder or related symptoms * Severe and persistent symptoms (mental illness since childhood, living in supervised housing, previously hospitalized, emergency room or mobile crisis several times, or at risk of decompensation and hospitalization in the future) While its mission has remained consistent, the site has seen slight changes throughout its 45-year history. The office building used to be a family home, while the drop-in center still boasting a garage door originally served as a mechanics' shed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We used to park our vehicles (in the drop-in center)," Wold recalled. "Then, during the pandemic, we needed more space. We got a grant and we were allowed to renovate (the then-mechanics shed) into the drop-in center." Due to a grant from the Region 2 Adult Mental Health Initiative, an upcoming development includes the employment of a social robot named "Pepper" the result of a collaboration between Hope House and the University of Minnesota Duluth. With plans to make use of the robot from mid-June through early August, Wold noted that such technology has been employed in certain nursing homes throughout Minnesota. "During that time, we will test it out," Wold said. "It can demonstrate exercises, it can interact and talk with people, it can tell jokes and stories. It can provide that social support. We're still learning its capabilities and hopefully, we can expand what it can do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moving into the future, Aakhus hopes to secure additional funding given stagnant federal funding and increased costs. "That federal money has not increased in 10 years, yet our costs go up. Insurance, staff, electricity. It's a thin margin," Aakhus said. "I really hope to preserve and keep this going for another 45 years or more." Wold's aspiration for Hope House is that it will no longer be needed someday. "Our long-term goal is that we work ourselves out of our jobs because everybody is to the point where mental illness is no longer affecting them. At the same time, we know that life stresses out many people," Wold left off. "Beyond that, we're certainly celebrating the fact that this building is renovated. We have 45 years under our belts, so we're going to take a breather and then figure out our next steps." More information can be found at www.hopehousebemidji.org. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ On the night of May 23, Russians attacked Ukrainian territory with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 175 Shahed-type attack UAVs and various types of drone imitators, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported on its Telegram channel. "As of 13:00, the air defense neutralized 150 enemy Shahed-type UAVs (drones of other types) in the east, west, north, south and center of the country. Ninety-one were shot down by fire weapons, 59 were lost/suppressed by electronic warfare (without negative consequences)," the report says. As a result of the enemy attack, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions suffered. The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. UPDATE: According to the Hopkins County Sheriffs Office, Evelyn Vazquez and Angel Daniel Garduno have been found safely. SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas (KETK) The Hopkins County Sheriffs Office is searching for a 16-year-old girl who was last seen at work on Thursday in Sulphur Springs. Friends, family mourn loss of Karsen Stewart found stabbed in Tyler According to the sheriffs office, 16-year-old Evelyn Vazquez was last seen working at the McDonalds in Sulphur Springs. Photos courtesy of Hopkins County Sheriffs Office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Vazquez could be with 25-year-old Angel Daniel Garduno who has a 2010 tan Chevy Malibu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Thousands of international students at Harvard University are now in limbo after an unprecedented action from the Trump administration. The administration on Thursday halted Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students. The Department of Homeland Security is now telling Harvards existing international students that they must transfer to other schools or potentially lose their legal status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 6,800 international students attended Harvard this year, which breaks down to approximately 27 percent of the student body. Its a horrible feeling, said Ivan Toth-Rohonyi, an international student on a visa from Hungary. Its unpredictable. We dont know whats going to happen next. We might be required to leave the country very soon. Toth-Rohonyi, a computer science and sociology major, told Boston 25 News he is preparing for the possibility that he wont be able to finish his final semester at Harvard. I will have to transfer to another university if one will take me, or I will have to take as many gap years as they allow me to, hopefully graduate one day from here, he said. Overall, about my future as a student in the United States, Im not particularly hopeful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted the letter she sent to Harvard to her X account. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus, she said. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson sent the following statement to Boston 25 News: Harvard has turned their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators. They have repeatedly failed to take action to address the widespread problems negatively impacting American students, and now they must face the consequences of their actions. Enrolling foreign students is a privilege, not a right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard issued the following statement in response to the offensive from the federal government: The governments action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably. We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. To me, it looks like this isnt based on any violation of law or established policy, Immigration Attorney Nicole Micheroni told Boston 25 News. The letter terminating the status doesnt cite any violations whatsoever, so thats concerning. Harvard University sued the Trump administration last month over the governments attempt to impose changes to its curriculum, admissions policies, and hiring practices., Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A flight carrying 227 passengers from New Delhi flew through hail and a lightning storm Passengers, including children, can be heard screaming as the cabin violently shakes in a video of the incident Though the flight was declared an emergency, they were able to land safely Passengers of IndiGo Flight 6E-2142 experienced a terrifying mid-flight weather attack that was caught on camera by a fellow traveler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, May 21, Airbus A321, carrying 227 passengers, from New Delhi en route Srinagar, India, flew through hail and a lightning storm, suffering strong turbulence that violently shook the cabin. In the video of the incident, passengers, including children, can be heard screaming in fear as the cabin violently shakes around them and flashes of the lightning shown through the windows. Some of the passengers can be seen grabbing on to the back of the chairs in front of them, bracing for any sort of impact. According to South West News Service, about 90 minutes after departing, the pilot informed Srinagars Air Traffic Control of the extreme weather conditions in anticipation of the flights arrival. Though the flight was declared an emergency by the pilot, they were able to land safely close to its expected arrival time around 6:30 p.m. local time. No injuries were reported. However, the aircraft itself did suffer a lot of damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline hasnt confirmed the extent of the overall damage. However, a now-viral image on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows a hollowed-out hole in the nose of the plane. According to a local news outlet, the flight crew followed all of the accurate procedures and protocol to keep the passengers safe. The aircraft has since been grounded at Srinagar Airport for repair and thorough inspection. For these passengers, the disruption happened on the outside, however, for a few equally terrified and confused Delta passengers last month, the destruction was on the inside. During Delta Flight 2417, from Atlanta to Chicago, three passengers held up a falling ceiling panel above their heads for around 10 to 15 minutes. When the flight attendants and a traveling engineer investigated the situation, the engineer determined that a screw or bolt was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In attempts of a temporary fix, another passenger offered a roll of bright yellow scotch tape from their carry-on. According to PEOPLE, one of the passengers who assisted in holding up the panel was doing so for at least 30 to 45 minutes. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a Delta spokesperson says, Delta thanks our customers for their patience and cooperation. We apologize for the delay in their travels. They also mentioned that the Boeing 717 plane returned to were back to to: due to cabin maintenance, adding that the flight continued with bout a two-hour delay on another aircraft. Read the original article on People House Democrats campaign arm argued that President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed through the House of Representatives on Thursday, will cost House Republicans the majority in 2026, raising costs for working families and benefiting only the wealthiest earners. In poll after poll, public support for Trump and the Republican agenda is cratering. The GOP Tax Scam doubles down on all the anxieties the public has about D.C. politicians prioritizing their wealthy friends over everyday people and takes a chainsaw to programs that are popular among a broad swath of Americans, from Trump voters to independents to progressives, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) said in a new memo on Thursday. The DCCC wrote that Trumps big, beautiful bill, which Republicans passed through the lower chamber Thursday morning in a 215-214 vote, would enact the largest cut to Medicaid and food assistance in American history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a desperate, hypocritical attempt to inoculate themselves from their eventual vote in favor of this terrible bill, vulnerable Republicans whined, wrote letters, and filed meaningless resolutions to try and convince their voters they would not cut Medicaid and other vital programs. It was all a lie, the DCCC said in the 2-page memo. In response, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the House Republicans campaign arm, said that House Democrats just gave us the clearest contrast in years by voting for tax hikes, handouts to illegal immigrants, and open border chaos. House Republicans are going on offense, fighting for working families, stronger borders, and more money in your pocket, NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella told The Hill in an emailed statement. The sweeping legislation, which will now be taken up by the Senate, includes measures extending Trumps 2017 tax cuts and cutting taxes on overtime and tips, along with other measures bolstering funds for border security, national defense efforts and deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would institute Medicaid reforms that could lead to millions of low-income people losing health insurance, according to recent projections, due in large part to amped-up work requirements for able-bodied adults who do not have dependents. The legislation would also impose penalties on states that cover migrants who do not have permanent legal status. States would also share the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The NRCC is encouraging House Republicans to go on offense when messaging about the new legislation, telling members that they have a chance to draw a sharp contrast with House Democrats. This bill prevents tax increases to put more money in every Americans pocket, the NRCC said Thursday in a memo, which was first obtained by The Hill. The legislation is protecting Medicaid by removing illegal immigrants and eliminating fraud and investing billions of dollars to build the wall and secure the border. The NRCC wrote that House Democrats have given GOP lawmakers a generational opportunity to go on offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their unanimous vote against the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark package delivering tax relief, government efficiency, and border enforcement, handed us the clearest contrast in years. This legislation must be a key piece of Republicans 2026 strategy, the NRCC said in the 6-page memo. When it comes to messaging regarding Medicaid, the NRCC suggested to House Republicans to emphasize the GOP defending Medicaid for EVERY American who NEEDS and DESERVES it the most. That means seniors, low-income families, pregnant women, and disabled Americans, not fraudsters, able-bodied adults who refuse to work, or illegal immigrants, the NRCC 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 The Hill. Republicans are leaning on immigrants, undocumented or not, to help make the math work for their sprawling tax package. Even as they push to cut taxes on millions of Americans, lawmakers want to simultaneously bar immigrants from claiming a panoply of tax benefits, from the popular Child Tax Credit to Obamacare health-insurance subsidies to an obscure break on student-loan debt thats forgiven when someone becomes disabled. Republicans are zeroing in on so-called refundable credits, where people can get a check from the government when the benefit exceeds their tax bills. They say those payments should not be going to people who are not citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The little-noticed provisions are likely to generate more than $80 billion for the Republicans' $4 trillion tax-cut plan while dovetailing with the presidents hardline approach to immigration. Why dont we just find people in Ethiopia and Iran and pay them benefits too? said Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), a tax writer. Theyre not citizens of the United States and were going to make sure taxpayer dollars are protected." Its a move that has outraged Democrats and immigration groups, who say it would hurt vulnerable populations. They also note it would hit some people who are here legally, including some children who are U.S. citizens. Two million of them would lose access to the Child Tax Credit through provisions in the bill requiring their parents to have Social Security numbers, forecasters say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they warn it could actually depress tax collections. Undocumented immigrants are required to pay income taxes like everyone else, and taking away benefits could dissuade some from filing altogether especially in the wake of a controversial agreement by the IRS to help the Department of Homeland Security identify people in the U.S. illegally. Its disgusting, said Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), another tax writer. Its a malicious thing that hurts not just individuals, but communities at large. "They're just trying to throw red meat to the MAGA base." The provisions havent gotten much attention, overshadowed by higher-profile fights over state and local tax deductions and other flashpoints in Republicans megabill, approved Thursday by the House. But it amounts to another front in Republicans fight against illegal immigration, and the most comprehensive effort in years by lawmakers to cut off immigrants from tax benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigrants are ineligible for Social Security numbers, so the IRS gives them so-called Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers allowing them to file. In 2023, the agency issued almost 900,000 ITINs. Not all went to undocumented immigrants, and the IRS doesnt track how much they pay in tax, but budget experts generally agree they contribute more in taxes than they receive in benefits, though estimates vary. The bill aims to deny undocumented immigrants various tax benefits by barring claims using ITINs. Currently, a child is required to have a Social Security number to qualify for the $2,000 Child Tax Credit, which means kids who are citizens can benefit even if their parents are not here legally. The legislation would require the person filing the return to have a Social Security number too. If married, both parents would have to have them, and the couple would be required to file their taxes jointly. Thats designed to prevent people from evading the rules by doing their taxes separately, but it could be awkward for some, like a couple getting a divorce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People would also be required to have Social Security numbers to receive two popular college education breaks: the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit and the $2,000 Lifetime Learning Credit. Immigrants would also lose access to a provision in the tax code that waives the tax bill that would otherwise be triggered if a person becomes disabled or dies and their outstanding student-loan debt is canceled. Normally, the IRS sees forgiven debt as equivalent to income and subjects it to tax. Undocumented immigrants would likewise be barred from provisions sought by President Donald Trump creating new breaks for tips and overtime pay. Republicans would also restrict Obamacare subsidies used to buy health insurance, though there, the effect would be felt by other categories of immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Undocumented immigrants have always been banned from taking that credit. The legislation would prevent claims by other immigrants who have been legally admitted to the U.S., including those granted asylum, temporary protected status and others. And Republicans would impose a new 3.5 percent tax on remittances to people abroad. U.S. citizens would get a special tax credit to compensate them for having to pay the levy. Many Republicans call the tax benefits wasteful and some say they create an incentive for people to illegally migrate to the U.S. We should be able to make it very clear that illegal immigrants are not going to be given certain benefits, said Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, he said hes concerned about hurting other immigrants here legally, such as refugees. Thats where I find there to be much more nuance and need for conversation, he said. The effort is drawing protests from Democrats, immigrant advocacy groups and the Mexican government. Sanchez is particularly incensed by the child credit restrictions. Youre punishing the U.S. citizens children for their parents immigration status, she said, adding that Hispanic children are more likely to live in poverty. Advocates also worry about an uptick in uninsured health care as people lose access to Affordable Care Act subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meantime, Mexicos ambassador to the U.S. fired off a letter to tax writers criticizing the remittance tax. It amounts to double taxation, since migrants already pay taxes in the country where they work, wrote Esteban Moctezuma Barragan. Applying this tax would disproportionately affect the most vulnerable workers, many of whom perform essential functions critical to the proper functioning of the U.S. economy. Im not sure if this is real justice for what the cats endured. At least three died that we know of (definitely couldve been more under the rubbish). They starved to death which is extremely painful. These cats were found with sores, abscesses, worms, fleas, found living in cabinets, behind a refrigerator, lamp shades, surrounded by pounds and pounds of urine & blood soaked floors, bedding, & feces. You couldnt take a step without getting waste on you. You couldnt breathe it was so strong with ammonia. Finding dead rotting cats & kittens, living tapeworms spilling out of their bottoms, this was an unbelievable heartbreaking experience. As a rescuer, Ive seen some horrible things. This is one case I will never forget. Its imprinted on my heart for a lifetime. Those cats were beyond pitiful. We cried as we dug holes in the ground hoping justice would be served. I will say that Im super happy that there was jail time. I feel like there shouldve been 19 charges, one for each life that suffered at the hands of the woman who claimed to love them and left then to the inevitable. I am happy something was done but this is an example of our relaxed laws in Alabama as it relates to protecting the innocent & voiceless. We need better animal laws not only for dogs but the all too often forgotten cats too. As far as punishment, it should be an automatic ban that anyone charged and convicted shall not ever own or have another pet for a lifetime. Most abusers dont stop. For the rare low percentage of people who do change, its not enough to give a blanket pass allowing animals in the hands of someone with a history of abuse & neglect. Our laws and punishments are far from where we need to be. There should be such a stiff punishment that people would actually have to stop and think oh gosh, is me doing this worth it bc xyz could happen these abusers know they get a slap on the wrist & go on. There isnt a second thought to dumping, abandoned, starving, forcing hazard living conditions, hitting, hurting, and doing terrible things to animals who can not defend themselves here in Alabama. We need federal laws, state laws, and local laws to step it up. On one hand Im happy but on the other, Im devastated. The conditions these poor cats were found in should have a stiffer punishment. I realize that the people passing the sentencing did not see in person what we did. They didnt smell it, they didnt run outside to gasp for fresh air, or gag from the sight & smell. Nor did they see the terror in these cats faces. They didnt see how they were so terrified and how we had to trap some in rooms just to wrangle them in carriers to get then out of there. What is it going to take to feel like we have dignity & compassion for all breathing creatures and their suffering mattered? Animal lovers everywhere need their voices heard. In the end our rescue physically got out all the cats who were alive upon entry. My volunteer & myself were out there every single day from the moment we found out. It took a few days bc we are such a small rescue, we had to plan and take out two at a time some days bc we were begging for space and new fosters hoping to find placement. Thankfully two great fellow Rescuers got some off our hands. They all got vet care, medicines, they were all fully vetted, spayed, neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, de flea, and the ones that needed more extensive care got it. Kitties In The City Rescue took 9, Cattyshack 2, and Friends of Rescue 4, Marshall County 4. Thank everyone, especially Tina with Cattyshack & Jennifer with FOR for partnering making saving them a success. Despite insisting for months they wanted green energy tax credits to be handled with a scalpel in their sweeping reconciliation measure, moderate Republicans ultimately accepted a sledgehammer against the subsidies. Most of the 13 members who warned the original text of President Trumps big, beautiful bill could provoke an energy crisis or cause higher energy bills for working families, ultimately voted to support it after it got even stricter as part of a deal to win over conservative hard-liners. The legislation cleared the House 215-214 early Friday morning and now heads to the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are pragmatic individuals that know that they have to get something done, said Andrew Mills, managing director at American Conservation Coalition Action, a right-of-center environmental group. Just given the political realities of this bill and the situation, I dont think its too surprising, Mills said. He added, however, that he expects to see changes on the Senate side, saying, Theres a group of senators that care about these tax credits. For months, the House has been in a tug-of-war as to whether to take a scalpel approach and make fine changes to energy tax credits passed in Democrats massive 2022 climate, tax and health care bill, or whether to use a sledgehammer and largely eliminate all the credits. Where they ultimately landed makes significant cuts: saying that tax credits for many low-carbon energy sources including wind and solar will only apply to projects that start construction within 60 days of the bills passage and only to those that begin producing electricity by 2029. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers, however, added a carve-out for nuclear energy, which will only need to begin construction rather than begin producing electricity by the end of 2028 to receive the tax credit. The bill also includes strict provisions excluding projects that use any Chinese components, minerals or subcomponents for projects that start construction after the end of this year. This is a massive obstacle, as China is a major minerals processing hub. Despite these provisions, which were largely a win for the partys right flank, their moderate counterparts still lined up to support the bill. Some GOP lawmakers said the hard-fought increase on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction was likely a higher priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who was also among the lawmakers who raised concerns on the tax credit provisions, posted on the social platform X that SALT was his number one focus in Washington. Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) similarly cited the SALT changes in a statement outlining her support for the legislation. Others simply expressed support for the bill overall, which extends tax cuts passed under Trumps first term in 2017 and increases funding for the border and deportations. Rep Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called the package not perfect but touted his support for other provisions such as the tax cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) whose district is home to a major wind project in progress, released a statement saying she supported the bill overall, though she had harsh words for its approach to the energy tax credits. This bill isnt perfect but its a serious, solutions-focused package that delivers for our health care system, our military, and the American taxpayer, Kiggans said. However, she added that rather than responsibly phasing out clean electricity incentives, the bill abruptly ends support after 2028 and eliminates tax credits for leased systems often used by schools, local governments, and homeowners. These changes jeopardize local jobs, limit community access to affordable energy, and undercut innovation especially in regions like ours, where energy resilience and national defense go hand in hand. Ultimately, Kiggans said she hoped changes would be made to the bill on the Senate side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four Republican senators enough to block the bill if theyre willing to go to the mat on the issue have called for a targeted, pragmatic approach on the credits. Its not entirely clear, however, what specific policies these lawmakers would like to see or how hard they or other like-minded senators would be willing to fight for the issue. Back on the House side, another leading voice pushing for a more lenient approach, Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) ultimately did not vote. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Garbarino fell asleep during the late-night session. Earlier Wednesday evening, Garbarino raised concerns about the energy provisions and the countrys ability to meet its growing energy demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant meet that demand if were pulling energy projects off the table here. And I think these, I think these things Im hearing could end up killing a lot of projects, he told reporters. Aris Folley contributed. Updated at 9:58 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The R.I. House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday allowing public school teachers and administrators to hold a voluntary moment of silence to recognize the anniversary of tragic 9/11 attacks. The legislation was introduced by state Rep. Earl Read, D-Coventry, and was approved in a unanimous vote. Read told 12 News there arent any laws on the books that prevent a moment of silence from happening, but he felt it necessary as the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Remembering 9/11 Reads bill mimics similar legislation that was previously passed in New York. The bill now heads to the state Senate, where companion legislation has been introduced by state Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, D-Coventry. Raptakis bill was held for further study in April after a hearing by the Senate Education Committee. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A relocation notice is posted in front of a makeshift shelter at the Earhart Boulevard homeless encampment Jan. 13, 2025. Those living near the corridor were take to a state-operated transitional center in Gentilly. (John Gray/Verite News) A bill requiring local governments to enforce a ban on sleeping on public property passed through a Louisiana legislative committee Wednesday within the hearings final minutes, though housing advocates and groups that serve the homeless say it remains problematic in its current form. The proposal, House Bill 619 by Rep. Alonzo Knox, D-New Orleans, would direct local governments to enforce a ban on public camping or face possible lawsuits. Local governments could instead designate government-sanctioned encampments much like the recent state-operated Transition Center in New Orleans in areas where they wouldnt materially affect the property value of homes or businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any resident or business within 1,000 feet of an illegal public camp, as well as a local district attorney, would be able to sue local governments if they failed to enforce the ban. Knoxs bill also requires homeless service providers who receive state funds to provide detailed documentation of their work to municipalities upon request or else lose their funding. Unity of Greater New Orleans, the leading nonprofit serving the citys homeless population, has drawn scrutiny from Knox and others for not providing more specific data on how it spends federal dollars. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Knox has repeatedly accused housing nonprofits of waste and decried the homeless industrial complex. He pushed for the legislative audit of New Orleans Continuum of Care providers earlier this year. It found that the city and Unity spent $216 million between 2019-24, with the majority of funds going toward permanent supportive housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audit also found that shelters need better oversight to ensure theyre meeting minimum health and safety standards. When Knoxs measure was brought up Wednesday in the House Committee on Health and Welfare, it was after hearings on two other bills spanned more than three hours. Chairman Rep. Dustin Miller, D-Opelousas, noted that 11 people wanted to speak against Knoxs bill but wouldnt have time because the House had already convened on the floor. Committee members were given the option to defer Knoxs bill until next week but chose instead to continue the meeting. With limited time, Miller limited the opposition to just three speakers. Two attendees whove experienced homelessness were among those who didnt have the chance to speak. Knox agreed to amendments suggested by Rep Chris Turner, R-Ruston, which included changes in how the bill defines dwelling structures and extended the timeline for encampment clearing notices. Committee members suggested that the amendments should remove opposition to the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But opponents said the amendments did not allay their concerns, and in some cases even increased the risk of harm. Serious legal and ethical conflicts The state-sanctioned encampments proposed in Knoxs bill parallel Gov. Jeff Landrys recent transition center in New Orleans, set up at a warehouse in a remote industrial section of the city. Unsheltered people were taken there from encampments downtown just before the Super Bowl. Knox toured and praised the site while it was open, but his bill has sparked questions about how money for housing can be spent most efficiently. Landrys transition center, which cost about $17 million, ultimately placed 108 people in permanent supportive housing. Since 2023, Unity of Greater New Orleans has spent $2.3 million to permanently house 275 people, according to the audit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state spent about $100,000 per person on the warehouse site over 10 weeks, compared to the $20,000 per year it costs to provide housing and support services per person, said Angela Owczarek with the Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, a housing rights advocacy group. A pandemic-era emergency rental assistance program, which ended last year, cost about $3,000 per New Orleans household to prevent homelessness for those facing eviction, Owczarek said. Elsa Dimitradis, executive director of Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing, testified that she had serious concerns about Knoxs bill, particularly the mandate about sharing client information with local governments. She warned the potential violations of privacy and disability laws could jeopardize $93 million in federal funding for housing nonprofits across the state. Unity of Greater New Orleans is already suing the state for trying to compel the organization to produce protected information about its clients, such as medical histories and Social Security numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dimitradis also testified that the bill as written appears to allow for open-ended demands at any time without clear standards or limitations, which is an operational threat. Hannah Adams of the National Housing Law Project argued the bill should provide exceptions to the ban if local governments are actively working to rehouse people. Clearing an encampment when social workers are actively working to rehouse individuals does interfere with their ability to maintain contact and secure long-term housing for their clients, Adams told the committee. The audit, likewise, noted that unexpected NOPD sweeps and state pressure to clear encampments contributed to delays in the citys rehousing efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monique Blossom, director of policy at Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, also warned that by directing state officials to inspect group homes, the bill risks violating the federal Fair Housing Act, opening the state to liability. The bill could lead to the shuttering of some group homes, including domestic violence shelters, sober living homes and even homes for seriously ill children who need to stay near hospitals, she said Donna Paramore, executive director of the Travelers Aid Society of Greater New Orleans, told Illuminator the group is in strong opposition to the bill despite the amendments. The framework it proposes still undermines essential safeguards for vulnerable populations, Paramore said. The issues outlined by Dimitradis could jeopardize federal funding and create serious legal and ethical conflicts, she added. Paramore also noted her nonprofit undergoes an independent financial audit each year and has never had an adverse finding. She said that instead of banning public encampments, the state should expand supportive housing, behavioral health services and trauma-informed care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knox dismissed objections at the close of the hearing, calling some technical and nitpicking. He rejected Adams request for leniency when social workers are actively working on rehousing someone. If that language were to be included, they will always be actively working, Knox said. The representatives office did not respond to a request for comment after hearing. Knoxs bill was advanced to the House floor without objection. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Heorhiy Tykhy commented on the words of Vladimir Putin's advisor Anton Kobyakov that the USSR supposedly still "legally exists." The collapse of the USSR in 1991 was one of the most hopeful moments at the end of the 20th century. The Soviet Union fellfor good and forever. Instead of proposing nonsensical legal fantasies, obsolete minds stuck in the Soviet past should be asked what type of toilet paper their family used during the USSR. They will not be able to respond because there was none. Enough of the Soviet-nostalgic bullshit, the spokesman wrote on the social network X. Earlier, Vladimir Putin's advisor Anton Kobyakov stated that during the collapse of the Soviet Union, the legal procedure was allegedly violated, which means that the USSR supposedly still exists. Kobyakov said that the USSR was created by the decision of the Congress of People's Deputies, so it should have been dissolved by the decision of the same body. In addition, he said that the Supreme Soviets of the union republics did not have the authority to ratify the Belovezha Accords. HOWELL COUNTY, Mo. A man from Willow Springs faces several felony charges following a sexual assault investigation from the Willow Springs Police Department (WSPD). According to online court dockets, Eric Howard Scott, born 1958, is charged with enticement or attempted enticement of a child, endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk, and sexual misconduct involving a child under 15. The probable cause statement says an alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl occurred at Scotts Willow Springs residence on April 9, 2025, after he gave her alcohol that she believed had been drugged. The girl was bleeding heavily, with the blood soaking her clothes. She was awakened by Scott, who had washed the clothes and returned them to her, according to the statement. One male juvenile was interviewed and ultimately charged for the sexual assault, the WSPD said in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say Scott had been pressuring the girl to lose her virginity. He provided her and the juvenile male with condoms. The statement says Scott was charged with sexual misconduct involving a child because he allegedly exposed his genitals to the juveniles. Scott was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child after providing condoms and alcohol to the juveniles, as well as facilitating an environment for them to have sex. Scotts $100,000 surety bond was posted yesterday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The City of Jackson sent an ultimatum to the owners of an apartment complex that was covered in mountains of trash just last week. City Attorney Drew Martin sent a letter to X-Caliber Funding, LLC, on May 23, saying if conditions at Chapel Ridge Apartments do not improve, the complex could be demolished. State Route 28 bridge expected to reopen Tuesday What I do know is that the residents are suffering in what could quickly become a humanitarian crisis, said Martin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement X-Caliber potentially owes millions in unpaid bills. According to Martin, the owners owe $700,000 to JXN Water alone. He said JXN Water has temporarily postponed terminating water service to the apartment complex. Due to unpaid bills, Chapel Ridges dumpsters were taken away, causing trash to pile up. The City of Jackson has since placed a dumpster at the location until further notice. If X-Caliber does not comply, Martin said the city would be forced to find a way to humanely evacuate the complex, board it up and likely demolish the structure. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Humans are not yet done cooking. We're continuing to evolve and adjust to the world around us, the records of our adaptations written in our bodies. We know that there are some environments that can make us unwell. Mountain climbers often succumb to altitude sickness the body's reaction to a significant drop in atmospheric pressure, which means less oxygen is taken in with each breath. And yet, in high altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau, where oxygen levels in the air people breathe are notably lower than lower altitudes, human communities thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the more than 10,000 years the region has been settled, the bodies of those living there have changed in ways that allow the inhabitants to make the most of an atmosphere that for most humans would result in not enough oxygen being delivered via blood cells to the body's tissues, a condition known as hypoxia. "Adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia is fascinating because the stress is severe, experienced equally by everyone at a given altitude, and quantifiable," anthropologist Cynthia Beall of Case Western Reserve University in the US told ScienceAlert. "It is a beautiful example of how and why our species has so much biological variation." Beall has been studying the human response to hypoxic living conditions for years. In research published in October 2024, she and her team unveiled some of the specific adaptations in Tibetan communities: traits that help the blood deliver oxygen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To unlock this discovery, the researchers delved into one of the markers of what we call evolutionary fitness: reproductive success. Women who deliver live babies are those who pass on their traits to the next generation. The traits that maximize an individual's success in a given environment are most likely to be found in women who are able to survive the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth. Lo Manthang in Nepal, where some of the data was collected. ( James J. Yu These women are more likely to give birth to more babies; and those babies, having inherited survivability traits from their mothers, are also more likely to survive to adulthood, and pass the traits on to the next generation. That's natural selection at work, and it can be a bit strange and counterintuitive; in places where malaria is common, for example, the incidence of sickle cell anemia is high, because it involves a gene that protects against malaria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beall and her team made a study of 417 women between the ages of 46 and 86 years who have lived all their lives in Nepal above altitudes of around 3,500 meters (11,480 feet). The researchers recorded the number of live births, ranging between 0 and 14 per woman for an average of 5.2, as well as health and physical information and measurements. Among the things they measured were levels of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for delivering oxygen to tissues. They also measured how much oxygen was being carried by the hemoglobin. Interestingly, the women who demonstrated the highest rate of live births had hemoglobin levels that were neither high nor low, but average for the testing group. But the oxygen saturation of the hemoglobin was high. Together, the results suggest that the adaptations are able to maximize oxygen delivery to cells and tissues without thickening the blood a result that would place more stress on the heart as it struggles to pump a higher viscosity fluid more resistant to flow. The noninvasive measurement of hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation. ( Sienna R. Craig "Previously we knew that lower hemoglobin was beneficial, now we understand that an intermediate value has the highest benefit. We knew that higher oxygen saturation of hemoglobin was beneficial, now we understand that the higher the saturation the more beneficial. The number of live births quantifies the benefits," Beall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was unexpected to find that women can have many live births with low values of some oxygen transport traits if they have favorable values of other oxygen transport traits." The women with the highest reproductive success rate also had a high rate of blood flow into the lungs, and their hearts had wider than average left ventricles, the chamber of the heart responsible for pumping oxygenated blood into the body. Taken all together, these traits increase the rate of oxygen transport and delivery, enabling the human body to make the most of the low oxygen in the air respired. It's important to note that cultural factors can play a role, too. Women who start reproducing young and have long marriages seem to have a longer exposure to the possibility of pregnancy, which also increases the number of live births, the researchers found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even taking that into account, however, the physical traits played a role. Nepalese women with physiologies most similar to women in unstressed, low altitude environments tended to have the highest rate of reproductive success. "This is a case of ongoing natural selection," Beall said. "Understanding how populations like these adapt gives us a better grasp of the processes of human evolution." The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. An earlier version of this article was published in October 2024. Related News (NewsNation) NASCAR star Chase Briscoe joined Morning in America to discuss his excitement for the upcoming Coca-Cola 600. This year, hell race in honor of fallen Staff Sergeant Alan W. Shaw, paying tribute during the iconic Memorial Day weekend event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) If youre looking for something to do this weekend, you may want to consider a trip to Roger Williams Park Zoo. A dozen Humboldt penguins have moved into a new exhibit called Penguin Point. The zoo is one of only 24 facilities in North America to care for this species. The quirky, sun-loving penguins were flown in from Peru. They favor rocky environments near nutrient-dense waters, according to the zoo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: 6 rehabilitated seals released back into ocean Since 1988, these penguins have been listed as vulnerable as their population continues to decline. With an estimated 12,000 breeding pairs left, the zoo is committed to the long-term viability of Humboldt penguins through its involvement in the Species Survival Plan. The zoo hasnt had penguins since 2013, but announced in 2022 that theyd be returning. The city gave the zoo $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds to renovate the old exhibit in hopes of attracting more visitors. Initially, the zoo had planned to bring the penguins back last summer, but the opening date was pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances with the habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT: RI beaches open for summer Memorial Day weekend Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. NEW YORK (PIX11) Are you passionate about the arts and looking for a job? The New York Foundation for the Arts bills itself as the go-to jobs board in the arts and culture industry. It lists hundreds of job opportunities for individuals living in the New York region. More Local News Established in 1971, the mission of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is to empower artists in all disciplines, as well as cultural workers, to achieve success on their own terms by providing critical support, resources, and opportunities, reads the website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This website currently lists multiple positions for all members of the art community in need of work, ranging from art handlers to publicists to gallery managers. Currently, the website lists jobs at famous New York City institutions like the Museum of Modern Art, which seeks a senior publicist with a salary of $85,917, according to the site. Another renowned institution, Lincoln Center Theatre, has an Associate Director of Marketing position available, with a starting salary of $90,000. The renowned art school, Juilliard, is in need of an Artistic Administrator, which lists the starting salary as $68,000, according to the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on the jobs listed above, or any of the hundreds of other jobs available on The New York Foundation for the Arts, click here. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of somber faces lined a room of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City Thursday evening to mourn a 26-year-old Johnson County woman and her boyfriend who were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Its one thing to see the images on the news, or hear stories from across the globe. This was personal. Sarah was ours, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City Jay Lewis said. Sarah Lynn Milgrim and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky, were staff members at the Israeli Embassy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple, who planned on getting engaged soon, Milgrims father, Robert Milgrim, told the Star, were leaving an event Wednesday evening when 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, of Chicago, allegedly opened fire. After being taken into custody by a security guard, Rodriguez allegedly chanted, Free Palestine, free Palestine, Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters. Its difficult to just even know where to put it Milgrim was from Johnson County and graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 2017. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2021 with a degree in environmental science. She met Rabbi Neil Schuster while at college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going to sleep to the news was bad enough, but waking up to the particulars of it, its difficult to just even know where to put it, what to do with it, Schuster said. Milgrim was part of KU Hillel, a Jewish organization at the university. Schuster was the senior Jewish educator of the group, while Milgrim served on the board of directors. The pair took two trips to Israel together and participated in campus Judaism events, Schuster said. Because she was just a beautiful soul, and there was so much there inside of her with a light, that when you figured out where the switch was, it just glowed, Schuster said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schuster left the crowd with the message that love is a powerful thing. But we need more than just being together. We need to give ourselves permission to feel the love thats there, to feel the love that we feel toward each other, toward the people in this room, Schuster said. He said those in the room should lean on one another. The love of friendship is one of the most powerful kinds of love, Schuster said. She was the ultimate peacemaker Amanda Birger met Milgrim when the pair attended the University of Kansas together. She had a lot of passions, and she was involved in so many activities, in addition to her always completely full course load. But she never would call herself spread too thin, she always seemed to have the capacity to take on everything that life threw at her, and she still sought out more, Birger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birger described Milgrim as a fiercely loyal friend with strong Jewish values and a love for the environment and animals. Milgrim was the ultimate peacemaker, Birger said. She was very tactful about how she used her voice, which sometimes came off as cautious, but when it looked like she wasnt speaking up, its because she was trying to keep the peace, Birger said. Milgrims job at the Israeli Embassy was hard, Birger said, but was made easier by her boyfriends presence and a sense that she was making a difference. Even though she was faced with ignorant people and awful images and really difficult work, she stayed to help innocent people and to help our community, Birger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birger remembers Milgrim as a woman who stood proudly in her faith. She made me want to be more Jewish, Birger said. I came to Hillel looking for friends, but meeting Sarah showed me how someone my age, who was smart and funny and kind, could live a joyful Jewish life while also doing everything else she wanted. Birger encouraged those in the room to stand proudly in their faith, and dont let hateful ignorance reduce your Jewish life. The Stars Eric Adler and Nathan Pilling contributed reporting to this story. GREER, S.C. (WSPA) People walked across the country to pay tribute to fallen military members, first responders and their families on Thursday. People of all ages met at the North American Rescue (NAR) in Greer to walk a mile in honor of service members and the sacrifice their loved ones made. Its part of the fourth annual Carry The Load Memorial May rally in the Upstate. We want to make sure that no veteran ever dies a second death. The first one being when the last breath leaves their body, but we want to make sure that second death, when their name spoken for the last time, never happens and that their legacy lives on generations to come, said Matt Fryman with Carry The Load. We remember that they died for us as strangers because they thought that we were worth it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event brings the community closer together year after year. We spend a lot of time on the mission of saving lives on the front end, but there are some that dont make it home, explained Andy Goldy, the CEO of NAR. We can walk with solidarity with folks that have paid that ultimate sacrifice and spend time with our loved ones to make sure theyre supported. Theyre carrying the most burden with us, so we want to be there to support that community. As each speaker took the podium, attendees were reminded that Memorial Day is not just a day off of work or a fun time with family, its a day of remembrance. Memorial Day for me as I know it is for all of you is no longer just a day of parades, picnics and fun. It will always have deeper meaning, said Todd B. McCaffrey, the Secretary for the SC Department of Veterans Affairs. Those men and women literally carried the load for all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Money raised throughout Memorial May supports military veterans, first responders and families to provide services like counseling, service dogs and 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has linked the adoption of a bill restricting the activities of non-governmental organisations in Hungary to "active espionage activities by Ukraine". Source: Hungarian news website Index, as reported by European Pravda Details: Orban complained about "intense espionage activities by Ukraine" and added that the government is prepared to counteract this. In his view, the controversial bill also serves this purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the bill itself, Orban said that he considers the wording to be "mild." He also believes that even opposition parties agree that anyone involved in socio-political issues and affairs in Hungary should not accept foreign funding. Orban stated that this was an obvious national interest, and everyone should be united in this goal. Commenting on the espionage scandal between Ukraine and Hungary, Orban said that Hungary had nothing to do with the Hungarian spies arrested in Ukraine, calling it a disinformation campaign. He also noted that there was a pro-war and pro-Ukrainian propaganda network operating in Hungary, but they had taken the necessary measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: The bill entitled On the Transparency of Public Life will allow the Office for the Protection of Sovereignty to blacklist organisations receiving foreign funding, including EU grants. The bill defines threats to national sovereignty as including influencing public opinion, promoting democratic debates, or denying state-defined values such as Christian culture and traditional family role models. The initiative resembles the Russian "foreign agents" law, which the Kremlin uses to suppress non-governmental organisations and independent voices. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) WFXR News is partnering with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and Feeding Southwest Virginia to host the Hunger to Hope: Summer Food Drive, a one-day food and donation event supporting families facing food insecurity across the region. The live food drive will take place on Friday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Market on Melrose in Roanoke. WFXR will broadcast live throughout the day, sharing stories of impact and encouraging viewers to give what they can, whether its a bag of groceries, a monetary donation, or a moment of their time. Feeding Southwest Virginia partners with USPS for Stamp Out Hunger Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It takes a community to feed a community. Unfortunately, hunger is here, right where we live, said Pamela Irvine, President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia. Partnerships are so very important to the Food Bank, and we are so grateful for our successful partnership with Goodwill and WFXR and for their commitment to address the problem of hunger in our community. Only together will we have an impact in reducing hunger. At Goodwill and the Market on Melrose, we believe that real change happens when we come together to meet the needs of our neighbors, said Angela Stanfill, Senior Vice President of Operations at Goodwill. Hunger, hardship, and inequity exist right here at home, and thats why strong partnerships are essential. We are proud to stand alongside Feeding Southwest Virginia and WFXR in the shared mission to nourish, support, and empower our community. Together, we are building a stronger, more hopeful future. Donations collected at the Market on Melrose and at participating Goodwill donation centers (June 713) will be distributed directly to local pantries and partner organizations. More Hunger to Hope stories on WFXRtv.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years event comes amid new data from Feeding Americas Map the Meal Gap report, revealing that nearly 20% of children nationwide are experiencing food insecurity, with rates reaching up to 50% in some rural counties. Monetary donations can also be made on-site or online. All proceeds go directly to Feeding Southwest Virginias food distribution programs. List of drop-off locations: Market on Melrose- 2502 Melrose Ave NW A, Roanoke, VA 24017 Vinton Store 907 Hardy Road, Vinton, VA Hunting Hills Store 4335 Pheasant Ridge Road, Roanoke, VA Hollins Store 6315 Archcrest Drive, Roanoke, VA Cave Spring Store 3206 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA Salem Store 1493 E. Main Street, Salem, VA West Salem Store 1830 West Main Street, Salem, VA Daleville Store 125 Commons Parkway, Daleville, VA Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Main areas of interest of Romanian companies in Ukraine are construction, IT and architecture - CCBRU Photo: https://www.facebook.com/CameradeComertBilateralaRomaniaUcraina The main areas of interest of Romanian companies that are focused on the Ukrainian market are the construction industry, IT sector, architecture and related services, the president of the Bilateral Chamber of Commerce Romania-Ukraine (CCBRU), Nasty Vladoiu, told the Interfax-Ukraine agency. "The construction industry, IT sector, architecture and related services are currently the main areas of interest of Romanian companies targeting the Ukrainian market. In addition, the development of the defense industry and Ukrainian technological know-how have aroused real interest from Romanian firms interested in creating joint ventures with Ukrainian companies," he said. According to Vladoiu, Ukrainian companies from the affected areas are also being offered to move to Romania, NATO and EU member states. According to the National Trade Register of Romania, at the beginning of 2024, more than 700 Ukrainian companies were already registered in this country. The most common areas of their activity are the IT sector, construction work for residential and non-residential buildings, hairdressing services and other beauty services. In addition, Ukrainian companies represent trade, freight transportation, business and management consulting. "This (mutual) interest materialized thanks to direct initiatives of the Romanian business environment, especially in the context of the reconstruction process of Ukraine. A relevant example is our platform www.rebuildingukraine.ro, developed by CCBRU. Launched in 2023, this platform has become a concrete tool for uniting Romanian companies interested in contributing to the reconstruction of Ukraine, already uniting over 200 active companies in key sectors such as construction, IT, energy, architecture, etc.," Vladoiu noted. As for Romanian companies, according to him, their presence in Ukraine remains limited mainly due to security concerns and legislative uncertainty. "However, several transport, construction and equipment companies have subsidiaries or commercial representative offices in the border regions (Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia), for example, the Romanian company, a member of the www.rebuildingukraine.ro platform, PROSPECTIUNI SA, which specializes in providing geological and geophysical services. With over 70 years of experience in Romania and more than 18 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, the company opened a representative office in Poltava region, where it has already won significant tenders," the president of CCBRU said. With the participation of CFI, Agence francaise de developpement medias, as part of the Hub Bucharest Project with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs A group of Hyde Park residents says it collected more than 18,300 signatures on a citywide petition to secure a November ballot measure double the number needed. The measure would ask Cincinnati voters to overturn a recent City Council vote to approve new zoning for a controversial $150 million development in Hyde Park Square. The project would add a hotel and apartment complex to the quaint 133-year-old business district, but many residents think it's too big. In a statement, advocacy group Save Hyde Park Square said, "This sends a clear message to City Hall: The people of Cincinnati want a say in how their neighborhoods grow and evolve." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City Councils April 23 zone change greenlighted an oversized development that doesnt fit the scale or character of Hyde Park Square, said Molly Henning, former city planner and founding member of Save Hyde Park Square. Its another example of City Council approving projects with little consideration for long-term impact from luxury hotels to car condos and fast-food drive-thrus in walkable, historic neighborhoods. The group planned to turn in the petition to the city's clerk of council Friday afternoon, and the Hamilton County Board of Elections will then verify signatures. The group needs at least 9,146 valid signatures to get the issue on the November ballot. Cincinnati neighborhoods on Hyde Park: In Hyde Park Square vote, neighborhoods and developers face their fears Supporters say Hyde Park decision highlights larger issue Save Hyde Park Square and the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council were behind the effort to ignite this voter referendum. Representatives from both groups and other community councils told The Enquirer that City Council's zoning decision highlights a bigger problem of neighborhoods feeling ignored throughout the development process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The preservation of Hyde Park Square is the captivating issue at hand, but the broader theme is whether deep-pocketed developers can snub community collaboration and impose their will against the wishes of communities throughout the city," said Jeff Levine, a partner at Strauss Troy and the attorney for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council. Save Hyde Park Square's Henning echoed the sentiment in a statement: "If voters approve this referendum in November, it will be a mandate for smart, sustainable development that respects our neighborhoods and zoning laws. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hyde Park secures 18,300 signatures for zoning-related ballot push SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted operations this week inside federal immigration courts in Concord and San Francisco, according to attorneys with California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. ICE officers questioned several people and arrested one man on May 21 at Concord Immigration Court, according to witness Cynthia Ashley. Ashley, who volunteers with Concord Court Accompaniment Program, said, The incident shook me to the core. The ICE agents display of force and power, and their disdain for the right this man had been given to plead his case, are beyond comprehension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley said she was escorted out of the building by security after she and other volunteers reminded immigrants of their right to remain silent. This is the first time Ive seen something like this happen in court, said Sergio Jaime Lopez with Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance. Its deeply concerning to witness the government use scare tactics in a space where people are supposed to seek protection. At the end of the day, one person didnt make it back home to his family. This country was built on the foundation of rights and due process. On days like this, it feels like those rights dont exist for everyone. Homeland Security officials are ramping up enforcement actions in what appears to be a coordinated dragnet testing out new legal levers deployed by President Donald Trumps administration to carry out mass arrests. Trump campaigned on a pledge of mass removals of what he calls illegals. A senior spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told KRON4 on Friday, Secretary (Kristi) Noem is reversing Bidens catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. This Administration is once again implementing the rule of law. Most aliens who illegally entered the United States within the past two years are subject to expedited removals. Biden ignored this legal fact and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to KRON4s questions about ICE operations in the Bay Area this week, the DHS spokesperson said, ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been. If they have a valid credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation. (Photo by Christopher Dilts/ Bloomberg via Getty Images) Immigration courts are run by the U.S. Justice Department. During this weeks operations in San Francisco and Concord, ICE officers asked people for their names and identification, advocates said. Immigration court hearings usually last less than five minutes and end with a judge ordering those who appeared to return in two years to plead their case against deportation. Rather than set a future court date, government attorneys can ask judges to drop the case. If an immigration judge dismisses a migrants case, that can expose them to an ICE arrest just moments later as they step out of the courtroom, attorneys explained. Milli Atkinson, director of the Immigrant Legal Defense Program of the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco, said immigrants have a right to due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE San Francisco involved in Tahoe operation targeting alleged gang members Atkinson said, In just a few days, we have seen a chilling effect in court, where those who are complying with very complicated legal requirements could be denied their opportunity to present their case and are being threatened with prolonged detention. Bay Area immigration rights groups are encouraging power, not panic. Organizations recommend that migrants seek legal advice prior to attending their court hearings, and they should be aware that missing a court hearing could result in a deportation order. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. I wish to comment on the Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan column written by Rick Esenberg and Dan Lennington, (Judge Dugan neglected duty, interfered with ICE and undermined rule of law, May 11). The authors imply that it is common for arrests to be made in the county courts. Based on my experience that is not true. I spent 20 years of my legal career as an attorney for the Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Services. My office was located in the Milwaukee County Courthouse, and I spent parts of virtually every work day in court. During this period I failed to witness one arrest being made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county courthouse has been a place where all persons can expect to be treated with respect in a safe environment. Sheriff deputies and other court personnel work hard to maintain this tranquil environment, which is essential to the smooth running of a court. The fact that ICE is setting up shop in the courthouse has to be an impairment to the smooth administration of justice. Imagine if you will a group of armed ICE agents roaming the courthouse to make an arrest. The authors make no mention of the method used to arrest Dugan. She was not allowed the courtesy of voluntarily submitting to an arrest as are others in her position. No, ICE decided to handcuff her and haul her through the courthouse. Letters: Former Gov. Tommy Thompson omits real reason for rough Supreme Court race Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So much for the serenity of our courthouse. The authors do mention that the rule of law and politics should be separate, yet they fail to condemn ICE for making a pure political statement with their arrest tactics. My conclusion is that either ICE changes their tactics or they be excluded from our courthouse. Richard E. Repnik, New Berlin How would Trump react if he had been handcuffed, shackled? As another former federal prosecutor, I too decry the manner in which Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested recently. Parenthetically, I wonder how President Donald Trump would have reacted had he been humiliated by handcuffing and shackling during one or more of the times he has been criminally charged in recent years (Ex-prosecutor says Dugan perp walk was political act, May 6)? Fortunately for him, our Justice Department had more humane policies then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Staudenmaier, Wauwatosa Dugan's arrest was disrespectful, stigmatizing and vindictive Well, there they go again. The Trump administration has arrested a Milwaukee County judge for not being compliant with its efforts to deport immigrants. The administration says it is pursuing this prosecution or perhaps, persecution is a better word as a warning that no one is above the law. This would be laughable if it werent so disgustingly hypocritical. The case can be decided on its merits in a court of law. Thats the way things work in the United States. Taking a judge away in handcuffs, however, is disrespectful to the institution of the judiciary, stigmatizing and vindictive. Letters: I've seen firsthand how wake-enhanced boating makes small Wisconsin lakes unsafe Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current president was not handcuffed during any of his court appearances. He was granted special treatment. He now has been given presumptive immunity from prosecution by an accommodating Supreme Court for any acts his lawyers can convince a judge that he took in the course of his official duties. Now he's having a judge led away in handcuffs to show that no one is above the law. Does the president know the meaning of the word, hypocrite? Perhaps he need only look in the mirror. Richard Leman, Honokaa, Hawaii Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Taking a judge away in handcuffs disrespectful to judiciary | Letters May 23Immigration officials have held a Maine man in jail for more than eight months, offering no indication when he'll go to court or get out, according to a petition filed on his behalf in court. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine is asking a federal judge to release Eyidi Ambila. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has held Ambila, 44, at the Cumberland County Jail since Sept. 23, following a short criminal sentence Ambila served there for two misdemeanor convictions. Ambila has no idea how long he'll be held, the ACLU said. He has received no updates on the status of a 90-day custody review by ICE or what they want from him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The government cannot lock you up without any sort of explanation or expectation," said ACLU staff attorney Anahita Sotoohi. "Yet that's what they've done." Ambila was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to the United States when he was 7 years old, according to the petition. His family was granted asylum because they were at risk of political persecution. The ACLU said Ambila received a green card and a Social Security number. Today, Ambila says his entire family is in the U.S., including his father, stepmother, siblings and his own three children, whom he provides for and who are worried by his indefinite detention. "I have a strong family unit," Ambila said in a statement provided by the ACLU. "Being removed from them has been traumatizing for us all, especially my children." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU also argued Ambila is stateless. The Democratic Republic of Congo has no records of Ambila, the ACLU said, and the Department of Homeland Security was unable to get travel papers for Ambila when it tried removing him in 2007, following a felony conviction in 2005 (Ambila's petition doesn't elaborate on the nature of the felony). Ambila was released from incarceration and subjected to an order of supervision until 2024, during which time he reported regularly to ICE and complied with all of the government's efforts to obtain travel papers from the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Petitioner has cooperated fully with all of ICE's efforts to remove him," the petition states. "Specifically, petitioner has made repeated, failed attempts to obtain a Congolese passport and travel documents necessary for his removal." Sotoohi said the number of ICE detainees at the Cumberland County Jail has increased dramatically this year. The ACLU said there were 70 people being held in Portland by ICE, as of Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU is challenging Ambila's petition using a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, invoking a legal principle that broadly protects people from unlawful imprisonment. Petitions are filed for habeas corpus in all kinds of situations, not exclusively those involving immigration. When a judge shared plans earlier this year to release criminal defendants who have been denied a lawyer, she was ruling on a class-action habeas corpus petition. Sotoohi said this process is "an incredibly valuable tool." "It's going to the absolute heart of due process," she said. "The government cannot detain you based on speculation. ... (That's) something for all of us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet this principle has come under fire recently by the Trump administration. The president's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters earlier this month that "the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion" and that they were "actively looking at it" depending on how immigration-related habeas cases are ruled on in court. On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrongly told members of Congress that she believed the habeas process was used to "remove people from this country." Ambila's case is one of at least two petitions filed on behalf of someone in ICE custody in Maine. On May 14, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project filed a habeas corpus petition for Gedeon Mboko. A copy of his petition was not publicly available through online federal court records. ILAP Director Susan Roche said in a statement Friday that her organization filed a petition for Mboko to prevent ICE from transferring him outside Maine and away from his lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roche said the cases were timely, given a bill lawmakers will consider next week to prohibit Maine jails from voluntarily holding people for ICE. "ILAP urges the Maine Legislature to pass it," Roche said. "In this current environment with the federal government disregarding due process, LD 1971 is even more critical to protecting the rights, safety and lives of Maine residents." The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine said in an email Friday that it is reviewing the ACLU petition and it was too early to comment further. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Noem and ICE Field Director Patricia Boyd are named as respondents. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce, who is named as a respondent in Ambila's petition, said his lawyers were reviewing the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Thursday condemned the fatal shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum in a statement on the social platform X after Fox & Friends played a clip of her earlier in the day declining to offer a response to the violent event. I am appalled by the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last night. Holding the victims, their families, and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers, Omar wrote in a post on X. Violence should have no place in our country, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of the Capitol on Thursday morning, an interviewer asked Omar if she would provide her reaction to the D.C. shooting. She responded, Im going to go for now. Fox Newss Ainsley Earhardt shook her head while watching the video, in awe that she didnt even say condolences for the family. Right-wing commentators slammed Omar for the recorded response. Ilhan Omar REFUSES to condemn the assassination of Israeli diplomats in DC last night Omar is an ISLAMIC TERRORlST who needs to be deported back to Somalia. NOT IN CONGRESS, Nick Sortor wrote in a post on X. Republican lawmakers have criticized Omar, a Muslim and naturalized U.S. citizen, for supporting Palestine amid the war in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First-term Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) also circulated a petition to deport Omar for aiding fellow immigrants. Omar has openly denounced President Trumps deportation policies and signed on to a letter with fellow members of Congress to support the release of green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian advocate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A meeting of the Utah legislatures Rules Review and General Oversight Committee that mulled changes to Utahs signature verification process also rehashed multiple unfounded allegations related to the 2024 Primary Election on Thursday. Supporters of Phil Lyman, who lost to Governor Spencer Cox both in the Primary and a general election write-in campaign, repeated claims that Cox did not gather enough signatures, that the Cox campaign enticed candidates to run against Lyman, there was election interference by the media, and malfeasance by the Davis County Clerk and the Lt. Governors office in verifying the signatures for Cox to qualify for the primary ballot. The conversation was largely dominated by the committees chair, Sen. Dan McCay (R-Riverton), Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie, and the Lt. Governors Director of Elections, Ryan Cowley, with McCay pushing the pair to consider several changes to signature verifying processes to avoid future issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like we have let the public down on this issue. I feel like it leaves this asterisk [around the election,] McCay said. After reviewing the 2024 signature verification audit done by legislative auditors, (which found there were some errors in verifying signatures, but that Cox still qualified), McCay gave floor time to Lymans running mate, Natalie Clawson and a citizen named Michael Clara recruited by Lyman to help with public records requests. Clawson and Clara presented what they claimed was evidence of missing signatures and claimed that the Lt. Governor and McKenzie tried to cover their tracks. Clara is basing his theory on the fact that there were signature packets identified by Davis County as irregular and sent off to be investigated. As per policy, the office sends those signatures to the Lieutenant Governors office, which has the authority to ask for the signatures to be investigated by the Attorney Generals office. Those signatures were investigated, and eleven people later faced charges over those irregular packets. Clara argued that the signatures should have been sent to the Attorney General directly, not to the Lieutenant Governor who was a candidate on the ballot at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sale of Utahs public lands dropped from big beautiful bill In my estimation, what I can see through GRAMA request, were probably missing 2,000 signatures for Governor Cox that are unaccounted for, Clara said, but he did not show the GRAMA request that told him that. He further alleged, without showing any evidence, that the LGs office then gave those flagged packets back to the Davis County Clerk once they realized Cox may be short on his signatures. McKenzie was emphatic that it did not happen. Flagged petitions that were considered for fraud investigation were never delivered to the LGs office and then returned to my office, McKenzie said. I dont know where that data comes from. Its false. Clawsons claims Clawson also made numerous allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, that the Lieutenant Governor didnt fully recuse herself during the election because there was only one text message returned by GRAMA request between Greg Bell, who was the independent election officer tasked with the job, and LG Deidre Henderson during the cycle. She further claimed that nomination packets that included withheld voters, which are allowed to be kept private except for candidates and political parties, were hidden from their campaign when others were given access. She also claimed election interference by the media, and rehashed allegations that someone in the Cox campaign enticed fellow write-in candidates Richard and Carol Lyman to run against Phil Lyman. Further, she questioned the results of the Primary and called for a special election, claiming they werent allowed to view sensitive election returns called Cast Vote Records. Courts have protected those records in Utah because they can be used to triangulate how someone voted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, she made allegations that the election staff in Davis County didnt take required signature verification training and that there were conveniently placed holes in the ballot envelopes that revealed a Lyman write-in vote. I appreciate the scope of the legislative audit [of the nominating signatures], but I think it would be appropriate to expand it to the primary elections because of all this interference that we saw, I think theres reason, actually, to question the primary, Clawson said before saying that the only fair outcome after its findings would be a special election. McCay shot down that idea, saying that the legislature doesnt have that power, but joked that the Governor would probably welcome a new race. McKenzie also followed up to dispel her claims involving his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cast Vote Records, the board of canvassers can access that data, he said about her claim that no one can view those records. Incumbent Robert Axson wins Republican Party Chair at 2025 convention As for the holes in the envelopes, McKenzie explained it gives clerks a quick and easy way to look through a stack of ballots and see if theyve separated the ballot from the envelope. The placement of that hole varies depending on the vendor and some regulations with the Postal Service, McKenzie said. There was no preplanning or placement of that hole. Finally, McKenzie explained that every member of his staff did do a required signature verification training, but that some workers took a 2023 training and were verifying signatures before a new version of 2024 training was required. Possible changes to nominating packets The meeting wrapped without any action taken by the committee, but rather a lengthy discussion where McCay aired several of his questions and grievances for McKenzie and Cowley about how they should smooth over these issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following are some of the considerations the committee may tackle: Candidates submitting nomination packets in real time instead of having all the signatures verified once thresholds are met allowing candidates time to figure out whether they need to gather more. Oversubmitting packets allowing candidates to submit more signatures than they need, and not having clerks stop verifying once a candidate has reached the required threshold. Adding signature gathering licensing and required training for signature gathering employees How to handle perceived conflicts of interest Blind verification of signature packets so gatherers dont know who theyre collecting for Having vendors move the holes on ballot envelopes so as not to reveal any information Decentralizing signature reviews so counties are validating packets instead of the LGs office Transparency how to make Cast Vote Records tailored so no one can triangulate how someone voted, but results can be checked Making cure lists public McCay also chastised McKenzie and Cowley over their handling of the enticement allegation in the Phil Lyman race. I tend to believe that someone was being cutebut it stopped being cute after one candidate had to spend a bunch more money (to fix his political signs), McCay said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres enough smoke here, McCay said, pushing the pair about their investigation process. We did have those conversations internally, Cowley said, arguing that the allegation was given to the right authorities and pointing out that Lyman also sued the other two Lymans for millions, which could also be seen as trying to force them out of the race. I feel terribly that our processes have let us down, McCay said. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. ILLINOIS On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said a tired bus driver was the primary cause of the deadly Interstate 70 bus crash in Highland, Illinois. But investigators also found three tractor trailers illegally parked on the shoulder of the exit ramp to the Silver Lake rest area contributed to the crash. According to Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois 12th District), its part of a larger problem that he says his bipartisan bill can help fix. If you collide with one of these trucks that are parked alongside the road or on an off ramp, it doesnt care if youre Republican, Democrat, or Independent, youre going to get hurt anyway, Bost said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the trucking industry, Bost knows a thing or two, because hes seen a thing or two. I was born and raised in a trucking business. I actually drove my first tractor trailer across a lot at nine years old, he said. Donate here: Help support St. Louis storm victims Bost says he took over the family business for ten years after serving in the Marines. That experience informed the creation of Bosts Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. The legislation would provide competitive funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation for the construction of new commercial truck parking facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theres not enough parking space available, youre going to end up being in a very bad situation on an off ramp or somewhere where its not safe for you to take that rest, Bost said. Earlier this week, the NTSB identified what it called a critical lack of truck parking availability along the National Highway System as a factor in the July 2023 Greyhound bus crash. Three passengers were killed, and a dozen others were injured, including the driver, when the bus collided with three tractor trailers parked along the shoulder of an exit ramp near the Silver Lake rest area. Staff is proposing a recommendation to the USDOT to pursue available options to increase commercial vehicle parking capacity on highways, Michael Fox of the NTSB said. The NTSB cited research done in the creation of Jasons Law, which showed the quantity of public truck parking spaces has not kept up with increased truck traffic volume. Jasons Law was enacted in 2012 to address long-term parking shortages for commercial motor vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News This is a problem thats been around for a long time and its only getting worse, Thomas Chapman of the NTSB said. Bost believes his legislation can help make things better. Ive screamed this from a mountaintop for years on how important is that this bill is, so my hope is that all members in the House understandand the Senate understands it as well, he said. Bosts legislation was approved by the House Transportation Committee last Congress but did not receive a vote in the full House. He tells FOX 2 News he thinks there is a good chance it passes later this summer as part of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The state of Illinois on Friday finalized its acquisition of a 50-acre piece of land needed for a project to protect the Great Lakes from invasive carp, construction that has drawn the support of both Gov. JB Pritzker and President Donald Trump. This is something that weve been waiting for for over a decade, Marc Smith, policy director for the National Wildlife Federation, said. Its very good progress. The state earlier this year postponed construction on the Joliet-area project, with state officials saying they didnt want to move forward because they anticipated a federal funding shortfall. Then, two weeks ago, the Trump administration announced it supported the project and that funding was available, though Pritzker and Trump still managed to snipe at each other at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Midwest Generation, an energy company that had owned the parcel, donated the land after the Illinois Department of Natural Resources approached the company about acquiring the property. Midwest Generation donated the land in support of the project, company spokesperson Erik Linden said. Acquiring the land, which includes riverbed access for the Brandon Road lock, will help enable construction at the lock and dam there. The work is intended to stop the spread of invasive carp, which could pose a significant threat to the Great Lakes regions native species, ecosystems and billion-dollar fishing and boating industries. The property transferred Friday is needed to complete the first part of a three-phase project, according to IDNR spokesperson Jayette Bolinski. Additional upland property will eventually also need to be acquired, Bolinski said. The land transfer that was finalized Friday enables ongoing construction to proceed on schedule, said Don Jodrey, director of federal relations at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump earlier this month blamed Pritzker for not allowing the project to start, while the federal government, he said, has already begun work on it. The Pritzker administration said it halted the work earlier this year in part because it was worried needed federal funding wouldnt come through, as the Trump administration had pulled back on unrelated projects. The land had previously been a key sticking point for the project, with some advocates worried it might be contaminated as its the site of a former coal plant. The agreement reached on the project included assurances that the land will be safe, Smith said. And the Pritzker administration last year said the state negotiated a deal ensuring taxpayers would not have to pay for remediation costs. So-called Asian carp, which are invasive across the United States, include silver, bighead, grass and black carp. Silver and bighead carp are particular threats to native species as they have no natural predators in American waterways and likely never will, meaning their populations can grow uncontrollably. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Invasive carp were introduced in the 1960s to get rid of chemicals in aquaculture and other facilities without using chemicals. But after flooding in the 1980s and 90s, they escaped into the Mississippi River basin and spread to 31 states. Progress on the project has been a long time coming, Smith said. Congress identified the site as a place to deter invasive species in 2015, according to IDNR. Weve had three presidents, multiple Congresses two, three governors from Illinois, multiple governors from Michigan as well as several project managers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he said. With this property secured, construction can move forward. Illinois lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring increased police training on sexual assault cases that would include practices meant to minimize traumatization of the victim. The training required by the legislation, now heading to Gov. JB Pritzkers desk, would also focus on identifying and addressing conflicts of interest when officers involved in the case are familiar with the victim or accused. The trauma-informed training is intended to promote handling people involved in sexual assault cases in a sensitive way, said state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, the bills sponsor and a Democrat from Libertyville. The bill was dubbed Annas Law because it was championed by an Illinois resident, Anna Williams, who told state lawmakers that she was unfairly overlooked by law enforcement when she filed a sexual assault report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detective working my case lied on my statements, and it was brushed off when I mentioned it to the chief, Williams said at a late April legislative hearing. I was frequently asked if I was sure that it was not consensual. If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault, and then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences. An initial version of the bill was met with opposition in part due to a provision penalizing officers if they did not complete the training, Edly-Allen said. Law enforcement officials also wanted the training to be administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, instead of the state Department of Human Services as initially written, she said. Personally, I did not want anything punitive, Edly-Allen said. Its about when you know better, you do better, just understanding that we all experience life differently. The Illinois Sheriffs Association initially filed in opposition of the legislation, but said Thursday they switched their position to neutral after the bill was amended in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents of the legislation also include the Illinois National Organization for Women, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. The passage of Annas Law is another step in the direction of ensuring our law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence are survivor-centered and trauma-informed, said Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. Addressing conflicts of interest in law enforcement responses will directly support survivors who hesitate to report because of these associated risks. Edly-Allen credited Williams with pushing her to champion the legislation. I actually was a little nervous carrying the bill originally, but her determination and her unwavering bravery to say No, this is wrong, we need to change it, empowered me, Edly-Allen said. She empowered me to do this legislation. _____ SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) A bill overhauling how police respond to a missing persons case is gaining traction in the state capitol. The proposal would require law enforcement to accept any missing persons cases without any waiting period. Police would also be required to share fingerprints and any DNA they have on the subject with National Databases. Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort), the bills Senate sponsor, said if this bill passes, no missing persons case will be closed until they are reported and identified, as cases will no longer be closed due to an exhaustion of leads. He also argues more rules will help bring more missing people home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School bus seat belt bill passes Illinois House, heading to Pritzker This bill actually makes sure that number one, that they do utilize fingerprints and DNA, that they do report it in the National Database, and that postmortem they have to go ahead and submit the information within seven days of recovery of the body, Hastings said. Hastings worked with the Cook County Sheriffs Office on the bill. Their office runs Missing Womens Project, which works to locate women who have been missing for at least three years. According to the Department of Justices National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Illinois has 461 open missing persons cases, 429 open unidentified persons cases and 93 open unclaimed persons cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bring Your Own New Clean Energy: a proposed fix for Illinois power grid shortcomings draws criticism from manufacturers Minorities are disproportionately affected by this. Homeless people are affected by this. All of those people have families, Hastings said. And they should know where their loved one is, especially if they are found. The bill passed the Senate with unanimous support and now heads to the House of Representatives, where its sponsored by Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Merz calls on China to support Western plan for peaceful settlement in Ukraine German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to support Western efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, The Guardian reports. In their first phone call since he took office last month, Merz told Xi about the common efforts of Europe and the EU to bring about a quick ceasefire in Ukraine and that he urged China to support these efforts, the report notes. According to the official Chinese readout of the call, Xi called for stable and predictable ties between the two countries. Xi also pointed out that the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century, with the convergence of changes and chaos in the international situation, AFP said. The two leaders also reportedly spoke about the need for fair competition in economic relations between the two countries. In addition to cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid, a massive bill passed by the House on Thursday would also prohibit the health insurance program from covering gender-affirming care a provision thats at odds with Illinois current practice. The provision is a result of a last-minute change to the bill before its passage out of the Republican-controlled House early Thursday morning. As the conservative conscience of the GOP conference, we will continue our fight to be the voice for countless Americans who feel that Washingtons policies do not represent them, the House Freedom Caucus said in a statement that cited the change, posted on X on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Medicaid program now covers gender-affirming care, which can include a range of services such as hormone therapy and surgeries. Illinois Medicaid covers surgeries for people ages 21 and older who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which is when people experience distress because their gender identity differs from their sex at birth or physical characteristics. It covers surgeries for people younger than 21 in specific cases if medical necessity is demonstrated. The new provision, however, would prohibit Medicaid programs from covering those services for people of all ages on Medicaid not just people younger than 18, as a previous version of the bill proposed. Medicaid is a state- and federally funded health insurance program for people with low incomes. In Illinois, more than 3.4 million people about one-fourth of the states population are on Medicaid. Gov. JB Pritzkers office did not provide comment Thursday on the portion of the bill addressing gender-affirming care, but Pritzker said in a 2019 news release, when the state announced that Medicaid would start covering gender-affirming surgeries: Expanding Medicaid to cover gender affirming surgeries is cost effective, helps avoid long term health consequences, and most importantly is the right thing to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Pritzker wrote in a post on X of the larger budget bill: House Republicans pushed through their scam to punish working families across the nation early this morning. Hospitals will close, kids will go hungry, and people will lose their health care. This fight isnt over, Illinois stand up and speak out as it goes to the Senate. Attorney General Kwame Raouls office said in a statement Thursday that it is evaluating the proposal and its potential implications. The office remains committed to advocating for and fighting to protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary individuals throughout the country who deserve access to quality health care and to live authentically, according to the statement. Its likely that if the bill becomes law the provision barring Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care will be challenged in court, said Lindsey Dawson, director of LGBTQ health policy for KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy. A different federal law, the Affordable Care Act, prohibits discrimination based on sex in health care programs that receive federal dollars. Illinois health care providers say that if the new provision of the bill goes into effect, it could be devastating for patients who receive gender-affirming care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, about 24% of transgender and gender-diverse patients at Howard Brown Health were on Medicaid, according to Howard Brown Health. Howard Brown Health has clinics in Chicago and specializes in care for patients who are LGBTQ+. This is necessary, life-saving health care that people are just going to suddenly no longer have access to, said Tim Wang, director of policy and advocacy at Howard Brown Health. At Planned Parenthood of Illinois, nearly 30% of patients receiving gender-affirming care are on Medicaid, said Tonya Tucker, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, in a statement. If the bill is enacted, thousands of (Planned Parenthood of Illinois) patients would not be able to access the gender-affirming care they need and deserve, Tucker said. Gender-affirming care saves lives, and this is a clear attempt to take away bodily autonomy and block people from receiving care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a proposal that should worry all people, not just those who are transgender, said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, which advocates for equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. If the government can slash coverage of gender-affirming care for people on Medicaid, then it can do the same for other types of care, such as services for people living with HIV or for vaccines, Johnson said. If we collectively as a nation acquiesce to this, then they can absolutely do it to any other medically appropriate, legal care they dislike, Johnson said. Any type of medically appropriate care they find distasteful is something they can defund, attack and do so by targeting the poorest Americans. This is a threat we should all be deeply alarmed by. The prohibition on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care is one of a number of proposed changes to Medicaid in the sweeping bill, which aims to cut federal spending to help pay for new and existing tax cuts and enhanced border and national security. The bill would also add work requirements for able-bodied adults on Medicaid and cut funding for states that use their state dollars to offer health care coverage to undocumented immigrants, such as Illinois, among other things. The Congressional Budget Office estimated, before changes were made to the bill, that if it passed, millions of people would lose health care coverage over the next 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement Thursday after the bill passed, Today, the House has passed generational, nation-shaping legislation that reduces spending, permanently lowers taxes for families and job creators, secures the border, unleashes American energy dominance, restores peace through strength, and makes government work more efficiently and effectively for all Americans. The bill must still pass the Senate and gain President Donald Trumps signature before it can become law. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on May 22, 2025, a proposal prohibiting notaries public from advertising as immigration legal services. (Photo illustration by Getty Images) Amid ongoing raids in Florida immigrant communities, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday creating an avenue for relief against people unlawfully providing immigration legal services. HB 915, one of 17 bills DeSantis signed Thursday, prohibits notaries public from advertising their services using language that implies they possess professional legal skills in immigration law. Notaries public are authorized to serve as witnesses and verify signatures on documents such as powers of attorney, deeds, and estates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst with Florida Immigrant Coalition, said in a phone interview that the group sought help from lawmakers in addressing the problem of notaries public providing immigration legal services, which he described as an epidemic in Central and South Florida. He called the signing of the new law good news. This is happening all over the place. People are very, very desperate for some sort of solution or adjustment of status that leaves them vulnerable for people that are preying on them, Kennedy said, pointing to the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in Florida at risk of deportation after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this week allowing the Trump administration to strip the immigrants of temporary protections and work permits. A series of special sessions at the beginning of the year yielded hundreds of millions for local law enforcement to engage in immigration enforcement, plus new laws heightening penalties for immigrants living in the country without authorization. However, during the regular legislative session, lawmakers didnt pass other proposals cracking down on legal aid for immigrant children and companies hiring people unauthorized to work in the country. But nearly all lawmakers agreed to pass the bill from Orlando Democratic Rep. Johanna Lopez, allowing people to recover damages in civil lawsuits from notaries public providing representation in immigration law matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, notaries public wont be able to refer to themselves as notario publico, the term in Spanish, because in some Latin American countries notarios can file legal documents, give legal advice, and represent people in court, according to the final legislative analysis of the bill. Still, Kennedy said passing a pro-immigrant law in this climate was no easy feat. I guess common sense prevailed in this matter, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents carried out a raid at the San Diego federal courthouse on Thursday, targeting immigrants who were attending hearings tied to their asylum claims. The arrests at the Edward J. Schwartz building in downtown mark the latest action carried out by federal agents in what appears to be a coordinated operation focusing on courtrooms across the country from New York and Illinois to Texas and Arizona. They come as President Donald Trump has pressed for the Department of Homeland Security to speed up the removal of noncitizens to make good on his promise to carry out mass deportations, even as he faces a litany of legal battles tied to his immigration policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California funds community resource event for Afghan community Advocates who witnessed the arrested in San Diego Thursday said some of the individuals arrested had their asylum cases dismissed prior to being taken by ICE agents. Others were there to begin the process with court dates set up using the now-defunct CBP One app. ICE agents also purportedly attempted to detain several others in San Diego without checking to see if there was a warrant first. Per advocates, the agents realized they had the wrong individuals after attorneys pushed back against the arrests. Additional details about the incident, including how many asylum-seekers were arrested and specifics about their claims, are not known at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX 5/KUSI reached out to DHS for more information on the incident and is awaiting response. These actions are a deliberate attempt to crush the human spirit and undermine the very principle that our asylum laws are meant to uphold, Crystal Felix, a legal representative for the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, said in a statement on the raid. Its also a staggering waste of court resources cases are scheduled, prepared, and then gutted at the last minute, showing blatant disregard for due process and efficiency, she continued. Trump opened the door to these such enforcement actions back in January, when he signed an executive order calling on DHS to remove policies that prevented immigration enforcement in sensitive areas, like churches, schools and courthouses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move was one of many the president signed aiming to rescind Biden-era policies and create new federal powers or scale up existing ones to crack down on illegal immigration. One such change that has come into play in the arrests at courthouses in recent weeks was an expansion to a fast-tracked deportation process known as expedited removal, which had previously only been used to remove immigrants who were detained at the border. Normally, undocumented people going through the asylum process cannot be deported until a final order of removal has been issued by a judge. Camp Pendleton teams up with ICE to enhance security at Base gates Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expedited removal allows federal officials to deport noncitizens without an opportunity to make their case in an immigration court. Under the newly expanded version of the policy, anyone who has been in the country for less than two years can be subject to the accelerated process. The Trump administration appears to have increasingly turned to this process for people who are engaging in the legal system. Federal prosecutors have reportedly begun asking courts to dismiss asylum cases, instead of litigating them to obtain a final order of removal, thereby allowing their temporary protected status to be revoked and making them immediately eligible for expedited removal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Commerce City police are investigating after a woman discovered a mason jar in her yard that later exploded on her. According to Commerce City Police Public Information Officer Joanna Small, the incendiary device was found on May 15 in the 6700 block of East 72nd Avenue. She reported the exploding jar overnight Sunday into Monday. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that when opened, the mason jar released an unknown pressurized gas that burned her face and led her to seek medical treatment. The police department said the jar was also filled with debris and nails and had a letter addressed Too to my enemies. A Commerce City public information officer told FOX31 that the womans injuries were minor and that the victim believes the jar was made by someone she knew. The Adams County Bomb Squad told the Commerce City Police Department that since the jar is now depressurized, it was safe to be placed in the police departments evidence facility. Small said that the investigation into who made and left the device was ongoing as of Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A January 2025 screenshot of the Trump White Houses 404 error message for a web page that is no longer active. Credit - TIME President Donald Trump has promised Americans radical transparencybut his government has taken a number of steps that observers say make it anything but the self-described most transparent Administration in history! In his first term, which the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation described as allergic to transparency, the White House stopped releasing visitor logs, censored or rejected a record percentage of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and refused to release his tax returns. So far, the second-term Trump Administration has scrubbed federal websites, limited reporters access, and used disappearing-message apps for high-level communications that typically should be retained for posterity. The Associated Press reported last week that Trump could leave less documentation behind than any previous U.S. President, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation said the Trump Administration is eroding the information environment in ways this country has never seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, this week the White House removed official transcripts of the Presidents remarks, which are now only available as videosa departure from a common practice across Democratic and Republican administrations over decades. The only transcript that is now available on the White House website is Trumps inaugural address. You must be truly f-cking stupid if you think were not transparent, White House communications director Steven Cheung told HuffPost when asked about the latest move. In the void of official archives, a number of independent record-keepers have taken matters into their own hands, offering the public a cache of data and documentation to sift and search through without fear of sudden removal. Still, these mostly collect only previously-made public records, and transparency advocates remain concerned about those that the public may never see. Here are some of the databases available. American Presidency Project What started out in 1999 as a project by then-graduate student Gerhard Peters and professor John Woolley at the University of California, Santa Barbara, for students of political science has since turned into a valuable comprehensive digital repository of presidential public documents dating back to George Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nonprofit, nonpartisan American Presidency Project hosts copies of Trumps speeches and executive orders, social media posts, press pool reports, media interviews, and morefrom both his terms as well as his campaigns and transition periods. Data.gov Archive Harvard Law Schools Library Innovation Lab, which developed the web-archiving tool, Perma.cc, released in February a new archive of more than 300,000 data sets from data.gov, the U.S. governments repository of open data. Weve built this project on our long-standing commitment to preserving government records and making public information available to everyone, the lab said in announcing the project. Data Rescue Project The Data Rescue Project is a collaboration between organizations like IASSIST, RDAP, and members of the Data Curation Network. The project, which started out in February on a Google Doc, aims to serve as a clearinghouse for data rescue-related efforts and data access points for public U.S. governmental data that it deems currently at risk. Data it harvests, including from government agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Education, is maintained in the searchable archive DataLumos, the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Researchs crowd-sourced repository hosted by the University of Michigan. Factba.se Started in 2017 by Virginia husband and wife Bill Frischling and Jennifer Canty to empower the public to factcheck Trumps statements for themselves, Factba.se collects videos of Trumps speeches, as well as press gaggles and other appearances. How could you argue something is not true if you could see not only what this person said but the entire context around it? Frischling told BuzzFeed News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The database was acquired by FiscalNote and is now hosted by FiscalNotes policy news site Roll Call. It also has a collection of Trumps tweets and social media posts, going as far back as 2009, as well as the Presidents public schedule and emailed press releases from the White House. Federal Environmental Web Tracker by EDGI Formed in 2016 to document changes to vulnerable federal environmental data, the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI) is a research collaboration of professionals advocating for environmental awareness. Its website-monitoring team created a tracker for changes to environment-related federal pages. Since returning to office, the Trump Administration has purged information or text related to the climate crisis on many government websites. Internet Archive The Internet Archive is a nonprofit that provides users free access to its expansive digital library. Since beginning in 1996, the archive has a collection of more than 835 billion web pages, 44 million books and texts, 15 million audio recordings, 10.6 million videos, 4.8 million images, and a million software programs. Our mission is to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge, it says on its site. In 2017, it launched the Trump Archive, which collects TV news shows containing debates, speeches, interviews, rallies, and other reporting related to Donald Trump, before his first presidency and throughout subsequent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But anybody can contribute. Described by the New Yorker as a tech-support professional in Kansas, a man identified only as Andrewwho uses the moniker Grumpybegan downloading videos from federal agencies on February 1 in response to takedowns by the Trump Administration. The videos are available on his Internet Archive account, Grumpy System. The Internet Archive also operates the Wayback Machine, a tool that preserves timestamped snapshots of websites. Like the Internet Archives other databases, individuals can contribute to the Wayback Machine, too. Its director told NPR that six weeks into Trumps second term, some 73,000 government web pages (and counting) were cataloged before being expunged, including reportedly the only copy of the House Jan. 6 Committees interactive timeline of the 2021 Capitol Riot. The Wayback Machine has also hosted since 2008 the End of Term Web Archive, which collects, preserves, and makes accessible United States Government websites at the end of presidential administrations. Rev AI-powered speech-to-text company Rev hosts a free Transcript Library that includes searchable transcripts of Trumps public appearances going back years. Trumps Truth Trumps Truth, a project by the Never-Trump-Republican founded nonprofit group Defending Democracy Together, archives all of Trumps posts on his platform TRUTH Social. While Trumps TRUTH Social posts are publicly available, the Trumps Truth site warns that the Presidents posts on his own platform may be deleted at any time. The archive checks for new posts every few minutes and includes video transcription and image descriptions to enable greater search ability. We believe this is an essential part of the historical record, and that it must be preserved for its educational, journalistic and research value, the site says. Contact us at letters@time.com. MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) An independent investigation is ongoing into an incident last month involving the Manheim Township Police Chief. Township officials announced an investigation Friday into the actions of Chief Duane Fisher, who has been put on administrative leave. Public trust in law enforcement is paramount, Township Manager Rick Kane said in a statement. We must bring in independent experts to provide a clear, unfiltered, and unbiased assessment of what happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest Township police said that Fisher was allegedly assaulted by a man, who was on a motorcycle and pulled over April 30 in the area of Foxshire Plaza on Fruitville Pike. Police reported that the man was committing traffic violations. Fisher was in an unmarked vehicle, and when he tried taking the motorcyclist into custody, police said he was allegedly pushed and the man tried to get away before being apprehended. The motorcyclist was facing multiple charges that included aggravated assault, but those, along with two misdemeanor charges, were withdrawn, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver steals trailer full of Monster Energy from motel parking lot Kane said that all commissioners approved the move to have an outside investigator look into the incident. The Commissioners and Township leadership are treating this matter with the seriousness and urgency it demands, Kane said. All of the Commissioners are committed to protecting both public confidence and the integrity of the Manheim Township Police Department. The Lancaster County District Attorneys Office announced that Fishers use of force did not meet the requirements to be possible a criminal act, so they decided not to investigate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Trump administration has signed off on Gov. Mike Braun's plan to restrict food-stamp recipients in Indiana from using their benefits to buy soda or candy, meaning those purchases will be prohibited starting in January. Braun announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the state's waiver allowing the state to restrict those purchases from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits. "Indiana is proud to lead the way in the Make America Healthy Again agenda by making this common sense move to return the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to its intended purpose: nutrition," Braun said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few other states have requested similar waivers from the U.S.D.A. under the Trump administration. The Trump administration also signed a more restricted waiver request from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, and a request from Nebraska to ban soda and energy drinks. Arkansas and Idaho also have sought waivers. "Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads," said Reynolds, as reported by the Des Moines Register. "To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function we need a change. Was honored to join the President at the White House as a partner in the effort to Make America Healthy Again. I am very pleased to announce that @USDA signed our waiver to remove sugary drinks and candy from the taxpayer funded SNAP program. Indiana is proud to lead the way Governor Mike Braun (@GovBraun) May 23, 2025 Those pushing back against Indiana's request include U.S. candymakers. SNAP participants and non-SNAP participants alike understand that chocolate and candy are treats not meal replacements," said Chris Gindlesperger, senior vice president for the National Confectioners Association. "In fact, candy purchasing patterns are basically equivalent between SNAP and non-SNAP families with only about 2% of SNAP purchases being candy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts who study the SNAP program previously have said they still expect SNAP recipients to buy soda and candy at normal rates, even with the ban in place. For example, rotisserie chickens also aren't allowable SNAP purchases, but people still purchase them, just not with benefits, Northwestern University professor Diane Schanzenbach previously told IndyStar. "I think that what this will do is increase the administrative costs of SNAP and not really change behavior potentially at all or not very much," Schanzenbach said. About 600,000 people in Indiana used SNAP in 2022, according to federal data. The average monthly benefit is $162 per person. About 23% of the households receiving SNAP received income from wages or work, according to USDA. Why Twix and Kit Kats would still be allowable purchases under SNAP Once the ban on candy and soda purchases with SNAP benefits goes into effect, not all candy will be banned. That's because of Indiana's tax code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun cited specific Indiana code to define the soft drinks and candy that he sought to ban as eligible purchases under SNAP. Candy is defined in Indiana code as "a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces." The code specifically does not include recipes that contain flour. Twix bars, with their crunch cookie bases, don't qualify. Nor does a Reese's Take 5, which has pretzels. "Based on this definition, many items commonly considered to be candy, including many candy bars, are not classified as 'candy' for Indiana sales tax purposes," according to the Indiana Department of Revenue's 2023 sales tax information bulletin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com. Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, by IndyStar political and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana bans SNAP for pop, candy after Trump administration approval KANSAS CITY, Mo. A man from Fort Wayne, Indiana has been convicted of second-degree rape by a Platte County jury. Court records show that Christopher John Heath was found guilty on Thursday after a four-day trial for having sex with a 20-year-old woman while she was asleep. Kansas City man attacks multiple women, released, then strikes again In that trial, prosecutors were able to prove that the victim and Heath were in a group that went to a winery and bar on May 14, 2021. When the victim returned to her mothers house and went to bed, and later awoke to Heath asking, Do you know who I am? while on top of her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was then able to get away and lock herself in another bedroom, where she would stay until she reported the crime the next day. Records show that Heaths DNA was found on the womans bedsheets. Now, Heath is facing up to seven years in prison. Hes currently being held on a $100,00 bond and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Having sex with someone who is unable to consent is a crime, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said. This victim had the courage to speak out, and the jury answered her call for help. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Indiana University is shuttering its diversity, equity and inclusion office in response to new state and federal mandates targeting DEI-aligned polices, programs and entities. All nine of IU's campuses are expected to be in compliance with state and federal policies, the announcement said, and the university is directing all campuses, schools and units to take steps to do so. "IU will continue to affirm its fundamental goal of ensuring every student is equipped to thrive in the classroom and after graduation," the university said in an May 22 announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IU joins Ivy Tech Community College and Ball State University as the latest university to eliminate its DEI presence on campus, citing new executive orders and legislation. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita also sent a May 9 letter to the University of Notre Dame requesting DEI information to ensure its compliance with federal and state law. IU's Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion previously offered scholarships, sought to recruit and retain diverse students and faculty, and provided on-campus resources and development. The office will sunset effective May 22, but a timeline was not provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of its student programs and centers will be shifted into different offices and available to all students, according to the announcement. Academic advising, engagement and student well-being efforts and resources will continue to be provided, the announcement said. IU did not answer IndyStar questions regarding potential layoffs, dismantled programs and status of scholarships. IU spokesperson Mark Bode instead directed the Star to the earlier announcement. The office was first established in 1999 "to cultivate a diverse, inclusive environment that supports equal access, participation, and representation" on each IU campus, according to the former website. The Office of Institutional Equity was also renamed the Office of Civil Rights Compliance. The change, IU said in its announcement, better reflects the office's work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body is responsible for handling complaints about possible violations of federal rights law in relation to harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. While on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump rallied his Republican base in part around an anti-DEI platform that he says is illegal and radical." Since taking office, Trump has stripped diversity practices and efforts out of the federal government, and his administration has begun focusing its anti-DEI efforts on higher education and the private sector. Gov. Mike Braun has done the same in Indiana. On his second full day in office, he signed an executive order to remove DEI initiatives and policies from state government, including closing the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity created by then-Gov. Holcomb in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun also signed a bill into law May 6 to allow individuals to sue publicly funded schools or government entities for DEI policies and programs. Senate Enrolled Act 289 prohibits public institutions from taking actions based on an individual's "personal characteristic," such as race, religion, color and sex. The USA TODAY Network - Indiana's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Cate Charron by email at ccharron@indystar.com or message her on Signal at @cate.charron.28. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana University closes DEI office, citing Trump-inspired mandates The desire of the Russian aggressors to create the so-called "buffer zone" is a step towards a new escalation, Iryna Friz (the European Solidarity faction), a member of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, is sure. "The statement of the Russian occupiers about the creation of the so-called buffer zone is not a step towards peace, but a step towards a new escalation. This is not about security - this is about the formation of a future bridgehead for further aggression," Friz told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday. According to the MP, behind the facade of "demarcation" Russia hides the goal - to gain time, regroup forces, replenish arsenals and return to the battlefield with new strength. "This is a repetition of the already known scenario, when the so-called peace initiatives turn into instruments of war," Friz emphasized. According to the politician, the statement about the "buffer zone" is an attempt to legalize the partial occupation, to bring it out of the conflict regime into the status of a "new reality." "And Russia will undoubtedly try to sell it as a territory for a ceasefire under the pretext of humanitarian considerations. In fact, it is about freezing the conflict on terms favorable to the Kremlin - with the prospect of unfreezing it when it becomes convenient for Moscow," the MP noted. State officials are investigating an incident in western Wisconsin in which ancient Indigenous human remains were discovered more than a decade ago, but never reported and recently thrown into the Black River. Authorities became aware of the incident last week when Ryan Howell, an archeologist for the Army Corps of Engineers who lives in Wisconsin, was notified. Howell said he's not sure why he was contacted, but he does help run a very popular Facebook group called Wisconsin Archeological Artifacts, at which Wisconsin residents share photos and discuss ancient artifacts discovered in the state. He said once he knew about the situation, he was obligated to pass it on to authorities. Indigenous remains apparently were tossed into the Black River in Wisconsin recently. There is a state law that outlines the proper legal procedures and what people should do in these unfortunate events, Howell said. But the law is obscure and few people, including most local law enforcement, are trained to deal with the situation. Sometimes they just start calling any archaeologist or tribal office they can find looking for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Online archeological group deciphers arrowheads, artifacts found regularly in Wisconsin More: The Milwaukee Public Museum houses 1,600 Native American remains. Will they be returned to their tribes? La Crosse County Sheriffs Deputy Nate Cibulka said the remains were discovered about 13 to 15 years ago by a man whose family had owned land in the Holmen area. The remains apparently were found on public land at a state boat landing near the Black River. The man kept the remains through the years, and then discarded them. They were very fragile and falling apart, so they threw them into the river, said Cibulka, who talked to the man who had them. That, obviously, wasnt the best option. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if charges, citation or a fine will be filed, so the Journal Sentinel is not naming the man. Taylor Lambrigger, burial sites coordinator with the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office, said property owners might not report a finding on their property because they don't know the law, or theyre worried theyll get in trouble. She strongly encourages anyone who finds them to reach out to local law enforcement. She said there are no penalties for people discovering ancient human remains accidentally, but if someone knows they have an ancient burial site on their property they need to contact her office before beginning any building projects. If the process is followed correctly, the discovered remains are eventually given to tribal nations within Wisconsin today who have reburial sites for their ancestors on tribal lands. Howell said the bones were likely more than 500 years old. He said discoveries like this are common in Wisconsin, especially near or in populated areas, such as Milwaukee or Green Bay, because the best places to settle now also were the best places to settle historically. In western Wisconsin, where the discovery was made, the area had several Ho-Chunk villages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the process is followed correctly the discovered remains are eventually given to tribal nations within Wisconsin today who have reburial sites for their ancestors on tribal lands. More: Ancient Menominee remains, 1,200 years old, have returned home after spending decades in boxes at University of Michigan Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Indigenous bones found in Wisconsin, kept, and then tossed in river NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WPRI) The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) is asking for the publics support as its staff slowly nurses an injured Belgian Malinois dog back to health. Liberty was one of three dogs brought to the RISPCA from a Narragansett shopping plaza Wednesday afternoon. Investigators believe her former owner was traveling with Liberty and 13 other dogs in his SUV from New York to Maine when he pulled over to stop them from fighting. The dogs had to be pepper sprayed in order to be safely separated. (Courtesy: RISPCA) These are large dogs and it was a small SUV, RISPCA President Wayne Kezirian told 12 News Wednesday. This person was literally covered in dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 14 dogs inside the mans vehicle escaped as soon as he opened the door, according to the RISPCA, with at least three of them running into the nearby Marshalls & HomeGoods store. Kezirian said somehow, the man was able to round up the dogs and drive them to a nearby little league field so each one could be removed from the car in an enclosed space. RISPCA: 14 dogs ran loose in Narragansett shopping plaza The dogs bolted from the car again, but this time began attacking Liberty in the middle of the field. Kezirian said the dogs had to be pepper sprayed in order to be safely separated. Liberty was rushed to the RISPCAs Animal Health Center, where veterinarians began treating and bandaging the deep bite wounds that covered her body. Liberty was brought to the RISPCAs Animal Medical Center for treatment. (Courtesy: RISPCA) The RISPCA Liberty has also tested positive for Giardia, which is an intestinal parasite that causes diarrhea, weight loss and other digestive issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterinarians are now monitoring Libertys condition very closely. The other two dogs in the RISPCAs care were not injured, but are also incredibly fearful and terrified. These dogs need a lot of medical care, food, and most of all, love, the RISPCA wrote in a social media post Thursday. Anyone interested in donating to Libertys care can do so online. Her medical expenses will be paid for through the RISPCAs Tails of Hope fund, which is designated for shelter animals in need of a little extra love to make them adoptable. Libertys former owner is not facing charges at this time since he was cooperative. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) While many would not consider this one-eyed possum cute We beg to differ. Joseph is changing peoples perspectives about possums. A lot of people love to see him moving around and doing possum things, said April Lemonds at the North Carolina Zoo. Someone found the one-year-old injured last year and after unsuccessfully trying to treat him at home, brought him to north carolina zoos wildlife rehabilitation center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes very special because he was treated there and he was supposed to go back into the wild, but due to really liking people and being dependent on them he did not make a good candidate for that, so lucky for us he is an ambassador now. Joseph lives at the zoo and participates in programs teaching people how to help his species by showing off his skills. Many people have never even seen a possum alive up close. It is truly something special to see Joseph doing his thing, doing behaviors and coming out and meeting people instead of being road kill. Zookeepers say as people get to know possums they will want to save them, and thats as simple as securing trash cans and not throwing any litter out on roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although banana peels and apple cores do degrade in a natural habitat, they also cause animals to go to the road, so apples like that can cause them to get hit by cars unintentionally. Zookeepers also share the importance of protecting wild spaces for possums, the only marsupial living in North America. A lot of times after the program is over they have a different opinion on possums. With a curious close-up like that, its easy to see why Joseph leaves a lasting impression. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. A Louisiana jail inmate who escaped from a parish jail about a year ago has accomplished the same feat again, authorities said. TraVon Johnson, 19, made his latest escape Thursday from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, which has a history of jailbreaks involving a half-dozen inmates in recent years, the sheriff's office announced. Johnson had been awaiting a trial for his alleged role in a home invasion that left a man killed and a child injured, authorities said. Authorities say they became suspicious when a member of the public called the sheriff's office shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday, questioning whether Johnson was still in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following an immediate headcount of the jail population and a review of Johnsons movements throughout the day, it was determined Johnson escaped around 4:30 p.m. when another inmate helped lift him over the perimeter fence, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Law officers are now searching for Johnson and also contacting victims and reaching out to Johnsons relatives and associates, the sheriff's office said. In the summer of 2024, Johnson was among a group of four inmates who escaped from the jail over the Memorial Day weekend by crawling under a gap in a wall and then scaling two razor-wire fences. Three of the escapees including Johnson were captured within days, but it took six months to apprehend the fourth fugitive. Manpower shortages, inadequate staff training and experience, a lack of supervision and insufficient head counts contributed to the escape last year, authorities said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, two brothers being held on charges that included attempted murder escaped from the jail's exercise yard and were recaptured the next day, WBRZ-TV reported at the time. Tangipahoa Parish's jail in Amite is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans. The latest Tangipahoa Parish jailbreak comes as state and federal law officers continue hunting for five of the 10 inmates who escaped from a jail in New Orleans. In that case, the inmates squeezed through a small hole after removing a toilet. The message To Easy LOL was left on the cell room wall, with an arrow pointing to the hole. On Friday afternoon, a convoy departed from a villa in the leafy, if somewhat dull, Rome neighbourhood of Camilluccia. Inside one of the vehicles was US president Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was said to be dashing for a flight having just spent two and a half hours behind the pebble-dashed walls of the Omani embassy compound, attempting to hammer out a new nuclear deal with Iran. Their hosts from the Middle Eastern Sultanate will have provided all the usual necessities of a board meeting: bottled water, tea and coffee, and non-letterheaded paper. And the early signs appeared positive, with Omani officials saying the discussions had made some but not conclusive progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement, foreign minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi said after the talks wrapped up shortly after 5pm. The common goal, put simply, is preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, a regional arms race, and a major war if not all three. The time to achieve it, however, is rapidly dwindling. Everything appears to hang on a single statistic. Iran wants to be able to enrich uranium to at least 3.67 per cent purity, the level needed in order to run civilian nuclear reactors, and which was allowed under a previous nuclear deal with Washington. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed between Iran and six other world powers China, France, Germany, Russia, the US and the UK was a compromise. It allowed Iran to pursue nuclear power in exchange for strict limits on the amount and purity of the uranium it could enrich, and an invasive inspections regime to make sure it didnt cheat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those restrictions were aimed at preventing Tehran from building a bomb. But critics said they were never watertight and Trump ditched the JCPOA during his first stint in the White House. He is now pursuing a new agreement, with the maximalist demand that Iran should not be able to enrich any uranium, to any level (which the Islamic republic has rejected for decades). The gap between zero and 3.67 could be the difference between success and failure, peace and war. The Omanis are very good at keeping things under wraps Fridays meeting marked the fifth round of indirect talks between American and Iranian diplomats since Trump wrote to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei giving Iran 60 days to agree to a new nuclear deal, or face military action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That deadline is thought to have already expired. The Omani Embassy in Rome is the venue for nuclear talks between Iran and the United States - Baris Seckin/Anadolu/Getty Rome is a logistical compromise. Most of the talks have taken place in Oman itself. Specifically in the personal home of Badr bin Hamad, the Sultanates Oxford-educated foreign minister. The mansion, a short drive from the airport in the sun-baked, dusty capital of Muscat, conveniently has separate wings, one furnished in Western style and the other in the Middle Eastern manner. Fittingly, the Americans were installed in the former, the Iranians in the latter. In theory, the indirect talks were meant to see the two sides led by Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi respectively remain in hermetically sealed rooms while Badr bin Hamad personally shuttled written messages from one end of his house to the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In practice, says Arash Azizi, an American-Iranian academic who has spoken to members of the Iranian delegation, they have increasingly been speaking face to face. I have good information that they do actually sit on the same desk and talk. There are just also other people at the table, right? They can call that indirect, just because there is also someone else there. On the first day they didnt have a session together in the same room, but Witkoff and Aragchi did shake hands outside. On other days, they have been in the same room. When they write things, they write them on paper without a letterhead, and they give it to the Omani foreign minister, and he gives it back and forth. Thats the sort of mechanics. No one really knows the details of what is being said, or how much time the delegations are speaking face to face or relying on intermediaries, and that is deliberate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opacity gives both sides the latitude to do the business of diplomacy without worrying about public and political backlash at home. The beauty of Oman doing this is that the two sides can come out, and the Iranian foreign minister can say, I had a five-minute chat with Witkoff. You know, upon leaving the meeting, you know, we bumped into each other and had a five-minute sort of courtesy meeting. And then, the Americans can say Iran and US had a 45-minute direct conversation, and no one can prove it one way or another, says Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at Crisis Group. The Omanis are very good at keeping things under wraps. Indeed, so trusted are the Omanis that further talks between the two sides will take place at a date and venue decided by the Sultanate, a source said to be close to the Iranian negotiating team told Reuters on Friday. The challenges Iran has been running a nuclear enrichment programme for more than two decades, and Western countries have been trying to stop it building a bomb for just as long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran accepted limits on the amount of uranium it could enrich in exchange for sanctions relief. But since Trump pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018, it has developed more advanced centrifuges and begun stockpiling uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity one short technical step from the 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade material. Donald Trump signed a document reinstating sanctions against Iran after announcing the US withdrawal from the JCPOA deal in 2018 - Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty According to the last report by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, Iran had 274.8kg (605.8lb) of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent as of February 8. Thats up from the 182.3kg it was said to have when the previous report was published in November, itself a rise on the 164.7kg recorded in August. Thats about six and a half bombs worth. The IAEA, the UNs nuclear watchdog, estimates that 42kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium is enough to produce one weapon once it has been further enriched to 90 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than it has ever been. So the pressure is now on to find a replacement for the JCPOA before Trump and possibly his Israeli allies decide they have no choice but to remove the threat by force. The deal Trump has appointed Witkoff, a genial lawyer-turned-real-estate-developer and long-standing personal friend, to lead the American delegations to Muscat and Rome. The 68-year-old has been described by associates in the real-estate world as a polite and non-adversarial negotiator. But he should not be mistaken for being a pushover. Witkoff is not above leaning on his bosss more volatile reputation to get things done, and in January he did just that to strong-arm Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, into a ceasefire in Gaza (albeit a short-lived one). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the table is Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister. A 62-year-old career diplomat, Araghchi has a reputation as a tough negotiator. He also knows the file: he headed the Iranian delegation under Javad Zarif, the then Iranian foreign minister, who negotiated the previous nuclear deal in 2015. He is very serious, very smart, and a graduate, incidentally, of the University of Kent, says Sir Simon Gass, the former British diplomat who headed the UK delegation in those talks. He speaks excellent English, as you would think. He can certainly be tough, but hes also got a sense of humour. I enjoyed dealing with him. I think you would be unwise to argue after these negotiations that any of you become friends, because thats not the point of the thing, but I certainly liked him. I felt that he was as straight as a very tough negotiator can be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Araghchi, experienced though he is, has only limited authority. Back in Tehran, the man who holds Irans nuclear file is Ali Shamkhani, a former IRGC admiral and adviser to the Supreme Leader, Khamenei. Shamkhani does not appear to have attended any of the meetings in Muscat and Rome, but he has issued several public interventions that have been taken as articulations of Tehrans position. Witkoffs team will have to bear all of this in mind as the talks proceed. The Iranians are sophisticated negotiators. They have a good command of English and a deep knowledge of the nuclear subject, says Gass. They quite often could turn dramatic. You know, if things werent going well, there could well be a good deal of, sort of, throwing up of hands and raised voices, and that sort of thing. But they are very good negotiators. But whatever goes on during the discussions, ultimately, the final decisions are made by Khamenei himself. They [the negotiators] inevitably get a mandate, which comes from the Supreme Leader. But they dont always know exactly what it is that the Supreme Leader wants, and he might not have decided until he sees the full agreement and has weighed up the politics in Iran, says Gass. Enrichment At least for a period, the successive rounds of talks appeared to be productive. On May 11, the US and Iran held their fourth round of discussions in Badr bin Hamads house in Muscat. The negotiations lasted more than three hours, and appeared to bear fruit. The Iranian foreign ministry said they had been difficult but useful in better understanding the US position. A senior US official briefed American papers that the sides agreed to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements. We even began to get a sense of what was being agreed. Majid Takht Ravanchi, a deputy foreign minister of Iran, said Tehran would accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment for a limited period of time. Three days later, Shamkhani said in a rare interview with NBC that Iran was prepared to give up its entire 60-per-cent stockpile, agree to only enrich uranium to lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow inspections to check its compliance in exchange for sanctions relief. And in Doha last week, Trump himself appeared to suggest there had been substantial progress. I think were getting close to maybe doing a deal, he said, adding that Iran had sort of agreed to the terms put forward by Washington. The Iranians, too, were happy with the progress of the talks, says Azizi. Credit: Reuters Then, it all fell apart. The next round of talks, meant to take place last weekend, was postponed. Araghchi returned to Tehran to host an annual diplomatic summit. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi featured in an Iranian newspaper ahead of the fifth round of talks with the US - Abedin Taherkenareh/Shutterstock Khamenei then poured cold water on the whole enterprise, remarking at an event in the Iranian capital that we dont think it will lead to any outcome. And on Monday this week, the Americans leaked an intelligence assessment suggesting Israel was readying for military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities. Enrichment The trigger seems to have been the Americans introducing a new condition: that whatever happens, Iran cannot continue to enrich its own uranium at any level. This, Witkoff told ABC, was the USs one very, very clear red line, We cannot allow even 1 per cent of an enrichment capability, he said. On negotiations with Iran for a new nuclear deal, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff tells @JonKarl that uranium enrichment is the Trump administration's "one very, very clear red line." "We cannot have that. Because enrichment enables weaponization." https://t.co/eXpYGKlkRR pic.twitter.com/WmauqQuAEV This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 18, 2025 It was this excessive and outrageous demand, as the Iranians saw it, that prompted Khameneis remark about talks being useless. Ravanchi told Irans Nour News an outlet owned, incidentally, by Shamkhani that regarding zero enrichment, we said from the beginning that if this is their [the Americans] position, it is natural that the work will not actually get anywhere. This is not just an act. Iran has been consistent on its right to enrich for more than two decades. On the Iranian side, theres been a wall-to-wall consensus on this, says Azizi. Khamenei, the opposition, everybody has given speeches saying we cannot give up the right to enrichment. Even some of the regimes opposition frankly say Iran shouldnt give up the right to enrichment. For veterans of the Iranian nuclear issue, this is a case of extreme deja vu. Thats always at the heart of the issue for various reasons, says Gass. This was precisely the main point of the JCPOA. For a long time, the Americans in those negotiations were saying no enrichment at all, just as theyre saying now. That wasnt where they ended up, though. In the JCPOA, they agreed, in the end, to a very low level of enrichment. That was what unlocked the door: agreement that there could be a little bit of enrichment, but then you need very robust assurance mechanisms to guarantee that that is being verified and that the rules are being followed. So its tricky, its technically complex. You cant negotiate that very quickly. In 2015, the sides eventually agreed Iran could only enrich uranium up to 3.67 per cent purity, and was only allowed to possess 300kg of this low-enriched uranium at any one time. Why are the Americans resorting to the same opening demand they tried more than a decade ago? Netanyahu has publicly insisted that any deal should be Libyan style, which would mean Iran allowing Western powers to demolish the entirety of its nuclear infrastructure. Some hawks in Washington are pushing the same message: that Iran is more economically and militarily vulnerable than it has been at any point in recent history, and that it can now be forced to accept something it previously resisted. Iranian MPs burning a US flag in the parliament in Tehran in 2018 after Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the accord - HO/AFP/Getty Others, however, are not impressed. Zero enrichment has a 22-year unblemished track record of failure, says Vaez. In fact, I would say zero enrichment is the mother of Irans nuclear programme, because when in the mid-2000s the US rejected an arrangement that the Europeans had with Iran, which allowed Iran to have a very limited nuclear programme, it resulted in Iran escalating its nuclear programme to industrial scale. When Trump withdrew from Irans nuclear deal in 2018, that resulted in Iran ratcheting up its nuclear programme and now basically becoming a threshold nuclear weapon state. Every time insistence on the perfect has resulted in the US losing the opportunity to get the good enough. Vaez, and everyone else outside of Trumps inner circle, is in the dark about Washingtons ultimate intention. The question I do not have an answer to is whether this is his opening salvo or it is a red line for the US. If its an opening salvo, then as soon as you get over the maximum demand, theres so many technical solutions that would allow both sides to get most of what they want. But if it is a real red line for the US, then these negotiations will collapse very soon, he says. I still think that Trump has learnt from the experience in the first term that maximalist demands are not going to work with Iran, and he really doesnt want war. But we will find out soon enough. Timeline to war If the talks do fall apart, the likelihood of an Israeli or joint US-Israeli strike on Iran rises significantly. But war is unlikely to break out straight away. First, there is likely to be a ratcheting up of diplomatic pressure. The first landmark could be the release of the next IAEA report on Irans nuclear programme, which could be out by the end of this week. It is unlikely to contain much new information beyond an update on the size of Irans stockpile and a repetition of long-standing concerns about transparency, access and unexplained traces of nuclear material. Britain, France and Germany, the remaining Western members of the JCPOA, may then decide to snap-back the sanctions that the 2015 deal suspended, on the grounds of Iranian non-compliance. That process would probably be complete some time in July or August, and would have to be done before Russia, an Iranian ally, assumes the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in October, says Vaez. The option to snap-back sanctions in the JCPOA also expires in October, putting pressure on the Europeans to use it or lose it. Iran has threatened that if that happens, it would basically withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty. If Iran indeed delivers on the threat of withdrawing from the NPT and kicking out the UN inspectors, thats when there will be justification for military action, says Vaez. I think its even in Israels interest, or in the hawks in Washingtons interest, to see snap-back happen before they launch a strike. Because once you do snap-back, basically Iran has returned to a pariah status under international law, because it would once again be categorised as a threat to international peace and security and then obviously a strike on its nuclear programme will become much more justified. In other words, war, if it happens, will most probably break out in autumn. Potential for strikes The US intelligence assessment leaked to CNN this week suggested Israels plans for strikes on Iran have been rapidly accelerated, suggesting Netanyahu is preparing to launch a unilateral attack if talks fall apart or produce a deal that does not end all enrichment. In a strictly military sense, that is entirely plausible. The Israeli military has been planning and training for strikes on Irans nuclear programme for two decades. The success of such an operation is another question. Conventional wisdom says Israel would need help from the US to deliver the kind of crushing blow that could permanently extinguish Irans nuclear programme. 1704 Nuclear facilities in Iran But more important is the political consideration. Could Netanyahu risk publicly undermining Trump? Definitely not, is the assessment of Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel and Senior Fellow at the INSS think tank in Tel Aviv. Hes afraid of Trump in a way that he never was of Biden, because he knew that Biden was a true friend. It came from his insides, and he could put a little bit of pressure on Israel, but he would never turn against it. You dont know that with Trump; hes mercurial, and so hes much more concerned and careful with how he plays it, says Freilich. If you look at why Israel hasnt attacked the Iranian nuclear programme at any point in the last 30 years, despite the so-called Begin doctrine, which says that Israel will prevent any hostile country in the region from achieving a nuclear weapon by all means, I think one of the two primary reasons was the US, he adds. If Trump is opposed to it today, then I dont think Israel can go ahead. The reported Israeli war plans, Freilich says, look very much like the kind of leak American administrations traditionally engineer when they are afraid Israel is going to do something obstructive. In other words, Trump would rather have a deal than a war. And I think, by the way, that much of the Israeli defence establishment, unlike at the political level, would be quite happy if they can reach a deal, says Freilich. Most people in defence have come to the conclusion that the JCPOA was the best of the bad options that were available to us. It wont be a similar deal in terms of content, because it has to be different, but a new agreement that will again significantly postpone the nuclear programme, is again the best of the bad options. There are plenty of people in Tehran equally desperate for a deal, says Azizi. And he argues there are plenty of creative solutions to the enrichment issues. Centrifuges can be limited in size and quantity, Irans stockpile could be exported to a third country such as Russia, the limit of 3.67 enrichment could be reimposed and so on. My take is that these are basically negotiation tactics on both sides. Theyre drawing a very hard line in the sand, and theyre going to bluff each other and test each other, Azizi says. They could find a technical solution if there is political will in the capitals. The chance of anything being agreed and finalised in the next few weeks is vanishingly small, however. This is just going to be very difficult, says Gass. First, simply because what the United States is likely to want is probably a long way from what Iran can offer. Second, because both sides have political pressures on them to achieve particular results. And third, because actually, as the JCPOA showed, once you really get into these subjects, they are very technically complicated. You need a lot of experts to sit down and work out issues which have to be recorded in minute detail, because there is zero trust between the United States and Iran, or indeed Iran and the Europeans. And therefore everything needs to be codified, because otherwise your concern is that when you actually try to put the agreement into effect, you will find that there are gaps which lead to doubts and opportunities for people to cut corners. It took around three years of painstaking and highly detailed and technical diplomacy to get the JCPOA over the line in 2015. Today, things are much more complicated. Iran has already produced enriched uranium, and possesses extensive and advanced centrifuges capable of delivering more. Because the permanent IAEA mission on the ground has faced restrictions since the JCPOA collapsed, there is also a knowledge gap concerning the extent of Irans nuclear infrastructure. It always reminds me of the Ginger Rogers line about Fred Astaire, she had to do everything he had to do, but backwards and in high heels, says Gass. And thats how I look at these negotiations. The JCPOA was extremely hard, but if you cant actually talk to each other, I would think thats harder still. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) People of all backgrounds showed their support Thursday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where a Jewish couple was killed Wednesday night in an antisemitic attack. Throughout the day, a memorial of flowers and messages grew. There were handwritten notes in Hebrew and English. One said, May we plant and tend to seeds of peace, not hate. PREVIOUS COVERAGE It is really, really upsetting when people are gunned down, simply for being Jewish, said Jeff Walton. This is not an issue of political disagreement. This is an issue of racial and ethnic hatred. And that is something that as Christians were called to stand against. And thats why Im here today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the shadow of the church across the street from the museum, a group of Christians and Jews stood united against hate, remembering Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. I think all kinds of antisemitic rhetoric has proliferated, especially since October 7th. Clearly, ideas have consequences. Words matter, said James Diddams. Diddams met Lishinsky a few weeks ago while taking a class for a professional certificate. He was so curious, intellectually curious about who the things we were talking about, the things we were learning. He was so engaging, Diddams said. Many Jews are praying for their safety as the interfaith community condemns what happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really hope this is not a pattern thats going to continue but Im afraid it might be. And thats very scary. And its important for people in D.C., people everywhere, to make it clear how unacceptable this is, Diddams 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Clark County Sheriffs Office announced theyve concluded their investigation into the apparent suicide of Interim Cowlitz Tribal Police Chief Charles Gardiner last month. Officials said the death investigation determined Gardiners cause of death was suicide, with no evidence of foul play found. In addition, Gardiner was accused of sexually abusing a minor. The Clark County Sheriffs Office also investigated this matter, finding that Gardiner likely committed a number of sex offenses with a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety concerns spark closure of Burnside burger spot A separate investigation into allegations of sex offenses involving a juvenile found probable cause that Charles Gardiner committed the crimes of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor in the First Degree, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Possession of Depictions of a Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Investigators believe the inappropriate relationship had been ongoing for approximately six to nine months, the Clark County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. The sheriffs office added they found no evidence suggesting there are additional victims. On April 23, Gardiner was found dead in Vancouver. The Clark County Sheriffs Office said he was found after an incident that was initially investigated as a home burglary. However, the sheriffs office later made the update that it wasnt a burglary and that Gardiner was accused of sexually abusing a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Authorities are investigating after two Israeli embassy employees were shot and killed in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. Police say the suspect yelled Free Palestine after he was arrested. Lawmakers condemned this as a horrific act of antisemitism, while DOJ officials say the person who did this will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were shot and killed late Wednesday after leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple worked at the Israeli embassy and were expected to soon to be engaged, according to the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Police say the suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was seen pacing outside the museum before the shooting. Attorney General Pam Bondi says security has been increased at the embassy and the investigation is ongoing. He acted alone from everything we know now, said Bondi. The White House says the president is saddened and outraged. Hatred has no place in the United States of America under President Donald Trump, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jewish members of Congress gathered at the scene Thursday to honor those killed and Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin said antisemitism must end. There is no justification ever for terrorism, said Raskin. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the attack. Seems to be another horrific incident of antisemitism which we all know is much to rampant in our society, said Schumer. FBI officials say they are aware of writings allegedly by the suspect and hope to have updates on the investigation 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) The reactions to the new owner of a single-family home in the established Pinehurst neighborhood range somewhere from not in my backyard to I dont have a problem with it. The property on Wake Forest Road was purchased last September by Fishing Point, the healthcare affiliate of the Nansemond Indian Nation, but its unclear what it will be doing at the home. Pinehurst is an established Churchland neighborhood off High Street, where the homes date back to the 1950s. And whats also been around for decades the kind of controversy surrounding the new neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously: Nansemond tribe brings medical and mental health care to underserved communities This is a nice neighborhood, said Andrew Jenkins, who lives across Wake Forest from the Fishing Point property and has children who play in the neighborhood. Im not saying theyre bad, but why throw a stick in the balloon and pop it for no reason. Fishing Point already has existing operations on London Boulevard in Portsmouth and Forehand Drive in the Deep Creek section of Chesapeake. Neighbors say theyve heard various versions of how the home on Wake Forest Road will be used. 10 On Your Side knocked on the door during a visit in April. A woman inside repeatedly responded, Im not at liberty to say, when we asked about how the property would be used and who would live there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Fishing Point van was parked in the driveway emblazoned with the message Transformative Mental Health Care for All. Some neighbors wonder if that means recovery from alcohol and substance abuse. I get it, Jenkins said. Theyre trying to better themselves. But why do it in a residential neighborhood? Next door, a different perspective. ([I have no problem] with them, no sir, said Wayne Brown, who recently moved to the neighborhood from Texas. Those people need a place. City records show the 1951 Cape Cod home has 3,600 square feet of living space. Fishing Point bought it last September for $550,000, more than twice what it sold for ($260,000) just three years earlier. Theyve been pouring money into it ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I noticed they did a lot of repairs and it seemed like an endless amount of improvements, Brown said. They made the place look very nice. Its zoned residential, said Portsmouth Deputy City Attorney Jeff Miller, outside last weeks meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals. Fishing Point has a current case before the BZA, and they were on the docket last week but their main attorney didnt show and it was continued to May 28. They had not complied with the zoning requirements to operate their group home, Miller said. And despite the well-manicured lawn, the case gets into the weeds legally when it comes to the definition of a group home which under state law is not treated as a business. Its treated almost as a single-family residence, Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller said with the proper permit and then a business license, Fishing Point can operate its home in the Portsmouth neighborhood, even if theyre not welcome. End of the day, nobody wants this, Jenkins said. When you work that hard to buy a house and the next thing you know things are popping up in the neighborhood. This has nothing to do with the neighborhood at all. Other neighbors told us off-camera: Im not comfortable with this with all the kids in the neighborhood and I understand youre doing a story, but I dont want any retribution. Again, Brown doesnt see a problem. Id rather they have a nice looking place to keep them than some slum, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 On Your Side reached out to the attorney for Fishing Point and its media contact, but got no response. If Fishing Point gets the necessary permit for the group home, and then a business license, it looks like they are on Wake Forest Road to stay. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. "The Ukrainian people know that they can count on Croatia's support. We have good relations between our states and continue to develop them. He invited me to participate in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit. Andrej confirmed his participation," Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel on Friday. In addition, the president informed his interlocutor about Ukraine's diplomatic work and preparations for continuing negotiations with the Russian side. "If Russia continues to drag out the war, there must be strong sanctions in response," the head of state emphasized. He thanked Croatia for supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, defense assistance, and facilitating its path to the EU. CASCADE, Md. (DC News Now) Big economic news was announced in western Maryland on Friday: 300 new manufacturing jobs are coming to Washington County a major lift to the tiny rural community of Cascade. Ft. Ritchie is a former military installation being transformed into a residential, retail and commercial community. As announced in late May, a major medical device manufacturer will also be setting up shop. Governor Wes Moore made the announcement at the State House in Annapolis, adding that SJ Medical, with operations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, is coming to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Krumpotich is part of the development team at Ft. Ritchie, bringing the charming condos, cafes and pubs to a quiet lakeside setting. Tech Talk: Fairfax County 10th graders create app to help patients, first responders in emergencies The SJ Medical investment is just a testament to the growth and rebirth of the fort. But theres more to come; Discovery Station is coming in, Stone House Urban Winery is also along with a bunch of other small businesses, he said. When we met with SJ Medical and they met Mr. Krumpotich, there was an immediate kinship in terms of partnership, added Jonathan Horowitz, director of business and economic development for Washington County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horowitz also said that Cascade schools were in jeopardy due to recent population losses, but SJ is completely reversing that trend. Leasing 35,000 square feet to an international corporation here adds to the organic growth, Krumpotich observed, but this new investment really moves the needle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Iowa Lakes Community College students will now have additional options to transfer to a state university with new transfer degrees. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Lakes Community College) Iowa Lakes Community College is tapping partnerships with Iowas public universities to offer students more degree options and paths to further their education. The Estherville-based community college announced the launch of seven new transfer major degrees that will be available for student enrollment in the fall 2025 semester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX These new majors reflect both student demand and workforce trends in Iowa and across the nation, said college President Scott Stokes in a news release. They give our students more targeted opportunities to begin their educational journey locally while ensuring a clear and cost-effective route to a bachelors degree. The transfer degrees cover areas of study in agriculture business, agronomy, animal science, communication, English, political science and social work, according to the release. Each of the degrees were formed in agreement with the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University and will count for the first two years of a bachelors degree. With the new additions to its academic offerings, the community college now offers more than 20 transfer degrees, the release stated, ranging from math to education, fine arts and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These degree programs were developed to make the transfer process from community college to university easier, with the assurance that their credits will seamlessly transfer, according to the release. Whether students are aiming for a career in agriculture, education, communication, or social services, these Transfer Majors give them a solid foundation, said Beth Elman, executive director of marketing, in the release. This expansion supports our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education that prepares students for lifelong success. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ROME (AP) Iran and the United States made some but not conclusive progress Friday in a fifth round of negotiations in Rome over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, the talks' Omani mediator said. The remarks by Badr al-Busaidi suggested the negotiations between the two longtime enemies would continue even as the talks run up against their toughest challenge: Trying to find middle ground between American demands that Iran stop enriching uranium while Tehran insists its program must continue. The fifth round of Iran US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress, al-Busaidi wrote on X. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi after the talks told Iranian state television that al-Busaidi presented ideas that will be conveyed to the two nations' capitals without creating any commitments for either side." "These negotiations are too complex to be resolved in just two or three meetings, he said. I am hopeful that in the next one or two rounds especially given the better understanding of the Islamic Republics positions we can reach solutions that allow the talks to progress. He added: We are not there yet, but we are not discouraged either." The U.S. was again represented in the talks by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Departments policy planning director, at the negotiations in the Omani Embassy in Romes Camilluccia neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks, said the direct and indirect negotiations continue to be constructive. The talks continue to be constructive we made further progress, but there is still work to be done, the official said. Enrichment remains key in negotiations The talks seek to limit Irans nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on half a century of enmity. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Irans program if a deal isnt reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran almost certainly is not producing nuclear weapons, but Iran has undertaken activities in recent years that better position it to produce them, if it chooses to do so, a new report from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said. These actions reduce the time required to produce sufficient weapons-grade uranium for a first nuclear device to probably less than one week. However, it likely still would take Iran months to make a working bomb, experts say. Enrichment remains the key point of contention. Witkoff at one point suggested Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later began saying all Iranian enrichment must stop. That position on the American side has hardened over time. Asked about the negotiations, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said we believe that we are going to succeed in the talks and on Washington's push for no enrichment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iranians are at that table, so they also understand what our position is, and they continue to go," Bruce said Thursday. One idea floated so far that might allow Iran to stop enrichment in the Islamic Republic but maintain a supply of uranium could be a consortium in the Mideast backed by regional countries and the U.S. There also are multiple countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency offering low-enriched uranium that can be used for peaceful purposes by countries. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry has maintained enrichment must continue within the country's borders and a similar fuel-swap proposal failed to gain traction in negotiations in 2010. Meanwhile, Israel has threatened to strike Irans nuclear facilities on their own if it feels threatened, further complicating tensions in the Mideast already spiked by the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Araghchi warned Thursday that Iran would take special measures to defend its nuclear facilities if Israel continues to threaten them, while also warning the U.S. it would view it as being complicit in any Israeli attack. Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo, an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes. Talks come as US pressure on Iran increases Yet despite the tough talk from Iran, the Islamic Republic needs a deal. Its internal politics are inflamed over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past. Irans rial currency plunged to over 1 million to a U.S. dollar in April. The currency has improved with the talks, however, something Tehran hopes will continue as a further collapse in the rial could spark further economic unrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, its self-described Axis of Resistance sits in tatters after Iran's regional allies in the region have faced repeated attacks by Israel during its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The collapse of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government during a rebel advance in December also stripped Iran of a key ally. The Trump administration also has continued to levy new sanctions on Iran, including this week, which saw the U.S. specifically target any sale of sodium perchlorate to the Islamic Republic. Iran reportedly received that chemical in shipments from China at its Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. A major, unexplained explosion there killed dozens and wounded over 1,000 others in April during one round of the talks. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. 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? By Michaela Cabrera and Miranda Murray CANNES, France (Reuters) -Iranian filmmaker Saeed Roustaee said on Friday that he was careful in how he shot his Cannes Film Festival entry "Woman and Child", which never shows women without the mandatory hijab, but was still unsure how he would be received when he returned home. "Last time, they took my passport," said the 35-year-old about his last appearance at the festival in southern France, for competition title "Leila's Brothers" in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This time, I hope they don't. I just want to go home." Roustaee had also been handed a six-month suspended sentence over that film for showcasing it without Tehran's authorisation. The director said that facing a sentence places a heavy burden not only on the person, but all their friends and family. "Maybe you can handle it yourself, but when you see that your elderly parents can't, it hurts more," he told journalists. His new film, "Woman and Child," stars Parinaz Izadyar as single mother Mahnaz, whose decision to marry her boyfriend Hamid kicks off a series of events culminating in tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roustaee obtained a permit for the new film, because without it, there was no way he was going to be able to shoot, he said. "I don't know to what extent I'm self-censoring, but ultimately, I live in Iran," the director said. "I'm making films in Iran, and I very much want people to see my films on the big screen. So probably, I am observing certain boundaries so that my films can make it to the screen." "Woman and Child," which premiered on Thursday, is one of two Iranian films competing for the Palme d'Or top prize this year, the other being "It Was Just An Accident" by Jafar Panahi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panahi, who does not apply for government approval, also plans to return to Iran to begin work on his new film even though he only recently was allowed to travel after 15 years. In total, 22 films are competing for the award this year. (Reporting by Michaela Cabrera and Miranda MurrayEditing by Gareth Jones) The man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., was on Thursday charged with murder of foreign officials and other charges, according to court filings. Elias Rodriguez, 31, made his first court appearance a day after allegedly gunning down a young couple who worked for the embassy Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26 after an event at the museum Wednesday night. Police officials said he shouted free, free Palestine following his arrest. He faces five charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, a criminal complaint shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh informed Rodriguez that some of the charges against him carry the death penalty or life in prison if he is convicted. Wearing a white jumpsuit but unshackled, Rodriguez was informed of his rights and appointed a public defender, Elizabeth Mullin, to represent him. He seemed attentive and at one point scanned the gallery. No plea was entered, and a preliminary hearing was set for June 18. Rodriguez did not object to remaining detained as the case moves forward, for now. The case is being prosecuted by Jeffrey Nestler, a veteran of the U.S. attorneys office in D.C. who handled the seditious conspiracy trial of the Oath Keepers and other high-profile Jan. 6 cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Rodriguez, of Chicago, approached a group of four people leaving an event at the museum shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday. He fired at close range, killing Lischinsky and Milgrim, before walking into the museum, where he was apprehended. In an interview with D.C. Metropolitan Police detectives, following the attack, Rodriguez expressed admiration for airman Aaron Bushnell, who in February 2024 self-immolated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington as a form of protest meant to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to an FBI affidavit. Rodriguez labeled him a martyr, the affidavit said. He flew into Reagan National Airport on Tuesday and declared a firearm in his checked baggage, according to the affidavit. The attack drew sharp rebuke from U.S. and global leaders. Both President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decried the killings as the result of antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social early Thursday morning. Netanyahu called the deaths the terrible price of anti-Semitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel. The FBI previously said early indications are that the shooting was a targeted act of violence. The victims were soon set to be engaged, according to Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. He told reporters that Lischinsky had purchased a ring and planned to propose in Jerusalem next week. Zach Schonfeld contributed to this post, which was updated at 5:34 p.m. EDT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By James Mackenzie JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday the newly named head of the domestic intelligence service would take office without delay next month, following a bitter row over the removal of his predecessor. "The Prime Minister is responsible for the security of the state, even more so during a multi-front war," Netanyahu said in a statement, following the appointment of Major General David Zini, head of the military's Training and Doctrine Command as head of the Shin Bet intelligence service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zini will replace Ronen Bar, who said he would resign on June 15 following a bitter dispute with Netanyahu who tried to sack him in March before the decision was blocked by a Supreme Court temporary injunction. Last month the Supreme Court ruled that the dismissal was illegal but Bar said he would step down to allow an orderly handover. Netanyahu said when he announced the dismissal in March that he had lost confidence in Bar over Shin Bet's failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The move drew a furious reaction from critics who said the real reason for Bar's dismissal was an investigation by police and Shin Bet into possible financial ties between a number of close aides of the prime minister and Qatar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affair sparked large demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem by protesters who said Netanyahu was undermining democracy by trying to sack Bar while the so-called "Qatargate" investigation was underway. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled that Bar's dismissal was done in violation of the law, and that Netanyahu had a conflict of interest over the Qatargate investigation. Bar had always accepted responsibility for Shin Bet's failure in forestalling the October 7 attacks and had said he would leave his post early. Netanyahu said any delay in appointing a new head of the agency, which conducts counterterrorism investigations, was a "security requirement of the highest order, any delay harms the security of the state and the security of our soldiers". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MILITARY The standoff over the head of Shin Bet followed more than two years of hostility between Netanyahu supporters and elements of the security and defence establishment that was worsened by blame over the failures that allowed Hamas' October 7 attack. On Friday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that Zini would be leaving the military in the coming days and that any discourse between serving soldiers and the government had to be approved by the chief of the general staff, indicating the appointment had been made without its knowledge. The issue has been one of the most prominent battlegrounds between the government and an array of anti-Netanyahu groups who have attacked him over issues ranging from plans to curb the power of the judiciary to the failure to agree a hostage deal in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zini's appointment was condemned by opposition parties and by the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, who said Netanyahu was acting against legal guidance and that there were serious conflict of interest concerns. Baharav-Miara has herself clashed repeatedly with Netanyahu over the legality of some of his policies and the cabinet has approved a no-confidence motion. In a sign of how poisoned the political atmosphere has become in Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had barred opposition politician Yair Golan, a former deputy head of the Israeli military who now leads the small left-wing Democrats party, from serving in the reserves. Golan, who single-handedly rescued people from the Hamas attack on Israel after driving to the scene on October 7, 2023, warned this week that Israel risked becoming a "pariah state" over the war in Gaza, and said "a sane country does not fight against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Katz said the comments amounted to a "blood libel" and would expose Israeli soldiers to being arrested by international courts when travelling abroad. "I have decided to instruct the IDF not to call Yair Golan up for reserve duty anymore and to prohibit him from wearing the IDF uniform and entering IDF bases," Katz said in a statement. (Reporting by James MackenzieEditing by Gareth Jones) Israeli settlers attacked the village of Bruchin in the north-western West Bank during the night, Palestinian residents and local media reported on Friday. Dozens of settlers entered the village, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Eyewitnesses told dpa that the settlers set fire to five houses and five cars. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said eight people had been treated for minor burns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokeswoman said the Israeli military had received reports of the incident and dispatched security forces to Bruchin, but that the suspects fled before they arrived. The military said it was investigating the incident but had no reports of injuries so far. A local resident is said to have killed a pregnant Israeli woman from a nearby settlement in the area last week. The woman's husband was also injured in the attack, which took place while the couple were travelling to the hospital for the birth, media reported. On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had killed the suspected gunman. Residents said the military was deployed in Bruchin for nine days after the incident, and had withdrawn shortly before the overnight settler attack. Tensions in the West Bank have intensified since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war. Since then, more than 920 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations, armed clashes or attacks by extremists, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets sent official letters to the United Nations (UN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in connection with the shooting of two Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian occupiers on Thursday. "The deliberate killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and a grave international crime! I immediately sent official letters to the UN and ICRC," Lubinets wrote on Telegram on Friday. As reported, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the shooting of two Ukrainian prisoners of war by the occupiers in the Pokrovsk direction. According to recent data, on the morning of May 22, the occupiers stormed the positions of the Defense Forces near the village of Udachne, Pokrovsk district, where four Ukrainian servicemen were performing combat missions. During the offensive, representatives of the aggressor state captured two defenders, after which they shot them unarmed in a forest strip with machine guns. The fate of the other defenders is currently unknown. Urgent investigative (search) actions are currently being carried out to establish all the circumstances of the incident and the persons involved in the commission of the specified crime. By Ali Sawafta BRUQIN, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli settlers torched Palestinian vehicles and houses in the occupied West Bank, Israel's army and villagers said, the latest in a series of attacks on the village of Bruqin, close to the location where a pregnant settler was killed this month. Palestinian residents in Bruqin, who say they have faced constant attacks and abuse from Israeli settlers nearby, said a large group had shown up during the night, throwing Molotov cocktails and beating anyone in their way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Akram Sabra, a resident of the village, said he had left his home to watch as dozens, possibly a hundred, people burned cars belonging to him and his family and threw a Molotov cocktail incendiary at his son's house. "I saw my vehicles were burned and then they beat me on the head and I am still dizzy," he said. The Israeli military said it had received a report on Thursday that Israeli civilians had vandalised property in the area of the village, in the northern part of the West Bank. "Upon receiving the report, IDF (Israel Defence Force) soldiers were dispatched to the scene. The suspects fled prior to the arrival of IDF soldiers," it said, adding that no injuries were reported and the incident was under review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli forces have imposed a strict lockdown in and around Bruqin following the killing of Tzeela Gez, a heavily pregnant resident of the nearby settlement of Bruchin. The Israeli military said this week troops searching the area near Bruqin had killed her attacker, who it said had previously served a prison sentence for being a member of the militant group Hamas, and arrested several others suspected of helping with the attack. Since the killing of Gez, Palestinians have reported multiple attacks in the area by settlers who have burned cars, thrown stones and incendiary devices at houses and bulldozed land belonging to Palestinians. "They come at us almost on a daily basis, even sometimes several times a day," said Mustafa Khater, 45, another Bruqin resident. "They attack us with stones and abuse." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations humanitarian organization OCHA said more than 11,000 Palestinians in Bruqin and Kafr ad Dik towns were blocked in, with 28 attacks by settlers resulting in injury or property damage reported in the week to May 19. In all, it said there were 1,449 attacks last year, the highest level in more than 20 years. DISPLACEMENT Settler attacks against Palestinian villages in the West Bank have intensified sharply since the start of the Gaza war, as new settlement building has accelerated under the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The latest attacks took place as the Israeli military has been conducting its largest operation in the West Bank since the Second Intifada, or uprising two decades ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation, which has focused on refugee camps in volatile northern cities including Jenin and Tulkarm, has displaced more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to United Nations figures, and added to fears among many Palestinians of a wider drive towards a full Israeli takeover of the West Bank. Several leading ministers in Netanyahu's government, including the pro-settler Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have called openly for the annexation of the West Bank and the displacement of large sections of the Palestinian population. The West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of a future independent state along with Gaza and East Jerusalem, was seized by Israeli forces in the 1967 Middle East war and been under military occupation ever since. Most countries consider settlements to be illegal under international law. Israel disputes that, citing historical and Biblical connections of the Jewish people to the area. (Writing by James MackenzieEditing by Gareth Jones) At least 33 people have been killed and dozens injured in the latest Israeli attacks overnight in Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday, citing medical sources. An Israeli airstrike in a small town near Khan Younis in the southern part of the territory killed 11 people, WAFA said. The report stated that a family's house was hit in the attack. Most of the victims are said to be minors. The attack also left several people injured, some seriously. Due to the extensive destruction, rescue teams have so far been unable to transport all the victims to hospitals, WAFA reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A video circulating on social and Palestinian media is said to show bodies among the rubble following the attack. The authenticity of the footage could not initially be independently verified. The Israeli army stated, in response to an inquiry, that it was reviewing the reports. Earlier on Telegram, the Israeli military said soldiers are continuing operations against "terrorist organizations across the Gaza Strip." On Thursday, troops "eliminated several terrorists throughout the Gaza Strip and struck military compounds, weapons, storage facilities, and sniper posts," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said the air force had hit more than 75 targets, including "terrorists, launchers, military compounds, weapons storage facilities and additional terrorist infrastructure." The claims made by both sides cannot currently be independently verified. More aid arrives in Gaza After an aid blockade lasting almost three months, another 107 trucks supplied by the United Nations and the international community have arrived in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli authority for Palestinian affairs, COGAT, said on Friday. The trucks carrying flour, food, medical equipment and medicine entered the sealed-off strip on Thursday, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Israel lifted its blockade on aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Prior to this, it had not allowed any deliveries since the beginning of March, accusing the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas of reselling the supplies to finance its fighters and weapons. The United Nations and aid organizations are warning of famine in Gaza. Aid workers say the quantities that have arrived in Gaza this week are far from sufficient to alleviate the suffering of the population. They have also described difficulties in distributing the aid. "Significant challenges in loading and dispatching goods remain due to insecurity, the risk of looting, delays in coordination approvals and inappropriate routes being provided by Israeli forces that are not viable for the movement of cargo," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN says 500 trucks need to enter Gaza daily to feed the some 2 million people in Gaza. The Gaza war was triggered by the devastating terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias in Israel on October 7, 2023. The subsequent war has claimed more than 53,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. The agency does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. Israeli settlers attack West Bank village In the West Bank, Palestinian residents and local media on Friday reported an overnight attack by Israeli settlers on the village of Bruchin in the north-western part of the territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said dozens of settlers entered the village. Eyewitnesses told dpa that the settlers set fire to five houses and five cars. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said eight people had been treated for minor burns. A spokeswoman said the Israeli military had received reports of the incident and dispatched security forces to Bruchin, but that the suspects fled before they arrived. The military said it was investigating the incident but had no reports of injuries so far. A local resident is said to have killed a pregnant Israeli woman from a nearby settlement in the area last week. The woman's husband was also injured in the attack, which took place while the couple were travelling to the hospital for the birth, media reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had killed the suspected gunman. Residents said the military was deployed in Bruchin for nine days after the incident, and had withdrawn shortly before the overnight settler attack. Tensions in the West Bank have intensified since the beginning of the Gaza war. Since then, more than 920 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations, armed clashes or attacks by extremists, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli airstrikes killed at least six Palestinians guarding aid trucks against looters, Hamas officials said on Friday, as the head of the United Nations warned that only a "teaspoon" of aid was getting in following Israel's 11-week-long blockade. The Israeli military said 107 trucks carrying flour and other foodstuffs as well as medical supplies entered the Gaza Strip from the Kerem Shalom crossing point on Thursday, for a total of 305 since Monday when the blockade was relaxed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But getting the supplies to people sheltering in tents and other makeshift accommodation has been fitful and U.N. officials say at least 500 to 600 trucks of aid are needed every day. So far, an umbrella network of Palestinian aid groups said, 119 aid trucks have got past the Kerem Shalom crossing point and into Gaza since Israel eased its blockade on Monday in the face of an international outcry. Despite the relaxation of the blockade, distribution has been hampered by looting by groups of men, some of them armed, near the city of Khan Younis, an umbrella network representing Palestinian aid groups said. "They stole food meant for children and families suffering from severe hunger," the network said in a statement, which also condemned Israeli airstrikes on security teams protecting the trucks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. World Food Programme said 15 trucks carrying flour to WFP-supported bakeries had been looted, which it said reflected the dire conditions facing Gazans. "Hunger, desperation and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming is contributing to rising insecurity," it said in a statement. A Hamas official said six members of a security team tasked with guarding the shipments were killed. Israel imposed the blockade in early March, accusing Hamas of stealing aid meant for civilians. Hamas rejects the charge, saying a number of its own fighters have been killed protecting the trucks from armed looters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which generally considers all armed Palestinians as militants. "Hamas constantly calls the looters 'guards' or protectors' to mask the fact that they're disturbing the aid process," a military official said. 'DESPERATION' With most of Gaza's 2 million population squeezed into an ever narrowing zone on the coast and in the area around the southern city of Khan Younis by Israel's military operation, international pressure to get aid in quickly has ratcheted up. "Without rapid, reliable, safe and sustained aid access, more people will die and the long-term consequences on the entire population will be profound," said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A German government spokesperson said the aid was "far too little, too late and too slow," adding that delivery of supplies had to be increased significantly. Israel has announced that a new system, sponsored by the United States and run by private contractors, will soon begin operations from four distribution centres in the south of Gaza, but many details of how the system will work remain unclear. The U.N. has already said it will not work with the new system, which it says will leave aid distribution conditional on Israel's political and military aims. Israel says its forces will only provide security for the centres and will not distribute aid themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the aid has begun to trickle in, the Israeli military has continued the intensified ground and air operation launched last week, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would end with Israel taking full control of the Gaza Strip. The military said it had conducted more strikes in Gaza overnight, hitting 75 targets, including weapons storage facilities and rocket launchers. Palestinian medical services said at least 25 people had been killed in the strikes. Israel launched an air and ground war in Gaza after Hamas militants' cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people by Israeli tallies and saw 251 hostages abducted into Gaza. The Israeli campaign has since killed more than 53,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip. Aid groups say signs of severe malnutrition are widespread. (Writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean) Under mounting international pressure, Israel announced on May 19, 2025, that it would lift its monthslong humanitarian blockade on Gaza. The aid, which the Israeli government said would include a basic amount of food to stave off starvation, comes as more than 90% of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are experiencing acute food insecurity. Despite the staggering number of people at risk of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza, however, two-thirds of Israelis are opposed to allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Thats true even when that aid is delivered by international organizations not linked to either Hamas or UNRWA, the U.N.s aid agency for Palestinian refugees that the Israeli government has banned and refuses to work with. What drives Israeli opposition to aid? As researchers with a keen interest in conflict resolution and humanitarian aid, we wondered whether a key factor driving Israeli attitudes may be misperceptions about the scale of humanitarian need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To find out to what extent misperceptions shape opposition to humanitarian aid, we surveyed close to 3,000 Jewish Israelis between Jan. 21 and March 19, 2025, across all age groups, regions, income levels and sex in an online survey. We found that many respondents believed that fewer than 10% of Gazans were going hungry revealing a stark disconnect between public perception and the situation reported by international humanitarian organizations. Indeed, when asked to explain their opposition to humanitarian aid, one of those we surveyed responded, They dont have a shortage of food, its just presented that way. Another replied, The vast majority of Gaza residents have enough food, there are restaurants and shopping malls operating in Gaza. Does credible information change attitudes? Our survey pointed to the role that media bias and censorship may be playing in distorting Israelis understanding of suffering in Gaza. Media bias is a common phenomenon during war. But since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, in which 1,182 Israelis were killed by Hamas fighters, media bias over the war in Gaza has been institutionalized in Israel. Citing national security reasons, the Israel Defense Forces has ramped up censorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent analysis suggests that more than 35% of articles from Israeli media have been partially redacted and almost 10% completely censored in 2025. While Israelis are free to consume international news, many do not due to language barriers and perceived bias against Israel. As a result, what Israeli citizens read, hear and see in national media increasingly reflects the interests of the government. Furthermore, online platforms such as Facebook and X are designed to promote posts that reinforce users preexisting beliefs, resulting in an echo chamber rather than exposing people to diverse viewpoints. Exposure to dire humanitarian situation But what happens when people expressing skepticism over the level of suffering in Gaza are presented with credible information? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To test this, we asked a randomly chosen subset of participants to read parts of news articles published by Ynet Israels most popular online news source about the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. These included reports that managed to escape the censor of children whose weight had dropped by half and families surviving on grass and garbage. We then compared whether those who had read these news reports demonstrated higher levels of support for aid delivery than those who did not. The results showed that exposure to the news reports portraying the humanitarian situation in Gaza led to increased support for humanitarian aid but only by a modest 5 percentage points increase. This limited shift underscores how deeply held many Israeli views on the war in Gaza are and how resistant to change attitudes are, even when it comes to basic humanitarian assistance. Understandably, part of this relates to the continued collective shock and anger provoked by the brutal Hamas attack in 2023. In addition to the killings, more than 250 hostages were taken, with dozens still be being held. Fitting with a broader pattern of Gazans being seen as undeserving of sympathy, our survey found that more than a third of Israelis believe that more than 90% of Palestinians in Gaza support Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A common refrain we heard is that there are no uninvolved in Gaza. Many respondents explicitly justified their opposition to humanitarian aid with statements including, Everyone in Gaza is involved in what happened on October 7, or They dont deserve to be taken care of after they were happy about what they did to us. However, this view starkly contradicts evidence of significant opposition to Hamas within Gaza. According to the latest poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey, taken in early May 2025, only 37% of Palestinians in Gaza thought the Oct. 7 attack was correct. Moreover, half of all Gaza respondents said they supported recent demonstrations calling for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza. Given this reality, Israelis attribution of collective responsibility for the Oct. 7 attack creates a troubling moral calculus that rationalizes civilian suffering. Again, it points to the role that misperceptions play in the ongoing conflict and resulting humanitarian crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another likely reason for the limited impact of being given accurate reporting of the humanitarian crisis is that it represents just a drop in the bucket compared with the broader information environment most Israelis are exposed to. A single news story, no matter how compelling, is unlikely to outweigh the cumulative effect of months of emotionally charged and partially censored media coverage, political messaging and social media discourse that emphasizes threat and distrust. In such an environment, deeply entrenched narratives are difficult to shift. In this regard, the fact that reading even a single brief news story had any effect is encouraging. It suggests that a more accurate and sustained information environment one that conveys the true extent of humanitarian suffering and the complexity of public sentiment in Gaza could have a much greater impact on Israeli public opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Jori Breslawski, Tel Aviv University and Carlo Koos, University of Bergen Read more: Jori Breslawski receives funding from The Hartoch Institute of Government, The Colton Foundation, the Smith Richardson Foundation, and the Global Religion Research Initiative. Carlo Koos receives funding from the European Research Council (www.wareffects.eu) Israeli forces on Friday reported downing another projectile fired from Yemen. Air raid sirens sounded in several areas across Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on X. Initially, there were no reports of injuries or damage. Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced on Friday that the militia launched "a hypersonic missile" targeting Ben Gurion Airport. The strike achieved its objective, prompting large numbers of civilians to seek shelter and causing a temporary halt in airport operations, he said in a televised statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our operations are ongoing and will escalate, God willing, until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted, said Saree. The statement did not specify the extent of damage or casualties resulting from the attack. This development marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as Yemens Iran-backed Houthis continue to position themselves as part of the broader resistance against Israeli military operations in Gaza. The militia, which controls large parts of war-torn Yemen, has been firing missiles at Israel since the beginning of the latest Gaza war in what it says is a show of solidarity with the Palestinian extremist movement Hamas, another Iranian proxy group. The Houthis have also been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Chairman Jim Huston said he plans to retire by January 2026. (Photo courtesy IURC) Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) Chairman Jim Huston announced his retirement Friday and said he plans to step down in January 2026 after more than a decade with the agency. Although Hustons second term officially ended April 1, he has remained in the role temporarily and will continue to do so until a successor is appointed. He was originally named to the commission by Gov. Mike Pence in 2014 and reappointed as chairman by Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IURC Nominating Committee is now seeking Hustons replacement, the commission said in a news release. It is with a grateful heart that I announce my intent to retire, Huston said in a written statement. It is a blessing to work alongside our incredibly talented professional staff every day, and I am proud of the work we accomplish on behalf of Hoosier families. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US The powerful five-member commission oversees more than 600 electric, natural gas, steam, water and wastewater utilities operating in Indiana, according to its website. It regulates rates, financing, bonding, environmental compliance plans and service territories, with final say over changes to the utility bills millions of Hoosiers pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his tenure, Huston worked to streamline agency processes and reinstituted semi-annual Reliability Forums, where utility stakeholders assess seasonal preparedness for energy demand. In 2024, he testified before the U.S. Congress on state-level challenges facing electric service reliability. Huston currently serves as co-chair of the Federal-State Issues Collaborative, and holds roles with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and GTI Energy. I want to thank Chairman Jim Huston for his service with the IURC over the past decade. He is a lifelong public servant and is leaving the agency in much better shape than when he arrived, Gov. Mike Braun said in a statement. I wish Chairman Huston the best in retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to his IURC appointment, Huston served as chief of staff at the Indiana State Department of Health. During Gov. Mitch Daniels administration, he separately served as executive director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The office has since been absorbed by Indianas Department of Workforce Development as the agencys Serve Indiana division. Huston also worked for four members of Congress and former Gov. Robert Orr. He has twice received the Sagamore of the Wabash, one of Indianas highest honors. Huston said he looks looks forward to the next chapter of his life, which will include spending a little more time with his family and grandchildren. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-4th), who represents the district where Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his wife live, led the chant bring him home outside the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt last Friday, before a hearing in Abrego Garcias case. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) will travel to El Salvador on Friday in hopes of checking in on one of his constituents, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the undocumented immigrant who has been held by authorities there since mid-March at the direction of the Trump administration. Iveys spokesperson, Ramon Korionoff, said Thursday evening that the congressman is scheduled to meet with individuals from human rights and other nongovernmental organizations and that he hopes to meet with Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa to discuss Abrego Garcias case. Ulloa and Ivey met more than two years ago, Korionoff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a fluid situation because its a weekend, so were trying to get all these appointments. A lot of them are happening on Monday, Korionoff said. Were trying to use all avenues, both diplomatically and with volunteer organizations to secure the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He said Ivey will be accompanied on the trip by labor union representatives Abrego Garcia was an apprentice sheet metal worker in a local union when he was arrested March 12 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador, has been shielded from deportation since 2019, when a U.S. immigration judge said that sending him back to El Salvador could put his life at risk from the gangs there that caused him to flee the country in the first place. He was living in Beltsville with his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, and their child when he was detained on March 12 by ICE agents while driving with his 5-year-old son. The ICE agents told him only that his status had changed, according to court filings. Those documents said Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, was called and instructed to appear at their location within ten minutes to get her five-year old son, A.A.V.; otherwise, the ICE officers threatened that the child would be handed over to Child Protective Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Three days later, on March 15, Abrego Garcia was placed on one of three deportation flights to El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele had agreed to house U.S. deportees at his countrys Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT, in exchange for millions in payments from the U.S. ICE and Justice Department officials later admitted in separate court filings that Abrego Garcias deportation to CECOT was an administrative error under the 2019 court order protecting him. But they insist Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, even though he and his supporters deny it and he has never been charged criminally. At an April meeting in the White House between Bukele and President Donald Trump, both presidents claimed they did not have the authority to ask the other to release Abrego Garcia. Attorneys for Abrego Garcia, meanwhile, claim he was denied his due process rights and courts have largely agreed. That includes the U.S. Supreme Court, which ordered the Trump administration in April to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he has been moved out of CECOT to a less-restrictive prison, however, he remains in custody in El Salvador. His attorneys, and lower court judges, have accused government officials of dragging their feet in efforts to return Abrego Garcia. At a hearing last Friday before U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, attorneys for the government argued that they could not provide some information about Abrego Garcias case because it is protected by the state secrets privilege a claim Xinis appeared skeptical of. Department of Justice attorney Jonathan D. Guynn said during that hearing at the federal courthouse in Greenbelt that the Trump administration is complying with court orders in the case. But even if Abrego Garcia was brought back tomorrow, he said, the government would seek to hold him or deport him again. Hell never walk free in the United States, Guynn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the attorneys for Abrego Garcia, Andrew J. Rossman, said at the hearing its deeply disturbing that administration officials, including the president, have made public statements that contradict court orders directing the government to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. Prior to the hearing, Ivey joined Abrego Garcias family and other supporters outside the federal courthouse in Greenbelt. Ivey is not the first U.S. politician traveling to El Salvador on Abrego Garcias behalf. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spent several days in El Salvador in April, seeking to meet with Abrego Garcia and Bukele. He was brushed off until the last day, when Van Hollen got to meet Abrego Garcia in a stage-managed meeting in a hotel lobby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Hollens trip was almost immediately by a trip by four Democratic House members who traveled on their own after they failed to persuade the Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee to schedule an official committee trip to investigate Abrego Garcias case. Korionoff said Iveys trip this weekend is another opportunity to keep the spotlight on this issue. Its important to the constituents that the congressmen highlight this situation and assure the American people that were not going to give up on this guy, just like we wont give up on anybody else who hasnt had their due process rights, he said. JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Two Israeli Embassy employees were shot and killed Wednesday night, May 21, 2025 as they left the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. One local Rabbi in Jacksonville, Rabbi Yerachmiel Altman of Congregation Anshe Toras Chesed, said while many people may be afraid in the midst of the attack, hes staying brave. We have to find ways that we can all work together towards peace, towards living together, Rabbi Altman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabbi Altman said connection with others is important. He and his wife, Sara, said when people are divided by something like religion or race, or anything, thats when it can lead to tragedy. I feel that there are a lot of people that are actually encouraging anti-Semitism today, Sara Channa Altman said. We need to stop it before someone really gets hurt. We have had two people that were gunned down and more people could have been impacted when the gunman went into the Jewish museum. After the attack, Rabbi Altman said many people may be afraid but he invites them to join him. Were, were here. Were here 24/7. We actually have a group every night that says Psalms, he said. And I would say about two-thirds of them are people local and a third of them are all over the country, in fact, all over the world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. (NewsNation) Despite rumors that Sean Diddy Combs had something to do with Jamie Foxxs 2023 medical emergency, Foxx has said the disgraced music mogul has nothing to do with it, On Thursday, Foxx, 57, told a Hollywood Reporter roundtable that he saw what the world was saying during his medical emergency. I didnt know what the outside world was saying, and I couldnt get my mind around the fact that I had a stroke. Im in fking perfect shape. (I see things like,) Puffy tried to kill me, Foxx recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diddy trial: Feds appear to be making their RICO case, attorney says No, Puffy didnt try to kill me, he told the roundtable. Jamie Foxx flipped out at conspiracy that he was cloned: Report Foxx said that what he was really worried about was the fact that people were claiming he had been cloned. Jamie Foxx attends Sony Pictures Spider-Man: No Way Home Los Angeles Premiere on December 13, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) When they said I was a clone, that made me flip, Foxx joked. He also said: The next morning, I said, I know whats up, youre trying to clone me and make me white so Ill sell better overseas. The psychiatrist says, Are you all right? And I say, Am I all right or am I all white? I saw you trying to get the white motherfking Jamie Foxx and it aint going to happen. He just calmly goes, I think were going to lower your dosage.' Jamie Foxx claims he left Diddys parties early in Netflix special This isnt the first time that Foxx has talked about the theory with Combs. During his Netflix stand-up, What Had Happened Was, he said, The internet said Puffy was trying to kill me, thats what the internet was saying. I know what you thinking, Diddy? Hell no, I left them parties early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told the audience on his special that he would leave by 9 because something (didnt) look right as it got later into the night. Jesse Weber: Kid Cudi an important witness in Diddy trial Foxx said, Its slippery in here. Jamie Foxx had brain bleed that caused stroke In his Netflix special, Foxx said that his stroke was caused by a brain bleed. He revealed that he had lost almost 20 days of his memory after a bad headache. Then, he woke up in a wheelchair in the hospital, with doctors allegedly telling the comedian he had been within an inch of his life. Why has Usher, Steve Harvey been mentioned around Diddys case? Doctors had allegedly told his sister, Deidra Dixon, If I dont go in his head right now, were going to lose him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his surgery was over, his sister was reportedly told, We didnt find where it was coming from, but he is having a stroke. He may be able to make a full recovery, but its going to be the worst year of his life. Foxx said that his sister had gotten him the help he needed. His daughter, Anelise, allegedly saved his life, acting as a spiritual defibrillator that kept him calm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Salt marsh on the Chelsea Plantation property in Jasper County. (Provided/Holstein Appraisals) A 2,700-acre piece of land in Jasper County is slated to become South Carolinas first new state forest in more than two decades. The Nature Conservancy bought the property, known as Chelsea Plantation, last week for $32 million. Originally nearly 6,000 acres, parts of the property had already been sold to groups looking to develop it into homes. A map showing where the Chelsea Plantation, dark green, is located. (Provided/The Nature Conservancy) That decision, which would involve annexing the property into nearby Ridgeland, is still pending. But it put the rest of the land at imminent risk of development, according to the conservation nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chelseas fate was one of this regions major tipping points for the future of its wildlife habitat, historical character and water quality, executive director Dale Threatt-Taylor said in a statement. Developing Chelsea would have ushered in a new era of expansion in an already fast-growing region. We werent willing to leave it to chance. After placing the land under a conservation easement, which will guarantee that it remains protected regardless of who buys it, the conservation group plans to sell the land to the state Forestry Commission. From there, following a series of state-level approvals, the land is expected to open to the public as a state forest. The timeline for approvals is still up in the air, Katy McWilliams, director of land protection for the nonprofits South Carolina office, told the SC Daily Gazette on Thursday. The last time that happened was in 2004, when the Forestry Commission acquired 12,000-acre Wee Tee State Forest in Williamsburg and Georgetown counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With help from conservation groups, including The Nature Conservancy, the commission added more than 6,000 acres to the Wee Tee forest in 2023, but a new state forest hasnt opened since, said spokesman Doug Wood. The states five protected forests are funded through sales of timber sustainably harvested on the properties, according to the commissions website. Each offers recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, boating and hiking. State forests Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Source: SC Forestry Commission Conserving forests is one of the commissions goals, and it is making the greatest strides toward that end in decades, State Forester Scott Phillips said in a statement. The prospect of adding Chelsea Plantation and other properties to our state forest system in the near future not only ensures these forested landscapes protection from development, but also their effective management for multiple uses, and hence their sustainability, Phillips said. Several more properties could be coming the commissions way in the next few years, Wood said. Conservation groups are working with the commission to work out the details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chelsea Plantation will be the first state forest in the states southern corner. This would give them the option to have something in that part of the state, McWilliams said. The Nature Conservancy has been eyeing the Chelsea Plantation since it first went on the market in 2019, McWilliams said. At the time, the nonprofit wasnt prepared to jump into action and pay the $30 million price tag, she said. In the years since, the nonprofit saw the loss as a missed opportunity. So, when a big chunk of the land came on the market, the group realized it had a second chance, McWilliams said. We were really excited to take a crack at it again and get a chance to protect Chelsea, McWilliams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The land runs alongside more than 7 miles along the Hazzard Creek, which connects to the Broad River and is part of the Port Royal Sound watershed, and the tide floods and drains salt marshes on parts of the property. That means the area is of tremendous value for the watershed, McWilliams said. Longleaf pine, which has become a priority for conservationists as forests dwindle in size, grow on the property. On a recent visit, McWilliams spotted a dolphin swimming in the river and a bald eagle flying overhead, she said. It has many features that are very wonderful, McWilliams said. The Chelsea Plantation will join a network of protected properties in the area, spanning from the ACE Basin, one of the largest undeveloped swaths of land on the Atlantic coast, and the Savannah River. Among those projects were a 7,300-acre plantation that became part of the Coosawhatchie Wildlife Management Area, which opened in September, and the 4,400-acre Gregorie Neck property, which The Nature Conservancy plans to split into six pieces and sell to private owners with the requirement they keep it mostly natural. The lists for the exchange of prisoners of war were formed according to a single criterion - to save lives, new exchanges are expected within the framework of the Istanbul agreements, said Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. "Today, after the agreements reached at the meeting in Istanbul, Ukraine managed to return 390 of our citizens from Russian captivity. This is the result of clear coordination of all institutions that worked on behalf of the President of Ukraine," he wrote on Facebook. The minister emphasized that all of the key bodies responsible for preparing for the exchange worked together as a single team with one goal: to return our people home as quickly as possible. Military and civilian. Men and women. They are all ours. The lists were formed based on one criterion: saving lives. Within the framework of the Istanbul agreements, we expect new exchanges that will last several days. We have not forgotten anyone. We will continue to work until we return everyone," said Umerov. JASPER COUNTY, Mo. Jasper County property owners can expect their 2025 Real Property Value Change Notices in the mail soon. Those notices reflect updated market values as of January 1, 2025, based on two years of real estate data and rising property values across the state. Why are property values increasing? The Missouri State Tax Commission found Jasper Countys assessment ratio below the legal range at 68.61%. Missouri law says county assessments must fall within 90% to 110% market value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county must increase property values by 13% to 15% to comply with state mandates or risk losing state funding and facing legal consequences. What can property owners expect? Jasper County officials reiterate: this is not a tax bill. The notice only shows your propertys estimated market value. Tax rates are set by local taxing entities like schools and municipalities, not the assessor. Residents should review their notice carefully and note their rights to appeal. Officials said if a resident believes their property is overvalued or misclassified, they can request an informal review with the assessors office: Informal Appeals (May 23 June 23) Residential Appeals call (417)-237-1094 Commercial Appeals call (417)237-1093 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Walk-In Appeal Sessions Location: 302 S. Main St. Room 201 Carthage, MO Hours: Monday Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Formal Appeal to the Board of Equalization (BOE) Deadline to file is July 11, 2025, and you must file with the Jasper County Clerks Office. What is Jasper Countys Senior Tax Credit? Last year, the Jasper County Commission approved a Senior Tax Credit program for county residents 62 and older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approved applicants will have their tax amount frozen beginning with their November 2025 tax bill, shown as a credit. Apply by May 31, 2025 through the Jasper County Collectors Office at 417-358-0411. MORE INFO: Senior Real Property Tax Credit in Jasper County (Part 1) The county adds, property assessments will continue annually, but your tax amount will be frozen based on the year you are approved. This freeze will be reflected on your tax bill starting November 2025 as a credit. Jasper County seniors must act fast to claim tax credit For more information, residents should contact the Jasper County Assessors Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Hundreds packed the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park Thursday night for a vigil honoring victims of the Capital Jewish Museum shooting, including Prairie Village native Sarah Milgrim. The local Jewish community is no stranger to hate and violence and has seen it before with the shooting that killed three in 2014, two on the Jewish Community Center campus, a third victim killed at nearby Village Shalom. But when people found out who one of the victims was in Washington D.C. they say it hit directly in their hearts. Local Jewish community reacts to Sarah Milgrim killing: A moment of pain Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends say Sarah Milgrim learned to stick up for Jewish values when her high school, Shawnee Mission East, was the target of an antisemitic vandalism attack in 2017. Shed go on to KU where she joined the executive board of KU Hillel while still a student. Staff spent Thursday sharing memories. All of them shared there was a moment that it clicked in which she was able to convey that this was a priority for her and her Jewish community and identity and caring about the community around her was important, Ethan Helfand, KU Hillel, said. She stood out as someone who shone as a bright light, who went on to great things in her all too short life, Derek Gale, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City vice president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milgrim was killed Wednesday night outside the museum along with boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky. At a packed vigil Thursday Milgrims college roommate described Lischinsky as intelligent and empathetic after meeting him. She shared how Milgrim knew he planned to ask her to marry her after she met his family on an upcoming trip to Israel. They met working at the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C. Search underway in south central Kansas for missing Overland Park woman She was the ultimate peacemaker in her personal life and her professional life. Her whole life was devoted toward promoting peace in Israel, friend Amanda Berger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A peace Jewish community members say they hope will come, but for now they are grieving yet another tragedy hitting close to home. Tomorrow we can talk about resilience, tomorrow we can talk about healing, tomorrow we can try to make sense of this tragedy and maybe even talk about hope. All we can do tonight is come together to mourn, cry and hug each other, Jay Lewis, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City President, told the crowd that gathered. It will take time, well move forward together. We are taking this time to really grieve and mourn, but well heal together, Gale said. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees included former Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Johnson County Commission Chairman Mike Kelly and Maor Elbaz-Starinksy, the Consul General of the State of Israel, who flew in to be with the grieving Kansas City-area community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus) Three Jefferson County residents are suing the county attorney over an alleged warrantless search of their property. The plaintiffs Gail Osborn, Tim McConnell Seaba and Gordon Seaba are suing Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding, Jefferson County, and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services employee Kelsey Koenig in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages for alleged trespassing, invasion of privacy and civil rights violations related to unreasonable searches. According to the lawsuit, the three plaintiffs live on the same parcel of land in Jefferson County, with Gordon Seaba living in the main house on the property while Timothy McConnell Seaba and Osborn live in a separate home at the back of the property. They allege that on Nov. 15, 2024, DHHS received an anonymous complaint alleging that Osborn had given birth to a girl two months prior and was using methamphetamine while caring for the child. The information relayed by the anonymous complainant was entirely false, the lawsuit claims, adding that Osborn was never pregnant in 2024, had not given birth to a child, and was not using methamphetamine while caring for a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koenig, a DHHS child protective services worker, spoke with Osborn at her house regarding the complaint and allegedly observed that Osborn exhibited no physical indications of having been recently pregnant. Osborn allegedly allowed Koenig to inspect her home, which showed no evidence of a baby residing there. Osborn then accompanied Koenig to the main home, where Gordon Seaba allegedly agreed to an inspection that produced no evidence of a baby or any illegal substances. Later that morning, Koenig allegedly spoke to a Washington County Sheriffs Office investigator who indicated he knew Osborn and had not observed any signs of her being pregnant the previous summer. A friend of Osborns allegedly gave similar information to Koenig. The lawsuit claims that later that day, Moulding and Koenig arrived at the plaintiffs property, accompanied by Assistant Jefferson County Attorney Elizabeth Estey, two Jefferson County deputies and two Washington County deputies. The officials had no warrant to search any part of the property and Timothy McConnell Seaba informed them that no one was allowed on his property without a warrant, the lawsuit alleges. Moulding ignored Timothy McConnell Seaba and continued up the driveway to the main house, the lawsuit claims. Moulding opened the door to the main house and entered Gordon Seabas home without asking for or receiving consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claims Moulding and Koenig then proceeded to search Gordon Seabas home, after which the law enforcement officers also entered the property to search outbuildings and campers on the site. Moulding then searched Osborns home over her objections, the lawsuit claims. No evidence that a baby had ever existed was found on the property, the lawsuit claims, adding that Koenig subsequently deemed the anonymous complaint to be unfounded due to the lack of evidence the reported child existed. The defendants in the case have yet to file a response to the lawsuit. Moulding said Friday he had yet to see a copy of the plaintiffs lawsuit. This was obviously a government operation that was pursuant to a valid purpose, Moulding said. But beyond that, without having reviewed the actual complaint, I think I should withhold comment. The man charged with stalking Jennifer Aniston and crashing his car into the front gate of her Bel Air home was found mentally incompetent to stand trial on Thursday. Jimmy Wayne Carwyle appeared in a Hollywood courthouse specializing in mental health cases. He was examined by a county psychiatrist who found him incompetent, according to Deputy Public Defender Robert Krauss. The defendant asked for a new psychiatrist to come and give a second opinion following the announcement. A reevaluation was ordered by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maria Cavaluzzi and another hearing scheduled for May 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carwyle was charged with two felony counts one for stalking, one for vandalism after he drove a car into the Friends stars front gate May 5. The act was preceded by years of Carwyle filling Anistons voicemail, email and social media with messages. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges in his initial hearing. That prompted the judge to pause criminal proceedings until Carwyle underwent a psychological examination. Stalking is a crime that can quickly escalate from harassment to dangerous, violent actions, threatening the safety of victims and our communities, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said after Carwyle was charged. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who stalk and terrorize others, ensuring they are held accountable. Aniston was home the Sunday that Carwyle drove his car into her homes front gate, but the two never interacted. Carwyle was detained by her private security until the police arrived. In addition to the felony charges, Carwyle faces an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm. The post Jennifer Aniston Stalker Who Crashed Into Her Gate Found Mentally Incompetent to Stand Trial appeared first on TheWrap. New Jersey is set to hold its gubernatorial elections this year, with hotly contested primaries set for next month -- and many experts are saying the high-stakes race could be a harbinger for the mood of the country ahead of 2026's critical midterm elections. "This is going to be the first real test for the potential Democratic backlash against the Trump administration. We've seen a little bit from special elections that Democratic voters are motivated to turn out. Does that continue going forward in the fall in New Jersey?" Daniel Bowen, a political science professor at The College of New Jersey, told ABC News. MORE: Trump's first 100 days tests future of both Republican and Democratic parties: ANALYSIS PHOTO: New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial primary debate, May 12, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (Steve Hockstein/AP) Brigid Callahan Harrison, the chair of the Political Science and Law Department at Montclair State University, told ABC News that the race might not only be a "bellwether" for how voters feel about President Donald Trump and the upcoming midterms, but that it could indicate both how partisan allegiances are shifting in New Jersey and the strength of Trump's endorsement of Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harrison points to Kamala Harris' small margin of victory in New Jersey, too. Harris won New Jersey by around 6 percentage points in 2024; then-Vice President Joe Biden won the state by about 16 percentage points in 2020. At stake in the race are also issues in New Jersey such as immigration enforcement and sanctuary cities, and the cost of housing and general affordability -- issues that have divided and animated Americans around the country and that are set to take center stage in the midterms as well. Democrats contend with a crowded field The Democratic primary features six figures hoping to succeed incumbent and term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and to keep the governorship blue. Polling shows that U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents the state's 11th Congressional District, is leading the pack. Sherrill's experience as a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and network of political supporters from a previous run for Congress work in her favor, Harrison said. PHOTO: New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill speaks during the New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial primary debate at NJ PBS Studios, May 12, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (Steve Hockstein/NJ Advance Media via AP) Another Democratic candidate, Josh Gottheimer, has represented New Jersey's 5th Congressional District since 2017. The former political operative is widely seen as a moderate. Similar to other candidates, Gottheimer is positioning himself as ready to take on Trump. He has also framed himself as being the best one to tackle affordability in the state. PHOTO: Rep. Josh Gottheimer leaves a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus about the candidacy of President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Committee, July 9, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was an educator in Newark Public Schools and a member of the city council before being elected mayor for the first time in 2014. He was arrested earlier this month while joining members of Congress at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Newark. Trespassing charges against Baraka have since been dismissed. PHOTO: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark, speaks to the media and supporters after exiting the courthouse on May 15, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) MORE: Charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver spark backlash after incident with ICE agents Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Fulop was first elected mayor of Jersey City in 2013. The ex-Goldman Sachs investment banker and former Marine has overseen population growth, increased development and municipal reforms. PHOTO: Jersey City mayor Steven Fulop Speaks during a press conference after a helicopter crashed on the Hudson River on April 11, 2025 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Kena Betancur/VIEWpress/Corbis via Getty Images) Steve Sweeney, a former ironworker who served as New Jersey's state Senate president for more than a decade, spent two decades as a lawmaker in that chamber before losing to a Republican in 2021. He has touted his strong support from unions and experience as a legislator. PHOTO: Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney speaks after the Democratic gubernatorial debate at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., on Feb. 2, 2025. (Mike Catalini/AP) Sean Spiller, the president of the New Jersey Education Association -- the state's largest teacher's union -- has pointed to his experience as the former mayor of the city of Montclair as evidence that he is able to take on issues such as affordable housing and investing in childcare. PHOTO: Sean Spiller, head of the teachers union New Jersey Education Association, speaks after the Democratic gubernatorial debate at Rider University on Feb. 2, 2025, in Lawrenceville, N.J. (Mike Catalini/AP) MORE: Trump's first 100 days tests future of both Republican and Democratic parties: ANALYSIS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the June 10 primary gets closer, experts say they're all facing some of the same headwinds. After New Jersey eliminated its old primary ballot design, which used to allow most county parties to give preferential placement to their endorsed candidates, candidates now must focus more on their own get-out-the-vote operations, Harrison said. "Nobody's run in a race like this," she said. Republicans play the Trump card -- as he endorses a returning challenger Republicans are hoping to flip New Jersey's governorship red -- and point to the closer-than-expected margin between Trump and Harris in 2024 as evidence that it's in reach. A recent New Jersey Republican Party fundraising email encouraged voters to "finish the job" and "flip New Jersey red, for good." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Biden touts 'close' relationship with Harris, but 'not surprised' by her election loss Experts said the presidential results might not necessarily indicate how competitive the gubernatorial race will be. Bowen said that New Jersey's off-cycle gubernatorial elections often show voters largely voting against the incumbent party in power in the White House, although he added that Republicans also see the race as intertwined with Democratic incumbent Murphy finishing up his time in office. Still, most of the Republican candidates have been eager to align themselves with Trump. Trump has endorsed the Republican front-runner Ciattarelli in the race that the president wrote is being "closely watched by the entire World." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ciattarelli has been involved in local politics for decades, serving various roles including councilman and state assemblyman. He has had his sights on governor since 2017, where he ran for the first time but lost the primary. Ciattarelli succeeded in clinching the Republican nomination in 2021, but ultimately lost to Murphy. PHOTO: Former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli speaks after the first Republican debate, Feb. 4, 2025, at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. (Mike Catalini/AP) Ciattarelli, who says his top priority is making the state more affordable, has shifted his stance on Trump over the years. In 2015, he issued a statement calling Trump "out of step with American values" and "not fit" to be president. But he now supports the president, and endorsed Trump in the 2024 election. Trump, recently wrote on his social media platform that Ciattarelli, "after getting to know and understand MAGA, has gone ALL IN, and is now 100% (PLUS!)" After the endorsement, Ciattarelli told Fox News that he will support the president's agenda. He has acknowledged his previous comments about Trump, too, but compared himself to Vice President JD Vance -- who at one point also did not support the president but is now vice president under Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Koning, the director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University, told ABC News that Trump's endorsement could help encourage undecided Republican voters to favor Ciattarelli. She said the center's polling showed that with Republican voters who were split, about half said an endorsement from Trump would make them more likely to vote for that candidate. Conservative talk show host Bill Spadea previously ran unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. House and the state assembly, and has said he isn't afraid to call out both parties. He has expressed a desire to end taxpayer subsidies for Planned Parenthood and replicate the Department of Government Efficiency in New Jersey, in addition to promising to combat illegal immigration and increase affordability. Still, he said he has disagreed with Trump on "multiple occasions." PHOTO: Bill Spadea, a former radio show host, speaks after the first Republican debate, Feb. 4, 2025, at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J. (Mike Catalini/AP) Jon Bramnick, a former state senator, appears to be less supportive of Trump. Last April, he made it clear that he would not vote for Trump in the 2024 presidential race, though he also said he probably wouldn't vote for the Democratic candidate either. PHOTO: Candidate and State Senator Jon Bramnick discusses the issues during the New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary debate, at NJ PBS Studios, May 7, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (Steve Hockstein/NJ Advance Media via AP) Still, some of Bramnick's positions reflect stances similar to Trump's. In addition to branding himself as the "toughest candidate on immigration," Bramnick also seeks to end sanctuary state policies in New Jersey, and introduced the "New Jersey Laken Riley Act," which intends to align the state's law with Trump's legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mario Kranjac, the former mayor of the town of Englewood Cliffs, is running a pro-Trump campaign, branding himself as a "political outsider." Justin Barbera, a contractor, is also running a pro-Trump campaign, telling the New Jersey Monitor he is guided by his military and Christian background. Even with Ciatterelli standing out as the front-runner, Bowen said that nothing is certain until the primary wraps. "It certainly looks like the race is Ciatterelli's to lose at this point -- although, of course, in a primary, anything can happen," Bowen said. New Jersey governor race heats up ahead of primary -- with Trump's impact on the line originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A hawk in New Jersey has been seen using a clever, urban hunting strategy: taking sound cues from traffic signals to exploit cars for cover, before striking prey. The hawk first crossed paths with zoologist Vladimir Dinets on a crisp, late-Autumn morning in West Orange, New Jersey. Dinets was stopped at a traffic light on the way to drop his daughter off at school, and the raptor, a young Cooper's hawk (Astur cooperii), was on the hunt for breakfast. After a few more mornings caught at this red light, watching the hawk in action, Dinets began to figure out its technique: it was waiting for the sound of the pedestrian crossing before making its move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It emerged from that small tree, flew very low above the sidewalk along the line of cars, made a sharp turn, crossed the street between the cars, and dove onto something near one of the houses," Dinets describes in an editorial for Frontiers in Ethology. "It turned out that the house targeted by the hawk's attacks was inhabited by a nice, big family that liked to eat dinner in the front yard. Next morning, their breadcrumbs and other leftovers attracted a small flock of birds sparrows, doves, and sometimes starlings. That's what the hawk was after." Birds of prey are an uncommon, but not unheard-of, sight in the city, and Dinets suspected this one was new in town: most hawks that come to urban areas like West Orange for the winter come from forested breeding and nesting grounds in search of food. The immature Cooper's hawk in an ambush. (Vladimir Dinets) The Cooper's hawk is an agile stealth hunter, capable of tight swerves and rapid acceleration to catch prey. These skills make it a formidable predator in its natural habitat, where it will use the cover of a forest or woodland edge to patrol adjacent open spaces, before launching a sneak attack on exposed prey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To hunt this way, they must be able to plan ahead, to know and understand the prey's behavior, particularly its movement patterns, and to be highly observant in short, they need remarkable cognitive abilities," Dinets writes. He was fascinated to see the city-dwelling hawk adapt this strategy for an environment where coverage from cars comes and goes depending on the red light. He returned to the intersection to stake out the bird 18 times that winter, parking his car on the street as a kind of mobile bird hide. "The hawk always showed up at the starting point of his attack route when the sound signal for the pedestrian crossing went on but before the car queue actually formed," Dinets told ScienceAlert. "The probability of that happening by chance was very close to zero." On weekends, there were no car queues, and no Cooper's hawk to be seen. On rainy days, the neighborhood family would not eat dinner outside, and the next morning, there was no flock, and again, no hawk. Many factors, it seemed, had to line up for the hawk to make a perfect attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The sound signal meant that the red light would last longer, so the queue of cars waiting for the green light would be long enough to provide the hawk with cover for the entire approach to the place where his prey was feeding," Dinets explained. Without that pedestrian crossing sound, the hawk seemed to know not to bother. This cue guaranteed the hawk could swoop low along the footpath, concealed by the backed-up traffic, before making a 90-degree turn across the street to plunge into the feeding flock of prey. Dinets couldn't actually see the climax of these attacks from his makeshift hide, but once, he saw the hawk fly off with a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in its talons, and on another occasion, he saw it eating a mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) on the ground nearby. An adult Cooper's hawk dispatches a house sparrow. (Vladimir Dinets) "It shows the ability to understand connections between events and to plan in advance," Dinets said. "It also shows that they have a mental map of their hunting area and know it intimately, so they don't need to see their prey to know where it is and how best to sneak up on it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few other scientific observations capture these abilities, probably because it's so difficult to watch these stealth hunters at work in their natural environment. "A city is a difficult and very dangerous habitat for any bird, but particularly for a large raptor specializing in live prey: you have to avoid windows, cars, utility wires, and countless other dangers while catching something to eat every day," Dinets writes in his editorial. "I think my observations show that Cooper's hawks manage to survive and thrive there, at least in part, by being very smart." The research was published in Frontiers in Ethology. Related News The Boeing 747 Qatar donated to the Air Force One fleet costs roughly $400 million when new, but outfitting the jet to fit presidential requirements may cost up to $1 billion, according to experts. The Qataris have had trouble trying to sell the aircraft as 747s have fallen out of popularity within the aviation industry and are no longer manufactured. While President Donald Trump flaunts his $400 million Qatari airplane, touted to be the newest member of the Air Force One fleet, experts say it could cost $1 billion just to bring the jet up to presidential standards. In addition to ethical concerns over the Qatari-owned Boeing 747 becoming the largest foreign gift ever received by the U.S. government, Sen. Tammy Duckworth said the jet could also cost up to 10 figures in taxpayer dollars to operate within the Air Force One fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over a billion dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft, when we currently have not one, but two fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft, the Illinois Democrat said in a statement to multiple outlets. One expert puts that figure higher: Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at aviation consulting firm AeroDynamic Advisory, said converting the aircraft into an Air Force One jet would cost billions and take years. Youre taking a 747, disassembling it, reassembling it, and then jacking it up to a very high level, Aboulafia told NBC News. In order to secure the jet for presidential use, it would have to be examined for any listening devices and outfitted with communications equipment and missile defense systems. These costs would accumulate at least $1 billion, current and former Pentagon officials told The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House officials have said the government is looking into partnering with government contractor L3Harris to maintain the jet, the Times reported. The cost of the reported deal has not been public. L3Harris declined Fortunes request for comment. As the jets upgrades will take a couple years, the government has already paid Boeing for two new Air Force One jets projected to be completed by 2027. Thats a better dollar value than trying to take an airplane from somebody else and trying to make it into a presidential plane. It makes no sense, Marc Foulkrod, an aerospace engineer who had tried to help Doha sell the jet, told The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the price tag for a crew on a traditional Air Force One jet reaches more than $37 million annually, while the total operating cost sits at roughly $134 million per year, according to Pentagon documents. A White House spokesperson said, It has been stated time and time and time and time again this was donated as a gift to the DoD and the Air Force and referred Fortune to the DoD for further comment. The DoD declined to comment. Prior to offering the jet to the U.S., the Qataris had been unsuccessful in finding a suitor for the Boeing 747. Foulkrod said while the plane is in great condition, its hard to find a buyer for a VIP styled-aircraft. You might find that one-off guy that has a super ego that wants to buy one and ride around in it, Foulkrod said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commercial airlines lacked interest in the jet because 747s are no longer manufactured and are falling out of popularity among the aviation industry, and the jet was too lavishly outfitted to be suitable for commercial use. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Jewish organization leaders and allies on Friday called for local elected officials and civic heads to stop tolerating hate in the guise of activism following the fatal shooting this week of two Israeli Embassy employees, allegedly at the hands of a Chicago man. Flanked by officials from the American Jewish Committees Chicago office, the Jewish United Fund, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and several aldermen, the Anti-Defamation Leagues David Goldenberg said this is a major problem here in Chicago, and too many of our elected and civic leaders have not only been silent on the issue, but some continue to fan the flames of hate and antisemitism. Although Goldenberg, who is the ADLs Midwest regional director, did not specifically call out anyone by name for their rhetoric, he was critical of Mayor Brandon Johnson for elevating people who have a history of being hostile to members (of) the Jewish community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged shooter, Chicagoan Elias Rodriguez, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court with murder after shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Wednesday night as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The two were identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Authorities said Rodriguez spontaneously stated on scene to (police) I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, and a social media account attributed to the suspect shared a manifesto condemning the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza and how civil protests had fallen short in stopping the war. Ald. Deborah Silverstein, 50th, the lone Jewish member of the Chicago City Council, said that the unpermitted protests that have overtaken our streets, the unsanctioned encampments on college campuses, the orchestrated walkouts in CPS schools are not expression of free speech. These are breeding grounds for dangerous ideologies. When our elected leaders enable and praise this behavior, it creates an atmosphere that encourages people to go out and harm Jews, she said. We need our leaders to work to lower the temperature and defuse these extremist organizations that are spreading antisemitism and hate when it comes from within our own parties and from our own political base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson has overseen a sharp split among the City Council over the war in Gaza, including a heated debate over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in which the mayor became a tiebreaker to approve it. It came on the heels of a separate resolution also condemning the October 2023 Hamas attack. Johnson has described the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as genocidal, also calling for the immediate releasing of hostages, the end of these acts of terror and the end to this war. Johnson committed to lowering the temperature at a Thursday news conference where he and police Superintendent Larry Snelling addressed the incident. Theres been so much animus that has been directed toward the Jewish community, and its our collective responsibility, the mayor said before pausing and saying, to be far more thoughtful about how we express our politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Johnsons office reiterated his care and support for all Jewish people in Chicago and around the world and said the mayor has consistently spoken out against antisemitism in Chicago, including after the attack on two Jewish DePaul students, incidents of antisemitic graffiti in the 44th Ward and in condemning the Hamas attacks as one of the worst acts of terror weve witnessed. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of Chicagos Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he disavowed the violence, but disagreed with the idea local protests sparked it. He argued that protests have all been peaceful and added that local protest groups do not know Rodriguez. Im seeing the redefinition of antisemitism to include legitimate criticism of the genocide in Gaza in order to give cover, he said. I see that as gaslighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez participated in protests for progressive causes, including opposition to the war in Gaza, against Amazons expansion locally and the police response to the death of Laquan McDonald. The spotlight on Rodriguezs politics also led to false and misleading claims circulated on social media of the alleged shooters ties to Johnson allies, underscoring how charged the situation has become since Johnson made waves as the first big city mayor to endorse a ceasefire last year. Several viral social media posts incorrectly purporting to show Rodriguez alongside Johnson and several progressive aldermen in a political groups family photo were seen by hundreds of thousands of users online. Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, who is also in the picture, confirmed the man falsely identified as the shooter was actually her former political director, Chris Poulos. Poulos confirmed to the Tribune that he was the man in the photo. This is exhausting and harmful. They can really put people in danger, Rodriguez Sanchez said of the viral, incorrect posts. Our message has always been about peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though some social media users deleted their claims about the photo when Poulos identified himself, Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, left several posts up of the image, one with the caption, Birds of a feather. What they are inferring is open to interpretation, Lopez told the Tribune. He refused to say whether he meant to imply the shooter was pictured but said he would not take down the photo. Shlomo Soroka, a lobbyist for the Jewish orthodox organization Agudath Israel of Illinois, told the Tribune on Thursday that Johnson had called that morning to offer condolences and also conceded that perhaps he could have done better and can do better in terms of dealing with our community and the sensitivities we have. The mayors office did not respond to a request for comment on the conversation. Soroka said the mayor had given him permission to post about their conversation on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soroka said he told the mayor a lot of the people he surrounds himself with and is associated with are responsible for what happened. Theres a movement that has created a climate in which its acceptable to talk in ways that facilitate violent behavior against Jewish people (that have) nothing to do with the Middle East conflict youre going to have to be more vocal and call out people that are your friends and allies. And he said, You have my word and my commitment. But during Fridays news conference, which was also attended by Nancy Andrade, chair of the citys Commission on Human Relations, Goldenberg and others had harsh words for the mayor. Goldenberg pointed to the controversy over the mayors previous handpicked school board president, Pastor Mitchell Johnson, who resigned last year after coming under fire, in part, for social media posts that were deemed antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial. If youre the mayor, you stop appointing and elevating people who have a history of being hostile to members to the Jewish community. And when you find out that they have that history, you get rid of them, Goldenberg said, adding he was speaking for the ADL. Think about Pastor Johnson. The antisemitism isnt what doomed him. It was the 9/11 conspiracies. The antisemitism was known for multiple days, and the mayor continued to allow him to have the job of being the head of the CPS board. It wasnt until he came out that he was in a 9/11 conspiracy theorist and said it was an inside job, that he lost his gig and was forced to step down. Johnson appointed Cydney Wallace, a leader on the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, to fill the vacant Board of Education seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldenberg on Friday said state elected officials could take concrete steps to curb antisemitism, including passing a pending bill that mandates hate crime training for law enforcement, develop a statewide plan to combat antisemitism and for the states Department of Education to implement digital media literacy curriculum so children could spot online hate. The hate crime training bill, Goldenberg said, was being held up by members of the General Assemblys progressive caucus. This legislation has now been in the House for two years, and weve had a number of conversations about it, state Rep. Bob Morgan, the bills sponsor, told the Tribune Thursday. Members have expressed concerns to make sure that whatever this training is, that its done in a way that really is protecting all communities. Its certainly on top of my mind to make sure we do this and do this quickly, given Wednesdays shooting, Morgan said. Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Palestinian American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, said he had been engaging in good faith efforts to amend the bill to ensure that those supporting Palestinian rights that wear or display the watermelon symbol or wear a keffiyeh, for example, arent deemed antisemitic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conflating advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism is abominable. Leaders have an obligation to call out messaging that celebrates and calls for violence against Jews, Goldenberg said. Saying Free, free Palestine, in and of itself, is not antisemitic, he said, but signs or chants about globalizing the intifada or glorifying martyrdom should be shut down. The irony that these young folks, 26- and 30-years-old, about to get engaged on a trip to Israel, were gunned down as they exited this (diplomatic) event after dedicating their lives toward the progress of peace is the actual illustration of what is going on on our planet right now with antisemitism, Beth Ida Stern, interim regional director of the American Jewish Committee Chicago office said. The only solution is for us to coalesce, build understanding, overcome our differences and realize that our similarities are what tie us together as human beings. Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner and Alice Yin contributed. CHICAGO Jewish organization leaders and allies on Friday called for local elected officials and civic heads to stop tolerating hate in the guise of activism following the fatal shooting this week of two Israeli Embassy employees, allegedly at the hands of a Chicago man. Flanked by officials from the American Jewish committees Chicago office, the Jewish United Fund, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and several aldermen, the Anti-Defamation Leagues David Goldenberg said this is a major problem here in Chicago, and too many of our elected and civic leaders have not only been silent on the issue, but some continue to fan the flames of hate and antisemitism. Although Goldenberg, who is the ADLs Midwest regional director, did not specifically call out anyone by name for their rhetoric, he was critical of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for elevating people who have a history of being hostile to members (of) the Jewish community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged shooter, Chicagoan Elias Rodriguez, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court with murder after shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Wednesday night as they were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The two were identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Authorities said Rodriguez spontaneously stated on scene to (police) I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' and a social media account attributed to the suspect shared a manifesto condemning the deaths of tens of thousands in Gaza and how civil protests had fallen short in stopping the war. Ald. Deborah Silverstein, 50th, the lone Jewish member of the Chicago City Council, said that the unpermitted protests that have overtaken our streets, the unsanctioned encampments on college campuses, the orchestrated walkouts in CPS schools are not expression of free speech. These are breeding grounds for dangerous ideologies. When our elected leaders enable and praise this behavior, it creates an atmosphere that encourages people to go out and harm Jews, she said. We need our leaders to work to lower the temperature and defuse these extremist organizations that are spreading antisemitism and hate when it comes from within our own parties and from our own political base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson has overseen a sharp split among the Chicago City Council over the war in Gaza, including a heated debate over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in which the mayor became a tiebreaker to approve it. It came on the heels of a separate resolution also condemning the October 2023 Hamas attack. Johnson has described the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as genocidal, also calling for the immediate releasing of hostages, the end of these acts of terror and the end to this war. Johnson committed to lowering the temperature at a Thursday press conference where he and CPD Supt. Larry Snelling addressed the incident. Theres been so much animus that has been directed towards the Jewish community, and its our collective responsibility, the mayor said before pausing and saying, to be far more thoughtful about how we express our politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Johnsons office reiterated his care and support for all Jewish people in Chicago and around the world and said the mayor has consistently spoken out against antisemitism in Chicago, including after the attack on two Jewish DePaul students, incidents of antisemitic graffiti in the 44th Ward and in condemning the Hamas attacks as one of the worst acts of terror weve witnessed. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of Chicagos Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he disavowed the violence, but disagreed with the idea local protests sparked it. He argued protests have all been peaceful and added that local protest groups do not know Rodriguez. Im seeing the re-definition of antisemitism to include legitimate criticism of the genocide in Gaza in order to give cover, he said. I see that as gaslighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez participated in protests for progressive causes, including opposition to the war in Gaza, against Amazons expansion locally and the police response to the death of Laquan McDonald. The spotlight on Rodriguezs politics also led to false and misleading claims circulated on social media of the alleged shooters ties to Johnson allies, underscoring how charged the situation has become since Johnson made waves as the first big city mayor to endorse a ceasefire last year. Several viral social media posts incorrectly purporting to show Rodriguez alongside Johnson and several progressive aldermen in a political groups family photo were seen by hundreds of thousands of users online. Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, who is also in the picture, confirmed the man falsely identified as the shooter was actually her former political director, Chris Poulos. Poulos confirmed to the Tribune that he was the man in the photo. This is exhausting and harmful. They can really put people in danger, Ald. Rodriguez Sanchez said of the viral, incorrect posts. Our message has always been about peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though some social media users deleted their claims about the photo when Poulos identified himself, Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, left several posts of the image up, one with the caption, Birds of a feather. What they are inferring is open to interpretation, Lopez told the Tribune. He refused to say whether he meant to imply the shooter was pictured but said he would not take the photo down. Shlomo Soroka, a lobbyist for the Jewish orthodox organization Agudath Israel of Illinois, told the Tribune on Thursday that Johnson had called that morning to offer condolences and also conceded that perhaps he could have done better and can do better in terms of dealing with our community and the sensitivities we have. The mayors office did not respond to a request for comment on the conversation. Soroka said the mayor had given him permission to post about their conversation on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soroka said he told the mayor a lot of the people he surrounds himself with and is associated with are responsible for what happened. Theres a movement that has created a climate in which its acceptable to talk in ways that facilitate violent behavior against Jewish people (that have) nothing to do with the Middle East conflict youre going to have to be more vocal and call out people that are your friends and allies. And he said, You have my word and my commitment. But during Fridays press conference, which was also attended by Nancy Andrade, the chair of the citys Commission on Human Relations, Goldenberg and others had harsh words for the mayor. Goldenberg pointed the controversy over the mayors previous handpicked school board president, Pastor Mitchell Johnson, who resigned last year after coming under fire, in part, for social media posts that were deemed antisemitic, misogynistic and conspiratorial. If youre the mayor, you stop appointing and elevating people who have a history of being hostile to members to the Jewish community. And when you find out that they have that history, you get rid of them, Goldenberg said, adding he was speaking for the ADL. Think about Pastor Johnson. The antisemitism isnt what doomed him. It was the 9/11 conspiracies. The antisemitism was known for multiple days, and the mayor continued to allow him to have the job of being the head of the CPS board. It wasnt until he came out that he was in a 9/11 conspiracy theorist and said it was an inside job, that he lost his gig and was forced to step down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson appointed Cydney Wallace, a leader on the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, to fill the vacant Board of Education seat. Goldenberg on Friday said state elected officials could take concrete steps to curb antisemitism, including passing a pending bill that mandates hate crime training for law enforcement, develop a statewide plan to combat antisemitism and for the states department of education to implement digital media literacy curriculum so children could spot online hate. The hate crime training bill, Goldenberg said, was being held up by members of the General Assemblys progressive caucus. This legislation has now been in the House for two years, and weve had a number of conversations about it, state Rep. Bob Morgan, the bills sponsor, told the Tribune Thursday. Members have expressed concerns to make sure that whatever this training is, that its done in a way that really is protecting all communities. Its certainly on top of my mind to make sure we do this and do this quickly, given Wednesdays shooting, Morgan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Palestinian-American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, said he had been engaging in good faith efforts to amend the bill to ensure that those supporting Palestinian rights that wear or display the watermelon symbol or wear a keffiyeh, for example, arent deemed antisemitic. Conflating advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism is abominable. Leaders have an obligation to call out messaging that celebrates and calls for violence against Jews, Goldenberg said. Saying Free, free Palestine, in and of itself, is not antisemitic, he said, but signs or chants about globalizing the intifada or glorifying martyrdom should be shut down. The irony that these young folks, 26 and 30-years-old, about to get engaged on a trip to Israel, were gunned down as they exited this (diplomatic) event after dedicating their lives towards the progress of peace is the actual illustration of what is going on on our planet right now with antisemitism, Beth Ida Stern, the interim regional director of the American Jewish Committee Chicago office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only solution is for us to coalesce, build understanding, overcome our differences and realize that our similarities are what tie us together as human beings. _____ Tribune reporters Jeremy Gorner and Alice Yin contributed. _____ Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, both Israeli Embassy aides, were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 21 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez has been connected to the crime On Thursday, May 23, it was announced that he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as the murder of foreign officials, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence After two Israeli Embassy aides were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, May 21, the person suspected of the shooting was charged with first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced on Thursday, May 22 that Elias Rodriguez, 31, has been charged with federal and local murder offenses in connection with the fatal shooting. Rodriguez has been charged by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with the murder of foreign officials, causing death through the use of a firearm and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, the district attorney's office said. He is also charged with two counts of first-degree murder under the D.C. criminal code. "This brutal, anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country or anywhere in civilization," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a press statement. Katie Kalisher Elias Rodriguez Elias Rodriguez We will follow the facts and secure the most severe possible punishment for the perpetrator of this heinous crime, which robbed two wonderful young people of a bright future together," the statement continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his first court appearance on Thursday, Rodriguez waived his right to a detention hearing, and a preliminary hearing for the case was set for June 18, per Reuters. The outlet reported that he "said little during the proceeding" except answering "I do" when a federal magistrate judge asked if he understood his rights. Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of D.C., Pamela Smith, said in a Wednesday press conference that police responded to multiple calls of a shooting in the area of 3rd Street and F Street Northwest at approximately 9:08 p.m. local time on May 21. "Officers located one adult male and one adult female unconscious and not breathing at the scene," Smith told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in the U.S identified the pair on X as Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. The two were planning to get engaged before they were killed. Smith said that Milgrim and Lischinsky had succumbed to their injuries despite life-saving efforts and that they had been "exiting an event." Embassy of Israel to the USA/X Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky Before the shooting, Rodriguez was "observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum," before approaching a "group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents," per Smith. "After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security," said Smith. Footage from an eyewitness showed that he repeatedly shouted "free Palestine," while being taken away by police officers. 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. Smith also noted that it is believed that Rodriguez acted alone and that the alleged murder weapon had been recovered after the suspect disclosed where he discarded it. Read the original article on People There are already four biomethane plants in Ukraine, one of which produces bio-LNG, three more, including one for the production of bio-LNG, are planned to start operating during 2025, said the chairman of the board of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine, Heorhiy Heletukha. "We (in the bioenergy sector) have the most positive news in biomethane. Since 2021, there has been basic legislation, since 2024 - export is allowed. Now four plants are already producing biomethane and have started exporting. Three more are completing the conversion of capacities from biogas to biomethane and will start its production in the near future," said Heletukha during the conference of the We build Ukraine think tank "Green Energy for Reconstruction" in Kyiv on Thursday. According to the presentation he gave, currently biomethane production is carried out by Gals Argo LLC (Chernihiv region, annual capacity 3 million cubic meters), VitAgro group of companies (Khmelnytsky region, 3 million cubic meters), MHP (Dnipropetrovsk region, 11 million cubic meters), and MHP in Vinnytsia region produces bio-LNG at a plant with a capacity of 24 million cubic meters. In 2025, Teofipol Energy Company in Khmelnytsky region plans to produce biomethane, which will have the largest capacity so far - 56 million cubic meters, as well as Gals Argo LLC in Kyiv region (3 million cubic meters). In addition, Yum Liquid Gas LLC in Vinnytsia region plans to produce bio-LNG in the volume of 11 million cubic meters. As noted in the presentation, the total biomethane production capacity by the end of the year will be 111 million cubic meters. Heletukha noted that so far the export of biomethane to Europe is burdened by a number of problems, but he called them growth problems. "The EU is not very ready, there is the Union Database (a system for recording liquid and gaseous biofuels within the framework of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, RED II), which has not yet started working for gases and it is not clear how it will work with Ukrainian biomethane. But these are growth problems. In general, the European biomethane market is in short supply, there is a memorandum between Ukraine and the EU on cooperation in renewable gases, there is a desire to buy our biomethane. And Ukraine has bright prospects in its production, for now for export, and then for domestic consumption," explained the expert. At the same time, in his speech, he noted that the development of bioenergy, which could replace significant volumes of scarce natural gas, is hampered by a number of factors, in particular, the subsidized price for gas, which deprives bioenergy projects of competitiveness, as well as the presence of a tax on CO2 emissions for bioenergy, the law on the abolition of which has not yet been adopted in full. He pointed out that according to the latest open data, in 2020 biomass replaced almost 5.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and this trend should continue. A Jewish protester was arrested by the Metropolitan Police after he briefly held a placard satirising a Hezbollah terrorist leader, The Telegraph can reveal. The British man, who has asked to remain anonymous for his safety, was detained and charged last September over a cartoon that showed Hasan Nasrallah, the Lebanese terror chief, with a pager and the words beep, beep, beep. The placard satirised a targeted Israeli attack, dubbed Operation Grim Beeper, in which explosives in pagers and walkie-talkies killed 42 people, mostly Hezbollah terrorists. Nasrallah survived, but was killed in an air strike a week later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During questioning, police repeatedly asked the man who was part of a counter-demonstration against a pro-Palestinian march if he believed the image would offend clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel activists. Hezbollah is a terror group, which is proscribed in the UK. The decision by police to allow pro-Palestinian demonstrators to march through London since the Oct 7 massacre, including in areas with high Jewish populations and near synagogues, has been highly contentious. The mans case is the latest in a string of heavy-handed police responses to lawful expression. Last year, The Telegraph reported how columnist Allison Pearson was questioned at home by two officers over an X post following pro-Palestinian protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph also uncovered the case of Julian Foulkes, a retired special constable, who was wrongly cautioned by Kent Police for warning about the threat of anti-Semitism in Britain. The counter-protester pointed out to investigating officers that the sign was political satire The latest case prompted condemnation from senior MPs and peers on both sides of the House. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said it was an example of two-tier policing in action. He told The Telegraph: In recent times, the police have failed to act when confronted with protesters calling for jihad and intifada in London. Yet this man was apparently arrested because he might have offended supporters of a banned terrorist organisation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is two-tier policing in action. The law is rightly clear that supporting banned terrorist groups, inciting violence, inciting racial hatred or harassing people is illegal. Beyond that, free speech applies to everyone. The police sometimes turn a blind eye when applying the law might be difficult, yet over-police at other times. The law should be applied equally to all, robustly and without fear or favour. That is not what happened here. It comes just a day after Sir Nick Clegg also weighed in on the issue, telling an audience at the Charleston Literary Festival in Sussex that police had become too censorious of online speech. The man in the latest case held the placard for less than three minutes during the demonstration in Swiss Cottage, north-west London, on Sept 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area, near the home of Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador, has been targeted almost weekly by pro-Palestinian activists since the October 7 massacre. On Sept 20, a pro-Palestine demonstrator was filmed in the area shouting I love the 7th of October and I like any organisation that starts with H. He was arrested under terrorism legislation, but was not charged. The Jewish man was part of a counter-demonstration organised by Stop the Hate UK, a multi-faith group. He was arrested a week later when he returned to the same location for another demonstration on Sept 27. Before detaining him overnight at Islington police station, officers searched his home in a failed attempt to find the placard, which the man had already explained was not his. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two police vans and six officers turned up at our house to search for offensive material, which was quite invasive. It was a horrible experience, he said. They put me in the lounge and asked my partner to go with them around the house. They werent very pleasant to her and even went through her knicker drawer. It was totally ridiculous. Following his arrest, in police interview footage obtained by The Telegraph, an officer can be seen repeatedly asking the counter-protester: Do you think that showing this image to persons protesting who are clearly pro-Hezbollah and anti-Israel that by doing so would stir up racial hatred further than it is already? Both the counter-protester and his lawyer, Carl Woolf, specialist criminal solicitor advocate at Woolf Law LLP, were completely shocked at this question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the footage, Mr Woolf replied: Are you saying that there were pro-Hezbollah people there? Because it is a proscribed terrorist organisation. The officer answered I am aware of that, but continued the line of questioning. The counter-protester denied intending to incite racial hatred or insult or distress supporters of the proscribed Lebanese terror group, telling the investigating officer the sign was political satire. He was released at 6.30am and later charged under the Public Order Act for causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress by words or writing. On May 10 eight months after his ordeal began the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case, saying there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an exclusive interview, the man described the ordeal as distressing for him and his family. The Met Police are still completely out of their depth when it comes to policing the anti-Israel hate marches weve seen on our streets week in, week out since the October 7 attacks, he said. It beggars belief that police could think that this placard may be offensive to supporters of Hezbollah. If there are Hezbollah supporters at these marches, then why werent charges brought against them for terrorist offences, rather than me being charged for holding a sign that can only be construed as political satire? I didnt realise how relieved I was until I heard I wasnt going to court. Officer misspoke, says Met On Friday, with regard to the repeated references in the interview to the counter-protester having offended supporters of a proscribed terrorist organisation, the Met Police said the officer clearly misspoke when she described those in the protest as pro-Hezbollah instead of pro-Palestinian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman added that the man was charged following a careful consideration of the evidence and that the force would attempt to learn lessons from the episode. The spokesman said: We will reflect on the CPS decision not to proceed with the case, applying any learning to future investigations. The case is likely to fuel criticism of police for failing to confront anti-Semitic hate and heighten concerns over the safety of British Jews. It comes two days after a gunman shot dead two Israeli embassy staff near Washington DCs Jewish museum. The suspect told police I did it for Gaza and shouted free Palestine as he handed himself in. The attack prompted Scotland Yard to urge Londons Jewish community to remain vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an extraordinary move on Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu accused Sir Keir Starmer and other world leaders of siding with Hamas, claiming they were on the wrong side of humanity. In a televised statement addressing the shootings at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, the Israeli prime minister, said that by condemning the war in Gaza the leaders were supporting mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers. Amichai Chikli, the Israeli diaspora affairs minister, accused Sir Keir, the French president Emmanuel Macron and the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney of having emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines. This cowardice has a price and that price is paid in Jewish blood, he said. On Friday, peers with expertise in countering political violence raised alarm at the Mets conduct and called for an investigation. Lord Walney, the Governments former extremism tsar, told The Telegraph: We all understand the police have a difficult job preventing protests escalating into disorder, but the idea that officers intervened on the side of supporters of a proscribed terrorist organisation is grotesque. The cross-bench peer, whose advisory role was axed by Sir Keir in February after he called for some climate activists and pro-Palestine groups to be banned, said that the disturbing incident should be investigated and that there should be a full apology from the Met if the protesters claims are upheld. He added: Its an implausible explanation from the police that this officer simply misspoke. She was reading from a list of pre-prepared questions. They should just own their mistake and use this opportunity to ensure lessons are learnt. Arrest beggars belief Lord Austin, a non-affiliated peer who was investigated by police for calling Hamas Islamists on social media, told The Telegraph: It beggars belief that someone would be arrested, put in the cells and then charged for holding this sign because it might upset supporters of Islamist terrorists and a proscribed organisation, rather than take action against the terror supporters. There is clearly a systemic problem when it comes to dealing with the hate marches and, instead of telling us they disagree with individual decisions, ministers need to get a grip and sort it out. A Met Police spokesman said: We take support for proscribed organisations very seriously. Since October 2023, we have made 28 arrests under the Terrorism Act for offences at protests including wearing clothing or displaying symbols that indicated support for such groups, including Hezbollah. This is in addition to the hundreds of arrests made for other offences. The pro-Palestinian demonstrator filmed shouting I love the 7th of October on Sept 20 was arrested by the Met under terrorism legislation. He was not charged, despite Scotland Yard twice submitting a file of evidence to the CPS, the second time after appealing against a decision not to pursue the case. A Met spokesman told The Telegraph that discussions with the CPS regarding the case were continuing, adding that we will ensure all available avenues to challenge the decision not to bring charges are pursued. After the CPS became aware of The Telegraphs imminent publication of the story, it issued a statement to say it was urgently reviewing its decision-making in the case of the pro-Palestinian protester. 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. Security has been stepped up at Jewish schools and synagogues in Washington, DC following the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members in the city. Similar measures have been taken in other cities with significant Jewish populations, including Miami, New York and Chicago. Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, has been charged with the murder of couple Sarah Pilgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is also accused of causing death through the use of a firearm and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Rodriguez was filmed shouting free, free Palestine as he was arrested, raising fears of further anti-Semitic attacks. Credit: Instagram/Katie Kalisher Nearly 300,000 Jews are understood to be living in the Greater Washington, DC area, making it the third largest Jewish urban population in the US. The city also has at least five Jewish schools and eight synagogues. Around DC, you will see an increased presence of law enforcement officers around the community, you will find us around our faith-based organisations, Pamela Smith, the citys police chief, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community, she added. Muriel Bowser, the citys mayor, held talks with city officials and religious leaders as they drew up plans to boost security. We have a long history, and a lot of practice in our city, of working with Jewish organisations around safety and around protection, she said. Police officers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Thursday - Annabelle Gordon According to figures compiled by the Anti-Defamation League, the number of anti-Semitic incidents has surged by 361 per cent since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. In a report earlier this year by the American Jewish Committee, 56 per cent of American Jews said they had altered their behaviour amid the surge in attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump, who spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, after the shooting, wrote on Truth Social that the attacks were anti-Semitic. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) confirmed they would be stepping up the police presence in the city. The NYPD is increasing its presence at religious sites and cultural institutions with high visibility patrols, heavy weapons teams, and counterterrorism officers, the NYPD wrote in a social media post. Similar precautions are being taken in Florida. Due to the horrific targeted act of hate and violence in Washington, DC, we are taking immediate steps to enhance security throughout Miami-Dade County. This means increased patrols around places of worship and cultural institutions, including synagogues, mosques and Jewish schools, Miami-Dade police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We urge the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately. 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. UPDATE: Randy Keith Wallace was arrested Thursday afternoon in the Shady Valley community at a home off Highway 133, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies were able to locate Wallace thanks to the public assistance and vigilance, the sheriffs office said. JOHNSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) The Johnson County Sheriffs Office is searching for a man who allegedly violated the sex offender registry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the sheriffs office, Randy Keith Wallace is wanted for felony probation violations and violation of the sex offender registry. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Crime Watch Wallace is described as a 5-foot-5-inch white male who weighs 160 pounds. He has blue eyes. Wallace reportedly has ties to Shady Valley and Damascus. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Johnson County Sheriffs Office at 423-727-7761. People are warned not to approach Wallace. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. CHICAGO (WGN) Chicago leaders say crime numbers in the City of Chicago are heading in the right direction. As locals and city leaders prepare for and anticipate summertime in the Chi, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson discussed his administrations strategy on Thursday, highlighting a decrease in violent crime. This summer, we look forward to a citywide collaboration, he said. Mayor Johnson says he wants the Bears to stay in the city and has done everything he can now its out of his control Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding cooling off, Chicagos lakefront is a popular destination for visitors. Starting Friday, all 22 beaches will be open to the public, and city pools will be open for visitors starting June 21. Swimmers are reminded to be aware of water conditions. The Chicago Park District warns beach-goers to swim only when lifeguards are on duty in designated swim areas and not to swim when the flag is red. Most Chicago youth summer park programs also run from June to August. With warmer days ahead, Johnson said Thursday that violent crime is down 21%. Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling expanded on those numbers, adding that while more work lies ahead, 253 fewer shooting incidents this year have led to 311 fewer people shot in the City of Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, CPD said there have been 40 less murders (22% reduction), 311 less shooting victims (36% reduction), 253 less shooting incidents (36% reduction), and 1,207 less robberies (35.2% reduction). In addition to public safety, teen takeovers have been a recent topic of conversation among city leaders. The city council delayed a vote on implementing temporary curfews, prompting a response from Snelling. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines When we are looking at teen takeovers, we know those teens have become vulnerable to fights and shootings, he said. We want to put an end to it before it starts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. When Jon Lovett and Tim Miller take the stage alongside Sarah Longwell a prominent anti-Trump conservative, publisher of The Bulwark, and out lesbian advocate at Washington, D.C.s Lincoln Theatre during WorldPride, the tone will be fast, furious, and undeniably funny. Expect jokes. Possibly drag. But beneath the riotous banter and righteous shade, the Free Andry" event is dead serious. The Crooked MediaBulwark live show, slated for June 6, is a fundraiser for Andry Hernandez Romero, a 31-year-old gay Venezuelan asylum-seeker who came to the United States legally, seeking protection from violence for being gay. Instead, he was disappeared by President Donald Trumps administration and deported to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison a place so dystopian its been compared to a modern-day concentration camp. His lawyers havent heard from him since. There is no proof of life. This is the worst thing that Trump has done which is a very competitive category, Miller said in an interview with The Advocate. They kidnapped someone who followed the rules, lied about him, and disappeared him. How a makeup artist became a political prisoner Hernandez Romeros ordeal began after he made an asylum appointment through the CBP One app, a legal channel established by the Biden administration and repurposed under Trump. He passed a credible fear interview and was detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center, a CoreCivic-run facility in California. He had no criminal history. His lawyer was preparing for his hearing. Then he vanished. Days later, photojournalists captured Hernandez Romero being marched off a plane in El Salvador, shackled, sobbing, his head forcibly shaved. According to a Time journalist, he said, "I'm gay" and "Im a stylist! he cried to the guards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was taken to CECOT, a mega-prison designed to hold tens of thousands of alleged gang members many without charges, let alone convictions. There is no phone access. No mail. No contact with the outside world. They are treating him as if hes not a person, Miller said. Because once they admit hes a human being, it brings the whole thing crashing down. The crown tattoos that triggered a deportation The deportation was based on a now-debunked claim: The two crown tattoos on Hernandez Romeros wrists placed above the names of his mother and father were gang symbols. The accusation originated from a former Wisconsin police officer turned ICE contractor a man fired years earlier after crashing his car while drunk. ICE ran with it anyway. Hernandez Romero's lawyer previously told The Advocate theres no evidence the tattoos were related to gang affiliation and that the markings were a personal tribute to Hernandez Romeros family and his years performing in religious pageants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On social media, he appeared not as a gang member but as a joyful, flamboyant artist surrounded by beauty queens and runway glitter. Lovett was struck by the absurdity of the governments rationale. There was something really clarifying and horrible about a person begging for someone to listen Im not a member of any gang, Im gay, he said. Theyre willing to lie so brazenly about a case this clear. What lies wouldnt they tell? A nightmare we can imagine Lovett, the out co-founder of Crooked Media, Pod Save America cohost, and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, is known for his political satire and co-hosting duties on Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It. Miller, a former Republican strategist turned Trump critic, is a writer and podcast host at The Bulwark and the author of Why We Did It, a memoir about breaking from the GOP. For both Miller and Lovett, the case is a moral breaking point and a political line in the sand. Its also a haunting example of the Trump administrations vision for immigration one that flouts judicial orders, distorts wartime law, and reduces queer asylum-seekers to disposable bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want to be the heel, Miller said. They revel in being the bad guy in the movie. They want people to be afraid to feel like if they step out of line, if they even touch the system, they could vanish too. Lovett called the situation a Kafkaesque bureaucratic doom loop. The chilling part, he said, isnt just the violence. Its the intentional chaos. Feckless bureaucratic incompetence is also incredibly dangerous, he said. It kills people. It destroys lives. For Miller, the true horror is that it could have been worse. They would have liked to have done more already, he said. Theyve just been blocked by the courts because they did it in such a ham-fisted and stupid way. Their incompetence is the only reason were not seeing more Andrys. Building pressure with "Free Andry" The goal with Free Andry is to stop it from happening again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lovett and Miller were particularly incensed by the May exchange between Rep. Robert Garcia and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a House committee hearing. When Garcia pleaded with Noem to confirm whether Hernandez Romero was alive, she refused. Noem wouldnt even dignify a question as a mother, on behalf of another mother, about where Andry is, Lovett said. Miller saw it as part of a broader strategy to strip people like Hernandez Romero of their personhood. They dont want to treat these people as human, he said. Because once you start treating them as human, then that has to change the whole process by which theyre acting. That refusal to admit error even when confronted with a clear injustice is, he said, central to Trumpism. The ethos is: never give an inch. Never acknowledge fault. Because if you admit Andry is innocent, then it opens up a Pandoras box. The stakes, they said, go far beyond one case. This is a test, Lovett warned. They picked this fight on purpose. If we dont fight now, it will only get worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller agreed: Their incompetence has benefited others who might have been disappeared next. Had they been more efficient within the bounds of the law, theres a lot of scary stuff they could already be doing. They described a pattern of ICE disappearances so chaotic and unaccountable that it feels dystopian. It's the bad luck of having touched the system and run into the wrong ICE official, Lovett said. It's bureaucratic incompetence, but it can be more harmful too. It kills people. It destroys lives. They also pushed back on the Trump administrations attempts to isolate cases like Hernandez Romeros from others like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father mistakenly deported under similar conditions. They want the public to think its just one guy with one tattoo, or one guy with one checkered history, Miller said. But its not. Its a pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller and Lovett emphasized that the fundraiser is a party with a purpose. The program will feature surprise guests, irreverent commentary, and what Lovett called the Gs and the Ls coming together. All proceeds will go to the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, which represents Hernandez Romero and others detained under similar circumstances. Its going to be a big fun gay live show at the Lincoln, Lovett said. Not officially part of WorldPride or, I dont know, some legal queen will come after us but were going to raise money and raise hell. Theyre hoping that by turning attention toward Hernandez Romeros story and the broader pattern of ICE disappearances they can pressure lawmakers to act. If this just becomes background noise, Lovett warned, theyll keep doing it. Theyll move on to the next plane. They just disappear For Miller, the need to act is visceral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been getting very mad about it at random times during the day, he said. I did a rage selfie video in a hotel room. That didnt feel satisfying. Then I was in the shower the other day, and I was getting very upset about it, which is usually different from what Im doing in the shower. I got out and texted Jon: We need to do something more. Legal advocates continue pushing in court. Lindsay Toczylowski, a 15-year immigration attorney and executive director of Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said that without media coverage, the governments deportation program will keep operating in the shadows. Every day Hernandez Romero remains in isolation, she warns, his life could be at risk. She previously told The Advocate that the responsibility falls squarely on the Trump administration if something happens to him. Still, his legal team holds out hope. They believe increased pressure from elected officials, like those recently traveling to El Salvador demanding proof of life, could break through. If someone is allowed to see Hernandez Romero and report back that hes alive, it may be the first step toward bringing him home. For Lovett, the fight for justice cant just be urgent it has to be magnetic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the way you get people to come around to seeing things from our point of view, he said, is by being a fun movement...We have to be a fun movement." Miller added, Its okay to protest about serious things, and make it something people want to be a part of. The Daily Show host Jon Stewart pitched a new 2028 slogan for Democrats this week while discussing the partys shortcomings during the 2024 election cycle. The host and comedian compared Democratic politicians who still backed former President Biden despite concerns about his age and mental acuity intensifying as the 2024 election progressed to Republicans who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, calling it an extinction event for the GOP. The next presidential election cycle, in Stewarts view, is an opportunity for an interesting reinvention of what this Democratic Party can be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I actually think there should be excitement, not trepidation around what this is, but its going to come from someone outside of it. I think anybody that has that stink on them is not going to be particularly successful, Stewart said during a Thursday episode of his Weekly Show podcast with Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett. By the way, if thats not a Democrats slogan in 2028, something has gone terribly wrong. Overcome the Stink. If I dont have that on a bumper sticker, the comedian and pundit added. Its compelling, Favreau responded. Stewart had repeatedly criticized Biden and his allies during the 2024 presidential election. He argued during the Thursday episode that the next leader of the Democratic Party needs to resonate with voters and make strong arguments in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stewart said former President Obama, when he ran against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had an argument to make that resonated. Everybody is so concerned about what is the strategy through? How do I do the thing we did at the top, which was, first of all, I just want to send my hopes and prayers out to the family, the comedian said. Its that part that is whats throwing this whole fing game off. Its the pro forma. These are the steps you have to take to gain the trust of people for an argument, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Daily Show host Jon Stewart on Thursday argued that Democrats who rallied behind President Joe Biden amid concerns over his stamina and cognitive abilities contributed to a last gasp of the partys status quo. We need to overcome, I think, the stink, said Stewart in the latest episode of his Weekly Show podcast. By the way, if that is not a Democrats slogan in 2028, something has gone terribly wrong Overcome The Stink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stewart likened Democrats standing by Biden as the former president faced questions over his health and ability to serve a second term (concerns that have led to allegations of acover-up) to how the Iraq War was an extinction event for Republicans, setting the stage for President Donald Trump to emerge as a party leader. It has sown the seeds for a real and its an opportunity for an interesting reinvention of what this Democratic Party can be, said Stewart in an episode featuring Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett. Stewart added that there should be excitement, not trepidation around how the Democratic Party recovers from the 2024 election, though perhaps not from Democrats who were closely aligned with Biden last year. I think anybody that has any of that stink on them is not going to be particularly successful, Stewart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lovett, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama, said that Democrats have the energy of front of the classroom kids as far as how they respond to teachers (in this case, party leaders), whereas Republicans have captured a back of the classroom energy. He contrasted Democrats current vibe with how Obama challenged Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, even though she was marching toward the nomination and had endorsements. Lovett added that so few Democrats were willing to challenge Biden and lacked the fire to do so, describing their inaction as an indictment on the current party. It points to a kind of lack of assuredness in their own worldview. It points to this kind of ... consensus establishment mentality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, Its that the right person is the kind of person to say, You know what, we got a bunch of shit wrong. Check out more of the latest episode of The Weekly Show. Related... A federal judge has blasted the Trump administrations attempts to stop Harvard from enrolling international students as a blatant violation of the Constitution. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration Friday and agreed with the university that Harvard had shown that the move would do immediate and irreparable injury to the institution. In its lawsuit filed earlier Friday in federal court in Boston, the Ivy League university said the governments action violates the First Amendment and will have an immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administrations efforts to stop Harvard from enrolling international students. (REUTERS) With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, Harvard said in its suit. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard accused the Trump administration of a campaign of retribution in the lawsuit. We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action, Dr. Alan M. Garber, Harvards president, wrote in a letter addressing students and staff Friday. He added the Trump administrations efforts imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. The White House said the latest lawsuit against the administration was frivilous. The university is pushing back against the Trump administrations pressure campaign in an escalating effort to bend institutions to the presidents ideologically driven demands. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, antisemitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldnt be in this situation to begin with, Abiggail Jackson said in a statement to The New York Times. Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has waged a pressure campaign against the nations oldest school in an escalating effort to bend institutions to the presidents ideologically driven demands. The Department of Homeland Security claims Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including many Jewish students, and otherwise obstruct its once-venerable learning environment. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the university of fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. This week a a federal judge also blocked the Trump administration from revoking legal status for international students nationwide while a legal challenge is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order from California District Judge Jeffrey White blocks the government from arresting or jailing students over their legal status after the administration wreaked havoc" on the lives of hundreds of foreign students studying in the United States. The Associated Press contributed reporting WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge on Friday permanently blocked another of President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting a major law firm, calling it unconstitutional retaliation designed to punish lawyers for their legal work that the White House does not like. The ruling from U.S. District Judge John Bates marks the second time this month that a judge has struck down a Trump executive order against a prominent firm. The decision in favor of Jenner & Block follows a similar opinion that blocked the enforcement of a decree against a different firm, Perkins Coie. Like the others in the series, this order which takes aim at the global law firm Jenner & Block makes no bones about why it chose its target: it picked Jenner because of the causes Jenner champions, the clients Jenner represents, and a lawyer Jenner once employed," Bates wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spate of executive orders announced by Trump sought to impose the same consequences against the targeted firms, including suspending security clearances of attorneys and barring employees from federal buildings. The orders have been part of a broader effort by the president to reshape American civil society by targeting perceived adversaries in hopes of extracting concessions from them and bending them to his will. Several of the firms singled out for sanctions have either done legal work that Trump has opposed, or currently have or previously had associations with prosecutors who at one point investigated the president. In the case of Jenner & Block, the firm previously employed Andrew Weissmann, who served as a prosecutor on special counsel Robert Mueller's team that investigated ties between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia. Bates had previously halted enforcement of multiple provisions of the executive order against Jenner & Block and appeared deeply skeptical of its legality during a hearing last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his ruling Friday, he said he was troubled that the orders retaliated against the firms for the views embodied in their legal work and seek to chill legal representation the administration doesnt like, thereby insulating the Executive Branch from the judicial check fundamental to the separation of powers. Two other firms, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey, have also asked judges to permanently halt orders against them. Other major firms have sought to avert orders by preemptively reaching settlements that require them, among other things, to collectively dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars in free legal services in support of causes the Trump administration says it supports. Harvard has sued the Trump administration for the second time in less than a month. The suit comes 24 hours after the White House blocked international students from attending the school. Harvard officials say that could result in students ready to graduate being forced to leave the country. A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administrations ban on Harvard University enrollment of international students. Judge Allison Burroughs issued the temporary restraining order hours after the school asked for the courts to step in Friday. The order will block the Department of Homeland Security from revoking the schools ability to reenroll foreign students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burroughs, in her order, said Harvard had shown it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties. Thus, a TRO is justified to preserve the status quo pending a hearing. The prestigious university accused the administration of a campaign of retribution and filed the request for a temporary restraining order blocking the move Friday morning. Harvard has hosted F-1 visa students for more than 70 years, it said, under 14 presidential administrations. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, the lawsuit reads. Harvards certification is essential for each of Harvards thousands of international students to lawfully remain in this country while they complete coursework, obtain degrees, and continue critical research. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard. The school noted that the unprecedented and retaliatory act threatens to disrupt thousands of students lives. More than 7,000 Harvard students are visa holders and the school says they would be subject to immediate removal from the United States just days before many are to graduate with degrees. Thousands are also scheduled to come to campus for summer and fall terms, but they would no longer be able to legally enter the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has at least eight ongoing investigations into Harvard, and has said it is trying to counter antisemitism and liberal biases at the school (and other Ivy League universities). Harvard said in the suit it has been working to comply with a request from the White House made in April, demanding records of protest activity for the past five years, despite the demands unprecedented nature and scope. Harvard also argued that the decertification of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program violated the schools First Amendment rights, saying because the Administration perceives that members of Harvards community have the wrong viewpoints, Harvard will be punished until it alters its viewpoints to satisfy the Administrations demands. This is the second lawsuit Harvard has filed against the government in the past several weeks. The first focused on a freeze on $2.2 billion in research funding. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The Spanish Department of National Security's annual report directly states that the Russian Federation uses disinformation, artificial intelligence, and anonymous channels to undermine democratic institutions and reduce support for Ukraine. The report also documents new instances of Russian attempts to destabilize and interfere in the internal affairs of European countries. "With the beginning of the war, the main threat has become the activities of Russian special services on European territory, aimed at hindering the delivery of aid to Ukraine and spreading doubts about the advisability of further support for this country," the report published on the official website of the Department notes. As established by the department, this activity is carried out through proxies who are recruited, trained and coordinated through social networks, and who are not officially members of the Russian special services. The Russians also maintain a high level of activity aimed at obtaining information about Ukraine, NATO and the European Union. "In addition to these actions, they continue a broad campaign that is part of the Kremlin's strategy to try to break the Western consensus and reduce political, economic and military support for Kyiv," the report emphasizes. The Russian Federation is also indicated as the main source of hybrid threats for the West. Thus, Russian intelligence services and other related agencies, as in previous years, continue to conduct information confrontation campaigns aimed at undermining Western unity and destabilizing the situation in the Atlantic. These operations, which involve the intensive use of propaganda and disinformation, are aimed at strengthening pre-existing social or political divisions in the target country, undermining its cohesion and, ideally, promoting rapprochement with the Russian side. "Thus, the main goal that Russia pursues by developing its hybrid strategies in the West and Spain is essentially aimed at influencing the societies and leaderships of these countries in order to break the political, economic and military support for Kyiv. In the almost three years since the start of the war in Ukraine, the use of hybrid methods has increased, adapting them to the specific circumstances of each state in order to maximize their advantages," the report notes. The increased spread of disinformation campaigns after the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also noted. The Kremlin continues to use these methods opportunistically against Spain, Europe and the West. Russia continues to manipulate support for Ukraine, trying to question not only the aforementioned support, but also Spain's membership in both the EU and NATO in public debates. Events such as pandemics, electoral processes and natural disasters have been and will be used by the Kremlin to develop disinformation campaigns, the ultimate goal of which is to undermine democratic legitimacy and undermine public trust in state institutions. "Ideas justifying the conflict and limiting support for Ukraine are spread through various mechanisms, including official Russian government channels, pro-Kremlin activists with diverse audiences on social media, the media, through agents or proxies, and websites in various languages that are likely not integrated into the Kremlin's government structure... Similarly, Moscow uses front organizations and ideologically polarized groups, united in associations, NGOs, or foundations, to spread the Russian version of the conflict, undermine Western unity on aggression, and justify the need for its intervention in the situation in Ukraine," the report states. A federal judge has issued a scathing order requiring President Donald Trumps administration to put a hold on its plans to fire tens of thousands of federal employees while the mass layoffs are challenged in court. Judge Susan Illston had previously ordered the administration not to fire employees or close offices at 22 federal agencies for two weeks while she heard preliminary evidence in the case. On Thursday, she granted an injunction extending that pause until she issues a final ruling. A group of plaintiffs that include labor unions representing the employees argued that Trump and his Department of Government Efficiencywhich was originally led by Elon Muskwere attempting to reorganize the federal government without congressional approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, however, has argued that the government is reducing the federal workforce consistent with applicable law, and that the layoffs dont amount to a reorganizing of the federal government. In her order, however, Illston wrote that the evidence so far discredits the Trump administrations claims. Presidents may set policy priorities for the executive branch, and agency heads may implement them. This much is undisputed, Illston wrote. Agencies may not conduct large-scale reorganizations and reductions in force in blatant disregard of Congresss mandates, and a president may not initiate large-scale executive branch reorganization without partnering with Congress. Elon Musk originally oversaw the DOGE initiative that began the mass firings. / Kevin Lamarque/Reuters The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government had already asked the Supreme Court to intervene and block the two-week pause, and is expected to ask the justices to overturn Illstons latest ruling as well, The New York Times reported. In its request, the administration wrote that Illstons ruling was based on the extraordinary view that the president didnt have the authority to direct executive agencies on large-scale personnel actions. The new order slammed the government for refusing to present evidence in the case, and for taking the position that there are no relevant facts to review, as Illston put it. Protesters rallied against the planned federal employee layoffs outside the headquarters of the Office of Personnel Management in February. / Alex Wong/Getty Images The administrations lawyers submitted just one sworn declaration from an agency official to support their position, and then fought the courts order to disclose the agencys reduction in force and reorganization plans, the judge wrote. In its appeal to the Supreme Court, the government argued that the plans were protected by executive privilege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants insist that the new administration does not need Congresss support to lay off and restructure large swathes of the federal workforce, essentially telling the Court, Nothing to see here, Illston wrote in her order. In their view The Court and the bystanding public should just move along. And yet evidence presented by the plaintiffs showed that the administration wasnt just reducing the workforceit was making changes that intentionally or negligently flout the tasks Congress has assigned the agencies, the order continued. Russell Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, is taking over DOGE from Elon Musk. / Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag After dramatic staff reductions, these agencies will not be able to do what Congress has directed them to do, Illston wrote. Many of the employees were given termination notices and then put on paid administrative leave until the end of the notice period, which undercuts [the defendants] ostensible concern for efficient and effective government, the order said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a practical level, the decision keeps those employees on paid administrative leave throughout the duration of the lawsuit in an attempt to avoid the firing, rehiring and refiring that thousands of probationary employees have been subjected to since February, the Times reported. The administration has argued in several lawsuits challenging DOGEs workincluding the one before Illstonthat federal agencies are downsizing of their own accord and not at the presidents direction. The claim asks the court to use tunnel vision and ignore whatever may be happening on the ground, the judge wrote. Put simply, in this case, defendants want the Court to either declare that nine Presidents and twenty-one Congresses did not properly understand the separation of powers, or ignore how the executive branch is implementing large-scale reductions in force and reorganizations, she wrote. The Court can do neither. BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Benton County judge has approved a motion for Amber Waterman, a Missouri woman accused of kidnapping and killing a Benton County woman and her unborn child, to undergo a mental evaluation, according to court documents. Waterman, 45, of Pineville, Mo., is charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the deaths of Ashley Bush and her unborn child, Valkyrie Grace Willis. Amber Waterman, 45 (Courtesy: Benton County Detention Center) Prosecutors previously told KNWA/FOX24 that they are seeking the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court filing claims Amber Watermans rights were violated during murder investigation Benton County Judge Robin Green also ordered the proceedings to be suspended pending the outcome of the mental evaluation. This comes after Watermans attorney, Jeff Rosenzweig, filed a motion on April 30, calling for a mental evaluation to determine whether she is fit to stand trial. Rosenzweigs motion said Waterman has a growth on her brain that causes her to have various symptoms, including seizures. It also says Waterman will undergo an MRI, CT scan and/or an X-ray. Waterman is set to appear for an omnibus hearing on July 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. A five-year court battle between tech titans Apple and Epic Games may finally be coming to a close. After months of explosive back-and-forth that went as high as the Supreme Court, Apple has reinstated Epic Games' landmark game, Fortnite, back onto its App Store. Fortnite a free-to-play game which makes money from gamers spending cash on flashy cosmetics began prompting users to bypass Apple's iOS payment system and pay Epic directly back in August, 2020. The move helped Epic get around Apple's 30 percent fee, a flat tax it charged all developers for selling on the App Store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apple didn't like that, as Fortnite had over 116 million downloads through the App Store at the time. Apple argued Epic's payment portal violated the App Store's terms of service, and took the massively popular game off its platform. In response, Epic filed suit against Apple on antitrust grounds, launching an admittedly corny "Free Fortnite" campaign, which nonetheless posed a serious question: does Apple have the right to restrict developers' access to the billions of devices that exclusively use the iOS App Store? It's a question that took years to answer, and more twists and turns than a viral Fortnite dance. Apple countersued Epic, seeking damages from Epic's terms of service violation. In September 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a split decision, ruling with Apple on nine of ten counts, but awarding Epic a crucial injunction ordering Apple to allow apps to link to external payment platforms. Notably, Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple wasn't a monopoly, but rather a duopoly alongside Google, which was engaged in a similar legal battle with Epic over the Google Play store. She likewise ordered Epic to pay Apple $3.6 million in damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unhappy with the decision, both companies appealed, eventually escalating the issue to the Supreme Court, which declined to hear either appeal. Forced to allow developers to bypass Apple Pay, the company begrudgingly complied, but with on caveat. Apple now required developers to fork over 27 percent of the revenue made this way within 7 days of each transaction a tactic known as malicious compliance. That, of course, spawned another series of lawsuits in March 2024, as Epic vowed to continue the fight and prove that Apple was acting in bad faith. Though Apple put on a cooperative face as the next phase kicked off, it would later emerge that the company's execs withheld documents, delayed proceedings, misled the court, and lied under oath. On the final day of that trial, Epic introduced a series of messages between senior PR executives at Apple, showing the tech giant's frustration at having to follow the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How is this still going," wrote Apple corporate communications worker Hannah Smith during an earlier day of trial. "I have no idea. I am stunned," replied Marni Goldberg, Apple's director of public affairs, and former press secretary for Senator Joe Manchin. "It's our F****ING STORE," she roared in a message minutes later. "This is very much pissing me off." Now knowing exactly who she was dealing with, Judge Gonzalez Rogers issued her scathing ruling on April 30, 2025, finding Apple "in willful violation" of the court's earlier decisions. "In stark contrast to Apples initial in-court testimony... documents reveal that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option," Gonzalez Rogers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To hide the truth, Vice-President of Finance, Alex Roman, outright lied under oath," the judge found. Though Roman testified that Apple decided on the 27 percent fee in January 2024 a split-second decision made after the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal other records prove the tech giant was plotting it as early as July 2023. The ruling found that the decision to ignore the injunction went as high as Apple CEO Tim Cook, who ignored advice to follow the court's decision, and instead went with his "finance team," which convinced him to go through with the 27 percent fee. As Gonzalez Rogers wrote: "Cook chose poorly." Somehow, that wasn't enough hot water. After the April 30 decision, Apple began quickly approving updates to apps linking to third-party payment platforms, according to antitrust journalist Matt Stoller. However, there was one exception: Epic's Fortnite, which Apple had "determined not to take action on the Fortnite app submission" until after all lingering legal appeals were done. Presumably at her wit's end, Gonzalez Rogers issued a brutal one-page order, demanding Apple either make amends with Epic, or else sacrifice an Apple executive to the full wrath of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Obviously, Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing," the judge raged. "However, if the parties do not file a joint notice that this issue is resolved, and this Courts intervention is required, the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear at the hearing." Within a day of that final order, Apple folded, and has officially allowed Fortnite back on the app store (it's now estimated that the five year legal battle cost Apple $1 billion in lost revenue and legal fees.) Though the appeals battle still rages with Google, this one's a major win for software developers, publishers, and phone gamers everywhere. More on Apple: Tim Cook Has a Strange Obsession Rep. LaMonica McIver and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka were both present for a May 9 protest at a migrant jail in Newark that led to Baraka's arrest and now charges for McIver. (Photos by Jemal Countess/Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) President Trump is finding out that its harder to prosecute his political foes for no reason than he thought it would be. This week saw the implosion of the Trump administrations case against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a Democrat arrested two weeks ago and charged with trespassing on the property of a migrant jail used by the feds even though video evidence available to the public shows he was not trespassing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a personal attorney for Trump who was given the job of our states chief federal prosecutor in March despite zero credentials, made dismissing the charge against Baraka seem like an act of goodwill, saying she was doing it for the sake of moving forward. That statement bemused U.S. Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa, who was overseeing Barakas case. What does that mean? Espinosa asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Demanovich during a hearing Wednesday. Your honor, we believe just, in the interest of justice in this case, in considering all factors, that it was the most appropriate resolution in the interest of justice to move forward with this charge and dismiss. We weighed all factors and took it under careful consideration, and considering all that, the decision was made to dismiss the charges, with prejudice, Demanovich said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a lot of words to say: We screwed up. Demanovich did not mention that his office spoke to a guard who admitted inviting Baraka onto the jails property. Espinosa, who formally dismissed the trespassing charge Wednesday, lit into the U.S. Attorneys Office for its handling of the case, calling agents arrest of Baraka hasty and the decision, 10 days later, to dismiss the charge embarrassing. Federal prosecutors serve a singular, paramount client: justice itself. Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth, and to the upholding of due process of all, the judge said. Habba was not present for this extraordinary dressing-down perhaps she was busy with her alleged investigation of our governor and attorney general though she should have been, since her public intention to use her office to punish New Jersey Democrats is clearly the reason the mayor of our states biggest city was placed under arrest on a charge so flimsy that Habbas office couldnt keep it alive for even two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays lecture from Judge Espinosa should serve as a warning for Habba. Alas, it wont. We know this because moments after announcing Monday that she was dropping the Baraka case, she said she was filing criminal charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver, who was involved in the melee that transpired when federal agents moved to arrest Baraka and now stands accused of assaulting federal agents. A prosecutor with an ounce of shame faced with having to admit publicly that their 10-day-old prosecution of a political foe was a complete sham would have taken a moment to reflect before then siccing her office on a different political foe, but shame is not an emotion Habba feels, I fear. Trump is clearly on a revenge tour for the various criminal charges filed against him during his four years out of the White House, one that is sweeping up Democrats who had nothing to do with any of the charges he faced. He lit into McIver on Wednesday, saying she was shoving federal agents and proclaiming that were going to have law and order now that hes president again. This was just a week after he extolled the new president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was until recently on the U.S. list of designated terrorists for his past links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, as a young, attractive guy, tough guy with a strong past. Interesting, isnt it, who gets his stamp of approval and who gets called a thug. Unfortunately, a byproduct of the prosecutions that Trump faced is a public inured to the prospect of their political leaders jailing one another. An Emerson poll from last week found that 44% percent of respondents supported Barakas arrest, despite there being evidence from the start that he didnt do the thing he was arrested for doing. This is a dangerous road were on, and I worry theres no way back. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Sean "Diddy" Combs sat a few feet from Kid Cudi on Thursday as the rapper testified Judge Arun Subramanian has given a date by which he says the trial must wrap up Names of some of those testifying next week have been announced The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs has concluded its second week, after jurors heard from his former assistant, his former girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura's mother, a makeup artist and, perhaps most notably, rapper Kid Cudi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kid Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, testified on Thursday, May 22, about the brief period when he dated Ventura, while she was going through a rough patch in her volatile relationship with Combs. Elizabeth Williams via AP Other witnesses included a makeup artist who worked with both Combs and Ventura; and Combs' former assistant George Kaplan, who appeared for a second day after taking the stand for the first time on Wednesday. Those set to testify next week will include Capricorn Clark, a woman who was once Diddy's assistant; a member of Los Angeles Police Department; and a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Clark's name came up during Mescudi's testimony on Thursday, as he recounted a 2011 incident where he alleges Combs broke into his house. Per his testimony, Clark had told him she was waiting outside his house while Combs and an associate were inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark seemed very scared" when she tipped Mescudi off, he told the jury on Thursday. The trial is set to continue after the long weekend, and Judge Arun Subramanian said it should wrap up by July 4. 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. Judge Subramanian instructed the jury to follow the requirements over the weekend and even suggested a distraction for them. Do not talk to anyone about the case, he told jurors before dismissing them, telling them instead to watch the Knicks avenge their Game One loss. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Read the original article on People Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs may be able to survive a legal challenge, thanks in part to a Japanese zipper company that sued the Nixon administration 50 years ago. Earlier this week, a federal judge in Florida nominated by Donald Trump suggested the president has the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs -- basing his ruling on the precedent from a 1970s court case -- but stopped short of issuing an order affirming the president's right to impose sweeping tariffs. In a largely technical ruling issued on Tuesday, U.S. Judge T. Kent Wetherell II transferred one of the first lawsuits challenging Trump's tariffs to a different federal court while also weighing in on the legality of the controversial tariffs. Florida-based planner company Emily Ley Paper sued over the tariffs in April, asking Wetherell to invalidate them because Trump lacks the power to impose tariffs himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Target CEO says tariffs risk 'massive' costs, but price hikes a 'last resort' According to the judge, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 gives Trump the authority to set tariffs for reasons other than raising revenue. Wetherell wrote that Trump's justification for the tariffs -- both stemming the flow of illicit drugs into the country and resolving a trade imbalance -- is sufficient to satisfy the terms set by Congress. "This is a civil action commenced against the United States and it 'arises out of' a federal lawIEEPAso the dispositive question framed by the parties' filings is whether IEEPA 'provid[es] for tariffs,'" he wrote. "Defendants contend that it does; Plaintiffs contend that it doesn't. The Court agrees with Defendants ..." The decision is at best a symbolic victory for the Trump administration, which is fending off a half dozen lawsuits challenging the legality of the recent "Liberation Day" tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Wetherell ultimately decided to transfer the case from a federal court in Florida to the Court of International Trade in New York, meaning that, despite his favorable view of the tariffs, he won't be the one deciding the case. PHOTO: President Donald Trump attends a Make America Healthy Again Commission event, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, May 22, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) MORE: Lawyer calls Trump tariffs 'unlawful' as they face 1st test against small businesses But the decision marks the first time a federal judge has suggested Trump's imposition of tariffs falls within his authority as president, offering a positive sign that the Trump administration may find a receptive audience at the Court of International Trade. During two hearings over the last week, judges at the Court of International Trade have wrestled with the same question about Trump's authority. The question comes down to the interpretation of the 1970s law that Trump used to impose his tariffs. The IEEPA gives the president the right to "regulate" imports but does not explicitly mention tariffs. Lawyers challenging the tariffs have argued that Trump's interpretation of the law oversteps his authority by treading into an issue controlled by Congress, but the Trump administration has pointed judges to a court decision related to the IEEPA's legal predecessor -- the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 -- to guide the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back when President Richard Nixon confronted the country's 1971 economic crisis with steep tariffs on Japanese goods, a zipper company based in Japan called Yoshida sued Nixon over the tariffs. MORE: Consumer sentiment worsens despite Trump's rollback of tariffs, survey says The Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, the predecessor to the Court of International Trade, sided with the government and held that the TWAE gives the president the power to impose tariffs. According to Wetherell, the same reasoning would apply 50 years later to the IEEPA, meaning Trump has the power to impose tariffs without the help of Congress. "The reasoning in Yoshida is persuasive, and the Court sees no reason why it would not apply to IEEPA because the operative language of IEEPA is identical to the operative language in TWEA," the judge wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite losing its legal battle, Yoshida remains in business today. Now operating under the name YKK, it produces more zippers than any other company in the world. Judge says Trump has power to impose tariffs, but punts lawsuit to different court originally appeared on abcnews.go.com U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20, 2025, aimed at shutting down the Department of Education. However, on May 22, 2025, a judge temporarily blocked his order and directed the agency to reinstate employees fired in mass layoffs. The court case is ongoing. It's still uncertain what Trump's plans would look like for a country without a federal education agency. The Department of Education's role is primarily to handle federal finances for education programs. However, experts say that this decision does not affect financial support for federal programs providing services to disadvantaged students, such as those with disabilities or at high-poverty schools. While the Trump administration has promised to preserve these popular federal programs, the ability for the government to operate the programs in question may be affected by efforts to diminish or dismantle the Department of Education. Both Democrats and Republicans have called into question the ability of other agencies to handle the department's responsibilities, and staff cuts to the department already are affecting student access to financial aid. Advocates and experts are also concerned about the potential effects of losing the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. After the administration reportedly cut staff at the office as part of its wider Department of Education cuts, the American Civil Liberties Union warned "gutting the OCR severely weakens federal civil rights enforcement, leaving millions of students without crucial protections against discrimination." Early into U.S. President Donald Trump's second term in office, he signed an executive order aimed at ending the Department of Education. "My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We're going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It's doing us no good," Trump said at the signing, adding that he wants to give states more control over education. Rumors spread about what this might mean; one Democratic representative from Ohio said it amounted to "cutting funding for every student in America." Advocates for parents and children rang the alarm, claiming dismantling the department will mean unchecked discrimination against students of color and with disabilities, "larger class sizes, more schools without books and equipment and in disrepair, an end to many tutoring programs and remedial services" and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, on May 22, 2025, a federal judge blocked Trump's executive order, directing the administration to "restore the Department to the status quo" (see the last page in the court filing). That includes reinstating employees laid off amid the administration's efforts to dismantle the department. While celebrating the ruling, many Democratic lawmakers called the Trump administration's actions "unlawful" or "illegal." Meanwhile, a Department of Education spokesperson, Madi Biedermann, said via email that the judge "dramatically overstepped his authority, and issued an injunction against the obviously lawful efforts to make the Department of Education more efficient and functional for the American people." However, the judge's decision is a temporary block as the court case makes its way through the justice system, meaning there is still a chance the administration will be allowed to move ahead with its efforts to dismantle the department, pending a final determination. Trump's plans for what a country without a federal education department would look like are still vague, but he has suggested some functions, such as student loans, will be handled by other agencies, whereas other functions will be handed to the states. He also promised preservation of popular programs, like funding for students with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups. Experts say there may be difficulties transferring responsibilities and are concerned about the effect on civil rights for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a statement released after Trump signed the executive order, said her vision "is aligned with the President's: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children." Here's what you need to know about the Department of Education's future and what a country without the agency might look like. Breaking down the court case The court case is still ongoing as of this writing, and the judge's ruling granted a preliminary injunction a temporary order in effect as a case moves through the legal system. Thus, the courts have not made a final ruling on whether Trump's order is legal, despite indicating that it may not be. "We will immediately challenge this [ruling] on an emergency basis," the statement from the Education Department spokesperson, Biedermann, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Trump's education secretary, Linda McMahon, said during her confirmation hearing, Trump cannot legally close the Department of Education in its entirety without an act of Congress. However, he can diminish its authority and functioning. Per a White House fact sheet, the the order directs McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely." It also "directs that programs or activities receiving any remaining Department of Education funds will not advance DEI or gender ideology." But in issuing the preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun said the order's direction goes "directly against Congress's intent in creating the Department" (see Page 49) and that "the record abundantly reveals" that the administration's true intention is to effectively dismantle the Department without an authorizing statute" (see Page 2). However, the injunction, as it says in the name, is preliminary and only in effect until a "merits decision," or a final determination, is made. As Joun wrote: This Preliminary Injunction shall become effective immediately upon entry by this Court. The Preliminary Injunction Order shall remain in effect for the duration of this litigation and until a merits decision has been issued. What the Department of Education does The Department of Education's primary role is financial: The agency manages student loans and financial aid for college students and distributes federal funding for marginalized students, including money to provide services for students with disabilities and at low-income schools. It also has a hand in civil rights enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When you hear 'Department of Education,' people think that this is about education. They think it's about curriculum and instruction, it's about teaching and mathematics," said Jonathan Collins, a professor of political science and education at Columbia University. "It's actually about providing financial support for folks to be able to access colleges and universities, or to be able to use funding to support students who have different types of specialized needs." While the Department of Education plays a relatively small role in K-12 education funding, experts say it's an important one. Colleges and universities are more reliant on federal funding for research grants and student financial aid; the Trump administration has reportedly already withheld aid from various universities and students. However, abolishing the Department of Education in itself would not actually change much about the federal government's policies on providing funding for marginalized K-12 students or federal financial aid, said Collins and Marguerite Roza, director of Georgetown University's education finance lab. "Honestly most of this is about politics than policy," Collins said. "This is about creating a headline, more than radically transforming the way education works because it doesn't." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Congress controls the purse strings for the two major federal programs providing financial support for services to marginalized students the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which entitles students with disabilities to a free public education tailored to their needs, and Title I funds for students in high-poverty schools. Getting rid of the Department of Education essentially just removes the middleman, Collins and Roza said. "I was a kid when there wasn't a Department of Education," Roza said. "Obviously there's been a lot of gains since then, but these big programs for kids with disabilities and low income kids existed before there was a Department of Education. That doesn't mean [agency employees] don't do anything useful, I just don't think schools will immediately notice." Trump and McMahon also said they do not believe abolishing the Department of Education will affect various popular financial programs managed by the agency. "The department's useful functions and such as they're in charge of them, Pell Grants, Title I, funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs will be preserved, fully preserved," Trump promised during his executive order signing. Effect on operations While policy might not change, the ability for the federal government to operate its programs might. Democrats and Republicans both are unconvinced that popular programs under the Department of Education would be properly managed should the agency be abolished and have its responsibilities transferred to other agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, for example, asked McMahon at her confirmation hearing how the government will maintain "administration and oversight" of programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Title I and TRIO, a Department of Education outreach initiative aimed at supporting disadvantaged students in pursuit of a college degree. McMahon reiterated that she isn't looking to defund any of these programs and suggested the Department of Health and Human Services could take over IDEA. "So, I just want to be clear," said Sen. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat from New Hampshire. "You're going to put special education in the hands of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?" (The secretary of health and human services' efforts to falsely link vaccines to autism worry many advocates for students with disabilities.) Trump has said that, should the Department of Education be abolished, student loans would fall under the purview of the Treasury Department, the Department of Commerce or the Small Business Administration. He told reporters he thinks it will be the SBA: "I don't think education should be handling the loans, that's not their business. I think it will be brought into small business, maybe." Collins, the education policy expert, said the Small Business Administration makes sense from a "pure administrative standpoint" because "that's what they do they essentially manage the process of providing and monitoring loan payment." The problem, however, is that the SBA already struggles to handle its own work, Collins said, pointing to its COVID-19 funding debacle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The majority of folks who enter a college or higher education institution walk out with the student loan that they are borrowing from the federal government. This is a huge enterprise here," Collins said. "The idea of adding over 40 million borrowers also to [SBA's] docket sheet it does seem unwise." The Trump administration's efforts to gut staff at the Department of Education, announced March 11, have reportedly already affected access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Roza, of Georgetown University, said there are "legitimate questions" about how losing the staff at the Department of Education by dismantling the agency will affect loan and grant processing for financial aid to students that haven't yet been answered by the White House. Effect on civil rights Collins said his biggest concern should the country lose the Department of Education is the agency's Office of Civil Rights. While states usually have their own civil rights offices within state education departments, the federal agency's investigations into discrimination in education often resulted in consequential court cases that "have gotten us closer to a more fair and just education system," Collins said think lawsuits related to Title IX, the civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs, for example. The effect won't be immediate, Collins said but in a few decades, "we might look back at this moment and say wow, this is when things are happening that went overlooked that completely put us on a different trajectory." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Civil Liberties Union also sounded the alarm, noting that the March 11 Department of Education staff cuts reportedly involved terminating staff in seven of the Office of Civil Rights' 12 regional offices. "Gutting the OCR severely weakens federal civil rights enforcement, leaving millions of students without crucial protections against discrimination," the ACLU said. "It also suppresses students' ability to seek justice when their rights are violated and allows discriminatory practices, including uneven and unfair targeting of students of color for school discipline, inequitable access to advanced coursework, the refusal to provide accommodations to students with disabilities, and discrimination against students with limited English proficiency or English learner status to persist unchecked." However, Roza said the Office of Civil Rights has been "at the whim of the president" in recent years; under Trump, it has been ordered to refocus priorities on antisemitism, transgender issues and anti-DEI complaints, The Associated Press reported. The ACLU said getting rid of the Department of Education may also affect the federal government's capacity to collect data, which the ACLU noted is "an essential resource for identifying and addressing disparities in education." Sources: Binkley, Collin, and Heather Hollingsworth. "Education Department Focused on Trump's Politics, Less on Special Ed, Racial Discrimination." AP News, 10 Mar. 2025, apnews.com/article/education-department-civil-rights-special-education-antisemitism-764c1298a4ba856ce793249cdb57e6d6. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dilanian, Ken, and Laura Strickler. "Theft from the Covid Relief Plan Known as PPP Was Even Worse than We Thought." NBC News, 28 Mar. 2022, www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/biggest-fraud-generation-looting-covid-relief-program-known-ppp-n1279664. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. "Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Empowers Parents, States, and Communities to Improve Education Outcomes." The White House, 20 Mar. 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-empowers-parents-states-and-communities-to-improve-education-outcomes/. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. "Federal Trio Programs." U.S. Department of Education, 9 Sept. 2024, www.ed.gov/about/ed-offices/ope/trio. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Hanson, Melanie. "Student Loan Debt Statistics." Education Data Initiative, EducationData.org, 15 Jan. 2025, educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. "Jonathan E. Collins | Political Science." Columbia.edu, polisci.columbia.edu/content/jonathan-e-collins. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Joun, Myong J. STATE of NEW YORK, Et. Al, v. LINDA MCMAHON, SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Et. Al, v. DONALD J. TRUMP, Et. Al | MEMORANDUM and ORDER on CONSOLIDATED PLAINTIFFS' MOTIONS for PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. 22 May 2025, storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.282419/gov.uscourts.mad.282419.45.0_2.pdf. Accessed 22 May 2025. "Marguerite Roza." Georgetown.edu, gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/00336000014Te29AAC/marguerite-roza. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. McMahon, Linda. "Secretary McMahon: Our Department's Final Mission." U.S. Department of Education, 4 Mar. 2025, www.ed.gov/about/news/speech/secretary-mcmahon-our-departments-final-mission. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Meckler, Laura, et al. "How Education Department Layoffs Hit Student Loans, Testing, Civil Rights." Archive.ph, The Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2025, archive.ph/77tr1. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Mimbela, Ricardo. "Trump's Attack on the Department of Education, Explained | ACLU." American Civil Liberties Union, 14 Mar. 2025, www.aclu.org/news/racial-justice/trumps-attack-on-the-department-of-education-explained. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Oliff, Phillip. "Two Decades of Change in Federal and State Higher Education Funding." Pewtrusts.org, 15 Oct. 2019, www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2019/10/two-decades-of-change-in-federal-and-state-higher-education-funding. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. PBS NewsHour. "WATCH: Sen. Collins Questions McMahon in Confirmation Hearing." YouTube, 13 Feb. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MDP1GbNBlA. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. ---. "WATCH: Sen. Hassan Questions McMahon in Confirmation Hearing." YouTube, 13 Feb. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLEQ4Nlfp24. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. The Bulwark. "Reporter: 'If the Education Department Were Eliminated, What Agency Would Handle Student Loans?' Trump: 'I Don't Think the Education Should Be Handling the Loans...I Think It Will Be Brought into Small Business.'" X (Formerly Twitter), 2025, x.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1897757054195888247. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. U.S. Department of Education. "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)." U.S. Department of Education, 7 Oct. 2024, www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/individuals-disabilities/idea. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. ---. "Title I." U.S. Department of Education, www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/title-I. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. ---. "Title IX and Sex Discrimination." U.S. Department of Education, Aug. 2021, www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/sex-discrimination/Title-IX-and-Sex-Discrimination. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. "U.S. Department of Education Initiates Reduction in Force." U.S. Department of Education, 11 Mar. 2025, www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-initiates-reduction-force. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. Wall Street Journal. "Linda McMahon: Education Department Can't Shut down without Congress." Wall Street Journal, 13 Feb. 2025, www.wsj.com/video/linda-mcmahon-education-department-cant-shut-down-without-congress/7C49B9CD-33E6-4B2B-A6EC-FA541A2EA0DF?mod=education_videos_pos2. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025. BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) An immigration judge has released one Vermont dairy worker detained last month by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, but denied bail to two others who will remain in custody in Texas. Jose Edilberto Molina-Aguilar was ordered released Thursday from an immigration processing center in Karnes County, Texas. He is one of eight workers at Pleasant Valley Farms in Berkshire who were detained by ICE on April 21. Four of the workers have already been deported to Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other farmworkers held in detention Jesus Mendez Hernandez and Adrian Zunun-Joachin were denied bond and will remain in custody in Texas, Migrant Justice said. Over the weekend, another worker detained on April 21, Diblaim Maximo Sargento-Morales, returned to Vermont after being released by a Massachusetts judge on May 17. Meanwhile, a farm worker detained by border patrol agents during a traffic stop last month was released today from a federal prison in Berlin, New Hampshire, Migrant Justice says. Arbey Lopez-Lopez was pulled over by Border Patrol on April 9 while delivering groceries to a farm. He was ordered released Monday by an immigration judge, the group says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The advocacy group Migrant Justice says Molina-Aguilars bond will be paid by the Vermont Freedom Fund. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A man convicted of raping and killing a woman near a central Florida bar has been scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed Friday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the seventh this year. Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, is set to die by lethal injection June 24 at Florida State Prison near the city of Starke. Gudinas was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to death for the murder of Michelle McGrath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGrath was last seen at a bar called Barbarellas around closing time in May 1994. Her body was found in an alley next to a nearby school the next morning with evidence of serious trauma and sexual assault. Gudinas had been at the same bar with friends the night before, but they all later testified that they had left without him. A school employee who found McGraths body later identified Gudinas as a man who was fleeing the area shortly before the body was discovered. Another woman also identified Gudinas as the person who chased her to her car the previous night and threatened to assault her. Five other executions have taken place in Florida this year, with a sixth scheduled for June 10, all by lethal injection. Anti-corruption authorities of Ukraine, as part of an international investigation, reported a new suspicion to the former head of the state enterprise Polygraph Factory for bribery in the form of copyrights for design elements of Ukrainian documents (stylized trident and map of Ukraine), as well as for legalization of more than EUR7 million in income. "The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have reported a new suspicion to the former director of the state enterprise Polygraph Factory within the framework of a large-scale international investigation. He is accused of receiving illegal benefits in the form of copyrights to design elements of Ukrainian documents (stylized trident and map of Ukraine), as well as legalization of over EUR7 million of income," the SAPO reported on Telegram on Friday. According to the investigation, the official demanded that the French company re-register these copyrights to an Estonian company controlled by him, which later began to receive royalties for the use of the protective design even after the official was dismissed from his post. "Part of the funds, in particular $124,790, was transferred to his daughter's account," the report says. The SAPO emphasizes that this case has already been the subject of an investigation: the previously mentioned person was notified of suspicion of misappropriation of state enterprise funds by inflating prices for the supply of holograms by four to six times. "The key element of the investigation is international cooperation within the framework of the joint investigation team (JIT) of Ukraine, France, and Estonia under the coordination of Eurojust. This is not only the exchange of evidence, but also full-fledged cooperation," the anti-corruption prosecutor's office notes. The SAPO explains that each state carries out its own procedural actions against its citizens. In France, in particular, law enforcement agencies provide a legal assessment of the actions of persons involved in the transfer of intellectual property rights. "In Estonia, five people who helped manage the "shelter" company and were involved in money laundering have already been brought to criminal responsibility, the indictment has been sent to court. In Ukraine, five citizens have been notified of suspicion," the prosecutor's office informs. According to the report, as a result of international coordination, one of the accomplices earlier agreed to cooperate with the investigation. In December 2024, the High Anti-Corruption Court approved a plea agreement, which provides for cooperation with law enforcement agencies of three countries, providing incriminating testimony in three jurisdictions, and partial compensation for damage. "Within the framework of the joint investigative group, coordinated measures are being taken not only to bring all involved persons to justice, but also to identify their assets and return them to Ukraine within the framework of procedures provided for by international law," the SAPO summarizes. DES MOINES, Iowa A Polk County jury convicted a Des Moines man of first-degree murder for beating his girlfriend to death in 2024. 61-year-old Derrick Andray Earnest was convicted of beating his girlfriend, 49-year-old Holly Snowgren, to death on April 19, 2024. The incident occurred in an alley east of Good Park between 14th Street and 14th Place, according to Polk County. Ring and Nest cameras in the area captured the defendant arguing with the victim and then beating her with a wooden 2-by-10 board, punching, and kicking her, according to the Polk County court. In the recordings, Earnest can be heard threatening to kill her, while Snowgren said his name and pleaded for him to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Des Moines man dies after Webster County crash Polk County says evidence showed that approximately 40 minutes after the assault, around 2:42 a.m., the defendant took the victim to the Methodist Medical Center emergency room. Snowgren suffered broken ribs, lacerations, a stab wound, and other injuries. She was pronounced dead the same day, later in the morning. Earnest was arrested later on April 19 and charged with first-degree murder. Polk County says the jury deliberated around two hours before announcing the verdict on Friday. Earnest faces life in prison without parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23. The case was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorneys Shannon Bogolin and Caleb Copley, assisted by Lindsay Scott. The investigation was led by Detective Brad Youngblut of the Des Moines Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) A jury found a Vanderburgh County man guilty of rape in just 35 minutes. A release obtained by Eyewitness News says Carlos Rodriguez-Geronimo was found guilty as charged of two counts of rape. The verdict came down after just 35 minutes of deliberation. Documents say Rodriguez-Geronimo met the victim on snapchat prior to the crime. Sexual assault cases involve an incredible amount of nuance and require training to successfully prosecute, said Prosecutor Diana Moers. Our community is lucky to have trained professionals at Hollys House who can explain to juries myriad of well-studied issues such as trauma responses and offender-victim dynamics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) The Syracuse Police officer who killed a man she thought was about to shoot her was found civilly liable for violating his constitutional rights Friday in federal court. Officer Kelsey Francemone shot and killed Gary Porter as she responded and was working to subdue active shooters at a Fathers Day party that turned into a riot near Syracuses Skiddy Park in 2016. Francemone was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by a grand jury in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Porters family then sued Francemone personally, alleging she violated his constitutional rights. A federal jury of eight people found the victims family did sufficiently argue their claims and awarded the Porter family $10,000 in damages. Somewhat contradictory, the jury also found that Francemone successfully argued that Porter was armed and actively shooting. That determination allows the judge to consider qualified immunity for Francemone, which allows her protection from damages because of her official duties as a police officer. The $10,000 awarded at trial is somewhat of a financial victory for the City of Syracuse, which was about to award the Porter family more than $800,000 until the settlement was blocked by the Syracuse Common Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francemone has been celebrated for her bravery on the night of the riot, including accolades from the New York governor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett will donate $50,000 to a local nonprofit organization to settle a city lawsuit that sought reimbursement for money spent during a Chicago police investigation of the infamous alleged hoax in January 2019. The settlement resolves Smolletts last remaining legal matter here in Chicago after the state Supreme Court in November overturned his criminal convictions and ordered the case dismissed, finding that a special prosecutors decision to retry him for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself violated his rights after the Cook County states attorneys office previously dropped all charges. Smollett and the city reached an agreement last month, according to court records, but the two parties have now made the terms of settlement public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than six years ago, Smollett told police that two men attacked him in the Streeterville neighborhood, hitting him, yelling homophobic slurs and placing a noose around his neck. His story quickly unraveled, though, according to police, and Cook County prosecutors charged Smollett with disorderly conduct for allegedly concocting the hoax with brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who testified that he paid them to perpetrate the attack. Months later, the prosecutors office controversially dropped charges against Smollett, though it did not deter the city from trying to recoup $130,106 in police overtime hours expended in the investigation into his allegations. Smollett then filed a counterclaim against the city. In a statement released on behalf of Smollett, the actor said the decision to settle was not a difficult one. After repeatedly refusing to pay the City, I was presented with an opportunity to make a charitable donation in exchange for the case being dismissed, the statement said. Despite what happened there politically, Chicago was my home for over 5 years and the people became my family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The donation will be made to the Building Brighter Futures Center for the Arts, an organization that provides programs and services to children. Separate from the settlement, Smollett said he is donating $10,000 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center. A spokeswoman for the Chicago Department of Law said in a statement that the donation is in addition to the $10,000 in bail money Smollett forfeited when his charges were first dropped. Since the City filed its lawsuit, Smollett has faced additional accountability through the appointment of a Special Prosecutor and subsequent criminal trial, where the evidence was publicly aired and a conviction secured, the statement said, though it noted that the conviction was overturned. Accordingly, the City believes this settlement provides a fair, constructive, and conclusive resolution, allowing all the parties to close this six-year-old chapter and move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Cook County states attorneys office dropped charges against Smollett, a judge assigned a special prosecutor to investigate amid the ensuing uproar. Special prosecutor Dan Webb eventually filed new charges, and Smollett was convicted by a jury on five of six counts of disorderly conduct in December 2021. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months of probation and $130,160 in restitution. The high court decision, though, nullified his conviction and sentence. Former Empire star Jussie Smollett will reportedly donate $50,000 to charity to resolve the city of Chicagos lawsuit against the actor, who prompted a hate crime investigation with a fabricated claim he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. A judge still needs to sign off on the agreement to finally end a standoff that began in 2017 after investigators determined he staged the attack as a publicity stunt to advance his career. Smolletts payment to a charity of his choice will settle the matter without requiring an admission of wrongdoing, according to TMZ. Chicagos Building Better Futures Center for the Arts, an organization that offers mental health services and education programs for underprivileged youth, will reportedly reap the benefits of his payout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smollett claimed in January 2019 that unknown assailants put him in a noose and said This is MAGA country! in the Windy City. But investigators allege that didnt happen, saying brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo confessed to having been involved in a scheme orchestrated by the actor to make it look as though hed been accosted by bigots. Smollett is Black and gay. Abimbola claimed in a 2024 interview that Smollett didnt say why he wanted to perpetrate the hoax, but complained that TV producers werent taking alleged hate mail sent to him seriously enough. The brothers thought helping a big TV star would advance their own acting careers. Smollett was found guilty on a handful of charges related to the scheme in 2021, but had his conviction overturned due to a plea deal with county prosecutors. He has denied wrongdoing. The investigation into his allegations reportedly cost Chicago taxpayers $120,000. ______ Jussie Smollett has finally settled his lawsuit with Chicago after the city sued the former Empire star in an effort to recover the thousands of dollars its police force used to investigate his allegedly false report of a hate crime in 2019. Over six years ago, after it was reported I had been jumped, city officials in Chicago set out to convince the public that I willfully set an assault against myself, Smollett said in a Friday statement on Instagram.This false narrative has left a stain on my character that will not soon disappear. These officials wanted my money and wanted my confession for something I did not do. Today, it should be clear They have received neither. Smollett went on to explain that the years-long back-and-forth with Chicago ultimately ended with an option for him to settle the matter through a charitable act. After repeatedly refusing to pay the city, I was presented with an opportunity to make a charitable donation in exchange for the case being dismissed. Despite what happened there politically, Chicago was my home for over five years and the people became my family, Smollett wrote. Therefore, making a donation to benefit Chicago communities that are too often neglected by those in power will always be something I support. Ive made a $50,000 donation to Building Brighter Futures (BBF) Center for the Arts, a local nonprofit doing incredible work nurturing self-expression, creativity and exploration of the arts for Chicago youth. This organization was of my choosing and Im comforted that there will be at least one winner from this experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smollett also shared that despite his decision to end the case with a hefty donation, he feels his image may never recover from the controversial incident. He also reiterated that he maintains his innocence. Though I was exonerated by the Illinois Supreme Court in a unanimous decision and the civil case is now dismissed, Im aware that it will not change everyones mind about me or the attack I experienced, he said. However, despite arduous and expensive attempts to punish me, I am innocent both in the eyes of God and of our criminal justice system. What I have to do now is move forward. I will continue creating my art, fighting passionately for causes I hold dear and defending my integrity and family name with the truth. By the end of his message, he noted that he also gifted Chicago Torture Justice Center with a $10,000 donation and thanked those who have supported him. Lastly, Im grateful to have had the resources to defend myself. So many do not. They are backed into corners to take deals or confess to crimes they did not actually commit. In their honor, I am donating an additional $10,000 to the Chicago Torture Justice Center who provides resources to communities healing from the violence of the Chicago Police Department. To anyone who has had to prove they have in fact been violated, you know how difficult this can be to navigate, I stand with and for you. To everyone who has supported me, thank you. Your prayers and belief in me mean more than words can properly express. I will never take it lightly and will never forget. Onward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 29, 2019, Smollett filed a hate crime report with the Chicago Police, claiming two pro-MAGA men attacked him and yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him. At the time, the actor said he was punched in the face, a rope was tied around his neck and he was doused with an unknown chemical substance. During their investigation, and after apprehending and interviewing two persons of interest a pair of actor brothers whod previously hung out and worked with Smollett authorities found discrepancies in Smolletts story, including the brothers claiming they were paid by Smollett to fake the attack. The star was later arrested and charged with disorderly conduct/filing a false police report, and he was subsequently suspended from Empire. Smollett was hit with 16 counts of disorderly conduct and plead not guilty while in court in March 2019. He was found guilty on five felony counts of disorderly conduct in 2021, but his conviction was overturned in November 2024 after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled a special prosecutors decision to retry the Empire star after state charges were dropped violated his rights. TheWrap has reached out to Smollett for further comment. The post Jussie Smollett Settles Hate Crime Lawsuit With $50K Donation to Chicago Charity, Maintains His Innocence appeared first on TheWrap. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Leaders in the Montgomery County Jewish community are devastated after a man shot and killed two Israeli Embassy staff members outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C. on Wednesday night. I think everybody who Ive spoken to and myself, is just stunned, Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said. The lives of a beautiful couple that was getting ready to get engaged was cut down short simply because they were Jewish and they decided that was a good enough reason to kill them. Death penalty eligible case: Suspect charged in shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staff members, officials say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Halber said he didnt know the couple, but he knows their supervisor. They were both interested in peace work and making the world a better place and had such a wonderful, promising future, he said. Halber said there has been a significant rise in acts of hate and antisemitism across the country for several years. I think people are more concerned than they were yesterday, and how can you blame them? he said. The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) hopes to alleviate some fears by increasing patrols around Jewish institutions. We will continue our operations in that until such time that we can feel confident that our community feels a little bit better, MCPD Assistant Chief Darren Francke said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Act of terrorism: DMV, world leaders react to fatal shooting of couple working at Israeli embassy in DC Halber said hes thankful for MCPDs support but knows a more concrete security plan will be needed. One of the things that were doing is trying to hire private armed security and that requires spending millions of dollars a year collectively, he said. MCPDs increased patrols are expected to last at least through the end of the week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The Justice Department announced an agreement Friday to end its felony case against Boeing for the plane-makers role in two passenger jet crashes that killed a total of 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia less than a year after the company agreed to plead guilty as part of a deal with the Biden administration. In return, Boeing must spend over $1.1 billion on fines, safety improvements and compensation for families of the people who died in the crashes in October 2018 and March 2019. Those disasters, involving Boeings 737 MAX 8 jet, kicked off years of still-unresolved questions from lawmakers and safety experts about the federal governments oversight of the giant manufacturer and defense contractor. Boeing would have to "admit to conspiracy to obstruct and impede" federal regulators, but DOJ would ask a judge to dismiss the case, the department said in a court filing. The government would have the option of refiling the charges later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under last years agreement, Boeing would have pleaded guilty to a felony of conspiracy to defraud the government, paid a total of $698 million in fines and other costs and subjected itself to an independent third-party monitor, among other provisions. The brand of felon would have complicated life for Boeing, a major contractor for the U.S. military and NASA that is also the traditional supplier of Air Force One. A guilty plea would not have necessarily kept the company from continuing to reap billions of dollars in federal contracts, but it would have faced increased scrutiny from contracting agencies, would have had to update its certification with the military services, and probably would have faced increased inspections of its products. Now it gets to escape all of that for a price. "Nothing will diminish the victims losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers, the Justice Department said in a statement. Boeing declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic lawmakers assailed DOJs shift, the latest in a string of cases in which President Donald Trumps administration has offered more leniency to alleged corporate wrongdoing than Bidens agencies had. "This special deal for Boeing is an outrageous injustice to victims and their families whose losses resulted from Boeings unforgivable failures, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Senates Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said in a statement Friday. He added: "Victims, families, and the flying public deserve better. They deserve justice, not this sham." Paul Cassell, an attorney for some of the families, called the agreement "unprecedented" and "obviously wrong for the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." Robert Clifford, who represents other crash victims' families, underscored that the latest move from DOJ is "a sweetheart deal." The watchdog group Public Citizen called the new agreement "unfathomable and unconscionable" while saying the Biden-era version had "let [Boeing] off easy for wrongdoing that led to the needless deaths of hundreds of human beings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The deal marks one of the most shocking lapses of criminal enforcement against a major corporation in memory," Public Citizen co-President Robert Weissman said in a statement Friday. "The Trump administration touts how it is tough on crime, but when it comes to the world's most powerful institutions, it is an all-time patsy." Boeing will 'admit to conspiracy' Lawmakers of both parties had scorched Boeings safety record at a Senate hearing last June, where then-CEO David Calhoun stood and apologized to family members of some of the 346 victims. The senators focused not only on the 2018-19 crashes but also on more recent signs of trouble with the MAX, including a January 2024 incident in which a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines jet over Portland, Oregon. Whistleblowers at an earlier hearing last year testified to what they called a culture of promoting business over safety at Boeing. The deal, however, leaves open the possibility of refiling the criminal charge if the department finds Boeing to be non-compliant with the new terms. According to the government's court filing Friday, Boeing will have to "admit to conspiracy to obstruct and impede the lawful operation of the Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Evaluation Group," and the non-prosecution agreement "will not provide protection against prosecution for any other misconduct." "On top of the financial investments, Boeing must continue to improve the effectiveness of its anti-fraud compliance and ethics program and retain an independent compliance consultant," DOJ said in its statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement says Boeing will pay or invest over $1.1 billion, on top of the hundreds of billions of dollars it has previously spent in penalties and compensation for the families. That includes a criminal monetary penalty of $487 million, minus a credit of roughly $244 million that Boeing had shelled out for earlier penalties. It will also pay $444.5 million into a fund to benefit crash victims' relatives, in addition to $500 million it had paid for the families under a deferred prosecution agreement in 2021. DOJ will also require Boeing to invest $455 million to strengthen the companys compliance, safety, and quality programs. Last years deal with Biden's DOJ included similar monetary payments but not the additional $444.5 million for the families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While non-prosecution agreements typically dont need court approval, Boeings previous guilty plea remains pending in the Northern District of Texas. Judge Reed OConnor could dismiss the case ahead of next months scheduled trial. Families of the crash victims filed a petition with the Texas court on Friday to oppose the dismissal of the case. The first Trump administrations handling of the two deadly 737 MAX crashes drew criticism at the time, including for the FAA's slowness to join other countries throughout the world in ordering the jet grounded after the second crash in 2019. At one point, Trump spoke by phone with then-Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg, who reassured the president that the MAX was safe to fly. Investigators blamed the crashes on Boeings failure to inform the FAA about details of a new flight control software system in the MAX, which was implicated in both disasters. They also faulted the FAAs over-reliance on Boeing employees to vouch for the safety of the planes design, among a host of other issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fraud conspiracy charge stemmed from allegations that Boeing had violated the terms of the 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement, in which Trump's Justice Department allowed Boeing to avoid criminal charges in exchange for fines and internal changes at the company. The department announced that deal at an exceedingly volatile moment in Washington: one day after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. Families of the 346 victims families have criticized the federal governments handling of the case virtually from its inception, including the 2021 agreement and last years plea deal. They had wanted the department to pursue criminal charges, alleging that the company had knowingly put people in harms way, but the DOJ has maintained that it couldnt prove such charges beyond a reasonable doubt. "Victims are at the heart of the Departments mission, and this case is no exception," the DOJ statement said Friday. "The Department has met extensively with the crash victims families. While they are all experiencing grief, they hold a broad set of views regarding the resolution, ranging from support to disagreement. Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits. " Alaska Airlines blowout triggered new scrutiny After the January 2024 door plug blowout over Oregon, the department told a federal judge in May that newly revealed quality-control problems showed that the company had violated the 2021 agreement. That presented Boeing with a choice: take a plea or potentially stand trial. Boeing has maintained that it honored the terms of the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite last summers plea agreement, however, the case was not over. A federal judge rejected the deal in December, expressing concerns about diversity policies at both Boeing and the DOJ, and noting that victims families also objected to the proposed oversight process. Boeing subsequently sought to withdraw its agreement to plead guilty, The Wall Street Journal reported in March. DOJs new about-face is already drawing ire on Capitol Hill. Blumenthal and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the department not to sign the agreement, saying it would be a way for Boeing to weasel its way out of accountability for its failed corporate culture, and for any illegal behavior that has resulted in deadly consequences. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), the ranking member of the Commerce Committees aviation subcommittee, said before the announcement that she viewed the move as the Trump administration going soft on a big corporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Boeing and FAA have both shown that theyre incapable of proper oversight. ... They both have a terrible history, she told POLITICO on Thursday. The chair of that panel, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), demurred when asked about the legal proceedings. My view is this is a judicial, prosecutorial question in the courts, not my domain, he said Wednesday. HONOLULU (KHON2) The man accused of a road rage attack on two women in Kakaako appeared in court on Thursday, May 22. Thirty-eight-year-old Nathaniel Radimak pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Kakaako road rage suspect allegedly assaulted behind bars Radimak is accused of assaulting two women on Halekauwila Street on May 7 after one of the women yelled at him to slow down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video showed that during the incident, Radimak turned his car around, parked and approached the two women. The victim said he had assaulted them both before fleeing the scene. He was later identified and arrested at an Ala Wai apartment. During his court hearing, a judge set Radimaks bail at $100,000 for the case; however, he is also being held for violating parole in California for similar incidents. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Legal expert Megan Kau said even though he was given bail, chances are he will remain in custody. Hes not going to be released on the no-bail warrant under the Hawaii Paroling Authority. It really doesnt make sense for him to post the bond because hes not going to be getting any credit for the time hes serving for the no-case, Kau said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge added that if Radimak is released, he would have to stay away from the victims and cannot carry any firearms or ammunition. Check out more news from around Hawaii A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian side's preparation of the so-called "memorandum" in response to the demand for an unconditional ceasefire a mockery of the entire world. He also announced the preparation of new sanctions packages. "When the Russians spend a week formulating the so-called memorandum in response to the need for a ceasefire, it's a mockery of the whole world. They spent so much time on it! Every day of war means lost lives. People are not counted in Russia, of course. But the world must count. New sanctions against Russia are needed. I thank everyone who advocates for and supports this," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address on Friday. He stressed the need for a ceasefire, diplomatic steps toward real peace, and "a new and effective security architecture." "We are uniting partners for this cause. It is definitely time to put more pressure on Russia so that we get all that is needed, not just one thing," the president said. "Today there was also a report, we are preparing new sanctions packages. Strong sanctions packages," Zelenskyy added. As reported, on March 19, the President of Ukraine answered a question about the memorandum that, according to Putin, Ukraine and the Russian Federation could jointly develop. He referred to US President Donald Trump and said that, as he understands it, they discussed a corresponding memorandum in a bilateral format with the Russian side. This could lead to a plan to end the war and reach an agreement, the president said. The Smoky Hill River, pictured here in 2024 as it flows in downtown Salina, provides water for the cities of Russell and Hays, but it's not enough, which has led the cities to find solutions elsewhere. (AJ Dome for Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Drought-stricken governments in west-central Kansas have escalated their fight for water rights from state to federal court, which could impact how cities across the state handle future disputes. The cities of Hays and Russell, located in neighboring counties just off of Interstate 70 near the middle of the state, sued the nearby Edwards County in 2024 for blocking a planned water transfer. The cities do not have enough water to supply future residents. They concocted a plan beginning in 1995 with the purchase of the 7,000-acre R9 Ranch in Edwards County. The ranch contains 32 water rights the cities wanted to use for their public water supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cities say the county has been opposed to the project since before the property was purchased, but county officials have cited concerns over a large amount of water being transferred out of a prominent agricultural community. In district court filings, the cities said Edwards County deliberately thwarted their plans through zoning regulations, a rigged planning committee and other hurdles. After years of fighting, a decision from the district court was delayed, and a case record filled with a 30-year history of newspaper clippings, meeting minutes and government documents turned into a constitutional debate. Attorneys for Edwards County moved the case to federal court in late March after the cities modified their petition for relief to include claims under federal law. Hays and Russell want it moved back to district court, attorneys said in a May 15 filing. County attorneys want the case thrown out entirely. Despite holding this land for thirty-years and a stated desperate and urgent need for additional water supplies, Plaintiffs have only just now brought suit seeking to declare a set of ordinances and regulations enacted by the Board of County Commissioners of Edwards County, Kansas as unconstitutional and unenforceable against Plaintiff, county attorneys wrote in a February district court filing that was transferred in April to federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cities evaluated other options for municipal water supply for years before beginning the process in 2014 to transfer the R9 Ranchs water. They have rooted their case in a 1918 Kansas Supreme Court decision that said city authorities may go wherever it is practicable and necessary to obtain the supply of water for the people of the city. Sending the case back to state court is appropriate, the cities attorneys argued, because Kansas State law claims significantly predominate over federal claims in this proceeding, and judicial economy and fairness support litigating this matter in Kansas State district and appellate courts. Plus, they said, the cities have two related cases already navigating their ways through the state court system one before the Kansas Supreme Court and another before the state Water Transfer Panel, which determines whether certain large-scale water transfers can take place. Roughly 10 years ago, officials in Hays and Russell were ready to begin bringing their plan for the R9 Ranch into fruition, so they requested to change the ranchs water use permissions from irrigation to municipal use. Local irrigators responded in kind, fearing the cities would take up too much of the areas water reserves. And Edwards County, too, responded with concerns, which the cities saw as blockades. County officials expressed worry over transferring a large amount of water away from their agricultural community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the county established new zoning regulations, which the cities lawyers called unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious, draconian, highly subjective, and blatantly protectionist permitting requirements. The cities plan isnt a one-off. As jurisdictions across Kansas and the western U.S. confront dwindling water supplies because of climate change, overconsumption and aging or inadequate infrastructure, litigators and water officials view the case as having the potential to set the stage, depending on the outcome. Drought outlooks in the three counties range from moderate to abnormally dry, the lowest drought classification, according to a U.S. Drought Monitor map published Thursday. Ellis County, home to Hays, is entirely in the abnormally dry category, while Russell and Edwards counties contain both abnormally dry and moderate drought predictions. Hays and Russell get their water from the Dakota Aquifer, the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek, which branches off of the Smoky Hill River, according to public water source data from the Kansas Water Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as the population has fluctuated in Hays, leading to a slight overall increase in residents, daily water usage has decreased. In 2024, the citys 21,000 residents used an estimated 86 gallons of water per day. In 2010, the citys 20,500 residents used about 91 gallons per day. At its highest, residents used 101 gallons daily in 2012, and at its lowest, they used 76 gallons daily in 2020 and 2021. At every Russell City Council meeting, council members hear updated drought predictions, precipitation outlooks and temperature estimates. In January, the city of Russell found that water conditions had improved, which led to Mayor Jim Cross reducing the towns water watch severity from stage two to stage one. Stage one includes forbidding the waste of water and a prohibition on public and residential outdoor watering during the daytime. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican leadership created a water task force during the 2025 legislative session to shape state water policy and establish a reliable funding source for water conservation efforts. Hays, Russell and Edwards County are awaiting a decision from a federal judge on where the case continues. Kansas Department for Children and Families denied a request by the federal government for access to personal data of a food assistance program. (Submitted) TOPEKA State officials have denied a federal request to disclose personal information of Kansans using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. On May 6, the Kansas Department for Children and Families received a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that demanded unfettered access to comprehensive data from all State programs that receive federal funding. DCF spokeswoman Erin LaRow shared a copy of that letter and other communications in response to an inquiry from Kansas Reflector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USDA letter specified that information to be collected for each SNAP applicant or recipient included name, Social Security number, date of birth, personal address and records to calculate the amount of SNAP benefits participants received over time. It was signed by Gina Brand, senior policy advisor for integrity at USDAs Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services division. The requested data would cover the time period from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present, the letter said. DCFs SNAP data is held by a third-party database administrator, Fidelity Information Services LLC. That company notified DCF on May 9 that a formal request for Kansas SNAP records had been made from USDA and that because of federal guidance, they were required to disclose that information. As such, FIS intends to fully cooperate with the USDA in facilitating its request for information, as required by applicable law and the guidance, wrote Prashant Gupta, FIS senior vice president. He then asked for DCFs written consent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCF stopped the process in a letter dated May 14, sent by Carla Whiteside Hicks, the DCF director of economic and employment services. Please be advised that we do not consent to your providing the USDA the requested information at this time, Whiteside Hicks told FIS. As you know, our obligation to maintain these records in confidence is paramount and may only be disclosed to the USDA for specific program-related reasons. At this time, we are unsure as to the reason for the USDAs request. As such, we are unable to consent to your turning the information over. Whiteside Hicks also said DCF will be asking the USDA to contact DCF directly in the future. She asked FIS to turn over any information that they may have already provided to the USDA and to also provide DCF with any written communications the company has received from USDA. LaRow said DCF is reviewing the request from USDA related to the personally identifiable data of Kansans. Security of Kansans personal information is paramount to the agency, and we are committed to maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law, she said. USDA correspondence TOPEKA (KSNT) Many people are mourning the death of Sarah Milgrim, a Kansan and Israeli Embassy staff member who was shot and killed alongside her boyfriend in Washington D.C on Wednesday. Many people are feeling shock, grief, devastation and other emotions in the aftermath of the killings. It comes after Sarah Milgrim and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky were killed in a shooting outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. on May 21. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, has been charged with murder. Video from the incident shows Rodriguez yelling Free, free Palestine as he was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visa denied for man trying to get to sons funeral in Kansas They were willing to work in such a job that shouldnt have been dangerous, said Rabbi Samuel Stern of Topekas Temple Beth Sholom. They were willing to work in such a job, but they didnt do it to give their lives. They werent supposed to give their lives for the American-Jewish community or the State of Israel. Milgrim attended the University of Kansas and spent much of her time at the Chabad House before heading off to work for the Israeli Embassy in the nations capital. She would come celebrate here behind me in the old space that we had, said Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel with Chabad at KU. She would celebrate Shabbat dinners, holidays, just come together as a community. She had a special smile and a warmth. She brought people together. She dedicated her life to peace, love and bringing people together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas gov. orders flags to fly at half-staff on Monday, heres why The Chabad center in Lawrence reopens in the fall of 2025, with Milgrims memorial inside for people to pay respects and remember her. Members of the community in Kansas City also held a vigil for the couple Thursday evening. 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. DODGE CITY, Kan. (KSNW) State tax agents have seized the assets of a Dodge City barbecue restaurant. The Kansas Department of Revenue said the business is more than $37,000 behind in tax payments. The address of the seizure is Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ, 202 E. Frontview. The companys Facebook page says the restaurant was voted best BBQ in Dodge City for four years in a row. The restaurant management said the problem is related to the effects of identity theft in California, which resulted in restaurant deposits being placed on hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to revenue investigators, the business owes $37,830.01: Sales tax $37,273.26 Withholding $556.75 Provecho said it stayed in contact with state representatives and was assured no enforcement actions would be taken and that a payment plan would be established. However, this week, state tax agents sealed the restaurant with a public notice posted on the outside. We were presented with an immediate obligation to pay $38,000, with an additional $12,000 required to continue operations a total of $50,000 demanded within 24 hours, Provecho said in a statement. Regrettably, we are unable to meet those demands in such a short timeframe, and we have been left with no choice but to close our doors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agents seized assets, including all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory, and the owners personal property. The assets will be sold at a public auction to pay the tax bill. Customers, employees and others who had items in the restaurant at the time of the seizure can contact the agent assigned to the case at 785-296-3289. Today team announces death of Sheinelle Jones husband A KDOR spokesperson said the department tries multiple times to work with businesses to voluntarily enter into repayment agreements. When that fails, KDOR is forced to execute a tax warrant, utilizing actions such as bank levies, till taps, and, ultimately, asset seizure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the full statement Provecho management sent KSN: It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ. The recent seizure of our business came without warning. For some time, we have been battling the effects of identity theft connected to the State of California, which resulted in our deposits being placed on hold. Throughout this difficult period, we remained in communication with state representatives, openly sharing our situation. We were assured that no enforcement actions would be taken and that a payment plan would be established to help us move forward. Despite those assurances, our business was seized. We were presented with an immediate obligation to pay $38,000, with an additional $12,000 required to continue operations a total of $50,000 demanded within 24 hours. Regrettably, we are unable to meet those demands in such a short timeframe, and we have been left with no choice but to close our doors. This outcome is not what we wanted. Our plan was to keep serving our community and resolve the issue. The decision to shut us down especially after we were told otherwise feels not only unfair, but deeply disheartening. Still, we are proud of the journey, the food, the community, and the heart we poured into every moment. To our loyal customers, friends, and supporters: thank you. Provecho would not have been what it was without you. We have loved every second of this experience and we are forever grateful for the love, encouragement, and belief youve shown us throughout the years. With all our hearts, The Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ Family The Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ Family 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. To watch our shows live on our website, 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 KSN-TV. Kanye 'Ye' West claims his unavailability is not of his doing, as he undergoes treatment on doctor's orders. The rapper's attorney explained to the court that his inability to attend a physical deposition was due to a necessary treatment he is receiving in Spain. Ye recently pointed accusing fingers at his dentist for his trouble with battling substance addiction. Kanye 'Ye' West and his wife, Bianca Censori, dragged his dentist, Dr. Thomas Connelly, to court earlier this month for allegedly administering nitrous oxide to the rapper and also aiding the indiscriminate use of the substance. Kanye West Will Reportedly Be Away For Treatment For A Month Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA The rapper's lawyer, Eduardo Martorell, came forward with news of the rapper's absence as he continues to battle it out with his former employee, Benjamin Provo, in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report came in light of Provo refusing to agree to a remote deposition, although fully backed by the court. According to Martorell, Ye's absence is not a deliberate act, but based on professional advice from his doctor for almost a decade. In Martorell's words, the doctor insisted that Ye "should continue to receive treatment at a retreat he is attending until the end of May in Mallorca, Spain, and that any depositions should be taken remotely." As reported by In Touch, the retreat's owner also cosigned the doctor's advice and recommended the rapper stay at the retreat for a while. Ye's lawyer further shared: "Once more, other than requesting the accommodation that the deposition take place remotely, Defendant Ye was willing, ready, and able to appear for his deposition today. Despite the fact [Benjamin's] counsel refused to enter into a protective order. Despite the fact he was at a retreat. Despite the fact he is 10,000 miles away." Inside The 'Hurricane ' Rapper's Claims Of Nitrous Oxide Addiction Thecelebrityfinder/MEGA Last August, the rapper's former chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, addressed his substance abuse. Per Hollywood Reporter, the British commentator accused Connelly of taking advantage of Ye's mental state for his financial benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yiannopoulos stated on social media that Connelly's actions and treatment were all tailored to finesse Ye of his money. He also issued an affidavit to the California Dental Board, claiming Connelly had fitted Ye with permanent titanium dental work earlier in 2024. In this affidavit, Yiannopoulos accused the dentist of deceiving high-profile clients by charging them for natural stones while using cheaper, lab-grown diamonds instead. He also mentioned that a staff member from Yeezy witnessed nitrous oxide tanks being brought to Censori's apartment, with multiple Yeezy staffers later documenting the home installation. The former chief of staff also shared a text exchange involving himself, the rapper and Connelly, where the dentist confirmed he would deliver nitrous tanks to the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. This prompted concern from Yiannopoulous, who communicated the potential dangers of prolonged use of the gas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Connelly countered Yiannopoulos' claims, insisting the tanks were empty. He described the former chief of staff's recommendation as lacking facts and misleading, aimed at damaging his reputation. Ye And Bianca Censori Gear Up For Lawsuit Over Nitrous Oxide Addiction ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA As everyone ushered in the month of May, Ye and his wife reportedly got busy with their team of lawyers on the next to take towards Connelly's conduct with the rapper. The couple allegedly planned to sue the dentist for medical malpractice, including supplying him with nitrous oxide, fraudulent billing, and a plethora of other crimes. In their letter of intent to the dentist, Ye's team alleged that he trespassed the boundaries of professional conduct by teaching the rapper how to administer the substance to himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter also claimed the dentist encouraged the rapper's habit despite him showing apparent signs of neurological and behavioral distress. On another occasion, the medic reportedly administered a drug known as propofol to the rapper and then discharged him without verifying his physical and mental health after the treatment. Finally, the letter accused him of failing to provide proper after-care, such as detoxification or any referral for optimum follow-up, as the rapper was severely affected by nitrous oxide usage. The Rapper Dismissed Claims Of Coercion In Sexual Assault Lawsuit Thecelebrityfinder/MEGA The year has been a busy one for the songwriter, as he also battles another lawsuit from his former personal assistant, who, according to The Blast, sued him for sexual misconduct last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ye is now seeking a dismissal on the grounds of a consensual sexual relationship between them, should it have existed. The rapper also noted that the plaintiff, Laura Pisciotta, was not a former staff member of his company or a personal employee. Ye's legal team also contested the validity of any claims related to an alleged contract, arguing that it is unenforceable because it lacked consideration. They insisted that the rapper and his team had met their obligations to Pisciotta, which could invalidate some of the claims made against him. Alongside his request that the case be thrown out of court, the rapper also requested that the court award him costs associated with the case. Kanye West Allegedly Approached His Former Assistant With Wild Sexual Advances SETC / MEGA Pisciotta, who is also an OnlyFans content creator, accused the rapper of contract breach, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and fostering a hostile work environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an amended version of her lawsuit, she detailed a gory sexual assault episode where the musician drugged and assaulted her at a studio four years ago. The model noted that Ye often disclosed details about her OnlyFans work and earnings to other employees. Despite her clear disinterest, he allegedly expressed his desire for sexual relations with her and even suggested a threesome involving himself and his former personal assistant. Her attorney described an allegedly false offensive text from Ye, which implied she was willing and engaged in a sexual relationship with him. Will Kanye 'Ye' West and his displeased former employee find common ground on this deposition issue? Karen Read is feeling anxious to present a more robust case in her murder retrial now that the prosecution likely has only one witness left to call to the stand. Read, 45, of Mansfield, is accused of striking John OKeefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to die alone in a blizzard outside of a house party in Canton at the home of fellow officer Brian Albert following a night of drinking. Read took some time to answer questions from a group of reporters as she walked out of Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked how she was feeling about Week 5 of witness testimony coming to a close, Read said, I feel great, Im anxious, Im ready to put on our case, which will be more robust that what we had last year...More witnesses, broader, and deeper. Karen Reads murder retrial: Week 5 recap with Ted Daniel Who is the prosecution planning to call when testimony resumes on Tuesday, May 27? Read told reporters that she believes Dr. Judson Welcher is their last witness. I believe that to be the last one, that is my understanding, Read said of Welcher, a biomechanical engineer and accident reconstructionist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Beverly Cannone gave jurors an extended break for the Memorial Day weekend after she met individually with all 18 of them on Wednesday to discuss an issue. Read couldnt reveal what that issue was, but assured reporters that she still feels good about the jurors. I feel good about the jury, I feel good about our selection, Read said. When asked if her team planned to call Michael Proctor, Brian Albert, and Brian Higgins to the stand, Read simply said, TBD. All three of them testified at length in her first trial. Prosecutors allege Read intentionally backed into OKeefe after she dropped him off at a house party and returned hours later to find him dead. The defense has claimed that she was a victim of a vast police conspiracy and that OKeefe was fatally beaten by another law enforcement officer at the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse and deliberating further would be futile. Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Get caught up with all of the latest in Karen Reads retrial. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW While a federal appeals court appears to have given its blessing to the Trump administrations efforts to completely gut Voice of America, the bare-bones staff that Kari Lake brought back earlier this month has been wracked with low morale and confusion. I am angry most of the time Im in there, one staffer told Poynter this week. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA and its sister outlets, to reduce staffing down to the statutory minimum. Lake, the failed Arizona politician who now serves as senior adviser overseeing the agency, subsequently laid off hundreds of contracted employees and placed the rest of VOAs staff on indefinite leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a series of lawsuits from VOA employees and executives, Lake was ordered by a district court judge last month to restore Voice of America and bring back its workforce. Additionally, the judge ruled that the administration needed to reinstate Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Not only is there an absence of reasoned analysis from the defendants; there is an absence of any analysis whatsoever, Judge Royce C. Lamberth wrote. Kari Lake, the White House senior adviser overseeing Voice of America, has installed a bare-bones staff at the network in recent weeks. They say no ones really in charge. (REUTERS) Earlier this month, however, a three-judge appellate court panel decided to freeze the lower courts injunction, saying it needed more time to consider the merits of the case. On Thursday, the full appellate court said it would not intervene at this time. We are devastated and concerned that this ruling might lead to further adverse reactions from the administration, Patsy Widakuswara, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit and VOAs White House bureau chief for Voice of America, told The Independent about the appeals court decision. But our day in court is not over yet, and we are committed to fighting until we can return to our congressionally mandated right to broadcast factual, balanced, and comprehensive new. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Lamberths initial order to return Voice of America to the air and staff it back up, a small group of 30 employees from a staff of 1300 workers on leave was brought back by Lake earlier this month. In an article for Poynter, Liam Scott VOAs press freedom reporter until he was placed on leave in March and informed he would be terminated this month spoke to several of the staffers who returned this month and described the grim and confusing atmosphere in VOA headquarters. People who are in there do not see this as some kind of hopeful return, one employee told Scott. I am angry most of the time Im in there They cant credibly say that they havent shut us down when zero people are working, Prior to the presidents executive order, VOA broadcast in 49 languages around the world to a weekly measured audience of roughly 360 million people, some of whom live in highly censored authoritarian states. Now, according to those at the pared-down network, Voice of Americas content is only translated into Dari, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto and Persian. The amount of programming thats being produced is not a credible replacement for what was on air before, a staffer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were a 24/7 news operation. Now were a five-minutes-a-day, five-days-a-week operation, another source added. We all know that this is not what this place is meant to be doing. While fewer than three dozen employees man the ship under Lake, hundreds of other full-time Voice of America staffers remain on the sidelines and in limbo as they wait to hear from the administration about their fate. (Getty Images) Voice of Americas primary English-language newsroom, meanwhile, produces just one television segment and a handful of articles a day, which are then translated into four different languages and published, according to Poynter. Notably, with press freedom experts expressing concern about Kremlin propaganda filling the airspace left vacant by VOAs absence, the network is not publishing in Russian in its current depleted state. At the same time, the small cohort that is currently working to produce what little VOA content they can is still following the networks charter, noting that they havent received any editorial requests from the agency since returning. Interestingly, despite Lakes recent announcement that VOA had partnered up with MAGA cable channel One America News to provide a news feed, Voice of America has yet to air any OAN content. No ones really in charge, a staffer told Poynter, noting the lack of clear leadership at VOA right now. Mike Abramowitz, the networks director, remains on administrative leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has reached out to Lake and the USAGM for comment. While fewer than three dozen employees man the ship, hundreds of other full-time VOA staffers remain on the sidelines and in limbo as they wait to hear from the administration about their fate. All the while, Lake has cut other frivolous expenditures from VOA and its sister broadcasters. In March, for instance, she canceled the agencys contracts to carry reporting from wire services such as Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. The media agency also reneged on a 15-year lease for new office headquarters even though it actually saved the government more than $150 million. Though much of the networks full-time staff remains on administrative leave, such as Widakuswara, hundreds of others have already been told they are gone. Last week, Lake announced that 584 total employees were terminated across the agency, the majority of whom came from VOA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will continue to scale back the bloat at [the agency] and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans, she told The Washington Post of the terminations before adding: Buckle up. Theres more to come. Widakuswara, meanwhile, bluntly described how she feels that Lake and the administration are treating the VOA staff at the moment. My assessment of the situation is that this is just more emotional terror that they're applying to us, she told The Independent. There's no rhyme or reason why they're bringing people back and then kicking them out. To me, it feels like emotional terror to ensure obedience. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a tirade Thursday against a federal judge who ruled against Donald Trumps illegal deportations to South Sudan. During a press briefing, Leavitt railed against U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy of Massachusetts, who ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration had provided plainly insufficient notice to several third-country nationals before deporting them to South Sudan, which is in the midst of violence and political unrest. As a result, the migrants are being held at a U.S. naval base in Djibouti. Judge Murphy is forcing federal officials to remain in Djibouti for over two weeks, threatening our U.S. diplomatic relationships with countries around the world, and putting these agents lives in danger by having to be with these illegal murderers, criminals, and rapists. This is completely absurd, Leavitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Brian Murphy is not the secretary of state, he is not the secretary of defense, or the commander in chief. He is a district court judge in Massachusetts. He cannot control foreign policy or national security of the United States of America, and to suggest otherwise is being completely absurd, Leavitt continued, wrongly arguing that the judicial branch had no power to challenge illegal orders from the executive one. The Trump administration has continually argued that its illegal deportations are a matter of foreign policy, and therefore exempt from judicial review. Some military officials were surprised when the controversial deportation flight that left Tuesday was described at a Department of Homeland Security press conference the following day as a diplomatic and military security operation, according to CNN. If anything, Murphys status as a district court judge in Massachusetts might suggest he has a better grip on the law than the two former television stars that run the White House and Pentagon, respectively. As for Marco Rubio, a former attorney, there is literally no excuse. Murphy had previously ruled to stop a similar spate of deportations to Libya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt wasnt the only one to blow a gasket over Murphys ruling. Trump had his own temper tantrum on Truth Social Thursday. A Federal Judge in Boston, who knew absolutely nothing about the situation, or anything else, has ordered that EIGHT of the most violent criminals on Earth curtail their journey to South Sudan, and instead remain in Djibouti, Trump wrote. The president whined that a a large number of ICE Officers, who would otherwise be in the United States, protecting our citizens, had to remain in Djibouti to watch the detainees. He asked that the Supreme Court end the quagmire that has been caused by the Radical Left. Kate Middletonalong with her husband Prince Williamtook part in a ship naming ceremony for the HMS Glasgow in Scotland on May 22. The future queen held a masterclass in literal dressing, wearing a navy and white Suzannah London coatdress and a sentimental pair of heirloom earrings. The sapphire and diamond drop earrings once belonged to the Princess of Wales late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, who was thought to have received the pair as a wedding gift when she married Prince Charles in 1981. Kate Middletons ensemble yesterday as she took part in a ship naming ceremony for the HMS Glasgow was a masterclass in literal dressingand the look took several cues from the style of Kates late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing as the Princess of Walesknown as the Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotlandwas launching a ship, she wore a nautical-inspired navy and white coatdress from Suzannah London that fit the theme of the day. The silhouette of her coatdress mirrored outfits Diana wore throughout her years as a royalshoulder pads included. But perhaps the most outright callout to Diana was a pair of the late Princess of Wales sapphire and diamond earrings, thought to be a wedding present when Diana married Prince Charles in 1981. The earrings feature cabochon sapphires surrounded by diamonds, with a central diamond connecting the two clusters, per Town & Country, which added that the sapphires are thought to come from the strap of Dianas Saudi sapphire watch. Kate wore this particular pair of earrings with the same Philip Treacy hat she wore on May 22 to Trooping the Colour in June 2022, which doubled as Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee marking her historic 70 years on the throne. Getty Kate Middleton wearing Princess Diana's heirloom earrings Kate Middleton wearing Princess Diana's heirloom earrings Getty Images Kate Middleton on May 22, 2025 Kate Middleton on May 22, 2025 Diana wore this pair of earrings while on tour in Melbourne and at the Council of Fashion Designers Awards in New York City in 1995. The earrings were also present on Dianas 1994 cover of British Vogue, which marked her 33rd birthday. Kate, for her part, wore the set for the President of South Koreas state visit to London in 2023, as well as more than one Trooping the Colour. The pair also complement Kates sapphire and diamond engagement ringwhich, of course, also previously belonged to Diana. Getty Princess Diana at the CFDA Awards Princess Diana at the CFDA Awards Getty Images Kate Middleton on June 2, 2022 Kate Middleton on June 2, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to her Suzannah London coatdress, Philip Treacy hat, and heirloom earrings, fashion site What Kate Wore reported that Kate wore Gianvito Rossi suede pumps, a clutch by Emmy London, and a new brooch, designed by local jeweler Simon Porter of James Porter and Son, a fifth-generation family-run firm. The Naval crown is present at the top of the brooch, and thistlesScotlands national flowerare also visible, as is the word Glasgow near the top of the piece. What Kate Wore made a prediction that the figure in the center of the brooch is St. Kentigern (also known as St. Mungo), patron saint of Glasgow. Per Tatler, Porter said it was an absolute honor to see Kate wearing the brooch. Against a plain navy background, it really stood out, he added, per The Daily Mail. Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William on May 22, 2025 Kate Middleton and Prince William on May 22, 2025 Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William on May 22, 2025 Kate Middleton and Prince William on May 22, 2025 The Princess of Walesthen the Duchess of Cambridgewas named the sponsor of the HMS Glasgow in June 2021, and, per The Daily Mail, is said to hold a real interest in the ship and in the lives of those who will serve onboard. At the naming ceremony yesterday, the future queen said, I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow. May God bless her and all who sail on her. Of Thursdays events, Kate appeared relieved it had gone to plan, The Daily Mail reported. Its so beautifully made, Kate said of the vessel, adding, Its so exciting to see it all come together. All the technology is so impressive. Whats really interesting as well is seeing the international interest. Getty Kate Middleton and Prince William on May 22, 2025 Kate Middleton and Prince William on May 22, 2025 Getty Kate Middleton on May 22, 2025 Kate Middleton on May 22, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While at the royal engagement yesterday, Kate admitted, Im still learning all my naval lingo. There are a lot of abbreviations that I dont fully understand. Ive got a lot to learn. Read the original article on InStyle Venezuelan workers at Disney are now on a deadline. They have been placed on leave after a Supreme Court decision allowed their temporary protective status TPS to expire. That means they will either have to change their immigration status or leave the country. This is ridiculous, said William Diaz, founder of Casa de Venezuela. Diaz promised to fight back after the Supreme Court sided with the Trump Administration on a move to strike down temporary protective status, or TPS, for Venezuelans. Unfortunately, for a state like Florida, that means a lot. The academic level of the Venezuelan community is one of the highest in this country, which means its a strong contribution to the country, Diaz said. TPS allows immigrants to work and live in the United States temporarily. It is given to citizens of nations facing political instability. The decision to revoke the status will impact roughly 350,000 Venezuelans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9 has learned 45 of them work right here at Disney. If you dont have the valid documents, youre not working at Disney, Universal is very similar, SeaWorld is very similar, immigration attorney David Stoller said. Theyre gonna lose some people, maybe people who have been around for quite a while, but in the bigger picture, is better stay on the right side of the government. In a statement, Disney said: As we sort out the complexities of this situation, we have placed affected employees on leave with benefits to ensure they are not in violation of the law. We are committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all our employees who may be navigating changing immigration policies and how they could impact them or their families. Casa de Venezuela is working on an event with the National TPS Alliance to help those impacted by the decision. It will be held at the First Baptist of Orlando, at 11 am on Saturday, May 31st. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Ukraine and its international partners are jointly developing a structured fund to support investment in key sectors of the Ukrainian economy namely infrastructure, energy, industry, agriculture, high technology, education, and healthcare, according to First Deputy Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev. "We are seeing interest from several leading institutional development funds to participate in the UIF (Ukraine Investment Framework), and we expect announcements on specific projects in the near future. This process is already underway, but our recovery needs demand even greater effort," Sobolev explained in a Facebook post, highlighting the rationale behind establishing an additional fund. He recalled that risk-reduction tools embedded in the UIF have already helped attract investments into infrastructure, SMEs, green energy, and innovation, though the need for effective mechanisms remains much broader. "This is why, together with our partners, we are working on the creation of a European investment platform that will combine public and private resources and comply with EU standards," the Deputy Minister said. Sobolev reported that during a recent special event in Paris, representatives of the European Commission, the French government, major European DFIs (including Proparco, KfW, and CIP), fund managers (Amundi, Natixis), and leading Ukrainian private investment funds discussed the expansion and development of new financial instruments to boost private capital involvement in Ukraine's reconstruction. He also revealed that he had discussed with Nicolas Dufourcq, CEO of the French state investment bank Bpifrance, the possibility of creating a targeted financial instrument to support reconstruction investments. "We hope to present concrete plans in July for launching a special venture fund focused on Ukraine. This initiative will help attract more participation from the French private sector in recovery projects," Sobolev added. He noted that the parties also discussed expanding insurance programs for French companies particularly exporters by unlocking the potential of existing Bpifrance tools, based on a needs analysis of both Ukrainian businesses and French manufacturers. The next step, Sobolev said, will be to present further measures to mobilize private capital at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2025), which will take place on July 1011 in Rome. "This is a critical issue: according to recent estimates, at least one-third of Ukraine's reconstruction must be financed by private investment. That requires effective solutions to address the funding gap and ensure the immediate mobilization of private capital into the economy," Sobolev said in his Facebook post. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) All eight members of Kentuckys congressional delegation are urging President Donald Trump to approve Gov. Andy Beshears request for the third major disaster declaration of the year for the Commonwealth. In a letter to the President, they said federal help is needed after storms swept across 600 miles of the state. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This severe weather event has resulted in catastrophic damage, and 19 Kentuckians have lost their lives. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed or severely damaged, with homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure suffering widespread loss. Critical roadways have been washed out, vital utilities disabled, and basic government services disrupted. The storms destruction spans more than 600 miles across the Commonwealth, the letter stated. We urge your swift approval of federal disaster assistance to help Kentucky communities begin the process of recovering and rebuilding. Beshear filed the request Tuesday, following deadly flooding in February and April. If approved, the declaration would open the door to more federal aid for hard-hit counties, with others likely to be added. So far, there has been no response from the White House. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service reported the EF4 tornado traveled over 55 miles through Russell, Pulaski, and Laurel counties, staying on the ground for an hour and a half with winds reaching a peak of 170 miles per hour. Based on NWS records, the EF4 tornado was the deadliest tornado in the NWSs Jackson, Kentucky, coverage area. The last fatality because of a tornado in Laurel County was more than a decade ago, on March 2, 2012. In London, the last tornado was confirmed on June 2, 2001. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman was in Somerset assessing the tornado damage Saturday, but on Friday, she stopped in London to check on several resources. Its a very odd intersection of hopelessness and hope, Coleman said. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the shared reaction by other leaders in Gov. Andy Beshears administration as they continue to assess the impacted areas. Friday, Coleman stopped by several local resources, with her first stop being First Baptist Church, which is being used as a temporary shelter. You see so many people who are devastated and still in shock. Yet you see the outpouring of support thats all around them. Its a process, and its a long one, Coleman said. As the community works to recover, shelters and donation drives are happening all over the county, with help coming in from other states. Even the Massachusetts-based natural disaster response non-profit, All Hands and Hearts, was on the scene at the London-Corbin airport, which is being used as a supply distribution site. Jessica Webb with All Hands and Hearts was there volunteering. I grew up in Cincinnati, not too far from here. I grew up coming here to this area to the national forest on vacation. To come and meet the community members and know that youre having a positive impact during the worst time of their lives, theres nothing like it, Webb said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more of the latest Kentucky Derby news Coleman said with Kentucky being no stranger to natural disasters, her team is aiding in efforts from past events at the same time, like the flooding and tornadoes before this one. When we say were going to be here the entire time, we know its a long time, but well follow through just like we have in Eastern Kentucky and in the west after that tornado, Coleman 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 56 News. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) Hundreds of community members, first responders, and volunteers are coming together to help those impacted by Friday nights tornado. Some of those first responders who are helping are members of the Kentucky National Guard. Responding to natural disasters is among the many jobs of the Kentucky National Guard. So, when an EF4 tornado tore through the community in southern Kentucky on Friday, they were ready to act. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency ahead of those storms, allowing the activation of the guard. On Saturday, 1st Lt. William Scaggs arrived here in London, helping to establish an incident command post where guardsmen and women could plan their recovery missions. Scaggs said that at that point, most of the search and rescue phase was complete and that they found other ways to assist the needs of the community. When I got on site, the rescues were complete, the search for missing persons was complete. So, we immediately really rolled into security for this site and assisting with the distribution of goods. Were currently rotating into assisting with the cleanup efforts here, said Scaggs. The Kentucky National Guard helps serve as a crucial link between state and federal resources. Their missions go far beyond the search and rescue phase, as guardsmen and women will remain in these communities for the days and weeks ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement London community pitches in with supply drive for tornado victims Scaggs said they still have a group searching the site, but their main job now is to distribute goods, equipment, and provide a sense of security. Part of our mission is keeping roads open and accessible to emergency crews. A lot of people, when an emergency like this happens, everybodys curious and likes to see whats going on. So, part of that is just making sure that the only people down here are the people who need to be here, as well as preventing looting and anything else that takes place down here, Scaggs said. Our guard members are from these communities; we are part of these communities. So anytime something like this happens, theres an eagerness to want to help. I think thats true for everyone whos responded down here. Scaggs said he is one of nearly 30 members of the National Guard working around the clock to support both Laurel and Pulaski counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) An executive order waived fees and suspended certain requirements for duplicate ID cards, drivers licenses, vehicle registrations, and titles in some Kentucky counties On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order to remove obstacles for Kentuckians after recent devastating weather. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have Kentuckians that are hurting right now, and the last thing we need them worrying about is having basic essentials, said Gov. Beshear. In our darkest moments, it is the smallest acts that slowly restore the promise of hope. This is just one small step of many that were taking to help families recover and rebuild their lives. The order applies to Kentucky residents of Caldwell, Christian, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Todd, Trigg, and Union counties, and any other county included in a presidential major disaster area declaration or amended presidential major disaster area declaration for the duration of the state of emergency. Residents can apply for duplicate license credentials at any Driver Licensing Regional Office and duplicate vehicle registrations and titles at their county clerks office, and the fees will be waived. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This action ensures people arent burdened by unnecessary costs or paperwork while navigating the fallout from this disaster, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said. Team Kentucky is committed to removing barriers and helping communities recover until the job is done. More information can be found 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 FOX 56 News. A Kentucky woman is reunited with her lost wedding gown following a recent tornado The woman's neighbor discovered the white gown in the rubble of her yard When you lose everything, anything means something, Jessica Hensley told WRAL News A Kentucky woman gets her post-wedding day miracle. Jessica Hensley and her family are counting their blessings after their home was struck by a tornado in Laurel County during a storm on May 16. The entire Hensley family is safe, but their home suffered severe damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Hensley began searching through what is left of her familys beloved home, she found items that survived the devastating storm. When you lose everything, anything means something, Hensley told WRAL News. What Hensley wasnt expecting to find was her gown from her wedding day. 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. Following the storm, Hensleys neighbor, Lindsay Antos, was out in her yard looking through the rubble when she spotted something white amidst the debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My dad sees me carrying this big white thing and he's like, 'Is that a wedding dress, Lindsay? Antos told the news station. Antos then made it her mission to discover who the prized possession belonged to and return it. Through the help of a lost and found Facebook group, Antos found Hensley and returned the wedding gown to her. The two women met up Wednesday, May 21, for the first time, and celebrated the wedding dress miracle. I figured it was wrapped around a tree, tangled ripped, you know. I didn't think it was even possible that it survived, Hensley said about her dress surviving the storm. As Hensley continues to search through the debris of her home, shes finding other small but meaningful keepsakes, such as a card from her grandmother. Read the original article on People UPDATE @ 6:20 p.m.: Kettering Health has spoken for the first time in person about a cyber attack that caused a massive disruption. John Weimer, senior vice president and leader for incident command at Kettering Health, said the health network did not expect to be down for this period of time. We understand that this has been extremely frustrating for our patients, families, and community partners, Weimer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weimer said he cant comment on whether the cyber attack was related to NATO being in town, and it will need to be investigated further. He said Kettering Health is still working with its partners to learn if employee or patient information was compromised. Weimer said he does know that apps like MyChart were not compromised. In a separate statement provided to News Center 7, a Kettering Health spokesperson provided additional information on elective surgeries, employee payment, and emergency department diversions. Regarding elective surgeries, a spokesperson said that procedures are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis based upon collaborative decision-making between care teams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokesperson also clarified that all employees are being paid. On emergency department diversions, the spokesperson said, our emergency departments, hospitals, and clinics remain open. Teams are working to put processes in place to limit diversions from emergency departments. We will continue to follow this story. INITIAL REPORT: Leadership at Kettering Health is providing more information about the cyberattack on Tuesday that has caused system-wide issues, including how long the disruption from these issues could last. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In a statement sent out Friday morning, Kettering Health CEO Mike Gentry gave an update on the situation, which he referred to as unscheduled downtime for most of the networks IT applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While planned maintenance and updates are routine and occur on an ongoing basis, fortunately, an event of this type has been rare for Kettering Health. Our team members are diligently following downtime processes and procedures. Patient appointments where IT applications are a necessary part of care plans are being rescheduled, Gentrys statement read in part. TRENDING STORIES: He went on to say that the duration of the cyberattack could range from 10 to 20 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kettering Healths emergency departments, hospitals, and clinics remain open. As previously reported, procedures are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA) previously told News Center 7 that other area hospitals are seeing an increase in their number of patients due to the limitations the attack has put on Kettering Health. GDAHA said the increases are manageable, but patients may see higher wait times. On Friday, Gentry thanked area hospitals and EMS services for their assistance during this cyberattack. We want to publicly express our appreciation to the network of Greater Dayton and northern Cincinnati hospitals and health systems, particularly Dayton Childrens and Premier Health as they have partnered with us to care for the community during this time, Gentry said in a statement. Additionally, this week, we want to specifically thank our EMS and police as this is their designated week of recognition. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Its not only tourists who are avoiding travel to the United States. Business travel to the U.S. from Europe is also down under President Donald Trump, as international opinion of the country tanks and foreign companies take their business elsewhere. Business travel bookings from Europe overall fell by more than 25% in April compared to a year ago, according to data published by Politico from HotelHub, a London-based hotel booking company. Theres been a lot of uncertainty around the traditional partnership with the U.S. since the new administration took office and even more so since the tariff announcements, Paul Raymond, HotelHubs chief commercial officer, told the news outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tariffs, he said, seem to have created an appetite for businesses to look at alternative markets to offer greater stability. According to the HotelHub data, international bookings for business travel overall to the U.S. fell roughly 19% in April, a steeper drop than the 15.6% fall among bookings from U.S. companies. The downturn was especially pronounced among some U.S. allies. Business hotel bookings were down 30% from Germany, 22% from France and 14% from the United Kingdom. Bookings even fell from Canada and Mexico, Americas closest trading partners after China. Bookings from Mexican companies fell almost 19%, while Canadian business bookings dropped by 18%, the data showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, European bookings to Norway jumped more than 23% from last year, alongside roughly 19% increases in bookings to Turkey and Australia, a 10% increase in bookings to Japan and a 7% increase in bookings to India. The changes were not due to a dramatic drop in European business travel. The overall number of bookings originating in Europe to destinations in the U.S. and abroad fell only 1.6% in the first four months of this year compared with 2024, HotelHubs data showed. Travel to the U.S. is in steep decline, Oxford Economics, a global economic advisory firm, warned last month. Policies and pronouncements from the Trump administration have contributed to a growing wave of negative sentiment toward the U.S. among potential international travelers, the firm said. Heightened border security measures and visible immigration enforcement actions are amplifying concerns. These factors, combined with a strong U.S. dollar, are creating additional barriers for those considering travel to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities and states are also lowering their projections for incoming tourists. Meet Boston, the citys tourism organization, had hoped for a 9% increase in international visitors compared to last year. It recently revised its projections to a 10% drop in foreign tourists, including a 20%-25% dip in Canadian visitors. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. Kid Cudi took the stand as a witness in Diddys sex trafficking and racketeering trial on Thursday (May 22). Following his hours-long testimony surrounding his brief romance with Cassie in 2011, Cudi took to X to reflect on his time in court and thanked his fans for their support along the way. Ive been seeing all the love and support and I just want to say thank you so much, man, Cudi said. People been hitting me up the past week just checking in and even today, it really means a lot to me, man. You guys are the best. I love yall. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cleveland native continued: This is a stressful situation. Im glad its behind me. Yeah, I love yall. Producer BNYX and Cudis fans showed their appreciation in his replies on X for taking the stand. You did great Scott! Glad its over and done with, one person wrote. While another added: Im so proud of you baby!!!!! Take time for yourself , you did that. The Day n Nite rapper was questioned on the stand Thursday about his short stint dating Cassie in the early 2010s, and Cudi opened up about Diddy allegedly setting his Porsche on fire with a Molotov cocktail. Cudi also recounted a break-in of his home around the time of his relationship with Cassie, which he tied to Diddy. Cassies initial bombshell 2023 lawsuit against Combs accused Diddy of blowing up Kid Cudis car in his driveway after repeatedly threatening Cudder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too much danger, too much uncertainty of what could happen if we continued to see each other, she reportedly said of why she ended things romantically with Cudi during her emotional testimony last week. [Diddy] said he wanted Scotts friends to see Scotts car blown up, Cassie recalled. We met, [Diddy], [Kid Cudi] and me. [Kid Cudi] said, What about my vehicle? And [Diddy] said, What vehicle? And that was the end of the meeting. The Bad Boy mogul could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty on all counts of sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddys trial is expected to last into July. Watch Cudis full statement on his experience at the Diddy trial below: Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Featured products highlight openness, unlock trade potential between China, CEEC Xinhua) 08:38, May 23, 2025 This photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo &International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) NINGBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. A total of 1,028 domestic companies are also attending the event, showcasing local distinctive industries and competitive consumer goods. The event also attracts more than 3,000 overseas buyers from 72 countries and regions. Tentative import deals worth over 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) are expected to be reached with CEEC partners during the event, according to the organizers. In addition to traditional consumer goods, the expo also showcases vanguard digital and intelligent technologies, serving as a broad platform for presenting innovative breakthroughs in categories such as aircraft, VR devices, medical equipment and humanoid robots. "The expo is a gateway for our products to reach international markets, and we plan to establish headquarters in CEEC to further explore and expand our presence in the region," said Fan Rui, founder of Aoxue Ruishi Technology Co., Ltd., who brought his company's extended reality (XR) glasses to the event. Co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and China's Ministry of Commerce, the expo, initiated in 2019, has played an important role in increasing exports of CEEC products to the Chinese market, and cementing mutual understanding on cooperation between China and CEEC countries. Data from China's commerce ministry showed that in 2024, China's trade with CEEC increased by 6.3 percent year over year, reaching a record high of 142.3 billion U.S. dollars. A Polish merchant promotes his cheese to visitors during the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Guests attend the opening ceremony of the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Foreign guests interact with a humanoid robot during the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) People visit the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) People visit the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22. 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) People queue up to visit the Digital and Smart Manufacturing of CEEC exhibition area of the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22. 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Dancers from Slovakia perform during the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) Visitors enjoy performance from Bulgaria during the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Serbian merchants promote their fruit wine at the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) People visit the fashion area of the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 22, 2025. With over 8,000 featured products on display, from traditional goods like wines and cheese to cutting-edge varieties like VR glasses, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair unveiled its curtain on Thursday, unleashing vast cooperation potential between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). The expo, running from Thursday to Sunday in Ningbo, has attracted 435 enterprises from 14 CEEC countries and nine other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A Paris court on Friday found the ringleader and seven other people guilty in the robbery of Kim Kardashian at her residence in the French capital in 2016. But none of them will face prison time. The court acquitted two of the 10 defendants. The sentences read out by the court president ranged from prison terms to fines. Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, the ringleader, got the stiffest sentence, eight years imprisonment but five of those are suspended. Three others who were accused on the most serious charges got seven years, five of them suspended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With time already served in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will go to prison. The trial was heard by a three-judge panel and six jurors. The chief judge, David De Pas, said the ages of the defendants the oldest is 79 and some others are in their 60s and 70s weighed on the courts decision not to impose harsher sentences that would have sent them to jail. He said the nine years between the robbery and the trial was also taken into account in the sentencing. Still, he said that Kardashian had been traumatized by the robbery in her hotel. You caused harm, he said. You caused fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kardashian, who wasnt present for the verdict, issued a statement after the ruling was announced. I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case, she said. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While Ill never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system. Khedache arrived at court walking with a stick, his face hidden from cameras. His DNA, found on the bands used to bind Kardashian, was a key breakthrough that helped crack open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. A diamond-encrusted cross, dropped during the escape, was the only piece of jewelry ever recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crime took place on the night of Oct. 2, 2016 during Paris Fashion Week. The robbers, dressed as police, forced their way into the glamorous Hotel de Pourtales, bound Kardashian with zip ties and escaped with her jewelry a theft that would force celebrities to rethink how they live and protect themselves. The accused became known in France as les papys braqueurs, or the grandpa robbers. Some arrived in court in orthopedic shoes and one leaned on a cane. But prosecutors warned observers not to be fooled. The defendants faced charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association. Forgiveness Khedache had said he was only a foot soldier. He blamed a mysterious X or Ben someone prosecutors say never existed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His lawyer pleaded for clemency, pointing to one of the trials most visceral moments Kardashians earlier courtroom encounter with the man accused of orchestrating her ordeal. Though she wasnt present Friday, her words and the memory of that moment still echoed. She looked at him when she came, she listened to the letter he had written to her, and then she forgave him, lawyer Franck Berton told The Associated Press. Kardashian, typically shielded by security and spectacle, had locked eyes with Khedache as the letter was read aloud. I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you, she said. But it doesnt change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed. A tabloid crime had become something raw and human. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khedache on Friday asked for a thousand pardons, communicated via a written note in court. Other defendants also used their final words to express remorse. Paris was once a sanctuary for Kardashian Kardashians testimony earlier this month was the emotional high point. In a packed courtroom, she recounted how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and had a gun pressed to her on the night of the robbery. I absolutely did think I was going to die, she said. I have babies. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home. She was dragged into a marble bathroom and told to stay silent. When the robbers fled, she freed herself by scraping the tape on her wrists off against the sink, then hid with her friend, shaking and barefoot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said that Paris had once been her sanctuary a city she would wander at 3 a.m., window shopping, stopping for hot chocolate. That illusion was shattered. Privacy became luxury The robbery echoed far beyond the City of Light. It forced a recalibration of celebrity behavior in the age of Instagram. For years, Kardashian had curated her life like a showroom: geo-tagged, diamond-lit, public by design. But this was the moment the showroom turned into a crime scene. In her words, People were watching They knew where I was. Afterward, she stopped posting her location in real time. She stripped her social media feed of lavish gifts and vanished from Paris for years. Other stars followed suit. Privacy became luxury. Even by the standards of Frances famously deliberate legal system, the case took years to reach trial. ___ Catherine Gaschka contributed to this report. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Eight suspects charged in connection with the 2016 Paris hotel armed robbery of Kim Kardashian were found guilty, according to reports. The New York Times, the Associated Press and CNN reported the guilty verdicts for seven men and one woman, which were handed down in a Paris court Friday, May 23. The AP reported that the ringleader, Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, received the longest sentence of eight years in prison, with five suspended. However, because of time served before the trial, none of the convicted defendants will serve any further time prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two defendants were acquitted in connection with the robbery, though one of the two was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, according to the Times. Related: Kim Kardashian Says 'I Was Sure I Was Going to Be Raped' During Emotional Testimony About Paris Robbery In October 2016, five masked men broke into the hotel room of Kardashian, who was in town for Fashion Week, tied her up at gunpoint and locked her in a bathroom. Millions of dollars worth of jewelry was stolen. Kardashian said the thieves took two diamond Cartier bracelets, a gold and diamond Jacob necklace, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, a gold Rolex as well as several other items, according to Le Journal du Dimanche. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kardashian escaped by wriggling her hands out of the zip ties, a source close to her told PEOPLE in 2016. Another source told PEOPLE that Kardashian "screamed from the balcony," requesting help. On May 13, Kardashian testified at the defendants' trial. "I absolutely did think I was gonna die," she said, according to the BBC. Kardashian further testified that she was only wearing a robe at the time of the robbery and said it came open when one of the men pulled her toward him "exposing everything." "I was sure that I was going to be raped, she said, NBC News reported. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The AP reported that chief judge David De Pas explained that the advanced ages of the suspects the oldest of whom is 79 was part of the reason the thieves did not receive harsher sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP reported that Kardashian issued a statement following the verdict I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case, Kardashian said. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While Ill never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system. Read the original article on People King Charles is set to deliver a speech to open Canadas Parliament, and some Canadians are urging the Monarch to take a stance in their own sovereignty amid President Donald Trumps desires to make Canada the 51st state. The visit comes as an invitation from new Prime Minister Mark Carney. Its rare for a Monarch to open Parliament in the country. Queen Elizabeth has only done it twice in her reign, with the last visit dating back to 1977. Charles visited the country 19 times when he was Prince. Canada is a sovereign state and the Monarch serves as head of state. More from StyleCaster Related: Charles Is 1 Step Closer to Reuniting With Harry Amid Reports Betrayed William Is Blocking Their Reconciliation Its a very important opportunity for His Majesty to be in a forum where he will have the opportunity to speak to Canadians at a time when that message about the significance and the strength of Canadian sovereignty needs to be reinforced by every means possible, Canadian high commissioner in the UK Ralph Goodale said. The prime minister has made it clear that Canada is not for sale now, is not for sale ever. The King, as head of state, will reinforce the power and the strength of that message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the act might not be as direct as some people hope. King Charles is unlikely to comment directly on the 51st state issue. Yet, his introductory remarks could feature broad statements about Canadas integrity and sovereignty. At least this is what many Canadians would like him to do, Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal told the Independent. Recently, Prince Charles wrote a letter to President Trump with the intent of another state dinner. After it was shared by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump shared the contents of the letter: Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom. As you will know, this is unprecedented by a US president. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content. Trump previously expressed a desire to go to the UK for his second state visit. Theyre going to do a second, as you know, a second fest, Trump said, adding, Thats what it is: a fest, and its beautiful, and its the first time its ever happened to one person. And the reason is we have two separate terms, and its an honor, he said. Trump continued, Im a friend of Charles. I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William. We have really just a great respect for the family. And I think theyre setting a date for September. Best of StyleCaster Sign up for Stylecaster's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Six people have suffered life-threatening injuries in a knife attack at the central train station in the northern German city of Hamburg, emergency services said on Friday. In addition, three people suffered severe injuries, while three more were slightly injured. Police said a person was detained at the station after stabbing people at random on platform 13/14. A spokesman for federal police said the detainee was a 39-year-old woman, with investigations under way to determine a motive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major police operation was under way at Hamburg's central train station, one of the busiest public transport hubs in Germany. In a statement, the national railway operator Deutsche Bahn expressed its "deep dismay" at the attack. "Our thoughts and sympathy are with the injured," the company said, warning of disruption to journeys. A ban on carrying knives has been in place at the station since October 2023, with another ban on knives on public transport having taken effect in December 2024. Germany saw a number of attacks in public places in the run-up to parliamentary elections in February. Police on duty at the scene after several people were seriously injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. Steven Hutchings/dpa Police on duty at the scene after several people were seriously injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. Steven Hutchings/dpa Seventeen people were injured in a knife attack at the central train station in the northern German city of Hamburg on Friday, with four of them suffering life-threatening injuries in the incident, emergency services said. Six others were seriously injured. Officials said that another seven people were injured on the platform. The injured were taken to area hospitals. Police said a 39-year-old German woman was detained at the station after stabbing people at random on platform 13/14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators currently believe that this was the act of a lone perpetrator. Police spokesman Florian Abbenseth told dpa that the suspect did not resist arrest. The police do not believe that the stabbing was a politically motivated act. "Rather, we have findings that lead us to investigate whether she may have been in a state of mental distress," Abbenseth explained. The knife used in the attack has been secured. There are many eyewitnesses who need to be interviewed, police said. Late Friday evening, police still did not have a final tally of injured persons. The incident, which occurred around 6 pm (1600 GMT) sparked a major police operation at Hamburg's central train station, one of the busiest public transport hubs in Germany. Eyewitnesses phoned the emergency services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said that a train on the track next to the platform seems not to have been involved in the incident. While the platform where the stabbings occurred was cordoned off, the rest of the station continued to operate normally on Friday evening, albeit amid a strong police presence. In a statement, the national railway operator Deutsche Bahn expressed its "deep dismay" at the attack. "Our thoughts and sympathy are with the injured," the company said, warning of disruption to journeys. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call with Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher following the knife attack. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Merz had offered the assistance of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz wrote on X: "The news from Hamburg is shocking. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. My thanks go to all the emergency services on the ground for their rapid assistance." Tschentscher wrote on X that the incident was shocking. He thanked the police and emergency services for their quick response and added: "The perpetrator is in custody. I wish the victims of the incident much strength and hope that those who are seriously injured will be saved." A ban on carrying knives has been in place at the station since October 2023, with another ban on knives on public transport having taken effect in December 2024. Germany saw a number of attacks in public places in the run-up to parliamentary elections in February. Police on duty at the scene after several people were seriously injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. Steven Hutchings/dpa Police on duty at the scene after several people were seriously injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. Steven Hutchings/dpa A Chicago man who railed on social media against the ongoing bombing of Gaza fatally shot two Israeli Embassy employees near the Jewish museum in Washington on Wednesday before allegedly admitting to a police officer he did it for Palestine, according to federal charges unsealed Thursday afternoon. Elias Rodriguez, 31, of the 4700 block of North Troy Street, is charged in U.S. District Court in Washingoton with first-degree murder, murder of a foreign official, causing a death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence, according to the six-page criminal complaint. Rodriguez is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago and most recently worked as an administrative assistant for a Chicago-based health care company. FBI agents could be seen moving in and out of his apartment for much of the day Thursday with his street cordoned off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrested at the scene in Washington, he appeared before a federal magistrate judge there Thursday afternoon, where he waived his right to a detention hearing, interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at a news conference. The judge informed Rodriguez the charges could bring the death penalty if convicted, Pirro said. A preliminary hearing was set for June 19. Officials said the investigation was still in its beginning stages in Washington and Chicago. The case was being pursued as a hate crime and a crime of terrorism, and we will add additional charges as the evidence warrants, Pirro said. This was an act of cowardice, she said. It is not an act of a hero. According to the complaint, Rodriguez boarded a flight for Washington at OHare International Airport on Tuesday with a 9 mm handgun packed in his luggage and declared at departure. Shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, Rodriguez shot two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington as the victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, the complaint stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Lischinsky was a research assistant, and Milgrim organized visits and missions to Israel. Rodriguez was observed pacing outside the museum before the shooting, and afterward approached a group of four people and opened fire from behind, the charges alleged. Rodriguez followed behind Milgrim as she tried to crawl away and fired several more times into her body, the charges alleged. One witness from the scene told police they were sitting in a car before the shooting and saw a man later identified as Rodriguez wearing a blue hooded raincoat and a backpack, attempting to light a cigarette in the rain. The witness, who found Rodriguezs behavior to be strange, then saw four people walking out of the Jewish Museum and heard gunshots. The witness ducked, and when they looked back up they saw Rodriguez motioning as if he was attempting to shoot the firearm, but it was not firing, according to the complaint. Surveillance footage also captured the shooting, including muzzle flashes as Rodriguez fired and a break as he appeared to reload the weapon, according to the complaint. Rodriguez was then captured jogging back in the direction of where the entrance to the museum is located, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint alleged that when police arrived, Rodriguez asked to speak with one of the officers. Rodriguez then stated that he did it and that he was unarmed, the charges alleged. Later, Rodriguez spontaneously stated on scene to (police) I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed, the complaint alleged. As he was being led away, Rodriguez began chanting, Free, free Palestine, officials said. Investigators recovered a 9 mm handgun at the scene, as well as 21 expended cartridge casings and a firearm magazine, the complaint stated. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the handgun and determined Rodriguez had purchased it March 6, 2020, in Illinois, according to the charges. Steven Jensen, assistant director in charge for the FBI field office in Washington, told reporters at the news conference that Rodriguez was believed to have traveled to the nations capitol for a work-related conference. He said agents were still trying to fill in gaps of his movements from when he landed in Washington on Tuesday and the attack Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez told authorities hed purchased a ticket to the museum event about three hours before it started, the complaint stated. Jensen said agents were in the process of contacting Rodriguezs associates, family members and co-workers, as well as executing search warrants on his electronic devices in order to paint a fuller picture of his alleged motives. Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and is the son of an Iraq War veteran and labor activist who works at a local veterans affairs hospital, public records show. On Thursday morning, police had blocked the street outside Rodriguezs apartment building in the Albany Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side, where a stream of heavily armed FBI agents were seen coming in and out of the brick, U-shaped apartment building. One apartment had a sign in the window reading Justice for Wadea, a reference to the killing of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume by his familys landlord in the suburbs in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors on the block were startled to open their doors to the sight of federal agents clogging the street. Thats terrifying, one woman said when told why they were outside her home. John Wayne Fry, who lives next door to the suspected shooter, a man he said lived in the apartment with a woman. He doesnt know the relationship between the suspect and woman. They were very friendly. You would never expect something like this. I mean, my goodness, they had Hello Kitty on their front door," said Fry, 71. I think youre dealing with a young person who is sensitive. I dont think were dealing with somebody who you would normally expect to be violent. You have to ask yourself what would cause a decent human being to do something crazy like this. What causes this? Because it shocked me. Fry said that he heard the suspect was from Chicago but never thought it would be his next-door neighbor. He was asked if they ever talked politics, and he said no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, I regret I never had a conversation with him, he said. After hours on the scene, FBI agents packed up their equipment and left the suspects apartment about 1:45 p.m. They also towed away Rodriguezs gold 2018 Hyundai Accent with Illinois plates. The investigation is being run by federal authorities in Washington, with significant assistance from the FBI Chicago field office and other Chicago-based federal agencies. The FBIs Washington field office put out a statement Thursday morning that FBI Chicago is conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity in the Chicago area in relation to yesterdays tragic shooting in Washington D.C. In a social media account attributed to the suspect, a lengthy manifesto was posted at 9 p.m. Wednesday titled Escalate for Gaza. Bring the War Home, which decried the killings of tens of thousands in Gaza, lamented how civil protests had failed to stop it, and debated the morality of armed demonstration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post ended with what appeared to be a reference to an action about to be taken. I am glad today at least there are many Americans for which the action will be highly legible and, in some funny way, the only sane thing to do, the post stated. Jensen, the FBI official, said Thursday he was aware of the postings but the FBI was still trying to verify the author. Rodriguez was also once linked to the Party for Socialism and Liberation a far-left group that regularly posts anti-Israel rhetoric on social media. End the genocide. Israel out of Gaza now, the group posted Wednesday just hours before the D.C. shooting. We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL, the group said in an X post early Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an online bio for the site The History Makers, Rodriguez stated he was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from UIC with a major in English. Hed worked as an oral history researcher since 2023, cultivating biographies of accomplished leaders in the African American community, the bio stated. He said he enjoys reading, writing, fiction, live music, film and exploring new places. The bio was removed from the site Thursday morning. A UIC spokesman later confirmed Rodriguez graduated from the university in 2018 with a bachelors degree in English. Most recently, Rodriguez had worked as an administrative assistant for the American Osteopathic Information Association, the organization confirmed Thursday. In a statement, leaders of the organizations sister group, the American Osteopathic Organization, offered their condolences to the victims families and said they were shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime. The association and its sister organization would cooperate with law enforcement investigators in any way it could, the statement continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At an unrelated news conference Thursday, Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling was asked whether Rodriguez was known to police. What we know right now is that he doesnt have a criminal background, but I wont get too much into it because this is still an ongoing investigation with the FBI so well keep it at that, Snelling said. Snelling said the department had already put special attentions at places of worship, is monitoring social media and is in constant contact with Jewish leaders. Public records show Rodriguezs father is a 54-year-old disabled veteran and carpenter at a Hines VA Hospital in the west suburbs, where hes an activist in the Service Employees International Union. In March, he was part of a group of SEIU members that traveled to Washington for President Donald Trumps address to Congress, where they protested the presidents cuts to veterans affairs and pushed their message for stronger unions and fair wages, according to the unions Facebook account. A man who answered the phone listed for Rodriguezs father on Thursday hung up on a reporter. On Thursday morning, Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement he was horrified to hear of the shooting and disclosed that a member of his staff was attending the event. While they are shaken up, they are thankfully safe, the governor said. Law enforcement has apprehended the suspected gunman, and although the investigation continues, make no mistake: this was an attack on the Jewish community. Pritzker, who is Jewish, has pledged Illinois support for Israel while also seeking to distinguish Hamas militants from the Palestinian people, who he has said want peace in the region. But as someone who led the building of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, Pritzker expressed how the shooting resonated with him and what trauma it has caused. Young Jewish people and diplomats came together in a museum built to honor their shared history but then had to flee gun shots and witness the killing of a young couple, Pritzker said. Whether its gun violence or the rising tide of antisemitism, Americans of all backgrounds have an urgent obligation to stand for peace and reject bigotry in all its forms and in every way possible. Reaction to the shooting continued to pour in from elected officials Thursday. At an unrelated news conference on summer safety in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson extended his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and to the Jewish community as a whole, condemning all of these acts of antisemitic brutality. We are not a better, stronger, safer city if our Jewish community is continuously under attack. We condemn these acts of terror and the anti-semitic sentiment that unfortunately has continued to spread throughout our city and around this country, the mayor said. Lonnie Nasatir, president of the Jewish United Fund, said he was horrified, sad, but unfortunately not so surprised that two beautiful young people lost their lives in a senseless act of violence. He said hes also saddened that a Chicago resident could become so infected with hate so as to allegedly carry out the shooting. We have been screaming from the hilltop that what were seeing on our streets of Chicago, on our campuses in Chicago, is not innocuous rallying cries. These are rallying cries of hate. These are rallying cries to incite violence against Jews and Israel, Nasatir said. And unfortunately, we saw somebody that took those words and those mantras into serious and violent action last night. Nasatir said all community leaders, including politicians, university officials and business professionals, must call out antisemitic words and actions. People of goodwill throughout our community need to stand up and say, no, you cant normalize antisemitism, Nasatir said. Its so acute right now, and its so in our face, and its now leading to the loss of life that our leaders need to step up and say, we will not allow this in our buildings, in our streets. 50th Ward Ald. Debra Silverstein, the only Jewish member of the City Council, said she was deeply concerned to learn that the attacker came from Chicago. She said she spoke with Snelling and local police commanders, who told her there is no known threat to our local Jewish community. However, out of an abundance of caution, the 24th District is increasing patrols and putting extra attention on our community, Silverstein wrote. I ask for law enforcement to investigate any ties to local extremist groups and to act swiftly to make sure the Jewish community in Chicago is kept safe. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said it was absolutely devastating to hear of the shooting. His colleague, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., called the shooting absolutely horrifying. My heart goes out to the victims, their families and loved ones and the entire Jewish community in the wake of this inexcusable act of antisemitic violence, Duckworth said. Hate should never find safe harbor in America, and we should all be united in the fight against antisemitism. _____ (Chicago Tribunes Madeline Buckley, A.D. Quig, Rebecca Johnson, Jeremy Gorner, and Deanese Williams-Harris contributed.) _____ The Department of Justice is investigating the Washington, DC, shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers as an act of terrorism and a hate crime, as details continue to emerge about the violent act, the victims, and the suspected shooter. The accused gunman, Elias Rodriguez, faces several federal murder charges, some of which carry the potential for the death penalty, after prosecutors say he shot a young couple as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum Wednesday night and yelled Free Palestine! while being arrested. Rodriguez did not enter a plea when he made his first court appearance on Thursday afternoon and will remain in custody pending future court hearings as investigators dig into his background and work to construct a timeline of Rodriguezs time in DC leading up to the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a complicated case involving a large amount of evidence and a large amount of witnesses and an expansive crime scene, prosecutor Jeff Nestler told the judge. Heres what we know about the incident and where the investigation stands. Who is the suspected shooter? Rodriguez, a 31-year-old from Chicago, has been charged by the Justice Department with using a firearm to commit murder which carries the possibility of the death penalty first degree murder, using a firearm during a violent crime, and two counts of murdering foreign officials. According to court documents, the 9mm handgun found at the scene of the shooting was purchased by Rodriguez in Illinois in March 2020. Investigators say he declared a firearm in his checked bag when flying from Chicago to Washington, DC, on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez appeared to have come to DC for a work conference, the head of the FBIs Washington field office told reporters Thursday. Rodriguez most recently worked as an administrative specialist with the American Osteopathic Information Association, according to a LinkedIn account with his name and photo. Steven J. Jensen, the assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, also said the agency is searching Rodriguezs internet activity and specifically looking into a so-called manifesto that is circulating online. We are also executing search warrants for his electronic devices, reviewing his social media accounts and all of his internet postings, Jensen said. Regarding some internet postings, we are aware of some writings that are purported to have been authored by this subject, were actively investigating to determine both the authorship and the attribution of these writings if they belong to this subject, or not. Rodriguez told police he was inspired by a US airman who died last year after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, to draw attention to the war in Gaza, prosecutors said in court documents. The man, Rodriguez said, was a martyr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CNN review of interviews and writings linked to Rodriguez found that he has a history of political activism, including denouncing corporate power, US military actions and police abuses. Over the years, Rodriguez has allied publicly with several leftist groups in the Chicago area. A GoFundMe page that was created in August 2017 and included his photo sought donations so Rodriguez could attend the Peoples Congress of Resistance in DC, an anti-Trump protest event during President Donald Trumps first term. Appearing in court on Thursday, Rodriguez, in an all-white detention jumpsuit with a hood and wearing glasses and leg cuffs, watched the judge closely as each of his five charges were read to him. Who are the victims? Officials have identified Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, as the two Israeli Embassy staffers killed in Wednesdays shooting. This image, shared by the Embassy of Israel to the USA, shows Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky, who were killed outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. - Embassy of Israel to the USA The couple had met at the embassy, an Israeli official told CNN. Officials and friends have shared that Lischinsky had recently bought a ring to propose to Milgrim in Jerusalem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milgrim, a 2021 graduate of the University of Kansas who earned her masters degree from American University in 2023, started working at the embassy shortly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. She helped coordinate a variety of groups travels to Israel, including political, religious and others, like visitors studying climate change. Tech2Peace, an organization that provides entrepreneurial training to young Palestinians and Israelis alongside conflict dialogue, described Milgrim as a a devoted and active volunteer. Sarah was a deeply curious person, always seeking to learn and connect. She brought people together with empathy and purpose, and her dedication to building a better future was evident in everything she did. Her voice and spirit will be profoundly missed, Tech2Peace said in a statement Thursday. Meanwhile, Lischinsky, had been working at the embassys political section for a little over two years and dreamed of being a diplomat, according to a former professor who described him to CNN as an outstanding student and a wonderful person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lischinsky grew up in Germany and moved to Israel before coming to Washington, where he met Milgrim. The Israeli official added to CNN that Lischinsky who has a Christian mother and Jewish father identifies as Jewish. A friend who attended college with Lischinsky remembered him as a respectful and kind person who loved books and working in diplomacy, What made him stand out was not just his intelligence, but his generosity of spirit, Jakub Klepek told CNN in a message. How did the shooting unfold? The American Jewish Committee was hosting a Young Diplomats Reception at the Capital Jewish Museum Wednesday night. According to its Eventbrite page which only made the location of the event available after purchasing a ticket the event was intended to bring together Jewish young professionals (ages 2245) and the diplomatic community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Rodriguez told investigators that he had purchased a ticket to the event at the Museum approximately three hours prior to its commencement. Following the event, Rodriguez allegedly walked past Lischinsky and Milgrim before he turned to face their backs and brandished a firearm from the area of his waistband, according to court documents citing surveillance footage. He then fired at the couple several times, according to court documents, and then went toward them after they had fallen to the ground, leaning over them with his arm extended, and firing several more times. As Milgrim tried to crawl away, Rodriguez allegedly followed behind her and fired again. Rodriguez then appeared to reload his firearm as she began to sit up, and, once he reloaded, he allegedly shot at her again, the documents detailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eyewitnesses told CNN that Rodriguez had waited for police to arrive before saying he carried out the attack for Gaza. Once in custody, the gunman chanted: Free, free Palestine. Police recovered 21 fired bullets from the scene, according to court documents. An Israeli official told CNN that two other Israeli Embassy staffers were with the victims when they were killed but were not injured in the shooting. Police and Investigators work at the crime scene on Thursday. - Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Wore a digital video recording device Rodriguez wore a digital video recording device on the night of the shooting, according to a law enforcement source and another source familiar with the matter. It is not immediately clear what was captured on the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The device was recovered from Rodriguezs backpack when he was taken into custody inside the museum following the shooting. Investigators are reviewing the digital recording file recovered from the device, the law enforcement source said. It is not clear, a law enforcement source told CNN, whether Rodriguez had intended to livestream the attack or upload the video to some online platform later. Detectives from the DC Metropolitan Police and FBI agents are still trying to determine if Rodriguez had help from someone posting the manifesto explaining his justification for the attack. The document was posted online an hour after the attack, but more than two hours before Rodriguezs name was released publicly. He may have had help with posting that, and that could suggest someone else had advance knowledge of what was going to happen or the timing of it, said another official briefed on the case. The other possibility is he pre-scheduled a post set before the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, there is no indication that video was sent to anyone nor has it appeared on the internet. Recording of attacks, using body-worn devices like Go-Pro cameras has become increasingly featured by terrorist and school shooters. After his arrest, Rodriguez was questioned by detectives from the DC police. Rodriguez told investigators of his admiration for Aaron Bushnell, the 25-year-old US Air Force member who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington in 2024, the law enforcement source said. Bushnell, a self-described pro-Palestinian activist, livestreamed his own death. What are Trump and foreign leaders saying? In the early hours of Thursday, Trump expressed his condolences to the victimsfamilies in a Truth Social post, saying These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Hours later, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed his deep sorrow, according to the prime ministers office. Netanyahu also spoke with the victims families and told them that he shares in their deep sorrow, together with the entire Jewish People, his office said. Other foreign leaders also issued statements condemning the attack. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the shooting in the strongest possible terms and said that at this stage we must assume an anti-Semitic motive. Qatars Foreign Ministry called the shooting an act of violence and terrorism, and described the incident as unacceptable and unjustifiable. It also extended its condolences to the victims families. Whats next? Rodriguez will remain behind bars pending future court hearings. The next hearing is scheduled for June 18. Interim US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro said Thursday thatit is far too early to say whether the Justice Department will pursue the death penalty against the suspect, although several of the charges carry the potential for a death sentence if convicted. She added that the murder charges filed are initial, and said that we will add additional charges as the evidence warrants. Because of one persons actions, two families are left to grieve for dreams that will never be realized, Pirro said. Jensen, the FBI official, said the FBI is continuing to look into what happened from the moment Rodriguez landed in the nations capital to the time of the shooting, and it has asked the public to send in tips. The Washington, DC, police department also announced Thursday that it is increasing the number of officers present at religious institutions across the city. Law enforcement in other cities have also announced they are doing the same, including the New York City Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office in Florida. Meanwhile, the Capital Jewish Museum said it is working to reopen the museum in the coming days. CNNs Katelyn Polantz and Alex Marquardt contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Over the last several days, the safety and efficacy of messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines have come under intense scrutiny. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to limit access to future COVID-19 shots -- two of which are mRNA vaccines -- to those aged 65 and older or with high-risk conditions. The agency will require further scientific trials to greenlight the shots for younger age groups. The agency also sent letters to both Moderna and Pfizer last month telling them to expand the warning labels on their mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to broaden the people who may be impacted by the risk of heart inflammation as a possible side effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: FDA plans to limit COVID shots to those over 65 or with high-risk conditions Infectious disease experts told ABC News that mRNA and mRNA vaccines have been studied for decades, the vaccines are safe and effective, and that the shots were instrumental in saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heres the bottom line: mRNA vaccines for COVID, according to estimates from Yale School of Public Health, saved 3.2 million lives, Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor of pediatrics and molecular virology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told ABC News. So instead of 1.2 million Americans who lost their life because of COVID, it would have been a 4.4 million, he added. So, I think it's unfortunate that anti-vaccine activists target mRNA vaccines like they do, but it is a good technology. What is mRNA? mRNA was discovered independently by two teams in 1961 including French and American molecular biologists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said breakthroughs in developing mRNA vaccines began in the early 2000s, eventually leading to the development of COVID-19 vaccines in 2020. PHOTO: The Moderna, NIAID vaccine, a vaccine that aims to protect against COVID-19. (Rob Welham/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) While most vaccines use a weakened or inactivated virus to stimulate an immune response, mRNA vaccines teach the body how to make proteins that can trigger an immune response and fight off an infection. The way that it works is that it doesn't even go into the nucleus [of the cell]. It enters the outside of the cytoplasm, or the watery substance outside of the nucleus, and basically instructs the cell to make proteins, Chin-Hong told ABC News. But most importantly, it self-destructs in matter, at the most days, and it dies. He continued, So mRNA goes away, but the products which are the most important thing -- the proteins and antibodies -- remain, and that's why we get protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chin-Hong also addressed another piece of misinformation that has circulated, implying that mRNA vaccines could alter DNA in the nucleus. Our cells can't convert mRNA to DNA because the mRNA doesn't enter the DNA, which is in the nucleus, he added. How do we know its safe? Chin-Hong said that during the large-scale clinical trials for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, in 2020, more than 70,000 people were involved in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna trials combined. Additionally, 37,000 people were involved in Modernas clinical trials for its RSV vaccine, Chin-Hong said. MORE: What to know about the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers found that side effects -- including fever, arm pain and swelling at the injection site -- for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine were like those of traditional, non-RNA vaccines and they had short-term efficacy rates of more than 90%. Additional studies have found that booster safety was consistent with safety reported for primary vaccination. There are all these databases that are used to follow reports of people, not only in this country, their experience using vaccines, but also in other countries, many other countries as well, Chin-Hing said. There have been multiple studies since 2020 showing there's no impact in fertility, stroke, all the things that people have worried about. Hotez said no vaccine technology is perfect, including mRNA technology, but it has its advantages such as being able to be designed more quickly traditional vaccines, allowing them to be deployed quicker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He disagrees with the FDA decision to limit future COVID-19 vaccine shots because COVID has long-term consequences such as long COVID and delayed cardiovascular disease. I think there are many younger adults, or those under the age of 65, who are concerned enough about long COVID or downstream heart disease to want to have to be able to get the mRNA vaccine, he said. PHOTO: A member of staff poses with a phial of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. (Justin Tallis/Getty Images) What about myocarditis? Questions have swirled around how myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, occurs after COVID-19 vaccination. Myocarditis can cause arrhythmias, which are rapid or abnormal heartbeats. It can also cause the heart muscle to weaken, resulting in cardiomyopathy, which affects the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis -- inflammation of the sac that contains the heart -- have been observed rarely after COVID vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MORE: Why Americans may be at risk of heart problems as COVID, flu spread: Expert When they have rarely occurred, it has been among young adult males, typically between ages 18 and 29, within seven days after receiving the second dose of an mRNA COVID vaccine, the agency says. The FDA, in asking the vaccine companies to expand their warning labels, cited new safety information -- data from one of the agencys safety surveillance systems and a study published in October that followed people who developed myocarditis linked to COVID vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chin-Hong said the risk of myocarditis is much higher after COVID-19 compared to after vaccination, and that contracting COVID itself is higher. The risk of COVID is much higher in general. If you look at it, 22 to 31 cases per million [among] 18 to 29 years old as an example, he said. At the time when these vaccines are used very often in that group, [myocarditis risk] is 1,500 per million. So, you're talking about 22 to 31 per million versus 1,500 per million. ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report. What we know about the safety, efficacy of mRNA vaccines amid recent scrutiny originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Federal officials are reviewing writings that they say may be those of the man charged Thursday in the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., as they investigate whether the attack was motivated by antisemitism. Washington police identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, who they say shouted Free, free Palestine in custody and implied that he was the gunman in the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend and colleague Sarah Milgrim were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez appeared Thursday before a federal magistrate judge wearing a white prison jumpsuit and glasses. He remained calm as the charges were read: murder of foreign officials, causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as two counts of first-degree murder. He waived his detention hearing and is being held without bond until his preliminary hearing June 18. Federal agents said Rodriguez spoke with Washington police officers who arrived at the scene to tell them he "did it," according to a criminal complaint. Rodriguez also said, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed," the complaint said, adding that a witness said he was holding a red kaffiyeh scarf, which has become an emblem of Palestinian solidarity. Members of the group Misaskim clean blood off the ground where two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington. (Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters) Rodriguez also "expressed admiration" for the U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington in February 2024, apparently to protest the Israel-Hamas war, according to the complaint. That man, who had been yelling "Free Palestine," died at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday night's shooting is being investigated as a hate crime and a crime of terror, interim U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told reporters. It is a "death penalty-eligible case," she said. A witness told investigators that he heard gunshots Wednesday night and that when it stopped, he saw the gunman trying to shoot the weapon but that it didn't fire, according to the complaint. The witness said he saw the gunman running away and motioning as if he was tossing a gun, which police found later. Security video reviewed by police showed the gunman wearing a blue jacket with a hood and a large dark-colored backpack walking past where the two victims were standing near the museum. After he passed them, he took a firearm from his waistband and fired at them "several times," and once they fell to the ground, he leaned over to them and fired "several more times," according to the complaint. A female victim tried to crawl away, but the gunman followed her and fired his weapon, the complaint said, as he reloaded and then fired several times again. A vigil for the victims of the Capital Jewish Museum shooting outside of the White House on Thursday. (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images) Forensics investigators recovered 21 expended 9 mm cartridge casings, a firearm magazine, an empty magazine and a 9 mm handgun with its slide locked, indicating that no ammunition was remaining, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the 9 mm handgun and found that Rodriguez bought it on March 6, 2020, in Illinois, the complaint added. Investigators say Rodriguez flew from Chicago to metropolitan Washington on Tuesday with a firearm he had declared in his checked luggage. He told them he bought a ticket to the museum event only three hours before it started, according to the complaint. Outside a brick apartment building on a quiet tree-lined street in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago early Thursday, law enforcement officers cordoned off an address tied to the suspect by public records. Several FBI vehicles pulled up to the building, and agents dressed in camo gear and carrying large firearms went inside. They later left with what looked like large electronic equipment. Chicago police were positioned outside, blocking the entrance to the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Wayne Fry, a neighbor, said he interacted with Rodriguez infrequently in the hallway or by the mailboxes but knew him for having a Justice for Wadee sign in his window. Wadee Alfayoumi was a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy who was fatally stabbed by his landlord in Illinois days after the Israel-Hamas war erupted in 2023. Rodriguez seemed like a normal, friendly guy, Fry said, adding that the two had not spoken about Israel before but that he wished they had, because I would have talked him out of it. Efforts to reach Rodriguez's family in Chicago were not successful. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino wrote Thursday on X that the bureau is aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect, and we hope to have updates as to the authenticity very soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The writings include social media posts that indicate a motivation to act on behalf of the Palestinian people, authorities said. A LinkedIn account for the suspect shows he worked for the American Osteopathic Information Association as a profiles administrative specialist beginning in July. The organization confirmed that he was an employee. As a physician organization dedicated to protecting the health and sanctity of human life, we believe in the rights of all persons to live safely without fear of violence, the association said. Rodriguez also listed having worked as a coordinator and an oral history researcher from 2023 to 2024 for The HistoryMakers, a nonprofit organization in Chicago that collects video oral history of Black Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An archive of the website says Rodriguez is a Chicago native who earned an English degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and had worked as a content writer in technology. Politicians, both prominent Republicans and Democrats, have condemned the shooting, which killed Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26. The couple were killed outside after they attended a Young Diplomats reception at the museum organized by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group. Ron Prosor, Israels ambassador to Germany, wrote on X that Lischinsky was a Christian, a true lover of Israel, served in the IDF, and chose to dedicate his life to the State of Israel and the Zionist cause. The IDF is the Israel Defense Forces. The New York Times reported he was the son of a Jewish father and a Christian mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Lischinsky was planning to propose to Milgrim. President Donald Trump wrote on social media that the attack was based obviously on antisemitism, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is Jewish, called it another horrific instance of antisemitism which as we know is all too rampant in our society. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Tim Macdonald, legal director of the ACLU of Colorado, speaks to reporters outside the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse in Denver on April 21, 2025. Macdonald represents plaintiffs who are suing the Trump administration over their potential deportation under the Alien Enemies Act. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) Immigration advocates in Colorado say they have identified about 12 immigrants in Colorado whom they believe federal authorities have removed to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador. Some details of their cases are uncertain, because immigration authorities, both in court proceedings and through public communication, have largely refused to release information about enforcement activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But lawyers and community groups working on behalf of the immigrants through contact with family members, media coverage, videos from CECOT, and scant clues from federal sources have constructed the best available profile of people who vanished from Colorado. As Colorado Newsline previously reported, Tim Macdonald, legal director of the ACLU of Colorado, in April first revealed in federal court in Denver that at least 11 people had been removed from Colorado to the brutal prison in El Salvador. The ACLU represents two Venezuelan nationals, as well as a larger class of immigrants, who are being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Aurora and fear deportation under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th century wartime law invoked by President Donald Trump to hasten deportations. The Colorado case is one of several throughout the country that challenges the Trump administrations hyper-aggressive pursuit of mass deportations as unconstitutional, affording detainees little to no due process. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Laura Lunn, director of advocacy and litigation at Westminster-based Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, which has worked on the federal case of the Venezuelan detainees and others in Colorado, told Newsline this week that immigration advocates think there are about a dozen people the U.S. removed from Colorado to CECOT under the Alien Enemies Act. In some instances, we were in touch with their loved ones, who said, We saw our loved one on the news, and he is in CECOT,' Lunn said. Numerous images and videos have emerged from the prison since March 15, when American officials, in possible violation of a court order, flew 238 migrants from the U.S. to be incarcerated in El Salvador. The roughly dozen immigrants transferred from Colorado to CECOT are believed to have been on one of three March 15 flights, Lunn said. Newsline requested responses to a set of specific questions for this story from a spokesperson for ICE Denver. The spokesperson referred questions to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who did not respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Western region branch of the American Friends Service Committee helped to confirm, largely through interaction with family members, about six of the Colorado-to-CECOT detainees, Jennifer Piper, the regions program director, said. They are Venezuelan men roughly between 19 and 25 years old. There is no indication any of the roughly 12 individuals from Colorado were legal residents or citizens of the U.S., but they were removed from the country before they could present facts on their own behalf, Lunn noted. For some family members, the first indication a loved one had been transported to El Salvador was the release by CBS News of a list of detainees who were on the March 15 flights. So, you know, you're talking two months, more than 60 days that you have no idea if your loved one is alive, dead, in El Salvador, disappeared into the immigration system in Guantanamo. No idea. Jennifer Piper, Western region director of the American Friends Service Committee One Colorado detainees mother whom Piper works with spotted her son in a video from CECOT just this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She finally was able to see her kids face, when they went walking down the halls, Piper said. So, you know, youre talking two months, more than 60 days that you have no idea if your loved one is alive, dead, in El Salvador, disappeared into the immigration system in Guantanamo. No idea. Some details on at least three Colorado-to-El Salvador detainees have been reported through government and media sources. They include Jose Eduardo Moran-Garcia, Yohendry Jerez-Hernandez and Nixon Perez. Jerez-Hernandez and Perez appear on the CBS list. Sources for this story declined to give the names of other individuals theyre working with. Colorado and Aurora became a focus of Trumps plan for mass deportations as he campaigned for reelection last year, including during a rally in Aurora in October. Local and federal authorities in recent months have undertaken several operations against immigrants on the Front Range. They include the September arrests of four men in connection with a shooting at an apartment on Nome Street in Aurora, a raid on a makeshift nightclub in Adams County in January, a coordinated set of operations at residences in Denver and Aurora in February, and a raid on a makeshift nightclub in Colorado Springs last month. At least some of the detainees sent from Colorado to CECOT were rounded up during these actions, Piper said, adding, Not a single person was convicted of a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump administration officials often allege that some detainees in Colorado and elsewhere have ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Its really important to understand that those ties have not been proven in any way, Piper said. They havent been able to provide any proof of that in any of the court documents where theyre being sued. Some of the removed immigrants faced criminal charges, but they were local, not federal, charges, often filed well after the individuals were initially detained, Piper said. No one gets to go to their final court date to argue their case before removal, Piper said. Some detainees didnt even face local charges and were removed to El Salvador because federal officials said, Oh, we didnt like your tattoo, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lunn has appeared as a friend of the court during hearings for some of the Colorado detainees believed to be at CECOT. Government attorneys have never acknowledged the detainees were sent to El Salvador, she said. Ive been doing detained work for people in immigration proceedings now for about 15 years. It is unprecedented for somebodys case to be docketed and for ICE to show up to court and say, We dont know where this person is, and were not at liberty to tell you where they might be,' Lunn said. The cases are devoid of typical due process and documentation. It would be one thing if there was like a legal basis that the government could point to as to why somebody was placed on one of those planes, but because they provided them no prior notice, because people were taken without the opportunity to review any allegations against them, that means that there really is no paper trail of what allegations existed, Lunn said. We dont even know what the government supposedly alleged in order to invoke the (Alien Enemies Act) against people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She rejects the term deportation to describe these cases. Its not a deportation, because they dont have a deportation order, Lunn said. Its lawlessness People were disappeared. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver issued a preliminary injunction that indefinitely blocks the Trump administration from removing detainees in Colorado under the Alien Enemies Act while the case is pending. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 'The Big Picture' season 5, episode 3: 'Hello, Hong Kong' People's Daily Online) 13:12, May 23, 2025 The fifth season of "The Big Picture" takes viewers to the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Filming in cities like Haikou, Sanya, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Hong Kong, the series interviews local government officials, economists and business representatives to showcase the vibrant economic development and open trade policies of China's southern coastal regions. This exciting third episode of "The Big Picture" examines the evolving trade landscape between China and Australia. It delves into Hong Kongs pivotal role as a financial gateway to the Chinese mainland. It features remarkable insights from influential Chinese business leaders who reveal the surprising opportunities available to corporate Australia in China amid fierce global competition. "The Big Picture" is a financial documentary series produced by People's Daily Online Australia, focusing on cooperation and development between China and Australia in the fields of economics, science, research, education and business. The program aims to promote understanding and cooperation between the two countries through in-depth reporting and on-site investigations. The fifth season of "The Big Picture" is broadcast on the global news platform Ticker News and People's Daily Online. This program was produced by People's Daily Online Australia in collaboration with Sticky Toffee Media. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming) By Yurii Kovalenko and Herbert Villarraga KYIV (Reuters) - Russia launched dozens of drones and ballistic missiles at Kyiv overnight in one of the biggest combined aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital of the three-year war, damaging several apartment buildings and injuring 15 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a social media post it had been a "tough night" for Ukraine, and called for new international sanctions to pressure Moscow into agreeing to a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early hours of the morning, Reuters witnesses saw and heard successive waves of drones flying over Kyiv, and a series of explosions jolted the city. The capital also reverberated with the sound of anti-aircraft batteries trying to bring down the drones. Pictures from Reuters photographers showed an orange-red glow lighting up the city as plumes of smoke blew across the horizon. On the top floor of one apartment building, smoke and flames billowed out of a balcony window as firefighters tried to approach. By daybreak, government officials reported damage in six districts of the Ukrainian capital, and a total so far of 15 people wounded. Three required hospitalisation. Two of the injured were children, the officials said. The Kyiv city military administration described it as one of the most massive combined drone and missile attacks of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks come as U.S. President Donald Trump is encouraging Russia and Ukraine to sit down for ceasefire talks to end the war, but has pushed back against a European plan to impose new sanctions on Russia. Halyna Tatarchuk, a 63-year-old pensioner, was in her apartment when a drone hit the building. She and her husband were in the corridor, away from the windows. "That saved us," she said. She fled to a bomb shelter at a nearby school, then at daylight returned to inspect the damage. All the windows of her apartment were smashed, and the floor was covered in fragments of glass. "I'd like Trump to see this," she said, standing in her kitchen. "What's he doing? Can he really not see this? ...It's the destruction of a people, they are just destroying us," she said, referring to the Russian military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the street below her third-floor windows, trees had been splintered by the blast and car windows were smashed. Municipal workers were using a mini-excavator to clear up debris from the ground. CEASEFIRE TALKS Ukraine's air force said that Russia had fired 14 ballistic missiles at targets across Ukraine overnight and launched 250 long-range drones, with Kyiv the main target. The strikes followed several days of Ukrainian drone strikes - some 800 attacks - on targets inside Russia, including the capital Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had vowed on Friday to respond to those attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours before the drones and missiles reached Kyiv, Russia and Ukraine had exchanged several hundred prisoners, in a move that Trump suggested could be a prelude to progress on peace talks. Russian negotiators said they were preparing a memorandum that would serve as the starting point for the next round of peace talks. No date or venue has been agreed. "Russia still has not sent its 'peace memorandum.' Instead, it is sending deadly drones and missiles at civilians," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote in a post on the Telegram social media platform. In his own post on Telegram, Zelenskiy said the Russian attacks were evidence to the rest of the world that Russia is the obstacle to peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Only additional sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy will force Moscow to agree to a ceasefire." There was no immediate comment from Russia on the overnight attacks. Russia has said it is committed to seeking a peaceful settlement to the conflict. But it says Kyiv needs to accept the reality that Russia controls part of its territory, and it must not be used as a bridgehead for Western states to threaten Russia. On Saturday, Russia's Defence Ministry said its troops had captured the settlements of Stupochki, Otradne and Loknia in Ukraine's Donetsk and Sumy regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report. (Reporting by Gleb Garanich, Serhiy Karazy, Thomas Peter and Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Ron Popeski and Christian Lowe; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for the publics help in identifying and locating four suspects involved in a violent robbery and shooting late last month. The April 28 incident, according to an LAPD news release, began just after midnight when the male victim met up with a female he had connected with on a popular dating site in a remote area in the 100 block of South Occidental Boulevard near Beverly Boulevard. Moments after the victim met with the female suspect, described as a Black adult female between the ages of 17 and 25, wearing a brown shirt and gray sweatpants, two additional suspects, a male and female, arrived in a black newer model Dodge Charger or Challenger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The male suspect opened the victims unlocked vehicle and pointed a firearm at him and demanded his property, investigators said. The two suspects then ransacked the vehicle, took property and forced the victim to unlock his cellphone and provide the lock code. Suspects wanted in connection with a violent ambush and robbery of a man who met up with a woman from a dating site on April 28, 2025. (LAPD) Suspect wanted in connection with a violent ambush and robbery of a man who met up with a woman from a dating site on April 28, 2025. (LAPD) Suspect wanted in connection with a violent ambush and robbery of a man who met up with a woman from a dating site on April 28, 2025. (LAPD) Suspect wanted in connection with a violent ambush and robbery of a man who met up with a woman from a dating site on April 28, 2025. (LAPD) While still seated in his vehicle, the male suspect, described as a bearded Black male adult between the ages of 20 and 30, wearing brown overalls, a blue t-shirt and black shoes, fired a round toward the victim. Fearing for his safety, the victim fled the scene, leaving his car behind, police said. Nearly three hours later, just before 3 a.m., investigators said the suspects returned to the area and stole the mans vehicle, using it throughout the early morning hours while making several unauthorized purchases and wire transfers from the victims phone, ultimately getting away with $20,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man, 31, in U.S. legally for 12 years ripped from family, detained by ICE The additional female suspect involved in the robbery is described as a Hispanic woman between the ages of 17 and 25, also wearing a brown shirt and gray sweatpants. A fourth suspect, who was presumably involved in the robbery after the initial incident, was described as a Hispanic male between the ages of 20 and 30, with a beard and man-bun who was wearing a white t-shirt, red pants and white shoes. Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD Rampart Gang Detective at 213-484-3651 or Rampart Area Detective Desk at 213-484-3450. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Millions of people in Lagos live in slums. Slums typically have poor housing infrastructure and sanitation, and limited access to education, health facilities and clean drinking water. These challenges make the people who live in slums vulnerable to health crises, high illiteracy rates and poor standards of living. A central element of the city authorities efforts to address the issue has been to evict people. Over the past decade, more than 50,000 people have been evicted from their homes in Lagos slums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a development economist who has carried out studies on urban poverty in Lagos State and social exclusion of slum dwellers from full communal participation, I have observed some notable patterns. Despite their efforts to contribute to national productivity, these low-income communities are often marginalised and denied access to basic public amenities and a dignified living environment. Instead of addressing their needs, policy and development priorities tend to focus on displacing them. Thereafter, provisions are made for affluent groups, replacing informal settlements with high-rise buildings. Sadly, survivors of forced eviction usually move to other slum communities as they cannot afford the high cost of living in the city. This shows that forced eviction is not a solution to slum proliferation. I argue that if Lagos wants to solve the problems faced by the citys vast population of slum dwellers, it should focus on six things. These are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement community-led regeneration processes communal engagement upgrading communities without displacement obeying court orders inclusivity in regeneration adequate compensation to the displaced. This would help restore trust that the city has all its peoples interests at heart, not just those of the super rich. Forced evictions are seen as benefiting the rich In March 2025, a demolition exercise was carried out in the Otumara slum, displacing over 10,000 residents at short notice. Despite a 2017 Lagos State High Court ruling which condemned forced evictions carried out without due consultation, they have continued. Known cases are the Otodo-Gbame waterfront eviction (shortly before the court ruling), where over 30,000 residents were displaced, Ilubirin waterfront community, Orisunmibare in Apapa, Otto communities, Ayetoro, and Oko Baba communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mid-April 2025, the Lagos State government revealed plans to regenerate the Otumara slum. Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (Lasura) then met with community leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how it would be done. That step should have been taken before the demolition. The idea behind the meeting was to ensure inclusiveness and reduce any challenge to the project. Lasura assured the community representatives of a fair hearing throughout the implementation process. They were told the benefits of the regeneration would extend to the entire community. As a development economist who has carried out a number of studies on urban vulnerability and inclusion, Ive found that slum dwellers dont always trust the government. This lack of trust stems from experiences other slum dwellers have had. Urban regeneration does not always favour slum dwellers. So government interventions are not seen as a genuine effort to improve their living conditions, but as a mechanism to displace them to make way for the elite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, Maroko slum residents were forcefully evicted under the guise of improving infrastructural amenities and because the area was below sea level. Now the Oniru Estate, Lekki Phase 1 and other notable residential and commercial buildings are located there. Luxury apartments on the Lagos lagoon have replaced the former Ilubirin waterfront slum. Lekki foreshore development continues at the former Otodo-Gbame waterfront community. Survivors of forced eviction usually move to other slum communities as they cant afford to live in the city. The attainment of Lagos as a fair shared city has been proposed by the Fabulous Urban Foundation in partnership with Heinrich Boll Foundation. These organisations advocate urban inclusiveness and community-driven initiatives. They envision Lagos as an inclusive place where everyone (irrespective of social class or status) has equitable access to amenities and decision-making processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pattern of forced displacement under the guise of urban regeneration, without adequate compensation or resettlement, contradicts the principle of fairness. Development plans in Lagos follow western ideas and keep widening the gap between the rich and the poor, as amenities are often developed to be accessible by the middle and upper classes. Specifically, the Lagos State Development Plan (LSDP 2052) contains many lofty ideas and opportunities to make Lagos Africas Model Mega City. But its not clear how the citys multidimensionally poor population fits into the plan. Solutions To include residents of slums marked for regeneration, a more proactive approach would be: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continuous communal engagement, to reaffirm that government and other stakeholders are committed to including all residents. Community-led redesign and regeneration processes. Slum conditions are deplorable and dehumanising, but evicting residents to make way for the high class is unacceptable. The redesign should aim to favour the community. Abiding by court rulings which warn against forced eviction. Lagos courts have often ruled against forced evictions, especially when carried out without due process or resettlement arrangements. The Lagos State government ought to uphold human rights by ceasing all forced eviction procedures, as they are unlawful. Upgrading instead of displacement. Regeneration within existing settlements should be encouraged where feasible, so that livelihoods and social cohesion are not disrupted. Regeneration should include all income groups. It should not only focus on physical infrastructure, but also social and economic issues. It would make affordable housing and basic amenities available for all income groups. Adequate compensation. Where relocation cannot be avoided, a resettlement plan must be in place that will ensure fair treatment and avoid disruption to livelihood. 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: Oluwaseyi Omowunmi Popogbe, Crawford University Read more: Oluwaseyi Omowunmi Popogbe does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a man was arrested in Lake County on Wednesday on five charges of possessing child sexual abuse material. Elmer Bautista, a 22-year-old from Leesburg, was arrested as part of FDLEs statewide effort to identify and apprehend individuals who exploit children and distribute images of child sexual abuse. He is being held without bond pending his first appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2024, the FDLE launched an investigation into Bautista after law enforcement got a tip regarding someone uploading digital files that showed the sexual abuse of children to a Snapchat account. The investigation determined that Bautista is both the owner of the email address linked to the account and the account holder. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement obtained an arrest warrant and the Lake County Sheriffs Office executed the arrest of Mr. Bautista. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. TOPEKA (KSNT) State health officials say a local lake is free of harmful algae ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported on Friday, May 23 that Lake Shawnee is clear of blue-green algae. This means the lake is safe for people to enjoy without having to worry about coming into contact with the algae. Health officials declared that Lake Shawnee was at warning status for blue-green algae on May 9. Lakes at the warning level are considered dangerous to enter for people, pets and livestock. Algae in the water can cause harmful skin rashes, sickness and other negative effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big changes coming to Topekas airports Officials with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation expressed worries earlier in the week that Lake Shawnees Adventure Cove would be unable to open for Memorial Day weekend due to the algae danger. You can learn more about what Adventure Cove has to offer by clicking 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. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Gov. Ned Lamont is shining a light on education, urging lawmakers to expand opportunities for high school students to earn college credit. Arrests made at state Capitol rally for increased education funding The governor held a press conference Thursday, talking about his proposal that would expand dual enrollment programs, allowing students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gives you a little peek into the future a little bit, you get to knock on that door, see what that college level course is like, Lamont said. Were trying to make sure that school addresses where you are. The governors proposal would establish a universal statewide standard on dual enrollment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Leaders in Lancaster County are scrambling to come up with the millions needed to widen Highway 521 from four lanes to six. They want to widen the seven-mile stretch from the North Carolina border to Waxhaw Highway. Channel 9s Tina Terry learned they are now facing a deadline of around three weeks to apply for a grant from the state. It would provide millions towards widening the highway. ALSO READ: NC Highway 3 widening project nearing four years with no end in sight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business owner Cole Hagerhorst said he is preparing to open up a new soda shop off Highway 521 in Indian Land. He said he came to the area to be a part of the new development. It makes me really excited. Thats one of the reasons we wanted to come here. We knew the target was coming, and we heard Costco. So that makes us really excited, said Hagerhorst. He went on to say he supports the efforts to widen the roadway. Ive seen it get bogged down at different parts of the day. So it would be nice to get more people down to us, said Hagerhorst. After a proposed transportation tax on Novembers ballot failed, Lancaster County leaders are turning to grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank is offering up millions in grant dollars to rural areas in need. Theyre committing $250 million, and the grand stipulations are you cant apply for more than $50 million, said County Administrator Dennis Marstall. Marstall said they will be able to apply for around $40 million, but the total cost of the widening project is around $125 million. County leaders will then have to decide whether to go back to voters to pay the rest. Councils will have the conversation on June 9 and ask if they want to go back to voters. And ask if they want to put a 1% sales tax on the ballot in November. But in the interim, trying to find these other sources, Marstall explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marstall said Lancaster County Council could also wait until November 2026 to put that tax question on the ballot. Either way, he said the school district and county council have decided not to put two referendum questions on the ballot at the same time. VIDEO: NC Highway 3 widening project nearing four years with no end in sight LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Lancaster County woman will spend five to ten years in prison after she pleaded guilty to a string of robberies authorities say she committed with her husband. Emily Brown, 39, of Marietta, was sentenced this week in Lancaster County Court, the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office said. Emily and her husband Michael robbed three convenience stores in Lancaster County in an 11-hour period on Nov. 26, 2023, the district attorneys office said. Michael Brown pleaded guilty last February and was also sentenced to five to ten years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs office said Michael drove Emily to stores in East Donegal Township, West Hempfield Township, and Columbia Borough where shed demand money from an employee, claiming to have a gun. Get daily news, weather, breaking news and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here The incidents were caught on surveillance camera and Emily admitted to the robberies, authorities 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 ABC27. LANCASTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A man was and charged with murder following what authorities are calling an hours-long violent rampage that included the shooting death of a Lancaster business owner. According to the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded just before 6 p.m. May 21 to a home on Memorial Park Road. The suspect, 52-year-old Roger Ledell Baskins had been temporality living there with family members. NC man killed attempting to cross road at busy Rock Hill intersection Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies say an argument occurred between Baskins and family members, and Baskins reportedly pulled out a pistol, threatening a family member with it before firing several shots into another family members car. According to the sheriffs office, he then used a car battery to smash windows out of the car he shot and a car belonging to a third family member. No one was injured during this incident. Baskins left the scene on foot, and officers with the Lancaster Police Department found him in a yard on North Willow Lake Road, where he was captured after a chase. Witnesses reported that he drove to that location in a 1997 Toyota 4-Runner, which was also on scene. Officers determined the vehicle is owned by a 65-year-old from Rock Hill. Officers with the Rock Hill Police Department contacted the mans wife, who told them he operates a business on Memorial Park Road, near where the family disturbance occurred. Sheriffs deputies checked the business and reportedly found the man, later identified as Charles Wilburn Presler, dead from an apparent gunshot wound. He also appeared to be robbed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Baskins was detained, deputies say he was in possession of documents belonging to the victim, and a pistol was reportedly found in the 4-Runner. Investigators with the Lancaster County Multijurisdictional Violent Crime Task Force and sheriffs office crime scene investigators along with the coroner were summoned. Baskins was arrested and transported to the Lancaster County Detention Center. In connection with the homicide, Baskins is charged with: Armed robbery Second-degree burglary Grand Larceny ($2,000 $10,000) Three counts of Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Violent Crime Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Convicted of Certain Crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In connection with the domestic disturbance, Baskins is charged with: Pointing and Presenting a Firearm (two counts) Breach of Peace of a High and Aggravated Nature Malicious Injury to Personal Property valued at $2,000-$10,000 Malicious Injury to Personal Property valued under $2,000. Bond was denied by a magistrate Thursday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. [Watch in the player above: What to do if you witness a crash] LORAIN, Ohio (WJW) An intersection in Lorain was closed Thursday for a large accident, Lorain police said. Police just after 6 p.m. on Thursday reported the closure at Leavitt and Meister roads. Thats crazy: Struggling CMSD sent kids to Disney World, I-Team learns The intersection was expected to remain closed while the crash is investigated, the notice from police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a later update, Lorain police said the roadway reopened. Cutting through claims about possible Browns move to dome: I-Team FOX 8 News has reached out to police for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of SCO Countries held in Urumqi, NW China's Xinjiang People's Daily Online) 13:42, May 23, 2025 The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of SCO Countries, with the theme of "Building a Better Home Together for a Prosperous Future," was held in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on May 23, 2025. The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of SCO Countries is held in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on May 23, 2025. (People's Daily/Zhang Wujun) Over 300 representatives from mainstream media outlets, government departments, academic institutions, and enterprises from 26 SCO member states, observer states, and dialogue partners gathered to discuss cooperation. Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the SCO, attended the forum. Participants noted that since its establishment in 2001, the SCO has upheld the "Shanghai Spirit," which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development. The organization has firmly supported safeguarding the core interests and major concerns of its members, making them become a trustworthy partner to one another in their paths to development and revitalization. Upholding the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, the SCO has deepened political mutual trust among its members, achieved fruitful economic integration, made remarkable progress in security cooperation, and fostered vibrant cultural exchanges. Photo shows attendees of the forum. (People's Daily/Zhang Kaifeng) Participants said that media organizations in SCO countries should adopt a global perspective to grasp the transformations in the media industry, decode opportunities for integrated development with forward-thinking, and take pragmatic actions to jointly shoulder media responsibilities. By providing truthful, objective, and fair reporting, they should elucidate the purpose and significance of cooperation among SCO countries, fostering a conducive public opinion environment for the organization's growth. They should also extensively cover the achievements of SCO cooperation, promote the "Shanghai Spirit," consolidate development consensus, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship among the peoples of SCO countries. Media should contribute their strength to maintaining regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and jointly advance the building of an SCO community with a shared future. Photo shows attendees of the forum. (People's Daily/Zhang Kaifeng) The forum was co-hosted by People's Daily and the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It featured an opening ceremony, a media dialogue session, and a launch ceremony for a youth cultural exchange program. During the opening ceremony, a report titled "Common Home: Public Opinion on the Development Visions in SCO Member States" was released. The media dialogue session included a presentation on short video sharing and dissemination initiatives among media organizations of SCO countries. Representatives from Chinese and foreign media organizations will conduct research and interviews in Xinjiang after the forum. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The NATO Village is fully in place as the Parliamentary Assembly begins meaning a large section of downtown is inaccessible to those without security access. Several roads are closed off to encompass the security zone, with a heavy law enforcement presence in the vicinity along with barricades and metal fences. Downtown road closures, security measures announced for NATO 2025 Impacted roads include parts of East Monument Avenue, North Jefferson Street, West First Street, North Ludlow Street and West Third Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roads will be closed until the NATO Assembly ends on Monday, May 26. Local law enforcement is stressing safety throughout the weekend. Officials are encouraging residents to pay attention when driving through areas with blockades as well as being aware of pedestrian traffic. Dayton leaders are anticipating many visitors on foot who will be walking near these roads from Thursday through Monday, so it is important to watch out for those people in those areas closest to the perimeter of the NATO Village. When driving through the area at night, police are still asking for you to drive with caution and be aware of any overnight work that may be happening in the security zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These barricades will stay up throughout the night in the NATO Village, so people will be unable to pass through overnight without the proper NATO clearance. Officials expect the downtown area to be cleared and back to normal by next Wednesday, May 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexico leaders, law enforcement officials, and loved ones gathered to honor the sacrifice of officers who lost their lives to the job. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday mornings ceremony paid tribute to two heroes: Las Cruces Police Officer Jonah Hernandez, who was killed in a knife attack by a man who was later shot and killed, and New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, who was killed by Jaremy Smith in Tucumcari. Justin didnt meet someone in need that day, he met a killer. And his final words were an offer of help, said New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Wiesler. The names of Hare, and Las Cruces police officer Jonah Hernandez, inscribed alongside 200 other officers across the state who kwere illed in the line of duty. Jonah chose a life of service. Like Justin, he ran toward the danger, not away from it, and like Justin, he paid the ultimate price for his courage, continued Chief Wiesler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I remember when Justin was in the academy and they took us through here and showed us the wall. We both looked at Justin and told him, Dont you ever let us see your name on this wall,' Terry and James Hare. The display of community and remembrance sparked emotions for Hares family, who have struggled to carry on after losing their only son, Well, everybody says it gets easier, but it really doesnt. It gets different. Its different, but its not easy, shared James Hare. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Years after a man was shot and killed as Las Vegas Metro police served a search warrant, the attorney representing the mans family said hes uncovered further proof in a wrongful death lawsuit. 19-year-old Isaiah Williams was shot and killed during a search warrant on January 10, 2022. Metro continues to conceal two internal reports, attorney Adam Breeden told 8 News Now. I cannot release those actual documents to the public, but I can discuss their contents now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wrongful death lawsuit claims Las Vegas Metro police violated 19-year-olds civil rights, resulting in his death Years after a man was shot and killed during a search warrant by Las Vegas Metro police and SWAT team officers, Adam Breeden, the attorney representing the mans family, said hes uncovered further proof in a wrongful death lawsuit. (KLAS) Among his findings was an internal Metro investigation that determined more than 20 failures of internal policy, state law, or federal constitutional requirements. Breeden said one of his largest discoveries was the use of C.E.T., which stands for controlled entry tactic, a military-like move to forcefully enter residences. Metro, after this incident, reviewed its own policies and determined that this tactic is unconstitutional when serving an ordinary warrant like they were that day, he said. Use of force review: Police clearly announced presence before 2022 shooting death of Isaiah Williams Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Metros report, officers waited six seconds before entering the apartment. The teen, who did not live in the northeast Las Vegas apartment, was sleeping on the couch. He believed officers were intruders and shot at them, and was met with return fire. Williams was not a suspect. According to the attorney, within the last six months, three suspects have been charged for the intended, initial warrant. One person was identified by police as Wattsel Rembert IV, who was wanted in the investigation of a Nov. 18, 2021, homicide. They believed Rembert was inside. Rembert, 24, was arrested four days later, but charges were dropped in February 2022. The family is now demanding accountability, as well as at least $1 million. Breeden said the mother, who is a former police officer and is currently deployed with the U.S. Army, remains devastated. Many of the officers have been promoted since this incident, he said. Were fighting for justice, were fighting to make police accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court will hear motions for judgment in a few months. 8 News Now reached out to Metro police for a statement. They said they do not provide comments on pending litigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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) A man killed his roommate and then stored the victims body in a large container, leading to the gruesome discovery and then the killers own death, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Joseph Del Rivo, 63, killed Matthew Kelemen, 56, sometime around May 16, documents said. Several sources identified Kelemen as a freelance journalist who wrote for Las Vegas Magazine. Nearly a week after the murder, on Tuesday, May 20, Las Vegas Metro police discovered Kelemens remains after getting a report of the smell near a business on North 3rd Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A person called police that morning, saying a box dropped off on May 16 had a foul odor coming from it. Police cut off the boxs lock, finding Kelemens body wrapped in a tarp. A press release matching the date of the crash and age of the victim said that the driver sped off from a trooper at 140 miles an hour on Interstate 70. (SCSO/KLAS) The business stores bags and luggage through a mobile app. On Tuesday afternoon, Del Rivo died in a high-speed chase in Utah. A press release matching the date of the crash and age of the victim said that the driver sped off from a trooper at 140 miles an hour on Interstate 70. After several miles, the driver lost control and was ejected from the vehicle. Media representatives from the coroners office did not immediately release Kelemens name or his cause or manner of death, as they do not work Fridays. Police documents indicate detectives suspect Kelemen likely died of blunt force trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelemens work appeared in publications such as The Daily Beast, Las Vegas Sun and Las Vegas Weekly, according to his Muck Rack profile. His most recent article, published after his death, was a review of Janet Jacksons residency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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) A federal judge in Nevada sentenced a man to prison Thursday who extorted and threatened Instagram users and influencers. Idriss Qibaa, 28, pleaded guilty in February to charges including extortion, money laundering and stalking, records said. In federal court Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Qibaa to prison time, plus three years supervised release, a $75,000 fine and $200,000 in restitution. The FBI arrested Qibaa last summer, saying that he extorted and threatened customers and Instagram influencers as part of an online business to block and unlock social media accounts. Qibaa ran the website Unlocked4life.com and uses the names Dani and Unlocked, documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qibaa outlined an extortion scheme during a podcast in 2024, where he also said he made more than $600,000 a month through his website, the FBI said after his arrest. During the No Jumper podcast, Qibaa described locking victims and then charging the victims to unlock the account, documents said. Qibaa later threatened to injure and kill a victims family, prosecutors said. Unlocked4life.com, which state records said was based in Henderson, advertised it could ban or unban social media accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram and TikTok, investigators said. Qibaa also offered a service to purchase digital tracking and personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark County prosecutors have charged a middle school campus security monitor with unlawful contact with a child. Hector Asaf Salazar appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Wednesday. According to court documents, Salazar worked at Silvestri Junior High School. Detectives with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said he touched young girls and made them feel uncomfortable in March. The three victims were reportedly 13, 12, and 11 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salazar reportedly had sexual conversations with the victims and called them freaks. Salazar had been accused last year, but an investigation by the Clark County School District Police Department determined the allegation was unsubstantiated, according to court documents. CCSD told 8 News Now in an email Salazar has been assigned to home per the terms of the agreement with the bargaining unit since March. Salazar has a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A local nonprofit is working with those displaced by a storm drainage project that is pushing them out of the tunnels they use for shelter. HELP of Southern Nevada is a nonprofit working with Clark County to assist people experiencing homelessness throughout our area. HELPs outreach director Louis Lacey said crews work face-to-face with people experiencing homelessness seven days a week. He said theyve already seen success with assisting people from the wash project, for example, a woman who said she was tired of battling addiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yesterday we found her and shes like, Im ready, Lacey said. She literally reached in her pocket and said, Here is my bag of drugs, and were like, Awesome, can you throw those away? and she threw her drugs away, and she got in the vehicle, and we took her to Crossroads. On Thursday morning, Laceys crew got to work fast. Within the span of two hours, they handed out water, Narcan, and got a woman off the streets and into a hotel. As they arrived on scene, the woman recognized HELPs crew from an earlier visit. We could get you to a place that you could lay your head and take a shower and go to work, Lacey said to her. How long do you think you need? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman said she recently started a new job, but doesnt have enough money saved for her own place. HELP staff loaded her belongings into a car and brought her to a downtown Las Vegas hotel. Lacey explained to her that HELP will stick with her, walking her through the process of getting her own housing and navigating support services. He said this is what happens when someone accepts help quickly. In other cases, it can take repeated tries, but they dont give up. Lacey was homeless decades ago and is dedicated to offering others the assistance he was once given. We dont know how often its going to take for us to come to get and meet with somebody, to get them to go, ok, Im ready to accept help, Lacey said. For some people, it may be one time, for other people it may be multiple times, right, and for some people, unfortunately, they may choose to never accept help. But, were going to reach out to all the individuals that we can, and were going to try to get as many as we can off the streets and into some kind of housing situation. You can request HELP crews to come to any area through their support portal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. "Forever chemicals," or synthetic compounds that have been linked to cancer and other health problems, have now been found in beer Researchers with the American Chemical Society found in a new study that beer brewed in regions of the U.S. with forever chemicals in their tap water had the highest concentration of such chemicals "I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours," research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon said The synthetic compounds known as "forever chemicals" that have been linked to cancer and other health problems have been found in a popular beverage and researchers believe these compounds make their way in through drinking water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new study from the American Chemical Society published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has found forever chemicals, or PFAS, have been found in beers from several regions around the U.S. According to a press release from researchers, it was previously proven that forever chemicals are present in hundreds of tap water systems around the country. This new study found that "beers produced in parts of the country with known PFAS-contaminated water sources showed the highest levels of forever chemicals." Research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon said in the release, "As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints." Getty A stock image of two pints of beer A stock image of two pints of beer Beer is made of about 90% water, and the rest is malt from grains such as barley, hops and yeast. The study found that almost two gallons of water are sometimes used to produce just one quart of beer. Although breweries usually have a water filtration system in place their tap water, "they are not necessarily effective at removing [forever chemicals]," and during production, tap water can potentially introduce "contaminants." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To conduct the study, Hoponick Redmon and her colleagues tested 23 beers, some produced by "U.S. brewers in areas with documented water system contamination, plus popular domestic and international beers from larger companies with unknown water sources." 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. Forever chemicals were found in 95% of the beers they tested. The Environmental Protection Agency recently updated regulations for such chemicals including perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) when they extended deadlines to reduce the amount of PFOS and PFOA in Americans' tap water earlier this month. Although the study didn't name specific brands of beer, researchers found that beers brewed near Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina had the highest levels and largest mix of forever chemicals. Beer from St. Louis County, Mo. also had large amounts of PFAS present. The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! According to Hoponick Redmon, this strong correlation between forever chemicals in tap water and locally-brewed beer has not yet been studied in U.S. retail beer. Researchers now hope that this data can spread awareness to beer companies, and that regulators will step in and try to limit consumers' exposure to forever chemicals. The study also highlights the "possible need for water treatment upgrades at brewing facilities," as well as updates to tap water treatment centers. "I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours," Hoponick Redmon added. Read the original article on People Lauren Sanchez has found herself at the center of controversy for delivering a climate change message weeks after participating in a historic trip to space. In an Instagram video, the philanthropist spoke about her fiance's Earth Fund, which is sponsoring a number of "visionary teams" with grants to support their AI-related, climate change, "game-changing" ideas. However, critics were quick to call the post hypocritical, pointing out that Lauren Sanchez had recently engaged in a number of flights that left a sizable carbon footprint. Lauren Sanchez Talks About How Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund Is 'Tackling Climate Change' MEGA Ahead of her exclusive night out in Venice, Lauren Sanchez garnered the ire of netizens after being spotted promoting climate change in a prerecorded video shared on Instagram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the clip, Sanchez talked about the Bezos Earth Fund "tackling climate change" to "create a future where our planet thrives without compromise." She also revealed that the foundation, which was launched in 2020, has selected the first round of grantees for the Bezos Earth Fund's AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge. "Over the next eight weeks, these visionary teams will level up their game-changing ideas, making them ready to change real-world problems head-on," the soon-to-be wife said in the video. Those who emerge victorious after the eight weeks are up will then be handed a mouthwatering prize to pursue their ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And then, up to 15 standout finalists will receive up to $2 million each to bring those bold solutions to life, so stay tuned," Sanchez added. Netizens Called Out The Journalist Over Her 'Hypocrisy' After The Blue Origin Spaceflight In the post's comment section, a netizen claimed that Sanchez's message was hypocritical, given that she has been flying around in recent weeks. The journalist was one of six famous women who served as crew members on Blue Origin's recent trip to space and subsequently jetted off to Paris for her bachelorette party. She was also recently spotted with her fiance on his $500 million superyacht, coasting across the sea. "Lol, save the planet, but I'll be on a jet flying all over the world and in space with my friends. Yeah, right, no footprint here," a user commented under Sanchez's post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Traveling in a super yacht polluting the sea like hell, going to space for fun 11 minutes and polluting more than 1 person in a year..... definitely not an example," a second individual remarked. "Doesn't walk the talk with the jet fuel burning hen parties that could have been on Zoom," a third fellow wrote. "Girl bye. You went to space for a minute polluting the earth with tonsssss of Co2 for your own pleasure," Another annoyed person noted. Jeff Bezos And Lauren Sanchez's Wedding Is Expected To Spike Their Carbon Footprint MEGA Interestingly, even more carbon emissions are expected in June from Sanchez and her fiance, Bezos, when they tie the knot in Venice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have invited around 200 guests, including top Hollywood celebrities, many of whom will have to fly in from different parts of the world. Bezos' yacht, Koru, will also play a part in the celebration, which will likely add even more to the total carbon footprint. Back in 2023, reports revealed that the luxury superyacht releases about 7,154 tons of greenhouse gases every year, a number that is 447 times more than what an average American produces within the same period. In what appears to be an effort to counterbalance the environmental impact, the billionaire has been paying for carbon offsets. These initiatives support environmental projects that help cut down greenhouse gases in the air The Couple Is 'Madly In Love,' Says Source MEGA Meanwhile, ahead of the nuptials, a source has confirmed that the soon-to-be couple are truly into each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're like two kids in their relationship; they are madly in love and have endless fun with each other," the insider said, per the Daily Mail. "Whether it is watching movies, hanging out on their yacht, having dinners, being with family and friends, it is an endless array of good times. Getting married can't happen soon enough," the source added about the lovebirds. Speaking further about their bond, the insider revealed that Sanchez always hypes her man as "perfect" to her friends. "They genuinely like each other," the insider continued. "They know what they have in life and are enjoying it to the fullest. They are each other's lottery ticket." Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Have Chosen An Unusual Venue For Their Nuptials MEGA While it is already known that Bezos and Sanchez would be having their nuptials in Venice, it reportedly won't be at any of the churches in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the couple is said to have picked a theater at an undisclosed location in the city to host the 200 guests they have invited. "The word is that they have booked the theater, which has been restored," a source told The U.S. Sun. "It's not your usual venue for a wedding; it would be iconic." They added, "Everyone is talking about the wedding, and it's going to be a huge celebration." According to the outlet, the venue has already blocked out dates for two weeks in June, including the days around June 24 and 26, when Sanchez and Bezos are expected to get married. It's also said that the place can be reached by water, giving guests a quieter, more private way to arrive. Officials charged with keeping Tampa Bay area schools secure say Floridas newest school safety law revisions will ease a strain that last years version inadvertently imposed on campuses across the state. The update, signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will give schools more flexibility in which doors and gates they must keep locked, and when. School officials raised concerns about the 2024 requirements even before they became law, saying the wording forced them to keep all access and entry points either staffed or locked even when it made no sense. The intent was one way, but the way the law was written didnt offer the flexibility that lawmakers thought it did, said Mike Baumaister, chief security officer for Pasco County schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools struggled with issues such as needing to keep parking lot gates secured despite being far from the main campus entrance. They faced complaints from parents who came to watch after-school events and could not get to the activities because the doors were locked and no one was available to let them in. In some instances, students found themselves locked out of classroom buildings as they moved across campus for things like going to the media center or school office. We have to keep safety paramount, Baumaister said. But we also have to create a learning environment. Several school boards made changing the law a priority for the spring legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They listened to us, said John Newman, chief security officer for Hillsborough County schools. The law (SB 1470) includes several provisions, including expansion of the school guardian program to include child care centers and creation of a centralized panic alert system. The issue that school districts most keenly watched, though, related to the rules on doors and gates. First, the Legislature redefined the time during which the law will apply to 30 minutes before classes begin up until 30 minutes after classes end. The previous version was in place whenever students were on campus, regardless of whether it was what the law called normal school hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools are open 20 hours a day. Youve got all sorts of activities going on, Newman noted. This change should allow schools to maintain security while also being reasonable as students and families participate in those activities, he said. The law also clarifies that the intent of keeping students and staff safe does not mean that every single door and gate must be locked all day long. It sets forth that the critical component is to have a locked down exterior perimeter that keeps the general public away from students and classes throughout the day, unless expressly let in. Within the secure exclusive zone, though, some doors and gates may remain open to allow for a normal flow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want them to feel like theyre walking into a detention facility, Newman said. Schools need to make sure they know who is coming and going, Baumaister said. And nothing will change the practice of keeping classrooms locked during courses. But a thorough review of all the access points will allow school officials to better assess which ones should remain secured and which ones can be open without requiring an employee to stand guard. My goal is to let teachers who maybe had to monitor a gate or door between classes get that time back for planning, Baumaister said. In signing the legislation, DeSantis acknowledged the need to continually update school security efforts based on whats happening in real time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, we want to keep bad guys out, he said. But we also want to be practical. Education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. stressed that the motivation is not about pride or ego. Its about what works. Newman praised lawmakers and governor for their approach. This is the sixth year in a row the Legislature has really made school safety a primary focus, he said. When it comes to school safety ... just the fact that our Legislature makes mandates and provides funding for those is huge. We are so far ahead of other states. 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of SCO Countries brings opportunities: SCO official 15:14, May 23, 2025 By Wu Chaolan, Xu Zheng, Zhai Zhuanli ( People's Daily Online The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries is poised to open a new chapter in media collaboration among SCO member states, said Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, on May 22, 2025, one day before the forum's official opening in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "It can bring a lot of opportunities," he said. "It is very good opportunity to start a very substantial interaction and cooperation in the field of mass media, which is a very important part of any governance in the world." During the interview, he emphasized the pivotal role of media in fostering connectivity and mutual understanding across the SCO region. Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, accepted a media interview on May 22, 2025, one day before the official opening of the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of SCO Countries in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Xu Zheng) "Media is medium where people not only represent the societies, but also connect with them through the ideas, through mutual understanding, through more friendship, more public diplomacy, more interaction," he said, noting that role of media in embodying the "Shanghai Spirit." "It's a connective wire of ideas between various people living in the region as well which provides a base for future mutual understanding, which is an important element and value of our 'Shanghai Spirt,'" he said. Khan spoke highly of the role of this forum for bringing people and nations closer together. "(The) holding of this forum is very important because this is the first forum of media people of SCO countries," he said. "It is going to kick start a new process of bringing people closer to each other in the mass media." Referring to the forum's theme"Building a Better Home Together for a Prosperous Future"Khan stressed the importance of open and candid dialogue, noting that this vision can only be realized when all parties are willing to sit together and engage in straightforward, sincere conversations. Looking ahead, Khan expressed hope that the forum would lead to the establishment of an institutional mechanisma platform for regular meetings, at least annually or biennially. He also called for a joint cooperation framework or blueprint that would chart a roadmap for future collaboration among media entities in the region. "We should have a Shanghai Cooperation Organization media agency in the future where members from all the member countries can participate and can have regular interaction, regular sessions, regular exchange of views and work together so that we can have a joint understanding for the future," he said. "Through structured cooperation, we can create more mutual understanding and more affinity towards each other of the problems and issues," he said. As a frequent visitor to Xinjiang, Khan expressed his deep affection for the region. "I have visited Xinjiang many times, and it's always a great honor for me to be here back again," he said. Khan described Xinjiang as his "second home," praising the warm hospitality extended by the people and local government. He also highlighted Xinjiang's strategic importance, emphasizing its geographical role as a vital hub connecting Central Asia, Eurasia, South Asia, and the Middle East. "I think it's a very right time to hold such an important event in such an important place," he said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Illinois State House has passed a bill to require seat belts on new school buses. The senate bill says any school buses made after 2031 would be required to have seat belts that go over the lap and shoulders of all passengers. The bill doesnt require school district staff contractors or any entity in charge of school buses to make sure students are wearing seat belts. The bill only requires new buses to have them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Utah has passed legislation giving cryptocurrency mining operations unprecedented freedoms in a move that may harm the environment and raise utility costs for residents. The controversial HB230 bill establishes special rights for crypto companies with minimal local oversight, as John Weisheit, conservation director of Living Rivers-Colorado Riverkeeper, and Steve Erickson, board member at Great Basin Water Network, detailed for the Deseret News. What is HB230? HB230, officially titled "Blockchain and Digital Innovation Amendments," gives crypto mining companies the right to mine cryptocurrency, run blockchain nodes, and stake tokens with minimal interference or oversight in Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill shields these operations from local zoning laws, noise ordinances, and other regulations that normally govern businesses. It also waives requirements for digital operations to obtain money transmitter licenses, which typically involve financial audits. Why is HB230 concerning? This legislation prioritizes crypto industry profits over environmental protection and community well-being. Proof-of-work cryptomining already consumes up to 2.3% of the entire U.S. electricity supply, according to the Energy Information Administration, more than many countries use. For Utah residents, this could mean higher electricity bills, increased strain on the power grid, and more pollution. The bill creates special "opportunity zones" for crypto miners while offering no provisions for managing water usage, an oversight for a drought-prone state like Utah, where water conservation is important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Make no mistake this is not innovation," wrote Weisheit and Erickson. "It will harm every Utahn who pays a power bill, who cares about clean air and water, or who believes public money should serve the public good." How crypto mining affects communities and the environment Cryptocurrency mining's energy demands have a large pollution footprint. These operations run 24/7 while consuming electricity sourced mainly from dirty fuels although the industry has begun shifting toward cleaner energy sources. Despite these improvements, mining remains a highly energy-intensive process. Crypto mining facilities can consume as much water as 300,000 households yearly to prevent their machines from overheating, per Weisheit and Erickson. In a state like Utah that faces droughts, this water consumption pressures an already-strained resource. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noise pollution also impacts communities near mining operations. The constant sound of cooling fans has been compared to having a semitruck engine running outside your window constantly and this has led to lawsuits in some jurisdictions. Under HB230, local governments can't regulate this noise even when it disrupts residents' sleep and quality of life. What we can learn from other states Arkansas passed similar legislation last year with disastrous results. The state quickly faced widespread noise complaints and utility cost increases, forcing lawmakers to reconsider. Some co-sponsors even admitted they had been misled about the bill's impacts. "Lawmakers and the crypto industry are celebrating the passage of this bill as a bipartisan win that will position the state to lead," said Weisheit and Erickson. "But it's a corporate giveaway, plain and simple." The National Coalition Against Cryptomining is now working in 18 states to combat this trend of deregulation. They're building a bipartisan movement of people concerned about corporations that negatively affect quality of life and receive special treatment from lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can help by staying informed about crypto legislation in your area and contacting your representatives when similar bills are proposed. Supporting organizations fighting for appropriate regulation of this industry helps ensure our shared resources are not exploited at the public's expense. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Editors Note: A correction was made to reflect which patients would be eligible for the expanded Compassionate Use Program. AUSTIN (Nexstar) The Texas House of Representatives is set to ban hemp-derived products that can make a consumer feel high, closing a loophole on unregulated intoxicants but also creating concerns it will negatively impact Texans who rely on the products to treat their chronic pain. After hours of debate on the House floor Wednesday night, a bill to ban all consumable hemp products containing THC passed a key vote. Both sides of the aisle agreed the current state of unregulated THC products, the intoxicating compound in marijuana, needed to be fixed to protect children and users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, both sides seemed to differ on how to do that. A majority of Democrats supported regulation while a majority of Republicans supported prohibition. A lot of the debate centered around the states medical marijuana program, called the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP). State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, a Democrat from Houston, raised concerns for the veteran community. Youre taking away potentially their freedom to choose this product that in their own words saved their lives, Morales Shaw said from the back microphone. State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R Cypress, who wrote the amendment that changed the bill from a regulation on THC to a complete ban, sympathized with those concerns but argued the proper help for veterans would need to come from the states regulated TCUP. I dont ever want somebody to be denied access to a medication that may be a benefit, Oliverson said. Lawmakers look to expand TCUP There is a push at the Texas Capitol to expand the TCUP. The program launched in 2015 for epileptic children and has since slowly grown to include more people, including those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. It provides low-THC cannabis to patients with a proper prescription from a physician. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently three licensed dispensing organizations that cultivate and deliver the products to patients. Nico Richardson is the CEO of Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, one of the dispensing organizations based in south Austin. Richardson says one of the main issues for the TCUP is accessibility. He says when a patient makes an order they will either have to drive to the main facility of the organization, meet the organization at a pick-up location, or have the product delivered to their house. The size of Texas creates a long waiting period for the patients, Richardson explained. But even more of a problem lies in the pickup locations. The problem with that is with the pickup locations, were not actually able to keep any of our medicine there. It all has to stay in Austin. So that means someone has to order from us the night before, online or via telephone, and then we have to drive the medicine to that pickup location, Richardson explained. We have to drive the medicine there that morning and wait for the patient to come and pick it up. If the patient doesnt show up, we have to drive it back to Austin, put it back into our vault in our main facility. A new bill that has already passed the House, House Bill 46, will increase the number of licenses available for dispensing organizations from three to 15. It will also allow organizations to store products at satellite locations to avoid the logistical nightmare, with an emphasis on making sure the locations are spread equitably throughout the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would also expand the number of patients allowed to join the program by increasing eligibility. If passed, anyone with a condition that causes chronic pain that a physician would otherwise prescribe opioids would now be eligible in TCUP. The bill would also expand the amount of products. Currently, patients can receive their medicine in the form of an edible or a tincture. HB 46 would allow low-THC to be administered by pulmonary inhalation which would allow for a quicker reaction for the consumer. Whats next? Lawmakers questioned whether the TCUP bill would pass the Senate as it had in the House. During the debate on Wednesday night, the head of the Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, posted on social media that he supports expanding the TCUP. We will expand licenses and have satellite locations for the first time for prescribed products from doctors for our veterans and those in need, the social media post read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was recently left pending in the Senate Committee on State Affairs. May 28 is the last day the Senate can consider any bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Ohio has one of the highest numbers of lead pipes in the nation, so lawmakers are trying to fix that; for some, it is personal. I didnt know that I was going to fight for my life and the culprit was lead, lead poisoning, Ohio Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (R-Columbus) said. Jarrells said when he was growing up, like for many families now, getting a glass of water at home was never a second thought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it Back then, I didnt know the name of this silent threat that invaded our home, he said. I didnt know that it would show up in our doctors office, I didnt know it would show up in my speech therapy class. But now, he said his story has given him purpose, to try and fight for other Ohio families and children. This is silently killing our children and futures of Ohio, he said. Nearly 4,000 of Ohios children are tested for high levels of lead poisoning, and the number is likely higher because of the reality that not every child in this state is tested. How many lead pipes does Ohio still have? Ohio still has an estimated 745,000 lead water service lines, accounting for more than 8% of all lead pipes in the country. The state ranks third highest for the number of lead pipes, only behind Illinois and Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why Jarrells and Ohio Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) are sponsoring the Lead Line Replacement Act. Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand No amount of lead exposure is safe for our children, Blasdel said. The bill would mandate that local water producers work with the state to identify where the lead lines are and develop a plan to replace them. The bill adds a 15-year deadline to get all lead pipes in the state replaced. No more patchwork repairs, no more half fixes, no more kicking the can down the road, Jarrells said. Were going to get this right for families and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annalisa Rocca, drinking water manager for the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, pointed out that for children under six, elevated levels of lead can cause impaired brain development and lower intelligence. But she said it doesnt only hurt children. Adults are more likely to experience increased risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and kidney and nervous system problems when exposed to lead, Rocca said. Columbus firefighter arrested for allegedly owning child sex materials Archie Beasley, program director of the Junction Coalition, said even the smallest amount of lead can have a huge effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pack of salt [worth of lead] can contaminate Ohio stadium, he said. Theres a lot more than just salt packets running through our water right now, Jarrells said. What about the cost? Replacing all the lead pipes in the state will not come cheap. Over the 15-year period, it is estimated to cost $5 billion to replace every single one. Jarrells and Blasdel said, though, for every $1 that goes towards replacing a pipe, the state will recoup $32 to $45 in public health outcomes and economic return. And over 15 years, this investment can grow Ohios economy by more than $185 billion, Jarrells said. The price tag gives some leaders pause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number like that means one of two things: it means a substantial tax increase some place or diminution of services on another side, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. The sponsors said the plan is to pool resources that state already has, like federal dollars and the money in H2Ohio that is dedicated for lead pipe replacements, as a start. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also pointed to H2Ohio and the work that has already gone into replacing lead pipes. Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand Good, clean water is vitally important, DeWine said. And we need to do as much as we can in that area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But H2Ohio faces an uphill battle right now. The program, created by DeWine, faces a cut in funding of nearly 50% during the next two years. DeWine said the potential cut concerns him. We need to keep moving on [lead pipe replacements], we need to be steady every single year and make progress in that regard, DeWine said. We dont need another task force, we dont need another group of folks that come together and talk about this issue; we need action, Jarrells said. This is something that needs to be done. This is not a vision for the future. This is necessary for the future. The bill must get through both the Ohio House and Senate. It awaits its first committee hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat, holds his head during during a committee hearing on Thursday, May 22, 2025, during a presentation on a state enrollment data debacle that may leave Rhode Island public schools underfunded by about $24 million. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) An outdated calculation by the state education department and Gov. Dan McKees budget office last fall now leaves Rhode Island schools facing a $24 million budget shortfall. This is not your fault, but it is your problem, Sen. Jonathon Acosta, a Central Falls Democrat, told Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) officials at a legislative hearing Thursday. Its our problem. The discrepancy was driven by the data, or lack thereof, on low-income and multilingual learner students in the state. Both populations factor in the statewide education funding formula that determines aid to local school districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) generates enrollment numbers in March and October, using data provided by school districts. Typically, the governors budget office uses the March data when preparing the education funding formula around August, ahead of the release of the governors budget the following January. But this time round, McKees office used the October 2024 data collected by RIDE, which showed declining enrollment overall, and therefore fewer students in poverty. The new March numbers, according to RIDE, showed things swinging in the opposite direction, with more English learners and students living in poverty than accounted for in the fiscal 2026 budget McKee submitted months ago. The October data hasnt been great the last few years, Mark Dunham, the education departments finance director, told senators. And then 2025 was the first year that October was used. The discrepancy includes roughly $12 million in basic education aid and another $12 million tied to the Student Success Factor, a weight in the states school funding formula that gives additional support to districts with many students living in poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For fiscal year 2025, the state began using October enrollment figures instead, and RIDE reported a total enrollment of 136,000 students, while the governors budget used 134,000 for the number of students statewide. The March 2025 update later corrected the count to 135,600 revealing a roughly 1,000-student gap between RIDEs projection and the updated total. OK, so the numbers in October were incomplete for your assessment, we [now] believe the numbers in March are complete, said committee chair and Middletown Democratic Sen. Lou DiPalma. Im trying to understand how we have a new set of data here. How do we believe what we have that this is correct? How do I know that the 39 cities and towns that provide the data are still not incomplete? It looks to us that they did not completely update their poverty numbers, Dunham said of local school districts who had to submit data. The state currently uses food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) enrollment to calculate student poverty, applying a 1.6 multiplier to estimate the real total need. RIDE has also considered matching students through Medicaid, but the state has not yet fully incorporated it into the formula. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An overwhelming number of states in the country use Medicaid match as their proxy for poverty, Dunham said, then described what that approach could mean to the state budget. At the time we suggested it, it was about a $20 million number. Now, with all the new data we have, the enrollment updates, its a $40 million number. Victor Morente, a RIDE spokesperson, said in an email Thursday, that RIDE updates the data twice a year as part of its own preparation for submitting a budget request to the governor. At this time, research is ongoing to determine if there is an actual under identification, Morente said. Legislation in 2022 changed how students are counted, Morente said, which may have resulted in the undercount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were probably under-counting the number of students in poverty in certain districts, Office of Management and Budget Director Brian Daniels told lawmakers. And the broader way of fixing itis changing your student success factor based on the wealth of each individual community. But if you do that are you setting 40% [aid] as the floor, or is that the starting point?It gets very complicated, because in that case, you have winners and losers. So I think this is a longer term issue. We do need to fix this. Daniels said the budget office will be submitting a budget amendment which reflects the changes in enrollment from March. Dunham said states like Massachusetts and Connecticut are facing similar data collection issues when it comes to low-income students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think wed have to really rebuild the whole formula to be the same as Massachusetts, because I think the core [funding amount] is a lot less, or at least less, than ours, Dunham said. But we do wonder. We do understand that there are different levels of poverty that we should be able to address. Dunham ended his comments on a resigned note: Even if we match all the kids exactly, we still are probably going to undercount a lot of the kids that are eligible for different reasons. DiPalma shrugged. Until we change the system, thats what it is, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia (ACLU-WV) and Mountain State Justice (MSJ) have filed a lawsuit of behalf of parents to stop Gov. Patrick Morriseys executive order allowing vaccine exemptions in schools. The order, which was signed in January, directed health officials to stop enforcing compulsory school immunization requirements, for students who request a religious exemption. A bill to codify religious exemptions failed in the state legislature. The lawsuit filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court claims that Morrisey does not have the authority to enforce his order since the state legislature did not pass the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governors do not rule by decree, ACLU-WV Legal Director Aubrey Sparks said in a press release. At the center of this lawsuit is who gets to make these decisions for our students. On this question, the state Constitution is clear that the authority lies with the Legislature, not the governor. Bridge Sports Complex opens all-inclusive playground The parents behind the lawsuit include those with children who are particularly susceptible to illness. Previously, students had to receive a medical exemption to attend school without being vaccinated for chickenpox, Hepatitis-B, measles, meningitis, mumps, diphtheria, polio, rubella, tetanus and whooping cough. Parents should be able to know their child will be safe when they send them off to school, Sarah Brown, MSJ Executive Director, said in the press release. We are seeing the devastating effects of loosening vaccine requirements across the country, and thats why the Legislature wisely declined to loosen the restrictions here in West Virginia. Its vital that their decision not be undermined by the executive branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit asks for a judge to block the enforcement of Morriseys order. Morrisey said earlier this month that his stance on the order wasnt changed by the bills failure or the several lawsuits that had been filed against 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 WBOY.com. A Cook Inlet beluga mother and calf are seen swimming in 2017. Environmentalists and a tribal government have filed a lawsuit challenging a permit that would allow road construction and expansion of an airstrip for a mining project on the west side of the inlet. (Photo by Hollis Europe and Jacob Barbaro/NOAA Fisheries) Conservation groups and a Tribal government have sued to overturn a permit that allows a mining company to build a road and expand an airstrip at a site important to endangered whales. At issue is the permit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted in September to Contango ORE Inc. for construction work at the Johnson Tract mining prospect on the west side of Cook Inlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site is along the Johnson River and near Tuxedni Bay, a place where Cook Inlet belugas gather in winter to feed. The lawsuit alleges that the Corps failed to properly consider impacts of the development on the endangered belugas, including the impacts of aircraft and vessel noise. The complaint also says the Corps failed to properly analyze the anticipated acid rock drainage and other sources of water pollution. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, alleges violations of the federal Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act. The plaintiffs are Cook Inletkeeper, the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, the Center for Biological Diversity and a Soldotna resident, Anna-Maria Mueller. Satchel Pondolfino, clean water lead with Cook Inletkeeper, said in a statement that the Corps failed to assess the effect on the belugas in the inlet, which is named Tikahtnu in Denaina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Johnson River supports an ecosystem rich with salmon, herring, wolves, wolverines and iconic Alaskan brown bears, which are becoming scarcer as Tikahtnu becomes more industrialized, Pondolfino said. Whats at risk is one of the most ecologically rich corners of Tikahtnu and the Army Corps has a duty to carefully scrutinize all implications of this permit. A spokesperson for the Corps Alaska district office declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing policies concerning pending litigation. Cook Inlet belugas are highly sensitive to noise and depend on calls and songs to communicate and navigate. Tuxedni Bay is a refuge for them because it currently lacks the industrial noise widespread in other parts of the inlet, according to scientists. Last year, Cook Inletkeeper and the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to create a protective zone around Tuxedni Bay, limiting traffic and human activities there to keep noise levels low. That petition has not been granted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Johnson Tract, comprising about 21,000 acres, is within the borders of Lake Clark National Park but owned by Cook Inlet Region Inc., an Alaska Native corporation. CIRI acquired the inholding through a trade enabled by a 1976 federal law, the Cook Inlet Land Exchange. For decades, the corporation has been considering options for mining development at the site. In 2019, CIRI leased the site to Vancouver-based HighGold Mining Inc., which conducted some exploration. Fairbanks-based Contango bought HighGold last year, and with that acquisition, the company took over Johnson Tract exploration operations. Contango is also a part owner of the Manh Choh mine near Tetlin in eastern Interior Alaska, is developing the Lucky Shot mine in the Hatcher Pass area of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and has other projects in early exploration stages. The Johnson Tract holds gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead. Contango estimates that the Johnson Tract property holds over 1 million gold equivalent ounces, an industry measurement that combines different types of precious metals. Initial capital costs to develop the mine are estimated at $214 million, and once built, the mine would operate for at least seven years, according to a technical report the company released earlier this month. An ore sample from the Johnson River area is seen on May 21, 2025, in a display case in the Alaska State Capitol. The Johnson Tract holds gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) A school reenactment of a New Mexico tradition quickly turned dangerous, and now some parents are taking legal action. A new lawsuit claims The Academy For Technology and The Classics Charter School in Santa Fe was negligent when they had their own Zozobra burning and left some students injured. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, last August, the charter school did their own burning of Zozobra on campus without a burn permit. The suit claims a 9th-grade student was given accelerants to light up a 15-foot marionette, while other students, including the plaintiffs child, watched nearby. The suit said the Zozobra narrator said, Can someone please make me burn again? Thats when the suit said that same student poured more accelerant, causing a large flash of fire. A few students were reported to have minor injuries, but the lawsuit claims the plaintiffs child had second-degree burns that will leave permanent scars and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The plaintiffs attorneys said the charter school had a duty to keep the environment safe and failed to do so. KRQE News 13 reached out to The Academy For Technology and The Classics Charter School for comment on the lawsuit, but did not hear back. Santa Fe Public Schools is also named in the lawsuit, but the district told KRQE News 13 they are inappropriately named, citing state law that states the district is not liable for incidents like this at charter schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital is taking its emergency response to the next level. The hospital is rolling out brand new state of the art ambulances, designed with children in mind, to ensure faster and safer care when its needed the most. The new ambulances were made possible with help of Congressman Steve Cohen who secured $1 million in federal funding for the project. Congressman Cohen and Le Bonheur officials showcased the new intensive care ambulances in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre not just any ambulance. Theyre rolling pediatric ICUs fully equipped with neonatal isolettes, ventilators, advanced monitoring safety systems built for comfort and stability and the best transport team this nation has, said Dr. Rudy Kink, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Le Bonheur. These are the kind of vehicles you hope you never need but youre grateful that theyre here for you if you do. The new ambulances replaced two older models, and the hospital now has five total in circulation. Le Bonheur Childrens hospital transports over 2,000 patients across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas a year. The new ambulances will help to save lives, reduce suffering and bring world-class pediatric care to children right here in the Mid South. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW YORK (AP) The leader of an eastern European neo-Nazi group has been extradited to the United States from Moldova following his arrest last summer for allegedly instructing an undercover federal agent to dress as Santa Claus and hand out poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities, prosecutors said. Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old from the republic of Georgia, was arraigned Friday before a federal judge in Brooklyn on multiple felonies, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence. He pleaded not guilty through an attorney, Samuel Gregory, who requested his client receive a psychiatric evaluation and be placed on suicide watch while in custody. Gregory did not immediately return a message seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors described Chkhikvishvili, who also goes by Commander Butcher," as the leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, an international extremist group that adheres to a neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence and violent acts against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems undesirables. They said the groups violent solicitations promoted through Telegram channels and outlined a manifesto called the Haters Handbook appear to have inspired multiple real life killings, including a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this year that left a 16-year-old student dead. Since 2022, Chkhikvishvili has traveled on multiple occasions to Brooklyn, where he bragged about beating up an elderly Jewish man and instructed others, primarily through text messages, to commit violent acts on behalf of the Maniac Murder Cult, according to court papers. When he was approached by an undercover FBI agent in 2023, Chkhikvishvili recruited the official to a scheme that involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities and children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn, according to the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later suggested narrowing the focus to dead Jewish kids, prosecutors said, after noting that Jews are literally everywhere in Brooklyn. Describing his desire to carry out a mass casualty attack, Chkhikvishvili said he saw the United States as big potential because accessibility to firearms, adding that the undercover should consider targeting homeless people because the government wouldnt care even if they die, according to court papers. He was arrested last July in Moldova, where he was held prior to this weeks extradition. In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the case was a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. All of Trumps crises look like they are coming up roses. The big beautiful budget bill, Iranian nuclear ambitions and stopping the Ukraine war are all looking good. Budget: House fiscal hawks are dropping their opposition to Trumps tax cuts now that it is clear that they wont increase the deficit at all or add to the national debt. Until now, the projections of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) have been the gospel that underscores the consideration of Trumps budget and tax cuts. But now it turns out that the Democrat-leaning CBOs warnings that the big beautiful bill will add $4 trillion to the deficit/debt were based on the absurd prediction of zero economic growth during the ten year window. Crazy. Using a 3% real growth rate, a far more likely scenario, the bill adds nothing to the deficit. And, on review, three of the recommendations of t he fiscal hawks make sense and can easily be incorporated in the legislation: Start the work requirement for Medicaid benefits now, not in 2029 as the first draft of the bill called for. Front load the $750 billion in cuts to the Biden green new scam. (Aka the Green New Deal) Scale the corporate tax rate back to 15%. Currently, with the deductions that most businesses take, the effective rate is 15% anyway but the bill should set the official tax rate at 15% without deductions. So, after the Gang of Four deficit hawks - led by Congressman Chip Roy of Texas have secured their places in the news cycle by voting against the bill on Friday, incorporating these changes gave them the permission they needed to vote present and allow the big beautiful bill to go to the House Rules Committee and then to the floor. Ukraine: Like the little engine that could, whenever this feisty freedom-loving country appears to have its back to the wall facing the big bear, it bounces back strong because of its courage, resourcefulness, and skill. Now, Ukraines massive use and production of drones has again turned the tables on Russia. Ukraine is overwhelming the battlefield with 200,000 largely Ukrainian made drones each month. Eighty percent of Russias casualties (now approaching a million men since Moscow invaded) are due to drone strikes. Ukraine recently dealt a major blow by knocking out 10 percent of Russias oil refining capacity with drone attacks. Drones have neutralized the Russian edge in tanks and reduced the Red Army to attacking on motorcycles. One Russian soldier reported that he hadnt seen heavy Russian armor on the battlefield in a long time and that everyday, we see five to eight assaults using motorcycles. Retired Lt. General Keith Kellogg, President Trumps special envoy to Ukraine, said Russia isnt winning He reports that after three years, theyve gained meters, not miles. One Russian commander said We cannot afford to continue fighting in this manner. We simply do not have enough population for that type of military tactics. And the Russian economy is collapsing under the strain of the war. The Hill reports that Russias economy, once resilient, is now faltering. Growth has plummeted from around 5 percent to near zero since late 2024. Trumps tariff war has rocked oil prices, which also exposed how vulnerable Russia is. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has publicly warned of Russias possible disintegration. Another Russian commentator added, I feel sorry for us. Were being beaten. With such battlefield reverses, look for Putin to accept, gracefully, Trumps offer of mediation and a quick cease fire and settlement. Iran: It is no accident that Trump preceded his talks with Iran by visiting Teherans financial backers in the Arab world. While Trump loudly showcases his achievements in inducing the Saudis and the Emirates to invest in America, he likely also is getting them to cut or even end their aid to Iran, forcing the Ayatollah to negotiate with Trump. Look for a deal soon where Iran agrees to stop enriching Uranium entirely stopping the countdown to nuclear weapons. Trumps sanctions are clearly working and laying the basis for an Iranian surrender. The budget, Ukraine and Iran. Wow! What a president BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. In celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan - May 28, a special concert event titled Azerbaijani Mugham was held in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, on May 21, Trend reports. The event was jointly organized by the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Saint Petersburg. The event brought together government officials from both Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, representatives of the Saint Petersburg government, members of the citys Legislative Assembly, heads of the diplomatic corps, members of the Azerbaijani diaspora, prominent Azerbaijani cultural figures, political analysts, students, cadets, and members of the press. The aim of the event was to promote mugham, recognized as an element of intangible cultural heritage on UNESCOs Representative List, to a wider audience and to highlight its cultural significance. The concert program featured performances by artists from the International Mugham Center under the direction of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Teyyar Bayramov. The ensemble included Gunay Imamverdiyeva, Altay Niftaliyev, and Araz Agaverdiyev, who captivated the audience with beloved folk songs such as Sar geln, Kuchelere Su Sepmishem, and Irevanda Khal Galmad. The program also included composer songs like Size Salam Getirmishm, Veten Gozel, Shushann Daghlar, Azerbaycan Oghluyam, Qarabagh, and Yasha, Menim Khalgm, all of which received enthusiastic applause from the audience. Alongside the concert, guests viewed displays of Azerbaijans national musical instruments, traditional clothing, and carpets. An exhibition of books on Azerbaijans musical heritage and carpet weaving was also presented, and attendees enjoyed samples of traditional Azerbaijani cuisine. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A local leader in the transnational MS-13 gang, who is already serving a lengthy prison sentence, pleaded guilty on Thursday to killing a man in Chelsea in 2010, federal prosecutors announced. Jose Vasquez, 31, pleaded guilty to a single count of violent crime in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said in a statement. He will be sentenced on June 30. Vazquez is already serving a 212-month (17 years and 8 months) prison sentence for racketeering conspiracy, or RICO, handed down in 2018. At around 7:10 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2010, police responded to a 911 call under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, they found a 28-year-old man with about 10 stab wounds to his head, back and chest. The man was brought to a hospital, where he died of his wounds, Foleys office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent reexamination of evidence collected in the investigation of the mans death pointed to members of MS-13, including Vasquez, Foleys office said. He was a member and local leader of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, clique of MS-13 operating in Somerville. Prosecutors say he personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of the gang. In the week leading up to the killing, Vasquez and other members of the gang conspired to murder the man because they believed he was a member of a rival gang, Foleys office said. On the day of the murder, Vasquez and others picked up the man at a McDonalds in Allston and drove him to a secluded area in Chelsea under the highway. There, an MS-13 member hit him in the head with a rock and another stabbed him with a machete. Vasquez stabbed the man with a knife his palm print was identified on the handle of a kitchen knife found at the scene. The mans blood was also found on the knife, Foleys office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators obtained a recording of an MS-13 meeting from roughly six weeks after the murder, on Jan. 27, 2011, where one gang member acknowledges his participation in the crime and is disciplined for leaving Massachusetts after the killing without the gangs permission. Vasquez was identified as being present, prosecutors say. The charge of violent crime in aid of racketeering carries a sentence of up to life in prison. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. KANSAS CITY, Mo. In 2023, about 96% of people experiencing chronic homelessness in Kansas City were unsheltered the worst rate of any major US city. That number comes from the 2023 HUD report, its 2024 report shows only state data. In Missouri, there was a 9% increase in people experiencing homelessness from 2023 to 2024. In Kansas City, there are residents experiencing the issue firsthand, and others who are working to resolve it. Alleyways off Independence Avenue is in an area thats become notorious for homeless encampments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black bear recently seen in Kansas City area appears to be injured, MDC says The urban street ambassadors spend their days on Independence Ave. with the Community Improvement District. Theyre contracted by the city to clean more than a dozen alleyways in the corridor. I am coming out here to let everyone know if you need resources, Healing House will be down here to talk to you guys, but we got to clean out the alley, Laura Birdsong, the team resource manager, said to some people living in the alley. One of the people she was talking to, she was surprised to see. The last time we cleaned up that alleyway, we actually helped him get his belongings to an apartment he thought he was going to be getting, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something fell through for him. Thats just one persons story on the avenue. Theres got to be a commitment on all sides, said Josh Henges, the Prevention Coordinator for the city. Whats happening in the Northeast is a combination of a lot of things. Youve got a high level of substance use. Youve got a lot of human trafficking, and that makes it very difficult who are experiencing homelessness to get off the street, who are entangled in that. Henges believes that to solve homelessness, intervention is needed to help address crime and other physical and mental health issues. Plus, the creation of more affordable housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve got to have folks working boots on the ground with this population, and you have to have a place for them to go, he said. KC2026: Charter busses will take you to World Cup matches At Restart, one of KCs largest homeless service providers, CEO Stephanie Boyer says people are connected with a case manager. Even when some get into safer housing, hundreds more are waiting. We have a need for 26 thousand units for people in a low-income category, she said. Weve seen families renting storage units and living in them, renting U-Haul trucks, literally living and sleeping in the back of it, because its cheaper to rent either of those options for a week than it is a hotel or to be able to try and find housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While day shelters and free meals provide temporary relief, its not producing long term solutions. Its going to take the political will, and its going to have to be a public-private partnership in order to get to where we need to be, or what youre seeing on the streets here will only continue to get worse, said Boyer. Birdsong said that people are will to help, and that sometimes the help is received. Like the man from earlier, who was able to sleep somewhere safe that night. My promise to everybody is just that we can and we will find a better way, you just have to be willing, and until that time we are going to have an understanding of how we are going to coexist out here, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Search underway in south central Kansas for missing Overland Park woman She also says that sometimes people might not see the need right away, or may have other barriers stopping them from accessing resources. No matter the reason, compassion never hurts. Henges said it was a goal this year to have year-round sheltered beds. In the past, theyve only had beds during winter. However, as of May 1, 125 beds were made available, all of which were immediately filled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The Ohio State University South Centers welcomes new leadership as Dr. Julie Fox steps in as the Piketon-based centers interim director. With the recent retirement of previous director Tom Worley, the South Centers team remains committed to engaging with local communities and assisting people with informed decision-making through applied research, educational programs, entrepreneurial application and collaborative partnerships. Thanks to support from local stakeholders and Ohio States College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the South Centers opened in 1991 as the Piketon Research and Extension Center, with the Endeavor Center business incubator later being established in 2005. Im honored to return to the South Centers, a creative hot spot, where Ive seen how innovation flourishes through collaboration, stated Fox. Her career began with Ohio State in June 1998, when she joined the OSU South Centers to advance the business development team. In February 2014, she was selected to serve as a member of the statewide Extension leadership team, where she expanded her experience and connections across the campus community. To build on whats working and explore future direction and priorities, Fox led an external review of the South Centers. The timing is great to establish vibrant advisory groups; facilitate a dynamic needs assessment process; be more intentional with our programs, processes, and communications; and improve strategic alignment with the college and local communities, Fox announced. We welcome others to join in this unique opportunity of celebrating progress and championing the future. Two top German politicians have slammed plans by US President Donald Trump to block foreigners from studying at Harvard, with one - himself an alumnus of the elite university - saying it "sends out a chilling signal" and is "research policy suicide." "When the most important and highest performing universities are deliberately weakened, it is one of the most important pillars of the US economy that is being undermined," former German health minister and Harvard alumnus Karl Lauterbach, who now leads the country's parliamentary research committee, told Germany's Rheinische Post daily on Friday. Countless companies in the United States benefit from the knowledge that Harvard graduates bring with them, Lauterbach said, noting that "many foreign Harvard graduates stay in the United States after completing their studies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lauterbach, who served as Germany's health minister until May 6, when a new government took over, has been a visiting lecturer at the Harvard School of Public Health since 1996, according to his CV on the German parliament's website. He was also enrolled in public health-related master programmes and a post-graduate programme at the university between 1989 and 1995, according to the CV. Lauterbach said he very much hoped that Trump's decision could still be reversed. "But even if that is possible, the attack on free teaching and research sends out a chilling signal." German Research Minister Dorothee Bar also expressed regret on Friday at the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This saddens me very much. That's not a positive signal, neither for the young generation nor for the free world," Bar said, as she arrived at a meeting with her European Union counterparts in Brussels. "I very much hope that the US government will revoke this decision, because it really is fatal," she added. Administration cites anti-Semitism, extreme ideology Trump has accused Harvard and other elite US universities of pursuing a left-wing ideology and allowing anti-Semitism on campus. His administration sent a list of demands on April 11 to the institution, which Harvard has refused to adopt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Thursday the administration was "holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus." She revoked the university's certification to receive foreign students and exchange visitors for what she said was "pro-terrorist conduct." This means that Harvard's international students would have to transfer to other universities or risk losing their legal status, Noem said in a statement. Earlier this year, the Trump administration froze more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts at Harvard. Three-digit number of German students at Harvard The Foreign Office is aware of a three-digit number of German students currently studying at Harvard, a spokesman said in Berlin on Friday without elaborating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He announced prompt discussions with Washington regarding the impact that the proposed ban will have on the German students. The German government perceives this as an urgent matter and will express the expectation that their concerns and interests will be adequately considered, he said. Deputy German government spokesman Sebastian Hille said that free science is at the core of liberal societies. "Restrictions on academic freedom are restrictions on democracy itself," he said. When Senate Democrats tried to defeat Frank Bisignanos nomination to serve as the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, they had plenty of rhetorical ammunition to work with. After all, as recently as February in an interview with CNBC, Bisignano described himself as fundamentally a DOGE person, which were four words the party seized on throughout the confirmation process. Bisignano took steps to distance himself from DOGE-imposed changes at the Social Security Administration, though Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon produced a statement from a purported whistleblower, who claimed that Bisignano had personally intervened to get key DOGE officials involved at the agency. The Senates Republican majority didnt care, and Bisignano was confirmed earlier this month on a party-line vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that hes been sworn in, the former businessman with no government experience is introducing himself to his new colleagues, though as ABC News reported, he appears to have gotten off to a shaky start. The newly sworn-in head of the Social Security Administration told agency staff this week that when he was first offered the job in the Trump administration, he wasnt familiar with the position and had to look it up online. Frank Bisignano, a former Wall Street executive, said during a town hall with Social Security managers from around the country on Wednesday that he wasnt seeking a position in the Trump administration when he received a call about leading the SSA. According to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by ABC News, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, Bisignano said: So, I get a phone call and its about Social Security. And Im really, Im really not, I swear Im not looking for a job. And Im like, Well, what am I going to do? So, Im Googling Social Security. You know, one of my great skills, Im one of the great Googlers on the East Coast. He added, Im like, What the hecks the commissioner of Social Security? A spokesperson for the agency made no effort to deny the accuracy of the quote, instead saying that Bisignano was merely poking fun at himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps. But the fact that the new Social Security commissioner, up until recently, had no idea what the Social Security commissioners responsibilities entailed does not inspire confidence. And right about now, some additional confidence about the Social Security Administration would go a long way. As the Republican administration imposed significant personnel cuts and closed Social Security offices, The New York Times reported last month on the intensifying mess within the system. The Washington Post reported a day earlier that retirees and disabled people are facing chronic website outages and other access problems. The Wall Street Journal added that people who show up at Social Security offices are confronting multi-hour waits. It doesnt help that the administration is misusing the Social Security system in legally dubious ways; Elon Musk is slamming Social Security as a Ponzi scheme; and JD Vance is using his vice presidential platform to peddle discredited claims about the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump mightve promised voters that Social Security would go untouched if he returned to the White House, but its already clear that the Republican White House has destabilized the system to a degree without modern precedent. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com WASHINGTON, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS)Historic Washington State Park is hosting a workshop to familiarize participants with Dutch ovens. Guests will cook a simple stew and bread while learning to use and care for the ovens. Road rage shooter wanted in Miller County, Arkansas Registration is required and costs $15 per person. Contact the park visitor center at 870-983-2684 to register. The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Historic Washington State Park. For more information, visit HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com or call 870-983-2684. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. BERLIN (Reuters) -Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg station on Friday evening, Germany's Bild newspaper reported, and local police confirmed they had arrested the suspected assailant. Four victims are in critical condition and six others are seriously injured, Bild reported, saying the motive for the attack was unclear. Police said the suspected assailant was a 39-year old woman who allowed herself to be arrested without resistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So far we have no evidence that the woman could have acted with political motivation," said Hamburg police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth. "Rather, we have findings on the basis of which we are now investigating in particular whether she may have been in a state of mental distress." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a post on social media platform X that the news from Hamburg was "shocking." "My thoughts are with the victims and their families," he said. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh, Editing by William Maclean and Chris Reese) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) At least 60 people were killed by Israeli strikes across Gaza in a 24-hour period, Gaza's health ministry said Friday, as Israel pressed ahead with its military offensive and let in minimal aid to the strip. The dead included 10 people in the southern city of Khan Younis, four in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to the Nasser, Al-Aqsa and Al-Ahli hospitals where the bodies were brought. Israel faces mounting international criticism for its offensive and pressure to let aid into Gaza amid a humanitarian crisis. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, with experts warning that many of its 2 million residents are at high risk of famine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the United States, a staunch ally, has voiced concerns over the hunger crisis. The strikes that lasted into Friday morning came a day after Israeli tanks and drones attacked a hospital in northern Gaza, igniting fires and causing extensive damage, Palestinian hospital officials said on Thursday. Videos taken by a health official at Al-Awda Hospital show walls blown away and thick black smoke billowing from wreckage. Israel said it will continue to strike until Hamas releases all of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages and disarms. Fewer than half of the hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Suspect charged with murder over deaths of Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strikes come a day after two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot while leaving a reception for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum, in Washington, DC. The suspect told police he did it for Palestine, according to court documents filed Thursday as he was charged with murder. He didnt enter a plea. On Thursday night, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killings in Washington horrific and blasted France, the UK and Canada for proposing to establish a Palestinian state. Because by issuing their demand, replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power, he said. Earlier this week the three leaders issued one of the most significant criticisms by close allies of Israels handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the West Bank, threatening to take concrete actions if the government did not cease its renewed military offensive and significantly lift restrictions on humanitarian aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid starts entering, but agencies say nothing like enough Amid pressure, Israel started letting in aid. Israeli officials said Friday they let in more than 100 trucks of aid, including flour, food, medical equipment and drugs. The trucks came in through the Kerem Shalom crossing. But U.N. agencies say the amount is woefully insufficient, compared with around 600 trucks a day that entered during a recent ceasefire and that are necessary to meet basic needs. U.N. agencies say Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order in Gaza make it difficult to retrieve and distribute the aid. As a result, little of it has so far reached those in need. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that Israel had so far authorized what "amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required," with no supplies at all reaching northern Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday dozens of people crowded a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, holding empty pots and plastic containers in the air in hopes of receiving a share of lentil soup. Halima Abu Amra, a displaced woman from Rafah, said she had been struggling to feed a daughter injured in the fighting. She said she had been collecting discarded bread from the streets, washing and soaking it so her daughter can eat, while her younger children get by on soup. We want this war to end in any way," she said. My family is dying slowly. The World Food Program said that 15 of its trucks were looted Thursday night in southern Gaza while going to WFP-supported bakeries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said that hunger and desperation about whether food was coming in is contributing to rising insecurity, and called on Israel to allow greater volumes of food to enter, faster and more efficiently. Israel says the aid now is to bridge the gap until a U.S. backed initiative starts soon. A new group known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says it will take over aid distribution in Gaza, and armed private contractors will guard the distribution. Israel says the system is needed because Hamas siphons off significant amounts of aid. The U.N. denies that claim and has rejected the foundation's proposal for delivering aid, saying it fails to respect international law and humanitarian principles. Guterres said Friday that the UN already has a structure in place capable of delivering enough aid to fill 9,000 trucks. A Geneva-based advocacy group said Friday it was taking legal action to urge Swiss authorities to monitor the privately run GHF, which is registered in Switzerland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A foundation spokesman said that it adheres to humanitarian principles and that its operations are free from Israeli control. It said the foundation was not a military operation and its decision to integrate armed security contractors allows it the ability to access and operate in Gaza. No movement on ceasefire negotiations in Doha Earlier this week, Netanyahu said he was recalling his high-level negotiating team from the Qatari capital, Doha, after a week of ceasefire talks failed to bring results. A working team will remain. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said a fundamental gap remained between the two parties and that none of the proposals was able to bridge their differences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas said no real ceasefire talks have taken place since last week in Doha. The group accused Netanyahu of falsely portraying participation and attempting to mislead global public opinion by keeping Israels delegation there without engaging in serious negotiations. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Israels retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. Settler violence in the occupied West Bank Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians in the village of Bruqin, in the northern West Bank, said Israeli settlers attacked them Thursday afternoon, burning cars and damaging houses. The U.N.'s humanitarian agency said eight residents were injured, with most sustaining burns while trying to extinguish fires. Weve been suffering since Wednesday from settler attacks and assaults verbal abuse, stone throwing, and constant harassment at all times, said Mustafa Khater, whose house was attacked. He said he had previously evacuated his wife and four children for fear of attacks, but had stayed behind to protect the house. The attack follows last week's killing of a pregnant Israeli woman near Bruqin. The war in Gaza has sparked a surge of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli military carrying out large-scale operations targeting militants that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. That has coincided with a rise in settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. ___ Associated Press reporter Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Edith Lederer at the United Nations contributed. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war CAIRO (AP) At least seven Sudanese migrants were found dead on Friday after their vehicle broke down and left them stranded for days deep in the Libyan desert, according to an ambulance service official. The car was carrying 34 Sudanese when it broke down some after crossing Libya's border from Chad and onto a deserted path often used by smugglers, Ebrahim Belhassan, director of the Kufra Ambulance and Emergency Services, told The Associated Press. They were discovered in the sand dunes after 11 days, having run out of food and water, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The survivors were almost about to die. They are severely dehydrated and exhibiting signs of distress and trauma with such circumstances and given that theyre seeing those around them dying and they know if they will die next, he said. The 22 rescued, including five children, were transferred to Kufra for further medical checkups. Five people are missing, but Belhassan said hopes were slim they would survive on foot in a vast desert. A smuggler who found them alerted emergency crews, Belhassan said. Libya, which shares borders with six nations and has a long coastline along the Mediterranean, is a main transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East to seek better lives in Europe. The International Organization for Migration estimates around 787,000 migrants and refugees from various nationalities lived in Libya as of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During last year, the Kufra ambulance service responded to emergencies involving more than 260 Sudanese migrants found in the desert, Belhassan said. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration At least three people aboard a jet headed for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego were killed when the aircraft crashed into a neighborhood early Thursday. The Federal Aviation Administration said six people were on the Cessna 550 when it crashed amid dense fog around 3:45 a.m. While authorities have not named anyone who died in the crash, a spokesperson for Sound Talent Group, a San Diego-based music agency, confirmed to The Times that the company lost three employees. Among them was Dave Shapiro, the company's co-founder. The other employees were not named. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, read a company statement. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. Dave Shapiro, 42 Shapiro's digital presence encapsulated the spirit of an adventurer. He was a music agent, airplane and helicopter pilot, husband, puppy dad and retired BASE jumper, according to his Instagram bio. Shapiro, who co-founded Sound Talent Group in 2018, also started Velocity Aviation, a company that offers scenic flight tours in San Diego and Homer, Alaska. The aviation company also specializes in aircraft leasing, aircraft sales consulting, ferry flights and flight instruction, according to the Velocity Aviation website. Shapiro took his first flight class in 2005 as a 22-year-old executive in the music business and was immediately hooked to all things aviation, the website reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro also owned a restaurant, record label and a merchandise manufacturing business. From BASE jumping to aerobatic flying, Helicopters to twin engines, flight instructing to furthering his own education, doesnt matter to Dave as long as he gets to be in the sky, the Velocity Aviation website reads. With over 15 years of flight experience, thousands of hours logged, and over a million miles flown, Dave continues to grow his experience and share it with the aviation community through the many services Velocity Aviation offers. Videos on Instagram show him performing rolls and other aerobatic maneuvers while piloting an aircraft. In 2020, he posted a photo of his pilot licenses announcing that he'd been certified as an airline transport pilot. "For non-aviators, this is the license above commercial. Although I have a career and dont plan to change that I always want to learn more and be a better pilot," he wrote in the caption. "Passed the check ride a couple months ago and got my cert in the mail! Did the test in a citation 525 series so Im now rated for the CJ jets too. Fun times." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flying was more than a business to Shapiro. It was also an element of one of life's biggest milestones his wedding. In 2016, Shapiro and his wife boarded a bright red plane mounted with skis to fly over Denali National Park in Alaska to get to their ceremony. The couple said "I do" on Kahiltna Glacier the bride wearing a gold sequined dress and the groom a dark suit and an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Shapiro's wife detailed the whirlwind celebration in a story published online, ending it with a message of adoration for her groom: "my beautiful husband, thank you for existing and I love you way more." An outpouring of condolences were posted to social media Thursday. The music industry veteran worked as a band manager, promoter and other roles in American metalcore, pop-punk and emo rock music. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was my manager and agent for years and a huge part of my career as a producer and musician," musician Carson Slovak wrote on Facebook. "He was a truly good person and an inspiration to countless people. His contributions to the music industry are legendary and his charitable spirit had a profound effect on so many. Im heartbroken and in shock." Bill D'Arcangelo, an artist manager at Mid Atlantic Management, said in a post on Facebook that Shapiro was "a pillar of the music industry that will never be replicated or replaced." This is a breaking story and will be updated. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The 6th round of the Security Dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan was held in Belgium, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Head of the Delegation to the EU Vaqif Sadiqov wrote on his page on X, Trend reports. The meeting was co-chaired by Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev and Deputy Secretary General of the EU External Action Service Olof Skoog. The Ambassador noted that during the meeting the parties held meaningful and open discussions on the prospects for cooperation. "Substantive and open discussions took place on current relations and prospects for cooperation in the political and security sphere. This dialogue follows a series of important high-level EU-Azerbaijan meetings held in recent months in Malta, Baku, Brussels, Tirana. Bilateral, regional and global developments require regular, targeted exchanges of views. Important discussions also took place today with other senior EU officials and representatives of a number of EU Member States, including the host country Belgium," Sadiqov emphasized. LEBANON During a Tuesday night meeting with the Board of Finance, Board of Education and the first selectman, changes were made to the proposed Lebanon budget, which was originally defeated last week by voters. The board voted 6-0 to increase the BOE budget to a 5% increase. This was based on probable additional ECS grant money from the state, said Mike Ninteau, Board of Finance chair. We did hold the proposed new mill rate at 22. In case the second referendum in June fails, the town would have to come up with a budget before the town assessor sends out the tax bills for fiscal year 2025-2026. If no agreement can be made in time, the town will have to operate on the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Board of Finance, its our job to provide information to the citizens so that they know how we came up with our budget, Ninteau said. And then, obviously, its up to the voters what level of spending that they believe is appropriate. So, at this point, Im completely neutral on it. On May 15, residents of Lebanon had the opportunity to vote on the towns proposed budget of $30,584,265, which was rejected by a majority. Out of the 5,283 residents registered to vote, 1,300 people voted, with 681 voting against and 619 in favor. The referendum also asked two non-binding advisory questions to the public regarding the Board of Education proposed budget and the Town of Lebanon proposed budget. 604 residents said the budget allocated to the BOE was too low, 234 voted it was acceptable and 440 said it was too high. The community has spoken through their vote and has communicated that they feel the budget is too low, particularly to support our schools, Superintendent Andrew Gonzalez said. I feel appreciative as the superintendent of the district that our parents and our community members support the school in that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zachary Johnson, a teacher at Lyman Memorial High School and member of the Lebanon Education Association, expressed relief about the communitys decision in the referendum. Myself and the LEA are proud and honored that the community in Lebanon feel so strongly about the schools, teachers and children that they voted the budget down for being too low, he said. We are hopeful that the Board of Finance honors their community members opinions and increases the budget by an amount that the community can get behind. Gonzalez hopes the BOE and the BOF will be able to work together to find a solution that works for all. Our ultimate goal has been and will continue to be that we get a fully funded budget that meets what the Board of Education adopted, which is a 6.42% increase, Gonzalez said. If it were to come in less than that, then we would have to make some difficult decisions and adjustments on the board events side, but look forward to continuing to try to do the best for our schools in the process. Incumbent Pier Hess Graf and senior public defender Michael Light II will square off again in the general election for Lebanon County District Attorney. The Lebanon County Commissioners, who serve as the election board, voted to cumulate the variations of write-in votes for Light, making him eligible to be on the ballot as the Democratic nominee for the district attorney race in the November election. No candidate officially ran on the Democratic ticket for Tuesday's primary. According to county officials, 100 write-in votes are required to secure the nomination. After the commissioners voted to count all the variations of his name, Light had 263 write-in votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm looking at this list of 13 Mike Light, 97 for Michael Light II, 53 for Michael Light, 12 for Michael J. Light and 88 for Michael J. Light II," Commissioner Michael Kuhn said at the meeting. "In my opinion, they are all trying to vote for the same person." Lebanon County Commissioners voted to cumulate and certify the variations of write-in votes for senior public defender Michael Light II, making him eligible to be on the general election ballot in November. Light filed a request with the election board to cumulate the write-in votes for the Democratic nomination, according to county solicitor Matthew Bugli. Neither Light nor Graf appeared at Friday's election board meeting. "(Light) indicated in his petition that he is the only licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the name of Michael Light, and obviously one of the requirements for district attorney is that you be a licensed attorney," Bugli told the board. Bugli added that a letter will be sent to Light to accept of reject that nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email to the Lebanon Daily News, Light said he plans to accept the board's decision to cumulate the votes and "represent the people of Lebanon County no matter what form of political status." "This race is not about politics," he wrote. "This race is about the will of the people and their need for change when it comes to the office of the district attorney. Right now Im the only one seeking that change. I want to bring integrity back to the office. I will not give people reasons to report me to the disciplinary board. I will effectuate justice no matter what race, political background, social status, or any other factors. Everyone will be treated the same and be shown respect." Light added that he is "looking forward to unifying the practice of law in Lebanon County to be similar in the surrounding counties and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." He also appreciates all the votes and support from the Democratic Party. "I hope Republicans, independents, Democrats, and all other political parties vote for me and the change to the administration of the office of the district attorney," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graf won on the Republican ticket during Tuesday's primary with 2,437 votes, according to unofficial results. Light received 1,394 votes. Speaking about her win Friday morning before the election board meeting, Graf thanked the Lebanon community for her election win. "It's four more years of keeping people safe putting bad guys behind bars and deporting illegal criminals," she said. Graf said she treats the running of a campaign the same way she treats a trial: it's a competition. "When you go into it, you're going to prepare, you're going to work very hard, and you're going to do everything that you can to win," she said. "So in a trial, you are trying to fight for your victim and for your community. When it comes to the campaign, I'm fighting for the ability to continue to do this job that I love, and that I truly feel that I was born to do this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graf received 69 write-in votes in the Democratic primary. The general election will be held on Nov. 4. York Daily Record reporter Teresa Boeckel contributed to this story. Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth. This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County DA candidate Michael Light wins Democratic nomination LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A woman was found guilty Friday by a Lebanon County jury of lying about being raped by a military doctor, the District Attorney said. Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Graf said Veronika Rodriguez, 27, of Middletown, was convicted on two counts of wiretap violations and one count of false report to law enforcement. She is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast I want to thank the jury for their dedicated service and for rendering a true and just verdict in this case, Graf said in a statement. With her lies, Veronika Rodriguez hurt more than just the victim. She undermined every true victim of sexual assault who wants to come forward. She should apologize not only to [victim], but to the real victims suffering from sexual trauma. Graf said Rodriguez did have consensual sex with the victim, that she recorded and bragged about to her friends. The victim was a military doctor, Graf said, and because of Rodriguezs false accusations, he voluntarily resigned from the Air National Guard and lost any retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haunted Annabelle Doll coming to Gettysburg When she was confronted by a military superior about fraternization, is when she falsely cried rape, Graf said. Fort Indiantown Gap Police Force investigated and filed charges against Rodriguez. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee tasked with the removal of weapons held by Palestinian factions in Lebanons refugee camps has met for the first time to begin hashing out a timetable for disarming the groups. The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, a government body serving as interlocutor between Palestinian refugees and officials, met on Friday with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in attendance. The group said that participants agreed to launch a process for the disarmament of weapons according to a specific timetable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It added that it also aimed to take steps to enhance the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees. A Lebanese government source told the news agency AFP that disarmament in the countrys 12 official camps for Palestinian refugees, which host multiple Palestinian factions, including Fatah, its rivals Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a range of other groups, could begin in mid-June. Under a decades-old agreement, Lebanese authorities do not control the camps, where security is managed by Palestinian factions. The meeting comes as the Lebanese government faces increasing international pressure to remove weapons from the Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message is clear. There is a new era, a new balance of power, and a new leadership in Lebanon, which is pushing ahead with monopolising arms in the hands of the state, said Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut. It has already begun to dismantle Hezbollahs military infrastructure in southern Lebanon, and the next phase appears to be the disarmament of Palestinian groups in camps before it addresses the issue of Hezbollahs weapons in the rest of the country, she said. Earlier this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, dominated by his Fatah party, visited Lebanon and said in a speech that the weapons in the camps hurt Lebanon and the Palestinian cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Abbass visit, he and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced an agreement that Palestinian factions would not use Lebanon as a launchpad for any attacks against Israel, and that weapons would be consolidated under the authority of the Lebanese government. Al Jazeeras Khodr signalled that several factions appeared to be against disarmement. While Abbass Palestinian Authority may be recognised internationally as the representative body of the Palestinian people, there are many armed groups, among them, Hamas and [Palestinian] Islamic Jihad, who believe in armed struggle against Israel, she said. Without consensus among the factions, stability could remain elusive. LEHI, Utah (ABC4) Lehi Police have identified a deceased individual found near the railroad tracks at the Pioneer Crossing underpass Thursday evening. The deceased has been identified as Dena Beal, 45, of Lehi. At around 6 p.m. on May 22, Beal was reportedly found dead near the railroad tracks in the area of 850 E and the Pioneer Crossing underpass. While the investigation remains ongoing as the department awaits the results of the autopsy and toxicology reports, no foul play is suspected at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The circumstances surrounding Beals death have not been released. The Lehi Police Department extends its deepest condolences to Ms. Beals family and friends during this difficult time, a press release from Lehi Police states. Beals next of kin have been notified. No further information is currently available. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Known for sweeping black-and-white photography that captured the natural world and marginalised communities, Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado has passed away at age 81. His death was confirmed on Friday by the nonprofit he and his wife Lelia Deluiz Wanick Salgado founded, the Instituto Terra. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Sebastiao Salgado, our founder, mentor and eternal source of inspiration, the institute wrote in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sebastiao was much more than one of the greatest photographers of our time. Alongside his life partner, Lelia Deluiz Wanick Salgado, he sowed hope where there was devastation and brought to life the belief that environmental restoration is also a profound act of love for humanity. His lens revealed the world and its contradictions; his life, the power of transformative action. Salgados upbringing would prove to be the inspiration for some of his work. Born in 1944 in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, he saw one of the worlds most biodiverse ecosystems, the Atlantic Forest, recede from the land he grew up on, as the result of development. He and his wife spent part of the last decades of their life working to restore the forest and protect it from further threats. Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado poses in front of one of the pictures from his exhibition Amazonia on May 11, 2023 [Luca Bruno/AP Photo] But Salgado was best known for his epic photography, which captured the exploitation of both the environment and people. His pictures were marked by their depth and texture, each black-and-white frame a multilayered world of tension and struggle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one recent photography collection, entitled Exodus, he portrayed populations across the world taking on migrations big and small. One shot showed a crowded boat packed with migrants and asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Another showed refugees in Zaire balancing buckets and jugs above their heads, as they trekked to retrieve water for their camp. Salgado himself was no stranger to fleeing hardship. A trained economist, he and his wife left Brazil in 1969, near the start of a nearly two-decade-long military dictatorship. By 1973, he had begun to dedicate himself to photography full time. After working several years with France-based photography agencies, he joined the cooperative Magnum Photos, where he would become one of its most celebrated artists. His work would draw him back to Brazil in the late 1980s, where he would embark on one of his most famous projects: photographing the backbreaking conditions at the Serra Pelada gold mine, near the mouth of the Amazon River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through his lens, global audiences saw thousands of men climbing rickety wooden ladders out of the crater they were carving. Sweat made their clothes cling to their skin. Heavy bundles were slung over their backs. And the mountainside around them was jagged with the ridges they had chipped away at. He had shot the story in his own time, spending his own money, his agent Neil Burgess wrote in the British Journal of Photography. Burgess explained that Salgado spent around four weeks living and working alongside the mass of humanity that had flooded in, hoping to strike it rich at the gold mine. Salgado had used a complex palette of techniques and approaches: landscape, portraiture, still life, decisive moments and general views, Burgess said in his essay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had captured images in the midst of violence and danger, and others at sensitive moments of quiet and reflection. It was a romantic, narrative work that engaged with its immediacy, but had not a drop of sentimentality. It was astonishing, an epic poem in photographic form. When photos from the series were published in The Sunday Times Magazine, Burgess said the reaction was so great that his phone would not stop ringing. A visitor sits in front of a series of portraits of children in the exhibition Exodus by Brazilian-born photographer Sebastiao Salgado on February 28, 2017 [Jens Meyer/AP Photo] Critics, however, accused Salgado during his career of glamourising poverty, with some calling his style an aesthetic of misery. But Salgado pushed back on that assessment in a 2024 interview with The Guardian. Why should the poor world be uglier than the rich world? The light here is the same as there. The dignity here is the same as there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, one of his sons, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, partnered with the German filmmaker Wim Wenders to film a documentary about Salgados life, called The Salt of the Earth. One of his last major photography collections was Amazonia, which captured the Amazon rainforest and its people. While some viewers criticised his depiction of Indigenous peoples in the series, Salgado defended his work as a vision of the regions vitality. To show this pristine place, I photograph Amazonia alive, not the dead Amazonia, he told The Guardian in 2021, after the collections release. As news of Salgados death spread on Friday, artists and public figures offered their remembrances of the photographer and his work. Among the mourners was Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazils president, who offered a tribute on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His discontent with the fact that the world is so unequal and his obstinate talent in portraying the reality of the oppressed always served as a wake-up call for the conscience of all humanity, Lula wrote. Salgado did not only use his eyes and his camera to portray people: He also used the fullness of his soul and his heart. For this very reason, his work will continue to be a cry for solidarity. And a reminder that we are all equal in our diversity. AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) As the school year nears an end, students at the Leonard Kirtz School in Austintown got to dress up for their very own prom. About 20 of the students who are 16 and older were able to participate. The Leonard Kirtz School is for those with developmental disabilities. First, students took a stroll down the hall for a promenade as parents and younger classmates cheered and took pictures. Then, it was into the gym for lunch and dancing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre all in their dress clothes and their formal attire, and we get all the boutonnieres and corsages, and we do the lunch, and the DJ, and just like every other prom We look forward to it as much as they do, said Principal Gina Symsek. The students get to vote on each years theme. This year, they chose Wicked. Students from Poland High School volunteered to help decorate and serve as escorts for the dance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COWAN, Ky. (FOX 56) State police troopers announced on Friday that an arrest was made in connection with a March 2024 death investigation. Just before 8 p.m. on March 7, 2024, Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced in a news release that troopers with Post 13 in Hazard got a 911 call that a woman had been found unresponsive on Dinah Blair Road in the Cowan community of Letcher County. 17-year-old accused of killing missing teenager found in Harrison County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When law enforcement got to the scene, 59-year-old Angela Roberts, of Whitesburg, was reportedly found dead. The Letcher County Coroners Office had pronounced Roberts dead at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound, state police said. She had been taken to the State Medical Examiners Office in Frankfort to be autopsied, with results still pending. On May 23, 2025, troopers announced that 65-year-old Mark Miles of Letcher County was arrested in connection with the investigation. Miles arrest reportedly came shortly after the Letcher Circuit Court issued an indictment warrant for him. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was charged with murder and was lodged without bond in the Letcher County Jail. Court records show Miles is due in court on Wednesday, May 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. I oppose the proposed rule change issued April 17 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that would strike the word harm from the Endangered Species Act, which was signed in 1973 by President Richard Nixon. The ESA prohibits actions that harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect endangered species. All the words in that phrase except harm can be applied to individuals or members of species. The term harm has been interpreted and upheld in 1995 by the Supreme Court that harm was not just direct killing, but causing severe harm to a species environment. A species cannot live independent of its ecosystem (excepting species protected in artificial environments like zoos). Like the clean air and water acts, the ESA must limit harm to ecosystems; especially the need for endangered species to live, breed, reproduce and hopefully thrive enough to remove their designation as endangered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Living in Eastern Oregon I am aware of the trade offs needed between economic development and protecting ecosystems. Republicans 50 years ago were aware regulations are necessary to ensure we have healthy forests and waterways to pass on to future generations. We should act to protect our natural resources for long term gain versus short term profits. Lets adopt conservation, reuse and reduce over consumption instead of taking more resources from future generations. Ronald Fonger Pendleton BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. A delegation led by Major General Stefan Fix, Headquarters Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, pays a visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense. As part of the visit, the NATO delegation visited the Azerbaijan Naval Forces. During the meeting, the current state and future prospects of Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation within the partnership programs, including opportunities to deepen experience exchange, were discussed. During the exchange of views between the parties, Azerbaijans active participation and initiatives within NATOs partnership programs were emphasized. Following the meeting, the guests were presented with a briefing at one of the military units of the Naval Forces, highlighting the units areas of activity. The delegation watched exemplary training sessions on servicemens tactical and special training. Then the NATO delegation visited the Military Police Department. During the meeting, the guests were provided with detailed information about the establishment, activities, and honorable history of the military police. A related video was shown, and a briefing on the departments structure was presented. At the final stage of the visit, the guests attended a meeting at the International Military Cooperation Department. During the meeting, the sides held a wide and constructive exchange of views on the current state of Azerbaijan-NATO military cooperation, ongoing projects within the partnership framework, and areas of mutual interest. Prospects for future cooperation were also discussed. It was emphasized during the meetings that such visits reaffirm the strategic importance of Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation and contribute to further strengthening the atmosphere of mutual understanding. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel (KODE & KSN) After receiving hundreds of complaints about billing practices and customer service issues, the Missouri Public Service Commission wants to hear directly from customers of Liberty Utilities. In February, the PSC was ordered to investigate these complaints. Now a series of town hall meetings are scheduled to give customers a chance to talk directly to Liberty Utilities and the PSC staff conducting the investigation. The first meeting for southwest Missouri customers will be at the Aurora Rec Center on June 10th at 6 pm. The second meeting will be in the MSSU Criminal Justice Auditorium on June 12thalso at 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can find a complete list of planned meetings 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. While House Republicans celebrated passing the presidents big, beautiful spending bill by a one-vote margin Thursday, caucus members in the upper chamber remained unimpressed. Speaking with CNNs Manu Raju later that day, South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham shot down some of the cuts as not real, arguing that the House had done next to nothing to actually bring down federal spending. Even a $880 billion cut into Medicaid couldnt offset the gargantuan price tag on extending Donald Trumps 2017 tax cuts, which are estimated to add somewhere between $3.8 trillion and $5.3 trillion to the national debt. Those numbers have ruffled feathers among congressional budget hawks, who were under the impression that the Trump administration would be sizing down spending rather than beefing it up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americas national deficit is currently more than $36.8 trillion, as of the time of publishing. Some of the Freedom Caucus members are warning you guys not to water down any of their cuts, what do you say to them? Raju asked. Graham could only laugh. Well, you had your chance, the lawmaker said with a chuckle. Some of these cuts are not real. And were talking about over a decadeyou know, if you do a trillion and a half, thats like a percent and a half. So dont get high on our horse here that weve somehow made some major advancement of reducing spending because we didnt, Graham noted. Several conservative senators have indicated they wont vote for the bill if it includes a debt limit increase, including Senators Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, and Rick Scott. The growing coalition of budget-conscious naysayers is threatening enough to potentially keep the bill from reaching the presidents desk, as Republicans grapple with their narrow majority in the Senate. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Memorial Day is right around the corner, which means it is time to start thinking about what you are going to do to honor the day. Tips for navigating wet roads this Memorial Day weekend For many Americans, Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, and many look forward to the get-together cookouts or the big sales. Still, at its heart, it is a time to pause and reflect as a nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While everyone has the freedom to celebrate as they choose, Americans should also remember that this holiday is really a somber occasion. This holiday is different than Veterans Day, which honors those who have served. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was created during the Civil War, and it was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971. It honors and remembers all of the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, according to the National Day Calendar. It is also a day to remember loved ones who have passed away. Over 1.3 Million Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Traditionally, the United States flag is raised to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position until noon. At noon, it is then raised to full staff for the rest of the day. Raising the flag at noon is meant to signify the nations lives, that the country is resolved not to let their sacrifice be in vain but to rise in their honor and continue to fight for liberty and justice for all. Some ways to observe the holiday are by attending Memorial Day services in your community. Heres a list of events happening this year: Amherst The annual Memorial Day Procession and Ceremony will be held on Monday at 9:30 a.m., beginning at the intersection of Spring Street and Boltwood Avenue. It will finish at the War Memorial Pool in front of Amherst Regional High School with a ceremony. Belchertown On Friday, Senator Oliveira and Rep. Saunders to join EOHHS Undersecretary for Human Services Mary McGeown for the annual Memorial Service at the Warner Pine Grove Memorial Cemetery beginning at 1:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the Belchertown Veterans Council, in conjunction with the Friends of the Quabbin and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, will be hosting memorial services at Quabbin Park Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. On Monday, between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. at the South Cemetery, a salute to the veterans interred at Belchertowns South Cemetery. A parade will step off at 10:00 am from the town hall and conclude at the town common, followed by a ceremony. Chicopee Local veteran organizations will be visiting Chicopee grammar and middle schools on Friday, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with a Memorial Service, a brief history of Memorial Day and placing of a wreath at school flag poles, followed by the pledge of allegiance and National Anthem. On Sunday, there will be a Candlelight Ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Plaza on Chicopee Street at 7:00 pm hosted by the Vietnam Veterans of Western Massachusetts Chapter one-eleven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial Plaza located at 650 Front Street at 11:00 a.m. East Longmeadow The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held on Monday at the East Longmeadow High School. The outside ceremony will feature the East Longmeadow American Legion Post #293 members forming up at 10:30 AM and beginning a short march at 10:50 AM to the flag pole of East Longmeadow High School Greenfield The Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services District will recognize Memorial Day on Monday at 10 a.m. with a parade and ceremony. The route starts at Greenfield Middle School and concludes at Veterans Mall. Parade line-up begins at 9:30 a.m.. The route is as follows: Travels Down Federal Street. The route stops at the Federal Street Cemetery for the presentation of a remembrance wreath. Left onto Maple Street Right onto Franklin Street Right onto Main Street. The route stops at the Leavitt-Hovey House Mexican-American War statue and then left to the Greenfield Common for remembrance wreath presentations. Concludes at Veterans Mall for a short ceremony. Hampden Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. The parade will step off at 10:00 a.m. from St. Marys Catholic Church at 27 Somers Road, Hampden, and proceed down Main Street to the Veterans Memorial at the Hampden Town Center, where the towns Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at approximately 11:00 a.m. In the event of rain or inclement weather, the parade will be canceled, and the Memorial Day Ceremony will move indoors to Hampden Town Hall. Holyoke A Memorial Day ceremony will be held on Monday at the War Memorial Building located at 310 Appleton Street. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Post 325 will host a lunch beginning at noon until 2 p.m. Post 351 will be hosting a breakfast from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. and lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Pittsfield The City of Pittsfields annual Memorial Day procession (rain or shine) will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday. A ceremony will follow at the cemetery. Southampton A Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. from Norris School to Center Cemetery for flag and flower placement and prayer. The parade will then continue to Town Hall for a Memorial wreath laying and a speech. Springfield The citys annual Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony on the front steps of City Hall at noon on Friday. The ceremony will include a speaking program on the front steps, and a memorial wreath will be placed at each of the five veteran monuments, located at Veterans Way across from City Hall. Westfield The Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday with a new route. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. from City Hall and proceed down Court Street toward the center, turning right onto Broad Street, and right onto West Silver Street to Parker Memorial Park. It will be followed by a ceremony. West Springfield On Saturday, flagging of more than 2,200 military graves will be conducted throughout the Town. Volunteers are being asked to gather at St. Thomas Cemetery, located at 420 Kings Highway in West Springfield, at 9:00 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, a gathering will take place at 6:45 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Bridge, which connects West Springfield and Agawam off Front Street. The ceremony will start promptly at 7:00 a.m. and will include brief remarks in honor of those who served and sacrificed. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) will then begin their dawn patrol, visiting all local cemeteries where fallen service members are interred, as well as the Towns war memorials. The patrol is scheduled to begin around 8:00 a.m. at Ashleyville Cemetery on Riverdale Street. From there, it will go to Paucatuck Cemetery on Sibley Avenue, then to St. Thomas Cemetery on Pine Street, followed by White Church Cemetery on Elm Street. Additional stops will include the North End Bridge at the end of Park Avenue, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the intersection of Park Street and Elm Street, and will conclude at the War Veterans Memorial at the southeast end of the Town Common, near the North End rotary. West Springfields official Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. outside Town Hall, located at 26 Central Street in West Springfield. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Memorial Day is coming up, a time to reflect on those who lost their lives while serving our country. If youre looking for a way to commemorate this time, ABC4 has created a list of events happening over the weekend for the holiday. Know any events we missed? Let us know through our tipline. Box Elder County Art on Main: Art on Main in historic downtown Brigham City is a Veterans and Gold Star Families-themed festival showcasing a wide range of art, a chalk art contest, and more. It runs from May 23-24. Salt Lake County Japanese American Veterans Honored at Salt Lake City Cemetery: The Utah Chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League, Dai Ichi Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Japanese Church of Christ, and Salt Lake Buddhist Temple are holding a memorial service this weekend. A press release said that, as this year is the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the ceremony will honor the sacrifices of World War II veterans and other American veterans of Japanese descent who have passed on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the release, the service will be held Sunday, May 25, at 8:30 a.m. in the upper section of the Salt Lake City Cemetery at the World War II Japanese American veterans monument, at about 951 E. 11 Avenue. Larkin Mortuary Memorial Day Program: On Monday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Larkin Mortuary will be holding its annual Memorial Day program. Lt. Governor Deidre M. Henderson will be giving a speech at the event. There will also be a flag ceremony by the Hill Air Force Base Honor Guard and patriotic music performances. Memorial Day Car Show and Tribute: At Veterans Memorial Park in West Jordan, there will be a car show, food trucks, and live music this Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. It will go from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Memorial Weekend BBQ: At the pavilions near the KOA camp store, there will be a Memorial Day BBQ, with proceeds going toward the Care Camps Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memory Grove Park: Memory Grove Park in Salt Lake City features memorials dedicated to Utahs veterans and a replica of the Liberty Bell, as well as paths to walk, bike, or jog on. Plan ahead: UDOT anticipates heavy traffic for Memorial Day weekend Travis Manion Foundation Memorial Day Ceremony: The Travis Manion Foundation, which works to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes, will host The Honor Project to reflect on fallen military service members this Memorial Day weekend. It will be on Saturday, May 24, at Utah Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in Bluffdale at 9 a.m. According to a press release, more than 2,500 Travis Manion Foundation volunteers will be visiting 60 cemeteries across the country to place commemorative tokens and reflect on the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah Military Museum at Historic Fort Douglas: The Utah Military Museum at Historic Fort Douglas will be open on Memorial Day from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Entry is free. At 9 a.m., there will be a Memorial Day March from the museum to the cemetery. A ceremony will then take place at the cemetery, featuring performances, a guest speaker, wreath laying, a gun salute, and a memorial prayer. Utah Capitol Memorial Day Ceremony: The Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs will be hosting a Memorial Day Celebration on the south steps of the Utah Capitol Building on Monday, May 26. The event is free and will include remarks from state leaders, a special music performance, and a 21-gun salute by the Utah National Guard. There will be a display of a wreath and flags throughout the day as well. The ceremony will go from 11 a.m. 12 p.m. Memorial Day Ceremony: In West Valley City, the public is invited to a special ceremony at the Utah Veterans Memorial (3234 S Cultural Center Dr.) on Monday, May 26, starting at 9 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together, well honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, the West Valley City government posted on social media. 2025 Memorial Day Breakfast & Ceremony: In Herriman, the community is invited to gather at Main Street Park (5900 W 13000 S) from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. for a community breakfast. The meal costs $10 per person and comes with pancakes, ham, hashbrowns, juice, and coffee while supplies last. Meal tickets can be purchased ahead of time online. Herriman Citys ceremony will be held at the Herriman City Cemetery (12465 S Pioneer St) starting at 9 a.m. Utah County: American Fork Run of Remembrance: American Fork will be hosting a 10K, 5K, Memorial Mile, and Kids K in honor of Memorial Day on Monday, May 26. It will be at Robinson Park, beginning with the national anthem and veteran gun salute. Online, learn more about registration and start times for each race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eagle Mountain Memorial Day Ceremony: On Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m., Eagle Mountain City will be hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at the Pony Express Memorial Cemetery. The program will have a performance of Amazing Grace on bagpipes by John Miner, the posting of the colors by Scout Troop 111, a performance by Vocal Expressions, and remarks from Mayor Tom Westmoreland. Provo Memorial Day Service: The Freedom Festival, partnering with the Provo City Veterans Council, will be hosting a Memorial Day service on Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. at the Provo City Cemetery. Washington County Zion National Park: Many head to the outdoors during Memorial Day weekend. Zion National Park is a popular spot park rangers reporting that theyve been gearing up for the busy weekend. Last year, there were a recorded 92,000 visits during Friday-Monday of Memorial Day weekend, the park reported. If you plan on going this weekend, they said to prepare for limited parking and long lines. Remember, check conditions before you head out and bring plenty of water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parking is available in the town of Springdale, and you can take the free Springdale shuttle to the pedestrian entrance. Just make sure to bring your park pass or youll have to pay for one there, the park said in an online post. Weber County Ogden Union Station Boot Display: Operation Hero is hosting its annual Remember Utahs Fallen Service Members boot display at Ogden Union Station. The exhibit will be open from Saturday, May 24, to Monday, May 26. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. PITTSFORD, N.Y. (WROC) A Sunset Blvd mansion deemed historic by the Village of Pittsford has been listed for $1.5 million. With six beds, six bathrooms, and nearly 4,900 square feet News 8 is taking a look at the homes history. According to the Howard Hanna realtor assigned to the home, 19 Sunset Blvd was commissioned by Colonel Edward T. Wentworth after he served in France during World War I as a doctor. Colonel Wentworth was one of the cornerstones of what would become Rochester General Hospital. His photo can be seen in the hospitals lobby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colonel Wentworth was an orthopedic surgeon in the US Army who served during the war in the Provence area of France, where this style of home was typical. After returning from the war, Colonel Wentworth hired an architect to design his home, which combines French and English Tudor architectural styles. The house style, originating from Normandy, France, dates back to 1920 and was completed in 1929. In this design, the house and barn were combined into a single structure. The turret served as a storage space for grain and silage. The house was built for big family get-togethers and entertaining, and it has fulfilled that purpose perfectly. It has hosted several weddings, recitals, and holiday celebrations, and the mansion is recognized as a historic landmark in Pittsford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside 19 Sunset Blvd: a spiral staircase, leaded glass windows, and leaded glass windows. Outside, steel leaded windows, water tight Stucco, and Cypress wood beams. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSONVILLE, Ark. The Little Rock Air Force Base came together Thursday in solemn remembrance, holding its annual Memorial Day service to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. With the playing of Taps, the folding of the American flag and a moving three-volley salute, base leadership, active duty base members, families of fallen service members and the wider community gathered to reflect on the cost of freedomand the legacy of those who paid it. Flags placed at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those in attendance was Francis Bennett, father of the late Senior Airman Travis Bennett, who died while stationed at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. From 2010 to 2016, Travis served with distinction, a legacy that his father says lives on in ceremonies like this one. He was a no-nonsense, straightforward type of individual. I think he stood for all the principles that our country is about, Bennett said. Freedom is not free, theres a cost we have to pay. And I know thats what it meant to Travis also. The ceremony featured traditional military honors including the presentation of colors, a heartfelt flyover and the National Anthem. Around twenty families who have lost loved ones in the Air Force were present, their grief and pride evident as their fallen heroes were remembered. Installation Commander Col. Denny Davies emphasized that the day serves not only to honor the fallen but to inspire the living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honoring them in how we live, how we work, how we defend our country is at the forefront of our mind every day, said Davies. That phrase, be worthy, is really internalized by every Airman and civilian who works here. We are constantly trying to be worthy of those that came before us. Arkansas fallen veteran honored by NASCAR driver on Memorial Day Francis Bennett echoed those sentiments, sharing his enduring gratitude for the base that honored his son and continues to uphold the ideals he believed in. Justice for all, liberty, the Constitutionthose types of things. He took that to heart, and it meant a lot to him to be part of the military service to preserve those rights, Bennett said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Hours after a deadly plane crash that wreaked havoc in a San Diego neighborhood for military families, federal authorities and emergency crews have begun attending to the wreckage. The crash in San Diegos Murphy Canyon neighborhood involving a small Cessna 550 en route to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport a general aviation airport to the west of the crash site killed at least three and injured eight others, according to local authorities. The impact of the crash exploded into a number of fires, sparked by spilled jet fuel and downed power lines. The fires burned through more than a dozen homes and vehicles parked along the street, creating a scene described by a local fire official as a gigantic debris field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration officials were called to the scene to lead the investigation into what caused the Cessna plane to plummet into the single-family neighborhood. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also on scene. Local crews are expected to begin clean-up in the coming hours, while the aircraft is not expected to be recovered until Saturday. In the meantime, more than 100 families have been evacuated to a temporary shelter at Hancock Elementary School at 3303 Taussig St. Follow live-updates from FOX 5/KUSI below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. NEW YORK Andrew Cuomos mayoral campaign is intertwined with a New York City-based lobbying firm that is providing services for free and stands to have a top ally in City Hall if he wins. Cuomos arrangement with Tusk Strategies is saving the Democratic frontrunner tens of thousands of dollars on consulting fees, based on a review of rates his rivals pay for similar services. That allows him to spend more money on direct outreach to voters in the form of TV ads, mailers and digital spots. The Democrats campaign is employing at least four people from another major lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs, in Cuomos bid to oust Mayor Eric Adams. Campaign spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said Mercury is being paid as a general consultancy. He then cited lobbyists working for opponents Zellnor Myrie, Adrienne Adams, Brad Lander and Eric Adams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tusk presents a different case. The prominent firm, which ran Andrew Yangs 2021 mayoral campaign, has been playing an integral role in Cuomos bid since before he entered the race in March, ahead of the June 24 primary. CEO Chris Coffey is involved in the campaign, providing communications advice to the former New York governor and handling outreach to the citys politically influential Orthodox Jewish leaders, as first reported by POLITICO. His business partner, Shontell Smith, works as the political director of Cuomos campaign. Tusk Strategies paid for two public polls one in February, released days before Cuomo entered the race, and a second less than month after the March campaign launch which found the former governor handily leading the primary field. Both surveys were conducted by the Honan Strategy Group and helped solidify a perception of inevitability around Cuomo that helped with endorsements and fundraising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coffey described his role as an informal advisor in a volunteer capacity. Azzopardi said Smith is paid directly by the campaign in a personal capacity. Coffey said the campaign does not take up much of his time, though three people familiar with his role in Cuomos circle who were granted anonymity to freely discuss its inner workings recently described it as more involved than he did. Coffeys firm is also running a 501(c)(4) called Restore Sanity NYC, whose literature matches Cuomos campaign messaging down to a photo of the remodeled LaGuardia Airport Terminal he oversaw as governor. The organization, first reported by The CITY and the New York Times, does not mention a candidate on its mailers. Its structure as a nonprofit allows it to raise and spend unlimited sums while shielding the identity of its donors during the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campaigns are legally barred from coordinating with super PACs, like the one that has raised some $9 million to boost Cuomos mayoral bid. The citys Campaign Finance Board has withheld $622,056 in public matching funds as it investigates whether Cuomos campaign coordinated with the PAC, Fix the City. Azzopardi has said he expects to receive the full amount of eligible matching funds once the regulators complete their probe. Groups like Restore Sanity NYC which purport not to help any particular candidate are not beholden to a prohibition on coordination. Nevertheless, Coffey and one of his employees Alex Sommer separately said the CEO is walled off from any involvement in the organization, following what the Times and a person familiar with the matter described as his outreach to potential donors in March. POLITICO reviewed an April 16 document memorializing that firewall. Tusk Strategies, of course, stands to gain financially from a share of the revenue raised by the group. Im the CEO of a firm with 35 plus people and 40 plus clients with three offices around the country. I also chair two NYC nonprofits (Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and WIN), Coffey said in a statement. That, along with spending time with my two kids and my husband, take up the vast majority of my time and focus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That being said, he added, I love this city and care deeply about its future, which is why Ive worked on or volunteered (Quinn, Cuomo) for every mayoral campaign for [the] last 25 years and am beyond proud to do the same for Andrew Cuomo. Tusk was founded by its namesake, political consultant Bradley Tusk, who ran Mike Bloombergs 2009 mayoral campaign. It primarily advises corporate clients and lobbies state agencies. Coffey also routinely informally advises New York politicians, and his firm ran most of Yangs campaign in house four years ago. Cuomos campaign filing will be public in the coming days; its not yet known how much his team is paying Mercury. Longtime Cuomo confidant Charlie King, one of the campaigns earliest hires, is a Mercury partner. King worked with Cuomo in the Clinton administration and was his preferred running mate during a disastrous 2002 run for governor, and the two men have remained close. POLITICO in January reported that King was vetting potential campaign staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Cuomo prepared to enter the race, Mercury announced the hiring of Jennifer Bayer Michaels, a former Cuomo fundraiser who does not lobby. She now serves as the Cuomo campaigns finance director. Ten days after Cuomos March 1 entrance into the race, The New York Post reported his campaign hired Edu Hermelyn, a Mercury senior vice president, to be a political advisor. Hermelyn is the husband of Democratic Party leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who endorsed Cuomo shortly after he entered the race. Jake Dilemani, a Mercury partner, was also involved in hiring staff and running campaign operations, and is listed as a lobbyist." It is not uncommon that public affairs professionals work for firms that also provide lobbying services, Azzopardi said, citing four rivals on-staff lobbyists all of whom are being paid, per public filings and statements from those campaigns. While we are busy reaching voters and running a campaign, I'm sure POLITICO, with all of its sprawling resources, will do a careful review of all of the other candidates and their consultants who also lobby or work for firms that provide lobbying services. CORRECTION: This article has been corrected to reflect that Jake Dilemani is a registered lobbyist and to clarify his role on Cuomo's campaign. EUCLID, Ohio (WJW) It is one of the easiest things you can do to help someone else. Giving blood takes just a little time, but it has a big impact on the lives of others. Giving blood is also one of the best ways to remember those whose lives had a big impact on others. Euclid police officer Jacob Derbin, 23, was killed in the line of duty last year. This spring, that commitment to service continues as his community honors his memory by giving life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its something that we just thought of honoring him and his family. His mother is a nurse at Cleveland Clinic and theyre just the greatest family. Theyve done a lot for Euclid and its something we can use to remember Jacob Derbin for, drive organizer Brittany Conoly said. New safety measures in place for St. Mary Magdalene Homecoming Festival There is a blood drive at Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital every other or month or so, but this blood drive, which is in its second year, helps more than just the people who will receive blood. It helps the community not only remember Derbin but to carry on his memory through giving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My son worked with him in Euclid. My sons a police officer and its important that everyone get out and donate blood. Jim Ralph, of Euclid, said. Its also important for police officers to carry on as they continue the difficult work of protecting and helping their communities. Were just giving a little part of ourselves and this young officer gave all of himself in service to others, so this is just kind of a way to do your small part to recognize his memory and commitment and service because he really did so much for so many, University Circle Police Chief Tom Wetzel said. Blossom posts warning to Jason Aldean fans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Red Cross will collect dozens of pints of blood from this drive and every drop will go to preserve someones life. Its a good way to remember an officer who gave his life to help others. We lost a life, but this is a good way to give back to that, Conoly said. Learn more about donating blood right here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Shockwaves of despair are leaving Jewish families in the Kansas City metro in disbelief. Members at Overland Parks Congregation BNai Jehudah remember Prairie Village native Sarah Milgrim as being radiant and someone who stood up for everything positive about the Jewish faith, and her beloved Israel, too. Her Wednesday night murder in Washington, D.C., leaves many community advocates speaking out against acts of antisemitic violence, the number of which is climbing quickly, according to the American Jewish Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prairie Village native killed in antisemitic attack in D.C. It hits really close to home, Neta Meltzer, who directs the AJCs regional office in Overland Park, Kansas, cites statistics that show 77% of Jewish Americans feel increasingly unsafe since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched the deadliest attack in Israels history. We want everyone to understand that this is a moment of pain for our community, and in general, this is not a normal time for the Jewish community. The rates of antisemitic incidents are record-breaking over the last couple of years, Meltzer said on Thursday. In April, FOX4 reported on the new local billboards posted by JewBelong, a New York-based advocacy group. The bright pink visuals are meant to inform the public about acts of violence and discrimination against Jewish people. The group says those incidents have increased by 500% locally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mindy Corporon said Migrims murder leaves her angry and sad. In April 2014, former Ku Klux Klan member Frazier Glenn Cross killed three people outside Overland Parks Jewish Community Center. Search underway in south central Kansas for missing Overland Park woman Cross was targeting Jews, but instead, he shot three non-Jewish people, including Corporons father, Dr. William Corporon, and her son, Reat Underwood. Shes since founded Seven Days, a non-profit that promotes acts of kindness and community harmony. The hate talk has been allowed, and when hate talk is allowed, then, further violence happens, and thats what just occurred. It builds up, and has significant further violence, Corporon said, reacting to Milgrims untimely demise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AJC also says more than 50% of Jewish people living in the United States have taken steps to conceal their affiliation, like refusing to wear symbols and yarmulkes, in an effort to protect themselves. SevenDays released a statement Thursday night saying: We honor Sarahs voice, her courage, and her life. Sarah and Yaron were building a future togetherhe had just bought a ring and planned to propose next week. Their lives were stolen in what officials are calling a targeted act of violence. We will not name the perpetrator. We choose to speak the names of the victims, to carry their memory forward with love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At SevenDays, we know too well the devastation hate brings. Our mission was born from it. And yet, we believe in a powerful antidotekindness. Even as we condemn this senseless act of violence, we reject any effort to use it as a reason to stir more hate. Our path forward must be one of understanding and unity. Hate can be loudbut kindness can ripple wider and deeper, if we choose to act. To anyone reading this and wondering what you can do: be a ripple of kindness today. Speak up. Reach out. Include others. Visit SevenDays.org for ways to growfoster understanding in your community. Together, we will overcome hate with kindness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. ''Your Excellency, I sincerely congratulate Your Excellency and the people of your country on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The shared history of our friendly and neighboring peoples, along with the unbreakable bonds between them, has created a valuable foundation for the development of relations between our countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to expand and elevate these relations to the level of a strategic partnership based on our common interests. In this regard, we emphasize the importance of accelerating the completion of joint projects in various fields, including transport, electricity, and natural gas, increasing the volume of trade, and facilitating people-to-people contacts. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that by respecting the territorial integrity of countries, communication channels will open that can play an important role in establishing lasting peace and security in the region. I pray to Almighty Allah for Your Excellencys good health and success, and wish the people of Azerbaijan happiness and bright days,'' the letter reads. (WBRE/WYOU) Elected officials from our area are weighing in after the house passed the One Beautiful Bill Act. The package will now advance to the senate. 28/22 news reporter Amelia Sack spoke with Representative Rob Bresnahan (R) about the bill. Bresnahan says it was a lengthy process to get this bill passed and get it to where it stands today. While Bresnahan believes the bill is far from perfect, he says it will benefit people in NEPA in a number of ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 48 hours ago, this wasnt something I was willing to support, stated Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08). Congressman Rob Bresnahan says the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed after hours of discussion. He says the new bill has brought concerns about cuts to Medicare, but says the bill makes no mention of any drawbacks. Medicare is not involved in any of these conversations whatsoever, said Rep. Bresnahan Medicaid on the other hand could face some eligibility changes. A new rule would require 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. This excludes a large number of groups including pregnant women and disabled veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was designed to get rid of the waste, the fraud and the abuse. And getting rid of illegal aliens from receiving benefits from our american taxpayers, explained Rep. Bresnahan. The bill also includes 12 and a half billion dollars to air traffic control modernization and includes other additions Bresnahan believes will benefit NEPA. We have now doubled child tax credits. Small businesses are gonna be able to make the necessary reinvestments. Research and development credits for our communities and our advanced manufacturing, expressed Rep. Bresnahan. While there is still work to be done, Bresnahan believes the bill will help working class middle America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill could be finalized by the end of July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) The recent heavy rain weve been seeing lately has created some challenges for Brunelles Marina in South Hadley. The marina initially planned to have all its docks installed and ready for use by the upcoming holiday weekend. But due to rising water levels and strong currents, this has halted the process. The marina has only been able to install a few docks so far, with more still needing to be put in. Unfortunately, this means that docks will not be available for use during the busy Memorial Day weekend. And with the current conditions, the marina says it also poses a danger to boaters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rainfall in western Mass. alleviates drought conditions Captain of Lady Bea, Jamie Brunelle, told 22News, You can see where its up over where we usually are. Its even with our bank uses below our bank, and thats where we can get our conditions, our conditions are based on that. So there are areas where we can go into the water. Right now, its too high to get in there. The marina says they are closely keeping an eye on the water levels and will resume installing the remaining docks when it is safe to do so. They hope to have docks ready for boaters by the end of the month. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) As the NATO Parliamentary Assembly kicks off Thursday downtown, local organizations are commemorating Daytons role in advancing peace worldwide. The Dayton International Peace Museum has opened several exhibits to share Daytons legacy with local residents and international visitors. Action starts here, and starts in Dayton, said Alice Young-Basora, Dayton Peace Museum executive director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LIST: Public invited to forums during NATO Assembly The 2025 NATO Spring Assembly is the first to be held in the country in 20 years, and its happening right here in Dayton. Its something that everybody here is very proud of, that we were a part of stopping a war, said Young-Basora. We were a part of creating peace in a region. Its been 30 years since the Dayton Peace Accords were signed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, effectively ending the Bosnian War. To commemorate the anniversary, Dayton was chosen to host this years NATO Spring Assembly. Were hoping that theyll come to Dayton and be inspired by what were doing here, said Young-Basora. The messages that we have here in our walls and our rooms and our words, go home and share it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peace Museum is running several exhibits this month to educate and inspire. Weve got the exhibit on NATO, weve also got our new anti-war gallery just opened up, and then weve got a photojournalist from Sarajevo, said Young-Basora. He gave us access to a ton of his photos, which really, he lived there before, during and after the war. LIST: What is closing in Dayton during the NATO Assembly? The museums goal is to change peoples perspective on peace. Young-Basora says peace can be described as the absence of war, but is much bigger than just that. Peace is knowing your neighbor and helping somebody and doing the things around us that other people maybe arent doing, to make the world a better place, said Young-Basora. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peace Museum will be closed from May 18 through May 28 due to the NATO Village. But the exhibits will be available for the next few months, giving you plenty of time to check them out. Learn more by visiting the Peace Museums 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 WDTN.com. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) An upcoming Lancaster County event will allow Pennsylvanians to replace their damaged license plates for free. On May 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Quarryville Borough Police Department will host a PennDOT damaged license plate replacement event in collaboration with state Representative Bryan Cutler (R-100) and state Senator Scott Martin (R-13). Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast The free event will take place at the Quarryville Borough Police Department station at 300 Saint Catherine Street, police said. Police said officers will inspect license plates and assist in preparing a required PennDOT document to have a plate replaced. Interested parties can register by calling Quarryville Borough Police at 717-397-1309. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Sullivan County Sheriff Jason Bobbitt gave his reaction after a jury found William Grimes guilty of murder, burglary, and conspiracy to commit burglary on Wednesday. Sullivan County Sheriff Jason Bobbitt was a deputy when Badger was killed. He was the first law enforcement person to arrive at Badgers house when the murder occurred. Since then, he said he worked closely with the Indiana State Polices Cold Case Division to help them solve the case. Bobbitt said its a relief for him, the community, and the Badger family to finally see someone convicted of the murder all these years later. Its a blessing that its, the family finally got some closure For something that bad to happen and it not be solved. The community, Im sure, is satisfied. Everybody is happy for the Badger family that they got some closure I just think the community and everybody needs to keep the Badger family in their thoughts and prayers. Yes, they do have closure, but theyre an amazing family, and Im just tickled to death they finally got some closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bobbitt added that since the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office is a smaller agency the trial was very taxing on his officers due to a lot of moving pieces behind-the-scenes like transporting witnesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) Shawn Cupp was overcome with emotion as she looked at the dirt patch where her home on Philpot Road in London once stood. It is also where her brother, David, nearly died in Fridays tornado. Its amazing that he made it, Cupp said through tears. He said he remembers it picking him up and it slinging him through the wall. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said David was diagnosed with spinal meningitis as a baby, which caused long-term damage to his brain. After their mother passed, Shawn became the primary caregiver of her now 46-year-old brother. Shawn was on her way home from work when the tornado came through, which meant that David was home alone. Fortunately, though, neighbors heard his cries for help. My brother was lying on his bedroom door when they found him, so they just grabbed the bedroom door and slid him out of the rubble that was down there, about 80 feet from where he started at, she said. David is still in the ICU, but his life will never be the same. His injuries from the storm left him paralyzed from the waist down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He tried to stand up, and he couldnt, so he said he knew he was paralyzed, Cupp said. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: When David was found, Shawn told FOX 56 that their mothers urn was lying just feet from David, almost completely intact. God and I believe wholeheartedly my mom was with him. Theres no other explanation as to why hes still here, she said. Now, a GoFundMe account has been set up to help get them a new home. But not just that, one thats accessible for David, and what Shawn calls their new normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just have absolutely nothing left, and they said Im looking at a couple of months before he comes home, and I need to have him home and have everything accessible, Cupp said. I want to have everything to make him as comfortable as possible, to give him the best life that I can. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) London Mayor Randle Weddle is sounding the alarm, saying some pets displaced by the deadly tornado are now being stolen. He said in some cases, animals are being taken across state lines to be sold. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not going to tolerate that. These people just lost everything. And I can assure you that Judge Westerfield is not going to tolerate it either. Because thats just absolutely disgusting. Do the right thing. Even if you have to bring that animal down here to the art centerwere going to figure it out. And we want to get that dog or cat, turtle, hamster, or whatever back to its owner, because thats where they belong, Weddle said. If youre missing a pet, Mayor Weddle urges you to contact his office or post online. And if you know of anyone stealing or selling animalsreport it immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Leon County deputies arrested the driver Florida Highway Patrol says is responsible for the July 2024 crash in Jacksonville that killed 7-year-old Serenity Holland. Mugshot: Leon County Sheriff's Office The Leon County Sheriffs Office says Quintarrius Donald was arrested in Tallahassee on Thursday. Hes now facing two charges in Duval County: vehicular homicide and driving with a suspended license. The sheriffs office says hes had two previous charges in Leon County: driving without a license and driving under the influence. The arrest was made 10 months after Florida Highway Patrol says the crash happened as Hollands mom was driving her and Serenity on the Buckman Bridge. The crash report says Donald hit the back of their car going 95 miles per hour, 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Hollands sister tells Action News Jax seeing an arrest made so many months after the crash hasnt taken any of the pain from Serenitys death away, but is helping the family heal. Its just been like a long 10 months for me and my family, said Shawndell McGriff, Serenitys sister. There were definitely times where I didnt think he would get arrested. Florida law says vehicular homicides are second-degree felonies, which carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Donald hasnt yet been convicted, but McGriff is planning to push state lawmakers to write a new law creating harsher sentences for drivers who are convicted in similar crashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Life is so precious and its like they give people a few years for killing someone in a car accident, McGriff said, I want to make sure this doesnt happen to anyone else. Donald was taken to the Leon County jail after his arrest. Action News Jax is working to learn when he will be brought back to Duval County to go before a judge for the charges against him. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Local nonprofit Longmont Latinx Voices is supporting 10 high school seniors with scholarships as they pursue their college dreams. Giovanni Montez Chavez. (Courtesy photo) The Longmont nonprofit awards scholarships annually to St. Vrain Valley School District seniors, who were presented with their scholarships earlier this month. The Latino and Latina students each received $1,000, which they can put toward their higher education plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years recipients are Diego Doton, Giovanni Montez Chavez, Justice Montoya, Edgar Nevarez Pena, Litzy Ortiz and Gisselle Sales Rodriguez of Skyline High School; Maria Arrece Garcia and Mahuiztli Martinez of Niwot High School; Emanuel Palacios of Longmont High School; and Alexander Westbrooke of Frederick High School. A few of the scholarship winners are going to the University of Colorado Boulder. Sales Rodriguez plans to study psychology at the university. Before heading to CU Boulder, Sales Rodriguez was recognized by a different higher education institution. She received her business certification from Front Range Community College last week through a dual enrollment program at Skyline. Sales Rodriguez will be the first person in her family to go to a four-year college. She said the scholarship will be a really big help with her college expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement College isnt going to cover itself, she said. Even just a little help goes a really long way, and Im really thankful for that. Fellow Skyline student Edgar Nevarez Pena plans to study aerospace engineering at CU Boulder. Since he likes planes and working with his hands, he thinks the major will be a good fit for him. Maria Arrece Garcia is heading to Vanderbilt University, where she wants to study mechanical engineering. As a Niwot High student, she participated in the robotics program and the student council. Arrece Garcias mom is Mexican and her dad is Peruvian. She said shes thankful that local students and their families are supported by Longmont Latinx Voices, and hopes that her scholarship will inspire her younger sister to pursue college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Montoya. (Courtesy photo) Applying for this scholarship seemed perfect, because culture is really important to me, Arrece Garcia said. I really love Longmont, and being able to get a scholarship from such a vibrant community is obviously a really great thing. Litzy Ortiz wants to study data analytics at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder. She said the scholarship will ease the financial burden on her and her parents. It helps me not feel overwhelmed, Ortiz said. Each Longmont Latinx Voices scholarship is named in honor of a community member. Ortizs scholarship honored Linda Marquez, who was a Longmont resident and activist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought that was really nice, on their part, to have someone to honor, Ortiz said. Most SVVSD schools will host their commencement ceremonies on Saturday. Alexander Westbrooke. (Courtesy photo) Emanuel Palacios. (Courtesy photo) Mahuiztli Martinez. (Courtesy photo) Maria Arrece Garcia. (Courtesy photo) Gisselle Sales Rodriguez. (Courtesy photo) Edgar Nevarez Pena. (Courtesy photo) Litzy Ortiz. (Courtesy photo) After more than four decades with the station, news anchor Cheryl McHenry is saying goodbye to WHIO-TV. McHenry, a University of Cincinnati grad, began working for the Dayton news station in 1981. She spent 44 years covering the Miami Valley before retiring May 21. "It's bittersweet to say goodbye to our viewers as I prepare for my final newscast at 6 p.m. today," she wrote Wednesday on social media. "I've decided to retire after 44 years at WHIO. Thank you for allowing me the honor to serve you. Thank you for your cards (still haven't opened them all) and gifts." "Cheryl has had a major impact on this organization, this community and certainly the operation at this station," Darren Moore, VP and General Manager of WHIO-TV and WHIO Radio, told Dayton Daily News. "Shes excellent, a real pro. Shes a true broadcaster someone you can always trust. She also inspires people and gives encouragement. Its amazing to see someone of her stature and status take the time to make others feel special." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although she spent most of her career covering news as an anchor and investigative reporter just north of the Queen City, McHenry's journalism career began in Cincinnati. Longtime WHIO-TV anchor Cheryl McHenry retired May 21 after 44 years at the Dayton news station. After graduating from Carroll High School in 1974, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting from the University of Cincinnati. "A bonus to being a student at UC: I could hop on the city bus and go to Reds games. I was a huge fan of the Big Red Machine of the 1970s," her WHIO biography reads. During her senior year of college, she interned at WKRC radio. "Almost everybody who got into TV in the 70s and early 80s came through radio, which I thought was great training," she said to Dayton Daily News. Cheryl McHenry in 1981, her first year with WHIO, News Center 7. After three more years in radio, she entered the television world as a reporter at WHIO in 1981. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout her career, McHenry received several accolades, including nine Emmys for her breaking news coverage and a variety of other stories, such as the tragic Oregon District shooting. In her final sign-off, the anchor couldn't help but shed a few tears. "If you tuned in to see a grown woman cry, you've come to the right place," she said. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Longtime WHIO anchor Cheryl McHenry retires BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Azerbaijani Parliament has ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on cooperation in the field of plant quarantine and plant protection, Trend reports. According to information, this issue was discussed today at the plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament. The bill On approval of Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on cooperation in the field of plant quarantine and plant protection was put to vote and adopted in the first reading. The agreement between Azerbaijan and Pakistan On cooperation in the field of plant quarantine and plant protection was signed on February 24, 2025, in Lahore (Pakistan). The purpose of the agreement is to jointly combat plant diseases and pests, prevent the spread of pests, as well as ensure the safe circulation of agricultural products and food security. The document is concluded for 5 years and is automatically renewed for a further period of 5 years, unless one of the parties expresses its intention to terminate it. Any amendments or modifications are possible only based on mutual consent and are formalized in the form of a protocol. This Agreement is of strategic importance for Azerbaijan, as compliance with international phytosanitary requirements is a prerequisite for the export of agricultural products. The document, on the one hand, facilitates the entry of domestic products to foreign markets, and on the other hand, creates an effective legal mechanism to prevent the risk of pest penetration through imported goods. Thus, the Agreement is an important normative act that promotes both the protection of economic interests and biosanitary security. Members of the Maine House of Representatives during the first session of 2024 in the State House in Augusta. Jan. 3, 2024. Photo: Jim Neuger The chambers are not always aligned on every bill. When the Maine Senate votes one way and the Maine House of Representatives another, they have a chance to reconsider or alternately to insist on their position. If they are unable to reconcile their differences, legislation then dies in nonconcurrence (though technically they could be recalled with a two-thirds vote). Some of the bills that died in this fashion: LD 542, which would have established municipal property tax levy limits, restoring provisions of a law that was repealed in 2023; LD 828, which would allow chiropractors to be designated as school health advisors; LD 1013, which would require voter approval if a municipality is seeking to issue a $10 million or more bond; LD 421, which would have repealed certain drivers license suspension provisions to eliminate barriers to reentry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the action has moved out of committees and to the House and Senate floor. After Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) whizzed through a stack of bills on Thursday, Sen. Chip Curry (D-Waldo) complimented her speed, sayingshe got faster each bill, clocking in at under 35 seconds from the opening to closing of the last. Bravo, he said. Some other votes of note: Members of both chambers overwhelmingly supported what was dubbed the famous chicken bill, (LD 1655) which bars a county or municipality from adopting a regulation that prohibits a person from keeping chickens on their residential property. Time to put the chickens to roost, said Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor). Both chambers backed legislation (LD 698) that provides ongoing funds to emergency homeless shelters in Maine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority of the House and Senate backed a bill (LD 599) to raise the salary threshold for overtime pay. During debate in the Senate, where it passed 18-14, Labor Committee Chair Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) said the threshold is in need of updating and that it would help prevent employers from misclassifying employees to deny them overtime. House and Senate lawmakers narrowly backed legislation (LD 538) that would amend Maines prescription drug labeling law by allowing someone who prescribes abortion drugs, including mifepristone, misoprostol and generic alternatives, to remove their name. Rep. Sally Cluchey (D-Bowdoinham) said the proposal comes directly from providers who have been subject to harassing phone calls and targeted bomb threats and are concerned about their safety and the safety of their families. Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport), who voted against the bill, said it shouldnt be thought of as a referendum on abortion but rather an issue of medical transparency and the publics right to know who is prescribing powerful drugs. After passage in the House last week, the Senate voted 18-14 to back a bill (LD 1080) to prohibit public utilities from requiring deposits based solely on a residential customers income. Both chambers unanimously backed legislation (LD 1360) requiring the Secretary of State to provide the option for a drivers license or a nondriver identification card that does not meet the standards of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. (Read more about the issue here). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also supported a bill (LD 530) that would eliminate the provision that presumes bar applicants who had been convicted of a crime punishable by at least one year in prison dont have the good moral character required to be a lawyer. Bill sponsor Rep. David Boyer (R-Poland) said he proposed it after conversations with someone who was formerly incarcerated and had to spend a lot of money to become a lawyer. Boyer argued, given the states indigent defense crisis, that Maine should take steps to allow more people to become lawyers. He also noted the bill doesnt go as far as the recommendations of the American Bar Association on the matter. The chambers voted to back LD 1123, which provides ongoing funds to establish two positions to facilitate MaineCare reimbursements for local school districts. During the House floor debate, Rep. Michael Brennan (D-Portland), who co-chairs the Education Committee, said the state has left millions in Medicaid funding in Washington, D.C. that could have come to Maine schools and students. The new positions are meant to help the state better access those reimbursements. Lawmakers unanimously adopted a bill (LD 1604) that seeks to address forever chemicals from landfill leachate entering groundwater and surface waters. (Read more on that here). Emergency legislation (LD 1022) to increase funding for the civil legal services fund, which supports the provision of free legal services to low-income defendants, passed the Senate by a vote of 30-2 and the House 96-46. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both chambers voted in favor of a bill (LD 784) to require health insurance coverage for specialized risk screening for first responders. Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), who voted against the measure, said he wasnt opposed to firefighters receiving health insurance, but said his party believes the Labor Committee should be dealing with this issue with a workers comp lens. Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York) said the insurance committee has dealt with the issue twice and said with this bill they are trying to give coverage upfront. Both chambers also supported legislation (LD 666) that would provide $2.5 million each year to the Department of Corrections for certified domestic violence intervention programs. Both chambers voted unanimously to back a resolve (LD 1148) directing the Secretary of State to study providing access to absentee ballots for municipal elections to uniformed service voters or overseas voters as it does for statewide elections. They also overwhelmingly backed a provision (LD 1576) that would extend the one year lobbying prohibition for former executive branch employees to also include former employees of the legislative branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the action of the House, senators voted 19-13 to reject two bills (LD 189 and LD 743) that would eliminate the requirement for health care facilities to obtain a certificate of need for the provision of mental health and substance use disorder services. (You can read about a similar proposal last session.) Following the House last week, the Senate voted 18-14 to reject a bill (LD 451), which would require operators of wind or solar developments to test for PFAS and, if so, determine if contamination was reasonably caused by the development. While proponents argued that solar panels are leaking PFAS into the ground, Sen. Mark Lawrence (D-York) pointed out that Maine has already passed bans on products with intentionally added PFAS, which includes solar farms. The purpose behind it is not PFAS, he said of the bill, but rather its to slow down the growth of renewable energy. A resolution (LD 492) proposing an amendment to the state constitution to provide for parental rights was rejected by the Senate 19-17 following a House vote against the measure last week. (More on this here). Sen. David Haggan (R-Penobscot) argued the amendment would restore parental control over what happens to their children. Weve got to give parents the proper respect and rights to guide their children to adulthood the way they see fit, he said. However, Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) pointed out that, Maine already has constitutional rights for parents that are greater than most states and said the amendment would undermine court rulings related to parents rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House and Senate rejected a bill (LD 935) that would direct the Department of Environmental Protection to report on air and soil chemical and metal levels on solar farm sites. Proponents said they are concerned about solar energy installments having unintended consequences with the leaching of certain chemicals. However, Rep. Victoria Doudera (D-Camden) said the department doesnt have the capacity or funds to test each of the more than 700 solar sites in Maine. Both the House and Senate voted to reject a bill (LD 266) that would require voter signatures to be updated every five years. A bill that would repeal the laws allowing same-day voter registration (LD 349) was rejected 125-18 in the House and under the hammer in the Senate. During the House discussion, some Republicans noted that their voters use same-day registration more than any other party. The Senate voted 19-13 against a resolve (LD 635) directing the state attorney general to drop its climate change lawsuit against Big Oil companies. Before the House voted 81-65 against the measure, Rep. Michael Lemelin (R-Chelsea) declared climate change a hoax, saying it is 100% physically impossible to prove that any fossil fuel use has had anything to do with climate change. (The vast majority of scientists, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, say burning fossil fuels is the largest driver of climate change). Other critics argued the attorney general should be putting resources into battling the drug epidemic instead, to which Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor) responded that he has and it produced monetary settlements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both chambers voted to reject a provision (LD 206) that would eliminate the automatic cost-of-living adjustment to the minimum hourly wage. Following the committee recommendation, the chambers voted to reject a proposal (LD 220) to establish a scholarship for students enrolled in certain private schools or homeschooled that would shift state and district funding allocated for each student to the accounts. Following the House vote last week, senators voted 17-14 to reject legislation (LD 174) that would reinstate nonmedical exemptions for school-required vaccines, six years after that provision was repealed. After the Senate failed to garner enough votes to enact (LD 771), the chambers are now split over a provision to amend the Maine Criminal Code to define amphetamine and methamphetamine to mean any compound, mixture or preparation containing any quantity of those substances. Supporters said the change addresses a gap in drug laws but Sen. Chip Curry (D-Waldo) argued the bill would lower the standard for what it means to be a trafficker because its common for people to cut drugs with other substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, a bill (LD 16) that would establish separate prosecutorial districts in Downeast Maine is also in nonconcurrence after the House rejected the measure. Having initially voted against the measure, the majority of the Senate voted against enactment and then accepted an amended version of the bill, which would create a new prosecutorial district for Washington County. The chambers are also divided over legislation (LD 639) that would remove the requirement that the Maine Criminal Justice Academys law enforcement training program must be a residential program. After the Senate backed an amended version of the proposal, the House voted several times and ultimately insisted on its position against the bill. And a proposal (LD 53) to establish the November General Election Day as a school holiday for school buildings used as voting places is in limbo after it passed the House but was rejected by the Senate. Other bills that passed both chambers: And some of the ones that didnt: LD 878 Resolve, to Study the Effects of 5G and Other Non-ionizing Radio Frequency Radiation-emitting Technology on Bird, Bee, Insect and Other Wildlife Populations and the Effects of Long-term Exposure on Children LD 835 An Act to Allow Children to Participate in Beano Games Conducted by Nonprofit Charitable Organizations LD 992 An Act to Protect Consumers from Hidden Fees and Ensure Transparent Pricing for Live Event Tickets and Short-term Lodging LD 486 An Act to Remove the Duty of an Individual Exercising Self-defense to Safely Retreat or Abstain from Performing Certain Acts upon Demand LD 1057 Resolve, to Aid Municipalities, Animal Control Officers and Other Parties in Complying with Electronic Dog Licensing Requirements LD 1008 An Act to Require the Attorney General to Seek Legislative Approval Before Filing Any Civil Suit on Behalf of the State and to Authorize Citizen-initiated Petitions to Move for Dismissal LD 1371 An Act to Tie Judicial Salaries to the Average Judicial Salaries of Other New England States LD 656 An Act to Save Tax Dollars in Maines Elections by Amending the Laws Governing When a Ranked-choice Voting Count Must Be Conducted LD 1210 An Act to Regarding Renewable Electricity Generation by Hydropower Projects Senate action Senators rejected an effort (SP 10) to adopt an amendment calling for an Article V constitutional convention to consider an amendment to allow states to better regulate campaign finance, as well as one to establish term limits for U.S. Congress. After sponsor Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) asked the body to take up the resolution over the committee recommendation against the measure. (More on the proposal here) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate voted 19-13 against legislation (LD 429) that would require hospitals to collect information regarding patients immigration status and produce quarterly reports to the Department of Health and Human Services providing the aggregate cost of medical care provided to patients who are asylum seekers. The Senate unanimously approved legislation (LD 1219) to provide ongoing funds to support a 4% increase in funding to the University of Maine System for the next two fiscal years. Some of the other bills passed by the Senate: House action The House voted under the hammer to back LD 747, which if passed would provide rental assistance for students experiencing homelessness. (More on this here). The House first took up the minority report rejecting legislation (LD 738) that would remove barriers to becoming a lawyer by allowing an individual who has studied law for four years in a law office study program under the supervision of a qualified judge or attorney to qualify for the bar exam without attending law school. The House rejected that move, voting 54-92 before backing the bill under the hammer. It was tabled in the Senate. After initially taking up and rejecting an amended version of a bill (LD 301) that would allow the Public Utilities Commission to establish performance-based metrics and rate-adjustment mechanisms for a public utility, the House voted against the legislation that proponents said would help hold the states utilities accountable. (Read about a similar proposal last session). The House also voted 97-18 against legislation (LD 1160) to prohibit ownership of 6% or more or control of a public utility by an entity providing aid to a foreign terrorist organization. Sponsor Rep. Nathan Carlow (R-Buxton) said it sends a clear message to Americas enemies that those systems are not for sale and they never will be. However, Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport) said while well-intentioned, enforcement of the bill is not feasible as what constitutes a terrorist organization is determined by federal law. The House voted 109-33 to reject LD 160, which would eliminate REAL ID requirements in Maine. (Read more about the issue here). Some other bills passed by the House: The foreign men convicted of crimes who were placed on a deportation flight headed for the chaotic nation of South Sudan were originally from countries as far away as Vietnam. They had lived in various places from California to Iowa, Nebraska to Florida, with one serving a sentence of nearly 30 years. They were accused and convicted of crimes ranging from murder, to rape, robbery and assault. Despite their criminal records, a federal judge says the White House violated a court order on deportations to third countries, adding these eight migrants aboard the plane were not given a meaningful opportunity to object that the deportation could put them in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Brian E. Murphy in Boston ordered a new set of interviews with the migrants, either back in the U.S. or abroad. Trump administration officials accused activist judges of advocating the release of dangerous criminals. No country on Earth wanted to accept them because their crimes are so uniquely monstrous and barbaric, said Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. At least one of the victim's family members has come out to oppose the way the deportation was conducted and the fact that her family wasn't notified, while saying she had long hoped the man would leave the United States. These are the migrants who were part of the deportation flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SOUTH SUDAN: Dian Peter Domach The only man from South Sudan on the flight was 33-year-old Dian Peter Domach. He was convicted in 2013 of robbery, for which he was sentenced to 8 to 14 years in prison; and of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, for which he was sentenced to 6 to 10 years. Those sentences were to be served one after the other. The Department of Homeland Security said Domach was also convicted of driving under the influence. While in prison, he was convicted of assault by a confined person and sentenced to an additional 18 to 20 months. According to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Domach was released on discretionary parole on May 2 and arrested by immigration authorities six days later. Records said he represented himself on appeal and in the most recent prison assault case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LAOS: Thongxay Nilakout One of the two deportees with life sentences is 48-year-old Thongxay Nilakout from Laos. He was convicted of killing a German woman and wounding her husband in 1994 when he was 17. The couple was visiting a popular tourist lookout east of Los Angeles during a trip to see their daughter. Nilakout was sentenced to life in prison but was released in 2023 after his case was reviewed following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said mandatory life sentences for minors were unconstitutional. Nilakout was ordered removed to Laos by an immigration judge in 2023 and waived appeal, court records show. The couple's daughter, Birte Pfleger, is now a history professor at California State University, Los Angeles. She called it a real moral dilemma," explaining she is not happy with the way the deportation was conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No matter which way you slice it, you cannot violate peoples due process. Thats a fundamental constitutional right that has existed for well over 250 years, she said. But she hopes the man chooses to return voluntarily to Laos. Pfleger said she filled out forms that she has to be notified of any changes in Nilakout's case, but wasn't notified when the man was arrested by immigration authorities in January or when he was put on the flight. He supposedly had plans for that because he still has some relatives in Laos, she said. Well, guess what? Nows the time. Go call those relatives. Go home. Don't come back. MYANMAR: Kyaw Mya Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyaw Mya, a man from Myanmar who lived in Iowa, was convicted of sexually abusing a child under 12 years of age and sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Mya was ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2021, and lost his appeal of that order in 2023, according to a statement from Marcos Charles, an assistant director of field operations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a court filing late Thursday. He was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in February. An attorney for Mya did not respond to phone calls seeking comment. MYANMAR: Nyo Myint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nyo Myint, another Burmese deportee, lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was accused in 2017 of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman with diminished mental capacity who ended up pregnant. The woman's sister said the victim had a mental capacity equal to a 3-year-old and that Myint had told her he was the child's father. An arrest affidavit filed by the police said Myint admitted to having sex with the woman at least two times, saying he knew her since 2003 and knew she had gone to a school for children with mental disabilities. He admitted he made a mistake and felt it was wrong to have sex with her. He was given a 12- to 14-year prison sentence in 2020 but released on probation in May 2023. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge that same year and waived appeal, court records show. ICE took custody of Myint in February. Nathan Sohriakoff remembers defending Myint in the Nebraska case and communicating with him via interpreters. He hadn't heard he was part of the deportee group, which Trump administration officials are calling barbaric monsters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a small man, very petite. He didnt speak a word of English and didnt resist the charges, Sohriakoff said. I dont remember feeling like he was dangerous. My general feeling of him was that he was limited in his ability as well, like cognitively, but not to the degree that I felt he was incompetent. VIETNAM: Tuan Thanh Phan The Department of Homeland Security says the flight included a Vietnamese man. Tuan Thanh Phan was convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree assault and sentenced to 22 years in prison. An immigration judge ordered Phan removed to Vietnam in 2009, and he waived his appeal, court records show. He was arrested by ICE earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CUBA: Enrique Arias-Hierro The Department of Homeland Security says the flight included two men from Cuba: Enrique Arias-Hierro and Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones. Florida court records show Arias-Hierro, now 46, served 15 years in a state prison after being convicted of robbery, kidnapping and falsely impersonating an officer in 2007. Homeland Security officials say he was also convicted of homicide and armed robbery, but the records in Miami-Dade County did not include that. Arias-Hierro had already been ordered removed to Cuba by an immigration judge back in 1999, and did not file an appeal, court records show. The attorney who last served as his public defender in 2024 did not respond to an email and phone call seeking comment. Arias-Hierro was taken by ICE earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CUBA: Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones Immigration officials said in a court filing Thursday that Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Quinones was sentenced to 15 years in prison being convicted of arson in 2008 in Florida. Additional convictions for drug trafficking, being a felon in possession of a weapon, and possession of drug paraphernalia followed, said Charles, ICE's assistant director of field operations, in a statement filed in court. In 2022, he was convicted of attempted first-degree murder and sentenced to four years in prison, the document shows. Charles declaration did not say if Rodriguez-Quinones was ever seen by an immigration judge. He was arrested by ICE last month. MEXICO: Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez A Mexican man was also placed on the deportation flight. Immigration officials say Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez was recently identified as and admitted to being a member of a criminal organization. The Department of Homeland Security says Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. An immigration judge ordered him deported to Mexico in 2005, and Munoz-Gutierrez waived his appeal, court records show. It was unclear why he would be flown to South Sudan or beyond when Mexico is just south of the United States. ______ Associated Press writers Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report. US President Donald Trump's budget mega-bill is set to become law after it passed a final vote in the House of Representatives. The president is now poised to sign the bill into law during a ceremony on Friday. Its advancement has not been easy. The legislation has stoked disputes among lawmakers from Trump's own Republican Party, who control both chambers of Congress, over social programmes and spending levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could add $3.3tn to federal deficits over the next 10 years and leave millions without health coverage - a forecast that the White House disputes. During a vote in the US Senate earlier this week, Vice-President JD Vance was forced to cast the tie-breaking vote in order to pass the bill. The legislation's prospects in the House appeared precarious, however Republican rebels eventually got on board to support it following hours of wrangling on Thursday. Here is a look at some of the key items and hotly-debated issues in the bill. Extension of 2017 Trump tax cuts During his first term, Trump had signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered taxes for corporations and for individuals across most income brackets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump had touted the law as one that would stimulate economic growth, but experts have argued that it has benefited wealthy Americans the most. Key provisions of that law are set to expire in December, but the sprawling budget bill currently before lawmakers aims to make those tax cuts permanent. It also increases standard deductions by $1,000 (736) for individuals and $2,000 for married couples until 2028. Steep cuts to Medicaid To help finance tax cuts elsewhere, Republicans have added additional restrictions and requirements for Medicaid, the healthcare programme relied upon by millions of disabled and low-income Americans. Changes to Medicaid - one of the biggest components of federal spending - has been a major source of political strife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the changes are new work requirements for childless adults without disabilities. To qualify, the bill says, they would be required to work at least 80 hours per month from December 2026. Another proposed change to the programme is requiring Medicaid re-enrolment to shift from once a year to every six months. Enrolees would also have to provide additional income and residency verifications. The Senate proposal puts even more restrictions on Medicaid, which is likely to cause more headaches for Republicans in the House. The upper chamber's version proposes to lower provider taxes - which states use to help fund their share of Medicaid costs - from 6% to 3.5% by 2032. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complaints from some Republicans in states that draw funding from these taxes, especially for rural hospitals, led the Senate to delay the cuts and add a $50bn rural hospital fund. The Senate bill also proposes tightening eligibility requirements so that able-bodied adults with children aged 15 and over would need to work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month. The Senate Medicaid work requirement is said to be the strictest ever proposed by Republicans, raising the odds that large numbers of Americans could lose medical coverage as they will not keep up with the new paperwork. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that nearly 12 million Americans could lose their health coverage by the end of the next decade as a result of the proposed changes. Social Security taxes On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to eliminate taxes on Social Security income - monthly payments to Americans of retirement age and people with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House bill fell short of delivering on that promise, but it did temporarily increase the standard deduction of up to $4,000 for individuals 65 and over. That deduction would be in place from 2025-28. Senate Republicans approved an extension of Social Security tax breaks and an increase that would grant a $6,000 tax deduction for older Americans who earn no more than $75,000 a year. Increasing state and local tax deduction (Salt) The bill increases the deduction limit for state and local taxes (Salt). There is currently a $10,000 cap on how much taxpayers can deduct from the amount they owe in federal taxes. That expires this year. The Senate's approved bill raises it from $10,000 to $40,000 - but after five years, it would return to $10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salt taxes were a big sticking point in the House, especially Republican holdouts in some Democratic-controlled urban areas. The House's version of the spending bill did not include a five-year limit, so the Senate's changes could pose a problem for some House Republicans. Cuts to food benefits Reforms have also been added to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), which is used by over 40 million low-income Americans. The Senate bill requires states to contribute more to the programme, which is currently fully funded by the federal government. The government would continue to fully fund the benefits for states that have an error payment rate below 6%, but states with higher error rates would be on the hook for anywhere from 5% to 15% of the programme's costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change would start in 2028. The Senate bill also adds work requirements for able-bodied Snap enrollees who do not have dependents. No tax on overtime or tips and other elements The "no tax on tips" provision in the budget bill would mark a win for one of Trump's promises during the campaign. The Senate bill being considered by the House would allow individuals to deduct a certain amount of tip wages and overtime from their taxes. However, they propose gradually phasing out those benefits based on annual income, starting at $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for joint filers. It would expire in 2028. The Senate legislation would also permanently increase a child tax credit to $2,200 - which is $300 less than what House lawmakers had eyed. The House version required both parents have a Social Security number, but the Senate OK'd a requirement of only one parent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The upper chamber's bill also proposes raising the debt ceiling by $5tn - more than the $4tn approved by the House last month. The debt ceiling is the limit on the amount of money the US government can borrow to pay its bills. Lifting the debt limit allows the government to pay for programmes already approved by Congress. Clean energy tax cuts One of the most notable divisions between House and Senate Republicans is the Senate's proposal for clean energy tax breaks. Although both call for an end to the Biden-era federal clean energy tax credits, Senate Republicans approved phasing them out more slowly. For instance, the Senate has extended the runway for businesses that build wind and solar farms to still benefit from the tax credits. However, both the House and Senate version seek to deny the credits to companies whose supply chains may have ties to a "foreign entity of concern", such China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies that begin construction this year could qualify for the full tax break. That drops to 60% if they begin construction in 2026 and 20% if they begin in 2027. The credit would disappear in 2028. The House version of the bill sought to end the tax breaks for those companies almost immediately. [BBC] What happens next? Now that the bill has passed the House, its next stop is the president's desk to be officially signed into law. The White House says President Trump will sign it at a ceremony on 4 July at 17:00 EDT (22:00 BTS). White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to the bill's passing with a one word message on social media. "VICTORY!" she said, alongside an American flag image. Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, stands after a June 20, 2023, Senate Committee on Health and Welfare meeting. (Claire Sullivan/Louisiana Illuminator) Tensions are escalating at the State Capitol as a legislative package that attempts to lower auto insurance costs in Louisiana nears its final stage of approval. On Wednesday, the Senate advanced six of the more controversial insurance measures in a floor session that lasted late into the night. The debate included impassioned floor speeches and a heated clash between two lawmakers, both attorneys who stand on opposite sides of the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Jeff Landry has signaled support for the proposals. Only one of the bills cleared the chamber with bipartisan support, while the other five passed mostly along party lines with Republicans voting in favor of them and Democrats against. Those five are so-called tort reform proposals that give insurance companies certain protections or advantages in litigation, making it harder for accident victims to file successful lawsuits. Tort reform legislation from previous years has failed to reduce auto insurance rates, though most Republicans, including state Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, have said those measures were not strong enough. This lack of results was among the points of contention during Wednesdays debate on Senate Bill 231, which took up most of the evening before the bill passed in a 27-8 vote. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, it would effectively reduce the money plaintiffs can recover for medical expenses in an auto accident lawsuit. The amount would be limited to what a plaintiff actually pays for care rather than what doctors and hospitals bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of Reeses bill argue it would provide medical billing transparency in personal injury lawsuits and prevent plaintiffs attorneys from basing claims on artificially inflated medical bills no one actually pays. Opponents argue transparency should apply to both sides. They pointed to a separate tort reform law that allows insurers to hide certain details related to their policyholders coverage during a trial. Jurors could lower a monetary award if they believe an individual defendant rather than an insurance company will be personally on the hook for paying it, according to their viewpoint. Current law allows the plaintiff to lie to the jury, and it does not allow the defendant to tell the truth, Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, an attorney whose practice includes insurance defense, said in support of the measure. Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, took issue over what he called Seabaughs ambush-type strategy to tack on a late-hour amendment to Reeses bill that other senators had no time to review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luneau, a personal injury lawyer, said the amended bill was being rushed because Seabaugh had a conflicting court date Tuesday, when the Senate convenes next after a long Memorial Day holiday. Standing at the Senate floor lectern within a foot of each other, Luneau and Seabaugh got into an exchange that quickly grew intense. Seabaugh said the amendment, which was eventually adopted, requires judges and juries to be shown both the amount paid and the amount billed for medical expenses in auto injury cases, but confusion ensued over its text. The Republican senator, defending his amendment, said that Luneau, himself, had requested the provision. When Luneau denied this and offered to withdraw the purported request, Seabaugh, in a raised voice, accused Luneau of lying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You were pounding the table, saying Lets tell the jury everything. Lets let them see the billed amount, Seabaugh said, pausing but drawing no response from Luneau. You are just gonna come up here and blatantly bald-faced lie, and Im not surprised. The accusation drew quick intervention from Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and prompted Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Louis Carral Jr. to swiftly approach the lectern, prepared to physically separate the two men. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Guys, guys, come on! Henry told the two senators. Theres a certain amount of decorum that we expect to have in the Senate. Yall need to relax. The amendment actually would have allowed defendants to try to lower jury awards following a trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Luneau delivered a lengthy speech against the bill, so long that he appeared to be mounting a filibuster to delay a vote. But he ultimately ceded the floor after detailing his comprehensive argument against tort reform. Luneau cited data from the Louisiana Department of Insurance that shows there are more than 100 auto insurance companies in Louisiana, countering arguments that more insurers are needed in the state to create competition. Overall, they received $5.9 billion in premiums and paid out $3.4 billion in claims and losses, the data shows. The five largest auto insurers in the state State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Allstate and GoAuto control 70% of the market, according to state data Luneau shared. This is a bad bill, Luneau said. Its going to take money away from people who are legitimately injured, and its not going to reduce automobile insurance rates. And well be right back here again with people screaming about the next round of tort reform we need to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeses bill next heads to the House for consideration. Rate history disclosure Only one of the five proposals, House Bill 148, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Wiley, R-Maurepas, received bipartisan support. Republicans counted for all of the no votes in the 26-9 outcome. Wileys proposal would require homeowner and auto insurance companies to show customers what they paid previously for coverage when sending out renewal notices. It would let customers see whether their rates have changed before they decide to extend their policy. The bill would also give the state insurance commissioner power to strike down any insurance rate increase considered excessive or unreasonably high. Temple has lobbied against this provision, arguing it would allow him and other future insurance commissioners to approve or reject rates just for political reasons such as improving their reelection chances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Republicans weakened the provision Wednesday when they inserted language into Wileys bill that could let Temple approve excessively high rates as long as an insurer shows that they werent chosen arbitrarily or randomly. Another amendment to Wileys bill allows the public to review documents insurance companies file with the state when seeking a rate increase, but only if the insurance commissioner determines the information shouldnt be kept confidential as a proprietary trade secret. The measure will return to the House for a final vote on amendments before heading to the governors desk. Other insurance legislation the Senate approved included: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 450, by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, would end the Housley presumption, a standard of evidence explained in a 1991 Louisiana Supreme Court ruling that applies to auto accidents, medical malpractice and other injury lawsuits. In a nutshell, the Housley presumption says courts should assume a plaintiffs injuries resulted from the accident in question if they were in good health beforehand. The bill received final approval in a 28-9 vote and awaits Gov. Landrys signature. House Bill 434, sponsored by Rep. Jason DeWitt, R-Alexandria, would limit bodily injury claims by plaintiffs who did not carry auto insurance at the time of the accident. It would forbid them from recovering as much as $100,000 worth of damages. The bill received final approval in a 28-9 vote and has been sent to the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 431, sponsored by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, would change Louisianas comparative fault statute, which assigns a percentage of blame to each party in an accident and allows for the recovery of damages in proportion with those percentages. Proponents argue comparative fault allows someone to recover damages for injuries sustained in accidents for which they are mostly at fault. Opponents say it is the fairest way to assign liability. Under current law, if a court finds one party in a lawsuit is 60% at fault for an accident and the other party is 40% at fault, they would each be liable for their respective share of the damages and could file claims against each other for the remaining amounts. Under Cheneverts bill, anyone who is 51% or more at fault for an accident would get nothing. The bill passed in a 28-9 vote and will return to the House for changes made in the Senate. House Bill 436, by Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, would prohibit unauthorized aliens defined in the measure as individuals illegally in the United States under federal immigration law who are injured in car accidents from receiving compensation for pain, suffering and lost income. The proposal would still allow recovery for property damages and medical expenses. Auto insurance companies could still sell policies to unauthorized immigrants. It cleared the chamber in a 27-10 vote and will return to the House for a vote on Senate amendments. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A new project called Project M.O.M. launched within the Louisiana Department of Health seeks to reduce maternal overdose death rates. The initiative was announced on April 21 among several other health initiatives outlined by newly reappointed LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein. He said Project M.O.M. aims to reduce opioid overdose deaths in expecting mothers by 80% in the next three years. Accidental opioid overdose has been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Louisiana since 2018, and this is a statewide effort to reverse that terrible trend, Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan said. Every preventable death is a tragedy, but the death of a pregnant woman or young mom doubles the tragedy, as the loss of the mother endangers her child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Objectives of the program include increasing substance use screening, improving access to care, connecting hospital and emergency department encounters to rapid outpatient treatment, and increasing accessibility to naloxone, a medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses. LDH said five birthing hospitals participated in the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaboratives Naloxone Pilot Project in 2024, which resulted in nearly 100 moms leaving the hospital with a lifesaving opioid referral agent. Baton Rouges Womans Hospital has a program helping those with addiction. The free Guiding Recovery and Creating Empowerment (GRACE) Program provides resources to mothers before and after birth. US overdose deaths far outpace other countries: Report Director appointed to lead project Carrie Templeton was named director of the program. According to LDH, she previously held executive roles at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, Iberia Medical Center, and Lafayette General Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carries leadership in women and childrens health, together with her passion for improving care coordination, make her a great fit to lead Project M.O.M. She has the skill set and capabilities needed to bring together many existing efforts and align them in a way that improves access to care, Greenstein said. LDH said Templeton will work with hospital and community partners to develop an implementation plan to track data and performance in the next 90 days. Greenstein said hospitals and providers have expressed excitement about the initiative. I am very excited about the vision for Project M.O.M. By improving access and care for pregnant women with substance use disorders (SUDs), we will enhance care for all pregnant women and strengthen the overall system of care for individuals with SUD, Templeton said. Audit flags $250M in questioned costs, repeat compliance failures at Louisiana health department Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Literacy screener results show that Louisiana students in grades K-3 have improved reading during the school year. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) said end-of-year results showed a 17-point increase in the percentage of students reading on or above grade level. This was the second year that students K-3 were required to complete literacy screeners. Strong teachers, sound policy, and strategic investments have resulted in historic education outcomes for Louisiana, said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. Were proud of the progress, but far from satisfied. Im pleased with the work of teachers in partnership with parents to prompt this growth. Results show growth: Kindergarten: 33-point growth First grade: 19-point growth Second grade: 11-point growth Third grade: eight-point growth Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See the finalists for Louisiana teacher, principal of the year Literacy plan for Louisiana schools Louisiana education leaders credit students reading improvement to its literacy plan using phonics, high-dosage tutoring, and parent engagement efforts. All public schools are required to complete literacy screeners for K-3. A policy requiring third graders to meet promotion requirements is used to identify students who need more reading help. LDOE said students have three chances to show their reading proficiency by scoring above the lowest achievement level. Gov. Jeff Landry celebrates as Louisiana students rankings move up in Nations Report Card Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana joined Arkansas and North Carolina in states taking action on all 18 of ExcelinEds principles in a national comparison of comprehensive early literacy policy released in 2024. LDOE announced in February that the state ranked first in reading recovery from 2019 to 2024 on the Education Recovery Scorecard. According to a news release, an analysis found that pandemic relief contributed to academic recovery, specifically when directed to summer learning and tutoring. The state received $4 billion for K-12 schools. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A segment of people in Louisiana prisons have lost their chance to appeal their cases. Proposed bill in Texas would prohibit minors from using social media. Learn tips for managing childs online activity The Louisiana Senate failed to pass Senate Bill 218, which Senator Royce Duplessis introduced and would have allowed people convicted by Jim Crow Juries to receive new trials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1898, Louisiana adopted the split jury convictions during a constitutional convention. This allowed white majority juries to convict black people without coming to a unanimous decision. Louisiana House advances state budget in 2025 legislative session The practice of non-unanimous convictions continued in Louisiana until 2018. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the practice violated the right to an impartial jury, a right guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Oregon, the other state that allowed split decisions, granted new trials to hundreds of people. SB 218 would have given people in Louisiana jails the same relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 218 failed on a 9-26 vote, completely along party lines. Republican lawmakers were concerned with overburdening courts with additional trials and the possibility of witnesses being dead or evidence being lost. Supporters countered that district attorneys would ultimately decide whether to hold new trials and that transcripts of testimony from old trials are already used in cases. DOJ dismisses investigations of civil rights violations by Louisiana State Police New Orleans Democrat Senator Royce Duplessis, who authored the bill, said, If we choose to vote down this bill, were saying that justice has an expiration date. We have an opportunity in Louisiana to remove this stain, because right now we are the only ones wearing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lopsided nature of the vote, with only one month left in this years Legislative Session, makes it unlikely that the bill will have another chance at this session despite the fact that 65% of voters surveyed supported it. For now, an estimated 1,000 men and women in Louisiana prisons, despite the jury not being unanimous, are waiting for a path out. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Loved ones are searching for a Southern California woman who has been missing for days. Daria Mikhailova, 26, was last seen on May 19, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Her last known location was on the 1000 block of Hayworth Avenue in West Hollywood around 11:15 a.m. Daria Mikhailova, 26, was last seen on May 19, 2025. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department) She is described as a white female standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds. She has blue eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a brown off-shoulder dress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The L.A. County woman, who is considered at risk, has a mental health condition, authorities said. Her family and loved ones have not heard from her since and are very concerned for her well-being. Anyone who may know Mikhailovas whereabouts or has information on her disappearance is asked to call LASDs Missing Persons Unit 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) James Weninger travels to a Veterans Affairs clinic in the Lowcountry every few months for health care treatment. The 36-year-old veteran was medically discharged in 2023 after 14 years of active duty in the Navy and two years in the reserves. Since leaving the service, he has suffered from back pain, mental health issues, and a few other physical ailments. The care they provide for me is valuable because if I dont have it, my mental health stuff will be difficult to handle, and theyre helping me through it, he said, noting that he also participates in the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) job training program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just medical, its everything else the VA does, too, he added. Weninger said he had been satisfied with his care from the VA up until a few months ago, when he started to notice some changes. Doctors are doing their own scheduling, like in person, when before it would just be someone calling me, he said, adding that though his care is ongoing, he has already experienced some appointments getting pushed out further. An internal memo obtained by the Associated Press in March stated that the VA will undergo an agency-wide reorganization at the end of the summer, taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach to identify and eliminate waste, reduce management and bureaucracy, reduce footprint, and increase workforce efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo notes that the agencys overall goal is to reduce staffing to 2019 levels. Thousands of employees have already been terminated, and VA Secretary Doug Collins told members of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs earlier this month that the agency is looking to cut an additional 15% of its workforce. A statement from the VA Central Office noted that about 70,000 people could be affected by the reduction, which is intended to eliminate duplicative, unnecessary layers of management and bureaucracy that do nothing to serve our Veterans and actually hinder our mission. Those positions could include administrators, advisors, and mid-level managers. VA staffing levels have increased by more than 30% over the last decade, and the departments budget has more than doubled, even though VA healthcare enrollment has remained flat and the departments performance has gotten worse, the statement read, in part. Patriots Point and Coastal Community Church honors veterans ahead of Memorial Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Collins insisted that job reductions would not weaken benefits or care, accusing Democrats of stoking fear. I will not let you sit here and scare my veterans and scare my employees, Collins responded to a question from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) during the contentious May 6 hearing. No one has discussed firing doctors or firing nurses. Weve always said that were going to keep frontline health care. But Weninger isnt so sure. I couldnt see that not happening, he said, referencing Collins comments that medical personnel were not on the chopping block. He also worries that downsizing within the VA could lead to more veterans getting pushed into community care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The community care program allows eligible veterans to see healthcare providers outside of the VA when the agency is unable to meet an individuals needs. It is designed to ensure veterans receive timely and adequate care if they have specialized needs or do not live close to a VA clinic. While Weninger recognizes that community care can be a valuable asset, he said the specific expertise of VA doctors is irreplaceable. Its not to say that medical doctors on the civilian side are bad theyre just as good as the doctors in the VA but the VA doctors understand what caused these ailments or mental health issues because they deal with just military personnel, he explained. Weninger is one of more than 386,000 veterans living in South Carolina, more than half of whom are enrolled in the VA health care system, according to 2023 figures from the VA, the most recent year comprehensive data were available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of those enrollees about 85,000 receive care through the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System, a network of providers that includes the main medical center in downtown Charleston and six outpatient clinics throughout the state. Weninger, who is part of a veteran-led organization called Common Defense, traveled with dozens of other U.S. veterans to Washington, D.C., in early May to voice their concerns about the pending cuts to lawmakers. He discussed the issue with staffers from Democratic Rep. James Clyburns office, and a representative from Common Defense also attempted to set up a meeting between Republican Rep. Nancy Maces office and the group but was unsuccessful, according to Weninger. We receive hundreds of requests daily, and meetings with constituents are a priority, Mace spokesperson Sydney Long wrote in a statement to News 2. The representative who reached out to us from the group is not a constituent of Congresswoman Maces district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weninger said he would welcome an opportunity for a town-hall style meeting in the future where lawmakers can hear directly from their constituents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Head of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, Rustam Minnikhanov has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. ''Dear Ilham Heydarovich, Please accept the sincere congratulations of the people of Tatarstan and my personal greetings on the occasion of May 28 the day marking the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. More than a century ago, the people of Azerbaijan asserted their exceptional right to independently determine their own destiny and shape the present and future of their native land. This courageous choice, the unbreakable bond, and the ideological continuity of generations have largely shaped the subsequent history of the Azerbaijani state and, most importantly, its modern successes and achievements. May the joy of this great day and the special spirit of unity around shared high ideals serve as a source of inspiration and renewed strength for you and all citizens of your beautiful country in your tireless efforts for Azerbaijan's continued prosperity. Taking this pleasant opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude for your attention to the Republic of Tatarstan. I hope that in the future, our joint efforts will continue to promote the good traditions of mutual understanding and trustworthy cooperation within the framework of Russian-Azerbaijani relations. I wish you, your loved ones, and the people of Azerbaijan good health, happiness, and a joyful festive spirit,'' the letter reads. El Paso Fire: Lower Valley brush fire caused by unintentional act of person EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The brush fire that caused a large emergency response on Wednesday, May 21, in El Pasos Lower Valley was caused by an unintentional act of a person, a spokesperson for the El Paso Fire Department said on Thursday, May 22. Brush fire reported behind Walmart by Americas The spokesperson says sparks from the act of welding or grinding caused the ignition of nearby vegetation on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was contained and did not have any exposure to any structure, the spokesperson said. As we have previously reported, vegetation around a ponding area caught fire Wednesday, which was located behind a residence and near a Walmart on the 9400 block of North Loop. The call came in just after 12 p.m. on Wednesday in reference to the fire, which was initially categorized as a Condition 1, but was categorized an hour later as a Condition 4 fire, according to the Fire Department. Fire crews were able to get the fire under control at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, and over 30 units responded to the scene, as well as the El Paso Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. May 22LIMA Brevin Luna was sentenced to two consecutive non-mandatory terms of 18 months and one of six years minimum following a hearing in the Allen County Common Pleas Court on Thursday. The 21-year-old Lima man pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact with a minor and pandering sexual material involving a minor in April. "I am sorry to everyone," Luna said at the hearing. "It's hard to be considered a sexual predator for so long. I feel horrible every day I wake up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Jeffrey Reed handed Luna a sex offender registration form, which he will have to enter for 25 years. Reed heard from Luna, as well as a victim impact statement through Crime Victim Services and the state at the hearing. Prosecutor Kyle Thines called out Luna for speaking during the statement and said it showed he did not have any remorse for his actions, which involved incidents with a girl at the age of 15 in May 2024. "When there's an adult and a child, someone has to be the adult," Reed said. Luna apologized for speaking during the statement and blamed his actions on drug and alcohol abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I take responsibility for all my actions against this girl, and I feel a lot of remorse," he said. "This has been the worst experience of my life, and I have learned my lesson." Luna's defense attorney, Steve Chamberlain, called for mercy based on Luna's psychological profile. "His IQ is approximately 80, which puts him just 13 points above developmental disability," Chamberlain said. "He sees about one foot in front of his face. I think he understands this is serious now because he has been locked up here, and a lot of that was due to psychological reports." A maximum of three more years could be added to Luna's sentence depending on his behavior while incarcerated. When released, Luna will be placed on post-release control. Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399. Featured Local Savings Luxembourg member of the European Parliament Fernand Kartheiser has announced a visit to Moscow at the invitation of Russias State Duma to discuss peace in Ukraine. Source: Politico, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kartheiser said he plans to meet Russian MPs, Russias Deputy Foreign Minister, and the Director of Bilateral Relations at the Russian Foreign Ministry during his visit early next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In all those meetings, I am going to talk about peace in Ukraine. I will also raise the issue of human rights in Russia, and I will, in general terms, discuss the current worrying state of international relations," he said. Kartheiser noted that he is funding the trip himself, as "the European Parliament is blocking MEPs diplomatic efforts to meet with the Russian Federation." The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Kartheisers political group in the European Parliament, has distanced itself from his trip to Moscow. Background: Patryk Jaki, a fellow ECR member from Polands Law and Justice party, said he would propose Kartheisers expulsion from the group if the visit proceeds. Cypriot independent MEP and blogger Fidias Panayiotou has also faced growing criticism for controversial statements and actions regarding Russias invasion of Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse Thursday evening after the prosecutor decided not to retry the murder case against a former Grand Rapids police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya following a traffic stop in 2022. Phrases like Justice for Patrick and Who do you call when the police murder? appeared on signs held up by demonstrators, who chanted No justice, no peace and Justice for Patrick. Demonstrators gather outside the courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids on May 22, 2025, after the prosecutor said he would not retry Christopher Schurr in the death of Patrick Lyoya. Joshua Ferguson, a member of the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression, led the demonstrators in chants as they gathered in downtown Grand Rapids. Ferguson expressed support for the Lyoya family and expressed resolve to keep pushing city council for reforms to the police system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of us were extremely troubled by this case in the sense that, if this isnt clearly not OK, if shooting someone in the back of the head is not clearly illegal, that is a large indictment on our judicial system, it should not make any resident of Grand Rapids feel safe Black, brown, white or otherwise, Ferguson said. Grand Rapids Mayor LaGrand was there and said he came out to ensure things went well. He said he was grateful people were expressing themselves and that event organizers were keeping things peaceful. I wanted to be sure that this crowd felt safe, they were able to express themselves without interference, without danger and Im happy to say that this is clearly a peaceful event. I think we all have work to do to make Grand Rapids a place where everyone feels like justice is delivered and we have a goal and we have a mandate to continuously improve how we live together in this community, LaGrand said. The trial against Christopher Schurr ended May 8 when it was ruled a mistrial because the jury said it could not reach a verdict. On Thursday, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said he would not retry Schurr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did not arrive at (the decision) lightly, Becker said. Basically, what it boils down to is I dont think we reach a different verdict if I do do a retrial in this case. Becker said he looked at the case, arguments and jury selection process but said he ultimately did not believe his case would be presented any different in a second trial. The jury deliberated for about 21 hours before telling the judge it was hopelessly deadlocked. Becker commented that he thought the trial had a really good jury and could not see another jurys opinion changing. A juror on the trial told News 8 there was one main holdout from keeping Schurr from being acquitted the jury foreperson. Becker has said the jury voted 10-2 in favor of acquittal. The defense attorney said it was 11-1 for acquittal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jack Teixeira, the now 23-year-old serving a 15-year prison sentence for leaking classified documents on Discord, told Good Morning America in an interview published Thursday morning that he did not regret his actions, and he never intended to harm his country. Teixeira, of North Dighton, was a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who had access to top-secret documents as a cyber transport systems specialist at the Otis Air National Guard Base on Joint Base Cape Cod. Last March, he pleaded guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to the national defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani sentenced him to 15 years in prison. In the interview with ABC News Linsey Davis, Teixeira said he felt a need to educate the American people about the countrys involvement in Russias war with Ukraine. My intent was to educate the United States populist people about what was going on. It was not to harm the United States or the country because I love my nation. Im a patriot, he said. I did believe that I needed to educate the people about what was going on because I believe they were being lied to. He claimed the Biden administration was pushing false and misleading information about the war, and he wanted to show an unvarnished look at what was taking place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the sentencing hearing last November, Teixeira apologized for his actions. I understand that all of the responsibility and consequences falls upon my shoulders alone, he said. My behavior has created such a maelstrom. I cant really sum up how contrite I am, he added. But in the interview with ABC, Teixeira struck a different tone. Teixeira said the apology was aimed at family and friends, but he didnt regret leaking the documents, and would do it all again. I still believe in my actions, he said. Ive tortured myself over and over and over again about what would happen if I didnt do this, or what would happen if this and that. And in reality, it doesnt really matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lawyer representing Teixeira said at the hearing that his primary motivation was to share his experiences with a group of friends he found on Discord. Yet Teixeira told Davis that was a secondary motivation. In the interview, Teixeira accused the Biden administration of politicizing his case. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy, a Biden appointee, prosecuted Teixeiras case. I just feel like there are people who have done far worse things as far as what they did with similar information, and they didnt get as bad of a treatment as I did, he said. I think that I was used as a sacrificial lamb, and I was crucified to be made of as an example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a press conference following Teixeiras sentencing, Levy said the full impact of his crime wouldnt be known for years. Texeira put himself over his country, and in doing so violated one of the core tenets of public service, Levy said. Jack Teixeira made the deliberate choice day after day, week after week, year over a year, to share the nations secrets that were entrusted to him and make them available to all comers, he said. He was callous to the fact that he put our national security at risk. Today, Mr. Teixeira has paid a very heavy price for the laws he broke, or for the incredible damage that he caused, Levy continued. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Donald Trump Illustration: HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images The Trump administration is planning a June 14 military parade to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and the presidents 79th birthday. When your sense of self-exaltation requires tanks, flyovers and up to $45 million for a birthday party, were no longer in the realm of cake and candles were squarely in Criterion 1 of narcissistic personality disorder: a grandiose sense of self-importance. To be clear, I cant diagnose the president or any public figure without personal examination. But research shows that those in positions of power, especially in politics, are more likely to exhibit traits of grandiose narcissism. When narcissistic control seeps into leadership, it distorts truth, erodes trust and destabilizes institutions. The more we understand these dynamics, the better we can protect both the public and the health of our democracy. As a clinical psychologist who works with trauma and narcissistic abuse, I see echoes of this dynamic every day in my therapy office. The same patterns that destabilize families destabilize democracies: along with the magnetic vision of the grandiose narcissist come denial, attack, reversal of blame and emotional chaos. HuffPost was made for this moment. We will aggressively, fairly and honestly cover the Trump administration but we need your help. Consider directly backing our work today. I think of one of my patients when she discovered her brother was terrorizing their elderly mother with violent threats and financial abuse. When she named the harm, he flipped the script denying everything and accusing her of being unstable, all while fiercely protecting his golden boy image. Under family pressure to stay quiet, she spiraled into rumination. But armed with awareness and support, she stood firm. Like a broken record, she calmly named the harm until her boundary held. It came at a cost, but her brother was eventually removed from their mothers home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This same pattern shows up, magnified, on the political stage. Narcissistic control in government thrives on flipping the script and silencing watchdogs. Authoritarian leaders, like narcissistic family members, rely on well-worn tactics to manufacture a psychological state of volatile uncertainty where outcomes arent just unknown, but constantly shifting and unpredictable. This overwhelms the brains ability to anticipate and prepare, keeping people mentally off-balance and easier to control. The good news: Awareness works like a vaccine, gradually building psychological immunity against further harm. For another patient, moving the goalposts was the favored tactic of her ex-boyfriend to generate such volatility. He would make a demand (under the guise of improving her) and then change the expectation once it was met. In government, this looks like constantly reversing policies or public positions so that citizens, the media and allies remain unmoored. The White House has no idea what its doing on tariffs and keeps flip-flopping... Why even do an exemption if youre going to reverse it soon? Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) posted on X on April 13, referring to more than 50 flip-flops on tariff policies since Trumps inauguration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many dismiss these reversals as mere incompetence or poor strategy and its true that narcissism is associated with more impulsive, error-prone decision-making. But anyone familiar with narcissistic abuse understands the deeper maneuver: Whether consciously or not, narcissists hold power by keeping others in a state of psychological whiplash. And it works. At its core, emotional control is the narcissists primary goal: to protect a fragile sense of self-importance and entitlement by maintaining the grand illusion that supports it without empathy for others. While its important to note that narcissistic pathology by no means equates to abuse, there are more aggressive versions that use confusion, despair and emotional bonds like loyalty to control how others think and feel, secure a constant flow of admiration or reactivity, shield themselves from shame and keep others attached even against their best interests. Of the dizzying array of tactics, perhaps the most effective is crisis manufacturing. The constant emergencies arent flukes theyre by design. They keep everyone in survival mode, distracting from deeper issues and ensuring the narcissist stays at the center of attention and control. For my patients who have survived narcissistic abuse, it might be an explosive tantrum, a threat to seek full custody or a frantic late-night call about a (fabricated) mugging. On the national stage, it takes the form of rhetorical escalations, legal threats or emergency declarations designed to dominate the news cycle and overwhelm opposition. The nervous system can only take so much. Fight (rage), flight (escape planning), freeze (paralysis), fawn (capitulation) and flop (hopelessness) are natural survival responses but they also keep us stuck. Healing in therapy and in democracy begins by recognizing when were trapped in these states and learning how to return to grounded, organized action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my work, I help people identify and unwind these patterns. They begin to understand theyre not just anxious or distracted for no reason theyre reacting to prolonged psychological coercion. The same is true for societies under narcissistic leadership. This isnt just politics. Its millions of nervous systems in fight-or-flight mode. One of my patients responds to her mothers barrage of abusive texts a stream of accusations, victim posturing, theatrical crises and financial demands by reaching for her flashcards. Each card is labeled with a tactic shes learned to spot: Deny, Attack, Play the Victim, Perform the Hero, Create Crisis. Instead of being wrung out like a towel her body drained of clarity by her mothers volatility she names each tactic as it arises. Naming gives her distance. It helps her stay calm, grounded and in control of her response. The unpredictable becomes predictable. Thats what psychological immunity looks like in real life. Ive watched many patients wrestle their way out of the fog of narcissistic control. It doesnt happen all at once. It begins with grieving what cannot be changed and focusing, with fierce clarity, on what remains within reach. It means reclaiming attention, setting boundaries and refusing to give your power to someone who thrives on your reactivity. Im also watching how this dynamic plays out in institutions. When law firms, universities or political bodies bend to powerful figures instead of upholding shared values, it mirrors what happens in abusive households: Everyone walks on eggshells. In such environments, self-protection becomes the priority, and choices are made not from alignment with values but from fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But recovery begins when people stop playing along or exhausting energy in cycles of infighting. Instead of spending precious bandwidth on disbelief or outrage, the goal is to name the tactic, call out the harm, cultivate trusted support and let go of what is beyond your control. Persistent engagement in shock, bargaining or rumination often reflects the minds attempt to delay the grief associated with profound loss private and emotional for my patients, social and institutional for our country. When Dorothy pulled back the curtain and revealed the Wizard as an insecure man with a microphone and a smoke machine, she shattered the illusion that had kept an entire city captive. In therapy, that moment of recognition is just as powerful. Once someone sees the manipulation for what it is, the spell begins to break. From a trauma psychologists perspective, what can a nation do once the curtain is pulled back? First: Stop enabling. Reactive efforts to clean up the damage often backfire, shielding narcissists from accountability and allowing them to retain influence. On a political level, this means pausing to strategize before rushing in to fix the narcissists mess. Strategic restraint like that practiced by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has been criticized for not swinging at every pitch is not weakness. Its discipline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One technique I teach is called gray rocking: refusing to feed the narcissists need for drama, attention or emotional reactivity. Gray rocking means becoming sturdy and repetitive not reactive or maximalist a boring target for someone addicted to power. Reacting with hyperbole or hysteria only emboldens narcissists. Deny them the fuel they seek. This is hard work. But its how an abuser loses power. Then: Set boundaries. In therapy, that might mean saying no repeatedly, like a broken record, and building the support system to stay safe. On a national scale, it means working together to reestablish constitutional guardrails such as due process, checks and balances, and freedom of speech. By using loopholes like invoking 18th century wartime laws to expand his power, Trump has exposed the weak spots in American democracy. As our founding documents remind us: A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free People. The Constitution is not just a legal structure its psychological scaffolding against narcissistic control. Build resilience. Narcissistic abuse isnt just dangerous and dysregulating it feeds on the very distress and isolation it creates to sustain itself. To interrupt the cycle, we need practices that restore regulation and reinforce community power. Collective care and self-care are not luxuries they are revolutionary acts in times of oppression. Rest is not retreat; its how we recover the clarity and cohesion needed to mobilize and rebuild. Join hands. There is strength in numbers and safety in solidarity. And above all, keep faith in the long game. While narcissistic dynamics rely on urgency and alarm, deep change comes from staying calm, clear and connected. In defending against narcissistic control, the answer is never to mimic harmful tactics it is to recognize them, grieve their damage, stop enabling them and break out of reactivity. Boundaries, civic mobilization and long-haul strategy are how we begin to heal the democratic spirit. In both therapy and democracy, healing begins the moment we stop reacting and start remembering who we are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Jocelyn Sze is a clinical psychologist who specializes in evidence-based treatment of PTSD and anxiety. She is an assistant clinical professor at University of California, Berkeley. She serves on the board of Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinical Services, a nonprofit advancing trauma-focused training, research, and treatment, as well as the McCune Foundation, which supports grassroots organizations that empower and mobilize historically excluded populations. The expressed views are solely those of the author and do not represent those of her affiliations. Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com. Related... With graduation season underway, universities across the country are taking action against anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists who speak out at commencement ceremonies and during the final weeks of classes, in some cases threatening to withhold their degrees. Administrators accuse the students of breaking campus rules and marring graduation festivities, while activists say the punishments are the latest way school officials are demonizing pro-Palestinian views and repressing students rights to political expression. The controversy all happens in the long shadow of the Trump administration, which has stripped universities like Harvard and Columbia of millions in federal funds over alleged failures to stop antisemitism during the protests, while detaining campus activists and revoking the student visas of non-citizens involved in the Palestinian cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Virginia Commonwealth University, two students diplomas are on hold after they took part in a modest gathering in late April that the school says was not permitted. VCU senior Selma Ait-Bella, 21, one of the students facing discipline, described the situation to The Independent as a massive overreaction meant to deter future activism. Theyre using these bureaucratic methods to scare other students, the sociology major said. If were paying thousands of dollars to go to this university, get an education, and build a community, if they can take that away, for speaking out against a genocide, it leaves everybody feeling like their situation is increasingly precarious. Virginia Commonwealth University students Selma Ait-Bella (left) and Sereen Haddad (center) have not been officially conferred their degrees, as officials investigate an April activist gathering on a campus lawn (Courtesy of Selma Ait-Bella) The campus action began on April 29, the last day of classes, she said. A group of about 40 students gathered informally to sit and talk on a lawn, marking a year since a multi-agency group of riot police used pepper spray, and tear gas to clear a student Palestinian protest encampment, while authorities and school officials say protesters threw objects and used chemical spray on officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time around, there werent any speeches or chants or tents, though the participants did use cloth protest banners from past events as picnic blankets. Activists say the event that caused a backlash from the VCU administration was a peaceful gathering of students; the school says otherwise (Courtesy of Selma Ait-Bella) Eventually, school officials and police arrived, telling the group the gathering wasnt allowed, but that they could relocate to a campus free speech zone, Ait-Bella said. Organizers began telling students to leave, fearing another police crackdown. However, in the ensuing confusion, some remained. A student holding a sign that read, Gonna gas us again, you f***ing monsters was eventually arrested, Ait-Bella said. Despite multiple warnings over a three-hour period from Student Affairs, security personnel and VCU Police that VCU policy did not authorize events on the lawn but would have permitted the event to relocate to the Park Plaza Amphitheater just a few hundred feet away many of those assembled refused to relocate, a spokesperson told The Independent via email, conduct they said broke the schools campus expression and space utilization policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bottom line: if the event moved to Park Plaza Amphitheater it would have been fine, the spokesperson added. The Independent has also contacted the VCU police department for comment. Ait-Bella was able to walk in VCUs commencement this month, but her degree is on hold, pending an investigation. The situation has left her with unanswered questions beyond her grad status. Will she be able to travel freely? Will she be able to get a job? Will she or her parents, Moroccan immigrants, face any repercussions, given the Trump administrations immigration dragnet? Still, she knew the risks she was incurring by being an activist, and says she doesnt regret taking them now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody that is a part of this movement understands there is something to risk, she said, adding, Im willing to do it again. The tension on campus comes as the Trump administration has stripped funding from places like Harvard University to punish it for allegedly not doing enough to stop antisemitism that took place during protests (REUTERS) For many involved in the campus push, the status quo is a risk, too. The other VCU student whose diploma is in limbo, Sereen Haddad, is a Palestinian-American who has lost over 200 family members in the conflict. My activism isnt a choiceits a duty, Haddad told The Independent. As a Palestinian, I carry generations of resistance in my blood. Ive watched my people be dehumanized, displaced, and massacred while the world turns its back...I will never be silent while this is happening. Clashes have also taken place over commencement ceremonies themselves. Two people were arrested this week at Columbia, where protesters booed the university president, burned diplomas, and shoved police, just weeks after over 70 were detained for occupying a library in the run-up to semester finals. Columbia says that those involved were not graduates and that the fake diplomas were burned off campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across town, at the May 14 ceremony for New York Universitys Gallatin liberal arts program, student-selected speaker Logan Rozos used his brief remarks to address the war as well, which has killed over 1,000 Israelis and over 61,000 Palestinians, according to their respective governments, stretching into a brutal stalemate in which the Israeli government is accused of blocking aid and causing mass starvation in Gaza. The conflict was sparked by the bloody Oct. 7, 2023, incursion into Israel of Hamas terror squads who slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped about 250, taking them back into Gaza. Rozos, a filmmaker and actor, told the crowd he had been freaking out about what to say, but ultimately concluded, My moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say is in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine. NYU grad Logan Rozoss graduation speech about the atrocities in Palestine provoked a divided response (Getty Images) His remarks were met with some cheers from the crowd, but the school swiftly condemned Rozos for having stolen the moment by sharing one-sided political views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules, the school said in a statement. The University is withholding his diploma while we pursue disciplinary actions. The Independent has contacted Rozos and NYU for further comment. Outside reaction was split, with groups like the Anti-Defamation League claiming Ross made Jewish students uncomfortable with rhetoric that promotes harmful lies about Israel, while some faculty members criticized the administration for what they saw as a heavy-handed attempt to avoid scrutiny from Trump. They are bending over backward to crack down on speech that runs counter to what the current administration in Washington espouses, Andrew Ross, a professor of social and cultural analysis, told ABC News. Federal immigration agents have arrested campus Palestine activists, some with only glancing ties to the movement, raising the stakes for 2025 grads who want to speak out Even those who have already graduated are feeling the consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three days after Rozoss speech, George Washington University graduate Cecilia Culver, who received her degree in December, told a commencement crowd to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment of ties between the university and Israel. I am ashamed to know my tuition is being used to fund this genocide, she told a crowd of about 750. The school soon announced that Culver was banned from its campuses and events, saying she had been inappropriate and dishonest and veered from pre-rehearsed remarks. In an interview with the school paper, the economics and statistics grad said she had no regrets, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was just never any point where I was not going to say something, she told The GW Hatchet. Culver declined a request for comment from The Independent. She has retained legal representation from Palestine Legal, which has defended her remarks. 2024 graduate Cecilia Culvert was banned from campus for urging George Washington University to divest from Israel in a graduation speech (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty) Students are harbingers of how future generations will view this historical moment and the role of universities in it, the group said in a statement to The Washington Post. History will celebrate principled students like Logan Rozos at NYU and our client Cecilia Culver at GWU. Whatever history thinks of these students, the institutional conflict over how to treat them shows no signs of abating, even as the school year comes to a close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Trumps feud with Harvard escalated, with the administration attempting to pull the universitys ability to enroll any international students, the same day a federal court in California temporarily barred the administration from revoking visas of a wide swathe of international students. Even after all the lawsuits, investigations, dueling protests, and immigration arrests on campus, there are those like Ait-Bella and Haddad determined to keep sharing their perspective on campus, come what may. People in Gaza are starving and eating grass, with children writing their wills and parents writing their names on their arms so their bodies can be identified if they get bombed in their sleep, Haddad says. Compared to that, what do I have to fear? she said. If youre someone staying silent, I ask youwho is your silence benefiting? Its not the people under the rubble. When Donald Trump unveiled a meme coin a few days before his second inaugural, the ethical mess was obvious. The Campaign Legal Centers Adav Noti explained at the time, It is literally cashing in on the presidency creating a financial instrument so people can transfer money to the presidents family in connection with his office. It is beyond unprecedented. But when the president and his partners launched a contest of sorts last month, it took the story to a new level: Those interested in investing in Trumps meme coin and by extension, giving the president money were told theyd have a chance to win special access to Trump and the White House. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said of the scheme, This isnt Trump just being Trump. The Trump coin scam is the most brazenly corrupt thing a president has ever done. Not close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gambit proved predictably lucrative. NBC News reported this week: More than 200 wealthy, mostly anonymous crypto buyers are coming to Washington on Thursday to have dinner with President Donald Trump. The price of admission: $55,000 to $37.7 million. Thats how much the 220 winners of a contest to meet Trump spent on his volatile cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP, according to an analysis by the blockchain analytics company Nansen. The top $TRUMP coin holders at a specific time determined by the dinners organizers secured a seat. The dinner nevertheless happened at a Trump-owned property in Virginia on Thursday night, and it was described by MSNBCs Chris Hayes as the Met Gala of presidential pay-for-play. Chris added that the dinner was the most brazen act of corruption by a president in our lifetimes, probably in a century, possibly ever. For its part, the White House hasnt said who attended the event or exactly how much money ended up in the presidents pockets. Hours before the dinner, however, press secretary Karoline Leavitt did take some time to offer her most detailed defense of the scandalous arrangement to date. The presidents chief spokesperson was asked, for example, whether Trump was using the gathering to enrich himself. Instead of answering directly, Leavitt said the president was re-elected because he was a successful businessman. The problem with this, of course, was (a) she didnt answer the question; (b) he wasnt a successful businessman; and (c) theres no evidence to suggest Trumps private-sector background contributed to his successful 2024 candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same briefing, Leavitt also argued that Trump was attending the crypto dinner in his personal time, which made even less sense, given that presidents while in office dont have the luxury of simply taking off the presidential hat and acting as a private citizen for a while. Ethical norms and legal standards always apply to the nations chief executive, especially when interacting with those eager to give them financial rewards. But I was especially interested in Leavitts third point: Trumps assets, she insisted, are in a blind trust managed by his adult sons, which necessarily mitigates potential ethical conflicts. This almost resembles a credible point, but theres a problem: Trumps trust isnt actually blind. When the presidents first term began, many urged the Republican to avoid ethical quandaries by utilizing a blind trust, but Trump refused. After he was elected to a second term, he did transfer assets into a trust controlled by his eldest son, but to call it blind is to stretch the definition to an unreasonable degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, The New York Times spoke to Dennis Kelleher, the chief executive of Better Markets, a nonprofit that pushes for more transparency on Wall Street, who emphasized the family connection. This is not a blind trust with an independent trustee, where people can have confidence that the conflicts of interest are in fact removed, he explained. In other words, after having plenty of time to come up with a defense for Trumps meme coin scheme, the White House came up with a handful of talking points, and all three fell apart rather quickly. All things considered, thats not too surprising: Defending the indefensible isnt easy. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Donald Trump has an odd habit of demanding investigations into all kinds of people and entities whom he perceives as political foes, indifferent to whether his targets have actually done anything wrong. Often, the presidential calls amount to meaningless chest-thumping and go ignored. But its important to remember that many of the White Houses political antagonists are, in fact, facing the kind of investigations that Trump has in mind. The New York Times reported: The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday opened an investigation into Media Matters, a liberal advocacy organization that has published research on hateful and antisemitic content on X, according to two people familiar with the inquiry. The regulator said in a letter sent to the organization that it was investigating the group, which is aligned with Democrats, over whether it illegally colluded with advertisers, according to the people. Its worth emphasizing for context that Trumps top campaign donor and White House adviser, Elon Musk, sued the progressive media watchdog a couple of years ago, raising similar allegations, and as the Times article noted, the FTCs regulators also asked Media Matters to turn over all the documents it had produced or received from X in that litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media Matters president, Angelo Carusone, said in a statement, Right-wing media figures holding key posts and abusing government power to target critics are two hallmarks of the Trump administration. Threats wont work, our mission continues. (The commission, meanwhile, did not comment.) Time will tell what, if anything, comes of the investigation, but if youre thinking it seems as if there have been a lot of these kinds of probes lately, its not your imagination. The public has learned in recent weeks that the administration led by a president whose second-term revenge tour has been unsubtle is also investigating and/or prosecuting a variety of Democratic officials and candidates, including Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. This dovetails with the president directing the Justice Department to go after Christopher Krebs, who led the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; which came on the heels of Trump pressing the Department of Homeland Security to investigate Miles Taylor, a former high-ranking DHS official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president did this not because theres evidence of Krebs or Taylor having done anything wrong, but because they defied him several years ago. They went on his enemies list, and now hes exacting revenge. Around the same time, Trump also directed the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue, the Democratic Partys most important fundraising platform. And did I mention the investigation into former FBI director James Comey? Because that's underway, too. The Times also recently highlighted the broader pattern: Mr. Trump and his allies are aggressively attacking the players and machinery that power the left, taking a series of highly partisan official actions that, if successful, will threaten to hobble Democrats ability to compete in elections for years to come. Trump and his team are also going after law firms, universities and news organizations they consider political foes of the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, given Ed Martins new responsibilities at the Justice Department, this overtly and abusive partisan pattern is likely to intensify. My conservative readers will likely see this and say, Well, during the Biden administration, Donald Trump was subjected to investigations, so whats good for the goose is good for the gander. But that talking point remains absurd. Trump faced federal criminal investigations, not because of a retaliatory agenda, but because of voluminous evidence that he committed a variety of alleged felonies. Axios recently noted, In the final days of the 2024 campaign, Axios identified a list of perceived adversaries who fit what Trump ominously described as the enemies from within. As president, he has taken steps to retaliate against virtually all of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was two months ago. The problem is vastly worse now, and theres no reason to believe conditions will improve anytime soon. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Ahead of the floor vote on the poorly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Republican leaders had one obvious goal: keep intraparty defections to an absolute minimum. As the dust settled, it was clear theyd succeeded, with only two GOP members Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio joining a unanimous House Democratic conference in voting against the far-right reconciliation package. Massies opposition was a near-certainty hes long criticized the bill as fiscally irresponsible but Davidsons vote was less expected. By way of an explanation, the Ohioan issued an online statement early Thursday morning that read in part, While I love many things in the bill, promising someone else will cut spending in the future does not cut spending. Deficits do matter and this bill grows them now. The only Congress we can control is the one were in. Consequently, I cannot support this big deficit plan. Evidently, for the White House, that wasnt good enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A reporter asked press secretary Karoline Leavitt, You had two Republicans last night that voted against this bill, congressmen Massie and Davidson. Does the president think that they should be primaried? Donald Trumps chief spokesperson responded, I believe he does, and I dont think he likes to see grandstanders in Congress. She added the president believes the Republican Party needs to be unified, and the vast majority of Republicans clearly are and are listening to the president. Those who fail to listen to the president, evidently, should expect Trump to support primary campaigns against them. As part of the same answer, Leavitt concluded, The presidents approval rating is at an all-time high right now, and its because he knows how to deliver. This was, of course, hilariously wrong, given that Trumps approval rating is both underwater and nowhere near an all-time high. Time will tell what becomes of this effort, and given recent history, the president probably shouldnt get his hopes up. Not only have members like Massie persevered despite similar recent criticism, but there are related examples of Trumps chest-thumping falling short: Ahead of the 2022 election cycle, for example, Trump called Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota a RINO (Republican in Name Only) before declaring, He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, Thune won easily on Election Day 2022 (he ran unopposed), and the South Dakotan is now the Senate majority leader. Or put another way, Massie and Davidson probably shouldnt panic just yet about their electoral futures. Yet the White Houses comment did tell us something notable about Trumps perspective: The president is less interested in trying to persuade or convince members like Massie and Davidson, and more interested in threatening them. In Trumps leadership model, the solution is to bark orders and to demand obedience. Its a recipe for generating fear, but not respect. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Russia sincerely wishes Armenia and Azerbaijan success in concluding a peace treaty and is ready to provide any assistance to the parties in the preparation and signing of such a document, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov said, Trend reports. A peace treaty should be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, We sincerely wish them success. Obviously, this has become possible due to several trilateral summits Russia-Azerbaijan-Armenia. If the parties are interested in this, we are ready to provide further mediation, Lavrov said. JD Vance sat down with The New York Times Ross Douthat this week, and the vice president had quite a bit to say about a variety of issues, but one comment from the Ohio Republican stood out as especially notable. While reflecting on the common good and immigration levels, Vance argued: I really do think that social solidarity is destroyed when you have too much migration too quickly. Thats not because I hate the migrants, or Im motivated by grievance. Thats because Im trying to preserve something in my own country where we are a unified nation. And I dont think that can happen if you have too much immigration too quickly. With an eye toward history, the vice presidents rhetoric was certainly familiar. In generations past, too many Americans used nearly identical phrasing to condemn different kinds of immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not that I hate the Irish, they said, Im just trying to preserve something in my own country. Maybe if there were fewer Irish immigrants who arrived at a slower pace. Similarly, Kevin Kruse, a historian at Princeton University, joked via Bluesky, See, he doesnt hate migrants for racist reasons, he just thinks theyre irredeemably different and so unassimilable that their mere presence is an existential threat to the nation but dont say hes motivated by grievance. But what also stood out for me was the vice presidents comment to the Times columnist about the fabric that binds a society together. Referring to immigration policy, Vance said, The point that Ive tried to make is I think a lot about this question of social cohesion in the United States. It was moments later when he expressed similar concern about the possible destruction of social solidarity. While Im certainly not able to read the Republicans mind, I also find it hard to believe that hes personally invested in the preservation of social cohesion or social solidarity. Im skeptical of his sincerity because I remember the 2024 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With seven weeks before one of the most important elections in generations, the then-senator was heavily invested in an incredibly reckless and utterly false message: Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio a state Vance ostensibly represented were abducting and eating household pets, while slowly destroying a once-great town. The results were predictable: Bomb threats closed local elementary schools, City Hall, universities and even medical facilities. There were local reports of vandalism and threats to public safety, and at least one right-wing group organized a march in Springfield as part of a hate campaign against the immigrants. Local officials including Republicans called on Vance and his allies to stop lying. Even Ohios Republican governor, Mike DeWine, said that the lies were garbage, adding that local Haitian immigrants were hard-working people whod brought positive influences to Springfield. Vance not only didnt care, he explicitly said he was willing to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt immigrants who put social cohesion and social solidarity in jeopardy. On the contrary, it was an ambitious politician, hungry for power, who expressed complete indifference to social cohesion and social solidarity in order to advance his career, shrugging his shoulders as the community suffered in the wake of his lies. If the vice president expects the public to believe in his purported goals about national unity, is he prepared to express any regrets for his role in trying to tear Springfield apart for his own political benefit? This report updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com After the Jan. 6 attack, lawmakers agreed to install a permanent plaque to honor the law enforcement personnel who helped protect the U.S. Capitol against right-wing rioters. By statute, the plaque would list the names of the officers who served; it would be placed on the western side of the building; and it would be in place by March 2023. That was two years ago. As The Washington Post reported, the plaque is done, and its ready to be installed, but its currently sitting in a Capitol basement utility room surrounded by tools and maintenance equipment. Last week, House and Senate Democrats used the backdrop of National Police Week to highlight their ongoing efforts to have the legislation implemented. They say the only thing keeping the plaque from public view is that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and Republican members have not yet instructed the Architect of the Capitol to install it. The Posts report added that Architect of the Capitol Thomas Austin confirmed during a congressional hearing last month that his office needs approval from the House speakers office that and Johnson still hasnt given his approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As is usually the case when the political discussion turns to the Jan. 6 assault, a variety of Democrats have been quick to draw attention to this, while Republican officials have denied comment. Theres no great mystery here. GOP officials could follow the law and honor the officers who protected democracy and our countrys principal seat of government, but in Republican politics, the story of what transpired on Jan. 6 has been turned on its head. The heroes, according to the partys preferred narrative, were the rioters. In the only 2024 debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the Republican was asked whether he had any regrets about the Jan. 6 attack. It was a good question, which he struggled to answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashli Babbitt was shot by an out-of-control police officer that should have never, ever shot her, Trump said, adding, Nobody on the other side was killed. This was wrong and offensive for a variety of reasons Trumps condemnation of the officer was absurd but of particular interest was his description of law enforcement as the other side. In other words, for the incumbent president, theres an us and a them. The rioters who attacked the Capitol in Trumps name are part of the former, while the police are part of the latter. Its a perspective rooted in the idea that there are tribal political teams, and as far as Trumps concerned, the officers who served on Jan. 6 were the opposition. Congressional Republicans know this, which helps to explain why the plaque that shouldve been installed months ago is gathering dust in a closet. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Donald Trumps on-again/off-again affection for Apple goes back several years. Nearly a year before his first term as president began, for example, the then-Republican candidate called for a national boycott against the tech giant, though Trump apparently didnt mean it; he continued to use Apple products; and his offensive was quickly forgotten. More recently, the president was pleased when Apple promised to spend more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years much of the investment had been planned long before Trump returned to power though his satisfaction didnt last long. Last week during his trip to the Midde East, the president seemed especially concerned about Apples international production process. I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday, Trump said. I said to him, My friend, I treated you very good. Youre coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear youre building all over India. I dont want you building in India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A week later, the president made an unexpected announcement. NBC News reported: Apple shares dropped as much as 3% Friday after President Donald Trump threatened the tech giant with a 25% tariff if it does not start producing iPhones in the U.S. his latest salvo directly targeting a U.S. company over how it conducts its business. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones [sic] that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote in a message published to his social media platform. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your [sic] for your attention to this matter! There are multiple angles to a story like this one, though the NBC News report highlighted one of the most important elements: Presidents typically avoid giving the appearance of dictating individual companies strategies, but Trump has broken with that norm. Instead, he has begun ramping up direct attacks against U.S. companies whose responses to his tariffs he dislikes, including Amazon, Mattel and Walmart. This is no small detail. While there are countless examples of presidents pressuring private sector industries, even offering enticements to companies, its far from normal for an American leader to declare, in effect, Follow my commands on your production plans or my government will punish your company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But thats not the only problem. A CNBC report noted, for example, that Apple is likely to blow off Trumps threat, even if the White House decides to follow through on it. Analysts said it would probably make more sense for Apple to eat the cost rather than move production stateside. In terms of profitability, its way better for Apple to take the hit of a 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the US market than to move iPhone assembly lines back to US, wrote Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on X. Complicating matters further, even if Apple were to agree to shift production to the U.S., Trump would see this as a tremendous win, but American consumers would not: A New York Times report noted that the company would be forced to at least double the price of an iPhone. The Times quoted Wayne Lam, an analyst with TechInsights, a market research firm, who called Trumps demand absurd and not economically feasible. As for Apples competitors, their optimism about the developments should probably be kept in check: The president announced, hours after publishing his online missive, that he would similarly punish Samsung and any other company that fails to make its phones on American soil. When a reporter specifically asked Trump if he has the legal authority to impose tariffs on a specific company, he dodged the question. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com After a night of drinking, Corbie Jean Walpole set her longtime friend Jake Loader on fire after he allegedly made a misogynistic comment to her Loader suffered third-degree burns to over half his body The Judge called Walpole's crime "unprovoked and violent" and she was sentenced to 7-and-a-half years in prison An Australian woman has been sentenced to 7-and-a-half years in prison for setting her friend on fire following a night of heavy partying after he allegedly said a misogynistic comment to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Corbie Jean Walpole poured gasoline on Jake Loader, who was 23 at the time, and set him ablaze as they were drinking in her backyard on Jan. 7, 2024, according to Australia Broadcasting Corporation. Walpole pleaded guilty to one charge of burning or maiming by using corrosive fluid, the outlet reported. On the day of the party, Walpole and Loader, who had been friends for nine years, had been drinking for 12 hours, ABC reported. Walpole consumed between 23 and 35 drinks and cocaine during the party. The 24-year-old attacked Loader after he allegedly told her to get back in the kitchen and not to drink with the boys, the outlet reported. Loader sustained third-degree burns to 55% of his body and was in an induced coma for eight days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court, Loaders friends heard him screaming and tried to put out the flames with a dog bed and then he was thrown into a pool, ABC reported. Walpole stood watching and said, What the f have I done? and, He told me to do it. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The judge overseeing the case described the act as unprovoked and particularly violent, fueled by drugs and heavy drinking, the outlet reported. This is a tragic case, in so many ways, for the victim and his family and the offender and her family: two young lives destroyed, Judge Jennifer English said. In court, Walpole said she was remorseful and that she has given up drugs and alcohol, ABC reported. She will be eligible for parole in November 2029. Read the original article on People MADISON, Tenn. (WKRN) A Madison elementary school received a large surprise on the last day of school in the form of a grant for classroom supplies. Thursday was the last day of school for Chadwell Elementary School, but the 2025-2026 school year is already stocking up thanks to a $20,000 grant from Vowd Weddings of Nashville through the Adopt-A-School program. The money will go towards covering supplies, updating furniture, and anything else the school needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Chadwell Elementary School Principal Michael Beno told News 2 teachers often have to use money out of their own pockets to purchase what they need for their classrooms, so the grant is a relief for them headed into summer break. Theyll be able to buy some of the things that maybe theyve been wanting for a year or two years but havent been able to save enough of their money for, Beno said. Itll give them a way to start off the year really strong and give them a second to think through, What are the materials or things that I wish I had in my classroom that I think would cause students to learn more and cause students to be even more excited about being here?' There are 25 classroom teachers and then several other special education teachers that will use this money, the $20,000 will be dispersed evenly to each one. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. (NewsNation) FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said Thursday that the United States needs to transform its health care approach from treating disease to preventing it, as the Trump administration unveiled a sweeping Make America Healthy Again report calling American children the sickest generation. Our entire focus of the U.S. health care system has been on the back end. Its been a reactionary system, and we need to be proactive and look at the root causes, Makary told The Hill on NewsNation after the reports release. The 69-page report, containing more than 500 citations, paints a stark picture of American childrens health. Makary cited alarming statistics: 40% of children have chronic conditions, one in 14 boys takes ADHD medication, and one in 14 girls receives depression treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RFK Jr.s MAHA report raises concerns about vaccines, food The report attributes the health crisis to ultra-processed foods, which comprise 70% of childrens calories and are linked to obesity, ADHD and depression. It also blames chemical exposure, overmedication, lack of exercise and corporate influence for rising chronic illnesses. Weve got a major crisis now with children. Weve got a major chronic disease epidemic, Makary said, describing the situation as uniquely American. This chronic disease epidemic doesnt exist in other parts of the world. This is an American problem. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who spearheaded the initiative, called it unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this, Kennedy said at the unveiling. The report lacks legal force but will guide policy development over the next three months. Big, beautiful bill should have done more: Former Indiana governor Makary outlined concrete changes ahead: increased NIH research into root causes of disease, Medicare payment restructuring to incentivize health rather than just treat sickness and expanded FDA focus on food safety alongside drug regulation. President Donald Trump announced plans to phase out eight common artificial food dyes, calling them petroleum-based additives. Makary said food manufacturers are already cooperating, seeking a level playing field as 30 states consider or have passed food dye restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commissioner said the initiative transcends politics: Can we love our nations children more than we hate each other politically? This is a call to unite around medical science and look at root causes. Trump weighs making Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac public Rather than treating childhood obesity solely with medications such as Ozempic, Makary suggested addressing school lunch programs. Instead of focusing only on chemotherapy for rising youth cancer rates, he advocated examining environmental chemical exposures. The report calls for increased scrutiny of childhood vaccine schedules, pesticide reviews and addressing what it describes as overmedicated, undernourished children. Kennedy refused to identify the reports authors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary positioned the effort as delivering on campaign promises, noting that parents across party lines supported Trump partly due to the MAHA agenda. The approach represents an entirely new framework for the administrations health policies. The Associated Press contributed to the report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil should be protected from deportation, which could put his life at risk, his attorneys argued Thursday. Ahead of a critical court hearing before an immigration judge in Louisiana that focused on whether he was entitled to relief from deportation, including through asylum, Khalil met and held his newborn son for the first time. The Trump administration had sought to have the two separated by a plexiglass barrier. His life is at stake, said Khalils attorney, Marc Van Der Hout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil testified before the judge for more than two hours Thursday, describing his life from his childhood and his journey to Columbia University to his campus activism, in which he was a prominent pro-Palestinian voice during last year's demonstrations. I spent a good time of my life fleeing from harm and advocating for the marginalized. Thats what put me in danger, he said. That is what I was protesting. That is what I will continue to protest. This is what everyone should protest. He also said his own safety and his family's would be in jeopardy if they were removed from the United States. Khalil said returning to Syria would be suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been targeted for my political beliefs, he said. The president labeled me as a terrorist sympathizer. Asked what he was afraid of if he were to be deported, Khalil said kidnapping, assassination, torture or targeting of his family. He said he is most concerned about his family, because if he were deported, he would not want them to go with him for fear of their safety. Ive only spent one hour in one month of my sons life, and that was this morning, he said. The Trump administration targeted Khalil for deportation after he helped organize pro-Palestinian rallies on Columbias campus. He has been detained at a facility in rural Jena, Louisiana, since March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil is an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent; he was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. He was a green-card holder when he was detained. Trump administration officials invoked a rarely used provision in immigration law saying the secretary of state has the authority to deport someone who is determined to have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Immigration Judge Jamee Comans asked that the testimony Thursday focus on Khalils application for asylum. All I want to hear is why he cant go to Syria or Algeria, she said. His attorneys called multiple expert witnesses about the Middle East and North Africa to testify that Khalil could be targeted by foreign governments or suffer persecution or torture if he were deported to Algeria or Syria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the judge denies Khalils applications for relief and reaffirms that he is removable from the United States, his legal team can appeal. Before Thursdays hearing, Khalils attorneys submitted hundreds of pages of new evidence opposing his deportation, which NBC News has reviewed. The evidence included several expert declarations from organizations and academics saying Khalils life would be in danger if he were deported to Algeria or Syria. Amnesty International said in a letter that it oppose[s] all forced returns of Syrian nationals and former habitual residents of Syria, including Palestinians, to any part of Syria," adding the situation there "remains incredibly volatile." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another letter, Muriam Haleh Davis, an Algerian historian and associate professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said Khalil would also be at risk in Algeria, writing that Israel has a well-known history of assassinating pro-Palestinian intellectuals and politicians in North Africa. Mr. Khalil, due to his visibility and the false allegations of his involvement with Hamas, could very well be a target, Davis said. Ahead of the hearing, Khalil was allowed to meet and hold his 1-month-old son, Deen, for the first time and meet with his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, for the first time since he was detained from his New York City apartment lobby. Initially, Trump administration officials declined Khalils request for a contact visit, citing security concerns and a no-contact visitation policy at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After negotiations, officials agreed to a contact visit, Khalils legal team said. Khalils wife and newborn were also in the courtroom later Thursday. The baby occasionally fussed, and Khalil turned around and smiled at his wife and son. Khalil had a contact visit with his wife and child this morning before his court hearing. But were offering him even more: use the CBP Home app to self-deport," Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Thursday night. "The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 apiece and a free flight to self-deport now, which Kahlil can take advantage of by scheduling his departure through CBP Home." Khalil has not been accused of criminal conduct, but the Trump administration has argued it has the authority to deport him because he led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, which Khalil and his legal team deny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC News reviewed more than 100 pages of documents the federal government submitted in its effort to deport Khalil, which showed that the government appeared to rely on unverified tabloid articles about him. In April, Comans affirmed the Trump administrations argument that Khalils beliefs threaten national security and justify his deportation. Khalils attorneys asked the judge on Thursday to terminate the immigration proceedings, arguing that he was arrested without a warrant. However, the judge denied the motion. After hours of testimony, the judge instructed both parties to submit written closing arguments by June 2. As of now, Khalil will remain detained in Louisiana. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com May 22The relief was short-lived. One month after Maine home sale prices decreased for the first time in six years, they've risen again. Maine homebuyers paid a median of $400,000 in April, a 4% increase over the same time last year, according to data released Thursday by the Maine Association of Realtors. It's the first time this year and the fifth time ever that the median price has met or surpassed $400,000 since first crossing that threshold last June. The median is the price at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less. Meanwhile, 942 homes changed hands, an 11% increase from the month before and a slight (less than 1%) decrease compared to April 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April typically marks the beginning of the busy spring real estate market and Jeff Harris, president of the Maine Association of Realtors, said both listing and buyer activity heated up last month. The number of homes listed for sale increased by 19% or roughly 600 homes between March and April, he said. And while the $400,000 median price feels particularly unwelcome after the previous month's decease, however minimal, seven Maine counties saw prices fall, according to Harris, a broker affiliated with Harris Real Estate in Farmington. Nationally, sales dipped just over 1% compared to April 2024, while the median sale price increased just shy of 2% to $418,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regionally, sales in the Northeast were flat year-over-year and prices increased about 6% to $487,400 over the same period. Home sales across the country have been at 75% of the normal, pre-pandemic activity for the last three years, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the national association. Any "meaningful" decline in mortgage rates will help release pent-up demand, he said, as will increased inventory. According to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage was 6.86% on Thursday. "At the macro level, we are still in a mild seller's market," Yun said. "But with the highest inventory levels in nearly five years, consumers are in a better situation to negotiate for better deals." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maine Association of Realtors also looks at three months of data in county-by-county comparisons to get a larger sample size of sale transactions. The median price increased just under 5% to $390,000 between Feb. 1 and April 30, compared to the same three-month span the year before. Cumberland County held its spot as Maine's most expensive county with a median sale price of $560,000. York County was the second-most expensive, with a median sale price of $479,000. Cumberland County saw prices increase by about 3% from the year before, but York recorded its second decrease just over 4% since 2019. It was one of five counties to record a price decrease. Washington County had the biggest price drop at around 12%, and with prices falling to $198,000 it joined Aroostook County as the only Maine counties with a median price under $200,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hancock County's price increase of 12% was the largest in the state, bringing the area's median sale price to $397,500. Between February and April, the number of homes sold statewide slipped about 4%. Androscoggin County saw by far the largest decrease of about 31%, while Waldo County saw the largest increase with a whopping 71%. Sales were flat in Aroostook County. Copy the Story Link May 22The U.S. Supreme Court changed campaign finance law significantly when it ruled in 2010 against efforts to limit spending by political action committees, calling it an infringement of free speech. But does that apply to how much money these groups receive in contributions to pay for protected expenditures such as TV ads and text messages? U.S. District Court Magistrate Karen Wolf plans to answer that question by July 15. Lawyers for two of Maine's conservative political action committees, or PACs, were in federal court in Portland on Thursday asking her to stop the state from enforcing a new law that caps PAC contributions at $5,000. The law was approved in a referendum last fall, but state officials agreed to delay its implementation until May 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs' attorneys urged Wolf to consider the Supreme Court's 2010 decision, Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission, and what they argue is a serious threat to the First Amendment. The state's attorneys pointed to the popularity of the new law and suggested voters are concerned with corruption. Wolf has also allowed numerous people to intervene in the legal case to defend the law, including the Mainers who started the citizens' initiative, state Sen. Richard Bennett, R-Oxford, and a nonpartisan fair elections organization called EqualCitizens. POPULAR INITIATIVE Roughly 75% of voters last fall agreed to restrict how much people can donate to PACs. It was put on the ballot because of a citizen initiative that required 68,000 signatures. The effort received at least 84,000 signatures, making it one of the most popular citizens' initiatives in Maine history, the state's lawyer said. The measure sets a $5,000 limit on contributions to PACs that make independent expenditures to elect or defeat candidates for public office. It also caps contributions to candidates and requires the disclosure of small-amount donors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Institute for Free Speech, a nonprofit law firm based in Washington, D.C., known to oppose campaign finance reform, sued the state in December. They represent both the Dinner Table Action Committee and For Our Future, two PACs that would be hindered from raising funds under the new law. Their attorney, Charles Miller, argued that the Citizens United decision must be applied "one step further" to contributions. Miller said there's a process in place to ensure that contributions to PACs are ethical. He's not against having a system to regulate that. He argued these contributions should be presumed independent from influence, despite the state's claims that even the appearance of corruption merits restrictions. Miller also had concerns with the law's disclosure provisions for small donors who contribute less than $50. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm not standing here today to say that disclosure requirements, writ large, aren't appropriate," said Miller, but, he argued, it's unlikely these small donations are bribes. He said disclosure could put donors at risk of harassment if they give to unpopular causes. CORRUPTION CONCERNS Miller argued that capping donations could also be seen as punishing those with unpopular, but constitutionally protected, views. When Wolf pointed to the law's popularity, Miller suggested it didn't matter how many votes the referendum got, because the law still violates the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They don't want to hear the speech. That's the visceral reaction they have," Miller said. "(That's) why we have the First Amendment." Lawyers for the state argued that Mainers were more concerned about corruption, not free speech. Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Bolton pointed to clear, publicized instances in other states where he said PACs have been tied to massive corruption. He referenced former Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who was convicted in 2024 of accepting bribes from businessmen and acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. Menendez had gone to trial several years earlier, facing similar but unrelated allegations, including one charge that he solicited bribes for a PAC. That ended in a hung jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a real thing that can happen," Bolton said. "It's not hypothetical. He was convicted, and we went to court documents that show there was a super PAC that was involved in the scheme, that was making expenditures in support of the candidate." Copy the Story Link Powering Rural Futures: Clean energy is creating new jobs in rural America, generating opportunities for people who install solar panels, build wind turbines, weatherize homes, and more. This five-part series from the Rural News Network explores how industry, state governments, and education systems are training this growing workforce. The sputtered drone of a vacuum pump filled the former milking barn that now houses Kennebec Valley Community Colleges heat pump lab. Instructor Dave Whittemore, who held the yellow vacuum in one hand and displayed an app tracking atmospheric pressure on his phone in the other, explained in a raised voice how to do an evacuation, ridding the heat pump of air and moisture to avoid malfunctions down the road. The longevity of the equipment is important, said Whittemore, who teaches students how to install the increasingly popular electric heating and cooling units. If its not done right, then its going to fail prematurely. And thats the biggest reason that I personally try to keep up with industry best standards and I pass that on to my students. Six years ago, Gov. Janet Mills traveled to the college to sign a bill aimed at transforming Maines market for heat pumps, an environmentally friendly alternative to oil furnaces and gas boilers, and set a goal of installing 100,000 units by 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state, now a national leader for heat pump adoption, met that goal two years ahead of schedule, and Mills once again traveled to the rural Somerset County campus to announce a new target: another 175,000 heat pumps by 2027. Maine needs skilled workers to reach this goal, demanding training initiatives from all corners of the state to build HVAC, refrigerant, and electrical knowledge in the clean energy workforce. Without a strong pipeline, the state risks delays in reaching its heat pump target, putting its climate goals at risk. So far, rural counties have seen some of the fastest rates of clean energy worker growth, according to state data. In Somerset County, where KVCC is located, the number of clean energy workers has grown by 44% since 2020. As part of this push, the community college launched a high-tech heat pump training lab in 2021 and has trained over 300 students. The initiative is one of many clean energy programs the school offers as part of a broader, state-supported effort to meet Maines goal of reaching 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efficiency Maine, a quasi-governmental agency that oversees the states energy efficiency programs, has invested more than $400,000 in installation and weatherization training programs at KVCC and supports 29 similar programs at other institutions each year. Another key piece of state support comes through the Governors Energy Offices Clean Energy Partnership, which has awarded nearly $5 million in grants for clean energy training and apprenticeship programs across the state since 2022 and has seen over 3,500 participants. Businesses have also developed their own on-the-job training programs to help meet demand. But the state still faces a daunting challenge: It must employ more than 14,000 new workers to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs by the end of the decade. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of workers in the field grew by less than a thousand. While the state says it remains dedicated to this goal, some in the industry worry federal funding cuts and tariffs could create challenges for the workforce development pipeline. Efforts underway in many corners of Maine Heat pumps have emerged as a pillar of Maines clean energy strategy: The units can reduce carbon dioxide emissions between 38% and 53% compared to a gas furnace, according to a 2022 study in the academic journal Energy Policy, and have been touted as a way to reduce energy costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rural areas have historically spent more on energy bills and participated less in residential energy and efficiency financing and rebate programs to lower costs, according to a state report from 2023. To help rural Mainers overcome geographic barriers in accessing cost-lowering energy initiatives, the state must bolster its rural workforce, according to a 2018 study the Island Institute produced in partnership with the Governors Energy Office. The demand for cleaner energy has grown not only in response to the states climate goals, but also as Maines electricity costs rise. A Maine Monitor analysis showed that electricity costs increased at the third-highest rate in the U.S. between 2014 and 2024. A Maine Monitor analysis of 2023 U.S. Department of Energy and Bureau of Labor Statistics data prepared for E2 shows that two-thirds of the states clean energy jobs were in the energy-efficiency sector, while about a fifth of jobs were in renewables. Workforce development has become a priority for the state as the clean energy industry grows, said Tagwongo Obomsawin, the program manager for the states Clean Energy Partnership, noting that it can provide good paying jobs for Mainers and reduce energy costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employers are definitely a really important part of the picture, but we dont want to leave out anyone, Obomsawin said. We recognize that training providers, academia, state government, organized labor, and industry all have a role to play in making sure that we have a robust system that supports people in finding job opportunities, getting access to training, and localizing the benefits of the energy transition. Heat pump training is just one of several clean energy programs offered through the Maine Community College System, which includes KVCC. The system works with industry and state leaders to grow the workforce. The network of schools also trains students in electric vehicle maintenance, fiber optics, aquaculture, and more. Dan Belyea, the systems chief workforce development officer, said short-term training and scholarship funding are centered on needs that arise in the industry, which the schools gauge by looking at labor market data and talking to employers. Programs that are highest in demand tend to include electrical and heat pump training, Belyea said. In 2022, KVCC hoped to use a nearly $250,000 grant from the Clean Energy Partnership to offer programs on electric vehicles and NABCEP solar photovoltaic installation. But trouble finding instructors and low interest among students made it difficult to launch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, KVCC doubled down on energy efficiency. It launched a building science program with the funding last fall, which had five students, two of whom were able to complete the certification. Other clean energy workforce initiatives have popped up across the state. Some employers run their own heat pump or solar installation training labs, and several adult education programs and nonprofits also offer classes designed to help people move into the industry. PassivhausMAINE, a Freeport-based organization, received $180,000 in Clean Energy Partnership money in 2022 to host training programs on the states energy code. The company ran 29 trainings across the state, from Portland to Presque Isle. Naomi Beal, executive director of passivhausMAINE, noted that getting enough students to attend the training was easier in areas like Portland but trickier in more rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I always feel like its very important to consider when going into Greenfield or Machiasport or wherever that there are just not that many people. So if we get five people showing up, thats probably statistically way more interest than [a larger number of attendees] down in Portland, Beal said. We just try to be patient and persistent with the smaller towns and the smaller attendance. A need for more collaboration In Freeport, Scott Libby, the owner of Royal River Heat Pumps, walked through his training center as he explained that all his workers go through heat pump training that starts with the basics, regardless of experience, to ensure each worker is equipped to handle the job. A lot of these heat pumps have 12-year warranties, Libby said. Thats 4,380 days. The most important day is Day 1. It needs to be installed properly. Libby, who has worked with the U.S. Department of Energy on workforce development and sits on a new energy-efficiency workforce subcommittee being developed by the Governors Energy Office, said hes aware of a number of different workforce development initiatives but that its difficult to comprehend how they all work together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said some forms of programming arent sufficient for whats actually needed in the field: Students who sit through a six-week or six-month program that teaches the basics of how heat pumps work may come out with little to no hands-on experience with a power tool or climbing a ladder. Libby emphasized the need for more collaboration between different workforce development efforts and a more systematic approach, with quality checks in place. He suggested putting more thought into designing industrial arts and home economics programs in middle and high schools to introduce students to different career pathways early on. He also said more stringent licensing requirements could help with the quality of workers moving into the field. As it stands, there is no specific licensing required to install heat pumps in Maine, though workers need an Environmental Protection Agency Section 608 license to deal with the refrigerant used inside the unit, and an electrical license to complete the wiring. He acknowledged that new regulation could cripple workforce development efforts but said the move is imperative to control the level of training workers receive and make sure everyone is qualified to install heat pumps. There are hundreds of contractors listed as qualified heat pump installers on Efficiency Maines website, a list he said in his opinion should be much shorter. Uncertainties lie ahead At KVCCs heat pump lab, Whittemore gestured at eight heat pumps mounted on prop walls used for training, listing the types of new units he hopes to get soon ideally through donations from companies who have given units in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regulatory changes to refrigerants that went into effect this year mean the school needs to replace the heat pumps it uses to train students. Most of the procedures with the new refrigerants are the same. Its just that we cant put this new refrigerant in these existing heat pumps, he said. So Ive got to get eight new heat pumps. The broader challenge he sees for the industry is tariffs, which he fears could lead to higher equipment prices and lower demand. This, in turn, could mean a lower need for workers. I think thats going to slow this down, he said. Maine has two years to reach its goal of installing 275,000 heat pumps and five years to reach its goal of 30,000 clean energy jobs. But uncertainties in building Maines workforce lie ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Clean Energy Partnership Project, which has funded many of the states clean energy workforce development programs, typically announces new grants in the summer, but the Governors Energy Office stopped short of committing to another round of funding this year. We cant predict the future, but the existing programs that we have will continue on for at least another couple of years, Obomsawin said. She said a partnership the Energy Office has with the Department of Labor to provide career navigation services will continue into 2026, as will workforce development programs that received funding and are already operational. But she cautioned that it is still too early to know what impact policy changes at the federal level will have on the clean energy sector. Efficiency Maine said that the state is still on track to achieve its heat pump goals at least for now. Executive Director Michael Stoddard said that the heat pump rebate program has funding from the Electric Utility Conservation Program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for at least the next three years. However, some smaller initiatives, such as a revolving loan to help Mainers buy new heat pump systems, face uncertainty as the federal grants funding the project are in flux. Libby, of Royal River Heat Pumps, has 40 years of HVAC industry experience and said funding uncertainty will make it a challenge to reach the states heat pump goal. I think its definitely going to be harder, Libby said. I mean, Im not ready to give up on it yet. I dont think anybody is ready to give up on it. This reporting is part of a collaboration between the Institute for Nonprofit News Rural News Network and Canary Media, South Dakota News Watch, Cardinal News, The Mendocino Voice, and The Maine Monitor. Data visualizations from Big Local News at Stanford University. Support from Ascendium Education Group made the project possible. A correction was made on May 27: A previous version of this story misstated the name of the Freeport-based organization that received Clean Energy Partnership money. It is passivhausMAINE, not PassivHaus. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. I.M.Rector of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Petr Glybochko has sent a congratulatory letter to First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Trend reports. "Esteemed First Vice-President Mehriban Khanum, Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration, and allow me to extend my congratulations to you and the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Independence Day, on behalf of the staff of Sechenov University and myself. Your extensive efforts for the benefit of the people of Azerbaijan, your deep commitment to humanitarian values, and your outstanding contributions to the development of healthcare, education, and culture have earned you sincere recognition on the international stage. Under your leadership, significant social initiatives that strengthen the countrys spiritual potential are being implemented. I would especially like to acknowledge your substantial contributions to the advancement of medical science and practice, as well as your support for programs aimed at improving public health. Please accept my best wishes for good health, well-being, and continued success in your high mission. May Azerbaijan continue to reach new heights under the banner of peace and progress," the letter reads. The costs of maintaining, repairing and overhauling military aircraft is likely to spike worldwide in years to come as advanced planes make up a growing portion of fleets, according to a new study from consulting firm Oliver Wyman. In the report, analysts Doug Berenson, Livia Hayes and Ian Ferguson said the global market for maintenance, repairs and overhauls of military aircraft or MRO totaled about $97 billion in 2025, and remained roughly flat over the preceding six years. That is likely to change over the next decade, as MRO costs grow and spending rises at about 1.4% per year. That means militaries could be spending more than $111 billion on MRO by 2035. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report, titled The Militarys Mounting Cost for Cutting-Edge Technology: Why Global Air Forces Will Spend More on their Fleet MRO, was provided to Defense News by Oliver Wyman. A key factor driving these higher MRO costs, the report said, is the growing number of advanced aircraft such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Such jets bring dramatically more sophisticated capabilities, such as stealth, than older jets. But their complex software, advanced propulsion systems, exotic materials and other technologies require more service hours to sustain and higher operating costs. Lockheed Martin says it has delivered more than 1,170 F-35s around the world. The U.S. Air Force now has about 471 F-35As and eventually plans to buy 1,763 of the jets. The report said that of the roughly 310 fighter jets bought each year by militaries worldwide, about half are F-35s. They make up 2.2% of the global fleet now, and over the next decade F-35s are projected to grow to 4.7% of the global fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2035, the F-35 alone will account for 9.5% of the global total MRO spending more than twice the aircrafts share today, the report said. But F-35s arent the only advanced aircraft swelling militaries fleets. The Air Force is also working on two sixth-generation aircraft, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber and the F-47 fighter, also known as Next Generation Air Dominance. The Air Force also wants a fleet of more than 1,000 semi-autonomous drone wingmen, known as collaborative combat aircraft, to fly alongside its piloted fighters, and is working with General Atomics and Anduril Industries on the first iteration of CCAs. The U.S. Navy, as well as European and Asian militaries, are also looking hard at their own sixth-generation fighters. The report said those nations governments should take MRO costs effect on budgets into account as those planes are designed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also cited European aircraft such as the Airbus A400M Atlas, an advanced heavy transport plane, and the NHIndustries NH90 helicopter as examples of complex aircraft headed for military fleets. Complex aircraft worldwide now make up about 11% of military fleets, the report said, but a decade from now that will be up to 17%. NATO fleets now spend about 16% of their MRO budgets on complex aircraft, the report added. By 2035 that share will have risen to 26%. The increasing importance of drones in warfare, particularly in Ukraine, is also causing MRO spending to grow. Over the last five years, major air forces around the world added 350 unmanned aerial vehicles to their fleets, bringing the total to more than 1,400. That is expected to more than double over the next decade, to 3,460 worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MRO spending [on drones] has started to grow faster than the global fleet, the report said. Besides the increased sophistication of newer platforms, the supercharged demand has been driven by aircraft needs related to the three-year-old conflict in Ukraine. For governments operating these aircraft, the coming period of higher growth will bring significant challenges and questions about how ready is ready enough. Governments will need to strike the right balance between multiple priorities, the report noted, including determining how valuable high aircraft readiness is compared to the rising maintenance costs that would require. The report said air forces will need to expand their supply chains for spare parts, so they are not dependent on sources that are diminishing or even going out of business. That issue of parts sources drying up has, over time, become an acute problem for decades-old planes like the B-52 Stratofortress. Air forces also need to figure out whether they want to have the original manufacturer of planes or drones conduct the necessary MRO work, which may be simpler but come with a higher price tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If air forces cannot adequately budget for growing MRO expenses, the report said, other aspects of those forces airpower can suffer. The report pointed to the U.S. Air Forces decision in recent years to dial back the number of flying hours budgeted for its planes, and its inability to turn around declining mission-capable rates, as it focused instead on bringing on new technologies and aircraft it hopes will plug those gaps. As it prioritizes modernization, the Air Force is betting that it can manage these readiness risks, the report stated. Major General Holger Neumann is to become the new head of the German Air Force, dpa learnt on Friday. Neumann, a commander of the air force's flying units since September 2024, succeeds Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz. Gerhartz is set to become the head of NATO's Allied Joint Forces Command in the Dutch town of Brunssum - one of two operational headquarters for the alliance in Europe. The air force's new inspector is due to take command next week and will have important tasks ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the first parts of the Arrow 3 air defence system are to be ready for deployment this year. Neumann was previously responsible for the German Air Force's tactical squadrons, air transport units and training facilities. The Lackawanna County Home Rule Charters process for filling former Commissioner Matt McGloins vacant seat supersedes a state rule of judicial administration that would have removed the county Democratic Committee from the replacement process, the majority of a panel of senior county judges ruled. While split on that question, the panel unanimously ruled that the county which as a co-petitioner brought litigation challenging the charter process alongside Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan does not have the authority to proceed as party in the matter. Republican Commissioner Chris Chermak and his attorneys had argued against the countys right to do so or participate in the case at all, since Chermak, one of two sitting commissioners, never authorized the countys participation. Thursdays ruling comes a month after the panel of Senior Judges Carmen D. Minora, Vito P. Geroulo and Robert A. Mazzoni heard oral arguments in the litigation Gaughan and the county initiated in March seeking to remove the county Democratic Committee from the process of replacing McGloin, a Democratic commissioner who resigned and left office in late February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Objecting to the HRC process the committee followed in nominating three potential replacements former county Economic Development Director Brenda Sacco, Olyphant Borough Council President James Baldan and Scranton School Director Robert J. Casey attorneys for Gaughan and the county argued in court that the HRC procedure violated Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 1908, adopted by the state Supreme Court in 2019. The Democratic Committee rejected that argument, arguing in court for the supremacy of the charter. Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan speaks during the commissioners meeting held at the county Government Center in Scranton Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) The HRC tasks the Democratic Committee with submitting the names of three potential candidates to fill the vacancy for consideration by the judges of the county Court of Common Pleas, and the judges with appointing McGloins successor from that short list. Rule 1908, on the other hand, says the county court alone, not a political party, shall receive applications from any interested candidates for the position pursuant to a deadline established by the court. Minora and Geroulo ruled that the charter supersedes Rule 1908, with Mazzoni dissenting. The majority ruling amounts to a legal victory for the county Democratic Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The logic behind the entire HRC concept is to provide HRC municipalities with power at the local level to govern at the local level, Minora and Geroulo wrote in their ruling, which notes Gaughan and the countys reading of Rule 1908 simply defies logic and means every time the court issues a new rule, be it administrative or procedural, HRC communities better hold their breath lest their constitutionally guaranteed right to self-rule be consumed by a pac-man like anonymous rule making committee unanswerable to any public input. In his dissent, Mazzoni disagreed that the HRC controls the replacement process, noting the clear and unambiguous language in Rule 1908 makes its application in this case compelling. He also reiterated a point he made in court last month that the matter appears to be a case of first impression, meaning the issue before the court hadnt been addressed before. In other words, no court had been asked to decide whether Rule 1908 supersedes a HRC when theres an inconsistency between the charter and Rule 1908. As noted in the language of Rule 1908, the application of this Rule makes the selection of a candidate more transparent and, of course, more diverse by creating a larger pool of worthy applicants, Mazzoni wrote. A result which truly serves the ends of justice. Gaughan raised transparency concerns both before and after the Democratic Committee submitted Sacco, Baldan and Casey for the judges consideration, blasting the way the committee went about nominating those three from a larger pool of 18 candidates as opaque and politically tainted. County Democratic Chairman Chris Patrick repeatedly defended his process as complying with the charter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just received the ruling and were currently reviewing it and we will decide very soon on how to proceed, Gaughan said Thursday. Patrick said his committee stood behind the charter from the beginning. We knew it was the right and legal process, he said. At the end of the day Im just thankful that the senior judges ruled and decided to defend the integrity of the Home Rule Charter. As far as Im concerned its time to move on. Theres been enough fighting. Theres been enough name calling. How and when the county court judges might proceed with the three potential appointees before them remains to be seen, but the majority ruling orders the commissioned judges that the active court follow the directives of the Home Rule Charter when voting to fill McGloins seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standing The senior judge panels ruling on the issue of standing and the countys continued participation in the legal matter was unanimous, with all three finding the county lacks authority to proceed as a party to the litigation. They also rejected the claim that county Solicitor Donald Frederickson can commence and prosecute litigation on behalf of the county without authorization from a majority of the commissioners, but ruled that Gaughan does have standing to proceed in his official capacity as commissioner. To permit a single commissioner without majority concurrence to unilaterally proceed in the name of the County would lead to chaotic results infused with political agendas this Court is not willing to sanction, the judges wrote. Chermak had objected to the use of county resources and personnel in, and taxpayer money to fund, the legal battle. He said in a statement he was pleased with the judges unanimous decision to remove the county from the litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak listens during the commissioners meeting held at the county Government Center in Scranton Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) I fought to have the county removed from this suit because the taxpayers of Lackawanna County should not be responsible for paying for a fight between Bill Gaughan and the Democrat Party of Lackawanna County, he said. In permitting Gaughan in his capacity as commissioner to proceed, the judges found he has a substantial, direct and immediate interest in the case. The employment of an appropriate selection process can have an impact on Gaughans ability to function as a Commissioner, they wrote. Without Gaughans challenge, he would be conceding to a selection process which he feels is unconstitutional. Whether Gaughan appeals the ruling remains to be seen. A 31-year-old Danish national with no criminal record who has been living in the U.S. legally for more than 10 years was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials during a routine appointment to finalize his citizenship, according to multiple media reports. Kasper Eriksen, a green card holder who works as a welder in Sturgis, Mississippi, where he lives with his wife and four children, was unexpectedly taken into custody on April 15 and later transferred to the LaSalle Detention Center in Louisiana, Newsweek reported. The 31-year-old, according to his wife, Savannah Hobart Eriksen, first moved to the States as an exchange student in 2009 and returned to Denmark. The Eriksen Family seen in this undated. (Mandi Sanders via GoFundMe) The Eriksen Family seen in this undated photo. (Mandi Sanders via GoFundMe) The Eriksen Family seen in this undated photo. (Mandi Sanders via GoFundMe) The Eriksen Family seen in this undated photo. (Mandi Sanders via GoFundMe) He returned to the U.S. legally in 2013 after he and his wife married and he began the legal process of becoming an American citizen. In September 2024, according to the outlet, the Eriksens received word that his application was under review and on March 7, an interview for his naturalization application was scheduled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE officials reportedly detained the 31-year-old for failing to file a single document, due in 2015, around the same time the couple lost their first child in a stillbirth. Amidst their grief, they forgot to file Form I-751, the Mississippi Free Press reported. More than a month later, the Danish national remains in a Louisiana detention center with dozens of other detainees, unsure about his future, where he might get sent, and without a date scheduled for a court to hear his case. This situation has not only detained Kasper but has also placed an emotional, mental burden upon our children and me, Savannah, a stay-at-home mom who homeschools their children, told Newsweek. The financial strain of paying our regular bills and attorney/court fees, however, we are thankful we have friends and our community for their love and support. In a GoFundMe campaign organized on behalf of the Eriksen family, Kasper is described a devoted father and husband, a proud landowner in the U.S. with a valid drivers license and social security number, who has always paid his taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A 62-year-old man from Mexico living in Orange County illegally is accused of embezzling $7 million from a Newport Beach company that specializes in purchasing classic cars, federal officials announced. Alexander G. Ramos, a resident of Newport Beach, had been employed in the companys risk management department from 2017 until is termination in Sept. 2024, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors allege that in the 62-year-olds position in the company, he was of his employers loans and had relationships with title agents and other partners across the country. It was his job to oversee requests by the companys title and risk department as well as the business accounting department for payment of titles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramos allegedly caused checks to be issued from the victim company to certain parties, including a Las Vegas DMV services business, officials said. The checks were supposed to cover expenses for tax, titling and licensing associated with car purchases. According to federal investigators, the 62-year-old caused his employer to overpay the outside businesses and then directed those entities to refund the extra money to bank accounts under his control. A law enforcement review of financial records revealed that approximately $7 million in checks and wires were deposited into Ramos-controlled bank accounts from the outside entities in the car industry, the release noted. The origin of some of the funds deposited into Ramoss bank accounts showed the checks and wires were made out to the victim company and were intended as refunds to that companys clients who had overpaid for vehicle registration fees. Man, 31, in U.S. legally for 12 years ripped from family, detained by ICE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of returning the funds to his employers accounts, Ramos is accused of putting the money into accounts he controlled and using the proceeds for personal use, including buying an Irvine home. The illegal transfers date back to at least January 2020, officials said. The 62-year-old had reportedly been deported in 2017, but later returned, though officials did not provide any details on how he was able to get back into the country, nor did they say if his employer knew about his immigration status. Ramos, who is being held without bail, has been charged with felony wire fraud and could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is scheduled to appear in court 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 KTLA. [Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player above.] TOLEDO, Ohio (WJW) Anthony E. Labrador-Sierra, a 24-year-old Venezuelan national accused of residing in the United States illegally for years and posing as a teenager to enroll at an Ohio high school, is now charged with lying on a federal form used to purchase a firearm. Labrador-Sierra claimed he was a U.S. citizen when applying to buy a 9-millimeter firearm from a licensed arms dealer, according to a Friday news release from Carol Skutnik, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Hes accused of giving false information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms on a required ATF form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Could this be Noahs Ark? See mysterious site in Turkey He is now charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making false statements during the purchase of a firearm and using false documents, according to the release. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the firearm charge; 10 years on the false statements charge; and five years on the false documents charge, according to the release. Perrysburg police and the Wood County Prosecutors Office continue to investigate the case. Also involved are the U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI Toledo field office and the ATF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the investigation is urged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip on the FBIs website. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Fentanyl suspect rams Akron police cruisers in attempt to escape arrest Labrador-Sierra is also charged in Wood County with a felony count of forgery, accused of using a falsified birth certificate to enroll as a student at Perrysburg High School for more than a year, claiming to be a homeless 16-year-old. Perrysburg Police Chief Pat Jones told FOX 8 News on Wednesday that what theyve learned about the case so far appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labrador-Sierra has been in the United States illegally since March 24, 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The department announced Wednesday that U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has ordered him to be detained. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A man in the Brevard County jail is accused of trying to rob a bank in Clermont this week. The crime happened Wednesday morning at Truist Bank on East Highway 50. Clermont police say employees told them a man went, demanded money and threatened that he had a bomb. The man fled before police arrived. Detectives identified the suspect Damian Martinez, 36, of Orlando. He was captured in Brevard County without incident Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez faces a charge of attempted armed robbery. This case demonstrates the swift and coordinated efforts of our officers and detectives, as well as the importance of inter-agency cooperation. Clermont Police Chief John Graczyk said in a statement. Through their quick response and team work, this suspect was able to be taken into custody in less than 48 hours. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) A man from Chicago is facing charges in Vermilion County following a high-speed police chase that started in Indiana and ended in Danville last weekend. The Danville Police Department announced the arrest Friday morning, but said it happened on Sunday, May 18. Deputy Chief Terry McCord said Danville officers assisted the Warren County, Indiana Sheriffs Department with pursuing a car into the city. The car refused to stop after posting speeds over 100 miles per hour. Danville man hurt in overnight stabbing, suspect arrested Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once in Danville, the chase continued through the city for 10 minutes. McCord said the car eventually headed east on U.S. Route 150 before trying to get onto westbound I-74. The car crashed on the ramp and the driver was arrested at the crash scene. He was identified as 34-year-old Trent Graves, and he was booked into the Vermilion County Public Safety Building. Vermilion County court records show he was formally charged in two cases one felony and one traffic. He was charged with the following offenses: Two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding One count of resisting a peace officer One count of driving 35 miles per hour over the speed limit One count of failing to reduce speed One count of driving without a valid license Graves was granted pretrial release, and he is due back in court on May 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. May 22The Odessa Police Department has arrested 33-year-old Cory Shane Castillo for crimes associated with sexual assault of a child. Castillo has been charged with sexual assault, child grooming, and possession of child pornography, an OPD news release said. This investigation began when parents of a 17-year-old high school student became suspicious of their child's recent behavior. The parents immediately notified Ector County ISD police of their concerns. ECISD police quickly found that no crime had occurred on ECISD property and turned the case over to OPD, the release said. Through an intensive investigation, detectives found that Castillo had been in an inappropriate relationship with the child since the child was 16 years of age. Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that Castillo became acquainted with the victim through Castillo's secondary employment as an adjunct instructor at Odessa College and his role as an employee for Odessa Fire Rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odessa Fire Rescue was notified of the investigation and the administration immediately placed Castillo on unpaid administrative leave. The Odessa Police Department would like to thank OFR, Odessa College, and ECISD Police for their assistance and cooperation in this very sensitive investigation. This investigation is still ongoing, and more charges are anticipated, the release said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. During an ongoing trial at the Baku Military Court, defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan confirmed his involvement in the occupation of Azerbaijans sovereign territories, Trend reports. Mnatsakanyan stated that he had served for many years as a battalion commander, division commander, and artillery chief in the separatist entity. In response to questions from state prosecutors, the defendant admitted that he participated in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories as part of a military unit led by Samvel Karapetyan. I engaged in combat operations in Aghdam, Jabrayil, Aghdara, Fuzuli, and other areas, he said. The trial is part of ongoing proceedings against Armenian nationals charged with committing crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, acts of terrorism, planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, forcible seizure and retention of power, and financing terrorismamong other offenses related to Armenias military aggression. DENVER (KDVR) Weeks of concerns surrounding a home in Lakewood that has been condemned have culminated in police arresting a 52-year-old man for charges of arson and drug possession. The Lakewood Police Department said it arrested Pete David Caranza, of Lakewood, on suspicion of fourth-degree arson and possession of a controlled substance, in connection with a May 10 fire that was reported at approximately 10:22 p.m. The department said the garage on the property was engulfed in flames, and that several people were evacuated from the building, but no serious injuries were reported. Pedestrian dies after crash involving coroner en route to Colfax homicide: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The house where the fire occurred is located in the 8000 block of West 10th Avenue. The home had two fires reported there within three days, and neighbors and students have raised complaints about the property. One neighbor said there were two explosions at the house, including one large enough that it shook her house. Were not born yesterday, we know whats going on there and they are certainly not at Bible study, she told FOX31s Hanna Powers earlier this month. Police said Thursday that there is no evidence of a drug lab at the property. Investigation of dangerous house in Lakewood. (Courtesy the Lakewood Police Department) Investigation of dangerous house in Lakewood. (KDVR) Students at JeffCo Open School, which is directly across the street from the property, also said theyve seen open drug use and unsafe activities at the property. Photos obtained by FOX31 show drug paraphernalia, smoke damage, and ongoing activity around the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, May 16, residents of the condemned property were evicted. The home has reportedly been under investigation since October 2024. Lakewood police said Thursday that anyone trespassing on the property will be arrested because the building has been posted as dangerous and uninhabitable. The agency also said it would issue a final notice to the property owner to take responsibility for securing and cleaning up the property, or the owner will face additional consequences. Victims identified in small plane crash near Broomfield According to Jefferson County property records, Caranza is not the owner of the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Powers spoke with a man who was once a resident of the house on the same parcel of land. He showed how the conditions of the property deteriorated, and said he contacted police at the beginning of February. Every time that I called them in the last eight weeks before it exploded, they were here 24 times, an average of three times a week, and every single time they told me, theres nothing we could do,' said Ed Jiovani, a former resident of the property. There was even an instance when I had pictures of people actively using drugs. He reported seeing drug paraphernalia and other crimes at the property. He said while the eviction has transformed the property, all of his property is locked inside the condemned home. Ive lost everything that I had in that house, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors told Powers theyre grateful for the peace and hope the case sparks 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 FOX31 Denver. SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested for murder in South Salt Lake on Wednesday after shooting and killing a man over being sold fake drugs, according to South Salt Lake Police. Michael Angus, 50, was arrested in South Salt Lake on one charge of aggravated murder (first-degree felony). On May 21, Angus and two other males went to the victims address in order to take money back from the victim that was paid to him during a drug deal, police said. Angus and the other males are reportedly seen on camera walking into an apartment complex and putting on gloves, signifying that they were willing to take the money by force and did not want to leave fingerprints, a probable cause statement reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angus and the two others reportedly knocked on the victims door, at which point, one of the males pulled a firearm and shot the victim ultimately causing his death, the statement reads. Angus later admitted to police that a drug deal took place two or three days prior where he was sold fake drugs. He told police he had intention to go to the apartment to get his money back and was willing to take it by force. Angus also told police that the victim pulled a gun and one of the other males also pulled out a gun and shot the victim. When asked about the two others who were with him, Angus declined to speak further, police said. Angus was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charge. No further information is available at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SANDY, Utah (ABC4) A Sandy man has been arrested and charged with allegedly using a hidden GoPro to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of a 16-year-old family member. The 49-year-old man who ABC4 is not identifying to protect the victim has been charged with 13 counts of felony aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and six counts of misdemeanor voyeurism. McDonalds employee charged for alleged sexual relationship with 16-year-old coworker Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, a neighbor had borrowed a GoPro from the man before going on vacation. When she returned home and retrieved their footage, she discovered inappropriate videos in storage that depicted who she knew to be the mans underage family member. That same day, the neighbor reported what she found to the Division of Child and Family Services, which turned the report over to police. The neighbor met with officers and provided the videos to law enforcement on a memory stick for investigation. On the morning of May 15, the Sandy City Police Department went to the mans home, but he was not there. Officers interviewed an adult family member, who told police that she had spoken with him, and he had admitted to making one of the inappropriate videos. She also told police that the GoPro was currently in his possession. Man charged with 11 felonies for alleged sexual assault and robbery in West Valley City Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The adult family member let officers into the home. They were able to identify the victim as a 16-year-old family member living in the home. According to police, several rooms inside the residence matched those seen on the videos from the GoPro. It appeared that the camera was being hidden in the bathroom and the victims bedroom. When officers made contact with the man over the phone, he admitted that he had the GoPro but would not turn it over until he spoke with an attorney. On May 16, the man and his attorney met with police at the Sandy City Police Department, and he was taken into custody. The man is currently being held without bail at the Salt Lake County Jail. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. (KRON) A man was arrested for attempting to steal an ATM early Thursday morning from the Bank of America on Lone Tree Way in Brentwood, the Brentwood Police Department said. Around 5:30 a.m., officers received a call from a witness who said they saw a driver trying to ram into an ATM, according to BPD. Officers then arrived and saw the suspects drive away in a Jeep. Police later discovered that the ATM safe was forcibly removed evidence suggesting that the cash box had been dragged along the Highway 4 corridor. Fiery Highway 4 crash in Brentwood kills 2 (Photo: Brentwood Police Department) The suspect was described to be a 34-year-old San Jose man. He was hiding in a bush in the Deer Ridge area where he was taken into custody. The suspect was arrested for grand theft and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brentwood police said there is potentially one more suspect at large. The Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office and the Antioch Police Department assisted in the arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A Shreveport man was convicted of molesting a girl under 13 in 2022. The Caddo Parish District Attorney said Timmy Lee Kepney, 64, was convicted of sexual battery for a crime committed on January 17, 2022. The girl informed her mother at the time of the incident, and her mother called the police. Timmy Lee Kepney (Source: Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office) After an interview at the Gingerbread House, where she described the sex acts, a sexual assault nurse examined her, and DNA evidence was collected. Kepney admitted to inappropriately touching the girl in an interview with Shreveport police, but denied that omission during the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury rejected his denial and found him guilty. He will return to court on June 6, 2025, for sentencing, where he could be sentenced to 25 to 99 years in prison without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for the crime of sexual battery of a juvenile under 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. A Norwegian man who lives by the coast was astonished to discover an enormous cargo ship in his backyard after it ran aground in the early hours of the morning. The 443-foot vessel smashed into the shoreline just yards from Johan Helbergs house at around 5 a.m. on Thursday. Helberg slept soundly through the incident, oblivious to the chaos outside. A 443-foot container ship ran aground outside Trondheim, Norway, on May 22, 2025, but failed to wake the homes owner. / JAN LANGHAUG / NTB/AFP via Getty Images He was only alerted to the disaster after a panicked neighbor who had witnessed the crash rang his doorbell at a time of day when I dont like to open, to check if he was ok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt hear anything. I was sleeping seven metres (22ft) from the bow, Helberg told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. I went to the window and was quite astonished to see a big ship, he later told The Guardian. I had to bend my neck to see the top of it. It was so unreal. Aerial view showing the 443-foot container ship after it ran aground. The NCL Salten had 16 people on board and was bound for Cyprus. / JAN LANGHAUG / NTB/AFP via Getty Images He added: It was lucky that it went ashore there. Five metres further south, and it would have entered the bedroom. And that wouldnt have been particularly pleasant. Helbergs neighbor Jostein Jorgensen said he awoke to see the ship heading directly into the shore. I went out and called and shouted and whistled without anything happening, he told local outlet TV2, before rushing to his neighbors house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was sure that he was already outside, but no, there was no sign of life. I rang the doorbell many times and nothing, Jorgensen said. And it was only when I called him on the phone that I managed to contact him. The NCL Salten had 16 people on board and was bound for Cyprus before it ran aground. The vessel was traveling southwest through the Trondheim Fjord to Orkanger before it veered off course. Nobody was injured during the accident, and Norwegian police are investigating the cause of the crash. A potential suspect has been identified, although authorities have ruled out drugs or alcohol as a reason for the error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of shipping company NCL, which chartered the ship, said the incident was a very serious error and expressed relief that nobody was hurt. The NCL Salten came to rest just a few feet from Johan Helbergs home. / JAN LANGHAUG / NTB/AFP via Getty Images There was no reason to believe this was intentional, NCL executive Bente Hetland said in a statement. Incidents like this should not happen, and we have started an investigation into the causes. Today, we are relieved that there were no injuries, and our main focus is on the people near the ship and our crew. A first attempt to remove the ship on Thursday failed, and a second attempt will be made at high tide. The cargo ship had run aground once before, in 2023, when it floated free without external help. This story invovles rape and/or sexual assault. Contact the rape and sexual assault hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) A man is facing 11 felony charges after threatening, sexually assaulting, and robbing a West Valley City woman. Efrain Monroy-Lara, 30, has been charged with 11 felonies, including aggravated kidnapping, child kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated burglary with a dangerous weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged offenses are extremely violent and are not tolerated in Salt Lake County. My heart goes out to the victim-survivor that experienced such depravity. I hope the filing of these charges is the start of her healing journey, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill is quoted as saying in a press release. Taylorsville man accused of threatening landlord in religious rituals, vandalizing home and church According to documents, the female victim and survivor was at her home in West Valley City when someone knocked on her door. Believing it was her roommate, she opened the door but saw two males instead. One of the men, later identified as Monroy-Lara, was holding a gun. The victim told police that the two men forced their way into the home and told her to look down and face the wall. She asked the assailants not to hurt her or the child in the home, who was in the next room. Monroy-Lara continued pointing the gun at her while the other man whose identity is unknown at this time began searching the residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men stole jewelry that the survivor was wearing and threatened to kill her if she didnt tell them where her money and financial cards were. They also threatened to kill the child in the home if she did not comply with their demands. McDonalds employee charged for alleged sexual relationship with 16-year-old coworker According to a release from the Salt Lake County District Attorneys Office, Monroy-Lara then raped the victim-survivor and told her that he was going to kill her. A car beeped outside the residence, and the two men threatened to kill her again and exited the residence. Following the assault and robbery, the victim and survivor checked her bank account and saw that her financial cards were being used at gas stations in Utah, Nevada, and California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a police investigation, DNA evidence connected to Monroy-Lara was discovered. A photo from a gas station where the survivors cards were used was also identified as Monroy-Lara. He was taken into custody on a warrant for his arrest. BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff named in sexual assault lawsuit Thank you to our law enforcement partners with the West Valley City Police Department for their diligence. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, Gill states in the release. According to documents, Monroy-Lara is illegally or unlawfully in the United States. He is currently being held at the Salt Lake County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Man charged in deadly shooting of Lancaster County business owner A 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a business owner in Lancaster County Wednesday evening. Just before 6 p.m., deputies responded to a home on Memorial Park Road, which was owned by relatives of Roger Ledell Baskins. Weeks prior to this incident, Baskins got into an argument with his family members. During that argument, Baskins pulled out a pistol and threatened one family member before firing several shots into another family members car in the yard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to deputies, Baskins then used a car battery to smash windows out of the car he shot, as well as another car that belonged to a third family member. However, no one was injured during this incident. Baskins left the scene on foot and was eventually spotted by family members in a yard on Willow Lake Road. He was then taken into custody. ALSO READ: No bond for man accused of robbing two people, including Morehead Social owner Witnesses at the scene told the sheriffs department that Baskins had been driving a burgundy 1997 Toyota 4Runner before arriving at the location. An inquiry into the vehicle revealed it belonged to a 65-year-old Charles Wilburn Presler from Rock Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the request of local officers, the Rock Hill Police Department went to the Presler address and spoke with his wife. She said she hadnt been able to get in contact with him via phone. She also said Presler operated a business on Memorial Park Road, which was a short distance from the home where the family disturbance occurred. Deputies then searched that business and found Presler deceased from a gunshot wound. He also appeared to have been robbed. When Baskins was arrested, deputies said they found a pistol in the 4Runner. An initial investigation indicates Baskins arrived at Preslers business a little over an hour after the domestic disturbance. We might never know what set Baskins off, but for about an hour and a half he was on a violent rampage in our community, said Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile. Our thoughts and prayers are with the murder victims family and friends. Im thankful Baskins family members alerted police to his location, and I appreciate the quick action taken by the Lancaster Police Department officers who chased Baskins down and took him into custody. Our community was not safe as long as Baskins was on the run. In connection with the homicide, Baskins has been charged with murder, armed robbery, secon- degree burglary, grand larceny of more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of certain crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In connection with the homicide, Baskins has been charged with murder, armed robbery, second-degree burglary, grand larceny of more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of certain crimes. Baskins is being held at the Lancaster County Detention Center after his bond was denied Thursday afternoon. VIDEO: He was a leader: Business owner killed in north Charlotte shooting HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) A man convicted of the 2015 murders of five people in New Market says he did not get a fair trial, that prosecutors focused on the wrong person and he wants his conviction overturned. Christopher Henderson was found guilty of multiple counts of capital murder in 2021 and given a death sentence. His direct appeals were denied, but his filing under Alabamas Rule 32 standard allows him to argue that constitutional violations were committed during his trial and that his case should be reconsidered. Decatur man charged with threatening to bomb Maine airport via text, phone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henderson and his co-defendant, Rhonda Carlson, were both charged with capital murder following the 2015 killings. The victims were identified as Hendersons 9-months-pregnant wife Kristen Smallwood, her unborn baby Loryn Brooke Smallwood, her 8-year-old son Clayton Chambers, her one-year-old nephew Eli Sokolowski, and Kristens mother, Jean Smallwood. Prosecutors have argued that nothing in Hendersons new filings would have changed the outcome of the case and say it should be dismissed. A hearing on that dismissal motion was held before Madison County Circuit Judge Chris Comer Thursday. Comer issued an order Thursday afternoon saying hed take the matter under advisement and gave the parties 60 days to file proposed orders in the case. Henderson and Carlson were still married at the time he married Kristen Smallwood. He and Smallwood became estranged. Prosecutors say Henderson went to Smallwoods family home in New Market in July 2015 and killed everyone inside, then set the house on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carlson testified against him in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. She testified she dropped Henderson off at the home and came and picked him up after about 15 minutes. But Hendersons new lawyers in the case said investigators missed several key details that show Carlson was more involved than she admitted. The defense argues Carlson had scratches on her arms, had blood on her shirt, had access to the same kind of gun used in the killings and suffered from command hallucinations that caused her to commit violent acts. Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App Hendersons Rule 32 filing argues his trial attorneys failed to follow up on key details in the case, failed during the sentencing phase to tell the jury about the abuse Henderson suffered as a child. They also argue surveillance video evidence from the home that day was mishandled. The jury deliberated two full days before finding Henderson guilty on 15 counts of capital murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Governor of the Astrakhan Region of the Russian Federation, Igor Babushkin, has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Esteemed Ilham Heydarovich, Please allow me to express my respect and extend my congratulations on the occasion of Independence Day. This holiday unites all citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijanthose who love their country, honor its history and traditions, and work towards a dignified future. On this momentous day, I wish you and all the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan good health, happiness, well-being, and continued success in your creative efforts for the benefit of your homeland. The Republic of Azerbaijan has always been and remains a strategic partner of the Russian Federation across all areas of cooperation. I highly value the friendly relations established between the Astrakhan Region and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and I express my gratitude to you for the support you provide in strengthening our multifaceted and mutually beneficial ties," the letter reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel LETCHER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) A Whitesburg man was taken into custody on Thursday following a year-long murder investigation. According to the Kentucky State Police, on March 4, 2024, officers responded to a 911 call of a female who had been found unresponsive on Dinah Blair Hollow Road in the Cowan community. Angela Roberts, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene from an apparent gunshot wound. Johnson City police investigating fatal Thursday crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigation results were presented to a Letcher County Grand Jury on Thursday, which resulted in the issuance of an indictment warrant. KSP troopers located and arrested Mark Miles, 65. Miles was charged with one count of murder and is being held without bond at the Letcher 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. TOPEKA (KSNT) Prosecutors are charging a man connected to a shooting near a local high school earlier this week. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced in a press release Thursday a 48-year-old Topeka man has been formally charged for the following: Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Intentional) Aggravated Battery (Knowingly Causing Harm with a Weapon) Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon Criminal Discharge of a Firearm in City Limits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka police arrested him Wednesday, following the shooting on Monday near Topeka High School in the 800 block of Southwest Tyler Street. Officers found one person suffering from a non life-threatening injury at the scene. Kansas rabbis mourn death of KU grad and Israeli Embassy staff member Nearby schools entered secured campus status following the shooting. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN) A man was convicted of a lesser charge on Thursday after accusations that he forcefully took his daughter from a home in Girard. Carlton Watson was convicted of menacing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, while the other charges against him including abduction were dismissed, according to Girard Municipal Court records. Last October, a man told police that Watson came to a home in the 200 block of Davis St. to take his daughter, but he said he told him that he had to have permission from the childs mother. According to a police report, the man told police that Watson pulled out a gun and took the child anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police recovered the child at a family members house in Cleveland a short time later and returned her to the mother. Patty Coller 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. ATHENS TOWNSHIP, BRADFORD COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A man has been found guilty of molesting a 10-year-old girl in 2021. A Bradford County jury convicted Dennis Vanderpool, 38, of Rome, PA, of all charges related to the sexual molestation of a 10-year-old girl in Athens Township in 2021. Man shot in the stomach 3 times outside VFW According to the Bradford County District Attorney, Vanderpool was entrusted to babysit the 10-year-old while the family went to attend to a family member in hospice care when the molestation happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vanderpool will be sentenced at a later date. His right to post bail was revoked immediately after the reading of the guilty verdict, and he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Vanderpool was found guilty of one count of corruption of minors and eight counts of indecent assault. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man has been arrested, and another is in critical condition after a road rage incident led to a shooting in Baton Rouge on Thursday. Stefan Scott, 21, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting, and illegal use of weapons in connection with the incident. Stefan Scott, 21, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault by drive-by shooting, and illegal use of weapons. (Baton Rouge Police Department) The Baton Rouge Police Department was called to the shooting in the 9988 block of Florida Boulevard and started an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives learned that a verbal altercation precipitated by road rage led to an adult male suspect exiting his vehicle with a long gun, threatening another driver and his passenger, according to police. That suspect was identified as Scott. He is accused of following the vehicle that contained the two occupants. At some point, Scott drove up next to their vehicle and fired one shot into the passenger side, according to BRPD. The driver was hit and taken to a hospital in critical condition. The second person in the vehicle was not hurt in the shooting. BRPD said Scott left the scene and headed west on Florida Boulevard. He hit two vehicles and was apprehended by police. BRPD was able to collect witness statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. TOKYO (AP) A dozen people were taken to the hospital on Friday after a man used pepper spray at a shopping mall near Tokyo after an argument, according to police and media reports. Chiba prefectural police said they detailed a suspect at the scene and were questioning the man on suspicion of assault. Police said many were injured, though none of them were in serious condition. NHK television said a total of 42 people complained about pain in their eyes and throat, and 12 of them were taken to hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report quoted witnesses as saying that the man used the spray after quarreling with other customers over smoking. A customer at a restaurant told NHK that she suddenly felt irritation in her nose as people seated near her started coughing. Violent crimes are rare in Japan, but in recent years there have been a number of high-profile attacks involving knives or home-made explosives. The Milwaukee County Jail. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) A man who died at the Milwaukee County Jail earlier this week has been identified as Gabriel Muniz-Jimenez, 33. Records from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office, obtained by Wisconsin Examiner, show that Muniz-Jimenez was pronounced dead Wednesday at 10:56 p.m. He is the second person to die in the jail so far this year. On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) reported that an unidentified 33-year-old man had died after his cellmate reported to correctional officers that the man appeared to be unconscious and in medical distress, Urban Milwaukee reported. The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. The sheriffs office said that the deceased man had been booked into the jail in November on felony methamphetamine possession. Online court records show that Muniz-Jimenez was charged with methamphetamine possession in April 2024 and the court case was filed in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Booking information online shows that Muniz-Jimenez was booked into the jail in late November on methamphetamine charges. Court records showed that Muniz-Jimenez required a Spanish interpreter in court. The sheriffs office announcement this week said officers attempted lifesaving measures including the use of Narcan, which can reverse an opioid overdose. A demographic report from the Medical Examiners Office on Muniz-Jimenez labels the cause as undetermined. MCSO has not responded to a request for comment, and the Waukesha County Sheriffs Department, which is investigating the death, declined to identify who died in the jail. The MCSO is a member of the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team (MAIT), which handles officer-involved deaths such as shootings and in-custody deaths. The Milwaukee County Jail has garnered controversy for deaths in recent years. The 2022 suicide of 21-year-old Brieon Green was the first of six in a 14-month period, and families of people who died have allied with activists to call attention to the deaths. In March, 48-year-old Joseph Boivin died at Froedtert Hospital after being found by a nurse in the middle of a health emergency at the jail. A jail audit detected numerous issues, including use of force and what the auditors called dangerous suicide watch practices. A recent review by the Texas-based auditor Creative Corrections found that the jail has come into full compliance with 71.2% of the proposed corrective actions, with another 28.8% being in partial compliance. The jail still needs to fund two new suicide watch cells. Jail officials are renovating housing areas and have said they are updating suicide watch policies. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Missourians who are arrested and declared incompetent to stand trial wait in jail an average of 14 months before receiving treatment (Getty Images). A man who spent months in a Kansas City jail waiting to be transferred to a state psychiatric hospital for court-ordered treatment died on Monday. Timothy Beckmann was arrested in late September and found incompetent to stand trial due to mental health diagnoses. He was ordered into Department of Mental Health custody in January, joining the list of hundreds of people waiting in jail for a state mental health bed to open up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before 5 p.m. on Monday, 64-year-old Beckmann was found unresponsive in his cell in the Jackson County Detention Center cell, according to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. He was brought to a local hospital, where he was declared dead. Beckmann hadnt been convicted of any crimes his case was on pause while he waited months for mental health treatment. The cause of death is not yet known. The sheriffs office, which oversees the jail, told The Independent it is investigating the death and the medical examiners office has not yet released a cause of death. The medical examiners office told The Independent no reports could be released under public records law while the case is still under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in the seven months he spent in pretrial detention, Beckmanns mental and physical health deteriorated, the public defenders overseeing his case told The Independent on Friday. They say his death is a tragic consequence of the states ballooning waitlist for mental health treatment, which leaves people languishing in jail for over a year on average. Its also an indictment, the public defenders say, of the states inadequate support for those with mental illness. What happened to Timothy Beckmann is horrific, said Annie Legomsky, who runs the state public defense systems holistic defense services program, and what makes it all the more tragic is that it was entirely preventable. She said jails are not equipped to help people with mental illness. The inability of our jails to provide appropriate psychiatric care for these individuals is something weve been trying to sound the alarm for for a while, Legomsky said, and unfortunately, its not a surprise that now someone has tragically ended up dying because they werent able to get the care they deserved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Missouri Department of Mental Health declined to answer a list of questions, citing patient privacy protections. Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte also declined to answer specific questions, citing patient privacy, but wrote by email that the death of an individual in our custody is a matter we take with the utmost seriousness and care. We are committed to thoroughly examining all circumstances surrounding such incidents, and this particular case remains under investigation. A life or death matter Missourians who are arrested and declared incompetent to stand trial wait in jail an average of 14 months before receiving treatment, according to data shared with The Independent earlier this month. Treatment generally includes therapy and medication and is referred to as competency restoration. There were 418 people on the waitlist earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those being held in jail are sometimes incarcerated for longer than they would be if theyd received the maximum sentence for the crime they were charged with. There have been successful lawsuits in other states arguing the practice violates due process and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Anthony Vibbard, the deputy district defender in Jackson County who supervised the attorney handling Beckmanns case, said Beckmann had been in and out of different mental health facilities over the last few decades. He was arrested and charged with second degree burglary and first degree property damage, according to court records, after breaking a glass door of a home and entering. Vibbard said Beckmann had been recently released from a mental health facility when he was arrested, and was left wandering the streets of Kansas City where he wasnt from and had no family. He said Beckmann entered the home because he was tired and hungry and was looking for something to eat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vibbard said once Beckmann was in jail, his condition started deteriorating to the point where he started self harming. Vibbard and Legomsky said after he was detained, Beckmann started pulling out his toenails, scratching himself and losing touch with reality. At one point, they said, he stopped eating or taking his blood pressure and heart medication. The process of getting court orders for mental health examinations and referrals to the Department of Mental Health can take months. In Beckmanns case, he was finally ordered into the departments custody Jan. 21, nearly four months after he was arrested. His attorney sounded the alarms in court, Vibbard said, trying to talk to judges, convince the department to expedite his treatment and making records of her concerns. Beckmann came to court visibly frail, Vibbard said, with scabs and wounds on his body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal team received reports he was being held in restraints, which the sheriffs office declined to comment on. The jail has been sued in the past for its use of restraint chairs. [His attorney] made records over and over saying like that, this is bad. Something bad could happen. He needs to be in a hospital and not a jail, Vibbard said.And eventually we got the word that Mr. Beckmann died number 109 on the waiting list for admissions. The department declined to confirm that Beckmann was number 109 on the waitlist at the time he died. Legomsky said despite legislative and court concerns, more needs to be done to remedy the competency restoration issue, so that people like Mr. Beckmann dont die locked up in a cell, strapped down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If people dont know whats happening, she said, and they dont realize that its a life or death matter, Im worried that the status quo will continue. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This story was updated Saturday at 9 a.m. to clarify Anthony Vibbards role in the case. MORETOWN, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) A man is due in court later this month after he allegedly sent messages of a sexual nature to a juvenile. Police first received a report April 8 about an unnamed juvenile that had gotten inappropriate messages. Investigators say that Austin Hoyt, age 28, of Waterbury had sent the individual multiple messages through Snapchat. Hoyt is set to appear in Vermont Superior Court Washington County Criminal Division May 29. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. The suspect in the 2002 murder of Sharon Van Gilder and three violent Tacoma rapes has been extradited from Mexico, according to a media release from the FBI. Miguel Urbano-Vazquez was arrested on March 14, 2023, after he was located by the FBI in 2019. He was extradited this month. In March 2002, the body of Sharon Van Gilder was found unclothed on the side of the road in the 15600 block of 74th Avenue East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives could not find evidence at the scene and there were no marks on her body, which led them to believe a crime had happened at a different location. After speaking to witnesses at a bar in Tacoma, detectives found out she was last seen leaving the bar with Urbano-Vazquez. During the course of their investigation, Urbano-Vazquez fled to Mexico and detectives were not able to obtain DNA to match the DNA found on the victim. In 2012, a detective with the Pierce County Sheriffs Department discovered three rapes that occurred at around the same time as the murder. The suspect in those cases was the same man that was seen leaving the Tacoma bar with Van Gilder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DNA evidence from the three rapes also matched the DNA in the murder investigation. With this new information, an arrest warrant was issued for Urbano-Vazquez, but he could not be located, since he fled to Mexico. In 2019, the FBI notified the Pierce County Sheriffs Office they had found Urbano-Vazquez in Mexico. The department applied for extradition, which was processed in 2023. With the help of law enforcement in Mexico, Urbano-Vazquez was arrested. This extradition should send a message to those who commit violence in our communities: you can run, but you cant hide. Thanks to strong international partnerships, Mr. Urbano-Vazquez has learned that lesson first-hand and now will face justice here in the State of Washington for his horrific actions threatening our community, said Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington. The News in Brief Friday, May 23, 2025 The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), along with two independent media outlets, has filed a constitutional lawsuit to overturn the recently adopted Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and suspend its enforcement while the court deliberates.Passed by the Georgian Dream controlled Parliament on April 1, FARA is set to come into force by the end of the month. In a public statement, GYLA argued that the law violates Georgia's Constitution and is intended to silence, discredit, and persecute independent civil society groups and media, partly through the threat of criminal prosecution.Although the ruling party has claimed that the law is modeled on the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, the lawsuit disputes this comparison. GYLA contends that the U.S. version applies to individuals or entities acting under the direction of foreign powers, not to those merely receiving foreign funding. U.S. court rulings, the statement notes, make clear that funding alone does not place an organization under the donor's control or trigger registration requirements.The complaint also highlights concerns about Georgia's institutional context. It argues that, unlike in the U.S., the law in Georgia grants expansive powers to agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Prosecutor's Office, and the judiciary. GYLA claims these institutions are subject to political influence by the Georgian Dream government."We do not expect the Constitutional Court to act swiftly or in accordance with the Constitution. However, we believe that we should use all legal means to protect the rights granted by the Constitution," the organization stated.Chinese business presence in Georgia surged in 2024, with 291 new companies registered by Chinese nationals, the highest ever recorded in a single year. The data comes from a new report by Transparency International Georgia.Since the Georgian Dream party came to power in 2013, Chinese business activity has steadily grown. Between 2013 and 2024, Chinese citizens registered nearly 1,900 companies in Georgia, four times more than in the previous decade. Direct investment from China reached 600 million dollars, five times higher than the total between 2003 and 2012.Trade between the two countries also expanded. In 2024, bilateral trade hit 2 billion dollars, making China Georgia's fourth largest trading partner.Chinese tourism increased as well. Around 89,000 Chinese citizens visited Georgia in 2024, up 83 percent from the previous year, following the removal of visa requirements.Chinese companies are now involved in several large infrastructure projects in Georgia. One of the most notable is the Anaklia port development, awarded to China Communications Construction Company, which is under US sanctions.Transparency International warns that while the economic gains are clear, partnerships with sanctioned Chinese firms raise concerns about long-term security and political risks. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. An expert meeting was held between representatives of the Special Forces of Azerbaijan and Italy, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. As part of the visit, the guests visited one of the military units of the Azerbaijan Special Forces. First, flowers were laid at the bust of National Leader Heydar Aliyev located in the territory of the military unit, as well as at the memorial complex erected in honor of the martyrs. The Italian delegation was presented with a briefing on the Azerbaijan Special Forces establishment history and combat path. Questions of the Italian guests were answered. During the expert meeting, the sides held a wide exchange of views on joint cooperation and issues of mutual interest. The Italian representatives got acquainted with the UAVs, weapons, and other equipment available in the provision and service of the Azerbaijan Special Forces personnel. The Italian delegation also watched the Azerbaijan Special Forces exemplary performances in combat training. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) A Santa Clara man has been arrested and federally charged after allegedly damaging a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle in St. George. Ryan Michael Gaines, 32, is facing one count of damaging government property exceeding the sum of $1,000. U.S. code states that those convicted of this charge can be made to pay a fine and/or face imprisonment for no more than one year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SWAT arrests Magna man over alleged clandestine laboratory According to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Utah, an ICE transit van was discovered to have been damaged over the weekend on April 21, 2025. An arresting document filed by St. George City Police said that both driver and passenger mirrors had been damaged and the drivers side of the van had been scratched. Police said that a man wearing only underwear, a balaclava, and ski goggles was captured on surveillance video on April 18. He made a crude gesture at the camera after breaking the mirrors and scratching the vehicle. Nearby surveillance showed a Jeep entering and leaving the area within a few minutes of the damage at the Enforcement and Removal Operations office in St. George. McDonalds employee charged for alleged sexual relationship with 16-year-old coworker Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents state that police were able to locate the Jeep at an address in Santa Clara. A balaclava and ski goggles matching those captured on surveillance video were also located at his residence. The St. George Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake Field Office, St. George Resident Agency, are investigating this case jointly, the attorneys office said. Gaines was taken into custody and initially charged in Fifth District Court in Utah. He is now federally indicted for property damage. According to the attorneys office, the estimated damage to the ICE vehicle was over $2,900.\ Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains what to do if you witness a crime. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man was found dead inside a Grantville apartment Thursday night following a reported altercation with his adult sister, according to the San Diego Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the scene at 6304 Rancho Mission Rd. just before 9:30 p.m. after a call came in reporting a disturbance inside an apartment. The individual stated that items were being broken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 9:24 p.m., the situation escalated when an update indicated that a woman was allegedly assaulting her brother with a stick. Due to the nature of the violence, the call was upgraded in priority, prompting an immediate police response. Officers arrived on the scene and discovered a 62-year-old Pacific Islander man unresponsive in the living room. Officers and medics attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities observed signs of a violent struggle in the apartment, though no obvious life-threatening injuries were visible on the victim. The San Diego County Medical Examiners Office is currently working to determine the exact cause of death. The victims sister, described as a 59-year-old Pacific Islander, had fled the scene before police arrived. She is currently considered a person of interest in the case. Neither the victims nor the suspects name has been released as the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 888-580-8477. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) An Alabama man that was sentenced to death appeared in court Friday morning requesting an expedited execution. Jeremy Williams, 40, was given the death sentence in April of last year for the 2021 murder of Kamarie Holland. Williams told Circuit Court Judge David Johnson he wanted to drop all of his appeals and move forward with execution for the death of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: In Loving Memory of Kamarie Holland It took 10 minutes and a series of questions for Judge Johnson to determine that Williams was competent to waive almost all of his appeals. Williams told Judge Johnson time and time again he understood that by waiving his appellate rights he would as the judge put it speed up the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of more that two decades of appeals, Williams could be executed as early as next year. The case now heads to the Alabama Court of Appeals for a mandatory appeal that could take the remainder of the 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 WRBL. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A man who was hired to shoot up the homes of New Mexico Democrats was shown some leniency by the courts and sentenced to a little more than three years in prison. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Louise Trujillo, along with his father Demetrio Trujillo, was hired by Solomon Pena to intimidate four elected officials after Pena lost his race for state representative. Today, Judge Kea Riggs told Trujillo he was getting an opportunity to change his life after granting a lighter sentence. More than two years ago, Solomon Pena was arrested for orchestrating a series of shootings in 2022 and 2023, targeting four democratic elected officials he considered his political enemies, after he lost his race to be a republican state representative. To me, this was one of those special cases that wasnt just a victim, it was a threat on democracy, said Chief Harold Medina, Albuquerque Police Department. Pena hired Jose Louise Trujillo and his father, Demetrio Trujillo, to help him carry out the shootings. In the plea agreement, Jose Louise Trujillo admits to being paid by Pena to break windows, slash tires, and shoot at the homes of the victims. Over five weeks, the homes of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, then incoming Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, then Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie OMalley, and State Senator Linda Lopez, were hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Trujillo was apprehended during a traffic stop where police found nearly 900 fentanyl pills in his car, along with two guns, an AR-15, and a Glock, which was later connected to the shootings. I remember the fact that it had a Glock switch and it was a fully automatic firearm and recognizing that there were a lot of lives put in danger that day with this individuals actions, said Chief Medina. Thursday in federal court, prosecutors spoke on Trujillos behalf, asking the judge to recognize Trujillos courage to cooperate with the FBI despite multiple threats to his well-being. Jose Trujillo was emotional, apologizing for his actions and knowing he had hurt people. He also described how, in the time hes been incarcerated, hes been spit on, beaten, and even stabbed for his cooperation with authorities. I believe its a reflection of Mr. Trujillos, Jose Trujillos maturity in the past two and half plus years and of his acceptance of the poor decisions he made that led him here and led him to get this sentence today, said Trujillos defense attorney, John Anderson, with Holland & Hart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trujillos defense said his client was groomed by Solomon Pena, something the judge took into account, along with Trujillos lack of any political motivation. She sentenced him to three years and one month in prison. Well, today marked the end of a lengthy ordeal for Mr. Jose Trujillo. It was one in which he truly came to terms with his own responsibility and culpability, said Anderson. Jose Trujillos time served in the last two years will count towards his sentence, meaning he could be released in the next three to four months. Wednesday, Jose Trujillos father, Demetrio Trujillo, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Soloman Pena is expected to be sentenced in July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Mahoning County grand jury Thursday indicted a North Jackson man for allegedly running over someones legs on a downtown street. Lahsen Ismael Boukrab, 33, faces two counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and failure to stop after an accident, a fifth-degree felony. A warrant was filed Jan. 23 by police investigating a Dec. 13 hit-and-run where a man was run over on a downtown street. Reports said police were called at about 2:20 a.m. to the intersection of Commerce and North Phelps streets for a man lying in the road who was hit by a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived, they found a man in the intersection moaning in pain. Reports said the man told police he had been run over by a car and his legs were broken. Witnesses told police the man was part of a crowd crossing the street when someone driving a red Lexus very fast swerved into the crowd and hit the man, reports said. Reports said the witnesses told police it looked like the car hit the man on purpose. Police checked camera systems throughout the downtown and saw a red Lexus like the one witnesses described driving away very fast. The witnesses told police the mans legs were run over by both the front and rear tires of the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police tried to speak to the victim later, but he was being readied for surgery for a broken pelvis, reports said. At the time, reports said he was in serious but stable condition. Boukrab has been free on bond since his arraignment in municipal 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. A Pawtucket man who murdered a Boston cab driver in 2019 will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a judges ruling on Friday. 40-year-old Phillip Foy was convicted by a jury on Monday of first degree murder for the fatal shooting of 60-year-old Luckinson Oruma on June 4, 2019, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. On that day, Oruma was working as a taxicab driver, parking his cab in front of the Colonnade hotel on Huntington Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foy entered his cab and asked for a ride to Mansfield, which Oruma declined. Foy then got out of the cab, opened the drivers side door and began attacking Oruma. During the attack, Foy pulled out a gun and shot Oruma, then fired another shot while standing directly over him. Foy then stole Orumas taxicab, discarded his gun, and sat in front of a nearby Starbucks. Police apprehended Foy after a brief standoff. Judge Anthony Campo imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for Foy. In court, Orumas son described his father as a hardworking, devoted, loving dad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orumas family said he put five kids through college all while driving a can and that he was doing what he always did, working hard to provide, on the day he died. The shooting death of Luckinson Oruma was shattering not just for his family and friends, but for anyone who goes to work each day expecting, as they should, to be in a safe environment," District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. "Im very grateful that the jury held him accountable for his devastating actions." Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Louisiana State Police troopers urge drivers to make safe decisions while behind the wheel following a crash in East Feliciana Parish that left a 21-year-old man dead. On Wednesday, May 21, troopers responded to the scene around 11 p.m. on LA 68, just north of LA 10, and learned Michael Lillie, of Jackson, was driving a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe at a high rate of speed. According to LSP, Lillie failed to navigate a left-hand curve. The vehicle then ran off the road, hit a culvert, went airborne, struck a utility pole, and overturned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lillie was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said impairment is unknown at this time, but a routine toxicology sample was collected for analysis. Troopers urge drivers to always make safe decisions behind the wheel: never drive impaired, always wear a seat belt, and avoid distractions. Taking a few extra seconds to buckle up or slow down can be the difference between life and death, LSP said. 1 hurt after train hits truck in West Baton Rouge Parish, officials say Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. CHICAGO (WGN) Authorities are asking for help in the search for a man who has been missing for several months and may be in need of medical attention. Authorities say 64-year-old Dion Coleman has been missing since, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Officers said Coleman is known to frequent downtown Chicago, though it is unclear which areas specifically. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland According to police, Coleman, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs around 150 pounds, has brown eyes and black hair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A photo provided by Chicago police shows Coleman with a beard, though it is unclear if he had one at the time of his disappearance. According to Chicago police, 64-year-old Dion Coleman, who is also known to go by the name Eric, was last seen on Oct. 10, in the 800 block of West Irving Park Road, in Buena Park, on the citys North Side. The public was notified about the missing mans disappearance in a news release shared on Friday, but officers did not say what he was last spotted wearing. Additionally, authorities said Coleman may be in need of medical attention, but did not provide further details. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Authorities said Coleman was previously reported missing on October 14, 2024, and was located about a week later, but he disappeared again shortly after on Oct. 27 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 64-year-old Dion Coleman is asked to contact the CPD Area Three SVU at 312-744-8266 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A man in Norway has been left in shock after a container ship ran aground in his backyard Johan Helberg woke up to the sound of his neighbors alerting him that an NCL ship had crashed just a few meters from his home on Thursday, May 22 "There's a guy I know very well standing there, looking at me in amazement and saying, 'Have you not seen the ship?' " Helberg said, per the BBC A man in Norway has been left in shock after waking up to see a container ship in his backyard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the BBC, Johan Helberg woke up to the sound of his worried neighbors, who witnessed the ships movements, alerting him to the scene on Thursday, May 22. The outlet reported that Helbergs home was just meters away from being hit by the 135m vessel at around 5:00 a.m. local time in Byneset, near Trondheim. Alamy The container ship, NCL Salten, just a few meters from Johan Helberg's home in Norway The container ship, NCL Salten, just a few meters from Johan Helberg's home in Norway "The doorbell rang at a time when I don't really like opening the door," Helberg told Sky News. "I like to go back to sleep. But it was a very insistent ring, so I finally went to answer it. "And there's a guy I know very well standing there, looking at me in amazement and saying, 'Have you not seen the ship?' Helberg continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But I hadn't. So I went to the window and saw this [the ship], Helberg added. JAN LANGHAUG/NTB/AFP via Getty The ship in a backyard in Norway on May 22, 2025 The ship in a backyard in Norway on May 22, 2025 PEOPLE has contacted the Norwegian Cruise Line and the Norwegian Police for comment. The astonished man told The Guardian that he had to bend my neck to see the top of the ship. It was so unreal." "Five meters further south and it would have entered the bedroom," he told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, per the BBC. "I didn't hear anything." Speaking about ringing Helbergs doorbell, neighbor Jostein Jorgensen said he woke up when he heard the ship speeding towards the shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was sure that he was already outside, but no, there was no sign of life. I rang the doorbell many times and nothing," he said, per BBC. JAN LANGHAUG/NTB/AFP via Getty The container ship by the shore in the Trondheimsfjord outside Byneset by Trondheim, Norway, on May 22, 2025 The container ship by the shore in the Trondheimsfjord outside Byneset by Trondheim, Norway, on May 22, 2025 The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! According to the outlet, he told local TV channel TV2, "And it was only when I called him on the phone that I managed to contact him. The BBC reported there were 16 people on the NCL Salten, which had been traveling through the Trondheim Fjord to Orkanger. 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. There were reportedly no injuries and police are said to be investigating the cause of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a very bulky new neighbor but it will soon go away," Helberg said, per the BBC. "At present time, we do not know what caused the incident and are awaiting the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by the relevant authorities," managing director Bente Hetland of NCL said in a statement, per the outlet. Read the original article on People COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) A Phenix City man accused of kidnapping his wife and holding police at bay for hours appeared in Russell County Circuit Court Friday morning. Michael Deshun Jones, 36, was denied bond for his role in the Monday afternoon standoff on Misty Forest Drive. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Phenix City Standoff ends in arrest Police say Jones wife and children were able to escape the home, however Jones refused to come out, causing a standoff that lasted for more than five hours. An Aniahs Law hearing was held and Jones was denied bond on the kidnapping and other charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police and prosecutors say Jones made statements on body camera that indicated he would be a threat to the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The European Political Community Summit will be held in Azerbaijan in 2028, said European Council President Antonio Costa, Trend reports. "After a very successful Summit in Tirana, the European Political Community will meet again in Copenhagen in October 2025. The EPC has become an essential forum for pan-European political dialogue at Leaders level. I thank the next hosts for taking it forward," he wrote on his page on X. According to Costa, EPC will therefore meet twice in 2028 - first in Azerbaijan, then in Latvia. According to the federal government, John Reid III is dead. Not dead yet, Reid said with a laugh. The letters started coming in April. First, the Social Security Administration mailed him letters, cutting off his benefits. The retired postal supervisor said he didnt get his pension or Social Security checks, that the bank returned them because he was dead. May the 1st, when I normally get my check from the federal government, zeroes again. So now were at a deficit of nearly $7,000, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said then his credit card and health insurance cut him off. Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke has been investigating mistakes with -- whats called -- Social Securitys death master file for years. SSA collects data from various sources before declaring you dead. Sounds like an easy fix if theyre wrong, but it can be hard to correct, hard to convince your lenders youre alive. They are terminating peoples financial lives, making their bank accounts get closed, former Social Security Commissioner Martin OMalley said. 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. Hes concerned thousands of recent SSA job cuts are leading to more or these inaccurate death listings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reid said he made multiple trips to the Social Security office and that hes officially back from the dead, but he said he still doesnt know what the problem was. SSA posted a news release on its website in March, saying fewer than one-third of one percent of the deaths need to be corrected. Thats not much comfort for Reid. Its very stressful to be dead. If youre not dead, this will kill you, he jokes. Anybody listening out there, John H. Reid III is alive. Social Securitys inspector general told WSOCs sister station in Atlanta, WSB, theyre launching an investigation into the bigger issue soon. Its their first major audit into this topic in several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this happens to you: If you know the problem is with Social Security, start there. It may mean having to go to an office in person. If youre not sure where the glitch came from: Get a copy of all three credit reports. Remember: theyre free. See if you can tell if the mistake happened with your car loan, credit card, mortgage, or something else. Go to the source. If all else fails, you may want to talk to a lawyer. VIDEO: Medical bill errors: Consumer groups say it happens more than you think (COLORADO SPRINGS) A man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder in the brutal killing of a Colorado Springs woman in 2022. According to the 4th Judicial District Attorneys (DA) Office, Gregory Alan Whittemore pleaded guilty to second degree murder and first degree assault in the Oct. 10, 2022 murder of 27-year-old Allison Scarfone, which the DAs office called disturbing and violent. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman found dead on Erie Road identified & suspect arrested Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs Office said Whittemore and Scarfone met in October of 2022, while Whittemore was on parole for a felony attempted sexual assault conviction from 2013. Whittemore was sentenced to 10 years to life of Sexual Offender Intensive Supervised Probation in connection to that conviction, which he violated in 2017. He was then re-sentenced to five years to life in prison. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department After being paroled, and less than a week after meeting, the DAs Office said Whittemore lured Scarfone back to his home where an argument ensued. Whittemore then beat and raped Scarfone before killing her by manual strangulation and smothering. He then concealed her body in a black plastic tote in his garage. Hours later, Scarfones body was found by the Colorado Springs Police Department. Allison Scarfone. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department Allison Scarfone deserved to live a long and fruitful life, yet she was brutally murdered by a violent sex offender who should have been in prison on his prior five years to life sentence, said 4th Judicial DA Michael Allen. The criminal justice system must do better to protect members of this community from people like this defendant. Violent sex offenders who are duly convicted for their crimes should be separated from society and held in prison for much longer than just five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. A 40-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday after being convicted of murder for the fatal shooting of a cab driver in Boston nearly six years ago. A jury convicted Phillip Foy of first-degree murder after five days of deliberations, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Before handing down the sentence Friday, Judge Anthony Campo heard a victim impact statement from the son of Luckinson Oruma, 60, the cab driver killed by Foy on June 4, 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orumas son, Will, addressed Foy directly, telling him, my family life ... changed forever on that day you took my dads life, according to audio provided by Haydens office. He described his father as a hardworking, devoted, loving dad who put five kids through college all while driving a cab. Will Oruma said he now has a child of his own who will never get to know his grandfather. But he also acknowledged the pain Foys family might be feeling, knowing someone they loved had taken someones life. My heart is heavy, not only for my loss but also for your familys loss, Will Oruma said through tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oruma said he had no desire for vengeance, only that Foy might be able to work on himself and find some peace and forgiveness. Ive already forgiven you, he said, concluding his remarks. Luckinson Oruma was working as a crab driver in Boston on the day he was killed and had parked in front of the Colonnade Hotel on Huntington Avenue. Foy entered the cab and asked for a ride to Mansfield, but Luckinson Oruma denied the fare. It was at that point Foy exited the car, opened the drivers side door, and assaulted Oruma. At some point, he pulled out a gun and shot Oruma, sending him falling to the ground. Foy stood over Oruma and fired directly at him, Haydens office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foy then got in the cab and drove down Huntington Avenue before turning onto Ring Road and parking. He emptied and discarded the gun and magazine, took off his shoes and sat in front of a Starbucks. When police arrived, Foy grabbed a pedestrian to try and shield himself. After he was arrested, he admitted to the shooting but claimed it was in self-defense. Hayden, the district attorney, said in a statement that Orumas death was shattering not just for his family and friends, but for anyone who goes to work each day expecting, as they should, to be in a safe environment. Im very grateful that the jury held him accountable for his devastating actions, Hayden said following the verdict. More News Read the original article on MassLive. A man previously convicted of trafficking narcotics in New York has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison after authorities reportedly found that he was involved in trafficking fentanyl and heroin from Mexico to Connecticut while he was on supervised release. Eduardo Aguilar-Linares, 34, faced sentencing on Wednesday in federal court in New Haven, where a judge handed down a 158-month prison term followed by five years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. Federal officials said Aguilar-Linares was previously sentenced to 29 months in prison and three years of supervised release during a hearing on May 1, 2017, in the Eastern District of New York in connection with a fentanyl trafficking offense. He was released from federal prison in June 2018 before his supervision was transferred to the District of Connecticut while he resided in East Hartford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, Aguilar-Linares at some point absconded his supervised release and fled to Mexico. During an investigation that was launched in July 2019 by the DEAs Hartford Task Force, authorities found that Aguilar-Linares was involved in a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization that was allegedly responsible for distributing fentanyl and heroin in Connecticut, officials said. The investigation found that he was living in Mexico and trafficking kilogram-quantities of narcotics mainly fentanyl to associates in Connecticut who would then distribute the drugs to street-level dealers, according to federal officials. Authorities said the associates used several locations to store, process and package fentanyl, including office space on Pratt Street in Hartford, an apartment in the Asylum Hill neighborhood in Hartford and an apartment in New Britain. Investigators said the money generated from the narcotics trafficking was taken to a broker in Brooklyn, New York, before it was laundered and transferred to Aguilar-Linares and others. Between August and October 2019, investigators reportedly seized more than $200,000 from members of the organization. On June 3, 2020, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Aguilar-Linares and nine others with narcotics distribution and money laundering offenses. Aguilar-Linares remained a fugitive until Dec. 20, 2023, when he was arrested in Texas. He has been in custody since then. On Feb. 18, Aguilar-Linares pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced 137 months in prison for the fentanyl trafficking offense and a consecutive 21-month prison term for violating the conditions of his supervised release. In 2008, University of Wisconsin-Madison student Brittany Zimmerman was found dead in her off-campus apartment. It wasn't until 14 years later that her killer was convicted. The Madison Police Department reported in 2020 that David A. Kahl was charged with first degree intentional homicide. He was accused of stabbing and strangling Zimmerman at her apartment. An inmate Fox Lake Correctional Institution told the Madison Police Department that Kahl confessed to breaking into Zimmermanns apartment and choking her. However, he never confessed to killing her, per WMTV's reporting. Detectives say Kahl, who live about a mile from Zimmermanns apartment, was panhandling for money on April 2, 2008. They said he made a loop, approaching four different people over the course of 50 minutes. The complaint stated as he walked down Wilson Street, Bedford, and finally Doty Street, asking people for $40. Police say the timeline puts him at Zimmermanns apartment at the time of her murder. Detectives say they brought him in for questioning that day, and say he told them he asked people for money to buy crack. The complaint states he admitted to being high that day. Detectives also noticed he had small cuts on his hand. A few days later, police say Kahl told them he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia a few years prior and was off his medications. In 2018, Kahls DNA matched evidence from Zimmermanns shirt at the crime scene. Four years later, he was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and sentenced to life in prison. It was part of his plea deal with prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With that said, it was reported on May 22 that Kahl died inside the Dodge Correctional Institution. He was 59 years old. A cause of death for Kahl hasn't been announced at this time. Man Serving Life in Prison for Murder of College Student Has Died first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A Woonsocket man described as a violent machine-gun trafficker who often flaunted his firearms collection on social media will spend more than 15 years in federal prison, acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom announced Thursday. Jose Marrero, 36, was sentenced after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Court documents refer to Marrero as an organized, experienced, and demanding drug trafficker with palpable, inherent violence. (Courtesy: U.S. Attorneys Office) Prosecutors said Marrero made it clear to his drug-trafficking counterpartsand the worldthat he had access to numerous firearms, including semi-automatic rifles, AR-15s, and guns modified with machine gun conversion devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marrero frequently posted incriminating photos and videos to social media, showing himself handling weapons while drinking, playing video games, watching TV, and driving. Some videos even depicted him and others firing the guns. Content from Marreros Snapchat account, bangbanggomez69, was cited as a key piece of evidence in the case. Disappearing messages, photos and videos are a major appeal for users of the platform. For that reason, ATF Special Agent Eric Mercer said Snapchat is particularly attractive to criminals. He explained that the platforms features make it ideal for keeping illegal activity under the radar. MORE: Snapchat posts put Woonsocket man in legal jeopardy Marrero Snapchat video screenshot (Courtesy: U.S. Attorneys Office) Marrero Snapchat video screenshot (Courtesy: U.S. Attorneys Office) Marrero wasnt just showing offhe had two prior drug-trafficking convictions in Rhode Island and had already served two years in prison. Because he was prohibited from owning firearms, prosecutors said he tasked his girlfriend and friends with purchasing them on his behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early 2023, Marrero also began accepting firearms as payment for drugs, according to court documents. Federal investigators searched his Woonsocket apartment that November and seized several of the weapons he had displayed online. However, they noted that many of the guns in his collection still havent been recovered. Court documents also show that Marrero conducted more than 200 internet searches for the word Glock. Marrero internet search history containing the word glock (Courtesy: U.S. Attorneys Office) Marrero internet search history containing the word glock (Courtesy: U.S. Attorneys Office) Text messages described in the case depict his cavalier attitude toward owning automatic weapons, a complete disregard for the law, and an undeniable eagerness to use the guns to support his drug business. After completing his 181-month prison sentence, Marrero will be on federal supervised release for five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT: Coventry man indicted on federal drug charges Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A police SWAT was called in to arrest a man charged with an east Columbus shooting early Friday morning. According to police at the scene, a man was arrested after a woman was shot in the 900 block of East Livingston Avenue in the Livingston Park area. Medics took the woman to an area hospital in stable condition and police began searching for a male suspect. Columbus firefighter arrested for allegedly owning child sex materials Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents later revealed that the woman was walking along East Livingston Avenue when a man, 37-year-old Demetrius Branch, came down from a front porch and fired two rounds from a handgun. One bullet struck the woman in her knee. The suspects vehicle was tracked down to the west side of the city to a residence on South Burgess Avenue, near West Broad Street in the Hilltop. A SWAT unit was called to assist and the suspect eventually came out of the home to surrender after a standoff with police. Branch, charged with felonious assault, is scheduled to appear before a Franklin County Municipal Court judge Saturday morning for an arraignment hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One of the two people arrested in connection to a Naranja mans shooting death is the victims teen sister, Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office detectives say. Raequan Smith, 20, was shot multiple times at the 1300 block of Southwest 266th Street on Friday, Feb. 7, shortly before midnight. Bystanders took him to HCA Florida Cutler Bay, where he died. After months of investigation into his death, detectives arrested his sister, Deashia Smith, 17, and Elton Hightower, 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both are being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center awaiting bond. Hightower is facing second-degree murder. As of Thursday, Deashia Smith is being held on possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to Hightowers arrest affidavit, deputies arrested Deashia Smith on March 10 on the weapons charge. Detectives said the gun she had on her was forensically linked to one of the weapons that killed her brother. While in Juvenile Justice custody, she told her mother that Hightower was the gunman, and that she was in a car with him when shots were fired at Raequan. The mother gave detectives a sworn statement telling them what her daughter said, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, a witness who was there when the shooting happened told detectives that he saw both Hightower and Deashia Smith standing on the side of the street, shoot towards Raequan Smith and run away, the report states. Detectives also say they placed Hightower at the scene using his cell phone data. They arrested Hightower Wednesday. After being read his rights, he denied involvement in the murder, according to the report. This story will be updated. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man who reports said told EMTs earlier this year he ate crack cocaine following a foot chase with city police was sentenced last week to probation. Jose Pinero, 43, also known as Jose Pinero Molina, received the sentence May 15 from Judge Maureen Sweeney in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty to charges of tampering with evidence and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, both third-degree felonies, and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. The sentence was recommended by the attorneys in the case and adopted by Judge Sweeney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from a Feb. 7 arrest by Youngstown police investigating drug activity at Oak Hill and West Delason avenues. Police reportedly spotted a car he was driving traveling left of center around noon. When police tried to pull him over, he failed to stop and drove toward Market Street. The car failed to stop until it hit a telephone pole at Glenwood and Parkwood avenues, reports said. Pinero Molina then ran away from the car with an officer chasing him. Police managed to catch up with him, but he refused to allow himself to be handcuffed until he was stunned, reports said. Reports said police found a torn plastic bag with white powder residue on Pinero as well as a crack pipe and over $400 in cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinero told EMTs who were called to the scene that he had swallowed two rocks of crack cocaine as he was being chased, reports said. Pinero was examined at St. Elizabeth Health Center before being taken to 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 WKBN.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel General Hikmat Mirzayev, met with a delegation led by the Commander of the 1st Army of the Land Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Army General Metin Tokel. The Turkish delegation is on a visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense. At the meeting, the sides held a detailed exchange of views on the current state of Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation and its further expansion in the future. Both parties emphasized the importance of conducting joint exercises with the use of modern technological innovations to enhance the knowledge and skills of servicemen from the two brotherly countries. Several other issues of mutual interest were also discussed. As part of the visit to Azerbaijan, the Turkish delegation also visited the War Games Center of the Military Scientific-Research Institute of the National Defense University. During the meeting held at the center, briefings were presented, and extensive discussions were conducted to exchange experiences. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel STERLING, Va. (DC News Now) The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) is investigating an armed bank robbery that happened on Wednesday in Sterling. The incident happened at a Bank of America, located in the 2000 block of Davenport Drive, at around 3 p.m. when a suspect went into the bank, pulled out a weapon and demanded money. LCSO said the suspect is described to be a man wearing a black face mask, black jacket and grey pants with a backpack under his jacket on the front of his body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince William County police investigating targeted fatal triple shooting near Woodbridge shopping center (Courtesy: Loudoun County Sheriffs Office) He was last seen driving away from the area in a gray Ford Escape with no tags and under-inflated drivers side tires. Anyone with information is asked to call 703-777-1021 or submit a tip on the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A Mexican fugitive wanted in his home country for possessing methamphetamine and firearms was removed by deportation officers on Thursday, May 22, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a news release. ICE said that Miguel Sifuentes Jimenez, 36, was turned over to Mexican authorities on Thursday on top of the Stanton Street Bridge at the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. Sifuentes last illegally entered the U.S. in 2021 by walking across the U.S.-Mexico international boundary east of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, ICE said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE said that the following day, he was processed for removal and presented for prosecution. Upon time served, he was released by the Luna County Detention Center in Deming, New Mexico. Sifuentes was first ordered removed from the U.S. in 2013 and was removed to his home country days later from Calexico, California, ICE said. ICE said his criminal history in the U.S. includes convictions in California for felony robbery in 2008, for which he was sentenced to almost a year in jail; aggravated battery/spouse, a misdemeanor, in 2009, for which he was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail; and inflicting corporal injury spouse/cohabitation, a felony, in 2011, for which he received a two-year sentence. On Monday, May 12, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers encountered Sifuentes at the Eddy County Detention Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where he was serving time after being convicted for aggravated battery against a household member/strangulation or suffocation, ICE said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE said ERO lodged a detainer and arrested him when he was released from jail that same day. The following day, on May 13, he was charged with being in the country illegally. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man in Wisconsin facing disorderly conduct charge for allegedly dumping multiple adult diapers on road MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) A stinky crime in Wisconsin resulted in numerous complaints to police officers and a man facing a disorderly conduct charge. The Madison Police Department said it received several complaints from residents about adult diapers being found along city roadways. 22-year-old Wisconsin man sentenced to over 12 years in prison for armed robberies of postal workers One woman reportedly said she saw diapers being dumped near Wheeler Road and North Sherman Avenue in March. The same type of diapers were scattered in the areas between March and May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security video from local businesses helped police identify the suspect, who confessed to dumping the diapers while speaking to a detective. 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. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) What started as an argument about overcooked biscuits has boiled over into an attempted murder case in south Charlotte. This week, a grand jury handed down an indictment against 22-year-old Rondey Romel Wood, a former manager at the Popeyes on South Boulevard, for the May 11 shooting of his fellow manager, 32-year-old Deshawn Kentrell Smith. The indictment, issued on Monday, May 19, charges Wood with attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury (AWDWIKISI). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He remains in custody on a $500,000 secured bond. The case is due back in court this October. Biscuit dispute turns violent According to court documents, the incident happened just before 6 p.m. in the restaurant parking lot. Witnesses said an argument between the two managers, centered around a batch of overcooked biscuits, erupted into a physical fight. Records state one witness told CMPD officers that Wood and Smith took the argument outside after one allegedly challenged the other to meet me out there. Cell phone video provided to CMPD by an anonymous witness shows Smith punching Wood in the face. Moments later, Wood is seen pulling a firearm and shooting Smith twice at close range, once in the groin and another in the chest. Smith, unarmed and reportedly standing still when the shots were fired, was seriously injured and taken to Atrium Health Main for emergency surgery. Suspect claims self-defense Following the shooting, officers located Wood still in the shopping center. He was found carrying a concealed 9mm Taurus pistol, the same caliber as the two shell casings recovered at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his interview with CMPD, Wood admitted to shooting Smith but claimed it was in self-defense, describing the shots as warnings meant to stop the fight. He admitted that Smith did not have a weapon and that he felt dazed but not seriously injured by the punches. CMPD said Wood failed to demonstrate a reasonable fear of deadly force, reportedly undermining any potential legal self-defense claim. Investigators concluded that the shooting was not justified under North Carolina law and charged Wood with attempted first-degree murder. Woods May indictment means the case will proceed to trial unless a plea deal is reached. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Crime & Public Safety Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Tenants at a Cobb County apartment complex say they may be forced into homelessness in just a few months after learning that the property has been sold and is slated for demolition. Residents at the Campus Edge Apartments in Marietta held a rally Thursday, demanding answers from the new owners, Campus Realty Advisors, after rumors began circulating that the complex will be torn down to make way for new student housing. Many tenants said they were blindsided by the news and still havent received any formal notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was told over the phone that there are plans to demolish our complex, which was shocking to me, said Taya Jones, a tenant who recently signed a lease through 2026. Jones said that when she contacted the new owners on Thursday, she was told current leases would be honored only through July 31. Another resident, Raven McGuire, said tenants are calling for transparency. To them, this is just a place to make money. To us, this is where we live, McGuire said. If it comes to July, you cant find an apartment in just one month. Were students. We have jobs. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marietta City Council approved a rezoning ordinance for the property in March, allowing for redevelopment into new student housing. Renderings of the proposed buildings show a modernized complex with updated amenities. But many of the current residents chose Campus Edge because of its affordability and proximity to Kennesaw State University, especially since many do not have cars. Tenants told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers that they currently pay around $650 per month for rent. Theyve compared that to other student housing options in the area, which cost $200 to $300 more per month. Meanwhile, traditional one-bedroom apartments in Marietta often run nearly double what they currently pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KSU has created a housing crisis. When the freshman or upperclassman cant get dorms, they get student housing apartment complexes, and a lot of these apartments or a lot of these dorms are already filled, said Shelby Stansberry, a founder of the Campus Edge Tenant Association. Now I have to find an apartment thats affordable and within walking distance or has access to a bus to get to work. Most residents are going to have to figure that out. Stansberry also said that maintenance issues have worsened since the sale. Tenants report broken mailboxes, leaky ceilings, and a gushing water main. Some say the on-site maintenance staff stopped responding to requests, citing the impending demolition. We have maintenance requests that need to be filled, Stansberry said. But the maintenance man told us there was no point because of the demolition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the logistical and financial strain, residents say they simply dont have the resources to move, either financially or in terms of support. Keita Martin said he was sleeping in his car before moving into Campus Edge in January. Its literally the moment where my whole life couldve turned around, and now youre telling me I have to find a new place to live at the last moment, he said. Jones told Rogers that her owner did promise to try to help residents find deals at nearby complexes, but tenants say that so far, those efforts havent materialized. Rogers reached out to Campus Realty Advisors for comment but has not yet received a response., NORFOLK Surrounded by tugboats blaring their horns, sprays of water and the tall ship American Rover, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday kicked off a one-year countdown to a massive maritime festival. During a news conference at the Waterside dock, Youngkin and city and state officials announced plans for the Sail250 festival to celebrate the United States 250th anniversary. Addressing the City Council this week, Karen Scherberger, Sail250 executive director, described the event as a supercharged version of Norfolks annual Harborfest festival. Scheduled for the Juneteenth weekend in 2026, it will feature more than 60 tall ships and military vessels from at least 20 countries that are expected to dock in Norfolk as the city and country celebrates the United States sesquicentennial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngkin highlighted Virginias historic role in American independence during his remarks Friday, noting iconic Revolutionary War scenes in Virginia such as Hanover Countys Patrick Henry proclaiming, Give me liberty, or give me death. America was really founded by Virginians, Youngkin said. This story is one that we have to remind ourselves is not just part of our national narrative, but Virginias. Events during the weekend will include a June 19 boat parade, fireworks and ship tours, among others. Scherberger said Tuesday that 22 tall ships confirmed they will be at the event, and another 24 have been invited. Scherberger said the last big maritime celebration of this scope was OpSail 2012, when vessels paraded and docked in Norfolk to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the event could draw more than 3 million visitors to Virginia over a 10-day period in 11 cities, as well as $150 million in visitor spending. Alexandria, Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Hampton, Onancock, Portsmouth, Richmond, Smithfield, Virginia Beach and Yorktown also will be participate. Across the country, Sail250 events also are planned for New Orleans, Baltimore, New York and Boston. On Tuesday, after hearing a presentation from Scherberger, Norfolk City Council members debated the logistics of holding the event along with a Juneteenth celebration. Council member Mamie Johnson, who is co-chairing a city planning committee for a celebration in Town Point Park, said she and co-chair Jeremy McGee were navigating how the events could be celebrated at the same time. However, council member John JP Page said he thought mixing Juneteenth celebrations with the maritime event was a horrible idea. Mayor Kenny Alexander said he was concerned Juneteenth would be lost amid the Sail250 celebrations. He hoped members of the Juneteenth committee would sign off on coordinating with the Sail250 event. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, trevor.metcalfe@pilotonline.com Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is feuding with Grok, a chatbot created by Elon Musk's xAI. "The judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you," she wrote. It came after the AI chatbot called her Christian beliefs into question. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has it out for Grok. The Georgia Republican lit into the AI chatbot, which was created by Elon Musk's xAI and is available to users on X, on Friday after it called her Christian beliefs into question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform," Greene wrote. "Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda." The congresswoman also offered a warning about AI chatbots in general, saying: "When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost." In response to a post from a user asking whether Greene was "really a Christian," the chatbot said that the question was "subjective," mentioning the congresswoman's prior association with the QAnon conspiracy theory and her self-declared status as a Christian nationalist. .@grok the judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform. Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda. When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost. https://t.co/R0MYSlp2YI pic.twitter.com/36TtpAKYcp Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) May 23, 2025 While Greene contends that Groke has a left-leaning bias a contention that many make about AI the chatbot took a different turn recently, bringing up the topic of "white genocide" in South Africa in response to unrelated inquiries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And according to documents previously obtained by BI, xAI has been training the chatbot specifically to avoid being "woke" like other chat bots. "The general idea seems to be that we're training the MAGA version of ChatGPT," one xAI worker told BI in February. Spokespeople for Greene and xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The congresswoman has also previously praised Grok, writing on X in September that she was "impressed how much Grok knows" Read the original article on Business Insider (KRON) On Friday, Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared to get into an argument with Elon Musks Grok AI, which she called left leaning. The Georgia congresswoman posted a lengthy screed to X about being a Christian, an imperfect sinner saved by grace and faith in Jesus, a nationalist, and a proud American. Another user posted a response to the outspoken MAGA congresswomans tweet, asking the AI, @grok is it true? Is she really a Christian? The AI chatbot developed by xAI, which is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, responded with a lengthy screed of its own, in which it called into question Rep. Taylor Greenes Christian bonafides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marjorie Taylor Greene identifies as a Christian, expressing faith in Jesus and traditional beliefs, like in her 2021 Christmas message, the bot replied. However, her Christian nationalism and support for conspiracy theories, like QAnon, spark debate. Bay Area biotech company Eikon blames layoffs on Trump cuts Critics, including religious leaders, argue her actions contradict Christian values of love and unity, citing her defense of January 6 and divisive rhetoric, Grok continued. Supporters may see her stances as faith-driven. Whether shes really a Christian is subjective, depending on personal and theological views. Her faith appears genuine to her, but public actions create controversy. In response to a question from another user about whether the conservative firebrands public comments and voting record aligned with Jesus teachings, the chatbot simply replied, No. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These responses appeared to draw the congresswomans ire. @grok the judgement seat belongs to GOD, not you a non-human AI platform, she tweeted in response. Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda. When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost, she continued. The congresswoman, who was reportedly dissuaded from a run for Senate by President Donald Trump, dressing down Elon Musks AI platform comes on the heels of Grok malfunctioning and injecting answers about white genocide in South Africa into unrelated queries for several days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Market fire impacts traffic on Alta Arden Expressway (FOX40.COM) Firefighters with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District knocked down a market and restaurant fire Thursday afternoon, according to officials. Video Above: Workplace fire safety tips The second alarm fire was reported around 2:50 p.m. at the Kabul City Market and Restaurant on 2580 Alta Arden Expressway. Officials confirm that the main portion of the building was left with heavy fire damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were six people inside the building when the fire began, but no injuries were reported. According to officials, the owner of the market said they smelled smoke and immediately left the building and called 911. Units will be on scene for the next few hours as they check for extensions and overhaul the building. The cause of the fire is unknown. Traffic is impacted and Alta Arden Expressway is closed at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. ANDERSON A Markleville woman has been charged in Delaware County in a February crash in Daleville that killed a young Anderson man. Charlotte Eve Cleveland, 39, of Markleville, was charged Tuesday in Delaware Circuit Court 1 with causing death when driving while intoxicated, a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison. According to Daleville police, On Feb. 24, Cleveland was driving a Toyota Camry east on Main Street, which carries Indiana 32 through the southwestern Delaware County town, when she left the highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said the car struck a street sign, a telephone pole, a "stationary concrete and wood 'Town of Daleville' sign" and a second telephone pole before coming to rest on its side in the middle of the highway. A passenger, 22-year-old Jordan Vance Cleveland of Anderson, was ejected from the Camry. Charlotte Cleveland suffered a "significant injury to the left side of her head," according to an affidavit, and was treated at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. Prosecutors claim in a court document that her blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.098 at the hospital. In Indiana, motorists with a BAC of 0.08 or higher are considered intoxicated. A trial date has not yet been scheduled for Cleveland. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, received Hisham Mohamed Nagy, the outgoing Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Azerbaijan, on May 23, 2025, in connection with the conclusion of his diplomatic mission, the ministry told Trend. Minister Bayramov expressed gratitude to the ambassador for his contributions to the development of bilateral relations during his tenure. He highlighted the importance of the historical friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Egypt, and praised the cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, cultural, and multilateral frameworks such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8). The meeting also noted that reciprocal official visits by the countries leaders in 2023 and 2024 significantly boosted bilateral ties. The parties exchanged views on enhancing the activities of the Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation, the political consultation mechanisms between the foreign ministries, and further expanding ties in trade, tourism, and other sectors. Ambassador Nagy expressed appreciation for the support and hospitality he received during his time in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel After Channel 9 received emails and calls from several parents offended by a seniors yearbook quote in Union County, Marvin Ridge High School is no longer handing out the books. Steve Starr says he was upset when his son, who is a senior at Marvin Ridge, showed him the senior quote of a fellow student. Tuesday evening, I saw the yearbook on our kitchen counter. I felt like enough is enough; as a parent, and specifically a Jewish parent, that it was my responsibility to stand up and speak out, Starr told Channel 9s Evan Donovan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student used a phrase as their senior quote under their picture in the yearbook, and the phrase refers to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. According to the American Jewish Committee, when the phrase is used with harmful intent ... it is anti-Semitic, but the AJC added not all who use the phrase use it with harmful intent. The AJC says, The call for the establishment of a Palestinian state in addition to the state of Israel ... is not anti-Semitic. Starr acknowledged that the issue is incredibly complex and incredibly nuanced. As a family, weve done a considerable amount of research and study, and we do feel we understand many of the different sides to it, and believe that there really is no place for hate speech, Starr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several parents called and emailed Channel 9 after they werent satisfied with the responses they got from Marvin Ridge administrators or the school district. Then at about 3:30 p.m. Friday, the district sent a statement saying it was launching an internal review. The district says its now currently reviewing ... editorial processes to prevent similar situations in the future and has taken steps to correct this matter including halting yearbook distribution to students in Grades 10-12. Some students, like Starrs son, already got one. I think it should be removed from the yearbook. And again, I think this should be an opportunity to educate the community as a teaching moment, Starr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school districts statement also said it does not tolerate any discriminatory language and that it plans to distribute all corrected yearbooks as soon as possible. After the school districts statement Friday afternoon, Channel 9 reached out to the Islamic Center of Charlotte for a comment. A spokesperson, Jibril Hough, issued the following statement. From The River To The Sea is call for freedom, justice and equality for all of those who live from the river to the sea. Not just Israeli Jews but all including Palestinian Christians and Muslims who currently live under occupation and Israeli Apartheid. Its a call that would make Israel a real democracy or perhaps for some include a Palestine state. But the greater point here is its a call for freedom not genocide or any form of Apartheid. This quote only offends those who are coming from a place of Supremacy and seek to oppress and exterminate Palestinians living in the region. I would hope that Marvin Ridge High School and Union County Schools would reconsider censoring students language. Especially those who are making calls for freedom, justice and equality. (VIDEO: 1 arrested after police clear out pro-Palestine encampment at UNC Charlotte) BALTIMORE Gov. Wes Moore and Democratic lawmakers left Annapolis this week with a pin in the 2025 session and more than ever in their time together at the helm of Maryland politics some hard feelings. In a high-pressure year that featured what many lawmakers are publicly and privately referring to as a communications breakdown between the governors office and the Maryland General Assembly dominated by Moores own party, neither side got everything it wanted. For the first time, Moores entire slate of bills that he introduced and personally fought for didnt cross the finish line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And by the end of the final bill-signing ceremony of the session on Tuesday, Moore had likewise stifled more of his allies priorities than ever, vetoing two-dozen bills in a way that shocked lawmakers, some of whom said theyd been led to believe the governor backed their efforts. It really doesnt make any sense to me, said Del. Lorig Charkoudian, a Montgomery County Democrat and leading voice on energy issues in the State House, who said she was surprised, disappointed and still confused about Moores rejection of multiple energy-related bills. Sen. Karen Lewis Young, a Frederick County Democrat who sponsored one of those bills, said she was taken aback when the governors office called her last Friday. Her top priority this year was legislation to study the energy needs of data centers that are set to pop up in her community. She thought the $500,000 investment would be well worth it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same person who told me it was going to be vetoed told me the governors office fully supported the bill, and I never heard anything in between to know that there was any problem or issue, Lewis Young said. So yes, I was surprised. Moore, who has talked about his aspirations for partnership more than almost anything else since his election in 2022, has, like always, focused on the mostly positive aspects of his relationships with the Maryland General Assembly. In a year when he and legislative leaders ultimately agreed on how to resolve a shifting $3.3 billion budget deficit that sparked the toughest funding debates in years, Moore and many lawmakers say the budget conversation alone was evidence of a strong working relationship. An administration official involved in the governors legislative work who was not authorized to speak publicly also said it was not surprising that some viewed communications as strained especially as changes from President Donald Trumps administration altered how Moore decided to act on bills even after the session ended on April 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation deteriorated so much over the last 60 days of session and then after, the official said. Its just one of these scenarios where its not going to feel like perfect communication because the situation changed so quickly. Still, Moore also aimed his disappointments more directly at the legislature than he had in the past, particularly as three of his nine bills failed to pass. Lawmakers missed an opportunity and failed in choosing not to pass his bills aimed at building more housing, attracting businesses and adjusting the states clean energy strategy, he said in a statement on the last day of the session. In an interview later with The Baltimore Sun, he indicated he was prepared to use more of his own powers as governor as a result. Theres a lot of power in executive authority, and I feel very confident that I can utilize my constitutional powers to make sure that our state is more competitive, Moore said, though he declined to specify further what actions that might include. Moores own bills falling short The breakdown, according to elected officials and others involved in State House politics, began at the start of the annual 90-day session in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore and Maryland General Assembly leaders entered their third year together with the budget deficit as their most significant challenge yet. Some Democrats quickly and publicly opposed aspects of Moores budget proposal, like scaling back the Blueprint for Marylands Future and funding for disability services. Most of them agreed on the larger framework which reflected progressive lawmakers long-held goals to increase taxes on the wealthy and to capture more corporate income tax and Moore said further adjustments led by legislators aligned with his vision. But the difficulty and time it took to get to that final agreement put a strain on almost everything else. In a budget crisis, everythings different. Everything feels edgy, said Michael Sanderson, executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties. That does have a ripple effect on everything in town, and on every relationship in town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sandersons organization represents the interests of local officials and has a significant presence in state policymaking. It had a particular stake in one of the governors bills that didnt pass, known as the Housing for Jobs Act. The bill, in part, aimed to spur more housing development by limiting local governments abilities to block plans. At a March 4 hearing, a MACo representative expressed frustration with both the policy and the process, saying his team had tried to meet with Moores office after they found out about the bill in December but were told to wait until the hearing. We are willing to move heaven and earth to work with this administration to serve our mutual constituents, but there are substantial gaps that were going to have to cross, MACo director of intergovernmental relations Dominic Butchko said at the hearing. Sanderson, in an interview this week, said that framing overstated the case about the lack of outreach and there were elements of a communication breakdown on both sides. Both sides had initial discussions about the bill and higher-level meetings occurred after the hearing, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the bill was amended and discussed throughout the morning of the last day of the session, it ultimately did not pass. Neither did the DECADE Act, an economic development bill Moore sponsored but that local officials also initially opposed. Another Moore bill, known as ENERGIZE, that would have included nuclear energy in the states clean energy goals was partially amended into other legislation but largely came up short. While lawmakers say they would have liked more communication about their own bills, some observers also say Moores team didnt engage enough on his own priorities. The governors team did not do enough to have leadership at the table on these big legislative matters in the off-session, and so the General Assembly was learning about these bills at the same time as the general public, said someone who works in state politics but declined to be named for fear of impacting their work. That obviously rubbed them the wrong way and set a lot of these legislative priorities up for disappointing results. It wasnt the first time Moores priorities were slashed. His more-than two-dozen bills across the last two years were often amended some significantly even as he talked afterward and sent fundraising emails about going twenty-six for twenty-six and batting 1.000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No such phrasing has creeped into his campaign messaging this year, though he and his team maintain there were wins across the board. The State of Maryland achieved something this legislative session that was only possible with close collaboration between the governor and the state legislature turning a $3 billion deficit into a surplus with $2 billion in strategic cuts while providing a tax cut or no change in income taxes to 94% of Marylanders, spokesman Carter Elliott IV said in a statement for this story. Legislators caught off guard The bill that sparked the most intense backlash on the list of vetoes was the establishment of a Maryland Reparations Commission. A longtime priority for the Legislative Black Caucus which describes itself as the largest such group in the country the commission would have studied whether the state should provide reparations to Marylanders impacted by the states history of slavery and inequality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore, the states first and the nations only current Black governor, has often acknowledged that history. He said in his veto letter that he would pursue immediate actions rather than spending time for another study. Legislators say that perspective was misplaced. Reparations, specifically, have never been formally examined or studied in Maryland, said Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus. She said in a statement that the study was a key part of more than 40 bills the group has focused on in the last three sessions to confront historical injustices and improve the lives of Black Marylanders. We are proud of the progress made and we deeply believe that Black Marylanders deserve even more, including direct redress of historic injustices that make these bills necessary, Wilkins said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del. Brian Crosby, a St. Marys County Democrat who is not in Wilkins caucus, called Moores action on the bill abhorrent and hypocritical while comparing him to Trump a show of criticism that few Democratic officials, if any, have leveled at Moore. With so much uncertainty as President Trump tries to act like a dictator and force congress to bend the knee, its sad that Governor Wes Moore seems to be following the same playbook, Crosby wrote in a Facebook post. In an interview, Crosby said hes eager for better collaboration and partnership. It just kind of feels like theres a lot of people who have worked their tails off, and then out of the blue, when we dont hear anything during the session, theres a veto, Crosby said. A lot of this could be preventable just through communication. Lewis Young, who sponsored the data center study, similarly said she would like to see some significant improvement in communications from the governors office. She said she has talked in passing with Moore but has been unable to land a formal meeting with him since he entered office. As the only Democratic senator in Western Maryland, I have not been able to sit down and talk to the governor about priorities and concerns, Lewis Young said. Charkoudian said she was scratching her head about why one of her bills to get local farm-grown food into school meals was vetoed when she put effort into keeping its cost low and setting it up so that part of it would only go into effect when money was available. Another bill she backed, known as the RENEW Act, was the top priority for environmentalists this year. It would have required the state to analyze the possibility of major fossil-fuel-emitting companies paying penalties for their emissions with the proceeds going toward climate mitigation work. Charkoudian said it was ironic that in a tight budget year, Moores stated reason for eliminating the study was cost, even though its supporters believe it will have a significant return on investment for the state. I have a huge amount of respect for the governor, for the legislative team, for the [Maryland Energy Administration] and the [Maryland Department of the Environment], Charkoudian said. Its a huge mistake. Theres no question in my mind. Climate activists who have largely supported the governor have been reeling from the move. Moore gave no warning before doing this, Chesapeake Climate Action Network executive director Mike Tidwell wrote in a scathing message to his groups supporters this week. He gave disingenuous reasons for his actions afterwards. He defied the will of the Maryland General Assembly while giving comfort, intentionally or not, to the biggest carbon polluters in the world. Sen. Katie Fry Hester, a Howard County Democrat who sponsored the bill along with four others on Moores list of 23 vetoes, said she was surprised and disappointed. Moore, for his part, cited cost pressures from the federal government and the increased burden on state agencies for rejecting RENEW and other studies. And the administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly stressed that those reasons made the studies not realistic at a time when the state is continuing to defend against unpredictable moves like the winding down of the U.S. Department of Education and welfare benefits. House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson have been exploring whether to override Moores vetoes, a process that requires supermajority approval and that Democrats successfully utilized during former Republican Gov. Larry Hogans two terms. Jones and Ferguson have not joined the chorus of pointed criticism since Moores vetoes. Like Moore, they and their leadership teams have largely tried to strike a conciliatory tone whenever discussing differences between the two branches of government. We live in a democracy. We dont have to agree on everything, and his feelings actually arent hurt when we have policy differences, because were able to talk, House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis, a Prince Georges Democrat, said on the final day of the session when asked by reporters about the governors failed bills. I really appreciate that he offered a number of novel ideas over the interim and the beginning of session, Lewis said. Some of them we agreed with. Some of them we didnt, but we knew that we were all committed to the same goal. And I think we got there. FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A medical doctor facing sexual assault and rape allegations was granted bond during a court hearing in Frederick on Wednesday. Dr. Syed Haque was arrested in February 2025 following an investigation by the Frederick Police Department. Haque is accused of sexually assaulting the victims during medical appointments at his practice. Detectives continue to investigate and are seeking to determine whether other individuals may have had similar encounters. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact Detective Rebecca Skelly at rskelly@frederickmdpolice.org or 301-600-2123. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just stunned: Montgomery County leaders react to deadly shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers in DC Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A lawmaker is organizing a third trip to El Salvador to see the mistakenly deported man Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) heads to the Central American nation with the hopes of visiting his constituent. Ivey is pushing to meet not just with Abrego Garcia but others he says are being wrongly imprisoned in the country without any judicial review. We want to go to see if we can move this thing forward, trying to get Kilmar back, trying to get the Trump administration to comply with the Supreme Court order, Ivey said during an interview with The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The high court determined that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego Garcias return. But the White House has not done so, arguing the order means they need to send a plane should the government of El Salvador seek to return him. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has said he will not. The administration still hasnt complied, and we got to keep the pressure on, Ivey said. Ivey is pushing to meet not just with Abrego Garcia, who has since been placed in a lower security prison, but also others being held in the countrys terrorism confinement center, the notorious prison known as CECOT for its acronym in Spanish. Having fled his native El Salvador as a teen due to gang violence, Abrego Garcia was protected by an immigration judge in 2019 from being deported to the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Abrego Garcia is among a group of roughly 200 Venezuelan and Salvadoran men brought to El Salvador through flights on March 15. A Justice Department attorney later said he was removed due to an administrative error. While Abrego Garcias removal gained attention due to the administrations mistake, Ivey said others are also facing life imprisonment abroad when its unclear what crimes they are being accused of and without getting a chance to challenge the Trump administrations claims. What happens with these guys who havent been convicted of anything, anywhere, but theyre in a prison system that never lets people out? Because it really could turn into a life without parole for people who havent been convicted of anything, Ivey said. A review by the Cato Institute found that of the 90 men imprisoned in the country for whom information on their immigration status was available, 50 came to the U.S. through legal pathways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has also weighed in on that matter, both stepping in to halt additional flights and determining that those removed must have sufficient notice and opportunity to challenge their removal. Iveys trip is the third organized visit seeking to verify the well-being of Abrego Garcia. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) traveled to the country in April, ultimately pressuring the Bukele administration for a meeting with Abrego Garcia, with Salvadoran officials transporting Abrego Garcia to the senators hotel. In a meeting with Vice President Felix Ulloa, the Salvadoran official also told Van Hollen that Abrego Garcia had no criminal record in the country and cited payment from the U.S. as a factor in keeping him imprisoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a second trip to El Salvador organized by a quartet of House members did not score a meeting with Abrego Garcia. Weeks later, members from the El Salvador Caucus also made a trip to the country, but the mostly GOP group did not try and meet with Abrego Garcia. Ivey likewise plans to meet with Salvadoran officials, opposition leaders, Salvadoran political activists and U.S. Embassy officials on the ground. The Maryland Democrat argued El Salvador is taking a big risk in doing the Trump administrations bidding by imprisoning men in exchange for $15 million. Bukele has worked to shed the countrys image as a dangerous destination, often proudly noting it is no longer the murder capital of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Achieving that, however, came amid the widespread detainment of tens of thousands of its own alleged gang members to crack down on violence that ravaged the country for decades. These issues are going to undermine that, because its starting to make them look like a gulag instead of a surf destination. And I think Bukele, like, cares a lot about that, because its a big opportunity for him to try and build out another piece of a new economy for El Salvador, Ivey said. So I think hes got a lot to lose, he added. President Trump, too, Ivey said, is taking on a risky endeavor. I dont really understand why the Trump administration is fighting this so hard, but now, since theyve drawn such deep lines in the sand, theyre going to lose this eventually, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or theyre going to have to turn it into a constitutional crisis with the Supreme 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 The Hill. Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed 181 bills into law Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The bills he vetoed included one creating a Reparations Commission. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Gov. Wes Moores veto of the Maryland Reparations Commission bill came as a shock to lawmakers, but they are confident they can override the veto, making it little more than a temporary setback for the initiative. Were not done in getting this bill into a law. That is the ultimately goal, no matter what hurdles are in front of us, said Delegate Aletheia McCaskill (D-Baltimore County), who sponsored a House version of the measure and helped pass Senate Bill 587, sponsored by Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince Georges). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For advocates around the country, however, the shock is still being felt. They worry what the bills troubles in Maryland a state with a Black governor, a Black attorney general, a Black House Speaker, a Democratic super-majority and a powerful Legislative Black Caucus portend for their states. Gov. Moore needs to realize that hes not only impacting Maryland, but hes impacting South Carolina and many other states with the veto, said South Carolina state Rep. John King, a Democrat from Rock Hill. The Maryland bill called for the creation of a commission that would assess specific federal, state and local policies from 1877 to 1965, the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, that led to economic disparities based on race, including housing, segregation and discrimination, redlining, restrictive covenants, and tax policies. The all-volunteer commission would also examine how public and private institutions may have benefited from those policies, and would then recommend appropriate reparations, which could include statements of apology, monetary compensation, social service assistance, business incentives or child care costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike previous years, when reparations bills had price tags of $1 million or more, the bill passed this year drew heavily on volunteers and existing resources. It was expected to cost $54,500 in its first year. In his veto letter, Moore praised the work and the intentions of those behind the bill, but said now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve. He cited a number of studies over the past 25 years on the legacy of slavery and promised that his legislative agenda next year would include a package of proposals to address the barriers that have walled off Black families in Maryland from work, wages and wealth for generations. Those justifications appeared to be lost on many advocates, however, who called the veto everything from shocking to a betrayal. Rep. John King, D-Rock Hill, has asked the South Carolina Democratic Party to rescind its invitation for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to speak at its annual fundraiser. Here, King is seen during a House Judiciary Committee meeting in Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (Photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) There is no similar effort in South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But King expressed his disappointment on his Facebook page Monday, when he called on the South Carolina Democratic Party to rescind an invitation to Moore, who is scheduled to be the featured speaker at the partys annual Blue Palmetto Dinner on May 30. If the South Carolina Democratic Party truly stands with the Black community not just when its convenient, not just in speeches, but in policy and in action then disinviting Governor Moore is the right course, he wrote in his open letter to party leadership. Tickets start at $150 for the partys largest fundraiser of the year, which has featured potential presidential candidates in the past. That includes U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who headlined last years dinner with Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia. In 2019, King was the first South Carolina legislator to endorse Booker for president. (Booker dropped out of the presidential field in January 2020, a month ahead of South Carolinas then-first-in-the-South primary.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Moore has said hes not running for president, his speech in South Carolina can be seen as a 2028 audition of sorts. On May 31, the day after Moores address, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be the keynote speaker at Democrats convention in the state that last year held the partys first presidential primary. I will still support (the) governor, if he decided to run for president, said King, who spent summers in Maryland where his mother grew up in the Baltimore area. But in light of the reparations veto, I dont think the timing is right for him to come to South Carolina, he told Maryland Matters in an interview Tuesday. South Carolina Democratic Party officials did not respond to requests for comment. But as recently as Wednesday, the party sent out emails urging people to buy tickets for the dinner and the chance to hear from Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Tickets will sell out, the email said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kings colleague, Rep. Annie McDaniel, a Democrat from Fairfield County, said she also disagrees with Moores veto. Im not saying whether the governors right or wrong. Im just saying that the way he chose to handle this is not good, McDaniel said in an interview Tuesday with Maryland Matters. Its not good for the plight that African Americans are on now in this state. But McDaniel, who chairs the states Legislative Black Caucus, also said Moore should attend the Blue Palmetto Dinner and explain himself. She said she would also like to see an invitation extended to Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), the chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that would be an awesome opportunity, McDaniel said. I dont want the conversation to be one-sided. I believe in fairness. I just think that having her [Wilkins] in the room and having him [Moore] in the room at the same time will give us an opportunity to hear both sides. Wilkins declined to comment. A spokesperson for the governors office also declined to comment. Reparations now Moores veto Friday was announced hours after he spoke at commencement for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, one of the states four historically Black colleges and universities, and the day before an unrelated reparations rally in Washington, D.C. The governors decision has sparked some conversation on online broadcasts and among civil rights organizations. David Johns, CEO and executive director of the National Black Justice Collective, called the governors decision in a statement Tuesday a betrayal of generational efforts to pursue truth, healing, and repair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the first Black governor of Maryland, Gov. Moore had an opportunity to lead with moral clarity, political courage, and historical awareness, Johns said in a statement Tuesday. Instead, his decision represents a dangerous step backward in the long and necessary march toward racial justice. Outside the State House on Tuesday, as the governor was inside for the last bill-signing of the year, a small group of protesters stood on Lawyers Mall, holding signs and chanting: What do we want? Reparations! When do we want it? Now! The rally was led by Malik Shabazz, an attorney representing Black Lawyers for Justice, who said the legislature should override Moores veto. Malik Shabazz representing Black Lawyers for Justice, second from left, leads a rally Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Annapolis demanding the Maryland General Assembly override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore of the Reparations Commission bill. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) Clearly, the governors not for reparations, Shabazz said to reporters. And clearly, hes looking to cut off a study and calculation of an assessment of the damages of what has been done to the people and the constituents of his own state, and thats unacceptable. But Linda Lee Tarver, with the Black conservative organization Project 21, said Wednesday that reparations arent the answer to help Black communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tarver, who runs a political consulting business in Lansing, Michigan, agreed with Moores veto message that studies have been, and continue to be, done by other organizations. She referenced her own groups policy recommendations, which include election integrity, reducing harmful environmental justice agenda, making health care more market oriented and protecting science, technology, engineering and math instruction from the poison of equity activists. She said she was surprised at the apparent disconnect between Moore and the Legislative Black Caucus, which had endorsed the reparations bill. I believe that Gov. Wes Moore got caught in pretending to care for reparations, and then his pen was required, and he punted, Tarver said. Its shameful. Just say up front you dont believe in it. Disconnect or not, McCaskill said the debate is healthy and the debate will continue as the commission moves forward, as she believes it will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am excited to hear that its on folks minds, in opposition or proponents for it, she said. This commission is important to hear from all Marylanders because it will eventually affect every Marylander. SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. Like the SC Daily Gazette, 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. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) Crews in Craven County are practicing emergency rescue scenarios on the Neuse River. The practice will help crews improve on things such as communication and coordination. The exercise has responders practicing an emergency mass casualty rescue for an incident like a plane crash. Instead of doing tabletop scenario, this is actually hands on, Craven County Emergency Services Director Stanley Kite said. This entails anything from boat operations, operating safely, working together, communications, boarding, you know, patient from the water to your vessels, and then getting them from vessels to land to to to a patient treatment triage care area. North Carolina Marine Patrol, Coast Guard, New Bern Fire & Rescue, Craven County, Wildlife Rescue, and other volunteer organizations took part in Thursdays training. Learning these lifesaving techniques are crucial for not only helping others, but keeping themselves safe during the operation as well. Crews worked on things such as being comfortable in the boat, managing wind, water, and wake, and how to respond to these events in severe weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, click on the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. BOSTON (WPRI) Massachusetts drivers can buy new specialty license plates that celebrate Americas independence and the Bay States revolutionary legacy. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is selling plates commemorating 250 years since the country was founded. They will also honor the Massachusetts 250 festivities, marking the anniversary of the various Revolutionary events that happened in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is so much to celebrate about our states role in the founding of our nation and the ways in which Massachusetts has continued to lead with our revolutionary values of freedom and liberty for all, Gov. Maura Healey said. Its great that the Registry is giving drivers the chance to show off their MA250 pride with this commemorative license plate, and we encourage people to check them out! The plates are blue and feature the year 1776 and the number 250. They cost $100, which includes the $60 registration fee, plus a $40 special plate fee. Residents can learn more and apply here. NEXT: Newport festivals license plates available for preorder Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Matt Standridge and Chuck Lofton - Matt Standridge will be the new morning meteorologist at Indianapolis, Indiana NBC affiliate WTHR. He replaces longtime meteorologist Chuck Lofton (pictured right) who announced his retirement in January. "Matt is an outstanding meteorologist with an authentic connection to our community," said Michael Brouder, WTHR president and general manager. "While Chuck leaves an extraordinary legacy, I'm confident that Matt will deliver weather forecasts with the same degree of precision, accuracy and care that our viewers have come to expect." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Standridge joined the WTHR meteorology team in 2024. Before that, he was chief meteorologist at KFSM, WTHR's sister station serving Tornado Alley in Arkansas and Oklahoma. "Getting to follow in Chuck Loftons footsteps is truly an honor," Standridge said. "An opportunity like this only comes around once every 40 years. I am incredibly grateful to be doing what I love, in the place I love most, while serving the community that shaped who I am today." Before forecasting weather on television, Standridge was a radar meteorologist in North Dakota, specializing in hail analysis for aircraft. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Former colleagues of Sarah Milgrim, one of the Israeli embassy staffers shot and killed in D.C. Wednesday, shared their memories of her. They tell DC News Now she wanted to build a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. Obviously shock and disbelief, said Jake Shapiro, a former colleague of Sarah Milgrim. Those were Shapiros first thoughts once he heard Milgrim, someone he knew, was one of the embassy staffers killed near the Jewish Museum on Wednesday night in DC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Act of terrorism: DMV, world leaders react to fatal shooting of couple working at Israeli embassy in DC I started looking at pictures with Sarah, just remembering the good times and the hard times and all the work that she did to try to avoid this exact reality, Shapiro said. A reality Shapiro said cannot be avoided. This conflict is everywhere. Theres no running from it. We cant ignore it. We cant hide from it. Israeli and Palestinian lives are being taken all over the world, Shapiro said. He said he worked directly with Sarah at Tech2Peace, an Israeli Palestinian peace building organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shared with DC News Now what he remembered about Milgrims character. Sarah was bright, shining, so eager to help with anything. She came full of energy. and goodwill and purpose. and she really wanted to make a better future for both sides in this conflict, he said. Death penalty eligible case: Suspect charged in shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staff members, officials say The Israeli ambassador said Sarah Milgrim was about to be engaged to Yaron Lischinsky before the tragedy happened. Even more of a tragedy in advance of this celebration of the rest of her life that was supposed to happen, said Shapiro. One tiny bright spot in all of this is seeing both Israeli and Palestinian people sending their condolences, sending messages and remembering her together. Just shows we can grieve for each other, and we can care for each other, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milgrim and Lischinsky were killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum. The suspect was heard yelling Free Palestine as he was arrested. DC News Nows Tosin Fakile asked Shapiro what his message to world leaders would be End this madness. End the violence. Its not serving anyone. Its not in anyones interest. Violence begets violence. There must be another way, said Shapiro. Shapiro said he hadnt spoken to Milgrim in a couple of years, but his message to her would be; Thank you, Sarah, for being a champion of peace and a good person in this world. Youre missed and remembered, and may your memory be a blessing for peace, said Shapiro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. ST. LOUIS Nearly one week after a devastating tornado struck St. Louis killing five people and damaging thousands of buildings city officials are focusing on recovery efforts and pushing for any available federal assistance. The May 16 tornado caused an estimated $1 billion in damages in the City of St. Louis. While leaders are already exploring local funding sources for recovery, including the possible reallocation of $10-20 million in ARPA funds and Rams settlement money, long-term rebuilding will largely depend on federal funding. During a news conference Thursday, Mayor Cara Spencer expressed confidence that the city is doing everything possible to secure help at local, state and federal levels, but emphasized it cannot be done alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donate here: Help support St. Louis storm victims We will put in every effort we can to rebuild St. Louis, said Spencer. This also means we are continuing to push for federal funds. This disaster is massive-scale, and no city in the nation can possibly shoulder this alone. FEMA crews arrived Wednesday in St. Louis to begin evaluations of tornado damage, an important step in preparing a formal request for federal disaster relief. I am satisfied that FEMA is here on the ground with us and we are moving as quickly as possible to get them engaged in the process, said Spencer. I am confident we are moving forward as strongly as we can every elected official working with us to make that happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe formally requested an emergency disaster declaration from President Donald Trump over last weeks St. Louis tornado. If approved, Missouri could receive up to $5 million in immediate funding for debris removal and other emergency protective measures. An approved declaration would also open the door for direct federal assistance to individuals and businesses. This request follows earlier and still-pending requests for federal disaster declarations for severe storms on May 14-15 in the St. Louis metropolitan area, in addition to others from March 30-April 8 elsewhere in Missouri. All are still awaiting approval from President Trump. Only the president can issue an emergency or major disaster declaration. With all of this in mind, it remains unclear when St. Louis will formally submit its full request for long-term federal aid or how the president may respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration has proposed scaling back FEMAs role and shifting more responsibility for disaster recovery to individual states, raising concerns about how future recovery efforts could be funded. Near the end of Thursdays news conference, one reporter asked Spencer whether she was concerned federal funding could be denied. Spencer acknowledged the concerns, but expressed confidence in the citys response and the support of Missouri leaders. Do I have concerns about FEMA? Yes. Look, defunding the areas of federal government that we so badly need to make out communities function well is a huge, huge problem when it comes to this and a whole host of things the city relies on the federal government for. Do I have concerns? Yes. Do I have confidence that we are doing everything we can? Absolutely. Do I have confidence our governor, local elected [officials], our senators and congressmen are doing everything possible? Yes I do. And we are marching forward because that is the only thing we can do. We are marching forward with as much strength as we have. And I have confidence in that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has also been pushing for a federal disaster declaration over the St. Louis tornado damage, securing a pledge from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and sending a letter to President Trump urging a declaration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Azerbaijan, Kang Kymgu, on May 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend. During the meeting, the ambassador presented a copy of his credentials to Minister Bayramov. The minister congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and wished him success in his tenure. The ambassador emphasized that he would mobilize all efforts to further develop bilateral relations between the two countries. The discussion included the bilateral and multilateral cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and Korea. In the course of the meeting, the parties reviewed the state of cooperation between the two countries over the years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in areas such as the economy, investments, humanitarian issues, education, and tourism. They also highlighted the potential for collaboration in agriculture, high technologies, healthcare, and other sectors. The parties drew attention to the importance of cooperation within the framework of international platforms, in particular the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), chaired by Azerbaijan. The Korean side shared information about their active participation in international exhibitions held in Azerbaijan. In the framework of joint cooperation in higher education and vocational training, important achievements were noted, including dual degree programs between Koreas INHA University and Baku Engineering University, as well as cooperation with the Baku State Vocational Education Center for Industry and Innovations. The parties also discussed Azerbaijans climate diplomacy efforts, including the countrys chairmanship of the 29th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) held in Azerbaijan, and the achievements made during the session. Furthermore, detailed information was provided to the Korean side about the history of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and the post-conflict situation. Obstacles in the peace process led by Azerbaijan, such as Armenias territorial claims against Azerbaijan enshrined in its constitution and the dissolution of the Minsk Group, were noted. Moreover, the restoration and reconstruction work, as well as demining activities in Azerbaijans liberated territories, were discussed. Other issues of mutual interest were also reviewed during the meeting. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Members of the Rhode Island State Police march in the Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 15, 2025. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) You wouldnt suspect any opposition to proposed pay raises for state troopers and correctional officers based on public hearings Friday morning. The requisite meetings on new collective bargaining agreements held just before the holiday weekend concluded in under 10 minutes, with no public feedback on either contract. But legislative leaders are less than thrilled about the salary increases and accompanying benefits for roughly 1,250 state employees, which require $15 million more than what Gov. Dan McKee planned for in his fiscal 2026 budget proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike most other state employee unions, the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers and the Rhode Island Troopers Association had not inked new deals with the administration when McKee unveiled his proposed $14 billion spending plan in January. So McKee put in a $30 million placeholder for the yet-to-be signed contracts. Turns out, the agreements are actually going to cost the state $45 million over the next two years, rather than the $30 million McKee budgeted. Hardly welcome news to the leaders of the Rhode Island General Assembly already grappling with a budget deficit and potentially devastating federal funding cuts just weeks before the end of the 2025 legislative session. A spending plan must be approved by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Unfortunately, the newly revealed shortfall from the Administrations contract settlements is not the only issue we need to address in the budget, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said in an emailed statement. It certainly worsens the situation and is, frankly, beyond frustrating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate President Valarie Lawson also appeared caught off-guard by the unexpected cost hike, which she said she learned about on Wednesday. While this is deeply concerning, I will work with the Senate Finance Committee to address this unexpected challenge, Lawson said in an emailed statement. Laura Hart, a spokesperson for McKees office, defended the contract costs in an emailed response Friday, noting that the third-quarter revenue report from the state budget office shows an extra $60.9 million expected to flow into state coffers by the end of the fiscal year 2025. The Governor encourages the General Assembly to support the contractual increases for public safety personnel using these dollars in the upcoming budget, Hart said. Retroactive cost-of-living hike for State Police Both contracts call for annual cost-of-living adjustments starting at 5% in year one, with a 4% second-year bump and a 3% adjustment in the third year identical to the incremental scale adopted for 4,000 other state employees under contracts finalized last fall. So how did McKee mess up the math? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For one, the raises for 255 state troopers start earlier than expected: the 5% pay bump is retroactive to Nov. 1, 2023, rather than the July 1, 2024, start date for other state union workers, including correction officers, said Karen Greco, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Administration. The tentative agreement, reached on Feb. 28, also features a uniform allowance not accounted for in the governors budget projections, Greco said. Erik Jensen, president of the state troopers union, acknowledged but did not offer a response to questions about the agreement on Friday. Richard Ferruccio, president of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, remained unsatisfied with the terms of the 1,000-member unions new state contract, which was finalized on May 14 after months of arbitration. I dont want to sound ungrateful, Ferruccio said in an interview Friday. But I still feel somewhat frustrated with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His main grievance was not with the annual cost-of-living increases, but accompanying benefits that would make the union better able to attract and retain officers. Staffing woes at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections are well-documented, and costly; the 117 open positions as of March 22 is projected to lead to a $42.9 million overtime cost for the full fiscal year 2025, according to a presentation to state lawmakers in April. It certainly worsens the situation and is, frankly, beyond frustrating. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi Ferruccio blamed staffing shortages on uncompetitive benefits relative to other local law enforcement officers and neighboring states, where officers can reach the top step of pay in a shorter period of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are only a handful of people that really want to get involved in any type of law enforcement, Ferruccio said. When you look at other local police departments, they have a significantly better situation with the top step than we do. He had hoped to lower the seniority requirement for union officers to reach maximum pay from its current 14 years to six years, matching the policy offered for correctional officers in Massachusetts. But the compromise struck with the state cuts the length of service to 10 years beginning this June, and eight years starting in June 2026. The agreement also includes a 2.5% pay raise for anyone who stays at least 20 years. The governors budget did not account for the costs associated with these changes, either, Greco said. But Ferruccio said the final price tag should not have come as a surprise, noting that the changes to top step and retention benefits were longstanding asks by the union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the governor was given bad information by DOC, Ferruccio said. He pointed to the grossly underestimated cost to close the states minimum security facility initially pegged at $1 million in McKees budget when a study found it would actually cost $67 million to $71 million as an example of miscommunication by the corrections department. J.R. Ventura, a spokesperson for the state corrections department, declined to comment when contacted Friday. State worker contract costs are not the only expense McKee underestimated in his fiscal 2026 budget proposal. The state will also have to make up a $24 million shortfall in education aid to local school districts in its fiscal 2025 and 26 budgets due to corrected data on the number of students in poverty. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX There was one case of measles in Broward County in April, according to state records, at the same time a link to those records was briefly removed from the state website. A child between the age of 0 (used to refer to newborns) and 4 contracted measles from outside of the U.S. in April in Broward County, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) Reportable Disease Frequency Report. Measles is considered one of the most contagious infections for humans, according to Dr. Aileen Marty, a professor at Florida International University and an expert in infectious disease and disaster medicine. If a person with measles comes in contact with a group of unvaccinated people, there is a 90% chance of the unvaccinated person becoming ill, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A link to the state report, which tracks the spread of infectious diseases across the state's 67 counties, was removed from DOH's main website earlier this year, according to a story in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. According to the article, published on May 9, the last time that chart was available was in March. The website was getting upgraded at the time, DOH spokesperson Isabel Kilman told the USA TODAY Network Florida. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is ready to be given to a 1-year-old at the Shots for Tots vaccination clinic at St. John's Community Center on Thursday February 5, 2015. But now, the tracker, which can be found as a link on the FLHealthCHARTS website, shows a measles case in Broward County in April. It occurred one month after a high schooler at Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Miami-Dade County was diagnosed with the highly-contagious disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no alerts on the the Florida Department of Health in Broward County website or the state DOH website about the measles case in April. Kilman could not confirm to a USA TODAY Network Florida reporter that the department did contact tracing with the case in Broward County, but did say if its epidemiologists had a reason to believe people came in contact with someone with measles, they would be notified. Contact tracing is the process of identifying people who have recently been in contact with someone diagnosed with an infectious disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In a statement sent by email, DOH said it could not disclose personal information about the case because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. It establishes federal standards protecting sensitive health information from disclosure without patient's consent, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Department works closely with schools and school systems to ensure that students, faculty, and parents are informed when appropriate. Anyone who may have been in contact with an infected individual is promptly and directly notified to ensure the safety and well-being of the community," the statement says. The exact age of the child is unknown, as the state's data provides a range from 0 to 4 years old. But a spokesperson for Broward County Schools said the district's Coordinated Student Health Services Department reported it has not had a documented case of measles this year. Last year, the county saw a measles outbreak that resulted in nine infections. DOH's response at the time was criticized after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo contradicted federal and medical professional guidance to contain the spread. As previously reported, measles infections in the U.S. have topped 1,000 in 2025. While Texas remains the epicenter battling the largest number of cases, the presence of measles has been confirmed in 30 states by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as of Friday, March 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, a person infected measles may have spread the virus at a Shakira concert in New Jersey, according to news reports. Michelle Bessetti, R.N., a nursing supervisor with the Erie County Department of Health, holds a container of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine during a vaccination clinic held April 22 at the Zem Zem Shrine Club, 2525 W. 38th St. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, only 88.1% of kindergarteners in Florida were vaccinated against measles in 2023-2024. Herd immunity for measles requires a 95% vaccination rate. Whether someone gets measles are a child or as an adult, it affects the body's immune response, Marty said. Measles can cause viral pneumonia or in some cases bacterial pnuemonia, because it diminishes the immune system. It's rare, but some children that contract measles will, years later, manifest serious neurologic problems, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you look at what's been going on in the United States, for example ... We won't know the total toll of that outbreak for six to 10 years because of this sort of under-the-radar type of problem that manifests so much later," she said. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Broward measles case in April adds to growing national resurgence A liberal advocacy organization blasted President Trumps administrations threats amid a reported probe into the group by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC opened the probe into Media Matters on Wednesday over whether it improperly coordinated with advertisers, multiple outlets reported Thursday. In a letter, which was seen by multiple news outlets, the FTC demanded communications between the progressive watchdog group and advertisers, its correspondence with other watchdog groups and copies of its budgets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media Matters was sued by tech billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk in 2023, with the Tesla CEO accusing the watchdog of coordinating with advertisers in the campaign to pull advertising dollars off of X, the social platform that Musk bought in 2022. The lawsuit, which is still ongoing, was filed in U.S. District Court in Texas. Media Matters has denied wrongdoing. The suit came after Media Matters published a report that outlined how X was placing advertising next to hateful content. A number of blue-chip companies stopped advertising on the site after the report was published. The Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics, Media Matters President Angelo Carusone said in a statement to The Hill. Its clear thats exactly whats happening here, given Media Matters history of holding those same figures to account. These threats wont work; we remain steadfast to our mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An FTC spokesperson declined to comment. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson signaled being open to probes of this nature. We must prosecute any unlawful collusion between online platforms, and confront advertiser boycotts which threaten competition among those platforms, Ferguson said in December shortly before being tapped by Trump to head 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 The Hill. For the record: 8:37 a.m. May 23, 2025: An earlier version of this article stated that Derek Chauvin placed his knee on George Floyds neck for 90 seconds. It was nine minutes. The murder heard around the world marks its fifth anniversary Sunday. On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on the neck of George Floyd and held it there for nine minutes. The incident was filmed by 17-year-old Darnella Frazier and went viral. Chauvin was eventually found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.The killing ignited international outrage and massive protests during a pandemic that had already rocked the nation. Floyd's death further galvanized the grassroots Black Lives Matter movement, pivoted on a racial reckoning calling for remedies to the troubled history of justice for Black people in America. National news outlets extensively reported on numerous large and small corporations as they frantically scrambled to express solidarity with protesters, pledging reforms to address past shortfalls and improve diversity and equity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While other noteworthy anniversaries of momentous events that have shaped the nation have often inspired documentaries and prime-time specials hosted by top news personalities, many TV news outlets are treating the Floyd anniversary with a more subdued tone. That approach is taking place during another kind of urgent reckoning, propelled by the Trump administration's assault on civil rights, which has been targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs and policies established in the wake of Floyd's murder. Black Lives Matter protesters march in downtown Los Angeles in 2020, days after the killing George Floyd. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Some examinations of the effect of Floyd's death on the nation and the justice system have moved forward. PBS and NewsNation are among venues planning packages reflecting on Floyd's legacy. KMSP Fox 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul has produced "After George Floyd," which examines "what's changed and what hasn't." The hourlong documentary hosted by KMSPs Symone Woolridge will be streamed on the Fox LiveNOW platform and will be available for Fox-owned-and-operated stations around the country. The report will air locally Friday and Sunday on KTTV Fox 11. Other prominent media are taking more measured tones. Representatives for CBS, NBC and CNN said the outlets were planning some coverage but did not offer specific plans indicating a deeper dive into the incident and its effects. MSNBC, which is shaking up its programming after criticism by Trump for its left-leaning commentaries, did not respond to inquiries about their plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Floyd anniversary arrives at the same time that MAGA conservatives and the Trump administration have engaged in relentless attacks on mainstream media outlets that have been critical of the president and his agenda. Fiery debates surrounding so-called wokeness have highlighted programs on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and others. Among the venues that have come under fire is CBS News and "60 Minutes." CBS News and Stations President Wendy McMahon stepped down earlier this week, saying in a note to staff that it was "clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward." It's the latest chapter between the company and its journalists over CBS' handling of Trump's lawsuit against the flagship news program. Read more: Wendy McMahon pushed from her CBS News post amid 60 Minutes' crisis Trump has also taken aim at ABC News, which agreed to pay $15 million to Trumps presidential library to settle a lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speculating on the media coverage of the anniversary, Selwyn Jones, who is Floyd's uncle, said in an interview that there are many people who believe "old systemic things" have not changed since his nephew's death. "It's the reason why we still have escalated cases of police brutality and escalated cases of domestic violence," he said. "George's case completely shook up the whole world. It was the most catastrophic thing that people have ever seen, and it woke a lot of people up." Selwyn Jones, right, addresses the media in Minneapolis in 2020. "George's case completely shook up the whole world," he said, though he remains critical of the media and justice system. (Jim Mone / Associated Press) Jones, who co-founded the Justice 929 Organization, a charity devoted to promoting civil rights and social change in honor of Floyd, was critical of the media and the justice system. "What I can assure you is that there are more people engaged in the social movement than ever before. Has the media kept up the pace with that? Absolutely not," he said. "Are we seeing drastic changes in the laws? Absolutely not. That's the political climate." Phillip Atiba Solomon, a psychologist and chair of African American Studies at Yale University, said he's skeptical of news coverage that would suggest there's been dramatic change. "I am concerned that there will be a lot of stories making assumptions about what the effects of what happened with George Floyd's death have been," he said. "I would hope that we are a changed country, but I'm not sure what I would point to say that's definitely true." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solomon is co-founder of the Center for Policing Equity, which is labeled as the nation's leading organization focused on eliminating racism in public safety. The organization partnered with Time magazine in early May to produce a special issue featuring interviews and essays examining the continuing struggle for racial justice. Read more: Justice Department moves to cancel police reform settlements reached with Minneapolis and Louisville He feared some media stories about the anniversary might misrepresent the progress of the last five years: "It is not clear to me that there has been a wholesale change in public safety for sure not nearly as much as the nation was asking for at that time." Much of the Floyd coverage will be locally based. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Stone, vice president of digital content for Fox TV stations, called Floyd's death "a national, major and relevant story that was horrible. We know folks will be interested in seeing the coverage from Minneapolis that we are offering from Fox LiveNow. We have the ability to take that perspective from our local station and amplify that to a national audience." Kelly Bishop-Huffman, news director of Fox's KMSP, was the station's assistant news director when the story about Floyd's death broke. "We all felt an overwhelming feeling from the get-go that we were facing an overdue moment on what was going on in our country," Huffman said. "The second I saw that video, I knew this was a line-in-the-sand moment." Los Angeles police face protesters demonstrating in L.A.'s Fairfax District in response to the death of George Floyd in 2020. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) As for analyzing the current perspective of the killing, Huffman said raising awareness about the country's racial reckoning shouldn't stop. "There is progress in many areas, but maybe not as much as others," she said. "We are trying to remain hyper-focused. You obviously have to look back, but we are concentrated on looking at the now and in looking forward, and that's the concentration of our stories." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Jones, there is no such thing as too little coverage when it comes to Floyd's death. "If I could control all elements, we would be talking about George Floyd every day in the mass media," Jones said. "Unfortunately, that can't happen. But some things have a three-week shelf life. My nephew is going to have one weekend every year where everybody remembers the day that George Floyd changed the world." Here are other planned reports that could appear on national broadcasts in the coming days: ABC News national correspondent Alex Perez, one of the first reporters on the scene after Floyd's death, and who also covered the protests and the aftermath, will file a report from George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. ABC-owned television stations in Texas and North Carolina will sit down with Floyds loved ones as they reflect on his life and legacy. CBS Minnesota is checking in with the Black community and Minnesotans to see how they are doing and feeling about the anniversary. Reporters will also interview local police, community members and city officials about the stalled plans to create a monument at George Floyd Square. Fred de Sam Lazaro, special correspondent for the PBS News Hour, will report on the status of racial justice and police reforms in Minneapolis, conducting interviews with Floyd's family members and Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis police chief at the time of the incident. NewsNation is set to cover a commemorative walk at George Floyd Square on Saturday, with additional reporting during the weekend. "On Balance" anchor Leland Vittert, who covered the 2020 protests, will also offer his perspectives. 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. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Protesters gathered in front of U.S. Rep. Tom Barretts Lansing office Thursday to voice their disappointment in his yes vote on the one big, beautiful bill. In particular, these protesters are not happy that he supported the legislations cuts to Medicaid. The protest was originally scheduled to ask Rep. Barrett to vote no on the bill, but since he voted overnight on Thursday, though, the protesters shared their reactions instead, chanting things like Shame on Barrett. Greta Dewolf shared why she wants the federal government to keep its hands off of health care. Protesters outside Barretts office. (WLNS) It is important to provide mental health and health care. Dewolf continued, Its a right, not a privilege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protester said that Medicaid was crucial for her while she was a single mother pursuing a college degree. Some bad things happened to me. I got on welfare, and Medicaid was fundamental in providing that health care to give me a leg up, as well as my children, said Dewolf. Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that cuts to the program could terminate more than 700,000 Michiganders health care. Rep. Barrett said that these cuts would strengthen Medicaids integrity by preserving it for the people who need it most. Protesters in front of his office Thursday, like Carol Clyde, said lawmakers who voted yes to the bill are not looking at the bigger picture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even people who are not on Medicare or Medicaid will be affected, said Clyde. Clyde said that through her 26 years working in health care, she has seen how much hospitals rely on Medicaid. Even larger hospital systems are going to have to cut back because they wont have the income theyve had before. Clyde continued, What are you cutting health care for? Rep. Barrett said the cuts would remove recipients who are ineligible from the program. There would also be a requirement for some recipients in order to qualify for the program. People would have to work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to get Medicaid. This would have to be verified twice a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are some people that are unable to work, what are we going to do with that? asked Dewolf. There are some exceptions to the requirement, but either way, the protesters said there should not be extra hoops to jump through when it comes to receiving health care. Theres nothing beautiful about this bill. Not one single thing, Clyde said. If the bill passes, it would take effect in 2029, and monetary cuts would happen over ten years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Jen Chong Jewell, the mother of a child with developmental disabilities, speaks at a press conference on proposed cuts to Medicaid alongside Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard) Washington leaders are warning that at least 194,000 people in the state stand to lose Medicaid coverage under a Republican-backed budget bill that passed the U.S. House early Thursday. Only nine other states could potentially have more residents lose their health insurance from Medicaid than Washington, according to estimates released by Democrats on Congress Joint Economic Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington would also lose about $2 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years, Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a press conference Thursday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He said no rainy-day reserve fund is going to backfill that. But he stopped short of saying the proposed cuts would necessitate a special legislative session since many of the bills provisions wouldnt go into effect immediately. The cuts also threaten the livelihood of the states nursing homes and rural hospitals, officials said. Hospitals will close in Washington state, in rural parts of our state and urban parts of our state, Ferguson said. Take that to the bank. Thats going to happen. Nursing homes in our state will close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of this, about two dozen Washington state Republican lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, pleaded with the 12-member congressional delegation to avoid cuts that would imperil the states Medicaid program, known as Apple Health. We urge you to protect Medicaid, they wrote in a letter sent Wednesday. We cant afford to lose local health care resources, and our rural communities will not be able to ride out the economic shockwaves that are sure to follow if this program is significantly cut. The letter marked a departure from Republican lawmakers tack on federal policy maneuvering, as theyve largely remained mum on the potential Medicaid cuts and numerous other hot-button topics since President Donald Trump took office in January. Washington U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, of Spokane, who served previously in the Washington state Senate, took swipes at leaders in Olympia as he touted passage of the House bill on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elections have consequences and the contrast between leadership in Washington DC and Washington state is stark, he wrote in a social media post. He went on to slam Ferguson for signing state laws this week that will raise billions in new taxes and also criticized the governors stance on immigration. The American people are getting what they voted for, he added. Massive bill The legislation that Republicans in Congress are forging ahead with is sprawling in scope. It would extend tax cuts approved in 2017 during Trumps first term, pump more money toward border security, rework energy permitting and restructure college aid, among other changes. To cut spending in line with their desired tax breaks, House Republicans propose reductions between $600 billion to $700 billion over 10 years to Medicaid, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. The program, which is run jointly by the federal government and states, provides health care for people who are poor or disabled. Roughly a quarter of Washington residents are covered by Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill squeaked through the House by a single vote, with only Republicans in support. Baumgartner and the other Republican in Washingtons delegation, Dan Newhouse, of Sunnyside, both voted for it. Newhouse and Baumgartners red districts have the highest proportion of Medicaid enrollees in Washington. In a statement, Newhouse defended his vote, saying Trumps big, beautiful bill would implement real, common-sense reforms to strengthen the integrity of Medicaid, protecting the program for low-income families, seniors, and those with disabilities. One of the key changes the bill proposes is a requirement that certain Medicaid recipients prove they are working to qualify for coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the proposal would require childless adults without disabilities to work, volunteer or attend school for 80 hours per month, with some exceptions. Work requirements would go into effect by the end of 2026, up from the initial 2029 meant to give states time to prepare. Of Washington adults on Medicaid, 70% are working, according to the nonpartisan health research organization KFF. Democrats have universally decried the legislation, framing it as an attempt by Republicans to pay for tax cuts that will deliver outsized benefits to wealthier taxpayers, while undermining safety net programs for lower-income Americans. This legislation is a betrayal of Republicans promise to lower costs for everyday families, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Medina. It will rip health coverage away from millions of families while increasing groceries, utilities, and health care bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would also punish states like Washington that offer Medicaid-style coverage to immigrants without legal status. Enrollment in Washingtons program for immigrants is capped, and it is funded using only state money. For states that offer programs like this, House Republicans want to decrease how much the federal government would pay to cover enrollees who qualify for Medicaid under expanded eligibility stemming from the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Hundreds of thousands of Washington adults got Apple Health coverage under that expansion. Over the next decade, this could shift to the state $10 billion in costs the federal government previously covered, according to KFF. The legislation still needs to pass the U.S. Senate before reaching the presidents desk. By way of background Washington receives over $13 billion in federal funding for Medicaid, according to fiscal year 2023 data from the state Office of Financial Management. The state chips in another $8 billion, one of the largest categories of spending in its operating budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of last month, nearly 2 million Washington residents were enrolled in Apple Health, including over 850,000 children, according to the state Health Care Authority, which oversees the program. Jen Chong Jewells son, Gabriel, is one of them. The Everett 14-year-old has developmental disabilities and has used Medicaid to cover surgeries, therapies and medical equipment. I love my son, and I hate that he, along with so many others, are being swept into this narrative about the need to, quote eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, Chong Jewell told reporters. Also looming is the expiration of expanded tax credits for the Affordable Care Act that allowed more people to purchase insurance. That change and others to the federal health care law could cost another 79,000 residents in Washington their coverage, according to the congressional analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide, this would bring the total to 13.7 million people with lost coverage by 2034. The bill also would stop coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender people and reproductive care through Planned Parenthood. Washington state Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, was among more than 500 legislators across the country who called on congressional leadership this week to preserve Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood services. Meanwhile, cuts to federal food stamp benefits known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP would shift $300 million in annual costs to Washington, according to Fergusons office. Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the number of states that could see more people lose Medicaid coverage than Washington. It is nine, not eight. The head of the federal antisemitism task force that has helmed the controversial crackdown on universities in recent months says his team plans to intensify its actions in the wake of the shooting that left two Israeli Embassy staffers dead in downtown Washington. Leo Terrell, a former Democrat and Fox News contributor-turned Department of Justice senior counsel in the civil rights division, is the little-known figure behind the Trump administrations efforts to target 10 academic institutions across the country over claims of antisemitism. Included in the group of 10 institutions under scrutiny is Harvard, which the Trump administration has seemingly singled out by pulling back billions of dollars in federal funding and attempting to revoke its ability to enroll foreign students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tapped in January by President Donald Trump to serve as senior counsel to Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Justice Department, Terrell has since become an outspoken voice in the administration, heading up the departments Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. That task force has led the charge against academic institutions that the administration claims are enabling antisemitism. Wednesday nights shooting has upped the stakes for Terrell, giving him what he is casting as a mandate to intensify his teams crackdown on academic institutions. Speaking to the Jewish News Syndicate on Thursday, Terrell said that the Trump administration will magnify, multiply our efforts to stop antisemitism. I recall the question that many people keep asking, Are we too aggressive? Terrell said. Heres an example where were not aggressive. Two young people lost their lives and we got to make sure we do everything possible to stop the hate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, in an interview with Israeli network N12 on Thursday, Terrell said the task force would intensify all our activities. "We will chase after the campus inciters, and those that are here with a student visa goodbye. You are here by grace, if you create a mess, crime or discrimination against Jews, you will find yourself outside. To the universities, expect more withdrawing of federal funding, or the withholding of all federal funding. All of it! the task force chief said. Through a Department of Justice spokesperson, Terrell declined to comment for this story.Before his job leading the charge against some of the countrys foremost academic institutions, Terrell was a Fox News contributor. Thats a role that he frequently reprises while in the administration, appearing on the network at least eight times since taking office, according to a tally from the liberal media watchdog Media Matters for America. Hes set to appear on Mark Levins Fox News show this Sunday. Terrell, who had been a lifelong Democrat, made a dramatic about-face in 2020 when he announced that he planned to vote to reelect Donald Trump as president. In the nearly five years that followed, Terrell so successfully established himself as a conservative voice that Trump tapped him to serve in his current role as Dhillons senior counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leo is a highly respected civil rights attorney and political analyst, Trump said of him in January. Leo will be a fantastic advocate for the American People, and ensure we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! In addition to his regular cable TV hits, Terrell is an avid user of the social media platform X, where his posts have landed him in hot water multiple times. Just a month after launching the task force to combat antisemitism, Terrell raised eyebrows for resharing a post by former head of the now-defunct American Identity Group, Patrick Casey, saying that Trump has the ability to revoke someone's Jew card after the president called Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer a Palestinian and said hes not Jewish anymore. The Anti-Defamation League has identified the American Identity Group as a white supremacist organization. Terrells reshare drew condemnation from prominent Jewish voices, including Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of the progressive Jewish Council for Public Affairs, who bashed Terrells move, saying at the time: This admin isnt abt countering antisemitism, its abt exploiting it to attack democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terrell also made waves last week after suggesting that former first lady Jill Biden should face criminal charges for elder abuse, saying she knew about her husbands health challenges and chose to stay silent as he sought a second term in office. Elder Abuse! Criminal Charges?? Terrell wrote on X commentary he reposted repeatedly. Terrells promise this week to intensify his efforts comes as the Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, under his leadership, has taken aggressive action against universities across the country on the basis of reports of antisemitism on their campuses during last years student protests against Israels war on Gaza. In a move that sent shockwaves through the academic community, the task force last month announced it would block Harvard University from receiving $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts after the university refused to capitulate to a set of demands outlined by the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard University President Alan M. Garber at the time said that the demands, which included changes to the universitys hiring, admissions and programming processes, infringed upon the institutions constitutional rights. The university sued the administration over the funding cuts, launching a legal battle over the unprecedented move. Last week, the administration informed Harvard that it would cut an additional $450 million in grants from eight federal agencies as the war between the school and the administration intensifies. And the administration also sought to revoke Harvards ability to enroll foreign students, something a federal judge quickly blocked on Friday. Harvard isnt the only school facing the administrations ire. Terrells task force in February announced a list of 10 institutions that it planned to investigate for allegedly allowing antisemitism on their campuses. In addition to Harvard, the universities include: Columbia; George Washington; Johns Hopkins; New York University; Northwestern; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Minnesota; and the University of Southern California. The Task Forces mandate is to bring the full force of the federal government to bear in our effort to eradicate Anti-Semitism, particularly in schools, Terrell said when announcing the schools. Daniella Cheslow contributed to this report. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) Seven-year-old Emerson Thom, a first-grade student at Woodvale Elementary School is heading to Los Angeles California to compete in the 2025 Braille Challenge. Jessica Turner, the first graders mother said the family is very excited. We were a little shocked. I was a little shocked. He probably wasnt and yet the logistics of finding the plane tickets and hotels, you know, was a little daunting but were very excited, said Turner. Challenge is actually international now. Its the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Theres about 800 kids that compete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Emerson being a first grader, he will focus on spelling, proofreading and reading comprehension. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Reading comprehension is when you read and then answer questions about the story you read. Proofreading is where theres an error in the text and you have to say A, B or C, which is the mistake it has, and correct it. Thats what proofreading really is. Thats the main part, Emerson explained. Though many people are vying to be number one, Emerson says he will do his best. Saying if he wins, he will add it to his collection of three trophies he has already from his piano competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emerson enjoyed telling jokes. He displayed how to spell his name in braille and read his favorite book Brallie Boy whose superpower is braille. Emerson said if he had a superpower, it would be super strength. He expressed a want for more places with braille, but he wants people to know this message. Blind people can do anything sighted people can do but more stuff, he said. Turner said Emerson wishes to work in the command center for NASA. Working with coding and rockets. While she encouraged his dreams, she said she stresses the importance of him learning the foundation of basic education. I think the fellowship and the mentorship that comes with these types of competitions and activities is so important for these kids because he often feels like people dont understand him. People are scared of him and hes just a regular kid, just like anybody else. He likes to swim. Likes to ride bikes, he likes to roller skate. He likes to be outside and go hunting with his dad. He doesnt need a lot of help, and he has to learn when he does need help to ask and people have to learn to wait until they ask to give him help and not be scared of him and then going to these challenges it allows him to see other very successful people, Turner said. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Meet the Press on Sunday will take a break from its usual focus on the latest in political news to air a special edition of the program that examines mental health and, in particular, the growing number of young people who say they are suffering from loneliness. Moderator Kristen Welker, in her opening comments at the top of the show that were first seen by TheWrap, will lay out the disheartening situation; studies show two-thirds of Gen Zers are dealing with loneliness while youth suicide rates have increased dramatically since the start of the 21st century. After no significant change between 2001 and 2007, the suicide rate among young people ages 10-24 increased 62% from 2007 through 2021, from 6.8 deaths to 11.0 per 100,000, the CDC found in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welker will discuss the issue with several guests including Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General who served in the position twice, between 2014-2017 and again from 2021 to earlier this year. Former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, who has been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder, and author Arthur Brooks will be Welkers other two featured guests. The NBC News show will also feature a panel that includes psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab and San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge. This will be the second special edition of Meet the Press dedicated to mental health, following an episode in 2023 that focused on the matter. Several recent studies and polls have also looked at the rise of loneliness among young people; a poll from the American Psychiatric Association last year found 30% of Americans aged 18-34 saying they were lonely every day or several times a week, which was triple the average for all Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special Meet the Press comes after an especially busy week on the media front. CNNs Jake Tapper, notably, has been making the rounds to promote his new book, Original Sin. The book, co-authored with Axios reporter Alex Thompson, looks at former President Joe Bidens cognitive decline while in office. This week, Tapper said he was stunned by the presidents poor performance in the 2024 debate he moderated a performance that led to Biden dropping out of the race less than a month later. That claim came after Tapper said there was not enough media coverage of Bidens apparent cognitive decline during his presidency, including from himself. Meet the Press was the top Sunday public affairs show among the 25-54 demographic last week, and has won that demo nine of the past 14 weeks. Earlier this month, the long-running show enjoyed a 19% ratings boost when Welker scored an interview with President Trump. The special edition of Meet the Press, titled Lost & Lonely: Americas Mental Health Crisis, will air at 10:30 a.m. ET in New York City and Washington, D.C. The post Meet the Press Special Edition Will Examine the Rise of Gen Z Loneliness in America appeared first on TheWrap. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The second meeting of the interior ministers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Azerbaijan's Baku on May 23, the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Trend. The delegation of OTS interior ministers began their visit by laying flowers at the Alley of Honor in memory of the National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. The guests also visited the Victory Park and paid tribute at the Victory Monument, commemorating Azerbaijans triumph in the 44-day Patriotic War. The meeting was attended by Colonel General Vilayat Eyvazov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Yerzhan Sadenov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ulan Niyazbekov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye; Aziz Toshpulatov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Dursun Oguz, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; Bence Retvari, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Hungary; and Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the OTS. Opening the meeting, Minister Eyvazov warmly welcomed the participants and emphasized the strong bonds of friendship, mutual trust, and respect uniting the peoples of the member states. He noted that thanks to the strategic vision and political will of the leaders of Turkic states, bilateral and multilateral relations had entered a new qualitative phase, evolving into a strategic partnership. He highlighted that cooperation among the interior ministries was also deepening in line with the overall strategy set by the heads of state. The session focused on expanding and strengthening cooperation among the interior ministries of OTS member countries. Topics included joint efforts to combat transnational organized crime, information sharing regarding the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors, and collaboration on preventing, detecting, and investigating cybercrimes. The future of digital transformation in the internal affairs institutions of member states was also discussed. The member states agreed that the next meeting of OTS interior ministers would be held in the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties signed a Joint Communique on the outcomes of the second gathering of the interior ministers. Participants expressed confidence that this meeting would further strengthen solidarity among Turkic peoples and states. They also extended gratitude to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan for hosting the event. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A stretch of U.S. Highway 85 is shown July 8, 2024, south of Watford City, after the expansion was partially completed. The Department of Transportation is taking comment on the project between Interstate 94 and Highway 200. (Photo courtesy NDDOT) The North Dakota Department of Transportation will host information sessions next week on part of the planned expansion of U.S. Highway 85 from two to four lanes. The first meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Mountain Time Wednesday at the fire hall in Fairfield. The second meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Mountain Time Thursday at the Memorial Hall in Belfield. Both meetings will be an open house format with a formal presentation at 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meetings will update the expansion of about 31 miles of Highway 85 from Interstate 94 to North Dakota Highway 200. The estimated construction cost is about $290 million. There is no funding yet for that part of the expansion. Construction would start in 2028 if funding becomes available. Watford City is at the north end of the Highway 85 project. The widening project covers about 62 miles of highway in Stark, Billings and McKenzie counties. The south end of the project is at the Interstate 94 interchange near Belfield. Crews have already completed replacing the Long X Bridge over the Little Missouri River and widening the section from Watford City to that bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction for the section from Highway 200 to the Long X Bridge is to begin in 2026. That includes a 6-mile area of the Badlands estimated to cost $95 million. The rest of that segment is estimated to cost about $117 million, which includes a roundabout at the intersection of 85 and 200. The Legislature in the recent legislative session approved $150 million for Highway 85. The state also is seeking a $55 million federal grant. More information is available at www.dot.nd.gov/public-input. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX From belting out "Time is On My Side" by the Rolling Stones in my dads old Bronco, to writing my first song at 14, about trouble with girls, music has always been in my life. That first song wasnt great, but it made me feel better and taught me to use music to heal and tell difficult stories. As a first-generation American, I was raised to love this country and understand how lucky I was to live here. When the world changed on Sept. 11, 2001, I did too. I joined the United States Marine Corps two years later, just after my 18th birthday. For many soldiers, service is followed by trauma Music came with me to Iraq. I made up songs to make my buddies laugh and would play guitar at night around the smoke pit. I wasnt thinking about morale or mental health; I just liked how it made me feel to play music for my friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, on Oct. 31, 2004, an IED (improvised explosive device) struck my vehicle for the seventh time, shattering my leg. I woke up a week later in Maryland, with my life forever changed. The doctors didnt know if Id survive and, if I did, whether Id ever walk again. Through it all, music was there. More: How these veterans are using music to win the fight against PTSD Studies show that music-based interventions can reduce pain and ease emotional distress. I learned this for myself when doctors ultimately had to amputate my leg. I was too weak to play guitar but found comfort just having it near me. Something about listening to the beachy rhythm of "Old Blue Chair" by Kenny Chesney helped me manage unbearable phantom limb pain. America Remembers: Flags of Honor, a Patriot Day Celebration, is being held at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tenn., on Sept. 11, 2004. More than 1,000 flags are placed by JROTC cadets from Williamson County high schools to honor military service personnel across the country killed in the war on terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001. The road to recovery and remembering When I moved to Nashville a year later to chase my dream of making music, I was both thrilled and deeply depressed. I smiled through it, drank a lot, and wrote songs about everything but Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought writing about my brothers who didnt come home would cheapen their memory. I didnt yet understand that it is the responsibility of the living to tell our heroes stories. When a Vietnam War veteran shook my hand one day, looked me in the eye, and said, Thanks for your service. Welcome home. Youre a hero, it hit me like a punch to the gut. Opinion: On Memorial Day, celebrate the memory of those we lost who let Americans live It meant a lot coming from someone who had been to war and was then treated so poorly when he returned home. But I couldnt help but think, How could he call me a hero? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldier who don't come home, who don't get second chances. They're the real heroes. And I knew it was time for me to write about them. I went home that day and put my response in a song titled "Heroes." A Wounded Warrior Project poll shows a declining rate of Americans who understand the issues impacting those who have served our country. Its up to all of us to tell the stories of the heroes who didnt make it home and of the veterans living with the guilt of surviving. Ive seen what a grateful nation looks like right here in Middle Tennessee. When I performed Heroes at the Grand Ole Opry last Memorial Day weekend, I heard it. This Memorial Day, I hope other veterans will see, hear, and feel that support, too. Sal Gonzalez Sal Gonzalez is a Nashville musician and songwriter, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and Wounded Warrior Project spokesperson. This op-ed is written in loving memory of Sals heroes: Matt Lynch, Sean Langley, Andrew Halverson, and the 12 other Marines of 2nd Battalion 5th killed in action during our tour of duty. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Memorial Day 2025: We must always share our heroes' stories | Opinion Chesterton American Legion Post 170 in Chesterton will start its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday with a 21-gun salute at the flagpole of the Legion Hall at 798 Wabash Ave. in Chesterton. That will be followed by a wreath ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Cemetery, 825 S. Calumet Rd. The main Memorial Day program will be held at 10 a.m. at the Chesterton Cemetery, 300 E. Porter Ave. There will also be a 21-gun salute at 10:45 a.m. at the Vietnam Memorial at the southwest corner of Ind. 49 and East Porter Avenue. Crown Point The Crown Point Memorial Day Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Monday, starting on Joliet Street, going down Main Street and ending at Maplewood Cemetery. A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the cemetery, located at 347 Maple Lane. The Friends of the Veterans Memorial Parkway (FVMP) will be hosting its annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday at the Lake County Korean Veterans Memorial. The site is located at the intersection of 145th Avenue and U.S. 231, just east of the hamlet of Leroy. The ceremony will start at This year, the FVMP welcomes Korean War veteran Lee Christakis to lay the wreath at the wall of the 101 soldiers from Lake County who died during the war. Lee served in the Army and retired Private 1st Class. Hammond The 64th annual Hammond Mohawks Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 11 a.m. Monday at the Cavalier Inn, located at 734 Gostlin St. It will proceed west to Hohman Avenue, then head north to 139th Street and east to Johnson Street, before heading south to St. Casimir Church, located at 4340 Johnson Ave., for the Memorial Day ceremony. Hot dogs and chips will be available at Mohawks following the ceremony. Hebron A Memorial Day service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Stoney Run County Park, located at 9230 E. 142nd Ave. Highland The Highland Memorial Day Ceremony will start at 10 a.m. Monday at Main Square Park, located at 3001 Ridge Road, and will feature a display by the Indiana Fallen Heroes Association. Munster The Munster VFW Post 2697 and American Legion Post 16 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Community Veterans Memorial, located at 9710 Calumet Ave. Flags will be at half-staff until the conclusion of 21 minute-gun salute. Portage The City of Portage will hold its Memorial Day event at noon Monday at Founders Square, which will include a performance by the Portage High School choirs and remarks by Mayor Austin Bonta, State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage; and U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland. Porter The Town of Porter Park Department will host its annual Memorial Day Program at 1 p.m. Monday in front of the Community Center at Hawthorne Park, 500 Ackerman Drive. Area residents will have several opportunities to observe Memorial Day and honor local veterans at event Monday. JoplinA Memorial Day Murph will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Joplin Strength and Fitness, 3231 Enterprise Ave. This is the 13th year it has hosted a Memorial Day workout dedicated to the memory of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, New York, who was killed June 28, 2005, in Afghanistan. The U.S. Navy SEAL officer was awarded the U.S. militarys highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the war in Afghanistan. He was the first member of the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. The Crossfit workout involves a 1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and another 1-mile run. It was one of Murphys favorites, and he named it Body Armor. Gyms around the world participate in the annual workout to honor Murphy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justin Olds, co-owner of Joplin Strength and Fitness, said Crossfit was started as a military workout before becoming a worldwide fitness activity. Crossfit itself was founded on the idea of sacrificing and struggling together, Olds said. Its about being part of something bigger than yourself. Weve always tried to make a big deal out of it, and the community has responded really well to it. The workout will have variations so everyone can participate. Olds said that sometimes Joplin Strength and Fitness will have 20 women in their 60s and 70s do a walking version of the workout, so it can be adapted for anyone. The event is free and open to the public, and it regularly draws over 100 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webb CityMount Hope Cemetery, 3700 N. Range Line Road, is partnering with Charlie 22 Outdoors to present a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the cemeterys open air pavilion, just off 17th Street. The ceremony will involve the burial of the unclaimed remains of a local soldier. He will be buried with military honors at the cemeterys Fallen But Not Forgotten area, just east of Mount Hopes Veterans Wall, for unclaimed remains. The cemetery is raising funds for a memorial marker for the site. The guest speaker will be Col. Philip Wright from Missouri Military Honors in Jefferson City. The event will also feature the playing of the national anthem and a presentation by Webb City JROTC. We want to recognize our veterans that are here at the cemetery and recognize veterans around the country, said Travis Boyd, general manager at Mount Hope Cemetery. This is also an opportunity to support a soldier who will be buried with military honors who didnt get those honors when he passed. We want to step up and show our veterans our love and appreciation for all theyve done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ceremony is free and open to the public. Parking will be limited, so people are advised to arrive early. Seating is also limited, so the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs. MiamiAmerican Legion Post 147 will hold a short Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the GAR Cemetery, 2801 N. Main St. in Miami. People should plan to meet at the cemeterys flagpole for the ceremony. The event will include a gun salute and the playing of taps. Legion member Fred Carter said theyve hosted a ceremony for several years at the cemetery. The event is free and open to the public. CarthageThe Carthage Veterans Alliance, a group of local veterans organizations, will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Park Cemetery, 801 S. Baker Blvd., in Carthage. The events guest speaker will be Lloyd Doc Holloway. The first federal holiday and unofficial start of the summer season is almost here. Many people may already have plans for three day weekend toward the end of May. For many it will be a time to kick off summer with barbecues, opening up the swimming pool, enjoying the weather or snagging a deal, but it is also a time to honor the men and women who died in service of the United States Armed Forces. Here's when Memorial Day falls this year, why it is celebrated and what is expected to be open and closed for the holiday. When is Memorial Day 2025? Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For 2025, Memorial Day weekend is Saturday, May 24 to Monday, May 26. With that Monday being the official holiday. Why is Memorial Day observed? The American holiday hasn't always been celebrated as Memorial Day, but has always been a holiday and an opportunity to honor military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. military. The day is usually marked by parades and ceremonies and observed on the last Monday of May. Is Memorial Day a federal holiday? Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971 and the day is usually celebrated with parades, ceremonies and has become a day of sales. Has it always been called Memorial Day? No. The day that is now Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and began during the American Civil War when citizens placed flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. It wasn't until after World War I, when it became a day observed in honor of all of those who had died in all wars the U.S. was part of, and its name was changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memorial Day deals: Memorial Day weekend food deals and discounts to keep an eye on for Monday Is the post office, UPS, FedEx open on Memorial Day? With Memorial Day being a federal holiday, most government offices and some businesses will be closed for the holiday weekend, including the post office. This means mail will not be delivered and post offices will be closed for retail transactions on May 26. UPS pickup and delivery services will not be available on Memorial Day, according to the company. Some store locations may also be closed. You can find out if yours is open by checking with your local store for specific hours of operation. Most FedEx offices will have modified hours. Pickup and delivery services will not be available on Memorial Day, according to the company's website. Are banks open on Memorial Day? Most banks will be closed for the federal holiday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bank of America, Wells Fargo, CitiBank and JPMorgan Chase will be closed on Memorial Day, according to USA TODAY. As always, check your bank's hours before heading to it. USA TODAY contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Is Memorial Day a federal holiday? What's closed? ST. LOUIS For Memorial Day weekend, expect unsettling weather with increasing clouds and scattered showers across the region. Clouds will increase today, leading to spotty showers overnight into Saturday morning. Saturday is expected to be mostly dry, with temperatures in the 60s, but rain will ramp up late Saturday night and continue through Sunday and Monday. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers heading to the Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Roaring River State Park, or Branson should prepare for heavier rain and thunderstorms. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for these areas, with rainfall amounts potentially reaching two to six inches by Monday afternoon. In the eastern Ozarks and the rafting rivers of southeast Missouri, there will be intermittent rain but more dry periods compared to the southwest Missouri region. While the weekend may not offer ideal pool weather, those planning outdoor activities should be prepared for varying conditions across the region. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. While Memphis leaders work to address the crime crisis in the Bluff City, some Memphis residents arent convinced enough is being done at the local, state, and federal level. Memphis area agencies conducted a crime-fighting operation known as Operation Rolling Thunder between April 23 and May 10. 160 arrests were made, which included 50 known gang members. However, court records show many of those arrested have been released on bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis mayor: The era of unchecked violence in our city is over Its a good thing, but I hate the fact that with all the crimes that they do, then they can be released, said Memphis resident Debra Manning. Stevie Moore is the founder of Freedom from Unnecessary Negatives, a nonprofit with a goal to find solutions to crime, gangs, drugs, and lack of education. The system to me, is not strong enough, Moore said. And paying for it is just what many these gang members, criminals, and repeat offenders continue to do, bonding out sometimes just days after their arrests. When I get up, when I look at the news, its three or four different shootings or break-ins or some kind of crime like this, Manning said. So, as I say, once they have incarcerated the ones that has the crime, they need to stay locked down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifteen illegal firearms were seized in the operation, along with fentanyl and other narcotics. Now its different game. Its 13, 14, 15 gang members. And you cant run out into the street and talk to them and tell them to stop like you used to because theyll pull that pistol on you, Moore said. Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in a press conference Wednesday that it will take continued and ongoing effort to solve the crime problem in the city as they push crime numbers down. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) When disaster strikes, the simple thingsa hot meal or a kind wordoften mean the most. In Laurel County, one group is serving up both. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Mercy Chefs, based in Virginia, traveled to London, Kentucky, to help those impacted by deadly tornadoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays lunch menu consisted of beef tacos, rice, tortilla chips, and cantaloupe. But for many in Laurel County, the meal was more than comfort; it showed that someone showed up when it mattered most. Any chef on our staff will tell you cooking is wonderful; we love to cook, said managing chef John Thompson. But our pay day, I guess you could say, is when we see the smiles and when we see the tears from happiness; thats what its all about. Fridays meal was one of thousands being served by Mercy Chefs, a group that doesnt just bring food, but delivers hope. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an amazing feeling to be a part of something so much bigger than you and to be able to help people in their worst of need, said Lisa Saylor, director of disaster relief and long-term recovery. I certainly know what its like; my hometown was hit with a tornado last year. Like Saylor, many volunteers have faced a tragedy of their own. Its that pain, that lived experience, that fuels their compassion. We see disaster over and over again. And one of the beautiful things about these southern communities is that theres so much neighbor helping neighbor, added Saylor. And I know that theyre going to be okay because theyre going to keep helping each other until everyone is back up. Saylor said her team is serving between 2,500 and 3,000 meals a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We prepare the food, plate it here, and then theyre running out into all of the communities where the damages happened and where there might be volunteers helping all the distribution centers and even shelters, Saylor explained. For both Saylor and Thompson, nothing is more important than serving a hot meal made with love. Latest central Kentucky weather forecast We say that something amazing happens over a shared meal and theres a moment of normal when you open that box and see this beautiful handcrafted meal, said Saylor. Its a hot meal, and suddenly, for that moment, theres a hopefulness that its all going to be okay, and your immediate needs are met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hope is that the community will just continue to love our people. Theyll get outside of church walls, theyll get outside the walls of the house, and really just going to keep being here; they just continue to lift each other up, Thompson added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Friday that democracy needs to be defended against those who attack it "from within and without." Merz made his comments on the occasion of Constitution Day, a commemoration of Germany's Basic Law or constitution, which is 76 years old on Friday. Germany's constitution allows for a life of freedom, peace and security, which is something to be proud of, Merz wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But our freedom is being attacked from within and without like rarely before. That is why we must stand up for a strong rule of law and defend our democracy every day," he warned. Germany's constitution was proclaimed on May 23, 1949. This year, on Constitution Day, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is hosting the opening event of his initiative "The day of honour. For you. For us. For everyone." The head of state is meeting with around 40 young activists and volunteers from associations and municipalities. Steinmeier aims to use the initiative to highlight that democracy thrives on the active participation of citizens. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Governor of the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, Igor Babushkin, has sent a congratulatory letter to First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, on the occasion of May 28 - Independence Day, Trend reports. ''Esteemed Mehriban Arif gizi, I would like to express my deep respect and extend my sincere congratulations to you on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This holiday unites all citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who love their homeland, remain loyal to its history and traditions, and work towards a brighter future. On this remarkable day in your countrys history, I wish you and all the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan good health, happiness, peace, progress, and continued success for a more prosperous life. We greatly value your support for the further expansion of multifaceted cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Astrakhan Region. I am confident that our relations, built on mutual respect and trust, will continue to flourish,'' the letter reads. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Thursday morning, Theodore Austin was watching his belongings and those of others who had lived with him at Danforth Towers on Rochesters west side being loaded in U-Haul trucks. This, after he was told a few days ago the state program, Enriched Housing Program, or EHP, which allowed him to stay here was pulling the plug and he had to leave by this weekend. Throwing an old person out who cant walk, cant do nothing, I dont know, Austin said from his wheelchair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turns out, while its true Austin and many others did have to leave, the state has come in to relocate them to other facilities that can offer the services they can no longer receive at Danforth and Hudson Ridge. I got to follow the truck, I guess, Austin, who has lived at Danforth for 8 years, said, gesturing to the moving truck. Im waiting for a ride to come take me to where Im going. Shawn Burr, Executive Director of the Rochester Housing Authority, which operates Danforth and Hudson Ridge apartments says this is a state issue and the state should have made it clear to the 100 or so seniors affected by this that theyre not being evicted. While some did have to be relocated, others, Burr says, can stay at Danforth and Hudson Ridge by getting moved into a new program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have left and were trying to work and communicate so we can find out whos coming and whos going and who can stay because we want to focus on who can stay and provide the resources necessary for them to stay, Burr said. The state, meanwhile, said it had to end the program that allowed all these folks to stay at the towers because of poor conditions inside, while RHA points the finger at Family Services of Rochester, which the state was using to run the program, saying that organization did not pass along the rent money the residents had paid them. News 8s Adam Chodak: Are you suspicious? Burr: Oh, absolutely, as Im sure everyone is Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chodak: What do you hope happens in that regard? Burr: I hope theres an investigation done and whoever needs to be held accountable is held accountable. Were talking about residents in need and their lives, right? And their money, where did it go? News 8 reached out to the State Attorney Generals Office of see if theres an investigation and so far theres been no response. Theres also been no response from Family Services of Rochester, which is based in Fairport. Legal Assistance of Western New York is helping residents impacted by this. If you or someone you know would like their help, call (585) 325-2520. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres Rochester Housing Authoritys most recent statement on the matter: We would like to be clear that the Housing Authority is not evicting Enriched Housing residents. This action is being coordinated by New York State Department of Health. This is extremely concerning and a disregard for the residents of our facilitiespeople who rely on these services for their basic safety and well-being. The Housing Authority has been working in good faith with Family Services for months to recover six figures in back rent that they were supposed to pay on behalf of the residents who paid them to do so, yet our outreach has been met with silence or vague responses at best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To now turn around and give us just one week notice that the program will be terminated and the residents relocated is not only outrageousits reckless and inhumane. Lets be clear: The Housing Authority has been doing everything in its power to prevent this crisis. Weve been working diligently with the New York State Department of Health, our legal team, and yes, Family Services, trying to reach a resolution. We are furious that given this short timeframe, we are in this position but will continue to work with residents to ensure their housing needs are met. Heres the State Department of Healths latest statement on the issue: In our role as regulator, holding operators accountable for the quality of care they provide remains a top priority for the New York State Department of Health. Our primary concern is the health and well-being of the impacted residents at these two Enriched Housing Programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent surveys of the Hudson Ridge and Danforth Towers Enriched Housing Programs identified violations that posed immediate risks to resident health and safety. As a result of these findings and because the operator agreed it lacked the resources to correct the identified violations, the operator initiated an expeditious emergency closure of the Enriched Housing Programs and the transfer of residents to appropriate placements that could serve their needs. This action in no way impedes the residents right to transition to the setting of their choice. Department of Health staff have been and will continue to be onsite at both facilities throughout the closure process to ensure safe and appropriate transfers and that residents receive appropriate care during the transition. Residents have and will continue to have the right to choose their homes. We cannot comment on the financial status of Family Services of Rochester. Heres State Senator Jeremy Cooneys statement on the matter: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most important factor is that the impacted residents of Danforth Towers and Hudson Ridge Towers are allowed to stay in their homes. I thank the Rochester Housing Authority for making it clear that these residents are not being evicted. I am currently in communication with the New York State Department of Health to determine what occurred here and what the next steps are to ensure long-term housing stability for these members of our community. Should any residents of the towers have further questions or concerns, I encourage them to contact my office for assistance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: A medieval Saxon pendant that was once worn by a high-status figure was discovered in a field in Leeds, England. The ornament is made of silver and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf; it features an intricate interlacing design typical of Saxon style. The pendant is one of many recent discoveries that deepened researchers understanding of Yorkshire history. In recent years, researchers have made a string of discoveries shedding light on the history of medieval Leeds, England. According to a press release from the Leeds City Council, in 2012, a metal detectorist found seven important objects, including high-quality gold jewelry that wouldve been worn by wealthy Saxons. In 2023, a 1,600-year-old lead coffin was discovered in a cemetery along with the remains of 60 people from the late Roman to Early Saxon period. The most recent discovery added to the list of finds is an intricate Saxon cross pendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though one of the four arms is broken off and the center jewel is missing, the pendant is still an incredible relic. The cross is made of silver and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf and bears a complex interlacing pattern that is typical of traditional Saxon styles . Crosses have historically been worn by various groups for various reasons, even before the rise of Christianity. For Egyptians, the ankh (often referred to as the first or the original cross) is a symbol of eternal life. Pagans used the (Celtic) cross in rituals worshipping the sun. The cross found in Leeds may have been a badge of office for an important member of society. Kat BaxterLeeds Museums and Galleries curator of archaeologyexplains that the design of the pendant is indicative of who wouldve worn it. The cross is beautifully decorated on both sides, which suggests it was designed to hang around the neck with the suspension loop on the missing arm, Baxter said in the release. It would certainly have been worn by someone of high status and is an outward display of religious identity. Baxter also explained that the jewelry was likely made at a time when Leeds was part of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. Northumbria was one of the most important kingdoms in Anglo-Saxon Englands history, extending all the way from the Irish Sea to the North Sea at its peak. The golden ageor the height of religious, intellectual, and artistic achievementin Northumbria happened between the 7th and 8th centuries. Though it was a northern powerhouse, the unity in the kingdom eventually fell apart after attacks from the Danes. Excitingly for researchers, theres still much to learn about the time period, and the pendant likely isnt the last artifact of its kind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are certainly more objects out there waiting to be discovered, and responsible metal detectorists and The Portable Antiquities Scheme are playing a really important role in increasing our understanding of local history, Baxter said. Without them, this beautiful piece of Saxon metalwork, and many others like it, would never have been found and made available for future generations. The Saxon pendant has since gone through the Portable Antiquities Scheme Treasure process and is set to go on display at Leeds City Museum later this year. You Might Also Like SAINT GEORGE, S.C. (WCBD) Authorities seized drugs and a gun during an investigation at a hotel in the Saint George community. Officers with the St. George Police Department responded Thursday to a call for service at a hotel where they recovered methamphetamine and a stolen firearm. James McDowell was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a stolen firearm. The agency did not provide any other details regarding the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. HERMITAGE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Metro Councilmember in Hermitage will introduce legislation he hopes will bring an added layer of transparency when it comes to developments. District 14 Councilman Jordan Huffman recently filed legislation that will require mailed notices when certain final site plans are approved, particularly in cases where zoning changes happened several years prior but construction hasnt yet begun. According to Huffman, the inspiration for the legislation came from two separate incidents in his district. Two different pieces of property were rezoned in 2020 from single-family to allow for high-density development. But because the properties were already rezoned five years ago, the final site plan approval that came before the Planning Commission required no further notice to adjacent property owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one [rezoning] it goes from one home to twenty-five, Huffman told News 2. The other piece of property is on Dodson Chapel Road, right across from Flower Your Dreams Bakery and Salvos. That is two lots, so two homes that are going to be fifty-four townhomes. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More By current law, Huffman said developers are not required to notify any neighbors when construction moves forward, since the properties were rezoned years ago. Rezoning properties in Nashville requires certain notices be placed for neighbors to keep informed. Signs must be placed at the subject property by the property owner, and the owner is also required to mail notice to adjacent property owners when theyre seeking a rezoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when multiple years pass between when a property is rezoned and when further development actually happens, Huffman argues those living near the future development have a right to be informed when a final site plan is approved. My argument is we deserve to tell taxpayers when something is coming up, just to give them a heads up, he told News 2. This is simply a notification. The proposed legislation would require property owners be notified if a large development is proposed nearby if construction has not begun within four years of the original rezoning. It would only apply to projects with five or more homes, within 1,000 feet of residential zones, and outside of Downtown Code areas. Salemtown neighbors help bunnies during breeding season Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It only targets properties where it was single-family zoned and it will increase density to five or more dwellings, he said, noting it was only a notification mechanism, not any kind of work-around to stop the development from happening. It would be up to the developer to send that notice, and youre looking at costs well under $1,000 for that mailing, and thats if youre sending full-color, front-and-back mailings, and I dont think anyone will be doing that, Huffman said News 2. With how rapidly Nashville is changing, it makes sense to add this level of transparency, especially given the boom in rental properties in the area. If a rezoning happened in 2020, and you moved in in 2021, youre not going to have any idea that that even happened, he told News 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huffman said he based his legislation off similar notices required in Arizona and Massachusetts. Both states have laws requiring the notices when large gaps occur between rezoning and actual construction on developments. In both use cases in Huffmans district, he told News 2 the developers were happy to hold community meetings to inform neighbors what precisely they were planning to bring to the area. They showed plans. People loved it because they wanted to be in the know, he said of the meetings. Currently, the Planning Department has recommended disapproval of the proposed legislation, according to Huffman. The proposal is set to go before the Metro Planning Commission on Thursday, May 22, where Huffman suspects it might fail. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County The planning department thinks that people will think its an opportunity to override the zoning. I have a hard time with that one. I like to think that the citizens of Nashville are intelligent enough to know its a notification, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the proposal fails at the Planning Commission, Huffman said he will need 27 votes on the Metro Council to move forward with the proposed legislation. If he is successful in that plan, Huffman said he plans to amend the proposed legislation before it is introduced on second reading in August in order to clarify the notification is just thatand not any attempt to circumvent development. Were just trying to close off a loop with this. Its the least we can do to keep our public informed, Huffman told News 2. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Metro Nashville Park Police has a new addition to their unit. Park police are excited to welcome 4-year-old Dynamite Diesel to their Mounted Patrol herd. Dynamite Diesel joined the team just a few days ago and has been staying at the Hendersonville Police Departments mounted barn. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Sergeant Curtis Avant said Dynamite Diesel journeyed all the way from Blairsville, Georgia to join the force and is the first new horse to join the herd in some time. Dynamic Diesel (Source: WKRN) Dynamite Diesel will be out patrolling the greenways with a new rider, joining the departments other horse. Hes already been scheduled to visit some community centers and Avant said that he has a long career ahead of him. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MADRID (AP) Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide was awarded Spain's 2025 Princess of Asturias Prize for the Arts for her images that for decades have captured "the social reality not only of Mexico, but also of many places, prize organizers said Friday. Iturbide became famous internationally for her sparse, cinematic and mostly black-and-white photographs of Indigenous societies in Mexico, with a particular focus on the role of women in them. In Our Lady of the Iguanas, one of Iturbide's best-known images published in 1979, an Indigenous Zapotec woman in southern Mexico carries live iguanas on her head that form the shape of a crown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The awards jury said that Iturbides photographs have a documentary facet that show a hypnotic world that seems to lie on the threshold between reality at its harshest and the grace of spontaneous magic. Iturbide's work has been displayed in the world's leading art institutions, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and many more. Her work has been published in numerous books. The photographer, born in Mexico City in 1942, traveled throughout Latin America during her career, but also to India, Madagascar, Hungary, Germany, France the United States and elsewhere. The 50,000-euro ($57,000) Princess of Asturias Award is one of several annual prizes covering areas, including arts, literature, science and sports. The awards ceremony, presided over by Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and accompanied by Princess Leonor, takes place each fall in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo. Department of Health officials held a press conference on Monday about measles, which just passed 76 cases as of Thursday, May 22, 2025. Dr. Miranda Durham, NMDOH chief medical officer, and NMDOH Secretary Gina DeBlassie urged vaccination ahead of summer travel. (Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Top state health officials on Thursday recommended parents seek an early dose of the measles vaccine for very young children residing in New Mexico counties where measles is actively spreading or traveling to places with high case counts, such as Texas. Standard measles vaccination recommendations include first shots for children at 12 or 15 months and second doses between 4 to 6 years old. Now, children in Lea, Sandoval, Dona Ana and Curry counties can receive a first dose at 6 to 12 months and ultimately receive three doses of the vaccine, NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said during a news conference in Albuquerque. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason for the change, she said, is children under one are most severely affected by measles. Three doses is not a universal recommendation, she noted: but if youre living in a place with high risk for measles, its worth getting. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus more so than COVID-19 or influenza and is spread by contact with an infected persons coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can take several weeks to develop, and include a fever, headache, cough, red eyes and a spotty red rash that develops on the head and spreads across the body. People are contagious several days before symptoms appear. Severe complications appear in about one in five cases and can include brain swelling, pneumonia and even death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new vaccine recommendation comes as the state reports two additional measles cases in Sandoval County, bringing the total there to four cases. Until recently, cases mostly remained limited to the southern portion of the state, spilling over from the initial outbreak in Gaines County, Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded just over 1,000 cases of measles nationwide in the current outbreak. The statewide total of 76 cases marks the largest outbreak of measles in New Mexico in the past four decades, Durham said. Durham said the department is watching closely for spread from Sandoval into Bernalillo or Santa Fe counties. Wherever it is in the state were concerned about spread because it is such an infectious virus, Durham said. We may look at it county by county, but that isnt how the disease works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials had no additional information about the two new Sandoval County cases, and said additional information will be released Friday. NMDOH Secretary Gina DeBlassie said in addition to outreach and vaccination measures, the state is also testing for measles in city wastewater, which can help identify spread. Those cities include: Roswell, Santa Fe, Albuquerque Las Cruces, Deming, Rincon and south-central Carlsbad; the recent results are mostly negative, DeBlassie said. Health care officials emphasized the best protection from measles is vaccination, which is safe and highly effective in curbing spread. Durham said 29,207 vaccines have been issued since Feb. 1, nearly double the vaccination rate over the same time last year. Increased travel during summer vacation could risk further spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are vaccinated and up to date on vaccines, you really are very well-protected, Durham said. You dont need to be scared, you can go travel but the message is to get vaccinated before you do that. More vaccination information Health officials recommend a 95% vaccination rate to reach herd immunity to prevent further measles spread. Durham said that vaccines given in childhood offer a lifetime of protection. Officials recommend two doses of the measles vaccine for everyone, except for people who cannot receive the vaccine, such as children who are younger than six months and people who are immunocompromised or pregnant. For questions regarding the vaccine or potential exposures, Durham urged people to call the NMDOH hotline at 1-833-796-8773. The hotline is staffed by nurses, who can offer information in English and Spanish. NMDOH opened clinics offering measles vaccinations at no cost, and with no appointment necessary posted on their website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Students from Chaparral High School graduate in 2024. (Photo provided by Gadsden Independent School District) As high schoolers across the state don caps and gowns for graduation, state education officials are noting the states highest graduation rate in at least the last 15 years. While still below the national average, last year the highest percentage of New Mexico high-schoolers graduated on time since 2008, when the state began its current methods of graduation rate calculations, according to new data from the Public Education Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State data shows a little over three quarters of all students have graduated high school in New Mexico each year since the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2024, 78.05% of them made it across the finish line, a slight increase over recent years and the highest rate in more than a decade. PED calculated that of 26,108 9th graders who started the 2020 school year in New Mexico, 20,378 graduated from a New Mexico school four years later. The calculations account for students who move into or out of the state during that period, according to PED. Despite the progress, New Mexicos rate is about 10 percentage points less than the national average, which is 87%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This increase reflects the hard work of our educators, students and families, and it underscores our shared commitment to student success, PED secretary Marianna Padilla said in a statement. At the same time, we recognize that too many students are still not making it to the finish lineand we must continue working together to ensure every student has the support they need to graduate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See below for a chart showing about 50 New Mexico school districts graduation rates over the last five years, including how they compare to state and national rates. Read more here from the leader of the Gadsden Independent School District, whose students have graduated at rates on par with the national average the last few years. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) will begin the summer travel season with the 2025 Memorial Holiday Travel period. The travel period will start Friday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m. and conclude Monday, May 26 at midnight. MDOT: Essential vehicle checks to maximize summer travel Troopers will promote safe travel by conducting high-visibility enforcement efforts. The Memorial Holiday Travel period coincides with the national Click-it or Ticket safety campaign. The enforcement of speeding, distracted, and impaired driving laws will continue to be a focus, along with the use of safety checkpoints, with the hopes of reducing crashes throughout the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 2024 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period, MHP investigated 135 crashes with four fatalities and made 118 DUI arrests on state and federal highway systems. MHP also issued 864 citations for occupant restraint violations during that enforcement period. As we enter the summer travel season, our commitment to safety reaches its peak, said MHP Lt. Colonel James Ivory. We encourage both our citizens and visitors to fully enjoy what Mississippi has to offer, but safety must always come first. Our Troopers are dedicated to reminding travelers to exercise caution as they embark on their weekend journeys. Additionally, let us take a moment this weekend to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Pahrump judge and former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore is asking Nevadas high court to rescind her suspension from the bench. Fiore filed a notice of appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended Fiore from judicial office with pay in an order filed Monday. The suspension was pending a final decision. Last month, President Donald Trump pardoned Fiore, a Nye County Justice of the Peace, after a jury convicted her of taking money meant for fallen police officers memorials and spending it on herself. The jury deliberated for two hours, convicting her in federal court on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Fiores federal indictment last July, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended her from office with pay amid the proceedings. The commission later suspended her without pay after her conviction. The commission held a hearing on Friday, May 9, following the pardon to discuss its next steps. In an order filed Monday, the commission kept Fiore suspended pending a final review, citing the allegations against Fiore as a substantial threat of serious harm to the public and to the administration of justice. Fiore will be suspended this time with pay. The order notes that the commission has received additional complaints against Fiore since the pardon. There was no indication in the document filed Monday when the commission could complete its investigation. When does this end? Paola Armeni, Fiores attorney, said during the May 9 hearing. Armeni added the commission only has jurisdiction over a judges actions as a sitting judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission can no longer issue, rescind, and reinstate based on this conviction, based on the pardon, Armeni said. There is nothing before this commission about her conduct as a judge, nothing. Trump pardoned Fiore on April 23. First elected as a Republican Nevada assemblywoman in 2012, Fiore later served as Las Vegas mayor pro tem and unsuccessfully ran for governor and treasurer as a Republican. Nye County Commissioners appointed her to her judgeship in late 2022. Last June, before her indictment, voters re-elected Fiore, who is not an attorney, to that position. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. A court hearing at the Baku Military Court on Friday featured screening of the video footages involving defendant Arayik Harutyunyan and responded to questions from state prosecutors, Trend reports. One scene featured the defendant sitting on the tank along with Samvel Karapetyan, and observing the area. Responding to the questions from state prosecutor, Aratyunyan rejected the things he said in a video calling it a lie, adding that he was speaking on behalf of his brother. Commenting on his remarks in the video regarding the seizing of the Gulluja village (the village of Aghdam district- ed.) the defendant said: When I said we have entered the Gulluja village, I meant the 8th battalion. The defendant also identified himself on most of the photos demonstrated in court, featuring him wearing the military uniform. Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, asked the defendant what was the reason behind not implementing the UN-adopted resolutions. Aratyunyan responded by saying: There was a decision concerning this matter. However, I know nothing on why it was not implemented. I have also met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and have understood that there was no unanimity on this issue. Responding to the questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, the defendant confirmed his participation at one of the two meetings held between Armenia and the so-called regime in 2018-2019: I assumed the office as president in May of 2020. In June of that year I requested Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to convene a meeting. I wanted the negotiations with Azerbaijan to take place and the final agreement to be reached. This conversation also covered the four UN resolutions. While responding to the question regarding the looting of the former occupied Azerbaijani territories, Haratyunyan described the destruction of the Azerbaijani cemeteries as barbarism. The trial is ongoing for Armenian nationals charged with crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, acts of terrorism, planning and waging aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, the forcible seizure and retention of power, and the financing of terrorismamong other offenses related to Armenias military aggression. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel discusses Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Fiscal year 2026 budget recommendations on Feb. 19, 2025. | Kyle Davidson Downsizing and mass job cuts put forth by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have already hampered public health officials in Michigan, Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel declared in court filings earlier this month. Kennedy announced in March that his department would be working to eliminate 20,000 total employees, consolidating DHHSs 28 divisions into 15 and closing half of its regional offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and 19 other attorneys general took action, arguing these cuts would functionally dismantle the DHHS, leaving it unable to do its job, with Nessel warning the decision could bring immeasurable harm to the nation and healthcare if the courts do not step in. A federal judge has since blocked the Trump Administration from issuing further job cuts and reorganizing the Executive Department until a lawsuit brought by a collection of government workers and healthcare workers unions is resolved. As part of these cuts, the DHHS is eliminating roughly 3,500 employees at the Food and Drug Administration, 2,400 at the Centers for Disease Control, 1,200 at the National Institutes of Health and 300 at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. HHS Dismantling_Hertel Decl as filed_5.9.25 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a declaration filed as part of the case, Hertel detailed how the reduction of staff and closure of several labs at the CDC alongside cuts at the FDA are hindering the states work on disease testing, public health and tobacco monitoring. While the Michigan Department of Health and Human services runs its own Bureau of Laboratories, which is enmeshed with labs operated by the CDC and other states public health agencies, the CDCs lab closures and staffing cuts have left states to fill the gaps. The Bureau was directly impacted by the closure of the CDC Viral Hepatitis Laboratory Branch and its discontinuation of hepatitis testing, and according to Hertel has not received consistent communication from the CDC about test discontinuations. As a result of sporadic changes to test offerings by CDC laboratories, the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories has been unable to determine which tests to prioritize with confidence, Hertel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MDHHS also expects to see higher levels of test submissions for Hepatitis C due to the CDCs decision to discontinue testing. The MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories serves as the National HIV and Hepatitis C virus NAT Reference Center in cooperation with the CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories if MDHHS shifts its lab capacity to Hepatitis C testing, the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories staff will have less capacity to respond to other public health emergencies, Hertel warned. The department has also felt a lack of central coordination on tests discontinued by the CDC, Hertel said, noting that if the national agency is not at full capacity, there wont be a central coordinating agency for responding to disease outbreaks. Bureau of Laboratories staff have also reported difficulties contacting CDC staff, Hertel said. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientist is concentrating poliovirus from sewage. Photo by CDC/ Holly Patrick In addition to its impacts on lab testing, DHHS cuts have also significantly impacted the state-level departments work on public health, with Hertel noting that the state relies on a partnership with several CDC programs for infectious disease detection and response activities. As a result, MDHHS staff say communications with CDC subject matter experts is now slow, reduced, or sometimes non-existent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because key program staff are no longer with the CDC, there has also been confusion on points of contact and a reduced knowledge base, Hertel said. As a result, the CDC has failed to provide timely response to inquiries of urgent nature, reduced or eliminated national calls, and can no longer effectively serve as a national coordinator of infectious diseases efforts, she said. As an example, Hertel pointed to reports from her staff that the CDC is no longer sending out-of-state travel notifications about potential disease exposures to Michigan residents, including notices for diseases with critical timelines, like measles. Staff reported that the CDC was not able to coordinate a recent multi-state effort to investigate a complex and urgent case of human rabies, and is no longer hosting 50-state calls on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza response, despite ongoing concerns of a global bird flu outbreak. Overall, the mass termination of CDC personnel appears to have created a climate of fear for remaining staff, thereby undermining the ability of remaining CDC staff to effectively carry out their jobs by supporting state health departments like MDHHS, Hertel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These cuts have similarly left MDHHS without access to updated health data and data systems needed to identify emerging health crises and address disparities in healthcare, Hertel said. Cuts at the CDC have also bled into state-level efforts in preventing HIV, AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis. The CDC has also cut the entirety of its Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System team and shut down the programs data collection system. While Michigan was able to retrieve its 2024 data before the system shutdown, the CDCs team would normally statistically weight that data, meaning the unweighted data obtained by the state is unusable. To use the data, MDHHS would be required to contract with a survey statistician to properly weight this data, expending significant resources that would otherwise have been available from CDC staff, Hertel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDC also assists the state in monitoring and responding to lead poisoning in children, Hertel said. However, following significant cuts at the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, the MDHHS Environmental Health Bureau has received zero communication from the program. While the CDC previously sent notices about newly identified food and consumer products containing lead, those notices have stopped, Hertel said. MDHHS has similarly experienced issues in its environmental public health efforts including less frequent communications, the end of public health programming work groups with other states, and limited and inconsistent guidance from the CDC leaving the CDC Tracking Data Explorer without updated state-level data on drinking water, biomonitoring and radon. While the CDC also helps the state administer several chronic disease and injury control programs, significant staffing shortages and the loss or potential loss of CDC contracts has left MDHHS with little or no guidance, Hertel said, creating uncertainty regarding the future of these programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MDHHS Division of Child and Adolescent Health has also been impacted, Hertel said, with the Administration for Children and Families indefinitely postponing annual training for Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) teen pregnancy prevention grantees. Hertel also pointed to the effectively shuttering of the CDCs Office on Smoking and Health as a major loss, noting the important role it played in preventing and reducing cigarette use by collecting and sharing information on smoking and its health impacts, including state level data on tobacco-use cessation treatments and high-quality reports on tobacco use trends. She also noted the loss of the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products, which was effectively shuttered when all members of its staff were terminated on April 1. Among other duties, [the Center for Tobacco Products] conducted compliance checks on vendors and retailers to ensure that tobacco products are not sold to those under the age of twenty-one, reviewed premarket applications for new tobacco products before they can be marketed in the United States, enforced advertising and promotion restrictions, and educated the public about the risks of tobacco use including the dangers of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, Hertel explained, later noting the state relied on both the Center for Tobacco Products and and the Office on Smoking and Health for its Tobacco programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Michigan does not receive support and funds from the Office on Smoking and Health, it stands to lose $2,347,639 in grant funding and other resources, Hertel said. Most of that funding supports Michigan Quitlink, which provides services to all Michigan residents for tobacco dependence treatment at a cost of just over $1.2 million annually. It also supports efforts to prevent youth tobacco use, offer healthcare provider training on tobacco dependence treatment and offer improved resources for schools to address vaping. A loss of support from the Center for Tobacco Products could also shutter the states program ensuring retailers comply with laws banning the sale of tobacco products to underaged customers, as it has been unable to approve and process MDHHSs request for additional funds to remain fully operational during a 2-month contract extension, or issue a solicitation for new state funding. If the state program is shuttered, eight full time staff members would be laid off and $1.485 million dollars would be lost annually, Hertel said. An MDDHS spokesperson declined a followup interview on Hertels behalf. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Stock photo by Benjamin Rondel/Getty Images This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. Michigan lawmakers are again aiming to boost state environmental cleanup standards and force polluting industries to rehabilitate brownfield sites. Polluter pay legislation, facing broad opposition from Republicans, failed last year but Democrats said they are engaging with industry stakeholders to craft laws that will target the worst sites and offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Sen. Jeff Irwin and Rep. Jason Morgan, of Ann Arbor, said they intend to rework bills that ensure companies and utilities pay for cleanups and open their records for public review. The legislation, which they plan to reintroduce in June, would also allow legal recourse for residents who suspect they have been harmed by the pollution. The measure passed the state Senate last year but was lost amid a tumultuous and early end to the Michigan legislatures lame duck session in December. Weve migrated from Lets make this law that holds polluters to account, to How can we focus on the most egregious cases, Irwin said. How can we work around the edges of the law so as not to fundamentally change its approach, but nonetheless get better results? The idea is to require better cleanups of contaminated land and discourage companies from leaving a mess in the first place. I still expect universal opposition from polluters. Industry isnt going to support more stringent standards no matter how reasonable, because it costs them money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawmakers are part of a working group that includes the Michigan Manufacturing Association, the Michigan Chemistry Council and some manufacturers. They said they want industries and state regulators to collaborate in the pollution assessment process, and they envision a negotiation process with some tough compromises. It is likely that some sites will never meet residential standards, Irwin said. That gives us more flexibility to address those standards where they make sense, Irwin said. Some properties might continue to be designated for industrial use. Auto plants and other large industrial sites are the ones that may not be fully cleaned up (to residential standards). First introduced in 2023, Michigan Senate bills 605611 are far different from laws recently passed in Vermont and New York, which are also often described as polluter pays measures. The Vermont and New York bills are modeled after the federal Superfund law, and would essentially tax big oil companies for their historic greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Michigan, lawmakers are seeking accountability from businesses and industries that for years have left toxins in the ground or in the water. Testing Toxic Sites Michigan has tens of thousands of toxic sites, including many one-time commercial enterprises, that will likely fall within the proposals reach. The former Gelman Sciences Inc. site in Ann Arbor, which manufactured medical filters and related products for the pharmaceutical and microelectronic industries, is a prime example. The chemical solvent known as 1,4-dioxane, a potential carcinogen, was used in production and has been found in local groundwater and nearby wells. The state and Washtenaw County has been overseeing remediation activities at the site for over 30 years. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has recommended the site to the National Superfund Priorities List. Irwin said troubled sites will be evaluated and tested, with soil and water samples, for a range of toxins. Is the site near a residential area, or is it located downtown? Irwin said. The goal is to take this case by case, and allow flexibility for sites that are in different locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Progress Michigan, an advocacy organization, said its polls show over 90 percent of the public support laws that could save taxpayers from huge remediation costs. Dave Dempsey, senior advisor at For Love of Water, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on the Great Lakes Basin, said the proposed legislation is an attempt at fairness. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy estimates it will cost $13 billion for all these cleanups, Dempsey said. It could take two generations to do this, or until the end of the century. Now we just have these old sites discharging pollution into rivers and lakes. Dempseys organization also wants to prevent an increase in abandoned toxic sites. Taxpayers are currently footing the bill for so-called orphan sites, locations where owners are unclear or unidentified. Under current law, developers who clean up unclaimed brownfields receive tax increment financing, Irwin said. The Biggest Culprits Sean McBrearty, director of the nonprofit Michigan Clean Water Action, said he wonders if any polluter pay effort can succeed when corporations are often the biggest culprits. McBrearty pointed to DTE Energy, which has faced legal action over its coal-fired power plants and other facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are industrial accidents that havent been cleaned up because its cheaper to lobby the legislature than clean up contaminated sites, said McBrearty, whose organization has worked with Irwins latest version of legislation. Irwin acknowledged that his bill will again face tough political realities. We worry about a pay-to-play environment where companies will use payments to stop an investigation, Irwin said. Now that the Michigan House is Republican, that adds more of a challenge. The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at May 22, 2025, results for each game: Winning Daily 3 numbers from May 22 drawing Midday: 0-1-7 Evening: 7-3-3 Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily 4 numbers from May 22 drawing Midday: 6-3-5-8 Evening: 0-3-1-9 Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 22 drawing 12-16-28-31-37, Lucky Ball: 03 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Poker Lotto numbers from May 22 drawing JC-QC-KC-3S-8S Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from May 22 drawing 01-02-08-10-27 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 01-05-08-14-19 Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily Keno numbers from May 22 drawing 01-03-11-14-27-32-33-34-36-46-48-49-51-54-68-71-72-73-74-75-76-79 Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices. To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Lottery Attn: Claim Center 101 E. Hillsdale P.O. Box 30023 Lansing, MI 48909 For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2. If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325 Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325 Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325 Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325 Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325 Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325 For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page. When are Michigan Lottery drawings held? Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m. Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for May 22, 2025 Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speaks during a virtual press conference held in response to House Republicans' resolution holding Benson in contempt. May 22, 2025 | Screenshot Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Thursday afternoon said she has complied in good faith with House Oversight Committee subpoenas that requested the states election training manuals, and that their vote on the House floor to hold her in contempt was a political stunt. Benson, who is one of several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026, said in a news conference that if the move resulted in a lawsuit, then she would see the Republican House caucus in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have repeatedly asked the members of this committee to meet with us over the last several months, but they have refused, Benson said. Now my office has released documents to the House Oversight Committee five times. We have turned over more than 3,300 pages of election documents to this committee and to the public on our departments website. So, if House Republicans want to go to court over this, we will see them in court. Three key Michigan House Republicans, including Michigan House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township), on Thursday morning held a press conference saying they would request a resolution to hold Benson in contempt for bucking the subpoena request for unredacted election training manuals. DeBoyer claimed that Benson and the department were given an opportunity to meet and discuss why the materials needed to be redacted and some information shielded, but he said the department declined the offer. Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township), chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, announcing plan for a resolution to hold Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in contempt. On the left is Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Township), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and on his right is Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin), chair of the House Election Integrity Committee. May 22. 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis In an early response to the threat of a contempt vote, the Department of State told Michigan Advance that it sent DeBoyer and others requesting the documents a letter that indicated they were more than willing to sit down and discuss the matter but with an independent third-party mediator present. The department also questioned the scope and purpose of the inquiry. Shortly after the Republican press conference, House session commenced, and one of the first orders of business was to approve House Resolution 117 holding Benson in contempt. The resolution was sponsored by DeBoyer and Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Bollin was also present at the Thursday morning press conference, along with House Election Integrity Committee Chair Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benson held her own news conference on Thursday afternoon, following the House session. She said has a sworn duty to protect sensitive election information from falling into the wrong hands, and that included DeBoyer, who was given authority by the House to disseminate the information provided. The secretary of state said that could very well happen if all that information was handed over without redaction or review. Overall, Benson said that the Republican-led Houses tactics were no way to govern a state. Every day the House Republicans spend playing political games like this, while the people of Michigan are struggling to pay for housing, pay for child care and pay for their basic needs, is an affront to the people they are elected to serve, Benson said. This is government rooted in bullying and chaos, and Im tired of it. Its not only ineffective, but it is dangerous, because [Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall] is the same person who chaired a committee meeting with Rudy Giuliani in 2020 to spread lies about the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although she believes in oversight and transparency, Benson said truth rules the day and that also meant ensuring the safety and security of the states elections. You cannot bully me or abuse your authority to get access to information that, if it ends up in the wrong hands, could be used to interfere with the chain of custody of ballots, tamper with election equipment or impersonate a clerk on election day, Benson said. The caveat that we need to be clear and careful about is information that could end up in the wrong hands and essentially enable the tampering of election equipment, impersonation of a clerk or harm the chain of custody of ballots. Given DeBoyers broad authority, Benson said those concerns about security and confidentiality were real and justified. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel Jr. in a statement said Hall and his caucus were abusing their power and control of the House to attack their political enemies and push election conspiracy theories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, we are seeing yet another gross overstep by MAGA Matt Halls House Republican caucus as they put their extremist agenda ahead of the well-being of Michiganders, Hertel said. At a moment when Republicans at the federal level are trying to gut Medicaid, its deeply concerning that Michigan Republicans are doing absolutely nothing to help Michiganders and are instead wasting time with political attacks. Hertel added that the move by DeBoyer and Michigan House Republicans was not about election security, but rather a push to legitimize debunked election theories. Its an embarrassment, and Michiganders deserve better, Hertel said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX KENTUCKY (FOX 56) The Silver River is set to brightly flow across the Kentucky night sky, with peak conditions in place on Monday, May 26. According to Discover Magazine, the Milky Way Galaxy, aka the Backbone of Night, according to the American Museum of Natural History, becomes more visible on Earth as summer approaches. Remote outback Western Australia with a large rock on the horizon and the Milky Way visible across the blue sky. (Getty Images) Earths galaxy gets its name from a Greek myth that states that the goddess Hera sprayed milk across the sky while nursing Heracles, the son of Zeus. (too TMI?) LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discover Magazine noted that the moon is currently in a waning period and will enter the New Moon phase on Monday. When the moon isnt shining bright on the ground below, spectacles like the Milky Way are more vivid in the night sky. The rest of May isnt the only window to view the galactic river. Discover Magazine said the galaxy will show up clearly in the night sky into the fall, but only to those who can escape light pollution enough to clearly see the heavens. center of the galaxy milky way nightsky on a clear night wider shot many stars (Getty Images) Travel to high altitudes away from the surrounding light and face south for the best chances to view the Milky Way. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. PEOPLEs new collectors edition, William & Kate: Future King and Queen, explores how the couple is shaping a modern, millennial monarchy as they prepare to assume the throne The special issue offers an intimate look at William and Kates journey from their childhoods and courtship to their current roles The issue reveals how the Prince and Princess of Wales are redefining royal life with empathy, duty and a service-first mindset Prince William is destined to one day wear the crown, with wife Kate Middleton at his side but what kind of king will he be? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE William & Kate: Future King and Queen, out May 23, takes a closer look at the royal couples path to the throne and the royal roles theyre preparing to shape together. Packed with stunning photos and exclusive reporting, this special collectors edition traces William and Kates journeys from childhood to courtship to family life today offering rare insight into how theyre already stepping into their next roles. When Prince William, 42, succeeds his father, King Charles, he will become sovereign of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms, with Princess Kate, 43, as a steadfast and loving partner. But after Buckingham Palaces stunning February 2024 announcement that the 76-year-old King was undergoing cancer treatment, the next chapter has come into sharper focus. They have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected, says royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith. PEOPLE William & Kate: Future King and Queen, May 23, 2025. As the heir and the heir's spouse, Prince William burnishes his stature as an international statesman while Princess Kate gradually returns to public life after stepping back in 2024 to undergo cancer treatment. (She shared in September that she had completed chemotherapy and announced in January that she is now in remission.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the time comes for William and Kate to become king and queen, theyre expected to bring a new generation's energy, as well as the empathy, family focus and commitment to the crown that they demonstrate now. William and Kate reflect millennial values by using technology and social media to connect with younger generations. They openly prioritize mental health, family wellness and work-life balance bringing a fresh honesty to royal life. Their focus on issues like climate change, homelessness and child welfare shows a generation committed to real, hands-on change. While balancing royal duties, they raise their children with a sense of normalcy and prepare them for the future. Their practical approach respects tradition but pushes to modernize the monarchy. Above all, William and Kate lead with a service-first mindset, using their platform to make a positive difference, true to the spirit of their millennial generation. It has been a turbulent few years amid a familial rift with Prince Harry, the deaths of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, and the near-simultaneous cancer diagnoses of the King and Kate and an era that the Prince and Princess of Wales have weathered together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the trials, the Prince and Princess of Wales' children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, remain the center of their world and first priority. "The Waleses have gone to great lengths to provide their three children with as normal a childhood as possible But theyve also long been installing a broader sense of duty," former PEOPLE senior writer Richard Jerome writes in "William & Catherine: A Millennial Monarchy" in the new issue. Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace watch a flypast commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 5, 2025 in London. Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace watch a flypast commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 5, 2025 in London. Illustrating that balance, Jerome recounts a poignant moment from December 2023, when Kate brought her children to a baby bank near their home in Windsor. Youre the volunteers for this evening, she told them, as they sorted clothes and toys for families in need. "At the end of their shift, she put her arm around George and said, 'You can see how rewarding this kind of work is, knowing you are helping out others,' " Jerome writes a quiet but powerful lesson in service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kate has emerged as the most popular member of the royal family and one who wields great influence. She takes things seriously and thank goodness for that, says a source close to the royal household. Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte on June 15, 2024 in London, England. Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte on June 15, 2024 in London, England. Adds Simon Lewis, former Buckingham Palace communications chief: Shes very much seen as a player at the center of team Windsor. Kate has developed a toughness behind the scenes as she supports her husband. She has this public image of being nice and smiley, royal author Valentine Low says. But she is actually strong-minded, strong-willed and prepared to fight for what she wants and what she thinks is right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As she helps shape the next generation, Kate's unwavering partnership with William and her rock-solid relationship with her own family have given the future queen the tools she needs to succeed. Samir Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive to attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 in London. Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive to attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 in London. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! "The last five years have been a nightmare for them in every possible way the past year even more so," royal historian Amanda Foreman previously told PEOPLE about what William and Kate have been through. "That either crushes a marriage or it brings them together. And just in time, frankly if there was ever a time when the country required stability, this is it. The international stage is so unstable, it is rather extraordinary to see how both have risen to the occasion." PEOPLE's new special edition William & Kate: Future King and Queen is available now. Read the original article on People MILLPORT, N.Y. (WETM) The Village of Millport and a dozen other municipalities across New York State were awarded state funding on Thursday as part of an initiative to make water infrastructure projects affordable, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochuls Office. As part of the $37 million to select municipalities around the state, the Village of Millport was awarded $1.3 million in grants and low-cost financing packages for investing in several projects to better the water supply. NOAA predicts above average 2025 hurricane season: How many storms US could see Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projects include developing a second groundwater supply well, adding chlorine gas detectors to the well house, and adding standby emergency backup power to the wells and well house. The governors office said projects like this protect public health and make projects more affordable. The money awarded is through low-cost financing, helping municipalities handle the financial burden while helping the public. This is how you lead: invest boldly, move fast, and protect your people, Governor Hochul said. This $37 million investment jumpstarts critical projects to fix aging pipes, tackle emerging contaminants, and upgrade infrastructure, all while keeping costs down for communities and creating good-paying local jobs, she 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. A Milwaukee man will spend the next 12 years in federal prison for his role in a string of armed robberies that targeted postal carriers. Huria H. Abu, 22, also will spend five years on supervised release when his prison term is completed. He was part of a crew that called themselves the "Scamily," which preyed on mail carriers in the Milwaukee area between October 2022 and March 2023. Here's how the crime was carried out Federal prosecutors argued in court papers Abu and his co-defendants robbed U.S. postal carriers at gunpoint for the postal carriers arrow keys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such keys allow mail carriers to access mail receptacles without having to unlock each individual mailbox or collection box. The Scamily crew would use them to steal mail, Richard G. Frohling, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, said in a statement on May 22. Who else was involved in the Scamily? Five other people, all from Milwaukee, already have been sentenced for their roles in this case: Jessie L. Cook, 21, was sentenced in August to just under eight years. Cook also must serve four years of supervised release. Abdi A. Abdi, 24, was given an eight-year prison sentence in April 2024. He also was given three years of supervised release that must be served after his time in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, Darrion M. Allison, 24, was awarded a six-year prison term, followed by five years of supervised release. Abdi I. Baba, 27, was ordered in July to spend 10 years behind bar, followed by three years of supervised release. Are postal workers an easy target for crime? Postal workers' safety took on new urgency in Milwaukee following the robberies, as well as the shooting death of U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Aundre Cross. Two men, Kevin McCaa, 36, and Charles Ducksworth Jr., 26, were accused of shooting and killing Cross, 44, on the 5000 block of North 65th Street on Dec. 9, 2022. A third person, Shanelle McCoy, 34, is also charged with providing false statements to law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were 638 postal workers robbed in 2023, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's most-recent annual report. Also that year, two postal carriers were killed while on duty, and more than 5,600 assaults and threats made against postal employees were reported, the postal service said. The FBIs Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department investigated the Scamily case. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man gets 12-year prison sentence for robbing postal workers John Paul Shanks sits for a photo outside the Central Inn in Central City, April 27, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) This is the final story in a Lantern series about homelessness in Western Kentucky. Read the earlier articles here. CENTRAL CITY Sitting on his bed at the Central Inn on a bitterly cold January day, John Paul Shanks had already handwashed his clothes, after pre-soaking them in Gain detergent, and hung them to dry. Living outdoors in this Western Kentucky town has given him a lot of experience in making do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im probably one of the only people youll see that can just sit there and lay on a piece of concrete with a pillow or nothing and go to bed, Shanks said. That hardens you up. Gwen Clements is why 41-year-old Shanks, his red beard long and his head shaved, had a motel room that day. Clements also knows about making do. Shes a leader in a loose coalition of the compassionate, working to help her homeless neighbors in a place that offers them few formal resources. She met Shanks years before when she took a job at the Perdue Farms poultry processing plant in Ohio County around the time of the Great Recession. He was a production line leader. Its unclear to Clements what put Shanks on the path to what she describes as being chronically homeless. But as she began seeing him walk the streets she started checking in with him and asking if he needed anything. Gwen Clements (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) On days when she wanted to find Shanks, she would make sure to get up early to drive around town and check a few of his haunts. Outside the Central Inn. Inside the local Wendys. On a bench next to a local bank where people driving by gave him money, food and sometimes clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only people that know him are the people who stop and talk to him, people that know him from the past, Clements said in January. With deadly cold in the forecast that January week, Clements, through a Facebook group she started in early 2024 focused on homelessness, had urged her neighbors to send her money so that she could put people up in the motel and keep them safe overnight. Finding Shanks during severe weather and making sure he had shelter had become a priority for her. It was easy for Clements to check Shanks into a motel room for the night. Finding help for his deeper issues is not. Clements said thats true of other people she helps, some of them grappling with what seem to be untreated mental illness and addiction and living without permanent shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People like John Paul, theres no help for them. You can make all the appointments you want for him. Hes not going to go, Clements said. He doesnt have transportation if he did decide to go. Shanks said he injured his back years ago when on the drive to work the vehicle he was in hit a patch of black ice that flipped the car. The nerve pain was so intense, he said, it could take him 30 minutes to dress. In the motel room, he also described grappling with addiction and using prescription opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine. According to court records, Shanks has been arrested a number of times. Once he was screaming and throwing rocks from a train track. Shanks told police he hadnt realized one of the rocks had almost hit a woman. Another time he was arrested for disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling obscenities at a local IGA grocery store. In 2022, a Central City police officer and Chief Jason Lindsey found Shanks at a strip mall where Shanks had previously trespassed, according to an incident report. Shanks had allegedly told a minor he would take him out back and beat his brains out. Shanks told law enforcement the minor had said things to him about him being homeless and getting a job. Shanks was arrested and banned from entering the strip mall property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tammy Piper, the director of business development for the city, told the Lantern last year the city had tried to help Shanks multiple times by putting him in a hotel room or offering work. Piper said in one instance, Chief Lindsey drove Shanks to live with family members several counties over and had secured a job for Shanks, only for Shanks to return to the Central City streets. A bench on South 2nd Street in Central City is similar to a bench that became a point of contention after the city had it removed from near a bank. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) In the fall of 2024, the city removed the bench next to a local bank where Shanks often sat, sometimes dozing or asking passing drivers for money. The move sparked debate on social media and made television news in Evansville, Indiana. Central City Mayor Tony Armour told the Evansville station the bench was removed because Shanks made people uncomfortable. The mayor also said the city has tried to offer Shanks work. Shanks, in the motel room in January, disputed that the city had offered him a job. The bench took on larger significance for some, including Clements, who saw its removal as a symbol of apathy and, at times, disregard by local officials and police for people who are unsheltered and struggling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was just a small part of how our homeless are treated in this county and this city, said Clements. Clements said Shanks and other people dealing with homelessness need more than a bench where they can spend their days or even a roof over their heads. She sees a need for mobile mental health services that can meet people where theyre living outside, considering that homelessness can deteriorate mental health. Hes suffered a lot of trauma from being unhoused. I dont think people understand that, Clements said about Shanks. They just want to think that, Hes lazy and a druggie, and he needs to get a job, get off drugs and hell be fine. Its much more than that. The warming shelters and stuff is the more. John Paul needing mobile crisis mental health thats part of the more. Its just so much more than the bench being removed, Clements said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Shanks was asked in the motel room if he believed others in Central City cared about people experiencing homelessness, he said: I think they worry about others. I think theres just a lot to worry about. Clements replied to Shanks: The problem is too big, and they dont know how to handle it. More than a bench Paramount among the needs is more housing and temporary shelter, according to Clements and others in the band of helpers pushing to address homelessness in Muhlenberg County. The Muhlenberg County Economic Growth Alliance, the economic development arm for county government, retained an Ohio-based housing research firm in November 2023 to better understand the local housing market. The study found a need for more than 300 additional rental units and more than 700 additional owner-occupied homes through 2029. The report noted the need for affordable rental units would continue because of persistent poverty in the county. Greenville is the county seat of Muhlenberg County. The courthouse is on the left and the newer judicial center on the right, May 14, 2025. ( Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) But the path for creating more housing or even temporary shelter remains unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelsey Rolley, who has helped the loose coalition at times through her work at Pennyrile Allied Community Services, said some of the divisions among the community spring from fear of the unknown. She imagines questions from local higher ups, such as who else might come into the county to seek shelter if more were available and whether it might attract more crime. When Armour, the mayor, raised concerns about a churchs plans to turn the Central Inn into efficiency apartments to help homeless people transition into something more permanent, he worried his community could be destroyed by an influx of people drawn by the assistance. Its going to take a village, and until that village can be formed, created and run properly, all of us work together I feel like its just going to keep us stuck, Rolley said. The loose coalition is persisting, though. Clements and others recently visited Somerset to see how a nonprofit shelter and resource hub were started just a couple years ago, and Clements has been considering buildings to potentially start her own version of that nonprofit in Muhlenberg. Gwen Clements, right, helps Mallie Luken, on this day as she approaches the Muhlenberg County Judicial Center in Greenville for her eviction hearing, May 14, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) An eviction hearing, an urn and a stoop The way forward to stable housing remains strewn with challenges and struggles for the people who talked about their experiences of being homeless in this series. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shanks remained on the concrete stoop of the Central Inn in May, waving at passing cars. He mentioned he needed a shower, a pair of socks and maybe another stay in a motel room. You gotta appreciate everything about everything, he said. Courtney Phillips (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) Courtney Phillips, who slept outside the Abundant Life Church for weeks, is still piecing together what she wants her life to be. The church has provided her a room to sleep in. At her nursing home job, shes working long hours and building relationships with residents who deal with mental health disorders including dementia. She wants to save money for a car what she calls a baby step toward where she wants to be. She made it to the top of a waiting list for a rapid rehousing program and hopes it will help her find an apartment soon. Shes also been carrying on without her dog, Joker, who cuddled with her while she was sleeping outside. Joker died earlier this year; a wooden urn with Jokers ashes sits in her room at the church, and Jokers bed is still beside her bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its real different, but hes still with me, Phillips said. Mallie Luken, who slept in the church parking lot before Clements helped her find housing, was anxious for weeks leading up to a hearing on her possible eviction from the apartment Clements had helped her find. After police left Luken in her wheelchair outside the Abundant Life Church on a stormy night in September, Clements came to her aid, helping her secure an apartment at the Greenville Housing Authority. But her housing situation was uncertain yet again by this month. Luken, 70, was served an eviction notice because of alleged complaints from neighbors about her behavior and inappropriate language that they said was directed at them. Clements, who admits Luken can be her own worst enemy, also said the housing authority alleged Luken hadnt paid rent, something she said wasnt true. The stress of her predicament had Luken exhausted and apprehensive. Gwen Clements and Mallie Luken pose for a photo outside the Muhlenberg County Judicial Center. (Austin Anthony for the Kentucky Lantern) Somehow or another I keep falling through the system, Luken said weeks before the hearing. Earlier in May, in front of a district court judge, Luken with the help of a Kentucky Legal Aid attorney was able to come to an agreement with the housing authority: She can stay in her apartment until another apartment opens up at a housing authority in Beaver Dam, next door in Ohio County where Luken previously lived. Clements said Luken has friends near there, potentially a support system. In Muhlenberg County, Clements played a large role in Lukens support system. Their relationship has grown over the months theyve been together. I cant imagine what shes done for other people, Luken said in praise of Clements generosity. Leaving Lukens apartment earlier this year, Clements told Luken she loved her. Out on the sidewalk, Clements, in a voice choked with emotion, said, I cant imagine my mother being in that predicament. I just cant. Previously in No Kentucky Home Introduction Part 1: Homeless often means invisible, but not to everyone in this small Kentucky town Part 2: After living outdoors for weeks, she got a place to sleep, a shower and a job Part 3: A church called its vision for housing a Beacon of Hope. The mayor had concerns. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, will embark on a visit to Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan from May 25 through May 30, 2025, Trend reports. According to information, during the visit, the Prime Minister will hold extensive discussions with the leaders of these countries on all issues of bilateral relations as well as issues of regional and international importance. He will also get an opportunity to express his appreciation for the support extended to Pakistan by friendly countries during the recent crisis with India. The Prime Minister will attend the International Conference on Glaciers to be held on May 29-30, 2025, in Tajikistan's Dushanbe. (KRON) The California Highway Patrol issued a Silver Alert Thursday for a missing at-risk elderly man last seen in San Jose. Thanh Huynh, 81, was last seen near Little Orchard Street and West Alma Avenue on Wednesday at 8:11 a.m., according to authorities. The Silver Alert was activated for the counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Francisco. Missing person Thanh Huynh (Photo: California Highway Patrol) Huynh is described by authorities as 5 feet tall and 175 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missing man was wearing a brown jacket, black pants, a black beanie and black shoes when he was last seen. Anyone who sees Huynh is asked to call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, Tiffany Slaton stood in front of a room of reporters and recounted the grueling details of her against-the-odds survival in the California mountains. After setting out on a three-day hiking trip in the Huntington Lake region, the 28-year-old hiker from Georgia claims she fell off a cliff and was unconscious for two hours, and needed to put her leg in a splint. She began trekking in search of help after her GPS was unable to provide a route back to the main road, but which could locate a Starbucks which was 18 miles away, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slaton disappeared on April 20, but reportedly survived for some three weeks in the wilderness, eating wild leeks, boiling snow melt for water and even surviving 13 snowstorms despite losing both her tent and her sleeping bag in her fall. Slaton disappeared on April 20, but reportedly survived for some three weeks in the wilderness, eating wild leeks, boiling snow melt for water and even surviving 13 snowstorms, despite losing both her tent and her sleeping bag in a fall. She was found by authorities in a cabin on May 14 (Fresno County Sheriff's Office) She was found by authorities in a cabin on May 14. I ended up on this very long, arduous journey that I journaled to try and keep sane, and eventually managed to get to civilization, Slaton told reporters at the conference two days later. I haven't really gone through all of the details. I ran out of a lot of food after five days, but I will do my best to answer any questions that you may have. But while authorities and Slatons family were overjoyed at her safe return, many others have raised their eyebrows at the veracity of her tale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somethings very off about the story. I dont believe her at all, wrote one user in reply to the press conference, posted on the Fresno County Sheriffs Facebook page. I think shes just looking for fame or money. After setting out on a three-day hiking trip in the Huntington Lake region, the 28-year-old hiker from Georgia claims she fell off a cliff and was unconscious for two hours, and needed to put her leg in a splint. At a press conference she said she began trekking in search of help after her GPS was unable to provide a route back to the main road, but was able to locate a distant Starbucks (Fresno County Sheriff's Office) Added another: I'm sorry, not sorry. This lady put a lot of lives at risk by being reckless with her own She is not a hero and people should not glorify her or her story as one. Im glad to see that other people dont believe this story, added a third. So many things dont add up, I hope this office investigates fully since resources were used. Its embarrassing to think people believe someone fell off a cliff, survived two hours unconscious (guess she was timing it), popped her knee back into place, and traveled 20 miles after splinting her leg. A GoFundMe page for Slaton, organized by her family, was shut down on Monday, after raising more than $23,500. Her parents said there had been negative feedback that has arose from these events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has taken a lot to endure the attacks and attention asking for help has brought us, Slatons mother, Fredrina Slaton, wrote on GoFundMe. Many have raised doubts about the veracity of Slaton's account, with some suggesting she made up the story for money. A GoFundMe page set up by her parents raised over $23,000 (Fresno County Sheriff's Office) According to the Fresno County Sheriff, Slaton's family reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for nine days. The fundraiser was started a week later and continued to accept donations for a while after she was found. Tony Botti, a spokesperson for the Fresno County Sheriffs Office, said that the department is still investigating various elements of Slatons story, including her exact route and how her phone was able to access GPS while she could not call 911. We can only work with the information she told us because there are no other independent witnesses, Botti said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. If there are inaccuracies or embellishments, we really cant do anything about it. Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni called Slatons journey an incredible story of perseverance, determination and survival, saying it is something that you may see on TV that they would make movies about. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Get ready to celebrate all things pickled! The Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum will host Pickle Fest the weekend of June 6-8, 2025. The festival kicks off with the charming Small Town Summer Soiree Gala fundraiser on Friday, June 6, followed by two days of pickle-packed fun on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8. Tickets are on sale through the Foundations website and are expected to sell out. Pickle Fest tickets are $10 per day for MS Agriculture and Forestry Foundation Members and $15 per day for non-members. There is no charge for kids under 3. One ticket is required for each day and may be used once. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Mississippi Realtors 5K Fun Run Small Town Summer Soiree tickets are $50 per person and are available online. Pickle Fest is more than just a celebration of pickles; its a showcase of the rich agricultural and ag aviation heritage of Mississippi and its an educational platform for all ages. We look forward to welcoming everyone to whats sure to be an unforgettable weekend, said Theresa Love, Museum Executive Director. In addition to the popular Pickle Eating Contest, this year will also feature: Pickle a Pickle Contest celebrating the art of pickling, participants will enter homemade pickled items of any variety. Pickle Palooza Contest participants will showcase their creativity and culinary skills with all things pickled. From savory to sweet, spicy to dill, Pickle Fest is looking for the most inventive, mouthwatering dishes that incorporate the beloved pickle. Pickle Ball Exhibition an exciting and friendly tournament held during the annual Pickle Fest for both seasoned players and newcomers to come together and compete for fun and glory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) A Florence woman pled guilty to poisoning an elderly man with fentanyl, according to Madison and Rankin Counties District Attorney Bubba Bramlett. Bramlett said Dixie Cheyenne White, 31, pled guilty to aggravated assault as a habitual offender. She was sentenced to serve 20 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) without the possibility of parole. Texas man pleads guilty in Jackson dealership scam Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 14, 2023, Ridgeland police received a call for an man who was suffering from a drug overdose. The man claimed he had been poisoned by a woman named Dixie and that she had stolen his car. The man stated he had met the woman at the Food Depot in Jackson, and she offered to come back to his house to work on his truck with him. When he was released from the hospital, investigators met with him again and discovered that his iPhone, two handguns and two credit cards were also missing. Using tag readers throughout the area, Bramlett said investigators were able to locate the stolen vehicle back at the Food Depot with several people inside, including White. Dixie White (Courtesy: Madison County District Attorneys Office) She was detained and interviewed regarding her knowledge of the stolen car. Bramlett said White confessed to investigators that she had met the elderly man and convinced him she could work on his truck. She stated that later that night she had poured some fentanyl in a soda drink so he would go to sleep. When he was asleep, she stole his guns, credit cards and car. It is a miracle the 84-year-old victim in this case survived unknowingly ingesting fentanyl. The defendant could have easily killed this elderly man in her attempt to knock him out so she could rob him blind. I want to commend the investigators of the Ridgeland Police Department for all the work they did to ensure his property was located and the person responsible was apprehended, said Bramlett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. State Rep. Dave Griffith, a Republican from Jefferson City, speaks at the House Health and Mental Health committee Feb. 17,(Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). The Missouri Veterans Commission has received $80 million from sales taxes collected from marijuana dispensaries and other fees since the states cannabis program began in 2020. Of that, $33.8 million has come in during the current fiscal year, which began in July and ends June 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money goes towards the operational needs of the states seven veterans homes, including payroll and maintenance of existing infrastructure, a commission spokeswoman said. While it may appear that the money is a big boon for veteran homes across the state, the cannabis funds have rolled in just as revenue from casinos has rapidly dropped off, said Democratic state Sen. Steve Roberts of St. Louis, who is vice chair of the commission. The commission receives funds from the $2 fee people pay to enter a casino, he said, but those numbers have declined significantly since the pandemic. The marijuana funds are helping fill that hole, he said, but money for the states veterans home remains in limbo every year. We still need to find a mechanism to ensure that [veterans homes] have the funding they need, Roberts said, because just with the casinos and marijuana funds, its not enough. And its forcing the commission to continue to have to go back to the legislature to ask for additional money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican state Rep. Dave Griffith of Jefferson City, who is also a board commissioner, compared the situation to a business unable to make a long-range plan. The Missouri Veterans Commission cant do that, Griffith said. They have to go from year to year to year to see what is appropriated by the General Assembly. He disagrees with House members who believe that marijuana funding is the solution, he said, and that general revenue can be appropriated elsewhere. The Senate actually has done a better job of taking care of the veterans commission and some of the properties that weve got, Griffith said. Its frustrating for me that it seems like every time we want to try to do something for veterans, were looking at vices gambling and drug use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missourians voted in November 2018 to adopt a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana, and it also requires fees and taxes generated by the program, minus operational expenses, be transferred to the commission. Then in 2022, voters approved another amendment to legalize adult-use marijuana. With these sales, revenues from taxes and fees are divided between three causes: grants for substance use prevention, the public defenders system and the veterans commission. In fiscal year 2024, the commission received $19.4 million between both medical and adult-use sales, and $33.8 million in 2025. The Division of Cannabis Regulation transfers funds from medical marijuana sales tax revenues and fees to the Missouri Veterans Commission. Similarly, the division transfers funds from adult-use cannabis sales tax revenues and fees to the commission, Missouri Public Defender System and DHSS for its substance use disorder grant program. In the fiscal year that begins in July, the commission is set to receive $32.6 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, future funding depends on the health of the cannabis industry, which can experience ups and downs, Griffith said. Both Roberts and Griffith said theyre committed to finding more stable funding for veterans. Were very fortunate that this is a bipartisan issue, Roberts said. There are veterans homes in Democratic and Republican districts, and all the senators Ive talked to seem to be very supportive. Roberts pointed to Gov. Mike Kehoes State of the State address in January, where he addressed the underfunding of the homes and need for continued support. Under the Kehoe administration, the governor said, no veterans homes will close due to a lack of state funding. A woman from Riverside, Mo is in the Scott County Jail after LeClaire Police were called to move a car from a McDonalds parking lot. Octavia Porter (Scott County Jail) The criminal complaint says an officer was dispatched to the McDonalds on Eagle Ridge Road on May 21 at about 10:28 p.m. to speak with a staff member who wanted a person in a car moved from the parking lot. The officer ran the cars license plate when he arrived and made contact with a person sleeping in front of the vehicle, later identified as Octavia Porter, 30. Dispatch advised the officer that the vehicle was stolen, which they confirmed with the Douglas County (Kan.) Sheriffs Office. The value of the vehicle is estimated to be over $1,500 but not more than $10,000. Porter was arrested and charged with felony second-degree theft. She is being held in the Scott County Jail on a $1,000 cash only bond and has a preliminary hearing on May 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Mobile Police Department officers arrested a Prichard man after a fight led to one person being sent to a local hospital. Mobile County DA catches up on backlog of cases, says new law wont impact office According to an MPD news release, Devonta Tireek Isaac, 26, was arrested on Wednesday, May 21, after the incident. Devonta Tireek Isaac. (Mobile County Sheriffs Office Jail Management System) Officers said they were called to the 2000 block of Andrews Street around 4:15 p.m. Wednesday for a domestic complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release said that when officers arrived, they found the victim with non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Gulf Shores makes history with first-ever commercial flight to Alabamas beaches Isaac was charged with domestic violence strangulation or suffocation, and third-degree domestic violence (second-degree criminal mischief). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Police are continuing to search for missing teen Pheobe Bishop, 17, who hasn't been seen or heard from since being taken to the airport in Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, on May 15 "As another day starts its getting harder to breath and the numbness that we feel at the not knowing is eating at us.. We would do anything just to hear your voice," Pheobe's mom, Kylie Johnson, wrote on Facebook on Friday, May 23 Police confirmed in their latest update that officers have been searching Good Night Scrub National Park in Queensland The mother of a missing 17-year-old girl who disappeared over a week ago after failing to check in for a flight has issued an emotional plea amid the ongoing search for her daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pheobe Bishop has not been seen or heard from since being taken to Airport Drive in Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, on May 15 at around 8:30 a.m. local time, Queensland Police said in a Monday, May 19 news release. Queensland Police Detective Acting Inspector, Ryan Thompson, previously said Pheobe had been dropped off near the airport by "associates" but didn't enter the terminal building, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). "She had a flight booked to Brisbane and then on to WA [Western Australia] to visit a friend," the officer said, according to the outlet. On Friday, May 23, police issued another update, revealing officers had "searched bushland and waterways in the Good Night Scrub National Park." According to the ABC, the national park is more than an hour southwest of Bundaberg. Queensland Police Pheobe Bishop Pheobe Bishop As the search continues, Pheobe's mom, Kylie Johnson, shared a heartbreaking message on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As another day starts its getting harder to breath and the numbness that we feel at the not knowing is eating at us.. We would do anything just to hear your voice to have you curl up in my lap and hold you tight with your wild crazy hair in my face annoying my nose," she wrote, alongside a photo of the mother and daughter. "I have no words to describe what this is doing to our family, to our friends and to our community. What we need right now from everyone is to hold your loved ones tight and tell them you love them," Johnson added in the post. Queensland Police Pheobe Bishop Pheobe Bishop Police said in the update on Friday, "Specialist police, including the Dive Squad, have been involved in land and waterway searches of the Good Night Scrub area but have not yet located any items of interest." "This is part of various searches in the wider Gin Gin and Bundaberg areas that have been ongoing this week," the post added. "Currently, no one is in custody in relation to this investigation however police continue to speak to people who know Pheobe." Queensland Police Police search the Good Night Scrub National Park while looking for missing teen Pheobe Bishop Police search the Good Night Scrub National Park while looking for missing teen Pheobe Bishop "Police are appealing to the public for information, including any movement in the Good Night Scrub area on May 15, particularly in the Mingo Road and Gayndah Road areas," police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest release comes after police confirmed on Thursday, May 22, that officers were "continuing to process two crime scenes" amid the search for the missing teen. "A property in Gin Gin and a grey Hyundai ix35 are active crime scenes," the release stated. "Police are continuing to appeal to the public for dashcam and CCTV footage of the grey Hyundai ix35 with Queensland registration 414EW3 near the Airport Drive and Samuels Road area in Bundaberg and also the Gin Gin area on May 15," police added. According to a Wednesday, May 21 police post, Pheobe had been living in the Gin Gin property that has been declared a crime scene prior to her disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detective Thompson said she'd been living there a while, stating, "It is not a direct family member that she resides with ... I believe there were currently two people that she was living with," the ABC reported. Queensland Police Police have released an image of the car they've said is an active crime scene Police have released an image of the car they've said is an active crime scene 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. Urging anybody with information to come forward, the officer added, per Thursday's news release, You may have the small piece of information that leads us to finding Pheobe." People dont vanish someone knows something and were urging anyone with information to contact police immediately, Thompson insisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pheobe is described as approximately 180cm [around 5 feet, 9 inches], with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes, police confirmed. "She was last seen carrying luggage and wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants," they added. Read the original article on People Angela Falanga's daughter, Natalie, was not quite two months old yet when she would have received her DTaP vaccine, which protects against whooping cough when she developed a nasty cough The infant's health quickly deteriorated, her mom tells PEOPLE exclusively, sharing that Natalie "coded in my arms" and needed to put on a ventilator at the hospital Angela says she wants to tell other parents to "vaccinate your kids so you don't have to go through what I went through," describing her daughter's sickness as the "worst days" of her life It started with a normal cough when Natalie Falanga was just eight weeks old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her mom, Angela, took her to the doctor, who said it was just a cold, and recommended she give her baby a nebulizer with saline. The mom to Natalie and 2-year-old Dominick tells PEOPLE exclusively, I'm not a worrier mom, and explains that she initially assumed her daughter's illness would quickly improve. But two days later, on Oct. 19, 2024, Natalies cough got worse. The Malverne, N.Y., mom tells PEOPLE that she was outside with her children and was giving her son lunch when Natalie "turned blue right in front of my face. At the pediatricians advice, she and her husband, Joseph, rushed their daughter to the hospital, where doctors said Natalie's "oxygen was good" and released her. Courtesy Joseph and Angela Falanga Angela Falang was told her daughter, Natalie, had a 50% chance of surviving whooping cough Angela Falang was told her daughter, Natalie, had a 50% chance of surviving whooping cough The family went home, but the next day, Natalie "turned blue seven times, Angela tells PEOPLE, explaining that her daughter's condition continued to worsen as she coughed and couldn't catch her breath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 20, 2024, they returned to Cohen Children Medical Center, where Natalie was diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough. From there, Angela says Natalies condition deteriorated swiftly. Courtesy Joseph and Angela Falanga Clockwise from top left: Joe, Angela, Dominick, Natalie Falanga Clockwise from top left: Joe, Angela, Dominick, Natalie Falanga Within 12 hours she coded in my arms, Angela says. I'm holding her in my arms, and she stretches her arms straight out, up above her head and goes completely blue within seconds, the worst I've seen. They grab her from me. My husband's screaming. I'm screaming. They take her from me, and they try to get her stable, and then we run upstairs to PICU, and they intubated her, she tells PEOPLE, explaining that Natalie's "oxygen plummeted and they had to put her on a ventilator. Angela says that a nurse in the Cohen Children's Medical Center told her, "you have to be strong for her. She can hear you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next few days, she explains, were worst days of my life. Angela, who works as an X-ray technologist, says she saw a devastating scan of her daughters lungs the day after she was admitted to the hospital. I looked at it and I fell to the floor, she says. She had no left lung. They did an X-ray in the ER when they admitted us, and her lungs were perfect. The next day, when they put her on the ventilator, her whole left lung was collapsed. Courtesy Joseph and Angela Falanga Angela Falanga holds her infant Natalie in the hospital Angela Falanga holds her infant Natalie in the hospital Angela says a normal scan would show two black lungs and you'll see 10 ribs on each side but in Natalies case, her left side was just all white, so it was filled with fluid [and] phlegm." Natalie underwent a bronchoscopy, during which doctors "sucked everything out," Angela says. Courtesy Joseph and Angela Falanga Natalie spent 19 days in the hospital with whooping cough Natalie spent 19 days in the hospital with whooping cough While Natalie started to heal after her bronchoscopy, her health struggle was far from over. She stayed in the hospital for 19 days, ten of which she spent on a ventilator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angela was later told that when Natalie went on the ventilator, she had a 50% chance of surviving. You think when she comes off the ventilator, she's good? No, Angela says, explaining that her daughter had to be sedated while on the ventilator, and as a result, she went through withdrawal from fentanyl and morphine. "She had shakes, she had fevers," Angela tells PEOPLE. She was just suffering. Angela says doctors who had been working at the hospital for years said they'd never seen whooping cough in an eight-week-old. This year, whooping cough cases are skyrocketing in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, whooping cough cases are nearly double what they were this time last year. Courtesy Joseph and Angela Falanga Natalie and Dominick Falanga Natalie and Dominick Falanga Angela tells PEOPLE shes sharing her daughter's story now because she doesn't want "another mother to go through what I went through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As someone who works in the medical field, Angela was up to date on her DTaP vaccine, which protects against whooping cough. But, she explains, everyone spending time around a baby should get the shot because infants arent eligible for the vaccine until they are two months old. We have no idea how she got it. I mean, I wasn't taking my kids to nightclubs, Angela says. It could be from anywhere." 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 shares that while she understands why parents may be hesitant to vaccinate their kids, the DTaP vaccine has been out there and can affect the babies the most. We should definitely be advocating for that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angela says, The babies are suffering the most. We have to be their voice. They have no voice. If I could tell other moms, vaccinate your kids so you don't have to go through what I went through, and just one other baby doesn't have to go through it, I feel like I made like somewhat of a difference. She adds, "I never want anyone to go thought what we did. I still have nightmares." Read the original article on People BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Azerbaijan and Georgia exemplify sustainable good-neighborly relations, said Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova during a diplomatic reception in Baku marking Georgias National Day, Trend reports. In her address, Gafarova noted that Georgias Independence Day is a significant celebration for a friendly country and extended sincere congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. She emphasized the historical depth of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, stating that the peoples of both countries have lived in a spirit of friendship and mutual support for centuries. The strategic partnership between Baku and Tbilisi plays a stabilizing role in the South Caucasus region, Gafarova said, highlighting the shared commitment of both nations to sovereignty and territorial integrity as a model for others. Azerbaijan and Georgia are a clear example of how neighborly relations and mutual respect can form the foundation of a strong and strategic partnership, she stated. Gafarova also noted the importance of high-level reciprocal visits and the ongoing political dialogue between the two nations, which continues to deepen bilateral cooperation. We sincerely rejoice in each others achievements and consistently support peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region, she added. The speaker highlighted the significance of joint infrastructure projects such as the BakuTbilisiCeyhan oil pipeline, the BakuTbilisiErzurum gas pipeline, and the BakuTbilisiKars railway, which contribute to shaping a new EastWest transport and energy corridor. She also commended the contributions of the Azerbaijani and Georgian diasporas in strengthening humanitarian ties and underscored the cultural initiatives carried out in Georgia by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. In conclusion, Gafarova expressed confidence in the continued growth of friendly and strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A plan to increase public safety with an automatic license plate reader program in Monroe County was approved by the County Legislature. According to a statement, Monroe County is the only major county in New York that has not implemented a program of this kind. The use of the program in counties across the state has demonstrated significant results in solving crime and enhancing public safety. County Executive Adam Bello said providing law enforcement with a tool like the automatic license plate reader will help to identify stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, and deter criminal activity. Bello also called the data provided by the readers, invaluable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said the tools will help deputies respond more effectively to criminal activity, with safeguards in place to protect the privacy and rights of our residents. The county explained the program is funded by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services through a New York State Law Enforcement Technology grant, adding the automatic license program reader program has been identified as one of the most important tools available to address public safety. News 8 has reached back out to Monroe County to learn what the next steps are in getting the program up and running. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Major General Pete Hronek, the Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard visited troops at Fort Harrison during a training exercise with sister Guard units and the Special Operations community on February 27th, 2025. Montana training facilities offer unique opportunities for out of state units to conduct high altitude, mountain warfare, and cold weather training. Joint partnerships such as these enhance the readiness of the Montana National Guard by sharing information and practices across the force allowing our Soldiers to deploy anywhere at any time. Photos courtesy of SSG Billy Topaz and SGT Preston Stevens, 103rd Public Affairs Detachment. Major General J Peter Hronek, the Adjutant General of Montanas National Guard, will retire on June 7, following a 40-year military career. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced the leadership change at the Department of Military Affairs, and the appointment of Col. Trenton J. Gibson as the new adjutant general for the state, the highest ranking state military officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im grateful to General Hronek for his service to the State of Montana. Under his leadership, the men and women of the Montana National Guard have had a true public servant guiding them and their efforts, Gianforte said in a press release. From helping Montanans recover from disasters to recruiting Montanans to serve their country as a member of the Guard, General Hronek has served Montana with steadfast dedication. I wish him great success as he embarks on this next chapter of his life. Major General J Peter Hronek, Adjutant General of Montanas National Guard, will retire on June 7. (Courtesy Department of Military Affairs) Gianforte appointed Hronek in December 2020 following a stint serving in Washington D.C. Hronek began his military career as a pilot in 1985 and has been with the Montana National Guard since 1986. He served three combat tours in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. I have been honored to lead the outstanding soldiers, airmen, and Department of Military Affairs professionals. I am so proud to see them empowered and ready to serve at the next level. They have enhanced their missions and brought on new capabilities to our nation and state. As a result of our efforts, the Montana National Guard is in a better position than ever before to recruit and retain our members, Hronek said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Hroneks retirement next month, Gibson will take over as the leader of Montanas military force. Gibson, according to the states press release, began his military career with the Montana National Guard in 1995 and currently commands the 1889th Montana Army National Guard Regional Support Group in Butte. He also has served as director for the Montana National Guard Youth Challenge Academy since 2018. I thank Major General Hronek for his honorable service to our state and nation and his steadfast leadership of the Montana National Guard. I appreciate Governor Gianforte offering me the honor and privilege of serving in this capacity, Colonel Gibson said. The Montana National Guard and the Department of Military Affairs are home to exceptional professionals, and I have been blessed to serve in both organizations for over 25 years. I also thank my family for their support and sacrifice as I step into this critical role. The Montana National Guard comprises 2,290 soldiers stationed in 16 different communities across Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montanas National Guard has been in the news recently after three Army National Guard members were cited for criminal trespassing after allegedly landing a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on private property near the Crazy Mountains. The Big Timber Pioneer first reported on the incident, in which the guardsmen collected elk antlers and a skeletonized head with antlers, according to the Sweet Grass County sheriffs office. The Montana National Guard said the troops had been on a training flight from Billings to Helena, and turned over the antlers to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. One of the three guardsman charged with misdemeanor trespassing is also a Montana Highway Patrol trooper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement about the alleged incident last week, Hronek said an internal investigation was underway. If true, this behavior does not align with the values of the Montana National Guard. Misuse of military equipment erodes the trust we strive to uphold with the people of Montana, Hronek said. Every member of the Montana National Guard is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, responsibility, and respect for the law. A spokesperson for the governors office said Hroneks retirement is in no way related to the current events of the department. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a financial boost for U.S. Army paratroopers during a May 22 address at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. News of the pay raise came during the 82nd Airborne Divisions All American Week, an event that brings active-duty and veteran paratroopers together over four days to celebrate the service of parachutists. For the first time in [decades], here [as] the secretary of defense, through the secretary of the Army, we are increasing jump pay, Hegseth told soldiers, according to a DOD release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths plan to trim top ranks could hit more than 120 officers Jump pay is considered hazardous duty incentive pay, which is paid to service members who engage in an activity that poses inherent dangers, the DOD website states. Rank-and-file paratroopers will now see their jump pay increase to $200 a month, up from the previous $150 each month. Additionally, jumpmasters, the senior paratroopers who train soldiers who jump from aircraft, will see their hazardous duty incentive pay climb from $150 to $300 a month. Heres to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine, Hegseth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense secretary praised the 82nd Airborne Division for being a pivotal source of deterrence a key tenet of his vision for the department and promised continued investments in formations to ensure they remain equipped for the fights ahead. Hegseth concluded his address by emphasizing a commitment to peace through strength and thanked past and present paratroopers in attendance for their service. When I look out at this formation, the eyes of the men and women and these flags, I see the eyes of deterrence; I see the eyes of American strength; I see the eyes that will deter the wars that we dont want to fight, he said. Those who long for peace must prepare for war. Another 107 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived in the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities said on Friday. The trucks carrying flour, food, medical equipment and medicine entered the sealed-off strip on Thursday, the Israeli authority for Palestinian affairs, COGAT, said. On Monday, Israel lifted its blockade on aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Prior to this, it had not allowed any deliveries since the beginning of March, accusing the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas of reselling the supplies to finance its fighters and weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations and aid organizations are warning of famine in Gaza. Aid workers say the quantities that have arrived in Gaza this week are far from sufficient to alleviate the suffering of the population. They have also described difficulties in distributing the aid. "Significant challenges in loading and dispatching goods remain due to insecurity, the risk of looting, delays in coordination approvals and inappropriate routes being provided by Israeli forces that are not viable for the movement of cargo," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. The UN says 500 trucks need to enter Gaza daily to feed the some 2 million people in Gaza. bluefield Another round of demolitions will soon be getting underway in Bluefield. The city advertised bids earlier this month for 25 additional structures that are targeted for demolition. A legal advertisement seeking the demolition bids appeared in the Daily Telegraph on May 6. Those bids were expected back this week. Bluefield City Manager Cecil Marson was asked recently about the planned demolitions. He said it was a continuation of the demolitions the city had been completing with state and federal funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reallocated funds to continue demolitions, Marson said. Its the next 25 on the list. There is actually a lot more to come down. The ongoing demolitions involve dilapidated structures that may pose a threat to public safety. You do them in phases, Marson said of the demolitions. And historically it is between 25 to 30. A similar demolition program is ongoing on the county level through the use of state funds from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. More than 300 dilapidated structures have been removed on the county level. Mercer Countys demolition program initially focused on the removal of unsafe structures across the county, but it was later extended to the municipalities of Athens, Bramwell and Oakvale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2024, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection awarded Mercer County a $750,000 grant for demolishing structures. The county had already spent a $1.5 million grant the state awarded it in 2023. Residents living in the county, along with those in the towns of Athens, Bramwell and Oakvale, can still apply for demolition grants, but only $87,000 in demolition funds currently remains. Im still taking applications but with absolutely no guarantee they will be selected, Mercer County Dilapidated Structures Officer Lori Mills said in an earlier interview. We want to have extra applications on hand if we get extra funding. We may or may not be able to do them. We really wont know until July because July 31 is when we have to wrap everything up. There is no current date for the start of the latest round of demolitions in Bluefield. Marson said the contractor will start pretty quickly once a notice to proceed is issued by the city. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com May 23Maine lawmakers have given initial approval to a bill to boost mobile home park residents' chances of purchasing their parks. Proposed by Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, the bill would add $3 million to a fund designed to help residents put in a competitive offer against the increasing number of out-of-state investors trying to buy up some of the state's last affordable housing. The House voted 78-64 in favor and the Senate approved it in a procedural move that does not require a tally. The bill still needs final votes in each chamber, then it must win approval from the appropriations committee to be included in the next budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vote comes as one park prepares to submit its own offer and another hits the market. In 2023, the Legislature passed an "opportunity to purchase" law that requires park owners to give residents at least 60 days' notice if they plan to sell, giving the community members the chance to purchase it themselves. The park owner isn't required to accept the offer, but must negotiate "in good faith." Last year, the governor and Maine State Housing Authority created the Manufactured and Mobile Home Park Preservation and Assistance Program a $5 million fund to help residents purchase their parks. So far, residents in Brunswick, Bangor and Monmouth have put in successful bids to buy their parks, but more than twice as many have failed, and more parks keep hitting the market. With so many parks weighing their options, there is more need than there is funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Janet Mills earmarked $3 million in the budget, and Baldacci's bill would infuse another $3 million. Next week, residents of Friendly Village in Gorham plan to submit an offer to buy their roughly 300-lot park. The owners have a multi-state, eight-park, $87.5 million offer from Wyoming investment firm Crown Communities LLC. Crown is offering $22 million for Friendly Village, specifically. Dawn Beaulieu, one of the organizers of the park's purchase effort, wouldn't say how much the residents are planning to offer but did say it's more than the asking price. More than 80 miles north, another investment firm is eyeing a smaller park in Winslow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, MaineHousing received notice that the owners of Spruce Ridge Mobile Home Park have a $3.1 million offer to buy the 45-lot community. The prospective buyer, Homes of America, is an affiliate of Alden Global Capital, a New York-based hedge fund most known for purchasing and gutting newspapers. According to a September report by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, Homes of America owns at least 138 mobile home parks in 17 states, the majority of which are in Florida and Michigan. The report says the company follows a familiar pattern: raising the rents (sometimes by up to 100%), instituting fees for services that had previously been free, and evicting residents who don't pay on time. It's estimated that one in five of Maine's 486 licensed mobile home parks is owned by a private equity firm. Parks have, in the last few years, pushed back against these purchases and the Legislature is considering multiple bills to help. Lawmakers are expected to soon vote on another bill that would give residents the "right of first refusal" if their park comes up for sale, and an emergency moratorium that would prohibit the sale of mobile home parks with more than 25 lots for three months, unless the sale would be to a relative or if residents of the park have decided they do not wish to purchase. Editor's note: This story was updated on Saturday, May 24, to correct the name of Joe Baldacci, the legislator who proposed the bill. Copy the Story Link As the feud between Harvard University and President Donald Trumps administration escalates, Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch scolded the president for his decision to revoke Harvards ability to enroll foreign students. The administration escalated its standoff with Harvard University on Thursday by revoking the schools ability to enroll international students before a federal judge temporarily blocked the ruling on Friday. "Its just disgraceful that were treating foreign students this way," Lynch said. The attacks against our area especially, you know, when you think about the reputation of Harvard University, when you think about research money that has been cut from health and human services that so many of the researchers in this area rely upon, and the world relies upon, this is so wrong-headed, everything that the White House is doing, I just stand in opposition to all that crap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government told Harvards thousands of current foreign students that they must transfer to other schools or they will lose their legal permission to be in the U.S. A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from cutting off Harvards enrollment of foreign students, an action the Ivy League school decried as unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White Houses political demands. This president and this administration is dragging this country down, down, every single day in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of its own citizens, you now, the people he has assembled in his administration are a goddamn disgrace, disgrace. It will take years, maybe decades, to repair the damage that Donald Trump and that group of morons and buffoons is doing to this country each and every day," Lynch continued. Lynch also criticized the President for his handling of the press and attacks on the judicial system. "Due process, the Constitution, the very ideals that this country was based upon, are under attack because of that moron. Thats this malevolent fool who is attacking this country from the inside. You know, I worry for my country. I really worry for my country, you know, the direction he is taking us in. Its not a good one. And I think America has to wake up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government can and does remove colleges from the Student Exchange and Visitor Program, making them ineligible to host foreign students on their campus. However, its usually for administrative reasons outlined in law, such as failing to maintain accreditation, lacking proper facilities for classes, failing to employ qualified professional personnel even failing to operate as a bona fide institution of learning. Other colleges are removed when they close. Harvards battle with the Trump administration dates to early April. The storied institution became the first elite college to refuse to comply with the governments demands to limit pro-Palestinian protests and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies. That kicked off a series of escalating actions against Harvard. Various federal agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have cut their grant funding to Harvard, significantly impacting research projects conducted by faculty. Harvard has sued the administration, seeking to end the grant freeze. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW By Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cast doubt on Friday over the Vatican as a potential location for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, saying that the Holy See itself would find it uncomfortable to host two mainly Orthodox Christian nations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV had confirmed his willingness to host talks during a phone call with her. The Vatican press office declined to comment further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, said soon after his election this month that the Vatican could act as a mediator in global conflicts, without specifically mentioning Russia and Ukraine. Lavrov, speaking at the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, on Friday played down the idea of the Vatican as the next venue and the Kremlin said there was not yet any agreement on where a new round of talks would take place. "Many people are fantasising about when and where it (the meeting) will take place. We don't have any ideas right now," said Lavrov. "But imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations. It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes (of the conflict). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself to host delegations from two Orthodox countries in these circumstances," Lavrov added. Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held their first direct talks in more than three years earlier this month in Istanbul. DISCRIMINATION Lavrov also said that Moscow would not allow Russian-speakers in Ukraine to remain under the rule of what he called a "junta" led by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. It would be a "crime" for Russia to allow this to happen, he said, adding that the simplest way to settle the conflict would be for the international community to demand that Ukraine cancel what he said were laws discriminating against Russian-speakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv denies any such discrimination. Lavrov reiterated an earlier Russian idea that it would be good if presidential elections were held in Ukraine so that Moscow could sign an eventual peace deal with someone widely regarded as legitimate. Zelenskiy has dismissed the Russian-backed idea that he is not legitimate as propaganda. Elections were not held when his five-year term in office technically expired in May 2024 because Ukraine remained - and remains - under martial law, which suspends the normal election cycle. Zelenskiy and the West say it is necessary to suspend normal political rules at a time of war and that the Kremlin, given Russia's own tightly-controlled political system, is in no position to criticise. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Andrew OsbornEditing by Gareth Jones) In November of 2021, Vladimir Dinets was driving his daughter to school when he first noticed a hawk using a pedestrian crosswalk. The birda young Coopers hawk, to be exactwasnt using the crosswalk, in the sense of treading on the painted white stripes to reach the other side of the road in West Orange, New Jersey. But it was using the crosswalkmore specifically, the pedestrian-crossing signal that people activate to keep traffic out of said crosswalkto ambush prey. The crossing signala loud, rhythmic click audible from at least half a block awaywas more of a pre-attack cue, or so the hawk had realized, Dinets, a zoologist now at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, told me. On weekday mornings, when pedestrians would activate the signal during rush hour, roughly 10 cars would usually be backed up down a side street. This jam turned out to be the perfect cover for a stealth attack: Once the cars had assembled, the bird would swoop down from its perch in a nearby tree, fly low to the ground along the line of vehicles, then veer abruptly into a residential yard, where a small flock of sparrows, doves, and starlings would often gather to eat crumbsblissfully unaware of their impending doom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hawk had masterminded a strategy, Dinets told me: To pull off the attacks, the bird had to create a mental map of the neighborhoodand, maybe even more important, understand that the rhythmic ticktock of the crossing signal would prompt a pileup of cars long enough to facilitate its assaults. The hawk, in other words, appears to have learned to interpret a traffic signal and take advantage of it, in its quest to hunt. Which is, with all due respect, more impressive than how most humans use a pedestrian crosswalk. Coopers hawks are known for their speedy sneak attacks in the wild, Janet Ng, a senior wildlife biologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, told me. Zipping alongside bushes and branches for cover, theyll conceal themselves from prey until the very last moment of a planned ambush. Theyre really fantastic hunters that way, Ng said. Those skills apparently translate fairly easily into urban environments, where Coopers hawks flit amid trees and concrete landscapes, stalking city pigeons and doves. That sort of urban buffet seems to have been a major incentive for this particular Coopers hawk, Dinets, who published his observations of the bird in Frontiers in Ethology, told me. One of the (human) families in the neighborhood regularly dined outdoors in the evening, leaving a scattering of food scraps on their front lawn that would routinely attract a group of small birds the next morning. But the hawk needed perfect conditions to successfully dive-bomb that flock: enough cover, from a long-enough line of cars, to attack unseen. That scenario would play out only on weekday mornings, when both foot and car traffic were heavy enough that the crosswalk signal would stall lines of cars down the streets. Over several months, Dinets noticed that the bird seemed to have figured out this complex system of ifs, ands, or buts. The hawk appeared only when the necessary degree of congestion was possible. And only after the pedestrian-crossing signal was activated would it ready itself for an attackperching in a nearby tree to wait for the backlog of cars that it knew would soon manifest. Then, only after the queue stretched long enough to totally conceal its path, the bird would head toward its prey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crosswalk signal seems to have been key to this plan: The hawk could predict with startling accuracy how well cloaked it would beand, thus, the success of its attack. The hawk understood the connection, Dinets told me. Thats hard to prove without experimentation, beyond Dinetss observation of this single birdbut that this hawk figured out the chain reaction that this signal could set off, under weekday-morning conditions, is definitely plausible, several researchers told me. Plenty of animals, including other types of birds, have proved themselves savvy in human environments. Pigeons, for instance, wait for humans to turn on drinking fountains, then sip the water. Ng has spoken with farmers and ranchers in Alberta and Saskatchewan who have seen hawks use the sounds of gunshots during gopher hunts as a cue that a feast is impending. And crows have been spotted dropping hard-shelled nuts into roads so that cars will crack them open. Still, Ng, who wasnt involved in the observations, told me that this hawks feat is impressive, even if no other bird ever replicates it. The hawk clued into a human signal, in a human system, that was multiple steps removed from its target. Managing these attacks required a degree of foresight, a mental map of the neighborhood, even a sense of a human weeks rhythmunderstanding, for instance, the difference between weekday rush hours and weekend lulls. The bird also appears to have picked up on all of this relatively quickly: Many Coopers hawks spotted in cities come to urban areas only for the winter, which hints that this one may have conjured its plan of attack as a recent immigrant to the area. Generally speaking, the faster a creature learns something new, the more cognitively adept it is likely to be, Joshua Plotnik, a comparative-cognition expert at Hunter College, told me. And this hawk managed all that as a juvenile, Ng pointed outstill in the first couple of years of its life, when most Coopers hawks are just not good at hunting yet. A common cause for mortality at this age, she said, is starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But maybe the most endearing part of this hawks tale is the idea that it took advantage of a crosswalk signal at allan environmental cue that, under most circumstances, is totally useless to birds and perhaps a nuisance. To see any animal blur the line between what we consider the human and non-human spheres is eerie, but also humbling: Most other creatures, Plotnik said, are simply more flexible than wed ever think. Article originally published at The Atlantic Western Dakota Technical College. (Courtesy of WDTC) The vast majority of South Dakotas technical college graduates from the 2023-24 school year secured jobs within six months of graduation, according to the latest state Board of Technical Education report. Jenna Reis, policy and data analyst with the board, shared the report Thursday during a meeting at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown. She said that among graduates who are employable not continuing with further education or joining the military the data show 99% are employed, with 93% employed in a job related to their degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are strong numbers, she said. In fact, you may notice in the chart that we have very few graduates that are either not in the labor market or who are still seeking employment. The report evaluates the post-graduation outcomes of students from the states four technical colleges who responded to requests for information: Lake Area Technical College (Watertown) : Out of 781 graduates, 768 responded, with 150 continuing their education or enlisting in the military, and 562 employed in their field of study with an average hourly pay of $27.23. Mitchell Technical College : Out of 488 graduates, 480 responded, with 52 continuing their education or enlisting in the military, and 397 employed in their field of study with an average hourly pay of $24.36. Southeast Technical College (Sioux Falls) : Out of 900 graduates, 778 responded, with 84 continuing their education or enlisting in the military, and 632 employed in their field of study with an average hourly pay of $24.68. Western Dakota Technical College (Rapid City): Out of 286 graduates, 249 responded, with 39 continuing their education or enlisting in the military, and 200 employed in their field of study with an average hourly pay of $27.48. Of the 2,275 graduates who responded, 1,961 86% reported living in South Dakota. The average salary of all graduates working in their field of study was about $53,000 per year, according to Reis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think these results show that our graduates are not only finding work and are staying in South Dakota, but theyre contributing to the workforce in their program areas, which is important, she said. The report drew data from graduate surveys, faculty outreach and phone surveys conducted six months post-graduation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Georgia and Azerbaijan exemplify a successful strategic partnership built on centuries of friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual respect, said Zurab Pataradze, Georgias Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Speaking at a diplomatic reception in Baku marking Georgias National Day, Pataradze emphasized that relations between the two countries are steadily advancing in both political and economic arenas. He highlighted the successful implementation of major regional projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and the Black Sea submarine cable initiative, noting that these efforts have considerably enhanced the strategic importance of the South Caucasus. Today, Georgia and Azerbaijan serve as key guarantors of peace, stability, and economic progress in the South Caucasus, he said. Pataradze noted that amid global instability, maintaining regional resilience and open dialogue is more critical than ever. Georgia stands ready to continue promoting peaceful dialogue in the region, he stated. The ambassador also expressed gratitude to the leadership of Azerbaijan for its unwavering support for Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity. Concluding his speech, Pataradze extended warm congratulations to the people of Azerbaijan on their upcoming Independence Day - May 28, wishing them peace, prosperity, and continued success. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel FRACKVILLE The elderly woman charged in connection with a motorcycle passengers death May 2 waived her charges for court Wednesday. Evelyn Valentine Clausius, 72, of Tamaqua, was set for a preliminary hearing in Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantellis courtroom. The case now proceeds to the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas. Frackville police charged Clausius with felony accidents involving death or personal injury. She remains in Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post 10% of $45,000 straight cash bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said she admitted to her role in the incident in the death of Beth A. Burlile, Ashland. The victim was riding on a motorcycle driven by her husband, Larry Burlile Sr., who survived his injuries in the crash. The motorcycle was struck from behind by a car that fled the scene, according to police reports.. Burlile died at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest from injuries sustained in the crash, said Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio. An autopsy determined her cause of death was blunt force injuries due to a motorcycle/motor vehicle collision. Witnesses told police they saw a red or maroon sedan strike the rear of the motorcycle in the 500 block of West Oak Street. The motorcycle flipped on its side, and the sedan continued traveling into the Boyers Market parking lot in town before fleeing the area, according to police. Both motorcycle riders were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pottsville, but due to the severity of her injuries, Beth Burlile was transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, Allentown, where she died, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security video nearby showed a vehicle in the area of the crash that is owned by the defendant, police said, and damage to it was consistent with the crash. Frackville and Shenandoah EMS and entities responded to the crash scene. HANNA, Utah (ABC4) A motorcyclist is dead after colliding with a deer near Hanna, Utah, and subsequently being run over by a vehicle that had attempted to swerve out of the way late Thursday night. The motorcyclist was traveling east on SR-35 at mile post 30. At about 11:30 p.m., the motorcyclist collided with the deer, according to Lt. Cameron Roden, Utah Highway Patrol. Immediately following the collision, another driver saw the motorcycle in the middle of the road and attempted to swerve out of the way. While doing so, the driver ran over the motorcyclist who was lying in the shoulder, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have not yet clarified whether the victims death was caused by the collision with the deer or by the vehicle that ran them over. The individual who ran over the victim contacted police after the incident and remained on scene. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) has awarded thousands to local groups through its Target Grant program. MRHD received 76 applications for the grant, but they were only able to chose 33 organizations to receive funds. The grant, which totals $500,000, will be awarded to groups to focus on Siouxlands economic development, human/health services, civic/public/chartiable/religious endeavors, leisure or cultural/historical matters, and education. We are proud to award half a million dollars in grants today to 33 exceptional local organizations that are making a real difference in our community, said MRHD President Sarah Kleber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Story continues below These investments reflect our belief that strong, connected communities in our local tri-state region, are essential to building a more rewarding and vibrant quality of life for everyone. On behalf of the MRHD Board of Directors, I thank all of the recipients for their commitment to this shared vision, said Kleber. Recipients belong to groups in the following Iowa counties: Woodbury, Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Monona, and Plymouth. There is also a few recipients from Dakota County in Nebraska. Below, you can see the list of the organizations receiving funds: 2025-Awards-Press-Release-FINALDownload Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. An MS-13 gang leader from Somerville serving time in federal prison for racketeering has pleaded guilty to his role in the murder of a man in Chelsea in 2010, the U.S. Attorney said Thursday. Jose Vasquez, a/k/a Cholo, a/k/a Little Crazy, 31, a local leader of the Trece Locos Salvatrucha, or TLS, a clique of MS-13 in Somerville, pleaded guilty to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Vasquez stabbed the victim, a 28-year-old man, in a brutal killing in Chelsea with other MS-13 members present back in December 2010, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim, whom Vasquez and others believed belonged to a rival gang, was found with nearly a dozen stab wounds under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1. Vasquez faces an additional 20-25 years in federal prison. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William Young scheduled sentencing for June 30. Vazquez was indicted by a federal grand jury along with two other MS-13 members in September 2024. He is currently serving a 212-month prison sentence for a May 2018 federal conviction of racketeering conspiracy. MS-13, or La Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MS-13 branches, or cliques, operate throughout the U.S., including in Massachusetts, according to authorities. To maintain and enhance their status in the gang, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks, prosecutors said. At approximately 7:10 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2010, police responded to a 911 call under the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, a 28-year-old man was found with approximately 10 stab wounds to his head, back and chest, prosecutors said. The victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he later died. Jose Vasquez, a/k/a Cholo, a/k/a Little Crazy, 31, an MS-13 gang leader from Somerville serving time in federal prison for racketeering, has pleaded guilty to his role in the murder of a man in Chelsea in 2010, the U.S. Attorney said Thursday. Investigators recently reexamined evidence collected early on in the murder case, and identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang, prosecutors said. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Vasquez and other MS-13 members picked the victim up in front of a McDonalds in Allston. The group then drove to Chelsea where Vasquez and other MS-13 members led the victim to a secluded area under the highway where an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasquezs palm print was identified on the handle of a kitchen knife recovered from the scene. The victims blood was also found on the knife. Prosecutors said an undercover recording obtained of an MS-13 meeting that took place on Jan. 27, 2011 approximately six weeks after the murder captured one MS-13 member acknowledging his participation in the murder and other gang members disciplining him for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gangs permission. Vasquez was identified as being present for the meeting. In addition to being a leader of an MS-13 clique in Somerville, Vasquez personally participated in racketeering activity and acts of violence on behalf of MS-13, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the charge of violent crime in aid of racketeering, Vasquez faces a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 BALTIMORE A member of the MS-13 gang who was accused of taking part in the killing of a Frederick High School student in February 2023 will face up to life in prison when he's sentenced in November, after pleading guilty to a racketeering charge in the case Thursday. Ismael Ivan Rivera Canales, 22, pleaded guilty in federal court in Baltimore on Thursday to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, related to the death of Limber Lopez Funez. Limber Lopez Funez Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Limber Lopez Funez U.S. District Court Judge Brendan Abell Hurson scheduled sentencing in the case for Nov. 14. Lopez Funez, a 15-year-old Frederick High student, went missing on Feb. 24, 2023. Portions of his remains were found on April 24 of that year in two clandestine graves near Mink Farm Road near Thurmont, according to the plea agreement. Frederick Police in May of that year told The Frederick News-Post that his remains were discovered in the Gambrill State Park area. Canales is one of seven suspected MS-13 members named in a federal indictment in the death of Lopez Funez, who the men suspected of being connected to a rival gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal indictment lists six other men Josue Mauricio Arrue Paniagua, Santos Reyes Depaz Cruz, Jose Eduardo Guardado Mercado, Ismael Lopez Lopez, Jose Roberto Ramos Lopez, and Elmer Bladimir Reyes Reyes also accused of being connected to Lopez Funez's death. On Feb. 23, Canales and other MS-13 members lured Lopez Funez referred to on Thursday only as "Victim 1" to a wooded area near Aynsley Court in Frederick under the pretense of smoking marijuana, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Clark told Hurson Thursday. Once in the woods, the men stabbed Lopez Funez with knives and cut him with machetes until he was dead, then they dismembered the body, Clark said. He said Canales helped clean up the crime scene and dispose of clothing after the killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance footage near the crime scene showed Canales wearing a similar coat and hat to those found by investigators, he said. The indictment doesn't specify the role of each suspect in Lopez Funez's murder, and Clark did not mention the suspected roles of other defendants when he gave Hurson the facts around Canales's plea Thursday. But the indictment alleges that Canales, Reyes Reyes, and Depaz Cruz "did unlawfully conspire and agree with each other and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury to feloniously, willfully, and with deliberately premeditated malice, kill and murder" Lopez Funez. Canales was mostly silent during Thursday's hearing, providing brief answers to questions from Hurson in Spanish through an interpreter, and acknowledging that he had done the things that Clark described. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurson questioned him about whether he understood the charges against him and the details of what he was agreeing to under the plea agreement. While prosecutors and defense attorney Gary Proctor might reach an agreement on what the sentence in the case should be, Hurson asked if Canales understood that the judge would not be bound by that agreement at the sentencing in November. Like his client, Proctor said little during Thursday's hearing, other than acknowledging to Hurson that the facts Clark presented would have met the legal requirements of the racketeering charge. If Canales is not a United States citizen which Clark said he is not his plea and conviction could lead to his deportation, Hurson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked if Canales understood that his plea agreement gave up his rights to argue that evidence and statements should be suppressed at a trial, or to appeal the sentence that Hurson ultimately gives. Canales said he understood. Clark said Canales was a member of an MS-13 "clique," one of the sub-groups into which the gang known as "La Mara Salvatrucha" divides itself. Many of the group's members have either come from or have family from El Salvador, he said. MS-13 regularly acquires large amounts of marijuana and distributes it to cliques and their members to sell, Clark said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gang represents a criminal enterprise under U.S. law that works to preserve its power and profits through assaults, murder, extortion, and other crimes to facilitate its drug sales, intimidate victims and witnesses, and obstruct law enforcement, he said. Hurson ordered that a pre-sentencing report for Canales be prepared before November's sentencing hearing. A 55-year-old MTA subway conductor was punched in the face by a commuter as he peered out his train window at the 42 Street-Grand Central Station, cops said Friday. Police have released a surveillance image of the attacker, hoping someone recognizes him. The conductors No. 5 train had just pulled into the station at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday when the suspect stormed up and socked him, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assailant, who said nothing during the attack and had no interaction with the conductor beforehand, ran out of the station. No arrests have been made. EMS rushed the conductor to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Cops recovered surveillance footage of the man in the station. Hes described as Black, between 35 and 39 years old, and about 6-foot-2 with a medium build and short hair. At the time of the attack he was wearing a black jacket, gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information regarding this mans whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. MIDTOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) Police are looking for a person who they say allegedly assaulted an MTA employee on the job just before 8 p.m. on Thursday. The 55-year-old MTA worker was looking out of the conductors window of a No. 5 train while it was stopped at 42 Street-Grand Central Station, authorities say. Thats when he was punched in the face by an unknown man, officials report. More Crime News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man ran off while the MTA worker was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, police say. Authorities say theyre looking for a man who stands about 6 feet 2 inches tall with short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, a gray hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. 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). 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A business with local ties is helping to get clear, healthy and safe drinking water to Erie elementary schools. Zurn Elkay Water Solutions donated 50 filtered bottle filling stations that are set to be installed in nine Erie elementary schools. Millcreek students go shopping with local police mentors The initiative helps to offer clearer, healthier and safer drinking water for people throughout the schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A company representative said its something thats incredibly important when considering the lead and microplastics that can be found in drinking water. Erie County Technical School hosts sign-on day for graduating seniors We are continuously looking for ways to improve our products and help to provide cleaner, safe drinking water to students to help minimize the amount of lead, micro-plastics and newer entrants such as P-FOS from all types of water infrastructure, said Matt Lawrence, director of product and engineering for Zurn Elkay. We know that we cant do that without the support of partnerships such as Zurn Elkay. Theyve been instrumental in making sure our students have access, and were very grateful, said Dr. Natalyn Gibbs, incoming superintendent of Eries Public Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, faucets in the districts culinary center will be fitted with Elkay filtration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. A delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chief Negotiator for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), Yalchin Rafiyev, visited the Republic of Cuba on May 22 to strengthen diplomatic ties, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA. According to information, the visit included meetings with Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo, Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba responsible for multilateral affairs, and ambassadors of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states accredited in Havana. Rafiyev also gave an interview to Cubas "Cubavision Internacional" television channel. In the meeting with the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, expressed satisfaction with the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Cuba, particularly within international organizations. The sides exchanged views on global efforts to combat climate change and discussed the historic outcomes achieved under Azerbaijans presidency of COP29. The importance of intensifying joint efforts to further strengthen mutual collaboration was emphasized. During the meeting with the ambassadors of CARICOM member countries, Azerbaijan reiterated its strong interest in deepening relations with the Caribbean bloc. Officials highlighted Azerbaijans humanitarian and development support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during and after its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. The discussions underscored mutual interest in expanding relations between Azerbaijan and CARICOM, promoting joint initiatives, and enhancing cooperation within multilateral platforms. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A murder suspect is in custody after police say he went on a two state, two day reign of terror. Officers say 28-year-old Mike Thomas shot his girlfriend in the face in East Point, then traveled to Alabama where he shot at officers and tried to carjack someone. East Point police told Channel 2s Tom Jones that Thomas is a dangerous person. Yes sir, he is, Sgt. J. Watkins said. Detectives say Thomas traveled across state lines and continued his violent spree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A photo of Thomas shows him minutes after numerous Alabama law enforcement agencies say they worked hours to end his two-state reign of terror. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In East Point, a woman in a neighboring apartment has a bullet hole in her wall and she says she could have been hit. Neighbors recalled seeing the woman shot going door to door, pleading for help. It was so frightening I didnt want to come out, Elaine Wells said, recalling seeing so many officers out, Wells says it was May 18 when she looked out the window of her apartment on Washington Road and saw one of her neighbors in distress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just saw her running across the parking lot, holding her neck, and I saw blood coming from her face, she said. East Point police say Thomas shot his girlfriend in her head and jaw. They are searching for a motive. Officers also say this isnt his first violent episode. He has an active murder warrant in Dekalb County, Watkins said. Police say they alerted officers in Alabama that Thomas was headed their way after shooting his girlfriend. They say deputies spotted him on I-65 in Baldwin County, and Thomas led them on a chase and fired at them. They say he then carjacked the driver of an 18-wheeler and pistol-whipped her. Officers say that victims passenger, her husband, shot Thomas in the leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he still got away and hid in the woods. It took six hours to get him out. Wells thought the woman who had been shot was dead. Jones told her she survived. Shes alive. God is good, Wells said. Thomas, from Stockbridge, faces numerous charges here, including aggravated assault and convicted felon in possession of a weapon. He also faces a host of charges in Alabama, including robbery and assault. A judge set his bond at $300,000 there. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Thursdays small plane crash in Murphy Canyon is a stark reminder of how anything can happen in a moments notice. The crash, which killed at least three people and injured eight others, brings back similar memories of another deadly plane crash that rattled a Santee neighborhood in 2021. A Cessna, also heading to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, slammed into homes in a Santee neighborhood, killing two people that included a UPS employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane crash sent multiple homes up in flames, causing residents to leave their residences and also help others who were trapped in their homes. Weather equipment at Montgomery-Gibbs not working before deadly crash Jim Slaff, a son of the homeowners whose property was destroyed in Santee, told FOX 5/KUSI his parents neighbor, Michael, heard screams coming from the home, prompting him to jump into action. He said Michael broke the window and pulled his mother from the home while neighbors were able to break down the fence to rescue his stepfather who was already in the backyard. Fast forward to Murphy Canyon, military wife Cherrell Taylors next immediate thought after witnessing the crash was to go help. She and her eldest child went to ring door bells and help others whose property was on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the Murphy Canyon crash, NTSB determined the cause of the crash in Santee was due to the pilot not responding to multiple queries to climb in altitude as his aircraft drifted away from the path of its intended destination. The latest significant aircraft crash to happen in the San Diego area was in February when a military plane crashed into the San Diego Bay near Shelter Island while attempting to land. Both pilots on the plane were rescued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A grizzly bear (Photo by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Program via FLICKR | Creative Commons license). Two Montana men foraging for mushrooms in the north-central part of the state shot and killed a grizzly bear on May 21, after it reportedly charged them at close range. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the two men were not harmed during the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two local landowners were picking mushrooms about a mile north of Choteau on Wednesday evening when they came across the adult female grizzly bear, which charged them. The men shot and killed the bear at close range. I spoke to John and Justin shortly after the incident and they were both still shook up, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Christy Clark said in a press release. They told me their story and it was clear it was very traumatic. Whats important here is theyre OK. FWP officials said the female grizzly killed had a cub of the year with her at the time of the encounter, and the agency is attempting to capture the cub. This is the fourth known grizzly bear mortality in 2025, according to FWPs grizzly mortality dashboard, and the second grizzly death in Teton County this spring. The other mortality in Teton County is listed as under investigation, but FWP at the time described it as self defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dashboard was launched last year to help the agency increase transparency and educate Montanans on why grizzlies are killed or die when they are currently federally protected. Earlier this year, the federal government rejected petitions from Montana and Wyoming officials seeking to delist the species and return them to state management, a proposal that is likely to gain traction under the Trump administration. Bears are active along the Rocky Mountain Front and in areas around towns like Choteau, Ulm and Cascade. If you are experiencing conflicts with bears, please call your local FWP bear specialist. You can locate their contact information here. As bears emerge from hibernation throughout the spring, FWP officials remind all Montanans heading into frontcountry or backcountry terrain to always carry bear spray, travel in groups, make noise, and keep garbage, food and other attractants in secure bins or buildings A woman is on trial in Australia for hosting a lunch in 2023 that left three people dead. Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and is accused of purposely serving a beef Wellington made with poisonous death cap mushrooms, according to The Washington Post. Patterson has pleaded not guilty and her legal team has described the deadly meal as a terrible accident, per The Washington Post. What are death cap mushrooms? Death cap mushrooms are another name for poisonous Amanita phalloides mushrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The toxins of death cap mushrooms target the liver and kidneys, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control. If you ingest the mushrooms, initial symptoms such as nausea and vomiting appear six to twelve hours after ingestion. Your health deceptively appears to improve after those symptoms, but thats when your vital organs are actually being targeted by the toxins, the article said. Youll become very ill, experiencing jaundice and seizures, followed by coma, and sometimes culminating in death several days later, per the BCCDC. The mortality rate following consumption and prompt hospital treatment is 10% to 30%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooking does not destroy the mushrooms toxins. What is the mushroom murder case in Australia? On July 29, 2023, Patterson prepared beef Wellington for a lunch. Her guests were all relatives of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, The Washington Post reported. In the days after the lunch, Simon Pattersons parents, Don and Gail Patterson, died, as did Gail Pattersons sister, Heather Wilkinson. Wilkinsons husband, Ian Wilkinson, who was also a guest, spent weeks recovering in the hospital and ultimately survived, according to the Post. Erin Patterson also invited her estranged husband to the meal, but he declined to attend. Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died of altered liver function and multiple organ failure due to Amanita mushroom poisoning, NPR reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2023, Erin Patterson said she was devastated that the mushrooms caused the deaths of her loved ones, per a statement shared with Australias ABC. I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved, she said. In addition to alleging that she intentionally poisoned her guests, prosecutors have accused Erin Patterson of making up a cancer diagnosis, which she used as the pretense for the lunch, of visiting locations known to have death cap mushrooms beforehand and of getting rid of the food processor she used, according to The Washington Post. She is also accused of not eating the same beef Wellington as her guests and covering up the poisoning by pretending to suffer similar symptoms as her guests, per NPR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pattersons legal team has said her questioned actions stemmed from panic. She was overwhelmed by the fact that these four people had become so ill because of the food shed served to them, defense barrister Colin Mandy said during opening arguments, per The Washington Post. The trial in Australia has wrapped up its fourth week and is expected to conclude in June. Have there been other death cap mushroom deaths? This is not the first time someone has died after consuming death cap mushrooms. In 2013, a 57-year-old woman in England died after using the mushrooms in a soup she had prepared, as the BBC reported. The womans husband also ate the soup and was hospitalized but survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2016, 14 people, including an 18-month-old child, across five California counties were hospitalized as a result of consuming death caps, according to The Weather Channel. Three of the 14 died, and the child developed cerebral edema and suffered permanent neurologic sequelae. At least three of the individuals needed a liver transplant. A more recent case in California happened on December 31 in the town of Salinas. Three individuals were hospitalized after eating the mushrooms that they had purchased from a vendor on the side of the road, KSBW Action News reported. Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly set to expand the use of his Grok AI chatbot in the federal government despite conflict-of-interest concerns. According to Reuters, the chatbot will be used to analyze data, which may put sensitive information regarding millions of Americans at risk. Privacy advocates are increasingly concerned about DOGE seeming to put aside established protections. DOGE is using a customized version of Grok AI designed to go through data more efficiently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They ask questions, get it to prepare reports, give data analysis, a person familiar with the matter told the news agency. Two others added that DOGE staff have told the Department of Homeland Security to use the chatbot, even though the chatbot hasnt been approved for department use. A DHS spokesperson told Reuters that DOGE staff hadnt pushed DHS officials to use Grok. DOGE hasnt pushed any employees to use any particular tools or products, the spokesperson said. DOGE is here to find and fight waste, fraud and abuse. Grok was developed by xAI, which was started by Musk in 2023, on the social media platform now called X that he purchased the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort may cross the legal threshold of security and privacy legislation if the data used by the chatbot is sensitive or confidential, five technology and government experts told Reuters. It could make data available to Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, regarding federal contracts at agencies where the billionaire conducts business privately. The experts noted that Musk could gain an unfair advantage over other AI service providers. In its drive to eliminate fraud and waste, Musk and DOGE have accessed secure federal databases containing millions of Americans' personal information. According to the experts, such information is usually only accessible by a small number of officials because of the risk that it may be sold, lost, leaked, violate peoples privacy, or expose the U.S. to security threats. Elon Musks possible involvement in the governments alleged use of Grok AI has prompted concerns that he may personally financially benefit (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) DOGE has been in charge of the removal of thousands of federal workers; they have taken control of sensitive data systems and taken steps to dismantle entire agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive director of the privacy nonprofit Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, Albert Fox Cahn, told Reuters, Given the scale of data that DOGE has amassed and given the numerous concerns of porting that data into software like Grok, this to me is about as serious a privacy threat as you get. During the Biden administration, new policies were created to allow federal workers to use some AI platforms, such as ChatGPT by OpenAI, the chatbot Claude developed by Anthropic, and an AI tool created by Grammarly. The Department of Homeland Security also developed its own chatbot. The policy developed stated that workers could use the commercial tools for information that wasnt sensitive or confidential. Meanwhile, the internal bot could be used for more sensitive information, according to records posted on the departments site. DHS officials shut down the use of all commercial AI tools earlier this month after workers were thought to be using them along with sensitive information, two sources told the news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Musk said he would decrease his workload with DOGE to one or two days a week starting this month. He can only serve for 130 days in his current position as a special government employee. If he works part-time, he can extend his time with the government beyond May. However, Musk has said that DOGEs work will continue even after his departure. If Musk was party to decisions to use Grok, it may violate a conflict-of-interest law that prohibits officials from taking part in issues that can be to their financial benefit, former George W. Bush ethics counsel Richard Painter told Reuters. This gives the appearance that DOGE is pressuring agencies to use software to enrich Musk and xAI, and not to the benefit of the American people, he said. An embassy official cleans blood off the sidewalk at the shooting location outside of the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit - Tasos KatopodisGetty Images On Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., two young staffers from the Israeli embassy, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed after leaving a Jewish community event. Witnesses say the attacker shouted Free Palestine before opening fire. He reportedly said, I did it for Gaza. This was a targeted antisemitic attack. And tragically, this is not an isolated incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the October 7 massacre in Israel, antisemitism has surged with renewed intensity across North America. Its showing up on campuses, in protests, on social mediaand now, in the streets of the U.S. capital. Perhaps most alarming is the growing ease with which it is tolerated, rationalized, or ignored. There is a long and painful history of antisemitism being treated as an afterthoughteven in spaces devoted to human rights and justice. But this form of hate is not just persistentits shape-shifting, virulent, and, as weve seen, increasingly violent. Over the years, my work in human rightsparticularly through the Raoul Wallenberg Centrehas shown me how hate, left unchecked, mutates and spreads. In various board and leadership roles, Ive worked to help build coalitions that advance a united front against systemic racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, and other forms of hate. But make no mistake: antisemitism today demands urgent, focused attention. Thats why building meaningful alliances is not just importantits essential. Efforts like Van Jones Exodus coalition, which brings Black and Jewish leaders together to confront rising hate and promote mutual understanding, offer a blueprint for the kind of solidarity this moment demands. These coalitions dont dilute the unique dangers faced by each groupthey strengthen our collective resolve to confront them all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, we can care about Palestinian rights and still denounce antisemitism unequivocally. But doing so requires empathy. And it requires the courage to speak with clarityespecially when its inconvenient or unpopular. The victims in Washington were not symbols. They were real people, with families and futures. Their deaths must not be just another headline. Let them be a wake-up call. This is not the time for silence. It is time for clarity. And above all, its a time for courage. Lets honor those weve lost not just with griefbut with action. Lets stand togetherfirmly, unapologeticallyagainst the ancient hatred that has once again shown its deadly face. Contact us at letters@time.com. CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) A Myrtle Beach man pleaded guilty and was given the maximum sentence for assaulting a Conway police officer in 2023, the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office said Friday. Paul Charles Morphy, 60, pleaded guilty Thursday to assault on a police officer while resisting arrest and second-degree non-violent burglary before his case was set to go on trial in June. Circuit Court Judge David P. Caraker Jr. sentenced Morphy to 10 years in prison. Officers responded on Dec. 19, 2023, to a 911 call about a burglary in progress at the Advanced Car Care on Church Street in Conway, the solicitors office said. Officers spoke with the owner of the business, who said that a door of the store was open and that a 1965 Mustang was now missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers reviewed City Pole cameras in the area and were able to locate Morphy as well as the missing vehicle, according to the solicitors office. A Conway officer identified Morphy and pursued him on foot. Once Morphy was caught, he resisted arrest and tried to disarm the officer, the solicitors office said. The struggle escalated after Morphy hit the officer with a closed fist and pushed his fingers into the officers eyes. Morphy was apprehended shortly after and taken into custody without further incident. He was given the maximum sentence for the assault charge. * * * 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A nurse readies an MMR vaccine at Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) Grant Vander Vorst is at the epicenter of vaccine hesitancy in South Dakota: Just 56% of incoming kindergartners in Faulk County, where he lives, were up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella vaccination during the 2023-24 school year, which was the lowest rate of any county in the state with available data. Vander Vorst is the superintendent of Faulkton Area Schools. He said some parents are skeptical about the safety of administering multiple childhood vaccinations in a short window of time, and justifiably so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I question it myself, and a lot of others do as well, he said. Vander Vorst said his views are influenced by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic whose statements about vaccines have been called false and misleading by medical professionals. I havent looked into the research, but he obviously has, Vander Vorst said. Faulk County is not alone. Across South Dakota, vaccine hesitancy that took hold during the COVID-19 pandemic has expanded beyond skepticism of new vaccines to doubts about long-established ones, said Erin Tobin, a nurse practitioner and Republican former state senator from Winner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tobin said a growing number of parents are trusting web posts and social media influencers over local health care professionals. It used to be that I could start a discussion with a patient with the words the CDC recommends, Tobin said, referencing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and now Im cautious to use that because people dont trust the CDC. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX During the 2018-19 school year, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 96% of kindergarteners in South Dakota received all their required vaccinations. That number fell to 91% during the 2023-24 school year, the most recent year of available statewide data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health advocates are sounding the alarm about declining vaccination rates as the United States experiences its most severe measles outbreak since 2000, with over 1,000 confirmed cases across 31 states, including 12 confirmed cases in North Dakota. South Dakota has not had a confirmed case of measles so far this year, but last July, it reported its first measles case in nine years. According to the CDC, a measles vaccination rate of 95% is needed to achieve herd immunity and prevent outbreaks, given the highly contagious nature of the virus. Ten years ago, only six South Dakota counties had MMR rates below 95%, with the lowest being 80%. Now, more than 40 counties in the state are below 95%, with 12 below 80% and five below 70%. The rates could be even lower than the numbers indicate, because kindergarten-age students being homeschooled or attending other forms of alternative instruction are not required to report their vaccination status. There were 431 alternative-instruction kindergarten students statewide last fall. The MMR vaccine is a key indicator for public health, said Dr. Amy Winter, an epidemiologist at the University of Georgia College of Public Health. When MMR vaccination rates fall, it signals broader vulnerabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where there is measles, there could be other outbreaks, other infectious diseases, depending on the dearth of vaccination that may be happening, Winter said. Mark Sternhagen, a retiree who formerly taught at South Dakota State University, knows those risks well. He was born soon after the polio vaccine came out in 1955. He contracted polio before his parents were able to get him vaccinated, and has used a wheelchair ever since. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I got the vaccine, I would not have gotten polio, he said. I look at these declining rates and it just makes me sick. Sternhagen said his mother carried guilt, but he doesnt blame her. He said vaccinations in South Dakota were less accessible, and parents were less informed, but modern parents who do have access to vaccines and valid information dont have those excuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre putting your children and others children at risk, and there is no question about that, he said. Requirements and religion The first laws requiring immunization appeared in the 1800s, coinciding with the development and spread of a smallpox vaccine. In 1922, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a local governments vaccination mandate as a prerequisite to attending public school, leading states to implement similar requirements. States began allowing religious exemptions in the mid-20th century following advocacy from religious minorities, like the Christian Scientists. Adherents generally rely on prayer over medical care, and often decline to vaccinate children, according to the Harvard Divinity School. South Dakotas immunization law requires children entering school or early childhood programs to be immunized against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, rubeola, rubella, mumps, tetanus, meningitis and varicella. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are two exemptions in South Dakotas law. One is a medical exemption for children with certification from a licensed physician that immunization would threaten their life or health. Those exemptions have remained steady over the past decade at 0.2% of kindergartners or less. Theres also a religious exemption, requiring a written statement from a parent or guardian that the child is an adherent of a religious doctrine whose teachings are opposed to immunization. Religious exemptions are growing in South Dakota, where 5.4% of kindergarteners had them last school year, compared to 1.5% a decade ago. In raw numbers, thats a change from 181 kindergarteners to 636. Tobin, the nurse practitioner and former legislator, said the claiming of a religious exemption is probably not religiously motivated in many cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do think theyre using that as this all-encompassing exemption, and so its probably something they just dont believe in, but not necessarily something that is against the religion, she said. One factor contributing to South Dakotas declining vaccination trend is falling rates among Hutterite people, members of a communal branch of the Anabaptist faith who have dozens of agricultural-based colonies in the state. During the 2019-20 school year, six of the approximately 50 Hutterite colony elementary schools in the state reported vaccination rates of 0%. Thirty-two of them did so during the 2023-24 school year. There are questions about the validity of the data. A state Department of Health dashboard shows some Hutterite colony schools with 0% of their kindergarten students vaccinated, but also shows some of those same schools with less than 100% of the students claiming a religious or medical exemption. South Dakota Searchlight asked the Department of Health and the Department of Education to explain the discrepancy but did not receive a full explanation from either department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Searchlight followed-up by asking the departments what the state is doing to address the discrepancies. If any students are identified as neither vaccinated nor exempted (medical or religious), the accreditation team identifies that as a finding, which requires the school district to resolve the deficit, Department of Education spokeswoman Nancy Van Der Weide said in written statement. If the school takes action to correct the situation within the allotted timeframe, the district receives accreditation. If they fail to do so, the school may be placed on probation or ultimately suspended. As of Friday, Van Der Weide had not identified which schools, if any, are currently on probation or facing suspension over vaccination exemption issues. Upland Colony Elementary near Letcher, within the Sanborn Central School District, is one such school where the data does not add up. Laura Licht is an administrative assistant with the district. She said students at the colony have filed exemptions, and the data may not be getting pulled properly by the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vander Vorst said his school district of 36 kindergarteners includes three Hutterite colony schools in its borders, and he said that likely contributes to the countys low vaccination rate. The numbers show that Faulkton Area Schools kindergarten vaccination rate for required immunizations was 77% last year, while the rates for the three colony schools in the district ranged from zero to 50%. Josh Oltmanns, CEO and elementary principal of Hanson School District, echoed that. The vaccination rate among kindergarteners at Hanson Elementary last year was 94%. The rates at the districts colony schools were as low as 50%. Id bet, if you look, a lot of these lower school districts have colonies, Oltmanns said. And thats within those peoples rights. Its unclear why Hutterite people would be less supportive of vaccinations now than previously. South Dakota Searchlight made multiple calls to Hutterite colonies and to educators who serve Hutterite students, but most were unwilling to speak about the potential reasons for vaccine hesitancy. An academic who studies the Hutterite faith said he doesnt know why vaccination rates at colonies would be falling. At one colony, a member who declined to provide her name said hesitancy is driven by the number of vaccines now being given to children. Theyve added so many more, she said. Its a risk we dont want to take. Answering concerns Medical professionals say those fears are unfounded. The CDC says vaccines contain weakened or killed versions of germs that cause a disease. These elements of vaccines, and other molecules and micro-organisms that stimulate the immune system, are called antigens. Dr. Allie Alvine, founder of South Dakota Families for Vaccines, said children encounter more antigen exposure during one play session in a sandbox than during an entire vaccine schedule. And the ones we expose a child to via vaccination are proven to be good for them, Alvine said. What we expose them to is targeted and saves lives. Dr. Ashley Sands, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases with Sanford Health, said parents are more frequently asking questions about the efficacy of vaccinations. She finds herself debunking some of Kennedys claims, like rumored links between vaccines and autism. The claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism originated from a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield, which was discredited due to serious methodological flaws, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and ethical violations. Multiple large-scale studies since then have found no credible evidence supporting the claim. Wakefield lost his medical license, and his paper was retracted. The medical community can read the research it conducts, Sands said. Is it not far more likely Kennedy, who has never done medical research nor formally studied medicine, is misinterpreting or misrepresenting the data? Sands emphasized that vaccination recommendations are built on decades of peer-reviewed and replicated research. A good doctor is keeping up with the medical journals pertinent to their field and adjusting patient recommendations as our shared science evolves, Sands said. Meanwhile, Kennedy is using his position to push conspiracies. Sands also hears parents romanticize natural immunity over vaccination. She warns that natural infection with diseases like measles can be deadly. Plus, infants and immunocompromised people rely on those around them to be immune, blocking the diseases spread. If enough people are vaccinated, the disease cant reach those most at risk. A child with cancer should have the freedom to go to school without being exposed to illnesses that are easily preventable, Sands said. Vaccinations and Pierre politics Alvine said vaccine misinformation has taken hold in South Dakota politics. She cited recent failed legislation targeting vaccines, including bills promoting conscience exemptions to vaccination mandates and separating blood donations based on COVID-19 vaccination status all based on misinformation, Alvine said. They prey on parents fears, Alvine said. Once you instill fear, its hard to fix that. Republican House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach of Spearfish voted for the conscience exemptions bill. He said the trust the science phase of COVID is why people are more vaccine hesitant. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US I think wisdom is needed to make the distinction between true public health emergencies and those situations, more often, where personal bodily autonomy has to remain inviolate, Odenbach said. Alvine said shes trying to educate people to accept vaccines, not force them against their will. Anytime we can save a childs life, to grow up and live, its worth it, she said. Its not, Most kids will get through it and be fine. They will be miserable. A portion will get lifelong, deadly diseases stemming from measles, and some will even die. Nearly every child in the U.S. caught measles before the vaccine became available in 1963. In 2000, health officials declared measles eliminated in the U.S. thanks to nearly universal vaccination. The South Dakota Department of Health declined an interview for this story but provided a statement noting the downward trend in childhood vaccinations is concerning. The department highlighted ongoing marketing efforts, refreshed ad campaigns, and 1,700 more total immunizations combined among children and adults administered in 2024 than 2023. We can have a positive impact on all health outcomes, including childhood vaccination rates, by addressing access to care, social drivers of health care outcomes, and public awareness campaigns, the department said. President Donald Trumps federal spending cuts have included $1.7 million in reduced or eliminated grants to the department, including $83,500 labeled as being for immunizations and vaccines for children. Days after the president signed a bill focused on curbing revenge porn, Nancy Maces former political adviser has accused the South Carolina lawmaker of displaying nude photos taken by her ex-fiance to extort two properties out of him. In an April deposition tied to a Charleston County civil case, veteran strategist Wesley Donehue said that Mace intended to use all the information that she found as leverage to gain 100 percent ownership of homes the former couple had in Washington and South Carolinas Isle of Palms. During a House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday, Mace showcased what she described as her naked silhouette from a video taken by Patrick Bryant without her consent. Mace said that in 2023, she discovered a trove of hidden-camera nude images of women that she claimed were taken by Byrant, also without those womens consent. Mace displayed some of the images of the other women in the hearing, though she said she had gotten permission from them to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing the example of her ex-lover, Mace encouraged the committee to pass two pieces of legislation she introduced in February centered on further prohibiting video voyeurism and expanding a civil right of action for victims. In a statement, Bryant denied Maces false and outrageous claims, specifying that he had not raped or harmed anyone and that he had never hidden cameras. My mistake was loving and trusting someone who later weaponized our relationship, Bryant wrote. Nancy Mace made these claims only while standing in Congress, purportedly shielded by legal immunity, the Charleston-area businessman continued. If she believed them to be true and there was evidence to support her accusations, she would say them outside the chamberaway from her public role and protections and pursue them through proper legal channels. She has not done so, because she cannot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Donehueper an 81-page depositionappeared squarely against Maces record of events. I dont believe a word that comes out of Nancy Maces mouth about anything, said Donehue, who claimed to have known Mace for years. Donehue further painted Mace as an individual keen to play the victim card in order to get what she wants. And that has nothing to do with this specific incident. I just believe that Nancy Mace will say and do anything for personal and political gain. From Donehues perspective, the photos on Bryants phone became an issue when Mace discovered he had dating apps downloaded, prompting concerns that the entrepreneur was cheating on her. Nancy talks about her sex life in a way that Ive never heard a client or a woman talk, he continued. Its like every conversation would devolve into whats going on in her sex life. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The open court session continued on May 23 at the Baku Military Court in the criminal case against Armenian citizens Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. They stand accused of crimes against peace and humanity, including war crimes, preparing and waging aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and other grave offenses arising from Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (alternate judge Gunel Samadova), the court ensured that each defendant had legal representation and interpretation in their native language. The session was attended by the accused, their lawyers, some victims and their legal successors, as well as state prosecutors. Defendant Levon Mnatsakanyan confirmed his involvement in the occupation of Azerbaijans sovereign territories. Mnatsakanyan stated that he had served for many years as a battalion commander, division commander, and artillery chief in the separatist entity. In response to questions from state prosecutor Fuad Musayev, the defendant admitted that he participated in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories as part of a military unit led by Samvel Karapetyan. I engaged in combat operations in Aghdam, Jabrayil, Aghdara, Fuzuli, and other areas, he said. During the session, video evidence confirming the involvement of foreign individuals in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories as part of the Shusha Separate Battalion was examined. According to the footage, the Shusha Separate Battalion - comprising over 210 dashnaks and volunteers from the United States, Canada, Syria, and Armeniawas established on November 5, 1991. The materials also confirmed that 65 out of 100 members of the Armenian diaspora who participated in the so-called liberation of Karabakh were members of this battalion. The video footage features a soldier of the occupying Armenian army putting flowers at the monument to Petros Ghevondyan. According to the footage, Jirayr Sefilyan was born in Beirut in 1967. He returned to his homeland in 1990 to join the struggle. As a military instructor, he also involved in the formation of local self-defense groups in various regions of Armenia since 1990. In 1991, as a group commander, he was also involved in the defense of settlements in several regions of Karabakh. In 1992, one of the first units was established in Karabakh on the basis of the Dashnaktsutyun combat groups, and a few months later, the Shusha Separate Battalion of the army of the former so-called regime was formed on its basis. Throughout the war, Jirayr Sefilyan was the commander of this military unit. Under his leadership, the units of that military unit participated in the occupation of all regions of Karabakh, including Aghdam. The footage also shows that 65 out of 100 members of the Armenian diaspora who participated in the so-called liberation of Karabakh were members of this battalion. Following the war, J. Sefilyan was the commander of the 6th defense district from 1997 to 1998. He was honored with the 1st degree Battle Cross medal (of the Republic of Armenia - ed.), other combat medals and state awards. He holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the armed forces of Armenia. According to the footage, Movses Hakobyan (who served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia in 2016-2018 - ed.) highlighted the operations of their military units, saying that they participated in battles, especially in the Horadiz direction: The officers serving today can see on the map that we have advanced deep into the enemy in the direction of Garakhanbayli. The battalion involved in the operations in Asgaran, Shusha, Khojavand, Aghdara, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Kalbajar and Zangilan. David Ishkhanyan is also captured in the footage. Defendant David Manukyan, identifying himself in the video, acknowledged his participation in the Aghdara and Kalbajar operations. In response to a question from Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev, Manukyan stressed that the battalion did not include mercenaries but rather foreign individuals. Defendant David Manukyan, who responded to the questions by examining the video materials, once again confirmed that the person in the presented scenes was him, stating that he was involved in the combat operations conducted in Aghdara and Kalbajar as part of the Shusha battalion. The accused avoided answering questions about the plundering of Azerbaijani territories during the occupation. In responding to the questions from public prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, In what operations did you participate in 1993-1994?, accused Arayik Harutyunyan underscored that he did not involve in the combat operations because he could not open fire due to his health issues. I was the one in charge of the weapons depot of the central defense district of the 8th regiment located in Khankendi. The 8th regiment involved in almost all combat operations - in the battles of Shusha, Lachin, Aghdara, Aghdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Kalbajar, Horadiz. My brother was also one of the commanders of that regiment. The commander of the regiment was Samvel Karapetyan. I have known him since January 1993, he added. Then, a video footage was shown, followed by questions to Arayik Harutyunyan. According to the footage, A. Harutyunyan, who gave an interview to the journalist, highlighted the procedure for conducting combat operations and his first meeting with Samvel Karapetyan, saying: My first meeting with my next commander (Samvel Karapetyan - ed.) was on May 7, 1992. At that time, we were planning an operation to enter Shusha on May 9. Everything ended successfully, we liberated Shusha. One scene featured the defendant sitting on the tank along with Samvel Karapetyan, and observing the area through binoculars. Responding to the questions from state prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, A. Harutyunyan rejected the things he said in a video calling it a lie, adding that he was speaking on behalf of his brother. Commenting on his remarks in the video regarding the seizing of the Gulluja village the defendant said: When I said we have entered the Gulluja village, I meant the 8th regiment. The defendant also identified himself on most of the photos demonstrated in court, featuring him wearing the military uniform. Tugay Rahimli, Assistant to the Prosecutor General for Special Assignments, asked the defendant what was the reason behind not implementing the UN-adopted resolutions. Harutyunyan responded by saying: There was a decision concerning this matter. However, I know nothing on why it was not implemented. I have also met with Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and have understood that there was no unanimity on this issue. Responding to the questions from state prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, the defendant confirmed his participation at one of the two meetings held between Armenia and the so-called regime in 2018-2019: I assumed the office as president in May of 2020. In June of that year I requested Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to convene a meeting. I wanted the negotiations with Azerbaijan to take place and the final agreement to be reached. This conversation also covered the four UN resolutions. While responding to the question from state prosecutor Vusal Aliyev regarding the looting of the former occupied Azerbaijani territories, Harutyunyan described the destruction of the Azerbaijani cemeteries as barbarism. Defendant David Babayan avoided answering the questions from state prosecutors regarding who was the occupant forces mentioned in the UN Security Council resolutions. One of Arkadi Ghukasyans defenders requested his substitution from court due to the health issues. Ghukasyan raised no objections regarding the substitution of the defender. The court adopted the decision of appointing new defender for the defendant, and sent it to the Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding its implementation. During the court hearing, the defendants also responded to the questions from the defenders, and representatives of the victims. The next court hearing is scheduled for May 26. The defendants Arayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayan are charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and other articles. Memorial Day events in Middle Tennessee this weekend include patriotic ceremonies, cemetery cleanups, placing flags on the graves of veterans and family-focused gatherings like the Nashville Zoo's Spring Zzzoofari Slumber Campout. Here are some of the top community events to attend through the holiday weekend. Field of Honor (Mt. Juliet, May 22-26): A poignant "Field of Honor" display, with a patriotic formation of 350 flags, will celebrate fallen service members in Mt. Juliet for the 13th year at 22 East Division St. Sponsors can purchase flags in memory of a veteran. Proceeds are given to programs and charities supported by event hosts The Exchange Club of Wilson County and American Legion Post 281. Hundreds showed up at Cave Hill Cemetery on Friday, May 23, to place flags at the headstones of fallen soldiers ahead of Memorial Day. Stones River National Cemetery (May 25, Murfreesboro): Youth groups will place flags on the more than 7,000 gravestones at the Stones River National Cemetery on Saturday. The cemetery will also host a ceremony honoring the fallen soldiers that is open to all visitors May 25 at 1:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville National Cemetery (May 26, Nashville): The Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting commemoration ceremonies at roughly 130 of its national cemeteries Memorial Day, including at 11 a.m. at the Nashville National Cemetery. Earlier this week, volunteers cleaned up the Nashville National Cemetery and placed flowers on the graves of the veterans buried there through Project Valor, which was developed by Heroes Vodka to ensure those buried at the Nashville cemetery are properly honored. Memorial Day services will also be held at the Williamson County Veterans Park in Franklin at 10 a.m. and the Cheatham County Veterans Memorial Park at 11 a.m. Memorial Day family events Memorial Day Dash 5K (Nashville, May 26): The 25th annual Memorial Day Dash 5K begins at 7:30 a.m. May 26 at Adventure Science Center in Nashville. The Nashville City Cemetery Association and the Metro Historical Commission host the run, which starts at the Adventure Science Center and loops through Fort Negley Historic Park and Nashville City Cemetery. Hundreds showed up at Cave Hill Cemetery on Friday, May 23, to place flags at the headstones of fallen soldiers ahead of Memorial Day. Memorial Day Fun Run (Gallatin, May 26): The Memorial Day Fun Run begins at 7 a.m. May 26 in Gallatin on the Station Camp Greenway at the intersection of Bison Trail and Lower Station Camp Creek Road. The event is free, but donations will support the Cumberland Crisis Pregnancy Center. Spring Zzzoofari Slumber Campout (Nashville, May 24): You can camp in the Nashville Zoo on May 24, with activities that night and breakfast the next morning. The event costs $65 for non-members and $45 for members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryman Community Day (Nashville, May 25): Tennessee residents can tour the Ryman Auditorium for free on May 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be food trucks, live music, games and family-friendly activities including on-site printmaking from Hatch Show Print. Nashville Shores fireworks (Nashville, May 25): Fireworks are scheduled to begin at dusk, roughly 8:30 p.m., at Nashville Shores on May 25. Hendersonville Hometown Jam (Hendersonville, May 26): Hendersonville Parks and Recreation is hosting a a Memorial Day concert at Veterans Park this Memorial Day beginning at 4 p.m. The show, featuring bluegrass band The Isaacs, is free. Gates open at 3 p.m. Memorial Day Kayak Float (Montgomery Bell State Park, May 26): A relaxing kayak float in Montgomery Bell State Park, about 45 minutes west of Nashville, begins 4:30 p.m. The event costs $15 per person, and you can register online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Nashville Beer Works Memorial Day Cookout (Nashville, May 26): East Nashville Beer Works is hosting a family-friendly cookout from noon to 10 p.m. with beer brats and hot dogs, as well as their normal full menu. Fat Bottom Brewing (Nashville, May 26): Another family-friendly event at a brewery, Fat Bottom Brewing will open at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day. The brewery will have live music, happy hour specials all day and is giving 50% off to all veterans and active military. There will be a face painter for kids, too. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Memorial Day 2025: How Nashville, Middle TN will honor holiday A decades-old mystery that spans continents is getting renewed attention after a recent arrest in Northeast Florida. Tina Grogan and her two sons, 6-year-old Dale Jr. and 4-year-old Stephon, disappeared from a U.S. Army base in Wurzburg, Germany, in November 1992. Now, more than 30 years later, new information stemming from an arrest in Nassau County has led to the reopening of their case. Photo: Project: Cold Case >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is offering a $15,000 reward for credible information that leads to an arrest and conviction in connection with their disappearance or death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a snapshot of the cold case victims, said Ryan Backmann, founder of Project: Cold Case. Since then, its grown to over 1,800 victims, and theres so many they cant all fit on this banner. Grogans niece, Arielle Garcia, said the family never got answers. He never reported them missing. Or her running away, Garcia said. Grogans husband, Dale Grogan, was stationed in Germany at the time. He was later discharged from the military and moved to Jacksonville. Her sister, Shannon Ballenger, described Tinas relationship with Dale - her high school sweetheart - as rocky. It wouldve been a blessing to have my sister, and to love her kids and for her to meet my kids and love my kids, Ballenger said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2025, Dale Grogan was arrested by the Nassau County Sheriffs Office for traveling to meet a minor. That arrest caught the attention of the Army CID Cold Case Unit, which then reopened the long-dormant disappearance case. No, he has not been arrested or charged with the disappearance, said Ryan Backmann, with Project: Cold Case. But he was picked up in Nassau County in January for another offense, which is what seems to have started the ball rolling. He made some statements, is my understanding, after his arrest that were enough to get the Army to reopen the investigation into Tina and the boys disappearance. For Ballenger, the pain has never faded but neither has her determination to find the truth. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy on his soul, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Project: Cold Case has helped families across nearly every state in the U.S. find answers and keep unsolved cases alive in the public eye. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Memorial Day one of the federal holidays set aside to honor veterans, in this case, those who died while serving their country is often associated with the American flags volunteers and loved ones place at grave sites. To some, another symbol also comes to mind: the poppy. You may even see American Legion Auxiliary volunteers this weekend, hundreds of whom are fanned out outside grocery stores to give away poppies to wear. The volunteers handmade many of the poppies out of wire and red tissue paper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I encourage all Michiganders to honor all of America's veteran" the American Legion Department of Michigan Poppy chairwoman said, adding that she hoped they "wear a poppy with pride." Throughout the Memorial Day weekend, the American Legion gives away hand-made, red poppies, a symbol of the sacrifices veterans have made in war. The poppy is more commonly tied to veteran remembrances in Europe, partly because of the World War I poem, "In Flanders Fields." However, it also has North American roots, and you might see people wearing the roundish, red flower on a lapel especially on Friday. A Canadian physician serving in the war penned the short poem that inspired the Memorial Day connection to the poppy. An American professor wrote her own poem and promoted the flower as a symbol of remembrance. The American Legion a war veterans group based in Indianapolis, Indiana promotes National Poppy Day, held the Friday before Memorial Day, to raise awareness for the holiday, the last Monday of May, and keep alive the memory of those who served and sacrificed for their country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Legion, which has about 375 posts across the state, welcomes $1 donations for them, which go to fund scholarships, but the organization said, financial contributions are not required or expected. John McCrae, the author of "In Flanders Fields," wrote the poem after attending the funeral of a fellow soldier who died in battle in Belgium. It was first published in England's Punch magazine in 1915 and in the voice of the those who died during the war. It urges those still living to remember them so the dead can rest in peace. "In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row, / That mark our place; and in the sky / The larks, still bravely singing, fly / Scarce heard amid the guns below, and goes on to memorize the dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are the Dead. Short days ago / We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, / Loved and were loved, and now we lie, / In Flanders fields. "Take up our quarrel with the foe: / To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high. / If ye break faith with us who die / We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields." More: DNR to Memorial Day travelers: Be prepared for a shock Up North "In Flanders Fields" became one of the most quoted poems from the war with, even decades later, school children memorizing it. Flanders Field was a common name for battlefields in Belgium and France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Europe, unlike America where bodies often are returned, the tradition is to bury the dead near where they fell. The wild-growing poppies, which the poem describes, were not only growing between the graves but had other symbolic meaning. Like the young lives that were lost in war, the flowers dont last long. The poppies are red, for the blood that was spilled. And the poppy has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties it is even used to make opium which perhaps, to those who survive, is a reminder of war's the pain and the need to be healed. After the war, Moina Michael, a University of Georgia professor, promoted the poppy as a flower of remembrance and even became known as the "Poppy Lady" for her efforts, receiving several honors, including a 1948 postage stamp with her likeness on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also wrote her own memorial poem, "We Shall Keep the Faith," which alluded to McCrae's but is from the perspective of the living, ending with a promise to the fallen: "Fear not that ye have died for naught; / We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This story was updated with additional information. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: National Poppy Day is Friday before Memorial Day: What it recognizes KANSAS CITY, Mo. The National WWI Museum and Memorials newest exhibit opens Friday in Kansas City. The new exhibit, titled Encounters, showcases various narratives of the Great War using state-of-the-art visual storytelling, the museum says. Encounters will share first-person accounts of 16 different soldiers and individuals involved in the war using their diaries, letters and photos. Joes Blog: Wet-ish weekend ahead (FRI-5/23) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the museum, the visuals and accounts include: Allied and Central Power soldiers on the Western Front and in submarines. British and colonial Indian soldiers contemplating death and the futility of war. Women working in factories in support of the war effort. Dissenters who were arrested and tried for protesting the war. Encounters took three years to complete in a process of reinvigorating to museum and memorial, the museum said in a news release. The new additions feature a new lower level and open storage center, updates to the main gallery, including 14 new interactive screens, three new films, new lighting and effects, updated trenches and a realistic replica field hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This weekend in honor of Memorial Day, admission will be free for active-duty and veterans. The public will receive half-price admission as well. For more information on the WWI Museum and Memorial, its new features and events held at the museum, 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The Navy is working with the Defense Innovation Unit to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to process the vast quantity of data it receives and make sense of it for commanders. In a May 22 notice, DIU said it is looking for AI and machine learning applications that can speed up data processing times at the Navys Marine Operations Centers, which take in information gathered by platforms in space, at sea, in the air and through intelligence reports and other means. Currently, Maritime Operations Centers (MOCs) must manage and analyze large volumes of multi-source data generated across the fleet to make critical resource allocation decisions for geographically dispersed fleet and national assets, DIU said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposals for the program, dubbed Situational Awareness by Intelligent Learning Systems, or SAILS, are due June 6. Marine Operations Centers serve as logistics hubs for maritime systems providing everything from engineering to maintenance support. New AI tools could give operators better insights and help commanders determine how to best distribute resources across Navy systems located around the world. The Navy last September released a Navigation Plan that lays out a roadmap to counter threats from China and other adversaries. As part of that plan, the service calls for better integration of autonomy and robotics, including AI and machine learning. We are working now on concept and requirements analysis for larger robotic systems, as well as the artificial intelligence applications that help us sense and make sense of a complex, information-centric battlespace, the plan states, later adding, By 2027, we will integrate proven robotic and autonomous systems for routine use by the commanders who will employ them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specific applications listed in DIUs solicitation include workflow automation tools that could make it easier to process approvals and standardize data entry, machine learning models that evaluate how a platform is performing and applications that make resourcing recommendations that account for things like geographic constraints and sensor reliability. DIU further notes that proposed applications should be user friendly for MOC operators and modular in design so that they can integrate with a range of current and future Defense Department systems. ASUNCION, Paraguay, May 23 (UPI) -- Recently declassified files suggest that Nazi criminals may have paid $200 million in gold bribes to Argentine authorities to secure refuge in the country after World War II. The files indicate German submarines transported the gold to Argentina's southern coast, where it was delivered to Eva Duarte, wife of then-President Juan Domingo Peron. The money was reportedly later handled by German bankers Richard von Frente, Ricardo Stauch and Rodolf Freude. The released material includes 1,850 documents compiled into seven files dating from 1950 to 1980. The records confirm that Third Reich fugitives arrived in Argentina beginning in 1945 with the protection of Peron, and that their arrival was not isolated but part of a larger effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nazi ideology had gained notable support in Argentina as early as the 1930s. On April 10, 1938, nearly 10,000 people attended a rally organized by the German embassy at Luna Park stadium in Buenos Aires. Peron was reportedly an admirer of fascist aspects of Nazi Germany. "The German government encouraged that sympathy by promising major trade concessions after the war. Argentina was full of Nazi spies. Argentine officers and diplomats held important posts in Axis Europe," said Christopher Minster, a Latin American history and literature expert, in an interview with ThoughtCo. Among the most prominent Nazis who found refuge in Argentina were Josef Mengele, known as the "Angel of Death," Adolf Eichmann, one of the main architects of the Holocaust and leader of the so-called "Final Solution," and Josef Schwammberger, who commanded the Krakow concentration camp from 1942 to 1944. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mengele evaded capture for years, living under a false identity in Argentina and Paraguay. He drowned off a Brazilian beach in 1979 and was buried under the name Wolfgang Gerhard. Eichmann was captured by Mossad in a covert operation and brought to Israel, where he was tried and executed by hanging on June 1, 1962. He had entered Argentina under the alias Ricardo Klement. Schwammberger was arrested in 1987 and extradited to Germany, where he was sentenced to life in prison. Richard Engel penned an emotional personal essay about the first-ever personalized gene-editing treatment, which potentially could have saved his son Henry's life The NBC News chief foreign correspondent announced with a post on X in August 2022 that he lost his son after a years-long battle with Rett Syndrome Engel is also a father to son Theodore, 5, whom he shares with his wife Mary Richard Engel candidly shared his emotions about a recent medical breakthrough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After reading a New York Times report about a baby being healed from a rare genetic disorder with the first-ever personalized gene-editing treatment, the NBC News chief foreign correspondent, 51, penned an emotional personal essay about how the new medical breakthrough could have potentially saved his son Henry's life, who died in 2022 after being diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. "I wished I could have broken the story with Henry as patient zero," he wrote in the essay published on TODAY. "I had imagined the roll-out too, coming back on the set of TODAY with Henry and his mother Mary, who has written about Henrys life and losing him for TODAY.com." "Wed sit with Savanah Guthrie, who has been supporting ongoing research using Henrys cells, and talk cautiously, hopefully and thankfully about the progress we were seeing," continued Engel. "I allowed myself to imagine saying that Henry was starting to speak. He had been awakened, cured and reborn. There wouldnt be a dry eye in the studio." 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. "I never got to do that story about Henry. Sometimes our timelines dont overlap with scientific progress. They rarely do," he wrote. "Mary and I are full of nothing but joy that from now on, so many other families will be able to write new and wonderful stories of their own." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The journalist first announced with a post on X in August 2022 that his 6-year-old son had died after a years-long battle with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe physical and cognitive impairments and has no cure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Henry, whom Richard shares with his wife Mary, died on Aug. 9, according to a memorial page on the Texas Children's Hospital website. "Our beloved son Henry passed away. He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle. We always surrounded him with love and he returned it, and so much more," Engel wrote, before giving another update in a follow-up post, "Researchers are making amazing progress using Henry's cells to help cure Rett Syndrome so others don't have to endure this terrible disease." Henry was first diagnosed with the disorder in 2017. Engel spoke to PEOPLE in January 2018 about his son's diagnosis, noting at the time that his son was "probably not going to walk, probably not going to speak, probably not going to have any mental capacity beyond the level of a 2-year-old." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months later, in October 2018, the journalist opened up in a candid essay for Today about his family's harrowing journey and his son's condition. At the time, Engel said it was getting "increasingly difficult" to help Henry keep active "because of basic physics," as the parents had to move their son constantly to help keep him engaged in his surroundings something that led Engel's wife Mary to start "working out like mad" to keep up with the physical demands of parenting. Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Richard and Mary Engel with their son Henry The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! In August 2019, Engel and his wife welcomed another little boy, son Theodore, into their family and spoke with PEOPLE about the adjustment at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engel said that it would be "difficult" to watch baby Theo pass their son Henry, 3 at the time, with certain developmental milestones. "We know why there is this differential. And it's going to be hard to watch Theo pass his older brother in terms of capabilities," he said. "That's going to be very difficult for us to see. To see a 1-month-old very soon overcoming his almost-4-year-old brother that's going to be tough." Read the original article on People RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) May is National Water Safety Month and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reminding residents to take proactive steps to enjoy outdoor activities safely. Every North Carolinian deserves to enjoy the summer season without risk to their health or safety, said Dr. Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. By taking small, thoughtful actions like supervising children near water, staying cool during extreme heat and practicing safe grilling we can all stay safe this summer. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NCDHHS urges everyone to keep these water safety practices in mind: Actively Supervise: Drowning can happen silently and in seconds. Always keep a close eye on children near water. Secure Pool Areas: Keep gates and doors closed and locked. Remove pool ladders when not in use. Know the Water: Be aware of currents, depth changes and undertows at beaches, lakes and rivers. Stay Healthy: Dont swim when ill with diarrhea to prevent spreading germs. Check Water Quality: Ensure pools are properly disinfected. Local health departments routinely inspect public pools, spas and splash pads. Be Cautious in All Recreational Waters: Lakes and rivers may carry bacteria or harmful algae blooms. Check advisories before swimming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (NewsNation) A new study is bringing renewed attention to one of the United States most fragile support systems: caregiving. Researchers at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health, in a study sponsored by Otsuka American Pharmaceutical, found that nearly half of all U.S. states are at risk of falling into a caregiving crisis. The warning comes amid a national shortage of care professionals and growing pressure on families providing unpaid support. US short nearly two million care workers According to the report, the U.S. is currently short 1.8 million care workers, including both medical and non-medical roles, ranging from personal care assistants to registered nurses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Type 2 diabetes: Can it be reversed? Healthcare occupations are projected to grow faster than the average through 2033, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. On average, about 1.9 million openings are projected each year, driven by both new job growth and the need to replace workers who leave the field permanently. At the same time, demand is surging due to longer life spans, rising illnesses and aging baby boomers. More than 53 million Americans already provide unpaid care to a loved one. Of those, 60% also have jobs and nearly three in ten have quit a job due to the demands of caregiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its often unpaid work. They have to take time off from their work, their lives. They have to give up hobbies, friendships, said Dr. Rehan Aziz, an eldercare specialist. Regional disparities in risk The report found that support for family caregivers varies widely. Based on caregiver supply, Medicare support, and demographics, the study found the most critical states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The report also found 16 states to be high risk for caregiving collapse. Among them are three of the nations most populous: Texas, California and Pennsylvania. As care costs rise faster than wages, even middle-class families are feeling the strain. The financial and emotional toll, the study found, is already compromising the health and stability of millions of households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US family diagnosed with disease linked to bats in Costa Rican caves Theres actually a very high rate of depression among caregivers. Its almost 30 to 50%, and we believe that this high rate of depression is because the work is not supported, Aziz said. Call for federal and state action The study urges state and federal officials to invest in stronger support systems, including paid leave, flexible workplace policies and stronger Medicaid coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. LINCOLN, Neb. (KCAU) Nebraksa Governor Jim Pillen signed the 2025-2027 State Biennium Budget, but there are some items he vetoed and sent back to state lawmakers. The $11 billion budget will cover fiscal year 2025-26 and fiscal year 2026-27. In his veto letter on Wednesday, Governor Pillen thanked the lawmakers for their work creating a fiscally conservative budget, which closed a projected $432 million shortfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency management urges Governor Reynolds to veto 911 bill The four-line item vetoes the governor issued in which he made changes to the budget include: nearly $12 million in reduction to the budget increase for the states Supreme Court, cut $1 million from public health departments, and take almost $512,000 from the state Fire Marshal for salary and health insurance premium increases. As with all current decisions surrounding our state budget, as stewards of the publics resources we must prioritize what is necessary over what would be nice to have. We must be conservative in good times as well as during fiscally challenging times. Reducing spending is hard work, but Nebraskans expect us to exercise common sense and discretion in achieving a balanced, fair and operative budget, said Gov. Pillen. On Thursday, the Nebraska Unicameral said the governors office sent the bills LB 261e and LB 264e to the Secretary of States office instead of the Clerk of the Legislatures Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the states constitution, the governor has five calendar days, excluding Sunday, to sign, veto, or line-item veto appropriations within the budget. Two college graduates are back teaching in their hometown of Sioux City Speaker John Arch said the measures were not delivered to the legislature by the five-day deadline of May 21, adding the Unicameral cannot accept the vetoes. Laura Strimple, the communications director for the Office of Governor Pillen released a statement on the state legislature rejected the vetoes. Strimple said the governor took action on LB 261e at 1:08 p.m. and LB 264e at 1:10 p.m. on May 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As has been past practice, copies of the actions and the bill were made and delivered and received by the Clerks Office on the evening of the 21st, said Strimple. Through this process, the Governor clearly took the legally required steps to exercise his veto authority by surrendering physical possession and the power to approve or reject the bills. The governors office will consult with the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office and other counsel on next steps to effectuate the law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Todays announcement by European Council President Antonio Costa - that the 2028 European Political Community (EPC) Summit will be held in Azerbaijan - is more than just international news. Its a clear political signal of trust and recognition. The decision to host the EPC Summit in Baku is the result of the active, consistent, and strategic diplomacy led by President Ilham Aliyev over the past several years. On May 16, President Ilham Aliyev took part in the 6th EPC Summit in Tirana. His strong presence in key discussions and a packed schedule of high-level meetings demonstrated that Azerbaijan is no longer on the sidelines - its now a vital player in Europes political landscape. Until recently, some doubted the strength of EU-Azerbaijan relations. But Bakus steady, principle-based approach has shifted perceptions. In Tirana, President Ilham Aliyev met with the Presidents of Moldova and Turkiye, the Prime Ministers of the UK, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as well as with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Notably, these meetings were initiated by the European side - a meaningful diplomatic signal and a reflection of growing respect for Azerbaijans role. In recent years, Azerbaijan has become an essential partner for the EU on energy, logistics, and regional security. More than ten European countries now receive gas via the Southern Gas Corridor, helping cushion the impact of the energy crisis across the continent. Azerbaijan is also a critical transit hub. It handles uranium shipments from Kazakhstan, container trains from China, and strategic cargo from Central Asia. No major East-West infrastructure project can move forward without Azerbaijan - and Brussels knows it. Europe increasingly sees Azerbaijan not just as a partner, but as a bridge connecting regions, energy systems, and strategic interests. One of the most important areas of cooperation has become the development of the Middle Corridora trade route linking China and Europe via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus. Investments in ports, railways, shipbuilding, and airports are already delivering results. Despite being landlocked, Azerbaijan has emerged as one of Eurasias key logistics hubs. Next on the agenda is the export of green energy. A project to deliver clean electricity to Europe via the Black Sea is already undergoing technical assessment. Once again, Azerbaijans participation is indispensable. The informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest on May 21 was another sign of Azerbaijans growing global standing. The fact that the meeting was held in a European capital, with President Ilham Aliyev in attendance, showed that Europe acknowledges the OTS as an emerging force - and that Baku plays a central role in its rise. EPC Summits are not just about speeches and official sessions. They are platforms for informal, candid dialogue among leaders - where global priorities are shaped and strategic partnerships are formed. Tirana made that clear: the many personal meetings President Ilham Aliyev held there werent just diplomatic formalities - they were acts of political recognition. Thats why the 2028 EPC Summit in Baku carries special meaning. European leaders wont just be visiting Azerbaijan - theyll be coming to meet with President Ilham Aliyev. Choosing Baku to host the EPC Summit isnt just a gesture of respect - its a political statement. It confirms that today, Baku is a capital that matters. And President Ilham Aliyev is a leader whose role is essential to any conversation about transport, energy, or stability in the South Caucasus. This decision reflects the core of modern diplomacy: firm principles, strategic vision, and earned trust. Europe has made its choice - and its a vote of confidence in Azerbaijan. A vote of confidence in President Ilham Aliyev. By James Mackenzie JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the leaders of France, Britain and Canada of wanting to help the Palestinian militant group Hamas after they threatened to take "concrete action" if Israel did not stop its latest offensive in Gaza. The criticism, echoing similar remarks from Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday, was part of a fightback by the Israeli government against the increasingly heavy international pressure on it over the war in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history," Netanyahu said. The Israeli leader, facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza, has regularly criticized European countries as well as global institutions from the United Nations to the International Court of Justice over what he says is their bias against Israel. But as the flow of images of destruction and hunger in Gaza has continued, fuelling protests in countries around the world, Israel has struggled to turn international opinion, which has increasingly shifted against it. "It's hard to convince at least some people, definitely on the far left in the U.S. and in some countries in Europe, that what Israel is doing is a war of defence," said former Israeli diplomat Yaki Dayan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But this is how it is perceived in Israel and bridging this gap is sometimes an impossible mission," he said. Israeli officials have been particularly concerned about growing calls for other countries in Europe to follow the example of Spain and Ireland in recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution to resolve decades of conflict in the region. Netanyahu argues that a Palestinian state would threaten Israel and he has framed the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington on Tuesday by a man who allegedly shouted "Free Palestine" as a clear example of that threat. He said "exactly the same chant" was heard during the attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They don't want a Palestinian state. They want to destroy the Jewish state," he said in a statement on the social media platform X. "I could never understand how this simple truth evades the leaders of France, Britain, Canada and others," he said, adding that any moves by Western countries to recognize a Palestinian state would "reward these murderers with the ultimate prize". Instead of advancing peace, the three leaders were "emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever", he said. AID BLOCKADE The Israeli leader, whose government depends on far-right support, said Hamas, which issued a statement welcoming the move, had thanked French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canada's Mark Carney over what he said was their demand for an immediate end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders' statement on Monday did not demand an immediate end to the war, but a halt to Israel's new military offensive on Gaza and a lifting of its restrictions on humanitarian aid. Israel had prevented aid from entering Gaza since March, before relaxing its blockade this week. "By issuing their demand replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamas these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power," Netanyahu said. "And they give them hope to establish a second Palestinian state from which Hamas will again seek to destroy the Jewish state." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France, which like Britain and Canada designates Hamas as a terrorist organization, was "unwaveringly committed to Israel's security" but he said it was "absurd and slanderous" to accuse supporters of a two-state solution of encouraging antisemitism or Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French government spokesperson Sophie Primas said France did not accept Netanyahu's accusations, adding: "We need to de-escalate this rising tension between our two states and work to find lasting peace solutions, for Israel and for Palestine." Asked about Netanyahu's remarks, Britain's armed forces minister Luke Pollard said London stood with Israel in their right to self-defence. "But that self-defence must be conducted within the bounds of international humanitarian law," he said. "At this moment, we stand fast against terrorism, but we also want to make sure that the aid is getting into Gaza," Pollard told Times Radio. Israel's offensive in Gaza was launched in retaliation for the October 7, 2023 attack, which killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken as hostage into Gaza. It has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians and devastated the enclave, where wide areas have been reduced to rubble. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; additional reporting by May Angel, Richard Lough and Dominique Vidalon in Paris and William James in London; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Gareth Jones) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press conference in Jerusalem on May 21, 2025. Credit - Ronen ZvulunGetty Images Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called out the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada in a video statement, claiming theyre emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. Netanyahu was addressing the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington, D.C. Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, a couple expected to soon be engaged, were killed on Wednesday night as they left an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum. Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old man from Chicago, has been charged with first-degree murder and other crimes. A witness at the scene reported that Rodriguez said: I did it for Gaza and Free Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his statement, the Israeli leader said that Hamas want to destroy the Jewish state and annihilate the Jewish people, adding that he fails to understand how this simple truth evades French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. You won't be surprised to learn that Hamas thanked President Macron and Prime Ministers Starmer and Carney for demanding that Israel end its war in Gaza immediately. Hamas was right to thank them. Because by issuing their demandreplete with a threat of sanctions against Israel, against Israel, not Hamasthese three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power, said Netanyahu. Now, these leaders may think that they're advancing peace. Theyre not. Theyre emboldening Hamas to continue fighting forever. Read More: The Rise of Antisemitism and Political Violence in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strong remarks come after Macron, Starmer, and Carney issued a joint statement on Monday, May 19, in which the leaders said they strongly oppose the expansion of Israels military operations in Gaza. The joint statement continued: The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterdays announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This must include engaging with the U.N. to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. The trio also called on Hamas to immediately release the remaining hostages they have so cruelly held since Oct. 7, 2023. Netanyahu doubled down during his address on Thursday evening, telling Macron, Starmer, and Carney: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice, you're on the wrong side of humanity, and you're on the wrong side of history. Criticism towards Israel and its conduct in the war continues as Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian disaster. On Tuesday, May 20, U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned that if Gaza did not receive more aid, an estimated 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid mounting international pressure and criticism on Israel over its near-total blockade of the Gaza Strip, against a backdrop of increased military operations, some humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter the region. On Friday, May 23, 130 trucks carrying supplies reportedly entered Gaza, as well as 100 the previous day. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories said on May 22 that supplies allowed into Gaza are limited in quantity and nowhere near sufficient to meet the scale and scope of Gazas 2.1 million people. Read More: Former Israeli Prime Minister Says Countrys Action in Gaza is 'Close to a War Crime' Netanyahus criticism of Macron, Starmer, and Carney is similar to that of Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who in response to the D.C. shooting, said on Thursday: There is a direct line connecting antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement to this murder. This incitement is also done by leaders and officials of many countries especially from Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sa'ar continued: This is what happens when leaders in the world surrender to the Palestinian terrorist propaganda. The statements and attacks blame Israel instead of Hamas I say to these leaders and officials: Stop your incitement against Israel, stop your false accusations. French Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said in response: These are completely outrageous and completely unjustified remarks France has condemned, France condemns, and France will continue to condemn, always and unequivocally, any act of antisemitism." Meanwhile, U.K. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard has said Netanyahu is not correct, in his evaluation of the British position on Hamas and Israel. He told BBCs Radio 4: "We stand in support of Israel's right to self-defence as long as they conduct that within international humanitarian law; a position we've had since those appalling attacks on 7 October. We are also very clear we need to see aid get to the people who are genuinely suffering in Gaza." Contact us at letters@time.com. The News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed international hostility toward Israel for the shootings of two embassy staffers in Washington, DC. He said Canada, France, and the UK all of whom recently criticized Israels actions in Gaza and warned of sanctions if the military offensive continued of siding with mass murderers, rapists, baby killers, and kidnappers and fomenting a global atmosphere of antisemitism. The UK prime minister this week described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as intolerable and called Israels decision to permit small amounts of aid utterly inadequate; the leaders of France and Canada made similar comments. Some trucks reached Gazan citizens on Wednesday, the first aid since March, but the UN called it nowhere near enough. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A proposal to toughen Nevadas DUI laws could lead to murder charges for an intoxicated driver who kills, according to the bills sponsor. Senate Bill 304 would amend the states vehicular homicide law to include all DUIs involving death, its sponsor, Republican State Sen. Jeff Stone, of Clark County, told a legislative committee Thursday. The bill was stuck in a finance committee because the Nevada Department of Corrections estimates it will add more than $2 million to its budget due to the additional time offenders could serve in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stones original proposal would have amended the law to lower the previous number of DUI convictions a person needed on their record for prosecutors to charge a driver with vehicular homicide. Under the proposal, on Thursday, prosecutors would be able to charge any DUI driver who kills with vehicular homicide. The proposal would carry a possible sentence of 10 to 25 years or 10 to life, the same as the states second-degree murder statute, said John Jones with the Nevada District Attorneys Association. It is the position of DAs across the state that getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while intoxicated and proximately causing the death of another person meets this threshold, Jones said Thursday. Nevada prosecutors, including the Clark County District Attorneys Office, have tried to charge DUI drivers who kill a person and who speed and who drive with no care for another persons life, with murder, but the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled the DUI with death law is more appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should the bill pass, Nevada would have a clear distinction between vehicular homicide and DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, Jones and Stone said. A second proposal, Senate Bill 457, which is part of Republican Gov. Joe Lombardos crime bill, would also amend the law to charge DUI drivers who kill with second-degree murder. Representatives for Senate and Assembly Democrats previously told 8 News Now that both proposals remain under consideration. The legislative session ends June 2. Lawmakers will not reconvene, except for special circumstances at the request of the governor, until February 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a proposal Thursday aimed at expanding ballot dropboxes. The proposal, Assembly Bill 306, would have required Clark County to establish 10 drop boxes be available between the end of early voting and the day before Election Day. The bill included smaller numbers for other counties. The proposal passed the Nevada Senate along party lines and in the Nevada Assembly with one Republican joining Democrats. Nevada is already among the easiest states in the nation to cast a vote, Lombardo wrote in his veto message Thursday. AB 306 appears to be well-intentioned but falls short of its stated goals while failing to guarantee appropriate oversight of the proposed ballot boxes or the ballots cast. I believe additional election reforms should be considered as part of a larger effort to improve election security, integrity and allow Nevada to declare winners more quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am disappointed that Governor Lombardo vetoed AB306, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager said in a statement. AB306 was a bipartisan measure aimed at ensuring that voters, especially working families, seniors, and those with disabilities, have secure and accessible ways to return their mail ballots between the end of early voting and election day, allowing election workers to count votes quicker. However, I remain committed to protecting Nevadans right to vote in a safe and secure manner and I look forward to working with Governor Lombardo over the waning days of session to find a mutually acceptable compromise. Speaking with the 8 News Now Investigators after the 2024 general election, Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, a Democrat, said Clark Countys tabulation infrastructure and the rush of ballots received on Election Day were to blame for delays. Nevada state law requires all mail-in ballots to be mailed and postmarked by Election Day. There is then a four-day period after Election Day when county clerks can accept the postmarked ballots and process them. If the ballot does not have a postmark, county clerks can process ballots up to three days after Election Day. Measures the Nevada Legislature put in place in 2021, alongside the mail-in voting law, scrubbed voter rolls of non-eligible and deceased voters. Just over half of Nevadas ballots cast in the 2022 general election were mail ballots, according to a thorough study released by the federal government. The state and counties routinely clear their rolls of inactive voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent sessions, Republicans and Lombardo have pushed for election-related changes without success in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Close margins often decide Nevada elections: In 2022, Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo won by about 15,000 votes; Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto won by about 8,000 votes. In 2020, former President Joe Biden won by about 33,000 votes. Nevada voters can opt in or out of receiving a mail-in ballot at nvsos.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 KLAS. An artist's rendering of the newly named Traskasuara sandrae shows the marine reptile's ability to target prey from above. Image by Robert O. Clark May 22 (UPI) -- A group of Canadian fossils is identified as a new genus of the elasmosaurus "sea monster" that existed tens of millions of years ago, a newly published study announced. The newly identified genus officially is named the "Traskasuara sandrae," according to the study published today in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology. Elasmosaurs were large sea creatures with extremely long necks and viper-like heads with large jaws and very sharp and long teeth for capturing, crushing and consuming prey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Traskasaura combined several "primitive and derived traits" that differ from the elasmosaurs that existed some 85 million years ago. Both are types of plesiosaurs, which were marine reptiles that existed during the late Triassic Period from about 215 million years ago to the Late Cretaceous Period about 66 million years ago. Unknown type of plesiosaur "Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia," lead author F. Robin O'Keefe said. "However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it was declared [British Columbia's] provincial fossil in 2023." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement O'Keefe said the research study published today solves the mystery of the fossils' origins. "The scientific confusion concerning this taxon is understandable," O'Keefe said. "The shoulder ... is unlike any other plesiosaur I have ever seen." The Pacific Northwest "finally has a Mesozoic reptile to call its own," said O'Keefe, who is an expert on prehistoric marine animals dating back to the age of dinosaurs and an educator at Marshall University in West Virginia. Strange and fascinating beast "Fittingly, a region known for its rich marine life today was host to strange and wonderful marine reptiles in the Age of Dinosaurs," he added. "Traskasaura is a strange, convergently evolved, fascinating beast." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Traskasaura's unique combination of physical adaptations made it an especially effective hunter from above and one of the first plesiosaurs to do so. Their necks grew to nearly 40 feet in length while their bodies resembled that of a small whale with forward flippers that propelled them through water. The marine reptile's bone structure suggests it was especially adept and downward swimming to dive onto its prey from above, while its teeth were well-suited for devouring ammonites by crushing their shells, O'Keefe said. First fossil was discovered in 1988 The first Traskasaura fossil was located along the Puntledge River in Canada's Vancouver Island in 1988 and dates to the Late Cretaceous Period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other fossils since have been discovered, and three from theHaslam Formation on Vancouver Island are discussed in the article published in the latest edition of the Journal of Systematic Paleontology. The fossils first were discussed in 2002 and in recent years rose in global prominence after officials in British Columbia made it the province's official fossil emblem. The Traskasaura fossils are on display at The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre in Courtenay, B.C. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Newport man faces 20 charges related to child porn after a long-term investigation, Newport police announced. Kurtis Fegulia, 36, was arrested at the Harbor Village Trailer Park in Newport on Tuesday after police received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. Historic heist: Pacific Northwest lawmakers react to passage of Trump policy bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newport police were able to determine that Fegulia had downloaded or shared over 700 minutes (11+ hours) of video content, and over 800 separate files, depicting content of child sex abuse material. Some of the victims in the content were as young as under 1 year of age, police said. Fegulia was lodged in the Lincoln County Jail. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The private law firm representing Niagara Falls Redevelopment has filed a formal answer to Mayor Robert Restainos administrations claim that the city not the company owns 5 acres of the 10-acre site identified by the city as the preferred site for the proposed Centennial Park arena and events campus. The answer includes a counterclaim seeking consequential damages, including reimbursement for taxes paid, for the value and benefit conferred on the city as a result of NFRs justifiable reliance on the citys actions for more than 20 years. Attorneys from NFRs law firm, Harter, Secrest & Emery of Buffalo, filed the companys verified answer on May 16, denying the citys contention that the 5 acres located at the intersection of 10th and Falls streets was designated as public parkland, served as a public park for decades and was never properly conveyed when the city agreed to turn it over to NFR more than two decades ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its answer, NFR argues that the 5 acres, which were transferred by the city to the company under a development agreement on Aug. 4, 2004, were not subject to the requirements and encumbrances of the Public Trust Doctrine, a legal principle that designates certain resources, such as parkland, as held in trust by the government for public use. The city, through its attorneys with the Buffalo law firm Hodgson Russ, has argued in legal filings that NFR failed to obtain proper approval from the state legislature before accepting the property as its own and using it for non-public purposes. In its answer, NFR suggests no such approval was necessary while also denying the citys allegation that the land transfer required authorization from the Niagara Falls City Council. The subject parcel is not encumbered by the Public Trust Doctrine, and its Aug. 4, 2004 conveyance from the city to NFR did not require approval from the New York State Legislature or the Niagara Falls City Council, NFRs answer reads. For a parcel to be encumbered by the Public Trust Doctrine, there must either be an express or implied designation that demonstrates the clear and unmistakable intent of the owner to dedicate the land as public parkland. Here, no such express or implied designation ever occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its counterclaim, NFR describes the citys chances of succeeding in its quiet title claim as an unlikely event while arguing that should the 2004 property be ruled null and void it is owed compensation from the city. The companys compensation list of requested compensation covers: the expenditure of considerable resources related to the property, including money, services, labor, materials and equipment; paying the purchase price for the 5 acres; paying taxes on the parcel; maintaining the parcel; performing environmental cleanup work on the site moving playground equipment off-site and spending millions of dollars to develop a data center on the subject parcel, which the city, directly through its agents and representatives, encouraged NFR to spend. NFR has expended these resources with the reasonable and justifiable expectation that, in accordance with the citys actions, NFR rightfully owns the subject parcel, the company notes in the counterclaim found in its verified answer. The question of ownership of the 5 acres looms large in an ongoing eminent domain proceeding in which the city is poised to acquire, using its power of eminent domain, two NFR properties totaling roughly 10 acres off John B. Daly Boulevard at the intersection of 10th and Falls Street for the purpose of developing Centennial Park. NFR spokesperson James Haggerty released a copy of the companys response to the citys so-called quiet title claim in response to questions from the newspaper on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release came hours before Falls lawmakers were scheduled to vote on a request from Restaino to approve an offer of just over $4 million for NFRs land. The offer was tabled by the city council during Thursdays meeting. In a previous eminent domain case involving NFR, the company sought $75 million for the former Niagara Splash Park site, which is located across the street from NFRs 10-acre parcel. In that case, a judge determined that the state of New York, which acquired the Splash Park land for use in the development of Seneca Niagara Casino, ultimately owed NFR $17.8 million for the land. Haggerty described the citys initial $4 million offer for the proposed Centennial Park site as being based on a so-called appraisal Restaino made up out of thin air. In the end, though, it doesnt matter, Haggerty said. Just as happened with the Splash Park parcels years ago, the court will decide the fair market value of this private property after considering actual appraisals submitted by both sides as this litigation moves forward all clouded and complicated, of course, by the mayors claims in his new quiet title action that the city already owns half the property it is seeking to acquire through eminent domain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haggerty also criticized Restaino and city lawmakers for not only suggesting the citys offer was based on a mysterious appraisal but also for taking action before the mayor released the contents of a feasibility study conducted by a private firm to examine the potential pros and cons of building Centennial Park. He also referenced NFRs idea for the same 10-acre site, which company officials insist is needed to allow for the development of the first phase of what they claim would be a $1.5 billion data center in the city. The taxpayers continue to pay legal fees for all the mayors litigation and are forced to watch as he works tirelessly on the taxpayers dime to prevent NFR from building its economy-transforming, privately funded, $1.5 billion data center, Haggerty said. In addition to the companys answer to the citys quiet title claim, Haggerty released legal requests sent last week by NFRs attorneys to the city that seek more detailed information about what he described as Restainos scheme to acquire NFRs 5 acres without having to pay fair market value for them. Examples of information sought by NFR include identities of individuals who may have knowledge regarding documents and information about any express or implied designation of the 10th Street playground as parkland, documents used by the city to draft its legal complaint or support the citys position and identification of city officials who communicated with any third-party, including New York state government agencies, concerning the action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under court supervision, NFR will now see all documents, emails and text messages related to the mayors attempt to avoid paying fair market value for this land, Haggerty said in a statement from the company. Mayor Restaino may be able to ignore Freedom of Information Law requests, but he cannot ignore the courts, and we look forward to his testimony in this action, Haggerty added. Dan Spitzer, an attorney representing the city, classified the requests as standard deposition notices served in response to the citys quiet title claim. While Haggerty suggested both Mayor Restaino and his brother, City Administrator Anthony Restaino, were served subpoenas in the case last week, Spitzer said that was inaccurate. He classified the requests for additional information as standard deposition notices sent in response to the citys lawsuit. There have been no subpoenas served on the city, nor would it be proper to do so, Spitzer said. While the misinformation is consistent with the legal abilities and veracity frequently demonstrated by NFR, we suspect what you are referring to are the standard deposition notices. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The next groups of former internally displaced persons are returning to the village of Kangarli in the Aghdam district, Trend reports. The families, previously temporarily settled in hostels, sanatoriums, children's camps, unfinished and administrative buildings in various regions of the republic, left for their native lands from the Garadagh district of Baku on May 23. At this stage, 49 families (232 people) are returning to Kangarli. The former IDPs returning to the native village thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Currently, about 40,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, and specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. The leader of a local shelter for homeless men will soon be recognized by the state of New York for his years of military service. New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, has nominated the Rev. John Cooper Jr., executive director of the Niagara Gospel Mission in Niagara Falls, for induction into the New York Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Nominees are chosen based on their service to the nation, their contributions to their local communities and their achievements in civilian life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im honored and thankful for this nomination, Cooper Jr. said. My family has served in the business community and local organizations for decades. Weve fought in our nations wars and as part of the Underground Railroad. My family and faith have taught me to care for those in need. A Town of Wheatfield native and a graduate of Niagara-Wheatfield High School, Cooper Jr. served as a sniper in the U.S. Army for six years. His military service included active duty in Afghanistan from 2015 to 2021. In February 2022, he joined the shelters staff as development director. The ordained Baptist pastor and Clarks Summit University in Pennsylvania graduate has served as the rescue missions executive director since the end of 2023. Cooper Jr., his wife Elizabeth and their four boys live in Niagara Falls. During his tenure at the mission, Cooper Jr. helped establish the Liberty Suite for homeless Veterans at the Mission, the Re-Deploy Veterans Recovery Program, and the RECON Recovery Program; provided community symposiums to educate the community about homelessness and mental illness, and initiated Code Blue for homeless men attempting to survive winter on the streets. In addition, Cooper is spearheading a campaign to raise funds to open a womens shelter for homeless women in Western New York. Ortt submitted Coopers name for approval based on the incredible work hes done with gospel mission, which runs a homeless shelter for men in the Falls at its location on Portage Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have learned about how they serve as a Code Blue shelter, feed and clothe the community, offer a special program for homeless veterans, and are getting ready to construct a womens only shelter. John has selflessly served both his country and his community he embodies all of the values we look for in nominees to the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, and its an honor to select John Cooper Jr. as my candidate from Senate District 62. Senators from each New York district have submitted their choice for an inductee into the hall of fame, a practice that began in 2005. Cooper Jr. will join the other hall of fame nominees during a ceremony scheduled for Tuesday at the State Capitol building in Albany. OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) A Niceville man was arrested Friday morning after he allegedly tried to sell a stolen vehicle, News 5 has learned. Mobile County deputies investigating shooting in Prichard According to a news release from the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office, Irvin Arias Marquez, 27, is accused of: Grand theft auto License attached, not assigned Driving with a suspended license (habitual offender) Failure to register a motor vehicle Providing false information on a drivers license application. Irvin Arias Marquez. (Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office) The sheriffs office received a tip on Wednesday, May 21, about a man trying to buy a Honda CRV for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The photos shared on Facebook showed the vehicle identification number had been smeared, according to the release. On Friday morning, an OCSO deputy reportedly spotted the vehicle traveling southbound on North Beal Extension, just north of Fort Walton Beach. (Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office) A roadside investigation led to the discovery of an insurance card with the vehicles VIN number, the OCSO release said. That number revealed the CRV was stolen out of New York. The attached license also had not been assigned to that vehicle. Woman stabbed in Pensacola what we know OCSO officials said deputies had to begin trying to confirm the suspects identity because he had given verbal information that conflicted with a Florida drivers license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office deputies conducted a traffic stop that led to the arrest of a Niceville man driving a stolen car that was about to be sold. OCSO deputies responded to a tip on May 21 from a man attempting to buy a Honda CR-V for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Deputies said the man was suspicious because photos showed the VIN was smeared. On Friday morning, a patrol deputy spotted the car heading south on North Beal Extension, north on Fort Walton Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panama City boat captain sentenced for killing dolphins According to a news release, a roadside investigation led deputies to the discovery of an insurance card with the vehicles VIN. Deputies said it was revealed the CRV was stolen out of New York, and the attached license plate also had not been assigned to that vehicle. The attached license had also not been assigned to that vehicle, officials wrote. Once the driver was taken into booking, deputies began trying to confirm his identity due to conflicting verbal information versus information on Florida drivers licence. 27-year-old Irvin Arias Marquez has been charged with grand theft auto, license attached not assigned, driving with a suspended license, habitual offender, failure to register a motor vehicle, and providing false information on a drivers license application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink joins Nicolle Wallace to discuss her decision to resign over President Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions and what she sees as the road ahead in Russia's war against Ukraine. NILES, Ohio (WKBN) Make-A-Wish has put together a trip for a local student and his family. Chase Miller is battling a brain tumor and this will be a special trip. Its the first day of summer break for Miller. The 15-year-old is now a sophomore and hes going to San Diego in June. Im looking forward to the water, mainly because its like a nice, clear water. So Im ready to swim in it, he said. Miller has a brain tumor and will have another MRI soon to learn about its latest condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes receiving immunotherapy treatments. Surgery could not remove all of the cancer. Bobbi Jo Boyd, Millers mom, wears gray for brain cancer awareness. They said that its connected to the main artery that supplies blood to the brain and the optic nerve, Boyd said. So those are gray areas that they wouldnt touch. So this is just in hopes to kind of slow the progression. Doctors are trying to slow the tumor. Miller has plenty of help in the fight. A spaghetti dinner in December raised enough money so his best friend his 8-year-old sister, Harlan can go with him to San Diego. She definitely means a lot to me. Shes always there to play with me and everything, and always likes fighting me, Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That might be playful, but Millers fight against the tumor is real. San Diego will allow him to relax and see all the different types of animals at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Hes also planning a visit to Sea World to watch the whales perform, as well as a boat tour. Miller continues to be strong. If you ask him, How are you feeling? Hes like, I feel good. I feel great. It doesnt really affect him in any way, which is great, Boyd said. Millers trip to San Diego is next month three days after his next MRI. Theres a possibility of another fundraiser this year to help his fight against the brain tumor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. A nurse gives a measles shot on May 23, 2024. (Julia Goldberg / Source NM) New Mexico health officials on Friday reported four more measles cases in Sandoval County, bringing the statewide total to 78. The new cases also brought possible exposures in Santa Fe County, where cases have not yet been reported. The new cases include an infant too young for vaccination and three adults who had each had at least one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six counties now have cases: 65 in Lea County six in Sandoval County three in Eddy County two in Dona Ana County one each in Curry and Chaves counties NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Miranda Durham and DOH Secretary Gina DeBlassie held a news conference Thursday in Albuquerque to issue new recommendations for children in counties with measles cases to receive a first injection earlier than standard protocol and have three, rather than two, shots overall. Durham also noted during the news conference that travel presents a risk for measles spread and that the current outbreak is New Mexicos largest in many years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Durham and DeBlassie continue to reference vaccines as the only fully preventative method against measles. We want to make sure everybody stays safe, DeBlassie said. The new cases may have involved exposures at the following times, days and locations: Albuquerque 1-5 p.m., Friday, May 2: Longhorn Steakhouse, 6600 Menaul Boulevard NE 6:30 to 9 pm, Saturday, May 3: Walmart, 8000 Academy Road, NE 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, May 4: Lindo Mexico Grill & Seafood, 5220 Eubank Boulevard NE 9-11 p.m., Sunday, May 4: University of New Mexico (UNM) Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department, 2211 Lomas Boulevard NE 1 a.m. 1 p.m. and 6 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14: UNM Hospital General Pediatric Unit Between Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 15:Common areas of the UNM Hospital Pavillion Santa Fe 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17: Walmart, 5701 Herrera Drive 6a.m. to 9 a.m., Saturday, May 17: Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center Emergency Department, 4801 Beckner Road Vaccination information Durham recommended Thursday that infants as young as six months could be eligible for a third measles vaccination dose if residing in or traveling to high measles spread areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adults born after 1957 are recommended to have at least one dose of the vaccine, but two doses offers 97% protection from the measles infection and prevents spread. Measles symptoms are generally milder in vaccinated people. NMDOH is offering free measles vaccines at offices around the state, which are listed on the departments measles webpage. New Mexico residents can check their records online at the state Vax View website or call the NMDOH hotline at 1-833-796-8773. The hotline is staffed by nurses, who can offer measles vaccine or further testing information in English and Spanish. NMDOH urges anyone experiencing symptoms such as a fever or rash, or concerned about a possible measles exposure, to call the hotline, or call a doctors office before arrival, to allow health providers to prepare for a potential measles case. House Speaker Danny Perez (L) and Senate President Ben Albritton (R) still have not agreed on fiscal year 2025-26 spending and tax structure. (Photo via the Florida House and Florida Senate). The latest news about budget negotiations between the Florida House and Senate is that there really isnt any news to report. House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton issued brief statements late Friday afternoon telling their members that they do not need to plan on returning to Tallahassee next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope to have a better idea of our scheduling moving forward in the next few days and will share another update after the Memorial Day Holiday, Albritton wrote. We continue working closely with the Senate toward a final budget agreement, added Perez in his own statement to his members. We will ensure you have the necessary notice to make travel and scheduling arrangements when the time comes. The 60-day regular legislative session was scheduled to end three weeks ago, on May 2. However, the two chambers have not been able to come together on a budget, the only job that they are constitutionally required to accomplish. The dispute mainly centers on the issue of tax cuts. The session was originally extended to June 2, but the House returned to Tallahassee for one day last week to extend until June 30 something that the Senate has yet to do. The fiscal year ends on June 30. If lawmakers dont pass a budget by that time it would mean a government shutdown. The budget passed by the House in April was $113 billion, about $4.4 billion less than the Senates spending plan. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) If February flooding affected your life, FEMA officials want to hear from you, no matter what the extent of the damage was, but the deadline to apply for relief is coming soon. Kim Keblish, a spokesperson with FEMA, told FOX 56 News on Sunday that some Disaster Recovery Centers are still receiving first-time applicants who said they were hesitant to apply, thinking they didnt have as much damage as their neighbors. Id like to stress this deadline and mention that FEMA may be able to help with a variety of needs that most folks dont know about, like vehicle repairs, moving and storage costs, childcare costs, wells, septic, etc., Keblish said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA officials, multi-agency resources arrive in Pulaski County: Where to go for help The deadline to apply for aid in Breathitt, Clay, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Simpson, and Woodford counties is Sunday, May 25. How can I apply for federal help from February storms across Kentucky? According to a news release, there are several ways to apply for disaster relief: Online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Visit any Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, visit FEMAs Disaster Recovery Center locator website, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: DRC 29169). Use the FEMA mobile app. Call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362. It is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone, or other service, Give FEMA your number for that service. FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: When is the deadline to apply for federal help for those affected by April flooding? Survivors of the April storms have until June 25 to apply for aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a news release, Woodford County residents who rented or owned property that was damaged in February and then again in April would need to complete two separate disaster assistance applications. More information on getting federal help for February and April storms can be found at the FEMA 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 FOX 56 News. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) Squatters would no longer be able to enjoy the eviction process as tenants. A bill on Governor J.B. Pritzkers desk would make it easier for law enforcement to crack down on squattersindividuals who illegally occupy uninhabited buildings or unused land. School bus seat belt bill passes Illinois Houses, heading to Pritzker The House passed the criminal eviction bill Wednesday with bipartisan support. This is an update to the current eviction rules. If signed into law, anyone living in a house, apartment, or on land without permission from the owner will be treated as a trespasser. This would give police the right to forcefully remove them from the property without a drawn-out court process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. LaShawn Ford, who co-sponsored the bill in the House, said no one should have to go through hurdles just to remove someone who doesnt belong there. Landlords and property owners have had trouble getting people out of their properties, Ford said. Theres a big difference between a squatter and a tenant. Tenants have rights. Squatters dont. Theyre trespassing. So were going to make sure that there is a difference. Dangerous, reckless behavior: IL lawmaker works to crack down on street racing with bill Before the introduction of this bill, to remove a squatter, a homeowner had to treat them like a tenant, which required going through a lengthy court process to obtain formal eviction papers, even though the person had no legal right to be on the property. Under certain conditions, squatters could gain ownership of the property. If they occupied the place for up to 20 years and paid property taxes or in some cases if they obtained color title, they could legally own it in as little as 7 years. Law enforcement couldnt remove them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Chicago homeowner, Karen Polk, told WCIAs sister station WGN she was planning to sell her house until she found out squatters were occupying her property. Now she awaits the long court process to remove them. Rep. Ford said this bill would protect homeowners and illegal squatters from harm, given that Illinois is a concealed carry state. We have kept both the landlord in mind, property owners and also people that may be trespassers because what we found out that this could be very dangerous because some owners go in and be surprised that there is someone in the property and immediately it could cause them to stand their ground, Ford said. They may take the law into their own hands, some people could get hurt, people could be killed. Advocates say removing the bureaucracy around eviction would be beneficial for both homeowners and law enforcement. If the bill is signed by Pritzker, the law would go into effect immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the changes, if a squatter creates false documents claiming ownership of a property, they could now face charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Nobel Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Company for Carbon Economics under the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, establishing a framework for cooperation on climate action, environmental projects, and sustainable development in Iraq. The MoU was signed during the First International Conference on Carbon Economics held in Baghdad. The agreement signifies a strategic partnership between Nobel Energy and the General Company for Carbon Economics, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing the green economy, and supporting Iraqs national climate goals. Nobel Energy is eager to leverage its expertise to support Iraqs environmental objectives and contribute to both regional and global climate efforts. Nobel Energy is proud to be part of this important partnership with the Iraqi Ministry of Environment and the General Company for Carbon Economics, said Samir Mollayev, Deputy CEO of Nobel Energy. This MoU represents a significant opportunity to advance Iraqs green economy goals and contribute to global climate action efforts. We look forward to working together to implement impactful projects that reduce emissions and support sustainable development. Under the MoU, the Iraqi side will facilitate relevant procedures and identify priority environmental projects. Nobel Energy will contribute technical expertise and project proposals in alignment with Iraqs environmental policies and regulations. Both parties will work closely over the next year to implement impactful initiatives, with the option to extend the partnership further. Despicable. Outrageous. A smear. Thats how Senate Democrats described special counsel Robert Hurs February 2024 report on President Joe Biden, in which Hur described Biden as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. More than a year later, the Hur reportin which the prosecutor explained why he opted not to charge Biden with classified records violationshas come back into focus with the release of the new book Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. The Dispatchs Michael Warren and Steve Hayes noted earlier this week that the release of the book and audio recordings of the Hur-Biden interviews is a vindication of Hur. Original Sin is an authoritative, detailed, and devastating account of one of the most consequential scandals in modern American history, Hayes wrote, and a section on Hur is the most powerful part of the book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurs description of Biden was not only accurateas Bidens devastating performance at the June 2024 presidential debate with Donald Trump and subsequent decision to drop out of the race would reveal. It marked the last potential opportunity for Democrats to push out the president with time for a new candidate to run a real campaign. But rather than take that difficult but wiser path in February 2024, congressional Democrats circled the wagons around Biden. In the Capitol this week, The Dispatch asked a number of Senate Democrats if they had any regrets about how they reacted to Hurs report or thought they owed him an apology. None did. It is outrageous the way [Robert Hur] disrespected and maligned the president, Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota said in February 2024. What he said about the president not remembering the death of his beloved son [Beau] is just so despicable. Hur reported that Biden was unable to recall the date of Beau Bidens death by several years, and audio of the Hur-Biden interview confirmed the president said that Beau, who died in 2015, had either been deployed or is dying in the 2017-18 timeframe. Given all that we know now, does Smith regret her comments? At the time, I had been around the president, and in the times I had been around him, he appeared to be functioning well and was on top of it, so thats what I thought at the time, Smith told The Dispatch in the Capitol this week. Does she think Hur deserves an apology? Thats just the way it rolls, Smith replied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said in February 2024 that Hur was a grandstander not a prosecutor, adding that he expected Biden would be very vigorously engaged when the campaign heated up. In the Capitol this week, Kaine told The Dispatch: I had one interaction with Joe Biden in the last 18 months, and it was the State of the Union. And he was fantastic. He said he didnt owe Hur an apology because he had included information extraneous to his report. As Hur explained at the time, he needed to include in his report his rationale for why he declined to prosecute Biden on the documents chargesand his rationale relied heavily on his belief a jury would not convict a man with Bidens apparent memory problems. Former Obama administration official Tommy Vietor posted on X earlier this week that the book Original Sin caused him to reevaluate his February 2024 attack on Hur. I found the context about the Hur report to be some of the most interesting/revelatory information in ORIGINAL SIN, Vietor posted on X. At the time, Hurs comments about Biden being an elderly man with a poor memory seemed like Jim Comey-style inappropriate editorializing about a non-charging decision. However, the book made me realize how important that context was for Hur in explaining his decision NOT to charge Biden, and I now feel that many of the attacks on Hur, including by me, werent totally fair. But there was no such public rethinking of attacks on Hur among congressional Democrats this week. When a prosecutor decides against bringing charges, generally, theres no public announcement, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told The Dispatch. Blumenthal called Hurs comments gratuitous and unnecessary back in February 2024. Whether [Hur is] telling the truth or not, there are things prosecutors dont get to say, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island told The Dispatch this week. I think it was out of line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, who said last year that Hur chose to politically slime Biden, declined to take a question from The Dispatch as he rushed to a vote. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said in February 2024 of Hurs report: It was just a smear and cheap shots and just taking things out of context, or even just inventing. In the Capitol this week Fetterman, who has had questions raised about his own mental status following an in-depth report in New York magazine, did not directly address his criticism of Hur when asked about it. I dont know why were still talking about Biden, Fetterman told The Dispatch, adding: Honestly, I never thought the race was winnable anyway. Asked about the Hur report this week, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut simply told The Dispatch: I didnt pay much attention to that report when it came out. But he and others probably should have been paying attention. The Hur report came on the heels of Biden declining to sit for an softball interview before the Super Bowla traditional stop that is functionally a multi-million dollar campaign ad that reaches exactly the type of voter who doesnt pay much attention to politics. Days before the Hur report, Biden had confused French president Emmanuel Macron for President Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996. The very same week, he confused recent German Chancellor Angela Merkel for Helmut Kohl, who was chancellor in the 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any one of these things in isolation might have been written off as nothing serious, but adding this public evidence together should have been setting off alarm bellsbefore the Hur report came out. Congressional Democrats could have responded to the report by demanding that Biden immediately release audio of his interview with Hur and immediately prove himself in public interviews. Instead, they chose to shoot the messenger. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. "No responsive records" of communications from active mayor during Palisades Fire, says L.A. City originally appeared on L.A. Mag. The Palisades and Eaton fires have collectively scorched over 37,800 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and caused tragic loss of life. Crews from across the state and beyond are battling day and night to contain the flames and assist displaced residents.Courtesy CAL FIRE On May 19th, the City of Los Angeles responded to KTLAs request for public records of the officials involved in the city's response to the Palisades fire by closing the case, saying there were no responsive records matching [the] search parameters. As permitted in the California Public Records Act of 1968, KTLA had been pursuing records of communication from key officials relating to the fires just weeks after they occurred. One of the officials targeted was Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the acting mayor of the city while Mayor Karen Bass was out of the country on a visit to Ghana. The parameters established by KTLAs initial request were intentionally broad so as to cover any relevant information to the citys wildfire crisis response, seeking ANY digital communications (including email/ text/ WhatsApp/ or other) originating FROM or TO Harris-Dawson over a period of days. When the news outlet failed to receive a response, they resubmitted the request on March 11th. The city got back to them 10 days later, saying it had records that match [KTLAs] request and will provide them no later than May 21, 2025. This runs directly counter to the most recent update from Harris-Dawsons office, claiming the case would be closed because there were no relevant records. In their response to KTLA, the Councilmembers office did not explain the discrepancy between its first response, saying the documents existed, and its most recent update, saying they did not. The citys response to the public records request, already longer than the standard turnaround time for such a request, has raised concerns about the transparency of the city government on social media. Defense lawyer and legal expert Allison Triesl states to KTLA: I can think of nothing more central to the conduct of the peoples business than knowing why Los Angeles County was ill-prepared to combat one of the greatest natural disasters in this States history. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on May 22, 2025, where it first appeared. Whatever comes out of Congress this year in terms of tax changes, it's looking increasingly likely that tipped workers are going to get a break. On May 22, the U.S. House passed sweeping legislation (referred to by President Donald Trump as his "one, big, beautiful bill") to cut taxes, slash spending and raise the debt limit. It included a proposal to cut federal income taxes on tips. It's an open question what will happen to that bill overall when the U.S. Senate takes it up. But the Senate, on May 20, passed stand-alone legislation to cut taxes on tips and did so unanimously. Taken together, that suggests it's a pretty good bet that some sort of tax break on tipped wages is getting through Congress this year. And since he campaigned on it, Trump will almost certainly sign it once it reaches his desk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measures under consideration differ slightly and more changes could be on the way before something is finally signed into law. But here's a quick rundown of what we know is being looked at: Workers will be able to deduct tips from their taxes It's pretty simple: If it passes, workers who report tips will be able to deduct an amount equal to that from their earned income when they file their federal taxes, lowering the adjusted gross income they have to pay taxes on. Depending on the state they live in, they'd still have to pay state taxes on that income though. (Michigan doesn't provide a deduction on tipped income, though some have proposed it do so.) What qualifies as a tip? Qualifying tips are also limited to those that are considered cash payments, which includes currency but also those paid by credit card or other means. It does not include noncash items like tickets, gifts or services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House bill also says that in order to be considered a tip, the payment must be paid voluntarily without negotiation and "without any consequence in the event of nonpayment." Added service charges don't qualify. Are there restrictions on who gets the deduction? Yes, though this could change. First, no one considered a "highly compensated employee" a designation that the Internal Revenue Service adopts each year but as of this year is anyone who makes $160,000 or more annually or owns 5% or more of his or her business qualifies. Second, the House bill says the claimant has to have a Social Security number, meaning a claimant would have to be an American citizen or have a permit to work in the U.S. (It also says the claimant's spouse, in the case of a joint tax return, has to have a Social Security number as well.) Third, and most importantly: The person claiming the income from tips has to be in an occupation "which traditionally and customarily" has received tips. Neither proposal spells out what those occupations are, leaving it to the Treasury Department to produce a list. But it will likely include hospitality workers in bars and restaurants; taxi, ride share and delivery drivers; barber and salon workers; housekeepers; home repair employees and the like. (Performing artists and financial service consultants appear to be left out by the way.) The deduction doesn't count against losses The House bill makes clear that if the expense of running the business costs more than the income the person is claiming his or her profit, in other words there's no deduction. Is there a limit on how much can be deducted? The bill passed by the Senate has a deduction cap of $25,000. No cap is mentioned in the House legislation. What if I don't itemize my deductions? It doesn't matter in this case. The proposals are intended to allow people who don't itemize to deduct qualifying tips from their income as well. Will the tax break on tips remain in place? Unclear, though as a practical matter, it's very unusual for Congress to give some group of working-class employees a tax break and then take it away. The House proposal would put the break in place through 2028. The Senate version doesn't include an expiration. How many people will it affect and how much will it cost? According to some news media reports, there are about 4 million workers who work in occupations that receive tips, though it's unclear just how many of those make enough income to reach the level of the standard tax deduction. There have also been some concerns raised that workers could be incentivized to rely more on tips than wages which could make them more vulnerable if tips dry up. Meanwhile, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan watchdog group in Washington, estimates the tax break on tips could reduce federal revenues by $40 billion between now and 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on X @tsspangler. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How 'no tax on tips' and 'big beautiful bill' will impact workers President Donald Trump will not attend the 2025 Indianapolis 500 on May 25, but plenty of other Hoosier politicians will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on race day along with 300,000-plus fans. IndyStar asked some of our local and statewide elected officials for their Indy 500 plans. Here's what we found: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Braun is expected to attend the Indy 500, a press secretary told IndyStar. The May 25 race will be Braun's first Indy 500 since he was sworn in as governor in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun has already participated in other Indy 500 festival events leading up to the race - and received the first milk bottle of May at the governor's residence earlier this month. The first milk bottle of May (and a Chevy Silverado assembled in Ft. Wayne, Indiana) goes to @GovBraun!#ThisIsMay | #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/QQ7Sx31oLc Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) May 1, 2025 Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett Mayor Joe Hogsett is a frequent attendee of race-related events. His office confirmed he will be at the Speedway all morning on Race Day to celebrate with race fans. Then he'll watch the race live on television with family since the grandstands are sold out, his office said. He has attended lead-up events including Breakfast at the Brickyard. He recently called May his "favorite month of the year." Cherished traditions like Breakfast at the Brickyard are what make the Month of May so special in Indianapolis. @IMS @MidwesternEng pic.twitter.com/oIlRZE11tf Mayor Joe Hogsett (@IndyMayorJoe) May 17, 2025 Indiana U.S. Sen. Todd Young A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Todd Young confirmed that Young will attend the Indy 500. Young earlier this month reintroduced legislation advocating for tax breaks that could help IMS pay for future upgrades. He also displayed a checkered flag outside his senate office to celebrate the month of May. Indiana U.S. Sen. Jim Banks A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Jim Banks said that Banks will attend the race. Banks posted photos on X from a May 19 visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he was joined by Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno. Great to be with my friend @Jim_Banks at the Indy 500 practice! pic.twitter.com/V1O8GQkRvZ Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) May 19, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Vice President Mike Pence Former Vice President Mike has not confirmed his plans for race day, but plans to be at IMS on May 23 where he will tour the newly remodeled IMS Museum and visit Gasoline Alley, a spokesperson for his political organization told IndyStar. The former Indiana governor is no stranger to the Indy 500 and has attended the race more than 30 times, including during his term as vice president. Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith confirmed that Beckwith will attend the race. He's also recently attended practice and associated events. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita Attorney General Todd Rokita will be at the race, his spokesman confirmed. His office recently warned fans about potential ticket scams associated with the race. Indiana U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, who's congressional district includes Hamilton County, is expected to attend the Indy 500, a spokesperson told IndyStar. Indiana U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve, who's congressional district includes the southern portion of Indianapolis, said he plans to attend the race. Indiana U.S. Rep. Andre Carson U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, who represents Indianapolis, is not expected to attend the race as he is in Washington, per his spokeswoman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany. Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com. Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar political and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: No Trump at 2025 Indy 500. What politicians will be at IMS on race day? With the start of hurricane season a little more than a week away, federal forecasters say the United States will likely experience an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projected 13 to 19 named storms for the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Out of those, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, or storms with winds of 74 mph or higher. NOAA is predicting three to five major hurricanes, with winds of 111 mph or higher. The agency said theres a 60% chance that the 2025 season will exceed the annual average of 14 named Atlantic storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOAA and the National Weather Service are using the most advanced weather models and cutting-edge hurricane tracking systems to provide Americans with real-time storm forecasts and warnings, said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose department oversees NOAA. With these models and forecasting tools, we have never been more prepared for hurricane season. Forecasters pointed to several factors that could lead to an above-normal season, including warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, weak wind shear and the potential for higher activity from a monsoon system off the western coast of Africa that serves as a primary starting point for tropical activity. Last year, the U.S. experienced its deadliest hurricane season since 2005, with more than 400 fatalities, according to the National Hurricane Centers director, Michael Brennan. The new forecast comes as National Weather Service offices across the country are grappling with Donald Trumps sweeping federal cuts. Since January, nearly 600 of the agencys 4,000 employees reportedly have been laid off or have opted to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As NBC News reported: The nations 122 local forecasting offices have been hard hit and are riddled with vacancies. Many of those offices will be tasked with forecasting local effects after a hurricane landfall, such as flood inundation and rainfall. But the Trump administration has dismissed concerns that staffing cuts will have a negative impact. We are fully staffed at the hurricane center, and we definitely are ready to go. And we are really making this up a top priority for this administration, Laura Grimm, the acting administrator of NOAA, told NBC News. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem welcomed the dismissal of a lawsuit against the department for sending migrants to Guantanamo Bay. Suck it, Noem wrote Thursday night in a post on the social platform X. She attached a copy of the court filing confirming the 10 migrants who brought the lawsuit have dismissed it. The suit, which was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, was filed in early March, contesting the Trump administrations intention of transferring 10 migrants to the U.S. detention center in Cuba, amid President Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never before has the federal government moved noncitizens apprehended and detained in the United States on civil immigration charges to Guantanamo. Nor is there any legitimate reason to do so now, the plaintiffs said in a March 1 court filing. The government has ample detention capacity inside the United States, which is far less costly and poses none of the logistical hurdles attendant to detaining people on Guantanamo, the document reads. The DHS has accused Maiker Espinoza Escalona, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, of being a part of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. His family has denied the claims. Espinoza Escalona was deported to El Salvador in late March. His partner, Yorely Escarleth Bernal Inciarte, who was also accused of being a member of TdA, was sent to Venezuela. Both entered the U.S. with authorization, and a judge had already issued final removal orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair share a child, Maikelys Antonella Espinoza, who was initially in U.S. custody, but was returned to Venezuela earlier this month. The childs mother, Yorely Escarleth Bernal Inciarte, oversees recruitment of young women for drug smuggling and prostitution for Tren de Aragua, the DHS previously said. For the childs safety, she was not removed with the mother. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that the Trump administrations recent ban on Harvard University enrolling international students should serve as a warning to other universities around the country. Noem, who ordered DHS to take Harvard off the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification Thursday, was asked on Fox News if she can foresee or is considering taking similar action against other institutions where Jewish students have experienced antisemitism. Absolutely. We are absolutely this should be a warning to every other university to get your act together, Noem told host Gillian Turner on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get your act together, because we are coming to make sure that these programs, that you are facilitating an environment where students can learn, where theyre safe, and that theyre not discriminated against based on their race or their religion, the DHS chief added. With Harvard having been taken off SEVP, current international students will need to transfer to other colleges or lose their legal status. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus, Noem said in a statement Thursday. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. There were 6,793 international undergraduate students at the Ivy League school during the 2024-25 academic year, making up 27.2 percent of the schools student body, according to Harvards enrollment data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ivy League school has pushed back, saying DHSs order was unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably, a Harvard spokesperson told The Hill. The spokesperson also noted the Massachusetts-based school is working quickly to provide support and guidance to members of their community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission, the spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Nolensville leaders have considered increasing property taxes to help keep up with the towns rapid growth. The increase would be up from $0.29 per $100 assessed to $0.55 per $100 assessed. Town Manager Victor Lay said that because of Nolensvilles rapid population growth, the Town began discussions on how to keep up with increased infrastructure demands. RELATED: Nolensville town leaders try to keep up with population growth Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With our elected officials, we began a discussion with them about a five-year plan, Lay explained. For the town to grow to meet the needs of what we need to do today and to grow incrementally in order to meet the needs that we will have in four to five years heres what the funding mechanism is [and] heres how much money its going to take. Lay told News 2 that the majority of taxes would go towards funding Nolensvilles police and fire departments. Several Nolensville residents were at the towns Monday night work session and weighed in on the proposed hike. If we dont do it now, were going to end up doing it sooner or later and I would rather take it all in one bite and get it settled, Nolensville resident Terry Adams said. However, other residents like Rob Verell said theyre concerned about how the tax hike could affect small businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Nolensville commissioners vote to raise property tax rate We have a lot of small businesses a lot of mom-and-pop shops, Verell said. Im concerned about how theyll be affected, what costs theyre going to incur and what theyll ultimately pass onto others. Nolensville commissioners have not approved the property tax rate hike increase yet. A second and final reading on the proposed tax increase will be held on June 5. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The Albuquerque International Sunport is celebrating its newest flight taking passengers directly to the nations capital. On Thursday, United Airlines officially launched daily nonstop service from the Sunport to Washington Dulles International Airport, located in the D.C. suburbs. Chile ristra-shaped hot air balloon returns to New Mexico The route is the 32nd nonstop flight for the Sunport. Passengers arriving from Dulles were greeted with a little celebration once they got off the plane and goodie bags from Albuquerque City Councilor Nicole Rogers. The airport says city leaders and New Mexicos Congressional delegation have advocated for the route for some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina's highest court on Friday left intact a murder conviction that a lower appeals court had thrown out on the grounds that a jury shake-up during deliberations violated the defendant's rights and required a new trial. By a 5-2 decision, the state Supreme Court reversed last year's decision of a state Court of Appeals panel that had sided with Eric Ramond Chambers, who has been serving a sentence of life in prison without parole. The state constitution says no one can be convicted of a crime except by the unanimous verdict of a jury in open court that state justices have declared in the past repeatedly must be composed of 12 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2021 state law says an alternate juror can be substituted for one of the 12 after deliberations begin as long as the judge instructs the amended jury to begin deliberations anew. The judge at Chambers' 2022 trial did just that when an alternate juror joined deliberations because an original juror couldnt continue the next day due to a medical appointment. The original 12 had deliberated for less than 30 minutes the day before. Chambers, who was representing himself in the trial, was not in the courtroom when the substitution occurred. By midday the reconstituted jury had reached a verdict, and Chambers was convicted of first-degree murder and a serious assault charge for the 2018 shooting in a Raleigh motel room. Chambers petitioned the Court of Appeals, which later ruled that his right to a properly constituted jury had been violated and the 2021 law couldn't supersede the state constitution because 13 people had reached the verdict. State attorneys then appealed. Writing for Friday's majority, Chief Justice Paul Newby said the 2021 law doesn't violate Chamber's right because it provides critical safeguards that ensure that the twelve-juror threshold remains sacrosanct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newby wrote the law says no more than 12 jurors can participate in the jury's deliberations and that a judge's instruction to begin deliberations anew means any discussion in which the excused juror participated is disregarded and entirely new deliberations are commenced by the newly-constituted twelve. The four other justices who are registered Republicans joined Newby in his opinion. In a dissenting opinion to retain the new trial, Associate Justice Allison Riggs wrote the 2021 law is an unconstitutional departure from the concept of 12-member juries and endangers the impartiality and unanimity of the jury. No matter what directions a trial judge gives to jurors to begin deliberations anew, Riggs added, we must assume by law that the original jurors mere presence impacted the verdict. Associate Justice Anita Earls who with Riggs are the court's two registered Democrats also dissented. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Baku's standing in the grand scheme of things, as one of the 1000 largest cities worldwide, has come to light, thanks to the Oxford Global Cities Index 2025, Trend reports. The cities in the lineup are evaluated based on five crucial pillars: the economy, human capital, quality of life, ecology, and governance. The capital of Azerbaijan has climbed the ladder to snag the 346th spot in the ranking, jumping up 58 positions from last year. So, Baku managed to pull ahead in the rankings, leaving Tashkent in the dust at 471st place, Yerevan trailing behind at 483rd, and Dushanbe lagging far behind at 683rd, along with a few other cities in the rearview mirror. The cream of the crop includes New York, London, Paris, San Jose, Seattle, Melbourne, Sydney, Boston, Tokyo, and San Francisco. Even with all the bells and whistles of modern technology, these cities are still in hot water with issues like income inequality and sky-high housing costs. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Anna Raleigh has lived in her Greensboro, North Carolina, home for more than 40 years. But when a developer came in to build a property next door to her, they took away her right to use an access road. As WFMY News reported, Raleigh was happy in her home until that happened. "I enjoy it, I love it, I love the neighborhood," she told them. But all of that changed after a new neighbor began building on the adjacent property, forcing Raleigh into a stressful property dispute she didnt expect. Don't miss When new construction gets in the way The Chamber of Commerce reports that the U.S. housing market is short more than 4.5 million homes. So, having developers come and build homes on vacant land is a good thing in theory. But it can become a problem in situations like Raleighs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raleigh spent four decades enjoying her home. But then developers came in to construct a home and blocked access to a shared road that divides that property and Raleigh's. "It was never a problem till they decided to build this house and that's when I got into the issue of the access road," Raleigh told WFMY. She wanted to keep access open on both sides of the property line. "I do not want that access road blocked, and now that it's blocked, I can't use it." Not only did the developer block access to the road, but their contractors kept parking on Raleigh's property. Raleigh then put up private property signs that were ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The developer then asked Raleigh to sign a document giving them exclusive and permanent access to the driveway to the new home on the blocked access road for $10. Her response? "What an insult." Raleigh called the developer's actions "mean spirited" and without access to the road, Raleigh's landscaper couldnt do their job. Thats a problem, since Raleigh can't maintain her large property herself. WFMY said it's not illegal for the developer to be unwilling to share their side of the road. But thankfully, Raleigh isn't out of luck. That's because the newly constructed home's new owners have agreed to allow access for Raleigh and her landscaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of this, Raleigh doesn't plan to leave. But she's hoping her new neighbors stick around so access to that road can continue to be shared. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method to make big profits off you and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs How to avoid property line disputes Whether you own a property already and want to protect your rights in a situation akin to Raleigh's or you're buying a new property, it's important to understand the legal parameters of the land you can claim as yours. The clearest way to do this is by land survey. A land survey costs between $375 and $745, according to This Old House, with an average cost of $525. However, the cost of a survey will depend on factors that include the size of your land and the type of terrain you have. If the terrain is tough to navigate, that makes the survey harder to complete (and drives up its cost). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the more thorough your survey is, the more a professional might charge. And you might encounter extra costs if the land in question is remote or hard to access. Keep in mind that if you wind up in a property line dispute that lasts months or years, you may need to have a surveyor come back repeatedly, which could add to your costs. The benefit of having a land survey is that it defines where your property line starts and ends. This way, even if there's a vacant lot next to you (as was the case with Raleigh) and someone comes in to develop it, you can prove if the developer is encroaching on your land. For example, if a home is being built next door with a fence and you don't want any portion of that fence on your property line, you have the right to say no. And with a property survey in hand, you can put up stakes along your property line so a developer or contractor doesn't accidentally put a structure on land that's legally yours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if youre buying a home, a land survey will show whether there's an easement on your property. A conservation easement, for example, means you have to preserve the natural elements of that portion of your land. You can still use it, but you generally can't do things like remove trees (unless they're dead or hazardous) or build permanent structures, like a shed, on top of greenery. You may also want to request a topography survey, which gives you information about the slope of your land. This type of survey can be useful if you see that the land youre eyeing is very sloped in certain places, giving you information about potential drainage issues before you offer on the property. The more closely you read your survey, the better you can understand your rights and what options you have going forward. If youre struggling to understand what your survey means, sit down with the person who prepared it so you can review the details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, if your neighbor or a developer presents you with a survey reflecting incorrect property lines, don't hesitate to present your own survey in return. Depending on the nature of the disagreement, you may need to enlist a lawyer who handles property line disputes to argue your case. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Two sites on Lake Allatoona are set to close, and more could be shut down on Lake Lanier. Jill Williams Just ahead of the summer tourism season, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has announced the closure of lakeside parks, campgrounds and beaches across the southeast, with most in Georgia. In a statement, the Corps said there are not enough workers to staff the 31 parks across six lakes. This decision comes after careful consideration of the safety and security of all visitors, the statement says. The well-being of our community is our top priority, and the current staffing levels do not allow us to maintain the necessary safety measures within our parks. This includes essential services such as park supervision, maintenance, and safety monitoring that ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for all visitors. We will be continually assessing and reassessing closures throughout the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lake Lanier in northeast Georgia was set to see the most closures with 20 set to close, according to the release, but Republican Congressman Rich McCormick said fewer sites will be shuttered. McCormick, whose district includes part of Lake Lanier, said he spoke with the Corps and the closures will be more limited than originally announced. I pushed hard for a better solution, and they listened, he said. All boat ramps will remain open, and only 11 recreation sites will close temporarily, not the 21 originally planned. Corps employees, like many federal workers, have faced layoffs and buyouts in an effort from the administration of President Donald Trump to shrink the government. Georgia Democrats like Sen. Sen. Raphael Warnock pointed their fingers at Trump and Elon Musk as the culprits for potential missed summer fun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After public outcry from myself and countless Georgians, we prevented more than half of the announced park closures from going into effect, he said, referring to the Lanier closures. This is welcome news for Georgia families looking forward to enjoying summer days by the lake. But because of this administrations reckless cuts, parks are still slated to be indefinitely closed. We must continue to speak out: Enough is enough with these reckless cuts, Georgia families deserve better. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff also criticized the closures. The White House must take immediate action to reopen these beautiful parks at Lake Lanier for Georgia families. This is a direct and predictable result of the Administrations reckless and chaotic mismanagement. Ossoff, who is up for re-election next year, is under pressure from his party to be seen as opposing Trump and supporting fired federal workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Corps pledged to reassess closures during the summer. See their announcement for a list of affected parks. Its not yet clear which sites will close and which will remain open after the revision. Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas, including 37 Corps-operated parks and campgrounds, according to the Corps. In addition to the spots at Lake Lanier, two are set to close at Lake Allatoona in Cherokee and Bartow counties, a day use area and a campground. Three sites are set to close at Walter F. George Lake and Lake George W. Andrews along the Georgia-Alabama border, and the announcement also includes a public shoreline area in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System, which runs through Georgia. Army Corps of Engineer employees are mostly civilians, and part of their mission is to maintain dams and waterways. All of Georgias major lakes are man made, with many created and maintained by the Corps. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea has begun a full-scale investigation into the accident that occurred during the launch of a warship this week, state media KCNA reported on Friday. Pyongyang has said the incident on Wednesday was caused by a loss of balance while the vessel was being launched, and sections of the bottom of the warship were crushed. An internal inspection found that there were no holes at the warship's bottom, but the starboard hull was scratched and seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The extent of damage was "not serious," the report said, adding the investigation group was ordered to find the cause of the accident and those responsible for it. The report did not mention any injuries or deaths as a result of the accident. The isolated state's leader Kim Jong Un, who watched Wednesday's launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer at the northeastern shipyard of Chongjin, berated it as a "criminal act" that could not be tolerated, according to state media. The mishap likely occurred in front of a large crowd, increasing the public humiliation for Kim, military analysts said. South Korea's military said on Thursday that the ship was lying on its side in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The stern is seen swung out into the harbor as a result of the wheeled units placed under the frame sliding into the water while the bow remained on the side slipway," said the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), citing satellite imagery from Thursday. The shipyard in Chongjin has primarily produced cargo vessels and fishing vessels and "undoubtedly lacks significant expertise" in launching large warships such as the new destroyer, CSIS added. It would take two to three days to restore the balance of the warship by pumping up seawater from the flooded chamber and around 10 days to restore the warship's side, the KCNA report said, citing experts' estimates. Treating the accident as a serious matter was part of an effort to fight against "incautiousness" and "irresponsibility," according to KCNA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the Chongjin shipyard, was summoned to the law enforcement organ on Thursday as it began measures to detain and investigate those responsible for the accident, the report said. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Chris Reese and Jamie Freed) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea has detained four officials who it says are responsible for the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, which outside observers say was damaged much more than the country has disclosed. The detentions came after leader Kim Jong Un expressed fury over Wednesday's incident that he said was caused by criminal negligence. The main military committee said Friday that those responsible would be held accountable for their unpardonable criminal act. Satellite imagery showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of it submerged. North Korea says it will take about 10 days to repair the damage, but outside observers question that timeframe because they suspect the damage is much worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is what you need to know about the failed ship launch: How much damage was there to the ship? The official Korean Central News Agency said Friday the severity of the damage to the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was not serious" as it canceled an earlier assessment that the bottom of the hull had been left with holes. KCNA said the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater had flowed into the stern. It said it needs 10 days to pump out the seawater, set the ship upright and fix the scratches. KCNA said Monday that the work to restore the ship's balance was being conducted as scheduled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's almost impossible to verify the assessment because of the extremely secretive nature of North Korea. It has a history of manipulating or covering up military-related setbacks, policy fiascoes and other mishaps, though it has periodically acknowledged some in recent years. Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said the North Korean warship likely has flooding in its engine room located in the stern and holes in the starboard side. He said North Korea could simply set the ship upright, paint it over and claim the ship has been launched, but that repairs could take more than a year as the replacement of an engine requires cutting the hull. Why the ship's launch failed According to the North Korean account, the destroyer was damaged when a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seouls Hanyang University, said North Korean workers are probably not familiar with launching a 5,000-ton-class warship, which is a few times heavier than its existing main navy ships. Observers say North Korea tried to launch the destroyer sideways, a method it has never used for warships, although it has previously employed it with big cargo and passenger ships. Compared with those non-military vessels, Lee sad it would be more difficult to maintain balance with the destroyer because it's equipped with heavy weapons systems. He suspected North Korean scientists and officials likely did not factor that into their plans. How Kim has reacted Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The damaged ship is assessed as the same class as North Koreas first destroyer, launched with great fanfare last month with a floating dry dock at a western shipyard. It is North Korea's biggest and most advanced warship, and Kim called its construction a breakthrough in modernizing North Koreas naval forces to cope with what he calls U.S.-led security threats. Subsequently, a failure to launch the second destroyer was an embarrassment. But by disclosing the failure, Kim could be trying to show his resolve in building greater naval forces and boosting discipline at home. He ordered officials to repair the warship before a ruling Workers Party meeting in late June. KCNA said that law enforcement authorities detained Ri Hyong Son, vice director of the munitions industry department at the ruling Workers Partys Central Committee, who said it was greatly responsible for the failed launch. KCNA reported Sunday that the authorities also detained three officials at Chongjin Shipyard the chief engineer, head of the hull construction workshop and deputy manager for administrative affairs. It earlier reported that Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin shipyard, had been summoned for questioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime, the North's Central Military Commission said in an instruction to the investigation team on Thursday, according to KCNA. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said North Korea appeared to be using the failed launch as a chance to strengthen the ruling party's control over science and technological sectors. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, said that North Koreas handling of the damaged warship could have long-term consequences for its defense science sector. If scientists are held severely accountable, I would say the future of North Koreas defense science doesnt look very bright, as it would be a sign that political responsibility is being prioritized over technical accountability, Lee wrote on Facebook. (Reuters) -North Macedonia wants to discuss with Bulgaria matters that block its path to European Union membership during next month's NATO summit and hopes top EU and NATO officials can also attend such a meeting, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Friday. A NATO member, North Macedonia became an EU candidate in 2005 and opened membership negotiations in 2022, but talks have stalled due to objections from neighboring Bulgaria over history and language. Bulgaria wants North Macedonia to recognise a Bulgarian minority in its constitution, which Mickoski's nationalist government has refused to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are ready to talk, to have bilateral talks at the level of partnership relations within the NATO alliance," Mickoski told a news conference in the capital of Skopje, held together with EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. "Anyone who wants to assist, we are ready to talk to them," he said when asked if his government would accept outside mediation in the matter. Kallas, who arrived in North Macedonia as part of her trip to the Western Balkans region, praised its hosts for aligning with the European common security and foreign policy and contributing to the regional security as part of the EU's peace force EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "My message today is to stay on the course and to take next steps necessary towards the opening of the negotiations," Kallas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mickoski said the idea of the bilateral meeting with Bulgaria during the summit in The Hague has been discussed and agreed with Kallas, but he did not know if Sofia will accept the offer. "We are ready to sit down and talk with anyone to accept certain mediation," he said. "We want a solution but the solution that will be dignified and long-lasting. We are tired of continuous blockages referring to the bilateral issues." (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) ST. LOUIS North St. Louis property owner Terry Owens remains heartbroken over Fridays tornado that destroyed the home where she and two tenants lived. Its mentally overwhelming, and sometimes I feel like Im losing my mind, she said. Its too much. Shes hopeful someone will offer her help boarding the property. This is all I have, said Owens. Throughout north St. Louis, various community-driven pop-up relief sites are on street corners offering support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its nice to give back and show love, said Ebonie Kelly. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News The north St. Louis resident helped barbecue hot dogs, hamburgers and give away chips and bottled water near the intersection of N. Newstead and St. Louis avenues. This is the time that we need each, she said. Some area businesses have also been distributing relief supplies. Its all about acts of kindness, said Ronald Burns, BullDozer LLC. Were giving to the people in the neighborhood. Karrington Winters and employees from Classics Bar and Grill were also giving away food and drinks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I see a lot of people just walking around and they have nowhere to turn, she said. Winters said the outpouring of support is heartwarming. Dana Hardin lived in an apartment that had roof damage, a power outage and water damage from rain that followed Fridays tornado. She hopes more help will be offered to displaced residents. Anything would be helpful, she said. The City of St. Louis is providing information about how to help and where to access help. More information is also available here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A northwest Charlotte road was closed Friday morning after a pedestrian was struck and killed, officials said. The incident happened at about 6:40 a.m. on North Hoskins Road at Tennessee Avenue. ALSO READ: CMPD investigates 2 overnight shootings Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers cordoned off the area with yellow police tape. MEDIC said the pedestrian was dead when they got there. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. VIDEO: School bus crash shuts down northwest Charlotte road PENSACOLA, Fla. (WKRG) Two sisters convicted of charges stemming from embezzling their employers money face time in federal prison. Truck and dump truck crash head-on in Mobile; man critically injured According to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office Northern District of Florida, Kimberly Lovitt, 52, of Pace, was sentenced to 36 months, while her sister, Amy Williams, 46, of Milton, was sentenced to 18 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were convicted of wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns, the release said. Abuse of trust, embezzlement and tax evasion warrant significant criminal consequences, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Michelle Spaven said. The defendants years-long theft from their employer and the extreme efforts to conceal their criminal proceeds are both illegal and offensive to all hardworking Americans, especially those who own and operate local businesses. It is fitting and proper that they are not only incarcerated, but that they pay restitution and unpaid taxes for their criminal conduct. According to the release, the embezzlement began in 2016 and continued until 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During that time, Lovitt conspired with Williams to embezzle more than $844,000 from their employer, a locally owned business in Pensacola. Lovitt was the office manager, and Williams was the receptionist, the release said. The two used their positions to steal money from the business by using corporate credit cards for unauthorized personal purchases, the release said. Lovitt used her position to create false documentation and manipulate accounting records to cover up their crime. She also failed to report the embezzled money as income on her federal income taxes, the release said. The defendants theft through embezzlement caused great financial strain on their employer and put other employees jobs at risk, Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge at the Tampa Field Office, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentencings today serve as an example of what individuals can expect when they lie, cheat and steal and then try to hide the ill-gotten gains from the IRS. Gulf Shores makes history with first-ever commercial flight to Alabamas beaches The Emerald Coast Financial Crimes Task Force, which included officers from the Pensacola Police Department and agents from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit, investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp then prosecuted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORFOLK, Conn. (WTNH) Norfolk residents Thursday approved plans to build a new $9 million firehouse, according to fire officials. At a special meeting, residents approved a resolution to appropriate $9,300,000 for the construction the new station, which will be located at 20 Shepard Rd., according to Public Information Officer Jon Barbagallo. 7 ducks saved from storm drain in Cromwell The current fire station is located on John Curtiss Road, in the Royal Arcadian building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new space is designed to provide better space for training, storage and parking for modern-sized fire engines, according to the fire departments project website. Financing the appropriation will include, in part, issuing the towns bonds, notes or temporary notes in an amount not to exceed $3,500,000, according to the resolution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Baku International Multiculturalism Center, the Center for the Analysis of International Relations and the Baku Initiative Group will jointly organize an international scientific conference on the topic "Islamophobia: Exposing Prejudice and Destroying Stigma" on May 26-27 of this year, dedicated to the 3rd anniversary of the International Day for the Fight against Islamophobia, Trend reports. The foreign partners of the conference include the G20 Interfaith Forum (IF20), OIC, ICESCO, Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID), Supreme Committee for Human Fraternity, Council of Muslim Elders, Central Council of Muslims in Germany, EuLeMa - European Muslim Leaders' Majlis (Council), and the International Muslim Forum. The aim of the international scientific conference is to create an academic platform to discuss alarming trends targeting Muslims and countries with Muslim populations at the international and national levels. The conference will bring together scholars, experts from international organizations, religious figures, and representatives of non-governmental organizations from nearly 40 countries. The conference, which will be attended by more than 100 foreign guests, will discuss the following topics: "Global Trends in Islamophobia: Challenges and Responses", "Anti-Muslim Hatred in Politics: Legal Frameworks and Advocacy Strategies", "Islamophobia in Different Contexts: Regional Perspectives", "Islamophobia in Media and Digital Platforms: How Artificial Intelligence Systems Can Spread and Reinforce Islamophobic Bias", "Women, Identity, and Stereotypes: Navigating the Intersection of Religious and Cultural Prejudices", "Institutionalization of Legislation Against Muslims in Europe: Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Against the Background of Radicalization of Islamophobic Propaganda", "Preserving Islamic Cultural Heritage in a Changing World", and "Youth's Call for Inclusion: Fighting Prejudice and Misinformation". To note, March 15 was first announced as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Niamey, Niger, on November 27-28, 2020. The UN General Assembly adopted March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Imagine a child at home, crying. She is inconsolable, screaming for food. A neighbor tries to offer some bread; the door is blocked. A grocery store down the road has plenty of supplies; no one can get to it. The clock ticks down and the child starves, her baby fat melting to nothing. Multiply that possibility by thousands. In the Gaza Strip, Palestinian children are starving while food is sitting in trucks, just out of reach. Israel began a total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza on March 2, the longest such stoppage since the current war began, putting the region at critical risk of famine, according to food-security experts. Israel finally agreed to ease the blockade on Sunday and said that 93 trucks had crossed the border on Tuesday and that an additional 107 had yesterday. Aid has begun to reach civilians after reported delays. But children continue to go hungry. There is no question that the situation for children in Gaza is grave. The World Health Organization stated on May 13 that since Israels blockade had begun, 57 children had reportedly died from malnutrition, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. More than 14,000 children under 5 are at risk of severe acute malnutrition in Gaza over roughly the next year, according to a recent food-security report. Tom Fletcher, a United Nations official, in a widely shared misstatement of that statistic, warned on Tuesday that 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours unless aid was delivered to them. A former Israeli-government spokesperson told The Times of Israel that Fletcher had caused a global media panic about something totally made up. Getting the facts straight in dire situations such as this is crucial. But the truth remains that children are starving, needlessly, while aid struggles to reach them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: In three months, half of them will be dead] In response to the developments in Gaza, the childrens entertainer Rachel Accurso, known to babies and toddlers the world over as Ms. Rachel, made an emotional plea in a video posted to her Instagram earlier this week. (The video, which referred to the inaccurate 14,000-babies stat, no longer appears on her page.) While holding her own round-cheeked baby daughter, she showed a disturbing photo of a gaunt Palestinian baby, whose each and every rib was visible under her skin. Dear world leaders, please help this baby, Accurso said. Please, please look at her; just please look in her eyes for one minute. Accurso has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian children, who have suffered at such a scale that in December 2023, UNICEF called Gaza the most dangerous place in the world to be a child. Her focus on children is apt: Nearly half of Gazas population is childrenand children are especially vulnerable to malnutrition. Yet she has faced backlash for her statements; last month, a pro-Israel group called for the Department of Justice to investigate whether she was working for Hamas. (This accusation is not only absurd, its patently false, she told The New York Times.) Online commenters have accused her of focusing on Palestinians to the exclusion of Israeli children. (She has not ignored Israeli childrenshe has shared sympathetic posts about the effects of Hamass October 7 attacks on children. Im thinking not only of the Israeli children taken hostage, she wrote recently, but also those who witnessed horrific acts of violence that daytheir innocence stolen in an instant.) In an interview with the journalist Mehdi Hasan, Accurso said, Its sad that people try to make it controversial when you speak out for children that are facing immeasurable suffering. That a person whose job is to care about children should be criticized for caring about children is ludicrous. It should not need to be said, and it should not be controversial to say it, but: Starving children is wrong. If pointing that out lands you in hot water, that is a symptom of something deeply broken in our culture. Everyone should care if children are needlessly suffering, wherever they are suffering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If or when the aid sitting in those trucks reaches the Palestinian people, it will go only a fraction of the way toward addressing widespread hunger. What the food-security report released earlier this month actually stated is that the entire population of Gaza is food insecure. It also estimated that from May to September of this year, nearly 470,000 people will experience catastrophic food insecurity, meaning that more than one in five will face starvation if the situation doesnt change. Nearly 71,000 children under 5 and nearly 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women were projected to need treatment for acute malnutrition between April of this year and March 2026. (Of those 71,000 children, 14,100 casesthe figure that the UN official seems to have mis-citedare projected to be severe.) According to The New York Times, Israel has publicly claimed that its blockade in Gaza was not a threat to civilians. In a statement on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had sent 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza since October 7, 2023. More than enough food to feed everyone in Gaza, he said. This claim contradicts statements from the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and multiple international aid organizations that hunger in the region is at crisis levels. And anonymous Israeli-military sources told the Times that, in private, some officials have admitted that food is running out. Israel has also said that it started the blockade in part because it believed Hamas was stealing aid and using it to fuel its fightan accusation Hamas has denied. Netanyahu also asserted on Thursday that Israel had devised a mechanism with U.S. allies in which American companies will distribute the food directly to Palestinian families, in safe zones secured by the Israeli military. The UN has criticized the plan on the grounds that, among other things, it amounts to forced displacement, requiring Palestinians to relocate in order to access aid. The grim reality that war is hell does not mean that anyone should accept mass starvation among children, anywhere, as inevitable. And we should certainly not accept it when available food is kept from childrens reach. (We should be just as alarmed that the United States is contributing to global malnutrition in its own way: By gutting agencies such as USAID, the country has disrupted the flow of assistance that previously went to malnourished children around the world, including the supply of a vital nutritional paste. According to the WHO, nearly half of all deaths among children under 5 globally are attributed to malnutrition.) Even before Israels blockade of Gaza, getting lifesaving aid to starving children and their families in the Strip was difficult. The UNs former emergency-relief coordinator has described the task as in all practical terms, impossible. Trucks carrying supplies have had limited points of entry, faced long waits at the border and looting, and been unable to be sure of safe passage if they do get into the region. Israeli fire has hit aid convoys on multiple occasions and killed many humanitarian workers. (Earlier this year, Israel disputed the UNs figures on the rate at which aid was entering Gaza. But Israels own numbers fell far short of the amount of aid required to meet basic food needs, as estimated by the World Food Programme.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [David A. Graham: A deadly strike in Gaza] The trucks let in so far are addressing only a drop in the ocean of needand the decision to allow them through cannot be described as a good-faith effort to prevent a potential famine. Rather, comments made by Netanyahu suggest that this was a concession made to retain the support of Israels allies, including the United States. The Washington Post recently reported that in a video of Netanyahu posted to social media, he said that we cannot reach a point of starvation, for practical and diplomatic reasons. His professed concern seemed to be not that people are starving, but that allies had told him they could not handle pictures of mass starvation, the Post reported. In her Instagram post, Accurso asked viewers to think of children they knew and loved. She said of Gazas children: If youre not going to stand up for them, you might as well come out and say you dont see them like you see our kids. Another icon of childrens TV, the late, great Mister Rogers, famously said that when we see scary things in the news, we should look for the helpers. In Gaza, we know where the helpers are. Theyre right there at the gates, trying to get in. Article originally published at The Atlantic CHICAGO Leaders from the local Jewish community and advocates are speaking out about the fatal shooting in Washington, DC that left two staff members of the Israeli Embassy dead. The Anti-Defamation League started tracking antisemitic incidents 46 years ago and a recent report says the current numbers are the highest on record. Jewish community leaders and advocates are now urging the public to recognize that this weeks attack, and antisemitism as a whole, is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect in DC Jewish museum shooting faces murder, firearm charges in death penalty eligible case Antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem, it is an American one. This cowardly act of terrorism in the heart of our nations capital is an assault on the civic soul of this country, Alison Pure-Slovin, Midwest Region Director for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said. On Friday morning, leaders from the Anti-Defamation League, Chicago City Council and several Jewish organizations shared their sorrow and outrage over the murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Mmilgrim, the couple shot and killed Wednesday night as they were leaving an American Jewish Committee (AJC) Young Diplomats event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. Those who spoke out said they believe the deadly shooting is part of an increase in antisemitic attacks nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect in DC Jewish museum shooting faces murder, firearm charges in death penalty eligible case In 2024 the Anti-Defamation League recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the US. That is a 5% increase from 2023, a 344% increase over the past five years and close to a 900% increase over the past 10 years. The AJCs 2024 State of Antisemitism in America report cites that more than half of the Jewish population in the country doesnt feel safe. 77% of American Jews stated that they do not feel safe being Jewish in this country, the United States, Beth Ida Stern, Interim Regional Director of the Chicago American Jewish Committee, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt about politics anymore, this is about good versus evil and we are all in a position to do something about it. Its our moral obligation to do something, Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) said. Suspect in DC Jewish museum shooting faces murder, firearm charges in death penalty eligible case To help combat hate against the Jewish community, the local leader of the Anti-Defamation League says he wants to see the State of Illinois develop a statewide plan to combat antisemitism. And before the session ends in Springfield next week, hes urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would require law enforcement to go through hate crimes training. Additionally, he is asking people not to forget the recent attack and to work to stop others from happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. On May 3, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, two National Park Service (NPS) officers were involved in a vehicle chase that ended in a shootout and the arrest of a suspect. The officers were treated for minor injuries, and the suspect was treated for a non-lethal gunshot wound. On May 23, NPS released the bodycam footage of the incident. The incident is still under investigation. A word of caution, the press release about the body cam footage warns. This video of an officer-involved shooting contains graphic content and strong language. Viewer discretion is advised. Car Chase Ends in Shootout Around 8 p.m., May 3, the suspect driving a white truck with Idaho plates was approached by an NPS law enforcement vehicle near the junction of Lone Rock Beach Access Road. A park visitor had called 911 earlier in the evening to report that this person had been acting erratically and appeared to be either drunk or on drugs. The location of the shooting, near the junction to Lone Rock Beach Access Road; (photo/screenshot via NPS) Upon locating the truck, NPS law enforcement officers realized there was already an Attempt to Locate posted for this individual who had been trying to break into cars near Page, Ariz., and may have also been in possession of a machete, according to NPS. As the NPS officer approached the drivers side window, the man was speaking incoherently and waving his arms outside of the truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the officer asked, Whats going on, dude? the suspect punched the gas and fled the scene. Officers apprehend the suspect; (photo/screenshot via NPS) Both officers took off in hot pursuit, chasing the white truck up the road and calling for backup. At a certain point, the man made a sharp U-turn and crashed into the NPS officers vehicle. Immediately, both officers pulled their weapons and started firing at the suspect. Body cam footage shows one of the officers firing more than 10 rounds through his windshield. The officers exited their vehicle and kept weapons trained on the suspect, who was still in his truck. Backup arrived, and the suspect was placed in custody. The aftermath of the shootout, showing the damaged NPS vehicle; (photo/screenshot via NPS) History of Shootouts With NPS Officers The identity of the suspect in the posted video has yet to be released. Since the incident is still under investigation, no further details around his motives are available. You can watch the full community briefing, which includes the available bodycam footage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This incident occurred near the town of Greenhaven, Utah, along Highway 89. As for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, it spans 1.5 million acres in southern Utah and northern Arizona. Created in 1972, its home to Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the U.S. While gunfights with National Park rangers are rare, they do happen. In July 2024, a suspect was killed in Yellowstone after a gunfight with NPS rangers. In 2021, a Colorado man opened fire on a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park. He was later sentenced to 23 years in federal prison. Currently, the Iron Garfield Beaver Kane Critical Incident Task Force is leading a joint investigation into the Glen Canyon incident. Its receiving assistance from the Utah Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the NPS Investigative Services Branch. The identity of the suspect in the posted video has yet to be released. Since the incident is still under investigation, no further details around his motives are available. You can watch the full community briefing, which includes the available bodycam footage. MONTROSE COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) The National Park Service is looking for community input on the Grazing Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (GrMP/EA) for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As of now, park managers oversee grazing through the tandem of interagency agreements with the Bureau of Land Management, NPS-issued Special Use Permits (SUPs) and the United States Forest Service. Once the new Grazing Management Plan is complete, livestock grazing and trailing SUPs will be issued to permittees by the NPS with specific conditions emphasizing cultural, natural, and recreational resources in accordance with their policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the NPSs 30-day public comment period from May 28 to June 27, people can leave comments on the park services website. They can send comments by mail to Superintendent, Curecanti NRA, 102 Elk Creek, in Gunnison. The NPS will also host in-person and virtual meetings to provide information about the GrMP/EA. Their first in-person meeting will take in at Montrose Police Department community meeting room, 434 S. First St., from 6-8 p.m. on June 3. The second will be the following day at the same time at Fred Field Center in Gunnison, 298 S. Spruce St. NPSs Zoom meeting will then follow on June 5, also from 6-8 p.m. To register, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Neal Schnoor is stepping down as president of Northern State University (NSU), according to a news release from the South Dakota Board of Regents. School is out, where can kids find free meals? Schnoor was selected as the priority candidate for chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) earlier this year. He has served NSU since 2021, and saw the university through a time of significant growth and transformation, according to the BOR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would like to express our gratitude to President Schnoor for his dedicated service to Northern State University and the Aberdeen community, Board of Regents President Tim Rave said in the news release. His leadership and vision for the future have contributed significantly to the growth and modernization of NSUs campus. We wish him all the best in his new role. SDSU prepares for federal education cutbacks Former president of Black Hills State University (BHSU) Dr. Laurie Nichols has been appointed as the interim president, following Schnoors departure. Dr. Laurie Nichols has held statewide leadership roles at SDSU, NSU, and has been president of BHSU from 2019 to 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am honored to return to the South Dakota Board of Regents and Northern State University during this time of transition, Nichols said in the news release. I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and the Aberdeen community to build on the strong foundation established by President Schnoor. The South Dakota Board of Regents will conduct a search for the next president of NSU this fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran's controversial nuclear programme were set to enter a decisive phase on Friday with a meeting in the Italian capital. For the fifth round of talks, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected in Rome. The Gulf state of Oman is mediating between the two countries. The United States is demanding that the Iranian government completely halt uranium enrichment, which Washington views as a necessary measure to permanently prevent the development of nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehran rejects this demand but has shown willingness to restrict the nuclear programme again and allow stricter controls. Both sides had initially expressed optimism at the start of the talks. However, after the recent meeting in the Omani capital, Muscat, significant differences emerged over the central issue of uranium enrichment. Experts say the negotiations are now in a critical phase. SUNSET PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11) A school aide is under arrest on suspicion of strangling a child on school grounds, sources tell PIX11 News. The 47-year-old Department of Education employee was arrested in Brooklyn on Thursday just before 6 p.m., according to the police. More Crime News Officials tell PIX11 News the incident happened at P.S. 169 in Brooklyn where a 9-year-old child said he was playing with another student in the lunchroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school aide told the child to stop playing but when he continued, the employee walked up behind the 9-year-old, put her arm around the childs neck and applied pressure, authorities say. The student said he had difficulty breathing and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the police. More Brooklyn News Officials say the DOE worker now faces a slew of charges including assault, strangulation, endangering the welfare of a child, menacing, harassment, and more. A representative for the Department of Education issued the following statement in response to PIX11 News. The safety and wellness of our students is always our top priority. This alleged behavior is absolutely unacceptable. This individual has been removed, and if convicted, we will pursue termination. DOE Spokesperson 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). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A New York man dodged death when he was bit by a venomous snake while bike riding in New Jersey. Dan Geiger was pedaling along the Palisades Cliffs recently when he saw a snake in the middle of the bike path. I notice a lot of squashed snakes because snakes go out to the pavement to sun themselves or to gather heat, and I guess theyre a target for automobiles, Geiger told Fox 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prevent the animal from getting run over, he stopped to get off his bike and move it with his water bottle. Then disaster struck. I nudged it, it didnt, it was very lethargic seeming, and I just sort of nudged again, and I was just like too close, you know, my hand was just too close to its head, I guess, and it just, it struck me with precision and speed, Geiger told the outlet. Geiger was able to call 911 with the help of two passersby, but he was already feeling the effects of the copperheads bite. He was taken Hackensack University Medical Center, which has a team that specializes in treating bites from venomous snakes. While copperhead venom isnt usually deadly, it can cause serious symptoms like internal bleeding, swelling and tissue death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daria Falkowitz, director of the Division of Medical Toxicology at Hackensack University Medical Center, told the station antivenom isnt a miracle cure. It just stops things from getting worse and so whatever tissue damage has already occurred prior to receiving it is there, she said. Photos of the aftermath show Geigers swollen, discolored right index finger. However, Falkowitz said because the antivenom was administered so quickly, Geiger likely avoided permanent damage. Copperheads are one of the 22 types of snakes native to New Jersey. This article was originally published in Chalkbeat. After trading taunts with a classmate one morning in March 2023, Tristan threw a punch that busted the other students lip. A teacher who intervened wound up with a bloody nose and swollen lip in the ensuing scuffle. Then a ninth grader at Brooklyns Medgar Evers College Preparatory School, Tristan later took responsibility for starting the fight. I hit him first thats where I was wrong, said the teen, who requested his last name be withheld for privacy reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School officials suspended Tristan for more than three weeks, among the longest punishments typically allowed under city guidelines. But while the case seemed open and shut, an impartial hearing officer later ruled that the lengthy suspension violated the teens rights. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Tristan, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, received special education services to address impulse control and anger management. But the school failed to provide numerous counseling sessions that were supposed to help him learn to regulate his emotions, the hearing officer found. During a legally required meeting to assess whether Tristans disability played a role in the fight, school staff did not consider his special education records, behavioral plan, or history of similar outbursts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no evidence that the [schools review team] discussed any relevant documents, wrote hearing officer Patricia Le Goff, who noted the school did not follow the required step-by-step process and Tristans mother was not allowed to offer her perspective. The hearing officer found that Tristans behavior stemmed from his disability and the schools failure to provide counseling sessions. Le Goff concluded that Tristan should not have received a lengthy punishment. But it was too late. Tristan had served his suspension. New York Citys public schools routinely flout federal rules designed to prevent schools from removing children from class for long periods due to behavior related to their disabilities, a Chalkbeat investigation has found. To examine the discipline process, Chalkbeat obtained hundreds of pages of special education records and rulings from impartial hearing officers who reviewed appeals from families whose children with disabilities received lengthy punishments. Those records as well as interviews with more than a dozen parents, advocates, and school officials reveal a pattern of schools failing to properly consider a students disability during the suspension process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, some students are serving longer punishments than legally allowed, a problem that disproportionately affects Black students. The removals can compound academic struggles among students who are often far behind their peers. The problem stretches back years. Independent monitors who looked at nearly 1,400 suspensions between 2015 and 2018 found systemic flaws with the review process, according to a Chalkbeat analysis of findings that have not previously been made public. There are students who are being suspended weeks and weeks more than they should be, said Andrew Gerst, an attorney who handled Tristans appeal while working at Mobilization for Justice, an organization that represents low-income families. They should not be kept out of school one minute longer than they have to be. Students with disabilities are far more likely to be suspended compared with their nondisabled peers. As a group, they were removed from class 14,000 times last school year, about 39% of all removals and suspensions, despite representing 22% of the student body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For long-term suspensions, which are less common and typically issued for significant misconduct, federal law requires an extra level of review. Schools must consider whether the behavior in question was related to a students disability or a failure to provide special education services guaranteed in their learning plan. Trisha Clayton, Tristans mother, said the suspension review process left her feeling like the school wasnt interested in supporting her son, and the lengthy punishment knocked him further off track. A different hearing officer later ordered the Education Department to pay for 900 hours of one-on-one tutoring in addition to other therapies to make up for inadequate special education support. He missed out on a lot of instructional hours, Clayton said. If you have a child with a learning disability or anger issues, they just dont want to deal with those kinds of kids. Education Department officials said they could not comment on specific student cases, and the principal at Medgar Evers did not respond to questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School staffers on other campuses who have participated in suspension reviews said there are often good reasons to issue longer punishments, as they can help maintain a safe learning environment for other students and possibly deter future misconduct. Holding your teacher against the wall, or punching someone in the face, thats not necessarily a manifestation of their disability most of the time, said Anna Nelson, a former Bronx assistant principal who has participated in suspension reviews. If a kids never been suspended before, its a message that really sticks with them. But advocates and parents say that schools often reflexively dismiss the possibility that a students disability played a role in their misconduct. City education officials acknowledged in an interview with Chalkbeat that implementation of the suspension reviews can be uneven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 600 Education Department staffers have been trained to make the reviews more collaborative, according to a department spokesperson, and officials have revised letters sent to families to better explain the process. Stephanie Jemilo, a special projects director at the Education Department who oversees the training, said her team works with specific schools when they receive complaints from families. The goal is to make the meetings feel less punitive. It really is the process to say, Hey, somethings not working here, and lets all come together and figure out whats not working, she said. Schools have long failed to account for students disabilities in the suspension process All public schools are required to educate students with disabilities alongside their nondisabled peers to the greatest extent possible, a cornerstone of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The law is designed to prevent schools from using the discipline process to exclude those students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a student is suspended for more than 10 days, or if theres a pattern of short-term removals, school staff must determine if the behavior in question was caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to the students disability or the schools failure to provide mandated services. If the answer to either is yes, the student is supposed to return to class immediately, and the school is required to conduct a behavior assessment. (There are some exceptions for extreme violence, drugs, or weapons possession.) To make that decision, school officials must hold a meeting called a manifestation determination review within 10 days of the students removal from class. Schools must include parents and at least one staff member who knows the student, including a school psychologist or guidance counselor. Families are entitled to request others to join, such as a teacher who works with their child, and they can bring an advocate. In theory, the process should be collaborative. But the final decision rests with the students school, an arrangement that families and advocates say is far from objective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like somebody gets arrested and you go to the police station and ask them to have a hearing about whether they think that they were right to arrest the person, Gerst said. They have every incentive to stand by their decision. Problems with the citys discipline process arent new, according to a Chalkbeat review of legal records and city data that has not previously been made public. A 2002 class action lawsuit filed by the nonprofit group Advocates for Children claimed schools routinely used discipline to exclude students without properly considering their disability. After a protracted legal battle, the city settled the case in 2015 and agreed to some reforms. They beefed up training and created a mandatory checklist that spells out each step of the process schools must follow. The city was also required to check whether schools were following the rules, sending independent monitors into nearly 1,400 suspension review meetings, a sample of the meetings held between 2015 and 2018. The monitors found glaring and systemic problems, according to reports obtained by Gerst through a public records request and shared with Chalkbeat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, only 44% of suspension review meetings included effective discussion of the incident that led to the suspension and whether it was connected to disability-related behaviors, the monitors found during the 2017-18 school year. In 20% of cases that year, there was limited or no discussion of a students special education learning plan, raising questions about how the review team determined whether a students behavior was related to a lack of services. Nicole Tuchinda, a professor at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law who has written about the suspension review process, called those figures disturbing because they reveal schools frequently did not comply with key components of the law. It just shows its a sham, Tuchinda said. Failing to protect students with disabilities from longer punishments could further set back a group that is already disproportionately removed from their classrooms, are far behind their peers academically, and less likely to graduate on time. One study focusing on New York City found suspensions led to students passing fewer classes, increasing their risk of dropping out, and lowering the odds of graduating. Other research also generally suggests that suspensions are linked to worse academic outcomes. Students who are suspended for more than five days are typically sent to alternate learning centers away from their school, an environment students say is often dull or chaotic. Problems with the suspension review process are also more likely to affect students of color, mirroring broader trends in school discipline. Between September 2021 and December 2022, more than half of the 1,825 suspension reviews involved Black students, even though only a quarter of students with disabilities are Black, city data show. Schools were more likely to find that white students behavior was related to their disability compared with their Black or Latino peers, according to figures obtained by Gerst. Education Department officials declined to provide more recent figures and there is no federal data on the suspension review process. The responsibility for ensuring the city is complying with federal special education laws falls to the states Education Department. State officials found some problems with the citys suspension review process in 2023 that required corrective action, according to spokesperson JP OHare. He did not specify the nature of the problem or what specific action was required. The state Education Department has not received any specific ongoing concerns about the process, OHare added. It is difficult to know how widespread problems with the review process are today: The Education Department stopped sending independent monitors to the meetings after they were no longer legally required. Melinda Andra, a longtime advocate at the Legal Aid Society who has represented families in the suspension process, said there were some signs of improvement when the monitors were in place. Now, she said, Things have kind of backtracked. Everybody was just on the attack: One family felt alienated by suspension review Danet Fergusons son, Malachi, faced a monthlong suspension for fighting another student in January, striking two teachers who tried to break them up. She was confident the school would conclude the 13-year-olds ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder contributed to the incident. The school found such a link in a previous suspension this school year. In the aftermath of the fight, Malachi was removed from class at I.S. 181 in the Bronx. Ferguson, who runs a day care, was forced to drive him to a suspension center more than an hour away. Im stressed out and frustrated, Ferguson said at the time. His grades have dropped. Im missing work. A little over a week after Malachi was removed from class, his school held a suspension review meeting to assess if his disability played a role in the fight. Ferguson and Michaela Shuchman, her legal advocate, pointed to Malachis history of aggression and impulsivity, which are well documented in his special education records. But school staff countered that Malachis behavior was premeditated. They said they could not let the incident slide without significant punishment, according to Shuchman, a lawyer at Bronx Legal Services. Everybody was just on the attack, said Ferguson. There was no one trying to listen. The school ruled Malachis disability wasnt a major factor, allowing his suspension to continue. With Shuchmans help, Ferguson appealed the case. A hearing officer found several procedural flaws with the schools suspension review process. Ferguson wanted Malachis counselor and one-on-one paraprofessional to attend the meeting, two people who could have helped interpret his behavior that day. But the school dismissed the request, arguing it came too late to ensure the staff could be there and wasnt worth postponing the meeting, according to the hearing officers ruling. Hearing officer Tanya White blasted the school for that decision, noting that Ferguson had a right to designate attendees. She added: The two people that [Ferguson] requested would have provided a unique insight into the ultimate determination. It was also unclear whether the school was following Malachis special education learning plan, an issue that was not sufficiently discussed during the suspension review process, according to Whites ruling. Malachi is supposed to have a full-time behavioral support aide, who had helped keep his behavior in check in the past, the hearing officer wrote. School staff claimed there was a different aide with Malachi at the time of the incident, though the hearing officer noted the aides presence was not included in the official incident report, nor did that person offer a witness statement or attend the suspension review meeting. The only two people who placed the covering paraprofessional at the scene are DOE staff members with a vested interest in the answer as to whether the Students [learning plan] was being implemented, White wrote. White was also troubled that the school had removed references to physical outbursts in Malachis behavior plan. Altering the behavior plan undermines the DOEs assertion that it arrived at the correct conclusion, she wrote. The principal of I.S. 181 did not respond to a request for comment. An Education Department spokesperson declined to comment on specific student cases and did not answer a question about whether the schools staff have received training on the suspension process. White ruled in Malachis favor, ordering the Education Department to pay for about 126 hours of one-on-one tutoring to make up for the disruption to his education. Malachi still served the monthlong suspension, which would have been nearly three weeks shorter if the school had found the fight was related to his disability at the initial review meeting. Shuchman said overturning a suspension on appeal after the student has already served it is common, as that process often takes around 40 days to play out and most suspensions are capped at 20 days. Its really justice delayed, she said. City officials resist calls for reform Over the past year, advocates have pushed the Education Department to reform the discipline process but have struggled to gain traction. A group of attorneys lobbied the Education Department to directly connect families to advocates before the suspension review meetings, as parents often dont know their rights or how the process works. A handful of public interest legal groups offered to supply pro-bono advocates. Just having somebody in the room, just having your back is really important to families, said Gerst, one of the lawyers who supported the effort. When we do advocate, we often find so many other special education issues. Some advocates and parents also suggested that school staff dont review their own schools suspension decision. The idea has some precedent: At charter schools, the suspension reviews are typically overseen by Education Department staff who dont work for the school. So far, the city has rejected the proposal to provide legal representation for families during the process, a decision Education Department officials declined to explain. But they expressed some openness to taking the process out of the hands of the school that disciplined the student. Its something that we are talking about, said Jemilo, the Education Department official, and exploring what an alternative could be. If the city made that change that could be big, Shuchman said, because the current process creates a real conflict of interest. It is unclear how seriously city officials are considering it, however. An Education Department spokesperson declined to answer questions about who would conduct the reviews or a timeline for making that change. In the meantime, advocates said the process is still stacked against families. For Clayton, Tristans mother, the process was so overwhelming that she pulled him out of the citys school system. Even though Tristan won hundreds of hours of one-on-one tutoring, Clayton struggled to coax him to attend. The teens experience at school had reached a breaking point, and Tristan wound up getting suspended again, she said. That was the final straw. I was like, Im going to spend half the time at a suspension hearing, Clayton said. So last September, Tristan moved in with his aunt upstate. His mother said hes doing better in school, landed a job at a local bakery, and plans to go to trade school for plumbing. The guidance counselor from Tristans old school recently called to ask after the teen. Clayton was thrilled to offer an update. Hes really thriving, she said. Im in disbelief. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Ashig Nargila Mehdiyeva delivered an extraordinary performance in the People's Song music project aired on Georgian Public Television, captivating a vast audience, a source in the State Committee on Work with Diaspora told Trend. She gracefully brought to life the "Samandari" aria, woven from the renowned "Dushdu" verses by the illustrious figure of ashig literature, Ashig Alasgar. Her performance resonated deeply with the jury, earning her accolades and a warm embrace from the audience. Mehdiyeva's performance unfolded as part of a grand tapestry woven by the "Promotion of Azerbaijani Realities and Cultural Heritage in Georgia" project, brought to life by the Alliance Youth Center of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, flourishing in Tbilisi. The project is of great importance in terms of introducing Azerbaijan's rich folklore and ashig art in the neighboring country and bringing it to the local public. This initiative contributes to strengthening the existing cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia and sharing common values in the region. In Azerbaijan, an ashig is a traditional minstrel who performs a distinctive amalgamation of poetry, storytelling, and music, primarily utilizing the saz, a long-necked stringed instrument. Ashugs are essentially bards or troubadours who spontaneously compose songs accompanied by their own music. Their art is profoundly anchored in Azerbaijan's cultural heritage and oral tradition. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel NEW YORK NYPD security is heightened at Jewish and Israeli sites around the city after two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., were gunned down. Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30, were about to get engaged, according to the Israeli ambassador. The couple, who worked at the embassy, were at an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday evening when a gunman opened fire on them while the couple was standing in front of the museum with two other people. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack there prompted the NYPD to increase security at sites in the five boroughs, out of an abundance of caution, according to Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Commissioner for Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner. The point of the increased deployment, they said, was to prevent copycat attacks, even though there are no known threats in New York on the day after Milgrim and Lischinsky were slain. Joshua Maxey, the executive director of Bet Mishpachah, the main LGBTQ synagogue in Washington, was friends with Milgrim and Lischinsky. Hed worked closely with Milgrim on a variety of events. Sarah was a true peace builder, Maxey said about his friend, with whom hed spoken by phone early Wednesday evening, not long before she was killed. Shed been helping to plan Pride Month events with the Washington LGBTQ community on the day she was slain. Maxey said that Milgrim made that kind of uniting her lifes mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should keep Sarah as an example, Maxey said, to strive for peace in this country, peace in our world, so that acts of violence, acts of terror such as this [are] not normal in our societies. Because a risk of such acts exists, however, a scene outside of the Israeli consulate in Midtown Manhattan was repeated at locations across the city. More Local News NYPD officers were on hand on all sides of the Israeli diplomatic building, a block away from the United Nations. Also, at sites citywide, what happened at an historic synagogue and museum was replicated again and again. At the Museum at Eldridge Street, an NYPD patrol car pulled up as part of its rounds on Thursday afternoon. Two officers emerged, and looked over the historic structure. Its part of activity that Mayor Eric Adams said is a necessity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This city has no room for hate, he said at a news conference with leaders from a variety of faiths. The NYPDs deputy commissioner for counterterrorism elaborated about the heightened security. During an interview with PIX11 News, Rebecca Weiner said that the increased patrols feature our counterrorism officers, specially trained and deployed officers from our critical response teams, and heavy weapons teams and officers on patrol. She added one more point, for emphasis. First and foremost, she said, no elevated risk for an attack exists, currently. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) A three-day citywide crackdown is underway to get rid of skimmers and cloning devices on ATMS and EBT machines. Operation Flagship involves the NYPD, the USDA, and the U.S. Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division. More Crime News As of Thursday, authorities say nearly two dozen illegal devices were found on machines throughout the five boroughs. The U.S. Secret Service said a skimming device was found in the card slot of an ATM at a Walgreens on Broadway and Flushing Avenue in Williamsburg. A cloning device was also allegedly found at a Mini Mart on Broadway in Bushwick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fernando Mateo with the United Bodegas of America tells PIX11 News he and his members welcome the federal crackdown. Mateo said thieves are, Taking money from people that really need their benefits. They need it for milk, they need it for eggs. Mateo added, Were also advising our bodega owners to keep the machines behind the counter and out of the reach of anyone that can approach the counter. In one year, an estimated $65 million was stolen from EBT cards in New York State. There is pending legislation in New York State that would enhance EBT card security by requiring stores to warn customers about skimming and eventually replace outdated magnetic strip cards with chip-based cards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. An NYPD inspector was quietly bumped from his police academy job for allegedly keeping dozens of recruits on board even after they failed to meet the departments mental health standards, law-enforcement sources said. Terrell Anderson, who led the NYPDs Candidate Assessment Division, was transferred to the housing unit May 12 as part of an Internal Affairs Bureau probe into claims he allowed more than 70 candidates to stay at the Police Academy despite them failing psych requirements. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Anderson was transferred and said the department does not comment on internal investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the troubled recruits allegedly kept on by Anderson was the nephew of ex-NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps the former department bigwig implicated in a tawdry sex-for-OT scandal, the sources said. Emilio Andino, the nephew of former NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps, was allegedly kept at the police academy at her behest. Helayne Seidman NYPD inspector Terrell Anderson, was transferred as a police probe disqualified recruits at the police academy. Facebook Epps was the highest paid cop on the force when she retired in December over the shocking sex scandal, reeling in $400,000 a year in salary and overtime, The Post previously reported. According to the sources, Anderson claimed he had gotten a call from Epps telling him to keep her young relative Emilio Andino at the academy, though he should have been disqualified. Anderson claimed to investigators that various NYPD brass also pushed him to keep other non-qualified recruits on board, because the department was desperate to fill its depleted ranks, according to the sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claims are part of the ongoing IAB investigation, the sources said. Sources said NYPD brass pushed to keep disqualified recruits at the police academy to fill depleted department ranks. Christopher Sadowski Andino remains at the academy despite getting suspended last month for allegedly slapping another recruit, the sources said. He has since filed filed a lawsuit claiming the scuffle stemmed from a campaign of discrimination fueled by his aunts public sex scandal. Attorney Eric Sanders, who represents Andino and Epps in her own whistleblower lawsuit against the city and the department, did not respond for a request for comment Thursday. He addressed Andinos claims in a press release last month. This case exemplifies how institutions retaliate not only against whistleblowersbut also those connected to them, Sanders said. Andino didnt violate policy, commit a crime, or fail to perform. He was targeted because of who his aunt is and what she dared to expose. Former NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps is suing the city, claiming she was extorted for sex by former Chief Jeffrey Maddrey. LP Media Sources said the department has been facing pressure to shore up its dwindling ranks, with that extending to Anderson, who was in charge of recruit assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NYPD staffing numbers have plummeted in recent years, with 34,475 unformed officers this year down from 40,200 in 2000. The crisis prompted Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to lower some standards for recruits, reinstating the 1.5 mile timed run but reducing college credit requirements and other measures in February. Last month, the department graduated its first class since the standards were eased, with the city announcing a target of 35,000 cops in uniform by next year. Before she retired, Epps had a lot of pull in the department due to her assignment to former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who she later accused of extorting her for sex. Terrell Anderson allegedly claimed NYPD brass pressed him to keep disqualified recruites at the police academy. Twitter She claimed that Maddrey repeatedly coaxed her into demeaning sexual encounters in exchange for favors and hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime, The Post revealed in December. Maddrey, who described the trysts as consensual, abruptly retired after the scandal broke. Additional reporting by Tina Moore and Joe Marino NEW YORK STATE (WWTI) The Memorial Day holiday weekend means law enforcement will be out if full force. The New York State Police, in conjunction with local and county law enforcement, will increase patrols to combat drunk, impaired, and reckless driving throughout Memorial Day weekend. The special enforcement period begins Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26. These extra patrols are funded through grants from the Governors Traffic Safety Committee. Memorial Day travel expected to break 20-year record Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Memorial Day weekend marks one of the busiest travel holidays of the year. Police will be out in force to remove impaired and reckless drivers from the states roadways and ensure safe travel for all. For many New Yorkers, Memorial Day marks the start of the summer travel season, which means additional traffic and increased risks on our roadways. As we take time to honor those who died in service to our country, we encourage all motorists to make safety their number one priority. Drive sober, put down your smartphone, and slow down and move over if you see emergency vehicles or highway workers on the side of the road. Troopers will remain vigilant in keeping the roadways safe throughout the holiday weekend. New York State Police Superintendent Steven James Motorists should expect sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols by multiple local law enforcement agencies. Troopers will use both marked vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles to identify motorists who are violating the law. CITE vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once their lights are activated, allowing Troopers to more effectively observe violations. During last Memorial Day weekend, troopers arrested 225 people for impaired driving, issued 10,949 tickets, and investigated 239 crashes. No fatalities were reported. This initiative is partially funded by the GTSC. The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that the Have a Plan mobile app is available for Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi, program a list of designated drivers, access information on DWI laws and penalties, and even report a suspected impaired driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Obama Magnet IB World School in Jackson hosted a final walkthrough celebration on Thursday for the Class of 2025. This graduating class holds a unique and meaningful place in the schools history. As fifth graders, they were part of the renaming of the school from Jefferson Davis to honor President Barack Obama. Seven years later, they returned as graduates to say farewell to a building that has played a defining role in their academic journey. Jackson schools offer free summer meals for kids Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is more than a graduation, its a celebration of legacy, transformation, and opportunity, said Dr. Kathleen Grigsby, former principal of Obama Magnet and now Assistant Elementary Superintendent of Jackson Public Schools (JPS). The Class of 2025 began their story with hope and change, and they now leave behind a legacy that will inspire students for generations to come. The campus, located on North Congress Street, will officially close its doors as part of JPSs district-wide optimization plan. While the schools name and International Baccalaureate (IB) designation will remain, Obama Magnet will merge with and relocate to the campus of Northwest IB Middle School. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. A teenage girl examines a pregnancy test. (Photo: Connect Images) Earlier this month, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 519, also known as the Parents Medical Bill of Rights. As a board certified OBGYN who treats minors, I am deeply concerned about the implications of this bill. This legislation, which aims to revise the laws regarding minors consent to medical treatment and parental access to medical records, poses significant risks to the health and wellbeing of patients across the state. HB 519 will impede the trust young patients have in their medical providers and therefore undermine the confidentiality of their care. Currently, North Carolina law allows minors to consent to treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy, substance abuse, and mental health issues without parental involvement. This provision is crucial for ensuring that young patients feel safe seeking medical help without fear of judgment or repercussions from their parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By mandating parental consent for these sensitive treatments, the bill risks deterring minors from seeking necessary medical care. This could lead to untreated STIs (which can lead to future infertility), unaddressed mental health issues, and unintended pregnancies, all of which have serious long-term consequences for our young North Carolinians health and wellbeing. The trust between patients and healthcare providers is foundational to effective medical care. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of this trust, particularly for minors who may be navigating complex and sensitive health issues. HB 519 threatens to erode this trust by introducing parental oversight into the patient-provider relationship. Healthcare providers may find themselves in difficult positions, having to balance the legal requirements of HB 519 with our ethical duty to protect patient confidentiality. Advocates for HB 519 argue that the exclusion of parental consent in our current laws leaves children to navigate serious medical situations alone. This perspective completely ignores the role that healthcare providers like myself play in the navigation of these issues. We do not leave our young patients alone to navigate their medical decisions, but instead provide thoughtful guidance, including often suggesting the involvement of their parent(s) in their medical care. Unfortunately, for some of my young patients, their medical team members are the only trusted adults in their lives, and if they are required to obtain parental consent to seek treatment, they simply will not do so. House Bill 519, while ostensibly aimed at empowering parents, poses significant risks to the health and wellbeing of minors in North Carolina. By undermining confidentiality, creating barriers to mental health and reproductive care, and hindering substance abuse treatment, the bill jeopardizes the autonomy and safety of young patients. As a physician who treats young patients, I urge the lawmakers to reconsider the implications of HB 519 and prioritize the health and rights of minors in our state. May 22SOUTHERN MAINE BERWICK 11 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at Berwick Town Hall/Sullivan Square and proceeds up Sullivan Street and onto Wilson Street to the Berwick Veteran's Memorial Park. After a brief service, the parade continues down Saw Mill Hill to the Somersworth-Berwick Bridge for a brief ceremony in memory of those lost at sea. The parade concludes in Sullivan Square with a memorial service honoring area veterans who lost their lives in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BIDDEFORD-SACO 10 a.m. Monday. Ceremony at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford. Emcee will be Kayla Lewis, a U.S. Navy veteran and local leader known for her work in community development and veteran advocacy. Music will be provided by the Thornton Academy Marching Band, the Saco Middle School Band and the combined bands from Biddeford High and Middle schools. Guest speaker is Don Chretien, a retired U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot and Biddeford author. CAPE ELIZABETH 9 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at the middle school parking lot, turns right on Scott Dyer Road, right onto Route 77 and ends at the village green adjacent to the town hall. The parade will include members of the Cape Elizabeth police, fire and rescue departments, the Water Extrication Team, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Middle School Marching Band, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. A brief ceremony and laying of the wreath will be held after the parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CUMBERLAND 8 a.m. Monday, Kids fun run on the Greely High School track. 8:30 a.m., 5K run and remember race. Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Mabel I. Wilson School and ends at the veterans' monument in Moss Side Cemetery in Cumberland Center, where a ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. FALMOUTH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from 65 Depot Road (Falmouth American Legion) to Pine Grove Preserve for a ceremony with musical performances by the Falmouth Elementary, Middle and High School bands and choruses. FREEPORT 10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from Holbrook Street, heads north on Main and makes a right onto School Street, then right onto Park Street, ending in Memorial Park. A ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GORHAM 11 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at intersection of Lincoln and South streets. Youth groups, school bands, color guards from Post 10879 and members of the Gorham Police Department are participating. Parade stops on South Street to place wreaths on a veterans memorial in Phinney Park. GRAY 11:30 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves the Russell School (8 Gray Park), proceeds to Shaker Road and continues to the Soldiers Monument at the intersection of Routes 26 and 3 for a wreath-laying ceremony. Parade continues north to the American Legion Post (15 Lewiston Road) for a closing ceremony. LYMAN 1 p.m. Monday. Parade starts at Waterhouse Road/Mill Pond in Goodwins Mills and ends at the Lyman Town Hall on South Waterboro Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEW GLOUCESTER 9 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Memorial Elementary School (86 Intervale Road) and heads down Intervale Road to Route 100/202 to Veterans Park for a memorial service. The parade will reconvene and go down Peacock Hill Road, then left on Gilmore Road. The parade ends by the AmVets Hall at 1095 Lewiston Road. OLD ORCHARD BEACH 1 p.m. Monday. Parade starts on E. Emerson Cummings Boulevard by the police station. The route goes down Saco Avenue, turns right onto Old Orchard Street and right onto First Street into Memorial Park. PORTLAND 2 p.m. Monday. The procession starts at Stevens Avenue in front of Longfellow School. Procession walks up Stevens Avenue to Evergreen Cemetery. A commemoration will be held on the green in front of Wilde Memorial Chapel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SANFORD 9:30 a.m. Monday. Wreath-floating ceremony at Number One Pond. Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Gowen Park Drive and ends at Central Park with a ceremony. SCARBOROUGH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Scarborough High School, turns onto Route 114 and then Route 1, past town offices to the Maine Veterans Home where it will conclude with a ceremony. SOUTH PORTLAND 10:30 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Southern Maine Community College parking lot and proceeds down Broadway to the Veterans Monument for a service. WELLS 9 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Wells High School (200 Sanford Road) and proceeds to Ocean View Cemetery for a ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WESTBROOK 10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds down Main Street and will be followed by a ceremony in Riverbank Park. WINDHAM 9 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Windham Town Hall and proceeds onto Route 202 toward Windham High School. At 10 a.m., there will be a ceremony in front of Windham's Veterans Memorial Flagpole at Windham High School. YARMOUTH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Yarmouth High School (286 West Elm St.) and proceeds to the Memorial Green at Town Hall for a ceremony. YORK 10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at St. Christopher's Church (4 Barrell Lane) and proceeds to the First Parish Cemetery for a ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ------ MIDCOAST MAINE BATH 10:30 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds down Lincoln Street to Center Street to Front Street. It concludes at the Patten Free Library on Summer Street with a wreath-laying ceremony. BELFAST 11 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds down Main Street to the waterfront for a ceremony. BOOTHBAY HARBOR 10:30 a.m. Monday. Parade departs from Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and heads to the waterfront for a ceremony at Whale Park. BRUNSWICK-TOPSHAM 8:30 a.m. Monday. Observance at Topsham Town Hall Plaza. Parade starts at 9 a.m. and proceeds down Maine Street and crosses the Frank J. Wood Bridge to Maine Street in Brunswick. After a brief wreath-throwing to honor those lost at sea, the parade concludes at the south end of the Brunswick mall. The Brunswick observance and wreath-laying begins immediately following the conclusion of the parade at the gazebo and concludes at the Veterans Memorial Plaza at the north end of the mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CAMDEN 9:00 a.m. Monday. Prayer, speeches and other ceremonies at Public Landing/Harbor. Parade leaves at 9:30 a.m. and ends at Mountain View Cemetery with stops at Conway Boulder, Village Green War Memorial and the Civil War Spanish American War Memorial. LINCOLNVILLE 1 p.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Lincolnville Central School and heads to Veterans Park, then Lincolnville Beach/Frohock Bridge. ROCKPORT 11 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from post office and proceeds to Rockport War Memorial, Rockport Bridge and Amesbury Cemetery. ------ CENTRAL MAINE AUGUSTA 8 a.m. Monday. Wreath-laying ceremony at the Togus National Cemetery. Attendees will gather in the parking lot across from building 205 at Togus VA Medical Center at 1 VA Center, then head to the East Cemetery. The ceremony will finish in the West Cemetery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GARDINER 10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at the former Armory building, proceeds down Brunswick Avenue and concludes at the Gardiner Common with a ceremony. HALLOWELL 10 a.m. Monday. Service at the Memorial Monument in Legion Park at the Hallowell Cemetery, continuing at Granite City Park. OAKLAND Noon Monday. Parade starts at Williams Junior High School and goes down Pleasant Street and onto Church Street. It pauses at Simmons American Legion Post 51 next to Memorial Hall for a gun salute and the playing of "Taps." Parade concludes on Water Street. SKOWHEGAN 10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds south on Madison Avenue, travels downtown and turns onto Water Street before ending at Skowhegan Veterans Park beside the municipal building. WAYNE 11 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds down Main Street and ends with a program in Memorial Park. ------ LEWISTON & AUBURN 10 a.m. Saturday in Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street in Lewiston. Copy the Story Link ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The Odessa Police Department has arrested a fire fighter and instructor at Odessa College after an investigation that began with concerned parents. 33-year-old Cory Shane Castillo has been charged with Sexual Assault of a Child, Child Grooming, and Possession of Child Pornography. According to OPD, the investigation began when parents of a 17-year-old high school student became suspicious of their childs recent behavior. The parents immediately notified ECISD police of their concerns, but ECISD police quickly found that no crime had occurred on ECISD property and turned the case over to OPD. Through an intensive investigation, detectives found that Castillo had been in an inappropriate relationship with the child since the child was 16 years of age. Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that Castillo became acquainted with the victim through Castillos secondary employment as an adjunct instructor at Odessa College and his role as an employee for Odessa Fire Rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odessa Fire Rescue was notified of the investigation and the administration immediately placed Castillo on unpaid administrative leave. OPD said more charges are expected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WACO, Texas (FOX 44) May is recognized as National Water Safety Month and as summer approaches and temperatures rise, many Central Texans will be looking for ways to cool off and taking a swim is often the go-to solution. However, experts warn that its crucial to stay safe and be prepared before heading into the water. Chris Bradford is the associate executive director of the YMCA in Waco. He says drownings happen more often than people may realize. The leading cause of accidental death in children between the ages of one and four is drowning, Bradford said. Children are more likely to drown than they are to be in a motor vehicle accident. So if your child cannot learn to swim, the best thing that you can do is put them in swim lessons or make sure that they are in that U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This same advice applies to area lakes, including Lake Waco. Life jackets only work if you use them, so we highly recommend that youre wearing them when youre out on the water, said Arianna Jacinto, Lake Wacos lead park ranger. We have designated swim beaches here around our lake. We have Twin Bridges and we have Airport Park, and both of them are delineated with swim buoys to help keep boats out, and we also have life jacket loaner stations. Jacinto said the life jacket loaner stations are free to use, and are available for anyone on the water. Visitors are encouraged to return the jackets after use so others can stay safe, too. Whether youre swimming at home this summer, at a public pool or out on the lake, the message remains the same stay aware, be prepared, and always prioritize safety, no matter your age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You are more likely that your child does not learn to swim if you yourself cannot swim. Fear is transferable to our children. So if you have a fear of the water, your children will have a fear of the water, Bradford said. Experts agree that enrolling in swim lessons is one of the best investments a family can make to prepare for summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Baku State University (BSU) hosted a presentation of an interactive map reflecting the negative environmental impacts of mining enterprises operating in Armenia, prepared by the Environmental Protection First coalition, a source in BSU told Trend. The co-founder of the coalition, Chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Amin Mammadov, and a member of the coalition, Mugabil Bayramov informed the participants of the event about the activities of the coalition. Co-founder of the coalition Amin Mammadov said that the main goal of the meeting was to inform the faculty and students of BSU about the environmental impact of Armenia's mining industry in the Caucasus, and to encourage them to join joint activities to assess the environmental damage caused by this. An extensive report and interactive map were prepared based on satellite images of industrial enterprises producing various non-ferrous and ferrous metals in more than 20 points in Armenia, close to the border regions with Azerbaijan. Maps from various years, archives, and other report materials were widely used in the preparation of the interactive map. Then, a visual presentation of the interactive site where the map was prepared was held, and information was provided about the functional capabilities of the site. The event continued with discussions, and the participants' questions were answered. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Ohio Statehouse. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) Ohio continues to do terribly in nearly every way possible, according to the latest state rankings from the U.S. News & World Report. The Buckeye State slid two more spots in the reports latest rankings of the 50 states, moving from No. 36 in the last report to No. 38 in the latest iteration. In addition to ranking No. 38 overall, Ohio also ranks No. 41 in natural environment, No. 41 in higher education, No. 39 in economy, No. 34 in health care, No. 30 in crime and corrections, No. 30 in education overall, No. 30 in infrastructure, and No. 25 in fiscal stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On only one metric, opportunity, does Ohio crack the top half of states, at No. 17. The U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the states since 2017, and Ohio has bounced around the bottom states in America that entire time. In 2017, we were No. 35. In 2018, we dropped to No. 40. The year of 2019 saw us roaring back to No. 39. After no rankings in 2020, we came in at No. 36 in 2021 and climbed mightily to No. 34 by 2023 before dropping back down to No. 36 last year and now No. 38 this year. Before anyone starts howling with indignation about how horribly unfair and biased the U.S. News & World Report must be, Ill note that the No. 1 ranked state for three years running is Utah not exactly a bastion of crunchy liberal thinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So no, these arent politicized rankings: Ohios elected leaders fully earned this pathetic spot for our state via their poisonous politics and terrible policies and priorities. Ohio politicians dont need to worry though. Ohio voters seem determined to give them all endless free passes to do whatever they want no matter how atrocious the outcomes or rampant the corruption. I assume their cushy careers will all be fine no matter how terribly Ohio does by every available metric, as long as they put the right party label next to their name on the ballot given whatever their geographic location. Actions dont matter. Outcomes dont matter. Rampant corruption doesnt matter. Only partisan politics matters. Right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets take a look at some of those outcomes. On the issue of crime, for corrections outcomes, Ohio ranks No. 46. On public safety, No. 22. Our incarceration and juvenile incarceration rates are both above the national average, but the violent crime rate is below the national average. On the economy, we rank No. 30 for business environment, No. 43 for employment, and No. 36 for growth. Our venture capital investment, migration from other states, and job growth numbers all fall below the national average. In education, our pre-K-12 ranks No. 15, while higher education ranks No. 41. Our student debt at graduation is higher than the national average, but so are our high school graduation rates and math scores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in 2010, Ohio was ranked by Education Week as having the 5th best public school system in the nation. Weve fallen far, and state lawmakers are looking at abandoning the Fair School Funding Plan, so who knows what that will do. School districts are already struggling mightily, with Akron for instance looking at $44 million worth of cuts. Being No. 15 in K-12 right now isnt a point of pride or reason for optimism. On fiscal stability, Ohios long-term outlook ranks No. 16, most likely because we have around $3.7 billion sitting in our rainy day fund. The short-term outlook isnt so hot though, ranking No. 40 among the states, with our liquidity still well below the national average. Health care is all pretty terrible for Ohio. We rank No. 40 in public health, No. 36 in health care access, and No. 28 in health care quality. Access to health care is set to take an enormous tumble if President Trump and Republicans in Congress pass the enormous Medicaid cuts they want. More than 1 in 4 Ohioans rely on Medicaid including 40% of children, 20% of working-age adults, and 10% of seniors. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans stand to lose their health insurance under the Trump Republican cuts. Right now about 8.4% of Ohioans dont have health insurance. That number is poised to skyrocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again though, please rest assured, in case you were worried, the wealthy and well-connected will continue to do fabulously well. In infrastructure, at No. 30 overall, Ohio ranks No. 15 in transportation, but comes in at No. 30 for internet access, and No. 32 for energy. On natural environment, we rank No. 24 on air and water quality, but No. 45 for pollution. As far as opportunity, Ohio is affordable, ranking No. 16. However, things get worse when it comes to equality, ranking No. 21. They fall off a cliff when it comes to economic opportunity, ranking at No. 38. These rankings dont capture some other things of note. For instance, 1.8 million Ohioans are food insecure. Thats out of a population of 11.88 million, which means more than 15% of our population is regularly going hungry. Data from Feeding America shows 1 in 5 Ohio children live in homes that are food insecure. Ohio is also among the top eight states for worst infant mortality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taken all-in-all, while there might not be much opportunity to improve your lot in Ohio, at least its a vaguely affordable place to stagnate in poverty. We might have a lot of infant deaths, low incomes, hungry children and families, a lack of health care access, poor public health outcomes, horrible pollution, pathetic corrections, a bad employment situation, a bad energy situation, dim prospects for growth, worsening higher education, and disinvestment from public schools, but at least we have middling prospects for long-term fiscal stability. Congratulations, Ohio. Were No. 38. Were No. 38. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A firefighter from Columbus was arrested Wednesday at his home and is facing federal charges for receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material, originally reported by our news partner WBNS 10TV in Columbus. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Carson Bigham, 23, was arrested at his home as the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force searched his home and removed electronics, WBNS says. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement received tips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children about a Columbus man who was facing child sexual abuse material charges in March, WBNS says. This mans devices were seized and law enforcement found conversations between the man and Bigham. According to WBNS, the conversations included discussion about engaging in sex with minors and allegedly Bigham received incriminating material during these conversations. Bigham was in federal court Thursday, WBNS says. If convicted, Bigham would serve between five and 20 years in prison and he would have to register as a sex offender after his release, according to WBNS. His hearing is set for May 27. Bigham has served with the Columbus Fire Department since 2021 and has been placed on administrative leave, according to WBNS. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SALLISAW, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) An Oklahoma district attorney is now seeking the death penalty against a man accused of killing three people in 2024. Stacy Lee Drake, 50, is facing three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of pattern of criminal offenses. Stacy Lee Drake, 50 (Courtesy: Sequoyah County Jail) Oklahoma District Attorney Jack Thorp filed a request in Sequoyah County on May 21, announcing he is seeking the death penalty against Drake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stacy Lee Drake will stand trial for murders in Oklahoma Drake is accused of killing Phillip Emerson in El Reno and Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp in Gans. He is also accused of murdering one person in Alabama. Drake has pleaded not guilty to killing Underwood and Sharp. He appeared in court in Sequoyah County for two days earlier this month, where the judge assigned to the case ruled Drake would stand trial for the three Oklahoma murders. Drakes trial is set to begin on July 7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. HODGEN, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) An Oklahoma inmate who escaped from a LeFlore County prison nearly two decades ago has been apprehended to complete the remainder of his 10-year sentence. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) said Steven Capps, 52, walked away from the Jim E. Hamilton Correctional Center in Hodgen on August 1, 2006, along with another inmate who was captured in Amarillo, Texas, a short time later. Steven Capps in 2006 (Courtesy: ODOC) Steven Capps intake photo on May 13, 2025 (Courtesy: ODOC) Steven Capps apprehension on May 7 (Courtesy: ODOC) He was serving a decade-long sentence for obtaining property by trick or deception in McIntosh County, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Choctaw Nation District 7 candidate killed in crash near Talihina in LeFlore County Capps was arrested in 2011 in Ohio for two counts of breaking and entering and was remanded to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). On July 14, 2021, Capps was paroled from ODRC but later violated the terms of parole when he failed to report to his parole officer. Capps was apprehended on May 7 by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Northern District Task Force and booked into the Muskogee County Jail. Warden Richard Williams of JEHCC was notified of the apprehension on May 13 and Capps waas transport from Muskogee County to the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center in Lexington, Okla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODOC said Capps has around 1,200 days left on his 10-year sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Budget chairs Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, left, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, right, speak with Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, on the Senate floor May 22, 2025 while lawmakers debate restructuring the TSET board. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Republicans are moving forward with legislation to restructure a voter-approved state board that oversees a multi-billion dollar trust after it didnt immediately allocate $50 million to pay for a new University of Oklahoma hospital, Democrat lawmakers said. Democrats said efforts to strip the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust of its independence follow a dustup between the agency, which oversees a $2 billion public trust, and Republican legislative leaders who became frustrated after the board did not promptly hand over funding to pay for OUs new pediatric heart hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 2783, which heads to Gov. Kevin Stitts desk, would allow the TSET board of directors to be removed at the pleasure of their appointing authority and would limit them to no more than a seven year term. Currently the seven board members, who decide how to spend the proceeds of Oklahomas settlement with the tobacco industry, are appointed to a blanket, staggered seven year term. Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, right, argued against the passage of a bill Tuesday that would restructure the TSET board. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) While debating the bill in the House on Tuesday, Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, said the legislation was filed because Republican leadership wasnt happy that TSET hadnt funded the heart hospital. What we are doing here is we are using legislative power to extract retaliation, she said. Blancett said the legislation places undue pressure on the board and is antithetical to how the TSET board was set up when voters added it to the state constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seven board members are appointed by the governor, treasurer, state superintendent, attorney general, state auditor and the leaders of the House and Senate. Appointees are required to have experience in health care or programs benefitting children or seniors. No more than four appointees may come from one political party and at least one appointee must come from each congressional district, with no more than two from the same district. The bill would not alter who has appointing authority or the other qualification requirements. Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, who voted for the measure, said Thursday TSET is in the process of awarding $150 million in grants, and lawmakers requested a third of that be awarded to help pay for OUs hospital. He said theres been some frustration with how the TSET board responded to the request. While he said hes satisfied with the current condition of TSET, Paxton said sometimes they need to listen to legislative funding needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the things I get concerned about with some of these agencies is that when you separate them too far from the legislative branch, that sometimes they kind of become their own kingdom where they dont listen to the elected people, he said. The Legislature is moving forward with funding $200 million without the grant. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TSET, established by voters in 2000, oversees the proceeds from Oklahomas portion of a multi-state settlement with the tobacco industry. The funds are used to invest in better health outcomes for Oklahomans. Thomas Larson, a spokesperson for TSET, said legislators asked the trust to consider funding for the heart center at OU Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a process and will be evaluating all proposals, he said in an email. Weve had wide interest in this grant opportunity, with nearly 300 people attending a webinar about the grant. We will be considering this with all other requests. In a second statement, Larson said the application from OU Health for the heart hospital is still pending. He said the grant application period closes June 16 and the funding wont be awarded until November, so no proposals have been awarded or denied. Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said these changes to the TSET board would prevent it from being free of political manipulation. She said shes concerned that the TSET board is being rearranged because somebody in political power didnt like their denial of a grant request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, the House budget chair, denied that the bill was being run in retaliation for the OU heart hospital funding and said conversations on making changes to the TSET board have been happening for a long time. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, speaks to reporters in her office on Feb. 13. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) I think the main reason is we just want them to be more accountable to the electorate, the people, he said. And were trying to make sure theyre held accountable to the voters and the state of Oklahoma. Were not changing the makeup of the board. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said voters in 2020 made it clear they dont want lawmakers to have greater access to TSET funds when nearly 59% voted against using the trust to pay for Medicaid expansion. They understand that TSET is an asset they dont want us making rash decisions about, she said. This bill, I dont want it to come across as a simple change, because it will drastically change the independence of this board. You could have special projects from any of those appointing authorities come forward, and they could get strong armed into making things happen. Im deeply concerned about what this is going to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said while TSET is a great program in Oklahoma, sometimes good things need to be tweaked. Theres always a need to go in and make changes and tweaks here and there, and accountability in government is never a bad thing, he said. The bill passed the House 60-30 and the Senate 36-8. Reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Oklahoma Senate has approved a $12.59 billion general appropriations bill for the state, sending it to Gov. Kevin Stitts desk for his signature. The Senate voted 27-19 on Thursday, May 22, to approve House Bill 2766, after about 45 minutes of questions and debate. The House had approved the measure 73-20 two days earlier. In both chambers, a group of far-right Republicans joined with all Democrats in opposing the budget bill. When Stitt and legislative leaders touted their budget agreement reached on May 14 they cited a income-tax cut, the establishment of business courts, tort reform and multiple big-ticket one-time items including the purchase of a private prison in Lawton and major projects for the University of Oklahoma (a new pediatric heart hospital) and Oklahoma State University (a new facility for its veterinary hospital). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also said that despite digging into state savings to help pay for those projects and others, the state still will have about $3.5 billion in savings. The Legislature, in which Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers, is required by law to pass an annual state budget. Lawmakers did so eight days before state law mandates their annual session must end. This budget is a reflection of Oklahomas valuesresponsible, conservative, and focused on real results, said Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle. Were prioritizing core services like education, mental health, public safety and infrastructure, while maintaining strong fiscal discipline. Im proud of the Senates work and the collaboration with our House colleagues to deliver a budget that supports families, strengthens communities and keeps Oklahoma taxpayers in mind. Now we send it to the governors desk to move Oklahoma forward. Democrats in both chambers, however, said the budget plan wont improve the prosperity of average Oklahomans. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt called it a budget with mixed-up priorities and added, I dont think this budget is what we need to move our state forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma Senate Democrats will always work the aisle to address real problems facing our state, ensuring all kids get a great education, access to health and mental health care, and great-paying jobs, she said. But instead, we got a budget that prioritizes tax cuts that mostly benefit the very rich, more money for private school vouchers, and does nothing to address the everyday issues Oklahomans face. You deserve better. More: A caveat on the budget, criticism for Ryan Walters: What Gov. Stitt has said this week Several House Democrats said during debate in that chamber on Tuesday they werent involved in final budget negotiations, effectively leaving out the voices of their constituents, who largely live in Oklahomas urban areas. This was put together without the input of my district, said Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa. I was not a part of any of these conversations until it was already decided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her colleague, Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, alleged that women were left out of negotiations. The Republican chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee pushed back against that assertion. Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, the chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, called Ransons claims factually incorrect and said he had office hours at least once a week where we took over 130 meetings with different members including a large segment of the Democratic caucus. Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (left) and Sen. Chuck Hall (right) played key roles in negotiating the budget bill that's headed to the governor's desk. In the Senate, only Democrats had questions, or debated, against the bill on Thursday, although 11 Republicans voted against it, including three of the publicly known members of the far-right Freedom Caucus Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee; Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin; and Sen. Dana Prieto, R-Tulsa. Another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, voted against the bill in the House. Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the budget a fiscally responsible spending plan that keeps Oklahoma moving forward. He said the budget is the result of months of collaboration and public input to ensure that every tax dollar is spent wisely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the more contentious items in the budget is a cut in the state income tax rate from 4.75% to 4.5%. The tax cut has long been a desire of Stitt, who eventually wants that tax to be eliminated. That conceivably could happen because of tax-cut triggers passed in other legislation, although not until years after Stitt leaves office in early 2027. According to an analysis by the Oklahoma Policy Institute, a nonpartisan Tulsa-based think tank, cutting income taxes by a quarter of a percentage point would reduce state revenues by $306 million annually. That analysis showed such a cut would save Oklahomans who make $79,700 or less between $9 and $95 annually, and would save those in the top 1% of incomes making $683,500 or more $2,936 annually. Citing Oklahoma Tax Commission numbers, Stitt said the cut would cost the state about $160 million in lost revenue during the next fiscal year. But Stitt maintains because that money is spent by taxpayers, not state government, it's better for the economy. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma lawmakers pass $12.6 billion budget. Will Gov. Stitt sign it? BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Azerbaijani Parvin Muradova, living in Florida, has been elected president of The Brevard Music Teachers Association, a source in the State Committee on Work with Diaspora told Trend. Muradova plans to organize master classes, teacher and student concerts, competitions, and professional development events in order to revitalize the musical life of the region. This initiative will allow young talents to be recognized in a wider environment and will make a great contribution to the musical culture of the region. The Azerbaijani diaspora's representative also intends to establish contacts between music teachers in the region, exchange experiences, and implement joint projects. "My main mission is to strengthen our community through music, support teachers and inspire a new generation of musicians," she said. Muradova, an active member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), is a professor at Florida Technological University and the Director of Cultural Affairs of the Azerbaijani-American Cultural Association of Florida. She also holds the title of Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), which is an indicator of high professionalism and teaching quality for music teachers in the US. At the initiative of our compatriot, an international music competition called "Florida Keys" is organized annually. His students are winners of several competitions held in different countries of the world. So far, he has given charity concerts in several states of the US, Sweden, Spain, Germany, England, and Austria. In 2015, he instituted the Music, Education and Autism Foundation to support the creative opportunities of musicians on the autism spectrum. In 2018, he organized an international competition in New York consisting of musical works by Azerbaijani composers. He is a well-known pianist, music teacher, and art promoter. Muradova was awarded the "100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev (1923-2023)" jubilee medal by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Maine Department of Education touts the approach taken by the Topsham-area school district, MSAD 75, to reduce the use of restraint and seclusion. Amy Hall (left), special education director, and Samantha Lapointe (right), elementary special education coordinator, helped implement the alternative approach. (Photo by Troy Bennett / Maine Morning Star) About a decade ago, a Topsham-area school district became concerned about how often staff members physically restrained students who were acting out and put them in seclusion rooms, especially the districts 500 or so special education students. Those tactics are only supposed to be used in emergencies under state law, but at the time, Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 75 recorded 176 restraints and 152 seclusions on just 15 students, according to district-level data shared with Maine Morning Star. Staff were routinely scratched and bruised in the process, said Amy Hall, the districts special education director. May 21: Restraint and seclusion are only supposed to be used on students in emergency situations. Accounts from families and educators show how districts interpretation of state law vary widely and how traumatic the experiences can be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 22: State data reveals only a fraction of Maines schools and districts are consistently reporting incidents of restraint and seclusion in violation of state law. Even with the underreporting, Maine schools are relying on these practices thousands of times per year. May 23: How one district worked with researchers to change its approach to student behavior and significantly reduced the use of restraint and seclusion We started to get very concerned about the level of staff injuries, student injuries, and just the level of crisis we were dealing with in our schools, Hall said. So in 2018, the district decided to pursue an alternative. Today, because staff members now view student behavioral issues as a problem to prevent and solve, rather than an infraction to punish and because of a significant investment in training to execute that shift in mindset the 2,350-student districts use of restraint and seclusion is down to the single digits: two restraints and seven seclusions in the 2022-23 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maine Department of Education is touting that success story in the hope that more districts will sign onto MSAD 75s approach and rely less on restraint and seclusion when a staff member temporarily immobilizes a student and places them alone in a room until they calm down. Research has shown that the tactics are not effective in altering a students behavior and that the experience of being restrained and secluded can be traumatizing and cause lasting effects for students, according to the Maine DOE website. The state and some school districts have worked to reduce their use for years due to staff and student injuries. The model MSAD 75 turned to was developed by a Maine-based nonprofit, Lives in the Balance, that works nationally and has been adopted by a handful of other districts including the much larger Fairfax Public Schools in Virginia to dramatically reduce their use of restraint and seclusion. But despite that models success, it has not been widely adopted across Maine, according to Ben Jones, director of the organizations legal and policy initiatives. Although Lives in the Balance has offered free technical assistance to districts since 2022 through a state Department of Education partnership, Jones said only two districts have followed up on the offer. Sarah Wilkinson, an assistant professor of special education at the University of Southern Maine who recently co-authored a report on student behavior, said the state is failing to provide adequate assistance to districts to make sure these tools can be implemented properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any one of these programs would decrease the behavioral crises, and then need for seclusion or restraint. But part of the issue there is that the state doesnt really have the infrastructure to support implementation, Wilkinson said. In response to questions about state support, Chloe Teboe, a spokesperson for Maine DOE, said the department provides resources such as monthly office hours, one-on-one consultations, mentoring and regular training, available for districts that want them. What works in Falmouth isnt going to work in Machias or Fort Kent, and thats where folks at the district level need support to implement these approaches in a way that works for their population, Wilkinson said. Since 2021, Maine has limited the circumstances under which school staff can restrain and seclude students through a change in state law that aimed to nudge districts away from their frequent use. But recent complaints of worsening student behavior since the pandemic led to an effort to loosen those restrictions, which disability rights advocates fear could result in a spike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Topsham-area district, MSAD 75, is seeing that same increase in extreme behavior among younger students, Hall said, but relaxing the law on restraint and seclusion is not the answer. The mental health needs of our population of students have increased, while restraints and seclusions have dramatically decreased, she said. Instead, Hall advocates for educators to rethink how they view behavior. Most kids will do well in school if they can. Problems with behavior often signal a response to an underlying problem that educators need to uncover and address, she said. If a kid is not doing well, then we need to shift the way that were working with that student, Hall said. Once we get to a restraint or in a seclusion, youre way too late. Changing how schools think about student behavior The founder of Lives in the Balance, Ross Greene, a child clinical psychologist and former Harvard Medical School faculty member, came up with the model based on a mindset shift that MSAD 75 adopted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenes approach helps schools address what he calls concerning behaviors without resorting to punitive measures, based on the idea that when children struggle with frustration, refuse to follow instructions, or cant keep up academically or socially, their response is to act out. I get it, those behaviors are dangerous and scary and disruptive, but theyre communicating the exact same thing theyre having difficulty meeting a particular expectation, he said. Rather than respond with punishment or continue to demand compliance, educators can work with the child to identify and address the underlying problems. By temporarily adjusting expectations and focusing on solving problems, educators can prevent behavioral issues from escalating and build students skills so they can meet expectations in the future, Greene said. The problem is that a lot of adults, not just in schools, see a kid whos having difficulty meeting an expectation as being noncompliant, and what they do is they shoot for compliance, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenes Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model has been studied in students with significant behavioral challenges, including nonverbal students and students with oppositional defiant disorder, and those studies have found the model leads to notable improvements. One district thats advocating to loosen the states restraint and seclusion law, MSAD 11 in Gardiner, said it considered Greenes model but worries that the approach is not enough to address increased reports of aggressive student behavior. Given that weve almost never experienced the type of dysregulation were seeing in very early learners, I am not confident that only going down the proactive pathway is a solution to the current context and climate that we are in, said Angela Hardy, the districts director of curriculum and instruction. In the upcoming school year, Hardy said the district will try to implement some strategies that worked for MSAD 75 and that Greene advocates for, such as designing a learning environment that helps prevent incidents. Classroom design as prevention A special education teacher at the time, Samantha Lapointe started thinking that restraints and seclusions were no longer an option when MSAD 75 first made the change, even though the law permits their use in emergencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to imagine how you would do business without those tools, until you commit to thinking about not having them, said Lapointe, who is now the districts elementary special education coordinator. That leads to a lot of thinking about what to do instead and that leads you into new territory, right around what new skillsets need to be stronger, what prevention strategies need to be stronger. Classroom design is one element of prevention, Lapointe said. The idea is to minimize any danger in case a student acts out and reduce the need for staff to physically intervene. She started working with students on the floor, then brought in a sofa. When the school got new furniture, she requested two heavy, communal tables instead of individual desks that students could easily move or overturn. The tables also had to be low to the ground so students climbing atop them would not be in danger. And Lapointe hung all the posters high enough so elementary students couldnt rip them off the walls. Staff also locked the closet that stored toys and activities. Ive still had kids climb on tables, and Ive had to ask myself, how dangerous is this really? she said. Is it an extreme, imminent risk of harm if they fall? You should be constantly weighing out what really constitutes danger to the extent that you would need to go hands-on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other piece was training ed techs aides who often work one-on-one with students in the new approach. Adults spend a lot of time directing and correcting, and they need to spend time asking questions, seeking to understand, Lapointe said. The way you talk to kids matters a lot. Adults spend a lot of time directing and correcting, and they need to spend time asking questions, seeking to understand. The way you talk to kids matters a lot. Samantha Lapointe, MSAD 75 elementary special education coordinator If a student tries to leave the classroom, for example, instead of stopping them, staff can start a conversation by asking them where theyre going, what they need to leave for and what their plan is after leaving, she said. Meanwhile, she also trained her staff to ask themselves: What can I tolerate? Why cant they leave the classroom? Whats the worst thats going to happen? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The level of thinking and intentional decision-making needs to be very high, and thats one thing also that I train my staff in: intentionality, Lapointe said. You must ask yourself, before you say anything, before you do anything: What is it youre going to say or do and why? What outcome are you hoping to get? Thats the kind of training Maine teachers are asking for and largely not receiving, said Wilkinson with the University of Southern Maine. Teachers or ed techs will report, Weve been safety-care trained, weve had de-escalation training all of these things that really only happen when a behavior gets to a certain point, Wilkinson said. That means that the behavior has to get to that point before they have the skills to deal with it. Teachers are not reporting that theyre confident with all of the things you would do before the behavior escalates. Even in the Topsham-area district, the training in Collaborative and Proactive Solutions isnt complete. Lapointe said its now a priority to expand beyond special education to general education classroom teachers and higher grades. A new approach The Topsham-area district combines Greenes model with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS a research-based model used in schools across the country thats built around positive reinforcement of good behavior and gradually increasing levels of intervention and consequences for kids who misbehave. This is how the combination of the two models could look. In the library, the expectation for all students is that they keep their voices low and read, Hall said. PBIS lays out a system to reinforce positive behavior, often through small rewards, and address infractions. But Greenes approach would come into play if a student cant keep quiet in the library, she said. It may be that the child cant focus, keep still, has sensory issues, or is too stimulated in that setting. Instead of punishing the child, teachers try to problem solve: They might offer them headphones, move their reading time to a quiet classroom, or even allow the child to leave the library, Hall said. Moving away from demanding compliance from students helps educators understand and work with them to solve the issue underlying the behavior, instead of an outburst or aggression stemming from it, she said. Instead of just asking them to do the same thing over again and sustain in an environment that they cant, you try to figure out whats behind the behavior, Hall said. We still have rewards, and kids still have consequences, but the consequences just arent, Were going to put you in a seclusion room. Because thats not a consequence, thats a crisis response. The series was produced as a project for the University of Southern California Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms National Fellowship Fund for Reporting on Child Well-being SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (FOX40.COM) One person was injured in a shooting Friday morning in Sacramento, the Sacramento Police Department said. According to police, officers responded to a report of a shooting near 15th Street and C Street around 9 a.m. Officers found a man who had been shot at least once. The victim was taken to a hospital or treatment. Police ask that anyone with information on the shooting call the department at 916-808-5471. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. LEHI, Utah (ABC4) One person was seriously injured in a crash involving a cement truck in Lehi on Friday, according to Lehi Police. At around 11:45 a.m. on May 23, police responded to a multi-vehicle crash near the intersection of Mill Pond Rd. and Pioneer Crossing. Initial information from the scene indicates that a cement truck struck a diesel vehicle, which then collided with an SUV heading in the opposite direction. The driver of the SUV sustained serious, but stable injuries in the crash and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Courtesy of Utah Dept. of Transportation Northbound Mill Pond Rd. is currently closed as crews work to clear the area. Drivers are asked to avoid the area and seek alternative routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lehi Fire and Utah Highway Patrol are assisting at the scene. The cause of the accident is under investigation at this time. No further information is currently available. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Bend-founded burger chain is closing one of its Portland outposts due to safety concerns. On Wednesday morning, Next Level Burger informed customers of the closure of its 1972 W Burnside restaurant. Memorial Day weekend 2025 travel forecast: Rush expected for Oregonians driving, flying At Next Level, were committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces for our team, our guests, and the communities we serve, Next Level wrote. Following a pause in operations due to a significant incident during service, weve made the difficult decision to close our West Burnside location due to ongoing security concerns in the surrounding area. This decision was not made lightly, but nothing comes before the safety of our team members and guests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has multiple plant-based burger joints remaining in the Portland area, including a location on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard and another in Lake Oswego. Next Level also owns Veggie Grill, which has a downtown restaurant in addition to a space in Beavertons Cedar Hills Crossing. But Next Levels Burnside business has faced several challenges. According to a Portland Police Bureau spokesperson, that location last called officers to report an incident in July 2022. Later in November 2023, employees went to social media to reveal they had faced vandalism twice in that month alone. City Council says water, sewer rate increases will help maintain the system Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, PPB data show there were 1,302 offenses reported in the surrounding Goose Hollow Neighborhood from March 2024 to March 2025. Vandalism accounted for 200 of those offenses. Matt de Gruyter, the CEO of Next Level Burger, told KOIN 6 News one particular very disturbing situation served as the final straw for choosing to close the Burnside location. Though de Gruyter didnt divulge the details of the situation, he said it happened on April 29 and involved a mental health or substance crisis with an unhoused person. He said it was the culmination of a pattern hed seen, of theft, loitering and constant safety concerns for his customers and employees. I dont want to ask one of those team members to do something I dont want to do myself, de Gruyter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De Gruyter said he used to enjoy a boost of business from Providence Park crowds. However, none of his other Portland spots have seen this kind of danger after dark. KOIN 6 talked to a security guard near the same shopping district where other recent closures are now represented by empty storefronts, including a former Wells Fargo, Verizon and a Chipotle across the street. The security guard said hes seen everything from people defecating in parking lots to nearby residents angry at how dirty the streets have become. De Gruyter said it wasnt always like this and it doesnt represent all of Portland today. Portland has been very good to us, de Gruyter said. The Burnside location by far and away was the worst for the degree and the constancy of the issues that were at least in part due to homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the setbacks, de Gruyter said hes hopeful the city and its residents will figure out how to make shopping districts like the Goose Hollow Neighborhood more appealing for businesses to not only set up shop but remain 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 KOIN.com. TATTNALL COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) The man accused of orchestrating a murder for hire plot in Glennville was back in a Tattnall County courtroom Thursday. The accused gang leader, Nathan Weekes, was in court for motion two hearings. Weekes is one of four people charged in the 2021 death of 88-year-old Bobby Kicklighter. Kicklighter was killed in a home invasion. According to prosecutors, he was not the intended target. They believe the real target was a prison guard at Smith State Prison. Will the trial take place in Tattnall County? Lawyers for Weekes claim that holding the Bobby Kicklighter murder trial in Tattnall County is not fair to their client, since the victim is well-loved and respected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense also stated that the amount of publicity surrounding this case and the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) facilities in Tattnall mean the jury would be inherently prejudice. The combination of pretrial publicity and community atmosphere could lead to a presumption of prejudice, requiring a change of venue, Attorney Elise Burnum said. The prosecution referenced an argument made by the defense that the case is known state wide. The state has a vested interest in the defendant getting a fair trial, and we only want to try this case once. Allison Mauldin, Chief ADA with the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit, said. Where in the state are we going to go? Defense makes motion to suppress evidence Weekess lawyers are asking Judge Jay Stewart to suppress evidence. According to the defense, a recorded conversation between Weekes and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Special Agent Christian Johnson should not be used against him at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the witness stand Thursday, Johnson said Weekes requested a meeting with him in an effort to strike a deal with the district attorneys office. There was confusion, according to Weekess lawyers, if the conversation was on or off the record. Johnson said he made it clear throughout the interview. I told him that nothing that we talk about can be off the record at the beginning of our interview, Special Agent Johnson said. I did tell him that it was me and him talking and that it was off the record in the context that I was not going to tell his staff or other inmates. I immediately followed that up with, whatever we talk about here will be reported, and I will report back to the DAs office. Judge Stewart did not make a decision on these motions Thursday. A trial date has been set for Aug. 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. The suspect accused of killing two Israeli embassy staffers has a history of political activism, including denouncing corporate power, US military actions and police abuses, according to a CNN review of interviews and writings linked to him. In a 2017 GoFundMe page that included his photo, a testimonial attributed to Elias Rodriguez described how, when he was 11, his fathers deployment to Iraq sparked his political awakening and mobilized him to prevent another generation of Americans coming home from genocidal imperialist wars. Authorities are investigating what led to the shooting late Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where they say Rodriguez, a 31-year-old from Chicago, pulled a gun and killed a young couple, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Rodriguez yelled, Free, free Palestine, as police detained him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a complaint filed in federal court on Thursday charging Rodriguez with murder and other counts, prosecutors said he told police he was inspired by a US airman who died last year after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, to draw attention to the war in Gaza, calling him a martyr. Police are also investigating a letter posted to X shortly after the shootings and apparently signed by Rodriguez that advocates for violent retaliation over the war in Gaza a message shared repeatedly on that account. A CNN review of the account, @kyotoleather, found that it is linked to other accounts with the name and photo of Rodriguez, and includes replies where other users address him by name. The letter posted on Wednesday expressed fury over the atrocities committed by the Israelis against Palestine and referenced armed action as a valid form of protest one that is the only sane thing to do. An embassy official cleans blood off the sidewalk at the shooting location outside of the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. - Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images What more at this point can one say about the proportion of mangled and burned and exploded human beings whom were children, said the letter. We who let this happen will never deserve the Palestinians forgiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter was posted to X around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. It is not clear who posted it or if it was a pre-scheduled post set before the incident. In the years before his arrest in DC this week, Rodriguez allied publicly with several leftist groups in the Chicago area. The GoFundMe page created in August 2017 sought donations so Rodriguez could attend the Peoples Congress of Resistance in DC, an anti-Trump protest event. In a testimonial attributed to Rodriguez, he wrote he was 11 years old when my dad, an Army National Guardsman, sat our family down to tell us that he was being sent to Iraq. He described being disturbed when his father returned from the deployment with souvenirs, including a patch ripped off an Iraqi soldiers uniform. He wrote that he was alienated by American politics over the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democrats will promise to protect the marginalized both here and abroad in 2018, like they did in 2006. And just like in 2006, theyll be lying. Its up to the people to protect themselves, the GoFundMe testimonial said. Rodriguezs mother, reached by CNN, declined to comment for this story. The Army National Guard confirmed to CNN that a man identified in public records as Rodriguezs father was a member of the Army National Guard from 2005 to 2012, and deployed to Iraq from October 2006 to September 2007. In October 2017, Rodriguez attended a demonstration outside then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuels house to protest a police shooting and a bid to bring Amazons second headquarters to the city. The wealth that Amazon has brought to Seattle has not been shared with its Black residents, Rodriguez told Liberation, a publication by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which identified him as a member at the time. He added that [Amazons] whitening of Seattle is structurally racist and a direct danger to all workers who live in that city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PSL on Thursday said in a statement on X that Rodriguez is no longer a member and had only a brief association with one branch of the PSL that ended in 2017. The group added that we have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it. In January 2018, Rodriguez marched in another protest against Amazon in downtown Chicago organized by ANSWER Chicago, an anti-war group. Rodriguez told Newsy in an on-camera interview that if we can keep Amazon out, that is a huge victory and demonstrates sort of the power of people coming together, being able to say no to things like gentrification. In a statement to CNN, ANSWER Coalition said the organization does not have individual members and that they are not connected to Rodriguez in any way. It appears he attended ANSWER protests 7 years ago and we are not aware of any contact since then. We obviously have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it, ANSWER Coalition said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a post on X, that the FBI is aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect, and we hope to have updates as to the authenticity very soon. The letter bearing Rodriguezs name describes the authors outrage over a perceived lack of action from Western and Arab governments to stop Israels war in Gaza and advocates for armed action, which it compares to forms of nonviolent protest. An armed action is not necessarily a military action Usually it is theater and spectacle, a quality it shares with many unarmed actions, the letter said. The letter said that years ago, Americans would likely have not understood a violent attack on behalf of Palestine such an action would have been illegible, would seem insane. But amid increasing public pressure to end the war in Gaza, the author wrote, there are many Americans for which the action will be highly legible and, in some funny way, the only sane thing to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter ended with a note to the authors parents and sibling, and is signed Elias Rodriguez. The same X account where the letter was posted has previously defended violent tactics, and expressed views calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. In response to another users post supporting the shooting of others and calling violence an acceptable part of reality, the account replied: Agreed - violence does not have to happen, but if it does, then it should. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both Israeli Embassy staffers about to be engaged, were gunned down on a street in Washington, DC. - Embassy of Israel to the USA What more evidence is needed that the colony and its recalcitrants will have to be totally extirpated by the end of all this, the account wrote about Israel in another post responding to a video compilation of Israeli government officials calling for a total siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The social media posts show videos taken in the crowd from protests in Chicago against Israels war in Gaza. In Chicago, Rodriguez most recently worked as an administrative specialist with the American Osteopathic Information Association, according to a LinkedIn account with his name and photo. We were shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime, the groups president, Teresa Hubka, said in a joint statement with its CEO, Kathleen Creason. Rodriguez lived in the Albany Park neighborhood, where a next-door neighbor told CNN he was stunned by Rodriguezs alleged tie to the DC shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Fry, 71, said Rodriguez has lived in the apartment next to his for about the past two years with a woman, although he said he did not know what their relationship was or the womans name. They were very quiet, they were very friendly, Fry said. Fry said he never had any political conversations with Rodriguez. We never did (talk politics) and now today, I regret that I never had a conversation with him because as you can tell Ive been around a while, Fry said, referring to his own age. You dont end war with guns and bombs, Fry said. You end the war by going to the people, patiently explaining, and you know a vote is much more powerful than a bullet or a bomb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNNs Majlie de Puy Kamp, Sabrina Shulman, Evan Perez, Bill Kirkos, Whitney Wild and Lauren Chadwick contributed to this report Editors Note: This story was updated to included a comment from ANSWER. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In 1961, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillans Conservative government applied for membership in what was then the European Economic Community. Two years later, French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed British entry on the grounds that he doubted Londons commitment to European integration and, perhaps more importantly, because he felt that Britain was too closely tied to the U.S. Britain tried again in 1967, this time under Prime Minister Harold Wilsons Labour government, but de Gaulle once again vetoed Britains membership. It was only when de Gaulle had passed from the scene that Britain, once again led by the Tories under Prime Minister Edward Heath, finally joined the Community in 1973. When Wilson returned to 10 Downing Street in 1975, Labour held a referendum on whether to remain in the community and conducted a major public relations campaign to vote yes to stay in. Two-thirds of British voters chose to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 40 years later, however, David Camerons Conservative government held another referendum on whether to remain in what was by then European Union. This time, the Brexiteers so-called because they supported British exit, or Brexit led by Boris Johnson, prevailed by a vote of 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent. Cameron soon resigned. After lengthy negotiations, Britain, with Johnson now prime minister, left the EU in 2020. Many economists have concluded that Brexit was a bad idea. Britain did show strong GDP growth as COVID waned 8.6 percent in 2021 followed by 5.9 percent 2022 but GDP has dropped sharply since and is now predicted to grow by less than 1 percent in 2025. The British public also appears to be suffering from Brexit fatigue. A new poll by YouGov found that 53 percent of Britons would favor returning to the EU, and nearly two-thirds say they would support the U.K. having a closer relationship with the EU than it does now. Beyond economics or remorseful public sentiment, Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slowly reversed Londons separation from Europe for two reasons: Vladimir Putins February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and uncertainly about President Donald Trumps continued support for that country and his intentions regarding Americas future role in NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer appears to have a decent relationship with Trump, and the pair reached a verbal understanding regarding a reduction of trade barriers. Moreover, the Australian-British-U.S. submarine and high-tech agreement continues to move ahead, and U.S.-U.K. military relations have remained stable despite the change in American administrations. But relatively good relations with Washington have not been sufficient to overcome Starmers concern about both Britains future economic growth as well as the future of European stability and, for that matter, European democracy. On May 19, as YouGov was still polling the public, the Starmer government announced what it headlined as a new agreement with the European Union to support British businesses, back British jobs, and put more money in peoples pockets. Specifically, the deal helps Britains agricultural sector by, among other things, removing some routine checks on animal and plant products and a sanitary and phytosanitary measures agreement, both of which will make it easier for the U.K. to import and export food products. The agreement also provides for linking the British and EU Emissions Trading Systems, which the government claims will improve the UKs energy security and avoid businesses being hit by the EUs carbon tax due to come in next year which would have sent 800 million directly to the EUs budget. All told, London expects these aspects of the agreement to add nearly 9 billion to the U.K. economy by 2040. In addition, the deal will protect British steel exports from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, resulting in annual savings of 25 million for the steel sector. No less important is a separate U.K.-EU defense agreement, the so-called Security and Defence Partnership, which the government says will pave the way for the British defense industrial base to participate in the EUs proposed new 150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense fund. This agreement marks a further step in a process of British defense cooperation with the continent in general and with France in particular, including Anglo-French efforts to lead a coalition of the willing to build a force to guarantee Ukraines security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmers government has made it clear that these agreements involve no return to the single market, no return to the customs union, and no return to freedom of movement. Some observers speculate that ultimately Britain will indeed open its now-closed doors to the EUs provisions for freedom of movement that resulted in thousands of Eastern Europeans in particular moving to the U.K. That is for the future, however, if it ever comes to pass. For the moment, Starmers policy reflects Winstons Churchills famous description of Britains relationship to the continent: We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not comprised. We are interested and associated but not absorbed. Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. I have treated the wounded under barrel bombs in Aleppo. I have operated in Syrian field hospitals where the floor shook with every explosion. And I have trained Ukrainian medics and doctors on how to protect themselves in case of chemical weapon attacks. I hoped that I had seen the worst of humanity. I was wrong. In Gaza, we are seeing the same nightmare of total devastation and disregard for humanity. Ive traveled to Gaza four times in the last four years through my work with the medical NGO I lead, and served in Gazas hospitals as a critical care specialist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I stood in Nasser Hospital last year as dozens of patients flooded in many of them children in the aftermath of a nearby missile attack. There werent enough beds. Supplies were nearly gone. We were forced to do battlefield medicine with one hand tied behind our backs. I inserted chest tubes into the chests of young children without local anesthesia. We had none left. No parent in America would accept that standard of care. But in Gaza, its all thats left. And now, even the ability to provide that makeshift care is slipping away. For more than two months, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza. While Israel allowed a small number of aid trucks in this week, the vast majority of aid remains at the border, barred from entering. The entire aid response is collapsing. More than 70,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition. Screenings by aid organizations have revealed a staggering 150 percent increase in the malnutrition prevalence rate from February (before the blockade) to May. Our organization will start running out of nutrition supplies in less than two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the catastrophe, the U.S. and Israel have proposed a new aid model. The plan proposes a handful of centralized distribution hubs, guarded by private contractors and the Israeli military. It would shrink the number of aid distribution points from over 400 to just four or five. Thats not a humanitarian system its a bottleneck. Its also a powder keg, because when you concentrate scarce resources and surround them with armed men, you dont ease tensions you ignite them. Humanitarian work succeeds through trust with the communities they serve. When soldiers and private security are inserted into that equation, aid workers are no longer seen as neutral. Theyre seen as part of the conflict, making them targets. I have worked in war zones long enough to know that when aid is weaponized, food lines and hospitals can turn into kill zones. One in five people in Gaza are already in famine conditions. Now imagine tens of thousands of desperate civilians converging on a guarded hub for food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The world watched the flour massacre, when Israeli forces opened fire on hungry civilians crowding an aid convoy. That was the result of aid scarcity, desperation and fear. When only a trickle of aid enters, it sparks chaos. Gaza needs a flood of aid, and it needs it very quickly. President Trump is right to demand that more aid enter Gaza. The goal is right: Get more aid to those in need, without delay. But the method matters. We need a plan that works amid the realities on the ground. The Trump administration should be careful not to repeat President Bidens mistake of pouring over $200 million into an ill-advised floating pier, intended as an offshore loading point to facilitate aid access and distribution. The pier was a failure and it now sits broken and abandoned. It delivered only a trickle of aid, chaotically and dangerously. It cost a U.S. soldier his life. The piers failure should not have been a surprise humanitarian experts warned it would fail. It epitomized the fatal disconnect between political gestures and effective humanitarian action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much like the failed pier, the new aid plan is operationally impossible. How is a malnourished mother supposed to carry a 40-pound food package back to her family miles away? How do the elderly, the disabled and the estimated 4,000 new amputees in Gaza access the aid? What about the entire health system? Humanitarian aid isnt just boxes of food its services. Humanitarian organizations provide emergency surgeries, safe deliveries for childbirth and the treatment of malnourished children. All of this requires aid workers on the ground, functional hospitals and health clinics with fuel for generators, clean water, medicine, medical supplies and the ability for civilians to travel safely to those hospitals. None of that is covered in the proposed plan. These are not minor logistical hiccups; they are fatal flaws. At a time of budget cuts, no one can afford to see taxpayer dollars wasted. This plan costs more, delivers less and endangers everyone involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, a proven, effective solution is already waiting: The United Nations and NGOs already have hundreds of aid trucks lined up at Gazas borders, packed with food, water and medicine thats already been paid for. It could be moving today if Israel ends its blockade. The real solution is clear: The U.S. government and the rest of the international community should press for Israel to allow the resumption of existing aid flows into Gaza, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Whats needed are functioning humanitarian corridors: 1,000 aid trucks per day, distributed across all of Gaza by the professionalized U.N. and NGO system. Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recognized criticism of the U.S.-Israeli plan and said, Were open to an alternative if someone has a better one. The U.N. offered one the next day, publishing a plan to resume aid, incorporating enhanced monitoring and oversight mechanisms to address U.S. concerns about diversion. The U.S. should back this plan without delay. Temporary piers, airdrops and aid hubs may feed headlines, but they dont feed families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in Gaza cannot afford to be the subject of another aid experiment. They are out of time. Dr. Zaher Sahloul is the president and co-founder of MedGlobal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Thursday evening, a terrorist gunned down two staff members from Israels Embassy in Washington, D.C., as they were leaving an American Jewish Committee event focused on promoting unity and understanding among young diplomats. According to early reports, the shooter, a 30-year-old associated with radical leftist organizations in Chicago, had an online footprint filled with vile antisemitic ranting and support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, including a manifesto posted on Thursday evening explicitly calling for the murder of American Jews in response to Israels war in Gaza. The short video of the police hauling the killer away in handcuffs sharply captured the dystopian world we now live in. Newly minted as the coldblooded murderer of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a beautiful young couple about to be engaged, he proudly chanted Free Palestine! in a cadence eerily familiar to any college student who has walked by an encampment in the last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, whats most shocking and horrifying about Thursdays events to anyone who has been paying attention is just how unsurprising they are. The tributes pouring out about the two we lost make clear that they are heroes who built bridges and fell deeply in love with each other as well as with the Jewish state. They didnt pursue their jobs for the money or because it was easy or comfortable. Their choices meant that they saw something bigger that they wanted to build. This calls for a different kind of courage and conviction. Working at one of Israels diplomatic missions in the U.S. is not the same as taking a job with Norway or New Zealand. I know firsthand. From 2010 to 2013, I was an American employee of Israels Mission at the United Nations in New York. There were frequent reminders of potential threats. Every morning, I walked past a permanent police cordon into the office building and then past two more doors manned by Israeli secret service. Every time we set foot in the ambassadors car, his security detail swept it for bombs, with the knowledge that other Israeli diplomatic vehicles had recently exploded in India and Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stigma of serving as Israeli diplomatic staff was made abundantly clear to me in certain corners of New York society, where the lies of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel were already gaining ground. At dinner parties in Brooklyn or concerts downtown, people would raise an eyebrow when they heard what I did for a living and share their ill-informed takes on the Middle East, sometimes tinged with antisemitic conspiracy theories. I often left the Orwellian world of the U.N., where Israel is chastised and disdained while the worlds dictators sit on committees devoted to human rights and womens empowerment, only to enter another theater of the absurd in America. This is also a world where Israel is a genocidal monster a world where I had to justify how I could consider working for such a country. For me, these experiences only clarified the need for the job I held, working to tell the story of the only Jewish state in a universe undeniably filled with hatred of Jews. Yet, the greatest lesson I took from those years was the tremendous power of pursuing a life of purpose alongside extraordinary people. Those I had the privilege of serving alongside from Israel, America and Canada were among the strongest, most principled and most dynamic that Ive ever come across. Working with them forever changed my life. Over the last decade or so, as antisemitic ideas have moved from the fringes to the mainstream particularly since Oct. 7, 2023 the world I encountered as a part of Israels U.N. delegation has become increasingly familiar in the lives of all Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every weekday, I line up with other parents to drop off my six-year-old and eight-year-old at Jewish day school amid high walls, thick gates and heavily armed guards. It is the same drill when our family goes to synagogue, attends a Jewish event or gets on a plane to go to Israel. My kids read antisemitic graffiti sprayed on the streets and ask what it means. The roads in our city are sometimes blocked by violent protestors, holding signs that deny rape, justify murder and call for the destruction of all Jews. Thursdays attacks are yet another reminder that a culture of incitement where Jews are demonized and dehumanized, where calls for Israels destruction are tolerated depending on the context, and where conspiracy theories are validated and considered often leads to violence. In the dark corners of the internet and in the hateful riots on our streets and campuses, monsters will justify and celebrate these murders, as they have with other murders of Jews, whether in Pittsburgh or Poway or at the NOVA Festival in Israel or a Kosher supermarket in France and call for more blood. As Jewish and Israeli institutions further ratchet up their security protocols, the question for American society is this: will the monsters continue to be heard and justified, or will this the murder of a young couple wake us up? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement History shows that in cultures where Jews live under threat and persecution, the rest of the society inevitably suffers as well. It also shows that while antisemitism is a constant, so is the tremendous resilience of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, supported by men and women of conviction like Yaron and Sarah willing to risk their lives for a better future. Nathan Miller served as the speechwriter for Israels Mission to the United Nations from 2010 to 2013. He is the CEO of Miller Ink, a strategic communications firm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Early this morning, by a vote of 215-214, House Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)and yes, that is the actual name of the legislationthat funds the vast majority of President Donald Trumps priorities on tax cuts, immigration and the like. It marks another massive victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, a man, I will admit, I drastically underestimated when he ascended to the job roughly a year ago. Consider just some of what Johnson has done in the first five months of 2025: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Got reelected as speaker on the first ballot. Passed legislation to keep the government open and funded in March. Passed the OBBBs framework in April, amid widely reported cracks in the GOP caucus, before sealing the deal today. Thats an impressive record. Period. Its made all the more impressive when you consider that Johnson did all this with a 3-seat majority. This makes what he has done in the first five months of 2025 nothing short of stunning, from a legislative and political skill standpoint. Now, of course, there are caveats. The Senate is almost certainly going to make changes to the billchanges that will not make conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus happy. The bill will then come back to the House where Johnson will have to figure out a way to get the revised version of it passed with that same tiny majority. House Speaker Mike Johnson stands with President Donald Trump as he speaks to reporters ahead of a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on May 20, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im Johnson cant take all the credit either. President Donald Trump helpedbigly. He met Monday with the entire GOP conference on Capitol Hill; on Wednesday he had some of the partys more fiscally conservative members to the White House. Without Trump, the OBBB probably doesnt pass. But then, who cultivated a relationship with Trumpand understood how to effectively deploy him for maximum impact? Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And remember, this bill will add to Americas debt and deficit problems. If Johnson (and Republicans) wanted to begin to address our over-spending problems, this aint it. But when the chips fall, Johnsons job is to pass legislation that is proposed by his partys president. Time and time again, hes done it. Its now clear that Johnson is a much more effective and consequential Speaker than the man he replaced, Kevin McCarthy. And he now has a stronger grip on the Houses top job than at any point in the last year. Want more ball and strike callingno matter what uniform the batter at the plate is wearing? Check out Chris Cillizzas Substack and YouTube channel. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. "Anatolian Phoenix - 2025" International Search and Rescue Exercise held in Konya, Turkiye, has successfully concluded, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. Media representatives and official guests attended the Distinguished Visitors Day organized as part of the international exercise. Participants were provided with statistical information about the course of the exercise, and a short video dedicated to the international search and rescue exercise was presented. Following the official part of the event, media representatives and guests watched the practical fulfillment of various episodes by exercise participants at the training range. Then the "Turkish Stars" aviation groups of the Turkish Air Force performed demonstration flights. At the end of the event, participating personnel exchanged gifts, and a photo was taken. The personnel of the Azerbaijan Air Force demonstrated a high level of professionalism during the "Anatolian Phoenix - 2025" International Search and Rescue Exercise held in Turkiye. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In April, two people were arrested in connection with a bomb plot at a concert in Brazil, where more than 2 million fans had gathered to watch Lady Gaga perform. Rio de Janeiro police stated the individuals were connected to a violent, and rising, online network known for targeting young people online, spreading LGBTQ hate and coercing young victims into performing horrific acts of harm and violence. In early May, the FBI announced it has 250 open investigations linked to the violent extremist network called 764 in addition to local law enforcement investigations that are reportedly just as high. The cluster of groups exploits and abuses children and teenagers, often grooming them to commit ever more violent acts, including mass attacks similar to what was prevented at the April event. The investigations are taking place across all 55 FBI jurisdictions, alongside cases in a dozen countries worldwide. Warnings about the groups have been issued repeatedly by both the FBI and Canadian authorities, including through a new terrorism designation the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI began using nihilistic violent extremism, or NVE to describe the growing phenomenon. But despite growing law enforcement concern and attention, theres been virtually no investment in prevention. The rapid growth of these groups, whose victims are estimated to be in the thousands, has caught parents, teachers and mental health counselors off guard as kids as young as 9 have been groomed in the chat features of mainstream, youth-oriented social media and gaming platforms. This lack of awareness among adults and few prevention resources increase the risk that more youth will be harmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In conversations I have had with high school students during presentations to school groups across the country this spring, teens have reported feeling numb or apathetic about the steady stream of violent content that crosses their feeds, including through occasional errors in content moderation that have led kids to inadvertently see livestreamed murders, suicides or child abuse as they are casually scrolling social media. And this is exactly the point; as a 2024 Canadian law enforcement warning about these groups explained, the goal is to manipulate and control victims to produce more harmful and violent content as part of their ideological objectives and radicalization pathway. By desensitizing kids to violence and harm, they can get children and teens to commit horrific acts more willingly. The 764 label refers to a loose network of individuals and groups with various names and motivations but who all share a common set of tactics: coercion, manipulation and exploitation of teens and children. Some of the exploitation is rooted in financial extortion or nihilism, but in other cases, network members have been arrested in possession of Nazi material or have otherwise been engaged in networks and sites promoting violent extremism, mass shootings, Satanic rituals, or racially and ethnically motivated ideologies. The core tactics of 764 groups rely on convincing minors to livestream, photograph or record intimate images, acts of self-harm, animal abuse or abuse of other children that are then used to force them to escalate their actions and harm others. Members of these exploitative groups reach out to kids online, grooming children and teens through in-game chats of multiplayer video games such as Roblox and Minecraft, but also through a variety of mainstream gaming and social media platforms. Girls with disabilities have been particularly vulnerable; one how-to guide online advises perpetrators to groom kids with mental illnesses because they are the most susceptible to manipulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one example, a man involved in the 764 scheme reached out to a girl online and started a relationship with her, eventually convincing her that he was her boyfriend. He coerced her to send intimate photos, and then extorted her to commit acts of self -harm on camera. Again and again, victims later were found to themselves become abusers and recruiters for the groups. The rapid growth of these networks calls for a different, more upstream kind of prevention that can better safeguard families and children. Every child should receive comprehensive digital and media literacy that includes a focus on online manipulation. Parents, teachers, mental health counselors and other caregivers need help recognizing warning signs, from kids who are increasingly withdrawn, exhibiting personality changes or even wear long sleeves in warm temperatures as a way to conceal self-harm, to unusual injuries among pets. Parents also need help to stay informed about the online worlds their kids inhabit, especially problematic or vulnerable youth-oriented platforms or social media sites, and the wide range of evolving harms to which children and teens are exposed. And all communities need trained, informed mental health experts who can offer therapeutic support to the growing number of victims who have been harmed by these networks. We cant just expect families to build resilience to online harms. We also need to address the accountability of social media platforms that enable adults to exploit children and that have failed to address the impacts of increasing exposure to violent content on mainstream sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement and media attention to the growing problem of child exploitation networks like 764 is welcome and needed. But our kids deserve much more than attention and accountability for harms once they occur. They need us to work harder to keep them safe to begin with. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com When Pope Francis died, an Augustinian associate texted Robert Francis Prevost, I think youd make a great pope. Prevost replied, Im an American I cant be elected. That assumption was widely shared. Many believed Americas global dominance disqualified its citizens. Even San Diegos Robert Cardinal McElroy said he would oppose an American pope for that very reason. The gambling platform Kalshi gave Prevost less than a 1 percent chance. Only 416 people bet on this long shot. Catholic theology teaches that the Holy Spirit has input. Prevosts surprise elevation as Pope Leo XIV gives credence to this belief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do we divine this new, unknown Peter? Not by proclaiming him divine, but by asking: What is his inner self? Ancient Etruscan priests read entrails to divine the future; todays press scrutinizes whatever entrails can be found anywhere. In the original meaning of the word catholic, Leo has a remarkable record of quiet global engagement, from the grassroots to the elite, a wide-ranging worldview. Modern popes have traveled extensively after their elections, something truly catholic in the original meaning of the word. Leos American identity-at a time when two American leaders embody opposing visions of democracy-places him at the intersection of a deepening global struggle over democracy, nationalism, and faith. Critics argue the Church is historically anti-democratic. Popes like Gregory XVI and Pius IX condemned democracy. The American Revolution hardly registered with the Vatican; after all, the colonies were British and predominantly Protestant. But the French Revolution was a different matter. Catholicism, long entrenched as the state religion, lost its privileges, properties and political power. This was revolting to the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many, the Roman churchs bias toward monarchy and against democracy has evolved with less hostility. In America, with the First Amendment, Catholicism encountered the free marketplace of religion. Individuals could choose their faith freely. And a religion based on choice is more vibrant than a moribund state-sponsored religion, because the latter has no competition, according to no less than Adam Smith. Conservative Americans benignly criticized Pope Francis as ignorant of America. Leo, however, is an American who might best trump the president in a quick quiz on democracy. Leo knows American history and how it treated Catholics from the beginning with the same kind of suspicion with which it treats Muslims today. They experienced hostility in institutional forms as the Know-Nothing Party and the KKK. Violence was always in the wings on personal and social levels. Leo is aware of the potency of the First Amendments first freedom: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free practice thereof. In the free market of religions, democracy here allowed, nourished, and strengthened Catholicism and other beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The First Amendment underscores freedom of conscience and choice. The world has yet to thank the underrecognized American champion of conscience, Roger Williams. An ordained clergyman, he was punished for his dissenting beliefs, resulting in his establishing the first secular state, Rhode Island, as a haven and refuge. From these roots flowered our First Amendment, enshrining the inviolable right to freedom of conscience, choice and speech. As a Catholic priest of 59 years, I was unfamiliar with Leo, since so much of his career was out of the country, even though he is a Southside Chicago native like myself. The few morsels I found were positive simpatico to Francis but distinct, an American unknown to most American Catholics. Then came his inaugural address. One sentence electrified me: Evangelization is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda, or by means of power, but through love. With that, Leo distanced himself from centuries of institutional coercion. He affirms a vision where love not force, nor propaganda and politics is the means. He must first persuade doubting Catholics and fellow Christians. Leo could become a pivotal voice as Christian nationalism rises in the U.S., pushing for the collapse of the church-state wall. The late Paul Weyrich, the Catholic deacon and most skilled strategist known widely in Washington as Pope Paul, helped bridge conservative Catholicism with evangelical nationalism. His movements long-term success is evident from the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the rise of the Catholic Right. In the 2016 election, 52 percent of American Catholics voted for President Trump. It was 58 percent in 2024. Leos own brother is a fervent Trump supporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his choice of name, Leo XIV evokes Leo XIII, who in 1892 urged French Catholics to accept their democratic republic. Leo XIVs challenge to American Catholics especially those politically aligned with Christian nationalism is to defend the Constitutions First Amendment prohibition of state religion, a prohibition that allowed Catholics to thrive. Imagine a future Supreme Court case challenging church-state separation, with Christians vying against Christians for superiority. Picture citizen Robert Francis Prevost, making an appearance in a suit, to defend the very freedom that once made his own faith welcome in an unwelcoming culture. Before a Supreme Court of conservative Catholic justices, Leo might repeat what he said previously that the Church is not about feeling superior to the world. As the leader of a monotheistic religion, Leo would affirm pluralism which he boldly enunciated at his inauguration, We are called to offer Gods love to everyone to achieve unity that does not cancel differences but values the personal history and culture of every people. Centuries ago, Pope Gregory VII forced King Henry IV to kneel barefoot in the snow, symbolizing the Churchs triumph over the state. Now imagine Pope Leo XIV, in a suit, standing before the U.S. Supreme Court not to dominate, but to defend the freedom of all faiths equally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leo XIV invoked Leo XIII for his teachings on labor and democracy. But the most famous Leo is Leo the Great (391-461), who stood up to the barbarians that sought to destroy what remained in his era of Roman society. This new Leo is poised to save Americas democracy from American barbarians within, seeking to destroy centuries of democratic compromise toward a more perfect union. A second Leo the Great? In a world torn between the love of power and the power of love, Leo chooses the latter. Emmett Coyne is a retired Catholic priest in the Diocese of Manchester, N.H. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Republicans want to investigate former President Joe Bidens use of the autopen. Did he personally grant broad (and possibly unconstitutional) pardons for family members, members of the January 6 Committee and Anthony Fauci, or did someone else make the decision? Was he responsible for all the executive orders issued under his name, or did White House personnel make those decisions? If he did not personally sign various documents, are they valid? The House has announced that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will be investigating Bidens use of an autopen to sign documents such as the pardons issued just before he left office. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement he plans to subpoena former Biden aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal and Ashley Williams, who he claims ran interference for Biden and may have overseen the use of the autopen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is demanding the upper chamber hold hearings on Bidens health and competence, and rightly so. He wants to interview people who were close to the former president. As he told Axios, We have to. I mean, who was running the government? The Justice Department has taken up the issue as well, under the leadership of newly appointed Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, whose nomination to become Washington, D.C.s, U.S. Attorney failed. Democrats may soon wish that they had not blocked his prior appointment. This is not just political posturing. The Washington Examiner reports: According to public filings and internal memoranda obtained by congressional investigators, a significant number of clemency warrants were executed using batch-format autopen signatures, raising questions about whether Biden was directly involved in the process. These inquiries have been spurred by new revelations about the presidents declining mental condition gleaned from the recently released Original Sin, written by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axioss Alex Thompson, which chronicles the extreme measures taken to hide Bidens deterioration from the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, audio tapes of special counsel Robert Hurs interview with Biden showed not just an elderly man with a poor memory, as Hur generously described Biden, but a person who has experienced serious mental decline. His confusion and lapses have raised even more questions about who was in charge of the country between 2021 and 2024. Its become increasingly clear that it was not Biden. We know this because we have a solid example where the former president was asked about an important policy switch that he had purportedly authored and he got it wrong, denying he had made the change. Also, it was reported contemporaneously that in negotiations on important topics, Biden was reduced to reading from note cards and seemed detached from the conversations. Someone else was almost certainly writing those note cards and giving the president his talking points. Biden was barely capable of putting two sentences together, much less sifting through details critical to crafting legislation or even policy. The Wall Street Journal reported last June about a February 2024 Oval Office meeting between House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Biden. According to Johnson, the president denied that he had recently instituted a pause on further expansion of liquified natural gas exports, claiming instead that it was just a study. Johnson told six people about Bidens confusion after the meeting, suggesting it indicated a slippage of Bidens memory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with Bari Weiss early this year, for her Substack podcast, Johnson described how the White House had tried to prevent the one-on-one encounter from taking place. Johnson told Weiss that Bidens staff ignored his repeated attempts to schedule a meeting with the president in January 2024, but that pressure from the media eventually forced a scheduled sit-down. However, when Johnson entered the room he found Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and Kamala Harris all gathered, ready to drill Johnson over aid to Ukraine. That was unexpected. Biden asked the others to leave, visibly alarming his staffers. Once alone, Johnson asked the president why he had paused liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, pointing out that this action was enriching Russia and fueling Vladimir Putins war effort. Biden relied, I didnt do that. When Johnson reminded the president of the executive order he had signed just weeks earlier, the president denied that the order mandated a pause. Johnson has since said he walked out of the meeting shaken, thinking, We are in serious trouble who is running the country? Like, I dont know who put the paper in front of him, but he didnt know. The Johnson encounter was not the only firsthand report of Bidens diminished capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy came away from negotiations over lifting the debt ceiling with similar misgivings. He reported that the presidents command of details wavered and that he frequently mumbled and relied on notes to steer him through the conversations. I used to meet with him when he was vice president. Id go to his house, McCarthy said in an interview. Hes not the same person. The White House and even the newly aware media is now pursuing the one remaining piece of the puzzle: Who was creating and then putting in place policies supposedly vetted by the president, and who else used the autopen found on so many documents? Was it Mike Donilon, who is cited by a recent piece in the Times of London? Or long-time adviser Anita Dunn? We just dont know. This is not just a fishing expedition. The public must know if some of Bidens rules and policies were executed without his knowledge or consent. There is a possibility that Congress could challenge the legality of measures adopted by presidential aides or officials, rather than the countrys chief executive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report from the conservative Oversight Project, formerly associated with the Heritage Foundation, states, The Constitution vests the power of pardon in one person and one person only the President of the United States. These challenges to the Biden legacy are just beginning. And its about time. 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. President Donald Trump loves to talk about cutting red tape. In truth, he's actually fine with tying the average American up in it. Along with his GOP allies in Congress, Trump regularly bemoans the federal government's allegedly onerous burdens on businesses, such as mandating that a bank ensure it has enough assets to avoid crashing the economy, say, or requiring a logging company to avoid killing an endangered species when working in critical habitats. But when it comes to average Americans, the president and his allies in Congress are fine with making it harder to file your taxes, receive benefits, access government services or register to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider a few recent examples: The Trump administration plans to end an IRS pilot program that allowed some taxpayers with simple returns to file their federal taxes online for free. In the megabill comprising much of Trumps first-year agenda, House Republicans are moving ahead with new work requirements to qualify for health insurance through Medicaid. The Trump administration developed a plan (since rescinded) to require more Americans applying for Social Security to visit offices in person to prove their identities. Another Republican bill would require ID such as a passport or a birth certificate to register to vote (and a marriage certificate, too, if you're a woman who changed her name). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let's call this what it is: red tape needless box-checking, form-filling and drudgery that accomplishes nothing except making it harder for Americans to get what they need. Americans have long hated red tape. An AP-NORC poll in January found that 59% of adults said that "red tape, such as government regulations and bureaucracy," is a major problem and 34% thought it was a minor problem. Only 6% thought it wasn't a problem at all. Republican presidents from Warren G. Harding to Ronald Reagan have campaigned on cutting federal spending and reducing regulations, but Trump has taken to the cause with abandon. In his first term, he posed in front of a giant stack of papers representing the growth in regulations since 1960 and symbolically cut a red ribbon with a pair of oversized gold scissors. As was often the case in Trump's first term, he didn't succeed. One study from the libertarian Cato Institute found that whether you look at the total number of pages in the Code of Federal Regulations or the number of restrictions (as indicated by keywords), the upward trend in federal regulations plateaued, at best, during his first four years in office. By both counts, there was a slight increase from the last year of Barack Obama's administration to the last year of Trump's. Many of the latter's administrative cuts were quickly undone by President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of this red-tape cutting was for the benefit of major corporations, however. Ironically, they're the institutions most able to respond to new regulations, as they already have teams of lawyers, accountants and compliance officers at the ready to tackle the ever-changing requirements. But when average people think of red tape, they are thinking more about their own interactions with government: getting driver's licenses, registering to vote or filing their taxes. When they vote for candidates promising to cut red tape, they imagine a more streamlined government that makes it easier to pay off student loans or sign up for mortgages. That's where Trump is making things worse. Apart from adding requirements, the administration has also sought to cut experienced staffers from various government agencies and shut down programs. Veterans hoping to enroll in potentially lifesaving clinical trials have lost access to therapies while the trials have been stalled. Social Security recipients hoping to talk with a live person now wait on hold for as long as 2 hours. College graduates looking to start paying off student loans face a chaotic repayment process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meantime, federal workers have wasted tens of millions of dollars of work time sending required emails listing what they did each week. For too long, we've assumed these kinds of cuts make government more efficient and these kinds of requirements fight fraud. But we should really just think of them as adding red tape for federal workers and everyday Americans while making government less efficient and doing little to stop fraud. Earlier this year, the Department of Government Efficiency detailed startup CEO Sahil Lavingia to the Department of Veterans Affairs as a part-time unpaid contractor. Lavingia, a software engineer with no government experience, was supposed to help streamline the VA. But as he candidly admitted in an interview with Fast Company, there weren't nearly as many "easy wins" as he expected. "Honestly, its kind of fine because the government works," he said. "Its not as inefficient as I was expecting, to be honest. If only others at DOGE and in the White House would show the same humility. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In the ongoing national debate over the state and local tax or SALT deduction cap, a critical truth has been overlooked. The cap itself is not the problem the problem is the punishing tax regimes in states like New York and California. The outcry against the low $10,000 SALT deduction limit, imposed under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, is loudest in the states where taxes are highest. These are also states where the political class has become increasingly comfortable pushing ever-larger budgets, relying on a relatively small pool of high earners to bear the financial burden of their spending. Prior to 2017, the unlimited SALT deduction effectively allowed wealthy residents of these high-tax states to write off a big portion of their state tax bills on their federal returns. In other words, federal taxpayers in fiscally responsible states were subsidizing the excesses of states that refused to rein in their own tax-and-spend habits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the cap, New Yorkers making $500,000 could deduct tens of thousands of dollars in state and local taxes from federal taxable income, effectively shifting their local tax pain to the rest of the nation. Thats not tax fairness thats nationalized bailout-by-deduction. Critics of the cap say it unfairly penalizes the middle class in high-tax states. But most middle-class families dont pay more than $10,000 in state and local taxes anyway. The people howling loudest are usually wealthier taxpayers and, frankly, local politicians who have built their empires on unsustainable budgets, union favors and bloated public programs. Rather than advocate for a repeal of the cap, leaders in New York and California should take a hard look in the mirror. The real injustice is not that residents of these states cant deduct all their taxes but that theyre being taxed so heavily in the first place. The SALT cap was a wake-up call, signaling that the era of states quietly exporting the consequences of poor fiscal governance to the rest of the country is over. The federal government is not a co-signer on every states bad decisions. If a state wants to maintain generous entitlements, massive infrastructure projects and expansive bureaucracies, it needs to fund these with its own resources, without expecting red-state America to contribute through federal tax relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calls to repeal the SALT cap are little more than a demand to reinstate a subsidy for irresponsibility. And lets be clear the cap doesnt prevent any state from taxing its citizens. It just says the rest of us wont help you cover the bill anymore. Theres a deeper philosophical point at stake, too. The SALT cap restores a degree of accountability in federalism. If voters in a state are unhappy with their tax burden, they should direct their anger at Albany or Sacramento, not Washington. Local governance means local responsibility. In short, the solution is not to lift the SALT cap. Its for high-tax states to lower their taxes. Until that happens, dont ask the rest of us to carry your water. Joe Palaggi is a retired executive and author living in New York State. His writing explores the intersections of economics, policy and cultural change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Trump has decided that the most important mission, across the federal government, is immigration enforcement not investigating serious crimes of drugs or guns, terrorists or tax evaders, or preparing our military for missions overseas. His administration has shifted unprecedented federal resources to this mission the biggest such reorganization since 9/11. But is it making America safer, or leaving us more vulnerable? Trumps executive orders use language evocative of the period after 9/11 and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. The orders refer to a migration emergency, invoke the language of war invasion and predatory incursion and designate as terrorist organizations the cartels that have been facilitating this migration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even after 9/11, emergency warlike powers were not invoked against immigration to this extent. Several of Trumps executive actions have redirected the missions and resources of not only DHS but also the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State to prioritize immigration enforcement. One is designed to ensure that the Armed Forces of the United States prioritize the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States along our national borders. Trumps orders declaring an invasion of migrants are the basis for this redirection of military activity. The same order gives the military command with responsibility for the defense of North America the mission to seal the borders and a mandate to create mission plans and guidance for the use of the Force to repel forms of invasion, including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Note the recognition that these are criminal activities, although they are described as an invasion. A longstanding law, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, prevents the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement inside the United States, with an exception under the Insurrection Act of 1807 which the Trump administration has threatened to use. These changes have led to a significant redeployment of military and federal law enforcement resources toward immigration enforcement inside the United States. On the military side, these include using Department of Defense facilities to detain arrested migrants, employing Department of Defense aircraft to deport migrants, deploying Navy warships to the Gulf of Mexico to manage illegal immigration, and using Air Force reconnaissance planes to monitor the southern border. Another recent action reassigned a 60-foot strip of federal land along the border in New Mexico and Texas as a military zone, which allows the military to arrest migrants crossing there. Military resources have been used at the border in the past, but never to this extent in modern times. Arrests at the border have reached record lows, raising questions about this continuing use of military assets. Arrests inside the country are high, disruptive and fear-generating, even though deportations havent reached Biden-era levels. The fiscal costs are also high, forcing the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider using military aircraft for deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, federal law enforcement resources across the government are also being redirected. The office of Homeland Security Investigations within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was specifically redirected back to immigration enforcement as its primary mission. This reversal leaves its work investigating human trafficking, counter-proliferation, drug smuggling and other missions as secondary. Another executive order directed the attorney general and the secretary of Homeland Security to supplement available personnel to secure the southern border and enforce immigration laws, essentially ordering law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives; FBI; and the U.S. Marshalls Service to serve as immigration agents. The Homeland Security secretary also requested that IRS criminal investigators assist with immigration enforcement and deputized the State Departments Diplomatic Security Service as immigration officers. And recent reports even have U.S. Postal Service Inspectors being used in immigration investigations. On the prosecutions side, the Department of Justice has been ordered to prioritize prosecution of all criminal penalties authorized under immigration law, including many offenses that have not been criminally prosecuted in decades, such as misdemeanor fines or imprisonment for failing to report a change of address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These actions raise questions about whether other crucial law enforcement functions are being de-emphasized: Are the Drug Enforcement Administrations drug cartel investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives illegal gun tracking, FBIs serious crimes and terrorism investigations, ICEs child trafficking investigations, and the Department of Justice prosecutions being affected? How long is this redeployment expected to last? Yes, the increase in immigration during the Biden administration created significant challenges at the border and in U.S. cities, with some entrants posing criminal or security threats. However, most immigrants do not fall into these categories. That makes the Trump administrations singular focus on immigration enforcement questionable. Despite the administrations claim it is going after the worst of the worst, it also is deporting student protestors, families, and those fleeing persecution. And the actions of the vast majority of immigrants do not support the administrations claims that we are facing an invasion or terrorist threat so existential as to call for several national emergency declarations. At least one federal judge has agreed. Of course, we should take all legitimate threats to our homeland and our borders seriously. But those are not limited to the realm of immigration. In zeroing in on immigration enforcement, the administration risks neglecting other serious threats to national security to our peril. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theresa Cardinal Brown is a fellow at the National Immigration Forum, a Council on National Security and Immigration leader and a veteran of the Department of Homeland Security who served in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, it is appropriate to recall the core principles that fueled Americans fight against tyranny. Central to this struggle was the liberation from arbitrary governmental violations of civil liberties, particularly the right to due process before imprisonment. As Alexander Hamilton warned in The Federalist No. 84, The practice of arbitrary imprisonments, have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny. This ancient right, developed through centuries of Anglo-American jurisprudence, is not a mere convenience. It is a bedrock of our legal system. The foundations of due process and habeas corpus trace back to Magna Carta, the Great Charter that the English barons imposed on King John at Runnymede in 1215. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chapter 39 of Magna Carta proclaimed, No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we [King John] proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. The framers of the Constitution were deeply influenced by their Anglo-Saxon legal heritage. The colonists of the 1770s felt they were being denied their rights as Englishmen. The Declaration of Independence accused King George III of establishing an absolute tyranny over these states, improperly influencing the judiciary, depriving colonists of the benefits of trial by jury and transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offences. That is why these protections were enshrined in the Constitution. Article I explicitly protects habeas corpus, and the Fifth and Sixth Amendments guarantee due process. The Fifth Amendment declares: No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Trumps recent immigration actions represent a stark departure from these foundational principles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. government paid El Salvador to imprison more than 200 immigrants from Venezuela and El Salvador in a notorious maximum-security prison. The basis for their imprisonment was that they were suspected of being members of criminal gangs, though the government did not provide compelling evidence of this, and the men did not have the opportunity to prove that they were not gang members. The Fifth Amendments no person clause does not limit its guarantees to citizens; it explicitly prohibits deprivation of liberty without due process. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the district court that the government had to facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. to provide him with the opportunity to question the governments assertion that he was a gang member. Reagan-appointed Judge Harvie J. Wilkinson, writing for the majority, denied the governments motion for an emergency stay in the Garcia case, stating, The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Wilkinson rejected the notion that transferring custody absolved the government of its constitutional obligations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Courts subsequent order that the government facilitate the return of Garcia was met with defiance from the White House, which tweeted, Hes NOT coming back. Furthermore, Trumps statements during an Oval Office press conference, where he threatened to send homegrown criminals to the same foreign prison, reveal a chilling intent to expand this practice. Homegrown criminals are next You gotta build about five more places, he told President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. When asked in a television interview if he had to uphold the Constitution, Trump said, I dont know. His top White House aide, Stephen Miller, later said that the administration was actively looking at suspending habeas corpus. This stance contradicts the essence of American jurisprudence. As Justice Antonin Scalia argued in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, the very core of liberty secured by our Anglo-Saxon system of separated powers has been freedom from indefinite imprisonment at the will of the executive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says that giving each accused person a trial would take too long. But due process does not necessarily mean a full trial; it could be a hearing before an immigration or administrative judge. The core principle is the right of people accused of breaking the law to have the opportunity to defend themselves. As a popular social media post states, You cant say criminals dont deserve due process due process is the thing that decides if they are criminals. Otherwise youre just kidnapping people you dont like. Defending due process is not about shielding criminals, it is about safeguarding every individual from the arbitrary power that Americas founders fought to abolish. Trumps actions and statements signal a profound threat to the very liberties that define our nation. James P. Pfiffner is professor emeritus in the Schar School at George Mason University. He has written or edited 15 books on the presidency and American government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Cooperation between states should not be conducted against or to the detriment of the interest of third parties, Chinas foreign ministry told the Financial Times in an article published May 13. Beijing maintains that this is a basic principle. Chinese officials complained about the national security provisions in the general terms for the U.S.-United Kingdom Economic Prosperity Deal, announced May 8. The deal was the first trade agreement touted by the Trump administration, which imposed tariffs on most of the world on Apr. 2, which President Trump dubbed Liberation Day. In practical terms, Washington and London agreed that only goods meeting American security requirements will be eligible for relief from U.S. tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas regime, by surreptitiously including suspicious components in Chinese equipment, has only itself to blame for the proposed restriction. In view of the threat that these products pose, its important to keep them out of the U.S., even if there were such a basic principle, which there isnt. The general terms state that the U.S. will provide modified reciprocal tariff treatment, based on our balanced trading relationship and shared national security priorities. Those priorities include those identified in future U.S. Section 232 investigations. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the president to impose restrictions, including tariffs and quotas, on imports that impair or threaten national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general terms specifically refer to Section 232 investigations regarding pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients and mention U.S. requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminum products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities. China is alarmed, trade expert Alan Tonelson told me, because the national security provisions of President Trumps framework deal promise to neutralize key Chinese trade weapons. For the U.K. to do this, its not fair to China, Zhang Yansheng of Chinas Academy of Macroeconomic Research told the Financial Times. This type of poison pill clause is actually worse than the tariffs. Zhang is correct. These particular poison pills will not only prevent countries from using Chinese components in products exported to the U.S., but they will also result in countries shunning products containing these components in internal markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China issued its complaint about the U.S.-U.K. deal at a bad time for Beijing. Just as it was complaining, Reuters reported that some Chinese-made power inverters, which connect wind turbines and solar farms to electric grids, contained unauthorized communication devices that could disable or damage the grids. The inverters can even cause blackouts. Also, such unauthorized devices have been found in batteries sourced in China. Assuming effective follow-through, Chinese parts and components will be kept out of British infrastructure-related exports to America, thereby preventing Beijing from spying on or sabotaging these vital U.S. networks, Tonelson, who blogs on the intersection of trade and geopolitics at RealityChek, pointed out. China is using our open markets and free trade system to lace the technology of Western states with Trojan horse equipment, Brandon Weichert, senior national security editor of the National Interest, told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the Chinese regime has embedded American solar power systems with an assortment of booby traps, from surveillance devices to destructive systems, Weichert said, adding that the power inverters can damage solar farms. The risk of Chinese control of devices is not theoretical. Reuters reported that in November, parties inside China remotely shut off solar power inverters in the U.S. and elsewhere. Moreover, Spanish authorities are now investigating whether the massive outage on April 28 was caused by a cyberattack on solar and wind farms in that country. Inverters are not the only Chinese-made devices with unauthorized communication components. Last March, the Wall Street Journal reported that ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., which supplied nearly 80 percent of such cranes at American ports, contained modems that were not included in customer specifications and were not supporting the operation of the equipment. The communication devices could be used to disable the cranes or even cause damage at the ports. China, in short, appears to be planning a wholesale sabotage of American infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sam Faddis, a former CIA operations officer and senior editor of AND Magazine, described what happens after the Chinese shut down the electrical grid, turn off the water, and turn off our communications. You now live in the 16th century, and unless you are a real prepper, you are not prepared to make it in that world, he wrote in April. Expect to see national security provisions in other trade deals Washington negotiates going forward. The Trump administration now has a template, and it is not about to allow in, through other countries, what it will not take through the United Kingdom. Gordon G. Chang is the author of Plan Red: Chinas Project to Destroy America and The Coming Collapse of China . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer appeared at a civil trial this week and denied claims he retaliated against a former executive and whistleblower who sought to protect female prosecutors who were sexually harassed in the D.A.'s office. In a lawsuit filed against the county by former senior assistant Dist. Atty. Tracy Miller, at one point the highest-ranking woman in the prosecutors office, Spitzer and others are accused of retaliation and trying to force Miller out of her job after she questioned Spitzer's actions as D.A. Those actions included his handling of allegations that a male superior, who was also the best man at Spitzer's wedding, sexually harassed young female prosecutors. Spitzer denied the accusations during hours of testimony that became at times tense and emotional. In a San Diego courtroom this week, Spitzer acknowledged deep tensions within the D.A.'s office following his 2018 election victory over former Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spitzer, who appeared to wipe away tears during his testimony, told jurors he believed he was walking "in the lions' den" after winning the election and expected opposition from employees who had worked for Rackauckas. "I knew it was going to be miserable, and it was miserable," Spitzer said, his voice cracking. Read more: A blood feud rocks O.C. law enforcement with claims of 'dirty cop,' 'corrupt' D.A. In her lawsuit, Miller alleges that Spitzer and former chief assistant Dist. Atty. Shawn Nelson who is now an Orange County Superior Court Judge forced the prosecutor out through "purposeful and intentional retaliation." The reason for this, Miller alleges, is that she was protecting female subordinates who had reported sexual misconduct by a male superior, Gary LoGalbo, who is now deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Miller was punished for refusing to allow Spitzer to lionize the predator, gaslight, and further savage the reputation of the victims," her lawsuit says. According to the suit, Miller had also raised concerns about Spitzer's handling of the D.A.'s office, including worries that Spitzer had violated the Racial Justice Act by bringing up questions of race while trying to determine whether or not to seek the death penalty against a Black defendant. She also claimed that Spitzer considered a prosecutor's race in assignments and that he had possibly undermined a homicide case. But it was the allegations of sexual harassment against LoGalbo, a former friend and roommate of Spitzer's, that plaintiff attorneys say most threatened Spitzer's leadership and prompted him to target Miller. "[Spitzer] knew that if this was believed, the (district attorney's) office would suffer one of the worst scandals ever," said John Barnett, an attorney representing Miller during his opening statement Monday. "He punished (Miller) for protecting one of her young prosecutors." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys representing the county, as well as Spitzer and Nelson, argue that the men wanted Miller to stay in the prosecutor's office and valued her experience, pointing out they promoted four women to top positions due to her recommendations. Defense Attorney Tracey Kennedy argued during her opening statement Monday that even though LoGalbo had been friends with Spitzer years ago, the relationship had changed by the time the allegations were raised. "(Spitzer) had no reason to protect Mr. LoGalbo at the expense of the Orange County DA's office, and the expense of his career," Kennedy said. Instead, she said, Spitzer and Nelson had set out to make much needed reforms for the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They had a mission to change the D.A.'s office," she said. Read more: California security firm CEO, workers charged after woman forcibly removed from Republican town hall The county investigation substantiated the sexual harassment allegations against LoGalbo, but an April 2021 report found that allegations of retaliation were unsubstantiated because no actions were taken against the employees. Much of Spitzer's time on the witness stand Tuesday centered on his role in the LoGalbo investigation, and what appeared to be differing versions of what occurred. At one point during questioning, Spitzer disclosed that the version of events he gave the county's investigator during the internal probe about a highly scrutinized private meeting with a supervisor had been "inaccurate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Duff, a former senior deputy district attorney, had told the county investigator that Spitzer met with him in the law library of a Westminster courthouse in January 2021 and instructed him to write up one of the sexual harassment victims in her upcoming evaluation for being "untruthful." Duff said he refused to do so, according to a report of the internal investigation. Spitzer initially denied discussing the evaluation during the meeting and told the investigator, Elisabeth Frater, that he "never said that" to Duff because he didn't want anything "to be perceived in any way whatsoever that we were retaliating against her." But in court this week, Spitzer offered a different version of events. "What I told Frater was inaccurate," Spitzer said, adding that he did discuss concerns he had about the female prosecutor's honesty regarding an email she wrote. "I did talk to Duff about that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Spitzer maintained his concerns were about the prosecutor's veracity, and not about the claims she had raised against LoGalbo. After Duff met with Spitzer, Miller sent a note to Spitzer telling the district attorney she was aware of the conversation, and arguing against writing up the female prosecutor. During his testimony, Spitzer said that he was disappointed with Miller, and that she had not gone directly to him with her concerns about various issues. At one point, Spitzer said, he had grown to wonder why Miller would take notes during executive meetings. "You could see anytime a subject came up, Tracy was taking notes about our meetings," Spitzer said. "There was a point of time where it was very curious to me, why do you seem to be memorializing everything we're doing?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he was first elected in 2018, Spitzer said he believed he was walking "in the lions' den" and expected opposition from his direct reports. For that reason, he said, he chose Shawn Nelson to be his number two. "I picked him because I was going into battle, in the lions' den," Spitzer said. Miller's lawsuit is just the latest in a series of troubles that have recently hit the district attorney's office, including allegations of retaliation raised by top prosecutors and investigators in the office. The county is also facing eight sexual harassment lawsuits involving allegations against LoGalbo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, a now-retired investigator of the office also sent letters to the California attorney general, the U.S. Department of Justice, the State Bar of California, and other agencies to investigate Spitzer and other top officials at the prosecutor's office. All the latest on Orange County from Orange County. Get our free TimesOC newsletter. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Residents recounted their harrowing experience after a plane crashed in a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday morning. Around 3:45 a.m., the Cessna 550 crashed in Murphy Canyon, a community for military families. The crash killed at least three people and injured eight others, according to local authorities. LIVE UPDATES: Six on board plane that crashed in Murphy Canyon Several cars and homes were also burned or damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military wife Cherrell Taylor and her family live a block away from the crash site. They were awoken by a rattling sound they thought was an earthquake. Woke up, everything is still. Before the chaos, theres always a stillness, right, and so I look out the window and there was a glow, an orange glow, and so I saw that, I went downstairs, went outside, opened the door, that orange glow got brighter, oh, thats a fire, Taylor said. U.S. Navy Senior Chief Chris Willard said he and his family got out of their home when he saw people outside running, saying, theres a fire on the street behind us. MAP: Heres the precise location where a plane crashed in San Diego Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another military wife, Regina Beiker, who just moved to San Diego from Kansas, said the plane crashed into her home. We were trapped in our home, we couldnt get out, ended up in the backyard, Beiker said. However, she said, thanks to three wonderful men, they were able to open up her front door and take her kids out and get them to a safe place. My cars are gone, my home is damaged, so we just got here 10 weeks ago, Beiker said about her three girls and their dogs. Resources for those affected by the Murphy Canyon plane crash and how you can help Beikers husband is also deployed, making the situation even tougher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im trying to get through minute-by-minute, pretty much. Theres just a lot going on, just trying to get it all figured out, she added. The American Red Cross is assisting affected residents with lodging and other needs at Hancock Elementary (3303 Taussig Street) until 9 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The Public Association "Cartographers of Azerbaijan" has prepared an interactive map showing the mining operations and processing facilities in Armenia, as well as the environmental damage caused by these operations, Chairman of the aforsaid association Mugabil Bayramov told Trend. According to him, this map indicating the location of the main polluting enterprises in Armenia has also been published in Armenia. "The map was prepared in three languages: Azerbaijani, English, and Armenian. The purpose of its preparation in English is to inform the international community about these environmental crimes," Bayramov said. He noted that the settlements on the map are marked with both ancient Azerbaijani names and their changed, Armenian names. "Historical toponyms were used in the names of mountains, rivers, and settlements. We used various historical maps. Looking at these maps, one can see that all the toponyms in the territory of Western Azerbaijan are of Turkic origin. The prepared map was posted on the website of our association. Ten days later, various international public organizations began to express their attitude to this information. It was also published by various media outlets operating in Armenia. After that, Armenian NGOs also spoke out. Environmental press outlets operating in Iran also published our information. They began to provide data on the pollution of the Araz river, and data began to arrive that as a result of the pollution of the river, the number of oncological diseases among people living in nearby areas had increased," Bayramov added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A bill advanced in the Oregon House earlier this week that could allow eligible employees who are on strike to receive unemployment benefits raising concerns among superintendents of Oregons largest school districts. Senate Bill 916 A passed out of the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards on Wednesday after passing the Senate in a 16-12 vote. The bill would repeal a law that denies unemployment insurance benefits to unemployed Oregonians due to an active labor dispute, allowing striking workers who are otherwise eligible for UI could receive benefits under the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the bill would create an extra unpaid week for striking workers before they can qualify for UI benefits. Under the bill, striking workers have a one-week UI disqualification period followed by another one-week waiting period before they can receive the benefits. The bill would also make school districts deduct from future wage benefits received by an employee during a strike. If the bill passes, Republican committee members note Oregon would become the first state in the nation to allow public employees to receive UI while on strike. Oregon Gov. Kotek exploring banning student cell phone use Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill has raised concerns from the superintendents of Beaverton School District, Bend-La Pine Schools, Gresham-Barlow School District, Hillsboro School District, Medford School District, Portland Public Schools, Salem-Keizer Public Schools and Tigard-Tualatin School District. The superintendents of those districts among the largest in Oregon penned a letter to members of Oregons House on May 16, urging them to oppose the bill, citing major budget concerns. We must share the serious financial strain and administrative burden this bill would place on school districts especially during a time of profound fiscal uncertainty. The core of our concern is simple: every public dollar intended for education must be spent in a way that directly benefits students, the superintendents wrote. Ongoing security concerns spark closure of West Burnside burger joint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 916 A may create new financial pressures that could affect how we allocate resources to support educational services. As you know, public employers like school districts in Oregon are directly responsible for covering unemployment benefitsthese costs are paid dollar-for-dollar by each school district, the superintendents continued. Should this bill pass, districts like ours would be required to cover the costs of unemployment payments for labor disputes, further reducing already tight budgets. We simply do not have the financial capacity to absorb new and unplanned costs of this nature without significant impacts on students, including the possibility of shorter school years, increased class sizes, or reductions in critical student programs and support services. The superintendents also acknowledged an amendment introduced by Committee Chair Rep. Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland & Easter Beaverton), which tacked on the bills provision allowing districts to deduct the amount of benefits charged from an employees future wages. We appreciate the amendment to SB 916 A, intended to make the bill cost-neutral for school districts by ensuring that districts do not pay more than 100% of an employees compensation, the superintendents wrote. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics Unfortunately, from both a policy and operational standpoint, this provision raises serious implementation concerns. Whether school districts have to receive confirmation of UI benefits paid before they can process partial backpay to striking employees, or to recover UI benefits that are clawed back from employees, school districts may be left in prolonged financial limbo. According to information from the Oregon Employment Department, districts may not see reimbursement for UI benefits for months following a strikeif at allleading to significant cash flow issues during already difficult budget years. For districts that finalize their budgets in June, these unknown costs and timelines further complicate fiscal planning and threaten to destabilize student services, the letter states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These concerns were also discussed by the House committee members during Wednesdays meeting, where Chair Grayber discussed her amendment. This is an amendment that I brought forward in an attempt to be responsive to concerns to a changing revenue forecast and ultimately to be deeply protective of the UI fund. It is my utmost intention, it is of all of us, to protect that fund and make sure we have a solvent, robust UI fund that does not suffer the whims of recession or the economy, Grayber explained. Oregon Dept. of Agriculture warns of possible spotted lanternfly sighting in Portland The committee chair added, We heard from school districts, we heard from school boards about some concerns they had. While some of those concerns are based in just how our UI fund is actually structured those are fundamental things we sought to find ways that make this more streamlined for that cost recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the bill passed out of the House committee, Republican committee members issued a press release accusing Democratic committee members of ignoring the calls of the superintendents. Without a doubt, this legislation will hurt Oregon students. We should be listening to our School Administrators who steward our education dollars instead of prioritizing political donors, said Rep. Boshart Davis (R-Albany). Either we are concerned about the well-being of our students, our lagging education results, and our chronic rates of absenteeism or we arent. It is hard for me to fathom that Democratic Legislators are willing to turn a blind eye to their very own Superintendents and our students but here we are, added Rep. Scharf (R-Amity). Esquire names 2 new Oregon hotels among the best in the world Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican committee members pointed to an amendment introduced by Sen. Christine Drazan (R-Canby), which would have added a two-week disqualification period for UI. The amendment would also cap the number of weeks benefits could be received to six weeks, noting as drafted, the bill would allow striking workers to receive up to 26-weeks of benefits, except during a recession or as the economy recovers from a recession, when workers are less likely to strike. The amendment would also make the bill effective until 2035 to allow lawmakers to examine its effectiveness. The Republican committee members said they made a motion to send the bill to the House Rules Committee for further discussion, but the motion was voted down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longstanding summer festival will return to North Portland after 1-year hiatus During Wednesdays committee meeting, Rep. Travis Nelson (D-Portland) argued in favor of the bill, stating, I know theres a lot of concerns about a dramatic increase in strikes Ive been involved in the labor movement for a long time. I know that union workers do not want to strike. It is a last resort. There are many offramps before you even get to that point. I think that the conversations around an increase in strikes related to this bill have been overblownI dont think that were going to see our schools and our local governments hit the way that many have indicated. I hear those concerns, and Representative, I agree with you, Chair Grayber responded to Nelson. This bill will hopefully result in shorter strikes, if we go to those strikes at all. I have read those concerns of major school districts, I have read the concerns brought forward by other educational (groups including the Oregon School Boards Association and the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators) and I just want to underline investing in our teachers is investing in our schools and our students, Grayber continued. Im not going to gaslight anyone and say, Yeah, nothing bad will happen. We dont know. When were taking policy on like this, it is something that we are leaning into and saying we believe in the ability of this policy to protect those workers and to bring, hopefully, resolution quicker so that our students are back in those schools. I stand by that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News on Thursday, Graybers office explained, The majority of changes to Senate Bill 916 have been in direct response to questions and feedback from school districts, in order to streamline administration and mitigate any cost impact in the event of a strike. Additionally, since 2000, there have been only eight school strikes, constituting less than 0.5% of all negotiations. Almost none of these would have been long enough to be affected by SB 916 had it been in place. The bill is backed by the AFL-CIO with chief sponsors including Senators Kathleen Taylor (D-Milwaukie, Oak Grove, SE & NE Portland), Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha), James Manning Jr. (D-Eugene), along with Rep. Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland, East Beaverton) and House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger and South Beaverton). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Oregon Department of Agriculture is warning about an unconfirmed sighting of a spotted lanternfly in a Portland residential park posing ecological and economic threats to the state. In a Thursday press release, the department said it was made aware of an online report from iNaturalist a platform where community members can share observations from the outdoors with an image of a spotted lanternfly at Colonel Summers Park on May 12. That week, ODA and the United States Department of Agriculture conducted visual surveys of the park and surrounding neighborhood to find signs of the insect, set monitoring traps and conduct outreach with neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Esquire names 2 new Oregon hotels among the best in the world But after two surveys, ODA said there were no signs of the spotted lanternfly, leaving the iNaturalist report unconfirmed. The state and federal agencies will continue conducting surveys and trap the area in the coming weeks, officials said, noting until ODA collects a physical specimen, and has confirmed the sighting, the spotted lantern is not considered to be present in the state. While ODA has not documented any living spotted lanternfly populations in Oregon, staffers in the agency have intercepted multiple dead adult SLF and a live egg mass on incoming equipment from outside Oregon in recent years, ODA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longstanding summer festival will return to North Portland after 1-year hiatus These interceptions highlight the risk of introducing SLF into Oregon, as rail cars, trucks, other cargo, and even personal vehicles move from infested states to the West, where SLF is not known to occur, ODA explained. According to the agency, SLF pose an ecological and economic threat to the state because the insect attacks a variety of plant species and are known to impact the grapevine and nursery industries. ODA explained the lanternfly is known to exist in 18 states in the mid-west and eastern parts of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency asks residents to report potential sightings to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Leadership at the Oregon Food Bank met with Congresswoman Maxine Dexter to discuss the on-the-ground impacts of Republicans tax bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Andrea Williams, the food banks president, said they are already facing rising food insecurity in Oregon for a variety of reasons, and this bill would make it worse. City workers avert strike, reach tentative agreement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those is less benefits, she said. One of those is an increase in cost and food, wages are not keeping up. And then theres various policy choices. So if you add on reducing SNAP, reducing access to health care coverage, youre going to continue to compound the problem. Dexter said the bill would reduce the number of people who could get SNAP benefits, which would impact other benefits as well. Whether or not you qualify for SNAP is how kids get free and reduced lunches at school like this. When you go in for, child care benefits or other benefits, like it is just its a threshold. And so we have shifted the threshold. She said the state would have a hard time making up the difference for benefits with its tight budget situation. Now the bill heads to the US Senate, and Dexter said she has already had conversations with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making sure that there are robust negotiations, but centering the health and stability of our community, was not the case in the House of Representatives, she said. And we really need our senators to step up and do the right thing for their constituents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After a bill failed to advance in the Oregon Senate on Wednesday, that would have banned student cell phone use in schools statewide, Governor Tina Kotek is exploring ways to implement the ban, according to the governors office. House Bill 2251 would direct school districts statewide to implement a policy banning students from using cell phones from bell-to-bell, or throughout the school day. Schools would also be required to have policies listing consequences if students violate the ban. The bill had some exceptions, including allowing students to use cell phones for medical reasons or if its part of a students Individualized Education Program. The bill was also introduced with bipartisan support from chief sponsors Rep. Kim Wallan (R-Medford), Rep. April Dobson (D-Happy Valley, North Clackamas County) and Sen. Lisa Reynolds (D-West Portland and NE Washington County). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the bill passed the House in April, it failed to advance from the Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday ahead of Fridays bill deadline, which was first reported by OPB. The bills failure came amid concerns that the bill was too prescriptive with lawmakers discussing provisions including whether students should be allowed to use their phones during lunch periods. Esquire names 2 new Oregon hotels among the best in the world During Wednesdays Senate Committee meeting, Chair Lew Frederick (D-N/NE Portland) proposed sending the bill to the Senate Rules Committee to work out compromises in the bill, however, committee members disagreed with the path, vying for more conversations around school cell phone policy. In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News on Thursday, a spokesperson for Koteks office said the governor was disappointed, with the bills outcome in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Kotek is very disappointed that HB 2251 did not advance. She has been clear that this bill was a priority for the session, given the benefits that removing cell phones from school settings have for student outcomes and mental health, the governors spokesperson said. The Governor hopes the contents of the bill can be resurrected and she is actively exploring executive action. Historic heist: Pacific Northwest lawmakers react to passage of Trump policy bill During the Senate committee meeting, several lawmakers voiced concerns against sending the bill to the Rules Committee. Im a little worried about the (Rules Committee) route, Sen. Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction) said. Simply because this is a policy discussion for our committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This kind of policy is something we should be asking our school boards to have firmer action and firmer direction on, said Sen. Janine Sollman (D-Hillsboro). I wasnt sure that I could get (to a yes vote) on a bell-to-bell because I felt originally, when it was all written, I was like, Oh my goodness, this is very prescriptive. It has bell-to-bell, it has consequences built in. I went back to my superintendents, I went back to educators, I talked to school board members in my district. I gave them the original policy; I gave them amendment languageand the reason I felt I could support that was because it was still movement in a direction that I think addresses cell phone policy in such a way that would provide positive change. There was a bell-to-bell aspect from K-12 but with K-8, there wasnt going to be allowances for breaks and lunches to have cell phones. But in high school, I think we needed to have some flexibility, Sollman said. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics Sollman relayed concerns she heard from educators over which school staffers would be tasked with enforcing bell-to-bell policies and concerns over funding cell phone pouches for schools to store students cell phones during the day as the bill provides no funding. When the comment came that if this doesnt happen that the governor is going to sign something in an executive order, I was like, Wait a minute. We are having a policy conversation and if we cant agree on something in a policy and find movement, thats the answer? This is a different time that were in then. And its a time where Im not going to be quiet about because we should be able to come to an agreement and figure this out. So, if I believed this policy, that we would continue to have conversation, I would be there, Sollman said of her preference to not advance the bill to the Rules Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) also raised concerns she heard from educators, stating the bill could pose as another unfunded mandate for schools with enforcement challenges. Oregon lawmakers approve changes to bottle redemption law amid homelessness concerns Im significantly more optimistic about the Rule Committee than these folks are, Chair Frederick said before closing the meeting. I think we need to do something. Every teacher that I talk with tells me, Youve got to do something. Even those teachers who have programs in their school, in their district, they say to me, The state has to do something so that we can justify things that were doing, Frederick added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill comes as some Oregon school districts have implemented various cell phone limits, including, Portland Public Schools off-and-away policy implemented for the 2025-2026 school year along with a cell phone ban at Lake Oswego School District. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Traffic on Interstate 5 in Portland. Its been a bumpy road for 2025 Transportation Reinvestment Package, or TRIP, meant to pay for road and bridge infrastructure and provide the Oregon Department of Transportation with funding needed to avoid a $350 million deficit in the year ahead and to avoid laying off up to 1,000 employees. (Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr) This is a developing story and will be updated. As Oregon lawmakers scrounge for ways to pay for hundreds of millions in transportation needs, theyve dug up a new twist on an old plan: allowing polluters to buy and trade carbon credits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a memo to House and Senate caucus leaders on Thursday, transportation committee co-chairs Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Troutdale and Rep. Susan McLain, D-Forest Grove, said they were discussing replacing Oregons Climate Protection Program with a new market-based emissions reduction program linked to other West Coast states. Gorsek and McLain said in a statement that they were making significant progress toward a plan to keep the states roads and bridges safe. Members of both parties are working together to develop a proposal that will address the issues we have been focused on all along: safety, maintenance and long-term sustainability, the statement continued. Weve gotten to this point after years of hard work and engagement from hundreds of stakeholders and Oregonians from every corner of the state. Conversations are ongoing and we will have more details to release in the coming weeks. Their memo comes a day after most House and Senate Republicans announced their support for an opposing plan that would cut funding for bike and pedestrian safety and public transit to provide more funding for roads and bridges. Not included in the Republican plan were four Republicans who have worked with Democrats to hash out details: Reps. Jeff Helfrich of Hood River and Kevin Mannix of Salem, and Sens. Bruce Starr of Dundee and Suzanne Weber of Tillamook, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican support, especially in the House, could be crucial to passing any transportation package this session. Democrats started the session with 36 House members, enough to hike taxes or pass new ones without Republican support, but theyre temporarily down to 35 after Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, was appointed to the Senate to fill a vacancy. Her replacement wont be selected until June 6. Another Democratic representative, Hoa Nguyen of Portland, has been away from the Capitol since early February while undergoing treatment for stage 4 cancer. Gorsek and McLain provided few details in their two-page memo to lawmakers, but draft language is expected in the coming days. The Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment, which they co-chair, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday. The cap-and-trade portion of the plan is surprising in Oregon, where Republicans tanked similar proposals in 2019 and 2020 by walking out and denying quorum. Then-Gov. Kate Brown eventually issued an executive order launching the Climate Protection Program. Lawmakers plan to establish a workgroup to create a new program that would eventually replace the Climate Protection Program. Gorsek and McLains memo said they envision dedicating credits generated by gas and diesel polluters toward the state highway fund, with other credits used for wildfire mitigation, community-based nonprofits and transit programs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) An Oregon man has been found guilty after he called a Mobile church and threatened to kill the pastor, according to the United States Department of Justice. Truck and dump truck crash head-on in Mobile; man critically injured A DOJ news release said Richard Colvin called the church multiple times, berated the pastor, and then threatened to kill him. The pastor testified in the case, saying he and the church took extra precautions after the threat was made, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WKRG meteorologists to program NOAA weather radios during hurricane season (schedule) Colvin could face up to five years in prison. He will be sentenced on Aug. 21, 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 WKRG News 5. With almost 11 million viewers in the first week after its release, the Spanish-language science fiction series The Eternaut ranked in Netflixs weekly top 10 for 87 countries, including the U.S. But many viewers still dont know that the creator of the classic serialized comic, which is the basis for the hit show, was abducted and murdered by the Argentine military dictatorship half a century ago. Hector Oesterheld is an emblematic figure in Argentina, not only because he created The Eternaut but also because he is one of the 30,000 disappeared, said biographer Fernanda Nicolini in an email interview. Both he and his four daughters were disappeared by the military dictatorship that began in 1976, and, except for the body of one of his daughters (Beatriz), their remains are still unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicolini and journalist Alicia Beltrami co-authored Los Oesterheld, a Spanish-language biography about the comic book creator and his family, which also documents the violent military repression that targeted thousands of Argentines. Even though The Eternaut was serialized from 1957 to 1959, two decades before Oesterhelds abduction and murder, the comic showed tactics of fear, surveillance and disappearance that foreshadowed the violence of Argentinas military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. There were other dictatorships before. But this one was the most notorious, and perhaps the bloodiest, said Argentine journalist and author Javier Sinay in a phone interview. The decree that was signed stated that subversion should be annihilated. Argentinas last military dictatorship supported state-sponsored terrorism during this period, which is commonly referred to as the Dirty War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military personnel, police and paramilitary forces operated in secret. They often drove unmarked vehicles, dressed as civilians and used fake aliases. This made it difficult to identify them or even understand who was responsible for the violence. Similarly, alien invaders in The Eternaut act as a faceless enemy that lacks empathy for humanity, thrives on the fear and paranoia of survivors, and seeks to annihilate all resistance. In this sense, the biography of Oesterhelds family and the comic hold up a mirror to a wider traumatic history that still affects multiple generations of Argentines. The disappearance of the Oesterheld family also represents the tragedy that we experienced as a country during the last military dictatorship, whose policy of extermination and repression destroyed Argentinas sociocultural, political, and economic life, with consequences that we still suffer today, Beltrami said in an email interview. From left, Cesar Troncoso as Favalli, Ricardo Darin as Juan Salvo, Marcelo Subiotto as Lucas and Claudio Martinez Bel as Polsky in the Netflix series "The Eternaut," playing friends who will face an alien invasion that seeks to annihilate any resistance. (Marcos Ludevid / Netflix) The Eternaut series begins slowly, on a summer evening in Buenos Aires, with Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darin) meeting up with a group of friends to play truco, a popular card game in Argentina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tension in the first episode builds after a blackout interrupts the evening. Salvo and his friends dont know it yet, but an alien invasion has begun. And a routine card night has just saved their lives outside, toxic snow is killing millions of people. As the grim reality sets in, the friends work together to make protective suits for the deadly storm. Salvo dresses up in waterproof material and a mask. Then, he walks out first to search for his daughter Clara (Mora Fisz) and ex-wife Elena (Carla Peterson). Off screen, Salvos harrowing quest to find his family resonates deeply with many survivors of the military dictatorship. Five decades after the regime ended, families in Argentina are still looking for the children of the women and men who disappeared after being abducted by the military dictatorship. Belen Estefania Altamiranda, third from right in the middle row, with members of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, whose work has helped identify the children of some of the disappeared. It is estimated that 500 babies were appropriated by the dictatorship, of which 139 recovered their identities thanks to the work of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, said Nicolini. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, Nicolini added, Elsa Sanchez de Oesterheld, Oesterhelds wife and mother of his four daughters, was part of this human rights organization until her death in 2015. One of those 139 babies who learned as an adult who her parents really were is Belen Estefania Altamiranda. I am the 88th granddaughter, said Altamiranda in a phone interview, referring to the fact that she was the 88th person whose real identity was discovered by the work and activism of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. My mom and dad were from Buenos Aires. I disappeared with them, because when they kidnapped them, my mom was pregnant with me. Altamiranda says she was adopted as a baby and moved to Cordoba at 10 years old, which is roughly 430 miles northwest of Buenos Aires. The paperwork at the adoption center later proved to be false. Belen Estefania Altamiranda learned the identities of her biological parents when she was 29. (Courtesy Belen Estefania Altamiranda) She confirmed the identities of her biological parents with a DNA test at age 29. By then, Altamiranda was already nine years older than her mother Rosa Lujan Taranto and seven years older than her father Horacio Antonio Altamiranda when they disappeared in 1977. Horacio Altamiranda, Belen's father, was disappeared by the Argentine government. (Courtesy Belen Estefania Altamiranda) Altamiranda says her biological parents belonged to the Workers Revolutionary Party. They were held at El Vesubio, a clandestine prison in the province of Buenos Aires where political prisoners were detained, tortured and murdered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her mother was taken to give birth at a military hospital in Campo de Mayo, a large base that is featured in The Eternaut series. Rosa Taranto, Belen's mother, was taken to give birth at a military hospital featured in the Netflix series. (Courtesy Belen Estefania Altamiranda) Altamiranda, who now manages the Cordoba office for the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, says the human rights organization is currently looking into what happened to roughly 300 children who were taken from their parents. Altamiranda also pointed out that two of Oesterhelds daughters were pregnant at the time of their disappearance. And in a horrific twist, their children could be watching The Eternaut on Netflix without knowing the tragedy of their biological family. Series' popularity leads to more searches, interest Nevertheless, Altamiranda calls the hit series a hopeful sign. It has popularized the search for the children of the disappeared. It has also increased the number of requests the organization has received to connect possible matches with biological families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The week after the series premiered (May 1-7), the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo received 106 requests. This is six times the number of requests it received, 18, over the same period in 2024. At its core, The Eternaut is a universal call to resistance. And while the comic shows how survival is costly, Sinay says, it also shows how humanity can come together as a heroic group. For my generation, growing up as a teenager in the 90s, The Eternaut was already a super-mega-classic, he said. It was always a very political story that defended this idea of a collective hero. In other words, it wasnt so much Juan Salvo as a stand-alone character, but Juan Salvo and his friends. And this made it an epic about ordinary people. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Demonstrators gathered across from the Central Louisiana ICE facility in Jena to protest Mahmoud Khalil's detention on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (John Gray/Verite News) JENA A group of protesters headed Thursday from New Orleans to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in LaSalle Parish to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil. The former Columbia University student and pro-Palestine activist was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in March and has since been held in detention. Khalil was in immigration court Thursday for a hearing on a motion from his attorneys to terminate his deportation proceedings and release him. The hearing, which began in the morning, was still ongoing by mid-afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By early afternoon, hundreds of protesters had gathered in the grass across from the detention facility, chanting, flying Palestinian flags and playing drums. Some members of the group kneeled and prayed on the street. Khalil, a legal permanent resident who was born in Syria, faces deportation for his involvement with pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia last year. He is one of a number of people the Trump administration has detained over their political activities in the last several months, drawing alarm from free speech activists. Kristi Dayemo, 29, arrived at First Grace Methodist Church on Canal Street for a bus ride to the ICE facility in Jena, along with other New Orleans residents. Dayemo said she comes from a service-oriented family and that she has a spirit to help people. Her parents raised her to have a duty to make the world a better place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we allow him to be arrested without a warrant and deported from this country it calls into question all students that arent from here, whether or not theyre allowed to have their First Amendment rights, Dayemo said. Native New Orleanian Imam Omar Suleiman leads a prayer outside the ICE detention center in Jena while Mahmoud Khalil undergoes a court hearing on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (John Gray/Verite News) On the way to the facility from New Orleans Thursday morning, organizers handed out snacks and prepared the riders for their day of action. Sabrine Mohamad, a human rights lawyer traveling with the group, spoke to riders on the bus ahead of the arrival to Jena. Today is so much bigger than Mahmoud, its so much bigger than all of the students that have been kidnapped by ICE. This is really a vital moment in the history of the United States democracy and Palestine, Mohamad said. On the way to the facility, organizers handed out snacks and prepared the riders for their day of action. Protesters discussed current events, while removing biometric authentication from their phones and writing loved ones phone numbers on their arms in preparation for potential arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sabrine Mohamad, a human rights lawyer traveling with the group, spoke to riders on the bus ahead of the arrival to Jena. Today is so much bigger than Mahmoud, its so much bigger than all of the students that have been kidnapped by ICE. This is really a vital moment in the history of the United States democracy and palestine Mohamad said. Noor Abdalla, Mahmoud Khalils wife, speaks with an organizer Thursday, May 22, 2025. Abdalla and her son were able to meet with Khalil before his hearing. Once arriving in Jena, the New Orleans protesters joined with another group that had come in from Texas. Organizers disembarked from their buses, prepared their drums and signs and began marching towards the ICE detention center. The group was greeted by facility guards who kept them from setting foot on the property. Noor Abdalla, Khalids wife, came out to the crowd to thank them for their demonstrations, saying that they are keeping Khalil going as he faces deportation. Abdalla had visited with Khalil on Thursday with their newborn son, Deen. It was his first meeting with the boy, who was born while Khalil was in detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. The former head of the U.S. Copyright Office has filed suit against the Trump administration, arguing her abrupt ouster from the position violated the Constitutions separation of powers. Shira Perlmutter was fired by the White House in early May, just days after the administration dismissed the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. Her suit, filed Thursday in federal court in Washington, says only Hayden could legally have terminated her from the post. Congress vested the Librarian of Congressnot the Presidentwith the power to appoint, and therefore to remove, the Register of Copyrights, the lawsuit said. Accordingly, the Presidents attempt to remove Ms. Perlmutter was unlawful and ineffective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayden had served atop the Library of Congress since the Senate confirmed her appointment in a 74-18 vote in 2016. She chose Perlmutter to run the copyright office in 2020. Those named in the suit include Todd Blanche, Trumps pick to replace Hayden at the Library of Congress; Sergio Gor, director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office; and Paul Perkins, who the administration tapped to replace Perlmutter as register of copyrights. The White House's attempt to seize control of the Library of Congress has run into opposition from key leaders including Republicans in the legislative branch who have questioned Trumps authority to select an acting successor for Hayden. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which the White House maintains gives Trump the power to fill the post with an acting replacement, applies to executive agencies, and not an arm of the legislative branch, many lawmakers insist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perlmutters lawsuit builds on that interpretation. In short, the Presidents attempt to name Mr. Blanche as acting Librarian of Congress was unlawful and ineffective, and therefore Mr. Blanche cannot remove or replace Ms. Perlmutter, the lawsuit reads. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from POLITICO. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. As reported, Baku State University (BSU) hosted a presentation of an interactive map developed by the Environmental Protection First coalition reflecting the negative environmental impact of mining enterprises operating on the territory of Armenia, Trend reports. In an interview with Trend, Amin Mammadov, chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, stated that the Environmental Protection First coalition was established in August 2023 by non-governmental organizations of Azerbaijan. The main reason for the creation of the coalition was related to the dissemination of information by the Republic of Armenia about the construction of a metallurgical plant in Arazdeyan, near the conditional border with Azerbaijan. We, as non-governmental organizations, protested. An open letter was also sent to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The letter demanded that Armenia provide Azerbaijan, according to the Espo International Convention, with an environmental impact assessment report in case of construction of this plant and create conditions for monitoring on the territory, he said. According to him, the NGO Cartographers of Azerbaijan, which is a member of the Environmental Protection First coalition, made a map of the mining industry in Armenia. This map was originally drawn up in 2024 in paper format in Azerbaijani, English, and Armenian languages. Earlier this year, an electronic format of the map was developed. This map is available online in all three languages. Today, a presentation of this map was held at Baku State University with the participation of students from several faculties, Mammadov noted. Hollie Chadwick announcing a bid for mayor of Henderson. (Photo: Dana Gentry/Nevada Current) Former Henderson Police Chief Hollie Chadwick, who announced Thursday shes running against Mayor Michelle Romero in the 2026 election, said shes not seeking retribution after being terminated earlier this year by newly-minted City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause. I dont have that in my heart, nor can anybody afford that, especially in the community or the employees of City of Henderson, Chadwick said when queried about her motivation. Im doing this with thoughtfulness, and I care about this community, and I want to do things positive (sic). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Current was first to report in February that Chadwick would be given an option by Garcia-Vause to resign or be terminated. Chadwick later said she learned of Garcia-Vauses ultimatum from news media. In recent months, she says, shes been contacted by city employees and community members who asked her to challenge Romero, who was elected mayor in 2022 after serving one term on the city council. Before being elected to the council, Romero ran the citys redevelopment agency. While my tenure as police chief unfortunately became political and did not end the way I had hoped. I know I did nothing wrong, Chadwick said. After 20 years on the force, Chadwick was named to the top law enforcement spot in 2023, becoming the third chief named in six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was criticized for bucking recommendations to terminate suspended officers who covered up a colleagues 2021 DUI according to an internal investigation, and reinstated the officers after a long probe. In 2024, the city police supervisors union filed a complaint with the Nevada Employee Management Relations Board, alleging Chadwick denied overtime resulting from union leave provisions in Nevada law and the citys collective bargaining agreement. She was dropped from the complaint after her termination in March. The complaint has yet to be resolved. Garcia-Vause told news media Chadwick was not terminated for cause but because their management styles were not aligned. On Thursday, Chadwick called for transparency and accountability from current officials, but declined to elaborate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need strong, steady leadership that listens to residents, acts with accountability and transparency and prioritizes people over politics and special interests, Chadwick said. Asked whether she was referring to Romeros consulting company, in which the mayor represents applicants who often have business before the council, Chadwick declined to say. Thats something youd have to ask her, she said. Romero did not respond to requests for comment on Chadwicks challenge. A driver was recently stopped for going at least 40 mph over the speed limit in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] An Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHSP) trooper cited a driver for traveling 106 mph in a 60-mph zone, according to a social media post. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident happened on Sunday on Interstate 480 in Cuyahoga County. OSHP posted a photo on its Facebook page. They have asked drivers to slow down so all can make it safely to their destination. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) A Rapid City man and woman are behind bars, accused of drug charges. 26-year-old Ezra Bald Eagle and 25-year-old Mariah Cross are facing multiple counts of possession and distribution, according to a Facebook post from the Pennington County Sheriff. During a traffic stop, authorities found over 3 ounces of fentanyl powder, 35-hundred pills containing fentanyl, and under a pound of meth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is part of an investigation by the Unified Narcotic Enforcement Team. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SALISBURY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Two individuals facing assault charges related to a shooting from January are now being accused of murder in a separate incident in Salisbury. On February 20, around 2:25 a.m., the Salisbury Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Tilman Street due to reports of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found 18-year-old Emmanuel Houston Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving measures attempted by first responders, Houston died from his injuries. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here Two months later, the police department along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, obtained enough probable cause to charge 21-year-old Shykiem Daekwon Verdell with first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Verdell was arrested by Lexington police and placed in the Davidson County Detention Center under no bond. On May 22, police charged a second individual for the murder of Houston, 18-year-old Jamarion Racel Proffitt. Proffitt was already in the Rowan County Detention Center for a shooting incident that occurred on January 25. Verdell and Proffitt were charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Proffitt was placed back into the Detention Center under no 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 Queen City News. The foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan met on May 21, 2025, in Beijing [Handout/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Peoples Republic of China] Islamabad, Pakistan As Pakistan remained embroiled in a war of words with its archrival India following a dramatic exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago it this week advanced diplomatic efforts with two other neighbors: China and Afghanistan, which could lead to the formal resumption of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul after nearly four years. In an informal trilateral meeting held in Beijing on May 21, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan convened under a forum first launched in 2017, and which last met in May 2023. This time, a key outcome from the meeting, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was a renewed willingness by both Pakistan and Afghanistan to restore diplomatic relations after heightened tensions in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed clear willingness to elevate diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible. China welcomed this and will continue to provideassistance for the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, Wang said. He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a $62bn mega project under Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will now be extended into Afghanistan. A Pakistani diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks told Al Jazeera that the next round of the trilateral meetings will be held very soon, within a few weeks, to build on the momentum from the Beijing conclave. I am reasonably optimistic about the outcomes. It was a great confidence- and trust-building exercise between the three countries, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity about the Beijing meeting. Trilateral diplomacy amid Indo-Pakistan tensions The meeting came after a four-day standoff between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming victory and launching diplomatic offensives to assert dominance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict, from May 7 to May 10, followed Indian strikes on what it called terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that left 26 civilians dead. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based armed groups, an allegation Islamabad denies. While China urged restraint on both sides, its support for Pakistan was evident on the front lines of the conflict, with the Pakistani military using Chinese fighter jets, missiles, and air defence systems. On the other hand, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on May 15 that he appreciated Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqis condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, in a conversation between the two. Indian media also reported a visit to New Delhi by senior Taliban figure and deputy interior minister, Ibrahim Sadr, in early May. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan-China Institute, called the Beijing meeting very significant, given Afghanistans geopolitical sensitivity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Pakistan and China, the conflict with India has reinforced strategic clarity on the need to work closely with Afghanistan, Sayed said. Kabul-based political analyst Tameem Bahiss agreed. This [the call between Muttaqi and Jaishankar] signals a major shift in India-Afghanistan relations, one that could raise concerns in Islamabad amid an already volatile regional climate, he said. The timing of this trilateral meeting, not just its content, reflects an urgent need for coordination among these three countries as new geopolitical dynamics take shape in South and Central Asia. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, Member of the CPC Political Bureau & Foreign Minister of the Peoples Republic of China, Wang Yi, and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, held an informal trilateral meeting in pic.twitter.com/xbVcmUDijD Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 21, 2025 A rocky relationship When the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021, many saw it as a win for Pakistan, given its historical ties to the group. From 1996 through 2021, Pakistan was one of the Talibans key allies. India, meanwhile, viewed the Taliban as a proxy of Pakistans intelligence agencies and refused to engage with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have deteriorated. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to launch attacks across the border, an allegation the Taliban vehemently deny. The TTP, formed in 2007, shares ideological roots with the Afghan Taliban but operates independently. According to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan suffered 521 attacks in 2024 a 70 percent increase from the previous year resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian and security personnel deaths. But in a trip that was seen as a potential breakthrough in strained ties, Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul on April 19, just days before the Pahalgam attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ihsanullah Tipu, an Islamabad-based security analyst, says Pakistans renewed diplomatic outreach to Afghanistan prioritises key concerns, with security taking precedence over trade, border disputes, and border closures, a sentiment he said China also shares. To foster meaningful trade ties, Pakistans security concerns must be addressed first, Tipu told Al Jazeera, warning that failure to do so could escalate tensions to armed conflict. But given Chinas global influence and close ties with both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Beijing can play a pivotal role as a guarantor of any commitments made, added Tipu, who co-founded the security research portal The Khorasan Diary. Common security threats While Pakistan continues to accuse the Afghan Taliban of harbouring fighters who attack targets in Pakistan, many of these assaults have been directed at Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pakistani government figures estimate that about 20,000 Chinese nationals live in the country. At least 20 have been killed in attacks since 2021 in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Groups including the TTP have claimed responsibility. China has also expressed concern over the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), alleging that its fighters use Afghan territory to stage attacks against China. Sayed of PCI stressed that both Pakistan and China see security as their core interest in Afghanistan. This is a shared threat, and in the past the ETIM has also had a significance presence in Afghanistan. And these militant networks are connected with each other as well. So that is a pre-requisite for any cooperation to move forward, to first neutralise these terrorist outfits, which seem to be operating freely and comfortably in Afghanistan, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Bahiss noted that since the Talibans return to power, most regional countries, including China, have found the security situation inside Afghanistan acceptable, enabling ongoing economic engagement. The key exception is Pakistan, which continues to face serious threats from Afghan soil. While Pakistan prioritises eliminating or containing the TTP, Kabul is focused on trade, transit, and regional integration, he said. This is where Chinas pivotal role could come into the picture, the Kabul-based analyst said, adding that the country is uniquely positioned to mediate by encouraging security cooperation while also advancing trade and transit initiatives that benefit all three countries. India-Afghanistan ties and Pakistans concerns During the civilian governments in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, India and Afghanistan developed close ties, despite several attacks on Indian diplomatic missions by the Taliban and its allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, there has been increased interaction between officials from New Delhi and Kabul, including the recent Jaishankar-Muttaqi conversation. Does this warming of ties raise alarm in Islamabad? Sayed doesnt think so. Pakistan doesnt mistrust Kabul. But Pakistan has asked for action. The rulers there need to walk the talk regarding TTP and other terrorist outfits. I dont think either Beijing or Islamabad opposes Kabul having positive relations with India, as long as it doesnt compromise the interests of Pakistan and China, he said. However, Bahis said New Delhis rapprochement with the Taliban could lead to worries in Pakistan and China, both of which have historically had tense ties with India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While recent India-Afghanistan contacts are still in early stages, their timing may raise concerns in Islamabad, he said. Afghanistan has the sovereign right to engage with any country, including India. But it must tread carefully. Clear messaging is essential to ensure that its growing ties with New Delhi arent misinterpreted as threats by other regional players, Bahiss said. Balancing these complex relationships will require diplomacy, transparency, and mutual respect. By Ariba Shahid ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan plans to offer concessions to U.S. companies to invest in its mining sector as part of negotiations with Washington over tariffs, its commerce minister told Reuters, as Islamabad seeks to capitalize on the Trump administrations interest in boosting trade with South Asia. Pakistan faces a potential 29% tariff on exports to the United States due to a $3 billion trade surplus with the world's biggest economy, under tariffs announced by Washington last month on countries around the world. Tariffs were subsequently suspended for 90 days so negotiations could take place. Pakistan's Commerce Minister Jam Kamal said that Islamabad will offer U.S. businesses opportunities to invest in mining projects primarily in Pakistan's Balochistan province through joint ventures with local companies, providing concessions like lease grants. The minister said that would be in addition to efforts to increase imports from the United States, particularly cotton and edible oils, which are currently in short supply in Pakistan. Pakistan would put its offer of concessions for mining investment to U.S. officials during talks over tariffs in the coming weeks. Kamal did not give further information on the bidding process of these mines or other details. "There is untapped potential for U.S. companies in Pakistan, from mining machinery to hydrocarbon ventures," he said in an interview with Reuters conducted on Thursday. Pakistans Reko Diq copper and gold mining project in Balochistan seeks up to $2 billion in financing, including $500 million to $1 billion from the U.S. Export-Import Bank, with term sheets expected by early in the third quarter of this year, its project director told Reuters last month. The mine could generate $70 billion in free cash flow and $90 billion in operating cash flow over its lifespan. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that hes working on "big deals" with both India and Pakistan, following Washingtons key role in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India earlier this month following the worst fighting in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbours. "The previous U.S. administration focused more on India, but Pakistan is now being recognised as a serious trade partner," Kamal said. Pakistan will gradually lower tariffs in its upcoming federal budget, Kamal said. He said that the United States has not specified trade barriers or priority sectors. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Ariba Shahid; Editing by Susan Fenton) At least 28 people have been killed and dozens injured in the latest Israeli attacks overnight in Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Friday, citing medical sources. Israeli soldiers are continuing operations against "terrorist organizations across the Gaza Strip," the Israeli military wrote on its Telegram channel. On Thursday, troops "eliminated several terrorists throughout the Gaza Strip and struck military compounds, weapons, storage facilities, and sniper posts," it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said the air force had hit more than 75 targets, including "terrorists, launchers, military compounds, weapons storage facilities and additional terrorist infrastructure." The claims made by both sides cannot currently be independently verified. The Gaza war was triggered by the devastating terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias in Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel responded with a massive military operation in Gaza. The Hamas-controlled health authority said the violence has claimed more than 53,000 Palestinian lives. The agency does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. The man who authorities believe detonated a powerful explosive device outside a Palm Springs fertility clinic had "access to a large quantity of commercially available chemical products which could be combined to create a home-made explosive device, the FBI revealed Thursday. The agency said it was still investigating the case and did not provide further details. "Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the FBI is unable to disclose specific case details regarding the makeup of the explosive device," the FBI said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday morning, a bomb was detonated at American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs, destroying much of the building, injuring four people and killing the suspected bomber. Guy Edward Bartkus is the sole suspect in the bombing, which the FBI has labeled as domestic terrorism. Read more: Palm Springs bombing investigation turns to the explosives: How were they sourced and built? DNA tests of body parts found at the scene show Bartkus, 25, was killed in the blast. The FBI described the Palm Springs blast powerful enough to damage buildings several blocks away as probably the largest bombing scene that weve had in Southern California, eclipsing the 2018 bombing of a day spa in Aliso Viejo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement sources told The Times that the bomber used a very large amount of explosives so much that the bomb shredded his remains. The sources said that authorities recovered explosive materials from Bartkus' home and that he was skilled in assembling explosive devices. He also was a longtime rocket builder. The clinic posted a photo of the blasts aftermath that showed the buildings roof caved in, debris flowing into the streets and smoke billowing from inside. Officials have not yet determined a motive in the bombing. But a website that contained no name but appeared connected to the bombing laid out the case for a war against pro-lifers and said a fertilization clinic would be targeted. Authorities have yet to confirm whether Bartkus was the author of that site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here you can download the recorded stream of my suicide & bombing of an IVF clinic, the site began, but no such file existed. 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. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A Panama City boat captain will spend a month in prison and pay a hefty fine for killing dolphins. A federal judge sentenced 31-year-old Zachary Barfield to 31 days in prison and to pay a $51,000 fine for three counts of poisioning and shooting dolphins. According to court filings, Barfield has been a licensed charter and commercial fishing captain in Panama City for his entire adult life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal officials said while captaining fishing trips, Barfield killed the dolphins by poisioning baitfish or shooting them because they were eating red snapper from his clients fishing lines. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Juliette Jabkhiro PARIS (Reuters) -A French court on Friday convicted the jewel thieves who in 2016 tied up U.S. reality TV star Kim Kardashian at gun point before making off with her $4 million engagement ring and other booty. Ten people were in the dock, accused of involvement in the Paris heist. Robbers wearing ski masks and disguised as police tied up the billionaire celebrity before making off with the ring, given to her by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye), and other jewels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kardashian travelled to Paris to testify earlier this month, telling the court she had thought she was going to die. The mixed panel of judges and jury convicted eight of the 10 for crimes directly linked to the theft, while another defendant was found guilty of illegal weapons charges. One person was acquitted. The heaviest sentences were handed down to five defendants who participated directly in the heist, with the mastermind of the robbery, 69-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, getting a three-year jail sentence. Kardashian's lawyers said that she accepted the court's ruling. "I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case. The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family," she said in a statement. "While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her court appearance, she said she forgave Khedache, who had asked for forgiveness in a letter. The thieves were dubbed the "grandpa robbers" by the press as many were of or near retirement age. At the time, the robbery was considered the biggest in France for more than 20 years. (Repoting by Juliette Jabkhiro; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Sandra Maler) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. An exhibition titled "From Karabakh to Italy: Azerbaijani Carpet" will be held at the Palazzo Guarini Cultural Center in the city of Cassine, Italy, on May 24-25, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora told Trend. The exhibition will feature Karabakh carpets, presented to the Italian public for the first time, drawn from the personal collection of Elnara Rasulova, a renowned researcher and member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan. The exhibit is designed to present the carpets not only as intricate works of art but also as vessels of cultural memory and identity. These rare pieces speak through color, pattern, and knot, organizers said in a statement, calling the collection a reflection of the Azerbaijani peoples history and spirit. Supported by the Support to Azerbaijani Diaspora Foundation, the Municipality of Cassine, and several private sponsors, the exhibition is the latest effort to bring Azerbaijans cultural narrative to an international audience. Organizers describe the showcase as a step toward expanding the global footprint of Azerbaijani heritage, at a time when cultural diplomacy plays an increasingly prominent role in international engagement. The exhibition will open at 11:00 on May 24, with visiting hours from 11:00 to 17:00 over 2 days. Officials also framed the event as an opportunity to introduce broader truths about Azerbaijan to the world through the enduring language of its arts. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Authorities in Washington County responded to a car fire that caught on fire Friday morning before finding an additional hazard inside. Man found dead after explosive Corbin house fire The Washington County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook that just after 10:30 a.m., a car on the 8,000 block of Perryville Road had caught fire with ammunition inside. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is ammunition that is discharging from this vehicle, deputies wrote. A vehicle with ammunition inside caught fire on Friday in Washington County, causing the rounds to discharge. (Washington County Sheriffs Office) Crews worked on Friday morning to put out a vehicle fire that caused ammunition inside to discharge.(Washington County Sheriffs Office) (Washington County Sheriffs Office) Fire crews are currently working to contain the fire and ensure the road is safe, and more information will be provided when it becomes available. Just after 11 a.m., the sheriffs office announced that the road had been reopened. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A day after an embarrassing mishap during a launch ceremony attended by dictator Kim Jong Un, North Korean authorities are trying to right the 5,000-ton frigate. The warship rolled over and partially submerged after a premature slide into the water at the Chongjin Shipyard. You can read more about the incident that Kim called a criminal act in our initial coverage here. New satellite imagery obtained by The War Zone shows the unnamed vessel, the second in the Choi Hyun class of frigates, still covered with blue tarps, but now there are two steel cables connecting it to a shipyard dock. The cables are likely for temporary mooring, tensioning, and stabilizing in order to prevent further movement or rotation and ensure structural safety, Jennifer Jun, Associate Fellow for Imagery Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told us. North Korea mentioned that they need to pump up seawater from the flooded chamber, which will change the balance of the vessel as well and requires some sort of stabilizing support. You can read all about the heavily armed class of frigates in our previous detailed analysis and follow-up report. The unnamed ship as it appeared after the mishap. (Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies) Wood, Stephen The ship as it appeared on May 20, before the accident. (Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies) Wood, Stephen Experts estimated that it will take two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway and 10-odd days to restore the warships side, the official North Korean KCNA News Agency reported on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Korean officials also expressed optimism about the ships condition. Detailed underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warships bottom, the hull starboard was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel, the officials claimed. The extent of damage to the warship is not serious and the result of the flooding process immediately after the accident is only information necessary to take practical rehabilitation measures. The above-said data have no connection with the cause of the accident and the identification of its responsibility. Kim Jong Uns fury inducing crippled in botched sideways launch destroyer spotted TODAY under blue tarps 2nd Choe Hyon-class North Korea destroyer is sunk, leaning on her starboard side, bow over slipway. Wonder why tarps also over slipway. Hiding pieces or what? https://t.co/TCIWVNbhV1pic.twitter.com/bB8mhpij1B Tom Bike (@tom_bike) May 22, 2025 The War Zone cannot independently verify North Koreas claims about the ships condition, though it is not surprising that they would try to downplay the damage. A Washington-based think tank that closely follows North Korean shipbuilding questioned Pyongyangs stated timeline for recovery. While too early to say definitively without being on the groundI do have some skepticism about the 10-day period estimate, given that the vessel is heavily tilted and partially submerged, Jun explained. We also know that the vessel has been partially flooded, and the slipway infrastructure was likely damaged. Even if North Korea manages to right the vessel within the 10-odd days, restoring its original capabilities will almost certainly take longer. Id also be remiss not to mention that given the political stakes, those responsible for reporting this to Kim have strong incentives to downplay the extent of the damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we noted in our previous coverage, the accident unfolded as the frigate was side-launched from its quay, in a new development for North Korea, which has previously used slipways to put large naval vessels into the water stern-first. Beyond Parallel, a project within CSIS, offered a detailed analysis of what could have happened, based on satellite imagery collected May 22. You can read more about that here. The CSIS analysis of the initial satellite imagery that emerged after the ship launch mishap. CSIS/Beyond Parallel/Airbus DS 2025 Jun on Friday told us that the new imagery does not change CSISs assessment of what caused the ship to capsize. The new images from Maxar and Planet from today do not change our analysis at this point, she explained. We see the recovery operation still underway, with more (small) support vessels employed to support it. The stern is still in the water and the vessel does not seem to have moved since yesterdays image. In addition to downplaying the extent of the damage, North Korean officials also said an investigation was underway into what happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Party Central Military Commission instructed the investigation group to investigate and expose the cause of the accident, which should never occur and could not be tolerated, and those responsible for it, KCNA News Agency reported on Friday. No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime. Regarding this accident as a serious matter is not because of the damage to the warship or economic loss. The aim of doing so is to deal a telling blow to incautiousness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricist attitude prevailing in any field and to sound an alarm bell. As part of the investigation, Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin Shipyard, was summoned to the law-enforcement organ on May 22. "Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin Shipyard, was summoned to the law-enforcement organ on May 22." I would very much not want to be Hong Kil Ho right now. pic.twitter.com/eQU2h7Kd68 Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) May 22, 2025 After the incident, North Korea made the highly unusual move of announcing what happened, including comments from Kim, in an apparent effort to control the narrative. Kim Jong Un made [a] stern assessment, saying that it was a serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and could not be tolerated, KCNA reported yesterday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim said that the officials found responsible would be dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee in June. This is a high-level meeting of North Koreas ruling Workers Party. At the same time, Kim called for the frigate to be restored before next months meeting. As with the North Korean assessment about the timeline for the ships recovery, that claim is extremely dubious given that repairs are likely to be extensive. With the availability of satellite imagery, it will be hard for North Korea to hide the material state of the vessel, as well as the progress of the recovery and restoration efforts, even with the bizarre attempt to use blue tarps to cover it up. We will continue to keep a close eye on the developments. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com A deputy who worked for the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office for 11 years was terminated after two high school seniors reported he had been texting them inappropriate messages while on and off duty, PBSO records show. Eric Devaul was assigned to the Sheriffs Offices West Lake district at the time he began texting with the two 18-year-old women earlier this year, according to a personnel complaint investigation report. The investigation began in April after the students told their schools behavioral health professional that they were both uncomfortable with text messages Devaul had recently started sending them. The behavioral health employee passed along the complaint to the schools principal, who then informed a Palm Beach County School Police officer, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PBSOs Special Investigations Division began investigating whether any crime had been committed on April 12. A detective determined Devaul did not violate any state statutes, and Internal Affairs then began an investigation to determine if he violated any PBSO policies. One of the students told the investigating deputy that Devaul gave her his phone number in case of any emergencies, and their messages at first were normal conversation, the report said. But the texts got a little weird toward late March. One text conversation about that time went from discussing the brakes on the students car to him just randomly asking her if she wanted to help him shower, according to the PBSO report. The student said Devaul had also messaged her several TikToks that were sexually suggestive and made her uncomfortable. The second student said Devaul often replied to photos of her on Snapchat, calling her beautiful, the report said. She posted a photo one day of her and someone else, whose name is redacted in the report, and Devaul replied to it: Oh, Id love to be between you and (redacted). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One day while she was walking home from school, Devaul drove up and turned on his emergency lights to possibly scare her, the report said. He asked where she lived and made a comment that if she did not answer him he would come over to her house and harass her. Both students said that Devaul had never asked them to do anything inappropriate and never messaged them anything pornographic, according to the report. The investigation report included some of the messages after Devaul allegedly mentioned showering. Gona shower in a few if you wanna help lol jk, he allegedly wrote, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uh Oh, the student replied. Devaul texted a few messages later: If you could handle me being frisky, lol Id be frisky, and in another later message allegedly wrote, And it would be your choice!!! I wont do anything you dont want, the report showed. The schools behavioral health professional watched one of the four TikTok videos Devaul sent one of the two students and told the investigating deputy that she could not watch the others because it was so provocative it turned her stomach,' the investigation report said. The employee had seen Devaul while on duty and in his uniform at the school often and did not think it was unusual at first, the report said. She saw him kiss the two students foreheads and hug them and noticed in that instance that the behavior was odd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Devaul in his sworn interview denied that he had been showing up to the school solely to see the two students, according to the report. His assigned role was to patrol in his district, which included the school, and said he patrolled with other officers there about twice a week. Devaul said that he followed one of the students home to mess with her to see where she lived, the report said. He also said that he believed one of the students was coming on to him and was trying to set me up and get me in trouble. The report concluded that Devaul violated PBSOs policy on Standard of Conduct by trying to initiate inappropriate relationships with the two students. The TikTok videos he shared insinuated his desire for a sexual relationship while on and off duty, the report said. It was not clear from the report when Devauls termination took effect or if arbitration is ongoing. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office holds all deputies to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty, as outlined in our Rules and Regulations Code of Conduct, the Sheriffs Office said in an emailed statement to the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Thursday. Following a recent internal review, Deputy Sheriff Eric Devaul was found to have engaged in conduct that did not align with these standards. princeton Confetti flew and families cheered Wednesday for new affiliation bringing health care services closer to the regions many children. An outdoor ceremony celebrated the new affiliation between WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital in Princeton and WVU Medicine Childrens in Morgantown. Administrators from both hospitals greeted guests to the celebration in Princeton Community Hospitals main parking lot. Children and their families were meeting the WVU Mountaineer, WVU Childrens mascot Musket and Atlas, the WVU Childrens therapy dog, as well as members of the Mercer County Sheriffs Department and Tazewell County Sheriffs Office and services with the City of Princeton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you all for being here. Were super excited about today, said Karen Bowling, president and CEO of Princeton Community Hospital. Weve been planning this for a couple of months with the folks from the childrens hospital, and I consider this the next monumental step as we continue to expand services here at WVU Medicine PCH. Our goal is to serve people locally, close to home with the best care possible. And as we affiliate with the childrens hospital, this gives us a great opportunity to continue to expand what we currently do here. Dr. Michael Grace, Childrens president and CEO, spoke about the benefits of working with WVU Medicine Childrens. Our goal at WVU Medicine is to make sure that we are providing world-class care close to home, Grace told the onlookers. And to do that, we need partnerships like what were doing here today in Princeton. Our team has worked tirelessly, continuously expanding our reach to children and expectant mothers that need us. They dont have to travel hours from Princeton, Mercer County to Morgantown for that care. One of my favorite sayings, one of the things Im proud of most at WVU Medicine, I like to say that we are a blower, not a vacuum. We want to bring the services to the communities. We dont necessarily want to be taking patients from communities to Morgantown. We want to provide the care here. Telemedicine services and access to medical specialists in Morgantown are among the assets the affiliation provides to the regions children and families, said Amy Webb, Childrens chief administrative officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a saying that WVU Medicine Childrens is not just in Morgantown, she said. Every inpatient, every outpatient, its just WVU Medicine Childrens family getting bigger. Its celebrations like this that I love because one of the things we talk about is hope. Every time we expand our reach, we hope that we are bringing hope to those families that are having a really difficult time. With a count and a colorful shower from confetti tubes offered to the guests, the new WVU Medicine Childrens sign on the hospital was unveiled. Representatives of the PCH Pediatrics Clinic, PCH Emergency Department/Always Ready for Kids, PCH Womens Center, WVU Telemedicine Clinic and WVU Speech and Occupational Therapy were at the celebration to share information about child care options with local families. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com Peabody city councilors held a moment of silence Thursday night for Jason Bernard, the 8th grader who died last week. Jasons passing has left a real deep imprint on our city, so many have been affected at this time, weve just been thinking about the family, the students at the Higgins Middle School, and try to support them the very best we can, said Mayor Edward Bettencourt. Jasons family tells Boston 25 News he was a victim of bullying, and he took his own life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since his death, Boston 25 News has heard from many parents concerned about the bullying in schools. One mother says it was a constant issue over the last two years for her daughter. She would come home crying from them bullying her almost every day, it was at least three or four times a week, it was horrible, said Valerie, a Peabody mother. Valerie says her daughter was bullied both physically and verbally in Peabody schools while in the first and second grades. She says that at one point, a girl kicked her in the face, and another time, a boy made death threats towards her. He literally starts talking about ways to kill her after school to his whole table, and like really descriptive ways of killing her, said Valerie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valerie says that when she went to the teacher and principal, nothing was done, and no official reports were made, so she reported the assaults to police, who helped her solve the issues. There needs to be accountability if someone is consistently bullying someone over and over again; they need to get kicked out of the school, said Valerie. I dont understand how they can allow someone to continue to disrupt other childrens educations and make it an unsafe environment. Boston 25 News asked the mayor of Peabody whether changes should be made in schools to crack down on bullying. Its a major concern, this is something that we as a community, and I think all communities, but Peabody, we really need to do some work and we need to come together as a community, be united and find solutions as best we can, said Mayor Bettencourt. Theres a lot of work ahead of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Bettencourt says hes also planning a community conversation involving mental health experts and school officials following the death of this student. Theres a lot of discussions taking place right now, and I really believe Jasons tragic passing will spur on real change and real improvement in our city, said Mayor Bettencourt. The principal of Higgins Middle School sent a letter to families saying all absences are excused on Friday if any student wants to attend Jasons funeral or if they choose to stay home. Theres also a vigil planned for Jason Friday night at 6:30 PM near his home. 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 MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) A 19-year-old has died after he was struck by a train Friday afternoon in Murfreesboro, officials said. The Murfreesboro Police Department said the incident took place on the railroad tracks at West Main Street and Overall Street at approximately 1:32 p.m. Friday, May 23. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts A preliminary investigation reportedly shows that the 19-year-old climbed through the box cars of a stopped train and tossed his bicycle onto the tracks. However, when he reached down to pick up the bike, he was reportedly hit by a train that was coming from the opposite direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by Rutherford County EMS. His identity will not be released until his family is notified about the incident. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County Main Street and Overall Street will be closed for an undetermined amount of time as detectives continue their investigation. Motorists are being advised to take Main Street to Cannon Avenue to Bridge Avenue. Those traveling from the downtown side should take West Main Street to Bridge Avenue, police said. No additional details were immediately released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. LEFLORE COUNTY, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) A Choctaw Nation District 7 candidate was killed in a crash in LeFlore County, 4 miles south of Talihina, on May 21. Adrian Johnico Courtesy: Adrian Johnico for Choctaw Nation Tribal Council District 7 According to a fatal crash report, the crash happened on U.S. Highway 271 and 440th Avenue around 9:52 p.m. Adrian Johnico, 49, of Clayton, Oklahoma, and a Choctaw Nation candidate for District 7, was killed in the accident. He was taken by ambulance to Choctaw Nation Healthcare in Talihina, where he was pronounced dead. Two vehicles were involved in the crash: a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 76-year-old man and an unoccupied 2015 GMC Sierra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Silverado was taken to the hospital by a personal vehicle and released with minor injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The report says the drivers condition was normal. The weather was clear and dark. Johnico announced his candidacy for District 7 on April 23. He said in his announcement that he was called to serve. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Seven Penn State campuses will close following the spring 2027 semester, the university board of trustees decided during an at-times contentious meeting Thursday a vote some trustees said was the most impactful one the board will ever make. DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York will all close following a wind down period. Trustees approved the plan to close campuses 25-8; trustees Ted Brown, Donald Cairns, Lynn Dietrich, Barry Fenchak, Chris Hoffman, Anthony Lubrano, Jay Paterno and Nicholas Rowland voted against closures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said its a pivotal moment for the land grant institution and acknowledged the significant, emotional and consequential decision in front of the board. Were not making a technical adjustment. Were charting a new course for the next century, for the future of our land grant mission, she said. The path that we recommend has been shaped by data, not just quantitative, but qualitative, narrative input as well. Over the past 10 years, the seven campuses recommended for closure have experienced a 43% decline in enrollment. The financial picture is also equally sobering. We are spreading our students, faculty and staff so thin that we jeopardize the quality of education and the support that we can offer. We are subsidizing decline at the expense of growth. The university is facing challenges including long-term demographic shifts, declining enrollment, flat public funding, and increasing operational costs, the resolution states, which have put pressure on the campus ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution also notes that while Penn State serves more students across more locations than any of its peer institutions, it receives less public funding per-student than the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education system and other state-related universities. Although these campuses have changed lives, fueled businesses and brought Penn State into their communities, Bendapudi said that doesnt change the reality that the university has to contend with. Maintaining the status quo is not sustainable. Many are understandably hoping for a way to have it all. But honestly, the numbers tell a different story, she said. The university will continue investing in the remaining 13 campuses, and will immediately begin working to repurpose the seven campuses. Renata Engel, interim vice president of commonwealth campuses, and Mike Stefan, vice president for government and community relations, will co-lead those efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They plan to bring together local, state elected officials, business and community leaders, donors and alumni in every community, to chart a new future. One that meets local needs, workforce needs, economic development needs that reflect local opportunity. That future may or may not involve Penn State directly depending on what the opportunity is but we are committed to help shaping it, Bendapudi said. Trustees voice support, opposition Thursday was the first time the trustees have publicly discussed Bendapudis recommendation to close campuses. The board has had two executive sessions on the topic and spent almost four hours deliberating, board chair David Kleppinger said, although experts questioned whether those discussions should be happening publicly, Spotlight PA reported. Several board members thought more time was needed before they voted, but others placed their trust in Bendapudi and the university leadership. We as the board of trustees asked Neeli and the leadership team to go and look at this, and we have to trust that the experts which are Neelis team have come back with a recommendation that makes sense, trustee Karen Quintos said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Academic trustee Nicholas Rowland, a faculty member at a commonwealth campus, said he did not believe that closure was the only or best option. In my estimation of these things, we have only just begun to ask the hard questions that, in my opinion, these campuses have long deserved and questions that we as a board, frankly, have left so long overdue. I think that closing them now preempts precisely the kind of revitalization that I think that we say we want for the campus ecosystem, he said. Put another way, I think we owe them more than closure. Frankly, I think we owe them a fair chance to adopt and find some way to thrive. At least one trustee who was supportive of the proposal thought it didnt go far enough. I think we should go deeper on the closures, as I fear we will be back here discussing the same facts and circumstances in a few years. That said, I defer to President Bendapudi who rightfully points out in her executive summary that we need to focus on regions, not just individual communities, to fulfill our land grant mission, trustee Mary Lee Schneider said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trustee Chris Hoffman, the president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, said he represents a lot of rural Pennsylvania as a farmer, and has heard meaningful ideas and things the administration should consider from constituents. He thought the process moved quickly and more conversations were needed. A lot of these rural campuses that are to be closed have some great agricultural uses. I understand that were going to be looking at repurposing and moving and all that, but in my business we dont make decisions and then figure out how were going to do it. We need to be able to have a clear path moving forward so that we know that this is what were doing, this is how were going to make sure that were addressing those needs, Hoffman said. All trustees were in attendance except for Cynthia Dunn, Russell Redding and Carrie Rowe. Those trustees are also members of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros cabinet and they determined the states regulatory responsibilities over closures presented a conflict with voting on the matter, Kleppinger said. Penn State spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said the university will work with accreditors to obtain approvals to stop instruction at closing campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Middle States Commission on Higher Education requires notification six months before the official close date, which would occur in the fall 2026 semester under the current timeline, DuBois said. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires notification by July 1 of the calendar year preceding the academic year for which discontinuance is requested. Campus closure proposal has been controversial Bendapudi announced in February that 12 of Penn States 19 commonwealth campuses will be under consideration for closure. At the time, Beaver, DuBois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Shenango, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and York were under consideration. Factors taken into consideration include enrollment, Penn States evolving land-grant mission, population shifts, student experience and success, and the higher education landscape in Pennsylvania. Last week Bendapudi publicly released a recommendation report on commonwealth campus closures earlier than intended, following the news leaking. The campuses recommended to close were DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York. Many campuses have seen steep enrollment decreases and the counties in which the campuses are located are expected to see a population decline in the next 30 years, Bendapudi said in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penn State has 19 commonwealth campuses in addition to University Park and the future of the campus system has been in question for some time. Last year, the university offered a buyout program at the campuses, which resulted in an overall 10% reduction in personnel, implemented a regional leadership model that has many commonwealth campuses being led by one administration, and leaned more heavily into shared services among campuses. More recently, Penn States budget allocations for the fiscal year 2026-27 shows funding for commonwealth campuses will be cut by about 7%, or about $25 million. The announcement to close campuses has been controversial. The announcement came shortly after Bendapudi and other university leadership refused to give clear answers regarding if campus closures were planned, even when directly asked by lawmakers. When asked directly during a faculty senate meeting a month before the announcement, leadership also didnt give a direct answer about the future of the commonwealth campus system. Since the announcement that some campuses would close, faculty members said employee morale hit an all-time low, and this past semester was riddled with stress and uncertainty as they waited to hear which campuses would close. After the recommendation report was released, students and faculty were still frustrated with the process and lack of transparency. Last month the Penn State faculty senate passed a positional report opposing the closure of commonwealth campuses and asked the university administration to pause the decision until an impact assessment can be conducted. The Penn State chapter of the American Association of University Professors also urged the universitys administration to keep all of the commonwealth campuses open and fully funded, and the national AAUP called on the board to reject the closures and develop plans that will serve all Pennsylvania students, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A petition in protest of the campus closure plans was delivered to Bendapudis office Wednesday by Penn State Faculty Alliance members, a faculty union organizing campaign. Since the initial announcement in February, the university said Margo DelliCarpini, Penn States vice president for commonwealth campuses and executive chancellor, is leaving for a new job. Renata Engel, vice provost for online education, is serving in the interim effective May 19, the university announced last week. DelliCarpini had been in the role since 2023 and provided leadership and strategic oversight for the 20 commonwealth campuses. DelliCarpini was one of the co-leaders of a committee that gave Bendapudi a final recommendation of which campuses should close. Another co-leader, Tracy Langkilde, will leave her role as interim executive vice president and provost in August and Fotis Sotiropoulos of Virginia Commonwealth University will permanently take over. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi addressed the community in a livestream Thursday evening after the board of trustees approved closing seven commonwealth campuses, pledging her support for the students, faculty and staff affected by the decision. Bendapudi said theyve received more than 500 letters and emails about how the campuses have positively impacted lives, and acknowledged that the decision and change can feel deeply personal and difficult. She said shes confident that theyll focus their resources where Penn State can have the most lasting impact. I recognize, believe me, I do, that the past several weeks, indeed months, have caused heightened concern and uncertainty. I want you to know that I hear you and I see you and I care deeply about every student, faculty member, staff member, donor, alum and community stakeholder impacted by this moment. As we move through this period of change over the next two years, I want to be crystal clear about one thing: our people come first, Bendapudi said during the livestream, which lasted about 15 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While many trustees praised Bendapudis forward-thinking approach and leadership in the past months while campus closures were under consideration, other trustees and community members have voiced concerns over lack of transparency and decisions made without consideration of all stakeholders. I would advocate that we wait until we have more information and more answers, trustee Jay Paterno said during the board meeting. This is by far the most important vote any of us as trustees will have made, are going to make, and likely the most important vote we will ever make. Not having all the information should concern us. Teams of university leaders are creating transition plans with students, faculty and staff in mind, Bendapudi said, to mitigate and minimize the negative impacts. They dont have all of the answers yet but some information has been, and will continue to be, posted to the Penn State Roadmap, she said. Penn State is firmly committed to honoring tenure and contracts for faculty members, Bendapudi said, and leadership is working to establish priority hiring consideration for open positions across the university system for staff members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students who begin at a closing campus will have the opportunity to complete their degree at Penn State, and each impacted student will have personalized guidance and advising through the process. The two-year closure timeline at these campuses will allow students currently enrolled and those enrolling for the fall 2025 semester time to complete or make significant progress toward their degrees. With two academic years before closure, associates degree students will have the opportunity to complete their programs, a news release from the university states. With the boards approval to close DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses following the spring 2027 semester, Penn States campus ecosystem will include 13 campuses along with the Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Dickinson Law, World Campus, Penn College of Technology and University Park. Bendapudi stressed Penn State will continue to have an active presence across Pennsylvania. Additionally, Penn State Extension has a presence in every Pennsylvania county, and theyll continue to invest in the Invent Penn State launch boxes. And even with campuses closing, Penn State will continue to have the largest campus ecosystem of any land grant university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking ahead, the university will work with local, state and federal elected officials, business and community leaders, donors and alumni to reimagine what is best for those communities. The future use of these locations may or may not involve Penn State directly, but we will play a convening role to help catalyze possibilities that benefit the surrounding regions, a news release states. NEWPORT, Pa. (WHTM) Pennsylvanias newest class of park rangers and manager trainees graduated Thursday and will soon be serving at a state park near you. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said 27 graduates make up the 2025 class from the ranger and park manager trainee academy. They were celebrated at Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County Thursday. Our rangers and park managers are key to providing positive visitor experiences, in addition to their duties as sworn law enforcement officers, said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. We are proud of the Class of 2025. Their dedication and hard work during training have prepared them for long, successful careers in our state parks system, and I look forward to seeing their impact this summer and beyond. PHOTO COURTESY / COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn speaks to the 2025 graduating class of rangers and park manager trainees at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport, Pa., on May 22, 2025. The 27 graduates will begin assignments across Pennsylvanias state parks this summer. PHOTO COURTESY / COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn speaks to the 2025 graduating class of rangers and park manager trainees at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport, Pa., on May 22, 2025. The 27 graduates will begin assignments across Pennsylvanias state parks this summer. PHOTO COURTESY / COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Deputy Secretary John Norbeck congratulate Nicholas Cento during the 2025 Ranger and Park Manager Trainee graduation ceremony at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport, Pa., on May 22, 2025. PHOTO COURTESY / COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES Taylor Miller celebrates with family and friends during the 2025 graduating class of rangers and park manager trainees at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport, Pa., on May 22, 2025. The 27 graduates will begin assignments across Pennsylvanias state parks this summer. The trainees completed a 19-week academy focused on visitor services, educational programming, equipment use, and law enforcement training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Completing the ranger academy is a tremendous accomplishment, and I am excited to see these graduates put their training into action as public servants across our parks, said State Parks Director John Hallas. This group has shown great dedication and a strong commitment to service. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Rangers must be Pennsylvania residents, be 21 years old, have a valid drivers license, first aid, and CPR certifications, and pass the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission exam. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Azerbaijan reduces electricity imports from Russia Photo: Artificial intelligence In the first quarter of 2025, Azerbaijan imported 21.7 million kWh of electricity from Russia, worth $679,200. This marks a decrease of 1.6 million kWh (6.9 percent) in volume compared to last year. However, the value of imports rose by $12,100 (1.8 percent). Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register (WHTM) A Pennsylvania lawmaker says he will soon introduce new legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania with different regulations than previously proposed bills. The Keystone Cannabis Act, circulated by State Senator Marty Flynn (D-22), would establish a new framework for producing, distributing, and selling cannabis to adults age 21 and over in Pennsylvania. House Bill 1200, which would have given the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board control over cannabis regulation in Pennsylvania, was shot down by the state Senate Law and Justice Committee earlier this May in a 7-3 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter According to the memo, the Keystone Cannabis Act would have an independent commission regulate the market. The commission would consist of members of the Department of Health, Agriculture, Community and Economic Development, Attorney General, and State Police. The memo says this commission would oversee the cannabis cultivation, processing, testing, and retail operations in Pennsylvania. Additionally, revenue generated from the cannabis industry would be deposited into a Community Reinvestment Fund, which would direct funds to revitalizing rural communities, local infrastructure improvements, and grants to municipalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flynns bill would also allows for license applicants from communities heavily impacted by cannabis prohibition to receive priority. The bill would also require strict testing for cannabis products by independent, certified laboratories to ensure products are safe for consumption. In short, legalization is no longer a question of if, but whenand Pennsylvania should not be left behind as our neighbors to the north, south, east, and west in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Ohio all move forward. It is high time to create a cannabis economy that reinvests tax dollars into our communities thereby creating even more revenue, promotes freedom while ensuring safety and security, stimulates economic growth, and invests in the communities that need it most, Flynns memo says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WHTM) A new bill in the state legislature would ban the use of what legislators call algorithmic rent-setting technology in Pennsylvania. While millions of working people struggle to pay the rent, Im not willing to sit back and hand the keys over to Big Tech oligarchs in DC. Were going to fight back, Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia), the bills sponsor, said. One service in the sector controls 80% of the market and was recently sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for antitrust violations and was banned in Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These rent-setting algorithms are driving up housing costs nationwide by generating the highest possible rent not just for one landlord or real estate company, but in coordination, for all their clients in the market, Krajewski added. Its no surprise red and blue states alike are moving to ban them. Its just a clear-cut practice of collusion and inappropriate price fixing, designed to nickel and dime tenants. Get daily news, weather, breaking news and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here The bill comes as federal legislators are moving an omnibus spending package Krajewskis office says includes language prohibiting states from restricting the use of artificial intelligence for ten years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) A Crawford County man is facing charges after he was accused of touching a minor inappropriately and sending her explicit photos. Chad Robey, 22, of Titusville, is facing charges after a juvenile victim came forward to police, according to a criminal complaint. In an interview with the police, the minor alleged that she had received approximately 20 explicit photos from Robey through Snapchat in the span of one day. According to the affidavit, Robey was also accused of touching her inappropriately in December 2023. The minor told police that she tried to move his hand away, but then he grabbed her hand and forced her to touch his privates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robey was arraigned and released on unsecured bail. He is facing charges of corruption of minors, criminal use of a communication facility, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a minor, simple assault and harassment. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. GREENE CO., Tenn. (WJHL) Most people can find a penny or two lying around. But by early 2026, the one-cent coin will no longer be produced. On Thursday morning, the United States Treasury Department announced its plans to stop manufacturing the penny. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump called on the department to stop the coin production due to rising costs. US is ending penny production: How will you be impacted? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee State Representative David Hawk, who represents Greene County, said he has always been against the decision. Greene County and the State of Tennessee has been fighting to keep the penny for over a decade, he said. And its something that we see of great value. Hawks concern falls upon a local manufacturing company located in Tusculum, Tennessee. Artazn Corporation in Greene County creates the slugs that go into minting the pennies, Hawk said. So its an opportunity for folks to work. So its viable jobs for Greene County and Tennessee. Artazn has been a major supplier in the minting process for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawk said in his personal experience, he has watched Artazn find a way to keep itself in business before the discontinuation. It will be a negative impact to Greene County and the State of Tennessee, but were thankful that Artazn has diversified their product mix enough to where theyll keep folks working for a long time, he said. For those who may be directly impacted by the manufacturing halt, Hawk said discussions have been held regarding the future. Theres ongoing conversations that have been going on for a decade, he said. And now that the reality is striking, were going to have to do something to make sure we keep those jobs viable and in Northeast Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawk was not the only official to stress the importance of Artazn in Greene County. Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison and Greene County Partnership President Jeff Taylor also issued a joint statement on Thursday to highlight the role the manufacturer plays in the local economy. The importance of Artazn to our community cannot be overstated, said Morrison. This company provides high-quality manufacturing jobs and supports a skilled workforce, not just in Greene County but throughout the region. Artazn has consistently proven its value by helping the U.S. Mint meet its demands efficiently and cost-effectively, Taylor said. The potential cost savings from Artazns coin solutions demonstrates the forward-thinking innovation happening right here in Greeneville. These arent just manufacturing jobs; theyre high-tech, precision-based roles that support families and strengthen our region. News Channel 11 reached out to Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger about the decision, but she declined an interview. News Channel 11 also reached out to U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for comment but did not receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The Pentagon pushed back Friday on a Wall Street Journal report that the Trump administration is considering withdrawing thousands of American troops from South Korea, calling the news not true. The Journal first reported Thursday that the Defense Department [DOD] was developing an option to pull out roughly 4,500 troops and move them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including to Guam, citing Defense officials familiar with the discussions. The idea would be presented to President Trump as part of an informal policy review on dealing with North Korea, and is one of several ideas under discussion, two officials told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Pentagons chief spokesperson Sean Parnell asserted that reports that the DoD will reduce U.S. troops in the Republic of Korea [ROK] are not true. Anyone whos covered the Pentagon knows that we always evaluate force posture, Parnell said in a post on social platform X. That said, the U.S. remains firmly committed to the ROK. Our alliance is iron clad. South Koreas defense ministry also said Friday Seoul and Washington had not had discussions about a troop withdrawal, Reuters reported. Currently 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, where, along with Japan and the Philippines, the country closely coordinates with American forces to act as a deterrent against North Korea and an increasingly aggressive China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seoul and Washington last year agreed on a five-year plan on defense cost sharing, but Trump has complained the country should foot more of the bill for housing U.S. troops. He has also suggested that the cost of the U.S. military presence may be brought up in ongoing trade negotiations with South Korea. We pay for U.S. military in Europe, and we dont get reimbursed by much. South Korea, too, Trump told reporters at the White House on April 9. And during his first term, Trump insisted Seoul massively increase its dollars for U.S. forces stationed there, at one point reportedly demanding a 400 percent increase in financial contribution. Any consideration of pulling American forces from South Korea, however, would likely alarm many of the United Statess allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a move was also warned against last month by the commander of U.S. forces in Korea, Army Gen. Xavier Brunson, who told the Senate Armed Services Committee that a drawdown would be problematic. They are a critical component to ballistic missile defense in the region, Brunson said during an April 10 hearing. They are critical to helping Indo-Pacific Command see, sense and understand threats to the north and to deter a great many adversaries. To reduce the force becomes problematic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Pentagon is likely to downgrade the status of a political office that plays an important role in the military response to the war in Ukraine. Source: Defence News learned this from three former US officials and two European officials, as reported by European Pravda Details: Sources say that as part of a larger reorganisation of the Pentagon's political apparatus, the office dealing with Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia will be subordinated to a separate office dealing with Europe and NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will not stop its work and will not necessarily lead to the dismissal of its staff. However, it will lower the status of the office, which until earlier this year was one of the most important in the Pentagon. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this once relatively obscure office has helped shape US policy on the war and manage huge amounts of military aid to support the country's self-defence. Laura Cooper, its previous head, helped convene the 50-nation Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which has since met 27 times to collect and coordinate more than US$130 billion in security assistance to Kyiv, about half of which has come from the United States. A spokesperson for the US Department of Defense did not confirm the potential changes or say whether any positions will be cut. Cooper resigned at the beginning of the year, and the office is now temporarily headed by a career civil servant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office reports to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, which does not yet have a fully confirmed director. Daniel Zimmerman's nomination to head it is pending a vote in the Senate. Several sources emphasised that the decision is not yet final and that any changes will be part of a larger reorganisation. One former official said that it is not unusual for new heads of political departments to change positions, but many other sources see the potential changes as a sign of a general decline in the priority of Ukraine in the Pentagon under the second Trump administration. Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's chief of political affairs, has long argued that America should reduce its military support for Ukraine and redirect resources to Asia to deter China from invading Taiwan. Background: US President Donald Trump said this week that he has a "red line" in his mind, crossing which would force him to back out of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. After talking with Putin, Trump said that Ukraine and Russia would immediately start ceasefire talks. Nonetheless, sources told the Financial Times that European leaders, with whom Trump spoke after talking with Putin, were stunned by Trump's description of the results of his call. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The U.S. Department of Defense has approved plans to send 1,115 more active-duty soldiers to the southern border, the latest ramping up of Americas military presence in the Southwest under President Donald Trumps administration. The Military Times reports that the units will support engineering, logistics, and construction missions, performing duties ranging from clearing roads to providing medical care. Their deployment will bring the total number of U.S. troops stationed at the border closer to the 10,000 that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised earlier this year. U.S. military personnel stand near the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border (Reuters) There are currently around 8,600 personnel stationed at the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 6,100 of that total were moved there by the new administration as part of its attempt to crack down on the flow of undocumented immigrants and contraband into California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. The Pentagon has also sent U-2 surveillance planes, helicopters, two Navy Destroyers, and a brigade of armored Stryker vehicles to help with the mission, which has cost an estimated $525m to date, according to The New York Times. The administration has further moved to redesignate two long strips of land along the border stretching hundreds of miles as military bases, overseen by army commands at Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas, and Fort Huachuca in Arizona. That has enabled soldiers to detain migrants who trespass on it without violating a prohibition against soldiers engaging in domestic law enforcement, which is otherwise only permitted if the president has invoked the Insurrection Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge recently dismissed charges brought against 100 migrants accused of trespassing into New Mexico, ruling that they had not been given sufficient warning that they were entering Pentagon property. U.S. military Stryker vehicles sit in a fenced area at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Douglas, Arizona (Reuters) Trump and Hegseth have pledged to achieve 100 percent operational control over the border, and illegal crossings have plunged since Trump took office, although they had already begun to fall sharply in the latter part of Joe Bidens presidency. They have also committed to expanding the U.S. military, and the presidents big, beautiful bill that passed the House of Representatives on Thursday includes an additional $150bn commitment to defense spending. Congressional Democrats have criticized the escalation, calling it a waste of resources that risks placing the Armed Forces in needless danger. It is difficult to explain the border missions as anything but a distraction from readiness, said Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, earlier this month. The Pentagon is likely to downgrade a policy office instrumental in the militarys response to the war in Ukraine, according to three former U.S. defense officials and two European officials. As part of a larger reshuffle of the Pentagons policy apparatus, the office dedicated to Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia affairs would be shifted under a separate office that handles Europe and NATO issues, the sources said. Doing so wouldnt stop its work or necessarily involve firing employees. Still, the shift would demote an office that until earlier this year had become one of the most important in the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the once relatively obscure office has helped shape U.S. policy toward the war and manage the vast sum of military aid sent to help support its self-defense. Laura Cooper, its previous director, helped convene a group of 50 countries that has since met 27 times to raise and coordinate more than $130 billion in security assistance to Kyiv, with around half of that coming from the United States. A Defense Department spokesperson didnt confirm the potential change, explain the rationale behind it or say whether any positions may be cut. Cooper departed in December, and a career civil servant now leads the office in an acting capacity. Both offices report to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, which currently lacks a fully confirmed director. Daniel Zimmerman, the nominee to lead it, is awaiting a full Senate vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple sources stressed that the decision is not yet final, and that any changes would be part of a larger reorganization. Its not unusual for new policy chiefs to shift around their offices, one former official said, but multiple other sources saw the potential change as a sign of the Pentagons overall lower-priority approach to Ukraine under the second Trump administration. Elbridge Colby, the Pentagons policy chief, has long argued that America should reduce its military support for Ukraine and shift resources toward Asia to deter China from invading Taiwan. When visiting NATO headquarters in February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued that Europe needs to take control of its own security, including for Ukraine. Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defense of the continent, Hegseth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a practical matter, two former U.S. officials raised the concern that combining the offices would overwhelm the person in charge. The Trump administration is considering drastic changes to U.S. security policy toward Europe, arguing countries on the continent should spend far more on their defense as America refocuses elsewhere. Meetings with David Baker, the official now leading the Europe and NATO office, have been in high demand as European countries try to understand the coming changes and prepare for the June NATO summit. It will be very hard for a single DASD to handle that many important [and] high maintenance countries, a former U.S. defense official said, referring to a deputy assistant secretary of defense, or mid-level Pentagon official. After a weeklong pause in March, the U.S. is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and shipping previously scheduled aid. But Congress hasnt passed any more money to continue the effort, and the Pentagon hasnt asked for any. The Defense Department has a little under $4 billion left in authority to ship weapons to Ukraine, but no money left to replace anything it sends. LAKE PALESTINE, Texas (KETK)- The people of Lake Palestine said even though the clean-up process is over, the storm left the area traumatized after a year of recovery. It was insane, resident Shelby Soto said. It was like being in a movie when you first stepped out. It was surreal, AAA: What Texans can expect for Memorial Day travel Shelby Soto lives by the lake and lived through the May 23rd, 2024 EF-1 tornado. Soto said when it hit, she was on her porch with friends and family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All we could see was like a bunch of water and stuff flying around, Soto said. Soto and her friends and family took cover but worried for their animals and friends living by the lake. All we could do is pray and go inside because there was no time to, like, hide or anything, because there was no warning, no sirens, no text messages, nothing, Soto said. Lindale ISD employee celebrated after dedicating 35 years to the district After the storm passed, their family discovered the severe damage. The area near Lake Palestine Resort was decimated with trees on the ground, trailer homes moved or rolled over and remains of the marina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just everywhere, theres debris everywhere, Soto said. It looked insane, like there wasnt a part out here that didnt have some type of debris lying around. It has taken a year to recover, and Soto believes its all thanks to the community banding together. After it, it really brought everybody together, Soto said. Were like a little, small, little family out here now. The community is now helping other storm victims by hosting a fundraiser Friday night. Raising money for the people of Frankston, who were hit by an e-f zero tornado earlier this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. This has been a banner month for X. Last week, the social networks built-in chatbot, Grok, became strangely obsessed with false claims about white genocide in South Africaallegedly because someone made an unauthorized modification to its code at 3:15 in the morning. The week prior, Ye (formerly Kanye West) released a single called Heil Hitler on the platform. The chorus includes the line Heil Hitler, they dont understand the things I say on Twitter. West has frequently posted anti-Semitic rants on the platform and, at one point back in February, said he identified as a Nazi. (Yesterday on X, West said he was done with antisemitism, though he has made such apologies before; in any case, the single has already been viewed tens of millions of times on X.) These incidents feel all too natural for Elon Musks social network. Even without knowing the precise technical reason Grok decided to do its best Alex Jones impression, the fact that it became monomaniacally obsessed with a white-supremacist talking point says something about what the platform has become since Musk took over in October 2022. Specifically, it validates that X has become a political weapon in his far-right activism. (To be clear, white farmers have been murdered in South Africa, which has one of the worlds highest murder rates, according to Reuters. But there is no indication of a genocide. In 2024, eight of the 26,232 murders nationwide were committed against farmers. Most murder victims there are Black.) [Read: The day Grok told everyone about white genocide] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been obvious to anyone using the site or paying attention to Musks managerial decisions. Hes reinstated thousands of banned accounts (QAnon supporters and conspiracy theorists, and at least one bona fide neo-Nazi), and the platform is engorged with low-rent outrage porn, bigoted memes, MAGA AI slop, and, well, a lot of people proudly using racial slurs, frequently to attack other people. The platforms defenders would likely argue that X is an experiment in free-speech maximalism and that it is one of the only truly neutral zones on social media. Musk and his sycophants have constantly cited his takeover as an attempt to solve free speech; Joe Rogan has suggested that Musk has done just that. (This isnt quite accurate, as X has complied with government takedown requests, temporarily suspended journalist accounts, amplified accounts that promote Musks worldview, and tried to censor words its owner doesnt like: Last year, it briefly warned users who attempted to use the word cisgender in posts, after Musk said he considers it a slur.) But Groks white-genocide Wednesday is a major indication that the platform is not neutral. Either X has a natural bias, based on the sites architecture and user basethat is, the chatbot, which is able to search tweets in real time, acts on an attitude that is endemic to the platformor X is being directly manipulated to emphasize a certain viewpoint. In other words: Either way, X is racist. The only thing up for debate is whether this is a feature or a bug for those in charge. Twitter always had an outsize cultural influence, and Xdespite its marked decline under Muskdoes as well. Yet mainstream culture is no longer dominant there: The media outlets and public figures are now punch lines for the sites main characters, Musk and his MAGA acolytes. Platform events such as the Grok rampage and Yes Heil Hitler offer a window into the ways that X has become an accelerator for a broader, more durable culture of hate. Its not only that some of this vile discourse seeps out into the physical world (memes about immigrants eating cats and dogs leading to harassment in Ohio , Trump bringing up conspiracy theories about white genocide during an Oval Office meeting with the South African president)its that the worst of the internet is no longer relegated to the shadows. Instead, it is elevated, perhaps even at times normalized, by its proximity to everyone elses content. Last Wednesday, as I watched Grok bring up white genocide in response to an anodyne query about the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzers career earnings, I couldnt shake the question: Why are people still using this website? The same thought had also occurred to me around the time that Ye released Heil Hitler and I toggled over to Xs algorithmic For You feed. It showed a smattering of the platforms least savory commentators posting about how the anti-Semitic anthem was the song of the year and how it had become popular in Thailand. What happened next is pretty standard: By clicking on a few posts about the song, Id expressed enough interest in it that the platform fed me a steady stream of Heil Hitler content: AI-generated remixes of the song, covers, dozens of memes about how the song was secretly popular. I saw a video of a white couple singing the song in their car, throwing up Nazi salutes. Not long after that, I saw a link to a crowdfunding campaign for that same couple, who were asking for money to relocate after their video went viral and they were doxxed and threatened. The couple set their funding goal at $88,000a reference, almost assuredly, to 88, a neo-Nazi code for Heil Hitler. This Russian nesting doll of irony-poisoned, loud-and-proud racism is a common experience in the algorithmic fever swamps of X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its worth noting that Yes song was banned by other major streaming platforms and social networks. Writing about X, The New Yorkers Kelefa Sanneh said, West has given the platform a kind of exclusive hit singlea song that can be heard almost nowhere else. Neo-Nazis and trolls expressed a palpable delight that all of this was happening on an ostensibly mainstream platformwanton hatred not on 4chan or Stormfront, but on the same network where Barack Obama posted a condolence message about Joe Bidens cancer diagnosis. Heil Hitler is almost assuredly not the global phenomenon that the fascists on the platform think it is, but its prevalence on X is not nothing either. As Sanneh wrote last week, We now live in an era when a top musician can distribute a song called Heil Hitler, and theres no way to stop him. That is the true message of this song, which has spread and thrived beyond the reach of boycotts or shaming campaigns: no one is in charge. In July 2020, the Twitter user Michael B. Tager shared an anecdote that went viral. Tager was at a shitty crustpunk bar when the gruff bartender kicked out a patron in a punk uniformnot because the customer was making a scene, but because he was wearing Nazi paraphernalia. You have to nip it in the bud immediately, Tager recounted the bartender as saying. These guys come in and its always a nice, polite one. And you serve them because you dont want to cause a scene. And then they become a regular and after awhile they bring a friend. Soon enough, youre running a Nazi bar. The Nazi bar is an apt analogy, yet it doesnt fully capture the weirdness of a social network and of the strange, modern power of algorithms to sort and segregate experiences. Many people use X merely to post about sports, follow news, or look at dumb memes, and theyre probably having a mostly normal online experience; I dont have any wish to judge them. To torture the metaphor, though, theyre sitting at a table outside the Nazi bar; their friends are there, theyre having a good time, maybe they hear a slur emanate from the window from time to time. Others fully recognize that theyre at a Nazi bar, but this was their bar first and they dont want to cede the territory; theyre hanging around to debate, never mind that the bars owner is palling around with the new customers. Of course, with a broadcast social network like X, everyone is both a patron and an owner of sorts. Followers can feel like a kind of currency, built up over years: Some people dont leave the bar, because theyre invested and dont want to dump their shares. Other people dont leave, because the alternative hangouts arent enticing enough. Some simply dont want to give the Nazis the satisfaction of successfully driving them out. There is plenty of commentary, even among users of other platforms, about how Threads is bloodless (and owned by Mark Zuckerberg), Mastodon is inscrutable, and Bluesky is humorless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These quibbles make some sense in the brain-rot context of social media, where people have been conditioned to think its normal to have interactions with millions of strangers at the same time, but this is not really tenable or healthy. Nor is it something most people would tolerate in the physical world. If a billionaire bought one of your local haunts, renamed it, humiliated the employees, brought back many of the people whod been banned for harassing other regulars, eliminated basic rules of decency, started having town halls with Republicans and a leader of the AfD, taking your business elsewhere would be perfectly rational. This is essentially whats happened on X, only the reality is wildly, at times comically, more extreme. A critical mass of the nations politicians, news outlets, and major brands regularly post content for free to the exclusive streaming platform for the Ye song Heil Hitler. This platform is owned by the worlds richest man, a conspiracy theorizing GOP mega-donor who still holds a position in the Trump administration. Even if he winds down his official role, X will remain an instrument for Musks politics. Lets pause to sit with the absurdity of these facts. Acknowledging the role X plays in mainstreaming the worst constituencies makes for awkward conversations with those who continue to use it. These discussions grow exhausting, fast. Theres a definite purity-politics flavor to any suggestion that people should take a moral stand and leave a social network, but also a pretty airtight case to be made for boycotting it. There is no ethical consumption under tech oligarchy, etc. Youre not a Nazi simply because you use Xbut also, what exactly are you doing there? You may not have any interest in participating in a culture war. The problem is that on X, everything is a culture war. Culture war is the very point of the MAGA AI slop the platform traffics in and the viscerally cruel White House X account. Culture war is behind Tucker Carlsons choice to debut his post-Fox show on X and why Alex Jones livestreams on the platform every day. Wests nihilistic neo-Nazi single is an act of culture war: Its message isnt just that X has energized his ideas, but that the platform renders people like Ye unignorable. Only Musk could shut this machine down, but plenty of others lend it their credibility and happily turn the cranks, ensuring that the culture war grinds on and on. Article originally published at The Atlantic ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Turkiye as the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the Organization of Turkic States concurrently, Trend reports. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Turkiye, Yerkebulan Sapiyev, has been appointed as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Organization of Turkic States on a concurrent basis, the press service of the President of Kazakhstan stated. In other presidential decrees: Rauan Zhumabek has been appointed as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates; Barlybai Sadykov has been appointed as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Kenya and as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Office in Nairobi concurrently. He has been relieved of his duties as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Additionally, by presidential decree, Zhalgas Adilbayev has been appointed as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) Authorities have a person in custody in connection with a woman found beaten unconscious on Randalls Island last week, sources tell PIX11 News. The person was brought into custody by Friday morning but the investigation remains on going, sources say. More Local News Police had been searching for a suspect after a 44-year-old woman was found brutally attacked on a bike path on May 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 44-year-old woman was walking near East 125th Street when she was attacked and punched multiple times in the head, authorities say. Police are searching for a suspect after a woman was brutally attacked on Randalls Island last Friday. (Credit: DCPI) She was found unresponsive and remains in critical condition at the hospital, according to officials. 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). 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Person injured after vehicle strikes pole, damaging 2 other utility poles in Manchester MANCHESTER, Conn. (WTNH) A person was injured after a car struck a utility pole and damaged several others Friday morning in Manchester, fire officials said. Experts predict record travel on Memorial Day weekend It happened around 3:18 a.m. on the 500 block of Center Street, fire officials said, a vehicle struck a utility pole, severing it. The impact damaged two additional utility poles, severing a second one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A person was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, fire officials said. Center Street remains closed between Olcott and McKee for repairs, fire officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters, along with the Center for Initial Military Training, at Fort Eustis are both up for a potential relocation as part of a merger with the Army Futures Command in Austin, Texas. However, Army officials said Thursday they will have to wait until June 15 to receive orders from the Army on how that merger will occur before the new command is formed in October. The two branches of Fort Eustis under the proposed merger include nearly 1,000 people, roughly 650 are civilians and the rest are military positions, said Army spokesperson Col. Jennifer Walkawicz in a Thursday press briefing. According to Walkawicz, Fort Eustis expects to see a smaller military footprint at the base under the merger, but civilian professionals will still see plenty of job opportunities. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of that smaller military footprint, Fort Eustis Commanding Gen. Gary Brito, who was originally planned to change command and retire this summer, will remain in his position through the fall when he will turn command over to the incoming commanding general for the new Army Transformation and Training Command, Walkawicz said. No matter how the merger eventually shakes out, Walkawicz said the Army will still have a strong presence at Fort Eustis. TRADOC remains deeply committed to the Hampton Roads community, Walkawicz said. Our history here is strong. Our ties to this region are invaluable. Walkawicz added until they receive orders, TRADOC doesnt know how big its new footprint will be in Austin, Texas, nor how it will fit into the other merging commands as part of the larger Army Transformation Initiative. In my career, my 30 years serving, this is the most significant transformation effort that I have seen, Walkawicz said. Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com CLINTON, Ark. Petit Jean Electric Cooperatives CEO has responded to a suit filed against the organization and others on Tuesday. CEO Michael Kirkland said in a statement that he and the others named in the suit strongly dispute the claims being made and will respond accordingly through legal channels. Suit filed against Petit Jean Electric and directors over mismanagement, high bills The suit filed in Van Buren County Circuit Court claims mismanagement at multiple levels has led to a significant increase in utility bills. It asks for the removal of the current board of directors and for undeclared punitive damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four co-op members filed the suit through a fifth persons Sherwood limited liability company. Complaints from the cooperatives customers began in January when electric bills jumped, coinciding with a cold snap in Arkansas. Officials said at the time an additional line item driving billing up was with the cost of debt adjustment for normal construction, such as maintenance and pole replacements, coupled with a portion of debt from construction through expanding the cooperatives offerings to internet fiber. Petit Jean Electric customers seek explanation for jump in bills The suit claims that the increased cost of a large-scale effort by the coop to bring fiber broadband to its rural service area was mismanaged, driving up costs. Kirkland addressed this issue in his response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our biggest undertakings has been the buildout of fiber internet, Kirkland said. This wasnt about profit. It was about access. We brought fiber to rural areas that commercial providers ignored. Arkansas electric co-ops: Fees, insurance required by federal law Kirkland continued that the decision to offer broadband through Petit Jean Fiber was a matter of meeting community needs for education, telehealth and reliable internet service. We did this with the help of grants, national partners, and member support, Kirkland said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) No human injuries were reported after heavy flames attacked a residence in Harrison Township Thursday night. The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office confirmed that the residence was located on the 2200 block of Ontario Avenue, with the fire incident occurring around 11:20 p.m. Mutual aid departments assisted with extinguishing the flames. Photo by Cameron Cooper/WDTN. Our 2 NEWS photographer spoke to Harrison Township Battalion Chief Seth Dodds, who said that crews located heavy fire and smoke upon their arrival, which impacted their ability to access the structures interior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of the residence reported that all its occupants were evacuated, but family pets perished in the fire. The home is reportedly a total loss. CenterPoint energy assisted crews with turning gas off inside the residence. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. Womens achievements and contributions to the community were celebrated at an awards ceremony Thursday. With more than 275 people in attendance, the YWCA Greater Johnstown held its 38th annual Tribute to Women at Aces in the Cambria City section of Johnstown. There are things getting done in our communities by women every day and they go unnoticed, so this is to recognize them and show them the appreciation their communities have for them, said Diane Lopez, YWCA Greater Johnstown board president. This years group of women are from all over the county, which is different than its been in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have multiple honorees from the northern part of the county, so the word is getting out and were very excited about that. The nine honorees were Debbie Baxter, employee of Ray Oil & Gas in Portage and recipient of the Arts & Letters Award; Becky DeYulis, owner of WorkLink Staffing in Ebensburg and recipient of the Business Award; Stacey Lewis, founder of South Fork Heritage Days and South Fork Winterfest and recipient of the Community Service Volunteer Award; Angela Seidel, professor of accounting and the chair of the business administration department at St. Francis University in Loretto and recipient of the Education Award; Jessie Mullen, a Marine Corps veteran and teacher at Ferndale Area High School and recipient of the Lady Liberty Award; Ashley Flynn, executive director the Cambria County Library and recipient of the Nonprofit Award; Louann Hoffman, broker/owner of Lang Real Estate and Tax Services in Cresson and recipient of the Professions Award; Jacqueline Hockenberry, a licensed professional geologist with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Cambria District Mining Office and recipient of the STEM Award; and Andi Palmar, executive director of Operation BeYoutiful and recipient of the Yellow Rose Award. This is very humbling because there are so many women in business and sometimes you dont feel like youre worthy, but then when someone sees what you do it becomes quite an honor, DeYulis said. Its so nice to see women recognized for all their contributions to the roles that they have. She said its exciting to see women from all over Cambria County being recognized for their achievements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The YWCA is located in Johnstown, but their reach for this award is amazing, DeYulis said. I love what they are doing, and I hope this continues to get more notoriety on what they do and it can enhance their programs. Lewis said women do so much in their communities and deserve to be celebrated. We work so hard and you sometimes think people dont see everything, not that you need the recognition, but its just nice to be acknowledged, she said. Women can put a lot on their plate sometimes and we try to juggle everything, so its phenomenal that the YWCA does this for our community and spotlights women. Lewis said its a thrill be included with the other honorees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be acknowledged is an accomplishment and something very special, she said. Im already thinking about who I can nominate next year. Flynn said the award is overwhelming, and shes glad she can help draw attention to the public library system. I work with some really great people and to know what were doing is being noticed at the level of all these other honorees is very impactful, she said. So many of the women that are doing these incredible things are also juggling many responsibilities at home and fulfilling a lot of different roles in their lives, so to be recognized at this professional level is very important. Flynn said the event can inspire other women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its good to know that we women are working together to make things better, she said. Its fun to be a part of that. Seidel said she appreciates the award. Its a heartfelt nomination, and its very humbling, she said. So many people go unrecognized for the work that they do. They give so much time and effort and give so much of their hearts to what they do, so its a great thing to be recognized. Seidel said she does what she does because she loves it. Im just grateful that I have an opportunity to get up every morning and go do something that I love to do, she said. Mullen said receiving the award is an honor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women need to be held up and recognized so that we can inspire each other to continue to do good work and can inspire the younger generation to do even better work, she said. So often the people you see in the news or history books are men, so holding up women as examples in your community gives younger women an example to follow. She said to be the company of current and past honorees is gratifying. I didnt know some of the great work these women were doing, so I hope we can find ways to work together to make our community even better, Mullen said. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Firefighters were called to Tiffany Street in Springfield after a driver crashed into a house, causing significant damage on Friday afternoon. Springfield Fire Captain Piemonte told 22News that the driver is expected to be okay after crashing their car into a home on 337 Tiffany Street at around 1 p.m.. Piemonte said the driver was able to get out of the vehicle by themselves before being treated at the location for minor injuries. Crews put out basement fire on Everett Avenue in Belchertown (Springfield Police Department) (Springfield Police Department) (Springfield Police Department) (Springfield Police Department) (Springfield Police Department) No injuries were reported from any occupants of the home. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Scenes from Memorial Day weekend 2025, including at the the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS U.S. Army infantry veteran Duane Hunt gets a happy greeting from Jora, a therapy dog from Orlando International Airports Paw Pilots program during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Hunt served three years in Vietnam. Jora comes to Orlando from the Wyoming-based Alliance of Therapy Dogs a international registry of certified therapy dog teams that supports airports, hospitals, schools and assisted-living facilities. Joras handler is volunteer Elena Hoelscher. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Members of the U.S. Public Health Service present a wreath at the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Members of the U.S. Public Health Service salute while presenting a wreath at the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Ruben Martin from American Legion Post 331 Honor Guard stands at attention during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Members of the U.S. Public Health Service salute while presenting a wreath at the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Veteran Ruben Martin from American Legion Post 331 Honor Guard carries the American flag during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Members of the U.S. Public Health Service salute during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Chaplain David Coggins holds an American flag during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS U.S. Army infantry veteran Duane Hunt gets a happy greeting from Jora, a therapy dog from Orlando International Airports Paw Pilots program during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Hunt served three years in Vietnam. Jora comes to Orlando from the Wyoming-based Alliance of Therapy Dogs a international registry of certified therapy dog teams that supports airports, hospitals, schools and assisted-living facilities. Joras handler is volunteer Elena Hoelscher. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS From left, Julie Lushetsky, Kasey Borders and Tim Gifford, of VFW Post 2093, perform during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Congressman Max Frost delivers remarks during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS U.S. Army infantry veteran Duane Hunt speaks to Congressman Max Frost during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Hunt served three years in Vietnam. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) HONORING VETERANS Keynote speaker Cindy Van Bibber, director of the Cape Canaveral National Cemetary, delivers remarks during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Opening on Memorial Day weekend, fireworks launch over the new Universal Epic theme park, Wednesday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Opening on Memorial Day weekend, fireworks launch over the new Universal Epic theme park, Wednesday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 16HONORING VETERANS U.S. Army infantry veteran Duane Hunt, left, watches as members of the U.S. Public Health Service present a wreath during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona, Friday, May 23, 2025. Hunt served three years in Vietnam. Military leaders and elected officials gathered at the VA for the ceremony with several hundred veterans to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Expand NEWPORT, Tenn. (WATE) The Pigeon River was stocked with approximately 10,000 walleye earlier this week following concerns about potential impacts from Hurricane Helene on local fish populations. In partnership with State Rep. Jeremy Faison, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency released the 5,000 in Newport and 5,000 in Cosby at Freeman Park. Were fish affected by Helene? Biologists conduct survey at Douglas Lake Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TWRA Chief of Fisheries Jason Henegar said in a release that while the most recent survey of the river indicated minimal changes in fish populations following Helene, the decision to stock the river aligns with their goals to support natural reproduction and provide quality angling opportunities to the public. The TWRA will continue to survey affected river systems to assess the long-term ecological impacts of the storm, Henegar added. Pictured (left to right): TWRA General Counsel Torrey Grimes; Newport Parks and Recreation Director Tim Dockery; Tennessee State Representative Jeremy Faison; TWRA Chief of Fisheries Jason Henegar; TWRA Reservoir Fisheries Biologist John Hammonds; TWRA Regional Fisheries Program Manager Jim Habera; Newport Community Development Director Gary Carver; and Newport Administrative Assistant Molly Ealy. Front: Braylin Stephenson. (Photo via TWRA) Tennessee State Representative Jeremy Faison releases walleye into the Pigeon River in cooperation with TWRA in response to concerns following Hurricane Helene.(Photo via TWRA) Braylin Stephenson of Parrottsville, TN assisting TWRA with walleye stocking into the Pigeon River in response to concerns following Hurricane Helene. (Photo via TWRA) Bassmaster Classic returning to Knoxville in Spring 2026 Tennessees lakes, rivers, and streams are stocked annually with over 10 million warm and cold-water fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pigeon River is healthier and more vibrant today than anyone alive can remember, said Rep. Faison. Im deeply grateful for the continued dedication of the TWRA in supporting the decisions that keep the Pigeon sustainable and thriving. The sight of 10,000 walleye growing and repopulating our river is truly excitingand a powerful sign of progress. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. While wandering minds are welcome at the library, winged visitors are not, at the Roberts Library of Arkansas History and Art. Darren Dickerson walks to get his morning coffee every day in the River Market area. The wind started swirling, and then something kind of dropped past Dickersons eye one day. I was like woah and looked up, Oh okay, Dickerson said. Indian police clear a suspected Chinese spy pigeon after 8 months in bird lockup Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pigeons have taken to perching on the I-beams of the building, leaving sidewalks and windows covered in droppings. So you need to watch your step as youre walking past the library. Its kind of a bird heaven, Dickerson said. You might have to do a little two-step just to dodge something thats coming at you little drops from above. Glenn Whaley, manager of the Roberts Library, said the problem began when the library opened in 2009. We have a lot of tourists that go up and down and they look at the building, and its an interesting-looking building anyway, so people are always wondering what that is, and then they go Ew what is that? Whaley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The birds initially flew away to roost under the nearby Interstate 30 bridge a year ago, but now theyre back. When construction started, they came back and said, Oh yeah, we like this neighborhood. They told their friends, and now there are a lot of them, Whaley said. On a wing and a prayer, a pigeon is rescued by a French Open chair umpire during a match The library has been power washing sidewalks and windows regularly to maintain cleanliness. On Thursday, the Central Arkansas Library Board voted to hire Avian Flyaway, a wildlife control company, to install nonlethal electric wires on the beams to discourage the pigeons from roosting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They wont be getting rid of them; theyll just be relocating them and moving them back to the freeway, Whaley said. The project is expected to cost about $175,000. While everyone is sympathetic to the birds, they want to ensure that the only thing flocking to the library is readers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Azerbaijani Central Bank discloses its property value Come January 1, 2025, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan's real estate and gear were pegged at a whopping 538 million manat, which is about $320 million in the grand scheme of things. This represents a whopping 52.2 percent jump from the 353.4 million manat ($210 million) tallied during the same stretch last year. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register May 22The owner of a private jet registered in Alaska that crashed early Thursday morning in a San Diego neighborhood is among three people confirmed dead. The jet crashed into military housing during foggy weather, igniting cars parked along a suburban block. By Thursday afternoon, local media were reporting there were six people aboard the plane and no survivors. The Cessna S550 went down at about 3:45 a.m. The San Diego Police Department said eight people on the ground were injured and around 100 residents were evacuated, according to local reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Shapiro, a 42-year-old pilot and registered owner of the plane, was killed in the crash, as well as two colleagues at a California talent agency, according to a statement from the agency. The plane is registered to Daviator LLC out of Homer, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. A state corporations database lists Shapiro as the company's organizer. Shapiro is a well-known music agent and co-founder of California-based Sound Talent Group. A spokesperson for the company confirmed they lost three employees in the crash, including Shapiro. "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends," the company said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro holds numerous pilot and flight instructor certifications, according to the FAA. Shapiro's pilot registration has a Homer address. Local residents say, at least in past years, he and his wife have spent part of the year in the Kenai Peninsula community. Their property is on the Baycrest bluff just off the Sterling Highway north of town. Shapiro also founded Velocity Aviation, a flight company that offered a range of services, including aircraft leasing and ferry services as well as instruction and flightseeing from the company's Homer and San Diego locations. A story posted Thursday by Billboard said the roster of musical groups under the Sound Talent Group umbrella includes Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, Set it Off, Story of the Year, Silverstein, Parkway Drive and Eve 6. Shapiro also operated the Velocity Records music label, whose roster has included Thursday, Concrete Castles and Craig Owens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The jet hit a power line before striking a home, according to an NTSB briefing Thursday. Investigators say they found fragments of the jet as well as part of a wing and will recover the wreckage for analysis. Any official probable cause finding isn't expected to be released until next year. The crash occurred in dense fog, according to local reports. More than 10 homes caught fire, as did several cars. The location of the crash was near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement that an automated observing station at the airport "stopped consistently transmitting weather observations on the evening of May 20," according to the NBC news station in San Diego. The plane departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, on Wednesday, then stopped to refuel in Wichita, Kansas, before departing on the three-hour flight to San Diego, according to the Thursday briefing and Flightaware.com. HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) Law enforcement agencies from across the Pine Belt joined forces to improve how they respond to mental health calls. Hattiesburg police, Forrest County deputies and other area agencies took park in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training on Thursday. Its important, so we can recognize quickly whether somebody is in a mental crisis, or theyre just not responding to our law enforcement presence. It doesnt stop us from doing our job. It just gives us another tool to understand the mental crisis, said Sgt. Tyler McCann, with the Hattiesburg Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones County removes kratom ordinance due to state law changes The course, hosted by Pine Belt Mental Health Services, trains officers to recognize mental health crises and respond safely and effectively through scenario-based exercises and role-playing. CIT training emphasizes de-escalation, diversion and collaboration with local behavioral health providers. There is a need in our community for when people are in a crisis, and they have a mental illness that someone can come out that can actually get them to the next step. And we are seeing more and more that there is a need for this in our community. And were also trying to reduce the recidivism in and out of the jail systems, the justice systems, said Samantha Brogan, CIT coordinator for Pine Belt Mental Health Services. Participants will graduate on Friday and receive a special pine, signifying theyre trained to respond to mental health crises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) In a major step to revitalize downtown, the Downtown Alliance announced a new partnership with the city on Thursday morning, focused on giving Pioneer Park a makeover. Their freshly signed Memorandum of Understanding, between the Downtown Alliance and Salt Lake City, aims to breathe new life into Pioneer Park an area thats long been plagued by low visitation rates by creating an all-year-round public market building. A rendering of the new public market building. (Downtown Alliance SLC) Now, lets be honest. Pioneer Park has a bad reputation, Dee Brewer, executive director of Downtown Alliance, said at the annual meeting in the Gallivan Center. Last year, the average daily park visitation was less than 170 people a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Downtown Alliance saw a solution to this problem in the parks farmers market, which has proven to be a magnet for the communitys foot traffic. Pioneer Park will get a facelift in 2025 Heres what Salt Lake City is adding According to Brewer, 65% of park visits occurred on just 21 days, all of those being when the farmers market was open. The new public building aims to keep this momentum going all year round. Preliminary plans include a beverage bar, clean restrooms, a large hall, and a community gathering space that would become home to an all-year-round farmers market, according to Carly Gillespie, director of Urban Food Connections of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to continue to create social and economic prosperity in the neighborhood and in downtown Salt Lake, Gillespie said. The Downtown Alliances proposed building would also provide a permanent space for the Downtown Ambassadors, offering a visible presence in the park to create a stronger sense of safety. Salt Lake City said that the Public Lands Department collected feedback from over 2,800 people and worked with community groups to choose the planned amenities. The park is also seeking a SITES certification a framework that recognizes sustainability and resilience in design, development, and management. The alliance said in a press release that they are looking to actively conduct public outreach and feasibility assessment throughout this year. A clearer timeline of completion is expected once those steps are finished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We look forward to the results of the feasibility study, which the Downtown Alliance will begin leading this summer, said Blake Thomas, Senior Advisor on Real Estate and Capital Projects. This study, along with the efforts our Public Lands team has undertaken, has the potential to transform this park into a year-round destination and serve as a model for public-private partnerships to enhance our City assets. The project complements the Pioneer Park Vision Plan, which was developed in 2021 to revitalize the area, following the City Councils approval of $3.44 million in 2019. In 2022, $10 million in funding through the Citys $67.5 million Sales Tax Bond was approved for the project. In 2024, an additional $.96 million was allocated for the Vision Plan, allowing the city to begin implementation. Pioneer Park is a cornerstone of our downtown heritage, and it has long been full of untapped potential, said Mayor Mendenhall. This public-private partnership with the Downtown Alliance paves the way for positive change and increased public safety while working in concert with the long-planned park improvements Salt Lakers have asked for. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) On March 17, officials with Pitt County Sheriffs Office responded to a scam that took place at 5900 Martin Luther King Highway. It was reported that a Wayne County resident had been defrauded out of $61,000, of which $39,000 was given in cash to the scammer. On March 31, warrants were obtained for 37-year-old Nisarg Mayank Acharya of Elon, NC, charging him with two counts of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses and two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Obtaining Property by False Pretenses. After the arrest of Acharya detectives continued their investigation, employing the use of multiple search warrants. On May 8, detectives received a court order allowing for the seizure of funds from an online cryptocurrency platform. On May 20, detectives facilitated the transfer of $20,000 in cryptocurrency from the criminal account back to the victem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the amount seized was only 1/3 of the total amount scammed from the victims, funds from similar scams are not usually able to be recovered. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STOW, Mass. (WWLP) Fire officials are reminding residents of fire safety as Memorial Day weekend approaches. LIST: Community events to honor fallen veterans on Memorial Day The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services states that Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, so they are asking residents to practice outdoor fire safety in the weeks and months ahead. As the weather gets warmer and we start spending more time outside, outdoor fires also start to increase, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said. Unfortunately, many of these fires cause serious injuries and property damage but almost all of them can be prevented. Grilling Safety Around two-thirds of grilling fires in Massachusetts take place between May and August, and around 75 percent of them take place on residential properties. Most tend to have cookouts with family and friends for Memorial Day, so if you are using a gas or charcoal grill, remember the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Always grill outdoors, never inside. A burning grill should always be attended by an adult. Never use a gas or charcoal grill on a porch, balcony, or fire escape. Place grills at least 10 feet away from buildings and deck railings. Make sure grills are not under eaves or overhanging branches. Gas grills may be used on first floor decks or patios only if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground, or it is at ground level. Always keep matches, lighters, and lighter fluid away from children. Create a three-foot circle of safety around grills. Keep children and pets at least three feet away on all sides. If you are using a gas grill, remember to open the lid before you light it to avoid the ignition of built-up propane. If you smell gas while you are cooking, turn off the grill, move away, and call 911 from a safe location. Dont move the grill, always turn off the burners, and close the propane cylinder when youre done cooking. If you are cooking with a charcoal grill, only use charcoal starter fluid, and do not use gasoline or kerosene to start a fire in a grill, because you never want to add any flammable liquid to burning briquettes or hot coals. Allow all of the coals to burn out completely and then cool for 48 hours before disposing of them. If you must get rid of ashes before they are completely cooled, thoroughly soak them in water before putting them in a metal container. Fire Pits and Chimineas It is important to note that outdoor burning is prohibited in Massachusetts from May 1 to January 15. Regulations allow exceptions for fires that are used for cooking, however, local fire chiefs and municipalities may prohibit or impose additional restrictions on these fires, including fire pits and chimineas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even where its allowed, an adult must always be present with the tools necessary to put out such a fire immediately because of the inherent risk. Brush and building fires in Agawam, Florida, Goshen, and Haverhill recently all started with fire pits that were unattended or improperly used. Any burning that creates a problem, a condition of air pollution, or a hazard to others is always prohibited. 7 Day Forecast Gasoline Safety Serious gasoline-related burns are high in the summer months, with about 40 percent reported from June through August. Its important to always be cautious when using gasoline, especially in the area of any heat source: Gasoline should only be used as fuel for an engine, not as a solvent. Never use gasoline to start a fire or add it to any fire. Store gasoline only outside the home, such as in a locked shed, and always in an approved container. Never store gasoline in the home or basement. Refuel lawnmowers, leaf blowers, mopeds, and other devices only when the engine is cool. Never refill while it is hot. Keep gasoline away from all heat sources, such as smoking materials, campfires, and grills. Smoking Safety Smoking materials have been the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts for decades now, and not properly discarding cigarette butts are a common factor in building fires that start on porches and nearby dry vegetation. Mulch is prone to combustion caused by careless smoking. Smoking fires are also dangerous because they may smolder undetected and then go up into flames that grow rapidly. A fire that starts on a porch, balcony, or exterior stairway can extend to the home before smoke alarms inside detect it and alert you to the danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you still smoke, or if you have guests who do, please do it responsibly, said State Fire Marshal Davine. Always use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a can with sand or water. Dont toss smoking materials into the mulch, leaves, grass, or planters, and dont stub them out on the porch railing or stairs. Remember to put it out, all the way, every time. Brush and Wildland Fire Safety Most outdoor fires are caused by our behavior. In the warm, dry weather expected Sunday and Monday, these fires may spread to dangerous sizes and require multiple firefighting resources to contain and put out. Because about 50 percent of Massachusetts homes are in Wildland-Urban Interface or Intermix zones, outdoor fires can easily threaten people and property. Practice fire safety with grills, flammable liquids, smoking materials, and power equipment. Before setting up a campfire, be sure it is permitted by checking with the local fire department. Clear away dry leaves and sticks and overhanging low branches and shrubs. Keep campfires small so they are easier to control and attend to them at all times. Always have a hose, bucket of water, or shovel and dirt or sand nearby to put out the fire. Make sure your campfire is out cold before leaving. If using an ATV, dirt bike, or other off-road vehicle, be sure the spark arrestor is properly installed, as required by Massachusetts law. Dont park a vehicle or power equipment such as a lawnmower on or near dry vegetation. A hot engine or exhaust can ignite dry grass, leaves, or debris. We saw last fall just how quickly brush and wildland fires can grow to sizes that require a large response by local and regional fire departments, said State Fire Marshal Davine. These fires strain our resources and make it harder to respond to other emergencies. If you see an outdoor fire, please call 911 to report it as soon as possible. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. May 22LIMA A jury trial for Lima resident Johnny Plaugher, charged with felonious assault for his alleged role in the gang beating of a man earlier this year, is unlikely to take place as scheduled on June 16, following a motion filed Wednesday by Plaugher's attorney. During a scheduled pretrial hearing Thursday in Allen County Common Pleas Court, Judge Terri Kohlrieser instead scheduled a hearing for June 12 to discuss allegations leveled by defense attorney Kenneth Rexford of improper and illegal actions during the case by law enforcement. In anticipation of that hearing, Chief Allen County Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Thines placed on the record a proposal that called for Plaugher to plead guilty to charges of felonious assault and kidnapping contained in the grand jury indictment. That offer, Thines said, will expire "with the seating of the first witness" at the June 12 motion hearing. The offer called for Plaugher to agree to a 13-year prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plaugher, 47, was indicted in April on a first-degree felony charge of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault, each felonies of the second degree, and one count of possessing criminal tools. The charges stem from an incident in February at a Lima residence. The alleged victim, Larry Magnus, testified during a preliminary hearing in Lima Municipal Court that he went to Plaugher's house on Lennox Avenue in Lima to smoke methamphetamine. While there, Magnus said, Plaugher jumped on him and started punching him in a dispute over a phone. The alleged victim said Plaugher was the primary assailant but noted that Kaely Tippie, 23, also played a large role in the incident. John Holland II, 20, has also been arrested for the incident. Magnus said that over the span of 12 hours, the suspects reportedly kept him hostage in Plaugher's garage and beat him, handcuffed him and allowed a dog to bite his legs. He was found unconscious by Dollar General employees in front of the store when it opened that morning, according to court documents. Two videos of the incident circulated on Facebook. Featured Local Savings International Harvard students say they are experiencing pure panic amid the Trump administrations move to bar foreign enrollment, as students from around the world told CNN they are coming to grips with the possibility of revoked visas, suspended research and being blocked from reentry to the United States if they leave this summer. A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administrations ban on Friday after the nations oldest and wealthiest college filed suit in federal court. Harvard argued revocation of its certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was clear retaliation for its refusal of the governments ideologically rooted policy demands. But thousands of international students remain in limbo and are very clearly, extremely afraid because they dont know their current legal status, Harvard student body co-president Abdullah Shahid Sial, who is from Lahore, Pakistan, told CNN on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre literally like, teenagers, thousands of miles away from their hometowns having to deal with this situation, which lawyers often fear to engage in, said Sial, who is traveling overseas after exams. Sial, speaking Saturday from Japan, told CNN he is unsure whether he will be allowed back into the US, or if he will be able to stay. As of right now, Im not sure if I can attend the next semester or not, he said. Harvards international students continued to be a focus of President Donald Trump over the holiday weekend. He posted on Truth Social shortly after midnight Sunday morning, saying he wants names and countries of Harvards international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demand confused Sial since the federal government maintains a database of all foreign students. The US government does have a list of every single person who is studying at Harvard (as an international student), Sial said Monday. The names are already there. In its latest lawsuit against the government, Harvard said it has complied with Department of Homeland Security requests for more detailed information but argues the Trump administration has a lack of any clear authority for most of the requests. About 27% of Harvards student body is international, with 6,793 international undergraduates and grad students hailing from nearly every country in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard is Harvard because it has the ability to attract people the best people from all over the world, not just the United States, Sial told CNN on Friday. The US also benefits heavily from having the best in the world come to the university and study. And then theyve been dehumanized and disrespected. Sial said the university and deans have been helpful in supporting international students at a time of uncertainty and pure panic, which is happening days after final exams ended and just one week before graduation. As student body president, he says he is working to encourage the university to assist international students who want to transfer to other colleges and pushing for students financial aid packages to transfer, as well. But the window to transfer to other universities for the fall semester is already closed at most colleges, Sial said. Many of us have worked our entire lives to get to a university like Harvard, and now we need to wait around and see if we might have to transfer out and face difficulties with visas, says rising junior Karl Molden, from Austria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Molden, who is also traveling abroad and concerned he wont be allowed to return to campus, said he feels international students are being used as a ball in this larger fight between democracy and authoritarianism. Jared, an 18-year-old in New Zealand, was just accepted to Harvard and had been planning to start undergraduate studies at the Ivy League school this fall. He told CNN it was a heart drop moment when he learned of the Trump administrations announcement which came in the midst of applying for his student visa and preparing to move the 9,000 miles to Boston. Harvard University merchandise is displayed at a store in Cambridge, Massachusetts. - Mel Musto/Bloomberg/Getty Images Jewish students being used as pawns, says one Israeli student Harvard and Trump officials have been locked in conflict for months as the administration demands the university make changes to campus programming, policies, hiring and admissions to root out what the White House has called antisemitism and racist practices. Like many other colleges and universities, Harvard drew intense criticism last year for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and encampments following the start of the Israel-Hamas war, as well as complaints from Jewish alumni and students about antisemitism on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard has acknowledged antisemitism on its campus, particularly during the previous academic year, and said it has begun taking concrete action to address it. An Israeli postdoctoral student studying at Harvard said she feels like Jewish students are being used as pawns by the Trump administration, which has accused the university of perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students and employs racist diversity, equity and inclusion practices. The Israeli student, who did not want to be named in fear of being denied reentry to the United States, said she believed the Trump administration was using the university to have this battle with academia that is much bigger than Harvard. She said the government was clamping down on ideas that dont always align with the administration, rather than (having) an actual concern for the safety of Jewish students, Israeli students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, I do feel like were being used, she said, adding that she thinks university leadership is taking the issue of antisemitism on campus seriously. I dont want to diminish anyones experience at the university. I know people have had tough experiences, but I do feel like I have, personally, 100% trust and faith in our leadership. Another Israeli masters student studying at Harvard, who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns about how speaking publicly might impact their studies, told CNN it is very important for Israelis and Jewish people to come here and still be very strong in what they believe in And not only in Harvard, I would say in American academia and on American campuses right now, more than ever. Young researchers say they will leave US One graduate student from Australia, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of being denied future US visas, told CNN it feels extraordinary that we are all being punished for campus activism, given that researchers and PhD students often dont have the time or interest to engage. As a graduate student, we are just fully occupied with our research work, which I would say I spend 80 to 100 hours on each week, said the Australian student, adding that the showdown between the Trump administration and Harvard will likely lead to researchers leaving the country. If things really hit the fan, (I) would probably be trying to transfer to a school in the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other graduate students said they are also feeling fear and uncertainty, with concerns for their research work, their future careers and their loved ones. Theres the ramifications for their family, you know, spouses, their children, their enrollment, their work status, their rent, housing, everything, said Fangzhou Jiang, 30, from China. He is a Harvard Kennedy School student going into his second year of a masters program. You just dont know whats going to happen. Harvard students listen during a Students for Freedom rally at Science Center Plaza on April 29. - Erin Clark/The Boston Globe/Getty Images Facing deportation from the US, and retribution at home For some international students, like those from countries at war or experiencing political turmoil, the stakes are even higher. Maria Kuznetsova, a former spokesperson for OVD-Info, a Russian independent human rights monitoring group, is currently a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Shes graduating in a week and had planned to work on a Harvard-sponsored visa that had already been granted, but she fears it may be canceled now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I used to work in Russian human rights and in the opposition, which means I cant return to Russia, Kuznetsova told CNN. And since Ive been living in the US for two years now, I dont even have a European visa. So, I dont really know where I could even go geographically if things go wrong. From what I see, people are still in a state of panic everyones waiting for the courts decision, Kuznetsova said. Its not just me from Russia here there are also many Ukrainians, a lot of political students from Venezuela, and people from Afghanistan and Palestine. I even have a classmate from North Korea. These are people who, quite literally, cannot return to their home countries, she added. Ivan Bogantsev, also from Russia, was planning to stay in the US after completing his program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His wife, currently in Russia and also on a Harvard-sponsored visa, is due to arrive for his graduation, but hes unsure whether shell be allowed entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one seems able to explain whether were at risk of deportation or not, Bogantsev told CNN. I believe a brain drain from this country is absolutely guaranteed. I cant say to what extent, but the environment here is extremely unfriendly. But he said going back to Russia is not an option he is considering. I was detained at rallies (in Russia), and lets just say the atmosphere was growing increasingly tense. And secondly, most of my friends are essentially labeled (in Russia) as criminals, traitors or foreign agents. Harvard campus will not be the same Leo Gerden, from Sweden, who is supposed to graduate next week, told CNN that some of his friends still at Harvard are making new plans of transferring, especially to other institutions abroad. I was looking forward to celebrating commencement next week, but now, you know, I might leave this place and it will not look the same next semester, because without these international students and its international researchers, the Harvard campus will not be the same, Gerden said. We are being used essentially as poker chips in a battle between the White House and Harvard, and it feels honestly very dehumanizing. CNNs Katelyn Polantz, Helen Regan, Todd Symons and Isa Soares contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on Thursday 22 May. Source: Polish Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said this during a press conference on Friday 23 May, RMF24 quoted, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kosiniak-Kamysz said that on the evening of Thursday 22 May, the Allied Command Operations of NATO forces in Europe ordered another Polish pair of fighter jets to intercept a Russian Su-24 bomber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that the Russian aircraft was carrying out dangerous manoeuvres in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. "These actions were deliberate and posed a threat," the minister said. Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that Polish pilots were able to detect, intercept and effectively push back the Russian aircraft. The Polish defence minister also commented on Russia's frequent provocations in the airspace near NATO's borders especially due to the geographical location of Kaliningrad Oblast, from where Russian aircraft often fly without transponders switched on, without submitting flight plans and without contacting air traffic control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are resilient to provocations, but we react decisively, both independently and within the framework of the Alliance," Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed. Background: On 21 May, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that a Russian shadow fleet vessel had made suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. A few days ago, the Estonian Navy attempted to stop the tanker Jaguar, which was passing through international waters in the Gulf of Finland towards the port of Primorsk. The vessel is believed to belong to the Russian shadow fleet. According to available information, the tanker's crew refused to comply with the Estonian border guards' instructions, and the vessel left Estonian territorial waters. In response to the actions of Estonian forces, Russia sent a fighter jet, which, according to Estonia, violated the country's airspace. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) One person was taken to the hospital after a teenager crashed into a senior living facility in Greenville Thursday morning. According to the Greenville Police Department, the crash occurred around 11:22 a.m. at Brockwood Senior Housing on West Washington Street. Police said that a resident was transported to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital for unknown injuries. The teen involved in the crash, police said, was cited for reckless driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay up to date with 7NEWS on the air and online as more information is made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. Cahokia Heights police were alerted to a burglary happening in the 100 block of Lazarcheff Drive just before 3 p.m. on May 19. According to officials, three individualsone woman and two menwere allegedly attempting to enter a vacant home. The Cahokia Heights police received information about the three suspects prior burglaries and arson incidents. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News When police arrived at the scene on May 19, they were able to arrest the female suspect, who was later identified as 26-year-old Kenya Sloan. The other two men have not been found, according to police. Officials also reported that Sloan was a person of interest for previous arson events across Cahokia Heights. Police even suspect her of being potentially responsible for a vacant house fire. A neighboring house ended up catching on fire, but a family was inside. First responders, however, were able to put out the flames. On Wednesday, States Attorney issued a felony warrant for arson, and Sloan was taken to jail for a detention hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, has signed an agreement with UAE-based energy company Turbotim to develop a rooftop solar and battery storage project at Turbotims facilities in Ras Al Khaimah, Trend reports. The agreement was signed during the Make it in the Emirates Forum. The project will include two hybrid installations, each consisting of 763 kilowatts peak (kWp) of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels and 2.5 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery energy storage, totaling 1.52 megawatts peak (MWp) of solar capacity and 5 MWh of storage. Under a 20-year contract, Emerge will deliver a full turnkey solution, covering financing, design, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance. Turbotim currently operates its facilities using diesel generators. The transition to solar and battery storage is expected to significantly reduce both emissions and electricity costs. The project is projected to prevent over 2.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to the electricity consumption of around 240 households or removing 474 petrol-powered vehicles from the road. Dr. Saad Al Tameemi, Chairman of Turbotim, said the partnership represents an important step in the companys shift toward more sustainable and efficient energy use. Michel Abi Saab, General Manager of Emerge, emphasized the role of distributed solar and storage solutions in helping industrial clients reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and meet decarbonization targets. Established in 2021, Emerge focuses on distributed solar, battery storage, off-grid solar, and hybrid energy systems for commercial and industrial clients. The company currently provides clean energy to more than 40 sites across the GCC region. DENVER (KDVR) Police are keeping an eye on a bear spotted in Lone Tree and asking residents to keep kids inside and not approach the bear. The Lone Tree Police Department was alerted to the bear sighting near C-470 on Thursday, and said it left the area around 4 p.m. Police posted an alert on Facebook Friday just before 11:30 a.m., saying that the bear had returned. The bear was spotted napping in a bush in the Heritage Hills neighborhood, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department said it is monitoring the situation and said the wildlife officers are aware. At this time, no action is being taken, the department said. Residents are asked to not approach the bear and keep children inside. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) An Evansville man was hospitalized after authorities say he accidentally shot himself in the mouth. Evansville Police were dispatched to the 800 block of North Saint Joseph Avenue at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Authorities say a woman called 911 and said a man shot himself and was driving to the hospital. After meeting with officers, police say the man admitted to drinking earlier in the night, and said he accidentally shot himself while attempting to holster his weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is currently no word on the mans condition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). State police have officially filed charges against two of three men they say were involved in a robbery at Kay Jewelers on Walmart Drive in Uniontown. Nearly $400,000 worth of diamonds and other jewelry were stolen from the store in June 2024. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Armed robbers get away with $60K in jewelry from Fayette County store, state police say 400,000, I mean you cant give up on that, especially putting the people down, face down? Youve got to do something about it, said Shane Layton of Uniontown after hearing of the charges being filed Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the two men was identified as Deaundre Butler of Ohio. Police said Butler and another man, who has not been identified, entered the store minutes before it closed. The unknown man told an employee he was looking for a two-karat LEO diamond. Police said he lifted his shirt and showed an employee the handle to a gun, and told her he wanted all the LEOs and ordered her to the back of the store. Police said Butler, who was still in the showroom, ordered the two other employees to lay face down on the floor. Police said employees also said he had a gun in his waistband. According to the criminal complaint, the unknown man told the employee, Youre going to give me everything in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The employee gave the jewelry to the man, and the two ran off through the back of the store. Theres no reason to do things like that just to get money in life, you know? said Jeremy Matthews of Uniontown. A third man identified as Julius Alls is also facing charges. He didnt go into the store, but police said he is seen on surveillance video driving a gold truck away from Kay Jewelers after the robbery. Police also linked a BMW that followed that truck after the robbery to Alls through traffic cameras and an incident report from North Carolina. A traffic stop there in February 2024 involved both Butler and Alls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could have been way worse, but the cops did their job, Layton said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Police are looking for help tracking down a silver Ford Escape that was seen on security video driving south on Hall Street in Manchester around the time of a possible hit-and-run on Tuesday. Officers responded to a report of an unconscious 20-year-old man lying in the road at the intersection of Hall and Lowell streets just before noon, according to a news release issued by the Manchester Police Department on Thursday afternoon. The injured man was bleeding from his head and it was initially unclear how he was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators determined the man was hit by a vehicle while crossing the intersection. Police said they did not know if the SUV was directly involved in the incident. Anyone with information about the vehicle or the crash can call Manchester Traffic Investigator Chris Day at 603-792-5446, email cday@manchesternh.gov, or make an anonymous tip via the Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040 or online at www.manchestercrimeline.org. (KRON) The Antioch Police Department is investigating two shootings that occurred just days apart from each other. In the first incident on May 20, APD said officers responded at 8:51 p.m. to the 3900 block of Delta Fair Boulevard where they located a 31-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound. The woman received first aid at the scene and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Man arrested after trying to steal ATM by dragging cash box along Hwy 4 corridor: police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the second shooting reported two days later on May 22, APD officers arrived at 4:23 p.m. on the 2000 block of Crater Peak Way to find a 21-year-old man suffering from an arm gunshot wound. The man was treated at the location then taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Police have not yet released descriptions of any suspects. Antioch police said the shootings appear to be isolated incidents, but the investigation remains active in both cases. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man accused of killing a woman in April was extradited to Baton Rouge after his arrest in Ohio. The Baton Rouge Police Department said Richard Stinson, 68, was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday, May 22. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals on April 25 near Cincinnati, Ohio. He faces charges of first-degree murder and home invasion in connection with the beating death of Rose Davillier, 68. Officers responded to the 4100 block of White Sands Drive on April 14, where Davilliers body was found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact BRPDs Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867. Baton Rouge man accused of hitting officer with his vehicle and nearly injuring another Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Shreveport Police Department is actively searching for a man wanted in connection with multiple criminal offenses. Kwontravious Seets is currently wanted for one count of aggravated flight from an officer and several traffic violations. These charges stem from a May 19th incident, during which Seets was identified as the driver of a vehicle that fled from law enforcement officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further investigation revealed that Seets also has outstanding warrants from Canton, Texas, related to firearms and narcotics violations. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Kwontravious Montrell Seets is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at 318-673-7300. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. German police are searching for a 13-year-old boy suspected of having stabbed and critically injured a 12-year-old classmate at a primary school in Berlin. Police said Friday they secured a kitchen knife at the scene of the incident, which took place at a school in the north-western neighbourhood of Spandau, on the outskirts of Berlin. Criminal police are searching for the teenage suspect after his parents reported him missing after he failed to return from school. The 12-year-old boy is said to be in stable condition after undergoing surgery, according to police. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 23. The Chairman of the Management Board of JSC Uzbekneftegaz met with the President of Schlumberger (SLB) for the Asia-Pacific region to discuss the implementation of the Field Management Agreement for the Ustyurt region fields, Trend reports. During the meeting, both parties reviewed key milestones for project initiation, including the formation of the Joint Project Management Team and the mobilization of highly qualified international experts. They also discussed concrete steps to launch the first phase of work, covering organizational arrangements, infrastructure preparation, and coordination of a detailed action plan. The discussion placed significant emphasis on strategic collaboration goals such as enhancing resource management efficiency, adopting advanced technological solutions, and expanding geological exploration activities. Both sides stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach and a commitment to long-term results as top priorities. The meeting reaffirmed a shared dedication to the practical implementation of agreed measures and the joint advancement of critical initiatives aimed at the sustainable development of Uzbekistans oil and gas sector. Earlier this month, Uzbekneftegaz JSC and Schlumberger (SLB) signed the Field Management Agreement during the 27th International Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference "OGU Uzbekistan 2025," held in Tashkent. Founded in 1926, Schlumberger is the worlds largest oilfield services company, offering a wide range of technologies and services to the global oil and gas industry. Specializing in reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing, Schlumberger operates in over 120 countries and is a leader in advancing cutting-edge technologies for oil and gas exploration and production. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A large container ship likely ran aground in a Norwegian fjord because the responsible officer on the ship's bridge fell asleep, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported on Friday, citing police sources. The man, like other crew members, said he had fallen asleep, NTB said. Early on Thursday morning, the 135-metre-long container ship NCL Salten failed to turn as planned in the Trondheim Fjord near Byneset and ran aground just a few metres from a house on the waterfront. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was injured in the incident and, according to current information, the house escaped with only minor damage besides a broken heat pump pipe. The authorities said the ship had caused a landslide about 100 metres wide in the vicinity, but this is not believed to have had any major consequences. The shipping company said it was aware that the police had identified a suspect. It said it is supporting the authorities with their ongoing investigations and is conducting an internal inquiry of its own, but refused to speculate on the matter. The man in question is a foreign national with the rank of officer, aged between 30 and 40, and was not the captain of the ship, NTB said. The salvage of the NCL Salten is proving more difficult than originally hoped and the ship remains next to the house. The shipping company emphasized that ensuring a safe salvage operation is its top priority. The suspect in the knife attack at the central train station in the northern German city of Hamburg is a 39-year-old German woman, police said on Friday. A police spokesman told dpa that authorities are investigating whether the suspect, who was detained shortly after the attack, was in a state of mental distress. "After an initial video review, we assume that the woman acted alone," the spokesman added. Police have not confirmed the number of victims. A spokesman for the Hamburg fire service said six people suffered life-threatening injuries. Police on duty at the scene after several people were seriously injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. Christian Charisius/dpa PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) A park in Pickerington became a trouble spot on the last day of school last year and the Pickerington Police Department is taking steps to try and prevent a repeat this year. Friday is the last day of school for students in Pickerington. Poisonous plant rapidly spreading across Ohio: what to do if you see it We want them to have fun, we want them to celebrate the end of school, they need to do it responsibly and that starts with the parents at home, Pickerington Police Chief Tod Cheney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the eve of the last day of school, he encouraged parents to talk with their children about what to do and not to do when classes get out. Unfortunately, the juvenile crime has picked up here, other places around Columbus that you see it, Cheney said. We have not been immune to it, either. Victory Park is close to one of the communitys high schools and a middle school. On the last day of school last year, more than 200 students gathered at the park, according to Cheney. He said the students flipped over trash cans, climbed on the roof of the shelter house, and fought. He also said there was underage drinking. Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve had minor incidents in the past, but this really elevated starting last year, Cheney said. The department learned about talk of possible fights again this year, according to Cheney. He said there will be extra officers working overtime at the park. Speak to your child about these things, talk to them about the proper behavior, know where they are, tell them the police are going to have a high presence there and theyre going to have a zero tolerance policy, Cheney said. The department shared the information on social media as well. Housing affordability in central Ohio stirs emotional debate Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would say to the students just celebrate appropriately, theres absolutely no reason for disorderly conduct fighting, and, really, vandalism in the park, Cheney said. Pickerington Schools shared the following response about the situation: We have sent communications to our families from our Interim Superintendent, Dr. Scott J. Hunt. The messaging encourages parents to talk with their children about responsible behavior and speak up if they see anything concerning. Safety is a shared responsibility, and as a community, we must work together to ensure a positive environment for our youth. While this is a broader community issue, we remain committed to supporting law enforcement and families in promoting safety and respect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea on May 22, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press conference on May 23, according to the Polish news outlet RMF24. The incident marks the latest in a series of Russian provocations near NATO territory. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Russian aircraft posed a threat to regional airspace safety. "These maneuvers performed by the Russian Su-24 show that the actions were dangerous and intentional," the minister said. He added that Polish pilots quickly detected, intercepted, and forced the bomber to withdraw from the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The encounter took place near the heavily militarized Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania. Russian aircraft often fly from Kaliningrad without using transponders, failing to file flight plans, and not establishing contact with regional air traffic control a pattern that NATO officials have long described as high-risk behavior. "We are resistant to provocations, but we react appropriately, individually and collectively," Kosiniak-Kamysz said, referring to NATO's air policing measures. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us The intercepted aircraft, a Soviet-designed Su-24 bomber, is capable of carrying guided bombs and precision missiles and was developed for low-level penetration missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has scrambled fighter jets multiple times in response to missile and drone attacks near its border. On several occasions, Russian projectiles have briefly entered Polish airspace, prompting strong protests from Warsaw and increased NATO monitoring in the region. On Feb. 11, a Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft flew into Polish airspace over the Gdansk Bay for over a minute. Moscow blamed a navigational failure, though Polish officials have dismissed similar explanations in the past as implausible. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and hosts significant NATO infrastructure, has warned that Russian aerial provocations could trigger escalation if not contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraine confirms strike on Russian factory making parts for Iskander ballistic missiles, glide bombs Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called the opposition presidential candidate Karol Nawrockis promise to block Ukraines accession to NATO an act of "treason against the state". Source: European Pravda, citing a statement by Tusk on TVN24, a Polish 24-hour commercial news channel Details: Tusk said that the presidential candidate had claimed that Poland would never agree to Ukraine joining NATO, and there could be no better term for this than treason against the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that he considers this one of the most high-profile scandals of this campaign. Tusk stressed that there were few issues on which full consensus and complete solidarity were reached between the late President Lech Kaczynski and himself during his time as prime minister. However, he said that there was complete agreement on the matter of Ukraine, its sovereignty, its pro-Western stance, and NATO membership. He stressed that Ukraines NATO membership was fundamental for Polands security, and therefore the last thing Poland should do was to implement or support Putins demands. Background: The signing of an eight-point declaration between Nawrocki and Sawomir Mentzen, the leader of the Confederation, an anti-Ukrainian organisation, took place during a live broadcast. Nawrocki stated that he would not sign the law ratifying Ukraines accession to NATO. According to him, discussing this issue is pointless. Following the first round of the presidential election held on 18 May, Warsaw Mayor Rafa Trzaskowski from the ruling party advanced to the second round with 31.36% of the vote, along with Karol Nawrocki, Head of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, backed by the opposition party Law and Justice (PiS), who received 29.54%. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Polish troops have shown a section of engineering fortifications on the Polish-Russian border, constructed under the East Shield programme. Source Polish news portal RMF24, as reported by European Pravda Details: Photos show the fortifications in the village of Rutka, located in Gmina Barciany, administrative district in Ketrzyn County. They are being built as part of East Shield Poland's national deterrence and defence programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the event, Lieutenant General Stanisaw Czosnek, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, emphasised that Poland, as a self-respecting country, has its own defence preparedness plans. Fortifications on the Polish-Russian border. Photo: Polish Press Agency Quote from Czosnek: "The security environment in our region has significantly deteriorated. We are in a state of hybrid war, and we are acting in advance. We started defensive measures much earlier (...). The expansion of the East Shield along the border with Russia is taking place in Rutka, but we are doing the same along the border with Belarus and in the area near Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: He underlined that the engineering fortifications are the most visible element, but "the East Shield programme is multi-layered". Czosnek explained that the programme includes reconnaissance, early warning systems, chemical protection, logistics systems, military defence, mobility and countermobility and adapting medical infrastructure to the needs of the armed forces in the region. The military personnel are cooperating with all government institutions and local authorities, as well as the ministries of agriculture, infrastructure and digital affairs. Czosnek also stated that the troops do not expropriate private property when planning such investments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Czosnek: "There were a lot of concerns about land acquisition. We have been working here for a year. There are no expropriations. The troops use state treasury lands, military facilities or property belonging to local authorities. There is not a single case where private property has been affected." Details: Major General Marek Wawrzyniak, Head of the Military Engineering Directorate, also took part in the event near the Russian border. Quote from Wawrzyniak: "We are aware that any fortification is merely an obstacle if not secured, so firing positions, shelters for soldiers and firing points for equipment are being built here. When planning, we rely on experience gained in Ukraine and other operations. This location is a good example of how engineering obstacles should be positioned in the field. On one side, there is forest, and on the other swampy terrain, which provides an anti-mobility advantage." Details: He noted that under the planning and construction of the East Shield, the troops have acquired land in 30 settlements, where work is already under way. Reconnaissance has been conducted in over 70 settlements and locations. Background: At the end of last year, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the start of construction of the East Shield fortification system along the borders with Russia and Belarus. The decree to establish the national deterrence and defence programme East Shield, with a budget of PLN 10 billion (about US$2.6 billion) for implementation from 2024 to 2028, was adopted by the Polish government on 10 June last year during an off-site meeting in Biaystok. Earlier, it was reported that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland would appeal to the European Union for funding to build a network of bunkers, barriers, defensive lines and military depots along the borders with Russia and Belarus. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Local leaders, U.S. Steel and the union are weighing in after President Donald Trump announced a deal with Nippon Steel. RELATED COVERAGE >>> President Trump announces deal with Nippon Steel, keeps U.S. Steel headquarters in Pittsburgh Trump said the U.S. Steel headquarters will stay in Pittsburgh because of the deal. U.S. Steel President Trump is a bold leader and businessman who knows how to get the best deal for America, American workers and American manufacturing. U.S. Steel will remain American, and we will grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel that brings massive investment, new technologies and thousands of jobs over the next four years. U.S. Steel greatly appreciates President Trumps leadership and personal attention to the futures of thousands of steelworkers and our iconic company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David McCall, International President, United Steelworkers We cannot speculate about the impact of todays announcement without more information. Our concern remains that Nippon, a foreign corporation with a long and proven track record of violating our trade laws, will further erode domestic steelmaking capacity and jeopardize thousands of good, union jobs. Senator Dave McCormick I applaud President Trump, Secretary Bessent, and other senior administration officials in achieving this huge victory for America and the U.S. Steel Corporation. Only Donald Trump could have made this happen and Im grateful to him for having me, Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) from our Pennsylvania delegation in the Oval Office yesterday to discuss it. I told him what I have said all along. My priorities are preserving and expanding jobs and investment in the Mon Valley. This partnership gets it done. This $14 billion investment by Nippon Steel ensures this storied American company remains under U.S. leadership, dramatically enhances U.S. domestic steel production capacity, protects more than 11,000 Pennsylvania jobs, and supports the creation of at least 14,000 more. I have made clear my top priority in any agreement is protecting the jobs of workers in the Mon Valley, in addition to securing renewed investment in Pennsylvania steel jobs and the local economy, while ensuring that U.S. Steel remains under U.S. control. This partnership is great for the economy, great for national security, and great for the hardworking people of Pennsylvania. I am proud to stand by President Trump as he lives up to our shared promise to rebuild US manufacturing and deliver for Americas workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator John Fetterman Vowed to jam that up almost a year and a half ago and we did. The original deal was a death sentence for Mon Valley steel. Nippon coughed up an extra $14B. This is why we fight for the union way of life, and I will continue to support @steelworkers no matter the cause. https://t.co/iYHVLZhDUG U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) May 23, 2025 Governor Josh Shapiro Since the day this proposed transaction was announced, Lieutenant Governor Davis and I have worked with the leadership of Nippon and U.S. Steel, local labor, and federal, state, and local partners to press for the best deal to keep U.S. Steel headquartered in Pittsburgh, protect union jobs, and secure the future of steelmaking in Western Pennsylvania. Throughout the entire process, I have maintained that my priority was to keep and grow jobs here in Pennsylvania and get the largest investment we possibly could for our Commonwealth, as I expressed to President Trump directly when we discussed this transaction in recent days. Now that President Trump who has sole decision making authority in the CFIUS process, has expressed his support for the deal we have the opportunity to deliver historic investments, ensure the future of American steelmaking continues to run through the Mon Valley while the headquarters of U.S. Steel remains in Pittsburgh and have our workers, right here in Pennsylvania, continue leading the world with their skill and innovation. Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mon Valley is my home, and I know many folks who work at U.S. Steels plants in the region. The Governor and I have been engaging with the companies leaders, union leaders, workers, and other government leaders for months. Throughout, our top priority has been preserving these good jobs union jobs for Pennsylvania workers. Todays announcement is promising, but I want to make sure everyone involved in the deal holds up their end of the bargain. I look forward to seeing the promised investments become a reality and the workers receive everything theyve fought for. Governor Shapiro has been engaged with all parties involved in this deal since the day the proposal was announced in 2023. He was in direct talks with the United Steelworkers, U.S. Steel, and Nippon leadership the day the proposed merger was announced and remained in close contact with the Biden Administration, state leaders from both parties, private sector leaders, and many others over the past year and a half as he worked to protect Pennsylvania jobs." Rep. Summer Lee While we are still gathering information on todays announcement, what remains non-negotiable is our commitment to protecting the thousands of union jobs that anchor entire neighborhoods and communities across Western Pennsylvania. Our region knows all too well what happens when decisions are made without putting workers, local community investment, and resident health at the center of the conversation. Rep. Chris Deluzio Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the last year and a half, my goal has not changed: strengthen American steelmaking and protect union Steelworkers and Pittsburgh U.S. Steel headquarters jobs. The devil will be in the details about President Trumps announcement for the future of U.S. Steel. But I do know one thing: thank goodness guys like me didnt fold and weakly say yes to Nippons initial offer. Because we didnt blink, the reported $14+ billion offer on the table is 10 times better. I will keep holding Nippon and U.S. Steels feet to the fire: we need ironclad guarantees about the Steelworkers jobs and contractual rights, the Pittsburgh headquarters, and investment into Western PA. Alongside labor and industry, I will keep working with the White House, Governor Shapiro, and federal and local leaders to make sure our region emerges stronger than ever. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato Steel operations in the Mon Valley and reducing air pollution are both important to Allegheny Countys economic future. Now that the Trump administration has indicated a deal can move forward, we want to see Nippon commit to investing in the workers and honor the collective bargaining agreements now and in the future; be a good community partner with Mon Valley residents and work with county and local government to build a future where everyone can thrive; and invest in new technologies and infrastructure on site to modernize the campus, put local people to work, and improve air quality. If Nippon can meet those criteria, we welcome them to Allegheny County. I am committed to working collaboratively with all partners to make sure the Mon Valley is invested in and has the resources it needs. Statement from Allegheny Conference CEO Stefani Pashman on behalf of the Board of Directors Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are incredibly thankful to President Trump for todays announcement approving the Nippon SteelU.S. Steel (USS) deal. The decision reflects a clear recognition of the opportunity this significant investment presents not just for the economic future of the Pittsburgh region but for the future of American manufacturing and steelmaking. We extend our sincere gratitude to Senator McCormick for his leadership and advocacy in ensuring that the transformational impact this deal has on southwestern Pennsylvania remained at the forefront of this national conversation. This deal means USS will expand its workforce in the region, modernize its facilities, and continue to operate its headquarters in the Pittsburgh region. This is a historic moment to celebrate both for what the deal means and what it says about our region that our energy assets, skilled workforce, higher education, and strategic location to markets are a tremendous value proposition for investment from companies like Nippon. We can now unify around the companys bright future, benefiting from the expertise, innovation, and investment Nippon will bring to our region. We are also very appreciative of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Governor Shapiro for their efforts during this process. We stand ready to welcome Nippon Steel to our community and our tables as our partner in regional economic growth. We will do our part to ensure that this investment delivers on its promise for the workers and the communities that have helped define the strength of the American steel industry for generations and now will long into the future" PA State Senator Kim Ward This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A Politico investigation suggests that a German tech company may have exported technology to Russia via Slovenia despite new EU sanctions. Source: European Pravda; Politico Details: The investigation found that the company Kontron, which has offices across the EU, the UK and the US, used its Slovenian subsidiary to export telecommunications technology worth more than 3.5 million to its Russian subsidiary at the end of 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This happened despite several waves of EU sanctions, including the 11th sanctions package introduced in June 2023 which aimed to restrict the export of advanced technologies and dual-use goods to Russia. The export documents reviewed by the publication show that 11 shipments were made from Kontron's Slovenian subsidiary to Iskra Technologies, a Russian subsidiary, between July and November 2023, after the June sanctions had come into force. The exported products included dual-use goods, including the SI3000 system, which can monitor and intercept telecommunications traffic. The company stated that these deliveries were made under valid permits issued by the Slovenian government and related to contracts already concluded. It also said it had stopped all new shipments after June 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "After the implementation of the 11th package of sanctions (23 June), we stopped exporting any new goods and only delivered already approved exports in compliance with issued export licences, in accordance with the EU sanctions in force," the company stated. Politico noted that Kontron has previously announced its withdrawal from Russia. In particular, it condemned the "great human suffering" caused by the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine and said it would no longer invest in Russia. However, Kontron remains present in the Russian market through its subsidiary Iskra Technologies, which was included in the EU sanctions list in December 2024. The companys year-end report states that "Iskra Technologies is still 48.4 per cent owned by Kontron" through its Slovenian subsidiary. Kontron did not respond to the journalists' enquiry as to who owns the remaining 51.6% of Iskra's shares but said it is a "Russian entity not related/associated with Russian state/state-owned companies". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation also shows that Kontron's Slovenian branch has made at least 49 deliveries of SI3000 technology and spare parts to Kazakhstan since June 2023. In addition, it is noted that Iskra Technologies merged with the Russian company RTSoft in August 2023, which Kontron called its "sister company". RTSoft had been licensed by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) to work with Russian classified information since 2016. However, Kontron claims that the licence was cancelled in April 2022. Slovenian documents show that as of the end of 2023, Kontron d.o.o. held a 3.546 million loan to Iskra Technologies which falls due in 2026-2027. It also wrote off 6.393 million of debts owed by a Russian company in 2022. EU sanctions ban providing financial assistance or making funds available to sanctioned entities. Kontron said that these loans remain active but have been reviewed for compliance with the sanctions. Background: In October 2024, Finnish customs launched an investigation into a criminal scheme involving a company based in Finland's east that transported drones, sonar equipment, processors and other electronics worth several hundred thousand euros to Russia. In these schemes, sanctioned goods are falsely declared as being destined for Central Asia or the Balkans, while their actual destination is Russia. In early January 2025, it was reported that Finland continues to record attempts to export goods subject to sanctions to Russia due to the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even though the border was closed a year ago. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Pope names bishop of San Diego, marking first Vietnamese-American bishop in US SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV appointed Auxiliary Bishop Michael Pham as the new bishop of San Diego, making him the first Vietnamese-American bishop in the United States. The announcement was a historic moment for both the Diocese of San Diego and the broader Catholic community. A journey of faith and service Born on Jan. 27, 1967, in Da Nang, Vietnam, Bishop Pham fled the country with his family in 1980, seeking refuge in Malaysia. After being sponsored by an American family, they settled in Blue Earth, Minnesota, in 1981. The Pham family relocated to San Diego in 1985, Bishop Pham completed his education and eventually entered the priesthood. He was ordained in 1999 for the Diocese of San Diego. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Pham has held various roles, including pastor, diocesan vocations director, and vicar general. In 2017, he was appointed as episcopal vicar for ethnic and intercultural communities, a position that allowed him to foster unity among the diverse cultural groups within the diocese. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VIDEO: Fireball erupts as plane crashes in San Diego A historic appointment Bishop Phams appointment as Bishop of San Diego is a significant milestone in the Catholic Churchs history in the U.S. His ascension to this role reflects the churchs recognition of the contributions of immigrant communities and the importance of diverse leadership. The Diocese of San Diego, serving approximately 1.3 million Catholics, is hoping for continued growth and unity under his guidance. The installation ceremony for Bishop Pham is scheduled for July 17, 2025, at the Cathedral Catholic Church in San Diego. The community eagerly anticipates this momentous occasion, celebrating a new chapter in diocesan leadership. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Friends, family, and friends of former Christian metalcore drummer, Daniel Williams, are mourning his presumed death after a small plane he was reportedly traveling on crashed in San Diego. It took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and made a stop in Wichita, Kansas before heading on to California. Williams, 39, was the drummer for a popular band, The Devil Wears Prada, which he left in 2016 to pursue a career in software engineering. According to The Daily Mail, the Cessna plane took off from Teterboro at 11:15pm ET on Wednesday night and crashed near Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams reportedly told friends that he was traveling with Dave Shapiro, a music agent and the pilot of the plane. Before it took off, he shared a series of snaps to his Instagram stories, one of which shows him posing in front of the plane's controls. Investigators have reportedly confirmed that two people on the plane perished, who are presumably Shapiro and Williams, though the identity of the passengers isn't confirmed. People are already leaving messages of condolences on Williams' Instagram page, with one saying, "I cant believe youre gone. I remember the first time seeing you guys at Summerfest 2010, and I still have your drumstick from Warped tour 2011. Im glad I got to meet you. Im so sorry and my heart goes out to all of your family, friends, & loved ones. You will be missed brother. " We'll be keeping an eye out for future developments on this story. Popular Drummer, 39, Feared to Have Perished in Plane Crash first appeared on Parade on May 22, 2025 The Daily Star, May 22, 2025 How not to describe the Awami League Awami League office burnt down Burnt remains of the Awami League office at Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on August 6, 2024, a day after the partys ouster from power. FILE PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN When the Awami League government initiated the prosecution of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010, it justified the use of an unamended International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973 by arguing that the act was modelled on the legal framework used in the post-World War II Nuremberg Trials. According to the government and its supporters, the act reflected international legal standards because it paralleled the laws under which senior Nazi leaders were prosecuted. This justification, however, ignored the substantial evolution of international law between 1945 and 2010. While the Awami League may have been correct in saying the 1973 act adhered to the standards of the 1940s, it failed to recognise that international legal standards and definitions had significantly developed over the subsequent six decades. As such, relying solely on the Nuremberg framework in 2010 was highly problematic. Today, we see a troubling echo of that historical distortion. Some proponents of banning the Awami League draw comparisons between the party and the Nazi Party, citing the Allied powers postwar dissolution of the latter as justification. Such analogies are frequently accompanied by the claim that the Awami League is comparable to the Nazi Party. There are profound and fundamental differences between Nazi Germany and the Awami Leagues governance in Bangladesh. Nazi Germany was a totalitarian dictatorship, enforced through institutions like the Gestapo and SS, that invaded countries across Europe in pursuit of global domination. It implemented the industrial-scale genocide of six million Jews and millions of others, including Roma, disabled individuals, political dissidents, and more, through a system of concentration camps and gas chambers. To equate this with the Awami League is both to trivialise the enormity of Nazi crimes and distort the reality of Bangladeshi politics. While serious criticisms of the Awami League are both valid and necessary, they must be proportionate and grounded in fact. There were extrajudicial killings during the Awami League ruledeplorable and indefensiblebut between 2009 and 2023, according to Odhikar, these numbered below 200 annually, comparable to the average yearly figures of killings recorded during the five years of the previous BNP government: just over 200 killings per year. The Awami League government did suppress media freedom and censor free speech more generally, shutting down Amar Desh and Sangram, imprisoning at least two editors, closing a couple of TV stations and arresting hundreds under restrictive social media laws. Yet, independent media continued to operate, with plenty of criticism. Under the BNP rule, ETV, a popular independent TV station, was forcibly closed. Disappearances did occur under the Awami League, a grim development that marked a break from previous governments, but while very serious, the scale must be understood in context. Though we still have to wait for the final report of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, until August 2024, human rights organisations documented around 200 cases of individuals who either remained missing or were later found dead throughout the 15-plus years of Awami League rulea tragic and deplorable figure, but far below the scale seen in Argentina or Chile in the 1970s and 1980s, or Sri Lanka, where tens of thousands were disappeared and killed. Elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were deeply flawed, with the 2018 election widely regarded as rigged. Still, elections were held, and opposition parties had the option to participateunlike in Nazi Germany, where from 1933 onwards, all political parties and opposition of any kind was banned. Yes, the Awami League promoted a cult of personality and a divisive form of nationalist ideology, but it was neither racist nor supremacist in the way Nazi ideology was. The Awami Leagues nationalism was rooted in the legacy of the Liberation War, not in theories of ethnic superiority. Nazi Germany was a totalitarian dictatorship, enforced through institutions like the Gestapo and SS, that invaded countries across Europe in pursuit of global domination. It implemented the industrial-scale genocide of six million Jews and millions of others, including Roma, disabled individuals, political dissidents, and more, through a system of concentration camps and gas chambers. To equate this with the Awami League is both to trivialise the enormity of Nazi crimes and distort the reality of Bangladeshi politics. While serious criticisms of the Awami League are both valid and necessary, they must be proportionate and grounded in fact. So any comparison of the Awami League government with Nazi Germany does not stand up to scrutiny. Nor does trying to justify the ban on its activities on the back of what the Allied powers did in 1945 after the end of a six-year global war and genocide. The ban on the Nazi Party is no "global precedent," nor is it "conceptually similar" as some have argued in seeking to justify the ban. It is telling, and somewhat troubling, that the current government must reach back 80 years to 1945 to defend its decisionjust as the Awami League once did when invoking history to legitimise the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act. Far more recent examples of political party bans offer cautionary tales, even if they are not historically analogous: the banning of the Baath Party in Iraq in 2003, which helped ignite a civil war, or the proscription of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 2013, which led to widespread human rights abuses. These cases highlight the dangers of outlawing major political forces in a polarised society, without being direct historical comparisons to contemporary Bangladesh. The misuse of Nazi analogies is part of a broader pattern of rhetorical distortion. The Awami League is casually described as "fascist." Key characteristics of a fascist party include the glorification of war and an aggressive belief in the superiority of the nation or an ethnic group. While elements of the Awami Leagues conduct may well resemble certain authoritarian traits of a fascist party, it is inaccurate to describe it as one. Apart from all these descriptions being intellectually inaccurate, they are politically reckless and dangerous. Such rhetoric helps to legitimise repressive actionswhether through baseless arrests of party members and supporters, which have been going on in recent months, or in outright party bans, as has just been announced. For more than 15 years, Bangladesh endured a political climate in which the Awami League frequently distorted public discourse. Critics were branded as "Razakars" (collaborators), and even the main opposition party, the BNP, was routinely labelled "anti-liberation" or a "terrorist" organisation. This rhetoric served to justify a series of repressive actions. Now, with the fall of the Awami League, the question arises: is Bangladesh simply going to mirror the same manipulative rhetoriconly with new vocabulary and different targets? David Bergman is a journalist who has written about Bangladesh for many years. He is on X at @TheDavidBergman. [Reproduced from The Daily Star for educational and non commercial use] o o [Links to Related Background Materials Ban on Awami League and future actions o o As Bangladesh Reinvents Itself, Islamist Hard-Liners See an Opening A brewing shift toward religious conservatism has emerged from the political vacuum in this country of 175 million people. By Mujib Mashal and Saif Hasnat Reporting from Taraganj and Dhaka in Bangladesh Published April 1, 2025 Updated April 3, 2025 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/asia/bangladesh-islam.html?searchResultPosition=5 ] Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) People are moving in and businesses are thriving in Anderson County. Marcus Mitchell, owner of Mitchells Salon and Spa in downtown Clinton, said hes noticed the influx of people over the last few years. ORNL innovation leading the way for over 80 years The growth down here has really helped our business, weve expanded, he said. Weve also gotten new clients from California, Colorado, theres just a lot of people moving to East Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rick Meredith, president of the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce said people are relocating there for a number of reasons, including the countys convenient location between I-40 and I-75, proximity to three different lakes and the low tax rate. About three weeks ago, we got our special numbers with our census, and weve grown about 4.5% as a total, and most of that growth is in Oak Ridge and Clinton, Meredith said. The 4.5% growth is since 2021. With the rising population, comes the need for change in infrastructure. Were preparing with a streetscape with the city of Clinton, who is going to take Market and Main Street, one state highway and one local street, total revamp, ADA sidewalks, landscaping, very pedestrian friendly, and we need that to accommodate these people and how were growing, Meredith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emory Valley Center continues to serve disabled community in Anderson County Several housing developments are also in the works. One is at the corner of Sinking Springs Road and Villages at Hinds Creek Lane. It will have 300 new homes. A historic building in Clinton was converted to an affordable housing apartment complex earlier this year, adding nearly 40 units to the downtown area. Locals have already noticed a number of new neighbors. The foot traffic is really great for all the businesses down here on Market Street, Mitchell said. Meredith also said attractions like Aspire Park are bringing in more visitors, some of which choose to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After Portland city workers represented by a union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike on Thursday, the union now says they have reached a tentative agreement on their first contract with the city. The City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW), which represents 800 city workers in nearly every bureau, had been in negotiations with the city for a contract for over a year for layoff protections, compensation, as well as a new remote work policy. Portland State staff, students fight for higher education at State Capitol Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union said their workers run grants and contracts, manage payroll, handle emergency and crisis communications, conduct public outreach, analyze budgets, and keep the city in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. With 88% of its members voting, 92% of CPPW workers voted in favor of authorizing to strike after an impasse in negotiations earlier this month. This prompted 11 hours of mediation Thursday night, culminating in a Friday morning announcement by both the City and CPPW stating they reached a tentative agreement on CPPWs first contract. Should the city and the union have failed to reach a contract settlement, the strike would have happened as early as June 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CPPW says they plan to release an overview of the tentative agreement next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Higher education was the focus of the Oregon Senate on Thursday as Portland State University lobbied for their school and education funding overall. A number of bills related to higher education still need to be decided during this legislative session. Thats why Portland State University brought a large contingent to the capitol for PSU Lobby Day. It started early in the morning at the PSU Viking Pavilion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two busloads, carrying 150 PSU staff, alums, students and foundation members took their case to the Capitol. We hope to tell our story so that the legislators can hear, said former legislator Julie Williamson. Oregon ranks 45th in state school funding per capita. That doesnt represent the values of our state, or in Portland, added PSU student Romero Gemmell. With more than 20,000 students in the heart of downtown, PSU is an economic driver, with an estimated $1.8 billion in economic impact. If theres a comeback to be had in Portland, PSU will be a part of it, as new construction and a new performing arts center is part of its future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the PSU chamber choir taking center stage on the Senate floor, the Senate passed House Bill 2556, which officially designated PSU as the states urban research university. Its a designation thats more than symbolic. Having this designation will help with branding and grants, said PSU President Ann Cudd. PSU Lobby Day also helped focus the attention on higher education, including bills to continue support for the billion-dollar public university support fund and the $150 million Oregon Opportunity Grant, which helps with financial aid. Our students need to know that we support them and that we can help them be productive contributors to our society, said Senator Rob Wagner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the bills still under consideration will benefit Oregons other colleges and universities as well as PSU. The legislative session is scheduled to be wrapped up at the end of June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Well, its Friday. This is a special edition of the Pentagon Rundown in which we will look at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths promise that the latest Defense Department review of the U.S. militarys withdrawal from Afghanistan will finally lead to accountability for the debacle. On Aug. 26, 2021, 13 U.S. service members and around 170 Afghans were killed in a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The bombing was the final attack on U.S. troops in a war that claimed the lives of more than 2,000 American service members since it began on Oct. 7, 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what does accountability for the withdrawal from Afghanistan actually look like? And what about accountability for the handling of Americas longest war, one plagued almost from the outset by mission creep, nebulous goals, a lack of accountability and transparency, and no clear exit plan? Accountability for that is long overdue, but its unclear if yet another review of the final moments of a decades-spanning war will achieve it. John Sopko, then serving as the U.S. governments top watchdog for Afghanistan reconstruction, told Congress in January 2020 that U.S. government officials had an incentive to lie about progress in Afghanistan. Yet there have been few, if any, consequences for those who kept claiming Afghanistan had turned the corner claims made by senior leaders in the military and officials from presidential administrations of both parties. Neither Hegseth nor any other civilian or military leaders have said what types of actions the U.S. military might take as a result of the reviews findings a review that focuses just on the withdrawal and not the totality of the war and its management. And if it were to extend to the broader conflict, any real form of accountability would be hampered by the fact that so many of the key decision-makers in the 20-year war have since retired or otherwise left government service. A defense official queried about the matter by Task & Purpose had no additional information to provide. Another question is who exactly should be held accountable for Americas defeat in Afghanistan. The chaotic retreat from Kabul in August 2021 was far more than a military failure. Every presidential administration between 2001 and 2021 bears some responsibility, as does Congress, which ceded its authority to declare war to the executive branch shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Lets not forget the State Department, which did not order the non-combatant evacuation from Afghanistan until the day before the Taliban captured Kabul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States NATO allies and its former partners in the now defunct Afghan government also bear a degree of culpability for the final defeat, said Jonathan Schroden, an Afghanistan expert who works for CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis organization in Arlington, Virginia. The finger of blame for the outcomes we observed in Afghanistan point at every actor involved, said Schroden, who previously served as research director for the Afghanistan War Commission, which was established by Congress to conduct a comprehensive review of the conflict. It was both a systemic failure of many organizations and the collective failure of many individuals. Although there have been some previous assessments of failed military missions such as the Holloway Commissions examination of the 1980 attempt to rescue Americans held hostage by the Iranians the Afghanistan War Commission marks the first time the United States has attempted to conduct a non-political appraisal of a major war, Schroden said. For the Defense Department, the task of holding people accountable for the failures in Afghanistan will be an uphill climb, especially since the military has a long history of absolving itself from any wrongdoing. Another tried and true military tradition is finding someone to blame for a catastrophe, as the Navy did after an explosion aboard the battleship USS Iowa killed 47 sailors and again in 2020 following a deadly outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military can also be loath to discipline senior leaders, as was initially the case after four soldiers were killed in a 2017 ambush in Niger. Congress ultimately pressured the Army to withdraw a promotion to general for the colonel who approved the mission. In cases where there is no way to deny that a war has gone terribly wrong, another solution is to remove the senior commander by promoting him. Army Gens. William Westmoreland and George Casey were both named Army chief of staff after their strategies in Vietnam and Iraq, respectively, failed. Perhaps the accountability review announced by Hegseth will lead to a truly honest examination of the Afghanistan War, which defined a generation of service members and veterans. Or, it could very well be derailed by the militarys inability to accept hard truths the same thing that doomed the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of how the review pans out, those who served there can and should take pride in the individual acts of sacrifice, bravery and service they participated in and bore witness to. The latest on Task & Purpose In a major post-fire milestone Friday, Pacific Coast Highway reopened to traffic for the first time since the Palisades fire incinerated homes and businesses along the oceanfront in January. The reopening of an 11-mile stretch of PCH offers greater access to Malibu and Pacific Palisades ahead of summer and may ease commutes for those trying to get to Los Angeles from Ventura County and the west Valley. It also marks a key step forward in recovery efforts, officials said. "Theres more work to do, and well continue expediting all aspects of the recovery effort until every family is back home," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Here are California's dirtiest beaches. Take a look before you take a dip By 8 a.m. Friday it was off to the races for motorists who were once again able to drive the winding oceanfront highway as two lanes of traffic were opened in both directions. But the commute wasn't all that speedy for most and it likely won't be for a while, officials warn. Road crews are still working in the area, so the speed limit has been reduced to 25 mph. Traffic signals at Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Big Rock Drive, La Costa Beach Club and Carbon Canyon Road are set for flashing red, meaning drivers will have to stop. While much of the highway's traffic was steady for the morning commute, traffic lights and stop signs created bottlenecks in some areas. Debris removal crews and construction workers labored alongside the highway, cleaning and completing other roadwork as cars streamed by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marco Palma, 50, arrived at Surfrider Beach at 7:30 a.m. with his longboard ready to take on the waves. He spent an hour in the car driving from East Los Angeles for the chance to finally reach the sand, but he didn't mind the reduced speed limit. "Its a very small price to pay, the delay of 10 or 15 minutes, just to get access to this again," Palma said. "I was just happy to be back in the water floating around, feeling the breeze." The serenity of the moment was interrupted by a lingering reminder of the Palisades fire's devastation ash and bits of burnt wood and debris are still lingering in the water, he said. Cars and construction vehicles were driving slowly along the scenic stretch of highway just a few feet from Felicia Daffaras home and office Friday morning. The 50-year-old was marveling that the highway was once again bustling after the months-long closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She pointed to a white house with an octopus design across the highway that's expected to be leveled on Friday as fire cleanup continues. A moment later, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department patrol car flashed its lights to pull over a motorist. While most drivers were abiding by the 25 mph speed limit, several were spotted trying to race through calmer sections of the highway. Speed isnt going to be a problem," Daffara said. "I saw a woman who was swerving in between lanes get tickets right in front of our office." A Times reporter saw at least three motorists being pulled over in less than an hour, and sheriff's vehicles were parked at least every mile along the highway, while others patrolled the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have warned drivers to bring their patience with them if they're heading to the beach for Memorial Day weekend. Traffic is expected to be very heavy. Motorists are also likely to encounter a robust security presence in neighborhoods as authorities continue to restrict access into the burn areas. For months many area residents have expressed concerns that reopening the highway without a security plan could create opportunities for thieves to take advantage of their already vulnerable properties. Access to the Palisades will remain restricted to residents, business owners, employees and contractors. The number of Los Angeles Police Department checkpoints into the neighborhoods will increase from five to 16, and the California Highway Patrol will continue patrolling the area, according to the city. On Wednesday, the Malibu City Council approved a contract with a private security firm to provide armed patrols to neighborhoods ravaged by the Palisades and Franklin fires in anticipation of the highway reopening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While significant challenges remain, this development helps restore limited access for residents and travelers along the coast," Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins said of the highway reopening. "The City remains focused on ensuring public safety as we enter the summer season, and we continue to monitor conditions closely. Read more: Memorial Day weekend travel is expected to break records. Here's what you need to know By Friday afternoon, the sun had finally started to peek through the clouds and the parking lots at Malibu Village Mall and Malibu Country Mart were nearly full. Shoppers streamed bags in hand from stores to restaurants soaking up the summer-like weather. Many business owners are celebrating the return of visitors, hoping the highway's reopening will spur people to spend time and money in the area and help restore its vitality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amanda Brown, 39, was ecstatic about people coming back to Malibu to support businesses and enjoy the pier after seeing the city turn into a ghost town the last few months. "I think the news was just really focusing in on all the devastation and the closure so people werent really motivated to come out here, she said. With the cleanup efforts underway, Brown said the business community has been brainstorming summer live music events that she hopes will draw people back to the pier. Others are a little more skeptical. At Colony House Liquor and Gifts in Malibu, an employee at the cash register Friday morning said he doesnt mind the highway reopening, but he feels uneasy about the people who are just driving through to see whats left of the community after the fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I get it, people want to see, but theres nothing to look at, said the man, who identified himself only as J.H. "It isnt the same. I dont know when or if Malibu will ever be the same." 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. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Postponed from its original date due to the threat of severe weather, the Columbia County Unity Fundraiser to benefit the families of Columbia County Sheriffs Office Deputy Brandon Sikes and Deputy Gavin White will be held this Saturday. The event will be held at the Augusta Elks Lodge located at 205 Elkdom Court a few blocks from Westside High School. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food trucks and vendors will be present, as well as other activities, including a bounce house with a 60-foot obstacle course, a foam party, a visit from a favorite Disney princess, and tons of unique and antique vehicles, with a vehicle contest. Entry into the car show is $10 per vehicle entry. There will also be a silent auction with a RecTeq Grill, spa packages, a 12-foot utility trailer, Dewalt tool set, Guitar Pull tickets, gift cards, gift baskets and more. All proceeds go to benefit the families of the deputies involved in the deadly shooting that claimed the life of one Columbia County deputy on Saturday, April 26th, and severely wounded another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia County Sheriffs Office Deputy Brandon Sikes was killed in the line of duty Saturday, April 26th, and another, Columbia County Sheriffs Office Deputy Gavin White, was critically wounded when a suspect opened fire on the two deputies along I-20 near Exit 194 at Belair Road. It happened while three Columbia County Sheriffs Deputies, which included Deputies Sikes and White, were serving a Temporary Protective Order to Montgomery during a traffic stop. The suspect, James Blake Montgomery, allegedly opened fire on the three deputies with a 9mm AR Pistol after they turned to walk to their vehicles. The other on-scene deputy has not received much attention, but he is credited with saving Deputy Whites life. Columbia County Sheriff`s Office Deputy Gavin White was critically wounded when the suspect opened fire on him and the other on-scene deputies. Deputy Andrew Brown, when he noticed that White had been shot and was not dead, dragged him past several law enforcement vehicles while still under fire from the suspect and got Deputy White into one of the county vehicles where Deputy Brown drove him through the gunfire in an effort to get him to a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Columbia County Sheriffs Office, Deputy White was released from the hospital Thursday, May 1st, and was returned home where he continued his recovery. Deputy Sikes was laid to rest Monday, May 6th, following a public ceremony that saw Georgia Governor Brian Kemp 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 WJBF. DENVER (KDVR) Officials are warning the public of a possible measles exposure at Denver International Airport and a nearby hotel. The traveler landed at the international terminal of DIA on Tuesday, May 13, then went to the Quality Inn and Suites Denver International Airport for the night, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver Department of Public Health and Environment and Denver International Airport. Person with measles stayed at Pueblo hotel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 14, the traveler returned to DIA and boarded a domestic flight. Anyone who was exposed on either of the flights will be notified directly by their state or local public health agency, officials said Thursday. This situation underscores the critical importance of vaccination. Staying up to date on vaccinations and being aware of health risks when traveling are important ways to protect yourself and your community, said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist and deputy chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in the announcement of the case and possible exposures. Measles is highly contagious, and we are working swiftly to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed. Vaccination remains the most effective protection against this preventable disease. Heres where and when members of the public could have been exposed to this case of measles: Location Date/time Notes Denver International Airport 8500 Pena Blvd. Denver, CO 80249 Tuesday, May 13 5 8 p.m. Arrived at Gate A-27 in concourse A at 5:10 p.m. Walked across the bridge to international customs. International baggage claim 3. Main terminal Quality Inn and Suites shuttle to hotel Tuesday, May 13 6 8 p.m. Rode shuttle at 6 p.m. Quality Inn and Suites Denver International Airport 6890 Tower Rd. Denver, CO, 80249 Tuesday, May 13, 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, 7 a.m. Hotel lobby and elevator: Tuesday, May 13, 6:15 8:15 p.m. Hotel lobby and elevator: Wednesday, May 14, 5 7 a.m. Quality Inn and Suites shuttle to DEN Wednesday, May 14 5 7:30 a.m. Rode shuttle at 5 a.m. Denver International Airport 8500 Pena Blvd. Denver, CO 80249 Wednesday, May 14 5:30 10 a.m. Main terminal, train to gates, and concourse B. Flight departed from Gate B-86. How to prevent the spread of measles, protect yourself Anyone who was at the locations is asked to immediately contact their health care provider by phone, or call an urgent care or emergency department, where you should explain youve likely been exposed. Calling ahead prevents additional exposures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles is a highly contagious disease. Colorado health officials said that measles can spread through the air via coughs and sneezes, and can remain in the air up to two hours after the person has left. The officials said that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines provide strong protection and is the best protection. Two doses of the MMR vaccination are about 97% effective in preventing measles, according to CDPHE. The thing we want people to know about measles is that if youre vaccinated, youre very protected, said Emily Williams with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. 97% protection for your vaccine, but if folks arent vaccinated and they travel through the airport at the same time. Its possible that they were exposed to measles. Measles is very contagious. Heres how to avoid it Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monitoring for symptoms is especially critical for people who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine because they are at significantly higher risk, the agencies stated. People who are susceptible to measles and were exposed at this location may develop symptoms through Wednesday, June 4. We will update the locations, as necessary. CDPHE said measles symptoms typically take seven to 21 days to develop and include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a characteristic rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads. We have a fantastic team that is working on this contact tracing with cases that happened in the airport or happened on an aircraft, said Williams. There are a lot of partners involved. The CDC is involved; theyll be the ones to reach out to folks who are on the aircraft. Were working with the state health department, and then the health department of the state where this person traveled. In February, a Texas child, who was unvaccinated, died of measles, which health officials said was the first death from the illness in about a decade. CDPHE told FOX31 in February that the last confirmed case of measles in the state was reported in December 2023, and that most of the time, measles cases occur in Colorado after travel or in under-vaccinated communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. May 22POTSDAM Several property owners once again attended the Town Council meeting in May to voice their objections to their new assessments under the recent townwide property revaluation. Last year, the town contracted GAR Associates, a firm based in Clifton Park, for $385,000 to perform a comprehensive revaluation of all assessed properties. The town had not conducted such a revaluation in 12 years, and officials hoped it would create a fairer and more up-to-date system of tax valuations. However, for some residents, the reassessment resulted in property values increasing by as much as 50% to 100% compared to the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the assessments themselves do not automatically translate to higher tax bills, roughly a third of the town's parcels saw increased values from the GAR-led revaluation. These increases are expected to result in higher tax payments for many property owners when the town sets its new tax rate. Potsdam's Grievance Day is scheduled for May 27, with three sessions: 10 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m., and 5 to 8 p.m. Property owners who wish to formally contest their new valuations can attend any of the sessions and can bring photographs or appraisals to support their case. At the May 13 Town Board meeting, several residents criticized what they saw as poor work by GAR. Fred Stone, who lives at the corner of May and Reagan Road, argued that GAR appeared to have based its assessment of his property almost entirely on square footage. His 65-year-old raised ranch was valued at $335,000, just $10,000 less than a nearby newly built ranch home, despite being only 36 square feet smaller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stone noted that, even accounting for the town's equalization rate rising to 100% this year, his property's assessment still increased by 59%. He questioned how his older, less modernized home could be appraised so closely to a newer one. "There are a lot of errors in this assessment. And it's affecting people across this township and in the village. GAR did a poor job," Stone said. John Burke, a county legislator and local property owner, echoed Stone's frustrations, particularly criticizing GAR's use of dissimilar properties as comparables in assessing his lot. Other residents also challenged the accuracy of GAR's appraisals, saying the listed conditions of their properties did not reflect reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Property owner Eric Backus emphasized the need for transparency in GAR's methodology. "One of the biggest challenges with the assessment at this point is that the consultant that was hired did not provide a clear and open understanding of the process in which they were using to do the reassessment. And I think that disclosure is required. It's not something that's optional," Backus said. "If the board takes the assessment as is without clarity on that I believe that there are going to be, and I will already say to you, in addition to petitions, there are probably going to be legal activities," he added. "And I don't think it's worth the value of the time or the money of the town to be in the litigation over these issues." Tracey Haggett-Sloan was sharply critical of the decision to hire GAR at all, arguing that the town could have used the same funds to hire a dozen assessors and performed the work internally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What you have done here by making this decision to hire this company is a disgrace. This was an improper, lazy and, dare I say, illegitimate process of a reevaluation. We relied on a company that I compared to being a parasite that lays in wait, latching on to any municipality that happens to fall below a certain level of assessment. Then they get their $385,000 from this township and they walk away scot-free," Haggett-Sloan said. "What did we get? Not much. They did most of this process by satellite imagery drones or drive-by photos. Many of the people that have come to me have said, there's no data available. And I've looked and there's not one thing there," she said. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A chilling act of violence in the nations capital has left the global Jewish community stunned and the Kansas City metro area mourning one of its own. Two Israeli embassy employees were killed in a suspected antisemitic double homicide outside a Jewish Museum late Wednesday night. One of the victims was Sarah Milgram, a 26-year-old diplomatic staffer and Prairie Village native remembered as a beacon of light and leadership. Accused shooter charged in Washington D.C. Jewish museum shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her death, and that of her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky, has sparked waves of grief and disbelief, especially for those who knew the bright, passionate young woman once deeply involved with the local Jewish community. When you have one of your own murdered it literally hits close to home, said Jay Lewis, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, who had a personal connection to the Milgram family. Described by friends and mentors as, a positive energy force, Sarah Milgram lived her life with intention and heart. A University of Kansas graduate and former student representative on the board of KU Hillel, she was known for her fierce advocacy, kindness, and unwavering commitment to fighting antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bright, passionate woman. Super full of life. Committed to making the world a better place, Lewis said. Sarahs former classmate, Elianna Bernstein, shared memories of her friends warmth and humor. She was so inviting, so kind, she was funny. She was just such a fun person to be around, Bernstein said. Kansas City man attacks multiple women, released, then strikes again Unbeknownst to many, Sarah was on the cusp of a new life milestone. Her parents learned, as the world did, that Yaron had just bought a ring. The couple was preparing to get engaged. But instead of planning for the future, her family is now grieving an unthinkable loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unimaginable, said Lewis. Their world has just been irreparably damaged, Lewis said of Milgrams parents. While federal charges for murder have now been filed against the alleged gunman, the United States Attorney General Pam Bondi called it an act of hate. The tragedy underscores a painful reality for many Jewish Americans who feel the growing weight of antisemitism and fear for their safety. Still, Lewis offered a defiant message of hope. It is safe to be Jewish, he said. KU Hillel released a statement honoring Milgram as well. Those closest to her describe her as the definition of the best person. She exemplified the values we hold dear, it reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernstein, still reeling from the loss, urges others to stay connected to the people who matter. This just shows you, keep in touch with the people who are meaningful and special, she said. You never know whats going to happen. Search underway in south central Kansas for missing Overland Park woman Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky will not be remembered for how they died, but for how they lived, as two people passionately committed to peace, diplomacy and justice. Her job for the Israeli embassy, she was on the front lines of trying to make peace and build connections between Jews and Arabs, said Lewis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No announcements have yet been made regarding a celebration of life or memorial service for the couple. As this story continues to unfold, what remains clear is that Sarah Milgrams legacy, one of love, courage, and connection, will not be forgotten. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) A tentative agreement has been reached between Pratt & Whitney and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), according to a spokesperson for the company. Pratt & Whitney to resume contract negotiations The offer will be put up for vote by union members on May 27. A union spokesperson released this statement about the tentative agreement: Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings. Your elected negotiating committees worked hard around the clock to secure a new tentative agreement. At around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, we concluded our talks with the company. On Tuesday, our members will decide if we achieved our objectives around job security, wage security, and retirement security. This new proposal has significant changes/improvements in all three of these core areas. With that, it is very important for everyone to come to the Oakdale on Tuesday to listen to the proposed changes and to cast your vote. Until then, keep the lines strong! Thank you all for your tremendous support and dedication in our fight to secure a fair contract! IAM STRONG!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional details were not immediately available. Check back to News 8 for more updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 23. The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, Mafalda Duarte, where they discussed prospects for deepening cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Fund, Trend reports. In the course of the meeting, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that special attention is paid in our country to environmental protection, including the preservation and increase of the forest fund and the rational use of natural resources. Kazakhstan plans to hold a Regional Climate Summit next year. The main goal of this event is to find collective solutions to the most important challenges, including adaptation to the consequences of climate change and ensuring food and water security, the presidents press service said. In turn, Mafalda Duarte supported Kazakhstans efforts aimed at addressing climate issues. In particular, she highly appreciated the National Adaptation Plan being implemented with the participation of the Fund and UNDP, which includes a comprehensive system for managing natural disaster risks and an early warning system. The interlocutors also emphasized the importance of fostering a careful attitude towards nature and developing ecological culture in society. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is an international financial mechanism established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its goal is to assist developing countries in combating climate change by financing projects and initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the negative impacts of climate change. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Early in her second trimester, Linda Acoff was taken into custody for failing to complete court-ordered mental health treatment. After three weeks in the Cuyahoga County Jail in Columbus, Ohio, she began experiencing intensifying pressure, cramping, and bleeding. But despite her pleas for help, the nurse on duty offered only sanitary napkins and Tylenol. After banging on her cell door for hours, Acoff was eventually taken out of the jail's pregnancy pod on a stretcherleaving behind the remains of her 17-week-old fetus. A recent expose from The Marshall Project revealed that Acoff had contracted chorioamnionitis, an infection of the fluid and tissues inside the uterus. Although considered a serious pregnancy complication that can threaten both the fetus and the mother, there was hope that Acoff's 17-week pregnancy could have been saved. "If there's early appropriate diagnosis and intervention, that baby can absolutely survive if the patient is treated promptly," Michael Baldonieri, an OB-GYN and assistant professor of reproductive biology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, told The Marshall Project. In the end, Acoff lost her baby, and while the nurse on duty was ultimately fired, the tragedy has not inspired change in the way that Ohio handles incarcerated pregnancies or collects data on them. Unfortunately for Acoff, and the estimated 55,000 pregnant women who enter the nation's jails every year, little data exists on the impact incarceration has on pregnancy outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2024 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that "comprehensive data on pregnant women incarcerated in state prisons and local jails do not exist" even though the U.S. has "one of the highest maternal mortality rates" and "incarcerates women at the highest rate in the world." This number is trending upward: between 1980 and 2022, the female prison population in the U.S. grew by more than 585 percent, more than twice the growth rate of the male prison population. Much of this increase has been attributed to more expansive policing, post-conviction barriers, and stiffer drug sentencing laws. Women have seen drug-related arrests increase by 317 percent since 1980, while men have seen a 69 percent jump. Today, more than half of the incarcerated women are serving time for drug and property offenses. Sentencing for these offenses, which considers the nature of the crime and criminal histories, can disproportionately put pregnant women inmates in harm's way. The Prison Policy Initiative estimates that in 2024, about 189,600 women and girls were held in state custody, and 93,000 were held in local jails across the country. Of this number, more than half of the women were held in jail while awaiting trial. Even after a conviction, women were more likely to be sentenced to jail, rather than to prison, compared to convicted men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This distribution can be problematic, particularly for pregnant women, because jails are poorly positioned to provide proper health care and often offer fewer services than prisons. This discrepancy, plus negligent care, is ultimately what cost Acoff her pregnancy. Given these grim statistics, tracking pregnancy outcomes in jails is essential, Dr. Carolyn Sufrin, board member of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and fellow at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told The Marshall Project. Otherwise, Sufrin believes, it's impossible to know whether the nation's 3,000 jails are failing pregnant women. Sufrin is right to demand better data on how incarceration impacts pregnancies, but data alone will not stop the mass incarceration of Americans or reform policies that created the problem. The post Pregnant Women in Prison Aren't Getting Care, and No One Is Keeping Track appeared first on Reason.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced his request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for counties affected by the March 14-15 tornado outbreak was approved by President Donald Trump. The governor initially requested the aid in early April. During the outbreak, Mississippi experienced 18 tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and straight-line winds. Seven deaths were attributed to those storms. Eleven counties were approved for Individual Assistance, and 17 counties were approved for Public Assistance. Id like to thank President Trump for approving my request for Individual and Public Assistance, said Reeves. This support will go a long way in helping Mississippi to rebuild and recover. Our entire state is grateful for his approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippi needs this financial relief to recover from these devastating natural disasters. The Mississippi congressional delegation stands united in ensuring our communities receive the support they need to rebuild. We thank President Trump for approving the request for assistance, and we remain committed to supporting our constituents as they recover, the Mississippi congressional delegation said in a joint statement. More tornadoes and fewer meteorologists make a dangerous mix that worries officials Individual Assistance was approved for Covington, Grenada, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike, Smith, and Walthall counties. Individual assistance is available to residents in those eleven counties and can include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of this disaster. Here are the counties that were approved for Public Assistance: Calhoun, Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Leflore, Marion, Pike, Prentiss, Sharkey, Smith, Walthall, and Washington counties. The purpose of the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program is to support municipalities and counties recovering from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoration of public infrastructure. This assistance is not for homeowners or business owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents in the approved counties who sustained losses during the March 14-15 severe weather can now apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The disaster number is: DR-4874. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Weather Forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will grant disaster assistance for storms that hit Arkansas in April. President Trump declared a major disaster in Arkansas for the April 2 storms and flooding. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders submitted a letter to the president requesting direct federal assistance ahead of the storms. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requests major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump ahead of potential flooding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the request, officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said President Trump approved the agency to provide relief efforts for impacted areas. I have had continued conversations with the Trump Administration and Secretary Noem about their plans to reform FEMA and look forward to working with them to save money and get assistance directly in the hands of disaster victims, Sanders said. President Trump approves Arkansas Emergency Declaration Officials with Gov. Sanders office said President Trump will offer individual assistance to Arkansans impacted by the storms and public assistance for county and local government expenses related to storm recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. No matter what the cause or its associated color, lighting a state bridge to recognize it is now against Florida policy with, of course, a big patriotic exception. In a policy quietly adopted in February and playing out around the state this Memorial Day weekend, the Florida Department of Transportation says lighting on state-managed bridges shall be a default scheme of red, white and blue and limited to the recognition, commemoration and or promotion of government holidays. It effectively makes a standard practice out of the Freedom Summer lighting rule declared by FDOT last year. And it squelches, without express state permission, options such as rainbow colors for LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, or even orange for National Gun Violence Awareness Month, also in June, or red in September for Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent history suggests that special permission for some causes would be tough to get. Last years freedom summer declaration came about after the state overruled a practice in Tampa of deploying rainbow lighting during Pride Month. For three years the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay had sported such lighting, but in 2024 a Manatee County Commissioner objected. In prior years, creative bridge lighting had been fairly common in some locales. In 2016 the Central Florida Expressway Authority lit up the Lake Underhill Bridge on State Road 408 in Orlando with rainbow colors after the June 16 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub. CFX created by the state in 2014 said by email that it follows the city of Orlandos specialty lighting schedule. However, the city has no bridges or roads that it lights up in color for special occasions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orlando does illuminate the Lake Eola fountain, City Hall and public art displays. The citys specialty lighting schedule includes red, white and blue illumination for Memorial Day. Orlando also used specials colors for other occasions such as red on Nurses Day (May 6) and pink, purple and yellow on Mothers Day (May 12). Tatiana Quiroga, executive director of Come out with Pride Orlando which is behind the citys LGTBQ + parade and the regions biggest celebration, said her organization has never made any special lighting requests of the state. Quiroga said the city uses rainbow lights at the Lake Eola fountain for the Pride celebration. She said Orange County and the city have a long history of supporting Pride. We have a great relationship with the city but it speaks volumes that we dont have one with the state, Quiroga said. It illustrates a lack of support from the state for LGBTQ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont support pride but also what happens to the breast cancer community who want pink lights or showing support for the immigrant community or the Black community? she asked. The holidays stipulated by the state are New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The state has approved at least one exception to its policy so far: In the city of Sarasota, the community requested aqua blue as the default color on the Ringling Bridge when it isnt lit up in red, white and blue for the holidays observed by the state. With permission, those colors lit up the bridge earlier this month. FDOT said the policy is part of the Salute to America 250 Task Force, a group created by President Donald Trump thats planning a full year of festivities starting Memorial Day and running through July 4, 2026 when the U.S. celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said state bridges and highways will be lit with red, white and blue beginning Friday through 2026 in commemoration of #America250. Doing so reinforces how lucky we are to live in the Free State of Florida, USA, Perdue said in the post. The Tampa Bay Times contributed to this report MANASSAS, Va. (DC News Now) Prince William County police arrested three people in relation to an illegal gambling operation. The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said that the investigation into the operation, which was located at 7393 Miramar Dr., started on May 11. Officers were investigating an unrelated incident when they went inside The Washing Company. They saw a false wall connected to an adjoining vacant business open up and saw gambling machines inside that business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PWCPD said that investigators found that the laundromat had screens at the front desk showing camera footage from that room, where there was active gambling taking place. Prince William County police investigating targeted fatal triple shooting near Woodbridge shopping center After obtaining search warrants, detectives returned and found 30 gambling machines, money and more evidence. PWCPD said that there were three individuals involved with the operation. Between May 16 and 19, detectives arrested Nasir Jafri, Joel Enrique Rivera-Rivera and Giovanni Alfredo Recalde for the 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now) The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said it is investigating a triple shooting that left two men hurt and one man dead. The shooting happened Thursday at around 5:15 p.m. near a shopping center in the 14200 block of Smoketown Rd. in Woodbridge. Elementary school custodian charged after slapping students head, police say PWCPD said when responding officers arrived at the scene, they didnt see any victims. They then checked the secluded wooded area behind the shopping center and found the three victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 29-year-old man died there, and the two other victims, both 42-year-old men, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. PWCPD said an investigation revealed that the 29-year-old man, identified as Tevon Haskins, was at the shopping center when a man whom Haskins had previously encountered approached him. A verbal altercation broke out between the two men before gunshots were fired, hitting him and the two other men. The suspect left before police arrived. No other injuries or damages were reported. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Dean Campbell, was found Thursday morning in Fredericksburg and was arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man charged after dog left in car dies, Prince William County Police say PWCPD said the shooting was not random. Campbell is being charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, malicious wounding and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Wildlife rangers are being killed at a rate of nearly two a week, and its a toll Prince William has said the world can no longer ignore. This is the reality laid bare in Guardians, a new six-part docuseries from the Prince of Wales which offers a rare insight into the dangerous work of rangers operating on the front lines of conservation across the globe. A champion of the environment for over a decade, William introduces each episode of the series, which aims to capture both the beauty of the natural world, and the brutality of the protectors fight to defend it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been dying to do something around this sort of space for a while, William said after making an unexpected appearance at a screening in London on Tuesday. This one is particularly special to me, because Ive got lots of friends and people Ive met over the years on my trips and going abroad who are living this life on a daily basis. Rangers make huge sacrifices and take incredible risks as natures front line by standing between poachers and numerous endangered species. They endure similar ordeals to soldiers in combat, routinely facing death, injury, or torture from poachers, and the animals they protect can kill them too. William, 42, who founded United for Wildlife through his Royal Foundation in 2013 to combat illegal wildlife trade, said the series was shaped by firsthand accounts from rangers hes met and the vital yet unseen work they do to protect the planet. Theyre unsung heroes, William told the audience. I like to see the ranger as the glue between the human world we live in and the natural world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Galliers, chair of the International Ranger Federation, echoed William, describing rangers as playing an indispensable role in securing and maintaining the health of our planet. Although often under resourced and supported, their tireless work secures our natural and cultural heritage and the stability of global economies, proving that environmental protection is deeply interconnected with human survival, he said. The series follows stories from rangers working in the Central African Republic, the Indian Himalayas, Mexicos Sea of Cortez, South Africas Kruger National Park, Sri Lanka, and the Caru Indigenous land in Brazil. Rangers work around the clock to protect, rescue and rehabilitate critically endangered rhinos from daily poaching threats. - Royal Foundation William has spent years advocating for rangers and conservation teams. He has witnessed the risks firsthand, and has met those who patrol some of the worlds most volatile environments, where many have lost their lives while safeguarding nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet, William said. And really it shouldnt be. Protecting the natural world, it shouldnt be that dangerous. At some point, he added, we have to say enoughs enough. William also reflected on the power of documentary storytelling, citing David Attenborough as a big inspiration during his childhood. The renowned veteran broadcasters ability to bring wonderful parts of the world into peoples homes is something Guardians also strives for, the heir to the British throne said. Any future we want from the natural world, has to come from the ranger community being valued, respected, seen, William continued. We value them, we care for them, and we hope that momentum builds, and that people support them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The series launches just weeks after William paid tribute to two rangers who were killed and another who was severely injured in an attack in Mozambique, which he described as yet another brutal reminder of the immense sacrifices made by those protecting our natural world. In November, William announced a new life insurance initiative for rangers across Africa. The five-year financial package, funded in part by his foundation, will benefit 10,000 rangers, giving them access to health and life insurance cover, as well as opportunities for training and development. The digital series, launched by United for Wildlife and co-produced with award-winning studio ZANDLAND, will premiere globally on BBC Earths YouTube and social channels on Friday with episodes released weekly. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Prince William is reportedly planning for a radical new era just a few months after hiring Princess Dianas divorce lawyers in a headline-making move. Kate Mansey, royal editor for the Times, revealed during a May 23 episode of True Royalty TVs The Royal Beat that a palace insider claims William is working towards some major changes that could change the monarchy as we know it. According to Mansey, William wants plans for the future of the Royal Family will be quite a radical departure, really, from what The King does, or what the late Queen did. More from SheKnows Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While discussing some of Williams recent royal appearances, Mansey said, I think whats really interesting about this is, I wrote a profile about William recently, and someone very close to him was saying that this is a move away from these classic kinds of patronages, where you would go and support an existing charity, to actual projects. William is beginning to make moves to prepare for his time as King and, according to Mansey, wants to come away and think, Ive made a difference there, theres money thats gone into that community centre or theres something thats happened because I went there, rather than just showing up and shaking some hands. So, what does this have to do with William hiring the legal team Princess Diana worked with in her divorce from King Charles? The move is reportedly one of Williams many efforts to separate himself from his father. In April, William dropped King Charles longtime legal team, Harbottle & Lewis, and its partner, Gerrard Tyrrell, with whom he had worked since becoming an adult. He is now represented by Mishcon de Reya, the legal firm his mother used in her 1996 divorce from his father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams alleged new vision has been much-talked-about in recent months. In April, William Hague, who works with the Prince of Wales at the Royal Foundations United for Wildlife initiative, told Mansey for the Times, [Williams] not one for long meetings or going around the same thing again. Ive often heard him say, Theres been too much talk about that. We need to see some action.' William reportedly isnt interested in ribbon-cutting representation from the Royal Family and wants to enact real change. Before you go, click here all the biggest royal scandals in the past 50 years. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Princess Eugenie has been announced as a mentor of The King's Foundation's newly launched "35 under 35 network" Princess Eugenie, 35, is supporting her uncle King Charle's charity by taking on the job In a statement, Eugenie said she was "delighted" to start working with young people working to create change the King hopes to see in the world through sustainability, crafts and the arts Princess Eugenie is taking on a buzzy new job supporting her uncle King Charles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 22, The King's Foundation announced that Princess Eugenie, 35, is among a cohort of mentors for the foundation's new "35 under 35" network. A statement said that the network is a group of "exceptional young people" convened in the 35th anniversary year of the King's Foundation who are working to drive the change King Charles hopes to see in the world through sustainability, traditional crafts and the arts. Princess Eugenie is passionate about conservation and sustainability, like her uncle the King, and expressed her excitement about joining the foundation's new mentorship network. The King's Foundation Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. "Im delighted to be working with this group of exceptional young people who have been selected thanks to their outstanding work in areas The King is passionate about," Princess Eugenie said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Given I recently celebrated my 35th birthday, its fitting to take part in the charitys 35th anniversary celebrations and share my passion for art with the 35 under 35!" she added, referring to her birthday on March 23. The King's Foundation Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Princess Eugenie is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, who are also parents to Princess Beatrice. Eugenie's new royal role is a sure show of support for her uncle King Charles and puts in her some starry company, as David Beckham and Rod Stewart are both ambassadors for the King's Foundation. King Charles, 76, launched the charity previously called the Prince's Foundation in 1990 to create improved communities where people, places and the planet can harmoniously coexist, and the philanthropy has an impressive reach. The King's Foundation (renamed so after his accession in 2022) offers educational courses for about 15,000 annually as well as health and well-being programs for another 2,000 people each year. The organization's newly launched network is comprised of young people representing the change the foundation values across nature, sustainability, traditional arts and crafts, textiles, architecture, urbanism, health, wellbeing, farming, horticulture and farming. The King's Foundation Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. The announcement about Eugenie becoming a mentor for the 35 under 35 network was released with photos of her visiting the King's Foundation's exhibition space in London last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Princess Eugenie seemed to be all smiles during the private visit to the Garrison Chapel where she connected with mentees and posed for a group photo. The King's Foundation Princess Eugenie (center) visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Princess Eugenie (center) visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. The focus of the King's Foundation seems to combine a few of Princess Eugenie's interests, making her mentorship position a natural fit. Eugenie is a director at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth and supporter of several organizations in conservation, art and health. The princess has a special passion for the protection of the oceans and the oceans' role in global health, memorably having a plastic-free wedding when she married husband Jack Brooksbank in 2018. They would go on to welcome sons August, 4, and Ernest, 2 this month, and Eugenie has spoken about raising her kids to advocate for the planet. The King's Foundation Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Princess Eugenie visits the Garrison Chapel in London for her work with The King's Foundation. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Princess Eugenie is also the founder of The Anti-Slavery Collective, which endeavors to eradicate modern slavery, and helped establish Key to Freedom, a social enterprise initiative facilitating a route to market for products made by survivors of trafficking at Womens Interlink Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She becomes a mentor for the King's Foundation's new network alongside designer Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, artist and influencer Sophie Tea Art, and historian and online content creator Alice Loxton. Read the original article on People Uzbekistan reveals increasing number of citizens visiting Turkiye Photo: National Statistics Committee Uzbekistan has seen a noticeable uptick in the number of its citizens heading to Turkiye in early 2025, showcasing a blossoming connection and strengthening bonds between the two nations. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register A man attempts to pull his power wheelchair through the snow after it got stuck on his driveway in December 2024 in Watertown, N.Y. In recent years, a handful of large private equity-owned companies such as Sevita have acquired hundreds of smaller providers of disability services around the country and rolled them into larger corporations. (Kayla Bartkowski | Getty Images) Private equity companies have gobbled up group homes and other services for people with disabilities, attracting the attention of state and federal regulators across the nation and alarming advocates. People with intellectual or developmental disabilities have suffered abuse, neglect and even death while under the care of private equity-owned providers, according to a recent report from watchdog group Private Equity Stakeholder Project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private equity firms are, more than many other types of investors, laser-focused on maximizing their cash flow, often trying to double or triple their investment over a relatively short period of time, usually just a handful of years, said Eileen OGrady, the reports author. The way that private equity firms will often do that is to cut costs. For companies that provide essential services for people with disabilities, she said, those cuts can have really harmful impacts on peoples lives. In late 2023, Florida moved to revoke the license of NeuroRestorative, one branch of the private equity-owned health services company Sevita, which provides services for people with disabilities. State regulators cited repeat violations by NeuroRestorative and a failure to protect the rights of its clients to be free from physical abuse. Ultimately the state opted not to revoke the license and fined the company $13,000 in a settlement. But in recent years regulators have documented instances of patient harm at Sevitas affiliates in multiple other states, including Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts and Utah. In 2019, a U.S. Senate committee conducted a probe into the companys operations in Iowa and Oregon following multiple reports of patient abuse and neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any entity that receives taxpayer dollars, but especially those charged with caring for our fellow Americans who may have an intellectual disability, ought to be doing everything under the sun to ensure quality care and continually improve, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a statement in 2020 following his investigation. In a statement to Stateline, Sevita did not address the sanctions directly, but avowed its commitment to providing services and supports to give people greater independence, regardless of their intellectual or physical challenges. Since 2019, when new ownership acquired the company, there has been significant capital investment to improve and expand our services, enhance facilities, implement robust training and new technologies, and strengthen our workforce all with the goal of better serving our individuals and communities, the statement said. The disability care industry has proven increasingly attractive to private equity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, a handful of large private equity-owned companies such as Sevita have snapped up hundreds of smaller providers of disability services often community nonprofits, mom-and-pop businesses and religious organizations and rolled them into larger corporations. From 2013 to 2023, private equity firms acquired more than 1,000 disability and elder care providers, according to the report by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. Thats likely an undercount because theyre generally not required to disclose acquisitions, the report said. Cash cow Private equity firms use pooled investments from pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and wealthy individuals to buy a controlling stake in a company. They seek to maximize its value often by cutting costs and then sell it at a profit. Most of Sevitas revenue comes from providing disability services. It operates companies in 40 states under various brands, including Mentor Network, NeuroRestorative and REM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sevita is currently owned by private equity firms Centerbridge Partners and Vistria Group, which also own Help at Home, a home health company with more than 200 locations across about a dozen states. Nearly all of Sevitas revenue comes from Medicaid, according to a February 2025 report from S&P Global. Through Medicaid and Medicare, the government pays for most services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The two programs cover services such as group homes, adult day programs, in-home care, and physical and occupational therapy. Sevita has been owned by private equity firms for over a decade now, and has been under investigation and scrutiny at the federal and state level for basically that entire time, OGrady said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, Iowa fined a NeuroRestorative group home $10,500 after a resident was left unattended in a liquor store and drank three-quarters of a bottle of vodka. The same year, Massachusetts temporarily removed Sevitas license to operate group homes after regulators reported inadequate staff training and supervision, and a myriad of issues that were uncovered onsite, according to a Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services report. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has fined a NeuroRestorative facility in Utah four times since 2022. A February 2024 inspection report by the agency found the facility failed to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of residents. Last year, Florida fined another Sevita brand, Florida Mentor, for improper use of restraints. More issues have been documented in Sevita-owned locations in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire and Nevada. Meanwhile, Sevitas owners, Centerbridge and Vistria, have collected nearly half a billion dollars since 2019 by loading Sevita and Help at Home with debt in order to pay dividends to investors, according to Moodys, a financial services company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar financial maneuvering contributed to the recent collapse of Steward Health Care, a private equity-owned hospital system that once had more than 30 hospitals nationwide. Steward has become a cautionary tale about the harm that profit-driven private equity firms can do to a states health system. Before Steward Health Care ultimately collapsed, executives spent years hiding their financial information from state regulators, putting patients and our health care system at risk, Massachusetts Democratic House Speaker Ron Mariano said in a statement earlier this year announcing a new state law that beefs up reporting and financial requirements for private investors. Thats why ensuring that our institutions are equipped to monitor the health care landscape, and to guard against trends and transactions that drive up costs without improving patient outcomes, is so important. David vs. Goliath After two residents of a New Jersey group home died from choking on food in 2017, attorney Cory Bernstein became interested in private equitys involvement in disability services. The residents had been living in homes operated by AdvoServ, a company then owned by the private equity firm Wellspring Capital Management. The state had cited AdvoServ more times than any other operator in New Jersey for abuse, neglect and unsafe conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AdvoServ later ceased operations in 2019 after multiple state agencies, including in New Jersey, Florida and Maryland, launched investigations. States just dont really have the resources or tools to do what needs to be done. Cory Bernstein, staff attorney at the National Disability Rights Network But even when state regulators are doing all they can to protect people with disabilities from substandard care, theyre limited in how much they can hold a company accountable, Bernstein told Stateline. Its state-level oversight on a national entity with not much [help] coming from the federal side, said Bernstein, who is now a staff attorney at the National Disability Rights Network, a membership organization of federally mandated state disability advocacy programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States just dont really have the resources or tools to do what needs to be done. A regulatory agency in Georgia might shut down all the group homes owned by a certain company, for example, but those regulators cant do anything about the companys abuses in, say, Montana. With branches in multiple states, a company is better able to withstand sanctions or even a loss of license in one state, he said. [States] are not set up to go up against a national operator with billions of dollars in resources in a regulatory or oversight battle, Bernstein said. Further complicating things for state regulators and for consumers is that a large services company such as Sevita might operate under multiple brand names, even in one state. It can be hard to parse out who owns a sanctioned business. Multiple brand names can also obscure a companys monopoly on a particular regional market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Florida regulators reached a settlement agreement with Sevitas NeuroRestorative last year, the state dismissed its proposed license revocation. OGrady believes one reason the state chose to settle is the difficulty of finding alternative facilities to relocate the residents who would have been displaced from the 13 locations the company operated around the state. Because of that dearth of alternatives and the impotence of the state to act more fully, this company will continue to be allowed to operate, she said. Further complicating oversight: Large companies often operate various services that are overseen by different agencies. Group homes might be regulated under the states Medicaid program, while facilities that provide more intensive care might come under federal Medicare oversight. There could be two completely different oversight systems for facilities serving the same population in the same state with the same name, Bernstein said. State solutions Some states have moved to address problems with private equity involvement in health care by passing tighter restrictions on mergers and acquisitions of health care companies. In Rhode Island, where private equity companies mismanagement of health care providers threatened the future of local hospitals, a robust oversight law allowed the state attorney general to impose conditions to protect the hospitals finances. More states are following suit. In 2023 alone, 24 states enacted laws related to health system consolidation and competition, while this year at least half a dozen have considered legislation to check private equity-fueled health care mergers. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A private security officer stands accused of putting his hands around a handcuffed detainee's neck and slamming him against walls at an immigrant detention center in Conroe, Texas. The officer, Charles Siringi, was criminally charged last week. The detainee was taken to the medical unit at the Montgomery Processing Center. The 66-year-old Siringi was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas with deprivation of rights while acting under the governments authority, resulting in bodily injury, The Washington Post noted. On Tuesday, Siringi posted $10,000 bail. The company that employed Siringi, the GEO Group, operates the detention center. The firm told The Independent that Siringi no longer worked for the group. Following an internal review, the company referred the incident to Immigration and Customs Enforcements Office of Professional Responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are committed to respecting the human rights and dignity of all individuals in our care, and we have a zero-tolerance policy with respect to staff misconduct, the GEO Group told The Independent. A view of Delaney Hall, a 1,000-person detention center operated by private prison company GEO Group for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey. In Texas, a private security guard at an ICE facility is accused of choking a detainee. (Reuters) The detainee claimed that Siringi handcuffed him outside his housing unit and took him into a small room alongside other officers, according to the criminal complaint. In the room, Siringi is alleged to have told the officers, You better get him before I do. The complaint added that Siringi subsequently grabbed the detainee by the neck and slammed his face into a wall. As the detainee turned around, Siringi is alleged to have put enough force on his throat that he tucked his chin down to his chest because he was gasping for air. The detainee said Siringi did not remove his hands from his throat and used the choke hold to move him across the room and slam him into the wall near the doorway, court documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the two officers in the room, Elbert Griffin, backed up the detainees version of events and took him to the medical unit for treatment. Griffin stated he did not believe it was an appropriate use of force, nor did he believe [the detainee] had been resisting in any manner, the complaint notes. The Post noted that experts said the incident was a rare moment when an officer at a detention facility was being held criminally accountable for alleged abuse. Its more common for detainees to file civil lawsuits. American Civil Liberties Unions National Prison Project senior staff attorney Eunice Hyunhye Cho told the paper that detainees dont have much power to reveal abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The power dynamic is so significant that people are either afraid to come forth [or] they are not believed when they raise complaints about abusive treatment, she told The Post. And facilities have all sorts of incentives to keep those types of incidents under wraps. A spokesperson for the nonprofit Freedom for Immigrants, Jeff Migliozzi, told the outlet that the allegations of abuse against Siringi were unfortunately characteristic of similar altercations. A lot of people dont realize how common that actually is, he said. But again, in the vast majority of those cases, nothing results, in terms of an oversight process or some sort of lawsuit or investigation. In 2021, like many Cubans and Cuban Americans that summer, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was jamming to Patria y Vida, the Grammy-winning protest anthem that became a rallying cry for dissidents in Cuba. The hip-hop song, whose title translates to "Homeland and Life," directly rebuked Fidel Castros revolutionary slogan, "Patria o Muerte" Homeland or Death. That was a cause that resonated with Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles, so much that in 2023, he introduced the "Patria y Vida Act," protecting against Tyrants and expanding internet service in Cuba. Now, one of the songs central voices, Cuban rapper Eliexer Marquez Duany better known as El Funky faces removal from the United States. Earlier this month, U.S. immigration authorities denied Marquez Duanys residency application under the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act . He has less than 30 days to leave the U.S. or face deportation and likely imprisonment in Cuba, since his music helped fuel the largest anti-government protests in Cuba in decades. Despite Marquez Duanys troubles, Rubio, now the secretary of State, has remained silent. So have other influential Cuban American figures and politicians who had embraced the #CubaLibre cause, such as Florida Reps. Carlos Gimenez and Mario Diaz-Balart, who celebrated Marquez Duany and submitted the l yrics of Patria y Vida into the Congressional Record. ( Rubio, Gimenez and Diaz-Balart did not respond to multiple requests for comment.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is widespread awareness about Marquez Duanys case, it hasnt yet manifested in action. His plea for help has circulated on social media , but protests, petitions or high-profile interventions have yet to materialize. Even his "Patria y Vida" collaborators have stayed largely quiet. The only elected official to offer help so far is Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.). El Funky is a political refugee who deserves the full protection of U.S. immigration law, she said in a statement after calls from POLITICO Magazine, the first time shes spoken publicly about the situation. We are working with the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to ensure they understand the serious risk of torture and political persecution he faces if returned to Cuba. On Thursday, Salazars office said they were making headway with the rappers case. Marquez Duanys plight is striking on several fronts. First, its an illustration of how much Rubio has changed while serving under the Trump administration had the Cuban rapper received such a notice even a year ago, its hard to imagine Rubio not speaking up. Second, the rappers pending deportation is an example of how quickly President Donald Trump has shifted U.S-Cuban immigration policy. For decades, the U.S. rolled out the red carpet for Cubans arriving in the United States, thanks to a legacy of Cold War policies that positioned the U.S. as a haven for those fleeing Castros communist regime. Third and perhaps most striking is Marquez Duanys attitude toward the president, whose policies pose a direct threat to his safety. Like the vast majority of Cubans living in the U.S., he fully supports Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I could vote, I would have voted for Trump, he says. He's the strongest president when it comes to Cuba. Marquez Duanys journey from resistance icon to deportation case began in February 2021, when he and other artists released "Patria y Vida." The song, featuring rappers and musicians both on and off the island, denounced repression in Cuba and called for change. Two of its creators, Maykel Osorbo and Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara ,are currently in prison in Cuba for their participation in the project and other protests. Meanwhile, the songs banned status on the island only amplified its power: It became the de facto anthem of the unprecedented protests during the summer of 2021. By then, Marquez Duany had already been under house arrest for months, kept from participating in the demonstrations by guards posted outside his home. When the Latin Grammy Awards sent him an invitation a few months later, Marquez Duany knew it was likely his only chance to escape. As is customary, a Cuban government official escorted him to the airport. What we want is for you to leave, he says the official told him. Go, but dont come back because youre not welcome here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once in Miami, Marquez Duany married a Cuban American, found a maintenance job at a Christian school, and kept recording music. He applied to adjust his legal status under the CAA, which allows Cubans paroled into the U.S. to claim permanent residency after one year. He assumed the law still stood firmly behind him. But the ground had already shifted. Trumps first term had chipped away at the CAA by limiting parole and resuming deportations to Cuba . Then Joe Bidens administration introduced a humanitarian parole program for those with U.S. sponsors, but its reach was narrow. Many arrivals, including Marquez Duany, found themselves caught in bureaucratic limbo. After his residency application under the CAA was denied earlier this month no reason was given he hired a new immigration attorney and is now rushing to file an asylum claim. (His new lawyer told him there were errors in the original application, but cant say what they were.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Trump 2.0, the White House has reimposed Cubas State Sponsor of Terror designation , cracked down on remittances , sanctioned Cubas medical missions abroad, and invoked the Libertad Act to expand lawsuits over confiscated properties all things Marquez Duany supports. And recently, the administration asked the Supreme Court to allow it to end humanitarian parole for more than 500,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, which may make Marquez Duanys case tougher to resolve. Despite everything, Marquez Duany doesnt blame Trump. There are probably too many people here, he says. I understand trying to get rid of those who shouldnt be here. But Trump should look at each individual case. Like mine. That attitude mirrors many in South Floridas Cuban exile community, where Cold War wounds and fears of socialism remain potent. Conservative Spanish-language radio, including outlets like Radio Mambi , have long bolstered Trump and dismissed more inclusive immigration reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many Cuban Americans, the change in U.S./Cuban immigration policy is a real surprise, says Ana Sofia Pelaez, executive director of the Miami Freedom Project, a Latino civic and education organization that deals with immigration, among other issues. Theres real disbelief that Cubans can be targeted. If forced back to the island, Marquez Duany fears Cuba will play the part of benevolent host, only to arrest him later when the world isnt watching. Recently, he released a new rap song, Inmigrante, a surprisingly soft and poignant track: I'm just one more immigrant Who only wants to have a dream I have faith I'm gonna make it I need strength and health to keep going. Im not going to shut up, he says. In Cuba, everybody knows who I am. Going back puts my life in danger. Feeding South Dakota is the states largest hunger-relief organization and a member of the Feeding America Network. (Courtesy of Feeding South Dakota) As Congress weighs the latest budget reconciliation bill, its important to take a step back and consider how these decisions will affect everyday people in South Dakota. Reducing federal spending and promoting self-reliance are important goals, but some of the proposed changes could unintentionally create more problems than they solve. If youve been to the grocery store lately, youve likely noticed how much harder it has become to afford the basics. For many families in South Dakota this isnt just a budget concern its a daily challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We urge Rep. Dusty Johnson, Sen. Mike Rounds and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to consider the concerning impacts that the current proposal by the House could have. Federal support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be significantly reduced, shifting more of the cost to states. South Dakotas share of that expense could range from $9 million to $18 million as early as 2028 an increased pressure on a state budget already stretched thin. At the same time, it would impact the South Dakota economy as SNAP supports 789 retailers in the state to the tune of over $156 million. Each SNAP dollar has up to $1.80 of economic impact, supporting the supply chain from farmer to store. Reduce the program, reduce the revenue. The increased state cost and reduced revenue would force states to make tough choices: cut benefits, limit eligibility or raise taxes to cover the gap. Proposed Medicaid cuts would hit rural hospitals especially hard, many of which are already stretched thin. These facilities are often the only source of care in their communities, and losing access would be devastating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also includes new requirements tied to work. SNAP already includes work incentives and gradually reduces benefits as income rises. In South Dakota, over 80% of SNAP recipients live in a family that has one working adult. Congress modernized SNAP by requiring regular updates to the monthly benefits. However, the current bill includes a proposal to limit future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines SNAP benefit levels. This would reduce support over time, even as food prices remain high. The average SNAP benefit is still just $6.57 per person, per day, in our state. At Feeding South Dakota, we are seeing more working families, seniors, children and veterans through our programs and partners; in fact, 15% more than this time last year. We are operating at full capacity and have already felt the very real impact of federal changes after food for 147,000 meals was immediately discontinued in April. It is critical that federal programs stay strong to support the fight to end hunger, or the gap between need and resources will become too great for us to close. If you take nothing else from this, know that the proposed cuts would: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Increase hunger. Decrease local revenue. Overwhelm already strained food pantries. We urge our lawmakers to think critically about any cuts through a budget reconciliation bill that undermines SNAP and Medicaid. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Rockford area colleges joined forces to create a new program for college graduates looking to become social workers in the area. The program is being funded by a $2 million grant. The grant is being fulfilled through a half-cent sales tax. The University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rock Valley College, Rockford University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work, Rockford Public Schools 205 and the Boone-Winnebago County Regional Office of Education #4 all have played a part in getting the Social Worker Opportunity Tracks (SWOT) program underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winnebago County has a shortage of mental health providers, often having 150 or more positions for social workers open, says Alex Stagnaro-Green, Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford and the principal investigator on the grant. SWOT will train individuals committed to becoming social workers in Winnebago County and build opportunities for area students to train and work in the area for years to come. SWOT provides multiple pathways for students to get into the world of social work, such as: Graduates of Rock Valley College with an associate degree are eligible to apply to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Social Work online programs or Rockford University programs to complete a bachelors in social work while receiving scholarships and other financial and educational support. Rockford University graduates are eligible to receive financial support and assistance to complete the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online masters of social work degree. Winnebago County high school students interested in pursuing a social work degree can enroll in the SWOT Pipeline Track. Following successful completion of the high school component, each student has the option to enroll in either the associate degree program in human services at Rock Valley College or the bachelors in social work program at Rockford University. Rock Valley College graduates could either transfer to Rockford University to complete their BSW in person or enroll in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online bachelors in social work. Upon completion of the BSW from either Rockford University or the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the student could then enroll in the online MSW program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The SWOT Immediate Track allows staff presently employed by Winnebago County schools with an associate degree to earn a bachelors degree in social work through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns existing online program or a soon-to-be-developed bachelors completion program at Rockford University. Those who have a bachelors degree can complete the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign online masters degree program. Participants can receive tuition reimbursement from their school and continue to work as they earn their social work degree. Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) had the half-cent sales tax that is helping fund the program approved by Winnebago County residents in March 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A program created to help young women overcome the struggles of becoming financially independent while getting an education and raising a family continues to grow. Heather Fronk is the director of Clothed In Strength, which began a couple of years ago with items kept in storage lockers, to now operating in a boutique in Poland offering household necessities and even workshops and classes. Fronk told Mahoning County Commissioners Thursday the program offers connections to local services for single moms, especially those leaving domestic violence situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sixty percent of who we serve are in Mahoning County. Were growing by the week, and every month were serving between 40 to 75 women. And every week theres a new woman thats walking through our doors, which were very thankful for, Fonk said. Fronk says the inspiration for Clothed In Strength came from her own experiences after leaving an abusive marriage and being unable to qualify for assistance, but not being financially stable on her own. Since beginning the program, shes helped hundreds of women and children get the assistance they need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A push is underway to turn around rising evictions. WREG has learned that a housing program and eventually a special court could be the answer. Housing is another problem Memphis faces: not enough housing, people unable to afford a home, and problem properties not in livable conditions. Its further highlighted by the number of evictions we see. On any given weekday, you will find General Sessions Judge Deborah Henderson holding court. Usually, the case involves someone being kicked out of their home. A big part of her docket involves handling these eviction cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tenant wont pay the rent because theyre upset about the condition of the property. The landlord then has the absolute right to come into court and evict them, Henderson said. Serenity Towers closes doors for last time, final residents move out WREG has highlighted many cases after getting call after call about problem properties. Jeanette Davis called the WREG Investigators after she says her apartment complex wouldnt repair her leaking ceiling for months. Its been a disaster. Ive been struggling until I got very stressed out, depressed, and got to the point I just want to walk away from this place and leave everything behind, Davis said. This problem started back in November, over the holidays, when it first started raining. The heavy rain we had flooded us out in here. It rained so heavy and hard in this apartment, it damaged this apartment so bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis says that after her complaints, her apartment threatened to evict her. This is not fair. Now, I dont want anybody else living under these kinds of conditions. We want out. We deserve better, Davis said. In fact, the day she invited us to see the conditions inside, the office called police and said we had to leave. When we tried to go to the office, someone quickly closed the blinds and refused to answer. I havent done anything wrong. What grounds do they have to evict me? Davis said. They have no grounds. I pay my rent on time. I got receipts. What grounds do they have to evict me? Im a victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Henderson says while there are plenty of good landlords and tenants, there are just as many who are not following the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. We were trying and have been trying to work on a program that would eliminate or not eliminate, but reduce the number of people who are having to go through this, Henderson said. One of the things that we are trying to do is educate the public on what their responsibilities are as it relates to either being a landlord or being a tenant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are now doing it through the new Shelby County Housing Stability Pilot Program, teaching landlords that there is a process before eviction and requirements that must be in a lease. Im often looking at the lease and then looking at the landlord saying this lease does not meet the requirements of Tennessee. Where did you get this lease? I pulled it off the Internet. Oh, a friend of mine helped me prepare it, Henderson said. Well, there are some requirements, and a lot of the time, I wont say most, but a lot of the time, those requirements are not contained in that lease agreement. They are also letting tenants know you cant stop paying rent because repairs arent made. We have to stress to the tenants, your responsibility is to pay your rent, Henderson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From January 2020 to December 2022, they had 60,000 evictions in Shelby County. Its why Hendersons passion has been to get an eviction court in Shelby County. The County Commission approved a grant to go to Memphis Area Legal Services so that we could do the things that I suggested earlier. Number one, educate the public, she said. The next step would be to hire their own inspector to view properties and bring recommendations back to the court. They have also been out in the community holding seminars. Memphis Area Legal Services assists with outreach. And then, of course, on this Housing Stability Solutions Pilot Program, to really be able to serve people in all issues related to housing, said Memphis Area Legal Services CEO Nicole Grida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also have an attorney to work on cases. We really want to reach people before they get to the eviction stage, Grida said. So were always out there trying to let people know if youre having a problem of any kind. Mr. Tenant, Ms. Tenant, pay your rent and call us, Henderson said. Come and see us. We can not help you if you dont pay your rent. Approval for an eviction court in Shelby County has to go through the state legislature. For more information on how you can get help with landlord-tenant issues and eviction, call Memphis Area Legal Services at 901-523-8822. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. RICHMOND TWP., Pa. (WETM) A portion of road will be closed in Richmond Township for most of the last week of May to accommodate an embankment stabilization project. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that from Tuesday, May 27, through Friday, May 30, the following road closures will be in place while crews work to stabilize an embankment: Local traffic: Route 660 will be closed between Mack Road (Route 2020) and Spencer Road. Through traffic: Route 660 will be closed between Route 6 and Old Route 15/Main Street (Route 2005). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upcoming road closures in the Twin Tiers While work is being done, a detour will be in place using Route 15 and Route 6. Drivers are reminded to stay alert, slow down and expect delays when driving through areas where work is taking place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, tries to reason with an unruly crowd during a town hall event at the University of Utah on March 20, 2025. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) Utah U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloys proposal to sell off nearly 11,500 acres of public land in southwestern Utah was shot down this week after receiving bipartisan pushback in Congress. The proposal, which identified parcels owned by the Bureau of Land Management to sell to Washington and Beaver counties, the Washington County Water Conservancy District and the city of St. George, was included by Maloy as part of Congress budget package. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Wednesday evening, Montana Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke, who previously said selling public lands is a line he would not cross, rallied support from a bipartisan group of lawmakers to strip Maloys proposal from the budget bill during a House Rules Committee meeting. I worked hard with my colleagues in the House and locally elected officials to make sure that the one big, beautiful bill represented the unique needs of Utahns, Maloy said in a statement Thursday. My lands amendment would have delivered critical relief to fast-growing communities in my district. However, Maloy acknowledged it was removed from the reconciliation package, which she voted for. I still supported the bill, because it delivers a strong economy that will benefit Utah and the country as a whole, she said. I will continue to fight for Utahns to responsibly manage federal lands that currently landlock our communities and hinder economic growth. Congresswoman says proposal would have helped expand water, transportation, housing infrastructure Maloy, in an earlier statement, said the land would help the southwest corner of the state expand water, transportation and housing infrastructure, as the region deals with rapid population growth. St. George was eying an airport expansion; the Washington County Water Conservancy District had plans to build a new reservoir; Washington County was looking to widen some existing roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, St. George city leaders thanked Maloy for working on the amendment, and they plan to have more talks with lawmakers on the issue. We were disappointed that some groups falsely presented this amendment as if it were a land grab, city leaders said. In actuality, the amendment was intended to protect existing critical infrastructure or future critical infrastructure that would be built on already disturbed public lands. Only approximately nine acres would have been used for attainable housing, at a spot adjacent to a future cemetery and an existing residential subdivision. The Washington County Water Conservancy District issued a similar statement, telling Utah News Dispatch it respects Congress decision to remove Maloys amendment. We appreciate Congresswoman Maloys efforts to facilitate the availability of federal lands for exchange in a manner that would benefit the water district, the statement reads. The water district remains committed to securing the necessary federal lands in Washington County for critical water infrastructure projects through established, traditional processes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maloys amendment identified a total of 70 parcels to be sold in Utah. The proposal had a far greater impact on Nevada, with Republican Rep. Mark Amodei earmarking nearly 450,000 acres for disposal in his state. Environmental groups, public land advocates said bill lacked parameters on what land could be used for The proposal received broad criticism from environmental groups and public land advocates, who said the bill lacked language mandating what the land would be used for. They argued there was nothing stopping the governments from purchasing the land, then using it for something other than the originally stated purpose. And some of the land abutted rivers and popular recreation areas, including Zion National Park, prompting concerns over access and environmental harm. The proposal also had its critics in Congress, on both sides of the isle, including Zinke, who called it his San Juan Hill, referring to a famous Spanish-American War battle. I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands. Once the land is sold, we will never get it back. God isnt creating more land, Zinke said in a news release on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental groups celebrated the decision, issuing a flurry of statements and reactions. Travis Hammill, the Washington, D.C., director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, said Maloy is the latest in a long list of politicians with the bad idea to try and sell off public lands. The through line of those failed efforts is this: love of public lands transcends geography and political party. Americans dont want to see these lands sold off and time and time again have risen up to make their voices heard, Hammill said. Kyle Roerink executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, said Zinkes move to tank the disposal sends a strong message to lawmakers of all stripes: We can never break the public trust and the Colorado River for billionaire tax breaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others noted the bipartisan opposition to the amendment, including Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, who called the attempt appalling and Gilded Age-level stuff. Republicans public lands fire sale was so greedy even their own caucus wouldnt support it, Donnelly said in an emailed statement. I hope people remember it the next time Republicans try to pretend they care about public lands. According to the amendments text, about 70 parcels were identified to be sold off to four entities, at market value. Consider: Washington County would have been allowed to purchase 23 parcels covering about 6,492 acres. The Washington County Water Conservancy District would have been allowed to purchase 22 parcels amounting to about 4,375 acres. St. George would have been allowed to purchase 23 parcels amounting to about 520 acres. Beaver County would have been allowed to purchase three parcels amounting to roughly 62 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment was a small part of what President Donald Trump has called the big, beautiful bill that has been in the works for months. The bill extends Trumps 2017 tax law, cuts steps out of the energy permitting process, increases defense and border security spending, and makes substantial changes to Medicaid. The bill cleared the House early Thursday and is headed to the Senate. Utah News Dispatch, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) In Iberia Parish, a proposed state house bill could reshape how the Acadiana Regional Airport is governed. House Bill 613 was introduced by Louisiana State Representative Beau Beaullieu (R- New Iberia), at a previous meeting in April. In the original bill, it stated the current airport board would be removed from parish oversight, creating pushback from Iberia Parish councilmembers. However, due to concerns, the bill was amended, giving the Iberia Parish council back the authority to handle how the airport board is run. Iberia Parish President, Larry Richard, spoke on his initial reactions to the bill, and now current reactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it was started it was a lot because the parish council wasnt aware of what was going on, the administration wasnt aware of what was going on, but things have a way of working itself out, we have a good group of people in our area that want the best for Iberia parish, said Richard. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest So far, the amended house bill has passed through the Louisiana House of Representatives by a vote of 89 to 1. The bill also passed through the Louisiana Senate Committee. The proposed law will now make its way to the Senate floor, where it could be signed into law. Richard says he believes the bill could create positive change in Iberia Parish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, we have worked some things out, said Richard. Everything is going to be in the hands of the parish council to where they could make a decision based on whatever they want to do, if they decided they want to create a district, theyre going to do it, I think they should look at it. State lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill in the coming weeks. Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The International Transport Forum 2025 Summit was held in Leipzig, Germany, on May 2123, Trend reports. Azerbaijan was represented at the event by a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov. The summit brought together more than 1,200 delegates from over 80 countries. The event was dedicated to the theme "Transport Resilience to Global Shocks". The participants discussed ways to ensure the resilience of transport systems in the face of disruptive factors such as natural disasters, pandemics, cyber threats, and geopolitical crises. Hummatov delivered a speech at the Council of Transport Ministers meeting, presenting Azerbaijan's efforts in building transport systems resilient to global shocks. He provided information on digitalization in urban infrastructure, including the implementation of the Digital Twin project, as well as efforts to develop green and sustainable transport systems. The deputy minister also emphasized Azerbaijans active participation in regional transport projects and the importance of international cooperation in this field. He noted that, within the framework of post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the Karabakh region, substantial investments have been made in the construction of modern highways and airports and the reconstruction of urban infrastructure. According to him, these efforts play a crucial role in the regions revival and the revitalization of transport connections. During the event, the presidency of the International Transport Forum Summit for 20252026 was handed over from Chile to Azerbaijan, unanimously elected to this role by member states in 2023 and undertaking the presidency for the first time. "For Azerbaijan, this presidency is not just a responsibility but a continuation of our broader efforts to promote more innovative, greener, and better-connected transport systems. We understand that transport is not just infrastructureit is a tool for economic development, regional cooperation, and social inclusion," said Hummatov during the ministers' press conference. Within the summit, he also held meetings with delegations from several countries, during which there was an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest and prospects for cooperation. As part of the summit, an exhibition was organized where partners of the International Transport Forum presented their products, services, and innovative initiatives. The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan also showcased a stand at the exhibition. The Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum Young Tae Kim, as well as ministers and heads of delegations participating in the summit, visited the stand. Visitors were provided with detailed information about Azerbaijan's achievements in the transport sector. To note, the International Transport Forum has 69 members. Azerbaijan has been a full member of this organization since 1998. Since 2008, this summit has been held regularly and plays a significant role in shaping global transport policy. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel An image President Donald Trump held up in the Oval Office on Wednesday as evidence of violence against white South African farmers actually showed people in an entirely different country. In a wild Oval Office meeting, Trump confronted South African president Cyril Ramaphosa with a printed image that he claimed showed burial sites all over the place in South Africa and white farmers that are being buried. But according to multiple fact checks, the image comes from a Reuters news agency clip filmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has been accusing South Africas Black-led government of being anti-white, and has long entertained an unfounded narrative that a white genocide is being committed against South African farmers. Trump confronted the South African leader with a pile of printed materials during a chaotic Oval Office meeting. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images That wasnt the only questionable material Trump served up during the tense meeting. According to the liberal Meidas News network, another piece of paper Trump held up showed a post that came from a fringe South African Facebook account that promotes white nationalist rhetoric and flat Earth conspiracy theories. The Daily Beast has not independently verified that claim. The White House did not immediately return the Daily Beasts request for comment. Ramaphosas White House visit was widely viewed as an attempt to improve relations with the U.S., amid ongoing criticism of the country from Trump and the expulsion of the South African ambassador to the U.S. in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed in a post on X in March, declaring the diplomat no longer welcome in our great country. During Wednesdays meeting, Trump also had his South African counterpart sit through a video that he said at one point showed the burial grounds of white farmers. That was also misidentified by Trump, according to CNN, and actually showed symbolic crosses as part of a demonstration representing farmers who had been killed. Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Around 30 people gathered outside the office of U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) Thursday afternoon to protest what they say is his lack of accountability, absence from public events since taking office, and his position on the federal budget bill. We are here to tell our representatives that we are watching them. Their votes have real consequences for real people; its costing lives. They think they can just cast their votes and be done, give all these tax cuts to the rich, and put blood on their hands, Zahna Woodson, 31, from Caring Across Generations said. This affects real people, this affects real lives, and it is detrimental to us. We have things to say, and they should come and face us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest was scheduled for noon, when demonstrators began arriving with signs criticizing the Trump administration and Rep. Barrett, while expressing support for Medicare and Medicaid services. Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barretts (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz We were hopeful that we could get Tom to vote no on this federal budget bill. We knew it was going to be hard, but we wanted our voices to be heard. Now, were shaming him for constantly voting against his constituents needs, said Cecilia Garcia-Linz, 50, a member of the Sierra Club. On Thursday morning, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved the sweeping tax-cut bill dubbed the Big, Beautiful Bill by Donald Trump, sending it to the U.S. Senate. In an X post, Rep. Barrett announced he voted yes, stating he did so to deliver for hard-working families across mid-Michigan. Promises made. Promises kept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have thousands of supporters across the state of Michigan, and we will be impacted by this terrible budget bill. Seniors, veterans, and those who rely on Medicaid, like I did as a child and I do for mine, were able to survive and escape poverty because of these social services, Garcia-Linz remarked. The demonstration continued with various speakers emphasizing the defense of social services including Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, which are currently considered under threat by the approval of the federal budget bill. I dont know how many of you here are on Medicaid, but Medicaid and Medicare save lives, said Judy Suess, 65, finishing her speech, followed by applause. Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barretts (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz As the speeches came to an end, some protesters began chanting and waving their signs at passing drivers and pedestrians, with a few honking their horns in support of the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimberly Smith, 65, a senior resident from Dewitt, was chanting and waving her sign passionately to the passing drivers until the end of the demonstration, and she explained her concern about these possible social service cuts. Social Security came about to bring seniors who have retired out of poverty years and years ago. Set to fund itself, and it does, and it was working just fine. Medicaid and Medicare help our seniors, our disabled, and those who need it, to keep them alive with the medical care they cannot have, Smith said. After about an hour, approximately 15 protesters headed to the office of U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) at the Federal building in Lansing to demonstrate after they learned through an email from the Sierra Club about her vote in favor of legislation repealing Californias EPA waiver. Protesters gathered outside Sen. Elissa Slotkins (D-Holly) office on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz In an email, members of the Sierra Club criticized Slotkins position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This standard has been one of the most powerful tools in reducing harmful air pollution, protecting our health, and fighting climate change in the United States. Trying to take away this authority is not only legally questionable, it would also have serious consequences for our health, our environment, and our economy, the email stated. In a press release, Slotkin emphasized her commitment to Michigan workers, noting that they live in the worlds auto capital and rely heavily on the automotive industry. She added that, as other states are beginning to reverse course on the policy, Michigan should consider doing the same. Today, I voted to prevent California and the states that follow its standard from effectively banning gas-powered cars by 2035. Michigan is the auto capital of the world, and as Michigans U.S. Senator, I have a special responsibility to stand up for the more than one million Michiganders whose livelihoods depend on the U.S. auto industry, Slotkin stated. The protesters then returned to Barretts office, where they ended the demonstration without incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Protesters gathered outside Sen. Elissa Slotkin's (D-Holly) office on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Hands Off sign carried by a protester, outside the Lansing office of U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Protesters gathered outside the U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett's (R-Charlotte) Lansing office to demonstrate against his vote for the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Mayor Brett Smiley has signed an executive order creating a new flag policy that requires a more stringent approval process, following a dispute over a recent decision to fly the Palestinian flag over City Hall. According to the order, the city will display flags as an expression of the citys official sentiments. Additionally, flags of governments recognized by the United States can be displayed by proclamation of the mayor or by resolution and passed by the Providence City Council for a period of no more than 24 hours unless outlined in the proclamation. The order also states that other flags may be displayed at official city events or ceremonies for up to 24 hours, also under the same approval process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smileys executive order comes just one week after city councilors raised the Palestinian flag at City Hall. The mayor said he first learned about the request from Council President Rachel Miller to raise the flag as he was returning from a weeklong trip to Israel. RELATED: Should Providence City Hall have a flag policy? Mayor Smiley thinks so Smiley said last week that while he would not have flown the flag himself, he approved the councils request because Providence is and will remain an inclusive and welcoming city that supports diverse opinions and voices. Last Fridays ceremony (led by Miller and Councilor Miguel Sanchez) led to a large rally and counterprotest outside City Hall. Dozens gathered on Dorrance Street waving both Palestinian and Israeli flags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12 News reached out to a Providence City Council spokesperson for comment but did not immediately hear back on Friday. Sanchez told 12 News that Smileys move to create a policy after approving the Palestinian flag raising last week is misguided. They didnt need a policy after the Irish flag, the Italian flag, or the Israeli flag. We fly the Palestinian flag, and all of a sudden we need a policy, Sanchez said. The mayor is ranking human life. Councilman John Goncalves told 12 News he felt the mayors order established clear guidelines. This thoughtful step brings transparency and consistency while honoring the distinct and diverse communities that make up our city. Its a positive move toward unity in Providence, Goncalves said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays executive order is Smileys third ever since taking office. The only other two orders signed by the mayor were to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday for city employees. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Public advocate candidate Jenifer Rajkumar blasted out social media campaign ads last week that say she once fought a mega landlord and won a $100M lawsuit for freezing families. But a Daily News review of public records shows Rajkumars involvement in the lawsuit was fraught with controversy and accusations of plagiarism. The class action lawsuit in question was filed in 2014 by tenants at Gateway Plaza, a Manhattan housing complex, who alleged their landlord was to blame for uninhabitable conditions in their apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rajkumar, currently a State Assembly member representing Queens, was one of three lawyers who filed the original Manhattan Supreme Court complaint on behalf of the tenants on April 1, 2014. Rajkumar was at the time a solo practitioner attorney operating in an of counsel capacity for Sanford Heisler, a Manhattan firm where the two other lawyers listed on the complaint worked. Two days after the suit was submitted, though, Lucas Ferrara, a partner at Newman Ferrara LLP, filed a motion demanding Rajkumar and Sanford Heisler be disqualified from the case because he alleged Rajkumar had engaged in gross plagiarism. According to Ferraras motion, Rajkumar had about a month earlier spoken with his office about becoming a plaintiff in the pending case against the owners of Gateway Plaza, where she lived at the time. As part of those conversations, Ferrara alleged his firm shared a draft of the lawsuit with Rajkumar for review. Three days later, Rajkumar told Ferraras firm she had changed her mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of being a plaintiff, she wanted to serve as co-counsel on the case, the motion says. Ferrara wrote that his firm informed Rajkumar that would be ethically problematic, given her direct interest as a Gateway Plaza tenant. Nonetheless, a month later, Rajkumar filed the lawsuit. Ferraras motion alleged the complaint she submitted was in all material and substantive respects, an identical of [the] draft complaint his firm had emailed her. Ms. Rajkumar changed her mind about acting as named plaintiff and opted instead to misappropriate and plagiarize the draft complaint she was provided to review without the knowledge or consent of Newman Ferrara, Ferrara wrote, adding that neither Rajkumar nor Sanford Heisler had in any way been involved in the investigation that formed the basis for the suit. Sanford Heisler had been involved in representing a Gateway Plaza tenant who didnt end up being a named plaintiff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferraras team withdrew the motion for disqualification in which the plagiarism allegations had been leveled shortly after filing it as his firm and Sanford Heisler reached an agreement on April 22, 2014 whereby Sanford Heisler stayed on the case as co-counsel, while Ferraras firm and Morgan & Morgan, a third firm involved, would be co-lead counsel, a copy of the agreement filed in court shows. The agreement did not specifically mention Rajkumar, who has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the plagiarism accusations. After the agreement, Rajkumar, who worked as an associate at Sanford Heisler until 2009, didnt personally submit any additional filings in the case, which was settled in 2020 for $10 million, records show. Rajkumar defended her campaigns social media ads this week, saying she continued to work on the case in an of counsel capacity after the plagiarism spat. Her spokesman Arvind Sooknanan characterized her work after that point as being focused on pressuring the mega landlord to improve the conditions of the buildings and collaborating with co-counsel at the other law firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud of the work I did on the Gateway Plaza case a case I originated, filed, and fought for relentlessly, Rajkumar told The News. I helped build the legal team that ultimately secured better conditions in the buildings, a new rental agreement, and millions of dollars for the tenants. David Sanford, a co-founder of Sanford Heisler and Rajkumars old boss, said in an email that she played a central role in the Gateway Plaza litigation. She originated the case as Of Counsel to our firm, served as Co-Counsel in the litigation, was the primary point of contact with the tenants who were the clients of the firm, was involved in strategic discussions about the litigation throughout the course of the litigation, and was helpful in the negotiation and settlement process, Sanford said. Her ads about the Gateway case have been posted on X, Instagram and Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferrara didnt return a request for comment. The Rajkumar ads also accuse incumbent Public Advocate Jumaane Williams of being the worst landlord in NYC, a reference to a report that a building he owns recently went into foreclosure. In running for public advocate in the June 24 Democratic primary, Rajkumar, a close ally to Mayor Adams, has accused Williams of being too lazy for the job. Those criticisms have echoed comments from Adams, who has claimed Williams doesnt wake up until noon. So far, Rajkumar has raised more money than Williams, sitting on about $1.4 million compared to his roughly $1 million, filings show, as the primary looms just a month away. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) rejected Unitils proposal to recover nearly $700,000 in default energy supply costs by adding them to its Stranded Cost Charge, a fee paid by all electric distribution customers. In a May 20 decision, the PUC instead reaffirmed a long-standing policy that utility supply costs must be recovered through default service rates, not distribution charges. The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) applauded the decision, calling it a win for fairness, customer choice, and the integrity of New Hampshires competitive energy market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Hampshire residents and businesses deserve a level playing field, transparent rate structures, and the freedom to choose better energy options, said Deana Dennis, director of Regulatory & Legislative Affairs at CPCNH. The Commissions decision ensures that utilities cannot offload supply losses onto customers of Community Power and competitive supply through hidden delivery charges. In a statement, Unitil said default service serves an important role for customers. Its a stable, protected option that customers can rely on if they dont, or cant, choose a third-party supplier, Unitil said. Our proposal aimed to recover costs in a way that reflects the value this service provides to all customers. However, we respect the Commissions decision and remain committed to working collaboratively with regulators, stakeholders, and communities to meet customers evolving energy needs. The PUC found Unitils proposed accounting treatment inconsistent with standard ratemaking principles and existing precedent, including the principle that those who create costs should pay for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision comes amid scrutiny of New Hampshires default energy service procurement structure. Earlier this spring, the PUC approved changes that allow all three of New Hamshires investor-owned utilities including Unitil to increase the portion of their default energy service procured through short-term spot market purchases to 50% for residential and small business customers. CPCNH provided testimony in the case, including analysis from Clifton C. Below, chair of its Regulatory & Legislative Affairs Committee, who identified anomalies in Unitils reported data signaling errors in the companys billing and load settlement systems. The anomalies were similar to flaws that Below uncovered in the Eversource $6.5 million cost-shifting case, where the PUC also acted to maintain the status quo and defer consideration of what to do with the Eversource under- collection to later this summer. It should never be acceptable for utilities to lowball their default service rates, lose money, and then socialize those losses across all customers especially those who made other energy supply choices, said Dennis. This decision helps preserve a competitive market that delivers greater transparency in electric rates and empowers customers and local communities. One of the most awaited Supreme Court rulings of the year ended in a deadlocked decision that led to triumph for supporters of church-state separation in schools. On Thursday, the court split 4-4 over a bid to let Oklahoma use taxpayer funds to open what would have been the United States first religious public charter school St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the sole woman represented in the courts conservative supermajority, did not deliberate in the case. She recused herself, reportedly because she is a good friend of a Notre Dame Law School professor who served as an adviser to the charter school. St. Isidore would have created a Catholic-centric curriculum and been run by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. The split ruling, which did not break down how the justices voted, affirms the Oklahoma Supreme Courts decision last year prohibiting the charter school because its creation would have violated the state and federal constitutions as well as the state charter school statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The central question of the case was whether the First Amendments religion clauses allow states to open and fund public charter schools with a religious focus. Had the school been allowed to go forward it could have exposed public school students to discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion, opponents of St. Isidore argued. They contend that blurring the lines between church and state in schools could introduce students to ideas that engender shame in them about their identities since religious doctrine can be and has been interpreted in ways deemed racist, misogynistic and homophobic. Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and serve all students, said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonprofit advocacy group, in a statement. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which planned to discriminate against students, families, and staff and indoctrinate students into one religion, cannot operate as a public charter school. A religious public school would be an abject violation of religious freedom. Leaders of the nations two largest education labor unions, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), issued statements welcoming the outcome of the case. Both groups filed amicus briefs urging the court to reject the effort to create a religious public charter school. Becky Pringle, NEAs president, said that directing taxpayer funding to St. Isidore would have harmed public education. For too long, she said, we have seen anti-public education forces attempt to deprive public school students of necessary funding and support. We are gratified that the Supreme Court did not take the radical step of upending public education by requiring states to have religious charter schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cari Elledge, fifth-grade teacher and president of the Oklahoma Education Association, said that requiring Oklahoma to fund the charter school programs would have had an adverse impact on classroom resources and educator salaries. Funneling funding meant for all to only a select few would have harmed our students and our public schools, she said. Randi Weingarten, AFTs president, said that her organization respects religious education but believes it should be separate from public schooling, which she described as the bedrock of the nations democracy. Public schools, including public charter schools, are funded by taxpayer dollars because they are dedicated to helping all not just some children have a shot at success, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Courts split ruling correctly upheld the separation of church and state and backed the founders intention to place religious pluralism over sectarianism, Weingarten continued. And we are grateful that it upheld the states highest courts clear and unambiguous ruling to preserve and nurture the roots of our democracy, not tear up its very foundations. Conservative groups such as the Cato Institute and the Heritage Foundation offered measured responses to the decision despite it not going their way. In a statement, Neal McCluskey, the director of Catos Center for Educational Freedom, expressed surprise by how quickly the decision came, as oral arguments just took place in April. He also noted that it was impossible to tell which justices voted in favor or against the charter school Chief Justice John Roberts was likely the swing conservative vote, and while this decision does not establish precedent, it potentially sends an important message: the right way to address discrimination against religion by our public education system is through private school choice programs, not charters, McCluskey said. Thomas Jipping, a senior legal fellow in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation, the conservative group behind Project 2025, said that the issues the case raised involving the First Amendments religion clauses could be resolved through alternative means in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With no majority and no separate opinions, we cant know how the justices wrestled with these different options, Jipping said. The issues raised here will likely return to the court, perhaps in a case better suited for resolution. The post The push to open the countrys first religious public school isnt over, proponents say appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. A non-profit group said a push to allow prayer before Cabarrus County School Board meetings could violate the U.S. Constitution. ALSO READ: Cabarrus County commissioners deadlock on vote for new chairperson According to the Charlotte Observer, the Freedom from Religion Foundation recently sent a legal complaint to the board. This was due to board members voting to draft new guidelines that would allow prayers at meetings. The board, as well as the public, will have the chance to weigh in on those guidelines later this year. VIDEO: Cabarrus County commissioners deadlock on vote for new chairperson Russian forces are working to establish a buffer zone along the country's border with Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, following his return from the Kursk region in southern Russia. The decision to establish the zone had been taken, Putin said by video link during a government meeting. He did not stipulate where the buffer zone would lie or how large it would be. "Our forces are currently engaged in solving this task, hostile firing points are being actively suppressed, and the work is ongoing," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kiev rejected Putin's plans and criticized such statements as further proof that Russia has no interest in peace. "These new aggressive claims clearly reject peace efforts and show that Putin has been and remains the only reason the killing continues," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. Putin also issued instructions for a comprehensive reconstruction programme to be worked out for southern Russian regions affected by the war, including Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk. The regions have been damaged by Ukrainian drones and artillery fire. Putin stated previously that the Kursk region had been cleared of Ukrainian troops following their incursion in August. He visited the region earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of lying when he said Ukrainian forces were still holding parts of Kursk and Belgorod. Waves of Ukrainian drones disrupt air traffic in Moscow Earlier, Russian authorities said that Ukraine had bombarded Moscow airspace with hundreds of combat drones since Tuesday evening, though 485 were intercepted. The unmanned aircraft were keeping the capital and its surrounding area on edge. Russia's Defence Ministry said an especially high number of drones was shot down in the Moscow region but also in the areas to its south. The military figures could not be independently verified but suggest almost continuous Ukrainian attacks. Despite the large number of deployed drones, the reported damage on the ground was minimal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported throughout the afternoon that drones heading towards the capital had been shot down. Flights at Moscow's airports were repeatedly suspended overnight, according to Russias aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya. Temporary take-off and landing restrictions have become routine amid ongoing drone threats. About three dozen flights were delayed, the authority said. In the afternoon Rosaviatsiya again imposed restrictions on several regional airports. In the Russian region of Bryansk, one person was killed and another injured in a Ukrainian drone attack, according to Governor Alexander Bogomaz. Andrei Klychkov, governor of the Oryol region south of Moscow, wrote on Telegram about "massive drone attacks." Mobile internet was reportedly shut down. One person killed in Russian attack in Kherson region Meanwhile, Russian forces launched their own wave of attacks on Ukraine. An 85-year-old woman was killed in the Kherson region during Russian shelling, according to military Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia deployed an Iskander-M missile and a total of 128 drones and decoys overnight. Of those, 112 drones were intercepted. The regions of Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv were among those targeted. Ukraine has been fending off Russias full-scale invasion for over three years, with support from Western allies. As part of its defence strategy, it strikes military and infrastructure targets inside Russia. However, the scale of Ukrainian operations remains limited compared to the widespread destruction inflicted by Russias war. MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia needs to strengthen its position in the global arms market by increasing exports of weapons. In televised remarks, he also said the country's military complex needs more state support to develop its potential. Since Moscow sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the defence industry has been largely focused on domestic military production to support operations there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has entailed a massive effort to build new missiles, drones and shells as well as recondition ageing Soviet-era tanks, vehicles and artillery. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russian arms exports dropped to 7.8% of the global market in the 2020-24 period, compared with 21% in the previous four-year period, as a result of international sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine and increased domestic demand for weapons. India, China and Egypt are among the biggest buyers of Russian arms. "The portfolio of orders for Russian military products is now serious. It is tens of billions of dollars. And it is necessary to actively increase the volume of export deliveries," Putin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also singled out weapons that utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI). "The future of the global arms market lies with such technology. Strong competition will unfold here, and is already unfolding, for which we must be prepared," Putin said. Western and Ukrainian officials acknowledge the Kremlin has done better than anyone expected when it comes to the battle to produce military equipment, but it has been hindered by increasingly stringent Western sanctions covering a growing number of industrial and other components. Last month, Putin acknowledged that Russia's armed forces remained short of certain weapons, including drones, despite a big increase in output. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, Dmitry Antonov and Maxim Rodionov; editing by William Maclean and Mark Heinrich) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 23. Rahimberdi Jepbarov, Chairman of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan, held talks with Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development, to explore avenues for deepening partnership, Trend reports via OPEC. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation under the Country Partnership Program a five-year strategic framework designed to align joint development initiatives and strengthen coordination. This partnership program is based on an agreement signed on June 25, 2024, between the Government of Turkmenistan and the OPEC Fund. The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation and aims to enhance engagement with multilateral development finance institutions. Turkmenistan and the OPEC Fund have maintained a cooperative relationship since 1999. Over the years, the Fund has provided financing for development projects in key sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and water and sanitation infrastructure. Founded in 1976 by the member countries of OPEC, the OPEC Fund for International Development supports sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries. Headquartered in Vienna, the Fund has financed projects in more than 125 countries worldwide. The News The US Supreme Court on Thursday stressed that the Federal Reserve would not be affected by its granting of President Donald Trumps emergency request to fire Joe Bidens appointees in key independent agencies at will. Not everyone is convinced. Some legal experts are interpreting the conservative majoritys comments as an attempt to keep the markets calm after a series of disruptions were triggered by the White Houses attempts to rein in the central banks independence including comments by Trump about firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which he later clawed back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court is just trying to calm markets without necessarily telegraphing how it might rule in a future case involving the Federal Reserve, Brian Knight, senior counsel at the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom, said. Todd Phillips, assistant professor of legal studies at Georgia State University, agreed: They were clearly just putting that paragraph about the Fed in to ensure that markets dont freak. The underlying case revolves around a decades-old precedent, known as Humphreys Executor, that prevents the president from firing officials at most independent agencies without cause. Trump won some key concessions from the Supreme Court in 2020, when he was permitted to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But efforts ramped up in his second term, sparking concerns that future rulings could hand Trump more tools to rein in the Feds independence. Already, his Treasury Department has pursued greater control over the central banks supervisory policies. However, the majority wrote that Thursdays order does not sweep in Fed officials because the central bank is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States. The minority wrote that the cited opinion provides no support for that argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a judicial fairyland, said Aaron Klein, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He likened it to Harry Reids argument that the only judicial nominees subject to the filibuster should be Supreme Court justices: Its an untenable carveout. Know More Powell said last month that he did not think the NLRB case would impact the Fed. Still, were monitoring very carefully, he said. Some, including former Fed Gov. Dan Tarullo, say the Supreme Court can strike down Humphreys Executor without affecting the central bank including by referring back to its arguable ancestry, as Tarullo describes it, the way the majority did on Thursday. But others say that argument is a blunt instrument that fails to address the specific question of whether Trump can fire Fed officials. The Federal Reserve is a very different organization than those institutions, Knight said. So earlier precedent holding those banks to be constitutional, while relevant, is not necessarily dispositive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knight and others expect the Supreme Court to provide more details on how it plans to treat the Fed in its final ruling. Its order will remain in place until then. There will likely be another opportunity for them to further explain their thinking and how the Fed can be carved out, Phillips said. That being said, I dont see how they can do it and the breadcrumbs they laid yesterday show that theyre not going to be very legal about it. An endangered sea turtle stranded by rising temperatures was rescued by a quick-thinking 10-year-old in Ireland. The Irish Independent reported that Jonathan Padden, who discovered a seemingly lifeless tiny loggerhead turtle on a Mayo beach. It had been washed in from the Atlantic Ocean by a storm and was weak because of cold-stunning. Padden's family carefully wrapped the turtle in a towel and transported it to Galway Atlantaquaria, Ireland's largest native species aquarium. It has experience caring for stranded turtles, which has become a frequent occurrence because of rising global temperatures. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of washed-up turtles survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aquarium staff placed the turtle, named Columbus by Padden, into a rehabilitation tank with a heat lamp. After a few tense days, Columbus emerged from a cold-stunned state. The 1.5-year-old turtle slowly progressed from intravenous feeding to using its flippers to eat prawns, squid, and other food on its own. Rita Gately, a volunteer veterinary adviser, said Columbus' recovery in only a month has been "incredible," and it may soon be ready to return to the wild. Columbus is the third stranded turtle rescued by the aquarium in recent years. Loggerhead turtles, named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, are a protected and endangered species. According to the World Wildlife Fund, loggerheads are an integral part of marine ecosystems. The turtles crush and eat clams, crabs, and other hard-shelled prey, which helps to recycle key nutrients that maintain coral reefs, seagrass beds, and ocean floor sediments. Unfortunately, this vital species is under threat from ocean plastic, getting caught in fishing nets, and warming ocean temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As global temperatures have soared, the air has begun holding more moisture, per National Geographic. This has contributed to an intensification of extreme weather events. Loggerheads are common in the warmer waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas. Sea turtles can become cold-stunned when water temperatures drop below 50 degrees, making them weak and unable to swim. Warming ocean temperatures have led to a rise in stranded sea turtles because they are getting swept northward by the Gulf Stream, increasing the odds of cold-stunning events. The United Kingdom's Royal Navy recently relocated six cold-stunned loggerhead turtles. Padden's rescue of Columbus highlights how community members can take action to protect species impacted by the warming climate. Supporting organizations that rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles helps ensure a brighter future for everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Much of this great recovery was thanks to the quick response by Jonathan and his parents," said Matthew Hawkins of Galway Atlantaquaria, per the Independent. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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. Rhode Island Crime Laboratory Director Dennis Hilliard sits before the commission that monitors what happens at his lab during its quarterly meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island State Crime Lab Director Dennis Hilliard says he is still struggling to fill three open positions for firearms examiners, nine months after an investigation found discrepancies in testing conducted at the troubled lab. But the State Crime Laboratory Commission put Hilliards job performance under the microscope during a 90-minute closed-door meeting Thursday at the Cranston office of the Rhode Island Attorney General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hilliard, who earns $143,628-a-year as lab director, a position hes held since 1992, waited in the lobby while four of the five commissioners met in a conference room. Just to let you know, the person theyre going to discuss is me, Hilliard, 70, told reporters. The lab in Fogarty Hall on the University of Rhode Islands (URI) Kingston campus temporarily suspended toolmark testing last August after discrepancies were found in lab results for casings from a Glock pistol seized as evidence in a 2021 Pawtucket murder case. The casings were flagged as matching a different firearm in possession of the Boston Police Department. That led to delays in nearly two dozen criminal cases, which underwent re-testing at labs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Hilliard told the commission that all those cases have since been verified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners had copies of a report by an assessment team from the ANSI National Accreditation Board, which visited the lab in March. The report found no issues with the competency of the examiners who now handle evidence for firearms, trace evidence, and latent prints at the lab. But it did find the lab did not conform with 15 of 172 professional standards or 8.7%. Hilliard said the issues were mostly paperwork-related and that staff were working to address them in order to maintain accreditation. The executive session took up half the commissions quarterly meeting. Deputy Attorney General Adi Goldstein, who chairs the panel as a designee of the AGs office, announced that no action was taken following the commissions return to open session. Hilliard moved up the labs accreditation review two years sooner than required in its standard accreditation cycle after it had to halt how examiners determine if a cartridge or shell is fired from a specific gun last August. The lab in Fogarty Hall on the University of Rhode Islands (URI) Kingston campus temporarily suspended toolmark testing after casings to a Glock pistol seized as evidence in a 2021 Pawtucket murder case matched a different firearm in possession of the Boston Police Department. The suspension prompted delays in nearly two dozen criminal cases, which underwent re-testing at labs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Hilliard told the commission that all those cases have since been verified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report published last October by California-based consultant Ronald Nichols, who formerly worked for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), found there was a lack of diligence and confirmation bias on the part of three forensic examiners who performed toolmark analysis at the state lab. The three firearms examiners have since left the lab. Nine months later, Hilliard said its been nearly impossible to find replacements. Most experienced examiners, he said, can work as consultants where they can make far more money in a shorter amount of time compared to what theyd receive at URI. Weve got a really limited pool, Hilliard told the commission. Hilliard said only one serious candidate had applied to be a lead examiner position when the position was first up between November and early 2025. That applicant had toured the facility and passed a competency test, but turned down a job offer, saying the salary was too low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, URI offered a salary range of $70,971 to $107,830 for the lead examiners position. The new job listing posted on URIs website May 16 lists a salary range between $82,082 to $125,379. No applications have been received as of Thursday, Hilliard told the commission. Cartridge casings under examination at the Rhode Island State Crime Lab in 2023. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Goldstein questioned why the lab has only recently updated the salary range when Hilliard told the commission in January that a pay bump would likely be needed to attract applicants. Hilliard explained that it took that long for URI to reclassify the jobs pay grade. It wasnt until last Wednesday that I was informed that they would accept, recruit, and update, he told the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar pay update will be required for the position of a standard examiner, which initially had a salary range of $65,980 to $100,314. A technician from Baltimore had been offered a job, but Hilliard said the candidate declined due to family issues. He told Rhode Island Current the new salary will likely range between $76,159 and $116,529. Of the two standard toolmark examiners, Hilliard told the commission one will be filled by an in-house candidate being trained by the ATF. He is expected to begin work early next year, Hilliard told reporters. In the meantime, new toolmark exams will continue to be handled by two former New York City police examiners from Stria Consulting Group contracted by the lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any toolmark case still requires final verification by examiners at SCL Forensics in Texas and FoCoSS Forensics in New Hampshire. Additional verification was deemed necessary by the commission to minimize the risk of confirmation bias the principle that if you know what youre looking for, youre more likely to find it. But Hilliard said third-party labs have slow turnaround times. He told the commission it often takes six to eight weeks to receive the external verification since the labs handle other cases from their own states as well. Hilliard asked the commission to allow the lab to reduce the number of cases verified out of state. Goldstein denied that request, telling Hilliard to come up with a formal proposal for a statistically valid sample of cases for the commission to consider at a future meeting. Until that is proposed,we proceed with the current process, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meeting ended, Hilliard said hes proud of what hes done for the lab. Ive done everything in my power to expand this lab, he said in an interview. This was a dream job up until this issue. As Hilliards lab remains under scrutiny, the Senate Committee on Judiciary Thursday held its initial hearing for a bill that would put the crime lab directly under the purview of the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General. The bill was introduced on behalf of the AGs office by Judiciary committee chairman Matthew LaMountain, a Warwick Democrat who previously served as a state prosecutor. LaMountains legislation was held for further study by the committee, as is standard procedure for a bills first hearing. Companion legislation sponsored across the rotunda by Rep. Matthew Dawson, an East Providence Democrat, was heard by the House Committee on Judiciary April 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Correction: The crime lab did not conform with 8.7% of professional accreditation standards. It met 91.3%. Updated to include information on bills to put the crime lab under the purview of the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A Virginia Beach rabbi is calling on organizers of an upcoming USS Liberty reunion to reconsider allowing controversial figures to attend, citing concerns over antisemitism. Backlash builds over USS Liberty reunion event featuring controversial speaker The reunion, hosted by the USS Liberty Veterans Association, is scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel from June 6 to June 9, the same dates as Norfolks Harborfest. The event is held to honor the 34 sailors killed and more than 170 injured when Israeli forces attacked the USS Liberty in 1967. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Controversy came after a flyer began circulating online, listing far-right media figures Stew Peters, Lucas Gage and Jake Shields as speakers. All three have been accused of spreading antisemitic rhetoric. A flyer was created by the organizers, said Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism. We simply made a graphic of the existing flyer to raise awareness of the white supremacists event occurring in the Virginia area. Rabbi Israel Zoberman, the son of Holocaust survivors, described the situation as deeply saddening and warned including people with known antisemitic views undermines the memorials message. For anyone who has antisemitic views to speak at any event should alarm the entire American society, Zoberman told WAVY. That really takes away from the meaningfulness of the event dedicated to the tragic event that happened with the Liberty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USS Liberty Veterans Association President Phil Tourney confirmed that Peters asked to speak at the event, but said its too late to uninvite him. If they got a problem with any speaker, Stew Peters or otherwise, theres nothing we can do about it right now, Tourney said. Tourney emphasized that the group does not condone hate speech and said the reunion is meant to be a peaceful gathering. We come in peace and harmony to remember our dead mates, break some bread together, he said, noting the group is now spending up to $25,000 on 24-hour police protection due to threats. WAVY has not verified this with Norfolk Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, VFW Post 4809 states: The VFW Department of Virginia and VFW Post 4809 in Norfolk are aware that the event flyer for the USS Liberty Veterans Association reunion has been edited to imply association with white supremacists and antisemites. The VFW and Post 4809 do not in any way support those who hijacked this event for their own agenda. We support the victims and survivors of the attack, and all veterans, but white supremacy and antisemitism have no place in the VFW. The event at the Sheraton in Norfolk is a Liberty Veterans Association reunion and any questions about that event should be directed to that organization. VFW Post 4809 will host a memorial service at the USS Liberty monument located outside the post so veterans can pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving aboard USS Liberty. WAVY reached out to both the city of Norfolk and Marriott, which owns the Sheraton venue, for comment. The city acknowledged the request but has not provided a statement. Marriott has not responded. The USS Liberty reunion is still scheduled to take place as planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. The British public has never paid more in taxes. The tax burden is at the highest level since the end of the Second World War. Despite Labours manifesto pledges not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT, more pain is expected. So where does your tax money actually go? Use our tool below to discover how your tax bill breaks down once handed over to HMRC. Using this analysis, The Telegraph can reveal that a fifth of the average persons tax bill is spent on the health service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This equates to 1,426 a year, assuming they earn 38,247, the median income for full-time employees. That same employee spends 929 funding the state pension system, 824 paying off the national debt and 576 on schools. Unemployment and disability benefits cost the average person 820 combined. This dwarfs minor spending at the bottom of the tax bill, including 1.40 per person on forestry management and protection, or 4.30 on street lighting. The figures relate to spending made in the 2023-24 financial year, based on analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. We also analysed the dramatic changes to how our tax is spent over the past 70 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the same employees salary was spent in the same way as it was in 1955, they would contribute 1,531 to the military, some five times higher than the current contribution of 345. The average salary in 1955 was of course far lower the point is to show how government priorities have changed. In 1955, the military was still the countrys largest expense, as the country cooled from the Second World War and the Cold War began. Health would represent just 8pc of all personal taxes collected, less than half of the proportion today, with the NHS still in its infancy. Similarly, the equivalent of just 956 a year would be spent on welfare, compared to roughly 1,610 today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the average 1950s taxpayer would be contributing considerably more to servicing the national debt, with the weary country paying off loans accrued during the war. 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. WASHINGTON Short line railroads had a longer than usual wishlist when they converged in Washington D.C. for the annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill lobby blitz organized by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. Theres a new administration in office to educate and inform, along with many new members of Congress and their staffs. But theres much more on the agenda: A federal appropriations bill, including Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants Reauthorization of surface transportation programs, which includes $300 billion over five years for federal highway, rail, transit and safety programs Modal equity, specifically regarding truck size and weight Expansion of 45G short line tax credit, which returns a portion of spending on track maintenance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consensus among attendees May 7 was that the message was well-received as they sought to put a face on the issues, and that senators and representatives, and their staffs, were better informed of rail issues than has been the case in prior years. Whether that translates to legislative wins for the industry remains to be seen. But railroads critical role in the supply chain and the American economy is a positive story most everyone can agree on. We seem to be well-positioned between both parties, said Alan Matheson, superintendent and chief operating officer of Tacoma Rail in Tacoma, Washington. Its not political. Founded in 1925, Tacoma Rail serves 43 customers in Pierce County south of the Port of Tacoma, and is one of the oldest short lines in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRISI grants and 45G for track maintenance and capital outays are two sides of the same coin, Matheson said. Whats new with the new administration is an accelerated permitting process. The people we met with are aware of what the issues are, and we spent time with new members getting them up to speed. Washington is one of the most-trade dependent states, and Matheson said he was cautiously optimistic following much discussion of tariffs and their impact. There were a lot of good questions from young [congressional] staff, said Kevin Keller, vice president at freight rail engineering specialist HDR. If we can just educate themrailroads are a safe, non-partisan industry. Why would you not support it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rail groups leadership acknowledges that achieving modal equity with trucks is more of a challenge. Truck size and weight is a tough issue, said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. We got our point across. Baker said federal permitting of projects needs to speed up. We have got to build faster. From grants to obligation, people are really interested in that. Congress appropriates the money because the Federal Railroad Administration supported it. Everyone is like, Lets go! Former Surface Transportation Board Chairman Roger Nober said that there is a willingness on the part of the Trump administration to look at deregulation, but wondered if that would last beyond the current term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Businesses] need long-term certainty to make investment decisions, said Nober, who now directs the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington University. Nober said he supports repeal of the federal rule requiring two-person train crews, from a legal and operating standpoint. I think this administration will be open to new technology. Kevin Donahue, state and local affairs manager for CN (NYSE: CNI) in Illinois who was there to support the Canadian carriers short line partners, said that his lobby visits went really good. People were prepared and on top of issues. This event is extremely important, because it shows the value of constituents, said Robert Primus, member and immediate former chairman of the STB. Short line railroads are central to local economies and business growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growth is a top issue for railroads, said Primus, who in 2024 convened a rare public hearing to question railroads on their growth strategies. The strength of the economy means new businesses joining the rail network. We have to build confidence in the network to promote a reliability that attract people. Short lines are the drivers of that growth, he said. The Class I railroads should give short lines more of an opportunity to build the business rather than just a smaller share. Subscribe to FreightWaves Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: Coal extends surprising lead in weekly US rail traffic Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement J.B. Hunt and Eastern and Canadian railways see steady intermodal volume For first time since 1998, LA-Long Beach ports bid harbor rail services Advisory team will drive overhaul of US railroad regulator The post Rail agenda steams up as short lines blitz Congress appeared first on FreightWaves. There just might be some rain in Palm Beach County and Florida's forecast as we move into the Memorial Day weekend. For some parts of Florida, there might be too much of a good thing. Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location The National Weather Service Miami warned heavy rain could bring more than 5 inches of rain to some localized areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service Tampa Bay told residents some storms Friday afternoon, May 23, may be strong, with gusty winds or hail. Here's what you can expect. Will it rain in Palm Beach County over the Memorial Day weekend? West Palm Beach: Strong to marginally severe storms are forecast across most of the area Friday afternoon and into the evening, with a potential for severe hail, and possibility of "strong to severe wind gusts." Heavy rainfall could bring threat for localized flooding if a storm stalls. Possibilities include half an inch to 2 inches across the east coast metro area with the potential of isolated locations seeing 3 to 5-plus inches of rainfall. Storms possible again Saturday. Pop-up showers possible Sunday and on Memorial Day. Forecast for all of Florida for holiday weekend Pensacola: Expect dry conditions Friday, with scattered storms possible Saturday, especially along and north of I-84. Scattered showers and thunderstorms possible Sunday and on Memorial Day. Tallahassee: Expect dry conditions Friday, with isolated thunderstorms possible Saturday and isolated severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening. Thunderstorm chances increase on Memorial Day. Jacksonville: Expect dry conditions Friday. Rain chances at 20-30% over north central Florida Saturday, with a potential for isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Scattered showers and storms Sunday. Isolated storms will last later into the night Memorial Day. Daytona Beach: There's a marginal risk for strong to severe storms Friday afternoon and evening, mainly from Orlando/Titusville south. Low to medium (20-40%) rain and lightning storm chances this weekend, increasing to around 50% next week. Melbourne: There's a marginal risk for strong to severe storms Friday afternoon and evening, mainly from Orlando/Titusville south. Low to medium (20-40%) rain and lightning storm chances this weekend, increasing to around 50% next week. Port St. Lucie: There's a marginal risk for strong to severe storms Friday afternoon and evening, mainly from Orlando/Titusville south. Low to medium (20-40%) rain and lightning storm chances this weekend, increasing to around 50% next week. Naples: Thunderstorms likely after 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Showers likely and a thunderstorm is possible on Memorial Day. Fort Myers: Showers and thunderstorms possible Saturday and Sunday. There's a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Memorial Day; showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Sarasota: Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms possible Friday. There's a chance for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms, especially over the interior, over the weekend. Chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms Memorial Day. Orlando: There's a marginal risk for strong to severe storms Friday afternoon and evening, mainly from Orlando/Titusville south. Low to medium (20-40%) rain and lightning storm chances this weekend, increasing to around 50% next week. How hot is Palm Beach County and Florida expected to get over Memorial Day weekend? Weather alerts issued in Florida NWS radar shows where any storms may be in Florida over Memorial Day weekend Saturday, May 24: A slight chance of thunderstorms, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Sunday, May 25: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Memorial Day, May 26: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Saturday, May 24: Sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Sunday, May 25: Sunny, with a high near 86. Light west wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Memorial Day, May 26: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow National Weather Service Mobile on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Sunday, May 25: Sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Memorial Day, May 26: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Follow the National Weather Service Tallahassee on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: Sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 17 mph. Sunday, May 25: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Memorial Day, May 26: A 30 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Jacksonville on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Sunday, May 25: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 88. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Memorial Day, May 26: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon. Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 89. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon. Sunday, May 25: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Memorial Day, May 26: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Sunday, May 25: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Memorial Day, May 26: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter. Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11 a.m. Sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 102. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Sunday, May 25: A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11 a.m. Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Memorial Day, May 26: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 97. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Sunday, May 25: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Memorial Day, May 26: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Sunday, May 25: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 86. East southeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Memorial Day, May 26: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 86. East southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter. Saturday, May 24: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind around 5 mph. Sunday, May 25: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 93. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Memorial Day, May 26: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South wind around 5 mph Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Memorial Day weekend weather forecast for West Palm Beach, Florida May 23Vivek Ramaswamy visited Clark County to overwhelming support at the local Republican Party's Reagan-Trump Dinner on Thursday evening in Moorefield Twp. The gubernatorial candidate in the 2026 election shared his vision for Ohio and was met with several standing ovations and uproarious applause. Ramaswamy, a 39-year-old biotech entrepreneur and Republican from Cincinnati, seeks to gain the party's nomination to run against the Democratic candidate in November 2026. The state GOP endorsed his run this month. It was the businessman's first public appearance in Springfield since September, when he held a town hall meeting amid national focus on the city's large Haitian immigrant population. That attention came largely as a result of false rumors that the immigrants were eating people's pets, as members of Ramaswamy's party, including now-President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, amplified the claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramaswamy told the crowd Thursday that attendees of that town hall opened his eyes "to the best way that I believe we can help the United States of America by leading the great state of Ohio back to greatness." Several attendees of that 2024 town hall asked Ramaswamy to run for governor, and he said at the time he would consider a campaign. "It was actually the moment in Springfield last fall that really turned around my thinking about how we were going to spend the next chapter of our journey," Ramaswamy said Thursday. "A number of you were there." Ramaswamy repeated ideas he shared when announcing his candidacy, including his goal of making the state a leader in educational and economic achievement. He again said he will welcome anyone, no matter their political ideology, to his team to meet this goal. "This is the state where the American dream is your birthright, where success is your birthright, where a world class education is your birthright, where freedom is your heritage and excellence is your destiny," Ramaswamy said. "That isn't a humble vision for our state; it is an ambitious vision because I believe that's who we really are as Ohioans and as Americans. We're not victims. We're victors." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramaswamy said he intends to address an "epidemic" of depression, anxiety, suicide and fentanyl and opioid addiction. He said the state should teach its children U.S. history that "teaches our kids to be proud of our country and proud of our state rather than be ashamed of them." He said public school teachers should be paid more, "tied in some measure to performance." He also lamented students' underperformance in core areas like math, saying that Chinese students are on average academically four years ahead of American students. He praised achievement at the private Greater Dayton School and the Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers. Many of his points echoed a December post on social media platform X criticizing the country's culture, saying it "has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long." Ramaswamy saw some backlash for that statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, Ramaswamy sought the GOP nomination for president in 2024, but dropped out to back Trump. Amy Acton, who served as Gov. Mike DeWine's Ohio Department of Health director from 2019 to 2020, is the only Democrat who has declared a run for governor, though former congressman Tim Ryan and former Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern have expressed interest. Acton was instrumental in the state's initial policies at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Ramaswamy railed against her Thursday, blaming chronic absenteeism on the school closures. "If I'm elected your governor, never again will we bend the knee to a fake Anthony Fauci, who allowed our public schools to be closed while our private schools remained open," Ramaswamy said. "It doesn't make any sense." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to the News-Sun, Acton criticized Ramaswamy and said his "plan to eliminate the department of education and starve our public schools of funding would hurt our schools and children across Ohio." "As governor, I'll fight every day to ensure our schools are fully funded, with the resources they need to educate and take care of our kids," Acton said. Ramaswamy told the crowd that the country is in a "new era" with Trump's election and he sought to build on that momentum, adapting the president's slogan as a call to "Make Ohio Great Again." To Ramaswamy, that means instituting change based on merit rather than "the woke DEI regime" and ensuring elected officials rather than "unelected bureaucrats and three-letter agencies in Washington D.C. or for that matter in Columbus, Ohio" run the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The golden age for America is about to be a golden age for federalism in America, just like our founding fathers envisioned," Ramaswamy said. But this time, Ohio will be at the forefront, he said. "I want to lead Ohio to be the top state in the country to raise a young family, to generate wealth, to give our kids a world-class education and to be the state that sets the standard for our peers across our nation," Ramaswamy said. If elected governor, Ramaswamy said he will not "govern from a bubble" and will include the entire state. State Sen. Kyle Koehler told the News-Sun that the Republican Party had never had such high attendance at an annual dinner. The event Thursday was held at the historic Simon Kenton Inn on Urbana Road. The last thing Chicagoans expect when they lift the hood of their car is a literal rats nest. But rodents do enjoy curling up in warm spaces and chewing on any available wires, which makes nestling in the engine block of your vehicle a cozy spot. And, much to the chagrin of residents, rats have been making themselves at home in vehicles all over the Windy City. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once in your vehicle, rats can do a lot of damage. In one case, they caused more than $1,200 in damage to Koren Bakers vehicle in the Irving Park East neighborhood. Whoa, that's too much money to pay for just a rat, Baker said in an interview with ABC 7 Eyewitness News Chicago. Rat infestations are common in Chicago Reports of rat infestations are racing up the list of complaints for the Department of Streets and Sanitation to deal with. Between April 2024 and April 2025, there were 43,400 complaints about rodents or rats to Chicagos 311 hotline. Thats a 6.6% decrease in the average number of complaints from 2022 to 2024. Rats often climb under plastic covers within car engines, destroy any available foam, build a nest, and chew through any easily accessible wires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a problem that master technician Mark Ferjak, of Berman Infiniti Chicago, has seen often. In addition to chewed wires, rodents leave their feces behind. Naturally, finding a rat under the hood dead or alive comes as a shock to car owners. "I was very surprised, because I didn't know it could be that big in the engine, Koren Baker told ABC 7. And we had been driving around with it for that many days. Further investigation showed that the rats chewed Bakers insulation and made a little home out of it. You can see how they'll take the insulation, chew it up, make a little nest, and then actually, here you can see the excrement, Ferjak pointed out. That is a lot, there, and it looks like they were there for a long time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While rats can find their way into your car, regardless of where you are in the city, the neighborhoods with people ratting out the pests include West Town, Lake View and Portage Park. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method to make big profits off you and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Protecting your vehicle from expensive rat infestations Pest control experts have seen a sharp rise in the rat numbers in recent years. "The population explosion of rats (that) has outweighed our efforts collectively to control them, is the bottom line of it, certified pest management professional Janelle Iaccino with Rose Pest Solution said. Coming out of the pandemic, the rats became widespread, not just residential areas, but commercial areas, too, and we can't keep up with it. Their breeding is out of control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are some cost-effective ways to prevent rats from nesting in your car. This means thinking beyond just your car. Ensure garbage cans in or around your garage or parking area are sealed, and if possible, avoid parking near any garbage bins, which attract rodents. You can double-check the seal on your garage as rodents can flatten their bodies and squeeze through holes the size of a quarter. Also, store dog food, bird seed or grass seed in tightly sealed containers to avoid attracting vermin. If you do smell a rat, Chicago residents can call 311. The city services team can help to set traps or bait the area. Those willing to take protection measures another step further, consider signing up for a rodent control package. These services cost between $40 to $100 per month, which can be an offer that gives peace of mind. If ongoing expenses are not in your budget, consider wrapping a rodent-repellent tape around car wires. The tape is infused with capsaicin or peppermint and costs around $50 per roll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For residents of rat-infested areas, adding pest control costs to their monthly budget might be a necessary expense. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Kazakhstan upgrades rail network with cutting-edge Chinese locomotive systems Photo: Kazakhstan Railways In 2025, Kazakhstan Railways will receive a new batch of shunting locomotives from China's CRRC Ziyang, with further deliveries planned into 2026. The locomotives will be deployed in Karaganda, Pavlodar, and Astana, supported by new service centers. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Ray Dalio said Republicans and Democrats agree that the budget deficit needs to be addressed, but their political squabbling prevents a solution. Any bipartisan effort to reduce the budget wouldnt happen until after the 2026 midterms, at which point a commission would be put together to tackle the problem, Dalio predicted. Lawmakers wont address the deficit until after the midterm elections in November 2026, according to Ray Dalio. The legendary investor said on Thursday the problem of lowering Americas growing budget deficit would be put off until after those elections, citing contacts in Washington, D.C. Early that morning, the Republican-led House passed a new budget bill that critics say will expand the countrys budget deficit at a time when government officials should be focused on shrinking it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Dalio, Democrats and Republicans both agree on the gravity on the issues, but their political rivalry prevents them from finding a workable solution, he said. Its like being on a boat thats headed for rocks, and they agree that they should turn, but they cant agree on how to turn, Dalio said during an event for the Paley Media Council in New York. Thats why, he said, no serious attempts to reduce the deficit will happen until the 2026 midterms. So Im told the way that this is going to go down is that well pass this [budget bill], Dalio said . There wont be any important changes until after the 2026 elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After those midterms elections lawmakers plan to convene a special committee to address the deficit, according to Dalio. After 2026 the aspiration is to try to put together a bipartisan commission to try to be able to deal with this, Dalio said. So theres no prospect of this being materially dealt with until after the 2026 election. Dalio added that he was lukewarm on the outcomes of such a group, despite calling the need for bipartisanship and getting over political hurdles the essence of the challenge of our country. When asked about the prospects of finding a solution, Dalio said: I cannot be optimistic about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays budget bill passed the House of Representatives in a 215 to 214 vote, with no Democrats in favor of the legislation. Two Republican representativesThomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohiojoined the Democratic caucus in voting against the bill. In the past, Dalio has advocated for reducing the budget deficit with what he calls the 3% solution. The proposal would aim to lower the U.S. national debt to 3% of GDP from its current levels between 6.5% and 7%. The current bill puts that target even further out of reach, according to a report from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com WILLIMANTIC More than 900 undergraduate students from Eastern Connecticut State University crossed the stage at the XL Center in Hartford, celebrating the Universitys 135th Commencement Exercises. The degrees given were from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Professional Studies. This years graduating class came from nearly all of Connecticuts 169 towns, 22 other states and 35 foreign countries. The ages of the graduates ranged from 20 to 64, with 26% of the class being the first in their families to graduate from college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sixteen percent of the graduates are NCAA Division III student-athletes, and 3% attended Eastern on The Dream US scholarships. Areas of study that were popular included business administration, psychology, health sciences, sociology and communication. This years honorary degree recipient was Mary Grant. Grant is a nationally recognized advocate for access and equity in public higher education. She currently serves as president of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She noted the class of 2025 was the first to attend college since the shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. You have resilience, the ability to move forward in the face of uncertainty, Grant said. In a world that sometimes chooses fear over hope, choose hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danielle Kuwornu, 22, of Newington, graduated with a major in social work with a minor in criminology. She was the first student to be a part of the universitys honors program while completing the program. Shell be attending the University of Connecticut pursuing a masters degree in social work while going on to work at DCF. Growing up I knew I wanted to help people, but I was not sure how, Kuwornu said. It wasnt until my aunt went through the process of adopting her son that made me realize that being a social worker is how I want to help people. Kuwornu added the inspiration came from the social worker in the adoption that made her want to be like that for someone else. Her desire to work for DCF stems from the ultimate goal of becoming a family lawyer. Emma McCormack, 22, of Hebron, who graduated with a major in history, will be attending graduate school at Columbia University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was adopted from Russia as a child, which continues to inspire my interest in humanitarian work, international policy or academic research, McCormack said. I chose Columbia because it offers the flexibility and resources to pursue any of these paths, and the Harriman Institute perfectly supports my regional focus. Brayden Alexis, a 21-year-old from Trumbull, graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in biology. Once I graduate from Eastern, I plan to obtain a Master of Public Health promotion and serve for a few years as a public health data analyst, Alexis said. About five years after that, I plan to seek out a position working with the World Health Organization. Katherine Escalante, a 22-year-old from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, graduated with a degree in philosophy and political science. This summer, she will be interning on Capitol Hill and will be starting a Masters degree at the Yale School of the Environment this fall. My dream job is to work to advance justice for the communities and environments that need it the most, Escalante said. Im deeply inspired by my own life experiences and a desire to make a positive impact. I don't have a REAL IDcompliant driver's license and don't plan to get one. I figure if the federal government wants to implement internal passports in the U.S., which after 20 years of political and legal battles is now happening, we might as well be honest about it and use actual passports. So, from now on, I'll enter the secure areas of airports and federal buildings with my actual passport, which is good for travel both external and internal to the U.S. Or we could call REAL IDcompliant licenses, which must adhere to federal standards, "national ID cards." A little honesty is a good thing. It Was Always a National ID Card "The United States is getting a national ID card," security expert Bruce Schneier wrote in 2005 when the REAL ID Act was passed. "The REAL ID Act establishes uniform standards for state driver's licenses, effectively creating a national ID card. It's a bad idea, and is going to make us all less safe." The federal government denies that REAL ID means we all now have to carry national identification cards. Sort of. In 2007, after the REAL ID Act had been enacted but in the midst of state refusal to implement the law and popular opposition, then-Sen. Lamar Alexander (RTenn.) conceded the nature of the beast. "It may be that we need a national identification card," he commented on the floor of the Senate. "I've always been opposed to that. We live in a different era now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) still denies that standardized identification documents required by the U.S. government for domestic air travel and entrance to federal facilities are national ID. "REAL ID is a national set of standards, not a national identification card," DHS insists in a FAQ. "REAL ID does not create a federal database of driver license information. Each jurisdiction continues to issue its own unique license, maintains its own records, and controls who gets access to those records and under what circumstances." That's true-ish, but beside the point. The REAL ID Act set minimum standards for the information contained in an identification card, the conditions (such as citizenship or legal residency) qualifying a person to receive a card, and for the documentation that must be presented for an application. The law also prescribes that information be presented on identification cards in "a common machine-readable technology, with defined minimum data elements." That common technology is helpful since the law also requires that ID issuers "provide electronic access to all other States to information." Data is mostly shared through the State-to-State Verification Service, which links those different databases. Everything besides that is just cosmetic. That includes the names of issuing states, color schemes, and background imagery. They may make ID cards look different from issuing state to issuing state, but they're all interchangeable, with shareable data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And none of this is going to make us saferwhich was the justification for the law. REAL ID Can't Fix Corrupt Officials "All but one of the Sept. 11 hijackers carried government IDs that helped them board planes and remain in the country illegally," DHS then-Secretary Michael Chertoff complained in 2008 amidst debates over REAL ID and refusals by some states to comply. But most people with fake driver's licenses don't acquire them by walking up to a Department of Motor Vehicles clerk with a pleasant smile and a note from mom. Instead, they buy them from corrupt officials. "The manager of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office at Springfield Mall was charged yesterday with selling driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and others for up to $3,500 apiece," The Washington Post's Jerry Markon reported in 2005. That was "the second time in two years that a Northern Virginia DMV employee was accused of fraudulently selling licenses for cash." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If corrupt officials are bypassing normal bureaucratic procedures to issue fraudulent identification documents, standardizing those documents across the nation won't fix the problem. But it could create the illusion of enhanced security. And it will create that illusion even as all that standardized data is placed in linked databases that actually enable identity fraud. One-Stop Shopping for Identity Thieves "The massive amounts of personal information that would be stored in State databases that are to be shared electronically with other States, as well as unencrypted data on the card, could provide one-stop shopping for identity thieves," then-Sen. Daniel Akaka (DHawaii) warned during committee hearings on the REAL ID Act. "REAL ID may make us less secure by giving us a false sense of security." Yes, government officials argue that their agencies' database security is super-secure. They would never let hackers go browsing through their records for interesting information or for the makings of new identities. But these are the same officials who regularly hand vast quantities of sensitive records to foreign hackers (think of the Office of Personnel Management data breaches) or to aggrieved workers (as with some IRS records leaks). There may, in fact, be nothing less secure than a secure government database. Feeding the Expectation of Producing Your Papers Perhaps the worst part, though, is that national IDs and internal passports as embodied in REAL ID add to the expectation that we must prove our identities on demand to the satisfaction of government officials. REAL ID makes it ever easier to insist that we produce papers containing standardized information to engage in everyday activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A national identity system works against the interests of free people and a free society in several ways," Jim Harper wrote in 2018 for the Cato Institute. "A national ID system undercuts the important background privacy protection of practical obscurity: the difficulty of learning about people when records are not created or when data are difficult to access or interpret." The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Alexis Hancock emphasizes that 20 years of delays in implementing REAL ID have done the U.S. no harm, while the arrival of standardized national ID has real risks. Hancock helpfully points to a number of physical and electronic documents that can be used in the place of REAL IDcompliant identification to fly and to enter federal facilities. Passports are on that list, and that's what I'm sticking with. That it's now used as a standardized internal passport and national ID card is exactly the point I'm making every time I'm required to present it so I can go about my business. The post With REAL ID, America Now Has National ID Cards and Internal Passports appeared first on Reason.com. A Republican plan if passed by the U.S. Senate would cut Medicaid by at least $716 billion and the Supplemental Food Nutrition Program by $300 billion through 2034 and push a portion of the cost of the program to the states to backfill. Advocates say this would have "devastating" effects in West Virginia. (Getty Images) A Republican plan to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from food assistance and health care programs for low income Americans to make way for tax cuts would have devastating results in West Virginia, advocates and providers say. The U.S. House of Representatives early Thursday passed a budget bill that analysts say would cut Medicaid by at least $716 billion the largest in the programs history and cause roughly 15 million people to lose their health care coverage over the next few years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, which has yet to be approved by the U.S. Senate, would also cut the Supplemental Food Nutrition Program by $300 billion through 2034 and push a portion of the cost of the program to the states to backfill. Both West Virginia Reps. Riley Moore and Carol Miller, R-W.Va., voted in support of the bill, which narrowly passed with a 215 to 214 vote. Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said the bill breaks a lot of promises made by Congress and President Donald Trump. It does, in fact, enact deep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that will result in eligible people losing those benefits. It will raise grocery prices and health care costs for tens of thousands of West Virginia families, she said. And despite all that, it still increases the deficit, and thats because it extends huge windfall tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthiest households in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, this package just feels like a really bad deal for West Virginians, she said. In West Virginia more than 500,000 people rely on Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program for their health coverage. The bill adds work reporting requirements, primarily for the expansion population those that are on the program as a result of the Affordable Care Act expanding coverage to low-income households, Allen said. It also requires more frequent renewals, where participants are revaluated for eligibility in the program. The work reporting requirements and the more frequent determinations would result in an estimated 50,000 West Virginians being kicked off the health programs, despite continuing to qualify for coverage, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vast majority of West Virginians on Medicaid are either already working or likely would meet an exemption because theyre doing caregiving, theyre in school, theyre disabled, Allen said. But just because what weve seen in other states who have tried this is that overwhelmingly, people who do qualify get kicked off because the new requirements are confusing, burdensome and difficult to follow. The bill also adds co-pays up to $35 per Medicaid service and reduces retroactive eligibility from 90 days to one month, which would lead to hospitals in the states absorbing more uncompensated care, Allen said. The changes are estimated to cost West Virginia about $200 million per year in federal health care money that go to the states hospitals and providers, Allen said. We know hospitals will see less revenue, and instead theyll see more of a need for uncompensated care, Allen said. The loss of revenue will result in an estimated loss of 2,000 to 3,000 health care jobs in the state, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laura Jones, executive director of Milan Puskar Health Right, a free and charitable clinic in Morgantown, said the Medicaid cuts would have a profoundly negative effect on the communities the clinic serves. We will have, once again, many people who lack health insurance, Jones said. And while there are six free clinics in the state in somewhat strategic locations, there are many areas of the state where options for people without insurance are limited or nonexistent. People will resort back to using the emergency room for primary care, which is by far the most expensive way to provide care, she said. Wait times at emergency departments will increase, and hospitals will be overwhelmed with uncompensated care yet again. Jones comments came during a virtual press conference about the Medicaid cuts Thursday hosted by the health care advocacy organization Protect Our Care. The group urged West Virginia Republicans Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice to vote against the cuts when the Senate considers the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid is a lifeline for West Virginia families, seniors, people with disabilities, low income adults and children, Lynette Maselli, state director of Protect Our Care, said during the press conference. Today, nearly one in three West Virginians rely on Medicaid for their health care. Cuts to the program mean fewer doctor visits, fewer life saving prescriptions, and more families forced to choose between paying rent and affording care for providers. It means more uncompensated care, lower reimbursements, job losses and potentially even closures of medical centers. The bill does not extend tax credits put in place under the Biden Administration that have helped approximately 50,000 West Virginians pay for their health care on the health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. The tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year. Allen said the tax credits expiring is likely to mean 15,000 state residents will lose their health care because plans are no longer affordable. I think West Virginia would be among the states most impacted, because we have the highest health care prices in the country, she said. So those subsidies have made a huge difference in helping make prices more affordable. States would pick up some costs of the SNAP food assistance program The federal government has historically covered the entire cost of SNAP benefits, which help approximately 277,000 or one in six West Virginia residents get access to food. The state splits the cost of administering the program with the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the bill that passed the House Thursday, the federal government would shift between 5 to 25% of the cost of SNAP benefits to state governments beginning in 2028. The amount a state pays would depend on its payment error rate. West Virginia would pay up at least $28 million and up to about $141 million, depending on the error rate, according to an analysis from the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities. [$141 million is] more than West Virginia spends on child care, CPS workers and the Promise Scholarship combined, Allen said. Theres not a lot of flexibility in the state budget right now as weve seen. That almost certainly means state lawmakers would have to raise taxes, raise revenue or cut SNAP or other things that are currently being paid for through the state budget. West Virginia Sen. Jason Barrett, R-Berkeley, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said hes been in contact with the states congressional delegation about what the end product of the legislation will look like. Barrett said it appears the federal government will shift some of the cost of SNAP to the states, but the final bill may not have quite as big a hit to states as the bill left the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature would have to decide whether we want to continue to fully fund SNAP at the rate that it currently is, or if we want to make some changes as well, Barrett said. No one likes to see federal dollars reduced to the state. I understand that, he said. But at the same time, we have to expect our federal government to get its fiscal house in order. Our national debt has increased dramatically over the past couple of decades. While a lot of states may see reductions from federal money, we as a country have to get a better grip on federal spending. In addition to shifting the costs to the states, the proposal would expand a current work requirement for SNAP recipients. With some exceptions, able-bodied people up to age 54 who receive food benefits are required to work 80 hours a month or face a time limit on receiving SNAP assistance. Under the bill, those work requirements would be required through age 64. Parents of children age 7 and above, with some exceptions, would be subject to the work requirement. An estimated 80,000 West Virginia residents become subject to the work requirements or live in household with someone who does, Allen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amy Wolfe, executive director of the Charleston soup kitchen Manna Meal, said the cuts to food assistance would be devastating to the people her program serves. Wolfe estimates that at least 80% of Manna Meal clients get SNAP benefits. Her program helps families fill in the gaps that the SNAP program does not cover, she said. Millions of families could lose access to healthy foods that literally we need, she said. These are the foods that we need to thrive, and were going to cut that? I mean, were talking children, seniors, people with disabilities, people without stable access to health care because of the Medicaid cuts all of our local economies will be affected. The bill also eliminates funding to SNAP-Ed, the educational arm of the SNAP program. In West Virginia, SNAP Ed supports the West Virginia University Extension program. Kristin McCartney, public health specialist and director of the SNAP education programs with WVU Extension, said the cuts would decimate staffing for the extension service, which currently has 40 staff educators in addition to administrative staff. There would probably only be enough funding for potentially, like half of that, she told West Virginia Watch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Virginia Democratic Party condemned Moore and Millers support for the bill, calling the legislation a massive tax giveaway to the ultra-wealthy that slashes essential services for working families across West Virginia. In the statement, party vice chair Teresa Toriseva called the bill a disaster for West Virginians and a betrayal of the very people Moore and Miller were elected to represent. Amelia Ferrell Knisely contributed to this story. This story has been updated with comments from West Virginia Senator Jason Barrett. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Donald Trump sees many excessive barriers to trade that the EU imposes. He points to high tariffs on many food products, with excessive rules and changing interpretations of them. This often results in big fines on US companies serving European customers. There are laws that ban foreign products or ways of making and doing things the EU sees as threats to their home companies. There are subsidies for EU companies and taxes on rival systems or businesses. There are purchasing rules that work against foreign competitors. No wonder President Trump wants change. Many dislike the way he goes about it, but it should no longer come as a surprise. His threat of a 50 per cent tariff on all EU exports is designed to get them round the table to make an offer to improve the fairness of their trade. Thank goodness we voted for Brexit, so we are not caught up in this trade war, where both sides are displaying their dislike of the other. We do need to get on with both and trade with both. The UK Government needs to worry about the impact of its own wish to get closer to EU rules and trading practices. The PMs so called reset saw the UK agreeing to submit to more EU laws, paying them to impose extra rules on us. It saw us give away far too much of our fish for a full twelve years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It saw us hint at paying them more money so we could help them more with their defence of the continent. It leaves open details over how many additional migrants we need to invite into UK. They will be younger people with many requiring subsidised housing and public services. Some would like us to go back into Erasmus to subsidise EU students coming to the UK instead of spending our money on the Turing scheme to let more UK students study abroad in a variety of countries including the US or EU. For what? The PM says we will then be able to export more to the EU. He will need to change lots of other policies to bring that about. Three of our largest goods exports to the EU have been oil and gas, refined oil products, and petrol cars. The Government is banning new oil and gas production to make us import instead. It is banning all new petrol cars from 2030. Its dear energy and net zero policies have just closed the big Grangemouth refinery and are designed to make us rely more on imports for refined oil products. Why not remove those self inflicted barriers to export? The Government hopes for more food exports. The starting point is small, as years in the Common Agricultural Policy kept us short of milk quota and hit our beef industry badly. The EU paid money to get UK farmers to take out their fruit trees. As the Government taxes family farms and subsidises wilding it is going to be difficult lifting production.The EU sells us three times as much food and drink as we sell them. The PM says we could export more fish yet he wants to give away more than half our fish catch to foreign boats. It is great news Brexit voters have spared us a bruising trade war and possible sky high tariffs into the US. It is a pity the UK Government wants to close a bad deal with the EU that will help them much more than us. It is even worse that the Government is busy banning or closing down some of our best selling lines that used to go to Europe. With Mr Trump in belligerent mood about the EU the UK needs to be careful not to lock itself into a trade war it can avoid. If I see a burning building I do not try to get into it. If the UK sees somebody elses trade war it should stay out. Rt Hon Sir John Redwood was a Conservative cabinet minister and served as MP for Wokingham for 37 years 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. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Record floodwaters on Australias east coast have left four people dead and one missing, officials said Friday as rain eased over the disaster area. Some 50,000 people have been isolated by flooding along the coast of New South Wales state north of Sydney after days of heavy rain. The low-pressure weather system that brought the deluge had moved further south to Sydney and its surrounds Friday. Four bodies have been retrieved from floodwaters in New South Wales since Wednesday. Three of the victims had driven into floodwaters, while a mans body had been found on the veranda of his flooded home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest victim was a man in his 70s whose body was found in a car in floodwater Friday near Coffs Harbour, a police statement said. The car had run off the road. A 49-year-old man remains missing after walking near a flooded road at Nymboida on Wednesday night. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Christopher Minns on Friday were inspecting devastated communities, some of which had been inundated by the highest floodwaters on record. Minns praised emergency services and volunteers for rescuing 678 people from floodwaters in recent days, including 177 in the past 24 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an amazing, heroic logistical effort where, in very difficult circumstances, many volunteers put themselves in harms way to rescue a complete stranger. And over the coming days and weeks, we will hear scores of stories of locals being plucked out of impossible, desperate situations, Minns told reporters in Maitland in the flood area. Without the volunteers, we would have had hundreds of deaths and were in deep, deep gratitude to those people who volunteered their time, Minns added. Despite the easing rain, State Emergency Service Commissioner Mike Wassing said crews were still looking out for floodwaters potentially rising due to water continuing to flow into catchments. We still do have active flood rescues still coming into the system and were dealing with those on a case-by-case" basis, Wassing said. We have seen that tempo drop off, and thats a good thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bellingen Shire Council Mayor Steve Allan said landslides and damaged roads and bridges were complicating the process of reaching isolated communities in his rural local government region southwest of Coffs Harbour. Weve woken up to blue skies which is a great thing, Allan said. Our rivers are slowly receding and I think were probably transitioning from the response phase into the recovery phase this morning, he added. A record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship since President Donald Trumps inauguration, the U.K. government says. More than 1,900 U.S. citizens applied between January and March, according to new data Britains Home Office released Thursday. The number represents the largest increase since the office began keeping such records in 2004, and a 12% increase from the previous quarter. More than 6,600 Americans have applied for British citizenship in the last full year, the Home Office reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration lawyer Muhunthan Paramesvaran told The New York Times that the increase is due in part to Trumps reelection. Theres definitely been an uptick in inquiries from U.S. nationals, Paramesvaran told the Times. People who were already here may have been thinking, I want the option of dual citizenship in the event that I dont want to go back to the U.S. Americans applications for British citizenship previously surged in 2020 during Trumps first term amid his disastrous response to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Just months into his second term, Trump has started a trade war with the rest of the world, gutted vital federal agencies, allowed security breaches by his White House staff to go unpunished, and has flown immigrants to a prison in El Salvador with no due process. Related... New arrest records details what police say happened inside a Kissimmee fast food restaurant that led to a customers murder. Osceola County deputies say Elijah Travis Mackey, 23, was working his shift at Checkers on Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway Thursday when he got into an argument with a customer. According to the arrest records, deputies say the argument got heated after the customer, Wesley Robertson, complained about his order to another employee and asked several times to speak to a manager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness said Robertson was possibly asking for mayonnaise packets. Investigators say thats when Mackey walked over to the window and started arguing with Robertson. According to the report, Robertson called Mackey offensive names, then Mackey pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot him. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. Robertson was arrested on a charge of first-degree premeditated murder. Mackey faced an Osceola County judge Friday, who ordered him held without bail. Checkers spokesperson Kim Francis released a statement saying, We are shocked and saddened by the incident that occurred last night at our restaurant in Kissimmee, Florida. The actions of this one employee do not reflect the values of the thousands of our hardworking employees across the country. We are working closely with the police in their investigation, and we are sending our thoughts and prayers to the guests family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, caution tape still blocked off the now-closed Checkers. There is no word yet on when it will reopen. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. TYLER, Texas (KETK) The American Red Cross East Texas Chapter is seeking volunteers as they create a new initiative to support families who have lost their homes in natural disasters. The Shelter Hero program is a new Red Cross initiative that offers support to Texans who are looking to regroup after being involved in natural disasters. As the new program continues to develop, Red Cross is looking for volunteers to get sheltered training to help their fellow Texans. Central Heights ISD announces new athletic director who is looking positively impact students on and off the field Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelter training will be held on June 10 at the Red Cross Chapter office in Tyler. The training session will last three to four hours, and it will teach volunteers how to be prepared for any kind of natural disaster along with teaching them how to efficiently run a shelter in several different capacities. Those who complete shelter training will be a part of the ready reserve program. The program consists of volunteers who are willing to go across Texas to support those in need whenever a disaster strikes. Members of the reserve will be deployed for six to seven days. Police arrest suspect for death of 28-year-old Mineola woman Karen Holt, the executive director of the Red Cross East Texas Chapter, spoke about how the volunteer program gives those wanting to serve the perfect opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we do have these natural disaters in Texas those who want to assist can go out and help, Holt said. Those who want to serve Red Cross in other capacities can volunteer for blood drives which are held across the country or join the non profit in supporting the armed forces. Those seeking to volunteer can visit the Red Cross website to learn of the multitude of opportunities the non profit offers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Negotiators for Iran and the United States have concluded a fifth round of talks, as mediator Oman said there was some limited progress in negotiations aimed at resolving a decades-long dispute over Tehrans nuclear programme. The fifth round of Iran-US talks have concluded today in Rome with some, but not conclusive, progress, said Omani mediator Badr al-Busaidi after Fridays meeting at the Omani embassy in Romes Camilluccia neighbourhood. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, he said after the high-level talks, which were led by Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Araghchi told Iranian state television that the talks had been one of the most professional rounds of negotiations so far, noting that, while an agreement had not been reached, the Iranian side was not discouraged. We firmly stated Irans position The fact that we are now on a reasonable path, in my view, is itself a sign of progress, Araghchi told Press TV. The proposals and solutions will be reviewed in respective capitals and the next round of talks will be scheduled accordingly. In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, reads a paper in a meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi at the Omani Embassy in Rome during the fifth round of Iran-US negotiations on Friday, May 23, 2025 [Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP] Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier that chief US negotiator Steve Witkoff had left the negotiations early due to his flight schedule, but that they had continued in a sane and calm atmosphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ongoing talks seek a new deal in which Iran would be prevented from producing nuclear weapons while having international sanctions eased. However, little progress has been made so far, and both Washington and Tehran have taken a tough stance in public in recent days, particularly regarding Irans enrichment of uranium. Witkoff has said Iran cannot be allowed to carry out any enrichment. Tehran, which has raised its enrichment to about 60 percent, well above civilian needs but below the 90 percent needed for weaponisation, has rejected that red line. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the demand excessive and outrageous, warning that the ongoing talks are unlikely to yield results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington is working to reach an agreement that would allow Iran to have a civil nuclear energy programme, but not enrich uranium, while admitting that achieving such a deal will not be easy. On Thursday, the Department of State announced new sanctions on Irans construction sector. Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science, Araghchi said on social media on Friday morning. Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran took aim at the new sanctions, calling the move vicious, illegal, and inhumane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporting from Rome, Al Jazeeras Milena Veselinovic said uranium enrichment was not the only stumbling block in the talks. The US delegation had also wanted to broach the subject of Irans ballistic missile programme, which the Iranian side has insisted was a completely separate issue to the nuclear programme, she said. High stakes The stakes are high for both sides. Trump wants to curtail Tehrans potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race. Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are strictly civilian, but seeks to ease international sanctions that hamper its economy. During his first term, in 2018, Trump nixed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a 2015 agreement that saw Iran scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for eased sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his return to the White House for a second term in January, Trump renewed his maximum pressure campaign against Iran, piling further economic pressure, for example, by choking the countrys oil exports, particularly to China. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected US demands to halt enrichment and suggested that the ongoing talks are unlikely to produce results (File: Reuters) Iran responded defiantly, promising to defend itself against any attack and escalating enrichment far beyond the 2015 pacts limits. Tensions began to ease in April as the two countries entered into the indirect talks, but Tehrans enrichment programme has become a key point of contention. Trump has raised the threat of US military action if no agreement is reached. Israel, which opposes the US talks with its regional foe, has warned that it would never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Following reports that Israel may be planning to strike Irans nuclear facilities, Araghchi said that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Iran is attacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamid Reza Gholamzade, director of think tank The House of Diplomacy, told Al Jazeera that threats of military action were just a stick to bully Iran into negotiations. Iran knows that the threat is not real, and if there is any attack, Iran would respond strongly to that. The reality is that if they could have damaged the Iranian facilities, they [would] have done it long ago, he said, speaking from Tehran. The US, he said, did not want a fully fledged war in the region. They know that if there is a war, if there is an attack, it would be necessarily dragging Americans into [a] long war here. Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a financing agreement to provide 700 million euros in support of two offshore wind farms being developed off Polands Baltic Sea coast, Trend reports. The Batyk 2 and Batyk 3 projects are a joint venture between Norway-based Equinor and Polands Polenergia, and together will have a total installed capacity of 1.44 gigawatts (GW). Each project will receive 350 million euros in EIB funding, making the institution the largest lender among approximately 30 financial entities backing the initiative. The wind farms are expected to become fully operational in 2028 and are designed to produce enough renewable electricity to meet the annual consumption of approximately two million households. Located roughly 30 kilometers offshore from the towns of Ustka and eba, the fixed-bottom wind farms will include 100 turbines rated at 14.4 megawatts (MW) each. Most of the equipment is expected to be sourced from European suppliers. EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwinska noted that this investment marks the Banks third major commitment to renewable energy projects in Poland in 2025, and its third financing package for offshore wind developments in the Baltic Sea. She highlighted the projects' significance for Polands energy transition, as well as for economic resilience and regional development. The partnership between Equinor, a global offshore wind developer, and Polenergia, Polands largest privately-owned energy group, is expected to contribute to the modernization of infrastructure in the EUs cohesion regions. Video above: DeSantis signs law to protect Floridas state parks TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Florida Department of Transportation affirmed its policy forbidding the display of lights outside of a red, white and blue color scheme. Earlier this year, the department extended the policy put in place by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year, when he declared it freedom summer. The policy states that any additional lighting combinations will be limited to the recognition, commemoration and/or promotion of government holidays and must be approved by FDOT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This follows controversy sparked over the departments decision to exclude LGBTQ Pride displays, which used to light up bridges in a rainbow pattern across the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Young protesters hold their fists in the air during a Black Lives Matter march on Aug. 1, 2020, in Portland, Oregon. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) I distinctly remember where I was when I first heard the news about the tragic killing of George Floyd. A wave of emotions hit me shock, followed closely by anger, as tears streamed down my face. Fear quickly followed, and in that moment, I knew he could have easily been my cousin, my brother, or my sister. Anger surged as I realized it didnt matter how polite, accomplished, wealthy or educated you were there was no form of Black excellence that could protect me from the brutal truth: If you look like me and my family, you live in constant fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At any moment, you could be reminded that your life is not valued in the eyes of our government. It wasnt just the footage itself, but what it represented the raw, repeated reality of anti-Black violence, and a system that has allowed it to persist unchecked for generations. Five years later, we all still carry the burden of George Floyds final words: I cant breathe. This phrase has become a global rallying cry for justice and a future where Black lives are valued, protected and celebrated. The days and months that followed sparked protests, statements and commitments unlike anything wed seen in decades. Millions took to the streets. Polls in the summer of 2020 estimated that between 15 million and 26 million people had participated at some point in the demonstrations in the United States, making the protests the largest in U.S. history. Institutions pledged change. Some cities, including Portland, promised to invest in racial equity and reimagine public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Imagine Black, we saw a surge in people asking: What can I do? How do we make this moment matter? Entering its sixteenth year, Imagine Black helps our Black community imagine the alternatives we deserve and build our political participation and leadership to achieve them. Naturally, 2020 was a year for Imagine Black to step up and show out. From leading and speaking at major protests organized by partners like Reimagine Oregon to engaging in ongoing dialogue with city leaders, Imagine Black sprang into action in 2020 and hasnt let up since. In November 2020, 82 percent of the citys voters approved the ballot initiative Measure 26-217, which changed the citys charter to create a new community police oversight board that, once set up, will be the countrys most potent. When this initiative was attacked in 2024, Imagine Black, ACLU of Oregon and several other partner organizations banded together to defend it in the courts and won. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The years since 2020 have made one thing clear: while the movement shifted the conversation, the systems we face are still deeply rooted in racism, economic exploitation and political exclusion. Some reforms were quietly reversed. The City of Portlands police budget surged to its highest level ever. Funding was clawed back. The backlash was swift and, in many cases, effective. Donors no longer wanted to fund Black-led organizations. Dominant-culture nonprofits scaled back their commitments to supporting Black-led initiatives. Black leaders were burned out. Movements were surveilled. Communities were once again asked to do more with less. With the return of the Trump administration, the stakes are even higher. This new era of national leadership threatens to accelerate rollbacks on racial justice, deepen economic inequality, and embolden state violence. Despite this, Imagine Black never stopped organizing. Weve shifted from a reactive approach to a long-term strategy. We have focused on building deeper relationships with voters through events centered on joy, such as our annual Imagine Black Gala, and have worked to turn community grief into political power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our work centers on leadership development, organizing, and democracy, moving from despair into action during and outside election cycles. And most importantly, weve centered joy and healing along the way with activations on our Black Possibilities app that have created a safer social space for Black Oregonians, offering free weekly virtual yoga and meditation classes because Black liberation isnt solely about surviving injustice or even dismantling systems of oppression; its about building something beautiful in its place. Today, Imagine Black is doubling down on a vision that goes beyond slogans and cycles of outrage. Were fighting for reparative justice not only to repair the harms of the past, but to dream up new systems centered on community care.. Most recently, I was invited to present at a meeting with the Portland City Councils Arts and Economy Committee and demanded an overhaul of tax increment financing or TIF, a state-authorized redevelopment and finance program designed to invest in infrastructure over people. This is the same program James Baldwin referred to as Negro removal. We need community development that is community-led and codified into law, not economic development that is merely a good-faith effort. We need budgets that reflect community priorities and work in action, not just for political clout and display. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political systems need to be accountable to the people they serve, and Imagine Black is one of Oregons leaders in ensuring this dream becomes a reality. As we mark five years since Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and George Floyds deaths, I offer this challenge to Portland and beyond: Do not treat this anniversary as a closed chapter. Do not remember the movement only in hashtags. Instead, ask what it would take to fulfill our promises to each other in 2020 to build a city, a state and a country where Black people are free to live, dream, and lead. Five years ago, we were in the streets together. Today, we stand at the threshold of dismantling the systems that have been built on oppression. Tomorrow, we must rise to create the world our ancestors dreamed of a world where democracy isnt just a promise but a living, breathing reality. A world that centers care over punishment. A world where the bonds of community are unbreakable, stronger than the forces that seek to tear us apart. I remain wholeheartedly committed to this vision. At Imagine Black, we are not interested in symbolic wins. We are building lasting power. And we invite you to join us. (NewsNation) An Oklahoma state official vowed Thursday to revive plans for a publicly assisted religious charter school after the U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked on the issue. With their 4-4 tie vote and Justice Amy Coney Barrett recusing, the federal justices upheld an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision barring state support for a Catholic online charter school that would include teaching of religious doctrine. The Oklahoma attorney general had sued to stop the plan, while Ryan Walters, the states superintendent of public instruction, supported the charter as a way to offer parents more choices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Divided Supreme Court rejects public religious charter school in Oklahoma I think it would be a tremendous school. Were going to continue to look at every avenue to get this case back to the Supreme Court, Walters told The Hill on Thursday. We could be looking at a constitutional amendment in our state to help our state bolster its argument moving forward. Thursdays decision sets no national precedent meaning, observers say, the question of whether states can sponsor and finance religious schools is unsettled. Charter schools, which are independently run and publicly assisted, are allowed in most states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. May 22WASHINGTON The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency recently announced that U.S. Army Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey, 24, of Boonville, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II, was accounted for Sept. 23, 2024. Hennessey's nephew John Hennessey provided a DNA swab to confirm the identification of the remains. Although Private Hennessey died before his birth, Mr. Hennessey grew up hearing of his uncle and saw pictures of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know he liked to drive his jalopy around the race track," Mr. Hennessey said. "I was told he never had a license but he did it any ways." Mr. Hennessey said his uncle could have been buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. "I think he would have wanted to come back to Boonville he had been gone so long and will be buried next to his parents." Under the care of the Trainor Funeral Home, Pvt. Hennessey will be buried in the Boonville Cemetery on Aug. 23 next to his parents Howard and Dorothy Hennessey. The Boonville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5533, which was named in honor of Harland J. Hennessey in 1945, is planning to hold a celebration this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hennessey's history Private Hennessey entered the U.S. Army from New York and served in the 803rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation. He was stationed in the Philippines at the time of the Japanese invasion of the islands in December. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, when Hennessey was captured, and of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942. After the surrender, the Japanese began the forcible transfer of thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war to various prison camps in central Luzon, at the northern end of the Philippines. Hennessey was among those subjected to the 65-mile Bataan Death March and then held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp -1. The largest of these camps, the notorious Cabanatuan Prison Camp held approximately 8,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war that were captured during and after the Fall of Bataan. Camp overcrowding worsened with the arrival of Allied prisoners who had surrendered on Corregidor on May 6, 1942. Conditions at the camp were poor, with food and water extremely limited, leading to widespread malnutrition and outbreaks of malaria and dysentery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 2,500 POWs died in this camp during the war. According to prison camp and other historical records, Pvt. Hennessey died on Nov. 1, 1942. He was reportedly buried in Common Grave 704 (CG704), but complications in the burial and recovery process precluded identifying his remains immediately following the war. American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) personnel exhumed those buried at the Cabanatuan cemetery and relocated the remains to a temporary U.S. military mausoleum near Manila. In 1947, the AGRS examined the remains in an attempt to identify them. Two of the sets of remains from Common Grave 704 were identified, while the remaining eight were declared unidentifiable. The unidentified remains were buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial as Unknowns. In 2018, as part of the Cabanatuan Project, the DPAA exhumed the Unknowns associated with CG704 for comparison to associated casualties. Laboratory analysis and the totality of the circumstantial evidence available established one set of remains as those of Pvt. Hennessey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To identify Hennessey's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial genome sequence analysis. Although interred as an Unknown in the Manila American Cemetery, Hennessey's grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Today, Hennessey is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving their country, visit the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency website at www.dpaa.mil. Or learn more on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaa, www.instagram.com/dodpaa/ or https://x.com/dodpaa. TYLER, Texas (KETK) Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-TX, said House Republicans delivered on the promises we made to the American people in a statement on Thursday after the Texas House passed President Donald Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill. Lindale ISD employee celebrated after dedicating 35 years to the district The Big, Beautiful Bill is a fiscal package bill from Trump with the goal of cutting $1.5 trillion from the the governments budget in an effort to establish different tax laws, overtime pay and more. Moran released this message in statement following the bills passage in the Texas House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With todays passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, House Republicans delivered on the promises we made to the American people, Moran said. This legislation puts working families, small businesses, and rural communities back at the center of our economic futureright where they belong. Moran expressed that without the Big Beautiful Bill, families would see a major tax increase by 2026. He said families earning the median income of $62,182 would see a 22% increase amounting to $1,142 on their tax bill. Tyler mayor outlines vision for citys growth and upgrades According to a release from Morans team, the bill aims to strengthen small businesses by making the 199A small business deduction permanent, which would reportedly produce $750 billion in economic growth and aid 1 million new jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill is not just for small businesses, it will also support families, rural America and the boarder economy. Families could see tax relief on car loan interest, overtime pay and tips along with getting an increase on the Child Tax Credit, according to the release. The release said rural family farms could see growth with expensing for new factories and agricultural improvements. The boarder economy could also see expensing for new factories with more upgrades. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (NEXSTAR) If you cant visit one of the countrys best beaches, it might be wise to at least avoid some of the most bacteria-ridden. The annual Clean Water report from the Surfrider Foundation aims to raise awareness for the importance of water quality monitoring by calling out some of Americas beach bacteria hotspots. The non-profit organization, together with volunteers from its Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), gathered data for the latest edition of its annual report over the last year, collecting water samples from beaches from coast to coast, and from Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Across the country, Surfriders BWTF volunteers are committed to measuring water quality conditions at the beaches they love and rallying their communities around protecting clean water for future generations to enjoy, the organization wrote in its report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Beach ranks 10 best US beaches of 2025 How are bacteria hotspots determined? Analysts with the Surfrider Foundation studied more than 10,120 samples from 604 beaches and recreational water areas in 2024 (the BWTF collects samples year-round), identifying those that exceeded their states standards for acceptable bacteria levels. Certain beaches that were found to have high percentages of samples that exceeded acceptable bacterial levels were deemed bacteria hotspots by Surfrider. Each location regularly shows dangerous levels of fecal-indicator bacteria tied to human illnesses, including gastrointestinal issues, flu-like symptoms, and serious skin conditions like MRSA and staph infections, the Clean Water report reads. Not all U.S. beaches were considered in the study Its important to note, however, that Surfriders BWTF partners did not collect data from all beaches across the U.S. A map included with the annual report shows large swaths of the Northeast and Southeast coasts in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Georgia where no samples were collected. Very few were collected along the Gulf region, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surfrider said its workers and volunteers are continually expanding its sampling efforts. That said, beaches and recreational water areas identified as hotspots based on Surfriders 2024 samples include: Windmill Beach Sag Harbor, New York Ballard Park Melbourne, Florida Park View Kayak Launch Miami Beach, Florida Playa Crash Boat Aguadilla, Puerto Rico South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock Tacoma, Washington Linda Mar Beach Pacifica, California San Luis Creek Mouth Avila Beach, California Imperial Beach San Diego, California Kahaluu Kahaluu Oahu, Hawaii Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii Record number of travelers hit the road for Memorial Day weekend Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surfrider, in its report, also advocated for funding to continue the Environmental Protection Agencys BEACH Act grants, which are provided to pay for water-monitoring programs. As seen in a recent letter to the Secretary of Appropriations, the Trump administration is calling on major cuts to the EPA, which could hinder the work done to monitor and maintain water quality, according to Surfrider. The non-profit says such a move could leave families completely blind to pollution issues at Americas beaches. More information about Surfriders findings, including its history and methodology, can be found in the organizations official website and annual 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. Former NYC Transit head Andy Byford has been chosen by President Trump to head up the effort to rebuild Penn Station, according to the White House. Trumps selection of Byford a respected authority on railroad and transit operations who has run systems in Toronto, New York, London and Sydney comes one month after the federal government pulled the stalled project away from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The news was first reported Friday by the West Side Spirit. Gov. Hochul, who said shed been in conversation with Trump over last weekend about next steps on Penn, greeted the news in a statement Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im very pleased to be working with the newly appointed Andy Byford, who has a distinguished career in transit and infrastructure, and hope he is able to use these skills to deliver a beautiful, on-time, federally funded Penn Station renovation that New Yorkers can be proud of, she said. Byfords leadership could signal an unexpected commitment to the project on the part of the mercurial Trump administration, and signal a departure from prior elements of Amtraks plan such as possibly abandoning the demolition of a city block south of the station in order to build more tracks for NJ Transit. Byford whose short two-year stint at the head of NYC Transit endeared him to transit workers and riders alike, earning him the nickname Train Daddy has been working at Amtrak on high-speed rail since 2023. That same year, as previously reported by The News, Byford opined albeit in a personal capacity on several of the more controversial elements of the Penn Station plan at a public talk about the station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [I]t would break my heart to see beautiful buildings torn down on Eighth and Seventh Aves. when they dont need to be, he said at the time. Byford also indicated his support for so-called through-running, an arrangement that would see trains continue on to other destinations beyond Penn Station before turning around or reversing an arrangement that would reduce the time trains sit stationary at Penn and could allow for more frequent service. Despite the fact that many NJ Transit trains do, in fact, travel on to a yard in Queens after making their last stop at Penn, Amtrak has historically argued that through-running is not possible, citing incompatibilities among the equipment used by the three railroads Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit that use the station. It was unclear on Friday whether Byford would have the authority to change Amtraks existing plans, like the proposed demolition of Block 780 the city block between W. 31st and W. 30th Sts., bounded by Seventh and Eighth Aves. in order to create more platform space for NJ Transit commuter trains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, MTA brass who, until last month, had been charged with redesigning the aboveground portion of Penn welcomed the Train Daddys selection. This is good news, John McCarthy, the agencys head of policy and external relations, said in a statement. We look forward to working with Andy Byford, who understands the importance of mass transit and was a strong supporter throughout our battle to implement congestion pricing in New York. The news of Byfords involvement was also welcomed by close watchers of Penns redevelopment. Layla Law-Gisiko who heads the City Club of New York, a preservation group that opposes the plan to demolish the blocks around Penn described Byford as an obvious choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am overjoyed, she told The News. He knows rail. He knows infrastructure. He knows community engagement in New York. He has the highest level of integrity. This guy has no ego. Samuel Turvey of the advocacy group ReThinkNYC, who also opposes the state plan, described Byfords selection as a really great choice for everyone in the New York region. Andy Byford has had great success on three continents, including his time in New York, and will bring integrity, competence and advanced leadership skills to the multi-decade conundrum at Penn Station, he said. He will not, however, be able to do this on his own. He will need all of us to help him succeed. A report that the Trump administration is considering pulling out thousands of its military personnel stationed in South Korea has sent waves of anxiety rippling through the country, which is facing a snap presidential election next month. Quoting unnamed defense officials familiar with the discussion, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the plan involves pulling around 4,500 troops and moving them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including to Guam. The report added that the proposal has yet to reach Trumps desk. Fears that Washington might pull some or all of the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea have loomed large in the country since Trumps first term, when the president said that allied countries were not paying enough for the presence of the U.S. military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And though the withdrawal of U.S. troops was not officially up for negotiation during the summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his term, Trump also reportedly ordered the Pentagon to review options for downsizing the U.S. military presence in South Korea in the run-up to his first meeting with Kim in Singapore in 2018. Though such plans never materialized, following that Singapore meeting, Trump suspended U.S. military exercises with South Korea in a surprising concession to the North Korean leader. We will be saving a tremendous amount of money. Plus, it is very provocative, Trump said. But even with such gestures, the summits ultimately failed to secure the denuclearization deal that many had hoped for. In a 2022 memoir, Trumps former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper recalled how the president repeatedly pushed for a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea, only for the idea to be talked down by his aides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: How South Koreas next president wants to deal with Trump and his tariffs When Mike Pompeo, then secretary of State, intervened during one of these conversations by suggesting the president make it a second-term priority, Trump responded with 'Yeah, yeah, second term,' as a Cheshire cat smile came across his face, Esper wrote. Since then, a growing number of mainstream politicians and pundits in South Korea have advocated for the development of the country's own nuclear weapons as a way of lessening its reliance on U.S. protection. These same concerns have figured prominently in the current South Korean presidential race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a meeting hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Monday, conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo, referring to Trumps history of demanding that Seoul pay more for the upkeep of U.S. troops, said that our main interest is maintaining the U.S. militarys presence in South Korea without any issues. We have worries that there will be a reduction in force size. Responding to the latest reports in a post on Facebook on Friday, Kim wrote that the issue of a drawdown of U.S. forces in South Korea is not just about moving troops around but a serious matter that has direct consequences for the security of South Korea. Kim, who is trailing in second place in polls, also attacked liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung for speaking critically about the U.S. military presence in the past. There are concerned outlooks that if Lee Jae-myung becomes president, the withdrawal of the U.S. military will become a reality, Kim wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to South Korean reporters, Han Min-soo, a spokesperson for Lees Democratic Party, cautioned against reading too much into what he called a speculative report. Still, he added, The Democratic Party will maintain the steadfastness of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. We will make it stronger. In a statement to The Times, South Koreas foreign ministry said that no discussions about any potential drawdown had taken place between Seoul and Washington, calling the U.S militarys presence in the country a symbol and backbone of the two countries alliance. South Korea and the U.S. will continue to maintain and strengthen a strong joint defense posture, a ministry spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Trumps auto tariffs reignite concerns about GM's future in South Korea U.S. military officials have largely been guarded against reducing the U.S. troop size in South Korea. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last April, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson described the move as problematic while U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr. warned that doing so would increase the likelihood of a North Korean invasion. Inherently, it would reduce our ability to prevail in conflict, he said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 23. Mamanbiy Omarov, First Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, met with Nicolas Rallo, Director of the European and North Atlantic Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and discussed flight safety oversight in Uzbekistans civil aviation sector, Trend reports. Nicolas Rallo noted that recent reforms in Uzbekistans civil aviation have led to a significant and rapid increase in the number of new airlines, aircraft, and aerodromes. He emphasized that maintaining flight safety is a top priority amid this growth and that enhancing the effectiveness of safety oversight is crucial. Rallo also highlighted the COSPA program (Country Strategic Plan of Action), an ICAO pilot initiative addressing key aspects of flight safety enhancement. Uzbekistan will be the first of ICAOs 193 member states to implement this pioneering program. The meeting further covered Uzbekistans State Strategic Action Plan to Support Flight Safety in Civil Aviation for 20242026. This plan aims to bolster flight safety in alignment with the countrys national development strategy and to support the achievement of strategic goals within the aviation sector. Meanwhile, these discussions reaffirm Uzbekistan's commitment to improving aviation safety and adopting international best practices in civil aviation oversight. Photo illustration by Jim Small. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror One GOP state lawmaker has had it with the performative outrage of some of the far-right members of his own party. During a debate about a proposed bill that would strengthen consequences for people convicted of animal abuse, Rep. Walt Blackman engaged in a heated exchange on May 20 with fellow Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kolodin, a Scottsdale Republican and member of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, criticized Senate Bill 1658 for what he described as putting the wellbeing of pets above that of their owners, especially owners who are homeless or living in poverty. Blackman, who comes from Snowflake and describes himself as a traditional Reagan Republican, had just days earlier made a lengthy post on the social media site X calling out his far-right GOP colleagues for spend(ing) more energy policing ideological purity than drafting legislation. Its got nothing to do with the bill, Blackman said on May 20, in response to Kolodins criticisms. Its got to do with politics. Ive been down here (at the Capitol) enough. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed legislation at the center of the debate was originally introduced by Republican Sen. Shawnna Bolick via Senate Bill 1234, which passed through the Senate with near-unanimous support but never got a committee hearing in the House. Blackman revived the bill via a strike-everything amendment (an amendment that wholly replaces the text of the original bill) to Bolicks Senate Bill 1658. Numerous animal rights organizations supported the measure, including the Arizona Humane Society and the Maricopa County Attorneys Office. Blackman is a U.S. Army combat veteran who said that he considers his dogs to be family members and that he, like many other veterans, depends on them to help him through the mental and emotional impacts of his time in the military. It is making sure that people who have dogs, that they are being responsible, that they are making sure that they are giving them clean water, that they are giving them the proper amount of food to eat, Blackman said. This is a no-brainer piece of legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed law that Blackman was advocating for would add failure to provide suitable and species-appropriate food, water and shelter to the definition of animal neglect in Arizona. It would also expand the definition of animal cruelty to include intentionally, knowingly or recklessly failing to provide medical attention necessary to prevent unreasonable suffering. I dont know why this body would want to be so cruel as to make it a serious crime for poor people to own pets, Kolodin said of the proposal. The bill includes carve-outs to the shelter requirement for working dogs, including livestock herding and guardian dogs, as well as for the pets of people who dont have a permanent residence themselves. A clearly frustrated Blackman reminded Kolodin of those exceptions, to which Kolodin countered that there was not an exception for the medical care requirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you cant afford to give (medical care) to yourself or your kids, youre not breaking the law. But if you cant afford to give it to the family dog, now youre a criminal, Kolodin said. That is cruel. Kolodin called the proposal inhumane. Blackman responded by pointing out that some of his colleagues might want to think back on some of the cruel and inhumane votes or comments theyve previously made on the House floor. A lot of things that I did as a Republican, I am not proud of. Rep. Walt Blackman, R-Snowflake Members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus were some of the only legislators who voted against the final version of an emergency funding bill last month to ensure that Arizonans with disabilities didnt lose access to vital caregiving and health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would love for every person in this state to get proper medical attention, Kolodin said. We would love for every person in this state to have nourishing food and water. We would love that. And we would love for every dog in this state to have those things too. But guess what? That is not reality. Blackman told the Arizona Mirror in a May 22 phone interview that he was surprised that Kolodin said that on the House floor not because Blackman thinks it was disingenuous, but because it doesnt align with the Arizona Freedom Caucus agenda. Kolodin, along with other Freedom Caucus members, have voted in favor of strengthening rules and restrictions on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides assistance to low income people to purchase food. Theyve also supported cuts to Medicaid, and the services it provides, including when they voted against the emergency funding bill for the Division of Developmental Disabilities last month. They have also supported legislation to criminalize homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackman said that, as he sees it, members of the Freedom Caucus seem to always be voting against bipartisan legislation not based on the merits of the proposals, but based on a political scorecard. And statements from the groups leader, Sen. Jake Hoffman, at the start of the 2025 legislative session seem to back that up. During a January press conference, Hoffman said that the Freedom Caucus top priority over the next two years would be to make sure that the Democrats who head statewide offices, including Gov. Katie Hobbs, lose their 2026 reelection campaigns. Blackman clashed earlier this year with Arizona Freedom Caucus member Sen. Wendy Rogers, of Flagstaff, when she blocked a bill that he sponsored which criminalized acts of stolen valor at the state level. Stolen valor means lying about or embellishing ones military service. Rogers and Blackman represent the same legislative district, but are political opponents, and she endorsed Steve Slaton over Blackman in the 2024 GOP primary election. Slaton, who owns The Trumped Store in Show Low, is a Trump loyalist like Rogers. But during his campaign, Slaton was found to have falsely claimed that he saw combat in Vietnam during his time in the U.S. Army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackman and Kolodin engaged in another heated exchange in April, after Blackman reintroduced his stolen valor bill as a strike-everything amendment to another bill originally sponsored by Bolick, circumventing Rogers power to block it. Kolodin supported the original version of the stolen valor bill when it passed through the House, but was the single dissenting vote when it was revived. Kolodin said that the new version of Blackmans proposal included a provision that greatly expanded its scope: It says that any person convicted of the offense outlined in the bill would be disqualified from public office. We cannot open the door to allowing our courts to judge political speech within the context of criminal law, Kolodin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackman, in a fiery response to Kolodin, said that the bill has nothing to do with politics or political speech. This has nothing to do with political speech. This has to do with blood, sweat and tears men and women left on the battlefield, Blackman said, at times yelling. The next time we have a conflict, Id like to see whoever says no on this board or in the Senate to jump in a Humvee and get shot at and tell me the service didnt matter. The new Republican Party Blackman told the Mirror that the first person he was criticizing in his May 18 social media post was himself. It was during a two-year reprieve from the state Capitol after serving as a state representative from 2019-2023 that he said he realized that he had gotten away from the values he believed in when he first joined the Republican Party in the 1980s. A lot of things that I did as a Republican, I am not proud of, he said, admitting to his adherence to the its our way or the highway approach to governing that the GOP employed during his first stint as a lawmaker, when Republicans controlled the state House by a single vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since he returned to the legislature in January, Blackman said hes committed to working across the aisle to make changes that help Arizonans instead of scoring political points simply by voting against legislation because Democrats support it. Blackman said that he continues to support closed borders, lower taxes and free enterprise, however, I am not for putting my foot on somebodys neck just because they happen to disagree with me, he said. In the social media post, Blackman accused his party of moving away from what he described as the traditional Republican values of faith, freedom and force to focusing almost exclusively on grievance politics and cultural warfare. Blackman was one of several Republicans who voted for or expressed support for SB1658 during the May 20 debate. Rep. Matt Gress, of Phoenix, described the legislation as morally right. How we treat our animals matters a great deal to who we are as a society, he said. Gress mentioned the impetus for the proposal, a 2023 animal cruelty case in Chandler when 55 special needs dogs were found to be in poor health and living in horrible, horrible conditions. We didnt have appropriate laws in place to hold those owners accountable, he said. Gress, who, like Blackman, has also been chastised by members of his party for voting alongside Democrats, praised bipartisan support for the proposal. The bill will still have to make it past a full vote on the House floor and Senate, as well as a signature from the governor before it becomes law. This is a good bill, OK? Blackman said during the May 20 debate. Dont abuse your dog. Thats all its saying. Dont abuse your dog. It doesnt say if a person does not have a place to go somebody who cannot take care of their dog theyre not going to go to jail. Kolodin did not respond to a request for comment. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Schoemann spoke at the Dane County Republicans monthly Pints and Politics meeting on Tuesday. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann stepped up to the front of a room in the back of Kavanaughs Esquire Club on the east side of Madison with a grin and quickly started a chant about Gov. Tony Evers. Tonys got to go. Whos with me? Schoemann said about the current second-term Democratic governor. He encouraged others in the room to join him. Tonys gotta go Tonys gotta go. Id like him to hear it if you dont mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crowd of about 30 clapped enthusiastically and slowly started to pick up the chant. Schoemann, who wore a red UW-Madison quarter zip up, jeans and a camo hat with his campaign logo across the front, was at the restaurant for the Dane County Republicans monthly Pints and Politics meeting. Its the one of the latest stops for Schoemann, who is the first candidate of either major party to launch his campaign in the 2026 governors race. Evers decision on whether he will seek a third term is still up in the air. He recently told WisEye that he is not spending very much time at all thinking about whether Im going to run or not. Getting a head start With about 14 months before a Republican primary might be held, Schoemann is working to get a head start on other potential candidates. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is mulling a run for the office, was critical of Evers as he addressed party members at the state GOPs annual convention. Bill Berrien, a Whitefish Bay businessman and Navy SEAL veteran, recently formed a political action committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoemann said that its entirely possible for Wisconsin to be more competitive for Republicans. He launches his campaign as the Republican Party of Wisconsin is reevaluating how to win after their preferred candidate lost in the state Supreme Court race and as Democrats have won 12 of the last 15 statewide elections. Schoemann sought to start his Tony chant a couple times as he spoke to the group at one point telling attendees that he is the son of a Lutheran Minister and cant handle a congregation unless they join with me. The crowd joined the chant more quickly this time, but Schoemann cut it off quickly as he pulled his camo hat off and placed it over his heart and encouraged attendees to stand up to sing My Country, Tis of Thee with him. Schoemann has worked in Washington County as the elected county executive for the last five years and as the county administrator for six years prior. He owns a farm in the town of Trenton, located between West Bend and Grafton, with his wife and is the father of two. Schoemann told attendees that he joined the Army National Guard, attended UW-Whitewater and then served in Iraq in 2003. Throughout the event, Schoemann returned to his faith and military service, telling the crowd that love your neighbor has been central to his work and will be central to his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its changed the trajectory of my life permanently, Schoemann said, describing a memory of his time in Iraq when he gave bottles of water to a child who was drinking from a puddle. As he approaches the puddle, Im thinking, Oh, hes just going to jump around in the puddle and play. He kneels down, and starts cupping his hands and starts drinking out of that puddle, Schoemann said. When I came back home, that moment kept coming back to me over and over and over, and I dedicated the rest of my life to the service and sacrifice of the guys and gals who didnt come home, either in whole or in part, and of my Lord, Jesus, by loving my neighbor, he continued, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how we are going to win this election. We are going to turn Wisconsin red by loving our neighborhood. Rush Limbaugh and Ronald Reagan Schoemann said he grew up a Rush Limbaugh and Ronald Reagan baby with beliefs in smaller government, lower taxes and strong defense and that those ideas have shaped his service in local government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoemann repeatedly criticized Evers and spoke about his record. Under the education governor, are your schools better than they were six years ago? Schoemann asked, with answers of no coming from some in the room. Hes filling potholes right now getting his picture taken in every community can get to Are your roads really all that much better than they were six years ago? No, no. Theyre not, and if you look across the state of Wisconsin on every issue issue after issue, things arent better. Evers has been traveling across the state last week helping fill potholes as a part of an annual effort to call attention to the issue of improving the roads and his recent budget proposal of to dedicate funds for that purpose though Republicans have removed that from the budget. At one stop on his trip, Evers told reporters that he didnt know much about Schoemann but thinks hes gonna have to be another Donald Trump. Thats the only way Republicans can kind of move forward in this day and age, Evers said, according to WSAW-TV 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoemann said that he decided to run because he is sick and tired of our kids, leaving the state for other opportunities in different states and not coming back and sick and tired of our retirees leaving this state that has become a complete tax hell. Schoemann also compared himself to former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson. Back when I was a kid in 1986, Tommy Thompson took out another Tony [former Gov.] Tony Earl. A young, energetic Republican did very, very well in Dane County, and eventually by 1994, I believe he won Dane County, said Schoemann, who is 43. Goal: Lose by less in Dane County Thompson is the last Wisconsin governor to win a third term in office, and Schoemann wants to ensure that stays true by taking a page out of Thompsons playbook. Schoemann said he would have three rules for his campaign: go to the Northwoods, go to Milwaukee and go to Dane County. He said that since his campaign launched he had visited Florence County to talk with a group of people, who, he said, likely hadnt seen a statewide elected official in decades, had been on the radio in Milwaukee and his Tuesday evening stop in Madison was his second already. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoemann said Republicans need to lose by less in Dane County, pointing out that President Donald Trump won the state of Wisconsin with nearly 23% of the vote in the deep blue county. Weve got to be pushing back towards 26, 27, 28[%], and were only going to do it by having conversations with our neighbors and physically being present, Schoemann said. I can tell you youre going to get sick of seeing me because I will be back again and again and again. I want to hear from you what this state needs to be. I want to hear from you what direction the state needs to go. Schoemann then took questions from the audience. One attendee asked about what he would do about property taxes. Local communities across the state have been strapped for funds in recent years due to restrictions in the ways that they can raise revenue with many turning to raising property taxes through referendums to help afford services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How many of you live in the city of Madison? How are you liking that new referendum for the school district and the city one-two punch? Schoemann replied. He added that property tax rates in Washington Co. are low because of decisions hes made. He said that at times when they have considered alternatives where we needed additional resources, we go to the people and ask. The county went to referendum in 2024 to help prevent cuts to its public safety services. While the referendum failed, a deal on shared revenue and a local sales tax for Milwaukee that lawmakers and Gov. Tony Evers made helped the county avoid the cuts. That deal led to a back and forth over social media between Schoemann and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson after Schoemann took a jab at the city because of the tax. Milwaukee leaders were prominent advocates in helping secure the state funding, which has helped communities across the state, including Washington County. Banning Democracy in the Park, encouraging early voting In response to a question about elections, Schoemann said that he believes in purging voter rolls, banning voting events including Democracy in the Park a COVID-era effort held by the city of Madison where poll workers picked up absentee ballots from voters who dropped them off and having significant election integrity measures. He also talked about promoting early voting in more rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clerks are part time, most of them work out of their houses. They dont have an office at the town hall In those places. If you want to have in-person absentee voting, you have to schedule an appointment at the home of the clerk. In Madison and in Milwaukee the convenience level is through the roof right now, Schoemann said. Its not quite seven days a week, 24 hours a day for those 13 days, but it isnt far either, especially as compared to those towns. Schoemann said his county sought to incentivize local municipal workers to add in-person absentee voting days and times by paying them 150% of the cost. He said the state needs to completely transform how we think about elections in Wisconsin. Schoemann segued to criticizing Evers for his relationship with lawmakers and the number of bills he has vetoed, saying changes in law need to come as the result of the governor working as a coequal branch with the Legislature. He said that the governor should work with bills before outright vetoing them. The fact that this governor doesnt have the leadership capability to walk down the hallway and talk to legislative leaders is an embarrassment to our state, Schoemann said, referring to communication difficulties between lawmakers and Evers, who are currently negotiating the next state budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoemann said that he wouldnt want to throw money to help address education problems, though he thinks the system currently in place is outdated. He also said that he would seek to help change the veto power that governors have. This will be the first time Schoemann runs in a statewide election. He promised the room that no one would outwork him. There might be more money. There might be worse press, there might be all kinds of things, but no one will outwork me, Schoemann said. In the weeks before deciding to run, Schoemann told the room that he asked his wife if she was sure she wanted him to run. You know what she said to me? Schoemann asked. Well, cant be worse than Iraq. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The U.S. social safety net would be jolted if the budget bill backed by President Donald Trump and passed Thursday by the House of Representatives becomes law. It would require many low-income adults to work to receive Medicaid health insurance coverage and more to work to get food assistance, require hospitals to verify the citizenship status of patients, and cut funding for services like birth control to the nations biggest abortion provider. REPORT: 366K+ Rhode Islanders would be impacted by proposed Medicaid cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the bill say the moves will save money, root out waste and encourage personal responsibility. A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade. The measure, which also includes tax cuts, passed the House by one vote and could have provisions reworked again as it heads to the Senate. Heres a look at the potential impact. Work would be required for most people to get Medicaid health insurance Starting next year, many able-bodied Medicaid enrollees will be required to show that they work in exchange for the health insurance coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 92% of people enrolled in Medicaid are already working, caregiving, attending school or disabled. That leaves about 8% of 71 million adult enrollees who would need to meet the new requirement. An estimated 5 million people are likely to lose coverage altogether, according to previous estimates of the bill from the Congressional Budget Office. Increased eligibility checks and red tape related to work requirements may result in some people wrongly getting booted off, said Eduardo Conrado, the president of Ascension, a health care system that operates hospitals across 10 states. That could spell trouble for rural hospitals, in particular, who will see their small pool of patients go from paying for their emergency care with Medicaid coverage to not paying anything at all. Hospitals could have to eat their costs. Adding work requirements is not just a policy change, its a shift away from the purpose of the program, Conrado said of the rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only Arkansas has had a work requirement that kicks people off for noncompliance. More than 18,000 lost coverage after it kicked in in 2018, and the program was later blocked by federal courts. The people of Arkansas are generous and we want to help those who who cannot help themselves, but we have no interest in helping those who are unwilling to help themselves, said Arkansas Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, a Republican. Im glad the federal government is starting to align with our thinking. Joan Alker, executive director of Georgetown Universitys Center for Children and Families, said work requirements do not result in more people having jobs but in fewer people having health insurance. If you lose your job going forward, good luck to you, she said. There is a good chance youre going to be uninsured because of this bill. More people would be required to have jobs to receive food assistance The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, already requires work for some of its roughly 42 million recipients. Adults ages 18-54 who are physically and mentally able and dont have dependents must work, volunteer or participate in training programs for at least 80 hours a month, or else be limited to just three months of benefits in a three-year period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation passed by the House would raise the work requirement to age 65 and also extend it to parents without children younger than age 7. The bill also would limit the ability to waive work requirements in areas with unemployment rates significantly above the national average. The combination of those changes could put 6 million adults at risk of losing SNAP benefits, according to the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Like work requirements for Medicaid, those for SNAP tend to cause a decrease in participation without increasing employment, according to an April report by the Brookings Institutions Hamilton Project. States that cover immigrants lacking legal status would lose federal funds Under the bill, the federal government would punish states that use their own state dollars to provide Medicaid-covered services to immigrants lacking legal status or to provide subsidies to help them buy health insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some states that provide that sort of coverage extend it only to children. Those states would see federal funding for the Medicaid expansion population typically low-income adults drop from 90% to 80%. That could mean states pull back that Medicaid coverage to avoid the federal penalty. If that penalty of 10% is imposed, we would expect that states will have to drop that coverage, said Georgetowns Alker. KFF said the provision could affect 14 states and Washington, D.C., that cover children regardless of their immigration status. This month the Democratic governor of one of them Californias Gavin Newsom announced a plan to freeze new enrollments in state-funded health care for immigrants who do not have legal status as a budget-balancing measure. The bill could curtail abortion access by barring money for Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood says a provision barring it from receiving Medicaid funds could lead to about one-third of its health centers closing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said about 200 centers are at risk most of them in states where abortion is legal. In those states, the number of Planned Parenthood centers could be cut in half. Planned Parenthood, the nations largest abortion provider, also offers other health services, including birth control and cancer screening. Federal money was already barred from paying for abortion, but state Medicaid funds in some states now cover it. Were in a fight for survival not just for Planned Parenthood, but for the ability of everyone to get high-quality, non-judgmental health care, Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America celebrated the provision, saying Congress took a big step toward stopping taxpayer funding of the Big Abortion industry. Health services for transgender people would be cut Medicaid would stop covering gender-affirming care for people of all ages in 2027 under a provision added in the hours before the bill passed. Further, coverage of the treatments could not be required on insurance plans sold through the exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. Trump has targeted transgender people, who make up around 1% of the U.S. population, since returning to office, including declaring that the U.S. wont spend taxpayer money on gender-affirming medical care for transgender people under 19. The care includes puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would expand that to all ages, at least when it comes to Medicaid. States now have a mix of policies on the issue with some blocking the coverage and others requiring it. Its unclear how much Medicaid has spent on providing gender-affirming care, which has only been recently added to some coverage plans in some states. An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll this month found that about half of U.S. adults oppose government funding for the care for those 19 and over. Olivia Hunt, director of federal policy for Advocates for Trans Equality, said lawmakers are pushing the cut just to advance this narrative that theres something wrong with trans people and that trans people dont belong in American communities. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Rescue efforts were under way in South Africa on Friday as more than 200 miners were trapped at a gold mine for a second day. Mining company Sibanye-Stillwater said on Thursday that the miners were trapped after what it referred to as a shaft incident at the Kloof gold mine, one of the companys deepest. It said that all the workers were safe and gathered at an assembly point where they had been provided with food as efforts were being made to get them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was decided that employees should remain at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, the company said. The total number of workers trapped was not immediately clear. News agencies reported that 260 people were trapped, while a company spokesperson said 289 miners were in the shaft. A Sibanye-Stillwater sign for the Kloof gold mine, where miners are trapped underground in Westonaria, near Johannesburg, South Africa [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters] The National Union of Mineworkers, representing the workers at the Kloof mine, said they had been trapped for more than 24 hours as Sibanye-Stillwater continued pushing back its estimated time to retrieve the workers. We are very concerned because the mine did not even make this incident public until we reported it to the media, said NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu. The mine, located 60km (37 miles) west of Johannesburg, is among a few collecting from some of the worlds deepest gold deposits. JOHANNESBURG (AP) Rescue efforts are underway in South Africa to bring 260 workers trapped in a gold mine for a day back to the surface, the Sibanye Stillwater mining company said on Friday. According to the company, an initial investigation showed that a sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point and caused some damage to the mineshaft at the Kloof mine, west of Johannesburg. Following a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees should remain at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, in order to avoid walking long distances at this time, the company said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Union of Mineworkers, which represents workers at the Kloof mine, said the miners have been trapped for almost 24 hours, with the company repeatedly changing the estimated time for them to return to the surface. "We are very concerned because the mine did not even make this incident public until we reported it to the media, said NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu. The company said all miners were accounted for and safe, adding that it expected to hoist them back to the surface on Friday. New research shows that people aren't too keen on paying for filters on their washers that could help with microplastic pollution, but government subsidies could sway their opinions. Researchers at Portland State University in Oregon surveyed a sample of registered voters and environmental interest groups in the state, gauging their general knowledge and concerns about microplastics. They summarized their findings on Phys.org. Among the questions was whether people would be willing to pay full price for a high-efficiency external filter, which is a potential solution for preventing microplastics from entering waterways. While less than a quarter of the 664 respondents said they'd be willing to make such an investment, up to 20% more would support getting a filter for their washing machine if a government subsidy covered part of the cost. The researchers also said that their study highlighted the need for filters to be included in point-of-sale purchases rather than after the fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new research comes as Oregon lawmakers consider a bill that would require new clothes washers sold in the state to have a microfiber filtration system by 2030. "I'm hearing from growing numbers of people who are concerned about microplastics in our food and in our water," state Sen. Deb Patterson, a chief sponsor of the bill, told KPIC 4. "They don't want plastics in their body. They don't want plastics in their kid's body. They don't want plastic in their salmon that they eat or any other part of our food and water supply system." Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can enter the environment when larger plastics break down or when they break off from plastic-derived fabrics such as polyester. They can be found in our water, food, air, and soil, and, as a result, they have made their way into our bodies. While researchers are still investigating the health impacts of microplastics, they have been tied to cancer, dementia, and impaired blood flow in the brain, among other issues. Washer filters are one of several solutions that experts suggest to help with the microplastics plague. For instance, one team of scientists discovered a way to remove them from our water using egg whites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reducing our dependence on plastics won't erase the microplastics that are already out there, but it can help reduce future exposure. To that end, some governments are trying to reduce plastic consumption by enacting laws banning certain single-use items. England and France have outlawed plastic cutlery for most fast food and takeout. You can help by reducing your personal use of plastics. While not a solution on its own, the Oregon study's authors hope their research can help aid in policymaking. "Washing machines are a major source of microfibers and microplastics entering our wastewater systems and ultimately our waterways," co-author Elise Granek said. "Mandating washing machine filters at the point of sale has been identified as a tool to significantly reduce this source of microplastics entering aquatic environments." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A home in Shelby County sustained significant damage after a crash that resulted in serious injuries. The Piqua Patrol post of OSP confirmed that a vehicle struck a home in the area of County Road 25A and E. Miami Shelby Road. After an initial investigation on scene, it was determined that the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling southbound on County Road 25A failed to navigate a curve near E. Miami Shelby Road, causing the vehicle to veer off to the roadway and eventually into a home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver and passenger of the Tahoe sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital via CareFlight. The occupants inside of the home were not injured; however, they are temporarily displaced due to damage to the house. The crash is continuing to be investigated by OSP, with alcohol impairment, speed and seat belt usage considered potential contributing factors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Restaurants close for a variety of reasons, and they're also often short-staffed when things come up at the last minute. One restaurant in Ohio experienced both at the same time recently, according to the daughter of the owners. Katie Berndt told 21 News that the employees at Pour House of Canfield decided to quit in solidarity with their manager. The manager wanted more time to spend with his family, a request that seemed to resonate with the entire group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Not one single person gave my parents a notice or anything. So with the whole staff quitting and no time to find others, we have to shut down," Berndt said. She said her father John "cannot handle the stress or anything on his heart," so he made the decision to sell the restaurant after the entire drama with the employees and manager. The last day of business for the restaurant will be Thursday, but it isn't the only Pour House location. Poland location on Center Road houses the other location, but makes it clear that it has no affiliation with the Canfield location previously owned by the Brandts. The closure comes as many restaurants around the country have been forced to shut their doors. The rising cost of food is a factor on its on, as well as an inability to retain employees with stagnant wages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delivery and takeout has also affected many restaurants, as even successful businesses are unable to withstand the big cut that third-party apps take from each order. The restaurant business can be difficult for entrepreneurs looking to make their own way. It's certainly not any easier when you have to start from scratch after losing your entire base of employees. We'll see if the Berndt's are able to get back on their feet after a difficult experience with their workforce. If they want to retain employees next time, it appears that they may need to have an open discussion with them about their needs and desired from their job. If not, they could be in for another mass exodus from the restaurant like the one they've recently experienced. Restaurant Forced to Close After Entire Staff Abruptly Quits first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) A judge on Friday dismissed a petition for a temporary restraining order against a Maui anesthesiologist accused of attempting to kill his wife on a Honolulu hiking trail. Gerhardt Konig's wife initially filed the petition after he allegedly pushed her toward the edge of a cliff, attempted to inject her with a syringe and then bashed her head with a rock. But her attorney, Brandon Segal, told the judge the restraining order was now unnecessary because Konig was being held without bail during the criminal case against him. Segal said his client may refile petition if Konig's custody status changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second Circuit Court Judge Bevanne J. Bowers on Maui approved the motion after Konig's attorney had no objection. Konig pleaded not guilty to an attempted murder charge in April. He's been held without bail since his March 28 indictment. Konig and his wife were visiting Oahu from their home on Maui to celebrate her birthday when he allegedly tried to kill her on the hiking trail, prosecutors said. The wife's petition said Konig accused his wife in December of having an affair and that they had been in therapy and counseling. She also said her husband has sexually abused and assaulted her. The Associated Press does not name people say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 23. The management of JSC Uzbekneftegaz held a meeting with representatives of Halliburton and discussed the development of the companys fields using integrated solutions and advanced technologies offered by Halliburton, Trend reports. The discussions focused on opportunities for comprehensive asset management, digital reservoir modeling, and increasing oil production volumes, as well as prospects for implementing international best practices at the companys production sites. This event marked a logical continuation of the strategic dialogue aimed at deepening mutual partnership, localizing technologies, and jointly executing projects in Uzbekistan. Following the meeting, both parties agreed to proceed following the approved Roadmap, concentrating efforts on expanding cooperation in innovation, safety assurance, and improving hydrocarbon production efficiency. Halliburton is a leading global oilfield services company founded in 1919. It provides a wide range of technologies and services for exploration, drilling, production, and reservoir management. Operating in over 70 countries, Halliburton is known for its innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and safety in the oil and gas industry. A new Making America Healthy Again report from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his department blames childhood chronic disease on ultra-processed foods, chronic stress, over-prescribing of medications and environmental chemicals. Theres something wrong, and we will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic, President Donald Trump said Thursday at an event unveiling the report, and America, were going to get it done. In spite of the wide-ranging and alarming claims of the report, so far, the second Trump administration has taken a variety of steps that experts say will make Americans less healthy. Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill would make millions of people lose their health insurance to help offset tax cuts, and the administration has tried to slash billions of dollars in public health spending as well as grants for scientific research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 69-page report also claims that more than 40% of American children have at least one chronic health condition, childhood cancer rates have soared, over 20% of children are obese and one in 31 children have autism. Trump spoke about the rise in autism diagnoses, claiming without evidence, It has to be artificially induced, it has to be. Kennedy, who was sitting next to Trump during the MAHA event, has been at the forefront of pushing autism conspiracy theories for years. Kennedy has repeatedly falsely said that vaccines cause autism, and in April, he said he would identify the environmental toxin he believes causes autism. Autism rates have grown in years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but health officials largely attribute that to more people getting diagnosed, not more people developing autism. The MAHA report devotes an entire section to vaccines, writing that since 1986, children have had to get more vaccines than ever before and that parents should be fully informed of the benefits and risks of vaccines. The report also calls for more clinical studies on vaccines. President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin hold an event for a new Make America Healthy Again Commission report in the East Room of the White House on May 22, 2025, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images The report also calls out ultra-processed foods, claiming they are damaging the health of American children. Trump was met with applause from the MAHA events audience after he said that the administration is phasing out eight of the most common artificial food dyes, adding that he ended conflicts at the Food and Drug Administration. In April, Trumps administration fired several FDA workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also claims that government-funded food programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are to blame for childrens bad eating habits. Children receiving SNAP benefits are more likely to consume greater quantities of sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats compared to income-eligible nonrecipients, the report claims. Environmental chemicals are also to blame for childrens poor health, the report claims, like PFAS, which are a group of synthetic chemicals used in nonstick cookware and food packaging; microplastics,and high levels of fluoride in water, which the report claims led to lower IQs in children. The report also claims that electronic devices have led to loneliness, chronic stress and sleep deprivation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parallel to the decline in physical activity American youth face deepening psychosocial crisis. This is marked by rising mental health disorders significant sleep deficits chronic stress and pervasive loneliness all exacerbated by the widespread influence of technology, the report reads. At Thursdays event, Trump ended by congratulating the entire MAHA movement before Kennedy praised Trump in return. Kennedy called the MAHA report a call to action for common sense. Weve relied too much on conflicting research, ignored common sense, or what some would call mothers intuition, Kennedy said. Related... The Trump administration issued its long-awaited Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report Thursday, hammering various industries while deviating from mainstream science on key issues including farming practices, vaccinations and psychiatric medications. President Trump appointed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the MAHA Commission, which issued its first report on childrens health Thursday. It pointed to four key factors that it says are hurting U.S. children: ultraprocessed foods, environmental chemicals, digital behavior and overmedicalization. The report identifies pesticides and other chemicals as potentially having harmful health impacts, but it stops short of recommending actions to limit them disappointing some advocates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it came to childhood mental and physical health, the report concludes that large corporations are distorting the U.S. health system for the sake of profits. Heres what you should know: Stops short of calling for action against chemicals and pesticides There is a growing concern about the link between environmental health risks, particularly cumulative risks, and chronic disease, the report states. Furthermore, in the past nearly 30 years, the chemicals children are exposed to have grown and no country fully understands how the cumulative impact of this growth impacts health, it continues. However, rather than calling for specific actions against these health threats, the report says more studies are needed, including from the National Institutes of Health, to fully understand the impacts of things like microplastics and pesticides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, it mentions glyphosate, the chemical in Roundup weed killer, which has been the subject of thousands of lawsuits, many of which allege that it causes cancer, though the company has denied this. The report also mentions atrazine, a commonly used pesticide that has been found to disrupt the endocrine system and has been banned in the European Union Also on the list to study more are PFAS, toxic substances used in nonstick and waterproof products that can last in the environment for hundreds of years, as well as phthalates, which are used to make plastics flexible and have been found to disrupt the endocrine system. The Wall Street Journal reported the White House altered the report to remove references to the company Monsanto, information about PFAS lobbying and conflicts of interest in chemical regulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin told reporters that the Trump administration would not be pursuing a European, mandate-driven regulatory system that stifles growth. Lori Ann Burd, environmental health program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, told The Hill that identifying a problem but not pursuing actions was not good enough. Its really disappointing that, after all the promises that the commission was going to stand up to powerful corporate interests and really get to the bottom of what is making Americans so sick, it caved to these powerful corporate interests, Burd said. They have joined every administration before them in cowering in fear when faced with the power of Big Ag, she added. Says children are taking too much medicine Kennedy has been vocal in his belief that many medications like vaccines and psychiatric drugs are overused in the U.S. and, in aggregate, are causing some of the health problems plaguing Americas children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These beliefs were reflected in the commissions findings. The report noted the use of stimulant drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics and asthma medications have all increased among children within the past 30 or so years. It further cast speculation on childhood vaccination schedules, noting that the number of vaccines implemented in the U.S. exceeds that of many European vaccine schedules. These time trends significantly outpace more moderate increases seen in other developed countries. Psychotropics for ADHD or one example, prescribed 2.5 times more in US than in British children, and 19 times more than in Japanese youth, the report stated. Kennedy has claimed that childhood psychiatric drugs are insufficiently scrutinized and addictive. Childhood psychiatrists blasted Kennedys rhetoric as unhelpful to children with mental illnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is some concern, even more so in the field, that many children with depression and mental health disorders do not get access to the mental health services that they need, and that includes the comprehensive treatment that we would recommend, which is beyond just SSRIs, but also therapy and other supports, Lisa Fortuna, a child psychiatrist and chair of the American Psychiatric Associations Council on Children, Adolescents and Their Families, previously told The Hill. While stopping short of blaming vaccines for directly contributing to chronic illnesses and acknowledging that immunizations benefit children by protecting them from infectious diseases, the report claimed there has been limited scientific inquiry into the links between vaccines and chronic disease. To improve the understanding of vaccines and any links to chronic disease, the report supported more rigorous clinical trial designs that include placebos, larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods. Kennedy was perhaps the countrys most prominent vaccine skeptic prior to becoming the HHS secretary. He has continually refused to acknowledge data disproving any links between vaccinations and autism, even when confronted during his confirmation hearing by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), himself a physician. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Kennedy and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, the HHS has moved forward with plans to enforce a new requirement for placebo testing on all new vaccines, though how this rule will be implemented remains unclear. Placebo-controlled testing is already a standard part of the vaccine approval process, and Kennedy told the Senate Appropriations Committee this week that he did not think it was ethical to retest all vaccines against a placebo. The report blamed the overmedicalization of American children on corporate capture. It claimed the outsized influence of large corporations on public institutions had distorted scientific literature, regulatory processes, clinical practices and public discourse. The corporate capture of media, primarily through lavish advertising campaigns that are uniquely targeted to American consumers (no other developed country allows direct advertising of drugs to consumers, other than New Zealand where such advertising is heavily regulated and federally controlled) confers a notable level of reliance on the industry by those that benefit financially, the report read. While in the U.S. the pharmaceutical industry has the First Amendment right to have these advertisements, studies suggest that they have a strong influence on those who view them, potentially increasing inappropriate prescription. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, there was not a recommendation to take action against pharmaceutical advertising, though the commission suggested the constant exposure to pharmaceutical advertisements was responsible for potentially increasing inappropriate prescriptions. Takes aim at sedentary lifestyle with new technology The report blamed a sedentary, technology-driven lifestyle thats developed over the past 40 years for increasing chronic physical and mental health diseases, with childhood behaviors differing vastly from prior generations. Citing data from the American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and numerous studies published within the last 15 years, the report noted how larger shares of children dont meet healthy standards of fitness and fewer children take part in daily physical activities. These conclusions align with what has been observed globally, with a 2019 study finding that 81 percent of adolescents aged between 11 and 17 were insufficiently physically active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parallel to the decline in physical activity, American youth face a deepening psychosocial crisis. This is marked by rising mental health disorders, significant sleep deficits, chronic stress, and pervasive loneliness, all exacerbated by the widespread influence of technology, the report stated. The crisis persists despite rising therapy rates, with some suggesting it may exacerbate the issue. Social media use was also cited in the report as having a negative impact on childrens mental health, echoing initiatives from the Biden administration. Then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a health advisory in 2023 warning that increasing evidence suggests social media use was damaging youth mental health. At the same time, screen usage has also been potentially linked to a reduction in some risky behaviors, like substance use and motor vehicle accidents, though whether there is a direct cause is unclear. As with overmedicalization, the report took issue with the role that large corporations have in childrens use of social media as well as public health messaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Technology corporations suggest a reach over childhood health that stretches well beyond the direct harms of screen exposure, actively shaping the contours of scientific discourse and the public-health policies that follow, it stated, noting how federal agencies coordinated with social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. These informal, largely invisible coordination between agencies and platforms coupled with undisclosed ranking algorithms compresses the range of permissible debate on childhood-health questions and can bury legitimate scientific concerns while impacting parental supervision. Nathaniel Weixel contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Maybe some men are just too emotional to be in politics. On Tuesday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got so enraged during a Senate hearing that a fellow Republican had to intervene like an adult trying to quell a toddlers big feelings. The moment occurred after Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) slammed Kennedy for drastic staffing and funding cuts at his department as part of President Donald Trumps efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. After describing some of these cuts as illegal, she proceeded to call out Kennedys incompetence by saying his previous committee testimony left her pretty confused and concerned about what is actually happening at HHS. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Tuesday for his departments proposed 2026 fiscal year budget. Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images You repeatedly claimed staffing and funding cuts that have been reported on publicly and even confirmed by your department staff are not happening, Murray said. So either you are lying or youre not the one making the decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She then asked him a pretty straightforward question on child care subsidies for low-income working families: Secretary Kennedy, whose decision was it to withhold child care and development block grant funding? In response to Murrays question, Kennedy who is best known for peddling debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines busted out the classic MAGA tactic of criticizing former President Joe Bidens administration. Fully aware that Kennedy was deflecting, Murray injected a few times in an attempt to get him back on track, but Kennedy eventually snapped. I want to point out something, Senator, youve presided here, I think, for 32 years. Youve presided over the destruction of the health of the American people, he said, raising his voice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seriously? Murray said as Kennedy continued his rant. Sen. Patty Murray questions HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a hearing on May 14. JIM WATSON via Getty Images Our people are now the sickest people in the world because you have not done your job! he exclaimed. Mr. Secretary, seriously, Murray said. But Kennedy kept up the finger-pointing. What have you done about it? What have you done about the epidemic of chronic disease? he shouted. What have you done about the epidemic of chronic disease? Thats when a fellow Republican decided she had had enough of this nonsense. Mr. Secretary, I would ask you to hold back and let the senator ask the questions, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), the chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee where Kennedy was testifying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that hullabaloo, Murray calmly asked her question again on whose decision it was to withhold child care funding, and lo and behold, Kennedys answer was pretty basic. That was made by my department, Kennedy said. HHS Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy): "You presided over the destruction of the health of the American people. Our people are now the sickest people in the world because you have not done your job. Sen. @PattyMurray: "Mr. Secretary, seriously?!? Mr. Secretary, seriously?!?" pic.twitter.com/IDJWLCwQdp CSPAN (@cspan) May 20, 2025 When a clip of Murray and Kennedys verbal sparring match made it onto X, formerly Twitter, left-leaning users were unimpressed by HHS secretary. RFK Jr. fell apart faster than a dollar store lawn chair at a Fourth of July barbecue, one X user wrote. If answering a basic childcare question sends him into verbal vapor lock, maybe hes better suited for a wellness podcast on dial-up radio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RFK Jr unwound faster than an alibi about a lost Las Vegas weekend, another user joked. RFK Jr.s meltdown over a basic childcare question shows hes unfit for leadership, said another user. If he cant handle Senate scrutiny, how can he manage national health crises? His deflection tactics are a disgrace. Kennedys time as health secretary has been far from impressive. During testimony before a House subcommittee last week, Kennedy refused to answer questions about the safety and effectiveness of major types of vaccines before uttering one of the most terrifying things the nations top health official could say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think people should be taking medical advice from me, he said. Murray, unlike Kennedy, has no trouble clearly expressing her views and did so with a post on X Tuesday after their intense interaction. RFK Jr. is a shameless liar and, candidly, an insane conspiracy theorist, Murray wrote Tuesday. Hes fired the people who monitor bird flu. Hes fired food safety inspectors. Hes firing NIH clinical staffand hes cutting cancer research. This grifter is making America LESS healthy & LESS safe. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A bill is one step closer to making it easier for everyone to go to the bathroom. The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed legislation that would require all newly constructed buildings to include at least one adult-sized changing station in their design plans. The goal is to make bathrooms more accessible for people with disabilities and their caretakers. IN-DEPTH: Bill would require new buildings in RI to have adult changing tables Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the bill is signed into law, facilities would be required to have clear signage, adjustable tables that support up to 350 pounds, and adequate space for caregivers. The bill now heads to the Senate, which passed similar legislation earlier this month. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) Nearly eight months after Hurricane Helene washed it away, the Highway 107/Sgt. Kinser Bridge is set to reopen. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday to celebrate the bridges reopening. Photo: TDOT is reopening and rededicating the Kinser Bridge in Greene County on Friday. (WJHL) News Channel 11 live-streamed the ceremony on WJHL.com. It can be watched in the video player above. Drivers are now able to pass over the bridge above the Nolichucky River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley was joined by State Representative David Hawk, Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger and other officials to mark the completion of the project. This is about connectivity, making sure that our people in this area can get to where they need to be on a daily basis, said Eley. Tennesseans did what they do in their responded, and they volunteered, and they came here to help make this community strong again. And so, were proud from a TDOT standpoint to be able to play a small part in that process by getting this bridge open a month ahead of time. Eley also said that 46 of the 49 roads closed by Helene will be reopened by the end of the week. The bridge was dedicated to Stg. Elbert Kinser. Kinser died in World War II after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the recreation of this bridge and rededication of Sergeant Kinser whose name reminds us all of the resilience that we have as people and the courage that we have as Northeast Tennesseans, said Hawk, helps us remember the devastation of the flood we had on the night of September 27 and the morning of September 28 and recognize the resilience that we have as northeast Tennessee. Hawk also said the Kinser Bridge was completed a month ahead of schedule. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) The Richmond County Marshals Office announced Friday it has terminated one of its employees after an investigation concerning alleged misconduct. According to authorities, the Marshals Office, became aware of allegations of misconduct involving Sergeant Brittney Brown on Wednesday, May 21. The office conducted a thorough internal investigation and determined that Brown violated Richmond County Marshals Office policy. Brown was reportedly terminated immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marshals Office has also turned the case over to the Richmond Countys Sheriffs Office for further investigation, due to the nature of the findings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., speaks to supporters during his campaign kickoff event Aug. 23, 2023, in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., running for his first full six-year term in 2026, is getting early outside ad support from Senate Republicans that shows he and the party are taking a potential matchup with registered nonpartisan labor leader Dan Osborn seriously. One Nation, the best-known advertising arm of the Senate GOPs Super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund, is announcing a seven-figure digital ad buy on Ricketts behalf Friday, the Examiner has learned. Its starting with a positive ad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Gustafson, communications director for One Nation, touted Ricketts long and trusted record of results in Lincoln and Washington, D.C., where Ricketts is already making waves as a major fundraiser for the Senate GOP. The Ricketts record Nebraska nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn speaks during a 2024 rally at a union hall talking about how he will preserve Social Security. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) The online ad unveiled this week reminds Republicans and others about the Legislatures push while he was governor to remove income taxes from Social Security income and of his federal push to do the same with President Donald Trump. Its noteworthy in part because it appears aimed at shoring up Ricketts on Social Security, because Osborn, who made Ricketts senior colleague, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., sweat in a close 2024 race is mulling a 2026 bid against Ricketts. Osborn relentlessly hammered Fischer and congressional Republicans for doing too little to protect Social Security and has said he would make sure that the benefits were protected from potential budget cuts. He campaigned on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also interesting because Fischer drew criticism from national Republicans for waiting too late in the race to spend money attacking and defining Osborn. She eventually sought help from Senate Republicans to beat him back with outside ads. Gustafson and other people familiar with the race agreed that Senate Republicans are willing to be more aggressive sooner in the Osborn race than is typical for a GOP-led state. Political observers saw it as a sign to donors to get and stay engaged. The Osborn threat Osborn has shown the ability to raise funds, having raised and spent nearly $15 million against Fischer, according to OpenSecrets.org. But Ricketts is a prolific fundraiser, too. His family owns the Chicago Cubs, and his political team has a cut-throat reputation. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., speaks to supporters at a 2024 campaign rally in Bellevue. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) Ricketts campaign team had no immediate comment on the ad buy. Osborn is still building his campaign apparatus. But when Fischer needed outside help, Osborn said it was a sign the millionaires and billionaires were paying attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fischer and many Republicans have criticized Osborn for taking money from Senate Democrats and major Democratic donors funded through normal PACs and dark money groups and then calling himself nonpartisan. She called him a Democrat in sheeps clothing. Osborn has denied being part of either party, pointing to his registration and willingness to hear people out. He has said hes more focused on the needs of working people than their political beliefs. Dustin Wahl, Osborns campaign spokesman from 2024, said, Ricketts is rightfully nervous about a challenge from Dan Osborn. Dan has real grassroots support in Nebraska, and Ricketts and his backers know theyll need to spend a lot of money to compete with that. Why Ricketts is running again Ricketts is known for cutting spending and taxes at the state level. He focused much of his time as governor on remaking processes for applying for government help to boost response times. Critics have said he slashed too much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Congress, he has been a reliable Republican vote. He has said his goal is to bring the same approach he brought to Lincoln to Washington, D.C., saying that the federal government could be run leaner and more efficiently. In November, Ricketts won a special election to the final two years of former Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasses term after Gov. Jim Pillen appointed him to the office initially. He agreed to run again as part of the appointment process. Editors note: This story has been updated with comment from Dan Osborns campaign. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Uber and Lyft decals are seen on a car in the pickup area at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Rideshare drivers and labor advocates across the country are urging state and local leaders to require rideshare companies to provide benefits for drivers. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Murphy Smith says he was unemployed for four years because of medical issues before becoming a rideshare driver in Eugene, Oregon. Driving allows him to work without triggering his severe asthma, Smith, 47, says. But without a set minimum wage, he says he works 12 to 16 hours a day to support himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith, whos part of the rideshare drivers advocacy group Drivers Union Oregon, hopes pending legislation will help bring drivers like him a livable wage. There are a lot of people here in the Eugene area that dont own a car, and once the buses or the public transportation shuts down, were who they call, Smith said. So we are an essential part of the workforce here. Advocates across several states say theyve increased their activism recently because Uber and Lyft are pushing back harder than ever, as more cities and states pass laws requiring minimum pay and benefit requirements. The rideshare industry is not as heavily regulated as independent taxi drivers or taxi companies, which are subject to rules on permitting, background checks, vehicle inspections and more, depending on the state or locality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rideshare drivers and labor advocates across the country are urging state and local leaders to require rideshare companies to provide benefits for drivers, including paid sick leave, minimum wages and workers compensation. The companies have argued that establishing minimum wages for rideshare drivers would raise the price of rides for customers. Uber and Lyft are working to prevent some states from passing rideshare legislation through public campaigns and lobbying. Oregon Democratic state Sen. Kayse Jama, who sponsored the bill pending in his state, said drivers told him last summer that their accounts were being deactivated without notice. Even drivers who were highly rated were locked out of their accounts, unable to earn any money, he said. A lot of those folks are mainly immigrants and refugees, so they dont drive Uber as a side hustle or side gig, Jama said. This is their livelihood. This is how they feed their families. So, they brought the issue to my attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their stories inspired Jama to introduce legislation that would set a minimum wage for Oregon drivers, require a just cause for deactivation or lockouts of driver accounts, establish sick leave accrual, increase fare transparency, and create a new driver resource center. Neighboring Washington has a similar model, which was enacted in 2022. Uber has opposed the Oregon bill, saying that the company needs more time to work with the state on drafting the measure. Uber spokesperson Zahid Arab, testifying against the bill, said the legislation would make rideshare dramatically more expensive for Oregon riders, reduce access to affordable transportation options, and lead to fewer flexible earning opportunities for drivers. A lot of those folks are mainly immigrants and refugees, so they don't drive Uber as a side hustle or side gig. This is their livelihood. This is how they feed their families. Oregon Democratic state Sen. Kayse Jama Jama said that he and his team have been negotiating with Uber and Lyft since the beginning of the legislative session, but theres more work to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, we want a bill thats equitable to both the parties but also ensures that the drivers are getting the relief that they desperately need, Jama said. Lockouts are not exclusive to drivers in Oregon. Drivers in New York City first reported last summer periods of time when they could not access Uber or Lyft. The companies were limiting the number of active drivers in response to the citys minimum wage rules. Uber came to an agreement with New York City last July to reduce the lockouts, but drivers using Lyft were still seeing account deactivations months later. Uber and Lyft did not respond to Stateline requests for comment. New laws proliferate Generally, rideshare drivers are paid a base fare for each trip, with additional money for the time and distance traveled. In some cities, drivers can also see the amount of money theyll earn before accepting a ride. Passengers can choose to tip drivers, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But every location has different rates. For instance, the minimum pay rates for drivers in Washington state have increased to $1.34 per mile and $0.39 per minute, with a trip minimum of $3.45 per trip, according to the states labor department. In Seattle, the pay rates are even higher. In places without set rules, drivers are subject to rates that depend on the location and availability of rides. These earnings are reduced by driver expenses, including gas, car maintenance and more. In 2019, the nations first minimum wage pay rate for rideshare drivers went into effect in New York City. The minimum pay rates for time and mileage amount to drivers earning $17.22 an hour after expenses. It was a significant win for advocates in the city who had campaigned for better pay for years. New York later established minimum pay rates for drivers across the state. Seattle in 2020 became the second city to require minimum wages for rideshare drivers. In 2023, Minneapolis city leaders were also considering an ordinance that would increase driver pay, but Uber and Lyft threatened to leave the city entirely if it were to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of a 2024 statewide deal after a long battle between Minnesota lawmakers and the rideshare companies, the pay rates for drivers rose to $1.28 per mile and 31 cents per minute on average for time spent driving passengers. As part of the deal, cities were banned from passing their own regulations on wages. California, Massachusetts and Washington also have passed legislation to set minimum wages and rates for rideshare drivers over the past five years. Massachusetts reached an agreement with Uber last year that guaranteed minimum earnings of $32.50 per hour to start, a portable health insurance benefit fund established last month and multilingual chat support coming later this year. Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Washington also require rideshare companies to give drivers paid sick leave, workers compensation, paid family and medical leave, and other benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, a California appeals court ruled in 2023 that transportation network companies could treat drivers as independent contractors, meaning they are not entitled to benefits in the state. The ruling upheld a voter-approved law. Lawmakers in Connecticut and Wisconsin introduced legislation this year that would give rideshare drivers better pay transparency, as well as accident and sickness insurance coverage. Earlier this year, Uber also sued Colorado over a law that requires the company to provide pay disclosures for drivers, arguing that the law violates Ubers free speech rights. The law requires transportation network companies to disclose to drivers the total amount a passenger paid for a trip, how much is given to the driver and how much the passenger tipped. Washington state compromises For more than eight years, Ahmed Mahamud has been driving for Uber and Lyft to support his family in Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driving for the rideshare companies is his full-time job, he said, and business in Seattle is good. I love it, said Mahamud, 51. Youre helping people when they have a need. So, this isnt just a job. Its a win-win job. Youre helping your community, and at the same time you are paying the bills. But he lacks the same benefits as a salaried job. So he joined Drivers Union and is pushing for better pay, benefits and protections for drivers. We are not yet finished fighting against these companies because there are still things missing, he said. So, every single day, we are still fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the absence of state and federal regulations, rideshare companies have too much power over the drivers they employ, said Drivers Union spokesperson Anna Minard. Drivers in Washington began to organize when they realized Uber and Lyft were changing how much money drivers would earn without letting them know, she said. To drivers, this seemed like an avenue for a lot of exploitation, Minard said. So, drivers organized from the get-go and tried various ways to get some rights enshrined in the law [in Washington]. Even though its contract work, people felt like they should be able to join together and fight for better pay and benefits and safety. In 2023, a year after rideshare drivers won minimum wage and other benefits, Washington lawmakers passed legislation that made it the first state to give drivers paid family and medical leave. Uber and Lyft supported the new benefits. These coordinated pieces of legislation reflect a true compromise between state lawmakers, labor leaders and transportation network companies to afford drivers historic new benefits while protecting the independence and flexibility they say they want, an Uber spokesperson said in a statement to GeekWire at the time. And last year, after Massachusetts drivers won new benefits that are rolling out over 2025, Tony West, Ubers chief legal officer, said in a statement, We hope to engage other policymakers, drivers, advocates and stakeholders around the world to forge similar solutions. Advocates with Drivers Union helped pass a law this year in Washington that requires rideshare companies to be more transparent about which cars are eligible for special ride options, which are offered to passengers for higher fees. In addition to the standard UberX ride, the app offers UberXL for larger groups, Uber Comfort for newer cars with extra legroom and other options that generally cost more. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation, which was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson earlier this month, came after hundreds of drivers saw advertisements from Uber telling them to buy more expensive cars to get more pay on rides, Mahamud said. But in a year, many of those cars would become ineligible once newer cars are introduced to the market, leaving drivers with expensive car notes without the benefit of higher rates to cover it. The drivers really came together and said, This is just unfair, Mahamud said. Yesterday were told to buy these cars, and then before we can pay the car off, were taken out of the product class which was supposed to pay for it. The law also requires rideshare companies to provide drivers with a record of their trip receipts. Drivers and advocates are going to keep fighting for their rights, said Nicole Moore, the president of Rideshare Drivers United, a driver-run organization of more than 20,000 drivers in California. Moore is a part-time driver in the Los Angeles area, and she usually works Fridays and Saturdays. They [rideshare companies] think that to be an employee in America means you have to work full time, and it has to be a scheduled five-day workweek, Moore said. Now, we as Americans have all these misconceptions about what employment rights and labor rights could actually mean for everyone. Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at mfitzgerald@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Hundreds gathered at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria on Thursday for the Lincoln Day Dinner, one of the largest events in Illinois Republican politics. It was hosted by the Peoria and Tazewell County Republican parties and has attracted big names in the past such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley took center stage as the keynote speaker, focusing his speech on the work of President Donald Trump as well as the importance of local elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He emphasized the importance of Republican voters making their voices heard at the ballot box, from voting in mayoral races to city council races. Whatley pointed out the board of education as a particularly salient entity as well. The most important races that we deal with in an election cycle, in terms of your family and every family, are what happens on the school boards, he said. He also referred to the Trump administration as the most effective one hes seen in the past 30-40 years, and that the reason Trump was able to win in November was due to the disciplined messaging of his campaign. What made Trumps 2024 candidacy so effective, according to Whatley, is that he was able to appeal to all sorts of people by sticking to a simple message. Most people want a strong economy and to feel safe, and he thinks they were allured to vote Republican as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also pointed to Trump giving speeches in bigger cities and speaking to minority media outlets as more reasons for why he won in November. While he said its not easy being a Republican in Illinois, Whatley said the formula for turning things around is simple. Great candidates running great races, getting out to vote, and protecting the ballot, Whatley said. On that last point, Whatley said voter integrity is paramount. He believes an expected red wave did not happen in 2022 because some people did not think their ballot would be counted in a fair manner. Whatley says a message has been sent to Democrats in more recent elections that prosecution will result if any voter fraud takes place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatley was introduced by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, who lauded the job Trump has done since taking office. From increased military recruitment to decreased southern border crossings, LaHood sees the country as in a great place under Republican leadership. Peoria and Tazewell County Republican Party Chairs Chuck Weaver and Jim Rule also spoke at the event, focusing on the importance of getting the message out into the community in order to win elections. Rule said that Illinois is in need of a significant culture change while Weaver pointed to those such as newly elected Peoria City Councilman Alex Carmona as political leaders that could help turn the tide of Illinois politics in a more conservative 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 CIProud.com. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Roanoke City Public School has announced the passing of former superintendent, Dr. Rita Bishop. In a social media post, Roanoke school officials said, We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Roanoke City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop, who retired in 2020. Dr. Bishop was a distinguished educator and leader who always strived for excellence in support of our students and staff. Under Dr. Bishops leadership, all schools achieved full accreditation for the first time, the graduation rate increased by more than 30 percentage points, and RCPS increased its focus on school safety, all of which are lasting achievements that continue today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Photo Credit: Roanoke City Schools) Roanoke City School Board facing hard decisions before finalizing budget Dr. Bishop first came to RCPS in the mid-1990s as an Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. She later served as Superintendent in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, before being appointed as RCPS Superintendent in 2007. She began her career in San Jose, California, as an English & Speech Teacher and later served as a School Counselor, Vice Principal, Principal, and other Central Office roles before moving to Virginia. Dr. Bishop deeply impacted RCPS and the entire Roanoke Valley, and we will forever carry on her legacy of supporting every student, every day. More information about Dr. Bishops life and achievements is available on our website: https://bit.ly/3F9aPO2 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our thoughts are with Dr. Bishops family, friends, and former colleagues. Please join us in honoring and remembering her. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs of Qatar and President and CEO of QatarEnergy, met with senior executives of Chinas leading energy companies on the sidelines of the World Gas Conference in Beijing, Trend reports. During separate meetings, Minister Al-Kaabi held talks with Dai Houliang, Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Zhou Xinhuai, President of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), and Ma Yongsheng, Chairman of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). The discussions centered on existing partnerships and future collaboration opportunities in the energy sector. The meetings underscored the continued importance of bilateral cooperation between Qatar and China, particularly in the field of natural gas. Minister Al-Kaabi was joined by a high-level delegation from QatarEnergy. ROCHESTER, Ill. (WCIA) The Rochester Police Department is asking for help from the public in finding the person(s) responsible for multiple vehicle burglaries. Department officials said there were three reports of burglary and criminal damage submitted to them Wednesday morning. In each vehicle, the windows were broken in order to gain entry. Springfield City Council approves 25-year solar contract Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A video recorded on a victims Ring camera indicated that the crime happened around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Officials also asked that anyone living on Park Street, Pleasant Street or Karen Rose Drive if they have exterior cameras reviews the footage recorded. If people believe the footage they recorded can assist in the investigation, they should contact the Rochester Police Department at 217-381-8351. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) As graduation for high school students in Rochester quickly approaches, Rochester Prep celebrated its seniors and their college acceptances in a rally on Friday. All 100 students in the schools graduating class will attend college in the fall and have earned over $3.2 million in scholarships collectively. During the pep rally, students walked the stage to their favorite songs and announced the college they will attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly all Rochester Prep students are reported to come from predominantly Black, Hispanic, or low-income communities. Organizers describe the event as one of the most anticipated events of the school year, as it leaves underclassmen feeling inspired and empowers students through recognizing the challenges theyve overcome. 2025 Commencement ceremonies for Rochester colleges and universities Some students have received enough scholarship money that they will only have to pay less than $2,500 or $1,000 a year for their studies. Two students received a prestigious Questbridge Scholarship to attend Wellesley College and the University of Notre Dame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some additional colleges announced included the Rochester Institute of Technology, Colby College, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and Boston College. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Rock Falls man who was accused of murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in February has entered a plea and been sentenced. Whiteside County Court records show that Kyle Cooper, 36, waived formal arraignment on May 22 and entered a guilty plea to a charge of second-degree murder. The court heard victim impact statements and Cooper gave an unsworn statement. Kyle Cooper (Rock Falls Police Department) Cooper was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by one year of mandatory supervised release, with credit for 97 days served. He was ordered to pay Schedule 1 costs, plus a $75 fine and a $250 genetic marker. Counts 1 3 of murder, aggravated battery use of a deadly weapon and aggravated battery great bodily harm were nolle prosequi, which is Latin for not to prosecute, according to court records. It is a legal term in which a prosecutor formally decides to abandon prosecuting a criminal case, ending the case without judgement. It differs from a dismissal in that nolle prosequi means the charge may be reinstated at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper was arrested after Rock Falls Police responded to a stabbing on February 14. Officers found 27-year-old Daniel Gordon of Rock Falls with severe injuries. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his 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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Fears were growing for a beloved rocker named Daniel Williams after a fiery San Diego plane crash, due to eerie Instagram photos he posted inside a cockpit. Williams was formerly a drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada. The band has now posted a tribute to Williams on its Instagram page, writing, " no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever," it reads. Williams and talent agent Dave Shapiro were killed in the plane crash, People reported. However, authorities have yet to identify the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DailyMail.com, fears were escalating for Williams after the plane crashed after it "took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on Wednesday at 11.15 p.m." The aircraft crashed in "a quiet military neighborhood in San Diego" on the morning of May 22, according to DailyMail.com. The plane crashed in San Diego, around 4 a.m., lighting homes on fire, according to NBC San Diego. Two people were dead and eight injured in the crash, but the victims' names were not released, the station reported. "Multiple fatalities confirmed in crash near Sculpin St & Santo Rd. 1 person hospitalized, 2 treated & released. Evacuations + road closures remain," San Diego police wrote on the morning of May 22. According to ABC News, the fatalities were from the plane, not people on the ground. ABC News confirmed the ill-fated plane took off from Teterboro, and said the pilot made a radio communication asking about the weather. The plane and cockpit photos are still visible on Williams' Instagram story on May 22. DailyMail.com described the band he once played for as a "hugely-popular Christian metalcore band." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first photo shows a plane. It says Williams was "flying" back with the pilot and music agent named Dave Shapiro. "Hey, hey, you, look at me. I'm the co-pilot now," says another photo, which shows the cockpit of a plane. "Here we goooo," says a third photo, also showing the cockpit. The photos were posted on the evening of May 21. It looks like Daniel Williams, former drummer for The Devil Wears Prada, was on board the plane that crashed in San Diego this morning. Absolutely heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/Roc5zx78rE Cody Hanlon (@CodyLNG) May 22, 2025 Tributes have flowed for Williams and the other man despite lack of official confirmation about their fates. "Rest in Peace Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, and everyone on that flight. Some of my very first shows were booked through Dave. I had a handful of shows with Daniel, always a pleasure to see him play. Gone way too soon. #RIP," wrote music executive Terrance Coughlin on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS8 reported that the plane was registered to Shapiro. Shapiro's Instagram page describes him as a pilot and music agent. The Associated Press shared a statement from Sound Talent Group, which Shapiro co-founded. "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time," it reads. People have started posting tributes to Williams on his Instagram page, although it's not clear whether they have first-hand knowledge or are just responding to media reports that people are worried about him. Ryan Bruce, a YouTuber and producer, also offered a tribute to Williams on his Instagram page. "Rest easy, Daniel," he wrote, along with a photo. Drummer Daniel Williams of The Devil Wears Prada performs at the House Of Blues in Chicago, Illinois on February 14, 2010. Raymond Boyd/Getty Images "Approx. 100 residents evacuated after aircraft crash near Sculpin St & Santo Rd. At least 2 confirmed dead, 8 injured, ~10 buildings damaged. Evacs & road closures remain. NTSB en route. Call 619-531-2000 if you find debris or jet fuel," San Diego police wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The band parted ways with Williams in 2016, according to Landwire. On May 14, Williams announced on his X page that he had a new career. "Im very excited to share that Ive accepted a software engineering role at Apple. Its been really tough to say goodbye to my friends and colleagues of nearly 8 years at GoPro, but its time for my next chapter. Its time to help build the future," he wrote. Related: Jim Irsay's Cause of Death Unclear, But Health Issues Were Well-Known Rocker Daniel Williams Dead in San Diego Plane Crash: Reports first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) As part of Mental Health Month, numerous local organizations joined the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Northern Illinois in connecting the community with mental wellness resources. The third annual Building Bridges to Hope event featured keynote speaker Jamie Tworkowski. His book, To Write Love on Her Arms is recognized as an award-winning leader in mental health and suicide prevention. If anyone who wanted to make it to this event was unable, here is a list of resources in the Rockford area: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all need a little bit of help sometimes. Executive director of NAMI Northern Illinois, Danielle Angileri, told us. I think mental health, mental illness is a spectrum, so you can have high-functioning anxiety, you can do really well in the world, or you can have an anxiety disorder that is debilitating, you cant leave the house, for example. I think we all operate on a spectrum, and its okay to come find out what resources are available just in case you run across someone you love one day that might need it. Anyone looking for immediate mental health services, visit this 24/7 chat line. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois State Police arrested Stephen Williams, 57, for allegedly disseminating child pornography. Williams was charged with possessing and diseminating child porn in 2024, but was granted pretrial release. On March 20, authorities received a cybertip reporting that Williams was sending inappropriate images and videos of minors. Stephen Williams. Photo: Winnebago County Jail Officers found two files of child porn during a data search, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams is charged with two counts of disseminating child pornography. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ATHENS TWP, Pa. (WETM) A Bradford County man was convicted on Wednesday on nine criminal charges related to a 2021 incident where he sexually abused a minor, according to a release from the Bradford County District Attorneys Office. Dennis Vanderpool, 38, of Rome, PA, was found guilty on Wednesday, May 21, on the following charges: One count of corruption of minors, a felony in the third degree. Eight counts of indecent assault, three were graded as felonies in the third degree, and five were graded as misdemeanors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Corning-Painted Post PTA treasurer indicted on 30 counts in connection to alleged theft Vanderpools conviction stems from a 2021 incident where he sexually molested a young girl at a home in Athens Township, the DAs office said. During his trial, testimony revealed that Vanderpool was a friend of the victims family at the time of the crimes. Vanderpool was entrusted with babysitting the girl while her parent was taking care of another family member in hospice care, the DAs office said. Testimony went deeper into how Vanderpool took advantage of the situation and the trust he had within the victims family to abuse the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vanderpool is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date, and his right to post bail was removed after the guilty verdict. As part of the charges, Vanderpool will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Sen. Ron Wyden is worried that several of Americas largest phone companies are ill-suited to prevent the Trump administration from spying on senators, and the Oregon Democrat is warning his colleagues to take precautions. On Wednesday, Wyden sent a letter to fellow senators in which he claimed that major carriers have failed to set up protocols to give the lawmakers proper notice about surveillance requests. He wrote: Our Senate communications face serious cyber and surveillance risks, directly threatening the Senates independence and the separation of powers. An investigation by my staff revealed that until recently, Senators have been kept in the dark about executive branch surveillance of Senate phones, because the three major phone carriers AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile failed to establish systems to notify offices about surveillance requests, as required by their Senate contracts. Wydens letter says that in response to his concerns, the issue has been addressed with the senators publicly funded phones, but he added that more needs to be done to protect their personal phones from such surveillance. The Democrat also cited a report from the Justice Departments inspector general last year that raised concerns about the DOJs dogged and ultimately successful efforts to obtain phone records of dozens of congressional employees and two lawmakers as part of a rabid leak investigation during Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyden wrote: While now rectified for Senate-funded lines, significant gaps remain, especially for the campaign and personal phones used by most Senators. I urge your support for legislative changes to allow the Sergeant at Arms (SAA) to protect Senators phones and accounts from cyber threats, both foreign and domestic. I also urge you to consider switching your campaign and personal phone lines to other carriers that will provide notice of government surveillance. Executive branch surveillance poses a significant threat to the Senates independence and the foundational principle of separation of powers, the senator warned, adding: If law enforcement officials, whether at the federal, state, or even local level, can secretly obtain Senators location data or call histories, our ability to perform our constitutional duties is severely threatened. Wyden also referred to the Salt Typhoon cyberattack, which was launched out of China and targeted top U.S. officials, as evidence that the surveillance threat isnt limited to the Trump administration. When Politico broke the news of Wydens letter, AT&T and Verizon both defended their approach: We are complying with our obligations to the Senate Sergeant at Arms, said AT&T spokesperson Alex Byers in a statement. We have received no legal demands regarding Senate offices under the current contract, which began last June. Said Verizon spokesperson Richard Young in a statement, We respect the Senators view that providers should give notice to Senators if we receive legal process regarding their use of their personal devices, but disagree with his policy position. In a statement to MSNBC, T-Mobile said: We comply with our contractual obligations and the law, and we provide information to the government only in response to a valid legal demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wydens letter comes amid growing concerns about the Trump administrations weaponization of the Justice Department. The DOJs recent move to weaken rules designed to protect journalists from leak investigations has sparked worries about the administrations ability to target journalists and their sources. And the departments dubious criminal prosecution of Rep. Monica McIver, D-N.J., over an incident rooted in her attempt to oversee an immigrant detention facility, shows that the administration feels free to target members of Congress with law enforcement activity rooted in politics. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Just another reason to go to the zoo new animals to see! The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will now have eight new faces in the near future: Six Red Wolf puppies four females and two males and two Humboldt Penguin chicks. The Red Wolf pups were born in May at the Matthews Auto Group Red Wolf Preserve to mother, Evie, and father, Sage. The Humboldt chicks, named Domingo and Ramon, were hatched in April at the Penguin Coast habitat by father Peru and mother Cuatro. Courtesy of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Baby animals are always exciting, but these new arrivals represent hope for their respective species, said Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. The wild red wolf population is in dire straits, so every birth is crucial to their survival. Likewise, we are very excited about the Humboldt penguin chicks and look forward to introducing them to the public soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are fewer than 20 Red Wolves in the wild. The birth of these pups is a contribution to a dwindling population. As defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Red Wolves are critically endangered, meaning that the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. They are the most critically endangered canine species in the world. According to the zoo, they have hatched over 50 Humboldt penguin chicks A significant contribution to ongoing Humboldt penguin conservation efforts. The species is currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. The British royal family made a major health announcement amid King Charles III's cancer battle with news featuring Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester. On Friday, May 23, the official royal family Instagram account shared photos from a ribbon cutting of a new transplant center at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, U.K. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Birgitte, 78, is married to King Charles' first cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 80. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the update, Buckingham Palace revealed, "Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester has officially opened Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. ." It explained, "The new centre provides all the services that patients would need in their transplant journey, with the Birmingham-based hospital being the most active transplant centre in Europe." Among the major organ transplants carried out at hospital are heart, lung, liver and kidney, "The new centre will enable the hospital to continue to provide life-changing care to their patients," the post concluded. The news of the organ transplant center opening came amid King Charles' cancer journey. In February 2024, the monarch announced his diagnosis with an unspecified form of cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties," the royal family shared in a statement. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual." Since then, King Charles, 76, has continued treatment and resumed royal dutiesbut with plenty of help from other members of the royal family. Next: Prince William & Kate Middleton Announce 'Wonderful' News After Anniversary Trip Royal Family Makes Major Health Announcement Amid King Charles Cancer Battle first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025 National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) A Month Since Pahalgam: Demand accountability from the Govt and action against the terrorists Resist the attempt to plunge us into war: A warning and call to action for the peace-loving people of India and Pakistan 22nd May, 2025: It is exactly a month since the dastardly terror attack at Pahalgam shook the nation, leading to widespread condemnation across India and globally, of the massacre and forces enabling such mindless violence. The cold-blooded gunning down of 25 Indian nationals and 1 Nepali citizen on 22nd of April, by a handful of armed terrorists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir shattered the lives of numerous families. It remains a painful puzzle to this day, as to how the armed assailants were able to enter the area undetected, wilfully select victims and leave undetected after one of the most heinous acts of terror by non-state actors in the region in recent years. Joining all democratic organizations across the country, NAPM resolutely denounced these brutal killings, protested and mourned the loss of lives of innocent civilians. Nothing can lessen the pain and trauma that their families have been subject to. They deserve all our support and solidarity, in their quest for justice. We also condemn the vicious right-wing trolling that some of the women from the aggrieved families faced, since they unambiguously rejected weaponization of their trauma to inflict hate against innocent Muslims and Kashmiris. They deserve our salutes. This exceptionally tragic incident is rife with security lapses for which the Indian people remain without answers, even a month later! Kashmir is the most militarised zone on earth. The Central government has taken full control of security and has clamped down on all forms of dissent in the valley, particularly since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. This has effectively curtailed basic democratic rights in Kashmir in the name of fighting terror and bringing "development" to the valley. The major security lapse in Pahalgam exposes the shortcomings of the securitisation centric approach. Over the past four weeks, pointed questions have been asked of the Union Govt, in this context. How was it possible for 4 heavily armed terrorists to enter the popular tourist destination? Why were no security personnel present at the Baisaran meadow? How is it possible that the terrorists had the amount of time they did to conduct the bloody massacre at Baisaran? How were the terrorists able to leave the area undetected and un-apprehended? How is it that despite their identities being known from the day following the massacre, that Indian forces have failed to apprehend them till today? In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor there have been over 100 recorded incidents of intimidation, assault and hate speech by Hindutva vigilantes Indian citizens of Kashmir as well as those belonging to the Muslim community. We have also witnessed attempts to politicise the role of the military and spread communal poison, not just from licensed media houses but also from the highest ranks of the political establishment. This includes a sitting Cabinet Minister from Madhya Pradesh calling Colonel Sofia Qureshi as being a "sister of terrorists", and the Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradeshs insulting statement of the Indian military "bowing at Modijis feet". NAPM demands a thorough investigation be conducted and its findings be made public at the earliest. The Home Ministers Office is directly accountable for the deaths of these 26 people. The Minister in charge must respect the responsibility of his office or step down from it. We feel it is important to position ourselves clearly against jingoism and war mongering, asking who benefits and who stands to lose from wars. We must critically analyze the foreign policy setbacks in the wake of terror attacks & war, understand the intertwined politics of Pahalgam & Operation Sindoor, challenge hate & misinformation campaigns of mainstream media, resist use of water as tool of war and stop criminalization of sane voices prioritizing political over militarized responses, as a long term way forward. The current statement addresses some of these complex issues in detail. As a pan-Indian alliance of working-class peoples movements, we clearly position ourselves against war and call for peaceful resolution of political conflicts. NAPM demands: 1. Accountability for the security lapses that led to the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam on the 22nd of April. A thorough investigation must be conducted and its findings made public at the earliest. 2. All efforts must be made to increase the scope and ambit of democracy in Kashmir. This includes, but is not limited to, restoring statehood, building trust, and protecting fundamental rights and freedoms of people in the region. 3. That the Indian government release a White Paper on Operation Sindoor, making public the details of the military actions conducted, including losses to ensure level headed assessment and ensure accountability of actions. 4. That both India and Pakistan make all efforts to avoid war or any direct military confrontation, in particular nuclear war. Both states must engage in diplomacy and dialogue to resolve all issues. 5. Indian Govt must end its reliance on repressive methods to quell democratic assertions in Kashmir. Govt of Pakistan must pro-actively act against terrorist outfits operating from its soil. Both countries must work towards demilitarisation of the region and deepening of democracy. 6. That the conduct of Indian news media (particularly TV channels) be investigated by an independent tribunal. If it is found that these platforms ran fake news and conducted misinformation campaigns, then their broadcast licenses must be cancelled and their ownership penalised. 7. The Indus Water Treaty must be reinstated and both states must use it for common civilian good, including but not limited to measures to tackle climate change. It seems evident to us that hindutva regime in power has sought to use military campaigns to achieve its own, domestic political ends. Theyve shown willingness to risk all out war through actions that trade off strategic national interest for the sake of protecting a muscular image primarily to boost their own image as tough leaders. As a result of fundamentalist politics on both sides of the border, we foresee a worrying future being born as a result of such actions wherein South Asia will be beset with frequent military escalation, with an ever looming threat of war. This will result in the politicisation of military action in India to drastically reduce the democratic space in the country. This calls for a robust response from civil society members and all peace loving citizens of both India and Pakistan to mobilise for a strong anti-war movement in both countries. The interests of both the Pakistani security establishment (defacto rulers of Pakistan) and the Hindutva regime in power in India, are inimical to the interests of common people on either side of the border. In light of the political challenge these events throw up, it is necessary for democratic and progressive forces both in India and Pakistan and across South Asia, to organise and strengthen robust anti-war movements. The everyday concerns of ordinary people of both regions must gain ground over war-cries that do not benefit anyone. Let us strive to build narratives in favour of peace, justice and accountability and challenge military aggression, hate and terror. Issued by: National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. Aramco has successfully deployed the worlds first megawatt-scale Iron-Vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery to support solar-powered gas well operations in Waad Al-Shamal, western Saudi Arabia, Trend reports. Developed with Rongke Power, the 1-MWh system is designed to power up to five wells and operate reliably in extreme heat over a 25-year lifespan. The flow battery, based on Aramcos patented technology, offers a safer, more durable alternative to traditional battery systems, with minimal capacity loss and no need for thermal management. It is also modular and cost-effective, making it suitable for remote oil and gas sites. The project supports Aramcos goal of achieving net-zero Scope 2 emissions by 2050 and highlights the companys focus on renewable energy integration and operational efficiency. Royal Mail is facing the threat of a fresh fine after delivering almost one in four first-class letters late. The postal service fell short of its targets for letter deliveries in its latest financial year, triggering an Ofcom investigation that could lead to a sanction. If confirmed, it would be the third consecutive year of financial penalties for Royal Mail over its poor performance. In December, Ofcom slapped the company with a record 10.5m fine for failing to meet delivery targets, while in 2023 it was fined 5.6m for the same reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Royal Mails universal service obligation (USO), it is required to deliver 93pc of first-class mail within one working day of collection and 98.5pc of second-class mail within three working days. However, the company said on Friday it had delivered just 76.5pc of first-class letters and 92.2pc of second-class post within these deadlines in the year to March. The figures marked a small improvement on the previous year. Royal Mail said it was improving reliability through a number of measures including reducing sickness absences, extending delivery times and increasing use of automation. However, bosses have long argued that quality of service is being hampered by onerous requirements under the USO. USO needs urgent reform The postal service, which made a loss of 348m in the year to March 2024, has called for an easing of rules to reflect the sharp decline in letter sending in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ofcom has outlined plans to allow Royal Mail to end second-class letter deliveries on alternate days and Saturdays, as well as watering down the main quality of service targets. While the company is supportive of these plans, it has pushed back against so-called tail of the mail targets. These cover letters that miss the initial USO requirement. Ofcom is pushing Royal Mail to be required to deliver virtually all letters within three days for first class and five days for second class. Bosses have warned these rules would add significant costs and lead to further increases in stamp prices for consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alistair Cochrane, Royal Mails chief operating officer, said: Our quality of service is not yet where we want it to be and we will continue to work hard to deliver the standards our customers expect. We are actively modernising Royal Mail, and while these efforts are beginning to deliver results, we know there is still more to do. We will continue to engage with Ofcom throughout their investigation, providing information about the steps we have been taking to improve. But we cannot address the structural challenges we face alone, urgent reform of the Universal Service is essential to provide a more reliable and sustainable service for the benefit of all our customers. Royal Mails lagging performance will prove a major challenge for Daniel Kretinsky, the Czech tycoon who last month sealed his 3.6bn takeover of the 500-year-old postal service. Mr Kretinsky has committed to maintaining the USO, alongside a number of other legally binding undertakings linked to his takeover. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Right Reverend Hewlett Thompson, who has died aged 95, was Bishop of Exeter from 1985 to 1999, and before that spent 11 years as Suffragan Bishop of Willesden in the diocese of London. Thompson was essentially a pastoral bishop who eschewed controversy and was once accused by a vicars wife of elevating the ostrich position to an art form. This was in marked contrast to the style of his maternal grandfather, Lewis Donaldson, a socialist Canon of Westminster who had led marches of the unemployed in the 1920s and whose friendship with his grandsons godfather Hewlett Johnson, the notorious Red Dean of Canterbury, had influenced the choice of name for the future bishop. In 1987 Thompson secured a Church Times headline for his advocacy of a lunchtime break for the clergy, and when at home he set them a good example by having a short afternoon nap. As one of the earliest and most enthusiastic advocates of collaborative ministry, he complained whenever he was given a special welcome to a parish, on the grounds that he was not a visitor but a partner in a joint spiritual enterprise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was therefore all the more surprised, and hurt, when in 1991 one of his senior priests, the Vicar of Plymouth, published an open letter accusing him of being cocooned and complacent and of lofty disdain for the needs of the parishes. Other Devon clergy were, however, quick to come to the defence of their bishop and to praise his approachability and pastoral concern. It was suggested that the aggrieved vicar was upset by Thompsons suggestion that the time had come for him to move to another parish. Thompson: Devon priests praised him for his approachability - Apex The son of an RAMC Colonel who served in both world wars and won an MC, Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson was born in Hove on August l4 1929. He was educated at Aldenham School and after National Service in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he took Seconds in history and theology. He prepared for Holy Orders at Cuddesdon Theological College and was ordained in 1954 to a curacy at St Matthews Church, Northampton a church famous for its Henry Moore statue of the Virgin and Child and other artistic enterprises. In 1959 Thompson was appointed Vicar of St Augustines Church, Wisbech, and after a strong pastoral ministry there moved to St Saviours Church, Folkestone, a parish of more than 10,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a time of reform and renewal in the Church of England, and Thompson had a particular concern for encouraging and equipping the laity for greater responsibility in their parishes and for stronger witness in their workplaces. It was on the strength of his leadership at Folkestone that the Bishop of London invited Thompson to become Suffragan Bishop of Willesden in 1974. He quickly settled into a caring pastoral ministry in an area of north London that had considerable social problems, and he identified the improvement of race relations as a priority. In 1976 he became vice-chairman of the British Council of Churches Community and Race Relations Unit and was chairman from 1980 to 1984. Thompson was also one of the first bishops to initiate a system of clergy appraisal a voluntary scheme which enabled him to have annual discussions with his parish priests on the essentials of their ministries. This proved to be so successful that it was eventually adopted throughout London diocese and spread to many other dioceses. Thompson (left) in 1997 with the Bishop of Lincoln, Robert Hardy (right), for the introduction to the House of Lords of the Bishop of Leicester, Tom Butler (centre) - Avalon After ll years in north London, Thompson was beginning to wonder where his future work might be, when he was given the opportunity to become Bishop of Exeter. This appointment owed something to the fact that Graham Leonard had succeeded Gerald Ellison as Bishop of London and wished to surround himself with suffragans who shared his own distinctive views, not least outright opposition to the ordination of women to the priesthood. But Exeter was looking for a pastoral bishop and this is what they got, and in 1992 their bishop was among those who voted for women priests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 1991 to 1997 he was chairman of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council where, once again, his pastoral skill and experience, as well as his ecumenical commitment, proved invaluable. On retiring from Exeter he moved to Westmorland, helping out there by officiating at St Theobalds at Great Musgrave in the Vale of Eden, where his wifes family came from, as well as at other local churches. He set up a trust to buy the field next to St Theobalds to ensure that it was preserved, and in 2013 the tithe barn was restored for use as a community amenity. Among his interests outside the Church Thompson enjoyed fell walking, and latterly he made a written study of his colourful family history, which included suffragette aunts. He read Gladstones Diaries and Galsworthys Forsyte Saga in cycles. Hewlett Thompson married, in 1954, (Elisabeth) Joy Fausitt, who survives him with their two sons and two daughters. The Rt Rev Hewlett Thompson, born August 14 1929, died May 13 2025 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. MONTVALE, Va. (WFXR) For over 20 years, Montvale Elementary School has been celebrating Run for the Wall motorcycle riders whose route passes by the school while raising awareness and promoting healing for veterans and their families. Run for the Wall began in 1989 with a passion to call for accounting of all Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support military personnel all over the world. What was once a single ride from California to Washington D.C., ending at the Vietnam War Memorial, has grown into a four route mission that not only raises awareness, but money to assist with their mission. During a ride, many years ago, children of Montvale Elementary were on the playground and waved as the bikers drove by on Highway 460. The next year, the bikers stopped to speak to the kids. Now, every year, as the bikers make their way through Virginia, the children, staff, and families of Montvale Elementary look forward to the tradition of graciously hosting these men and women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They take pride in making sure they have a refreshing stop from their long ride, are served lunch, and treated to performances from all grade levels showing their appreciation for the service and sacrifice of all military personnel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian military court on Friday jailed a Russian-Italian man for 29 years after finding him guilty of various terrorism-related charges and of blowing up a freight train at Ukraine's behest, Russia's RIA state news agency reported. It said a military court in the western Russian city of Ryazan had ordered that Ruslan Sidiki serve nine years of his sentence in a prison and the rest in a maximum security prison camp. RIA cited Sidiki's lawyer as saying his client had partially admitted his guilt. Russian-language news outlets have in the past reported that Sidiki admitted his actions, but denied intent to harm anyone or acting on anyone else's orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He viewed his actions as sabotage rather than terrorism and himself as a prisoner of war, those reports said. State prosecutors had accused Sidiki of using a home-made bomb to blow up a freight train in November 2023, causing 19 wagons to derail, and of a drone attack on an airbase earlier the same year. Russia's FSB security service said in a statement at the time that Sidiki had been recruited by Ukrainian military intelligence while in Istanbul in 2023 and had then received sabotage training in Latvia before returning to Russia. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. (Reporting by Andrew OsbornEditing by Andrew Heavens) Russian forces have executed two Ukrainian prisoners of war during an assault near the village of Udachne, 12 kilometers (7 miles) west of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office reported on May 23. According to the prosecutors, the incident occurred on May 22 during an attack on Ukrainian positions in one of the most active combat zones of the front line. Russian troops reportedly took two of four Ukrainian soldiers prisoner during the assault and later shot them dead with automatic weapons in a nearby forest. The fate of the other two soldiers remains unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The deliberate killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is qualified as a serious international crime," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement. Ukraine's military and law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation to identify those responsible. The execution of prisoners of war (POWs) follows a documented pattern of war crimes committed by Russian forces. As of mid-December 2024, Ukrainian authorities recorded the execution of 177 Ukrainian soldiers after capture. Visual evidence and forensic records have backed repeated claims by Kyiv that Moscow systematically violates international humanitarian law by targeting unarmed soldiers and civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Geneva Conventions classify summary executions of detainees as grave breaches of international humanitarian law. Read also: BREAKING: Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap since start of Russias war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces continue to exert pressure along all major fronts in Ukraine, but Ukrainian units are successfully holding their positions, Estonian Defence Forces' Intelligence Centre reports. Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda Details: Pressure remains high in Donetsk Oblast, particularly around the town of Kostiantynivka. Russian offensive operations are also ongoing from the direction of the settlements of Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past week, Russian forces have advanced in the area between the settlements of Pokrovsk and Toretsk. While the territorial gains are small, Russian troops have managed to seize a key section of the highway between Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar. However, the occupation of Kostiantynivka is considered unlikely in the near future. Russian forces continue to carry out high-intensity attacks near Pokrovsk and towards Novopavlivka, which account for half of all strikes. Nevertheless, these efforts have not led to significant results. Estonian military officials noted that Ukrainian forces are successfully holding the line. Overall, Estonian defence forces assess that the frontline situation has remained stable for several months, essentially since the beginning of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian forces are trying to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in order to strengthen their position ahead of possible negotiations. However, Russia has shown no clear signs of seeking a ceasefire and is likely to maintain the current level of hostilities. Background: Recently, UK intelligence reported that Russian forces had achieved tactical gains in Donetsk Oblast over the past month, particularly near Kostiantynivka. Earlier, UK Defence Intelligence suggested that Russia may suffer its record losses of the war against Ukraine in 2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian forces launched a ballistic missile and 175 Shahed-type attack drones against Ukraine on the night of 22-23 May, 150 of which did not reach their targets. Source: Ukraines Air Force Quote: "On the night of 22-23 May (starting at 22:30 on 22 May), the enemy launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile from Russias Rostov Oblast, along with 175 Shahed attack UAVs and decoy drones of various types from the Russian cities of Millerovo, Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 13:00, Ukrainian air defence downed 150 Russian drones across the east, west, north, south and centre of the country. Of these, 91 were shot down, while 59 disappeared from radar/were suppressed by electronic warfare systems without causing adverse effects." Details: The Air Force noted that the attack caused damage in Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts. Background: As a result of the drone assault, residential buildings and vehicles were damaged in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, and a fire broke out at a railway station in Chernivtsi Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that Moscow will not participate in negotiations with Ukraine at the Vatican. Source: Lavrov in a comment at the conference Historical South Russian Lands. National Identity and Self-Determination of Peoples in Moscow on Friday 23 May, as reported by RBC Details: Lavrov said Russia has "no plans" for when or where the next meeting between Ukrainian and Russian representatives will occur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Efforts should not be wasted on unrealistic options. Imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations its a bit vulgar," he explained. He further linked the issue to religion, noting that a meeting of representatives from "two Orthodox countries" on a "Catholic platform" would be "somewhat uncomfortable" for the Vatican itself. Background: Pope Leo XIV proposed the Vatican as a venue for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, an idea supported by Kyiv, European states and the United States. However, Bloomberg reports citing Russian sources, the Kremlin is not planning a trip by Vladimir Putin to the Vatican or elsewhere for talks. Instead, Moscow is focused on technical-level negotiations that began last week in Turkiyes Istanbul, which, like the Vatican, is not an Orthodox-majority country. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Kremlin said it fought off 485 enemy drone attacks in the last three days in 14 regions. The massive raid is likely one of Ukraine's largest ever waves of drone attacks on Russian soil. Some reports indicate that several aircraft-type drones found their mark. The Kremlin said on Thursday that it encountered at least 485 enemy drones across the country over the last three days, including 63 attempted attacks in the Moscow region. In a statement on its Telegram channel, the defense ministry said the attacks were part of a "massive raid" by Ukraine across 13 Russian oblasts and the occupied region of Crimea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Air defense systems shot down 485 aircraft-type uncrewed aerial vehicles," the statement said. Business Insider could not independently verify these figures, and as of press time, Kyiv has yet to issue an official statement on the attacks. But if accurate, the numbers indicate one of Ukraine's largest coordinated drone attacks on Russian soil since the war began. "This is a new record for Ukraine," wrote Ukrainian analyst Petro Andryushchenko on his Telegram channel. "The longest-running attack by Ukrainian UAVs, which began around 11 p.m. on May 19 and lasted until 4 a.m. on May 22." The exact extent of the damage caused is unclear. How Ukraine is hitting Russia from long range Russia's description of the drones as "aircraft-type" also indicates that these aren't the typical first-person-view uncrewed aerial systems used as attack drones in the war. Such drones are likely too short-ranged to reach regions such as Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather, Ukraine has been using small fixed-wing aircraft that resemble the Cessna propeller plane and, while laden with explosives, are meant to fly directly into targets hundreds of miles away. Moscow's traditional air defense systems have reportedly struggled to reliably take down these long-range drones, which fly at a maximum speed of 130 mph, much slower than a typical cruise missile. Several reports this week suggested that some of the drones struck their targets. Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of Kursk, wrote on Telegram on Thursday that a Russian official was sent to the hospital with a hip and arm injury after being hit by a drone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the popular independent Russian news Telegram channel Baza reported that a plant in the city of Yelets was evacuated due to a fire from a drone attack, with eight people injured. BI could not independently verify this information. Ukrainian media also cited a map alert by NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System, which indicated that a significant fire had broken out near an oil refinery in the Ryazan oblast. The alert, seen by BI, indicated that the fire lasted between 12 to 24 hours on Thursday. Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian government's Center for Countering Disinformation, wrote on Wednesday that "unknown drones" had struck a plant in Oryol oblast that manufactured electronic parts for Russia's main battle tanks, fighter jets, and ballistic missiles. Drone waves coincide with key events Air transport hubs across the country, including the capital's four airports, were temporarily closed at times throughout the week. Similar incidents occurred in the days leading up to Russia's May 9 Victory Day parade, when Russian tourist organizations said nearly 60,000 travelers had their plans disrupted due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That week, the Kremlin said it had fought off an even larger drone attack of 524 uncrewed aerial vehicles, as it prepared to host two dozen world leaders for the parade to celebrate its military. The latest series of attempted strikes came just after Russian leader Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump ended their third phone call on Monday to discuss a cease-fire. The call had ended without a conclusive next step toward peace. Meanwhile, Kyiv said that Russia launched hundreds of drone attacks this week at Ukrainian cities, including a reported 273 drones on the day before the Trump-Putin call. Moscow typically deploys a different type of drone, the Iranian-designed Shahed, to attack urban centers in tandem with cruise or ballistic missiles. Read the original article on Business Insider Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russian authorities have been forced to shut down airports in Moscow amid a barrage of Ukrainian drone strikes overnight, Russian officials and state media reported on May 23. Operations have been suspended at Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Russian air defense allegedly shot down six drones that were "flying toward Moscow." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 2:41 a.m. local time, Sobyanin reported that three more drones were allegedly shot down. Emergency services are working at the impact site. There are no reported casualties. For three consecutive nights, Ukraine has launched massive waves of drones deep into Russian territory. Between the evening of May 20 and the morning of May 22, Russia claims to have shot down 485 drones on its territory. The latest strikes come amid a concerted Ukrainian drone campaign to disrupt air travel in Russia. Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones, forcing at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kazakhstan, CNPC pledge to deepen co-op under One Belt, One Road initiative Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kazakhstans First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar met with CNPC President Hou Qijun to discuss the status and future of bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas industry. The talks focused on joint projects in Kazakhstan, including refinery upgrades, shared resource development, social stability at enterprises, and petrochemical collaboration. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia fired two ballistic missiles at Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa on May 23, killing two people and injuring seven others, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said. Four of the wounded are in serious condition, he added. The strike hit civilian infrastructure inside the port, damaging the engine room, shattering windows of nearby buildings, and destroying multiple pieces of equipment, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, minister for the development of communities, territories and infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was a normal working day in a normal Ukrainian port," Kuleba wrote on Facebook. "There was not a single military facility, only civilian infrastructure. Russia has once again attacked a peaceful, strategically important facility that is vital for the world's food security." The attack comes amid ongoing Russian strikes across Ukraine, despite Kyiv's acceptance in March of a U.S.-proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire a proposal Moscow has refused. Odesa, a key Black Sea port near the borders of Moldova and Romania, is critical for global trade and the export of Ukrainian grain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian ports have come under repeated fire, with Moscow targeting infrastructure essential to Ukraine's maritime operations. According to Kuleba, nearly 400 pieces of port infrastructure and more than 30 ships have been damaged or destroyed by Russian attacks since February 2022. A total of 106 civilians have been injured in strikes against port facilities, he said. Read also: Editorial: Russia just said it doesnt want peace in Ukraine. This is what you need to do Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia and Ukraine have begun a large exchange of prisoners of war on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said, with around 1,000 soldiers from each side expected to be swapped at the Ukraine-Belarus border when completed. There have been 270 Russian soldiers and 120 Russian civilians swapped for 270 Ukrainian soldiers and 120 Ukrainian civilians on Friday, according to the defense ministry. The exchange is expected to continue "in the coming days," Russia said. "We are bringing our people home," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "The first stage of the '1000-for-1000' exchange agreement has been carried out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump said only he could get Putin to make a Ukraine peace deal. It hasn't happened. "Thank you to everyone who is helping and working 24/7 to bring Ukrainian men and women back home," he continued. "It is very important to return everyone who remains in captivity. We are verifying every surname, every detail about each person. We will continue our diplomatic efforts to make such steps possible." The Russian soldiers and civilians were in Belarus, "where they are being provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance," the Russian Defense Ministry said. PHOTO: Ukrainian prisoners of war are seen after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released May 23, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters) The exchange was prepared following bilateral peace talks in Istanbul last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the meeting -- the first direct talks between the combatants since the spring of 2022 -- failed to result in a ceasefire, the two sides did agree to Friday's prisoner swap. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday that once the swap is complete, Russia will hand over a draft "outlining the conditions for achieving a sustainable, long-term, comprehensive settlement agreement," according to Russian state media. MORE: Russia-Ukraine talks: Prisoner exchange agreed upon, Ukraine requests Putin-Zelenskyy meeting Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Friday that Ukraine is committed to a ceasefire and called the exchange the "first stage." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We achieved 1,000 for 1,000. After this, if it will be successful, as I said first is exchanges, second is the ceasefire," he said. Such exchanges have taken place throughout Russia's 3-year-old invasion, though the swap -- once completed -- will be by far the largest to date. Prisoner exchanges are one of the few areas in which Moscow and Kyiv have been able to reach an accord during the conflict. PHOTO: Ukrainian prisoners of war are seen after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at an unknown location in Ukraine, in this handout picture released May 23, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters) President Donald Trump also held a high-stakes phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, saying afterward that Russia and Ukraine will "immediately" start negotiations toward a ceasefire. Trump said he also spoke with Zelenskyy after the call with Putin. Fierce fighting and long-range drone exchanges continued regardless -- and despite continued U.S.-led efforts to produce a ceasefire agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia carried out a "large-scale aerial attack" on Ukraine overnight Friday using 175 drones and one ballistic missile, the Ukrainian air force said. Ukrainian air defenses neutralized 150 of those Russian drones, but damage was reported in the Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, according to the Ukrainian air force. PHOTO: People pay their respect at the memorial to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers on Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 19, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Ukraine's air force on Wednesday reported 76 Russian drones launched into the country overnight, of which 63 were shot down or lost in flight without causing damage. The air force reported damage in four Ukrainian regions. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces downed at least 162 Ukrainian drones overnight. ABC News' Natalia Popova and Tanya Stukalova contributed to this report. Russia, Ukraine begin large prisoner exchange, expected to continue in coming days originally appeared on abcnews.go.com MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia will be ready to hand Ukraine a draft document outlining conditions for a long-term peace accord once a prisoner exchange now under way is completed, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. Lavrov, in statements on his ministry's website, said Russia was committed to working out a peaceful settlement in the more than three-year-old war pitting Moscow against Kyiv. He also accused Ukraine of launching waves of drone attacks over several days on Russian targets that caused casualties and disrupted air traffic. He suggested European countries had encouraged Kyiv to launch the attacks to undermine peace efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Ukraine each released 390 prisoners on Friday and said they would free more in the coming days, an initiative agreed in talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey last week. "We remain committed to a peace settlement. We are always open to talks...and let me stress that we are committed to the agreements that were achieved recently in Istanbul," Lavrov said. "We are working actively on the second part of the agreements which call for preparation by each side of a draft document setting out the conditions for achieving a reliable, long-term agreement on a settlement." "As soon as the exchange of prisoners of war is completed we will be ready to hand to the Ukrainian side a draft of such a document which the Russian side is now completing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavrov said the surge of Ukrainian drone attacks -- some 800 sent against Russian targets over the last three days -- was "a direct consequence" of support for Ukraine by European Union countries whose leaders visited Kyiv in recent days. "We are certain that they will be held accountable for their share of responsibility for these crimes," Lavrov said, referring to the European countries. "This is clearly an attempt to disrupt peace talks and undermine progress made in Istanbul following the agreements between the presidents of Russia and the United States...We will continue this work no matter what provocations there may be." Lavrov's ministry earlier vowed to respond to the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Kyiv was waiting for Russia's proposals on the form of talks, a ceasefire and a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Sybiha, quoted by Ukrainian media, said Kyiv would be in favour of expanding such a meeting to include U.S. President Donald Trump."We believe that this meeting could take place in an expanded format," Sybiha was quoted as saying. "We would like very much for President Trump to be included." UPSURGE IN DRONE STRIKES Ukraine has offered little comment on the drone strikes, though it acknowledged hitting a battery plant on Friday in Russia's central Lipetsk region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has also accused Russia of staging periodic mass drone attacks. One such attack on Sunday, described as the largest in the three-year-old war, destroyed homes and killed one woman. Authorities in Ukraine's southern city of Odesa accused Russia of striking port infrastructure with missiles on Friday, killing two people. Prosecutors in eastern Donetsk region, the focal point of the war's frontline, said three people were killed in shelling incidents in different parts of the region. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Andrew Osborn, Ron Popeski and Cynthia Osterman) Editor's note: The story was updated with additional information reported by Ukraine's Air Force. Russian attacks against Ukraine killed seven people and injured 20 others over the past day, regional authorities said on May 23. Ukrainian forces downed 91 out of the 175 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, and an Iskander-M ballistic missiles launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifty-nine drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense. A Russian mass drone strike in Poltava Oblast destroyed the building of a business enterprise near Kremenchuk, injuring one person, Governor Volodymyr Kohut said. The attack also damaged power lines, leaving around 2,000 customers without power. Two people were injured as a result of the Russian drone attack in Odesa Oblast, Governor Oleh Kiper reported. Three people were killed in Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk and Raihorodok in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Four more people were injured in the region over the past day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Russian guided bomb attack on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast injured two 60-year-old employees of a local utility company, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. One of the men later died in hospital from injuries. Another 66-year-old man suffered injuries in the village of Pechenihy, Syniehubov said. Two men and a woman were injured near Vasylivka and Polohy in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. Russian shelling of an agricultural enterprise near Huliaipole also injured a woman and a man, aged 52 and 63, on the morning of May 23. In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 43 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. Three people were killed, and six others were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Editorial: Russia just said it doesnt want peace. This is what you need to do Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Russian drone attack on 23 May has caused damage to residential buildings and vehicles in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, while a fire broke out at a railway station in Chernivtsi Oblast. Source: Svitlana Onyshchuk, Head of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration; Ruslan Zaparnyuk, Head of Chernivtsi Oblast Military Administration Quote from Onyshchuk: "Enemy drones attacked Prykarpattia again this morning. Air defence forces were deployed. As of now, damage to buildings and vehicles has been reported in the Kolomyia district." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zaparnyuk reported that Russian UAVs had also attacked Bukovyna at dawn. "Several enemy targets were destroyed thanks to the coordinated efforts of our air defence forces. However, falling debris caused a fire at a railway station in one of the districts of Chernivtsi Oblast," he wrote. He added that the fire had been quickly extinguished and no casualties had been reported. Background: Explosions were heard in Chernivtsi Oblast at dawn on 23 May. Later, Ukrainian railways reported that Russian forces had damaged railway infrastructure in the oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian troops have bombarded the Huliaipole district of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, hitting an agricultural company. Two people sustained injuries. Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration Quote: "Two people were wounded and the premises of an agricultural company were destroyed, as the enemy attacked the Huliaipole district. As a result of artillery shelling, buildings on the premises of a dairy farm were destroyed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: In particular, a 63-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were wounded. Currently, their lives are not in danger, and they have refused hospitalisation. Background: Earlier, it was reported that Russian troops had attacked a railway in Chernivtsi Oblast. Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) reported that the railway infrastructure was damaged as a result of the attack, but there were no casualties among employees and passengers. In April, the Russians destroyed part of the warehouses of the household goods manufacturer Biosphere Corporation in Dnipro. Part of Biosphere Corporation's production and warehouses were moved to other regions of Ukraine. However, the Russian strike reportedly dealt a painful blow to the company. Earlier, it was reported that the Silver Breeze business centre was damaged as a result of the Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of 6-7 May. Two people were killed and eight injured, including four children, as a result of the attack. It was also reported that a missile attack destroyed the agricultural company SFG Tychenko in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district of Odesa Oblast. Reports said that the farm's technical fleet, including tractors, seeders, and harvesting equipment, was completely destroyed by the attack. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the Russian side is at an "advanced stage" in its work on a memorandum to end hostilities in Ukraine. Source: Russian Interfax news agency, quoting Lavrov; RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Quote from Lavrov: "It is in progress [work on the memorandum - ed.]. I don't know about the other side, but our work is already at an advanced stage, and in any case, we will hand over this memorandum to the Ukrainians, as we agreed, and we will expect them to do [the same - Interfax]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Lavrov also said that there is no timeframe for the second round of Russo-Ukrainian talks. Regarding the Vatican as a meeting place for the two delegations, Lavrov said it would be "not elegant". "When the Orthodox are on the Catholic platform, they will discuss issues related to the elimination of the root causes," Lavrov said. Also, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said that the venue for the next round of talks between Russia and Ukraine is not yet known. Background: On 19 May, US President Donald Trump had a call with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, after which he announced that Ukraine and Russia will immediately start ceasefire talks. Putin claimed that Russia is ready to work on a memorandum with Ukraine which would include a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time. The Russian ruler also said that contact has been "resumed" between the negotiating groups that met in Istanbul. On 19 May, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would be waiting for the Russian version of the memorandum. "If Russia proposes a memorandum, we will be able to formulate our vision," Zelenskyy said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Two Russian military aircraft are suspected of violating Finland's airspace, the country's defense ministry reported on May 23. "We take the suspected territorial violation seriously and an investigation is underway," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said in a statement. The Finnish border guard is investigating and will share more information as the probe continues, according to the Finnish Defense Ministry. Russia regularly stages provocations on NATO's eastern flank, which includes Poland, Finland, and the Baltic countries. On May 22, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian aircraft frequently fly from its exclave, Kaliningrad. The jets often disable their transponders, fail to file flight plans, and do not establish contact with regional air traffic controla pattern NATO officials describe as high-risk behavior. Finland expects an increased Russian military buildup on its border once the war against Ukraine is over, Major General Sami Nurmi, the head of strategy of the Finnish defense forces, said. The Russian military has begun "moderate preparations when it comes to building infrastructure" close to the Finnish border, Nurmi added. "We have excellent capabilities to observe Russian operations. As a member of the alliance, Finland holds a strong security position," Hakkanen said in a separate statement on May 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finland joined NATO in 2023 following the onset of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022 and shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia. NATO officials have increasingly warned that Russia could attack the alliance's eastern flank in the coming years amid Russia's war against Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine must look beyond the EU for its agricultural future Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces have attacked Odesas port infrastructure with two ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring eight, four of whom are in a serious condition. Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "The enemy struck Odesas port infrastructure with two ballistic missiles. One person was killed, and eight were injured." Details: Kiper reported that a port employee was killed in the Russian strike on 23 May. Four of the people injured in the attack are in a serious condition, two in a moderate condition and two sustained minor injuries. Update: Later, Kiper reported that a 71-year-old resident of Odesa died in hospital from the injuries he had sustained. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Credit: X/@FedorovMykhailo Russian soldiers are struggling to hide from Ukrainian drones, despite being given coats and blankets designed to hide them from thermal and night vision sensors. The garments are intended to mask body heat, making soldiers harder to detect with night-vision and infrared optics. However they are constructed with faulty technology, and troops are often given inadequate training in how to use them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than concealing body heat, the coats create cold spots against a warmer natural environment, making bold black targets for Ukraine to strike. This is no invisibility cloak, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army colonel and chemical weapons expert, told The Telegraph. In fact, because of the contrast, it makes them more acquirable than less. Ukrainian drones, often operated by special forces or intelligence units, combine thermal imaging with real-time targeting capabilities. This technology allows Ukraine to conduct precise strikes even at night, taking out hidden or camouflaged Russian positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian soldiers are now being sent towards the enemy believing the equipment will keep them safe from attacks. But video footage and photographs taken in Lyman earlier this week show soldiers standing out more than ever as Ukrainian drones hover low behind them. A comparison of the Ukrainian and Russian suits from a drones perspective The soldiers moved towards positions held by the Ukrainian armys 63rd Mechanised Brigade with coats draped over their shoulders before a barrage of first-person view (FPV) drones descended on them.The funny occupiers in the Lyman region put on anti-drone raincoats and thought that now they are safe, the brigade said after the attack. A different Russia n assault group used higher-quality thermal blankets but lacked proper training on how to use them effectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They could be seen with their legs, arms, or heads peeking out from the covers, suddenly highlighting where they were standing. Nick Reynolds, research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said that there have been instances of incompetence by Russian personnel who clearly do not understand how to use their equipment. Mr de Bretton-Gordon added: It does highlight how difficult it is to hide on todays battlefield... They need to cover their whole bodies. Details found online showed Russian versions of the suits on sale for just $47. Improvements in Ukrainian technology are also making it even harder for Russians to hide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thermal cameras on drones are both improving and becoming cheaper as manufacturing processes improve, Mr Reynolds said. Ukrainian soldiers have previously used thermal camouflage suits, reportedly to much better effect than their Russian adversaries. The suits, which weigh 2.5 kilograms, are made by a variety of multilayer materials, in particular polymers, microfibres, and fabrics interspersed with metal particles. Our goal is to disguise the military and equipment from the enemy as reliably as possible, Vitalii Polovenko, the deputy defence minister, said last year. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan unveil key advances in customs procedures and infrastructure The Chairman of the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan, Akmalkhudja Mavlonov, and the Chairman of Kazakhstans State Revenue Committee, Zhandos Duysembiev, met to discuss key aspects of customs cooperation between the two countries. Focused on improving cross-border logistics and infrastructure, the talks addressed new border checkpoints, streamlined processes for agricultural goods, and the introduction of digital systems to enhance trade efficiency. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register On the morning of 22 May 2025, during an assault on the positions of Ukraines defence forces near the village of Udachne, Pokrovsk district, the Russians took two Ukrainian servicemen prisoner and later executed them. Source: Office of the Prosecutor General Details: First reports suggest that at the time of the attack, four Ukrainian defenders were on the position. Two of them were captured by the Russians during the attack and killed with automatic weapons in a forested area, unarmed. The fate of the other two soldiers remains unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The intentional killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime. Currently, urgent investigative (search) actions are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the incident and the persons involved in the commission of this crime." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Russians attacked a resident of Kherson with a UAV at noon on Friday 23 May. The man died from his injuries. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Association, on Telegram Quote: "At noon, the occupation forces killed a man in the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson." Details: Prokudin said that the 61-year-old resident of Kherson received fatal injuries. Background: Kherson Oblast Military Association reported that over the past day, 42 settlements of Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson came under Russian drone attacks, artillery shelling and airstrikes. Russian troops hit critical and social infrastructure, residential areas in the oblasts settlements, including a multi-storey building and 17 houses. The Russians also damaged a gas pipeline, a warehouse, a garage and private cars. As a result of these Russian attacks, three people were killed and six others were injured. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Nika Khutsieva and Lev Sergeev MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russians paid their last respects to dance legend Yuri Grigorovich on Friday at the Bolshoi Theatre where he reigned for decades as artistic director of one of the world's most famous ballet companies. Grigorovich, considered one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, died on Monday at the age of 98. Leading figures from the Russian arts world gathered inside the gilded auditorium of the Bolshoi to pay tribute to him. Grigorovich's coffin was placed in front of the stage, where a giant photograph of the puckish, white-haired ballet master was displayed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of Muscovites, many carrying flowers, were waiting outside the theatre in central Moscow. They applauded as his casket was carried down the steps, accompanied by a portrait of Grigorovich and three huge floral wreaths. "I really loved him. He was a genius... so I could not miss this farewell," said pensioner Alexandra Tretyakova. Grigorovich was famed for productions of Spartacus, Ivan the Terrible, Romeo and Juliet and many other ballets that were staged in Russia and around the world. He was especially noted for male roles requiring extraordinary strength and technique. Ballerina Lyubov Filippova told Reuters that the late choreographer was a "colossus" and an idol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This person will always remain with us, in our hearts, in our lives. And we should continue to learn from his ballets," she said. (Reporting by Nika Khutsieva and Lev Sergeev; writing by Mark Trevelyan and Conor Humphries) One civilian has been killed and another injured as a result of a Russian airstrike with a guided aerial bomb on the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Telegram Quote: "Russian forces attacked Kupiansk at around 09:20. Early reports indicate a strike with a guided aerial bomb." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Syniehubov said two people had been injured. "They are two 60-year-old men, employees of a local utility company. They have been taken to hospital in a serious condition," he added. Update: Later, Syniehubov reported that one of the wounded utility workers had died. "Doctors did everything they could to save his life, but the man passed away. Doctors are currently fighting to save the life of the second man," Syniehubov stated. Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office reported that the Russian airstrike had damaged the garages belonging to a utility company, apartment buildings and cars. The aftermath of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office "Early reports indicate that Russian troops used a FAB-500 bomb with a UMPK unified gliding and correction module," the prosecutors office noted. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov does not see the Vatican as a suitable venue for new negotiations to end Moscow's war against Ukraine. Lavrov said the Vatican option was not realistic for Moscow. "Imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations. It is somewhat inelegant when Orthodox countries discuss issues on a Catholic platform that concern the elimination of the causes of the conflict," said Lavrov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US President Donald Trump had suggested the Vatican as a venue for negotiations on Monday after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has so far received little public comment in Moscow. Lavrov said there is now much "speculation" about when and where a new meeting of representatives from Russia and Ukraine could be organized. Lavrov accused Kiev of wanting to destroy the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "I think it would not be very pleasant for the Vatican itself to receive delegations from two Orthodox countries under these circumstances," he said. Kremlin: No venue or date yet for Ukraine negotiations Last week, there were direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev for the first time since 2022. During the 90 minute talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul, a new round of negotiations was agreed upon, but without a time frame and without agreement on a venue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that neither a venue nor a date has been set for the next talks. According to Russian sources, work is under way in Moscow on the memorandum proposed by Putin for a possible resolution of the conflict. The declaration of intent, which is also supposed to name the causes of the conflict, is at an advanced stage and will then be handed over to Ukraine, said Lavrov. Putin has stated that the memorandum could serve as a basis for a possible future peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev. Lavrov said that for Russia, an important question is who would sign on the Ukrainian side. From Moscow's perspective, elections in Ukraine would be the "optimal option" for legitimizing such an agreement. However, under current law, elections cannot be held in Ukraine under wartime conditions. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to boost Russian arms exports to other countries. "It is necessary to actively increase the volume of export deliveries," he said in a speech broadcast on state television on Friday. The order backlog for Russian military products is high, amounting to tens of billions of euros, said Putin at a meeting of a commission for military-technical cooperation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president noted that supplying the units in the war in Ukraine remains the top priority and said there should be new government incentives for this. At the same time, Putin stressed that Russia must maintain its position in the international arms market and survive tough competition. Last year, Moscow largely fulfilled its export obligations to foreign partners. Russia has been at war with Ukraine for more than three years. Observers assume that it has suffered heavy losses of soldiers and military equipment. Nevertheless, Russia remains one of the world's largest arms exporters. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) The armorer on the set of Rust, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, has been released from prison. In April 2024, Hannah Gutierrez was sentenced to 18 months for the involuntary manslaughter of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Amazon driver accused of assaulting Postal Service manager in Jemez Springs Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust in October 2021. A jury determined that Gutierrez recklessly handled ammunition on set, leading to the accidental death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico Department of Corrections confirmed Gutierrez was released on Friday and is serving her probation in Arizona. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Low-budget travel has soared over the past decade, and it is hard to think of a cheaper option than Ryanair, which has been known to offer flights for as little as 7.99. However, recent viral posts have claimed that the Irish airline will soon offer an even cheaper option of "standing seats." These seats would resemble bicycle saddles mounted vertically, allowing passengers to lean rather than sit fully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passengers would essentially be in a semi-upright position, supported by a padded, narrow seat, which includes a backrest to stabilise the passenger's posture. Additional safety features typically shown in mock-ups of these designs include harness-style seat belts or straps intended to secure passengers during take-off, landing, and turbulence, along with vertical poles connecting each row to the aircraft ceiling for added stability. It is a very compact arrangement that allows airlines to accommodate more passengers per cabin on short-haul flights. A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX takes off from Lisbon airport, 25 January, 2023 - AP Photo Several travel-focused outlets and social media posts alleged that Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors was going to provide these seats to Ryanair, which would in turn start offering them as a flight option as soon as 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the company has confirmed to Euronews that it has "no plans to do so." Meanwhile, Aviointeriors' official communications confirmed that the Skyrider, a standing seat mock-up often featured in these claims, "is in fact a conceptual prototype dating back to 2012" and "is not part of the official line-up" of their products. Still, the origin of these viral claims actually traces back to past statements by Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, who is known for suggesting unconventional cost-cutting ideas. As far back as 2010, O'Leary discussed the theoretical concept of "standing seats" to maximise aeroplane space and offer extremely low fares. He also proposed the idea of pay-per-use onboard toilets in 2009, as well as a "fat tax" that would impose extra charges on overweight passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, these ideas were discussed as jokes or attention-grabbing tactics, and no plans were ever formally drafted. Could standing seats work? Although no airline has yet confirmed the use of these standing seats, the concept could, in principle, be feasible on very short-haul flights. The standing seats designed by Aviointeriors have already undergone preliminary safety tests and have shown that they could withstand the emergency landing conditions and rapid evacuation requirements mandated by aviation regulators. These tests suggest that, from a purely safety standpoint, it might be possible to meet the rigorous standards set by agencies like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary issue airlines and manufacturers face is actually passenger comfort. Even on brief flights, the semi-standing posture passengers would adopt on these saddle-style seats raises concerns about discomfort, fatigue, and circulation problems. Likewise, airlines already face criticism over shrinking legroom and cramped conditions. Introducing standing seats would generate significant backlash: while surveys indicate a small niche of ultra-budget travellers might embrace standing seats if fares were extremely low, widespread public adoption would likely be challenging, and limit the airline's commercial viability. LGBTQ+ advocate Cora Webb was among those who testified at City Hall in Columbia, S.C., Tuesday, May 20, 2025, urging the city to maintain its ban on conversion therapy for minors. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) Theres an old horror story: the call is coming from inside the house. In Columbia, that chilling metaphor might not be far from reality and this time, its not a fictional villain on the line, but the possibility that someone elected to protect the city may have quietly worked to harm it from within. Tuesday night Columbians of all stripes came out to tell the city: Dont repeal the ban on licensed healthcare providers giving minors so-called conversion therapy, a discredited practice that seeks to force a change in sexual orientation or gender identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents who had been victims of the barbarous practice shared heart-rending stories. Mental health professionals, religious and secular residents, gay and straight alike spoke all in defense of keeping this important ban in place. City Council punted on the decision, giving residents and advocates a small reprieve. After the council meeting, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann told reporters that city leaders had sequestered hospitality and accommodations tax funding bracing for the possibility that the state Legislature would withhold support. That support, estimated at $3.7 million, now hangs in the balance because an ambitious, socially conservative senator from the Upstate disapproved of Columbias policy to protect LGBTQ+ kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acting in the wake of Attorney General Alan Wilsons letter, that senator inserted language into the Senates version of the budget making Columbias public funding a hostage to ideological retaliation. And then a curious thing happened on Wednesday. After the conference committee completed its work of cobbling together the state budget, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bruce Bannister speaking about the inclusion of the proviso in their final package said this about unnamed Columbia City Council members: They were supportive of us adopting the proviso and that this would encourage their members to think a little harder about it. When a reporter asked if the mayor specifically talked with them, Bannister said, I dont it was someone. I neither confirm nor deny who was doing the work on that end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That silence is deafening. Because if it turns out that any member of Columbia City Council lobbied state lawmakers to deliberately deny the city funds as a backdoor tactic to force the repeal of its ban on conversion therapy, then what we are dealing with is not just an instance of political pressure. It is a civic betrayal of the highest order. That being said, we cant lose focus. Columbias ordinance banning conversion therapy a practice condemned by every major medical and psychological association is a life-affirming law designed to protect LGBTQ+ youth from psychological abuse masquerading as treatment. It took courage for City Council to enact it. Resistance to repealing the ordinance is paramount now more than ever. However, if now, through backroom dealings and veiled threats, city officials are attempting to reverse that moral stand by threatening a $3.7 million cut to Columbias public budget, then they have not only undermined public trust they have weaponized the state budget against their own citizens and constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That alone would be scandal enough. However, the intrigue doesnt seem to stop there. What makes it even more audacious is the decision to tie that political coercion to hospitality and accommodations tax (HTAX) funding. HTAX funding is the fuel behind the festivals that draw visitors from across the Southeast. Its a support that keeps our local arts scene vibrant, our public events safe and staffed, our nonprofits operational, our parks clean, and our local businesses booming. To tinker with that engine out of ideological spite or worse, as a calculated move to pressure elected officials to fall in line isnt just reckless. Its economically self-sabotaging. This isnt just a game of political chess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are real dollars, real jobs, and real people whose lives depend on a functioning, forward-looking city government. And to even contemplate disrupting that system for the sake of dismantling protections for LGBTQ+ youth reveals a staggering disregard for both moral responsibility and fiscal stewardship. If the rumors are true if the mayor or other officials worked behind closed doors to cut Columbia off from state support in hopes of toppling a policy they couldnt defeat in open debate then they must be held accountable. Not just at the ballot box, but in the court of public opinion and historical memory. Because when elected leaders lobby against their own citys interests when they betray the people they were sworn to serve they dont just break public trust. They break the very foundation on which local democracy stands. And that, no matter what the political calculus, is indefensible. Let us know what you think... (FOX40.COM) The West Sacramento Fire Department responded to reports of a structure fire in West Sacramento on Thursday afternoon. Video above: USDA works to reduce wildfire risk According to fire authorities, when WSFD arrived at the scene, they found two, two-story houses that were on fire. WSFD stated that the fire possibly started in the area between two houses and then spread to both of them. At the time of the fire, there were people in the home, and one of the neighbors, who happened to be their relative, came out to notify them of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone was able to leave without any injuries, stated WSFD. The house fire escalated to a three-alarm blaze, which required Woodland Fire and Davis Fire to respond to the incident to assist with the firefight. Man hospitalized after shooting in Sacramento One of the houses ended up becoming too difficult for fire crews to battle on the inside, according to fire authorities. WSFD pulled everyone out to allow crews to fight the fire from the exterior of the house, shooting water into one window. At this time, WSFD stated that there was a fire going through the roof, which eventually made its way to the attic space and burned the roof off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire has been put out, and crews are working to learn more about what caused the fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. A partnership meeting took place in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, where Petrobras, Brazils state oil and gas giant, rubbed elbows with its shipowner partners, Trend reports. Azerbaijan Shipping Company (ASCO), operating within the structure of AZCON (Azerbaijan Transport and Communications Holding), was represented at the meeting by Deputy Chairman of the Board of ASCO Zaur Naghiyev, and Head of the Merchant Fleet Chingiz Safarov. Discussions focused on Petrobras operational requirements for chartered vessels, compliance standards for shipping companies, current global maritime risks and their mitigation, and the companys ongoing demand for maritime transport services, particularly in offshore operations and logistics. Petrobras representatives delineated prospective initiatives and articulated their commitment to augment collaborative synergies with allied enterprises within these strategic paradigms. Throughout the deliberations, it was highlighted that a singular Aframax-class vessel under the aegis of ASCO is currently engaged in a protracted charter agreement with Petrobras, and a positive appraisal of this collaborative synergy was articulated. Discussions were held regarding the potential for augmenting the fleet with supplementary ASCO vessels for this esteemed multinational oil and gas entity. The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Joint-Stock Company merged the countrys main fleets, the Azerbaijan State Caspian Sea Shipping Company and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republics Caspian Sea Oil Fleet. The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC has two shipyards and offshore support and commercial fleets. The merchant fleet has 51 ships: 20 tankers, 12 ferries, 16 dry cargo, 1 Ro-Ro, and 2 Ro-Pax. By integrating maritime fleets, the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping CJSC takes on high-level responsibilities. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel (FOX40.COM) Sacramento officials have announced the formation of the Sacramento Regional Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Task Force, marking a historic collaboration between local law enforcement and tribal leadership in California. Our communities have been calling for attention, awareness, and action for over 20 years, but today is where awareness meets action, said Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango. The newly established task force will implement protocols for cold case reviews, improve data sharing, and conduct culturally informed investigations. Over 84% of American Indian and Alaska native women experience violence in their lifetimes, and they are murdered at 10 times the national average, the Chairman adds. There are more than 4,200 unresolved cases of missing and murdered indigenous people in the U.S., with California ranking fifth in the nation for the most unresolved MMIP cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Triple A predicts record-breaking Memorial Day travel Only 9% of cases involving murdered indigenous women in California have been solved, compared to 60% of the non-native population. Local, state, and federal officials emphasized that these are not just statisticsthey represent mothers, daughters, sisters, and sons. Its an obligation to our ancestors, who have endured unthinkable loss, the Chairman says. Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho, a key organizer of the task force, underscored its significance: It is a promise to every Indigenous child growing up today that their lives will be valued. Christina Kazhe, Attorney General of Wilton Rancheria, notes how widespread the crisis is. You could talk to any person here today, and they know somebody who has gone missing or been murdered. Thats especially true for Wilton Rancheria Tribal Councilwoman Annette Williams, whose niece, Angel Baby, was murdered in 2001. The case remains unsolved more than 20 years later. Its been like it was yesterday, Williams told Fox40. We tried everything. We went to the police department, we put out flyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two weeks ago, the family released a documentary highlighting Angel Babys case. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said the task force will hit the ground running. Were reviewing some old cold cases right now, looking at things and figuring out where we can go and really work with the tribe to address these issues. At this time, officials have not disclosed the number of cases under active review. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Donald Trump's self-described "big, beautiful" tax bill has officially passed the House of Representatives and is now headed to the Senate. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images The legislation extends tax cuts that primarily benefit the highest earners, increases funding for the military and immigration enforcement, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, reduces funding for Medicaid and food stamps, and ends tax incentives for clean energy. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images Per an NBC report, the Congressional Budget Office expects the bill to add $2.3 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade, as the cost of tax breaks and new spending far exceeds savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill squeaked through by a single vote (215 to 214). All Democrats opposed it, joined by just two Republicans: Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Ahead of the vote, Massie warned of the bill's consequences, calling it a "debt bomb ticking." He said, "I'd love to stand here and tell the American people, 'We can cut your taxes and we can increase spending and everything's going to be just fine.' But I can't do that because I'm here to deliver a dose of reality." Id love to stand here and tell the American people we can cut your taxes and increase spending and everything will be fine.But I cant because Im here to deliver a dose of reality about the ticking debt bomb known as the Big Beautiful Bill. pic.twitter.com/eLT5GwNj11 Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 22, 2025 C-SPAN / @RepThomasMassie / Via Twitter: @RepThomasMassie "This bill dramatically increases deficits in the near term but promises our government will be fiscally responsible five years from now," he continued. "Where have we heard that before? How do you bind a future Congress to these promises? This bill is a debt bomb ticking." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To my surprise, Massie was not the only conservative speaking out about the bill. In the hours following the vote, a wave of conservative voices took to social media to express their thoughts and they're not too thrilled, either. Here's what they had to say: 1."Where's the spending cuts we were promised?" Vag-etarian Related: "Honestly Speechless At How Evil This Is": 26 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Week 2."So adding to the debt is good now that we're in power?" Blown89 3."Oh boy, more needless spending." Nero_Ocean 4."Great. I like how they're just avoiding that it doesn't balance the budget. What are we even doing at this point with that? Just spending ourselves into oblivion? Fine. I'll say the unpopular thing if that's where we're going, I might as well vote Democrat so it happens faster. I'm so incredibly discouraged at this point." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's great that we're getting a lot of this culture war stuff; I'm big on that, too, but if we don't get the deficit under control fast, all the rest of that won't matter in relatively short order. I need to start teaching my kids how to farm their own food at this rate because the depression that is starting to look increasingly inevitable with our fiscal behavior will make what happened in the 1930s look like the boom in the '50s." deadzip10 5."I think Trump could do it, if anyone had the momentum and control to drastically lower the deficit over time, I think it's this administration. Disappointed that isn't the case. The rich continue to get richer, that money exists out there, and it's not 'trickling down' anymore." "We can't fix our country's problems by taxing Elon Musk more alone, but I feel like a change needs to happen in how we approach extravagant wealth. But poor people from West Virginia don't win elections; the rich do. I'm so jaded. Come on, Trump and co., you can do this!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MapleMonstera Related: People Are Obsessed With Pope Francis's Final, Resounding Message To JD Vance After His Visit To The Vatican 6."I encourage everyone to read the language of the bill, it feels rather reckless and does virtually nothing to help the middle/lower class." Simmumah 7."I'm all for lowering taxes, but drastically lowering them AND increasing spending is a recipe for disaster. It's like trading in your full-time job for a part-time job, and at the same time upgrading from a two-bedroom apartment to a mansion. Lowering revenue and raising spending is asinine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zaphenzo 8."I'm a strong Republican and, in general, a big fan of Trump, but this is a sad day for America. Adding to the deficit is unacceptable." r_barchetta 9."This bill won't pass in its current form in the Senate, which is fine, I don't think it should. I don't know why we're masking the increase in spending with cuts to programs that benefit the poor. I encourage people to read the language on the work requirements part, it's very vague and hard to navigate when it comes to reporting." "I'm all for cutting waste, fraud, and abuse on Medicaid and SNAP, but there are better ways to go about it than work requirements (I'm also all for those able-bodied being put to work, but the disabilities listed don't cover anywhere near all disabilities that could prevent someone from working). I think if the Medicaid/SNAP changes go through as is, the GOP will get mauled in the midterms. This bill is pretty reckless and feels like it's just trying to push something through ASAP, maybe Chip Roy was right (even though he folded under pressure)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simmumah 10."If we just agreed that Republicans care nothing for fiscal responsibility in 2025, this bill would be easier to swallow. Yeah, a couple nuggets of good for the working class, but by and large, the only thing it really accomplishes is increasing the deficit and spending across the board." d_rek 11."Unfortunately, this is basically just more tax cuts for wealthy." superduperm1 12."STOP FUCKING SPENDING! Edit: I love the no tax on OT and no tax on tips." milezero13 13."I'm extremely disappointed with this bill because it adds [$2.3 trillion] to the debt over 10 years. Our country is heading rapidly into a debt crisis that will crush American living standards." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RedditThrowaway-1984 14."After this bill, we're done spending and we're going to start paying down the deficit for real, right guys? Guys?" triggernaut Well, I'm glad we can all agree on...something. But let us know your thoughts down in the comments. Note: Some responses have been edited for accuracy and grammar. Also in In the News: People Are Sharing Their Honest Opinions Of Elon Musk, And Boy, This Is Brutal Also in In the News: 15 Extremely Difficult Things People Do Not Understand About The United States, And, Honestly, They Got A Point Also in In the News: From Kamala Harris Back In '01 To Joe Biden As A Youngish Man, Here's What 11 Politicians Looked Like Back In The Day A Milwaukee County jury took a matter of hours to convict the man last seen with Sade Robinson before her death. The seven-day murder trial of Maxwell Anderson ended without his defense calling a single witness, opting to rest their case minutes after prosecutors did on Thursday. By Friday afternoon, the jury of mostly women found him guilty on all charges. Prosecutors have shown a Milwaukee County jury surveillance footage capturing Robinsons final moments during a first date with Anderson, as well as video of her car heading toward the area where parts of her dismembered body were discovered weeks later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 34-year-old was expressionless as the judge polled the jurors, who unanimously reached their decision. Anderson faces spending the rest of his life in state prison for first-degree intentional homicide and other charges. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15. Sheena Scarbrough, Robinsons mother, vowed that she would be in court daily to be an eyewitness to justice for her firstborn child. And with her youngest by her side, she has been. After the verdict, Scarboroughs attorney, Verona Swanigan, said the family was grateful to the jury, the judge and the judicial system for bringing justice for Sade. Being a mother to two daughters was her greatest pride, she said. Scarbrough, 44, envisioned watching them grow into adulthood side by side, thriving, and supported. But those dreams were shattered when her 19-year-old never returned home from her date in April 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the worst type of pain and hurt. I just miss her being present. I miss her her life, her spirit, her calls. Just her. Her laughter, her character, her loving nature. She was just so loved, Scarbrough told Capital B. I just miss her being there with us every day. The grieving mother decided against publicly celebrating Robinsons second heavenly birthday on Mothers Day weekend this year. She would have been 21 on May 10. Last year, Scarbrough organized a balloon release in her honor at a park near their home. But this year, Robinsons birthday came just weeks before her accused killers trial. Anderson was also charged with mutilating a corpse, and arson of property other than a building. He has been held in jail on $5 million cash bail. During the first week of trial, jurors watched several hours of surveillance footage some of it grainy and recorded after midnight on April 2, 2024, by a neighbors security camera. The video showed movement in and out of Andersons home shortly before Robinsons car was seen driving away. An ATF agent, Ricky Hankins, testified about her 2020 Honda Civic that was later found torched. Prosecutors also showed footage of a white male walking away from the scene and on a bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinsons death underscores the dangers for Black women living in the state, where, a 2024 Columbia University report found, theyre 20 times more likely to be murdered than their white peers. The states Justice Department says there are 175 missing people from the state, but advocates say those numbers arent complete, especially as violence against Black women is on the rise. When Robinson was reported missing, a co-worker and a childhood friend didnt wait. They used a phone tracking app to locate her and reported what they found to police, they testified during the first week of her killers trial. Capital B reached out to Andersons attorneys, Anthony Cotton and Jason Findling, for comment prior to the trials start on May 27 and after the verdict. We respect the jurys verdict, Cotton wrote in an email to Capital B on Friday. They had a hard job to do and obviously thought the case had been proven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial was livestreamed throughout the proceedings. In the weeks leading up to the trial, Scarbrough referred to Anderson as a demonic entity, an entity or the demon throughout her interview with Capital B. That demonic entity, she said with conviction. A normal person would not move in thatlevel of behavior. A mother still waits for answers Sade Robinson was 19 years old at the time of her murder. (Courtesy of Sheena Scarbrough) Robinsons case also highlights disparities in police investigations in Wisconsin and across the country when it comes to missing Black people. When Robinson did not show up for work at Pizza Shuttle on April 2, 2024, she was reported missing by co-workers, but Scarbrough wasnt notified for two days of her disappearance. This is an example of the disconnect law enforcement has with Black families when investigating missing loved ones, said state Rep. Shelia Stubbs, who along with other lawmakers, including Republican state Rep. Jesse James has been advocating for an investigative task force to address these disparities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stubbs was present for the verdict, said Swanigan, Scarbroughs attorney. Once contacted, Scarbrough was able to assist detectives in their investigation by providing Robinsons last known phone location. the mother and daughter had been tracking each others phones for safety. Also monitoring Robinson were Alana Fisher, who considered herself one of Robinsons best friends since fourth grade, and a co-worker, whose name has been withheld as requested by prosecutors. They used location data sharing apps Life360 and Find My iPhone to retrieve Robinsons last known location at Warnimont Park in Cudahy. That isnt an area where Scarbrough said she knew her daughter to frequent, she told Capital B in a previous interview. I never imagined this would be my, where I would be placed in life, Scarbrough said, adding, This is something I never expected to walk through being a crime victim. My daughter [was] taken from me in the most brutal way. I just miss her being present. I miss her her life, her spirit, her calls. Just her. Sheena Scarbrough, mother of Sade Robinson According to multiple news outlets, Anderson has prior convictions for domestic violence, disorderly conduct, and drunk driving. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also reported that court records highlight concerns about his mental health and substance abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarbrough said there are a lot of different layers in connection to her daughters death that she cannot get into publicly but will come out through civil litigation she has pending in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. We have definitely stopped this demonic entity in their tracks, she said. She filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Anderson in June 2024, and this April she filed another suit against two bars, accusing them of contributing to her daughters death by allegedly over-serving alcohol to Robinson, who was underage, while she was on a date with Anderson. Theres video surveillance of Robinsons last moments alive in those bars, according to television station WISN. Scarbrough has turned her pain into advocacy through the Sades Voice Foundation, which, in part, is fighting for legislation Stubbs has sponsored to reform police investigations into missing person cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shell take some months to recover and prepare for litigation and legislation along with Representative Stubbs, Swanigan said. Andersons attorneys argued in court earlier this year that theres a potential alibi through Andersons phone records. Scarbrough couldnt quite put into words what justice would look like at the end of the criminal trial. She still has a 17-year-old daughter, Adriana, who she says is grieving the loss of her big sister. Not having my baby presentnothings going to replace that. There will never be justice. I want my daughter back, she said. But definitely making sure those types of demonic entities are not on the streets to harm or hurt anyone else. Nonetheless, she said: The truth will be told. My daughters voice will be heard. The post Guilty: A Wisconsin Jury Convicts Sade Robinsons Killer appeared first on Capital B News. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Samaritan Health is responding to backlash after plans emerged that the healthcare system is considering shutting down two birthing centers in rural Oregon. Earlier this week, the Oregon Nurses Association rallied outside the Samaritan Health System Board of Directors Meeting. In addition, members of the U.S. Congress representing Oregon, including Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representative Val Hoyle, all denounced the reported plan to shut down locations in Lincoln City and Lebanon. Oregon Food Bank, Rep. Dexter decry proposed tax bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marty Cahill, Samaritans new president and CEO, responded in part by saying nothing is a done deal yet. In a statement, Cahill says half of the states health systems are operating at a loss and that they are looking at all ideas that can lead to long-term success. No decisions have been made, and no changes to services are being implemented, Cahill says in an open letter. The ideas were exploring still need to be tested, shared, improved, and aligned with what our community needs not just this summer, but for the long term. No details on the plan for the closures is mentioned in the letter. However, Cahill does go on to ask for legislators to help them come up with solutions to the health care issues. Marty Cahills open letter addressing the issues surrounding the future of health care is below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A San Angelo man has been arrested after being indicted on six child sex crime charges, records filed within Tom Green County indicate. The Tom Green County Sheriffs Office inmate roster states that Brandon King, 38, was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on May 22 after being indicted on five counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. According to a complaint and information record filed within Tom Green County, an investigator received a case from the San Angelo Police Department on Aug. 7, 2024, regarding King performing sexual acts with a minor for the past few months while he was confirmed to be 37 years old. The record states that King was said to have presented a ring to the minor and asked for her hand in marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shannon, BCBSTX reach insurance agreement In an interview conducted on Aug. 29, 2024, at the Childrens Advocacy Center in San Angelo, the minor alleged that King had performed sexual acts against her approximately five days prior, as per the affidavit. The record states that the minor also said more sexual actions had been made against her in the past, describing other times King allegedly committed such acts and reporting that the acts began on or around December 2023. The investigator served a search warrant to King on Aug. 30, 2024. The affidavit states that, during the execution of the warrant, King consented to being interviewed while being transported back to his residence. The record says that, through the interview, King admitted to having sexual intercourse with the minor twice over the past few months.' The record states that King told the investigator the minor coerced him into having intercourse and that he did not want to consent to the sexual intercourse at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the affidavit, King also said in the interview that he had asked the minor to marry him during the past few months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is implementing more rigorous standards for approving future COVD-19 vaccines. The agency is no longer recommending universal boosters for everyone 6 months or older and will now take a more targeted approach, limiting its availability to seniors and those with pre-existing conditions that put them at a high-risk for severe illness. These new guidelines were published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Ian McHardy, Scripp Healths senior director of microbiology and infectious disease, expressed apprehension about the FDAs shift in COVID-19 vaccination recommendations. My biggest concern is that were potentially breeding skepticism of vaccines because were not really giving a good reason for why were changing the eligibility requirements, he said. Its considered universally safe and effective. Moving forward, booster doses will only be available for people 65 and older and anyone who is considered to be at a high risk for severe illness. The agency is also asking manufacturers to do more research on how effective the vaccine is for younger, healthier people. We have launched down this multi-year campaign of booster after booster after booster, said Dr. Vinay Prasad, head of the FDAs Center for Biologics, Evaluation and Research, of the change. We do not have gold standard science to support this for average-risk, low-risk Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lab where McHardy works with shares reportable results with San Diego Countys Health and Human Services Agency, providing them a snapshot of COVID-19 cases in the region. We did not see the typical winter peak of disease this last winter that we have seen in previous winters, Dr. Mark Sawyer, professor of clinical pediatrics and infectious disease at UC San Diego, said of recent trends. The overall number of cases is down and people are tending not to get as sick. Sawyer says some doctors could still choose to give the vaccine to healthy people who have special circumstances under the new guidelines. It is going to limit the vaccine availability to some and in that sense I dont really like this approach, he added. Having said that, the people have pretty much voted with their feet and young adults and older children are not getting the vaccine anyway, by and large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts also note the clinical trials the FDA wants are expensive and consumers could end up paying more, especially if insurance companies decide not to cover the cost of the vaccination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The San Diego Humane Society is assisting pets and their owners who were impacted by a deadly plane crash in a residential neighborhood near Tierrasanta Thursday morning. The crash happened around 3:45 a.m. in a military housing community in Murphy Canyon near Salmon, Santo and Sculpin streets. Three people who were on board the plane, including a music executive and two employees, were confirmed to have died in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resources for those affected by the Murphy Canyon plane crash and how you can help An hour after the incident, the Humane Society was contacted by the San Diego Police Department to assist in helping animals and their owners who were affected by the crash. According to the Humane Society, eight dogs who were exposed to jet fuel from the crash site were taken to its San Diego campus for care, which included medical exams and a decontamination process. Eight puppies who also needed to be decontaminated were sent to the Escondido campus. The organization said the dogs will continue to stay in their care for emergency boarding until their families get resettled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 10 a.m., volunteers with the Humane Societys Emergency Response Team started working on reuniting pet owners with animals they had either left behind or lost while evacuating the neighborhood. This is what we do every day, and especially in our communitys most challenging times, a spokesperson for the Humane Society said in a statement. We respond. We rescue. We heal. We reunite. And we never say no to an animal in need. A temporary evacuation site for families affected by the crash was set up at Hancock Elementary School, located at 3303 Taussig St. in Tierrasanta Volunteers with the Humane Society remain at the site, continuing to provide aid to pet owners and their animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Fresh off winning a second term in an uncontested race, Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark is setting her sights on a more high-profile post: New Mexico secretary of state. Clark declared her candidacy this week, making her the second Democrat to announce plans to run for a post that is second in the line of succession to the governor, after the lieutenant governor. Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin announced her candidacy last month. Like Lopez Askin, Clark said she plans to stay on as county clerk as she campaigns to be New Mexicos top election officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are vying to succeed Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who is in her second and final term. So far, no Republicans have publicly announced they are entering the race. Clark, who said she is motived to run for the office to help protect voting rights in the face of election security funding cuts and other threats from the Trump administration, called herself the best candidate for the job and touted her accomplishments in the Santa Fe County Clerks Office, national awards and robust policy background. I have completely overhauled this office, modernized it and won national recognition for all of my innovation, Clark, 43, said in a telephone interview Thursday, adding she has loved being an election official at the county level. But given the fact that there are voting rights being rolled back all over the country, she said, I want to make sure that the strongest, most qualified candidate is holding this position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark, who holds dual bachelors degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, in cognitive neuroscience and moral psychology, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico, said she has had several cycles of fairly flawless elections. We have proven a very pro-voter attitude, which is we have a lot of innovations we would like to take statewide, she said. We have the highest turnout of large counties in the state, which means that thats a very essential metric for how well you are building trust and interest in your electorate. Clark said the County Clerks Office has won several national awards during her tenure. I believe that I am the person because I have national connections, as well as a very robust policy background, that can do the best job of protecting the vote and making sure that everyone in New Mexico knows that their vote will count, and they can trust their elections, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Clark submitted candidate committee registration paperwork to the Secretary of States Office earlier this month and granted at least one news media interview about her intention run to become New Mexicos top election official, she made it official on Facebook on Wednesday. The news was shared later that evening at a Drag Bingo fundraiser for the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, where Clark is a member of the board. If she is elected, and she will be, she will be the first [out] queer person in a major position in New Mexico government, Kevin Bowen, the organizations executive director, said to loud cheers and applause. Clark, who identifies as being bisexual, pansexual, said being queer isnt necessarily a major part of her platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just who I am just like being a millennial, she said. Clark asked people in the crowd how many are registered to vote. At this time, we have an administration in Washington that is trying to erase us, she said, referring to the administration of President Donald Trump whose push to purge diversity, equity and inclusion content includes Department of Defense references to the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan during World War II, and other files, simply because they contained the word gay. Clark also pointed to a sweeping executive from Trump that would, among other provisions, require would-be voters to show a passport or similar document proving citizenship when registering to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an administration that is determined to make sure that your voice cannot be heard, she said. Can I get a commitment from all of you that youre going to make sure that you vote in every election? In an interview, Clark said she serves on the executive committee of the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which provides strategic guidance to support the cybersecurity needs of election offices throughout the nation. Our funding was cut [entirely] on Valentines Day, and so what were seeing is that elections are in danger under this administration, she said. That was highly motivating to run for office to ensure that were protecting the voters here in New Mexico. South Carolinas state-owned utility company and the electric cooperatives it serves are feuding over the power bill for a long-time Google data center in the Lowcountry. (File/Getty Images) South Carolinas state-owned utility company and the electric cooperatives it serves are feuding over the power bill for a long-time Google data center in the Lowcountry. At stake in the business dispute is between $16 million and $24 million annually, according to lawyers for the two utility groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cooperatives say thats a savings that could be divided out among all of their roughly 2 million customers statewide to reduce their power bills. Santee Cooper argues its a cost that could increase the power bill of their 200,000 direct customers, located in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties. The question is over which group of customers pays, who saves and how the state-owned utilitys financials are impacted. This $16 million or $44 million over a couple of years is a big issue because it matters to the people at the end of the line, said Central Electric Power Cooperative CEO Rob Hochstetler, whose organization negotiates rates and supplies power on behalf of cooperatives statewide. The disagreement, discussed at a joint meeting held Friday in West Columbia, came about as cooperatives had sought to use a provision in the long-term contract it holds with Santee Cooper that gives the cooperatives the option to buy power for a lower rate for large industrial users in this case a Google data center in Berkeley County that has been in operation since 2007. But Santee Cooper says the size of that data center which uses upwards of 380 megawatts of power is too large and the rate reduction will cost the power company too much money, creating a grossly unfair and unjust burden to Santee Cooper and its customers. By comparison, all of Santee Coopers current industrial customers use about 379 megawatts in total, attorney Carmen Thomas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Santee Cooper wants the cooperatives to renegotiate new terms rather than using those included in the existing contract. What that really amounts to is saying, You guys need to take something less than your contract entitles you to, said Alex Hall, the attorney for the cooperatives. Not liking the implications of a counterparty exercising his contractual rights is not a valid reason for refusal. Thats not how contracts work. While the data center may use a lot of power, it had already paid the cost of the power lines it required. Plus, the $16 million to $24 million in question only amounts to about 1% of Santee Coopers $1.9 billion in total operating revenue. Besides, Santee Cooper and cooperatives already reached an agreement on the matter back in January. Santee Cooper had already agreed, Hall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cooperatives held off on signing as the two groups continued to negotiate other matters related to charges racked up during a court-mandated Santee Cooper rate freeze that recently expired. But had they not waited, Berl Davis Jr. of Palmetto Electric Cooperative said, the issue would not have been up for argument now. Thomas said Santee Cooper considered those previous documents to be draft agreements, not final. She also argued the cooperatives right to a reduced rate is not unilateral, saying the provisions for this particular type of rate allow Santee Cooper to negotiate when it comes to large and unusual loads. That right does not exist in a vacuum, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochstetler and Santee Cooper President Jimmy Stanton closed the meeting with mutual vows to resolve the contract dispute in the coming months. While the Berkeley County data center has been around for nearly two decades, such centers have dominated the conversation around energy needs in South Carolina as the state has grappled with how to meet the power demand of a growing population and manufacturing based, in addition to the new centers being built by tech giants such as Google, Meta and Blox. Santee Coopers governing board, last month, even enacted a new rate meant to ensure energy-intensive data centers, built to serve the countrys ever-growing technology needs, are covering the cost of generating the massive amount of power they require. The experimental rate will be in place for the next four years, testing it out before considering whether to make the policy permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that rate for new customers doesnt apply to the 18-year-old Google data center. Under Santee Coopers new rate, large users will be charged at a rate similar to Santee Coopers existing industrial users. The difference is those customers must sign a 15-year contract, one they cant get out of without paying a set minimum. The utility also will charge more for power used at times of day when demand for energy is at its highest. North Korea's naval gaffe with a 5,000-ton destroyer's launch can be seen from space. A photo shows the warship capsized in the water after a botched launch. State media said a furious Kim slammed the mistake as a "serious accident and criminal act." New satellite images of the Chongjin port in North Korea show the aftermath of a failed ship launch on Wednesday: a capsized new destroyer still partially resting on the pier. The ship's internal compartments are almost certainly flooded, complicating efforts to right it. Calling the event a "serious accident" on Thursday, North Korean state media reported that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, was watching the ceremony as the ship's stern slid down a ramp ahead of schedule, jamming the entire vessel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Satellite imagery from Airbus and Maxar Technologies show that North Korea likely planned a broadside launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, a method that splashes the ship sideways into the water. In one image, taken after the failed launch, the ship appears to be lying on its starboard side and still partially stuck on the ramp; the superstructure that is its highest point can be seen lying to the left of the hull, resting in or near the water. Much of the vessel's frame seems obscured by blue fabric. The aerial image below reveals the line of the normally level aft flight deck fully on its side, at far right. The destroyer that capsized is believed to be from the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile frigates. Airbus The weight of the bow section on the pier may be pinning the destroyer in an exposed position and would be exacerbated by any internal flooding likely on the stern. These internal spaces would need to be de-watered before a heavy-lift crane has a chance to lift the 5,000-ton vessel. Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Thursday that Seoul also assessed the ship to be partially submerged. Seawater can corrode and short-circuit electronic systems and rust exposed metal, necessitating expensive and time-consuming repairs once it's removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State media wrote that the launch mechanism malfunctioned, causing the stern to slide into the water while the bow remained stuck on land. After watching the error, an irate Kim was quoted by state media as criticizing the officials involved in the launch, saying they were censured and that their mistakes would be "dealt with" at a party committee meeting next month. This image, taken on May 18, shows the naval destroyer before it was damaged. Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies The North Korean leader further called the bungled launch a "serious accident and criminal act," adding that it had "brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse in a moment." South Korean officials told reporters on Thursday that it's likely the destroyer is in the same class as the Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton vessel that it launched from a separate shipyard in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts and top North Korea watchers have assessed that the Choe Hyon is the country's largest warship to date. Satellite images from early last month showed what experts said was likely the "fitting out" process of the ship, during which internal construction is completed and equipment is installed before the warship is handed over to North Korea's navy. Then, in late April, North Korea unveiled the vessel during a ceremony at Nampo port. A ship is launched once it's watertight and all of its major components are installed. The only upside for North Korea is that during a ship launch likely no crewmembers would be aboard. The Choe Hyon has been identified as a guided missile frigate and reportedly one of two in the class that are under construction. Some analysts suggested the warship looked capable of carrying a vertical launch system, an upgrade for North Korea's naval capabilities that allows the warship to carry a larger arsenal of anti-ship, land-attack, or surface-to-air missiles. South Korean TV shows the new frigate Choe Hyun at a launch ceremony at a North Korean shipyard in April 2025. Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The Choe Hyon is just one example of Pyongyang's naval modernization efforts. It's been a top priority under Kim along with a broader military buildup. Much of that focus has been on the submarine force; North Korea unveiled a new missile submarine two years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Korea's navy is considered "primarily a coastal force" per a 2021 US Defense Intelligence Agency report, consisting of about 60,000 personnel, 400 patrol ships, 70 diesel-electric submarines, and 260 amphibious landing craft. The country faces insufficient resources in its shipbuilding industry, a major challenge towards its naval modernization efforts. While Choe Hyon appeared to be a sophisticated vessel, experts were waiting until its launch to observe potential capabilities and technologies. Read the original article on Business Insider TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 23. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a 24-month debarment for the Uzbek company Adolat following an investigation into fraudulent activities linked to the Namangan water project in Uzbekistan, Trend reports. The investigation, conducted by the EBRDs Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO), revealed that Adolat had submitted forged documents to misrepresent its prior work experience as part of its proposal for one of the procurements related to the Namangan water project. Additionally, the company failed to disclose payments made to a local agent in its technical proposal, as required by the projects guidelines. The debarment follows a settlement agreement in which Adolat cooperated during the investigation and admitted responsibility for the fraudulent actions. The sanction was reduced in light of this cooperation. Following the debarment, Adolat is now ineligible to participate in any EBRD-financed projects or operations for a period of 24 months. This disbarment also triggers cross-disbarment under the Agreement on Reciprocal Enforcement of Disbarment Decisions signed by the multilateral development banks on April 9, 2010. The OCCO plays a key role in upholding the EBRD's commitment to integrity, with a mandate to investigate and address prohibited practices in EBRD-funded projects. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Saturday, May 24, marks six years since Jennifer Farber Dulos, a New Canaan mother of five, disappeared after dropping her children off at school. Carrie Luft, a friend of the Farber Dulos family, issued a statement on their behalf. Saturday, May 24, marks six years since Jennifer Farber Dulos was murdered and disappeared. She lives on in our hearts and through her five incredible children, now young adults, who have grown up without both parents. We miss her love, grace, and strength; her laughter, brilliance, and wisdom; her gentle voice and comforting presence. In Jennifers honor, we encourage those who can do so to donate to community organizations that support survivors of family violence, such as Interval House Hartford, the Rose Brooks Center, and many others; as well as to groups such as the Black and Missing Foundation and Missing/Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives. These organizationsand the people they supportneed your help now more than ever. We remain deeply grateful to the Connecticut states attorneys office and the Connecticut State Police for their ongoing commitment to finding Jennifer. As we continue to mourn her loss, please respect the privacy of Jennifers children, family, and loved ones. Thank you. Carrie Luft Authorities believe Farber Dulos was killed by her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. He was charged with her murder in January 2020 and died by suicide a few weeks later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Farber Dulos: The Untold Story | News 8 Special Presentation Although Farber Dulos body has never been found, a judge declared her dead in January 2024. Two others were charged in the case Dulos former lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, and Dulos girlfriend, Michelle Troconis. In March 2024, Troconis was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and one count of hindering prosecution in the second degree. She was sentenced in May 2024 to 20 years in prison, suspended after 14.5 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED | The Dulos Case A trial date for Mawhinney, who has pleaded not guilty to charges, has not been set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Since Sundip Patel began expanding his business in Saudi Arabia three years ago, he says theres been astounding growth in the kingdom structurally and socially. As the cofounder and CEO of Avana Companies, a direct private commercial lender, Patel works directly with women and minority entrepreneurs to build their companies. He says that things that would have been unthinkable in Saudi Arabia not long ago are now everyday occurrences, particularly as it relates to the treatment of women. People are accepting that women can be breadwinners, says Patel. Imagine that seven, eight years ago. That was not there, but its there now. What Patel, who has lived in the region at least part-time for the past 18 years, is experiencing is the changing landscape of Saudi Arabia following the creation of Vision 2030, a government program launched by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016 that seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia economically, socially, and culturally. As part of that mission, many of the barriers and mores that held women back from the workforce are no longer in place. Saudi women can now drive, travel freely without a guardian, converse with men they are not married to in public, and, yes, work. The change in the country in less than 10 years has been dramatic. Women now comprise around 36% of the workforce, according to the government, up from 17.4% in 2015 and well past Vision 2030s initial goal of 30%. The religious policepreviously a threat to anyone not adhering to the kingdoms strict conservative laws and norms, especially single women operating in the public sphereare far less visible, particularly in large cities like Jedda. Unrelated women and men can mingle in publicand in the workplace, eliminating one of the major obstacles to companies hiring women in the past. Saudi labor regulations explicitly prohibit wage discrimination based on gender, though the gender wage gap remains in practice, and can be as high as 49%, according to a study by the Saudi-based Alnahda Center for Research. And women do not need a male guardians permission to handle administrative business like leasing an office space. Women also do not need a male guardians permission to secure a business loan. That has helped women flourish in the entrepreneurship scene, where they now lead 45% of the kingdoms small- and medium-size enterprises, according to government figures. Female business leaders such as Lubna Olayan, of the Olayan Group conglomerate, who spoke this week at Fortunes Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, and Adwa Al Dakheel, of Falak Investment Hub, are well-regarded throughout the country. A push from the government It helps that getting more women in the workforce is a priority of the Saudi government. There is a push for incubators and accelerators specifically for Saudi women, says Patel, and government support is strong. Monshaat, the Saudi equivalent of the U.S.s Small Business Administration, hosts academies to train women entrepreneurs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women have made particular inroads in retail, hospitality, teaching, health care, the civil service, and tourism, according to government statistics. Finance has also become more welcoming to women, both in Saudi Arabia and in the Gulf states with which the kingdom shares many cultural ties. Both women from the Middle East and North African region who appear on Fortunes 2025 Most Powerful Women list are finance executives: Hana al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank; and Shaikha Al-Bahar, deputy group CEO of the National Bank of Kuwait. Lubna Olayan, chair of the corporate board, the Olayan Group; chair, Olayan Saudi Holding Co.; and chair, Saudi Awwal Bank, speaking at Fortunes Most Powerful Women International in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As one result of the countrys earlier sex-segregation policies, women also have proliferated in the tech sector, says Rothna Begum, legal advocacy director at the New Yorkbased Clooney Foundation for Justices Waging Justice for Women initiative. Many were able to learn coding on their own because it would enable them to work without being in a mixed environment. It remains rare to find women at the top ranks of the corporate world or government in Saudi Arabia. Just a handful of women have reached senior level cabinet positions, including Al-Shihana bint Saleh al-Azzaz, an attorney who was recently appointed by MBS to chair the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. Still, its hard to overstate how profoundly some womens lives have changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the biggest structural difficulty is the amount of time it takes to change long-standing social norms and expectations, says Tim Callen, a visiting fellow at the independent nonprofit Arab Gulf States Institute. But they are certainly changing. When I went to Riyadh in January, a female customs agent checked my passport both going in and leaving. That was unthinkable five years ago. Theres a ton of what you would consider liberalization of society, says Begum, who now lives in the United Kingdom. It will be less segregated than it was even five to six years ago. Saudi women came from not being involved in the economy to being fully involved, and theyre making it happen, says Patel. Its amazing. No one can complain While the Vision 2030 statistics paint an optimistic picture, Begum, who was previously a womens rights researcher for the Middle East and North Africa region at Human Rights Watch, says they belie an at times darker reality. Though the Crown Prince implemented the sweeping changes, he has also overseen one of the strictest crackdowns on criticism of the government in recent history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imprisonment and harsh treatment of activists, including torture and death sentences for some advocates, have had a chilling effect on speech, says Begum, who adds that even online, the authorities do not tolerate dissent. The share of women in the workforce, though it exploded in the first few years of the program, has stagnated more recently, hovering between 33% and 36% since 2020, according to the governments statistics. Begum believes that the flattening reflects women being scared to overstep. Were not going to see the types of womens rights reforms that we need to see, says Begum. Because no one can complain, no one can advocate for anything more. And while Saudi Arabia may be unrecognizable from just a few years ago, deeply held societal norms seldom change overnight, or even over a decade. Begum says there was hope when the Crown Prince first announced Vision 2030 that it would lead to the dismantling of the countrys male guardianship system. Instead, the Personal Status Law, codified in 2022, reinforced it. Under that law, Saudi women must obtain a male guardians permission to marry, cannot divorce without petitioning a court on limited grounds, must still obey their husbands, and cannot abstain from sex without a husbands approval. All these norms put a ceiling on womens economic freedom, advocates argue. While some women are managing to get into workplaces and sectors of the labor market that we want, it really is up to the family and the man in charge, Begum says. If you are from a progressive, modern family, you might be okay, as long as you stay quiet. A Saudi woman working at a Civil Defense Operations Center. Under prior rules that required stricter sex segregation, some Saudi women were able to find tech jobs that allowed for remote work. The country also boasts a significant migrant worker population, and women domestic workers, many of whom are migrants, endure grueling, abusive, and discriminatory working conditions, Amnesty International said in a new report. Although Vision 2030 introduced some reforms to Saudi Arabias labor law, domestic workers are excluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Change takes time, says Sundip Patel of Avana. While there are more Saudi women in the workforce, there is also a lack of mentorship and networking infrastructure for them, meaning many arent able to level up their careers, at least not yet. Women in the C-suite, or even the level below, remain rare, he notes. A lot can change in a decade, but even more can stay the same. The capability of women being sort of fully ingrained in the economy has just been very recent, 10 years, he says. Experience is the best teacher. So you need time to groom and cultivate this knowledge. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The News Saudi Arabia plans to launch a global tourism industry event. The sector is expected to contribute $11.7 trillion to global GDP this year, supporting 371 million jobs, according to industry group World Travel & Tourism Council (WTCC). a chart showing the number of overnight tourists in Saudi Arabia. But the business lacks a global platform to study trends and set priorities, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said on Thursday during the launch of TOURISE a forum that Al Khateeb likened to Davos or FII, that will bring the industry together with leaders in technology, investment, and sustainability. The first gathering will be held in Riyadh in November, alongside the UN Tourism General Assembly. The kingdom has major plans to boost tourism, its second largest industry after oil. The sector is projected to generate 447 billion Saudi riyals ($122 billion) this year, according to the WTCC. Saudi Arabia exceeded its 2030 target of 100 million annual visitors last year. May 22---- Demonstrators gathered under rainy skies to rally in favor of voting rights Wednesday in Willmar. In lieu of a planned march on First Street, about 50 demonstrators who came to Rice Park in their coats and rain ponchos instead occupied the picnic shelter at the park for approximately one hour Wednesday evening. Karen Kraemer, president of the Willmar Area League of Women Voters, said in her opening statement: "We work very hard to be non-partisan, but we are not neutral," characterizing the Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement as a dangerous step toward voter suppression. The SAVE Act is sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican. The bill would require people to provide documentary proof of their U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport, in order to vote in federal elections. The bill passed in the U.S. House in March on a mostly party-line vote and has since been sent to the U.S. Senate. Republicans, including Trump, have campaigned on and continue to press the idea that there is widespread voting by non-citizens, falsely claiming that it could unfairly swing elections despite the fact that multiple studies, including one at Minnesota's University of St. Thomas, have shown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting rights advocates say the legislation seeks to fix a "non-issue," as it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote and doing so could result in criminal charges and possible deportation. Critics of the SAVE Act also say the bill as written would disenfranchise millions of legitimate American voters, ultimately leading to fewer people being able to vote in the same elections. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon told a Senate Rules Committee spotlight hearing on May 14 that the legislation "poses one of the greatest threats to the freedom to vote in our lifetime," according to his prepared remarks. He said it would keep millions of eligible Americans from the polls. Kraemer referenced information shared by Secretary Simon and Deirdre Schiefling, a national political advocacy director with the American Civil Liberties Union, who spoke in a May 20 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement co-hosted by the Minnesota League of Women Voters, ACLU of Minnesota and others. For example, Kraemer stated that had the SAVE Act been in place last year, she would have had trouble helping her 96-year-old mother register to vote. Kraemer said she had to help her mother move from a house to an apartment in 2024. Though all states in the U.S. had their own method of keeping birth records since about 1919, there was no standardized version of these records until the 1930s, according to a 2012 published in the "Journal of Perinatology." Kraemer's mother was born in 1928. Even if Kraemer could have obtained a birth certificate for her mother, it may not have met the standard set by the SAVE Act. Kraemer also stated that, due to her mother's age, both her driver's license and passport are expired and would not have been sufficient to allow her to register if the provisions of the SAVE Act were in force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The real issue is that 90 million people did not vote in the last election," Kraemer said. "And 72 million people are eligible to vote but are not registered. Our goal should be to get people registered to vote, that's always been the goal of the League of Women Voters." One protester, Dr. Kathy Nelson-Hund, felt compelled to speak among the demonstrators, urging them to reach out to young people and get them involved stating, "They are our future. They need to know what is happening before it is too late," she said. A family medicine physician who practiced in Willmar until her recent retirement, Nelson-Hund told the West Central Tribune that while she was at Wednesday's rally she thought about the discrimination she faced early in her career being one of few women practicing medicine at the time. "My medical opinions were questioned a lot by my colleagues just because I was a woman," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nelson-Hund said she remembers when married women would still need permission from their husbands to open credit card accounts. She thinks the SAVE Act could very well be another hoop that young women will have to jump through in order to secure their right to vote. "They just don't know how frightening that can be," she said. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) This week in Columbia, the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) voted on a major update to South Carolinas education system; its what they call the South Carolina Tiered Credential System. This new initiative is designed to make students more career-ready by the time they graduate, giving them the skills and required credentials to step straight into the workforce. Basically, its a free certificate system that is meant to ensure employers that students are prepared and ready for the workforce. Theyll be able to really hit the ground running, as we like to say. Theyll be ready to go and ready to work in these industries in South Carolina, said Tenell Felder, who runs Communications for the EOC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system is broken down into three tiers: Covers basic, industry-specific skills Includes credentials that boost employability Features credentials required for high-wage and high-demand careers Its just a nice start that gives you a heads up over other people that might be applying for a job. If youre needing to work your way through college, its great to have this because youre going to be able to get into a higher wage job and help pay your way through college if thats what you want to, said Senator Ross Turner (R Greenville). Turner, who is a member of the EOC, and Felder agree that this program would also be great for students who do not know exactly what they want to do yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That might give you the opportunity to explore a little bit, to decide, especially with the tiered system, you know, youre not going straight into the, the certifications that you need for a specific industry. You can kind of explore a little bit, Felder added They say it can also help students learn essential life skills. Being explained to you that you got to show up on time, you got to work hard, youve got to be participating, and theres going to be change, and youve got to accept change. Those kinds of skills are going to be good. Whatever they end up doing, even if they dont want to get into something industry specific, said Turner. Turner said The State Department of Education, Department of Employment and Workforce, and the Southern Regional Education Board have worked with the Education Oversight Committee to develop this system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Committee is expected to meet again in June. If the updated system is officially approved, it will go into effect in August. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC (WSAV) A push for tougher penalties to fight gang violence is gaining momentum in South Carolina. Local prosecutors said what they have now isnt enough to stop organized crime which is why they said a new law could help keep communities safer. Take out the organization that that allows the fentanyl to get on the streets to begin with, 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone said. Thats an essential tool that prosecutors in South Carolina need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And a tool that 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone said he and other prosecutors have been asking for, for three years. We have a statute basically now that no one uses, Stone said. Which is a five-year felony, for either enticing somebody to join a gang or trying to keep them from leaving a gang. And I dont know that anyones ever prosecuted anybody for that. The penalty is not stiff enough for it to make any difference. And the second thing is that no ones going to testify that they were forced into a gang. What Stone wants is a RICO or Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law. Something 33 other states, including Georgia, already have in place. It began as a federal law to go after organized crime and arrest people for big conspiracies, but it was written much broader than that, Eric Segall, Georgia State Professor, chair of College of Law said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officially, it provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. In broad terms, the statute would allow prosecutors to connect suspects to each other and to their crimes. A group of three or more can be a gang and face an additional charge and up to 20 more years behind bars. Its a statute that Stones office is already preparing for. We now have an investigator, a prosecutor and an intelligence analyst focused on nothing but gang members in our in our office, Stone said. We did that several months ago. And we are collecting data now to determine how many individual gang members we have. I see gangs operate from Jasper County into Buford County and vice versa Collison County into Hampton County. It already has exceeded over 100 gang members in the 14th circuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every time you hear about a drive by shooting, generally speaking, that is a thats gang activity, whether its drive by into a car, into a house, into a crowd of people, it almost always is three or more people getting together to maybe retaliate against people who had shot at them or something like that. By definition, if you choose to be a gang member, youre probably a career criminal. So, part of our intelligence is determining who those people are and making sure that that we treat them accordingly. Stone said the SC General Assembly currently has three versions of potential gang or RICO statutes waiting for debate. He said they hoped they will bring them to the floor and pass them next session. Theyre very good bills. Ive seen all three of them, and theyre very theyre very good, Stone said. But theyre going to have to pass it for us to be able to use it. Prosecutors throughout South Carolina have been pushing for this for a number of years, and the people in this District or in the Circuit would see the difference almost immediately. I think a lot of I know cases that I would be able to use that statute on now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon joined WIVB News 4 on Thursday to discuss the Buffalo Animal Shelter, his recently announced repaving plan, and other topics on the minds of Buffalonians. A new location for the Buffalo Animal Shelter has been decided and will be announced in the next couple of weeks, Scanlon said. A public-private partnership is currently being finalized. On Wednesday, the acting mayor announced a $17 million repaving plan of over 190 streets. When asked about the historic amount, Scanlon said large-scale projects will be done on Jefferson Avenue, Bailey Avenue, and Main Street, as well as spot repairs throughout the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said they have repaired nearly 2,500 potholes since March. Scanlon said he is working to bring small businesses downtown, as well as more residents and that he wants to convert office space into residential space. View the entirety of this months Ask the Mayor in the video player above. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Key Takeaway The Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu has reopened for traffic today. The section of the highway had been closed due to the recent Palisades fire. A popular stretch of California highway is reopening to commuters early. The famed Pacific Coast Highway, State Route 1, has been closed since Jan. 7, 2025 as a result of the Palisades Fire which devastated the surrounding community. The highway runs from West Channel Road near the Will Rogers Beach State Park in Santa Monica, all the way to the Malibu Pier, officially reopened to public traffic on May 23 at 8:00am PT. For months, locals and tourists alike have not been able to access the area, as it was restricted to residents and others needing emergency access. Were opening the PCH back up early, with more lanes before Angelenos hit the road this Memorial Day, California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a news release. We are able to do this thanks to the tireless work of hundreds of construction and road crews and with help from our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the highway reopening, local government officials say a "robust security presence" will remain to maintain order and safety, especially for homes that have been partially or completely destroyed. According to local reports, the reopened road will have a 25 mph speed limit, stopping in the burn areas will not be allowed, and drivers are being warned to keep an eye out for first responders and debris-clearance crews. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared in a statement that the government "will continue to protect the safety and security of Palisades neighborhoods through a strict security plan established in coordination with the State." Myung J. Chun/Getty Images Houses on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California that were destroyed by the Palisades fire. Houses on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California that were destroyed by the Palisades fire. Bass added: The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step forward in our recovery effort in the Palisades, which is on track to be the fastest in state history." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of publication, the damage assessment of the Palisades Fire report 6,837 destroyed structures and 12 confirmed civilian fatalities. While the fire brought devastation to thousands, but rallied the community to engage in service and support. Hilton and American Express donated over 20,000 hotel room stays for those affected, and airlines provided extended waivers and flexibility for people with upcoming travel. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Kentwood Public Schools social worker was arrested for inappropriate communication with multiple children, deputies say. On May 9, deputies with the Kent County Sheriffs Office began investigating a 26-year-old social worker who was employed at Valleywood Middle School after a parent reported inappropriate contact between him and her child. While investigating, the school resource officer discovered that he had additional contact with other children online, the sheriffs office said. On Wednesday, the Kent County Prosecutors Office issued a nationwide, extraditable arrest warrant for the 26-year-old for accosting a minor for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said the man was arrested in Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday. He is awaiting extradition back to Michigan. The Kent County Sheriffs Office continues to prioritize the safety of children and holds accountable those who violate positions of trust. We urge parents to stay involved in their childrens online and gaming activity and to report any suspicious interactions, the sheriffs office said in a release. News 8 is working to learn if the children were Kentwood Public Schools students. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kent County Sheriffs Department at 616.632.6100 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) In South Dakota, approximately 1 in 6 children are food insecure, which has two organizations ramping up their summer programs to keep kids fed. The schools were quiet Thursday in Sioux Falls. Wednesday was the last day of classes for students. But, the end of the school year comes uncertainty for some students. We serve about 16,000 hot lunches a day. Were doing around 5 to 6,000 breakfasts today. So we know theres a need with what we have there. And so hunger doesnt end when schools out, SFSD Coordination of Child Nutrition, Gay Anderson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To keep students fed during the summer months, the school district is getting their summer meal program up and running. Our summer food service meal program is just another program offered by USDA that we participate in. And we actually look at the site schools strategically look at how thats going to help us with the locations where we have our community learning centers, serving kids so that we know we already have an active group of kids there, Anderson said. There are 7 schools across the district that will be serving both breakfast and lunch to children. So anybody ages one through 18 can walk in our doors, no questions asked. They could come from California, for all we know. They could actually just walk into one of those sites and be able to have a free meal, Anderson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another option in town is Embe. They started their summer meal program in 2019. You can come to the downtown location for breakfast from 8 to 9, or you can come to lunch, or you can come to both from 11 to 1. And then we have another location at our Saviors Lutheran, kind of off of 33rd and Minnesota area, from 11 to 1 that we serve lunch at also, EmBe Food Service Compliance Manager, Amber Hodkinson said. The organization will supply food for children ages 1 through 18. The effort between both the Sioux Falls School District and EmBe will help keep the next generations belly full. They learn a lot better. They get more along with their peers better. So a full belly is always a better belly, Hodkinson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursdays at the Sioux Falls School locations, they are partnering with Feeding South Dakota to pass out backpacks with food in them, to help children get through the weekends. The Sioux Falls School districts meal program will kick off Thursday, May 29, and EmBes will kick off June 2. Both will be opened Monday through Friday, and closed July 4. You dont need to sign up for either of the meal programs. Sioux Falls School District Schools serving free meals are: Terry Redlin Eugene Field Hayward Rosa Parks Robert Frost Susan B. Anthony Sonia Sotomayor Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kyrgyzstan discloses loans issued under agricultural financing program Kyrgyzstan has rolled out more than 4,300 preferential loans totaling 2.65 billion soms (about $30 million) under its Agricultural Financing-13 program as of May 2025, with a lion's share aimed at bolstering livestock farming. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register A tiny molecule could be the next big breakthrough in helping farmers grow more resilient, productive crops in an increasingly unpredictable climate. Japanese scientists recently identified a new class of small molecules called devernalizers capable of delaying crop flowering. By manipulating these molecules, scientists hope they can fine-tune a plant's life cycle to better align with changing environmental conditions. As pollution-driven climate shifts become more severe, the agricultural sector has struggled to adapt to rising global temperatures and frequent extreme weather events. That's because plants are on nature's timing, so any shifts in seasonal patterns can throw off their growth cycles. Scientists have been looking for solutions to make plants more resilient to climate shifts, and they may be closer than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flowering marks when a plant shifts energy from leafy growth to seed production. While this is crucial for producing fruits and grains, it can cause leafy vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, to lose nutritional value. Once these plants flower, they begin to die, so premature flowering can spell disaster for greens. Typically, plants need a spell of cold weather to trigger flowering, a process known as vernalization. But as these cues become less reliable due to climate change, plants may flower too early, reducing yields and nutritional quality. Reversing that process, called devernalization, has been difficult until now. In the new research, published in Communications Biology, scientists screened more than 16,000 chemical compounds, discovering five devernalizers that reactivated the gene responsible for suppressing flowering. They also identified a sixth compound, called DVR06, which is structurally simpler than the others and enables more precise control over flowering. Experimental results showed that plants treated with DVR06 exhibited delayed flowering without hurting the plant, something current heat-based methods struggle with. "Applying heat treatment to plants in the field is both labor-intensive and costly," team lead Makoto Shirakawa, an assistant professor at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, said in a release. "So, I was really excited when we found out that DVR06 had a more specific effect than heat treatment. This was the moment when all the time we had spent on screening finally paid off." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers say their discovery could be a critical breakthrough for agriculture by allowing scientists to fine-tune when crops flower, which can help boost healthy yields by undoing some of the damage of unseasonable weather. The team plans to conduct further research exploring devernalization technologies to support "stable food production under a fluctuating global environment," according to the release. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Coastal ports on the Caspian Sea could be left high and dry and crucial habitats could be strongly affected if the sea's level continues to drop with increasing global temperatures, a recent study reported. The research warned of risks to humans as well as protected species. What's happening? Researchers led by University of Leeds faculty explored the possible impacts of projected declines in the sea's level by as much as 21 meters (about 70 feet) by the end of the century. They published their findings in April in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. The water level of the Caspian Sea the world's largest landlocked water body is declining as global temperatures increase, because more water is evaporating than flowing in, a university report about the study explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers concluded that, even if global temperature changes are limited to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, the Caspian Sea will likely drop 16 to 32 feet. This 2-degree mark is considered by many scientists to be a key threshold for efforts to limit the most severe effects on Earth's climate. Recent assessments consider it likely that the world will exceed this temperature increase. The new findings estimate that more than 27 million acres of the Caspian Sea an area larger than Iceland would dry up under even this more optimistic climate scenario. Why are lower Caspian Sea levels concerning? According to the new study, the sea level change under this scenario will "critically disrupt key ecosystems" as well as "reduce existing marine protected area coverage by up to 94%, and render billions of dollars of civil and industrial infrastructure obsolete." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the report, the Caspian coast is home to more than 15 million people in Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. They rely on it for fishing, shipping, and trade. The research indicated that, depending on the scenario, Northern Caspian communities and port equipment could end up anywhere from six to 60 miles from the shoreline of a dried-up sea. Dropping water levels will also reduce the breeding habitat of endangered Caspian seals and will limit access to rivers where several species of sturgeon spawn, per the research. A drying sea will also cause the loss of lagoons and other shallow-water habitats crucial to other fish and migratory birds. What can be done about lower Caspian Sea levels? The researchers noted that their findings come at a key juncture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Some Caspian Sea level decline appears unavoidable," Simon Goodman, who supervised the research, said in the University of Leeds report. "It should be possible to find ways to protect biodiversity while safeguarding human interests and well-being ... [but] it is advisable to start action as soon as possible to give the best chance of success." Included on the researchers' list of recommendations are investments in biodiversity monitoring, conservation, and sustainable development. They advocated for helping coastal communities diversify their economies. They also argued for creating protected areas with flexible borders, to accommodate shifting habitats. The recommendations also included cuts to heat-trapping pollution on a global scale to limit the warming that carries with it risks to the Caspian and the world. These cuts require work for companies and countries and individuals can also contribute, through efforts ranging from reconsidering what we eat to limiting the carbon pollution of our homes. 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. Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law Thursday that would make it a felony to destroy or abuse a corpse, a measure created in the wake of the 2024 murder an Enosburg woman. Roberta Martin, 82, was reported missing on July 17, 2024. Her burned remains were found five days later in a wooded area not far from her home. On July 25, Vermont State Police arrested Darren Martell, 23, who was living in the camper near Martins home. Court documents say a forensics examination preliminarily determined that a DNA sample of sperm taken from Martins remains were a match for Martells DNA. Martell has been held without bail on a charge of aggravated murder since his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unauthorized removal or burial of corpse is already a felony in Vermont. House Bill 41 which has been called Robertas Law creates a new felony statute for anyone who destroys a corpse without legal authority. Doing so to conceal a crime would add additional felony penalties, according to the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. The News The US Supreme Court signaled that President Donald Trump cannot fire Federal Reserve officials, suggesting it differs from other independent agencies. In a ruling on labor board firings, SCOTUS did not block Trumps decision to remove the officials, but argued that the Fed, as a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity, was protected. It is a key win for the central bank, Politico reported, given that Trump has repeatedly threatened to try and fire Fed chair Jerome Powell. The dismissal of the labor board members will return to a lower court. Trump said more recently he has no intention of firing Powell, but said that if he wanted to remove him, hell be out of there real fast. BROOKINGS, SD (KELO) The president of South Dakota State University has concerns over the so-called Big Beautiful Bill passed early Thursday morning in the U.S. House. The bills provisions include an overhaul of student aid, which critics say will drive up costs for students. Governor Rhoden and Attorney General Marty Jackley tour the southern border The bills passage comes just one day after university presidents met with the South Dakota Board of Regents to discuss how proposed cutbacks within the U.S. Department of Education will impact their schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administrators at South Dakota State University have already been tightening their belts in anticipation of fewer federal dollars flowing into the school. We hadnt put things in a freezer, but that we had them in a cooler. So were trying to slow spending for travel and for purchasing equipment, SDSU President Barry Dunn said. SDSU President Barry Dunn says the Reconciliation Bill passed in the House will mean fewer research grants for the school, a trend thats already being felt on campus. Research activities here at SDSU have slowed down, research activities all across the nation, in human health and agriculture for example, have slowed dramatically and thats concerning, Dunn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunn says the bill will also make it harder for students to access tuition grants and loans. The proposed cuts are very dramatic, cutting programs like work-study, the TRiO program, cutting completely out some loans, some federal loans, Dunn said. A federal judge has dealt the Trump Administration a blow by pausing efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and ordering laid-off workers back on the job. I think the orders that the president has made through executive orders have certainly been provocative and opened up the discussion, but I think the judges have stepped in have probably helped us all by slowing things down, Dunn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunn says fall enrollment at SDSU is looking good. But he anticipates federal cutbacks in education could lead to uncertainty for students and programs starting next year. Dunn says the school is asking the SDSU Foundation to provide more scholarship money for students due to the potential of fewer grants and loans coming from the federal government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). This story begins as many good yarns do in a bar. Specifically, Beach Bar Dodo beside Dubrovniks seafront, where Im sipping beer with a friend. David Farley had sub-let his perfectly nice flat in New York to decamp to Croatia. Whats he doing with his days, I ask. Not much, he replies: Perfecting my fjaka. Fjaka, pronounced fee-aka, could only have come from a land of sunbaked islands. It is, David explains, no place to go, no place to be. Allowing days to drift and blur. Back in the capital, Zagreb, they make rude jokes about Dalmatians as donkeys, but that misses the point entirely. With fjaka, the region has elevated easy living into an artform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With no better plans, I decide to embark on a quixotic search for something the Croatians cant exactly define themselves but which Ill apparently know when I find it. Lastovo seems the place to look. Croatias second-most remote island after Vis, Lastovo was once a naval base and off limits from the mid 1940s until 1988 like a Bond villains lair, tunnels that once concealed submarines burrow deep into its cliffs. But if Vis is bohemian chic, Lastovo represents something Homeric, almost epic. In 2003 the World Wildlife Fund for Nature called Lastovo a last paradise of the Mediterranean. In 2006 Lastovo was designated a nature park. Croatians speak about it with a kind of reverential awe. As I approach by ferry, it seems little altered since the Ancient Greeks dropped anchor: just one house among wild, pine-scrubbed hills. We dock in a glassy bay and I board the islands only bus a tatty people-carrier to reach the sole hotel, Hotel Solitudo: a modestly tarted up Yugoslav relic in the islands only resort, Pasadur. Theres not much to that either: two restaurants, a kiosk renting kayaks and bikes, and some concrete platforms that islanders call beaches with a straight face. Fjaka is a state of mind, says Diana Magdic of the Lastovo Tourist Board. Its not thinking. Its just letting time pass, the sound of cicadas, the heat. Photograph by Getty Images, Henglein & Steets Beaches are Lastovos weak spot, but what a place to attempt fjaka. For a few days, I potter. I swim in water so turquoise it would make a peacock blush. I read. At night, I sit with my feet in the sea, breathing in the smell of pines as you might a fine wine, goggling at a sky boiling with stars. With zero light pollution, Lastovo hopes to become Europes first Dark Sky Sanctuary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is this fjaka though? Not really, says Diana Magdic of the Lastovo Tourist Board. Swimming and reading are too active, apparently. Fjaka is a state of mind, she says. Its not thinking. Its just letting time pass, the sound of cicadas, the heat. Diana perfected her fjaka after she moved to the island as a refugee from Zagreb. I dont think Lastovo people realise how pure this island is. You can hear the quiet here. You can feel it. I know what she means. Beyond the tourism office, Lastovo Town turns out to be a semi-ruin of pale stone and forgotten secrets, where cats doze in sunny corners, weeds sprout between marble steps and doorways reveal courtyards with plants in old tomato tins. If it wasnt for the occasional radio blaring behind lace curtains, I might have thought it entirely abandoned. I rent a scooter not exactly fjaka either, but irresistible. At Lucica cove I swim beneath former fishermans houses, their shutters painted shades of emerald and cobalt. In Zaklopatica bay I enjoy a lazy lunch in Triton restaurant fresh grilled fish, served on a terrace that dangles above the water. I glimpse yachts, nodding at their moorings, and am reminded of a board I spotted earlier, advertising trips with a fisherman from Pasadur. This is my boat, says Ivica Lesic, gesturing vaguely. In front of us is a smart gulet, its wood shiny, its sails neatly stowed not what I had expected at all. He steps on board, then clambers over a railing into a plastic tub moored beneath, where his wife Helena waves from beneath an awning. Beyond the tourism office, Lastovo Town turns out to be a semi-ruin of pale stone and forgotten secrets, where cats doze in sunny corners, weeds sprout between marble steps and doorways reveal courtyards with plants in old tomato tins. Photograph by Getty, AGinger During summer, the couple run trips in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Ivica is probably right when he says they are more play than work, but they also protect fish against overfishing the fund compensates him for earnings lost by not fishing commercially. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also a lovely trip. Ivica talks about island life as he hauls up nets in a series of dark-teal bays: a bonito like a silver bullet, scorpionfish, silvery yellow-striped barbona. Then we drop anchor in an empty bay, fire up a griddle and eat: our catch of the day soused in homemade olive oil, with homemade fennel bread, the couples own wine and rakija brandy. The sea chuckles against the hull. Time unspools. In the haze afterwards, Ivica says a fjaka mood can settle like Valium post-lunch: Fresh fish. Wine. Heat. You can do nothing, just sit. More holidaymakers arrive in Lastovo each year, says Ivica. Theres even talk of another hotel. The question is not simply do islanders want more development do we? Laughably ill-equipped for a conventional holiday, Lastovo poses a singular question about what we seek from a trip away. To relax, many of us might say but do we even know how? It strikes me that if we embrace fjaka the delicate art of Dalmatian holidaymaking we can help preserve Lastovos purity, even its dark skies. Lastovo island is nothing special, Ivica says with a shrug. Its simplicity. Its liberation. To love Lastovo you just need to be. The boat rocks gently. The cicadas throb. And for long, delicious minutes we lapse into silence. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). GREENE COUNTY, Ark. The search for a former Tipton County woman reported missing continues. Jessica Paige Kemp, 32, who now lives in Paragould, Arkansas, was last seen alive on May 5, camping alone near Lake Ashbaugh in northeast Arkansas. Courtesy of Kemp family Courtesy of Kemp family Courtesy of Kemp family Courtesy of Kemp family Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtesy of Kemp family Weve searched everything. Weve searched all those woods, weve searched all those woods, said her mother, Sandy Kemp. Sandy Kemp was exhausted and frightened for the safety of her daughter, who is originally from Munford, Tennessee. Firefighter accused of domestic assault in Tipton County The last known read message was on May 5th. I texted her again, May 6, 6:30 in the morning, she has not opened a message since then, said Sandy. Police found Kemps abandoned car, and inside the car were her purse with items scattered. Her phone was recovered, but there was no sign of Kemp. We didnt hear anything from her. She stopped using her debit card, no responses from her to anybody, and weve always been a very, very close family, so we knew something was wrong, Sandy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 29 of 49 Rolling Thunder suspects already out of jail Jessica, also known as Paige, has been the focus of an intensive search effort over a 25,000-acre Wildlife Management Area. Im very worried, very concerned, Im sad and Im missing my sister very much, said Darnell Kemp, younger brother of Jessica. Were physically exhausted with the situation. Were just trying to get any help we possibly can to help bring her home, said Paden Raburn, Jessicas fiance. Somebody may have taken her at this time, we just dont know. I just want her found alive and I want her to come home, said Sandy. According to Sandy Kemp, her daughter may be going through some emotional issues. Authorities are examining Jessicas cell phone for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you know the whereabouts of Jessica Paige Kemp, you are urged to contact the Greene County Sheriffs Office at 870-239-6343. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OVERLAND PARK, Kan. An 81-year-old Overland Park woman, Jerry McConnell, has been missing for a week now. Her son, Rick McConnell, says he filed the report last Friday after she didnt make it back to Overland Park from Harrisonville, Missouri. Accused shooter charged in Washington D.C. Jewish museum shooting There have been a lot of people who have put an enormous amount of effort to try to find my mother, and unfortunately, it hasnt panned out yet, but they havent given up, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone keeps reminding us that even after this amount of time, she could still be found alive, so thats just what we are hoping for. He believes she may have gotten lost on the drive back to Overland Park. It is incredibly apparent that she just got lost, turned around, passing the same intersection multiple times, many times, so close to her retirement community, but never quite made it there, he added. Her vehicle, a grey 2009 Honda Accord, was found in Cowley County, Kansas, which is south of Wichita, and hours away from her residence in Overland Park, Kansas. Basically, all hands are on deck. We are still looking for her. Weve located her vehicle. She was not inside her vehicle, Officer John Lacy, the Overland Park Police Departments Public Information Officer, shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Dave Falletti, with the Cowley County Sheriffs Office, says once the vehicle was recovered, a search was immediately started for her. The area it was found in has been searched by helicopters, drones, horses, side-by-sides, four-wheelers, trackers, specialized dog teams and water rescue units, the Cowley County Sherriffs Office said via Facebook. Now, dozens of volunteers have been requested for a full-grid search Thursday. It took place Thursday morning in the 4000 block of 327th Road, Cambridge, Kansas. Johnson County woman among victims shot near DC Jewish museum McConnell is a Tallgrass Creek resident in Overland Park. Shes lived there since August of 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The retirement community sent FOX4 the following statement: At Tallgrass Creek, the well-being of all who live and work at our community is always our highest priority. We are deeply concerned about Jerry, a Tallgrass Creek resident, and our thoughts and prayers remain focused on her safety. We are committed to continuing to work closely with authorities and supporting the residents family in all search efforts. Sheriff Falletti, of Cowley County, says the terrain where the search is being conducted is vast and hilly and on private property. Hes hopeful, though shes survived after being missing for a week. If she is no longer with us here on this Earth, she knew she was headed to a better place, her son Rick shared. First thing would be that we find Jerry alive and whatever level of well she can be after a week, but if that doesnt pan out, then obviously some sort of resolution for myself and my sister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rick McConnell has commended law enforcement and their efforts, from Overland Park to Cowley County. Quindaro Townsite designated as National Historic Landmark Once this got in the hands of the Overland Park Police Department, and their detective, things really started to progress quickly, but we had from Friday night, all day Saturday, all day Sunday, nothing happened because there was no detective assigned to this. If you see Jerry McConnell, please call 9-1-1 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, call the Overland Park Police Department at (913)-895-6300. O.P.P.D says there is evidence that Ms. McConnell was last near Severy, KS on the afternoon of 5/15/25. Investigators share she is also considered an at-risk adult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. One of the men charged in a race that ended in a deadly school van crash was found guilty of most charges in court. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 15-year-old student killed in school van crash in Dravosburg Two days of mixed emotions because we have to relive this over and over, Nenita Kalkbrenner told Channel 11. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Not easy: Samantha Kalkbrenners parents volunteer at fish fry in her memory Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the second trial the Kalkbrenners have had to sit through in connection to the death of their 15-year-old daughter Samantha. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man pleads guilty in school van crash that killed 15-year-old Serra Catholic student Today, Allegheny County Judge Bruce Beemer determined Andrew Voigt is guilty of five counts of reckless endangerment. Hes the second man who was charged in connection to Samathas death after he was driving approximately 90 miles per hour on Richland Avenue in Dravosburg, back in September of 2023. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Family, friends of local cheerleader killed in school van crash hold fundraiser in her memory Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since that day, police suspected Voigt and William Soliday, the other driver, were drag racing on the busy highway. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> New videos played in court show moment just before deadly school van crash in Dravosburg Solidays car crashed into the van, and Samatha was killed. Voigt never stopped, and kept driving. We are just happy that he was able to find him guilty of most of the charges. We were a little worried about how that was going to play out, Karl Kalkbrenner said During the trial, Voigts attorney attempted to shift blame for the crash to the van bus driver who tested positive for traces cocaine after the crash, but was never charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Driver of Serra Catholic school van had cocaine in his system at time of deadly crash, sources say We werent too worried about that, really, because we knew from the beginning the toxicology screening said he was not under the influence, he added. Voigt will be sentenced in August, where he could face jail time. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 23. Kyrgyz Post national company plans to launch a national e-commerce marketplace in Kyrgyzstan, the companys General Director Marat Cherikchiev announced during the "Kyrgyzstan 2025" National Marketplaces Forum, Trend reports. According to Cherikchiev, the project will be implemented in partnership with Eldik Bank, with support from the Ministry of Digital Development and Innovative Technologies, which is the main shareholder of Kyrgyz Post. The initiative aims to enhance logistics infrastructure and improve international delivery services, particularly within the framework of cross-border trade. Cherikchiev noted that the platform is designed to expand opportunities for Kyrgyz producers and increase the countrys export potential. Kyrgyz Post, in cooperation with the Association of Cross-Border E-Commerce and Logistics, is hosting the first national marketplaces forum, bringing together entrepreneurs, manufacturers, logistics specialists, and e-commerce stakeholders. It is worth noting that on December 26, 2024, Kyrgyzstan announced the launch of its first domestic online marketplace Lemon Shopping, a unique platform that combines the functions of a marketplace, streaming service, and social network. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Johan Helberg was asleep at home when a 440-foot-long cargo ship crashed into his backyard. The NCL Salten was transporting goods to the Norwegian town of Orkanger when it ran aground. The ship's owner said it had run aground twice in 2023 and 2024. A 440-foot-long cargo ship ran aground beside a house in Byneset, Norway, on Thursday morning, local time. "If the ship had hit the rocky cliff right next to it, it would have lifted up and hit the house hard. It wasn't many meters off," Johan Helberg, the owner of the house, told local newspaper Nidaros. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helberg said he was asleep when the ship ran aground and did not know what happened until his neighbor alerted him. "I thought, who in the world rings the doorbell at 5:45 in the morning? I looked out the window, and he said: 'Haven't you seen the ship?'" Helberg told The New York Times in an interview published Thursday. There were 16 men aboard the NCL Salten, Helberg said in his interview with the Times. The boat was captained by a Norwegian, and its crew comprises Russians and Ukrainians, Helberg said. Helberg told the Times that his neighbor, Jostein Jrgensen, was "in shock all day" after seeing the ship plow into their backyard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jrgensen told the local media outlet TV 2 that he heard the ship at around 5 a.m. local time. "When I looked out the window, I saw a boat moving at full speed towards shore," Jrgensen said, adding that he expected the ship to turn course initially. But the ship only stopped moving when it was about "six to eight meters" from Helberg's house wall, Jrgensen told TV 2. Jostein Jrgensen said he initially expected the ship to change course, but it only stopped "six to eight meters" from Helberg's house. Jan Langhaug/NTB/AFP via Getty Images The NCL Salten was transporting goods to Orkanger, a town in Trondheim, Norway, when the crash occurred, per TV 2's report. The ship is owned by Baltnautic, a Lithuanian shipping company. Baltnautic CEO Bente Hetland told the Times that "nobody was injured in the grounding." She added that the company does not know "what caused the incident and are awaiting the conclusion of the ongoing investigation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hetland told TV 2 that the NCL Salten had run aground twice before, both times in Norway. The ship ran aground in Hadsel in 2023 and in Alesund in 2024. Baltnautic did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The Norwegian Coastal Administration said on Thursday that no injuries or oil spills had been reported. It added that Baltnautic and the salvaging company it hired could not "pull the ship off the ground at high tide" with a tugboat on Thursday evening. "Geotechnical investigations will be carried out, and the shipping company's salvage company is awaiting the results of these to determine whether special considerations need to be taken when the ship is to be pulled off. We expect the investigations to take some time," the statement continued. Read the original article on Business Insider LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A longtime attorney who police said referred to himself as a gorilla pimp, agreed to a plea deal, records said. Gary Guymon, 62, appeared in court Thursday for what began as a sex trafficking case with an alleged murder-for-hire plot. Guymon entered no contest pleas to felony charges, including bribing or intimidating a witness to influence testimony and coercion. Guymon also agreed to permanent disbarment, according to prosecutors. Clark County District Court Judge Christy Craig scheduled Guymons sentencing for July 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guymon initially faced sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, pandering, and bribing or intimidating a witness to influence testimony. Las Vegas Metro police said Guymon forced women he represented to perform sexual acts on himself and his friends and in one case, orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot. Police arrested Guymon on Feb. 3 Guymon referred to his prostitution ring as the $100 club, according to an arrest report the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Call me your mother******* pimp, Guymon texted one woman, according to the report. Offer any resistance, and I just might smash your [expletive] teeth out of your mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police began their investigation in November and identified four victims from August 2024 through the end of January, they said. Two of the alleged victims were involved in prostitution cases. Police listened to Guymons communications, obtained text messages, conducted multiple interviews and surveilled Guymon for the investigation. Guymon referred to himself as a Demon of validation, according to police. Guymon forced one woman to use a sex toy and threatened her with incarceration if she did not follow his orders, police said. Guymon purchased a Range Rover and leased an apartment for another woman who said the relationship moved from attorney/client to romantic, the report stated. Guymon is married. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the relationship took a turn, Guymon sent numerous threatening text messages, police said. I just became your mother******* gorilla pimp!!!! Guymon texted, according to the report. Effective immediately: you will do what I tell you to do. You will date who I tell you to date. You will not break stride. You will march forward. The arrest report noted that Gorilla pimp, refers to a pimp who is known to be physically violent towards his prostitutes. You will suck my **** when I tell you to. You will wear what I tell you to wear. You will speak when I tell you to speak. And you will be better off and so will your daughter, Guymon texted, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the woman attempted to get a restraining order against him, Guymon repeatedly threatened her, police said. In exchange for withholding testimony against Guymon and withholding complaints to the Nevada State Bar, Guymon and his friend offered the woman $1,000 per month, the report stated. When the woman did not obey, Guymon reached out to a convicted felon who connected him with another convicted felon who had a previous arrest for murder to discuss killing the woman in exchange for money, according to the arrest report. Police uncovered text messages between Guymon and his friends, including at least one married Las Vegas attorney, where Guymon appears to organize meetings where he would force the women to have sex with his friends, the report described. In an interview with police, Guymon denied introducing clients of his to associates of his for sexual acts, documents said. He stated multiple times he was just attempting to help the females out and would occasionally receive lap dances from them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of their investigation, police surveilled and tracked Guymon for several weeks Guymon previously worked in the Clark County District Attorneys Office. To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@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. Imagine if a photo could tell you more about your health than your last check-up? A groundbreaking study from Mass General Brigham, published in journal The Lancet Digital Health, recently introduced FaceAge, an AI tool that estimates a persons biological age from a simple photograph. Doctors, myself included, still rely on the eyeball testa split-second judgment of whether a patient looks robust or frail, said Dr. Raymond Mak, a radiation oncologist and the director of clinical innovation for his department at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center, the faculty leader in AI implementation for the artificial intelligence in medicine (AIM) program at Mass General Brigham and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, as well as a co-senior author of the study. More from Flow Space Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That snap impression is subjective, yet it influences treatment decision making every day, he told Flow Space. So, researchers were curious just how well AI could help doctors diagnose. What they found was that in patients with cancer, looking biologically older than your chronological age, was linked with worse survival outcomes (on average, the FaceAge of cancer patients was about five years older than their chronological age). According to the study, FaceAge not only revealed aging patterns invisible to the naked eye but also outperformed doctors in predicting short-term life expectancy for patients receiving palliative care. Our goal was to improve that judgment from a subjective glance to a reproducible, data-driven metric by developing an artificial intelligence algorithm called FaceAge, Mak explained. Such a tool gives doctors the ability to assess patient health at low-cost and repeatedly over time with just a simple face photograph. How FaceAge Works An AI algorithm like FaceAge works by taking an image of a patient and then analyzing that image against a database of images of healthy individuals and those with cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mak and his team recently expanded their datasets to include millions of healthy individuals and over 20,000 cancer patients to develop an even more accurate FaceAge algorithm and to test AI performance across a larger and more diverse group of patients. Also, we are doing some technical work to understand how the algorithm performs over different conditions including things like, varying skin tone, impact of cosmetic surgery, use of make-up or different lighting conditions and facial expression like whether someone is smiling or sad, he added. From there every image quantitatively produces a biological age estimation that is generated the same way every time, regardless of a clinicians experience level, fatigue or unconscious assumptions. Selfies for health!, exclaimed Mak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When trained on a large and demographically varied set of face photos, the algorithm applies a consistent rule-set to every image, reducing the variability that creeps into one-to-one visual assessments, he added. It does not replace the physicians judgement, but it does support that judgement with an objective reference point and flags when a patients biological age appears discordant with their stated age. While the study did have limitations and biaseswith further validation in larger, ethnically diverse and younger cohorts necessary before clinical adoptionFaceAge offers valuable prognostic insights independent of conventional clinical factors, with statistically significant results, even after adjusting for chronological age, sex and cancer type. Mak added that doctors with access to FaceAge information have improved performance and reduced variability in predicting outcomes. By flagging people who are biologically older than their years, the technology could help us spot elevated risk for age-related conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, he said. How AI Is Enhancing Healthcare For midlife womenwho are most commonly diagnosed with breast, lung and gastrointestinal cancersAI and FaceAge could have life changing implications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new AI models are a different breed than the AI of the early 2000s, now with an ability to learn and evolve, Dr. Katerina Dodelzon, a radiologist specializing in breast imaging and an associate professor of radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Flow Space. New advances in AI include subsets termed machine learning, which is an AI that can learn to make predictions or decisions, and its subset of deep learning, which uses artificial neural networks. The more data a machine learning model is exposed to, the better it performs over time. She says it can also help with: Earlier and More Accurate Detection Midlife women benefit greatly from early cancer detection, which improves survival rates for: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breast Cancer : AI can detect subtle changes in mammograms up to two years earlier than radiologists. Lung Cancer : AI can flag early-stage nodules in low-dose CT scans. GI Cancers: AI-assisted colonoscopy improves adenoma detection rate. Personalized Treatment Plans AI helps oncologists tailor therapies based on a patients unique profile: Genomic Data Analysis : AI can interpret massive genomic datasets to find actionable mutations. For example, in breast cancer, it helps identify candidates for hormone therapy, HER2-targeted therapy or immunotherapy, says Dodelzon. Treatment Optimization: AI evaluates past patient responses to suggest optimal chemotherapy regimens, dosage and predict side effects. Management Remote Monitoring Tools : Wearables and AI apps can track vital signs, symptoms and treatment side effects. This supports real-time intervention and minimizes doctor visits. AI Chatbots & Virtual Health Assistants: These can answer questions, schedule appointments and provide appointment and medication reminders. Equity and Access Many midlife women face healthcare disparities based on race, income or geography. And for women living in healthcare deserts, where access to care is limited, AI can: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Improve Access to Expertise : AI tools bring expert-level diagnostic and treatment planning to underserved or rural areas via telehealth. Language and Literacy Support: AI-powered translation and plain-language medical explanations empower patients to understand and make informed choices. The Future of AI in Healthcare For Mak and his team harnessing AI to save more lives is the ultimate goal. They are currently developing new facial health recognition algorithms that can predict survival directly or other health conditions, in addition to conducting genetic analyses on a larger group of patients and opening two prospective studies. One is a clinical trial in cancer patients where we will compare FaceAge against conventional assessments of frailty in elderly patients, said Mak. Second, we are about to open a healthy volunteer portal where people in the public can upload photos and get their own FaceAge estimateand their photos will help us develop improved algorithms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the future of AI in healthcare is set to be transformative, shifting the industry from reactive to highly proactive, personalized and precise. Dodelzon says rather than replacing doctors, AI will augment their capabilities. This support will help catch conditions earlier, reduce diagnostic errors and streamline clinical decision-making. By leveraging vast datasets, AI will recommend treatment options tailored not only to clinical guidelines but also to a patients unique biology and preferences. Moreover, AI will take over many of the time-consuming administrative tasks that burden healthcare professionals, such as documentation, billing and charting, which allows for more meaningful patient interaction and personalized care. I think the current advances and the future development and promise of these tools is very exciting, with the potential to augment many of the routine detection and characterization tasks, and even more exciting to me, the potential to provide more prognostic in addition to diagnostic information, Dodelzon said. But that is what they aretools in our doctors bag that allow us to do more for our patients. A Martian selfie is giving Earthbound astronomers a look at environmental details on the red planets surface. But the selfie was not taken by an extraterrestrial. Rather, it was a manmade explorer. On May 10, NASAs Perseverance Mars rover used its 1,500th sol, or Martian day, to take a selfie from the edge of the Jezero Crater called Witch Hazel Hill, according to NASA on Wednesday. The selfie came together using a compilation of 59 individual pictures showing the whole rover and the Martian surface, NASA stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get that selfie look, each WATSON [Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering] image has to have its own unique field of view, Megan Wu, a Perseverance imaging scientist from Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego, said in NASAs statement. That means we had to make 62 precision movements of the robotic arm. The whole process takes about an hour, but its worth it. Unique to the complete image is a swirling natural phenomenon seen on Earth. To the left of the center of the image is a dust devil, located 3 miles to the north in Neretva Vallis, Justin Maki, Perseverance imaging lead at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in NASAs statement. Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic, Wu said. This is a great shot. Located on a gray spot just below the rover is the Bell Island borehole, in which the rover collected a sample of Mars soil, astronomers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The selfie also gives NASA a chance to see what the Perseverance rover looks like over four years since it landed on the red planet. Though covered in dust, an American flag can still be seen on the rovers chassis. At the time the selfie was taken, Perseverance analyzed 37 rocks and boulders, collected 26 rock cores and has used its six wheels to drive more than 22 miles since it landed. More news about the night sky Read the original article on MassLive. A semi-truck vs. car collision took out power lines and partially closed the road near the intersection of North Meridian and River Road in Puyallup Thursday afternoon, according to the Puyallup Police Department. An X post sent just before 3:30 p.m. advised people to take alternate routes around the area. Traffic has been reduced to one lane for drivers traveling eastbound on River Road turning north onto North Meridian, according to the post and Puyallup police spokesperson Kevin Gill. Gill said the semi-truck collided with a car and pushed the car into a power pole. Puget Sound Energy is on the way, he said at about 3:40 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Puget Sound Energy outage map shows 13 customers impacted in the area near the collision and that the agency is assessing damage as of a 3:35 p.m. update to the map. The estimated restoration time is 6 p.m. today, the map said. Gill said that the driver of the involved car has been arrested on suspicion of DUI. The Washington State Patrol will do a commercial vehicle check on the semi-truck to check that the truck is in compliance with safety regulations, he said. He said he would expect the scene will be cleared in a couple hours, but that the closure may cause some significant traffic issues for the time being because of higher traffic levels anticipated in the area on the Thursday afternoon before the Memorial Day weekend. A substitute teacher in Seminole County is facing battery charges after allegedly hitting a student who has autism. Jeffrey Jung, a substitute teacher at Seminole High School, was arrested Monday by Sanford police. According to a report, witnesses said Jung punched the student in the ribs and arm while he was lying on a mat. Officials said a staff member stepped in to stop the alleged attack. Seminole County Public Schools sent us a statement to Channel 9 saying that he is no longer an employee with the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School officials said they are also fully cooperating with law enforcement. Channel 9 has a crew working to gather more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced a bipartisan bill this week to protect farmers while cutting government spending. The bipartisan Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would bring more transparency to checkoff programs, used to aid the marketing and development of agricultural products. Checkoff programs resulted in influential slogans like Got Milk? and Beef. Its Whats for Dinner that allowed farmers to advertise large scale without any individual branding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stakeholders like farmers, producers and importers pool their resources to fund the checkoff program, which are directed by multiple boards. The bipartisan bill has a mix of Democratic and Republican sponsors in addition to Lee, including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rand Paul, R-Ky. But some programs exhibited fraudulent and unethical behavior in their use of funds, a press release from Lees office said. In one instance, an investigation found that a U.S. Department of Agriculture subcontractor used the program as a way to pay his employees unauthorized bonuses of approximately $302,000. A recent audit from the U.S. Government Accountability Office said the Agriculture Department fails to properly review its subcontractors and needs more oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees bill would address these gaps by implementing accountability and transparency measures. Americas farmers are being ripped off by federal checkoff programs that take farmers money and play favorites with who they serve, he said. These programs have a reputation for hurting farmers through financial fraud and deceptive practices. Under this bill, checkoff programs with more than $20 million in revenue from government contracts would be prohibited from working for parties that influence government policy. An exception would be made for educational institutions. The OFF Act also prohibits checkoff program board members and employees from engaging in decisions that involve a conflict of interest or any anticompetitive, deceptive or disparaging practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also requires checkoff boards to release their budget and undergo periodic audits by the inspector general of the Agriculture Department and the comptroller general. Checkoff dollars too often get channeled to lobbying groups who advocate against the best interests of many of the farmers who are required to pay into the program, Booker said in the press release. This bipartisan bill will prohibit conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices in these checkoff programs and will ensure that these programs work better for our farmers and ranchers. The bill was endorsed by several organizations that represent 200,000 American farmers and ranchers, according to the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americas farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists, said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. We face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. Its the USDAs job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. He called the bills provisions common sense reforms. Kansas Cattlemans Association Founder Mike Schultz echoed Maxwells sentiments. Scandal after scandal has proven the longterm corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here, said Schultz. American family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 23. The construction of Kyrgyzstans National Operations Center for managing the centralized automated electricity metering system (AEMS) has been completed, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Energy. The project, launched in 2023, was implemented with grant support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which provided approximately $10.5 million and 10,779 smart meters. Its main goal is to enhance digitalization and energy efficiency in the countrys power sector. According to the ministry, the AEMS architecture is engineered to orchestrate the management of up to 1.5 million smart metering devices across the nation, seamlessly integrating both legacy and contemporary technologies. The initiative encompasses comprehensive personnel development modules tailored for the operational hub. The project is led by the Ministry of Energy and implemented in cooperation with the National Electric Grid of Kyrgyzstan. The Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI) and Korea Telecom (KT) are executive partners. The launch of the data center is scheduled for August 2025. BOSTON (WWLP) The Senate is almost done with its budget negotiations after adding $74 million to the bottom line, and mostly Republican amendments remain on the table. The original bottom line of this budget is $61.32 billion, and senators have been considering 1,058 amendments that would add at least $2 billion more. During Wednesdays debates, senators dealt with more than 300 of these amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senators chose to add funding for reduced fares for students on public transportation, regional libraries, a jail diversion program, and pediatric palliative care. The proceedings also included a rare real debate, instead of just pre-written remarks. Senators argued back and forth for 90 minutes on prescription drug price caps, which ultimately passed. Opponents expressed worries about passing the policy-heavy amendment without public hearings. Westfield Senator John Velis took the floor to change a policy that ends benefits for Gold-Star spouses should they remarry. The Senate president says the amendment is common sense. It makes no sense, we changed that so the surviving spouse can keep the benefits. Thats important to families, said Senate President Karen Spilka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senators still need to make a decision on 156 amendments,142 of which were filed by Republicans, and the vast majority of which were filed by minority leader Bruce Tarr. Once the remaining 156 amendments are settled, the House and Senate will need to reconcile their differences and send a compromise budget to the governors desk. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A bill that would require parents to have to agree up front to allow their children to take the Youth Behavioral Risk Survey cleared its final hurdle in the state Senate Thursday. Senate passes bill to make parents gatekeepers of risk behavior survey State Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester and standing, speaks to try and convince the State Senate to pass legislation so parents have to give permission in advance for their children to take a state risk behavior survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester, led the effort to convince the Senate to overturn its Senate Education Committee, which had recommended killing the bill (HB 446) by a 3-2 margin. Instead, the Senate passed it on a party line 16-8 vote with all Republicans in support and all Democrats opposed to it. This isnt counseling. We are asking very intimate questions of students and there is no help for them if they are facing these issues, Sullivan said. These surveys are not safe for children. This is the only non-academic survey given in which children take it unless the parents affirmatively opt out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka said the change could lower the participation rate of the survey below 60%, which would make it no longer valid for use by state agencies and non-profit groups that use results in applications for federal and private grants. Thanks to the data these surveys provide, we have made great progress on substance misuse and mental health by identifying the problem and creating tailored solutions all while still empowering parents with the ability to opt out, and their child with the ability to skip questions, Perkins Kwoka said. The data is anonymous, accurate, and absolutely crucial to ensuring our kids have the best shot at a successful future. These problems dont magically go away if we dont ask about them its time we reinforce our prevention efforts, not abandon them. Sullivan: It is not anonymous Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan disagreed with that final point, noting the survey begins with a series of specific personal questions that make it easy for educators or others to identify who has taken it. It is not anonymous, Sullivan said. Jenny OHiggins, with the Department of Health and Human Services, said during a recent hearing the current rate of students who take the test (hovers) between 62% and 65%. OHiggins said the state receives $60 million in grants to address concerns identified in the survey such as unprotected sex, alcohol or drug misuse, mental health behaviors along with thoughts about suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics also maintain the survey has become a source for fundraising by non-profit groups. This is akin to using students as focus groups in a forced environment, said Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton. Currently, state law requires schools to make the surveys available to parents at least 10 days before being administered. The bill would add that parents receive a personal email along with changing to an opt-out process. Sen. Suzanne Prentiss, D-Lebanon, sponsored an amendment to require the email notice, but to retain the opt-in provision. The Senate rejected it by the same 16-8 vote. Unfortunately, my colleagues voted against our police, schools and providers who rely on this data to care for and protect our children, Prentiss said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats Next: This House-passed bill heads to the desk of Gov. Kelly Ayotte. Prospects: The governor has raised no public concerns about it and appears in keeping with her call to advance legislation that enhances parental rights in education. klandrigan@unionleader.com The Scoop Senate Republicans are hotly debating whether to do a full teardown of the Houses sweeping tax and spending bill, or gently renovate it. Right now, the renovators are winning out. The upper chamber is likely to make substantive changes to the House-passed tax cuts legislation, according to interviews with a half-dozen GOP senators on Thursday. And they wont be on small matters. But the idea of tearing up the bill and passing something wildly different isnt exactly catching on, even among those who have issues with President Donald Trumps megabill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know about blowing things up, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, one of the more independent-minded senators, told Semafor. You can kind of see the writing on the wall here. Youve got Republicans in the House that have been able to move something out. Youve got a Republican majority here, and you have a president who very clearly wants this to pass, Murkowski added. Count her among those who want to change the House bills Medicaid language, a hot topic among Republicans who are worried about coverage losses and hospitals closing. She also wants to take a look at the Houses quick phase out of Biden-era clean energy tax credits. Senate Republicans are also looking at slashing the Houses generous state and local tax deduction, or SALT, changing its spectrum auction language and potentially beefing up the child tax credit. But House and Senate leaders have been coordinating for weeks, and Republicans believe theres a decent chance that the Senate passes something that closely resembles what the House passed on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres been a lot of coordination, said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., after the GOPs first party meeting since House passage. Theres going to be some changes, but theyve laid down a good bill, and, you know, we make sure it fits our rules and I believe were going to make some changes and pass it. The Senate has a goal of passing its bill by July 4, which would give them four weeks after next weeks recess. That would require not just negotiating a bill that gets 50 votes but also navigating the unlimited Senate vote-a-rama and making sure the parliamentarian signs off on the bills filibuster protections. Its a tall order, but after seeing Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump jam through a bill after a week of bellyaching from holdouts, it no longer seems crazy. There will be a Senate viewpoint and changes. There will be a lot of similarities, but therell be differences, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Its too early to tell how big and broad the differences are going to be. Know More Some Republicans want huge structural changes to the bill. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., wants to strip the debt ceiling out and others want far larger spending cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not going to vote for it with minor tweaks. I think everybodys kind of happy talking and get together and pull together and gotta do this and that crap. Thats the way theyre going to try to make it go, said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. Whether he can make bigger changes, he said, depends whether weve got four people saying: No, were mortgaging our kids future, its immoral and its gotta stop. Johnson mentioned Paul along with Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, as aligned on the issue. Republicans can afford to lose only three votes on the Senate floor and still pass the bill. But after Trump overcame similar obstacles in the House, its now the Senates turn to contend with the White Houses pressure campaign. And Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said that the chamber should try to pass a version of the bill that the House can accept, rather than ping-ponging the legislation back and forth. That all depends on what sort of changes the House can stomach. Hawley calls a co-payment requirement on some Medicaid beneficiaries a sick tax and wants to take a look at the provider tax that could threaten hospitals, Capito said clean energy tax credits have created jobs, really good jobs, and good companies. So we want to make sure we do it right. And Hoeven said some of the House bills agriculture policy is at risk because Senate rules on so-called budget reconciliation bills could knock it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spectrum is going to be corrected, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who wants to enshrine protections to certain bands from spectrum auctions. Everybodys acknowledging it has to be changed. I think the House was expecting us to do the fix. House leaders have been trying to convince the Senate not to change the bill too much. But, Capito said, I think they expect some changes. After all, the Senates been telegraphing them for a while. Notable The Texas House and Senate will kick off negotiations on a bill that would scrap STAAR, the state standardized test widely criticized for taking instructional time away from teachers and putting enormous burdens on students. House Bill 4 would swap the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test for a shorter test that aims to better support student learning. Students would be tested at the beginning, middle and end of the year to monitor their progress. The House version of the bill got near unanimous support earlier this month. The bill then got a 23-8 vote in the Senate but not before the upper chamber did a rewrite of the legislation. That Senate rewrite reflects the gap between what the two chambers want to see out of the new state assessment and the A-F accountability ratings that are largely calculated based on assessment results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [$8.5 billion school funding package passes Texas Senate] "We sent a transformational school assessment accountability reform bill from the House to the Senate," Rep. Brad Buckley, the author of the legislation, said on the House floor Thursday. "They have changed multiple parts of it. They have waded into some areas where I feel like ... [it] does not really meet the moment of what we need in our schools." The House and Senate will continue negotiations in a closed-door conference committee as the clock running out on the legislative session. The Senate's own bill on testing and accountability, Senate Bill 1962, met its demise earlier this week when it failed to meet a key House deadline to be heard on the chamber floor. That makes the two chambers's negotiations over HB 4 critical if legislators want to make good on their promises to end the STAAR test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate changes to HB 4 absorbs much of the language from SB 1962. The House had started the session with much of that language but moved away from it after public testimony and closed-door meetings with school leaders. The House favors grading Texas students by comparing their performance to their peers around the country, what is known as a norm-referenced test. Proponents of this kind of test say it allows students and their families to get results back faster. The House also wants to eliminate a mandatory standardized test on social studies. The Senate, meanwhile, wants to give the Texas Education Agency more flexibility on how to grade students, keep the mandatory social studies test and make the beginning and middle-of-the-year assessments optional. Students STAAR performance is a key metric in the state's ratings of school districts and school campuses, which are graded on an A-F scale each year. School performance ratings were held up in court because of two consecutive years with lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houses bill also left an avenue for districts to sue to challenge the TEA in the future, but set up a fast-track court process so those lawsuits do not halt the release of the ratings. The Senates bill, meanwhile, doubled down on discouraging schools from taking legal action again. It gives the TEA commissioner, for example, the option to appoint a conservator to districts that initiate a lawsuit. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican sponsoring the bill in the Senate, has repeatedly slammed districts who joined the lawsuits over the A-F ratings in the past, calling the action lawfare. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. 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! WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Some members of Congress are sounding the alarm about the Trump administrations new limits on booster COVID-19 shots. The FDA plans to make the vaccines available to adults 65 and older and children and younger adults with high-risk health issues. It seems like the announcement would take away peoples ability to make that choice on their own, said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) during a committee hearing Thursday over the FDAs budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think we should be pushing this on healthy six-year-old girls without any evidence every year for the rest of their lives, said FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary. Makary said there is now broad immunity and a different virus circulating. We dont know the right amount of boosters that a healthy American should take, Makary said. Makary is asking vaccine companies to collect that data. Some of these companies made $100 billion on the Covid booster, Makary said. They can afford to run a clinical trial, and they have time to run a clinical trial. Shaheen asked when Americans would know whether they could get the shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not trying to trick you here, she said. Im just trying to get some answers. And Im not trying to not answer your question, Makary responded. Its just different for each age group. Makary said in general though, he expects a decision within a year. Vaccine experts warn it remains unclear whether insurers will keep paying for the shots for everyone and whether newborns could still get vaccinated. The FDA is not the final word here. The CDC meets next month to issue its own recommendations on the COVID-19 boosters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Describing it as an act of "senseless hate," former Palm Beach County congressman Ted Deutch condemned the May 21 killings of two young Israeli diplomats outside a Washington, D.C., event hosted by the organization he now leads. Now the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, Deutch confirmed that Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum as they were leaving the AJC's Young Diplomats reception. The Israeli foreign ministry said Lischinsky, 30, and Milgrim, 26, were locally employed staff members and, according to multiple published reports, the two had been involved in efforts to promote dialogue between young Israelis and Palestinians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were a couple and had planned to become engaged to be married in late May in Jerusalem. ADL: Antisemitic acts down in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2024 but troubling trends persist D.C. police say gunman cried 'Free Palestine' after shooting Sarah and Yaron were stolen from us, Deutch, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2010 until 2022 and whose district included parts of Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, said in a prepared statement. Moments before they were murdered, they were smiling, laughing, and enjoying an event with colleagues and friends. We are in shock and heartbroken as we attempt to process this immense tragedy. Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee and a former congressman from Palm Beach County, is seen here at a rally on behalf of Israel in October 2023 in West Palm Beach. He called for an end to 'this senseless hate and violence' in the wake of the fatal shootings outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 2025. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith identified the suspected shooter as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, and told reporters in Washington that Rodriguez had chanted "Free Palestine, Free Palestine," after security officers at the event took him into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Justice Department has charged Rodriguez with offenses including murder of foreign officials. Deutch thanked President Donald Trump and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser for their swift action and support. "While we wait for the conclusion of the police investigation and urge all our friends and allies to do the same it strongly appears that this was an attack motivated by hate against the Jewish people and the Jewish state, " he said. "This senseless hate and violence must stop." 'Heartbroken': 19-year-old man killed in Boynton Beach motorcycle crash was PBSO cadet Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County 'heartbroken' over shooting The incident also drew reactions from officials in Palm Beach County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think as a community, we're all just absolutely heartbroken by the events that took place last night in Washington, D.C.," said Michael Hoffman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. "These are just two young people whose lives were senselessly taken away for no reason, other than the fact they were Jewish and that they worked for the Israeli embassy." Hoffman said there was no indication that local synagogues or Jewish centers were at a heightened risk, but noted that the federation has an office of community security that works with local and federal law-enforcement agencies to assess potential threats. "We're always trying to anticipate potential risks and threats against the Jewish community, and providing security that ensures that constituents of the Jewish community feel as though that they can attend synagogues or the Jewish community center and feel that they are safe and secure and they can engage in a very vibrant Jewish experience," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Anti-Defamation League's annual audit of antisemitic incidents tracked a total of 9,354 incidents in the U.S. in 2024, the highest total since the organization began tracking incidents 46 ago. In Florida, Palm Beach County had the highest number of reported incidents last year despite seeing a decrease from the number of cases reported in 2023. The county had 51 incidents in 2024, down from 83 the previous year, the ADL's Florida chapter reported. Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: South Florida Jewish leaders decry deaths of two Israeli diplomats SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Officials in San Francisco are investigating a series of recent fires at playgrounds. Earlier this week, a jungle gym at Lafayette Elementary School in the Richmond District was destroyed by a fire. That was the second unexplained fire to strike the school at 4545 Anza Street in less than a month. The first incident occurred on May 1 when an outdoor storage shed on school grounds was ignited at 1:30 a.m. Meta reportedly targets low performers again, stoking fears of layoffs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, KRON4 obtained photos of a third playground fire at Lincoln Park Playground. The photos showed massive damage to the playground, which is located at a 100-acre park near the Legion of Honor museum. Photo: KRON4 Photo: KRON4 Photo: KRON4 Photo: KRON4 The San Francisco Unified School District told KRON4 it is working with local authorities to investigate the fires at Lafayette Elementary. No one was injured in either fire, and neither fire damaged the main school building, according to SFUSD. We understand that two incidents in a short time is concerning, and we are working closely with the Fire Department to investigate both cases, SFUSD said. The cause remains under investigation and we are taking the situation very seriously. Until the investigation is complete, we are not making assumptions about the causes of the fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KRON4 has reached out to the San Francisco Fire Department and the San Francisco Police Department for more information regarding the Lincoln Park fire. We have yet to 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 KRON4. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of New Jersey left for Vatican City earlier this month to help select the next pope a rare moment on the global stage for one of the most powerful Catholic leaders in the United States. Back home, Seton Hall University the oldest Catholic diocesan university in America, where Tobin personally oversees both governing boards was preparing to defy him. A day after the new pontiff was chosen on May 8, attorneys for the university blocked a key witness from participating in a clergy abuse investigation Tobin had ordered, according to a court filing. That inquiry centers on whether Seton Halls new president, Monsignor Joseph Reilly, was installed despite past mishandling of abuse allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now Tobins own archdiocese is trying to regain control. The moves expose a conflict at the highest levels of Catholic education pitting Tobin against the university he oversees and threatens to unravel his public promises of transparency with the schools full cooperation . Joseph Nyre, the universitys former president, had been scheduled to speak with investigators until Seton Hall intervened. In his first public comments since leaving the presidency, Nyre said in a statement: Either the Cardinal has been overruled by his own board, including the bishops who sit on it, or the openness he promised is being applied only when convenient. The public deserves to know which it is. Seton Hall did not respond to a message seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, ordered a comprehensive investigation into clergy abuse in February, several weeks after POLITICO reported that Reilly was found in a 2019 inquiry to have not properly reported abuse allegations years prior as a seminary leader. That earlier investigation came in response to sexual abuse claims against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the longtime archbishop of Newark and Washington, D.C. It found decades of sexual harassment and a culture of fear and intimidation under McCarrick, according to a summary published by the university. McCarrick died last month at age 94. Reilly, who once served as a secretary to McCarrick, was not accused of abuse himself. But an action plan adopted by the university recommended he be removed from school boards and not hold leadership positions there. He took a year-long sabbatical and, after Nyres departure, became university president last year with unanimous support of the schools Board of Regents and Tobin, who called Reilly the right person at the right time for Seton Hall. Mind-boggling and outrageous In February, Tobin hired the law firm Ropes & Gray to essentially investigate the investigation, and to review the action plan the university adopted as a result. Tobin said his inquiry would examine how the findings related to Reilly and whether they were communicated to any and all appropriate personnel at the Archdiocese and Seton Hall University. Nyre was president of the university when the 2019 investigation by lawyers at Latham & Watkins concluded and its findings were delivered to university leaders through another law firm, Gibbons P.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nyre left the presidency in 2023 and filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university last year, claiming a series of retaliatory measures against him. In a statement after filing an amended complaint this month in state Superior Court, an attorney said Nyre formally and confidentially disclosed to University officials that Monsignor Reilly had previously been found ineligible due to serious Title IX failures yet Seton Hall retaliated instead of investigating, referring to the federal law against sex-based discrimination and harassment. Nyre had been scheduled to speak with Ropes & Gray on May 9. But a lawyer for Seton Hall, Tom Scrivo, said in a letter to Nyres attorneys that contractual obligations blocked Nyre from sharing any confidential information he may have as a result of his employment as president. There is no exception to that broad prohibition that would permit Dr. Nyre to answer any questions at an interview regarding any matter within the scope of the Ropes review, Scrivo wrote. He added that an April 4 court order in the ongoing litigation between Nyre and Seton Hall was unambiguous that Nyre cannot share confidential information with Ropes & Gray. That still defies the intent of the investigation to one lawmaker who has publicly pressured Seton Hall for more accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cardinal Tobin said when announcing this investigation that it would be thorough and transparent, said New Jersey state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. And it is clear that they are doing the opposite in trying to stop former president Nyre from providing his input into the ongoing investigation. It is just mind-boggling and outrageous. One of Nyres attorneys said Seton Hall is clearly attempting to weaponize that court order to muzzle his client. This position is not only at odds with the plain language of the April 4 Order, the lawyer, Austin Tobin, said in a letter to the judge seeking a status conference on the matter. ... but also very odd considering the fact that the Archdiocese of Newark is conducting the interview at issue on behalf of the University. Now the archdiocese is working diligently with the university to ensure investigators have access to all relevant information as soon as possible, a spokesperson for the cardinal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Cardinal Tobin announced the investigation, he fully expected that Ropes & Gray would have the full cooperation of the Board of Regents and Seton Hall University on matters relating solely to Monsignor Reilly, the spokesperson, Maria Margiotta, said in a statement Tuesday. Unfortunately, ongoing litigation involving Seton Hall, to which the Archdiocese is not a party, has created impediments to this review, Margiotta said. Cardinal Tobin stands by his earlier statement that there should be no restrictions on Ropes & Grays effort to access all relevant information and witnesses, she added. Ignored calls to release past investigation New Jerseys political leaders have been pushing for more transparency from Seton Hall for months. Three state lawmakers, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic candidate for governor whose congressional district includes Seton Hall, have called for the university to release the 2019 report . The university has ignored those calls, citing attorney-client privilege. But a judge in a separate clergy abuse case has ordered the university to provide the report . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university fought that, too. But the judge, Avion Benjamin, found in March that Seton Hall violated a past court order for discovery by not disclosing the 2019 report, and said the school had to turn it over to her. Blocking Nyre from speaking with investigators fits a pattern of trying to keep clergy abuse from public view, said Mark Crawford, New Jersey director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Its not surprising but its outrageous, Crawford said. They dont want the truth to come out. Its abundantly clear or you wouldnt be suppressing the former president who was there, who would know, from speaking his truth. Lockport loves a parade and the parade season begins solemnly Sunday at 1 p.m. to recognize Memorial Day. Kevin Kirchberger, alderman at large, said organizers are proud to bring back the parade for a second year. Kirchberger said the fire and police departments, Niagara County Sheriffs Office, Lockport Community Band, and various community organizations will participate in the procession that starts at Monument Park by the former hospital. Its to honor our veterans. Its not like a 4th of July parade, Kirchberger said. This is a non-candy event. Im handing out little flags to the kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parade will progress up East Avenue to Pine Street, cross the Pine Street Bridge and arrive at Canal Street. A community gathering will take place on Canal Street that includes live music, three food trucks, a cash-only beer truck, and the surrounding businesses. At 2 p.m. the rock and pop band Uncan Valley will play. The rock band Me and the Boys will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. The Central Niagara Catholic Family will host Memorial Day masses at St. Patricks Cemetery, 23 Glenwood Ave., Lockport, at 9 a.m. Monday; and St. Charles Cemetery, 3185 Lockport Olcott Road, Newfane, at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Newfane Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Town of Newfane and Newfane American Legion are co-hosting the towns Memorial Day observance at Corwin Cemetery, Lockport-Olcott and Hatter roads, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. Therell be music, re-enactments, speeches and military honors as local residents who died in service to our country are remembered. Wilson American Legion, Martin F. Jennings Post 836, will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Greenwood Veterans Memorial Park, Park Street adjacent to Greenwood Cemetery, at 10 a.m. Monday. The guest speaker is U.S. Marine Katrina Clark. The Air Force Honor Guard will conduct a flag folding, rifle salute and play Taps. Post 836 will raise a flag and perform Taps at noon for the Wilson Historical Society, during its annual Memorial Day Fair. Post Commander Gary Pettit said all are welcome and encouraged to attend the ceremonies. Tajikistan discloses timeframe for commissioning its Sebzor HPP's first unit Photo: Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Tajikistan is on the home stretch with the first unit of the Sebzor hydropower plant, a vital energy project that promises to light up the Gorno-Badakhshan region and kickstart development in the area. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register WARE, Mass. (WWLP) A man who was convicted of rape over 40 years and arrested in January on harassment charges was arrested again on Thursday. According to the Sex Offender Registry Board, 66-year-old Ronald Ballard is classified as a Level 3, someone who is most likely to re-offend. He resides at 183 Church Street in Ware and has seven convictions of rape. Out of State Aggravated Rape Convicted : 5/22/1989 (2) Aggravated Rape Convicted : 12/16/1981 (2) Rape Convicted: 12/16/1981 (3) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, Ballard was arrested by Ware Police and charged with stalking and two counts of criminal harassment. He was accused of harassing a woman at her job and following her on multiple occasions. Another woman also provided a statement accusing him of harassing her at her job as well. Ware Police say Ballard was arrested on Thursday after a joint investigation with the State Police Detective Unit. He is being held pending a dangerousness hearing on charges of kidnapping and two counts of aggravated rape (second or subsequent offense and habitual criminal). Ronald Ballard (Ware Police Department) To search for sex offenders near you, visit SORB.chs.state.ma.us. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Governor Josh Shapiro visits A. Philip Randolph Career and Technical High School on May 23, 2025 in Philadelphia and met with students, teachers, and legislators for public K-12 education. (Commonwealth Media Services) Gov. Josh Shapiro said he has confidence in the leadership at Penn State following a decision made by the universitys board of trustees on Thursday to close seven of its 19 Commonwealth Campuses. They know they need to right-size. They know they need to plan for the long term future, and to do that, they needed to make these tough choices, Shapiro said. And I have faith in (Penn State President) Neeli Bendapudi and her administration and the board who made those decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penn State DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York are slated to close following the spring 2027 semester after a two-year wind-down period. WPSU described the 25-8 vote by Penn States board of trustees on Thursday night to close those campuses as contentious, adding that leadership argued the move was necessary for future success for the university. Bendapudi said that enrollment dropped 43% over the past 10 years at the campuses that are slated to close. However, critics of the decision say they believe the decision was rushed and lacking community input. I know that when a school like Penn State, a satellite campus leaves a community, that can leave a big hole, and so my administration is committed to working with Penn State and those affected communities to make sure they are taken care of going forward, Shapiro said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE State Sen. Wayne Langerholc and state Rep. Michael Armanini, both Republicans, represent districts that include Penn State DuBois. They issued a statement critical of the plan to close the campus. I am deeply dismayed that all of the advocacy and education of the significant benefit of Penn State DuBois have fallen on deaf ears, said Langerholc. For multiple years, this institution embraced the mantra and model of Penn State and produced students who contribute to the local workforce, drive economic activity, and make our region and commonwealth stronger. Today that relationship was broken, he added. I am committed to working with my colleagues in the House to identify an entity that appreciates our rural area and will take the broken baton to repair and strengthen our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armanini described the school as a hub of manufacturing businesses which include the carbon, and graphite industries. Not only does this decision impact the students of Penn State DuBois, it impacts our communities, Armani said. The campus provides jobs to residents of DuBois and the surrounding community, income for local businesses who rely on the student body and faculty, and the local industry which benefits from the research of the school and has a talented pool of students to employ after graduation. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) also represents a district that includes one of the satellite campuses, Penn State New Kensington. He offered a different point of view from his GOP colleagues. The harsh reality is that higher education in general throughout Pennsylvania is greatly oversubscribed. We have too much physical plant in higher education to support the declining demographics that we are faced with, and there has also been a significant increase in the variety of job opportunities available that dont necessarily comport with the deliverables of higher education in this state, Pittman said. Rightsizing is a necessary step that must happen across higher education. However, the process from a transparency perspective and the lack of messaging on what these campuses can be used for going forward has been far from ideal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pittman said that he does not favor losing the campus in his district, but argued the big picture view of the issue was that change is needed in higher education and that conversations will be needed to ensure that the launch box and digital foundry they have supported continue, and we figure out a path to make the property even more productive than it is now. Ultimately, Penn State will have an obligation to make sure the campuses are all repurposed and brought to a higher and better use in the communities where they reside, he said. This is a responsibility the university bears, and their efforts must be supported by the state. We cannot allow closed satellite campuses to become blighted properties. The facilities must be repurposed in a thoughtful way. The universitys plan will need approval from the state Department of Education. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Sharonda Lynn Cox, 60 of Cleveland, formerly of Youngstown, was escorted to her heavenly home by the Angels on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Cleveland Clinic. Sharonda, affectionately called Roni, was born January 16, 1965, in Youngstown, a daughter of LaVerne Venable and Silvester Cox, Jr. Find obituaries from your high school She was a 1983 graduate of South High School and attended Wilberforce University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was a dedicated homemaker who loved her daughters and her family dearly. She was a huge Cleveland Browns fan and had a passion for fashion and loved traveling. She loved watching and supporting all her daughters performances from elementary school to college under the Cleveland Playhouse. She cherished her family unconditionally and loved to plan family parties and events. Her daughters were the JOY of her life. Sharonda leaves to cherish her life and legacy, her children, Trinity and Jada Thomas; two brothers, Silvester Cox, III and Marcus Beachum; her father, Silvester II; seven nieces and nephews, Sharhonda, Xavier, Sydney, Carena, Timothy, Tamia and Tavon and a host of cousins, other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, LaVerne; her grandparents, Russell, Sr. and Martha Venable; her sister, Roxanne and a host of cousins. Visitation will be held with her grandmother, Martha Venables service on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 9:00 10:00 a.m., at the Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 1210 Himrod Avenue, Youngstown. Funeral services will follow at 10:00 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ministry of comfort and dignity entrusted to the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sharonda Lynn Roni Cox, please visit our floral store. A television tribute will air Sunday, May 25 at the following approximate times: 8:58 a.m. on WKBN and 7:58 p.m. on FOX. 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. Sheinelle Jones' husband Uche Ojeh has died at age 45 from Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer Jones' Today show co-hosts shared the news on the Friday, May 23 broadcast as they sent love to their colleague and her family Jones and Ojeh were married for 18 years and share three kids: Kayin, 15, and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche Sheinelle Jones' late husband Uche Ojeh relied on his faith after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Today show on Friday, May 23, Savannah Guthrie was joined by her co-hosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer and Jenna Bush Hager as she revealed that Jones' husband Uche had died after a "courageous battle" with Glioblastoma. He was 45. As the co-hosts reflected on how Jones, 47, has been navigating her husband's cancer diagnosis they share three kids, Kayin, 15, and twins Clara and Uche, 12 Guthrie, 53, revealed how Ojeh's faith steadied him. "Uche had a beautiful, deep, abiding faith every single day of this fight and you could see it in his eyes. He was an extraordinary person," she said. "And we love him and we love you, Sheinelle." Sheinelle Jones/ Instagram Sheinelle Jones and husband Uche Ojeh at a friends' wedding in September 2022 in New York City. Sheinelle Jones and husband Uche Ojeh at a friends' wedding in September 2022 in New York City. Guthrie felt that Ojeh would "want people to know how much his faith" had helped him amid his cancer diagnosis, and Daly agreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They have such good faith," he said, as he reflected on how faith has helped him after losing his father when he was 5. "Ive been praying for years to my father since he died, I say, I know youre watching over me. Im okay. Its okay. Youre home where youre supposed to be with your heavenly father. And Im thriving here and its okay, trying to take that burden off my father." Dreyer said that Daly's experience is a "good message for kids, because this is not easy for children, as well." Guthrie, who also lost her dad when she was young, added, "You can survive the loss of your father as young people, as we did." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thrive, Melvin added. Sheinelle Jones/ Instagram Sheinelle Jones smiles with husband Uche Ojeh and their two sons in august 2019 in Como, Italy. Sheinelle Jones smiles with husband Uche Ojeh and their two sons in august 2019 in Como, Italy. "Listen, Uche has so many friend, college friends, friends from their time in Philadelphia, those friends have surrounded the family during this time," Guthrie continued. "Sheinelle is a warrior and Uche was a warrior. She has risen to the occasion and then some." "Were with you, we love you," said Melvin. 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. After her colleagues announced the news of Ojeh's death, Jones took to social media and shared the clip from Today on her Instagram, writing alongside it, "Thank you, for all of your love and support ." Read the original article on People Sheinelle Jones' husband of 18 years Uche Ojeh has died after a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma Jones' Today show co-hosts announced the news on the Friday, May 23 broadcast as they reflected with "profound sadness" on Jones' loss Jones and Ojeh share three kids: Kayin, 15, and twins Clara and Uche, 12 Sheinelle Jones' Today show family is rallying around her following the heartbreaking news of her husband's death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, May 23, Savannah Guthrie announced with "profound sadness" that Jones' husband of 18 years, Uche Ojeh, 45, died after a "courageous" battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma. They share three kids: 15-year-old Kayin and twins Clara and Uche, 12. Guthrie was joined by all her Today co-hosts Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer and Jenna Bush Hager as she shared the news and they reflected on how "strong" Jones has been. "Sheinelle has been so strong through all of this, as was Uche," Guthrie said. "We all know Sheinelle, shes always smiling. Shes just the bright light when she walks into the room," Dreyer, who co-hosts the 3rd hour with Jones, Roker and Melvin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even through this, she relied on her faith, she relied on her friends," she continued. "I think back to COVID when they as a family were in South Carolina together. They had this special time of their life to just all be together because that was the most important thing to each and every one of them." Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Sheinelle Jones and Uche Ojeh on June 14, 2019 Sheinelle Jones and Uche Ojeh on June 14, 2019 Jones, 47, left her Today show family feeling "completely inspired" every time they talked to her amid her absence from the show, Hager said. "She has her humor. I mean, we all know that. Theres nobody funnier than Sheinelly. That humor, shes found the grace in the grief, which is not easy." The way Jones handled her husband's diagnosis and cancer battle was "remarkable," Melvin continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Dealing with a husband whos battling cancer and three young children that she has had to rear by herself for a while now, essentially, its just, it really is remarkable. And to your point, JBH, every time youd talk to her, she still found a way to laugh about something." Sheinelle Jones/ Instagram Sheinelle Jones and husband Uche Ojeh celebrate Easter with their children in 2022 Sheinelle Jones and husband Uche Ojeh celebrate Easter with their children in 2022 Guthrie, 53, added, "Listen, Uche has so many friend, college friends, friends from their time in Philadelphia, those friends have surrounded the family during this time. Sheinelle is a warrior and Uche was a warrior. She has risen to the occasion and then some." 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. Jones has been absent from Today since mid-December. She explained her absence in January that she was "taking time to deal with a family health matter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its not lost on me how lucky I am to have not on the support of my Today show family, but to also have all of you," she wrote in an Instagram post. "Your kindness means so much to me. Ill see you soon." Amid her absence, her co-hosts have continued to voice their support for her, as Dreyer said earlier this month that "a week doesn't go by where we're not checking in, seeing how she's doing." After the May 23 segment aired, Jones shared a post on social media. "Thank you, for all of your love and support ," she captioned an Instagram video of the broadcast. Read the original article on People A disturbing incident unfolded Tuesday at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside when a group of adults forced their way onto campus and attacked a student, according to the Riverside Unified School District and local law enforcement. The violence stemmed from an earlier altercation between two male students. After the initial fight, one of the students called family members to the campus to help retaliate, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback told The Press-Enterprise. Several adults then arrived at the school and bypassed security, entering through the front office without checking in, according to a letter sent to families by the schools administration. A campus supervisor followed the group and alerted officials, who contacted police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students told FOX 11 that as many as 20 people poured onto campus. He brought in like his mom and everything else, and I was like, Whoa, one student said. Another student described the group punching the guy like crazy and said a school administrator who tried to intervene was thrown to the ground and put in a chokehold. The assailants fled before officers arrived, iHeartRadio reported. The targeted student was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and two campus supervisors were also assaulted, according to the Riverside Unified School District. Parents and students have since voiced frustration, questioning why the school wasnt locked down or why no alerts were issued. Our students and staff were not notified that this was happening on the campus, parent Vanessa Brogdon told FOX 11. In response, the school acknowledged that existing safety protocols failed and promised to implement changes. We are working closely with district leadership to review and strengthen our safety procedures, the school stated in its letter to families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Riverside Police Department is actively investigating the incident and has vowed to hold those responsible accountable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. President Donald Trump was quick to condemn the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington and has called himself the most pro-Israel president in U.S. history. But, behind the scenes, there is a growing rift between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Five current and former U.S. officials say Trump and Netanyahus relationship has been under strain in recent weeks as theyve disagreed about how to handle multiple Middle East crises and the shocking killing in Washington is unlikely to change that. While U.S. and Israeli officials say it would be too strong to describe the current situation as a rupture, a growing number of people in the Trump administration feel frustrated with Israel and its approach to Washington and the Middle East, the officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's a cadre in the administration who doesn't particularly care for Israel, they have no special attachment to Israel. They view them as a partner but not one we should be going out of our way to be doing favors for, a former Trump administration official said. Like others, the person was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic dynamics. Not helping matters is Netanyahus approach to the U.S. relationship, which lacks the deference and pomp and circumstance that Trump and his team have appreciated in dealing with other partners in the Middle East. Many in the administration feel that the most difficult person to work with on all these files is Bibi, said a person close to the White House. Thats a rift that Wednesday's fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers by a pro-Palestinian activist is unlikely to change. Trump appears to see the killings as more of an indication of a need to further crack down on antisemitism in the United States. And Trumps views on Israel and on antisemitism are different things, one administration official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli officials are taking the opposite approach describing Wednesdays attack as opening a new front in the wider Middle East war, including from Hamas in Gaza and Iran and its proxies elsewhere on its borders. This is done in the name of a political agenda to eradicate the State of Israel, Israels Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said Thursday. This is the eighth front in the war to demonize, de-legitimize, to eradicate the right of the State of Israel to exist. Netanyahus office said he spoke with Trump on Thursday and the president expressed deep sorrow over the shocking murder in Washington of two Israeli embassy employees. They also discussed Iran and the war in Gaza, according to an Israeli account of the call. But the sense inside the White House is that the Israelis are constantly asking for more from the U.S. even as the relationship has not yielded the kind of quick diplomatic wins that Trump and his team are searching for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu is one of those people who pushes and pushes, and that can rub Trump the wrong way, the former administration official said. The Trump administration has pressured Netanyahu and his government to allow more aid into the shattered Gaza Strip. And Trump has put distance between himself and Israels government reaching a ceasefire with Houthi militants in Yemen that excluded Israel and bucking opposition from Netanyahu as he tries to reach an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. Trumps decision not to visit Israel on his recent trip to the Middle East was also seen by many as a public snub. If the attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum prompts action by the Trump administration, it is more likely to be on the domestic front. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in Thursday comments about the murders that the evil of antisemitism must be eradicated from our society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has prioritized curtailing antisemitism on college campuses, actions that are popular in the pro-Israel and Jewish community. A Harvard task force and other independent assessments agree there are issues to address but the administration's approach is seen as heavy-handed by many critics. The administration and its supporters say measures even extreme ones like deportation proceedings are necessary to root out antisemitic sentiments that have taken hold at schools and on college campuses. Such feelings have worsened since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Wednesdays attack is sure to add more justification for the administrations efforts. The White House emphasis on antisemitism may also allow Trump to respond to the deadly attack while siloing it from the broader questions looming over his bilateral relationship with Israel. Trump came to power hoping that the Israel file would offer quick wins, including long-sought normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. He dispatched his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to help broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas even before his inauguration in what seemed to be an early victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The success was short-lived. The deal collapsed in March and Riyadh has made clear normalization will not happen without a permanent end to the fighting and significant steps toward a Palestinian state concessions Netanyahu has been unwilling to make. With Hamas weakened and Iran on the back foot, many in the Trump administration see an opportunity to end the fighting in Gaza and reach a deal with Tehran over its nuclear program. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to press on with the war and is opposed to U.S. attempts to broker an agreement with Iran. Trump is increasingly hearing mixed advice on how he should deal with Israel, according to a current administration official and the former official. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and CIA director John Ratcliffe have similar pro-Israel views while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has advocated a more measured approach with the American ally. As a result of that divide, Trump has been more silent on Israel in recent weeks, the current administration official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond Trumps strained personal relationship with Netanyahu, there are other factors that explain his shifting loyalties in the Middle East, cast in sharp relief by the presidents first major foreign trip, which included visits with Arab allies in the Gulf but not Israel. Hes more committed at the moment to the Saudis and the Emiratis than Israel, which is kind of amazing but its true, said one person close to the presidents national security team. The Arab allies, the person noted, are playing his game writing big checks and theyre supporting the nuclear talks with Iran. And while Trump initially backed Netanyahus decision to escalate his assault on Gaza, he has grown frustrated with the conflict. Thats because, the person close to Trumps national security team said, he views the war as an impediment to his vision of rebuilding Gaza and to the expansion of the Abraham Accords under which several Arab nations have normalized relations with Israel. The Saudis, however, have refused to take that step while Israel is at war with Hamas. Theres a lot that explains the shift toward the Arab allies and away from Israel, the person said. He can always recalibrate with Bibi, but this has been developing for some time. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 23. Delegations from Kazakhstan Railways, Uzbekistan Railways, and Tajik Railways state companies discussed increasing freight volumes and optimizing operations at the interstate junction points Oazis in Tajikistan and Saryagash in Uzbekistan during a trilateral working meeting in Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan. During the meeting, it was noted that railway freight traffic between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reached 11.5 million tons in 2024. In the first four months of 2025, the average daily number of trains passing through the Saryagash junction stood at 26. A significant increase was also observed in container shipments along the ChinaCentral Asia route, which rose by 104 percent year-on-year, equivalent to 144 container trains. The participants emphasized the importance of ensuring the timely acceptance and dispatch of goods, boosting the share of container transport, and increasing overall freight traffic between Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. According to the Statistics Agency under the President of Tajikistan, the country transported 1.904 million tons of cargo by rail from January through March 2025, including loading, unloading, and transit, an increase of 12.8 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Rail remains the dominant mode for international freight, accounting for 71.8 percent of Tajikistans total international cargo turnover. By Karen Freifeld and Julia Harte (Reuters) -When Adam Zimmerman chaperoned his son's fourth-grade class field trip to the natural history museum in Washington on Wednesday, he didn't give a second thought to security. Hours later, outside a different museum a few miles (km) away, two Israeli embassy employees were gunned down in what was widely viewed as an act of antisemitism. "It was a horrific reminder for me - as a Jewish parent in this city - that we all have to be looking over our shoulders all the time," said Zimmerman, 43, a media consultant from Rockville, Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fatal shooting of the young couple after an event at a Jewish museum has deeply shaken the U.S. capital's Jews, and has led to a review of security protocols at synagogues and other institutions. "The same seeds of antisemitism that led to Europe in the 1930s and 1940s are still killing people on the streets of Washington, D.C. in 2025," said Zimmerman, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors. It was the latest act of violence aimed at Jewish Americans linked to outrage over Israel's escalating military offensive in Gaza, a response to the October 2023 attacks by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 in southern Israel. The Washington shooting took place outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where the American Jewish Committee was sponsoring an annual young diplomats reception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lone suspect, who was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Thursday, told police on the scene, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," according to court records. Alan Ronkin, regional director of AJC's Washington office, said security was tight at the event, even though the suspect, Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, managed to enter the museum in the chaos that ensued in the aftermath of the shooting outside. He was apprehended inside. "We are going to revisit our security protocols, and make sure we follow the recommendations of the experts," said Ronkin, who added the community is "shaken but resilient." Ron Halber, chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, said that local law enforcement has increased patrols around Jewish institutions in Washington since the killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A lot of us are looking over our shoulder today," said Halber. "But we have to keep leading proud open Jewish lives. I'm certainly not going to let it deter me from any public or private event." Most Jewish institutions in the city already have robust security, including armed guards at most synagogues, according to Halber. "The big discussion that's going to happen is how long does the perimeter extend one block, two blocks," he said. "Every Jewish organization is increasing their security, whether it's having more guards standing outside during more hours of the day, or if they didn't have any, adding them," said Gil Preuss, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. "Right now it's short term, and we'll see whether there's a permanent change in the level of security. My guess is yes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federation is one of several Jewish institutions that said on Friday they were fundraising to bolster security. Local and federal grants, especially a nonprofit security grant program administered through the Federal Emergency Management Administration, are a "tremendous" help to offset the costs of security improvements, according to Preuss. After some delays and confusion due to the Trump administration's federal funding freezes in recent months, the program's grant funding has started flowing again, he said. About 50 Jewish organizations issued a statement on Thursday calling on the U.S. Congress to increase funding under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $1 billion, more than double the current figure. 'DESIRE TO BE TOGETHER' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Krinsky, a rabbi at Adas Israel in Washington, said on Friday there were D.C. Metropolitan Police Department cars outside her synagogue, at the end of the block and at the base of the parking lot. Krinsky said the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that killed 11 worshippers in Pittsburgh first prompted Adas Israel to boost security significantly. Since Wednesday's attack, the Washington mayor's office, police department, FBI and private firms have all recommended even higher levels of security. She said the conservative congregation's more than 3,500 members would welcome the "slight enhancements," details of which she could not discuss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the shock of the shooting still raw, Krinsky said she expected a big crowd for Shabbat services this weekend. "There's a real desire to be together, and to be in a place where people can mourn and grieve and express everything they're feeling and feel safe and held," she said. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Julia Harte in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Sandra Maler) Dozens packed la Plaza de la Raza in South Omaha Thursday for a rally to support immigrants and refugees and to urge Nebraska's congressional delegation to push for immigration reform. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) OMAHA Dozens packed a popular plaza on South Omahas Latino-dominated commercial corridor Thursday afternoon, carrying immigrant-friendly signs and waving bumper stickers that read: Who would Jesus deport? Stand in Solidarity rallygoers heard from allies at the top of 10 organizations such as the Nebraska AFL-CIO labor union, Nebraska Farmers Union and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Rallygoers wave at passing cars that honk and give thumbs up to the Stand in Solidarity event Thursday afternoon in South Omaha. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) All touted a message that immigrants and refugees were good for the states economy, workforce and growth. And as passing cars honked and gave thumbs up, the speakers proclaimed their words from a stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was an intentionally blatant show of support, said Itzel Lopez of the Latino Economic Development Council, which helped Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) organize the event at la Plaza de la Raza on South 24th Street. We want to draw attention that, yes, its safe, said Lopez. That there are people in our community who truly care about the well being of immigrants in our state. Lopez, speaking to the crowd, admitted that she cant help but worry herself about the fallout of President Donald Trumps hardline immigration policies. Though she has grown up in Omaha, has seen success in business, she is a DACA recipient without permanent legal status who finds herself preoccupied with simply feeling safe. Reach congressional delegation OTOC leader Denise Bowyer said the diverse speaking lineup representing business, labor, agriculture, faith and community groups was intended to push back against negative messages and restrictive policies initiated at the national level. She said the group wants their message to reach Nebraskas congressional delegation and urged people to get louder and more active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Krenz, senior program director for the International Council for Refugees and Immigrants, said admissions for refugees are effectively suspended. He said the Trump administration views refugees as a threat rather than a part of shared humanity. President Donald Trump holds up an executive order during an inauguration parade Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The executive order canceling refugee resettlement funding was among those Trump signed on his first day back in office. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) What we see today is not normal, he said, adding that quiet acceptance allows injustices to persist. The rally was similar in spirit to one on the steps of the State Capitol in September, which drew more than 60 Nebraska organizations to announce a unified resolve to change state and federal policies to be more welcoming to immigrants and refugees. Over the past four months, said Bowyer, peoples lives nationally and in Nebraska have been upended by executive orders, non-renewals of Temporary Protective Status and revocations of parole processes for people who entered the country with permission. OTOC is a religious-based network formed three decades ago to advocate for social justice issues. Crack down Trump, who campaigned on the promise to crack down on immigration, has said he is enforcing national laws and that mass deportations and strict border security protect Americans and the countrys economic and social structures. Anne Wurth, senior attorney at Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA). (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Anne Wurth, senior attorney at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said challenges representing newcomers have compounded in the last few months. While Nebraska has not seen the large-scale enforcement raids of the past, or high-profile arrests as some other states, Wurth said foreign-born Nebraskans should know their rights and be aware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From what her organization has seen across the state, Wurth said, immigration agents have focused on stated enforcement priorities targeting people with prior removal orders and past criminal convictions. She said her office has information that federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security ostensibly have been conducting wellness checks on young people who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and were released to Nebraska sponsors. No one to her knowledge has been detained, said Wurth. But under this administration, those things can change. Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber is one of 10 speakers addressing a rally at la Plaza de la Raza. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) Heath Mello, president of the Greater Omaha Chamber, said his members hear daily from employers who are struggling to fill jobs. He said the business group believes immigration reform must be part of the states workforce solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smart, constructive immigration policy is not just the right thing to do its good economics, Mello said. Sue Martin, president of the Nebraska AFL-CIO, said that without immigrants, Americas workforce would shrink, meaning decreased tax revenue. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, said Nebraskas largest single industry, agriculture, struggles with workforce issues. He named pork producers, dairy producers, poultry producers, beef feedlots, seedcorn companies and the meatpacking industry and said all are dependent on immigrant labor. Other speakers included Mustafa Babak, cofounder of the Afghan American Foundation, the Rev. Debra McKnight, founding pastor of Urban Abbey and Dawn Essink of OTOC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lina Traslavina Stover, executive director of the statewide Heartland Workers Center, said immigrant communities help Nebraska thrive. We are growing the food, building the homes, running big and small businesses, caring for families and keeping Nebraska moving forward. Showers, storms ahead for Memorial Day weekend Heading into Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer, shower and storm chances are going up. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] There wont be a whole lot of rain Saturday, but we will see a few downpours. Isolated strong and severe storms are possible. Scattered showers and storms are likely Sunday as well, along with the risk for a strong or severe storm. More widespread rain and storms move into north Georgia on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Areas around metro Atlanta could see one to two inches between now and Wednesday, and west Georgia could have some heavier amounts. Severe Weather Team 2 will be tracking it with forecast updates LIVE on Channel 2. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A Shreveport man was convicted in Caddo District Court Thursday of sexual battery of a young girl. According to the Caddo Parish District Attorney, it took the eight-woman, four-man jury one hour to determine that Timmy Lee Kepney, 64, molested a girl under age 13 on January 17, 2022. The girl reported the incident to her mother, who called authorities. The victim was taken to the Gingerbread House where she described the sexual acts, was examined by a sexual assault nurse and had swabs taken for DNA testing, detailed the Caddo Parish DA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More crime stores The District Attorney stated that during a police interview, Kepney acknowledged improperly touching the child, but he denied making that admission at trial. However, the jury did not accept his denial. (Caddo Parish District Attorney) Kepney will return to District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.s court for sentencing on June 6, 2025. The penalty for sexual battery of a juvenile under the age of thirteen is 25 to 99 years in prison without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. A controversial bill giving limited immunity from liability to SIG Sauer and other New Hampshire gunmakers over optional features on their weapons is headed to the desk of Gov. Kelly Ayotte. House embraces legal immunity for SIG Sauer over pistol lawsuits House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Chairman Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, spoke in support of a Senate-passed amendment to give gun makers in the state limited immunity from lawsuits over optional features. A spate of lawsuits across the country against SIG Sauer and its P320 pistol sparked this bill to protect a major employer in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a brief debate Thursday, the House of Representatives embraced by a 200-161 vote a Senate amendment that only surfaced publicly two weeks ago and has never faced a public hearing. The vote came after more than two dozen law enforcement officials from across the country had urged the House to turn aside the proposal given their involvement in dealing with SIG Sauers P320 pistol that has resulted in 82 lawsuits filed in federal courts here. A group of 22 gun owners brought suits over the pistol last month. This has everything to do with a powerful company in denial with a defect on a key piece of their property, said state Rep. David Meuse, D-Portsmouth, speaking in opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield and chairman of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, said many of the lawsuits came from opponents of gun rights that wanted to create legal problems for a prominent gunmaker. At the end of the day this isnt about gun rights, this is about product liability, Roy said. Do you want people to be able to sue carmakers over cars that dont have air conditioning? During an interview, Roy stressed that while the SIG Sauer pistol spawned the legislation, it applies to all companies. I dont want to pass something that only affects one company, but this does not. It really seemed like the trial lawyers seized on a few cases of officers getting hurt with the weapon and that caused this avalanche of lawsuits because the gun has no safety. Well, if you order the pistol to have one, it will. If you dont, why should you be able to recover in court? Roy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate approved bill 16-8 The state Senate earlier this month approved the measure on a partisan, 16-8 vote with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against it. The House vote Thursday was similarly partisan with Republicans backing it, 197-1, while Democrats opposed it, 159-2. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said the immunity was limited to optional features of the weapon and would not prevent a lawsuit over any guns manufacturing defect. Gannons amendment specifically exempts gunmakers from liability claims over the absence or presence of features such as a magazine disconnect mechanism, a loaded chamber indicator, authorized user recognition (such as fingerprint) technology or an external mechanical safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change was added to a popular House-passed bill (HB 551) that would eliminate a license needed to sell handguns. Whats Next: It will likely take a few weeks for final processing of the bill to get to the desk of Gov. Ayotte who has yet to take a public position. Prospects: Likely to sign. As a former attorney general, Ayotte would likely have raised concerns even privately with legislators and key supporters said she has not. klandrigan@unionleader.com The Navy has been in a yearslong struggle to modernize its critically important human resources computer systems that underpin a whole host of vital tasks like pay and promotions. But a contract for what might have been one of the most promising efforts to upgrade the systems just fell victim to billionaire Elon Musk's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, according to sources interviewed by Military.com. As a result, a critical and aging server in Tennessee that holds most of the service's pay and promotion data is operating with no backup in the event of a natural disaster. The contract was a relatively small $170 million award to a company called Pantheon to move all the data on that server into the cloud and out of danger. It was canceled in early May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: From Star Wars to Golden Dome: Trump Pushes US Missile Shield Despite Funding and Technology Hurdles The HR systems go unnoticed when they work as intended but, when they break, the consequences are drastic. In 2022, Military.com reported extensively about the effects on sailors when the Navy fell behind on issuing them a key discharge document, sometimes making them wait for months into their civilian lives. "Everything in terms of what sailors access, in terms of [the Navy's online HR portal] would be impacted because they run on those mainframes," a senior Navy personnel official told Military.com in an interview last week, speaking about the server in Tennessee. "Reconstituting it would probably take anywhere between nine and 16 months, during which time we could not promote sailors effectively." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another person familiar with the details of the contract added that the Navy "almost lost it [the servers] due to flooding a little less than two months ago." Both were granted anonymity to talk freely about the situation without fear of retaliation. Meanwhile, Navy Secretary John Phelan went on TV Thursday and bragged that "DOGE has been very good to work with" and that the service got rid of "300 different IT systems, none of which were talking with each other." "We've cleared that out and have started basically brand-new," he said. Fixing a Failing System To begin to understand how the Navy got to this point, one must go back to 2019 when the service first embarked on its journey to consolidate and modernize more than 55 disparate systems -- some of which were going on being nearly half a century old at that point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort became known as Navy Pay and Personnel System, or NP2. It was clear by 2022 that the effort was not going well. Sailors were posting online about struggles to get pay issues fixed, and some came forward saying that they had had to wait more than a hundred days for their discharge paperwork. Those delays meant that discharged sailors were left overpaying thousands of dollars for unnecessary rent, paying tens of thousands of dollars to self-fund moves that should have been paid for, experiencing delays in getting jobs, and were forced to contemplate the possibility of losing medical care. The NP2 system eventually cost the Navy more than $1 billion while the service's personnel office told lawmakers the program "has not progressed as desired," according to documents submitted to the House Defense Appropriations Committee in early May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, the Navy still had 55 "legacy" systems costing it $122 million a year and, according to its responses to Congress, the project is now seven years behind schedule. "All the indications were the program was going to fail the sailor," the Navy official told Military.com. The decision was made to bring in another smaller team to at least address an urgent problem: aging servers with no backup. "HR operations could essentially be paralyzed for a year if we didn't do something," the official said, explaining that there were no contingency plans to keep the servers running in the event of an emergency. That's where the now-canceled contract came in. The Navy's personnel office hired a company called Pantheon in June 2024 and gave it $170 million to basically move that server data into cloud storage and out of danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But part of that effort included modernizing data going back as far as World War II, which was sometimes as basic as just pictures of paper files. As a bonus, the Navy would gain better access to personnel data that could help leaders understand what was going on with sailors -- something that has been a hallmark for the service's current personnel boss. "We can't connect the data right now from where the sailor is in the training pipeline and where they're going next and what shipping is going to do to that supply chain," the Navy official explained. "So, we wind up firing instructors, only to find out we got a big cohort of people who need them coming in four weeks later." Unlike the NP2 effort, the Navy official even said that Pantheon was "making a lot of headway" on untangling the mess that was one of the last two physical data centers in the Navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But then came DOGE. 'You Just Shot the Wrong Target' Shortly after President Donald Trump was elected, his political ally and billionaire businessman Elon Musk was tapped to lead a government cost-cutting and efficiency effort that has become known as DOGE. Musk, the world's richest man, and his team slashed federal agencies and workers without the consent of Congress -- often haphazardly -- triggering numerous lawsuits and public outcry throughout the first months of the Trump administration. Top Pentagon officials in the Trump administration have touted DOGE cuts in recent weeks but typically without offering much in the way of details. In early March, the Pentagon's top spokesman, Sean Parnell, posted a video message on social media claiming DOGE had made "initial findings" that "will probably save $80 million in wasteful spending" but provided examples that totaled only $13 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phelan also joined in with similar videos that touted cuts to "IT contracts that are ineffective and over-budget" while offering no further details. More broadly, DOGE has also developed a track record of inaccurate or inflated claims about the savings it is generating by slashing government spending. Still, some officials, including the two who spoke with Military.com, were broadly supportive of the contract cutting efforts by DOGE. "The department desperately needs to get more efficient," the Navy official said, adding that they thought "the DOGE effort is a reasonable effort -- it's a good effort." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the official, the cancellation of the Pantheon contract aimed at moving HR data to the cloud was the broader Navy bureaucracy simply protecting the large, existing NP2 contract and using DOGE as their hitman. From their perspective inside the Navy's personnel infrastructure, DOGE got played by the IT and contracting bureaucracy within the service, and "they were handed a statement of work on a contract that they didn't even read." The other person familiar with the Pantheon contract told Military.com that it was flagged to DOGE, and a DOGE representative told them "they never even looked at it -- he had never seen it or read it" before it was cancelled. "He asked me for a copy," they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military.com reached out to the Navy with a list of questions that included what role top service officials -- namely the chief information officer and a top program executive -- played in flagging the contract to DOGE, the relationships those officials had with the contractors behind NP2, and whether they felt the NP2 contract was a good value. A Navy spokesman offered a brief statement to Military.com that didn't dispute that DOGE canceled the Pantheon contract aimed at fixing the shortcomings of the larger, unproductive NP2 contract but said that Musk's team recommended it, not the Navy. "The decision is part of a broader effort to realign resources and optimize IT capabilities that enhance readiness, accelerate decision-making, and strengthen the lethality of our naval forces," the statement added. Both the person familiar with the contract and the Navy personnel official were shocked when they found out the news. "We said, 'Hey, no, you're right, there are things in this program that need to be cut -- you just shot the wrong target,'" the official said. Other disputes over the value of contracts terminated by DOGE have also occurred. Last week, Military.com also reported that DOGE canceled a contract for a program that helped troops better utilize their tuition assistance. Under that contract, "20% of first-time TA users shifted from low market-value programs to STEM fields like cybersecurity and engineering, critical for the defense industrial base," according to a statement from the company that was performing the service. The term STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Now, with the Navy's HR data backup efforts stalled, there are serious concerns about what happens if a storm knocks out the server -- as well as the fate of long-term efforts to bring service data and HR systems into the modern age. Losing the server for months would mean hits to morale when promotion boards aren't able to meet and to retention when those sailors decide to leave the force, the Navy told Congress in the document reviewed by Military.com. "Additionally, this could further threaten our ability to continue to meet our recruiting goals," according to the Navy. The service spokesman stressed that "the Navy is focused on the well-being of the men and women who serve as we look to optimize resources essential to Navy personnel systems, pay management, and operational readiness." Related: 2 Educational Programs for Troops Eliminated Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts at Pentagon SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Sioux City Transit System is proposing a price increase for one fare type. Under the proposal, the cost of an Adult Monthly Pass would increase by two dollars, from $48 to $50. According to the Transit System, the current fare has been in place since July 1, 2010. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A public hearing on the proposal will take place Wednesday, June 4 at noon, in the Sioux City Transit Conference Room, located at 509 Nebraska Street. Community members are encouraged to attend and offer their feedback on the proposal. If you cant make it to the hearing in person, you can submit comments by phone or email through 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11. Written comments can be emailed to Transit Operations Supervisor Jason Allen (jallen@sioux-city.org), or call (712) 224-5157. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) An annual event is making its return to Sioux Citys West 7th Street area. The 13th Annual Siouxland Asian Festival will take place on Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Yummi Blox food truck lot on West 7th Street. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be live performances, a bounce house, and plenty of vendors and delicious food trucks to check out. The entire Siouxland community is welcome to attend. Anyone wanting more information about vendors and performance times can follow the Siouxland Asian Festival Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. May 22A little after 9 a.m. on July 9, 2024, negotiators from Special Incident Response Team (SIRT) were able to bring a lengthy standoff to an end, resulting in the apprehension of Kristofer Karl Luiken and the freeing of his seven-year-old daughter. In what started at a Kwik Trip in Owatonna the night before, negotiators in Austin were able to bring the whole thing to a peaceful end. On Wednesday, the team was honored by the Crisis Negotiators Association of Minnesota (CNAM) with its Negotiation of the Year Award, recognizing the team for their efforts during the over 10-hour resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Being a negotiator is a skill that not everybody possesses," Austin Police Department Detective and SIRT Commander Dustin Hicks said. "It's an art or a craft they hone every day." "The award is well earned and well deserved," he added. According to the CNAM website, the award recognizes excellence during a negotiation event and consists of several factors including exceptional teamwork, tactics, communication, innovation and resolution. Nominated by APD Lt. Michael Hartman, the SIRT team of negotiators include Sgt. Daniel Osborne, officers Sam Schuweiler and Ryan McCormack, Mower County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jamie Meyer and Laura Geffert, a former telecommunicator for the county and currently a probation officer with Mower County Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While all involved agreed that the award was nice, negotiators also agreed that it's more of a reflection of the negotiation team and the SIRT team as a whole. "I think it shows our dedication to not only the team itself, but the community," Geffert said. "We work hard in our training to prepare for these events. We hope they don't happen, but we train hard and are ready when they do." The incident that earned the team the award started at 10:30 p.m. on July 8 when officers with the Owatonna Police Department were dispatched to a child welfare check at the Kwik Trip. After officers made contact with Luiken, he fled with his daughter in the vehicle, striking an OPD squad car before eventually fleeing south on Highway 218. The pursuit was picked up by the Minnesota State Patrol, which was able to deploy stop sticks after Luiken crossed into Mower County, deflating all four tires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already a charged situation, Luiken eventually made it to his mother's house in Austin and parked the car in the driveway. At that point Luiken informed law enforcement that he had gas in the car with the girl and that he was refusing to release the girl. However, law enforcement was eventually able to secure the girl's release, who was later turned over to family members. "Ultimatley, our goal is the preservation of life and that's for everybody," said Schuweiler, the team's lead. "Across the board that is what we're hoping for. Being able to see the little girl afterwards ... and being able to recognize me as a person that was there, that's fun. It's nice to see that even though it was a very negative experience, there can still be a positive from what they recognize and realize. These people are here to help me." Hicks stressed that situations like the June 9, 2024 incident isn't a solo job, but that of a team of negotiators that are ideally able to respond each time, who take on a number of different roles from the person handling the communications with the person to those that are providing support by suggesting routes to take, getting in touch with family and sharing intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of that, he said, was on display during the incident. "Any time it escalates to the level of a SIRT call out, it's not a good deal for anyone," Hicks said. "If we can keep it from escalating to that level I think we're doing everybody in the community a service." Hicks added that oftentimes that goal is reached even before SIRT tactical can get to the scene or even the Law Enforcement Center and when that happens it's a weight lifted for everybody. "It's that relief. This is over and we can move on," Schuweiler said. "For them, it's thank gosh this is over for them. Now they can move on for her, the little girl and the family." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in the end it's simply showing up to do a job when required, no matter when that is late at night, early in the morning or during other work and it plays to the overall concept of the team from the negotiators through to SIRT. "That's just what we do we just show up when the call comes," Geffert said. "The award was focused on negotiators, but we're not able to do what we do our job unless everybody else is playing their part too. I think it's a team thing. We all have a role and we are better together." China News Service: The fourth China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Fair (China-CEEC Expo) is being held in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Can you share more details with us? Mao Ning: The fourth China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Fair (China-CEEC Expo) opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang on May 22. State Councilor Shen Yiqin attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Richard Rasi, Chairman of the National Council of Slovakia, the guest country of honor, and Meira Hot, Vice President of the National Assembly of Slovenia, also the guest country of honor, delivered remarks respectively. Both Chinese and foreign guests spoke highly of China-CEEC cooperation, noting that with the joint efforts of the two sides, the mutually beneficial cooperation has been strengthened, promising broad prospects for common development of the two sides. The expo has held over ten key events, including business discussions, investment promotion and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and is scheduled to hold more than 50 industry- and country-specific events which are smaller in scale but well-designed to unlock opportunities for cooperation in all dimensions. Seven political leaders and over ten senior officials at the vice-ministerial level or above from Central and Eastern European countries as well as over 3,000 foreign buyers from 72 countries and regions attended the expo. Intended procurement is projected to exceed RMB 10 billion. This expo fully demonstrates that the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism not only gives a boost to trade and economic exchanges, but also promotes people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The expo is still ongoing. We welcome friends from different sectors and other countries to actively participate in the expo to experience in person the vibrancy of China-CEEC cooperation. Shenzhen TV: A special online meeting of economic and trade ministers from China and ASEAN was held recently. The two sides jointly announced the completion of negotiations on the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA 3.0). Can you share more details and your comment with us? Mao Ning: This is indeed good news. It is a key step towards signing the CAFTA 3.0 upgrade protocol. China and ASEAN are firm supporters of economic globalization and multilateralism. The full completion of the CAFTA 3.0 negotiations sends a strong message of supporting free trade and open cooperation. Through building an inclusive, modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial free trade area, China and ASEAN will open up further to each other and realize common prosperity and development. Reuters: The Trump administration has revoked Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students and is forcing current students to transfer or lose their legal status. The U.S. Homeland Security Secretary said the university coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party, among other reasons for the U.S. governments move. How does the Foreign Ministry view this given Chinese students make up 20 percent of the international student community at Harvard? Mao Ning: China-U.S. education cooperation benefits both sides. China opposes politicizing education cooperation. What the U.S. seeks to do will undoubtedly hurt its own image and reputation in the world. China will firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas. Bloomberg: A follow-up to the question on Harvard just now. Specifically, there was a reference to connections with Xinjiang. And earlier this week, there was a letter from U.S. lawmakers sent to the Harvard President demanding information about the schools links to Chinas government and military. For example, they alleged that the university hosted and trained members of XPCC, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp. This of course was sanctioned by the U.S. side in 2020. So could you specifically address the concerns over the connections between Harvard and Xinjiang and the XPCC? Mao Ning: Let me reiterate that China opposes politicizing education cooperation and groundlessly attacking and vilifying China. The sanctions you mentioned are illicit and should be lifted immediately. Global Times: Its reported that on the Philippines narratives on China Coast Guard vessels law enforcement activities near Tiexian Jiao, MaryKay Carlson, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, said in a post on X on May 22 that the China Coast Guards aggressive actions against a civilian mission recklessly endangered lives and threatened regional stability. The U.S. stands with the Philippines in support of international law and a free and open Indo-Pacific. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: The China Coast Guard has released a statement and on-site video footage on the incident. The facts speak for themselves. The Philippines, despite Chinas dissuasion, has repeatedly sent people to illegally step on Tiexian Jiao, which is part of Chinas Nansha Qundao. That severely infringes on Chinas sovereignty, and violates the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Chinas response is fully necessary, legitimate and lawful. The Philippines needs to immediately stop its infringement activities and provocations. Otherwise, China will make a resolute response. The U.S. should refrain from using the Philippines to create trouble in the South China Sea and stop undermining peace and tranquility in the South China Sea. TVB: It was reported that recently Taiwans Hong Cai Tou 6 fishing boat was detained by Japanese official vessels for violating fishing regulations and was then released after paying a huge bail. China last year protested to Japan over its detention of Taiwanese fishing boats. Did China protest to Japan this time? Mao Ning: The Chinese government attaches great importance to safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of Chinese fishermen, including those from the Taiwan region. According to the China-Japan Fisheries Agreement, Japan has no right to take enforcement measures against Chinese fishing vessels in relevant waters. China has protested to Japan over its detention of the fishing boat Hong Cai Tou 6, and asked the Japanese side to immediately correct the wrongdoing, and take effective measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again. AFP: From earlier this week, there was a shooting outside the Jewish Museum in Washington that killed two people. It is being investigated as a possible antisemitic attack. Does China have any comment on this incident? Mao Ning: We noted the reports. China condemns all violent moves. We believe the safety of diplomats must be effectively protected. Bloomberg: Regarding the visit of the Dutch Foreign Minister Veldkamp. He said on Thursday in a meeting with reporters that during his discussions, the Chinese authorities had brought up the issue of easing export controls in relation to semiconductors. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm that this was raised as part of the discussions and offer any further details? Mao Ning: During Foreign Minister Veldkamps visit to China, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met and held talks with him respectively. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Foreign ministers of the two countries reached a six-point common understanding. Weve released readouts on the meetings, which you may refer to. On semiconductor export control, China has made clear its position on multiple occasions. Semiconductor is a highly globalized industry and its industrial and supply chains came into shape as a result of the choices of both the market and businesses. For some time, certain countries have been overstretching the concept of national security, slapping export control and long-arm jurisdiction, and severely threatening the stability of global industrial and supply chains. China and the Netherlands are highly complementary in the semiconductor sector and our cooperation is mutually beneficial. The two sides maintain close communication through existing channels. China stands ready to work with the Netherlands and the rest of the world to embrace open cooperation and jointly keep the global semiconductor industrial and supply chains stable. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 23. Tajikistans lower house of parliament has ratified the agreement on the tri-junction point of the state borders with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Trend reports via the parliament's press service. The agreement was originally signed on March 31, 2025, during a trilateral summit in Khujand, which brought together the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan Sadyr Zhaparov, Emomali Rahmon, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, respectively. The treaty formally defines the legal status of the geographic point where the borders of the three countries meet. Its signing marks the conclusion of a lengthy negotiation process and is viewed as a significant step toward enhancing mutual trust, fostering regional integration, and strengthening stability in Central Asia. During the summit, the three leaders also signed the Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship, underscoring their commitment to long-term cooperation and regional unity. Qaadir and Naazir Lewis, who were found dead at the top of a Georgia mountain on March 8, both died by suicide, authorities announced this week Initially, officials said that the evidence suggested their deaths were a "murder suicide" The family continues to have many questions in the wake of their deaths Officials have concluded their investigation into the deaths of 19-year-old twins Qaadir and Naazir Lewis, who were found dead at the top of a Georgia mountain and announced a shift from their preliminary findings when it came to their manner of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, May 21, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced that theyd ruled that both young men died by suicide, a change from the agencys initial findings on March 9, in which they classified their deaths as a murder suicide" based on preliminary evidence. The comprehensive investigation indicates the injuries causing their deaths were self-inflicted, the agency said. The GBI said no further information will be released when contacted by PEOPLE. The GBI Medical Examiners Office and Towns County Sheriffs Office directed PEOPLE to the GBI press release. Since Qaadir and Naazirs bodies were found by hikers at the top of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Ga., on March 8, family members said they didn't believe that the young men who had planned on a taking a birthday cruise in April and dreamed of being entrepreneurs would hurt themselves or each other, CNN reported. My nephews wouldnt do this! the twins aunt, Yasmine Brawner, wrote in a GoFundMe page she organized in hopes of hiring an investigator to help with the case. (Brawner did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [They] wanted so much for their future, they had dreams of starting their very own clothing line, she added. On March 7, the day before the siblings were found dead, Naazir was scheduled to fly to Boston to see friends, according to CNN. Officials said that he went to the airport but never boarded the plane. Instead, he returned to his home in Lawrenceville, an Atlanta suburb. What prompted Naazir and Qaadir to travel from their hometown to Hiawassee, almost 90 miles away, is unclear. But cellular location data helped investigators establish a timeline from the siblings home to Bell Mountain. Surveillance footage also emerged, which showed the twins entering a Shell Gas station in Lawrenceville, Ga., about 12 hours before they were discovered dead. Getty An aerial shot of Bell Mountain and Lake Chatuge near Hiawassee, Ga. An aerial shot of Bell Mountain and Lake Chatuge near Hiawassee, Ga. Other evidence that led to their official finding includes records that show Naazir purchased ammunition used in the gun, according to the GBI. The ammunition was delivered to Naazirs house two days before his final trip with his brother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, internet history from their phones "showed searches for how to load a gun, suicide rates in 2024, and other related searches." gofundme The twin brothers had big plans for their future, their family says. The twin brothers had big plans for their future, their family says. For the brothers family, there are still unending questions and pain. For a lot of our family, its too much, a family member told CNN. They are extremely traumatized. 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 twins older sister, Kai'ree Powell, remembered her last day with them. On March 6, the three siblings watched a sitcom at her home in Atlanta and talked about life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They asked me If you didnt have any anxiety and fears, what would you do? And I told them that I would want to dance because Ive always wanted to be a dancer, Powell told CNN. And they said, You should do that. I really hope that you do that. "That was the last thing they said to me," she added. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Read the original article on People Six people have suffered life-threatening injuries in a knife attack at the central train station in the northern German city of Hamburg, emergency services said on Friday. In addition, three people suffered severe injuries, while three more were slightly injured. Police said a person was detained at the station after stabbing people on a platform. According to the Bild newspaper, the suspect is a woman. Hamburg's central train station is one of the busiest public transport hubs in Germany. Police on duty at the scene after several people were seriously injured in a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station. Steven Hutchings/dpa (NewsNation) Two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were shot and killed in Washington, D.C. Professor Nissim Otmazgin, who taught Lischinsky, joined NewsNation to talk about the impact of the shooting and Lischinskys life. Yaron was an outstanding student and a wonderful personality. This is what makes it even more and more difficult. His dream was to become a diplomat, Otmazgin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is Elias Rodriguez? Suspected D.C. shooter from Chicago He described Lischinsky as a smart and idealistic student who spoke four different languages and believed that coming from a culturally diverse background would make him a better diplomat. He thought that religion is something that we should use to build bridges towards our neighbors, Otmazgin said. Lishinsky and Milgrim were attending a humanitarian event to raise money for aid to Gaza. There are also reports the shooter yelled Free Palestine during the attack. Police increase security after Israeli Embassy staffers killed Otmazgin told NewsNation there is a need for hostages to be released and trust needs to be rebuilt in the Middle East. He also said more attention should be paid to antisemitism to prevent other attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discourse in Israel, at least, is that we should actually pay more attention to antisemitism, he said. We should pay attention to more radical discourse that we hear from time to time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is seeing information that may help in an ongoing investigation involving the disappearance of Jimmy Sylvester Smoak. Smoak was in his mid-forties when he was last seen in the Hampton County area in April 2019. He would be 52 years old today. Smoak has a prosthetic left leg starting at the knee and was known to frequent Hampton, Bamberg and Colleton Counties. He was originally from Colleton County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information should call SLEDs Missing Person tipline at 800-322-4453. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Reuters) -A Slovak court will rule on May 29 whether Slovak National Bank governor and European Central Bank policymaker Peter Kazimir is guilty of corruption, the court's spokeswoman said on Friday. The case dates back to Kazimir's previous position as finance minister before he became the central bank's chief in 2019. Kazimir, who is a member of ECB's rate-setting governing council, denies any wrongdoing. Prosecutors have proposed a jail sentence in the middle of the applicable one to five range, Slovak media reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A guilty verdict by the Specialised Criminal Court would not force Kazimir out of office, as it could still be appealed to a higher court. Kazimir was on a foreign trip on Friday and the central bank had no immediate comment. Kazimir's current six-year term at the head of the central bank will end just days after the planned ruling, on June 1, but he is expected to overstay the period in line with the law until a decision on whether he will be granted another term or replaced. Slovak central bank governors are nominated by the government, approved by parliament and appointed by the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors allege that, while Kazimir was finance minister in 2012-2019, he delivered a 48,000 euro bribe to the then-head of national tax administration to influence tax proceedings. The defence, apart from denying any bribery, has argued that the case should be thrown out due to statutes of limitation that were shortened by a criminal law reform enacted last year. But the judge reclassified the case in a way that allowed it to continue. Kazimir was originally found guilty and given a 100,000 euro fine in 2023, but appealed the verdict, sending the case to full trial. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka in PragueEditing by Toby Chopra and Frances Kerry) In the stillness of night, a quiet, tree-lined street in a San Diego neighborhood was plunged into chaos when a plane clipped a power line and crashed turning cars into fireballs and sending residents fleeing in a haze of smoke and confusion. The pilot of the plane, a Cessna 550 business jet, had just told air traffic controllers although the weather wasnt good, they would continue with landing, according to air traffic control audio recorded by LiveATC.net. I just want to see what Im in for here, the pilot told a controller when asking about weather conditions at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. An automated weather system there had not been working for more than a day, so the controller reported poor conditions from another nearby airport visibility of a half mile and a cloud ceiling of 200 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All right, that doesnt sound great but well give it a go, the pilot responded. There was no sign of any problem, and no emergency was declared. Pilots are allowed to descend to observe actual weather conditions, but are limited to certain altitudes. The plane was at 500 feet at the last point recorded by the open-source aviation tracking site ADS-B Exchange. The absolute minimum altitude allowed to check out the weather was 673 feet. Its not clear why the plane was so low or if the pilot was aware of his altitude. It hit power lines and crashed into the homes moments later. Six people who were onboard the flight were killed in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight people in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood a military housing community were injured, including two treated for minor injuries at the scene and six others who received medical attention, police said. Responding fire crews and police officers sprinted through thick fog in a race against the encroaching flames. After hitting the power line the plane slammed into a home and left a trail of debris along the street, spilling fuel that sparked a chain of fires. Firefighters went door to door, urgently evacuating residents parents clutching infants, families half-asleep. One resident told CNN affiliate KFMB they were jolted awake by a thunderous boom, looked outside, and saw a fireball going down the street. As his wife grabbed their dogs and children, he ran to help evacuate the family whose home was directly struck by the plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ended up grabbing two of the kids over the fence, took them over to the neighbors, came back, we grabbed the ladder, got the wife out, got the two dogs out, got the husband out. Another resident told KFMB the moment he opened his door, he saw his neighbors car explode. First thing I do is run upstairs, grab my children, my wife and Im in my underwear. I just walk out, he said. We ended up helping a few neighbors get out. Thats all that we could do Authorities work the scene where a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday. - Gregory Bull/AP The destruction stretched for at least a quarter mile down the residential street, where several cars caught fire and others several blocks away from the main crash site were damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I woke up to what I thought was an earthquake, a nearby neighbor told CNN affiliate KCBS/KCAL. My kids woke up as well, they looked out the window and started screaming. My whole front area was on fire. We were trapped in our home and couldnt get out. Later Thursday, as the full scale of damage came into view, officials inspected the skeleton of a home, ravaged by the planes impact, which gouged a hole in its side and crushed the roof onto a car beneath. The thick stench of jet fuel hung in the air as crews combed the wreckage for possible clues to the cause of the crash. Between the charred remains of vehicles laid a yellow body bag, a somber reminder of the tragedys toll. Its a miracle none of the fatalities involved residents in the neighborhood, Eddy, the assistant fire chief, said. When I was coming on scene, I did not expect that same outcome as I got here, he said. I dont know exactly how they got out, but I do know that neighbors helped them get out, and thats the beauty of what I love in this neighborhood. Military looking out for one another. They did exactly what they did to try to help each other. Victims included members of the music industry David Shapiro, one of the cofounders of music agency Sound Talent Group, died in the crash, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro represented some of the most well-known international hard rock, punk and indie bands. We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Shapiro and his two colleagues, a spokesperson for the National Independent Talent Organization, a trade organization representing independent talent agencies and managers across the country, told CNN in a statement. Dave was a visionary in the music industry, the statement said. Shapiro, who had a pilots license, owned the aircraft under a company named Daviator LLC, according to FAA records. David Shapiro - Dave Shapiro/Instagram Emma Huke - Obtained by CNN Emma Huke, a 25-year-old employee of Sound Talent Group, was identified as another victim of the crash, according to the medical examiners office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kendall Fortner, 24, who was also an employee of the agency, was identified as one of the victims, according to a statement from her family shared with CNN. After Fortner interned with Sound Talent Group in college, she joined the company right after graduation as a booking associate. Ever since Kendalls father took her to concerts at a young age, she was hooked on music. From 1950s rock to classic rock, Green Day to Ed Sheeran, Kendall loved it all, the family statement said. Fortner taught herself to play a variety of instruments, including piano and guitar. She was interested in working on the business side of music as early as her teenage years. Kendall Fortner, 24, was one of the victims of the San Diego plane crash. - Fortner family The job at STG was a perfect fit that showcased her work ethic and ability to plan tours and festivals nationwide, the Fortner statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former drummer for the metal band The Devil Wears Prada was also killed in the crash. The band posted photos of Daniel Williams on its Instagram page with the caption, No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. The Devil Wears Pradas management company, Tandem Management Co., posted a statement reacting to Williams death, writing, His passion and drive propelled TDWP to incredible heights, and the band wouldnt be what it is today without his influence. Celina Kenyon, 36, a mother and professional photographer, also died in the crash, according to the medical examiners office. A family statement shared by her father, Bryan Charles Feldman, describes her as an amazing mother, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, partner and friend. Daniel Williams - From xcadaverx Celina Kenyon - Bryan Charles Feldman Kenyon decided to fly home to San Diego on a late night private flight rather than a commercial flight so she could get home early to take her daughter to school, according to the statement. She had been on a trip to photograph and support some of her longtime friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celina has always been loved and respected in her professional photography career and beyond. Family meant everything to her, the statement reads. Our family is devastated beyond these words. The world has lost a beautiful bright light. Feldman added Kenyons love and selflessness for humanity and the planet meant everything to her. Kenyons father tells CNN she is so loved and so missed. San Diego resident Dominic Damian was one of the six people aboard the jet that crashed, his family told CNN affiliate KFMB. CNN has reached out to Damians family. A longtime member of the local jiu-jitsu community, Damian had trained with instructor Baret Yoshida since 2007. Yoshida said Damian had earned a black belt and described him as such a smart guy with a great attitude for the sport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a really thoughtful person, his instructor told CNN. Hed always do the right thing. Yoshida said Damians wife shared the news of his passing after the crash and asked him to tell others in the jiu-jitsu community. Dominic Damian - Jordan Garcia Scott Wahl, San Diego police chief, said he was struggling to describe the scene his crews encountered when they arrived. I cant quite put words to describe what this scene looked like but with the jet fuel running down the streets and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see, he said during a news conference. Footage from the immediate aftermath captured mothers and fathers clutching children on their hips, running through the mist of water dousing the flames, while frightened dogs scrambled alongside them. The San Diego Humane Society has taken in 36 pets, including dogs, at least one cat, five geckos and a 20-gallon fish tank for emergency boarding from families impacted by the crash, it said on social media. The organizations medical team gave several animals decontamination baths to clean off jet fuel. Weather and lighting equipment were out of service before crash The National Transportation Safety Board is at the scene documenting the crash site and plans to move the airplane to a secure location on Saturday, said Eliott Simpson, a senior aviation accident investigator. The jet departed from Teterboro, New Jersey, Wednesday night at about 11:15 p.m., making a fuel stop in Wichita, Kansas, before crashing, according to Simpson. Two systems were out of service prior to the crash, Dan Baker, the NTSBs investigator in charge, said at a Friday news conference. An automated weather reporting system experienced a technical glitch before the accident, so the pilot and air traffic controllers relied on other sources, including another airport 4 miles away, to get information about the wind, visibility and cloud cover. Authorities work the scene where a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood Thursday. - Gregory Bull/AP A lighting system for the runway was also out of service, according to a notice to airmen posted before the crash. The airplane was not equipped with a flight data recorder and officials said while maintenance records suggested it was capable of having a cockpit voice recorder, they are still trying to determine if a functioning recorder was on board, Baker said. A preliminary report will be published on the NTSB website within 30 days and a final report will be released in about 12-24 months. I feel for the families of those on the plane and what theyre going through right now, Eddy said during Thursdays news conference. Its tragic to see (the wreckage) whether youre involved or not, just normal citizens that are here, theyre going to remember this the rest of their lives. CNNs Chelsea Bailey, Aaron Cooper, Pete Muntean, Stephanie Elam, Matthew J. Friedman, Graham Hurley, Taylor Galgano, Zoe Sottile and Danya Gainor contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. (WAVY) A Smithfield man was arrested following a child pornography investigation on Friday, according to police. Isle of Wight County Sheriffs Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). After an execution of search warrants and a forensic analysis of digital evidence, it led to the discovery of material indicative of child sexual abuse, such as online solicitation and the production of child pornography. Kyle Steinbegin (Courtesy: Isle of Wight County Sheriffs Office) Investigators arrested 42-year-old Kyle Steinbegin. He has been charged with the following three violations of Virginia code: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 18.2-374.3- Use of Communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children 1st Offense 18.2-374.3- Use of Communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children 1st Offense 18.2-374.3- Use of Communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children 2nd Offense Steinbegin was taken into custody without incident. He is currently being held at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail. Multiple victims have already been identified, and the Isle of Wight County Sheriffs Office Special Investigations Unit is actively working to identify additional victims and suspects connected to the case. Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation continues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Thursday announced a new articulation agreement with Marian University in Indianapolis that will offer students the opportunity to pursue a combined dual-degree program in engineering. This partnership with Marians E. S. Witchger School of Engineering allows SMWC students to earn both a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from SMWC and a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Marian University. Articulation agreements outline the process by which credits earned at one institution are transferred to another, enabling students to expand their collegiate goals and establish a career pathway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 3+2 dual-degree engineering program allows students to begin their studies at SMWC, and after three years, qualified students will be granted admission to Marian University for two years, where they can enroll in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering or chemical engineering. During the five years, students will earn two baccalaureate degrees: a degree in mathematics from SMWC and a degree in engineering from Marian University. During a news conference at The Woods, SMWC President Brennan J. Randolph expressed enthusiasm for the seamless transition this agreement offers students As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, agreements like this enable smaller institutions to expand learning opportunities for their students, Randolph said. We believe that this will be a natural fit for SMWC and Marian University. We are excited to work with President (Daniel) Elsener and Marian University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dual-degree programs in engineering are gaining popularity, offering students a comprehensive education and a competitive edge in the job market. Additionally, SMWC announced a second articulation agreement with Marian Universitys Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. This agreement offers SMWC graduates with a baccalaureate degree in biology-preprofessional a Fast-Track Interview track and an Early Decision track. Up to five students per track who meet the requirements will be guaranteed an interview and a fast-track admission decision. In the past, students who wanted to pursue a medical degree after earning their pre-professional degree at The Woods had to search for their next destination for medical school, said Janet Clark, SMWC provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. With this agreement, students who want to pursue a medical degree will work with both institutions advisors for a competitive application to continue their education at a top-ranked osteopathic medical school right here in Indiana, she said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. U.S. and Iran make 'some but not conclusive progress' in fifth round of nuclear dossier talks, the Foreign Minister of Oman, Badr Albusaidi, wrote on X, Trend reports. ''The fifth round of Iran-US talks concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement, '' the publication reads. Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy. President Donald Trumps long-running dream to protect loyalists in the federal bureaucracy and fire any perceived enemy got even closer to reality Thursday, when House Republicans passed a massive tax and spending bill. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed 215-214, cuts $1 trillion in federal health and food programs while adding nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts steered primarily to the wealthy. But it also includes a little-noticed provision that would force new federal employees to either give up traditional job protections or take a significant cut to their compensation. If the measure survives in whatever package the GOP-controlled Senate passes, unions warn it could turn the federal workforce into an old-school spoils system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a huge policy change masquerading as a small budget provision, said Daniel Horowitz, legislative director at the American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing more than 800,000 workers. It torches the civil service. And it does so in a sneaky way. HuffPost is here to uncover the real impact of Trumps administration on the economy and everyday lives. Support journalism that holds power accountable. Join our membership program today. Federal workers receive retirement benefits through whats known as the Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS. Retirees are paid an annuity based upon their length of service, funded through contributions from both employees and their agencies. Current workers chip in a certain percentage of their paycheck into FERS either 0.8% or 4.4%, depending on when they were hired and the government covers the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GOP measure would force new federal employees to pay a whopping 5% surcharge bringing their FERS contribution to 9.4% of their pay unless they agree to become an at-will employee. That means they would waive their right to appeal their termination except in particular cases like racial discrimination. The average salary of a new federal worker entering the FERS system is around $71,000, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the agency inside Congress that analyzed the GOP bill. So the typical worker would have to give up $3,500 a year just to have job protections that have long been standard. Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees, a union representing 100,000 workers, said the policy amounts to a bribe. Another way to look at it is criminal extortion, he said. Theyre saying, We will charge you more if you choose to access the laws that are on the books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He suspects most workers would choose to have more money in their paychecks, even though youd lose all your protections to report waste, fraud and abuse. Indeed, the budget office estimates that only one-quarter of new hires would sacrifice 5% of their pay in order to keep their civil service rights. And therefore the budget savings from the measure that is, the whole reason its supposedly in a tax bill would end up being quite small. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks to the media after the House narrowly passed its tax bill. Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images CBO figures the policy would increase revenue by just $4.7 billion over 10 years. By comparison, the Republican bill cuts nearly $700 billion from Medicaid, the health care program for the poor, over the same period. Horowitz said the meager savings betray the policys real intent: to turn the federal government into an at-will workforce in which employees can be fired for any reason at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a small provision here theyre basically undoing all of Title 5, he said, referring to the part of U.S. code that outlines federal job protections. Its 150 years of civil service rules that are being thrown out here and nullified. Are you a federal employee with something to share? You can find our reporter on Signal at davejamieson.99 or email him. While it may be tucked into a tax package, the policy fits neatly into the Trump administrations broader attacks on federal workers and labor groups. The White House has tried to unilaterally shut down federal agencies, terminate tens of thousands of probationary employees, carry out mass layoffs through reductions in force and strip collective-bargaining rights from up to a million workers. It is also hoping to reclassify thousands of civil servants as at-will political appointees through its Schedule F scheme. Federal unions are an obstacle to all those goals, and the GOP tax measure could be one way to weaken them for good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unions in the federal sector cannot bargain directly over pay and benefits, but they can provide good job security by enabling workers to appeal what they believe are unfair terminations. If workers waive their right to such due process, there would be less reason for them to join a union in the first place. The at-will policy could therefore help with the long-sought GOP goal of shrinking the membership of federal unions. Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, said the Trump administration seems determined to turn the federal sector into Walmart. This idea of forcing federal workers to pay or be at will is illegal and outrageous, said Biggs, whose union represents workers at NASA and other agencies. But its not clear the measure will make it through the Senate, where some Republicans have voiced concern about certain pieces of the House bill. Republicans hold 53 seats and have a narrow path to approving the tax overhaul. Winning over the more moderate members will be essential to getting the legislation to Trumps desk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lenkart hopes the provision will die in the Senate, which tends to be a little calmer in the skull than the House, he said. But he was reluctant to make any predictions. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is one of the few Republicans whove openly pushed back against Trumps attacks on federal employees. Her home state of Alaska is especially vulnerable to cuts to the federal workforce. Asked for her take on the at-will provision in the GOP bill, Murkowski said only that shed been keeping an eye on it. I havent looked to see how it actually landed, she told HuffPost on Thursday, alluding to the last-minute changes House Republicans made to their bill. It is something that we were paying attention to. So Im going to take a look at that one. Arthur Delaney contributed reporting to this story. Southern California Edison will pay a record-breaking price to settle a lawsuit alleging the utility sparked a massive blaze in Los Angeles County. Edison has agreed to pay $82.5 million, the largest settlement by the U.S. in Californias Central District, for its role in the Bobcat Fire, which burned for more than 80 days and scorched 116,000 acres in the fall of 2020. The federal government alleged that the fire was sparked on Sept. 6, 2020, when trees came into contact with SCE power lines. Prosecutors accused Edison and its tree maintenance contractor of not properly maintaining those trees to prevent potential flares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire burned approximately 175 square miles, primarily in the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains, and caused extensive damage to public lands and habitats of several federally protected species. The blaze also destroyed 171 structures, damaged 47 others, totaled 178 vehicles, and displaced thousands of residents while blanketing much of Southern California under a dense cloud of acrid smoke. A firefighting aircraft drops the fire retardant Phos-Chek as the Bobcat Fire continues to burn on Sept. 19, 2020 in Juniper Hills, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) More than 100 miles of trails and multiple National Forest campgrounds were closed for years by the Bobcat Fire, which grew to be one of the largest and most expensive fires in the countys history. The settlement with SCE will help the federal government recoup costs of battling the blaze, which was estimated to have cost more than $100 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the agreement, Edison did not admit fault or any wrongdoing. We are grateful to receive these settlement funds, which mark an important step toward recovery and restoration, said Angeles National Forest Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez. These resources will help us rehabilitate burned areas, restore wildlife habitats, and strengthen our forests resilience to future wildfires. The settlement was agreed to on May 14, and Edison will have 60 days from that date to complete its payment, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A Norco man has been convicted of intentionally igniting the Line fire that scorched some 44,000 acres of the San Bernardino Mountains and injured six firefighters, authorities said. On Thursday, 35-year-old Justin Halstenberg was found guilty of seven counts related to the Line fire and two counts related to a subsequent blaze, according to the San Bernardino County district attorney's office. His charges include aggravated arson of forest land and property, and possession of flammable materials. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, prosecutors said. Justin Wayne Halstenberg was convicted on seven counts in the destructive Line fire. (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department) Halstenberg became a subject of interest after an automatic license-plate reader linked his pickup truck to a location near the start of the Line fire, which began Sept. 5. He was arrested in his family's Norco home, around 20 miles from the ignition site, Sept. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors accused him of deliberately starting three fires within a single hour in the city of Highland. His first attempt was extinguished by firefighters near Bacon and Lytle lanes, prosecutors said. The second was stomped out by a good Samaritan just east of Bacon Lane. The third was set by the intersection of Base Line and Aplin streets and went on to become the Line fire. That blaze forced the evacuation of more than 11,000 residents and damaged several properties, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Halstenberg pleaded not guilty to starting the Line fire. His mother previously defended him to The Times, saying, "I do want to say this about my baby boy. He did not light that fire, I repeat he did not light that fire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 'He did not light that fire' says mother of man charged with starting California wildfire In closing arguments, prosecutors said that Halstenberg had practiced starting fires in Jurupa Valley in 2023 using an ignition device consisting of a cigarette box filled with paper and coins that were used to weigh it down when tossed, according to reporting from the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Detectives discovered a similar device at the start of the Line fire, the outlet reported. San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe praised investigators and prosecutors for sending a message that arsonists will be held accountable for their destructive actions. "I commend the integrity and diligence of the District Attorney, County Sheriff, County Fire, and Cal Fire, who never lost sight of the gravity of the damage caused," she said in a statement. "Today, they delivered justice for the victims, our residents, and the land we all cherish." 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. WASHINGTON Donald Trumps pick to run the Social Security Administration said he had to google the job after the president tapped him for the position. In a meeting with managers at the agencys Baltimore headquarters this week, Frank Bisignano, the commissioner of Social Security, was candid about his apparent unfamiliarity with the job. I dont think the commissioner of Social Security is, like, a globally known title. It is to you, right? But, like, it wasnt to me, Bisignano said, according to audio of the meeting obtained by HuffPost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I get a phone call, and its about Social Security. And Im really I swear Im not looking for a job, Bisignano continued. And Im like, Well, what am I gonna do? So Im googling Social Security. You know, one of my great skills, Im one of the great googlers on the East Coast. Laughter can be heard on the recording, which captures Bisignano seemingly trying to endear himself to his new employees as he describes his background and invites them to ask questions. Clearly, Commissioner Bisignano was poking fun at himself so that everyone in the room felt comfortable having an open conversation about improving service for the American people, a Social Security official told HuffPost. White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said in an emailed statement Bisignanos proven success in the financial services industry uniquely positions him to lead the Trump Administrations commonsense efforts to modernize the agency and improve its efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump nominated the longtime Wall Street executive in December, and he started this month after the so-called Department of Government Efficiency ripped through the agency, jettisoning senior staff, shuttering internal offices and barging into sensitive data systems. Bisignano assured staff he didnt intend to do any more mass layoffs and that he wanted to provide stability. At the start of the meeting, Bisignano joked that he fully expected his remarks to land in the news, making repeated references to the Washington Post. When he talked about how he googled his job, he immediately recognized it was headline fodder. That is the headline for the Post: Great Googler, Googler in Chief, he said. By the way, I like to have fun at work. Were allowed to laugh, were allowed to have fun, were allowed to know each others families, were allowed to be normal. Hows that? Im like, What the heck is the Commissioner of Social Security? He also joked that there have been a lot of Social Security commissioners with short tenures. He hadnt realized the term is supposed to last for six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time people found the bathroom, they were thinking about where to go, he said, to laughter in the room. Are we having fun yet? Related... The columnist's son, Baxter, runs across a field in New Hampshire in September 2013. He just graduated from middle school this week. (Clay Wirestone/Kansas Reflector) My eighth grader graduated from middle school on Wednesday, and Im not sure how I feel about it. You raise a child, care for them for years as they can barely speak or take care of themselves, and then they go and grow up. Our son now looms over my husband. Hes nearly my height. And he shows disturbing signs of independent thought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a joke, of course. Still, sitting in a packed gymnasium proved unexpectedly emotional. I was watching my child mature, alongside more than 200 of his peers. I watched for others who couldnt be there. My mother died 14 years ago this June, three months after our son was born. She was so excited to see pictures, to chat via videoconference. At the time, we lived in New Hampshire, while she lived in Kansas. She was never able to meet her grandson in person. And she was never able to tell me how quickly the time passes from late elementary school to the end of middle school how in the space of three or four years, a little kid transforms into a towering teen. I wish she could be there. But like much that we wish for ourselves and our loved ones and our lives, thats not possible. My brother and sister were there, though, and they supported and congratulated their nephew after the ceremony. We take lifes moments as they come, enjoy what we can, and move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grief and strength As I scanned social media last week, a particular message stood out. Paraphrased, the meme stated that grief encompasses more than sadness after someone passes away. We grieve when we lose something, and that neednt be a life. We can grieve friendships, careers, politics, the passage of time. I have felt so much grief over the past couple of years, grief that at times threatens to overwhelm me. I have grieved watching state politics, as LGBTQ+ Kansans were ruthlessly targeted by lawmakers. I have grieved as institutions once thought unassailable, impervious to tampering, shuddered in the face of dime-store authoritarianism. I have grieved as I realized that Im no longer the twentysomething who bounced right back from setbacks and disappointments. I have grieved watching others around me mourn the loss of a society they thought they understood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one time, I believed that age strengthened you. That as the years pass, you grow stronger and better equipped to face the world. Im not sure thats true. If anything, in recent days Ive felt more vulnerable, more fearful, more uncertain. All that mourning makes celebration difficult. My son heads to high school in a profoundly unsettled time, one in which politics and technology and social upheaval pose existential threats. I want to protect him. I want to vanquish these griefs, for his generation if not for my own. Yet as I just write, thats not possible. We live how we live and we have what we have. We can try our best I can try my best and the world around us still falls short. Others have departed recently, others whose perspective and wisdom I would have valued. My former colleague at the University Daily Kansan, Andy Obermueller, would have offered dry and cynical takes. My former bosses and friends at the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire, Mike Pride and Mark Travis, would have drawn on their journalistic wisdom. My high school history teacher, Robert Nellis, would have cited battles from World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The world would better and stronger if all these men were still in it. Love and life But I cant leave this column in a pit of despair. My mother didnt raise me that way. We still live in a nation of wealth and opportunity. We still live in a state packed with caring, creative people of all ages. We can still make changes for the better, even if they do only a fraction of what we imagine. I dont know what the future brings. I do know, however, the love I feel for my son and family. I know how much love my mother, gone these many years, felt for us. Love may not make the world go round. It may not solve societal problems. But our lives dont amount to much without it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite my grief these past years, Ive also found incredible joy. My husband and child help with that, of course. So do the multitudes of Kansas Reflector readers who have attended our town halls, sent along email messages of support and opened our newsletters every morning. So does the recognition that we all of us share the gift of existence, forming another link on the great chain of human life from the far past to the distant future. A small, ceramic urn of my mothers ashes sits on a bookcase in our living room. When I told my son that I was going to write about his graduation, and that I was sad his grandmother couldnt be there, he replied immediately. She could have been there, he said. You just needed to carry her in. I chuckled, but of course he was right. I could have. I just wasnt looking at the situation the right way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid whatever mourning and grief we carry right now, lets find a way to celebrate milestones while remembering those who brought us here. And may that whole ball of emotion, bound together by love, bounce us into whatever future comes. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Dave Shapiro, a co-founder of Sound Talent Group, has died. He was among those killed when a Cessna 550 private plane crashed into a San Diegos Tierrasanta neighborhood in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 22. Shapiro and all of the planes passengers died in the crash, among them believed to be Daniel Williams, founding drummer of the metalcore band the Devil Wears Prada. About 10 homes suffered damage from the crash, Dan Eddy, San Diegos assistant fire chief, said at a news conference, according to The Associated Press. Officials are investigating the cause of the crash, The New York Times reports. Shapiro was 42. We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, a Sound Talent Group representative said in a statement. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. Dave Shapiro formerly worked as an agent at United Talent Agency. He co-founded Sound Talent Group, with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen, in 2019. The agencys roster includes hard rock acts like Pierce the Veil, Sum 41, Lamb of God, Ice Nine Kills, and others, along with pop artists like Vanessa Carlton and Hanson. In 2020, Shapiro formed the National Independent Talent Organization with the goal of protecting independent artists, booking agents, and talent representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond his work as an agent, Shapiro founded the label Velocity Records. He also founded Velocity Aviation. According to the companys website, Shapiro began flying in 2005. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork JOHANNESBURG (AP) South Africas top law enforcement official said Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump wrongly claimed that a video he showed in the Oval Office was of burial sites for more than 1,000 white farmers and he twisted the facts to push a false narrative about mass killings of white people in his country. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was talking about a video clip that was played during the meeting between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday that showed an aerial view of a rural road with lines of white crosses erected on either side. Now this is very bad, Trump said as he referred to the clip that was part of a longer video that was played in the meeting. These are burial sites, right here. Burial sites, over a thousand, of white farmers, and those cars are lined up to pay love on a Sunday morning." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mchunu said the crosses did not mark graves or burial sites, but were a temporary memorial put up in 2020 to protest the killings of all farmers across South Africa. They were put up during a funeral procession for a white couple who were killed in a robbery on their farm, Mchunu said. A son of the couple who were killed and a local community member who took part in the procession also said the crosses do not represent burial sites and were taken down after the protest. South Africa struggles with extremely high levels of violent crime, although farm killings make up a small percentage of the country's overall homicides. Both white and Black farmers are attacked, and sometimes killed, and the government has condemned the violence against both groups. Whites make up around 7% of South Africa's 62 million people but generally still have a much better standard of living than the Black majority more than 30 years after the end of the apartheid system of racial segregation. Whites make up the majority of the country's wealthier commercial farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mchunu said Trump's false claims that the crosses represented more than 1,000 burial sites was part of his genocide story referring to the U.S. presidents baseless allegations in recent weeks that there is a widespread campaign in South Africa to kill white farmers and take their land that he has said amounts to a genocide. They are not graves. They dont represent graves, Mchunu said regarding the video that has become prominent on social media since it was shown in the White House. And it was unfortunate that those facts got twisted to fit a false narrative about crime in South Africa. We have respect for the president of the United States, Mchunu added. But we have no respect for his genocide story whatsoever. The White House, when asked about Mchunu's remarks, pointed back to press secretary Karoline Leavitt's comments a day earlier at her briefing, when she said that "the video showed crosses that represent the dead bodies of people who were racially persecuted by their government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the more than 5,700 homicides in South Africa from January through March, six occurred on farms and, of those, one victim was white, said Mchunu. In principle, we do not categorize people by race, but in the context of claims of genocide of white people, we need to unpack the killings in this category, he said. Lourens Bosman, who is a former lawmaker in the national Parliament, said he took part in the procession shown in the video the Trump administration played. It happened near the town of Newcastle in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal in September 2020. The crosses were symbols to white and Black farmers and farmworkers who had been killed across South Africa over the previous 26 years, Bosman said. Trump's falsehoods that South Africa's government is fueling the persecution and killing of its minority white farmers has been strongly denied by the country, which says the allegations are rooted in misinformation. Ramaphosa pushed for this week's meeting with Trump in what he said was an attempt to change Trump's mind over South Africa and correct misconceptions about the country to rebuild ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump issued an executive order on Feb. 7 that cut all U.S. financial assistance to South Africa and accused it of mistreating white Afrikaner farmers and seizing their land. The order accused Ramaphosa's government of "fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored landowners." Trump's executive order also accused South Africa of pursuing an anti-American foreign policy and specifically criticized its decision to launch a case at the International Court of Justice accusing U.S. ally Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The order accused South Africa of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas through that case. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa The News South African officials privately tried to push their economic agenda during President Cyril Ramaphosas visit to Washington despite his heated televised discussions with US President Donald Trump. The future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) remains uncertain, but a South African official told Semafor that Washington appears to share a commitment to continue the trade pact. AGOA, which allows African countries to sell billions of dollars in duty-free goods to the US, is due to expire in September and has been shrouded in uncertainty since Trump began his second term. However, ultimate responsibility for its renewal lies with the US Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chrispin Phiri, the spokesperson for the department of international relations and cooperation who told Semafor about the mention of AGOA, said Pretoria also submitted a trade proposal to Washington, which showed an interest in purchasing more American liquefied natural gas and said South Africa hopes to partner with the US on enriching rare earth minerals. Phiri also told Semafor they received indications that Trump will travel to South Africa for the G20 meeting in November, despite senior US officials boycotting an earlier bloc meeting in Johannesburg. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 23. The first phase of a large-scale prisoner exchange agreement between Ukraine and Russia, based on the 1000 for 1000 format, has been successfully carried out,Trend reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 390 Ukrainian prisoners have been released during this initial stage. We expect the exchange to continue on Saturday and Sunday, the President stated. Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the efforts to bring Ukrainian prisoners home, stressing the significance of every individual: The name and details of each person are carefully verified. We will continue our diplomatic efforts to make such steps possible. Among the released individuals are three women and 387 men. All will undergo medical examinations, physical and psychological rehabilitation, receive financial compensation for the time spent in captivity, and will be reintegrated into society. The agreement follows a landmark meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations held in Istanbul on May 16 the first such meeting in three years where the mutual exchange deal in the 1000 for 1000 format was reached. By Nellie Peyton and Bhargav Acharya JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -A local representative of an area shown in a video played at the White House said she was "sad" that U.S. President Donald Trump used the footage of hundreds of white crosses as false evidence of mass killings of white South African farmers. Trump showed an aerial shot of a procession of cars moving along a road lined with white crosses during his meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, as he doubled down on false claims of a white genocide in South Africa. He said the crosses were "burial sites" for over 1,000 white farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shot, whose location and date were verified by Reuters, showed crosses that were actually placed along the road between the town of Newcastle and the rural community of Normandien in 2020 as a tribute to a farming couple who had been murdered, said Bebsie Cronje, a ward councillor for Newcastle, in KwaZulu-Natal province. The crosses, installed to accompany a memorial service for the couple, have since been removed. "The crosses was not a display of how many farm murders (took place) or whatever. It was just a total tribute to the Raffertys," she told Reuters by telephone. "I feel it's very sad that something like this is being used politically." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. South Africa's police minister Senzo Mchunu also said in a press briefing on Friday that the crosses were linked to the murder of the Rafferty couple. Three suspects were arrested and sentenced for their killing and are in jail, he said. "They were sadly murdered by criminals in their home. The incident sparked a very strong protest by the farming community. The crosses symbolised killings on farms over years, they are not graves," he said. He added that claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa were "unfounded and unsubstantiated", saying the country only recorded six farm murders in the first three months of 2025, which included one white person. A total of 5,727 murders took place over that period, down from 6,536 in the same period last year, figures from the police ministry showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The history of farm murders in the country has always been distorted and reported in an unbalanced way. The truth is that farm murders have always included African people in more numbers." Cronje said the placing of the crosses was not politically motivated. "There was a group that was very close to the Raffertys. And they organised the gathering and the travelling of everybody there," said Cronje, referring to the long line of vehicles in the video. She said that since then, another white farmer from Newcastle was murdered. But she did not feel that the crimes were linked to race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I can't say that it's just white people. If a black farmer is killed, it doesn't come to the news," said Cronje, who is from the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-biggest political party and a coalition partner of the African National Congress. (Reporting by Nellie Peyton and Bhargav Acharya; additional reporting by Siyanda Mthethwa, editing by Silvia Aloisi and William Maclean) SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Residents in South Burlington reported that multiple unlocked cars were opened, rifled through, and stolen from overnight Wednesday or early Thursday morning. The South Burlington Police Department says it anticipates an increase of these types of crimes as the weather gets warmer. It wants to advise the public to remember to lock vehicles overnight, park in well-lit areas, and avoid leaving keys or other valuable items in them, to avoid falling victim to crimes of opportunity. Group in South Burlington buys land for regenerative farm Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theft from a motor vehicle is one of the most commonly reported crimes in Vermont and nationwide. The South Burlington Police Department alone recorded more than 300 cases in 2023, the most recent year with available data. Due to the perpetrators usually being unknown to the victim, its also one of the crimes where its least likely that the offenders will eventually be identified and charged. According to FBI data, the clearance rate for theft from a motor vehicle is below ten percent in Vermont as of 2023, meaning less than one in ten reports will eventually lead to a charge. For comparison, the clearance rate in Vermont for aggravated assault is above 80%. The crimes remain under investigation and this story will be updated if 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 ABC22 & FOX44. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Two more South Dakota law enforcement agencies are seeking out hands-on authority to identify and remove illegal immigrants from the state. The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Highway Patrol applied for a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program called 287(g), which trains and certifies certain officers with specified immigration duties, with limitations and oversight depending on the agreements terms. The two agencies both applied under the Task Force Model (TFM), where officers incorporate immigration authority in their day-to-day duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in April, two South Dakota sheriffs offices joined 287(g) as warrant service officers (WSOs), who can identify criminal immigrants and immigration violators who are already in custody. As of May 22, these are the only two confirmed participating agencies from South Dakota under 287(g). If the DCI and Highway Patrols applications are approved, then four total state law enforcement agencies will perform immigration authority tasks for ICE under 287(g). ICE activity increased in South Dakota, after agents arrested eight people in Madison at Manitou Equipment and Global Polymer Industries in May. 287(g) Overview Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), section 287(g), ICEs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) partner with law enforcement agencies under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for specified immigration authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only law enforcement agencies can apply for ICEs 287(g) program. According to ICE, 287(g) operates under three main program models: While applying for the program, letters of intent and an MOA must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ICE, letters of intent must specify which model program will be used, the current relationship between the law enforcement agency and ICE, the law enforcement agencys location, and the number of deputies that will receive training. Once an agency signs an MOA for the 287(g) program, ICE will train law enforcement in immigration law, multicultural communication, and methods to avoid racial profiling. According to ICEs website, several states have passed or are considering state legislation mandating law enforcement agencies to apply for MOAs under 287(g). DCI Task Force Agents: A Force Multiplier On Wednesday South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that DCI agents will train as task force officers under 287(g). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two DCI officers- one from East river and one from West river- will train as task force officers under TFM, according to Jackley. As a task force officer under 287(g), the two agents will be granted immigration law enforcement as a part of their day-to-day duties. Its a force multiplier, it saves the taxpayers, arrives at the right solution- because it gets violent criminals and drug dealers- that are not legally- here out of our state, Jackley said in a Friday interview with KELOLAND News. Jackley said he thinks the community will respond positively to the partnership because this federal authority will only apply to violent immigrant criminals and drug dealers. Nobody wants them in our community, Jackley said. Theyre not here legally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackley said TFM will speed up the process for state and federal authorities to directly move forward with deportations. Nobody wants to see a victim go through more process than the victim has to, or use of taxpayer dollars thats either duplicative or not effective, Jackley said. Jackley said he hopes to train more officers in the future, with just under 70 agents working for the DCI. Its going to take a little time, Jackley said. I want to get established where we have at least components in East river and West river have that leadership in place, and then as the need comes about, we will train additional agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Jackleys office, a Task Force Program will be headquartered in Pierre. Jackley announced the partnership between the DCI and ICE after touring the Southern border on May 21. Jackley told KELOLAND News that the next step is for ICE to train the DCI officers to perform under TFM. Jackley said the training requires 40 hours and will be virtual. Highway Patrol Task Force Officers On May 21, Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden wrote a letter of intent to ICE for Highway Patrol to participate in TFM under 287(g). Rhoden said hes proud of the current work by ICE to keep Americans safe and remove illegal alien criminals, according to the letter of intent, and the Highway Patrol partnership will serve and meet the needs of South Dakota, help remove dangerous criminals, and keep drugs out of our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, Rhoden said five state patrol officers will serve as task force officers. Under 287(g), task force officers enforce immigration authority during their daily duties. Highway patrol duties include traffic law enforcement- like traffic stops- drug interdiction, and more, according to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety website. Rhoden wrote the letter of intent the same day he visited South Dakota National Guard soldiers at the Southern Border. Gov. Rhoden shakes hands with a National Guard soldier during his visit to the Southern Border on May 21. The next step is for Highway Patrol to sign an MOA under the TFM, and submit the letter of intent and MOA to DHS. KELOLAND News reached out to Highway Patrol for a response, but the agency said they were unable to speak this week. Other South Dakota 287(g) Partners As of March, the Hughes and Minnehaha County Sheriffs Offices participates in the 287(g) program as WSOs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, with the changes that the federal government has made with the uptake in detentions that were doing, we just want to be good partners with ICE and our federal agency partners and make sure that were getting the training that we need to be effective in what theyre asking us to do, Captain Adam Zishka with the Minnehaha County Sheriffs Office said to KELOLAND News in April. As of May 23, Zishka said no officers have been trained yet, and the county continues to wait for details on how many jail officers will receive the Warrant Service Officer training. Patrick Callahan, sheriff for the Hughes County Sheriffs Office, told KELOLAND News that they havent received training either, as of May 23. My intent is to take the training myself and act as the Warrant Service Office at the Hughes County Jail, Patrick Callahan, sheriff for the Hughes County Sheriffs Office, said in a statement to KELOLAND News in April. HCJ is one of the largest jails in South Dakota and holds inmates from across Central South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the sheriffs offices involvement, read the full article 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 KELOLAND.com. Attorney General Marty Jackley listens to testimony at a Project Prison Reset meeting on April 29, 2025, in Springfield. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley shared Friday that the new immigration enforcement agreement he aims to enter into with federal authorities is the same type Gov. Larry Rhoden aims for, but said his agents will only use that authority in limited circumstances. The agreements let officials trained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ask people about their immigration status and make warrantless arrests for suspected violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackleys requested agreement between ICE and the state Division of Criminal Investigation is limited in scope, however, he said in a Friday press release. To be clear, I am restricting the use of this federal authority to violent criminals and drug dealers, Jackley said. Jackley first announced his intent to pursue the agreement during a news conference this week with Republican attorneys general at the U.S.-Mexico border. At the time, the type of agreement was not specified. The news came via the release of Jackleys proposed agreement. ICE had not yet signed the shared agreement signed stateside by DCI Director Dan Satterlee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE offers three types of agreements under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. One, the Jail Enforcement Model, lets trained jailers ask those in their custody about their immigration status, and lets those jailers search ICE databases and issue immigration detention orders. Another trains local jail staff as ICE Warrant Service Officers, allowing them to serve immigration warrants obtained from a judge by ICE officers to inmates already in local custody. Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead and Hughes County Sheriff Patrick Callahan both made those types of agreements earlier this spring. The third type of agreement offers the broadest scope of authority to local officers. The Task Force Model trains locals who work outside detention centers to act as limited immigration agents, enabling them to ask those they encounter in the normal course of police business about their immigration status, and to arrest them if theyre suspected of violating immigration law. The Obama administration discontinued the type in 2012 due to concerns about racial profiling and civil rights violations. They were revived by the Trump administration earlier this year. Jackley and Rhoden, both Republicans and potential 2026 gubernatorial candidates, have characterized their support for the agreements as moves showing them to be in lockstep with President Trumps immigration policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Jackley said in a press release that his agents would use their immigration enforcement authority in limited situations, Rhoden spokeswoman Josie Harms would not expand upon the scenarios under which state troopers would use their authority once an agreement is in place for the highway patrol. Taneeza Islam, CEO of South Dakota Voices for Peace, said the general message will make victims of labor and sex trafficking less likely to come forward, and lets perpetrators threaten to turn their victims in for deportation if they attempt to flee. You have legal protections if you come forward, but victims dont know that, Islam said. ICE has authority and supervision over all immigration-related activities, according to Jackleys agreement. Authorities must undergo ICE-led training and pass federal exams. ICE covers training-related travel costs and provides instructors and materials. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With Black women more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women, South Hollands The Link and Option Center is pushing for a mobile health clinic to provide culturally sensitive care for women where theyre at. Its crucial that we, as a community, work closely with our government agencies to address the fact that a significant percentage of pregnancy related deaths in Illinois are considered potentially preventable, said Twin Green, president and CEO of The Link and Option Center. This fact should ignite a sense of urgency and responsibility in all of us. Variation in quality health care and chronic underlying conditions are among the reasons for racial disparities in maternal health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Illinois, an average of 88 women die per year during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green called this a red flag that needs to be addressed by public officials. Green said at a news conference Monday that she founded The Link and Option Center in 1995 to educate and provide support to young adults, especially in regards to mental health care. She said mobile clinic is crucial to the health centers mission to uplift Black communities by encouraging positive health outcomes. On Chicagos South Side and in the south suburbs, transportation is a major barrier for women to receive the care needed for healthy pregnancies, which the mobile clinic would address, Green said. The mobile maternal care clinic is the option that Illinois must take to save lives and build healthier communities that will save our state billions of dollars in the future, Green said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mobile clinic has received support from state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, who said he is pushing for state funding. The Link and Option Center seeks about $700,000 to purchase and implement the clinic, which would provide prenatal and postnatal screenings, mental health referrals, crisis intervention, chronic illness management and teen pregnancy support. Akua Mason attended the news conference with her 4-month-old son, Noah. She said working with a doula who provided dedicated support throughout her pregnancy was game changing as a Black woman living in Matteson. Shes a Black woman as well, so she was able to connect on that level, Mason said. Those services are super important, because a lot of times moms dont have the language to communicate with providers or even know whats wrong. Mason said shes hopeful about a mobile health center in the south suburbs, believing it would help many women who struggle with getting to appointments ahead of birth. They may not be able to get there because of transportation, Mason said. So this would eliminate that barrier. ostevens@chicagotribune.com (Reuters) - Southern California Edison (SCE), a unit of utility Edison International, agreed on Friday to pay $82.5 million to settle claims with the U.S. Forest Service for costs and damages resulting from the Bobcat Fire in 2020. The U.S. government had filed a lawsuit against SCE in 2023, alleging negligence that caused the wildfire, which burned nearly 180 square miles (466.2 square kilometers) in one of the largest wildfires in Los Angeles County. In a complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, the government alleged that the wildfire began on September 6, 2020, when a poorly maintained tree contacted power lines, igniting vegetation on a branch, which then fell to the ground and spread the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This record settlement against Southern California Edison provides meaningful compensation to taxpayers for the extensive costs of fighting the Bobcat Fire and for the widespread damage to public lands," said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. According to U.S. Department of Justice, this is the largest-ever wildfire cost recovery settlement in the Central District of California. The company has agreed to pay the settlement within 60 days of the effective date of the settlement agreement, which was May 14, without admitting wrongdoing or fault, the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles said. "We are pleased to have resolved this matter, and will continue to advance wildfire mitigation measures to further enhance public safety and resiliency," said SCE spokesperson Diane Castro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company submitted a three-year wildfire mitigation plan to California's Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety last week. (Reporting by Pooja Menon in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi) Can a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, be seen farther south, in Palm Beach County skies? If the conditions are right, yes! And when this so Florida thing occurs, it's very Instagram-worthy. Though rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida, or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, people in Palm Beach County can sometimes see this phenomenon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Floridas Space Coast could be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach (see videos and photo gallery with this story). When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, theres an opportunity for unique photos the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information on rocket launches in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them from the Palm Beach County area. Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space. When is the next SpaceX rocket launch in Florida? No earlier than Saturday, May 24: SpaceX Starlink 12-22 Mission: SpaceX will launch a payload of Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket into low-Earth orbit, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory indicates. Launch window: 1:19 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 24, 2025 Launch location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Memorial Day weekend SpaceX launch: Best places to watch near Palm Beach Spain is pushing ahead with plans to hit British people with a 100 per cent tax when buying holiday homes in a bid to tackle the countrys growing housing crisis. A bill presented to the Spanish parliament by Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, seeks to promote measures that enable access to housing, since we are facing one of the largest problems our society is currently confronted with, Bloomberg reported. Mr Sanchez first revealed plans to tax non-EU citizens in January in an attempt to curb growing discontent about surging real estate prices and housing shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, he told an economic forum in Madrid that foreign buyers had bought thousands of properties not to live in, but to make money from them which, in the context of the shortage that we are in, we obviously cannot allow. Figures provided by Mr Sanchez showed that 27,000 non-EU residents bought properties in Spain in 2023. In total, foreigners make up 15 per cent of the housing market, with UK citizens leading the way in coastal areas such as the Costa del Sol, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. EU citizens, including Germans and the Dutch, who also make up a significant proportion of foreign buyers in Spain, will be exempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill faces hurdles in order to get approved in Parliament, where Mr Sanchez does not hold a majority. He has been leading a minority coalition since 2023 and needs support from about eight parties when he wants to pass legislation. The proposed Bill outlines that the tax will not affect foreign businessmen or professional workers based in Spain. This could potentially shield expat workers. In Spain, people are classed as non-residents if they live in the country for less than 183 days in a year. The proposed law follows similar schemes in Canada and New Zealand. The Bill also seeks to increase VAT on short-term rentals and raise taxes on publicly-listed real estate investment trusts. It seeks to set a levy on houses that are empty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iain Michael Tozer, who runs an estate agency in Barcelona, said there had already been a negative impact on buyers because of the uncertainty surrounding the law. There has been a negative impact on some buyers, but more due to the uncertainty around it, not due to the idea of the tax itself, he added. What they did was they announced they were going to apply up to 100pc tax for foreign buyers, but they didnt really say which one. That caused a double effect. People hesitate because they think am I going to get a 100pc tax on the whole property. When they speak to agents, we clarify that it cant be that, itll be on the closing tax. There are two closing taxes in Spain one is VAT, which is at 10 per cent, and the other is transfer tax (ITP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When property is bought in Spain, transfer tax paid on second-hand properties generally between 6.5 per cent and 12 per cent of the purchase price is decided at a regional level. Mr Tozer added that he did not think the proposed Bill would solve the housing crisis. He said: The people that buy properties overseas are either very high-end or condominium-style properties in Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol where theres a lot of supply in property and its not the type of property your average Spanish family is going to buy. Central and local authorities have spent years clamping down on holiday rentals under intense public pressure from anti-tourist activists. The countrys consumer rights ministry recently ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday homes from its platform as part of a crackdown on illegal listings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of those who were banned were operating without a licence number, while it was unclear whether others were run by individuals or a company, the ministry said. The clampdown came as activists ramped up protests against over-tourism ahead of the summer season. Organisers in the Canary Islands said that 100,000 demonstrators took part in a protest against tourism in Tenerifes capital city, Santa Cruz, on Sunday. Housing shortages and soaring real estate prices have triggered protests in Spain against tourism and holiday home rentals - ASA/NPZ/SOLARPIX.COM The cost of an average rental property in Spain has doubled in the past decade, figures show, with the country the worlds second most popular tourist destination after France. Mr Sanchez said earlier this year that there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes, and vowed to prevent the uncontrolled expansion of holiday homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Individual councils have also begun to act. Barcelona City Hall said it would eliminate 10,000 short-term tourist apartments by the end of 2028. In the Canary Islands, Ibiza, and Murcia, authorities have reached agreements with Airbnb to ensure that property owners comply with tourist rules, including having proper licences. 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. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) The election that will determine Virginias next Governor is less than six months away and two polls released Thursday provided an update on where things are trending. The latest polls from Roanoke College and Pantheon/HarrisX both show Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger ahead of Republican nominee and current Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. The Roanoke College poll puts Spanbergers lead at 17 points, with 28 percent of voters still undecided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Spanberger has just four points of separation in the Pantheon/HarrisX poll. Virginia Tech political science professor Dr. Karen Hult said the discrepancy is not that shocking. Some of it has to do with the fact that theyre very different polls in terms of how they identify people to ask questions of, she said. But Hult and Liberty University professor of Government Aaron S. Van Allen feel differently about which margin reflects a more accurate picture. I was a little taken back by a 17-point spread, said Van Allen. I think based on some of the data that Ive seen, that may be a little bit high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Allen projected a margin within the range of four-to-seven points, but Hult disagrees. New campaign finance reports show Spanberger with $7 million advantage over Sears in Va. Governor race I would be inclined to think at this point that the Roanoke College poll is closer to what I think may well be going on, said Hult. The Roanoke College poll says one-in-five people do not feel like they know enough about the two candidates to make a decision yet. Meanwhile, the Pantheon/HarrisX poll identified strong partisan bases for each candidate, with 91 percent of Democrats supporting Spanberger, and 92 percent of Republicans backing Earle-Sears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van Allen said those numbers point to the role of independent and undecided voters in determining this race. Those are big numbers, he said. Any time that you get 90-plus percent of folks that are saying, Im definitely voting for this person, that means those voters on the fringes, or those independent voters, theyre going to be the final nail in the coffin so to speak in making that decision. Hult and Van Allen are watching voter perception of Republican leadership as well. Both of the latest polls offered different numbers, but similar conclusions, on approval ratings for President Donald Trump and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roanoke College had the Governors approval rating at the lowest mark any of their polls had showed so far, at 46 percent. Meanwhile, the President was down to 31 percent approval. The Pantheon/HarrisX poll had higher approval for both with Youngkin at 54 percent and Trump at 44 percent. But both Hult and Van Allen agree that confidence in Republican leadership has dipped, and that could impact the race for Governor. President Trumps approval levels have been declining nationally relatively recently, said Hult. And to some extent because of the nationalization of politics, one would expect then that Governor Youngkins would go down as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that voters are ultimately going to have to decide with whom are they aligning with more, said Van Allen. Are they going to align Winsome Earle-Sears more so with Governor Youngkin or are they going to align her more with President Trump. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TAG Heuer launches the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph in a new form of titanium, leading to a new expression of material innovation. At the intersection of audacity and mastery, Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer introduces a new release of its TAG Heuer Monaco Split- Seconds Chronograph. This 2025 edition reveals a new expression of material innovation: it is presented in a visually striking form of titanium, for which the process has been entirely developed in-house. This texturized titanium, named TH-Titanium, brings a new visual identity that feels elemental, singular, almost alive. Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph TAG Heuer The Shape of Innovation Since its inception in 1969, the TAG Heuer Monaco has been a symbol of contrarian design. With its distinctive square shape, left crown and signature blue dial, the TAG Heuer Monaco shattered conventions in the watchmaking world. Notably, it became the first water-resistant and automatic square chronograph wristwatch, further solidifying its status as an icon. Ahead of its time with its avant-garde aesthetics, it found admiration among creative visionaries like Sammy Davis Jr., Stanley Kubrick, and Steve McQueen. The Shape of Innovation Since its inception in 1969, the TAG Heuer Monaco has been a symbol of contrarian design. With its distinctive square shape, left crown and signature blue dial, the TAG Heuer Monaco shattered conventions in the watchmaking world. Notably, it became the first water-resistant and automatic square chronograph wristwatch, further solidifying its status as an icon. Ahead of its time with its avant-garde aesthetics, it found admiration among creative visionaries like Sammy Davis Jr., Stanley Kubrick, and Steve McQueen. Calibre TH81-00 Rotor TAG Heuer In the 1960s, Heuer stopwatches became a staple in motorsport paddocks, like the memorable reference 11.402 that featured a split-seconds chronograph capable of measuring time with 1/10th of a second accuracy. Used by Jean Campiche, a Heuer timekeeper working with Scuderia Ferrari, this model became iconic. In 1989, TAG Heuer introduced a quartz split-seconds chronograph wristwatch, gaining immense popularity, especially among racing legends like Ayrton Senna, Gerhard Berger and Michael Schumacher. In 2024, TAG Heuer brought this complication back and expanded the TAG Heuer Monaco collection with the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph in original blue and racing red, two interpretations that set the stage for this years latest evolution, where craftsmanship meets a radical new approach to material design. The Depth of Movement Crafted entirely in titanium for exceptional lightness and framed in sapphire to expose its movements architectural depth, the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is driven by the Calibre TH81-00, developed in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier and also crafted in titanium, weighing only 30 grams. Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph movement TAG Heuer The split-seconds function, also called rattrapante in French, is a highly sophisticated and intricate mechanism that requires the most expert of watchmakers due to its complexity. It is capable of measuring two separate time intervals concurrently, providing a level of functionality that exceeds that of a regular chronograph. Whether timing laps on the racetrack or tracking multiple sporting events, the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph offers unparalleled accuracy and versatility in its usage. This movement contributes to the watchs exceptional weight: a mere 86 grams in total, including strap and buckle. The Birth of TH-Titanium What further elevates this new timepiece is its case, sculpted from a new form of titanium that transforms the essence of the metal itself. Developed over four years, this innovative take on titanium marks a significant material breakthrough. This project was led by the TAG Heuer Lab, the Maisons in-house R&D institute based in La Chaux-de- Fonds. Led by a team of experts and scientists specialized in a wide range of disciplines and benefiting from state-of- the-art equipment, the TAG Heuer Lab is driven by innovation, always pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. Using a proprietary thermal process, the metal is transformed at an atomic level to reveal its hidden structure. The result is a natural, irregular pattern that shifts with light. The pattern on each case is therefore entirely unique, shaped by the intrinsic structure of the metal rather than the human hand. TH-Titanium TAG Heuer The metal used to craft TH-Titanium is a specific type of titanium alloy, known for its strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to retain energy. This form of titanium is typically reserved for aerospace components, turbine elements, and high-performance automotive parts. To create this one-of-a-kind faceted effect on the metals surface, the TAG Heuer Lab has developed a series of specially designed thermal treatments, reorganizing the alloys atomic structure. Through this process, the unique visual identity of TH-titanium is revealed, refined, and preserved. What appears on the case is the alloys own character, captured at a moment of transformation, and secured for lasting performance. Precision Exposed To match the depth and dimensionality of the new case, the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph retains its remarkable sapphire bezel and dial. This transparency deliberately invites to observe the interplay between form and function. Beneath the dial, the black opaline chronograph counters create a striking contrast, while the rattrapante hand is finished in a vibrant lime green. That same lime hue appears on the titanium rattrapante pusher and the counters hands, guaranteeing maximum legibility and drawing a subtle but unmistakable connection to the world of racing, where these tones are often used to signal speed and performance. The balance struck between the darkened bridges and hand-made polished bevels, the shadow and the shine, underlines the sense of mechanical drama. Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph TAG Heuer Adding to this effect, the caseback is crafted entirely in sapphire crystal, offering unobstructed views of the Calibre TH81-00. The oscillating weight, shaped in the signature TAG Heuer shield, appears to hover within the movement, enhancing the sense of depth and lightness. Perfectly symmetrical, it is hand-finished with fine brushing that highlights its contours. The hand-engraved checkered flag pattern, a TAG Heuer signature finish, adds a layer of detail, reinforcing the visual complexity of the watchs inner mechanics. Hand-painted stripes bring a distinct graphic identity to the timepiece, as a subtle nod to racing liveries. The adjacent balance wheel bridge is finely brushed with polished bevels, carefully finished by hand, continuing the watchs quiet dialogue between technical precision and expert craftsmanship. Each individually numbered on the oscillating weight, these timepieces are accompanied by a hand-stitched black calfskin strap with a textile pattern, secured with a titanium clasp. The finished result of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph reflects TAG Heuers avant-garde DNA, and the brands refusal to accept matter as static, reimagining it instead as alive, reactive, and expressive. Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph caseback TAG Heuer The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph stands as a clear expression of what happens when vision and innovation are allowed to lead. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Spartanburg County Council Chairman Manning Lynch said he received a phone call from the South Carolina Attorney Generals office Friday morning, alerting him that Sheriff Chuck Wright had resigned. After returning from a seven week long leave of absence for unspecified medical reasons just three days ago, Wright sent Governor McMaster a letter of resignation and turned in his badge. Councilman Monier Abusaft explained the county has mixed feelings about his resignation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of mixed feelings, Abusaft said. There are people who have long felt that the sheriffs office wasnt appropriately ran and had their feelings about Chuck Wright, but theres a lot of people in this county who have strong feelings that are positive for the Sheriff. I mean, until very, very recently he was clearly the most popular Republican elected official in our county, Abusaft continued. Wright has been the sheriff since he was elected in 2004. However, over the past few months, many of his actions have been called into question including the hiring of his son, Andrew Wright, and spending more than $53,000 on a public credit card. 7News was told that only $1,100 was paid back. Spartanburg Co. Sheriff Chuck Wright resigns, cites recent health diagnosis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been hard. Obviously, the sheriffs department is a big part of running a county, and you know nobody would wish for what we just went through, said Lynch, who was the first to be notified. Citizens feel like theyve been cheated out of a sheriff for the last six to eight weeks, whatever its been, and we have answered to the people, but its been a lot of I cant say right now. Itll just be nice that weve passed that stage and we kind of know what the path forward is going to be, Lynch added. Friday afternoon, Governor Henry McMaster appointed the current Cherokee County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Jeffery Stephens to serve as the replacement until a special election is held later this year to replace his position. Were glad to be moving in that direction, in the direction of certainty, just a better place to be than where weve been, said Lynch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abusaft said it has been frustrating, especially as the public safety chairman, not to be completely transparent with the public, but promises a bright future is ahead for Spartanburg County. I mean this is hour one, day one of the end of an era of law-enforcement in Spartanburg County, Abusaft said. Theres going to be a much more forceful relationship from our side with the sheriffs office. There will be a fine-toothed comb and a philosophy with the request for money and what their leadership is telling us until we can rebuild trust in them. Abusaft estimated that in the next two months, council will be able to talk freely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A mother went into labor on I-15 in Salt Lake City earlier today, giving birth to a baby boy while en route to the hospital. Luckily, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Angel Teran was in the right place, at the right time to step in and help. When you become a state trooper or a police officer, you are thinking about helping the community and making sure theyre okay, but in the worst moments, you never expect to help people in a happy moment, like the birth of a child, he said. Trooper Angel Teran shares his story of helping a mother who had just given birth while on her way to the hospital on I-15. (KTVX/Jordan Tracy). Trooper Angel Teran said that on Thursday, he was heading northbound on I-15, around 2700 South, when suddenly, he saw a big red pickup truck behind him. The driver was motioning at Teran and trying to wave him down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-founder and former CEO of Best Friends Animal Society passes away At first, I was thinking, Why is he driving like that? He was swerving . flashing his lights at me. But when I saw his face, I understood something was wrong, he said. Teran and the driver pulled over, and when he got out of his vehicle, the driver kept pointing at a woman in the passenger seat of the truck. Hes just yelling at me like, Hey, theres a baby, Teran said. Im like, Where is the baby? And I just look down at this brand-new baby, just coming out, he said. Teran said the first thing he saw was the back of the babys head, and the mother asked him to make sure it was okay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a baby boy. When I saw the baby, of course, it was still connected to mom. A lot of blood and fluids. But, I was happy to see and make sure he was breathing and I was able to check his heart, he said. He put a blanket around the baby, and soon after, another trooper who is an EMT and a medical team arrived. The mother and the baby were checked on, reported to be doing well, and were taken to a nearby hospital. Trooper Angel Teran shares his story of helping a mother who had just given birth while on her way to the hospital on I-15. (KTVX/Jordan Tracy). Trooper Angel Teran shares his story of helping a mother who had just given birth while on her way to the hospital on I-15. (KTVX/Jordan Tracy). Trooper Angel Teran shares his story of helping a mother who had just given birth while on her way to the hospital on I-15. (KTVX/Jordan Tracy). Not only was he in the right place at the right time, but there was another stroke of luck Teran said the driver and the mom only spoke Spanish, which he is fluent in. I believe a higher power probably put us in a good spot at the right moment, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joyful, kind person: Family of victim in deadly St. George crash speaks after 92-year-old woman dies The driver was a family friend of the mother and told Teran this was an experience he thought he would never have. I told him, Same,' Teran said. I think we started laughing. He just didnt know what to do. His tears started coming out, and Im like, Im probably going to tear out with you, too,' he said. Later in the day, Teran went to visit the mother and baby in the hospital, saying that seeing that they were both okay was a relief. They said thank you and I shook hands with them Being within the Hispanic community, its a warm welcome to be able to help them out, too, he said. If I can just smile at somebody and help them out with their day, its probably all Im asking for and just helping somebody today with their baby at the moment its a special gift, not a lot of people get to do it. Its a pretty special moment. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. In April 2025, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether the nations first religious charter school could open in Oklahoma. The St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would have been funded by taxpayer money but run by a local archdiocese and diocese. Several justices appeared open to the idea during questioning, leading some analysts to predict a win for the school. They were proved wrong on May 22, 2025, when the court blocked St. Isidore. The one-sentence, unsigned order did not indicate how individual justices had voted, nor why, simply declaring it was a split 4-4 decision that leaves in place the Oklahoma Supreme Courts ruling against the school. Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case. Her former employer, the University of Notre Dame, runs a law clinic representing the schools supporters. Ever since the proposed school started making headlines, attention has focused on religion. Critics warned a decision in the schools favor could allow government dollars to directly fund faith-based charter schools nationwide. In part, the justices had to decide whether the First Amendments prohibition on government establishing religion applies to charter schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the answer to that question is part of an even bigger issue: Are charters really public in the first place? The Supreme Courts order applies only to Oklahoma, so similar cases attempting to open religious charter schools may emerge down the road. As two professors who study education law, we believe future court decisions could impact more than issues of religion and state, determining what basic rights students and teachers do or dont have at charter schools. Dueling arguments In June 2023, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved St. Isidores application to open as an online K-12 school. The following year, however, the Oklahoma high court ruled that the proposal was unconstitutional. The justices concluded that charter schools are public under state law, and that the First Amendments establishment clause forbids public schools from being religious. The court also found that a religious charter school would violate Oklahomas constitution, which specifically forbids public money from benefiting religious organizations. The Oklahoma Supreme Court in the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, May 19, 2014. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File On appeal, the charter school claimed that charter schools are private, and so the U.S. Constitutions establishment clause does not apply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, St. Isidore argued that if charter schools are private, the states prohibition on religious charters violates the First Amendments free exercise clause, which bars the government from limiting the free exercise of religion. Previous Supreme Court cases have found that states cannot prevent private religious entities from participating in generally available government programs solely because they are religious. In other words, while St. Isidores critics argued that opening a religious charter school would violate the First Amendment, its supporters claimed the exact opposite: that forbidding religious charter schools would violate the First Amendment. Are charters public? The question of whether an institution is public or private turns on a legal concept known as the state action doctrine. This principle provides that the government must follow the Constitution, while private entities do not have to. For example, unlike students in public schools, students in private schools do not have the constitutional right to due process for suspensions and expulsions procedures to ensure fairness before taking disciplinary action. Charter schools have some characteristics of both public and private institutions. Like traditional public schools, they are government-funded, free and open to all students. However, like private schools, they are free from many laws that apply to public schools, and they are independently run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of charters hybrid nature, courts have had a hard time determining whether they should be considered public for legal purposes. Many charter schools are overseen by private corporations with privately appointed boards, and it is unclear whether these private entities are state actors. Two federal circuit courts have reached different conclusions. In Caviness v. Horizon Learning Center, a case from 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit held that an Arizona charter school corporation was not a state actor for employment purposes. Therefore, the board did not have to provide a teacher due process before firing him. The court reasoned that the corporation was a private actor that contracted with the state to provide educational services. In contrast, the 4th Circuit ruled in 2022 that a North Carolina charter school board was a state actor under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this case, Peltier v. Charter Day School, students challenged the dress code requirement that female students wear skirts because they were considered fragile vessels. The court first reasoned that the board was a state actor because North Carolina had delegated its constitutional duty to provide education. The court observed that the charter schools dress code was an inappropriate sex-based classification, and that school officials engaged in harmful gender stereotyping, violating the equal protection clause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Supreme Court had sided with St. Isidore as many analysts thought was likely then all private charter corporations might have been considered nonstate actors for the purposes of religion. But the stakes are even greater than that. State action involves more than just religion. Indeed, teachers and students in private schools do not have the constitutional rights related to free speech, search and seizure, due process and equal protection. In other words, if charter schools are not considered state actors, charter students and teachers may eventually shed constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. Amtrak: An alternate route? People ride an Amtrak Acela train through Pennsylvania, en route from New York City to Washington, in 2022. AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey When courts have held that charter schools are not public in state law, some legislatures have made changes to categorize them as public. For example, California passed a law to clarify that charter school students have the same due process rights as traditional public school students after a court ruled otherwise. Likewise, we believe states looking to clear up charter schools ambiguous state actor status under the Constitution can amend their laws. As we explain in a recent legal article, a 1995 Supreme Court case involving Amtrak illustrates how this can be done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lebron v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation arose when Amtrak rejected a billboard ad for being political. The advertiser sued, arguing that the corporation had violated his First Amendment right to free speech. Since private organizations are not required to protect free speech rights, the case hinged on whether Amtrak qualified as a government agency. The court ruled in the plaintiffs favor, reasoning that Amtrak was a government actor because it was created by special law, served important governmental objectives and its board members were appointed by the government. Courts have applied this ruling in other instances. For example, the 10th Circuit ruled in 2016 that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was a governmental agency and therefore was required to abide by the Fourth Amendments protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Since the Supreme Court did not release any reasoning for its order, we do not know how the justices viewed the government actor question in the case from Oklahoma. That said, we believe charter schools fail the test set out in the Amtrak decision. Charter schools do serve the governmental purpose of providing educational choice for students. However, charter school corporations are not created by special law. They also fall short because most have independent boards instead of members who are appointed and removed by government officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, we would argue that states can amend their laws to comply with Lebrons standard, ensuring that charter schools are public or state actors for constitutional purposes. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Feb. 27, 2025. 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: Preston Green III, University of Connecticut and Suzanne Eckes, University of Wisconsin-Madison Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preston Green III is affiliated with the National Education Policy Center. Suzanne Eckes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Oklahoma cannot allow the creation of a religious charter school. The deadlocked 44 ruling kept a lower court's previous decision in place without explaining the justices' rationale. The case stems from a plan to allow the creation of a public Catholic charter school called St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. While Oklahoma's charter school board initially approved the school in 2023, the state's attorney general asked the state Supreme Court to intervene. Both sides made arguments that appeal to religious freedom. The state argued that it would violate the Establishment Clause to allow a religious school to receive public funds and operate as a public school. St. Isidore, on the other hand, argued that a ban on religious charter schools would essentially be religious discrimination. Charter schools are allowed to abide by a wide range of educational philosophies; therefore only targeting religious pedagogy is unfair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state. "What St. Isidore requests from this Court is beyond the fair treatment of a private religious institution in receiving a generally available benefit," reads the state Supreme Court's 2024 opinion. "It is about the State's creation and funding of a new religious institution violating the Establishment Clause." The case poses tough questions about under which circumstances the state can fund religious institutionsmany states, for example, already allow parents to use public money to send their children to private religious schools through school choice programs. Unfortunately, the Court's decision didn't create much clarity. While the 4-4 decision leaves the state Supreme Court's ruling in place, it did not include an explanation from the justices, nor did it reveal how they voted. (Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself, likely due to her affiliation with Notre Dame Law School, whose religious liberties legal clinic helped defend the charter school in the case.) This most recent deadlock at the Supreme Court shows just how murky debates over where religious discrimination ends and religious establishment begins can be. "This is a rock-and-a-hard-place situation for the Supreme Court," Neal McCluskey, associate director of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, wrote for Reason last month. "Rule against St. Isidore, and discrimination against religion wins. Rule for it, and dangerous government entanglement will ensue." The post A Split Supreme Court Says Oklahoma Can't Have a Religious Charter School appeared first on Reason.com. Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, clapping on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on May 14, 2025, in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama. Butler said Thursday he would bring back the Don't Say Gay expansion next year after it did not receive final passage on the last day of session.(Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) An Alabama lawmaker plans to bring back a bill next year that would prohibit all discussions of gender identity and sexuality during instructional time in public schools. HB 244 got approval from the House on April 18 and from the Senate Education Policy Committee on May 1. Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, chair of that committee, told Butler after the bill was approved that it is unlikely the Senate will pass it because of the timing and said it needed to be in his committee earlier in the year to have a chance of passage; at the time, there were four days left in the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Democratic filibuster launched in protest of the Houses handling of local bills on the last day of the session doomed Butlers bill and many others. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Butler said he was offended by Chesteens comment that he should have filed the bill sooner but said both men remedied that after the committee meeting. A message seeking comment from Chesteen was left Thursday afternoon. Butler filed the bill in February, but it did not go before the House Education Policy Committee until April 3, when the committee held a public hearing. The committee did not approve it until the following week. Butler said he asked Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, chair of the committee, for it to be put on the agenda many times earlier in the session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I repeatedly asked for it, and I was assured it was coming, it was coming, it was coming, he said. The chair had other things she said she was dealing with, and I think they waited to deal with several controversial bills at one time. A message seeking comment from Collins was left Thursday afternoon. Butler said next year he plans to have a companion bill in the Senate to improve the bills chances of passage, so we can move on both at the same time, and whoever gets there first wins, he said. Butler said Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, was handling the bill in the Senate and plans to ask him to sponsor the Senate version next year. Kelley said in an interview that he and Butler will be meeting soon about companion bills for next session soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may be some changes to it, a little bit here, a little bit there, Kelley said. Were planning on bringing that back next year. The law currently prohibits such discussions in K-5. Butlers bill would expand it to pre-K-12, which he said would bring it inline with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January. Critics of the bill said at the April 3 public hearing that the legislation is unconstitutional and unnecessary. A spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a consistent critic of the legislation, said in an interview Thursday she was relieved that the bill did not pass but she still had concerns for the legislation next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im hoping that it stays dead, and Im hoping that we dont see a new extension, a revival of it, Makhayla DesRosiers, state community organizer for the Alabama SPLC office, said. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community spoke against the bill throughout the legislative process, all with similar concerns: what defines instructional time. DesRosiers said the lack of a definition opens the door for a complete prohibition of discussion. If I do extracurricular activities, is it also instructional time? If Im learning something outside of my regular school hours, is that instructional time? she asked. Who gets to define instructional time? Butler has repeatedly said discussions of gender identity and sexuality are only prohibited when a teacher is teaching, but that is not explicit in the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People keep saying the student cant do this or that. No, they carry their First Amendment rights with them into the school, and they absolutely can talk to the teacher, the principal, the nurse, the counselor, about whatever they want to talk about, he said. Butler said the bill next year would be the original bill that was filed in February. A House amendment this spring removed a part of the bill that would have prohibited teachers from referring to students by their preferred gender if it conflicts with their assigned sex at birth. He said that is because another bill would have done the same thing. HB 246, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, would give public educators legal immunity and students immunity from discipline for using a persons legal name and pronouns aligned with their reproductive organs, instead of the name and gender with which they identify. It did not receive final passage either. DesRosier said that while the people speaking out against the legislation may be small in number, legislation like this is not reflective of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just because there is a majority of folks that are proposing and voting on these bills at the State House, that is not reflective of the communities they are elected to represent, DesRosier said. As long as bigotry and hate and human rights violations are proposed and passed, there are always going to be folks that are resisting that. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) An officer conducting vehicle registration checks at the Hampshire Mall discovered a wanted individual from Connecticut, who was subsequently arrested without incident. On Thursday at around 6 p.m., officers were checking the registrations of vehicles parked at the Hampshire Mall, which are allowed by police in Massachusetts, which showed the owner was wanted out of Connecticut and that the warrant was extraditable. Springfield police officer in court for sexual assault charges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vehicle was unoccupied at the time however, officers identified the registered owner by their RMV photo coming out of JCPenneys. Officers approached him and verified his identity as 44-year-old Tomas Reyes of Springfield. Reyes was taken into custody and charged with fugitive from justice. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. May 23ROCHESTER Area veterans organizations are hosting the first-ever Memorial 5K run to honor the memory of Allen Richard Lloyd, a Special Forces soldier who died in Vietnam, as well as support ongoing efforts to bring home his remains. The effort to return his remains took a turn in a positive direction recently, 54 years after he died in combat. The agency responsible for the recovery of personnel listed as missing in action recently announced plans to conduct a survey of the site where Lloyd is believed to have died, leaders of area veterans groups say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're going to keep pushing" to bring him home, said Scott Eggert, president of the Minnesota POW-MIA Riders Association, one of the groups sponsoring the run. There are currently 23 Vietnam War service members from Minnesota who are listed as MIA, Eggert said. A St. Charles native, Lloyd was 22 when he was killed in action in 1971 in a helicopter crash. The 5K run will take place this Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at VFW Post 1215, 2775 St. NW, Rochester. It will begin with a 9:30 a.m. pre-race ceremony of tribute with the 5K race starting at 10 a.m. It includes a $25 registration fee and a commemorative race shirt that will be distributed to participants while supplies last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is being hosted by Honor Bound Veterans, a recently formed Rochester nonprofit whose aim is to combat veteran isolation and suicide, said Bryan Ehni, president of the group. "We decided to raise awareness not only of Honor Bound Veterans, but of the POW/MIA Riders' mission of bringing home Allen Richard Lloyd," Ehni said. Lloyd was last seen alive clinging to a rope from a helicopter as he was being extracted from an intense firefight. The helicopter came under fire and crashed. The next day, a recovery team was sent to the crash site to search for the patrol that Lloyd was a part of. The bodies of Lloyd and another service member were found on their rope slings. But efforts to retrieve them were aborted when the search team came under fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eggert said that the coordinates where the helicopter went down on the border of Laos and Vietnam west of the A Shau Valley are well-documented. His family has never abandoned the hope that Lloyd's remains might be brought home, but its prospects got a boost when the federal POW/MIA Accounting Agency said it planned to conduct a site survey where Lloyd went down sometime in the summer. "There's many servicemen in that area, so they won't just find one, they'll find many," Eggert said. The passage of time and the fading of memories can make such efforts seem like a long shot. Yet, recent history offers examples of successful recovery efforts, as the remains of service members dating back to World War II continue to be returned stateside and to Minnesota. Eggert cited the search for Maj. Benjamin Danielson, an Air Force pilot shot down in 1969 in Vietnam, as an example of how such efforts can bring closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several items belonging to Danielson were brought to the attention of U.S. authorities, sparking a search by the DPAA into Laos looking for more clues and assisted by his son, Brian, a native of Kenyon. Although no further evidence was discovered, DNA testing of previous evidence provided proof that he'd been killed in action. As of 2024, there were more than 82,000 service members still missing from previous conflicts. The DPAA estimates that about 38,000 of those remains are potentially recoverable. "They know that it's there," Eggert said. "What they have to show proof of is that the helicopter is still there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eggert said that Lloyd has three living siblings who wish to see their brother brought home. That was a major reason behind focusing the event on him. "The family members contacted us and said, 'Hey, we're not getting any younger,'" Eggert said. "And we thought, 'Alright, let's put the emphasis on this.'" OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Although the U.S. Supreme Court has shut the door on Oklahomas plan to launch a taxpayer-funded religious charter school, State Superintendent Ryan Walters says he will spare no expense to keep the legal fight in favor it, and similar fights, goingso long as the religion involved is one that meets certain criteria. A 4-4 deadlock decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday leaves in place a prior Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling, which said launching the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School would violate both the state and federal constitution. It would have been the first school of its kind in the nation. At a special-called news conference on Thursday, Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters said this fight in support of allowing the state to fund a religious school is nowhere close to being over. Citizens rights have been trampled, Walters said. The Supreme Court has got it wrong. I believe this decision is antithetical to the religious freedoms in our U.S. Constitution. Oklahomas Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond feels just the opposite. Im relieved that we continue to have freedom of religion in the United States, Drummond told News 4 after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision on Thursday. United States Supreme Court decides St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School case in split 4-4 vote Be his disagreement with the states top law enforcement officer, as it may, Walters says hes going to keep pushing onward. We will continue to move forward to find any kind of avenue possible for this school and others like it to exist in Oklahoma, Walters said. News 4 asked whether he believes the legal fight will be worth the costs to Oklahoma taxpayers, Walters said, Oh, absolutely. I dont think you can put a price on religious liberty. Because the U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked, it didnt issue a formal ruling either way on the St. Isidore case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means, the Oklahoma State Supreme Courts earlier decision, which found the state constitution clearly bans taxpayer funding of religious schools, gets to stay in place. Walters sees a way around that. Were also looking at a potential amendment to the state constitution, Walters said. We should be crystal clear that funds can be spent for religious purposes. The only way to amend the state constitution is through a statewide vote. In 2016, nearly 60% of Oklahoma voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the state to fund religious institutions. Even if voters were to reject the idea again, Walters said he would continue fighting to allow publicly-funded religious schools through other means. What weve been looking at today are: What are the other ways that we can get this back to the Supreme Court? Walters said. Thursdays deadlock happened because U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney-Barrett recused herself from the St. Isidore case because she is a longtime friend of a lawyer who represented St. Isidore. Heated exchange as SCOTUS hears arguments on nations first religious charter school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if a similar lawsuit, potentially one from a different state, eventually reaches the court, Coney-Barrett could take part in the ruling. Walters said hed be open to supporting other states in such a lawsuit. Yes, we would, Walters said. I mean, if its a similar situation. Again, Id need to see the specifics. When News 4 asked Walters whether he would support a similar lawsuit involving an Islamic charter school, Walters did not give a direct yes or no answer. Youre really wanting to get me on that one, arent you? Walters said. Youre really wanting to get me to answer that one. Look, in our state, its very clear. In our state, the criteria have to be met for you to be a charter. Im not going to speak outside of Oklahoma, where, again, Ive told you some states have some bizarre rules. He continued by saying it would depend on the state and whether the school met the kind of criteria Oklahoma looks for in charter applications, such as a track record, community support, and academic outcomes. News 4 pressed Walters again about whether he would support an Islamic charter school in another state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters said, Well, that wouldnt meet our criteria. So Im going to support what would meet Oklahomas criteria. Our criteria has been very, you know, put together in the sense ofif you have that track record, if theres a history there, if you had the community support. And again, we havent seen that here. In a statement Thursday, Governor Kevin Stitt echoed Walters calls to pursue further action and possibly bring a similar case back before the U.S. Supreme Court. This 4-4 tie is a non-decision, Stitt wrote. Now were in overtime. There will be another case just like this one, and Justice Barrett will break the tie. This is far from a settled issue. We are going to keep fighting for parents rights to instill their values in their children and against religious discrimination. Attorney General Drummond, who argued the case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court and led the states fight to stop the plan, has long-warned that allowing Oklahoma to fund one religious school could open a Pandoras box, arguing if the state can fund one religious school, it would have to fund every religious school, including institutions like the Satanic Temple. Drummond celebrated the U.S. Supreme Courts split decision in an interview with News 4 on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its remarkable. Its a great win for Oklahoma, Drummond said. Every family can choose when to worship, with whom to worship and how to worship, and the state will not be involved in creating religion. News 4 will continue to monitor whether any new cases are filed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. LOUIS, Mo. On May 16, an EF3 tornado tore a mile-wide path through St. Louis, and now residents are seeking information about the number of homes that were uninsured in the affected zip codes. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) says it received numerous requests for more information about how many homes were uninsured in the affected zip codes. They say there is no such data available. See Forecast Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DCI says the department does collect information from the insurance industry about the policies issued within the state. The DCI says this policy information consists of rough numbers based on figures derived from the American Community Survey (ACS) produced by the U.S. Census Bureau (2023), and the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance annual zip-code data collection (2024). During my visit to St. Louis on Tuesday, I received multiple requests not only about data for the number of insured homes and renters we had in the impacted area but also about the number of uninsured, said DCI Department Director Angela Nelson. While information about uninsured isnt available, the department wanted to provide assistance to policymakers assessing community needs. We were able to make a rough estimate of how many potentially uninsured homes and renters we may have by matching the ACS data with our departments zip code collection data. While this number is certainly not exact; it is fluid and subject to change, it does provide a general picture of what we may be dealing with in terms of uninsured losses. Officials say the most heavily uninsured areas are in North County zip codes 63115, 63107, and 63113. This includes both homeowners and renters and estimates that approximately 90% of the renters in these zip codes could be uninsured, while the number of uninsured homes could be around 67%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Significant uninsured areas are in the more densely populated zip codes of the North Riverfront area of 63147, the Central West End neighborhood of 63108, and the West End/Skinker DeBaliviere and DeBaliviere Place neighborhoods of 63112. Approximately 63% of renters in these areas could be uninsured, while around 49% of homeowners could be uninsured. The zip codes of Richmond Heights 63117; the St. Louis neighborhood associated with 63110 that includes Forest Park, Shaw, The Hill, Central West End, and Cheltenham; and Claytons 63105 neighborhood have lower uninsured numbers of renters and homeowners, but theyre still concerning. Fewer than 10% of renters could be uninsured in these zip codes, and nearly 19% of homeowners could be uninsured. The DCI says they will be issuing a bulletin that requests health insurers to cover the costs of emergency prescription drug refills. The bulletin is being issued to further aid in the effectuation of Governor Mike Kehoes Executive Order 25-24, issued on May 20, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. The Scene Eight years ago, Randy Bryce challenged the Speaker of the House, raised more than almost any other candidate for Congress, and lost. The union ironworker, a longtime Democratic activist, gained national attention for an unscripted, uncautious campaign that endorsed Medicare for All and the abolition of ICE. He was known for his mustache, too, which Democrats learned when they donated to him: Iron Stache. Bryce claimed a sort of victory when then-Speaker Paul Ryan announced his resignation. Once Republicans picked businessman Brian Steil to replace Ryan, they successfully used Bryces old arrests and new progressive views against him, holding the seat. Southeastern Wisconsins 1st congressional district is still competitive, though Trump carried it by just 5 points and Democrats have put it on their ambitious target list. Theres a chance that the state will be forced, by a court order, to redraw maps, which Republicans see as a threat to Steil. But theyre fairly dismissive about Bryce, who ran behind the ticket in 2018. He jumped on the phone to explain why he thinks a rematch, in this environment, would be winnable. This is an edited transcript of the conversation. The View From Randy Bryce Dave Weigel: Why are you running again? Randy Bryce: Its just gotten so bad. Somebody has to do something. We didnt win our race in 2018, but we made a huge splash, and people felt heard, and we encouraged other working class people to run for office. Ive tried to help them, too, because we need more of us in elected office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republicans have this big, beautiful bill thats cutting Social Security and Medicare from people, and not enough people are aware of it. I went to a Social Security office this morning. Last month we had an event there, for Social Security Works. I asked the state rep for their union, are any facilities in danger of closing in Racine County? She was like, no, theres two, and theyre both solid, theres no plan to cut them. Well, today, I found out that they relocated the one that we were at and moved it several miles away, closer to the interstate. I cant imagine anybody who needs a walker going there in a snowstorm. And we get a little snow in Wisconsin, you know? Whats changed for this seat, or your strategy, since 2018? The maps better this time. We have UW Whitewater in the district. Theres a possibility of congressional maps being redrawn, thanks to the Supreme Court election, when Susan Crawford. And Bryan Steil is running from people, not having any town halls. Whats new? I dont think we should take money from billionaires. So once again, Im not taking money from fossil fuel companies, Wall Street, corporate PACs, but Im adding billionaires to it this time, too, because I dont think that there are, like, good and bad billionaires, I disagree with that. What did you learn from your defeat last time? I think we peaked very early in the last campaign, but I learned how to bring people together in that campaign. The last time I ran, I had a primary opponent, and it was sort of like Bernie versus Hillary at the beginning. But we ended up having Hillary and Bernie people working together in our campaign. A lot of Republican attacks that year were very personal, about your arrest record and DUIs. Wont the same issue come up this time? I mean, this is an issue that happened, like, 30 years ago. If you check my record now, that stuff is so old, its fallen off. All I have now is, I rented a Dodge Challenger for work with a Hemi engine, I went a little fast, and I got a ticket. And I got one for protesting outside Paul Ryans office. Thats still on there. Have you changed your platform at all from eight years ago? It was very progressive, in that race. Im not in favor of using labels. When you hear Medicare for all, that paints this picture of whats called the far left. I dont picture myself as far left. Im more of a populist. I want universal health care for everybody, and right now were going the wrong direction. In a few months, if not weeks, Im expecting shelves to be bare. Prices are already getting jacked up. We need to protect our social safety net for when people fall on hard times. We need that more than billionaires need tax cuts. So the issues have changed. So would you still get to the House and co-sponsor the Medicare for All bill? I think we do it a disservice now by calling it Medicare for all, because the coverage might not be through Medicare or Medicaid. One thing Ive thought of was expanding the VA system, start coverage from when a child is born until they go to school. Start off there, keep expanding it, until we meet in the middle and everybody is covered. I dont expect that you get one bill signed and boom, everything is done. In 2018, you wanted to abolish ICE. You told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that you feel vindicated by how Trumps been using the agency. Do you still want to abolish it? What Im opposed to is any law enforcement agency feeling the need to cover their faces, cover up that theyre law enforcement, and go after people like a union brother and a sheet metal worker from Virginia? Thats law enforcement? With no due process. Im opposed to not having due process. If ICE is going to stay around, they need to have proper training. Theyre arresting mayors and a judge in Milwaukee, whos a good judge. I dont want to see any instances of agents jumping people and arresting the people who film them doing it. My dad is a retired cop. I have nothing but appreciation for police and the job that they do. But we cant have people that are supposed to be law enforcement acting as thugs. Something that wasnt as a question in 2018: Does what Israels doing in Gaza constitute a genocide? As a veteran, Im for peace. Im opposed to all wars. I hate to see our tax dollars used for destruction. Im in construction, not demolition. I dont want to see our money used to blow stuff up. Does that mean no military funding for Israel or Ukraine? Im opposed to all wars. Donald Trump promised that the Ukraine war was going to be over with, before he even took office, and its still going on. Bernie Sanders has been urging working class candidates to run for office, and training them. Are you part of that? Do you have his support? Weve had a really good relationship throughout the years. I spoke when he was here in Wisconsin at the anti-oligarchy rally. Hes always encouraged me to run. After the last time he reminded me about losing his first races, including his first race for Congress, when he lost by a couple thousand votes. He was like, dont give up. And Ro Khanna too. Ro was like, it took me three times to run to win. Dont give up. TAG Heuer launches the limited-edition TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch, inspired by emblematic Heuer stopwatches from the 1960s and 1970s, built with the spirit of precision at its core. In racing, time carries a different weight. Fractions of a second define outcomes, and the pressure to perform never fades. This year, that tension takes on a deeper meaning as TAG Heuer becomes the first title partner in the history of the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco. To mark this historic moment in motorsport, the Swiss luxury watchmaker introduces the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch, a timepiece designed to reflect the precision, intensity, and history of racing at its highest level. This latest release channels a legacy forged in the heat of competition, on the very circuit that has come to define the essence of Formula 1. It is a purposeful return to the design codes that made Heuer stopwatches the ultimate timekeeping instruments around the racetrack. The Timepiece that Changed the Rules The TAG Heuer Monaco didnt follow the rules of traditional watchmaking when it first appeared in 1969. As the first square automatic chronograph, it turned the industry on its head with its unique shape that stood against the sea of round watches. The left-sided crown, the signature blue dial, the bold proportions: all of it defied tradition and set the codes for what would become an icon of the watchmaking industry. Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch TAG Heuer It didnt take long before this daring timepiece made its way from the pit lane to the silver screen. In 1971, Steve McQueen chose to wear the TAG Heuer Monaco in Le Mans, forever linking the watch to the golden age of motorsport and the mystique of cinema. Since then, the TAG Heuer Monaco has been connected with the world of racing, evolving in design but always staying true to its roots. The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch marks a defining moment in the legacy of timekeeping on the racetrack. It draws a deliberate connection to an era when Heuer stopwatches were the trusted tools in the heat of competition. During the 1960s and 70s, these instruments were seen around the necks of timekeepers, chosen for their ability to track time with absolute clarity when every fraction of a second mattered. A Design Driven by Decades of Racing The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch channels the design codes and clarity of these vintage Heuer stopwatches. The use of black, white, and red, the original Heuer color palette, acts as a direct link to the timing instruments that once defined motorsport precision, for a new timepiece true to Jack Heuers philosophy of functional design. Vintage Heuer stopwatches TAG Heuer The timepiece features a black circular layout set against an opaline silver background, creating a stark contrast that enhances readability. A red minute track encircles the dials perimeter, vivid and unmistakable, reinforcing the timepieces legibility and motorsport DNA. The subdials feature high-contrast white markers and hands to ensure instant readability. Blackened hour indexes and hands add depth while the red lacquered second chronograph hand delivers a striking focal point across the dial. The vintage Heuer logo, printed in white against the black circular background, anchors the watch in its heritage. Complementing the dial, the case is crafted in lightweight and durable black DLC-coated titanium, offering a contemporary take on the iconic TAG Heuer Monaco form. True to tradition, the crown remains on the left side of the case - a signature detail that reinforces its instantly recognizable silhouette. The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch will be produced in a limited run of 970 pieces, a number that points deliberately to the decade which shaped the brand and its involvement in motorsport, inspiring the design of this new timepiece. At its core beats the Calibre 11 - a mechanical connection to the original TAG Heuer Monaco, chosen to preserve the spirit and precision that first set it apart. Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch TAG Heuer The strap is made of black perforated calfskin, a nod to the racing gloves worn by generations of drivers. The watch will be delivered in a dedicated packaging that echoes the black, red, and white visual identity of the timepiece. A custom travel pouch adds a final touch to the experience. The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch continues the Maisons long-standing relationship between precision and performance, carrying the legacy of high-stakes timekeeping into the present with thoughtful details that resonate with collectors, motorsport enthusiasts, and those who understand the impact of every passing second. ANDOVER A WWI monument will soon return to its home at The Park as Greater Lawrence Technical School students are putting the final restoration touches on the century-old cannon. The German howitzer is a WWI trophy captured by American forces. It was able to fire at a high trajectory and hit targets six miles away. It was donated to the town in 1932 and has called Central Park, at Chestnut and Bartlet streets, its home since then. The howitzer was removed from The Park on Dec. 26 in preparation for its restoration. It was delivered to the school to be worked on in April. The cannon rusted due to the elements outside and became unsafe for visitors to enjoy, particularly children who liked to climb on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last Tuesday morning, Greater Lawrence Technical School student Juan Rodriguez tried to stare down the barrel of the century old cannon as the restoration project wrapped up. Rodrigues, along with 13 other students and faculty members in the Career and Technical Educations auto collision and repair and carpentry programs, helped spruce up the storied cannon. This is the third time the cannon has been restored by the schools students and the first time since 2009. The restoration project 16 years ago integrated several departments, including history faculty and students who were able to unearth more of the storied cannons past. During the second restoration project completed in 2009, an inscription was unearthed on the cannon, buried under layers of paint. District Committee Chair Thomas Hatem said the cannon had been painted over so many times by Andover Department of Public Works and volunteers that the town didnt know the inscription was there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, a French inscription translating to The kings final word can be read on the cannons barrel because of the previous restoration efforts made by Greater Lawrence Technical School. Another inscription on the cannon details its capture between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, 1918 by the 37th Division. The goal was always to restore and not renovate the more than 100-year-old artillery, said lead auto collision instructor Manuel Malave. We wanted to keep its integrity, Malave said. Some rust was removed with sandblasting before epoxy primer was applied to ensure the cannon will stay in its current condition for at least another decade before likely being touched up again for subsequent repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the restoration was outsourced to repair the wooden wheels and for sandblasting. Students helped prime the cannon for its new paint job. The project is about 90% complete and almost ready to be returned to the town of Andover, said auto collision instructor Walter Murphy. Wooden sitting platforms, made by the carpentry students, now sit where a spotter and shooter would have positioned themselves at the aiming and recoiling mechanisms to fire the artillery. Murphy said he imagined the soldiers in their designated spots, working together to load the cannon or make adjustments in order to aim it. I dont think Id want to be sitting here when a shot went off, Murphy said with a laugh, noting the proximity of the seats to where the cannon blasted off from. Students gathered around the cannon as Murphy talked to them about how far things have come with war weaponry, and its automation, since WWI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sophomores Jose Inoa and Juan Rodriguez said they enjoyed learning the history of the cannon. Rodriguez chimed in about the parallels pf working on the cannon and learning its back story in history class. We got to see how they went hand-in-hand, Rodriguez said. Applying Battleship Gray paint is all thats left to do. It was worth it, student Edwin Nunez Ramirez said to see the near-finished product. Hatem, who was an instructor at Greater Lawrence Technical School for 28 years, said the school has been part of numerous projects like this and each has its own significance related to history. Over the years, the students have also restored two WWII cannons for Lawrence and a Civil War-era one for Methuen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the restorations value lies in giving Andover, and the other cities, something its residents are able to enjoy. Hatem said he sees the project as a thank you to the cities and towns that help the technical school and whos taxpayer dollars it benefits. The school is known for giving back to the community, Hatem said. We love doing that. Murphy anticipated the cannon will be back at The Park in the next few weeks. (Photo: Getty Images) The states food banks are wary of legislation that seeks to allocate $5 million for a program proponents say is designed to reduce food insecurity and waste. Until there is more data to demonstrate that this concept will increase access to food for our most vulnerable neighbors, we are concerned that this approach could disrupt an established, high-performing food rescue system, Beth Martino, the CEO of Three Square wrote in a March 27 letter opposing the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assembly Bill 474, which is scheduled to be heard by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee Saturday morning, would require the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services to create a Smart Surplus Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program would seek to reduce food waste via technology by directing SNAP recipients to areas with a surplus of food where they can also get discounted rates. The legislation would allocate $5 million to administer the program. Between potential for major federal cuts and the states shaky economic outlook, the fate of many bills that require new or additional spending remains uncertain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Connecticut company founded by Priceline, r4 Technologies, has been used to develop the program elsewhere. The legislation proposes allocation for the development of AI to help grocers better assess needs, said Jason Frierson, a former Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly and Nevada U.S. Attorney who is now a lobbyist with Cornerstone Government Affairs, which represents r4 Technologies. It allows the grocers to sell more food and helps to decrease waste so there is less food going to places that arent being purchased. It also helps SNAP recipients get a better bang for their buck, Frierson said. The companys program was launched for the first time last year in Delaware, funded by $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three Square Food Bank, which provides assistance in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye counties, as well as the Food Bank of Northern Nevada opposed the legislation. Shane Piccinini, the government relations director for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, wrote in his opposition testimony in March that he didnt understand how the legislation would improve access. Many Nevadans facing food insecurity, particularly seniors, struggle to reach grocery storeseven when food is offered at discounted prices, he wrote. Our research shows that transportation is a major obstacle to accessing food, which is why many of our neighbors rely on local food pantries or direct delivery services provided by nonprofit organizations like the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. AB 474 was first heard by the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee in March and hasnt received a vote yet. It is exempt from all deadlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since that March hearing, U.S. House Republicans passed a massive budget reconciliation bill that is now headed for the U.S. Senate Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill that slashes Medicaid, food assistance and other programs. Also since the bills hearing in March, the body charged with making state revenue estimates that legislative budgeting cant exceed revised those estimates downward, citing projected negative impacts on Nevadas economy largely as a result of Trumps trade war. Democratic Assemblymember Tracy Brown-May in the March hearing raised concern that deep cuts to federal assistance programs only proposed at the time would limit the availability of the service described in the bill. The legislation is sponsored by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Democratic Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, who chairs the committee, said those currently eligible for SNAP benefits would be eligible to use the r4 Technologies application, but acknowledged that could change with shifts in federal policy. I wish I had a crystal ball and could say that any changes would not impact this program, said Monroe-Moreno, who also chairs the Nevada State Democratic Party. I cant sit here and say that at this moment. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The State of Illinois and its flagship public university are marking the beginning of a new phase of a construction and renovation project thats been ongoing since 2023. The Illinois Capital Development Board and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign celebrated the groundbreaking of a new Illini Hall on Thursday. Expected to be complete in 2027, the 140,000 square-foot facility will house the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Departments of Mathematics and Statistics. There will be classrooms, lecture halls, offices and a data science center that will be part of the University of Illinois hub of the Illinois Innovation Network. Illinois football season tickets sold out Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This milestone highlights the states commitment to strengthening the University of Illinois efforts as they modernize their campus to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow, Governor JB Pritzker said in a statement. With a state-of-the-art data science center, new lecture halls, and classrooms, this project not only provides students with the spaces they need to learn but also creates lasting opportunities for Illinois future leaders. The new Illini Hall will replace the 116-year-old building that used to carry the name on the same site. It was demolished in 2023 as Phase 1 of the project. Phase 2 is focused on exterior renovations of Altgeld Hall across the street. The masonry on the building was revitalized and the buildings signature bell tower was restored with structural upgrades, a new spire roof and chime system enhancements. This phase is expected to be complete in the summer. Rebuild Illinois: Millions of dollars coming to Central Illinois for road, sidewalk, park improvements Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phase 3 is the construction of the new Illini Hall and Phase 4, the projects last, will focus on interior renovations to Altgeld Hall enhancing accessibility features and restoring the buildings original murals. These state-of-the-art, tech-enabled spaces will rejuvenate the core of campus and become home to current and future generations of Illinois students and faculty pursuing innovation and excellence in data sciences and advanced analytics, said University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones. It will reinforce our states reputation as the center of the industries that will define the 21st century. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring increased police training on sexual assault cases that would include practices meant to minimize traumatization of the victim. The training required by the legislation, now heading to Gov. JB Pritzkers desk, would also focus on identifying and addressing conflicts of interest when officers involved in the case are familiar with the victim or accused. The trauma-informed training is intended to promote handling people involved in sexual assault cases in a sensitive way, said state Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, the bills sponsor and a Democrat from Libertyville. The bill was dubbed Annas Law because it was championed by an Illinois resident, Anna Williams, who told state lawmakers that she was unfairly overlooked by law enforcement when she filed a sexual assault report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detective working my case lied on my statements, and it was brushed off when I mentioned it to the chief, Williams said at a late April legislative hearing. I was frequently asked if I was sure that it was not consensual. If we pass the bill, it will help survivors heal from the assault, and then it gives them a fighting chance. It will validate their experiences. An initial version of the bill was met with opposition in part due to a provision penalizing officers if they did not complete the training, Edly-Allen said. Law enforcement officials also wanted the training to be administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, instead of the state Department of Human Services as initially written, she said. Personally, I did not want anything punitive, Edly-Allen said. Its about when you know better, you do better, just understanding that we all experience life differently. The Illinois Sheriffs Association initially filed in opposition of the legislation, but said Thursday they switched their position to neutral after the bill was amended in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents of the legislation also include the Illinois National Organization for Women, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. The passage of Annas Law is another step in the direction of ensuring our law enforcement responses to sexual and domestic violence are survivor-centered and trauma-informed, said Maralea Negron, director of policy, advocacy and research at The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence. Addressing conflicts of interest in law enforcement responses will directly support survivors who hesitate to report because of these associated risks. Edly-Allen credited Williams with pushing her to champion the legislation. I actually was a little nervous carrying the bill originally, but her determination and her unwavering bravery to say No, this is wrong, we need to change it, empowered me, Edly-Allen said. She empowered me to do this legislation. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Should it become more difficult to amend the states constitution? Thats a question that has been debated at the statehouse for years and is now coming back up. Back in 2023, Ohio Republicans voted to create an August special election in order to ask voters one question: Should it take a simple majority or 60% of Ohioans to amend the state constitution? 57% of Ohio voters ultimately decided to keep the status quo, which is a simple majority. The question brought out hundreds of protesters, hours of debate, and millions of dollars were spent on the campaign on each side. Now, state leaders are bringing the conversation back up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four inmates escape from minimum security facility in southeast Columbus The Ohio Ballot Board must certify that a proposed constitutional amendment is only about one topic before petitioners can start collecting signatures to get their question on the ballot. Since the start of the year, the board has met twice to discuss citizen-led constitutional amendments. At the most recent one, on May 14, Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Ohio) took a moment of chairmans privilege. This brings to mind the fact that we are meeting for the second time within the last month a warning that I had a few years ago, LaRose said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warning, LaRose said, was that there would be a real uptick in people attempting to legislate by constitutional amendment. LaRose said in his opinion, that is not a proper way to govern. Legislation should be done by the legislature and thats something to be discussed in this building going forward, he said. Ohio Republican explains why he voted against Trumps big, beautiful bill So, how do state leaders feel about trying to increase the threshold for a second time? I think it should be [increased], Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. I vote yes. We will remain opposed to that, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. The petition process is already extremely difficult and burdensome for citizens to be able to exercise their right for direct democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, in order to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot, nearly half a million signatures must be collected by petitioners from 44 of Ohios 88 counties. Russo said the process, while difficult, gives Ohioans recourse when they do not agree with what legislators are doing. [Republicans] are not in line with where the public is on many issues and the public has pushed back, Russo said. And [Republicans] dont like it when the public and the people use their power to push back. As we have witnessed time after time, deep-pocketed dark money groups see the state constitution as an easy target for a constitutional amendment campaign because it can be changed with a simple majority vote, spokesperson for Ohio Senate Republicans John Fortney said. Even the Ohio Democratic party had bylaws up until recently that required a 60% vote of its members to change its charter. Increasing the threshold is always a worthwhile discussion. In order to make it more difficult to amend the state constitution, lawmakers will either need to pass a resolution to put on the ballot or Ohioans would need to petition their own amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monte Carlo, longtime central Ohio Italian restaurant, to close last location Huffman said right now there are too many Ohioans looking to change the constitution, so that will create an uphill battle if they want to try and increase the passing threshold again. The folks who want to eliminate real estate tax in the state of Ohio, they dont want it raised to 60%, qualified immunity folks, he said. I guess there may be good government folks who want it raised to 60%. While Republicans and Democrats may be torn on the proper action to take here, they do agree that Ohioans likely will not change their minds just two years after voting the question down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People tend to think about what is important to them, short of everybody steps back and says, we really should raise the limit, which I dont see that happening, Huffman said. Undermining the ability of voters to have access to democracy through the ballot initiative process does undermine voters, Russo said. The voters made it very clear back in August of 2023 that they want to protect their right to direct democracy. A statehouse source told NBC4 there are not any current talks to increase the threshold but noted that the budget debate is taking up most of the air in the room right now. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The state of New Hampshire reached a settlement agreement with the mother of Harmony Montgomery after she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Division for Children, Youth and Families. According to settlement documents, Crystal Sorey, Harmonys mother, will receive $2,250,000 from the state. Under the terms of the settlement, the state doesnt have to admit any wrongdoing or unlawful conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Attorney General John M. Formella said: The state agreed to these settlements to avoid prolonged litigation and support closure for the families. We recognize their profound loss and hope this brings some measure of peace. Mass. DCF wants to redact names of lawyers, social workers in Harmony Montgomery custody hearing Last September, Sorey filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the state for the senseless and preventable death of Harmony. Investigators believe Harmony was slain in December 2019, though she wasnt reported missing for almost two years. According to the suit, Harmony lived with Sorey in Massachusetts from her birth in 2014 until February 2019, when the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families removed her from her mother over allegations of neglect. Harmony was then placed into the care of her father Adam Montgomery in New Hampshire. Montgomery was convicted of second-degree murder in February after a trial in which Montgomery acknowledged he purposely and unlawfully removed, concealed or destroyed her corpse and falsified physical evidence but claimed he did not kill her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To this day, her body still hasnt been recovered. New Englands Unsolved: The search for Harmony Montgomery Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW State business officials predict nearly 4.6 million visitors coming to the Granite State this summer, but the impact from tensions over tariffs and calls for a U.S. travel boycott in Canada remains unknown. Visitors are expected to bring $2.6 billion into the states economy, said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. The outlook reflects a consistent year-over-year performance," according to the department. Tourism is the second-largest industry statewide with 70,000 employees. Summer is traditionally the busiest tourism season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourism in New Hampshire is not big-ticket companies. It is small businesses in rural areas around the state, who depend on visitors, who depend on people, Caswell said at a press conference Thursday morning. Gov. Kelly Ayotte touted the states lakes, rivers, ocean and mountains. We have it all here in New Hampshire and we want people to come, Ayotte said. We want them to enjoy the beauty of our state, and we want them to do so responsibly. She added, We welcome people here not only from other states but from other countries. It is such an important part, of course, of the economic vitality of New Hampshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caswell said his department works with the nonprofit Discover New England, which works in part to draw international travelers to the region. Reports show the number of border crossings from Canada to the United States is significantly down. The state does not have specific data on how many Canadians or other international travelers visit New Hampshire each summer, according to Kris Neilsen, communications manager for travel and tourism. We know that Canada is New Hampshires largest international travel market, because it is a drive market, she said. We also know from New Hampshires tourism industry that Canadians are an important visitor for their businesses because we hear this from them on a regular basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Tourism Director Michelle Cruz said the states $3.6 million marketing campaign surrounds the states creative platform the feeling of Live Free. The slogan will appear in target markets on social media, streaming services and billboards. The core markets include New England and eastern New York, and the state has also invested in the road trip market of eastern Pennsylvania and Greater Montreal, Canada. Cruz mentioned digital billboards near Fenway Park and the theater district in Boston. Several buses in Philadelphia have been wrapped as part of the campaign. The campaign targets 60 million people east of the Mississippi River, Cruz said. The return on investment is about $14 or $15 in revenue per dollar spent based on previous campaigns, Caswell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caswell said there have been no changes in marketing to Canada. People are going to make decisions on whatever they are going to do, he said. He spoke of factors like gas and geopolitical issues that can impact travel to the state, which always ebbs and flows. The states job is to continue a steady marketing effort during potential struggles and noted a shift in trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry is pretty steady. Its pretty established, Caswell said. I think they are going to find a way to address whatever comes at them The state is also launched its Wildy Responsible campaign that promoted respect for New Hampshires wild and natural resources. Colorado just scored a big victory for clean air and communities that have been facing the consequences of industrial pollution. As reported in the Environmental Defense Fund's Vital Signs newsletter, state regulators finalized a plan in February 2025 to reduce harmful air pollution from oil and gas operations. After local groups started raising concerns about oil and gas operations near homes, Colorado adopted new standards that will require companies to replace outdated equipment that intentionally vents harmful pollutants in the air. Once this is fully implemented by 2029, it's expected to reduce methane pollution, a planet-warming gas that can be harmful to human health, by 10% in the state. The new standards will also improve air pollution monitoring. Companies will be required to keep a more detailed account of the pollutants they're releasing, such as toxic gases like benzene and xylene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a big deal for local residents, especially those living near oil and gas facilities. Public health is on the line, with locals having higher rates of respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal diseases, and even leukemia. The EDF's Vital Signs newsletter is a great source of inspiring climate solutions, policy wins, and actions we can take to support a healthier planet for all. Colorado joins other states making progress toward a healthier environment, like New York's plan to electrify buses and Illinois' investment in clean energy. While the current administration has been working to roll back some federal environmental protections, this move by Colorado shows how progress can still be made on a state level. "These Colorado safeguards are a huge achievement," said Nini Gu, an EDF policy expert for the Western region, per Vital Signs. "And Colorado did all this with consensus across the board from environmental groups, industry trade groups and state regulators. It's really an example for other states can follow." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you can accomplish this in Colorado, you can do it in other places, too," said Laurie Anderson, an advocate with Moms Clean Air Force, according to Vital Signs. 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 Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington. Associated Press / LaPresse Only italy and spain U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited the trade war as part of his erratic economic policy. Just one day after securing a major victory in Congress with his tax cut legislation, Trump has resumed his offensive against his main ally. On Friday, he announced that he had recommended imposing 50% tariffs on the European Union starting June 1, in a message laden with demagoguery and falsehoods typical of his rhetoric. The renewed trade war has triggered a downturn in the stock markets. The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with, posted Trump, once again distorting the historical origins of European institutions, which were created after World War II to promote peace and economic cooperation. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable, he continued in a message on his platform Truth Social, despite the fact that Europe is one of the most open markets in the world. The president completely misstated the trade deficit figure, claiming it was $250 million. In reality, the U.S. trade deficit with the European Union in goods reached a record $235.571 billion in 2024, according to official U.S. data. However, the United States runs a surplus in services trade with the EU, making the overall economic imbalance relatively small in the broader context of the relationship. Following these falsehoods and major errors, Trump issued his threat: Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Last EU proposal Trumps threat comes after the EU shared a renewed trade proposal with the United States earlier this week in an attempt to revive stalled negotiations. According to Bloomberg, the new framework includes provisions that consider U.S. interests, such as international labor rights, environmental standards, economic security, and the gradual reduction leading to full elimination of tariffs imposed by both sides on non-sensitive agricultural goods and industrial products. The proposal also outlined areas for potential cooperation between the U.S. and the EU, including mutual investment and strategic partnerships in energy, artificial intelligence, and digital connectivity. Trump has been imposing tariffs arbitrarily, often reversing course and contradicting himself. His latest threat against the European Union comes less than halfway through the 90-day partial pause he himself announced a concession made under market pressure to allow time for negotiations. Trump was also unable to hold his ground against China, which retaliated against U.S. exports. The Treasury Secretary acknowledged that the tariffs Washington had imposed on the Chinese giant were unsustainable and would harm the U.S. economy, prompting a near-desperate search for a way to reverse course. After staging a negotiation in Switzerland, Trump backed down and portrayed it as a success. The United States has also signed a preliminary agreement with the United Kingdom, but without addressing the specifics. So far, no comprehensive trade agreement has been signed with any country during the 90-day period. Despite the uncertainty and economic damage already inflicted and despite the markets having forced his hand more than once Trump is now charging ahead with renewed energy. His threats have lost some credibility due to his constant shifts in position and frequent backtracking, yet he continues to wield tariffs at will as a tool to exert pressure. Trump also issued threats on Friday against Apple, stating he would impose a 25% tariff if iPhones sold in the United States are not manufactured domestically. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recently expressed his hope that the U.S. would one day have an army of millions and millions of human beings screwing in little screws to make iPhones. The tariffs imposed by Trump have been challenged by companies and states who argue that, in his increasingly authoritarian approach, the U.S. president is overstepping the powers granted to him by the Constitution. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) allows the president to regulate imports and exports in response to certain non-military emergencies, but it also emphasizes that the triggering event must constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat. Outside of such circumstances, it is Congress that holds the authority to set tariffs. No other president has ever used tariffs in the way Trump has: he is pushing the boundaries of executive power. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) Hope to Destiny for Youth and Dr. Jarrod A. Henderson set to host a free STEAM/STEM Day on May 31 to give youth an opportunity to participate in science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities. Hope to Destiny for Youth is a local eastern North Carolina nonprofit organization founded by Curtis Henderson in 2021. At Hope to Destiny for Youth, we are the ones who provide a second chance for youth and young adults by way of prevention, intervention and suppression in gang involvement, Henderson said. We provide substance abuse education and juvenile delinquency prevention through mentoring and education to support and influence at risk youth by serving as caring adults and positive role models in their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Introducing youth to STEM/STEAM activities fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, Kinston native Dr. Jarrod Henderson said. It prepares them for future careers in technology-driven fields, encourages innovation, and promotes collaboration. Early exposure builds confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning, equipping them to tackle global challenges and shape a better future. Education and community partners for this event include University of Houston; East Carolina University; Western Carolina; North Carolina State University and Kinston Housing Authority. Lunch will be provided. For more information about Hope to Destiny for Youth, call 252-560-9228 or email curtishend25@gmail.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 WNCT. May 23STERLING Now that school is out, Sterling Public Schools will work over the summer to finish several projects in the district's three-year facility plan. Among the work is the third and final phase of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at Sterling High School using federal COVID-19 relief funds, interior door replacement at both SHS and Challand Middle School, and health and life safety work at both schools. Other projects include sidewalk replacement and parking lot seal coating at several schools. The district also is looking a few years down the road at Jefferson and Franklin schools' needs and the creation of safety vestibules that will enhance security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sterling High School SHS is finishing the third and final phase in remodeling the school's HVAC system. Work on this phase began last summer. The original 1948 steam boiler, which Sterling Schools' Superintendent Tad Everett called "extremely inefficient and very costly," is being replaced with a more efficient electrical system. The third phase was finalized and approved by the school board in December 2023, with an estimated cost of $2.5 million. However, SPS Director of Finance Matt Birdsley said the final bid came in at $4.45 million. Before the pandemic, the cost for all three phases was projected at $9.72 million. That number has since grown to $13.8 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With a project this in-depth, we knew there would be some additional costs," Birdsley said. "The increase in cost is due to the increased cost of the equipment post-COVID, as well as the unknown expenditures that pop up when you open up walls and ceilings that had been enclosed since the building was originally built." Birdsley said SPS used the $4.8 million it received from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Fund to pay for the first two phases. The federal government gave ESSER funds to schools across the country to improve ventilation in their buildings to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The remaining HVAC project costs were covered using a combination of Health and Life Safety bonds, working cash bonds, Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax funds, local sales tax revenue and the Illinois State Board of Education's School Maintenance Project Grant. SHS also will replace several interior doors this summer. They need to be brought up to date under new state fire codes, which became apparent after the school was flagged during a health and life safety survey that detected several doors would not stay latched. The same work will be done at CMS next summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidding for the project went up Jan. 29, and was awarded to Gehrke Construction. The cost for replacing doors at both schools will be $593,500, using HLS and capital funds. Revenue for these two funds comes from the Life Safety Levy and Sales Tax. SPS also plans to spend $34,600 on several health and life safety survey priority A items at SHS and CMS, including smoke detectors and emergency lights, using HLS funds. Birdsley said the administration will recommend Wednesday, May 28, that the school board approve an asbestos abatement bid for two classrooms at SHS for a total of $40,500 and one alternate bid for an additional classroom for $7,400. "The floor tiles in these classrooms are in poor condition and need to be removed," Birdsley said. "If approved, this work would be completed in summer 2025. Funds for this would come from sales tax revenue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Challand Middle School SPS replaced nine wooden classroom doors at CMS last summer. This summer, it needs to spend $16,500 in sales tax revenue to replace an additional 10 doors. "We also elected to paint the common areas at Challand as it has been 10-plus years since any painting had been done on the inside," Birdsley said. "The cost for this is $38,000 and will be funded by sales tax revenue. This includes all of the hallways and stairwells at CMS." The school is getting a new track facility that will be completed over the next several summers. The first phase, which began last summer, created an all-weather track and track and field areas, including long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birdsley said the new track was used for team practices this spring, and the second phase is projected to add portable bleachers for spectators and a building that will be used for concessions, restrooms and storage. He said SPS is currently working on its facility plan for 2026-2028, which will include the CMS track's second phase as part of its draft plan, but no decisions have been made. Other summer 2025 projects Sections of sidewalks will be replaced at SHS and Franklin and Lincoln elementary schools at a cost of $32,700, using sales tax revenue. Parking lot seal coating will be done at Washington, Lincoln, Franklin and Jefferson elementary schools, as well as at the SPS warehouse, for $46,368, paid for with sales tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SHS's Roscoe Eades Stadium will undergo masonry and brick maintenance. The project is part of annual maintenance to the stadium's exterior and includes tuck pointing and sealing exterior brick. The work will cost $48,000 and be paid for by sales tax revenue. Lights will be replaced at the field house. Birdsley said the current light fixtures are outdated and the bulbs will no longer be available for purchase in Illinois. The work will cost $25,170 using sales tax revenue. Future projects "We are anticipating including Jefferson and Franklin renovations in our 2026-2028 facility plan and work on those two buildings would begin in summer 2026," Birdsley said. "This work would be similar to our other remodels and would include a secured entrance vestibule, office renovation, student restroom renovation, replacing flooring, new lights, fresh paint, new lockers, and playground enhancements, among other items." The projects will take multiple summers to complete and, based on the costs from remodeling Washington and Lincoln elementary schools, are estimated to cost millions. TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) It was a case of disappearing artwork that went cold and was nearly forgotten. Now, decades later, two missing paintings are back in their rightful home inside a northern New Mexico museum. The missing paintings vanished from a Taos art museum 40 years ago. It turns out those pieces were in the same New Mexico home where another valuable stolen painting was found years ago. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unbelievable, really, that they finally made their way back after being lost for 40 years, said Harwood Museum of Art Executive Director Juniper Leherissey. Decades later, the mystery is over. Two paintings, stolen off the walls of The Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, are now back home. The stolen paintings include Victor Higgins Aspens and Oklahoma Cheyenne by Joseph Henry Sharp. The paintings spent decades on the wall of a home near Silver City. The museum said the now-deceased couple who owned the home are those behind the 1985 Harwood Heist. These individuals came into the museum, created a distraction, one woman in a wheelchair, the man in a trench coat went upstairs, and these works are not huge, so basically ripped them off the wall, added Leherissey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That couple, Rita and Jerry Alter, made national headlines in 2017 after an estate sale company discovered the multi-million dollar piece, Willem De Koonings Woman-Ocher which was taken from the University of Arizona Museum of Art. We really dont know how many works they stole, but they did take advantage of small institutions, said Leherissey. With the help of a historical true crime writer, the two Harwood Museum of Art paintings are back home. In 2023, Lou Schachter noticed the Harwood Heist was similar to the De Kooning theft. I followed the story of the Alters theft of the De Kooning painting in Tucson, and I got inspired to see if the Alters had stolen any other paintings. It seemed weird that they would have stolen just one, said Schachter. After Schachters discovery, the museum contacted the FBI. Investigators found the paintings were sold by the Scottsdale Auction House under different titles in 2018. Schachter said, I think its a gift to anyone who goes to an art museum, but particularly those in Taos, New Mexico, who have a great art museum and incredible works, and these are two that belong, home. Where they were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the museum is now in custody of the paintings, theyll be officially unveiled to the public in a museum event on June 6 at 4 p.m. The couple who were in possession of the paintings were never charged with a crime, as they died before anyone made the discovery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A public health group is ramping up pressure on the Wayne County Airport Authority to scrap a proposed cigar lounge at the Detroit Metro Airport, launching billboards that warn of secondhand smoke risks. The Detroit Wayne Oakland Tobacco Free Coalition unveiled the billboards this week along Interstates 94 and 275 near the airport. Featuring an image of a coughing child in an airport terminal, the signs urge passersby to Stop the cigar lounge at DTW and call on the public to oppose indoor smoking at one of the states busiest transportation hubs, according to a news release from the coalition. Public health coalition unveils a billboard campaign to oppose the proposed cigar lounge at the Detroit Metro Airport. More than 31 million travelers passed through DTW in 2023. Health advocates say the risks extend beyond individual choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The science is clear. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, said the chairman of the Detroit Cancer Screening Initiative, Dr. Lawrence MacDonald, in the release. Permitting a cigar lounge at DTW would not only put travelers at risk but also jeopardize the health and safety of the 18,000 employees who work there. This proposal flies in the face of Michigans progress in creating smoke-free public environments. In late 2024, the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) said its proposed Cigar Lounge and Restaurant Concessions Opportunity could bring a cigar bar lounge and restaurant, food hall and other new developments to the McNamara Terminal at DTW. "We developed the Cigar Lounge and Restaurant Concessions Opportunity in response to interest from the community and local businesses, especially as it relates to the international nature of the airport," a WCAA spokesperson told the Free Press. Michigans Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law went into effect in 2010, banning indoor smoking in most public places. While cigar bars and tobacco shops are exempt under the law, critics of the DTW cigar lounge argue the WCAA plan stretches those exemptions and threatens to undermine smoke-free protections statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the coalition say the proposal also lacks transparency and public engagement. Several have submitted comments and emails to the airport authority but report little response, according to the news release. Coalition leaders have also published opinion pieces and spoken out at monthly WCAA meetings.As a parent and frequent traveler, Im appalled by the idea of exposing my children to secondhand smoke while navigating the airport, a Michigan resident and parent, Teferi Brent, said in the release. This proposal sends the wrong message to our youth. Many kids today have never even seen indoor smoking in public places, and we must not allow a backward slide into that past. More: Workers at 5 metro Detroit nursing homes walk off the job in 1-day strike In response to public concern, the airport authority said a cigar lounge at DTW would include measures to reduce smoke exposure and emphasized that it prioritizes the health and safety of all its employees, customers and visitors. "Bidders will be required to provide a state-of-the-art air handling and ventilation system and facility design to reduce smoke exposure to the fullest extent possible," according to the WCAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, The only way to eliminate indoor tobacco smoke exposure is to prohibit all smoking activity inside and near buildings. The proposed cigar lounge at DTW has also drawn criticism from the American Nonsmokers Rights Foundation, the Keep MI Kids Tobacco Free Alliance and many Michigan travelers. Most of the comments on a DTW Facebook post from early January which featured photos of the airport in the 1930s expressed opposition to the proposed cigar lounge. "It must be the 1930s, if we're considering to allow indoor smoking again!" one user commented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Second-hand smoke is extremely harmful to human health, and even the THIRD-HAND smoke that comes off of smokers' clothing is harmful as well," another person wrote. "I am a senior citizen who cannot afford to breathe second-hand smoke" The coalition plans to keep its billboards up for at least four weeks and hopes the campaign sparks broader public opposition. A final plan has not yet been announced. WCAA said it values community input as it prepares to "begin the solicitation process" for the concessions opportunity. Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Billboard campaign warns against proposed DTW cigar lounge Svetlana Dali, 57, was found guilty of a federal stowaway charge by jurors in a Brooklyn court on Thursday, May 22 Dali could face up to six months in prison after being convicted On Nov. 26, 2024, she slipped past security and airline gate agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and boarded a Delta Airlines flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport in France without a ticket A woman who stowed away in the bathrooms of a Delta Airlines flight from New York City to Paris in November 2024 has been convicted of a federal stowaway charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jurors determined in a Brooklyn court on Thursday, May 22 that Svetlana Dali, 57, was guilty of slipping past security and airline gate agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in N.Y.C. and boarding a Delta flight to Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on Nov. 26 without a ticket, according to NBC News, ABC News and Associated Press. Dali who has been in custody for more than five months could face up to six months in prison, according to sentencing guidelines, per the outlets. The judge presiding over the trial has not yet set a sentencing date. Dalis attorney, Michael Schneider, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Elder Ordonez/INSTAR A photo of Svetlana Dali. A photo of Svetlana Dali. The 57-year-olds trial lasted about two days with jury selection and opening statements having been made on Tuesday, May 20. Dali, who is a Russian citizen with U.S. residency testified a day later that she had gone to "where the people were boarding the flights," and then she "just walked into the airplane," according to ABC News. 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. She said airline staff did not ask her for a boarding pass and admitted that she did not have one, per the outlet. Surveillance video shown during the trial showed Dali blending in with a group of airline passengers and walking past Delta Airlines staffers checking tickets, per AP. She then said, per NBC News and ABC News, that she stayed in the bathroom "almost the duration of the flight, almost from the beginning to the end" because she felt sick. Getty A stock photo of a lavatory on an airplane. A stock photo of a lavatory on an airplane. Prosecutors cited charging documents in court, saying Dali initially failed to get through a TSA security checkpoint around 8:24 p.m. on the day of the flight because she did not have a boarding pass, but successfully made it through a few minutes later via "a special lane for airline employees masked by a large Air Europa flight crew." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being screened, Dali boarded the flight around 10:03 p.m. while Delta agents were "busy helping ticketed passengers board," according to court documents. The plane departed around 10:37 p.m., but before landing in Paris, she was discovered by the flight crew, who "notified French law enforcement" after she couldn't provide a boarding pass. Authorities in France then met her at the gate at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Nov. 27, where she was "detained before she entered customs." According to the complaint, Dali flew back to New York on Dec. 4 and was "escorted" to an interview room before admitting to "flying as a stowaway." Prosecutors said, per NBC News, that Dali was initially released from custody with an electric monitoring system, but she was detained again after allegedly cutting it off and attempting to enter Canada. Kevin Carter/Getty A stock photo of a Delta Airlines flight. A stock photo of a Delta Airlines flight. They also noted that she had tried to bypass security measures at two other airports prior to this incident, including at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Conn., but was unsuccessful at getting on a plane and eventually left the airport, the outlet reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA Administrator David Pekoske told NBC News in December that Dali was "screened," and that bypassing security checkpoints was "not that easy" and "rarely happens." He added that she was trying to evade checkpoints during an "incredibly busy day" of Thanksgiving travel. A TSA spokesperson told ABC News that in light of the incident, additional security measures are now in place." The spokesperson added, "TSA's security measures are always evolving to ensure this type of incident does not happen again. Read the original article on People VACAVILLE A high-speed street race ended in a violent crash Monday night, injuring one innocent driver and landing another in jail. Video footage of the collision, which happened just after 8 p.m., was captured on surveillance cameras and showed a black Ford Mustang slamming into two cars at a red light. Vacaville police say the Mustang, driven by 22-year-old Alexis Nieto Salinas of Vacaville, had been racing a black Corvette on eastbound Interstate 80 just moments before exiting at Cliffside Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mustang lost control at the bottom of the off-ramp and crashed into two unsuspecting vehicles, sending glass and plastic flying and causing significant damage, police said in a social media post. Authorities arrested Salinas at the scene and booked him into Solano County Jail on suspicion of misdemeanor exhibition of speed and reckless driving. His Mustang was also impounded for 30 days, according to police officials. Jail records later showed Salinas was no longer in custody by Wednesday and had likely posted bail. Court records did not yet indicate any newly filed charges, though Salinas has a prior conviction from 2023 for unsafe speed, The Vacaville Reporter noted. Authorities are still searching for the Corvette involved in the race and urging anyone with information about the second driver to come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dramatic video footage clearly shows how street racing can have devastating consequences for bystanders. In their online post, police also thanked community members who rushed to help the crash victims. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Depending on who you ask, a nuclear agreement between Iran and the United states is either a non-starter or almost a done deal. Last week, US President Donald Trump said Washington was very close to reaching an agreement with Iran over not making nuclear dust, as the US president terms it. But in Tehran, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seemed to rubbish the chances of a new accord with Washington, in a post attributed to him on his website Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the streets of Tajreesh, a fairly affluent neighborhood in the north of Tehran, locals told CNN the chance of sanctions relief in any settlement was a welcome prospect, even amid a reluctance to trust the current US president, infamous in Iran for already scrapping one such deal. Of course, removal of the sanctions would be good for Iran, Tehran resident Houman Gharoonzadeh told CNN, but he added: I think if America is asking us to become defenseless and theyll relieve our sanctions, thats not a good deal. Sanctions on Iran have strangled the countrys economy, cutting off Tehran from most banking and commercial ties with the West and leaving the country reliant on geopolitical allies like Russia and China. On Irans streets, Western brands are becoming ever harder to find but copycat logos are common, appealing to a nostalgia for a rosier period of international relations. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves during a meeting in Tehran, Iran on Tuesday. - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA/Reuters Cars are typically Iranian or Chinese-made and the countrys aviation industry in particular has suffered from nullified aircraft purchase licenses and banned imports of much-needed spare parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and China have looked to profit from the Wests more belligerent use of economic punishments, with Moscow allegedly trading nuclear and space know-how for Iranian missiles and drones to attack Ukraine even though Iran has consistently denied giving drones to Russia for use in Ukraine and Beijing, the US says, a key source for fuel components for Irans military missile program. In a March Washington Post opinion article, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pitched the US president on the economic promise that Tehran offers. It is the US administrations and congressional impediments, not Iran, that have kept American enterprises away from the trillion-dollar opportunity that access to our economy represents, he wrote. Its a game changer, Tehran resident Maryam, who asked not to give her last name, said of negotiations on enrichment of uranium and sanctions. For now, we cant sell anything. We cant deal with other countries, she told CNN. Tough talks Try not to talk nonsense, Khamenei told US negotiators in the post on his website early this week, repeating the Iranian position that Tehran will forge ahead with uranium enrichment for civilian purposes if Iran so desires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irans enrichment of uranium, a nuclear fuel that can be weaponized if purified to high levels, has emerged as the biggest sticking point in the talks. Iran insists it will never relinquish its right to enrich. Khamenei will have the final say on any possible deal and his public pronouncements will set the tone for any Iranian interactions with Washington. Iranian women walk past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran on April 26. - Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters However, Irans foreign minister confirmed Wednesday that Tehran would send negotiators to the fifth round of talks with the US, set to kick off in Rome on Friday. Special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the US side, as talks reach crunch time a source told CNN. Theyre gonna put Iran into a corner and theres gonna be so much demand that Iran cannot give. And its gonna fail, Tehran resident Eskander, who also asked to go by his first name only, told CNN of the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As regards US demands that Iran completely stop enrichment of uranium, he said that after 30 years of investing they (Irans leaders) cant simply back off and say, its all yours. Look what happened to Libya. Libya gave them everything and they still bombed them, he added. Its all an excuse from the West. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Iran reach a Libya-style nuclear deal with the US, which in 2003 dismantled the North African nations nuclear program in the hopes of ushering in a new era of relations with the US after its two-decade oil embargo on Muammar Qaddafis regime. Following denuclearization, Libya eventually descended into civil war after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed Qaddafi. Iranian officials have long warned that a similar deal would be intended to weaken Iran and eventually overthrow its regime. Israels threats As Israel escalates its bloody campaign in Gaza, eyes in Jerusalem are also firmly fixed on the US-Iranian talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN reported on Tuesday that US intelligence suggests Israel is preparing a possible strike on Irans nuclear facilities, with the likelihood of a strike tied to the fate of talks with Iran, officials added. In comments Thursday, Netanyahu said there is full coordination with the US on Iran as the Trump administration pursues a new nuclear deal with Tehran. He said any deal would have to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and stop the enrichment of uranium. Iranians were somber in the face of the risk of such an escalation. If Israel does bomb Iran, Tehran resident Amir-Reza, told CNN, Itll be World War III. Its not gonna be good. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Butler Hospital is accusing its striking workers of harassing patients who crossed their picket line to receive treatment. Butler Hospital President and COO Mary Marran claimed that management has received verified reports of New England Health Care Employees Union (SEIU 1199NE) members harassing and intimidating patients attempting to access care. RELATED: Striking Butler Hospital workers rally at State House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marran also accused the staffers of following the hospitals temporary workers to and from the hotels where theyre staying. In addition, she said those on strike have been posting online threats and inflammatory rhetoric targeting hospital leadership by name, including language implying physical harm. This type of threatening and dehumanizing language and behavior is unacceptable in any workplace, and especially in a healthcare environment serving vulnerable individuals, Marran wrote in a statement. The union says it cares about safety and patient care, yet it displays this terrible behavior. Even more concerning, patients have arrived at Butler Hospital in visible distress and tears after having to pass through hostile picket lines, she continued. For individuals already struggling with mental health issues, this additional trauma is dangerous and inexcusable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Butler Hospital warns striking staffers that benefits will soon expire Marran urged SEIU 1199NE to restore a safe, respectful environment for patients, staff, and the broader community. Butler Hospital employee holds sign during rally at State House. Protest and advocacy have their place, but harassment, threats and intimidation do not, Marran added. We remain here for good-faith negotiations to reach a fair agreement, but we will not compromise on the safety of our patients, staff or the public. SEIU 1199NEs open-ended strike began last week, and comes nearly two months after the union first entered into contract negotiations with Butler Hospital and its parent company Care New England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unions four contracts with Care New England expired on March 31, and there are currently more than 100 job openings at the hospital. SEIU 1199NE is urging hospital management to address the critical safety and economic concerns that workers believe have contributed to the staffing shortage. SEE ALSO: City issues noise-related fines to striking union workers The ongoing contract dispute reached a flashpoint earlier this week when Butler Hospital notified the striking workers that their last paycheck will come on Friday, and their medical, dental and vision insurance will expire on May 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEIU 1199NE claims Care New England has refused to bargain in good faith and consider their contract proposals. The union filed an unfair labor practices complaint against Butler Hospital last week that accuses management of threatening, coercing and retaliating against workers and making unilateral changes to condition of employment after their contracts expired. Meanwhile, Marran argues that the union disengaged from negotiations earlier this month and has refused to resume talks. SEIU 1199NEs Jesse Martin speaks as Butler Hospital workers stand behind him with photographs of their injuries. The striking workers marched to Smith Hill on Tuesday in an attempt to drum up support from state lawmakers. The staffers returned to the State House Thursday afternoon to to underscore the urgency of the workplace violence epidemic they are experiencing at work, driven by chronically short staffing and low wages. Several staffers donning purple and yellow carried photographs of some of their past injuries from patient assaults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The choice to strike at a health care facility is a tough one, SEIU 1199NEs Jesse Martin said. But to put it into context for every [workplace] injury likely two patients have gone without the right care because of the lack of staff that day. One by one, those workers shared their stories of workplace violence. I vividly remember an incident involving a patient with a known history of violence, recalled Amanda Butler, whos worked at the hospital for 20 years. I tried deescalating the patient, who became very upset, charged at me without any warning with his toothbrush and stabbed me in the eye with it. Butler said she couldnt see for several months and struggled to afford her medical expenses. She added that management was not supportive, and said that same patient ended up injuring one of her colleagues as well. Amanda Butler shares her story of workplace violence at a State House rally. Its disheartening to know that the safety of employees is not prioritized, she said. I just really hope Care New England will do the right thing for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin said managements harassment claims against the striking workers are yet another tactic to distract from the real threat of violence the workplace violence epidemic that frontline staff must face each and every day on the job. Butlers baseless assertions are an insult to its career-long caregivers who are non-violently pushing for greater workplace safety and economic justice, Martin said. Instead of trying to demonize and intimidate their dedicated employees and strip away their medical benefits, Care New England needs to act with urgency to boost wages and staffing to solve this escalating cycle of violence. Butler Hospital has already spent roughly $2 million on a temporary workforce to ensure patient care isnt disrupted during the strike. SEIU 1199NE asserts that those replacement workers are negatively impacting the quality of care, specifically when it comes to call center wait times. But Marran stressed that Butler Hospital remains committed to patients continuity of care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we would prefer to have our own employees working with patients, we have highly-qualified replacement workers here who will continue to be here, fulfilling Butlers essential role by providing vital behavioral health services, Marran explained earlier this week. Marrans accusations come less than a day after 12 News learned that several striking workers were handed $500 fines for violating Providences noise ordinance. They need us: Fundraisers launched for Matunuck Oyster Bar Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. The Council of the European Union will hold a hearing regarding the potential loss of Hungary's voting rights at a meeting on May 27, according to the agenda on the Council's web portal. This will be the eighth hearing regarding Hungary since the European Parliament triggered Article 7 procedures against the country in 2018. Article 7 of the EU Treaty allows for the suspension of Council voting rights if a member state consistently breaches EU founding principles. European ministers will discuss Hungary's status at a meeting of the General Affairs Council on May 27, the Council said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing comes as the EU is looking for ways to override Budapest if it vetoes Ukraine's accession to the bloc. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said on May 10 that Brussels has alternative plans in the event Hungary attempts to obstructs Ukraine's candidacy. "We have a plan B and a plan C. But our focus is plan A, the essence of which is to get everyone's support," Kallas told reporters. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU aid packages for Ukraine while opposing sanctions against Russia. Hungary's ongoing obstruction of support for Ukraine has repeatedly triggered threats to withdraw the country's voting rights. The European Parliament has also continuously raised Article 7 concerns regarding Hungary's "erosion of the rule of law." Under the Orban government, Hungary has faced increasing criticism from international watchdogs for limiting press freedom and undermining democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mass protests broke out in Budapest on May 18 in response to a controversial bill that would grant the government sweeping powers to investigate, penalize, or even ban media outlets and non-governmental organizations receiving any foreign funding. The bill, proposed by a member of Orban's ruling Fidesz party, is similar to Russia's restrictive "foreign agents" law. Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Probal Rashid/Getty Images For the second year in a row, college graduation season is being marked by student activism in solidarity with Palestine, and consequent backlash. Around the world from Rutgers University, to Cambridge University in the U.K. to University of Doha for Science and Technology in Qatar students have chanted Free Palestine or held Palestinian flags while crossing the graduation stage, sometimes to threats of arrest. New York University and George Washington University both made headlines this past week for penalizing graduation student speakers who brought Palestine into their speeches. On Wednesday May 14, during the graduation ceremony for New York Universitys Gallatin School of Individualized Study, student and actor Logan Rozos featured in Teen Vogue in 2020, as a member of GLAADs 20 Under 20 list of LGBTQ youth went off-script. My moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only appropriate thing to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine, Rozos, 24, who Them notes is both Black and trans, said. I want to say that the genocide currently occurring is supported politically and militarily by the Unted States, is paid for by our tax dollars, and has been livestreamed to our phones for the past 18 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take In response, NYU announced via a statement that they were withholding Rozoss diploma while pursuing disciplinary action, without specifying which rules he had broken. (Them did not receive a response to their request for comment.) On Saturday May 17, student speaker Cecilia Culver took the podium at the ceremony for George Washington Universitys Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. I call upon the class of 2025 to withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment, Culver said during her remarks. "I cannot celebrate my own graduation without a heavy heart knowing how many students in Palestine have been forced to stop their studies, expelled from their homes, and killed for simply remaining in the country of their ancestors." During the GWU commencement, pro-Palestine protesters were escorted away from the event, according to local news; other graduates brought signs and keffiyehs on the graduation stage. On Monday the 19th, the school issued a statement calling Culvers conduct inappropriate and dishonest, stating that she submitted and recited in rehearsal very different remarks than those she delivered at the ceremony, and that going forward, she was barred from all GWs campuses and sponsored events elsewhere. Clips of Culvers speech have gone widely viral. The graduate told student paper the Hatchet she was unsurprised by the backlash from the university, adding, There was just never any point where I was not going to say something. Mahmoud Khalil Was Detained by ICE. His Columbia Friends and Former Coworkers Are Speaking Out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They just wanted to make an example of somebody. Some students at Virginia Commonwealth University had their diplomas withheld in advance of graduation over campus protests this spring; others were banned from their graduation ceremonies, like at University of Texas at Dallas. Punished students from Columbia University were honored at a second Peoples Graduation (Teen Vogue attended the first, last spring). Dr. Noor Abdalla, wife of Mahmoud Khalil still being held in ICE detention in Louisiana accepted a diploma on his behalf during the ceremony. On May 22, Khalil was able to see Abdalla and hold their newborn baby for the first time in advance of a meeting with the Louisiana judge who argued Khalil was eligible to be deported. Khalil's lawyers argued that to deport him would put his life at risk. Protests and actions continue apace: Columbia alumni burned their diplomas outside Wednesdays commencement ceremonies, where the current acting president received boos after mentioning Khalils absence. Student Mohsen Mahdawi, who was held in ICE detention in Vermont until being released on bail, was able to receive his diploma at a Columbia ceremony this week. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue More great activism coverage from Teen Vogue: The military dock at the port of Agadir (340 miles south of Rabat). On Tuesday morning, the spring sun is already causing dozens of Moroccan and American soldiers to sweat as they toil in the shadow of the hill of the ancient citadel, marked in giant letters with the motto of the Sharifian kingdom: God, Homeland, and King. With well-rehearsed military choreography, commandos in rubber boats, masked bomb disposal experts, and soldiers in radiation protection suits roam the land and sea, while a Super Puma helicopter descends overhead to evacuate suspected victims, and recruits in bloody bandages and makeup moan in a mournful performance. This is the first exercise to which the press has been allowed access as part of the African Lion maneuvers which have mobilized more than 10,000 troops from some 60 countries for the past month through which the United States has been sending an unequivocal message of continental military supremacy and its capacity to respond alongside its allies since its inception in 2004. Amid official silence, Israeli troops are currently participating in the U.S.-led mass exercise in Morocco, despite the popular protests stirring the North African country against the latest Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has left the civilian population on the verge of famine. Ready for the explosion! warns the Moroccan officer serving as master of ceremonies at the port of Agadir, before the loudspeakers emit a sharp boom. CBRN units (nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical warfare) alternate on the dock scene with combat diving teams, counterterrorism forces, and rescue teams. Along with the American and Moroccan units leading the charge around the transport ship Daoud Ben Aicha, some Ghanaian commandos and Hungarian military personnel are also participating. Military exercises organized by Morocco and the U.S. on Tuesday in the port of Agadir. Fuerzas Armadas de Marruecos Senior military officers and observers from a dozen countries watch the training exercise against weapons of mass destruction from under a canopy. Meanwhile, several waiters serve mint tea and orange juice with Moroccan pastries. The Moroccan Front for Supporting Palestine and Against Normalization (of relations with Israel), which brings together some 20 left-wing parties, unions, and associations, condemned the Israeli armys participation in the African Lion military exercises in Morocco in a statement Tuesday. The Front considers the maneuvers to represent a provocation to the entire Moroccan people and demands an end to the military exercises. It has also joined the denunciations over the alleged presence in Morocco of soldiers from the Golani Infantry Brigades special forces company, implicated in the deaths of 15 paramedics and rescue workers in Gaza in late March. An attempt was made to dispose of their bodies in a mass grave. Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, questioned the alleged deployment of members of the Israeli brigade in Morocco on social media. If confirmed, this would mark a new threshold of depravity and a violation of the international obligation to investigate and prosecute individuals implicated in atrocity crimes, she warned. Albanese based her warning on a photograph circulating on the X social network shared by both Palestinian and Israeli activists, without citing its source which shows a group of young men in olive green field uniforms and wearing the small brown berets of the Golani Brigade commandos. The soldiers do not wear emblems or insignia indicating their rank, the unit to which they belong, or their country of origin, although they display an Israeli flag and the Golani Brigade ensign, both with the logo of the brigades Sayeret (Reconnaissance and Special Operations) company. There is also no indication of the date on which the image was taken, in front of a large banner for the special forces operations phase of the 21st African Lion exercise, corresponding to 2025. At least two of the soldiers are wearing identification badges for the maneuvers around their necks, in the same format as those issued by the Moroccan army to journalists covering the military exercise. An infographic on press coverage indicated that journalists were scheduled to attend a joint special operations forces exercise in Tifnit, about 25 miles south of Agadir, on Monday May 19. A spokesperson for the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) assured EL PAIS it would be able to attend the Tifnit exercise, but officials from the press service of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR) ruled out such an option, which they attributed to a coordination error. Had it not been for a traffic accident last Thursday in which two Israeli soldiers participating in the exercises were injured and treated in hospital, which was reported by the local press, Moroccan citizens would have barely noticed the Israeli troop deployment. The Israeli army confirmed in late April that soldiers from the Golani Infantry Brigade had opened fire a month earlier on two ambulance convoys in Rafah, southern Gaza, killing 15 medical workers, rescuers, and members of humanitarian organizations. The military investigation described the deaths as a misidentification and insisted, without providing evidence, that six of them were Hamas terrorists. A deputy commander of the Golani Brigades special operations company was relieved of his duties, and the commanding officer was reprimanded. A video, recorded by one of the paramedics before his death, contradicted the armys initial account, which claimed that the ambulances were moving suspiciously and without lights. Israel sent military observers to the African Lion exercises for the first time in 2022, following the resumption of military relations with Morocco under the auspices of U.S. President Donald Trump in December 2020, in the final weeks of his first term, and has participated in the last three editions of the exercises with an unspecified number of forces. Military sources cited by the French-language magazine Jeune Afrique highlight the presence of Israeli commando units and counter-guerrilla specialists at the continents largest military maneuvers. Radioactive decontamination exercise at the African Lion military maneuvers organized by Morocco and the United States on Tuesday in the port of Agadir. Fuerzas Armadas de Marruecos Daily life on the lively seafront of Agadir, one of the main tourist destinations in Morocco, is oblivious to the military movements taking place in its port and on training grounds in the southern region. Last weekend, a protest filled the viewing platform on Tangiers central Pasteur Boulevard with Palestinian flags and banners depicting Hamas leaders killed by Israel. We are against the normalization of relations advocated by our government, said 54-year-old engineer Nuredin, who preferred not to give his last name, at a rally of several hundred people convened by the Islamist Justice and Charity movement, tolerated by the government despite not being recognized as a political party. The Spanish government has banned the docking of ships suspected of transporting weapons to Israel, explained Nuredin during the protest in Tangier. Earlier this month, clashes broke out between police and groups protesting the alleged passage through the Tangier Med docks of a Maersk company ship carrying spare parts for Israeli F-35 aircraft, manufactured in the United States. We dont know whats happening in the port, Nuredin acknowledged, just as we dont know whats happening during the maneuvers in the Agadir area. The Moroccan government on Tuesday defended a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Foreign Minister Nasser Burita reiterated before an international forum meeting in Rabat the message he had delivered on behalf of King Mohammed VI last week in Baghdad at the Arab League summit. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An Arizona high school senior spoke out after initially being told she couldn't wear her military stole at graduation Shortly before the ceremony, the school district announced they were revising the policy "I am proud of my country and being able to serve," wrote Daniela Rascon-Rivas on social media before the decision was announced A high school senior was told she couldnt wear her military stole while receiving her diploma, so she spoke out and started a petition. At the last minute, the district reversed its decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniela Rascon-Rivas was a week from graduating when a school official told the Mesa High School student, who is preparing to join the Arizona National Guard, that she couldn't wear her military stole during the ceremony, CBS affiliate KHOU reported. Mesa High is not allowing me or my classmates to walk the stage this Thursday with our military stoles on, the student wrote on X on Monday, May 19. I am proud of my country and being able to serve. I want my community to know I am fighting for them! When reached for comment, Mesa Public Schools told the outlet that the reason was rooted in a long-time policy, but that students were permitted to wear stoles after the ceremony. Mesa High upholds a longstanding tradition of unity at graduation, in alignment with district policy 5-217.D and state law ARS 15-348, that promotes uniformity during the ceremony by limiting adornments on graduation attire, the school said, according to KHOU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response was not enough for Rascon-Rivas, who started an online petition to amend the policy, the outlet reported. When he heard of the news, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne offered his support and urged the district to reconsider. This country owes its existence to the bravery of people willing to fight for our freedoms. Miss Rascon-Rivas has done a tremendous amount of extra work to prepare for service in the Arizona National Guard, which she will join after she graduates, he said in a statement on Wednesday, May 21. This goes above and beyond the efforts required to graduate high school and deserves praise and recognition." That same day, the school district announced it was revsiting its policy, making it so that all students who have formally enlisted can wear military stoles while walking across the graduation stage, CBS affiliate KOLD and NBC affiliate KPNX reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an important and appropriate way to recognize the commitment of our students who are preparing to serve in the United States military, incoming Superintendent Dr. Matthew Strom told KOLD. Graduation marks a major milestone, and it is fitting that students entering military service are honored for their choice to serve our nation. The updated policy will be presented at the school districts governing board during the summer, according to KOLD. Neither Rascon-Rivas, Horne nor Mesa Public School immediately responded to PEOPLEs requests for 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. After the change was announced, Horne applauded the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she graduated on Thursday, May 22, Rascon-Rivas shared an image of a card on her Instagram Story that read, "Thank you for your commitment to the Arizona Army National Guard. Congratulations on your graduation." Read the original article on People Video shows flooding in Westernport, Md. on May 13, 2025. WESTERNPORT, Md. (WBOY) Students at Westernport Elementary School, where around 150 people were rescued during flooding last week, will finish the rest of the school year on Frostburg State Universitys campus. The bottom floor of the school flooded during storms on May 13, and crews from Preston County, West Virginia responded to help with the rescue. Although other schools that were impacted by flooding were able to return to class several days later, Westernport Elementary was not among them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, on Thursday, Allegany County Public Schools announced that the students are expected to return to in-person class on May 28 at Frostburg State University, which is about 17 miles (24 minutes driving) away. Students will be transported for class at Frostburg until the end of the school year on June 6. Randolph County superintendent says new policy that conflicts with WV Code is inaccurate The Westernport Elementary School staff and administration has worked extensively to create a plan to help their students finish the 2024-2025 school year together, and on a good note, the school district said on social media. The post said that while at Frostburg, Westernport students will have fun activities, field trips and breakfast and lunch provided. Counselors will also be available to help students and families with the change and transportation will be provided, the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allegany County Public Schools would like to thank all staff and community members who helped in getting our kids safely back in the classroom. Parents can expect more details in the coming days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. North Dakota Superintendent Kirsten Baesler speaks during a meeting of the state's Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force held in Bismarck on Feb. 22, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler is one step closer to joining the U.S. Department of Education. Her nomination to be the next assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education will advance to the full Senate after members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee voted 12-11, along party lines, on Thursday to approve her nomination, according to a news release from the state Department of Public Instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am grateful for the Senate HELP Committees vote and honored for the opportunity to support our nations students, families, and teachers, Baesler said in a statement. If confirmed by the Senate, I am committed to working closely with my colleagues for continued progress in serving students effectively. According to the department, Baesler plans to resign as state superintendent upon her full Senate confirmation. Gov. Kelly Armstrong would then appoint Baeslers successor who will serve through the 2026 election. That election will decide who will lead the Department of Public Instruction for the final two years of Baeslers term, which expires in 2028. Baesler, a native of Flasher, was first elected state superintendent in 2012 and has won reelection to the position three times, most recently defeating Jason Heitkamp in 2024 with 57% of the vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for President Trump to fire two Democratic-appointed independent agency leaders, for now, over the dissents of the courts three liberal justices. The emergency order lifts a lower decision reinstating the two officials, handing the president a win in his quest to expand control over all aspects of the federal bureaucracy. But the justices declined the Trump administrations additional ask to immediately take up the case in full and expedite it so the high court can settle this term whether Trump could fire the two officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That question is better left for resolution after full briefing and argument, reads the courts unsigned opinion. Instead, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) member Cathy Harriss challenge will return to its normal course in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. It leaves both agencies without a quorum required to conduct certain business in the meantime. The stay also reflects our judgment that the Government faces greater risk of harm from an order allowing a removed officer to continue exercising the executive power than a wrongfully removed officer faces from being unable to perform her statutory duty, the court wrote in its opinion. It sympathizes with the arguments advanced by Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who warned that the normal process could prevent a final resolution until well into Trumps White House term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forcing the President to entrust his executive power to respondents for the months or years that it could take the courts to resolve this litigation would manifestly cause irreparable harm to the President and to the separation of powers, Sauer wrote in court filings. Many legal observers expect the case will ultimately need to be settled by the Supreme Court, which 90 years ago carved out the ability for Congress to protect some independent agency leaders from being fired without cause. In recent years, the Supreme Courts conservatives have limited the carveout. Latching onto those rulings, the Trump administration contends the carveout shouldnt extend to the NLRB and the MSPB either, and that if the justices disagree, they need to overrule the precedent. Its part of an expansionist view of presidential power that asserts the president is due near-total control over the entirety of the executive branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In dissent, the courts three liberals said the majority was effectively allowing Trump to overrule that decision by fiat and favors the President over our precedent. The impatience to get on with thingsto now hand the President the most unitary, meaning also the most subservient, administration since Herbert Hoover (and maybe ever)must reveal how that eventual decision will go, wrote Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. The Trump administration filed its emergency appeal at the Supreme Court after the full D.C. Circuit issued an emergency ruling effectively reinstating Wilcox and Harris until the next stage of the case. Chief Justice John Roberts had briefly lifted that ruling until the Supreme Court decided the administrations request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday granted a Trump administration request that allows the president to fire members of independent federal agencies while suggesting that its legal reasoning would not apply to the Federal Reserve. The move to pause a lower court ruling formalizes a temporary decision along similar lines on April 9 that allowed President Donald Trump to fire Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and Cathy Harris, a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board. "The stay reflects our judgment that the government is likely to show that both the NLRB and MSPB exercise considerable executive power," the court said in an unsigned order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government, it added, "faces greater risk of harm from an order allowing a removed officer to continue exercising the executive power than a wrongfully removed officer faces from being unable to perform her statutory duty." The high courts three liberal justices dissented. In a notable passage, the court sought to distinguish the case from any attempt by Trump to fire members of the Federal Reserve, including its chairman, Jerome Powell. The court noted that the Federal Reserve is a "uniquely structured, quasi-private entity" that has its own distinct historical tradition. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at a news conference in Washington on May 7. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images) The Supreme Courts comments are likely to be well-received in global markets, which were rocked when Trump repeatedly ripped Powell in late March and early April, leading to speculation that he might try to fire him. Trump went so far as to say on Truth Social on April 17 that Powells termination cannot come fast enough! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump later appeared to back off, saying he had "no intention" of firing Powell. Powell also came under fire repeatedly during Trumps first term, even though Trump himself nominated him for the role in November 2017. Follow live politics coverage here Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the dissenters, said the court had in essence summarily overruled a key 1935 precedent, Humphreys Executor v. United States, which upheld the concept of independent agencies that are not directly subject to presidential control. In challenging that precedent, Trump decided "to take the law into his own hands" by firing Wilcox and Harris for no discernible reason, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, this court effectively blesses those deeds. I would not. Our Humphrey's decision remains good law, and it forecloses both the Presidents firings and the Courts decision to award emergency relief," Kagan wrote. She expressed puzzlement at the court's effort to create an exception for the Federal Reserve, arguing there is no reason the same legal rationale would not apply to it. "If the idea is to reassure the markets, a simpler and more judicial approach would have been to deny the presidents application for a stay," Kagan added. Cathy Harris and Gwynne Wilcox. (Reuters; NLRB) The case tees up the significant legal question of whether Congress, when it sets up federal agencies, can include provisions to insulate them from political interference that prevent the president from firing members at will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Trump firings concern only two agencies, any ruling that allows such firings would apply to other agencies, too. If that happens, it would raise the question of whether the president would have the power to fire members of the Federal Reserve, which traditionally operates independently of the White House. In recent rulings, the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has decided that provisions protecting single heads of independent agencies were unconstitutional. But the 1935 precedent that upheld the structure of multimember agencies remains on the books. The Trump administration has adopted legal arguments long made by conservative lawyers who favor broad presidential power; those arguments hold that independent agencies are not sufficiently accountable to the democratically elected president under the Constitutions separation-of-powers provision. The president should be able to fire agency heads at will, they argue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then-President Joe Biden appointed Wilcox to the labor board, which adjudicates workplace disputes, in 2021. Her five-year term would have expired in 2026. Federal law states that the president can fire members only for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Biden appointed Harris in 2022 to a seven-year term that has similar protections against removal. The Merit Systems Protection Board handles disputes involving federal employees. Trump sought to fire both soon after he took office. Wilcox and Harris both sued and won in lower courts, prompting the administration to go to the Supreme Court. Lawrence Hurley reported from Washington and Steve Kopack from New York. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. The Biggest News Of The Week In a tumultuous week that marked four months since Donald Trumps second inauguration, nothing will have as long-lasting and damaging an effect on American democracy as the Supreme Courts decision yesterday to upend 90 years of its own precedent and strip independent agencies of their independence. The high courts six-justice conservative majority fundamentally altered the structural balance of power among the branches of the federal government. It handed vast new power to the White House to put politics above expertise, partisanship above reason, and power over principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of that would have been bad enough at any other time, but the Roberts Court just handed a match to a confirmed arsonist in Donald Trump. As bad as the first four months of his second term have been, it was not enough to dislodge the conservative justices from their ideological attachment to the radical theory of a unitary executive. The immediate result of their decision will be to enable and encourage Trumps rampage across federal government to bring it to heel to his whims in dramatic and disturbing ways. But it also tilts the playing field of American politics in profound but often imperceptible ways that will persist for decades. One wonders how independent agencies will even function. They were created and have existed over the course of nearly a century under a certain set of assumptions about the importance of experts, consistency in policy-making, and insulation from partisan politics. What is their use or reason for being now if theyre merely appendages of the White House doing its bidding? The Damage Is Long Term And Lasting Political scientist Don Moynihan makes an insightful point about the impact of the Supreme Courts decision: With unitary executive theory, Congress cannot write robust new legislation that modernizes the civil service and stops politicization. A President could just ignore it. Even if Trump leaves office, and a new President looks to restore nonpartisan competence, their promises are only good for four or eight years before another President can come in and rip up the terms of their employment. And over time, why would even a good government President invest effort in restoring capacity if their successor can undermine it? With unitary executive theory, the public sector becomes permanently viewed as an unstable and chaotic workplace that we are seeing now. The most capable potential employees decide its not worth the bother, and the workforce becomes a mix of people who cannot get a job elsewhere, and short term political appointees. SCOTUS Special Carveout For The Fed Last month, Todd Phillips warned of the intellectual dishonesty afoot if the Supreme Court did what it ultimately did do yesterday in overturning its Humphreys Executor precedent while carving out a special exception for the Federal Reserve: In short, there is simply no principled way of ensuring the Feds removal protections stand while striking down those of all other agencies. Mixed Bag On Stopping The Trump Rampage Department of Education : In a new ruling, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun of Massachusetts blocked massive layoffs at the department, concluding that they were a poorly camouflaged attempt by the Trump administration to unlawfully dismantle it. Voice of America : The Trump administrations silencing of the government broadcaster can continue after the full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed a stay pending appeal to remain in place. Govt-wide: Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco extended her order blocking mass layoffs across 22 government agencies and reining in Trump administration efforts to dismantle some offices. Higher Ed Attacks: Ivy League Edition Harvard : Harvard quickly filed a new lawsuit against the Trump administration Friday morning challenging the Department of Homeland Securitys revocation yesterday of the schools certification for admitting foreign students. This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status , DHS announced (the emphasis is in the original). Nationwide : U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of Oakland issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from revoking the legal status of foreign students en masse. Columbia: A trumped-up investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services accuses the school of violating civil rights law by acting with deliberate indifference toward harassment against Jewish students. Something Has To Change As the Trump administration weaponizes the governments investigative powers to target perceived political foes and people it doesnt like or agree with, editors and reporters cant continue to frame coverage of those investigations in the same way they always have. A couple of sample headlines from today: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NYT: Regulators Are Investigating Whether Media Matters Colluded With Advertisers WSJ: Columbia Violated Students Civil Rights, Government Investigation Finds Those framings only lend legitimacy to what is a dramatic departure from the legal and ethical strictures that bound government investigations in the past. Even in better times, journalists were often too deferential in their framing of investigations in ways that mirrored what prosecutors and law enforcement alleged. In the Trump era, the fact of the investigation is often more important than what it purports to investigate or uncover. The old ways of covering government investigation simply cant persist in these new conditions. Understanding The FDAs Shift On COVID Vaccines Epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina on the Trump FDAs decision to erect new hurdles for COVID vaccines for healthy people under the age of 65: On the surface, this sounds reasonable. After all, severe Covid-19 is far less common in healthy young people. Given growing immunity, real scientific questions exist about whether annual boosters are still warranted for everyone. And, yes, other countries do things differently. But beneath the surface, this move is deeply troubling. It bypasses the scientific systems built to answer these questions, replacing the public process in health policy with the opinions of two political appointees with chips on their shoulders. Trump Confirms South Sudan Flight President Trump confirmed in a social media post that the deportation flight to South Sudan, which has been the focal point of an intense legal battle in federal court in Massachusetts this week, is parked in Djibouti. BREAKING The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay in the Alien Enemies Act case out of Houston, where U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison had issued a strongly worded order for the Trump administration to produce before midnight tonight detailed information about a Venezuelan man deported to El Salvador and not heard from since. A Critical And Deeply Dark Dynamic A good analysis from Politico of how the Trump White House views losing in court on its lawless anti-immigration actions as still a win politically. Just Another Normal Day In America Brilliant Reuters: A hacker who breached the communications service used by former Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz earlier this month intercepted messages from a broader swathe of American officials than has previously been reported, according to a Reuters review, potentially raising the stakes of a breach that has already drawn questions about data security in the Trump administration. Have A Good Weekend If You Can Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! The Supreme Court's conservative majority on Thursday bolstered President Donald Trump's bid to assume full control of executive branch agencies, giving a green light -- for now -- to his removal of the heads of the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board, whom he fired without cause. A district court had sided with Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board and Gwynne Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board, concluding their firings from their independent agencies were likely illegal and must be reversed. In a 6-3 decision, the high court granted Trump's request for a stay of the lower court order to reinstate Harris and Wilcox, at least for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Government faces greater risk of harm from an order allowing a removed officer to continue exercising the executive power than a wrongfully removed officer faces from being unable to perform her statutory duty," the majority explained. MORE: Trump is not a king, judge says in reinstating fired federal labor board member The dispute is currently working its way through a federal court of appeals and may ultimately return to the Supreme Court on the merits. Federal law and Supreme Court precedent explicitly prohibits the president from removing the heads of those independent, advisory agencies without cause in most cases -- but conservatives and the administration have long argued that the rule is unconstitutional. PHOTO: The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 17, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today's order favors the President over our precedent; and it does so unrestrained by the rules of briefing and argument -- and the passage of time -- needed to discipline our decision-making," Kagan wrote. "I would deny the President's application. I would do so based on the will of Congress, this Court's seminal decision approving independent agencies' for-cause protections, and the ensuing 90 years of this Nation's history." The case has been closely watched as one of the most high-profile tests of the president's power to control independent agencies created by Congress and designed to be insulated from politics. MORE: Trump and the 'unitary executive': The presidential power theory driving his 2nd term Special focus has been on the potential implications of the case for the Federal Reserve. Trump has made his displeasure of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell well-known and threatened to attempt to fire him, even though the appointment to chairman has historically been protected from presidential meddling without cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court's majority nodded to those concerns in its order. "Respondents Gwynne Wilcox and Cathy Harris contend that arguments in this case necessarily implicate the constitutionality of for-cause removal protections for members of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors or other members of the Federal Open Market Committee. We disagree," the majority wrote. "The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States." Supreme Court lets Trump fire heads of independent labor agencies for now originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump to fire two Biden-appointed members of U.S. labor boards even though federal law bars the president from dismissing the officials for political reasons. In a two-page unsigned order on Thursday, the high court declined to reinstate the fired members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board. All three of the courts liberal justices dissented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Litigation will continue in lower courts over Trumps ultimate power to fire the board members who run so-called independent agencies in the executive branch. Thursdays decision leaves that question unresolved. But the courts majority said Trump is likely to show that he has the constitutional authority to fire the labor board members for any reason a signal that will no doubt boost his sweeping claims of power to hire and fire executive branch officials. But that signal came with a significant caveat. In an unusual move, the courts majority sought to calm fears that allowing Trump to dismiss the labor officials amounted to unfettered license for the president to fire the chair or other members of the Federal Reserve Board. The court said thats a separate issue and suggested that it might not uphold an attempt to fire the Fed chair. The Fed is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity with a long history that makes it distinct from other federal agencies, the court wrote. The cases arose after Trump, in the first few weeks of his second term, fired NLRB Chair Gwynne Wilcox and MSPB member Cathy Harris. The NLRB ensures that private companies comply with federal labor laws and hears disputes over unionization. The MSPB referees federal employees complaints alleging violations of civil service protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower courts initially blocked Trump from firing the two regulators, citing federal laws that restrict the presidents power to remove the leaders of many agency boards created by Congress. The Trump administration has argued that those restrictions are unconstitutional because they infringe on the presidents ability to run the executive branch. The Supreme Courts majority said the labor boards appear to exert considerable executive power. And the majority suggested the members probably have the kind of authority that the court has found in recent years must be subject to the presidents unrestricted authority to control executive branch officials. In balancing the harms at issue, the majority reached the judgment that the Government faces greater risk of harm from an order allowing a removed officer to continue exercising the executive power than a wrongfully removed officer faces from being unable to perform her statutory duty. Justice Elena Kagan, joined in dissent by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, said their conservative colleagues misjudged the harm as limited to the desires of the two officials to stay in their jobs. The courts order was actually snubbing Congress, Kagan argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What matters, in other words, is not that Wilcox and Harris would love to keep serving in their nifty jobs. What matters instead is that Congress provided for them to serve their full terms, protected from a Presidents desire to substitute his political allies, Kagan wrote. The ruling, which came in an emergency appeal filed by the Trump administration, also fueled a long-running dispute on the court about making decisions of broad significance on what critics have dubbed the shadow docket. Matters raised there on an urgent basis dont get detailed legal briefing and typically dont receive oral arguments. Kagan said the court was effectively overruling a 90-year-old Supreme Court precedent that upheld congressionally imposed restrictions on the presidents ability to fire members of the Federal Trade Commission. Our emergency docket, while fit for some things, should not be used to overrule or revise existing law, wrote Kagan, an Obama appointee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kagan also skewered the court over what she called its out of the blue statement suggesting the Federal Reserve wasnt subject to the kind of presidential control the court blessed for the labor boards. The Federal Reserves independence rests on the same constitutional and analytic foundations as that of the NLRB, MSPB, FTC, [Federal Communications Commission,] and so on, she wrote. The dispute over Trumps firing of Wilcox and Harris had been pending before the Supreme Court since April 9 an unusually long time for an emergency appeal. Shortly after Trump filed the appeal, Chief Justice John Roberts entered a so-called administrative order that prevented the two officials from being reinstated while the court considered what to do next. Thursdays ruling leaves both labor boards lacking a quorum and unable to take substantive actions. The MSPB has numerous complaints pending from federal government workers that they were fired by the Trump administration in violation of civil service laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has been increasingly receptive in recent years to arguments that presidents should have broad firing power in the executive branch. The court has narrowed the types of jobs that are protected from dismissals due to policy disagreements, politics or a presidents personal personnel preferences. Wilcox, a labor lawyer, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 as a member of the NLRB. She was nominated and confirmed to a second term on the board in 2023 and named as its chair by Biden last December. Harris, an employment law specialist and former prosecutor, was confirmed by the Senate in 2022 as a member of the MSPB. Before the latest development, the Supreme Court had weighed in on one other personnel fight since Trump was reelected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the justices rebuffed but did not reject outright a request by the administration to go ahead with the presidents attempt to fire another Senate-confirmed Biden appointee insulated by law from firing without cause: Hampton Dellinger, who headed a watchdog agency known as the Office of Special Counsel. The high court opted to hold the administrations request in abeyance while litigation continued in the lower courts. A district court judge ordered Dellinger reinstated, but after the Supreme Court shelved the administrations petition, a D.C. Circuit panel ruled that the firing could go forward. Dellinger dropped the legal fight before the Supreme Court had a chance to address the matter again. Dellingers post involved investigating whistleblower complaints from federal employees and overseeing enforcement of the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits political activity by federal workers. The position is unrelated to the special counsels sometimes appointed on a temporary basis at the Justice Department to serve as prosecutors in politically sensitive investigations. The saga over St. Isidore of Seville, which hoped to become the nations first religious charter school, has come to a surprising end for now. In April 2025, Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the case from Oklahoma, which dealt with how to interpret the First Amendments religion clauses. Proponents argued that prohibiting local public school boards from contracting with a faith-based organization would be unconstitutional because it hinders free exercise of religion. Critics warned a faith-based charter would be an unconstitutional breach of the establishment clause, which forbids the government from establishing an official religion or promoting particular faiths over others. Both sides anticipated a pivotal ruling. However, in an anticlimatic outcome, the Supreme Court issued a brief order May 22, 2025. The 4-4 outcome leaves a lower court judgment in place that prevented St. Isidores from opening but did not explain why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Conversation U.S. asked Charles Russo, who teaches education law at the University of Dayton, to walk us through what happened. What does the order do? On its face, the Supreme Courts terse, one-sentence opinion means that Oklahoma cannot presently create and fund a Roman Catholic charter school an online K-12 institution. However, because the Supreme Court did not address the underlying merits of the claim, it arguably leaves the door open to similar challenges in Oklahoma and elsewhere. Two items stand out as unusual here. First, the justices issued what is called a per curiam opinion, which means by the court. These opinions are unsigned, without any dissents an unexpected outcome for such an important topic. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas have defended religious freedom vociferously under both the establishment and free exercise clauses, including in education. So, it would have been insightful to read their arguments about why the creation of St. Isidore would be permissible under the Establishment Clause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case, without offering a reason. Many court observers suggested she did so due to her friendships with legal scholars at Notre Dame who were involved in St. Isidores defense. Was this the expected outcome? Based on oral arguments, it was going to be a close call involving the eight justices. On the one hand, Alito and Thomas seemed to find St. Isidores argument persuasive, as did Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Conversely, Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared skeptical. The wild card, so to speak, was Chief Justice John Roberts, author of the courts three most recent opinions supporting government aid to religious schools. The first of these cases allowed assistance to enhance playground safety in a Missouri preschool facility. The second held that it was constitutional for parents sending their children to faith-based institutions to participate in Montanas educational tax credit program. The most recent ruled that Maines tuition assistance to parents in districts lacking public secondary schools can be used at religious institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During oral arguments, Roberts observed that St. Isidores creation seems like much more comprehensive [state] involvement with a religious organization, compared with the previous cases expanding aid to faith-based schools. His comment left the door open to speculation over how he might vote though, of course, because this was an unsigned opinion, we do not know. The Oklahoma case is part of a broader push to allow more government aid to go to religious schools. Is this much of a setback for that movement? At this point, supporters of St. Isidore are likely left without options. The states own Supreme Court ruling left in place by the U.S. Supreme Court was grounded in both its own and the federal constitutions. However, the movement to allow more government funding toward religious education continues. While the dispute over St. Isidore attempted to let Oklahoma, and perhaps other states, directly fund faith-based schools, this part of the school-choice movement has had more success with indirect forms of funding, like vouchers and tax credits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 17 states have already adopted various universal school choice laws, meaning families who send their children to private religious schools are eligible for such programs. Most recently, on May 3, 2025, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed the nations largest school voucher program law into effect. The law, which sets aside US$1 billion in funding for the 2026-2027 academic year, allows parents up to about $10,500 to pay for tuition and school-related expenses at accredited non-public schools, including faith-based ones. Parents of children with disabilities can receive up to $30,000. At the federal level, supporters of a school choice bill promoting vouchers for non-public schools introduced a bill in the House of Representatives in May 2025. In sum, a key question remains over the meaning of the dispute concerning St. Isidore. There are two possible interpretations. First, the case may signal an end to the courts expanding aid to parents and students under the Establishment Clause. Second, it seems the justices were hesitant to allow funding to create what would have been the nations first-ever charter school under the control of religious officials. Round 1 is over, but theres likely more to come. 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: Charles J. Russo, University of Dayton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Charles J. Russo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Whoever controls the past controls the present; and President Vladimir Putin has entrusted the rewriting of Russian history to a self-proclaimed historian who fabricated his work. Vladimir Medinsky, former Minister of Culture from 2012 to 2020 and chief Russian negotiator in the talks with Kyiv, cited several apocryphal quotes from Napoleon and Bismarck in Istanbul to justify the war against Ukraine. This wasnt his first fabrication. No one ever found the five monographs he supposedly wrote before becoming minister, and the university almost stripped him of his degree in 2017 after finding dozens of irregularities in his thesis, which relied on the far-right writer Oleg Platonov, a disseminator of antisemitic conspiracy theories such as the Protocols of Zion (a hoax created by the Tsarist police). Their assessment [of experts] can be positive or negative depending on whether they pursue Russias national interests, wrote Medinsky the man Putin has ordered to write the new history textbooks for schools in his thesis. Putinism claims that the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet front during World War II, did not end in 1945 and continues today against Ukraine. On Manezh Square, opposite the Kremlin, giant posters depicted a Soviet soldier in battle on Victory Day. The caption read: Victory will be with us. In the future, not the past. The Great Patriotic War occupies a third of Medinskys history textbooks for 15- and 16-year-olds, but Stalinist repression and its millions of victims are barely summarized in eight of its 945 pages. And of this brief mention, half is devoted to the rehabilitation of those who were repressed, with a striking final conclusion: This reckless decision [the pardon] contributed to the growth of nationalism in the Baltic countries and western Ukraine. The books justify all of Russias wars. The border was only 32 kilometers from Leningrad, they emphasize, explaining the invasion of Finland in 1940. The Soviet offensive against Czechoslovakia in 1968 was necessary because the democratic reforms in Prague caused an internal crisis actively promoted by the West, is another pretext. Likewise, the famine that killed between five and seven million people in Ukraine and southern Russia between 1932 and 1933 is excused in just two paragraphs by claiming that there was a mistake in the collectivization of the farms. And Medinsky doesnt mention the executions and arrests within the POUM (the Workers Party of Marxist Unification) on Stalins orders during the Spanish Civil War, but blames the defeat on the mutual struggle within the Republican ranks. The Gulag, the endless network of Soviet punishment camps through which millions of civilians passed and died for decades, is mentioned twice in the textbook. The USSR achieved its economic independence thanks to the heroism and work-related enthusiasm of the population, and the mobilization of all material and human resources (including the Gulag system), the authors explain. Schools have been able to choose their history books freely since the fall of the USSR, but the Kremlin imposed a single official policy last year. Before, there were good and bad options for schools. Now, modern textbooks repeat Soviet rhetoric and accusations, Alexei Makarov, a member of the Memorial Research Center, told this newspaper in an office of what was the NGO for Soviet historical memory, which was liquidated by the Kremlin just before the war. The government is preparing society to become accustomed to eternal confrontation, as there will always be someone who wants to destroy us, the expert adds. Medinskys revised history books conclude with a chapter on the special military operation that captures all the official rhetoric about the supposed Nazification of Ukraine. He fails to mention that in 2013, many months before the Maidan protests, Putin deployed his army to the Ukrainian border and blocked the transport of goods to the country, which was flirting with the European Union, among other coercive measures. The books mention that there was repression, some mistakes, but we won the war against Nazism. Thats the most important thing. That, and the fact that we won alone, without our sworn friends a Russian concept of Western countries that classifies them as frenemies, Makarov adds. The Kremlin accuses Europe of having forgotten Nazism, but in its school history books it barely devotes a few paragraphs to the Russian and Soviet imperial repression of the Jews. An exhibition with deliberate ellipses The State Historical Museum is still hosting the main anniversary exhibition, No Right to Be Forgotten. 80 Years of the Great Victory, with many deliberate ellipses. The exhibition accuses Finland and the nationalists of the Baltic countries and Ukraine of collaborating with the Nazis, but makes no mention of the Holodomor [the death of millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s from a famine caused by Soviet policies] or the previous invasion of these countries in 1939 and 1940. The exhibition begins in 1941, not 1939, when Moscow and Berlin divided up the Baltic states and Finland with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The Kremlin passed a law in 2022 making it illegal to draw comparisons between Nazi Germany and Stalins USSR. Paradoxically, the Soviet government recognized the secret clauses of that agreement in 1989, and Putin himself condemned it in 2009. Poles, Balts, and Ukrainians have forgotten about the Great Patriotic War, says 44-year-old Diana, a visitor to the exhibition. Her friend Elena, 52, adds: We grew up with the same cartoons and movies. We grew up in the same country. The two women repeat that all wars are bad, but at the same time justify the invasion of Ukraine. Without the special military operation, what would have happened to those people? Would they be Nazi Germany? Diana wonders. A system based on passive support There is little ideological debate in the country; Russians often hate discussing politics and claim to stay away from the news, even though they define themselves as patriots. However, Putins clique has tried, unsuccessfully, to articulate an official ideology of the regime for the past 25 years. Putin perfectly understands the mood of the population, says Russian academic Vladislav Inozemtsev on the other end of the phone. Putin is very intelligent. If he had started the war against Ukraine 15 years ago, the regime would have fallen. He does everything very slowly. Hitler arrested the opposition after four weeks. Putin continues to spread terror and abolish laws 25 years later, but he holds elections, amending the constitution to be reelected. He says: look, the people elect me, we are not a fascist state, we are a normal democratic country. The flexibility of the official discourse was reflected by Putin himself two weeks ago. Nationalism is the first step towards Nazism because it is not based only on love for ones own ethnic group, but on hatred for others, the president said. Eleven years ago, in 2014, after annexing Crimea and setting fire to eastern Ukraine, Putin declared: I am the greatest nationalist in Russia. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld, for now, President Trump's decision to fire two agency officials who had fixed terms that were set by Congress. By a 6-3 vote, the justices set aside rulings that would have reinstated Gwynne Wilcox to the National Labor Relations Board and Cathy Harris to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Both were appointees of President Biden. The decision is the latest in which the court's conservative majority sided with the president's power to fire agency officials in violation of long-standing laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President, he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf," the court said in an unsigned order. But the justices were quick to add the Federal Reserve Board is not affected by this decision. "The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States," the court said. President Trump has threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term extends to next year. At issue is a fundamental dispute over whether the Constitution gave the president or Congress the power to set the structure of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1935, the court ruled unanimously that Congress can create independent and "nonpartisan" boards and commissions whose members are appointed by the president for a fixed term. The court then drew a distinction between "purely executive officers" who were under the president's control and members of boards whose duties were more judicial or legislative. But in recent years, conservatives have questioned that precedent and argued that the president has the executive power to hire and fire all officials of the government. Read more: Appeals court reverses Trump firings of 2 board members in cases likely headed for Supreme Court Shortly after taking office, Trump fired Wilcox and Harris even though their terms had not expired. They sued contending the firings were illegal and violated the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They won before a federal judge and the U.S. court of appeals. Those judges cited the Supreme Court's 1935 decision that upheld Congress' authority to create independent boards whose members are appointed by the president to serve a fixed-term. Trump's lawyers say the Constitution gives the president full executive power, including control of agencies. And that in turns gives him the authority to fire officials who were appointed to a fixed term by another president, they said in Trump vs. Wilcox. Justice Elena Kagan filed an eight-page dissent joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Todays order favors the President over our precedent; and it does so unrestrained by the rules of briefing and argumentand the passage of time needed to discipline our decision-making," Kagan wrote. "I would deny the Presidents application. I would do so based on the will of Congress, this Courts seminal decision approving independent agencies for-cause protections, and the ensuing 90 years of this Nations history." The court said its decision was not final. The NLRB was created by Congress in 1935 as a semi-independent agency tasked with enforcing the labor laws. Its general counsel serves as a prosecutor while the board's five members act as judges who review administrative decisions arising from unfair-labor claims brought by unions. Under the law, the president appoints the general counsel who can be fired but board members have five-year terms. They may be fired for "neglect of duty or malfeasance in office," but not simply because of political disagreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump could have controlled the board by appointing members to fill two vacancies. He chose instead to fire Wilcox, leaving the board without a quorum of three members. Wilcox argued there was no reason to rush to change the law. "Over the past two centuries, Congress has embedded modest for-cause removal restrictions in the structure of numerous multi-member agencies," she said in response to the administration's appeal. She noted that all past presidents Republicans and Democrats did not challenge those limits. The Merit System Protections Board was created by Congress in 1978 as a part of a civil service reform law. Its three board members have seven-year terms, and they review complaints from federal civil servants who allege they were fired for partisan or other inappropriate reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's decision to fire Harris also left the board without a quorum. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Supreme Court on Thursday said President Donald Trump doesnt have to rehire senior officials he fired from two independent federal labor agencies that enforce worker protections, while the officials continue fighting in court to reverse their terminations. The court, in its unsigned opinion, notably said its decision doesnt implicate the Federal Reserve, differentiating it from the lesser-known labor agencies at stake in the case. The officials were already taken off the job in early April when Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative order to temporarily pause their reinstatement while the full Supreme Court reviewed the matter. The latest decision extends their dismissal, perhaps forever, if the lower courts reviewing the matter dont rule again in their favor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a significant victory for Trump and his efforts to assert control over federal agencies that Congress designed to be independent from White House meddling. The ruling is temporary but shows that the justices are receptive to Trumps claims of vast presidential power over hiring decisions and may side with him if the case returns to the high court. Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the president, the court wrote in its unsigned opinion, he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents. The Supreme Courts three liberal justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. The officials are Cathy Harris, former chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board, which reviews federal firings and can reinstate wrongly terminated workers, and Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Both women are Democrats and were appointed by former President Joe Biden to statutory terms that werent set to expire for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to side with Trump on a temporary basis, the court wrote Thursday, reflects our judgment that the government is likely to show that both the NLRB and MSPB exercise considerable executive power, though it said it wasnt deciding, at this stage, the question of whether the agencies fall within those exceptions. The court went out of its way to directly shoot down an argument raised by Harris and Wilcox that a ruling against them could have consequences for other independent agencies especially the Federal Reserve, which has enormous sway over the nations economy. Thats because the Fed is essentially structured the same way as other independent agencies that Trump has targeted. We disagree, the court said, echoing an argument Trump raised throughout the case. The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States. By pointing to the potential impact on the Fed, the labor officials were upping the stakes, calling attention to a much higher profile agency that the Supreme Court has already signaled it is reticent to upend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump officials have rejected the idea that the labor cases have anything to do with the central bank, noting that the Supreme Court itself has suggested that the Federal Reserve may be a special case. Outside of court, however, Trump has openly called for the ouster of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. The president subsequently said on April 22 that he had no intention of firing Powell. Kagan says majority is overturning precedent Writing for the dissenting justices, Kagan said the majority had effectively allowed Trump to overrule a decades-old Supreme Court case, Humphreys Executor v. US, that allowed Congress to require presidents to show cause such as malfeasance before dismissing board members overseeing independent agencies. What matters, Kagan wrote, is not that Wilcox and Harris would love to keep serving in their nifty jobs. What matters instead is that Congress provided for them to serve their full terms, protected from a presidents desire to substitute his political allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also rejected the majoritys argument that the courts decision would not impact the Federal Reserve, saying that the creation of a bespoke Federal Reserve exception should not reassure investors wary of meddling by Trump. If the idea is to reassure the markets, a simpler and more judicial approach would have been to deny the Presidents application for a stay on the continued authority of Humphreys, she wrote. Agencies at a standstill With both officials still on the sidelines, their respective agencies lack a quorum and cant fully function. This slows their ability to process federal employees grievances and issue final rulings in disputes. In the first weeks of Trumps administration, he sent termination letters to Harris and Wilcox. They both sued in federal court, arguing that federal laws make clear that they can only be fired for cause, and not simply because the president wishes to replace them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District judges agreed with the officials, and reinstated both of them in March. At the behest of the Justice Department, a federal appeals panel temporarily removed them, ruling that presidents have broad powers to fire executive branch leaders. The officials were briefly reinstated after the full appeals court wiped away that ruling, only to be removed again last week by Roberts administrative pause. The latest Supreme Court ruling keeps them off the job. In a recent hearing, a panel from the DC Circuit Court of Appeals appeared likely to give Trump more powers to fire leaders of congressionally created independent agencies within the executive branch. That two-hour hearing was about the underlying merits of the lawsuit, and not the emergency stay that was just ruled on by the Supreme Court. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Another suspect has been arrested in connection with a massive New Orleans jailbreak involving 10 inmates, who pulled off their daring escape earlier this week by slipping out a hole carved behind a prison toilet. Connie Weeden is accused of helping the fugitives, specifically Jermaine Donald, one of five escapees who remained at large as of Friday morning. Shes facing one felony count of accessory after the fact and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center, Louisiana State Police said. The group of inmates were discovered missing during a routine headcount at the Orleans Justice Center on May 16 around 8:30 a.m., though they actually escaped hours earlier, around 4 a.m. Around that time, the men managed to yank a sliding cell door off its track, while the lone guard tasked with watching their pod was away getting food, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From there, the group flooded inside the jail cell, then separated the toilet from the wall and made their escape through the resulting hole. A subsequent investigation into the escape revealed that Weeden was in communication with Donald both before and after the escape. Authorities said she also transferred him money by way of a cell phone app. Her arrest marked the third civilian jailed connection with the case. Suspects Cortnie Harris and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste were also arrested earlier this week and charged with felony counts of being accessories after the fact. The pair are accused of providing support and transportation to other escapees, and they have both been booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center, officials said. Law enforcement personnel from multiple local, state, and federal agencies will continue to pursue every lead until the remaining fugitives are located, state police said. Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable. Harboring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated. Those inmates still on the run include Donald, Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen Jr., Derrick Groves and Leo O. Tate Sr. Donald is facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, and obstruction of justice. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A man accused of trying to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro 's official residence is seeking to delay his next scheduled court appearance because he is receiving mental health treatment, his lawyer said Friday. The suspect, Cody Balmer, had been scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence against Balmer to take the case to trial. But Mary Klatt, the chief public defender of Dauphin County, said Balmer's hearing will be postponed because he is receiving treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone wants to ensure Mr. Balmer is mentally fit when this matter comes before the Court, Klatt said in an email to The Associated Press. Balmer is currently being held at the state prison in Waymart, the only state prison with a mental health unit for men, according to the state Department of Corrections. Balmer, 38, is charged with attempted homicide, arson and other offenses for setting a fire that tore through a section of the state-owned residences first floor and forced the governor, his wife, children and members of his extended family to flee in the middle of the night, hours after they celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder in the residence. Shapiro, who is Jewish, is viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balmer told police that he had intended to attack the governor with a hammer if he had encountered him that night, police said in a court filing. No one was injured in the blaze, which fire officials say caused millions of dollars in damage to the heavily protected residence. Balmer has not entered a plea. Balmer has been held without bail since turning himself in to state police after the April 13 fire. Klatt has said he would be evaluated to see if he is competent to stand trial. Balmers mother and brother say he suffers from mental illness, something that Balmer denied in one brief court appearance. Authorities say Balmer expressed hatred for Shapiro. The man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials and other counts. The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago. He is also charged with causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime and terrorism, and more charges could come, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. Authorities have said the attack was targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a horrific crime, and these crimes are not going to be tolerated by me and my office," Pirro said. Pirro said Rodriguez appeared in court Thursday and was advised by the judge that, if convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison. A preliminary hearing is set for June 18 and Rodriguez will remain in detention. The victims were identified as two employees at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Israel's ambassador to the U.S. told reporters they were a young couple who were set to be engaged. The shooting happened as the couple was leaving an event Wednesday night at the museum, which is located near the FBI's field office in D.C. It was reported at 9:08 p.m. local time, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be "an increased presence of law enforcement officers around the community," including faith-based organizations and schools, Smith told reporters Thursday. Authorities said the suspect was seen "pacing back and forth outside of the museum" before the shooting. Smith told reporters the suspect then approached a group of four people, pulled out a handgun and opened fire. According to charging documents, video shows that after Rodriguez shot the couple, he walked closer to them and fired "several more times." Milgrim sat up after being shot, and he reloaded his weapon and fired again at her, striking her, the documents allege. Milgrim was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. after being transported by DC Fire and EMS. Lischinsky was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:14 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, 21 rounds were fired from a 9 mm weapon, according to the court documents. A firearm magazine was found at the scene, and a handgun with its slide locked was found nearby. Federal officials traced the weapon and say records show it was purchased by Rodriguez on March 6, 2020, in Illinois. The handgun was purchased legally, according to a person briefed on the investigation. Once officers arrived at the museum, Rodriguez asked to speak with police and told them, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed," according to the charging documents. Rodriguez was then taken into custody. FBI Washington Assistant Director Steven Jensen said the suspect came to Washington, D.C., on May 20 and was traveling for a work conference. He flew from Chicago O'Hare Airport to Reagan National Airport with the firearm in checked luggage, and had declared the firearm, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unknown how the suspect knew about the event being held at the museum, but he told officers he bought a ticket to the event there three hours prior to the shooting. A woman who was at the event, Katie Kalisher, told CBS News she encountered the suspect moments after the shooting. She said they spoke briefly and then he reached into his bag, pulled out a keffiyeh and said, "I did it. I did it for Gaza," before he shouted, "Free Palestine." Musk alleges Trump's name appeared in Epstein files as feud escalates What to know about President Trump's travel ban on nationals from 12 countries Trump says he's disappointed by Musk criticism of budget bill, Musk says he got Trump elected The Justice Department charged Elias Rodriguez, whom they allege shot and killed two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. Wednesday evening, with first-degree murder on Thursday. Interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the DOJ was investigating the shooting as both an act of terrorism and a hate crime and that it will add additional charges as the evidence warrants. CNN reports Rodriguez did not enter a plea and will remain in custody. An F.B.I. affidavit said that Rodriguez, 31, told police, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza. He reportedly told authorities that he was unarmed and was holding a red kaffiyeh at the time of the arrest. When police officers were escorting him away from the Capital Jewish Museum, where the shooting took place, Rodriguez shouted, Free Palestine, the affidavit said. The victims of the shooting were Yaron Lischinsky, who grew up in Israel and Germany, and Sarah Milgrim, who was from Kansas. The two had been in a relationship and The New York Times reports Lischinsky intended to propose marriage to Milgrim on an upcoming trip to Jerusalem. They had attended an event at the museum hosted by the American Jewish Committee. D.C. police chief Pamela A. Smith told reporters on Thursday that bystanders had spotted the suspect pacing outside the museum before approaching a group of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the affidavit, the suspect shot the couple in their backs multiple times. Once the [couple] fell to the ground, Rodriguez is captured on the video advancing closer to the decedents leaning over with them, with his arm extended and firing several more times, it says. As [Milgrim] attempted to crawl away from Rodriguez he followed behind her and fired again. The affidavit said that Rodriguez expressed admiration for a person who set himself on fire outside Washington, D.C.s Israeli Embassy in February, calling him a martyr. He reportedly made these comments after authorities read him his Miranda rights. Rodriguezs social media displayed a post condemning the Israel-Hamas war and the Israeli and American governments, according to the Times. Authorities raided the suspects home in Chicago on Thursday. FBI Assistant Director Steven Jensen, who is in charge of the Washington Field Office, told reporters on Thursday there was nothing in criminal records, or in our holdings that indicated Rodriguez was a threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next hearing in the case will be on June 18. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. UPDATE 6:00 P.M.: The Unified Police Department has identified the suspect as 32-year-old Dustin Pearson, who is a West Jordan resident. ORIGINAL POST: MIDVALE, Utah (ABC4) One person was shot and killed overnight in Midvale after getting into an altercation with the Unified Police Department. Sgt. Aymee Race, a spokesperson for the police department, said its officers responded to reports of an armed robbery near the 160 West and 7200 South just after 2 a.m. on Friday, May 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We love her a lot: Father of missing Utah girl speaks after 2 out-of-state men charged in connection to her disappearance During the response, officers reportedly got into an altercation with one individual, which Race said resulted in one person dead. The suspects identity has not been publicly released. It is currently unclear as to what led to the altercation or the shooting, as details are extremely limited. However, police did reportedly recover a knife from the scene. Sgt. Race said the Unified Police Department does not anticipate releasing any further information due to an ongoing investigation. Per the Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) protocol, West Valley City Police Department will lead the investigation into the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. WASHINGTON (AP) In the years before he was accused of killing two Israeli Embassy employees, the suspect in the fatal shootings was an active participant in Chicago's left-wing protest scene, speaking out against police violence and a proposed Amazon headquarters. Then the war in Gaza ignited his fury into violence. Elias Rodriguez, 31, was charged Thursday with the murder of foreign officials and other crimes in connection with the deaths of Israeli citizen Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, an American, as they left an event at a Jewish museum. The couple had plans to become engaged. He told police after his arrest, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, according to court filings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez lived in a modest 850-square-foot apartment on Chicagos north side and worked as an administrative assistant at a medical trade group. He had no apparent criminal record. In his activism, he protested police violence against minorities and the power of corporations. His online posts had recently become fixated on the war in Gaza, calling for retaliation against Israel. In the window of his apartment hung a photo of Wadee Alfayoumi, a 6-year-old Muslim boy killed in a stabbing in Chicago shortly after the start of the war, which was sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that resulted in the deaths of some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and the abductions of 251 others. A neighbor, John Wayne Fry, told reporters that Rodriguez and a woman who lived with him appeared to be very sensitive people, especially about the issue of Palestine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect protested outside Chicago mayor's home An October 2017 article in Liberation, the online newspaper for the Party for Socialism and Liberation, quoted Rodriguez as a member of the group participating in a protest outside the Chicago home of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel over the police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald and the citys bid to be the site for a new Amazon headquarters. A photo of a man holding a protest sign published with the article appeared to match photos of Rodriguez posted on social media. The organization denied Thursday that Rodriguez was an active member, though it acknowledged a brief association in the past. The group also scrubbed the 2017 article identifying Rodriguez as a member from its website. We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting, the group said in a statement. We know of no contact with (Rodriguez) in over 7 years. We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As recently as this week, the groups X feed posted pro-Palestinian statements calling for an end to the war in Gaza and characterizing Israels attacks on Palestinians as genocide. Family members of Rodriguez and his defense attorney, Elizabeth Mullin, did not return messages seeking comment. The FBI did not respond to questions about whether he was on the bureaus radar before the shooting. A GoFundMe page from 2017 sought to raise money to pay Rodriguez's way to People's Congress of Resistance, an event in Washington that September to fight the Trump agenda and the Congress of millionaires! As part of the appeal, Rodriguez recounted his father's military service in the Iraq War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When my dad came home from Baghdad, he came with souvenirs, Rodriguez was quoted as saying. One was a magazine pouch with a warning in Arabic to back away or my dad would shoot and kill you. ... He also gave me a patch of Iraqs national flag, one he ripped off of an Iraqi soldiers uniform because he could. I dont want to see another generation of Americans coming home from genocidal imperialist wars with trophies. The effort raised $240. Social media posts show he became focused on Gaza Social media accounts tied to Rodriguez suggest he had become increasingly focused over the last two years on the Israeli bombing campaign and ground invasion in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An account on X that used a variation of a screen name Rodriguez had used on other sites, along with his given name and photo, frequently featured pro-Palestinian posts, including a video from an October 2023 protest in downtown Chicago against U.S. aid to Israel. Last October, the account also reposted two videos of speeches by Hassan Nasrallah, a Lebanese cleric and a former leader of Islamic militant group Hezbollah. Nasrallah had been killed two weeks earlier in an Israeli airstrike. Less than an hour after the shooting in Washington on Thursday night, the X account posted, Escalate For Gaza, Bring The War Home, along with screen grabs of a nearly 1,000-word essay signed with Rodriguez's name. It was not immediately clear whether Rodriguez, who was in police custody at the time, had used a feature on X to schedule the release of the post in advance or if another person might have had access to the account. In the piece, Rodriguez railed against the mounting death toll in Gaza, saying Israel had obliterated the capacity to even continue counting the dead, which has served its genocide well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He sought to justify what he called the morality of armed demonstration. The atrocities committed by Israelis against Palestine defy description and defy quantification, he wrote. Rodriguez also invoked the death last year of Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force who set himself ablaze outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington while declaring that he will no longer be complicit in genocide. Israel has repeatedly denied that it is committing genocide in Gaza. Rodriguezs employer, the American Osteopathic Information Association, issued a statement Thursday expressing shock and saying it would cooperate with investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a physician organization dedicated to protecting the health and sanctity of human life, we believe in the rights of all persons to live safely without fear of violence, the group said. ___ Mustian reported from New York. ___ Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/ The routine court appearances that undocumented migrants must attend to continue their regular immigration procedures have become traps. For the second day in a row, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took advantage of migrants appearance in a Phoenix, Arizona, courtroom to arrest them. The departure from court produced dramatic images of men, women, and children being handcuffed and led into ICE vehicles. They declared court over, we left and were going home when these guys approached, claiming to be from ICE, a woman whose husband was detained told the television network Telemundo. The agents did not identify themselves or carry arrest warrants. The detainees were caught thinking they were doing the right thing, complying with the requirements of appearing in court to advance their legal status in the United States. The court date, however, turned into a setup, and they are now facing deportation. The videos also show a young Colombian woman, looking scared and confused, being escorted by agents to one of their vans. It was her first time appearing before an immigration judge to present her asylum application, which was denied, and she ended up handcuffed without knowing where she was being taken. Others didnt have the opportunity to present their cases before the judge because they were detained before doing so. Dozens of people demonstrated outside the courthouse, chanting ICE out! and scuffles broke out with federal agents. They were protesting the anti-immigration policies of an administration that, despite its rhetoric, isnt only arresting criminals, and they called it fascist. Some compared ICE agents to the Gestapo, the fearsome police force of the Third Reich. Similar situations have occurred this week in immigration courts in California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Three U.S. immigration officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the AP that prosecutors were ordered Monday to begin dismissing cases. This would give federal agents free rein to detain migrants outside the courthouse. Protesters demonstrate against ICE measures outside an immigration court in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday. Caitlin O'Hara (REUTERS) On January 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent a memorandum authorizing immigration enforcement to carry out arrests in and around courthouses. The Biden administration had banned this practice due to the negative consequences it had, a practice that was common during the Republicans first term. The agents presence in courtrooms discouraged many witnesses from appearing in court and reporting crimes for fear of being detained, putting public safety at risk. The DHS issued a statement saying that Secretary Noem is empowering law enforcement to use common sense and remove illegal immigrants from American communities. On Tuesday, Kristi Noem appeared confused about a right as basic as habeas corpus, which she defined as a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their rights. Habeas corpus, which is enshrined in the Constitution and which the administration has proposed eliminating, guarantees due process for detainees to prevent abuses of power. Immigration courts hear hundreds of cases every day. Most hearings last less than five minutes and end with a judge ordering individuals to return in two years to defend their case against deportation. Now, however, ICE agents are moving in to detain as many migrants as they can. Its all to meet the needs of the largest deportation drive in history, which the president desperately wants. From the beginning, the Trump administration has said they are going after the most dangerous criminals. However, ICEs actions in Seattle, Santa Ana, and now Phoenix show otherwise. Agents showing up to detain people after their hearings is not only unprecedented, its absolutely reprehensible, said Arizona State Senator Catherine Miranda. Juan Serrano, a 28-year-old Colombian migrant with no criminal record, showed up for a hearing in immigration court in Miami on Wednesday that he thought would be quick. Upon leaving, five federal agents handcuffed him, escorted him and took him away in a van along with a dozen other detained migrants. Serrano entered the United States in September 2022 after fleeing his country due to threats he received while working as an advisor to a politician in Bogota, his girlfriend told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Serrano had filed an asylum application last year. The couple slept on the streets when they moved to Miami, but scraped together enough moneyshe cleaned houses and he worked in constructionto buy a used car and rent a one-bedroom apartment for $1,400 a month. The woman said they appreciated any help as she reviewed her boyfriends passport, immigration papers, and IRS tax receipts. Unfortunately, there arent many Americans who want to help us, she added. Arizona Republican Senator John Kavanagh, a supporter of Trumps anti-immigration crusade, told Channel 12 News in response to the courthouse raids: People who are illegal immigrants should be detained not just in the courthouse, but wherever they are. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition MEMPHIS, Tenn. The man shot to death by Bartlett Police officers on Thursday has been identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as 30-year-old Thomas Feminella. According to TBI, just before 6 p.m., Bartlett Police officers were taking a shoplifting complaint at a Walmart in the 8400 block of Highway 64 when they saw a second shoplifting suspect walking away from the store. ORIGINAL STORY: Suspect fatally shot by Bartlett PD, TBI investigating Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the officers attempted to stop the suspect, later identified as Feminella, they say he pulled out a knife and began walking back toward them. During that time, Feminella is accused of refusing to comply with multiple commands from officers to drop the weapon. That is when TBI says the situation escalated. Two officers then fired their weapons, striking Feminella, who was near an adjacent business, TBI says. Feminella was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No officers were reported injured during the incident. This deadly officer-involved shooting is still an active and ongoing investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A Manchester man has been charged with attempted murder in connection to a shooting that occurred earlier this month. At approximately 1 a.m. on May 2, police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the area of 429 Wilson St. As officers responded, dispatch received a separate 911 call reporting that a person had been shot. Upon arrival, police found a 27-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound and administered life-saving aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told officers that she had been outside with the man when they overheard another man and woman arguing. After the witness asked them to quiet down, the man involved in the argument began shouting profanities at the witness. When the victim stepped in to intervene, the suspect pulled out a gun and fired several shots at close range, Manchester Police said in a statement. The witness told police she and the victim did not know the alleged shooter. The victim sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Detectives identified 19-year-old Ayden Bonella of Manchester as a possible suspect. A warrant was issued for his arrest, charging him with attempted murder. Bonella later turned himself in to Manchester Police and is being held on preventive detention pending a court hearing. pfeely@unionleader.com A suspected DUI driver was arrested after crashing into two California Highway Patrol officers in Thousand Oaks Thursday. Shortly before 3 a.m., two CHP officers had pulled a driver over and were parked on the right-hand lane of Moorpark Road, just north of the 101 Freeway. Their emergency lights were activated as they spoke to the driver, authorities said. The suspect, Agustin Baltazar Trinidad, 43, was driving nearby and as he approached the officers, he crashed into their patrol car, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both CHP officers and the suspect were transported to a local hospital for treatment. They are expected to make a full recovery. Following an investigation, Trinidad was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury. Tragically, incidents like this happen all too often and demonstrate the dangers when individuals make the reckless decision to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, said CHP Commander Heather Hoglund. The CHP is committed to ensuring the safety of all motorists and will continue efforts to remove impaired drivers from the road. The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the case is encouraged to call CHPs Moorpark office at 805-553-0800. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. An SUV struck the corner of a house on Tiffany Street in Springfield on Friday, but no one was reported to be hurt, the Springfield Fire Department said. At around 1 p.m., Springfield fire officials learned of a crash involving a car and a house, the department said in a short statement on Facebook. Firefighters arrived at 337 Tiffany St., where the driver of the car was extricated and treated at the scene of the crash, the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was hurt during the incident, including anyone inside the home at the time of the crash. Other similar stories Read the original article on MassLive. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) In 1969, Jerry Williams Jr. was working with a group called C & The Shells, writing a song for them called You are the Circus. Williams, who had been singing and writing music professionally since he was 12 years old, had been a producer at Atlantic Records for several years at that point and had gone back and forth through Muscle Shoals, Alabama to work with different artists, from Doris Duke to the Commodores, Patti LaBelle, Z.Z. Hill and Duane Allman and many more. You are the Circus became a hit pretty quickly, selling 30,000 copies in Chicago in its first week. Thats when a local DJ called the record label about an issue with one of the original lyrics: You dont seem to give a damn about me at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Somebody in Chicago started complaining, saying they didnt like that word, Williams said from his home in Los Angeles. They didnt like damn. Atlantic called me back. Jerry Williams Jr., also known as Swamp Dogg. (Courtesy of Getty Images) Williams said the disc jockey, whom he didnt name but said pulled a lot of weight in the music business, got his way, with Atlantic telling Williams to take damn out of the lyrics. Williams then tweaked it to You dont seem to care about me at all. We didnt sell 30,000 more, he said. For Williams, that moment was one of several where he felt burnt out by the music business, constantly trying to compromise himself. The way he describes it, he had had enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before long, Williams decided he needed a change. Taking what he learned from Muscle Shoals, he took on a new name, Swamp Doggan homage to the famous north Alabama rhythm section known as The Swampers and set out to make the music he wanted, no matter how raunchy or noncommercial it seemed. Williams is the focus of a new documentary, Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, which will premiere at the Sidewalk Film Center this Friday and play through the weekend. The documentary tells the story of Williams, his career, and how he found an audience through his uncompromising music. For Williams, his time in Muscle Shoals and the thumping, rhythmic pulse of funky, soulful, country-fried music informed his sense of self to the point that many critics would later describe his sound, as heard on his debut album Total Destruction of Your Mind, as a post-apocalyptic take on The Muscle Shoals sound. Thats where I got my Phd for soul and country music, he said. I learned more about what I was doing and started understanding where I was going and had visions of how I would get there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Swamp Dogg, Williams muse often orbits around sex, scatological humor, racial epithets and swear words, all through an avalanche of funk, R&B, blues, country and soul across nearly 30 of his albums. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA JUNE 24: Musician and producer Swamp Dogg (aka Jerry Williams, Jr.) poses for a socially-distanced portrait at his home on June 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Since the beginning on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Williams released his latest album Sorry You Couldnt Make It in March featuring Jenny Lewis, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and the late John Prine. He is also featured on former Spank Rock rapper Naeems album Startisha released in June. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) At 82, Williams said there were times in his career where he questioned whether or not he was doing the right thing, whether he was putting himself out of work by not doing what others were. So far, it seems to be paying off. Im not going to let anybody dictate what I have to say in my songs because thats what they are: my songs, he said. Taking the gamble with his career, veering between soulful music that never takes itself too seriously, Williams work has received critical praise over the years, receiving glowing reviews in places Rolling Stone and NPR. Many of his songs have been covered by mainstream artists, such as the Grateful Dead, Kid Rock, the Isley Brothers and Santana. Contemporary entertainers such as Johnny Knoxville of Jackass, who is seen in the documentary, credit Williams as an influence as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams last album, Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St., is more of a country album, but has been received well in that community, too. As music changed, I changed with it, but on my own terms, he said. I dont copy people. So what keeps Williams going all these years later? My mortgage, Williams jokes. All these damn bills. Click here for showtimes Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted will be playing at Sidewalk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. By Simon Johnson and Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden's SAPO security service lowered its national terrorist threat warning on Friday back to the "elevated" level assessed before 2023, when it was raised in the wake of a spate of Koran burnings. SAPO had raised the threat level to "high", the second highest level, after several high profile cases in which anti-Islam activists based in Sweden burned copies of the holy book, outraging Muslims in several countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SAPO said that after a period during which Sweden was singled out as a specific target in militant propaganda, it was now increasingly being treated as a part of the West more generally. "Sweden has gone from being a priority target to a legitimate target for violent Islamism globally," SAPO head Charlotte von Essen told a news conference. "The threat of attacks from violent extremism, in the traditional sense, is not as high as before." She stressed that Sweden was not immune and that attacks could always happen regardless of the terror level assessment. The Koran burnings in 2023 prompted angry protesters to storm and vandalise Sweden's embassy in Baghdad and drew calls to violence from militant groups such as Hezbollah, al Shabaab and al Qaeda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also urged severe punishment for those responsible and said Sweden was in battle mode against the Muslim world. Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee behind most Koran burnings in Sweden in recent years, was shot dead in January, a murder that is still unsolved but believed by police to be connected to his anti-Islam activities. SAPO also said threats to Jews and Israeli targets in Sweden had increased since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas-led fighters, which triggered the war in Gaza. (Reporting by Anna Ringstrom Johan Ahlander and Simon Johnson in Stockholm and Stine Jacobsen in CopenhagenEditing by Terje Solsvik and Peter Graff) By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) -A Swiss-based NGO has asked authorities to investigate the activities of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-backed organisation that plans to oversee a new model of aid distribution in the Palestinian enclave that the UN opposes. The United Nations has said the GHF's aid plan is not impartial or neutral, and forces further displacement and exposes thousands of people to harm, and that it will not be involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GHF, which has said it hopes to start work in Gaza by the end of May, told Reuters it "strictly adheres" to humanitarian principles, and that it would not support any form of forced relocation of civilians. Israel has allowed limited aid deliveries to resume this week after having stopped all aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2. TRIAL International, a Switzerland-based NGO, on Friday said it had filed two legal submissions asking Swiss authorities to investigate GHF, which is registered in Geneva. A May 20 submission to the Swiss Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations, and one on May 21 to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), requested an investigation into whether the GHF complies with Swiss law and international humanitarian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Swiss FDFA and the Federal Department of Home Affairs were not immediately available for comment. "We're asking Switzerland to exercise their own obligation under the Geneva Conventions to respect international humanitarian law...there are very grave issues at stake," Philip Grant the Executive Director of TRIAL International told Reuters. TRIAL International said it asked the Swiss FDFA to explain if the GHF had submitted a declaration, in accordance with Swiss law, to use private security companies to distribute aid, and if it had been approved by Swiss authorities. The GHF told Reuters that though using private security firms represents a change from prior aid delivery frameworks, it would ensure aid is not diverted to Hamas or criminal organizations. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; additional reporting by Emma Farge and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Conor Humphries) THE HAGUE, Netherlands Switzerland has received the European Unions approval to join a multinational military cybersecurity project, the EUs Council announced this week. The decision allows Switzerland to become part of the Estonian-led Cyber Ranges Federations project under the EUs Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework, marking a notable advance in SwissEU military cooperation. This comes despite Berns famously longstanding policy of strict military neutrality. Switzerland had applied to join the project in October of last year, shortly after submitting an application for another joint project focused on military mobility. Two formalities remain before becoming a full project member: Estonia must invite Switzerland to the cooperation, and Bern needs a so-called administrative arrangement with the EU governing formalities such a data exchange and other parameters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Swiss government welcomed this weeks EU decision, saying that the country will take part in the European PESCO project. Switzerland has beefed up its own cyber defense capabilities in recent years with its Swiss Cyber Training Range and a Cyber-Defence Campus. The EUs Cyber Ranges Federations initiative seeks to centralize capacity, pool unique services and automate processes across member states, reducing manual workload during exercises and accelerating the development of advanced cybersecurity technologies. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy and Luxembourg are already members of the project, in addition to Estonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under PESCOs third-state participation rules established in 2020, non-EU countries may join individual projects if they share EU values and pose no threat to member states security interests. The Council confirmed that Switzerland meets the required political, legal and substantive criteria and will bring substantial added value and mutual benefit to the federation, it said in a press release. The Council retains oversight of third-state involvement and may adjust conditions should security considerations evolve, ensuring alignment with the EUs collective defense objectives. Swiss defense planners have balanced these new engagements with Berns policy of armed neutrality, with federal officials calling cooperation in PESCO initiatives ad hoc collaboration on specific projects which are thematically in the interest of both parties and which do not create critical dependencies for neutrality. Participation in the cyber project enables Switzerland to contribute and benefit from expertise and infrastructure without entangling the country too deeply in broader EU defense commitments, from Berns point of view. The Swiss government said that participation will take place selectively and on a needs-oriented basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest project represents part of Switzerlands broader strategic approach to selective participation in PESCO projects that align with its defense interests while maintaining neutrality. Its not Switzerlands first brush with EU defense initiatives. In January, the government received the green light to join an EU-led military mobility project, which it applied for in September 2024. The Military Mobility project aims to simplify and standardize national cross-border military transport procedures, enabling swift movement of military personnel and assets throughout the EU via road, rail, sea, or air. Other non-EU countries, such as the UK, Northway, the USA and Canada are also part of this project. In addition to deepening engagement with the EU, Switzerland has also been a member of NATOs partnership for peace since the 1990s, as has its neutral eastern neighbor, Austria. Hardline neutrality defenders have long taken issue with Swiss engagement on military projects beyond its own borders. Their criticism received new urgency in the aftermath of Russias attack on Ukraine in 2022. Last year, a civil movement garnered more 130,000 certified signatures to organize a national referendum on strengthening Switzerlands international neutrality. The referendum organizers specifically want to prevent what they see as a gradual erosion of Switzerlands traditional neutrality through strengthened international defense cooperation. Residents of a Roswell apartment complex are eager to get running water again after three days without it. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Workers discovered two breaks in a water main on Tuesday, forcing them to shut off the water to residents of The Lake House at Martins Landing. It was terrible, it was terrible, said resident Anna Piere. Because we cant cook, we cant take a shower, we cant flush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another resident, Brandon Williams, said he walks down to the lake two or three times a day to fill a four-gallon jug with water to flush his toilets. Its a little bit of a struggle, but hopefully things get better. Its been a little too long, he said. In response to the outage, the property management brought portable restrooms and hundreds of cases of bottled water. Sharie Rocker Damm, a spokesperson for 29th Street Capital, which manages the apartments, said workers found two water main breaks on Tuesday. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email to Channel 2s Bryan Mims, she said work was supposed to be completed Wednesday at 10 p.m., but the wrong part was delivered. She expected water service to return sometime on Thursday. Our team has been in regular communication with residents throughout this process and will continue to keep them informed until service is fully restored, she wrote. We understand how disruptive this situation has been and are doing everything possible to resolve it quickly and responsibly. Damm said the company is also paying for hotel accommodations. In an online announcement Thursday afternoon, property managers said residents could go to a nearby laundromat for free laundry services. I think theyve been a little cavalier, to be honest, said Brittany Taylor, who thinks the property management should be doing more to help. Theyre still acting and giving that energy as if it is an inconvenience to us, and it is far more than an inconvenience. I mean, were looking at almost 60 hours with no water. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] She said she has worked with Esther Jackson Elementary School and the Roswell Fire and Police Foundation to bring in more donations of bottled water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After three days, patience is running dry among residents. No more, we cant take no more, said Piere. Because I mean, we cant survive without water. Because we have to take a shower, we have to cook, we have to flush. We cant stay without water. A federal judge in Boston on Friday blocked the Trump administrations order revoking Harvards authority to admit international students. Less than a day passed between the letter in which Kristi Noem, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), informed the prestigious university of the termination of its student exchange program and Harvards lawsuit against the government. Within hours, the court confirmed a preliminary injunction against the administrations unprecedented move. The announcement of the lawsuit was accompanied by a letter from Harvard President Alan Garber. We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action, Garber said in the letter. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. The governments attack marks an escalation in the White Houses harassment of the oldest and wealthiest higher education institution in the United States, which it accuses of fostering antisemitism and terrorism on its campus. In an effort to pressure the university, Washington officials have already frozen nearly $2.7 billion in federal funding and are threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. A poster for a protest on a telephone pole at Harvard University. David L. Ryan (Boston Globe / Getty Images) Effective immediately, Harvard can no longer sponsor F-1 and J-1 visa holders for its upcoming summer and fall terms, despite having admitted thousands, states Harvards lawsuit, which names as defendants Noem, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Effective immediately, countless academic programs, research laboratories, clinics, and courses supported by Harvards international students have been thrown into disarray. The governments actions come just days before graduation. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard, the suit continues. In her letter, Noem ordered the suspension of the exchange program with immediate effect. This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, clarified a DHS press release. Pro-Palestinian protests In recent weeks, the countrys oldest (and wealthiest) university has taken a stand against the abuses of the Trump administration. Garber has become a symbol of those who defend academic freedom above government interests and its alleged accusations of antisemitism especially in contrast to the submissive stance taken by Columbia University. At the heart of this latest clash is the DHSs demand that Harvard hand over confidential information on foreign students suspected of participating in pro-Palestinian protests on campus during the past academic year. The Secretary of Homeland Security gave the university 72 hours to provide that information, including videos or audio recordings that could serve as evidence of their involvement in known illegal activity; violent activity; threats to students or faculty; as their participation in protests over the past five years. A graduate displays a Palestinian flag during the 373rd Commencement at Harvard University. Craig F. Walker (Getty Images) This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus, said Noem. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. In its lawsuit the second Harvard has filed against the administration university attorneys argue that the institution complied with the demands laid out by DHS on April 16, and that the move stems from Donald Trumps personal animus toward the university (and toward higher education in general, which he sees as elitist and a promoter of so-called woke ideology). As evidence of that hostility, the complaint cites repeated attacks by the president on his social network, Truth Social. A White House spokesperson responded Friday to Harvards legal action with a statement quoted by The New York Times: If only Harvard cared this much about ending the scourge of anti-American, antisemitic, pro-terrorist agitators on their campus they wouldnt be in this situation to begin with. Harvard should spend their time and resources on creating a safe campus environment instead of filing frivolous lawsuits the statement said. There are about 6,800 international students at Harvard roughly 27% of the total student body, according to the universitys enrollment records. That number has been rising: international enrollment has increased by 19.7% since 2010. News of the exchange program suspension spread quickly among faculty, students, and researchers around the world, sparking widespread shock and uncertainty about the future. Now, at least, many know that the university is prepared to stand up to Trump in court. President Garber addressed them at the close of his letter: For those international students and scholars affected by yesterdays action, know that you are vital members of our community. You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, our partners in the work of this great institution. Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world, Garber wrote. The first courtroom confrontation between the university and the government is scheduled for July. That hearing concerns Harvards initial lawsuit, filed in response to a letter from a body created by the Trump administration called the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. That missive demanded that Harvard comply with a list of requirements, including hiring an outside monitor to oversee faculty and student ideology and expelling international students deemed hostile to American values. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A former supervisor at a U.S. Postal Service distribution center in Tacoma who pleaded guilty to opening mail to steal gift cards and cash in late 2023 has been sentenced to a year of probation. Faliu Titialii, 53, admitted to the misdemeanor of delaying or destroying mail earlier this year in U.S. District Court for the District of Western Washington. Federal prosecutors recommended the sentence that Tacoma-based Judge David W. Christel imposed Tuesday, noting that her criminal conduct occurred over a relatively short time and that the amount she stole was low compared to other federal crimes. Titialii was ordered to pay restitution to 59 people, according to court documents, amounting to $2,834.63. Some of the victims were coupled together. The individual thefts ranged from as little as $4 to as much as $200. She also is expected to complete 160 hours of community service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governments probation office said Titialii breached the publics trust in the USPS to deliver mail without tampering with its contents. Prosecutors noted that Titialii had no criminal history, and she reported to the probation office that she was going through a stressful time in her personal and professional life in fall 2023. Their sentencing recommendation took that into account along with Titialiis acceptance of responsibility. Prosecutors said she admitted to her conduct fairly quickly when confronted by the USPS Office of the Inspector General. Titialii was placed on leave from her position as supervisor of distribution operations at the Tacoma Processing and Distribution Center on Oct. 27, 2023 when USPS agents interviewed her. An investigation determined Titialii was working on the days that tampered mail was found in a female restroom. She resigned in December 2023 after working for the USPS for about nine years. A federal public defender representing Titialii, Lindsay McCaslin, wrote in a sentencing memorandum that her clients conduct in the case was highly out of character and that her actions effectively destroyed her career. The terms of her plea agreement included that she would not apply for future employment with the USPS. Ms. Titialii knows that none of the circumstances in her life excuse the choices she made, McCaslin wrote. She is embarrassed by her behavior and wishes she could undo it. This is not how she was raised, and those actions dont align with her values. She wishes she could apologize to everyone affected. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The co-founder of a San Diego-based music talent agency and a former drummer for the heavy-metal band, The Devil Wears Prada, are among those presumed dead following the fiery plane crash in San Diegos Murphy Canyon neighborhood Thursday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a total of six people were on board the plane, a Cessna 550 en route from New Jersey to San Diegos Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. At least three are confirmed dead and it is unclear whether there are any survivors. Dave Shapiro, the co-founder of the music agency, Sound Talent Agency, was confirmed to be one of the individuals on board who died in the crash. Two other employees of the agency were also killed, but the agency did not release their names. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, a spokesperson for the talent agency said. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. Through his time maintaining Shapiros other two planes, airplane mechanic Cody Hazlewood saw firsthand why so many people loved him. Never rude, criticizing. Never anything like that, just ultimate friendly, Hazlewood said. He recalls Shapiros dedication and drive. He was always on the phone. He was always talking to somebody. Always running around doing work. I never really saw him relax until he started flying planes, Hazlewood said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LIVE UPDATES: Murphy Canyon plane crash Daniel Williams, who played for The Devil Wears Prada from 2005 until 2015, is also believed to have been on board the Cessna when it went down, according to posts made on his Instagram in the hours leading up to the crash. The band posted a tribute to Williams in a post on Instagram around 2 p.m. that read, no words. We owe you everything. Love you forever. VENTURA, CA JUNE 22: Drummer Daniel Williams of The Devil Wears Prada performs during the Vans Warped Tour on June 22, 2014 in Ventura, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WireImage) The identities of the other two individuals who were on the plane and the total number of fatalities have not been confirmed. It is also unclear whether Williams was one of the two Sound Talent Agency employees the spokesperson was referring to in their statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Transportation Safety Board officials said no fatalities were reported to individuals on the ground. Public records show Shapiro, a long-time music executive who has represented the likes of Piece the Veil, Sum 41 and Silverstein, is the owner of the Cessna. Per the Federal Aviation Administrations aircraft database, the Cessna is registered to an Alaska-based limited-liability company, The Daviator LLC. Shapiro is the registered agent listed in the companys business records. He is also a licensed pilot, according to FAA records, although it is unclear if he was piloting the plane when it crashed Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Williams posts on Instagram, he appeared to have been in the planes co-pilot seat for one leg of the journey from New Jersey to San Diego. One post read, Hey. Hey you look at me Im the (co)pilot now. The events of the crash remain in the early stages of the investigation. NTSB officials expect to remain on scene through Saturday, when the plane is anticipated to be recovered. According to a senior NTSB investigator, the plane departed Teterboro Airport around 11:15 p.m. It stopped briefly in Wichita, Kansas to refuel before continuing on its route to Montgomery-Gibbs a stop confirmed by Williams Instagram activity. The plane directly struck one power line about two miles from the San Diego airport, one home in the neighborhood and several cars before coming to a rest, the investigator added. A number of other homes and cars were damaged by fires sparked upon impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the crash, NTSB says conditions were foggy and the tower at Montgomery-Gibbs was closed something he noted is normal for a small airport. NTSB officials have not recovered the flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, although they believe there is one on board. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A British factory that makes tank-busting missiles is poised to double in size as growing global tensions fuel a push towards rearmament across Europe. MBDA, the Anglo-European defence giant, said on Thursday it was investing 200m to expand its plant in Bolton, Greater Manchester, creating 700 jobs. The site manufactures the Brimstone, Meteor and Sea Venom missiles for the British Armed Forces as well as other Nato military customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brimstone is an advanced fire and forget missile that can locate targets using homing radar technology. The air-to-surface weapon costs 175,000 per shot and is usually fired by Typhoon jets at heavy armour such as tanks although it can also be laser-guided to the target by friendly troops on the ground. Meanwhile, Meteor is a cutting-edge, long-range missile that can travel at speeds upwards of Mach 4 around 3,000mph to take out airborne targets such as enemy aircraft. Both weapons are made at MBDAs facility in Bolton. MBDA is jointly owned by France-based Airbus, Britains BAE Systems and Italys Leonardo, following the merger of their respective missile businesses in 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company is also the manufacturer of the Storm Shadow cruise missile, which has also been supplied to Ukraine and boasts a range of 150 miles. It is made at MBDAs other UK factory, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. MBDA also manufactures the Storm Shadow cruise missile, which is supplied to Ukraine - Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images The companys announcement comes after The Telegraph revealed that Britain is in talks with European allies to create a 100bn defence, security and resilience bank, which would allow them to pool purchases of weapons and other equipment. Western countries are scrambling to rearm and replenish munitions stockpiles amid concerns about the threat from Russia and China. Inventories have dwindled following donations of kit to Ukraine. Chris Allam, the managing director of MBDA UK, said: We are proud and excited to be building a world class engineering and manufacturing campus in the north-west of England, the centre of complex weapons manufacturing for the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that a 10-year deal with the Government to supply complex weapons gave the company the confidence to invest and better support the UK and its allies. The expansion was welcomed by Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, who visited the Bolton factory on Thursday. He said: This is great news for Bolton and another win for our world-class defence sector, which will create hundreds of good, well-paid jobs and ensure the UK continues to lead the way on the cutting-edge technologies of the future. 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. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The owner of Tasty Kraut, a German cuisine food truck, Pia and her husband Holger Buchwalder had only been living their American dream for a few weeks before they lost their food truck in an explosion. We came back Monday and the whole thing exploded like the whole roof of the building everything was goneuntil now we dont know what really happened, Holger said. He said insurance money helped cover some of the repairs, but they needed more to be able to fully reopen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A friend of ours said start a go fund me, so we did that it did really good people from San Angelo friends people we dont know friends from back in Germanyeverybody sent money, so we were pretty lucky, Holger said. Just four weeks after the explosion, Holger said they were able to purchase a new-used trailer to get his wifes business back up and running. With the help of the people I started to look around for another trailer and the same place we bought the first one they had this used one their and it was in our price range, so we bought it within that week, Holger said. Now with their business back, Holger said he and his wife are able to continue living their American dream and begin talks about whats next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would like a place where we could stay, we could put some tables there and still could use it as a food trailer that goes to events, but during the week we have one spot in town with some tables around so in the future we will look for a place like that, Holger said. This new American dream that is now a possibility he says is thanks to the friends they know and the supporters they dont. We had a lot of help from Germany too from friends, but I think over here it was people we hardly know and they helped us and call us and say how do you feel do you need anything so that was just really good, Holger 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A suspect was reportedly shot to death by Bartlett Police officers in the Wolfchase area on Thursday evening. Bartlett Police say that officers responded to an incident in the area of Kate Hyde Boulevard and Highway 64 at 5:45 p.m. Police say that a suspect who was armed with a knife tried to stab an officer. Bartlett Police say officers fired their weapons and shot the suspect. The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead by medical staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TBI confirmed it is investigating the shooting. Bartlett Police were spotted in the parking lot of Lowes Home Improvement on Highway 64 near North Germantown Parkway. The Bartlett Police Mobile Command Center was seen in the parking lot, as well as more than 30 evidence markers. Witnesses told WREG that the man who was shot was possibly involved in a shoplifting incident at the Walmart next door. One witness said he saw the man swinging a machete at officers. That witness told WREG that officers tried using beanbag bullets and a Taser before ultimately shooting him. Another witness also told WREG that he saw the man swinging something at officers. That witness also said he heard officers repeatedly telling the man to stop before opening fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. This article was originally published in Stateline. As another school year ends, superintendents across the United States are staring down an autumn staffing crisis, with 1 in 8 teaching positions either vacant or filled by an underqualified educator. States that are struggling with post-pandemic teacher shortages have spent millions to lure replacements and retain veterans with hiring bonuses and bumps in salaries. But hiring gaps remain, so some states also are trying another tactic: changing their standards. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The changes in teacher training and licensing come amid widespread turmoil in public schools: Tax revenue is being siphoned toward private school vouchers in many states; some classrooms are being scrutinized for banned books, displays or teaching lessons that trip into diversity, equity and inclusion territory; and students who went through pandemic-era shutdowns are struggling both with sitting still and with learning the material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some surveys show that fewer than a fifth of teachers are happy in their jobs. Teaching is not seen as an attractive profession right now, said Drew Gitomer, an expert on teaching assessment at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. COVID exacerbated things, and teachers are caught in the middle of political battles over curriculum, book bans, even personal attacks, he said. Its not a healthy work environment, and that drives people away. Last year, Illinois enacted a law allowing teacher candidates to begin student teaching before passing content-area exams. It was an effort to reduce barriers for underrepresented groups, the measures sponsor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bill under consideration this year would give more districts discretion over whether to factor pupils test scores into teacher evaluations, a break from a 15-year-old mandate. In New Jersey, a new law formally removes the Praxis Core exam traditionally used as an entry-level screening tool for aspiring teachers from certification requirements. And in Nevada one of the states hit hardest by teacher shortages a bill would streamline licensure for incoming educators. The bill would allow teachers credentialed in other states to begin working in Nevada classrooms while awaiting formal approval. It also would remove extra steps for teachers switching grade levels and would waive application fees for recent substitute teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Linda Darling-Hammond, founding president and chief knowledge officer of the Learning Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, said teacher shortages hit hardest in schools serving low-income students and students of color, where instability often leads to larger class sizes, canceled courses or a revolving door of substitute teachers. When you walk into a school facing shortages, you see instability, she said. Students may be taught by people who dont know what to do, who leave quickly, and who often rely more on discipline than engagement. The root cause? Teacher attrition. Nine out of 10 vacancies every year are because of attrition and two-thirds of that is not retirement, Darling-Hammond said. Support in the beginning matters. Teachers who come in and get a mentor stay longer. If youre just thrown in to sink or swim, the odds of leaving are much greater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States have long struggled to attract teachers, and credentialing changes arent unusual. But some education advocates fear long-term repercussions. Melissa Tooley, director of K-12 educator quality at the left-leaning think tank New America, said most states now offer alternative and fast-track teacher certification pathways, many of which allow candidates to start teaching with little or no pedagogical training in how to teach. Were churning through people who might have potential, but were not setting them up for success, she said. A lot of what states are doing is short term. Its about filling seats, not necessarily building a sustainable or high-quality workforce. More than 40 states require aspiring teachers to take the costly Praxis Subject test for the subject they want to teach, which some experts argue excludes strong candidates and duplicates other assessments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You were excluding people who might be good teachers but didnt do well on that specific test, said Rutgers Gitomer, who has researched the tests effects on recruitment. However, he added, dropping tests doesnt necessarily help. Several states Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Washington and Wisconsin have dropped a licensure requirement known as edTPA since 2022, but theres little evidence the move has helped ease teacher shortages, Gitomer said. (The acronym stands for Educative Teacher Performance Assessment and involves a portfolio that includes testing and videos of classroom performance.) The state eliminated edTPA but didnt replace it with a specific alternative, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, it gave full discretion back to individual institutions to develop or adopt their own performance assessments, he said. When we talked to institutions, it became pretty clear they didnt think removing edTPA would be a major driver in addressing the shortage and they havent seen evidence that it has been. How best to credential Tooley said state credentialing systems must navigate a delicate balance: ensuring there are enough teachers, maintaining instructional quality and increasing workforce diversity. Theres this triangle three pieces that need to be in place and I think there are real tensions when it comes to how states are designing their certification policies, she said. And Gitomer described a fragmented national landscape, where some states are tightening teacher entry standards while others are dramatically loosening them even allowing non-degreed individuals to teach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some states are trying to raise standards; others are relaxing them to the point where you may not even need a college degree, he said. Indiana now requires all pre-K through grade 6 and special education teachers to complete 80 hours of training on the science of reading, a method that includes phonics, and pass an exam by 2027. State Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican, has proposed cutting the requirement in half, calling it an excessive burden with little actual benefit in a news release. In Texas, a bill aims to reduce the use of uncertified teachers by the 2029-30 school year. The legislation would set a gradual cap on the percentage of uncertified teachers districts can employ in core curriculum classes starting at 20% in 2026-27 and decreasing to 5% in 2029-30. According to the Texas Education Agency, 31% of new hires in 2024-25 lacked a state teaching certificate or permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet some states stand out for how theyre changing their requirements, Tooley said. She pointed to Washington, which has designed a recruitment strategy encouraging paraprofessionals, often known as teachers aides, to become classroom teachers. Also known as paraeducators, theyre a group with classroom experience, community ties and higher retention likelihood. There, school districts are required to offer foundational training ranging from 14 to 28 hours directly to paraeducators. In West Virginia, a new law now allows districts to count full-time behavior interventionists working in one or two classrooms toward meeting the required number of aides or paraprofessionals in K-3 classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tooley noted that Pennsylvania and Alabama are experimenting with menu-style licensing flexibility allowing candidates to demonstrate qualification through various combinations of GPA and test scores, rather than rigid cutoffs. These are people already in schools, often from the same cultural or linguistic backgrounds as students, Tooley said. Theyre more likely to succeed and to stay. Low pay A 2024 national survey by the EdWeek Research Center found that public school teachers are increasingly reporting declines in mental health, job satisfaction and classroom stability. Seventy percent of teachers recommended student mental health interventions, and nearly half said schools lack enough counselors, psychologists and social workers. As mental well-being has worsened, the share of public school teachers who are very satisfied with their jobs has also declined by 2 percentage points from the previous year, to 18%, according to the survey, which was conducted by the EdWeek Research Center on behalf of Merrimack College. While teacher wellness supports remain limited, educators say improvements in pay and student discipline are the most needed changes. To entice passionate but burned out educators from leaving the workforce, several states have raised minimum teacher pay. Arkansas boosted salaries to $50,000 statewide, and South Carolina raised starting pay to $47,000 this year, giving it a boost to $48,500 next school year. South Dakota enacted a $45,000 minimum with yearly increases, and penalties for districts that fail to comply by 2026. Connecticut advanced a bill setting a $63,450 salary floor, while Indiana and others are eyeing further increases. At the federal level, the proposed American Teacher Act seeks to establish a national $60,000 minimum salary for teachers at a qualifying school to boost recruitment and retention across the country. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Florida Democrat, remains in committee. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. A public school teacher talks with students as the school year winds down in New York City. States are struggling with post-pandemic teacher shortages and are trying several tactics to woo educators, including changing teacher training and licensing requirements. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) As another school year ends, superintendents across the United States are staring down an autumn staffing crisis, with 1 in 8 teaching positions either vacant or filled by an underqualified educator. States that are struggling with post-pandemic teacher shortages have spent millions to lure replacements and retain veterans with hiring bonuses and bumps in salaries. But hiring gaps remain, so some states also are trying another tactic: changing their standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes in teacher training and licensing come amid widespread turmoil in public schools: Tax revenue is being siphoned toward private school vouchers in many states; some classrooms are being scrutinized for banned books, displays or teaching lessons that trip into diversity, equity and inclusion territory; and students who went through pandemic-era shutdowns are struggling both with sitting still and with learning the material. Some surveys show that fewer than a fifth of teachers are happy in their jobs. Teaching is not seen as an attractive profession right now, said Drew Gitomer, an expert on teaching assessment at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. COVID exacerbated things, and teachers are caught in the middle of political battles over curriculum, book bans, even personal attacks, he said. Its not a healthy work environment, and that drives people away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Illinois enacted a law allowing teacher candidates to begin student teaching before passing content-area exams. It was an effort to reduce barriers for underrepresented groups, the measures sponsor said. A bill under consideration this year would give more districts discretion over whether to factor pupils test scores into teacher evaluations, a break from a 15-year-old mandate. In New Jersey, a new law formally removes the Praxis Core exam traditionally used as an entry-level screening tool for aspiring teachers from certification requirements. And in Nevada one of the states hit hardest by teacher shortages a bill would streamline licensure for incoming educators. The bill would allow teachers credentialed in other states to begin working in Nevada classrooms while awaiting formal approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also would remove extra steps for teachers switching grade levels and would waive application fees for recent substitute teachers. Linda Darling-Hammond, founding president and chief knowledge officer of the Learning Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, said teacher shortages hit hardest in schools serving low-income students and students of color, where instability often leads to larger class sizes, canceled courses or a revolving door of substitute teachers. When you walk into a school facing shortages, you see instability, she said. Students may be taught by people who dont know what to do, who leave quickly, and who often rely more on discipline than engagement. The root cause? Teacher attrition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine out of 10 vacancies every year are because of attrition and two-thirds of that is not retirement, Darling-Hammond said. Support in the beginning matters. Teachers who come in and get a mentor stay longer. If youre just thrown in to sink or swim, the odds of leaving are much greater. States have long struggled to attract teachers, and credentialing changes arent unusual. But some education advocates fear long-term repercussions. Melissa Tooley, director of K-12 educator quality at the left-leaning think tank New America, said most states now offer alternative and fast-track teacher certification pathways, many of which allow candidates to start teaching with little or no pedagogical training in how to teach. Were churning through people who might have potential, but were not setting them up for success, she said. A lot of what states are doing is short term. Its about filling seats, not necessarily building a sustainable or high-quality workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 40 states require aspiring teachers to take the costly Praxis Subject test for the subject they want to teach, which some experts argue excludes strong candidates and duplicates other assessments. You were excluding people who might be good teachers but didnt do well on that specific test, said Rutgers Gitomer, who has researched the tests effects on recruitment. However, he added, dropping tests doesnt necessarily help. Several states Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Washington and Wisconsin have dropped a licensure requirement known as edTPA since 2022, but theres little evidence the move has helped ease teacher shortages, Gitomer said. (The acronym stands for Educative Teacher Performance Assessment and involves a portfolio that includes testing and videos of classroom performance.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state eliminated edTPA but didnt replace it with a specific alternative, he said. Instead, it gave full discretion back to individual institutions to develop or adopt their own performance assessments, he said. When we talked to institutions, it became pretty clear they didnt think removing edTPA would be a major driver in addressing the shortage and they havent seen evidence that it has been. How best to credential Tooley said state credentialing systems must navigate a delicate balance: ensuring there are enough teachers, maintaining instructional quality and increasing workforce diversity. Theres this triangle three pieces that need to be in place and I think there are real tensions when it comes to how states are designing their certification policies, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Gitomer described a fragmented national landscape, where some states are tightening teacher entry standards while others are dramatically loosening them even allowing non-degreed individuals to teach. Some states are trying to raise standards; others are relaxing them to the point where you may not even need a college degree, he said. Indiana now requires all pre-K through grade 6 and special education teachers to complete 80 hours of training on the science of reading, a method that includes phonics, and pass an exam by 2027. State Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican, has proposed cutting the requirement in half, calling it an excessive burden with little actual benefit in a news release. In Texas, a bill aims to reduce the use of uncertified teachers by the 2029-30 school year. The legislation would set a gradual cap on the percentage of uncertified teachers districts can employ in core curriculum classes starting at 20% in 2026-27 and decreasing to 5% in 2029-30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Texas Education Agency, 31% of new hires in 2024-25 lacked a state teaching certificate or permit. Yet some states stand out for how theyre changing their requirements, Tooley said. She pointed to Washington, which has designed a recruitment strategy encouraging paraprofessionals, often known as teachers aides, to become classroom teachers. Also known as paraeducators, theyre a group with classroom experience, community ties and higher retention likelihood. There, school districts are required to offer foundational training ranging from 14 to 28 hours directly to paraeducators. In West Virginia, a new law now allows districts to count full-time behavior interventionists working in one or two classrooms toward meeting the required number of aides or paraprofessionals in K-3 classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tooley noted that Pennsylvania and Alabama are experimenting with menu-style licensing flexibility allowing candidates to demonstrate qualification through various combinations of GPA and test scores, rather than rigid cutoffs. These are people already in schools, often from the same cultural or linguistic backgrounds as students, Tooley said. Theyre more likely to succeed and to stay. Low pay A 2024 national survey by the EdWeek Research Center found that public school teachers are increasingly reporting declines in mental health, job satisfaction and classroom stability. Seventy percent of teachers recommended student mental health interventions, and nearly half said schools lack enough counselors, psychologists and social workers. As mental well-being has worsened, the share of public school teachers who are very satisfied with their jobs has also declined by 2 percentage points from the previous year, to 18%, according to the survey, which was conducted by the EdWeek Research Center on behalf of Merrimack College. While teacher wellness supports remain limited, educators say improvements in pay and student discipline are the most needed changes. To entice passionate but burned out educators from leaving the workforce, several states have raised minimum teacher pay. Arkansas boosted salaries to $50,000 statewide, and South Carolina raised starting pay to $47,000 this year, giving it a boost to $48,500 next school year. South Dakota enacted a $45,000 minimum with yearly increases, and penalties for districts that fail to comply by 2026. Connecticut advanced a bill setting a $63,450 salary floor, while Indiana and others are eyeing further increases. At the federal level, the proposed American Teacher Act seeks to establish a national $60,000 minimum salary for teachers at a qualifying school to boost recruitment and retention across the country. The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Florida Democrat, remains in committee. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) North Carolina lawmakers are working to merge competing House and Senate budget proposals by the July 1 deadline. Education funding is one area of contention. Both proposals aim to increase teacher pay, but neither is as high as the level Governor Josh Stein requested in March. He called for a 10% salary increase. The House proposal outlines an 8.7% increase over two years. Representatives put a greater emphasis on raising starting salaries, aiming for a 22% increase for educators entering the field. Starting salaries would reach $50,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes after a study by the National Education Association ranked North Carolina 43rd in the U.S. for starting pay. The Senate plan includes an average increase of 3.3% over a two-year period, and a $3,000 bonus. Several Democrats in the chamber said they were highly disappointed in the figure. Its not significant enough, she said. We know that there are a number of kids that are in classrooms that have substitute teachers. Some House Republicans, including State Rep. Erin Pare (R-37), agree. We want to be able to show the public that we understand that (it) is important in North Carolina to create an environment that attracts and retains the very best teachers, Pare said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houses budget also includes funding for expanded training for teachers, expanding district officials ability to hire school psychologists, and would require schools to provide a standard hot lunch regardless of whether the student has meal debt. The General Assembly has a July 1 deadline to pass a combined budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. ELIZABETH, N.J. (PIX11) Ean Rodriguez wiped tears from his mothers eyes during an interview, Shakira Jackson sat down with PIX11 News to explain the day her 6-year-old son came home with bruises on both of his arms. Jackson said, I only saw one bruise until he raised his arms, and I asked him what happened, and he said the teacher scratched me. More Local News When Jackson took a closer look, she saw several bruises on both of her sons arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apparently, Eans teacher allegedly caused the bruises by grabbing the child. The incident allegedly happened on March 20th at Doctor Orlando Edreira Academy No. 26, in Elizabeth, NJ. Jackson said she feels guilty because she sent her son to a place that was supposed to be a safe space. The school specializes in working with students who have special needs. Ean has ADHD. Jackson said she called the police to file a report and hired attorney Gina Nicasio to navigate her next steps. In a statement, a spokesperson for Elizabeth Public Schools said, New Jersey privacy laws related to minors and state Department of Education policies limit the district from commenting about any individual student. The district follows all applicable state law, New Jersey Department of Education and U.S. Department of Education policies related to appropriate intervention strategies. As a matter of District policy, an incident was referred to and investigated by the local police department, county prosecutors office and child protection agency. The investigations were closed without further action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family said whats more alarming is that the teacher is allegedly still in a classroom, and Ean has not been able to fully return to school. Nicasio said, To date, that teacher has not been fired and the proper steps have not been taken. The attorney said she sent a number of emails to the school and plans on filing a Notice of Claim. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Protests by Mexican teachers disrupted traffic at the Paso Del Norte and Ysleta-Zaragoza bridges on Friday, May 23, according to our crews in Juarez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our crews in Juarez said dozens of teachers were at the pay toll booths, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to cross to the U.S. without paying the toll on the Mexican side. Teachers were protesting to demand a solution to the Retirement Funds Administrators (Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro or AFORE) issues, and to change the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers (Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado or ISSSTE) Law Reform that was approved in 2007, our crews in Juarez said. According to an article by Education International, the ISSSTE Law, which governs social security and pensions for Mexicos state workers, introduced a pivotal change by transitioning from a solidarity-based pension scheme to one reliant on individual accounts. The law was under fire for undermining the acquired rights of state workers and perpetuating injustice against those dedicated to the nations development, including teachers and education support personnel, according to the article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The M360 Eurasia 2025 forum, held on May 2122 in Tashkent and organized by the GSMA, brought together top leaders from across the telecommunications and technology sectors to shape the future of digital connectivity in the region. The event focused on the policies, investments, and partnerships essential for driving inclusive digital growth across Eurasia. Azercell Telecom CEO Zarina Zeynalova delivered a keynote address at the forum, joining a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Uzbekistans Minister of Digital Technologies H.E. Sherzod Shermatov, GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath, and ITU Deputy Secretary-General Tomas Lamanauskas. In her address, Zeynalova emphasized: The digital transformation journey knows no borders. It is a shared endeavourone that demands a unified vision, regional cooperation, and collective action. She reflected on the outcomes of the two previous M360 Eurasia forums hosted by Azercell in Baku and encouraged participants to maintain the momentum. Later, speaking at the opening panel titled Unlocking Eurasias Digital Potential, Zeynalova highlighted Azercells large-scale RAN modernization and Aztelekoms Online Azerbaijan project as examples of successful infrastructure investments advancing Azerbaijans digital transformation agenda. She stressed the importance of investing in infrastructure resilience, next-generation networks, artificial intelligence, and - most importantly - human capital. Our ambition is to foster a future-ready digital ecosystem powered by innovation and human talent, she stated. Throughout the event, leaders underscored the strategic significance of cross-sector collaboration and next-generation connectivity in driving regional prosperity, improving public services, and enhancing digital sovereignty. M360 Eurasia 2025 reaffirmed the regions vital role as a digital bridge between Asia and Europe. The culture wars, Ayn Rand said, may seem bloodless to us, but no one in their right mind should allow themselves the luxury of losing them. Rands contemporary disciples, who are many and very illustrious, have not lost sight of the lesson of the mother of objectivism and fertile narcissism. For them, any opportunity is good when it comes to imposing your agenda and attracting new followers, whether its the skin color of Disney princesses, the sex, gender identity or sexual orientation of silver-screen icons, or the optimal level of tan that should be required for the testicles of a virile man. In the United States, the effervescent manosphere, patriotic circles, and other remnants of belligerently Trumpian cultural warriors believe that nothing human is alien to them and that any trivial quarrel or frivolous controversy can serve their purposes. Just look at whats happening with Blake Lively and Harvey Weinstein, who have become the epicenter of a cultural conflagration whose virulence never ceases to shock. Lively, a 37-year-old California actress and model, is establishing herself as a prime target of hate on ultra-conservative social media. Meanwhile, former New York movie producer Weinstein, sentenced in 2020 to 23 years in prison, exonerated in 2024 over procedural errors but still awaiting further trials, now enjoys the unconditional support of those who denigrate Lively and see in him an innocent martyr of the #MeToo hysteria and the excesses of political correctness. Lively in the crosshairs Rand had a very personal way of joining battle in the culture wars of her time. She would lock herself in her Park Avenue apartment, stocked with industrial quantities of tobacco, chocolates, and amphetamines, and write tirelessly, in feverish sessions of up to 20 hours, interrupted only to shower mid-morning. Candace Owens, by contrast, manages to wage her cultural battles with far less effort and far greater impact. The Catholic activist and illustrious vlogger has mentioned Lively up to 30 times on her video podcast and YouTube channel. In Owens opinion, Lively has become a symptom of the spiritual decadence of the United States, one of the drivers of that woke tyranny which, in Owens view, may have lost control of the White House, but retains factual, social, and media power. Owens recently once again addressed the confusing dispute between Lively and her former co-star, Justin Baldoni. For the commentator, its clear that the actress is illegitimately using her position of power, as a member of Hollywoods progressive high aristocracy, to obtain business benefits, even if it means dragging the good name of a poor sap like Baldoni through the mud. Back in January, she stated that Lively, obviously, is not a good person. And that this undeniable evil can be attributed to her activism in the cause of modern feminism. Those who listen to Owens with any regularity already know what these words imply. For her, feminism is a worthy and legitimate school of thought until you add the adjective modern. In that case, it becomes a perverse and harmful ideology. Media outlets like Evie Magazine unwaveringly support Owens in her crusade against Lively. Nicole Dominique, a staff writer for the publication, believes that liberals and conservatives alike already share a definitive verdict on Lively and her infamous lawsuit against Baldoni: she is an unscrupulous opportunist. Her accusations (the actress claims that her co-star in the film It Ends with Us contributed to a hostile climate toward her during filming, sexually harassed her, and overstepped her boundaries in sex scenes, even ignoring the instructions of intimacy coordinators) are, for Sheridan, obviously false, as well as cynical and completely unethical. Nobody knows anything? The icing on the cake, in the opinion of many conservative-leaning commentators, was the decision to call Taylor Swift as a witness. Swift reportedly insisted that Lively keep her out of the loop and not make her collateral damage in such a murky and confusing affair. But, at least in the opinion of Janelle Ash of Fox News, Lively ignored her pleas and ended up implicating her, further demonstrating that the Baldoni affair has become an all-out war in which no prisoners are being taken. They say that whoever loses a friend loses a treasure. And everything points to Lively having just lost an ally as illustrious as Swift, godmother to Livelys four children with fellow actor Ryan Reynolds. And what does Joe Rogan think about all this? The man behind one of the most listened-to podcasts on the planet has dedicated several episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience to the Lively-Baldoni showdown. In the latest episode, to no ones surprise, Rogan and his guest, Brendan Schaub, agreed that Lively and Reynolds fucked up by trying to damage the reputation of a sweet, nice guy like Baldoni. They were trying to take over the movie and the franchise, Rogan bellowed in his usual style, a mix of belligerence and knowing irony. The whole thing is crazy. [Baldoni] is suing The New York Times. He has a great case there, too She told him to come into the dressing room while she was breast feeding and then part of her complaint was that he came into the dressing room while she was breast feeding. They have text exchanges going back and forth. They just thought no one was going to come out with the receipts. Everyone is scared of them. Ryan and Blake are A-list. Marked by hate Amber Raiken, New York correspondent for the British newspaper The Independent, is surprised by how thin the accusations against Lively by Rogan, Owens, and company actually are. After all, what exactly is the actress being accused of? The quick answer would be that shes accused of many things, but almost none of them substantive. That shes unfriendly. That shes arrogant. That shes a mediocre and rather overrated actress. That she and her husband are part of a narrow elite with excessive power in the cultural industries. That she once responded with an outburst to a journalists question that she deemed offensive, inappropriate, or in poor taste. A few weeks ago, freelance writer and journalist Ariella Steinhorn reviewed the reasons why we hate Blake Lively on Substack and found none of them truly compelling. After all, neither unfriendliness, nor arrogance, nor success, nor power, nor even occasional hostility toward a specific journalist is a crime. They may justify rejection, but not visceral hatred, nor such grandiloquent claims such as the Californian is the incarnation of evil on earth. Regarding the lawsuit against Baldoni, it can be argued that it is a highly complex issue, and it is very difficult to form a definitive opinion based on the information that has been leaked to the media. Its similar to what happened with the legal battles between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, about which everyone had an opinion despite almost no one having reliable and verified information. Perhaps, Steinhorn speculates, some of those who hate Lively were in an abusive relationship with a woman before, and are projecting those feelings onto Blake and Amber. Once again, celebrities as a symptom. The star system as a projection of our own traumas. As will and representation. The great American hero Compare this visceral and unqualified rejection of a woman who hasnt even been issued with traffic tickets with the growing sympathy among U.S. conservatives for Harvey Weinstein, a man aspiring to freedom but still in custody (in a Manhattan prison hospital, where he was transferred from Rikers Island). Its not an arbitrary comparison. Livelys detractors tend to be Weinstein supporters. Theyre communicating vessels. Identifying as a Lively hater almost automatically implies being a member of Team Harvey. Rogan made this clear last March: I cant believe Im on Harvey Weinsteins side. I thought he was guilty of, like, heinous crimes and then you listen, and youre like, Wait, what? What is going on? Could it be, Rogan asks, not entirely rhetorically, that Weinstein is innocent and the woke conspiracy has led us all to accept, in an act of undignified passivity, that he was convicted without evidence? The same people who lied to you about vaccines, the communicator concludes, are now lying to you about Weinstein, a new case of false guilt, another victim of the tyranny the system exercises against individuals it finds inconvenient. Rogan doesnt delve into the substance of the matter. He never mentions that Weinstein was the subject of multiple allegations, received a final conviction, was exonerated due to procedural errors, and still has many pending charges. Rogan jumped the gun. He previously considered him guilty, and now hes defending him. Candace Owens has just done so as well: He was absolutely the fall guy. After emphatically stating that, in her opinion, the convicted former producer is innocent of the abuses he is accused of, Owens allows herself a small dialectical concession, something unusual in her approach to culture wars: in any case, according to Owens and Rogan, Weinstein deserves the benefit of the doubt. Blake Lively does not. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Weve all been there. That moment of dread when you cant find your phone. Did you lose it? Was it stolen? Its a feeling that can quickly turn into panic. Where is it? How do I get it back? Is it gone forever? These questions race through your mind. But what if I told you a friend could help you locate your phone, even if you cant? Its a handy trick that most people dont know and could save you a lot of stress. It happens so easily. Maybe your phone slipped out of your pocket during dinner, got left behind at a meeting, or is buried deep in a friends car. Youve retraced your steps, called your number countless times, and still, no luck. What do you do now? Heres the good news: Apple and Google offer features that let someone else help you find your missing device. You might not realize it, but with a bit of help from a friend, you can pinpoint your phones location in no time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For iPhone users, the key is having Find My turned on. If it is, a friend can use the Find My app on their iPhone to assist you. Even if you havent shared your location with them before, they can open the app, scroll to the bottom, and tap Help a Friend. Theyll then sign in with your Apple ID, and your phones last known location will appear on their screen. From there, they can make your phone play a soundeven if its on silentor mark it as lost if you suspect its been taken. Android users have a similar option. By visiting google.com/android/find, a friend can sign in with the Google account linked to your phone. A map will then show its location. Like iPhones, they can make your phone ring, even if its on silent. They can also write a message that will appear on your phones screen, asking whoever finds it to call a different number to arrange its return. Both systems rely on networks of connected devices, such as other phones and Bluetooth signals, to accurately pinpoint your phones location. But heres a critical piece of information: these features only work if youve activated them in advance. On iPhones, you can find the Find My setting under your name in the Settings app. For Android phones, check the Security settings. Taking a minute to set this up now can potentially save you hours of worry and frantic searching later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, next time you cant find your phone, remember this simple tip. A friend can help you find your device, no matter where it is. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey says one of the people sought in last weeks toddler shooting is in custody. Ivey said 17-yar-old JeMarcus Edwards was taken into custody Thursday morning after fleeing to Atlanta. His charges include aggravated child abuse, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony, discharging a firearm in public, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent, and open carry of a weapon. The sheriff said he will be held without bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriff said the teen was one of the people exchanging gunfire outside Cocoa Meat and Produce on Burnett Road on May 13. One of the bullets hit the leg of an almost 2-year-old girl. She was hospitalized and survived. Deputies say the child was left out in the open in a stroller by two adults when the shooting started. The man with her was one of the shooters. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) A 15-year-old may face charges as the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigates an incident where a pedestrian was struck by a car at a Clinton boat ramp. A preliminary report from THP states that on Sunday, a 15-year-old was driving a 2017 Toyota Prius on the boat ramp at Bull Run Park when a 17-year-old pedestrian jumped onto the hood of the car. From mirrors to gear shifts: Clinton facility makes key parts for top car brands Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver braked, and the pedestrian to fell from the hood and was struck by the Prius. The car then came to a stop off the roadway. The report states that the teen was injured. The driver and 17-year-old passenger who were in the Prius were both uninjured. Population growing leads to business, infrastructure boom in Anderson County THP said the 15-year-old may face charges pending the outcome of the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. HONOLULU (KHON2) Its a disturbing video on social media that has sparked outrage. It shows a 21-year-old woman being assaulted by a group of teenagers from Leilehua High School and Wahiawa Middle School. The incident happened back in April. But the video surfaced this week, setting off a firestorm online. Viral Wahiawa bully video sparks community outrage The oldest in the group, an 18-year-old woman arrested for assault, appeared in court earlier today and spoke exclusively with KHON2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a video that sparked outrage, a 21-year-old woman, slapped, punched and kicked by a group of teenagers in broad daylight. The video is so disturbing, we are not showing it. It happened in Wahiawa more than a month ago, but only went viral this week. Four teenagers seen in the video were arrested on Wednesday, May 21. The three teens who are under 18 were released. Jasmine Keola, 18, appeared in court today on charges of third-degree assault and criminal property damage, but had her case dismissed so that law enforcement could conduct further investigation. Prosecutors can still refile charges later, but she was released from custody and KHON spoke with her outside the courthouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Keola said it started with name-calling on the bus. It was incidents on the bus that happened and it just got way out of hand. So I took it upon myself, I got pressured actually to fighting the girl. I didnt want to fight her. but I did anyway. So I talked to her but again Im sorry for what I did, I didnt mean to do it, said Keola. Keolas mother, who asked not to be identified, told us the family has been receiving threats for street justice and wanted the community to know she, too is in pain and scared for their safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I apologize for my childrens behavior, and I really, you know, Im being sincere, and Im talking from the heart that I am sorry that, you know, my kids did what they did, said the mother. According to the DOE, the 21-year-old woman is a former student at Leilehua High who has added challenges. The other students involved have been expelled from campus for the remainder of the school year while an investigation continues. Check out more news from around Hawaii Keola is not being allowed to walk in her Leilehua High School graduation tomorrow, had a message for her victim. Im sorry. I should have let you go. Speak for yourself. But ended up doing what I did and I regret it, said Keola. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Scary flight incidents continue to pile up. Horrifying footage shared online shows passengers on a flight from New Delhi to Srinagar, India encountering extreme weather conditions. According to the New York Post, the plane flew into violent turbulence, lightning, and hail. Footage from the incident showed passengers screaming and sounding incredibly scared as the plane shakes under the intense turbulence. The pilot of the IndiGo flight was fortunately able to contact Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar and notify them of the dangerous weather conditions before making a safe landing. There were 227 passengers aboard the flight and none were reported injured, though the plane didnt fare so well. Photos shared on social media show a gaping hole in the planes nose, and hail caused additional damage inside of the plane. First clear picture of the damaged nose of flight this evening at Srinagar Airport. https://t.co/HJm1lcTb75 pic.twitter.com/OwFGR1yYZD Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 21, 2025 But the experience left the passengers shaken. I was on this flight, heading home, passenger Owais Hakeem said, according to the New York Post. It was terrible and I am still in shock. Worst nightmare DelhiSrinagar IndiGo flight hit by severe turbulence Flight 6E-2142 was caught in a terrifying hailstorm just before landing in Srinagar, forcing an emergency landing around 6:30pm All 227 onboard are safe. Turbulence was severe, damaging the plane's nose pic.twitter.com/mIRsB4aUL5 Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) May 21, 2025 "The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol, and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. The airport team attended to the customers after the arrival of the aircraft, prioritizing their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance," a statement from the airline IndiGo said, according to The Times of India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As time passes, it is more likely that planes will encounter turbulence more often based on leading research. Scientists credit climate change with the increasing frequency and severity of violent turbulence. Terrifying Footage Captures Plane Hitting a Series of Natural Disasters first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 A striking graph, which went viral on Reddit last week, shows the purported percentage of internet users visiting OpenAI's blockbuster AI chatbot ChatGPT overtaking Wikipedia over the past two years. The data, compiled by UK-based market research company GWI, shows a steady decline in the proportion of users visiting Wikipedia worldwide, excluding China. In less than a year following its launch in late 2022, ChatGPT appears to have surpassed the online encyclopedia, in a striking reversal of fortunes. If the data which is based on survey responses and not site visits is to be believed, it's a good reason to be concerned about the reliability of information people are seeking out online. While Wikipedia has never been known to be an infallible source free of bias or inaccuracies, generative AI has proven to be far more unreliable, thanks to widespread hallucinations and biases present in its training data. And while Wikipedia is built on prominently displayed citations, AI systems like ChatGPT often struggle to explain where their info is coming from, even cooking up fake references wholesale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also serious questions of ethics and fair use. Wikipedia has an army of over 49 million human editors who ensure accuracy across 64 million articles worldwide. In contrast, it remains infamously unknown what exactly the large language models supporting ChatGPT were trained on but it more than likely contains data pulled straight from Wikipedia, which OpenAI is now profiting off. ChatGPT has seen a "36 percent rise in users from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024, as other online platforms remain the same or see a slight percentage increase or decrease," GWI senior data journalist Chris Beer told Futurism in an email. "Its reaching more of the internet, more quickly, than almost any other platform in history." Beer also pointed out the "massive adoption among university students," with 49 percent using ChatGPT, "compared to 53 percent who use Amazon!" ChatGPT, which has been named as the fastest-growing app in the history of computing, has quickly burgeoned into a global phenomenon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I will say that based on our research, ChatGPT is actually most popular in the Global South," Beer said. "The markets where we see the highest adoption of it include Kenya, India, the UAE, and Brazil." China was excluded since "Chinese authorities ban" many online platforms, making the data "unrepresentative," Beer said. However, in the absence of a more detailed breakdown of actual usage numbers, it's hard to draw any definitive conclusions. In a statement to Futurism, a spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that operates Wikipedia, said the organization hadn't noticed any "significant drops in traffic on Wikimedia websites since early 2021" in terms of "pageviews and readership traffic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our analytics show that Wikipedias pageviews are approximately 15 billion (B) per month (these have consistently been in the 15B to 18B range since Oct 2020 including occasional rises and declines in traffic)," the spokesperson said. In other words, Wikipedia's traffic is holding steady, the organization says but data from GWI and others suggests that ChatGPT usage has rapidly outpaced it. Web traffic estimator Similarweb appears to corroborate GWI's data. Wikipedia is currently ranked number ten globally in terms of traffic compared to all other sites, while ChatGPT is currently ranked number six with just over 4.5 billion monthly visits. And if Wikipedia's traffic is experiencing any type of decline, that could also have to do with the rise of AI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the long-term downward trend for Wikipedia has largely come from search engines adding more 'zero-click' answers," Beer told Futurism. "Whereas before they might return a Wikipedia page as the top result, now youre more likely to see a weather forecast, or a famous persons height, or whatever it may be, within Google itself." "Googles AI features, along with ChatGPT, are likely compounding that pre-existing trend," he added. The discussion highlights just how ubiquitous ChatGPT and related tech have become in just a few years. It's helping students write essays, teachers grade papers, summarize data for office workers, and sending clueless hikers astray. But at what cost are we ditching carefully reviewed Wikipedia articles in favor of often misleading or sycophantic chatbots? Considering the latest data, the problem of hallucinations is only getting worse as AI chatbots become more advanced. Companies' efforts to nudge their chatbots' outputs in the right direction have also resulted in mayhem and confusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The subject of carefully reviewed information and its reliability is more pertinent than ever in a world filled with disinformation and AI slop. Just last month, the Trump administration threatened Wikipedia's tax-exempt status, accusing the Foundation of violating the law via baseless allegations about the encyclopedia spreading "propaganda." To critics, it was pure grandstanding and an assault on the freedom of expression. "Wikipedia is one of the last places online that shows the promise of the internet, housing more than 65 million articles written to inform, not persuade," the Wikimedia Foundation said in a statement at the time. "Our vision is a world in which every single human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge." More on ChatGPT: Readers Annoyed When Fantasy Novel Accidentally Leaves AI Prompt in Published Version, Showing Request to Copy Another Writer's Style AUSTIN (KXAN) Texas legislators passed their first AI-related bill of the session to Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday, one with a specific focus on helping the states laws catch up with technology. HB 581 would require AI tools and websites that can create sexually explicit images to ensure users and subjects are of legal age. An individual who is used as a source for the AI generation must have consented to the usage. March: Senate passes bills to fight AI-generated sexual images of children, non-consenting adults Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas House of Representatives also passed SB 20 Thursday afternoon, which bans the possession of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Legislators filed at least 68 bills related to AI this session, including HB 1265, to regulate AI use in mental health services, and HB 1709, the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA). Unless vetoed, HB 581 and SB 20 will take effect in September. What other AI bills are being considered? Lawmakers in both chambers passed at least 25 AI-related bills; however, none of these bills have been passed by the other chamber. For instance, HB 366 would require politicians, political action committees and campaigns to disclose if they used AI-generated images in political ads. It passed in the Texas House of Representatives on April 30, but was never assigned to a committee in the Senate. HB 2298, which would have created a grant program for developing cancer-detecting AI, also shared this fate after it passed the House on May 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rest of the 25 bills, which represent the remaining AI legislation still in play this session, got committee assignments. Twelve are still in committee, including HB 421, one of the bills aimed at preventing nonconsensual AI-generated explicit images. Bills still pending in House committees have until Sunday before they cant be considered. Others in Senate committees have until May 28. Bills still moving forward Bills on the calendar for floor consideration in the Senate include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These bills have a deadline of May 28, after which they cant be considered further. In the House, three bills are on the calendar for consideration and another four (SBs 22, 441, 1964 and 2373) have yet to be placed. The other three bills include: SB 815 would block insurers from using AI to decide claims; SB 1188, which mostly focuses on a patients biological sex in electronic health records, would require providers to disclose if they use AI; and, SB 1621, which relates to the prosecution and punishment of AI-generated CSAM. House Republicans include a 10-year ban on US states regulating AI in big, beautiful bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have a bill you want us to look into? Ask us using the form below: Submit a form. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lishinsky and Sarah Milgrim, in downtown Washington has sent shockwaves through the citys Jewish community. Some members gathered Thursday near the Jewish Museum, where the shooting took place. The suspect shouted, Free Palestine after being arrested. A day after the shooting, people visiting the site shared messages of grief, called for an end to the violence, and demanded increased protection. Yael Bromverg, a constitutional rights lawyer, said the community is distraught, completely distraught. We Jews make up only 2% of the worlds population, and we are always the target, she said. Police removed the security cordon they had established around the museum on Thursday, and members of Washingtons Jewish community, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, members of Congress from the Republican and Democratic Parties, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, and many anonymous people came to offer their condolences. Some left flowers. Others wrote messages with markers on sheets of paper, calling for peace or offering a tribute to the victims. May we plant and nurture the seeds of peace, not those of hate, read one message. I pray that this crime may be a cry that leads to peace, read another. May their memory be a blessing, read yet another. May a peacemaker step forward to build love, not hate. Its very sad, especially because the people who were attacked were committed to peace, reflected Bromverg, who noted that the victims were in favor of peace and bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza. We have to protect the peacekeepers, he said, calling the shooting the day before senseless violence. This will never stop if we dont start doing things differently, said Scott Perlo, rabbi of the Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, the local synagogue, outside the Jewish Museum. Im tired of people not thinking about the future and thinking in such a fanciful, almost messianic way, believing that they alone, with enough violence and effort, can once and for all end the problem of 14 million people, seven million on each side, he said, in an apparent reference to the Israeli and Palestinian populations. The idea that actions like these are going to somehow resolve this conflict, one way or another, fills me with profound rage, it affects me deeply, added Perlo, who lamented that without a change of mentality, both Israelis and Palestinians will be in this situation for the next few centuries. Its a completely intractable situation; none of this makes sense. Theres terrorism, theres pain and suffering, and no ones thinking about the future, least of all the guy who shot these two lovely people last night, he added. People gather to light candles at a makeshift memorial to honor Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim on Thursday. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN) The doors of the museum remained closed on Thursday. Beatrice Gurwitz, its director, called the murders an act of horrific antisemitic violence. This tragedy is devastating. Such acts of terror attempt to instill fear, silence voices, and erase history but we refuse to let them succeed, she said in an emailed statement. Gurwitz said they were working to reopen the museum in the coming days with safety measures in place, so we can return to telling the story of Jewish Washington for thousands of visitors from around the world. Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were inside the museum when they heard gunshots and a man came in looking distressed. Kalin said people came to his aid and brought him water, thinking he needed help, not realizing he was the suspect. When police arrived, he pulled out a Palestinian scarf and repeatedly shouted Free Palestine, Kalin told the AP. This event was about humanitarian aid, Kalin said. How can we truly help both the people of Gaza and the people of Israel? How can we unite Muslims, Jews and Christians to work together and truly help innocent people? And here he is, murdering two people in cold blood, he added. I did it for Palestine, says the alleged perpetrator The shooter was identified by police as Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old pro-Palestinian activist from Chicago whose home was searched by law enforcement officers on Thursday. The man told police after his arrest, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, according to case documents released Thursday. The documents indicate that the shooting was captured on surveillance cameras outside the museum, which authorities say show Rodriguez firing several more shots at the victims after they fell to the ground. The alleged perpetrator shouted Free Palestine as he was led away after his arrest and told police he was the attacker, according to the affidavit filed by the FBI. Rodriguez told investigators he admired the man who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli Embassy in February 2024 and described him as courageous and a martyr. He also stated that he bought tickets for the event at the museum about three hours before it began, according to court documents. Rodriguez faces two counts of first-degree murder, murder of foreign officials, and other counts. Additional charges are likely, prosecutors said Thursday, as authorities continue to investigate the murders as a hate crime against the Jewish community and as an act of terrorism. Violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. It is not an act of a hero. It is the kind of case we will vigorously pursue, said Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Antisemitism will not be tolerated, especially in the nations capital. At the museums gates, Rabbi Perlo lamented this Thursday that when you use radical rhetoric, people listen. And if you try to take that rhetoric to the extreme every time, someone will pick up a gun and start shooting. Its irresponsible to speak without recognizing that such messages lead to action. I dont understand how this helps Palestine, he said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Students could get designated prayer time in school if a bill set to pass the Texas Legislature is signed into law. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 11, passed 91-51 in the Texas House on May 22, with seven Democrats supporting the bill. If it receives one more vote without being amended, it would head to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk for approval. Senate Bill 11 is about protecting the freedom of those who choose to pray, and just as importantly, protecting the rights of those who choose not to, said Rep. David Spiller, a Republican from Jacksboro who is carrying the bill in the House. The bill passed in the Senate in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the legislation, a school districts board of trustees could adopt a policy requiring campuses to provide students and employees with an opportunity to partake in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text each school day. A student wishing to participate would need a consent note from a parent and would waive their rights to sue the school over the policy. The time allocated could not be a substitute for instructional time. The prayer or reading of religious text must be away from other students whose parents havent consented, according to the bill. That means the time may be scheduled before school. Some Democrats raised concerns that part of the bill allows teachers to encourage or discourage student prayer. That measure would apply to all schools, not just those that adopt a formal policy allowing prayer or religious reading time, said Rep. James Talarico, an Austin Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowing the encouragement of prayer would violate the First Amendment, said Rep. Chris Turner, a Grand Prairie Democrat. Our students are protected, as we all are, by the First Amendment in our deeply personal decisions whether to pray, to not pray, to determine how we pray, whether thats during the school day or at any other time, Turner said. He tried to alleviate those concerns with an amendment but was unsuccessful. Spiller said the section of the bill at issue is drafted in a way that makes it consistent with existing law. Texas students already have an absolute right to individually, voluntarily and silently pray or meditate in school. Is that correct? Talarico said as the amendment was debated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spiller confirmed Talarico was correct. And now your bill is allowing a teacher or school official to encourage students to engage in prayer in school, is that correct? Talarico said. It doesnt prohibit it, Spiller responded, cautioning that there could be restrictions on encouragement under other laws or policies that hes not aware of. Speaking in favor of the bill, Rep. Brent Money, an Greenville Republican, recited a prayer that he said was commonly said in public schools in the 1950s. I dont think theres anyone here who thinks that the moral, emotional or mental well being of our students is overall better than it was in 1962 when this prayer was removed from our public schools, Money said. We have spent an enormous amount of time and energy during this legislative session trying to address the very real and sometimes overwhelming moral, emotional and mental ills of children and adults in our great state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teachers should be encouraging students spiritually, Money said. Students in public schools need prayer and Bible reading more than ever before, he later added. Let me say this very plainly: We should be encouraging our students to pray and read their Bible every day, just as the authors of the constitution did, Money said. Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons, a Houston Democrat, pushed back against the idea that students were better off in 1962. Black students were better in 1962 in segregated schools than they are right now? Simmons said. Money said he was speaking about students overall and is in favor of the integration of schools. But I will also say, I think that if you walked into any high school back then, whether a segregated Black school, a white school, an integrated school, you would find less emotional problems, less metal problems, and less, less suicide those kinds of things that we see today because religious instruction was a much greater part of their everyday life, both at home, at church and at school, Money said. May 23AUSTIN The Texas Senate has given preliminary approval to House Bill 2 to fund public schools and raise teacher and staff pay, according to a Facebook post from State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa. HB 2, which Landgraf co-authored, is an $8.5 billion increase in funding for Texas public schools, and it has been this year's legislative priority for the Texas House. The Senate has to vote on final passage May 23. "I'm proud to support it, and am grateful that the Senate has now passed it. This is an investment in our students, and by extension the future of Texas. Teachers need pay raises, and this provides $4.2 billion into teachers' pockets," Landgraf said in the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those who had concerns about education savings accounts, this is the pro-public education counterbalance to that, he wrote. "I look forward to one more vote to send HB 2 to the governor's desk. This record-breaking funding, combined with scrapping the STAAR exam, would make this the best legislative session for Texas public schools in my lifetime. I'm ready to make it happen, and Texas students, teachers and parents deserve nothing less," he said. Details included in the new version of HB 2 are: $8.5 billion in new funding, the largest single increase in public education funding in Texas history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $4.2 billion for record permanent teacher and staff pay raises. $1.3 billion in Allotment for Basic Costs (ABC) to assist districts with expenses like insurance, utilities, and TRS contributions. $2 billion to update special education formulas and fund full-day pre-K, early learning interventions, and Career & Technical Education (CTE). $430 million for school safety. Under the new law, Ector County ISD would gain $21,456,765 in fiscal year 2026, information from Landgraf said. In fiscal year 2027, it would gain $25, 241,964. Dallas Kennedy, a special education teacher at the Transition Learning Center, said Thursday he was glad to see that they provided money for raises for all staff. He added that $4.2 billion was allotted for teacher raises and another $500 million for all other staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While selfishly I loved the idea of getting a raise, I was more worried about the bus drivers and paraprofessionals getting raises," Kennedy said. He added that ECISD "has done a great job stretching every penny they had, but they were out of pennies to stretch. Hopefully this bill will help the district balance it's budget." By Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand will advocate more international engagement with Myanmar at an upcoming Southeast Asia leader summit next week, its foreign minister said, in a push for international cooperation to broaden a diplomatic effort to end a protracted civil war. Myanmar has been in the throes of an expanding conflict since its military ousted an elected civilian-led government in 2021, with fighting between the junta and a network of rebel forces displacing more than 3.5 million people and decimating what was once a promising frontier market economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2021 peace plan created by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had until recently made barely any progress but ASEAN's chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has made a renewed push for dialogue, including separate talks with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and the rival National Unity Government. Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa in an interview backed Anwar's efforts, which focused initially on trying to secure a ceasefire extension to facilitate humanitarian assistance following a devastating March earthquake that killed more than 3,800 people. "A ceasefire is an important first step, but it cannot be one-sided," Maris told Reuters. "We need to be able to bring various issues to the table for constructive dialogue and doing so without putting pressure on things." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But since Anwar's talks last month, the military has continued its campaign against rebels, including in areas where the quake struck, with multiple airstrikes and artillery assaults, as reported by Reuters. Maris said clear steps on the peace initiative needed to be mapped out at meetings in Kuala Lumpur starting this weekend. 'CHANGE NEGATIVE THINKING' Myanmar's civil war has also exacerbated transnational crime, including the proliferation of scam compounds that the United Nations says have ensnared hundreds of thousands of people in illegal online operations that generate billions of dollars annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maris said broad international cooperation in tackling that would help the peace initiative since it would bring all major groups to the table, including ethnic minority armies. "If there is no resolution to the conflict in Myanmar then transnational crime could not be addressed, the two issues are linked," he added. Myanmar's generals have been hit by sanctions and ostracised by Western powers over the coup and allegations of systematic atrocities against the civilian population, which they deny. The junta's international engagement has been limited to Russia and its neighbours, including China. Maris said Thailand would provide more long-term assistance to Myanmar, including in education and healthcare, while using international platforms to promote engagement with the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are looking at this not only in helping to address short-term needs but also long term," he said, adding engagement, would help foster dialogue that could lead to peace. "We want to change negative thinking that is not productive." (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty) The Texas House on Wednesday evening, after delays that covered the better part of two days, embraced a ban on the sale and consumption of intoxicating hemp products, avoiding a potential clash with the Senate in the final days of the legislative session. "We are not banning hemp, we are banning high," said state Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Houston-area Republican lawmaker and physician who essentially rewrote the House's version of Senate Bill 3 on the fly. "What we're doing here is correcting a problem that was created in 2019 where we essentially created a pathway whereby people could sell drugs in corner stores across our state," Oliverson said. State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress Final approval in the House came late Thursday, but the outcome was all but inevitable because the vote taken the evening before demonstrated where the chamber stood on the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Legislature in 2019, hoping to boost agriculture, established the Texas Industrial Hemp Program and authorized the production, manufacture and sale of industrial hemp crops and products, including those with low levels of THC. The bill opened a market for consumable hemp products with up to 0.3% THC. The Senate, at the urging of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, passed a sweeping ban in March as a way to stop the proliferation of "consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids" contained in snack foods, candies, beverages and smokeable products. Patrick, the three-term Republican who leads the Senate, made the bill a top priority for the 2025 legislative session and hinted at extending lawmakers' time in Austin if it wasn't passed before the June 2 adjournment. And that might have come to pass under the original House version of the bill, which took a regulatory approach over an outright ban. That is what came out of the chamber's State Affairs Committee in a rewrite spearheaded by its chairman, Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But once the bill was set for a floor debate Tuesday, Oliverson began circulating an amendment to bring it in line with the goals laid out by Patrick and the Senate. That prompted some behind-the-scenes legislative maneuvering, reportedly including seeking Senate concessions on a separate school-funding bill which was stalled in exchange for the House's willingness to bend on hemp. But King's approach was not without support, both in the House and among veterans. Dave Walden, the incoming state commander of Texas Veterans of Foreign War, wrote in an op-ed that he and many of his fellow former service members who have served in combat have found that the hemp products targeted by the legislation have proven to be life-savers. More: What's the status of marijuana in Texas? An explainer on THC, CBD, Delta-8 and more "Lt. Governor Patrick has called these products 'poison,' but for many veterans, they've been the antidote to a system that was slowly poisoning us with endless prescriptions," wrote Walden, who was deployed to Iraq and other areas of conflict between 2001 and 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I hear rhetoric comparing hemp to 'bath salts' or other dangerous street drugs, I cannot reconcile it with my experience or that of my fellow veterans who have found healing through these products," Walden wrote. Oliverson, an anesthesiologist, said that under his measure, veterans would still have access to approved medications containing THC, the primary psychoactive component in the cannabis plant. "People are currently self-medicating by getting this THC that is potentially not very well-regulated," he said. "What I'm getting to is ... you have to have a medical professional that's overseeing this program and regulating at what point how many milligrams is the right milligrams for each individual. "I'm sure this won't shock anybody in the room, but there are no miracle cures out there." State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston King voted against Oliverson's amendment, likening a ban on THC to the ill-fated prohibition of alcohol a century ago. He ultimately voted for the final bill even after the amendment was added to it by a lopsided House vote. The final vote advancing the bill was 95-34. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat who leads his party's House caucus, said the amended bill goes too far and might do more harm than good for veterans and others. "The overwhelming majority of veterans are aggressively supporting legalization, supporting keeping the law in a regulated state," Wu said. "Texans as a whole do not want something that they've had access to for the last five years (to be banned). Something that they have enjoyed recreationally, and that has helped them medically. "They have told you that loudly and repeatedly. They have called your offices; they have written letters. They have done everything they could," Wu said. More: As Texas weighs banning consumable hemp containing THC, Austin shop sees 'stock buying' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Rep. David Lowe of North Richland Hills said that as an Amy military police officer who was deployed to Afghanistan he supports the measure as amended by Oliverson. "Let me be clear, there are benefits to hemp products for some individuals," Lowe said. "But as someone who has lived through the darkness onward and its aftermath, I say sincerely, stop using veterans like me as a vehicle to push your unregulated influence. There's a difference between compassion and exploitation." Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas warned that a THC ban would only push consumers of the now-legal products to underground sources. "You're going to be driving people into the black market," Anchia said. "You're going to criminalize veterans. You're going to be criminalizing young people. ... You're going to be criminalizing your neighbor." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday night, just hours before the House originally was set to vote, Patrick posted an 8-minute video on social media aimed at grassroots Republicans to put pressure on members to add teeth to the lower chamber's version of the bill. "We must ban THC," Patrick said in the video posted to X. "We can't regulate it. We don't have enough police to check every store when there are 8-9,000 of them. Ive been here for 17 years at the Texas Capitol, 10 years as your lieutenant governor and Ive never been more passionate about anything. Im not going to leave Austin until we get this done. Because the House's version, even as amended, differs from what the Senate passed, SB 3 must return to the upper chamber to consider the changes. The Senate can either accept what the House sends or request a conference committee to reconcile the differences. Staff writer Bayliss Wagner contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House OKs THC ban, sidestepping potential clash with Senate A heist involving a zoo might sound like a comedy film concept, but a recent break-in at Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo endangered a variety of rare bird species. What's happening? Thieves recently broke into Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo and made off with a whopping 36 birds, some of which are incredibly rare breeds, according to The Times of Israel. The stolen birds included lorikeets, macaws, and a southern red-billed hornbill, all together estimated to be worth approximately $331,000. Police located and arrested a suspect and returned the birds to the zoo within about 12 hours, but several returned in poor health due to the harsh traveling and holding conditions in which the thieves placed the birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All of the species are protected wildlife, and some are even in serious danger of extinction in the wild," a police department spokesperson said in a statement. This heist is just the latest in a string of incidents suspected to be the work of an animal trafficking ring. Why is this heist concerning? While the return of these rare species is good news, the heist itself and the condition the birds returned in are concerning. Police believe the heist was the work of animal smugglers, since the thieves knew which birds would bring in the most money, and due to similar recent incidents. Animal trafficking can result in the depopulation of the species being smuggled. In fact, a break-in at a different zoo in the area in late March resulted in the deaths of many baby birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the suspect in the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo case didn't take the birds very far, where police discovered the birds was likely not their intended final location. When smugglers take animals across borders, they introduce invasive species to a new region. Smuggling an invasive species into a new country can destroy the ecological balance of the country the species arrives in and threaten local ecosystems. This can have a significant effect on local wildlife and plants, but it can greatly affect humans in the area, too. Invasive species create a wealth of changes in their new ecosystems that can change soil chemistry and threaten native species. Invasive species can also bring new diseases with them. What's being done about the zoo heists? Police questioned the arrested suspect, though what has happened since is unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are also continuing their investigations of similar zoo break-ins, as well as a known animal smuggling ring trafficking lion cubs and monkeys. 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. Its been two years since Nicholas Kernan was fatally shot while on the job in Cincinnatis Corryville neighborhood and justice still seems a distant prospect for his family. Kernan was killed in what appeared to be a random act of violence in broad daylight. His family says theyve been left to mourn with no answers. We still have no closure or justice, his aunt, Bonnie Kernan, said in a statement. We don't know why, nor do we understand why it takes so long to bring his murderer to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 43-year-old was found shot in the 2900 block of Bellevue Avenue on the afternoon of May 23, 2023. He was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died of his injuries, according to Cincinnati police. When the shooter approached him, Kernan was on the job with Uptown Rental Properties, where he had worked as a field technician since March 2022. Kernan was an avid Beatles fan who loved playing the bass guitar, dirt track racing and Christmastime, according to his family. He proposed to his wife on the observation deck of Carew Tower, his favorite downtown landmark. Nicholas Kernan and his wife, Melody Kernan, in a family photo. Nicholas Kernan, 43, was found shot while landscaping in Corryville on May 23, 2023. He later died at UC Medical Center. Investigators have yet to arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting. The last update that police gave about the case to reporters was in June 2023, when they released footage of a possible person of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man was recorded on video walking and running through the Corryville area on the day of the incident. He was wearing an olive-colored hoodie, a black face mask and shorts. Police described him as being between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10 and weighing between 140 and 160 lbs. While investigators stopped short of labeling the man a suspect, saying they only wanted to speak with him, it remains unclear whether they were ever able to contact him. The Enquirer reached out to Cincinnati police seeking an update on the case, but the department has yet to provide one. An image of a person of interest in the May 23, 2023, fatal shooting of Nicholas Kernan. Whether they find him or not, my kid is dead, Kim Kernan, Nicholas Kernans mom, said in the statement. She expressed frustration that people who know what happened have not come forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that a stolen gun was used in her son's killing and she wants there to be accountability for whoever left the weapon somewhere it could be taken. Nicholas was killed by a stolen gun and as long as that goes on, there will be a problem, Kim Kernan said. Things have to change. If you own a gun, you should be responsible for it. Police have urged anyone with information or who witnessed Kernan's killing to contact the Cincinnati Police Department's homicide unit at 513-352-3542 or CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nicholas Kernan's family still seeking justice 2 years after shooting A third person in Louisiana has been arrested and charged with helping the inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail last week, state police announced late Thursday. 59-year-old Connie Weeden is accused of sending cash via a cell phone app to Jermaine Donald, one of the 10 inmates who broke out of the Orleans Justice Center just after midnight last Friday. Weeden was arrested in Slidell, about 30 miles northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana State Police said in a news release. The additional arrest comes nearly a week after the brazen jailbreak through a hole behind a metal toilet and as authorities continue to search for five of the inmates. The five others have been recaptured and are being held without bond at Louisiana State Penitentiary, a maximum-security facility. The escapees face an array of charges, including aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment with a weapon and murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides sending cash, Weeden was in contact with Donald by phone both before and after the escape, state police said. Weeden faces one felony count of accessory after the fact, which carries the possibility of a fine up $500 and up to five years in prison, according to the state police release. Weeden was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. CNN is working to identify an attorney for Weeden. Others arrested in jailbreak A maintenance worker with the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, Sterling Williams, 33, was arrested Tuesday. Williams is accused of willfully and maliciously assisting with the jailbreak, according to an affidavit. He faces one count of malfeasance in office and 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape. This photo from the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office shows a inmate cell at the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans. Almost a dozen inmates escaped from the center. Note: CNN has blurred portions of this image. - Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office Two other people were arrested on suspicion of assisting some of the inmates after they escaped, Louisiana State Police said Wednesday. Like Weeden, they face a felony charge of accessory after the fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Fox News, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill suggested Williams involvement extended beyond the night of the escape. We think that it was more than just that night, she said. I cant really give all the details of times and dates, but we believe this person had multiple days of involvement. Authorities allege Williams played a key role in the breakout by turning off the water to the toilet near where the inmates escaped. Williams said inmate Antoine Massey threatened to shank him if he didnt turn off the water, according to an affidavit. Williams attorney, Michael Kennedy, said the worker was turning off water to an overflowing toilet after being told to do so and he is fully convinced of his clients innocence. Jail operations under scrutiny The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections is deploying at least 10 seasoned auditors to the Orleans Justice Center this week to investigate the escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audit will concentrate on jail operations, such as overall jail security, jail staffing and jail policy and procedures, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Gary Westcott said in a news release Tuesday. The escaped inmates have been identified as Corey Boyd, Dkenan Dennis, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Antoine Massey, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Gary Price, Leo Tate and Lenton Vanburen, CNN affiliate WVUE reported. - From New Orleans Police Department Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry tasked the department to audit the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office, to ensure they followed conditions necessary to ensure the safe, efficient, effective and legal operation of a jail facility, the release added. The last audit of the facility by the department was in 2014, according to the agency. Landry on Wednesday issued an executive order mandating an immediate and aggressive response across multiple state agencies to address the escape, which he called a major breach. He called for transparency and accountability in the jail facility and elsewhere in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who oversees the jail, announced Tuesday she is suspending her reelection campaign, just hours after fielding tough questions from local leaders at a tense city council meeting. I am temporarily suspending my re-election campaign. I cannot spend a moment putting politics over your needs, Hutson said in a statement posted on social media. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Murrill on Wednesday visited Orleans Justice Center as part of the ongoing investigation into the escape. CNNs Hanna Park and Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) Passengers aboard a Frontier Airlines flight heading from Orlando to Puerto Rico got a scare last month when a wheel broke off and hit one of the aircrafts engines. For a few minutes I thought it was the end of our story here on Earth, one passenger wrote after posting video of the frightening incident to social media. WATCH: Small waterspout spotted near Skyway Bridge The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the incident this week, stating that the landing gear wheel and a tire broke off as the plane was touching down in San Juan on April 15. (Credit: NTSB) According to the NTSB, the captain reported hearing a loud banging and noticed an engine failure displayed on the aircrafts monitor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plane quickly climbed back into the air before making a circle and coming down for a second landing attempt at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. Although a rough landing, passengers applauded and wiped away tears as they eventually touched down safely. Stairs were rolled up to the aircraft to help the passengers off and they were bussed to the terminal. Investigators later reported finding metal fragments from the wheel in the planes left engine, with damage noticeable on the fan blades and other areas. The incident remains under investigation. No injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The bombshell came in the form of a letter. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem wrote to Harvard University academic officials on Thursday to inform them that the Donald Trump administration was revoking their authority to enroll international students. The move escalates the White Houses ongoing harassment of the oldest and wealthiest institution of higher education in the United States, accusing it of inciting antisemitism and terrorism on its campus. To subdue the university, Washington officials have already frozen nearly $2.7 billion in federal funds and are threatening to rescind its tax-exempt status. The latest measure has shocked faculty and students at the prestigious university. Below is a series of questions and answers about an unprecedented attack on academic freedom at an icon of the Ivy League. Who is affected? The announcement affects Harvard Universitys Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which will no longer be able to enroll new international students. Those already enrolled in the program are being urged by the DHS to transfer to another university or risk losing their legal status in the country. According to the institutions own enrollment figures, there are approximately 6,800 international students at Harvard, roughly 27% of the student body. This figure has grown enormously (and is directly proportional to the high tuition that these students pay, if they dont receive scholarships): they have increased by 19.7% since 2010. When does the ban go into effect? In the letter, Noem said it was effective immediately. Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students, and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, the DHS said in a news release on Thursday. The measure is understood to affect the 2025/2026 academic year, following a threat made in April, the month in which classes ended for this year. It is unclear to what extent the summer course plans will change, which, as one of the teachers clarified this Thursday, are largely attended by international students. What does Noem want? Thursdays letter follows the back-and-forth between Harvard and the DHS in recent weeks. The department requested confidential information from the university about its international students. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus, Noem writes in her statement. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Trumps administration secretary is offering Harvard a way out and to regain SEVP certification, giving it 72 hours to provide authorities with the information theyre requesting, including video or audio recordings that could be used to identify individuals who participated in protests on the universitys campus in Cambridge in the last five years. How has Harvard reacted? With a statement. Shortly after Trumps latest attack became known, a spokesman named James Newton said it was retaliatory and unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably, Newton said. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission. Can the government do something like this? Its doubtful. Granting the visas that students need to pursue their studies falls under the jurisdiction of U.S. immigration authorities, so they could refuse to grant them to Harvard applicants. What raises even more doubts is whether they could do so without considering each case individually, raising concerns that lawsuits will arise, as has already happened with dozens of other executive actions adopted by the Trump administration. And now what? Several legal analysts are confident that Harvard will use those 72 hours to obtain an injunction to temporarily stop the revocation from going into effect. The university already did so last month to oppose the governments attempts to curtail its academic freedom. The prestigious institutions resilience to Trumps attacks, thanks in part to its extremely healthy financial system, has become a symbol and stands in contrast with the earlier capitulation of Columbia University in New York. The Department is already arresting and seeking to deport students for engaging in protected political activity it disfavors, warns Will Creeley, legal director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), in another statement. Were Harvard to capitulate to Secretary Noems unlawful demands, more students could face such consequences. The administrations demand for a surveillance state at Harvard is anathema to American freedom. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Steven Woodward believed his future only held two options: Either a cell or a casket. He made poor decisions, got involved with the wrong people and walked down a dangerous path that landed him behind bars on his 18th birthday. But Woodward said he wasnt born destined for crime. That life, he explained, was programmed into him since he was a child running around Springfields Forest Park neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres kids over here 15, 16, 13 years old selling drugs, toting guns, Woodward said. Its survival of the fittest. Weve got to throw on that cape at a young age. Woodward was given a second chance as he emerged into adulthood. Instead of serving years in prison on a felony charge, he was offered an opportunity in Hampden Countys Emerging Adult Court of Hope (EACH), a program that Woodward credits with saving his life. And on Thursday, in a courtroom filled with assistant district attorneys, social workers, counselors and friends who witnessed his nearly three-year journey through EACH, 20-year-old Woodward graduated the program a changed person. He left the courthouse with his felony charge dismissed, his record sealed and a new life ahead. A unique program Launched in 2020 by the Hampden County District Attorneys Office, the EACH program was created with the understanding of how difficult it is for a person to progress through life with a felony on their record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, the architect of EACH, said he built the program around the science of brain development noting that the brain matures well into a persons 20s. As a consequence of a less-than-fully developed brain, young people dont have the same understanding of consequences, said Gulluni. He and his staff designed EACH to intervene while young adults stand at a crossroads what Gulluni called the precipice before reaching a point of no return. The two-and-a-half-year specialty court aims to assist young felony offenders aged 18 to 24 turn their lives around by helping them find a career, locate stable housing, further their education and engage in therapy. Individuals enrolled in the program plead guilty to their felony charge and are released on probation while enrolled in the program. If a participant successfully makes these changes to their life they complete the program, have their felony charge dropped and their entire criminal history sealed. Employers, renters and anyone else who requests a background check cannot view their criminal record. There is no other post-conviction court program like EACH in the state of Massachusetts. Only a handful of similar courts exist in the country. I wanted to be somebody Hendrick Allende was the second participant to receive an EACH graduation certificate on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allende said hes blessed to have his freedom and is looking to become the provider he always wanted to be. I just want to have something to give back to my family, said Allende. At 17, he entered fatherhood around the same time he stepped into adulthood. Tired of the fast cash he made on the street and burdened by the responsibility of being a parent, Allende set his sights on a legitimate career. I always had the mindset I wanted to be somebody, just didnt know what, he said. Truck driving caught his attention. To Allende, it seemed liberating. Its freeing, driving around the country, Allende said, and it pays well too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days before he was scheduled to take his Commercial Driving License (CDL) exam, Allende was arrested and charged with a felony at 21 years old a major setback to his plans. Determined to get back on track, he enrolled in EACH. Now a father of three, Allende needed to secure steady employment while working through the program. I didnt know how hard it is to find a job with a felony. It took me seven months to get where Im at, he said. With support from EACH leaders and Roca a nonprofit that works with at-risk youth Allende found a job at a chemical tank wash cleaning service. Compton Durant, his supervisor, said Allende quickly earned his respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was up front with me about his situation, said Durant. Hes a young man, nobodys perfect. His felony wasnt something that was a deal breaker. Felony-free, Allende is now preparing to take his CDL exam in the coming weeks, with financial assistance from EACH and Roca. Im ready to start this career, he said. Hopefully, in the future, I can even open up a business in the city. Not long ago, Allende said he remembers seeing Woodward around town. Glad both of us made it out, he said. EACH Judge Kevin Maltby said both Allende and Woodward had their unique paths to graduation. Though they had setbacks, neither quit or gave up on themselves, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By graduating, they have passed the opportunity along to others waiting to enter the specialty court, Maltby said. I could not be more proud of them and the entire EACH team. Heartbreaks Not every EACH participants story has had a happy ending. Since its inception, 36 young adults with felony charges have been accepted into the program. Thirteen are currently enrolled. Woodward and Allende represent the eighth and ninth graduates. According to the Hampden County District Attorneys Office, 14 participants failed to complete the program. The reasons vary struggles with addiction, recidivism, or an unwillingness to make lasting changes. One participant, David Ballard, was shot and killed while still in the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballards story, District Attorney Gulluni said, was a heartbreaking reminder of whats at stake. There was no way we were going to work with this high-risk population and be completely successful with each and every person, Gulluni said. But if we can affect the lives of one, two, or three young people who were wayward, who were hopeless I think all the toil and the investment in EACH will be worth it. Building a life Woodwards journey through EACH wasnt just about staying out of jail it was about building a life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He earned his HiSET, a high school equivalency diploma and moved into safe housing to distance himself from old influences. Most recently, he began a carpentry apprenticeship. I just did a trailer, a double-wide trailer, Woodward said. We laid down all the flooring, redid everything, all the cuts on the house, the doors. Hes hopeful the apprenticeship will turn into a lifelong career. Im just always trying to be open to new experiences, he said. Graduation was bittersweet. Woodward lost several friends during his time in the program people who didnt get a second chance. Im emotionally regulated, he said. Without [EACH], I wouldnt be the person I am. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But more than anything, Woodward is grateful to be able to enjoy his youth something he once thought was lost. Ive been going to the water park, he said. Ive been on a bracelet for years. Havent been able to do any of this. Tristan Smith produced a documentary on the program, EACH premiered at New York Universitys 2025 News & Doc Film Festival. The film also screened at the Easthampton Film Festival and the Massachusetts International Film Festival. Some material from the documentary was used in the reporting of this article. More News Read the original article on MassLive. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Thousands of protesters braved a rainstorm in the Serbian capital on Friday to join a rally against a government crackdown on universities that have played a key role in months-long anti-corruption protests that continue to pressure the Balkan countrys populist government. The protesters gathered outside the Serbian government building in downtown Belgrade demanding that the authorities revoke measures brought so far against protesting university professors and deans, and abolish plans to change education laws they say would scrap the autonomy of the state-run universities. University students, backed by their professors, have led massive protests that started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread government corruption that they say fueled negligence and flawed work on the station building renovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic has accused the students and university professors of allegedly working for unspecified Western powers to oust the government and destroy Serbia. Vucic formally wants Serbia to join the EU but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms while boosting ties with China and Russia. Vucic has so far dismissed a student demand for an early election as the way out of a months-long political crisis. Serbia's protesting universities across four main cities on Thursday received support from the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas who met with student representatives and said afterwards that the autonomy of the universities must be respected. The government has cut salaries for the protesting professors and threatened to defund state-run faculties where classes have been suspended for six months. Authorities are also reportedly working on a new law that professors say would pave the way for the government to appoint faculty deans, effectively abolishing university autonomy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vladan Djokic, the head dean of Belgrade University, has been questioned by police and accused of abusing his position. Student protesters, meanwhile, have faced attacks by pro-government loyalists and pressure from police and state security. Authorities have shown that they are ready to destroy higher education in Serbia in order to stay in power, sociology professor Marija Babovic told the crowd. Higher education and universities are now more endangered than ever in recent history. Serbia's protesting students have been seeking accountability for the deaths of 16 people in Novi Sad on Nov. 1 and the respect of the rule of law in Serbia. With their call for justice, the students have garnered huge support, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to their protests and shaking Vucic's tight grip on power. ST. LOUIS Nearly a week after deadly tornadoes ripped through Missouri, thousands are still without power. And while Ameren Missouri crews are working around the clock, frustration is growing for those still in the dark. In the heart of north St. Louis, the work is far from mover. Ameren Missouri crews are still on the ground, restoring power one pole, block, and home at a time. As you look around, the devastation is tremendous. Where were standing is basically in the epicenterof the tornado, Amanda Brittingham, Ameren Missouris director of customer care, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brittingham said linemen are working 17-hour shifts. Theyre out in the elements. Theyre tired. They have to keep their mind sharp. And so, we make sure, just from that safety perspective, to make sure we get them seven hours of rest every day, she said. For nearly a week, residents in the most devastated parts of the city are living without lights, air conditioning, or a way to cook. But among the hardship, there is hope. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News We are charging phones. But the lack of power has been a major detriment to the community, resident Rhonda Jones said. All the food has spoiled, and we have been providing food two times a day here at our pop-up tornado response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a few doors down from the utility trucks, neighbors are stepping up in big ways. Jay Johnson, the owner of Kings Auto Repair, rented a generator, not to reopen for business, but to feed families in the neighborhood. Were here to serve the community right now, Johnson said. Were just trying to make sure everyone gets a hot meal, cold water, necessities for home, and, you know, a microwave, a charging station, whatever we can help with while people are without power. Ameren Missouri urges families still in the dark to report their outage again, especially if the rest of the block has power. Crews have been on site since the storm hit nearly a week ago. At the height of the storm, 200,000 customers across Ameren Missouris service territory didnt have power. Power has since been restored to about 90% of those customers. A spokesman for the utility said they hope to have power restored for all customers by Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALABAMA (WDHN) The United States Attorneys office said three men have been sentenced for a bribery scheme at Redstone Arsenal. A federal judge sentenced Coogan Preston of South Carolina, and Francisco Guerra and Jason Ingram of Alabama. Both Preston and Guerra were sentenced to 60 months, but Ingram got sentenced to 24 months. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe a public official in December of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the scheme began in 2016 and continued until 2021. Guerra agreed to give money and valuable items to Preston, who was a government contracting official working at Redstone Arsenal at the time. In return, Preston identified subcontracting opportunities for companies owned and operated by Guerra. The Department of the Armys Criminal Investigation Division, ICE, the IRS, Homeland Security Investigations and several U.S attorneys overlooked 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 WDHN - wdhn.com. A thrill-seeker was rushed to a hospital after deputies said he jumped from the top of a 90-foot waterfall in Oregon. Deputies received 911 texts at 7:39 p.m. May 18 from Abiqua Falls, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. The Utah man went to the popular spot with a group of people, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office told McClatchy News by phone May 22. He ended up with serious injuries after jumping into the pool of water below the falls, deputies said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescuers had to reach him in steep, heavily wooded terrain, deputies said. He was put on a Life Flight helicopter and taken to a hospital. His injuries are unknown as of May 22, deputies told McClatchy News. Deputies said they suspect the man jumped from the waterfall after seeing videos on social media of someone else doing it. This incident serves as an important reminder to exercise caution in wilderness areas: always have a plan, know your limits, and avoid taking unnecessary risks, deputies said in the post. Abiqua Falls is 92 feet tall and surrounded by jagged and column-like basalt rock formations, according to the Northwest Waterfall Survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a popular hiking area, and visitors can hike less than a mile out-and-back to see the waterfall, according to AllTrails. It is about a 50-mile drive south from Portland. Pair cling to tree near waterfall as boat swept away in raging river, rescuers say Body found weeks after 20-year-old kayaker vanished over waterfall, OR cops say Hiker plunges 100 feet at CAs Devils Slide and has to climb farther for help Planning a summer blowout? Dont count on booking an Airbnb to host it. The popular short-term rental platform says it is once again deploying anti-party technology to block high-risk bookings. The system uses machine learning to screen guests based on warning signs, such as short stays, last-minute reservations and how far they live from the listing. If a booking is flagged, users are blocked from renting entire homes though alternative accommodation options are suggested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move is part of the companys push to promote responsible travel and help hosts safeguard their spaces during peak demand. Since launching a global party ban in 2020, Airbnb says reports of disruptive events have dropped by half. Airbnb faces a growing backlash in Europe This is the fourth year Airbnb has used the system. In 2024, the company claims it stopped over 51,000 would-be partiers during the Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends in the US two of the most popular travel weekends in the country. While Airbnb cracks down on parties, the wider impacts of short-term rentals remain under scrutiny. That is especially true in European cities where the platform is blamed for rising rents, housing shortages and neighbourhood disruption. Czechia, for example, has introduced limits on short-term rentals like Airbnb in its city centres to cut down on noise disturbances a move welcomed by district councillors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amsterdam limits property owners to 60 rental days per year, one of many efforts to address overtourism, noise pollution and housing issues before they worsen. The city also introduced a Stay Away campaign and interactive quiz to test visitors on behavioural etiquette to clamp down on rowdy parties and noise. Related But few places have made Airbnb as big of a flashpoint as Spain especially Barcelona. The Catalonian capital already required permits for tourist rentals and imposed taxes and rental limits before it set out to ban the platform entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barcelona later announced plans to eliminate all 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments by 2028. The move was made to prioritise housing for permanent residents and reduce the kinds of disturbances that have plagued its downtown, as well as cities such as Seville and Valencia. Spains central government recently upped the pressure on Airbnb, ordering 65,000 holiday listings removed nationwide for failure to follow rules and regulations. Airbnb offers other tools to prevent disruptive stays Founded in 2007 as a peer-to-peer platform, Airbnb has grown into a globe-spanning ecosystem that rivals the hotel industry. But as the platform has boomed, it has faced pressure from cities struggling to balance tourism growth with quality of life. Airbnb says its anti-party screening is just one element of a broader strategy to ensure responsible stays and support hosts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The platform also uses machine learning to screen global reservations for risky bookings and offers free noise sensors, a round-the-clock safety line and a support channel for law enforcement to report concerns. Questions remain about the efficacy of these tools, but the message is clear: if you're planning to party, dont expect Airbnb to roll out the welcome mat. "False flags" are a staple of conspiracy theories. Many infamous attacks and threats, the theory goes, were cooked up by the government itself to spread fear and justify crackdowns. But a bomb threat against Los Angeles City Hall turned out to be exactly that kind of schemealbeit a poorly cooked up one. Brian K. Williams, former deputy mayor for public safety, pleaded guilty on Thursday to calling in a bomb threat during a meeting on October 3, 2024. According to his plea deal, Williams used Google Voice to place a call to his work phone, then told the Los Angeles Police Department chief of staff and texted other officials that the "caller" had threatened to blow up city hall. Williams implied that the threat was sent in by a pro-Palestinian activist. "I'm tired of the city support of Israel. I have decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the Rotunda," he quoted the non-existent caller as saying. The meeting was during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and a few days before the anniversary of the October 2023 attacks on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After police searched city hall and found no bomb, Williams showed them the call record from the Google Voice number. He then texted other officials to say "There is no need for us to evacuate the building." But the investigation of the threat didn't end there. The Los Angeles Times reports that detectives "conducted surveillance that led them to conclude that Williams was responsible for the bomb threat." They then turned over the investigation to the FBI, which raided Williams' house in December 2024. He was placed on administrative leave immediately after. As deputy mayor for public safety, Williams oversaw the Los Angeles Police Department as well as the Fire Department, Emergency Management Department, airport police, and seaport police. He was promoted to the job in February 2023 from his previous post as executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. Williams "not only betrayed the residents of Los Angeles, but responding officers, and the integrity of the office itself, by fabricating a bomb threat," Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said in a press release. "Government officials are held to a heightened standard as we rely on them to safeguard the city. I'm relieved that Mr. Williams has taken responsibility for his inexplicable actions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inexplicable indeed. The plea agreement didn't explain William's motive, and his lawyer Dmitry Gorin simply told the Los Angeles Times that the "aberrational incident was the product of personal issues which Mr. Williams is addressing appropriately, and is not representative of his character or dedication to the city of Los Angeles." It's one thing for the government to exaggerate dangers, mix up different kinds of threats, or get swept up in mass panic. It's another for a government official to make up a lie from scratch. Yet that's what really happened in Los Angeles. The post That Time L.A.'s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Called in a Bomb Threat on His Own City Hall appeared first on Reason.com. A message sent from the doomed OceanGate Titan submersible gave false hope when it arrived moments after the vessel had imploded. New footage shows that Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGates chief executive Stockton Rush, heard a loud bang while on board the support vessel but did not realise what had happened. What was that bang? she asked, not realising that her husband had just been killed alongside Titans four other passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She then received a text message from the sub, which was at a depth of 3,300 metres as it descended to the wreck of the Titanic, saying that it had dropped two weights. The message reassured Mrs Rush that the expedition was proceeding normally, but in reality it took longer to receive than the sound of the implosion. Mr Rush was joined by Hamish Harding, a British explorer, Henri Nargeolet, a French diver, and Shahzada Dawood, the British-Pakistan businessman who took his son, Suleman, on a visit to the Titanic wreck in June 2023. The vessel disappeared on June 18 while around 3,800 metres below the surface of the Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A four-day search for life ensued, with the eventual discovery of a debris field containing parts of the Titan found around 500 metres from the bow of the liner. The sub had suffered a catastrophic implosion, instantly killing all those on board. Titan passengers (from left to right, top to bottom) Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Suleman Dawood and his father Shahzada Dawood - Joel Saget/AFP The footage of Mrs Rush, who ran OceanGate with her husband, was recently obtained by the US Coast Guard, which has been investigating the subs failure for two years. It shows her on board the Titans support ship, sitting in front of a computer used to communicate with the sub. The clip was shown in Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster, a BBC documentary, which also revealed that the carbon fibre used to build the vessel had started to break down the year before the June 2023 expedition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warnings about the safety of Titans design were raised prior to the dive. A former OceanGate employee said a safety incident was inevitable, telling investigators that the company had bypassed all standard safety rules. Titan never went through an independent safety assessment, despite concerns over the carbon fibre used to build the hull. The US Coast Guard believes the carbon fibre layers began to break down during a previous expedition the 80th such dive the sub had made. Passengers on that dive said they heard a loud bang, which Rush put down to the sub shifting its frame. But the US Coast Guard now believes it would have been caused by delamination, which involves a material breaking down into thinner layers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the subs implosion, its wreckage was scattered across the seabed of the Atlantic, as was Mr Rushs clothing and business cards. U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Christine Dawood, who lost her husband Shahzada Dawood and 19-year-old son Suleman, told the BBC: I dont think that anybody who goes through loss and such a trauma can ever be the same. A spokesman for OceanGate said: We again offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who died on June 18 2023, and to all those impacted by the tragic accident. Since the tragedy occurred, OceanGate permanently wound down its operations and focused its resources on fully cooperating with the investigations. It would be inappropriate to respond further while we await the agencies reports. 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. Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 23, according to the Tribunes archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 92 degrees (1977) Low temperature: 37 degrees (1917) Precipitation: 1.23 inches (1995) Snowfall: Trace (1889) 1926: Chicago Cubs center fielder Lewis Hack Wilson hit the longest home run ever knocked at Wrigley Field (to that point anyway) in the fifth inning of a 14-8 win against the Boston Braves. The ball hit the center field scoreboard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that day, however, Wilson was arrested in an alleged disorderly flat at 803 Sheridan Road, that was alleged to be a speakeasy. He was charged with disorderly conduct, but the case was dismissed. 1954: Siwash, the duck mascot of the U.S. Marines 2nd Division during World War II, died in Lincoln Park Zoo. The death was attributed to a liver ailment, which veterans said had nothing to do with Siwashs fondness for beer. The female duck was brought to Chicago by former Marine Francis J. Fagan who had won it in a tavern raffle in New Zealand and used her to help with recruitment duties for the Korean War. Broadcaster Jack Brickhouse in 1967 recalled attending a 1944 celebration for Siwash at The Drake. So there she was, perched on a baby high-chair, being feted by half the bigwigs in Chicago. And, do you know, that darned duck quacked and drank beer and quacked, all thru lunch. Siwash had been expected at a Marine reunion in San Diego, so the duck was preserved quickly so it could posthumously attend the event. Afterward, it was donated to the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the ducks condition deteriorated rapidly (perhaps due to the hasty taxidermy job), the museum told the Tribune, and is no longer part of its collection. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Oprah Winfrey 10 moments from her Chicago years 2005: Actor Tom Cruise jumped on a couch during an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show while exclaiming his love for actress Katie Holmes. Want more vintage Chicago? Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com The lifeline on which more than two million Gazans depend is up in the air. The United States and Israel are determined to push forward with an initiative that would control aid distribution in the Strip. Experts warn that its implementation would displace the United Nations, the main humanitarian actor in the territory, and leave one of the largest humanitarian crises on the planet in private hands. According to its supporters, this new mechanism which is expected to come into effect at some unspecified time around the end of May would ensure that not a single gram of flour reaches Hamas. President Trump called for creative solutions that would secure peace, protect Israel, leave Hamas empty-handed, and deliver life-saving assistance to the people of Gaza, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times. Due to his inspirational leadership, we are steps away from a major win for everyone, the spokesperson emphasized, urging the UN to cooperate with the initiative. The project, which includes U.S. contractors, is formally promoted by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an opaque entity with unknown funding. Its executive director, Jake Wood, is a former U.S. Marine with experience in humanitarian distribution during natural disasters, but much of the rest of the organization remains a mystery. Israeli soldiers and foreign mercenaries who have recently been seen landing in Israel would secure sterile zones free of Hamas presence, from which the distribution would be carried out. Israeli media reports predict that the North Carolina-based firm UG Solutions will be in charge of distributing the aid. The group has experience with some checkpoints in the Gaza Strip during the short truce that ended in March, but none with crowd management. This conflicts with the proposed mechanisms plan, which would establish four distribution points in the southern half of the enclave. Each of these points would serve 300,000 people, something critics see as difficult to carry out safely in a territory rife with hunger and desperation. It is unknown what internal protocols the security agents, paid by this Washington-driven and Israeli-backed project, would operate under, nor what they would do if they lost control of starving crowds. In 2007, men from the U.S. security company Blackwater now Constellis Holdings killed 17 Iraqis in Baghdad while protecting a U.S. Embassy convoy. Displace the population Others see the initiative as a way to displace the civilian population. It is simply a way to corral Palestinians into a smaller piece of land, a senior official of the Palestinian National Authority, based in Ramallah (West Bank), warned the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. We fear it aims to pave the way for mass expulsion. Israel wont need to issue evacuation orders. It simply places food bowls, as it does with stray cats, and hopes people will come. From there, they are just one step away from opening the border with Egypt and inviting the population to cross. On Saturday, a group of clans in Gaza large families with significant social influence rejected the plan, arguing that it seeks to militarize humanitarian efforts and transform them into tools of control and espionage. Its implementation in the Palestinian enclave, they warned, constitutes a red line. The UN has stated that it will not cooperate with the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, whose project is seen by some as a continuation of the occupation of the territory. Tamara Alrifai, director of communications for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), states that an internationally recognized humanitarian system already exists that works when there is political will, and denounces that the mechanism the United States and Israel intend to employ would contravene the principles of independence, humanity, and neutrality. Humanitarian aid, Alrifai laments in statements to EL PAIS, has been used as a weapon of war since the beginning of the offensive, violating international humanitarian law. The spokesperson adds that Israeli allegations of the diversion of humanitarian materials to Hamas are part of a systematic disinformation campaign. For years, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have sought to undermine everything related to UNRWA. However, the recent entry of trucks into the Gaza Strip does not remove doubts about the imminent future of humanitarian action protecting millions of Gazans. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Mark Meador recently insinuated that his agency may investigate nonprofits and academic institutions that object to antitrust enforcement actions without disclosing their donors for deceptive practices. While Meador may think it's OK to probe parties for disagreeing with him, the FTC's consumer protection remit does not sanction prosecuting those who reject the commissioner's antitrust ideology. Meador recently reposted a video of him discussing the "academic whitewashing" of antitrust during an event hosted by American Compass and the Conservative Partnership Institute on May 1. (While no full recording of the event exists at press time, an employee of American Compass tells Reason that the clip is from the aforementioned event.) Meador complains about academics "renting out their Ph.D. [and] their reputation to advocate for the interests of giant corporations." He rightly acknowledged that people are free to do whatever they want but then said that the FTC brings "enforcement actions against influencers and reviewers who advocate for products without disclosing that they're being paid for it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meador wondered aloud whether nonprofit employees and academics who advocate "for the interests of certain corporations or mergers in their white papers and their op-eds without ever disclosing that they're being paid to do so" may also be guilty of deceptive practices. He did not state that the FTC would bring enforcement actions against academics but said it's "worth investigating." While Meador may think "it's an interesting question" whether he may prosecute his ideological opponents, the Supreme Court has already provided an answer. Eugene Volokh, professor emeritus at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, understands the ruling in NAACP v. Alabama (1958) as holding that, "when it comes to speech that is neither commercial advertising for a productnor specifically election-related, broader First Amendment precedents would indeed preclude such disclosure requirements." Nadine Strossen, former president of the American Civil Liberties Union and senior fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, tells Reason that "the Supreme Court has expressly distinguished between commercial and other communications." Citing Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel of Supreme Court of Ohio (1985), Strossen says "compulsory disclosure regarding non-commercial expression is presumptively unconstitutional." John Vecchione, senior litigation counsel for the New Civil Liberties Alliance, says that what Meador proposes the FTC do runs afoul of the Supreme Court's decision in National Rifle Association of American v. Vullo (2024). In this case, the Court unanimously ruled that "the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech." Vecchione says that, were the FTC to investigate nonprofits for their speech, it "would be stopped so fast your head would spin." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meador is wrong to suggest that the FTC, which regulates commercial speech, can police the kind engaged in by academics and nonprofits. Ethan Yang, adjunct research fellow at the American Institute of Economic Research, explains that "there is a vast difference between a [firm] paying a celebrity to endorse their product and an academic who is employed by a university or non-profit that takes diverse donations from a variety of different entities." Jessica Melugin, director of the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, tells Reason that "Meador is conflating commercial speechwith academic speech" and that government intervention in the latter is obviously inappropriate. It is unclear how serious Meador is about prosecuting those whose opinions he deems ill-motivated. Regardless of Meador's intentions, he's "cast[ing] those who disagree with him as only motivated by material interests and not intellectually sincere," says Yang. Instead of speculating about the motives of his ideological opponents, Meador should compete in the open marketplace of ideasafter all, his job is to preserve competition. The post A Top Antitrust Enforcer Is Open To Prosecuting People Who Disagree With Him appeared first on Reason.com. A university in Hong Kong is extending unconditional offers to international students at Harvard after the Trump administration moved to block the Ivy League college from enrolling them. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Friday announced an open invitation to foreign students currently studying at Harvard, as well as those with confirmed offers, to study there instead. The attempt to lure students away from one of the most prestigious schools in America comes amid Trumps sweeping attacks on U.S. educational institutions, which Beijing says are damaging Washingtons international standing. As a leading international institution ranked among the top universities globally, HKUST is extending this opportunity to ensure talented students can pursue their educational goals without disruption, the university said in a statement. We will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admissions, and academic support to ensure a seamless transition for interested students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard enrolled more than 1,200 students from China in 2024, according to its data. HKUST is ranked 66th in the world by the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, while Harvard holds the third spot. Thousands of foreign students at Harvard will be affected by the retaliatory attacks from the Trump administration. / John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images HKUSTs move comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) escalates its feud with Americas oldest university by barring it from enrolling new international students and forcing current visa holders to transfer. DHS claims Harvards leadership has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to intimidate Jewish students. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Trump administration must hold Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a privilegenot a rightfor universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing. It refused, Noem said. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the administration's attacks on Harvard should Chinese government officials have also pushed back against the accusations that it is conspiring with Harvard. A spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry said Beijing has always opposed the politicization of educational collaboration, adding that the Trump administrations crackdown on Harvards international students will only damage the image and international credibility of itself. On Friday, Harvard announced it is suing the Trump administration over the decision to revoke its authority to enroll international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint, filed in a Massachusetts court, argues that the decision will have an immediate and devastating impact on more than 7,000 visa holders currently enrolled at the university. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student bodyinternational students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission, the filing states. Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard. Harvard is also suing the administration over the freezing of more than $2.2 billion in federal funding and grants after the university defied a series of government demands to restrict student activism and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. TOPEKA (KSNT) Investigators have released new information after officers with the Topeka Police Department (TPD) responded to a late-night domestic disturbance call that ended with shots being fired. Around 11:50 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 officers responded to a disturbance call in the 1500 block of SW 24th Street. According to TPD, officers made contact with the suspect and the individual started shooting from the home. The TPD said officers fired back in response. The suspect surrendered to officers at the scene and was taken into custody. The TPD reported that a firearm had been found at the scene. No officers or citizens were injured in this accident, according to the TPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Restaurant opening at Lake Perry following renovations The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issued a report on Friday, May 23 on the shooting stating that a 33-year-old Topeka man was involved in the event. Three TPD officers fired shots during the incident after the Topeka man allegedly began shooting from the doorway of his home. The 33-year-old was arrested for aggravated domestic battery and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. The KBI said an independent investigation is underway to discover what happened in the lead-up to the shooting. Evidence will be presented to the Shawnee County District Attorney once this investigation is concluded. This incident marks the second officer-involved shooting in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to email telltpd@topeka.org or contact the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at 785-368-9400. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007. You can also make anonymous tips online at www.p3tips.com/128. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Violent crime has taken a toll across Topeka for the past few years. Thats why the Topeka Police Department (TPD) is taking a new approach to reduce the violence. Officers held a picnic at Little Oakland Park on Thursday. Residents got the chance to speak with police on new strategies to crack down on violent crime. It comes after TPD announced a new anti-crime initiative last week. The goal is to unite neighbors and law enforcement. Topeka Police Chief Chris Vallejo says the focus is prevention, high visibility, and engagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data that we have, the maps that we have back there about where to put police officers, Vallejo said. But talk to the people that live within those communities to get what I call the rest of the story. Topeka police to launch new anti-crime initiative with Oakland picnic Vallejo says they plan to have other community engagement events in the future. Nice to know that they have our back and its nice to like see like the more human side of them, more personable or approachable, Oakland resident Anne Knabe said. You know, I think people are more inclined to talk to them then. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The Master Musicians Festival and The Virginia present 606 Strong: A Tornado Relief Benefit concert from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at The Virginia in downtown Somerset. On May 16, a powerful EF-4 tornado tore through Pulaski County, leaving a path of destruction that continued into Laurel County. The damage has been devastating, and both communities are now facing the long road to recovery. The benefit concert aims to uplift and inspire hope with featured Kentucky native and local musicians: Sundy Best, Hunter Flynn, Cody Lee Meece, Jordan Allen, Laurel Lewis, Spooky Fox and Tyler Miniard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All proceeds will go to United Way of South Central Kentucky and United Way of Laurel County. Price of tickets is $25.86 each, which includes fees and tax. Tickets can be purchased at https://thevirginiaky.com/606-strong-tornado-relief-benefit/. The event is for all ages. Attendees 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All parties must present ID. Seating is reserved and there are no refunds. The venue is standing only. A Ugandan human rights activist, arrested in Tanzania after travelling to the country to support an opposition politician at a trial for treason, has been tortured and dumped at the border, according to an NGO. Ugandan rights group Agora Discourse said on Friday that activist and journalist Agather Atuhaire had been abandoned at the border by Tanzanian authorities and showed signs of torture. The statement echoes reports regarding a Kenyan activist detained at the same time and released a day earlier, and supports complaints of a crackdown on democracy across East Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atuhaire had travelled to Tanzania alongside Kenyan anticorruption campaigner Boniface Mwangi to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who appeared in court on Monday. Both were arrested shortly after the hearing and held incommunicado. Tanzanian police had initially told local rights groups that the pair would be deported by air. However, Mwangi was discovered on Thursday on a roadside in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border. Agora Discourse said it was relieved to inform the public that Agather has been found. However, the rights groups cofounder Jim Spire Ssentongo confirmed to the AFP news agency on Friday that there were indications of torture. Worse than dogs Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been accused of increasing authoritarianism, amid rising concerns regarding democracy across East Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Activists travelling to Lissus trail accused Tanzania of collaborating with Kenya and Uganda in their total erosion of democratic principles. Several high-profile political arrests have highlighted the rights record of Hassan, who plans to seek re-election in October. The Tanzanian leader has said that her government is committed to respecting human rights. However, she warned earlier this week that foreign activists would not be tolerated in the country as Lissu appeared in court. Do not allow ill-mannered individuals from other countries to cross the line here, Hassan instructed security services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several activists from Kenya, including a former justice minister, said they were denied entry to Tanzania as they tried to travel to attend the trial. Following his return to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Mwangi said that he and Atuhaire had suffered a brutal experience. We were both treated worse than dogs, chained, blindfolded and underwent a very gruesome torture, he told reporters. The Government of Tanzania cannot hide behind national sovereignty to justify committing serious crimes and human rights violations against its own citizens and other East Africans, the International Commission of Jurists in Kenya said in a statement. Tory Lanez's dad has confirmed that he is being transferred to another correctional facility after being stabbed 14 times at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi. The rapper sparked concerns among his fans and family members last week after the brutal stabbing left him fighting for his life. Following the incident, there have been new calls for Lanez's release from prison amid new evidence from his legal team, which they believe proves his innocence. Tory Lanez's Dad Confirms His Transfer To New Facility Christopher Victorio/imageSPACE / MEGA Lanez's dad, Sonstar Peterson, appeared on NewsNation's "CUOMO" on Wednesday and revealed that the rapper was being transferred to another prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked to confirm if his son was being moved, Peterson said, "Yes, that is correct. It's one of the things that we've been concerned about." He continued, "But he's being moved because it's a part of the prison's protocol that when a situation like this happens, I think they believe it's better for him to be in another facility and so he's being moved as we speak." Tory Lanez's Family Worried About Safety And Media Speculation MEGA However, Peterson expressed his family's concern for Lanez's safety and well-being, noting, "One thing, of course, we are concerned about is because my son is a high-profile person and when things like this happen there's always some kind of weird news going out to spin it to be something else, you know, 'maybe he went crazy in the prison and they moved him.'" He added, "You know, there is a lot of stuff that happens, but the truth being that he is being moved right now as we speak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson also said, "We have concerns because no. 1, he has just been discharged not many days ago from the hospital and he was discharged with 14 stab wounds, an incident that collapsed his lungs." Sonstar Peterson Defends Tory Lanez's Character MEGA Peterson was thankful that his son was "recovering" but lamented that he had to go on a lengthy journey to a new facility. He said, "Thankfully, he is recovering. He is doing well. But now he has to take a three-hour ride and he is the victim in this situation. Those are things that really concern me." He continued, "[Tory Lanez] is the victim. He never provoked this incident in prison and anybody that knows him. in fact, I have met many people who went there to visit him, my wife and I, that will tell you that he is someone who is liked. He is not someone who is a troublemaker." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson revealed, "I was with the COs, the correctional officers in the hospital he was taken after this incident and the COs spoke to me and they said when they heard on the intercom that they had to transport somebody to the hospital and it was him. The guy looked at me and said, 'Why him? Of all people.' Because he doesn't do anything like that to warrant these kinds of things." Inside Lanez's Stabbing Incident And Recovery Lanez is recovering after being stabbed 14 times in a violent prison attack on May 12, 2025, at the California Correctional Institution. The assault left him with collapsed lungs and critical injuries. Lanez was rushed to a hospital in Bakersfield and is now in stable condition, breathing on his own and able to speak. His team confirmed he suffered wounds to his back, torso, head, and face. The attacker was identified as 42-year-old Santino Casio, a convicted killer with a long history of violence. Casio has been placed in restricted housing, and an investigation is underway. Despite the trauma, Lanez remains in good spirits and is thankful for the prayers and support he's received. Calls For Lanez's Freedom Intensify After New Evidence Live on fox 11 LA : New Tory Lanez evidenceKelseys bodyguard comes forward and confirms that Kelsey was the one who shot the Megan. He chose not to say anything because he wanted to protect her up until recently. pic.twitter.com/gUc5mDdawL We Got The Word (@whatstheeword) May 14, 2025 Calls for Lanezs release are growing louder after new evidence suggested he may not have shot Megan Thee Stallion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unite the People, a nonprofit legal advocacy group, revealed that Megan's former best friend, Kelsey Harriss former bodyguard, claimed he overheard her confessing to firing the gun during the 2020 incident. This aligned with testimony from trial witness Sean Kelly. Attorney Walter Roberts questioned why only Lanezs DNA was tested despite multiple people being in the vehicle. The controversy caught political attention as U.S. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to issue a pardon, citing flawed evidence and bias. Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion voiced frustration over renewed scrutiny, stating shes tired of reliving her trauma. She reaffirmed Lanezs guilt, emphasizing the courts ruling and rejecting the new claims as recycled conspiracy theories. The case continues to divide public opinion, with the latest developments sparking debate online. NEWCOMB, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) An Adirondack town where Teddy Roosevelt used to go on vacation has a full day of festivities planned Saturday. New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley announced Friday that Newcomb in Essex County will open its newly completed community and historical center for a day of events May 24. The center was funded primarily through the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, which has helped towns across the state, including current plans for Plattsburghs downtown area. Welch, Sanders, Gillibrand urge federal funding for Lake Champlain programs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event will start at 9:00 a.m. with a ceremony to lay a wreath at Newcombs Vietnam memorial, and continue with pickleball, softball, art activities, and finally live music featuring North Country local soft rock band Hammerlok until late in the evening. There will be plenty of food options too, from pizza and ice cream to a student bake sale. In its regular operation, the 4,850-square-foot community center will include local cultural exhibits, meeting spaces, and a commercial kitchen for the Aging Senior Meal Program in Essex County, while also being able to host community events. The New York Department of State calls it a gathering place for locals and tourists alike. NYS gives funding for animal shelter improvements This project serves as a shining example of how North Country communities can leverage their scenic and natural assets, while also celebrating their rich culture and history, said Mosley. This new community center will serve as an accessible and inviting public gathering space and a central hub for the areas natural resources for both residents and visitors for generations to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. A Maine man has been cited following a tractor-trailer rollover crash on an Interstate 95 on-ramp on Thursday, state police said Friday. Dean Merritt, 54, of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, suffered minor injuries in the crash. He was cited for a violation of negligent driving. At 7:58 a.m. Thursday, a state trooper came upon a rollover crash involving a tractor-trailer truck along the on-ramp from the Portsmouth Traffic Circle to I-95 northbound in Portsmouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary investigation at the scene foud that Merritt had been driving a 2014 Peterbilt 388 truck towing a 2003 Heil Trailer, carrying concrete mixing dust, when he failed to negotiate a curve, causing the truck and trailer to cross the left shoulder of the on-ramp and overturn. Merritt was assisted out of the truck by responding troopers and taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. While The on-ramp was closed for approximately four hours while troopers investigated the scene and emergency personnel worked to remove the tractor-trailer and clean up the debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All lanes of travel were reopened at 12:03 p.m. Thursday. Portsmouth Police and Fire, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation responded to the scene to assist state police. The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Jacob Benjamin at Jacob.A.Benjamin@DOS.NH.GOV. 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 DENVER (KDVR) While Independence Pass is opening at its earliest date in six years, Rocky Mountain National Park announced Thursday that Trail Ridge Road will likely not reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend. For many, a trip up into the high country and particularly on Trail Ridge Road, marks a successful visit to Colorado during Memorial Day. But having the road closed on the holiday is also far from unheard of: Last year, the roadway reopened after the winter on May 31. The year before, it was May 27. Is your vehicle legal to drive on I-70 this winter? Heres what to check Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Park Service said that road-clearing crews have faced setbacks from previous progress. Wind has been the main challenge since last week, causing low visibility, snow drifting back over cleared areas, and a thick ice layer beneath drifted snow, the Rocky Mountain National Park Service posted to Facebook. Snow and overnight freezing temperatures are forecast above 10,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park over the weekend. The 11-mile road is located above 11,500 feet, making it the highest continuous paved road in the U.S., cresting at 12,183 feet above sea level, according to the park, with few guardrails and no shoulders. Rocky Mountain National Parks Trail Ridge Road on May 21, 2025. (Courtesy of Rocky Mountain National Park) Rocky Mountain National Parks Trail Ridge Road on May 21, 2025. (Courtesy of Rocky Mountain National Park) Trail Ridge Road historically opens in late May, weather permitting, the park service says on the Rocky Mountain National Park website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the park website, RMNP staff will update the roads recorded phone line, 970-586-1222, when the road status changes. There are also other scenic roads at RMNP, including Bear Lake Road and Endovalley Road. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Residents of the Grace Pearson scholarship hall and other students protest Feb. 26, 2025, outside of Strong Hall in support of gender-inclusive housing. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA An interview with a news outlet cost a former University of Kansas resident assistant his job and his home. Now, hes suing the university for violating his free speech rights. The lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday says KU restricted Anthony Alvarez speech and fired him without cause in retaliation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvarez, who is trans, talked to a media outlet on Feb. 26 during a campus protest over the universitys decision to end Grace Pearson Scholarship Halls gender-inclusive living arrangements. Alvarez, a 21-year-old student, expressed his frustration with the elimination of inclusive spaces where students feel safe. While he identified himself as a proctor, akin to a resident assistant, he did not claim to speak in his official capacity as a resident assistant for KU. The university placed Alvarez on probation for failing to refer media inquiries to senior KU staff. Before the window to appeal the probation closed, Alvarez was subsequently fired from his position, and he was forced to rescind an offer to continue as a proctor the next academic year. I think its a bad sign that for infractions as little as this, you could get fired and kicked out and very quickly find yourself in a position where you have to find a place to live, Alvarez told Kanas Reflector in April. The lawsuit argues Alvarez engaged in protected speech by speaking to a member of the media in their capacity as a private citizen on a matter of public concern specifically by criticizing Defendant KUs policies and practices related to housing policies for LGBTQ+ community members as applied to recent state and federal legislative directives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Precedent for resident assistants, who are students and employees of a university, fired for speech is largely undeveloped. However, First Amendment challenges, added restrictions and demands for universities and rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights are becoming commonplace under President Donald Trumps second administration. A vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Alvarez testified in January against a bill in the Kansas Legislature that bans gender-affirming care for minors and restricts the use of state funds for promoting gender transitioning. The bill made it through the House and Senate, was vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly and ultimately became law after the Republican-controlled Legislature overrode the veto. Representing Alvarez is Barry Grissom, former U.S. Attorney for Kansas, who argued in the complaint that as a result of KUs actions, Alvarez experienced a loss of living quarters, income, reputational damage, emotional distress, and the deprivation of constitutionally protected rights. Grissom filed suit not only to address the universitys retaliation toward Alvarez but also to garner a judgment from the court on whether the policy that led to Alvarez probation and termination is constitutional, Grissom said in a Thursday news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terminating a public employee after they speak to the media and criticize that employers policies is certainly in line with some of the challenges we have seen of late to the First Amendment, one of the bedrock principles of the American legal system, Grissom said in a statement to Kansas Reflector. He continued: Speech that the government does not agree with is exactly the kind which the First Amendment was intended to protect yet each day, there are seemingly more people affected by policies like the one which cost Mr. Alvarez his job. The lawsuit names KU; Sarah Waters, executive director of KU housing and resident life; and Emily Chellgren, assistant director of resident life, as defendants. Multiple attempts beginning Friday morning to reach KU for comment for this story were unsuccessful. By Friday afternoon, most staff members had set up out-of-office messages for Memorial Day weekend. KU also did not respond to requests to comment in past coverage of this story. Alvarez is asking for a jury trial in Kansas City, Kansas, and compensation for damages and attorney and case-related expenses. The U.S. State Department reissued its travel warning for Belgium warning travelers to exercise increased caution due to the risk of terrorism in the European country. On Thursday, the State Department said that terrorists may attack with little or no warning and that locations such as tourist and transportation hubs, markets, government buildings, places of worship, and more may be targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Level 2 travel advisory asking travelers to use increased caution falls below the more severe Level 3 and Level 4 categories which warn travelers to reconsider their travel or not travel at all to listed countries respectively. If U.S. travelers go to Belgium, the State Department said to stay alert in tourist spots and to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. embassy. Read More: Travel alert: Rethink visiting this tropical country due to its kidnapping risk The State Department recently issued similar Level 2 travel advisories for other European countries such as Germany and Spain this month and last month for Morocco. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Its been four months since Spirit Airlines lost a Cobb County familys luggage, and tell Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray that they still have not gotten any restitution from Spirit Airlines. William Bruce said his family dropped off their bag loaded with Christmas gifts for their family back in Brazil at the counter at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Jan. 25. Bruce said he was so amazed by the self-service drop-off that he recorded a video. That was the last time he saw his bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want you to go away. Theyd rather you just get tired and just go away, Bruce said. But Bruce is refusing to give up in his customer service mess with Spirit Airlines. All you can do is text or talk to a bot, never a real person. And it just gets so frustrating, Bruce told Gray. It was a January flight from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale to Rio, where Spirit lost his wifes bag that was loaded down with gifts for her Brazilian family - about $1,000 in purchases. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the Christmas presents, all the stuff that she had been saving,, were gone, Bruce said. Its what happened since that has really upset Bruce months of getting nowhere, trying to get compensation for the lost bag. Each spring, the consumer advocacy group PIRG analyzes U.S Department of Transportation airline complaint data. Overall, Spirit had the second worst complaint ratio behind only Frontier, said Teresea Murry from PIRG. Murry said if you dont get satisfaction from the airline, you can file a complaint directly with the Department of Transportation. Then that airline has 30 days to at least acknowledge your complaint. And then they have 60 days to respond in writing with details, Murry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, after months of waiting, Spirit told the Bruces they would pay restitution for the lost bag just $270. Our team has been in contact with the Guest. We issued a reimbursement to the Guest on May 5, 2025, in accordance with our policy ," Spirit said in a statement on Friday. But it cost more than $200 in bag fees just to pay for a service they never got flying the bag to Brazil. Theyre Spirit. They are ghosts. Im like, Well, theyre treating us like ghosts. Theyre really ghosting us, Bruce said. Gray showed Bruce where to file a complaint with the DOT. He said he was filing that on Friday. Its important to note that you need to complain to the airline first. PIRG said its a good idea to jot down notes on whats in your bag, or even take pictures when youre traveling. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) An EF1 tornado touched down in Cumberland County on Tuesday evening snapping trees and damaging several different homes and buildings. In the Big Lick community, just south of Crossville, neighbors are stepping up to help each other clear the damage and move forward. People on Vandever Road who were affected are now sifting and cutting through debris determined to recover. This weekend was supposed to be the annual homecoming at Calvary Presbyterian Church of Big Lick, a tradition since 1985, but this year the event has now been put on hold. The church grounds took a direct hit. The pavilion and cooking shed where homecoming is normally held were destroyed. Cumberland County fire station among buildings impacted by EF1 tornado There was a bunch of tears shed yesterday morning when we all saw it but hey, you just got to go on, thats all you can do. Clean it up and start over. The church is still here the people are still here, so thats all we need, said churchmember Al Wilson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Help arrived quickly from the Tennessee Disaster Response Team, a crew of volunteers that travels the state responding to storms like this. This is a little less than the worst Ive ever seen. Kentucky was hit a whole lot harder. But when its your home, when its your property, its as devastating as anywhere else, said Ken Hall. So when we came in, we saw the trees down, the trees on houses tree on the church and we just came in and whoever needed help, wed just stop and start helping. Surprised by the amount of work already done by neighbors helping neighbors, the team jumped in using chainsaws and a small tractor to keep things moving. Kentucky fire major died trying to save wifes life when Laurel County tornado struck Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a crew of all retired police officers. So obviously we got into police work for the right reasons. When we all retired, we wanted to keep giving. That is whats in our hearts. So this gives us an opportunity to go help people, Hall added. As the community picks up the pieces Wilson said has never seen anything like it, but is grateful for the support. Yesterday, the City of Crossville firefighters and part of the city personnel were out here and stayed all afternoon and helped us. All we can say, just thank you, this is amazing. And this Tennessee response team came in this morning. He said Were here to help and I said you just have at it,' said Wilson. Residents in the area estimated the clean-up could take weeks, even months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. The U.S. government has taken a large step toward finally eliminating the penny. The Treasury Department recently placed its final order of penny blanks to print the one-cent coins, and meaning new pennies will stop being put into circulation around early 2026. Eliminating the penny has been a bipartisan issue for years, as rising production costs mean the coins cost more to print than theyre worth. The U.S. government took another step toward eliminating the penny this month, with the Treasury Department placing its final order of penny blanks to print new one-cent coins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move came after President Donald Trump announced on Feb. 9 that he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop producing new pennies. "For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This is so wasteful!" "Let's rip the waste out of our great nation's budget, even if it's a penny at a time," the president added. Eliminating the penny has been a bipartisan issue for years, with both Trump and President Barack Obama, as well as both chambers of Congress, calling for an end to the one-cent coin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president is also correct in calling the penny wasteful, even underestimating the cost. Over the past 10 years, the Treasury estimates that the cost of producing one penny has risen from 1.3 cents to 3.7 cents. In February, the U.S. Mint estimated that it lost around $85 million producing 3 billion pennies in 2024. Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty Coin blanks are fed into a mill at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia Coin blanks are fed into a mill at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia Moreover, The Wall Street Journal reported in April 2024 that Americans throw out up to $68 million in change per year, with millions more languishing in coin dishes, piggy banks and other keepsake vessels. The argument is, if the coins arent circulating, then its worth saving the money and ceasing production. What happens when there are no more pennies? The current plan is for the Treasury to stop putting new pennies into circulation in early 2026, when it has finished minting its final batch of penny blanks. After that, it will take years for the coins to cycle out of public use entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With digital payment already being the primary method of transaction for a majority of American businesses, the change will mean most things largely stay the same. For cash transactions requiring cents, the U.S. will likely follow the lead of Canada which stopped production of its one-cent piece in 2012 and make those round to multiples of five. The Treasury has said that state and local governments will be responsible for providing guidance to retailers so that sales taxes are properly collected. The first penny was produced in 1787, and, until 1857, the coins were 100% copper. Today's pennies are copper-plated zinc, including just 2.5% copper. The coin was first printed with the image of the goddess of Liberty and her Phrygian cap, however, the image of President Abraham Lincoln became the coins symbolic face in 1909, the centennial of his birth. The Treasury estimates that there are around 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the U.S. Read the original article on People BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Trial began Friday for Palmer Moland, former president of the Fairfax School District Board of Trustees, whos facing multiple felony charges related to voter fraud. 17 News is live blogging the proceedings. Molands trial is being heard before Judge Brian M. McNamara in Department 7 of Kern County Superior Court. Moland is charged with filing false nomination or candidacy papers, illegally registering to vote, fraudulently voting and perjury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other charges, including embezzlement, were dismissed earlier this month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Susan Poupart, who disappeared and whose remains were found in 1990, is now the subject of a reward for information relating to her death. (Wisconsin Examiner photo illustration) The Lac du Flambeau (LDF) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians is offering a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the 1990 murder of Susan Susie Poupart, a LDF tribal member. The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation. The tribe has also offered a $25,000 reward for information concerning a tribal member, Melissa Beson, 37, missing since March 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poupart was last seen on May 20, 1990, in Lac du Flambeau in Vilas County, the band stated in a press release issued May 16. She had left a house party at approximately 4 a.m. on that date and was walking home alone when two men in a car pulled up next to her. Witnesses saw her enter the car but never arrived at her home, and her family reported her missing two days later. There was no LDF Tribal Police Department at the time of Pouparts disappearance, so the Vilas County Sheriffs Department investigated the case and is still the lead investigative organization. Deputies and fire department personnel conducted ground searches for four or five days, hoping to find her alive and return her to her two young children, said the press release. Eventually, specially trained tracking dogs were brought in from Minnesota to assist in search efforts, to no avail. The release said deer hunters found her remains, along with her purse and tribal ID card six months later, on Nov. 22, 1990. They were found in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, about 12 miles from her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pouparts death was determined to be a homicide, and in the decades since her murder, continuous improvements in DNA technology have kept her familys hopes alive that her murderers will be brought to justice, the press release states. Investigators share that hope, as even now they await the results of DNA testing on evidence that was recently sent to sophisticated, high-tech crime laboratories for DNA analysis. The release also states that police believe there are persons who have information that could result in the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for Susan Pouparts murder.. The tribes governing board said it was offering the $25,000 to incentivize anyone with information relating to Pouparts murder to come forward. The Wisconsin Examiner reached out to LDF Tribal Governing Board Chairman John Johnson to ask why the tribe was now offering a reward after over 35 years, but Johnson did not return phone calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detective Cody Remick of the Vilas County Sheriffs Department, who was assigned to the case two years ago, said he had heard from Pouparts daughter that at one time there had been a $10,000 reward for information. While the cold case is 35 years old, Remick said, his office only recently began working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Justice Services (OJS) Missing and Murdered Unit. The only other Wisconsin case the BIA OJS is presently working on is the 1989 murder of Rhys Pocan, a Menomonie tribal member living in Milwaukee. Pocan went missing in August 1989, and her headless body was discovered in September 1989 in Sheboygan County. Later, her head and hands were found in Waukesha County. Though the press release says DNA is being analyzed, Remick said his office has items it is preparing for DNA examination that may lead to a break in the Poupart case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It goes without saying that Pouparts children, now grown, deserve answers in the death of their mother, who was so cruelly taken from them, said the May 16 press release. The Lac du Flambeau Tribal Community, too, deserves to know what happened to one of their own. Most important, Poupart deserves justice. She was only 29 years old when she was murdered. She had her whole life in front of her, and her two beloved children to raise. Her killers must answer for their crime, so that Susie can finally rest in peace, and her family and community can begin to heal. Anyone with any information regarding the disappearance and murder of Susan Poupart is asked to call the Vilas County Sheriffs Office at (715) 479-4441 or the Wisconsin Department of Justice at (608) 266-1221 or the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department at (715) 588-7717. The tribe said the reward will be apportioned as deemed just by the governing board in the event, for example, multiple credible tips are received. Employees of law enforcement and correctional agencies are not eligible to collect the reward. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The former drummer of a Christian rock band and a music agent were among those identified as victims of a deadly plane crash in a San Diego neighborhood before dawn on Thursday. The fiery crash occurred around 3:47 a.m. when the small Cessna 550 abruptly crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, igniting cars and homes, and injuring eight people on the ground. Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, and two employees were among those killed, the music agency said in a statement. Daniel Williams, former drummer for the metal band The Devil Wears Prada, was named as one of the other victims by his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were six people on board and although the others have yet to be named, all are presumed dead. Heres what we know about the victims so far. Music agent Dave Shapiro Dave Shapiro was a supporter of independent music and a keen pilot (Sound Talent Group) Dave Shapiro was the first person to be identified among the deceased. Shapiro, 42, was an avid pilot with over a decade of flying experience, though it was not immediately clear if he was flying the plane or if he was a passenger. He was also known in the music industry as a daredevil, according to a Billboard report. We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends, a spokesperson for Sound Talent Group told Billboard. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by todays tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From BASE jumping to aerobatic flying, Helicopters to twin engines, flight instructing to furthering his own education, doesnt matter to Dave as long as he gets to be in the sky, Shapiros aviation website reads. Sound Talent Group has represented artists including American pop band Hanson, American singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton and the Canadian rock group Sum 41. Hanson is perhaps best known for its 1990s pop hit, "MMMBop." Shapiro also owned Velocity Records. Shapiro frequently posted pictures from the sky, including this one from 2016 (Dave Shapiro/Instagram) Shapiro was a strong advocate for independent musicians and a co-founder of the National Independent Talent Organization. He was included in Billboard's 2012 30 Under 30 list recognizing rising stars in entertainment. Industry veterans say Shapiro paved the way for the formation of other independent agencies and helped many alternative bands find audiences in the mainstream. Finding something you love to do is only going to make you do a better job because you actually care. Youre not just showing up for the paycheck, its not a 9-to-5, he said in a music industry podcast in 2021. This is part of living your life if you really love it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro grew up in upstate New York in the straightedge hard-core scene, a subculture that promotes not using drugs and alcohol in reaction to mainstream punk. Shapiro said he became instantly hooked on aviation after taking his first intro flight at age 22. He seemed to love music and flying with equal passion, at one point opening an office of his talent agency at a hangar in San Diego. Investigators at the scene of the crash in San Diego (AFP/Getty) Flying helps me focus and helps me not be distracted by all the nonsense in the world, and whatevers going on outside the plane kind of doesnt matter in those moments, Shapiro said in a 2020 podcast interview. Shapiro owned a flight school called Velocity Aviation and a record label, Velocity Records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He offered flights in both San Diego and Homer, Alaska, where he and his wife, Julia Pawlik Shapiro, owned a home, according to his online posts. Shapiro married his wife in 2016 in the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska. They picked up their wedding licenses, got on a plane and flew to a glacier inside Denali National Park, landing with skis strapped to the planes wheels. When I met Dave, we became instantly bonded over the unconventional lifestyles we lead and our constant need for adventure, she wrote in a blog post. In 2019, he posted on Instagram that he had obtained his airline transport pilot rating, the highest level of certification issued by the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although I have a career and dont plan to change that I always want to learn more and be a better pilot,' he wrote. He was also an adrenaline junkie who enjoyed base-jumping. Drummer Daniel Williams Daniel Williams was the former drummer of metal-core band The Devil Wears Prada (xcadaverx/Instagram) Daniel Williams was the former drummer of metal-core band The Devil Wears Prada, and was identified as a victim of the crash by his family, according to TMZ. The outlet reported that the drummers father, Larry Williams, said he had not received official confirmation from authorities, but that he was confident his son had been on the plane. The Devil Wears Prada also posted a tribute to Williams on its official Instagram page. Sharing several pictures of him the band wrote No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just prior to the crash, Williams posted a photo of himself online in the copilot's seat of the small plane, with the caption Hey ... look at me ... Im the (co) pilot now. However, his father told TMZ that his son did not have a pilots license. In a post on X, podcast State of the Scene wrote: Heart goes out to Dave Shapiro and Daniel Williams' family and friends. What a f****** tragedy this week has been. Another fan shared a picture with Williams on X, describing him as a great guy who always had the time of day to talk or take a pic in the probably 15 times I saw Prada between 06 and 13. TDWP still remains my favorite band to this day. The drums on Plagues blew my mind when it came out & nothings changed, the fan added. Another fan also described him as an inspiration. This one hurts, man. Daniel Williams (founding drummer for The Devil Wears Prada) was one of my biggest drumming inspirations back in high school. I looked up to him a lot and met him multiple times - he was always such a humble dude. Life is too short. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) New York State Police have released new details in the case of a Bolivar woman facing attempted murder charges after she allegedly stabbed two troopers. The community helping from start to finish in the scene that unfolded at the Crosbys gas station on Main Street in Bolivar on Saturday. State Police said it all started when a neighbor spotted the suspect stealing a vehicle. The neighbor reportedly followed the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Julia Groff, for around 10 minutes, all the way to the gas station where police were waiting. When they tried to arrest Groff, in a matter of seconds, police said she resisted arrest and stabbed troopers Jacob Klock and Michael Rich. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman arrested after allegedly stabbing 2 NYS troopers in Village of Bolivar Trooper James OCallaghan, the public information officer for New York State Police, gave an update on the case Thursday. Trooper Klock was stabbed just above the eye in the forehead area, and almost lost his eye, obviously traumatic, but a deep enough wound to penetrate the skull which caused a brain bleed, OCallaghan said. This was a hunting knife, so it was a fairly larger knife. Trooper OCallaghan said Groff allegedly grabbed the slide of one of the troopers guns, stopping it from shooting a second round. At that time, the second trooper, Trooper Rich, drew his firearm, was about to take that shot, she ended up grabbing the pistol and pushing it away from her, the shot went off, did not strike anybody, but ultimately people who know guns, it never ejected the round, so its a one-shot gun, OCallaghan said. And right around there is when Trooper Rich got stabbed on the side of the skull, hard enough to cause a fracture in his skull. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both troopers are expected to be OK and have been released from the hospital. Several bystanders stepped in to help take Groff into custody. People seeing troopers in need and so they lend a helping hand, OCallaghan said. We can never be more appreciative enough, doing the job that we do, when we try to serve the community to the best we can as law enforcement, to see that kind of return, and were very grateful for that. WIVB News 4 has reached out to the Allegany County District Attorneys Office for an update on Groffs case and has not yet heard back. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. The Utah state engineer over water rights is in the middle of peace talks with two different water entities over storage and releases from a reservoir in Garfield County. Garfield County officials say theyre tired of the negotiations and are prepared to take the matter to court. This is insanity, said Garfield County Commissioner Leland Pollock. It is going to be a fight now. These are good people who dont want to fight Otter Creek (Reservoir Company) and they dont want to fight the state engineer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The engineers office says a lapsed agreement originally etched on a napkin or perhaps a paper bag in 1961 led to a tough dispute that has been playing out for 15 years, and negotiations continue in what has turned into a touchy and sensitive situation. As it is with water in the West, tensions can erupt into a gnarly tug of war. In this case, Pollock called for an emergency intervention by the governor at one point. Pollock said the problem is by ordering the release of water from Tropic Reservoir, the precious resource basically gets sucked into an aquifer and never makes it to farmers who depend on it for irrigation. It is a special kind of stupid not being able to store water, Pollock said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dam was built in 1880 and has been serving the agricultural community since then, Pollock said. Why do you have a dam if you cant store water, he asked. Icy water flows down East Fork Sevier River under East Fork Road near Rubys Inn on Feb. 13, 2025. | Picasa The Otter Creek dispute But Matt Mills, president and chief executive officer of the Otter Creek Reservoir Company, said people can scream about the water being released, but it is not their water to scream about. The water right is decreed and belongs to the 10 water companies in Otter Creek, he said. The difference this year is that we are in a drought situation. It is pretty much black and white, Mills said. They are trying to reach out and grab water that belongs to Otter Creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 220-plus page document called the Cox Decree adjudicates the Sevier River system, outlining surface water rights and who owns them. The Sevier River is the longest river that begins and ends in Utah, traveling close to 400 miles. Otter Creek Reservoir is downstream from Tropic Reservoir and receives water from the Sevier River. Mills said dozens upon dozens of water users are hurting, including him. Our allotment (of water) this year on our company is half of what we had last year. One of the empty culverts allowing East Fork flood water to pass under Johns Valley Landfill Road, 17 miles north of Tropic Reservoir. On Feb. 15, 2025, none of the reservoirs released water was making it to this point through the flats near Flake Mountain, and seldom ever does. | Picasa The napkin agreement The agreement that sparked the dispute involves how much water the Otter Creek Reservoir Company can legally store in Tropic Reservoir during the winter months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A formal application for the storage in dispute was filed with the state in 1977 and granted in 2005, allowing Otter Creek Reservoir Company to hold onto 3,000 acre-feet of water in Tropic between Oct. 15 and April 15. But that agreement lapsed because proof of use had not been filed with the state within the required timeframe, the state engineers office said. Even though it had lapsed, Otter Creek continued to hold back the 3,000 acre-feet of water as had been done for years, but now that has changed. State Engineer Teresa Wilhelmsen said absent the agreement or an enforceable change application filed with her office, there exists a legal right to only store 540-acre feet of water in Tropic. The rest must be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pollock said farms will be dry by August. This is in a region in which Gov. Spencer Cox has declared a state of emergency due to drought. Added Tawn Mangum, president of the Tropic and East Fork Irrigation Company: The bottom line is there is going to be an empty reservoir ... and thats it. ... I dont know what the use of it is because they dont use the water, it just goes into the ground. It is the worst year it could be this way. But others point out water right holders downstream from Tropic Reservoir depend on that water including Piute Reservoir, Sevier Bridge Reservoir (Yuba) and users in Sevier County. The outlet gate at Tropic Reservoir flowing at max capacity on Feb. 13, 2025. | Picasa Time drags on The state engineers office verified through paperwork the lapse of the agreement had not been corrected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After consultation with both companies, they were notified that water could not be stored in Tropic during the winter months to the levels being collected. That was in 2024. A year later, the trouble had not abated and a river lock had been removed to allow collection of water in the reservoir to instead be released. Pollock said the reservoir off Highway 12 near the Pines will have only a month of storage given the constraints imposed by the state. Everyone in Tropic is extremely upset, Pollock said. Mills said every user along the Sevier River system is watching the dispute play out and that includes people in Millard, Juab, Sanpete and Sevier counties. He echoed what Pollock said, but from other users perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole river (system) is in an uproar about what Tropic is trying to do, Mills said. He likened it to taking Sevier River water that feeds into Yuba Reservoir, the largest privately owned reservoir in the state. There are no gray areas. A legal battle to come? Wilhelmsen and her staff have been working with both parties to reach a resolution, she said. We have been very diligent in trying to work with them, help them understand what is happening, she said. It is just a change that has occurred. Everyone is trying to get up to speed and figure out what the new normal looks like. She added that her staff has been in the midst of the process to get both parties to a new level of understanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been working with Tropic Irrigation to get measurements in place to let them know what the amounts of water (are) coming in and what is going out. In January of this year, division staff visited Tropic Reservoir and determined storage capacity was at 1,000 acre-feet still beyond what is legally allowed. A few months later, another visit by state engineer staff determined the outlet gate on the reservoir was closed and storage had bumped up to 1,500 acre-feet. In March this year, the state engineer received an enforcement referral, alleging the illegal storage of water in Tropic Reservoir. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilhelmsen then issued a distribution order against the Tropic and East Fork Irrigation Company, warning of a potential lawsuit in the appropriate district court to enforce the action. In the interim, her staff has been working on the installation of measurement, data collection and telemetry infrastructure at Tropic to get to less troubled waters in the future. Pollock said Tropic is going to enlist the services of their own hydrologist and reiterated legal action of its own. This is going to court. We are not just going to give up, he said. Mills said if it goes to court, Tropic cannot hold onto water that does not legally belong to them. It would be like your neighbor coming onto your property to take water out of your well. Pollock said the Legislatures Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment interim committee meeting is slated to discuss the issue in June, via Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield. It is a dire situation that will only devolve as the summer heat grips the region. This is a bad, bad look for the state of Utah, Pollock said. SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) A crash in Santa Rosa County left a truck driver and a construction worker seriously injured, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Santa Rosa County Animal Services closes cat adoptions and intakes due to illness An FHP crash report said the driver of a truck that was pulling a trailer was heading south on the Garcon Point Bridge when he did not stop and crashed into the back of another truck that was stopped for construction work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact of the crash caused the front truck to move forward, hitting a construction worker who was holding a stop sign, according to the report. The construction worker was flown to a local hospital, where he was later released. The driver of the truck that was stopped for construction was also injured. Spring brings dolphins, sharks and spotted rays to Orange Beach waters The crash happened on Thursday, May 22, around 4 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. WARSAW, Mo. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer with many people heading to a lake. Crews at Truman Lake are still cleaning up damage and making repairs following Mondays storms. Flags placed at Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day An EF-1 tornado tore through Henry and Benton counties with winds clocked at 110 miles per hour. The park manager at Truman Lake tells FOX4 the visitor center and three campgrounds saw significant damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their crews have been moving trees and picking up limbs, hoping to get camp sites open for the weekend. This is not a typical three day weekend because well be busy, Park Manager Bradley Wright said. National parks preparing for busy Memorial Day weekend: What to expect Warren Benigar lives near Warsaw. They were supposed to have family visit his home near Truman Lake, but the visit got canceled. Truman Lake Opry opened its doors to help those impacted. Come and help yourself, we want people to feel at home here and come right in, Denise Snider, owner of Truman Lake Opry, said. The space is typically a restaurant, bar and concert venue, now functioning as a community center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snider turned the back stage into a bedroom for people whove been impacted. Theres bathrooms, fresh water, food, a kitchen, plus staff with the nonprofit, Compass Health, are on hand. Theres so many people around here that needed a place to take a shower, to get water, get ice and I was thinking, well we have all of that and were right here centrally located, so I was like, lets help, Snider said. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joes Weather Blog in your inbox Wright said Long Shoal, Thibaut Point and Berry Bend campgrounds saw the most significant damage along with the visitor center. Storms blew out two windows and trees toppled over, covering streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wright said 5 to 10 campers were staying at Long Shoal, but nobody was hurt. However, some of their property was damaged. Pretty much right after the storm, we had closed the campground and asked folks inside to leave just so we could get the roads back open and get the facilities cleaned up, he said. There are about 100 campsites at Long Shoal. He said half their staff and volunteers are working with heavy machinery to clear debris. The power is back on at Long Shoal and Thibaut Point. Slowly getting things back on and hoping for the best and working as much as we can getting things ready for the public for the weekend, Wright said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wright said this is typically their busiest holiday weekend of the year with each camp site reserved. Things to do in Kansas City Memorial Day weekend 2025 Harry S. Truman Lake, US Army Corps of Engineers released the following updates late Thursday afternoon. Long Shoal: Campground, swim beach, and day-use shelter have been cleaned up, power restored, and will have the gates open at 8:00 a.m. Friday. Boat Ramp is currently open. Thibaut Point: B loop and boat ramp are currently open. A loop will be open at 6 p.m. Friday. The swim beach will remain closed. Berry Bend: B Loop of the campground, boat ramp, equestrian trails, and both day use shelters are currently open. C loop currently has a power issue and will be closed for the holiday weekend. Visitor Center: Will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri-Mon for the holiday weekend. Please excuse our mess as we continue to clean up and make repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The latest target of the Trump administrations revenge and suppression tour is a liberal media watchdog that regularly takes on Fox News and went up against Elon Musk in court. The Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Media Matters, a nonprofit whose stated mission is documenting conservative misinformation, over whether it illegally colluded with advertisers to pull ad dollars from X after Musk took over the site in 2022, according to The New York Times and Reuters. A civil investigative demand reviewed by Reuters sought information about Media Matters communications with other organizations similarly focused on covering misinformation, including the Global Alliance for Responsible Media. X has ongoing lawsuits against both groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has been defined by naming right-wing media figures to key posts and abusing the power of the federal government to bully political opponents and silence critics, Media Matters President Angelo Carusone told the Daily Beast in a statement. Its clear thats exactly whats happening here, given Media Matters history of holding those same figures to account, he added. These threats wont work; we remain steadfast to our mission. The FTC declined to comment. In a December statement on an unrelated case, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said the agency must prosecute any unlawful collusion between online platforms, and confront advertiser boycotts which threaten competition among those platforms. President Donald Trump tapped Andrew Ferguson to lead the Federal Trade Commission in December last year. / Getty Images Media Matters has kept a careful eye on conservative media since it launched in 2004, regularly producing research and analyses that cover right-wing news outlets. It often flames Fox News anchors by fact-checking their claims and calling out spins" made by administration officials in interviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The liberal advocacy group has also tussled with Musk. In 2023, after the tech billionaire acquired the site then known as Twitter, Media Matters released a report detailing how ads on X for big brands like Apple and IBM appeared next to pro-Nazi and white nationalist content. Musk filed what he called a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters in November that year as advertisers abandoned X, forcing the organization to lay off a dozen staffers. The worlds richest man later filed two more lawsuits against Media Matters in Ireland and Singapore. Media Matters said the legal battles have drained its resources. In March, the group filed a new lawsuit against Xs worldwide campaign of intimidation, which seeks to punish Media Matters for exercising its core First Amendment rights. The FTCs investigation into Media Matters marks the latest move by the Trump administration to target its enemies on the political left. Other Democratic-aligned individuals and organizations being probed by the government include fundraising juggernaut ActBlue, multiple Big Law firms, and New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver. The Trump administration alleged Thursday that Columbia University violated federal civil rights law by acting with deliberate indifference towards harassment of Jewish students on campus since October 2023. The US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights accused Columbia of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities that receive federal funding. The announcement is part of a series of actions by the federal governments Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which was created following a February executive order from President Donald Trump. A spokesperson for Columbia cast the announcement as another step in the universitys work with the government to determine the best ways to fight antisemitism on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We understand this finding is part of our ongoing discussions with the government. Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus, the spokesperson told CNN. We take these issues seriously and will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to address them. The administration alleges Columbia continually failed to protect Jewish students, citing extensive investigative findings from October 7, 2023, to the present, coinciding with a terror attack by Hamas and its allies and Israels brutal war in Gaza. The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over 19 months, disrupting their education, safety, and well-being, Anthony Archeval, acting director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights, said in the news release. We encourage Columbia University to work with us to come to an agreement that reflects meaningful changes that will truly protect Jewish students. The university was accused of failing to establish effective mechanisms for combatting antisemitism until last summer. The administration further accused the university of failing to investigate vandalism in classrooms, enforce restrictions for protests held on campus and abide by its policies when responding to Jewish students complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elite universities across the US including Columbia have been under intense pressure from the administration to comply with demands for school policy changes or risk losing federal funding. Last spring, pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University initiated a wave of demonstrations at college campuses across the country that culminated in encampments and mass arrests. 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 new rules for protests, banning masks, a plan to hold student groups accountable and a review of Columbias Middle East studies programs. The university then announced a series of new policies, including restrictions on demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other elite institutions were also punished for refusing to bow to the administrations policy demands. Earlier Thursday, the Trump administration revoked Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students, accusing the schools leadership of turning their once-great institution into a hot-bed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Trump administration has slashed the US Space Force's workforce by almost 14 percent, a dramatic cut that could have an enormous impact on the smallest and youngest branch of the US Armed Forces. As Defense One reports, early retirement and voluntary-resignation programs, both widely used tactics by the newly-minted Trump administration to slash government budgets, are having an "outsized impact" on the Space Force. According to chief of space operations general Chance Saltzman, 14 percent, or roughly 780 civilians, are affected. That's considerably higher than the ten percent that officials had warned would be cut earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's a troubling development that could directly undermine the Pentagon's mission to secure the United States' interests in space. During a Senate Armed Services committee hearing this week, Saltzman warned that the Space Force could leave the nation's efforts to protect its assets in orbit woefully behind schedule, allowing adversaries to gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense is also heavily affected and is expected to lose five to eight percent of its civilian workforce. "I'm worried about replacing that level of expertise in the near term as we try to resolve it and make sure we have a good workforce doing that acquisition," Saltzman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And even more Space Force staffers could soon walk, taking deferred-resignation offers. "The DOD is really looking at what the size of the civilian workforce is, and so if those incentives to reshape the workforce affect the Space Force, I'm not sure exactly where we're going to end up, what our final size is going to be," Saltzman said. "As soon as I understand what that size is, then we will redistribute, and reallocate this for." The cuts came at an extremely unfortunate time for the Space Force. "We were in a period of managed growth, and so there was a deficit when we were trying to get to a larger civilian workforce, and we were asked to stop, and then asked to offer some to resign early," Saltzman said at the committee hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond early retirements and voluntary resignations, the Space Force was already planning to cut its workforce by as much as eight percent, according to an announcement earlier this year. Where the cuts leave the Space Force's efforts to gain the upper hand in the space domain remains to be seen. Officials have long warned of adversaries, including Russia and China, that are developing space-based weapons and potentially leaving the US behind. "We are not adequately funded for the new missions that I've been given in space superiority," Saltzman said. Despite all of these cuts, the White House announced that it would build an enormous, potentially half-a-trillion-dollar "Golden Dome" missile and air defense shield, indicating that its priorities may simply lie elsewhere. More on the Space Force: The Space Force Is Working on an Aircraft Carrier for Space NEW YORK (AP) The Trump administration is accusing Columbia University of violating the civil rights of Jewish students by acting with deliberate indifference toward what it describes as rampant antisemitism on campus. The finding was announced late Thursday by the Health and Human Services Department, marking the latest blow for an Ivy League school already shaken by federal cutbacks and sustained government pressure to crack down on student speech. It comes hours after the Department of Homeland Security said it would revoke Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students, a major escalation in the administrations monthslong attack on higher education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil rights division of HHS said it had found Columbia in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which blocks federal funding recipients from discrimination based on race, color or national origin. That final category, the press release notes, includes discrimination against individuals that is based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry. The announcement did not include new sanctions against Columbia, which is already facing $400 million in federal cuts by the Trump administration over its response to pro-Palestinian campus protests. A spokesperson for Columbia said the university is currently in negotiations with the government about resolving its claims of antisemitism. We understand this finding is part of our ongoing discussions with the government, the spokesperson said in an email. Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil rights investigation into Columbia was based on witness interviews, media reports and other sources, according to HHS. The findings were not made public. A spokesperson did not response to a request for further information. The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over 19 months, disrupting their education, safety, and well-being, Anthony Archeval, acting director of the HHS civil rights office, said in a statement. Last spring, Columbia became the epicenter of protests against the war in Gaza, spurring a national movement of campus demonstrations that demanded universities cut ties with Israel. At the time, some Jewish students and faculty complained about being harassed during the demonstrations or ostracized because of their faith or their support of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who participated in Columbias protests, including some Jewish students, have said they are protesting Israels actions against Palestinians and have forcefully denied allegations of antisemitism. Many have also accused the university of capitulating to the Trump administration's demands including placing its Middle East studies department under new leadership at the expense of academic freedom and protecting foreign students. At a commencement ceremony earlier this week, a speech by Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman, was met with loud boos by graduates and chants of free Palestine." Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Thursday that the federal government revoked Harvard Universitys international student program, saying that the Trump administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025 Harvard called the administrations actions unlawful, according to The Associated Press. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvards academic and research mission, a statement from the university said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noems order follows Harvards failure to comply with a request she made on April 16, demanding Harvard turn over information about foreign students that could potentially implicate them in violence or protests. Harvard is the academic home of 6,800 foreign students, most of them in graduate school. Critics of the ban contend that it will deal an irreversible hit to the attractiveness of higher education in the United States to foreign scholars. Whether Harvard will comply without taking the federal government to court remains to be seen. The Trump administrations rocky history with Harvard The Trump administration officially accused Harvard of allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to assault Israeli students on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard saw a number of pro-Palestinian protests on its campus this and last spring. It later established a task force to target campus antisemitism and anti-Palestinian behavior. That task force ultimately produced hundreds of pages documenting instances of harassment. In response, Harvard realigned the goals of its Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, clarified its rules around protests and restricted its own ability to comment on political matters, while also establishing constructive dialogue programs. The Trump administration also alleged that Harvard had coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party to host and train members of a Chinese paramilitary group. Prominent Republicans from the House of Representatives issued a press release on Monday, saying they had mailed Harvard a letter demanding transparency and accountability from Harvard regarding its relationships with foreign adversaries. Harvard trained members of a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group responsible for genocide, and its researchers partnered with Chinese military universities on DoD-funded research and worked with researchers funded by the Iranian regime, said Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., who co-authored the letter. These are not isolated incidents they represent a disturbing pattern that puts U.S. national security at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has described American Ivy League universities as corrupt for years. He has pushed schools like Cornell, Columbia and Harvard to investigate and stamp out antisemitism on campus. While Harvard pushed back and took the federal government to court, its president, Alan Garber, has conceded that some of Trumps claims are correct and has said that he wishes to curb antisemitism, foster more intellectual diversity, welcome additional conservative voices and curtail the use of race in admissions decisions. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) The Trump administration sued four New Jersey cities over their so-called sanctuary city policies aimed at prohibiting police from cooperating with immigration officials, saying the local governments are standing in the way of federal enforcement. The Justice Department filed the suit Thursday against Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken in New Jersey federal court. The lawsuit seeks a judgment against the cities and an injunction to halt them from enacting the so-called sanctuary city policies. While states and local governments are free to stand aside as the United States performs this important work, they cannot stand in the way, the suit says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's the latest case from Republican President Donald Trump's administration against sanctuary policies. The administration also sued Chicago, Denver, the state of Colorado, and Rochester, New York. There is no official definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities. The terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but sometimes seeks state and local help. The policies are aimed at prohibiting cooperation on civil enforcement matters, not at blocking cooperation on criminal matters. They specifically carve out exceptions for when Immigration and Customs Enforcement supplies police with a judicial criminal warrant. The government said, though, the cities won't notify ICE when they've made criminal arrests, according to the suit. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, decried the lawsuit and said Friday people are more likely to report crimes when they're not living in fear of deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit against Newark is absurd. We are not standing in the way of public safety, Baraka said in an emailed statement. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said his city would fight the suit, calling it an egregious attempt to score political points at Paterson's expense. We will not be intimidated, he said in a text message. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement the city prides itself on its inclusivity. The City of Hoboken will vigorously work to defend our rights, have our day in court, and defeat the Trump Administrations lawlessness. To be clear: we will not back down, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors of all four cities are Democrats. New Jersey's attorney general adopted a statewide Immigrant Trust Directive in 2018, which bars local police from cooperation with federal officials conducting immigration enforcement. The policies adopted by the four cities are similar. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that New Jersey's statewide policy could stand, but it's unclear how that court's order might affect the government's case against the four cities. President Donald Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz has already been ousted for using a bottom-shelf Signal clone for official messaging but the fallout from that debacle is still getting worse and worse. As Reuters reports, a hacker who accessed information from TeleMessage, an Israeli messaging app that was sold to the government to archive messages from Signal and other services, obtained data from way more Trump officials than previously thought. It's been an especially tough year for Waltz. After being caught accidentally adding Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, to a Signal group chat about Yemeni bombing plans, the Trump adviser was photographed using TeleMessage's Signal clone during a Cabinet meeting just before news broke that it had been hacked. Though Waltz was ultimately fired , the hits have continued in his absence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the help of the nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets, which publishes hacked information of interest to the public, Reuters found more than 60 government officials whose information had been accessed from TeleMessage. Those officials range from staffers with the State Department and the White House to disaster responders and Secret Service members, and although the messages the British wire reviewed were often fragmentary, its reporters were still able to see those federal employees' phone numbers. Outsiders are also corroborating. People outside the government, whose numbers were in the breached message cache, including one person who'd been applying for disaster aid and another from a financial service company, confirmed to Reuters that they had indeed been messaging with Trump administration officials. The White House, to its end, said in a statement that it was "aware of the cyber security incident" but didn't offer any additional details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Wired reported when the TeleMessage photo was first published, it appears that the app's archiving capabilities essentially nullified any security promises from the app, which was recently purchased by an Oregon-based company called Smarsh. The person who hacked the government's Telemessage server told Wired in a followup story that breaching the app "wasn't much effort at all," and that it only took them about "15 or 20 minutes." As that hacker explained, an issue with the the app's "hashing," which is supposed to obfuscate passwords, accidentally made it easy to figure them out. Once they were in, the hacker was presented with a file literally titled "heapdump" that included the login credentials of people who used the app and because is archiving effectively un-encrypted the messages sent, they partially accessed those too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the extent of this breach and other details about the scandal remain unclear, it's abundantly obvious that the Trump administration has a security problem so bad that it makes Hillary Clinton's private email server look like Fort Knox. More on Telemessage: Trumps Deportation Airline Just Got Hacked by Anonymous WASHINGTON (AP) The efforts by President Donald Trumps administration to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students have struck at the core of the Ivy League school's identity and unsettled current and prospective students around the world. Last month, the government told Harvard's thousands of current foreign students that they must transfer to other schools or they will lose their legal permission to be in the U.S. A federal court in Boston last week blocked the Department of Homeland Security from barring international students at Harvard. On Wednesday, Trump signed a proclamation invoking a different legal authority to keep Harvard's international students from entering the United States. After Harvard filed a new legal challenge Thursday, the same judge within hours temporarily blocked that bid as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has targeted Harvard's international enrollment as his administration presses the nation's oldest and wealthiest university to adopt a series of policy and governance changes, which the university has rebuffed. Harvard decried the latest order as retaliation and said it violates the school's First Amendment rights. Harvard will continue to protect its international students, the university said Wednesday in a statement. Harvard enrolls about 7,000 international students, most of them in graduate programs. Those students have been scrambling to figure out their next steps. How does Trump's latest move differ from the first effort to block Harvard's international enrollment? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, the Trump administration tried to ban foreign students at Harvard, citing the Department of Homeland Securitys authority to oversee which colleges are part of the Student Exchange and Visitor Program. The program allows colleges to issue documents that foreign students need to study in the United States. In a lawsuit, Harvard said the administration violated the governments own regulations for withdrawing a schools certification. A judge put the administration's ban on hold. On Wednesday, Trump tried a different approach. In a proclamation, he invoked a law that gives the president the ability to block foreigners from entering the country if their presence would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. At the center of Trumps pressure campaign against Harvard are his assertions that the school, which he has called a hotbed of liberalism, has tolerated anti-Jewish harassment especially during pro-Palestinian protests. In the directive Wednesday, he said Harvard is not a suitable destination for foreign students. Harvard President Alan Garber has said the university has made changes to combat antisemitism and will not submit to the administration's demands for further changes at Harvard over fears of retaliation. Ive never seen anything like it. I've never seen a president take a specific action against a higher education institution like this, said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president and chief of staff for government relations for the American Council on Education. The legality of these actions is certainly in question as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is Harvard responding to Trump's latest ban? In the amended legal challenge, which led to the judge's ruling in Harvard's favor Thursday, the university called the Republican presidents action an end-run around the previous court order. The filing attacks Trumps legal justification for the action a federal law allowing him to block a class of aliens deemed detrimental to the nations interests. Targeting only those who are coming to the U.S. to study at Harvard doesnt qualify as a class of aliens, Harvard said in its filing. The Presidents actions thus are not undertaken to protect the interests of the United States, but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard, the university wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What percentage of Harvard's student body is affected? Harvard sponsors more than 7,000 people on a combination of F-1 and J-1 visas, which are issued to students and to foreigners visiting the U.S. on exchange programs such as fellowships. Across all the schools that make up the university, about 26% of the student body is from outside the U.S. But some schools and programs, by nature of their subject matter, have significantly more international students. At the Harvard Kennedy School, which covers public policy and public administration, 49% of students are on F-1 visas. In the business school, one-third of students come from abroad. And within the law school, 94% of the students in the masters program in comparative law are international students. Will admitted students be able to enroll at Harvard in the fall? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trumps measure were to survive the court challenge, it would block thousands of students who are scheduled to go to Harvards campus for the summer and fall terms. While the court case proceeds, Harvard is making contingency plans so students and visiting scholars can continue their work at the university, President Alan Garber said in a message to the campus and alumni. Has the government ever done this before? The government can and does remove colleges from the Student Exchange and Visitor Program, making them ineligible to host foreign students on their campus. However, it's usually for administrative reasons outlined in law, such as failing to maintain accreditation, lacking proper facilities for classes, failing to employ qualified professional personnel even failing to operate as a bona fide institution of learning. Other colleges are removed when they close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How else has the Trump administration targeted Harvard? Harvard's battle with the Trump administration dates to early April. The storied institution became the first elite college to refuse to comply with the government's demands to limit pro-Palestinian protests and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Various federal agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have cut their grant funding to Harvard. Harvard has sued the administration, seeking to end the grant freeze. The administration first threatened to revoke Harvard's ability to host international students back in April. Trump also has said Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status. Doing so would strike at the school's ability to fundraise, as wealthy donors often give to tax-exempt institutions to lower their own tax burdens. Does Harvard give scholarships to international students? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard awards need-based financial aid to students across its multiple schools. Unlike merit-based scholarships, which are awarded based on achievements or academic records, need-based aid is given to students depending on their ability to pay for tuition. Admissions to the undergraduate college is need-blind, including for international students, which means that a student's ability to pay full tuition is not considered during the application process. Unlike the majority of U.S. colleges and universities, international students do not disproportionately pay full tuition to attend. In a post last month on Truth Social, Trump criticized Harvard for enrolling a significant percentage of international students. Why isnt Harvard saying that almost 31% of their students are from FOREIGN LANDS, and yet those countries, some not at all friendly to the United States, pay NOTHING toward their students education, nor do they ever intend to, he wrote. Nobody told us that! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most governments do not pay for their students to study abroad. With the exception of some government-funded scholarship programs, most international students pay their own tuition, receive need-based aid or earn merit scholarships from external organizations. Harvard is among a handful of wealthier universities that do offer financial aid to foreign students. ____ AP writers Collin Binkley and Cheyanne Mumphrey contributed. ____ The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. President Donald Trump on Friday announced a partnership between the U.S. Steel and Japanese steelmaker Nippon that he says will keep the headquarters in Pittsburgh and add billions of dollars to the U.S. Economy. From Pennsylvania to Arkansas, and from Minnesota to Indiana, AMERICAN MADE is BACK, Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. Trumps announcement did not include details regarding specifics of the partnership. The deal, which Trump said will create 70,000 jobs and inject $14 billion into the U.S. economy over the next 14 months, carries particular weight for Gary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nippon, based in Japan, announced in 2023 that it was acquiring U.S. Steel for $14.9 billion. However, then-President Joe Biden blocked the deal earlier this year, citing national security concerns. Nippon Steel previously had pledged to preserve jobs at the Gary Works plant and maintain its production capacity here for at least a decade, assurances local leaders say are vital for the citys steelworkers and the regional tax base. Though initially caught off guard by Nippons attempted acquisition of U.S. Steel, Mayor Eddie Melton had been a supporter of the deal, based on the Japanese companys proposal to invest $300 million into Garys blast furnace and also out of fear of potential plant closures, which U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt promised would occur if the acquisition failed. When the current CEO said in The Wall Street Journal said that if the deal does not happen that there would be plant closures, as mayor, I didnt want to sit on the sidelines and watch it play out, Melton said last month at his State of the City address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement announced by Trump ensures the continuation of Garys relationship with the company that founded the city in 1906, naming it after its founder, Elbert H. Gary. The steel plant continues to be one of the regions largest employers, with roughly 4,300 workers. The citys identity remains inseparable from the sprawling Gary Works plant, which still looms over its skyline. In a statement released Thursday, United Steelworkers International President David McCall called a potential deal between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel a disaster for American Steelworkers and urged the administration to block what he called a corporate sellout. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, vice chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, said bipartisan pressure secured new safeguards but vowed that this is not the end of our oversight, warning that Nippon must be held to every promise made to Northwest Indiana. Nippon Steel must be held to every promise made from promises to the hardworking steelworkers of Northwest Indiana and the City of Gary, to the economic and strategic interests of the United States, Mrvan said in a statement Friday afternoon. We will not hesitate to act if those commitments are broken. The post Trump announces deal between Nippon and U.S. Steel appeared first on Capital B Gary. President Trump announced Friday a partnership between U.S. Steel and Japanese corporation Nippon Steel, saying that jobs will be created in Pennsylvania as a result. I am proud to announce that, after much consideration and negotiation, US Steel will REMAIN in America, and keep its Headquarters in the Great City of Pittsburgh. For many years, the name, United States Steel was synonymous with Greatness, and now, it will be again. This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy, Trump said on Truth Social. The president said he would go to U.S. Steel headquarters in Pittsburgh for a rally later this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bulk of that Investment will occur in the next 14 months. This is the largest Investment in the History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. My Tariff Policies will ensure that Steel will once again be, forever, MADE IN AMERICA. From Pennsylvania to Arkansas, and from Minnesota to Indiana, AMERICAN MADE is BACK. I will see you all at US Steel, in Pittsburgh, on Friday, May 30th, for a BIG Rally. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! he said. Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick (R) applauded Trump for the huge victory and said he met with members of the Pennsylvania delegation Thursday at the White House to discuss the partnership. The senator said the partnerships $14 billion investment by Nippon Steel will ensure U.S. Steel remains under U.S. leadership, dramatically enhances U.S. domestic steel production capacity, protects more than 11,000 Pennsylvania jobs, and supports the creation of at least 14,000 more. This partnership is great for the economy, great for national security, and great for the hardworking people of Pennsylvania. I am proud to stand by President Trump as he lives up to our shared promise to rebuild U.S. manufacturing and deliver for Americas workers, McCormick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloomberg News reported that Trump had received the recommendation Friday from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which he ordered last month to conduct a review of the acquisition of U.S. Steel for help in determining whether further action in this matter may be appropriate. U.S. Steel lauded the partnership in a statement to The Hill, stating the company will remain American and grow bigger and stronger in collaboration with Nippon. President Trump is a bold leader and businessman who knows how to get the best deal for America, American workers and American manufacturing, the statement reads. U. S. Steel greatly appreciates President Trumps leadership and personal attention to the futures of thousands of steelworkers and our iconic company. Nippon and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, former President Biden announced he was going to stop the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel in the wake of a yearlong review of the possible acquisition. Trump had also vowed in December to block Nippon Steels acquisition. Updated at 6:25 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. President Donald Trump has approved disaster declarations for multiple tornadoes from March 14-15 in the state of Missouri, according to FEMA. Trump has also approved a second disaster declaration for a rounds of severe storms and flooding from March 30 to April 8, according to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. President Trumps approval of a disaster declaration over the March 14-15 tornadoes makes federal funding available to affected individuals in 18 counties, including St. Louis County and many others in southern in Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That lists also includes: Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Wayne, Webster and Wright counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding is also available to the state of Missouri and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities in Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne counties. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas should first file claims with their insurance providers and then apply for assistance by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to note, the requests leading to these declarations are separate from one made Monday after an EF-3 tornado struck the City of St. Louis one week ago Friday, killing five people and damaging 5,000 properties. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer acknowledged some concerns with securing federal funding for the May 16 tornado, but expressed confidence that her office, along with local and state officials, are doing everything possible to get a disaster declaration approved. Earlier this week, FOX 2 analyzed data and found that it typically takes a little over two months or 67 days on average for major disaster declarations to be approved following severe weather events. This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A federal judge blocked Donald Trumps administration from revoking Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students. In a brief filing Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs granted Harvards request for a temporary restraining order preventing the Department of Homeland Security from revoking the universitys Student Exchange Visa Program certification. Harvard had filed a lawsuit earlier Friday seeking the order, following the DHS announcement from the previous day that the university can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status. International students make up about a quarter of Harvards student body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard, which has long been the target of the Trump administration, slammed the DHSs unlawful and unwarranted action in its Friday lawsuit, calling the move a blatant violation of the law. In a separate ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in California barred the government from changing international students legal status until cases challenging previous visa revocations are resolved. He said that the governments actions had wreaked havoc not only on the lives of Plaintiffs here but on similarly situated F-1 nonimmigrants across the United States and continues do so. The Trump administration sought to bar all international students on F- or J- nonimmigrant visas from enrolling in Harvard for the 20252026 academic year, including those already pursuing a degree at the school. In a statement, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Noem claimed that the university had created an unsafe environment by failing to shutter pro-Palestinian speech, and alleged that theyd collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party. Noem has claimed that Harvard can avoid the ban on future foreign student enrollment by agreeing to dox all of its current foreign students to the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These international students have found themselves in the crosshairs of the governments simultaneous crackdowns on immigration and free speech, as well as the presidents ongoing vendetta against the Ivy League institution. This story has been updated. A growing coalition of HIV prevention organizations, health experts and Democrats in Congress are sounding the alarm over sweeping Trump administration cuts to HIV/AIDS prevention and surveillance programs nationally, warning they will reverse years of progress combating the disease and cause spikes in new cases especially in California and among the LGBTQ+ community. In a letter addressed Friday to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and 22 of her House colleagues demanded the release of HIV funding allocated by Congress but withheld by the Trump administration. They cited estimates from the Foundation for AIDS Research, known as amfAR, that the cuts could lead to 143,000 additional HIV infections nationwide and 127,000 additional deaths from AIDS-related causes within five years. Friedman said the effects would be felt in communities small and large across the country but that California would be hit the hardest. She said L.A. County which stands to lose nearly $20 million in annual federal HIV prevention funding is being forced to terminate contracts with 39 providers and could see as many as 650 new cases per year as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to amfAR, that would mark a huge increase, pushing the total number of new infections per year in the county to roughly 2,000. "South L.A. and communities across California are already feeling the devastating impacts of these withheld HIV prevention funds. These cuts arent just numbers theyre shuttered clinics, canceled programs, and lives lost," Friedman said in a statement to The Times. As one example, she said, the Los Angeles LGBT Center which is headquartered in her district would likely have to eliminate a range of services including HIV testing, STD screening, community education and assistance for patients using pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a medicine taken by pill or shot that can greatly reduce a person's risk of becoming infected from sex or injection drug use. A list reviewed by The Times of L.A. County providers facing funding cuts included large and small organizations and medical institutions in a diverse set of communities, from major hospitals and nonprofits to small clinics. The list was provided by a source on the condition of anonymity in order to be candid about the funding of organizations that have not all publicly announced the cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The affected organizations serve a host of communities that already struggle with relatively high rates of HIV infection, including low-income, Spanish speaking, Black and brown and LGBTQ+ communities. According to L.A. County, the Trump administration's budget blueprint eliminates or reduces a number of congressionally authorized public health programs, including funding cuts to the domestic HIV prevention program and the Ryan White program, which supports critical care and treatment services for uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV. The county said the cuts would have "an immediate and long-lasting impact" on community health. Dozens of organizations and hospitals, such as Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, are bracing for the disruption and potential vacuum of preventative services theyve been providing to the community since the 1980s, according to Claudia Borzutzky, the hospitals Chief of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Borzutzky said without the funding, programs that provide screening, education, patient navigation and community outreach especially for at-risk adolescents and young adults will evaporate. So, too, will free services that help patients enroll in insurance and access HIV prevention medications. Patients who "face a variety of health barriers" and are often stigmatized will bear the brunt, she said, losing the "role models [and] peer educators that they can relate to and help [them] build confidence to come into a doctor's office and seek testing and treatment." "We are having to sunset these programs really, really quickly, which impacts our patients and staff in really dramatic ways," she said. Answers to queries sent to other southern California health departments suggested they are trying to figure out how to cope with budget shortfalls, too. Health officials from Kern, San Bernardino and Riverside counties all said the situation is uncertain, and that they don't yet know how they will respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friedman and her colleagues including fellow California representatives Nancy Pelosi, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros Jr., Robert Garcia, Sam Liccardo, Kevin Mullin, Mark Takano, Derek Tran and George Whitesides said they were concerned not only about funding for programs nationwide being cut, but also about the wholesale dismantling or defunding of important divisions working on HIV prevention within the federal government. They questioned in their letter staffing cuts to the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as "the reported elimination" of the Division of HIV Prevention within that center. In addition to demanding the release of funds already allocated by Congress, the representatives called on Kennedy and Dr. Debra Houry, deputy director of the CDC to better communicate the status of ongoing grant funding, and to release "a list of personnel within CDC who can provide timely responses" when those groups to whom Congress had already allocated funding have questions moving forward. "Although Congress has appropriated funding for HIV prevention in Fiscal Year 2025, several grant recipients have failed to receive adequate communication from CDC regarding the status of their awards," Friedman and her colleagues wrote. "This ambiguity has caused health departments across the country to pre-emptively terminate HIV and STD prevention contracts with local organizations due to an anticipated lack of funding." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter is just the latest challenge to the Trump administration's sweeping cuts to federal agencies and to federal funding allocated by Congress to organizations around the country. Through a series of executive orders and with the help of his billionaire adviser Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" and other agency heads, Trump in the first months of his second term has radically altered the federal government's footprint, laying off thousands of federal workers and attempting to claw back trillions of dollars in federal spending to be reallocated to projects more aligned with his political agenda, or used to pay for tax cuts that Democrats and independent reviewers have said will disproportionately help wealthy Americans. California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office has repeatedly sued the Trump administration over such moves, including cuts and layoffs within Health and Human Services broadly and cuts to grants intended to make states more resistant to infectious disease specifically calling them unwise, legally unjustifiable and a threat to the health of average Americans. LGBTQ+ organizations also have sued the Trump administration over orders to preclude health and other organizations from spending federal funding on diversity, equity and inclusion programs geared toward LGBTQ+ populations, including programs designed to decrease new HIV infections and increase healthy management of the disease among transgender people and other vulnerable groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The orders seek to erase transgender people from public life; dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives; and strip funding from nonprofits providing life-saving health care, housing, and support services," said Jose Abrigo, the HIV Project Director of Lambda Legal, in a statement. The legal group has filed a number of lawsuits challenging the Trump administration cuts, including one on behalf of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other nonprofits. Trump has defended his cuts to the federal government as necessary to implement his agenda. He and his agency leaders have consistently said that the cuts target waste, fraud and abuse in the government, and that average Americans will be better served following the reshuffling. Kennedy has consistently defended the changes within Health and Human Services, as well. Agency spokespeople have said the substantial cuts would help it focus on Kennedys priorities of "ending Americas epidemic of chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins." "We arent just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic," Kennedy has said. "This Department will do more a lot more at a lower cost to the taxpayer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy has repeatedly spread misinformation about HIV and AIDS in the past, including by giving credence to the false claim that HIV does not cause AIDS. As recently as June 2023, Kennedy told a reporter for New York Magazine that there "are much better candidates than H.I.V. for what causes AIDS," and he has previously suggested that environmental toxins and "poppers" an inhalant drug popular in the gay community could be causes of AIDS instead. None of that is supported by science or medicine. Studies from around the world have proven the link between HIV and AIDS, and found it not drug use or sexual behavior to be the only common factor in AIDS cases. Officials in L.A. County said they remained hopeful that the Trump administration would reverse course after considering the effects of the cuts and the "detrimental impacts on the health and well-being of residents and workers across" the county if they are allowed to stand. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Just over year ago, the multinational body established to provide credible, independent analysis and reporting on the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea was disbanded. Known officially as the UNSC 1718 Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts, the bodys mandate expired in April 2024, after Russia vetoed its renewal the previous month. Since then, the international communitys ability to monitor and constrain one of the worlds most dangerous nuclear threats has been severely limited. At a moment when the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly evaluating opportunities to restart dialogue with North Korea, the panels demise is a stark reminder of how much the strategic environment has shifted since Trumps diplomatic engagements with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first administration. Back then, international pressure on Pyongyang was arguably at its peak and provided crucial leverage for Trumps leader-level diplomacy. Todays world looks much different. The Security Council is paralyzed by geopolitical gridlock. Russia has joined China in actively shielding Pyongyang from international condemnation and sanctions pressure. And North Korea has grown more financially and militarily capable at a time when U.S. alliances are strained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Trump administration revisits its North Korea policy, it must reckon with a strategic environment that looks far different than it did in 2018 and 2019, when Trump met Kim in two high-profile summits. Failure to do so could leave the U.S. with even fewer tools to manage an increasingly dangerous North Korean threat. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. A Shattered Multilateral Front For more than a decade, the U.N. Security Council played a crucial role in responding to Pyongyangs provocations. After North Koreas first-ever nuclear detonation on Oct. 9, 2006, the Security Council swiftly condemned the test and imposed the first set of multilateral sanctions on the country. Between 2006 and 2017, the council adopted nine sanctions resolutionsas well as one that designated additional individuals and entities to existing sanctions regimesin response to Pyongyangs escalating ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests. That series of resolutions reflected a rare moment of consensus among the permanent members, including China and Russia. Notably, three of those resolutions were adopted in 2017 at the height of the escalating standoff between Pyongyang and Washington, in which Trump famously promised to unleash fire and fury on North Korea should it threaten the U.S. homeland. These resolutions restricted North Koreas export earnings, capped refined petroleum imports and limited the regimes ability to send its citizens abroad to profit from their overseas labor. Even Chinahistorically Pyongyangs economic lifeline and chief diplomatic shieldtook steps to enforce U.N. sanctions more rigorously than ever before. This rare convergence of international pressure, reinforced by a unified Security Council, helped create the conditions that pushed Kim to meet Trump at the negotiating table in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those talks ultimately failed to achieve any breakthroughs. And in the intervening years, the unity among the veto-wielding powers has long since collapsed, leaving the council paralyzed by geopolitical divisions that have only deepened since Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Security Council has failed to adopt any meaningful resolutions on North Korea since 2017, including after multiple ICBM launches by Pyongyang in 2022 that in previous years would have triggered new multilateral sanctions regimes. The last U.S.-led attempt to hold North Korea accountable for its ICBM tests failed in May 2022 due to vetoes by China and Russia. Moscows veto blocking the renewal of the Panel of Experts mandate in March 2024 has only worsened the gridlock. The Security Councils inability to even rhetorically condemn North Korea for violating its resolutions has consequences that extend beyond the bodys credibility. It undermines the foundation and legitimacy of the multilateral pressure that helped create the U.S. diplomatic opening with North Korea in 2018. Quite simply, that leverage no longer exists today. A New Patron The gridlock plaguing the Security Council is more than a reflection of fractured consensus. It is actively sustained by Moscows deepening military and political alignment with Pyongyang. Indeed, Russias refusal to renew the Panel of Experts mandate was a blatant attempt to silence its investigations of Moscows procurement of North Korean weapons in violation of Security Council resolutions. This evolving relationship has far-reaching implications. It affects not only regional security and sanctions enforcement, but also the conditions required for meaningful diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, China was seen as the primary enabler of North Koreas evasion of international pressure, providing economic support and shielding Pyongyang from the full weight of sanctions enforcement. Beijings longstanding priority for the peninsulano war, no instability, no nukes, in that ordermeant it was reluctant to pursue measures that risked destabilizing Pyongyang. Even at the lowest point in their bilateral relationship, China remained North Koreas economic lifeline, accounting for 95 percent of its total trade. The conventional wisdom was that pressuring North Korea to return to the negotiation table required first securing Chinese cooperation. The conditions that enabled diplomacy with Pyongyang in 2018 included a rare alignment among major powers, credible sanctions enforcement and sustained international pressure. Today, those conditions no longer exist. But Russias invasion of Ukraine has significantly altered that picture. Facing deepening isolation from the West, Moscow has turned to Pyongyang for military support, publicly flouting Security Council resolutions and sanctions that it had once backed. As early as March 2023, the United States warned that Russia was seeking munitions from North Korea to sustain its war in Ukraine. These warnings intensified following Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus participation in North Koreas military parade and Kims meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia. By January 2024, the United States confirmed that Russia had used North Korean short-range ballistic missiles to strike Ukrainian targets. The 1718 Panel of Experts, which traveled to Ukraine in April after Russias veto of its mandate renewal but before the cessation of its activities, similarly reported to the Security Council that missile debris recovered in Kharkiv matched a North Korean design. The partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang has only deepened since then, with the signing of a mutual defense pact and North Koreas deployment of troops to support Russias operations in Ukraine. Russias growing military partnership with Pyongyang gives Moscow strong incentives to shield the regime diplomatically, while its economic and humanitarian supportfuel shipments, labor access and food aidhas allowed North Korea to diversify away from its traditional reliance on Beijing. China may be uneasy with Russias rising influence over North Korea, but it is unlikely to take steps to curb this development for fear of pushing North Korea further into Russias orbit and of exposing friction in its own no limits partnership with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result is a strategic environment in which both Russia and China help insulate North Korea from sanctions and global scrutiny, further complicating efforts to rebuild the kind of international pressure that helped bring Kim to the negotiating table during Trumps first term. A More Capable Adversary in a More Complicated World To make matters worse, North Korea today is not just more insulated. It is also more capable and less incentivized to engage in meaningful diplomatic negotiations. In recent years, Pyongyang has significantly expanded its cyber operations, leveraging a network of state-sponsored hacking groups to conduct high-volume cryptocurrency thefts that directly fund its weapons programs. In 2024, North Korean hackers not only stole a record $1.3 billion in cryptocurrency, but also carried out large-scale operations more frequently than in previous yearsmarking a sharp increase in both the scale and pace of their operations. The FBI recently accused North Korean-linked hackers of stealing roughly $1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrency in one of the largest cryptoheists publicly known. These operations have allowed Pyongyang to circumvent financial sanctions, diversify revenue streams and continue funding the development of increasingly sophisticated ballistic missiles and nuclear delivery systems. Indeed, North Koreas ambitious weapons development program has continued apace despite international condemnation. In recent years, Kim has developed and tested a wide range of systems to further strengthen North Koreas weapons capabilities in defiance of multilateral sanctions. In 2022 alone, Pyongyang conducted more than 70 missile testsat one point launching 23 missiles in a single daymarking one of the most active years on record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These advances have taken place in a geopolitical environment that is far less conducive to coordinated action than in years past. The global agenda is overwhelmed: Russias war in Ukraine grinds on; the Middle East remains mired in conflict; and growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait demand U.S. and allied attention. Amid this landscape of concurrent crises, North Korea often remains a secondary priority, eclipsed unless or until it engages in spectacular provocation. At the same time, many of the partners that Washington relied on previously to pressure Pyongyang are either politically distracted or at risk of drifting away. South Korea, a central pillar of the U.S. coalition on North Korea, is embroiled in domestic political turmoil. Across Europe and Asia, some allies are increasingly frustrated by the Trump administrations renewed push for tariffs and a transactional approach to alliances, making coordinated diplomatic action harder to organizeand harder to sustain. Not a Sequel The conditions that enabled diplomacy with Pyongyang in 2018 included a rare alignment among major powers, credible sanctions enforcement and sustained international pressure. Today, those conditions no longer exist. North Korea is now not only protected by two powerful patrons, but also more capable both financially and militarily. As the Trump administration considers its next steps on its policy toward North Korea, it must recognize the different strategic contexts since the last time Trump was in office. This is particularly true if the administration is considering rekindling diplomatic negotiations with Pyongyang. Although meaningful engagement is always worth pursuing, failed diplomacy, especially at the leader level, carries significant opportunity costs. When such talks collapse, there are few fallback options, as was demonstrated the last time Trump engaged directly with Kim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before proceeding, the Trump administration would therefore benefit from a clear-eyed assessment of the leverage and tools it has today. It must also rebuild coordination with allies, whose trust and cooperation will be essential to any sustainable diplomatic outcome. This moment may look familiar in many ways. It is not. Assuming otherwise risks wasting what little leverage over Pyongyang remains. Theresa Lou served as senior policy adviser to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2023 to 2025, where she led on Indo-Pacific policy and strategic competition. Prior to that, she was the Democratic staff director for the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. The post Trump Is Dealing With a Very Different North Korea Than Before appeared first on World Politics Review. President Donald Trump threatened on Friday morning to raise prices on iPhones sold in the United States, as he threatened to slap a 25 percent tariff on Apple smartphones that aren't built in the United States. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's (sic) that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump posted on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S." In either outcome, consumers will have to pay more. A 25 percent tariff on iPhones built in other countries would, of course, artificially inflate prices. On the other hand, an American-made iPhone would likely be even more expensive: one estimate pegs the cost of an American-made iPhone at around $3,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other experts doubt that such a product would ever existin all likelihood, Apple would rather pay the tariff rather than shift its manufacturing supply chains. "It's just not a reality that on the time frame of imposing tariffs that this is going to shift manufacturing here. It's pie in the sky," Jeff Fieldhack, research director at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC in April when the White House was making noises about the desire for an American-made iPhone. "It's easier to teach a bald eagle to use a screwdriver," concludes the Journal's Joanna Stern after surveying several tech manufacturing experts. Since it would cost way more to build new factories, comply with American regulations, and pay American workers to build iPhones, the most likely outcome of this policy is that Apple would simply pay the high import taxes and pass those costs along to consumers. In other words, Americans will end up with more expensive phones and no new factory jobs. Of course, that assumes these tariffs ever actually exist. We've now seen Trump repeatedly threaten, impose, and then back down from various tariff proposals since returning to office in January. The Washington Post calculates that Trump has made more than 50 changes to U.S. tariff policy in barely four months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much uncertainty remains, but here are three things we can conclude about Trump's latest tariff announcement. First, there is apparently no way to buy your way out of Trump's tariff mania. Apple CEO Time Cook donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund and has pledged huge investments in American manufacturing since Trump took office. After meeting with Cook, Trump gave Apple a waiver on the tariffs he imposed in April that covered most other imports from China. Those attempts at buying the president's goodwill apparently did not make a difference. Other businesses will surely continue to lobby the White House for special treatment, but those efforts might be useless in the face of Trump's tempestuous nature and deeply held love for tariffs. If Apple, one of the more valuable companies in the world, can't buy special treatment, who can? Second, specifically targeting iPhones makes this an escalation of Trump's trade war and his desire to set prices. It's unclear whether the president has the ability to raise tariffs on a single producttariffs are applied based on import classes, so the administration would probably have to raise taxes on all imported smartphonesbut that's clearly what Trump intends to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump sees himself as the country's shopkeeper in chief who gets to set prices on all goods sold in America. That's the sort of central planning that should scare all but the most hardened of socialists. Now, instead of setting prices for broad categories of productsby hiking tariffs on steel, aluminum, and so onTrump seemingly wants to expand his purview to individual products. Finally, let's play with a hypothetical. Imagine that, one year ago, President Joe Biden had woken up in a bad mood, stumbled into the White House briefing room, and shouted into a microphone about a plan to make iPhones more expensive. That would likely put an end to any questions about the president's mental acuity or his fitness for office. Republicans in Congress would be outraged about the president's scheme to raise prices on products that Americans need for their daily lives, and maybe they'd even try to stop it from happening. Why should Trump be treated any differently? A new 25 percent tariff on iPhones is a wacky idea that won't help Americans or boost the economy. It is unlikely to ever be implemented. All it really does is reveal the delusions that dominate the mind of a man who believes his job is to decide how much consumers should pay for everything. The post Trump Declares That iPhones Should Be More Expensive appeared first on Reason.com. BANFF, Canada - The finance chiefs of the Group of Seven democracies on Thursday showcased their unity in dealing with common challenges ranging from economic imbalances to the future of Ukraine, despite global trade tensions following the imposition of a barrage of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. Around a month before it hosts a summit of the G7 leaders, Canada, the country perhaps most irked by Trump's confrontational trade policies, tried its best to prevent a weakening of the group's decades-old cooperation, downplaying differences including over how to push Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine. "In the face of multiple complex global challenges, we are committed to pursuing our shared policy objectives," the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors said in a joint statement released after two days of discussions in the Canadian Rocky Mountain resort town of Banff. While refraining from any mention of Trump's tariff regime, the finance chiefs of the group, comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, agreed that they can leverage their "strong economic relationships" to tackle issues such as "excessive imbalances" in the global economy. Bank of Japan chief Kazuo Ueda said, nevertheless, that he and many of his G7 counterparts shared their concerns about the potential effects of Trump's sweeping tariffs and viewed the economic uncertainty stemming from the measures as continuing. Ueda said at a press conference that the situation had not changed, despite recent preliminary trade deals struck by the United States with Britain and China. At last year's G7 summit in Italy, the leaders reaffirmed the group's "commitment to the rules-based, free and fair, equitable, and transparent multilateral trading system." Their finance officials also made similar pledges prior to Trump's return to the White House. But the Banff communique omitted the group's oft-repeated promotion of free trade, apparently due to the Trump administration's economic agenda. Asked the reason for the omission, Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne stressed there is "a lot that we can achieve also together." Speaking at a closing press conference, Champagne said he believes the communique "sends a very clear signal to the world" that the G7 is "united in purpose and in action." The White House announced Thursday that Trump will attend the G7 summit in nearby Kananaskis from June 15 to 17. In addition to gauging the health of the global economy, the finance chiefs discussed China's industrial overcapacity and nonmarket practices, according to G7 officials. Without naming China, the communique said the G7 thinks it is necessary to have a common understanding of how nonmarket practices, such as massive government subsidies, aggravate imbalances, contribute to overcapacity and affect the economic security of other countries. "We agree on the importance of a level playing field and taking a broadly coordinated approach to address the harm caused by those who do not abide by the same rules and lack transparency," it said. Other issues discussed included the increase in low-value international shipments, coming particularly from Chinese e-commerce companies selling cheaper products that are still duty-free in many countries. They said such shipments were addressed not just in terms of tax collection but also in the context of customs security, given that they are increasingly used to smuggle illegal substances. In their first communique since Trump's nonconsecutive second term started in January, the finance ministers and central bank governors, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, also condemned Russia's continued "brutal" war in Ukraine, without referring to it as "illegal." "The G7 remains committed to unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence toward a just and durable peace," the document said. The countries said they will consider "options to maximize pressure such as further ramping up sanctions" if a cease-fire is not agreed between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko was invited to join part of the G7 gathering in person, at a time when there has been little progress in talks toward ending the war. Related coverage: Japan, U.S. agree dollar-yen rate mirrors economic fundamentals 81% in Japan feel "uneasy" about Trump's 2nd presidency: poll Late in the 2024 campaign cycle, parts of western North Carolina were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Donald Trump accused former President Joe Biden of abandoning the region and mishandling the response to the crisis. The disaster in North Carolina became the jumping point for a myriad of conspiracies and attacks by Republicans against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FAMA). Trump vowed he would improve disaster responses as president. Now, four months into his administration North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, has become the latest lawmaker from a disaster-ravaged state who has been forced to beg the president to provide much-needed aid. On Friday, Stein published a video on social media informing the public that the Trump administration had denied the states request for FEMA to honor a Biden-era commitment to pay for 100 percent of debris removal costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to cost a lot, up to $2 billion to fully clean the roads and waterways of western North Carolina, Stein said. Thats why I asked the federal government to continue to pay 100 percent of our cleanup costs beyond the first 180 days, just like it did with hurricanes Ike Maria and Katrina. FEMA rejected that request, so I immediately appealed [] last night, we got word from FEMA that it has denied our appeal. That means, quite frankly, it will cost North Carolina taxpayers a lot more to clean up west through North Carolina, and debris removal is just one of the many categories of relief we need, Steid added, noting that more money North Carolina has to spend on debris removal and other types of cleanup that the federal government often executes, thats less money well have for other categories of relief. According to Stein, the damages caused by Hurricane Helene exceeded $60 billion, in a state operating off of an annual budget of about $35 billion. Trump repeatedly blamed FEMA and the Biden administration for mishandling the response to the disaster, and in January said he would consider eliminating the agency while taking strong action to get North Carolina the support that you need to quickly recover and rebuild. However, according to a Thursday report from Politico, Trumps response to the disaster has actually slowed recovery efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It began even before Trump assumed office. The rights eagerness to spread misinformation about the disaster response in order to hurt the Biden campaign including claims that FEMA ignored Republican communities, that aid recipients would be forced to repay grants, and that disaster funds were being stolen by undocumented migrants contributed to on-the-ground hesitancy to accept aid. Local officials told Politico that at one point, less than 15 percent of the eligible households had applied for disaster aid, and that the numbers were still lagging. Under the Trump administration, the amount of monetary aid provided for the state saw no significant jump, despite lip service to state leaders from the new president. The need for aid also began to clash with the political agenda of the president. In March, the city of Asheville, which was catastrophically affected by the storm, was denied aid and ordered to eliminate a program promoting the hiring of female and minority contractors that the administration accused of violating their anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. North Carolina is not the only state struggling to convince the federal government to give it disaster aid. On Wednesday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) begged Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for assistance in getting the president to approve pending federal disaster declaration requests for the state of Missouri, which was recently ravaged by a series of tornadoes. During that same hearing, Noem reiterated that the administration still planned to dismantle FEMA, but that there is no formalized, final plan. On Friday, the Trump administration finally approved a request for aid from Mississippi almost two months after it was initially submitted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was similarly reduced to pleading with the president to reconsider FEMAs denial of an emergency disaster declaration request as the state recovered from a series of tornadoes in March. The declaration was approved on April 13, nearly two months after the initial ask. Amid all the delays, families and individuals affected by these disasters remain in limbo. While Trump has a history of leveraging disaster aid against Democratic-leaning states and politicians, the fact that red-state governors and lawmakers are being put in such a difficult position speaks of a deep incompetence of governance rivaled only by the administrations cruelty. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. President Trumps former surgeon general, Jerome Adams, said this week that failure to maintain certain requirements for the role he once occupied would compromise the mission and credibility of the federal public health service. Trumps current nominee for the role, Casey Means, graduated from medical school but did not complete her residency, meaning she is not a practicing physician, a distinction that historically has been a prerequisite for the role. Means and her defenders, including Kennedy, say she left the formal health care system because it was not making people healthier, and she and her brother have carved out a popular lane as influencers and authors aligned with the Make America Healthy Again agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without naming any names, Adams stated in a lengthy post on the social platform X that his thoughts were in no way a personal criticism of any candidate, but a clarification for the sake of the integrity of the [U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC)] that I was blessed and honored to lead. Physician requirements include a medical degree (e.g., MD or DO), a residency, and a valid medical license, Adams wrote. This is analogous to how an Army General must meet the minimum qualifications to serve in the military before being promoted to lead other troops who are held to those same standards. When Trump announced he was replacing Janette Nesheiwat with Means to be his pick for surgeon general, critics from within MAGA and the Make America Healthy Again movement spoke out against her. Adams noted at the time that surgeon general nominees historically have been required to be licensed physicians. Critics of Means, who graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine, have latched on to her decision not to complete her residency program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to former colleagues of Means, she left a five-year residency program at the Oregon Health and Science University after 4 1/2 years due to anxiety and feeling she wanted to do something different. Means is co-founder of Levels, a health technology company that focuses on tracking health information through medical devices. Adams served as surgeon general during Trumps first term and is presidential fellow and the executive director of the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning at Purdue University. He acknowledged that appointing nonphysicians is not explicitly prohibited by law but said the requirements of leading the PHSCC would make having a medical license indispensable. Adams gave the example of the Air Force chief of staff not being legally required to have completed flight training or licensure, but noted those credentials are strongly implied by the responsibilities of the role. The Surgeon Generals position as a trusted public health authority and physician makes full training and licensure a critical expectation in addition to an implicit legal requirement, Adams wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The federal government is now investigating the liberal media watchdog Media Matters, an organization that Elon Musk is currently suing. The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday announced the investigation into whether the nonprofit illegally colluded with advertisers in a boycott of X, The New York Times reports, citing two unnamed sources. The investigation demands that Media Matters turn over all documents the organization has received or created regarding advertiser boycotts. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, appointed by President Trump, hinted at conducting such investigations in December, saying, We must prosecute any unlawful collusion between online platforms, and confront advertiser boycotts which threaten competition among those platforms in a statement about an unrelated case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Musk filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, which is still ongoing, claiming that it attempted to damage his social media company Xs relationship with advertisers. That lawsuit seems hinged on research published by Media Matters on antisemitic and hateful content flourishing on X, shortly after Musks purchase of the platform. The study pointed out that the platform placed ads for major brands, including Apple, Bravo, IBM, Oracle, and Xfinity, next to pro-Nazi content. The report resulted in Apple and IBM ending their advertising relationship with X, and most other major brands followed suit. In March, Media Matters, which monitors conservative media, sued X for breach of contract over the tech oligarch suing the nonprofit in Texas, Ireland, and Singapore, alleging that Xs terms of service required legal action to be filed in San Francisco. The organization called Musks actions a vendetta-driven campaign of libel tourism. Media Matters alleges that Musks lawsuits have cost the organization millions of dollars and led to employee layoffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xs worldwide campaign of intimidation seeks to punish Media Matters for exercising its core First Amendment rights on a matter of public importance, the lawsuit states. This Court should stop Xs antics and enforce the forum selection clause that X itself drafted. If Musks lawsuits proceed against Media Matters, they could open up X to the legal discovery process and expose internal communications within the company over how it handled hateful content and whether it knew about failed safeguards against brand advertisements appearing next to such content. Now, though, Musk not only has his pending lawsuits to bleed the nonprofit organization but also the power of a government agency investigation. All of this will help the worlds richest man silence media criticism of how his social media platform has helped racism, antisemitism, and other hateful content proliferate around the world. President Trump is raking in money and gifts for himself, while demanding sacrifice from most Americans paying higher prices for his trade war. MSNBCs Ari Melber reports on one of the largest grifts in White House history. (Subscribe to Aris YouTube now: http://youtube.com/arimelber) The Trump administration is giving businesses a free pass from a wide variety of enforcement actions. Boeing, Capital One, Southwest Airlines and Coinbase all faced legal action from the Biden administration, which accused the companies of cheating their customers, the government or otherwise acting improperly. But multiple federal agencies under President Donald Trump have dropped those suits. Consumer advocates say the dropping of those legal actions removes protections that consumers cant replace on their own giving businesses the green light to take advantage of customers without fear of penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre basically trying to take consumer financial protection down to zero and not defend people at all when theyve been ripped off by banks and other financial services companies, said Chuck Bell, financial policy advocate of Consumer Reports. Theyve never seen a business practice they didnt approve of. The White House, and most of the agencies, did not respond to a request for comment. Boeing agreed last year to plead guilty to defrauding the Federal Aviation Administration for its role in two fatal 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people. But now, the attorneys for families of those crash victims say the Justice Department has notified them its prepared to drop that case. Boeing declined to comment on reports its criminal case will be dropped, but the attorneys for the crash victims called the decision morally repugnant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dismissing the case would dishonor the memories of 346 victims who Boeing killed through its callous lies, said Paul Cassell, an attorney for many of the families, in a statement last Friday. The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment. The Securities and Exchange Commission also dropped a case it had previously brought in 2023 against Coinbase, Americas largest cryptocurrency exchange. The SEC accused the company of unlawfully making billions of dollars by acting as an exchange, broker and clearing agency without having registered any of those functions with the Commission as required by law. Coinbase, which had challenged the assertion and argued the SEC overreached, praised the decision to drop that case. Capital One headquarters are seen in McLean, Virginia. - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Capital One during the final days of the Biden administration, accusing the company of cheating millions of consumers by not paying more than $2 billion in interest to holders of its high-interest savings accounts. Now that case, like many others brought by the CFPB, was dropped after the agencys director was dismissed and its funding was slashed. No new director has been named. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Transportation sued Southwest Airlines in January under former President Joe Biden, seeking maximum civil penalties for operating two chronically delayed flights in 2022 that resulted in 180 flight disruptions. The Justice Department dropped that case quietly on Friday afternoon, with little comment. The Department of Transportation defended the decision in a statement. This was a lawsuit that should have never been brought forward, the department said in a statement to CNN. Southwest has remedied the underlying issues and USDOT will work with them fairly, not sue them for political gain. Both Capital One and Southwest said they appreciate the cases being dropped, arguing that the suits should never have been brought in the first place. We welcome the CFPBs decision to dismiss this action, which we strongly disputed, said Capital One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We appreciate the DOTs decision to abandon its lawsuit against Southwest, which we believe is the correct result in this case, said Southwest. The two flights at issue occurred years ago when the industry faced unprecedented challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic and were delayed due to issues outside of Southwests control in numerous cases. The most recent relief for a business came Thursday from the Federal Trade Commission. It dropped a case brought in January by the Biden administration against PepsiCo that had accused the company of unfair pricing advantages with a large retailer. The retailers name was redacted in the initial statement, but a source familiar with the case told CNN at the time that it was Walmart. FTC chair Andrew Ferguson in a statement called the Biden administration suit a nakedly political effort to commit this administration to pursuing little more than a hunch that Pepsi had violated the law. PepsiCo thanked the FTC for its action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PepsiCo is pleased with the FTCs further consideration and withdrawal of this matter, said the company in a statement. PepsiCo has always and will continue to provide all customers with fair, competitive, and non-discriminatory pricing, discounts and promotional value. Walmart did not immediate respond to a request for comment. But Walmart at the time told CNN it did not have a comment on the lawsuit. Trump has made clear he believes American businesses need to be freed from what he sees as unfair and undue enforcement actions. But its not just less enforcement the Trump administration also wants to make it easier for companies to move ahead with mergers, particularly in financial services. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a regulator that is part of the Treasury Department, announced new rules this month to make it easier to grant approvals of deals, including Capital Ones effort to buy Discover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making it easier for well-managed and well-capitalized banks to merge promotes competition and facilitates economic growth and innovation, said a statement from Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood. Consumer advocates are bringing legal challenges to combat the Trump administrations actions. But they say there is little hope they can entirely stop the gutting of consumer protection cases over the next three and a half years of Trumps term. I think much of what the Trump administration has done is go after the very foundation of consumer protection, said John Breyault, vice president of public policy for the National Consumers League. Its not a surprise they would de-prioritize it. But theyre seeking to make these agencies non-functional. That should worry all consumers. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Because President Trump deeply values accuracy and integrity in public conduct, he will be mortified to learn that a photo he brandished during his recent Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa perpetrated a massive deception. The photo was supposed to display dead white South African farmersa Trump obsessionbut instead, it showed body bags from the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is producing humanitarian horrors. This abomination came as Trump ambushed Ramaphosa by displaying numerous printouts of web pages to illustrate a genocide against whites underway in his country. But Reuters now reports that one of the printouts displayed imagery taken from a Reuters video shot in Congo of humanitarian workers moving dead victims from the war with Rwanda-backed rebels. Most obviously, this is another sign of Trumps inability to produce evidence of his new pet conspiracy theory about huge masses of white farmers being killed in racial pogroms. But theres another ugly irony here that shouldnt pass unnoticed: The Trump administration has suspended foreign aid to Congo and the resettlement of refugees from that nation, thus abandoning countless victims of the very same real-life humanitarian catastrophe that hes cherry-picking imagery from to portray an atrocity against whites that isnt actually happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plainly, a hapless Trump aide was tasked with finding web postings about murdered South African white farmers for Trump to wave in Ramaphosas face as part of some sort of humiliation ritualprobably dreamed up by Stephen Millerdesigned to thrill white nationalists everywhere. As it happens, the video he showed Ramaphosa of crosses designed to depict a killing field full of white corpses also turned out to be a wild distortion. Trumps broader claim of a white genocide has similarly been debunked. Yet Trump has sought to feed this gutter conspiracy theory by resettling several dozen white Afrikaners in the United States, even as hes suspended the resettlement of refugees from everywhere else in the world. But theres something particularly ghoulish about this new Reuters revelation. Trump held aloft what appeared to be a printout of a conservative blog post, which was broadly about Africa (and partly about South Africa as well) and featured a photo image lifted from a Reuters video about the Congo conflict. (Perhaps the aide googled white farmers and South Africa, found the blog post with the picture of victims in Congo, and printed it for Trump to cite as imagery of dead white Afrikaners?) The Reuters video, which you can watch right here, depicts atrocities in the war between Congo and Rwanda. The Council on Foreign Relations describes this as one of the largest and deadliest humanitarian crises in the world, having left millions in need of basic food and medicine or seeking refuge abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, just before Trump took over, a State Department report declared that it was prioritizing the resettlement of large numbers of refugees from that conflict, describing it as a complex emergency that has intensified. But now that Trump has suspended refugee resettlement across the boardwith the exception of white Afrikanersan untold number of those Congolese refugees are barred from the United States. Whats more, according to the United Nations, Trumps cuts have severely impacted humanitarian efforts in Congo. Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International, argues that these are taking a toll on victims of the conflict there: The cuts, he says, affected services for people displaced by the fighting, including emergency food aid, clean water, shelter, and emergency malnutrition support. In fairness, under Trump this conflict recently saw a partial diplomatic breakthrough, though this continued a process initiated by his predecessor. As The Washington Posts David Ignatius reports, this achievement could ultimately make a real difference. But this doesnt justify stalling resettlement of refugees from the war or dramatically curtailing foreign aid to the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has slashed programs supporting the victims, Konyndyk said. He has cut off refugee resettlement, leaving no escape valve for people displaced by that conflict. Then he uses an image of that conflict to promote his false narrative about South Africa. Its absolutely grotesque. As an aside, if there were really mass atrocities targeting white peoplecrime statistics show general high crime in South Africa but no evidence that whites are being singled outthen youd think far more of them would want to be coming here. Yet Democratic aides on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tell me theyve asked the State Department for details on the number of Afrikaners who have applied to come to the United States and have not received an answer. Is there really an ongoing groundswell of white Afrikaners clamoring to come here, or did the administration have to work hard to find white victims willing to be resettled? Well soon find out. As I argued recently, Trumps white genocide imagery draws heavily on a kind of internationalized great replacement theory thats popular among white nationalists. In this storytelling, embattled white populations around the world must come to each others rescue to avoid elimination. The farmers trope gives all this a producerist feel: The white populations are the salt of the earth in their homelands, under siege from shiftless, rootless, swarthy masses being manipulated against them by dark international forces or even by the globalists themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, Miller, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dont use this precise language. But they constantly describe white South Africans as a persecuted minorityeven as they taunt us with their refusal to settle genuine victims of mass persecution from the rest of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East. The flaunting of this contrast is itself the intended message. The depravity of it all was perfectly captured by Reuters video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty, who shot the image Trump used. In view of all the world, Al Katanty said, Trump manipulated his work to broadcast the story that white people are being killed by Black people. The not-so-coded message is that the only victims of mass historical crimes who exist or merit our attention are white victims of nonwhites. All the rest will be summarily erased as matters of concern to us. The unabashed declaration of the power to replace actual historical crimes with mythological onesones featuring whites as world-historical victimsis the main event here. You couldnt ask for a clearer illustration of this than the transformation of victims in a genuine humanitarian horror in central Africaones we are slamming the door oninto phony evidence of an imaginary genocide against white South Africansones who are getting welcomed into our country by Trump with open arms. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump took a four-day tour of three Gulf monarchies: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. One of those nations, Saudi Arabia, has long been a special partner, if not a formal ally, of the United States. The other two are also key U.S. economic and security partners in the region. Many noted a key Middle East country not on Trumps travel list: Israel. As Frida Ghitis remarked in her WPR column last week, What used to be a lovefest has turned chilly, making Israelis nervous about whats behind the change and what it presages. Similarly, Emma Ashford observed how, despite Trump claiming that Israel would have no better friend than him, it seems increasingly clear from his conduct that America First may not have an exception for Israel after all. While Israels absence from Trumps itinerary is worth noting, it was probably not an intentional snub. Israel is still among the top recipients of U.S. military aid. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still the first leader to visit the White House after Trump returned to the presidency. And according to recent accounts, it seems that Trump still intends to go forward with a plan for the U.S. to play a role in governing and rebuilding Gaza once Israel has completed its military operations and conquered the territory. Moreover, in his visits to Gulf capitals, Trump made clear his desire for them to eventually normalize relations with Israel by signing onto the Abraham Accords, arguably the signature foreign policy achievement of his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the trip was not about snubbing Israel, it raises the question of why Trump would want to visit these particular countries, besides the pomp and circumstance and gifts he was showered with while there. The answer may be surprising: He wanted to reset U.S. policy toward the Muslim countries of the Middle East after years, and really decades, of failed approaches. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Barack Obama famously tried to do just this when he first became president. Back in June 2009, he traveled to Cairo to give his New Beginning address to the Muslim world, in which he called for a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. The speech was an attempt to make good on a promise from his inaugural address to reset U.S. relations in the Middle East. Eight years into the war on terror and six years into the disastrous U.S. occupation of Iraq, that promise and the Cairo speech were considered so profound that they contributed to Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize later that year. But the new way forward that Obama in Cairo promised didnt fully materialize during his presidency. The U.S. drew down its forces from Iraq, but didnt fully withdraw them. The U.S. military remained in Afghanistan. And while Obama secured the nuclear deal with Iran, he did so on tenuous footing given that it was not a treaty but an agreement, which could and was easily overturned by Trump when he succeeded Obama in office. Its worth pointing out the irony of Trump possibly realizing that Obamas more conciliatory approach to diplomacy might be preferable to his own confrontational style of maximum pressure. Besides wanting to one-up Obama, Trump used his trip to the Gulf to level an indictment against much of the conventional thinking that dominated U.S. foreign policy in the first part of the 21st century. In an address in Riyadh, Trump pointed to what he characterized as the folly of nation-building, noting that the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation builders, neocons, or liberal nonprofits like those who spent trillions and trillions of dollars failing to develop Kabul, Baghdad, and so many other cities. This was a direct swipe at former President George W. Bush, who had sought to rebuild both Iraq and Afghanistan after first using military force to overthrow their respective governments. Of course, given that Trump seems eager for the U.S. to take over Gaza and develop it into what he called the Riviera of the Middle East, some might claim that Trump isnt opposed to nation-building per se, but just building projects that do not carry his name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much like former President Joe Bidens own Middle East tour back in 2022, this trip was also about Iran. But while Bidens trip was oriented toward bolstering a coalition against Iran, Trumps intent was consistent with his visits overall theme: to potentially reset U.S. policy toward Washingtons longstanding regional adversary. Trump directly offered an olive branch to Tehran, stating, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world, even if our differences may be very profound, which obviously they are in the case of Iran. Trumps overtures toward Iran are in line with his praise of and meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term and his attempts to appease Russia early in his present term. Of course, just as his diplomatic efforts with North Korea went nowhere and his overtures toward Putin seem to have largely failed, whether Trump follows through with his offer to Iran, or whether Tehran would actually take up the olive branch if he does proffer one, warrants some healthy skepticism. But its nevertheless worth pointing out the irony of Trump possibly realizing that Obamas more conciliatory approach to diplomacy might be preferable to his own confrontational style of maximum pressure. In his haste in 2017 to undo all that his immediate predecessor had done, Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, by which Iran had agreed to strict limits on its civil nuclear program, as well as intrusive oversight of it to make sure the program was never diverted to produce nuclear weapons. To be fair, some of Trumps Middle East Reset was started under Biden. The final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, which was set in motion by Trump during his first term, allowed the U.S. to finally end its forever wars in the region. Following the fall of former dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the end of that nations long and bloody civil war, Biden also removed the $10 million bounty the U.S. had placed on the head of Ahmed al-Sharaa. Now Syrias interim president, al-Sharaa was previously the leader of a rebel group that, in addition to fighting Assad, was also designated a terror organization by the U.S. State Department. Bidens decision paved the way for Trump to not only meet with al-Sharaa during his stop in Riyadh, but also to call for the end of U.S. sanctions against Syria, to the apparent surprise of even his aides, who are now scrambling to figure out exactly how to roll the sanctions back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, Trumps trip promised a lot. But will that promise turn into tangible results? The question refers not to the tech and business ventures between the U.S. and these nations that were announced during the trip, but to the goal of truly remaking U.S. policy toward the Middle East. It would be the height of irony if a president bent on the U.S. doing less in the world brought about the desirable outcome that many of his predecessors tried hardperhaps too hardto achieve, only to come up short. 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 Trumps Middle East Trip Was Quietly About Resetting U.S. Regional Policy appeared first on World Politics Review. President Donald Trump left out a key detail this week when he outlined his plans for a massive missile and air defense shield over the continent: He cant build it without Canada. And its not clear Americas northern neighbor wants in. Canada would need to play a pivotal role in Trumps signature, potentially $500 billion effort to build the so-called Golden Dome, according to U.S. officials and experts, with Ottawa providing radars and airspace needed to track incoming missiles in the Arctic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while Trump insists the country wants to participate, Canadian leaders appear more tepid. There's a lot we just don't know, said Shuvaloy Majumdar, a Conservative member of Canadas parliament. There's a lot that needs to be revealed about how the economic and security partnership with America and Canada will unfold. Trump, in his Golden Dome announcement on Tuesday, dismissed what Canada could offer the project. They want to have protection also, so as usual, we help Canada, he said. Yet whether he realizes it or not, Trump suddenly finds himself in need of an ally he has largely forsaken. He has singled out Canada for free riding on American military might and preferential trade ties, and has engaged in a tariff battle that has stilted relations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned the United States cant take Ottawa for granted and has begun searching for other security partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shield, therefore, gives Canada some new leverage in the countries tenuous relationship. None of [the Golden Dome partnership] has been spelled out or negotiated, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an interview. The president, because of his rhetoric, has alienated a large part of the Canadian population, and that's being reflected in the political leaders it's not, you know, good old Canada-USA. Its like, We can't do this easily, because our people are very upset. Canada has nearly 4 million square miles of territory. That airspace offers a crucial line of sight for U.S. sensors to shoot down missiles that Beijing and Moscow are developing to fly over the North Pole a huge gap in American air defenses. What Canada really brings is terrain, said Glen VanHerck, a retired Air Force general who led the U.S. Northern Command until last year. If we can position, or Canada positions, over-the-horizon radars further north in the Arctic, that dramatically increases the United States and Canada's ability to see over the pole into Russia, into China and other places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada has always played a big role in air and missile defense for North America. The 67 year-old North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, has ensured American and Canadian militaries work together daily to track anything that comes close to either countrys airspace. Canadian and American radars share information, and fighter planes from both countries patrol the Arctic. They warn away a steady procession of Russian fighter planes and bombers. Ottawa has historically funded about 40 percent of NORAD investments, according to VanHerck, and is putting $38 billion into the command to add new radars in the north over the next two decades. Without those investments and additional sensors that can peer over the North Pole officials believe the U.S. will have trouble putting together a credible North American air defense. It will be very important where Canada decides to put its over-the-horizon radar, said a Senate GOP aide, who was granted anonymity to talk about closed-door policy talks. It would be much more difficult without Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ottawa, in order to help build a Golden Dome, would need to outfit its territory with more radars and interceptors, such as those already dotted across California and Alaska. It also would likely have to take a more active role in commanding air defenses. What we really want them to do is to contribute to the production of those assets and to be willing to host them, if necessary, within Canadian territory, said Tory Bruno, the president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, the U.S. rocket company responsible for many of the American government's national security launches. The U.S. could also beef up a defense shield with radars Ottawa is already producing. Canada, during Carneys first week in office, signed a landmark $4 billion pact with Australia in March for a long-range radar built by British-based BAE systems. Canada plans to put these radars in the Arctic and use them as part of NORAD. Carney and his ministers are having wide-ranging and constructive discussions with their American counterparts, Audrey Champoux, a spokesperson from the prime ministers office, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S Northern Command, which oversees NORAD, said it will continue to prioritize our core mission of defending the United States and Canada and will ensure any new capabilities align with that objective. Some of Trumps supporters disputed the influence Canada would carry in building the presidents defense shield. Would it be helpful? said Sen. Dan Sullivan, the Alaska Republican who is sponsoring legislation to implement Golden Dome. Probably, but its not vital or existential. Funding is also an issue. The White House has requested an initial Golden Dome investment of $25 billion in the tax and spending megabill moving through Congress. But Canadas parliament wont have a budget ready until the fall. Ottawa is also debating whether to participate in the shooting down of ballistic missiles, which is a controversial issue in the Canadian government. Carney has framed any investment in Golden Dome as a back-and-forth, not a guarantee. Its something that we are looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level, he said Wednesday in Ottawa . But not sure, one negotiates on this. Joe Gould and Mike Blanchfield contributed to this report. US President Donald Trump on Friday said his decision to announce 50% tariffs on EU goods from June 1 is not a negotiating tactic. "I'm not looking for a deal," Trump said in Washington. "But again, there is no tariff if they build their plants here." "They haven't treated us properly," the president added, referring to EU member states. "They haven't treated our country properly. They banded together to take advantage of us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has made tariffs a central plank of his economic policy since returning to office in January, seeking to force foreign companies to relocate production to the United States. In April, he introduced blanket 10% tariffs on all US imports and threatened further measures on a wide range of countries and sectors. The European Union has since been locked in negotiations to avert the punitive duties, while preparing countermeasures on US exports. While the US signed a trade deal with the United Kingdom earlier this month, Trump's bombshell post on his Truth Social platform early on Friday suggests an agreement with the EU might yet take some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump slammed the EU, saying the bloc, which "was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with." He outlined a laundry list of complaints including "their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more." The US president said trade talks with Brussels "are going nowhere" and that he therefore wants a straight 50% tariff on all EU imports starting on June 1. EU has trade surplus in goods with US, but deficit in services In his post, Trump stated that the US has a trade deficit with the EU "of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figure - which is $250 million - is far below official statistics posted by both the US and the EU. According to the US trade representative, the US trade deficit in goods with the EU was $235.6 billion in 2024, a 12.9% increase over 2023. According to EU figures, the 27-member bloc had a 198.2 billion ($224 billion) trade surplus in goods with the US. But EU figures for 2023, the latest available, show a deficit of 108.6 billion with the US when it comes to trade in services, which includes trade involving highly dominant US tech companies such as Meta, Google, Apple and Amazon. Negotiations ongoing with Europeans EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were due to hold talks later on Friday, a European Commission spokeswoman said. The phone call was already planned before Trump's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump had previously threatened the EU with blanket tariffs of 25% if no agreement was reached with the US. The deadline for this had been set for July. The Trump administration has so far not responded to an offer from Brussels for the mutual elimination of all tariffs on industrial goods. However, Trump had expressed optimism about finding a resolution to the tariff dispute with the Europeans. It is unclear whether the 50% punitive tariffs will actually come into effect in June. Trump has frequently threatened high tariffs in the past, only to later reverse course. The US president aims to use tariffs to address alleged trade imbalances and shift production to the United States. German ministers warn of consequences German ministers reacted to Trump's announcement on Friday with regret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe that such tariffs would not help anyone, but would only lead to economic growth in both markets suffering as a result," Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said at a press conference in Berlin with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The response is now up to the European Commission, Wadephul argued, adding that Germany is still hoping for a negotiated solution. German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche also responded to Trump's announcement. "Tariff conflicts know no winners," she said. "We must do everything we can to ensure that the European Commission reaches a negotiated solution with the US." "Tariffs harm the US and the EU in equal measure," Reiche further stated. "We need more trade, not less." Our age is one where information is much more openly available and quickly verifiable than ever before. Yet it is also an age when speedily provable untruths are asserted ever more brazenly by leading figures, even in open, democratic societies. They do not seem to mind or to suffer when their untruths are exposed. Donald Trump is the best-known western leader who excels in these methods. This week, he launched one of his notorious Oval Office ambushes. He suddenly confronted president Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa with a film show purporting to prove the genocide of South African white farmers. BBC Verify quickly got to work to demolish Trumps claims. His burial site of over a thousand white farmers was actually a line of temporary crosses commemorating the murder of one farming couple. A picture he waved at president Ramaphosa was actually a scene from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Trump is right that white farmers are persecuted and occasionally murdered in South Africa (some fleeing to America), this is nowhere near a genocide and his facts, which the White House surely has the resources to get right, were wildly wrong. The BBC easily established this, and was happy to do so, because it hates Mr Trump. In the same week, another public figure made another unevidenced claim, on an even more incendiary subject. On Tuesday, the BBC Today programme interviewed Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat who dislikes Israel even more than do his former employers at the Foreign Office and is therefore a frequent voice on the BBC. Nowadays he is the United Nations humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator. In his Today interview, he strayed way beyond relief coordination and into politics, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. Grandly, he explained that, when addressing the Security Council, I weighed with great thought and care what I should say. On the BBC, Mr Fletcher weighed nothing carefully at all. He said that if Israel did not let UN food through there were 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was an obviously ridiculous statement. Even if Mr Fletcher were right which he emphatically is not that only Israel is to blame for the delay in getting aid through, no one could accurately name such a number in such a timescale. His words were uttered five days ago. Although some aid did get through this week, if Mr Fletcher had been speaking true, thousands of babies would have starved in Gaza in the past three days. Not one such death has been reported. The BBC did later probe Mr Fletchers assertion and reported what they politely called more detail on his claim. He had been relying on a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) that it expected 14,100 severe cases of acute malnutrition over the course of a year, should the same level of aid continue. His enumeration of mass deaths in 48 hours was a wild extrapolation for which he has not apologised and will surely not be punished. By the way, the same IPC whose projections he grossly distorted has admitted that there is currently no famine in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The substance of Mr Fletchers claim was no more than that the blocking of aid would worsen hunger and suffering in Gaza. We knew that already, and we also know, though Mr Fletcher skirted this point, that the greatest problem with aid is that it is vulnerable to Hamas exploitation. The UN never admits this because its relationship with Hamas is collusive: it is, at root, a political not a humanitarian organisation. Anyway, the damage was done. In Parliament, 13 MPs supporting the attack on Israel by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, repeated the Fletcher dead baby formula, unrebuked. Tom Gross, the respected monitor of Israel coverage in the media everywhere, noted that the New York Times, NBC News, Time magazine, The Guardian and ABC news all repeated Mr Fletchers 48 hours claim, citing the BBC as a reliable source. On Friday, Mr Fletchers 14,000 dead babies were still up on the BBC website. Although admitting the horrendous level of suffering in the conflict, Mr Gross also says, I follow it incredibly closely, and so far as I can tell, no one has yet died of hunger in this conflict. Yet the times since October 7 2023 that the BBC has run starvation scares about Gazan people are almost uncountable. You barely hear that Israels policy is not to stop the aid but to find more secure ways of distributing it. It is establishing aid delivery via a US-backed group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, protected by foreign security guards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Fletcher probably has an untroubled conscience. He will brush aside his 48 hours distortion and the BBC will treat him gently because it thinks his heart is in the right place. He may even feel proud of grabbing the headlines. But in Gaza, more than in any other current conflict, the battle is being fought not only by weapons, but by constant propaganda. The overall effect of this is to dehumanise Israelis and, by extension, all Jews. The constant use of the word genocide to describe Israels war is not merely a heartless insult. It is designed to make Jews seem like the Nazi murderers who sought their extinction in the 1940s. If that propaganda succeeds, two things happen. The first is that, as in 1945, Israel will be made to face a legal reckoning for what will be claimed as war crimes. The rhetoric of Mr Lammy and, indeed, of the joint statement this week by Britain, France and Canada, ramps up the idea that international courts have the authority to punish Israel, and threatens trade and further arms export restrictions. By implication, they see what they call the Netanyahu government, as an illegitimate regime, even though it is the only government with democratic legitimacy in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second effect is on the collective mind of the West. If those in power here half-endorse the suggestion of genocide or, in the case of Mr Fletcher and UN agencies, directly state that Israel is deliberately engendering starvation, then officialdom endorses the logic of extremism. If Israel is killing babies, say angry, radicalised young men, lets kill the baby-killers. In Washington DC on Thursday, a young Israeli couple, engaged to be married, were murdered in the name of Free Palestine. The man arrested is said to be a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation of the United States. His extreme anti-Israel ideology was the gateway to his actions. If we judge by the slogans shouted in the pro-Gaza marches in Britain, many are passing through the same gateway here. For Labour, in particular, such people, chiefly Muslims, are a significant part of its constituency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party will pay a high price in civil unrest and terrorism for feeding their delusions. In a lecture this week at Policy Exchange, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, tried to revive official interest in the concept of subversion, which our intelligence services took so seriously during the Cold War. At much the same time, in France, the interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, newly elected leader of his party, has succeeded in declassifying his governments internal report on subversion by the Muslim Brotherhood the global organisation of which Hamas is a part in his country. We have never managed the equivalent here, preferring the vapourings of people like Mr Fletcher. 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. TOKYO - Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, will travel to Laos in November in what will be her first official overseas visit, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday. With this year marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Laos, the 23-year-old princess will visit the Southeast Asian nation to foster friendship and goodwill. The details of her visit are still under consideration, but the princess will likely meet with Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith and attend events related to the anniversary, according to the agency. The princess went on an informal trip to the Netherlands with her parents in 2006, and she took a summer course at Eton College in Windsor just outside London in 2018 as a senior high school student. Related coverage: Japan imperial couple to visit Hiroshima in June, 1st since ascension Japan OKs Princess Kako's June Brazil visit to mark 130 yrs of ties Japan imperial family YouTube channel awarded for 100,000 subscribers Installing insulation to weatherize homes, which saves energy and lowers costs, is part of what the Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) does. In fiscal year 2023, the program weatherized more than 60,000 homes nationwide, averting power disconnections. (Mountain Association photo) By any measure, the economy of Eastern Kentucky and the wider Appalachian region is struggling. The collapse of the coal industry, the opioid crisis and the recurring natural disasters have left scars that are slow to heal. Families and individual households trying to make ends meet rely on an array of federal assistance. Recently, there have been cuts or threats to these assistance programs, including a proposed total elimination of a vital energy assistance program that supports 6 million low-income households each year across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is zeroed out in the proposed federal budget for the fiscal year that begins in September 2025. LIHEAP provides life-saving aid to millions of Americans by helping them afford their heating and cooling bills. For many, it is the difference between choosing food or heat, medicine or air conditioning. In 2024 alone, the program was utilized more than 219,000 times by Kentucky households. These are small disbursements a max of $250 per season that function as safety nets for working families, elderly residents and people with disabilities who are trying to survive on limited incomes in one of the most energy-burdened regions in the country. Despite this need, the Trump administrations 2026 budget proposes defunding LIHEAP entirely. Their reasoning is that lower energy prices are on the horizon thanks to a move toward American energy dominance and the America First platform. But here in Kentucky, the future hasnt arrived yet. Energy bills are still going up, not down. In some Eastern Kentucky counties, low-income families pay up to 14.5% of their income on utility bills more than double the 6% threshold that experts define as a high energy burden. Rural residents, especially those living in older, less energy-efficient homes, feel this pain the most. Rural areas often pay disproportionately high electricity costs due to utilities charging higher rates, in part due to infrastructure costs utilities incur covering more miles of transmission lines, etc., and in part due to utilities being owned by investors who are guaranteed a certain rate of return on their investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while some cities have access to local programs that might soften the blow of high bills, rural communities often dont. Thats where LIHEAP comes in. It funds weatherization improvements that make homes more efficient reducing future energy costs and minimizing the need for repeated emergency assistance. In fiscal year 2023, the program weatherized more than 60,000 homes nationwide and helped prevent countless power disconnections. The federal government allocated approximately $54 million in LIHEAP funds to Kentucky in fiscal year 2025. To access these funds, individuals must meet certain requirements and provide documentation showing their need for assistance. These requirements are designed to support Kentuckys most vulnerable residents and some examples include households where someone has a health condition or disability (verified by a doctors note), someone is 65 or older, or a child under the age of 6 is present. This money is especially important during the extreme summer and winter temperatures Kentucky experiences. Kentucky is one of just 10 states where utility shutoffs due to nonpayment are allowed even during dangerous weather events. Sometimes families are cut off because they owe as little as $6. Cutting LIHEAP cannot just be a budget decision this is an issue that needs to consider the survival of our most vulnerable neighbors. Because its so critical, the program is housed under the Department of Health and Human Services and has received bipartisan support for nearly 45 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration recently acknowledged that Appalachia is at a disadvantage due to loss of coal jobs and the opioid crisis, and because of that, it was leaving funding for another program in the budget that benefits this area. We argue that many low-income communities across the country face similar systemic challenges that have them needing a little extra help to stay and revitalize these areas of the United States. If you have an experience to share about how LIHEAP has impacted you or your community in a time of need, now is the time to share your story. About the author Chris Woolery is the Energy Projects Coordinator at Mountain Association. Over his career, Chris has helped deliver residential energy efficiency upgrades to more than 800 households. He can be reached at chris@mtassociation.org. Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order that would create a new nuclear Manhattan Project designed to help the US win the global race for artificial intelligence. The order is expected to fast track the development of nuclear power stations in the United States, which would then supply the huge data centres required for AI. The Trump administration is seeking ways to counter the huge resources being deployed by China to develop the nascent technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, warned earlier this year that the clamour to build the power sources required to meet the growing need from AI had become Manhattan Project 2, in reference to the countrys programme to develop atomic bombs during the Second World War. He said: It is critical, just like Manhattan Project 1, that the United States wins this race. China has huge resources. They are massively focused on artificial intelligence. If we dont unleash American innovation and American entrepreneurs and American construction and bold moves, we will lose Manhattan Project 2. The executive order aims to ease the process to approve new nuclear reactors and will also bolster supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sign of his focus on Americas power needs, Mr Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in the White House in January. The US was the first country to develop nuclear power and has 94 nuclear reactors, supplying 97 gigawatts of energy, which gives it the largest nuclear capacity in the world. Technology companies including Microsoft and Google have embraced nuclear power as a way to meet their expanding energy needs as the US government seeks to catch up with the boom in demand. In September last year, Microsoft agreed a 20-year deal to purchase power from the Three Mile Island energy plant in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech giant said the agreement would provide a carbon-free source of energy to power its data centres which are used in AI. Microsoft HAS agreed a 20-year deal to purchase power from the Three Mile Island energy plant in Pennsylvania - Heather Khalifa Constellation Energy, the owner of the plant, is expected to reopen it in 2028 following improvements. Google has also signed a contract with energy company Kairos Power to use its small nuclear reactors to power its AI data centres. It aims to be powered by Kaiross first reactor before the end of the decade, with the company set to open more by 2035. Trump is also expected to use the Defense Production Act, which dates back to the Cold War-era, to declare a national emergency over the USs dependence on Russia and China for enriched uranium, which is crucial for nuclear power generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinsey predicted that power demand from US data centres will rise from 178 terawatt hours per year to 606 terawatt hours by the end of this decade. South Korea produced about 595.6 terawatt hours of electricity in 2024. Data centres will go from consuming 4.3pc of all power in the US to 11.7pc, the consultancy predicted. Demand from data centres alone is forecast to be equivalent to the entire annual output of more than 70 nuclear power plants by 2030. A draft summary of the executive order is also said to direct government agencies to permit new nuclear facilities. The departments of energy and defence will also be required to identify federal lands and facilities that can be used for nuclear deployment. In the US nuclear power has bipartisan support, with Democrats in favour of building new reactors because it is virtually free from carbon emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast Republicans are supportive of new nuclear plants as they provide a reliable source of electricity compared to intermittent energy from wind and solar power, which rely on batteries to provide a consistent supply of power. 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. President Trump on Thursday claimed his recent most favored nation executive order could cause U.S. drug prices to drop like a rock in just a matter of weeks, saying the savings will be incalculable. In a briefing to discuss the newly released Make America Healthy Again Commissions report on childrens health, Trump ended the event by talking about the executive order he signed last week aimed at slashing prescription drug prices. Trump shifted much of the blame for sky-high drug prices to other countries, saying theyre a lot more vicious than us in terms of their representatives, and he claimed the U.S. has been subsidizing the low cost of drugs in other nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are going to now get a reduction in drug costs of up to 89 percent in some cases, but 50 percent would be a low, a bad number, Trump said. Its going to be massive numbers. Its going to be incredible for Medicaid, incredible for all forms of health care. Medicare is going to be its going to have a huge impact, so big that nobody can calculate it. Trumps most favored nation policy laid out in his executive order aims to allow the U.S. to pay for prescription drugs at the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World. The executive order directs the Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to take all appropriate action against unreasonable and discriminatory policies in foreign countries that suppress drug prices abroad, according to a White House official. It also directs Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to set clear targets for prescription drug and pharmaceutical price reductions within 30 days. This will set off a round of negotiations with drug companies and if nothing results from those talks, then Kennedy is authorized to impose most favored nation pricing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can have, within a period of weeks, you can have drug costs that drop like a rock, Trump said Thursday. Addressing both Kennedy and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, Trump added, OK, so you as a group, I have great confidence. And if you dont do it, I am firing every single one. Good luck, guys. Pharmaceutical and biomedical trade groups have decried the order, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). It sued the Trump administration in 2020 when it attempted to enact a similar executive order. The group successfully blocked the order from being implemented. Most favored nation is a deeply flawed proposal that would devastate our nations small- and mid-size biotech companies the very companies that are the leading drivers of medical innovation in the United States and the cornerstone of Americas biotechnology leadership, John F. Crowley, BIOs president and CEO, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Officials from the Federal Bureau of Prisons visited Alcatraz this week to assess the feasibility of reopening the island prison in the San Francisco Bay after being ordered to do so by President Donald Trump. I have been in discussion with folks from the Bureau of Prisons, David Smith, superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area GGNRA, told a meeting of the Presidio Trust board on Thursday, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. They have been out here, theyll be coming out again to do assessments of the structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president announced the project earlier this month in a post on TruthSocial in which he declared: REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, California (AP) 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. Thats the way its supposed to be. Smith was doubtful about the prospect of the historic maximum-security penitentiary ever reopening, however, telling those in attendance at the meeting, I dont think this is likely in our future. He noted the amount of money that would be necessary and the amount of legal hurdles that will stand in the way and concluded the island was just not well-situated for the purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The visit follows FBP Director William Marshall telling Lara Trump on Fox News that weve got engineering teams out there now reviewing the site and that he would soon make an inspection himself, calling the venture exciting. When you think of Alcatraz, you think of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field, those types of facilities you get that kind of feeling about Alcatraz when you think of those historical venues, he said. And so yeah we absolutely think we can get it done. Visitors inspect the cells of Alcatrazs main cell block (AP) Alcatraz was opened in 1934 and quickly gained notoriety until it was closed by then-U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in 1963. It was found to be three times more expensive to run than other jails and too costly to maintain, not least because of the extreme weather it was exposed to from the Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility has since enjoyed a lucrative second act as a tourist attraction, with visitors drawn by the lurid reputation it acquired during its 29 years of service, when it housed such legendary criminals as Al Capone, George Machine Gun Kelly, Creepy Alvin Karpis, and Robert Stroud, a psychopathic amateur ornithologist known as the Birdman of Alcatraz. Asked to elaborate on his Truth Social post, Trump told reporters that the idea had originated with his frustration at radicalized judges slowing down his effort to deport undocumented migrants by insisting that due process be followed. Florida Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz suggested a different source of inspiration, wondering during a House committee hearing whether the president had been taking in reruns of old movies on late-night television. Perhaps he was watching Escape from Alcatraz, Moskowitz speculated, referring to Don Siegels 1979 film starring Clint Eastwood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funny part about that is that it was actually on television in South Florida. It was on PBS South Florida over the weekend when Trump was at Mar-a-Lago. In fact, he made his announcement just hours after it aired. The famous penitentiarys guard tower, looking out across the Pacific (EPA) The congressmans reference to the scheduling proved correct. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, a local resident, has dismissed Trumps plan, as did a tourist interviewed by ABC News who described it as one of the stupidest ideas Ive ever heard in my life. Also skeptical was Charlie Hopkins, one of the last living inmates to have served time at the institution in its heyday, who said he did not believe the president was serious and was just trying to draw attention to the crime rate. When I was on Alcatraz, a rat couldnt survive, Hopkins added. The exterior of the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center near Sioux Falls. (Courtesy of USGS EROS Center) This story originally appeared in the South Dakota Searchlight. Federal fallout As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and whether to make up the difference. Read the latest > A preliminary budget request from President Donald Trump takes aim at a satellite program with a 50-year history whose data is housed just northeast of Sioux Falls, at a facility employing hundreds of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps discretionary budget request for NASA would cut $1.1 billion in funding for Earth observation programs, including what the request describes as cuts to the gold-plated, two billion dollar Landsat Next mission. The cut amounts to roughly half of the space agencys budget for Earth observation, which includes money for Landsat design. Landsat Next is planned as the next generation of Landsat, whose nine iterations have created the longest continuously collected Earth observation record in history. The first satellite launched in 1972. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NASA builds and launches Landsat satellites. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates them and curates the data collected by them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls has housed Landsat data since 1973, in addition to millions of images from other satellites and modern and historical aerial imagery, all of which is accessible at no cost to users. Landsats free data is used to calibrate data from commercial satellites, contributing to what the USGS calculated last fall as a $25.6 billion return on public investment since the agency began freely sharing data in 2008. The most recent satellite in the series, Landsat 9, entered low-earth orbit in 2021. Between that satellite and its near-identical predecessor, Landsat 8, the system gathers new imagery data of the entire Earths surface as well as imagery from spectral bands like infrared that are invisible to the naked eye and measurements of Earth surface temperatures every eight days. Powerful storms containing heavy rains caused major flooding to areas in the east central portion of the United States in early April 2025. Some communities in Kentucky saw more than 15 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. In the days following April 7 the day Landsat 8 captured this imagery over a portion of the affected area the Kentucky and Ohio rivers were forecast to reach historic levels and crest in dozens of locations. (Courtesy USGS Landsat program) Landsat Next was set to launch around 2030, with improvements in resolution and speedier repeat image collection. Trumps budget request would restructure the Landsat Next mission while NASA studies more affordable ways to maintain the continuity of Landsat imagery, which is used by natural resource managers, States, and industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The request also calls for the elimination of $562 million in USGS funding. The change eliminates programs that provide grants to universities, duplicate other Federal research programs and focus on social agendas (e.g., climate change) to instead focus on achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals, Trumps budget request says. The cut to USGS amounts to about a third of its $1.6 billion budget. The budget request is separate from the federal governments efforts under Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to pare down the federal workforce. Probationary employees across multiple federal agencies were first dismissed in February, but many returned to the federal payroll and placed on paid administrative leave after legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear how those moves to reduce the federal workforce have impacted the EROS Center. Around 600 government employees and contractors work at the center, according to the latest figures posted on the USGS website, but the site including that figure hasnt changed since March 2023. Emails from South Dakota Searchlight to USGS press contacts at EROS and in regional and national offices on the number of employees whove departed since Jan. 25 went unanswered. Searchlight also asked about the potential impact of the USGS budget cut proposal to EROS science programs, and about how changes to the Landsat program could affect EROS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A NASA spokesperson told South Dakota Searchlight that the agency would be in a better position to respond once we receive the Presidents full budget request in the coming weeks. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, pointed out that presidential budget requests are aspirational and rarely implemented as written. Dusty will continue to be supportive of Landsats efforts in Congress, said a Johnson spokesperson. The NASA budget has not emerged as a discussion point in budget reconciliation talks underway in Washington, D.C., on Trumps so-called big, beautiful bill. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, sounded similar notes in his response to questions about Landsat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents discretionary budget is just that discretionary. It outlines the presidents priorities and wish lists, but it will ultimately be our job in Congress to set the budget and appropriate federal dollars, Rounds said in an emailed statement. Representatives for Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota did not return emails requesting comment on Landsat and EROS. Republican South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden told Searchlight during a visit to Sioux Falls recently that he hadnt heard about requested cuts to the satellite program or to the USGS. Even so, Rhoden said he trusts that an open relationship with the Trump administration on South Dakotas priorities will help preserve them through budget negotiations. A poster on display at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center on May 7, 2025. (Courtesy of Janelle Atyeo) They give you some wiggle room as far as what your priorities are, and so Im kind of optimistic that they are tempering some of those decisions with common sense, Rhoden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps actions have had at least one public impact on EROS, though not an operational one. EROS is home to a supercomputer whose processing power is shared across multiple arms of the Department of Interior. The system came to EROS with the name Denali, named after the tallest peak in the U.S. Like the Alaska mountain after which the computer was named, the Denali system at EROS was renamed McKinley after the issuance of a Trump executive order. Denali has long been the mountains name among Alaskas Indigenous Athabascans, but the federal government embraced the name given to it by a prospector for about 100 years. The prospector called it Mount McKinley, after then-presidential candidate William McKinley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Barack Obama renamed it Denali in 2015, matching the name the surrounding national park had taken nearly 40 years earlier. The order does not mention the USGS or supercomputers, but rather instructs the Department of Interior to update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to reflect the renaming and reinstatement of Mount McKinley. The EROS supercomputers name was changed based on the order, however. Pursuant to President Trumps Executive Order No. 14172, Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness, this supercomputer has been renamed to McKinley, a poster in the EROS visitor area now reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Editors note: Reporter John Hult worked at the Eros Center from 2018 to 2021. South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: info@southdakotasearchlight.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE President Trump on Friday criticized the United Kingdoms energy policy, pushing the British government to do away with costly and unsightly windmills and drill for more oil in the North Sea. Our negotiated deal with the United Kingdom is working out well for all. I strongly recommend to them, however, that in order to get their Energy Costs down, they stop with the costly and unsightly windmills, and incentivize modernized drilling in the North Sea, where large amounts of oil lay waiting to be taken, Trump said on Truth Social. A century of drilling left, with Aberdeen as the hub. The old fashioned tax system disincentivizes drilling, rather than the opposite. U.K.s Energy Costs would go WAY DOWN, and fast! the president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump returned to the Oval Office with plans to drill, baby, drill and had said on the campaign trail that he aimed to have a policy where no windmills are being built. Hes since made moves to roll back Biden-era renewable energy policies and hasten fossil fuel development and his efforts to hold up wind energy development have drawn legal challenges. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on the other hand, has championed renewable energy and a net-zero agenda. The government has planned to double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, according to WindEurope, in pursuit of low-carbon goals. Trumps call for Britain to embrace drilling comes after the U.S. and U.K. signed a trade deal earlier this month, the first country-specific agreement since the Trump administrations Liberation Day tariff hikes in early April. The deal, which had been in the works for some time, included billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The White House is ramping up its crackdown on antisemitism in the wake of the Washington shooting that left two young Israeli Embassy staffers dead Wednesday night. The administration has for months taken action against antisemitic activity, with a particular focus on stripping colleges of funding most notably Harvard as a way to address discrimination. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that as of Thursday, the threat level has been increased for all Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you security has been increased here as of last night. Our U.S. Marshals are working hand in hand to make sure our embassy is safe, our ambassador is safe, and again please know that everything we know now its an ongoing investigation, she said, talking to reporters outside the Capital Jewish Museum, which was the site of the shooting. Whether you are Jewish or not, be vigilant. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at a briefing outlined actions the administration has already taken to combat antisemitism, including an executive order that the president signed to form the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and steps to revoke student visas. The revocation of visas has been widely criticized by those who say it is punishing people in the United States who are engaging in free speech. President Trump condemned the shooting Thursday morning, saying the suspects actions were based obviously on antisemitism and calling for an end to hatred and radicalism. The president also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez, approached a group of four individuals leaving a museum event and shot and killed the two victims at close range, law enforcement officials said. The suspect then walked into the museum, was apprehended and after he was in custody, shouted, Free, free Palestine. The two victims have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The evil of antisemitism must be eradicated from our society, Leavitt told reporters, adding that the Department of Justice will be prosecuting the perpetrator. Bondi also spoke with Netanyahu after the shooting and, according to the Israeli leaders office, she conveyed to him that Trump is involved in managing the event, and that the U.S. will bring the murderer to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of terror, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on social platformX that the penalties against the shooter will be harsh as we tighten up this investigation and run down any additional leads. Most of the actions taken by the administration to fight antisemitism have been focused on college campuses and have been divisive. The administration has threatened 60 colleges and universities with cuts to their federal funding if they did not do more to shield their Jewish students on campus from discrimination. In an interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump also recently suggested pulling the tax-exempt status of any college with antisemitism problems. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week it would terminate $60 million in grants to Harvard University, bringing the total amount of federal money taken away from the university under Trump to near $3 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the administration launched a review into alleged recent antisemitic activity at the University of Washington and its affiliates after about 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on campus. And the administration in March cut $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University amid an antisemitism probe into the school. Leavitt mentioned antisemitic crackdowns on college campuses Thursday, as well as the response from Democrats. She called it despicable that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) did not answer a question at the U.S. Capitol about the shooting and later posted on X that she was appalled by it. Frankly, we have seen a rise in antisemitic protests, pro-Hamas protests, of terrorist sympathizers, the press secretary said. We saw them on our college campuses and we have seen the Democrat Party turn a blind eye and, in some cases, actually embrace such antisemitic, illegal behavior. And thats why this administration has done more than any administration in history to crack down on antisemitism. In a recent Jewish Voters Resource Center poll, 64 percent of respondents said they either strongly disapprove or somewhat disapprove when it comes to what Trump is doing combatting antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Trump administration intensified its battle with Harvard University on Thursday, revoking the storied colleges ability to enroll foreign students and demanding that any such current students transfer elsewhere for the next academic year or lose their visas. The decision was laid out in a letter from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Harvards director of immigration services, Maureen Martin. Noem declared that it was a privilege for an educational institution to be able to enroll international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She further contended that Harvard had lost this privilege because, she said, it had refused to comply with requests from her department for information, perpetuated an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, and had employed racist diversity equity and inclusion policies. Those charges were a reminder of the broader struggle between the Trump administration and Harvard. Harvard leadership believes the Trump administration wants to eviscerate the colleges academic freedom. The college also says it takes the issue of antisemitism seriously. When the conflict between President Trump and the college first flared, Harvard President Alan Garber asserted that the Trump administration was seeking to impose unprecedented and improper control over the University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garber also said that Harvard had a moral imperative as well as a legal obligation to fight back against such an effort. Here are five major takeaways from the latest developments. Trump is seeking to throttle Harvards revenue The administrations battle with Harvard has escalated rapidly since it sent a letter to Harvard on April 11 insisting on a list of expansive demands, including an audit of faculty and the student body, purportedly to ensure viewpoint diversity; steps toward meaningful governance reform; and reducing the power held by faculty and administrators more committed to activism than scholarship. When Harvard announced soon afterward that it would not comply with those demands, the administration moved to cancel more than $2 billion in research grants as well as $60 million in contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, it followed up with another letter, this time from Education Secretary Linda McMahon, imposing the end of new grants for the University. Income from foreign students is important for many universities, in part because a very high proportion of those students pay for tuition. Almost 7,000 students, around 27 percent of Harvards current student body, come from outside the United States. However, Harvard is also in a highly unusual position because of its huge endowment. Harvards financial report on fiscal 2024 noted that education revenues, whether from foreign or American students, constituted just 21 percent of its operating revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same report valued its endowment at $53.2 billion. Trump sees political advantage in the fight The president is loath to back down from any confrontation. It is clear that he and his allies believe they can wring a political dividend from the fight with Harvard. The broad framing of the issue from MAGA World is that Harvard and other elite colleges are bastions of far-left thought and quasi-subversive activity. This, combined with the massive endowments many of those institutions enjoy, can be used by Team Trump to paint the colleges as unworthy recipients of taxpayers dollars. Harvard, the nations oldest and most famous university, makes for a particularly inviting target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, the college and many others in the academic world and beyond see the issue completely differently as President Trump trying to intimidate academia itself and bring potential dissenters to heel. But the Trump argument plainly will have some sway with his loyal base, among which Americans who have never gone to any college are heavily represented. Harvard is not backing down either Harvard has been willing to resist the Trump administrations pressure from the start a stance that has marked it out from other institutions, notably Columbia University, which in effect caved to the White House. The willingness to mix it up has drawn escalating ire from the president. But it has also won Harvard plaudits from those who believe it is making a principled stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is continuing to maintain that stance in the wake of Thursdays announcement. In a statement, Harvard stated starkly, The governments action is unlawful. It added that the college was fully committed to maintaining Harvards ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably. The final point may find a broader resonance. As with the revocation of grant money, the argument can be made that the attempt to push international students out in effect could deprive the United States of the innovators and entrepreneurs of the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also a more localized effect on the community surrounding Harvard. Reuters, citing figures from an association of international educators, reported that international students at Harvard spent an estimated $384 million in total in the 2023-2024 school year. The move comes right after a tragedy The new Trump blast at Harvard is, as noted, partly about an alleged failure to combat antisemitism. The college vigorously denies this. But the debate over antisemitism has been sharpened by the killing of two staff members from the Israeli Embassy in Washington on Wednesday night. Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were shot and killed outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The couple was soon to be engaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elias Rodriguez, who was formally charged with the murders on Thursday, appears to harbor pro-Palestinian sympathies. Israels war on Gaza has drawn widespread protests, and the protesters often believe the charge of antisemitism is unfairly leveled to delegitimize their viewpoints. But the double murder in Washington has already made the conversation over anti-Jewish prejudice much more pointed. Free speech activists and Democrats are outraged While some Trump supporters are cheering him on in the fight, opposition from Democrats, Trump critics and free-speech advocates is at least as vigorous. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the former head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, wrote on social media that Trumps move was dangerous and unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added it was nothing more than a wannabe dictator trying to bully people into silence. Bill Kristol, the neoconservative commentator and frequent Trump critic, contended that Most foreigners at Harvard grasp American principles better than most senior officials in the Trump administration. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) blasted the administrations move as retaliatory and unlawful as well as un-American. FIRE took particular exception to a Trump administration demand that Harvard produce video and audio footage of any campus demonstration in which international students were involved. The organization said this request was a sweeping fishing expedition that was gravely alarming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US President Donald Trump is recommending that exports from the European Union to the United States be subjected to a 50% tariff, according to a post on his Truth Social network. Trump criticized the EU, saying the bloc which "was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with." He outlined a laundry list of complaints including "their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president said trade talks with Brussels "are going nowhere" and that he therefore wants a straight 50% tariff on all EU imports starting on June 1. Trump, as he has done on other posts about his controversial trade policies, reminded readers that there is no tariff if a product is made in the US. YOKOHAMA - As Japan ages, a growing number of seniors are turning their attention to charitable giving after death. Bequest donations as they are known, mainly by elderly people to hospitals, nonprofit organizations and other entities, are on the rise due largely to the increase in childless couples with no heirs. And while large sums of money left by such couples have been nestling in the national treasury, awareness about bequest donations has seen a sea change in recent years, with more organizations acting as a bridge between donors and recipients through wills or trusts. "I feel relieved because now I know how the money I've saved will be used," said 71-year-old Yoko Inaba (not her real name) who lives in a condominium for seniors in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Inaba had a notarized will draw up in December, stating that her money will be donated to a medical facility for newborns after she dies. When Inaba was a teenager, her mother told her that because of birth complications, she had been at risk of dying or suffering brain paralysis, leaving her feeling a desire to contribute to the medical treatment of such infants in the future. The woman, who divorced when she was young, has no children and is estranged from her siblings. Through a financial institution, Inaba sought advice on her will from Readyfor Inc., a Tokyo-based crowdfunding service provider that has been mediating bequest donations since 2021. Since she had a medical facility in mind that she wished to donate money to, concrete preparations to probate her will went off without a hitch. Experts say more and more people like Inaba are considering bequest donations partly because of a growing number of both childless couples and unmarried individuals. According to the Supreme Court, the amount of money that goes into the national treasury in the absence of inheritors has been on the rise, totaling more than 100 billion yen ($700 million) in fiscal 2023 -- an approximate threefold increase from a decade earlier. But now awareness among those without heirs of bequest donations is seeing more take steps to plan what to do with their assets. Launched in response to a growing demand, Readyfor has some 250 organizations registered as potential donor recipients, including universities and medical institutions. Donors can choose beneficiaries with the advice of the company's expert staff who have experience of specializing in inheritance-related matters at major financial institutions. "Lots of people look back and wish to support things that have to do with their birthplace and their life in general," said Yusuke Sotome, a 34-year-old staff member at Readyfor. Donor gifts made to child care, health care and educational institutions are most popular, he said. "Despite people wishing to make end-of-life arrangements or to formulate a will, many of them are unable to do so because they don't have the necessary knowledge," Sotome said, expecting a future expansion of the service of supporting bequest donations. US President Donald Trump's newly threatened import tariffs of 25% on iPhones could also apply to smartphones from other manufacturers. "It would be also Samsung, and anybody who makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair," Trump said at the White House on Friday. However, Trump again took aim at Apple, complaining that the company is seeking to build plants in India to produce iPhones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If they're going to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States," Trump said. "That's the way it is." The president said the new duties would be imposed at the end of June. President Trump said Thursday that autism must not occur naturally, citing figures inflating the spike in autism and suggesting the administrations Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission could provide answers. When you hear 10,000, it was 1 in 10,000, and now its 1 in 31 for autism, I think thats just a terrible thing. It has to be something on the outside, has to be artificially induced, has to be, Trump said at a MAHA Commission event. And we will not allow our public health system to be captured by the very industries its supposed to oversee. So were demanding the answers, the public is demanding the answers and thats why were here. He noted that the administration is phasing out eight of the most common artificial food dyes, after the Food and Drug Administration announced actions last month to phase out the use of petroleum-based food dyes in U.S. food products, citing concerns over potential health impacts on children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MAHA Commission event unveiled the groups new report, which pointed to four key factors it says are hurting U.S. children: ultraprocessed foods, environmental chemicals, digital behavior and overmedicalization. The report identifies pesticides and other chemicals as potentially having harmful health impacts, but it stops short of recommending actions to limit them. At the event, the president was sitting beside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a prominent vaccine skeptic and has also shared his debunked theories about a link between autism and vaccines. Ahead of Kennedys confirmation vote in the Senate, Trump also shared figures questioning the autism rate. 20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW ITS 1 in 34. WOW! Somethings really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT, Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has similarly brought up autism rates during Cabinet meetings while touting Kennedys work, and in December, he said he thinks there are problems with vaccines and has suggested his administration would investigate a debunked link between the two. About 1 in 36 children now have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared to about 1 in 150 in 2000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (This May 22 story is repeated without any changes to the text) By Timothy Gardner, Jarrett Renshaw and Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will sign executive orders as soon as Friday that aim to jumpstart the nuclear energy industry by easing the regulatory process on approvals for new reactors and strengthening fuel supply chains, four sources familiar said. Facing the first rise in power demand in two decades from the boom in artificial intelligence, Trump declared an energy emergency on his first day in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Wright, the energy secretary, has said the race to develop power sources and data centers needed for AI is "Manhattan Project 2", referring to the massive U.S. program during World War II to develop atomic bombs. A draft summary of the orders said Trump will invoke the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to declare a national emergency over U.S. dependence on Russia and China for enriched uranium, nuclear fuel processing and advanced reactor inputs. The summary also directs agencies to permit and site new nuclear facilities and directs the Departments of Energy and Defense to identify federal lands and facilities for nuclear deployment and to streamline processes to get them built. It also encourages the Energy Department to use loan guarantees and direct loans to increase the build out of reactors. Trump only used the Loan Programs Office in his first administration to support a large nuclear plant in Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LPO has now has hundreds of billions of dollars in financing thanks to legislation passed during former President Joe Biden's administration, but has been hit hard by job cuts during Trump's second administration. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The exact text and wording of draft executive orders is subject to frequent changes and there is no guarantee elements of the EOs will not be excised or modified during the final stages of the review process. The United States was the first developer of nuclear power and has the most nuclear power capacity in the world, but the energy source is now growing the fastest in China. One of the sources said officials from the industry including the Nuclear Energy Institute and Constellation, a utility with the biggest U.S. reactor capacity, were invited to attend a signing ceremony Friday afternoon. Constellation and NEI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has been debating four draft executive orders to boost nuclear power that sought ways to give the administration more power to approve reactors and reform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the body of five panelists that approves reactors. Nuclear is popular with Democrats for being virtually free in carbon emissions and with Republicans for providing reliable electricity compared to wind and solar power which can be intermittent, a problem that can be managed with battery storage. Nuclear power produces radioactive waste which for which there is no permanent repository in the United States. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Alistair Bell) President Donald Trump signed four nuclear energy-related executive orders on Friday that will speed up reactor testing, allow the Departments of Energy and Defense to build nuclear reactors on federally owned land, overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and boost the United States mining and enrichment of uranium, a senior White House official said. The president also signed an order to restore what the White House called gold-standard science, which comes as the administration has cut billions in federal grants that fund scientific research and slashed staffing at several science-focused agencies. Were signing tremendous executive orders today that really will make us the real power in this industry, which is a big industry, Trump said during an Oval Office signing ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actions come as Trumps proposed budget calls for cutting over $400 million from the Energy Departments Office of Nuclear Energy. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum who, along with nuclear energy company executives, joined Trump in the Oval Office lamented what he said has been over regulation and heralded venture capital investment in the industry. He went on to praise Trump for committing to energy dominance that he said would allow the US to win the AI arms race with China. What we do in the next five years related to electricity is going to determine the next 50, he added. One nuclear-related executive order speeds up reactor testing at Department of Energy national laboratories, expediting applications and review processes and enabling a pilot program for construction over the next two years, the official told reporters ahead of the Oval Office signing. A second order aims to reduce regulations for the Departments of Energy and Defense to build nuclear reactors on federal land, which the official said would allow for safe and reliable nuclear energy to power and operate critical defense facilities and AI data centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pointed to what he said is a national security imperative. By having small modular nuclear capabilities, which are rapidly being fielded, that we can use on our bases here and around the world, were creating an environment where, if things happen elsewhere, the military can be reliable, he said. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Science and Technology said the new reactors would be small and advanced. Trump will also require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission the federal body that licenses nuclear reactors to make decisions on nuclear reactor licenses within 18 months through a third executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fourth order is focused on reinvigorating the US nuclear industrial base, which the official said will allow the US to start mining and enriching uranium and expanding domestic uranium conversion and enrichment capacities. However, the US is years away from getting its enrichment capabilities up and running at full capacity. As CNN has reported, until 2023, the US got the vast majority of its enriched uranium from Russia. A bipartisan law passed after Russias invasion of Ukraine put a stop to that, and scientists and companies are racing to produce it at home. Trump wrote that the the administration seeks to facilitate increased deployment of new nuclear reactor technologies, such as Generation III+ and IV reactors, modular reactors, and microreactors, including by lowering regulatory and cost barriers to entry, and it also plans to increase US nuclear energy capacity from around 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by 2050. The executive orders do not include removing or replacing NRC commission members, the official said. But pressed on if the actions would result in any reduction in staff, the official said, Reduction in staff is undetermined at this point, but the executive orders do call for a substantial reorganization of the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The text of the order reforming the NRC, released later Friday, said that the current structure and staffing of the NRC are misaligned with the Congresss directive that the NRC shall not unduly restrict the benefits of nuclear power, directing them to consult with the Department of Government Efficiency to reorganize the NRC to promote the expeditious processing of license applications and the adoption of innovative technology. The NRC shall undertake reductions in force in conjunction with this reorganization, though certain functions may increase in size consistent with the policies in this order, including those devoted to new reactor licensing, the order stated. DOGE has been synonymous with sweeping cuts across the federal government. The order aimed at reforming the NRC also said the organization has failed to license new reactors even as technological advances promise to make nuclear power safer, cheaper, more adaptable, and more abundant than ever, and calls for them to adopt science-based radiation limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of efficiently promoting safe, abundant nuclear energy, the NRC has instead tried to insulate Americans from the most remote risks without appropriate regard for the severe domestic and geopolitical costs of such risk aversion, the order stated. Asked about the timeline of getting new reactors online, the official said that the administration is looking to test and deploy nuclear reactors within the remainder of Trumps term. CNNs Ella Nilsen contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US President Donald Trump is recommending that exports from the European Union to the United States be subjected to a 50% tariff, according to a post on his Truth Social network. Trump criticized the EU, saying the bloc which "was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with." He outlined a laundry list of complaints including "their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president said trade talks with Brussels "are going nowhere" and that he therefore wants a straight 50% tariff on all EU imports starting on June 1. Trump, as he has done on other posts about his controversial trade policies, reminded readers that there is no tariff if a product is made in the US. EU has trade surplus in goods with US, but deficit in services Trump in his Truth Social post, stated that the US has a trade deficit with the EU "of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable." That figure - which is $250 million - is far below official figures posted by both the US and the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the US trade representative, the US trade deficit in goods with the EU was $235.6 billion in 2024, a 12.9% increase over 2023. According to EU figures, the 27-member bloc had a 198.2 billion ($224 billion) trade surplus in goods with the US. But EU figures for 2023, the latest available, show a deficit of 108.6 billion with the US when it comes to trade in services, which includes trade involving the highly dominant US tech companies, such as Meta, Google, Apple and Amazon. Negotiations ongoing with Europeans EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are due to hold talks later on Friday, a European Commission spokeswoman said. The phone call was already planned before Trump's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, following significant turbulence in the stock and financial markets, Trump unexpectedly decided to grant many countries, and the EU, a 90-day reprieve from certain tariffs. These punitive tariffs had been tied to the trade deficit of the respective countries. The EU had also announced that it would suspend planned retaliatory tariffs on US products for 90 days. Trump had previously threatened the EU with blanket tariffs of 25% if no agreement was reached with the US. The deadline for this had been set for July. The Trump administration has so far not responded to an offer from Brussels for the mutual elimination of all tariffs on industrial goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Trump had expressed optimism about finding a resolution to the tariff dispute with the Europeans. It is now entirely unclear whether the 50% punitive tariffs will actually come into effect in June. Trump has frequently threatened high tariffs in the past, only to later reverse course. The US president aims to use tariffs to address alleged trade imbalances and shift production to the United States. At the same time, the tariff revenues are intended to help partially finance his costly campaign promise of significant tax cuts, but many small and medium-sized US businesses and consumers say it is they who will end up paying for the fees, which are essentially a tax on imported goods. May 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday recommended new tariffs on the European Union, citing difficulties trading with the bloc. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that the United States should implement a "straight 50% tariff" on goods imported from the EU beginning on June 1. "The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on trade, has been very difficult to deal with," Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our discussions with them are going nowhere!" He said the proposed tariffs were in response to trade barriers that negatively impact American companies including value-added taxes, corporate penalties and "unjustified lawsuits against American companies," which he said have resulted in a trade deficit of $250 billion a year between the United States and the EU, adding the number is "totally unacceptable." In a social media post Friday, President Donald Trump said current EU tariffs are costing American companies $250 billion per year, a number he called "totally unacceptable." Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News he hoped the tariff warning would "light a fire under the EU." "I've said before, [the] EU has a collective action problem here. It's 27 countries, but they're being represented by this one group in Brussels. So some of the feedback that I've been getting is that the underlying countries don't even know what the EU is negotiationg on their behalf," Bessent said. President Donald Trump said proposed 50% tariffs on the European Union would start June 1. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI The United States has inked trade deals with Britain and China to reduce tariffs and Bessent said the proposed EU tariffs were in response to the bloc's "pace" in current negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are 18 important trade deals that we have to do. I'm working mostly on Asia. And that group has moved forward with some very interesting proposals, they're negotiating in good faith," he said. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 were all in the late morning Friday following the EU tariff announcement. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Earlier this month, the EU said it was preparing a list of imported U.S. goods that could be subject to tariffs should the two sides fail to reach a trade deal. That list was valued at approximately $107 billion. Trump in early April said the United States planned to impose 20% tariffs on goods from European Union countries. He later temporarily lowered that number to 10% while the two sides negotiated, while the EU also paused 25% retaliatory tariffs during the 90-day window. Trump is targeting sanctuary cities. But what is a sanctuary city, anyway? In late April, the White House issued yet another executive order threatening to withhold federal funds from all sanctuary jurisdictions, calling their lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law. The executive order directs the Department of Justice, attorney general and Secretary of Homeland Security to provide a list of all sanctuary cities in order to suspend or terminate federal funding, including grants and contracts, Next City says. Earlier this year, President Trumps Department of Justice directed federal prosecutors to investigate and criminally charge public officials who do not comply with federal immigration enforcement. Days after the executive order was released, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit targeting the sanctuary jurisdictions of Colorado and the city and county of Denver, as well as government officials including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, the state legislature, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins. Chicago and Illinois were targeted in a similar lawsuit in February, as was Rochester, New York, in late April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While experts say legal precedent and the law remain in favor of sanctuary policies, weve already seen Trump follow through on his threats to revoke federal funding from cities, states and universities that have challenged himwhich could mean that litigant responders who were quick to fight in 2016 might not be so quick to respond this time. What is a sanctuary city? A sanctuary city is defined by its commitment to limit or refuse to share information with federal immigration officers, like ICE and CBP, regarding its constituents or citizens. When we see localities cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, thats often a way that people end up in the immigration system, explains Jennifer Lee, associate professor of law at Temple Universitys Beasley School of Law. So once you de-link those two things, it helps to protect immigrants from ending up in that system. The term sanctuary is a broad term with little legal or universal determination, meaning it can cover a broad array of policies implemented by states, cities, jurisdictions, buildings and other entities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Churches, for example, can identify as a sanctuary building, meaning that they do not allow any ICE officer inside the property. Schools and school districts can also offer sanctuary policies, meaning they do not work with or provide information for ICE or CBP regarding their students. Since 2021, Philadelphia has implemented a sanctuary school policy that aims to protect students from federal immigration authorities regardless of immigration status. That means that the school district wont comply with an administrative warrant, though it would likely be required to comply with a judicial warrant issued under federal law. How many sanctuary cities are there? There are at least 12 sanctuary states across the U.S., including California, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Mexico and Washington, and at least 633 cities and counties with some type of sanctuary policy. With definitions varying, it can be tricky to nail down exact numbers. Some counties or cities may have identified their jurisdiction as a sanctuary for immigrants, but not have any actual sanctuary policies on the booksand vice versa. How do sanctuary cities actually protect immigrants? Preventing local authorities from assisting in federal immigration enforcement reduces the amount of resources that the federal government has to conduct its deportation and other enforcement campaigns, Lee says. Theres only so much funding, there are only so many officers, she says. They dont have the infrastructure, they dont have the wherewithal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanctuary cities generally offer much less protection than is often assumed, but they do still offer meaningful protection for undocumented people. According to the American Immigration Council, sanctuary policies typically fall into several different categories, including policies that restrict state and local polices ability to arrest or detain individuals over civil immigration violations, bans on immigration detention centers, bans on 287(g) agreements (which allow ICE to deputize local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law) and more. ICE and CBP can still arrest undocumented immigrants in sanctuary cities, but per city ordinances, local law enforcement may not be allowed to detain undocumented immigrants for federal immigration violations or share information on undocumented immigrants with the federal government. However, sanctuary entities cannot keep ICE or CBP from detaining someone, and they may be required to comply with judicial warrants. Federal agencies are required to provide such judicial warrants when entering private property. However, as weve seen over the past few months, many of these arrests are not happening in private spaces: Theyre taking place outside of churches, outside of their childrens schools, or on peoples way to civil court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Usually, ICE agents have an administrative warrant, which is signed by a supervisor within the agency rather than a judge, Lee says. In theory, if somebody went to a school and had a judicially approved warrant, the school would probably have to let them in, but thats just not something we hear about, she explains. What we hear about, rather, is that they show up at places with administrative warrants. And so if you have that protection in place, it can protect people. How are sanctuary cities responding to Trumps executive order? Following Trumps previous order to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities, a group of 16 cities and counties led by San Francisco filed a joint federal lawsuit in February. Late last month, a judge blocked the Trump administration from withholding these funds, leading to the newly issued executive order. Many local and state government officials have reiterated their commitment to their sanctuary policies in the face of these renewed threats. The City of Rochester, New York, which was sued in late April, has promised to fight the Department of Justices lawsuit, as has Denvers mayor in a similar lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as universities lose funding and large law firms are sued by Trump, sanctuary cities are already seeing the consequences of their commitment to their sanctuary status. With billions of dollars of local and state budgets on the line, experts say some cities might roll over out of fear. Lee says thats likely a larger threat to sanctuary cities than the order itself. The threat feels so overwhelming that the easiest kind of thing to do is just to kind of preemptively obey whatevers coming at you, versus fight it, she says. Are sanctuary cities legal? Yes, sanctuary cities are legal. Lee explains that their legality is clearly stated under the 10th Amendment, which states that the federal government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems, nor command the States officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory programsuch as immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a line of Supreme Court cases that basically say that the 10th Amendment protects against federal government commandeering, and so its very clear what sanctuary cities are doing, Lee explains. Theyre saying, Were not going to do the federal governments job. Were going to delink our databases, or were not going to collaborate in these specific ways, and thats absolutely permissible under the 10th Amendment. During Trumps first term, his then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions sued California over its sanctuary law. A federal appeals panel upheld the law, ruling that California has the right to refrain from assisting with federal efforts. How does aggressive immigration enforcement impact public safety in cities? Research shows that in immigrant communities, people may fear reporting crimes, testifying in court or coming forward as witnesses out of fear of being targeted for detention or deportation. A number of law enforcement agencies across the country find sanctuary-type policies to be really important for that reason, Lee says. They know that thats the way to effectively do their jobs and maintain public safety. While Trump and anti-immigrant politicians have often linked immigration and sanctuary policies to higher crime rates, experts say thats not the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This notion that immigrants are somehow a threat to public safety is completely untrue, says Shayna Kessler, director of the Advancing Universal Representation Initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice. A higher proportion of immigrants just does not equate to any associated higher occurrence of crime, and the evidence is really clear. According to a report by the Center for American Progress, there are, on average, 35.5 fewer crimes committed per 10,000 people in sanctuary counties compared to non-sanctuary counties. Another study co-authored by Santiago Perez, associate professor of economics at UC Davis, finds that immigrant men have had a lower incarceration rate than U.S.-born men for the past 150 years of American history and continue to do so. Immigrant men are also 50%-60% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born men. When we talk about ramping up integration enforcement, what were really doing is making communities less safe and less stable, by separating families, by upending businesses, and by destabilizing the very people who make our communities strong and stable, Kessler says. How were sanctuary cities created? While sanctuary cities have been highly politicized as providing refuge for immigrants, thats not how they began. It was actually tied to Californias anti-war movement during the Vietnam War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Sunday over 50 years ago, a member of University Lutherans Chapel in Berkeley, California, burned his draft card in the church parking lot. The FBI, stationed across the street, witnessed the event and arrested the man after he left the church service. In the months that followed, about 1,000 active military crew members formed an organization called Stop Our Ship, after being given military orders to ship off from Alameda County and signed an anti-war petition. For two to three days after, the City of Berkeley joined the ULC church and anti-war protesters in defending the crew members by engaging in a standoff against federal and state law enforcement. The city council later adopted Resolution 44,784, calling itself a City of Refugethe first in the nationfor any crew members and designating the ULC as a city-approved sanctuary. Almost a decade later, five San Franciscan churches signed a declaration that would launch the sanctuary city movement nationally. During the 1980s, U.S. immigration policies denied Central Americans refuge. Churches, synagogues and faith-based organizations declared a form of sacred resistance where they advocated for this community by defying federal authorities and providing shelter, aid and support to Central American refugees. In 1982, five San Francisco Bay Area churches joined Southside Presbyterian Church in declaring their churches to be sanctuaries for Central Americans. We are writing to inform you that the Southside Presbyterian Church will publicly violate the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 274(a). We have declared our church as a sanctuary for undocumented refugees from Central America, they wrote. The current administration of U.S. law prohibits us from sheltering these refugees from Central America. Therefore, we believe the administration of the law to be immoral as well as illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was produced through Next Citys Equitable Cities Reporting Fellow for Anti-Displacement Strategies, which is made possible with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This story was produced by Next City and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Donald Trumps latest trade war salvo would be a disaster for the world economy if implemented. The president has declared his intention to impose tariffs of 50 per cent on European Union exports to the United States, potentially triggering pre-prepared countermeasures from Brussels, and slashing trade between the two. The effects on the British economy in the short-run would be mixed. The United Kingdom exports 196 billion to the US and 358 billion to the EU each year; any trade war which resulted in slower growth in either party could put a dent in this demand for these goods and services. At the same time, British exporters may benefit from redirected demand as European buyers seek alternatives to American goods, and American buyers to European products. In the long run, however, the net effects seem unlikely to be positive. A world where Europe and America trade less intensively with each other is one where Europe and America are poorer, and production is less efficient. Moreover, any short-term positive factors would be offset by the chaos introduced by Mr Trump to the world economy. The intentions of reducing reliance on China, seeking more equitable terms of trade and reshoring manufacturing are all to some degree or other desirable, given the political context he exists within. His approach, however, is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of tariff threats as leverage for negotiations and the sudden changes in policy that have resulted are creating a level of uncertainty that makes long-term planning and investment all but impossible, directly working against two of those three goals, and creating market turmoil. At the same time, Mr Trump is entirely correct to describe the bloc as very difficult to negotiate with. The EU is an innately protectionist endeavour, passing regulations that restrict competition for inefficient domestic producers, while maintaining a structure that makes gridlock in negotiations all but inevitable, with buy-in required from 27 countries with wildly diverging interests. Despite Sir Keir Starmers attempts to undo our separation from the bloc, it is one of the great successes of Brexit that we have been able to strike a rapid deal with the US that will spare the UK the worst direct effects of Trumps tariffs. The EU, in contrast, having proved an obstinate and demanding negotiating partner, now finds its attitude mirrored. For Britain, treated by the bloc with an attitude little shy of contempt, it is hard not to feel that sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. While it would be best for all parties if a deal were swiftly struck, there is at least the consolation of a small degree of schadenfreude at Brussels receiving this richly deserved taste of its own medicine. 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. President Trump on Friday teased a pending announcement about a new pathway to citizenship in the U.S., telling reporters its too soon to give out more information. The president was pressed on the administrations decision to revoke Harvard Universitys certification to admit foreign students. When a reporter noted that many top CEOs are foreign-born, Trump replied, Im fine with that. Were actually going to be doing something in the near future thats going to make it possible for people to come into this country and come in and, you know, have a road toward citizenship, and I think it will be very exciting, but its too soon to speak of, he said from the Oval Office, where he was signing executive orders related to nuclear energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also responded, I do, when asked why the U.S. wouldnt want the best and the brightest studying at U.S. colleagues. We dont want troublemakers here, he said. Harvard is suing the Trump administration after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem ordered Harvard be taken off the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, claiming the administrations actions violate the First Amendment, constitutional due process and the DHSs regulations. The order effectively bans Harvard from enrolling new international students and forces current ones, who make up roughly a quarter of the schools student population, to transfer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump earlier this year announced in the Oval Office the revenue-generating $5 million gold card immigrant visa to replace the existing EB-5 visa program. It will still require vetting but will come with a higher price tag. The Trump administration also recently started accepting white South Africans as part of the prioritization of the Afrikaner refugee resettlement program. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Trump at the White House on Wednesday for a meeting that took a turn when Trump showed a video to argue that white farmers are being persecuted in the country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 on Friday threatened to hit Apple with 25 percent tariffs if it does not move its manufacturing to the U.S. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. he continued. Thank your for your attention to this matter! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has taken aim at Apple and CEO Tim Cook in recent weeks over the iPhone makers manufacturing in India. Apple produces the vast majority of its products in China. However, it has increasingly sought to diversify its supply chain, moving manufacturing to countries such as India and Vietnam. The companys shift away from China has been central to its efforts to avoid the worst impacts amid Trumps trade war with Beijing. Trump voiced his frustration with Cook earlier this month, after he reached an agreement with China to substantially lower tariffs for 90 days. I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, Tim youre my friend, I treated you very good. Youre coming in with $500 billion, but now youre building all over India. I dont want you building in India, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said, Tim, look, weve treated you really good. Weve put up with all the plants that you built in China for years. Now, you gotta build us. Were not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves. Theyre doing very well. We want you to build here, he added. And theyre going to be upping their production in the United States. Apple announced in February that it plans to spend $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, including building a new factory in Texas. Trumps tariffs have been particularly challenging for the company. U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports previously sat at a hefty 145 percent, while China responded by raising tariffs on U.S. imports to 125 percent. The presidents wide-ranging reciprocal tariffs initially covered India and Vietnam as well, which faced 26 percent and 46 percent tariffs, respectively. However, Trump pulled back on most of these tariffs, announcing a 90-day pause on all but the China tariffs and a universal 10 percent baseline tariff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also later exempted electronics, including Apples smartphones, from the China tariffs. Despite Trumps push to reshore much of the iPhone makers manufacturing, experts have warned that this is unrealistic, especially on a short time frame. The pressure from Trump Administration on Apple to build iPhone production in the US as we have discussed this would result in an iPhone price point that is a non-starter for Cupertino, Wedbush Securities analysts wrote in a note Friday. They cautioned that a U.S.-built iPhone would cost around $3,500, and that it would take 5-10 years to move production to the U.S. We believe the concept of Apple producing iPhones in the US is a fairy tale that is not feasible, they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 9:30 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Either the French president has crazy fans, or Macron is like a vampire, running after politicians and biting them but another hyperactive psycho has appeared in Europe: Frank Schwabe. Yes, yes, the same Frank Schwabe. The one who starts his day by trying to dig into Azerbaijan and ends up with a plan to find anti-Azerbaijani topics for tomorrow. Anyway, this Schwabe suddenly declared that Azerbaijan declared a hybrid war on Germany. Azerbaijan. Germany. War. A hybrid one. Yes, after the third word, he needs to call the paramedics. An adult is seriously trying to portray Azerbaijan as a new "hybrid monster" creeping up on Germany from NATOs southern flank. And this is despite the fact that Baku and Berlin have quite positive, constructive, and developing relations. Schwabe has become the second half-wit trying to accuse Baku of "hybrid wars." The first is French President Emmanuel Macron. Of course, these two characters are of very different calibers, but they have at least one thing in common: they have squandered their political reputations and are constantly looking for someone to blame. After the riots in his overseas territories, Macron accused Azerbaijan of waging a hybrid war against France. Frank Schwabe is now suffering from the same delusion. Of course, Schwabe is not the first nor the last politician to try to build a career on anti-foreign hysteria. But looking at his statements, it becomes clear that fighting imaginary threats is much easier than dealing with the real problems of ones own country. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan will continue to do what it does best: develop its economy, participate in international summits, andhorror of horrorsbe friends with Germany. Despite the attempts of individual "politicians" to spoil relations with their partners. TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed Friday to explore holding a face-to-face meeting in June on the fringes of the Group of Seven summit in Canada, with both expressing hope that a preceding round of ministerial-level tariff negotiations will be "productive." In a roughly 45-minute telephone conversation, Ishiba and Trump also agreed on the need to achieve "win-win" bilateral relations through the tariff negotiations, Ishiba told reporters, though the two did not go into detail. The call, requested by the U.S. side, came ahead of another round of ministerial tariff talks in Washington on Friday. Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa left Japan earlier in the day. "I said I hope to see a productive meeting at the ministerial level and (Trump) agreed," Ishiba said. "We agreed on the need for more bilateral cooperation, including in the field of economic security," he added. While a summit during the G7, to be held in Canada's Kananaskis from June 15 to 17, is an option, Ishiba said he will not rule out the possibility of traveling to the United States to meet Trump "depending on how the situation unfolds." Japan has been urging the United States to rethink its tariff policy, which includes a 25 percent import duty on cars, due to concern about its impact on the export-driven Japanese economy. While a 24 percent "reciprocal" tariff has been put on hold, the United States is still imposing a 10 percent baseline duty, along with levies targeting steel and aluminum. "Our stance hasn't changed that we will urge the United States to remove the tariffs," Ishiba said. Trump also shared details of his recent three-nation trip to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Ishiba expressing his appreciation for the president's diplomatic efforts. Related coverage: Japan inflation accelerates in April on reduced energy subsidies G7 finance chiefs show unity despite tensions over Trump's tariffs U.S. eyes region-based tariffs for many nations as deadline nears (NewsNation) President Donald Trump threatened tech giant Apple and the European Union with large tariffs on Friday morning. Trump suggested a 25% tariff for Apple if iPhone production isnt moved to the United States and said trade talks with the EU have stalled and that a 50% tariff on all goods from that territory is warranted beginning next week. Trumps big, beautiful bill faces a swarm of Senate GOP objections Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday morning. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Speaking to reporters, Trump said he thought he had an understanding with Cook that Apple could make the iPhone in India, but it would have a tariff. But there will be no tariff if they build their plant here. When asked what the EU could do to avoid the steep tariff, Trump said he would have to see. They havent treated us properly. They havent treated our country properly. They banded together to take advantage of us, he said. Trump tariffs: Apple to increase manufacturing in India Most of Apples manufacturing occurs in China, around 80% of production capacity, but the company had plans to increase its presence in India in response to Trumps increased tariffs on Chinese imports, which the president later scaled back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 90% of iPhones are assembled in China, along with 55% of Mac products and 80% of iPads. Currently, India assembles just 10% to 15% of iPhones, with 20% of iPad production and 90% of wearable products like Apple Watches being done in Vietnam. Experts have said consumers should expect to pay higher prices for iPhones if theyre American-made. Trump also said Friday that the 50% European Union tariffs should start June 1. House moderates accept sledgehammer approach to green energy tax credits despite calls for scalpel Apple would need to spend $30 billion over three years to move just 10% of its supply chain to the U.S., according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives. He estimated that the price for an iPhone would soar to more than $3,000 if made in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with, Trump wrote on Truth Social, claiming a $250 million annual trade deficit. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter! U.S.-EU trade Part of Trumps tariff justification is the idea that the U.S. has been operating at a significant trade deficit with the rest of the world, in part due to policies he has called unfair. The administrations focus has largely been on goods and manufacturing while not including services, which make up more of the U.S. economy. Trump says autism has to be artificially induced Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the EU, there is a trade imbalance of $236 billion if you look only at goods. If you include services, however, the U.S. deficit drops to $161 billion because the U.S. has a $75.6 billion surplus when it comes to trading services with the EU. Those include financial services, transport, telecommunication, computer and information services. This story is developing. Download our NewsNation app for 24/7 fact-based unbiased coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened Apple with a 25% import tariff on iPhones sold, but not manufactured, in the United States and later indicated the measure could also apply to smartphones from other manufacturers. "I have long ago informed [chief executive] Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking later at the White House, Trump said import tariffs of 25% on iPhones could also apply to smartphones from other manufacturers. "It would be also Samsung, and anybody who makes that product, otherwise it wouldn't be fair," Trump said. Trump again took aim at Apple, complaining that the company is seeking to build plants in India to produce iPhones. "If they're going to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States," Trump said. "That's the way it is." The president said the new duties would be imposed at the end of June. Trump has long demanded that Apple build the iPhone - its most important product - in the US. Experts argue that this would require huge investments and make smartphones drastically more expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Cook's leadership, Apple has built up supply chains in Asia over the last few decades with large factories, mainly in China. In recent years, the company has also stepped up production in India and Vietnam, partly in response to supply bottlenecks following the coronavirus lockdowns in China. The News US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened the European Union and Apple with new tariffs, expressing impatience over their failure to fall in line with his trade agenda. Trump said he would recommend a 50% duty on goods from the EU, citing frustrations over stalled trade negotiations, and a 25% tariff on iPhones over Apples plan to manufacture many of them in India. Stock futures fell across the board early Friday on the news, and Apple shares dropped 3% on pre-market trading. Several governments are trying to strike deals with the US before Trumps Liberation Day tariffs kick in, but foreign officials are reluctant to make major concessions due to the lack of clarity around Washingtons tariff plans, The New York Times reported. President Donald Trump has publicly targeted companies which have expressed concerns surrounding the administrations tariff plan in recent days, threatening major brands including Apple and Walmart. The latest target of his ire was iPhone manufacturer Apple, which Trump threatened with a company-specific tariff in a Truth Social post Friday morning. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This came despite Apple CEO Tim Cook making numerous attempts to curry favor with the administration since Trump took office. But Cook has also expressed concerns surrounding Trumps tariff plan, saying earlier this month that it could increase the companys costs by $900 million. He revealed in a company earnings call this month that Apple will shift some iPhone production from China to India, a country with which the U.S. has a better relationship with. Apple shares fell 2.3 percent following Trumps post, as of Friday afternoon. Cook visited the White House and met with Trump earlier this week, POLITICO previously reported. Trumps continued targeting of major consumer brands is the latest in the administrations efforts to dominate global trade and prioritize U.S. manufacturing. While the president has claimed blanket widespread tariffs would encourage U.S. economic growth, markets have been volatile since his April Liberation Day tariff announcements and many Americans disapprove of his tariff plans. Other companies have also caught Trumps anger. Toy manufacturer Mattel announced this month that prices of some of its toys in the U.S. would go up, and has also expressed disinterest in moving manufacturing to the U.S., prioritizing global diversification. CEO Ynon Kreiz told CNBC earlier this month that the company is aiming for no country to represent more than 25 percent of Mattels sourcing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump responded to the decision during remarks in the Oval Office this month. Let him go and well put 100 percent tariff on his toys and he wont sell one toy in the United States and thats their biggest market, Trump said. Amazon, another company thats sought a closer relationship with the administration, also faced tariff whiplash last month. After media reporting that the company would display price increases resulting from tariffs next to products, the administration called it a hostile and political act. I just got off the phone with the president about this, about Amazons announcement. This is a hostile and political act by Amazon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump spoke with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos following the announcement, and he said that Bezos solved the problem very quickly. A company spokesperson acknowledged at the time the idea was considered for one of its sites, but said the plan was never approved and is not going to happen. A number of companies have also strayed from giving profit revenue guidance for the quarter, citing uncertainty around tariffs. Walmart was the latest company to opt out of providing specific guidance. The company last week announced plans to pass tariff prices along to the consumer, announcing price increases on tariff-impacted merchandise this month and early summer. The move drew ire from Trump, who wrote that Walmart should eat the tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post May 17. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, EAT THE TARIFFS, and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. Ill be watching, and so will your customers!!! Spokespeople for Apple, Walmart and Mattel did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We have always worked to keep our prices as low as possible and we wont stop, Walmart spokesperson Joe Pennington said in a statement to USA Today in response to Trumps comments. Well keep prices as low as we can for as long as we can given the reality of small retail margins. President Donald Trump is fighting his mass deportation battle on two fronts: the courts, where he is losing, and public opinion, where he may have a better shot. While Justice Department lawyers seek to salvage some of the most aggressive elements of Trumps deportation agenda, the rest of the presidents team is focused on making sure Americans hear the story he wants to tell: that of a president trying to get violent criminals out of the country, only to be blocked by obstinate judges. Its an oversimplification that depends on misrepresentations of what the courts have ordered. But it is one the president knows he can tell with a louder megaphone and little pushback from judges, who speak through court filings, not soundbites. That vacuum allows Trump to frame the legal tongue-lashings he receives as a badge of honor, proof hes upholding his campaign-trail commitment to deport criminals at any cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Judges are absolutely out of control, theyre hurting our Country, and they know nothing about particular situations, or what they are doing And this must change, IMMEDIATELY! Trump blared on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon. The South Sudan seven This week, Trumps target is a little-known federal judge in Massachusetts named Brian Murphy, who has spent weeks chastising the administration for its efforts to hurriedly deport people to third countries, when their home countries wont accept them or might put them at risk of torture. Murphy, a Biden appointee, ruled last month that anyone being deported to a third country must have an opportunity to raise challenges, such as the potential for torture or persecution, and have time for those challenges to play out. Despite Murphys order, on Tuesday the Trump administration loaded a group of men on a plane to South Sudan a war-torn nation that is among the worlds most dangerous with barely 12 hours notice and no time to consult a lawyer. The White House noted the deportees were convicted of crimes and all had final removal orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to maintain custody of the men who Trump confirmed are now being held by ICE officials in Djibouti and give them an opportunity to raise the same fear of torture claims they should have had if they had remained in the United States. Its the White Houses latest bid to expand the presidents unreviewable authority over aspects of the immigration system as aides and allies use the South Sudan case to bolster the argument that immigration is a national security threat and an invasion. Trump aides hope the Supreme Court will side with them on a slew of legally murky questions, including by defining what level of due process is required for deportees and what role, if any, the courts should play in the process. They also want the courts to validate the presidents authority to remove people without going through regular immigration proceedings in certain situations. No federal court has the right to second-guess the presidents determinations when it comes to these foreign policy decisions, especially when you look at what the federal government is commanded to do in Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution to guarantee the states against invasion, a senior White House official, granted anonymity to discuss the administrations thinking, told POLITICO recently. And I expect that well see some more clarity on the extent and reaffirmance of the presidents power in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trumps first bid to vindicate this notion has largely collapsed in court. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in order to rapidly deport hundreds of Venezuelan men to a prison in El Salvador, an unprecedented use of this wartime authority that has come under intense legal scrutiny and challenge, all the way to the Supreme Court. That effort has been marked by admitted blunders, rulings that described Trumps effort as patently unconstitutional or built on flimsy evidence. It resulted in a legal backlash that affirmed and even strengthened the due process rights of migrants in deportation proceedings and led to nationwide resistance in the courts. In the South Sudan case, the small group of deportees provided a cleaner political messaging opportunity for the White House: seven convicted criminals previously ordered deported but without a destination that would accept them until now. The administration revealed in court papers Thursday that the Department of Homeland Security had negotiated with the government of South Sudan to accept the men and were set to do so until Murphy intervened over the violation of his due process order. On Wednesday, DHS officials called a national press conference, minutes before Murphy had scheduled a hearing in the case, and chastised the judge as a defender of dangerous criminals. These are the monsters that the district judge is trying to protect, said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, standing in front of a wall of photos of the deported men. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt broadcasted photos of the men at the top of Thursdays press briefing, reading the crimes theyve been convicted of, including felonies like rape and murder as she accused judicial activists of blocking Trump from deporting foreign terrorists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The migrants will remain in Djibouti, where the U.S. has a military base, for at least two weeks, Leavit said, adding that ICE officials are forced to comply with the judges order without the proper resources. But as Murphys ruling makes clear, the administration could return the men and complete the process in the United States where they would face fewer logistical headwinds just more judges. Both Trump and top White House officials urged the Supreme Court to step in again, with the president saying he hoped the high court would END the quagmire that has been caused by the Radical Left. The most repugnant among us Federal judges keep warning that the administration seems to believe constitutional protections should be weaker or waived for those it labels criminals, gang members or thugs. Its precisely that notion, they say, that requires courts to step in and protect the constitutions promise of due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowing constitutional rights to be dependent upon the grace of the Executive branch would be a dereliction of duty by this third and independent branch of Government, U.S.District Judge Clay Land, a George W. Bush appointee in Georgia, wrote in a Wednesday ruling that blocked the administration from immediately deporting a person who feared he might be targeted under Trumps recent invocation of wartime authorities. These rights are not rationed based upon political views, and they do not belong solely to those who may be subjectively determined to be great Americans, Land ruled. They extend to those whom many may consider to be the most repugnant among us. For weeks, judges have been sounding similar themes: In the United States, even a scoundrel has the right to remain free until due process has proven him a scoundrel, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo, an Obama appointee, ruled earlier this month in a case over the detention of an immigrant arrested in anticipation of deportation to Gambia. And the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Trump administration had failed to provide enough notice to Venezuelans it is seeking to deport under Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling was limited: the justices noted that Trump could still deport those same immigrants using other legal powers and that his administration could still craft an Alien Enemies Act strategy that would pass legal muster. All of the people subject to the courts ruling are being held in an immigration detention center in Texas. But Trump, misrepresenting the ruling, accused the justices of allowing vicious criminals to remain on the streets. The Supreme Court has just ruled that the worst murderers, drug dealers, gang members, and even those who are mentally insane, who came into our Country illegally, are not allowed to be forced out without going through a long, protracted, and expensive Legal Process, Trump wrote in a social media post. The Trump administration on Monday accused Harvard of being in violent violation of federal civil rights laws by allegedly failing to stop antisemitism on its campus. In a letter sent to the university, the administrations Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism threatened to cut off all federal financial resources if Harvard doesnt institute adequate changes immediately. The move marked the latest escalation in the ongoing back-and-forth between the president and Harvard, which has come under a barrage of attacks in the months since President Trump returned to office. The administration has already taken away billions of dollars in federal research grants, attempted to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status and tried to block the school from hosting international students. Since returning to office, Trump has mounted a sweeping campaign to impose his ideological worldview on some of the countrys most prominent universities, revoking hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding from schools like Columbia, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. But no college has faced the kinds of attacks that Harvard has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harvard has not responded publicly to Mondays letter, but its president, Alan M. Garber, has previously condemned the administrations unlawful and unwarranted actions. The university has reportedly been negotiating a possible settlement with the administration that would potentially offer the school some relief in exchange for accepting some of the administrations terms for how it should reshape its internal policies. Trump expressed confidence that the two sides could strike a deal in a post on Truth Social earlier this month, writing that Harvard had acted extremely appropriately during their discussions and that the terms of the agreement would be mindbogglingly HISTORIC if it is finalized. Its unclear how Mondays action by the administration might affect those ongoing negotiations. Heres a timeline of the most aggressive actions the Trump administration has taken against Harvard and how the school has responded. March 31: The administrations Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announces it will conduct a comprehensive review of nearly $9 billion in contracts and grants that Harvard is slated to receive from the federal government over the schools alleged failure to protect students on campus from anti-Semitic discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 11: The administration sends Harvard a letter containing a wide-ranging slate of demands, including calling for the school to reform its admissions and hiring policies, end its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, and grant the government extensive new authority over university operations and education. April 14: Harvard announces that it is refusing to comply with those demands, insisting that it would not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. The administration responds by revoking $2.2 billion in federal research grants. April 16: DHS launches an investigation into Harvards international student enrollment, threatens to revoke its ability to host them and demands that the university share comprehensive internal information about each foreign student with the administration. April 17: The Department of Education announces an investigation into donations Harvard has received from foreign sources, accusing the university of failing to accurately disclose the money it gets from overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 19: The Department of Health and Human Services announces a comprehensive civil rights investigation into all activities on Harvards campus since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in order to determine whether the school is violating federal antidiscrimination laws. April 20: The administration reportedly moves to revoke an additional $1 billion in health research funding for Harvard and its research partners. April 21: Harvard sues to block the funding freeze. The lawsuit condemns the broad attack on the university and argues that the administration broke the law by violating the schools academic independence. April 25: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announces an investigation into Harvards hiring practices, accusing the school of discriminating against white, Asian, male, or straight employees, applicants, and training program participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 28: The Education Department and HHS announce a joint investigation into allegations of race-based discrimination in the operations of the Harvard Law Review. May 2: Trump says that he is revoking Harvards tax-exempt status. Its unclear whether this will actually happen, however, because federal law explicitly bars presidents from directing the Internal Revenue Service to review or change any taxpayers or institutions tax status. May 5: The Education Department declares that Harvard is disqualified from receiving any federal grant funding in the future. May 12: Harvard releases a letter in which it acknowledges common ground it shares with the administration and expresses hope that its partnership with the government can be restored. That same day, the Justice Department launches an investigation into whether Harvard's admissions practices violate antidiscrimination laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 13: The administrations joint task force revokes an additional $450 million in grant funding over claims that Harvard has repeatedly failed to confront the pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus. May 19: Another $60 million in medical research grant funding is canceled by HHS. May 22: DHS announces that Harvard can no longer host international students. May 23: Harvard sues to block the order. A federal judge temporarily rules in Harvards favor, preventing the order from going into effect for at least two weeks to allow a more thorough legal challenge to get underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May 27: The Trump administration orders all federal agencies to end any remaining contracts totaling an estimated $100 million they have with Harvard. May 29: The Trump administration issues a letter pausing its revocation of Harvards ability to host international students for 30 days. A federal judge extends the deadline on the previous order that temporarily blocks the policy from going into effect. June 23: A federal judge issues an order indefinitely blocking the administration from revoking Harvards right to host international students. June 26: Harvard reaches an agreement with the University of Toronto that will allow certain Harvard graduate students to attend the Canadian university if the administration succeeds in preventing them from attending college in the United States. June 30: The administrations antisemitism task force formally accuses Harvard of violating civil rights law and threatens to revoke all federal funding over the schools purported failure to protect Jewish students on campus. A letter from the task force accuses the university of being deliberately indifferent to antisemitism in some cases and a willful participant in attacks on Jewish people. President Trump ramped up his tariff threats on Friday, telling Apple and its chief executive that a 25% tariff would be imposed if the company does not start producing iPhones in the United States. I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Minutes later, Trump took to Truth Social again, threatening a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union beginning on June 1 because trade negotiations with the EU were "going nowhere." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The twin threats caused U.S. stocks to tumble in early trading on Wall Street. Apples share price fell 3% before the markets opened. Trump vs. the iPhone New Apple iPhone 16s. (Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images) Trump has publicly criticized other major U.S. companies, including Walmart, during his tariff push. But his threat against Apples iPhone production appears to be the first to target a specific consumer product. Roughly 80% of all iPhones are currently made in China, which is still facing the possibility of steep tariffs due to Trumps ongoing trade war. Last month, Reuters reported that Apple planned to shift its iPhone production to India in response to Trumps tariffs on China a move that angered the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday, Trump told reporters during his recent trip to the Middle East. I said to him, Tim, youre my friend. I treated you very good. Youre coming in with $500 billion. But now I hear youre building all over India. I dont want you building in India. In February, shortly after Trump took office, Apple announced plans to open a new factory for artificial intelligence servers in Houston as part of a $500 billion investment in the United States. But the tech giant produces very few products in the United States; its MacBook Pro is produced in Texas. According to CNBC, some analysts estimate that moving iPhone production to the U.S. would raise the price of the popular smartphone by at least 25%. The iPhone 16 Pro currently retails for about $1,000. Cook, like other tech CEOs, has been trying to establish a friendly relationship with Trump. He gave $1 million to Trumps inauguration fund and attended the presidents inauguration in January. Trump vs. the EU The United States and European Union have been negotiating trade deals during Trumps 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps trade negotiators have been pressuring the EU to unilaterally cut tariffs on American goods. Bloomberg News reported Thursday that the 27-nation bloc is readying $108 billion in retaliatory tariffs if talks fail. In his Truth Social post, Trump said the EU has been "very difficult to deal with." Our discussions with them are going nowhere! the president wrote. Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter! 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. Its a big, beautiful edition of the newsletter today, as we break down the political ramifications, historical context and next steps for President Donald Trump and the GOP after the House passed the partys sweeping domestic policy package. Programming note: We are taking a few days off for the holiday weekend and will be back on Tuesday, May 27. Have a restful Memorial Day! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Adam Wollner Trump has history on his side with his big, beautiful bill By Jonathan Allen After the House passed a bill for President Donald Trumps agenda early Thursday morning by a single vote, the measure faces more hurdles in the Senate. But dont bet against it becoming law. Theres a long history of presidents getting Congress to deliver their top legislative priority, even when other items fall by the wayside. Thats especially true when the presidents party controls both chambers, as Trumps GOP currently does. Because of congressional rules, so-called budget reconciliation bills like the one Trump is trying to get to his desk only need a simple majority to pass in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For that reason, Trump was smart to roll a series of his major proposals into a single bill covering much of his agenda on taxes, immigration and more. Even for Republicans who arent in love with every provision, it is politically perilous to stand in the way of a president of their own party. When push comes to shove, few will be willing to alienate their base voters to kill the newly elected presidents plans. And if Trump loses the battle, he will make sure GOP voters know which lawmakers betrayed him. There may ultimately be a political downside for some Republicans who stick with Trump with the broader electorate, but theres no upside in turning him into an enemy in either a primary or a general election. No Republican can win a swing state or district if the GOP base doesnt turn out for them. Trump may be more openly vindictive than most recent presidents, but similar dynamics are always at play. In 1993, President Bill Clinton and a Democratic-led Congress prioritized his economic recovery package not the more memorable Hillarycare health insurance proposal. He passed the budget plan, while Hillarycare fell apart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2001, President George W. Bush, with a Republican Congress behind him, enacted a major tax cut on bipartisan votes in the House and Senate. President Barack Obamas stimulus law flew through Congress with Democrats in control of both chambers in February 2009. And after months of fierce debate, he managed to sign the Affordable Care Act into law in March 2010. Arguably, the big exception came in Trumps first term, when the Senate on a decisive vote by then-Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. killed a push to repeal Obamacare. But Trump did get a signature tax law from the Republican-led Congress. In 2021, the Democratic-led Congress quickly sent a pandemic recovery bill to President Joe Bidens desk at the outset of his term. The rest of his Build Back Better plan ran into snags and had to be reformulated and slimmed down to make it across the finish line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Republicans may distance themselves from Trumps agenda as the midterm elections approach, but that day has not yet come. And the smart money is on him eventually signing his big, beautiful bill into law. How the Trump agenda bill will shape the next election By Ben Kamisar and Alexandra Marquez Republicans megabill is now set to play a major role in shaping the fight over who controls the House after the next election. Democrats need a net gain of just three seats next year to take back control of the chamber, after the GOP won the smallest House majority in almost 100 years in the last election. And theyve already started peppering the airwaves with attacks accusing the GOP of slashing Medicaid and prioritizing the wealthiest Americans. But Republicans are betting that the measure holds the key to proving to voters why they should grant them two more years of unified control of Washington, as opposed to the midterm backlash that typically hits a presidents party. The GOP sees a bill that could energize Trump supporters by enacting his agenda and delivering key swing-state lawmakers some tangible victories to tout on the campaign trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American people gave us a mandate in November. They sent a message with their vote. They gave this side of the aisle the power, and were going to use it to make their lives better, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sounded a different note: When the votes are ultimately cast on that first Tuesday in November next year, this day may very well turn out to be the day that House Republicans lost control of the United States House of Representatives. Read more on the midterm politics of the bill The defectors: Only two House Republicans, safe-seat Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, joined every Democrat in voting against the bill, saying it will further balloon the U.S. deficit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Davidsons opposition came as a last-minute surprise, Massie had long made clear where he stood on the legislation. As Ben Kamisar and Scott Bland write, Massie is one of the rare Republicans who has found himself at odds with Trump on multiple occasions but has lived to tell the tale. The question is whether the tension evaporates as it has before or if Trump actually takes the step of backing a primary challenger against him in 2026. Prior to Thursdays vote, Trump blasted Massie as a grandstander who should be voted out of office criticism Massie has pointed to in fundraising appeals for his own campaign. Thats a step up, Massie said of Trumps threats. In 2020, he wanted me thrown out of the GOP, so losing a seat wouldnt be as bad as being thrown out, would it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think thats hyperbole on his part. Im not worried about it, Massie continued. Read more on Massie Explainer: Heres whats in the sprawling Trump agenda bill House Republicans just passed, by Sahil Kapur and Scott Wong Mailbag: The GOPs megabill moves to the Senate Thanks to everyone who emailed us! Here is this weeks reader question: On the spending bill, will it go through the Senate? How many will oppose it? One thing is clear at this point, hours removed from the Houses passage of a massive bill for Trumps agenda: The Senate wont pass it as its currently written. For weeks, GOP senators have outlined a variety of concerns with the measure their House colleagues put together. That list includes: the impact to the U.S. deficit, the level of Medicaid cuts, the rollback of clean energy tax credits and the higher cap for the state and local tax deduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be Senate Majority Leader John Thunes job now to work through all these issues in the coming weeks. He can only afford to lose three Republican votes on the Senate floor and hes already lost Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who staunchly opposes a provision in the bill that raises the debt ceiling. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has even said he still wants to split up the sweeping legislation into two parts. But as Jonathan Allen writes above, when push comes to shove, skeptical Senate Republicans may find it difficult to stand in the way of the president and his agenda. Another complicating factor is that any changes the Senate makes to the package will have to go back through the House before GOP lawmakers can send the bill to Trumps desk, which they are hoping to do by July 4. Adam Wollner Today's other top stories Attack in D.C.: A gunman shot and killed two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. Read more In the courts, part 1: Oklahoma will not be able to launch the nations first religious public charter school after the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 in a major case on the separation of church and state. Read more In the courts, part 2: The Supreme Court also granted a Trump administration request that allows the president to fire members of independent federal agencies. Read more In the courts, part 3: A federal judge in Massachusetts issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from dismantling the Education Department and ordering that fired employees be reinstated. Read more In the courts, part 4: A federal judge in California blocked the Trump administration from terminating the legal statuses of international students at universities across the U.S. Read more Trump vs. Harvard: The Trump administration on Thursday halted Harvards ability to enroll international students amid an ongoing standoff between the government and the Ivy League school. Read more A seat at the table: More than 200 wealthy, mostly anonymous crypto buyers are coming to Washington to have dinner with Trump. The price of admission: $55,000 to $37.7 million. Read more Ctrl, alt, delete: The White House has removed official transcripts of Trumps public remarks from its website, replacing them with selected videos of his public appearances. Read more Penny for your thoughts: The Treasury Department said it made its final order of blank pennies this month as it moves to end production of the one-cent coin. Read more Follow live politics updates Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Ben Kamisar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com There are big eligibility changes coming for COVID-19 vaccines this fall. StefaNikolic via Getty Images Read our liveblog for the latest on Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedys war on health care in the U.S. Major changes are coming for those who want the new COVID-19 shot this fall. Up until now, anyone 6 months and older who wanted the new COVID shot, which is updated each fall to better match the circulating COVID variants, was eligible to get it. Now, its been announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is changing the recommendations for the fall COVID-19 shot. Those now eligible for the shot include people over the age of 65 and people 6 months and up who have underlying medical conditions but younger, healthy people wont be eligible for the jab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im concerned about this new decision by the FDA to limit the COVID-19 vaccine to people 65 and older and people over 6 months with at least one known underlying medical condition. Its a dramatic shift from the current CDC guidance, which recommends the vaccine for anyone 6 months and older, Dr. Oni Blackstock, a primary care and HIV physician who is the founder and executive director of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consulting company, told HuffPost. I think [the new COVID shot guidelines] lack an evidence base and a clear rationale for changing them, Tara Smith, a professor of epidemiology, told HuffPost. Smith added that these changes dont seem to be based on any new data from Dr. Vinay Prasad, the director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner of the FDA. It seems to be based more on vibes and a low uptake of updated COVID vaccines overall, but that is not a scientific reason to change vaccine eligibility, Smith said. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) didnt respond to experts specific criticisms when HuffPost asked for comment, instead responding with a lengthy statement that said the COVID-19 public health emergency is over. The statement continued that the U.S. is in a new virus-response phase in which a rubber-stamping approach to approving COVID boosters in perpetuity without updated clinical trial data under the Biden Administration is now over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHSs response also referenced the FDAs new recommendation framework published in the New England Journal of Medicine, saying it provides forward-looking guidance for a risk stratified approach, rooted in the best available science, to inform future vaccine policy. Doctors and scientists have concerns about multiple aspects of these eligibility changes, along with the data being used to move these changes forward. Heres what theyre worried about: Some experts say the FDA is intentionally misconstruing international COVID vaccination guidelines to align with its new recommendations. In their policy paper in [the New England Journal of Medicine], the FDA authors justified implementing vaccine restrictions in the U.S. by claiming that other countries such Australia and Canada have already limited the COVID vaccines to older and higher risk people. But this is false, Lucky Tran, a scientist and public health communicator, told HuffPost. While countries like Australia and Canada make strong recommendations for older people and higher risk groups, COVID vaccines continue to be available to everyone. The FDA authors are deliberately misrepresenting international policies to further their political goals, Tran added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Canadas official COVID immunization guidelines list out that the vaccine is recommended for people at high risk, including people over 65, health care workers, pregnant people and more. Then, the guidelines go on to say, all individuals (previously vaccinated and unvaccinated) 6 months of age and over not in the preceding list may receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Under the Trump administration in the U.S., clinical trials would be required for the vaccines to be approved for use in low-risk people. The suggestion that we need new placebo-controlled trials for updated vaccines is particularly concerning. On its surface, it may sound reasonable, but ethically, its dangerous to withhold a vaccine that is known to offer protection just to create a placebo-controlled new trial. And practically, it may be impossible to carry out, Dr. David Higgins, a pediatrician and preventive medicine specialist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, told HuffPost via email. Moreover, its unfair to use countries like Australia and Canada (and Sweden and Germany and the other countries listed in the FDAs policy paper) as a comparison. I believe all of the countries that were used for comparison also have universal health care of some type or another, Smith said. In the U.S., a serious COVID infection that requires hospitalization could have dire financial consequences beyond the health aspects of infection, Smith explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Gallup health care survey from earlier this year found that 12% of Americans had to borrow money to pay for medical costs within the past year. And, according to the American Hospital Association, 6% of Americans owe more than $1,000 in medical debt, while 1% owe more than $10,000. Plus, Republicans are actively trying to take away health care from 8 million Americans through cuts to Medicaid and Medicare via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Without health care coverage, even more people could have to consider taking on debt for medical bills. This isnt the case in the countries referenced with universal health care. Given that the U.S. does not [have] universal health care and that people in the U.S. already tend to live shorter, sicker lives compared to those in countries with universal healthcare, limiting access to preventive measures like vaccines could worsen these already existing inequities, Blackstock said. While people over 65 will be eligible for the COVID vaccine this fall, younger, healthy people won't be eligible, according to new FDA guidelines. Luis Alvarez via Getty Images Research shows that everyone benefits from the COVID vaccine not just those at high risk. Taking away vaccine access is dangerous, experts say. The data tells us that everyone can benefit from getting updated COVID vaccines, Tran said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COVID vaccines reduce the risk of becoming sick, developing long COVID and becoming hospitalized, for everyone, Tran added. COVID continues to spread and cause harm. Limiting access to COVID vaccines is an anti-science move that will kill more Americans. This change could mean that younger or otherwise healthy people who want a COVID vaccine may not have access, noted Blackstock. Without FDA approval for these groups, insurance companies might not cover the cost, potentially leaving people to pay out of pocket or unable to get vaccinated at all, Blackstock said. Another important point is that vaccines reduce COVID transmission, Tran said. This is important for everyone, but especially those who are caretakers of people at higher risk of getting COVID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, for years my siblings and I took care of our mother until she passed in March. Most of us do not have any eligible conditions to receive the vaccines, so that would have left her less protected from COVID as we would no longer be able to receive updated vaccines, Smith said. I think it is a mistake to rescind access to these vaccines, particularly after RFK Jr. had promised in his hearings that he would not take away our vaccines, Smith said. Experts say this entire guideline change process is unusual. Blackstock is concerned about these vaccine guideline changes and noted that its also unusual for the FDA to provide this level of guidance on a vaccine. Its usually the CDC that makes specific recommendations on who/which groups should receive a vaccine. Higgins agreed reevaluating who benefits most from COVID-19 vaccination is an important policy decision. But whats troubling about these changes is the process. These recommendations were released without pre-decision transparency, without public input and before the advisory committees tasked with reviewing this evidence had a chance to weigh in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have systems in place to guide these complex decisions transparently and publicly, while representing a variety of perspectives. Bypassing these systems undermines public trust, Higgins said. Tran underscored this point. Its important to point out that the FDA announced this policy without consulting its own vaccine advisory committee, which is a significant break from standard procedure. Its also a significant overreach by FDA leaders because recommendations for who should have access to vaccines is ultimately the purview of the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Tran noted. The FDA is responsible for reviewing clinical trials, and assessing whether a vaccine is safe and effective, not who has access to it, Tran said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACIP is expected to vote in June on its own recommendations. Vaccine access is uncertain until we hear from the ACIP and CDC, Tran said. However, given the current political landscape at federal agencies, theres a significant chance they will prioritize politics over public health, and millions of Americans who are under 65 and dont have a specific medical condition will lose access to COVID vaccines this fall. COVID-19 still poses real risks, even to healthy people, including the potential for long COVID. Everyone deserves the ability to make informed choices about their health and the freedom to choose effective tools for prevention, Higgins added. Related... Last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suddenly terminated about 4,700 records in the database of foreign students with F-1 visas authorizing them to attend American universities. That move, which sowed panic among students across the country, was the result of the Trump administration's "Student Criminal Alien Initiative." But contrary to the implication of that label, the initiative affected many people who had no criminal record that would justify revoking their visas. Nor did ICE cite any other specific justification listed in the relevant regulations. Instead, the students were told their records had been terminated for "otherwise failing to maintain status." Although ICE subsequently restored those records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), they still included notations of the prior terminations. Those black marks, along with the possibility that ICE might reverse course again at any time, left thousands of students uncertain about whether they would be allowed to remain in the United States and complete their degrees. On Thursday, a federal judge in California issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that aims to rectify that situation, and his reasoning highlights the alarming legal shortcuts that characterize President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. The SEVIS controversy may seem arcane. But it illustrates several disturbing themes of Trump's deportation crusade, including his indiscriminate approach, disregard for due process, blatant flouting of statutory and constitutional requirements, shifting legal positions, and determination to avoid judicial review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SEVIS terminations "reflect an instinct that has become prevalent in our society to effectuate change: move fast and break things," writes U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, a George W. Bush appointee who is considering several lawsuits by foreign students in the Northern District of California. "That instinct must be checked when it conflicts with established principles of law." White's preliminary injunction bars the government from "arresting and incarcerating any of the named Plaintiffs in these cases and similarly situated individuals nationwide pending resolution of these proceedings." The injunction also says the government may not transfer any of those individuals "outside the jurisdiction of their residence," impose "any adverse legal effect" based on the SEVIS terminations, or "revers[e] the reinstatement" of the records. Explaining the rationale for a nationwide injunction, White says the plaintiffs "have met their burden to show a likelihood of irreparable harm." He "sees no rational distinction between the harms inflicted on the [named plaintiffs] and the harms inflicted on similarly situated individuals across the United States." He notes that "these cases and the litigation around the United States" stem from "a uniform policy that uniformly wreaked havoc not only on the lives of Plaintiffs here but on similarly situated F-1 nonimmigrants across the United States and continues do so." The plaintiffs in the California lawsuits "allege Defendants violated the Due Process clause of the United States Constitution," White notes before alluding to the various ways in which the Trump administration, in its eagerness to summarily expel as many foreigners as possible, has disregarded due process. "Lest any Defendant be unsure," he archly adds, "that clause 'applies to all 'persons' within the United States, including aliens, whether their presence here is lawful, unlawful, temporary, or permanent.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White is quoting the Supreme Court's 2001 ruling in Zadvydas v. Davis, and he notes that the justices unanimously reaffirmed that principle last month in Trump v. J.G.G., which involved the president's attempt to deport suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act. "It is well established that the Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in the context of removal proceedings," the Court noted in holding that alleged gang members had a right to contest their designation as "alien enemies" prior to deportation. The plaintiffs in the California cases also argue that the Student Criminal Alien Initiative violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which authorizes federal courts to "set aside" any agency action that is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law." White notes that "the overwhelming majority of courts" considering lawsuits by students whose SEVIS records were terminated "have determined the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of the same claims presented here." It is not hard to see why. To implement the administration's initiative, ICE checked about 1.3 million student visa holders against a database maintained by the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC), which includes law enforcement contacts that did not necessarily result in charges, let alone convictions. ICE "forwarded lists of the individuals with positive results to the State Department for its consideration," White notes. "After the State Department received these lists, it took approximately fifteen minutes to decide that all records in SEVIS relating to those names should be terminated." As White notes, the lists included students who "had some contact with law enforcement" but did not have "a conviction that would cause them to fail to maintain status" under 8 CFR 214.1(g), which disqualifies people who commit "a crime of violence for which a sentence of more than one year imprisonment may be imposed." He mentions several plaintiffs in these cases who had no criminal record at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to testimony by Andre Watson, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, "the only individualized assessment made was whether an individual identified who had a positive result in the NCIC database was an individual listed within the SEVIS database," White writes. He says the plaintiffs therefore "are likely to prevail on their claim that the decision to terminate their SEVIS records was arbitrary and capricious because the decision was not based on a 'rational connection between the facts found and the choice made.'" Another regulation, 8 CFR 214.1(d), lists three additional circumstances in which "the nonimmigrant status of an alien shall be terminated," none of which applies here. "Because the record also shows that Defendants did not rely on one of the three circumstances set forth" in that provision, White says, "the Court also concludes Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that Defendants' actions are contrary to law." The government asserted, contrary to what the plaintiffs claimed, that terminating the SEVIS records was not tantamount to revoking the corresponding student visas. "Defendants have argued that the termination was merely a 'red flag' and that terminating a SEVIS record has no impact on immigration status," White notes. He "joins the growing number of courts around the United States [that] have rejected this position." DHS "advises the public that when a SEVIS record is terminated for failing to maintain status" the visa holder "loses all on- and/or off-campus employment authorization" and "cannot re-enter the United States" after traveling abroad, White notes. The department says a termination also cancels visas for the student's dependents. It adds that ICE agents "may investigate to confirm the departure of the student." By the government's own account, in other words, a student whose SEVIS record is terminated loses the privileges associated with his visa, including permission to remain in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That understanding, White says, is confirmed by an April 2025 "notice of intent to deny" a student's application for an H-1B "temporary worker" visa. According to "the beneficiary's SEVIS record," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in that notice, "their F-1 nonimmigrant status was terminated on April 10, 2025 because of the criminal records check and the revocation of their F-1 visa." White adds that "the State Department describes a SEVIS record as 'the definitive record of student or exchange visitor status and visa eligibility.'" In short, he says, there is "ample evidence that 'DHS officials and agenciesconstrue a student's SEVIS record as the equivalent of his actual F-1 student status." The government also argued that ICE had eliminated any harm caused by its SEVIS terminations when it restored those records. But while the defendants "have reactivated Plaintiffs' SEVIS records retroactively," White notes, "they claim it is technologically impossible to both remove the fact of termination from those records and to issue public-facing statements within SEVIS about the effect of the reactivation." And although the government says it is "sending letters to every F-1 nonimmigrant whose SEVIS record was terminated to address those concerns and to provide them with supporting documentation," he adds, "the letter contains no representations that it will be binding on Defendants," and "the erroneous notations remain in Plaintiffs' records." For those reasons, White says, the plaintiffs "have shown they have and will continue to suffer significant hardship because of Defendants' actions. Unlike the letter Defendants intend to send, the relief the Court grants provides Plaintiffs with a measure of stability and certainty that they will be able to continue their studies or their employment without the threat of re-termination hanging over their heads." White notes that the government "abruptly reversed course" at an April 25 hearing in these cases, saying "ICE had begun to reinstate SEVIS records and would develop a new policy for terminating SEVIS records going forward." The next day, the government's lawyers told White that ICE "has issued a new policy concerning the termination of records." The new policy, White notes, included two reasons for termination that "are not included on DHS's website": "Evidence of a Failure to Comply with the Terms of Nonimmigrant Status Exists" and "U.S. Department of State Visa Revocation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a May 14 hearing, White says, the government "advised the Court of yet another new development." It said that "ICE is restoring SEVIS records retroactively to the date the records were terminated" and that the government would send explanatory letters to all of the affected students. Those shifts "since these cases were filed" suggest the Trump administration "may be trying to place any future SEVIS terminations beyond judicial review," White writes. "At each turn in this and similar litigation across the nation, Defendants have abruptly changed course to satisfy courts' expressed concerns. It is unclear how this game of whack-a-mole will end unless Defendants are enjoined from skirting their own mandatory regulations." The post Trump's Mass Cancellation of Student Visas Illustrates the Lawlessness of His Immigration Crackdown appeared first on Reason.com. TOKYO - The Japanese government said Friday it will call on the United States to mitigate any potential impact on Japanese students enrolled at Harvard University after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration decided to revoke the prestigious institution's certification to accept international students. "There are many Japanese students at Harvard University. We are closely monitoring the situation with high interest," top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi, who himself is Harvard-educated, told a press conference. The Japanese government "will take the necessary response" including talking with the United States, he added. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a separate press conference that the government has asked the U.S. Embassy in Japan to provide further details in a bid to minimize the impact on Japanese students and that the Japanese Embassy in Washington will similarly seek information. According to the university, it hosts international students and scholars from over 140 countries, with 260 coming from Japan. China topped the countries for students enrolled at 2,126, followed by India at 788 and Canada at 769. The termination of Harvard's certification of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program marks an escalation of the standoff between the Trump administration and the elite institution over diversity policies and campus protests regarding the Israel-Hamas war, among other issues. The revocation means the university can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement issued Thursday. "Harvard's leadership has created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators to harass and physically assault individuals, including Jewish students," the statement asserted, adding many of these "agitators are foreign students." The university said, "Harvard is committed to maintaining our ability to host our international students and scholars." Related coverage: U.S. eyes region-based tariffs for many nations as deadline nears 81% in Japan feel "uneasy" about Trump's 2nd presidency: poll Japanese students abroad up 1.5-fold post COVID-19 pandemic State Rep. Brandi Bradley speaks on the Colorado House floor during the last day of the 2025 legislative session, May 7, at the Colorado Capitol. Bradley is a vocal opponent of House Bill 25-1312's transgender protections. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) Of all the bills introduced this year at the Colorado Capitol, one came to define the legislative session for much of the right in Colorado. Even now that the session is over and the bill has become law, it is taking on new life as opponents exercise their outrage in schoolyard-bully social media posts, depraved sermons and a legal challenge in federal court. The legislation, House Bill 25-1312, enacted several new protections for transgender people. Though the law was a reasonable response to escalating attacks against a besieged segment of the population, especially since the start of the Trump administration and its extreme anti-trans bias, the backlash it prompted is disproportionate, sinister and full of misinformation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first thing to understand about the trans rights law is that, while it contains several technical passages and underwent extensive debate and revision, the source of opposition to it has very little to do with the bills actual provisions. Its about hate. Its about bigotry against transgender people. Thats all. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Opponents have become adept at advancing talking points that might sound superficially plausible rhetoric about threats to women in sports, supposed adverse medical outcomes to minors who transition, parental rights infringements but these arguments have the inconvenient quality of withering under evidence and counterpoints, and, worse, theyre a cover for the ultimate justification bigots use for discrimination against trans people: Christian scripture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the most virulent activists against the law have ties to or are pastors at politically right-wing churches. They justify every other point of opposition by their interpretation of the Bible, which in their reading says trans people are dangerous and beset by evil. Opposition to the law is simply a repugnant form of Christian sanctimony that serves little more than hate of a very recognizably human kind. Many of the most contested provisions of the bill were amended out of the final version, yet some anti-trans activists continue to allude to those passages as part of their denunciations. View with extreme skepticism any criticism that discusses whether anti-trans parents could be disadvantaged in child custody cases or a shield provision against anti-trans laws in other states. Language around those issues were in the bill at one time but later stripped. If they see me get frustrated and angry, they'll just use it against me. I can't let them ... I can't show any kinks in the armor, so to speak, because otherwise they'll try to slay me, and I can't let that happen. State Rep. Brianna Titone The provision of the governor-signed HB-1312 that has drawn the most negative attention boosts anti-discrimination protections for transgender people in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican state Rep. Brandi Bradley in a social media post and video after passage of the bill told her audience that anti-trans parents could lose custody of their trans children if they discriminate against them, that private schools, churches and other places of public accommodation could be sued for anti-trans discrimination, and that theres no telling when someone deadnames or misgenders a trans person at what threshold discrimination liability kicks in. This is all misleading. CADA has always prohibited discrimination and harassment against certain protected classes, and the protected classes have always included gender identity and gender expression. All HB-1312 does is clarify that gender expression could involve a chosen name and pronouns. Their claim that its now illegal is false, state Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat who sponsored the bill, told Newsline this week. Its always been illegal. And its fearmongering to suggest that someone is liable to a discrimination allegation the moment they misgender or deadname someone. CADA covers particular settings, including employment, housing, and places of public accommodation. Churches and other places used for religious purposes are excluded. Incidental or accidental acts do not qualify as discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within CADA already, its already like discrimination has to be intentional, Garcia said. So the fact that this is just being wrapped into gender identity, were not changing the threshold of when something is actually considered discrimination. But discrimination, it turns out, is exactly what some of the most outspoken 1312 critics intend. Many are Christian leaders and pastors, including Jeff Hunt, conservative radio host and former director of the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University; Chris Goble of Ridgeline Community Church in Castle Rock; J. Chase Davis of The Well Church in Boulder; and Aaron Carlson of New City Church in Highlands Ranch. Each one of these bullies has singled out state Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat who is the first transgender woman to serve in the Colorado Legislature, to intentionally deadname and misgender her. The only plaintiff named as an individual in the lawsuit against HB-1312 is Travis Morrell, a Grand Junction dermatologist who online broadcasts faith-based motivations. A social media account called Fight1312 has become a primary source of anti-trans sentiment. Its posts make it clear that behind every variety of opposition to transgender rights is essentially one complaint, that God, as conceived by 1312s opponents, commands them to hate transgender people. Our good God does not make mistakes, Goble said in a video of a recent sermon, facing the camera and addressing Titone directly. He aggressively misgendered her and called on her to repent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Titone herself detects an additional motivation among anti-trans activists, noting there have been other episodes throughout history when transgender people faced persecution. The big difference now, because of all the social media and everything else, theyre making money off of it, she said. So its not just finding an enemy and a scapegoat you can pick on, to gang up on and get people to come along with you for the kicking fest, but theyre actually making money off of it. But hate does real harm. Kids are scared, Titone said. Ive heard from kids. Theyre like, I dont know what Im going to do. Im afraid my grandfathers not going to like who I am and theyre going to not want to talk to me anymore.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her own response to bigots is public poise, legislative fortitude and personal resilience. If they see me get frustrated and angry, theyll just use it against me. I cant let them, she said. I cant show any kinks in the armor, so to speak, because otherwise theyll try to slay me, and I cant let that happen. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) After a Tompkins County student overdosed on fentanyl last week, Truth Pharm is educating the public on the importance of Narcan. The Dryden Central School District released a letter to the public stating that a student overdosed on fentanyl after using what they believed was a marijuana vape. After collapsing in the hallway, the student was administered multiple doses of Narcan. The vape was not purchased at a licensed dispensary but at an independent convenience store that was not permitted to sell marijuana products. Executive Director of Truth Pharm Alexis Pleus commended Dryden for their approach to the incident. She encourages schools to carry Narcan and train their staff because it could save a life. Pleus says its important to use non stigmatizing language when discussing substance use, especially with children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students are going to dabble and try. This is an age old thing, its been going on for decades. What parents need to do when they have conversations with their kids is make sure that theyre aware of the potential risks and dangers but recognize we cant control our kids once they leave the house. Most likely theyre going to do things that we dont approve of. Their judgment center isnt fully developed. And what can they do to stay as safe as possible? Have Narcan on hand, Pleus said. Truth Pharm offers free Narcan kits and fentanyl testing strips as well as Narcan training, education sessions, and support services. Several Naloxboxes are installed around the community for quick access to the lifesaving medication. For more information on Truth Pharm, visit truthpharm.org or search Truth Pharm on Facebook. To find a Naloxbox near you, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is on her way back from a trip where she attended the fifth annual Qatar Economic Forum held from May 20 to May 22. Charlene Mendoza, Romero's chief of staff, confirmed that the Qatari Embassy in Washington, DC sponsored the trip, which was not announced publicly before the conference. That comes after a city spokesperson, Andrew Squire, initially told the Arizona Daily Star that costs for the trip were being footed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Star reported spokespeople for Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg Media, a host of the conference, rejected that claim. Squire later indicated his original statement was incorrect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero was one of 2,500 global leaders who met in Doha, Qatars capital, for the economic development event. It featured 120 speakers focused on the theme The Road to 2030: Transforming the Global Economy and featured plenary discussions, breakout sessions, MOU signings and agreements, and cultural events, according to a Bloomberg Media press release. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who spoke publicly about the trip, was also in Doha for the conference. In past years, the delegation has included mayors from cities in Florida, Michigan, Idaho and New Mexico. Why did Regina Romero go to Qatar? Tucson City Manager Tom Thomure announced her trip at a city council meeting on May 20 and thanked Visit Tucson, the Chamber of Southern Arizona, and the citys economic initiatives department for helping put together materials to support her work at the event. As Visit Tucson CEO Felipe Garcia puts it, it is a great thing that our mayor is representing our community on the global stage and showcasing the opportunities our city offers. International forums like this are where connections are made, and investments begin." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomure said Romero would be advocating for Tucson as a logistics hub and its accessibility by rail, interstate, and air, as well as having one of the largest land ports of entry into the U.S. and being a gateway to Mexico. He said she would also highlight the citys leadership in climate adaptation and innovation, and its location as the home of the University of Arizona, one of the top research institutions in the world. Mendoza told The Arizona Republic that while the mayors international trips are minimal, they help the city's economic development. On one such economic development trip, Romero traveled with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and others in March 2024, where they met with Volaris Airlines, one of the largest airlines in Mexico. Volaris hadn't been interested in bringing service to Tucson before. Since the meeting in Mexico, the airline has come to Tucson to meet with the airport authority and others involved in economic development about bringing service from Tucson to Mexico, Mendoza said. Connections and conversations like these, Mendoza said, can help develop Tucson's economy and create new jobs as the city scrambles to figure out how to increase revenue. Tucson is facing a decline in state-shared funding, federal grants, and the resounding loss of Proposition 414 in March, which would have raised the citys sales tax to pay for public safety and community investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We just lost proposition 414 in Tucson, and how Regina says, voters told us to find another way," Mendoza said. "The way that this works is either you get revenue sources through things like taxes and bonds, or you generate additional revenue sources by creating new jobs and developing the economy." Romero plans to speak about her trip upon her return, Mendoza said. Mendoza said she didnt know why Romero was chosen for the delegation, but looking at past mayors who have been invited, they are a bipartisan group, often leading cities with large research universities, major sporting events, and cities with an organized economic development strategy. Regina was really there to do was help people understand that Tucson is open for business, Mendoza said, adding that Tucsons key sectors, like defense, optics, biosciences, technology, medical devices, and more, were addressed at the economic forum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Tucson mayor returns from Qatari-funded trip to Doha economic forum An agreement has been reached in the collective bargaining negotiations for ground staff at the airline TUI fly. Planned strikes at TUI locations in Germany have been cancelled for the time being, according to the verdi trade union. The main demands for the approximately 320 ground staff were more money and relief in shift work. According to the union, the agreement includes a 3% pay rise retroactive to January 1, and a further 2.8% increase from January 1, 2026. In addition, the Christmas bonus will be increased from 500 ($565) to 2,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shift workers will receive up to five additional days of holiday per year to compensate for night shifts. Tour operator TUI said that constructive talks had taken place. The final wording is now being worked out. Smooth operation is therefore guaranteed for the coming months, a spokesman said. Both sides had already reached agreement in the collective bargaining round for pilots and cabin crew. A move by the Trump administration to scrap the federal consent decree requiring reforms to Minneapolis Police Department has been condemned by some city and state leaders. The Department of Justice asked a court this week to dismiss the case against the City of Minneapolis, just months after the city finally agreed to a deal with the DOJ then under the Biden administration to implement changes to policing in Minneapolis in the wake of George Floyd's murder by then-Sergeant Derek Chauvin. The Trump administration argues that it "no longer believes that the proposed consent decree would be in the public interest," despite the agreement being made following a wide-ranging federal investigation that determined Minneapolis Police Department had engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings included the use of excessive force, discrimination against Black and Native American people, the violation of the rights people engaged in protected speech, and discrimination against people with disabilities. After news of the DOJ's motion to dismiss broke, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey quickly issued a statement confirming that the city would be pushing on with the reforms anyway, saying: "We will implement every reform outlined in the consent decree because accountability isnt optional." Courtesy of the Minneapolis Police Department on Facebook. Changes have already been happening at MPD, which is also the subject of a state-level consent decree struck with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which limits officers use of force, use of chemical irritants and tasers, and the use of certain pretext stops as part of wider reforms to tackle "race-based policing" and protecting the civil rights of the community. Here's a look at the reaction to the DOJ's filing, which came just days from the fifth anniversary of Floyd's murder: Sen. Tina Smith I am deeply disturbed by the Trump administrations decision to abandon the federal consent decree with the Minneapolis Police Department. This decree was based on the Justice Departments own investigation, which found a pattern of unconstitutional and discriminatory policing practices that have hurt our community, especially Black and Native American people and people will mental illness, for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its especially painful that this decision comes on the eve of the fifth anniversary of George Floyds murder the very tragedy that sparked this investigation and the urgent push for reform. I led the call for that federal civil rights investigation because Minnesotans deserve accountability and reform. Walking away from this agreement, after confirming the need for it, is unconscionable." Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) The CUAPB has filed a motion in opposition to the DOJ's move to withdraw the consent decree. "The findings in two thorough investigations by both the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the US Department of Justice make clear the need for this consent decree. The conditions that lead to the murder of George Floyd continue to this day, said Michelle Gross, president of CUAPB. It adds: "It is especially outrageous that the Trump administration chose the week of the fifth anniversary of George Floyds murder to file their motion. This is pouring salt into a wound that remains unhealed." House United Black Legislators Caucus and People of Indigenous Caucus "We are disappointed by the U.S. Department of Justices decision to remove its support for the federal consent decree with the City of Minneapolis. The reasoning, that there is no longer a public interest need, is short sighted and dismisses the violent and discriminatory history of the Minneapolis Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This attempt to dismantle critical police accountability measures sends a dangerous message that meaningful reform is optional rather than essential. The consent decree was never about politics it was about ensuring constitutional policing and rebuilding community trust that has been fractured for generations. "Thankfully, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights will continue with its oversight agreement with the City of Minneapolis to continue transformational changes to address race-based policing by the MPD. We look forward to the efforts from the states agreements to pursue reform that creates a police department that is focused on safety and can be held accountable for violations of civil rights law." Minnesota Department of Human Rights "While the Department of Justice walks away from their federal consent decree nearly five years from the murder of George Floyd, our Department and the state court consent decree isnt going anywhere," said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. "Under the state agreement, the City and MPD must make transformational changes to address race-based policing. The tremendous amount of work that lies ahead for the City, including MPD, cannot be understated. And our Department will be here every step of the way." Minneapolis House Delegation "We are deeply disappointed that the federal government is abandoning its responsibility to drive reform at the Minneapolis Police Department. For years, Minneapolis community members have spoken out to make their voices heard as part of this process, and now their work and commitment have been disregarded by the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our communities are made safer and the interest of public safety itself is advanced when the community and their police are able to have a collaborative relationship. Sadly, this decision is not surprising, given Donald Trump's longstanding history of working against civil rights, racial justice, and police accountability. "This reversal comes as our city marks five years since the murder of George Floyd, a tragedy that sparked a global call for lasting change. This is a setback to real progress at a time when the demand for justice and accountability remains as urgent as ever." Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty "It is no surprise that the Trump administration is abandoning the federal consent decree. This Administration continuously tramples on constitutional and civil rights and is perfectly willing to sacrifice public safety in order to score political points. It is particularly abhorrent that it is abandoning this consent decree on the eve of the anniversary of George Floyds murder. "The federal government implemented this consent decree to eliminate systemic violations of the Constitution and end violence that happened with too much frequency, especially against Black people. That should be a goal every elected representative has. Police reform isnt an attack on the police. It is a necessary step to make sure people are protected and safe." YWCA Minneapolis "The recent decision by the Justice Department to withdraw from the consent decree process feels like yet another setback in our long struggle for accountability. But let us be clear: the work is not over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mayor Frey and the City Council have committed to advancing police reforms without the consent decree, stating that accountability is not optional. The Minneapolis Police Department and its own union leadership have acknowledged the need to rebuild trust within our community. Importantly, the state-level agreement between Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights requiring even more extensive police reforms remains in full effect. "While we appreciate that these leaders say they remain committed to change, it is up to us, our community, to ensure that commitment is kept. Real accountability depends not just on promises, but on our collective vigilance." Council of American-Islamic Relations Minnesota From executive director Jaylani Hussein: "The end of federal oversight sends the unfortunate message that the government has no interest in reforming and improving policing in Minnesota or anywhere in the country. After the numerous instances of police brutality we have seen over the past few years, the beginning of joint local and federal efforts at reform were a positive development. We urge Minneapolis authorities to continue working toward reform." A grieving Georgia family still has questions after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation ruled the deaths of 19-year-old identical twins Qaadir and Naazir Lewis a double suicide on Wednesday after weeks of investigation. Hikers found the Lewis brothers bodies at the top of Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Georgia, near the Tennessee border, on the morning of March 8. Initially, the GBI floated the theory that their deaths were the result of a murder-suicide. The family rejected those statements immediately, as well as the findings in the final report. Late Thursday night, Yasmine Brawner, Qaadir and Naazirs aunt, took to social media to question the reports findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The twins were not suicidal, Naazir girlfriend form Boston stated that they were planning a future together and to one day get married and have children she stated that he was not depressed or suicidal. Qaadir was planning to become an entrepreneur and both twins were still enrolled in college, Brawner wrote on Facebook. Questions began to swirl as soon as the unusual circumstances around the brothers deaths were revealed nearly three months ago. Raised in Lawrenceville, about 90 miles south of Hiawassee, the brothers aunts Sabriya and Samira Brawner also identical twins told Fox 5 the two teens had never been to Bell Mountain before and had no reason to be there. Questions began to swirl as soon as the unusual circumstances around the brothers deaths were revealed nearly three months ago. (Photos from the familys GoFundMe) The family said the brothers were scheduled to take a trip to Boston the day before they died, but the GBI found that only Naazir had purchased a ticket. On March 7, the GBI says Naazir went to the airport but didnt catch his flight. He returned home later that day. Brawner wrote on Facebook that Naazirs girlfriend, who lives in Boston, told her that Naazir had missed his flight and rescheduled his ticket for 7 a.m. the following day. She added that the brothers stepmother, who was the last relative to see them alive, confirmed that Naazir had booked a flight for the next morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the GBIs forensic findings, both Qaadir and Naazir fired the gun found at the scene on the day they died. According to the report, Naazir purchased the ammunition used in the gun that was delivered to their house earlier that week. The family believes that the bullets were purchased for protection, not self-harm. Cell phone data from the night before they died tracks the brothers traveling from Gwinnett County to Bell Mountain in Towns County. Surveillance footage from a gas station in Gwinnett County shows them alone, drinking water and eating snacks at 10:30 p.m. on March 7, just before they made their way to Hiawassee. The family says they were told by the GBI that the twins cell data was unable to locate them during the last 30 minutes before their car reached Bell Mountain, raising questions about how they were able to find the park entrance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They drove a 2009 Nissan Altima that had no GPS navigation system installed in their car. We would like to know how they were able to navigate to Bell Mountain with there phones off and no navigation in their car, Brawner wrote. She also questioned why their car was found behind the parks gate, which is supposed to be locked every night by a Towns County sheriff when the park closes at dusk. Adding to the mystery, a week after their bodies were discovered, Scott Kerlin, a Towns County volunteer firefighter, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice for taking photos of the death scene and sharing the images on social media. Kerlin has since been dismissed from duty as a volunteer firefighter and was never identified as a suspect in the case. The GBI said their investigation into the deaths of Qaadir and Naazir will be formally closed in the next few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For relatives of the Lewis brothers, many questions still remain about what happened on the night they died and whether there was foul play. We want to thank GBI for their release and effort to investigate, but we still have questions regarding there investigative findings and feel like there final ruling was rushed and closed too soon, Brawner wrote on Facebook. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for a private investigator to independently look into the twins deaths atop Bell Mountain. If you or someone you know is in crisis call or text 988 for free and confidential support. The post Twins Suspicious Deaths Ruled Suicide. Family Seeks Private Investigation. appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a March arson that destroyed a shed and damaged a home on Kamuda Street in Springfield. According to authorities, 51-year-old Nelson Martins, of Ludlow, and Wendy Champagne, 47, of Ware, were both arrested Wednesday on Canal Street in Ware. The arrests followed a months-long investigation into a shed fire that occurred on March 1, 2025. On the night of the incident, Springfield firefighters were called to a property on the 0100 block of Kamuda Street where a shed was on fire. Crews were able to extinguish the fire, which destroyed the shed and caused damage to the nearby home. No injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation led by the Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad concluded the fire had been deliberately set. Detectives identified Martins and Champagne as suspects in the case. According to the landlord of the property, the two were being evicted at the time of the fire for nonpayment of rent. A warrant for their arrest was obtained on May 14. Martins faces multiple charges, including: Arrest warrant for arson (Springfield District Court) Default warrant (Dudley District Court) Default warrant (Ayer District Court) Arrest warrant (Marlborough District Court) Champagne is charged with: Arrest warrant for arson (Springfield District Court) Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Two men accused of a brutal attack at the Dodgers stadium parking lot following a 2022 Elton John concert have been acquitted of battery and vandalism charges after a four-week jury trial. A jury on Thursday found Chad Reeves, 44, and Reese Hopkin, 40, not guilty of battery causing serious injury to Jaime and Lillian Grenfell, a married couple in their 60s. Hopkin was also found not guilty of vandalism related to a bystander's cell phone that was broken during the incident. The pair were charged in 2023 after a video of the Nov. 17, 2022 incident went viral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Palm Springs clinic bomber had access to large quantity of chemical products, FBI says Prosecutors alleged that Hopkin and Reeves attacked the couple after a side mirror on the couple's Chevy Tahoe struck Reeves as they were driving away from the first of three sold-out performances. Jaime Grenfell suffered serious injuries and was knocked unconscious by Hopkin. Prosecutors also alleged Hopkin grabbed the phone of a man recording the incident and threw it to the ground. At trial, defense lawyers said the video showed only a portion of the incident. Reeves' attorney, Glen Jonas, argued the viral video was "edited," and claimed that Jaime Grenfell "attacked'' Reeves and a woman, but it was not shown in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argued that Reeves came to the defense of Jessica Santi, after Grenfell initiated an altercation with her. In their narrative, the Grenfells' SUV mirror struck Reeves and it led to yelling, and then Jaime Grenfell got out of the SUV and came toward Santi and struck Reeves first, according to court records. As to Hopkin, the attorneys argued that he only became involved in the conflict when his wife, Lindsay Hopkin, was allegedly assaulted. Jonas said the evidence he and attorneys Raffi Manuelian and Dilan Patel presented showed Hopkin knocked out Jaime Grenfell with a punch to the face when the alleged victim tried to reengage in the conflict, Jonas said. "These two innocent men Mr. Reeves and Mr. Hopkin were falsely prosecuted by a District Attorney's Office that refused to look at the case objectively," Jonas said, blaming former Dist. Atty. George Gascon for the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Former L.A. deputy mayor made City Hall bomb threat during meeting, plea deal reveals The bigger picture is that regular people can manipulate the entire public and the media into a pitchfork mob mentality against innocent people and the district attorneys office goes along with it, Jonas said. Manuelian, who represented Hopkin, told City News Service after the verdict it was a vindication for a family man. "It's all about context," he said. "Let's not judge people based on what we see in the social media." The Grenfells have sued Reeves, Hopkin and the Dodgers over the incident, alleging there was inadequate security that night something the Dodgers deny. In the lawsuit, Jaime Grenfell alleges that he and his wife "suffered a head injury in the attack and other contusions and wounds and she witnessed her husband's beating and his resulting injuries." 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. PALO PINTO Two of three capital murder defendants were arraigned Thursday in the 29th District Court. A third member of the trio arrested last December will be formally charged later when a Spanish translator becomes available, District Attorney Jett Smith said. He added that defendant, Ruperto Ruiz-Toscano, 43, is expected to plead not guilty, as the other two did Wednesday. Those two are Pascual Villaneda, 40, and 32-year-old Natalie Gomez, both of Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three have been held since Jan. 16 in the Palo Pinto County Jail, where they were brought a month after their arrests in Cooke County on Dec. 16-17. No trial date was set in 29th District Judge Mike Moores courtroom in Palo Pinto. Itll be set on our regular (status) docket till it pops up for trial, Smith said. We have elected not to pursue the death penalty in each of the cases. That means conviction would bring an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole. He said it would be inappropriate to publicly comment on his reasons behind that decision. Rest assured, however, that this decision was not made lightly, and was, in my opinion, in the best interests of the citizens of Palo Pinto County, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor praised investigators for delivering the evidence hell need. The case was well-prepared by our local Texas Ranger, Job Espinoza, Smith said, adding sheriffs deputies, Department of Public Safety troopers and other local law enforcement also delivered thorough work. They did, they did a wonderful job. It was a very good investigation and very well handled. Bonds for all three include $1.2 million apiece on the capital murder charges. Ruiz-Toscano also is held without bond on a detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He and Gomez also are under $25,000 bonds apiece attached to a vehicle theft charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith declined to say exactly why the three face the capital charge. Capital murder can be charged when someone is believed to have committed another felony while killing the victim. And under Texas law of parties, someone who accompanies anyone committing a felony can be charged with that crime. Sheriffs reports from their December arrest accuse the trio of car-jacking Dallas County resident Marvin Wayne Henry, 68, and dumping his body along the Interstate 20 north access road near the Gordon exit in Palo Pinto County. Once sheriffs deputies responding to a call about a body at the roadside identified Henry, they learned his car had been reported stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statewide call for the missing vehicle brought investigators to the Gainesville area where two of the three defendants were arrested. The third, one of the men, was arrested the following day when he was found near Valley View. This will be the new district attorneys first capital trial in Palo Pinto County, but he has experience with prosecuting them from his previous service as an assistant D.A. in Erath County. TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co. is considering selling its headquarters building in Yokohama, near Tokyo, to help cover costs related to plant closures and other restructuring efforts, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. The struggling automaker may also book an additional 60 billion yen ($418 million) in restructuring costs this fiscal year as it pushes ahead with its revamp plans, according to records from a meeting with analysts last week on its latest earning results. Nissan announced on May 13 that it posted a net loss of 670.9 billion yen in the fiscal year ended March after recording an impairment loss of 460 billion yen and 60 billion yen in restructuring costs under its reform plans. The carmaker did not issue an earnings forecast for the current fiscal year, as additional restructuring costs and the impact of U.S. tariffs have yet to be factored in, Nissan Chief Financial Officer Jeremie Papin said at a press conference that day. Even if it sells its headquarters, Nissan may consider leasing back the office space. But it remains unclear whether the company will ultimately go ahead with the sale as some executives oppose the idea, the sources said. Japan's third-biggest automaker by volume is in need of funds, having announced that it will shut seven of its current 17 auto assembly plants and cut 20,000 jobs globally. Pressured by faltering vehicle sales in China and the United States, coupled with a series of U.S. tariffs, Nissan is rushing to streamline its global operations to return to profitability in the next fiscal year. Related coverage: Nissan tells workers closure of key Oppama plant not decided Nissan to seek early retirement applicants from office staff in Japan Nissan mulls closing 2 Kanagawa Pref. plants in restructuring push BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers on Wednesday arrested two United States citizens who were in possession of drugs and an illegal gun at the Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo. Todd Stubbs, 36, of Mississippi and Brianda Salgado, 35, of Arizona, underwent a vehicle inspection due to a lack of required travel documents. During the inspection, Stubbs and Salgado declared a Beretta 950 BS pistol stowed in the glove box. When officers checked the glove box, the weapon was found with ammunition and marijuana. Upon further inspection, 8.3 grams of cocaine and 12 ecstasy pills were also found in the vehicle. The drugs, in addition to 100 grams of marijuana, were seized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stubbs and Salgado were taken into custody and turned over to the Buffalo Police Department for felony charges regarding possession of a weapon and narcotics. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Two women lured a man off a dating app, then one shot him, Oregon deputies said. An area resident called 911 at about 5:30 a.m. May 17 to report that someone was shot in a vehicle near Oregon Route 99W in Corvallis, the Benton County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. The 20-year-old Salem women met the man on Chispa, a dating app for Latino men and women, deputies said. Chispa did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on May 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julia Dell Yepez is accused of shooting the man in the vehicle, then she fled the area with Alexa Montano Corral, deputies said. The man had non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, deputies said. Dell Yepez was arrested May 20 on charges of: Attempted murder First-degree assault Menacing Unlawful use of a weapon Reckless endangering Second-degree kidnapping Montano Corral was arrested May 22 on charges of: Conspiracy to commit attempted murder Conspiracy to commit first-degree assault Conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping Conspiracy to commit unlawful use of a weapon Conspiracy to commit menacing Conspiracy to commit reckless endangering Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dell Yepezs bail is set at $300,000, and Montano Corrals bail is set at $250,000. Deputies said they do not know if the women stole anything from the man as the investigation is ongoing. Corvallis is about a 35-mile drive southwest from Salem. Woman lures online date to secluded area, then hes robbed of $20,000, CA cops say 24-year-old pretending to be teen attended Ohio school since 2024, officials say Woman brutally attacked at McDonalds for her sexual orientation, IL cops say (KRON) The Santa Rosa Fire Department said two injured workers were rescued after being trapped underneath a collapsed mobile home on Thursday. Santa Rosa police officer repeatedly punched in face over towed car: PD SRFD said fire crews were dispatched at 1:52 p.m. to the Santa Rosa Village mobile home park on Larkspur Place to investigate the incident. Reports from the scene indicated that a modular home, which was being placed in position on a vacant lot in the park had slipped from its jacks and collapsed, pinning two workers beneath it, said SRFD in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santa Rosa Fire said crews were quickly able to remove both victims from under the home and begin life-saving measures. SRFD said one worker received moderate injuries, while the other suffered critical injuries. Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital where their current conditions are not yet known. Cal/OSHA (The Division of Occupational Safety and Health), and California Department of Housing and Community Development are probing the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. May 22MIDLAND With summer heat already putting additional strain on the most vulnerable Texans, TXU Energy is teaming up with The Salvation Army of Midland to provide relief. On Thursday, May 29, TXU Energy will present The Salvation Army with a check for $60,000 to provide Energy Aid bill-payment assistance to Midland-area families. Since 1983, TXU Energy Aid has provided more than $130 million in bill-payment assistance through donations from employees, customers, and the company. Community members interested in supporting TXU Energy Aid can make a one-time or monthly donation at txuenergyaid.com. In addition to the Energy Aid donation, TXU Energy will once again sponsor The Salvation Army of Midland's Beat the Heat Center. The cooling station is open anytime temperatures reach triple digits and provides bottled water, electrolyte packs, and a safe place to stay cool. The center will be open through at least Labor Day. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Heres what youll learn when you read this article: The Tylenol murders killed seven people in Chicago over the course of three days in 1982. James W. Lewis wrote a letter demanding $1 million to stop the killing but later said he wasnt the perpetrator. Decades later, authorities found new evidence in the case against Lewis, but his death brought an end to the investigation. On July 9, 2023, James William Lewis was found dead in his Cambridge, Massachusetts, home as a result of cardiac arrest. The 76-year-old had practiced an array of occupations during his lifetime, having been a web designer, an accounting firm owner with his wife, Leanne, and even a self-published novelist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, upon his death, retired FBI Special Agent Roy Lane told the Chicago Tribune, James Lewis death ends a lifetime of cruelty to others and a compulsive need for revenge. Meanwhile, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Margolis told ABC Chicago, I was saddened to learn of James Lewis death. Not because hes dead, but because he didnt die in prison. What had this frail old man done to earn the ire of law enforcement, not to mention the national news coverage of his death? As his New York Times obituary read, Lewis had offered prosecutors help in solving the Tylenol murders, a series of poisonings that claimed at least 7 lives in the Chicago area in 1982. A series of poisonings that, right until the moment Lewis drew his last breath, the FBI had been trying to conclusively prove Lewis, himself, had been behind. The Tylenol Murders It began with the death of a 12-year-old girl. Mary Kellerman took Extra Strength Tylenol, a common and popular painkiller, that her mother, Jeanna, had purchased on September 28, 1982, according to the Chicago Tribune. By 9:56 a.m. on September 29, the 12-year-old girl was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six more lives would be lost from September 29 to October 1: Adam Janus, 27; Mary Lynn Reiner, 27; Stanley Janus, 25; Theresa Terri Janus, 20; Mary McFarland, 31; and Paula Prince, 35. All died, investigators would discover, as a result of having consumed Tylenol that had been laced with potassium cyanide. Associated Press Johnson & Johnson ordered a nationwide recall of 31 million bottles of Tylenol, with a retail value of more than $100 million, per the New York Times. They also offered $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murders. What they received instead was a handwritten extortion letter demanding $1 million. In exchange, the letter writer would stop the killing. The letter was stamped by a postage meter affiliated with Lakeside Travel. The bank account the $1 million was meant to be sent to was also connected to the Chicago-based travel agency. Then the anonymous sender mailed out a second letter. Again, it was postmarked from Lakeside Travel, and it again evoked the Tylenol murders. But this one wasnt sent to Johnson & Johnson, and it wasnt asking for money. It was making threats to President Ronald Reagan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A reported 15-agency task force went to work trying to determine who wrote the letters. The stamps from Lakeside Travel werent a smoking gun; both the bank account and the business they were attached to had been defunct for some time. But they werent a total red herring. either. Digging into the history of the travel agency led them to a disgruntled former employee, Leanne Lewis. And in looking into Leanne, they took notice of James. James Lewis: Letter Writer and Suspected Killer Associated Press James Lewis had had trouble with the law before. As a December 1982 New York Times piece noted, Mr. Lewis was under indictment for six months in a Missouri land fraud case and was the subject of mail fraud and Internal Revenue Service investigations in Kansas City. Additionally, there was the matter of a murder in Kansas City in 1978. Lewis had been charged with killing 72-year-old Raymond West, a former accounting client of his, after Wests dismembered and decomposed body was found hanging from a pulley in his attic on the same day Lewis attempted to pass off a forged check to get money from Wests account. Lewis managed to avoid facing a full trial for Wests murder due to a technicalitynot being informed of his full rights upon his arrest. In the wake of the Tylenol murders, prosecutors had no way to prove Lewis involvement in the poisonings directly, but he was convicted of attempted extortion due to the Johnson & Johnson letter. Lewis was sentenced to 10 years in prison but, ultimately, served more than 12 years behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Years later, living in New York with Leanne, Lewis would maintain his innocence in the poisoning case. He sent letters to the Chicago Tribune arguing that he was a victim, and that while he did write the extortion letter, he only did so to draw attention to the shady business practices of his wifes former employer. Recent Discoveries You used to like to talk to the Chicago Tribune, reporter Christy Gutowski remarked to a fleeing elderly James Lewis in the 2022 investigative podcast Unsealed: The Tylenol Murders. By then, Lewis had largely been avoiding the spotlight, but that was a relatively new stance for the man. After his conviction, he contacted the same law enforcement officers who had sought to capture him; this time, he declared himself an amateur detective. The imprisoned man offered to help authorities solve the Tylenol murders. Hoping perhaps that Lewis would slip up and confess, they took him up on his offer. Over the course of his interviews, Lewis explained how anybody could have done the poisoning and preceded to lay out exactly how they were likely doneby someone other than him, of course. After a certain point, Lewis demanded immunity in exchange for further information, but that was a request law enforcement couldnt abide. So Lewis clammed up. At least, when it came to talking to the cops, anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Lewis was released in October 1995, rather than slip away into obscurity, he instead relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and launched his own personal website, the now-deleted cyberlewis.com. Where once Lewis had to rely on mailing his screeds to newspapers, now he had a forum to reach the public directly, posting consistently about how he and Leanne had been in New York at the time of the killings, how he was the victim of an elaborate framing, and any other errant thoughts he had had. And Lewis didnt limit himself to merely blogging either. He made multiple appearances on a public access television show, The Cambridge Rag, where an antagonistic host (who was also Lewis roommate at the time) directly drilled him on his Tylenol murders-era alibi. Associated Pess Lewis openness, even eagerness, to keep talking about the Tylenol saga is what led investigators in the late 2000s to try again to get a confession out of him. They set up a sting operation, where an undercover agent posed as a researcher working on a book about the murders, who wanted to use Lewis as an expert and research partner. In return for his assistance on their book, they would assist Lewis in the writing of his own novel, titled Poison: The Doctors Dilemma. The works fictional plot lined up suspiciously, some might say even confessionally, with the events of the Tylenol murders from the point-of-view of the killer. Lewis went along with the ruse for some time, being wined and dined by the seemingly admiring author, until an FBI raid on his home exposed the charade. Once again, Lewis clammed up, with the exception of his website. And the public access show. And self-publishing his novel. Getty Images Law enforcement still had no physical evidence to connect Lewis to the killings. Even DNA analysis they had done on the original Tylenol bottles, when compared with a DNA sample theyd procured from Lewis, didnt provide a positive match. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The undercover operation did yield some things. As of 2022, when the Unsealed podcast reported on the 40th anniversary of the killings and the quest for closure, the government was still in the process of building a case against Lewis based on new information they had uncovered. Namely, two particularly damning things: A motive: For the longest time, it wasnt clear why, if for any particular reason, James Lewis would target Johnson & Johnson. His vendetta against Lakeside Travel was apparent, he had even confessed to that himself. But if he was the killer, why choose them? As it turns out, like Lakeside Travel, Lewis did have a familial connection to Johnson & Johnson as well. Records show his 5-year-old daughter, Toni, died in 1974 after the sutures used to fix her congenital heart defect tore, the Chicago Tribune summarized in an article updated in 2024. The sutures were made by Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, according to a medical document reviewed by the Tribune. The postmark: At the time the Lakeside letters were first discovered, the date of the postmark was illegible. But by the 2000s, modern technology had allowed investigators to parse the date. With that, they were able to determine that if Lewis long-maintained timeline regarding his letter-writingnamely that it took him three days to write the extortion letterwere true, than he would have to had to written the note before the murders had even made the newspapers. But, of course, James Lewis died before law enforcement could prosecute a new case against him. And with his death, many involved in the case seemed to suggest, went any real chance at closure regarding the identity of the Tylenol killer. You Might Also Like TYLER, Texas (KETK) Tylers Mayor Don Warren addressed the city at the W T Brookshire Conference Center, sharing his vision for Tyler and reminding the community of their greatest strength. Friends, family mourn loss of Karsen Stewart found stabbed in Tyler One of the best decisions I ever made was coming back home to Tyler, Warren said. This city raised me, and Ive spent the last 11 years on Council and as Mayor working to ensure that every part of Tyler has the chance to thrive. Mayor Warren also recognized the City Council for their dedication and leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are fortunate to have a council that leads with a servants heart, Warren said. Each member brings a unique perspective, but we are united by a shared commitment to serving the people of Tyler. The City of Tyler is moving to make improvements to Downtown Tyler, including construction for a new parking garage and courthouse. Plans to improve the streets will begin soon, expanding wider sidewalks, installing roundabouts, restoring two-way traffic, and providing more room for outdoor dining. A proposed 144-room full-service hotel is also in production. We often talk about whats visible. Roads, buildings, parks, but much of what we do is underground, Warren said. And its just as important. $280 million has been integrated into the sewer system upgrades over the past nine years to go towards replacing the aging water lines. Tyler Water Utilities is finding ways to improve the taste and odor of drinking water with plans to install an elevated water storage tank. The John Soules Foods Waterline Extension Project was completed, a $3.57 million investment providing direct service to the Tyler Economic Development Councils 281-acre business park and surrounding developments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Tyler has achieved accomplishments for public safety, remaining the top 1 percent nationally with crime rates staying down. We all make Tyler home, Warren said. And when we plan with people in mind, when we invest with intention, and when we work together, all of Tyler moves forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) The United States Attorneys Office (USAO) of the Eastern District of Virginia released a list of immigration cases over the last few months that they deemed significant. Four of the listed cases included illegal conduct such as assault or child exploitation. In May 1997, Guatemalan national Enrique Montesflores Espana, 49, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after illegally entering the country and ordered to be removed in February 1998, according to officials. He instead went on the run and was a fugitive for more than 10 years before being arrested and deported in July 2008. The same year he returned to the U.S. and was again deported months later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A look at the deportees on plane that headed for South Sudan from US A third illegal entry ended with him falling into the custody of Fairfax County Adult Detention Facility on charges of solicitation by electronic means of a child of at least 15 years of age and attempted engagement in consensual sexual acts with a child of at least 15 years of age, according to a release. On April 30, Montesflores Espana pled guilty to illegally reentering the U.S. following a previous removal and remains subject to the prior order of removal. On May 5, 2017, Honduran national Esteban Amado Diaz Alvarez, 29, was deported after his conviction of carnal knowledge of a child aged 14. The incident occurred in Alexandria. On Feb. 9, ICE agents learned that Diaz Alvarez had illegally reentered after he was stopped by Fairfax County Police. On May 1, Diaz Alvarez pled guilty to failing to register as a sex offender and illegally reentering the U.S. following a previous removal subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony. Colombian national Mario Yunior Valencia-Asprilla, 40, in Harris County, Texas, was arrested for armed robbery and deported in 2017. On March 29, 2021, ICE discovered that Valencia-Asprilla was arrested in Fairfax County and later convicted of burglary and attempting to enter a house to commit assault and battery. Upon release from state custody, ICE arrested Valencia-Asprilla on Dec. 23, 2024. On Feb. 13, Valencia-Asprilla pled guilty to illegally reentering the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning in 2002, Guatemalan national Claudio Abel Oliva Mendez, 40, had numerous counts of reentering the U.S. following deportations. During his time in the U.S., he had been convicted three times of driving while intoxicated, assault and battery of a family member, identity theft, forging public records, etc. Between 2002 to 2025, Oliva Mendez illegally reentered the country on at least six occasions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) -A Ukrainian man who lives in the United States said on Friday that he had completed a journey from sea level in New York to the summit of Mount Everest in a record four days, saving weeks that mountaineers usually need to get used to high altitudes. Climbers to the world's highest mountain normally spend up to two months at different high camps to allow their bodies to adjust to the thin air before ascending to the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claim could not be verified independently as there is no authority in Nepal to verify the claims of records by climbers. However, usually when mountaineers claim a record it is acknowledged or contested by other climbers or mountaineering bodies that specialise in climbing-related information. Such verification often takes some weeks or months. On Wednesday, four British climbers who had inhaled Xenon gas in Germany before embarking on the expedition from London, completed their ascent from London to the summit in less than five days. The feat was also not independently verified. Andrew Ushakov, a structural engineer who is relatively unknown as a climber, said he did not use Xenon gas. He said he embarked on his expedition from New York and scaled the Everest summit on Monday in slightly less than four days. Similarly to the Britons, Ushakov slept at home in a hypoxic tent that simulates high-altitude conditions before heading to Nepal, and used supplemental oxygen like other climbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ushakov, 40, told Reuters in Kathmandu that he hoped his feat, which came after two years of preparation and research, would set an example for his 6-year-old son to do "something big" in the future and encourage people to take to mountaineering without having to leave work and family for long. Ushakov said that in an attempt to make a fast ascent of Everest last year, he reached 8,500 m (27,880 ft) but developed a vision problem and failed to complete the climb. He said he broke his arm in Ecuador two months ago when he was hit by an avalanche. Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, has issued permits to 468 people to climb Mount Everest during the current season ending this month. About 300 climbers, including the Sherpa guides, have scaled the summit so far. (Reporting by Gopal SharmaEditing by Sudipto Ganguly and Frances Kerry) The morning after the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington on Wednesday night, university protests in Chicago against the Israel-Hamas war continued. Wednesdays attack was a marked display of antisemitism as Israel ramps up its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Federal authorities told police that the suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, shouted Free, free Palestine when he was taken into custody. Demonstrations have bubbled up locally in Chicago since Oct. 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas came out of Gaza to kill 1,200 people and take some 250 hostages. Last spring, University of Chicago students set up an encampment to protest Israels bombardment of Gaza and call on the university to end its partnerships with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday morning, the familiar chants of Free, free Palestine could be heard from a group of student protesters gathered at a protest outside the Rubenstein Forum at the U. of C. The board of trustees met in the building that morning and protesters, wearing keffiyehs and all black, swarmed the administrators as they entered the building in order to symbolically push members of the board to fully disclose any ties to Israel. University police kept the protesters away from the front and back entrances. Shame on you! the protesters shouted back. Nearly 600 days into the war in Gaza, Eman Abdelhadi, assistant professor in the department of comparative human development, claimed the majority of the universitys board of trustees have some kind of personal investment in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a neutral stance, Abdelhadi said. This university claims institutional neutrality, but it is actively on one side of the conflict. Abdelhadi referenced the encampments that popped up at universities across the country, including in Chicago, this time last year. This movement is not going away, Abdelhadi said. People are going to persist in their protests. Students declined to comment about the Washington shooting. The protest slowly died down over the course of the morning. A Florida court on Thursday ordered a former Mexican security chief convicted of drug trafficking and his wife to pay more than $2.4 billion to their country, Mexico's government said. Mexico sued Genaro Garcia Luna, who is imprisoned in the United States, for alleged corruption and money laundering involving dozens of public contracts. The ruling is the latest twist in the saga of the former high-flying minister who earned himself the nickname of "supercop" but instead aided and abetted drug traffickers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money awarded by a Florida court is three times the amount that the Mexican government had originally sought, a government statement said. It said Garcia Luna was ordered to pay nearly $749 million and his wife Linda Cristina Pereyra is to pay a staggering $1.74 billion. Mexico's Genaro Garcia Luna speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Mexico City, Sept. 3, 2009. / Credit: Dario Lopez-Mills / AP "The judgment is consistent with seven guilty verdicts previously issued and enforced against Garcia Luna, his wife, and his five companies as a result of their failure to appear at trial," the statement added. It said that nearly $3 million had already been recovered from assets, including a company owned by the couple, as well as real estate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia Luna, 56, was convicted by a U.S. court in 2023 of taking millions of dollars in bribes to allow the Sinaloa Cartel to smuggle tons of cocaine. According to the U.S. Justice Department, former cartel members testified that bribe money was handed off to Garcia Luna in a variety of locations, including at a "safe house" where cash was hidden in a false wall, at a car wash and at a French restaurant across the street from the U.S. Embassy. Garcia Lina was paid in U.S. cash, "stuffed variously in suitcases, briefcases and duffel bags," prosecutors said. A New York judge sentenced him to more than 38 years in prison and a $2 million fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During former Sinaloa kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's trial in the same court in 2018, a former cartel member testified that he personally delivered at least $6 million in payoffs to Garcia Luna, and that cartel members agreed to pool up to $50 million to pay for his protection. "El Chapo" is serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Colorado after being convicted in 2019 on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons-related offenses. Garcia Luna, who held high-ranking security positions in his country from 2001 until 2012, was the highest-ranking Mexican government figure ever to face trial in the United States. He served as chief of the Mexican equivalent of the FBI from 2001 until 2006, when he was elevated to secretary of public security, essentially running the federal police force and most counter-drug operations. Garcia Luna is considered an architect of the U.S.-backed war on drugs launched in 2006 by Mexico's then president Felipe Calderon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2012, after retiring from public service, he moved to the United States and used his extensive contacts to win lucrative contracts with the Mexican government. He was arrested in December 2019 in Dallas, Texas. The Mexican government accused a business conglomerate belonging to Garcia Luna's family of obtaining 30 public contracts and obtaining funds totaling more than $745 million. Linda Cristina Pereyra leaves federal court after her husband Genaro Garcia Luna was found guilty of taking massive bribes to protect the violent drug cartels he was tasked with combating, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in New York. / Credit: John Minchillo / AP Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit alleged that the money was transferred abroad through the use of tax havens and the acquisition of property and other assets in Florida. Garcia Luna was sentenced less than three months after the dramatic arrest on U.S. soil of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who claimed he had been kidnapped in Mexico and delivered into U.S. custody against his will. Zambada was detained along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of El Chapo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump confronts South African president during White House meeting, repeats genocide claims Trump takes questions during meeting with South African president Rubio, Jayapal have fiery exchange about Afrikaner refugee's antisemitic tweet, student visas CAPE TOWN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George on Thursday urged all citizens to play their part in restoring and protecting the planet's biodiversity. "South Africa joins the global community in celebrating this important day under the theme Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development, which highlights the essential connection between biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals," said George. "We stress the urgency of accelerating efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, which is essential for achieving the SDGs." He also announced that South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment is hosting the National Biodiversity Offset Conference this week in Gauteng Province. The conference, held from Wednesday to Thursday, is hosted in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program, supported by the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the South African National Parks. According to him, the national biodiversity conference brings together government officials, environmental experts, private sector leaders, and civil society to explore how biodiversity offsetting can support sustainable development while protecting the country's rich and diverse ecosystems. Building on the outcomes of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Colombia last year, this year's campaign highlights the critical connection between the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the minister noted. "As a department, it is important for us to reflect on the synergies and alignment between our local biodiversity strategy and action plans with the objectives of this year's International Day of Biological Diversity, which include enhancing public awareness of the fundamental importance of biodiversity to all life on Earth and address socio-economic complexities such as poverty and inequality," George said. The International Day for Biodiversity is observed annually on May 22 to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNCT) The U.S. House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill with support from Congressman David Rouzer. Thursday morning marked an exciting and historic victory for the American people with House passage of President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill, Congressman Rouzer said. This monumental legislation is a win for hardworking families in North Carolina and across the nation. One Big Beautiful Bill includes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makes the Trump Tax Cuts permanent. The largest border security investment in history which will permanently secure our borders. Incentivizes Made-In-America: Rewards new factories built in the U.S.A., lowers tax rate for those producing in the U.S.A. Buy an American car and get a Made in America Auto Tax Break. No tax on tips, no tax on overtime. Slashes taxes on Social Security, offering historic tax relief to seniors. Delivers bigger paychecks. Unleashes American energy. Updates our air traffic control system to ensure Americans fly safely and efficiently. Funds the Golden Dome, invests in American shipbuilding, and modernizes our military. Protects Medicaid and SNAP for every eligible American by removing waste, fraud, and abuse within these programs. Its a testament to the unwavering commitment of House Republicans and President Trump to securing our borders, improving our economy, and ensuring American workers come first, Rouzer said. Im proud to support this bill which will boost job creation, reduce burdensome regulations, and strengthen our national security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to reporters as he leaves a news conference following a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on April 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Federal fallout As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and whether to make up the difference. Read the latest > The U.S. House Republican budget bill could spell significant losses for low-income families in Ohio, specifically those in need of food assistance and those on Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates for Medicaid and anti-hunger leaders have said reductions and eliminations connected to the two programs would negatively affect Ohioans as a whole, as well as the states economy and spending power. Only one Republican U.S. representative from Ohio voted against the congressional budget bill, passed early Thursday with a vote of 215-214. U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, posted on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday morning that he supported many things in the bill, but that deficits do matter and this bill grows them now. The only Congress we can control is the one were in, he wrote, alongside a bar graph showing the Congressional Budget Offices analysis of the bills deficit effect. Consequently, I cannot support this big deficit plan. U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, stood with all other Democrats in voting against the bill, saying in a statement after the vote that the bill is a cruel and catastrophic budget that rips health care, food and opportunity from Ohioans and millions of other Americans just to bankroll bigger and better tax breaks for billionaires. Medicaid Beattys statement said the bill, which now moves to the U.S. Senate, includes the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, at $698 billion, and $267 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Ohio, that means potentially substantial new costs shifted onto our state, and fewer hospitals, fewer nursing homes, fewer services for our most vulnerable neighbors, according to Beatty. Its not just bad math its moral failure. Ohio would see direct impact from the bill in its own state operating budget, currently being drafted by the General Assembly. The Ohio Houses version of the bill kept a provision proposed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine in his executive budget to eliminate the states Medicaid expansion group if the federal government reduced the contribution it makes to the program. Currently, the federal government pays 90% of the Medicaid funding in Ohio, with the state covering the other 10%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Ohio Houses version of the budget bill, Ohio would eliminate Group VIII another name for the Medicaid expansion group that covers more than 700,000 Ohioans who live above the income requirements for traditional Medicaid but are still in need of assistance if the federal governments share of the funding dips below 90%. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Medicaid advocates and experts have said losing this expansion group would cause Ohios uninsured rate to go up, and those dropped from the program to seek self-pay medical options, or skip care all together, causing the health of the state to suffer. According to Ohio child advocacy group Groundwork Ohio, nearly 48% of Ohio children younger than six rely on Medicaid for health coverage, and the program covers about 50% of all births in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Center for Community Solutions found in a recent study that Medicaid covers 2 in 5 children in the state, as well as 1 in 5 working-age adults, and 1 in 10 adults aged 65 and older. The largest group covered in Ohios Medicaid program, 53.2% of cases, is families and children. SNAP funding The national Food Research & Action Center said the cuts would represent a nearly 30% reduction in SNAP funding, and would increase each states share of spending for the food assistance. The bottom line is this bill would end up costing America, wrote Crystal FitzSimons, president of FRAC, in a statement. Rural communities would be disproportionately impacted. We would see higher rates of hunger and poverty, increased health care costs, reduced academic outcomes, less productivity and an economy that will be hit hard. The Congressional Budget Office said the cuts, particularly to Medicaid and SNAP, would create a 2% decrease in household income nationwide in 2027 for the 10% of Americans in the lowest income brackets, going to 4% by 2033. Households in the highest income brackets, however, could see raises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loss of SNAP funding, along with Medicaid, would reduce access to services that are vital for everyday Ohioans in every Congressional district, according to Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. Novotny said the current proposal would shift nearly $500 million in SNAP costs per year onto the state of Ohio. Thats about the same as all the state general revenue spent to operate the entire Ohio Department of Job and Family Services each year, Novotny said. The food banks and other anti-hunger advocates are already asking the state to support bipartisan legislation that would create supplemental benefits for SNAP participants in Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio House Bill 178, which has received two hearings in the House Community Revitalization Committee, would require the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to provide supplemental benefits to households receiving (SNAP) benefits if the household includes a member who is 60 years of age or older and receives a monthly SNAP benefit that is less than $50. The supplements would cost the state $12.5 million in fiscal year 2026, and $21.4 million in 2027, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill. In supporting the bill, Hope Lane-Gavin, director of nutrition policy and programs for the state association of food banks said the average SNAP benefit in Ohio is $171 per month per person, or less than $6 per person per day. The federal minimum SNAP benefit is $23 per month, according to Lane-Gavin. There are about 70,000 households with adults 60 or older as the head of them in which the household receives less than $50 per month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Access to SNAP benefits can reduce food insecurity, increase medication adherence and contribute to health care savings, she told the committee. If SNAP funding changes drastically, food banks will not be able to fill the gap, even as they served more than 230 million meals in 2024, according to Novotny. The language in the budget would force state governments including Ohios to make impossible choices. This cost shift wouldnt just hurt families, it would impact local grocery stores, farmers and food suppliers, threatening jobs and access to fresh food in communities across Ohio, Novotny said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The U.S. Department of State is doing everything it can to ensure American stay safe when they travel this summer. With that said, travel advisories have been placed on a handful of countries in just the past three weeks. On May 22, the U.S. Department of State placed travel advisories on Belgium and Vanuatu. A Level 2 warning was placed on Belgium, which means Americans traveling there should exercise increased caution. There's a high risk of terrorist violence in tourist locations such as transportation hubs, markets, hotels and parks. Just a week earlier, the State Department issued a Level 4 warning for Somalia. U.S. travelers are being told to steer clear at all costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Do not travel to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping, piracy, and lack of availability of routine consular services," the State Department said. "Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Somalia are prohibited from traveling outside the Mogadishu International Airport complex where the U.S. Embassy is located. The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu maintains normal staffing." Travelers wait in line at the American Airlines check-in counter at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. An estimated 112.7 million people will travel 50 miles or more from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2, up by 3.6 million from last year and getting close to pre-pandemic levels, according to AAA, a provider of travel insurance. Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg/Getty Images The State Department also issued a Level 4 warning for Russia due to its continuing war with Ukraine. "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." Here the 20 countries that have received travel warnings this May: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuba Uruguay Trinidad and Tobago Phillippines United Kingdom Russia Spain Guyana Burma (Myanmar) Venezuela Germany Somalia Japan Peru Tajikistan Switzerland Azerbaijan Liechtenstein Vanuatu Belgium The full list of travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State can be seen here. We'll see if all these travel restrictions affect how people plan their summer vacations. The U.S. Has Issued Travel 'Warnings' For 20 Countries in May first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025 In a rather surprising move, the U.S. government has issued a Level 1 Travel Advisory for Switzerland, which is considered one of the worlds safest countries. The alert, issued on Tuesday, May 20, by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, advises travelers to "exercise normal precautions" while visiting Switzerland. Though the agency didnt specify an immediate reason for the advisory, it did reference recent protests during the Eurovision Song Contest, according to France 24. However, its unclear whether these demonstrations prompted the advisory. The travel advisory also points to a medium crime threat in Geneva and highlights the recent protests. While this Level 1 advisory doesnt suggest altering travel plans, it definitely encourages vigilance, as Switzerland remains one of the safest destinations in the world. In fact, the country was ranked the fifth safest globally according to a study by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. SIGN UP for Parades Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Level 1 is the lowest of the four advisory levels. Travelers are still urged to be cautious but are not necessarily required to change their travel plans. The U.S. government also recommends signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time updates on safety and security, and to consider purchasing travel insurance before embarking on international trips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Use your best judgement to avoid unsafe situations. Think ahead and come up with a safety plan to deal with unsafe situations, in the event you end up in one. Consider bringing personal safety whistles/alarms and taking self-defense courses before you travel, the state department warns. As the summer travel season approaches, travelers are also advised to stay informed about other potential health risks. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control has issued alerts regarding a dengue fever outbreak in Brazil, Fiji, Mexico, and other countries. U.S. Issues Travel Alert for One of the World's Safest Countries first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025 The University of Minnesota student detained for almost two months by ICE was released on Thursday. Dogukan Gunaydn, a 28-year-old Turkish national studying for an MBA at the Carlson School of Management, was told he'd had his visa revoked and was facing deportation over a 2023 conviction for DWI. He was then taken into custody and placed at Sherburne County Jail in late March. An immigration judge terminated his case, stating the DWI was not sufficient grounds for removal from the U.S. The federal government appealed the decision, but a judge ruled this week that Gunaydn should be released, saying the government had violated his Fifth Amendment rights to due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking upon his exit from a federal facility at Fort Snelling, Gunaydn said he was eager to get home to his dog (pictured below), before criticizing his detainment, saying "it took 56 days to undo something that should not happen in the first place." "First I'm relieved to be released, but I am deeply troubled and harmed by this clear violation of my constitutional right for due process," he told reporters. "56 days I did not see the sun or the sky. For weeks I was detained with my charges dismissed, bond granted, on no pending charges or hearing. I am disappointed in the integrity of the system and individuals who allowed this to happen," he continued. GoFundMe He thanked his attorneys and the wider community, with his arrest and detainment sparking protests in the Twin Cities and at the U of M campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came amid a wider targeting of international students by the Trump administration, many of whom were reportedly selected due to their involvement in campus protests against Israel's ongoing actions in Palestine, with ICE agents stripping them of their legal status and attempting to deport them. The federal government had argued that its desire to depot Gunaydn was due to his DWI conviction, not his involvement in protesters. Gunaydn was arrested in Minneapolis for being over two times the alcohol limit behind the wheel of a vehicle. WCCO reports that his attorney, Hannah Brown, argued that he had expressed remorse for the DWI and "even sold his car as a form of personal punishment so he couldn't drive anymore." Speaking on Thursday, the student said: "I want all international students to know this: While there might be some who want to scare us by abusing the power of their office, there are many more who welcome us and fight alongside us to defend our rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My only hope is that no one including those who did this to me, suffer such injustice, this country deserves much better, let's not forget, it's not liberty and justice for some, it is for all." SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Middle District of Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force is looking for the publics help in locating a Scranton homicide suspect, offering up an up to $2,500 reward. USMS is looking for 20-year-old Malachi Allah Darden, aka Mdott, who was allegedly part of a shooting that killed one person in Scranton in May 2024. On May 14, 2024, Scranton police responded to the 1800 block of Jackson Street for a car crash, and it was later determined that the driver of the car had been shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man shot in the stomach 3 times outside VFW The U.S. Marshals Service says Darden was last seen in Scranton on May 14, 2024. They say he stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 160 pounds. USMS says Darden is known to frequent the Bronx, New York, and is associated with addresses in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. If you have information that leads to Dardens arrest, you could be eligible for a $2,500 reward. To report any information, call the USMS tip line at 1-877-926-8332 or the US Marshals tips 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 PAhomepage.com. May 22 (UPI) -- Tens of millions of dollars worth of illegal e-cigarette products were seized in Chicago in a joint operation between the FDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officials said Thursday. Officials say the sting in February that uncovered the China-originated packages was valued at about $33.8 million and were intended for distribution to multiple states. Investigators uncovered several illegal e-cig brands such as Snoopy Smoke, Raz and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We continue to see an increased number of shipments of vaping related products packaged and mislabeled to avoid detection," said Bret Koplow, acting director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. The FDA and CBP sit on a joint federal task force focused on e-cigarette enforcement activity. "However, we have been successful at preventing these shipments from entering the U.S. supply chain," Koplow said, despite efforts to "conceal the true identity of these unauthorized e-cigarette products." February's seizure in Illinois was part of a joint federal operation to examine incoming U.S. shipments and prevent the entry of illegal e-cigarettes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Seizures of illegal e-cigarettes keep products that haven't been authorized by the FDA out of the United States and out of the hands of our nation's youth," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. On Thursday, the FDA said many of the unauthorized shipments contained vague product descriptions with incorrect values in an "apparent attempt to evade duties." According to federal officials, most shipments violate the FDA's food, drug and cosmetic laws, while other products get confiscated due to intellectual property right violations on trademarked items. Additionally, they added that FDA officials sent import letters warning 24 tobacco importers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of April, border agents busted a shipment of some 17,500 fake brand cigarettes from Vietnam valued at nearly $730,000 after pausing its arrival in Miami and intercepting it days later in Texas. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Chicago made 121 seizures that contained more than 3.2 million banned electronic nicotine devices worth over $81 million, and the agency made a similar million-dollar seizure in June of illegal vape pens offloaded from China. U2s Bono has spoken out against Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli far-right fundamentalists at the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards last night. U2 became the first Irish act to receive the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy, the highest honour that the organisation bestows. The band took to the stage to accept the honour, with frontman Bono calling for peace in the Gaza-Israel conflict. I used to introduce this next song by saying it was not a rebel song. It was because believing in the possibilities of peace was then, and is now, a rebellious act; and some would say a ridiculous one, said Bono referring to the U2 song Sunday Bloody Sunday, their 1983 track about the 1972 massacre in which the British army shot at unarmed protestors during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, killing 14 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To believe peace was attainable between your country and ours, between our country and itself was a ridiculous idea because peace creates possibilities in the most intractable situations and lord knows theres a few of them out there right now, he added. He then said: Hamas, release the hostages, stop the war. Israel, be released from Benjamin Netanyahu and the far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts, before adding: All of you, protect our aid workers they are the best of us." He concluded by saying: "God, you must be so tired of us, children of Abraham, in the rubble of our certainties. Children in the rubble of our revenge. God forgive us. The comments mark the first time the human rights activist has spoken out in public against the Israeli prime minister since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023. Bonos speech also comes at a time when Western leaders have been criticising Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli authorities over the renewed offensive in Gaza. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Over at the Roger Glass Center at the University of Dayton, residents have a chance to listen to NATO delegates through a series of public forums. The first panel part of the Dayton Dialogue: Conversations about Peace and Security in the Balkans series kicked off Thursday, bringing NATO delegates from different countries into conversation with Dayton residents and visitors. LIST: Public invited to forums during NATO Assembly Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Thursdays first forum, panelists discussed different aspects of NATO achieving peace, while also talking about world issues, like the economy and the Russia-Ukraine war. The panel itself was open to the public, allowing residents of the Miami Valley a front row seat to the world stage, educating themselves of the different international perspectives that come with panels such as this. Its interesting to hear the unity that theyre trying to achieve, which is reassuring to me, said Jesse Parete, a Vandalia resident. One local resident said having access to these national topics in their own backyard is special. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its really awesome seeing something like this happen in the city of Dayton, said Christian Reynolds, a Dayton resident. You know, the city has difficulties and struggles, but bringing something like this together with a lot of eyes, really bringing Dayton back to the limelight, thats awesome. Cant make it? NATO public panels to be livestreamed People from outside the U.S. who came to the panel stressed the importance of residents attending events like this. Its important that we see a public coming here from Dayton and other places to hear what really NATO does. And how much it means for the American people, and how much it means for us in Europe to get the Americans support so that we jointly tackle the challenges that we have in the world today, said Sejfudin Hodzic, Bosnia and Herzegovina parliamentary member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panels will be happening throughout the weekend at UDs Roger Glass Center. Tickets are free but limited. Click here for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Ugandan military authorities on Friday accused diplomats from Europe of engaging in subversive activities, in an escalation of tensions over European criticism of human rights violations by Uganda's security forces. Some European diplomats are mobilizing on behalf the negative and traitorous groups opposed" to the government of President Yoweri Museveni, the military said in a statement. The statement singled out the German ambassador, Matthias Schauer, charging that the intelligence services are aware about his clearly undiplomatic practices that have been taking place in different parts of the country for some time now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That statement was issued by Col. Chris Magezi, a close associate of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president's son who also serves as Uganda's top military commander. Kainerugaba's military rise has been a source of concern among Ugandans who believe he is poised to take over from Museveni in a chaotic political transition. Kainerugaba frequently asserts his wish to succeed his father as president of the east African country, alarming Ugandans who don't want to see hereditary rule. Kainerugaba has gained notoriety most recently for his unpredictable posts on the social platform X. He has threatened to behead Bobi Wine, a prominent opposition figure, and he drew widespread criticism earlier this month for reporting the apparent torture in his basement of Wine's bodyguard, who was missing at the time. Schauer, the German ambassador, is among a group of European diplomats who complained about Kainerugaba in a meeting on Thursday with Gen. Salim Saleh, a retired army officer who is Kainerugaba's uncle and an influential member of Uganda's security apparatus. Saleh apologized for Kainerugaba's provocative posts on X, according to reports in the local press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strong response from Kainerugaba's press office on Friday marks an escalation in relations between the Ugandan government and diplomats it accuses of meddling. It was not immediately possible to get a comment from Schauer or Jan Sadek, the top EU diplomat in Uganda. The EU has repeatedly urged Ugandan authorities to protect civil liberties ahead of presidential elections next year. Sadek has expressed concern over serious rights violations that include arbitrary detentions and the degrading treatment of political opponents. He spoke of an alarming militarization of the political sphere in a speech earlier in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The use of military force against civilians, with apparent impunity, contradicts the principles of the rule of law, he said. Museveni, who first took power by force in 1986, is serving his sixth term. He will seek re-election in polls set for January 2026. Many Ugandans expect an unpredictable political transition because the 80-year-old Museveni has no obvious successor within the ranks of the ruling National Resistance Movement party, with real power concentrated in a strong military and powerful intelligence system. Some observers fear that Museveni may step aside in favor of Kainerugaba in a bloodless coup. A long-time opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, has been jailed since November over alleged treason charges his lawyers say are politically motivated. Besigye, a qualified physician who retired from Ugandas military at the rank of colonel, is a former president of the Forum for Democratic Change party, for many years Ugandas most prominent opposition group. Uganda has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of political power since independence from the British in 1962. MOSCOW, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces are working on establishing a security buffer zone along the country's border with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. "The enemy's firing positions are being actively suppressed, and work is ongoing," Putin said at a government meeting, referring to the buffer zone. The Russian president noted the necessity to begin restoration work in the border regions of Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk and demine the areas where fighting previously took place. Putin visited the Kursk region on Tuesday, where the Ukrainian army launched an offensive in August 2024. On April 26, Putin announced that Russia had regained full control of the region. Ukraine and Russia have conducted the first part of the 1000-for-1000 exchange agreement, which resulted in the return of 390 people. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys statement, Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War Quote: "The first part of the 1000-for-1000 exchange agreement has been implemented. This agreement was reached at the meeting in Turkiye, and it is important to implement it in full. Today we have 390 people. We expect the exchange to continue on Saturday and Sunday." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that 270 service members and 120 civilians have been returned to Russia as part of the exchange. The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters reported that 270 soldiers and 120 civilians were released from captivity. Quote: "A total of 270 defenders are returning home these are service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the Navy, Airborne Forces, the Territorial Defence Forces, as well as the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine... Among those liberated today are 3 women and 387 men". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! An exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) between Ukraine and Russia taking place on May 23 is still ongoing, a source familiar with the exchange told the Kyiv Independent, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the swap had been "completed." "A major prisoner swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post around 12:40 p.m. Kyiv time. "Congratulation to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big?" he added. The planned exchange, involving 1,000 detainees from each side, follows an agreement reached between Ukrainian and Russian delegations during talks in Istanbul on May 16, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If completed, it would mark the largest POW exchange between Kyiv and Moscow in the 11 years since Russias war against Ukraine began. Prisoner swaps remain one of the few areas of ongoing cooperation between the two countries. The most recent exchange occurred on May 6, when 205 Ukrainian soldiers were returned in a one-for-one format. Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far resisted the proposal. Kyiv has not disclosed the total number of Ukrainian prisoners of war being held in Russian custody. Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The end of the European Unions tariff-free trade preferences for Ukrainian agricultural products is more than just a policy change, its a wake-up call. For years, the EU has served as the largest and most reliable market for Ukraines agricultural exports. But as Brussels rolls back preferential quotas, Ukraine must rapidly diversify and open up new non-EU markets to safeguard its economy and cement its role in global food security. Ukraine stands at a trading crossroads. It must now decide which path to go down as the European Union plans to apply much higher tariffs on agricultural and other exports as soon as next month. The Breadbasket of Europe and beyond Ukraine has long been known as the breadbasket of Europe. Rich in black soil and abundant in agricultural know-how, the country is a global powerhouse in food production. Even under the shadow of war, after Russias invasion, the sector remains a cornerstone of the national economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite missile strikes, minefields, and logistical nightmares, Ukrainian farmers have kept working. Agricultural products account for 60% of all exports, bringing in an estimated $25 billion in earnings over the past year. The world depends on Ukrainian grain, oilseeds, and foodstuffs. Ukraine is the largest global exporter of sunflower oil, one of the biggest corn exporters, and a major supplier of wheat and barley. That strength must now be redirected toward a broader set of trading partners. Ukraine doesnt just offer grain, it offers food security. Relying too heavily on any one market, especially one where political and economic headwinds can shift quickly, is risky. The EUs new limits underscore the vulnerability of Ukraines agri-export model. To stay competitive, Ukraine must engage more vigorously with other countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, many of which face mounting food insecurity and would benefit greatly from stable Ukrainian supply lines. A man spreads winter wheat in a truck during harvest season in the fields of the Dnipro Waves Agricultural Production Cooperative in the village of Dniprovi Khvyli, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine, on June 29, 2024. (Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform / Future Publishing via Getty Images) Initiatives like the Grain from Ukraine program, providing for some of the poorest countries in Africa, have already shown the strategic value of Ukrainian agriculture. Citizens in Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, and many other countries have benefited. But these efforts must now expand from humanitarian aid to long-term commercial partnerships. What Ukraine has to offer Ukraine doesnt just offer grain, it offers food security. As climate change and conflict disrupt food systems across the globe, Ukraines agricultural output can serve as a stabilizing force. The countrys ability to deliver large volumes of high-quality produce, often at competitive prices, makes it a natural partner for countries with growing populations and food import needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to bulk commodities, Ukraine is increasingly competitive in higher-value products. The country exports hundreds of millions of dollars of organic goods to dozens of countries, despite the war. With growing global demand for sustainable, ethically produced food, Ukrainian agribusinesses are well-positioned to enter niche and premium markets if they get the right support. Bulk Carrier ASL TIA, which departed from a Ukrainian port, crosses the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 2, 2022. (Cem Tekkesinoglu / dia images via Getty Images) The investment gap Heres the catch: Seizing these opportunities requires capital. Much of Ukraines agricultural infrastructure, storage facilities, railways, and processing plants need investment. Some have been damaged, degraded, or underdeveloped for decades. Logistics routes remain vulnerable. Certification standards and packaging often need to be upgraded to meet the demands of new markets. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is critical to bridging this gap. Investors in agribusiness, logistics, technology, and processing can find long-term value in Ukraines vast agricultural potential. In return, their capital and expertise can help modernize the sector, unlock exports, and create jobs across the country. Venture capital in agri-tech and climate-resilient farming, for instance, could help Ukrainian producers boost yields and diversify crops. Partnerships with multinational food companies could pave the way for Ukraine to move up the value chain producing not just raw grain but ready-to-eat foodstuffs, sauces, baby food, and premium packaged goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt just about economics. Its a matter of national security and global stability. A thriving agricultural sector boosts Ukraines GDP, stabilizes rural communities, and reduces dependence on international aid. It also enhances Ukraines geopolitical relevance by helping feed an increasingly hungry world. Ukraines farmers have proven their grit. Now they need new markets and the investment to reach them. From North Africa to Southeast Asia, the demand is there. The quality is in Ukraine. Whats needed is the bridge, built through trade policy, diplomacy, and serious foreign investment. Ukraine must sow the seeds now for a diversified, resilient, and prosperous agricultural future. And the world should be eager to help it grow. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Backroom diplomacy and battlefield reality: Ukraine at the IMF Spring Meetings Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US President Donald Trump has announced that a large-scale prisoner exchange has been agreed between Ukraine and Russia. Source: Trump on Truth Social, as reported by European Pravda Details: Trump became the first Western official to comment on the prisoner swap, the preparation of which was agreed at talks in Istanbul. "A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine," the US president said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of publication, neither Kyiv nor Moscow had confirmed the agreement or the implementation of the exchange. "It will go into effect shortly. Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???" Trump concluded. Background: On 22 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on preparations for a potential prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia in the thousand-for-thousand format. This agreement was perhaps the only tangible outcome of the meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Turkiye, which took place on 16 May, the first such talks in Istanbul in over three years. It was reported that Russia had sent a low-level delegation led by Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky to the talks in Turkiye. The media also reported that the Russian delegation in Istanbul demanded that US representatives not be present at the talks with the Ukrainian side and put forward demands that are unrealistic and go far beyond what was previously discussed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines Ministry of Defence is in talks with Swedish company Saab to modernise its fleet of Soviet-era aircraft with advanced avionics, including those manufactured in Sweden. Source: Ukraines Defence Ministry following a meeting between Deputy Minister of Defence for Aviation Development Oleksandr Kozenko and a Saab delegation led by Thomas Linden, head of the companys Ukraine division Details: Discussions focused on equipping aircraft with new radars, protection systems and electronic countermeasures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry noted that cooperation with Saab would enable the adaptation of Ukraines equipment to modern standards, while providing Saab with combat experience feedback. The parties also explored the potential transfer of Saab aircraft to Ukraine, pending a positive political decision, and agreed to continue consultations on implementing the agreements. Background: In March 2025, Swedish and Ukrainian defence companies Saab and Radionix signed a memorandum of understanding regarding their intention to form a strategic partnership in the field of sensors and defence electronics to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraine would like U.S. President Donald Trump to be present at a potential meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters on May 23, according to Ukrinform. "We are also working on... a meeting between President Zelensky and Putin. We admit that this meeting may be in an expanded format. We would very much like President Trump to join it," Sybiha said. The foreign minister noted the continuation of peace talks must be unconditional, adding that "we are waiting for the Russian side to present their vision, their concept, their proposals on the parameters of a future unconditional ceasefire." Kyiv is also working on a peace proposal of its own to share with Moscow, Sybiha added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would only submit the draft "settlement document" after the ongoing prisoner exchange is completed. On May 23, Ukraine and Russia began a previously agreed prisoner exchange the largest swap since Russia launched its war against Ukraine in 2014. A total of 1,000 prisoners from both sides are expected to return home between May 23 and 25. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 390 Ukrainians were brought back as part of the exchange on the first day. The prisoner exchange came as diplomatic efforts to end the war regained momentum and Ukraine has "always consistently insisted that Europe must be at the table of possible future negotiations," Sybiha said. Zelensky previously invited Putin to meet him face-to-face at the Istanbul talks. Putin refused, sending a delegation head by his aide, Vladimir Medinsky. The results of the talks were largely inconclusive as Moscow reiterated maximalist demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Chaos to coordination: the evolution of POW swaps in the Russia-Ukraine war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, announced the completion of all procedures for the launch of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Fund. Source: Yulia Svyrydenko on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Svyrydenko confirmed the final step, a diplomatic note from the United States, which she received on Friday morning from US Charge dAffaires Julie S. Davis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The fund is now officially launched," Svyrydenko said. She noted that the agreement establishes a true partnership based on equality, respect for Ukraines national interests and joint management with the United States. "The Fund is a symbol of long-term strategic commitment. Together, Ukraine and the United States will invest in the recovery and growth of our country on terms that protect our sovereignty and empower our future," Svyrydenko wrote. Background: On 8 May, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted to ratify the agreement on establishing a joint investment fund between Ukraine and the United States. All 338 MPs voted in favour, with none of them abstaining or voting against ratification. On 13 May, Ukraine signed two commercial agreements with the US International Development Finance Corporation to advance the ratified agreement on the funds creation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stated that Ukraine is open to the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in an extended format with the participation of US President Donald Trump. Source: Sybiha speaking to journalists on Friday, as reported by European Pravda, citing Ukrinform Details: Sybiha reiterated that following the meeting of Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on 16 May, agreements were reached regarding a prisoner exchange and preparations for a framework of an unconditional ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The third point we are also working on is a meeting between President of Ukraine Zelenskyy and Putin," the minister said. "We allow for the possibility that this meeting could take place in an extended format. We would very much like President Trump to join it," Sybiha added. He emphasised that, according to Kyivs position, "Europe must also be at the table in any potential future negotiations". Background: Previously, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Kyiv supports holding a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders as soon as possible, believing that only at this level can effective decisions be made to end the war. However, Bloomberg, citing Russian sources, reported that the Kremlin is currently not planning a trip by Vladimir Putin to the Vatican or anywhere else for negotiations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Key developments on May 23: Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap since start of Russia's war Ukraine confirms strike on Russian factory making parts for Iskander ballistic missiles, glide bombs Russian military helicopter crashes in Oryol Oblast Zelensky slams Russia's delay on peace memorandum as 'mockery of the whole world' Russia executes 2 Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk, prosecutors say Ukraine and Russia on May 23 began the largest exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) since the start of Russia's war in 2014, a Kyiv Independent journalist reported from the site of the swap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram that 390 Ukrainian prisoners had been exchanged as part of the first stage of the swap. "We are bringing our people home. The first stage of the '1000-for-1000' exchange agreement has been carried out," Zelensky wrote. "Today 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue." Russia's Defense Ministry said that 270 soldiers and 120 civilians had returned to Russia as part of the first stage. The exchange will see 1,000 POWs from both sides return home, in a deal agreed upon during direct talks in Istanbul on May 16, the first such talks between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I thank everyone who is helping and working 24/7 to bring Ukrainian men and women back home. It is very important to return everyone who remains in captivity," Zelensky added. The Ukrainian and Russian governments confirmed they had received the lists of POWs to be exchanged on May 22. Zelensky announced on the same day that he held a meeting to prepare the exchange and called the agreement on the POW swap the only "real" result of the meeting between the two delegations in Istanbul. "The agreement on the release of 1000 of our people from Russian captivity was almost the only real result of the meeting in Turkey. We are working to ensure this result. We are finding out the details of each person listed on the Russian side," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the President's Office chief Andriy Yermak, diplomatic representatives of the Nordic and Baltic countries also participated in preparations for the swap. He added that after the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange is completed, future direct talks with Russian officials could be arranged. At least 8,000 Ukrainian service members are held captive by Russia, Iryna Vereshchuk, Presidential Office deputy head, said on May 1, citing data from Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs. Kyiv does not release the figures for how many Russian POWs are currently in Ukrainian custody. While ceasefire agreements and peace talks have remained elusive since the start of the full-scale invasion, regular prisoner swaps have remained one of the few areas of ongoing cooperation between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: BREAKING: Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap since start of Russias war Ukraine confirms strike on Russian factory making parts for ballistic missiles Ukraine has confirmed a strike on an industrial zone in the city of Yelets in Russia's Lipetsk Oblast overnight on May 23, that hit a factory making parts for Russian weapons, including Iskander ballistic missiles. "The target was hit... and a series of explosions were recorded," Ukraine's General Staff said in a post on social media, adding: "A fire broke out on the territory of the facility." It said the factory, which is under U.S. and EU sanctions, is Russia's "only manufacturer of batteries for glide and correction modules installed on aircraft bombs," and also produces parts for ballistic and cruise missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The shutdown of the Energia public company may leave some of the Russian occupiers' military equipment and weapons without critical batteries," the General Staff said. The extent of the damage to the factory was still being assessed, it added. The General Staff did not specify what type of weapon was used in the attack, but earlier on May 23, Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov said Ukrainian drones were behind the attack. Videos on social media purported to show blasts and fires following the strikes. Artamonov said that drone debris fell on a residential building in Yelets, injuring eight people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent could not verify the reports. Ukraine regularly launches drone attacks against Russian military and industrial facilities in the rear to undermine Russia's ability to wage its all-out war. In recent weeks, Kyiv has stepped up its drone attacks on Russia, sending hundreds of drones flying toward Moscow. While no direct hits have been reported, the attacks have caused temporary closures of multiple airports. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Russian air defenses have downed 112 Ukrainian drones overnight on May 23, including 24 over Moscow and one over Lipetsk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Zelensky slams Russia's delay on peace memorandum as 'mockery of the whole world' Russia's weeklong delay in preparing a proposal on a peace settlement is a "mockery of the whole world," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on May 23. The remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19, refused to support a full ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, the Kremlin proposed drafting a "memorandum" on a possible future peace settlement. Zelensky said that, while Ukraine and its partners are working toward an immediate ceasefire, Russia is stalling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When it took the Russians a week to formulate the so-called 'memorandum' in response to the demand for a ceasefire, it is definitely a mockery of the whole world," Zelensky said. "We need a ceasefire. We need diplomatic steps toward real peace. And it's definitely time to put more pressure on Russia." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 20 that there was "no timeline" for completing the document, according to Russian state media TASS. Three days later, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would only submit the draft "settlement document" after the ongoing prisoner exchange is completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That exchange, agreed during direct Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul on May 16, saw both sides begin returning 1,000 prisoners of war (POWs) on May 23. It marks the largest such swap since Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014 and is the only concrete outcome of the Istanbul talks so far. Zelensky said Moscow continues to block any meaningful progress beyond the prisoner swap. "Every day in the war is a loss of life. Of course, in Russia, they don't count people. But the world must count," he said. "New sanctions against Russia are needed. I thank each and every one of you who advocate and support this." Read also: Editorial: Russia just said it doesnt want peace in Ukraine. This is what you need to do Russian military helicopter crashes in Oryol Oblast A Russian Mi-8 combat helicopter crashed near the village of Naryshkino in Russia's Oryol Oblast on May 23, killing the crew, the state-controlled news agency TASS reported, citing the Russian army's Moscow Military District. The Russian Telegram channel Baza published a video that purportedly shows smoke rising after the helicopter crash, followed by additional explosions. The Moscow Military District attributed the crash to a technical malfunction. The Mi-8 is a Soviet-era aircraft most commonly used for transport by both the Russian military and civilian government agencies. It can also serve in combat and command roles. There have been several cases of Russian helicopters and planes crashing during the full-scale war, sometimes resulting in fatalities. Russia's aviation industry took a heavy hit as a result of Western sanctions, often lacking the necessary components to maintain the aircraft. Read also: Ukraine can only wage a high-tech war of survival against Russia, Zaluzhnyi says Russia executes 2 Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk, prosecutors say Russian forces have executed two Ukrainian prisoners of war during an assault near the village of Udachne, 12 kilometers (7 miles) west of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office reported on May 23. According to the prosecutors, the incident occurred on May 22 during an attack on Ukrainian positions in one of the most active combat zones of the front line. Russian troops reportedly took two of four Ukrainian soldiers prisoner during the assault and later shot them dead with automatic weapons in a nearby forest. The fate of the other two soldiers remains unknown. "The deliberate killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is qualified as a serious international crime," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement. Ukraine's military and law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation to identify those responsible. The execution of prisoners of war (POWs) follows a documented pattern of war crimes committed by Russian forces. As of mid-December 2024, Ukrainian authorities recorded the execution of 177 Ukrainian soldiers after capture. Visual evidence and forensic records have backed repeated claims by Kyiv that Moscow systematically violates international humanitarian law by targeting unarmed soldiers and civilians. The Geneva Conventions classify summary executions of detainees as grave breaches of international humanitarian law. Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. VIENTIANE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Laos' National Blood Transfusion Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, convened a meeting to discuss strategies for the prevention and control of thalassemia. The meeting, held in Lao capital Vientiane on Thursday, chaired by Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phayvanh Keopaseuth, according to a report from the ministry's Center of Information and Education for Health on Friday. In his speech, Phayvanh highlighted that thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, remains a significant public health concern. He emphasized its impact not only on the physical well-being of patients but also on families and the economy. Families affected by thalassemia often face long-term treatment costs and emotional strain, which greatly affects their livelihoods, he added. With thalassemia cases on the rise, Phayvanh emphasized the need for a comprehensive prevention and control system at both national and local levels. This includes public education, early screening, accurate diagnosis, data collection, treatment, care, family involvement, research, and international collaboration. The meeting reviewed the current status of thalassemia in Laos and examined a draft national strategy to combat the disease. Participants discussed proposed policies, strategies, and measures to reduce its prevalence. Additionally, attendees were presented with outcomes from a recent technical consultation and a draft national action plan for prevention and control. CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine (AP) Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange Friday, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians in the first phase of an exchange that was a moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire in the 3-year-old war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first phase brought home 390 Ukrainians, including soldiers and civilians, with further releases expected over the weekend that will make it the largest swap of the war. Russia's Defense Ministry said it received the same number from Ukraine. Its very important to bring everyone home, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, thanking all who worked to secure their return and pledging to continue diplomatic efforts to make more exchanges possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of relatives of prisoners cheered and chanted Thank you! as buses carrying the freed captives arrived at a medical facility in Ukraine's Chernihiv region. The men, some with expressionless faces and others unable to contain their emotions, got off the buses wrapped in Ukrainian flags for joyful reunions. Kyiv and Moscow agreed in Istanbul last week to the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side in their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Russias 2022 invasion. That meeting lasted only two hours and brought no breakthrough in U.S.-led efforts efforts to stop the fighting. Exchanges at the Belarus-Ukrainian border The swap took place at the border with Belarus in northern Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The exchange, which would be the latest of dozens of swaps since the war began and the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians at one time, didn't herald any halt in fighting. Battles continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. Russia launched two ballistic missiles at infrastructure targets in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, killing two workers and injuring eight others, according to regional Gov. Oleh Kiper. It was the first recorded attack on the port since March 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow's forces attacked settlements in the Kherson region with artillery, mortars and drones throughout the day, killing three civilians and injuring 10, according to the Kherson Regional Prosecutors Office. They also shelled Kostyantynivka with artillery, killing one civilian, said Serhii Horbunov, head of the citys military administration. Emotional reunions for some, but others must wait As the freed men entered the medical facility, people holding signs and photos of their relatives shouted names or brigade numbers, seeking any news of a loved one. The returning men inspected the photos, and a serviceman said he shared a cell with one of those on the sea of portraits held out toward him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vanya! cried Nataliia Mosych, among the gathered relatives, My husband! She hadnt seen her husband, Ivan, for almost two years, she said, beaming. It is an unbelievable feeling. I am still in shock, Mosych said after he came outside to greet his family following registration procedures inside the facility. I am really glad, and we were not forgotten, and we still mean something for Ukraine. Many who were freed expressed shock and disbelief that they had been exchanged. Some had trouble remembering names and details of their lives before their capture. One released POW joked in a video call with his girlfriend that he got a bit older in his three-year absence, and she replied he was as beautiful as ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many relatives wept when it became clear their loved ones were not among those returning, and they hoped those who were released could at least offer some information about their husbands, brothers and sons. Maybe my dad will come tomorrow, one small boy cried. News of the prisoner release emerged when U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine had carried out a large exchange. A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said on the Truth Social platform. He said it would go into effect shortly. He added in the post that "this could lead to something big??? apparently referring to other diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No new Russia-Ukraine talks are set After the May 16 talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the prisoner swap a confidence-building measure and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that there has been no agreement yet on the venue for the next round of talks as diplomatic maneuvering continued. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday night that Moscow would give Ukraine a draft document outlining its conditions for a sustainable, long-term, comprehensive" peace agreement once the ongoing prisoner exchange had finished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger armys battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land. The Istanbul meeting revealed that both sides remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back on a temporary halt to hostilities, and Putin has said any such truce must come with a freeze on Western arms supplies to Ukraine and an end to Ukraines mobilization drive. A senior Ukrainian official said in Istanbul that Russia had introduced new, unacceptable demands to withdraw Ukrainian forces from huge swaths of territory. The official, who was not authorized to make official statements, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The proposal had not been previously discussed, the official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin has long demanded as a key condition for a peace deal that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 but never fully controlled. Zelenskyy has warned that if Russia continues to reject a ceasefire and make unrealistic demands, it will signal deliberate efforts to prolong the war a move that should bring tougher international sanctions. Russias Defense Ministry said it had shot down 788 Ukrainian drones away from the battlefield between May 20 and May 23. Ukraines air force said Russia fired 175 Shahed and decoy drones, as well as a ballistic missile since late Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Arhirova reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington, Yehor Konovalov in Ukraine, Alex Babenko in Ukraine's Chernihiv region, and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruises most enduring role, was rarely much more than a name. Thats the point of him; as the Mission: Impossible franchises secret agent extraordinaire, Hunt can pretend to be anyone, accomplish basically any physical task, and uncover conspiracies with aplomb. Hes a cross between James Bond and a vaudeville performer. But personality was not part of that package, and a backstory was entirely superfluous. After the third Mission film tried to give Hunt a wife and burgeoning family, the subsequent sequel rejected that subplot, instead asserting that for him, experiencing a normal life was impossible. So it was to my possibly foolish surprise to learn that Mission: ImpossibleThe Final Reckoning, the sagas latest (and rumored to be last) film, is a nearly three-hour salute to Hunt. Its a remarkable, lore-filled pivot from what wed been made to believe about our hero for the past two decades. Over time, hes gone from cipher to human being, from an excellent showman in the art of espionage to a model of the ideal man. This sense of self-importance, however, is one that the series cant quite sustain. The Final Reckoning, marking Christopher McQuarries fourth time in the directors chair, has all of the required elements for a solid Mission: Impossible outing. It includes globe-trotting location shooting, wild and miraculous action stunts, and a reliable ensemble of character actors around Cruisewho, in his early 60s, retains his boyish energy despite finally sporting a few wrinkles. But the film also makes a sometimes-dutiful effort to bring cohesion to Hunts decades-long collection of missions. Flashbacks to the first film, from 1996, introduce revelations that newer characters are related to those who died off in the original installment; monologue after monologue from heroes and villains alike details just how uniquely special a figure Hunt has become. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: The sincerity and absurdity of Hollywoods best action franchise] As a grand valediction to a long-running storyline, the self-reflexiveness makes some sense. But it does leave the film feeling a little too encumbered. Theres less time for balletic set pieces if it has to keep slowing down to explain how important everything ispartly because its so intent on catching the audience up on the minutiae of Dead Reckoning, the previous entry. But even when the plot kicks into a higher gear, The Final Reckoning never quite settles into the cheerfully goofy groove that propelled the franchise toward its peaks. The Hunt-heaviness stems from the creative decision that actually saved Mission: Impossible long ago: The writers decided to start creating lasting consequences for their protagonists actions. The first Mission: Impossible, directed by Brian De Palma, is a swerving, absurd folly; it introduces a team around Hunt and immediately kills most of them off, thus putting him on the run and throwing a maze of sexy triple-crosses his way. Its sequel, directed by John Woo, was geared toward that directors aesthetic: Its long, operatic, and unfortunately a little light on humor. For the third film, Cruise (who acts as a lead producer and has always played a major part in picking the directors) brought in the TV maven J. J. Abrams, who focused the story on Hunt getting engaged and trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Mission: Impossible III slightly underperformed expectations; coupled with the intense tabloid scrutiny that Cruise began to face in the mid-2000s, it seemed plausible that the entire enterprise might draw to a close. But Cruise and Paramount, the studio behind the franchise, managed to turn things aroundafter a five-year break. For the fourth film, Ghost Protocol, the director Brad Bird (who had previously worked only in animation) helped produce the most epic stunts the series had ever seen and filmed them with IMAX cameras, still a novelty at the time. The initial plans to treat that chapter as something of a torch passwith Cruise retiring and the lead role perhaps jumping to his co-star Jeremy Rennerwere also scrapped. The screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie came on late in preproduction to help with rewrites, and he reportedly derided the idea; Hunt couldnt just retire and go off into the sunset with his erstwhile fiancee. His lifes work was accomplishing unbelievable feats of espionage. Switching the emphasis back toward the stalwart hero and away from his potential protege was a brilliant storytelling gambit, grafting the actors public reputation for mega-intensity onto Hunts growing addiction to death-defying behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: What Mission: Impossible understands about Tom Cruise] Cruise then brought McQuarrie on to direct the next movie, Rogue Nation, and hes remained in the role since. Under him, Mission: Impossible brought Cruises love of pushing his body beyond its reasonable limits to the forefront: Hed tie himself to a plane for Rogue Nation, jump out of a plane from above the clouds for Fallout, and take a header off a mountain while riding a motorcycle in Dead Reckoning. Beneath that dizzying madness, McQuarrie introduced a progressively more labyrinthine mythology, knitting the installments together in ways plausible and not, and expanding Hunt from impressive spy to a more elemental force. Hes the living manifestation of destiny, the director of the CIA, played by Alec Baldwin, hoarsely cries in Rogue Nation; by Dead Reckoning, Hunt has become the only potential impediment to world annihilation by an AI system called the Entity. This choice of villain was a topical oneAI fears are cresting only higher and higher in the news. But the Entity also helped reiterate how important Hunt had become to the Mission: Impossible brand. After all, even if the situation appears to be insurmountablewhether hes thwarting an assassin or a hyperintelligent machineHunt knows he can find a way to pull it off. So by The Final Reckoning, his nigh godhood is at hand. In fighting the Entity, hes sticking up for the rest of humanity, yes; but as the only person that the world can trust to do so, hes also being heralded as the most capable of them all. I love the Mission: Impossible movies, and I was still compelled by The Final Reckoning, even with its sludgier opening pace and patronizing reliance on exposition. A sequence that sees Hunt diving into an abandoned submarine is one of the spookiest and most atmospheric in the series; another, where he hops from biplane to biplane while in battle with another major foe, is one of the most spectacular. But the films triumphalism about Hunt the man left me, to my surprise, a little cold. What was most entertaining about Mission: Impossible was never the overarching plot; Hunts heroism was more a dazzling bout of flamboyance from one of Hollywoods last stars than the result of some meaningful backstory. The Final Reckoning gives him enough concluding flourishes to make the send-off just about succeed, but it nearly drowns that endeavor out with a constant stream of thundering applause. Article originally published at The Atlantic The federal Department of Government Efficiency has turned Washington on its head, pushing mass layoffs and firings at agencies, cancelling contracts and riling advocates of cherished programs that have been set for the chopping block. Florida has its own DOGE effort, which has been more subtle at least so far. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who set up the initiative in February, believes thats because Florida is in better fiscal shape than the federal government. The fiscal responsibility of the State allows the Florida DOGE Team to be more surgical in its review of financial records, compared with the federal DOGE efforts, which have been forced to take drastic and sweeping measures due to the fiscal irresponsibility in D.C. over the last many decades, DeSantis spokesperson Molly Best said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis has pointed to almost $1 billion in savings turned up by the Florida DOGE, led by Eric Soskin, who has worked for the U.S. Department of Justice and been Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation. But the vast majority of the $878 million he refers to wasnt yet distributed to Florida and was simply budget authority to use federal funds for refugee and transportation programs. The savings for federal taxpayers wont help bridge the bitter stalemate over the state budget between the GOP-led state House and Senate, and the Florida DOGE teams are unlikely to find enough major cuts quick enough to break the deadlock. House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, has demanded a permanent sales tax cut to help drive spending cuts. Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is concerned such a big cut the Houses initial budget carried a $5 billion cut to the sales tax would leave the state with too few resources to provide services to a growing population. A framework for a budget deal that included a smaller sales tax cut was upended when DeSantis said hed veto any sales tax reduction over concern it would preempt his push for property tax cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats in the Legislature, fretting drastic cuts, arent sweating the potential effect of the Florida DOGEs efforts, at least not yet. (DeSantis) was trying to mimic the federal government with their DOGE but didnt think it through, much like the DOGE at the federal level which has just taken a chainsaw to federal government, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa said in an interview. But here in Florida theres been, I think, ideas or concepts of a plan for what DOGE will do. But we havent seen any execution. Out of the $878 million touted by DeSantis as the Florida DOGE cuts so far, $558 million was intended for a refugee program funded by the federal government but administered by states. President Donald Trump issued an executive order shuttering the program, which is being challenged in court. But as recently as three years ago the DeSantis administration was asking for more money for the program. From left, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami; Gov. Ron DeSantis; Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula. Money originally requested to deal with refugee health assessment backlog In 2022 the DeSantis administration asked the Legislature for $33.4 million more for the program than originally budgeted to address a backlog of 51,000 refugees waiting on health assessments and immunizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida rejected another $320 million intended for a carbon reduction program under President Joe Biden. About $50 million of that had been issued to the Florida Department of Transportation, but DeSantis had been trying to return that money and reject the rest of the states allocation since 2023. He said after meeting Elon Musk the de facto leader of the federal DOGE earlier in the year, the federal government was able to take it back. DeSantis DOGE executive order directed the effort to probe state colleges and universities. So far the teams have turned up an $800,000 federal grant at the University of West Florida tied to diversity, equity and inclusion programs that are banned in Florida schools. In addition to the colleges and universities, the Florida DOGE order also specifies local governments should be scrutinized for savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DeSantis office, 30 counties and 40 cities and special districts have agreed to work with DOGE teams to find bloat in the budgets. But Florida already audits colleges, universities and local government entities. Moreover, Florida already has a board dedicated to wringing out savings from the state bureaucracy the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force. The 15-member board convenes every four years. Its members are appointed by the governor, House speaker and Senate president. In DeSantis time in office, the panel has met twice and issued two reports: The one issued in 2020 is eight pages long. The latest one, issued in 2024, is five pages long and its suggestions only deal with the states long range planning documents. By comparison, the report issued in 2012 is 136 pages long and contains detailed suggestions on how to save money. It includes an estimate that its recommendations will save the state $3 billion over four years something lacking in the last two reports of the task force. Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis enter the 2025 Florida Heroes Reception hosted at the Governors Mansion in Tallahassee Friday, March 28, 2025. It's unclear how much the new DOGE efforts are anticipated to save Florida taxpayers. Best, the DeSantis spokeswoman, didnt answer when asked if there was a goal for DOGE to find in savings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she said the Florida DOGEs efforts have generated more than 60 actions which are providing improved value to Florida taxpayers, with examples including IT license optimization, workspace right-sizing, and deployment of contract methodologies which improve delivery time and reduce unnecessary costs, Best said. More than 100 additional actions are on the way, she added. DeSantis executive order calls for the DOGE teams to submit a report with recommendations by Sept. 30. Meanwhile, amid the budget deadlock, Driskell said that while drastic cuts are still possible, they wont likely come from the Florida DOGE effort. There's still time on the clock for that. It just seems though DOGE has not been a factor in conversations so far, Driskell said. Because the plans have been so poorly outlined and thinly articulated its difficult to understand how they could have any impact. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tale of two DOGEs: DeSantis budget watchdog barks softly, unlike DCs ST. LOUIS On Thursday afternoon, Ameren Missouri gave two different updates on its power restoration efforts in north St. Louis following the May 16 tornado. The first update, posted on social media just before 1 p.m., said crewmen had restored power to more than 200,000 customers since that day more than 90% of those affected. Approximately 20 minutes later, an Ameren Missouri representative, speaking alongside Mayor Cara Spencer and other city officials, said the utility company had 105,000 outages at the peak of things Friday after the storm cleared out. One could be forgiven for being confused by the large difference in those two numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX 2 News reached out to Ameren Missouri for an explanation and got one. According to a company spokesman, both numbers are correct when viewed through a larger context. One that requires we look at the Ameren Missouris service territory. Screengrab of Ameren Missouri Outage Map at 3 p.m. on May 22, 2025. Everything inside those green lines is part of Ameren Missouris service territory. As you can see, it extends into the Missouri Bootheel in the southeast, as far west as areas north of Kansas City, and to the northeast from Kirksville to the Mississippi River. Both numbers, 200,000 and 105,000, are taken from the entire service territory. Exact outage numbers are not available for the parts of the St. Louis area affected by May 16 tornado: Richmond Heights and Clayton in St. Louis County, and the Central West End, The Ville, Greater Ville, and other neighborhoods in St. Louis City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 105,000 number applies to the immediate aftermath of the severe storms and tornadoes that hit the service territory on Friday, May 16. When Ameren Missouri says it has restored power to 200,000 customers, that is cumulative number; meaning all customers in the service territory from May 16 to Thursday, May 22. The big takeaway is that, for the time being, when you hear about outages, understand that it is in reference to sizeable portion of the entire state and not just the St. Louis area. However, the Ameren Missouri Outage Map does provide up-to-date information for specific neighborhoods and areas experiencing outages. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Getty Images) A powerful statewide labor union was fined $6,000 on Thursday for failing to report more than $430,000 in contributions to candidates and political committees days ahead of the 2024 election. The state Public Disclosure Commission levied the civil penalty on Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW following a short hearing in which the union did not contest the punishment. SEIU represents more than 30,000 nurses, health care workers, and behavioral health workers in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under a stipulated agreement, SEIU 1199NW will pay $3,000 within 30 days of the signing of the final order. The remaining amount is suspended if the union complies with campaign finance laws without significant violations for four years. Lets Go Washington filed the original complaint last November. The group alleged the union did not report a substantial sum of expenditures made in October until after the Nov. 4 election. That violated campaign finance laws intended to give voters campaign spending information before they cast their ballots, the group said. Commission staff investigated and found SEIU1199NW made three expenditures totaling $430,000 on Oct. 3 and two others, totaling $2,400, on Oct. 21, that were not reported until Nov. 11. Those included a pair of $200,000 contributions to the political campaign committees of the state House and Senate Democratic caucuses, according to the commissions online database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, assistant attorney general Susie Giles-Klein, representing the commission staff, said there was no evidence the union acted intentionally to deceive voters. But, she said, this is an established committee and its finance officials should have known the rules. Commissioners deliberated briefly in executive session before emerging and voting 3-0 to impose the penalty. Union officials did not speak at Thursdays hearing. In December, an attorney for SEIU1199NW acknowledged the late filing but denied it was done willfully. The Union regrets its error and supports the work of the PDC and its mission. However, as the error was unintentional, the Union requests that a written warning be used as a remedy for this inadvertent violation, attorney Carson Flora wrote to the commissions compliance officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets Go Washington founder Brian Heywood criticized the commissions action as too lenient for one of the most active political organizations in the state. They knew what they were doing by hiding that information, Heywood said in a statement. This is one of the most serious public disclosure infractions and should be treated as such, but they were given a relatively minor penalty by the PDC despite admitting their guilt. He said it raises questions about whether the campaign watchdog is giving preferential treatment to politically aligned organizations. May 22WASHINGTON A labor union representing employees of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health rallied outside the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday, protesting the department's efforts to close NIOSH offices dedicated to workplace safety for miners, wildland firefighters and other workers in Spokane and other cities. The Trump administration announced on April 1 that it would terminate about 85% of the staff at NIOSH, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in June as part of its effort to downsize the federal government. Members of the American Federation of Government Employees from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia were joined Thursday by members of other unions representing mine workers, steel workers and nurses. "Our work has made jobs safer, communities stronger and industry more productive for future generations, but we must remain vigilant," said Brendan Demich, a union steward from Pittsburgh with AFGE Local 1916, which also represents employees in Spokane. "Our nation calls to increase mining. We simultaneously see pressures to cut the very people working to protect miners. We cannot allow mining safety research and all worker safety research to be sidelined. Now is the time to keep our eyes on the ball. Every advance in safety is written in the lives saved and tragedies averted. We owe it to the memory of those lost and to every miner working today to defend and support NIOSH." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although none of the terminated NIOSH employees from Spokane made the trek to the nation's capital, Demich said in an interview that the workers at the Spokane Research Laboratory have conducted vital research that is specific to work done in the West. The Spokane facility houses the Spokane Mining Research Division, which focuses on hard-rock mines, and the Western States Division, which studies safety in industries including oil and gas extraction, transportation and commercial fishing. On Tuesday, Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, wrote a letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., asking the Health and Human Services chief to reverse his decision to close the Spokane office. In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services said Kennedy "has been working hard to ensure that the critical functions under NIOSH remain intact." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Trump Administration is committed to supporting coal miners and firefighters, and under the Secretary's leadership, NIOSH's essential services will continue as HHS streamlines its operations," the department said. "Ensuring the health and safety of our workforce remains a top priority for the Department." At the rally on Thursday, union members said NIOSH can't continue to fulfill its mission with so many of its employees terminated. Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, gave a rousing speech to remind the NIOSH researchers why their work is important. "I came here today to stand with my brothers and my sisters who work for NIOSH," Roberts said. "Because they have been saving coal miners' lives the entire time NIOSH has been in existence." Orion Donovan Smith's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Newark Airport in New Jersey has been in the headlines lately as it deals with radar outages, staffing shortages, and delays. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), another outage was reported Monday. Major airlines are also cancelling flights going in and out of Newark, including United Airlines. United has cancelled at least one trip from MSY to Newark. It was expected to leave on June 5 around 12 noon. However, customers are now being put on the flight that leaves at 6 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been speaking with major airlines to reduce the number of flights to Newark to increase safety. Were not doing it to delay peoples travel. What were doing is guaranteeing safety, said Duffy. Duffy said fewer planes in the air increases safety. United Airlines is cutting its flights, too. The airline sent its passengers flying to Newark emails that include a video message featuring the Managing Director of Uniteds Flight Training Center, Captain Miles Morgan. Lately, theres been a lot of curiosity about the increase in delays and cancellations at Newark Airport. It is absolutely safe to fly, Morgan said in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video also discusses how pilots are trained to maintain the highest safety standards on every United flight. There are several layers of safety protocols in place, including additional facilities that will provide radar services and a safe handoff to the tower facility in the event of an equipment outage, said Morgan. The outage being discussed in Uniteds video because of the several outages that have occurred at Newark. Duffy is blaming the issue on an outdated air traffic control system. Because the system is old, said Duffy. Duffy also said upgrades are on the way. The FAA has replaced copper lines with fiber lines at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia, said Duffy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politicians hope to fast-track fixes, specifically to outdated radar systems. This situation cannot last. We need all hands on deck at the FAA, said Chuck Schumer, D-NY. The Baton Rouge Regional Airport responded to the issues facing airports nationwide. We havent had any issues, but we are certainly glad to see the increased focus on upgrading the nations aging air traffic control system. The upgrades are long overdue, said Director of Aviation, Mike Edwards. The Trump Administration is asking Congress for $18 billion to make the changes to the air traffic control system nationwide. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. CHICAGO (Reuters) -Flight attendants at United Airlines have reached a tentative agreement with the company for a new contract, their union said on Friday. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents United's flight attendants, said the deal provides industry-leading compensation and retroactive pay. The agreement is estimated to result in a financial gain of 40% for the flight attendants in the very first year of the new contract, it added. United's cabin crews, who filed for federal mediation in 2023, were demanding a double-digit base pay increase, higher pay for time at work including time on the ground, retroactive pay, schedule flexibility and work rule improvements in their new contract. They had authorized their union to call a strike if negotiators failed to reach an agreement. United's cabin crews have not had a raise since 2020. The union said its leaders will meet next week to review the full details of the agreement. If the leadership approves the tentative deal, it will be sent for a ratification vote. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Nia Williams) United Airlines Flight 1169 took off from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport just after 9:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 20 The flight was on its way to Los Angeles International Airport when it turned back to Honolulu about an hour and a half after takeoff United Airlines said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the aircraft "returned safely to Honolulu after a potential security concern was found written on a lavatory mirror" A United Airlines flight to Los Angeles from Honolulu had to turn around after a "potential security concern" was found in the plane's bathroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Fox News, United Airlines Flight 1169 took off from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport just after 9:40 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 20. It was set to travel to Los Angeles International Airport. Flight tracking data from FlightAware, however, shows that the plane turned back to return to the Honolulu airport about an hour and a half after takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday, May 22, that the aircraft, which had 339 passengers and 10 crew members onboard, returned to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport around 1:35 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 21, due to a "security issue." LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Stock photo of the interior of a United Airlines flight Stock photo of the interior of a United Airlines flight Also on Thursday, United Airlines said in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the aircraft "returned safely to Honolulu after a potential security concern was found written on a lavatory mirror." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Law enforcement met the aircraft, and a security sweep was conducted. We rebooked customers on another flight to Los Angeles that departed later that evening," the statement said. Flight passenger Kouhei Massey told Hawaii News Now that everyone on the flight had to wait approximately four hours on the tarmac while bomb experts and dogs screened each person individually as they disembarked the aircraft. "Later I found out through the airport security manager that someone had written on the bathroom mirror that there was a bomb on the plane, said Massey. Fellow passenger Christi Wright said she didn't find out about the security issue until after everyone evacuated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a good thing we didnt know that on the plane. That would have been really bad, said Wright. According to Fox News, Honolulu police referred questions about the investigation to the FBI in Honolulu. 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. The FBI in Honolulu confirmed to PEOPLE via email on Thursday, May 22, that agents did respond to the security incident but could not provide further information "as this is an ongoing matter." Read the original article on People SYDNEY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Four people have died and one is missing in floodwaters in the eastern Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). NSW Police said in a statement that the body of a man was found in a car in floodwaters near the small town of Nana Glen, about 450 km northeast of Sydney, on Friday morning. The vehicle was spotted about 4:30 a.m. by a passing motorist, who notified police. Officers and State Emergency Service (SES) members attended the scene and found the body of a man, believed to be aged in his 70s, inside the vehicle. NSW Police said he appeared to be the sole occupant of the vehicle. It marks the fourth death in the widespread flooding crisis that has hit several NSW regions north of Sydney. NSW Police said on Thursday night that the body of a woman aged in her 60s was recovered from a vehicle in floodwaters near the town of Brooklana, about 430 km northeast of Sydney, on Thursday afternoon. The woman had been missing since Wednesday night when she called authorities for help after her vehicle became stuck. An initial search on Wednesday night was unable to locate the woman or her vehicle. Her body was found in the vehicle when the search resumed on Thursday, a police statement said. The body of a 63-year-old man was found at a flooded property in the hardest-hit Mid North Coast region on Wednesday afternoon, and a 34-year-old man who went missing while driving through floodwaters on Wednesday night was found dead on Thursday morning. A fourth man, aged 49, remains missing after failing to return home from walking near a flooded roadway on Wednesday evening. Rainfall started to ease in the Mid North Coast and neighboring regions on Friday morning following five consecutive days of torrential downpours. Despite the easing conditions, NSW SES superintendent Dallas Burnes told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that authorities are concerned that river levels may rise again and are expecting another "busy day." He said that 678 flood rescue operations have been conducted since Sunday and that about 50,000 people remained isolated by floodwaters on Friday morning. A United Airlines flight carrying 339 passengers and 10 crew members was diverted earlier this week after a "potential security concern" was found written on the bathroom mirror, forcing the pilot to turn the plane around mid-flight, the airline reports. United Airlines 1169 departed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu around 9:40 Tuesday evening, carrying passengers to Los Angeles from the Hawaiian island. But about an hour and a half after taking off, the plane turned back to the Honolulu airport, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. The Federal Aviation Administration told People that the aircraft returned to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport around 1:35 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Wednesday, May 21, due to a "security issue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a passenger interviewed by Hawaii News Now, everyone on the flight was forced to wait on the tarmac for over 4 hours as bomb squad officers searched the plane and interrogated passengers. They were also screened by bomb experts and search dogs as they left the plane. Later I found out through the airport security manager that someone had written on the bathroom mirror that there was a bomb on the plane, passenger Kouhei Massey told the outlet. The FBI in Honolulu confirmed to People via email on Thursday, May 22, that agents did respond to the security incident but could not provide any further information "as this is an ongoing matter," so it is unclear if any arrests have been made at this time. United Flight Forced to Turn Around After 'Threatening' Message Found on Bathroom Mirror first appeared on Men's Journal on May 23, 2025 After a plan by the United Kingdom to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was scrapped last year, Kigali is now in discussions about a similar arrangement with the United States, despite concerns from rights groups. This month, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed that his country is in talks with Washington over a migration deal, but concrete details have been scarce. Analysts say this time, things just might work out for Rwanda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trumps government is actively deporting refugees to third countries like El Salvador and is reportedly in talks with Libya, a country beset by conflict and economic instability that already hosts tens of thousands of refugees. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the administration is looking for countries, preferably distant ones, to accept deported individuals, particularly convicted criminals who have served their sentences. 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 during a cabinet meeting in April, adding that far-off locations would prevent re-entry. Human rights groups have, however, raised concerns that such deals could see refugees from unsafe countries being sent to other unsafe countries or even the very places they fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what we know about the proposed deal: A view of the Hope Hostel in Kigali, one of the locations where the asylum seekers deported from the UK were expected to be housed in a plan that was scrapped in 2024 [File: Atulinda Allan/AP] What is in the proposal? Minister Nduhungirehe, speaking to state TV on May 5, refused to give the full details of Kigalis discussions with Washington but said the two countries were involved in talks at the early stage. We are in bilateral talks, the official said. Its unclear how many refugees could be transferred or when that might commence. Rwandan government spokesperson Yolanda Makolo, in a statement to Al Jazeera, said no details have been formalised. At this point, we are still in discussion and nothing has yet been agreed. One aspect of our approach is based on rehabilitation and integration, as opposed to prison camps or detention centres, she said on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier reporting by local Rwandan media suggested the agreement could see the US pay for a programme to help deported refugees integrate into Rwandan society through stipends and job assistance schemes. The US has not publicly commented on the Rwandan talks. In what looked like a possible model for future deportations, Washington quietly deported an Iraqi man, Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, to Kigali, the Rwandan capital, in April. Although Ameen was granted US refugee status in 2014 and is a resident of Sacramento, the US government under Joe Biden and the previous Trump administration had sought to remove him from the country. In 2021, a court ruling said that Ameen could be deported because he lied about having ties with ISIL (ISIS), even though a cousin he associated with was a member of the armed group. Ameens lawyers appealed the decision, saying he faced execution in Iraq, where he is accused of killing a policeman. A plane that British media said would be the first to transport asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, at Boscombe Down airbase in Wiltshire, England, in 2022 [File: Henry Nicholls/Reuters] Has Rwanda done similar deals in the past, and what happened? In 2024, Rwanda attempted to seal a similar refugee relocation deal with the UK, but it ultimately failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) deal was originally agreed to in 2022 when the UK faced a surge of migrants and refugees arriving on boats. The plan was for Rwanda to process asylum claims and resettle them in the East African nation if the applications were successful. The agreement also stated that the UK was to provide aid funding to Rwanda and pay for the cost of processing and integrating each individual. Each person, in the first year, would cost 45,262 ($61,358). The plan was for an initial five-year period. Individuals not wanting to stay would be flown to their home country by Rwanda. The UK would pay 10,000 ($13,440) for every individual Rwanda returned. However, legal challenges hampered progress as migrant advocates who condemned the move as unethical and unlawful launched several lawsuits. They argued the deal violates the non-refoulement principle of the United Nations Convention on Refugees, which protects people from being forced back to countries where they face serious threats to life or their freedom. At one point, a court order prevented a plane ready to fly the first set of people to Rwanda from taking off. Despite the opposition, parliament passed a bill of approval in April 2024. However, after the new Labour government was elected last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called off the deal, calling it a gimmick by the previous Conservative government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, Rwanda has since 2019 partnered with the African Union and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to temporarily house migrants evacuated from detention centres in Libya, where they faced exploitation, torture and sexual abuse. The UN says that of the more than 2,200 people evacuated to a UN-run facility in Rwandas eastern Gashora village, about 1,600 have been resettled in countries like Sweden, Norway, Canada, France and Belgium. All refugees relocated so far are from African countries. In return, the UN and the European Union provide funding to Rwanda as well as local infrastructure, such as building the villages roads. Burundian refugees queue to receive handout clothes from the UNHCR in a refugee camp in Gashora, Rwanda [File: Dai Kurokawa/EPA] Why is Rwanda keen on a relocation deal? How much does it stand to gain? Analysts say Rwanda is eager to secure a relocation deal for the money it stands to gain, but also to better its standing with Western countries. Although highly praised for transforming from a war-torn nation where a genocide against Tutsis was committed in 1994, to a fast-developing economy, Rwanda is aid-reliant, with about $1bn in aid funding padding close to a fifth of the yearly budget. Most of that money comes from Germany, the US, and Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A deal with a Western country would likely pump needed funds into the country. The UK deal, although now called off, saw Rwanda get paid about 290 million pounds ($389m) in pre-payments. If it had been successful, Kigali would have received about 150,000 ($202,000) for one individual over five years. Makolo, the government spokesperson, did not speak to the financial details of the proposal. African countries, including Rwanda, can be part of the solution to global challenges such as irregular migration, in a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship, she told Al Jazeera. Importantly, analysts say Rwanda is also likely seeking a better standing with its Western allies, many of whom have voiced displeasure over its military actions in the East African region, specifically in the ongoing crisis in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A UN Group of Experts, as well as the US, accuse Rwanda of backing M23, a rebel group that has seized major cities in eastern DRC in deadly offensives since January; Rwanda denies the accusations. M23, which is fighting the Congolese army and allied armed rebels, claims to be defending the rights of Congolese Tutsis, while Rwanda claims Kinshasa backs some former genocidaires now operating as militias in DRC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the US government sanctioned Rwandas regional affairs minister, James Kabarebe, in February over Kigalis support for M23, the Trump administrations tone has noticeably softened in recent weeks, analysts say. This [deal] has something to do with that, of course, Christian Rumu of Amnesty International told Al Jazeera. Rwanda is in a very difficult situation, and by proposing this service, there is certainly a return that it will be expected. So this is political, and we cant close our eyes to that. The US, which is seeking to seal a minerals deal with the resource-rich DRC, is now negotiating peace talks between the DRC and Rwanda. On April 25, Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandas Nduhungirehe met with Rubio and signed an agreement committing to peace negotiations. A member of M23 stands guard in Goma, DRC, in February amid its ongoing offensive in the country [File: Jospin Mwisha/AFP] What do rights groups and the UN say about such deals? The UN and rights groups like Amnesty International have raised fears about the safety and protection of refugees facing deportation to third countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement last June when the UK-Rwanda deal was on the table, UNHCR said that while it has repeatedly commended Rwandas generous offer to host a facility for evacuees from Libya, it stands against shifting responsibility for asylum decisions to the country. UNHCR has been consistently clear on its concerns regarding the serious risks that externalization poses to refugees, including refoulement, and finds that the UK-Rwanda Asylum partnership shifts responsibility for making asylum decisions and for protecting refugees, the statement read. Rumu of Amnesty echoed those observations, pointing out that the US deal would be different from the UNHCR-Libya case because a third-party organisation like the UN wont be involved to properly verify that international asylum protection laws are being followed. However, Rumu added, his opposition is also about the morality of such a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rwanda has open visa policies, so if it was ever an option for these people, they would have gone there in the first place, Rumu said. This is about using peoples suffering. [The US] saying theyll send the most despicable people shows it is rooted in bigotry and not in human dignity. This is about money and Rwanda positioning itself in the eastern DRC crisis but it is people who will suffer for it. Analysts also question how Rwanda can safely accommodate people with criminal records, and if long-term integration with local communities is possible, in a country still grappling with its complex, post-genocide past. Opposition politician Victoire Ingabire told Al Jazeera that its too early to say what effects the US deal might have on Rwanda, but that the country itself is dealing with multiple crises, including taking care of the hundreds of thousands of people displaced since the 1994 genocide, and now, in the fresh fighting in the DRC. Rwanda must first solve both internal and regional challenges so that it stops producing its own migrants, she said. This will prepare Rwanda to receive migrants from other countries in the future. How have Rwandans reacted to the UK and US talks? The voices of Rwandans themselves have not been highlighted in these debates, whether in the failed UK deal or the proposed US partnership. Rights groups, like Human Rights Watch, often criticise Rwanda for what they say is a repressive political environment that restricts freedom of the press and expression, and where people may be hesitant to share their views. Last year, residents close to one Kigali hostel that was meant to host the refugees from the UK, spoke to Al Jazeera at the time the countrys parliament approved the plan, but they spoke anonymously and offered a neutral take. Dativ, a 35-year-old, told Al Jazeera the UK plan sounded like a great idea because money would flow into Rwanda, and asylum seekers would bring more employees into the service sector. Rwandas economy mainly relies on services, tourism and agriculture. Another Rwandan, a 45-year-old man who works as a taxi driver in the same neighbourhood and who refused to give his name, said it could go both ways: Rwandans could have more work, but the relocated asylum seekers could also be competing with locals for job opportunities. CHICAGO The morning after the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington on Wednesday night, university protests in Chicago against the Israel-Hamas war continued. Wednesdays attack was a marked display of antisemitism as Israel ramps up its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Federal authorities told police that the suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, shouted Free, free Palestine when he was taken into custody. Demonstrations have bubbled up locally in Chicago since Oct. 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas came out of Gaza to kill 1,200 people and take 250 hostages. Last spring, University of Chicago students set up an encampment to protest Israels bombardment of Gaza and call on the university to end its partnerships with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday morning, the familiar chants of Free, free Palestine could be heard from a group of student protesters gathered at a protest outside the Rubenstein Forum at the U. of C. The board of trustees met in the building that morning and protesters, wearing keffiyehs and all black, swarmed the administrators as they entered the building in order to symbolically push members of the board to fully disclose any ties to Israel. University police kept the protesters away from the front and back entrances. Shame on you! the protesters shouted back. Nearly 600 days into the war in Gaza, Eman Abdelhadi, assistant professor in the department of comparative human development, claimed the majority of the universitys board of trustees have some kind of personal investment in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a neutral stance, Abdelhadi said. This university claims institutional neutrality, but it is actively on one side of the conflict. Abdelhadi referenced the encampments that popped up at universities across the country, including in Chicago, this time last year. This movement is not going away, Abdelhadi said. People are going to persist in their protests. Students declined to comment about the Washington shooting. The protest slowly died down over the course of the morning. The states housing division failed to properly manage and oversee its emergency shelter program while it experienced record-high demand in recent years, according to analysts in State Auditor Diana DiZoglios office. Beginning in December 2022, the states Emergency Assistance shelter network began to see skyrocketing numbers of families seeking housing. To keep up with the demand, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (ELHOC) and its precursor under former Gov. Charlie Baker, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development placed hundreds of families temporarily in hotels and motels around the state. However, according to the 74-page audit report released earlier this week, state officials signed unlawful emergency contracts with some service providers and failed to adequately oversee and document their agreements with others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report did not include an overall amount of money that was wasted due to the lack of contract and program oversight. Below are four main takeaways from the auditors report: 1. Emergency contracts did not follow the proper process as required by law Two of the many contracts EOHLC issued to keep up with the shelter demand did not follow the procurement process required for state agencies. Though EOHLC argued that it was justified in signing these contracts because of the emergency situation, the State Auditors Office disagreed. Typically, state agencies are required to solicit bids from prospective contractors to keep contracts fair and reasonably priced. However, if the delays from this process would cause unnecessary harm, they are able to sign short-term agreements while the proper process is followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The auditors wrote in their report that EOHLC should have been able to foresee the incoming stress on the system and prepared accordingly before emergency measures became necessary. This would have allowed for competition among vendors with improved pricing, terms and fairness, the report says. Emergency contracting is designed to buy time to conduct a fair, legitimate procurement process under normal procurement rules. This did not occur. In addition, the auditors wrote, the emergency contracts lasted for too long, and should have gone for weeks, not several months. One of the contracts at issue was with East Boston-based Spinelli Ravioli Manufacturing Co. for food delivery to hotels and motels being used as shelters that did not have culinary facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other contract that the SAO deemed improper was with Mercedes Car Company, now known as Pilgrim Transit, which offered transportation to shelter residents for necessary travel to destinations such as medical appointments. The housing agency vehemently disagreed with these findings, with Secretary Ed Augustus writing in an official response letter that the analysis was fundamentally wrong and unfounded. EOHLC signed two other emergency contracts in 2023, with Ascentria Community Services and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay; though the report mentioned these two contracts, it did not list any issues with them. 2. State overpaid for services, but its not clear by how much One of the main concerns of the report was that EOHLCs procedures may have led to unnecessary costs, due to both a failure to search for cheaper options and simple administrative errors and oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the food contract with Spinelli, the auditors wrote that the catering company had initially offered a payment option that would have been a flat fee for the services they would provide, but that EOHLC had not inquired further about what this flat fee would be. The agency also could have considered contracting with multiple food providers around the state to decrease delivery costs, rather than having all meals come from the East Boston facility, they wrote. Auditor analysts also took issue with the costs of the deal with Mercedes Car Company, comparing the trip fees to standard taxi rates listed on the Boston Police Department website. A taxi rider would pay $2.60 for the first one-seventh of a mile, then 40 cents per mile afterward. In contrast, trips with the car company had a base fee of $140 for the first person and $40 for each additional person, and $498 for the first person in a wheelchair van. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transportation service fees ... are considerably higher than the typical rates observed in the taxicab or ride-sharing industry. In fact, they align more closely with the pricing structures of executive car services, the report says. In one instance, the state was billed $140 for a trip that lasted 223 feet within a single parking lot. They also noted that EOHLC could have worked with the MBTA or regional transit authorities to provide transportation at a lower cost. However, the report determined that it was impossible to know how much money the agency could have saved if it had not signed the emergency contracts, because EOHLC did not take the time to find out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the audit revealed that the state was overcharged for 9.6% of food deliveries from Spinelli, for a total overcharge of $4,136 (This was offset, however, by additional deliveries where the state was undercharged, for a net overcharge of $2,306). The overcharges were due to inadequate oversight of invoices the agency received, the auditors wrote. EOHLC disagreed with these findings, saying that the report left out relevant context. In particular, for the transportation contract, the agency said it needed very specialized services, but also encouraged shelter residents to use public transportation when and where possible. The transportation service needed to be available on demand with short notice, able to travel to locations not near public transit, and able to accommodate people with disabilities and families with small children requiring booster seats. Augustus noted that when EOHLC did solicit bids for competitive transportation contracts, they received no satisfactory proposals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of satisfactory bids received in response to our competitive procurement speaks volumes to the extremely unique and challenging nature of this service, he wrote. As for the overcharges, he argued that with a nearly $10 million contract, the $2,306 in net overcharges was just 0.02% of the total. 3. Documentation of procurement decisions was lacking Nearly all of the reports findings dealt, directly or indirectly, with a lack of documentation for decisions EOHLC made when administering the emergency assistance program. For the emergency contracts, the agency did not sufficiently document how it made the decisions to hire those companies, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EOHLC also did not have documentation of subcontractors that worked with some of their contracted service providers, and for some charges for various services that the auditors questioned, the agency could not provide documentation to verify them. Without proper records, EOHLC cannot verify whether services were provided according to contractual terms, nor can it ensure that payments were appropriate and aligned with the agreed-upon budgets, the report says. It increases the risk of improper use of public funds and a lack of accountability for the services provided. EOHLC acknowledged that it could have done more to keep up its documentation, and Augustus wrote that the agency was already committed to updating its policies to do so in the future. 4. Some issues in the report have already improved EOHLC wrote in its official response to the report that it had already updated its invoice review process to increase oversight of payments to vendors, one of several changes the agency has made since the audit period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has also clarified some of its policies on how funding is used and restructured its shelter diversion program to have unique contracts for a more streamlined process. Beyond internal policies, however, Augustus said the state has made a number of changes to the shelter program, introducing a maximum number of families that can be served, new eligibility requirements and a cap on the length of time a family can stay in a shelter. This has resulted in fewer families staying in shelters and lower costs. Gov. Maura Healey announced the day before the audit report was released that all hotel and motel shelters would be closed by summer. As a result of these and other changes implemented by Healey, for the first time since July 2023, the number of families in shelters has fallen back below 5,000, Augustus wrote. These all represent significant progress toward establishing a Right to Shelter system for families where stays are rare, brief, and non-recurring, and costs are financially sustainable to the Commonwealth, he added. DiZoglios office will review EOHLCs progress in six months, according to the typical audit process, according to the report. More on housing Read the original article on MassLive. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Theres a new spot to buy name-brand clothes for less in Sioux Falls. Shoppers eager to expand their wardrobes filled the line of excitement outside Uptown Cheapskate Thursday morning. Falls Art Market lands near Levitt Im just looking for some more summer clothes. I feel like its just nice to refresh your closet every season, so hopefully theyll have a lot of in-season stuff, shopper Izzy Bosch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others in line were simply along for the ride. My wife has been hearing about this place for weeks now, shopper Jacob Scholting said. We didnt know if there was going to be a line or not, so we kind of waited a little bit, and then she saw a line, and shes like, we need to go. Inside the resale clothing store, shoppers can find mens and womens name-brand clothing, shoes and accessories for lower prices. Another thrift store will only help the community because its not like everyone can get brand new clothes, so its good to have that medium price line to buy cheaper, Scholting said. If youre not in the mood for buying, you can get paid to bring in your lightly used items. The store looks for trending styles that fit the current season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I heard about this store opening and they were accepting clothes. So, I sold some clothes and got cash back right away, shopper Hannah Hammer said. Its super easy. Uptown Cheapskate is located on 41st Street in the Western Mall in Sioux Falls. Its open Monday through Wednesday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vintage venue thats Totally Rad at PREMIER Center Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 hawk in a New Jersey town has learned to use a neighborhood traffic light to hunt more effectively, a study published Thursday found. The study in Frontiers of Ethology represents further evidence of how certain bird species have adapted to urban life in surprising ways. The behavior described here is an impressive feat of intelligence, the author wrote, going a long way to explain the species ability to successfully colonize such unusual and dangerous environment as [an] urban landscape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Past research has uncovered crows that use cars to process food, carrion-eaters adapted to await fresh roadkill, and jackdaws that pick dead insects from the front panels of cars. The findings also follow reports of a Houston suburb terrorized by a dive-bombing red-shouldered hawk thought to be protecting her chicks. The behavior in this study, however, is particularly complex. As lead author Vladimir Dinets of the University of Tennessee described in a Friday editorial, a Coopers hawk of West Orange, N.J. learned how pedestrian crosswalks backed up cars beside an ideal hunting ground creating a perfect spot for an ambush. That intersection had a pedestrian crossing which caused one lane to be open and the intersecting lane to have a red light for longer than usual, which was marked for blind pedestrians by a loud tone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the paper, Dinets described how, while stuck in traffic, he noticed a young Coopers hawk drop out of a tree, fly low along the line of backed up cars, and dive on a bird by one of the houses. That house, he noted, was special: the family that lived there often ate dinner outside, and their breadcrumbs and other leftovers attracted a small flock of birds sparrows, doves, and sometimes starlings. Thats what the hawk was after. But he noticed something even more interesting: The hawk only attacked when the car queue was long enough to provide cover all the way to the small tree, and that only happened after someone had pressed the pedestrian crossing button. As soon as the sound signal was activated, the raptor would fly from somewhere into the small tree, wait for the cars to line up, and then strike. Because Coopers hawks are migratory, he noted, this meant the juvenile hawk had figured out this hunting hack just a few weeks into its time in the new city, and it had already figured out how to use traffic signals and patterns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities are constantly changing, and the hunting spot didnt last forever: The family moved, taking with them the breadcrumb supply, and around the same time the safe-crossing tone stopped working. I havent seen any Coopers hawks around here ever since, Dinets wrote. But those hawks in particular, he noted, are one of the few species of birds of prey like skyscraper-roosting peregrine falcons and squirrel-hunting red tailed hawks that have adapted to live in cities. I think my observations show that Coopers hawks manage to survive and thrive there, at least in part, by being very smart, 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 The Hill. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After the City of Portland was targeted by a $6.7 million fraud scheme earlier this year, the United States Attorneys Office has announced it is taking action to return the lost funds. According to the City of Portland, they originally became aware of the scam back in February, when someone posing as a contracted employee with the city gained access to a payment system, then rerouted the contractors bank information to the scam account. Portland city workers avert strike after reaching tentative agreement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USAO said the city then notified law enforcement in March when the contractors intended payment which was set aside for use in the Bull Run Filtration Project instead went to an unauthorized bank account. Initially, the city filed a lawsuit against a New York law firm whose account held the deposited funds, Portland officials said. According to that suit, a man going by the alias John Lisman allegedly fraudulently presented himself as a vendor for the Bull Run Filtration Project and manipulated city officials into rerouting the $6.7 million. However, the lawsuit was dropped after the law firm provided information supporting that they were also a victim, according to the city. Ongoing security concerns spark closure of West Burnside burger joint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 16, the USAO and FBI obtained a search warrant and officials successfully seized the funds, which were then placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, USAO said. Now, USAO announced Friday they have filed a civil forfeiture action to recover the funds alleged to be the proceeds from the fraud scheme. They add this will allow the government to move quickly to seize the stolen funds, seek legal ownership of them, then promptly return them to the victims. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The US has condemned Russias continued brutal war against Ukraine in a surprise statement after a G7 summit. Finance ministers from the group of large, industrialised economies also promised to ramp up sanctions on Moscow if Vladimir Putin continued to drag his feet over a ceasefire. Their joint communique marked a significant change in policy from the Trump administration, which had refused to place sole blame on Russia for the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also comes after Donald Trump, the US president, and his closest aides suggested that they could be ready to walk away as peace mediators, having failed to secure a ceasefire in his first 100 days in the Oval Office. We condemn Russias continued brutal war against Ukraine and commend the immense resilience from the Ukrainian people and economy, the G7 finance ministers said after a three-day summit in Banff, Canada, which had been attended by Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary. The G7 remains committed to unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence toward a just and durable peace. The statement appeared to fly in the face of previous positions adopted by the White House since efforts to end the conflict began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous unilateral statements by the US described it as the Ukraine-Russia crisis, and a leaked peace plan proposed by Washington involved Kyiv ceding swathes of its territory to Moscow as the price of peace. But in recent weeks, Europeans have been buoyed by the changing rhetoric of the Trump administration as Putin continues to resist his offer of an unconditional ceasefire to create diplomatic headroom for peace talks. Credit: Reuters The US president reached an agreement with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine that Moscow should be punished with severe sanctions if it continues to drag its feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, European hopes were diminished when Mr Trump praised Putin and called for increased US trade with Russia instead of delivering him a stark warning in a recent phone call between the two leaders. EU countries and the UK responded by unveiling new packages of economic sanctions against Moscow. The G7 statement also promised to keep Russian assets frozen and explore new punitive measures. If such a ceasefire is not agreed, we will continue to explore all possible options, including options to maximise pressure such as further ramping up sanctions, it said. The communique was welcomed with relief in Brussels. Thank God, said one Western official working on Ukraine policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as Russia on Friday night launched another aerial attack on Kyiv, injuring at least eight people with a wave of drones and missiles. 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. U.S. security experts have reportedly uncovered undocumented communication devices inside Chinese-made solar power inverters hardware thats widely used to support renewable energy infrastructure. According to a Reuters report, citing sources familiar with the matter, rogue communication devices that are not listed in product documents have been found in some inverters and batteries supplied by multiple Chinese manufacturers. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Power inverters are used to connect solar panels to electricity grids. Though inverters are designed to allow remote access for maintenance purposes, utility companies typically install firewalls to block unapproved access. But experts warned Reuters that using the rogue components to circumvent those protections and remotely shut down inverters or change their settings could potentially destabilize power grids, damage energy infrastructure and trigger widespread blackouts. That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid, one source told Reuters. A spokesperson for Chinas embassy in Washington told the news service: We oppose the generalization of the concept of national security, distorting and smearing China's infrastructure achievements. Reuters says the U.S. Department of Energy acknowledged there were challenges with manufacturers disclosing and documenting functionalities of emerging technologies. A spokesperson also noted, while this functionality may not have malicious intent, it is critical for those procuring to have a full understanding of the capabilities of the products received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news service says both sources declined to name the manufacturers of the inverters and batteries with the extra components, and would not say how many they had found. The idea that a foreign-made component quietly embedded in clean energy infrastructure could one day be used to disrupt the U.S. power grid may sound like science fiction. But it can be a real threat to security experts. Individuals may be left wondering what they can do to prepare. Here are a few practical steps. Find a backup power source The best way to minimize the impact of a power outage is to have a backup power source, such as a generator. You probably wont be able to power the entire house on a backup generator, but it should allow you to run some essential appliances such as a fridge when the grid is down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, generators are big-ticket items and not every household is willing to invest in one. If you just want to charge electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, you can get a power bank. Power banks store energy and come in different capacities. The bigger the capacity, the more charges it can provide. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method to make big profits off you and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Build a blackout-ready supply stash The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has previously recommended gathering enough essentials to sustain your household for at least 72 hours. That includes food, water, flashlights, batteries and any necessary medications. Without electricity, your refrigerator wont keep food cold for long. Freezers can preserve food a bit longer, but in a prolonged blackout, spoilage is likely. To stay prepared, stock your pantry with non-perishable items that require little to no preparation. Canned goods like beans, vegetables and soup are reliable staples. Dried fruits, nuts, crackers, powdered milk and cereal also tend to have a reasonably long shelf life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You may want to get some bottled water, too, just in case something happens with the water supply during the power outage. Stay informed Sign up for alerts from your local utility company and emergency management office many offer real-time updates via text, email or mobile apps to keep you informed during outages. But dont rely solely on digital channels. If your internet or mobile phone service goes down, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio can still access critical updates. Be sure to include one in your emergency kit, along with extra batteries, so youre not left in the dark when it matters most. Is your portfolio prepared? Being ready for a blackout isnt just about flashlights and canned goods its also about financial resilience. Geopolitical risks remain elevated, and markets have been anything but steady, with repeated shocks sending investors scrambling for cover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why some investors have turned to assets deemed shockproof investments that can hold their value, or even gain, during times of uncertainty. Ray Dalio, founder of the worlds largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, recently highlighted the role of one time-tested asset in a resilient portfolio. People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio, Dalio told CNBC in February. When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier. Long viewed as the ultimate safe haven, gold isnt tied to any single country, currency or economy. It cant be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in driving up its value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past 12 months, gold prices have surged by more than 35%. Today, there are plenty of ways to gain exposure to gold. Investors can buy gold bullion many online platforms offer a wide selection of gold and silver bars and coins at fair prices own shares of gold mining companies, invest in gold ETFs, and even tap into potential tax advantages through a gold IRA. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. (Reuters) The United States said on Thursday it would impose sanctions on Sudan after determining that its government used chemical weapons in 2024 during the armys conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, a charge the army denied. Measures against Sudan will include limits on US exports and US government lines of credit and will take effect around June 6, after Congress was notified on Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC, Bruce said, referring to the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty banning the use of such weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Sudan rejected the move, and described the allegations as false. This interference, which lacks any moral or legal basis, deprives Washington of what is left of its credibility and closes the door to any influence in Sudan, government spokesperson Khalid al-Eisir said on Friday. The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 from a power struggle between the army and the RSF, unleashing waves of ethnic violence, creating the worlds worst humanitarian crisis and plunging several areas into famine. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and about 13 million displaced. Washington in January imposed sanctions on army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing him of choosing war over negotiations to bring an end to the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US has also determined members of the RSF and allied militias committed genocide and imposed sanctions on some of the groups leadership, including RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. The New York Times reported in January, citing four senior US officials, that the Sudanese army had used chemical weapons at least twice during the conflict, deploying the weapons in remote areas of the country. Two officials briefed on the matter said the chemical weapons appeared to use chlorine gas, which can cause lasting damage to human tissue, the New York Times reported at the time. Bruces statement said the US had formally determined on April 24 under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 that the government of Sudan used chemical weapons last year, but did not specify what weapons were used, precisely when or where. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation, Bruce said. The intention here is to distract from the recent campaign in Congress against the UAE, a Sudanese diplomatic source said. The source said the US could have gone to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the claims and neglected to do so. Sudans government is aligned with the army. It cut diplomatic relations with the UAE this month, saying the Gulf power was aiding the RSF with supplies of advanced weaponry in the devastating conflict that broke out following disagreements over the integration of the two forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UAE has denied the allegations and says it supports humanitarian and peace efforts. US congressional Democrats sought last Thursday to block arms sales to the United Arab Emirates over its alleged involvement in the war. Sudan said this week that the United Arab Emirates was responsible for an attack on Port Sudan this month, accusing the Gulf state for the first time of direct military intervention in the war. The UAE denied the allegations in a statement and said it condemned the attack. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LONDON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed an agreement transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The deal formally cedes British control of the Chagos Archipelago to the Mauritian government. Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will lease the Diego Garcia military base -- located within the archipelago -- back to Britain and the United States. Starmer said the full rationale behind the decision remains "highly classified." He noted that failure to reach a settlement could have led Mauritius to pursue legal action at international courts, where Britain was likely to lose, potentially facing additional penalties. The signing proceeded after a temporary injunction issued by the British High Court early Thursday was lifted later in the day. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the agreement in a social media post, describing it as "a historic deal." By AJ Vicens (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday unsealed charges against a Russian national accused of leading the development and deployment of malicious software that infected thousands of computers over more than a decade. Rustam Rafailevich Gallyamov, 48, of Moscow, led a group of cybercriminals who developed and deployed Qakbot, a name for software that could be used to infect computers with additional malware, such as ransomware, as well as to conscript the computer into a botnet - or group of compromised computers and devices controlled remotely - to be used for additional malicious purposes, according to a DOJ statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors also made public a complaint seeking the forfeiture of more than $24 million in cryptocurrency and traditional funds seized over the course of the investigation, the DOJ said. The charges of conspiracy and conspiracy to commit wire fraud come a year and a half after an international law enforcement operation disrupted Qakbot infrastructure. Gallyamov continued cybercriminal activities after the disruption, prosecutors said, as recently as January 2025. Gallyamov did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The DOJ statement did not indicate his whereabouts. Also on Thursday, federal prosecutors in Los Angeles unsealed charges against 16 people accused of developing and deploying the DanaBot malware, which was used to infect more than 300,000 computers worldwide and cause at least $50 million in damage, according to a DOJ statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DanaBot charges are part of Operation Endgame, an international law enforcement and private-sector campaign targeting cybercriminal operators and infrastructure around the world. DanaBot emerged in 2018 as malware to steal banking credentials and other information, but evolved to enable wider information stealing and establish access for follow-on activity, according to researchers with Lumens Black Lotus Labs, who participated in Operation Endgame. DanaBot remained highly operational through 2025, the researchers wrote in a blog post, with roughly 1,000 daily victims across more than 40 countries. (Reporting by AJ Vicens in Detroit; Additional reporting by Anton Zverev in London; Editing by Matthew Lewis) A US federal indictment unsealed Thursday accused a Russian man of leading a global cybercrime ring that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to victims around the world. The crime group victimized people throughout the US and in various sectors of the economy, according to the indictment, from a dental office in Los Angeles to a music company in Tennessee. In announcing the charges, the Justice Department said it was working to return to victims more than $24 million in cryptocurrency allegedly stolen by the Russian man and seized by the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the latest installment in a yearslong US law enforcement effort to make it more difficult for Russia-based criminals to extort and disrupt US critical infrastructure providers with ransomware attacks. On Wednesday, the Justice Department said it had seized the computer systems behind another prolific hacking tool whose mastermind is also allegedly based in Russia. Russia and the US dont have an extradition treaty, and the Kremlin has been reluctant to pursue hackers on Russian soil as long as they dont attack Russian organizations, according to US officials. The man indicted Thursday, Rustam Rafailevich Gallyamov, a 48-year-old based in Moscow, allegedly developed a piece of malicious software in 2008 that has been used to infect hundreds of thousands of computers in the US and globally. The malware, called Qakbot, was used in damaging ransomware attacks on health care agencies and government agencies worldwide, prosecutors have said. Gallyamov often received a cut of the proceeds from ransomware attacks that other hackers carried out using Qakbot, according to the Justice Department. For the ransomware attack on the Tennessee music company, he received the equivalent of more than $300,000, the indictment says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN has requested comment from the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC, on the charges. The indictment provides a window into the resilient career path of an alleged cybercriminal. In 2023, the FBI and European law enforcement agencies dismantled a massive network of computers infected with Qakbot and seized millions of dollars belonging to the hackers. Gallyamov responded to that bust by looking for other ways to make his malicious software available to cybercriminals conducting ransomware attacks, Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office, said in a statement on Thursday. Gallyamov and associates allegedly started spam bombing companies, or flooding their inboxes with subscription to newsletters, and then posing as IT support to offer to fix the problem, the indictment says. The State Department in 2023 offered $10 million for information on people behind Qakbot. Its unclear if any confidential tips to the State Department led to Gallyamovs indictment. In some cases, federal prosecutors unseal an indictment when they arent sure if a defendant will travel out of a country that doesnt have an extradition treaty with the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Gallyamovs primary customers was allegedly a ransomware gang known as Conti, which made at least $25 million from a flurry of attacks in a fourth-month span in 2021, according to crypto-tracking firm Elliptic. The ransomware gang used Gallyamovs hacking tool in attacks on a Wisconsin manufacturing firm and Nebraska tech company in the fall of 2021, according to the indictment. The last mention of the Conti ransomware gang in the indictment is in late January 2022. A month later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and a Ukrainian leaked a trove of data on Conti in revenge for its support for the Russian government, forcing the criminal network to reconstitute. But Gallyamov allegedly moved on to other customers. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Parisa Hafezi and John Irish DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian and U.S. delegations wrapped up a fifth round of talks in Rome on Friday and signs of some limited progress emerged in the negotiations aimed at resolving a decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Despite both Washington and Tehran taking a tough stance in public ahead of the talks on Iran's uranium enrichment, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said there was potential for progress after Oman made several proposals during the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have just completed one of the most professional rounds of talks ... We firmly stated Iran's position ... The fact that we are now on a reasonable path, in my view, is itself a sign of progress," Araqchi told state TV. "The proposals and solutions will be reviewed in respective capitals ... and the next round of talks will be scheduled accordingly." A senior U.S. official said the talks lasted more than two hours and were both direct and indirect with Omani mediators. "The talks continue to be constructive we made further progress, but there is still work to be done. Both sides agreed to meet again in the near future. We are grateful to our Omani partners for their continued facilitation," the official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes are high for both sides. President Donald Trump wants to curtail Tehran's potential to produce a nuclear weapon that could trigger a regional nuclear arms race and perhaps threaten Israel. The Islamic Republic, for its part, wants to be rid of devastating sanctions on its oil-based economy. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X the talks between Araqchi and Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had ended "with some but not conclusive progress". Ahead of the talks, Araqchi wrote on X: "Zero nuclear weapons = we Do have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal. Time to decide." Among remaining stumbling blocks are Tehran's refusal to ship abroad its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium - possible raw material for nuclear bombs - or engage in discussions over its ballistic missile programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diplomats have said reaching a concrete deal before the summer would technically be impossible given the complexities of an accord. In the meantime, a senior Iranian official involved in nuclear talks with the U.S. said "if Washington drops its 'zero enrichment' demand, a political agreement is feasible." STUMBLING BLOCKS U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington was working to reach an accord that would allow Iran to have a civil nuclear energy programme but not enrich uranium, while acknowledging that this "will not be easy". Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on matters of state, rejected demands to stop refining uranium as "excessive and outrageous", warning that such talks were unlikely to yield results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran says it is ready to accept some limits on enrichment, but needs watertight guarantees that Washington would not renege on a future nuclear accord. Trump in his first term in 2018 ditched a 2015 nuclear pact between major powers and Iran. Since returning to office this year, he has restored a "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran and reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions that continue to hobble the Iranian economy. Iran responded by escalating enrichment far beyond the 2015 pact's limits. Wendy Sherman, a former U.S. undersecretary who led the U.S. negotiating team that reached the 2015 agreement, earlier said that Tehran presents enrichment as a matter of sovereignty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think it is possible to get a deal with Iran where they literally dismantle their programme, give up their enrichment, even though that would be ideal," she told Reuters. The cost of failure of the talks could be high. Iran's arch-foe Israel sees Iran's nuclear programme as an existential threat and says it would never allow the clerical establishment to obtain nuclear weapons. Tehran says it has no such ambitions and the purposes are purely civilian. Israel's strategic affairs minister and the head of its foreign intelligence service, Mossad, were also due to be in Rome for talks with the U.S. negotiators, a source aware of the matter told Reuters. Araqchi said on Thursday that Washington would bear legal responsibility if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear installations, following a CNN report that Israel might be preparing strikes. (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai and John Irish in Paris; additional reporting by Steve Holland; writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Alexandra Hudson, Mark Heinrich, Kevin Liffey and Andrew Heavens) Both the U.S. and Iran indicated Friday that the two countries are moving closer to reaching a new deal regarding Tehrans expanding nuclear program. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who is the acting mediator, said the fifth round of talks in Rome ended with some but not conclusive progress. We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed towards the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement, Al Busaidi wrote on social platform X after the Friday meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both President Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the State Departments policy planning director Michael Anton, who oversees the U.S. technical team, participated in both direct and indirect discussions during the more than two-hour meeting, according to a senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. The talks continue to be constructive we made further progress, but there is still work to be done. Both sides agreed to meet again in the near future, the U.S. official added. We are grateful to our Omani partners for their continued facilitation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Tehrans media that Al Busaidi outlined a few ideas to bring the two sides closer during the meeting but that the deliberations are too complex to be resolved in just two or three meetings. I am hopeful that in the next one or two rounds especially given the better understanding of the Islamic Republics positions we can reach solutions that allow the talks to progress, Araghchi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the fifth meeting between Iranian and U.S. officials. Three rounds of talks have taken place in Muscat, Oman, while just one other, aside from Fridays meeting, has taken place in Rome. The two sides continue to be at odds over nuclear enrichment. Iran has said it would only enter into another deal with the U.S. if it is still allowed to have domestic enrichment capabilities, something Washington disagrees with. The discussions are intended to limit Tehrans nuclear program. In return, the U.S. would lift sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. Trump has previously threatened to take military action against Iran if talks crumble. Israel, the U.S.s ally in the Middle East, has also threatened to strike Irans nuclear sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With their stockpile of uranium, Irans top officials have indicated they could pursue the development of a nuclear weapon. Iran almost certainly is not producing nuclear weapons, but Iran has undertaken activities in recent years that better position it to produce them, if it chooses to do so, a 45-page report published earlier this month by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) said. The DIA said in the report that since 2019, Iran has conducted activities that exceed previous limits set by the 2015 Obama administration-negotiated deal, including increasing the size and enrichment levels of its uranium stockpile, producing small quantities of uranium metal, restricting International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring to pre-[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] levels, and expanding uranium enrichment at its Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the joint plan in 2018 during his first term in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DETROIT (AP) The U.S. Justice Department's new pardon attorney said he is going to take a hard look at two men who are serving long prison terms for leading a conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. On the pardon front, we can't leave these guys behind, Ed Martin Jr. said this week on The Breanna Morello Show. In my opinion these are victims just like January 6, Martin said, referring to 1,500 people pardoned by President Donald Trump for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrests of Barry Croft Jr., Adam Fox and other anti-government extremists rocked the home stretch of the 2020 presidential election. Authorities said the cabal wanted to grab Whitmer, a Democrat, at her vacation home and start a civil war. Croft, 49, and Fox, 42, were portrayed as leaders of the scheme. They were convicted of conspiracy in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2022. Croft, a trucker from Delaware, was also found guilty of a weapons charge. Croft was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison, while Fox, a Grand Rapids man, got a 16-year term. They are being held at a prison in Colorado the most secure in the federal system. Whitmer was never physically harmed. Martin called it a fed-napping plot, not a kidnapping plot, apparently referring to the numerous undercover FBI agents and informants who had infiltrated the group and built the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said it looked like the weaponization of government. I have complete confidence that were going to get a hard look at it. The president will want to know the facts about it," Martin said, pledging to get on it as quick as I can, I promise. An email seeking comment from Whitmer's office wasn't immediately returned Friday. In 2020, she blamed Trump for stoking mistrust and fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn right-wing extremists. Later, when he was out of office, Trump cast doubt on the kidnapping scheme, calling it a fake deal. Editor's note: The story was updated with additional information reported by Ukraine's General Staff. Ukraine has confirmed a strike on an industrial zone in the city of Yelets in Russia's Lipetsk Oblast overnight on May 23, that hit a factory making parts for Russian weapons including Iskander ballistic missiles. "The target was hit... and a series of explosions were recorded," Ukraine's General Staff said in a post on social media, adding: "A fire broke out on the territory of the facility." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the factory which is under U.S. and EU sanctions is Russia's "only manufacturer of batteries for glide and correction modules installed on aircraft bombs," and also produces parts for ballistic and cruise missiles. "The shutdown of the Energia public company may leave some of the Russian occupiers' military equipment and weapons without critical batteries," the General Staff said. The extent of the damage to the factory was still being assessed, it added. The General Staff did not specify what type of weapon was used in the attack, but earlier on May 23 Lipetsk Oblast Governor Igor Artamonov said Ukrainian drones were behind the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos on social media purported to show blasts and fires following the strikes. Artamonov said that drone debris fell on a residential building in Yelets, injuring eight people. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the reports. Ukraine regularly launches drone attacks against Russian military and industrial facilities in the rear to undermine Russia's ability to wage its all-out war. In recent weeks, Kyiv has stepped up its drone attacks on Russia, sending hundreds of drones flying toward Moscow. While no direct hits have been reported, the attacks have caused temporary closures of multiple airports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Russian air defenses have downed 112 Ukrainian drones overnight on May 23, including 24 over Moscow and one over Lipetsk oblasts. Read also: Ukraines new drone strategy cripple Moscows airports, make Russian population pay Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The News The US said it would impose sanctions on Sudans government over its alleged use of chemical weapons in the ongoing civil war. Washington said it would limit US exports and credit lines, further weakening an economy that has roughly halved from its peak a decade ago. The announcement came shortly after the Sudanese Army announced that it had pushed the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary out of Khartoum, a significant landmark in the years-long war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However the RSF which has been accused of war crimes in the conflict remains a formidable foe, largely on account of the drones it has received from allied nations. Rather than ending, Sudans civil war is moving to the skies, The Economist wrote. The United States will impose sanctions on Sudan after determining that the countrys military used chemical weapons last year while fighting against rival paramilitary forces. The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement on Thursday. Bruce said the US Congress has been notified of the State Departments decision, and sanctions which include restrictions on US exports to Sudan and a block on access to US government lines of credit would be imposed around June 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sudans Information Minister Khalid al-Aiser rejected the allegations as baseless, saying they were nothing but political blackmail and a deliberate falsification of the facts. Bruces statement did not include further details about when and where the chemical weapons were used by Sudanese government forces. The New York Times reported in January that government forces had used chemical weapons on at least two occasions in remote parts of Sudan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The report cited unnamed US officials who said the weapon may have been chlorine gas, which can lead to severe respiratory pain and death. Sudans army and the RSF have been locked in a civil war since April 2023 following a power struggle between the two sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises and a famine across Sudan, killing thousands and displacing 13 million people. The US has also previously accused the RSF and its allies of committing genocide, and sanctioned top leaders like the RSF head, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. In January, the US also sanctioned Sudans military chief and de facto head of state, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, for refusing to participate in international peace talks. BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States not to use the Philippines to stir trouble in the South China Sea, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday, noting that the Philippine side should immediately cease its provocations and violations on Tiexian Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao island group. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a media query about a post from the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines on X, which was related to recent law enforcement operations of Chinese coast guard vessels against Philippine fishing boats near Tiexian Jiao. The Philippines has repeatedly dispatched personnel to land illegally on Tiexian Jiao, seriously infringing upon China's sovereignty and violating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Mao said, noting that China's countermeasures are legitimate and legal. China urges the U.S. side to stop using the Philippines to stir trouble in the South China Sea, and to cease undermining peace and tranquility there, Mao said. "The Philippine side should immediately cease its provocations and violations on Tiexian Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao, or China will respond resolutely," she added. By Daphne Psaledakis and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration issued orders on Friday that it said would effectively lift sanctions on Syria, after President Donald Trump this month pledged to unwind the measures to help the country rebuild after a devastating civil war. The Treasury Department issued a general license that authorizes transactions involving the interim Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as well as the central bank and state-owned enterprises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general license, known as GL25, "authorizes transactions prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, effectively lifting sanctions on Syria," the Treasury said in a statement. "GL25 will enable new investment and private sector activity consistent with the Presidents America First strategy," the statement said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also issued a 180-day waiver under the Caesar Act to ensure that sanctions do not obstruct investment and to facilitate the provision of electricity, energy, water and sanitation and enable humanitarian efforts, he said in a statement. "Todays actions represent the first step in delivering on the Presidents vision of a new relationship between Syria and the United States," Rubio said, adding that Trump had made clear his expectation that sanctions relief would be followed by action by the Syrian government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House said after Trump met Sharaa last week that the president asked Syria to adhere to several conditions in exchange for sanctions relief, including telling all foreign militants to leave Syria, deporting what he called Palestinian terrorists, and helping the U.S. prevent the resurgence of ISIS. "President Trump is providing the Syrian government with the chance to promote peace and stability, both within Syria and in Syrias relations with its neighbors," Rubio said. 'POSITIVE STEP' Syria welcomed the sanctions waiver early on Saturday, which the Foreign Ministry called a "positive step in the right direction to alleviate the country's humanitarian and economic suffering." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syria is keen on cooperating with other countries "on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. It believes that dialogue and diplomacy are the best path to building balanced relations," the ministry said in a statement. Most of the U.S. sanctions on Syria were imposed on the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and key individuals in 2011 after civil war erupted there. Sharaa led militias that overthrew Assad in December. The general license names Sharaa, formerly sanctioned under the name Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, among the people and entities with whom transactions are now authorized. It also lists Syrian Arab Airlines, the Central Bank of Syria and a number of other banks, several state oil and gas companies and the Four Seasons Damascus hotel. Trump unexpectedly announced last week that he would lift the sanctions at the behest of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, a major U.S. policy shift he made before meeting briefly with Sharaa in Riyadh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is hoped that easing Syria sanctions will clear the way for greater engagement by humanitarian organizations working in Syria, encouraging foreign investment and trade as the country rebuilds. But the U.S. has imposed layers of measures against Syria, cutting it off from the international banking system and barring many imports, and the potential for sanctions on a country to return can chill private-sector investment. The U.S. first put the country on its list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1979 and since then has added additional sets of sanctions, including several rounds following the countrys 2011 uprising against Assad. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis and Ryan Patrick Jones in Washington; Additional reporting from Cairo by Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Chris Reese, Cynthia Osterman and Matthew Lewis) By Dave Sherwood HAVANA (Reuters) -The U.S. has more sanctions in store for Cuba, the U.S. top diplomat in Havana said on Friday, just days after the U.S. punished several Cuban judicial officials for their roles in jailing political dissidents on the island nation. Three Cuban judges and a prosecutor were forbidden from entering the United States on Wednesday, the latest sanctions from the Trump administration, which earlier declared a tough new policy on Cuba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The sanctions announced this Wednesday were just the beginning," U.S. Embassy chief of mission Mike Hammer told reporters at a press conference in Miami. "This administration is determined to sanction repressors. There will be consequences for their actions." President Donald Trump has already doubled down on sanctions since taking office in January, returning longtime foe Cuba to a U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, tightening rules on remittances, and shutting off Biden-era migration programs. The 61-year-old Hammer, a career U.S. diplomat who arrived in Cuba just six months ago, has kept a busy schedule, wandering the country widely as he talks with dissidents, small-business owners and Cubans of all walks of life. In videos produced by the U.S. embassy and shared on social media, Hammer, who is fluent in Spanish, plays dominoes with a group of children in Camaguey, visits the tomb of Cuban hero Jose Marti in Santiago and speaks with family members of jailed dissidents in homes throughout Cuba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His travels come as Cubans confront the worst economic downturn in decades, a growing crisis the Cuban government blames on the Cold War-era U.S. embargo, a web of restrictions that impede financial transactions, trade and tourism. Hammer told reporters on Friday that those Cubans he had spoken with in his travels disagreed that the U.S. was to blame. "The people recognize that those responsible are the Cuban regime, it has nothing to do with any policy of the United States." Those assertions have infuriated the Cuban government, which accuses Hammer of seeking to stir up resentment in a bid to overthrow the island's communist leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hammer's comments were not part of a neutral press conference, but rather a carefully orchestrated political operation...designed to position the Trump administration and (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio as though they were 'allies of the Cuban people,'" said Cuban diplomat Johana Tablada, who deals in U.S.-Cuba relations. Even so, Cuba has not moved to block Hammer's travels, although it issued a recent warning in state-run media that its "patience has limits." Hammer told reporters he would continue his work on the island. "What are they scared of? I'm just a simple chief of mission talking with the people," he said. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler) SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A Magna man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after admitting to operating a criminal enterprise with ties to California and Mexico, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Utah. Llobani Federico Figueroa, aka Pablo, 33, of Magna, Utah, was sentenced to 264 months imprisonment after pleading guilty on Dec. 11, 2024, to continuing a criminal enterprise and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Additionally, Figueroa was ordered by the court to 10 years supervised release and forfeited over $300,000, three firearms, and two vehicles. According to court documents, Figueroa engaged in over a decade-long series of drug trafficking offenses beginning at the age of 18. Between Dec. 2022 and Aug. 2023, Figueroa engaged in continuous drug trafficking as the primary conduit among multiple California and Mexico-based drug suppliers and distributors out of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figueroa admitted to regularly obtaining methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine having those substances brought to Utah by courier, then storing them at various locations in Utah before being sold. His enterprise, which reportedly consisted of five or more people, originally was brought to face justice among 28 total defendants in an 18-count indictment by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City in Aug. 2023. Furthermore, Figueroa admitted to supervising the operation, recruiting others, and organizing couriers on his behalf. He would then delegate other responsibilities to recruits in the organization, telling the court that the enterprise could not have functioned without the help of these others. In addition to his convictions, Figueroa is the subject of three pending criminal cases in Utah, including possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a first-degree felony; distribution of methamphetamine, a federal class-A felony; and manslaughter, a second-degree felony. As a decades-long drug-trafficker, Mr. Figueroa has been a threat and danger to the people of our state, said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah. His well-deserved decades-long sentence will serve as a reminder that those who peddle poison into our communities in violation of federal law for their own financial gain will face justice and forfeit their ill-gotten gains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An individual struggling with substance abuse isnt just a statistic. Its someones son, daughter, or a friend. Too many families have been devastated by an epidemic that Mr. Figueroa directly contributed to, said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. Drugs and violent crime go hand-in-hand. The FBI is committed to dismantling criminal organizations in our steadfast effort to keep our communities safe. This case was investigated jointly by the FBI Safe Streets Violent Task Force and West Valley City Police Department. It was subsequently prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Utah. No further information is available at this time. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A group of experts who advise the US Food and Drug Administration on its vaccine decisions voted unanimously Thursday to make a broad recommendation about which lineage of the coronavirus should be included in this years Covid-19 vaccines, giving the agency latitude to keep the current shots or update its formulas to more closely match circulating viruses. Several of the committee members asked at Thursdays meeting about the FDAs new vaccine approval framework. Some expressed concern that changing the strain targeted in this years vaccine might decrease access to the shots in the fall, since the updated version would require new FDA approval. Capt. Sarah Meyer, a pediatrician who directs the Immunization Safety Office at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, posed it as the first question of the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did have a question on how the new regulatory framework put forward this week might affect aspects related to selecting the strain. For example, if a different strain was selected for this season, would that require additional clinical trials, etc.? she asked. I think thats a little off-topic, said Dr. Jerry Weir, a longtime FDA staffer who is director of the Division of Viral Products within the agencys Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. I think for today, we focus mainly on what we think in this committee should be in the vaccine, and then the rest of it, well work on that later. Under the new framework, the agency says, it will accept the same kind of study data it has been using to approve annual flu shots and updated Covid-19 vaccines, but only for certain groups: those 65 and older and people with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness. In order to approve Covid-19 vaccines for healthy younger adults and children, however, the agency now wants to see placebo-controlled clinical trials, which take longer and are expensive to run. Even if vaccine manufacturers choose to run those studies, its unlikely that the research could be conducted in time for them to have shots ready for everyone 6 months and older by the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is there a possibility that if we choose a different vaccine, [there are] actually going to be different regulatory measures that are taken that would delay the vaccine getting to the market? asked committee member Dr. Stanley Perlman, a microbiologist and immunologist at the University of Iowa. FDA representatives attending the meeting had no firm answers about whether changing the targeted coronavirus strain might put the shots out of reach for some groups this fall. I think that the goal today is to figure out what the selection of the strain is, but we dont anticipate and our goal is not to impact the timely availability of vaccines, said Dr. David Kaslow, director of the FDAs Office of Vaccines Research and Review. The voting members of the FDAs Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee agreed that next respiratory seasons shots should target the JN.1 family of viruses that swept the globe last year, although they stopped short of making a specific recommendation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The JN.1 branch of the Omicron family tree was a big shift from the viruses that came before, and it quickly replaced the XBB lineage viruses that had been circulating. It has sprouted its own descendants, which are now the predominant variants. Although JN.1 and its offshoot KP.2 the sublineage used to make the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines in the US last year are no longer circulating, several more viruses derived from them continue to drive Covid-19 transmission. Theyre all part of the JN.1 family, and so vaccines based on that virus are still protective. Last week, the World Health Organization said that single-strain inoculations based on JN.1 or KP.2 remain appropriate choices. The FDA advisory committee heard evidence from vaccine manufacturers that vaccination with JN.1-or KP.2-based shots continues to boost antibodies to protective levels, even against newer viruses with slightly different mutations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But manufacturers also presented data showing that updated shots based on a newer member of the JN.1 family LP.8.1, which is currently the dominant variant in the US could boost antibodies even more robustly. We need to stay ahead of this virus, as opposed to behind it, said committee member Dr. Hayley Gans, a pediatrician at Stanford, who said she favored updating the vaccine formula for the fall to LP.8.1. I think what we need to do is to have the most effective vaccine, not one that predicts that it would be less effective down the line. Committee member Dr. Eric Rubin, a professor of immunology and infectious disease at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, agreed. The data suggest that there are not enormous differences right now, but were trying to pick an antigen for the future, and not an antigen for now. Kaslow said the FDA would decide on the specific composition of the 2025-26 vaccine shortly so manufacturers could have the shots ready in time for the fall. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Vice President Vance waded into the tug-of-war between the courts and executive branch in an interview published earlier this week, warning that the courts should pull back or risk stepping on the will of the American people. In a conversation about immigration enforcement with The New York Timess Interesting Times podcast, Vance said two principles core to the nation could slide into real conflict unless district courts exercise a little bit more discretion or the Supreme Court intervenes. The first is that courts interpret the law, he said. The second is that the American people decide how theyre governed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the fundamental small-d democratic principle thats at the heart of the American project, Vance said. I think that you are seeing, and I know this is inflammatory, but I think you are seeing an effort by the courts to quite literally overturn the will of the American people. The vice president clarified its not most courts contributing to the problem. But he questioned whether the Supreme Court understands its role in checking lower courts, in addition to the executive branch. I saw an interview with Chief Justice [John] Roberts recently where he said the role of the court is to check the excesses of the executive, Vance said. I thought that was a profoundly wrong sentiment. Thats one-half of his job. The other half of his job is to check the excesses of his own branch. You cannot have a country where the American people keep on electing immigration enforcement and the courts tell the American people theyre not allowed to have what they voted for, he continued. Thats where we are right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House and judiciary have been locked in a battle over the separation of powers. President Trumps onslaught of executive actions have prompted hundreds of lawsuits, many which challenge his expansionist view of presidential power. While his Justice Department has contended the president possesses sole authority over the executive branch, with little recourse for the courts to check that power, dozens of judges from the district courts to the Supreme Court have stepped in. Vance said the administration would keep working Trumps immigration agenda through the courts. The ultimate goal, he said, is not to deport the gross majority of noncitizens in the U.S., calling that a secondary metric of success. Instead, he said he hopes to establish a set of rules and principles that the courts affirm, so there is an infrastructure in place allowing the mass deportation of noncitizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, to me, is real success, Vance said. But I think whether were able to get there is a function, of course, of our efforts, but also the courts themselves. The vice president also touched on two of the administrations most controversial immigration moves: the use of the wartime Alien Enemies Act and Kilmar Abrego Garcias mistaken deportation. The Alien Enemies Act is a 1798 law that lets authorities summarily deport migrants amid an invasion or predatory incursion by a foreign nation. Vance said he believes the wartime law is misinterpreted, and that to have an invasion does not require 5 million uniformed combatants, which he admitted are not present. However, he suggested thousands of noncitizens and their families very intentionally came to the U.S. to cause or profit from violence, and the courts should trust the administrations assessment of the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that the courts need to be somewhat deferential, Vance said. In fact, I think the design is that they should be extremely deferential to these questions of political judgment made by the peoples elected president of the United States. Regarding Abrego Garcias mistaken deportation to El Salvador, the vice president acknowledged courts holdings that the administration made a mistake in deporting him and that the Supreme Court directed them to facilitate Abrego Garcias return. He said he sat in lunch with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to discuss the Maryland mans return, but Bukele didnt budge. Bukele basically said, I dont want to send this guy back. I think hes a bad guy. Hes my citizen. Hes in a prison in El Salvador, and I think thats where he belongs,' Vance said. And our attitude was, OK, what are we really going to do? Are we going to exert extraordinary diplomatic pressure to bring a guy back to the United States whos a citizen of a foreign country who we had a valid deportation order with? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. May 23 (UPI) -- Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday addressed the 1,048 graduates of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., telling them, "Your country needs you now more than ever." During the ceremony, Marine 2 circled Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and there was Blue Angels flyover. During the ceremony, Vance, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to the Iraq War, watched as 786 men and women received Navy assignments and 262 went to graduates who now will serve in the Marines. On a sunny day, the graduates raised their right hands and swore to protect the Constitution as they were officially commissioned. In unison, they shouted "I do" when the oath was finished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They walked up to the stage to shake Vance's hand and receive their diploma. Naval Academy graduates throw their hats in the air to conclude the Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony in Annapolis, Md., on Friday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI Divided into 36 companies, they later tossed caps into the air, a Naval tradition. "It will be you, the graduates gathered here today, who will lead the way for the rest of us," Vance said. "Your service will bring new challenges and environments, including ones unfamiliar even to those who served before you. You will deploy new equipment, new systems, and new technology. And, through those experiences, it is you who will learn, who will teach others and will help our services and our entire country adapt to the future we're confronting." Midshipmen take the oath of office during the Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony in Annapolis, Md., on Friday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI This was Vance's first remarks to service academy's graduates as vice president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The extraordinary education you received is an investment by the American people, an investment not only in your courage, but in the strength of your minds and the promise of your leadership because your nation rests easier knowing that we have the most brilliant strategists and tacticians standing guard," Vance added. Vance noted that they would be leading troops in regions with military powers, including China and Russia. To the graduates, guests and military personnel, he touted the Trump administration's policies. He described President Donald Trump's visit last week to the Middle East as "historic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance told the crowd how his administration's foreign policy is different from predecessors by moving away from nation-building and prioritizing American interests. "No more undefined missions. No more open-ended conflicts," Vance said. He voted that Trump and himself would "never ask you to do anything without a clear mission and a clear path home." The vice president described the military's targeted and limited airstrikes this spring against the Houthis in Yemen as the type of mission the Trump administration would prioritize. The goal was to stop Houthi militants from attacking American ships in the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We pursued that goal through overwhelming force," Vance said. "That's how military power should be used: Decisively." Earlier he was greeted by demonstrators protesting the Trump administration's policies Several groups advocating for racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights rallied across the street on the grounds of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. From a distance, they protested deep cuts to social services in the proposed budget. The Naval Academy stopped considering race, ethnicity or sex in admissions. Nearly 400 books exploring White supremacy, race and racism in America; gender identity; and sexuality and diversity were removed from the academy's library after an executive order by Trump. Many have since been returned to the library's shelves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm sure some of you share my politics and some of you don't," Vance said, "but I know today I speak for a grateful nation when I say, 'We are rooting for you, Naval Academy Class of 2025, we are proud of you and we depend on you. Congratulations. Godspeed.' " The U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2025 includes 751 men and 298 women from all 50 states. Fourteen international students from 13 countries will return home to serve in their respective armed forces. The class began with 1,186 candidates: 838 men and 348 women. Midshipmen said the graduation of four challenging years at the academy was surreal. "After today, I'm a commissioned officer in the greatest fighting force. There's a little bit of nerves," political science major Lucas Merritt, 23, of Georgia, who is going into the Marine Corps, told The Baltimore Banner. "I feel ready." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our sailors and Marines' lives are literally in our hands," Rebecca Wiley, 21, of Houston, who will work on submarines in Charleston, S.C., said after studying naval architecture and mechanical engineering. "I'm nervous to do a good job, but that just shows that I care." Joseph Lee, a 22-year-old from Kansas, studied chemistry and will go to medical school. They will join approximately 92,000 Naval Academy alumni who have graduated since 1845. DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL) Hurricane recovery efforts in Virginia are ahead of schedule as Route 58 in Damascus reopened Thursday. During Hurricane Helene, 1.5 miles of Route 58 were washed away, leaving a gaping hole in the road. Many people had to take significant detours when traveling to and from Damascus. The construction project was originally planned to be completed in October but was finished five months early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was in attendance for the ribbon-cutting celebration of the roads completion. He said he was glad to see the road reopen early. It required innovation and it required some really on-the-ground leadership, and all of it came together at one time, Youngkin said. Michelle Earl, communication manager for the Bristol District of VDOT, said teams have been working since the storm hit to make the repairs. Weve been working since Hurricane Helene happened to reestablish access here in Southwest Virginia and 58 was a big component of that for Washington County, Earl said. So, this is a banner day for us to be able to open this roadway. Last year when they signed the contract to do the emergency work, they thought it might take a year and that was ambitious. So, to be opening it five months early is something that were really proud of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Blevins, general manager of construction at W-L Construction and Paving, said he saw what the road looked like after the hurricane. They wanted me to sign a one-year contract, Blevins said. I said, no, Im not going to do that because Im not sure that it can be done. I mean, it was just devastating and seeing it firsthand. Were just proud to be a partner in this. Youngkin also said the early completion of the road will help with other recovery efforts. With work now complete on Route 58, the next project will be working on the Virginia Creeper Trail. Youngkin says there is no set timeline yet on when that work will start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Coastal Massachusetts towns on the south shore,, like Scituate battled through a late-May noreaster that brought high winds, heavy rain, and coastal flooding during high tide Thursday night. At the Scituate Lighthouse, onlookers flocked to the coast to get a close look at the waves. Hearty New Englanders are used to this stuff, said William Danforth of Hingham. He told Boston 25 his friends with boats already in the harbor were concerned with the storm blowing through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danforth added, I think theyre feeling probably a little on edge, perhaps. Brian Fairbank, another onlooker at the lighthouse, echoed Danforth, Ive seen worse... Its New England, [weather] can change in the blink of an eye! Boston 25 tagged alongside Scituates town administrator Jim Boudreau while he monitored the coastlines. A lot of times youre staying by the phone, he said Thursday night during high tide. My biggest concern is going to be the wind with the full canopies on the trees. They tend to act as sails, so you can get more damage. He said that all DPW crews are on-call. Fire and police crews also were increased overnight into Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boudreau doesnt anticipate major coastal flooding other than splash-over near the sea walls. However, he said the area could see scattered power outages. Be ready when you see a storm coming, Boudreau advised. Make sure your generators work. Make sure youre ready to go if something happens. He also warned the public about venturing too close to the shores during any noreaster, saying its dangerous for the public and emergency crews., 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 Disney placed dozens of Venezuelan workers on leave after the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to strip them of their legal protective status. At least 45 employees were impacted, just days after the nations highest court allowed the Trump administration to remove the temporary protected status for roughly 350,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. The decision effectively eliminated their ability to legally live and work in the country as well as protections against their deportation from the United States. We are committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all our employees who may be navigating changing immigration policies and how they could impact them or their families, Disney said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for more information. These 350,000 Venezuelans impacted by the order were granted humanitarian protections in 2023 because it was not safe to return to their home country. Dozens of Venezuelan employees working for Disney were placed on leave after the Supreme Courts ruling that allowed the cancelation of temporary protected status for thousands of migrants. (AP) The workers, while on leave, will keep their benefits, Disney said (Getty Images) The Supreme Court ruling comes after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem directed the termination of the Temporary Protected Status designation. In March, a California district judge paused the governments directive, writing in his opinion that it threatens to 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That ruling was upheld by an appeals court, and then the Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court - which allowed the administration's plan. All 45 impacted Disney employees will continue to receive benefits and roughly two-thirds of the affected workers were part of a union, the Associated Press reported. Julee Jerkovich, secretary-treasurer of the United Food And Commercial Workers International Unions Local 1625, told the outlet on Friday: Its very distressing, Disney is being made to be the bad guy, but they didnt have any choice, Jerkovich said. These workers our colleagues, friends, and neighbors have contributed immensely to the success of the Walt Disney Company and to the vibrant culture of central Florida, a coalition of unions at Disney World told the outlet in a statement. No worker should have to live in fear of losing everything after building a life here. Uruguay's Foreign Affairs Minister Mario Lubetkin speaks during an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Montevideo, Uruguay, May 6, 2025.(Photo by Nicolas Celaya/Xinhua) MONTEVIDEO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum hosted by Beijing earlier this month marked "a leap in quality" in ties between the two sides, said Uruguay's Foreign Affairs Minister Mario Lubetkin. Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the meeting provided guidance for future cooperation between China and the CELAC countries and laid out a blueprint for the development of future relations, Lubetkin told Xinhua in an interview. The minister spoke highly of the important initiatives proposed by China at the meeting, emphasized that China is a key partner for Latin America and the Caribbean, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the economic and social development of Uruguay and other CELAC member states. Noting that Uruguay will assume the rotating presidency of CELAC in 2026, Lubetkin said that the Uruguayan side will collaborate with the current chair, Colombia, and the former chair, Honduras, to promote unity within CELAC and jointly advance its relations with China. In 2023, China and Uruguay established a comprehensive strategic partnership, marking a new stage in their bilateral relations. Lubetkin noted that the partnership between the two countries is mutually beneficial and characterized by win-win cooperation, and the collaboration between the two countries, which is at a high level and continues to deepen, will contribute greater stability to the current complex international landscape. Lubetkin expressed hope that, building on increasingly close economic and trade ties, "Uruguay and China will strengthen cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding between their peoples, thereby laying a solid foundation for deeper bilateral engagement and broader cooperation across various fields." The Confucius Institute in Montevideo "plays an important role" in promoting cultural exchanges, he noted. Highlighting China's global leadership in new energy and electric vehicles, Lubetkin emphasized that cooperation with China in sustainable development and the transition toward cleaner fuel sources contributes to their joint efforts in tackling environmental challenges, adding that Chinese-made electric buses have become a common sight on the streets of Montevideo. He expressed hope that more Chinese people would visit Uruguay to experience its beautiful landscapes, and that Uruguay's high-quality agricultural and fishery products would gain greater popularity among Chinese consumers. Although geographically distant, "Uruguay and China have consistently drawn closer to each other," said Lubetkin. Verdicts are due on Friday in the high-profile Paris trial of ten people accused of stealing millions of euros' worth of jewellery from US celebrity Kim Kardashian in 2016. Dubbed the "grandpa robbers" by the French press due to their average age of 60, the nine men and one woman have been on trial since late April. Kardashian, 44, was attacked on the night of October 3, 2016, in a luxury residence in the chic eighth district of Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sensational trial has attracted huge press coverage, with Kardashian telling the court in mid-May that she thought she "would die" during the incident. All but two defendants maintain innocence Many of the accused have spent years behind bars and have been given colourful nicknames, such as Omar the Old, Blue Eyes and "gangster bride" Cathy. One of the defendants is now deaf-mute, another suffers from Parkinson's and a third is being treated for cancer. Only two of the defendants confessed during the trial, expressing their regret for participating in the robbery. "I'm sorry for what I did," said one, while the other asked for "a thousandfold forgiveness." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the others maintained their innocence to the end. "I have nothing to do with the whole story," the female defendant said in court. Another defendant insisted he "didn't drive the car," while a third stated: "The truth is, I am not guilty." The prosecutor, however, considers all the defendants guilty of being involved in a carefully planned robbery. Contrary to how the defence attempted to portray them, the defendants are not bumbling senior crooks, she said. Rather, the perpetrators - many of whom had prior convictions - acted violently and purposefully, without compassion for their victims, she argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution is seeking prison sentences of 10 years for four of the defendants, eight years for one and seven years for two others. For the sole female defendant, the prosecution has requested six years in prison, while another man faces a four-year sentence, and the final one is expected to receive a fine. Masked and armed perpetrators The 2016 incident saw five robbers disguised as police officers appear suddenly outside Kardashian's hotel in the French capital at around 2:30 am. Two of them overpowered the concierge and stormed into Kardashian's room, masked and armed. There, they threatened her at gunpoint, tied her up and gagged her with adhesive tape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They then stole jewellery worth approximately 9 million ($10.2 million), including the star's engagement ring featuring an 18.88-carat diamond. The massive haul has never been recovered. Investigators believe the criminals converted it into cash in Antwerp. 'I thought I would die' Kardashian managed to free herself from her restraints and raise the alarm. The reality star was physically unharmed but left in shock. Testifying in the Paris court, Kardashian said she had feared the attackers would rape or shoot her. "I thought I would die," she said during her court appearance earlier this month. Nearly one decade after Kim Kardashian survived a robbery in her Paris hotel room, eight defendants were found guilty of crimes linked to the robbery. A panel of three judges and six jurors delivered the verdict in a Paris courtroom Friday. Two of the 10 defendants were acquitted. In his sentencing, the judge said Friday that he took into consideration the defendants' ages as well as the time that had passed since the incident, and the defendants' clean records during that time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentences -- ranging from three years to a maximum of eight years in prison -- were less than what was requested by the prosecution. Counting time already served and with the sentences mostly or entirely suspended, none of the defendants will return to prison. The defendants have 10 days to appeal the ruling. Kim Kardashian was informed of the ruling and she will not appeal, according to her lawyer, Leonor Hennerick. "Kim Kardashian is aware of the decision and is satisfied," Hennerick told reporters outside of the courtroom. "Justice has been served and she can now move on. She will continue with her rehabilitation project." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine men and one woman were accused in connection with the robbery. Five masked men posing as police officers allegedly stormed into Kardashian's hotel suite and made off with valuables worth at least $6 million, including a diamond engagement ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband Kanye West. That ring alone was said to be worth about $4 million. Kardashian traveled to Paris to testify during the trial, telling the courtroom she thought was "going to die" during the robbery. "I absolutely thought that I was going to die," the reality TV star and entrepreneur said in her May 13 testimony, adding, "I kept telling them that I have babies, and that I needed to go home to my babies." PHOTO: Kim Kardashian leaves the justice palace after testifying, regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016, in Paris, May 13, 2025. (Aurelien Morissard/AP) In her testimony, Kardashian, a mom of four, said she was packing at about 3 a.m. during Paris fashion week in 2016 when "two men came into my room -- they were dressed as police officers." The men were leading the hotel's concierge, who was handcuffed, she told the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim Kardashian graduates from law study program after 6 years Kardashian told the judge she was tied up, gagged and thrown into a bathroom. She testified that while she was still tied up in the bathroom, she managed to scoot over to the sink and get her hands free. With her feet still tied, she said she hopped downstairs, where her friend, Simone Harouche, helped untie her. French authorities announced the arrests of the suspects in the robbery in January 2017. The suspects have collectively been referred to as the "grandpa robber" -- or "papys braqueurs" -- because many of them are over the age of 60. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'I was going to die,' Kardashian recalls thinking during 2016 jewelry heist There were initially 12 defendants in this case, one of whom has since died. Another person cannot be tried due to their medical condition, according to French authorities. ABC News' Joe Simonetti, Will Gretsky, Aicha El Hammar Castano, Kevin Shalvey, Bill Hutchinson and Hugo Leenhardt contributed to this report. Kim Kardashian trial: 8 of 10 found guilty in 2016 jewelry heist originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Eaton's lawyers are recommending that their client pursue an insanity defense, but Eaton claims he was working under the orders of the CIA when he shot the victims. BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) A 60-year-old Vermont man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material. Brian Bluto, formerly of Alburgh, pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024. Court record states that Bluto hid a camera in a childs room to record them over multiple years. The minor was 13 when he began to record them, and he reportedly continued to do it until they were 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bluto was reportedly living with the victim while this occurred. Bluto produced, then distributed images and video of the minor to an undercover, international officer. They contacted Homeland Security, who managed to get a search warrant for Blutos home. Investigators took multiple electronics, including one inside a backpack pointed toward the bathroom. Part of the camera was reportedly poking out through a cut-out in the fabric where the lens of the camera on the electronic device could stick out without detection. Officials also said that hundreds of images and videos were found on his devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bluto faces 144 month imprisonment, followed by a 15-year term of supervised release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A woman arrested in connection to a 2021 cold case homicide in which a man was found lying naked on west Columbus railroad tracks was in court Friday. According to court documents, Felisa Rogers, charged in the murder of 31-year-old Aaron Collymore, was issued a $500,000 bond in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Friday morning. Rogers, 44, was assigned a public defender to represent her in the death of Collymore, who was found unresponsive when police were called to Sullivant Avenue on January 14, 2021. Man surrenders to police SWAT unit after woman shot in east Columbus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers arrived near the South Yale Avenue intersection in Franklinton and found Collymore lying naked on railroad tracks with a wooden stake driven through his heart. Columbus police said that he was beaten prior to finding him. Watch previous coverage in the player above. The investigation tied Rogers and 25-year-old Aaron Brown to a 2013 Buick Enclave, Collymores vehicle, which was driven to the area of the tracks before he was carried up an embankment and placed on the tracks. The suspects then reportedly stripped Collymore of his clothes and left the scene at about 9 a.m. He was found just over an hour later. Detectives collected evidence from the scene, video surveillance, and DNA, including blood samples from the rear passenger seat of the Buick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Fridays hearing prosecuting attorneys said that the investigation showed Rogers in possession of the Buick, which was reportedly used to dump the body. Carpeting and other flooring from inside were allegedly cut out from the vehicle. Collymore had reportedly told his friends that if anything had happened to him, Felisa did it. Rogers, who pleaded not guilty, is facing two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of tampering with evidence and one charge of kidnapping. On May 13, Rogers was issued a $3 million bond on Tuesday in Franklin County Municipal Court. Brown was arrested the following day in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He is listed as a wanted fugitive and awaits extradition back to Franklin County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. The body of Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli embassy employee killed in a possible antisemitic attack in Washington D.C. this week, was transported back to the Jewish state Friday, officials said. Loved ones of Lischinsky and representatives of the Israeli Foreign Ministry were expected to receive the victim's coffin at an undisclosed airport before it's taken to a burial site, according to a ministry spokesperson Lischinsky, 30, and his colleague and girlfriend Sarah Milgrim, 26, were fatally shot Wednesday night outside the Capital Jewish Museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A funeral is planned for Milgrim on Tuesday near her Kansas City-area hometown. Elias Rodriguez, a 31-year-old Chicago resident, was arrested Wednesday night near the museum. He was charged Thursday with the murder of foreign officials and other crimes in connection with the deaths. He allegedly shouted Free, free Palestine after opening fire. The suspect told officers on the scene, I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, according to prosecutors. Jewish leaders in Chicago decried the slayings and pinned blame on burgeoning antisemitism coming from protests against Israel. The Jewish state's military action in Gaza, seeking to root out Hamas in the wake of its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has sparked protest against Jerusalem throughout the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Goldenberg, Midwest regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that calls for Israel to curtail military action have too often devolved into antisemitism. "Saying 'Free Palestine' is, in itself, not antisemitic," Goldenberg told reporters in Chicago on Friday. "When the (anti-Jewish) chants begin, you as the leader, you lead. You shut it down. You make it clear to people coming to the protest (that) you don't bring a sign that says 'Globalize the Intifada' we're not going to have a sign that celebrates and calls for violence against Jews." FBI agents were going through Rodriguez's apartment in the quiet tree-lined street in the Albany Park neighborhood on Thursday looking for any evidence that could link or explain the suspect's actions and motives. Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. (@IsraelinUSA / X) "This horror hits even closer to home," said Chicago Alderman Debra Silverstein. "We have learned that the attacker lives in Chicago and was likely radicalized right here in our city. This is not just a national tragedy, it is a local wake up call." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez came to the DMV on Tuesday, flying in from OHare International Airport in Chicago to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia, according to United Airlines records cited in the affidavit. He declared his firearm in his checked baggage and flew with it across state lines, the affidavit said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com DENVER (KDVR) The victims of a small plane crash near Broomfield on Saturday have been identified by the Boulder County Coroner. The crash occurred around 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, after the Beechcraft Bonanza took off from the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and immediately tried to return. The plane didnt make it back, crashing just across U.S. Highway 36 and Midway Boulevard from the airport in a Boulder County open space field. Popular mountain pass opens at earliest point in season in 6 years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the two men on board the plane when it crashed were identified as Euguen Knutson, 80, and James Gelaude, 74. Upon impact, the plane burst into flames. North Metro Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene where the plane was on fire and were able to extinguish the fire quickly. Mark Daugherty, deputy chief of operations for North Metro Fire Rescue, said Saturday that the crash was a tragic incident. FOX31 viewer Aaron Alcott captured these images following a small plane crash near Broomfield on Saturday, May 17. (Courtesy Aaron Alcott) FOX31 viewer Aaron Alcott captured these images following a small plane crash near Broomfield on Saturday, May 17. (Courtesy Aaron Alcott) Crews are on the scene of a deadly plane crash near Broomfield on May 17, 2025. Crews are on the scene of a deadly plane crash near Broomfield on May 17, 2025. Crews are on the scene of a deadly plane crash near Broomfield on May 17, 2025. Crews are on the scene of a deadly plane crash near Broomfield on May 17, 2025. The airport said that the pilot called Air Traffic Control and reported an issue with a door being open. Were going to have to come back and re-land, weve got the door popped open, one of the planes occupants can be heard saying on Air Traffic Control recordings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air controllers then can be heard giving instructions on which runways were available and where the plane should go to safely land at the airport again. After about 90 seconds, the controllers repeated the information, hoping the pilot heard them. Free on Your TV New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Within two minutes of requesting to re-land at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, an air traffic controller can be heard making the solemn announcement. Tower, that Bonanza just went down north of 36, someone can be heard saying. Aviation expert Steve Cowell told FOX31s Nate Belt that what played out on the ATC recording was the right response from both the pilot and tower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They know youre in a critical situation, an emergency situation, and theyre going to afford you every opportunity to get back to the airport safely, Cowell said, noting that flying with a door open would be distracting. The pilot really has to concentrate on navigating that airplane to where he needs to be to get that airplane back on the ground safely. However, he said thats not what brought the airplane down. Its noisy in that cockpit, its disruptive to maybe what youre normally used to, but its not something that would bring an airplane down, Cowell said. Cowell also told Belt that the door opening is not a problem specific to the Beechcraft planes, and that the Federal Aviation Administration would notify pilots of any patterns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Broomfield Police Department and Boulder County Sheriffs Office are investigating the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. By Francesco Guarascio and Phuong Nguyen HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnam's technology ministry has ordered telecommunication service providers to block the messaging app Telegram for not cooperating in combating alleged crimes committed by its users, in a move that Telegram said was surprising. In a document, dated May 21 and signed by the deputy head of the telecom department at the technology ministry, telecommunication companies were ordered to take measures to block Telegram and report on them to the ministry by June 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry was acting on behalf of the country's cybersecurity department after police reported that 68% of the 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam violated the law, citing fraud, drug trafficking and "cases suspected of being related to terrorism" among the illegal activities carried out through the app, the document seen by Reuters said. The ministry asked telecommunication service providers "to deploy solutions and measures to prevent Telegram's activities in Vietnam," the document said. After publication of the Reuters article, the government confirmed the measures against Telegram on its web portal. "Telegram is surprised by those statements," a company representative told Reuters on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have responded to legal requests from Vietnam on time. This morning, we received a formal notice from the Authority of Communications regarding a standard service notification procedure required under new telecom regulations. The deadline for the response is May 27, and we are processing the request," the Telegram representative said. A technology ministry official said the move followed Telegram's failure to share user data with the government when asked as part of criminal investigations. The Vietnamese police and state news outlets have repeatedly warned people of possible crime, frauds and data breaches on Telegram channels and groups. Telegram, which competes globally with other social media apps such as Facebook's WhatsApp and WeChat, was still available in Vietnam on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnam's ruling Communist Party maintains tight media censorship and tolerates little dissent. The country has repeatedly asked companies like Facebook, Google's YouTube and TikTok to coordinate with authorities to stamp out content deemed "toxic", including offensive, false and anti-state content. Telegram is accused of not applying laws that require social media to monitor, remove and block information that violate the law, according to the document. Also, the document said that according to information from the police, "many groups with tens of thousands of participants were created by opposition and reactionary subjects spreading anti-government documents". The free-to-use platform with close to 1 billion users worldwide has been involved in controversies across the world on security and data breach concerns, including in France where its founder, Pavel Durov, was briefly detained last year. French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Vietnam from Sunday. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio and Phuong Nguyen; Editing by John Mair, Stephen Coates, Shri Navaratnam and Leslie Adler) After it became possible to officially pay to avoid military service in Armenia, queues of conscripts began to form in Yerevan and other cities. However, they are not lining up at military enlistment offices. Instead, young Armenians gather early in the morning in front of banks, pawnshops, and similar places, hoping to get a loan quickly and soon forget about bullying and other hardships. The brave Armenian lions urgently need money! Palestinians transfer a victim after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. According to the statement, the targets included militants, rocket launchers, military compounds, weapons storage facilities, and other military infrastructure. The Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported that at least 16 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in Israeli airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip early Friday morning. The IDF's statement added that its ground forces, operating with intelligence support from the Israel Security Agency, were continuing their operation throughout the enclave. Palestinians transfer a victim after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Palestinians transfer a victim after an Israeli airstrike in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, on May 23, 2025. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that its air force struck more than 75 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) The Virginia Beach Fire Department is investigating the cause of a house fire on Thoroughgood Road that occurred Thursday afternoon. Crews were dispatched to a reported single-story structure fire in the 2100 block of Thoroughgood Road at approximately 1:15 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters observed heavy smoke and flames from the Bravo side of the house. Courtesy: Virginia Beach Fire Department Courtesy: Virginia Beach Fire Department The fire was officially marked out around 1:35 p.m. The origin of the fire was the kitchen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no injuries reported to civilians or firefighters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A Lorton, Va. man was sentenced Friday after he set his car ablaze at the U.S. Capitol as former President Jimmy Carter lay in state. According to court documents, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) began investigating a vehicle fire on the U.S. Capitol grounds at around 5 p.m. on Jan. 8. At the time, Carter was lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda, and numerous government officials were visiting. Courtesy of the US Attorneys Office PREVIOUS COVERAGE: US Capitol Police arrest man for trying to light car on fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adrian J. Hinton, 36, had driven his car from Virginia to Washington, D.C. earlier that day, parking near the memorial to Ulysses S. Grant. He then removed a bottle, dumped liquid on the top of his car and ignited it, setting the vehicle on fire. Hinton told responding USCP officers that the liquid was gasoline and Crisco. He was taken into custody quickly after the fire started and apologised for inconveniencing the USCP, according to court documents. He reportedly said he was not trying to set himself on fire, but only set his car ablaze to protest the recent presidential election. The fire department was able to safely extinguish the fire and other officials, including bomb technicians, rendered the scene safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woodbridge woman charged after driving while intoxicated with young children, police say He pleaded guilty to destruction of government property on Jan. 31, just weeks after the incident. On May 23, Hinton was sentenced to one year of supervised release, plus 125 hours of community service. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAIRMONT For people on the verge of putting their life together after dealing with addiction, employment can be a significant hurdle. West Virginia is really rich with resources, but oftentimes its difficult to navigate those resources and be successful in obtaining the needed resources, Deborah Harris, lead transition agent for Jobs & Hope WV, said. The largest barriers we see are transportation, drivers license, establishing a drivers license if they have a DUI or unpaid fines or fees. Harris said access to transportation is the biggest barrier to employment. A high school diploma or GED is another, without one its difficult to become employed, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based in Charleston, Jobs and Hope WV was established in 2019 with the goal of providing career training and meaningful employment. The State of West Virginia created the program. So far, the organization has helped 10,000 individuals receive employment, 585 participants graduate from education or training programs, and 2,771 individuals reinstate their drivers licenses. Harris added they also help people deal with barriers related to child care, dental care and vision service. The program contracts with Motive Care to provide transportation to individuals who are without a vehicle. Motive Care already has a state contract for non-emergency medical transportation for individuals who need to get to medical appointments. Expanding that service to people trying to return to work or school after coping like addiction was logical. Harris said the partnership between both organizations had really grown over the years, Jobs and Hope takes advantage of the fact Motive has contracts with different transportation organizations across the state, from taxi companies to buses. They also provide gas mileage reimbursement. I think last time I looked, they had gone over two million miles since 2019 helping our program participants to and from work, school and training, Harris said. Thats to the moon and back a couple of times. Working with Motive, Jobs and Hope have provided the equivalent of at least 4 round trips to the mon. Eight if its one way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annie Mezzanotte is the programs North Central Region Adult Education Coordinator. Her geographic area covers Marion County. Her job is to oversee the classrooms and teachers that serve program recipients. The program isnt solely for people in recovery. Jobs and Hope is for anybody with any type of barrier to employment, she said. Its not just for people in recovery, which is what I thought it was for a long time, but they do not have to be in recovery. If one of the transition agents has a client who needs a service, any service that adult education can provide such as they need to get their GED then they will refer their clients to our program. Mezzanotte said she sees barriers such as homelessness, addiction, or even layoffs prove to be substantial barriers to employment in Marion County. In case of a layoff, Mezzanotte said theres a rapid response program to help people figure out what to do while theyre out of work after a layoff. Aside from helping people achieve certifications, they also help people enter post-secondary education. We can help them if they need to study for some type of entrance exam, Mezzanotte said. A lot of people think its just for the GED, but we offer many more opportunities and everything is free for our students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stefanie Moore, director of marketing and communications at Pierpont, said the school provides an office at the Caperton Center in Clarksburg, which is the main contribution the school makes to the Jobs and Hope program. According to a study at the National Institutes of Health, employment is a key functioning index in addiction services. The study notes employment consistently emerges as a goal among those in recovery. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people in recovery can be among the most reliable and dedicated employees in a workplace, since they followed through on their commitment to develop the skills to sustain their recovery. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reviewed research findings to find the effectiveness of interventions that provide employment and in some cases, educational supports. While more research is needed and theres a dearth of systemic research on addiction and recovery over the long term, in at least one randomized control trial SAHMSA found apprenticeship-focused training was significantly more likely to yield employment results or attend GED classes than those in standard education settings. More research is needed overall, however. I believe that part of a long term recovery is meaningful employment, Harris said. Its important when youve lived a life full of hopelessness for so long to find purpose in something. A lot of folks find purpose and meaning in what they do for employment. So we want to help individuals and provide them a job that is important. So I feel like helping individuals find hope and purpose through career employment is really what makes our program so unique. Gov. Bob Ferguson called on the states Republican congressional coalition to explain their votes on a massive federal spending bill that could result in 200,000 Washingtonians losing Medicaid coverage. The impacts in rural Washington and Central Washington look, its profound across our state, but its especially acute there, the Democratic governor said at a Thursday news conference with health care workers at Harborview Medical Center. And I would encourage individuals who live in those communities, in particular, to perhaps contact their member of Congress and ask them what the heck theyre doing, Ferguson continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican-controlled U.S. House early Thursday morning passed H.R. 1 President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill. Among other large spending provisions, the bill makes changes to Medicaid enrollment and eligibility and could lead to more than 7 million people losing coverage as it cuts $700 billion from the program over a decade. Medicaid is the joint state-federal government program that provides health insurance coverage to nearly 80 million Americans. That includes low-income residents, veterans, seniors and kids with disabilities. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson decried proposed congressional cuts to Medicaid during a May 22 news conference at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The Washington Medicaid program, called Apple Health, provides coverage for nearly 2 million, or about one in five residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 800,000 of those are children. The program covers about three-in-five nursing home residents and three-in-eight people with disabilities. The state spends about $21 billion on the program, Ferguson said, with $13 billion coming from the federal government. Under House Republicans plans, Washington would lose out on about $2 billion in federal funds over the next four years, which Ferguson and health care workers say could lead to closing crucial hospital services in rural areas. Its dire, Ferguson said. Hospitals will close, nursing homes will close. That will impact, as you heard, not just people who are on Medicaid, but Washingtonians all across our state. Right now, it is a four-alarm fire. Its all hands on deck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson said Washingtons budget wouldnt be able to cover the funding gap created by House Republicans resolution. The House approved the resolution with 215 members in favor and 214 against. Washingtons delegation voted on party lines, with Eastern Washingtons two Republican lawmakers Reps. Dan Newhouse, of Sunnyside, and Michael Baumgartner, of Spokane voting for the bill and the eight Western Washington Democrats voting against it. The bill heads to the Senate for consideration. If it passes there, it would head to Trumps desk for final approval. Protesters with Indivisible Tri-Cities picket against Medicaid cuts outside U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouses office in Richland, Washington. Newhouse statement In a statement, Newhouse praised the bills passage, highlighting the permanent extension of Trumps 2017 tax cuts, SNAP reforms, tax benefits for the Tri-Cities fleet of small modular reactors and the ability to cut waste, fraud and abuse from programs such as Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have made real, common-sense reforms to strengthen the integrity of Medicaid, protecting the program for low-income families, seniors and those with disabilities, he said. By implementing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, and preventing those here illegally from accessing the program, we are protecting Medicaid for those who truly need it most, he continued. Those work requirements go into effect at the end of 2026, and require childless adults without disabilities to work 80 hours a month to qualify for benefits. That would affect an estimated 22,000 who are enrolled in Newhouses district and an extra 29,000 in Baumgartners, according to the Center for American Progress. The center estimates 162 more people in Eastern Washington could die each year from treatable medical conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Washington is the most reliant region in the state when it comes to Medicaid coverage. Nearly three-quarters of children and one-quarter of adults in the region rely on Medicaid for health care. About 40% of pregnant women rely on the coverage for their babies births. In total, about 37%, or nearly 300,000 Central Washington residents, are enrolled in the program. Nationwide, the program covers half of births and two-thirds of nursing home bills. The majority of adults who rely on Medicaid have paying jobs, while others are going to school, caring for family members or are disabled or ill, according to testimonies provided by Central WA Families, a coalition of regional health care providers. WA congressional response Baumgartner praised the bills passage in a social media post, contrasting the two leadership styles in D.C. and Washington state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same week that the leftist Democrat governor of Washington state signed into law the largest tax increase in our states history and joined his parties fight to protect criminal illegal immigrants, Republicans in Congress voted for the biggest tax decrease in our nations history and delivered the improved border security that was the deciding factor in the national election that returned Donald Trump to the White House, the he wrote. But U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell rebuked the House Republicans in a statement, calling the move Robin Hood in reverse: Robbing from the poor to give to the rich. Its sad that House Republicans ignored pleas from their own constituents, even those in their own party, she said. State and local officials know we cannot afford Medicaid cuts. Medicaid is foundational to our health care system, is relied on by over 1.9 million Washingtonians and supports everything from rural hospitals to nursing homes to labor and delivery care. Its time for every elected representative to stand up for patients and providers in their districts, protect Medicaid and stop raising health care costs on all of us, Cantwell continued. A pardoned Jan. 6 rioter from Pasco can head back to the Tri-Cities after a new conviction on gun and bombing hoax charges. Taylor Taranto, 39, was granted bond until his sentencing hearing after spending nearly two years in jail. He was arrested for weapons that were in his van while livestreaming an attempt to gain access to former President Barack Obamas Washington, D.C., home. He also was convicted for threatening to use his van as a bomb to blow up a federal building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was released on personal recognizance, with a requirement to stay away from Washington, D.C., according to court filings. Taranto is expected to return to the Tri-Cities with his wife, according to court documents. Earlier this week U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols convicted Taranto of two felony firearm charges, a misdemeanor ammunition charge and a felony bomb hoax charge after a four-day bench trial. Taranto opted not to have a jury. He is likely facing a sentence of 21 to 27 months out of a maximum of five years, according to court documents. After the verdict, Nichols ordered Tarantos attorneys to prepare a motion for his release ahead of his sentencing. Prosecutors opposed his release arguing that Taranto still presents a serious danger to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They agreed that the likely sentencing range is correct, but said the sentence for the bombing hoax can be served after the other crimes, resulting in a longer prison term. Prosecutors also argued Taranto hasnt accepted responsibility for his crimes, saying he was laughing during the trial when prosecutors showed videos of his actions. His attorneys wrote that he deserves to spend Memorial Day weekend with his wife and two children, and to remain free until hes sentenced. Nichols has not yet set a sentencing date, but Tarantos attorneys will have a status update next week, according to court documents. He was released from the D.C. Metropolitan Jail on Thursday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also remains a co-defendant in a civil lawsuit for the wrongful death of a D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer that he is accused of helping attack inside the Capitol building. Threats and arrest His arrest came after a warrant was issued for now pardoned Jan. 6 charges because of a number of threats he had been making online to lawmakers. He also threatened to use his van as a bomb to blow up a federal building and claimed in private messages that he had a contract to kill former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to court documents. While President Donald J. Trump pardoned Taranto, along with 1,500 other rioters, for his role in the 2021 insurrection, Nichols denied Tarantos attempt to drop charges for the guns, hundreds of rounds of ammunition found in his van during the D.C. arrest and the bombing threat. During a June 2023 livestream, Taylor Taranto identified himself in footage of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to court documents. Taranto is a U.S. Navy veteran and a former webmaster for the Franklin County Republican Party. His attorneys have argued that he suffers from PTSD and, if released, needs to travel to a Puget Sound area veterans clinic for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local Republican Party officials previously told the Herald that they had cut ties with Taranto months before his 2023 arrest due to his erratic behavior. These images from court filings show the firearms federal agents found in Taylor Tarantos van. Targeting lawmakers When Taranto was arrested, investigators found two guns in his van that he was not registered to be carrying, along with a significant amount of ammunition and multiple cell phones. A charge for a high-capacity magazine was dropped after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling said the law enforcing the ban on those magazines was unconstitutional. Taranto was allegedly in Obamas neighborhood in response to a conspiracy theory posted by Trump on social media, which listed the address, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His attorneys claim Tarantos statements about trying to get a shot were about filming. He has claimed he is a self-styled satirical journalist. However on Tuesday, a video was introduced into evidence that prosecutors say showed Taranto admitting that his claim of being a journalist was a ruse, according to WUSA9 reporter Jordan Fischer. A photo gallery from a 2018 Franklin County, WA Republican dinner shows Taylor Taranto posing with a cutout of Donald Trump. Facial recognition technology used the photo to identify Taranto as being inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, according to the HuffPost.com. Trump later denounced Tarantos actions and said the two had never met, after a picture circulated online of Taranto posing with a cardboard cutout of Trump. That photo was from a Franklin County Republican Party meeting. In the days before his arrest, Taranto allegedly had made a series of threats on livestreams and through messaging apps against former Vice President Kamala Harris, and two members of Congress for their roles in the Jan. 6 investigation. Federal agents were keeping tabs on his broadcasts after the threat to the federal building, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had been traveling back and forth between Pasco and D.C. to attend various protests, court documents said. Wrongful death of officer His co-defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit, D.C. Chiropractor David Walls-Kaufman, admitted to scuffling with an officer during the riot at his Jan. 6 charges sentencing. He allegedly hit the officer with a heavy metal cane handed to him by Taranto. Taylor Taranto is seen clashing with Capitol police during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in this image included in court documents. Taranto is circled in yellow. David Walls-Kaufman, his codefendant in a lawsuit for wrongful death of MPD Officer Jeffrey Smith is circled in red. A review panel ruled that Officer Jeffrey Smith suffered a concussion which led to his suicide after returning to duty. They said the injuries suffered in the riot were the sole and direct cause of his death when awarding his widow death benefits. Walls-Kaufman was later pardoned after being sentenced to two months in jail. His widow is suing the two men for $7 million in damages. The civil trial is proceeding against Kaufman, but paused for Taranto until after his sentencing. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was held down by Walgreens employees after he allegedly robbed a man of his phone on Wednesday in southeast Memphis, according to Memphis Police. Montoyous Hampton, 29, has been charged with robbery. His bond has not been set. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. Montoyous Hampton_Courtesy of MPD 29 of 49 Rolling Thunder suspects already out of jail On May 21, at 11:26 p.m., the victim called Memphis Police for help. He told police, as he was getting into his car in the Happy Mexican Restaurant parking lot at 7935 Winchester Road, that Hampton gestured to the victim like he had a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to reports, Hampton took the victims $500 Samsung Galaxy phone and fled to a Walgreens on Winchester. Police say the victim followed Hampton and told employees of the theft. Walgreens employees then called for police and held the man until police came. When police arrived, they identified the man being held as Montoyous Hampton and took him into custody. The victim was given his phone back and retrieved his phone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) Central Texas has experienced two catastrophic flooding events on Memorial Day weekend going back to the 80s. With rain in the forecast for next week, follow the KXAN First Warning Weather team for forecasts and real-time alerts for severe weather conditions. 2015 Memorial Day flood Its now been ten years since a flash flood hit the Blanco and San Marcos rivers in Hays County killing at least 13 people, KXAN has previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Austin itself, roughly five inches of rain fell on Memorial Day in 2015, according to the city causing roads to close and people to flee to higher ground. Flooding in Austin in 2015 after Memorial Day storms (Aerial Photography/Gary Gibich) Units began running calls around 9 a.m. that morning, Austin Fire Department Assistant Chief Tom Vocke remembered. Water and flood-related calls started, but eventually turned into the units that we were working with being assigned to the Pleasant Valley area. Vocke talked about the fire departments efforts to evacuate people from a neighborhood in that area, which was flooding. At some point, the wall of water came, and the streets turned into rivers, he said. We had 27 firefighters working that area at the time. After the water came through, 24 of those firefighters were sheltering in place in high areas with members of the community, Vocke said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Austin said it has done the following to protect Austin from future flood events since: Improved local drainage systems and infrastructure in flood-prone areas Elevated its Community Rating System flood score, resulting in discounts up to 25% on flood insurance premiums Upgraded Austins Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) Created a pilot program to help homeowners in flood-prone areas with flood insurance costs 1981 Memorial Day flood During the 1981 Memorial Day flood, more than a foot of water fell in less than three hours, killing 13 people and causing extensive damage, KXAN previously reported. That flood kickstarted significant changes to how Austin prepares for severe flooding including the creation of the FEWS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin created a warning system after 1981 Memorial Day flood, heres how it works That system includes a team of experts who can alert the public and emergency responders to potential flooding. The team includes a Program Manager, a Hydrologist Senior, two Engineers, and four IT Support Analysts. Their mission is to identify flood hazards and alert the public and emergency responders about the hazard to protect the lives and property of the public from flooding, the Watershed Protection Department wrote in a memo to city council. FEWS uses tools like: Rain and stream gages Cameras at low-water crossings Automatic traffic gates Flashing beacons Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre also the team behind ATX Floods. We ask residents to go look at it. Its a live program. When it rains, we actually offer live updates on which crossings are closed, where there is rainfall. Its a really very good site for residents to go look at, Ramesh Swaminathan, the assistant director of Austins Watershed Protection Department, told KXAN previously. How to prepare for floods Preparing for flooding includes: Making a plan Learning about flood insurance Signing up for emergency alerts We are trying to do everything we can, but the community has a role to play, so we [would] really love for them to be part of it. Go to atxfloodsafety.net. There are many useful links there to be prepared, Swaminathan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An 18-year-old woman was arrested on warrants for money laundering and forgery on Thursday, May 22, in far East El Paso, according to the El Paso County Constables Office for Precinct 3. Destiny Rayne Hobeck, 18, was arrested on personal recognizance bond revocation warrants for money laundering and forgery, each with a $10,000 bond. She was then booked into the El Paso County Jail. On May 22, a sergeant with the Constables Office received information of personal recognizance bond revocation warrants on Hobeck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Constables Office, Hobeck was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped along the 15400 block of Montana Avenue. Hobeck was then taken into custody and charged with the warrants, the Constables Office said. The Constables Office said Hobeck was originally arrested by Socorro Independent School District Police back in January of last year for money laundering and forgery charges. The Constables Office would like to remind the El Paso County community to be vigilant and report criminal activity to law enforcement. Tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-TIPS (8477). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has sent a letter pressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers about how potentially ending fluoride use in drinking water, as recently championed by the Trump administrations health care chief, could undermine military readiness. Warrens Thursday letter comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he plans to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoride be added to drinking water in communities nationwide. Kennedy said hes assembling a task force of health experts to study the issue and make new recommendations. Kennedy, who has called fluoride a dangerous neurotoxin, has blamed the fluoridation of drinking water on health issues, including arthritis, bone breaks and thyroid disease, according to The Associated Press. These attacks on the use of fluoride for dental health present a serious readiness problem, Warren wrote in her letter, adding that Sean OKeefe, the administrations nominee to be deputy under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, has said dental health issues are often the largest cause of non-deployability within a military unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The potential reversal of the CDCs recommendations on fluoridated water will exacerbate these readiness concerns, Warren wrote. State and local governments have the authority to add fluoride to water sources, but the CDCs recommendation to fluoridate water is widely followed. The safety and benefits of fluoride are well documented and have been reviewed comprehensively by several scientific and public health organizations, according to the CDC. The CDC notes that water fluoridation helps reduce and control tooth decay and promote oral health across the lifespan. Evidence shows that water fluoridation prevents tooth decay by providing frequent and consistent contact with low levels of fluoride, ultimately reducing tooth decay by about 25% in children and adults, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2011, defense officials mandated all installations in the U.S. and territories that own or operate a potable water treatment facility serving 3,300 people or more fluoridate their drinking water by 2016. Providing fluoridated water for junior-enlisted personnel living in on-base housing was especially critical since that population was at the highest risk of dental issues, officials stated at the time. But since the majority of service members and their families live outside of military bases, as well as members of the Guard and reserves, all communities, civilian and military, should have fluoridated water, Warren noted. Utah and Florida have both recently banned the addition of fluoride to drinking water. Warren has asked Hegseth to provide information about whether the fluoridation of water on military bases has improved military dental readiness. Warren also requested the number of service members who couldnt deploy because of dental problems between 2005 and 2025, in addition to the percentage of service members who are currently nondeployable because of dental issues. Warren has also requested information on whether the Pentagon has estimated how many service members would be nondeployable or ineligible for service because of dental problems, should the CDC reverse its fluoride recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Secretary of Defense, you are responsible for ensuring the readiness of American troops to maintain a capable and lethal military, Warren wrote. Secretary Kennedys disregard for science-based public health policies is a palpable danger to the readiness of service members and national security. In an April 15 letter addressed to lawmakers, hundreds of dental associations expressed their opposition to removing the water fluoride recommendation. Most people in the U.S. today have never seen nor personally experienced the severity of tooth decay that exists without fluoride. With an abrupt departure from water fluoridation, our nation would undoubtedly experience a rapidly rising incidence of decay, they wrote. The U.S. does not have capacity in the oral health workforce to support the emergency, surgical, and restorative dental needs that would result, they wrote. There would be increased pain and suffering, and more missed school and work. None of this is necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warren has also requested information on whether the DOD has been consulted or plans to provide information to the Department of Health and Human Services on the plan to change the CDCs recommendations. Warren has requested answers by June 5. Forest ranger Liu Batu patrols the wild habitat of Amur Cork-trees, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025. Cao Haihong, a 60-year-old forest ranger, began another day of patrol with his team at dawn. They spent two full days examining the habitat of Amur Cork-trees for wildfire risks while conducting a comprehensive survey of the entire forest farm. Once a lumberjack felling trees in the mountains, Cao has now become a guardian of the dense forest. "In the past, logging caused a decline in biodiversity here," he recalls. "Now, with logging bans and growing awareness of ecological protection, species in the forest farm are thriving again. Wild animals like roe deer and lynxes are frequently spotted." Cao bridges tradition and innovation, mentoring apprentices to master drone-assisted forest monitoring. The Baimaogou and Chaihekou forest farms, managed by Inner Mogonlia's Chaihe Forestry Bureau, form a crucial biodiversity hub on the southern slopes of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Currently, the area is home to nine national first-class protected animals, 17 national second-class protected animals and a variety of rare plants. For decades, Chaihe's forest rangers have safeguarded this ecological legacy, ensuring the forest's vitality to move on to future generations. (Xinhua/Zhang Kun) This photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows fritillaria meximowiczii, a second-class protected plant in China, at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows an Amur Cork-tree, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Bei He) Forest ranger Yi Mingzhe feeds a rescued goshawk at Chaihe Forestry Bureau in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) Forest ranger Cao Haihong checks an Amur Cork-tree, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Forest ranger Yang Lijun educates motorists on wildfire prevention at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025.(Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) An aerial drone photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows forest rangers patrolling the wild habitat of Amur Cork-trees, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Staff member Pan Chunhua from Chaihe Forestry Bureau removes the tree-mounted shielding at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) Forest ranger Yi Mingzhe takes photos of large-flowered lady's slipper orchids, a second-class protected plant in China, at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2025 shows forest rangers conducting patrols at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Forest ranger Cao Haihong (L) and his colleague monitor growth conditions of an Amur Cork-tree, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) Staff member Zhang Bin from Chaihe Forestry Bureau shows locally collected butterfly specimens in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) Forest ranger Yi Mingzhe takes photos of wild rhododendrons at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Kun) Forest ranger Liu Batu conducts drone-assisted patrols of the wild habitat of Amur Cork-trees, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Forest ranger Yi Mingzhe equips a tree with an infrared camera at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) Forest ranger Cao Haihong (L) and his colleague record a naturally-dead Amur Cork-tree, a second-class protected plant in China, at Baimaogou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Bei He) Forest ranger Yi Mingzhe equips a tree with an infrared camera at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) The US Navy dispatched three of its destroyers to support the military's southern border mission. USS Stockdale's captain explained to BI that his warship is an ideal platform for this mission. He said the Stockdale brings high-end comms and sensors to the table, along with an embarked helicopter. The captain of one of three US Navy destroyers that deployed this spring to support the military's southern border mission after spending months battling the Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea says his warship was well-suited to both assignments. Amid questions of whether the southern border deployments were overkill, the military acknowledged that it was "a bit unique to deploy a capability of this level for this mission set." But it sent an unmistakable message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike the Red Sea mission, at the southern border, the value of these warfighting ships isn't as much the firepower they bring to a potential fight but rather the capabilities that other vessels lack, such as robust communications and sensor suites, and endurance. Cdr. Jacob Beckelhymer, the commanding officer of USS Stockdale, told Business Insider that the maritime security missions are familiar taskings and "part of the broad set of things that destroyers do." The Stockdale just recently returned to its homeport in San Diego after spending weeks deployed off the coast of southern California in support of US military operations at the southern border. Transnational criminal operations coming out of Mexico were at the top of the US intelligence community's 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, and the Trump administration has made cracking down on maritime criminal activity, from illegal immigration to human and drug trafficking, priorities. USS Stockdale spent months defending key Middle Eastern shipping lanes from Houthi attacks. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Jerome D. Johnson In addition to thousands of military personnel, the administration has dispatched a range of military assets to the border area, including the three destroyers that battled the Houthis last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Stockdale, like USS Spruance and USS Gravely, had an embarked US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment for its southern border deployment. These are Coast Guard teams that specialize in law-enforcement operations at sea, such as counterterrorism, counter-piracy, and anti-immigration missions. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers like the Stockdale are equipped with missile tubes that carry a mix of surface-to-air and land-attack munitions and different guns, such as a five-inch deck gun, machine guns, and a Phalanx Close-In Weapons System. This extensive loadout was needed to battle the Houthis, as the Stockdale and other Navy warships routinely came under rebel missile and drone attacks. The warships faced a very different threat environment at the southern border than in the Red Sea. Beckelhymer said Stockdale's weapon system was in a "different configuration" since they didn't expect to be shot at. At the southern border, the emphasis was on other capabilities. "The sensor suite is incredible. My surface radar tracking ability, I think, far exceeds what we normally see, particularly on the smaller Coast Guard cutters," Beckelhymer said. "And then I've also got a much larger team." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He touted the ship's combat information center, a multimission room with many monitors that display maps and radars, as an essential tool for monitoring possible smuggling situations and recommending whether it's worth following up. The embarked helicopter is one of a destroyer's many assets. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Jerome D. Johnson As Henry Ziemer, an Americas Program fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, previously wrote, a destroyer has "powerful sensors and electronics that can be assets for detecting small boats and semisubmersibles used for illicit activities." These ships can also coordinate additional assets, he said, and function as a force multiplier. Beckelhymer said the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter embarked on the Stockdale provides faster air coverage than relying on something from the shore. The helicopter is equipped with a very capable radar and communications suite and can share real-time data and video feed with the destroyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The captain said the Stockdale is also an endurance platform. The ship can "stay on station considerably longer" and carry more fuel and food. During its deployment, Stockdale served as a command-and-control platform, providing maritime awareness and surveillance to the Coast Guard assets operating in the area. The destroyer played a role in helping them apprehend suspected smuggling vessels, and Beckelhymer's crew saved the lives of mariners who were caught adrift with no food or water on board. Speaking to the missions that his warship has supported, Beckelhymer said "it's really, really humbling to watch young men and women put to action the things that it takes to operate a destroyer at sea in support of priority missions for two separate fleet commanders." Read the original article on Business Insider Law enforcement is increasing security around schools and religious institutions in Washington heading into the holiday weekend after an attack that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers. The plans for additional security measures emerged in a news conference with officials Thursday as the city reeled from the attack hours earlier in which a gunman opened fire on the young couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum. You will find us around our faith-based organizations, said DC Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith. You will see an increased presence around our schools and places like the DC Jewish Community Center. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, told police after the shooting that he wanted to free Palestine. He faces federal charges that include two counts of murder for the deaths of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. He is also facing felony firearms charges, said Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Pirro said authorities are investigating the shooting as a hate crime and an act of terrorism, and may add additional charges. This is the kind of case that picks at old sores and old scars, Pirro said. Because these kinds of cases remind us of what has happened in the past, that we can never and must never forget. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier Thursday convened a meeting with the Mayors Interfaith Council, speaking with local Jewish leaders, City Council members and the districts attorney general. Sadly, we have had practice standing together as a community to fight antisemitism both in hate speech and in hateful acts, Bowser said. So in this moment we stand shoulder to shoulder as one community united in love but also committed to justice for this young couple. A Washington County native and Army Air Forces airman killed during World War II has finally been accounted for. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said on Thursday that 2nd Lt. Donald W. Sheppick, 26, of Roscoe, was accounted for on Sept. 20, 2024. Sheppick was assigned to the 320th Bombardment in Squadron, 90th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force in March 1944 and deployed in present-day Papua New Guinea, the DPAA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the morning of March 11, Sheppick was the navigator on a B-24D Liberator bomber named Heaven Can Wait. The bomber left from Nadzab Strip No. 1 in Papua New Guinea as part of a bombing mission against enemy positions on New Guineas northern coast. Witnesses from other aircraft report seeing flames in the bomb bay of Sheppicks plane that were spreading to the tail. The bomber was seen pitching up before banking left and crashing into the water. Several aircraft searched for survivors in the area but couldnt find any. Its believed that anti-aircraft fire hit Sheppicks bomber and caused ordnances in the plane to explode, the DPAA says. After the war, the American Graves Registration Service searched battle areas and crash sites in New Guinea. It concluded the search in late 1948, and in 1950, AGRS officials designated Sheppick and his crew members as unrecoverable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October 2017, DPAA partner organization Project Recover found a B-24s wreckage in Hansa Bay while making sonar scans. Recovery teams excavated the site between March 9 and April 13, 2023, and found possible remains. The evidence was sent to the DPAAs laboratory for analysis. Scientists used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence, to identify Sheppicks remains, the DPAA says. Also, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used Y-chromosome DNA analysis. Sheppicks name is listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, along with others still missing from WWII, the DPAA says. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheppick will be buried in Belle Vernon, though the date has not been set. For family and funeral information, you can call the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490. Sheppicks personnel profile is viewable at https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XdlREAS. Sheppicks initial ID announcement can be found at this link: Sheppick. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW I remember the hollow dread the first time I walked up to a food pantry door. The cupboards at home were empty. In the fridge, a single serving of chicken and dumplings sat, carefully rationed into two meals a day for four long days. My last few dollars had gone into the gas tank just to get to work, and I was surviving on pocket change until payday. That feeling desperation wrapped in shame is something you dont forget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifteen years later, standing in the Tacoma Dome parking lot as an Emergency Food Network staff member, I watched hundreds of cars snake around the block, each waiting for the team from Eloises Cooking Pot to place a weeks worth of food into their trunk. Their faces reflected emotions I knew well: brief relief, quiet embarrassment, sincere gratitude and beneath it all, deep exhaustion. But its not just Eloises. Every day, across Pierce County, Emergency Food Networks 75+ partner programs see the same unrelenting need. Thousands of seniors, families and people experiencing homelessness turn to us not because they made bad choices but because theyve been backed into a corner by rising costs and stagnant wages. Yet while the need grows, the lifelines people depend on are being ripped away. In March, the USDA slashed over $1 billion from programs that kept food flowing to food banks and schools. The Local Food Purchase Assistance program which strengthened both local farms and hungry families was wiped out entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then another blow: The Emergency Food Assistance Program the backbone of the federal emergency food system was gutted by $500 million. Here in Washington, that means up to $25 million lost in food funding in just three weeks. At EFN, thats not just a statistic its 19 food deliveries that wont reach hungry families. Its $500,000 in support for local farmers gone. Its a 40% hole in our Emergency Food Assistance Program allocation, at a time when visits to our network have already topped 800,000 this year an alarming 17% increase over last year. And the betrayal isnt just federal. While both the House and Senate in Olympia fully funded emergency food programs, Gov. Bob Fergusons budget proposes a $52 million cut to food bank funding. In the middle of a hunger crisis, thats not just bad policy thats abandonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets be clear: Hunger is not inevitable. Hunger is a policy choice. We need our state legislators to hold the line. We need our federal lawmakers to remember who they serve. And we need every single one of you to raise your voice. Congress is in recess. Your representatives are home. Find them. Call them. Tell them to protect SNAP. Restore USDA food programs. Fully fund emergency food efforts. Thank the champions and demand better from the rest. If youve never faced an empty cupboard, I hope you never will. If you have, you know why Im asking. No one no child, no senior, no family should have to survive on hope and spare change. Enough is enough. Lianna Olds is deputy director of the Emergency Food Network. There was a drastic decline in the amount of untreated wastewater that overflowed in the Connecticut River last year compared to 2023, according to a new report from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The report, which came out last week, showed that 543 million gallons overflowed into the the Connecticut River last year across 12 days with weather events, compared to close to 1 billion gallons in 2023. Some communities in the Pioneer Valley constructed their sewer systems to also accept stormwater. During heavy rains, the stormwater and sewage overwhelm some wastewater treatment plants and flow untreated into nearby bodies of water. The event is called a combined sewer overflow (CSO), and officials issues warnings afterwards to avoid affected water bodies for 48 hours because of pollutants and bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, we had extremely heavy rainfall over the summer and into the winter which resulted in several catastrophic floods throughout the Connecticut River watershed. In contrast, 2024 was a drought year and there was significantly less rainfall, Ryan ODonnell, water quality program manager at the Connecticut River Conservancy, wrote in an email. The amount of overflow depends on the amount of rainfall and snowmelt that occurs, the MassDEP report says. Wetter weather conditions, particularly those with significant precipitation, increase the likelihood of CSO discharges, the report says. The reduction of untreated wastewater entering in the Connecticut River in 2024 because of combined sewer overflows can also be attributed to the opening of Springfields York Street Pump Station in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project has doubled the capacity of our old wastewater pump station and can pump more combined flow to the wastewater treatment plant during storm events, said Jaimye Bartak, communications manager for the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. The commission spent $137 million on the pump station project. The commission, she said, has spent more than $300 million over the last three decades to reduce and mitigate combined sewer overflow discharges into the Chicopee and Mill rivers and their parent, the Connecticut River. The commission also has collaborated with other communities to reduce the discharges in the Connecticut River by approximately half, she said in an emailed statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much CSO investment remains to be done in the region, but we are proud of that progress and it is evident in the increased recreation on and enhanced development along the Connecticut River, she said. Wastewater systems across the state are required to notify the public anytime sewage discharges and overflows into Massachusetts water bodies. Communities, like Holyoke and Chicopee, are also in consent agreements with the federal Environmental Protection Agency to completely eliminate their combined sewer overflows a multimillion dollar undertaking. Holyoke, which entered into a consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2023, is working on sewer separation projects to reduce its overflows into the Connecticut River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua A. Garcia, Holyokes mayor, said at a groundbreaking for the River Terrace sewer separation project on Monday, that local governments have to address these issues incrementally. Garcia said the project is very expensive, but the city cant keep ignoring the issues. We have to start moving toward the end goal, he said. Chicopee has been in a similar agreement with the EPA for over two decades. By 2022, Chicopee had spent $225 million on its effort to separate storm drains from sewer pipes, which was a part of its EPA order that requires the city to stop dumping raw sewage into the rivers every time it rains. At the time, the project still needed $300 million to complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to fewer discharges of untreated wastewater in the Connecticut River in 2024, there were also fewer discharges in the Mill and Chicopee rivers, the report says. The Mill River went from having 37 million gallons in discharge in 2023 to 18 million the year following. The Chicopee River went down from 23 million gallons to 11 million gallons. Despite the local decreases, the overall volume untreated wastewater discharge increased in Massachusetts, jumping up from 7.2 billion gallons to 7.6 billion gallons of sewage that entered water bodies across the state. Particularly, the Massachusetts Bay on the eastern part of the state saw an increase in combined sewer overflow discharge from 1.3 billion gallons in 2023 to 1.8 billion gallons in 2024. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. Credit: YouTube/ Parliament of Western Australia An Australian state MP ended his final day in parliament by pouring alcohol into his shoe and downing it. Kyle McGinn, who was retiring from the upper house of the parliament of Western Australia, thanked his constituents before doing what Australians call a shoey. He pulled out a canned beverage, to the shock and laughter of his fellow politicians, and declared that he was used to getting told off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought so long and hard about how I would finish this speech and my constituents in the Goldfields I think will be particularly appreciative, he said. Theres only one way to do it and Im used to getting told off, so we might as well get this over and done with, but, I would like to say to the members and constituents across WA, thank you for two fantastic terms, cheers. Some members of parliament applauded him until Alanna Clohesy, the houses presiding officer, instructed the MP to sit down. Mr McGinn told local media that he did the shoey to show that there are normal people in parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think parliament can often seem inaccessible, I know when I first went into parliament I thought it was just about politicians but there are normal people up there, he told local radio. Sometimes you just celebrate your own way and that has been me the whole way through. 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. Vice President Vance is delivering the commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy graduation ceremony Friday morning. The ceremony is being held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Vance, a former senator from Ohio, who joined the Marines and served in Iraq, later earned degrees from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EDT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the live video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A part of Indian Ripple Road is closed until further notice due to a water main break. Beavercreek Police issued a traffic alert Friday morning, reporting that Indian Ripple between Woodcroft Trail and Darst Road is closed. Photo by Hosna Sadaqat/WDTN Photo by Hosna Sadaqat/WDTN Photo by Hosna Sadaqat/WDTN Photo by Hosna Sadaqat/WDTN Please seek an alternate route. We will update when repairs have been made and the road is reopened, the department said in the alert. The police department is also advising that residents reach out to the Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department for more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a detour in place, according to the city of Beavercreek. Westbound traffic should follow Darst Road to Barberry Boulevard, continue to Chalfonte Drive, and proceed to Sylvania Drive. Those traveling eastbound should travel the reverse route. At this time, there is no estimated timeframe for reopening, the city said in a separate social media post. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. TEHRAN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Thursday there will be no nuclear agreement if the United States seeks to cease Iran's uranium enrichment. He made the remarks in a live interview broadcast with the state-run IRIB TV ahead of the fifth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iranian and U.S. delegations in Rome on Friday. "Fundamental differences still exist between us. The U.S. side does not believe in uranium enrichment in Iran. If this is their objective, there would be no agreement," Araghchi said while responding to U.S. officials' recent demands that Tehran completely stop uranium enrichment on its soil. "However, if they seek that Iran does not move toward nuclear weapons, this can be achieved. We do not seek nuclear weapons," he said. Araghchi noted that the nuclear deal signed between Iran and several other countries in 2015 was no longer effective, "but it does not mean that the deal is dead," adding that the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, could be revived. However, Araghchi emphasized that Iran would not give up its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment. Iran and the United States have held four rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions since April. Recently, U.S. officials have repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease its uranium enrichment activities, a request that Tehran has firmly rejected, insisting the issue is "non-negotiable." One of the fastest-growing burger chains announced a new location on Friday, May 23. Wayback Burgers currently operates in 36 states with more than 170 locations nationally and internationally in Brunei, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, and seven provinces in Canada. This week the company announced a new location at Prescott Village 1002 Aspinal Street in Waxhaw, NC. Were excited to bring Wayback Burgers to the heart of Waxhaw, marking our eighth location in North Carolina, Patrick Conlin, President of Wayback Franchising, LLC, said in a statement. This grand opening isnt just about expanding our footprintits about giving back to the community, creating new jobs and offering a place where families can enjoy delicious food together. With Anna leading the way, were confident this location will become a community favorite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This location features a 2,000 square-foot building that promises to bring the brands "signature menu items in a lighter, brighter, and elevated dine-in experience. Its modern kitchen will be visible through glass windows and a pass-through, allowing guests to watch their food being prepared. Furnishings will include a variety of seating options, such as upholstered banquettes, booths, and floating community tables." Local franchisee Anna Turovskaya issued a statement about owning and operating the eighth location in North Carolina. Having proudly called Waxhaw home since 2019, Im honored to bring Wayback Burgers to a community that means so much to my family," she said. "As a local family, were excited to welcome guests and look forward to serving our community with delicious food and exceptional customer service in a warm, family-friendly setting. The Wayback Burgers menu extends well beyond burgers with cheesesteaks, crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fresh salads, and delicious sides, including fries, tater tots, onion rings and fried pickles - and more. Of course a burger chain wouldn't be complete without milkshakes, which the growing chain offers. Related: Beloved Breakfast Restaurant Closing After 50 Years Wayback Burger Chain Announces New Location on May 23 first appeared on Men's Journal on May 23, 2025 Meet Gigi, a spirited 3-year-old Manx cat with a heart as big as her missing tail, living her best life in Hartford, Connecticut. With soft fur, bright eyes, and a mischievous streak a mile wide, Gigi is queen of the house and she knows it. Her absolute favorite delicacy? Rotisserie chicken. Just the sound of the container cracking open is enough to send her into a full-body wiggle of excitement. No box is safe from her curiosity whether its big, small or meant for something entirely not-cat-related, Gigi will climb in, curl up and claim it as her royal throne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while shes sweet as can be during the day, shes also known as the midnight mischief-maker. If you find yourself being gently tapped on the face at 3 a.m., dont worry its just Gigi reminding you that she exists and probably deserves more chicken. Do you have an amazing pet youd like to see featured in Weather Buddies? You can nominate them by sending photos here (morning dot brief at weather dot com). Also include their age, breed (if applicable), where they live and a few sentences about what makes them special. Thanks! SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The weather reporting equipment at San Diegos Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport did not appear to have been working properly in the hours before Thursdays deadly plane crash, with no data having been reported on visibility for almost 12 hours, per the National Weather Service. The Automated Surface Observing Station, which is managed by the Federal Aviation Administration under an agreement with the city of San Diego, did not report any data on visibility conditions between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., per NWS. Eliot Simpson, senior aviation accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, noted in a press briefing Thursday afternoon the tower at Montgomery-Gibbs was also closed at the time, although he said that is not abnormal for a small airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LIVE UPDATES: Six on board plane that crashed in Murphy Canyon Audio recordings of the Cessnas pilot show he attempted to check in with the station at the airport upon approach, but did not get any usable information on visibility. He then turned to the next closest reporting station, located at MCAS Miramar. According to NWS, the visibility recorded at MCAS Miramar was about 0.5 miles at 3 a.m. one hour before the crash. Minutes after the plane fell, around 4 a.m., Miramar had reported visibility of just a quarter mile with a ceiling of 200 feet. The airspace at Montgomery-Gibbs is Class D, according to the FAA. This means it requires aircraft to have a visibility of three miles and must be separated from clouds by at least 500 feet if flying below them, 2,000 feet if it is flying next to them or 1,000 feet if it is flying over them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating what led to the crash, but officials have said conditions at the time may have played a role. It is unknown whether the equipment issues at the airport may have factored in to the crash. As of 6 p.m. Thursday, at least three people have been confirmed dead as a result of the crash, including a local music executive and the former drummer of a popular heavy-metal band. At least eight residents of the Murphy Canyon neighborhood sustained minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation due to the fires that erupted from spilled jet fuel. VIDEO: Fireball erupts as plane crashes in San Diego Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FAA officials said a total of six people were on board when the plane departed at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. However, it is unclear whether all were on board when the plane crashed or if there were any survivors. Simpson says NTSB investigators will be on scene all day Friday recovering additional evidence that can help them piece together the events of the crash. Federal officials expect to be able to recover the plane itself, which hit one home in Murphy Canyon directly, on Saturday. A preliminary report on the incident is expected to be released sometime in the coming weeks. A full incident report, NTSB says, will not be released for at least a 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The sun rose literally and metaphorically for House Republicans on Thursday when they finally mustered the votes to pass President Donald Trumps One, Big, Beautiful Bill. The vote came under the tightest of margins, with 215 Republicans voting for the bill. Two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio, opposed it and Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, voted present. Two Republicans, Dave Schweikert of Arizona and Andrew Garbarino of New York, missed the vote as Garbarino fell asleep. All 212 Democrats voted against the bill, meaning that the final vote tally was 215-214. But had Gerry Connolly, the Virginia Democratic representative, not died of esophageal cancer earlier this week, the bill would have been deadlocked and failed on the floor. Not only that, but Connolly is the third Democratic member of Congress to die this year. U.S. Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia passed away this week, giving Republicans more wiggle room as they passed their massive tax bill (Getty Images) It served as a bitter bookend to the week that began with former president Joe Biden announcing that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer: Democratic leadership has an age problem and not only does it prevent them from winning re-election, it prevents them from stopping Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The week was always likely to be a painful reminder about Bidens age and the role it played in the 2024 election, given that Axioss Alex Thompson and CNNs Jake Tapper released their book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. But Bidens cancer diagnosis put the former presidents decision to run for re-election despite being 81 into even starker relief. It showed his hubris in thinking that he could be up for a full-fledged White House campaign again when he even showed signs of aging in his 2020 presidential run that did not demand the rigor of a cross-country blitz due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Biden family and his defenders have taken to attacking Tapper and Thompson. But Bidens disastrous debate performance only cemented what people already felt: that Bidens age and frailty disqualified him from the most difficult job in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Connollys death shows this is not a one-off problem for the Democratic Party. It further solidifies how much Democratic elders refuse to hand over the reins of power to the next generation. President Joe Bidens debate performance only confirmed voters concerns about his age. (AFP/Getty) Last year, when Jamie Raskin bumped New York Democrat Jerry Nadler to become the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her hat in the ring to replace him. Ocasio-Cortez had occasionally led House Democrats when Raskin underwent treatment for cancer. She had some of the toughest questions for witnesses in the Oversight Committee and is known to have one of the most professional staffs on Capitol Hill. But she was passed over for Connolly largely because it was his turn. Connolly had been consistently leapfrogged to lead the committee, but Democrats have long adhered to the idea that Democrats earn chairmanships based on whose turn it is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This creates a bottleneck where members can wait for years on end to earn leadership spots, only to be advanced in age when they obtain these coveted positions, thereby repeating the cycle. This was also compounded by the fact that earlier this year, two other House Democrats died. Raul Grijalva of Arizona died of cancer, while Sylvester Turner of Texas died the day after Trumps joint address to Congress. Grijalva, who had undergone cancer treatment and missed most votes last year, was among those who told Biden he should step aside. Turner, who was 70 and had survived cancer, won his seat in Congress after Sheila Jackson Lee died in office last year. Had all three Democrats not run for office last year or had younger Democrats run for their seats, the bill likely would have been unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than that, in 2024, Democratic Reps. Bill Pascrell, 87, and Donald Payne of New Jersey both died. The House Democratic caucuss age problem no longer just means that the party looks out of date: it actively prevents Democrats from doing their job. Republicans hands are, of course, not entirely clean on this. Trump will turn 79 next month and Mitch McConnell, 83, clung to power until last year. But so far, it has not prevented them from winning elections or passing legislation. Democrats dont lack young talent either. They have both the youngest representative, Maxwell Frost of Florida, and the youngest senator, Jon Ossoff of Georgia. They also enjoy a bevy of young Democratic governors like Wes Moore of Maryland, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. They have no reason to continue to rely on older leaders. The Democratic Party has taken to saying they are the vanguards of democracy and the one thing preventing the rise of authoritarianism in America. But their refusal to change their leadership means they do not take the threat entirely seriously. So why should anyone else? WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC22/FOX44) Vermont Senator Peter Welch, along with his colleagues Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday asking for support for critical programs in Lake Champlain and the surrounding valley. Lake Champlain provides significant environmental, recreational, historic, and educational value to our region, reads the letter. We have a responsibility to expand federal support for the lake so our constituents can benefit from these opportunities for generations to come. Read the full text of the letter hereDownload Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter asks for support for the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) as well as several other programs including the Lake Champlain Sea Grant, which funds science education efforts around the area in conjunction with colleges including the University of Vermont and the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Judge in Texas frees one Vermont farm worker on bond; denies bail to two others The LCBP has been helping monitor the lakes water and wildlife for 35 years. Last year it tracked the recovery of the lake after a huge amount of sediment flowed into the lake during the July floods, as previously reported by ABC22/FOX44. The three senators as well as Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation last Congress to fund the program for another ten years, but the bill did not make it out of committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. One of Britains biggest banks has ordered staff still cheekily working from home to turn up or face a cut in their pay. Actually, its a slice of their HSBC bonuses that will be affected, so its hard for the rest of us suckers to sympathise. Besides, they only need to get dressed and turn up three days a week, which is still a huge skive. Or it would be, were it not for the fact that staff who have gone WFH-feral will be shocked to learn how office life has changed while they were shopping online and taking long naps with the cat. For a start, sighing in frustration at a colleague is the latest human right to be infringed in the parallel universe that is the world of employment tribunals. Oh yes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those of you still baffled by the recent mahoosive payout to the NHS worker who, among other incidents, took umbrage at being compared to Darth Vader after colleagues filled in a larky online Star Wars personality test on her behalf, better take a deep breath. And asphyxiate yourselves because if you are caught making exaggerated exhales you too could be found guilty of discrimination. Nothing is as it once was. Eye-rolling has gone the way of the fax machine. Huffing (including but not limited to) puffing? Beyond the pale. As for all the other once perfectly standard interactions between stressed, busy humans, all I can say is get yourself lawyered up before you even think of tutting over an unwashed coffee cup. And, in case it passed you by, calling a man bald is comparable to commenting on the size of a womans breasts and amounts to sexual harassment, according to a West Yorkshire employment tribunal in 2022. The ruling came in a case between electrician Tony Finn and his manufacturing firm employers. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Finn said he hoped the judgment would stop other men being verbally assaulted and intimidated because they are bald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new ruling about sighing came in the case of Robert Watson, a software engineer with ADHD who successfully sued a tech company after complaining about his managers sighing and exaggerated exhales. Hes now in line for compensation from Roke Manor Research, inventors of the Hawk-Eye ball tracking system who, ironically, never saw that one coming. What a difference a decade makes. Back in 2014, the University of Warwick was forced to reinstate a professor after his nine-month suspension for inappropriate sighing in job interviews, and for giving off negative vibes and making ironic comments. Frankly, I think he sounds great. Either way, a tribunal cleared him of the charges; I do hope he greeted the news with an exaggerated exhale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in 2025, its now a behavioural minefield. No thanks needed all you HSBC employees, just something to ponder before you try and cram your feet into proper shoes and struggle into work three whole days a week. The cat doesnt care if you sigh, or call it bald. What price freedom? 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. Welcome to Barrow-in-Furness: the forgotten town behind the U.K.s nuclear defense seeking resurrection. At any given moment, a Vanguard-class submarine is somewhere in the worlds oceans, carrying up to 40 nuclear warheads, its commanders and some 130 crew prepared for an apocalyptic call from the U.K.s prime minister to strike its target. Tucked at the bottom of a peninsula, looking out toward the Isle of Man, is where those submarines began their life: BAE Systems Devonshire Dock Hall. The site is a six-pronged shipyard stretching 850 feet across and 170 feet into the air, and it stands as a kind of watchkeeper over Barrow-in-Furness, a small town of about 67,000 people in the U.K. Whats inside: the construction of nuclear-warhead-packed submarinesthe expensive protectors of an entire nation. 140 BAE Systems Fortune 500 Europe rank When the Devonshire Dock Hall was being constructed in the waning years of the Cold War, between 1982 and 1986, the U.K. government was spending around 5% of its GDP on defense. Its military put boots on the ground in the Falkland Islands while prepping for a potential war with the Soviet Union alongside NATO, pumping more money into Barrow. In the past 30 years, though, the story has reversed. U.K. government spending on defense fell through the turn of the century to a low of 2.1% of GDP by 2013. That spending decline was punctuated in Barrow by mass layoffs, collapsed supply chains, and state-driven austerity. As the U.K. government recommits to bulking up its military, BAE Systems, the 140th-largest company in Europe by revenue in 2023, is tasked with rearming the country at sea, on the ground, and in the air. The long-suffering residents of Barrow-in-Furness, battered by years of funding cuts, declining health, and falling standards, are facing a last-chance saloon to once again reap those benefits. Barrows past Barrow has long anchored the U.K.s enviable naval prowess. In 1847, the town had a population of just 450 people. Within 30 years, that figure had ballooned to 47,000 as Barrows port assembled submarines for the Royal Navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town built 112 vessels in a five-year period during the Second World War, leading to German aerial bombardment in the Barrow Blitz. In the years after the war, Barrow continued to host naval construction, cementing the towns status as the Chicago of the North; generations of shipbuilders prepared for any order that came Barrows way from the Ministry of Defense. Theyve been building submarines for a hell of a long time now. So hence, its no fluke that were leaders in that technology, John Irving, the premises manager for Barrows Dock Museum, tells Fortune. What Barrows residents werent prepared for, however, was peace. The so-called peace dividend that followed the end of the Cold War promised a new era of lower defense spending in favor of other areas, most notably health. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a think tank, found the peace dividend allowed a marked rise in health spending without hurting the U.K.s bottom line. At the same time, jobs began to disappear from Barrow. Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, the operator of the shipyard from the 1970s to the early 1990s, slashed thousands of jobs in a short period after the end of the Cold War, taking more jobs in the supply chain with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am fearful of the effect that the redundancies will have on the fabric of life in my community, John Hutton, a former MP for Barrow and Furness, said in an ominous plea to Parliament in 1992, following one of those layoff rounds. Huttons fears would be realized in a way perhaps not even the biggest pessimists could predict. The history is that youve got a major employer thats kind of dominated the town. And when thats positive, thats great. When its been in recession, thats extremely negative, Jonathan Brook, the Liberal Democrat leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, tells Fortune. A residential street sits in the shadow of BAE Systems industrial complex. Its a cruel irony that while the peace dividend enabled a countrywide increase in health spending, the health of Barrows citizens continued to decline. As of 2019, the local authority of Barrow-in-Furness ranked as the fourth most deprived in England for public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town suffers from historically high levels of coronary heart disease, cancer, and lung disease, which have been linked to Barrows industrial past. As of 2021, a quarter of residents were obese, while data from late 2024 showed a quarter of the working-age population is economically inactive. Barrows industrial heritage can explain some of the health gaps, which were exacerbated when layoffs hit the town, an issue that has been passed on to younger generations. The town suffers from historically high levels of coronary heart disease, cancer, and lung disease, which have been linked to Barrows industrial past. What were now seeing is this intergenerational worklessness, which manifests in addiction, poor health, and premature death, says Brook. Janet Garner, BAEs future workforce director, remembers Barrows boom era. Garner joined the shipyard 39 years ago, watched as money flowed into the town in the Cold War era, and stayed to observe the after-effects of falling defense spending and years of austerity. BAE Systems workers launch the HMS Agamemnon, a nuclear-powered submarine. Its a very, very different place, and some of the challenges that the towns got now are very entrenched, Garner says of Barrow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite deindustrialization, Barrow is still very much a town beholden to the port. A quarter of the towns working-age population consists of BAE employees. Residents of the town also work for the Sellafield nuclear plant and Kimberly-Clark, the U.S. group behind Kleenex. Fortune 500 Europe wind contractor rsted also set up one of the worlds biggest wind farms in Walney, off the coast of Barrow. But there is no doubt among locals that BAEs success is key to Barrows resurrection. What we do is about national security. So not only is it vital for us to be able to deliver our plan, its vital for the town. And without the two working together, its not going to work, Garner says. Rebuilding Barrow On a clear day (not that theyre the majority), Barrows residents can see the peaks of the Lake District, only a short drive away from the BAE shipyard. James, a second-year apprentice with BAE, travels there with his partner, a Barrow native, on the weekends to go hiking. I found it very easy to settle here, James says. (Fortune isnt disclosing apprentices surnames at the request of BAE, owing to national security concerns.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what if employees, doing physically intense work all week, dont want to go hiking in their downtime? Sadly, there arent many options. What we do is about national security. So not only is it vital for us to be able to deliver our plan, its vital for the town. And without the two working together, its not going to work. Janet Garner, BAEs future workforce director Have you walked around the town? Brian Webster-Henderson, OBE, deputy vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria, asks rhetorically in response to a question about how the university might attract students outside Barrow to study at a new local campus. Not every student wants to climb a mountain, or row a canoe on a lake in the freezing cold, or go wild water swimming. I wouldnt come if there was no cafes, no nightlife, and closed shops. To change that perception, Barrow is planning a makeover, having secured a 10-year, 200 million Transformation Fund unveiled under the previous Conservative government. While 20 million per year is unlikely to reverse decades of decline, Councillor Brook regards it as a catalytic fund that can inspire more private investment. So far, though, its hard to see any of that investment on Barrows high street. The towns center is sparsely populated, with paintings covering some abandoned shop fronts, and wooden boarding covering those that have so far missed out on a makeover. Debenhams department store, which once anchored the towns high street, has lain vacant since the troubled retailer abandoned its lease in 2021. In February, BAE announced the old Debenhams site would become a virtual reality training center, familiarizing younger recruits with the factory. The rest of the town, though, shows little sign of regeneration. The stragglers To date, many BAE employees have found a solution to Barrows lack of life: being in the town as little as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several companies advertise serviced apartments in the town, name-checking BAE Systems employees in their pitches for tenants, one labeling its apartments a home away from home for those workers staying in town from Monday to Thursday. Those workers frustrate Barrows recovery because they spend the majority of their paychecks elsewhere on weekends. Abbey Apartments offers weekly bookings at a discount for employees who live in Barrow irregularly. David Clark, a Barrow native who runs Abbey Apartments, worked as an apprentice on the Trident defense program in the late 80s and early 90s, before being caught up in the mass layoffs that originally rocked the town. After moving abroad to work in housing development, Clark came home in 2015 when he saw an opportunity in Barrows regeneration, buying the local workingmens club and converting it into apartments. His part-time tenants come from all over the U.K. Clark name-checks Liverpool, London, Portsmouth, and Bristol as just some of the locations where clients spend their weekends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the moment, the consultants and the professionals dont like the way Barrow looks, which means they dont want to live there, which means Barrow definitely needs to be improved, and the town center in particular needs to improve, Clark states. Phil Drane, program director of Team Barrow, is the man tasked with spending the 200 million provided under the Transformation Fund. He accepts the town is still in its bust phase: You see how much people [here] are proud of their place, and how theyve been through tough times, and that rubs off. Locals and policymakers agree on what the town needs to thrive. The priorities are new housing and the replacement of older terraced housing stock. BAE operators said in 2024 that Barrow needed 900 new homes a year to facilitate people taking up new positions. This needs to be followed by a regeneration of the high street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we dont offer the right accommodation aligned to the people we want to see come into the town, then we will end up with a town full of HMOs [houses of multiple occupancy], with people that come here Monday and go home Thursday, and that will not regenerate the town, says Garner. Training Barrow Around 70% of BAEs apprentices are Barrow residents, Garner adds. Optimists believe those younger workers are well placed to benefit from an expectant industrial boom, bringing with it higher wages. Four years ago, BAEs apprenticeship programs for its submarines division attracted around 2,500 applicants. That number has risen to 6,000, Garner says, evidencing the growing interest in defense jobs since the onset of the war in Ukraine. Whats happening in Ukraine made it feel more important, what Im doing now. You dont have to look far to see the consequences of not having this technology, says apprentice James. Still, its not guaranteed that apprentices are receiving the best education before they enter the shipyard. Furness College, the only further education college in Barrow, which teaches many of BAEs apprentices, received the lowest possible score of inadequate from U.K. education regulator Ofsted in 2024. Ofsted complained that too few apprentices regularly attended class, and more broadly lamented a decline over time in attendance, retention, and achievement. Four years ago, BAEs apprenticeship programs for its submarines division attracted around 2,500 applicants. A spokesperson for BAE told Fortune the company is aware of the rating and is engaging in positive dialogue with the college to make improvements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Older students will soon flock to the wet shores of Barrow. The University of Cumbria is set to welcome its first pupils to a new Barrow campus in September. It is hoped that with a university campus in the town, Barrow can encourage more people to stick around after they graduate, helping to reverse a brain drain of younger people from the area. Amy, a BAE apprentice and recent first-time homebuyer who lives outside Barrow, says she would have been more likely to have bought in the town had the university been there in her early years. There is some contention among locals, however, that as more of Barrow increasingly becomes BAEs training center, there will be fewer people around to do the lower-paying jobs every town needs to sustain itself, from education to health care to hospitality. In time, the locals could be priced out of this once-bust town. Deanna, another Barrow-based apprentice with BAE, mentioned that she gave up her job at a school to work in human resources at the docks, citing better wages and prospects. Her family worked in the shipyard, while her partner is also a BAE employee. Clark, of Abbey Apartments, worries regeneration is made harder if BAE continues to dominate Barrows employment figures. The town itself is suffering because people dont want these kinds of lower-paid jobs of doing admin or working in a shop, because they can get a better salary in BAE, Clark says. The knock-on effect is the town then begins to lose people, because not enough people are coming in to fill all the positions. Team Barrows remit involves diversifying the towns economy to safeguard it against future busts, director Drane says. Its great that we have a dominant employer here, and we have great existing industrial businesses, he notes. But to diversify things, we need to consider what employment sectors should be represented, and how we grow and build those. A glint of hope The era of the peace dividend is over, Grant Shapps solemnly declared in January 2024 while he was U.K. defense secretary. A grim, yet realistic assessment of the geopolitical climate the U.K. found itself in last year has only intensified since Donald Trumps inauguration, with the U.S. president distancing his country from its historical role as the Wests peace broker. That assessment may have also provided the first real glint of hope for Barrows residents in decades. Since the beginning of 2022, BAEs market value has almost tripled from 18 billion to 51 billion. Sales are up to 26.3 billion ($33.6 billion), while BAE reported a 77.8 billion order book last year, up 32.4% since 2022. BAE is in the process of completing a 31 billion order from the U.K. government for a submarine refresh, known as Dreadnought, out of Barrow. The company has an order pipeline of 180 billion ($240 billion) in addition to its extensive backlog. To aid its ambitions, BAE is building new research facilities and renovating its decades-old infrastructure in Barrow. The supply-chain effects of those renovations are already beginning to be realized, mostly in demand for local construction workers to build facilities and housing to absorb Barrows latest boom. At a BAE Systems briefing, Prime Minister Keir Starmer (center) pledges to raise U.K. military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. But with so many areas in need of improvement, the burning question is: What does success look like for BAE and Barrow in the future? Getting off the top of the deprivation tables is a must, says BAEs Garner. Team Barrows Drane cites metrics like increased footfall in the town center, alongside better facilities, as important barometers of progress. The race against time to build housing and attractive amenities to keep BAE employees in Barrow is entering its final phase. Irving, from the Dock Museum, has read enough about Barrows previous booms and busts to know whether the latest optimism around the town is something new, or uncomfortably familiar. They are obviously very much aware that it was boom or bust in the past, and obviously people far better than me are looking at how to prevent that for all the future generations in the town, he says. Councillor Brook says past attempts at regeneration were sticking plasters that quickly tore apart under strain. Were into more radical surgery, he notes. If that surgery goes according to plan, it could be the template to revive forgotten industrial towns across the country. If it goes wrong, locals will begin to question the value in being Britains protector. That is, if they havent already. This article appears in the June/July 2025 issue of Fortune with the headline Will a Defense Spending Boom Revive This U.K. Town? This story was originally featured on Fortune.com TYLER, Texas (KETK) Texas Civil Rights activists said in Thursday press conference that they demand the resignation of the police chief, the termination of the officers involved in the incident and others in the department. VIDEO: Tyler PD releases bodycam footage after woman discharges officers gun during arrest Civil Rights activists Quanell X and Candice Matthews were deeply disturbed watching the video of Brianna Erwins arrest on Mothers Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were disgusted on how law enforcement pretty much did this sister the way that they did which was excessive use of force, activist Candice Matthews said. X and Matthews called for Chief Jimmy Tolers resignation, the termination of the officers involved and Tolers leadership team. Chief Toler stated he supports the actions of his officers. He added that his officers are trained to increase restraint when a suspect increases their resistance. When you look at her face, she has a huge black eye on her face. When you watch the video you see them punching and punching and putting their knees in the back and just straddling this sister, activist Quanell X said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tyler PD said during the struggle, Erwin managed to fire a gun shot from the holster of the officer. Toler said to deescalate the situation the officer was seen giving Erwin a closed hand strike. It was impossible for Erwin to fire the officers weapon, Mathews said. It being a level three retention holster, the level three retention holster has three levels in order to move that gun out of that holster. In order for her, and she was tussling the way she was doing. Shes not an expert to know that. So based on that video, from what weve seen, is that it appears that the officer shot that gun, not her. For the first time in more than 20 years the Tyler Police Department released body cam footage during an active investigation to put down rumors that the gun was fired by the officer, according to the chief. The safety zone has a double safety mechanism on the trigger. You have to pull the trigger with both sides of it and even pull to make it go off. Thats the only way it goes off. She had to discharge the trigger to make that gun discharge, and theyre always engaged and ready to go in case they are confronted with deadly force, which is what they were here, Chief of Police, Jimmy Toler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was excessive force:Tyler NAACP reacts to womans arrest, firing of officers gun X said if the gun was that easy to discharge, then gun was not stored properly. If that gun was already in the holster and able to fire sitting in the holster with no safety on, then if it was that easily accessible to anyone, then that means it was not stored correctly and properly, X said. There is an ongoing criminal investigation into Erwins actions and an internal investigation. The internal investigation is procedure when an officers gun is discharged. We will finish our investigation, make a determination about whether or not the action of the officers were reasonable and prudent based on the circumstances that she created. From there, well make a determination on whether its justified or not justified, Toler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both activists are calling for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to step in and investigate if Erwins rights were violated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry, Cape Verde, and Gambia have come together to break barriers in the aviation sector with the launch of the groundbreaking Single African Air Market. The newly announced Single African Air Market (SAAM) is set to dismantle long-standing barriers in Africas aviation sector with a focus on elevating the continents role on the global aviation stage, Travel and Tour World reports. Driven by the strong leadership of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry, Cape Verde, and Gambia, this ambitious initiative seeks to create a more connected, competitive, and streamlined air travel network across Africa. The 18th plenary session of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) concluded in Abuja on May 22, as West African nations came together with a unified goal of improving the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). With momentum building, the rollout of SAAM is poised to transform the future of air travel across the continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Africas air travel sector faces major challenges, including high costs and limited connectivity, with only 19% of the continents 1,431 country pairs having direct air service. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), improved connectivity among just 12 key countries could create 155,000 jobs and add over $1.3 billion to GDP. Additionally, the African Union Commission (AUC) suggests that full SAATM adoption by the East African Community could generate 2.8 million more passengers, $267 million in fare savings, and contribute $590.9 million to GDP annually. Thats where SAAM steps in to close the gaps. This transformative initiative is set to lower travel costs, boost connectivity, and enable smoother air travel across Africa. Over the three-day session in Abuja, aviation leaders reaffirmed their commitment to aligning national policies with SAATMs updated framework, working to embed its principles into regulatory systems and usher in a new era of accessible and efficient air travel across the continent. As part of the African Unions broader Agenda 2063 vision for a fully integrated and self-sustaining Africa, SAATM aims to break down travel barriers and offer airlines greater freedom to operate across borders, serving as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth. RELATED CONTENT: 1st Black Woman To Fly In U.S. Air Force Retires As A United Airlines Pilot TEHRAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. and Iranian negotiators gear up for a fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome on Friday, analysts warn that uranium enrichment remains the critical sticking point, but stress a breakthrough is still possible, citing both sides' incentive to avoid escalation and preserve fragile diplomatic progress. Since the talks began on April 12, the two sides have held four rounds of indirect talks without achieving substantive breakthroughs. Recently, the United States has demanded complete cessation of Iran's uranium enrichment activities, drawing strong opposition from Tehran. Despite the sharp division between the two sides on this issue, analysts say both Washington and Tehran remain willing to reach an agreement, and a breakthrough is still possible. SHARP DIFFERENCE The first round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States took place on April 12 in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Subsequent rounds were held on April 19, April 26 and May 11, respectively, with discussions gradually shifting from broad frameworks to technical details. Economic experts joined the negotiations during the third round. On May 18, however, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told reporters that the United States "cannot allow even 1 percent of an enrichment capability" for Iran, significantly raising the stakes in the negotiations. His remarks represent a sharp departure from the previously interpreted U.S. stance, which permitted Iran to enrich uranium up to the 3.67 percent limit set by the 2015 nuclear accord. In response, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Iran does not need anyone's permission to pursue its uranium enrichment rights. "Iran has its independent policy and method and pursues its own agenda," he said, adding that he expects no results from the ongoing nuclear talks with Washington. Also on Tuesday, CNN, citing several U.S. officials, reported that new intelligence suggests Israel is preparing to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Sources revealed that the prospect of a U.S.-Iran deal that doesn't remove all of Iran's uranium "makes the chance of a strike more likely." COMPROMISE ELUSIVE Analysts believe the U.S. policy shift has crossed Iran's red lines on uranium enrichment, further heightening tensions. Iran will not give up the right to conduct low-level uranium enrichment on its own soil, said Liu Lanyu, assistant research fellow at the Institute for International and Area Studies of Tsinghua University. Iranian international affairs analyst Hassan Beheshtipour noted that although Iran has the technical capability to enrich uranium to 90 percent, this alone is not enough to build a nuclear weapon, as the country still lacks other critical technologies. The United States focuses exclusively on Iran's enrichment activities while ignoring the broader context, he said, noting that Iran had previously experienced breaches of nuclear fuel supply agreements by the United States and other Western countries, both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Given this track record, he argued, Iran sees no reason to fully relinquish its enrichment capabilities. "It seems that the Americans want to implement the Libya model on Iran under the pretext of the nuclear issue, but this is not a model that Iran can accept," said Foad Izadi, an international affairs expert and professor from the University of Tehran. Regarding the United States' new "zero enrichment" demand, Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, argued that this was "a rigid stance that risks sabotaging diplomacy altogether." "Witkoff's maximalist posture may be a bargaining tactic, but airing it publicly risks poisoning the atmosphere. As soon as Iran starts reciprocating, optimism could curdle into confrontation, slamming shut Trump's narrow window for diplomacy," he wrote. Additionally, the scope of the negotiations remains a key point of contention. The Trump administration sought to broaden the talks to include restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program and regional influence, said Zhao Beiping, deputy director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Shandong Normal University. Iran, however, insists the negotiations should focus solely on its nuclear program, aiming to make Washington trust its peaceful intentions and secure sanctions relief, but Washington's multiple demands have significantly complicated the path to an agreement, he said. Given all this, experts are not optimistic about the negotiations' prospects. Qin Tian, deputy director of the Middle East Studies Institute at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that the United States and Iran are currently caught in a standoff over "who blinks first," with neither side showing strategic trust. TALKS CONTINUE, HOPE REMAINS Despite the difficulties, analysts point out that the United States and Iran remain open to negotiations, and indirect dialogue channels are still functioning, which is a positive sign. Some believe that a deal is still possible. Washington's recent push for "zero enrichment" might be a tactic to gain more bargaining leverage, said Beheshtipour, the Iranian international affairs expert. Both sides seem inclined toward reaching an agreement, and a complete breakdown of talks in the short term is unlikely, though it's unclear how common ground will be found, he said. The Trump administration favored a "transactional" diplomacy style. Given both parties' interest in avoiding escalation and protecting their respective national interests, a "major deal" remains theoretically possible, said Zhao Jun, associate research fellow at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University. He noted that the involvement of a third party could be a key variable in breaking the deadlock. If a third party with regional or global strategic influence joins the mediation effort and gains recognition from both sides, there could be room for limited breakthroughs in the negotiations, he said. Many West Palm Beach residents know the pleasure of driving alongside the water on Flagler Drive, or catching a glimpse of the ocean while crossing a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway into Palm Beach. Even cruising east on busy Okeechobee Boulevard, the citys main gateway, can impress commuters as they roll past the Henry Rolf statue, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and CityPlace, climbing a gentle ridge toward unspooling views of downtown. Many of those same commuters, though, decry worsening day-to-day traffic as the city grows and the persistent construction of new high-rises produces more people and road closures in the city center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now a national analysis has tried to quantify the pros and cons of West Palm Beachs commutes, and the city is getting high marks on one key element of its daily drives. West Palm has 'no shortage of panoramic palm tree-lined views' The new analysis by the German car rental company SIXT+ ranked West Palm Beachs commute as the fifth-most-scenic in the United States. In a summary of West Palm Beach's commuting environment it writes: Nestled on the Lake Worth Lagoon, theres no shortage of panoramic palm tree-lined views to the neighboring Palm Beach Island just east of the city. The South Florida city has 61.9k Instagram hashtags, a perfect park rating, and 3 state parks nearby, making it a perfect escape for those who crave beauty beyond the grind of a 9-to-5. With an average commute time of 23 minutes, locals dont have to trade time for tranquility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Palm Beach did not have as many scenic Instagram posts as its fellow top-5 cities, the report said, but it appeared to make up for it with a plentitude of parks and relatively short commutes. You can read highlights of the companys overall report, entitled The Commuting Index," at www.sixt.com/plus/the-commuting-index. Here are the Top 5 cities with the most scenic commutes, two are in Florida Clearwater Ocean City, Maryland Vancouver, Washington Wilmington, Delaware West Palm Beach To produce its ranking, the company said it examined 559 U.S. cities and analyzed average commute times, gas and toll prices, the number of public and state parks in the area and the number of Instagram hashtags mentioning the city. Even though complaints about traffic in the city center seem to have worsened in recent years, West Palm Beach residents still enjoy shorter commutes than most of their fellow county residents, with an average commute of 23 minutes, Census data show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As The Palm Beach Post has reported in an overview of average driving times, "workers living in and around the biggest city in Palm Beach County have shorter commutes than many other residents in the county, despite traffic jams on big roads such as Okeechobee Boulevard or Dixie Highway." Andrew Marra is a reporter at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm has top 5 scenic commutes in the U.S., SIXT+ reports Despite months of neighborhood opposition, a trash truck depot will indeed move forward on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul. West Seventh Street residents opposed to a planned compressed natural gas refueling station and trash truck maintenance facility at 560 Randolph Ave. were dealt a decisive setback on Wednesday when the St. Paul City Council voted 6-0 to deny their appeal of FCC Environmentals site plan following its approval by the Planning Commission. Members of the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation had hoped to add a series of conditions to the site plan, beyond two technical items tacked on by the Planning Commission on May 2, which included further review of the locations stormwater management system. They were unsuccessful Wednesday. Council President Rebecca Noecker recused herself from the vote on the advice of the city attorneys office, after asking the trash hauler to consider more community benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If FCC wishes to claim public works status, they should abide by that standard, said Julia McColley, executive director of the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation, addressing the council. If West Seventh is to bear the burden for the entirety of St. Paul, all of your wards, the negative impacts on our neighborhood must be mitigated. Days after presenting the Texas-based trash hauler with a sweeping list of demands, members of the Fort Road Federation limited their asks on Wednesday to four key areas. We ask that FCC stop inappropriate traffic patterns to and from the site, particularly cutting through the Schmidt (Brewery) site, McColley said. She also asked that the hauler limit the total number of trash trucks to 36, and not expand to as many as 80 trucks to serve nearby cities, a goal that company officials have called entirely possible. She asked the city to prohibit other businesses from refueling at the compressed natural gas station, and to block FCC Environmental employees from parking along Randolph Avenue. The trash hauler has not publicly agreed to any of those items, and neither the Planning Commission nor the City Council expressed interest in formally requiring them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do really encourage more communication between FCC Environmental and the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation, said Council Member Nelsie Yang, urging the two sides to negotiate face-to-face. Deputy Mayor Jaime Tincher told the council that FCC Environmental has expressed willingness to meet with the federation and consider solutions that work for everyone, but case law made it inappropriate to saddle the site plan with conditions removed from the zoning code. As for future meetings with FCC, we intend to help facilitate that, Tincher said. We absolutely believe they can be addressed in a meeting following the site plan process. The residents concerns, from what Ive heard, theyre valid. We want this to be good for everybody. A former tow lot, the 4-acre site at 560 Randolph Ave. has been the subject of tough scrutiny and heated debate between neighborhood residents, the international trash hauler, the City Council and mayors office. On April 14, Mayor Melvin Carter vetoed the councils decision to support a zoning appeal filed by the federation, which had questioned whether the privately owned site met the zoning definition of a public works yard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FCC Environmental began citywide residential trash collection on April 1 a consequence of St. Pauls long-running shift from private to public trash hauling but only after the mayor declared a state of local emergency to effectively bypass the zoning dispute. On May 19, Noeckers legislative aide shared a list of asks with FCC Environmental, on behalf of the neighborhood organization, including an air quality monitor, local organics drop-off and for the city to establish a nearby park. We were supposed to meet on Tuesday of last week, and FCC pulled out of the meeting and said they wanted to wait until the site plan process was done, Noecker said Thursday. Clearly, theres a lot of anger and frustration on the part of the community. I texted the mayor this morning, I spoke with the director of the Fort Road Federation this morning. Theyre ready and eager to meet. The future trash depot, which currently consists of two administrative buildings and a gravel lot, relies on a septic system and will need to be connected to the citys sanitary sewer system, said Tia Anderson, a city planner and project manager. Randolph Avenue, which is a Ramsey County road, will gain some landscape buffering, a 6-foot-tall decorative screening fence, infill sidewalks and boulevard trees along the sites property lines, and as a condition of the site plan, the Capitol Region Watershed District will conduct further review of any stormwater and watershed issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Otherwise, FCCs site plan meets all the standards required through the law and the St. Paul legislative code, said Greg Revering, a general manager for the trash hauler, noting the Planning Commission gave the site plan its unanimous approval on May 2. Related Articles SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee marks the competitions centennial, and contestants from across the United States are vying for the champion title. Two attending wordsmiths hail from San Angelo and Abilene heres who they are. According to the Scripps National Spelling Bee website, the 2025 contest will take place from May 27 to May 29 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. There, 243 spellers will compete in the preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals rounds to determine who will become the champion of the spelling bees 100th-anniversary contest. San Angelo Jarah Abarquez Jarah Abarquez is a 14-year-old San Angelo resident who will be competing in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Jarah Abarquez is a 14-year-old attending Angelo Catholic School as an eighth grader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danica Jimenez, marketing manager for the school, said Jarah has been spelling and competing in spelling contests from a young age. Jimenez said Jarah has been training since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year for the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, participating in multiple spelling bees during that time. We are proud of all the accomplishments Jarah has made, Jimenez said. Jimenez said Angelo Catholic School is praying for Jarah and her family as the spelling bee draws near. We pray for her family to have safe travels, and we are praying that God stays on her mind and in her hands as she goes to compete in the spelling bee, Jimenez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Scripps National Spelling Bee websites entry for Jarah says that she likes making new friends and planning hangouts and has a deep love for fashion, aesthetics and poetry. Her favorite athlete is Isabeau Levito, her favorite historical figure is Anastasia Nikolaevna and her favorite food is lumpia. San Angelo isnt a stranger to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Akash Vukoti, a 15-year-old Central High School student, has competed in the spelling bee six times. He has garnered national attention from his exploits in the contest, featuring in multiple documentaries and authoring his own book, Spelling Anything (Even Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis). Abilene Sariah Titus Sariah Titus is returning to the Scripps National Spelling Bee for her third time for its centennial competition. Sariah Titus, a 12-year-old and seventh grade student of Wylie West Junior High School, is once again competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The contests online entry for Sariah states that she has previously competed in the 2023 spelling bee, where she tied for 122nd place, and the 2024 spelling bee, where she tied for 192nd place. Its not a competition for her, its just something she loves to do, Crystal Titus, Sariahs mother, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crystal Titus said her daughter, who learned to read when she was 2.5 years old, has been training for this years national bee ever since she participated in a local spelling bee in December 2024. She said Sariah has been training by reading a dictionary, using a specialized phone application and practicing spelling interesting words including Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, the name of a hill in New Zealand known globally for its 85-character title. She loves learning, and she loves teaching herself all kinds of things, Crystal Titus said. The Scripps National Spelling Bee websites entry for Sariah says her hobbies include singing, reading and learning in general. Also stated is that she loves to listen to music, try new foods, hang out with friends whenever possible, play video games and watch true crime content. The website says she is currently learning German. Her favorite animal is the panda, her favorite food is sushi and her favorite song is Modern Talkings Atlantis is Calling (S.O.S. For Love). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on the Scripps National Spelling Bee, including how to watch the competition as it unfolds, visit the contests website. To see a complete list of all spellers attending this years event, visit the websites Meet the Spellers webpage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. LAUREL, Md. (DC News Now) Officials announced Thursday that the driver involved in a fatal crash that happened on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway last month was arrested. Aaron Levert Croom, 24, of West Virginia, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and arrested on May 22, the U.S. Park Police (USPP) said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 1 dead, 5 hospitalized after crash on Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Prince Georges County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges against him stem from a crash that happened on April 18 on the parkway, south of Route 197. In the early morning hours, two vehicles collided, leaving four hurt and two dead. The two who died were children, USPP noted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) A Wethersfield man was arrested on Friday for having child pornography material, according to police. Authorities said they executed a search and seizure warrant at Valley Crest Drive in connection with the investigation and found pornographic images involving children in his possession. Walter J. Kustwan, 76. Photo: Wethersfield PD. Walter J. Kustwan, 76, was charged with possession of child sexual abuse material in the first degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kustwan is being held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to be presented at the New Britain Superior Court on Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. From the Culinary Institute of America in New York to Lake Tahoe in Nevada, Aubrey and Tyler OLaskeys lives have been surrounded by food. Now they are bringing their European-style bakery and rotisserie to downtown Franklin. After graduating from the cooking school in Hyde Park, New York, the couple relocated and tried several ventures before opening their own storefront in Nevada. When we moved to Lake Tahoe, we became private chefs because there wasn't a huge private chef population, Aubrey OLaskey said. After that, so many people asked us to cater, so we created a catering company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also began to bake their own bread to serve with their meals. After they realized that many customers wanted to buy just the bread, they took the next step and opened a bakery, Perenn. It was a tiny little bakery with only 800 square feet to begin with, Aubrey OLaskey said. It was just a way of us seeing what was kind of needed in the community, and then we expanded into opening the grocery. After 10 years operating in the Southwest, the OLaskeys decided to pack up their four kids, two dogs, a cat and even a support beta fish and move to Williamson County. We were interested in moving because we really missed the growing seasons on big farms, Aubrey OLaskey said. "We had been looking into Idaho and Utah, but just by chance, a customer from Franklin convinced us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of their local customers had recently relocated to Reno from Franklin and said that many people in the area would love to have a bakery like Perenn. Tyler and Aubrey OLaskey's Perenn Bakery features an assortment of in-house baked goods. Three days later, we flew here to explore for 48 hours and fell in love. Since relocating, the OLaskeys have connected with local farms, including Bloomsbury, and created Bread Rover, a mobile truck that drives around the downtown Franklin area delivering freshly baked bread. We're incorporating a little bit more of those grocery goods, so there's things that you can take home to eat, as well as grab breakfast or lunch, OLaskey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their European bakery and rotisserie, has grown to several locations and even has a location in Nevada called Claio that is described as Perenns fun little sister. With Claio being such a big hit, some have asked if the new Franklin location will also play host to it. "Everyone was asking, 'Are you bringing Claio to Nashville?' OLaskey said. Maybe one day we will, but for now, we've incorporated aspects such as the rotisserie into Perenn. With the date of their grand opening approaching, Franklins newest residents are ecstatic for locals to come in and try some of their baked goods and recipes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They officially open their doors at 94 E. Main St. on May 31. A Nashville location, which serves as their bread production kitchen along with retail and pastry, will be located at 2934 Sidco Road, Suite 130. An opening date has yet to be announced. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: From Reno to Franklin: Perenn Bakery opens first Middle TN location Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez were 15 when they killed 44-year-old real estate agent Michael McMorrow McMorrow's body was discovered mutilated in Central Park on May 23, 1997 Abdela and Vasquez were found guilty of first-degree manslaughter Daphne Abdela and her boyfriend, Christopher Vasquez, were just teenagers when they committed one of the most brutal killings in the history of New York Citys Central Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1997, Abdela and Vasquez were both 15-year-old high school students. Abdela, the daughter of a wealthy couple from the Upper West Side, and Vasquez, the son of a single mother in East Harlem, were social outcasts who formed a bond after meeting earlier that year. While privileged, Abdela had a troubled background, and her belligerent attitude had gotten her kicked out of more than one school, according to New York Magazine. Abdela and Michael McMorrow, a 44-year-old real estate agent, crossed paths only a handful of times before she and Vasquez ultimately killed him in late May 1997. AP Photo/Jim Alcorn; AP Photo/Kathy Willens Daphne Abdela. ; Christopher Vasquez. Daphne Abdela. ; Christopher Vasquez. Abdela and Vasquez were rollerblading in Central Park when they encountered McMorrow drinking with a group of friends, according to Homicide: New York. It wasnt long before the teens joined in and lured McMorrow away from the crowd. Exactly what transpired next is not known for sure, but by the early hours of May 23, McMorrow had been fatally stabbed over 30 times, his body gutted and floating in the Central Park lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So where are Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez now? Heres everything to know about Michael McMorrow's death 28 years later. Who are Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez? AP Photo/Jim Alcorn Daphne Abdela stands next to her lawyer George Weinbaum as she is arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court May 24, 1997 in New York. Daphne Abdela stands next to her lawyer George Weinbaum as she is arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court May 24, 1997 in New York. In 1997, Abdela was a 15-year-old high school student. As an infant, she had been adopted by Angelo Abdela, a successful businessman at an international food company, and his wife, Catherine, a French model. She lived a life of incredible privilege with her parents in a luxury apartment building on the Upper West Side, per Homicide: New York. Although Abdela had a normal upbringing, attending a local private school, she changed as she got older. She eventually transferred schools twice and her parents considered sending her to a boarding school. Meanwhile, Vasquez came from a less affluent background and was raised in East Harlem by his single mother. He was a Boy Scout and altar boy, not known for causing trouble, even getting picked on in school for being introverted. He dealt with agoraphobia, per New York Magazine, and often struggled with social situations and making friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things changed, though, when Abdela and Vasquez met in 1997, connecting over their love of rollerblading. Months later, though, they were in the center of a homicide investigation. How did Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez know Michael McMorrow? AP Photo/Pool, Kathy Willens Christopher Vasquez in court on May 28, 1997. Christopher Vasquez in court on May 28, 1997. Michael McMorrow was a lifelong resident of Manhattan, growing up on the Upper West Side. In 1997, the 44-year-old still lived there alongside his elderly mother. According to friends, he was well-liked and popular, working in the real estate field. He had been an agent at Sir Realty for only a few months when he was killed, per The New York Times. At times, McMorrow struggled with alcohol, and although he was making efforts to recover, he continued to drink, sometimes meeting friends in Central Park after work to have a beer. It was there that McMorrow was ultimately killed. According to a police report later mentioned in court, Abdela had interacted with McMorrow at Central Park just two weeks before the killing. Abdela was smoking weed in the park, while McMorrow was also there drinking, per The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdela traded McMorrow a beer for cigarette rolling papers, and when she later told him she had never tried LSD and asked for some, he allegedly provided a sliver. Abdela claimed she began hallucinating and left the park marking the last time she would see McMorrow before the night of his death. What happened on the night of Michael McMorrows killing? GAB Archive/Redferns Strawberry Fields in Central Park in New York City. Strawberry Fields in Central Park in New York City. On May 22, 1997, Abdela and Vasquez met up to spend time together in Central Park. According to Homicide: New York, the pair had agreed to officially start dating that day and then went rollerblading together in the park. Later in the day, Abdela and Vasquez began drinking and eventually crossed paths with a group of men doing the same one of those people being McMorrow. What transpired over the next few hours is unclear, but it ultimately led to McMorrows death. At some point in the late evening, a drunken McMorrow reportedly joined Abdela and Vasquez near the edge of the lake in Central Park, where they continued drinking. In the early hours of the morning, a violent confrontation unfolded, with the two teenagers allegedly attacking McMorrow, seemingly without cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the victim being over 6 feet tall, Abdela and Vasquez overpowered him and reportedly stabbed him over 30 times, slashing his throat and puncturing his heart six times, prosecutors said. The couple gruesomely continued to mutilate McMorrow, allegedly hoping to conceal his identity. Then, at Abdelas suggestion, they gutted his body and filled it with rocks in an effort to make it sink before throwing it into the lake, assistant district attorney Carolyn Streicher said at an arraignment in May 1997 (via The New York Times). McMorrows body was found just hours later, in the early morning of May 23, floating about 100 yards from the tile terrace that surrounds Bethesda Fountain. How were Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez caught? James Leynse/Corbis via Getty The Majestic was the home of Daphne Abdela, involved in the slaying of Michael McMorrow in Central Park. The Majestic was the home of Daphne Abdela, involved in the slaying of Michael McMorrow in Central Park. In the early hours of May 23, recalled on Homicide: New York, Abdela had long missed her curfew and her father began to worry about her whereabouts, eventually contacting the police. When authorities arrived at the familys apartment building, the doorman led them to the utility room at the back of the lobby. There, they found the two teens bathing together in a bathtub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While officer Lee Furman explained on the Netflix show that he noticed a small amount of blood around the scene, Abdela and Vasquez claimed to have been in a roller-skating accident. After Abdela screamed at the officers to leave the room, Abdelas father told them they were no longer needed and he would take over from there. Although Furman thought it was the end of the interaction, it was only the beginning. Shortly after leaving the property, 911 received a phone call from the same apartment building from a woman who reported a dead body in Central Park. That caller was Abdela. Furman returned to the apartment around 2 a.m. and spoke to Abdela, who alleged to have been at Central Park with Vasquez when he took LSD and began acting erratically. Furman recalled on Homicide: New York that Abdela told him that in Vasquezs rage, he stabbed and killed McMorrow. Abdela claimed to have tried to save McMorrow but was pushed away by Vasquez, and then calmly told the officer that she had helped Vasquez try to cover up the killing by gutting McMorrows body and sinking it in the lake. By 2:30 a.m., the body had been found, and hours later, police arrested Vasquez at his apartment. Shortly after, authorities also arrested Abdela. Did Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez plead guilty to murder? AP Photo/Jim Alcorn Daphne Abdela with her lawyer George Weinbaum as she is arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court May 24, 1997 in New York. Daphne Abdela with her lawyer George Weinbaum as she is arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court May 24, 1997 in New York. When Abdela and Vasquez were arraigned the day after being arrested, they pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and robbery charges, according to the New York Daily News. An investigation into the killing quickly began, and evidence was collected to charge the two teens with the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the inquiry, numerous interviews and searches were conducted. Authorities eventually discovered bloody clothing in Abdelas bedroom as well as a wallet that had belonged to McMorrow. Meanwhile, a knife was uncovered in Vasquezs room and after testing, DNA from both Vasquez and McMorrow was found on the weapon, per Homicide: New York. When the evidence was brought in front of a grand jury a week after the killing, the teens were indicted on charges of second-degree murder, per the New York Times. Set to be tried as adults, both Abdela and Vasquez swiftly retained lawyers, with Abdelas family selecting Ben Brafman to represent their daughter. At the time, Brafman was one of the most prominent defense lawyers in the country. Before going to trial, Brafman brought Abdela into the District Attorneys office to tell her side of the story in the hopes that her indictment would be dismissed. In Homicide: New York, homicide detective Robert Mooney said that Abdela tried to claim she had simply been a witness to the crime. Mooney says Abdela explained that she and Vasquez ran into McMorrow and his pals on the night of the killing. When a police officer scattered the group, McMorrow joined the pair by the lake because they had beer. The teens proceeded to go skinny dipping, and upon emerging from the water, Abdela was freezing. In the interview at the District Attorneys office, Abdela claimed McMorrow put his arm around her to warm her up, but that set Vasquez off in a jealous rage, and he began to attack McMorrow. AP Photo/Pool, Helayne Seidman Daphne Abdela during a court hearing on May 28, 1997. Daphne Abdela during a court hearing on May 28, 1997. Mooney went on to interview Abdela on several other occasions and eventually got her to admit that she had also taken part in the attack on McMorrow. Claiming she thought McMorrow was going to hurt Vasquez, Abdela says she kicked him during the attack. Investigators then knew she had been more than a witness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 1998, Abdela agreed to a plea deal during which she pled guilty to manslaughter in the first degree. She was sentenced to 39 months to 10 years in prison, avoiding what could have been a murder charge that would have sent her to prison for life, per The New York Times. I can never say in a million words how sorry I am, Abdela said during her sentencing, according to the outlet. Although it will not bring back Michael McMorrow, it is said from the heart and meant. Please forgive me. Meanwhile, Vasquezs trial did go to court, during which his lawyer claimed that it was Abdela who fatally stabbed McMorrow, not Vasquez, and she was using him as a scapegoat. In November 1998, Vasquez's lawyer claimed that he was a follower that night being led around by the pit bull, Daphne Abdela, per The New York Times. Abdela did not testify in court, but much of the trial was based on trying to determine who actually stabbed McMorrow. Without Abdelas testimony, the jury was unable to fully determine who committed the killing. Ultimately, Vasquez was also found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and received a similar sentence to Abdela. Were Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez released from prison? Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Daphne Abdela in custody. Daphne Abdela in custody. During their time in prison, Abdela and Vasquez were up for parole on two occasions, both of which were denied. During the parole hearing in 2002, Abdela was specifically denied because of continued behavioral issues and a total disregard for human life, per the New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the previous denials, both Abdela and Vasquez were released from prison in January 2007, serving six years of their sentence. According to Homicide: New York, they were prohibited from seeing each other. Abdela allegedly returned to the crime scene, leaving an apology note and a bouquet of flowers on a park bench dedicated to McMorrow. According to the New York Post, the note read, Rest easy. I tried to save you. Im sorry I failed you. Im sorry for the pain I caused you & your family. D. But Abdelas freedom was not long-lasting. While living at a halfway house, she assaulted one of the other residents, violating her parole, per retired homicide detective Rob Mooney, who was on her original case. She was taken back to prison, where she served her full term, spending nine years behind bars in total. Where are Daphne Abdela and Christopher Vasquez now? Not much is known about Abdela and Vasquez's lives after their release from prison. They both returned to New York City but have maintained a low profile outside the public eye. In 2009, Abdela was reportedly in a car accident that left her rendered sick, sore, lame and disabled, experiencing mental anguish, great pain and suffering, according to legal documents acquired by The New York Post. She was most recently seen in April 2024, in photos obtained by The U.S. Sun. Vasquez, who completed an alcohol-abuse program and received his high-school diploma behind bars, has not faced any legal trouble since the killing. Although he worked as a general mechanic while in prison, its unknown what his vocation is today. When The U.S. Sun visited his home in the Bronx in April 2024, he said he wished to be left alone. I just wanna live my life and let the past be the past, he told the outlet. Read the original article on People Sherri Papini went missing in 2016 and originally claimed she was abducted by two Hispanic women Authorities later discovered that she was lying and arrested her for faking a kidnapping in 2022 In the docuseries Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, out May 26, she changed her story and claimed that her ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, had abducted her Sherri Papini, who was originally called "the new Gone Girl" when she went missing in 2016, changed her story in May 2025 and claimed that she did not fake her kidnapping after pleading guilty to doing so. Instead, she alleged that her then-boyfriend, James Reyes, had "abducted" her. He has declined to comment on the claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherri went missing in November 2016 while on a run in Redding, Calif. After investigators spent weeks searching for her, Sherri suddenly reappeared three weeks later and claimed that two Hispanic women kidnapped her at gunpoint. However, four years after she resurfaced, police discovered new DNA evidence that tied only her and Reyes to the disappearance. In August 2020, he told authorities that Sherri planned "everything" and had asked him to help her to "get away from her husband," Keith Papini. Sherri was subsequently arrested in March 2022 for allegedly faking her own kidnapping. She was charged with and later pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and engaging in mail fraud and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. She began her prison sentence in November 2022 and was released in August 2023. Less than two years after her prison release, Sherri is telling a new story and has placed the blame on Reyes. In the four-part docuseries, Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie, premiering May 26, she claimed that she made up the story about the Hispanic women abducting her because she wanted to hide her affair with Reyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, she alleged that her former boyfriend kidnapped her after she asked him to come visit her in order to end their relationship. Reyes has denied to comment on these claims. Here's everything to know about Sherri Papini's kidnapping hoax, her new claims and where she is today. Who is Sherri Papini? AP/Rich Pedroncelli Sherri Papini Sherri Papini Sherri first made headlines in November 2016 when she went missing after going for a jog. When her husband Keith arrived back at the Redding home they shared that evening, neither Sherri nor their then-4-year-old son Tyler and then-2-year-old daughter Violet were there. He called the kids' daycare to see if Sherri had picked them up for the day, but the children were still there. It was then, Keith told ABC News' 20/20 in 2016, that he knew something was wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith then dialed 911 to open a missing persons case, and over the course of several days, more than 100 volunteers helped search for his wife. On Thanksgiving morning 22 days after her disappearance a motorist spotted Sherri walking along the side of the road in Yolo County, Calif., about 150 miles from Redding, and alerted authorities. Sheriff Bosenko told PEOPLE that Sherri had been beaten and was hospitalized for her injuries. She told police that she was abducted at gunpoint by two Hispanic women in a dark SUV and that the women tortured her and branded her skin. Sherri alleged that the women held her hostage and chained her in a bedroom for weeks until one of the women released her. Bosenko said that investigators didn't get much information from Sherri at first, but that it wasn't necessarily unusual for the situation. No motive was given for the abduction, and despite receiving more than 600 tips, offering a $10,000 reward for information and releasing sketches of the alleged kidnappers, police were still unable to solve the case after a year. Three years later, authorities still hadn't progressed in their search for suspects. What happened in the investigation of Sherri Papini's disappearance? Adrew Seng/The Sacramento Bee/AP/File A "missing" sign for Mountain Gate resident Sherri Papini is placed along side Sunrise Drive, near the location where the mom of two is believed to have gone missing while on a afternoon jog. A "missing" sign for Mountain Gate resident Sherri Papini is placed along side Sunrise Drive, near the location where the mom of two is believed to have gone missing while on a afternoon jog. Police had a breakthrough in the case in March 2020, when they matched the DNA on Sherri to a relative of her ex-boyfriend Reyes. That June, they compared it with DNA from a bottle of green tea found outside of his apartment and it was a match. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2020, police questioned Reyes, and he claimed to authorities that Sherri was hiding out with him in Costa Mesa, Calif., from Keith, whom she had alleged was sexually and physically abusive (which Keith later denied in an interview with Good Morning America). Reyes told authorities that he and Sherri had been communicating with prepaid cell phones, SFGate reported, and that Sherri harmed herself to create her own injuries during the disappearance. According to The Sacramento Bee, Sherri's mother filed a police report in 2003 accusing Sherri of doing the same and blaming her for it in 2003; her parents reportedly had also accused her of burglary and making unauthorized withdrawals from their checking accounts. On March 3, 2022, more than five years after her alleged abduction, police arrested Sherri at her children's piano lesson for faking her kidnapping. She was charged with making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and engaging in mail fraud, the latter stemming from the $30,000 she received from the California Victims' Compensation Board. What was Sherri Papini's sentence? Rich Pedroncelli/AP Sherri Papini leaves the federal courthouse in Sacremento, CA on September 19, 2022. Sherri Papini leaves the federal courthouse in Sacremento, CA on September 19, 2022. In April 2022, weeks after her arrest, Sherri pleaded guilty to one count each of lying to a federal officer and mail fraud. She said in a statement through her attorney that she was "deeply ashamed" of what she did, adding, "[I am] so sorry for the pain I've caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story and those who worked so hard to try to help me. I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherri's hoax cost the California Victims' Compensation Board more than $30,000 for her ambulance ride and therapy visits after her false abduction. The fake kidnapping also cost the United States Social Security Administration more than $127,000, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office $148,866 and the FBI $2,558. In September 2022, Sherri was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the hoax and ordered to pay back more than $300,000 in restitution for government funds expended on her after her self-inflicted disappearance. It was 10 months more than what even the prosecution recommended. U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb called Sherri a "manipulator" during her sentencing hearing. "People don't like to be conned," he said, "and I don't believe those people who were deceived would believe that one month or eight months is sufficient." Shubb added that his goal was to deter other would-be hoaxers from doing the same thing, expecting leniency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "'If I get away with it, I'll get $49,000. If I don't get away with it, I'll spend one month or eight months,' " Shubb noted. "We have to send a message that crime doesn't pay." Sherri began her sentence on Nov. 8, 2022, and was released in August 2023. What happened to Sherri Papini's husband Keith and their children? Rich Pedroncelli/AP Sherri Papini walks to the federal courthouse accompanied by her attorney, Willian Portanova on April 13, 2022 in Sacramento, CA.. Sherri Papini walks to the federal courthouse accompanied by her attorney, Willian Portanova on April 13, 2022 in Sacramento, CA.. After Sherri's arrest, Keith told police he was "blindsided" and "in shock" at the fact that she faked her own disappearance. In April 2022, Keith filed for divorce from Sherri, requesting full custody of his and Sherri's son and daughter because of the trauma she'd inflicted on the family. "I wish to make it clear that my goal is to provide a loving, safe, stable environment for [his and Sherri's children] and I believe the requested orders are consistent with that goal and the best interests of the children," Keith told PEOPLE in a statement. "I do not want to say anything in the pleadings connected to this matter that would inflame the situation or attract media attention." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith was awarded full custody, though Sherri now has visitation rights. "They're very happy kids," Keith told PEOPLE of Tyler and Violet in 2024, who were then 11 and 9. "A lot of their childhood years were, in my opinion, stolen from them. So my biggest goal is giving them a happy and healthy life and surrounding them with loving people." Where is Sherri Papini now? Investigation Discovery Sherri Papini on Investigation Discovery Sherri Papini on Investigation Discovery Sherri was released from prison in August 2023 and transferred to a residential reentry facility in Sacramento County, Calif. She left the home that October eight months early and will remain on supervised release until late 2026. In March 2024, the U.S. Attorney's office filed a writ of garnishment against Sherri, claiming that she still owed more than $300,000 in restitution from the case: $309,292.93, plus a 10% litigation surcharge ($30,929), bringing her grand total to $340,221.23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Upon information and belief, Debtor [Papini] has a substantial nonexempt interest in property, that is in the possession, custody, or control of Garnishee [law firm]," the writ read in part. While Sherri hadn't paid the sum, her lawyer said she intended to do so when she could. "Sherri Papini appreciates the significance of her financial obligations to the Court and to the Government and will continue to meet said obligations as she has promised," her lawyer William Portanova told PEOPLE in a statement. Nothing has changed." Keith told PEOPLE in 2024 that he and Sherri have not spoken outside of court or mediation. "I don't make contact with her at all. And I don't even allow it," he said. "She's tried but I just can't. That is her power, her voice, and her manipulation." In addition to scheduled visitation with the children, Keith also told PEOPLE that Tyler and Violet speak with Sherri over the phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She lives in northern California, and notes from a visitation supervisor obtained by The Record Searchlight in June 2024 indicated that she was writing a book. Keith also told Good Morning America that month that Sherri had a new boyfriend, though his identity wasn't revealed. Sherri spoke about the kidnapping for the first time since being released from prison in the May 2025 docuseries, Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie. In the doc, Sherri changed her story and claimed that Reyes abducted her without her consent and held her at his apartment in Costa Mesa, Calif. I wanted to leave, Sherri claimed. So I tried to pull one of the boards off the window and James came in and hit me in the face. And that's the first bruise that I got ... And after being knocked out and waking up, that's when the chain was around my waist, secured with a padlock attached to a cable that was attached to a pole in the closet. Sherri claimed that he let her go on the condition that she would say two Hispanic women abducted her. James had let me off the chain, she alleged. I said, my husband's going to find me. He's never going to stop looking for you ... You need to let me go. He was like, Well, there's too much has happened. So it all came down to me. It all came down to my coverup, and that's [when] I agreed to ... make up that someone else did it. Reyes declined to comment on Sherri's new claims. Read the original article on People By Gram Slattery and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Dozens of staffers were fired from the White House National Security Council on Friday, as President Donald Trump moved to slash the size and scope of the once-powerful body, five sources briefed on the matter said. Staff dealing with most major geopolitical issues, from Ukraine to Kashmir, were terminated in the afternoon, said the sources, who requested anonymity as they were not permitted to speak to the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move came just weeks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio took over from Mike Waltz as national security adviser. The NSC restructuring is expected to further reduce the agency's influence, transforming it from a powerful policymaking body into a small organization focused more on implementing the president's agenda than on shaping it, the sources said. In practice, the move is expected to grant more authority to the State Department, the Defense Department and other departments and agencies involved in diplomacy, national security and intelligence matters, the sources said. The administration's aim is to reduce the size of the NSC to just a few dozen people. Four sources with knowledge of the plans said they expect the final headcount at the NSC to come out to around 50 people. The NSC is traditionally the main body used by presidents to coordinate national security strategy. Its staff often make key decisions regarding America's approach to the world's most volatile conflicts and play a key role in keeping America safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body had more than 300 staffers under Democratic President Joe Biden, but even before the recent firings under Trump was considerably less than half the size of Biden's NSC. The staffers who are cut from the agency will be moved to other positions in government, two of the sources told Reuters. Two other sources described a chaotic scene in recent hours. Outgoing staff were in some cases reduced to tears in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where the NSC is housed, they said. Many conservatives have long pushed for a pared-down NSC, arguing that a number of the positions are duplicative of functions found elsewhere in the government. Democrats and some Republicans have argued that gutting the body will mean Trump's policies are less informed by expert advice. The NSC has had a hard time recruiting top talent in recent months. Certain key positions, like the top post overseeing Latin American affairs, were never filled on a permanent basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several high-ranking staffers were fired earlier in the year after right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer presented Trump with a list of national security staffers she perceived to be disloyal. Disclosures that Waltz, the previous national security adviser, had accidentally shared information on an imminent bombing campaign in Yemen with an Atlantic journalist further dented morale. As part of the restructuring, certain sections of the NSC - known as directorates - are expected to be combined with other directorates or eliminated altogether, three sources said. In most of the directorates that remain, only a few staff are left, the sources added. Among the directorates that may cease to operate as independent bodies are those overseeing African affairs and multilateral organizations, like NATO, three sources said. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Gram SlatteryAdditional reporting by Jonathan SaulEditing by Colleen Jenkins and Leslie Adler) Two House Republicans voted against the "Big Beautiful Bill" on Thursday. Now, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says Trump wants them to face primary challenges. "I don't think he likes to see grandstanders in Congress," she said. Four months into his second term, President Donald Trump wants members of his own party thrown out of office over their perceived lack of loyalty to his "Big Beautiful Bill" That was the message delivered by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt after two Republicans Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against Trump's bill as it passed the House on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by a reporter at a briefing later on Thursday whether Trump think the duo should be primaried, Leavitt responded: "I believe he does." Q: Two Republicans votes against this bill -- Massie and Davidson -- does the president believe they should be primaried? LEAVITT: I believe he does and I don't think he likes to see grandstanders in Congress ... the vast majority of Republicans are listening to the president. pic.twitter.com/Bi55fQ1Qai Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 22, 2025 "I don't think he likes to see grandstanders in Congress," Leavitt said. "'What's the alternative?' I would ask those members of Congress. Did they want to see a tax hike? Did they want to see our country go bankrupt?" Both Massie and Davidson are deficit hawks who voted against the bill because, in their view, it did not cut spending enough. I agree with @WarrenDavidson. If we were serious, wed be cutting spending now, instead of promising to cut spending years from now. https://t.co/DFxTyhhYA9 Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 22, 2025 Other Republicans have raised concerns about the bill's effect on the deficit but voted for it anyway. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, the chairman of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, voted "present." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to Leavitt's comments, Massie asked for donations on X. "For voting on principle, I now have the President AND his press Secretary campaigning against me from the White House podium," Massie wrote. "Can you help me by donating?" A spokesperson for Davidson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the Ohio congressman doesn't typically cross Trump, the president has long been critical of Massie and vice versa. The Kentucky Republican backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the 2024 GOP primary, and Trump previously called for Massie to face a primary challenge in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump bashed Massie in front of reporters. "I don't think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he's a grandstander," Trump said on Tuesday. "I think he should be voted out of office." Read the original article on Business Insider VIENTIANE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the Lao president, Laos' National Assembly, the Lao government, and the Lao Front for National Construction have conveyed their heartfelt condolences on the demise of former Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong. The telegram expresses deep sorrow, praising Tran Duc Luong as a dedicated leader who made lasting contributions to Vietnam's development and the special Laos-Vietnam relationship, Lao National Radio reported on Friday. The passing of Tran Duc Luong is a significant loss for both Laos and Vietnam. Lao leaders highlighted his contributions to strengthening solidarity and cooperation between the two nations, said the report. They extended their heartfelt condolences to the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese government and people, and his family, expressing confidence that Vietnam will continue advancing with unity and strength, it added. The entire population of Gaza is at risk of starvation, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday, amid reports that at least 53 people were killed and dozens injured in the latest Israeli attacks on the war-torn coastal strip. "As the world's leading hunger assessment found, the entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine," Guterres said in New York. "Families are being starved and denied the very basics - all with the world watching in real time." Some 2 million people live in Gaza, with hundreds of thousands acutely threatened by starvation, according to a UN report from mid-May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel eased a nearly three-month blockade on humanitarian aid at the beginning of the week, but from the UN's perspective, only inadequate assistance has been allowed in. Even Israel's allies, like the United Kingdom, France and Canada, have recently sharply criticized the restrictions. Guterres stated that 400 truckloads of aid approved in recent days are just a "teaspoon" of the required aid, while a "flood" of goods is needed. The United Nations has all the logistical prerequisites to supply the people, provided Israel allows it, Guterres said. "The supplies 160,000 pallets, enough to fill nearly 9,000 trucks are waiting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments came as the World Food Programme said that 15 aid trucks were looted in southern Gaza. The WFP stated that the looting occurred on Thursday evening, when the transporters were on their way to bakeries supported by the programme. The agency did not provide details on who stole the deliveries, while Israel has not yet commented on the incident. "Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity," said a WFP statement. "We need support from the Israeli authorities to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently, and transported along safer routes, as was done during the ceasefire." Dozens killed in Israeli strikes An Israeli airstrike in a small town near Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip killed 11 people, WAFA said. The report stated that a family's house was hit in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the victims are said to be minors. The attack also left several people injured, some seriously. Due to the extensive destruction, rescue teams have so far been unable to transport all the victims to hospital, WAFA reported. A video circulating on social and Palestinian media is said to show bodies among the rubble following the attack. The authenticity of the footage could not initially be independently verified. The Israeli army stated in response to an inquiry that it was reviewing the reports. Earlier on Telegram, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said soldiers are continuing operations against "terrorist organizations across the Gaza Strip." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troops "eliminated several terrorists throughout the Gaza Strip and struck military compounds, weapons, storage facilities, and sniper posts," the IDF said. The military said the air force had hit more than 75 targets on Thursday, including "terrorists, launchers, military compounds, weapons storage facilities and additional terrorist infrastructure." The claims made by both sides cannot currently be independently verified. Later on Friday, the military reported shelling from the Gaza Strip. A projectile was intercepted on Israeli territory, the IDF said. There were initially no reports of casualties or damage, although a rocket alarm was triggered in an Israeli border town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gaza war was triggered by the devastating terrorist attack carried out by Hamas and other militias in Israel on October 7, 2023. The subsequent war has claimed more than 53,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. Israeli settlers attack West Bank village In the West Bank, Palestinian residents and local media on Friday reported an overnight attack by Israeli settlers on the village of Bruchin in the north-western part of the territory. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said dozens of settlers entered the village. Eyewitnesses told dpa that the settlers set fire to five houses and five cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service said eight people had been treated for minor burns. A spokeswoman said the Israeli military had received reports of the incident and dispatched security forces to Bruchin, but that the suspects fled before they arrived. The military said it was investigating the incident but had no reports of injuries so far. A local resident is said to have killed a pregnant Israeli woman from a nearby settlement in the area last week. The woman's husband was also injured in the attack, which took place while the couple were travelling to the hospital for the birth, media reported. On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had killed the suspected gunman. Residents said the military was deployed in Bruchin for nine days after the incident, and had withdrawn shortly before the overnight settler attack. Tensions in the West Bank have intensified since the beginning of the Gaza war. Since then, more than 920 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations, armed clashes or attacks by extremists, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. On the menu: GOP sours on revoking birthright citizenship; Harris takes heat in California about Biden; Don Jr. floats MAGA dynasty; Corpus Kristi; Kid lit, indeed When it comes to Democrats winning the House of Representatives and maybe, maybe the Senate next year, Republicans are certainly playing their part. Jamming through big, unpopular legislation? Check. Pushing policies that dont align with what voters were asking for in 2024? Check. Ethical quagmires? Check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans in Washington are doggedly repeating the boom-and-bust cycle that has dominated our politics of late. One party wins a quadrennial election and has control of the White House and both houses of Congress, and then through a combination of overreach and incompetence, gets spanked in the midterms. But its whats been happening next thats been different from most of our political past. For the first time since the end of the 19th century, weve seen three consecutive change elections for president. Its rare for a party to keep the White House for 12 years, but even rarer to have it change parties three times in a row. The midterm curse is as old as midterms. Smaller-turnout biennial contests conducted at the halfway point in a presidents term tend to bring out the voters who are most desirous of change. But what you might expect to happen after that the party in power learns from the loss and takes a new tack hasnt been taking place. Parties dont win midterm elections so much as the other side loses them. Midterms are, as their name implies, referendums on the government in place at the time. Voters, especially the most active ones, like to put a check on uniparty power. And, much to the delight of the current Democratic Party, little is demanded of the party out of power other than to be a reasonable-ish alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, about the only way to screw up a midterm election for the out party is to make it too much about itself, as was the case in 2022 when Republicans were just a mess, or in a similarly shambolic 1998 effort. Though midterm wins are more windfalls than strategic triumphs, they do tend to impose some discipline on the out parties to get their acts together or at least to paper over their kookiness for a little while. And its reasonable to expect that Democrats will again manage some degree of that next year. But what happens next? Recent history suggests that Republicans would take few lessons from even a stinging rebuke in the midterms. A party that stumbled through 2018, 2020 and 2022 without even a little course correction suggests that whatever the GOP is going through is not likely to be altered by the loss of even both houses of Congress. The insurgents have become the establishment, and the purpose of the establishment is always to protect itself. A populist movement that has successfully co-opted elites, or in this case, is co-opted by elites doesnt have to worry too much about accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, contrary to whatever President Trump may be saying on any given day, Republicans will have to keep the permanent revolution rolling without the big man himself. The royal succession promises to be a matter of more palace intrigue than Game of Thrones, but whoever survives will have an uncertain foothold as leader of the movement. This should be good news for Democrats, who are in the midst of an autopsy of their 2024 defeat. Right now, the focus is on the Emperors New Clothes phase, in which the townsfolk of Bluetopia ask each other how almost all of them managed to convince themselves and each other that it would be OK to nominate an 81-year-old Joe Biden for another four-year term. Unfortunately for Democrats, the easiest conclusion for them to reach will be that they were tricked and that Bidens handlers deceived them all, cunningly concealing the extent of his infirmity. But the then-presidents obvious unsuitability for another run wasnt some kind of well-kept secret. The harder truth for Democratic leaders and tastemakers to confront was that they were afraid of their own voters. The best argument for Bidens candidacy and then its controlled demolition in favor of his vice president was that the Democratic electorate would demand a candidate who could not win a general election. Sure, if the Democratic elites could have had a moderate, popular governor to make the case against Trump, they would have jumped at it. But who thinks thats what a robust Democratic primary in 2024 would have produced? And any normie candidate who could have survived it would have been forced to move so far left that it would have rendered her or him toxic in November. Kamala Harris, after all, still paid a heavy price for her leftward swing for the 2020 nomination more than four years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Biden or Harris who would probably lose but might win looked more appealing to many Democrats than the idea of a grueling nominating process that could produce a transformational leader but might also deliver a surefire loser. The power of inertia and fear of a high-risk nominee kept Democrats from confronting Biden far more than any scheme by his family or palace guard. The Biden blame game will have mostly been played out by the time we get to next years Democratic primaries. And by then, the cycle will have begun anew. The principle question for the 2026 primaries in competitive races will be simple: Who can best defeat the Republican incumbent or likely nominee? Unlike the GOP, which has been going through the dismal swamps of candidate quality on congressional and state elections because of the distorting effects of being a cult of personality, Democrats actually have a pretty good record of strategic voting. After a decade of hearing about the rise of the Democratic Tea Party from the Democratic Socialists, the revolution has yet to materialize. Call it the sobering fear of Trump, an overhyped media angle or something else, Democrats have been generally better at candidate selection in recent cycles. So lets say that they can pull it off again, and win at least the House next year. If we assume that Republicans wont take any cues from even a more robust knouting than that, what should we expect from Democrats? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That will, of course, depend on what kind of condition the Republicans find themselves in in 2027. If peace and prosperity reign in the land and Trump is spending his last two years in good odor with voters, big-name Democrats will be more likely to shy away from a presidential run. If Trump looks like he is limping out of office, though, the Democratic nomination will draw a crowded field. Its at that moment that it will be important for Democrats to have done a real exploration of their 2024 defeat, not just a finger-pointing exercise over the causes of the mass psychosis of the Dark Brandon era. Working in their favor is that Democrats have a data operation that exists outside of the party itself. Since 2008, Catalist has been the data bank for Democrats and allied groups. Unlike Republicans who have torn down and rebuilt several data operations over the same time period, Democrats have outsourced and maintained the advantage of good, reliable and consistent data. And along the way, the company built a prodigious voter file that can tell them and us a great deal about how voters actually behaved, not what they told pollsters. Catalist is out this week with its comprehensive accounting of how Trump won last year, and its an eye-opener. It gives depth and detail to the astonishing shift among younger voters, particularly Hispanic Americans and men. Indeed, the only significant demographic groups where Democrats held the line from 2020 were female, and the only one of those with any measurable improvement was a single point with white, married women a group they still lost widely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we knew Democrats fell on the wrong side of the gender gap last year. Their big historical advantage with women only works if they dont get crushed with men, and they surely did get crushed. Of more lasting interest may be that the Democrats theory of the electorate was wrong. Heres The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter: Harris wanted an electorate heavily populated with frequent voters, while the Trump team wanted an electorate filled with voters who have not participated as much in major elections. According to Catalist, the electorate was indeed more populated with frequent voters than at any point in the last three presidential elections. The share of the electorate that were so-called super voters those who voted in all of the last four major elections was 47%, compared to just 38% of the electorate in 2020. More importantly, Harris did better among these voters than any previous Democratic nominee since 2016, capturing 50% of the vote, compared to Bidens 49% and Hillary Clintons 47%. The least frequent voters also made up less of the electorate overall in 2024 (11%) than in 2020 (16%) and 2016 (15%). So why wasnt she [successful]? Because Harris not only underperformed Biden among those who were brand new to voting, but also among people who had voted in anywhere from one to three of the last four elections. One could say that these are the same kinds of problems expressed in two different ways: Men are generally less likely to vote than women, so a major shift among men will also be reflected in a shift among less likely voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it was more than that, and it all points in the same direction: that Harris was the candidate of the status quo at a time when voters, especially the voters least attached to the existing political order, were strongly disinclined to stay the course. Her campaign got the electorate it wanted, but still lost because while they had maxed out their numbers with the affluent, college-educated, and upwardly mobile, Democrats still had farther to fall with the downscale electorate. It was, very much, another change election. Now, America may be headed for an unprecedented fourth change election in a row. Voters may continue to toggle back and forth between the two parties like someone trying to get a computer on the fritz to reset. But it may also be that Republicans can keep together their coalition of the very rich and the working class and finally stop the seesaw. And the surest way for that to happen is for Democrats to ignore these warnings. If they dont find a way to convince a skeptical electorate that they are a party for ordinary people economically and culturally they may find themselves on the wrong side of a realignment two decades in the making. Holy croakano! We welcome your feedback, so please email us with your tips, corrections, reactions, amplifications, etc. at WHOLEHOGPOLITICS@GMAIL.COM . If youd like to be considered for publication, please include your real name and hometown. If you dont want your comments to be made public, please specify. NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Trump Job Performance Average Approval: 43.6% Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Average Disapproval: 53% Net Score: -9.4 points Change from last week: +0.6 points Change from last month: +0.2 points [Average includes: Ipsos/Reuters: 42% approve 52% disapprove; Echelon Insights: 46% approve 52% disapprove; Marquette: 46% approve 54% disapprove; Marist/NPR/PBS: 42% approve 53% disapprove; NYT/Siena: 42% approve 54% disapprove] Republicans lose affection for ending birthright citizenship Do you support ending birthright citizenship, which makes anyone born in the U.S. a citizen? All adults: 28% February: 31% (-3 points) Republicans: 48% February: 56% (-8 points) [NPR/Ipsos survey of U.S. adults, 2025] ON THE SIDE: WHERE THE TWAIN SHALL MEET Writer John Jeremiah Sullivan goes exploring for Samuel Clemens amid the latest revival in interest in Americas most important author. Harpers: When we come to the essay that ran in the New Orleans Daily Crescent in 1859, we hear Mark Twain. He did not sign himself that wayhis adoption of the pseudonym was still a few years offbut as Sergeant Fathom (which is on its way to Mark Twain, thematically). Here he is, moving along the great American river, which he knows almost by muscle memory, mocking authority. My opinion, he writes, is that if the rise continues at this rate the water will be on the roof of the St. Charles Hotel before the middle of January. The point at Cairo, which has not even been moistened by the river since 1813, is now entirely under water. I started laughing when I read the word moistened. It is no small thing to make a person physically laugh at the remove of 166 years. PRIME CUTS Harris rival takes shot at former veep over Biden claims: Politico: The Democratic finger-pointing set off by a buzzy new book on former President Joe Bidens declining fitness during his presidency is now sloshing into the California governors race. Antonio Villaraigosa tore into two other home state Democrats former Vice President Kamala Harris and former health Secretary Xavier Becerra accusing the two Biden administration officials of being complicit in a cover up. Voters deserve to know the truth, what did Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra know, when did they know it, and most importantly, why didnt either of them speak out? Villaraigosa said in a statement. This cover up directly led to a second Donald Trump term and as a result, all Californians are paying the price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Biden primary campaign manager warns of left-wing capture: Slow Boring: While Democrats and Republicans both operate within expansive ecosystems of outside organizations, Democrats face a painful truth: their infrastructure is not primarily built to win elections. These structural misalignments lead candidates, elected officials, and organizational leaders to prioritize niche debates and narrow ideological framing over practical governance. The result is a weakened party brand, reduced electoral competitiveness, and diminished governing capacity. While the far left often grabs headlines, the real damage to the partys brand increasingly comes from the Mostly Safe Middle. Rather than acting as a ballast against ideological excess, the safe middle often amplifies it, creating a perception that the Democratic Party is more extreme than the electorate it needs to win. Trump Justice Department goes after Cuomo after giving Adams a pass: New York Times: The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation of Andrew M. Cuomo, a front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, after Republicans accused him of lying to Congress about decisions he made during the coronavirus pandemic as governor, according to two people familiar with the matter. The inquiry, begun about a month ago by the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, comes after senior Justice Department officials in February demanded the dismissal of an indictment of the citys current mayor, Eric Adams, on corruption charges. That puts the Trump administration in the unusual position of having ended a criminal case against the leader of the nations largest city and opened one into his chief rival in the span of a few months. Mr. Adams is running for re-election as an independent, and Mr. Cuomo is leading the Democratic primary field in the polls. Musk, who threatened to bury GOP dissenters in primaries, steps back: The Hill: Elon Musk said he plans to pull back on his political spending after flowing millions of dollars into the 2024 presidential election and other campaigns. Musk said during a discussion at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday that he made his decision because he feels hes done enough but left the door open to future spending. In terms of political spending, Im going to do a lot less in the future, the Tesla CEO said. If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it, he added. I do not currently see a reason. Musk has been one of the dominant forces in U.S. politics over the past year, with filings showing that he spent at least $250 million to help get President Trump elected to a second term, including three contributions of $25 million in the final two weeks of October. SHORT ORDER Trump Jr. feels calling to be presidentThe Hill DCCC banks more cash than NRCC by a tight margin, but still struggles with 2024 debtPunchbowl News Former Ryan challenger tries again for Wisconsin House seatWisconsin Public Radio With Gerry Connollys death, House Dems likely to be down another member until NovemberWashington Post Potential Pelosi retirement sets up struggle in San Francisco primarySan Francisco Examiner Dems keep New York state Senate seat with easy win in Trump-leaning districtThe Hill TABLE TALK Ad absurdum Well, habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem when asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) to define the Latin phrase that describes the judicial power to compel the government to bring prisoners before a court. And he only had to work until July Pay Mike what he wants.Then-President Bidens instruction to his 2024 campaign staff to meet the demand of top adviser Mike Donilon for a $4 million salary, according to a new book about Bidens failed campaign. You should email us! Write to WHOLEHOGPOLITICS@GMAIL.COM with your tips, kudos, criticisms, insights, rediscovered words, wonderful names, recipes, and, always, good jokes. Please include your real nameat least first and lastand hometown. Make sure to let us know in the email if you want to keep your submission private. My colleagues and I will look for your emails and then share the most interesting ones and my responses here. Clickety clack! FOR DESSERT Yeah, thats definitely the problem Newsweek: Russia is going after TV series Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, and the Harry Potter franchise in an effort to purge what it claims is the promotion of childfree ideology. The development comes months after Russia passed a bill banning what state-run news wires describe as the public propaganda of the ideas of voluntarily choosing not to have children. It comes as Russia grapples with a dwindling birth rate and as President Vladimir Putin scrambles to encourage women to have children. On September 1, an order by Russias telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor will come into effect which will ban childfree ideology, local media reported. Even in the harmless Harry Potter saga, as it seems to us, one can find a hint of childfree [ideology]: Professor McGonagall did not have children. However, it is unknown whether this was a conscious choice or something did not work out, the publication said. Chris Stirewalt is the politics editor for The Hill and NewsNation, the host of The Hill Sunday on NewsNation and The CW, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of books on politics and the media. Aliza Jane Fassett 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 The Hill. The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations decision to limit COVID vaccines to people 65 and older and others with underlying health conditions has alarmed some medical experts who worry the change will lead to more infections and more deaths. Black Americans suffer at disproportionately high rates from underlying health conditions like obesity, diabetes and asthma that make COVID far more dangerous. People with those conditions will still be eligible for updated vaccines, but some health experts have argued that the decision to restrict access to them sends a message that COVID isnt that big of a deal anymore. Any recommendations that regard who or when access is available to these vaccines are barriers for vulnerable people and discourage high risk people from getting needed vaccine boosters, The Peoples CDC, a coalition of healthcare practitioners, scientists and educators wrote in a letter to the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA had recommended the vaccine for all people aged 6 months or older, and health insurance companies typically covered them. Now, though, its unclear if insurance companies will continue to cover a vaccine the FDA is no longer requiring for healthy people younger than 65. A COVID vaccine can cost up to $200 if it is not covered by insurance, a steep price that will dissuade many from getting it. I think that changes like this will lead to more unnecessary deaths, Dr. Daniel Griffin, a New York physician who is board-certified in internal medicine and infectious disease told The New York Times. Changes to vaccine protocols are usually handled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are undertaken after an extensive period of study. But two recent Trump appointees, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and Vinay Prasad, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, announced the change in an article they wrote for The New England Journal of Medicine. Like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Makary and Prasad were both staunch critics of the U.S. response to COVID. Prasad likened the response to the beginnings of the Third Reich in Germany, a position that was panned by other medical experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary wrote an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal in February 2021 predicting that COVID would be mostly gone in a month. It very much wasnt. COVID was the underlying or contributing cause of 460,513 deaths in 2021, according to figures from the CDC. COVID deaths have dropped substantially in the U.S. since vaccines and more effective treatment became widely available. Deaths fell to 245,614 in 2022 and to 76,446 in 2023, CDC data show. The agency does not appear to have released figures for 2024. The COVID vaccines have been updated regularly since they were first made available and were covered by health insurance for people 6 months old and older. Kennedy, however, has long been a vaccine skeptic, inaccurately and dangerously arguing that they create health problems. He called the COVID vaccine the deadliest vaccine ever made, a preposterous claim that has not been documented by any credible scientist. As HHS secretary, Kennedy, who has degrees in law, history and literature but none in any scientific field, oversees the CDC, the National Institutes of Health and the FDA. His appointment led to fears that vaccine availability would be curtailed. Those fears are now being realized. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Human rights groups, politicians and experts have sharply criticised a law approved by El Salvadors Congress as a censorship tool, designed to silence and criminalise dissent by nongovernmental organisations critical of President Nayib Bukele. The law proposed by Bukele bypassed normal legislative procedures and was passed on Tuesday night by a Congress under the firm control of his New Ideas party. Bukele first tried to introduce a similar law in 2021, but after strong international backlash, it was never brought for a vote by the full Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bukele said the law is intended to limit foreign influence and corruption. It comes after the government took a number of steps that have prompted concerns the country may be entering a new wave of crackdowns. Critics warn that it falls in line with measures passed by governments in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Russia, Belarus and China. Here are more details about the root of the criticism: What does the law say? Anyone individual or organisation, local or foreign who acts in the interest of a foreign entity or receives foreign funding to operate in El Salvador is required to register under the law. Every payment, whether in cash, goods or services, made to such groups will be subject to a 30-percent tax. The final law passed does not specify how the money from the tax will be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the United States also has a law that requires individuals working on behalf of foreign entities and governments to register, Bukeles is far broader in scope and grants him greater powers. It is fairly common in poorer countries in Latin America to depend on international aid dollars, as it is often difficult to raise money in their own countries. Analysts say a broad definition of a foreign agent in the law could cover: Human rights organisations Community associations Independent media outlets Foreign-funded startups or businesses Religious groups International aid agencies New rules governing NGOs The law creates a new government body called RAEX, or Registry of Foreign Agents, which will have wide powers, including setting requirements for registration, approving or denying applications, revoking or refusing to renew registrations and demanding documents or information at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some NGOs can apply for exceptions, but RAEX will decide who can operate in the country. About 8,000 NGOs operate in El Salvador and often depend on foreign donations due to a lack of funds available in the Central American nation. Some of those groups have long been at odds with Bukele and have criticised some of his actions, including his decision to waive key constitutional rights to crack down on the countrys gangs and seeking re-election despite clear constitutional prohibitions. The rules NGOs will have to adhere to the following: They must register with RAEX and report the source and purpose of all donations. They must keep complete accounting records, use the banks for transactions and follow anti-money laundering laws. They cannot operate without registering. They cannot engage in political activities or actions seen as threatening public order or national security. They cannot use foreign donations for undeclared activities or share information on behalf of foreign donors without labelling it as such. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Violations of the rules can lead to fines between $100,000 to $250,000 and possible closure. Why now? Critics say Bukele revived the law because he has now consolidated power across all branches of government. His political alliance with US President Donald Trump has also emboldened him. Bukele announced the law shortly after a protest near his home ended in a violent crackdown by police that saw two people arrested. In addition, it comes after a number of moves by Bukele that have raised concerns that the self-described worlds coolest dictator is cracking down on dissent. Just two days before the law passed, the government arrested an anticorruption lawyer with the human rights organisation Cristosal one of Bukeles most outspoken critics on corruption charges. The government arrested the heads of bus companies for defying an order from Bukele posted on his social media. Journalists with the investigative news organisation El Faro said they had to flee the country after receiving word that the government was preparing orders for their arrest, after they published reports on the presidents links to gangs. What are critics saying? On birthright citizenship, you mentioned that the Constitutional right does not include children born to diplomats. Is that exception the purpose of the proviso subject to the jurisdiction thereof, since accredited diplomats would have immunity and thus not be subject to the jurisdiction of the US government? Erik S. Hi Erik, Yes, the 14th Amendments subject to the jurisdiction thereof language makes limited exceptions to automatic birthright citizenship. One of those exceptions is for children of foreign diplomats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question raised by President Donald Trumps executive order is whether that language also excludes the children of noncitizens targeted by his order. Judges around the country have had an easy time finding it doesnt blatantly unconstitutional is what one of the judges who ruled against Trumps order called it. A notable aspect of Trumps pending Supreme Court appeal is that his administration didnt ask the justices to approve the legality of his order. Instead, its argument was that the judges who blocked it shouldnt have been allowed to grant nationwide injunctions, as opposed to limiting relief to the parties who brought the lawsuits against the order. The government didnt ask the justices to declare that those judges legal conclusions against the order were wrong, only that they applied their findings too broadly. That litigation strategy suggests a lack of confidence from the government about its prospects on the underlying merits of the order. Thats seemingly why it took a piecemeal approach at the high court, to try to score a procedural win, because a win on the merits would require the court to upend the long-settled precedent and practice of birthright citizenship in this country. When we start talking about settled legal expectations, that understandably leads people to think of the courts 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision from 1973. Its true that we can never be sure what the justices will do. Yet, birthright citizenship is more directly established and longer-standing than the now-defunct federal right to abortion. The problem with Dobbs wasnt so much that the high court majority ignored a specific constitutional provision that explicitly declared a right to abortion; the problem was that, whatever the wisdom of Roe and its 1992 reaffirmation in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, people had arranged their lives around it. They relied on it for decades. The court majority in Dobbs didnt care enough to keep it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to birthright citizenship, lets step back and look at the Constitution. The 14th Amendments citizenship clause says: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. As you noted, its that subject to the jurisdiction thereof language that makes exceptions to the general rule of automatic citizenship. That raises the question: What are the precise exceptions? An amicus brief from constitutional and immigration scholars, filed to the justices in the pending birthright citizenship appeal, says this about the history of that right: The jurisdictional requirement therefore exempted a narrow category of persons who, despite being born on U.S. soil, were not required to fully obey U.S. law. These included the children of foreign diplomats and hostile occupying forces, as well as the members of Indian tribes, who were viewed as members of distinct political communities. . . . All other noncitizens were subject to the jurisdiction of the United States while they were in the country. (Congress in 1924 provided for birthright citizenship for Native Americans, so thats no longer an issue.) If and when the Supreme Court gets to the merits of Trumps order, the administration will argue that the people targeted by it arent subject to U.S. jurisdiction such that theyre entitled to automatic citizenship. In its application to the justices in the pending appeal focused on nationwide injunctions, the Trump administration also addressed the merits of the order somewhat. A substantial body of historical evidence shows that the children of temporarily present aliens or of illegal aliens similarly are not subject to the political jurisdiction of the United States, it argued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, the administration chose not to press that historical claim to a court thats been solicitous of historical arguments that happen to align with modern right-wing politics. Instead, it focused on the nationwide injunction issue, something that a majority of the court could latch onto without having to address the underlying merits of Trumps order in this appeal. Again, its difficult to read that reluctance as anything other than a lack of confidence in the administrations merits argument. Of course, we wont know for sure until the justices finally rule and we still dont know when thatll happen but the fact that the government isnt clamoring for that ruling on the heart of the matter is telling. 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 Gov. Tony Evers has ordered flags across Wisconsin to fly at half-staff on May 23 in remembrance of former Wisconsin Rep. James Rooney, who died May 3 at age 89. "Former Rep. Rooney led an extraordinary life of selflessness, serving his community and our state with humility, perseverance, and compassion over his decades of dedicated public service," Evers said in a statement. "Kathy and I extend our deepest condolences to Rep. Rooneys friends, family, loved ones, and the Racine community as they honor his memory and mourn his passing." The Racine native served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, according to the release, and was later elected to Wisconsin State Legislature in 1972. He served the 61st Assembly District and later the 20th Assembly District for more than a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from his role in various committees, Rooney also aided in creating the Wisconsin Waterways Commission, serving as its chair for over three decades, the release said. Services for Rooney are scheduled on May 23 in Racine. How long will flags be at half-staff in Wisconsin? Flags across Wisconsin will fly at half-staff until sunset on May 23. Where will flags be at half-staff in Wisconsin? Per Evers' order, the American flag and the Wisconsin state flag will fly half-staff at all buildings, grounds and military installations belonging to the state of Wisconsin. Why do flags fly at half-staff? Flags are usually flown at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders. They may also be at half-staff for Memorial Day or other national days of remembrance, including 9/11, according to Usa.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The United States flag flies at half-staff or at half-mast when the nation or a state is in mourning," USA.gov says. "The president, a state governor, or the mayor of the District of Columbia can order flags to fly at half-staff." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why are flags at half-staff in Wisconsin on May 23? TORONTO (AP) King Charles III is coming to Canada to deliver a message: Canada is a sovereign nation distinct from the United States. U.S. President Donald Trumps repeated suggestion that the U.S. annex its northern neighbor prompted new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give the speech from the throne on Tuesday where he will lay out the Canadian governments agenda when Parliament reopens. The monarch is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada has a steadfast defender in our sovereign," Carney said when he announced the visit earlier this month. Why is Charles visiting Canada? It is extraordinarily rare for the monarch to deliver whats called the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles mother, Queen Elizabeth II, only did it twice in her 70-year reign. The last time was in 1977. Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the U.S. and he said that the kings visit clearly underscores the sovereignty of Canada. The Americans had a revolution to gain independence from Britain. Canada remained a colony until 1867 and continued thereafter as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were different, former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said. We are not the United States. It sounds simple, but thats what the visit says. We dont have the same institutions. We dont have the same history, Charest said. "We are a different country with a different choice in terms of how how we built ourselves, and King Charles tells that story. This will be Charles' first visit as monarch. He visited Canada 19 times as prince. The king has been showing his support for Canada in recent months, including displaying Canadian military medals on his chest during a visit to a Royal Navy aircraft carrier. Historian Robert Bothwell said that the kings speech in Parliament is a gesture of solidarity and identity that can be construed to be a gesture of support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But new U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said sending messages isn't necessary. We're thrilled that the king will be here. If there's a message in there, you know, there's easier ways to send messages. Just give me a call. Carney can call the president at any time, Hoekstra told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. But I know what the implication is. It's, oh about ... the 51st state, it's over. And, you know, move on. What is the speech from the throne? The speech sets the legislative agenda for a new session of Parliament. It's not written by the king or his advisers in the U.K., as the king serves as a nonpartisan head of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The king will read what is put before him by Canada's prime minister and his team. The speech is usually read by Canada's governor general, the monarch's representative in Canada. The governor general holds a constitutional but mostly ceremonial and symbolic position. King Charles is unlikely to comment directly on the 51st state issue. Yet, his introductory remarks could feature broad statements about Canadas integrity and sovereignty. At least this is what many Canadians would like him to do," said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Former Canadian prime ministers and governor generals will attend the speech. The king will then pay his respects at the National War Memorial before a Royal Canadian Air Force flyby. What will the French in Quebec think? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beland said the monarchy has long been unpopular among Quebecs French-speaking majority, and some nationalist voices in the province have been critical of the Carney governments decision to invite the king to deliver the throne speech. "Whether the separatists work themselves into a lather over this frankly, I dont care. I dont think Quebecers will care a lot, said Charest, the former premier of Quebec. The may not like the monarchy or whatever theyd like to read into it, but British institutions have served us very well. President Donald Trumps much-touted big, beautiful bill narrowly squeaked through the House of Representatives in the early hours of Thursday in a vote that passed 215 to 214. After days of negotiation with Republican holdouts and hours after the legislation passed the House Rules Committee, it made it through a full House vote with just three GOP representatives breaking ranks to vote against it and risk Trumps wrath. The bill now passes to the Senate ahead of an informal July 4 deadline, where the Republican majority is also slim and where plenty of discontent likewise lingers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They cobbled together a very delicate balance over there but, you know, the Senate will have its imprint on it, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of House Republicans after the president finally got his win. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (AP) Theyve got to do what they can get 218 for, and weve got to do what we can get 51 for. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham declined to wholeheartedly support the bill in its current form. On Thursday, he told The Independent it was a step in the right direction, but he reserved judgment: Well find out what they pass. Objections in the House largely came from fiscal conservatives and Republicans in blue states seeking tax cuts for their constituents. Still, unease surrounding the package extends beyond Congress and threatens to spill over into the wider MAGA movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have not changed my mind one bit on this bill, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast this week. This bill could be a lot better. Im very concerned about the deficits in the short term, but given the totality of President Trumps program, its the best youre going to get for right now. And Im very upset. Bannon went on to complain that the $150bn allotted for defense spending is too high, that he disapproved of social security taxes and tax cuts for the wealthy, but that he grudgingly accepted the need to go on [the] offensive to be able to sell this to the global capital markets. Now Republicans in the Senate will have their say, and many have concerns of their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Leader Thune, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, has a number of fiscal conservatives in his own chamber to deal with, many of whom consider the bills spending cuts too weak and are likely to demand a $2trn ceiling, a $500bn increase on the present package. New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler defended himself on Fox News this week after being criticised by President Donald Trump for holding out on the bill but ultimately fell in line (Fox News) The Houses relatively minor changes to Medicaid financing rules risk being blocked by senators as different as Missouris Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine. All of whom fear that any tampering with them would be an election loser. Others want to make the bills short-term business tax cuts permanent and wipe out the cost of further extending $ 3.8 trillion in expiring Trump tax cuts by employing contentious accounting tactics that their colleagues may not be able to unite behind, according to Politico. Still, more senators are worried by the House bills requirement that states cover at least 5 percent of the cost of federal food assistance programs for the first time. This could hit some red states harder than others, notably Alaska and South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opposition also exists to the bills gutting of renewable energy tax credits created by the Democrats 2022 climate law, with senators like North Carolinas Thom Tillis fearing a loss of investment and jobs in their states as a direct consequence. Finally, senators are also likely to object to the bills agreement to raise the state-and-local-tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 (phased out for taxpayers making more than $500,000), which was a redline for the likes of New York Rep. Mike Lawler but which Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson has already opposed by flatly demanding: Eliminate it. JUBA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Hostilities between the South Sudan army and opposition, including their respective allied armed groups, have left at least 75 civilians killed and 78 others injured since February, the United Nations (UN) human rights office said on Friday. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan following a sharp increase in hostilities, arbitrary arrests, and hate speech in the country. "The escalating hostilities in South Sudan portend a real risk of further exacerbating the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation, and undermining the country's fragile peace process," Turk said in a statement. The latest armed violence erupted following a series of attacks and confrontations in February in Nasir County, in Upper Nile State, reportedly involving a militia group identified as the White Army that the government says is linked to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar. The fighting in Nasir, which is near the Ethiopian border, led to the death of 27 people, including a UN crew member, on March 7, during an evacuation mission. Several officials were arrested, including Machar, who is still under house arrest. Between March 5 and 26, at least 55 government officials affiliated with the SPLM-IO were arrested across the country, the UN human rights body said. "All parties must urgently pull back from the brink," Turk said, noting that hostilities have intensified between May 3 and 20, with reports of the use of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and river and ground offensives by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces on SPLA-IO positions in parts of Fangak in Jonglei State and in Tonga County, in Upper Nile. Civilian-populated areas have also been struck, including a medical facility operated by the Doctors Without Borders charity. On May 21, the SPLA-IO and allied armed groups launched a counter-offensive to recapture areas it had lost in Fangak, triggering further civilian displacement. "I urge all parties to uphold the 2018 peace agreement, ensure protection of civilians and civilian objects and facilitate humanitarian access in line with their obligations under international law," Turk said. He urged the authorities to grant the UN Mission in South Sudan access to National Security Service detention sites to assess the welfare of the detainees. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and U.S. President Donald Trump exchange words during a tense Oval Office meeting on May 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images In a surreal display of diplomatic theater on Wednesday, President Donald Trump subjected his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa to watch fabricated evidence of a genocide against white farmers. Back home, Ramaphosa briefly enjoyed a wave of sympathy for remaining composed during what was the latest ambush of a foreign leader at the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Ramaphosa Was Set up To Fail With Trump That is partly because U.S. news outletsfrom morning talk shows to late-night satireshave debunked Trump and the South African-born Elon Musks claims with fresh vigor. For many South Africans, long frustrated by caricatured coverage of our country, the scrutiny is a belated but welcome corrective. Few myths are as pernicious or cynically weaponized as the white genocide conspiracy theory. South Africas real story is one of endemic violence and unfinished justice. Under apartheid, the Black majority was stripped of political rights, confined to just 13% of the land, and persecuted remorselessly under a complex system of racist laws. White farmers came to dominate the economy, and three decades into democracy, the imbalance persists. Violent crime, meanwhile, is a scourge afflicting every community. To single out white victims distorts the nations trauma and turns a shared tragedy into a divisive fictionone which Trump has turbocharged. It also mocks the millions of Black South Africans who, after surviving one of historys great evils, have nevertheless largely extended a hand of reconciliation to their white compatriots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: The Long History of the U.S. Backing White South Africans Despite all of this, most South Africans were left with mixed feelings over the White House showdown. The encounter Ramaphosa had billed in advance as a reset must now read as a bogey. His attempt to turn the briefing into a public-relations coupand to trade on his reputation as a deft negotiator has collapsed. Pretoria must now accept that Washington will inflame racial tensions in South Africa for the foreseeable future. What happens in our country is no longer just a foreign-policy file, but a live domestic wedge issue in MAGA-world. To be sure, Ramaphosa had chalked up some foreign policy wins in recent months. Following Februarys uproar over Trumps executive order fast-tracking refugee status for white Afrikaners, European Council President Antonio Costa reaffirmed the E.U.s commitment to deepen ties with South Africa as a reliable and predictable partner. A month later, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen landed in Cape Town to unveil a 4.7 billion ($5.1 billion) Global Gateway investment packageEuropes signal that its door remains open to Pretoria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pretorias genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice has also earned it vocal support from capitals spanning Madrid to Kuala Lumpur. By challenging both Israel over Gaza and Trump over the white genocide conspiracy theory, Ramaphosa has positioned his government as a rare voice willing to push back against great-power narratives. Yet South Africas fundamentals remain grim. Unemployment is above 32%, there is persistent poverty, violent crime claims over 70 lives a day, and income inequality is the worst worldwide. Trump, had he wished to embarrass Pretoria, could have wielded that domestic ledger more effectively than any conspiracy theory video. Corruption deepens the malaise. No episode captures the rot more vividly than the Phala Phala affair, involving Ramaphosa himself. In 2020, burglars crept into his game-farm, slit open a leather sofa, and disappeared with bundles of undeclared U.S. dollarsleaving the head of state, a Black farmer, both a victim of crime and a symbol of murky governance. Each unanswered question and stalled prosecution erodes public faith a little further. Ramaphosa and his ruling African National Congress party have presided over 30 years of misgovernance and Black stagnation, and the ANCs grip on power is now looking shakier. The party in June 2024 lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pretoria will not convince Trumpor Muskout of the white genocide myth. For now, its realistic goals are to limit U.S. tariffs, reassure investors, and head off threats of targeted sanctions against senior officials. History shows that second-term U.S. presidents shed influence fast as the lame-duck clock starts ticking; Trumps approval ratings already hover near 40%, below Joe Bidens or Barack Obamas at the same stage of their presidencies. The smartest play for South Africa now is containment and damage limitation, while relations remain in the rough. Contact us at letters@time.com. MATTHEW HATCHER // AFP via Getty Images Election workers scan ballots at the scanning stations of the Philadelphia City Commissioners Office and Election Warehouse on Election Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 5, 2024. - MATTHEW HATCHER // AFP via Getty Images Why Trump wants to ban barcodes on ballots, and what it means for voters and election officials President Donald Trump's new executive order on regulating elections is striking for the way it asserts broad powers for the executive branch that go far beyond what's prescribed in the Constitution or sanctioned by courts. Experts expect the order to face legal challenges for that reason. But what's also striking about the order is how it seeks to dictate some arcane details of the way voting systems work in some of America: Specifically, it bans the machine-readable barcodes or QR codes that are sometimes printed on ballots to help speed up vote counting, Votebeat reports. Trump framed this move as a return to secure, paper-based voting. But in reality, the vast majority of Americans already use paper-based systems to vote, and barcodes and QR codes are an integral part of some of those systems. Getting rid of them as quickly as Trump envisions could create confusion, hassles, and steep costs for the jurisdictions that use them, which include some of America's largest cities. It would slow down vote counts, and wouldn't necessarily improve their accuracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the language of the Trump order naturally raises questions about how barcodes and QR codes are used in our voting systems, and why the administration is directly targeting these codes as an urgent threat to election security and integrity. Here's a closer look at some of those questions: How are barcodes and QR codes used on ballots? A fairly typical voting system that's widely accepted in U.S. elections involves hand-marked paper ballots. Voters check or fill in boxes for their choices, or write them in, and then insert the completed ballot into a machine that reads the selections and tabulates the results. Some counties in recent years have adopted a different system. In these jurisdictions, including some of the largest metropolitan counties in America, voters use a computer with a touchscreen display to make their selections. Once they're finished, the computer prints out a completed paper ballot that includes both a human-readable summary of their selections and a barcode or QR code that encodes the same information. Voters have a chance to review the printed ballot before inserting it into a tabulation machine for counting. The machine reads the coded selections, while leaving a paper record that can be double-checked by a human later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not all machine-printed ballot systems rely solely on the codes. In many cases, the tabulators can read the marked bubbles or text selections, as with the hand-marked ballot systems. But counties that use barcode-based systems say they allow for faster, more efficient counting without sacrificing accuracy. What did Trump's executive order say about QR codes on ballots? While the Constitution gives state legislatures and Congress the power to determine how elections are run, Trump is aiming to regulate them in part through the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an agency that helps develop guidelines for states and local governments to ensure that their voting systems are secure and accurate, and oversees certification of new systems. Trump's order directs the EAC to amend the federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines to say that voting systems are not allowed to use QR codes or barcodes in the counting of votes, except when necessary to accommodate voters with disabilities. Trump's order gives the EAC 180 days to review and potentially recertify voting systems under these updated standards, and rescind certifications based on previous guidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VVSG sets minimum standards for how election systems should operate. Although they're officially voluntary, most states use them as benchmarks when choosing election equipment, and many states have laws requiring new voting equipment to meet current VVSG standards, effectively making compliance mandatory at the state or local level. On March 27, a coalition of civil rights groups released a letter to the EAC saying it would be illegal for the agency to take action in response to Trump's executive order. The president "has no authority to direct the Commission" to modify the VVSG, the groups wrote, adding that any such changes must follow the timelines and processes set in federal law. What is Trump's concern with systems that use barcodes and QR codes? The concern involves the demand for voter-verifiable paper records, a system that blends paper ballots with machine verification and tabulation for accessibility, efficiency, and security. Election security experts consider this the gold standard because it ensures that voters can check their selections before casting their ballot, and it creates a physical record that can be used for an audit or recount later if needed. Nearly all U.S. states have transitioned to these types of voting systems, including some that rely on barcodes or QR codes. (Louisiana and some parts of Texas still use electronic systems that produce no paper records.) Trump's executive order affirms support for voter-verifiable paper records as the nationwide standard. But his opposition to barcodes responds to the concerns of critics and some election security experts who say barcode-based systems don't produce voter-verifiable paper records, because what the machine tabulates is based on a code, not the selections that humans can read. The voter can't truly verify what the machine is reading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The QR code could theoretically be inaccurate, or manipulated to misrepresent votes, without the voter's knowledge, these critics argue. This debate isn't new. Colorado's Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in 2019 that the state would eliminate QR codes from ballots as a proactive step to avoid any vulnerability. And former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein fought, unsuccessfully, to have this type of voting machine decertified in Pennsylvania on these grounds. Georgia passed legislation last year requiring QR codes to be removed from ballots by 2026. Have there been inaccuracies involving ballots with QR codes in past elections? One notable case is from Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in 2023, where the choices represented by the machine-generated code differed from the selections that appeared on the human-readable printout. But in this case, county officials said, it was the code that accurately reflected the voter's choices. A programming error had caused the text version to incorrectly display voters' choices in a judicial retention race. But the votes were tabulated correctly based on the code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barcodes or no barcodes, every state but Alabama requires post-election audits to ensure the accuracy of results. Which states or counties will be most affected by this order? What would banning QR codes on ballots mean for them? According to Verified Voting, an organization focused on election technology, there are 1,954 counties spread across 40 states that use voting machines that print QR or barcodes. Some have only a small number for use only by voters with disabilities (and would therefore not have to get rid of them), while other jurisdictions use them for all voters. Among the users are some very large jurisdictions, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Dallas. The executive order would require those jurisdictions to replace or update all of their machines on a short timetable, costing potentially millions of dollars. In debates leading up to Georgia's ban, the costs associated with eliminating QR codes were estimated at up to $66 million for new equipment and software updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portage County, a 70,000-person county in central Wisconsin, just spent $750,000 to switch to ExpressVote machines, which print voters' choices on a paper ballot and encodes them in machine-readable barcodesthe type of voting machines that may be disallowed under this order. What's currently allowed under the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines? The most updated guidelines, VVSG 2.0, were passed in 2021. No voting systems designed to these standards are yet on the market, but the agency has three systems currently in its certification process. The VVSG 2.0 guidelines require a voter-verifiable paper trail, according to Kristen Muthig, the EAC's director of communications. Barcodes are allowed if they "include human-readable representations of the ballot for a voter or auditor to verify," Muthig told Votebeat. This means codes can be used to speed up machine tabulation, but they cannot be the sole record of a voter's choicesthere must also be printed text that clearly reflects those choices. How would this change affect voting? Counties using barcode-assisted systems would need to replace expensive equipment, retrain poll workers, and educate voters, all under tight timelines ahead of the November election. That could cause disruptions and confusion during the initial implementation phases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the removal of QR codes could affect the speed and efficiency of vote tabulation, as optical scanning systems can process QR codes more quickly and accurately than human-readable text. This story was produced by Votebeat and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. May 22Wild American oysters, long considered extinct in Midcoast Maine, have returned to the region, according to a recent study. With the help of local shellfish harvesters, researchers from the University of Maine identified the oysters in nearly 40 areas along the coastal Damariscotta River. And they raised questions about whether aquaculture farms could be responsible for the species' return to the wild. The study also reported steep declines in soft-shell clam and mussel populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the findings were just a part of the overall goal: to improve stewardship of estuaries and their shellfish populations. Co-authors Sarah Risley, a marine science Ph.D. candidate, and Heather Leslie, a marine conservation scientist and professor, said they were looking for empirical proof of the effectiveness of using knowledge from fishermen to inform research and data. The study is a part of a growing effort marine scientists and officials are making to invite fishermen to the table. The ultimate conclusion, the study asserts, is that industry input and participation helps scientists and rulemakers better understand Maine's marine ecosystems and, in turn, can help them improve the regulations they write that affect fishermen's day-to-day lives. "As researchers, we can only be out in the field for a couple months out of the year. We talked to harvesters who spend 365 days a year on the mud flats, sometimes two tides a day," Risley said. "Ultimately, they are the experts on the ecosystem." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THE NEED The town of Damariscotta makes decisions about how to steward, sustain and enhance the local shellfish resources like how many commercial shellfish licenses to allocate and what areas to close off to fishing. The town and its Shellfish Committee had anecdotally heard from harvesters that there were visible changes in shellfish populations in estuaries of the Damariscotta and Medomak rivers. But the town has struggled to make those decisions. Leslie said there haven't been regular biological surveys to understand the populations. And scientists have struggled to conduct this research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's hard for us to navigate through the mud, work with the tides and collect shellfish to gather data in consistent ways that can be used for management," Leslie said. Using the people who navigate these flats day in and day out, and whose families have dug their catch there for generations, is an obvious solution, Leslie and Risley said. THE FINDINGS The study kicked off in 2020 and ran until 2021. Due to complications during the start of the coronavirus pandemic, researchers gathered information from local experts, instead of gathering the shellfish themselves. The local experts included harvesters, oyster farmers, conservationists and harbormasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groups worked together to build a map of the regions within the two estuaries and then spoke in formal interviews to share their experiences, provide context and posit theories on what is causing these changes. The researchers intentionally did not go to validate the locals' findings with their own work. "Despite recent progress in collaborative research, local knowledge is often treated as something of lesser value than knowledge generated or curated by professional researchers," the study states. "Local knowledge is often treated as just another form of data, subject to the structures and power hierarchies. ... Researchers should be careful to not concentrate power away from local knowledge holders and resource users." The fishermen reported a low amount or absence of soft-shell clams all along the Damariscotta River and medium- to low-populations in the Medomak River estuary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's also the resurgence of the wild oyster. The species was once abundant, but populations fell because of rising sea levels, changing tides, overdevelopment, overfishing and pollution. The oyster has long been considered "functionally extinct" in Damariscotta and very rare in Maine at large, according to the study. Not much on those fronts has changed to encourage the return of the wild oyster. But the growth of aquaculture has. FUTURE RESEARCH Today, there are around 60 oyster farming sites along the Damariscotta River, according to a list of aquaculture leases from the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The locations where fishermen reported oyster populations are concentrated around those sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fishermen believe that oyster larvae are spreading into the water from those farms. But they don't necessarily feel excited about the potential for a new catch. Many believe that wild oysters are taking down the soft-shell clam population. "We are wild clammers, and we want to stay that way," one fisherman told researchers, according to the study. The study doesn't conclude that the fishermen's theories of the "why's" are accurate. But scientists and Damariscotta officials are now launching research projects to explore the fishermen's ideas. "This has emphasized the valuable depth and the multigenerational quality of the knowledge and information that harvesters have," Risley said. And they hope that federal scientists and regulators take note. Copy the Story Link Williamson County reported its first 2025 documented case of measles on Thursday. A school-age child from Leander has been infected, according to a news release from the Williamson County and Cities Health District. The district said it couldn't provide more details about the child or what school the child attended because of medical privacy rules. The child is recovering at home under isolation, the release said. The district is actively working with local school officials and the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct an investigation and to notify any individuals who may have been exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The child was contagious from May 15 and may continue to be through Saturday, the release said. "During this time, there is potential for exposure to others in the community," it said. "At this time, public health officials have limited information regarding the childs vaccination status or recent travel history, as the family has chosen not to share those details with health authorities," the release said. "This limits the ability of WCCHD to fully assess potential exposure risks and determine the source of infection." For those needing more information on preventative vaccines, or for general measles information or concerns, visit www.wcchd.org/measles or call 512-943-3600 to schedule an appointment. This is the fourth case of measles in Central Texas this year. Two cases in Travis County in February and April involved people who had traveled outside of the area or the country. This week, Hays County Health Department confirmed that a person in Kyle had tested positive for the disease and had not traveled. That person's vaccination status was unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case is not connected to the 722-case outbreak in West Texas, or the 15 other cases throughout Texas, including two in Travis County. Why is measles so concerning? Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. It spreads by airborne particles and has a 90% infection rate among unvaccinated people exposed to a person with measles. The virus can live on surfaces for two hours after exposure. It also has long-term consequences. "Measles is not just an acute illness," said Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. It causes "immune amnesia," which means people can lose their immune protection against other diseases. They also can develop swelling of the brain and other complications years later. What should you do if you think you have been exposed? If you think you may have been in close contact with someone who has measles and are unsure of your immunity status: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Call your healthcare provider or clinic before showing up in person. Ask your provider if medications or a vaccine is appropriate for you based on your health and vaccination history. Call your county health department to report your exposure. What are the symptoms of measles? Anywhere from seven to 14 days after exposure, initial symptoms may include: Cough Runny nose Conjunctivitis Usually a fever of 103 to 104 Four days later: A rash that starts at the head and works its way down the body. The rash can start as sore spots in the mouth. In severe cases: Inflammation of the lungs Pneumonia from a secondary infection Inflammation of the brain How do I know if I have immunity? People born before 1957 are presumed to have immunity because of the amount of measles that was present during that time. People born after that time need to make sure they have been vaccinated with two doses. If you were born between 1957 and 1968, you might not have immunity because the vaccine at the time didn't use a live virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaccine protection does wane over time. You can get a blood test to check your immunity level to be sure. If you have been pregnant in the last 30 years, you have already had your titer check for rubella, which is in the MMR vaccine, and you would have been told if you did not have immunity. How can I get vaccinated? Children typically are given the first dose of the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella when they are 12 months old. They receive a second dose between 4 and 6 years old. For vaccinations, contact your primary care provider or go through Austin Public Health or other public health authorities in your county. You can get vaccinated as an adult if you have not been vaccinated previously. Austin Public Health offers vaccinations for free or reduced rates for children and adults who are uninsured or underinsured, or don't have Medicaid. The typical cost is $13 for children and $25 for adults. You can call 512-972-5520 to make an appointment at the clinics at 405 W. Stassney Lane in South Austin or 7500 Blessing Avenue in Northeast Austin. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Williamson County reports first documented case of measles this year The video above is from a May 16, 2025 KXAN report on Travis County and El Paso Countys lawsuit. AUSTIN (KXAN) The district attorneys for Williamson County and Fort Bend County filed a lawsuit on May 16 against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over a rule that would require them the send case files to Paxtons office. Williamson County DA Shawn Dick, a Republican, said in a Thursday announcement that the rule could cost the county and was a trap for local prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attempts to comply with these rules could cost our county millions of dollars, endanger our ability to do our job and destroy a fundamental principle of our government separation of powers, he said. The rules he is seeking to enforce are confusing, complex, misleading, and in some cases impossible to comply with. Fort Bend County DA Brian M. Middleton is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Both counties include land in two of Texas largest metro areas, Austin and Houston. The rule is the same one that elected attorneys in Travis and El Paso counties sued the AG over. Elected attorneys in Dallas County and Harris County also filed their own lawsuit on the same grounds. Travis, El Paso County attorneys, district attorneys sue Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxton responded in a statement sent to KXAN Friday evening: Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick has joined a coalition of the most radical district attorneys in Texas to conceal information from the public about his job performance, Paxton said. This lawsuit is meritless and merely a sad, desperate attempt to hide information from the public he is sworn to protect. The DA reporting rule is a simple, straightforward, commonsense measure that will shed light on local officials who are abdicating their responsibility to public safety. Dick said Paxtons unprecedented power grab has the potential to subvert the will of local voters. Voters first elected Dick as their DA in 2016, and reelected him in uncontested races in 2020 and 2024. The residents of Williamson County have entrusted me for a third term to maintain the integrity of our criminal justice system and to keep our community safe, Dick said in the release. My prosecutors answer only to me, and I answer only to Williamson County voters not Ken Paxton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We asked the AG for a separate response to the Middleton and Dicks lawsuit, and will update this story if we receive one. His new rules are the very same unconstitutional overreach and overregulation Paxton purports to fight on a daily basis, Dick said. With these rules, Paxton has written his own law, passed his own law, will interpret his own law, and will enforce his own law. All three lawsuits were filed in the Travis County District Court. If one of the cases reach the Texas Supreme Court, it is possible that the high court could issue a ruling applicable to both cases. However, a lower court could issue an injunction the blocks the rules enforcement temporarily for both plaintiff groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. DANE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) The search for a missing boater on Wisconsins Lake Monona continues, and as Memorial Day weekend approaches, deputies are urging visitors to be on the lookout for any potential evidence. On Friday morning, deputies with the Dane County Sheriffs Office posted an update on the missing Lake Monona boater ahead of the likely increase in water traffic over Memorial Day weekend. Semi-truck rolls over on Wisconsin highway, multiple agencies called to assist at the scene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies are asking for boaters, swimmers, and others who recreate on Lake Monona to notify them if anything is seen or found that can be substantial in their search efforts for a boater who went missing on May 16. If you see anything you believe could help, please call 911 and provide a description and location, the Dane County Sheriffs Office stated in its post. On Friday, May 16, a sailboat, which had four people on board, capsized on Lake Monona around 8 p.m. Fox Valley proclamation in place to keep boaters safe during Memorial Day weekend One person reportedly drifted to the shore on the overturned boat, while the other three hung on to a kayak. Two of three people who held on to the kayak were rescued, but the fourth person, who reportedly was not wearing a life jacket, is yet to be found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local 5 will continue to follow this story and provide updates when new information is posted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A woman has been arrested after 18 people were injured in a knife attack in Hamburg on Friday. A German police spokesman confirmed that officers had arrested a 39-year-old woman in connection with the attack, which happened at Hamburg Central station, and are not seeking other suspects. Footage posted on social media showed a caucasian woman, wearing a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms, being arrested and led away from the scene by police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Hamburgs fire brigade, three people sustained life-threatening injuries and three others were seriously hurt. Six suffered minor injuries. The attack happened during evening rush hour, at around 6.05pm local time, in between platforms 13 and 14 at the railway station. German media reported that bloodstains could be seen on the ground and that some victims were given medical treatment on trains. Photographs showed one man being treated on the platform, while another showed a man being taken away on a stretcher. Traffic at the station had been suspended on Friday evening, with a cordon set up around the scene of the attack. Credit: Facebook/Kenny Eireland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motivation behind the attack is currently unclear. Germany suffered a series of knife and car-ramming terror attacks in the run-up to the February federal elections. In March, two people were killed after a man with mental illness crashed his car into a crowd of people in the western city of Mannheim. Several others were injured. The previous month, in Munich, a rejected Afghan asylum seeker had driven his car into a trade union demonstration in central Munich the day before the annual Munich Security Conference. Germany also suffered a serious knife attack in January in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, where an Afghan asylum seeker stabbed a two-year-old to death in a park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, a Saudi man drove his car at crowds at a Christmas market in the central city of Magdeburg, having driven through a gap in the security barriers. Six people were killed and nearly 300 injured. Last August, in the western German city of Solingen, a Syrian asylum seeker stabbed three people to death and injured eight others during a festival celebrating diversity. While the nationality of the suspect in Hamburg was not immediately clear, tensions have risen in Germany over the surge in attacks committed by foreigners. The far-Right, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party secured an unprecedented 20 per cent of the vote after Februarys federal elections, making it the de facto opposition in parliament. 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. CHANGSHA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- In the first four months of 2025, the value of exports from central China's Hunan Province to African countries totaled 8.65 billion yuan (about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 6.3 percent year on year, local customs authorities said on Friday. The mechanical and electrical products Hunan exported to African countries accounted for 53.2 percent of that total export value, coming in at 4.6 billion yuan, which was up 11.3 percent year on year. "New trio" products -- electric vehicles, solar batteries and lithium-ion batteries -- saw rapid exports to Africa, increasing 747.1 percent year on year to total 270 million yuan, according to data from Changsha Customs. Since December 2024, China has implemented zero-tariff policies for the 33 least-developed countries in Africa. And during the first four months of this year, Hunan's imports from those 33 countries totaled 3.68 billion yuan, up 27.1 percent year on year. South Africa is the largest trading partner of Hunan with Africa in the period. Hunan's trade with South Africa alone accounted for more than one-fifth of its total foreign trade with Africa during the period. AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) A woman is speaking about a harrowing attack where she fought off a man along the High Line Canal Trail and then warned other women. A very clear video of what police say is the suspect was captured, and police are asking for help. Previous reporting: Man accused of attacking woman on High Line Canal Trail wanted by police Expo Park in Aurora, southeast of South Havana Street and East Alameda Avenue, is a place many people consider a safe, beautiful place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack took place near the High Line Canal Trail. The victim described what happened on May 8 at 6:30 a.m. She has asked not to be identified. I was just blown away that something like this would happen. It was just me taking a walk and all of a sudden, this person comes from behind and grabs me and Im like, what on Earth is happening? the victim said. The woman walks in the park often. She used self-defense tactics to ward off her attacker. I just went to the ground and just went after those soft spots and grabbed as hard as I could until he let me go. I was not letting go. Im going to hold on to you until you plead because I dont know what else to do. Im going to fight, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman says she did not hear the man coming. She was seriously hurt after being punched at least five times in the face and needed medical attention. She says the attack was sexually motivated. Pedestrian dies after crash involving coroner en route to Colfax homicide: Police He was saying nonsense. He just wanted to attack me. It was one of those things where it was a sexually motivated attack. He was saying things like he wanted to touch me. And Im thinking, what the heck? Im thinking, heck no. Youre not going to touch me, the victim said. The woman tells FOX31 she then went to warn other women that she had been attacked and they could be in danger. Investigators are not saying exactly where the attack happened in the large park. The Aurora Police Department shared these photos of a suspect accused of attacking a woman earlier this month near Expo Park. (Courtesy the Aurora Police Department) The Aurora Police Department shared these photos of a suspect accused of attacking a woman earlier this month near Expo Park. (Courtesy the Aurora Police Department) APD posted a video they say shows the suspect. The department also posted a very clear photo of the man and part of his face. He said to be about 5 feet, 10 inches and 175 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you recognize the suspect, youre asked to call Metro Denver Crimestoppers at 720-913-7867. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. In a 5-2 ruling the Wisconsin Supreme Court kept alive a woman's lawsuit against a doctor who had recommended surgery to another doctor that was performed on the woman without her knowledge. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner) A patient whose ovaries were removed without her knowledge during colon surgery can sue the doctor who she says recommended the procedure, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Friday. In the opinion, five of the Courts seven justices agreed that lower courts were correct when they refused to dismiss the patients lawsuit. With the ruling, the case is sent back to Rock County Circuit Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The patient, Melissa Hubbard, was being treated for endometriosis in 2018 by an obstetrician/gynecologist, Dr. Carol Neuman. During the time, Hubbard also was referred for surgery to remove a section of her colon. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michael McGauley. During the procedure, Hubbards ovaries were removed, but she wasnt told beforehand that would be part of the operation. Hubbard initially sued McGauley, but that lawsuit was dismissed. She subsequently sued Neuman, charging that without telling her the OB/GYN had suggested to McGauley that he remove Hubbards ovaries during the colon surgery. The lawsuit charges that when Neuman made the recommendation to McGauley, she violated Hubbards right to informed consent under Wisconsin law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neumans lawyers filed a motion in Rock County circuit court to dismiss the lawsuit on saying that, in the context of the surgery, Neuman was not Hubbards treating physician under the informed consent law. Neumans lawyer argued that because the state laws informed consent requirement applies to the treating physician, Hubbard had no case against Neuman since she did not perform the surgery and she never gave a formal order to the surgeon to remove Hubbards ovaries. The circuit court judge denied the dismissal motion, and the state 4th District Court of Appeals agreed. With Fridays opinion, the Wisconsin Supreme Court also denied the motion to dismiss the case. We disagree with Dr. Neuman, Chief Justice Anne Walsh Bradley wrote on behalf of the majority. The essence of the inquiry is whether Hubbards complaint sufficiently alleges that Dr. Neuman was a physician who treat[ed] Hubbard, even though she did not actually remove Hubbards ovaries herself. We conclude that it does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bradley was joined in the majority by Justices Rebecca Dallet, Brian Hagedorn, Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz. According to the opinion, the complaint depicts Neumans intimate involvement with the removal of Hubbards ovaries first, diagnosing Hubbard with a severe case of endometriosis and then advising her to consider removing her left fallopian tube and ovary. Second, after Hubbard agreed to undergo colon surgery, Dr. Neuman allegedly helped plan the surgery with Dr. McGauley, Walsh Bradley wrote. The physicians pre-surgery discussions and plans included Dr. Neumans plan to attend and participate in Hubbards surgery and to remove Hubbards ovaries herself. Hubbard also alleges that Dr. Neuman recommended to Dr. McGauley that he remove Hubbards ovaries. Those allegations in the lawsuit are enough to consider Neuman a treating physician in the case, Walsh Bradley wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Annette Ziegler, joined by Justice Rebecca Bradley, disagreed. To be a treating physician under [the informed consent statute], the physician needs to either provide the treatment at issue himself or formally order the treatment at issue, Ziegler wrote, citing the text and history of the law along with the decisions of courts across the country that have addressed who qualifies as a treating physician. While Hubbard never told Neuman she wanted her ovaries removed and never consented to their removal in the surgery, Ziegler wrote, the complaint never expressly alleges, nor reasonably implies, that Dr. Neuman performed or participated in the surgery or attended the surgery. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A female teacher at East Ridge High School in Woodbury was placed on administrative leave Thursday after she reportedly repeatedly used a racial slur while talking with students, officials said. The teacher was immediately walked out of the building after students reported the staff member had used the slur, said Shawn Hogendorf, a spokesman for South Washington County Schools. The teacher, who was not identified, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter sent to families, Principal Jim Smokrovich wrote that he received a report Thursday morning that the staff member used a racial slur while discussing inappropriate comments a student was making toward other students. The staff member repeated the racial slur multiple times during the conversation, Smokrovich wrote. As soon as we were made aware of this situation, we met with the students who reported what they heard the staff member say, and connected with their families, he wrote. Understandably, the students were upset by the use of the racial slur. We are grateful to the students who were brave enough to bring this forward and to support our East Ridge values. Staff are available to meet with students if they are in need of additional support to process this incident, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Ridge does not tolerate derogatory, discriminatory or racist language, he wrote. As educators, we must be held to the highest possible standard. I offer my sincere apology for the actions that took place in our school. Officials in the school district last fall banned a substitute teacher from its classrooms after he allegedly reenacted George Floyds murder during classes at Woodbury High School. Meanwhile, the South Washington County school board on Thursday night voted 5-2 to update the districts racial equity and inclusion policy to remove duplications and clarify definitions and language. Board members Ryan Clarke and Eric Tessner dissented. The rewritten policy states that district administrators will condemn hate speech and expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination and ethnic or racial intolerance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hate speech is defined in the policy as speech that either disparages, demeans, targets, threatens or harasses a person or group based on protected class status. Related Articles Workers plan to picket a Minnetonka Cub Foods just a week after the UFCW announced that grocery store workers around the Twin Cities rejected a contract proposal from a series of Twin Cities retailers. On Friday, May 23, workers will protest outside a Haug's Cub Foods at 4801 County Rd. 101 in Minnetonka, continuing their demands for better wages, affordable healthcare, and other benefits, the UFCW said Thursday. Last week, the UFCW Local 663 said workers rejected a contract offer from Cub Foods/United Natural Foods (UNFI), Haug's, and Knowlan's Festival, claiming it would have shifted a larger share of healthcare costs to workers and failed to offer raises that met worker demands. Cub FoodsGoogle Additionally, the UFCW said it filed unfair labor practice charges against UNFI/Cub Foods, contending that the companies have not bargained in good faith. It also alleges violations of the NLRA by Haug's and Knowlan's Festival, which operates as Festival Foods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As part of the negotiations, weve offered strong wage increases, continued market leading union health care and significant increases in our contributions to the unions pension plan to help address underfunding and protect the benefits of all participants," UNFI told Bring Me The News last week. It added that the company "is prepared to implement contingency plans to ensure the continued availability of the products and services our customers and communities have come to count on from Cub." Grocery workers need your support! Meet with UFCW 663 members for a picket at Haugs Cub Foods, Friday, May 23rd 2:30-4pm, 4801 County Rd 101 Minnetonka, MN 55345 pic.twitter.com/MC7ucIgpUA UFCW663 (@UFCW663) May 21, 2025 Workers with UFCW Local 663 began negotiations with seven grocery companies earlier in the year. However, workers came to an agreement with Lunds & Byerly's, Jerry's Enterprises, Kowalski's, and Radermacher's Shakopee Cub this month. In response to the stalemate, workers have threatened a strike that representatives previously told Bring Me The News could start as soon as Memorial Day. A strike could involve as many as 2,800 workers across 38 Twin Cities area grocery stores. Related: Workers at Twin Cities grocery stores including Cub reject contract, threaten strike A protester holds a placard outside of the Pennsylvania Capitol during a 50501 protest. - Credit: Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Ash Lazarus Orr (he/they) has served as the press relations manager at Advocates for Trans Equality for two and a half years. He has been an organizer in West Virginia for over a decade, focusing on the intersectionalities of gender-affirming care and abortion access. Theyre also an abortion storyteller for We Testify and Planned Parenthood. Transgender rights are once again on the chopping block for Republicans political gain. The Houses proposed budget in the so-called big, beautiful bill includes measures that would deny life-saving, medically necessary, and evidence-based transition-related health care to trans people of all ages banning it from Medicaid (where an estimated 152,000 trans Americans are enrolled) and no longer requiring Obamacare plans to cover it. This bill intentionally puts trans peoples lives at risk, and is just the latest in a series of calculated attempts to divide and distract the American people, while dehumanizing some of the countrys most vulnerable citizens. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is being sold to the public as a set of historic tax cuts. But in reality, its not about fiscal responsibility: Its a cruel strategy by anti-trans, extremist politicians to push trans, nonbinary, and intersex people out of public life. From our workplaces and schools to our health care, housing, and basic freedoms, the Trump administration and its allies are working to erase us. They are trying to make it harder just to exist, let alone thrive. Let me be perfectly clear: transition-related health care which includes everything form hormones and puberty blockers to voice therapy, mental health support, and gender-affirming primary care is health care. It is safe and essential, backed by decades of medical research, and supported by every major medical and mental health association in the United States. Its recognized as being safe and effective, and essential. These proposed cuts are flying in the face of medical consensus. Stripping away health care for anybody is un-American. Denying trans people access to medically necessary care goes against the most basic values that this country was founded on: freedom, dignity, and the right to pursue life and liberty. Health care is a human right for everyone including trans people. Along the same lines, bodily autonomy is a core American value. Like all Americans, trans people and their families should be able to go to their medical providers and not have politicians interfering in these deeply personal medical decisions. We must be free to pursue, alongside our doctors, the medical care that lets us survive and flourish. This proposed ban undermines our fundamental right to privacy and self determination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, this bill is only the beginning. Its part of a broader political agenda and calculated strategy to fuel fear, blame marginalized communities, and distract the public away from the real causes of economic hardship corporate greed, failing infrastructure, and chronic under-investment in public services. Instead of tackling these problems, Republicans are continuing to fuel manufactured outrage to score political points, because this administration wants people pointing fingers at their neighbors instead of holding the powerful accountable. In practice, this ban on transition-related health care would do nothing but disrupt an already overwhelmed health care system. The very people who are already most vulnerable to systemic discrimination and economic instability are now being potentially stripped of access to life-saving care, and its all for political show. If passed, this bill is going to affect every single person that is utilizing Medicaid. It will disproportionately impact folks who live in low-income, rural, or spread-out regions. We are going to see so many folks who are already residing in health care deserts which are continuing to grow year by year lose access. People will suffer because of this. Though we have been singled out in this bill, trans people are just like everyone else you know. We are your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues. Like every other person in this country, we deserve access to health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a moment to choose to be on the right side of history. Lawmakers must reject bigotry and show leadership by defending access to trans health care not take it away from vulnerable communities. Again, this is not just about trans people: laws like this one, if passed, will impact every single person using programs like Medicaid, and those who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. I strongly encourage folks to reach out to their senators and demand that they vote no on this bill. Because trans people deserve equal rights, and to live our lives fully and authentically. As told to Elizabeth Yuko Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. RAT55, U.S. Air Force Materiel Commands extremely shy NT-43A/737-200 converted into a grotesquely modified radar cross-section measurement platform just flew across the country for an unknown reason. During its trip, it made two stops, one in Arkansas and one in Texas, the latter offering very rare close-up views of Earths most fascinating 737 going about its business. RAT55 arrived at Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo, Texas, at 2:40 pm and departed at 3:40 pm. It was cleared back to Tenopah Test Range Airport, Jason Zicker, an aviation photographer who took the videos below and posted them on social media, told TWZ. Zicker said he was alerted to RAT55s arrival by a fellow plane spotter. As far as I know, it was just for gas, said Zicker, who was kind enough to let us use his video. RAT55 did have a flight plan to come here a couple of months ago, but never showed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft flew from the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) to Northwest Arkansas National Airport. It stopped at Amarillo on the way back, likely for fuel. It isnt clear why it went to Arkansas at this time. We asked Air Force Materiel Command if they could provide any information as to RAT55s puzzling trip and they replied: Regarding your query, I do not have any details to provide. It is interesting to note that King Aerospace has a presence at Northwest Arkansas National Airport. In 2022, RAT55 appeared at a different King Aerospace facility at Admore Municipal Airport in Oklahoma during another rare outing. Whether or not its latest trip is again tied to a visit to this company, which specializes in heavy maintenance and deep modification work, including for the U.S. military, is unknown at this time. TWZ has reached out to King Aerospace for more information. #A10635 as #RATT55/#STORMY29 Up from Groom Lake KXTA to Northwestern Arkansas National Airport KXNA. Audio of STORMY29/RATT55 getting cleared to land at KXNA. pic.twitter.com/Hs0nXmp6Lq Norb (@norb420) May 20, 2025 The name RAT55 is actually used for the jets callsign, although as RATT55, with an extra T. On this particular outing, the jet has been using the callsign Stormy 29. Looks like their callsign today was STRMY29 and not RATT55 pic.twitter.com/DLnnqDWKeL Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) May 21, 2025 The RAT in the name stands for Radar Airborne Testbed, while the 55 refers to the last two digits in its tail number. RAT55 spends most of its flying life in the vast and remote range complexes that span South-Central California and Southern Nevada. The aircraft seems to live at the high-security Tonopah Test Range Airport (TTR) famous for its shadowy aircraft programs and spends time in the skies near Area 51 and Edwards Air Force Base. While the one-off NT-43A has ventured beyond its usual protected operational confines it needs major servicing just like any other 737 usually these trips seem to be planned to expose the aircraft to minimal public eyeballs. That is clearly no longer the goal. Courtesy of Jason Zicker Regardless, RAT55 is unlike any other aircraft on the planet, and it is absolutely critical to the development and sustainment of Americas aerial stealth technology. Simply put, RAT55 uses its two huge radar arrays one front and one back to take fine measurements of the radar signatures of stealthy aircraft while flying through the air near them. It does this to validate low-observable designs and skin treatments. It also has electro-optical/infrared capabilities above its radomes and can be fitted with dorsal fairings for other systems. While there are facilities on the ground that can take similar measurements of aircraft flying through the air, doing it from another specially-equipped aircraft in the air allows the target to be measured from every angle, including from overhead aspects, and continuously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even when B-2 Spirits come out of depot maintenance, they usually spend time in the sky with RAT55 to validate that the work done fits established design goals and parameters. That is the most visible of the NT-43As work, but the aircraft is also involved with the most advanced and secretive stealth aircraft development programs in the Pentagons portfolio, many of which we dont know about and likely never will. Got a glimpse of #rat55 while in Death Valley this week with a #B2 bomber pic.twitter.com/O5hQnfJmft Marc Bierdzinski (@mbplan) October 29, 2020 Considering all of the combat aviation developments now underway in a new era of so-called great power competition, RAT55 is presumably busier than ever, and will be flooded with work soon as many programs mature into a flying state. From the B-21, to a plethora of new advanced drones, to the F-47 next-generation fighter, the stealth business is booming. At the same time, RAT55 is a very old aircraft, and dwindling support for first-generation 737s is surely becoming an issue. With this in mind, it is somewhat puzzling why it isnt being replaced or at least augmented. Then again, it could be, and we wont know until that new aircraft materializes somewhere. Thats the abbreviated version of what we know about RAT55, you can read more about the aircraft and see the best images ever taken of it in this past feature of ours. While we dont know why RAT55 came out of the shadows for this jaunt across the U.S., it sure was a great opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to spot a truly one-of-a-kind plane, and a very clandestine one at that. Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com Representatives of 60 countries met to discuss the state of global energy at a summit led by the United Kingdom. and the International Energy Agency in April. The Guardian reported that 50 global companies, which included fossil fuel companies, attended the two-day convention as well. The two hosting parties created the summit in hopes that it would spark conversation about the future of energy security and alternatives to dirty forms of energy like coal and oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All countries agreed with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement that "energy security is national security." By securing energy resources, countries are able to keep their people safe and give them the opportunity to thrive. While the U.S. sent Tommy Joyce, the acting assistant secretary at the Department of Energy, China did not attend the summit at all. Considering that China is the world's leading producer of pollution and renewable energy, the summit was missing an important voice. Joyce otherwise characterized the U.S. as very pro-fossil fuel use. He said that eliminating polluting gases by 2050 was "harmful and dangerous," and warned of "putting abstract emission goals in the interests of our adversaries first and the security of our people last," per the Guardian. The IEA's summary of the event noted that the transition from polluting energy to clean energy will take time and "must be just and fair." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants made it clear that the global community shouldn't leave anyone or any place behind in this change. Decisions should be strategic, and support should always be available as nations take care of their workforces and reduce their emissions. Investing in clean energy is trending up, while dirty energy investments have dropped in value. By prioritizing clean energy, countries can see their wealth increase and protect their citizens and the environment. "Let my message to the world go out: come and build the clean energy future in Britain," Starmer said. By hosting this summit with the IEA, the U.K.'s prime minister set the tone for what other countries can do to welcome clean energy investment into their economy. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Wichita Police Department is stepping up its efforts to curb illegal street racing and stunt riding after a recent operation disrupted a large-scale event involving more than 50 vehicles and over 100 spectators. According to Captain Aaron Moses, officers intervened during a planned street race in Wichita, arresting two driversone of them a juvenileand impounding their vehicles. Police also issued more than a dozen citations to people who were gathered to watch, citing a city ordinance that penalizes spectators of illegal races. Fines for attending or encouraging such events can reach up to $1,500. Wichita 2-way conversion of Main St. is finished Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve heard from the community that this is something that frustrates everybody. It frustrates us as well. Its also illegal and its dangerous, Moses said. The enforcement action was part of a targeted response by the department based on growing concerns from residents and past assessments of internal police practices. Moses said that the department is not only cracking down on illegal racing but also listening more closely to the communitys concerns and responding with visible enforcement. He added that Wichita has designated areas near the city where people can legally participate in racing activities and encouraged residents to use those spaces instead of public roads. This is an example of us listening to the community about things that concern them and taking direct action, Moses said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. To watch our shows live on our website, 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 KSN-TV. BUENOS AIRES, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Argentina on Thursday unveiled a package of measures to loosen regulations on financial transactions to spur the flow of cash. Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced the scheme, called the "Plan for the Historical Reparation of Argentines' Savings", at a press conference, which was also attended by the president of the Central Bank Santiago Bausili, head of the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA) Juan Pazo and presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni. The measures essentially scale back restrictions and financial monitoring by the state on credit card operations, cash withdrawals, property sales, used vehicle purchases, and a slew of other transactions. This overhaul "aims to give back to the vast majority of Argentines, who were abused by excess taxes and excess regulations, freedom over their savings," Caputo said. Officials hope Argentines will be encouraged to spend their savings more freely, injecting cash into the economy and boosting growth. When I joined the race for Democratic National Committee chair a few months ago, there was one area of consensus among all the candidatesincluding the eventual victor, Ken Martin. One of the big lessons of the loss from the last election cycle was that we collectively spent too much money on TV and digital ads, driven in large part by decisions of well-placed and well-heeled Democratic consultants. Were about to fall into the same trap in 2025. The new flavor of the moment, though, isnt TV ads; its influencers. According to reporting in The New York Times, liberal donors are now planning to spend ungodly amounts on creating an army of left-leaning digital creators of all stripes and styles. Having realized that were outgunned by the right in both reach and scale of conversation online, were now doing what Democrats often resort tospending money to try to solve the problem. This mindset masks a deeper issue: spending money to create content with no editorial vision or strategy. When we dont have organic grassroots appeal and we are not sufficiently connected to huge numbers of real Americans, we paper over that problem by trying to pay to reach people in unidirectional ways (paid ads, paid influencers, paid organizers). We need to focus less on the pipes and tactics of contacting people and put more emphasis on the content vision and ideas of what people find authentically and organically engaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inputs into the Democratic Partys elite have strayed from meaningful conversations that ordinary citizens find interesting. Were losing in the attention economy, as MSNBC host Chris Hayes has written. I believe a big part of the reason for that is that Democrats arent talking about economic justice and class-based issues in compelling and interesting ways, at a time when those class-based problems are dominating the lives of everyday Americans in every possible way. These conversations are more likely to be heard on right-leaning podcasts than on left-leaning ones. But if we engage them, the conversations speak to the broadest ideological spectrum of Americans. I talk daily to candidates wanting to run for office, and I pose this simple question to them. If I dropped you into a random town hall in any city in America, and you didnt know anything about who was in the room, what would you say to them in order to get them to agree with you? Many have no idea what theyd say; others want to pander to pablum about Costs are high, or We need to rebuild the middle class, or Donald Trump is terrible. The answer must start with the reality of what we are seeing in this economy. We know the basic story that connects with voters: Corporate CEOs, monopolists, and the passive-wealth-generating elites of America have rigged an economic and political system to prioritize their needs over ours. If we are to have any chance of creating better lives for future generations, we have to be willing to wrestle power back from them through working-class solidarity. And we need politicians who have the integrity, conviction, and knowledge to be unbought and unbossed by these powerful actors. But right now, we arent sufficiently grounded in the lived experience and language of working Americans, who expect leaders to understand the reality of their daily struggles and own the friction with established power. To earn credibility, we have to name the culprits who deprive them of liberty. We must elevate potential solutions to give people a serious chance at a secure retirement, health care, decent wages, housing, and education in an increasingly complex and rigged economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consulting and funding classes are still not sure what content people actually want to consumebecause they have no ways of engaging organic feedback from regular people outside of paid polls and focus groups. The social listening inputs into the left-of-center architecture are broken. If I tell a leading Democratic strategist that I want to make an ad about three global asset management companies that would help explain how theyre profiting off the lives of working people, heres what Id expect to hear in response: People dont know what asset managers are. Thats too complicated of a topic! We need the financial industrys donations and support, so this is counterproductive. I could go on. This exact video about Blackrock and other asset managers is currently the most-watched video on More Perfect Unions YouTube page, with 6.6 million views and counting, and finding great appeal with Trump voters. And its not an anomaly for us. Were one of the fastest-growing digital media companies since the launch of Vox, and at a moment when theres lots of ink being spilled about the right model for growing the Democratic voting base and winning back working-class Americans with compelling information, we think more funders and outlets could stand to learn from an approach that is already working in speaking to people beyond their politically polarized viewpoints. The current conversations playing out on the left about culture, authenticity, and influence are illuminating a central challenge for the Democratic Party in this political moment. Weve been told versions of, We need to be willing to go on Joe Rogans show! or, We need more Joe Rogans of our own! or, my personal favorite, We used to have Joe Rogan! All of these are missing the point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without speaking for Rogan, let me just suggest that most leading platforms and podcasters want depth of knowledge, integrity, and conviction from guests who have something meaningful to convey. In my view, Joe Rogan, Theo Von, Lex Fridman, Andrew Schulz, and so many other prominent online influencers have hosted and liked Bernie Sanders not because he chose to go on their programsits because of what he had to say! Sanders has had the integrity and conviction to take on power with a meaningful message about the priorities and needs of regular people who are getting screwedwhich happens to be compelling and interesting content for these shows, which the audiences want to hear more discussion about. The other side understands this proposition. The arguments that helped elect Donald Trump didnt start in consulting offices in D.C. or at exclusive donor meetings, speculating about a cultural vertical to fill with poll-tested talking points. They started with the things Americans were saying to one another in their day-to-day livesand what they were sharing in comments sections and everyday meetups. Keeping their ears to the ground, conservatives found people were fed up with masking mandates and were angry about school curricula deprioritizing basic math, English, and science skills in favor of other factors as students came back after missing a year. People were worried about the flow of illegal immigrants across the border, its impact on jobs, wages, and public investments. There were serious issues about public safety in our cities, amounting to threats to their way of life. The right created enemies in the out-of-control, out-of-touch, far-left politicians as they discussed these issues. Thats not to justify any of the rights disinformation campaigns around these matters. But the feelings that their target audience had were real, and the people crafting the campaigns messaging knew it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, in political terms, populism largely exists on the right. But I also want populism of the left. We need movements to be connected to the emotions of real people at scale. Its worth considering this: Would Bernies very successful Fighting Oligarchy Tourthe greatest, record-breaking-turnout events Democrats have put on this yearever have happened if the consultant-driven language police had been in charge? They tell us, Its the economy, stupid. They tell us, Its the authenticity, stupid. Now, Its the influencers, stupid. Next election cycle, theyll tell us its something else, stupid. How about this? Lets first invest in getting to know peoples economic lives, then create the content that evidences their pains and struggles, and finallywith policy depthconnect those struggles to tangible solutions. The voters arent stupid, and they never have been. So lets stop treating them that way. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) A suspect fled the scene with a blanket after allegedly breaking into a West Virginia University fraternity house. WVU issued a campus warning on Friday telling students and employees to be vigilant after the reported burglary. According to the notice, a white male with tattoos broke a window at 709 North High St. and forced entry into the fraternity. The suspect fled the scene with a blanket after he was confronted by a resident of the house, WVU said; a break-in attempted was also reported at a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A suspect has not been identified, but reports said it was a white man standing between 510 and 6 with tattoos on his arms, hands and possibly neck. Two restaurants hold grand openings in Morgantown The incidents are being actively investigated by the WVU Police Department (UPD). Anyone with information should contact UPD at 304-293-3136 or visit the department at 992 Elmer Prince Drive. Although many students have moved away from campus for the summer, UPD encourages those who are still living in Morgantown to keep their doors and windows locked and to not leave spare keys where they are accessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. YORK, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A staff member at York Intermediate School has been arrested following allegations of assaulting a student earlier this week. According to the York Police Department, Alan Pryor, 53, a resident of York and employee of York School District One, surrendered himself to authorities on May 22. He is currently being held at the Moss Justice Center without bond set at this time. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here The incident came to light on Tuesday, May 20, when a student reported the alleged assault to a school administrator. The report was passed on to the School Resource Officer (SRO), who then contacted the York Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After conducting an investigation, York detectives identified Pryor as the suspect. Warrants were issued for third-degree assault and battery. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details about the nature of the incident or the student involved have been released at this time. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM York County Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. CAYUTA, N.Y. (WETM) New York State Police have released the name of the teen who was killed during a one-vehicle crash in Schuyler County on Tuesday evening. 18-year-old Caden Ruben, of Spencer, was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the crash that occurred on State Route 224 in Cayuta on Tuesday, May 20, as stated in a release from NYSP. Original story: Teen dies after one vehicle crash in Cayuta Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release states that the crash occurred around 9 p.m. while Ruben was traveling westbound on 224 in an SUV. At this time, the release says Rubens SUV left the north side of the road while turning a curve before hitting a tree, overturning and then catching on fire. Authorities say that Ruben was the only person in the vehicle and that an investigation into the crash is still ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A van used by the Youngstown City School District caught fire Friday morning. Firefighters were in the 2100 block of McGuffey Rd. around 8:30 a.m., working to extinguish the fire. The van has extensive damage. A spokesperson for the school district said the fire was caused by a mechanical issue. Due to the swift actions of the driver, they were all able to exit the van quickly, and everyone is safe. There will be a prompt investigation to determine the cause, read a statement from the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Oehlbeck and Kristen Hephner 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Youngstown City Councils Safety Committee Thursday approved the hiring of new police officers and the purchasing of new police cruisers. The measure now goes to the full council for approval. For the second time in a month, Youngstown Police Chief Carl Davis and Sergeant Seann Cafolo appeared before city councils safety committee, trying to convince them to accept a federal grant to hire new officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This grant is to assist with paying for new hired officers and cadets, Cafolo said. The committee approved accepting a $1.6 million federal grant, which, combined with a $537,000 local match, will pay the salaries for 15 new officers for three years with the city responsible for paying the entire salary in the fourth year. Were facing some challenges now with attracting people to come onto the Youngstown Police Department, Davis said. Davis also said he expects 18% of his 130-person police department to retire over the next several years. That would be for the purchase of 11 vehicles, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee also approved spending $695,000 of city money to buy 11 new police vehicles five to frontline marked cars, three marked for K-9 use and three new vehicles for the crime lab. A good portion of our police fleet exit the city of Youngstown between three and four oclock, Councilwoman Anita Davis said. Davis said she wants GPS tracking systems installed in every vehicle taken home by an officer or when its time for the full council to vote shell vote no If theyre only supposed to be used for transportation to and from work when theyre not outside the city, we can pinpoint that they are at that persons address and not somewhere else, utilized somewhere else, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full Youngstown City Council is expected to vote on both the hiring grant and the vehicle purchase at its June 4th meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A new youth curfew will be enforced at D.C.s Wharf during Memorial Day weekend, local leaders announced Friday afternoon. From 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., those under the age of 18 wont be allowed on the property without an adult or parent. The curfew goes into effect Friday evening through Tuesday morning. The temporary curfew comes after several incidents over the last few weeks, where dozens of teenagers have overtaken businesses and parks in Navy Yard and at the Wharf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED COVERAGE: Neighborhood leaders call for earlier youth curfew in Navy Yard Weve seen groups of teens causing disturbances, damaging property, jumping on tables in restaurants, said Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith. It is all unacceptable and we will not tolerate this kind of conduct or behavior. Smith said there have been challenges to preventing these large juvenile meetups. These kids are live-streaming everything on Facebook. Theyre doing meet-ups on TikTok, Instagram, she said. Now theyre doing everything on social media. Sometimes we can find the information, sometimes we cannot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Mayor Muriel Bowser said her team is working on legislation to adjust the current city-wide juvenile curfew, which could include making the curfew time earlier. Right now, the Districts curfew is 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. One hospitalized in Navy Yard assault Bowser did not have specifics to share on Friday, but is encouraging parents to be more involved. They need to know where their kids are in the evenings, who they are with and what they are doing, she said. You need to know when they are coming home and how they are getting home. We also need parents to know what kids are doing on their phones and on their social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To give kids a safe place to gather this holiday weekend, D.C. will hold Holiday Hype at the Banneker Recreation Fields, Friday through Sunday. The event will include music, activities and more and will run from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YUKON, Okla. (KFOR) Yukon Public Schools is offering free summer meals to all children ages 1-18 years old starting June 2. According to Yukon school officials, the free summer meal program offers free nutritious meals from June 2 to July 25 with no registration requirements. Oklahoma Citys OKANA Beach opens Saturday The location and time are as follows: June 2 July 25 (closed July 4th) Yukon High School (Monday- Friday) 1777 S. Yukon Parkway Breakfast: 7:30am-9:00am Lunch: 11:00am-12:30pm Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skyview Elementary (Monday- Friday) 650 S. Yukon Parkway Breakfast: 7:30am-9:00am Lunch: 11:00am-12:30pm Redstone Intermediate (Monday- Friday) 11501 W Britton Rd Breakfast: 7:30am-9:00am Lunch: 11:00am-12:30pm Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russia's weeklong delay in preparing a proposal on a peace settlement is a "mockery of the whole world," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on May 23. The remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19, refused to support a full ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, the Kremlin proposed drafting a "memorandum" on a possible future peace settlement. Zelensky said that, while Ukraine and its partners are working toward an immediate ceasefire, Russia is stalling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When it took the Russians a week to formulate the so-called 'memorandum' in response to the demand for a ceasefire, it is definitely a mockery of the whole world," Zelensky said. "We need a ceasefire. We need diplomatic steps toward real peace. And it's definitely time to put more pressure on Russia." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 20 that there was "no timeline" for completing the document, according to Russian state media TASS. Three days later, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would only submit the draft "settlement document" after the ongoing prisoner exchange is completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That exchange, agreed during direct Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul on May 16, saw both sides begin returning 1,000 prisoners of war (POWs) on May 23. It marks the largest such swap since Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014 and is the only concrete outcome of the Istanbul talks so far. Zelensky said Moscow continues to block any meaningful progress beyond the prisoner swap. "Every day in the war is a loss of life. Of course, in Russia, they don't count people. But the world must count," he said. "New sanctions against Russia are needed. I thank each and every one of you who advocate and support this." Read also: BREAKING: Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap since start of Russias war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The fact that Russia has been drafting a so-called "memorandum" on a ceasefire for a week is a mockery of the entire world, said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: Zelenskyy's address Quote: "A ceasefire is needed. Diplomatic steps towards real peace are needed. A new and effective security architecture is needed. We are uniting our partners for this. And it is definitely time to put more pressure on Russia so that the outcome is not just one result, but everything that is required. And when the Russians have already spent a week formulating a so-called 'memorandum', which they want to present as a response to the demand for a ceasefire that is clearly a mockery of the entire world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So much time! Every day in this war is a loss of lives. Of course, in Russia they feel no need to conserve their forces. But the world must. New sanctions against Russia are needed. I thank everyone who is advocating for and supporting this." Details: Zelenskyy added that the largest prisoner exchange yet, which began on 23 May, is essentially the only meaningful outcome of the meeting with the Russians in Turkiye everything else is being blocked by them. Background: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the Russian side is in an "advanced stage" of working on the memorandum on a ceasefire in Ukraine. Lavrov also said that there is currently no set date for the second round of Russian-Ukrainian talks. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia is ready to work on a memorandum with Ukraine which would include a possible ceasefire for a certain period of time. Putin also said that contact had been "resumed" between the negotiating groups that met in Istanbul. On 19 May, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would wait for the Russian version of the memorandum. "If Russia proposes a memorandum, we will be able to formulate our vision," he said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Romania's President-elect Nicusor Dan attends the ceremony for validation of his presidential mandate at the Romania's Constitutional Court in Bucharest, Romania, May 22, 2025. Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) on Thursday officially validated the election of independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president, confirming his victory in the May 18 runoff. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) BUCHAREST, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) on Thursday officially validated the election of independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president, confirming his victory in the May 18 runoff. CCR President Marian Enache announced the decision during a plenary session, affirming that the electoral process had fully complied with constitutional and legal provisions. The decision is final and will be published in the Official Gazette. Earlier in the day, the Court also dismissed a legal challenge brought by George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, who had sought to annul the election results. The CCR rejected the complaint as "unfounded" and upheld the integrity of the electoral process. Simion had alleged foreign interference and a disinformation campaign during the election, claims the Court found to be unsupported by evidence. With the validation now complete, Dan is expected to be sworn in during a joint session of Parliament, in accordance with Romanian law. Romania's President-elect Nicusor Dan attends the ceremony for validation of his presidential mandate at the Romania's Constitutional Court in Bucharest, Romania, May 22, 2025. Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) on Thursday officially validated the election of independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president, confirming his victory in the May 18 runoff. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Romania's President-elect Nicusor Dan (R) receives the official papers of presidential mandate validation from Marian Enache, president of the Romania's Constitutional Court, in Bucharest, Romania, May 22, 2025. Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) on Thursday officially validated the election of independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president, confirming his victory in the May 18 runoff. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Romania's President-elect Nicusor Dan attends the ceremony for validation of his presidential mandate at the Romania's Constitutional Court in Bucharest, Romania, May 22, 2025. Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) on Thursday officially validated the election of independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president, confirming his victory in the May 18 runoff. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke speaks at a press conference announcing the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus on May 7, 2025. (Courtesy photo) Calling it his San Juan Hill, a reference to a Spanish-American War battle victory by Teddy Roosevelts Rough Riders, Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke announced Wednesday he had successfully led a bipartisan charge to remove a provision to sell public lands from the federal budget bill. The provision to sell off roughly 450,000 acres of federal land in Utah and Nevada passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee in early May, but met opposition from conservation groups and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed sale and exchanges of land involved areas near Las Vegas, Reno and St. George, Utah, aimed at allowing for affordable housing developments on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Land. Zinke, a Republican and former Interior Secretary who formed the new bipartisan Public Lands Caucus the day after the provision was adopted in committee, has been a strong opponent to the sale of federal public land. I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands. Once the land is sold, we will never get it back. God isnt creating more land, Zinke said in a press release on Wednesday. Public access, sportsmanship, grazing, tourism our entire Montanan way of life is connected to our public lands. The House Rules Committee removed the provision from the budget bill after opposition from several Western Republicans, including Zinke, Rep. Troy Downing, R-Montana, and Public Lands Caucus Vice Chairman Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition to public lands sale threatened to derail President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping 1,116-page bill that contains the administrations spending priorities. With the federal land transfer portion struck from the reconciliation package, Zinke and Downing both endorsed the Big Beautiful Bill, which includes extending the Trump Administrations tax cuts from 2017, increasing funding for the border wall, Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and temporarily eliminates taxes on overtime work and tips. The bill could also cut funding from programs such as Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which states may have to fund in order to keep service levels intact. It also includes implementing work requirements for Medicaid within two years and accelerates the phase-out of clean energy tax credits enacted by former President Joe Biden. The bill, which passed an initial House vote by a single vote, still faces opposition for its price tag. The Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates it would add nearly $4 trillion to the nations debt. Public lands in public hands Multiple conservation groups released statements praising the work done by Zinke, and thousands of constituents nationwide, to remove the public lands sale amendment from the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tens of thousands of Montana hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts have been flooding the Capitol switchboard, attending weekend rallies, and writing letters and postcards to Congress, asking that the public lands transfer amendment be killed, said Mike Mershon, board chair and president of the Montana Wildlife Federation, in a statement. . Selling our shared public lands to pay for tax cuts for the rich was and is an awful, un-American idea, and we appreciate Rep Zinkes work to keep it out of the bill. His colleagues never should have considered it in the first place, Lydia Weiss, senior director for government relations at The Wilderness Society, said in a statement. Montana Conservation Voters, Trout Unlimited, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, MeatEater and other groups also released statements. The success in appealing to Republican leaders to make the change marked a strong win for the new members of the Public Lands Caucus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downing said in a statement that he was pleased the bill removed the public lands sale, and that it includes keeping the Bull Mountains Mine in Musselshell County operational. Our legislation delivers historic tax cuts, secures our borders, strengthens key programs for future generations, eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse, and sets the country on a path toward fiscal responsibility, Downing said. Our work is not done, but Republicans will not rest until this once-in-a-generation legislation is signed by the President. Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. In this image from U.S. Capitol Police security video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the Statement of Facts supporting an arrest warrant, Taylor Taranto, circled in yellow, enters the U.S. Capitol through the Upper West Terrace door on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Justice Department via AP) Contestants appear on the stage before the start of the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students in Prague, the Czech Republic, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin) PRAGUE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Eight students have showcased their Chinese language skills and cultural talents during the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic and organized by the Confucius Institute of the University of Finance and Administration (VSFS) in Prague, the competition on Thursday consisted of a themed speech and a talent show. In the end, Martina Slenckova and Eva Skutova, both from Palacky University in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc, stood out. Slenckova will represent the Czech Republic in the "Chinese Bridge" global finals, while Skutova will participate as an observer. Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Feng Biao expressed his delight at seeing more and more Czech youth embracing the Chinese language and gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. He emphasized that Chinese serves not only as a practical tool, but also as a gateway to understanding Chinese civilization. Through learning the language, Czech students are acquiring useful skills, developing new ways of thinking and broadening their worldviews. The growing popularity of Chinese language education in the Czech Republic not only injects vitality into cultural exchanges between the two countries, but also helps strengthen public support for the future development of China-Czech relations, he said. VSFS Rector Bohuslava Senkyrova said in her remarks that she was impressed by the contestants' proficiency in Chinese. Although Chinese is not their native language, the participants were able to express themselves fluently and be clearly understood by Chinese audiences. She encouraged all the contestants to give their best and shine on stage. Described herself as a "language enthusiast," Slenckova is now a third-year student majoring in Chinese at Palacky University. She told Xinhua after the competition that she is fascinated by the Chinese language and hopes her upcoming trip to China will deepen her understanding of the country and its culture, and give her the chance to experience authentic Chinese cuisine. The Confucius Institute of VSFS was jointly established by China Jiliang University, a university based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, and the VSFS in 2018. A contestant participates in the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students in Prague, the Czech Republic, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin) A contestant shows her traditional Chinese painting during the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students in Prague, the Czech Republic, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin) A contestant performs during the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students in Prague, the Czech Republic, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin) A contestant draws traditional Chinese painting during the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students in Prague, the Czech Republic, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin) A contestant participates in the Czech national qualifications for the 24th "Chinese Bridge," the Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students in Prague, the Czech Republic, May 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Deng Yaomin) Pakistani people flash victory signs as they celebrate after the ceasefire between Pakistan and India on May 10. By Qabil Ashirov A delegation headed by Major General Stefan Fix, Deputy Chief of Staff for Support at NATOs Joint Force Command Brunssum, has paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry. The delegation visited the Azerbaijani Naval Forces as part of their itinerary. During the meeting held at Naval Headquarters, the sides discussed the current state and future prospects of NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation within the framework of partnership programs, with a focus on expanding opportunities for experience exchange. The discussions highlighted Azerbaijans active participation and proactive initiatives within NATO partnership frameworks. Following the talks, the guests were given a briefing on the operational focus of a designated military unit of the Naval Forces, known as Military Unit "N". They also observed tactical and special training exercises conducted by Azerbaijani service members. The NATO delegation later visited the Military Police Department, where they received detailed information on the establishment, structure, and history of the unit. A special video presentation was shown, and a comprehensive briefing was delivered on the department's functions. In the final leg of the visit, the delegation held discussions at the Department for International Military Cooperation. Talks centered on the current status of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, ongoing joint initiatives, and future avenues of mutual interest. Throughout the series of meetings, both parties emphasized that such high-level visits reaffirm the strategic importance of NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation and contribute to further strengthening the atmosphere of mutual understanding and partnership. MANILA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines on Friday called for the "full, safe, rapid, and unhindered delivery" of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip. "Humanitarian aid must reach the civilian population of Gaza -- particularly the most vulnerable, including the sick, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities -- without discrimination and in accordance with international humanitarian law," the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The Philippines underscored that the provision of humanitarian assistance must remain under the leadership of the United Nations and other internationally mandated actors. It added that humanitarian response must be based on impartial needs assessments and guided by the principles of neutrality, humanity, and accountability. The Philippines also called on all parties to support the United Nations in meeting its humanitarian mandate. The United Nations said about 90 truckloads of aid had entered Gaza by Thursday, the first significant delivery of food that Israel has allowed in after a two-month blockade that deepened the humanitarian crisis there. The Philippines said it supports a two-state solution, consistent with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 and other relevant UN resolutions, as the only viable path toward a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region. ROME, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The fifth round of talks between Iran and the United States started Friday in the Italian capital of Rome with Oman's mediation, according to Iranian media. The most recent round of negotiations between the two sides was held in Oman on May 11. According to Italian media reports, tensions have since flared between Iran and the United States over uranium enrichment. The Trump administration had sought to halt all uranium enrichment by Iran, but Tehran rejected the notion of "zero enrichment" and demanded the lifting of economic sanctions, the report said. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the media that the Italian government "fully supports this mediation effort," but acknowledged that "it is certainly not an easy negotiation." SEOUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's defense ministry said Friday that no discussion had been made with the United States about the withdrawal of some U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula. The ministry announced the statement in response to a U.S. media report that said Washington was considering a pullout of around 4,500 soldiers from South Korea. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Endite Stefanie Moshammer is a visual artist whose work lies at the intersection of research, observation, and recreation. She works across various media, including photography, video, text, installations, and book publishing. Her projects explore themes such as social dynamics, economic influences, and human relationships, intertwining memories, fantasies, anxieties, and sharp critiques of the status quo. Her ongoing series, Each Poison, A Pillow, delves into the theme of alcoholismspecifically, women and alcoholism. At the same time, Moshammer recounts her personal experiences of growing up with a mother who suffered from alcohol use disorder. Each Poison, A Pillow spans multiple media, intertwining her family history with medical and scientific research. The work also unfolds an intense dialogue and collaboration with her mother, offering multiple perspectives on this topic. After a successful presentation at Parallel Vienna 2024, the Dr. Eva Kahan Foundation is delighted to continue its collaboration with artist Stefanie Moshammer, presenting her works at the Kahan Art Space Vienna and currently in Budapest. The exhibition Each Poison, A Pillow can be seen at Kahan Art Space Pest until August 2nd 2025. After graduating in Textile Design at the Fashion School Vienna, Stefanie Moshammer received a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design & Photography at University of Art and Design in Linz and she attended the BA in Advanced Visual Storytelling at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. She received numerous awards and prizes, and her work has been featured in various print and online publications internationally. She has been exhibited throughout galleries and museums around Europe, the US, and Asia, among others at: Fotografiska New York, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art South Korea, Foam Photography Museum Amsterdam, Kunst Haus Vienna, Belvedere21 Vienna, C/O Berlin, Webber Gallery London, MAK - Museum of Applied Arts Vienna. Stefanie Moshammer lives and works in Vienna and Paris. Venue: Kahan Art Space Pest 1072 Budapest, Nagy Diofa u. 34 The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. Link to the newsletter: https://xpatloop.com/newsletters/2025/22-may.html Welcome & thanks for enjoying a moment of inspiration here with fellow Xpats in the Loop! You're in good company with 1000's of expats + top locals in this cosmopolitan community. 1. First is a quick look at a wide range of exciting happenings for your free-time enjoyment 'Eco-Adventures': National Parks Week in Hungary, 'Night of Artworks' Festival in Budapest, 22 24 May, 'Yard Sale', American International School Of Budapest, 25 May, 'Friss Hus' International Short Film Festival in Budapest, 29 May, 'Rosalia Wine Piknik', City Park Budapest, 29 May 1 June. 2. As always below there's essential Insights & Inspiration - plus New Movies & Special Offers Border Restrictions Lifted, Xploring Gemenc Forest, New Budapest Protest, First Name Game... 3. Also you can see a great variety of Daily Events - just a fresh few picked from Xpat Calendar Free Dance Event, Iron Maiden Gig, Spanish Cari Cari, Avant-Garde Pop, Gourmet Film Night... Here's wishing you a great weekend - for insipiration about top trips around Hungary see here. * If you need a car, Budget is giving readers 15% off daily rentals - limited offer, best book soon! Yours with best wishes, Team XpatLoop New Delhi: Apple is under pressure after former US President Donald Trump warned that the tech giant could face a 25 per cent tariff if it continues making phones outside the country. The remark led to a 2.5 per cent dip in Apple shares during premarket trading pulling US stock index futures down as well. In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump made it clear he wants Apple to make iPhones in the U.S. instead of overseas. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump said. Trump has warned that Apple could face a tariff of at least 25 per cent if it doesn't make iPhones in the U.S. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US," he said. So far, Apple hasn't responded to the comment. The company has been steadily moving more of its production to India as it looks to reduce its reliance on China. According to Reuters, most iPhones bound for the U.S. will start coming from India by June. Trumps warning is in line with his push to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. However, its still unclear whether such a tariff could actually be enforced. The next private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has achieved an important step in its preparation before the launch. This means the team is moving forward and getting closer to being ready for the trip to space. Houston-based company Axiom Space has finished an important safety check called the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) on Wednesday, May 21. This review is a key step before the launch of their fourth space mission with a crew heading to the International Space Station (ISS). It helps make sure everything is prepared and safe for the astronauts to fly. The mission is planned to launch on June 8 at 9:11 a.m. EDT (6:41 p.m. IST), from Launch Complex-39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On Wednesday, May 21, the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) confirmed that everythingboth the equipment and the teamis ready for next months launch. This upcoming mission will be Axioms busiest one so far when it comes to scientific research in space. During their stay of about 14 days, the Ax-4 crew will carry out over 60 activities on the International Space Station. These will include science experiments and programs to connect with people back on Earth, like educational and awareness efforts. The Ax-4 mission will be led by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut. This will be her fifth trip to space and her second mission with Axiom Space. After this mission, she will have spent nearly 700 days in spacemore than any other American, breaking her own record. The Ax-4 mission will mark a historic moment as Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). Joining astronauts from Poland and Hungary, this will also be the first space trip for each of these three astronauts. Axioms Chief of Mission Services, Allen Flynt, said during a press call on May 20 that this mission brings human spaceflight back for these countries. While India, Poland, and Hungary have sent astronauts to space in the past, this will be their first journey to the International Space Station. Shubhanshu Shuklas Background Shubhanshu Shukla, an accomplished Indian Air Force pilot, brings a wealth of experience to the Ax-4 mission. Born in Lucknow, India, he joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot and rose to the rank of Wing Commander. With over 2,000 hours of flight experience, Shukla has demonstrated exceptional skill and leadership in high-stakes missions. Selected by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for this historic mission, he underwent rigorous astronaut training in collaboration with NASA and Axiom Space. Shuklas participation not only highlights Indias growing role in global space exploration but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring scientists and astronauts across the nation. Sudeesh Balan, the project director at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said during a call on Tuesday, May 20, that missions like Ax-4 can inspire young people to take an interest in space technology. The Ax-4 mission will carry out 60 experiments and outreach programs, with contributions coming from 31 different countries. Dana Weigel, NASA's ISS program manager, called the mission a "fantastic way" to grow the space agencys research work on the space station. Outreach Program An outreach program is an effort to connect with and educate people, especially those who may not have easy access to certain information or experiences. In space missions, outreach programs often include: - Educational activities for students and teachers - Live video calls or messages from astronauts in space - Sharing science experiments with the public - Inspiring young people to learn about space, science, and technology The goal is to make space exploration exciting and understandable for everyone, not just scientists. ISRO Inspires Students Nationwide Sudeesh Balan, project director at ISRO, shared more details about the outreach programs planned during the Ax-4 mission. He said ISRO is organizing two special events where students will get a chance to directly interact with Shubhanshu Shukla. "One of the main activities will be a live interaction between Shubhanshu Shukla and students. We are planning to hold two such events at different locations in India," he said. In addition to that, there will be a session using amateur radioa long-standing tradition on the International Space Stationwhere students will be able to connect and talk with Shubhanshu Shukla. The students have already been selected, and the preparations for these events are currently underway. Two places in India have been chosen for these activities. Over 60 Experiments in Orbit Out of the 60 planned experiments for the Ax-4 mission, 17 are being supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). Most of these are being done in partnership with Poland, specially designed for this mission, explained ESA mission manager Sergio Palumberi during a call on May 20. Hungary has also played a big role by contributing 25 experiments through its space program called HUNOR, which helps train and support Hungarian astronauts and researchers. These experiments will help study things like health, technology, and science in space. ISROs Microgravity Experiments in Space ISRO has selected seven microgravity research experiments suggested by Indian researchers (called Principal Investigators or PIs) from different national research labs and universities. These experiments are planned to be carried out on the International Space Station (ISS). Shubhanshu Shuklas mission will mainly study how living in space affects small organisms, plants, and the human body. It will help scientists learn more about how life changes in space conditions. Apart from this, ISRO and NASA will also work together on five more experiments focused on human research. Crew Yet to Name Dragon The four-member Ax-4 team, including Shubhanshu Shukla, will travel to space in a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Following tradition, the crew gets to choose the name for the spacecraft's first journey. However, the name hasnt been shared yet. SpaceXs Director of Dragon Mission Management, Sarah Walker, said the crew will reveal the name later. It was not announced during the press call on May 20. (Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany.) JOHANNESBURG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Friday that rescue operations are underway to bring to the surface about 300 miners trapped underground for more than 24 hours at a mine about 60 km west of Johannesburg. Speaking to Xinhua over the phone, NUM Health and Safety National Chairperson Duncan Luvuno, who is at the scene of the rescue mission, said the incident occurred Thursday morning at Sibanye-Stillwater's Kloof mine in Westonaria, Gauteng Province, but the union was only informed about it in the afternoon. "The management did not share this with the union until 2:00 p.m. and we were told that it was a normal breakdown that would be resolved," he said. "It's regrettable that we were not informed early." Earlier media reports said the miners were trapped after equipment failure caused debris to damage the shaft, preventing their return to the surface. No injuries or deaths were reported. "The rescue process is being underway. We are trying to get food to the workers down there. They can't use the escape route. The lights are off," Luvuno said. New Delhi: Union Minister Chirag Paswan addressed speculations around his growing proximity with leaders across political lines, from Tejashwi Yadav to Prashant Kishor, asserting firmly, "Friends with everyone, alliance with none till PM Modi is my Prime Minister." In an interview with IANS, Chirag Paswan made it clear that while personal relationships exist, his political allegiance remains solely with the current NDA alliance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also spoke about India's global outreach against terrorism, Operation Sindoor and Bihar politics. Here is the full interview: IANS: After Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has sent delegations abroad. How important do you consider this? Chirag Paswan: It is necessary. Our country was subjected to a cowardly and shameful terrorist attack, and after that, through Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army demonstrated courage and valour. The world must know about this. That's why the delegation of MPs has been sent to various foreign countries to present India's position. It is crucial that the right picture of India is presented. Our soldiers destroyed only terrorist camps without harming any civilians...These terror camps were being nurtured by our neighbouring country for a long time. Delegations have gone in the past as well. Their purpose is to make the world aware of Indias correct narrative. IANS: The opposition, Congress and sometimes the RJD, is questioning Operation Sindoor. Theyre talking about fighter jets being shot down by Pakistan and raising questions about the ceasefire and why PoK wasn't taken. How do you see this? Chirag Paswan: Is this really the time to raise such issues? At a time when the country needs to unite against terrorism, what is the opposition doing, especially parties like Congress? You are literally echoing Pakistans narrative. The same questions they're asking are being asked by our opposition. Do you really think this is the right time for politics? Let the world see India as one unit for now. The parliamentary delegation that has gone is not representing any party, they are representing the country. You can ask all your questions later, this government and this Prime Minister are here till 2029. But do you think this is the time for India to appear divided? The opposition's role in this entire episode has been very wrong, and if they continue on this path, it will tarnish India's global image. IANS: The Prime Minister said, We have turned into dust those who tried to wipe away sindoor. What do you think? Chirag Paswan: Operation Sindoor, the name itself symbolises justice. The way many of our sisters lost their husbands in this terror attack, the name of this operation itself delivers emotional justice. The Prime Ministers strong words, once again, reflect his unwavering resolve, the same resolve he declared from the soil of Bihar, in Madhubani, where he had clearly stated that the response would be beyond imagination. And I believe the Indian Army has delivered just that. IANS: Lets take a question on Bihar. You recently met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Did you tell him you're coming to Bihar? Chirag Paswan: My Chief Minister knows very well that I entered politics for Bihar and Biharis. He has always appreciated this. Of course, during our meeting, we discussed several political matters, including the upcoming Bihar elections. We emphasised that the party wants me to spend more time in Bihar and play a more active and strong role. I believe the CM is happy with this and wants the party to play an important role in the upcoming Assembly elections, which will benefit the entire alliance. This is not about working in silos but working together as a united alliance. IANS: A short video of yours has gone viral. You met Tejashwi Yadav and CM Nitish Kumar on the same day. You were also seen praising Prashant Kishor. Why is Chirag Paswan supporting everyone? Chirag Paswan: An alliance with everyone is possible (jokingly). I have said this very categorically and on record before, as long as Modi ji is my Prime Minister, it is not possible for me to even think of any alternate alliance. Had that been the case, in 2020, when I went solo, I would have joined another alliance. Perhaps my performance would have been much better, and we would have been in a strong position in Bihar. But I chose to fight alone, not to be part of any alternative alliance. As for the video youre referring to, Tejashwi is like a younger brother to me, and Ive always seen his family as my own. Lalu ji is like a father to me, Rabri ji is like a mother, Ive always acknowledged that. That meeting was one of those beautiful moments in our democracy where both sides came together to stand with the families of our martyrs. I don't think theres a need to read more into that meeting. IANS: Chirag Paswan, Tejashwi Yadav, Prashant Kishor, Kanhaiya Kumar, all of you young leaders are on the ground. Wherever you go, they also seem to appear. Will all four be seen in the electoral field? Chirag Paswan: Absolutely. While playing their respective roles, I believe this will be a beautiful moment for Bihar and its people. The beauty of democracy is in offering choices. I believe today, Bihar has those choices. People can decide which ideology, leadership, or alliance suits them best. And I believe our alliance is the best among them today. IANS: Will 2025 be the same for you as 2020, or has something changed? Chirag Paswan: Depends on in what sense youre asking. In 2020, I contested the elections alone. In 2025, you will see me firmly with the alliance. We will fight together, win together, and Nitish Kumar ji will once again become the Chief Minister. If it were that easy, you would already have the numbers. You already floated the numbers I dont even have. But I won't breach the alliance's dignity by talking numbers publicly before discussing them within the alliance. These matters will be settled within our five-party alliance first. After that, we will jointly hold a press conference to announce the number of seats and who will contest from where. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday launched a scathing attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making "careless" statements over his repeated questions regarding the 'losses' during Operation Sindoor and the government's silence on former U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that his administration brokered a truce between India and Pakistan. While addressing a press conference at BHP headquarters, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that the Indian Army is being praised across the country and all citizens are standing with them but the Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, find hard to believe in the Army's action and countrys resolve to take on terror. Every citizen is happy with the Armed Forces and is standing with them. But Rahul Gandhi continues to make careless statements. Today, the country is asking Rahul Gandhi about his abusive language against the Prime Minister. Your statements are being supported in Pakistan, also the statements of Congress leaders are being used by Pakistani Parliament to defame India, he said, IANS reported. He further alleged that Gandhi should decide whether he is the Leader of the Opposition in India or a recipient of the Nishan-e-Pakistan from Pakistan. Bhatia added Rahul Gandhi should decide which side he is on? Are you the leader of the opposition (LoP) of India or the Nishan-e-Pakistan of Pakistan? Earlier, Lok Sabha LoP had questioned External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on social media X and accused him of being. "EAM Jaishankar's silence isn't just telling -- it's damning. So I'll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn't a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth," Rahul Gandhi said. As per the ANI, Rahul Gandhi had also shared a video of EAM Jaishankar of May 17 in which he said that "At the start of the operation we have sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at infrastructure and we are not striking at the military, so military has the option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take good advice." Border Security Force (BSF) officials seized heroin valued at Rs 5 crore after intercepting a drone from Pakistan near the international border in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar on Friday. According to Gaurav Yadav, SP, Ganganagar, the drone was spotted in a field located between Kailash Post and Sherpura Post in Anupgarh.Villagers noticed the suspicious object and immediately alerted the local police. Personnel from the BSF rushed to the spot and recovered a yellow packet containing one kilogram of heroin, attached to the drone. "The consignment, believed to have been sent from Pakistan, was found near the barbed-wire fencing along the international border. The estimated value of the heroin in the international market is Rs 5 crore," he added. Yadav told IANS that "The packet looks around one month old, however, we will investigate further to dig into detail". The BSF officials were handing over the consignment to the police till the filing of this report. The BSF has launched a massive search operation along the border, and all security agencies have been put on high alert to prevent further attempts. This seizure is the latest in a series of drug smuggling attempts from across the border in 2025. Earlier, on March 13, a 1.6 kg heroin packet was recovered near the 4 FD check post in the Gajsinghpur police station area. On March 20, three kilograms of heroin were recovered near the Rawala area (village 12 KND) by BSF personnel after a drone drop. On April 2, a crashed drone was found in a field near Chak 11F, Sheikhsarpal Border Post, Karanpur. It contained 500 grams of heroin worth approximately Rs 25 crore. New Delhi: As part of the widespread crackdown to curb illegal immigration, a special team of the Delhi Police has apprehended 121 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the national capital and sent them to a detention centre. The special team has completed the necessary legal procedures and issued deportation orders through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). These individuals, including those who overstayed their visas or entered without valid documents, were apprehended and placed in detention centres before the FRRO processed their cases. The FRRO, a government body responsible for managing foreigners in India, then issued deportation orders based on the verified information. A media statement released by the Delhi Police on Thursday said that a special team was constituted under the supervision of Additional DCP-I Dr Chandra Prakash, led by ACP, Badli, Shashi Kant Gaur and SHO, Alipur, Shailender Kumar. This team conducted an extensive drive, during which documents of 831 suspected Bangladeshis were checked. The team, in the last one week found 121 persons residing illegally in India. Deportation orders for all these individuals have been issued through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), said the release. The police have initiated legal action in this regard. A case FIR No. 345/2025 has been registered at Police Station Narela Industrial Area under Sections 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 14 and 14C of the Foreigners Act, 1946 to investigate the syndicate responsible for facilitating illegal entry and residence of immigrants. Under the directions and guidance of Special Commissioner of police Law & Order (Zone-I), Ravindra Kumar Yadav, IPS, a special investigation team is headed by Additional DCP-I Dr Chandra Prakash and includes one ACP, one Inspector, two Sub-Inspectors, two Head Constables, and two Constables., said the officials. So far, five Indian nationals have been interrogated, all found to be renting accommodations to illegal immigrants. One individual has been issued a notice under Section 35(3) of BNS (earlier 41(A) CrPC). The investigation is also focused on tracing the origin of fake documents such as electric metre connections, Aadhaar cards, and voter IDs obtained by illegal immigrants. Relevant departments have been given notices, and legal action will be taken against all those found involved, mentioned the press statement released by Nidhin Valsan, DCP Outer North District of the national capital. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Rising North East Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, on Friday, highlighted the immense potential of the North East region and its importance in the country's development journey. Speaking at the summit the Prime Minister stated that from trade to tradition, from textiles to tourism the northeast of the country is the most diverse part of our diverse India. He said, "Our India is called the most diverse nation in the world, and our Northeast is the most diverse part of this diverse nation, from trade to tradition, from textiles to tourism, its diversity is its greatest strength." Moving further PM Modi called Northeast the most diverse part of the diverse nation. He underscored the Northeast's vast potential, citing its bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports, and emerging eco-tourism industry. #WATCH | Delhi | At the inauguration of the 'Rising Northeast Investors Summit', PM Modi says, "... The Northeast is the most diverse part of our diverse nation... From trade to tradition, from textile to tourism, the diversity of the Northeast is its strength. Northeast means pic.twitter.com/BVv1qu5vvO ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 "Northeast means bio-economy, bamboo, tea production, petroleum, sports, skill, an emerging hub of eco-tourism, and a new world for organic products. Northeast is the powerhouse of energy. Northeast is 'Ashta Lakshmi' for us...," the PM continued. PM Modi remarked "For us, east is not just a direction. For us, east means Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform..." #WATCH | Delhi | At the inauguration of the 'Rising Northeast Investors Summit', PM Modi says, "For us, east is not just a direction. For us, east means Empower, Act, Strengthen and Transform..." pic.twitter.com/7xKeFAiBdr ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 PM Modi highlighted the government's efforts to transform the Northeast through infrastructure development, making tourism more attractive and boosting investor confidence. "We started an infrastructure revolution in the Northeast," he said, noting that the region is now becoming a land of opportunities with stronger connectivity. He said, "There was a time when the northeast was only called a frontier region. Today, it is becoming the frontrunner of growth. Better infrastructure makes tourism attractive and gives investors more confidence... We started an infrastructure revolution in the Northeast... It is now becoming the land of opportunities... The connectivity in the Northeast is becoming stronger..." He added that for the government, the word EAST represents more than just a direction. "For us, this EAST does not mean only one direction. For us, this means Empower, Act, Strengthen, and Transform. This is our government's policy for Eastern India." The Rising North East Investors Summit, which PM Modi inaugurated, is a two-day event taking place on 23rd and 24th May at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit aims to highlight the North East region as a land of opportunity and attract both global and domestic investment. (With inputs from ANI) Studying in top IVY league colleges in the US - a group of eight elite universities - is a dream for many students, not just in the home country, but for students across the globe, including Indians. But this dream has been met with a rude shock with the Trump administration taking the unprecedented step of revoking Harvard University's certification to enrol international students. This move will greatly impact the nearly 6,800 foreign students currently studying at the institution. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on May 22, 2025, that the Trump government is prohibiting Harvard from admitting new international students and mandates that existing foreign students transfer to other institutions or risk losing their legal status in the United States. Harvard Ban: Implications For Indian Students Indian students make up a significant portion of Harvard's international community - media reports pin it at 788 currently - and they will now be directly affected by this decision. According to media reports, students currently enrolled must seek transfers to other US institutions to maintain their visa status. Graduating students - students who graduate this semester - may complete their degrees, as the decision would take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Indian students and parents are naturally anxious, what with the looming uncertainty surrounding visa statuses, potential transfers, and future employment opportunities in the US. Even those who are not at Harvard themselves are worried about the precedent this sets for international education policies. Reasons Behind The Decision: What The Trump Government Says The Department of Homeland Security cited several reasons for this decision: Campus Environment: Allegations that Harvard fosters an unsafe environment, particularly for Jewish students, and promotes pro-Hamas sympathies. Diversity Policies: Criticism of Harvard's diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which the administration views as discriminatory. Foreign Influence: Unsubstantiated claims that Harvard is coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, the administration accused Harvard of failing to comply with federal requests for records related to international students and campus protests. US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to X and said, "This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country." This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025 How Harvard Has Responded Harvard has condemned the administration's move as unlawful and detrimental to its academic mission. The university is exploring legal avenues to challenge the decision and is working to provide guidance and support to affected students. Four Naxalites were neutralised during an encounter with security forces along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border in Gadchiroli district on Friday, officials said. The operation was set in motion on Thursday afternoon, following solid intelligence indicating the presence of Naxalites groups near the newly established Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kawande. Acting on this information, 12 C-60 teams, consisting of 300 commandos, along with a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) unit, embarked on the mission from Kawande and Nelgunda, advancing toward the Indravati river despite relentless rain. As dawn broke on Friday, security forces were systematically securing the area and searching the riverbanks when they came under sudden and indiscriminate gunfire from Naxalites, the officials said. The C-60 commandos promptly responded, triggering an intense exchange of fire that lasted close to two hours. Once the battle subsided, a thorough sweep of the area resulted in the discovery of four Naxalites bodies, said the officials. The search also yielded a range of weapons and supplies, including an automatic self-loading rifle, two .303 rifles, a Bharmar gun, walkie-talkies, camping gear, and Naxalites literature. This encounter comes on the heels of a significant crackdown in adjoining Chhattisgarh just two days earlier, where security forces decisively eliminated 27 Naxalites, including their top commander, Basavaraju. However, a brave soldier lost his life in the fierce gun battle. On Friday, a Naxalites was killed in an encounter in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. The back-to-back operations highlight the ongoing battle against insurgency in the region and underscore the determination of security forces to maintain stability in affected areas. Authorities received intelligence suggesting the presence of a large number of Naxalites in the dense forests of Kistaram. Acting upon the information, a joint task force comprising the District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action was deployed for a search operation. As security personnel arrived at the location, the Naxalites opened fire, prompting an immediate retaliation. India on Friday extended notice to airmen (NOTAM) for Pakistan flights for one month, to be in effect till June 23, 2025. According to ANI, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said that the Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators, including military flights. India extends NOTAM for Pakistan flights for one month; to be in effect till 23rd June, 2025. Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated/owned or leased by Pakistani airlines/operators, including military flights: Ministry of Civil pic.twitter.com/b0pF3W5P7S May 23, 2025 Earlier, the MoCA on April 30 had said that India issued a NOTAM and closed its airspace for Pakistan-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, airlines, and military flights. According to media reports, earlier, Pakistan had also extended airspace closure for Indian airlines till June 24, 2025. After the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, New Delhi announced a series of measures against Islamabad. As per ANI, in response, Pakistan closed its airspace for all Indian owned or Indian operated airlines. This also comes after the Indian Armed Forces had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Following this, the neighboring nation launched drone and missile attacks on Indian territory. (with ANI inputs) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Friday that India has "zero tolerance" for terrorism and will never give in to nuclear blackmail. He added that India will deal with Pakistan bilaterally. This comes after the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack. Addressing a joint press briefing with the German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar stated that New Delhi values Berlin's understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism. Jaishankar said, "I come to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. We also value Germany's understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism," Jaishankar said. #WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I come to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There pic.twitter.com/QhKfFsYmNO ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 Wadephul also said, "Germany will support any fight against terrorism. Terrorism must never have a place in the world, anywhere, and this is why we will support everyone who fights and has to fight terrorism. We very much appreciate that a ceasefire has been reached, and we hope that there will be a solution soon." Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's best wishes. In a post on X, the Indian Foreign Minister said, "Deeply appreciate Germanys understanding of Indias right to defend itself against terrorism." Operation Sindoor India's Operation Sindoor targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to the death of over 100 terrorists. The Ministry of Defence, in a statement, said, "Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature." Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres, and airfields across eight airbases in Pakistan, as per ANI. Later, on May 10, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart and the two nations agreed to halt all military actions on land, sea, and the air. (with ANI inputs) In a big development days after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has denied the claim made by US President Donald Trump that he played a role in mediating a ceasefire between the two countries and asserted that the understanding reached was a result of direct dialogue between the two countries without any third-party intervention. Speaking on the matter in the Netherlands during a media interview, EAM Jaishankar said, This is something that only India and Pakistan need to settle directly. He underscored that New Delhi is open to dialogue with Islamabad, but only under serious terms that prioritise an end to cross-border terrorism. We are always ready to talk, but the talks must be serious and should focus on stopping terrorism, he added. The comments from the EAM come in response to Trumps earlier remarks, where the US President claimed that Washington had helped broker peace in what he described as a thousand-year conflict between the two South Asian nations. India has, however, been consistent in maintaining that the Kashmir issue and related tensions are bilateral matters and do not require external mediation. In a recent interview, Jaishankar elaborated on the historical complexities of the India-Pakistan relationship, which dates back to the Partition in 1947. He stated that Pakistans pattern of hostility began when it sent fighters disguised as tribal militias into Kashmir, fighters who were later identified as Pakistani soldiers, some in uniform and some not. Over many years, Pakistan has followed a path of extremism and has used terrorism across the border to put pressure on India, Jaishankar remarked. Tensions between the two neighbouring countries witnessed fresh escalation again following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, including one Nepali national. In response to the dastardly terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision counter-terror strike targeting nine key terror hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over 100 terrorists affiliated with notorious outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were neutralised in the operation. (With agency Inputs) JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia, through its state-owned construction company PT Waskita Karya, is building a fauna bridge along a toll section in its new capital city, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan. The bridge will serve as a crossing for endemic Kalimantan wildlife, including clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, and orangutans. The company's Corporate Secretary, Ermy Puspa Yunita, said on Friday that the 8.16-meter-long bridge is being constructed along the IKN Toll Section 3B Kariangau-Simpang Tempadung Segment. The location intersects with the protected forest of the Wein River. "This bridge connects one hill to another. It is built to facilitate the movement of animals inhabiting the protected forest of the Wein River," Yunita said in a written statement, as quoted by local media. According to her, the fauna bridge consists of two tunnel-shaped tracks filled with soil, and the company is using lightweight fill or foam mortar as a substitute for traditional soil fill. "The construction must align with the animals' habitat so they can cross without being disturbed by the highway below," Yunita explained. She added that the project reflects the company's commitment to preserving ecosystems and the environment while developing infrastructure, ensuring a balance between nature and human development for the comfort of all living beings. New Delhi: Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district are engaged in an ongoing anti-terror operation that began Thursday morning. The operation targets a group of three to four terrorists hiding in the Singhpora Chatroo area. Unfortunately, one soldier, Sep Gaykar Sandip Pandurang, lost his life in the encounter, and two others were injured. Armys Nagrota headquartered White Knight Corps on a post on X wrote, "In a solemn ceremony, Chief of Staff White Knight paid tribute to #Braveheart Sep Gaykar Sandip Pandurang, who made the supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of the #IndianArmy." In a solemn ceremony, Chief of Staff @WhiteKnight_IA paid tribute to #Braveheart Sep Gaykar Sandip Pandurang, who made the supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of the #IndianArmy. His courage and #sacrifice will inspire generations of soldiers.@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA pic.twitter.com/OsPaceBYP9 White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) May 23, 2025 His courage and #sacrifice will inspire generations of soldiers, the post added. Officials said on Friday that firing stopped Thursday evening, and there has been no exchange of fire thereafter. A massive search operation was launched jointly by the Special Operations Group of J&K Police, the Army and paramilitary forces to track down the terrorists hiding in the dense forest. Additional troops have been inducted, and operations are ongoing to neutralise the terrorists, IANS reported citing officials. The J&K Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat, also visited the Singhpora-Chatroo area where a major anti-terrorism operation is currently underway. The DGP personally visited the dense forests and mountainous terrain, encouraged the deployed personnel, and issued directions to ensure that all terrorists involved are dealt with strictly and brought to justice, said an official. He said DGP Prabhat lauded the synergy among all security agencies and reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Jammu and Kashmir Police to maintaining peace and order in the region through sustained and focused operations. It must be recalled that Joint forces have been involved in aggressive operations against terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers in Jammu and Kashmir. These operations were intensified after April 22, when Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists segregated tourists on the basis of religion and killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. The cowardly terrorist act outraged the entire nation. India launched precision-guided targeted attacks on terrorist infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan responded by heavy mortar shelling on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) in J&K, targeting civilian facilities. At least 200 houses and shops were destroyed in Pakistani shelling, while hundreds of border residents were forced to abandon their villages to move to safer locations. The border residents have not fully returned to their homes yet as the security forces are still defusing unexploded Pakistan shells in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla and Kupwara districts. India responded positively to a ceasefire after the DGMOs of the two countries reached an understanding on June 12. But, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear that the understanding will be respected only as long as Pakistan does not allow any terrorist activity on its soil against India. (With inputs from IANS) A recent incident involving a Google techie has reignited the debate over language preference in India. The individual claimed he was denied parking after asking someone to move in Hindi, sparking a discussion about the role of English in Indian society. He suggested that considering 'English as a mandatory language' might be beneficial, given its widespread use in communication. This incident has added fuel to the ongoing language debate, highlighting the complexities of language preference and cultural identity in India. In a post on X, the Google techie Arpit Bhayani wrote, "Today, I was denied parking just because I asked the person to move aside in Hindi. I'm okay with what happened, but hear me out, folks... To everyone talking about preserving language and culture, whether in Maharashtra, Karnataka, or any other state, are you actually enrolling your children in schools that teach in the regional language, or are they studying in English-medium schools?" The Google employee argued that the younger generation in India is increasingly comfortable with English, often preferring it over their native languages. He pointed out that many people already think, communicate, and even type in English, citing a series of examples in everyday life where English is regularly used. He wrote, "Let's be honest. The younger generation today is far more comfortable speaking in English than in their mother tongue. Cities are seeing this more, and rural areas will catch up. We're just a few generations away from a time when English will become the most commonly used language across the country. We already see this happening: - we type in English - we're more comfortable reading in English - hoardings and ads posters are in English - chips, biscuits, and other packaging are in English - movie posters are in English - instructions and manuals are in English - even medicine labels are in English - menus at restaurants are often in English - legal and financial documents are mostly in English - even apps and websites default to English" "We're surrounded by English everywhere. So, why not just make English a mandatory language? (while you continue to have your regional language as the second one) A good fraction of people are halfway there or have some familiarity with the English language for the above reasons," Bhayani continued. He claimed that getting the language row out of the way can help people focus on real societal issues like infrastructure, employment and job, education, research and innovation, cleanliness, and more. Today, I was denied parking just because I asked the person to move aside in Hindi I'm okay with what happened, but hear me out, folks... To everyone talking about preserving language and culture, whether in Maharashtra, Karnataka, or any other state, are you actually Arpit Bhayani (@arpit_bhayani) May 22, 2025 "By the way, I am not asking everyone to converse in it, but English can be that one language that everyone would know to some extent, and would be okay if someone speaks in it (unlike what we have today). This would make our lives so much simpler, and finally we can shift our focus to the real problems - infrastructure, employment and job, education, research and innovation, cleanliness, climate change, healthcare, corruption, urban planning, etc., we have plenty. If you agree with me, awesome. If you think this is a stupid take, then someone not allowing me to park just because I asked in Hindi is just batshit crazy." he ended. New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday stoked a new controversy after he called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hypocrite for questioning Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar over providing information about Operation Sindoor to Pakistan. The Congress clapped back at the BJP leader, stating that he "repeatedly displays his stupidity." Dubey's accusation stems from Rahul Gandhi's criticism of S. Jaishankar, which the BJP MP views as inconsistent with Gandhi's previous statements. Dubey referenced a 1991 Indo-Pak military transparency pact signed during a Congress-backed government to highlight what he called Congress's longstanding alignment with a "Pakistani vote bank." In a post on X, Dubey wrote, "Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government made an agreement that India and Pakistan will exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason?..." Further continuing his attack, Dubey wrote, "Congress is hand in glove with Pakistani vote bank, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar ji." Speaking with ANI, he said, "...We consider Pakistan a terrorist nation since 1947, we are fighting with them over the issue of Kashmir for 78 years and our part of Kashmir has been occupied by Pakistan. Even after that, you (Congress) have been giving concessions to Pakistan. Be it the Nehru-Liaquat Pact in 1950, Indus Water Treaty, the Simla Agreement of 1975. We don't talk about how the defence system of a nation functions in the Parliament also..." "But in 1991, when you were extending support to the Chandra Shekhar-led government and in 1994, when there was a government of P. V. Narasimha Rao, then it (agreement) was implemented and you wrote where the army, navy will be deployed and how the air force would function...Do all these things not amount to treason? Congress cheated the nation just for the sake of vote bank politics...India should start a case of Treason and an FIR should be registered against those who made this agreement and the Congress party...," he continued. #WATCH | Delhi | On his tweet, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "...We consider Pakistan a terrorist nation since 1947, we are fighting with them over the issue of Kashmir for 78 years and our part of Kashmir has been occupied by Pakistan. Even after that, you (Congress) have been pic.twitter.com/pHJamUOAoW ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 The Congress party has pushed back against Dubey's claims, accusing him of lacking intelligence and repeatedly making foolish remarks. Speaking to ANI, Shrinate pointed out that the Congress withdrew its support from the former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar's government in March 1991 while the agreement was signed in April. "First of all, Nishikant Dubey repeatedly displays his stupidity. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi withdrew support from the Chandrashekhar government on 6 March 1991. First of all, this is probably an agreement signed in April 1991. This agreement is for peacetime. It is about ensuring that there is no misunderstanding between the armies of the two countries during peacetime," she said. "When we have taken action now, there was a terrorist attack on us, we have retaliated aggressively... So first of all, Nishikant Dubey and the BJP are accepting that EAM Jaishankar informed, and what Rahul Gandhi was saying was the truth. Jaishankar informed Pakistan, and the BJP itself is confirming it... The agreement he is referring to is a peace-time agreement. Jaishankar ji had informed that there would be a war-like situation," Supriya Shrinate said. Congress leader Pawan Khera also defended Rahul Gandhi's recent criticism of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Khera dismissed the allegation, stating, "This person needs to know that in late February 1991, the Indian National Congress had already withdrawn support from the Chandrashekhar government, and elections to the 10th Lok Sabha had been announced." The exchange between Dubey and the Congress party has sparked a heated debate, with both sides trading barbs and accusations. The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between the BJP and Congress. (With inputs from ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the Border Security Force (BSF) Investiture Ceremony in the national capital on Friday, hailed the Indian Armed Forces' Operation Sindoor and said that it targeted the terrorists, but Pakistan's response proved that it has sponsored terrorism in India. Shah added that when the Pakistani Army attempted to attack India's civilian and military establishments, the Indian Army responded with a strong retaliation. The news agency ANI quoted him as saying, "We believed that we had attacked the terrorists, but Pakistan proved that it sponsors terrorism. Pakistan is considering the attack on terrorists as an attack on itself. When the Pakistani army tried to attack our civilian bases and our military establishments, the Indian army gave a strong reply." #WATCH | Delhi | On #OperationSindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "We believed that we had attacked the terrorists but Pakistan proved that it sponsors terrorism...Pakistan, considering the attack on terrorists as an attack on itself...When the Pakistani army tried to pic.twitter.com/ojQRfl3v8F ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 In his address, Shah added that Operation Sindoor is a collaboration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "strong political will", accurate information from India's intelligence gathering agencies, and the Army's display of lethality. The Union Home Minister said, "Operation Sindoor is when our Prime Minister's strong political will, accurate information from our intelligence gathering agencies, and the army's amazing display of lethality came together. Operation Sindoor is formed when all three come together." "Our country has been facing Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for many decades. Pakistan has carried out many big incidents for years, but it has not been given a proper response. In 2014, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, a government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed and the first big attack was on our soldiers in Uri, they dared to burn them alive and we did the work of giving a befitting reply to the terrorists by entering the terrorist hideouts for the first time by doing surgical strikes immediately after Uri," he added. Shah praised the role of BSF during Operation Sindoor and also said, "When it was decided that one force would provide security on one border, BSF was given the responsibility of guarding the two most difficult borders - Bangladesh and Pakistan - and given your capabilities, you have secured it very well." Pakistan had launched drone and missile attacks on India after the Indian Armed Forces had set in motion Operation Sindoor during the wee hours of May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were gunned down. (with ANI inputs) The pilots of the IndiGo plane, which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar, were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm, in complete violation of humanitarian norms. Indias civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstorm. Experiencing severe turbulence, the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate towards the International Border. However, the request was denied because it was felt that the plane would face danger from the Pakistan side due to the recently witnessed intense hostilities between India and the neighbouring country during Operation Sindoor. The pilot then sought permission from the Lahore air traffic control (ATC) to briefly venture into Pakistani airspace to avoid the storm. But it was refused, too. With limited options left, the pilot initially considered returning to Delhi. However, since the aircraft was close to the "thunderstorm cloud", returning was considered an unsafe option. The pilot then decided to continue forward through the storm towards Srinagar on the shortest possible route, the DGCA statement said. While navigating the thunderstorm, the aircraft encountered "extreme updrafts and downdrafts", leading to the autopilot disengaging and its speed fluctuating. "While in the thunderstorm cloud, warnings of an angle of attack fault, alternate saw protection lost, and unreliable airspeed indications were triggered," the statement further said. The DGCA said that at one point, the aircraft's rate of descent reached 8,500 feet per minute. It further said that the crew took manual control of the aircraft during this critical phase till exiting the hailstorm. The pilot then declared an emergency to the Srinagar ATC, which then activated radar vectors. The flight eventually landed safely in Srinagar with no reported injuries to any of the passengers or crew. The DGCA said that the plane made a safe landing with the auto thrust system operated manually. There was no injury to any of the passengers on board the flight. A post-flight check revealed damage to the nose of the aircraft. A full-fledged investigation has been launched into the incident, the statement added. Supreme Court judge Justice Abhay S. Oka, delivering his farewell speech on Friday in an event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, pointed out that the apex court was Chief Justice-centric court, which required a change. Justice Oka, who is set to demit office on Saturday, said that the diversity of the Supreme Court, having 34 judges from different parts of the country, should be reflected in its functioning. He lauded ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna for transparency initiatives, saying that the latter took decisions by taking everyone into confidence. Justice Oka added that the incumbent CJI BR Gavai has "democratic values embedded in his blood". In his speech, Justice Oka suggested the listing of the cases in the top court with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He said that there cannot be an improved listing unless the manual intervention is reduced to a minimum. Justice Oka, who served as a judge for the last 21 years and 9 months, said that he got so much involved with his judicial work that "judgeship became life and life became judgeship". He said that when one joins the Bench, they may not get the kind of income a lawyer earns, but the work satisfaction cannot be compared with a career as a lawyer. "Judgeship is a beautiful concept. When you are a lawyer, you may have several constraints, but when you are a judge, nobody controls you except the Constitution, the laws, and your own conscience," Justice Oka said. In his farewell speech, Justice Oka recalled the sacrifices undergone by his family, including that of his father, who quit civil practice in the Bombay High Court after his sons elevation to the Bench. He stressed that district courts or trial courts should not be called subordinate courts. "No court is subordinate. Calling a court subordinate is against our constitutional ethos," he maintained. United States President Donald Trump has once again turned his attention towards India, this time targeting Apples decision to manufacture iPhones in the country. In a recent outburst on social media, Trump issued a stern warning to Apple CEO Tim Cook, demanding the company shift its production from India to the United States. Trump claimed he had earlier advised Cook that iPhones sold in the US should be manufactured domestically rather than in India or any other country. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S." The tech giant currently operates three iPhone production units in the country and recently announced a fresh investment of Rs. 13,000 crore to further scale its manufacturing operations. In todays DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, analysed Trumps 25 percent tariff threat to Apple: Watch Full DNA Episode Here: Trumps comments could be seen by many as a direct attack on Indias growing role in global electronics manufacturing. His statement has sparked speculations that he views Indias Make in India initiative as a threat to the American industry. Now Apple has two choices: either comply with Trumps demand and move manufacturing to the US, where costs are higher, or continue producing in India and risk a 25 percent tariff. According to estimates, manufacturing an iPhone in the US would triple its cost, potentially raising the price of a Rs. 1 lakh phone to Rs. 3 lakh. In contrast, Indian-made iPhones sold in the US with the proposed tariff would cost around Rs. 1.25 lakh. The key factor behind Apple's India strategy is lower labor costs, which make production far more economical compared to the US. Mumbai: Social media has been abuzz with updates regarding Shah Rukh Khan's action-packed film 'King' with his daughter Suhana Khan. While an official announcement regarding the film's ensemble cast has not yet been made, ace actor Saurabh Shukla hinted on Friday that he would be part of Siddharth Anand's directorial. Taking to Instagram Story, Saurabh Shukla shared a picture of a welcome hamper featuring a white mug with King written on it. In his caption, he expressed his excitement about collaborating with Shah Rukh after many years. "With @iamsrk after years & the little princess for the first time. #Actinglife," Saurabh Shukla captioned. As soon as he posted the picture, fans chimed in the comment section and wished him luck for the shoot. However, Saurabh Shukla, who previously worked with SRK in 'Baadshah', remained tight-lipped when ANI contacted him to get details about his role in the film. 'King' was supposed to be directed by Sujoy Ghosh earlier. However, Siddharth Anand, who directed SRK in 'Pathaan', later took over as the director. A few months ago, at an event in Dubai, SRK opened up about King, saying, "I'm not just shooting it here, I'm shooting it in Mumbai now when I go back in a couple of months. My director, who is Sidharth Anand, is very strict. He made Pathaan. So he is very strict. He said, 'Don't tell people about the film, what you are doing in it.' So I can't tell you but I can assure you it will entertain you, you will have fun. I've used many titles...Now we have run out of titles...Now Shah Rukh Khan as Shah Rukh Khan in King. That was a bit of a show-off." The film went on floors in Mumbai recently. Reportedly, Abhishek Bachchan has a key role in 'King'. New Delhi: Rohit Saraf has sent social media into a frenzy with his latest post, revealing a stark transformation that has left fans buzzing with speculation. Known for his charming, boy-next-door appeal, the actor took to Instagram to share a shirtless selfiecomplete with fake blood, bruises, and a rugged new physiquethat suggests hes diving headfirst into an intense, action-packed role. Take A Look At The Post: The image of Rohit Saraf, bloodied and battered, captures a striking transformation that has left fans both excited and curious. The portrayal suggests that he's deeply immersed in his character, hinting at a gritty fight sequence. Saraf's new chiseled physique and muscular frame represent a significant shift from the romantic roles he is best known for, signaling a potential move towards a more action-oriented genre. This evolution in his appearance has sparked speculation among fans and industry watchers alike, leading many to believe that he might be preparing for a full-fledged action film. Saraf himself has opted to keep details under wraps, adding to the mystery surrounding his latest role. However, rumours from within the industry indicate that a major announcement could be looming on the horizon, one that might unveil this new chapter in Saraf's career. Meanwhile, the actor is already set to appear in Mani Ratnam's Thug Life and Dharma Productions' Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, both slated for upcoming release. But for now, all eyes are on this mysterious new avatar that's making waves across the internet. The Donald Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, in a post on X, informed about the decision. This action barred the Ivy League college, Harvard University, from enrolling new international students. Govt's Orders Noem in the post stated that it is a 'privilege, not a right', for universities to enroll foreign students and wrote, "This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus." "Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," Noem added. Harvard Files Complaint Hours after the Trump-led US government announced the move against the university, Harvard filed a legal complaint and announced plans to seek a temporary restraining order as it pursues all available remedies, according to the news agency ANI. In a statement released on Friday, the Ofice of the President of the Harvard University said, "The revocation continues a series of government actions to retaliate against Harvard for our refusal to surrender our academic independence and to submit to the federal government's illegal assertion of control over our curriculum, our faculty, and our student body." Harvard University also informed that a complaint was filed, and added that a motion for a temporary restraining order will follow. "As we pursue legal remedies, we will do everything in our power to support our students and scholars. The Harvard International Office will provide periodic updates as new information becomes available," the University assured its students. Students' Reaction Talking to ANI, multiple students expressed thoughts about the Trump administration's Harvard orders. At the George Washington University, Washington, DC, a student said not only is it a loss for the people who go to the US to study, but it's a loss to American citizens. "Many other Americans and I who've gone to universities in this country, a key part of our experience is international students. Many great friends, including friends from India, China, and Eastern Europe, and like these people, they helped define my life... I think not only is it a loss to all the people who come to this country to study, it's a loss to American citizens, and it's something that we're all worried about, something that needs to be stopped... In the broader context of this administration, you have to be hopeful that the judicial system will stop any of the overreached or bad things it does," the student stated. #WATCH | The Trump administration on Thursday barred Harvard University from enrolling international students. At the George Washington University, Washington, DC, a student says, "Many other Americans and I who've gone to universities in this country, a key part of our pic.twitter.com/EeiC3SR9Rt ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 Another student at the George Washington University stated that everybody should be able to choose where they want to continue their education. a student says, "It's kind of shocking. I don't really think it's very fair. A lot of students all over the world work hard to go to the school where they want to. So I think everybody should be able to choose where they want to continue their education, whether that be at home or in America... I do have hope that they'll try to fix whatever's going on and that that ban won't happen. But honestly, you never know. We can only put our trust in the system. And hopefully it's the outcome that we want," the student said. #WATCH | The Trump administration on Thursday barred Harvard University from enrolling international students. At the George Washington University, Washington, DC, a student says, "It's kind of shocking. I don't really think it's very fair. A lot of students all over the world pic.twitter.com/ljXUsMmCCz ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2025 "Similarly to my friends, I was very shocked, not necessarily about other things that the Trump administration is doing, because every day there's something. But specifically, this was very shocking to us, especially because we're students... I'm very hopeful that eventually it'll work itself out. Obviously, it's kind of fresh because it just happened. But I'm sure in a few months, something'll work itself out... I'm not that worried right now. I think maybe in a few months I could be more worried if it hasn't figured itself out. But for right now, I feel hopeful that the legal system will figure it out," said another student. US Judge's Order According to media reports, following the complaint, a US judge blocked the orders to revoke Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification. (with ANI inputs) JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Energy and petrochemical company PT Shell Indonesia has agreed to transfer ownership of its Indonesia mobility value chain business to a new joint venture between Citadel Pacific Limited and Sefas Group. In a press release on Friday, the company stated that the decision is part of Shell's strategy to transform its portfolio and aligns with its Capital Markets Day commitments. "Shell's mobility business will continue its current operations until the ownership transfer is completed, which is expected by next year," the company said. Upon completion, the Shell brand will remain in Indonesia through a brand licensing agreement, and Shell Trading will continue to supply fuels. The lubricants business will remain under Shell's direct management. PT Shell Indonesia, which currently manages around 200 branded mobility sites in Indonesia, over 160 of which are company-owned, was previously wholly owned by Shell plc. Citadel Pacific is a Shell brand licensee in several Asia-Pacific regions including Guam, Saipan, and Hong Kong, while Sefas Group is the largest Shell lubricants distributor in Indonesia. Apple's India expansion may be impacted by US tariffs, as President Donald Trump on Friday said that the company would have to pay 25% tariff if it manufactures iPhones outside the US and sells them in the country. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank your for your attention to this matter. Earlier on May 15, Trump had asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to limit Apple's expansion in India. "I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very good. You are coming up with USD 500 billion but now I hear you are building all over India. I don't want you building in India. You can build in India, if you want to take care of India because India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world, so it is very hard to sell in India," President Trump said while addressing a news conference in Doha, Qatar. Recently, Apple increased its iPhone production in India by establishing new assembly plants in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with two facilities in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka. The company has partnered with manufacturers like Foxconn and Tata Group to set up these production units. In the last fiscal year, Apple produced USD 22 billion worth of iPhones in India from the 12 months ending March 2025, marking a remarkable 60% increase from the previous year. Apple manufactured approximately 40-45 million iPhones in India during 2024, representing 18-20% of its total global output. Approximately 15 million of these were exported to the US, 13 million were sent to other international markets, and about 12 million were sold in India. Apple manufactured approximately 40-45 million iPhones in India in 2024, accounting for 18-20 per cent of its global output. Of this, about 15 million were exported to the US, 13 million to other international markets, and about 12 million were sold in the Indian market. By January 2025, Apple set an 11th consecutive quarterly revenue record in India, with iPhone sales estimated at USD 10 billion in 2024. India has become Apple's fourth-largest market worldwide in 2024, after the US, China, and Japan. As reported last month, due to rising trade tensions and the high reciprocal tariffs imposed by China and the US against each other, Apple strategically shifted all iPhone production for the US market from China to India. A devastating plane crash shook a neighbourhood in US southwestern city of San Diego, claming lives of two people and eight others were injured in the incident The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, a military housing complex located approximately 2 miles east of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, reported IANS citing agencies and Police officials. As reported by IANS, Police said they believed no one on the ground was killed but could not immediately confirm that. As per the San Diego Police Department the crash also damaged around 10 buildings in the neighbourhood. Local officials confirmed that the small plane, a Cessna jet, crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighbourhood just before 4 a.m. local time. The crash sparked fires in multiple residences and vehicles, Dan Eddy, assistant chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, told the media, reported IANS. "We have jet fuel all over the place. We have hazmat on scene right now, and we've asked for more resources to come for that," Eddy said. Eddy said that all of the fatalities were on the plane, which could hold up to 10 people. Officials do not yet know how many were on board. About 100 local residents were evacuated following the crash. Officials confirmed that the affected residences were military housing units. The tract where the crash occurred is managed by Liberty Military Housing, officials said. "We are actively working with all military families affected, specifically within this region, because they may be out of their homes for a while," said Captain Bob Heely, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego. Heely said he was working with Liberty Military Housing and the Red Cross to provide temporary housing to the affected families. "As you can see, the damage behind us is incredibly significant, was life-threatening, and thank God nobody on the ground was killed," Raul Campillo, a member of the San Diego City Council, said at a news conference near the crash site. The crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (With inputs from IANS) A US judge on Friday blocked the Trump administrations attempt to revoke Harvard Universitys authorization to enroll international students, following a lawsuit filed by Harvard in federal court in Boston. The university described the revocation as a blatant violation of the US Constitution and other federal laws. With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvards student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission, Harvard asserted in its complaint, Hindustan Times reported. Earlier on Friday, Harvard University released a statement titled "Supporting Our International Students and Scholars", stating: We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action. It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. On May 22, the Donald Trump-led U.S. administration revoked Harvard University's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively preventing the institution from enrolling new international students as a result of the latest action taken by Washington. US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on Thursday and said, "Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," "Enrolling international students is a privilege -- not a right -- and that privilege has been revoked due to Harvard's repeated failure to comply with federal law," she added. Meanwhile, in April, President Trump had called Harvard a "joke" and said it should lose its government research contracts after the prestigious university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision. "Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World's Great Universities or Colleges," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. In a big move against Harvard University, the Donald Trump-led United States administration has revoked its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The latest action by Washington effectively bars the institution from enrolling new international students. US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on Thursday. "Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," Noem said in a statement. "Enrolling international students is a privilege -- not a right -- and that privilege has been revoked due to Harvard's repeated failure to comply with federal law." In a post on X, Noem on Thursday wrote: "The administration in April froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, after the university rejected demands that it eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and evaluate international students for ideological concerns. As of the fall 2023 semester, international students made up over 27 per cent of Harvard's student body, according to university data. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country," the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary said. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments pic.twitter.com/12hJWd1J86 Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025 However, in the letter sent to Harvard University, it was mentioned that, if Harvard wants the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year back, they should provide the "information required" within "72 hours". DHS said that in addition to barring enrollment of future international students, "existing foreign students must transfer to maintain their legal status." This move by the Trump administration will force existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday. Harvard University has said that the move is a retaliatory action that threatens serious harm to the university. "The government's action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University and this nation immeasurably," the university said in a statement. "We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission." In April, US President Donald Trump had called Harvard a "joke" and said it should lose its government research contracts after the prestigious university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision. "Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World's Great Universities or Colleges," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. He had threatened to ban the famed seat of learning from accepting foreign students unless it bowed to the requirements, as early as April. Each year, anywhere from 500-800 Indian students and scholars study at Harvard, according to the official website of the university. Currently, 788 students from India are enrolled at Harvard University. (With agency Inputs) Condemning the killing of two Israeli diplomats in the United States capital city, Washington, DC, the White House has said that President Donald Trump is saddened over the brutal incident and asserted that the evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed strong condemnation of the cold-blooded murder of two Israeli diplomats in the US. He thanked US President Donald Trump and the American people for their support of Israel. During a press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "President Trump is saddened and outraged over the brutal murder of two Israeli embassy staff here in Washington, D.C. last night. Yaron Leshinsky and Sarah Milgram were a beautiful young couple. We learned that Yaron was planning to propose to Sarah next week in Jerusalem. " "Yaron's father, Daniel, spoke about the young couple's devotion to one another this morning. He said, "They were in love, one for the other. The embassy told us they were like a star couple at the embassy. I never expected something like this. He had his whole life before him," she further stated. "These words, especially every parent knows, are heart-wrenching. The evil of anti-Semitism must be eradicated from our society. I spoke to the attorney general this morning. The Department of Justice will be prosecuting the perpetrator responsible for this to the fullest extent of the law. Hatred has no place in the United States of America under President Donald Trump. Everyone here at the White House is praying for the victims' friends and families during this unimaginable time," Leavitt underscored. Israeli PM Netanyahu, in his remarks delivered via a video message shared on X, said, "Last night in Washington, something horrific happened. A brutal terrorist shot in cold blood a young, beautiful couple - Yaron Lischinsky and Sara Milgrim. Yaron had just bought an engagement ring for Sarah. He was planning to give it to her in Jerusalem next week. They were planning to start a new and happy life together. Well, that tragically did not happen. Yaron and Sarah weren't the victims of a random crime. The terrorist who cruelly gunned them down did so for one reason and one reason alone - he wanted to kill Jews." He debunked the claims that food aid is not reaching Gaza with facts and figures. In a significant announcement, the Israeli PM said, "As for the hostages, we'll do our effort to secure them. I'm ready for a temporary ceasefire to get more out, but we demand, and you should demand, that all of our hostages be released and released immediately. And so should every civilised country demand this." "Since October 7th, Israel has sent 92,000 aid trucks into Gaza. That's right. 92,000 aid trucks. That includes 1.8 million tons of aid. 1.8 million tons of aid - more than enough food to feed everyone in Gaza. Yet as we had let the aid come in, Hamas stole it. They took a huge chunk for themselves. The rest they sold at exorbitant prices to the Palestinian population. And then they used the money they stole to recruit new terrorists to continue their war against Israel. Our goal from the start was to get food to Palestinian civilians, not to Palestinian terrorists," the Israeli PM said. Expressing gratitude towards Donald Trump and the American people for their support, Netanyahu said, "I especially want to thank President Trump and the American people for their forthright stand with Israel and with the Jewish people. Together we stand. Together we'll triumph and will see the victory of civilisation over barbarism". Earlier, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Thursday (US local time) that the threat level has been elevated nationwide for all Americans. Speaking to reporters at the Capital Jewish Museum where the shooting took place, she confirmed enhanced security measures implemented the previous evening. "US Marshals are coordinating closely to protect our embassy and ambassador while this investigation remains active," she stated, urging all citizens to stay alert regardless of their background. Separately, Karoline Leavitt detailed existing administration anti-antisemitism efforts during her briefing, highlighting the president's executive order establishing the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and related student visa enforcement measures. This follows after two staff members from the Embassy of Israel were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The suspect, whom DC police identified as 30-year-old Chicago native Elias Rodriguez, pretended to be a bystander after the shooting, CNN reported, citing an eyewitness. According to CNN, when police arrived, the man turned himself in and shouted "Free, Free Palestine" while being handcuffed. He is currently in custody, according to authorities. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the man "implied that he committed the offence." Authorities are investigating possible motives, including terrorism and antisemitism, although the full context behind his actions remains under review. (With ANI Inputs) OTTAWA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven (G7) concluded their meeting Thursday in Banff, Canada, calling for unity to meet the current global challenges. According to a news release issued by Canada's finance ministry, a communique was issued emphasizing the importance of G7 unity in the face of complex global challenges. In advance of the Leaders' Summit next month in Kananaskis, Alberta, the meeting included a productive and frank exchange on the global economy, unsustainable global imbalances, and ways to promote growth and productivity, it said. "Canada came to this 50th meeting with clear priorities: fostering growth and restoring stability to the global economy," said Minister of Finance Francois-Philippe Champagne. As a platform for major economies to coordinate responses to global crises, the G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States. G7 finance ministers and central bank governors meet each year to discuss key economic policy issues that require international coordination. VIENTIANE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Lao people, especially the younger generation, recognize forests and biodiversity as national treasures and are committed to protecting them to preserve their richness for future generations. Chansouk, a 20-year-old student from Muang Fueng, a growing tourist town some 100 km north of Lao capital Vientiane, is deeply passionate about the country's natural beauty. She views Laos' forests, rivers, and mountains as national treasures that must be protected for future generations. "Growing up in Muang Fueng, I've always been surrounded by nature, such as rivers, forests, and mountains. It makes me proud and has taught me to see our biodiversity as more than just beautiful scenery. These are national treasures we must protect, not just admire," Chansouk told Xinhua on Friday. Chansouk believes that youth play a crucial role in conservation, noting that their energy, creativity, and familiarity with social media and technology can help raise awareness and support the government's efforts more effectively. She also calls on people from all walks of life to take part in protecting Laos' rich biodiversity, emphasizing that safeguarding the environment is a shared responsibility that requires collective action. Laos, rich in biodiversity and unique species, recognizes its critical role in providing food, medicine, clean water, and livelihoods. The government is drafting the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030 to strengthen conservation and promote sustainable use nationwide. Ahead of the upcoming Laos' National Arbor Day, Lao Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Linkham Douangsavanh highlighted the vital role forests play in the country's socio-economic development. He urged all citizens to help protect forest resources, emphasizing the need for their conservation, development, and sustainable use. Soukanya, a 21-year-old student, highlights that Laos is blessed with rich forests and diverse wildlife, which are vital to both the environment and people's livelihoods. He emphasizes that protecting these natural resources is essential for the country's sustainable development. He also urges all sectors to continue working together to conserve and sustainably manage these national treasures. "All relevant sectors need to promote awareness among local communities so they understand how to properly protect and manage forests. Additionally, we all have a role to play, whether through small daily actions or by supporting government policies. Protecting our natural heritage is protecting our future!" said Soukanya. "I believe that small actions, when combined, can have a big impact on preserving nature," said Naphaphone, a 20-year-old student. She urges everyone to take simple steps like planting trees and managing waste properly to help protect the environment. She also encourages young people to lead by example and raise awareness through community activities and social media. The Lao government has prioritized the sustainable management and use of forest resources. The government has set a target to restore forest cover to 70 percent of the country's land area, with a strategy focused on ensuring that people and forests coexist peacefully, balancing conservation efforts with the development of local livelihoods. XI'AN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- From cutting-edge unmanned aircraft to digital platforms for airspace management, the low-altitude economy has taken center stage with a dedicated exhibition area at an ongoing expo held in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. With an exhibition area of approximately 10,000 square meters, the low-altitude economy area features over 100 aircraft, including fixed-wing models and multi-rotor drones from more than 300 enterprises, at the ninth Silk Road International Exposition that runs from May 21 to 25. Among the models on display is an unmanned aircraft that completed its maiden flight in Shaanxi in 1958, as well as different types of modern electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Xi'an ASN Technology Group Co., Ltd. has brought more than 10 industrial drones to the expo, including an eVTOL. With a wingspan of 5.2 meters and a payload capacity of up to 30 kg, the eVTOL can carry aerial cameras, emergency supplies and other equipment, making it suitable for logistics, infrastructure inspection and emergency response, according to the company. The company is a fine example of Shaanxi's burgeoning low-altitude economy. In recent years, Shaanxi has developed a well-established industrial chain for aviation development and production, while expanding the sector's applications to include tourism, crop and forest protection, and urban environmental management. In 2024, Shaanxi's aviation and unmanned aircraft production industry generated an output of nearly 200 billion yuan (about 27.8 billion U.S. dollars). At the expo, Shaanxi Transportation Holding Group presented a three-dimensional sand table model demonstrating how the integration of road and air networks would support the low-altitude economy. "According to our calculations, by leveraging existing power and communication infrastructure, the upfront investment costs for low-altitude infrastructure could be cut by 50 percent," said Lin Dong, a product manager with the Xi'an Highway Research Institute Co., Ltd., affiliated with the group. He added that they plan to take advantage of airspace above roadside areas and establish take-off and landing sites at toll stations, parking areas and expressway service areas. The inclusion of such a new exhibition area at the expo, which traditionally focuses on trade and investment, reflects China's strategic push to boost the low-altitude sector and expand its footprint. China has included the low-altitude economy in the government work report for two consecutive years. In May, the drone fleet flight planner was recognized by the country's human resources authorities as a new profession. As China takes well-ordered steps to scale up the industry through policy support and technological innovation, effective supervision and management is becoming increasingly vital amid the growing prevalence of unmanned aircraft and frequent flight activities. China Telecom, a leading Chinese telecom operator, showcased a low-altitude service supervision and management platform at the expo. "The system enables real-time aircraft monitoring and trajectory conflict detection. It also integrates weather data and other information to enhance airspace flow management and flight safety," said Wang Ziyi from the Shaanxi branch of China Telecom, adding that the platform is currently operational in the cities of Suzhou and Guangzhou. With supportive policies, a robust industrial foundation and growing commercial applications, China's low-altitude economy is set to take flight. The Civil Aviation Administration of China has forecast a significant surge in market value, projecting that the sector would soar from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025, and that it could reach an astounding 3.5 trillion yuan by 2035. Lin said that as an emerging sector, the low-altitude economy has been emphasized by the government and will become a key driver of high-quality development. "The company will fully integrate its existing road network resources to extend expressway infrastructure vertically into an 'aerial expressway network,' establishing a comprehensive transportation system encompassing management, maintenance and operations," he said. ALGIERS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- In the heat of the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s, when colonial repression was at its peak and international support was scarce, a distant nation opened its arms to a group of determined young Algerians, training them as soldiers in their quest for national independence. And that nation was the newly-founded People's Republic of China. After officially recognizing the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in September 1958, China hosted 27 Algerian trainees for comprehensive aviation training between 1959 and 1961. In fact, China played an important role in building Algeria's early military aviation capabilities. More than six decades later, the memories of this experience, which exemplify the long-standing friendship between China and Algeria, remain vivid in the hearts of the veterans who, by that time, had received training in China. In a recent interview with Xinhua, retired Lieutenant Colonel Boudaoud Lounes and Colonel Drid Ahmed Lakhdar, two of the Algerian airmen trained in the Asian country, shared their experiences in China. It's a story about sacrifice, solidarity, and a bond that has endured across generations. CHINA OPENED ITS HEART Lounes, a former bomber pilot born in October 1935, was among the very first Algerian airmen trained in China during the height of the Algerian War of Independence. "We first received basic training in Syria, at the Aleppo military school," Lounes recalled. "But for our specialization, only one country answered our call: China." Lounes still remembers the profound impression China made on him when he first visited the country as a young trainee. "It struck me as a dynamic and dignified people with a strong historical memory. We saw immediately the parallels between the Chinese people's struggles and those of our own people." These trainees underwent two years of professional instruction at Chinese aviation schools, specializing in piloting, bombardier operations, technical support, and radar systems. Lounes' group, specializing in bombing missions, was stationed in Harbin. "That's where the foundation of Algeria's air force was laid," he said proudly. "There were fighter pilots, bomber pilots, and technical specialists. Our hosts spared no effort." "What touched us most wasn't just the military knowledge. It was the way they believed in us. We were treated with respect, as equals. In China, we felt like brothers," Lounes noted. According to the veteran, during their training, China provided the Algerian young men with an entire airbase to help them start training their own instructors. "They didn't want to dominate us -- they wanted us to become self-reliant. That offer was a foundation stone of Algeria's modern air force," Lounes said. Beyond technical instruction, Lounes was deeply influenced by the cultural values he encountered in China. "Respect for elders, the importance of preserving memory, and living with dignity -- these were values we saw in the Chinese people. We learned a great deal from that spirit," he recalled. "Equipment matters, but it's the human being who truly counts." This core belief, taught to Lounes by his Chinese instructors, became the foundation of his sense of military honor and moral values. After Algeria's independence in 1962, the lieutenant colonel served as the chief of several military sectors across the country, passing on the skills and experience he had gained to a new generation of soldiers committed to defending the nation. Meanwhile, China's support for Algeria has persisted, encompassing not only military cooperation but also efforts to promote its development. "Many Algerian youths went to China for higher studies, including in aviation, engineering, medicine, and even agriculture. It was a true partnership," Lounes exclaimed. BOND FORGED IN STRUGGLE Lakhdar joined the second batch of Algerian air trainees sent to China in 1959. In China, he trained as a fighter pilot. "We found more than military assistance. It was real solidarity, deeply fraternal and patriotic." For Lakhdar, China's support was not charity; it was grounded in a common struggle against colonialism and foreign domination. "The Chinese know what it means to be colonized. Their commitment came from their own experience," he said, noting that China's assistance played an important role in Algerian independence. Even after over 60 years, the memory of bidding farewell to the Chinese instructors following the training remains vividly etched in Lakhdar's mind. "When we completed our training and went to thank the Chinese Defense Ministry, they told us, 'no, we must thank you. You opened a front in Africa and freed us from encirclement.' I will never forget that moment, as it showed how our struggle was part of something bigger," he said. Following Algeria's independence, Lakhdar held senior positions in the army and shared with his soldiers the principles he had internalized during his experience in China. "The sense of duty, humility, and collective spirit I learned in China stayed with me for life. I tried to pass it on to younger generations," he said. By Alimat Aliyeva Low-cost airlines may launch seats designed for standing passengers in 2026, once their design passes the necessary safety tests. These roller-coaster-style, upholstered seats allow passengers to lean but not sit, providing an additional 20 percent capacity per flight. The Skyrider standing chairs were first introduced in 2018 by Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors. Initially, they were intended for use on flights lasting less than two hours, as they offer less comfort than traditional seating. The concept is based on the idea of maximizing capacity by providing a standing option that still offers some support and comfort during short flights. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has supported the idea of "standing room" since 2012, suggesting that fares for these seats could be as low as 1 pound. O'Leary has long been a proponent of ultra-low-cost options, believing that such a setup could offer passengers more affordable fares in exchange for less traditional seating arrangements. However, despite the concept receiving attention, no airline has yet confirmed plans to implement standing seats. Safety regulations and passenger comfort concerns remain major obstacles. While the idea promises cheaper tickets, experts question whether the new design will meet the stringent safety and regulatory standards required for commercial aviation. The standing seat design is not unique to the aviation industry. In fact, the idea of "standing" areas in public transport has been used in trains and buses for years. The Skyrider chairs are an attempt to adapt this concept to air travel, although they will likely face a lot of scrutiny from regulatory bodies, particularly around issues like emergency evacuations and passenger health. If proven safe and successful, this innovation could significantly change the landscape of low-cost flying, especially for budget-conscious travelers looking to save on short-haul routes. ROME, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The fifth round of talks between Iran and the United States started Friday in the Italian capital of Rome with Oman's mediation, according to Iranian media. The negotiations are led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, and the talks are indirectly mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. The most recent round of negotiations between the two sides was held in Oman on May 11. According to Italian media reports, tensions have since flared between Iran and the United States over uranium enrichment. The Trump administration had sought to halt all uranium enrichment by Iran, but Tehran rejected the notion of "zero enrichment" and demanded the lifting of economic sanctions, the report said. Before arriving in Italy, Araqchi wrote on social media X that "Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal." On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump believes talks with Iran are "moving along in the right direction," but still the negotiation could end in either a positive diplomatic solution or a very negative solution for Iran. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the media that the Italian government "fully supports this mediation effort," but acknowledged that "it is certainly not an easy negotiation." VIENTIANE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from the governments and businesses of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam gathered in southern Laos' Sekong province on Friday to strengthen economic cooperation, improve trade and international cargo transport, and enhance the region's competitiveness both regionally and globally. They gathered for a forum on Trade, Investment, and Tourism Promotion Strengthening Cooperation in the East-West Corridor, Lao Economic Daily reported on Friday. In his speech, Governor of Sekong province Leklai Sivilay emphasized the seminar's significance in strengthening the potential and capabilities of southern Lao provinces alongside their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts. He highlighted the event's role in encouraging businesses from Thailand and Vietnam to explore investment and partnership opportunities in Laos. The forum also facilitated knowledge exchange on socio-economic development and investment prospects, forming the basis for future collaborative trade, investment, and tourism initiatives. It also opens new opportunities for manufacturers and entrepreneurs to access markets, contributing to local socio-economic development, boosting tourism, creating jobs, generating income, and supporting sustainable growth. VIENTIANE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) convened a meeting to review the 2024 cooperation plan and set priorities for 2025, focusing on increasing local adaptation, enhancing urban planning resilience, and strengthening the capacity of provincial and district governments. The meeting, held in Lao capital Vientiane on Friday, was co-chaired by Phonevanh Outhavong, Lao deputy minister of Planning and Investment, and Avi Sarkar, regional advisor for Southeast Asia and head of the UN-Habitat Office in Laos, the local Pasaxon newspaper reported on Friday. The meeting aimed to review the progress of UN-Habitat projects under the 2022-2026 Partnership Plan (HCPD), identify lessons learned, and jointly set priorities for 2025. The plan aligns with both the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and Laos' ninth National Socio-Economic Development Plan. Speaking at the meeting, Phonevanh emphasized the alignment of UN-Habitat's initiatives with national goals, particularly in areas such as climate-resilient infrastructure, local governance, water security, and urban planning. The meeting highlighted key UN-Habitat achievements over the past year, including establishing micro-water systems in vulnerable communities, introducing local planning tools for climate change integration, and strengthening support for local governments through training and stakeholder engagement. It also outlined the 2025 work plan, which focuses on promoting nationwide adaptation planning, organizing the fourth Lao National Urban Forum to foster dialogue on urban development, and building adaptive capacity by supporting climate-resilient housing and infrastructure in disadvantaged communities. CARACAS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Talks between Venezuela and the United States have been resumed and are making progress in the interest of both countries, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Wednesday. In his weekly television program, Cabello said U.S. President Donald Trump has entrusted special envoy Richard Grenell with leading a dialogue channel aimed at reaching mutually beneficial agreements with Caracas. The rapprochement process between the two countries has progressed discreetly over the past month, he added. In recent days, senior representatives of the United States and Venezuela met for talks in Antigua and Barbuda. The meeting affirmed the willingness of both sides to continue building trust despite the deep ideological differences, said the minister. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to revoke protected status for thousands of Venezuelan migrants, drawing criticism from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. A day later, Venezuela freed a jailed U.S. veteran in a gesture seen as an attempt to ease tensions. CAIRO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and seven others wounded on Friday when a microbus overturned on the desert road of Minya province, south of the Egyptian capital of Cairo, according to local media. Initial investigations attributed the accident to the driver's excessive speed resulting in loss of control of the vehicle, Youm7 news website reported, adding that ambulances transferred the wounded to Minya Public Hospital. Traffic accidents claim thousands of lives in Egypt every year. Most of the accidents were caused by speeding, negligence of traffic rules and laws, and poor maintenance of roads. Over the past few years, Egypt has been upgrading its traffic infrastructure by building new roads and bridges and repairing old ones to ease traffic and reduce accidents. SYDNEY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A four-year trial using camels to control the spread of prickly acacia, one of Australia's most damaging invasive weeds, has delivered promising results in outback Queensland. More than 30 camels were deployed on a 40,000-hectare property near Muttaburra, over 1,200 kilometers northwest of Brisbane, as part of the trial in western Queensland. The camels grazed on the thorny shrub, helping to curb its spread, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Australia is home to the largest population of wild camels in the world. While the animals did not eradicate the weed entirely, they proved effective in reducing its proliferation by physically damaging about 30 percent of the plants and consuming the flowers, which helped prevent seed dispersal, the ABC reported. "It's an effective method," said Desert Channels Queensland operations manager Geoff Penton. Prickly acacia, first introduced in the early 1900s, costs Queensland farmers an estimated 27.5 million Australian dollars (18.3 million U.S. dollars) each year in lost productivity. Following the trial's success, interest among landholders has grown, and a second phase is now underway to evaluate how seasonal changes affect camel grazing patterns, the ABC reported. Veteran cameleer Paul Keegan, who supplied camels for the project, told local media that the results confirmed camels as a sustainable alternative to chemical controls. Although feral camels are often viewed as pests in Australia, criticized for damaging infrastructure and competing with livestock, their role in controlling prickly acacia may offer a cost-effective solution. David Batt, who has relied on camels to manage the weed on his 80,000-hectare cattle and sheep station west of Winton in Queensland for 25 years, told ABC that the financial benefit has been substantial. PHNOM PENH, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has set Sept. 9, 2025 for the official operation of the Techo International Airport, said a statement on Friday. Mao Havannall, minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, said in the statement that although the official operation is determined for Sept. 9, the official inauguration ceremony will be held on Oct. 20, which will be presided by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Invested by Cambodia Airport Investment Co., Ltd, the 1.5-billion-U.S.-dollar airport is being constructed on an area of 2,600 hectares in southern Kandal and Takeo provinces, about 20 km from the capital, Phnom Penh. Work on the airport project began in 2020. It is classified as a 4F-level airport, the highest level in the world. It will be capable of handling approximately 13 million passengers a year in the first phase. Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said the new airport will enhance Cambodia's image as a modern and accessible destination. "Improved connectivity will attract more international airlines and travelers, showcasing Cambodia as a key player in the region," he told Xinhua. "The airport is expected to stimulate economic growth by creating jobs, boosting local businesses, and increasing investments in infrastructure," Sinan said. "It will also facilitate trade and commerce, providing a boost to various sectors beyond tourism." NAIROBI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Twelve African countries on Friday resolved to intensify cross-border collaborations to respond, prevent, and control disease outbreaks such as mpox and other health emergencies. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sao Tome Principe, South Sudan, Zambia, Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic will work with development partners, civil society organizations, and other health experts from across Africa who committed to an agreement at a regional meeting held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. According to a statement released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the agreement will further help streamline cross-border transmission challenges, data-sharing mechanisms among countries, and the movement of affected populations. The Africa CDC reported that the continent has recorded over 16,398 confirmed mpox cases and 1,180 deaths in 22 countries as of Feb. 10. "The regional nature of the mpox outbreak demands a collective solution. That is why this gathering is so crucial -- it is not only a forum for exchanging knowledge but also a springboard for collective action," said Otim Patrick Ramadan, acting regional manager for emergency response at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa. Ramadhan said the health agency looks forward to continuing its work with member states and partners to build on the gains made and meet persistent challenges head-on. Linda Mobula, World Bank senior health specialist in the DRC, said epidemics do not have borders, hence the need to reinforce cross-border collaboration and coordination. "An agreement is therefore critically important to drive political momentum, reinforce the enabling environment, and strengthen governance," Mobula added. The World Bank, in collaboration with the Africa CDC, the WHO, and other partners, including the United Nations Children's Fund and the International Organization for Migration, convened the meeting to facilitate political engagement, technical discussions, and cross-border cooperation among stakeholders. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Chair of Citigroup John Dugan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Chair of Citigroup John Dugan and CEO of Carlyle Group Harvey Schwartz separately in Beijing on Friday. He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China's economy has continued its notable rebound, while high-quality development efforts are resulting in solid progress, demonstrating strong resilience and great vitality. He added that China will continue to expand its high-level opening up to the outside world, offering broad space for the long-term and stable development of multinational companies. He noted that China welcomes foreign financial institutions, including Citigroup Inc. and Carlyle, to invest and start businesses in China to jointly participate in the construction of China's capital market. Dugan said that Citigroup Inc. is willing to deepen its presence in the Chinese market and will further enhance investment cooperation with China. Schwartz, meanwhile, said that Carlyle is optimistic about the prospects of China's economic development and is willing to commit to long-term cooperation with China and expand its layout of investment. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with CEO of Carlyle Group Harvey Schwartz at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- In a move that has sent shockwaves through higher education, the U.S. government on Thursday abruptly revoked Harvard University's authority to enroll international students, stripping its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The decision, announced by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, bars Harvard from admitting new international students starting in the 2025-2026 academic year and forces current ones to transfer schools or risk losing their legal status. The unprecedented action -- reportedly tied to Harvard's refusal to share disciplinary records and protest-related materials involving international students -- has left nearly 7,000 Harvard students in limbo and raised questions about what's next for international students in the United States. WHERE WILL THEY GO? Harvard University currently hosts nearly 6,800 international students from over 140 countries. According to data from Harvard, as of the fall semester of 2023, international students made up over 27 percent of the total student population. The U.S. government's revocation of Harvard's SEVP certification, effective from the 2025-2026 academic year, bars the university from admitting new international students and forces current ones to either transfer to SEVP-certified institutions or risk losing their legal status. While graduating students in 2025 can complete their degrees, others must depart Harvard by the policy's effective date. Newly admitted international students, set to enroll this fall, will also be barred from enrollment unless the decision is reversed, U.S. media reported. In a statement in response to the ban, Harvard called the administration's action unlawful and harmful. "We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University -- and this nation -- immeasurably," the statement said. "We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard's academic and research mission," it added. SEVP certifications are typically revoked for administrative failures, such as inadequate facilities, not political disputes. While Harvard could challenge the decision in court, no legal action has been announced yet. WHY TARGET HARVARD? According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the reason for this move was that Harvard University refused to comply with the request to turn over information about foreign students that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation. "This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism," said Noem, accusing Harvard of creating an unsafe campus environment by allowing "anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators" to assault Jewish students on campus. Noem said Harvard can regain its SEVP certification if it provides, within 72 hours, a trove of records, including audio or video footage, of foreign students participating in protests or dangerous activity on campus. The administration in April froze 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal grants to Harvard after the university rejected demands to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and evaluate international students based on ideological concerns. In addition, the Trump administration has threatened to consider stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status. WHAT'S NEXT FOR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES? The ban is part of a wider campaign by the Trump administration to pressure elite universities into meeting federal demands tied to funding and tax exemptions -- part of a political strategy to reshape race-based admissions policies and challenge what it perceives as academia's liberal bias. During his 2024 election campaign, Trump pledged to "reclaim our once great educational institutions from the radical Left and Marxist Maniacs." In March, the U.S. Department of Education sent letters to 60 colleges and universities it claimed were under investigation for alleged violations "relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination," CNN reported. Many institutions, including Harvard, faced federal funding cuts. Following her announcement to revoke Harvard's SEVP certification, Noem threatened universities across the United States during an appearance on Fox News on Thursday. "This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together," Noem said. Noem's statement implied that any institutions that do not comply with federal demands may become the next target. If so, international students at these institutions may also face the risk of having to transfer or even lose their legal status, calling into question the openness and diversity of U.S. higher education. Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that the Russian military is actively working on the creation of a "security buffer zone" along the border with Ukraine, Azernews reports. The statement came during a meeting with government officials on May 22. "A decision has been made to create the necessary security buffer zone along the border. Our armed forces are currently solving this problem. The enemy's firing points are being actively silenced, the work is underway," Putin said. He listed Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk as among the Russian regions most affected by recent Ukrainian attacks, noting that the buffer zone aims to mitigate these threats. The initiative comes amid increasing pressure from local officials. During a recent meeting with municipal heads in the Kursk region, the head of the Glushkov district, Pavel Zolotarev, appealed directly to Putin, proposing the establishment of a buffer zone extending into Ukraines Sumy region. When asked by Putin how deep the zone should be, Zolotarev responded that Russia should "at least" take control of the city of Sumy. This proposal coincides with heightened concerns in Ukraine. In mid-May, authorities in the Sumy region announced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents from 202 settlements near the Russian border, underscoring the increasing intensity of cross-border hostilities. PHNOM PENH, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has reported a 49 percent increase in the number of Chinese tourists in the first four months of 2025, said Tourism Minister Huot Hak on Friday. More than 380,000 Chinese visitors traveled to the Southeast Asian country during the January-April period of this year, up 49 percent compared to the same period last year, he said in a speech during the launch event of Cambodia-China Tourism Year 2025 in Phnom Penh. "Based on this good trend, I firmly believe that the "Cambodia-China Tourism Year" will surely become an important opportunity to attract more Chinese tourists to Cambodia and deepen tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries," he said at the event with an audience of about 800. He said the tourism year was highly consistent with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the spirit of the iron-clad friendship between Cambodia and China. "This will not only effectively consolidate the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries and enhance the solidarity and friendship between the peoples, but also inject strong impetus into building an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future," he said. According to the minister, Cambodia received a total of 2.4 million international tourists in the first four months of 2025, a 14-percent increase over the same period in 2024. BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent congratulations to Nicusor Dan on his election as Romanian president. Xi pointed out that Romania is the third country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. For a long time, China and Romania have respected each other and treated each other as equals, he said, adding that mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has continued to advance, and the traditional friendship has grown stronger over time. At present, global changes unseen in a century are accelerating, Xi said, noting that as good friends and partners, China and Romania should enhance communication, build consensus, and deepen cooperation to jointly seize the opportunities of the times and work together to address risks and challenges. Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Romania relations and is willing to work together with Dan to write a new chapter of friendly cooperation between the two countries and bring more benefits to the people of both countries. Croatian Roads CEO Ivica Budimir hails cooperation with China Road and Bridge Corporation on major infrastructure projects, which facilitate local transportation and boost economic growth. #GLOBALink "We look forward to collaborating with China, collaborating with any city." South African officials expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with China across various sectors during exchange sessions held in China's Jinjiang City. #GLOBALink Palestinians stand by a vehicle burned by Israeli settlers in the village of Burqin near the West Bank city of Salfit, on May 23, 2025. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. According to the report, the riots took place overnight, a short while after the Israeli army completed mapping for the possible demolition of two homes belonging to Palestinians suspected of involvement in the shooting attack that killed a pregnant Israeli woman near the village on May 14. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that the two individuals whose homes were mapped are Maher Samara and Jamil Samara, accusing them of helping Nael Samara in carrying out the shooting attack. On Wednesday, the IDF confirmed that Nael Samara, who was shot dead by its troops on Saturday, was the gunman who carried out the shooting attack. A Palestinian man inspects a house burned by Israeli settlers in the village of Burqin near the West Bank city of Salfit, on May 23, 2025. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) A Palestinian man inspects a vehicle burned by Israeli settlers in the village of Burqin near the West Bank city of Salfit, on May 23, 2025. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) A Palestinian man inspects a vehicle burned by Israeli settlers in the village of Burqin near the West Bank city of Salfit, on May 23, 2025. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect a house burned by Israeli settlers in the village of Burqin near the West Bank city of Salfit, on May 23, 2025. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the Palestinian village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) This photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows tents set up by Israeli settlers near the West Bank village of Bruqin. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) This photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows tents set up by Israeli settlers near the West Bank village of Bruqin. About 40 Israeli settlers rioted in the village of Burqin in the West Bank, burning houses and cars, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported on Friday. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) A tea artist from China demonstrates the brewing of Chinese tea during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. Tea lovers from Switzerland, China, India, and the U.S. gathered at the summit of First to celebrate International Tea Day on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) by Xinhua writer Lian Yi BERN, Switzerland, May 22 (Xinhua) -- On a crisp spring afternoon, nearly a hundred tea lovers from around the world gathered not in a traditional teahouse, but on the windswept peak of the Grindelwald-First mountain in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. The fragrant aroma of jasmine and roasted oolong mingled with the alpine air in a cross-cultural celebration of International Tea Day, held on Wednesday. At an altitude of over 2,100 meters, the event called "Tea for Harmony -- Yaji Cultural Salon" featured traditional Chinese tea ceremonies alongside musical performances, including on the guzheng (Chinese zither), violin, Swiss alphorn, and accordion, as well as yodeling. Swiss violinist Marvin Naef's rendition of the traditional Chinese piece Jasmine Flower was a highlight of the event, earning sustained applause from the audience. Tea artists from China also demonstrated the brewing of renowned Chinese teas from Fujian Province, including Dahongpao and jasmine tea. Participants gained deeper insights into Chinese tea culture by learning about jasmine tea varieties, production techniques, and brewing methods, while savoring the delicate flavors against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks and drifting clouds. They were also impressed by the evolving tea culture that now blends traditional Chinese methods with Western elements such as coffee, milk, and spirits. "The blend of nature, music, and tea created a memorable and immersive experience at this event," said Sabine Foehn, head of International Sales at Lake Lucerne Navigation Company. Remo Kaeser, chief marketing officer for Jungfrau Railways, praised the pairing of Wuyi Rock Tea with the fresh spring water of Mount First. "Mount First is also full of rocks, with clear spring water flowing over them -- there's nothing better than brewing Chinese Wuyi Rock Tea with this water," Kaeser said. Co-hosted by the China National Tourist Office Zurich, the China Cultural Center in Bern, and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Fujian Province, the event is one of the highlights of the 2025 China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism. Liu Haisheng, head of the China National Tourist Office Zurich, highlighted the symbolic choice of Mount First for the celebration. "China's tea culture, with thousands of years of history, is deeply rooted in daily life. Through this tea ceremony and cultural exchange, we aim to share the warmth and friendship of the Chinese people with the world," Liu said. He noted that Mount Wuyi -- known as the birthplace of black and oolong tea -- is revered as a sacred site in Chinese tea culture. On April 19, 2024, Mount Wuyi in southeast China's Fujian Province and Mount Grindelwald-First in Switzerland were officially twinned as "sister mountains," symbolizing a cultural bridge between Chinese tea heritage and the Swiss Alps. Liu emphasized that this pairing connects the historic Chinese "Ten Thousand-Mile Tea Road" with the Swiss Alpine peaks, reflecting a shared commitment to cultural exchange and mutual understanding through tea. At 2,166 meters above sea level, the peak of Grindelwald-First -- a hotspot for connoisseurs and adventurers alike -- offers breathtaking views of the north face of the Eiger, and access to spectacular hiking trails. People pose for a group photo during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. Tea lovers from Switzerland, China, India, and the U.S. gathered at the summit of First to celebrate International Tea Day on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Folk artists perform during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. Tea lovers from Switzerland, China, India, and the U.S. gathered at the summit of First to celebrate International Tea Day on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) Participants try Chinese tea during a cultural event "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon" at the summit of First in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, May 21, 2025. Tea lovers from Switzerland, China, India, and the U.S. gathered at the summit of First to celebrate International Tea Day on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lian Yi) NANJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- In the early hours of last Saturday morning, the international express parcel supervision center at Wuxi Shuofang Airport in east China's Jiangsu Province buzzed with activity, with customs officers swiftly clearing parcels bound for Mexico. The cargo plane carrying these cross-border e-commerce parcels, packed with apparel and small furnishings, was the 164th trans-Pacific flight since the route's launch in April last year. Over the past 12 months, the service has delivered Chinese goods worth around 2 billion yuan (about 278.1 million U.S. dollars) to Latin America. The route epitomizes the deepening economic ties between China and Latin America. Surging demand for Chinese products is fueling a boom in cross-border e-commerce, which is now a new driver of foreign trade. "The route offers three flights weekly and goods can arrive in Latin America within two days. It has established an 'air bridge' connecting Jiangsu to Latin America," said Wang Weihua, a Wuxi Customs official. China and Latin America are highly complementary in economy. China is Latin America's second-largest trading partner and the top trading partner for countries like Chile, Brazil and Peru. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, the bilateral trade hit a record high of 518.47 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, surpassing China's 10-year target of 500 billion U.S. dollars that was set a decade ago. However, trade is only part of the story, with direct investment also growing as industrial collaboration booms. In 2024, China's direct investment in Latin America reached 14.71 billion U.S. dollars, while Latin American companies had established 37,000 enterprises in China as of March this year, according to the ministry. China and Latin America have strengthened industrial cooperation in sectors like high-end manufacturing and the green economy. A prime example of industrial collaboration is the XCMG Brazil Industrial Park in the city of Pouso Alegre in Brazil, where rows of yellow engineering machinery vehicles stand out against the backdrop of the tropical rainforest. As China's first overseas economic and trade cooperation zone for engineering machinery, the park produces over 10,000 units of machinery annually and serves as a core supplier to global mining giant Vale. "In recent years, we have invested heavily in R&D for new energy and smart equipment to meet local demand for green mining transformation," said Gu Chong, chief culture officer of XCMG Brazil Industrial Park. A leading Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer, XCMG established its wholly-owned Brazilian production base in Pouso Alegre in 2014, expanding it into an industrial park later in 2019. "By strengthening localization, XCMG Brazil is accelerating green transformation and digital innovation to build high-value-added supply chains tailored to local demand," said Gu. He added that XCMG is forging an integrated industrial ecosystem spanning R&D, manufacturing, service and finance, aiming to deepen cooperation with the whole Latin America region with Brazil serving as the regional hub. While Chinese firms go global, Latin American companies are also deepening their presence in China. At the production facility of WEG (Jiangsu) Electric Equipment Co., Ltd., robotic arms deftly assemble motor equipment with precision on automated assembly lines, blending Chinese automation with Brazilian engineering. The products will soon be transported to Europe and Oceania. "We invested over 2 million yuan in this robotic line, boosting per-worker productivity by about 40 percent," said Zhang Pengfei, an engineer at WEG Jiangsu. WEG Jiangsu, as a key China-based subsidiary of Brazilian company WEG, has rapidly expanded since its establishment in 2014. "Our factory's production capacity doubles every five years, making China a core of WEG's global supply chain," said Zong Xin, general manager of WEG Jiangsu, adding that WEG's development in China has far exceeded expectations, with a total of six factories and about 3,000 employees. Zong highlighted that amid global economic volatility, China's stable market environment and healthy competition environment can help Latin American firms mitigate risks and strengthen innovation. "China offers consistent policies, a skilled workforce, robust industrial chains and well-developed infrastructure," he said, noting that WEG plans to invest an additional 1 billion yuan in new facilities to meet booming Chinese demand. "China will remain a pivotal hub for WEG's production expansion, innovation and global competitiveness," Zong added. Golden snub-nosed monkeys are pictured in the Pingwu Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey popular science education base in Pingwu County, Mianyang City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 21, 2025. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing) This photo shows the fry of second-filial-generation Sichuan taimen at a fish proliferation and release station operated by a company under PowerChina Hydropower Development Group Co., Ltd. in Barkam City of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 18, 2025. China has succeeded in large-scale artificial breeding of Sichuan taimen, an endangered fish species under first-class protection of the nation, the Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences said on May, 19. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Researcher Yu Yi (L) records newly caught fish in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. This is the 498th Chinese native freshwater fish recorded by him, which is one step closer to his goal of "photographing all Chinese native freshwater fish". As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) A staff member of Yunnan Forest Nature Center changes food and water for green peafowl chicks in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 19, 2025. Four green peafowl chicks were recently hatched naturally in a wild training base in southwest China's Yunnan Province, marking the first successful natural breeding of the captive-bred species in a simulated wild environment and major progress in the country's rewilding efforts for the rare birds. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) This photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows vines climbing on a tree at the Yanoda Rain Forest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, south China's Hainan Province. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) An aerial drone photo taken on May 20, 2025 shows workers of State Grid Anhui Electric Power Co., Ltd. installing a camera near the nest of oriental white storks, a migratory bird under first-class state protection, to track and protect them, in Huoqiu County, east China's Anhui Province. In early May this year, workers discovered the nest on the newly-built transmission tower. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Photo by Zhao Xianfu/Xinhua) Oriental white storks are pictured at the Bachadao National Nature Reserve in Tongjiang, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 19, 2025. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Photo by Liu Wanping/Xinhua) Tourists visit the terraced fields in Azheke Village of Yuanyang County of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 26, 2025. Rice cultivation, fish farming, and duck raising -- all in the awe-inspiring terraces. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Forest ranger Yi Mingzhe equips a tree with an infrared camera at Chaihekou Forest Farm in Zhalantun City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 21, 2025. The Baimaogou and Chaihekou forest farms, managed by Inner Mogonlia's Chaihe Forestry Bureau, form a crucial biodiversity hub on the southern slopes of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Currently, the area is home to nine national first-class protected animals, 17 national second-class protected animals and a variety of rare plants. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Ma Jinrui) Wild finless porpoises leap out of the water on Tongling section of the Yangtze River in east China's Anhui Province, May 21, 2025. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Photo by Chu Zhuchuan/Xinhua) Wu Yijun, a senior engineer of the parks and woods bureau of Huangshan Scenic Area management committee, checks the forestry pests at Lianhua Peak of Huangshan in east China's Anhui Province, on April 22, 2025. As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, China is moving towards the symbiosis of economic development and environmental protection, supporting global efforts on biodiversity conservation. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan) BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that a sound and stable China-Germany relationship serves both countries' interest, and meets the expectations of various sectors in China and Europe. The two countries should expand cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, Xi said during his phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday sent a congratulatory message to Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on his second term in office. Li said China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important cooperation partners, enjoying a sound development of relations and fruitful results in cooperation in various fields, which have greatly advanced their respective modernization. The two sides have maintained coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs, and made positive contributions to regional peace, stability, prosperity and development, Li noted. The Chinese premier said he is ready to work with Wong to take the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further deepen mutual political trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, intensify cultural and people-to-people exchanges, jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade systems, push for more achievements in the all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership between the two countries, and boost regional prosperity and stability. China, France urged to defend intl rules, order 08:06, May 23, 2025 By Mo Jingxi ( China Daily President Xi Jinping has called on China and France to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, saying that the two independent major countries should be reliable forces for upholding the international order, open forces for promoting global growth, and progressive forces for guiding multilateral cooperation. In a phone conversation on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Xi said that the more complex the international situation is, the more necessary it is for China and France to make the right strategic choice. The phone call was the two leaders' third interaction within a year, following their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November and Xi's state visit to France in May last year. In Paris, the two sides agreed to stay committed to the spirit that guided the establishment of their diplomatic ties, namely, independence, mutual understanding, long-term vision and mutual benefit, and enrich it with new features of the new era. Xi told Macron that since then, China-France cooperation has made many new advancements. He called for the two sides to enhance strategic communication and build consensus, deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as investment, aerospace and nuclear energy, and expand collaboration in emerging fields like digital technology, green development, biomedicine and the silver economy. China and France should further promote people-to-people exchanges to foster friendship between their peoples, Xi said. France is China's third-largest trading partner within the European Union, and China is France's top trading partner in Asia and seventh-largest in the world. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $79.58 billion. As this year marks the 80th anniversaries of the victory in World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, Xi said that China and France, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and independent major countries, are founders and builders of the post-war international order, and he called for them to strengthen solidarity and cooperation. The two countries should jointly uphold the authority and standing of the UN, safeguard international trade rules and world economic order, and practice true multilateralism, Xi said. Xi also said that China always views Europe as an independent pole in a multipolar world and supports the EU in enhancing strategic autonomy and playing a more important role in international affairs. China is ready to work hand in hand with Europe to address global challenges and achieve more outcomes that will not only benefit the two sides, but also the world at large, he said. Macron said that despite changes in the international situation, his country highly values its relationship with China and will unwaveringly adhere to the one-China principle. France is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China in trade, investment and various other fields, maintain the positive momentum of bilateral ties, and push for greater development of France-China relations, he said. Macron also said that in the face of a rapidly changing international situation, France is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on major issues, fulfill the responsibilities of a permanent member of the UN Security Council, prevent the escalation and spillover of hot spot issues, and jointly maintain world and regional peace and stability. Europe and China should further enhance communication and dialogue to safeguard their common interests, the French president added. Over the past weeks, China and Europe have witnessed a period of high-frequency interactions. On May 6, Xi exchanged congratulations with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU. Xi told the EU leaders that China is ready to work with them to expand mutual openness, properly handle friction and differences, and work toward an even brighter future for China-EU relations. Observers said that the series of actions recently taken by the United States administration have had impacts on Europe's security, economy and other areas, thus prompting Europe to adjust its policy toward China in order to build a more stable relationship that benefits both sides. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's central bank reported that broad money supply (M2) grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year in April 2025, reaching 9,390.0 trillion rupiah, down from 6.1 percent in the previous month. "The expansion was mainly supported by a 6.0 percent increase in narrow money (M1) and a 2.4 percent rise in quasi-money," said Ramdan Denny Prakoso, executive director of Bank Indonesia's Communication Department, on Friday. M2 growth was also driven by an 8.5 percent increase in credit disbursements and a 21.0 percent contraction in net claims on the central government. Net foreign assets also grew by 3.6 percent in April 2025, compared to 6.0 percent in March. NEW DELHI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves decreased by 4.888 billion U.S. dollars to 685.729 billion U.S. dollars during the week ended May 16, showed the latest data released by the country's central bank the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday. The fall in India's forex reserves was attributed to a sharp decline in Gold Reserves of 5.121 billion U.S. dollars to 81.217 billion U.S. dollars during the said week. According to RBI's data, the foreign currency assets (FCAs) increased by 279 million U.S. dollars to 581.652 billion U.S. dollars. The country's special drawing rights (SDRs) fell by 43 million U.S. dollars to 18.490 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, India's reserves position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined by 3 million U.S. dollars to 4.371 billion U.S. dollars. BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of National Defense Dong Jun on Friday met with Songwit Noonpackdee, chief of defense forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, in Beijing. During the meeting, Dong hailed the profound friendship of "China and Thailand being one family" as well as the solid foundation and fruitful achievements of the two countries' military cooperation. China is willing to work with Thailand to make full use of the existing cooperation mechanisms, step up cooperation in fields such as joint exercise and personnel training, and contribute to the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future, Dong said. Noting that Thailand and China are friendly close neighbors, Songwit said the Thai side has always adhered to the one-China principle. The Thai military is willing to further strengthen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields, to enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and to jointly maintain regional security and stability. NOUAKCHOTT, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Faye have officially launched the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) field, located about 120 km off the coasts of the two West African countries. The launching ceremony took place on Thursday, also joined by representatives from BP and Kosmos Energy, the companies responsible for operating the site. The LNG exports from the GTA Phase One project, which began in April, are expected to reach an annual production of 2.3 million tonnes. Faye said that by 2027, 20 to 25 percent of the LNG production from the GTA Phase One could be allocated to the domestic market to bring about a structural reduction in energy prices. "Here, at the heart of the GTA hub terminal, on the border of our two dear brotherly countries, a new era is dawning for Senegal, Mauritania, and all of West Africa," he said during a joint visit with Ghazouani to the GTA platform. By deciding to jointly exploit their resources, Senegal and Mauritania have "chosen not to remain on the sidelines of progress, but to become key players in it," Faye added. The GTA field, in water depths of up to 2,850 meters, is being developed under a cooperation agreement between Mauritania and Senegal. It is being developed by BP and its partners Kosmos Energy, PETROSEN, and SMH. Yu Yi (L) discusses classification of fish with a colleague at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. In the laboratory of Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yu Yi, a 32-year-old researcher, adjusted the macro lens and took an "ID photo" of a newly acquired native freshwater fish. This is the 498th Chinese native freshwater fish recorded by him, which is one step closer to his goal of "photographing all Chinese native freshwater fish". Since middle school, Yu has developed a strong interest in biology and began to learn more about fish. In 2014, Yu found a forum for ornamental fish while surfing the Internet, and met like-minded friends in the native fish section. Since then, he has systematically recorded fish images. Starting from a second-hand camera, his equipment has now been upgraded to a professional macro lens. He also restored the original habitat for different fish he photographed in the fish tank. "Every photo is the genetic 'ID card' of the species." When participating in an artificial breeding project of a fish under top-level state protection, he further realized that the ecosystem is like a precision clock, and every species is an irreplaceable gear. There are about 1,500 species of freshwater fish in China, but Yu worries that some species may never have a chance to be photographed. Besides the investigation of wild fish resources, he is also involved in compiling illustration books for fish, and establishing his own fish image database. His efforts can provide scientific basis for fish proliferation and release. "A fish plays an irreplaceable role in the stability, diversity and integrity of an aquatic ecosystem. I hope I can make my own contribution in the process of recognizing, recording and protecting various fish in the future." Yu said. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi checks the photos he took at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi gives brief introduction of a fish at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi checks an injured fish at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi checks a fish he received at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi (R) learns about fish resources from a villager in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi checks a newly caught fish in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) This undated file combo photo shows different growth phase of a fish under top-level state protection that Yu Yi photographed. (Xinhua) This undated file combo photo shows some of the fish species Yu Yi photographed. (Xinhua) Yu Yi arranges data after a field research in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi takes photos of a fish at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi (L) and a fisherman place fishnet in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi checks newly caught fish in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) This undated file photo shows the fish that Yu Yi photographed. (Xinhua) Yu Yi checks the condition of fish at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi (R) and his colleague arrange equipment before a field research at the Fisheries Institute of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi (R) checks newly caught fish in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi releases the fish he caught for research in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi (L) records newly caught fish in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) Yu Yi (front) changes water and oxygen for the fish sample he collected in Songpan County of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) WASHINGTON, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday filed criminal charges against the suspect in the case involving the fatal shooting of two staff members of the Israeli embassy in the United States the prior night. The charges include the murder of foreign officials. Prosecutors stated that additional charges may be filed as authorities continue investigating the incident as a hate crime and terrorism targeting the Jewish community. Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot and killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night. U.S. police said that the suspect is 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, Illinois. "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in a post on social media platform Truth Social. Danny Danon, Israel's permanent representative to the United Nations, said that harming diplomats is crossing a red line. Since the outbreak of a new round of the Israel-Palestine conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has continued to worsen. Against this backdrop, U.S. Middle East policy has, to some extent, intensified domestic dissatisfaction with Israel. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, in Beijing on Friday. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations have been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the community with a shared future has been practiced at the bilateral level, Han said. Han also said China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, firmly support each other and accelerate cooperation in areas such as natural gas, digital economy, green development and new energy. China is ready to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen international collaboration, and promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations with Turkmenistan, he added. Noting that the friendship between Turkmenistan and China has a long history, Gulmanova said Turkmenistan is willing to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in fields including legislation, environmental protection, culture and people-to-people exchanges, economy and trade, and youth, to achieve common development. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China is ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter in their all-round strategic partnership, to steer China-EU relations toward new progress and to make new contributions to the stable growth of the world economy. Speaking to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over phone, Xi once again congratulated him on assuming office. He pointed out that as the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century and the international landscape is marked by transformation and turbulence, the strategic and global significance of China-Germany and China-EU relations has become even more prominent. A sound and stable China-Germany relationship serves both countries' interests, and meets the expectations of various sectors in China and Europe, the Chinese president added. China and Germany have developed their bilateral relations based on mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and win-win cooperation, Xi stressed, calling on both sides to maintain and carry forward this fine tradition. First, Xi called for consolidating political mutual trust. He said China views Germany as a partner, welcomes Germany's development and prosperity, and is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Germany, respect each other's core interests and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. Second, Xi urged the two sides to enhance the resilience of their ties. He said both sides should not only continue to expand the existing cooperation in traditional fields such as automobiles, mechanical manufacturing and chemical industry, but seek more collaboration in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas including climate change and green development, contributing the wisdom and solutions of China and Germany to global sustainable development. Third, Xi noted that bilateral cooperation should continue to gather momentum. He said that China is willing to share with Germany development opportunities brought by its high-level opening-up, adding that China hopes Germany will offer more policy support and facilitation for two-way investment, and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. Xi pointed out that facts have fully proven that partnership is the proper positioning of China-Germany and China-EU relations, and a stable and predictable policy environment is essential to ensuring bilateral cooperation. As major countries, he added, both sides share a common responsibility. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, Xi said that the two sides should jointly review the successful experience in the development of China-EU relations and send a positive signal in support of multilateralism and free trade, as well as deepening openness and mutually beneficial cooperation. For his part, Merz said that China is one of the world's most important countries, and Germany-China relations have seen sound development, with deepened cooperation yielding fruitful results. Bilateral cooperation is particularly significant in the current international landscape as both China and Germany are the world's major economies, the German chancellor added. The new German government adheres to the one-China policy, and is willing to push for greater progress in their strategic partnership in a constructive and practical manner, he said. Germany expects to conduct closer exchanges and cooperation with China in various areas, uphold opening-up and mutual benefit, boost fair trade, safeguard world peace and jointly tackle climate change and other global challenges, Merz said. A healthy and steady development of EU-China relations is in the interest of both sides, and Germany is willing to play an active part in this regard, he said. The two leaders also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. TEHRAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday strongly condemned the United States for slapping new sanctions on individuals or entities providing Iran with certain construction-related materials. He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X after the U.S. Department of State claimed in a statement on Wednesday that it had found out that Iran's construction sector was being controlled "directly or indirectly" by the country's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and identified "10 additional strategic materials that Iran is using in connection with its nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs." According to the U.S. State Department, the newly identified materials include austenitic nickel-chromium alloy, magnesium ingots, sodium perchlorate, tungsten copper, and certain aluminum sheets and tubes. Baghaei called the U.S. move "outrageous, unlawful and inhuman," stressing, "The U.S. multi-layered sanctions and coercive measures against Iran have all been calibrated to deprive each and every Iranian citizen of their basic human rights, and as such, these sanctions are no less than crimes against humanity." He added the sanctions, which were announced ahead of the fifth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, cast further doubts on the U.S. willingness and seriousness for pursuing diplomacy. Baghaei emphasized that the Iranian nation was determined to remain "steadfast and strong in the face of such absurd animosity." The new sanctions come as Iran and the United States have held four rounds of talks on Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions since April, with the fifth round scheduled to be held in Rome on Friday. Commenting on the fifth round of talks in another post on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's account on X, Baghaei announced the arrival of the Iranian negotiating team in Rome for the talks. DAR ES SALAAM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango has called for global solidarity in the fight against hunger and poverty, stressing that these challenges transcend national borders. According to a statement issued Friday by the Vice President's Office, Mpango made the appeal on Thursday while addressing the Second Brazil-Africa Dialogue on Food Security, Fight Against Hunger, and Rural Development held in Brasilia, Brazil. Mpango stressed that hunger and poverty remain pressing issues, particularly in Africa, despite the continent's vast natural resources. He identified several critical areas in need of urgent attention, including armed conflicts, political instability, climate change, and inadequate agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and information and communications technology tools that provide key data on seeds, markets, and agricultural products. Other persistent challenges, he noted, include insufficient agricultural financing, the export of raw materials without value addition, and limited investment in research and development. He further emphasized the need for policy reforms that empower women, key contributors to Africa's agricultural sector, through land ownership rights and the elimination of discriminatory cultural practices. by Xinhua writer Si Xiaomeng CHANGSHA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- On a bustling street in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, a cafe buzzes with activity as order slips are spit out from the machine and a line of customers stretches toward the door. What captures people's attention most isn't the launch of new products, but the zebra above the counter. At first glance, it seems like a simple, bioinspired logo, but its stripes tell a story from far away. In 2018, Jing Jianhua, founder of the coffee brand "Own Master" (Xiao Ka Zhu), visited Uganda for the first time as part of a government-led delegation from the province. As he stepped out of the airport terminal, Jing was immediately struck by the vivid contrast of blue skies and white clouds stretching across the African landscape. But it wasn't the view that left a lasting impression. "It was a little boy in a zebra-striped shirt, curiously peeking out from behind a grass hut," Jing recalled. At that time, he found that after 19 years in the coffee industry, nothing had prepared him for what he saw. This was a land considered one of the birthplaces of coffee, where those who grew the beans lived with so little, far from the prosperity their harvests helped create in other parts of the world. That moment stayed with Jing. It became a symbol, a promise, and eventually, a brand. From that instant, he set a clear goal. He wanted to bring high-quality African coffee to Chinese consumers and help African coffee farmers improve their lives by gaining access to the Chinese market. Back in Hunan, momentum for China-Africa trade was growing. Platforms like the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) and the local free trade zone gave wings to his vision. Today, Own Master has opened nearly 100 coffee shops and is known for its distinctive flavors and affordable prices. "Thanks to China's zero-tariff policy, the cost of importing coffee beans has dropped, and we're committed to making coffee an affordable part of daily life," Jing said. Own Master has now grown into a recognizable brand across China. Its zebra logo -- a tribute to that brief encounter in Uganda -- remains front and center, representing not just coffee, but connection. However, for Jing, this is just the beginning. "This is my 26th year in the coffee business, and I'm still not stopping," he said. The brand now stands at the intersection of tradition and technology. Jing explained that in markets where hot coffee often cools during delivery, they began exploring solutions that would bring the coffee machine directly to the customer. In 2022, the brand ventured into the world of AI-powered coffee, a still-emerging field in China. The road ahead was far from smooth, filled with numerous challenges and setbacks. Over the course of three years, with support from experts from Hunan University, the National University of Defense Technology, and industry experts, Jing and his team has persevered. Their efforts led to the development of an AI-powered coffee machine that reduced wait time to under a minute while consistently delivering high-quality coffee in every cup. With new AI tools enhancing its product line, Own Master is offering more than just a cup of coffee. It's brewing a modern interpretation of the enduring connection between China and Africa. His vision goes beyond borders. Through platforms like CAETE, he sees a future where African coffee and Chinese innovation work hand in hand. "Looking ahead, we hope China will not only become a key growth driver in the global coffee market but also take on a leading role in the industry's development," Jing said, adding that he aims to strengthen ties with African coffee growers through technology exchange and shared expertise to improve the quality of the coffee. His goal is simple: to ensure every cup captures the unique flavor of African coffee. Jing is also determined to boost brand awareness and promotion. By combining online and offline efforts, he said he aims to deepen consumer understanding and appreciation of African coffee, introducing more people to its rich, aromatic charm. Looking ahead while staying firmly rooted in the present, Jing is steadily transforming his long-held dreams into reality. "My original intention has never wavered. It has always been about improving the lives of the 30 million coffee farmers in Africa and making their world better through the vibrant Chinese coffee market." "If possible, I also hope to establish a coffee school in Africa where farmers can learn about coffee cultivation, master the art of crafting it, and even taste the fruits of their own labor," he added. From a zebra-striped shirt in Uganda to steaming coffee cups across China, Jing has used the power of business to weave a heartfelt connection between China and Africa. "In an era where globalization faces increasing challenges, perhaps it's exactly this kind of warm and meaningful cup of coffee that we need," Jing said. JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's western Bengkulu province on Friday morning, injuring several people and damaging some houses but without triggering large waves. "The shakes of the quake were felt strongly by the residents in Bengkulu City," Reza Afriyanto, secretary of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency of Bengkulu province, told Xinhua. About 33 houses and one building were damaged in Bengkulu City, the provincial capital, and several people were injured. However, no casualties have been reported in Bengkulu province so far, local media reported. The country's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency had initially reported the magnitude as 6.3 before revising it downward. The tremors occurred at 02:52 a.m. Jakarta time Friday (1902 GMT Thursday), with the epicenter located 47 km southwest of Bengkulu City, at a depth of 84 km below the seabed. No tsunami warning was issued, as the tremors were not expected to generate giant waves. Indonesia is highly prone to earthquakes due to its location within the seismically active "Pacific Ring of Fire." MOSCOW, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Ukraine have conducted a major prisoner swap, exchanging 390 prisoners each under an agreement reached during recent talks in Istanbul, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. The ministry said 270 Russian servicemen and 120 civilians have returned from territory controlled by Kiev. In return, 270 Ukrainian prisoners and 120 civilians have also been released, it added. The freed Russian prisoners are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, where they are being provided with necessary psychological and medical assistance, said the ministry. "The large-scale exchange initiated by the Russian side is planned to continue in the coming days," according to the ministry. Following their direct negotiations in Istanbul last week, Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, marking the largest prisoner swap since the start of the conflict in 2022. UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- A lot of trucks cleared into Gaza lately were looted by desperate Gazans, a UN spokesman said Friday. "We moved another batch of around 100 full truckloads to Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem) and picked up about 35 from the Palestinian side of the crossing to bring them closer to where people need them in Gaza," said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Six trucks containing flour were intercepted by residents and had their contents removed on Wednesday. The same thing happened to 15 trucks on Thursday night, Haq said. "And our understanding is that these are not instances of organized criminal looting. This is looting driven by people who are facing desperation and hunger." Israel has long argued that much of the international aid to Gazans was diverted by Hamas, the armed de facto authority in the strip with tacit approval by the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees. The United Nations strongly denied the allegation. The spokesman said UN humanitarians are engaging with local communities to build trust to ensure that looting does not occur in the future. However, he said the best way to combat looting is for more aid to get in so people don't face such desperation. In an encounter with reporters, the secretary-general echoed the call, saying that only a trickle of aid has finally crossed over after nearly 80 days in which relief for Gaza had been blocked by Israel. Almost 400 trucks were cleared for entry to Gaza through the single crossing in recent days. However, supplies from only about 115 trucks were collected, and nothing reached the besieged north, said Guterres. "All the aid authorized until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required," he said. "The needs are massive, and the obstacles are staggering. Strict quotas are being imposed on the goods we distribute, along with unnecessary delay procedures." The UN chief said other essentials, including fuel, shelter, cooking gas, and water purification supplies, are prohibited. "We continue to request for safety and security mitigation measures to be in place for our convoys," he said. Haq said the World Food Programme also appealed for support from Israeli authorities to get far greater volumes of assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently, and transported along safer routes. The spokesman said that supplies collected outside Gaza usually reached the crossing a day or two earlier, because of the time-consuming checkpoint procedures. "The truckload sizes don't exactly match: Inside Gaza, our teams stack an extra layer of pallets on each truck (leaving the checkpoint) to make the most of the space," he said, adding that deliveries on Thursday included more flour, nutrition items and medical supplies. Even with all the challenges, Haq said, UN teams in Gaza report that the little aid that's getting through is already reaching people in need. A handful of bakeries managed to fire up their ovens on Thursday, using the flour and fuel the UN provided. "Our partners already picked up the bread for direct distribution," he said. "And, in the south, a field hospital has received a much-needed batch of medical supplies this week." The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the intensification of hostilities brought Gaza's already weakened health system to a breaking point. It cited Thursday's attack on Al Awda Hospital in North Gaza, where patient triage tents, including one provided by the WHO, caught fire, burning all medical supplies in the warehouse and destroying vehicles in the basement. The WHO's attempt to reach the hospital was impeded. Earlier on Friday, sources at the hospital reported the fire had not been fully extinguished. The WHO said 4 percent of nearly 700 attacks on health care in Gaza since October 2023 were recorded over the past week alone. At least 94 percent of the hospitals in Gaza are now damaged or destroyed, and half of them are no longer operational. The agency said that four major hospitals in Gaza (Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital) had to suspend medical services in the past week due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones and attacks. Only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, including one hospital providing basic care for the remaining patients, and are struggling under severe supply shortages, lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties, all while staff work in impossible conditions. Of the 19 hospitals, 12 provide various health services, while the rest can only provide basic emergency care. KHARTOUM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced on Friday that it has taken control of the strategic city of Al-Dibaibat in South Kordofan State, after battles with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "The armed forces have successfully cleared Al-Dibaibat," Nabil Abdalla, the SAF spokesman, said in a statement, noting that the SAF has "secured the entire city." Sudanese military personnel shared videos on social media from within Al-Dibaibat, announcing the RSF's "defeat." The RSF has not yet commented on the army's announcement of its control over the city. Al-Dibaibat possesses strategic military importance as it sits at a key crossroads linking the three Kordofan states. One route runs southward toward Dilling and Kadugli in South Kordofan State, another extends west to Abu Zabad and Al-Fula in West Kordofan State, and a third road links to El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State. The liberation of the city comes just days after the Sudanese army announced its full control over Khartoum and White Nile states. Since March, the Sudanese army has been expanding its controlled territory, while the RSF continues to retreat. Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the SAF and the RSF since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, both within Sudan and across its borders. KHARTOUM, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Friday condemned the U.S. announcement of new sanctions on the country over allegations that the Sudanese government used chemical weapons in 2024. "The Sudanese government is following with strong condemnation the accusations and decisions issued by the U.S. administration, which amount to political blackmail and distortion of the facts regarding the situation in Sudan," Minister of Information Khalid Ali Aleisir said in a statement. "Washington's decision to impose new sanctions is a repetition of past mistakes in how successive U.S. administrations have dealt with issues in our country," he added, stressing that the United States has "consistently pursued policies that hinder the Sudanese people's path to stability." On Thursday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced that the United States intended to impose sanctions on Sudan following a 15-day congressional notification period. "On April 24, 2025, the United States determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the CBW Act) that the Government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024," Bruce said in a statement. "The United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit," she added. Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, both within Sudan and across its borders. NEW DELHI, May 23 (Xinhua) -- At least four Naxals were killed Friday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, police said. The gunfight broke out in the Kawande area of Gadchiroli district, about 821 km east of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra. According to police, the search operation was carried out by the joint contingents of police and paramilitary on specific intelligence information suggesting the presence of Naxals in the area. Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India. TOKYO, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Human remains recovered from a large reservoir in central Japan have been confirmed as those of two missing crew members of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) training aircraft that crashed last week. "It is gut-wrenching that we have lost these promising colleagues due to a sudden accident," Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, chief of staff of the ASDF, told a press conference Thursday. He added that his force "takes the accident seriously" and "will do our best to identify the cause of the crash." On May 14, the T-4 jet, with Capt. Takuji Ioka, 31, and 1st Lt. Shota Amitani, 29, onboard, crashed into the reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, shortly after taking off from the Komaki Air Base. The ASDF has grounded other T-4 jets for the time being. SYDNEY, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian on Thursday expressed hope that Australia's federal and local governments can view the operation of Darwin port project in an objective manner and seriously fulfill their commitments in a lease agreement reached a decade ago. The past decade has seen heavy investment from the Chinese company involved in the lease contract of the Darwin port as well as positive results in the port's operation, Xiao said. The Chinese ambassador made the remarks when meeting reporters on the sidelines of the International Relations Conference of the 2025 Darwin Fusion, a two-day event held on Thursday and Friday in Darwin, capital of Australia's Northern Territory. China has maintained communication with the Australian federal and local governments over the Darwin port through diplomatic channels, Xiao said. In 2015, China's Landbridge Group signed a lease agreement on a 99-year operating right of the Darwin port with the then Northern Territory government. This agreement was reached in line with the outcome of public bidding and business rules and is in compliance with Australian laws, said Xiao. The Chinese ambassador noted that over the past 10 years, Landbridge Group has invested tremendously in the Darwin port's infrastructure, operation and management, including client outreach, which has resulted in remarkable changes to the port, helping it turn losses into profits, and making positive contributions to the local socioeconomic development. "For such projects and enterprises, encouragement should be given instead of punishment," Xiao said. "It's also very morally inappropriate to rent out the port when it is in the red and take it back once it is profitable." China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners and should have mutual trust, he said, adding that mutually beneficial cooperation is conducive to the fundamental interests of both sides. It is in the common interests of both countries for the Australian federal and local governments to continue to create a fair, transparent and predictable operating environment for Chinese businesses in Australia, the ambassador said. At present, China-Australia relations are at a historical stage to draw strength from the past and start anew, Xiao said, adding that China looks forward to working with the new Australian government to push for a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia relationship. During the Australian federal election campaigns last month, both the ruling and opposition parties claimed that they would reclaim the operating right of the Darwin port. In response, Landbridge Group said the port will not be sold, lamenting that the port was used as a political bargaining chip in the election campaigns despite the company's notable contribution to local economy. JAKARTA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has shut down three companies suspected of dumping industrial waste into rivers, a minister said on Friday. All the firms were sealed and face potential legal action, according to Indonesian Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq. The companies, operating in Tangerang Regency of Banten province, are involved in the textile industry, iron smelting, and aluminum waste management, he said. "Specifically, we have identified the pollution sources because they discharge waste through a drain that flows downstream into the Cirarab River," said the minister. "This has a severe impact, directly affecting residents and degrading environmental quality," Hanif emphasized. "In this case, we have ordered them to halt all operations until further notice. For related parties, we will provide guidance to continue their economic activities while ensuring environmental protection," he added. Hanif warned that the case could be brought to court, with penalties ranging from three to five years in prison or substantial fines. The minister noted that his office has so far identified 23 pollution sources in the Cirarab River in Tangerang Regency. UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council condemned Wednesday's school bus attack in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Thursday. In a press statement, the council members "condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack" in Khuzdar, Balochistan province. This reprehensible act of terrorism resulted in the grievous loss of at least six Pakistani nationals, including four schoolchildren, along with 53 injured, 39 of them children, said the statement. The council members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan. They underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. The council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. ISTANBUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 56 active-duty soldiers on Friday over their alleged links to a failed coup in an operation spanning 36 provinces, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced. In a statement, the office said arrest warrants had been issued for 63 soldiers over links to the network known as the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government holds responsible for the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. Simultaneous operations began at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) to apprehend the suspects, and so far, 56 active-duty soldiers from various branches, including the Air Force, Gendarmerie, Land Forces, and Navy, have been apprehended. The operations are still ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals. The Gulen movement, led by Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen, who passed away in 2024 in the United States, has been accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the coup attempt, which resulted in the deaths of over 250 people. BERLIN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- European stocks fell sharply on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions with the European Union (EU), proposing sweeping new tariffs and targeting tech giant Apple. The announcement reignited investor fears over the economic fallout of a renewed transatlantic trade war. Posting on the social platform, Trump said he is recommending a 50 percent tariff on all goods imported from the EU starting June 1, citing stalled negotiations with Brussels. "Trade talks are going nowhere," he wrote, adding that the EU "was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE." The markets responded swiftly. The European STOXX 600 index slid over 2.16 percent to 537.39 points before paring some losses. National indices were also hit hard, with Italy's FTSE MIB, Germany's DAX, France's CAC 40, and Spain's IBEX 35 each falling more than 2 percent. The DAX dropped to a two-week low, briefly touching 23,325.5 points during the session. "This latest threat is worse than the worst-case scenario," said Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index. Political leaders across Europe condemned the proposed tariffs. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the move would harm both sides and pledged Berlin's continued support for negotiations. The European Commission "has our full support in maintaining our access to the American market, and I believe such tariffs don't help anyone. They would only cause economic development in both markets to suffer," Wadephul said. "That's why we continue to pursue negotiations and support the European Commission. We want to defend Europe and the European market while simultaneously exerting the power of persuasion in America." Poland's Trade Minister Michal Baranowski, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, struck a more cautious tone. "The EU and the U.S. are negotiating -- some behind closed doors, others more publicly," Baranowski said. "Public statements don't always translate into actual policy actions." Visitors learn about Chinese cultural and creative products during the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary, May 23, 2025. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) BUDAPEST, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. Szabolcs Szilagyi, head of the department for legal and governance support of Hungarian Tourism Agency, told the ceremony that in recent years, the ties between Hungary and China in economy, culture and tourism have become increasingly close, and China has become one of the most important source countries for tourists coming to Hungary. Budapest has established direct flight routes with seven cities in China, becoming an important hub connecting central and eastern Europe and China. Fu Hanxiao, deputy director general of the Industrial Development Department of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said the tourism and culture week showcases the vitality of contemporary Chinese culture and tourism industry, and creates favorable conditions for more European tourists to visit China. The Friday event also included a China-Central and Eastern Europe tourism development dialogue and business negotiation meetings to help explore new development paths for the industry. The China tourism and culture week, which runs until May 25, will also see a series of related projects take place, such as the "Best from China" expo which features Chinese intangible cultural heritages, a Beijing-themed photo exhibition, and tea culture experiences, demonstrating the integration of China's traditional culture with modern technological creativity. The tourism and culture week is organized by the China National Tourist Office in Budapest, the European Office of Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce of China, and the Europe Regional Bureau of Xinhua News Agency. A visitor looks at pictures during the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary, May 23, 2025. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) This photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) A visitor looks at Chinese cultural and creative products during the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary, May 23, 2025. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) This photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows pictures exhibited during the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Szabolcs Szilagyi, head of the department for legal and governance support of Hungarian Tourism Agency, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary, May 23, 2025. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) A visitor touches an exhibit during the 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest, Hungary, May 23, 2025. The 2025 Budapest China Tourism and Culture Week started on Friday in the Hungarian capital, aiming to facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations through cooperation platforms built for cultural and tourism industry insiders. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese and Hungarian government, cultural and tourism enterprises and media in central and eastern Europe attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) JOHANNESBURG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- An image U.S. President Donald Trump showed as evidence of "white genocide" in South Africa is actually a video screenshot taken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not South Africa. On Wednesday, Trump confronted visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with conspiracy theories on "white genocide" in South Africa by unexpectedly presenting a video and a stack of printed news articles to prove his allegations, which Ramaphosa firmly denied. "These are all white farmers that are being buried," said Trump, presenting a print-out of an article with the picture to Ramaphosa and the press. The screenshot is actually from a video published by Reuters showing humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma following an M23 assault, the news agency said Thursday. The clip was filmed by Reuters video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. "In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, white people are being killed by Black people," Al Katanty was quoted as saying. Ramaphosa, who arrived in Washington in hopes of improving trade terms and easing bilateral tensions, rejected Trump's assertions during the meeting. He refuted the notion that white South Africans are fleeing the country due to racist policies. He said there was crime in South Africa and the majority of victims were Black. The clash came at a time of strained relations between the two countries. Since Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Act into law in January, Trump has criticized the land reform law for "discriminating" against the country's white people. In recent months, Trump has repeatedly criticized South Africa, most notably by canceling the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief funding and claiming that a "genocide" against white South Africans is underway, an allegation denied by the South African government. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Mongolian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MonICPA) have renewed their partnership to strengthen Mongolia's accountancy profession. The agreement, renewed in mid-May 2025, focuses on providing pathways for mutual membership and emphasises public sector development in Mongolia. The five-year agreement highlights the collaboration between ACCA and MonICPA to promote ACCAs Public Financial Management and International Public Sector Standards qualifications. Both bodies aim to engage with donor agencies to support public sector development and focus on the role and certification of accounting technicians in Mongolia. ACCA has committed to sharing its research and professional insights, while both organisations plan to explore collaborative research opportunities. ACCA Central Asia, Mongolia and Armenia head Zhanna Iskenova said: It is so encouraging to witness the renewal of this partnership. ACCA and MonICPA share a common strong interest in the advancement of the accountancy profession in Mongolia especially in strengthening professional capacity and building accountancy infrastructure in the country. I look forward to working with colleagues in ACCA and MonICPA in achieving our mutual aims. MonICPA CEO Baasandorj Oyunbaatar said: MonICPA is committed to carry on the excellent work we have already achieved with ACCA. At its heart this relationship promotes the highest profession, ethical and governance standards and by doing that clearly advances the public interest. We are keenly interested in co-operating with ACCA on professional training education and examinations. In addition to the partnership with MonICPA, ACCA recently collaborated with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Green Finance Centre. In April 2025, the association hosted a seminar in Astana, Kazakhstan, to enhance the understanding of sustainability disclosures among Central Asian regulators and business leaders. The Capacity Building Seminar provided insights into International Sustainability Standards Board standards, featuring case studies and practical training on preparing sustainability reports focused on IFRS S1 and S2. "ACCA and MonICPA renew partnership" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has submitted comments to the US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on proposed regulations concerning Previously Taxed Earnings and Profits (PTEP) and related basis adjustments. The regulations under Sections 959 and 961 of the Internal Revenue Code are designed to prevent double taxation of US shareholders with income from controlled foreign corporations (CFCs). The proposed regulations aim to clarify the rules governing the PTEP regime, including stock basis adjustments, foreign currency gains or losses, and the allocation of foreign tax credits. The AICPA's recommendations seek to improve these regulations for taxpayers. One key suggestion from the AICPA is to explicitly allow taxpayers to rely on the proposed regulations until they are finalised. Additionally, the AICPA recommends extending the model for PTEP distributed through partnerships to foreign nongrantor trusts under Section 959. The AICPA also proposes to coordinate the rules of subchapter J with subpart F by treating PTEP as distributed from the CFC to the foreign nongrantor trust. Subsequent distributions to beneficiaries should be considered recoveries of that PTEP. If the above recommendation is not adopted, the AICPA suggests that distributions of excludable PTEP to beneficiaries be treated similarly to tax-exempt income or trust principal, which would not trigger current taxation under the distributable net income model or the throwback anti-deferral regime. Furthermore, under Section 961, the AICPA advises extending the concept of derived basis to foreign nongrantor trusts, allowing these entities to have a derived basis in CFC shares. AICPA Tax Policy & Advocacy senior manager Reema Patel said: There is some uncertainty regarding taxpayers continued reliance on Notice 2019-01 and the portions of the proposed regulations that apply the 2019 Notice provisions. The lack of an express statement in the proposed regulations creates uncertainty among taxpayers about which aspects of the proposed regulations may be viewed as a reasonable interpretation of the statute and existing final regulations. Therefore, we recommend that Treasury and the IRS expressly allow taxpayers to rely on the proposed regulations in their entirety until they are finalised. Meanwhile, in a recent move, AICPA named Rahul Gupta as the chairman of its Financial Reporting Executive Committee. "AICPA submits comments on PTEP basis adjustments regulations" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand. Alstom and ATM Group (Azienda Trasporti Milanesi) have formed a joint venture (JV) to submit a bid for the renewal of the operations and maintenance contract for the Luas light rail system in Dublin, Ireland. The Luas light rail system currently serves more than 40 million passengers each year, highlighting its significance in Dublin's public transport landscape. The JV aims to participate in the tender process overseen by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The joint proposal will focus on operational efficiency, customer service, sustainability, and the integration of innovative technologies, according to the company. Alstom brings its expertise in advanced transport systems and light rail to the partnership, while ATM contributes its experience in managing multimodal urban transport networks. The goal of this collaboration is to provide a high-performing solution that meets the future needs of the Luas system in Dublin, stated Alstom. Alstom Ireland managing director Piers Wood said: We are proud to partner with ATM to offer a compelling proposition for the Luas O&M contract. Our shared commitment to reliability, sustainability and innovation is at the core of this joint venture. We look forward to bringing our knowledge and our proven expertise in light rail systems to support the long-term success of Dublins Luas network. Alstom has been operating in the Irish market for more than 20 years, during which it has manufactured the entire fleet currently in service with Dublin Luas. The Luas trams, measuring 55m in length, are claimed to be the longest trans produced by Alstom. These trams are notable for being up to 98% recyclable and are designed with a 100% low-floor feature. Alstom is also involved in producing battery electric trains for the DART+ network in the capital. Earlier this month, Alstom delivered the first of 29 Innovia APM R automated people-mover trains to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as part of an $87m project. This marks Alstom's largest APM replacement contract and its second-largest APM project in the Americas. The airport has now ordered a total of 63 Innovia APM vehicles. "Alstom, ATM Group form JV for Dublin Luas contract in Ireland" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Renewable energy storage provider Apatura has received planning permission from the Scottish governments Energy Consents Unit and North Ayrshire Council for a new 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS) near Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland. This is a step forward in the UK's efforts to enhance energy resilience and transition to renewable power sources. Located half a kilometre north-east of Kilwinning, the project will occupy eight acres of land east of Old Glasgow Road. The Kilwinning BESS is part of a growing cluster of similar developments in the region, contributing to the nation's sustainable energy infrastructure. The approval marks Apatura's tenth successful BESS planning consent since January 2024, expanding its total consented BESS portfolio to more than 1.6GW. The Scottish governments Energy Consents Unit stated in the letter granting consent that: Scottish Ministers consider the proposed development will support the resilience of the electricity network through the electricity it generates and the additional technical services it can provide to the electricity system operator once operational, the project will provide essential flexibility to the grid, storing excess renewable energy for use when its needed most. The construction and operation of the Kilwinning BESS will create direct employment opportunities, as well as indirect jobs within the supply chain and related services. The BESS will play a crucial role in achieving the Scottish governments objective of sourcing 50% of Scotland's overall energy consumption from renewables and establishing a net-zero energy system by 2045. Apatura chief development officer Andrew Philpott stated: BESS sites like the Kilwinning development are integral for enabling Scotland and the UK to achieve their net-zero targets. Not only does battery storage help manage our renewable energy supply and demand, it also helps bolster the stability of our national grid and boost local economies as well. In February 2025, Apatura received planning permission for a 400MW BESS near Stirling, Scotland. "Apatura gains planning permission for Scottish 100MW BESS project" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. This story was originally published on Packaging Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Packaging Dive newsletter. Ball Corp. CFO Howard Yu is stepping down, after less than two years in the role. Yu will depart as of June 30. He joined the company in September 2023 to replace Scott Morrison, who retired. Yu leaving is not related to any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to its accounting practices, financial statements, internal controls or operations, the company said in a news release. In February 2024, shortly after Yu joined Ball, the company sold its aerospace business to BAE Systems for approximately $5.6 billion and became a pure-play packaging company. In February 2025, executives announced on an earnings call that Ball would acquire Florida Can Manufacturing, with Yu estimating a $25 million benefit this year. Also during Yus tenure, the company reworked its aluminum cups strategy: In March, Ball announced that it would form a joint venture with tech advisory firm Ayna.AI to take over the aluminum cups business, with Ball becoming a minority investor in the 49-51 joint venture. While Ball searches for a permanent successor, it has named Daniel Rabbitt as interim CFO. He is currently senior vice president of corporate planning and development, a position he has held since 2016. Most of Rabbitts career at Ball has been in executive management roles in close collaboration with the CEO and board of directors, according to a news release. He also previously served as vice president and general manager of the companys aerosol business. Rabbitt has closed more than 25 strategic transactions during his more than 20 years at Ball, including acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and dispositions, the news release says. Recommended Reading MILAN (Reuters) -Banco BPM on Thursday urged suitor UniCredit to abandon its buyout offer, given the bank led by CEO Andrea Orcel has told authorities it cannot comply with the conditions Rome has imposed to authorise the BPM takeover. UniCredit on Wednesday secured from market regulator Consob a 30-day suspension of its tender offer for Banco BPM as it seeks to persuade the government the conditions cannot be met in their current form. A government source told Reuters on Wednesday the government has no intention of altering its demands. Banco BPM said UniCredit had not made clear to investors what it had told authorities in Rome instead, meaning the conditions Italy has imposed in the name of national security interests cannot be implemented. Such a predicament "which was also never disclosed by UniCredit to the market, should in itself cause the offer to lapse", the bank said. UniCredit has raised objections to the prescriptions and engaged with the government officials who are in charge of monitoring they are implemented in an effort to prove it is impossible to comply. Orcel has antagonised Italy's government by swooping on BPM in November, a move that thwarted Rome's efforts to encourage a tie-up between BPM and state-backed Monte dei Paschi di Siena. (Reporting by Andrea Mandala; Editing by Valentina Za) Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has been seeing some good news, and more might on the way next month. The chipmaker recently reached a partnership with Saudi Arabian AI startup Humain to help build a $10 billion AI-computing infrastructure over five years, a project that could boost AMDs role in the AI-chip market. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter On May 14, AMD also unveiled a $6 billion addition to its stock buyback plans, bringing its total authorization to around $10 billion. The move suggests confidence from the board in AMDs long-term strategy. These developments come as a much-needed boost for AMD, whose stock had been under pressure for quite a while. In 2024, the shares lost about 18% as investors questioned whether AMD could catch up to Nvidia (NVDA) , the market leader in the AI-GPU race. In April, AMD warned of higher costs tied to President Donald Trump's latest controls on exports of high-end AI chips to China. The new policy also requires companies to obtain licenses to ship advanced chips. AMD said the restrictions could cost it as much as $800 million. Related: Analyst unveils surprising AMD stock price target after chip export curb In the first four months of 2025 AMD stock lost nearly 20%, dragged by a broader tariff-related pullback and concern about whether demand for high-priced AI graphics-processing units was sustainable. That worry arose after the rollout of DeepSeek, a cheaper Chinese alternative to U.S. artificial-intelligence models. Still, with fresh partnerships, strong Q1 earnings and analysts updating views, AMD may be positioning itself for a turnaround ahead of its June AI event. Over the past month, AMD stock has rallied nearly 31%. It remains off 7.2% year-to-date.Jerod Harris/Getty Images AMD Q1 earnings beat Wall Street estimates AMD is Nvidias closest competitor in the AI GPU market, with $5 billion in AI GPU sales in fiscal 2024. These chips are used in large volumes across data centers to build generative AI systems. On May 6 AMD reported fiscal-first-quarter earnings that topped expectations, and the Santa Clara, Calif., company provided a strong forecast for current-quarter revenue. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 96 cents, above Wall Street's expectations of 94 cents. Revenue reached $7.44 billion, beating the consensus forecast of $7.13 billion. Related: Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller quintuples stake in top semiconductor stock The companys data center segment reported $3.7 billion in sales, up 57% year over year and beating analysts' estimates. For the current quarter, AMD expects about $7.4 billion in revenue with a gross margin of 43%, compared with Wall Street estimates of 86 cents on $7.25 billion in sales. On May 20, Bernstein lifted the price target on The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) stock to $249 from $218 and maintained an Outperform rating. Analyst Douglas Harned raised the price target following the companys recent developments. The major move was China resuming airline delivery of Boeing planes. The analyst mentioned that Boeing has already received new widebody orders as things get better in China. The easing of trade deals between the U.S. and China also supports Boeings presence in China. Bernstein Lifts PT on Boeing (BA) Stock to $249 from $218 A Boeing 737 aircrafts parked in an airport terminal with passengers awaiting to board. Harned also highlighted the support for defense programs after Trumps recent deals in the Middle East. A large number of orders for Boeing jets from the Middle East add to the companys outlook. The analyst argues that there is still upside potential for BA stock. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), along with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells commercial jetliners, military aircraft, and missile defense, among other offerings. The company operates through three segments, including Commercial Airplanes, Global Services, and Defense, Space & Security. While we acknowledge the potential of BA to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. Read Next: 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires and 15 Small-Cap Healthcare Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying. Disclosure. None. Bilfinger UK has been awarded a significant contract with National Gas to ensure the continuous flow of gas through National Transmission System (NTS) pipelines. This project is expected to generate up to 100 employment opportunities, with Bilfinger UK serving as the principal designer and contractor at crucial sites. Strategically placed compressor stations along the NTS are essential for maintaining gas flow. These stations, equipped with multiple compressor units, pressurise and propel the gas through the network at speeds reaching 25mph (40km/h). The Control System Refurbishment project, backed by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), will see Bilfinger UK executing a comprehensive design and construction programme, including panel design and manufacturing, while also fulfilling the role of principal contractor to ensure top-tier safety and performance standards. Following a two-year engagement in front end engineering design works, Bilfinger UK will now embark on a subsequent three-year programme of works. The contract involves a two-stage approach, emphasising early contractor involvement. Bilfinger's Engineering, Automation and Production divisions will contribute their expertise to deliver holistic solutions. Bilfinger Engineering & Maintenance UK Gas Framework director Ben Hill said: This contract is a testament to our successful collaboration with National Gas and our readiness to take the project forward into detailed design, build and commissioning. By utilising resources from our Engineering, Automation and Production teams, we are well-equipped to deliver comprehensive solutions that meet the highest standards of safety and performance. Our partnership with National Gas reflects our commitment to innovation, efficiency and sustainability and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to meet the challenges of net zero. The primary design team, stationed at the Bilfinger UK headquarters in Warrington, will collaborate with colleagues in Chesterfield, St. Helens and on-site. During the design phase, the team will comprise 4050 individuals, expanding to as many as 100 during the peak construction period. In February 2024, Bilfinger secured a similar contract with INEOS FPS, spanning three-years, to provide maintenance services for the Forties Pipeline System (FPS) in Scotland, with an option to extend for two additional years. This agreement, effective from January 2024, continues a partnership spanning more than ten years, aiming to ensure the FPS' reliability and longevity, which is vital for North Sea oil and gas transportation and processing. In 1965 the legendary investor Warren Buffett bought control of Berkshire Hathaway. (BRK.A) . He gradually sold off the textile businesses and invested heavily in insurance, utilities, and retail. Nearly two decades later, a 20-year-old Bill Ackman first heard about Buffett and his investment group and something clicked. I was inspired to become an investor, the hedge-fund manager recalled. After another three decades, Ackman is putting that inspiration into action, planning to build his version of Berkshire Hathaway. On May 5 Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management announced a $900 million deal to acquire 9 million shares of Howard Hughes Holdings (HHH) , a company Ackman wants to turn into a "modern-day version of Berkshire." "We will adopt similar, long-term, shareholder-oriented principles to Berkshire, (BRK.B) and we intend to hold the stock forever," he said. That principle buy great businesses and hold them is showing up elsewhere in his portfolio, too. Bill Ackman made some notable moves in the first quarter.Image source: Jared Siskin/Getty Images What is Bill Ackman buying? Ackmans Pershing Square oversees a highly concentrated portfolio of just 11 stock holdings. The fund has delivered strong returns over time. It has returned 42.17% over the past three years and 149.55% over the past decade, according to data from Stockcircle. Related: Billionaire Bill Ackman delivers frank 3-word message on tariff war The billionaire investor made some notable moves in the first quarter. According to a 13F filing Ackman invested nearly 18% of Pershing Squares capital in ride-share group Uber Technologies (UBER) . The investment totaled more than 30.3 million shares, now valued at $2.8 billion. He first disclosed the position in February. We believe that Uber is one of the best managed and highest quality businesses in the world, Ackman wrote in an X post. Remarkably, it can still be purchased at a massive discount to its intrinsic value. This favorable combination of attributes is extremely rare, particularly for a large-cap company, he added. Related: Bill Ackmans net worth in 2025: The hedge funder's wealth & income Alongside the Uber buy, Ackman added to his stakes in Brookfield Corp., Howard Hughes and Hertz (HTZ) . At the same time, he trimmed positions in Chipotle (CMG) , Canadian Pacific (CP) , Hilton (HLT) , and Alphabets Class C shares, while boosting his stake in the Class A (GOOGL) . He fully exited his position in Nike (NKE) , selling all 18.8 million shares. Uber stock jumps on self-driving momentum Uber's shares are up 52% in 2025 to date and 22% in the past month. They touched a 52-week high $93.60 on May 20. Binance has integrated its payment platform, Binance Pay, with Brazil's Pix system to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions in Brazilian reais. This integration enables Binance users in Brazil to conduct direct transfers from their exchange accounts to any local bank account or merchant accepting Pix. This initiative supports over 100 cryptocurrencies, allowing for instant conversion and transaction completion within seconds. Pix, an instant payment solution, was launched by the Central Bank of Brazil in 2020. Binance CEO Richard Teng said: "Integrating Pix, a remarkable development by the government of Brazil, with Binance Pay marks a revolutionary step forward, combining the speed and accessibility of Brazil's instant payment system with the global reach and innovation of Binance. This synergy empowers users with seamless, real-time transactions, enhancing the crypto experience and driving financial inclusion to new heights." Binance Latin America regional vice president for Guilherme Nazar added: "This is a significant milestone because it is the first time Binance Pay is integrated into a national payment system in the world. It allows our users in Brazil to use their cryptocurrencies for payments at any commercial establishment and to anyone in the country, quickly, safely and easily, using a system they are already familiar with. Binance Pay is a cryptocurrency payment feature on the Binance app, enabling users and merchants to pay, send and receive crypto globally. The payments network supports in over 300 cryptocurrencies for more than 40 million active users and 32,000 merchants, to date. Binance serves over 270 million people across more than 100 countries. Earlier in the month, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Agency for Investments of the Kyrgyz Republic, aiming to bolster the growth of digital assets in the region. "Binance Pay integrates with Brazils Pix for instant crypto payments " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. Key Points Bitcoin has made a couple of new all-time highs recently. Obviously, it had to do that many times in the past to get to where it is now. There's a new reason to expect its growth to continue over time. 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: BTC) new all-time high of about $109,800 will eventually look like a small hill in comparison to the heights it will likely reach, just the way the once-unthinkable $1,000 price level it surpassed in February 2017 looks today. As if there weren't enough reasons to be bullish about the coin's future, there's now yet another reason pertaining to its regulatory status in one of the world's major countries. Here's what just happened and why it matters. Shifting cryptocurrency regulations portend broader adoption On May 15, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Russia announced that they would launch a pilot of a new cryptocurrency exchange wherein digital assets would be legalized and transactions would be above-board as part of an experimental legal regime designed to test regulation of the industry. The exchange, and legal access to buying, holding, and trading cryptocurrencies, will only be accessible for certain qualified investors and the companies that they are associated with, at least at first. The move comes on the heels of a proposal from the central bank in mid-March that planned for the introduction of the experimental legal regime so as to create a safe environment for developing sensible regulations that would enhance the cryptocurrency industry's viability in the country. Furthermore, the government will launch another pilot, which seeks to test the use of cryptocurrencies in settling trade payments. This builds on a more informal scheme that was in operation since at least late last year, in which the country's companies have been using Bitcoin to pay for commodities like oil to dodge international sanctions. It's also somewhat in conflict with Russia's policies regarding citizens using crypto for payments to each other, which is still banned, at least for now. So how is all of this bullish for Bitcoin? In short, it suggests that Russia's disposition toward cryptocurrency, and specifically Bitcoin, is changing rapidly. It's already getting utility from using the coin to evade sanctions, and now it's creating testing grounds that could lead to it opening the doors to investments from its capital base relatively soon. And that will increase demand for Bitcoin, in addition to paving the way for further investment in the country's Bitcoin mining capacity. Russia is already responsible for about 4.6% of the world's mining output. On May 20, BMO Capital Markets changed its stance on Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE)s stock, upgrading it from an "Underperform" to a "Market Perform" rating and lifting the price target to $55 from $46. The upgrade by the research firm is backed by the shift in risk-reward balance. As per the analysts, while there are macroeconomic and end-market uncertainties, along with its significant debt levels, such challenges have been diminished. The reassessment stems from an easing of tariff wars and the expectation of Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE)s balance sheet seeking support from near-term asset sales. BMO Capital Upgrades Celanese (CE) Stock, Cites Contributing Factors An interior view of a modern biotechnology laboratory, with a team of researchers in white lab coats. BMO Capital mentioned that Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE), which is a chemical and specialty materials company, continues to implement stricter cost control measures. The company has increased cost reduction targets to ~$120 million, which it expects to achieve in 2025. Previously, it announced $80 million in cost reductions, mainly in SG&A productivity. Additionally, Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) has identified $40 million in additional cost savings opportunities. These have been evenly split between the Engineered Materials business and the Acetyl Chain business. The company continues to drive self-help measures in support of the strategic priorities, including increased cash to deleverage the balance sheet, intensifying cost improvements, and fueling top-line growth with the help of differentiated business models. While we acknowledge the potential of CE to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CE and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. On May 19, analyst Sara Senatore of Bank of America Securities reiterated a Buy rating on CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) and raised the price target to $121 from $112. The analyst gave the buy rating based on CAVA Group, Inc.'s (NYSE:CAVA) growth potential and strong fiscal Q1 2025 results, which surpassed expectations on May 15. Jim Cramer Views CAVA Group (CAVA) as a Long-term Growth Play A close-up image of a colorful salad platter with toppings and dressings. The company underwent a 10.8% growth in same-restaurant sales in the quarter, driven by higher customer traffic. It also opened 15 net new restaurants. CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) attained this growth despite external challenges, including Los Angeles fires and adverse weather conditions. This reflects the company's effective management strategies and resilience, supporting the Buy rating. The analyst expects the company to sustain its positive momentum in the coming quarters, supported by strategic initiatives such as successful advertising campaigns and menu innovations. Another cause of the positive outlook for CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) for the analyst is the company's ability to manage operating costs and labor effectively, even while investing in employee and store development. While we acknowledge the potential of CAVA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CAVA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Debt Free IT Penny Stocks To Buy and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. STATEMENT OF SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA ON THE LATEST WATER CANNON ATTACK OF CHINA COAST GUARD VS BFAR VESSEL This no longer comes as a surprise, given that the China Coast Guard has been continuously harassing our maritime scientists and uniformed personnel for several years now, with no signs of letting up. Nonetheless, we will not be intimidated and will stand our ground in protesting each and every provocation and violation of our sovereignty and dignity. We must immediately file a firm and unequivocal diplomatic protest against these repeated transgressions. This latest incident highlights the urgent need to strengthen our alliances with like-minded nations who share our commitment to peace, stability, and the rule of law in the region. Dapat natin palakasin ang pakikipag-ugnayan at security cooperation sa ating mga kaalyado para maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan at ang ating territorial integrity. We will not be cowed. We will not be silenced. We will stand our ground through lawful and diplomatic means. The energy giant BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) confirmed on Thursday that it had signed a contract with China-based Zhejiang Energy Group. The two companies met at the 29th World Gas Conference on May 21, which sees BP supplying Zhejiang Energy with 1 million mt/y for 10 years. BP signs deal with China's Zhejiang Energy BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) has recently re-focused its attention to its core business of fossil fuels, from alternative or renewable energy. In 2023, BP and China's Zhejiang Energy group agreed on a joint venture for LNG sales in China. The setting up of an SPAC, with the specific aim of selling trucked LNG, has proven beneficial for both companies. This agreement sees the two companies starting to build on that success and extend their strategic partnership. China's Zhejiang Energy Group has signed similar agreements with other companies. It signed a deal with Exxon to supply 1 million mt/y of LNG for 10 years, which saw deliveries begin in 2022. Experts on the matter stated the deal is also linked with fluctuating global oil prices, with the aim of mitigating risks due to geopolitical tensions between Russia and Europe, as well as changes in supply by OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia. As the energy company is refocusing its attention (and its investment plan) on the traditional oil and gas business (and away from renewables), there could be an opportunity for BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) to either shed non-core renewable assets or strike a merger deal with another production-focused energy company. While we acknowledge the potential of BP, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BP and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Low Volatility Stocks to Buy Now and Starter Stock Portfolio: 12 Safe Stocks to Buy Disclosure: None. Bumi Armada's subsidiary, Armada Kojo, has entered a production sharing contract (PSC) with Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources for the exploration and development of the Kojo block in the Makassar Strait. The company holds a 100% participating interest and will operate the PSC, which spans an area of 8,473km with varying water depths. The Kojo PSC area is estimated by MIGAS to contain 90.2 million barrels (mbbl) of oil and 2.1 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas. Bumi Armada plans to acquire new seismic data and integrate it with existing subsurface information to assess the block's development potential. This initiative is part of the company's strategy to capitalise on oil and gas discoveries using its expertise in floating production systems including floating production storage and offloading and potential floating liquefied natural gas facility or pipeline solutions. This contract marks Bumi Armada's second operated PSC in Indonesia following the Akia PSC. The company's strategic move aligns with its focus on developing oil and gas fields by leveraging its core competencies. In September 2023, Bumi Armada had also entered into a non-binding agreement with Pertamina International Shipping and Davenergy Mulia Perkasa to develop and market LNG, aiming to commercialise the Madura gas field and adjacent areas. Pertamina International Shipping, the marine logistics wing of state-owned Pertamina, and Davenergy Mulia Perkasa, a natural gas trading company, are key partners in this endeavour. Meanwhile, Indonesia is looking to increase energy imports from the US by purchasing additional crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas, with deals valued at approximately $10bn (Rp163.4trn), as part of a broader strategy to balance trade with the US and avoid significant tariffs on exports. "Bumi Armadas subsidiary signs contract for Kojo block in Indonesias Makassar Strait" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. For retail stock owners, the sudden shift is a reminder of one of the bedrock principles of investing: diversification. Research shows that more diverse portfolios perform better over the long run because a decline in one category of assets will typically be mitigated or offset by the performance of other assets. This year has been a powerful reminder that you dont want to let yourself get too concentrated in any one industry or asset class, no matter how bright it might shine at the moment, says Katie Klingensmith, chief investment strategist at Edelman Financial Engines. The Magnificent Seven are truly magnificent, but theyve become outsize and very expensive, says Erik Knutzen, a cochief investment officer at Neuberger Berman. As for recent asset flight away from U.S. stocks: We dont think this is some kind of dire perspective on the U.S.more of a normal, rational rebalancing. That advice is likely overstated, especially as some markets have recovered from the shock of the initial April tariffs. But the recent Sell America cries can also be seen as an exclamation point on a broader trend. According to many investment experts, its been apparent for some time that the lopsided weighting of tech stocks in many portfolios was not sustainable. And many casual investors may be unaware theyve built up an oversize helping of Big Tech. Most index funds are asset-weighted, which means that the bigger the Magnificent Seven grew in market valuation, the more space in a set-it and-forget-it portfolio they came to occupy. Many investors came to a similar conclusion in April after President Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs , which signaled that his administration would pursue his goal of expanding the manufacturing sector, even if it incurred near-term damage to a U.S. economy that had been the envy of the world since the Great Financial Crisis . The market response was immediate. The punishing tariff measures not only sent stocks tumbling but also triggered a decline in the value of the dollar and U.S. Treasury bonds . Meanwhile, a flood of capital began to head overseas, leading some to invoke a new investment mantra: Sell America. If youd come to me 10 years ago, I would have said, Just buy an index fund and dont worry about it, says Stephanie Guild, chief investment officer of Robinhood Markets. Now she suggests investors consider a more active approach to their portfoliosand give them a lot more geographic variety. For the past decade or so, it was easy for the average investor to pursue a winning strategy: Load up on low-cost ETFs that tracked the S&P 500 or another big basket of U.S. stocks, then sit back and watch the returns pile up. This strategy became even more appealing as the U.S. tech sector roared and the stock prices of the Magnificent Seven climbed to nosebleed heights. This approach, or variations on it, came to be known as Buy America, and it worked splendidly. Until it didnt. Story Continues The entire global economy, to be sure, is still absorbing the shock from Trumps tariff policies, which means that the current period of volatility is far from over and investors could feel more pain. But the pain could also be easily reversed, and diversification gives investors a chance to benefit from good news, wherever it surfaces. Investing in a new landscape So if a passive strategy centered on U.S. assets is no longer optimal, what should investors do instead? First off, investing pros make clear that shifting away from U.S. assets does not mean turning away from them altogether. The U.S. economy is still stronger than many others, and its equities are still a good bet, including the other 493 (the S&P outside of the Magnificent Seven). The case for bonds, though, may be weaker. Robinhoods Guild says the conventional wisdom that calls for steadily increasing the proportion of bonds in ones portfolio as one gets older has become outdated. She points out that bond volatility has increased and its no longer a given that bonds returns will display a negative correlation to stocks. This also means that those looking for income may get a better payoff from high-dividend stocksa category that does not include Big Tech companies, which pay little or nothing in the way of dividends. Microsoft is the best of the bunch with a dividend of around 0.75%. Tesla and Amazon offer no dividend at all. Compare those with other Fortune 500 names Pfizer and Ford, which paid out annual dividend yields over 6%. Meanwhile, a series of developments are underway abroadsome of them hastened by economic and geopolitical disruptions unleashed by Trumpthat are lifting some investors outlook for stocks in Europe and Asia. Knutzen pointed to Germany, in particular, whose government has shifted away from a rigid fiscal policy to pursue broader spending on defense. Knutzen also says his firm is encouraged by pro-growth policies adopted by governments in France and Italy that are invigorating the private sector. At the Milken Institute Global Conference in May, investing titans Jonathan Gray of Blackstone and Marc Rowan of Apollo both described assets in Germany and the rest of the continent as a bargain, and expressed optimism that an era of hyper-regulation could be receding. The pair also spoke favorably of the investment climate in Japan and India. Knutzen of Neuberger Berman says his firm is likewise keen on Japan, where, he notes, new governance policies have resulted in systemic improvements to how companies are managed. He adds that he is also spending considerable time speaking with more affluent clients about alternative investments like real estate and the booming private credit market. For those looking to build or rebalance a portfolio, Guild proposes different ideas based on age, investment goals, and risk tolerance. For most people around age 35, she suggests a mix of about 75% U.S. stocks balanced with a helping of European equities packaged in large-cap ETFs. To round it out, shed consider adding Asian tech stocks and commodities such as gold or Bitcoin. The calculus for those on the cusp of retirement is different, since those investors will typically want lower risk and ready access to cash. For them, Guild recommends a more conventional portfolio of around 60% stocks and 40% bonds, though she adds the latter portions should consist primarily of short-duration bonds given the current volatility of the markets. For self-directed investors, these calls for a more diverse and complicated portfolio may pose a challenge since it will likely mean wading into unfamiliar asset categories. Hiring an active manager offers a solution to this. As always, one should feel confident that doing so will deliver additional gains that exceed the fees they charge. The good news for considering an active approach is that many advisors fees are dropping as a growing number of financial institutions push into wealth management services, creating more competition. (Of course, those fees will never approach those of leading ETFs, which can be as low as five basis points.) Another benefit of working with advisors: They can talk you out of yanking all your money out of the markets during a rough week. More broadly, investors should treat the market events of 2025 in the context of a return to basics. On fundamental principle of investing that came to be overlooked during the go-go days of Buy America is that diversification will strengthen any portfolio and help it withstand shocks ranging from tariffs and pandemics to the popping of bubbles. We are working with clients of all types on making sure they dont have too much concentration, says Knutzen. 3 stock strategies beyond the Magnificent 7 Until early this year, investors could make out handsomely by focusing on the few big U.S. tech stocks known by the movie-inspired moniker the Magnificent Seven. Inevitably, though, that playbook grew outdated as those stocks became expensive and new opportunities emerged. For those looking to balance their portfolio, here are three strategic suggestions: The other 493 Investors may have overlooked other gems from the S&P 500. Stephanie Guild, chief investment officer of Robinhood Markets, likes these three: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) This stock is already a darling, but the company has a unique, in-demand product surgical robotsthat gives it plenty of room to grow. Arista Networks (ANET) In the AI era, Big Tech firms are hungry for data centers, and Arista specializes in making network equipment for those vital hubs. Gap Inc. (GAP) An apparel company with a rocky past and huge exposure to tariffs sounds like a stock to avoid. A closer look, though, reveals a firm well on its way to a turnaround story, with a new CEO doing many things right. Bonjour, Europe Long shunned by many investors owing to slow growth and excessive regulation, Europe is displaying a new economic vitality as its major economies begin to pursue pro-growth policies. European stocks, traditionally undervalued compared with their U.S. counterparts, are more so than ever. This, combined with a weaker U.S. dollar, makes them look like a buy. Euro Stoxx 50 ETF Guild recommends this low-cost ETF, which packages the 50 largest companies in the eurozone, providing broad and diverse exposure to the continents most promising businesses. Eastern approaches Many Asian economies have recently made giant strides in key sectors. Here are three countries to scope for stock deals: China The roller coaster that is the countrys tech sector is zooming upward on the strength of achievements in AI. Chinese tech stalwarts like Alibaba and Tencent, both AI players, look particularly attractive. Japan The Land of the Rising Sun has instituted reforms to improve transparency and corporate governance. This new turn means investors should consider multinational exporters like consumer giant Sony and Tokyo Electron, which supplies equipment to chipmakers. India Growing ties with the United States and multiple bright spots across the economy make broad-based India-focused ETFs a promising bet. All that glitters In the age of app-based stock buying, its easy to forget that there is one popular asset you can store in a safe or bury in your backyard: gold. Its also beautiful: A handsome doubloon or gleaming ingot will fetch a lot more compliments than the bits of digital dust that make up the rest of your portfolio. On the downside, unlike owners of run-of-the-mill stocks, gold owners must pay significant sums to safely transport and store their holdings, and face a very real risk of robbery from burglars or shifty visitors. Gold has other drawbacks, too, of course: Unlike stocks or bonds, it provides no income yield, and physical gold is not always the easiest thing to convert to cash. But for all its quirks, gold has been one of the best-performing assets of the past year. Recent economic turmoil has seen it live up to its reputation as the safest of safe havens: On April 22, the price of gold crossed the $3,500-an-ounce mark for the first time ever. For those who want to hold the real thing in their hands, Costco offers one of the lowest premiums for physical gold (around 2% compared with as much as 5% at other outlets). And for those who are not craving a physical asset, there is the cheap and more practicalthough decidedly less pulse-quickeningalternative of an ETF. Be aware, though, that selling gold at a profit (including in its ETF forms) will incur higher capital gains taxes than stock transactions will, since gold is classified as a collectible and taxed at a higher rate of up to 28%. For casual investors who have caught a touch of gold fever, Fortune has listed the pros and cons of popular purchasing options below. Coins and medallions Typically issued by national governments. The American Gold Eagle coin and the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf are popular choices. Pros: Beautiful to hold and admire. Cons: More expensive than other options. Gold bars Typically sold in flat one-ounce rectangles imprinted with a company or government logo. You can also buy larger barsoften called ingotsthat are primarily traded in wholesale markets. Pros: As basic as it gets and cheaper than coins. Cons: Still comes with a premium to order and ship. Gold ETFs Among the worlds most popular ETFs, these are shares in a trust that trades like a stock, backed by reserves of physical gold stored by a bank or financial institution. Pros: By far the cheapest option. Cons: Nothing shiny to behold; the gold is held by a third party. This article originally appears in the June/July 2025 issue of Fortune with the headline Tariffs have halted the Buy America era. Heres what to do next. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com US accounting and advisory practice Calvetti Ferguson has appointed Steve Valenta as a business development officer in its office in Dallas, North Texas. Valenta has more than two decades of experience in business development and relationship management. His expertise spans working with both public and private companies, as well as investment bankers, attorneys, and private equity sponsors across the Southwest, the company said. In the new role, Valenta will focus on offering various companies with the firm's advisory and accounting solutions. Valenta's responsibilities will include engaging with business owners, executives, and other key stakeholders to introduce them to Calvetti Ferguson's full suite of capabilities. Calvetti Ferguson business development vice-president Jason Cain said: Steves experience and relationship-focused mindset will help us deepen our connections in the region and uncover new ways to support clients across North Texas. Were excited to welcome him as we continue to build our presence in Dallas. With the appointment, Calvetti Ferguson aims to strengthen its capacity to cater to the dynamic needs of the Dallas market. Commenting on the new role, Valenta said: Its a privilege to join Calvetti Ferguson and be part of a team thats committed to delivering real value to its clients. Im eager to support the firms momentum in Dallas and look forward to developing new relationships throughout the community. Calvetti Ferguson provides a range of services, including assurance, tax, advisory, accounting, risk advisory, and technology advisory services, catering to middle-market businesses, family offices, and private equity firms across the US. In November 2024, the CPA and advisory firm appointed Ken Gundersen as a new partner to enhance its accounting services in Nashville, Tennessee. "Calvetti Ferguson appoints new business development officer" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. Costfoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images Canada Goose's first-quarter adjusted earnings per share came in nearly 40% above Visible Alpha consensus estimates. Shares of Canada Goose Holdings (GOOS) surged nearly 30% Wednesday after the maker of high-end winter coats reported fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter profit and revenue well above analysts' expectations. The Toronto-based firm reported quarterly adjusted earnings of 33 Canadian cents per share ($0.24) on revenue that rose 7% year-over-year to C$384.6 million ($278.1 million). Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha expected C$0.24 and C$358.8 million, respectively. "The success we saw in fiscal 2025 sets a strong foundation for where we are headed," CEO Dani Reiss said. "In fiscal 2026, we will continue to execute bolder marketing initiatives, expand and enhance our product offering and elevate consumer experienceall of which drove our momentum last year." However, Canada Goose did not provide fiscal 2026 projections, given "ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty and dynamic consumer spending patterns brought on by the unpredictable global trade environment." With today's sharp gains, Canada Goose Holdings shares moved into positive territory for 2025. Read the original article on Investopedia Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has shown interest in tapping into Indonesia's oil and gas assets with substantial reserves, according to Djoko Siswanto, head of the country's upstream regulator SKK Migas, who made the statement on May 20. Chevron Eyes Major Oil and Gas Assets in Indonesia Djoko noted that Chevron is evaluating blocks that could hold approximately 15 trillion cubic feet of gas, though the company is still in the early stages of assessing these opportunities. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is one of the leading players in the global oil and gas industry, known for producing and marketing a wide array of refined products such as gasoline, diesel, jet and marine fuel, premium base oils, lubricants, and additives. It operates five refineries across the United States and maintains a strong retail presence through its Chevron and Texaco-branded service stations. As part of its renewed interest, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) may consider acquiring blocks in Bali or other regions in eastern Indonesia. Chevrons relationship with Indonesia dates back to 1924, when it first sent a geological team to explore the island of Sumatra. Over the decades, the company has extracted over 12 billion barrels of oil from the countrys onshore and offshore fields. In partnership with the Indonesian government and other stakeholders, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)'s operations have contributed significantly to the local economy. However, in 2023, the company exited the country after divesting its interest in the Indonesia Deepwater Development (IDD) project, which had been delayed due to changes in the facility's design. While we acknowledge the potential of CVX to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CVX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ MORE: Why These Energy Stocks are Losing This Week and 10 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy Now Disclosure. None. Chinas Guangdong Pearl River Investment Management Group (GPRIMG) made headlines at the 29th World Gas Conference in Beijing with the announcement of its first long-term LNG purchase agreement, struck with U.S. energy major ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP). The deal was signed on May 20 and disclosed through GPRIMGs official WeChat account. It marks a significant step in the company's push to expand its international energy footprint. Chinas GPRIMG Enters Long-Term LNG Supply Agreement with ConocoPhillips This development is particularly noteworthy given the broader geopolitical and trade context. Its likely the first long-term U.S.-China LNG agreement since Beijing imposed tariffs on U.S. LNG imports. Since the February 2025 implementation of those tariffs, China has not taken delivery of any U.S. LNG cargoes, according to data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea. Previous shipments earmarked for China were either rerouted or sold on the spot market, underscoring the disruption to direct trade flows. Although financial details were not disclosed, industry sources suggest the 15-year deal is indexed to Henry Hub prices, indicating the cargoes will originate from the U.S., with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. If accurate, this would reflect a renewed willingness on both sides to re-engage in long-term energy trade, even as tariffs remain in place. Strategically, GPRIMG views this agreement as a milestone in the evolution of its gas business and a foundational move toward deeper internationalization. The company framed the deal as a response to shifting global gas dynamics, including heightened supply uncertainty and pricing volatility. By locking in long-term supply, GPRIMG is not only strengthening its resource security but also positioning itself to navigate the increasingly complex global energy landscape. Chinas gas imports declined in 2025, with seaborne LNG shipments dropping by 22% year-over-year through April. Despite the recent slowdown, China has played a dominant role in shaping the global gas market over the past decade, contributing to more than a third of the global growth in gas consumption. This rapid rise in demand helped transform China from a relatively small LNG player into the worlds largest importer by 2021. For ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), the agreement adds another reliable off-taker to its LNG portfolio, potentially contributing to long-term revenue visibility amid a competitive global gas market. While we acknowledge the potential of COP to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than COP and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. Thomas Fuller / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images Hoka parent Deckers Outdoor, which makes many of its products in China, projected first-quarter sales that lagged estimates. KEY TAKEAWAYS Deckers Outdoor shares are tumbling Friday after the Ugg and Hoka parent did not issue a full-year outlook because of uncertainties around tariffs. The company, which makes many of its products in China, said it expects second-quarter net sales of $890 million to $910 million, below Visible Alpha consensus. Citi analysts Friday stuck with their buy call and $150 price target on the stock, saying a "stock sell-off provides an especially favorable entry point." Deckers Outdoor (DECK) shares are tumbling by nearly a fifth in Friday trading after the Ugg and Hoka parent did not issue a full-year outlook because of uncertainties around tariffs. "Given the macroeconomic uncertainty related to evolving global trade policies, the Company will not be providing full year guidance for fiscal year 2026 at this time," Deckers said. The company, which makes many of its products in China, said it expects fiscal first-quarter net sales of $890 million to $910 million, below Visible Alpha consensus. The disappointing outlook outweighed quarterly results that came in above estimates. Deckers reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.00 on revenue of $1.02 billion. Citi analysts Friday stuck with their buy call and $150 price target on the stock, saying "any stock sell-off provides an especially favorable entry point." Deckers Brands also said it had appointed Cynthia L. Davis as chair of its board, effective immediately, succeeding Michael F. Devine III, who is retiring after six years in the role and 14 on the board. Deckers shares are down 50% so far this year entering Friday. Read the original article on Investopedia Target's (TGT) sluggish first quarter was partly due to consumers' protests to the retail giant's rollback on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. On Wednesday, shares of the retailer slid more than 7% after it posted a 3.8% year-over-year decline in same-store sales, compared to the 3.7% drop it saw last year. CEO Brian Cornell said during the earnings call that one headwind Target faced in the quarter was consumer reaction to "updates" it shared on belonging in January. Those reactions, Cornell said, compounded ongoing pressure on consumers' discretionary spending amid five months of declining consumer confidence and uncertainty about tariffs. "While we believe each of these factors played a role in our first quarter performance, we can't reliably estimate the impact of each one separately," Cornell said. The retailer announced in January it would scale back its "Belonging at the Bullseye" strategy that focused on hiring and supplier diversity goals. The changes also ended Target's participation in external diversity-focused surveys, including the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. Target was mentioned as a specific focal point for advocacy group Black Wall Street Ticker, which in February called for a 40-day "corporate fast" from spending any money at the chain between March 5 and April 17. Target is one of dozens of companies that announced recent about-faces on diversity, a list that also includes Walmart (WMT), Google (GOOG), Meta (META), McDonald's (MCD), Amazon (AMZN), and Tractor Supply (TSCO). For the week of March 3, Walmart's foot traffic was down 0.7% year over year, while Target's foot traffic was down 6.8%, according to Placer.ai. They haven't seen a full recovery so far this year. Meanwhile, foot traffic at Costco (COST) which has affirmed its support for DEI policies and was listed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as part of a "Black Consumer Advisory" initiative was up 7% year over year in the week of March 3. Walmart has faced some repudiation, including from its own investors. More than 30 shareholders representing $266 billion in assets sent a message earlier this year to CEO Doug McMillon that called the retailer's recent DEI policy changes "very disheartening." Yet, Walmart's US same-store sales jumped 4.5% year over year in its latest quarter, besting estimates of 3.85%. Roth Capital Partners senior research analyst Bill Kirk told Yahoo Finance that this is a larger narrative as Walmart outpaces Target's growth rate by four times. Deloitte UK is reducing some bonuses. Peter Dazeley via Getty Images Staff in one of Deloitte's four UK divisions will get lower bonuses after missing profit targets. The firm will also promote fewer staff this year, according to an internal email seen by BI. The promotions move was demotivating and has "dampened" the office mood, a Deloitte employee said. Deloitte told employees in one of its UK consulting divisions to expect lower annual bonuses following weaker-than-expected financial performance. Richard Houston, a senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte UK, wrote in a companywide email on Tuesday that employees in the technology and transformation (T&T) consulting division would receive an average of 80% of their annual bonus. Partners in the division will also face a drop in annual rewards, Houston said in the memo seen by Business Insider. The memo was first reported by The Financial Times. The T&T business had "faced a particularly challenging year and fell materially short of its performance goals," Houston wrote. Richard Houston is chief executive of Deloitte UK. Liam McBurney/PA/Getty Images Bonuses have always been linked to individual and firm performance. However, for the 2025 financial year, they will also take into account performance variations in each of Deloitte's four business lines. The shift means that workers in Deloitte's other three business lines which cover deals, tax and legal, and audit and assurance services will retain their full bonus. Those three divisions have either exceeded targets or, in the case of the audit and assurance branch, had still increased profits in the 2025 financial year, Houston wrote. Deloitte will also promote fewer employees than in previous years, Houston said. The firm would promote 5,500 employees, or about 25% of the UK workforce, at the start of the next financial year, he said. In the previous year, 28% were promoted, Houston said. A Deloitte consultant in the T&T division said the news about promotions was demotivating and had "dampened" the mood. They added that their division had taken "a beating." It's "not the best feeling since T&T functions have historically pulled the firm forward in times of crisis," the employee added. Deloitte UK's total profits for its 2025 financial year, which ends on May 31, would be "slightly ahead of last year" but "below our original plan," Houston wrote. "At the start of FY25, we expected greater economic stability and a gradual return of growth opportunities. But an early election, geopolitical complexity, and unexpected economic headwinds like changes in trade policies have continued to cause market uncertainty," he said. Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE:DOUG), currently dealing with the fallout from lawsuits involving two former high-profile agents, has received a takeover offer from a rival that would roughly double its current stock price, according to sources familiar with the matter. Douglas Elliman Inc. (DOUG) Receives Acquisition Offer Following Investigation Involving Former Star Agents Anywhere Real Estate Inc., formerly known as Realogy, has made a bid valuing Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE:DOUG) at over $4 per share, though the offer is not expected to be accepted at that level, one person noted. With more than 7,000 agents and 113 offices across New York City and other major US markets, Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE:DOUG) also operates several real estate service subsidiaries, including development marketing, property management, commercial real estate, and title services. A successful deal would give Anywhere a significant foothold in the residential brokerage space, especially in major cities like New York and Miami. Douglas Elliman has been involved in some of the most high-profile luxury transactions, including the $238 million Manhattan penthouse purchase by Ken Griffin in 2019. Douglas Elliman has faced significant internal turmoil, including criminal charges against two former brokers and the resignation of longtime CEO Howard Lorber. New CEO Michael Liebowitz is now focusing on reducing costs and boosting the companys marketing arm. These changes come at a difficult time for the real estate sector, which is dealing with high mortgage rates, falling home sales, and legal scrutiny over agent fees. Amid these challenges, the company received a takeover offer and may consider selling parts of its business. Despite the setbacks, Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE:DOUG) remained a top player in 2024, ranking sixth nationally with $36.4 billion in sales. Following the news, DOUG surged by over 37% on Friday Morning. Its YTD returns now stand at over 73%. While we acknowledge the potential of DOUG to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DOUG and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ MORE: Why These Energy Stocks are Losing This Week and 10 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy Now Disclosure. None. The Dutch government has lowered its stake in ABN AMRO to below one-third, aligning with the plan unveiled in October 2024. Last year, NLFI, which manages the interests of the Dutch state in the bank, revealed plans to trim its holding in the bank to almost 30% from 40.5%. Following the stake reduction, NLFI's rights within the relationship agreement will be altered, although the agreement itself will continue to be in effect. The strategy to divest its shares has been implementing since early 2023, reported Reuters. The decrease from the previous 40.5% holding means NLFI will no longer have prior approval rights over certain decisions. It includes the issuance of new shares or the approval of investments or divestments by ABN AMRO or its subsidiaries that represent more than 10% of the bank's equity. ABN AMRO was nationalised in 2008 and subsequently re-privatised in 2015. In Q1 2025, ABN AMRO disclosed a net profit of 619m, down by 8% from 674m in the same quarter of the previous year. The banks operating income was 2.14bn in Q1 2025, a decrease of 2% from 2.19bn in the Q1 2024. However, operating expenses rose 4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, in 2024, ABN AMRO went live on nCinos Cloud Banking Platform. The bank is using nCino across its corporate lending business, and for collateral management across all its business lines. "Dutch state reduces stake in ABN AMRO to around 30% " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. CEO Ricardo Roa of Colombia's state-owned oil company Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC) stated on Tuesday that the two companies had reached an agreement to acquire ten wind and solar energy project development companies from Statkraft of Norway. A portfolio of renewable projects with a combined capacity of up to 1.3 gigawatts is part of the agreement, which aims to provide for the firms domestic energy needs. There was no disclosure of the transaction's value. One project is now underway, and others have no set timeframe but are expected to begin in 2026 or 2027. Legal and regulatory approvals of the agreement are still pending. Ecopetrol will acquire ten renewable energy firms from Norway's Statkraft A fleet of tanker ships crossing the sea as they deliver oil and gas to their destinations. The acquisition reduces Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC)s dependency on bilateral agreements and spot market purchases while assisting with its shift to low-emission energy. The projects are spread in the departments of La Guajira, Sucre, Cordoba, Caldas, and Magdalena. Roa claims that the agreement improves the business's energy independence in a market that is very competitive. Jose Castellanos, Statkraft's Colombian representative, stated that the sale marks the Norwegian company's complete withdrawal from the Colombian market. As part of a larger move toward renewable energy, Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC) also signed an agreement with AES Colombia in April to acquire a 49% stake in the Jemeiwaa Ka'I wind cluster and is currently negotiating the purchase of another wind project with Enel of Italy. While we acknowledge the potential of EC to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EC and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In and 13 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2025 We recently published a list of 12 AI Stocks on Analysts Radar. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Elastic N.V. (NYSE:ESTC) stands against other AI stocks on analysts radar. The recently imposed US sanctions on chip use have angered China. In recent news, the country has stated that it may take legal action against any individual or organization who are found assisting or implementing U.S. measures that advise companies against using their advanced semiconductors. According to the U.S. published guidance, companies risk violating export controls if found using Ascend AI chips from Shenzhen-based Huawei. In response, Chinas commerce ministry said there could be corresponding legal liabilities against those involved in implementing U.S. measures and that it constitutes discriminatory restrictive measures against Chinese firms. READ ALSO: 10 AI Stocks Investors Are Watching Today and 15 AI Stocks Surging on News and Analyst Ratings. The sanctions are seemingly a new strategy adopted by the US to curb Chinas progress in the AI arms race. The world is yet to watch the success of this strategy as opposed to the AI diffusion rule imposed earlier, which the world came to know had failed miserably after the arrival of DeepSeek. Even Jensen Huang has deemed the AI diffusion rule to be a failure. All in all, the export control was a failure. The fundamental assumptions that led to the AI diffusion rule in the beginning, in the first place, has been proven to be fundamentally flawed. In fact, the sales block advanced AI chips to China, forcing companies to buy semiconductors from Chinese designers. It also pushed the country to invest aggressively in a robust supply chain that doesnt rely on manufacturers outside the country. 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. 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). Elastic (ESTC) Earnings Ahead, TD Cowen Maintains Hold and $105 Target A group of software engineers working in an open, futuristic office. Elastic N.V. (NYSE:ESTC) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64 Elastic N.V. (NYSE:ESTC) is a search AI company offering cloud-based solutions. TD Cowen recently lowered the firms price target on the stock to $105 from $125 and kept a Hold rating on the shares. The firm holds a cautious outlook toward the stock ahead of its financial report scheduled for May 29. All eyes are going to be on the companys guidance for FY26 on the said day. EthosEnergy has secured a multi-year contract to deliver operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the Manzanillo Power Land project, a 420MW combined cycle facility in the Dominican Republic. The project, which is currently under construction in Pepillo Salcedo, Montecristi province, is anticipated to commence operations in the second half of 2025. EthosEnergy vice-president O&M business development Luis Vintimilla stated: We are excited to partner with Energia 2000 as they look to bring reliable, secure energy to the Dominican Republic. Our goals are to maximise plant availability, optimise performance and ensure safe long-term operation of the plant. The Manzanillo Power Land project, the largest in a border province of the Dominican Republic, will utilise a Siemens Energy SGT6-8000H gas turbine and an SST6-3000 steam turbine. The facility will enhance energy efficiency and provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity. Located within the Manzanillo Port development, the power plant is strategically positioned next to a natural gas terminal, reception pier and breakwater. Energia 2000 chairman Jaime Santana Bonetti stated: We chose EthosEnergy for the care, custody and control of the Manzanillo project because of their proven experience and proactive and flexible approach to risk management. Once operational, this new facility will reset the bar for state-of-the-art energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean. EthosEnergy recently secured another O&M contract for the Maisan combined cycle power plant near Basra, Iraq. This three-year contract marks EthosEnergy's first comprehensive third-party care, custody and control agreement in the Middle East. The Maisan Power Company, part of the Raban Al Safina (RAS) Group, operates the 850MW facility. In 2024, EthosEnergy and the RAS Group entered a joint venture in Iraq, which includes the construction of a gas turbine component repair facility near Baghdad. "EthosEnergy to provide O&M for Manzanillo Power Land project" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: A former finance chief for local San Francisco law firms was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a fraud scheme embezzling over $1.3 million from his previous employers, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California said Wednesday in a press release. The sentencing comes after ex-CFO Tony Archuleta-Perkins pled guilty to one charge of bank fraud and one count of money laundering in December 2024 as part of a plea agreement, after being charged with eight counts of bank fraud and five counts of money laundering last July, according to press releases at the time. From a period beginning in 2017 through 2023, Archuleta-Perkins embezzled money from his former employers, including by funneling funds to a non-profit organization under his sole control. The former finance chief utilized those funds for maintenance and renovation of two San Francisco houses and a Palm Springs vacation home, ultraluxury fashion and premium class international travel, according to the sentencing memorandum filed with the Northern District of California court on May 14. Mr. Archuleta-Perkins accepted responsibility immediately in this case and has taken extraordinary steps to pay money back, Archuleta-Perkins attorney Kenneth White, founding partner for Brown White & Osborn LLP told CFO Dive via email. I expect he will continue to do so. He has the unwavering support of friends and family who know he will do everything he can to make things right. Dive Insight: In addition to his 37-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley also sentenced Archuleta-Perkins to three years of supervised release and ordered the former finance chief to pay restitution of over $1.3 million, according to the release. The restitution amount will be minus funds already paid to victims, including an agreement between the affected parties for certain funds from an October 2024 sale of a San Francisco property to be deposited into the Clerks registry in anticipation of an eventual restitution award in this case, according to the sentencing memorandum. The clerk received about $256,000 in November. Originally hired by a local law firm in 2017, Archuleta-Perkins held various roles at the firm before eventually assuming the position of CFO for the business as well as for a related law firm, according to the Wednesday release. His position allowed him access to the companys payroll and payments platforms, with the former finance chief utilizing that access to embezzle funds via several methods, according to the announcement of Archuleta-Perkins December plea. By Jody Godoy and Ross Kerber (Reuters) -U.S. federal antitrust enforcers expressed support on Thursday for arguments wielded by Republican states that accuse asset managers BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street of conspiring through climate activism to decrease coal output. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission filed a statement of interest in the case where Texas and 12 other states claim the companies used their substantial holdings in U.S. coal companies to discourage competition. The entry of the federal officials raises the stakes for the case that tests how freely the three fund firms may act with the combined $27 trillion they manage for investors. The companies have denied wrongdoing and called the case "half-baked." In recent years, they have reduced their focus on climate and social issues while maintaining substantial investments in fossil fuel companies. Nonetheless, the agencies on Thursday urged the judge overseeing the case in Tyler, Texas, to reject several of the arguments the asset managers made in their bid to dismiss the case, including that the alleged conduct falls under an exemption for passive investors. In their court brief, the agencies cited allegations the fund firms' conduct raised U.S. energy prices. "This case is about precisely the sort of conduct, including concerted efforts to reduce output, which have long been condemned under the antitrust laws," the agencies said. Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater, who leads the DOJ's antitrust division, and FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in statements that competition in coal is important to U.S. President Donald Trump's goal of American energy dominance. BlackRock said that forcing asset managers to divest from coal companies -- one outcome sought by the state plaintiffs -- would harm the companies' access to capital and likely raise energy prices. "The DOJ and FTCs support for this baseless case undermines the Trump Administrations goal of American energy independence," BlackRock said. State Street said it acts in the long-term interests of investors and called the lawsuit "baseless." Vanguard reiterated its prior comment that it would defend its history of safeguarding returns for investors. The Investment Company Institute, an industry trade group, said it was "very troubled by the implications of the specious arguments" in the filing in support of the suit the group said risks major problems for funds, investors and energy companies. The agencies, the ICI said, are "pushing an expansive reading of antitrust law that would chill ordinary investment activity." By Sheila Dang HOUSTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. oil producer Exxon Mobil and Hess will meet face-to-face on Monday in a court hearing to determine the fate of Chevron's $53 billion deal to buy Hess and with it a prized stake in Guyana's prolific oilfields. The planned acquisition, announced in October 2023, is one of the oil industry's biggest deals in years. It is key to Chevron CEO Mike Wirth's strategy of improving the oil company's performance. Exxon and China's CNOOC, Hess' partners in Guyana, filed arbitration disputes early last year, which have delayed the deal's closing and caused Chevron to miss out on increased output and revenue. Hess' most attractive asset is its 30% stake in the Stabroek Block off the coast of Guyana, operated by Exxon. Guyana is one of the world's fastest-growing oil producers and the Stabroek Block is estimated to hold more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Exxon and CNOOC claim that they have a contractual right of first refusal to purchase Hess' stake in the Guyana field. Chevron and Hess argue the clause does not apply to the sale of the whole company. If they lose the arbitration and are unable to agree on an acceptable resolution with Exxon and CNOOC, the acquisition would fail, according to the terms of the deal. A three-member arbitration tribunal under the International Chamber of Commerce will analyze the dispute in a confidential hearing that starts on Monday in London. The joint operating agreement in the Stabroek Block between Hess, Exxon and CNOOC is governed by UK law, according to a source familiar with the terms. By the time the hearing kicks off, Hess, Exxon and CNOOC should have already submitted in writing the majority of the testimony that will be considered by the tribunal, according to four international arbitration attorneys who are familiar with the ICC's procedures. A spokesperson for Hess pointed to a previous filing that said the company expects a decision after the hearing in the third quarter, while an Exxon spokesperson referred back to previous public comments about the case. Chevron and CNOOC did not respond to requests for comment. Prior to the hearing, the companies may submit documents and written statements from witnesses or experts they have called on to support their claims in the dispute. This phase is typically the longest portion of arbitration proceedings, often taking a year, said William Kirtley, managing partner at Aceris Law, a boutique international arbitration law firm. The average ICC arbitration case takes over two years to reach a resolution from the time proceedings are initiated, according to the court's annual report. Auditing giant EY is being sued for approximately 2bn ($2.7bn) by the main shareholders of United Arab Emirates (UAE) hospital operator NMC Health, Reuters reported. The 12-week trial at the High Court in London on 19 May 2025, centres on allegations that EYs audits from 2012 to 2018 were negligent, failing to uncover significant unreported borrowing by NMCs main shareholders. NMC Health, was listed in London in 2012 and promoted to the FTSE 100 in 2017, collapsed in 2020 after revealing more than $4bn in hidden debt. Administrators Alvarez & Marsal, appointed after NMCs collapse, argue that EY, formerly Ernst & Young, provided unqualified audit opinions during the period, despite missing billions in undisclosed debt and guarantees. Simon Salzedo, the lawyer representing NMCs administrators, described EYs audits as among the most fundamentally flawed examples of big-firm auditing seen in a UK courtroom. He acknowledged that a single incorrect audit opinion does not necessarily constitute negligence but argued that issuing seven consecutive flawed opinions was difficult to justify. EY, however, denied the allegations of negligence. The firms lawyers contend that EY was a victim of a pervasive and collusive fraud orchestrated by NMCs senior personnel, including its principal shareholders, who manipulated the companys accounts to conceal the fraud from auditors. They argued that NMCs case relies on expecting auditors to achieve the impossible in detecting such deception. The lawsuit follows other recent criticisms of EYs auditing practices, including its work for collapsed travel firm Thomas Cook and German payments company Wirecard. The administrators are seeking damages of around 2bn plus interest, down from an earlier claim of up to 2.7bn, primarily linked to undisclosed financial guarantees. Separately, NMC has initiated legal action against its founder, BR Shetty, who denies any wrongdoing, as well as other parties in London, the UAE, and the US. Earlier in May 2025,, EY launched Integrated Finance Managed Services, a solution designed to expedite enterprise transformation by leveraging SAP S/4HANA Cloud. "EY faces $2.7bn lawsuit over alleged audit failures" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump has backed away from a threat to impose 50% tariffs imminently on imports from the European Union, giving more time for talks between Washington and the 27-nation bloc to produce a deal. Economically, both sides have much at stake. The United States was the trading bloc's biggest export partner in 2024, making up 20.6% of exports, according to Eurostat. Medicinal and pharmaceutical products were the EU's most exported sector to the U.S in 2024, followed by motor vehicles and aircraft and associated equipment, the data showed. The three largest exporters to the United States in the EU were Germany, which exported 161 billion euros ($182.62 billion) worth of goods, Ireland, at 72 billion euros, and Italy, at 65 billion euros. Below is an overview of the biggest EU exports to the U.S. by sector: MEDICATION AND PHARMACEUTICALS The EU exported pharmaceutical products and medicaments worth around 120 billion euros to the U.S. in 2024, according to Eurostat data. Although the Trump Administration initially spared pharmaceutical products from the reciprocal tariffs he announced on what he called "Liberation Day", it was not immediately clear if the industry would continue to be shielded. Some of the EU's biggest pharmaceutical companies are - Novo Nordisk - Bayer - Roche - Novartis AUTOMAKERS EU countries export around 750,000 vehicles a year to the U.S., according to consulting firm AlixPartners. Worth around 40 billion euros, this accounts for 14% of the EU auto industry's total output in terms of volume, and 24% in terms of value as most cars exported to the U.S. are premium models. As a result, the U.S. was the second largest market for EU car exports in 2024 in terms of value, data from auto industry group ACEA shows. Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Volvo Cars are among automakers who have withdrawn their 2025 financial guidance, citing the uncertainty caused by U.S. trade policy. Germany's Volkswagen Group is highly exposed to the tariffs, as its premium brand Audi does not manufacture in the U.S., though it has said it plans to announce a location to build some of its best-selling models in the market this year. AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT Toulouse-based Airbus is France's second-biggest exporter and delivers some 12% of its jets to the United States, some of which are assembled locally, according to Cirium data. Among the biggest suppliers to Airbus and Boeing is CFM International, the world's largest engine maker by volume, co-owned by France's Safran, and GE Aerospace. By Leika Kihara TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's super-long government bond yields have spiked to record highs, as mounting political calls for tax cuts and big spending draw investors' attention to the country's fiscal woes. The rise in yields complicates the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) quest to wean the economy off a decade-long stimulus programme including by slowing its huge bond purchases. Here is a guide on how the BOJ and government could respond: WHY ARE SUPER-LONG BOND YIELDS RISING? Shrinking demand from long-term domestic investors like life insurers and pension funds and a slowdown in the BOJ's purchases have left the market with a dearth of buyers for super-long Japanese government bonds (JGBs). Foreign investors have been piling into the illiquid market, stoking greater market volatility than in the past. More importantly, investors are demanding higher premium for Japan's fiscal troubles as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces growing political pressure for big spending and tax cuts ahead of an upper house election slated for July. WHAT ARE THE PRESSURE POINTS? The rise in super-long yields alone won't have any big impact on mortgage rates and corporate borrowing costs, most of which are based on shorter-term rates in Japan. If the rise spreads across the yield curve, however, the consequent increase in borrowing costs for firms and households could hurt the economy. Higher yields raise the cost of funding Japan's huge public debt and constrain future fiscal spending. The market dysfunction also complicates the BOJ's plan to trim its huge balance sheet. A delay in quantitative tightening (QT) could restrict the central bank's options when fighting the next economic downturn. HOW COULD THE BOJ RESPOND? The BOJ is unlikely to take immediate action unless the entire JGB market descends into panic sell-off mode. Having ended a policy capping bond yields around zero last year, its focus is on reviving market functionality. In an interim review due next month, the BOJ is likely to make no major change to its existing bond taper plan running through March. While it left scope to intervene in times of extreme market stress, the threshold for intervention is high. But the BOJ may make technical tweaks to its regular market operation, such as changing the composition of bonds it buys. To avoid upending markets, it may also maintain or slow the pace of taper in a plan for fiscal 2026 onward, which is due next month. HOW COULD THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND? The Ministry of Finance (MOF), which oversees debt issuance, has been mum so far, and appears in no mood to take action to soothe market jitters. On May 21, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) announced a strategic partnership with Letskipp Ltd. to introduce an innovative non-sufficient funds (NSF) authorization solution for its debit clients. Fidelity (FIS) Partners with Letskipp to Market Non-Sufficient Funds Authorization Solution A businessman at a smart POS terminal, demonstrating contactless payment methods. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) is a leading international financial technology company providing a range of services for financial institutions, businesses, and developers. Letskipp Ltd. operates a platform facilitating collaboration between card issuers and merchants. Together, the two companies aim to solve the insufficient funds issue, which is a leading cause of card declines at the point of sale. The partnership will introduce the first-ever non-sufficient funds (NFS) authorization, which will allow issuers to approve transactions even when the customer's available balance is insufficient, without charging overdraft fees to consumers. Merchants can choose to voluntarily pay a premium to authorize these NSF transactions. This not only removes friction from the payment process but also creates a new revenue stream for issuers. Jim Johnson, co-president, Banking Solutions, at Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) said: As money moves between merchants, companies, financial institutions and card issuers, every transfer should be timely and seamless. This partnership underscores FISs commitment to helping our clients unlock new revenue streams and deliver smooth payment experiences. While we acknowledge the potential of FIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than FIS and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Most Promising New Technology Stocks According to Analysts and 12 Best Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term. Disclosure: None Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) appears to be scaling back its once-bold electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, with recent developments pointing to a more cautious and cost-conscious strategy. Ford to Share Battery Plant With Nissan as Part of EV Shift Sources familiar with the matter say Ford is expected to let Nissan use part of its Kentucky battery plant, which is a surprising move that reflects the companys ongoing reassessment of its aggressive EV expansion strategy. The facility, built as part of a $7 billion initiative announced in 2021 alongside South Koreas SK On, was meant to be a cornerstone of Fords electric vehicle ambitions. But so far, only one of the two plants is partially operating, while the other sits idle. Now, the active site is likely to produce batteries not just for Ford, but also for Nissan, indicating a shift from exclusive internal use to a more open, revenue-generating model. This change comes as Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) steps back from earlier EV plans. In early 2024, the company said it was rethinking its approach, including whether it still needed to make batteries in-house. It has already delayed or scaled back $12 billion in EV spending, citing rising costs, softening demand, and uncertainty over tariffs. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)'s EV unit posted a $5 billion loss in 2024 and is bracing for another $5 billion hit this year. The company recently withdrew its full-year financial guidance, again pointing to concerns over tariffs as a key factor. A Ford spokeswoman redirected questions regarding the Kentucky battery facility to its BlueOval SK joint venture. Meanwhile, a representative from the venture chose not to comment on the possibility of Nissan becoming a client. Although Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) hasnt officially confirmed Nissans involvement, the deal could work to both companies' advantage. For Nissan, using a U.S. plant helps reduce exposure to import tariffs and supply chain disruptions, at a time when it's also under pressure, having posted a $4.5 billion loss in the first quarter of 2025. F has surged by nearly 9% in 2025 so far. While we acknowledge the potential of F to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than F and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ MORE: 10 Biggest Dividend Cuts and Suspensions of 2024 and 10 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy Now Disclosure. None. Genentech (San Francisco, CA) has announced an investment exceeding $700m to establish its first East Coast manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. This expansive 700,000ft facility is set to create over 1,500 construction jobs and more than 400 permanent manufacturing positions, marking a substantial economic boost for the region. The company shared that it might increase the investment based on future US policy and business needs. Currently, the facility is expected to support the metabolic medicines portfolio manufacture of Genentech and its parent company Roche (Basel, Switzerland). The announcement of the manufacturing investment follows a positive Q1 2025 earnings call from Roche on 24 April 2025, where the company reported an 8% increase in sales for the pharmaceuticals division due to strong demand for key blockbusters such as Phesego, Vabysmo, Xolair, Xofluza, and Hemlibra. These five drugs generated a total of $4.3bn in Q1 2025 an increase from Q1 2024. The development of the North Carolina manufacturing facility aligns with Roches plans to invest $50bn in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics in the US over the next five years, including new and expanding manufacturing facilities in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California, as shared in Roches Q1 2025 earnings call. Genentechs latest manufacturing expansion is one among the many investments into US-based manufacturing operations to counter international tariffs, national security concerns, rising tensions with China, and other executive orders enacted during the first 100 days of Trumps second term that impact the pharmaceutical industry. As the administration pushes for a return to US manufacturing, outsourcing agreements with domestic manufacturers are increasing. Although the total number of Q1 contract service agreements has decreased year-on-year in the past five years, there has been a 10% increase in the number of US-based contract service agreements in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, according to GlobalDatas Deals Database (Figure 1). Figure 1: US versus global contract service agreements, Q1 2021 Q1 2025 Source: GlobalData Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, Deals Database (Accessed 13 May 2025). However, the Trump administrations executive order "Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients, announced on 12 May 2025, prompted Roche to state that its $50bn manufacturing investment could be reassessed due to potential fluctuations in the current policy environment. The executive order, which aims to lower US drug prices by aligning them to the lowest prices paid in other developed nations, has created debate among pharmaceutical companies and stakeholders. Stephen Ubl, PhRMA president, argues that the "most-favored-nation plan" will [jeopardise] the hundreds of billions [their] member companies are planning to invest in America. When you think about investing, you may lean more toward stock market options rather than the gold standard but investing in gold may come with a few rules that will surprise you. For those new to the scene, its important to learn about these quirks and strange laws so you dont find yourself on the wrong side of it when buying gold. Find Out: How To Get a 10% Return on Investment (ROI): 10 Proven Ways Read Next: 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses For example, the 1933 Double Eagle gold coin, minted but never legally circulated, is considered government property and therefore illegal to own. In fact, owning one of these rare $20 coins today is not just illegal but may result in confiscation. This makes the 1933 Double Eagle a captivating yet untouchable part of gold coin history. For this reason among many others, the price of gold investing isnt just about market trends and analysis its also about navigating a landscape filled with unique legal rules. These rules have shaped gold investing over the years, making it a fascinating area for investors who are aware of its legal intricacies. Here are four strange rules of gold investing. Rule 1: The Gold Ownership Ban During the Great Depression From 1933 to 1974, owning gold was not just a financial decision but a legal matter in the United States. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the government signed Executive Order 6102, which banned private gold ownership as part of its strategy to tackle the Great Depression, requiring citizens to turn in their gold to the Federal Reserve. This dramatic rule reshaped the American investment landscape for over four decades. Watch Out: Making This Common Investing Mistake? Experts Share the Easy (but Urgent) Fix Rule 2: Reporting Large Gold Transactions In the modern era, gold ownership is unrestricted, but large transactions arent free from the watchful eyes of the IRS. Any gold sale or purchase exceeding $10,000 must be reported. This rule is designed to maintain transparency and ensure tax compliance, adding a layer of responsibility for large-scale gold investors. So, how much gold can you legally own in the U.S.? In the United States, there is no legal limit on the amount of gold you can own. Since the lifting of ownership restrictions of the Gold Reserve Act in 1974, individuals are free to buy, own and possess as much gold as they wish. Rule 3: Customs Duties on Gold Imports Importing gold into the United States comes with its own set of rules, including customs duties. Typically, a duty of around 3.9% is levied on gold imports, a policy aimed at regulating the flow of precious metals into the country. This rule necessitates that investors declare their gold imports and pay the required duties, ensuring legal compliance. Gotion Power Morocco, a branch of the Sino-European electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech, plans to commence construction of its gigafactory in Morocco soon, reported Reuters citing the company's Moroccan head Khalid Qalam. The move follows an investment agreement signed in June 2024 between Gotion High Tech and the Moroccan government. Planned to be built near Kenitra in northwestern Morocco, the proposed gigafactory is expected to mark the first of its kind on the African continent. It involves a total investment of $6.5bn. Qalam was cited by the news agency as saying at an industry conference in Rabat, Morocco, that the groundwork for the site had been finalised. He stated that the facility is expected to begin production in the third quarter of 2026. The project's initial phase will involve an investment of $1.3bn and deliver a production capacity of 20GW. Qalam noted that the company had reached an agreement with the Moroccan government to eventually expand capacity to 40GW in a second phase, though no timeline was disclosed. Beyond battery manufacturing, the facility will also produce cathodes and anodes. Qalam said the intention is to export the majority of production to Europe. "We have already received orders from many European car manufacturers," Qalam added. SK IE Technology Company (SKIET), an EV battery materials manufacturer belonging to South Koreas SK Group, signed a preliminary agreement to supply materials to Gotion High Tech Company. The deal provides for SKIET to supply separator materials for Gotions EV battery and ESS plants located in the US and Europe. "Gotion to commence construction of Morocco gigafactory report" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Granite Construction Chief Operating Officer Jim Radich will retire on July 4 after 45 years at the Watsonville, California-based contractor, the firm announced May 16. Jim Radich is retiring as COO of Granite Construction. Granite said it wont fill Radichs role once he leaves. Instead, it has created an Operations Executive Team where senior vice presidents of its construction and materials divisions will report directly to President and CEO Kyle Larkin. Senior Vice Presidents Brian Dowd, Michael Tatusko and Bradley Williams will run the construction side, while Bradly Estes will oversee the materials business. The new structure will provide more leadership opportunities for the executive team members while enabling them to elevate issues directly to Larkin instead of the COO position, Erin Kuhlman, Graintes chief marketing and communications officer, told Construction Dive. The move is the latest change at the company which has transformed itself since the pandemic from a geographically oriented builder and supplier of road materials to a vertically integrated construction manager/general contractor focused on smaller, more profitable work packages on larger infrastructure projects. It has also redoubled its focus on its materials business, retooling several of its aggregate and asphalt plants with automation, while using targeted, bolt-on acquisitions to increase market share nationally. The news of Radich stepping down comes one year after the firms former CFO, Lisa Curtis, announced her own retirement in 2024. She left in September, when current CFO Staci Woolsey stepped into the position. In a news release, Larkin praised Radichs long service to the company. Having joined Granite in 1980, Jims numerous and meaningful contributions to Granite span decades, Larkin said. Radich served in a number of roles, including project manager on key heavy-civil projects, chief estimator in the vertically integrated business, vice president and regional manager within northern California and senior vice president and California manager. As executive vice president and chief operating officer, Radich oversaw the day-to-day operations of the company and ensured appropriate reporting procedures, people and systems were in place to meet the operating requirements and financial goals of the company, especially during its more recent restructuring. Jims leadership has been instrumental as we transformed the company over the last four years, and we are all grateful for his service to Granite, Larkin said. HSBC managers have been told to monitor attendance more closely and bring it up in performance reviews. Photograph: Kirsty OConnor/PA HSBC has told staff in its UK high street banks that it may cut their bonuses if they do not work in the office frequently enough. The bank told employees at its HSBC UK division, which includes its retail and domestic commercial banking businesses, that anyone who did not spend at least 60% of their time in the office could end up being paid less, according to a report by Bloomberg. It is the latest bank to harden its stance on remote working. In January, the rival bank Barclays ordered most of its staff to work from the office for at least three days a week, up from a previous requirement of two days. Last year Santander told employees they must be in the office for at least three days a week. HSBCs UK division, which is headquartered in Birmingham, introduced its requirement for staff to spend 60% of their time, about three days on average, in the office in 2023. It employs about 23,000 staff in its offices and branches. The lender told staff that line managers would monitor attendance more closely and adherence to the policy would form part of an employees annual performance review, the Financial Times reported. The consultancy PwC told employees in September that it would start tracking their working location to ensure they met the mandate of working in the office or at client sites three days a week. Meanwhile, on Wall Street there have been reports that BlackRock, the worlds biggest asset management company, is preparing to order its senior managers to work from the office five days a week. The investment bank JP Morgan Chase has already summoned all its staff back into the office. Citigroup is one of the few Wall Street banks this year that has told its staff that they can work remotely two days a week. Although there was an initial push after the pandemic to get workers back into the office, 28% of working adults in Great Britain still had hybrid arrangements in the autumn of 2024, according to official data. However a recent study suggested that the shift to more remote working among highly skilled professionals has failed to level up Britains economy. It found that a prevalence of hybrid roles, rather than fully remote ones, meant that professionals were still not moving away from city centres. HSBC declined to comment. This article was amended on 23 May 2025. An earlier version said that in January Barclays ordered all staff to work from the office for at least three days a week; this should have said most of its staff. Indie Semiconductor (INDI) holds 34.38% of the outstanding equity interest in Wuxi indie Microelectronics Technology. The company disclosed last night that it entered into a non-binding agreement with United Faith Auto-Engineering to sell up to all of its equity interest in Wuxi. The consummation of any transaction is subject to negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, completion of due diligence and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, it added. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on INDI: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Talked About These 10 Stocks Recently. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discussed recently. On Tuesday, Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money, broke down the days market movements as he pointed to rising bond yields as the main force behind a series of notable shifts in stock performance. Every day around here, we have a referendum on stocks, and you cant let it get you down because tomorrows vote can always be different from todays Why is it like this? Well, the answer is a mischievous one. READ ALSO Jim Cramers Recent Thoughts on These 15 Stocks and Jim Cramer Put These 12 Stocks Under the Spotlight Cramer offered a broader perspective and explained that on most days, individual stocks respond either to the movements of other stocks or to the overall direction of the market. He said that the market, in turn, often takes its cues from the bond market, which he described as its much larger sibling. On Tuesday, he noted that the bond market heavily influenced stock prices. He highlighted that every downward movement in bond prices, which translates to higher interest rates, was met with negative reactions from the stock market. According to Cramer, such a relationship meant that rising rates handed the advantage to the market bears and tipped the scales in their favor during daily trading. So heres the bottom line: The good news is that rates can also go up and not just down by the time we get a budget deal. The bad news is that rates are threatening to break out to the upside. And if they cant stay calm, if they jump to a new, higher level while Congress works on the budget bill, were liable to have more days like today, where you need a plethora of positive themes for any given stock to break free from the gravitational pull of these darn miserable Treasurys. Our Methodology For this article, we compiled a list of 10 stocks that were discussed by Jim Cramer during the episodes of Mad Money aired on May 20. We listed the stocks in the order that Cramer mentioned them. We also provided hedge fund sentiment for each stock as of the fourth quarter of 2024, which was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 1,000 hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). By Che Pan and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) -China's Lenovo, the world's largest personal computer manufacturer, said fourth-quarter profit plunged 64% - a result that was far worse than expected and one that sent its shares sharply lower. The profit slide was mostly due to a fair value loss on warrants but the company was also hurt by the U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in March to double fentanyl-related tariffs on all Chinese imports. "The 20% tariffs announced in March were implemented suddenly and left us no time to prepare. It had a significant impact on our numbers in the last quarter - it's not a small number," Lenovo's CEO Yang Yuanqing said in conference call. Lenovo's shares tumbled 5.4%, underperforming a 1.3% fall in the Hang Seng index. While the U.S. and China have rolled back most of their tariffs levied since April, the 20% tariff remains. Yang told Reuters in an interview that if tariffs impacted costs, the company would raise prices. Lenovo has 30 manufacturing facilities in more than 10 countries, and that its diversified manufacturing bases can help it navigate U.S. tariffs, he added. Net profit for Lenovo, which also manufactures smartphones and offers cloud computing solutions, came in at $90 million, well short of an LSEG consensus estimate of $225.8 million. But overall revenue for the January-March quarter climbed 23% from the same period a year earlier, ahead of analysts' expectations of $15.6 billion. The company's infrastructure solutions group, which includes servers, did particularly well, posting a 64% jump in revenue. Its solutions and services group, which offers cloud-based software for enterprise clients, saw revenue surge 22%. (Reporting by Che Pan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Jamie Freed and Edwina Gibbs) By Marianna Parraga HOUSTON (Reuters) -Groups led by affiliates of Contrarian Funds, Gold Reserve and Vitol are working on improved offers for the parent of Venezuela-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum as the list of potential bidders narrows, sources close to the preparations said. The three consortia, which participated in an earlier competition for setting a starting bid, have been in talks with banks to secure the financing needed for their offers in the court-organized auction of shares. They are also working to provide assurance they can deliver the proposed terms to complete the deal, known as "certainty of closure," the sources said. A fourth bidder in the starting round in March, an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management, is not expected to submit an offer in this phase of competition, a source familiar with the decision said, citing legal risks. The Delaware court has been trying to auction Venezuela's most prized overseas asset since 2017 to pay up to $20.6 billion to 16 creditors for debt defaults and expropriations in the South American country. The government of President Nicolas Maduro has said the process constitutes the "robbery" of a sovereign asset. Houston-based Citgo, ultimately owned by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, is the seventh-largest U.S. refiner. A $3.7-billion offer by Contrarian Funds' Red Tree Investments was approved by Delaware Judge Leonard Stark in April as a starting bid. The investment firm and its rivals have until May 28 to submit improved offers. Following a June 11 deadline for a court officer to select a winner, a final hearing in the auction of shares in PDV Holding, one of Citgo Petroleum's parents, is scheduled for July 22. The consortia still have time to tune up offers or decide against bidding. A ruling earlier this week by a New York court dismissing arguments by some companies that could have allowed them to jump the line of creditors established in Delaware could lead to changes in some bids, the sources said. FIERCE COMPETITION Robert Pincus, the court officer appointed by Stark to oversee the auction, last year selected a $7.3-billion offer by Elliott affiliate Amber Energy as the winner of the first bidding round. But most creditors registered in the auction ultimately rejected the proposal due to conditions preventing the distribution of proceeds. Pincus, who is being advised by investment bank Evercore, this time selected Red Tree's lower offer to kick off the bidding round due to what he described as its higher certainty of closure, and as a mechanism to encourage "robust competition." Angela Rayner lobbied Rachel Reeves to consider further tax increases in her Spring Statement rather than cut welfare spending - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe Angela Rayners proposed tax raid on savers and investors would trigger a fresh exodus of wealth creators from Britain, ministers have been warned. Andy Bell, the founder of AJ Bell, one of Britains biggest consumer stockbrokers, warned that a blueprint drawn up by the Deputy Prime Minister would prompt businesses leaders and entrepreneurs to leave Britain. Many wealthy non-doms have already moved elsewhere after Labour scrapped the tax status earlier this year. Mr Bell said: Angela Rayner seems to think the answer to the UKs productivity problem is to tax anyone whos still producing. If the Government isnt careful, the non-dom exodus will extend to business leaders and entrepreneurs. He added: I love the UK and have always seen paying tax as a sign of success, but there is a limit. The comments come after The Telegraph revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister lobbied Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, to consider further tax increases in her Spring Statement rather than cut welfare spending. Ms Rayners department sent the Chancellor a memo outlining eight potential tax increases, including reinstating the pensions lifetime allowance, changing dividend taxes and making shares in companies listed on Aim, Londons junior stock market, subject to inheritance tax. She also suggested new raids on the million people who pay the additional rate of income tax and a higher corporation tax level for banks. The proposals, which according to estimates cited in the document would raise taxes by 3bn to 4bn a year, come after Labour took aim at non-doms by abolishing the status and replacing it with a new system that requires the wealthy to pay tax on their global incomes. That change has already triggered an exodus of the wealthy. Last month it emerged that Goldman Sachs international boss and billionaire property investors Ian and Richard Livingstone had quit Britain following Labours raid on the wealthy. Biggest wealth exodus in a decade David Postings, the chief executive of bank lobby group UK Finance, warned that the plans would also leave British banks at a disadvantage to rivals in the US and Europe. Ms Rayner proposed raising the rate of corporation tax paid by banks to 30pc from 28pc, bringing in up to 700m a year. Mr Postings said: Banks based in the UK already pay a significantly higher rate of tax than those in New York and are expected to pay notably higher rates of tax than in other European capitals. The tax environment has an important bearing on investment decisions and growth. To make the UKs approach to bank taxation globally competitive, we think the government should phase out the bank corporation tax surcharge and the bank levy over time. Storied Italian luxury footwear brand Moreschi has found a pair of white knights. Glam Srl, the company behind the Superglamourous shoe brand, and its investor, the London-based Imerman Family Office fund, have taken over the Moreschi brand. More from WWD They won the auction set up by the Court of Pavia, Italy, which had declared Moreschi bankrupt in 2024. The brand was previously owned by the Swiss fund Hurleys. The acquisition includes the Moreschi trademark, all related intellectual property, machinery and in-house materials. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The joint acquisition builds on the existing relationship between the Imerman Family Office and Glam Srl, as the former invested in the latter last year becoming its majority stakeholder. The new owners are committed to resurrect Moreschi, known primarily for its luxury mens formal shoes, in addition to a womens line, by leveraging Superglamourous digital-first expertise and capabilities. The latter brand, established by Andrea Usuelli and Riccardo Libertino in 2012, is best known for its slippers defined by bold designs. Moreschi was established by Mario Moreschi in 1946 in Vigevano, Italy a renowned shoe manufacturing hub located about 30 miles southwest of Milan, which has partially lost its prominence in recent years. In the wake of the acquisition, manufacturing of Moreschi shoes is to continue in Italy. Building synergies between Moreschis heritage and Superglamourous digital-first DNA will be instrumental in fueling renewed growth for the former brand and provide a strong business-to-business footprint for the latter. The two companies will continue to operate as independent brands, leveraging shared operational infrastructures. Moreschis legacy in Italian shoemaking is unparalleled. Our goal is to build on that heritage, evolving the brand with thoughtful innovation while staying true to its core values of craftsmanship, elegance and timeless design, said Bianca Ladow, director of the Imerman Family Office and director of Glam Srl and Moreschi. The partnership plans to leverage Superglamourouss digital expertise and Moreschis renowned craftsmanship to create a unique offering in the luxury footwear market. This acquisition underscores a commitment to preserving Made in Italy craftsmanship and artisans while adapting to the evolving landscape of luxury retail, Ladow said. It's been almost one year since Macy's turned down a $6.9 billion buyout offer, and the activist investor isn't over the rejection. Macy's ended conversations over the potential bid from Arkhouse and its partner, Brigade Capital Management, on July 15, 2024. The $24.80 per share offer is more than double Macy's current share price. Arkhouse managing partner Gavriel Kahane told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid podcast (video above; listen in below) that he is still "frustrated" over it. "Most shareholders are obviously ... woulda, shoulda, coulda mid-twenties. The stock's trading in the low teens once again," Kahane said. He declined to say whether he would be taking another run at acquiring Macy's. Arkhouse remains a shareholder, but Kahane declined to disclose the size of its stake. This embedded content is not available in your region. But another proposal doesn't seem off the table. "Macy's is still publicly traded, still mispriced, and still in desperate need of someone coming in to save shareholders," Kahane said. At the time, Macy's CFO Adrian Mitchell said the offer was "not compelling" given Macy's potential. Management opted to focus on its turnaround strategy under CEO Tony Spring, dubbed "A Bold New Chapter." Mitchell, who recently announced his departure, said, "There was not enough evidence to indicate that any potential transaction was actionable ... you have to have the financing to do a transaction." Kahane said the group "very much had financing." Macy's declined to comment. People walk in front of the Macy's Herald Square store on May 15 in New York City. (Craig T Fruchtman/Getty Images) Craig T Fruchtman via Getty Images Kahane said Macy's was correct to say its financing was "atypical" in that it did financing in two structures, one of which was "really real estate diligence dependent." The firm was eyeing Macy's large real estate portfolio, which includes its New York City Herald Square flagship. He later added, "We appreciate that you think you're selling just a retail business, but as buyers, we're buying a retailer and a hundred million square feet of its real estate and therefore need real estate diligence in the normal course." GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders said, "Macys was right to reject the buyout offer." "Macy's needs to be run as a retailer, not as a real estate play," Saunders told Yahoo Finance. "Yes, there is a lot of work to do in order to get Macy's back on track, but the playbook of current management is a lot more convincing than those that want cash in for short-term gain." There are at least four structural and cultural changes that could make an impact, she tells Poets&Quants. Lack of a formal career development plan is one stumbling block to advancing in business. Our research found that both men and women cite this as a problem that has grown in the last two years, but its a bigger problem for women and minorities. Elissa Sangster, CEO of the Forte Foundation: If companies want to retain MBAs, they need to let them know why they belong, reiterate the value they bring, and help them to create a roadmap to advance Fortes study shows that women see an average salary increase of 52% in their first post-MBA role, rising to $131,449. Men, however, see a 73% increase, reaching $140,007. Over time, the pay gap expands. Women in current roles average $179,987 a 108% increase from pre-MBA salaries while men average $216,487, a 168% jump. Leadership barriers for both genders have climbed in the last two years, due primarily to lack of a formal career development plan and more women and minorities dont have a sponsor, says Elissa Sangster, CEO of the nonprofit dedicated to advancing women in business through access to education, career support, and a global community. A third of MBAs of both genders say they have to change jobs to advance and this is much higher for women and minorities. Clearly, we can do better than having MBAs believe they have to move out in order to move up. The findings are part of Fortes 2024 MBA Outcomes study, released today (May 22), which surveyed 1,047 MBA alumni from 69 business schools. Respondents, 79% of whom were women and 29% from underrepresented minority backgrounds, reported strong initial salary gains following graduation. But the gender pay gap widens as careers progress, with women consistently lagging men in promotions, management responsibility, and proximity to the C-suite. A new report by the Forte Foundation reveals that despite significant post-MBA salary bumps, women and minority graduates continue to face stark disparities in pay, promotions, and access to leadership. An MBA still pays off but for women and underrepresented minorities, the returns come with a ceiling. A third of MBAs of both genders say they have to change jobs to advance and this is much higher for women and minorities, Elissa Sangster, CEO of the Forte Foundation, says of the nonprofits findings in its newly released report Story Continues She continues: Another obstacle is not having a sponsor, which is a much bigger issue for women and minorities, our research revealed. Women know how important a sponsor is and recent research found that 73% of women who have a sponsor say it helps them to advance faster. Sangster also calls for companies to conduct more comprehensive compensation reviews. A third focus area is to create compensation audits to ensure salary equity but to also look at bonuses, stock options and other financial incentives. Our research found that a greater percentage of men than women value stock options and other financial incentives, but that doesnt mean women dont prioritize them, too, she says. CULTURAL CHANGE STARTS WITH FEEDBACK Cultural shifts in performance evaluation are also necessary, Sangster says. Culturally, provide regular actionable feedback and remove bias from performance reviews and in considering women for promotion, she says. Our research found that women are promoted less frequently than men, have fewer direct reports, and are further away from becoming CEO than men. And women are more likely to say they have to leave their job in order to advance. The disparity in promotions and leadership responsibility backs up Sangsters observations. Men in the survey report receiving 2.3 promotions post-MBA, compared to just 1.4 for women. They also manage nearly twice as many direct reports and are significantly closer to the CEO role. Only 6% of women manage budgets of $50 million or more, compared to 12% of men. To address these disparities, Sangster advises companies to implement structured long-term development plans for their people. Id advise companies to create 1-, 3- and 5-year career development plans for all their people. They have business development plans but are coming up short in doing the same for employees, she says. Another recommendation is to focus more on sponsorship programs and ensure there is equity in terms of who participates in them. If companies want to retain MBAs, they need to let them know why they belong, reiterate the value they bring, and help them to create a roadmap to advance. SANGSTER: SCHOOLS & STUDENTS MUST STEP UP Business schools, she adds, can help equip students to better evaluate employers and advancement opportunities. Business schools need to teach students how to navigate the interview process to ask about company career development plans to help them to pick the best employer to ensure career progress and to continue to compare employers and ask questions after landing their first post-MBA job, Sangster says. But she stresses that alumni must take initiative as well. This is a two-way street and MBA graduates and alumni need to ask questions throughout their career. Does the company have written and transparent guidelines on how to reach the next level? Do they have sponsorship programs available to all employees to help them advance? If there is no sponsorship program, how do they set up their people for success? For those without access to formal structures, informal networks can be key. If a company does not have a sponsorship program, create one informally by connecting with someone at their employer who is an alum of their school. Our research found more than a third of MBAs say they have to leave in order to advance, so it is critical to prioritize networking 10 years out and longer, not just in the early years post MBA. Those connections can be the key to identifying opportunities to move up, she says. MBA Pay Gaps, Promotion Disparities & Leadership Barriers Persist For Women & Minorities: Forte Study WOMEN PUSH AHEAD ON AI BUT RECOGNITION LAGS One area where women are leading is in the use of AI to support career development. According to the report, women are more likely than men to use AI to optimize resumes (64% versus 51%), improve cover letters (59% versus 41%), and practice interview questions. Women are also more likely to use AI on the job for continuous learning and identifying automation opportunities. Sangster believes these efforts need greater institutional recognition. Most companies do provide some kind of learning and development platform or resources for their employees. But my guess is that a lot of them dont formally track it in a way that gets incorporated into performance reviews, feedback, or is included in criteria for promotion, she says. She urges companies to close this loop. If learning and development is important enough to an organization that they are providing resources or funds to employees, then theyve got to come full circle with it. Completion of those courses or skill development programs has got to make its way into performance reviews and employee evaluations for a promotion. If you are promoting people in your organization who arent investing in their ongoing learning and development, then its likely you are making a mistake, she says. FLEX WORK TOPS PRIORITIES, BUT GAPS PERSIST The study also touches on shifting workplace values. Remote and flexible work arrangements remain the top-rated benefit for both genders, but priorities diverge in other areas. Women value time-related benefits like paid time off (54% versus 40%), while men are more likely to prioritize financial perks like stock options (47% versus 29%). Finally, the study exposes a striking perception gap in views on workplace equality. Men are significantly more likely than women to believe gender parity has been achieved, with men scoring 3.11 out of 5 when asked if equality exists in the workplace. Women score the same question at just 2.18. The gap extends to perceptions of pay parity and optimism about the future of business, suggesting that cultural awareness is just as critical as compensation audits and career ladders. DONT MISS IN WOMENS MBA ENROLLMENT, ONE SMALL U.S. B-SCHOOL LEADS THEM ALL The post MBA Pay Gaps, Promotion Disparities & Leadership Barriers Persist For Women & Minorities: New Forte Study appeared first on Poets&Quants. This is The Takeaway from today's Morning Brief, which you can sign up to receive in your inbox every morning along with: Take your pick. Social feeds are filled with #RecessionIndicators, ranging from the delightfully absurd to the quietly astute. But the urge to find out where the economy is heading before definitive findings is a powerful one. Retail sales, commentary from big box companies, and debt loads all contribute to an understanding of the health of the US consumer. New financial products can also offer fresh insight. Klarna (KLAR.PVT), the buy now, pay later lender, reported this week that consumer credit losses rose 17% for the first quarter compared to the same period last year. And that even as revenue rose to over $700 million, net losses doubled to $99 million. Sign up for the Yahoo Finance Morning Brief Subscribe By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy The Swedish company, which allows consumers to buy big-ticket items or make routine purchases on interest-free payment plans, recently announced a partnership with DoorDash (DASH) the genesis of internet memes remixing the subprime mortgage crisis with late night Taco Bell. But Klarna's quarterly data arrived alongside other potentially troubling findings about buy now, pay later (BNPL) borrowers. 41% of BNPL users said they paid late on one of their loans in the past year, according to a new survey published by the credit platform Lending Tree. That figure is up from 34% a year ago. The survey also found that a quarter of users say they've used the loans to buy groceries, a 14% increase from last year. Read more: Buy now, pay later vs. credit cards: Which should you use for your next purchase? Shares of Affirm, a competing BNPL company, sank after reporting a weaker outlook earlier this month but have since rebounded as the lender attempts to take share from credit card brands. And in April Klarna postponed its plans for an initial public offering amid the tariff uncertainty that has gripped Wall Street, according to reports. Klarna has said that the increase in consumer credit losses doesn't say much about the US consumer. Instead, the company has pointed to another metric: credit losses as a share of the total sum of its consumer loans. Makes sense. That figure came in at 0.54%, up from 0.51% during the same period last year, a slight increase but still low overall. The company has also claimed the short duration of its products 83% of its loan booking refreshes within three months gives it the ability to "respond rapidly to evolving market conditions." But another key point here is that the constellation of data we all look at to take the economy's temperature is getting broader as financial instruments and consumer options evolve in tandem. On Wednesday, May 21, Needham reiterated a Buy rating on Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) but cut the price target to $150 from $246. The firm expects the companys Q4 report for fiscal year 2025, which is scheduled for release after the market closes on Thursday, is not likely to serve as a strong positive driver for the stocks value. Needham Adjusts Deckers' (DECK) Expectations: Buy Rating, Lower Target A customer browsing a retail store, finding the perfect footwear for their casual outfits. According to Needhams analysts, Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) is expected to beat its conservative Q4 guidance, but the margin of outperformance is expected to be less than last years results. In the previous year, the company surpassed expectations by more than twice the implied Q4 guide. Despite the expected beat, the analysts believe that any guidance provided for the fiscal year 2026 might fall short of the sell-side consensus. This cautious outlook is based on factors like slower growth of the companys Hoka brand, a return to normal levels of markdowns, and the effects of tariffs. Needham has raised its earnings per share (EPS) forecast for Deckers Outdoor Corporations (NYSE:DECK) Q4 of fiscal 2025 to $0.57, up from the previous $0.45, and for the full fiscal year 2025 to $5.90, up from $5.78. However, the firm reduced the EPS estimates for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to $5.90 and $6.55 from the previous forecasts of $6.29 and $7.04, respectively. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) specializes in designing and distributing footwear, apparel, and accessories for everyday casual lifestyle use and high-performance activities. The companys portfolio of brands includes UGG, HOKA, Koolaburra, Teva, and AHNU. Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) sells its products in more than 50 countries and territories around the world. While we acknowledge the potential of DECK as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DECK and that has a 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 11 Stocks That Will Bounce Back According To Analysts and 11 Best Stocks Under $15 to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. International Forum Marks Greek Genocide Commemoration Catastrophe of Smyrna in 1922. Earlier this week, the Greek-American organisation, the Eastern Mediterranean Business and Cultural Alliance (EMBCA), held its third Forum on the Greek Genocide--a subject long confined to the margins of history. The event brought together scholars and researchers to explore the historical processes that contributed to the persecution and destruction of Christian minorities--Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians--during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. Moderated by EMBCA President Lou Katsos, the panel presented research examining the political and ideological dynamics that shaped this period of mass violence and displacement, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated three million Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians between 1914 and 1923, including more than 750,000 Greeks from Asia Minor (including Pontus) and Eastern Thrace. At the forum, my presentation, From Empire to Nation-State: Nationalism, Ethnic Homogenisation, and the Elimination of Minorities in the Late Ottoman Empire, examined the institutional and ideological drivers of the persecution of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians from the 1870s until 1924. Several distinguished academics and researchers contributed to the forum, including Lou Ureneck, retired journalism professor at Boston University and author of The Great Fire; Dr Vasileios Meichanetsidis, author of The Genocide of the Ottoman Greeks; Dr Fatma Muge Gocek of the University of Michigan, author of Denial of Violence; Dr Theodosios Kyriakidis, Chair for Pontic Studies at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; and Savvas (Sam) Koktzoglou, co-author of The Greek Genocide in American Naval War Diaries. Reconceptualising Genocide as a gradual and evolving process My presentation traced the transition from imperial pluralism to ethnic nationalism in the late Ottoman Empire, highlighting the systematic elimination of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians. It demonstrated that genocide emerged through interconnected phases of state-led persecution characterised by demographic engineering, ideological radicalisation, and cumulative violence under successive regimes. Drawing on the work of leading genocide scholar of the late Ottoman period, Taner Akcam, I argued that genocide is best understood not as a series of isolated events, but as a cumulative and evolving process. It begins with ideological dehumanisation and progresses through systematic administrative measures. These include legal discrimination, surveillance, propaganda, economic boycotts, demographic restructuring, and bureaucratic marginalisation, ultimately culminating in mass violence and extermination. The Ottoman Empire governed its diverse population through the millet system, which granted limited autonomy to religious minorities such as Christians. Despite this, Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians, were still classified as second-class citizens. However, they had deep historical roots in the region and played vital roles in the empire's cultural and economic life. From the nineteenth century onwards, political shifts began to challenge this multi-ethnic system. The Tanzimat reforms (1839--1876) sought to modernise the empire and grant equal citizenship to all subjects, but these efforts provoked conservative backlash and ultimately failed to resolve minority grievances. The 1878 Treaty of Berlin, which endorsed reforms for Armenians following the Russo-Ottoman War, intensified suspicions that Christian minorities were aligned with foreign powers. Under Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876-1909), authoritarianism increased, culminating in the Hamidian massacres of 200,000 Armenians and 20,000 Assyrians between 1894 and 1896. The 1908 Young Turk Revolution briefly raised hopes for equality. However, the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)--the political party of the Young Turks--soon asserted a centralised, nationalist agenda amid growing political instability in the empire. Following the Adana massacres of approximately 20,000 Armenians in 1909--amid political tensions between supporters of Sultan Abdulhamid II and the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), and broader challenges to reform within the empire--the CUP, at its 1910 and 1911 congresses, advocated the use of force to achieve Ottomanisation, viewing Christian minorities as obstacles to preserving an empire in crisis. Territorial losses and the mass exodus of Muslims following the Balkan Wars (1912--1913) contributed to the radicalisation of the Young Turks, who began to view Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians as unassimilable internal enemies. The persecution of Greeks in Eastern Thrace in 1913 marked an early manifestation of this shift, which escalated further in both Eastern Thrace and Western Anatolia in 1914. These events escalated the broader process of Turkification, characterised by land confiscations, mass violence, and the expulsion of Christian minorities. Between 1914 and 1923, Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians endured a coordinated campaign of persecution orchestrated first by the Young Turks and later by the Turkish Nationalist Movement. This campaign encompassed the First World War (1914--1918)--although Greece only entered the conflict in June 1917--and continued through the Greco-Turkish War (1919--1922). It included targeted violence against Greeks in Eastern Thrace and Western Anatolia, as well as Assyrians in Eastern Anatolia in 1914; the Armenian Genocide of 1915; the persecution of Pontian Greeks in 1916; ongoing violence in Pontus from 1921 to 1922; and the Catastrophe of Smyrna in 1922. While often studied separately, these events were interconnected events within a broader period of displacement and violence that began in the late nineteenth century and culminated in the 1923 Population Exchange. Despite changes in leadership and variations in how each group was targeted, successive Ottoman and Turkish regimes perceived Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians as unassimilable existential threats and portrayed them as disloyal subjects collaborating with the Great Powers. Through dispossession, deportation, and extermination--driven by nationalist ideologies and internal political struggles--these regimes aimed to achieve national homogenisation. The concept of cumulative radicalisation closely aligns with genocide scholar Dirk Moses's notion of the "problem of permanent security," whereby states, in their pursuit of lasting stability, perceive certain minority populations as unassimilable and persistent threats to national cohesion. Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians--some of whom advocated for reform or autonomy--were viewed as fundamentally incompatible with the preservation of the disintegrating Ottoman Empire and, later, the construction of the Turkish nation-state. This violence was carried out by central and local Ottoman authorities, military forces, paramilitaries, and local collaborators--including some members of Kurdish and Arab tribes. Although Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians were the primary targets, other minorities--including Maronites, Antiochian Greeks of the Levant, Yezidis, Kurds, and Jews--also suffered various forms of persecution, a subject that warrants further research. The Paris Peace Conference (1919--1920) and the Treaty of Sevres (1920) aimed to redraw territorial boundaries and establish a new order following the breakdown of the Ottoman Empire. However, these initiatives collapsed due to shifting political priorities, the absence of a clear legal framework, and a lack of sustained international resolve--ultimately allowing the perpetrators to escape punishment. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne established new national borders, and the subsequent population exchange between Christians in Turkey and Muslims in Greece contributed to further demographic shifts. Turkish historical narratives have traditionally emphasised themes of national survival and triumph over perceived internal dissent and foreign intervention. In doing so, it has often sidelined the experiences of minority communities, downplaying or overlooking the extent of their suffering. Violent actions against these groups have frequently been depicted as unfortunate but essential measures to maintain national cohesion or as inevitable consequences of the turmoil and chaos of war. Through processes of dehumanisation and delegitimisation, minority groups came to be perceived as threats, creating conditions in which genocidal acts were justified as necessary for preserving or restoring state integrity. Nationalism, anchored in ethnic and religious exclusivity, shaped the final decades of the empire and significantly influenced the formation of the modern Turkish Republic through a project of monocultural homogenisation. By fully examining this history through academic research and dedicated education initiatives, we gain vital understanding of the past that shapes contemporary dialogues on intergenerational trauma, accountability, and political recognition. (Reuters) -Nike is planning to raise prices of some products from next week and will sell items on Amazon after six years, the company said on Wednesday. The footwear retailer will increase prices on apparel and equipment for adults between $2 and $10, while those priced between $100 and $150 will see a $5 hike, it said. The company sources a significant portion of its footwear from China and Vietnam. With the critical back-to-school shopping season approaching, Nike will not raise prices for children's products. "We regularly evaluate our business and make pricing adjustments as part of our seasonal planning," Nike said. Prices for shoes costing more than $150 will increase by up to $10, while products costing less than $100 will not see any hike. Nike's Air Force 1 shoes, which cost $155, are exempt from the increase. CNBC first reported on the price increases. German sportswear brand Puma said earlier this month it had reduced shipments from China to the U.S. and might increase prices in the country due to tariffs. BACK AT AMAZON Nike will be back on Amazon as the footwear maker works to regain market share from newer and trendier competitors amid a turnaround push under CEO Elliott Hill. Nike's products on Amazon are currently sold by independent merchants, and the company stopped selling on the e-commerce platform in 2019 as it shifted focus to sales on its own websites and in stores. Its return to Amazon in the U.S. was part of its investments in its marketplace to reach more consumers, which also included expanding to new physical retailers such as department store chain Printemps. North America was Nike's biggest market by total revenue, as of 2024. Amazon notified some of those merchants that it will ban them from selling certain Nike products from July 19 as it was working with Nike directly, the Information reported, citing a message sent to merchants by the company. "We're providing an extended period of time for the small number of sellers affected to sell through their inventory of overlapping items," an Amazon spokesperson said. (Reporting by Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi and Arun Koyyur) Nippon Steel Corporation (OTC:NPSCY) of Japan is still determined to buy out United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) in its entirety, even in the face of regulatory scrutiny. The business's plan was verified by Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori before the May 21 deadline for the CFIUS's updated national security review, which is overseen by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Former President Joe Biden has already opposed the $15 billion agreement on national security concerns. Nonetheless, in April, President Donald Trump directed CFIUS to reconsider the merger, with a final ruling anticipated by June 5. Nippon Steel remains committed to a complete U.S. Steel takeover. An aerial view of an industrial plant manufacturing welded pipes and tubes from stainless steel and galvanized carbon. Mori maintained that "there is no free technology" and that Nippon Steel Corporation (OTC:NPSCY) could only share its core technology with United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) through complete ownership, not a joint venture. The business is trying to meet with Bessent to assess Trump's stance. If the deal goes through, Nippon Steel Corporation (OTC:NPSCY) intends to invest $14 billion in United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X)'s operations, including $4 billion for a new mill. The firm wants to keep the integrated structure, name, and headquarters of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X). A majority of Americans and three independent directors chosen by CFIUS would be on the reorganized board to handle national security issues. By March 2026, Nippon Steel Corporation (OTC:NPSCY) anticipates a 43% decline in net profit as a result of U.S. tariffs and pressure on steel prices globally. While we acknowledge the potential of X to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than X and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In and 13 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2025. By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Maggie Fick COPENHAGEN/LONDON (Reuters) -Years before Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy became a U.S. blockbuster, then-CEO Lars Rebien Sorensen told a press conference in Copenhagen: "You ain't seen nothing yet." More than a decade later, the 70-year-old is returning to Denmark's biggest company and is expected to strongly influence its future direction - most immediately through the selection of a new chief executive. His appointment as an observer on the board follows the removal on Friday of current CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen by Novo and the Novo Nordisk Foundation - the company's controlling shareholder, which Sorensen chairs. Jorgensen succeeded Sorensen as CEO in 2017. Six people interviewed by Reuters said they think Sorensen will use his influence to push for an external hire, the first in Novo's 103-year history. The company has had only five chief executives, all Danes. A source close to Novo who spoke on condition of anonymity said Sorensen would look for someone who could recharge the company's U.S. performance, and that such a candidate was likely to come from outside. Under Jorgensen's leadership, Novo became a world leader in the lucrative weight-loss drug market, launching Wegovy in 2021. But in the United States, its largest and most profitable market, the drug has been struggling against U.S. rival Eli Lilly's Zepbound. The decision to remove Jorgensen showed the Foundation's frustration with management over the execution of a strategy to shift Novo's focus to obesity from diabetes care, devised when Sorensen was CEO, the same person said. Novo Nordisk chair Helge Lund on Friday said the company's strategy is unchanged despite the shake-up. Lund said last week the search would include internal and external candidates and Jorgensen will stay on until a successor is appointed. The Foundation declined to comment on Thursday. A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said Sorensen will participate in board meetings but holds no voting rights as an observer. He will become a full board member at the next AGM. NEW STYLE Novo's shares have more than halved from their peak when the company was valued at $615 billion in June last year, one reason cited by the Foundation for intervening to remove Jorgensen. At one point Europe's most valuable company, its expansion bolstered Denmark's economy and the country's global standing. Nevertheless, Friday's move stunned investors, analysts and many Danes, who viewed it as a public humiliation of Jorgensen and the company's board. "I don't know how you bet against Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang and Nvidia's technology," David Wagner told Schwab Network recently. Moreover, the chip maker is poised to benefit from its overseas growth, according to Wagner, and it could get a lift from the economy's weakness, the investor suggested. Wagner is the Head of Equities at Aptus Capital Advisors. Olivier Blanchard International Growth and a Potential "Scarcity Growth Premium" Nvidia Corporation (NVDA)'s recently announced Middle Eastern deals show that the company's international growth can make it "resilient" to America's problems, the investor suggested. "International growth is one of the core tenets of Nvidia's valuation," he said. Meanwhile, amid macro pressures, "AI is an idiosyncratic area of growth," Wagner believes. Consequently, he is hoping that Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) stock obtains a scarcity growth premium." In other words, he believes that, since AI is one of the few growth areas within the economy and NVDA is integral to AI, NVDA stock could start to attract many more investors going forward. While we acknowledge the potential of NVDA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Nvidia (NVDA) stock is in full focus after CEO Jensen Huang issued a strong statement on an important tech policy matter. Investors have harbored plenty of questions since the year began, as the new presidential administration has considered what its agenda will be on artificial intelligence (AI). The fast-growing frontier of the tech sector has emerged as an increasingly important area of public policy that experts believe legislators cannot afford to ignore. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Prior to leaving office, President Joe Biden passed an AI diffusion rule that limited the countries to which U.S. companies could sell chips. This quickly sparked a backlash from the tech community, as industry leaders argued that it would negatively impact not just their progress but also the U.S.s AI dominance. Huang has issued statements on this policy before, making it clear where he stands. But earlier today (May 21), he addressed it again. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently spoke out against the Biden administration's AI diffusion rule.Image source: Edelson/Getty Images Huang doesnt hold back in his take on China chip curbs After weeks of waiting, members of the AI community finally got what they had been anxiously awaiting last week, when the White House announced it would be rescinding Bidens AI diffusion rule. This has been met with praise from many tech-sector leaders, who have made it clear they believe these initial policies were misguided. Related: Nvidia stock surges after surprising China trade war news Huang is certainly among them. The Nvidia CEO has been beating the drum on the importance of relaxing U.S.-China chip curbs for months. In early May 2025, he met with representatives of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the risks that he believed it posed to his company and the broader industry. On May 11, he spoke at Taipeis Computex tech forum and issued an even more blunt take on the China chip curb policy, describing the export control as a blatant failure and highlighting ways in which the new policies will benefit U.S. tech companies. As he noted, companies like Nvidia stood to lose a valuable market share if they were not able to sell in China. The east Asian nation has its own growing ecosystem of chipmakers who could have likely filled the void left by Western companies, severely compromising the U.S.s AI dominance. By Georgina McCartney HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Thursday as investors weighed a report that OPEC+ is discussing a production increase for July, stoking concerns that global supply could outpace demand growth. Brent futures settled down 47 cents, or 0.72%, to $64.44 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled down 37 cents, or 0.6%, at $61.20. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, are discussing whether to make another large output increase at their meeting on June 1, Bloomberg News reported. An increase of 411,000 barrels per day for July is among the options under discussion, though no final agreement has been reached, the report said, citing delegates. "The OPEC+ speculation is the biggest factor today," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York. "This OPEC+ decision is going to be pretty weighty, and it is not helping that Kazakhstan did not come through last month," he added. Kazakhstan's oil production has risen by 2% in May, an industry source said on Tuesday. OUTPUT INCREASES Reuters previously reported that the group planned to accelerate output increases and could bring back as much as 2.2 million bpd by November. OPEC+ has been in the process of unwinding production cuts, with additions to the market in May and June. "We're seeing the market reacting to evidence that OPEC is letting go of a strategy to defend price in favour of market share," said Harry Tchiliguirian at Onyx Capital Group. "It's a bit like taking off a Band-Aid; you do it in one fell swoop." RBC Capital analyst Helima Croft said in a note on Wednesday that a 411,000-bpd increase from July is the "most likely outcome" from the meeting, primarily from Saudi Arabia. "A key question will be whether the voluntary cut will be fully drawn down before the leaves turn brown in many parts of the world, in line with the original taper schedule," she said. Prices were already lower in the session after Energy Information Administration data released on Wednesday showed U.S. crude and fuel inventories showed surprise stock builds last week as crude imports hit a six-week high and gasoline and distillate demand slipped. [EIA/S] Crude inventories rose by 1.3 million barrels to 443.2 million barrels in the week ended May 16, the EIA said. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected a drawdown of 1.3 million barrels. The EIA's surprise stock builds will exert downward pressure on prices, particularly on WTI, said Emril Jamil at LSEG Oil Research, adding that this could further encourage more U.S. exports to Europe and Asia. Getty Images / Spencer Platt Industrials were among the biggest losers from the trade war, but they're staging a comeback. Institutional buyers are pouring in and sector breadth is improving. This could signal a shift from defensive to cyclical stocks. Industrials were one of the biggest losers of the Liberation Day stock market sell-off, but they've since made an impressive comeback. The sector hit record highs at the start of the week after plunging over 20% in April. Since 1990, only two other periods have seen this level of price appreciation: immediately after the Great Financial Crisis and the pandemic. Industrials are one of the most tariff-exposed areas of the economy. Companies in the sector often rely heavily on global trade and have thin margins that can be easily disturbed by import and export costs. The sector includes companies like GE Aerospace, Boeing, and Uber Technologies. Increased confidence in the economy and trade negotiations, combined with strong performances from aerospace and defense stocks, helped carry the rally. Trump's recent announcement of a $175 billion investment into the Golden Dome missile defense system is also looking like a promising tailwind for the sector. Industrials is the first sector to break record highs after Liberation Day. Institutional investors are buying into the rally, adding more fuel. According to Bank of America, for the week ending May 16, hedge fund net purchases of industrial stocks were at their highest level since 2008. Bank of America Additionally, 65% of the sector's stocks are trading above their 200-day moving averages, indicating that more stocks are participating in the rally, according to Adam Turnquist, the chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. While "sector breadth has notably improved," it's still lower than what it was during previous record highs, Turnquist points out. When the sector was previously trading at all-time highs in late 2024, 80 to 90% of stocks were trading above their 200-day moving average. The percentage of stocks in the sector hitting 52-week highs is also still low, at just shy of 9% this week. LPL Financial remains neutral on the sector, but Turnquist acknowledges that the technical setup is constructive for a continuing rally and could point to cyclical stocks becoming leaders in the overall stock market recovery. Read the original article on Business Insider The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nearly half of married-couple households had both spouses working in 2024. Having two incomes makes it easier to spend more freely, work toward shared financial goals and enjoy better financial security. But that money can also lead to arguments and bad decisions. Read Next: Were a Family of 5 Living on One Salary: Heres Our Monthly Budget Learn More: 3 Reasons Retired Boomers Shouldn't Give Their Kids a Living Inheritance A recent YouTube video from money expert Rachel Cruze laid out five best practices for maximizing your dual income. Use these strategies to better manage your money as a couple and reduce disagreements. Have a Joint Bank Account Some people feel uneasy about sharing a bank account with their partner since it requires giving up some privacy and risking that the other person will spend the money recklessly. But Cruze said a joint account is important since it shows youre both on the same team and makes it easier to track and manage your funds as a couple. She also added that trust is an important factor here, and theres an exception to when a joint bank account makes sense. If you are in a dangerous situation or a situation that you cant trust your spouse, then yes, have separate accounts, she said. Check Out: 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses Budget Your Incomes Intentionally Cruze recommended treating the funds coming in as a single income that you budget together. This is important for making sure youre spending wisely and working toward shared goals. When budgeting, identify and allocate funds to your expenses, from the essentials like housing and food to luxuries like streaming subscriptions and date nights. Youll also want to account for categories like charitable donations, debt payments, investments and savings. Then, commit to sticking to the amounts you both agreed to. The California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation noted that some couples tend to overspend when they have excess income. If thats your case, discuss more productive uses for spare cash, like boosting your emergency fund. Know Each Others Money Tendencies Cruze talked about how she and her husband differ in their money tendencies. For example, she likes to spend money and prefers experiences, while her husband likes to save and prefers buying physical things. Sit down and ask your partner questions to find out where youre alike and different in how you think about and manage money. You might also discuss other recommended money topics Cruze highlighted in a blog post, such as your views on giving and your financial dreams and fears. Its okay if you find more differences than similarities. By Nivedita Balu TORONTO (Reuters) -Royal Bank of Canada's capital markets wing has established a new artificial intelligence and digital innovation team as it bets on AI to boost future growth, the Canadian lender told Reuters on Wednesday. The team, with hubs in New York, Toronto and London, will report to newly appointed Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Lindsay Patrick. RBC also appointed Bobby Grubert as head of AI and Digital Innovation, reporting to Patrick. Grubert worked on Aiden, RBC's first generative AI solution, and RBC Elements, its data-powered research capability. The new team will include experts from global markets and other teams at the bank, RBC said. RBC in March said it expects to earn up to about C$1 billion ($722.02 million) from its AI investments, emphasizing the pivotal role the technology will play in the largest Canadian bank's next growth phase. CEO Dave McKay told investors in March that the bank's technology has received positive responses from the likes of chipmaker Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, and that the lender is betting on AI to speed up training, streamline processes and more. RBC's capital markets head, Derek Neldner, noted that the unit has been scaling and leveraging Aiden, RBC's GenAI solution developed in partnership with research institute Borealis, for electronic trading, automation of front-to-back operations and data-driven research and insights. AI is becoming a key tool for banks globally, which are using it to streamline customer communications, process documents, spot fraudulent activity and automate other mundane tasks. Rival Bank of Montreal also named a chief AI and data officer, while other banks have said they are making investments to boost their capabilities. ($1 = 1.3850 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in TorontoEditing by Matthew Lewis and David Gregorio) By Melanie Burton and Clara Denina MELBOURNE/LONDON (Reuters) -Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm, who in his 4-1/2 year tenure oversaw a big bet on lithium and a cultural overhaul at a firm strongly criticised for workplace toxicity, is to step down, the miner said on Thursday in a surprise to investors. In a statement to the market, the company said only that Stausholm will step down later this year once a succession process, already underway, concludes. It gave no further details. The world's largest iron ore miner named Stausholm as its top boss in late 2020 while grappling with legal, public and investor angst over the destruction of Australia's ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters, which led to the ousting of its former CEO. One of Stausholm's early moves was commissioning a report on workplace culture at the firm, which in 2022 outlined widespread incidents of bullying, harassment and racism. During his tenure the group also pledged a strong pivot towards addressing climate change, committing to achieving an "impeccable ESG" performance. "This news comes as a big surprise, and in our view was not expected," Berenberg analyst Richard Hatch said. "No clear reason for his departure has been given by the company other than to state that now is 'a natural moment' to appoint a successor but it does not feel that natural to us." Under Stausholm Rio has taken a big bet on battery metal lithium, with its Rincon project in Argentina, $6.7 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Arcadium Lithium and $900 million investment in Codelco's Maricunga lithium project. "We had expected Mr Stausholm to remain with the company and drive the integration of the lithium business, so his exit comes as a surprise," Hatch said. Stausholm - one of a number of candidates considered for the role in 2020, including BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn and Newmont boss and former Rio executive Tom Palmer - will continue at the helm until a new CEO is appointed. Internal contenders are expected to include Chief Commercial Officer Bold Baatar, head of iron ore Simon Trott and aluminium boss Jerome Pecresse. Investors said they expected Rio to mount an external search, but it may have to compete for candidates with BHP, whose CEO Mike Henry is widely expected to step down in the next year. "He's done a good job on the soft issues," said analyst Glyn Lawcock at Barrenjoey in Sydney, including repairing relationships after Juukan Gorge and advancing the company's Oyu Tolgoi copper project in Mongolia. Matt Jelonek / Bloomberg via Getty Images Rio Tinto said a "rigorous selection process" is under way to find the replacement for departing CEO Jakob Stausholm. Key Takeaways Rio Tinto announced Thursday that CEO Jakob Stausholm would be stepping down later this year once a successor is appointed. The mining and mineral company said a "rigorous selection process" is under way. Stausholm has led Rio Tinto since January 2021, and has pushed to expand operations. Rio Tinto (RIO) announced Thursday that CEO Jakob Stausholm would be stepping down later this year after leading the mining and minerals provider since January 2021. The British-Australian company explained that Stausholm will stay on the job until a successor is named. Rio Tinto added that a "rigorous selection process is already underway, led by the Nominations Committee." Chair Dominic Barton praised Stausholm's leadership in boosting the company's relationship with key investors, portfolio, management team, and growth trajectory. However, Barton noted this is "a natural moment to appoint Jakob's successor, as we look ahead to our next phase in which we will double down to deliver greater operational performance to realise the full potential of our assets." Stausholm said he and his team have "built on Rio Tinto's historic strengths to deliver profitable, stable growth and significant shareholder value." Stausholm has driven efforts to expand the company's operations, including acquiring lithium miner Arcadium last October for $6.7 billion. U.S.-listed shares of Rio Tinto were down about 1% Thursday morning but are nearly 5% higher higher year-to-date. TradingView Read the original article on Investopedia Russian oil producer Rosneft has acquired the Tomtor rare earth metal deposit in the north of the Yakutia region in Siberia by taking complete control of Vostok Engineering, the project operator, as per the official state registry of Russian companies. The move follows President Vladimir Putin's directive to expedite the Tomtor field's development, reported Reuters. The acquisition, completed on 20 May, is a step towards reducing Russia's reliance on imports, particularly from China. In November last year, Putin criticised the operator for stalling the project and suggested it should either increase investment or seek assistance, including from the state. Tomtor is crucial to Russia's ambition to enhance its production of rare earth metals, which are essential for manufacturing mobile phones, electric cars and various defence industry components. Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, Russia had planned to invest $1.5bn (Rbs119.25bn) in rare earth minerals to become the second-largest producer after China by 2030. The US and other nations are similarly looking to decrease their dependence on China, which currently dominates 95% of the global production and supply of these metals. Russia is estimated to hold the world's fifth-largest reserves of rare earth metals at 3.8 million tonnes (mt), according to the US Geological Survey. The country's strategy for the sector aims to secure up to a 12% share of the global market by 2030, positioning it among the top five producers. Businessman Alexander Nesis, through his IST group of companies, previously held a 75% stake in ThreeArc Mining, the initial operator of Tomtor. Polymetal, a gold and silver producer, formerly owned a 9.1% share in ThreeArc Mining. Following the onset of military actions in Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions, control passed to Vladislav Resin, a former manager at IST, before Rosneft's acquisition. Last month, Russian state bank VEB announced plans to invest more than Rbs1.1trn into the development of the Baimskaya copper mine in the Chukotka region. "Rosneft acquires Tomtor rare earth deposit in Russia" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Phillip White has stepped down as the chief executive of Gordon & MacPhail after just a year in the role. White, who took up the position in April last year, described his departure in a social media post as a decision made with mixed emotions. On LinkedIn, he wrote: After an incredibly rewarding year as CEO at Gordon & MacPhail, I will soon be stepping away from the role due to a change in our family circumstances. A spokesperson for Gordon & MacPhail confirmed to that chair of the board Neil Urquhart will take over as acting chief executive "in the meantime". They added that White left the business to pursue other opportunities and interests. At the time of his appointment last year, Gordon & MacPhail said White, a former Bacardi and Brown-Forman executive, would focus on international growth as [the business] moves into its next chapter of development. Reflecting on his time at the company on LinkedIn, White said: I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together over the past year. I have had the privilege of leading a talented and passionate team through a period of transformation, intelligent innovation and profitability. He also highlighted several milestones reached during his time at the helm, including delivering strong profit growth despite a challenging market environment, implementing a refreshed strategy thats both commercially successful and culturally resonant and building a stronger and more unified leadership team and empowering talent across the business. Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is a family-owned premium spirits company headquartered in Elgin, Scotland. Its portfolio includes brands such as Benromach, The Cairn, and Red Door. The company owns two distilleries in the renowned Speyside region in Scotland. The Benromach Distillery in Forres, Moray, and The Cairn, near Grantown-on-Spey, which opened in October 2022. In its most recent full-year results for the period 29 February 2024, the group's sales declined 26% on 2023 to 34.4m ($46.1m). Pre-tax profit tumbled roughly 75.3% to 4.3m on the year prior. "Scotch distiller Gordon & MacPhail sees CEO depart " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. As legacy European automakers have been significantly hit by Trump's tariffs, Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is finally attempting a bold move to potentially get ahead of its competition. The Netherlands-based company announced on Wednesday morning its plans to invest $388 million to build a spare parts plant in Detroit. The hub is expected to launch in 2027 in Van Buren Township, Michigan, and will support at least 488 union-represented jobs. Stellantis Bets Big on American Soil: New Fab Could Shield It From Tariff Wars A close-up view of a modern automobile with its sleek curves and luxurious body. The announcement comes weeks after STLA stock posted a multi-year low around "Liberation Day", as the new tariffs with the US created another major risk for European OEMs, which have already been disrupted by Chinese car makers. STLA sold more than 1.3 million cars to the US in 2024, which represents 23% of its total sales base. The new fab on US soil is likely to increase the company's immunity to tariffs and support its existing manufacturing base of 18 facilities in the US. By producing more spare parts directly in the US, STLA will decrease the portion of its supply chain that could potentially be subject to tariffs. After a challenging 2024 in which STLA stock lost more than half of its value amid intensifying competitive threats from Chinese brands, Stellantis N.V. (NYSE:STLA) is already outperforming the broad market since April, suggesting that management is taking the right strategic steps to protect its North American market. STLA was formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's PSA Group, and owns 14 iconic brands, including Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Peugeot, and Maserati, among others. While we acknowledge the potential of STLA to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than STLA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 12 Most Popular Stocks on Robinhood in 2025 and 11 Oversold Global Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds Disclosure: None. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - Adidas, known for shoes with three parallel stripes, was sued on Wednesday by Steven Madden over its alleged effort to stop the American shoe company from selling fashion sneakers with two non-parallel bands. In a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, Steve Madden, as the company is often known, said it has grown "tired" of Adidas' decades of complaints about footwear whose designs bear no resemblance to its three-stripe design. These allegedly include objections to two Steve Madden sneakers launched this year: Viento, which has two bands, and Janos, whose two bands resemble the letter K. Steve Madden said Adidas' lawyers have demanded that Viento sales be halted because the design would likely confuse consumers, and signaled to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office it may formally challenge the Janos design. "The use of band designs on footwear is ubiquitous in the fashion industry," Steve Madden said. "Simply put, Adidas does not own all stripes and should not be allowed to claim that it has a monopoly on all footwear that includes stripes, bars, bands or any shape having four sidesparallel, straight or not." Adidas did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Like some shoe companies including Nike, Adidas sometimes turns to U.S. courts and agencies to stop rivals from selling products it considers knockoffs. Steve Madden, based in Long Island City, New York, said Adidas sued it twice in 2002 to challenge footwear with two parallel stripes and four parallel stripes, leading to a confidential settlement the next year. The latest dispute does not arise from that accord. Wednesday's lawsuit seeks a judgment that the Viento and Janos designs do not infringe Adidas' trademarks or three-stripe design, allowing Steve Madden to continue sales. The case is Steven Madden Ltd v Adidas AG et al, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 25-02847. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler) By Milana Vinn (Reuters) -AT&T has clinched a deal to acquire Lumen Technologies' consumer fiber operations for $5.75 billion in cash, the companies said on Wednesday, as the wireless provider adds further scale to its national fiber footprint. Lumen's shares were up 13% in after-market trading on the sale of the business, which provides high-speed internet services to residential customers. Buying the unit will gain AT&T 1 million fiber customers, as well as significantly expand its fiber-network operations in Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle, according to an AT&T statement. Reuters first reported in December that Lumen was marketing the business for sale. The deal allows Lumen to focus on growing the company's enterprise fiber business, Lumen Chief Financial Officer Chris Stansbury told Reuters. It will also allow it to invest in low-latency technology, which is critical for supporting artificial intelligence workflows, he said. "The customers are asking us to go faster, which is really to deliver their needs in a multi cloud, AI-first world, Stansbury said. The cash proceeds from the sale will help Lumen trim its debt pile by $4.8 billion and improve cash flow by reducing interest expenses by more than $300 million annually, he said. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026. AT&T said, once completed, the acquired assets and some other capabilities will be housed in a new subsidiary, in which it plans to sell a minority stake. (Reporting by Milana Vinn in New York; Editing by Jamie Freed) Smith Collection / Gado / Getty Images AT&T said acquiring Lumen's Mass Markets fiber internet connectivity business would give it around 1 million additional customers. KEY TAKEAWAYS AT&T agreed to buy Lumen Technologies' Mass Markets fiber internet connectivity business for $5.75 billion in cash, sending shares of the Denver-based firm soaring in premarket trading Thursday. AT&T said acquiring the business would expand its high-speed fiber internet network and give it around 1 million additional fiber customers. AT&T said it expects the deal to close in the first half of 2026. AT&T (T) agreed to buy Lumen Technologies' (LUMN) Mass Markets fiber internet connectivity business for $5.75 billion in cash, sending shares of the Denver-based firm soaring in premarket trading Thursday. AT&T said acquiring the business would expand its high-speed fiber internet network and give it around 1 million additional fiber customers with a reach of more than 4 million fiber locations across 11 U.S. states. "We're leading the race to connect more Americans with fiber, the best broadband connectivity technology available," AT&T CEO John Stankey said. AT&T said it "now expects to reach approximately 60 million total fiber locations by the end of 2030roughly doubling where AT&T Fiber is available today." The telecom giant, which also affirmed its full-year outlook and share repurchase plans, said it expects the deal to close in the first half of 2026. Lumen shares, which entered Thursday down almost 30% in 2025, jumped 14% in premarket trading. AT&T shares, which began the day up 20% this year, were little changed. Read the original article on Investopedia US telecom giant AT&T has agreed to purchase Lumen Technologies' consumer fibre business for $5.75bn in an all-cash deal. The transaction includes approximately one million fibre subscribers across more than four million fibre locations, which will transition to AT&T Fiber customers over time. The acquisition encompasses last-mile Mass Markets fibre assets and associated network elements in central offices. This will aid AT&T to deliver fibre services in areas, including Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle, among others. Following the deal closing, AT&T will establish a new, wholly owned subsidiary, NetworkCo, to hold the acquired fibre network assets and certain fibre network deployment capabilities. Some Lumen employees are expected to transfer to AT&T or NetworkCo as part of the deal. Lumens enterprise fibre customers and Mass Markets copper-based customers, along with their supporting assets, are excluded from the agreement. Post-closing, Lumen will provide AT&T with transitional services, including field operations, network deployment, IT systems, billing, and customer support, for approximately two years. AT&T will also gain long-term access to certain Lumen central offices, poles, and conduits. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approval from the US Department of Justice and other customary conditions. AT&T chairman and CEO John Stankey said: Were leading the race to connect more Americans with fibre, the best broadband connectivity technology available. This deal with Lumen represents a significant investment in US connectivity infrastructure that will create jobs and spur economic activity in numerous regions and major metro areas across 11 states. As we advance our fibre build, well serve more communities with world-class connectivity and expect to roughly double where AT&T Fiber is available by the end of 2030. In November 2024, Lumen Technologies entered into a partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate its digital transformation and foster AI innovation. "AT&T to buy Lumens consumer fibre business for $5.75bn" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. Turkiye's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has announced that US oil producer Continental Resources has estimated a shale oil reserve of around 6.1 billion barrels (bbbl) in the countrys south-eastern Diyarbakir Basin, according to a Reuters report. This figure could position Turkiye in the global oil market above some OPEC countries. Bayraktar emphasised the importance of the discovery, considering Turkiye's current annual crude oil imports are approximately 365 million barrels (mbbl). Turkiye, which relies on imports for more than 90% of its energy needs, is actively seeking to reduce its import bill and enhance supply security through the development of domestic resources and international exploration partnerships. If confirmed, these reserves would elevate Turkiye above some OPEC members such as Congo or Gabon, and other major producers like the UK, Bayraktar stated during a visit to Sirnak province. In March, Continental Resources and Turkish national oil company TPAO signed an agreement to develop shale fields in the Diyarbakr Basin. The Energy Minister previously described the March agreement as "a new era," indicating Turkiye's strategic focus on shale oil and gas discoveries. The country is aiming to commence shale gas production in the north-western Thrace region. Continental Resources has not provided comments on the estimation. The announcement comes shortly after President Tayyip Erdogan's revelation of a new 75 billion cubic metres (bcm) natural gas reserve found during drilling in the Black Sea. The country previously announced its largest-ever onshore oil discovery of 1bbbl of crude in Sirnak two years ahead of the presidential elections. The discovered oil had an API gravity of 41, indicating a lighter grade than Turkiye's existing production. In 2024, Turkiye's crude production stood at 127,000 barrels per day, with imports nearly reaching 1mbbl per day of oil and refined products. Data from the country's Energy Ministry and regulator revealed that discounted Russian oil and refined products constituted two-thirds of Turkiye's imports last year. "Turkiye announces estimated 6.1bbbl shale oil reserve" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Turkiye has committed to supplying Syria with two billion cubic metres of natural gas annually, a move that is set to enhance the power generation capacity of the war-torn country. The announcement was made during a joint news conference in Damascus, where Turkiye's Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, and his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Al Bashir signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen their energy partnership. The gas exports from Turkey are expected to contribute to an additional 1,300MW of electricity production in Syria. Minister Bayraktar expressed Turkiye's intention to triple electricity exports to Syria, reaching up to 1,000MW in the coming months. This increase in energy supply is projected to extend power availability in Syria to up to 12 hours per day. The commencement of gas supply is scheduled for June, as the two nations focus on finalising the construction of a connecting gas pipeline. Minister Al Bashir stated: "This will significantly boost electricity generation, which will positively impact the Syrian peoples electricity needs." The ministers also discussed the completion of a 400-kilovolt line that will facilitate the import of approximately 500MW of electricity into Syria. The infrastructure is expected to be operational by the end of the year or soon after. Moreover, the cooperation extends to inviting Turkish companies to invest in various sectors within Syria, including mining, phosphate production, electricity generation and distribution. Syria has been grappling with severe power shortages, with state-supplied electricity being limited to just a few hours a day in most areas. The country's energy crisis worsened after Hayat Tahrir Al Sham assumed control in December, disrupting the oil supply that was predominantly sourced from Iran for power generation. "Turkiye, Syria agree to enhance energy infrastructure and supply" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Xi Story: Preserving cultural heritage as national treasure Xinhua) 08:07, May 23, 2025 People visit the Longmen Grottoes scenic spot in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 13, 2024. (Photo by Li Weichao/Xinhua) BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Once the capital of 13 ancient dynasties and home to countless cultural heritage sites, Luoyang in central China's Henan Province is renowned as an ancient city that has witnessed "half of Chinese history." A gem among these treasures, the Longmen Grottoes stands out, representing the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts a history of over 1,500 years, with a total of 2,345 caves and niches carved into the steep cliffs stretching more than 1 km in length. On Monday, while Liu Yi and her colleagues from the Longmen Grottoes Academy were busy with their instruments, meticulously documenting potential risks inside one of the caves, President Xi Jinping walked in and engaged in a conversation with them. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learned about the unique characteristics of local stone and the art of stone carving. "He listened attentively as we talked about our preservation efforts," Liu recalled. As part of his two-day inspection tour in Henan, the visit to the Longmen Grottoes demonstrated Xi's profound commitment to preserving China's rich cultural heritage. He described the grottoes as "treasures that embody the essence of Chinese culture," highlighting the significance of preserving, inheriting and promoting cultural heritage. Since assuming the Party's top post in 2012, Xi has made the preservation of Chinese cultural heritage a consistent focus in state governance, valuing it as essential to the nation's identity. Over the years, he has visited many cultural heritage sites and made multiple directives on the protection of cultural relics. While addressing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in 2022, Xi emphasized that cultural relics and heritage carry the genes and blood of the Chinese nation, and that they are China's nonrenewable and irreplaceable cultural resources. "What I am most concerned about is the most precious relics of Chinese civilization after millennia of trials," he said during a visit to the China National Archives of Publications and Culture in 2023, stressing that these national treasures must be preserved through every means. Under the guidance of Xi, China has scored remarkable achievements in recording and preserving cultural heritage. The country is now home to more than 767,000 immovable cultural relics and 59 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the recently inscribed Beijing Central Axis. In a reply letter to senior experts of the National Museum of China in 2022, Xi emphasized the importance of making better use of cultural relics, including "bringing them to life." In Xi's view, the role of cultural relics and heritage should be leveraged in cultural development, while a social atmosphere should be created to promote the fine traditional culture. With the help of modern technologies, cultural heritage is being re-imagined to connect history and contemporary culture. Creative products like archaeology-inspired blind boxes, palace-themed ice creams and the Palace Museum Calendar are gaining popularity among consumers. Alongside these efforts to preserve and make better use of cultural heritage, China has strengthened professional training by introducing the first national occupational standards for relics restoration in 2021, contributing to the consistent cultivation of a new generation of conservators like Liu and her colleagues. Cultural artifacts are regarded as the embodiment of a civilization. Before leaving the Longmen Grottoes, Xi paused to admire the cliffside treasures from a distance. "With a long and continuous history stretching back to antiquity, the Chinese civilization shaped our great nation," Xi said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Customer experience is key for an OEMs success which is why Japanese OEM, Mazda, has recently been ensuring its training approach is of the highest quality. The company has been refining its training approach to ensure every interaction showcases its core values of innovation and quality. The OEM has been working with eLearning provider CoSo Cloud. Prior to working with the company, Mazda identified opportunities which would enhance the consistency and depth of product explanations to customers. With this feedback CoSo Cloud were able to develop new training modules for consultants, allowing them to deliver engaging presentations, and assistance tailored to each customers needs. We spoke with Carolyn Chan, Mazdas North America (MNAO) manager of sales to learn more about the partnership and what the tailored training programmes provide. Carolyn Chan Just Auto (JA): How did Mazda and CoSo Cloud begin working together? Carolyn Chan (CC): Around 2019, Mazda was looking for a technological solution and partner that would address the pain points we had with our then learning management system. We needed a partner that not only understood our relationship with our dealer network (e.g. franchise model), could understand our unique training certification requirements, but also had a proven track record of being able to implement a technological solution that worked. And that is how CoSo Cloud came into the picture. How can CoSo Cloud enhance and improve the training programmes offered by Mazda? With CoSo Clouds intimate understanding of our current learning management system and principles of adult learning, they have been a partner in Mazdas effort to meet each learner (dealer associate) where they are at in their Mazda story. They enable and support our learning strategies by providing our team the tools to make more data-driven decisions. Accurate, timely collection of learner data and reporting was a previous a pain point for us and we needed a way to capture learner activity in as close to real time as our systems would allow. The timeliness and accuracy of this data allows our team to prioritize curriculum development and roll-out. What do these training programmes provide? CoSo doesnt provide training programs, but they do provide the technological services which enable our digital learning solutions to work better for our end-learners and allow the key business stakeholders to make better data-driven decisions. What are the benefits of these solutions in your overall training strategy? Though technology is only one component of our multimodal training philosophy, it is an important one. It allows for scalability and always on resources for our dealer associates. In the end, our goal is to continue to engage our dealers with innovative, relevant-to-their-role training and foster a connected Mazda community through all our digital and in-person touch points. Via Metal Miner The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) retraced to the downside with a 4.23% decline from March to April. Looking at copper prices today, analysts seem to be struggling with ongoing trade policy shifts. copper prices today Copper Prices Zigzag Amid Uncertain Trade Policy Comex copper prices have experienced wild swings over the past few months. First, they hit a new all-time high in March before plunging in April. By mid-May, they entered into a shaky sideways trend. copper prices today Source: MetalMiner Insights Tariffs continue to drive the market. This month, markets have mostly been reacting to the U.S.s most recent deals with China and the UK. Both appeared to ease concerns that the broad-based tariffs announced over recent months may prove less extreme than expected, resulting in renewed optimism about the global economy. While mostly stable, the bias appears increasingly to the downside for Comex copper prices today. This is mainly because tariff deals have yet to fully ease the demand concerns that continue to plague the market. Copper Study Group Forecasts Surplus The International Copper Study Group counts itself among those not particularly concerned about supply. Contrary to previous worries that the copper market was on the verge of growing deficit, the ICSG expects the market to maintain its surplus status in both 2025 and 2026. ICSG copper balance forecast, May 2025 The group noted Uncertainty surrounding international trade policy that is likely to weaken the global economic outlook and negatively impact copper demand, usage growth rates have been revised down compared to the Groups September 2024 forecasts. As a result, the surplus expectation more than doubled for 2025. Considering the surplus accumulated during 2024, this will leave the market with a significant cushion as trade policy evolves. U.S.-China Relationship Continues to Stoke Uncertainty While the raw material market remains tight, global growth prospects remain a concern. The U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% in Q1. Meanwhile, deflation remains a lingering problem for China, which is struggling to lean on domestic demand amid trade barriers in the U.S. The U.S.-China trade deal may have eased some market concerns about the impact of steep tariffs on the worlds two largest economies. However, uncertainty lingers as the current agreement will expire in 90 days and still leaves a steep 30% tariff on Chinese goods. Copper Stocks Up as Prices Slide Global stocks returned to the upside in May, offering no support for copper prices today. While inventory fluctuations do not boast a strong correlation to copper prices, the rise suggests demand conditions appear relatively stable. Both SHFE and LME inventory levels experienced considerable drawdowns over recent months as material moved to the U.S. amid tariff concerns. U.S. TikTok Shop employees received a memo on Tuesday that recommended its staff to work from home Wednesday, ahead of difficult decisions. Most Read from Fast Company The memo, which was earlier reported by Bloomberg, told staff they would be updated on organizational and personnel changes via email, followed by HR outreach, suggesting possible layoffs. TikTok Shop, the Chinese-owned companys marketplace feature launched in 2023 in the U.S., allows users to shop for products via the app. The marketplacewhich hosts everything from popular U.S. brands like Crocs to third-party merchandise from Temu and Sheinhit $100 million in single day sales on Black Friday alone. TikTok Shop is the fastest-growing sales channel weve ever had at MaryRuths. It took off faster than Amazon, faster than retail, faster than anything weve seen, Jay Hunter, chief revenue officer of vitamin and supplement company MaryRuths, said via LinkedIn. Its messy. Its unpredictable. But the upside is real. The video app and its parent company ByteDance have faced several challenges this year, including a looming threat of a ban in the U.S. and a month-over-month decline in TikTok Shop sales due to Chinese-based foreign sellers affected by tariffs, Business Insider reported. While specific details regarding changes and scale are yet to be released, the memo follows a series of restructuring efforts to TikToks e-commerce unit. In April, TikTok let go several staff members from the U.S. e-commerce units governance and experience team, due in part to failing to meet performance goals. Later that month, reorganization efforts gave more control to executives from the companys China-based operations, including Mu Qing, who authored the Tuesday memo, per Bloomberg. Fast Company reached out to TikTok for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publishing. This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com Subscribe to get the Fast Company newsletter: http://fastcompany.com/newsletters Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images The North Face's parent company, VF Corp., reported fiscal fourth quarter results on Wednesday, May 21 Key Takeaways VF Corp. shares tumbled Wednesday as the clothing maker's sales forecast was worse than expected. Sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 are expected to decline 3% to 5%, while analysts had forecast a small increase. The North Face, Vans, and Timberland parent said it is "exploring strategic pricing actions" among its responses to tariffs. Shares of VF Corp. (VFC) sank 14% Wednesday morning after the parent of apparel brands' current-quarter sales outlook came in well worse than estimates. The North Face, Vans, and Timberland parent said it expects fiscal 2026 first-quarter revenue to be down 3% to 5% year-over-year, while analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had expected it to rise 0.1%. VF Corp. also sees an adjusted operating loss of $110 million to $125 million, far wide than projections of $50.3 million. VF Corp.'s fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter revenue came in at $2.14 billion, narrowly below estimates, while its adjusted loss per share of $0.13 was in line with forecasts. VF Corp. 'Exploring Strategic Pricing Actions,' Other Responses to Tariffs CEO Bracken Darrell said the company is "well-positioned to navigate increased volatility in the macro environment," and said its brands are expected to return to growth. The company said it is "accelerating production and shipments into the U.S." while many tariffs are temporarily paused, and is also working to optimize its supply chain and "exploring strategic price actions." The company said less than 2% of its products come from China, with its four largest import countries being Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Some 85% of its imports come from southeast Asia, Central America, and South America. Including Wednesday's sharp decline, shares have lost more than 40% of their value this year. UPDATEThis article has been updated with the latest share price information. Read the original article on Investopedia Paul Weaver / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images T.J. Maxx owner TJX forecast second-quarter earnings that lagged analysts' estimates. KEY TAKEAWAYS Shares in TJX Companies are down Wednesday after the discount retailer operator posted a weak second-quarter outlook as tariffs weighed on its business. The downbeat outlook came as the parent company of T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls posted higher-than-estimated first-quarter results. TJX shares are down 2% in premarket trading but up almost 12% so far this year entering Wednesday. Shares in TJX Companies (TJX) fell Wednesday morning after the discount retailer operator posted a weak second-quarter outlook as tariffs weighed on its business. The downbeat outlook came as the parent company of T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls posted better-than-estimated fiscal 2026 first-quarter results. TJX reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.92 on revenue of $13.11 billion. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expected $0.90 and $13.02 billion, respectively. However, TJX's second-quarter forecasts for revenue, EPS, and comparable sales lagged estimates. The Companys second quarter Fiscal 2026 outlook includes an incremental negative impact from tariff costs on the merchandise it was committed to at the time additional tariffs were announced in March and April of 2025, it said. The retailer stuck with its fiscal 2026 projections of a 2% to 3% increase in comparable sales and EPS of $4.34 to $4.43. TJX shares are down about 2.5% Wednesday but up 9% so far this year. UPDATEThis article has been updated with the latest share price information. Read the original article on Investopedia Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) has declared that it will only sell its updated 2026 RAV4 SUV as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, doing away with conventional gas-powered models. America's best-selling SUV, the RAV4, will continue to use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with hybrid technology. Toyota redesigns America's best-selling RAV4 SUV to be fully hybrid Workers assembling a car in a modern manufacturing plant, emphasizing the company's sense of progress. Strong consumer demand was mentioned by David Christ, head of Toyota North America, who noted that in 2024, hybrids will account for 44% of RAV4 sales and plug-ins for 6.5%. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) has not yet revealed the price of its upcoming U.S. sales. In 2024, the company's RAV4 sales increased by 9.3% year over year to about 475,200 vehicles. The firms electrified vehicles made up 43.1% of its 2.3 million U.S. sales the previous year. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM)s decision to switch to hybrid-only RAV4 models coincides with rising tariffs and a slowdown in the uptake of all-electric vehicles under President Donald Trump's administration. Trump's 25% tariffs have raised concerns about costs because 84.3% of RAV4s sold in the United States are now imported, primarily from Canada and Japan. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM)'s COO, Mark Templin, hinted that the company would boost RAV4 production at its Kentucky facility, but he did not disclose plans to mitigate tariffs. According to Cox Automotive, the RAV4 continues to be one of the best-selling cars with just 29 days of inventory and high demand. Additionally, the switch to a hybrid-only model complements Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM)'s expanding lineup of seven other hybrid-only vehicles. While we acknowledge the potential of TM to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TM and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 High-Growth EV Stocks to Invest In and 13 Best Car Stocks to Buy in 2025. It was announced recently that the Trump administration is considering a plan to extend Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)'s license to operate in Venezuela. Let's shed some light on the development. Trump to Extend Chevron's License to Operate in Venezuela An aerial view of an oil rig at sea, the sun glinting off its structure. It was reported by Bloomberg this week that the White House is set to extend Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)'s deadline to halt its operations by another 60 days as negotiations with the Maduro government continue. The move marks an abrupt shift from the Trump administration's earlier stance, when it gave the oil major until May 27, 2025, to wrap up its business in the South American country and leave. However, this also posed a threat to the United States' energy security itself, as around 240,000 barrels daily of Venezuelan crude was going to Gulf Coast refineries. It must be noted that since 2022, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has been operating in Venezuela despite the sanctions under a US Treasury-issued license to operate that automatically renewed on the first of each month. The energy giant has ramped up production to supply about 20% of Venezuelas output and is now a key driver for the country's economic growth. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has big plans for its Venezuelan operations, aiming to boost exports from just one of them, Petropiar, by as much as 50% this year, to a total of 143,000 barrels daily. According to reports from Bloomberg, crude production across Chevrons four joint ventures in Venezuela surpassed 250,000 b/d last week, up from 40,000 b/d in 2022 before the U.S. sanctions relief began. The American oil major's overall global output stood at 3.35 million boe/d in the first quarter of 2025, so its Venezuelan operations represent a significant chunk of its operations. While we acknowledge the potential of CVX to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CVX and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Cheap Energy Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Most Undervalued Energy Stocks According to Hedge Funds. Disclosure: None. Geography Photos / Universal Images Group / Getty Images Urban Outfitters reported strong first-quarter results after the bell on Wednesday, May 21 Key Takeaways Urban Outfitters shares jumped more than 20% Thursday morning after the retailer reported strong first-quarter results. Revenue and profit each topped estimates, and comparable sales grew more than expected across the company's three biggest brands. JPMorgan analysts upgraded the stock after the report, and lifted their price target by $15. Shares of Urban Outfitters (URBN) surged to a record high shortly after markets opened Thursday following the retailer's first-quarter results that came in handily above estimates. First-quarter sales rose 10.7% year-over-year to $1.33 billion, while earnings per share came in at $1.16, well above the $0.81 analyst consensus compiled by Visible Alpha. The retailer's comparable store sales rose by 4.8% from the same time a year ago, better than the 3.2% growth analysts had forecast. Comparable sales grew at each of the company's brands, rising 2.1% at Urban Outfitters, 6.9% at Anthropologie, and 3.1% at Free People. All three were better than expected, as analysts had forecast a 1.4% drop in comparable sales at Urban Outfitters stores. Our success was driven by positive sales growth and improved profitability across all brands and segments," CEO Richard Hayne said. "We believe these results demonstrate the strength of our brands and the effectiveness of our strategy, giving us confidence in URBNs continued success." Following the report, JPMorgan analysts upgraded Urban Outfitters stock to "overweight," and lifted their price target to $78 from $63 previously. The analysts noted that it was the first quarter in three years that comparable store sales rose across all three of its largest brands. Shares opened at a record high of over $71. Read the original article on Investopedia (Reuters) - U.S. companies borrowed 4.4% less to finance equipment investments in April compared with the same period from the year earlier, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) said on Wednesday. "Demand for new equipment eased a little, but remained healthy, especially given all the April ups and downs", President and CEO Leigh Lytle said. New loans, leases and lines of credit signed up by companies in April cooled to $10 billion from $10.2 billion the previous year. The Washington-based trade association, which reports economic activity for the more than $1 trillion equipment finance sector, also said April's credit approval rate jumped to 77.4%, reaching its highest level in more than two years. The ELFA CapEx Finance Index of leasing and finance activity is based on a 25-member survey, including Bank of America as well as financing units of Caterpillar, Dell Technologies, Siemens AG, Canon, and Volvo AB. ELFA's non-profit affiliate, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, said its confidence index for May stood at 44.5, up from 41.9 in April. A reading above 50 indicates a positive business outlook. (Reporting by Apratim Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) The US Justice Department (DOJ) is examining whether Alphabets Google violated antitrust regulations through a deal involving the AI technology of Character.AI, a well-known chatbot developer, Bloomberg reported. Regulators are assessing whether the tech giant crafted the agreement to avoid formal merger oversight, sources familiar with the investigation told the publication. In the arrangement made in 2024, Character.AIs founders returned to Google, and the company obtained a non-exclusive license to utilise the startups technology. The raised concerns among regulators about large tech companies suppressing emerging competitors. Google is always happy to answer any questions from regulators, Peter Schottenfels, a company spokesperson in an emailed statement to the publication said. Were excited that talent from Character.AI has joined the company, but we have no ownership stake and they remain a separate company. The Justice Department can investigate whether the deal itself undermines competition, even if it did not require formal review, the report said. The inquiry is in its preliminary phase, and no accusations of misconduct have been made against Google. The probe may not lead to any enforcement action, the report added. Character.AI, recognised for its chatbots that can emulate various personalities or entities, was founded by ex-Google researchers who later rejoined the company with part of their research team. In August 2024, the publication reported that the deal valued Character.AI at $2.5bn, with investors shares bought out and the startup agreeing to a non-exclusive licensing deal for its large language model technology. Character.AI continues to operate as an independent entity. The probe adds to Googles antitrust challenges, following court rulings that deemed the companys dominance in online search and advertising technology markets unlawful. In the search case, the Justice Department has recommended that Google divest its Chrome browser to foster competition and has requested a judicial ban on Googles payments for default search engine status, including for AI products. A decision is anticipated this summer. Earlier in May 2025, Google agreed to pay the State of Texas $1.375bn to resolve data-privacy claims. "US DOJ probing Google over Character.AI deal" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. Thomas Heier has resigned from his position as chief executive of Wagamama UK, concluding a four-year tenure. Heier, who joined the company as people director in 2017 and was promoted to chief executive in 2021, will be succeeded by Mark Chambers. Chambers, currently the chief financial officer at Wagamama's parent company, the Restaurant Group (TRG), will assume his new role from 2 June 2025. Chambers has a history of leadership within TRG, having previously managed the leisure and concessions division, which includes brands such as Chiquitos and Frankie & Bennys. TRG sold these brands to Big Table Group for 7.5m ($10m) in 2023. Heier stated: Whilst Im extremely excited about what comes next, I leave knowing the business is in a strong position for the future, and I look forward to watching the next phase of growth and innovation. Ill always be cheering the team on from the sidelines. Wagamama operates a portfolio of 160 restaurants across the UK and has expanded its brand internationally with 50 franchised locations in Europe and the Middle East. The chain has established a presence in the US with seven restaurants. In parallel to the leadership change in the UK, Wagamamas North American division is also undergoing a shift. Stephen Judge will take over as CEO on 9 June. Judge, a UK native with a background as a professional chef, currently serves as the CEO at Gibsons Restaurant Group and has previously overseen cafe operations at Hard Rock International. Judge will report directly to TRG chief executive Andy Hornby, who is expanding his responsibilities to include Wagamamas international operations. TRG came under the ownership of Apollo Global Management following acquisition in 2023. It has recently announced that it is in talks to acquire a significant number of sites from pub and restaurant chain Oakman Group. "Wagamama UKs CEO Thomas Heier steps down" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. This story was originally published on Trucking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Trucking Dive newsletter. Although weather events tend to impact Saias first quarter, this winters disruptions proved more challenging in both magnitude and geographic location, CEO Frederick Holzgrefe said during an April 25 earnings call. Winter weather in the Southern part of the country prompted closures and limited operations in some of the companys most dense and profitable regions, he said. The LTL carrier saw impacts in the Atlanta, Dallas and Houston markets in the first quarter, Holzgrefe said. Closures and limited terminal operations were more significant in Q1 this year compared to the same quarter last year. Saia estimated the weather impact affected its operating ratio by 25 to 75 basis points. Overall, the companys first-quarter operating ratio was 91.1%, which deteriorated by 670 basis points versus 84.4% in last years Q1. Saia said revenue was also lower than expected due to macroeconomic conditions and adverse weather events. Still, Q1 revenue was up 4.3% to $787.6 million, which the carrier attributed to increased volumes in recently opened terminals. To keep up with demand and minimize impacts from the weather events, Saia ran extra linehaul miles and used purchased transportation post-storms. We also ran extra dock operations over some weekends to ensure customers' freight was minimally impacted by weather disruption, CFO Matthew Batteh said on the call. Saia wasnt alone in seeing an effect from inclement weather. Estes Express Lines, TForce Freight and XPO also reported impacts to their operations in several states due to a blizzard in the Midwest around March and a snowstorm from Kansas to Delaware earlier this year. Recommended Reading Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY) has agreed to sell its Princeton, British Columbia lumber mill to the Gorman Group, the parent company of Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd., a family-run wood products firm based in West Kelowna, B.C. Weyerhaeuser Agrees to Sell Princeton Lumber Mill in B.C. to Gorman Group The two companies have a long history of working together, with Gorman Bros. currently serving as the Princeton mills largest customer. The Gorman Group has operated in Canada for over 75 years and has facilities across B.C. and Washington state. Founded in 1900, Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY) is one of the largest private timberland owners, managing 10.4 million US acres and licensed lands in Canada. The company is a leader in sustainability and also ranks among North Americas top wood products manufacturers. It has operations in real estate, energy, and climate solutions. The deal, valued at roughly CAD 120 million in cash, includes the mill, associated timber licenses in British Columbia, and working capital, with the final price subject to standard closing adjustments. Devin W. Stockfish, president and chief executive officer for Weyerhaeuser, made the following comment on the deal: "We are grateful to all the dedicated employees who contributed to the success of our Princeton operations over the years. The community has always been incredibly welcoming and supportive of our mill and people, and it was important for us to sell to a local buyer with deep roots in the region. Gorman has been a great customer and strategic partner, and we believe this will be a seamless transition that will position the mill for future success in a challenging operating environment providing long-term certainty for the mill and the broader community." Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY) expects a gain from the sale and anticipates facing a tax expense of around CAD 15 million. The companys other Canadian operations will remain unchanged, and it will continue running the Princeton mill separately from the Gorman Group until the deal is finalized. While we acknowledge the potential of WY to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WY and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ MORE: 10 Biggest Dividend Cuts and Suspensions of 2024 and 10 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Buy Now Disclosure. None. Key Points Advance lost less in the quarter than analysts had feared, an indication that the retailer's turnaround plan is on track. The CEO sounded an optimistic note about the ongoing turnaround plan, despite the impact that tariffs will have on the company. There's more room for the stock to recover, but its path ahead is likely to remain volatile. 10 stocks we like better than Advance Auto Parts Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) reported first-quarter results Thursday morning that easily topped expectations, and said its transformation plan was ahead of schedule. Investors were pleased, and sent shares of Advance up by about 46% as of 10:45 a.m. ET. Image source: Getty Images. A better-than-expected quarter Shares of Advance Auto Parts had lost more than half their value over the past year, weighed down by poor results and macroeconomic concerns. The company has been implementing an aggressive restructuring plan, closing hundreds of stores while opening new ones at what it believes to be better locations. But investors had low expectations for the company heading into this earnings season. Advance lost $0.22 per share in the quarter on revenue of $2.58 billion. That loss was $0.47 per share better than Wall Street had expected, and revenue, though down 7% year over year, also came in about $70 million above expectations. The company also reiterated its guidance, saying that its restructuring plan remains on track despite complications due to President Donald Trump's trade wars. "The recently implemented tariffs have created a highly dynamic economic environment," said CEO Shane O'Kelly in a statement. "Despite this, the team is staying focused on the turnaround and our path ahead." Is Advance Auto Parts a buy? Even after Thursday's surge, the stock is still down by about 35% over the past year. Advance is a work in progress, and the stock has the potential to go higher should the company continue to produce better-than-expected results. That said, the turnaround plan will take time to fully implement, and as O'Kelly notes, tariffs have added a lot of uncertainty to it. For investors interested in buying in, patience would likely be prudent. Thursday morning's 40%-plus gain was great to see for shareholders, but the stock will likely continue to take a volatile path from here. Should you invest $1,000 in Advance Auto Parts right now? Before you buy stock in Advance Auto Parts, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Advance Auto Parts wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. May James / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images President Trump has embraced cryptocurrencies and ordered the creation of a U.S. bitcoin reserve. Key Takeaways The price of bitcoin soared to an all-time high of nearly $110,000 on Wednesday, surpassing its previous record touched right before President Donald Trump's January inauguration. Cryptocurrency has become increasingly mainstream this year as Congress has made progress on crypto legislation and traditional financial giants have embraced digital assets. About $6.5 billion has flowed into the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust in the last month, making it the U.S. ETF with the fifth-largest inflows so far this year. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) soared to a fresh record on Wednesday amid increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies on Capitol Hill and Wall Street. Bitcoin jumped as high as $109,900 around midday Wednesday, surpassing the previous record reached in the lead-up to President Trumps inauguration in January. The digital currency slipped to around $108,000 in recent trading, tracking a decline in U.S. stocks. Once a fringe financial asset dismissed by the mainstream, cryptocurrencies have gained new legitimacy this year thanks to the support of President Trump and several allies in Congress. The Senate on Monday voted to advance a bill that establishes a regulatory framework for stablecoins, putting the upper chamber of Congress on track to pass its first piece of cryptocurrency legislation. And earlier this year President Trump ordered the Treasury to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Washingtons acceptance of cryptocurrency has accelerated the finance industrys own embrace of digital assets. On Monday, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, a longtime crypto skeptic, said the bank would allow clients to buy bitcoin. Several other major financial institutions, like investment bank Morgan Stanley and asset manager BlackRock, have already waded into crypto offerings. Bitcoin ETFs saw substantial inflows in the last month as investors piled into risk assets amid easing trade tensions. Investors have pumped an estimated $6.5 billion into BlackRocks iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) in the last month, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. That influx of money has pushed it up to 5th from 47th in the ranking of U.S. ETFs with the greatest year-to-date inflows. The price of bitcoin has also been supported by surging demand from Bitcoin Treasurys, publicly traded companies that use proceeds from equity sales to purchase bitcoin for corporate treasuries. Michael Saylors Strategy (MSTR), which originated the scheme, purchased $765 million worth of Bitcoin last week, bringing the value of its Bitcoin holdings to more than $63 billion. Last month, a blank check company headed by Brandon Lutnick, the son of President Trumps commerce secretary, announced it would launch a Strategy competitor called Twenty One. Read the original article on Investopedia Key Points A top government housing official specifically mentioned the company in a negative light in a post on X (formerly Twitter). This followed critical remarks he made the previous day about the credit scoring and reporting businesses. 10 stocks we like better than Fair Isaac Even by the standards of a lousy Wednesday for stocks in general, Fair Isaac (NYSE: FICO) was a standout in the wrong kind of way. For the second trading session in a row, the credit scoring specialist took a real blow to its stock price, which tumbled by almost 16% on the day. That percentage figure was 10 times the 1.6% decline of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). Fair Isaac not fair? Investors who thought Fair Isaac stock would bounce back from its 8% drubbing on Tuesday were badly mistaken. That's because Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the person behind critical remarks yesterday that spurred Fair Isaac's swoon, singled out the company for criticism on Wednesday. Image source: Getty Images. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pulte wrote not very eloquently: "After the hard work by many great Senators, including Senator Tim Scott, I am extremely disappointed to hear about the costs increases by FICO onto American consumers." Several hours later, Pulte followed this with a swipe at the broader credit reporting business with a post somewhat awkwardly asking, "Why do some credit reports cost double (Biden's term) from what they did during President Trump's first term?" Both imply a stance that the Trump administration considers credit scoring and reporting companies to be too powerful for its taste. Pulte has already expressed his desire to effect changes in how such companies interact with mortgage providers. If they happen, such changes could lead to a notable decline in volume for Fair Isaac's business specifically. Strong words With this administration, however, there can ultimately be quite a difference between tough-sounding rhetoric and its actual approach to policy. As we've seen with the "punitive" tariffs imposed on our trading partners earlier this year, Trump and his team can be willing to back down (and quickly) from certain stances. That being said, the administration could score some political points by reforming the overall mortgage business so it appears to favor borrowers. I'd therefore be cautious with Fair Isaac stock. Should you invest $1,000 in Fair Isaac right now? Before you buy stock in Fair Isaac, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Fair Isaac wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. NurPhoto / Getty Images "DELL's AI server business is gaining momentum," Morgan Stanley said Key Takeaways Dell Technologies is "gaining momentum" with its AI server business, Morgan Stanley said. The bank significantly raised its price target for Dell stock with the company's quarterly earnings results due next week. Morgan Stanley's new target is roughly in-line with the analyst consensus, according to Visible Alpha. Dell Technologies (DELL) artificial intelligence server business is gaining momentum, Morgan Stanley told clients Tuesday. The bank raised its price target for Dell stock to $126 from $89, a more than 40% increase, with the tech firm's earnings due out next Thursday. The revision brings Morgan Stanley more in line with the analyst consensus of $131, which is tracked by Visible Alpha. Shares of Dell rose 1% to above $115 in recent trading Wednesday, giving Morgan Stanleys target 9% upside. "DELL's AI server business is gaining momentum," Morgan Stanley said. The company could see nearly $20 billion in AI server revenue this year, the analysts added, amid an AI infrastructure market that has swelled to more $150 billion. Meanwhile, general server demand remains stable with Dell picking up market share. Read the original article on Investopedia Some Amazon shoppers will soon be getting long-awaited refunds. The online retailer is issuing refunds to a small collection of U.S. customers who had issues with returns in the past. At least one customer's return apparently dated back to 2018. Following a recent internal review, we identified a very small subset of returns where we issued a refund without the payment completing, or where we could not verify that the correct item had been sent back to us so no refund was issued," Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay said in a statement sent to USA TODAY. "There is no action required from customers to receive the refunds, and we have fixed the payment issue and made process changes to more promptly contact customers about unresolved returns going forward. Big Lots: More than 70 stores to reopen on June 5: Is your store on the list? Amazon hasn't detailed how many customers are getting refunds or the total amount of the refunds. However, during its first quarter earnings call on May 1, Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky told investment analysts that the company took a one-time charge of about $1.1 billion, Bloomberg reported. The charge included some historical customer returns that were unresolved, as well as the cost of stockpiling inventory in anticipation of tariffs, Olsavsky said, according to Bloomberg. 'Wild,' an Amazon rebate after 7 years One consumer, Steven Pope, posted on LinkedIn that he got a refund of nearly $1,800 on May 20 for a TV set he had purchased in 2018, The Verge reported. "WILD - Amazon just refunded me finally for a return in 2018!" he posted on the networking site. "$1,798.81 is being credited to me today in 2025 after 7 years." Amazon's note to Pope read, according to his LinkedIn post: "We are contacting you about an unresolved product return that you initiated on Amazon." Pope, founder of My Amazon Guy, a company to help sellers on Amazon, was among consumers whose return hadn't been resolved, Amazon's note said. "Given the time elapsed, weve decided to err on the side of customers and just complete refunds for these returns." Amazon class-action refund lawsuit Amazon returns are also the focus of a potential class-action lawsuit in which several consumers say they were recharged for an item after they had returned it. Amazon has argued that it may re-charge a customer and reverse their refund if they did not send back the item, sent it back in bad condition or sent back an incorrect item. A federal judge in Seattle on April 29 denied Amazon's request to dismiss the case, which is currently in the discovery process. STRABAG subsidiary ZUBLIN Spezialtiefbau has acquired BAUER Spezialtiefbau (Austria) for an undisclosed amount. The deal enhances ZUBLINs foothold in the Austrian market. BAUER Spezialtiefbau (Austria) is the Austrian unit of Germanys BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, which forms part of the BAUER Groups Geotechnical Solutions segment. ZUBLIN management board member Reinhard Kerschner said: "This acquisition is an important step in our growth strategy. By merging with BAUER Spezialtiefbau Austria, we can deepen our expertise in the field of pile construction and we are very pleased to welcome the new team to our ranks." This move is set to bolster ZUBLIN's expertise in specialised deep foundation services, combining strengths in diaphragm walls, grouting, groundwater drainage, and piles. The integration with BAUER Spezialtiefbau's pile-focused expertise is expected to provide a more comprehensive range of services to meet diverse customer needs, from regional endeavours to large-scale construction sites. The full integration under is anticipated to be completed by 2026. This development follows a stable year for Ed. ZUBLIN, which reported a construction output of approximately 4.6bn ($5.2bn) in 2024, a slight decrease from 4.7bn in the previous year. The company's output share in Germany increased from 84% to 86%, with an order backlog of 8.6bn as of 31 December. Despite a drop in order intake from around 6bn in 2023 to approximately 4.2bn, partly due to the acquisition of three major projects in 2023, ZUBLIN maintains a positive outlook for this financial year. ZUBLIN management board member Stephan von der Heyde said: "We expect stable business development in the current year. Our course for the future is set: planning and building in a resource-conserving and climate-neutral way - across all business areas. "Thanks to our wide range of services, we have a broad base and assume that orders in infrastructure and industrial construction will continue to cushion the current sometimes challenging building construction sector." "ZUBLIN acquires BAUER Spezialtiefbaus Austrian unit" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. Zimbabwean miners are calling for the postponement of the newly imposed export tax on lithium concentrate until local refining plants are operational, reported Bloomberg. Zimbabwe Lithium Exporters (ZLE), which includes members such as Chengxin Lithium Group, has formally requested a two-and-a-half-year delay in the 5% levy, which is intended to encourage the development of the domestic refining industry. The appeal was made in a document submitted to the country's mines and finance ministries. ZLE stated in a document seen by Bloomberg that the tax on unprocessed lithium concentrate should be deferred until 2027, when facilities for producing lithium sulphate, a higher-value product, are expected to be operational. This product would then be exported to China for further refinement into battery-grade material. Zimbabwe has rapidly become a key supplier of lithium concentrate to Chinese refineries, with companies such as Chengxin, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine Resource Group investing heavily in local mining projects. Additionally, ZLE expressed concerns over the method used to calculate royalty payments. The association claims that the government is basing these payments on the price of lithium carbonate, a more valuable variant, rather than the lithium concentrate that is produced in Zimbabwe. The broader mining community, represented by the Chamber of Mines, engaged in discussions with the Finance Ministry on 19 May to deliberate on these proposals. A spokesperson for the Chamber confirmed the ongoing consultations but declined to comment on the discussions. Last month, Zimbabwes state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development declared its intention to find a solution to safeguard its assets, which are under threat of confiscation due to debt stemming from an international arbitration dispute with Amaplat Mauritius. "Zimbabwean lithium miners request export tax delay until 2027" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. AI startups are the belle of the VC funding ball, and its coming at the expense of pretty much every other type of company. Most Read from Fast Company Thats a main takeaway from a report published by Silicon Valley Bank on Tuesday. That report found that roughly 40% of VC funding in the U.S. last year came from venture funds that list AI as a focus. Those comprise more than 15% of U.S. VC fundsa number that has doubled over the past five years. Put all together, this reflects not only the investor enthusiasm around the space, but also the funds required to properly deploy into capital-intensive hypergrowth AI startups, the report reads. And with AI companies sucking up a good percentage of overall VC funding, its left other types of companies battling it out for a smaller piece of the pieincluding firms in the infrastructure, applications, and cybersecurity segments of the enterprise software sector. Perhaps relatedly, the creation of unicorn companiesstartups that reach a valuation of at least $1 billionhas slowed in recent years. During 2021, for example, there were 138 enterprise software unicorns created. Last year, there were only nine. And none so far this year. The report also points out the rise of zombiecorns, referring to unicorn companies that have poor revenue growth and little hope of raising more money. In effect, for some of these companies, IPO hopes are low, the climate isnt ideal for acquisition, and its unclear where these companies can turn next for a lifeline. As such, theyre sort of scouring the business landscape, like zombiesnot yet dead, but with a fading pulse. Its unclear if the overarching economic conditions will improve in a way that could provide some hope to the zombiecorns out there, and other startups outside of the AI space looking to raise money. While the U.S. hasnt seen catastrophic economic numbers yetGDP, unemployment, and other such numbers have in recent months remained relatively rosyconsumer sentiment is down, and uncertainty abounds due to President Trumps tariffs and other policies. That has many investors waiting on the sidelines for an inkling of whats next. In the meantime, startups may feel the crunch as they hope to go public or raise another round of financing. Investors will likely still invest, the report notes, but theyll be much more selective given the overall environment. A new initiative is giving Latina women across the Pikes Peak region the foundational tools they need to launch their businesses and empower them to know that whatever their business goals, "ella puede" "she can" reach them. Coffee is out and more seafood is in at the former Stir Coffee & Cocktails shop on North Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs. Joe Campana, who owns Stir, Bonny & Read Fresh Seafood and Fine Steaks, the Rabbit Hole and Cork & Cask wine and whiskey bar, as well as others, said this week he has permanently closed Stir at 101 N. Tejon St., Suite 103. In its place, he will expand the Bonny & Read restaurant next door and open a fresh fish bar, the Bonny & Read Raw Bar. The original Stir location at 2330 N. Wahsatch Ave. will remain open. The location at the corner of North Tejon and East Kiowa streets has undergone a few transformations over the last five years. Campana took over the space that was the former Tailored West women's boutique and opened the B & R Sushi restaurant in the summer of 2021. By January 2023, B & R Sushi was closed Campana previously cited difficulties finding a "good fit" for a sushi chef there and Campana opened his second Stir location in the former sushi restaurant. "The coffee concept is hard," said Campana, who cited the rising cost of business, global economic uncertainty and downtown area challenges among the reasons he closed the coffee and cocktail bar's second location. "(The price of) coffee has gone up 30% to 40% in the last three or four months. Dairy is also going up. It's really hurting our costs in that sense," said Campana, who purchases his coffee from a local roaster that sources most of its beans from Nicaragua. He noted costs are rising for food and other goods amid ongoing economic concerns. President Donald Trump since January has announced, orchestrated and in some cases temporarily postponed a series of tariffs, including on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, which are among the U.S.'s biggest trade partners. Some countries, including China, announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. The White House has framed the president's tariff policy as an effort to encourage U.S. manufacturing, protect American jobs and boost public safety. "The problem is people are already pricing their goods higher," even before some tariffs have gone into effect, Campana said. "So things are already getting more expensive." Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings Increasing building rent was also cutting into his budget, so Campana, who owns the Rabbit Hole space, recently purchased the building spaces occupied by Bonny & Read and formerly Stir for $2 million. "My rent was going up so high that it was going to price us out of the market," he said. Campana also pointed to issues with the homeless population downtown; some customers have indicated they don't feel safe in the area, he said. Colorado Springs officials partnered with local merchants association the Downtown Partnership in the fall to make the downtown area cleaner and safer, including addressing homelessness. Officials said in March some of those components, including more outreach with homeless individuals, are continuing in 2025. The Bonny & Read Raw Bar will offer fresh seafood like fish, crab, shrimp and caviar on beds of shaved ice in a renovated atmosphere. Campana plans to demolish a wall separating the planned raw bar space with the adjoining Bonny & Read restaurant and connect the two. He'll install new wood floors, new booths and new lighting in the former Stir location to transform the atmosphere. He said he'd already built Bonny & Read's kitchen large enough to expand business if needed. The Bonny & Read Raw Bar is expected to open this summer, possibly in mid-July or August. Campana said he's optimistic about his new venture but still has concerns about the cost of business. Broad cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency that monitors and conserves fish stocks, manages coastal waters and forecasts weather and climate, have also delayed fish imports, he said. When all is said and done, he still expects success at Bonny & Read Raw Bar. "We'll be fine," Campana said. You are the owner of this article. Although two appellate panels believed the definition of reasonable doubt is valid, three judges believed jurors should be told to consider both the evidence and any lack of evidence The Colorado Supreme Court will incorporate an unorthodox twist into its oral argument calendar this week, hearing five cases that all revolve around the same subject: Was the court serious when it said three years ago that judges who do not follow the law lose their authority to order criminal defendants to pay restitution? As artificial intelligence is sprinting forward, many argue that the public policy to regulate the technology is falling behind. The newly confirmed Secretary of the Air Force will speak this year at the Air Force Academy's graduation. DENVER One of the co-defendants on trial for his alleged involvement in the hate-crime hoax that made headlines during the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election testified Thursday that local politicians played a part in planning the incident. Derrick Bernard Jr., 35, against the advice of his attorney Tyrone Glover, took the stand and claimed that then-candidate Yemi Mobolade was behind the plan and that he worked with state Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs, to set the stage for him to win the election. Bernard, whose testimony differed from that previous witnesses, was questioned about English and claimed some of her election aides were present at an April 23, 2023, cross burning that, along with defacing one of Mobolades campaign signs with a racial slur, led to an indictment alleging a staged hate crime. At one point, Bernard suggested that supporters of Mobolade's election opponent Wayne Williams, who is now on one of Mayor Mobolade's advisory boards, may have pulled off the "hoax." "Who knows? Maybe he did it," Bernard said. Bernard testified that he first thought of Mobolade as a "long-shot nobody" who he did not expect to win. However, after allegedly getting to know the businessman, Bernard said he was a "cool dude," and his opponents were not "conducive" to what the city needed. He referred to Mobolade as a "close friend." Bernard testified that he "agreed to promote what happened" with the slur and the cross burning, but that he was not involved in its staging and didn't find out the details until much later. "I truly was not present (that night)," Bernard said. "I wasn't." Throughout his testimony, Bernard maintained that Mobolade knew about the "hoax" and planned it "carefully" to ensure he would not be investigated. Co-defendant Ashley Blackcloud, 40, had the option to testify on Thursday after defense lawyers told the court none of their scheduled witnesses would be testifying. Blackcloud opted not to testify. A third suspect, Deanna West, 38, pleaded guilty in March and testified for the prosecution Wednesday. Her sentencing is scheduled for September. Earlier Thursday, the prosecution rested its case with the conclusion of testimony from FBI Special Agent Ethan Doherty. The case began in November when the U.S. Attorneys Office for Colorado announced that a federal grand jury had indicted three individuals for maliciously conveying false information about a threat made by means of fire to draw support for the eventual winner of the mayoral race, Mobolade, who is Colorado Springs first elected Black mayor. Videos and photographs of the incident were sent in a mass email to media outlets along the Front Range, calling the act disgusting, and indicating Williams, who is White, could be to blame because he was pushing hard to win (the) candidacy. Lawyers on both sides have spent a considerable amount of time during the trial discussing a six-minute phone call between Bernard and Mobolade in the days after the news of the incident emerged. Bernard claimed the phone call was about the "hoax," which conflicts with what Mobolade testified on Tuesday. During call, Bernard alleged Mobolade promised to "squash" the story when Bernard expressed concern over backlash. Mobolade testified he could not remember what the call was about, but said he would have reported Bernard to the authorities had the "hoax" been a topic of conversation. He was also asked if Bernard pressed him for favors, which Mobolade denied. Bernard testified that Mobolade, once in office, would aid in funding the radio station Bernard owned, the Family Flavors The Slide World Broadcasting Network, or The Slide. Additionally, Bernard claimed he was promised protection from prosecution by Mobolade. The defendant added that this case would not have been a federal matter if he was not the only Black radio broadcaster in Colorado Springs at the time. "I had guarantees I would not be bothered," Bernard repeated multiple times. Featured Local Savings Doherty testified about text messages between Bernard and Blackcloud that were sent on May 16, 2023, in which Bernard sends a link to city job openings to Blackcloud, telling her to apply. "I want favors quicker than later ... if I can place ppl inside we can't lose," Bernard states. "Between Yemi, Regina and Tony, we lit." It was unclear who Bernard was referring to when he mentioned "Tony." Bernard in his time on the stand slammed lead U.S. Attorney Bryan Fields multiple times, telling him he was "wasting the jury's time" and "wouldn't trip up (Bernard) with semantics." Bernard also tried to object to speculation at one point while on the stand. "Why are you acting silly and dull right now?" Bernard said to Fields. "Have you done your research on me? Do you know who I am?" At one point, Bernard said he did not want to talk to Fields any longer and that he had the option to not answer his questions. U.S. District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez corrected him and said that, since he agreed to testify, he was subject to cross-examination. Throughout the trial, the prosecution has sought to prove the "hoax" was a "true threat" and not an act of "political theater," as Blackcloud's attorney Britt Morton Cobb asserted during opening arguments. When asked what was the message of the cross burning, Bernard responded, "It is not a death threat." "Other people did think it was a real threat. Yemi Mobolade did not," Bernard said. Mobolade and his wife, Abbey Mobolade, claimed otherwise during their respective testimony on Tuesday. Bernard is currently serving life in prison without possibility of parole for ordering the 2019 murder of William Underwood, who went by the rapper name FYL Jackk. Aee Shawn Mathews, 26, the accused triggerman, was acquitted of killing Underwood but found guilty of conspiracy to commit the killing in a trial last month. Bernard's criminal history was raised in court Thursday when he was asked by Fields if he had respect for the courts and the law. Bernard claimed that law enforcement officials in Colorado Springs had it out for him, and that he is in the middle of an appeals process for the conviction. Doherty was questioned Thursday after the FBI investigation and said that the investigators believed the crime was staged, likely by Mobolade supporters, as early as July 2023. However, the agent said the FBI did not inform Mobolade of this but that Colorado Springs police did. At one point, Mobolade was under criminal investigation, Doherty testified, but no charges were filed, according to a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office introduced as evidence earlier in the week. Mobolade initially denied having the phone call with Bernard. Doherty testified the FBI knew Mobolade was making false statements at the time. Mobolade also left out some details when talking with federal agencies, including the fact that he started using a new personal cellphone the day after the "hoax." Doherty testified Mobolade became a suspect because it was unclear what kind of relationship he had with Bernard and because his false statement in the initial FBI interview. However, Doherty explained Mobolade was ruled out as a suspect once the FBI received substantial evidence that the mayor was making many phone calls during that time, which could explain why he may not have remembered the six-minute phone call. After the first interview with the FBI, Doherty testified Mobolade was more willing to discuss further details and fully cooperated. Closing arguments are set to begin Friday. Several organizations and a western Colorado dermatologist have filed a lawsuit seeking to block specific provisions of a recently signed state law that, as originally introduced, would have defined "deadnaming" and "misgendering" as discriminatory acts but whose final version had been heavily modified. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included Defending Education, the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, Protect Kids Colorado, and Do No Harm. Travis Morrell, a Grand Junction dermatologist and member of Do No Harm, is also a plaintiff. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Colorado Civil Rights Division members are named as defendants. All five groups believe that a person's gender identity "cannot differ from their sex assigned at birth," the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote, adding that they do not want to be "forced to affirm through the use of pronouns, names, or other language that a biological man is actually a woman or vice versa." The lawsuit claims that the law, House Bill 1312, compels the plaintiffs to speak in favor of views they do not support in violation of their First Amendment rights. The complaint also challenges, on speech-based grounds, the requirement that public accommodation cannot advertise that certain people are unwelcome based on their protected characteristics. On Tuesday, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking to block the challenged provisions of the law from being enforced while the litigation unfolds. The measure, HB 1312, drew national attention from parental rights and LGBTQ advocacy organizations alike during the legislative process. The bill was heavily amended in the final days of the session, and its final form includes a legislative declaration stating that no Colorado resident may be discriminated against based on a person's protected class and that the General Assembly supports "freedom of choice," including seeking "legally protected health-care activities." It also requires county clerks and recorders to issue name changes on marriage certificates when requested but leave no indication or mark that the certificate has been modified. It also allows an individual to change the sex designation on their driver's license up to three times instead of just once before being required to submit a court order. Featured Local Savings Finally, the bill permits students to choose from any options provided in a dress code policy. Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill into law less than a week ago. The suit mentions two recent high-profile Supreme Court cases out of Colorado: Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission and 303 Creative vs. Elenis. In both cases, the court ruled that business owners cannot be required to provide services to same-sex couples, as it could violate their First Amendment rights. In the latter case, the nation's highest court "warned Colorado that, even if it can require businesses to 'work with all people,' it could not use its antidiscrimination laws to compel a website designer to create content endorsing a message with which she disagreed," the lawsuit states. The suit argues that a court may issue a similar ruling regarding the use of preferred names and pronouns, adding that the organizations named often host meetings, summits and other events in places of accommodation in Colorado and use "biologically accurate pronouns and birth names" at those events, "even if those pronouns or names conflict with an individuals self-professed gender identity or gender expression." In the lawsuit, Morrell says he uses his patients' biological gender identity in his practice and believes doing otherwise is harmful to the individual "because it encourages them to believe in a falsehood about themselves and discourages them from seeking proper care to address their gender dysphoria." Morrell adds he also regularly attends public speaking events in places of public accommodation and wants to continue to be able to use individuals' birth names and genders, as "speaking truth is critical to his work." The suit argues the law "punishes" people who refuse to refer to someone by their chosen name and pronouns and "suppresses" traditional beliefs about sex and gender. "In other words, the law openly discriminates based on viewpoint," the lawsuit continues. The Colorado Civil Rights Division and Attorney General's Office refused to comment, saying the litigation is pending. A man who raped and killed a woman in his Colorado Springs home in 2022 while on parole for a separate sexual assault conviction was sentenced on Thursday to the maximum prison term allowed in his plea agreement. During the emotional hearing, family members and defense council described what the victim's mother Rachel Scarfone called a "domino effect" of institutional failings that lead her daughter, 27-year-old Allison Scarfone, into a deadly encounter with 40-year-old convicted sex offender Gregory Whittemore. "They knew he had issues, and he shouldnt have been out," said Rachel Scarfone after the hearing in which Whittemore was sentenced to consecutive prison terms for assault and second-degree murder for a total of 70 years. Whittemore's defense council laid out a long history of mental health issues dating to the defendant's military service, including escalating instances of suicidal ideation and psychosis in the months before Scarfone's murder. In 2012, Whittemore raped and nearly killed a female employee of a Colorado Springs massage parlor after pursuing her into an alley. During proceedings for the sexual assault case, Whittemore was then found living with a 16-year-old girl in a car in South Carolina. According reporting from The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., the girl was listed at the time as a missing person from Colorado through the National Crime Information Center. Eight years later, Whittemore was released on early discretionary parole into a sex-offender intensive program. Despite multiple concerns expressed by parole officers about Whittemore's behavior in records obtained by the Gazette, he continued in the program until his arrest for Scarfone's murder. According to court documents, Whittemore "choked out" Scarfone after she told him he was a rapist. He then battered, raped and suffocated Scarfone, telling a friend that he left her body in a tote in his garage. Featured Local Savings District attorneys used data from Whittemore's active ankle monitor to show each of his movements on the day of the murder. Scarfone, who was experiencing homelessness at the time of her murder, was released on bond in a trespassing case despite raising competency concerns, according to prosecution and her family. Her younger sister, Meadow Scarfone, said Allison Scarfone was back on the streets due to a lack of available bed space at the state mental hospital. "The defendant found her as prey, as an easy target because of her mental illness," she said in a statement during the hearing. She described Scarfone as a loving older sister and mother to a young son whose life was derailed by addiction and mental illness. Rachel Scarfone said she was haunted by the details of her daughter's final moments, to the point of driving by the residence where she was killed. "She was so alone," she said during the hearing. Scarfone's father was ejected early from the hearing for shouting profanities at Whittemore. Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Samuel Evig said in his sentencing that the "ultimate failure" of the case was in the system not protecting Scarfone. "There are a number of places where this could have been diverted," he said. A man accused of following a woman and her two children into a Fountain parking lot and firing multiple shots into their vehicle in April has been arrested. The suspect has been identified as Clinton Padgett, 45. On April 10, a woman called the Fountain Police Department to report a road-rage incident. She said a man in a vehicle had followed her into a retail store parking lot in the 11300 block of Jimmy Camp Road, and fired multiple shots at her vehicle. Police found several bullets had struck the headrests where the children were sitting, narrowly missing them. On May 20, Padgett was taken into custody with the assistance of the Department of Corrections Fugitive Parole Unit and booked into El Paso County jail on suspicion of three counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and illegal discharge of a firearm among other alleged crimes. Jail records show that Padgett is still in custody, on a parole hold. His next court date is May 28. Colorado Springs police arrested a man Tuesday after allegedly attempting to ram police vehicles in an escape attempt in a stolen truck, according to an online blotter entry. Police said an officer identified a stolen gold Ford F-250 in the Fountain, where the driver fled north from pursuit into Colorado Springs. The truck was later found near The Citadel mall after allegedly being involved in a hit-and-run crash. Detectives then saw the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Michael Rempel, changing the appearance of the truck, according to police. They saw Rempel park the truck in an alley in the 1300 block of North El Paso Street. A Tactical Enforcement Unit responded, performing a "Contact Block" on the truck, said police. Rempel attempted to accelerate out of the block, but fled on foot when he was not successful. Rempel was taken into custody and is being held at the El Paso County jail. Police said he had a history of motor vehicle theft and was out on bond for two theft cases. He was arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle theft, felony eluding, obstruction, felony criminal mischief and possession of methamphetamine. The last day of school Thursday at Mountain Vista Community School turned violent and led to a brief lockdown, according to an online blotter entry from Colorado Springs police. Officers were dispatched to a disturbance involving multiple parents at the Harrison District 2 school at 2550 Dorset Drive that serves kindergarten through eighth-grade students. A spokesperson with Colorado Springs police said a fight broke out between parents during a graduation ceremony and grew to involve as many as eight people. The fight eventually moved outside and the school was put on lockdown as police arrived to a very chaotic scene and eventually deescalated the situation, according to the blotter entry. No weapons were involved; the lockdown lasted for less than an hour. Featured Local Savings Some minor injuries were reported, according to Gazette news partner KOAA. Other parents attending the graduation were moved to a single location to begin checking out their children and clearing the area. No arrests were announced by police, although an investigation will continue. Representatives with Harrison D-2 were not available for comment, but the school confirmed the disturbance in a social media post and said that The building remains safe and secure, and the school day is continuing as normal. DENVER Jurors found Derrick Bernard Jr. and Ashley Blackcloud guilty of conspiracy and intimidation in U.S. District Court of a hate-crime hoax that made headlines during the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election. The jury deliberated for roughly four hours before reaching its verdict. Bernard, 35, and Blackcloud, 40, were found guilty of one count each of conspiracy and maliciously conveying false information to intimidate another person, and face up to 15 years imprisonment and $500,000 in fines. Bernard's sentencing hearing has been set for Sept. 11. Blackcloud is set to be sentenced on Sept. 17. Bernard is already serving life in prison without chance of parole after he was convicted of ordering the 2019 murder in Colorado Springs of William Underwood, who went by the rapper name FYL Jackk. Aee Shawn Mathews, 26, the accused triggerman, was acquitted of killing Underwood, but found guilty of conspiracy to commit the killing in a trial last month. Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, who had testified as a victim in the case, issued a statement late Friday expressing gratitude for the outcome. "This moment brings a sense of closure and relief, not only for our family, but for the Colorado Springs community as a whole," his statement read in part. Moments like this remind us that hate has no home in our city. As we move forward, we do so with gratitude, healing and a commitment to the values that make Colorado Springs a safe, just, and united community. Bernard and Blackcloud sat through the five-day trial that heard evidence introduction and witness testimony. An alleged co-conspirator who testified, Deanna West, 38, took a plea deal, and is also to be sentenced in September. The three worked at the local radio station Bernard ran, Family Flavors The Slide World Broadcasting Network, or The Slide. Shortly after the news of the hoax broke, the station shut down due to financial difficulties, West testified. Based on testimony heard throughout the week, Bernard had relationships with both Blackcloud and West at different points in time. Bernard and Blackcloud are currently married, and Bernard referred to her as his "beloved wife" during his testimony. Court records indicated Bernard's and Blackcloud's defense had multiple witnesses scheduled to testify, but none of them were called to the stand, although Bernard testified on his own behalf on Thursday. Ahead of closing arguments, U.S. District Court Judge Regina Rodriguez emphasized the prosecution had to prove the hoax was a true threat and the defendants' alleged actions were not protected by the First Amendment, as the defense previously claimed. The case started in November when the U.S. Attorneys Office for Colorado announced that a federal grand jury had indicted the Bernard, Blackcloud and West for maliciously conveying false information about a threat made using fire to draw support for the eventual winner of the mayoral race, Mobolade, who became Colorado Springs first elected Black mayor after winning a runoff election against Wayne Williams. Featured Local Savings Videos and photographs of the early morning incident on April 23, 2023, which included a cross burning and posting a racial slur, were sent in a mass email to media outlets along the Front Range, calling the act disgusting, and indicating Williams, who is White, could be to blame because he was pushing hard to win (the) candidacy. Lead U.S. Attorney Bryan Fields argued the incident was not a hoax to the Mobolade family, but rather their worst nightmare. "This seeped into their daily lives in a way that should not happen in America," Fields said. Fields asserted that the intent of those who made the threat does not matter, and that it only matters how the victims interpreted it. Attorneys for Blackcloud and Bernard have argued their defendants only intended to drum up "sympathy and support" for Mobolade's campaign. Mobolade and his wife, Abbey Mobolade, were emotional in their testimony earlier this week as they recounted their experience. Fields said that, even if Blackcloud and Bernard didn't mean the threat to insinuate violence, they spread false narratives to support the claim that it was real. This included sharing news articles on social media with captions expressing their disgust. Blackcloud's attorney, Britt Morton Cobb, maintained the stance she presented during opening statements and claimed there was no evidence the cross burning was meant to be an actual threat. She said it was simply a "political stunt" and therefore protected by the First Amendment. "You can be mad at her," Cobb said, referring to Blackcloud. "That's OK, that's fine. That doesn't make this a crime." Cobb emphasized how Mobolade did not contact police until the Monday after the news broke, and when he did, it was a call to Police Chief Adrian Vasquez. Cobb claimed the hesitation to call law enforcement right away indicated Mobolade did not deem the incident as a "true threat." Additionally, Cobb alleged Mobolade had at least some knowledge of the "hoax," citing the six-minute phone call and the texts Bernard sent to Mobolade about him "having a plan." "Politicians and their supporters do crazy things sometimes," Cobb said. Bernard's attorney, Tyrone Glover, gave a short closing argument after his client on Thursday took the stand against his advice. Glover told the jury he didn't expect a verdict to be easy but insisted that his client had no ill intent. Fields in turn told the jury that the question was not whether Mobolade was involved, but whether the threat was a tactic of intimidation. On Monday 19 May 2025, the municipality of Lorentzweiler signed the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen with the Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn, in the presence of the president of SYVICOL, Emile Eicher. At the official ceremony, Marguy Kirsch-Hirtt, Mayor of Lorentzweiler, emphasised that municipalities are the first point of contact for citizens, and that it is therefore important to offer every one of them a high-quality welcome. The municipality of Lorentzweiler is already promoting several initiatives to encourage residents to get to know each other, notably in collaboration with the municipal committee on intercultural living together (CCVEI). However, as Marguy Kirsch-Hirtt pointed out in her speech, this commitment can be further strengthened by the signature of the "Gemengepakt. The president of SYVICOL, Emile Eicher, also emphasised that promoting a harmonious living together is one of the key competencies of municipalities. "We are living in tumultuous times, during which it is all the more important that we foster a climate of mutual understanding, dialogue and respect. The "Gemengepakt provides municipalities with a ready-to-use tool for promoting intercultural living together, and we, as SYVICOL, are here to support you in this process. In his speech, Minister Max Hahn thanked the political leaders of the municipality of Lorentzweiler for their commitment to living together and for their recognition of diversity as an asset for Luxembourg society. "With the signing of the "Gemengepakt, concrete actions can be developed to ensure that residents feel more "at home and are actively involved in the social, cultural and political life of the municipality. My ministry will be working closely with you in this process and offer municipalities the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from each other. By signing the "Gemengepakt vum interkulturellen Zesummeliewen, the municipality of Lorentzweiler is expressing its commitment to a multi-year process based on three pillars, namely access to information, the participation of all people living or working in their area, and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. In this process, the municipality is assisted by the advisors on intercultural living together working for the Ministry, in close collaboration with the partner organisations CEFIS and ASTI. The " Gemengepakt " (municipal pact for intercultural living together) The law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together created the "Gemengepakt" (municipal pact for intercultural living together), which helps to implement intercultural living together at local level. Since the law on intercultural living together came into force on 1 January 2024, 35 municipalities have signed the "Gemengepakt". By signing the "Gemengepakt", a municipality or group of municipalities, SYVICOL and the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees commit to close collaboration, with a view to a multi-annual and participatory process that emphasises access to information, the participation of all people living or working in the municipality and the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. The "Gemengepakt" is divided into thematic cycles, which take place in five stages: Political commitment Assessment of the current situation Citizen workshops to develop concrete actions Implementation of concrete actions Evaluation of the work carried out The "Gemengepakt" is based on the pilot project "Pakt vum Zesummeliewen" (2021- 2023), in which 32 municipalities took part. The implementation of the "Gemengepakt" is closely supported by the Ministry, its official partners ASTI and CEFIS, and five advisers on intercultural living together. The latter provide their expertise and share good practices between the participating municipalities. Other partners, in particular local players, are called upon to get involved and participate in the development and implementation of intercultural living together in their municipality. Under the "Gemengepakt" initiative, various forms of assistance are available to municipalities: an annual grant of up to 30,000 per municipality to cover the costs of a municipal pact coordinator, an annual grant of 3,000, 5,000 or 8,000 to cover the costs of implementing the municipal pact (depending on the number of local councillors) and an annual grant of 5 for each resident of the municipality and each cross-border worker whose place of work is in the municipality and who is a signatory of the citizens' pact at 31 December of the current year. For more information, visithttps://gemengen.zesummeliewen.luor send an e-mail to gemengen.zesummeliewen@fm.etat.lu Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees and the Syndicat des villes et communes luxembourgeoises (SYVICOL CHARLESTON Army Private Cecil Toler, 20, of Charleston, was killed in action during the D-Day landings eight decades ago, and he has been buried alongside his fallen comrades ever since in Normandy, France. Thanks to the efforts of a father and daughter from Bloomington, Toler's newly researched life story will be told and his sacrifice will be memorialized next month in Normandy during the 81st anniversary of the Allied liberation of France. Bloomington resident Michael Soares, an English teacher at Pontiac Township High School, said he has long been aware that his grandfather, Sgt. Arthur Soares, served in the D-Day landings, but he had known very little about the Army veteran's experiences there. His grandfather died in 2013. "He would tell us stories, but he would never tell us the full story of his experiences. He kept most of that to himself," Soares said, adding that such reticence has been common among those who saw the horrors of World War II firsthand. Soares, who enjoys enrolling in educational travel programs, said this shortage of knowledge about his grandfather recently drew him and his daughter, 17-year-old Abbie, to a program offered by the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The institute takes high school students through an intensive program to learn about the 1944 Normandy campaign. This semester-long program for student-teacher teams culminates with them traveling to Washington and Normandy. Participating students research chosen topics pertaining to D-Day and the lives of soldiers buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer, France. There, at the soldiers' gravesides, these young scholars present the biographies about the soldiers they have researched. "I thought it would be a really interesting perspective and a way to travel," said Abbie, who is a junior at Bloomington High School. She added, "It is very interesting. I am learning a lot of things I didn't learn in class." Soares, who is helping as the teacher half of the team with his daughter, said they decided to research Toler because he is from Central Illinois and served in the 1st Infantry Division's 16th Regiment, the same unit as his grandfather. "I feel that investigating Private Tolers story will also tell us more about my grandfather," Soares said. In March, Abbie and her father's research took them to Charleston. There, they visited the courthouse square and other neighborhoods from Toler's youth. Toler worked at a butcher shop while he was in high school. He later worked at a Deep Rock Oil service station in Charleston and the Kuehne furniture factory in Mattoon. The researching duo also met with local historian Carolyn Cloyd at the Coles County Historical Society's museum in the Mattoon train depot, which includes World War II exhibits. Soares said their efforts were also greatly assisted by Charleston High School sophomore Gunner Barr, who wrote an article about Toler for the CHS Press student newspaper during his freshman year. Barr said he took on this extracurricular task to bring attention to Toler and 20 other Charleston graduates killed in World War II, whose names are listed on an often-overlooked memorial plaque near the school's front office. "We had several from Charleston give the ultimate sacrifice that day," Gunner said. The sophomore said he is honored to have helped Michael and Abbie Soares with their research on Toler, adding that he plans to continue writing about other fallen soldiers. "I am not done with this." Barr's article drew upon the 16th Infantry Association's account of the Normandy landings to describe what Toler would have experienced that day, June 6, 1944, while part of F Company in the lead element landed on Omaha beach under fire from German forces. Toler was serving as one of the regiment's engineers, whose responsibilities included using specialized tools to clear a path through landmines for their fellow soldiers. As landing craft dropped their ramps, men were killed and wounded as they attempted to get out of their boats. Others were hit as they struggled through the surf or ran across the sand weighed down with water-logged equipment," Barr's report read, citing the 16th Infantry Association's account. Toler and approximately 200 others from the 16th were killed there. By noon of that bloody day, the 16th Infantry had broken through and had established a foothold that allowed follow-on units to move through. Soares said D-Day veteran Sgt. Lombarski recalled in the collection "No Mission Too Difficult!: Old Buddies of the 1st Division Tell All About World War II" that "being in that first wave was like committing suicide." The sergeant later added, "E and F Companies were on a virtual suicide mission. Its a miracle any of us survived. Toler's cause of death was later listed as "artillery shell, fragments" in U.S. World War II Hospital Admission card files, which Soares and his daughter have studied. Soares said his memories of his grandfather, who served as a gunner with L Company, are of a man who was typically happy and smiling. He said it's difficult to balance those recollections with what his grandfather must have gone through during the D-Day landings. "The reality, since we didn't experience it, is really hard to fathom," Soares said. He added, "Sometimes the reality just hits you. I couldn't believe Grandpa did all that." The Bloomington man and his daughter are set to travel on June 18 to Washington, where their itinerary will include researching Toler and his experiences further at the National Archives. On June 22, they are scheduled to fly to Paris and take a bus to the Normandy region. Soares said Abbie will make a presentation on their research at the Ardenne Abbey, where German forces massacred 20 Canadian soldiers. "Along the way, we will visit Utah, Juno and Omaha beaches," Soares said. "Omaha Beach is where Private Toler died, and my grandfather landed an hour later and managed to survive." The duo are slated to complete their research project on June 27, when they present their remembrance for Toler and other fallen soldiers at the Normandy American Cemetery. Abbie said she grew up hearing stories about her great-grandfather, who died when she was a baby, so it's been interesting for her to learn about his service via Toler, and she looks forward to seeing where they served firsthand. "To be my kid's teacher, even for a few couple months, has been a real honor," said Soares, who has always taught in a different school district from his daughter. Soares said he is proud that she has taken on such an extensive research project about D-Day. "She is one of few people her age I would trust to keep up with the work." Photo credit: Photo courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service The recent closing of U.S. ports of entry to live cattle, horses, and bison because of New World screwworm has been followed up by further federal action. The parasite, which re-emerged in Mexico in late 2024, is the subject of the Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, a bill introduced on Wednesday, May 14, by a contingent of senators from Texas and New Mexico. On Monday, May 12, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the reinstated border ban, which had been temporarily lifted in early 2025 after Mexico established pre-import protocols to lessen the threat. However, the USDA cited in a press release the continued and rapid northward spread of the parasite, which has been detected at farms approximately 700 miles south of the U.S. border. The STOP Screwworms Act calls for resources to eradicate screwworms via the method that saw success during a 1960s outbreak: Producing and releasing sterile male flies. Currently, said National Cattlemens Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall, the only facility producing the specimens is in Panama. The one thing we have going for us is that the female screwworms only mate once. Because of that, we can introduce sterile males into the wild, he noted in a recent "Beltway Beef" podcast. We have a problem right now with the availability of an adequate number of these sterile flies. The Senate bill would secure funding for a new, U.S.-based operation to provide the necessary quantity of the specimens, which Woodall estimates to be four times what the Panama facility is now producing. He cautioned that in addition to the threat to animal health, the economic ripple effects of a stateside screwworm infestation would reach the entire industry regardless of its geographical constraints. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service maintains a webpage with additional information on the parasite, along with maps of affected areas. Visit here for more information. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2025 May 19, 2025 GUEST OPINION: When Chinas DeepSeek AI technology was unveiled to the world back in January, it took many in the technology sector by surprise. The new tool appeared to be a faster, smarter and cheaper alternative to well-established LLMs such as ChatGPT. Competition in the sector appeared to have jumped significantly. However, while DeepSeeks capabilities seem to be extensive, experts have identified significant failings particularly from a security perspective. Research by AppSOC has revealed critical failures in multiple areas, including susceptibility to jailbreaking, prompt injection, among other security concerns. Researchers are also troubled by just how easily malware and viruses can be created using the tool. This situation renders it too risky for business and enterprise use, but that is not going to stop it from being rolled out often without the knowledge or approval of enterprise security leadership. With research showing approximately 76% of developers are using or planning to use AI tooling in the software development process, the well-documented security risks of many AI models should be a high priority, and DeepSeeks accessibility and rapid adoption positions it a challenging potential threat vector. However, thankfully, putting in place the right safeguards and guidelines can take the security sting out of its tail. Generating functional code One of the first impressive use cases for DeepSeek has been its ability to produce quality, functional code to a standard deemed better than other open-source LLMs via its proprietary DeepSeek Coder tool. The extensive test results published on DeepSeek Coders GitHub page offer tangible evidence that the tool is a solid option against competitor LLMs. What is not so clear, however, is how it performs in a real development environment. Cybersecurity firms have also discovered that the technology has backdoors that send user information directly to servers owned by the Chinese government, indicating that it is a significant risk to national security. In addition to a penchant for creating malware and weakness in the face of jailbreaking attempts, DeepSeek is said to contain outmoded cryptography, leaving it vulnerable to sensitive data exposure and SQL injection. Independent benchmarking from Baxbench, plus a recent research collaboration between academics in China, Australia and New Zealand reveal that, in general, AI coding assistants produce insecure code. Baxbench in particular indicated that no current LLM is ready for code automation from a security perspective. In any case, it will take security-adept developers to detect the issues in the first place, not to mention mitigate them. The key issue is that developers will choose whatever AI model will do the job fastest and cheapest. DeepSeek is functional and, above all, free for quite powerful features and capabilities. Many developers are already using it, and in the absence of regulation or individual security policies banning the installation of the tool, many more will adopt it. The end result will be that potential backdoors or vulnerabilities will make their way into enterprise codebases. Shadow AI will extend the enterprise attack surface CISOs are burdened with sprawling, overbearing tech stacks that create even more complexity in an already complicated enterprise environment. Adding to that burden is the potential for risky, out-of-policy tools being introduced by individuals who dont understand the security impact of their actions. Wide, uncontrolled adoption or worse, covert shadow use in development teams despite restrictions is a recipe for disaster. Every instance of shadow IT expands an organisations attack surface. CISOs need to move forward securely with shadow IT, and ultimately to work back to having supportable and secure solutions that can meet the objectives of all teams. As a result, they should implement business-appropriate AI guardrails and approved tools or face the consequences of serious security risks, such as data leaks and compliance violations. In addition, modern security programs must make developer-driven security a key driving force of risk and vulnerability reduction. This means investing in their ongoing security upskilling as it relates to their role and have proper resource management Ongoing rapid evolution The AI space is rapidly evolving and while these advancements are undoubtedly exciting, its important not to lose sight of the risk involved in their implementation at the enterprise level. DeepSeek is taking off across the world however, for most use cases, it carries unacceptable cyber risk. All the while, threat actors use AI to generate realistic, real-time phishing emails, audio impersonations and deepfake videos while optimising malware, automating DDoS campaigns and reficing stolen credentials. Security leaders need to ensure there are stringent internal AI policies in place equipping teams with the tools to recognise and respond to AI-driven tactis. Banning AI tools altogether is not the solution, as many developers will find a way around any restrictions and continue to compromise the company, CISOs need to equip security teams with the tools to recognise that digital identity is no longer guaranteed and that AI has truly erased the lines between truth and deception in the digital world. Security teams should investigate, test, and approve a small suite of AI tooling that can be safely deployed according to established AI policies. Allow developers with proven security skills to use AI on specific code repositories, and disallow those who have not been verified. Its clear that AI has much to offer software developers, however its advantages need to be weighed against its weaknesses. Taking time now to assess and deploy appropriate tools will significantly reduce the associated security challenges and prevent attacks and disruptions. Digital workplace solutions provider TeamViewer has launched TeamViewer ONE a unified digital workplace management platform powered by advanced AI features, and designed to help organisations reduce downtime, optimise IT support, and elevate employee experience at scale. The company presented the new platform at the Gartner Digital Workplace Summit in London. TeamViewer says managing a patchwork of disconnected IT tools has become a significant challenge for organisations, leading to increased complexity, higher costs, and operational inefficiencies. Many IT leaders are now prioritising vendor consolidation to streamline operations and reduce these burdens. A recent CIO survey found that 95% of IT executives plan to consolidate vendors within the next year, with 80% citing the need to reduce the number of point solutions. This growing shift highlights the demand for unified platforms that simplify IT operations while boosting performance, security, and scalability. TeamViewer ONE was built to meet exactly this need. Its the first unified digital workplace platform that brings together real-time device monitoring, intelligent automation, secure remote access, and contextual diagnosticsall in a single, scalable solution. Whether global enterprise or small business, it empowers organisations of all sizes to reduce tool sprawl, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional digital experiences across a distributed workforce, spanning traditional IT endpoints as well as a wide range of connected and operational technology devices. The digital workplace is no longer a future vision, its the reality of how every business operates today, said Mark Banfield, Chief Commercial Officer at TeamViewer. Almost all workplaces are digital nowadays, and companies need to support their employees whether they work in an office, at home, on the shop floor, or out in the field. As the number of tools and technologies has exploded, so has the complexity for IT teams and end-users. With TeamViewer ONE, were helping customers cut through that complexity with a unified platform that meets their needs today and evolves with them tomorrowwhether theyre just starting out or managing thousands of endpoints globally. TeamViewer ONE brings together remote monitoring and management (RMM), remote connectivity, DEX, and AI-powered features into one comprehensive solution under a single license, making it the only platform to deliver all these capabilities seamlessly for businesses of any size. TeamViewer RMM: Proactive device monitoring and management with built-in endpoint security, mobile device management (MDM), and patching, helping IT teams stay ahead of potential issues, reduce disruptions, and ensure device compliance across the workforce. Proactive device monitoring and management with built-in endpoint security, mobile device management (MDM), and patching, helping IT teams stay ahead of potential issues, reduce disruptions, and ensure device compliance across the workforce. TeamViewer Intelligence: AI-driven support tools like CoPilot provide real-time diagnostics and context-aware troubleshooting recommendations, while Session Insights generate automatic, structured reports to help IT teams analyse trends and improve performance. AI-driven support tools like CoPilot provide real-time diagnostics and context-aware troubleshooting recommendations, while Session Insights generate automatic, structured reports to help IT teams analyse trends and improve performance. TeamViewer Remote Connectivity: Secure, reliable and industry-leading remote access and control, enabling IT teams to provide seamless assistance across distributed workforces and devices, wherever they are. Secure, reliable and industry-leading remote access and control, enabling IT teams to provide seamless assistance across distributed workforces and devices, wherever they are. TeamViewer DEX: Designed to monitor and improve digital employee experience (DEX), which has been recognised as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant. With real-time visibility into endpoint health, performance trends, and user-impacting issues, DEX allows IT to prioritise actions that drive productivity, reduce downtime, and foster long-term employee engagement. Companies today cant afford to fly blind when it comes to employee experience and IT health, said Mei Dent, Chief Product and Technology Officer at TeamViewer. With rising pressure to consolidate fragmented tech stacks, strengthen security, and meet evolving compliance standards, TeamViewer ONE brings intelligence, automation, and visibility into a single platform, enabling IT teams to replace siloed tools with a seamless, AI-powered experience. This frees IT teams from repetitive tasks and manual troubleshooting, allowing them to focus on higher-impact initiatives that drive real value for the business. This combination of capabilities enables companies to create a more connected, efficient, and productive environment where employees stay engaged and supported with minimal distractions. TeamViewer ONE is available in tailored Business and Enterprise packages with all features delivered through a single agent license to support the evolving demands of todays hybrid workforces. For more details, visit TeamViewer ONE. Iris Pleskac Clinch was nearly 7 years old when her dad died from cancer. Every once in a while, little memories, such as driving in the car with him, come back to her. But mostly, its the work of the Pat Clinch Peace Project that helps keep her dads memory alive. The Peace Project is filling in the blanks for my kids, her mother, Maggie Pleskac, said. Its like, Heres who your dad was, heres what he did in the community, and heres why he will never be forgotten. Its been 10 years since Pat Clinch died and the Peace Project was formed to help carry on the Lincoln man's legacy by organizing fundraisers throughout the community. If we can help as a Peace Project show his spirit, then my kids get to know their dad a little better, Pleskac said. The Pat Clinch Peace Project is not a nonprofit organization or a foundation. It is simply a project that helps connect the community to causes in honor of Clinch, a longtime musician and employee of The Mill Coffee & Tea. On Sunday 10 years to the day since Clinch died Pleskac and Peace Project board members are hosting an event to help raise money for the planned South Haymarket Park. The free event is from 4-8 p.m. at the Lincoln Childrens Zoo event space, 1222 S. 27th St. Pleskac said this event is an extension of what Clinch wouldve wanted. Just five months before his death, the 38-year-old was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We barely had time to kind of grapple with (the diagnosis), but he was really humbled by how many people showed up for us, Pleskac said. He was humbled and truly brought to his knees on how the community rallied. So he had said, If I can beat this, I really want to dedicate my life to service and community. Clinch was a humble man who always wanted to lend a helping hand, Pleskac said, even in faraway places. Pleskac said her husband was quick to organize an event downtown with live music and raffle items to raise money to send food to Haiti after an earthquake there in 2010. Pleskac and her friends are working together to honor his goal. We just try to put a little bit of good in where its needed, and kind of keep those parameters of food, art, music, to better the lives of others, Pleskac said. This year, the Peace Project decided to raise money for the skateboarding community. Pat was kind of a misfit, if you would. He was always the guy that stood up for the underdog, he just was always that one that never left anybody behind, Pleskac said. I feel like the skateboarding community is really strong like that. Clinch was a skateboarder himself before becoming a parent. When his first daughter was born, he donated all of his boards to Phil Burcher at Precision Skateboards, who is also the president of the Lincoln Skatepark Association. It came full circle that when my kids wanted to try skateboarding. Phil gave them a skateboard because Pat had donated his. I was like, Oh, this is so great how life mysteriously works, Pleskac said. Earlier this year, Pleskac learned Burcher and the skateboard community were struggling to raise enough money for the planned South Haymarket Park Skatepark. We could see they could use some help, and thats where we come in, Pleskac said. Were just a conduit to help people fundraise. The free event Sunday will include a raffle, vendor booths, food, skateboarding demonstrations, a performance by NoWear BMX and live music all organized by the Pat Clinch Peace Project. Clinch's former band, Strawberry Burns, is also reuniting for the event, where they will play their original songs. Clinch was the bassist for the band, which became Mothawk after Clinch's death. All of the money will go toward a skatepark that will anchor the new 8.5-acre South Haymarket Park, which is set to break ground this summer. Public and private funds will be used to pay the park's projected cost of $25 million. The in-ground skatepark will be built at the northern edge of the park and would become Nebraskas largest skateboarding facility. I feel like this is exactly where (Clinch) would want to see the love going back out into the community, Pleskac said. Room 1, ICU Love on life support This was a busy Saturday in 2022. 06:45 I walk into the unit and spot a gray-haired man pacing outside Room 1. Clothes rumpled, air sharp with sweat. The moment he catches my white coat he stops. Doctor, any updates for me? Through the glass I glimpse his world: a woman in her late twenties, motionless beneath a sedative drip; a breathing tube taped to her mouth; the ventilator doing the work of her lungs. A brand-new admissionI wasnt here yesterday. Ive just come on, I say. Let me talk with the night team; if youre listed as next of kin, Ill come right back. Im her to-be husband, he answers, the words shaking between pride and panic. The age gap sparks an uninvited questionWhats the story?but hand-over starts at seven, and my obsessive-compulsive personality protests if Im not ten minutes early. 07:00 chart review, then back to Room 1 Pieces fall into place: long-standing epilepsy, a month in jail, seizure medicine withheld by bureaucracy massive seizure, airway secured with tube and machine. It has happened before, but this time there is fever. She has injected drugs since age fifteen. Brain infection? The fiance clings to a chair, talking in torrents. In that flood, he reveals a forgotten diagnosisan old infection on her heart valvea detail no one else had mentioned. When I try a brief medical update he breaks: flew overnight from Florida, forty-eight hours without sleep, yet refuses the visitor lounge. He will not leave the woman he loves. Again the silent questionexcessive devotion? Whats the story?but charts and rounds pull me away. Consent We need a lumbar puncture to test her spinal fluid. He wants to call her mother first. Fineher number is on the chart. We will also need an MRI, so I ask, while he listens: Any metal implants? None. When I hang up he murmurs, almost wounded, She doesnt have any metal. You could have asked meI know everything about her. And I believe him. 14:00 another hurdle Her IV fails; no usable veins left. The next step is a deeper ultrasound-guided line. I ask him to step into the hallway and explain the brief procedure. He nods, paces, returns as I finish. Doctor her tattoostheyre OK, right? She designed them herself. She loves them. ADVERTISEMENT Only then do I truly see her arms: vibrant ink, stories woven into skin. Through his worry, the colors look almost luminousbeautiful enough that Van Gogh might have envied them. I stop wondering what the story is. The story is loveunfiltered, inconvenient, fiercely attentive lovescarce in the everyday world and rarer still in an ICU, yet powerful enough to stop even a busy physician in his tracks. Before each shift, I review protocols for seizures, infections, failed airways. Nothing prepares me for the protocol of a heart that refuses to leave a bedside. Technology may keep someone alive; devotion keeps them human. Syed Ahmad Moosa is a rheumatology fellow. The Korean War Monument (Photo by Hyemin Lee) The War Memorial of Korea is hands down my favorite destination. If youre a U.S. military member, a member of the UN forces stationed in Korea or simply a history buff, mark it as an absolute must-visit spot! In South Korea, June serves as the month of honoring and commemorating patriots and veterans who were dedicated to protecting the country. Specifically, June 6th is Memorial Day, a public holiday to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the countrys freedom. The War Memorial of Korea is one of the most insightful places to learn about the Korean War, offering a powerful and accessible window into the nations significant history, completely free of charge. The museum and memorial pay tribute to the veterans and those lost protecting the nation during the Korean War. As you wander through, youll witness heartfelt expressions of gratitude not only towards the Republic of Korea forces but also towards the UN forces who bravely defended Korea during the war. Though Korea still remains a divided nation, many Koreans continue to strive for peace, a theme youll see throughout the museum. The War Memorial of Korea (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 5 NOTABLE OUTDOOR EXHIBITS 1.Statue of Brothers Imagine the intense emotions of two brothers reunited as enemies on the chaotic battlefield of the Korean War. This statue was inspired by a true story of a Korean War veteran and shows the tragedy of the divided nation. The statue of the brothers embracing each other, symbolizes Koreas collective aspirations for reconciliation, love, and reunification. The Statue of Brothers (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 2.Korean War Monument As you enter the museum area, you will be overwhelmed by the massive and magnificent sculptures. They serve as a reminder that the pain of the Korean War should never be forgotten and of the hope for future peace and reunification. The Korean War Monument (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 3.Monuments for UN Forces They are established to express gratitude to the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War and commemorate the fallen soldiers. On the opposite side, there are flags of the ROK military branches units that fought in the Korean War. Monuments for UN Forces (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 4.Open-air exhibition area You will be delighted to explore this vast field filled with a fascinating collection of over 70 large-scale weapons that were used during and after the Korean War. This area is renowned as the museums largest photo zone, making it the perfect spot for both children and adults to enjoy. Open-air exhibition area (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 5.Exhibition ROKs PKM-357 Chamsuri When you step into the model vessel, you will travel back to the intense moments of the Second Yeonpyeong Naval Battle in 2002, triggered by a preemptive attack from North Korea. The battle led to the sinking of the PKM Chamsuri-357, resulting in the death of six and injury of 18. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing conflicts and the fact that the Korean War has not officially ended. The Exhibition of the ROKS PKM-357 Chamsuri (Photo by Hyemin Lee) INDOOR EXHIBITION HALLS Korean War Rooms Exploring the Korean War Rooms, you can learn in detail about the Korean War, including its historical background and significant events in chronological order. Also, you can see how UN forces aided and fought alongside ROK. This will help you catch a glimpse of the beginning of the ROK-US alliance and the UN Command. Indoor exhibition (Photo by Hyemin Lee) KEY EVENTS 1. Illegal invasion of South Korea North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, and overpowered the South Korean military, occupying Seoul in three days. The NK forces, armed with strong weapons and tanks, recklessly broke through the 38th parallel to nearly Busan. Battle of Nakdsong River: The river was technically the final defense line as the South Korean government was driven from Seoul to Busan. The only hope was for UN forces to join the war and fight alongside ROK. Countless South Koreans including the ROK forces, young students around 13 to 15 years old with no prior combat experience, and civilians died to defend the area. Soon, UN forces joined the battle. Invasion to South Korea. (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 2. UN Forces march north Through a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on June 27, 1950, UN member countries were urged to provide essential aid to the ROK. With the participation of UN forces and the success of Operation Chromite, the tide of the war was a complete reversal. By October 1950, North Korea was almost fully occupied by UN forces, leaving only a small portion of their territory. The ROK government under President Syngman Rhee was filled with excitement and believed that reunification was within reach. Operation Chromite: On Sept. 15, 1950, General MacArthur successfully led UN forces of 75,000 troops to land in Incheon. The UN forces subsequently recaptured Seoul and other territory. This was the greatest turning point in the Korean War. To this day, General MacArthur is still remembered as the ultimate hero of the Korean War. Operation Chromite (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 3. Chinese Forces and a war of attrition At the very moment when the prospect of reunification seemed close, Mao Zedong, after gaining the upper hand in China, sent troops to assist North Korea, a fellow communist regime. The Chinese forces, with tactics such as human wave attacks, shifted the overall situation of the war again. The UN forces launched a full-scale counterattack. From that point, the war transformed into a brutal war of attrition with no gain for either side. 4.Truce talks and the Korea-US Mutual Defense Treaty Amid the ongoing war of attrition for nearly three years, both sides grew significantly weary. The Korean War was finally halted with the signing of an armistice on July 27, 1953. Koreans who had hoped for reunification were greatly disappointed. Also, the ROK government had great concerns about the future after the war. As a result, South Korea entered into the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty, which provides a war deterrent against further aggression from the North. ROK Armed Forces Rooms In these exhibition rooms, you will gain comprehensive understanding of how ROK forces have evolved after the Korean War. They also highlight the history of ROK forces participating in UN peacekeeping activities in various countries. It shows the transformation of this country from the one that received aid, to a nation that now provides aid to others. ROK armed forces rooms (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Vietnam War As an ally of the United States, ROK forces participated in the Vietnam War, deploying a cumulative total of approximately 310,000 troops in the span of about eight years. The exhibits vividly show the challenging conditions of the battles such as mountainous terrain and jungles. Vietnam War (Photo by Hyemin Lee) War History Rooms (Before the Korean War) Korea, throughout its history, has endured invasions from various powerful nations including China, Mongolia, Japan, the United States, and France. Despite these challenges, the nation has preserved its history and identity. Through exploring these halls, youll learn thousands of years of Korean history from the prehistoric era to Japanese occupation. Imjin War and Turtle Ship: In 1592, Joseon faced a major crisis against strong Japanese forces for seven years during this war. However, the invasion was ultimately repelled through the courageous efforts of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and other notable figures. Admiral Yis Turtle Ships achieved remarkable victories in numerous naval battles, becoming a source of great pride for all Koreans. Yet the war resulted in widespread devastation, with brutal massacres and enslavement of many Koreans kidnapped by Japanese. War History Rooms-Imjin War (Photo by Hyemin Lee) The U.S expedition to Korea: In 1871, during an era of Western imperial ambitions in Asia, the United States launched an invasion of Korea as retaliation against the General Sherman incident and to forcibly open Korea to trade. It marked the first and only war between the United States and Korea. This event portrayed in the hit K-drama series Mr. Sunshine, which features a Korean-American Marine Corps officer as the protagonist. War history rooms (Photo by Hyemin Lee) TIPS FOR EXPLORING INDOOR EXHIBITION HALLS 1. The vast indoor exhibit is divided into seven sections. Grab a pamphlet at the entrance to help navigate the three-story museum. 2. Free lockers are available at the entrance, some of which are spacious enough to accommodate large backpacks. 3. Most exhibitions provide English explanations. Also, you can join a free English guided tour. For more information, inquire at the information desk or call +82-2-709-3077 4. Take enough time to explore the entire museum. There is a wealth of information about the entire history of Korea to absorb. Remember that the last admission is at 5 p.m. and the museum starts closing by 5:40 p.m. THINGS TO KNOW Global businesses call for more cooperation in digital era for common development Xinhua) 08:10, May 23, 2025 BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Global business and trade leaders on Thursday came together at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2025 to launch a Beijing Initiative, calling for further cooperation in the digital era to drive global growth and shared prosperity. The Beijing Initiative proposes the construction of a smart digital collaboration system to safeguard the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, as well as the sharing of the dividends of digital technologies to foster an open, fair innovation ecosystem. The initiative calls for efforts to build a global supply chain collaboration platform powered by smart digital technologies, for enhanced connectivity in AI and digital infrastructure, for the application of digital and AI technologies to empower the real economy, and for deepened international cooperation along industrial and supply chains. It urges efforts to leverage new advantages in the smart digital era to promote more open, convenient global trade and investment, and to strengthen the application of digital technologies to support the transition toward green, low-carbon development. It encourages the development of emerging forms of trade such as cross-border e-commerce, digital trade and trade in services, and seeks to ensure that all economies truly share the benefits of digitalization. The initiative supports the healthy development of AI to enhance people's well-being, encourages deeper cooperation within the global business community, and promotes sustainable development worldwide. Hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit has been held for four consecutive years, gradually becoming an important institutional platform for dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation within the global business community. This year's summit focuses on the themes of embracing the era of digital intelligence and working together for common development. Over 800 representatives of government departments, international organizations, chambers of commerce, associations, trade promotion bodies and enterprises attended the summit. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) We have come together to stay together: Uddhav > < 21:52 Most Covid cases in India mild in nature: Sources Most of the Covid cases reported in various states are mild in nature and the patients are under home care, official sources said amid a rise in cases in some countries. The matter regarding COVID-19 cases was reviewed by the Union Health Secretary on Saturday with the Secretary,... Read more > 21:29 DMK is not afraid of ED or Modi: Udhayanidhi Stalin Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday said the DMK was not afraid of the raids by the Enforcement Directorate or Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the party would face the cases legally.Udhayanidhi, who is DMK youth wing secretary, said the DMK dispensation would... Read more > 21:27 Meitei group to boycott Manipur guv, launch civil disobedience campaign A leading Meitei group announced a civil disobedience movement across Manipur from Sunday in protest against Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's alleged refusal to apologise for the removal of the state's name from a government bus, sparking widespread discontent.In a statement on Saturday, the... Read more > 20:57 Pointless to hold talks with 'puppet' govt: Imran Khan Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday said he wants to negotiate only with the military establishment, adding that it is pointless to hold talks with the puppet PML-N government. Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been in jail since... Read more > 20:52 3-year-old Dalit girl raped, murdered in Andhra A three-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped and murdered here in Kadapa district by a 25-year-old man, said a police official on Saturday.Additional Superintendent of Police, Prakash Babu, said the girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a person called Rahmatullah of Kambaladinne village in... Read more > 20:18 Modi to hold roadshow in Patna on May 29 Prime Minister Narendar Modi will hold a road show in Patna on May 29, 2025.Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal told Rediff.com that Modi is coming on a two days visit to Bihar on May 29 and 30.Modi will arrived in Patna on a special plane and his roadshow is likely to start from Patna airport to... Read more > 19:55 Not Kashmir conflict, but...: Jaishankar on India-Pak clash The recent confrontation between India and Pakistan was not a conflict in Kashmir, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has asserted, saying such a description would be like putting the perpetrator and the victim of the Pahalgam attack at the same level. The horrific strike in Pahalgam... Read more > 19:21 Elon Musk's X down for users across globe Microblogging platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), is currently suffering a major outage with thousands of users globally reporting issues.Users faced various problems, including difficulty signing in and not receiving direct messages. The outage caused inconvenience for many people trying to... Read more > 19:06 New Covid variant is not lethal, but...: Experts The doctors in the national capital have advised people not to panic over the COVID-19 cases linked to the JN.1 variant, saying the strain is not severe and most patients have only reported mild symptoms. All 23 recent Covid-19 patients in Delhi experienced only mild symptoms and were... Read more > 18:54 Oil, cargo falls into sea off Kerala coast, public cautioned against it: KSDMA The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) on Saturday said that dangerous cargo, including oil, has fallen into the Arabian Sea off the Kerala coast and cautioned the general public against touching the containers if they wash ashore. KSDMA member secretary Sekhar... Read more > 18:20 He didn't say...: Muhammad Yunus' aide on resignation buzz Muhammad Yunus will remain as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, an adviser in his cabinet said on Saturday, two days after a key ally said he mulled resignation. He (Yunus) didn't say he will leave. He said that while we face many obstacles in carrying out the work and... Read more > 17:56 Maha: 1 Covid patient suffering from severe diabetes dies Representative image A COVID-19 patient died while eight new cases of the viral infection were reported in Maharashtra's Thane on Saturday, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said.There are a total of 18 active COVID-19 patients in Thane, it said, adding that only one of them is undergoing treatment at hospital... Read more > 17:49 Karnataka Guv sends temple bill to President Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has reserved the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, one which aims to benefit priests serving in low income temples, for the assent of the President.The bill was passed by the Karnataka assembly on March 6,... Read more > 17:39 Pawar, Thackeray brands cannot be wiped out: Raj Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has said attempts have been made to finish off the Pawar and Thackeray brands in politics but asserted that they cannot be wiped out.At an event organised by a Marathi news portal in Pune, Raj Thackeray spoke about the relevance of the Pawar... Read more > 17:09 Covid variants causing rise in cases, detected in India One case of the newly emerging COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four instances of the LF.7 type have been detected in India, according to INSACOG data. As of May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 subvariants as Variants Under Monitoring, not as Variants of... Read more > 16:36 At Niti Aayog meet, TN CM demands 50% share in central taxes Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday sought the Centre to enhance the state's share in central taxes to 50 per cent and also underscored the necessity for a dedicated urban transformation mission in the state.Speaking at the Niti Aayog meeting in New Delhi, he 'demanded a rightful 50... Read more > 16:29 Pak put in abeyance goodwill, friendship: India on IWT India's decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is only a natural outcome of Pakistan putting in abeyance the principles, including friendship and goodwill, guiding the agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs has told a parliamentary committee. The MEA has said changes... Read more > 16:05 Heavy rains to continue in Kerala; red, orange alerts in several districts Heavy rains are expected to continue across Kerala as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday sounded red and orange alerts in several districts of the state for the next few days. The IMD issued a red alert in Kannur and Kasaragod districts and an orange alert in the... Read more > 15:39 Guj man arrested for sharing sensitive info with Pak spy The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a contractual health worker posted in the border district of Kutch for allegedly sharing sensitive information about military establishments with a Pakistani spy, officials said on Saturday.Accused Sahdevsinh Gohil, 28, was lured by a Pakistani... Read more > 15:31 Justice B V Nagarathna replaces Justice AS Oka in collegium Justice BV Nagarathna, in line to become the first woman Chief Justice of India, is set to become a member of the Supreme Court collegium after the retirement of Justice Abhay S Oka. Being the fifth senior most judge now, Justice Nagarathna will officially become part of the collegium... Read more > 15:13 Intruder shot dead by BSF along Indo-Pak border in Guj The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead a Pakistani intruder attempting to enter from the India-Pakistan international border in Gujarat, an official said on Saturday.Alert BSF troops spotted a suspicious person advancing towards the border fence after crossing the international border in... Read more > 15:01 Col Qureshi slur: SIT begins probe against MP minister A Special Investigation Team, formed on the orders of the Supreme Court, has begun its probe into the controversial remarks by Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah, one of its members said on Saturday.The three-member SIT has started meeting people in Raykundda village near Mhow in Indore district,... Read more > 14:57 LIC bags Guinness world record for selling highest life insurance policies in 24 hrs Life Insurance Corporation of India on Saturday said it has earned a Guinness World Record title for most life insurance policies sold in 24 hours. This historic achievement, verified by Guinness World Records, recognises the extraordinary performance of the corporation's dedicated agency... Read more > 14:55 If Centre, states work together like Team India...: Modi @Niti Aayog meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said if the Union government and states work together like Team India, no goal is impossible. Modi is chairing the 10th Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog.There is a need to increase the speed of development, he said.We have to increase the... Read more > 14:36 Uddhav's stand on alliance with Raj is 'manase': Raut Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said their party is positive about an alliance with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the sake of Marathi people.Estranged cousins Raj and Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray last month sparked speculation about a possible... Read more > 14:15 SC stays defamation proceedings against India Today group head Aroon Purie The Supreme Court has stayed criminal defamation proceedings against India Today group head Aroon Purie in a case related to a news debate aired last year. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan passed the order after hearing arguments from senior advocate Siddharth Luthra,... Read more > 13:21 IMF holds 'constructive discussions' with Pakistan The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Saturday that it held constructive discussions with Pakistani authorities on the upcoming budget while committing to continue talks in the coming days. The IMF team started high-level policy talks in Islamabad on May 19 to discuss the FY 2025-26... Read more > 12:48 Actor Mukul Dev passes away at 54 Actor Mukul Dev, best known for his roles in films like Son of Sardaar, Yamla Pagla Deewana, and Jai Ho, has passed away, a close family friend said on Saturday. He was 54. Yes, it is true, actor Mugdha Godse, partner of Dev's elder brother, actor Rahul Dev, told PTI when asked about... Read more > 12:46 Rahul Gandhi meets Pak shelling victims in Poonch Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reached Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday to meet the victims of the cross-border shelling by Pakistani troops earlier this month. This is the second visit by the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha to the Union territory since... Read more > 12:03 Monsoon hits Kerala, earliest onset since 2009: IMD The southwest monsoon reached Kerala on Saturday, marking its earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009 when it began on May 23, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Normally, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by... Read more > 11:47 K'taka, Kerala CMs to skip NITI Aayog meet in Delhi Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will not attend the 10th meeting of NITI Aayog Governing Council in New Delhi, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister is not boycotting the meeting, but he has a prior engagement in... Read more > 11:26 Militant arrested in Manipur's Kamjong Security forces arrested a cadre of the banned outfit Prepak from Manipur's Kamjong district, and a firearm along with ammunition was recovered from his possession, the police said on Saturday. He was apprehended from a place near the Taret river under the Kasom Khullen Police Station limits... Read more > 11:24 All-party delegation reaches Bahrain to bolster India's anti-terror diplomacy All-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda (4th from left) reaches Bahrain/ANI Photo An all-party Indian delegation reached Bahrain on Saturday as part of New Delhi's global diplomatic outreach to highlight its unwavering stand against cross-border terrorism. The delegation led by senior BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda was received by Ambassador Vinod K Jacob at the... Read more > 11:14 RBI dividend to cut fiscal deficit to 4.2% of GDP: SBI The fiscal deficit of the central government could ease by 20 to 30 basis points from the budgeted level of 4.5 percent to 4.2 percent of GDP by the bumper dividend transfer by Reserve Bank of India, according to a report by State Bank of India.The Union Budget for 2025-26 had projected a... Read more > 11:06 India wants progress; Pak wants...: All-party delegation's John Brittas in Tokyo CPM MP and all-party delegation member John Brittas speaks to Indian community in Tokyo/ANI on X Communist Party of India-Marxist MP John Brittas, who is part of the multi-party delegation to Japan, on Saturday called Pakistan a theocratic state, and criticised it for terrorist activities in an attempt to pull India down.During an interaction with the Indian community in Tokyo, Brittas said,... Read more > 10:59 CMs, state heads arrive at NITI Aayog meet on 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat' Ahead of the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Chief Ministers and state heads from across India arrived at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital to attend the meeting on the theme of 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047'.Chief... Read more > 10:50 UP: Man sleeping under tree buried alive as civic workers dump sludge on him A vegetable vendor sleeping under a tree near a cemetery was buried alive after a sewer cleaning team dumped a pile of sludge on him in the Baradari area of Bareilly, police said on Saturday. SSP Anurag Arya said a case has been registered at the Baradari police station against the accused... Read more > 10:41 Will share what we have been suffering from past so many years: Tharoor As the leader of an all-party delegation to partner countries, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that the delegation will share India's stance on terrorism and tell the world how India has been suffering from the past many years.While speaking to media, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared in his... Read more > 10:31 Building collapses after massive fire at factory triggers blast in Delhi A massive fire broke out at a factory in Delhi's Bawana industrial area early Saturday, triggering a powerful explosion that caused the building to collapse, the Delhi Fire Services said. Seventeen fire tenders were rushed to the spot in Sector 2 after a call reporting a fire at a factory... Read more > 10:19 Top leader among 2 Maoists killed in Jharkhand File image Two Maoists, including Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad supremo Pappu Lohra, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Saturday morning, the police said. Lohra, the chief of the JJMP, a Maoist... Read more > 10:13 PM Internship Scheme May Go Beyond Top 500 Companies File image In order to widen the ambit of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme, now running as a pilot programme, the ministry of corporate affairs has started consultations for preparing a Cabinet note on the matter, according to people in the know.The MCA is likely to allow all companies engaged in... Read more > 10:00 IMD issues red alert for Goa, forecasts heavy rains till Sunday The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Goa, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall till Sunday, with the state government advising people against venturing into rivers and waterfalls. Heavy showers lashed parts of the coastal state in the last 24 hours.... Read more > 09:34 US Bill Cuts Remittance Tax To 3.5% For Non-US Citizens The Donald Trump administration has lowered the proposed remittance tax rate it plans to impose on funds sent abroad by non-US citizens, including to India, from 5 percent to 3.5 percent.The change was introduced through an amendment to the 'One Big Beautiful Bill', which was passed by the US... Read more > 09:19 Make in India, but US sales face tariffs: Trump to Apple Apple CEO Tim Cook and US President Donald Trump/ Leah Millis/Reuters US President Donald Trump has said it is ok for Apple to go to India to build its plants, but then the tech company will not be able to sell its products in America without tariffs. Trump's remarks came as he signed multiple executive orders in the Oval Office to boost US nuclear... Read more > 09:06 Action against UP school for keeping langur tied on campus, animal rescued A case has been registered against a private school here under the Wildlife (Protection) Act following a complaint by animal rights organisation PETA India, officials said on Thursday. Regional forest officer (Sadar) Atul Tiwari said the complaint was lodged last week, alleging that a langur... Read more > 08:37 'Even IAF Refused Alternate Routing Clearance' To IndiGo Flight The turbulence-hit Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight, which made an emergency landing with a damaged nose on May 21, was denied permission to divert into Pakistani airspace to evade thunderstorms, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Friday.The denial from Lahore Air Traffic Control on... Read more > 08:33 SC orders cadre review in all Central Armed Police Forces within 6 months The Supreme Court on Friday directed cadre review, which was due in 2021, in all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including ITBP, BSF, CRPF, CISF and SSB, to be carried out within six months. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Department of Personnel and... Read more > 08:30 Pak claims all its nukes are safe Pakistan on Friday said its command and control structures are robust. The foreign office in Islamabad also said the country remained fully confident in the strength of its comprehensive nuclear security regime. Pakistan remains fully confident in the strength of its comprehensive... Read more > 00:35 Private firm worker held in Maha for writing pro-Pak slogan A 22-year-old trainee worker of a private company was arrested for allegedly writing Pakistan Zindabad on a machine in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a police official said on Friday. The incident came to light on May 19, he said, adding the firm is located in Chikalthana... Read more > The Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) has issued a heatstroke warning for workers exposed to high temperatures and humidity, both outdoors and indoors near heat sources. The DSAL recommends that workers take frequent rest breaks in shaded areas and urged employers to monitor temperatures and adjust work schedules accordingly. DSAL also launched promotions for heat-resistant clothing, sun-protective helmets, and portable waist fans. A cooling summer shelter located in Ilha Verde also opened yesterday at 11:00 a.m. to provide relief against the yellow alert for high temperatures. Related Data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) shows that a total of 8,484 full-time workers were employed by the financial sector in the first quarter. These updated statistics reflect a 0.9% decrease from last year. The banking sector saw a 0.7% decline to 7,193 employees, while insurance activities grew by 1.1% to 821 workers. Average monthly earnings rose 2.7% year-over-year to MOP32,020, with insurance employees earning the highest average at MOP34,480. Job vacancies remained steady at 266, with all requiring tertiary education and most roles demanding Mandarin and English proficiency. Related * Traffic crackdown Govt eyes demerit point system for driving violation to enforce traffic compliance * Labor | Unions call for stronger govt action against illegal employment * Taste of Edema * The number of traffic violations committed by taxi drivers in the first four months of 2025 has increased by nearly 180% compared to last year * Supermarket price disparities reach up to 165%, Consumer Council finds * Heart: Macau sees more doctors, fewer beds in 2024 DOWNLOAD PDF Friday, May 23, 2025 edition no. 4723 On the Agenda The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area should further promote scientific and technological innovation to fulfill its goal of becoming a world-class bay area, senior officials and experts said during a forum that concluded in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Wednesday. Cities and regions in the Greater Bay Area should pursue breakthroughs as a strategic fulcrum in building a new development pattern, make progress in becoming a demonstration zone for high-quality development and play a leading role in advancing Chinese modernization, said Gao Yu, director of the Counsellors Office of the State Council, at the two-day 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Forum. Gao said the GBA has made significant progress in recent years, but now faces both new opportunities and higher demands as it moves into the next stage of development. He pledged that his office will continue to support the GBAs development by fully leveraging the expertise of its counselors, librarians and special researchers to provide high-quality advice and contribute to the regions high-quality growth in the coming months. Zhang Shaokang, vice-governor of Guangdong, said the province will take on its key role in constructing the GBA, viewing it as a major opportunity to deepen reform and opening-up while accelerating development. Guangdong will continue to work with Hong Kong and Macau to improve infrastructure connectivity, align rules and mechanisms, and enhance people-to-people ties across the three regions in pursuit of building a world-class bay area, Zhang said. Wei Houkai, director of the Rural Development Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, called for deeper integration of the GBAs development with the Belt and Road Initiative. He emphasized the GBAs role as a strategic anchor in the countrys new development pattern. Key Takeaways Strategic emphasis on innovation GBA officials highlighted the need to accelerate scientific and technological advancement to achieve world-class bay area status and support national modernization goals. Commitment to regional integration Guangdong pledged to deepen ties with Hong Kong and Macau through infrastructure, regulatory alignment, and cultural exchange, capitalizing on the regions complementary strengths. Surge in financial cooperation Cross-border yuan settlements in the GBA surpassed 70% of all transactions, reflecting major progress in economic integration and central bank policy innovation. It is now the right time to build a comprehensive development community in the GBA, he said. Although Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have different development levels, they are geographically linked and share cultural and familial ties, Wei said. Their complementary strengths in economics, technology and culture lay a solid foundation for joint development, he added. Ji Min, deputy director of the counsellors office at the Peoples Bank of China, said the central bank has introduced several innovative policies to promote financial cooperation within the GBA in recent years. As of the end of March, cross-border yuan settlement in the GBA had reached 38.5 trillion yuan ($5.42 trillion). Since the beginning of the year, the proportion of the yuan in total domestic and foreign currency settlements in the GBA has surpassed 70 percent, ranking first nationwide, Ji said. More than 150 officials, counselors, experts and scholars attended the forum, which was hosted by the Counsellors Office of the State Council and organized by the counsellors office of Guangdong province. The GBA consists of nine cities in Guangdong Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing along with the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions. By Zheng Caixiong & Li Wenfang, Guangzhou, China Daily, MDT/China Daily The government has proposed a traffic violation demerit point system, modeled after those in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Portugal, which will revoke the Macau driving license of drivers who accumulate 18 or more points. The government submitted last Tuesday a revised draft of the Road Traffic Law amendment bill to the Legislative Assembly (AL), modifying the previous proposal to introduce a demerit point system specifically for road traffic offenses. The First Standing Committee held a meeting yesterday to discuss the bill. There are opinions in society calling for a system to effectively improve drivers attitudes and deter frequent traffic violators. In response to these demands and enforcement needs, the government has referenced systems from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Portugal, said Ella Lei, head of the First Standing Committee, during the meeting. The revised text introduces a demerit point system aimed at enhancing drivers awareness of road traffic compliance and addressing preventive needs. Additionally, drivers who frequently violate traffic regulations will have their qualifications subject to ongoing assessment. She cited the governments initial proposal, which outlined that the point system would assign different points based on the severity of each traffic violation, with points recorded in a designated account. For example, I currently have zero points. However, if I commit a violation, the authorities will establish a personal drivers record and assign points to me. Under this demerit point system, violations are categorized into three levels based on their nature and severity. Criminal offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotic substances, would receive four to five points, Lei explained. Minor violations, like having a blood alcohol concentration between 0.8 and 1.2, running a red light, and severe speeding, would receive two to three points. Administrative violations, such as disobeying law enforcement orders, would be assigned one point, the lawmaker added. The authorities, as quoted by Lei, emphasized that all drivers, regardless of their residency, are subject to the same rules and regulations, with Lei stating that the new system applies not just to people who live in Macau but also to drivers from other regions who have valid driving licenses recognized in Macau. The proposal does not indicate that illegal parking will result in point additions; instead, the government underlined that points are not an additional penalty but an automatic record reflecting confirmed violations, according to Lei. Concurrently, the government proposes to introduce a zero-tolerance system, under which points will automatically expire two years after being recorded. Additionally, driving improvement courses will be established to help reduce points. The first stage involves categorizing points based on the total accumulated. Drivers with six to 12 points may voluntarily enroll in a course, and upon completion, three points will be deducted. Drivers with 13 to 17 points must enroll in a mandatory course within 90 days of notification, and upon completion, two points will be deducted. If a driver accumulates 18 points or more, or fails to complete the mandatory driving improvement course without a valid reason, they may face revocation of their driving license or have their license declared invalid, Lei stated. The bill proposes that such courses be self-funded, with an initial recommendation of eight hours. The specific course outline, rules, and fees will be determined by the Chief Executive through an executive order. Chengdu has been a hot travel destination lately and one of the most luxurious and comfortable stay in the city would be The St. Regis Chengdu. Strategically situated in the Land of Tianfu, it offers easy access to key landmarks such as Tianfu Square and Chunxi Road within close proximity. Featuring luxurious guest rooms and suites, the hotel provides a comfortable and welcoming environment for luminaries. The interior design masterfully combines modern and stylish decorative art with traditional elements of Sichuan culture, while state-of-the-art facilities enhance the convenience and comfort of guests during their stay. Born of a distinctive legacy and crafted for modern connoisseurs who desire the finest experiences imaginable, the St. Regis brand established luxury hospitality with the opening of The St. Regis New York more than 100 years ago. From the moment John Jacob Astor IV opened the doors of his Beaux- Arts masterpiece on New Yorks Fifth Avenue, St. Regis has stood as a symbol of uncompromising elegance and bespoke service. St. Regis Butler Service has been a signature of the St. Regis experience for more than a century. encompassing services such as unpacking and packing assistance, beverage service, garment pressing. concierge support, and eButler services. From a forgotten travel item to a perfectly pressed suit ready for an important meeting or a thoughtful gift for a loved one, no request is too small or unattainable no matter the hour of the day. The essence of St. Regis Butler Service is discreet, personalised, anticipatory attention that allows our guests to savour the rarest of all luxuries-time. The St. Regis Chengdu boasts six distinctive dining venues, each celebrating the citys rich and illustrious culinary heritage. These include the signature all-day dining restaurant Social; the Chinese restaurant Yan Ting, renowned for its authentic Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines; Yun Fu on the 27th floor, featuring four private dining rooms: The St. Regis Bar, offering an extensive selection of fine wines, spirits, and St. Regis signature cocktails, including a spicy variation of the Bloody Mary, the Chuan Mary, inspired by the regions famous chili oil and pickled chili peppers. Additionally, there is Vantage XXVII, an outdoor sky bar providing panoramic views of the city skyline, and The Drawing Room. celebrated for its St. Regis Afternoon Tea and the Evening Ritual-Champagne Sabering. Situated on the second floor and specialising in the seductive spice of the Sichuan peppercorn, the signature Chinese restaurant, Yan Ting, attracts many food lovers by Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine. Yan Ting offers a singular dining experience beginning with its concurrently contemporary and classic Chinese decor. These evocative design elements, including the finest Chinaware, combine with an array of gray and blue hues in both the main dining room and three private dining rooms. This discreet decor is balanced by the explosive flavours of Chef Mike Lis tantalizing menu. Focused on authentic regional cuisine, it presents local delights, including dim sum, Cantonese barbecue, and Sichuan specialties-like stir-fried shrimp with peanut and chili oil, mapo tofu, and dandan noodles- that utilise the storied Sichuan peppercorn to create mala a desired numbing sensation. Furthermore, the Iridium Spa, renowned for its exquisite and luxurious design, epitomizes the century- old heritage of the St. Regis brand. The fitness center is equipped with premium Italian fitness apparatus and boasts both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, significantly enhancing the guest experience. The multifunctional conference venue is outfitted with cutting-edge technological infrastructure. From corporate meetings to celebratory events, the hotel demonstrates meticulous attention to service details, delivering personalised and thoughtful hospitality services. Oxfams annual fundraising campaign, the Oxfam Rice Event 2025, will take place across Macau this weekend. Now in its 14th year, the event aims to support smallholder farmers and communities affected by climate change through the sale of Oxfam Rice and themed gift sets. A launch ceremony was held earlier this week at Macau Tower, featuring Oxfam Ambassador Terence Siufay and representatives from Oxfam and corporate sponsors. The event promotes sustainable farming by raising funds for agricultural training and climate adaptation. This year, 15 rice booths will be staffed by over 1,100 volunteers. Jose Alvares, vice vhair of the Board of Director, Oxfam in Macau, remarked: We are delighted to celebrate the 14th year of the Oxfam Rice Event in Macau and are deeply grateful for the great support from our community. Oxfam has long been dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers around the world. Through our projects in mainland China, across Asia and in East Africa, we help farmers adopt drought-resilient agricultural practices that boost productivity and secure their incomes. The Macau Federation of Transportation and the Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) recently raised concerns with the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) surrounding issues of illegal employment and the use of cross-border drivers in the citys transportation industry. Both parties called for stronger government supervision and harsher penalties within the industry. During their meeting, they highlighted the issue of illegal workers in freight and logistics as undercutting local drivers job opportunities and depressing wages. Cheang Pak Chan, president of the transportation federation, explained that heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or bus drivers suspected of overworking are often only caught after traffic accidents occur, urging authorities to improve law enforcement. Meanwhile, Lawmaker Ella Lei echoed similar concerns regarding the difficulties of monitoring a highly mobile workforce. She advocated for enhanced interdepartmental cooperation, increased penalties for illegal hiring practices, and stronger enforcement mechanisms. A suggested mechanism was proposed by the transportation federation president, who called for the establishment of anonymous reporting channels to protect whistleblowers within the industry. Meanwhile, transportation federation chairperson Cheang Wa Cheong acknowledged the negative effects on wages and public order. To encourage more local talent to operate buses, Cheang called for expanding vocational training programs for individuals holding Category D driving licenses. DSAL deputy director Chan Chon U expressed appreciation for the unions input, according to the unions report. Chan pledged to optimize inspection strategies, encourage detailed reporting from the public, including license plate and location information, and continue collaborative efforts to combat illegal employment. The DSAL official also noted that over 500 inspections were conducted last year. Lawmaker Lei has long called for the government to take stronger action against a troubling rise in illegal employment of non-resident workers, including cross-border truck drivers and unauthorized photography services. Stressing that such illicit employment undermines local businesses and resident workers, Lei warned it could also lead to other security problems. The deputy urged the government to increase monitoring and inspection of these hotspots of illegal work and consider revising the law to impose more severe penalties. A proposed overhaul of the federal financial aid system would significantly restrict access to education for low-income students and have a devastating impact on Wisconsin technical colleges and private colleges, state higher education leaders warned Thursday. Speaking at Madison Area Technical College, presidents from the Universities of Wisconsin and the state technical and independent college systems underscored the importance of federal financial aid programs, including Pell Grants, in providing low-income students with a path to education. They urged Congress to reverse course in its drive to restructure financial aid. Earlier Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives had passed a bill narrowing financial aid programs and changing eligibility for Pell grants, which are tuition grants for low-income students that dont need to be repaid. The higher education leaders said that could cause thousands of Wisconsinites to lose access to education. Our colleges serve all types of learners, including a large share of students that are economically disadvantaged, and without broad access to financial aid, many of our students nearly 80% of whom attend part-time would face significant barriers to pursing their education, Wisconsin Technical College System President Layla Merrifield said. (Parts of the bill) threaten to undermine that access, and the consequences for our students could be devastating. The changes to higher education and financial aid come as House Republicans look to shave $330 billion in federal spending, partly to help pay for an extension of President Donald Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed during his first term in 2017. Significant changes The federal bill would bring sweeping changes to multiple areas of higher education, including financial aid and loan repayments. Republicans on the Houses education committee say the changes reform a broken loan system and push colleges to reduce costs, though higher education leaders pushed back Thursday, arguing tuition is already kept as low as it can be. Tuition is around $150 per credit, and we absolutely depend on Pell grants, other financial aid and our hard-working students to be able to cover that portion of our costs, Merrifield said. What funding we do receive, we keep in the classroom. Under the bill, students who get Pell grants would need to take more credits per semester to continue receiving benefits. Pell Grant assistance would be eliminated for students enrolled part time and Pell eligibility could be expanded for workforce programs lasting between a half and full semester. In the 2023-24 academic year, nearly 80,000 Wisconsin students received a Pell Grant; of that number, about 35% received a part-time Pell. Nearly 80% of Wisconsins technical college students attend part time, with many juggling other responsibilities, according to Merrifield. Madison College student Jose Villareal said requiring students to make more credits per semester wouldnt speed up his education, it would slow it down by forcing him to choose between school and his work and raising his daughter. Its not as simple as signing up for one more class, Villarreal said. Dont move the goalposts. The bill also targets how students and their families pay for college. If passed, the federal government would no longer offer subsidized loans for undergraduate students and some loans for graduate students after 2026. Parents would be prohibited from signing on to loans with their children until theyve hit the maximum of unsubsidized loans on their own in an academic year. For borrowers, the bill would eliminate current repayment options, including former President Joe Bidens SAVE plan, and replace it with two standard repayment plans: One fixed repayment plan that House Republicans liken to a mortgage and an income-based plan for lower-income borrowers that would change with income. Borrowers could not defer loans for reasons such as unemployment or economic hardship. The bill also would prohibit future attempts at broad loan forgiveness by the executive branch. Biden had attempted to wholesale cancel up to $20,000 of loans per borrower in 2022 but his plan was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Colleges and universities might face penalties or risk losing access to federal aid if their graduates do not see financial gains from their degrees or cannot repay their loans. Leaders push back In a letter, the system presidents criticized the bill for penalizing institutions for factors beyond their control, such as borrowers personal decisions and loan repayments. The three presidents repeatedly positioned financial aid as an investment that ultimately benefits the state. More than two thirds of our graduates from Wisconsins private colleges stay in Wisconsin after graduation, filling high demand jobs in Wisconsins largest companies, fueling our states economy and serving as a driving force for Wisconsins workforce readiness and vitality, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President and CEO Eric W. Fulcomer said. Taken together (this bill) would significantly restrict student opportunities, increase costs for students and reduce the ability of colleges and universities to fulfill their educational missions at a time of critical need for more doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers, especially in the rural and other underserved areas of our state, he said. RUPERT Innovation and efficiency will be the hallmarks of the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Idaho CAFE) a University of Idaho-led facility under construction in the Magic Valley that will include the nations largest research dairy. CAFE, located near Rupert, is scheduled to commence milking operations by early 2026, starting with about 400 cows in the first year and gradually ramping up to about 2,000 cows, to reflect the size of an average Idaho dairy herd. The projects first phase, which includes major earth work and construction of a milking barn with a modern rotary parlor, has been completed and the next phase of construction (maternity and commodity barns and classrooms) is underway. In early May, U of I led a tour of lawmakers, local officials and members of the states Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council to showcase the return on the considerable investment theyve made in CAFE. CAFE has been made possible by a partnership involving U of I, industry and government. In 2017, the Idaho Legislature appropriated $10 million from the states Permanent Building Fund to help finance the project. In September 2022, the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners awarded $23.25 million toward CAFE from the sale of U of I endowment land in Caldwell that was no longer being used for experimental farming. During the 2025 session, the Legislature appropriated $250,000 toward building maintenance funds for the new milking parlor. As part of the tour showcasing CAFEs innovations, visitors learned about the water reuse system incorporated into the dairy. The water used to rapidly chill milk from approximately 101 degrees to 38 degrees is captured and repurposed in an automated, self-flushing system to clean the milking-parlor floor. Afterward, this same water is reused once more to irrigate crops raised within an adjacent soil and water demonstration farm. With the support of automation, the milking parlor can be efficiently operated by a team of just three employees per shift, who can accommodate the entire CAFE herd in under three hours. Robots will spray cows teats with sanitizer prior to each milking a task typically done manually by dairy workers. A separate robotic system will sanitize teats again following milking, and milking units will automatically be sanitized and flushed between milking each cow. The facility will achieve additional labor efficiencies through an automated crowd gate, with a bar that will lower behind cows within the holding pen, slowly moving forward and guiding them through the parlor entrance. Ear tags will link cows to computerized records detailing individual characteristics, health records, lactation history, age, pregnancy status and other relevant information. Furthermore, specialized collars essentially bovine pedometers will track cows movements, as well as the number of steps they take. The data will be useful in helping the CAFE staff assess animal health and determine which cows may be in heat, given that cows tend to take far more steps when they are in heat. Largest research dairy in the country will help accomplish what private dairies can't Environmental research on reducing greenhouse has emissions from dairies is one of the core functions of the CAFE research facility. A sensor inside the rumen of each cow will alert dairy personnel when animals become sick well before they are symptomatic. During the winter, a concrete pad by the front entrance will use radiant heating to prevent spilled milk from freezing and posing a safety hazard. Tour groups will observe dairy operations through a window from atop a catwalk, maintaining a quiet atmosphere for cows. The facility will provide research into challenges affecting Idaho dairies at an industry scale, making findings more applicable to their operations. The dairy industry collaborated closely with U of I in designing CAFE. This is the first time you can do research on this kind of a scale in the U.S. ever, so this is a big deal, Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, told the CAFE tour group. We need to keep on supporting this facility. Its going to mean a lot for Idaho and the Idaho economy. Idaho is the third-largest producer of dairy products in the U.S., and Anthon noted the Magic Valley has benefited from $1.9 billion in capital expenditures in food processing facilities, accounting for 900 new jobs, in the past two years alone. Anthon, who is also Ruperts city administrator, mentions CAFE at the start of any meeting in which he seeks to entice foreign companies to invest in the Magic Valley. When we meet with these companies, were saying to them, Look, if you are anywhere in this sector, you ought to know that the largest research dairy in the U.S. is located in Rupert, Idaho, and you tie that in with the largest yogurt factory in the world in our region, Anthon said. You start selling all these things and talking about logistics, and some of these companies will say, You know, we ought to be in Idaho, especially if they are dairy related. McAlvain Construction of Boise is the general contractor. Keller Associates Inc. completed project engineering. The classroom space now under construction will include an advanced distance-learning facility, where U of I will host classes for graduate and undergraduate students, Extension courses, workforce development instruction and collaborative classes with community colleges. Professor Mireille Chahine, acting head of the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences, envisions using the facility to connect with professors at the Moscow campus, other U of I Research and Extension Centers and even global experts who will be invited as guest speakers. She expects universities worldwide will wish to collaborate on work at CAFE, which could lay the groundwork for Idaho to open new trade markets. Being based at CAFE will also provide students with hands-on learning activities in a real-world setting. The final phase will add shaded pens, concrete lanes for cows and a manure processing facility for testing and evaluating manure treatment and nutrient separation technologies. Matt Powell, interim associate dean of research and director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, recently toured one of Spains largest and most innovative dairies. The dairy operators told Powell they implemented many of their innovative concepts following a tour of Idahos dairy industry. Powell believes CAFE will keep Idaho at the forefront of dairy innovation and maintain the states global reputation for ingenuity. Thats exactly the sort of impact we want to maintain, progress and move forward with this facility, Powell said. The world is looking to us to lead in that direction. Patrick County Board of Supervisors Chair Jonathan Wood has offered a public apology for discussing in private a matter that was ineligible for discussion in closed session. Our board believes strongly in the concept of transparency, Wood said at the end of the meeting last week. At our last meeting, the work session on April 28, 2025, we went into closed meeting under the personnel exemption in the FOIA [Freedom of Information Act]. At that time, we honestly believed that our discussion of various salaries of county employees was subject in the FOIA. As it turns out, there are a couple of opinions of the Virginia Attorney General that suggest that the personnel exemption would not cover our closed meeting. Wood called the error an honest mistake and one that he wanted to correct. Said Wood: I am asking the clerk to include in the minutes of this meeting the documents that we discussed in that closed meeting. We considered those documents and we discussed some budget ideas. I view Mr. Woods admission with skepticism. It appears to be a direct response to my threat of legal action against him and his coalition, Blue Ridge District Supervisor Steve Marshall said. His statement, we believed our discussion, is noteworthy. Supervisor [Doug] Perry and I did not receive the relevant spreadsheet before the meeting, while the other three supervisors did. The meeting pertained to salaries and salary increases that have occurred during the time Beth Simms has been the administrator of Patrick County, according to Marshall. Should they attempt to circumvent the issues by framing compensation cuts in a motion seemingly unrelated to the closed sessions spreadsheet and discussion, I will seek a court declaration that the closed session was unlawful and an order to release all pertinent documentation and correspondence, said Marshall. I will also pursue a TRO [temporary restraining order] and injunction to prevent the Board from implementing any compensation reductions stemming from the illegal session. On May 16, Simms responded to Wood in an email. A copy of that email was provided by Marshall to the Bulletin and indicates Simms frustration with not being given time to prepare background necessary for providing accurate answers to questions by members of the Board. In recent months, Ive found myself repeatedly caught off guard during meetings with detailed questions that could have easily been addressed with even a few hours notice, Simms wrote. This not only undermines the preparation my team and I undertake for each meeting but creates an avoidable atmosphere of confusion and second-guessing in a public setting. In the absence of prior communication, it is difficult not to view these recurring situations as deliberate efforts to diminish my leadership or credibility. Simms wrote that the seemingly intentional effort to undermine her credibility at public meetings has raised serious concerns for her. Said Simms: Public attempts to undermine or humiliate staff are not only unproductive, they ultimately fail the 17,000 citizens we are all here to serve. Marshall said the closed meeting included angry outbursts and his cellphone was seized during discussions he characterized as cooking the books. Mr. Woods claim of an honest mistake is entirely inconsistent with his coalitions actions in both the closed and subsequent sessions. Their behavior in the close session was far beyond unprofessional, said Marshall. Since Mr. Wood assumed the chair, closed sessions have regrettably become what I can only describe as the wild west of public disservice. Marshall was recently censured by the majority of supervisors he calls the coalition, consisting of Wood, who represents the Peters Creek District, Dan River District Supervisor Andrew Overby, and Mayo River District Supervisor Clayton Kendrick. We did not take any action in the closed meeting or afterward based on the closed meeting, Woods said. I apologize on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and we will strive to do better in the future. Budget At the meeting, the board failed to approve a new budget despite a motion by Perry to approve a budget of just over $76.2 million. Marshall seconded the motion, but Kendrick, Overby and Wood voted it down. The group managed to close the gap between projected revenue and expenses by agreeing on 3-2 votes to reduce the county access control system funds by $50,000 and removing $50,000 for the funding of new carpet in the courthouse. Expenses are now projected to be $97,000 more than revenue. In other matters, the Board: Heard an update of the facilities maintained by Patrick County. Heard an update on the countys Economic Development Strategic Plan. Approved a proclamation making May 18-24 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week in Patrick County. The Board will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Patrick County Administration Building. While the rest of the left is losing its head and moping about the dramatic events provoked by the crisis of capitalism, we communists are moving forward resolutely. We are preparing, methodically but with a sense of urgency, for the inevitable revolutionary events to come. [Originally published at marxist.ca] This is how one might sum up the discussions at the second annual Congress of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP), which took place in Toronto over the long weekend of May 1719. The aim of these discussions was to arm the 379 or so participants, including a hundred delegates representing a hundred party cells across the country, with a common understanding of the major upheavals the world is going through, and to guide our work in the year ahead. Weve entered an epoch of wars, trade wars, mass movements and political earthquakes. This was the subject of the World Perspectives discussion, introduced by Fred Weston of the International Secretariat of the Revolutionary Communist International. Weve entered an epoch of wars, trade wars, mass movements and political earthquakes / Image: Communist Revolution As he explained, the election of Donald Trump has seriously accelerated the crisis of capitalism, crystallizing processes that existed beneath the surface. As the global economy sinks into prolonged instability and stagnation, conflicts between imperialist powers, particularly China and the United States, are sharpening. Meanwhile, the inability of the capitalist ruling class to provide decent living conditions for the masses is fuelling a simmering anger against the liberal establishment and its institutions, notably parliament, the courts and the police. But the left parties are totally unable to capitalize on this anger. They have totally abandoned any pretense of fighting against the capitalist system, and are rightly associated with the hated liberal status quo. This explains why the so-called anti-establishment right-wing demagogues like Trump, and like Le Pen in France and Nigel Farage in the UK, are gaining in popularitynot, as the left says, that the masses are attracted by fascism. Canada is no exception to this process of political upheaval. This is what Joel Bergman, from the RCPs Executive Committee, explained in his presentation introducing the discussion on Canadian Perspectives. Canada is no exception to this process of political upheaval / Image: Communist Revolution Trumps election even gave the Liberal Party a second lease on life, bringing banker Mark Carneythe very embodiment of the hated establishmentto power. Although right-wing populist Poilievre failed to dislodge the Liberals, the anger responsible for Poilievres popularity is far from gone. As for the leftsupposedly represented by the NDP and Quebec solidaireit is unable to capture the rebellious mood, clinging to the coattails of the liberal establishment and the hated institutions of the capitalist status quo. The NDP has been wiped out in the election and reduced to only a few seats. But Carney is taking power in an impossible situation. He is caught between a rock and a hard place: leading a minority government, grappling with a productivity crisis, a housing crisis, and a huge public debt. He came to power promising his supporters in the banks and boards of directors that he would restore public finances. This will be done by putting the burden of the crisis onto the shoulders of working people. Meanwhile, the trade war with the U.S. is driving companies to move their operations south of the border or lay off workers. Whatever Carney does, Canadas image as a quiet, boring land will take a heavy blow in the years ahead. All of this sets the stage for an accelerated transformation of the consciousness of the masses. As several participants pointed out, one country after anotherSerbia, Greece, Lebanon, Kenya, France, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, etc.have been shaken by mass unrest over the past 15 years. Sooner or later, Canada will join this club of countries plunged into protracted instability. But in all these countries, these popular movements failed to bring about serious change. In the absence of a mass revolutionary party with a clear socialist program, capable of guiding these movements to victory, they all ended in disappointment. The conclusion is clear: the field is totally empty on the left. Armed with these perspectives, the RCP congress discussed the urgency of building such a party, and how to get there. As Julien Arseneau of the RCPs Executive Committee explained during the session on building the party, we need to work methodically, without losing our heads. As Julien Arseneau of the RCPs Executive Committee explained during the session on building the party, we need to work methodically, without losing our heads / Image: Communist Revolution Our forces are growing, which enabled us, for example, to lead the Student Strike for Palestine campaign last fall. Weve also made great strides in consolidating and professionalizing our forces since the last congress. We expanded our presence across Canada. And weve professionalized the newspaper, finance, technical team and publishing house. These are incredible conquests. But we still have a lot of work to do. We are still only at the beginning. Our task is to recruit the most serious workers and students, win them over to communism, educate them in Marxist ideas and the methods and traditions of Bolshevism, and send them out to win other people over to communism. To achieve this, as discussed in the session on How Marxists are Formed, political and theoretical education must be at the center of our work. Only in this way can we train the future cadresthe future officersof the revolution. All participants clearly assimilated this lesson: book sales over the weekend rose from $13,000 last year to $20,000 this year. Our task is to recruit the most serious workers and students, win them over to communism, educate them in Marxist ideas and the methods and traditions of Bolshevism, and send them out to win other people over to communism / Image: Communist Revolution At a time when the rest of the revolutionary left is panicking in the face of what it imagines to be a reactionary situationand wasting all its energies on short-sighted adventuresthe mood of the congress was sober enthusiasm. Participants left with an iron determination to build the party that will lead the working class to power. Putting their money where their mouth is, the comrades led a fundraising session on Saturday evening that allowed us to surpass our financial goal of $450,000 in one-off donations for the year 2025. Putting their money where their mouth is, the comrades led a fundraising session on Saturday evening that allowed us to surpass our financial goal of $450,000 / Image: Communist Revolution More than ever, the bankruptcy of the capitalist system is visible to everyone who opens their eyes. But this rotten system will not fall of its own accord. Whats needed is a conscious effort to forge the sword that will deliver the killing blow. The RCP has undertaken this task. We call all workers and young people ready to devote their lives to this crucial effortjoin us. The Finnish organisation of the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI) held its first conference amidst an enthusiastic, militant atmosphere on the weekend of 17-18 May. Around 30 comrades gathered in Helsinki from all corners of the country to discuss the explosive world situation and the perspectives for the future Finnish revolution. Finland has been named the happiest country for eight years running by the World Happiness Report. But this accolade does not measure up to the reality on the ground. The same crisis of capitalism that crushes workers throughout Europe has inflicted austerity, precarity and rising living costs on the Finnish masses as well. The status quo is hated, and millions are desperately seeking a way forward. In other words, the field is wide open for revolutionary communist ideas! This is the context in which the comrades held their founding conference. Attendees came from as far afield as Tampere, Pori, Harjavalta, Kajaani, Vaasa and, of course, from the Helsinki metropolitan area. We were also joined by a couple of international guests. Joe Attard from the RCIs International Centre in London introduced the discussion on the world situation. He explained that an 80-year world order has been turned on its head seemingly overnight, with US President Donald Trump leading the charge. In reality, Trump is merely expressing and intensifying a process that was already implicit in the crisis of world capitalism. The last decades have seen a relative retreat of US imperialism and new tensions emerging as the world is redivided between new challengers on the world stage. The result is an epoch of war, revolution and counter-revolution. The rotten establishment is widely despised, and the masses are looking in every direction for a way forward. If, for now, right-wing forces have been able to capture some of this anti-establishment mood, given the pathetic failure of the so-called left to offer any answers, this will only precipitate a sharp shift towards radical left-wing politics in the future. The communists must be organised and prepared for this if we are to grow our forces! Joe was followed by Ela from Tampere, who introduced the discussion on Finnish Perspectives. Following four years of a scandal-ridden, right-wing Social Democratic government under Sanna Marin (who has now retired from frontline politics to join the Tony Blair Institute), Finland has been led by an unholy coalition of the centre-right National Coalition Party and the nationalist Finns Party (formerly the True Finns). This government has carried out a raft of attacks on working people. They have also introduced legislation to curb the right to strike, to make it easier to fire people and to limit the scope of collective bargaining by the unions. This will inevitably lead to an intensification of the class struggle in the coming years. One point that came strongly out of the discussion was the need to win over the youth, who have been enraged by Finnish imperialisms support for Israels genocidal war on Gaza. On the second day, Leo from the Swedish Revolutionary Communist Party (RKP) introduced a session on the importance of democratic centralism to building a Bolshevik organisation. To become a weapon of revolutionary struggle for the working class, such an organisation requires the maximum freedom of discussion and unity of purpose. This was followed by a session on the organisational tasks of the newly founded Finnish Revolutionary Communists, introduced by Mikko from the Finnish leadership. He outlined three major goals for 2025: increasing the membership to 50 comrades, acquiring a professional-level printer and increasing the average dues to 40 per month. Mikko also emphasised the necessity of grounding the organisation in the ideas of Marxism to provide the correct analysis and guidance in the stormy period ahead. Appropriately, the discussions, both after the leadoffs and more informally at the evening social event, showed a thirst for theory and ideas. Without raising the theoretical level throughout the entire organisation, it will be impossible for us to achieve our goal of first reaching 50 and then 100 members as soon as possible. Many Finnish comrades made excellent contributions to the discussions over the course of the weekend: on China, on the situation in Gaza, on practical lessons from the experience of building branches across Finland, on professionalism in communist work and many other subjects. The comrades also took full advantage of the opportunity to chat with their international guests. Finances are one way of concretely demonstrating the commitment of the comrades. Following an excellent and very serious financial appeal by Joonas from the Finnish leadership, the event raised a total of 2,303.50. One comrade announced that they would increase their dues from 40 to 100. Another said that they would increase their dues from 150 to 200. Others made financial sacrifices as well. The conference undoubtedly solidified the commitment of many of the newer comrades to the organisation. One comrade, who had only been with us for a few weeks and had travelled to Helsinki from afar, said after the conference: Participating in this event made it possible for me to call myself a communist without shame or apology. Immediately after the conference, some of the comrades were so motivated that they even went to build the party at a demonstration against austerity waged by the Finnish right-wing government in the centre of Helsinki. Long live the Revolutionary Communists! rang out in the hall at the end of the meeting, to great applause. Then the international workers' anthem, The Internationale, was sung, ending the founding meeting of the Finnish Revolutionary Communists on a triumphant note. One thing is clear: the communists have come to stay in Finland! Let the Finnish ruling class tremble! The Finnish working class shall rise and rediscover its glorious traditions of 1918! Workers of the world, unite! The military justice system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo accused former President Joseph Kabila of complicity with the AFC/M23 rebellion, which has taken control of several areas in the countrys east. And the Senate voted by a large majority on Thursday evening, May 22, to lift Kabilas immunity. The DRC Senates special committees vote had a clear outcome: 96 votes, 88 in favor, 5 against, and the rest deemed invalid. At the plenary session, Senate President Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde announced, Therefore, the Senate authorizes the prosecution and the lifting of the immunity of Joseph Kabila, senator for life. The entourage of the former president of Congo condemned this as a political ploy by the ruling party. 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: CC0 Public Domain A measles outbreak in Mexico has left four people dead this year, including three unvaccinated children, authorities said. Most of the country's more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease in 2025 have been in areas near the US border. Officials in the worst-hit northern state of Chihuahua said that they had met local Mennonite leaders to encourage vaccination. Two children aged 11 months and seven years old from the vaccine-skeptical Christian community died from complications linked to the disease this month. One of them suffered from leukemia and the other had a kidney condition, according to the Chihuahua health department. "In the case of the 11-month-old child, the mother was also unvaccinated, so she could not transmit immunity to the infant," it said in a statement. A 31-year-old unvaccinated man died in the same state in April, while a one-year-old girl lost her life in neighboring Sonora. "She suffered from severe malnutrition and had not been vaccinated," the local health department said. The United States is also battling a measles outbreak, particularly in southern border states, with more than 1,000 confirmed cases and several deaths. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or simply breathes. Known for its characteristic rash, it poses a serious risk to unvaccinated individuals, including infants under 12 months who are not ordinarily eligible for vaccination, and those with weakened immune systems. 2025 AFP 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: Not only does the Philippines have fewer than eight doctors per 10,000 people and a shortage of at least 127,000 nurses, but also many of its health graduates lack training for public health work, according to Ateneo de Manila University researchers. Credit: Aaron R. Vicencio, ADMU Despite being a top exporter of health care professionals, the Philippines faces a chronic shortage of nurses and physicians. Also, many health graduates in the country are unprepared for real-world public health work. Government primary care facilities and hospitals struggle to hire sufficient staff due to budget and policy barriers, while private hospitals struggle to keep their staff due to fiscal constraints. These findings, published in the international journal Human Resources for Health by Ateneo de Manila University researchers, are major hurdles to the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country. The study found that many Filipino doctors and nurses are inadequately prepared for UHC due to hospital-focused education that lacks training in public health and community-based care. Graduates often enter the workforce without sufficient understanding of UHC principles, and there are limited onboarding programs to bridge this gap. At the same time, low salaries, job insecurity, and limited career growth drive many health professionals to seek better opportunities abroad. These combined issues in education and compensation are major obstacles to building a strong and sustainable health workforce essential for UHC implementation. "The nurses we lost are our best nurses. It is painful that the trained ones are the ones who leave. The ones left with us are either the new ones or are very old, because their salary (overseas) is five times what we pay here," confided the administrator of a public tertiary facility in an urban area. And even when health care professionals choose to stay in the country, they find themselves beset by restrictive government hiring policies that create bottlenecks in the workforce: "The Department of Health has many (requirements) that are difficult to provide. Especially for manpower. We need a records officer, an Information Technology administrator, but what happens is the nurse is the administrator. She is also in the records. So, the nurse is also the IT person that should be designated just to meet the criteria," said a public primary care provider from an urban area. Tenuous execution of health workforce provisions in the UHC Law The signing of Republic Act No. 11223 (also known as the Philippine Universal Health Care Act) in February 2019 was a landmark move aimed at ensuring that all Filipinos, regardless of income or geographic location, have access to quality and affordable health services without financial difficulties. The law mandates automatic enrollment of all citizens into the National Health Insurance Program and expands the role of local government units (LGUs) in managing health service delivery. Implementation began shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, which both highlighted the urgency of health system reform and strained the country's already fragile health infrastructure. However, despite the law's passage, the researchers found that its implementation has been greatly hindered by problems with workforce readiness, service delivery capacity, and issues in the coordination between national and local health systems. According to their research, the Philippines' physician-to-population ratio stands at 7.92 per 10,000 people, falling short of the international minimum standard of 10 per 10,000. Additionally, the country faces a shortage of at least 127,000 nurses, with most shortages concentrated in the private sector. The problem is exacerbated by the "brain drain" phenomenon, which sees many health care workers seeking better pay and working conditions abroad. And since current health and medical education often neglects community health and UHC principles, new graduates are ill-prepared for deployment to underserved areas. Recommendations for health workforce recruitment, retention To address these challenges, the researchers recommend: greater integration between academic institutions and health facilities to ensure placement for graduates covered by return service agreements and minimizing workforce shortages in health facilities offering educational incentives for dependents and postgraduate training for health workers with return service agreements more equitable distribution of specialist training opportunities for physicians revisiting medical and health education curricula higher education and civil service reforms revisiting some provisions of the Local Government Code local governments to develop long-term plans to recruit and retain health workers revisiting health workforce training programs and their costs UHC training for current health workforce and new hires and more equitable bilateral labor agreements between health workforce source and destination countries. These recommendations aim to mitigate workforce shortages and help ensure a more equitable health care system under the UHC Law. Moreover, the Ateneo study paints a sobering picture of the Philippine health system's current capacity to deliver on its UHC promise. Urgent and sustained investments in the local health workforce are needed to ensure that universal Philippine health care is more than just a legal aspiration. More information: Pepito, Veincent Christian, et al. Health workforce issues and recommended practices in the implementation of Universal Health Coverage in the Philippines: a qualitative study. Human Resources for Health archium.ateneo.edu/asmph-pubs/314 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An electronic micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes tuberculosis, a potentially deadly infection that still affects more than 10 million people globally each year. Credit: NIAID There is no highly effective vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), which remains an infection of global concern. Charles Kyriakos Vorkas, MD, an infectious diseases physician-scientist at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University, and colleagues identified a novel population of immune cells that could serve as an alternative target for TB vaccines and immune-directed therapy. Their findings are detailed in a paper published in Scientific Reports. According to the World Health Organization, more than 10 million people fall ill with TB each year. TB remains the top cause of infectious disease morbidity and mortality worldwide due to a single pathogen (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). The research team demonstrated that innate immune cells called Natural Killer (NK) cells that express CD8a on the cell surface (a receptor usually associated with T cells) are reactive to human tuberculosis exposure and infection within a high-risk TB household contact cohort. The clinical cohort that had close exposure to individuals with active TB was recruited in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, at the GHESKIO Centers during the years 2015 to 2018. Biobanked blood samples from the TB contact cohort were used to analyze immune responses during asymptomatic household exposure to tuberculosis. "Our research shows a specialized role for these CD8a+ NK cells, including progressive depletion from blood during asymptomatic infection and active TB disease, enhanced responsiveness to cytokines and surface expression dependent on a ubiquitously expressed antigen-presenting molecule, called major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I," says Dr. Vorkas, Senior Author and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology. He says the findings from this new study may provide a roadmap to the use of NK cells in the development of a new type of TB vaccine. According to Dr. Vorkas, the findings are particularly relevant to informing a new generation of TB immune-directed therapy as they accompany recently published 2025 data in the Journal of Experimental Medicine highlighting the essential role for CD8aa+ lymphocytes in BCG-induced protection against tuberculosis in a non-human primate model. This model shows that a significant proportion of these protective CD8aa+ lymphocytes are NK cells. Importantly, he also notes the team found that CD8a protein is ubiquitously expressed intracellularly in most human NK cells, yet it marks a distinct functional population when expressed at the cell surface. Current experimental TB vaccines The only approved TB vaccine to date is Bacille-Calmette Guerin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. This vaccine is administered to children in endemic regions to prevent severe TB disease, but it does not have long-lasting effects in adults. Current experimental TB vaccines in adults are designed to target conventional peptide-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. However, this strategy does not appear to be promising as these vaccines have fallen short of efficacy margins for widespread roll-out. The reason for this may be because the expansion of conventional T cells after experimental TB vaccination does not clearly correlate with prevention of primary tuberculosis infection. The study team also highlights that their work parallels findings of NK cell depletion from blood during disease progression in other infectious and non-infectious pathology. This may be a clue to a specialized role of NK cells in the protection against chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Future directions of the research seek to identify mechanisms by which NK cells can specifically recognize TB-derived proteins through MHC I via a specialized group of receptors called Killer immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIRs). Dr. Vorkas believes that if NK cells can recognize specific epitopes (antigens that trigger the immune response) through KIRs, this biology would parallel that of T cell receptors, thereby leading to a transformation in the design of vaccine and immune-directed therapies, including for TB. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain North Macedonia said on Friday that two mpox cases were registered for the first time in the Balkan country. Both patients are from the capital Skopje, and according to their statements they did not travel abroad. "Two male persons born 1985 and 1981 are infected with monkeypox. They are not connected cases," Institute for Public Health director Marija Andonovska told a press conference. According to the Institute for Public Health the mpox cases were confirmed after three different laboratory tests. Deputy Health Minister Jovica Andovski noted disease was not new and that there is a protocol for treatment. Authorities said they contacted the relevant institutions after getting confirmation of the cases, and they will meet later Friday to discuss further steps. Mpox is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox, manifesting itself in a high fever and skin lesions. First identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, the disease had generally been confined to a dozen African countries before spreading more widely from 2022. The WHO declared its highest level of alert in 2024. 2025 AFP For phlox's sake, please keep your dogs leashed on the Ridge Trail atop Waterworks Hill at least while Missoulas fragile cushion plants are in bloom. Thats the ask from Missoulas city parks department, as well as a team of University of Montana researchers studying Missoula phlox and five other species of alpine wildflowers that have found a local foothold in the North Hills. On a breezy spring morning recently, Meredith Zettlemoyer, a professor with UMs Ecology and Evolution program, hiked with one of her students, Max Hirrill, up the windswept ridgeline from the Waterworks parking lot. They stopped shy of the summit, stepping carefully off the popular trail toward a plot of cushion plants dotted with white, pink and yellow flowers. Scattered on the ground like silver confetti, scores of metal tags marking each tiny plant glinted as the sun peeked out behind spring rainclouds. These cushion plants are pretty specialized to these habitats, Zettlemoyer said. Theyve adapted to dealing with cold, with snow, with harsh winds. That formula of environmental conditions allows for a local wildflower population on Waterworks and some nearby ridges that would usually only be found on alpine meadows several thousand feet up in elevation. The steady Hellgate winds blowing through the North Hills keep snow from stacking up and create the dry, gravely conditions that allow those cushion plants to flourish. Its just a really hard place to make it as a plant, said Peter Whitney, Missoulas conservation lands program specialist. It kind of reproduces or mimics those harsh conditions that you have in higher elevations. Adapted to those unforgiving climates, cushion plants grow low to the ground, clinging to rock crevices. Some, like primroses, resemble bushy tufts of moss, while others appear more like a tiny succulent, like the bitterroot. Whitney said the citys parks department has partnered with UM to support the cushion plant studies, including by helping secure grants and managing restrictions to protect the species. Each week during the spring flowering season, Zettlemoyer and her students hike up the hill, pull out clipboards and log the status of each plant if its alive, if its budding, if its flowering. For each of the six species theyre studying, theyre tracking the week-to-week and year-to-year status of 50-70 individuals. Nearby, a plastic environmental data logger, looking like a giant white thumbtack stuck into the ground, records the soil temperature and moisture levels every four hours. The researchers can plug a tablet into the logger to download its data, and over time, build a database showing how environmental conditions relate to the different plants success or failure. The project is only in its second year, but the research professor hopes to continue gathering data for at least another five and hopefully longer. Long-term data is so valuable, so hopefully it can go throughout the rest of my career, Zettlemoyer said. Even so early in the process, some patterns have emerged. Despite their ability to withstand the elements, phlox are so susceptible to hikers boots and dogs paws that they get smaller on average the closer they are to the trail. Hence the new seasonal requirement that dog owners keep their canines on a leash while they hike the Waterworks Ridge Trail. Zettlemoyer theorized that the little plants relative abundance in some former dumping pits at the bluebird preserve could be in part due to the lack of disturbance. Whats unattractive to human visitors may be phlox-friendly for just that reason. And with each year getting warmer, on average, as climate change intensifies, she hopes her research can provide clues to how and whether local plant populations are able to adapt. It helps us make predictions about what their populations might look like in 10 to 20 years, she said. What conditions actually predict declines or increases? Missoula phlox, a unique species from the popular ornamental flowers, is endemic to Missoula County, meaning it only grows here. Specifically, its only known to grow on Waterworks Hill and similar environments in the Grant Creek area, including the citys bluebird preserve. Largely due to its rarity, its now considered a critically imperiled species by the state. It was always kind of an enigma species that we always knew was really special, but in the last year (local groups) have really committed a lot more to investigating and collecting data on the species, Whitney said. Among the groups working to protect the local phlox are the Montana Natural Heritage Program, Missoula County Department of Ecology and Extension and Five Valleys Land Trust, he said. Phlox is a local plant with a local following, but Zettlemoyer hopes its popularity might also benefit some of the other fragile cushion plants that occupy many of the same spaces. Even if you only think about protecting the phlox, you also end up protecting these other not endemic, but pretty unique species, that shouldnt be found here, she said. Among those are cushion buckwheat, a prolific little plant on the ridgetops of Waterworks and Mount Jumbo, notable for their spindly stems topped with puffball clusters of pink, yellow or white flowers. Bitterroots, which scatter their vibrant pink flowers along the ground, are also being studied by the UM research team, along with cutleaf daisies, woolly groundsel and mountain douglasia or primrose. We can hopefully make some generalizations about cushion plants survival, Zettlemoyer said. It hopefully might help us gain some insights into how to manage other endemic plants. In October of 2024, Jacobsen and Knowles entered into a purchase agreement for the lodge. Their proposal includes operating seven days a week from June through October. There is no proposed expansion of the resort and only minor maintenance of existing facilities is planned. Wohlfeil still owns the lodge property, and he told the Missoulian on Friday that the sale is still "pending." Still, the issuance of the permit moves Jacobsen and Knowles one step closer in their plans to buy the lodge. The Forest Service will still be involved in making sure they adhere to the permit going forward if they do indeed buy the lodge. "An annual operating plan will be drafted and submitted by the permit holder, and approved by the Forest Service, authorizing uses for each year," the press release continued. "The operating plan will need to be in compliance with the terms and conditions of the authorization. The final operating plan for the 2025 season will be an appendix to the permit, and will not be required until the special use authorization is issued to Holland Peak, LLC. The Forest will be working with the applicant to finalize and issue the special use permit and operating plan for 2025 in the coming weeks. Those documents will be made available when completed." For more information about the decision, special use authorization application, and the National Environmental Policy Act environmental analysis, visit fs.usda.gov/r01/flathead/projects/67937. "Holland Lake Lodge has provided a unique recreation opportunity for national forest visitors for one hundred years, Botello said in a statement earlier this spring. The resort has served as a destination for forest visitors to enjoy the Flathead National Forest and I look forward to working with the new owners and community to continue this opportunity into the future. An adult female grizzly bear was shot and killed a mile north of Choteau Wednesday night by two men who were picking mushrooms, according to Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The grizzly sow charged the men, according to a press release the agency published Thursday night. The men shot and killed the bear at close range, and fortunately, they were uninjured during the encounter, the release stated. FWP spokesperson Greg Lemon said in an interview Friday he did not know if either of the men was carrying bear spray. He wasnt aware of any history of human conflicts for the bear. The important point is that the men were uninjured in the encounter, Lemon said. Choteau is the county seat of Teton County, which lies almost entirely within an area that bear biologists consider to be occupied by grizzly bears. Bear spray is typically recommended for people recreating in bear country in Montana, as it is considered a reliable, non-lethal means of stopping encounters with grizzly bears. Grizzlies have been a federally protected species since 1975, and efforts to remove them from the Endangered Species List have hinged in part on minimizing their deaths due to encounters with humans. From my standpoint, a take-home message is that bear spray works and you dont always have to shoot a bear that may be acting aggressively, FWP grizzly bear research biologist Cecily Costello told the Missoulian Friday. Its highly effective at reversing a charge. Lemon said the encounter took place on private land, but didnt have any additional information about the bear, including its estimated age or weight. FWP Region 4 spokesperson Dave Hagengruber wrote in an email Friday afternoon the bear was not radio-collared. Its the second fatal shooting of a grizzly bear in Teton County in as many months. On April 11, an adult female grizzly with no history of human conflicts was shot and killed by a man looking for elk sheds outside Dupuyer, according to FWP. State officials previously told the Helena Independent Record the shed hunter was not carrying bear spray at the time. The 13-year-old sow had a single yearling cub that was found on-site, unharmed. Overall grizzly mortality in the ecosystem bordering Choteau declined in 2024, although it has been increasing over the long term, Costello told a group of state, federal and tribal officials gathered in Missoula Friday. She was addressing a meeting of a committee focused on the species recovery in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE). The NCDE is one of six federally designated recovery areas for grizzlies, extending from the Canadian border south nearly to the Blackfoot River, and from the edges of the Flathead and Mission valleys east to the Rocky Mountain Front. With the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and Glacier National Park within its bounds, the ecosystem is one of two major strongholds for the recovering species, along with the ecosystem centered on Yellowstone National Park. Around 1,000 grizzlies are believed to roam the area, and as the species has recovered, its range has expanded in turn. Grizzly bears, which are believed to have evolved on the plains, are now encountered as far east as the Upper Missouri River Breaks and almost as south as Butte. Costello said while the long-term trend of grizzly mortalities in the area has increased, she believes those deaths have been proportional to the population of bears as their numbers have increased. But that could change as more of the animals stray from the undeveloped mountains and forests of their recovery zone and wander into towns, ranches and farms, where theyre more likely to encounter people or livestock. Its probably to be expected, as more of the population is present on a human-dominated landscape, Costello said after the meeting. Its just a riskier habitat. Teton Countys two shootings of grizzlies this year has already tied the number of defense of life grizzly deaths documented in 2024. That was a below-average year overall, Costello said, although she noted two deaths remain under investigation. Deaths from automobiles were above the average, with five. One of the thorniest objectives for wildlife officials working to establish self-sufficient grizzly populations is creating the corridors for grizzlies to naturally migrate between ecosystems and maintain genetic diversity. No such movement is known to have occurred between the grizzly strongholds in the NCDE and Yellowstone, according to Costello. But its gotten steadily closer over time. As of 2024, Costello said the estimates put grizzlies from each ecosystem just 45 miles apart. She said afterward that the Big Hole River valley could be the most likely link between the two bear populations. In places like the Big Hole, that's a more remote area where theres not a lot of people, she said. She also noted the bears range is expanding in multiple directions, not just into north-central Montana. It has increased in a good way, leading into the Bitterroot area, so were getting closer and closer to the Bitterroot Ecosystem, she said, referring to a designated grizzly habitat that is not yet known to have rebuilt any year-round bear population. The bears have also broadened their reach in the Sapphire and Boulder mountain ranges, Costello said, as well as the northern Big Belt Mountains and the Adel Mountains south of Great Falls. Supreme Court (SC) judge justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka retires on Saturday, leaving behind a formidable legacy of judicial integrity, fierce protection of constitutional liberties, and unwavering dedication to duty. His last working day on Friday was marked by moving tributes, a packed courtroom, and a ceremonial bench presided over by chief justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai, justice Oka, and justice AG Masih. Justice Oka, known for his firm courtroom demeanour and robust judgments, delivered 11 verdicts on his final working day, just a day after returning from Mumbai following the death of his mother. "Even on the hardest days, the Constitution gave me strength," he told the packed courtroom. In a candid farewell speech, justice Oka reflected on his judicial philosophy. I may have been harsh, but only to uphold the Constitution, he said. A judge should never hesitate to offend anyone when the cause is justice. He recalled how a former Supreme Court judge once told him, You are not becoming a judge to be popular, advice he said he followed unwaveringly. During the ceremonial proceedings, the chief justice described justice Oka as a professor of law and ethics within the courtroom, applauding his contribution not just to case law but to courtroom conduct. Behind his firmness was the dedication of a teacher. He reminded us that lawyers are the first officers of the court, chief justice Gavai says, adding that he would deeply miss his presence. Justice Okas commitment extended far beyond the courtroom. He had declined official accommodation upon becoming a judge and was instrumental in advocating for the establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Aurangabad. He worked tirelessly and selflessly, the chief justice noted. Chief justice Gavai also made a revealing remark during the farewell: both he and justice Oka had decided not to accept any post-retirement assignments, signalling a firm stand on judicial independence and post-tenure neutrality. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta praised justice Oka for consistently being the most prepared person in court, even more than the lawyers appearing before him. Despite an irreparable personal loss, his lordship put the court and duty first. That is something all of us must learn. Attorney general R Venkataramani echoed this sentiment. You will certainly be remembered for the strong flag you waved for environmental causes and human concern. Many lessons have been taught by you in the field of human concern. They are good for governance as they will be for the community. All of us received equal treatment in your court. On a lighter note, your work ethic set such high standards, your clerks sometimes forgot to go home! Several senior advocates offered warm farewells. Vikas Singh, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) noted that even when lawyers lost cases before justice Oka, they never felt that injustice had been done. He heard everyone with patience and empathy, the senior counsel says. Senior counsel Kapil Sibal was more direct. He says, You protected liberty like no one else in this court. The vacuum you leave behind cannot be filled. Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association (SCAORA) president Vipin Nair called justice Oka a 'born judge' who 'dispensed divine justice'. Senior counsel Menaka Guruswamy offered a poetic tribute, interpreting his name Abhay (fearless) and Oka (a shelter) as fitting for a judge who sheltered constitutional values with fearless tenacity. You taught us that this city deserves a better environment, and you ensured the courts moved institutions toward compliance, she says. Justice Okas career spanned more than two decades on the bench. Born on 25 May 1960, he earned his law degree from the University of Bombay and enrolled as an advocate in 1983. He started his practice under his father, Shreeniwas W Oka and later joined the chamber of former Bombay High Court judge VP Tipnis. He was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. He served as the chief justice of the Karnataka High Court from 2019 before being elevated to the Supreme Court in August 2021. In his time at the apex court, justice Oka authored landmark rulings, particularly in environmental law and civil liberties. His jurisprudence reflected a deep concern for the marginalised and an unyielding defence of the Constitution. Justice Masih, who sat with him on the ceremonial bench, lauded justice Okas firm yet empathetic courtroom conduct. He has been working very hard and has hardly been sleeping. My only requestgive some time to yourself and your family now, he said with a smile. Justice Okas work ethic was legendary. Since January, he had made it a point to hear as many matters as possible, saying he 'hated the word retirement' and did not subscribe to the tradition of judges stepping back on their last day. I am very speechless. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I will cherish these memories forever, he said in an emotional final address to the bar. Tributes also poured in from his former law clerks and young lawyers, who praised his integrity, excellence, and the standard he set for the bench. One lawyer said working under him taught him when to speak, how to speak, and most importantly, when to be silent. Perhaps the most telling tribute came from advocate Govind Manonaran, who summed up justice Okas judicial ethos in a post on social media platform X ( https://x.com/Gtmanoharan/status/1925681806763757839 ). "Been over a decade for me at the SC. Every now and then (& rarely off late) comes along a judge who makes you feel this 'faith' business may not be such a bad thing. Funny thing is, they provide evidence to believe; faith is irrelevant then. Justice Abhay Oka is a lesson in duty." As the Supreme Court bids farewell to justice Oka, his legacy as a firm, fearless, and principled defender of constitutional morality will endure, etched into the annals of Indian jurisprudence. Proceedings of the Ceremonial Bench for Justice Abhay S Oka on 23 May 2025 In a shocking case of investment fraud, dozens of investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many of them Indian expats, have lost millions of dirhams after Gulf First Commercial Brokers abruptly shut down its offices in Dubai's Business Bay. According to a report from Khaleej Times , the firm, linked to the unregulated trading platform Sigma-One Capital, vanished overnight, leaving behind empty rooms, disconnected phone lines and devastated victims. The entire 'investment' operation followed a calculated script of cold calls, sometimes in Indian languages, false promises of high returns and mounting pressure tactics that financially ruined scores of individuals. Surprised? Don't be. This is happening not just in the UAE but everywhere, including our home grounds. A simple search on X (erstwhile Twitter) reveals how deep investment scams are running and lakhs of people are losing their hard-earned money. What is more worrisome is that many investment (read: bumper returns) crazy people are worsening their financial situation by borrowing from multiple sources, including personal loans and credit cards, to name a few, ultimately spiralling into a debt trap. This pattern of over-borrowing for investing in a dubious financial product is compounding their difficulties rather than resolving them. @Cyberdost Just to educate that a group is running and making money by fraud. Group name is forex guru investment. i have file a complaint against them. pic.twitter.com/jOp8oIfLpX Laxmikant Sharma (@Laxmika52899797) May 14, 2025 Cyber Fraud Alert Filed complaint #22405250006065 status still pending. Scam worth 1020 crore! Fake equity firm lures victims with 510% "block deal" profits, then vanishes. I lost 1.2L. Many others hit.@Cyberdost @GoI_MeitY @AshwiniVaishnaw#CyberCrime #ScamAlert pic.twitter.com/RJK9LwdJjJ Suraj Kumar Sahu (@SurajKu84283271) May 6, 2025 @CyberDost @HMOIndia @CBIHeadquarters Requesting urgent intervention for cybercrime ID 20402240001089 involving INSECG investment fraud. I have lost 6.30 lakhs through deceptive schemes on social media. Kindly expedite the investigation and help recover my funds. @CyberDost AJAY KUMAR TIWARI (@ajjutivi) February 23, 2025 In a digitally-driven India, where over 500mn (million) citizens actively use social media platforms, the intersection of finance and cyberspace has become a breeding ground for sophisticated investment frauds. With platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube becoming common sources of (fake) financial advice and overhyped opportunities, cybercriminals have found fertile ground to orchestrate scams targeting individuals across age groups and income levels. These scams not only drain bank accounts but also erode trust in digital ecosystems. The scale and audacity of investment-related cyber frauds in India have escalated sharply in recent years. According to the Indian cybercrime coordination centre (I4C), there was a notable surge in complaints related to online investment frauds in 2024, many of them originating from deceptive campaigns on social media. The victimsranging from tech-savvy millennials to retired pensionersoften fall for schemes that promise high returns with minimal risks. Cybercriminals prey on emotions and aspirations, luring people with manipulated testimonials, fake success stories, and deepfake videos of celebrities seemingly endorsing investment platforms. They capitalise on the trust users place in familiar logos and faces, often cloning reputed financial services websites or running ads with the stolen credentials of legitimate companies. Let us look at common types of social media investment scams and how they work in luring and duping users. 1. Fake Stock Market Advisory Groups on Telegram and WhatsApp Cybercriminals set up groups that appear to offer insider tips or stock market predictions. These groups often start with somewhat accurate (not 100%) advice to build credibility, before coaxing users into paying for premium subscriptions or investing in sham opportunities. These 'quick bumper return' offers exist only till you invest money and then become untraceable or simply vanish into thin air. 2. Ponzi Schemes Disguised as Investment Clubs These scams promise exponential returns if victims recruit more members. Often promoted via Instagram, Facebook groups or Telegram channels, these schemes collapse once the chain of new investors dries up. 3. Fake Cryptocurrency Investments The rise of digital currencies has given birth to countless fake initial coin offerings (ICOs) and crypto trading platforms. Scammers use YouTube videos and Instagram influencers to promote fraudulent coins, draining lakhs from hopeful investors. 4. Deepfake Endorsements Using AI-generated videos and manipulated audio, fraudsters produce clips of celebrities or financial experts seemingly recommending a bogus investment app or scheme. In 2023, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's two new deepfake videos , which were being shared on social media, purportedly promoted a so-called investing platform Quantum AI, claiming that the user of this new tech would be able to earn US$3,000 (around Rs2.5 lakh) on the first working day. 5. Impersonation of SEBI-registered Advisers Fraudsters copy the identities of genuine investment advisers (IAs) registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). These fraudsters create and operate fake social media pages and LinkedIn profiles to lend legitimacy to their scam. In one such case, SEBI penalised Trade Show Advisory and its owner after finding that they were repeatedly using terms like investment adviser' and 'stock market adviser', without the mandatory SEBI certification. In Mumbai, a young software engineer lost over Rs8.5 lakh after being invited to a 'premium investors group' on Telegram. The group, allegedly managed by a financial expert, initially offered small but accurate stock tips. Over the weeks, he was convinced to invest larger sums into a private equity opportunity that turned out to be fictitious. In Delhi, a fake influencer account on Instagram offering 'guaranteed Bitcoin profits' managed to cheat over 1,000 followers by using photoshopped screenshots of bank transfers and manipulated testimonials. These are just two examples of investment-related fraud. But the main question is: Why and how these scams continue to proliferate despite regular warnings and advisories from regulators, government authorities, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and security experts. One of the main reasons is the psychological tactics used by cybercriminals. Here are some of the tactics used by fraudsters... Greed and fear of missing out (FOMO): 'Limited time offers', free trading courses and 'secret investment hacks' make users act quickly without verification. Trust in peer validation: Seeing friends or influencers engage with a post makes it seem credible. Lack of financial literacy: Many people (still) cannot distinguish between regulated financial advice and deceptive marketing. What is more shocking is educated people, especially the highly educated ones, assume they completely understand and know everything, while the less educated think they dont need to learn anything about financial literacy. Technological deception: Deepfakes and cloned websites make it harder to identify a scam. Having said that, let us see how common people can stay safe from any and every investment fraud. 1. Verify before you trust Never invest based solely on a message, post, or video on social media. Check if the person or company offering investment advice or investment opportunity is registered with SEBI from this link https://www.sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html. Use official apps and websites. Avoid downloading apps shared via links on WhatsApp or Telegram. 2. Be wary of guaranteed returns No legitimate investment can promise guaranteed returns, especially not within short timeframes. Be suspicious of anyone making such claims. 3. Use official sources Cross-check investment opportunities on platforms like the National Stock Exchange (NSE), BSE or the customer awareness site of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Follow genuine financial news portals instead of relying on viral posts. 4. Dont share personal financial information Do not share permanent account number (PAN), Aadhaar, one-time passcodes (OTPs), or banking credentials with anyone on social media. Remember, even screenshots of transactions can be misused. 5. Watch out for deepfakes and cloned websites Learn to identify inconsistencies in speech, lighting, or expressions in videoscommon giveaways in deepfakes. Always inspect the URL of websites for spelling errors or extra characters. And do not forget to use websites with only 'https' and not just 'http' for every financial transaction. 6. Report and block Report suspicious accounts or ads to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Use the cybercrime reporting portal ( https://cybercrime.gov.in ) or call the helpline 1930 to lodge a complaint. 7. Financial literacy is key Attend workshops, follow certified financial educators, read books on basic financial planning or keep reading Moneylife. Remember, awareness is the first line of defence against cyber fraud. 8. Stay away from investments that you don't understand At Moneylife, we often tell readers to never invest in any financial product that they do not understand. For example, if you do not know how the foreign currency (forex) market actually works or how cryptocurrency values are derived, it is better to stay away from them. Just for information, forex trading is a volume game large amounts of capital are moved with thin margins, making scale critical. Cryptocurrencies are digital assets not controlled or regulated by a central authority. Lack of regulation and thin liquidity in smaller tokens often make some cryptos vulnerable to pump-and-dump schemes. While individual precaution is vital, government authorities, banks, financial businesses and tech companies must work in tandem to curb these frauds. SEBI and RBI have begun issuing advisories warning users about unauthorised advisers and schemes. Earlier this week, SEBI issued a strong warning to investors about an increasing number of stock market scams being carried out through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and others. However, social media platforms and LEAs need to speed up to successfully block and detect investment scams. Social media platforms need to improve artificial intelligence (AI) moderation to identify fake investment posts, especially those using deepfakes. LEAs, on the other hand, need better cyber forensic capabilities to track down anonymous perpetrators operating from foreign shores. The governments cyber swachhta kendra and the Indian computer emergency response team (CERT-IN) have ramped up efforts to educate users, but the sheer volume of scams makes prevention a continuous challenge. As Indias digital economy continues to thrive, so do the risks associated with its widespread adoption. Investment scams on social media are not merely financial crimesthey are violations of trust, privacy, and digital safety. By fostering awareness, enhancing personal caution, and demanding accountability from tech platforms and regulators, you can help create a safer online financial landscape. In the age of digital finance, let scepticism be your shield and education your sword. If an investment opportunity looks too good to be true on social media, it probably is. Stay Alert, Stay Safe! Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs63.60 lakh on Union Bank of India (UBI) for failing to comply with the provisions of Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act), as well as certain guidelines related to the flow of credit to the agriculture sector, specifically regarding collateral-free agricultural loans. With reference to the lender's financial position as of 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024, RBI conducted a statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation (ISE 2023 and 2024) of Union Bank of India. RBI found that Union Bank failed to transfer eligible amounts to the depositor education and awareness fund (DEA Fund) within the prescribed time. Additionally, the lender had taken collateral security for some agricultural loans amounting to up to Rs1.60 lakh, which is against the guidelines. The central bank says, "After considering UBIs reply to the notice and additional submissions made by it, RBI found, inter alia, that the charges against the Bank were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty." However, RBI clarified that the penalty is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce on the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by UBI with its customers. "Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the Bank." Butte is a place we talk about like it belongs to us and it does. Buttes past is our past, its people are our people. We have a shared DNA and a shared family history. Wayne O Sullivan Shandon Visiting Butte has long been a dream for Wayne O Sullivan Shandon, who lives in the village of Eyeries in Irelands Beara Peninsula. His dream became a reality this week. Although its his first visit, the Irishman, who travels with more than 50 others from the Beara, is no stranger to this Montana mining town. He has known of its existence since childhood. I have always wanted to visit Butte. Its always been an ambition of mine, said O Sullivan Shandon. Ive been to 15 states now on the East Coast but Ive never looked forward to a trip as much as this one. O Sullivan Shandon said Butte is viewed as the other parish of the Beara Peninsula because the Beara is where so many of Buttes immigrants were born. Butte is a huge part of our identity as a Beara person, he said. We talked about it in our homes growing up. By 1900, an estimated 2,000 people from Beara had already emigrated to Butte. Among that vast number were some of his ancestors, all of whom he intends to honor while in Butte. One of the main reasons for the large influx coming to Butte at the turn of the last century was because one village, Allihies was once home to the copper mines of Caminches, Coom, Dooneen, Kealogue and Mountain. The Beara mines were where the Allihies miners refined their skills and when those mining jobs dwindled, Butte, with its numerous underground mines, was a beacon for many looking for jobs. Being Irish was an additional bonus. Since Buttes Copper King Marcus Daly was a native-born Irishman from County Cavan, these newcomers to Butte were practically assured of jobs. Among those immigrants were many carrying the Sullivan surname, which, since around 1905, remains a predominant last name in Butte. A perfect example can be found in the 1910 Butte City Directory, where 11 pages of Sullivans are listed. I have no doubt my family have contributed to that being the case, O Sullivan Shandon said. While mining was one of the ties that bound Butte and Beara, working underground was not the only job in town. As their numbers grew, many would choose to work above ground and become saloonkeepers, housekeepers, policemen, firemen, boarding house proprietors, clerks and newspaper editors. Some would also hold political positions. O Sullivan Shandons great-great-grandfather, Dennis O Sullivan, had 12 children. Eight of his children, Jack, Tade, Mary, Geoffrey, Jeremiah, Michael, Julia and Nora journeyed to Butte. O Sullivan Shandon said the above-mentioned are not just names on paper, they are his ancestors. Some of them had families and those descendants are my family, he said. Tade and Mary returned to their homeland. The other six siblings remained in Butte. There was nothing for people to return to, as there were no job opportunities for them, and the home farm was a small holding and was only barely viable when it was farmed by one person, said O Sullivan Shandon. Several factors drove so many from Beara to Butte besides the fact that mining in the area had pretty much come to a standstill. O Sullivan Shandon said when his ancestors left Eyeries in the early 1900s, times were very difficult. There were decades-long effects from the famine, land ownership rights and disputes with the Crown, sheer poverty, cyclical illness and social turmoil brought on by hundreds of years of British dominance over the Irish people, he said. His ancestors lives in Butte have generated a multitude of questions, including how their lives were influenced by the available work in Butte, what hardships they experienced, what their lives were like, and just how difficult it was to leave their homeland and more importantly their families. So far, his visit has lived up to his expectations and has given him some insight. Tracing my ancestors has given me a sense of contentment, he said. In the past few days, he has patronized one of Buttes popular Irish pubs, Maloneys Bar and toured some of the mines on the Butte Hill. He also went to St. Patricks Cemetery and has spent more than a few hours at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives researching for more information on his ancestors. A trek was made to Clear Grit Terrace and North Main Street, where his ancestors once lived. The houses are now gone and the Catholic church they attended no longer exists, but that didnt bother O Sullivan Shandon. The fact his ancestors once lived in the area just below Centerville was enough for him. Even though there was no longer any tangible evidence, I followed their footsteps and it made me so proud, he said. Eyeries was in their hearts wherever they roamed. They were brilliant, brave, resourceful people, and Im very proud to call them my ancestors. Emotions ran high when O Sullivan Shandon and his fellow travelers were able to pay their respects at the Granite Mountain-Speculator Memorial. It was quite impressive, he said. He found the story of Big Con ONeill, a native of the Beara Peninsula and one of the 166 men killed in the hard-rock mining disaster of June 8, 1917, particularly moving. Not wearing a protective mask, the foreman at the Bell-Diamond attempted to rescue his fellow miners but was rendered unconscious from the gas fumes and died. Days before the monument visit, O Sullivan Shandon learned from old Butte city directories that in 1906, ONeill, a foreman at the Bell-Diamond, resided at 25 E. Clear Grit Terrace with his wife and family. Years later, it was home to Julia, his great-great aunt. Its because of that history he balks when someone refers to the relationship between Beara and Butte as a connection. Instead, he views it as a bond. A connection is a thing that is associated or linked to someone or something, said O Sullivan Shandon. A bond is a relationship between two people or two groups of people. That bond, according to him, remains firmly cemented because of the men, women and children who came from the Beara Peninsula and thankfully, has been passed down through the generations. O Sullivan Shandon hopes the bond between Beara and Butte will remain strong and continue to grow. This trip has been impressive and emotional, he said. I will walk away from Butte with a huge sense of pride. Testimony has ended in the trial to decide whether Davenport appropriately approved settlements with three former city employees, though the judge is likely to take several weeks to make a ruling. After two witnesses testified Thursday, Judge Jeffrey McDaniel set a deadline of June 6 for both sides to submit written closing arguments. Mike Meloy, whose client Allen Diercks is suing the city, protested and asked the judge for oral closing arguments. But McDaniel denied the request, stating that he believed written closing statements with case law citations would be a better use of the court's time because there was no jury to summarize the facts for. McDaniel also said he may bring some questions to each legal team. He is expected to make a ruling sometime after closing arguments are submitted. Meloy argues the three settlement agreements were wrongly approved in private and that the city violated open meetings law in a Dec. 13, 2023, closed session meeting. Agreements with two administrative staffers were signed Sept. 8, 2023, to settle claims of harassment from current and former elected officials for roughly $150,000 each. An agreement with former city administrator Corri Spiegel for the city to pay her $1.6 million was signed Oct. 6, 2023, to settle similar claims of harassment. The agreements initially were not planned to be voted on. It wasn't until a Dec. 13, 2023, meeting that they were ratified in a 6-1 vote by the city council. "We believe that Dr. Diercks presented trial evidence to the court of the Davenport City Council's violations of the Iowa Open Meetings Act in 2023," Meloy wrote in an email to the Quad-City Times after proceedings concluded on Thursday. "We look forward to receiving the court's ruling on these critically important Iowa open meetings public issues." The city argues that Davenport's then-city attorney Tom Warner had legal authority to settle the claims with private consent from the city council, and that regardless of what happened that fall, the city still held a public vote in December 2023 on the agreements where the direction of the council was clear. Clerk, former attorney testify On Thursday, the city's attorney, Richard Davidson, called Davenport Deputy City Clerk Brian Krup and former interim city attorney Brian Heyer to testify. As part of his duties, Krup said he prepares agendas, handles Freedom of Information Act requests, posts the council's meeting agendas, keeps minutes, records votes and maintains those records. In response to questions from Davidson, Krup walked through the records kept of the Oct. 4, 2023, and Dec. 13, 2023, city council meetings. The Dec. 13, 2023, meeting agenda was revised Dec. 12, 2023, to add a closed session to discuss litigation, with at least 24 hours notice as required by law. The new agenda item also stated the council "may reconvene in open session to consider the ratification of settlement agreements with Corri Spiegel, Tiffany Thorndike and Samantha Torres." The council voted 8-0 to enter closed session. Two council members were absent 7th Ward Alderwoman Mhisho Lynch had been present but left the chamber and then-8th Ward Alderwoman Judith Lee had called in to a conference line but had disconnected or hung up, Krup testified. After more than an hour, the council returned to council chambers and voted to return to open session with a voice vote. Krup testified that 1st Ward Alderman Rick Dunn made a motion to ratify the agreements, seconded by 6th Ward Alderman Ben Jobgen. Council members voted 6-1 to ratify the agreements. Fifth Ward Ald. Tim Kelly was the only one to vote no. Lee and 2nd Ward Alderwoman Maria Dickmann were not on the conference line, Krup testified, and Lynch had not returned to the chambers to vote. Krup said when the council reconvened in open session in December, the conference line for council members to call in was still open. But neither Lee nor Dickmann called in. Lee testified that she hung up before the city council voted to go into closed session. She testified as part of an evidentiary deposition read into the record that she couldn't recall how she connected into the meeting, but believed the city made the connection. She said she watched the open session on her computer and "wasn't provided an opportunity to connect for that vote." City officials explain closed-session record keeping Krup did not attend either the October or the December closed sessions. Part of Krup's duties are to store the records of the closed sessions. Krup said he prints out an executive session summary sheet to provide to the legal department. The summary paper allows them to note who was at the closed session meeting, the date and the reason for the closed session. In the case of the Dec. 13, 2023, meeting it was Heyer who did the note taking. Krup said he couldn't tell for sure who filled out the summary sheet for the October 2023 meeting, but that it was likely former City Attorney Tom Warner or Lane & Waterman attorney Jason O'Rourke. After closed session meetings, Krup said, he then typically receives a sealed envelope with meeting minutes and a tape recording of the closed session to keep for the city's records. In the case of the Oct. 4 closed session, Krup said he did receive a sealed envelope and the summary sheet. Meloy asked if Krup knew that Warner had not kept detailed minutes and Krup said he did not know until the city's current city attorney, Sam Huff, recently told him. Krup testified that he has followed Davenport's procedures to not allow council members to call in to executive sessions remotely because it was unknown if they had other people in the room with them who were not supposed to be in the closed session. Krup said he did not know if that was a written rule, but that likely Spiegel or Warner had given him those instructions when a council member asked to join remotely. Heyer says ratification vote not discussed during closed session Heyer corroborated Krup's testimony that Heyer was the one who took meeting minutes and filled out the summary sheet of the Dec. 13, 2023 closed session. By late November or early December, Warner had been placed on leave and Heyer assumed the role of interim corporation counsel. Davidson asked Heyer if there were any votes during the December closed session. Heyer said no. Davidson asked if at that time there was litigation pending before the city council or imminent litigation. Heyer said yes to both questions, adding that there were claims the city had knowledge of that could have resulted in imminent litigation. Heyer said nothing other than litigation was discussed. Heyer did not attend the Oct. 4, 2023, closed session, he said. Meloy asked Heyer whether the settlement ratification vote was discussed during the Dec. 13, 2023, closed session. Heyer paused. "I'm not sure how to answer that. What was discussed was imminent litigation, which was related to that issue," Heyer said. Meloy said Heyer did not answer the question and asked him to answer yes or no. Heyer said within those parameters, his answer would have to be no. Meloy argues city violated open meetings act After the two witnesses, Meloy made a motion to add to his petition that the the city violated Iowa Open Meetings Act by denying a council member from participating in a closed session based on Krup's testimony. Reading from Iowa code, Meloy said "A governmental body shall not exclude a member of the governmental body from attending a closed session unless the member's attendance at the closed session creates a conflict of interest for the member due to the specific reason announced as justification for holding the closed session." "This constitutes a new violation of the open meetings act," Meloy said. In response, Davidson said Lee hung up the phone and was not present in the building. Davidson also said Meloy did not raise the issue within deadlines for the suit. "Counsel cannot amend the pleadings to state a new claim during the course of a trial. If he wants to bring a new lawsuit, he'll have to bring a new lawsuit," Davidson said. McDaniel said he would take the issue under advisement. Kenyan youth with dreams of launching or expanding small businesses are set to receive a major boost as the government rolls out its NYOTA programme. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced that, starting this month, eligible young entrepreneurs will receive Ksh50,000 each to support their ventures. Speaking during a stakeholder meeting in Kisii County on Thursday, Kindiki revealed that the government has released Ksh28 billion to fund the initiative. The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme targets 70 youth per ward across all 47 counties. We have a very big programme for the youth, both male and female; it is called NYOTA. We are giving money in all the wards across the country to support 70 businesses in each ward, said Kindiki. He explained that NYOTA, a five-year initiative funded by the World Bank, addresses key challenges facing youthincluding unemployment, financial insecurity, and limited savings. The programme targets registered youth-owned businesses, and only those formally enrolled will qualify for the Ksh50,000 disbursement. Kindiki urged young Kenyans to make the most of the opportunity, describing it as a rare chance to establish sustainable businesses and achieve financial independence. In addition, the Deputy President assured older citizens that the government has crafted separate support mechanisms tailored to their needs. He emphasized that the administration remains committed to empowering all Kenyans, regardless of age or economic background. Let us help our youth secure employment, he said. For those who are not youthsuch as mama mboga and other small-scale traderswe have put in place multiple interventions to support all businesses. Kindikis remarks come just a week after the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) closed the application window for youth applicants on May 15. The government will now begin shortlisting successful candidates for funding. The government is considering writing off defaulted Hustler Fund loans totaling up to Ksh.6 billion, Principal Secretary for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Susan Mangeni has announced. The loans, issued to 10 million Kenyans in 2022, remain unpaid more than two years later. While appearing before the National Assemblys Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mangeni confirmed that the borrowers failed to repay the loans, prompting the ministry to propose a write-off to clean up the funds risky loan portfolio. They never repaid, and that is what we will be seeking to write off, Mangeni told the committee. The portfolio that is totally at risk and is in default is about between Ksh.5 billion and Ksh.6 billion. Despite the default rate, Mangeni defended the overall performance of President William Rutos flagship Hustler Fund, pointing out that 9 million Kenyans continue to borrow and repay their loans consistently. So far, the fund has disbursed Ksh.65.7 billion, with repayments standing at Ksh.53.2 billion. She urged MPs to approve an additional Ksh.5 billion for the next financial year, saying the extra funding is crucial for scaling the program. According to the PS, many borrowers have grown their limits through good repayment behavior and now qualify for larger loans. Those who are doing better we need to enhance their limit, she said. The moment you enhance someones limit from Ksh.500 to Ksh.10,000, you have to fund, and that is why we are asking for additional funding to fund the 4.5 million who will be graduating to the bridge and at the same time take care of the new applicants who are onboarding Hustler Fund every day. However, MPs expressed skepticism over the funds long-term viability. Starehe MP Amos Mwago warned that the write-off plan could sink the government deeper into debt at a time when the economy is already under pressure. At this rate, I think youre going to dive into something else. We cannot afford to be writing Ksh.6 billion for you, Mwago told the ministry. In response, Mangeni said the ministry is exploring legal reforms that would allow for forceful recovery of unpaid loans. She emphasized that these changes would strengthen the funds sustainability and extend its benefits to more deserving Kenyans. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has invited Kenyans to submit their ideas and proposals for the upcoming national budget, which he will present to Parliament on June 12, 2025. The 2025/26 budget aims to address key national priorities such as economic recovery, lowering the cost of living, creating jobs, and advancing the governments development agenda. Mbadi announced that the National Treasury is in the final stages of preparing the Budget Statement and emphasized the need for public input to help shape sound economic and tax policies. We are calling on Kenyans to share their contributions on measures that can support the economy and improve peoples lives, he said in an official statement. He identified seven core areas for public suggestions: strategies for economic recovery, reducing the cost of living, job creation, broadening the tax base, enhancing food security, promoting inclusive growth, and strengthening the countrys foreign exchange reserves. The Treasury boss also highlighted the urgency of accelerating the rollout of key government projects under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He noted that reforms supporting businessesparticularly those still reeling from recent economic shockswill play a central role in the upcoming budget. There is a need for strong financial and regulatory systems to support business recovery, Mbadi stated. He further encouraged Kenyans to propose actionable ideas that promote youth and womens economic participation and ensure public funds are managed responsibly and transparently. Kenyans can submit their proposals via email to [email protected], with a copy to bud[email protected], before the deadline on May 26, 2025. The Kenyan government has taken a decisive step to protect its people and economy from the growing threat of natural disasters by launching the Early Warnings for All Initiative. This nationwide disaster preparedness strategy focuses on strengthening the countrys ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies like droughts, floods, and disease outbreaksevents that are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Recent studies show that climate change continues to intensify extreme weather across Kenya, yet Africa still lacks the comprehensive observational data needed to predict how these changes will unfold in the future. This gap makes it harder for countries to prepare adequately. The Early Warnings for All Initiative aims to close this critical information gap through four main pillars: collecting accurate data and assessing risks, improving observation and forecasting systems, ensuring rapid communication and dissemination of warnings, and boosting response capabilities at both national and community levels. Authorities believe this well-rounded approach will empower Kenya to make timely decisions that can save lives and protect livelihoods. Importantly, the initiative balances national policy coordination with grassroots action. It seeks to build resilience directly in communities vulnerable to disasters, while strengthening the systems that support them. Government officials are confident this project will not only reduce human suffering but also safeguard Kenyas economic progress and long-term development goals. At the official launch on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa stressed the power of data-driven tools in disaster management. Every Kenyanregardless of where they live or what language they speakdeserves access to life-saving information before disaster strikes. This initiative will do exactly that, she said. Dr. Barasa called on all stakeholdersfrom government agencies to local communitiesto unite and work together to build an early warning system that will cut down loss of life, enhance food security, and bolster Kenyas resilience against climate-induced shocks. She also announced that 5% of the national disaster risk management budget would be dedicated to upgrading early warning systems across various institutions. To ensure deeper community involvement, she urged county governments to include early warning outreach activities at sub-county and ward levels in their 2025/26 financial plans. Several key institutions have been tasked with driving the initiative forward. The Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), National Disaster Management Unit, along with national and county governments, will collaborate closely to make the initiative a success. Dr. David Gikungu, Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, explained how the initiative will help Kenya fill critical gaps in its early warning infrastructure. By increasing the number of observation stationsespecially in underserved regions such as the arid and semi-arid counties and vulnerable coastal zoneswe aim to meet global standards for early warning observational capabilities, he said. Expanding Kenyas weather monitoring network is essential to delivering timely and reliable data that will help communities prepare better for climate-related disasters. The initiative also benefits from strong international partnerships. British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, praised the ongoing collaboration between Kenya and the UK Met Office, which has played a key role in improving weather forecasting accuracy. During my time in Kenya, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of climate change, including in Mathare where last May floods displaced families and destroyed livelihoods, Wigan said. Through our weather and climate information services programme, delivered in partnership with the Kenya Meteorological Department, authorities in Garissa and Tana River Counties use seasonal forecasts to develop action plans, helping to prevent disasters. Todays launch means were going further, together. Following the launch, a three-day workshop will bring together key stakeholders to map out strategies and coordinate efforts that will ensure the initiatives success. This collaborative approach marks a hopeful step toward a safer, more resilient Kenyabetter prepared for the growing climate challenges ahead. The government is nearing completion of a gold refining plant in Kakamega County, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki confirming that the project will be ready by August 2025. During a site inspection in Ikolomanian area known for its rich gold depositsKindiki described the refinery as a game changer for Kenyas mining sector. He emphasized its potential to transform the lives of thousands of artisanal miners who continue to operate under risky and unregulated conditions. This is a flagship project by the government of Kenya, which we would like to be completed on time, so we want it to be completed on time so that we can begin processing gold here, said Kindiki on Thursday. He announced that the first phase of construction, which began in mid-2024, is set to conclude by August 31, 2025. The second phaseincluding installation of processing equipment and full operationalisationis expected to be completed by May 2026. Kindiki urged the contractors to accelerate their efforts, noting that President William Ruto will officially launch the facility once it becomes fully operational. The President will come to launch it when it is in operation. We do not want the Head of State to come and open it when its still incomplete. The President has directed the construction of this company to help Kenyans, he stated. Rain Delays Kakamega Gold Project However, the project has faced weather-related setbacks. The site contractor, also present during the visit, appealed for an extension, explaining that the ongoing rains across the region had significantly slowed construction work. We understand that the persistent rains in this side of the country have interfered with construction. Although nine months have passed, the team is behind schedule. Still, weve agreed that the work must be completed by August, Kindiki added. The government initially launched the project in June 2024 under former Mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mvurya directed the contractors to complete the refinery by June 2025 and called on locals to form a Community Development Agreement Committee. This committee would enable the community to receive one percent of the refinerys revenue for local development initiatives. Mvurya also announced the formalisation of artisanal mining in the region, allowing small-scale miners to operate legally and benefit directly from the project. Once operational, the Ikolomani Gold Refinery, estimated to cost Ksh5.8 billion, is expected to boost local economies, improve mining safety standards, and position Kenya as a key player in the regional mineral value chain. Kenyan long-haul drivers are warning that arbitrary arrests in South Sudan are turning the JubaNimule route into a legal minefield and choking East Africas supply chain. Foreign drivers, they say, are landing behind bars for minor road mishaps, then sitting for months without formal charges while compensation demands pile up. When traffic incidents escalate into legal proceedings, foreign drivers face an uphill battle. Legal representation is hard to secure, court cases are slow, and rulings are often biased in favour of local interests. Some drivers have found themselves imprisoned for months without formal charges, simply because they could not immediately meet the compensation demands made by aggrieved parties or officials, LoDCA told reporters. The association describes South Sudans traffic code as a moving target. Poorly marked junctions and ad-hoc checkpoints, truckers say, lead to fender-benders that quickly spiral into hefty fines or detention. South Sudans judicial system compounds the challenges posed by unclear traffic laws. Judgments in traffic-related cases are often arbitrary, biased against foreigners, and influenced by graft, the group added. Drivers now refer to the process as jungle law, arguing that outcomes hinge more on an officers mood than on any statute. Bottlenecks at the Border Away from the courts, truckers complain of day-long inspections that back up convoys at Nimule and Elegu. The delays, they argue, erode the gains of the EAC Customs Union, which was supposed to harmonise road-transport rules across member states. South Sudanese officials counter that Kenya and its neighbours should respect Jubas own safety and verification procedures. In January, Commissioner-General Simon Akuei Deng defended a new electronic invoicing system at Mombasa port, insisting it merely enhances transparency and does not collect taxes inside Kenyas borders. Kenyan importers, however, call the paperwork an extra layer of red tape that slows clearance. Despite the friction, Kenya exported goods worth roughly KSh 25 billion to South Sudan in 2024, up from KSh 22.2 billion a year earlier. That momentum, shippers warn, could stall if arrests continue and insurance premiums climb. LoDCA has pleaded with Nairobi to push the issue up the diplomatic agenda, noting that the drivers move essential fuel, cement, and food for both economies. So far, State House has kept public comment to a minimum. What Drivers Want A rapid-response desk at Kenyas Juba embassy to track arrests. A joint KenyaSouth Sudan protocol spelling out fines, bail terms, and tow-truck fees. A regional tribunal under the EAC to settle cross-border traffic disputes. Until those safeguards appear, many truckers say they will keep running the route, but each trip now feels like rolling the dice. Michael Oyamo, a key suspect in the high-profile murder case of university student Sharon Otieno, has strongly denied any involvement in orchestrating or executing her killing. Testifying before the High Court, Oyamo dismissed the prosecutions allegations as entirely false and called key witness accounts misleading and fabricated. The former personal assistant to ex-Migori Governor Okoth Obado singled out testimony from Prosecution Witness 38 (PW38), rejecting claims that he was picked up from Uriri by a man named Jack Gombe or that he visited a woman named Olivia on the morning of September 3, 2018. My lady, Jack did not pick me or with any other person on that day, Oyamo told the court. Presenting his version of events, Oyamo told the court that he woke up at his home and later travelled to the governors residence in Migori. He stated that he spent the evening preparing travel allowances, as he was scheduled to travel to Rwanda the following day. I got the money. I was in Migori town that evening, he said. Oyamo also confirmed that Sharon sent messages to her associate, identified as Muller, asking him to withdraw from her personal matters.. I can confirm Sharon told me she had asked Muller to step away, he testified. Meeting at Gracia Hotel Oyamo further offered his version of a meeting that took place at Gracia Hotel involving Sharon and a man referred to in court as XYZ. He explained that Sharon chose the hotel because she said a relative owned it. When he arrived, he found Sharon and XYZ drinking wine. Oyamo said Sharon expressed frustration with XYZ and asked for his help in settling a financial issue to remove XYZ from her life. She wanted XYZ out of her affairs, he said. Oyamo told the court that he gave Sharon a total of Ksh50,000Ksh10,000 for transport and Ksh40,000 for herself. He also paid the hotel bill. When they left the hotel together, Oyamo recalled seeing a black Toyota Wish parked outside, which Sharon and XYZ entered. As Sharon was getting into the car, I held her hand briefly and gave her the money. I do not know who was driving the car. They left me standing, he said. Contrary to XYZs testimony, Oyamo insisted he never entered the vehicle. He said he later took a bodaboda to Rongo town before heading home to Rapogi. Oyamo challenged the accuracy of XYZs statement, highlighting inconsistencies such as the vehicles color and false claims about his actions. XYZ said I told the driver to slow down, yet I was not in the vehicle, he told the court. Oyamos defense hinges on discrediting prosecution witnesses and casting doubt on the timeline presented by investigators. His testimony is expected to face intense cross-examination in the coming sessions. Government-allied political leaders have praised Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu for taking decisive action against Kenyan activists accused of meddling in Tanzanias internal affairs. Leading the voices of support, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei lauded President Suluhus firm approach during a passionate speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday. Senator Cherargei condemned the activists for misusing their freedoms and negatively influencing fellow Kenyans. He accused them of promoting a culture of disrespect and undermining national leadershipan attitude he said Tanzania has wisely resisted. Thank you, Suluhu, for calling out activists who wanted to distract the peace in Tanzania; in fact, she should have detained and prosecuted them because they have taught this country bad manners, Cherargei said in Parliament. Cherargei highlighted how these activists have encouraged a disturbing trend of insults and contempt toward leadership in Kenya, contrasting it sharply with Tanzanias peaceful political climate. The activists have taught our people to insult, undermine and lose respect for the leadership of this country. Tanzania is a very peaceful country, and we must respect our country, he added. Pushing further, the senator urged President Suluhu to collaborate with Kenyas government under the East African Community framework. He asked her to help rein in activists who, in his view, have contributed to political instability in Kenya. I hope that as activists run around East Africa trying to meddle in the internal affairs, they must stop. In the spirit of East Africa, she should assist us to discipline some of these ill-behaved activists that have continued to destabilise Kenya, he said. Oscar Sudi Criticizes Kenyan Activists Joining the chorus, Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi also praised President Suluhu for her tough stance. Sudi criticized Kenyan activists for abusing the broad freedoms they enjoy at home and exporting what he called Kenyas culture of interference to Tanzania. Hongera Mama Samia Suluhu Hassan, Rais wa Muungano wa Tanzania, kwa kuwa jasiri wa kulinda nchi yako. Lets focus on domestic priorities, refraining from interference in external affairs to prevent unnecessary diplomatic tensions. Endelea kuwanyoosha Mama! Sudi wrote on social media. Sudi said that if he were president, he would have disciplined the activists physically and detained them briefly to teach them respect. Ingekuwa mimi ningewaweka viboko, hii kimbelembele yetu ya hapa Kenya msipeleke nchi nyingine; kwanza ningeweka hao viboko mbilimbili siku mbili ndio warudi nyumbani wakiwa na heshima, Sudi said. Loosely translated: (If it were me, I would have whipped them. This nonsense from Kenya should not be taken to other countries; I would have whipped them for two days and sent them home with respect) Sudi added that the freedoms Kenyan activists enjoy should remain within Kenyas borders. Ile kimbelembele na freedom yenye mko nayo huku Kwenya, fanyieni tu hapa lakini msipeleke nchi zingine. Kama ni kusaidia watu na kesi, jitoleeni mfanyie hapa kwa korti zetu freeujuaji yetu ya Kenya iishie tu hapa Kenya. (If they want to help people or deal with cases, let them do so here in our courts Let Kenyan activism stop here in Kenya). Concluding his remarks, Sudi called on activists to focus their energy on helping vulnerable Kenyans rather than stirring trouble in neighboring countries. Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has called for urgent accountability following reports of a harsh and unlawful crackdown on hawkers operating in Nairobis Central Business District (CBD). Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Nyamu urged the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to investigate allegations of harassment, extortion, and abuse by Nairobi City County enforcement officers. Recent events in the CBD have brought to light troubling incidents involving county enforcement officers against hawkers. These include physical assault, extortion and sexual abuse, particularly targeting female hawkers, Nyamu revealed. She condemned these actions, emphasizing that they violate not only ethical standards but also fundamental constitutional rights. Such acts are not only unethical and unlawful but also violate Articles 28 and 29 of the Constitution, as well as statutes such as the Sexual Offences Act and the Code of Conduct for public officers, she added. Nyamu urged authorities to take swift, transparent action and hold public officers accountable for abusing power, especially when it harms vulnerable groups. Highlighting the vital role hawkers play in Nairobis urban economy, Nyamu noted that many rely on street vending to survive amid limited formal job opportunities. She called for clarity on the policies guiding Nairobi City Countys enforcement operations and demanded insight into the legal and ethical training given to enforcement officers. Nyamu further insisted on concrete measures to protect hawkersparticularly womenfrom abuse and violence. Her demand for reform comes amid growing public outrage as many street vendors report frequent harassment and forced evictions without prior warning or legal process. The Senate committee, chaired by Senator Fatuma Dullo of Isiolo County, will review the effectiveness of current oversight and complaint mechanisms designed to protect hawkers and the public The informal sector cannot be ignored. We must treat hawkers with dignity and create policies that supportnot punishthem, Nyamu concluded. A senior childrens officer painted a harrowing picture in court this week of the abuse children suffered inside Shakahola Forest under the control of pastor Paul Nthege Mackenzie and his acolytes. Principal Childrens Officer Sebastian Muli Muteti took the stand before Principal Magistrate Hon. Nelly Chepchirchir at Tononoka Court on Wednesday. In his emotional testimony, he described how Mackenzies cult isolated minors and subjected them to radical religious indoctrination, starvation, and brutal torture. Muteti, the 29th prosecution witness in the ongoing case, told the court that his office began receiving distress calls between February and March 2023. Concerned residents of Shakahola alerted authorities to emaciated children bearing visible injuries and signs of severe neglect. Acting swiftly, a team of childrens officers and police mobilized and traveled to the remote forest. Upon their arrival, the area chief and local elders received them and guided the team deep into the forest, where they suspected the children were being held. Some children had already managed to flee the cults clutches and found refuge among sympathetic villagers, Muteti revealed. His rescue team split into groups and began combing the forest for more survivors. While searching, the team encountered four extremely weak and traumatized children. Dressed in filthy, tattered clothes, the minors bore visible stroke marks on their arms and backsclear evidence of prolonged physical abuse. The children recounted chilling experiences of beatings and torture at the hands of Mackenzies security guards. According to their testimony, guards tied them up and kept them in solitary confinement as punishment for disobedience. The minors said Mackenzies men deliberately starved them and other followers, denying them food for days. Those who attempted to flee faced even harsher consequencessome were severely punished in front of others to instill fear and obedience. The children were clearly both physically and mentally scarred, Muteti said. His team rushed the survivors to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment and trauma counseling. Authorities then transferred them to a rescue center, where they continue to receive care and protection. Muteti also revealed that the cults dangerous ideology had spread widely across Malindi long before Mackenzie moved his Good News International Ministries (GNIM) church from the Funzi area to Shakahola. He described the scene inside Shakahola as one of the worst cases of child abuse and religious manipulation he had ever witnessed. Parents Pulled Kids from School to Join Mackenzies Deadly Shakahola Sect The trial has continued to expose shocking details about Mackenzies influence and its impact on vulnerable families. Testimonies this week revealed that some parents even pulled their children out of school to join the cult. Two school heads testified how students mysteriously disappeared from their institutions, only to resurface as survivors of the Shakahola tragedy. Mtopanga Secondary School Principal Omari M. Omari recounted the unexplained disappearance of a Form Two student in 2018. According to Omari, the student left without a transfer letter, and the mystery deepened until detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) visited the school following the Shakahola massacre. Investigators requested the students school records, as they sought to estabalish if the student was among the victims. In a similar case, Kisauni-based private school head teacher Mathew Maroko Samoita told the court that a Grade 3 pupil was withdrawn by their parents under suspicious circumstances. He, too, received a visit from detectives seeking the childs academic details. Both educators submitted crucial documents as evidence, including admission forms, academic progress reports, attendance records, and birth certificates. These exhibits helped authorities piece together the trail of missing children who had become victims of Mackenzies manipulative practices. The court heard that the two minorsalong with more than 10 othershave since testified against their own parents and guardians. The accused now face serious charges including child cruelty, torture, and the denial of education rights. As more survivors come forward and testify, the horrifying scale of the Shakahola cults impact continues to unfoldshedding light on how deeply religious extremism tore apart families and shattered the lives of innocent children. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has warned that the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will tighten its grip on members it views as disloyal, following the controversial expulsion of nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba. The party expelled Orwoba on Monday, citing gross misconduct and breaches of its constitution and code of conduct. However, a court has since temporarily suspended the decision. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TVs Daybreak on Thursday, Cherargei defended the partys move, accusing Orwoba of promoting another partys ideals. He warned that UDA would not tolerate members who undermine its unity and urged those pursuing other political paths to leave voluntarily. Cherargei specifically called out Muranga Senator Joe Nyutu, who has openly criticized President William Ruto and recently attended the launch of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), spearheaded by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Distinguish freedom of association from loyalty to a party, Cherargei said. I am warning the likes of Nyutu and others who want to be rebels within UDA. The party will come after you. Glorias Defence Before UDA Disciplinary Committee Before her expulsion, which the Court has since been temporarily suspended, UDA had blasted Orwoba for welcoming former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on April 17. Matiangi, who has declared interest in the 2027 presidential race, received a warm reception from Orwoba and others. Gloria failed after she began championing the interests of another party. Anyone who wants to dissent with their sponsoring parties should be very careful, Cherargei added. The party also took issue with her attendance at Matiangis homecoming rally at Gusii Stadium in Kisii County. She appeared before the UDA disciplinary committee and claimed she attended the event because Matiangi comes from her community. What sort of defence is that? Cherargei said. If you want to support other political interests, just run on an independent ticket, he added. ATLANTA Emory Healthcare today announced the transformation of Emory Hillandale Hospital as the first hospital in the U.S. fully powered by Apple products and integrated with Epic, the leading electronic health record system. This ambitious digital transformation of the hospital of the future reimagines the inpatient experience enhancing care delivery, streamlining clinician workflows and empowering patients with seamless access to secure information about their health. Across the hospital, Apple products are making workflows for clinicians more efficient and reducing burnout, while making interactions with patients more connected. Clinicians can quickly access Epic through Mac computers, and iPhone and Apple Watch allow them to stay connected while on the move. Nurses use iPhone with Epics Rover app to assist with patients vitals and manage medication administration. An iMac on a swing arm in each patient room helps clinicians with bedside charting and documentation. Deploying Apple products with Epic apps throughout the hospital offers efficiency and mobility to our clinical teams while saving time, providing patients the undivided attention they deserve, says Joon S. Lee, MD, CEO of Emory Healthcare. This transformation allows our providers to focus on what they do best delivering exceptional, compassionate care. From the moment they arrive, patients and families experience the difference. Registration kiosks with iPad devices use the Epic Welcome app to support fast and secure check-in. In every room, a bedside iPad allows patients to view care plans, order meals, review their medical records and communicate with care teams using Epics MyChart Bedside app. Wall-mounted iPad devices outside patient rooms display critical safety information, such as allergies or fall risks, helping to streamline handoffs and improve care coordination across teams. Throughout a patients stay, the integration of familiar, intuitive Apple products helps reduce friction, improve engagement and deliver a more personalized care experience. At Apple, we believe in technologys power to improve lives, says Sumbul Desai, MD, vice president of health at Apple. Were thrilled that Emory Hillandale Hospital is using Apple products to deliver exceptional care because doctors and nurses should have the best technology in the world to serve their patients. This digital leap was made possible by Emory Healthcares milestone achievement in 2024, becoming the first U.S. health system to run Epic at scale on Mac. The ability to operate Epic on macOS is foundational to this transformation, giving clinical teams more flexibility and choice in how they deliver care. Clinicians want tools that help them work more efficiently, spend more time with patients and reduce administrative burden and supporting their preferred devices is key, says Seth Howard, executive vice president of research and development at Epic. Emorys rollout shows how Epic on Mac can be part of a hospital-wide digital strategy. Were happy to support more flexible, connected, patient-centric care. Emory Hillandale is the first hospital in the nation to integrate Apple devices and Epic across the entire continuum of care, from registration to discharge, says Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH, executive vice president for health affairs at Emory University and executive director of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center. This collaboration reflects Emory Healthcares commitment to redefining how care is delivered and experienced. With the launch of Emory Hillandale Hospitals digital transformation, Emory Healthcare is charting a new path, leveraging Apple devices integrated with Epic for digital health one that prioritizes simplicity, speed and human connection at every step of the care journey. About Emory Healthcare Emory Healthcare, with 26,400 employees and 10 hospitals, is the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia. System-wide, it has 2,811 licensed patient beds, more than 3,940 physicians practicing in more than 70 specialties, serving metro Atlanta and Georgia. It also provides services to greater Georgia through a joint venture at St. FrancisEmory Healthcare in Columbus, six regional affiliate hospitals and its clinically integrated physician network. About Emory Hillandale Hospital Emory Hillandale Hospital serves the Lithonia/Stonecrest community and surrounding areas. The hospital was renovated in 2023 to include new intensive care unit (ICU) rooms and emergency department enhancements, additional treatment rooms and redesigned spaces for efficiency in patient care and transfers. The 100-bed hospital provides surgery, orthopaedics, emergency care, heart and vascular services, outpatient rehabilitation and radiology services, including a breast center. In 2025, Emory Hillandale received The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification. BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: ORRA Fine Jewellery, India's leading diamond jewellery brand, is thrilled to present the latest designs within its celebrated 'Aekta' - The Wedding Collection. Perfectly timed for the wedding season, these new additions enhance the existing beloved collection, which beautifully intertwines stories of love, heritage, and modern grandeur. To make this season even more special, ORRA is extending a suite of exclusive offers, available for a limited time until June 1st, 2025. 'Aekta' - The Wedding Collection continues to resonate with the evolving desires of today's brides and their tribes, who seek the enduring elegance and versatility of diamonds. It offers a diverse array, from delicately crafted lightweight cocktail jewellery to opulent statement sets - ensuring that brides, bridesmaids, mothers, and sisters shine brilliantly through every wedding festivities. Showcasing attractive diamond jewellery sets with green and red gemstones, inspired by gradient leaf motifs. The highlight of this collection is traditional diamond layered necklaces, blending tradition with contemporary allure. Mr. Dipu Mehta, Managing Director of ORRA Fine Jewellery, commented, " 'Aekta' - The Wedding Collection has always been a tribute to the sacred and joyous journey of the Indian weddings. With the introduction of new designs and our special seasonal offers, we aim to make this experience even more delightful and accessible for our valued customers. It's about enhancing the beauty of shared moments and ensuring every bride and her tribe can adorn themselves with the finest diamond jewellery as they create unforgettable memories." From the celebratory Haldi and vibrant Mehndi to the captivating Sangeet, culminating in the grandeur of the wedding and reception, the 'Aekta' collection offers the perfect adornment for every occasion, ensuring the wedding tribe radiates grace and elegance. ORRA is making exquisite diamond jewellery more accessible this wedding season with these spectacular offers available in stores across India valid only until June 1st, 2025: * Flat 25% Off on Diamond Value: Indulge in stunning diamond necklaces (above Rs. 5 Lakh) from the 'Aekta' collection and enjoy a significant 25% discount on the diamond value. * 0% Downpayment* * 0% Interest EMI* *Terms and Conditions apply to all offers. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: Firstsource Solutions Limited (NSE:FSL) (BSE:532809), a leading global provider of transformational solutions and services and an RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group company, has partnered with Sanas, provider of the world's first real-time speech understanding platform, to enable next-level customer conversations powered by AI. Aligned with Firstsource's UnBPO philosophy, the integration of Sanas' Real-Time Accent Translation technology marks a strategic leap in AI-first customer experience. This seamless, speech-to-speech solution eliminates accent and language barriers--enhancing clarity, reducing cognitive strain, and empowering agents to connect with global customers more confidently and effectively. As AI moves from pilot to performance, early adopters are already seeing the impact--128% more likely to report high ROI from their AI tools in CX. By embedding intelligent, unobtrusive tech into day-to-day operations, Firstsource is unlocking scalable, measurable value--boosting agent productivity, strengthening conversations, and delivering next-gen CX outcomes at speed and scale. "At Firstsource, we seek partnerships that reflect our commitment to smart, scalable transformation--solutions that deliver maximum impact with minimal friction, improving both experience and outcomes. Our collaboration with Sanas is a powerful expression of the UnBPO philosophy: leveraging intelligent, human-centric technology to elevate performance and ROI. "The Customer Experience (CX) landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift--from cost efficiency to outcome-driven impact. With Sanas' AI-powered Real-Time Accent Translation, we are enabling more inclusive, fluid customer conversations -- irrespective of who the customer is -- a consumer, a student, or a patient -- without the need for hardware changes or system overhauls. It is an innovation that works in the background but transforms everything. "This is the Future of Work in action--a seamless human-AI partnership where technology enhances connection, boosts responsiveness, and empowers agents to perform at their best," said Ashish Chawla, President - CX and Consulting at Firstsource. The technology is industry-agnostic, enabling a host of benefits for enhanced communication across diverse industries. Early implementations of this technology in other enterprises have demonstrated significant performance results: * 17% average increase in sales efficiency * 21% improvement in Net Promoter Score (NPS) at a Fortune 20 global tech company * 18% average reduction in AHT * Zero instances of customers asking to speak with another agent * 22% average boost in Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) * 95% agent adoption rate "We're thrilled to partner with Firstsource to bring Sanas' Real-Time Accent Translation technology to their global operations. This collaboration marks a major milestone in our mission to make communication more inclusive and effortless. Our groundbreaking AI technology, combined with Firstsource's customer-first approach, enables contact center agents to have clearer, more effective conversations--regardless of accent or geography. Together, we are setting a new standard for exceptional agent and customer experiences alike," said Sharath Keshava Narayana, CEO and co-founder, Sanas.ai. About Firstsource Firstsource Solutions Limited, an RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group company (NSE: FSL) (BSE: 532809) (Reuters: FISO.BO) (Bloomberg: FSOL:IN), is a global leader providing transformational solutions and services spanning the customer lifecycle across Healthcare, Banking and Financial Services, Communications, Media and Technology, Retail, and other diverse industries. With a global footprint across US, UK, India, Philippines, Mexico, Romania, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, and Australia, we 'make it happen' for our clients, solving their biggest challenges with hyper-focused, domain-centered teams and cutting-edge tech, data, and analytics. Our inch-wide, mile-deep practitioners work collaboratively, leveraging UnBPO -- our differentiated approach to reimagining traditional outsourcing -- to deliver real-world, future-focused solutions that drive speed, scale, and smarter decision, turning transformation into tangible results for our clients. (www.firstsource.com) About Sanas Sanas provides the world's first Real-Time Speech Understanding Platform powered by its patented AI technologies. Born from a mission to power a kinder, more compassionate world, Sanas is pioneering a revolution in human connection by making global, real-time communication more inclusive. Today, Sanas offers Real-Time Accent Translation and Two-Way Noise Cancellation. Founded in 2020, Sanas is led by a team of exceptional co-founders, including CEO Sharath Keshava Narayana and CTO Shawn Zhang. (Sanas.ai) Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2515360/Firstsource_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SMPL New Delhi [India], May 23: Realty Rise Group (RRG), a visionary real estate company transforming the future of urban living, proudly announces its pivotal role in developing Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) -- India's first and most ambitious smart city project. With two decades of combined expertise and strong local roots, RRG stands out as a government-compliant, sustainability-focused land developer creating value-driven investment opportunities. Founders with Strong Local and Industry Foundations At the core of Realty Rise Group's leadership is Mr. Prahladsinh Chudasama, a seasoned sales and marketing professional with corporate experience in the BFSI sector since 2004. Immersed in Dholera's local ecosystem and actively involved in the real estate sector since 2012, Mr. Chudasama brings critical regional insights and deep market understanding to the group's strategy and operations. "Our approach is grounded in transparency, local insight, and customer-centric planning," said Mr. Prahladsinh Chudasama, Co-Founder and Director, Realty Rise Group. "We aim to bridge the gap between investor expectations and on-ground opportunities through innovation and integrity." He is joined by Mr. Avtar Singh, a respected name in real estate and construction with over 20 years of experience, including 13 dedicated years in the real estate industry. Known for his strategic foresight and hands-on execution capabilities, Mr. Singh plays a pivotal role in guiding RRG's growth and project delivery. "Our vision is rooted in building trust and delivering future-ready spaces that reflect both local relevance and global aspirations," said Mr. Avtar Singh, Founder and Director, Realty Rise Group. "We are committed to providing buyers with projects that are legally sound, environmentally responsible, and tailored for long-term value." Strategic Location at the Heart of Dholera's Growth RRG's projects enjoy an enviable location right at the edge of Dholera SIR's Town Planning (TP) zone, positioning them for excellent connectivity and long-term growth. Key upcoming infrastructure within close proximity includes: * Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway (EH - 08) * Dholera International Airport (3.2 km) * Proposed Metro Station (2.2 km) * Emerging IT and Knowledge Clusters (within 5 km) This connectivity makes RRG's developments ideal for future-forward residential and investment planning. Residential Plots Designed for the Modern Investor RRG offers a curated range of premium residential plots -- 150, 200, and 250 square yards -- developed with clear documentation and a customer-first approach. Highlights include: * Thoughtfully Vastu-compliant layouts with wide roads and open green zones * Eco-conscious planning to support sustainable community living Every aspect of these developments is tailored to align with investor priorities and evolving lifestyle needs. Seamless, Transparent Buying Experience Realty Rise Group is leveraging technology and structured support to simplify the investment process. From transparent pricing and flexible EMI plans to digital plot maps and secure documentation, the entire journey -- from inquiry to booking -- is designed to be smooth and trustworthy. A dedicated service team operating from Ahmedabad and Dholera provides regular updates and customer support throughout the project lifecycle. Building Tomorrow's Smart City, Today Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making Dholera a city "better than Delhi" and "six times the size of Shanghai," RRG is contributing meaningfully to this national priority. The company's mission is to lead with integrity, innovation, and sustainability, ensuring each project contributes positively to India's urban future. Vision and Mission Aligned with India's Smart City Evolution Realty Rise Group envisions leading India's smart city journey by creating well-planned, sustainable, and investor-friendly communities that drive future urban development. Their mission is to deliver high-quality land development solutions with transparency, innovation, and a growth mindset, ensuring every buyer's investment is protected and positioned for value creation. About Realty Rise Group Realty Rise Group (RRG) is a forward-looking real estate developer deeply connected to the Dholera region and committed to shaping its transformation into a world-class smart city. Backed by industry veterans and built on values of transparency, compliance, and customer centricity, RRG delivers investment-ready, future-proof land development solutions aligned with India's smart city mission. For more information, visit - https://realtyrisegroup.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rrgdholera?igsh=MXd6M2tzdHRoeDA2NA%3D%3D (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 23: KRAFTON India is thrilled to release a fresh batch of exclusive redeem codes for BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI) players! These new codes unlock a curated collection of limited-edition skins, exclusive cosmetics, and themed in-game gear -- perfect for players looking to elevate their Battle Royale experience and personalize their loadout. Whether you're an experienced warrior or a newcomer to the battlefield, these rewards offer a powerful edge and a bold new look. These redeem codes are valid until June 6, 2025, and can be redeemed only via BGMI's official redemption page. Redeem codes: 1. DEZBZKTQK4S3 2. DEZCZHFE48XH 3. DEZDZEMKJGR3 4. DEZEZHMNBT3C 5. DEZFZAFN7AX6 6. DEZGZTNGU5CR 7. DEZHZEWWTGJ3 8. DEZIZDDG5N46 9. DEZJZFMCGKPW 10. DEZKZHTUGCJF 11. DEZLZ8EVAPSX 12. DEZMZFBXCNEX 13. DFZBZ8AUP3RW 14. DFZCZPW6QXCC 15. DFZDZUT3WHTK 16. DFZEZPJ5TJHP 17. DFZFZTM69VTV 18. DFZGZTMX9SQW 19. DFZHZJ4UDRPW 20. DFZIZUVR6EKC 21. DFZJZTHC7E9P 22. DFZKZX6DU96S 23. DFZLZ5J9JCMP 24. DFZMZETXBFEB Steps to redeem: Players can follow these simple steps to claim their rewards: * Step 1: Go to the Redeem section on BGMI's official website www.battlegroundsmobileindia.com/redeem * Step 2: Enter your Character ID * Step 3: Enter the Redemption Code * Step 4: Enter the verification/Captcha code > A message will confirm 'Code redeemed successfully' * Step 5: The reward will be delivered via in-game mail Rules to Remember: * A maximum of 10 users can redeem each code on a first-come, first-served basis * A user cannot redeem a code twice * Users must claim their rewards via in-game mail within 7 days, else the mail will expire * If a player is among the first 10 users to successfully redeem the code, a message will confirm 'Code redeemed successfully'. If not, users will see 'Code expired' or a similar expiry message * Each user account can redeem only one code per day and a maximum of two codes until June 6th, 2025 * Redeem codes cannot be used via guest accounts For the latest updates, follow BGMI's official YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: Cybage Foundation, the CSR arm of Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd., today inaugurated a newly constructed, fully equipped waiting area for families visiting inmates at the historic Yerwada Central Jail in Pune. This visitor welfare initiative is rooted in Cybage's belief that every human deserves dignity, especially those quietly enduring emotional hardship on the sidelines of imprisonment. * The facility includes seating for over 1,000 people, clean sanitation units, drinking water stations, a snack kiosk, a feeding room for mothers, and a covered walkway to meeting rooms This visitor facility marks a quiet yet powerful transformation in how society can treat the invisible, those who endure without voice or recognition. From mothers carrying toddlers to elderly parents making long journeys, these families now have access to safe, clean, and dignified infrastructure that respects their emotional and physical struggles. "This is not just a structure of brick and mortar; it is a space built with empathy and a deep understanding of silent suffering. Every day, families, many from remote villages, make long, emotionally draining journeys to visit their loved ones behind bars. For years, they have waited in the open, exposed to the sun, rain, and judgment. With this initiative, we wanted to say: 'You are seen, you are valued, and you deserve dignity.' At Cybage Foundation, our focus has always been to channel our CSR efforts toward real, measurable, and humane impact. This project reflects that belief, to fill the silent gaps that most do not think to address," said Ritu Nathani, Head of Cybage Foundation and Board Director, Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd. The facility includes seating for over 1,000 people, clean sanitation units, drinking water stations, a snack kiosk, a feeding room for mothers, and a covered walkway to meeting rooms. The new space also includes a legal consultation room and organized registration counters to streamline visitor movement. Cybage Foundation led the end-to-end development of the project under its CSR program, working closely with jail authorities and local government departments. Mr. Sunil Dhamal, Superintendent of Prison, Yerwada Central Prison, Pune, welcoming the effort as a landmark collaboration, said, "Families who come here often carry emotional pain that no one sees. This facility, though modest in structure, will go a long way in easing their experience. We thank Cybage Foundation for this act of meaningful compassion." Yerwada Central Jail, steeped in history and legacy, now becomes home to a project that represents the future of humane infrastructure. With over 3.5 lakh annual visitors expected to benefit, this waiting area is a testimony to what happens when compassion meets action. About Cybage Foundation: Cybage Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Cybage, is driven by a deep commitment to giving back to society. Through its trusts, CybageAsha and CybageKhushboo, the Foundation is dedicated to creating a positive impact through various grassroots initiatives. Their focus extends beyond corporate boundaries, championing causes that uplift lives and ensure sustainable development. About Cybage Software Pvt. Ltd. Cybage is an industry leader in the Digital Product Engineering Services space with a strong track record of three decades, offering the most comprehensive and prudent services to technology-led businesses globally. Their award-winning services cover an entire spectrum of a software or technology product life cycle (PLC) and the product revamp. One of the key facets of Cybage's service offerings is that they deliver these services under the aegis of their proprietary ExcelShore platform. ExcelShore empowers its entire delivery ecosystem, practices a data-driven approach to drive the highest levels of customer satisfaction, and ensures a tangible ROI. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Dhaneti (Gujarat) [India], May 23: Venus Pipes & Tubes Ltd, one of the leading stainless-steel pipes and tubes manufacturers and exporters in India has commenced operations for value added Welded Tubes; with a capacity of 3,600 MTPA. With this expansion the total capacity of Welded Pipes & Tubes for the company stands at 27,600 MTPA. Commenting on the same, Arun Kothari, Managing Director, Venus Pipes & Tubes Ltd, said, "We are happy to announce that the company has operationalized capacity for production of 3,600 MTPA of value-added Welded Tubes. This marks our entry into a high-margin product segment and represents a significant milestone in our journey towards becoming one stop piping solution provider. We are confident that this expansion will not only enhance our market presence but will also open doors for us to cater to companies which require critical applications. Furthermore, with the planned addition of fittings manufacturing capacity in coming months, we are set to become one of the few companies in the country offering a comprehensive and integrated range of piping solutions. This will significantly strengthen our value proposition and reinforce our commitment to delivering quality, innovation, and end-to-end service to our customers." About Venus Pipes & Tubes Ltd (https://www.venuspipes.com/; BSE: 543528; NSE: VENUSPIPES) Venus Pipes & Tubes Limited is a manufacturer and exporter of stainless-steel pipes and tubes. The company is manufacturing stainless steel tube products in two broad categories -seamless tubes/pipes and welded tubes/pipes under which five categories of products are manufactured namely, stainless steel high precision & heat exchanger tubes, stainless steel hydraulic & instrumentation tubes, stainless steel seamless pipes, stainless steel welded pipes and stainless-steel LSAW pipes. The company sells products in both domestic and international markets. Venus Pipes & Tubes exports its products to more than 30 countries including UK, US, Middle East and countries in the European Union, etc. (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 Moscow [Russia], May 23: At a momentous founding event for global business and digital technology, Relcko, a pioneering blockchain startup & visionary CEO Dr. Satish Kumar Seena, were given recognition at the India-Russia Economic Summit 2025. This magnificent ceremony took place on the Russian Victory Day Parade and BRICS Summit before evening guests. Dr Seena was awarded the Global Leader Award 2025 for his standout contribution to blockchain technology and international business networking. A Summit of Great Proportions The India-Russia Economic Summit 2025 took place in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where Policymakers, industry experts, and innovators from both countries merrily met to promote reciprocal trade and technology partnerships. They were accompanied by professional dignitaries such as: * Anton Kobyakov, the Chief Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organising Committee of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) * Mr. Denis Manturov -- First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia * Mr. H.E. Mr. Valeri Khodzhaev, Russian Consul General in India India and Russia, blockchain and digital transformation (real-time in emerging economies), are to become a vital source of summit presence. Relcko's Blockchain Innovation Award Won! Dr Seena With Relcko as its CEO and founder, Relcko led the way in bringing decentralised solutions (DeFi), smart contracts, as well as secure digital transactions to the mainstream market. Transparency, Security and efficiency have a standing in the global blockchain space and thereby have helped the company to be a very important player in the worldwide ecosystem. At the summit, Relcko was acknowledged for work in bridging technological gaps between India and Russia, thus bringing cross-border digital trade to life, which is contributing to the BRICS vision for a multipolar digital economy. Dr. Satish Kumar Seena: Saturday Winner of Tech Diplomacy Global Leadership The fact that Dr Seena has topped the 2025 award for Global Leader 2025 candidate of the year illustrates the ongoing efforts he is making in terms of incentivising blockchain adoption, financial inclusion & Indo-Russian tech cooperation. His leadership has not only taken Relcko to new heights but has also expanded India's blockchain ecosystem in this global race. In his remarks after the podium, Dr. Seena remarked. "Blockchain is more than just technology--it's a tool for economic empowerment and international cooperation. This award is a testament to the power of collaboration between India and Russia in shaping the future of digital economies." Russia's Victory Day: India + BRICS vision The timing of this summit with the Russian Victory Day Parade gives a historical dimension to resilience and progress. As BRICS countries continue their move for de-dollarisation, digital currency and tech-driven economic models, Relko's work fits perfectly into this mirror. An Era of Collective Growth The stage has been laid for improved blockchain, AI or fintech cooperation in India and Russia at the India-Russia Economic Summit 2025. Refined with Relcko and Dr. Seena at the helm, the future appears bright for tech-wise Indo-Russian symbiosis. Windows is moving into decentralised economies, and the changes are coming. Relcko innovations and Dr Seena's leadership will be pivotal to the next era of global digital transformation. About Relcko Relcko is a company whose expertise is blockchain technology, DeFi, smart contracts and enterprise blockchain solutions. Located in India with a fast global expansion, we aim to bring about transformational digital transactions in terms of security and transparency. Dr. Satish Kumar Seena -- All-in-one Blockchain expert, Entrepreneur and thinker Dr Seena has been one of the few market developers and facilitators for innovation in India towards its digital economy. His work is in remit blockchain research, fintech innovation, plus international business diplomacy. To receive media enquiries, contact: Relcko Communications Team Email- info@relcko.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 Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: As cities expand and the pressure on infrastructure intensifies, the need for smarter, faster, and more transparent systems of urban governance becomes critical. Among the foundational elements of a smart city is an efficient, digital plan approval system. Traditional methods--characterized by paperwork, manual verifications, and long approval cycles--are increasingly unfit for today's urban challenges. To meet the demands of modern city life, municipalities must shift toward urban planning automation that empowers efficient governance and streamlined development. Urban development is no longer a linear, straightforward process. It involves coordination among various departments, compliance with intricate regulations, and the need to engage with multiple stakeholders. The result, when handled through legacy systems, is often a maze of delays and inefficiencies. These slowdowns don't just frustrate developers--they stall infrastructure delivery and diminish public trust in local governance. Transitioning to digital urban planning solutions can change that dynamic entirely, enabling cities to keep pace with development while maintaining oversight and accountability. With advanced technologies like AI, GIS integration, and cloud-based platforms, building permit software can now offer intelligent automation of zoning checks, building code compliance, and documentation workflows. Real-time tracking, automated notifications, and centralized data repositories drastically improve turnaround times and inter-departmental coordination. This kind of smart governance doesn't just streamline internal operations--it also makes the experience more transparent and predictable for citizens and developers alike. Global examples demonstrate the power of such systems. Cities like Singapore and Dubai have successfully leveraged digital plan approval models integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM) to cut review times and improve planning outcomes. These models promote collaboration across agencies and reduce human error, paving the way for more responsive, citizen-centric governance. The ripple effects of urban planning automation are significant. Governments benefit from enhanced data analytics, better resource allocation, and more efficient service delivery. Developers gain clarity, speed, and consistency--critical for investment decisions and project execution. Most importantly, citizens experience improved service quality, quicker infrastructure rollouts, and better-designed urban spaces. Crucially, the data generated through these systems feeds into the larger e-governance framework. It equips city leaders with real-time insights to make more informed decisions on public services, environmental planning, and infrastructure investments. Efficient plan approval systems, therefore, don't just process permits--they help shape strategic, long-term urban development. Digitizing the plan approval process is a stepping stone toward comprehensive smart city infrastructure. It ensures that development is not only faster but also fairer and more accountable. It fosters trust, attracts investment, and helps cities grow sustainably. For cities in emerging markets, this is a unique chance to bypass outdated models and embrace cutting-edge systems that are scalable, secure, and future-ready. Ultimately, the future of smart cities rests on intelligent systems that simplify the complex. Efficient, automated plan approval platforms are no longer a luxury--they are a necessity. By investing in these digital foundations, cities position themselves to grow with resilience, inclusivity, and vision. Vijay Gupta, an IIT Mumbai alumnus, is the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of SoftTech Engineers Limited. He holds an M. Tech degree from IIT Mumbai. Vijay strongly believes that technology has to be leveraged extensively to bring speed, efficiency and transparency in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) industry for private as well as public sector organizations. He has a rich experience of about 35 years in the development of cutting-edge BIM/ CAD/ CAE /Project Management Enterprise Software in the AEC domain. A leading IT company (www.softtechglobal.com) facilitating business and technology transformation across the AEC industry through innovative software products and solutions. The company proudly supports over 1300 organizations and serves a user base of more than 400,000 individuals. Notably, SoftTech's solutions have facilitated the approval of over 2 million building permits, encompassing a staggering area exceeding 30 billion square feet. Website: https://softtechglobal.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) BusinessWire India London [UK]/Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 23: UST, a leading global digital transformation solutions company, hosted its annual Zero-Waste Hackathon 2025 on 22nd May, bringing together bright young minds from across the globe to design innovative tech solutions to reduce food waste across the supply chain. UST received 88 entries from around the world for its global hackathon, including submissions from university students, professionals, innovators, and changemakers who came together to participate in this event. The top 10 teams hailed from India, Spain, the US, and the UK. Of these, the top 5 teams joined the final round in person at the UST London office, while the remaining 5 participated virtually. Each team discussed pressing business challenges in the hospitality sector, with a focus on buffet food waste. To address these problems, their creative solutions made use of AI technologies, complete with coded implementations. The teams competed in a fiercely competitive setting, and the judges carefully considered each team's ideas. Numerous solutions demonstrated how technology can have a lasting impact and were highly compatible with UST's AI + ESG vision. On May 22nd, the participants engaged in a full-day challenge focused on promoting sustainability in the food service sector. The winning teams were Zero Forks (UK), an external team, and Cul Intel, from UST (India). Zero Forks captivated the judges with their approach that utilised behavioural science to minimize food waste within households. Highlighting that preventing food waste should start in the kitchen, they created the Zero Forks app which is a playful and interactive platform that turns reducing food waste into a game. The application not only informs users but also encourages dialogue between consumers and the food sector, distinguishing it as an exceptional solution. Cul Intel, on the other hand, showcased Cul Intel, an AI-driven platform that intelligently optimises menu offerings, pricing, portion sizes, and real-time food redistribution. Their dynamic, data-driven approach to reducing waste in food service operations earned them high praise from the judges. The event concluded with an awards ceremony, where the top winning teams received certificates and a share of the 1,500 prize pool. Praveen Prabhakaran, Chief Delivery Officer and Managing Director, UK at UST, said, "This hackathon was more than just a competition - it was a call to action. The solutions presented today demonstrate the power of technology to tackle urgent real-world challenges like food waste. We're proud to support the next generation of changemakers." Robert Hodges, Head of Innovations Programs, Amazon Web Services, said, "It was fantastic to see such a great amount of energy and passion focused on such a great cause. The progress made by the competing teams within such a short time was remarkable." "Innovation in sustainability starts with bold ideas, and today's participants pushed the boundaries of what's possible. It's inspiring to see tech and purpose come together so powerfully," said Raj Jeyaratnam, Transformation Director, D&T, Compass Group. "It was a real privilege to be involved in judging this year's hackathon. The creativity, energy, and commitment these teams brought to solving food waste challenges were truly impressive," said Steve Hewitt, Co-Founder, 40 Percent. "Young minds with smart tech are a powerful force for good. It was great to be involved in exploring potential solutions that tackle food waste and drive real-world sustainability," said Asma Mohamed, Transformation Director, Levy. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: VIBGYOR Group of Schools, a leading network of K-12 institutions in India, proudly announces the outstanding performance of its students in the Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE (Grade 10), AS (Grade 11), and A Level l (Grade 12) examinations for the academic year 2024-25. These stellar results reflect VIBGYOR's progressive educational vision, international benchmarks, and steadfast commitment to nurturing globally competent learners. The achievement is particularly meaningful as Indian families increasingly seek globally aligned academic pathways. With the international education sector growing steadily, marked by a 14% rise in international schools, a 40% surge in student enrollment, and a 36% increase in staff recruitment over the past five years, according to the ISC research. There is a clear shift toward education that goes beyond rote learning. In this context, the newly launched VIBGYOR World Academy in Bhopal and Nagpur, offering the Cambridge curriculum, stands out as a preferred choice for parents focused on nurturing 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and digital fluency. What differentiates VIBGYOR's approach is how seamlessly it integrates the strengths of the Cambridge curriculum into its educational framework. Known for its flexibility and global relevance, the Cambridge system encourages students to engage with real-world problems, apply interdisciplinary knowledge, and demonstrate their learning through coursework and projects, not just exams. At VIBGYOR World Academy, this is further elevated through the use of Apple-enabled digital classrooms, immersive co-curricular activities, and a personalised learning model that puts student interests and potential at the centre. The result of this integrated approach is evident in the academic excellence achieved across VIBGYOR campuses. Students secured numerous A* and A grades, with several earning subject distinctions--a reflection not only of their hard work, but also of the environment that supports their growth intellectually, emotionally, and creatively. "It gives me great pride to see how well our Cambridge students thrive on a curriculum that demands both academic rigour and intellectual independence," said Kavita Kerawalla, Vice-Chairperson, VIBGYOR Group of Schools. "These results go beyond traditional markers of success, they represent a global outlook, critical thinking abilities and adaptability that our students develop through the Cambridge pathway. My heartfelt congratulations to each of them and gratitude to our educators and parents who enabled this journey." Toppers for IGCSE: Toppers for A levels: VIBGYOR World Academy, located in Nagpur and Bhopal, offers the Cambridge curriculum through a unique combination of academic excellence and technology-enhanced classrooms. These Apple-enabled environments support a rich, interactive learning experience and promote inquiry-based teaching. The Academy is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship, preparing students for academic success and leadership in a rapidly changing world. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 23: In an era where uninterrupted power is mission-critical for industries, MyFuels, a rising energy-tech disruptor, has emerged as one of India's fastest-growing platforms, reimagining how businesses consume, monitor, and manage fuel. Launched in March 2024, the company has scaled rapidly across 178 cities, offering a dynamic suite of services -- from on-demand diesel delivery and genset rentals to smart fuel storage, energy consulting, and EV charging pilots. What sets MyFuels apart isn't just its operational spread -- it's the problem it chose to solve: the lack of transparency and structure in industrial fuel logistics. Where others saw a commodity, MyFuels saw broken systems. And where others delivered fuel, MyFuels delivered uptime. A Silent Industry, Loud Problems India's manufacturing and infrastructure engines run on diesel -- yet until recently, there was no standardized system to track deliveries, monitor usage, or verify vendor claims. Fuel theft, generator failures, and undocumented dispatches led to millions in annual losses and operational downtimes. MyFuels entered this unstructured space with a clear goal: inject intelligence into energy delivery. Within months of its launch, MyFuels introduced a proprietary dashboard that tracks: -Volume dispatched vs. received -Tanker route histories via GPS -Site-level consumption and anomaly alerts This allowed clients -- from construction giants to cold-chain warehouses -- to verify vendor invoices, spot inefficiencies, and predict usage patterns in real time. MyFuels Raises $1M to Fuel Growth, Backed by Vision-First Investors In a significant step toward scaling its energy-tech platform, MyFuels has raised $1 million in early-stage capital, with a further commitment of up to $10 million based on evolving needs. The round is led by early-stage investors Prashaant Garg, a seasoned entrepreneur, and Chhavi Garg, a chartered accountant and strategic backer of founder-led businesses. "Investing in a founder rather than just an idea is a powerful principle that underscores the importance of vision, resilience, and adaptability in entrepreneurship," the duo shared. The investment reflects their belief in MyFuels' founder and CEO, Aditya Singh, whose clarity of execution and obsession with uptime have been instrumental in transforming the company into one of India's fastest-growing fuel-tech platforms. "When you believe in the founder, you are investing in their potential to innovate, execute, and create value--even when the path is uncertain," added Chhavi Garg. The funds will power MyFuels' expansion across cities, tech innovation, and operational scale, with a clear focus on reaching profitability before the end of its third financial year. From a One-Man Audit to a National Fuel-Tech Force The brain behind MyFuels, Aditya Singh, didn't set out to build a fuel company. A logistics consultant by background, Aditya stumbled onto the scale of fuel inefficiencies while auditing supply chain delays for industrial clients. What he found was alarming: an 18% average fuel loss, over 60 hours of diesel-related downtime per site annually, and zero data to trace it. Rather than pitching a solution, Aditya got his hands dirty. He personally rode with fuel tankers, mapped high-risk delivery zones, and sat in procurement meetings asking a deceptively simple question: "What if uptime was standard, not luck?" His early efforts weren't backed by flashy funding rounds or tech incubators. MyFuels started as an operations-first project -- solving real-world problems with first-principle thinking. In mid-2024, the company launched its prototype, and the rest is now a rapidly growing footprint across India's energy-critical sectors. More Than Fuel: A Platform for Industrial Uptime As demand surged, MyFuels evolved from a logistics partner to a mission-critical energy infrastructure provider. The company now offers: - Plug-and-play fuel management systems - Smart tanks with real-time monitoring sensors - Bundled genset + AdBlue + fuel rental offerings - Maintenance + analytics dashboards for predictive servicing Clients in sectors like telecom, mining, construction, and healthcare now rely on MyFuels not just for delivery, but for operational continuity. The company's fast-growing genset rental vertical has been a major growth lever. As firms increasingly seek "power-as-a-service," MyFuels delivers equipment, fuel, support, and tech insights under one unified contract. Purpose Built, Ground Driven Aditya's leadership is deeply embedded in operations. Known internally for "Aditya Fixes," he often personally intervenes in field anomalies -- be it a genset malfunction or a stuck fuel valve. In 2024, when a rural hospital in Gujarat faced a power outage during heavy rains, MyFuels rerouted a tanker using satellite data and kept the hospital live through the night. For the team, it wasn't a fluke -- it was SOP. Another defining moment came when a cold-chain facility in Bhopal encountered a 40-hour outage due to transformer failure. MyFuels diverted supply from a nearby depot and manually supported genset cycles, preventing loss of life and medicines. "It's not urgent because it's diesel," said Aditya. "It's urgent because it's life support." Training, Trust, and Talent in the Field MyFuels has built a field-first culture with rigorous internal bootcamps that train ops leads in: - Diesel theft detection via tech-integrated tankers - ERP-linked delivery and audit logs - Risk-based routing and escalation protocols Rather than vanity hiring, the company empowers frontline staff to solve infrastructure-level problems on the ground -- turning delivery personnel into energy stewards. EV Charging: Infrastructure Over Hype While many startups chase headlines in EV, MyFuels is quietly laying dual-energy infrastructure. In pilot programs at logistics hubs and manufacturing parks, the company is testing EV charging stations with load balancing tools and predictive alerts. These solutions integrate with MyFuels' existing dashboard to ensure EV downtime doesn't impact business uptime. The company's hybrid roadmap positions it as a future-proof player in India's energy shift -- ready to serve both combustion-based and electric fleets. Vision 2030: Uptime for a New India With presence in 178 cities today, MyFuels is targeting 500+ cities by 2030. Its strategic roadmap includes: - Predictive fuel systems for Tier 2/3 industrial corridors - Heavy equipment rental tie-ups for construction and infra projects - A national genset rental search dashboard - API-level integration with government energy portals and disaster response systems The long-term ambition? To make energy delivery as seamless as internet connectivity -- "always there, always working." When Uptime = Reputation Since its inception, MyFuels has treated reliability as brand equity. The "Zero Drop" initiative ensures no delivery failures in critical use cases. During the Chennai cyclone, MyFuels rerouted diesel to a logistics hub using dual-GPS trackers and kept perishable cargo moving. The shipment arrived in four hours. That wasn't a fluke. That was standard protocol. The Final Word MyFuels was never about becoming a unicorn. It was about building India's most reliable energy infrastructure company. And in just 12 months, it's quietly become the go-to partner for energy uptime -- from gensets to EV, cold chains to construction. In the emerging India, energy is not just a utility. It's a lifeline. And MyFuels is making sure that lifeline is never interrupted. For Business & Media Enquiries: Website: https://myfuels.inEmail: info@myfuels.in Follow Us:LinkedIn | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube (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)